Author: Dabaghian Diana

NATO CONTENT WITH COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.10.2006 13:48 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Progress is registered in all directions within the
launching of the NATO-Armenia IPAP,” NATO Secretary General’s Special
Representative for the South Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons
stated at a joint news conference with Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian. In
his words, a wide circle of issues was discussed at the meetings in
Yerevan. He also stressed the Alliance is content with cooperation
with Armenia and Azerbaijan. “I would like to remind that the IPAP is
a NATO document, not that of the EU. The NATO accentuates security,
while the EU stresses economic cooperation and the CE underscores human
rights. Armenia successfully cooperates in all the three directions,”
Simmons said.
In his turn Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian said that a coordination
group is created at the President of Armenia to ensure normal work
in all three directions.
“The documents on cooperation with the NATO, EU and CE are so
extensive, that they demand a more individualized approach,” he said.

AZERBAIJAN: BROADCASTING REGULATORY BODY WANTS TO STOP FOREIGN-PREPARED PROGRAMMING
Rovshan Ismayilov
Eurasianet, NY
October 11, 2006
The Azerbaijani government appears to be expanding a clampdown
on independent media outlets. Officials have ordered local radio
stations to cease broadcasts of programming prepared by foreign news
organizations, including the British Broadcasting Corp., Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America.
On October 4, representatives of Azerbaijan’s most listened-to
broadcasters — including ANS TV and Radio, Antenn FM, and state radio
— were summoned to a meeting with Nushiravan Maharramli, the head
of National TV and Radio Broadcasting Council, the government’s chief
media regulatory agency. Maharramli informed broadcast executives that
broadcasting foreign-prepared content by local outlets was “illegal.”
“The foreign radio stations must use their own re-broadcasting
transmitters to air their programs, rather than use the airtime of
local radio stations,” Maharramli said. Any station that ignored the
new regulation could face “severe sanctions,” Maharramli warned.
ANS, which is privately owned, would appear to be especially vulnerable
to government pressure over foreign-content broadcasts, given that
it has been operating without an official license since 2003. In
an October 10 interview with the APA news agency, Vahid Mustafayev,
the president of ANS Group, complained that regulatory authorities
had reneged on promises to grant a license. “They said ANS will not
be granted a license until it stops broadcasting VOA, Radio Liberty
and BBC,” Mustafayev said.
Mustafayev also complained about repeated tax audits, hinting
that the inspections were politically motivated. Tax authorities
hit ANS recently with a $31,000 fine for various infractions. ANS
has filed suit in an Azerbaijani court charging the tax agency
with harassment and insisting that audits performed by local and
international companies disprove authorities’ allegations. The case is
pending. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has
lauded ANS for its comparatively balanced coverage of political and
economic developments in Azerbaijan. However, the broadcast council’s
Maharramli characterizes ANS as a frequent flouter of broadcast rules
concerning advertising and broadcast content. These violations are
the main reason why ANS’s licensing application is still pending.
Existing legislation contains no provision concerning government
foreign-content broadcasts, but Maharramli insisted that the NTRBC had
the authority to implement measures not foreseen by the law. “It is
our responsibility to pass necessary regulations. If there is a gap
in the law, our regulations are to fill this gap,” Maharramli said,
adding that the state agency did not fix a firm deadline for the
cessation of foreign-content broadcasts because it “does not want to
start with punishment. Let’s see how they act.”
Maharramli denied a political motive behind the new regulation. He
voiced particular concern about ANS’ move to lease airtime to Voice of
America, suggesting that it had the potential to serve as a dangerous
precedent. Other “channels could let [the Russian broadcaster] NTV,
or Armenian broadcasters into our market, using the same experience
of ANS’s cooperation with VOA,” Maharramli explained.
“Our decision is that foreign broadcasters — BBC, RFE/RL and VOA
— should air their programs according to existing laws. If needed,
we can provide frequencies to them,” Maharramli added. According to
a government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, the NTRBC
closely coordinates its actions with the presidential administration.
Jonathan Henick, a public affairs officer at the US Embassy in Baku,
met with Maharramli on October 5 to discuss the new regulations. “The
talks will continue and we hope that the results will be positive,”
the Turan news agency quoted Henick as saying.
Many media observers in Azerbaijan view the new foreign-content
broadcasting regulation as part of a broad government effort to
restrict access to information. To support their contention they
point to the October 4 drug-possession conviction of a prominent
opposition journalist, Sakit Zahidov, whose brother, Qanimat, is the
editor-in-chief of the leading opposition newspaper Azadliq. Lawyers
representing Zahidov insist the verdict was politically motivated.
Zahidov, who often wrote about government corruption, received a
three-year prison sentence. He vigorously denied that he had ever
used illegal narcotics.
International free speech advocacy groups roundly criticized the
case against Zahidov. “We view this drug conviction with extreme
skepticism,” Joel Simon, the executive director of the Committee to
Protect Journalists, said in a written statement.
Numerous lawsuits are pending in Azerbaijani courts in which
opposition journalists face charges of libeling officials. Some
observers believe the defamation suits are being used to silence
independent journalists. On October 9, Miklos Haraszti, the OSCE’s
media freedom representative, called on Azerbaijani authorities to
amend media legislation to “decriminalize defamation,” according to
an OSCE statement. Haraszti made the comments following a meeting
with Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev.
“Although the president voiced his disappointment with the lack of
constructive behavior by the press, I still hope he will support the
urgently needed reform,” the OSCE media freedom representative said.
“There are many ways of enhancing accuracy and professionalism in the
media other than criminalization,” Haraszti continued. “The OSCE is
ready to support ethics self-regulation initiatives.” Azerbaijani
officials said there were no immediate plans to amend existing
legislation covering defamation.
NOTES: Rovshan Ismayilov is a freelance journalist, based in Baku.

