Author: Chakrian Hovsep

DM SEYRAN OHANYAN LEAVING FOR SAINT PETERSBURG

armradio.am
14.10.2008 11:53

The delegation headed by the Defense Minister of the Republic of
Armenia, Mr. Seyran Ohanyan is leaving for Saint Petersburg today for
a two-day official visit to participate in the recurrent sitting of
the Defense Ministers of CIS member states on October 15.

During the sitting the CIS Defense Ministers will sum up the results
of activity of CIS statutory bodies in 2008 and will sign the 2009
plan of the Council of CIS Defense Ministers.

Panorama.am
19:31 10/10/2008

POLITICIAN: WHAT COULD ARMENIA GAIN

Russia started to support Armenia to have improved relationship with
Turkey and opened boarders, said politician Ervand Bozoyan in a press
conference and added that the new policy surely has its own
aftermaths. According to him Russia is working on a long term struggle
policy against Georgia, and Moscow has an apprehension that Armenia,
its strategic companion, will appear in a complete blockade.

`Russia has a mission to create such situation in Georgia to prove the
West that without Russia they will not manage to have energy
security. Russia and United States fight for strengthening their
influence and for their interests in general,’ said the politician.

Georgia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan are nominated to join NATO, which is a
threat for Russia for creating a closed circle. Politician Manvel
Sargsyan was present at the press conference. He agreed with the
colleague that many questions are being solved for Armenia with
Russian support.

Source: Panorama.am

AN INTERVIEW OF THE NKR PRESIDENT TO "AZAT ARTSAKH" NEWSPAPER

Azat Artsakh Daily
09 Oct 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

Mr Sahakyan a year has passed after accepting the post of the NKR
President?

For what it was significant for You and for the republic?Have you
managed to realize everything foreseen this year? – Although a year is
a short period of time, but it has been rather full for our republic. I
want to emphasize especially, that the questions connected with safety
are considered first and foremost for us. The problem of continuous
increase of fighting ability of Defence Army has been always in the
in the focus of permanent attention. Our armed forces are able to
give any infringement a deserving counter-attack, testimony of which
was the effective stopping of the opponent’s armed attack on March
3-4. During last year a considerable progress has been fixed nearly
in all the spheres of the economy. By the results of the first term of
the current year, the NKR gross output has compiled 35.3 milliard drams
instead of the previous year’s 28.7 milliard drams, 8.1 per cent real
increase has been provided. By account of a soul, the gross output has
compiled 252.9 thousand drams, instead of the previous year’s 208.3
thousand drams. In comparison with the previous year’s same period
of time, in the first term of 2008 money incomes of the population
h ave increased by 22.4 per cent, the average monthly named salary –
20.2 per cent, real salary – 13.2 per cent. The average list amount of
employees in the economy has been considerably increased. Unprecedented
changes have taken place also in the volume and structure of the state
budget.The state budget of 2008 with its volumes exceeds the previous
year by more than 1.3 times. The sums directed to the agriculture,
forest and water economy in the state budget of 2008 exceed the index
of 2007 by about 3.8 times, in the sphere of social maintenance –
by about 1.5 times..

The difference in the sphere of education and science has compiled
27 per cent, in capital investments – 22 per cent, in the sphere of
culture – about 29 per cent. A number of programs having strategical
importance have started and are developing with all strength in
the republic. For example, restoration of reservoirs of Khachen and
Mataghis. Realization of such and other programs will give a chance
to irrigate some thousand hectares area of land , to product some
tens million kwt/h electricity.

