Author: Chmshkian Vicken

BRYZA PERSONA NON GRATA?

Panorama.am
21:31 06/08/2008

The American Co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Mattew Bryza is to be
announced as persona non grata in Azerbaijan, the decision is made by
the "Muasir Musavat" party which is intended to start a protest at the
Embassy building of the US in Baku towards Bryza for the announcements
he made for the NKR regulation. According to the Chairman of the party
his announcements put under threat the territorial unity of Azerbaijan.

Hence the leader of the party called on Azerbaijani to announce
American chairman persona non grata.

U.S. SENATE CONFIRMS MARIE YOVANOVITCH AS AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.08.2008 13:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. Senate confirmed nominee Marie
L. Yovanovitch as next U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.

Confirmation came after a delay by lawmakers who were unhappy with
Ms. Yavonovitch’s refusal to use the term ‘genocide’ to describe
the mass slaughter of Armenians at the hand of the Ottoman Empire,
AP reports.

President Bush nominated Marie Yovanovitch to serve as America’s next
Ambassador to Armenia on March 28, 2008.

"The U.S. government – and certainly I – acknowledges and mourns
the mass killings, ethnic cleansing, and forced deportations that
devastated over one and a half million Armenians at the end of the
Ottoman Empire. The United States recognizes these events as one of
the greatest tragedies of the 20th century, the "Medz Yeghern" or
Great Calamity, as many Armenians refer to it. That is why every April
the President honors the victims and expresses American solidarity
with the Armenian people on Remembrance Day," Ms. Yovanovitch said
in her testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on
June 19, 2008.

The position has been unfilled since Ambassador John Evans was
recalled two years ago by the Bush Administration for recognizing
the Armenian Genocide. Another Ambassador-elect, Richard Hoagland,
was withdrawn last year after Senator Menendez’s hold

NEGOTIATIONS ON CONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIA-IRAN RAILWAY CONTINUE

Noyan Tapan

Au g 4, 2008

YEREVAN, AUGUST 4, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 1, 2008, Armenian Railway
CJSC (South Caucasian Railways) was passed to Russian Raiways CJSC
for concession management for 30 years. Russian Railways assumed an
obligation to invest about 174.5 billion drams in the system during
this period, including 59.3 billion drams in the first five years. The
company envisages to invest 8 billion drams for purchasing rolling
stock, the RA minister of transport and communication Gurgen Sargsian
said at the August 1 press conference.

In his words, with the aim of developing intercity railway
communication, the manager has already purchased 5 electric trains,
which allows to reopen Gyumri-Pemzashen-Artik and Yerevan-Yeraskh
regular routes from August 2 and Gyumri-Yerevan route from August
3. Yerevan-Tsovagyugh route has been operated from July 12. Besides,
South Caucasian railways has signed an agreement with a Georgian
company on repairs of 1,000 goods wagons and 23 electric trains.

The minister said that tripartite negotiations (Armenia, Iran, Russia)
on construction of Iran-Armenia railway are still continuing. The
internartional financial orhanizations operating in Armenia also
assess positively this step and are ready to co-finance the project.

GEORGIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA WAGING "SNIPER WAR"?

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.08.2008 13:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia’s breakaway republic of South Ossetia
reported on Friday evening that three people had been killed as
Georgian troops continued to shell its capital, Tskhinvali.

"A Georgian mortar platoon is shelling southern districts of
Tskhinvali," South Ossetia’s information and press committee said. "The
northern [de facto] border is also being shelled. South Ossetia is
returning fire."

South Ossetia had earlier reported that Georgian snipers were firing
on a border checkpoint in the region, killing one police officer and
injuring one more.

Russian peacekeepers deployed in the region confirmed the reports of
automatic weapon fire.

"Three people have been killed and seven injured as of 21:00
Moscow time (17:00 GMT) by snipers from the Georgian side firing on
Tskhinvali," Commander Vladimir Ivanov said, adding that the attacks
were continuing.

South Ossetia’s leader said the unrecognized republic would retaliate.

"Georgia has declared a sniper war on the Republic of South Ossetia
and made another attempt to unleash a large scale war," Eduard Kokoity
said. "The republic has so far refrained from retaliatory moves,
but will not do so any more," he said, RIA Novosti reports.

South Ossetia’s government head Yuri Morozov held a conference to
discuss security measures. He voiced concerned over the fact of
"sniper war".

Meanwhile, officials in Georgian Ministry of Interior deny that snipers
were enabled in the operation. Defense Ministry says the fire was a
compulsory measure.

The peacekeeping command has set a look-out station between Ossetian
village of Andisi and Georgian Sveri.