“THEY HAVE INSULTED OUR PARTY”
A1+
[05:49 pm] 11 October, 2006
“Those who are guilty must be punished”, said Armen Ashotyan from
the Republican faction in connection with the arrest of Hakob
Hakobyan. “You should not look upon all this as a process in the
context of pre-election campaign” he added.
As for the incident with former Minister of Internal Affairs Suren
Abrahamyan, the deputy voiced confidence that “not a single member
of the Republican party has anything to do with it”, and “the head
of the party must not be blamed for the act”.
“It’s not favorable for the Republican party to meddle with suchlike
incidents. The Party is interested in revealing all the details
connected with the case.
I’ll tell you more: the organizers of the case have insulted our
party. They think that the people are so naive that they will believe
in downright deceit”, he mentioned.

TURKISH MEDIA LIE SAYING ARMENIAN LEADERSHIP AGAINST GENOCIDE BILL
PanARMENIAN.Net
11.10.2006 16:28 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Hurriyet Turkish newspaper in an article titled
“Chorus of voices rises to condemn French genocide denial bill”
reports of some “sources from Armenia” which say that the Armenian
Genocide bill has already lost the support of leading Armenians,
from President Robert Kocharian to top ranked Armenian Orthodox
Church members. The article says, in part, that President Kocharian
allegedly told French President Jacques Chirac, during his visit
to Yerevan last week, that “this law, if enacted, will ruin the
small steps we have taken towards peace with Turkey, it will ruin
our relations.” Kocharian then allegedly asked Chirac to remove the
debate on the bill from the French Parliament’s agenda.
As PanARMENIAN.Net came to know from reliable sources, the information
spread by the Turkish media on the threshold of the voting on the
French bill penalizing the Armenian Genocide denial is absolutely
false. This is mere misinformation that suits the Turkish policy.

AMERICANS TRY TO MAKE ARMENIAN ADVOCATES FREE BUT…
Panorama.am
15:10 10/10/06
A group of judges and advocates had a dinner in one of luxurious
hotels of Yerevan accompanied by Carin Metis, head of American Bar
Association.
Carin Metis is on a three-day visit to Yerevan to congratulate the
newly accredited advocates who passed qualification test.
Metis said they are trying to help “to create independent judicial
system and independent advocates unions in Armenia so that they are
free and not corrupt.”
Asked if they have recorded a slightest progress in this sense,
Metis said, “We have not reached our aims yet but we closely work
with judges and advocates. We will accomplish our goals.”
The head of Bar Association also was asked if the proposed raise
in salary in the new budget will reduce corruption in the judicial
system. She said that in her countries judges are paid high salaries
so that they do not take bribes. In case they do, they lose their
jobs.