"Artsakhfruit" enterprise has already begun to work, the complex of
mill and bread factory have restarted in the capital of the republic.At
the same time I find that there are still many tasks. In the structure
of NKR gross output I consider necessary providing of specific weight
especially on account of production of20agricultural and industrial
goodsAlmost in all the spheres serious works should be realized for
providing necessary rate of development.All this requires painstaking
and consistent work. – The process of formation of state budget of
2009 has already begun in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. What will be
its direction, which are the main primacies and perspectives of NKR
socio-economical development? – Now the first stage of budget process
is realized. The next year’s budget will obviously exceed the budget of
2008. Certainly, the budget of 2009 will also have underlined social
direction. The embraceable part of coming year’s expenses of state
budget were the expenses direcing to social sphere, particularly to
social insuarance and social maintenance. For the sphere of social
defence the sums foreseen in the state budget of 2009, with regard to
the budget of 2008, will exceed by 20 per cent.Wholly, assignments
to all the spheres will increase. Of course, all the spheres are
important, and in each sphere there are urgent questions. But at
present, for the development of our country agriculture, industry,
energetic sphere, education and science, construction have special
importance. Here rather important programs will be also realized. –
The obvious unbalanced character of development of the center and
regions is noticeable in the republic. What steps the NKR management
is about to take for abolishment of today=E 2s disproportion and
providing of even development of the capital and regions? – The future
of our country and its economy greatly depends on the development
of the republic’s regions, particularly country settlements. Taking
into consideration the pecularities of different territories and
today’s potential, works are realized by the state in the direction of
revelation of more optimal ways of villages’ development.For conducting
a new quality to the regions’ development it’s necessary to develop
substructures in villages, which will favour solution of many problems
having strategical important significance for our republic.Here
I’d like particularly to distinguish restoration of irrigation
system, providing of necessary village equipments, preparation and
qualification of cadres, restoration of information and means of
communication and organization of their unfailing work.Taking into
consideration the circumstance, that the development of our regions
is connected with agriculture, for the purpose of development of
this sphere in the circles of realizing arrangements reforms are
realized. For example, in the sphere of tax pedantism some changes
have taken place. The tax of land in 2007 for a hectare has compiled
12 thousand 200 drams, then from January 1st,2008 it is already
8000 drams. Solution of today’s problems in the spheres of culture,
education, health service and development of these spheres in re
gions are also in the focus of the state’s attention. Development of
irrigation system and solution of water problems in regions are urgent.

Speaking about development of regions I consider very important not
only the work of the state’s central links, but the activity of local
authorities. In our state governing system local authorities are
one of weak links, which is especially expressed in administrative
sphere. Those are problems which need time. But we are inflexible
and we’ll do all possible for providing stable development of our
regions. – One of urgent problems is improvement of demographic
situation in the republic, which has also important political
significance. NKR authorities touched upon the problem many times, but
the situation is not essentially changed, though 14 years have already
passed after establishment of ceasefire. – Progress of the state is
almost closely connected with stable demographic increase. In our case
demography has especial importance, as our greatest wealth is people
and its potential. Improvement of demographic situation is one of the
urgent problems of the republic. But I don’t share the viewpoint,
that the situation is not essentially changed in the sphere. On
the contrary, the situation has been radically changed. Demographic
situation in our country is rather stable. There is no leakage of
population.But more, number of population increases.At last period of
time, in economical and social spheres policy and complex arrangements
of the authorities have had positive influence upon demographical
some indexes.

So, during 8 months of 2008, in comparison with the previous year’s
same period of time a natural increase have increased by 111 persons,
mechanical – by 543. Owing to the well-known program realized by the
state in the country unprecedented increase of marriages have been
fixed.In the result of eight months of the current year it has compiled
2160, which is 4.6 times more than the marriages fixed in the same
period of time of the previous year. With all that, We must state, that
there are much tasks in this sphere.It’s necessary to be consistent
and to continue realization of complex programs,especially in regions
and countries. There are all conditions in our country for providing
stable demographic increase, and the authorities will do everything
to bring the demographic situation up to the dezired level. – The
most vulnerable stratum of our republic are the families of victims
of Karabakh war, invalids and the missing. What steps are taken in
the direction of improvement of this stratum’s social condition? –
Socially unprovided groups of population have been always in the focus
of the authorities’ attention. Serious works are realized for solution
of the latters’ social problems. On account of the state budget’s
mea ns treatment of the members of families of killed servicemen
and invalids is organized in sanatoria. Arrangements directed to the
improvement of vital conditions of families of invalids and victims
of the war are realized.Coming years we foresee to solve fully flat
problems of invalids and families of victims. I want to assure,
that henceforth, the state will do all the possible for alleviating
grief of invalids and families of killed azatamartiks and improving
their social conditions. – The events in Georgia have radically
changed army political situation in the South Caucasus. How will
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic construct its foreign political activity
in new condition? Will the NKR management’s position, strategy
bear changes in the process of Karabakh conflict settlement? – Army
political situation in the South Caucasus has been really changed,
and all this is taken into consideration in the process of conducting
our country’s foreign policy. But there are fundamental principles,
which will remain unchanging.These are steadiness and multidirections
of foreign policy, waylaying of karabakhian-azrbaijanian conflict
peace settlement, Artsakh’s participation in negotiating process. Our
approach to Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s future has remained
unchanging. Independence and safety of Artsakh are not liable to
speculations and bargainings.

