Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Kavkas-Press, Georgia
Jan 25 2009

Accident in Georgia halts Russian gas supplies to Armenia, South Ossetia

Tbilisi, 25 January: The transit of Russian gas to Armenia through
Georgia has again been halted. Kavkas-Press learnt about this from the
Georgian National Oil and Gas Corporation.

The reason for the halting of supplies was an accident at the Gveleti
station at 0000 hours [2000 gmt].

The supply of Russian gas to South Ossetia, which were resumed just
yesterday, have also been cut off.

According to the Georgian National Oil and Gas Corporation, repair
works are under way at the station, though it is not known yet when
the flow of gas will be restored. It should be pointed out that this
is the second accident on the trunk gas pipeline this month.

Georgia’s own gas supplies will not be interrupted, as the country
receives all its natural gas from Azerbaijan.
From: Baghdasarian

HMAYAK HOVHANNISIAN: SOCIETY’S INTERNAL SPLIT IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN BEING DEPRIVED OF VOTE IN PACE

Noyan Tapan

Jan 22, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. "The prospect of being deprived
of the vote in PACE is indeed serious, but country’s internal split
is more dangerous," Hmayak Hovhannisian, the Chairman of the Union
of Political Scientists of Armenia, said at the January 22 press
conference. According to him, today Karabakh is no longer a supreme
moral value for all Armenians as it was in 1988. "At that time Karabakh
could not be a target of criticism: even the worst and most dubious
views of Karabakh residents were perceived with tolerance in Armenia,"
the political scientist reminded. While at present, according to him,
opinions are voiced in the opposition sphere that the Nagorno Karabakh
settlement should be left to the Karabakh residents.

The way out of the formed situation, as H. Hovhannisian stated,
is holding of special parliamentary elections. According to him,
the people should be given a possibility to express its political
position, as indeed the people is the third force of the home political
sphere. H. Hovhannisian added that it is very important to disclose
and to call for liability those indeed guilty of the March 1 murders to
weaken the current tension. He drew parallels between the March 1 and
1999 October 27 crimes emphasizing that after the incident of "27" the
immediate executors of the crime at least appeared before the court.

Touching upon opinions on Council of Europe’s using double standards to
Armenia and Azerbaijan, H. Hovhannisian said that such standards should
be used. He explained it by saying that Armenia is the first Christian
state, to which democratic values should be peculiar. And Azerbaijan
and other Mohammedan countries, as he classed it, hardly perceive
those values, and the approaches to them can be milder. "Privileges
are always given to a disabled, a weak," H. Hovhannisian said.
From: Baghdasarian

OBAMA’S GRAND ENTRANCE IS CELEBRATED IN ISTANBUL

Hurriyet
Jan 22 2009
Turkey

ISTANBUL – While many Turkish people in Istanbul expressed a "wait
and see" approach to America’s new president, some 200 Americans,
Turks and people from around the world cheered and hugged, cried and
danced in an Istanbul nightclub that broadcast live Barack Obama’s
inauguration Tuesday night.

Co-hosted by the club Ghetto and the local chapter of the American
group Democrats Abroad, a number of celebrants became emotional during
Obama’s inaugural address. The first black president as well as a
descendent of slave-owners, Obama said it might seem unlikely that "a
man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a
local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath."

Ebony Kelly, an educator in an Istanbul school and Democrats Abroad
organizer, took a deep breath and squeezed her eyes with her hand
to hold back tears. "That just set me off," she said. The Maryland
native, whose grandmother was once removed from slavery, said she
thought about all the people who had come before her to make a day
like Tuesday possible. "It makes me want to be a better person."

Roadblocks to peace Perhaps part of the underwhelming Turkish response
to the ritual change in American presidents is the grief and outrage
Turkish people have expressed in recent weeks regarding the Israeli
war on the people of Gaza. Around the corner from the celebration,
a large demonstration in support of Gaza had stopped traffic in the
center of the city.

Tushar Vig, a student from the University of San Francisco and in
Turkey on a study tour, said Obama’s speech was inspiring but out of
place in heralding America as a beacon of peace. "It was hypocritical
to talk about peace when the U.S. supported Israel in Gaza," Vig told
the Turkish Daily News & Economic Review. Several Americans echoed
this sentiment.