MINISTER FOR EUROPE TO VISIT GEORGIA AND ARMENIA
Government Contracting Opportunities
October 9, 2006 Monday 12:08 PM (Central European Time)
by FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE News Release (GEORGIA) issued by
The Government News Network on 9 October 2006
ABSTRACT
Minister for Europe Geoff Hoon starts a visit to Georgia and
Armenia today. During his three day visit, the Minister will meet
his government counterparts and discuss issues of mutual concern,
including promoting democracy, good governance and regional stability
in the South Caucasus.
FULL TEXT
Minister for Europe Geoff Hoon starts a visit to Georgia and
Armenia today. During his three day visit, the Minister will meet
his government counterparts and discuss issues of mutual concern,
including promoting democracy, good governance and regional stability
in the South Caucasus.
Mr Hoon said:
“I am glad to be visiting Georgia at a time when two welcome steps have
just been taken in the deepening of the country’s relationship with
Europe. Last month the NATO Alliance agreed to open an Intensified
Dialogue with Georgia. And last week Georgia and the European Union
successfully concluded negotiations on a European Neighbourhood Policy
Action Plan to be signed at the EU-Georgia Co-operation Council next
month in Brussels. Both these agreements are designed to support and
stimulate processes of modernisation and reform, promoting Georgia’s
development as a secure, stable and successful country.
“This is a clearly a significant time for Georgia. The UK wants to
see an early solution to the current difficulties in Georgian-Russian
relations. It is important for regional stability that both sides
should exercise restraint, avoiding inflammatory statements and
impetuous actions. We have raised with the Russians the desirability
of their lifting as soon as possible the measures they have
introduced. But equally we look to the Georgian authorities to act
constructively. I hope that normal contacts, based on mutual respect,
can be restored between the two countries as soon as possible. The UK
firmly believes that the serious and challenging issues underlying
this dispute can only be resolved with the full and constructive
involvement of the Russian and Georgian authorities, working together
with the support of the international community to reach mutually
acceptable solutions.
“I am also pleased to be visiting Armenia, especially now that the
European Neighbourhood Programme has been agreed for Armenia, as
for Georgia and Azerbaijan. Armenia is to be congratulated on this
significant achievement. With the Deputy Defence Minister also visiting
the UK this week, our bilateral relations are growing in strength. As
elections approach, I look forward to discussing the importance of
free and fair voting with my Armenian colleagues, opposition leaders
and representatives of civil society. We will also be discussing how
progress can be made through the OSCE Minsk Group on the conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh.”
Notes to Editors
1. Mr Hoon will visit Georgia on 9 – 10 October and Armenia on 10 –
11 October.

AMD 74.7MLN TRANSACTIONS WITH CORPORATE SHARES EFFECTED ON ARMEX IN SEPT 2006
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 5 2006
YEREVAN, October 5. /ARKA/. AMD 74.7mln transactions with corporate
shares were effected on the Armenian Stock Exchange (ARMEX) in
September 2006 against AMD 23.4mln in August – a 3.2-time increase.
In September, the number of securities listed on ARMEX increased 9.2
times up to 57,962. Six companies participated in the sessions in
September against four in August.
During the period under review, the “Armeconombank” OJSC was the
leader, its share totaling AMD 70.4mln or 94.3% of the total volume
of transactions.
The bank is followed by the “Hayrushak” OJSC – AMD 2.5mln or 3.4%
and by the “Armelectromash” OJSC – AMD 941.8ths or 1.3%. The share
of other companies does not exceed 1%.
By September 30, 2006, the securities of 42 companies and organizations
had been listed on ARMEX. ARMEX capitalization made about AMD 22.6bln
against AMD 21.6bln at the end of August 2006.