_id=3D10686

The Wisconsin Jewish ChronicleWednesday=2C October 8=2C 2008

Article wrong about ADL’s Armenian genocide ‘reversal’

As a member of the `ragtag group of activists in Boston’ mentioned in
the JTA article `In 5768, establishment faced new upstarts’ in the
Sept. 26 Chronicle, I must object to the writer’s statement that the
Anti-Defamation League `reversed its refusal to recognize the Armenian
genocide.’

In fact, the ADL worded its August 2007 release in such a way as to
actually contravene the international legal definition of genocide.

The phrasing circumvents the `intent’ required by the 1948 United
Nations Genocide Convention by suggesting that Armenians died simply
as a `consequence’ of World War I conditions and not from a planned
program of extermination – which just happens to be Turkey’s position.

The Massachusetts Municipal Association and 12 of the 13 Massachusetts
communities that dissociated from the ADL’s No Place for Hate program
did so after the ADL’s statement, judging it unacceptable.

The ADL has been playing a double game, issuing a disingenuous
statement while simultaneously advancing the Turkish government’s
agenda by opposing a Congressional resolution formally affirming the
Armenian genocide.

Moreover, ADL leaders have repeatedly endorsed Turkey’s call for a
historical commission to investigate the Armenian genocide, much like
Ahmadinejad’s 2006 conference that purported to examine the Holocaust.

This denying tactic has been condemned by the International
Association of Genocide Scholars, as well as groups like the Southern
Poverty Law Center.

ECONOMY OVERSHADOWS EX-SOVIET MEETING

AFP
October 8, 2008 – 3:36PM

Leaders of a Moscow-dominated group of post-Soviet states are in
Kyrgyzstan for talks overshadowed by worldwide financial turmoil and
Russia’s recent march into Georgia.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev heads the list at the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) meeting. Many of the 10 or so attendees are
torn between Russia and the West and the meeting agenda will focus on
"harmonic" economic cooperation, according to the Kyrgyz hosts.

Sceptics say that meetings of the CIS, a group created in 1991 on the
ashes of the Soviet Union, have long been staid affairs characterised
by perfunctory handshakes for the media and producing little of
concrete significance.

However they have also been a forum for talks on anything from Caspian
energy to growing Western influence and a simmering conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan – with differences sometimes springing into
the open.

"CIS summits were the only place for the leaders of Russia, Ukraine and
Georgia to peacefully discuss their differences," said Kazakhstan-based
analyst Eduard Poletayev, adding that Central Asian leaders were
likely to approach Russia with special caution after August’s war
between Russia and Georgia.

A factor limiting the potential for sparks to fly will be the absence
of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who announced before a
crowd on August 12: "We have taken a decision: Georgia is quitting
the CIS…. Soviet Union, goodbye forever!"

With that announcement, CIS membership dropped from 12 to 11 ex-Soviet
republics.

A question mark remained over the attendance of Saakashvili’s
pro-Western ally President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine, after the
Georgian president urged other CIS states to follow his lead.

The run-up to the summit has seen a flurry of US diplomatic visits
to energy-rich southern neighbours of Russia, with US Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice urging Kazakhstan’s leader on Sunday to help
regeneration of war-torn Afghanistan, where Moscow long ago ceded
the lead role to Washington.

