Author: Chalian Meline

AMD 2.5 million spent for cleaning Yerevan’s center after public unrest
broken out last weekend

YEREVAN, March 6. /ARKA/. Yerevan Municipality has spent AMD 2.5
million ($8,100) for cleaning the city’s center after public unrest
broken out last weekend, Kamo Areyan, the city vice-mayor said Thursday
at a press conference.

Post-election protests escalated into disorder in Yerevan. As a result,
damage was inflicted to some private and state-owned buildings,
including the city hall.

Areyan said 408 cubic meters of garbage were removed from Liberty
Square and nearby areas. `44 refuse collectors and 25 street
sprinklers were used for the cleaning’, he said.

He said burnt down cars were taken away. The money was allocated from
the budgets of Yerevan’s district of Kentron (Center) and the
municipality.

Eight people were killed and 131 injured in clashes. 36 cars were
burnt and private offices destroyed.
President Kocharyan imposed a 20-day state of emergency on March 1.
M.V.-0—

350 witnesses questioned within the frames of criminal case on the fact
of mass disorder in Yerevan on 1 March

2008-03-07 17:25:00

ArmInfo. A total of 350 witnesses were questioned within the frames of
the criminal case on the fact of mass disorder in Yerevan on 1 March,
Armenian Prosecutor General Agvan Hovsepyan said at the
press-conference, Friday.

He also added that 53 people were arrested and 16 detained. Over a
short period of time since formation of an investigation group headed
by the head of special investigation service Andranik Mirzoyan, the
group implemented an effective work. There are many video documents and
evidences which prove that all the actions directed to violation of the
constitutional regime, power capture, organization of mass disorder
were organized from a single centre.We have got the information were
the batons and metal rods, used during mass disorder and clashes with
the police, were made, as well as the information about money and
alcohol drinks delivery and training of the groups that attacked.
Hovsepyan said that such groups were trained not only in Yerevan but in
the regions as well. He also said that all the arrested people have a
right to have lawyer. As for a demand ‘to release all the arrested and
detained people to start a dialogue’, Hovsepyan thinks such demands are
illegal and look like an attempt of making pressure upon the
investigation.

Turan, Azerbaijan
March 6 2008

US ENVOY CONCERNED AT DEADLY TRUCE VIOLATION IN BREAKAWAY AZERI
REGION

Baku, 6 March: "The USA deeply regrets the deaths in the 4-5 March
hostilities. We are calling on thegovernments of Armenia and
Azerbaijan to make everything possible to observe the cease-fire
regime," US Ambassador [to Azerbaijan] Anne Derse has told reporters,
commenting on the aggravation of the situation in north of Karabakh
[aspublished]. "We think that there is no a military option for
solving the problem and further escalation will pose athreat to the
regional stability. That tragic events have shown once again that the
parties should work with the OSCEMinsk Group to reach a peaceful
solution [to the Karabakh conflict]," she said.

She added that the US administration had had relevant contacts with
the authorities of Armenia and Azerbaijan andthey were notified of
Washington’s clear position. The US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk
Group, Matthew Bryza, spokeabout this with the Azerbaijani
authorities yesterday [5 March]. Today he is continuing meetings and
talks with theArmenian leadership in Yerevan. The aim of the
consultations is to persuade the parties to restore the cease-fire
andconfidence in each other, Anne Derse said.

[In an earlier report at 1542 gmt on 5 March 2008, Turan reported
that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and USco-chairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group Matthew Bryza had discussed US-Azerbaijani relations, the
current state of theKarabakh peace talks, and energy cooperation
issues in Baku on 5 March.]

CARDINAL BERTONE, IN ARMENIA, MOURNS GENOCIDE VICTIMS

Catholic World News
March 6 2008

Yerevan, Mar. 6, 2008 (CWNews.com) – Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone (bio –
news) met with Armenian Church and state leaders and paid tribute to
the victims of the Armenian genocide during an abbreviated visit to
that country.

The Vatican Secretary of State had originally planned to visit Armenia
from March 2 to 6, but postponed his arrival because of a political
crisis in the country. Arriving on March 4, he met with Catholicos
Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. On March 5
the Italian cardinal prayed at the tomb of the late Archbishop Nerses
Der Nersessian, the first Armenian Catholic bishop of Eastern Europe,
who held that post from 1991 until 2004. Then he visited the resident
of the current leader of that Eastern Catholic Church, Archbishop
Nechan Karakeheyan. Later the cardinal celebrated Mass at a hospital
in Giumri.

Cardinal Bertone met the next day with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian, who thanked the Vatican for its efforts to raise awareness
of the Armenian genocide. The cardinal then visited the Armenian
Genocide Museum, laying a wreath there in honor of the victims.