SWISS JUSTICE MINISTER SELF-CRITICIZES ARMENIAN BILL
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 5 2006
Swiss draft bill, which would penalize those who deny the existence
of the alleged “Armenian genocide” poses a predicament to freedom of
speech, said Swiss Justice Minister Christoph Blocher to his Turkish
counterpart Cicek in the Turkish capital Ankara.
Blocher visited Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek on Wednesday
in Ankara.
“There is a dilemma between this law and freedom of speech. This law
is giving us headache too,” said Blocher to Mr. Cicek regarding the
so-called Armenian genocide bill in his country.
Blocher also told Cicek that they can not recognize the outlawed
Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) as a “terrorist organization”, since
Switzerland has not recognized any organization as “terrorist” since
War World II, with the exception of the Nazi party and al-Qaeda.
Following the meeting of two counterparts, the visiting minister
delivered a speech at a conference held at Ankara University to mark
the 80th anniversary of Turkey’s adoption of Switzerland’s civil code.

AZERIS ARE DESTROYING ARMENIAN FORESTS
A1+
[02:36 pm] 05 October, 2006
On October 5, OSCE monitoring group, started the environmental
assessment of the territories adjacent to the Azerbaijan-Karabakh
borderline.
“We regret that the OSCE did not create the necessary conditions
for the inclusion of the NKR representatives in the group of the
OSCE Mission on the assessment of the ecological situation on the
territories suffered from the fires. However, it does not exclude
the possibility of the participation of Karabakh experts in the
realization of the monitoring, especially when in connection with
the necessity of joining of NKR representatives to the Mission its
conducting is postponed for a day”. NKR Minister of Foreign Affairs
Georgy Petrossian stated answering the question of journalists on the
actions of the official Stepanakert in connection with the departure
of the OSCE expert group from Baku to the fire zone.
Georgy Petrossian also informed that the NKR MFA had sent a note to
the OSCE in which the position of the republic’s leadership on the
issue of the participation of experts from the NKR in the monitoring
was expressed. “One part of the territories on which the assessment
is to be conducted, is under the jurisdiction of the NKR and it is
a serious argument for our participation in the monitoring realized
by the Mission on the opposite side”, the Minister stressed.
According to the information of the NKR authorities, an alarming
ecological situation is formed on the territories occupied by
Azerbaijan: a mass cutting down of wood in the Shahoumian region
is carried out, the ecological balance is seriously affected in the
eastern part of the Martouni region where the structure of soil and
micro flora are injured.

CHIRAC’S GENOCIDE REMARKS INTIMIDATE FRENCH FIRMS
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 4 2006
Reactions to French President Jacques Chirac, who implied during
his Yerevan visit that Turkey should recognize the alleged Armenian
genocide to become an EU member, are growing.
French firms are now concerned that their investments in Turkey
would be negatively affected by the remarks. The draft law that would
penalize those who deny the alleged genocide has also deepened such
concerns. French paper Le Monde, drawing attention to the financial
difficulties of the French companies interested in Turkish bids,
stressed that the remarks could cause a substantial loss totaling
billions of dollars. A political advisor of Chirac stated that it
has become apparent the president needs to clarify his remarks.
Speaking to Le Monde, Chirac’s advisor noted that there was no
change in the president’s supportive position regarding Turkey’s
EU membership. The advisor, who stressed that Chirac’s remarks were
political, not legal, noted that it is now imperative for Chirac to
make an explanation to Turkey concerning his statements in Yerevan.
The draft bill that stipulates the punishment of those who deny
the alleged genocide will be discussed in the plenary of the French
parliament on Oct. 12. French firms are highly concerned that the
draft will be adopted because of the upcoming elections. Before
the parliamentary discussions held to review the draft bill in May,
the foreign trade ministry had sent a note to the deputies referring
to the economic risks for France in case of its adoption. The note
published by Le Monde stressed that the firms interested in Turkish
bids would have to face billions of dollars loss if the bill were
adopted. The French firms interested in Turkish bids include large
firms such as AREVA, Eurocopter, Alstom and Credit Agricole.
In a statement he made to Le Monde, French politician of Armenian
origin, Patrick Devedjian, recalling that Chirac has made a clear
point for the first time, cited his remarks as an historical turning
point. Devedjian noted that Chirac, by making the remarks, transformed
the 2001 genocide law, which is of legal character, into a political
action. Drawing attention to the analogy Chirac made between the
Holocaust and the alleged genocide, he further noted that Chirac is
the first leader who made a connection between the Jewish genocide
and the alleged Armenian genocide.