Author: Chatinian Lara

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION TO HOLD A RALLY IN THE CENTER OF YEREVAN FRI

ITAR-TASS
June 20 2008
Russia

YEREVAN, June 20 (Itar-Tass) — The Armenian Opposition will hold a
national rally in the center of the capital Yerevan on Friday. This
is going to be the first mass action by the supporters of the former
presidential candidate, Armenia’s first president, Levon Ter-Petrosian,
63. After losing the February 19 presidential election he agreed
to lead a powerful anti-government movement. After a ten-day-long
round-the-clock rally, dispersed by police there followed mass rioting
in the center of Yerevan on March 1 and 2. Ten died and some 200
others were injured.

The National People’s Movement Center has said in a statement the
organizers of Friday’s rally will seek to draw the attention of
the public at large and the authorities to progress in restoring
democratic freedoms in the republic, including the implementation
of Resolution 1609 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe on the activity of democratic institutions in Armenia.

"We welcome the promise given by the police to prevent mass rioting
and crimes during the rally," the Opposition said. It also believes
that "the attitude to provocateurs must be very harsh and the right
of other citizens to demonstrate must not be abused."

The Opposition disclaims the responsibility for the March 1-2 clashes
and blames the rioting on provocateurs. The rally’s organizers have
voiced the readiness to cooperate with the police in maintaining law
and order at the event.

Originally, the Opposition intended to gather its supporters in the
square in front of the opera theater. The city authorities denied
permission to offer an alternative site – the area in front of the
Institute of Ancient Manuscripts.

COOPERATION OF ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN LAW ENFORCERS BECOMES MORE PRACTICAL

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 20, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The president Serge Sargsian on
June 20 received the Russian minister of internal affairs Rashid
Nurgaliev who has arrived in Yerevan to participate in a sitting
of the joint collegium of the Armenian and Russian law enforcement
departments. S. Sargsian welcomed close cooperation between Armenian
and Russian law enforcers, considering it as an important component
of bilateral relations. He expressed confidence that the fight against
crime will become more efficient thanks to joint efforts.

R. Nurgalieb briefly presented the subjects discussed at the joint
sitting of the collegium, pointing out that they are extremely
urgent. In particilar, he spoke about the problem of detection and
arrest of those wanted by the police, noting that cooperation on
this problem has become more efficient. The interlocutors discussed
measures on prevention of internal dangers, and the need to intensify
the fight against inter-regional and other types of crimes. Expressing
confidence that cooperation with the new head of the RA police will
proceed successfully, R. Nurgaliev stated that cooperation of law
enforcers becomes more and more practical.

NT was informed by the RA president’s press service that under
conditions of increasing challenges, S. Sargsian attached special
importance to the exchange of operative information and experience. He
also gave priority to the public’s trust in and perception of police
work.

GENDARMERIE OFFICERS ‘KNEW OF PLOT MONTHS BEFORE DINK KILLING’

Today’s Zaman
June 20 2008
Turkey

Two gendarmerie officials accused of negligence of duty for failing
to act on warnings before the assassination of a journalist testified
in court yesterday that they were informed about the plot about six
months before the murder.

Hrant Dink, an Armenian-Turkish journalist, was shot dead in broad
daylight outside the office of his newspaper, Agos, in Ä°stanbul on
Jan. 19, 2007, by a nationalist teenager. The ensuing investigation
revealed that a group of ultra-nationalist youths were behind the
murder. Strong evidence suggested that some members of the group
had ties with the police department in Trabzon, the hometown of the
plotters. Some gendarmerie officers later confirmed that they had been
tipped off about the plot to kill Dink before the murder was committed.

"A noncommissioned gendarmerie officer, O.Å~^., told me in August 2006
that Yasin Hayal, who was allegedly involved in the Dink murder, had
plans to murder the Turkish-Armenian journalist. We wanted to share
this information with former commander of the Trabzon Gendarmerie
Command Col. Ali Oz, but he covered up the issue, saying he would
discuss it with us later," said one of the gendarmerie officers, H.Y.

Another gendarmerie officer, H.O.U., said he was informed by
O.Å~^. about the plot to murder Dink six months before the
assassination. "But I didn’t have the chance to interfere
in the incident, because our unit just deals with terrorist
activities. However, Dink’s murder is an incident related to public
peace," he added.