Aiming to join the American diplomatic corps in Turkey for the
U.S. State Department, Seattle native Alison Brown came to Istanbul
a few months ago to learn Turkish. A campaigner for Hillary Clinton’s
presidential bid, she said Obama’s selection of Clinton for secretary
of state showed competence and grace. "Not only is she strong on
foreign policy, she is a well-known figure around the world who was
essentially a top diplomat as first lady."

Consul General Sharon Wiener invited some Americans and local
Turkish figures "to watch the making of history together" at her
residence. Before Obama was sworn in she told guests that in the face
of an uncertain world, partnership with Turkey was a priority for the
U.S. "Turkey’s importance to America is even greater at a time when
the Middle East has replaced Europe as the most critical region for
U.S. national security interests."

Damage done The percentage of Turkish people who believe Obama will
strengthen U.S. relations abroad, rose to 51 percent from 11 percent
six months ago, said a BBC poll released Tuesday. But on issues
ranging from Armenia and Cyprus to Gaza, many remained skeptical that
his leadership would benefit Turkey.

Outside Ghetto and 50 meters from the 2003 deadly bombing of the
British Consulate, taxi driver Turul Celik doubted if Obama’s strengths
could undo the damage former President George Bush had caused in the
world. "From invading Afghanistan to supporting Israel’s invasion in
GazaÃ~I [Obama] might be a good director but a repairman for all this,
I don’t think so."

With Obama’s presidency a few hours old, the band the Wingmen played
for attendees of the Istanbul inauguration party. With beers and
cocktails still flowing, Robert Feehly, who is at Kadir Has University,
said people had come to Ghetto’s celebration "to send an old decrepit
world into obscurity." He added that the dawn of intellectualism was
at hand. "And Obama will lead us to it."

–Boundary_(ID_tvNw9ZUIALRiYsS37oL8VQ)- –
From: Baghdasarian

GEGHAM GHARIBJANYAN APPOINTED HEAD OF STAFF OF NA

ARMENPRESS
Jan 21, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenian former deputy foreign
minister Gegham Gharibjanyan has been appointed the head of staff of
the Armenian National Assembly. With the decree of the president he
was dismissed from the office on January 19 and on the same day was
appointed in the office of the staff of the NA.

G. Gharibjanyan was born in 1951 in Yerevan, graduated from the YSU
Eastern Sciences Faculty. From 1995-1999 he was member of parliament,
from 1999-2004 was Armenia’s ambassador to Iran and from 2001-2004
combined with Qatar. From 2005 was appointed deputy foreign minister.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTERS MAY MEET IN ZURICH

ArmInfo
2009-01-20 17:04:00

ArmInfo. Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia Elmar Mammadyarov
and Edward Nalbandyan may meet in Zurich (Switzerland), OSCE MG
Cochairman Yuri Merzlyakov said, APA reports.

The co-chair said they had discussed it with Elmar Mammadyarov
and reached an agreement. "If Armenian minister may come to Zurich
before Davos, the meeting will take place," he said. Yuri Merzlyakov
said the coordination of the core principles on the settlement of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict would continue and the essence of some
principles would be specified at the meeting of Azerbaijani and
Armenian presidents in Davos.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO DEAL WITH ARMENIA’S ISSUES IN PACE AGAINST THREAT OF LOSING RIGHT TO VOTE

Today.Az
0176.html
Jan 19 2009
Azerbaijan

President Serzh Sargsyan has convened an urgent session, attended by
speaker of parliament Ovik Abramyan, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
and secretary of the Security Council Artur Bagdasaryan.

Sargsyan informed the visitors that from now on he will deal with
Armenia’s issues in PACE for it not to lose the right to vote,
reports Zhamanak newspaper.

Under the publications in the newspaper, the president called on the
officials to deal with urgent issues.

It is said that Sargsyan intends to sign any document on Nagorno
Karabakh for Armenia not to lose vote in PACE.
From: Baghdasarian

Supplier of equipment for construction of MTS 3G UMTS network in
Armenia is known

2009-01-17 12:28:00

ArmInfo. MTS has selected Huawei Technologies as the supplier of
equipment for the construction of its 3G UMTS network in Armenia.

Russian mass media reports that Huawei is supposed to launch and
integrate the network with Armenia’s existing GSM network as well as to
provide technical support and to share experience. The network is to be
launched in the spring 2009 in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor. This
project envisages construction of combined 2G/3G network on the basis
of existing GSM stations.
From: Baghdasarian

Aravot, Armenia
Jan 17 2009

Armenian police reportedly beat protesters over opposition trial

Armenian police on 16 January beat journalists and relatives and
supporters of seven opposition figures charged with organizing March
2008 post-election riots in Yerevan.

