Author: Chalian Meline

AZERBAIJAN: CPJ DENOUNCES CONTINUED IMPRISONMENT OF JOURNALIST

Committee to Protect Journalists press release, New York
24 Aug 07

Text of press release by the New York-based Committee to Protect
Journalists (CPJ) on 24 August

New York, 24 August: The Committee to Protect Journalists denounces
the continued imprisonment of Eynulla Fatullayev, editor of the
now-shuttered Russian-language weekly Realny Azerbaijan and the
Azeri-language daily Gundalik Azarbaycan.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan upheld Fatullayev’s
30-month prison sentence on charges of defaming Azerbaijanis in
an article.

Fatullayev has been held in the Ministry of National Security
isolation ward since his 20 April conviction by the Yasamal District
Court in Baku. His family has been denied visitation rights, said
Uzeir Jafarov, editor after Fatullayev of Gundalik Azarbaycan and
Fatullayev’s trustee.

Neither Jafarov nor Fatullayev’s defense lawyer, Isakhan Ashurov, were
notified of Wednesday’s Supreme Court hearing, Jafarov told CPJ. A
four-judge panel affirmed Fatullayev’s earlier verdict in the absence
of legal counsel and journalists. Fatullayev’s defense is preparing
an appeal to the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights,
Jafarov told CPJ.

"We are shocked by the continued politicized imprisonment of Eynulla
Fatullayev and the harassment of his staffers," CPJ Executive Director
Joel Simon said. "We call on Azerbaijani authorities to drop all
charges against Fatullayev, release him immediately, and allow his
two newspapers to resume work without fear of reprisal.

In addition to being imprisoned on a defamation indictment, Fatullayev
is being investigated on a vague charge of "terrorism," filed against
him by national security authorities in May. If convicted, the
embattled editor faces 12 additional years behind bars. In late May,
agents searched both Realny Azerbaijan’s and Gundalik Azarbaycan’s
offices for ties to terrorism, and confiscated all the papers’
21 computers, in effect paralyzing the newsrooms’ operations. The
newspapers’ staffers have been unemployed since, Jafarov told CPJ. The
ministry has interrogated at least five of the journalists, according
to local press reports.

Defamation charges against Fatullayev stemmed from an undated Internet
posting attributed to him, which he said he did not write. Tatyana
Chaladze, head of the Azeri Center for Protection of Refugees and
Displaced Persons, filed civil lawsuit in February and a criminal
complaint in April against Fatullayev. Chaladze cited the remark,
which said Azerbaijanis were responsible for the 1992 massacre of
ethnic Azeri residents of the Nagorno-Karabakh town of Khodjali,
according to local press reports.

Later, press reports said Fatullayev’s April conviction was actually
based on his 2005 article titled "Karabakhsky Dnevnik" ("Karabakh
Diary"), in which he wrote that Armenian forces had given an escape
corridor to Azeri civilians who would try to flee Khodjali. Fatullayev
had published the article in Realny Azerbaijan’s predecessor,
the opposition magazine Monitor, which folded after the 2 March
2005, contract-style murder of its editor, Elmar Huseynov. However,
Fatullayev was convicted because of the Internet comment attributed
to him, not because of this article.

The terror charge against Fatullayev comes from a commentary,
headlined "The Aliyevs Go to War," published earlier this year in
the Russian-language weekly Realny Azerbaijan and written by reporter
Rovshan Bagirov. The commentary focused on President Ilham Aliyev’s
foreign policy regarding Iran. It contained harsh, critical language
about the Azerbaijani government. Security officials did not elaborate
on the charges or explain how the piece amounted to terrorism. The
criminal investigation of Fatullayev on that charge is ongoing,
according to local press reports.

With seven behind bars, Azerbaijan is the leading jailer of journalists
in Europe and Central Asia. On 2 August CPJ expressed its concern
regarding Azerbaijan’s press freedom record at a U.S. Helsinki
Commission hearing on "Freedom of the Media in the OSCE Region."

BRITISH MP VISITS NAGORNYY KARABAKH REPUBLIC [NKR]

Arminfo, Yerevan
25 Aug 07

Stepanakert, 25 August: Nagornyy Karabakh republic [NKR] parliament
speaker Ashot Ghulyan has received British House of Commons member
Stephen Pound and people accompanying him.

The NKR parliament press service reported that Pound, mentioning that
it was his first visit to Nagornyy Karabakh, said he was led by a wish
to familiarize himself with the realities here since information from
outside does not always give a realistic picture of a country.

Ghulyan expressed the hope that during their visit, the guests would
get comprehensive information about the republic through various
meetings.

Ghulyan briefed Pound on the public and political life of Nagornyy
Karabakh, the socioeconomic situation, achievements in the educational
field and pointed out priority issues and perspectives.

PENETRATION OF SWINE FEVER INTO ARMENIA WILL BE CONFIRMED OR REJECTED ONLY AFTER LABORATORY EXAMINATIONS, EXPERT SAYS

arminfo
2007-08-27 10:16:00

It is earlier to speak of swine fever penetration into Armenia before
the completion of laboratory examination, Head of the Livestock Disease
Control and Analysis Department, State Inspectorate for Food Safety
and Veterinary of Armenia, Eduard Stepanyan, told ArmInfo.