The host, Kyrgyzstan, exemplifies the tensions at play, as it is home
to both Russian and US military bases, the US presence having come
in for periodic Russian criticism.

Poletayev, who edits the regional affairs journal Mir v Azii, said
he saw little chance of a wave of leaders following Russia’s lead
and coming out to recognise the independence of two Georgian rebel
regions that Moscow recognised as independent after the August war.

Belarus, which has a "union state" agreement with Russia, has come
under particular pressure but has deferred the issue until the opening
of a new parliament session later this month.

The war in Georgia, in which Russia presented its intervention as
defending Russian citizens, "made Central Asian leaders understand
(Russia’s) revival continues and they must express their love and
friendship", said Poletayev, adding however he doubted this meant a
real loss of Western influence.

For Yevgeny Volk, head of the Moscow office of the US Heritage
Foundation, this week’s free-fall on the Russian stock market is
further proof that Moscow’s bark is worse than its bite, something
he says neighbours will understand.

"On the surface we see there’s a great degree of warmth and friendship
but the deep interests of these nations differ greatly from Russia’s,"
said Volk.

"The economic crisis we’re now facing certainly has delivered a very
serious blow to the myth of Russian strength," he said.

Medvedev is due in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek on Thursday.

LAVROV INTENDS TO DISCUSS COOPERATION OF RUSSIA AND ARMENIA IN SPHERE OF SECURITY IN TRANSCAUCASIA

ArmInfo
2008-10-01 18:47:00

ArmInfo. Within the next few days Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov will visit Yerevan to discuss the cooperation of Russia
and Armenia in the sphere of security in Transcaucasia, official
representative of the Russian foreign ministry Andrey Nesterenko
says. Nesterenko notes that during the visit Lavrov will tell Armenian
Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandyan about the Russian assessment of the
situation "which arose as a result of Georgia’s aggression against
South Ossetia and Russia’s decisions on recognition of independence
of South Ossetia and Abkhazia". According to Nesterenko, Moscow hopes
for continuation of joint close work within the frames of CIS and
CSTO, as well as other authoritative international organizations,
including the UN, CoE and OSCE. The diplomat points out that the
discussions will also cover the Karabakh peace process. "Russia will
be ready to support the variant of the conflict settlement which be
acceptable for the parties to the conflict, and it will be a guarantor
of settlement if compromise agreement is reached", Nesterenko says.

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF EXERCISES COOPERATIVE LONGBOW 08 AND COOPERATIVE LANCER 08 IN ARMENIA

p;p=0&id=670&y=2008&m=09&d=30
29.0 9.08

Yerevan, Armenia – Earlier today, an official opening ceremony held
by Armenia, NATO and Partnership for Peace Nations officially launched
two exercises called Cooperative Longbow 08 and Cooperative Lancer 08
(CO LW / CO LR 08) in Yerevan, Armenia.

Approximately 1,000 military personnel from Canada, Greece, Hungary,
Lithuania, Poland the United Kingdom, the United States of America,
Albania, Armenia (as the host nation), Austria, Bosnia Herzegovina,
the Czech Republic, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia1,
Kazakhstan, Moldova, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates will take
part in the two exercises from September 26 – October 20, 2008.

"The exercises are hosted by the Republic of Armenia, as a full member
of the international community, and driven by our readiness to fulfill
our commitments to ensure international security," said Mr. Ohanyan,
Minister of Defence of the Republic.

"This COOPERATIVE exercise provides Alliance and Partner Nations
with the opportunity to build relationships, share experiences and
techniques, and enhance the professionalism of all our forces," said
Lieutenant General John Gardner, Deputy-Commander Land Component
Command, Heidleberg during the opening ceremony. "Multinational
operations are20challenging by their very nature, and the experience
and lessons learned here will enhance the effectiveness of all of
our armies and armed forces."

NATO’s Partnership for Peace exercises are a vital tool in developing
and enhancing the ability of diverse international forces to work
together effectively during NATO-led multinational peace support
operations and crisis response operations.