THE TRUMP CARD OF THE ARMENIAN PARTY
Karen Nahapetyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on Aug 02, 2008
Armenia

Yesterday, Special Delegate of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Heiki
Talvitiey announced that "the OSCE hopes that after Azerbaijan
holds presidential elections in October, the Karabakh peace talks
will resume."

We believe the legal contents of the Karabakh conflict – the trump
card of the Armenian party, should be laid on the table in autumn.

It includes the following arguments:

a. The NKR has never formed part of the independent state of
Azerbaijan; therefore the recognition of its territorial integrity
has nothing to do with Nagorno Karabakh.

b. Both Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan declared independence almost
at the same time (with Karabakh getting ahead a little) based on the
USSR Constitution and laws, therefore there are two independent states
formed in the territory of the Soviet Azerbaijan.

c. The legal bases of the NKR independence are flawless; therefore
it is necessary, in such circumstances, to put them to discussion
and find a clear-cut solution instead of speculating the issue of
the stereotyped "mutual concessions", a term frequently used by the
international community.

d. From the point of view of the maintenance of peace, it is only
the package solution of the problem vs. the existing status quo that
contains smaller risks. Therefore, any violation of the20latter
will inevitably lead to the decrease of the parties’ motives for
achieving a final settlement, without including the most important
issues concerning the NKR conflict in the given agreement. And it
may have unpredictable consequences.

As shown by the sum effect of these arguments, Armenia may try to solve
three principal issues at the current stage of the negotiation process.

First: reiterating its commitment to provide a political solution
to the problem, Armenia should introduce itself to the international
community as a constructive party ready for mutual concessions.

Second: getting ahead of Azerbaijan in terms of abiding by the
constructive agreements, the Armenian party clearly marks the
borderline not allowing for further retreat.

Third: Since the attempts of revising the agreements were initiated
by Azerbaijan, the Armenian party may propose the international
community to transfer the issue to the legal domain for achieving a
breakthrough in such situation. That’s to say, instead of searching
the "golden mean" the Armenian party is required to determine which of
the parties Nagorno Karabakh, a state that declared its independence
in strict compliance with all the laws, belongs to from the point of
view of international law.

We believe this is the only way enabling us to achieve the speedy
and effective solution of the Karabakh conflict. That’s to say,
examining the legal bases of the NKR in dependence and estimating
them as flawless, Europe can solve all the problems with a single
blow and penetrate our region.

In that case, Azerbaijan will have no other way out apart from
recognizing the accomplished fact because the subject matter of the
debate, i.e. the Nagorno Karabakh issue, will be discussed beyond
the framework of the rivalry between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Europe may use its real weapon, i.e. its world-wide reputation, and
by recognizing the independence of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
ensure sustainable peace in the whole region.

THE PROBLEMS OF THE FORMATION OF THE SYSTEM IN OCTOBER ARE PRESENTED

Panorama.am
14:24 01/08/2008

Hranush Hakobyan, the chairman of State Committee of Diaspora Affair
of MFA had a meeting with S. Ken Yamashita, the senior assistant of
European and Eurasian office of USA international development agency
and Robin Phillips, the chairman of Armenian office of the Agency.

According to press and international service of MFA, the main theme of
the meeting is possible cooperation between the ministry of Diaspora
and Armenian office of USA international developing agency.

H8anush Hakobyan presented the problems concerning the formation
of the new ministry and their solutions. She also presented the
functions of the ministry and its authorizations. Both sides turned
to the realization of Ministry`s projects and the fastening of
homeland-Diaspora relations.

AUTHORITIES OBVIOUSLY EXERT PRESSURE UPON JUDICIAL PROCESS, NA ZHARANGUTIUN FACTION STATES

Noyan Tapan

Ju ly 31, 2008

YEREVAN, JULY 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Taking part in many trials on case
of people arrested by political motives, members of the RA National
Assembly Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction have recorded many violations,
which, as they evaluate it, in the procedural respect cast doubt on
fairness of the judicial procedure. These are giving small halls,
support of prosecution by police instruction, neglect of evidence by
the court, etc. However, the situation formed in the sphere lately,
according to the faction’s July 30 statement, does not fit into
any logic.

"Judicial instructors with obvious violation of law prohibited NA
deputy Zaruhi Postanjian to take part in the trial on the case of
Karen Tarkhanian.

During the trial on the case of Smbat Ayvazian not only it was
forced to hold the procedure in one of the smallest halls of general
jurisdiction court of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash communities,
but also policemen were brought to the court in advance, who took most
seats in the hall. In fact, dozens of Smbat Ayvazian’s relatives and
friends were left out of the hall," faction statement read. According
to the deputies’ observation, the RA authorities obviously exert
pressure upon the judicial process.