–Boundary_(ID_Ni6HHSSeM+7VZ9BSUyhsXA)–

TURKISH PUBLISHER CONVICTED OVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CLAIMS
Robert Tait in Istanbul

guardian.co.uk,
June 19, 2008

The publisher of a book by a British author acknowledging the 1915
Armenian genocide has been convicted under Turkey’s notorious Article
301, despite reforms intended to make the law less draconian.

Ragip Zarakolu was sentenced to five months in prison after a judge
ruled that The Truth Will Set Us Free, written by George Jerjian,
"insulted the Turkish republic".

He is not expected to serve time after the judge ruled that his
sentence could be reduced to a fine, citing good behaviour.

The conviction came despite a letter of support from the author to the
court arguing that his book was intended to forge a "new understanding
of history between Turks and Armenians".

Translated into Turkish in 2005, Jerjian’s book tells the story
of the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman forces during
the first world war through the eyes of his Armenian grandmother,
who survived largely thanks to the protection of a Turkish soldier.

Turkey disputes allegations that the Armenians’ deaths were a result
of deliberate genocide.

Zarakolu, who was acquitted of a separate charge of insulting Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk, founder of the modern Turkish state, has been freed
on appeal.

The case, which has lasted more than two years, prompted MEPs, human
rights organisation and the international writers’ group, Pen, to
campaign on Zarakolu’s behalf.

His conviction is the first since Turkey revised Article 301 in April
under pressure from domestic and foreign critics who saw it as the
country’s most significant restriction on free speech.

The altered law banished the crime of insulting "Turkishness" and
reduced the maximum sentence from three to two years. It also lay down
that all prosecutions need prior approval from the justice minister.

Zarakolu, owner of the Belge publishing house, was originally
prosecuted under the previous provisions. The law was first introduced
by the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP) in 2005 and has
been used to prosecute 60 writers and journalists.

They include the Nobel prize-winning author, Orhan Pamuk, who told a
Swiss newspaper that no one in Turkey dared mention the Armenian deaths
or those of 30,000 Kurds. The charges against Pamuk were dropped.

The law was also used against Hrant Dink, a Turkish-Armenian newspaper
editor who was shot dead by a nationalist extremist in Istanbul
last year.

Dink, who campaigned for recognition of the crimes against Armenians,
was prosecuted three times and convicted once. The last charges were
dropped after his murder.

ZHARANGUTIUN’S ATTITUDE TO NA AD HOC COMMISSION IS NOT SERIOUS AND INSULTING, SAMVEL NIKOYAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 18, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The NA ad hoc commission on study of
the March 1-2 events in Yerevan and their reasons, at the June 18
sitting, will discuss the issue of approving its draft regulations
revised on the basis of the proposals. The principle of election of
extra-parliamentary political forces to be invited for participating
in commission’s work with the right of consultation vote will be also
crarified. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed about it by Samvel
Nikoyan, the commission Chairman, the Secretary of the RPA faction.

The two places given to the Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction are vacant
in the newly created commission for the present. Faction head Raffi
Hovannisian sent a letter to NA Speaker Tigran Torosian informing him
that "the delegates taking part in the ad hoc commission on the part
of Zharangutiun are Myasnik Malkhasian and Sasun Mikayelian." However,
the above mentioned deputies are known to have been arrested within
the framework of the criminal case instituted on the fact of the
events to be studied by the commission.

S. Nikoyan noted in this connection that according to the NA
Regulations, each faction has a right to nominate members to seats
given to it in the commission, while M. Malkhasian and S. Mikayelian
are members of the RPA faction. "I think it is, to put it mildly, not
serious attitude. It is also insulting for not only other members of
the commission having serious tasks, but also for the people having
expectations from the commission," S. Nikoyan said.

115 HOTELS AND HOTEL-TYPE FACILITIES OPERATED IN ARMENIA IN 2007 AS COMPARED WITH 95 IN 2006

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 17, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, NOYAN TAPAN. There were 115 hotels and hotel-type
facilities in Armenia in 2007 – against 95 in 2006 and 76 in
2005. Their number in Yerevan made 46 in 2007 – against 44 in 2006
and 31 in 2005.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, the index of hotels’
being occupied made 638,244 day-places – against 595,335 in 2006
and 452,555 in 2005. The same indices with respect to Yerevan made
441,429, 434,512 and 393,849. The simultaneous capacity of hotels and
hotel-type lodgings made 8,376 places in 2007 – against 7,372 in 2006
and 6,873 in 2005, the same indices with respect to Yerevan made 3,672,
4,161 and 3,056 respectively.