The supporters of the oppositionists planned to march to the
Prosecutor-General’s Office from the court where the trial was to be
held, but instead they walked there in groups as policemen did not
allow them to hold a march. The protesters, however, managed to get to
a park near the Prosecutor-General’s Office, where they demanded the
immediate release of the arrested, chanting "Freedom to political
prisoners".

The trial session, held for the fifth time on 16 January, was
postponed once again by the judge because the defendants did not stand
up when the judge entered the courtroom. Representatives of the
opposition Armenian National Congress believe that the authorities
postponed the trial to 30 January to enable the government to identify
its strategy regarding the trial after the 26 January session of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) was over.

In a 17 December draft resolution, the PACE said it might suspend
Armenia’s voting right if the country failed to release "political
prisoners".

The daily reported a large presence of police near the court building,
who tried to move people away from the building and prevent them
holding a march. Slight skirmishes between policemen and protesters
took place as a result. A journalist of the opposition Chorrord
Ishkhanutyun daily, Taguhi Tovmasyan, received several blows. A photo
correspondent, Gagik Shamshyan, received a brain concussion as he was
hit by a policeman.

The opposition Armenian National Congress condemned the authorities’
"vandalism against peaceful rally participants" on 16 January. The
statement said that by postponing the trial to a date that succeeds
the PACE session the government has proven that the trial is not a
"legal, but a political one" and the arrested people are "political
prisoners".

[translated from Armenian]
From: Baghdasarian

"HUMAN RIGHTS CRISIS IN ARMENIA" REPORTS HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Panorama.am
15:31 15/01/2009

Human Rights Watch organization published its annual report, according
to that report Armenia faced crisis in the field of defending human
rights in 2008. "Armenia experienced one of its most serious civil and
political rights crises since independence when security forces used
excessive force on March 1 against opposition demonstrators protesting
the results of the February 2008 presidential election. Violent clashes
erupted between police and demonstrators, and authorities arrested
several hundred demonstrators and prosecuted more than a hundred
opposition supporters. A state of emergency temporarily restricted
several basic freedoms, including freedom of assembly," says the
report which is published on the official web site of the organization.

According to the report on March 1, special police forces confronted
the demonstrators using excessive force, beating them with batons and
attacking fleeing demonstrators. Some demonstrators also resorted to
violence, including throwing stones and burning vehicles.

"Under pressure from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe (PACE), the Armenian authorities have taken steps to establish
an independent inquiry into the March 1 events, but have yet to hold
anyone responsible for the deaths."
From: Baghdasarian

RASIM MUSABEYOV: "MOSCOW ASSURED BAKU THAT ARMS, WITHDRAWN FROM GEORGIA, ARE NOT INTENDED FOR ARMENIA"

Today.Az
olitics/50108.html
Jan 14 2009
Azerbaijan

When after August events a part of the Russian military hardware,
withdrawn from Georgia, was transported to Armenia via Azerbaijan,
Moscow assured Baku that it is not intended for Armenia, said political
scientist Rasim Musabeyov, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

"Moscow has openly assured Azerbaijan of that and the delivery of
Russian arms to Armenia today contradicts to the said promises",
noted he commenting on supply of Armenia with military hardware in
the amount of $800,000,000.

According to Rasim Musabeyov, there is nothing unusual in it as earlier
"Moscow had supplied Yerevan with military hardware of a total of
$1 bln".

"Russia and Armenia are direct military allies and Azerbaijan knew
it when it agreed for the mediation of Moscow in the resolution of
the Karabakh conflict. But at the same time, we must tell Russia
that we consider such actions contradicting to the mediation mission
and this will inevitably have its negative influence", noted the
political scientist.

It should be noted that local mass media report that Armenian side
received arms in the amount of $800,000,000 from the dislocated
Russian military base No 102 in Gumri.

Notably, in 1996 Russia supplied Armenia with arms in the amount of
$1 bln. Though the government of this country has long been refuting
it, later it was obliged to confirm the fact. But Russia did not stop
supplying Armenia after 1995, from time to time delivering some types
of weapon to the Armenian army.
From: Baghdasarian