This is a manifestation of "black hundred terror" in judicial procecces
formed and proceeding in Armenia. Therefore, the independence of the
judicial power, open process of judicial sittings, right of publicity
of judicial enquiry stipulated by the RA Constitution are obviously
violated with these actions," Zharangutiun faction members state.

ARMENIA’S DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT IN INTEREST OF THE U.S.-ARMENIA BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.07.2008 18:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Societal tensions will only increase if the
authorities fail to take swift, dramatic, and substantive measures
to heal the serious divisions in the country that the presidential
election and its violent aftermath exacerbated, David J. Kramer,
Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor said before
the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

"While all elements of society have an obligation to engage
in constructive dialogue and to act responsibly, the heaviest
responsibility lies with those who actually hold power – the
government," he said.

"It is in the interest of the U.S.-Armenia bilateral relationship and
in the interest of the Armenian people to see the new government in
Yerevan succeed in deepening Armenia’s democratic development. On a
positive note, I found the Ombudsman to be playing an important role
on behalf of democratic reform in the country," Mr. Kramer said.

As to Azerbaijan, he noted that there are some serious concerns
about the state of democracy and the protection of human rights
in this country. "In my meetings I focused on democracy and human
rights concerns which are essential for the type of relationship. We
seek to bring our cooperation on democratization up to the level
of our security and energy collaboration. Azerbaijan’s progress on
democratic reform is key not only to the strengthening of our bilateral
relationship, but also to Azerbaijan’s own long-term stability,"
he said.

Commenting on the forthcoming presidential election, Mr Kramer said,
"A key factor in determining the credibility of the entire elections
process, and for establishing broad confidence in the legitimacy of
the outcome of the election, is serious domestic and international
election monitoring. It is especially unfortunate that this spring
Azerbaijani courts deregistered and annulled Azerbaijan’s largest
independent domestic election monitoring NGO, the Election Monitoring
Center (EMC)."

WHAT’S THE USE OF UNITING?

A1+
29 July, 2008

A number of parties, which consider themselves patriotic
pro-opposition, have united against Levon Ter-Petrossian and his
co-thinkers, and hold consultations on the country’s political
problems. The parties include: Constitutional Right Union (CRU),
National Self-Determination Union, Armenian Liberal Progressive Party,
Armenian Christian Democratic Party, National Democratic Union and
United Communist Party.

Today Chairman of CRU Hayk Babukhanian and Ara Sahakian from Levon
Ter-Petrossian’s team were hosted at the "Hayeli" Club for a debate
on the above-mentioned issue.

Hayk Babukhanian was trying to convince the journalists that the
newly-formed union enjoys the sympathy of 60% of people. According
to him these are the people who voted neither for the authority, nor
for Levon Ter-Petrossian. However, Ara Sahakian found this statement
illogical, as it means that presently the country is ruled by a party
that enjoys the sympathy of only 40% of people. "Our party does not
aim at making a turnover," Babukhanian answered.

Ara Sahakyan was not inclined to criticize the initiative of Hayk
Babukhanian and his friends and found it normal for a new political
partnership to consider itself opposition. Sahakyan believes
that parties can hold consultations and can even call themselves
"patriotic", as name is not important in political matters. After all,
Sahakyan notes, fifty years ago about 100.000 babies in the Soviet
Union were named Vladimir with the hope that they would grow up and
rule the world, but only one of them became Putin. Thus, a lot of
names can be given but names do not change the essence; the latter
is reflected in actions.

In reply Hayk Babukhanian said he had concluded from the actions
of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s team that they are "traitors". "Various
labels of treason have been attached to Levon Ter-Petrossian but
there none of them has been proved. Great gossips travel about great
people. Ter-Petrossian is a great person, who is doing great work,"
concluded Sahakian.

AS OF JULY 28, TWO NGOs ACCREDITED FOR CARRYING OUT MONITORING MISSION IN NA DEPUTY ELECTION AT ELECTORAL DISTRICT N 17

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 29

As of July 28, two local NGOs have been accredited at the Central
Electoral Commission (CEC) to carry out monitoring mission in the
NA deputy election to be held by majoritarian system on August 24 at
electoral district N 17.

As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Tatev Ohanian, CEC
Spokesperson, the Armavir Development Center socio-economic NGO
has accredited 15 observers and the Institute of Free Society NGO
26 observers.

The deadline for observers’ accreditation is August 14.

It should be mentioned that according to the Electoral Code, the
organizations, the regulations tasks of which include issues of
democracy and human rights and which do not support the candidates,
have the right to carry out monitoring mission. To recap, head of
the RA President’s Administration, member of the RPA ruling body
Hovik Abrahamian and non-partisan, enemployed Grisha Virabian run
for the election.