Leaving Armenia on March 6, the cardinal continued on to Azerbaijan,
where he was greeted by a group of dignitaries including Prime
Minister Arthur Rasizadeh and the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Claudio
Gugerotti. Cardinal Bertone will remain in Azerbaijan through March 9.

ARMENIA’S PRIME-MINISTER RECEIVES VATICAN SECRETARY OF STATE

ARKA
March 5, 2008

YEREVAN, March 5. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Prime-Minister Serge Sargsian
received the Secretary of State of Vatican Tarcisio Bertone who
arrived in Yerevan Tuesday, the government press service reported.

The visit of the Pope, John Paul the II to Armenia in 2001 laid
groundwork for further development of friendly relations between
Armenia and Vatican, the Prime-Minister said in welcoming the official
visit of the cardinal to Armenia.

Sargsian expressed gratitude for opening a square after the Gregory
Illuminator (the first Armenian Catholicos) in Vatican and for the
warm words addressed to the Armenian people by the current pope
Benedict XVI.

"Together with Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin the II we have
prayed for peace in Armenia and for prompt settlement of complicated
situation in the country through peace political dialogues," cardinal
Bertone said.

The Prime-Minister of Armenia, in his turn, assured that everything
is done while maintaining tolerance and cooperation with political
forces for stable development of the country.

The sides stressed importance to continuing efforts in poverty
reduction in Armenia. Sargsian introduced the results of the implement
programs to the guest.

RA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE REFUTES RUMOURS OF AZERI SIDE ON TEN VICTIMS AND INJURED

Noyan Tapan
March 5, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 5, NOYAN TAPAN. In a number of foreign mass media there
are proclaimings referring to the message spread by the Ministry of
Defence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, according to which the NKR
armed forces allegedly suffered losses: ten victims and injured, as a
result of the breach of the conditional armistice on the border line
of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, to the north-east
of Martakert at about 05:00 on March 4.

The Press Service of the RA Ministry of Defence officially declares
that the defence army of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh has only
2 injured, moreover, one of them is gravely injured, however, there
is no danger to his life.

LEVON TER-PETROSIAN IN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

AZG Armenian Daily
06/03/2008

Local

On March 5, RA Constitutional Court heard Levon Ter-Petrosian’s action
against February 24 decision of Central Electoral Commission. To
recall, according to the mentioned decision, the newly elected
president of the Republic of Armenia is Serge Sargsian.

Levon Ter-Petrosian was also present at the hearing.

He demanded to annul the results of the elections, stop the state
of emergency, release all the arrested, provide opportunity for
free information, conduct March 1 incidents’ international free
investigation and start a dialogue with the authorities.

ARMENIAN CEASEFIRE VIOLATION KILLS TWO SOLDIERS OF AZERBAIJANI ARMY, WOUNDS CIVILIANS

Azeri Press Agency
March 4 2008
Azerbaijan

Terter. Teymur Guliyev-APA. Armenian armed forces have been firing on
the opposite positions of Azerbaijani army from the occupied Chilabirt
village of Terter region since morning.

APA~Rs Karabakh bureau reports that two soldiers of Azerbaijani army
died as a result of ceasefire violation. They are Nemet Gusayev, who
had been drafted from Zagatala region enlistment office, and Yusif
Gasimov, who had been drafted from Shaki region enlistment office.

The shootout continues.

Armenian armed forces have also violated ceasefire in the occupied
Talish village of Terter region. Armenians fired on Tapgaragoyunlu
village of Goranboy region, two residents of the village ~V Aliyev
Rahman Suleyman and Heydarov Mirala, Knyaz were wounded. Aliyev
wounded in his arm was taken to the central hospital, Heydarov was
offered medical aid and released.

Spokesman for Azerbaijani Defense Ministry Eldar Sabiroglu told APA
the shootout continued. He said the detailed information would be
given later.

CARS SET ALIGHT, LOOTING IN ARMENIAN CAPITAL

Agence France Presse
March 1, 2008 Saturday

Protesters set dozens cars on fire and looted shops in Armenia’s
capital on Saturday following clashes with police over a disputed
election, an AFP reporter at the scene witnessed.

The looting and car burning took place as authorities in the ex-Soviet
state sought to end days of protests over the results of the February
19 presidential election.

ABOUT 131 HOSPITALIZED FOLLOWING RIOTS IN ARMENIAN CAPITAL – OFFICIAL

Public TV
March 2, 2008 Sunday
Armenia

Armenia’s health minister has said that about 131 people were
hospitalized following riots in the capitalYerevan.

In an interview with Public TV, Harutyun Kushkyan said that the injured
included 72 soldiers and policemen and 59civilians. He added that 16
of the soldiers and 18 of the civilians received shrapnel wounds.