The average annual number of employees in the hotels of Armenia made
1,917 in 2007, 1,736 in 2006 and 1,711 in 2005, the same indices with
respect to Yerevan made 1,292, 1,359 and 1,308 respectively.

The total incomes of the country’s hotels amounted to 12 bln 47.6
mln drams or more than 35,2 mln USD in 2007 (10 bln 8.2 mln drams in
Yerevan) – against 10 bln 632.2 mln drams in 2006 (8.7 bln drams in
Yerevan), and 10 bln 77.5 mln drams in 2005 (8 bln 537.3 mln drams
in Yerevan). Their current expenditures made 9 bln 552,1 mln drams
(7 bln 480.6 mln drams), 8 bln 326.8 mln drams (6 bln 208.3 mln drams)
and 8 bln 163.6 mln drams (6 bln 657.7 mln drams) respectively.

RELATIONS NOT TO BE RE-ESTABLISHED BETWEEN TURKEY AND ARMENIA: CHAIRMAN OF TURKISH PARLIAMENT

Trend News Agency
June 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 17 June /corr. Trend News I.Alizade / As long
as Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani territories are not released, the
relations will not be re-established between Turkey and Armenia. "The
Turkish-Armenian relations will not be re-established as long as the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is not resolved," Keksal Toptan, Chairman
of Turkish Parliament, said on 17 June in Baku.

Keksal Toptan, Chairman of Turkish Parliament, arrived in Azerbaijan
on 17 June on a three days visit. Toptan met with the Azerbaijani
President, Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister, Artur Rasizade and Chairman
of Parliament, Oktay Asadov. He will also attend the 90th celebration
of Azerbaijan Parliament.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries appeared in 1988
due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenia has
occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani lands including the Nagorno-Karabakh
region and its seven surrounding districts. Since 1992 to the present
time, these territories have been under Armenian occupation. In 1994,
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
(Russia, France and USA) are holding peaceful negotiations.

According to Toptan, all over the world, Turkey has always supported
the Nagorno-Karabakh policy of Azerbaijan and this support will
be continued.

Toptan said that Turkey’s policy on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
is clear and concrete. "Turkey’s position and policy on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will not change. At this point, we do not
require other thinking. Simply Azerbaijani territories should be
returned and peace should be re-established. We do not have other
requirements and we do not claim for another’s territories. Requiring
lands belonging to us is our right. I believe that some solution will
be found in the near future," he added.

CO-RAPPEURTERS RECOMMENDED TO INVOLVE OMBUDSMAN IN COMMITTEE

Panorama.am
17:32 17/06/2008

Yesterday the co-rappeurters of the PACE monitoring committee John
Prescott and George Columbier visited the National Assembly of
Armenia. According to the official web site of the NA the chairman
of the NA and the representatives of the parliamentarian parties
received the co-rappeurters.

J. Prescott in the meeting with the chairman of the NA Tigran Torosyan
said that a group of independent judges is required to be involved
in the committee.

According to him Armenian Ombudsman could have serious role in the
activities of the working group.

The NA chairman presented all the achievements made in article 1609,
all the discussions, and reforms on the exact RA laws.

ARMENIA SUPPORTS AZERBAIJAN’S PROPOSAL AT THE MEETING OF BSECO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Azeri Press Agency
June 12 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Elbrus Seyfullayev-APA. Armenia voted for amendments presented
by Azerbaijan at the 31st meeting of General Assembly of Black Sea
Economic Cooperation Organization (BSECO) in Athens, Asef Hajiyev,
Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of BSECO said, APA
reports.

He noted that Azerbaijan presented amendments on combating
international terrorism to BSECO Committee on Legal and Political
Issues.

"Amendments presented by Azerbaijan covered combating extremism and
separatism in the region. Importance of observation of regulations
of the Council of Europe is noted in the amendments. Our proposals
have been discussed at the meeting of the organization in Armenia
and rejected. We have raised the issue again. Amendments have been
adopted this time. Armenian delegation voted for the amendments
as well. Amendments proposed by Azerbaijan have been reflected in
recommendation on the role of MPs in combating international terrorism
adopted in BSECO Committee on Legal and Political Issues.

ARMENIAN ATHLETES ACHIEVE BRONZE MEDALS

armradio.am
13.06.2008 14:12

Armenian long jumper Tamar Baghdasaryan of Kapan and runner Narek
Khachatryan of Gyumri achieved bronze medals at an international
athletics tournament held in Istanbul.

About 500 sportsmen participated in the tournament.