He said biological samples of the animals from Lori and Tavush
regions, where swine mortality was registered last week, have been
submitted to laboratory examination. Specialists from Russia were
invited to make precise diagnosis. Only after the final results
of the examination it will be possible to make a resolution on the
swine fever penetration into the country, E. Stepanyan said. Swine
epizootological monitoring is underway in the above regions. In
addition, the control over import of meat and animals into the country
has been toughened. As before, vehicles and shoes are disinfected
at the frontier checkpoints. Moreover, ‘dangerous’ meat products
are confiscated and liquidated on the Armenian-Georgian border. The
disease is not dangerous for human health. However, its penetration
will cause a serious economic damage to the country, he said.

To recall, Georgia is the first country in CIS were African swine
fever was registered.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 24 2007

Winding of drainage pump’s engine at Armenian nuclear power plant
runs bot without igniting flame

YEREVAN, August 24. /ARKA/. The winding of drainage pump’s engine at
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant run bot on Thursday without igniting
flame.

Armenian Rescue Service told ARKA News Agency on Friday that the
alarming information was received at 11:15 local time.

According to the information the second energy block’s drainage pump
puffed smoke.

Fire fighters on site said that the overheating poses no threat to
the plant. M.V.-0—

Panorama.am

17:53 24/08/2007

HEALTH MINISTRY REPORTS 48 CASES OF SNAKEBITE

Resident of the village of Voskehat G. Vardanyan has been transported
to Ashtarak hospital with a snakebite today. Doctors say her state of
health is `normal.’ Press Adviser of the Minister of Health Ruslana
Gevorgyan told a correspondent of Panorama that 48 cases of snakebites
have been registered throughout the republic since August 10. Last
year, their number totaled 74.

Gevorgyan assured all health institutions are supplied with enough
antigiurza (an anti-snake medicine). One bottle of antigiurza costs
50,000 Armenian drams and the total treatment costs 78,000 which is
covered by the state, minister adviser said.

Source: Panorama.am

IRAN CALLS FOR NEGOTIATED SOLUTION TO KARABAKH CONFLICT

Fars News Agencyi
Aug 22 2007
Iran

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said
that Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved through negotiations,
reminding that all the world issues could be settled down through
dialogue and on the basis of law and justice.

Speaking to reporters in a press conference in the Republic of
Azerbaijan on Wednesday, he stressed the need for the solution of
Karabakh issue through diplomatic means and negotiations, and said, "We
should strive to resolve conflicts and issues on the basis of mutual
respect and law in a bid to pave the way for friendship among nations."

Ahmadinejad said Iran wants progress, peace and tranquility for its
neighboring states, and reiterated the necessity for the two sides
to resolve the conflict in the framework of law to maintain peace
and friendship.

Referring to Iran-Azerbaijan ties, he said some forces, which do not
respect the rights of nations, oppose friendly ties between Tehran
and Baku.

"Those forces only seek their own benefit, trample on nations rights
under democracy, and do not value the rights of other nations,"
he said.

Pointing to the Palestinian nation as an example, the Iranian president
added, "People are driven out from their original lands by force,
by bloodshed. And those forces speak about democracy," he said.

The Iranian President said that those forces cause world nations
to face problems. He further called on such forces to change their
policy and respect the rights of other nations.

"Let’s finish all these crimes, we are inviting you to friendship and
security. Peace and tranquility should be restored in the world. The
nations are already awakening. We want peace, friendship and just
relations between nations. Iranian nation is moving in this direction,"
he said.

Ahmadinejad also viewed the two nations’ relations as cordial and
developing, and stated that the two countries are closely cooperating
in political, economical, cultural and international grounds.

Concerning his talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, he
said that negotiations focused on deepening relations between the
two countries.

"Talks focused on peace and tranquility in the region, improvement,
necessity of the development and improvement of both nations. We assume
that Azerbaijan’s peace, development and stability is Iran’s peace,
development and stability. Our friend Azerbaijan thinks the same. I
am sure that our cooperation will further improve," he added.

Ahmadinejad voiced his hope that the cooperation between the two
countries will assist in developing security in the region.

He said that political, economic and humanitarian relations between
Azerbaijan and Iran are at a high level. According to the President,
the two countries actively support each other within international
organizations.

In addition, the President of Iran voiced his confidence in the success
of talks held during his official visit to Azerbaijan with regards to
the development of bilateral cooperation in the energy and transport
sectors, as well as in allocating mutual investments.

The Iranian president said that both Azerbaijan and Iran possess
great potentials, stressing common interests of the countries.

"Azerbaijan has huge potentials in the spheres of education, energy,
tourism, agriculture and others. Iran, in turn, has great opportunities
in fields of education, technology, nuclear technology, oil and
gas. Iran succeeded in industry and became exporter in agricultural
sphere, gained experience in urbanization," he said.

"Both Azerbaijan and Iran’s potential and experience are obvious. We
are cooperating in the spheres of education, joint investment and
international issues.