The exercise is designed to allow participating nations to work more
effectively and to better prepare for the challenging global security
environment.

FOREIGN MINISTERS MEET

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
27 Sep 2008
Armenia

Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers Edward Nalbandyan and Elmar
Mamedyarov yesterday met in New York. The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
and OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andjey Kasporchik were also present at
their meeting.

After this discussion, American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza announced
to the journalists that the meeting had been very constructive. "We
discussed all the elements required for the further settlement of the
conflict. We find that it is very important for the two Presidents
to have a meeting in the near future.

Of course, we do not anticipate turning points at the moment because
this is the first time after the recent developments in Georgia that
there emerged an opportunity for exchanging viewpoints prior to the
elections of Azerbaijan. We do not anticipate any changes in the
format in connection with the elections to be held Azerbaijan. This
format contributes to the process; it works in a normal manner,
and the Ministers agree to it," the American diplomat said.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEETS PRESIDENT OF CYPRUS AND UN SECRETARY GENERAL IN NEW YORK

ARMENPRESS
Sep 26, 2008

NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 26, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
met today in New York with the President of the Cyprus Republic
Dmitris Khristofias.

During the meeting the heads of the two countries noted about the
high level of inter-state relations between Armenia and Cyprus and
pointed out about the great mutual respect of the peoples of the two
countries towards each other coming from history.

The president of Cyprus highly assessed the role of the Cyprian
Armenian community in the consolidation of friendship between Armenia
and Cyprus. Serzh Sargsyan on his part thanked his Cyprian counterpart
for the state care towards the Armenian community.

With the request of D. Khristofias, Serzh Sargsyan presented his
approaches towards the regulation of Armenian-Turkish relations. The
president of Cyprus, on his turn, presented to the Armenian president
the details of the current round of negotiations over the regulation of
the Cyprus issue. During the meeting an arrangement has been reached
over conducting mutual official visits.

Afterwards, Armenian president conducted meeting with the UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-Moon. During the meeting the sides referred to a number
of regional issues, including Karabakh conflict regulation process
and current Armenian-Turkish dialogue.

UN Secretary General highly assessed the "football diplomacy" of the
Armenian president and the visit of the Turkish President Abdullah
Gul to Yerevan, expressing readiness to promote the improvement of
Armenian-Turkish relations.

UNEXPECTED VERDICT

A1+
[09:01 pm] 25 September, 2008

Today the Kentron-Nork Marash district court presided by Judge Gayane
Karakhanyan reached an unexpected verdict and approved the arbitration
to release former Minister of State Revenues, member of the "Republic"
party political council Smbat Ayvazyan and his lawyers. The court
clarified the verdict with the rather substantiated reasons stated
in the text written by the lawyers, according to which on September
10 Gayane Karakhanyan had received the case, yet she had not defined
the procedure and deadlines for sending arbitrations and/or appeals
to court. The verdict was sent to the lawyers on September 15 and
they did not have the chance to present the arbitrations before the
court hearing.

Gayane Karakhanyan has selected Ayvazyan’s pretrial measures once and
delayed them twice; however, lawyers claim that he was kept in prison
illegally. The arbitration states that with the approval of the three
pretrial arbitrations, the presiding judge already has biased opinions
regarding the guiltiness of the prisoner, the outcome and she can’t
be subjective about the case in question. The judge had to dismiss
the court taking into account the circumstances.

Those present in the court-room applauded the judge on her way
out. Smbat Ayvazyan stated that this is also a fight and is yet
another victory for the opposition. "Next time the plaintiff will
give up. They have no other way out; this is not a case. This is yet
another loss for the criminal regime," said Smbat Ayvazyan.

Perhaps the verdict was unexpected for the plaintiff as well, but
he wasn’t really surprised. "It is up to the court to decide," said
Hovsep Sargsyan. Is it possible to see the plaintiff step down? In
response to that he said: "They have not dismissed us. If they do
and if it is substantiated, then I will accept it. If not, then I
will obviously not accept it," told "A1+" plaintiff Hovsep Sargsyan.