"There is nothing to interfere with our growing ties and cooperation.

There are some forces that do not want our friendship, and try to
make us to be in bad relations. But they are wrong. Iranian and
Azeri nations are brothers. Our nations’ prospects are much clear
and lustrous, while our mutual relations develop," Ahmadinejad stated.

He also underlined that Iran-Azerbaijan relations must set an example
for other states.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS DEVELOP IN ALL DIRECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Aug 24, 2007

SOCHI, AUGUST 24, NOYAN TAPAN. A meeting of the Armenian and Russian
presidents took place in the Russian president’s residence "Bocharov
Ruchey" in Sochi on August 23.

"Our meetings have become traditional. However, today’s meeting is
of special character because the 10th anniversary of our fundamental
document – the Agreement on Friendship and Cooperation is marked
now," the president of Russia said when receiving the Armenian
president. Vladimir Putin expressed satisfaction over the fact that
the relations between the two countries are developing successfully,
commodity turnover is growing, and allied cooperation has been
established in the political sphere.

Robert Kocharian in his turn noted that Armenian-Russian relations
are developing in all directions: investments, commodity turnover,
as well as technical military and political cooperation. The Armenian
president pointed out that there is a dynamic progress in bilateral
relations. He stated the willingness of the Armenian side to promote
this process at the highest level.

Then the presidents of Armenia and Russia discussed a wide range
of issues related to bilateral relations, including the development
prospects of bilateral relations, the implementation of large-scale
joint projects in Armenia, as well as some international and regional
problems.

ALEXIS GIOVJIAN AWARDED LEGION OF HONOR MEDAL
By H. Tsulikian

AZG Armenian Daily #152
24/08/2007

Social

On June 9 head of the Armenian Associations Coordination Committee
Alexis Giovjian was decorated with the highest award of France –
the Legion of Honor medal, which was handed to him by the head of
the Senate, reports August 11 release of "Armenian Mirror Spectator".

In 1993-96 Giovjian held the office of the head of the Yles de France
provincial council, in 1995 he was appointed the vice-president of
the AGBU French branch.

The Legion of Honor medal, established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802,
was previously also awarded to AGBU member benefactor Sona Attamian
and the renowned singer Charles Aznavour.

WINNERS OF BADMINTON TOURNAMENT BECOME KNOWN IN FOURTH ALL ARMENIAN GAMES

Noyan Tapan
Aug 23, 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The Badminton Tournament, in which
54 sportsmen from 13 cities of 8 countries (32 men and 22 women) took
part, and which was held by the plan of the fourth All Armenian Games,
finished in the Hrazdan sporting ground on August 23. Anna Nazarian
and Hayk Minasian (both from Armenia) gained the championship title in
solo games, and Anna Nazarian – Laura Samvelian, as well as Haroutiun
Poghosian and Ruben Poghosian couples (Yerevan) gained the title of
the champion in couple games.

CHANGES EXPECTED IN ARMENIAN TV MANAGEMENTS AHEAD OF PRESIDENTIAL POLLS – DAILY

Armenian newspaper 168 Zham
23 Aug 07, p 3
Yerevan

Excerpt from Lilit Seyranyan’s report by Armenian newspaper 168 Zham
on 23 August headlined "New TV season, new owners"

The authorities are planning serious changes in the Armenian TV
sector in September. They, however, keep this secret for unknown
reasons. We think that everybody understands why they have decided
to make personnel changes in the TV sector.

The thing is that the authorities have already set the date of the
next presidential election: it will be held on 17 February 2008. They
have also decided that Minister for Territorial Administration
Hovik Abrahamyan, who headed the election campaign headquarters
of the [governing] Republican Party of Armenia during the [12 May]
parliamentary election, will lead [Prime Minister] Serzh Sargsyan’s
campaign. One of the main factors when preparing for the presidential
election is making the TV sector more controllable with the help of
more loyal people.

[Passage omitted: the authorities do not care for papers due to their
small circulation]

According to our sources, Harutyun Harutyunyan, the director of the
[Public TV] "Haylur" news programme, and Public TV director Armen
Arzumanyan will be sacked. Changes will also affect Public Radio,
whose director Armen Amiryan, according to the same sources, will quit.

[Passage omitted: Amiryan told the paper he is not aware of such
changes]

There are also rumours that there will be changes of ownership at the
H2 [Second Armenian TV Channel], ALM and Kentron TV channels. According
to our information, ALM’s management will be handed over the Sharm
Company, which, for a short period, managed Kentron TV.

But as always, Tigran Karapetyan, the chairman of the ALM Holding
company, refuses to confirm that the authorities are trying to take
away his TV company from him.

[Passage omitted: Karapetyan is quoted by the paper he has no plans
of selling his company]

As for H2, according to the information we have, the authorities
have decided to sell it to businessman Mikhail Baghdasarov. There
are rumours that Murad Muradyan, the owner of the BAMO Company,
will become the owner of Kentron TV.

It is unclear why the authorities keep all these possible changes
secret.

Maybe, they have not yet decided who should be given which TV company.