Author: Felekian Ara

LEVON ARONIAN TAKES THIRD PLACE IN TOURNAMENT TABLE OF LINARES SUPER
TOURNAMENT

LINARES, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Levon Aronian played a drawn game with
Alexey Shirov (Spain) with the blacks in the twelvth stage of the Chess
Super Tournament being held in the city of Linares in Spain and takes
third place in the tournament table with 6.5 points. The leader is
Vishwanathan Anand (India) with 7.5 points. He is followed by Magnus
Karlsen (Norway) with 7 points.

March 5 is declared as day off and Levon Aronian will compete with
Magnus Karlsen with the whites in the thirteenth stage on March 6.

OLGA JANPOLADIAN TAKES THIRD PLACE IN FENCING COMPETITIONS HELD IN IRAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The Youth Tournament of the Fencing
World Cup Tournament was held in the city of Yazd of Iran. Among the
delegates of Armenia foilers Susanna Ghazarian took fifth and Hayk
Gasparian sixth place. Fencing masters Arthur Karapetian took eighth,
Spartak Haroutiunian eleventh and Hakob Saroyan sixteenth places.

There was no restriction of age in the tournament of women. Veteran
foiler Olga Janpoladian from Armenia took third honorable place.

AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTRY’S SPOKESMAN: ARMENIAN LEADERSHIP TRIES TO DISGUISE THE FACT THAT 12 ARMENIANS WERE KILLED AND 15 WOUNDED

Azeri Press Agency
March 6 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Mahbuba Gasimbayli-APA. "Armenian President Robert Kocharian has
started spreading misinformation in order to clam down the situation
inside the country in connection with the recent developments on the
frontline," Spokesman for Defense Ministry, Lieutenant-General Eldar
Sabiroghlu told APA.

Taking a stance on Robert Kocharian’s statement at the press conference
that only two Armenians were wounded Eldar Sabiroghlu underlined that
it was a lie.

"One fact is enough to prove it. When Robert Kocharian held a press
conference two days before, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
made a statement that a number of people were wounded during the
shooting and asked the international organizations to be helpful in
stopping the shooting. A day later, Armenia’s military leadership
asked Azerbaijani Defense Ministry to stop exchange of fire. Which
of them tells the truth? Conclude it yourselves," he said.

The Ministry’s Spokesman said that Armenian leadership tried to
disguise the fact that 12 Armenians had been killed and 15 wounded.

"There is also another intention. Azerbaijani army has upset the
myth that Armenian army is too strong. This is the main essence of
the misinformation spread by Armenian leadership.

TOP ADVISOR ZAPSU QUITS AK PARTY ADMINISTRATION BOARD

Today’s Zaman
March 6 2008
Turkey

A prominent advisor to the prime minister, Cuneyd Zapsu, has left his
position on the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party)
Central Decision and Administration Board (MKYK) citing a lack of
time for his personal life.

Zapsu’s resignation from his MKYK position surprised political circles,
and MKYK member Ahmet Yaþar, a former AK Party Aksaray deputy, will
reportedly succeed him. Zapsu was a founding member of the AK Party
and will retain his party membership.

Zapsu has been a controversial figure since the AK Party’s
foundation. His dealings with both Turkish and non-Turkish players
have made him the target of several accusations, such as conducting
unofficial meetings with ambassadors and acting as a "shadow prime
minister." Despite the frequent criticism targeting Zapsu, he has
always been defended and favored by Erdoðan.

When the AK Party was founded early in the 2000s, Erdoðan invited
Zapsu to join the party. Zapsu had contact with many international
organizations and made maximum use of these relationships throughout
his term as an Erdoðan advisor and MKYK member.

Known as Erdoðan’s right-hand man, Zapsu is commonly considered to be
one factor of Erdoðan’s success as a prime minister, introducing him
to a wide array of business and political circles including Turkish
industrialists, Islamic organizations and international businessmen.

The way he made such accomplishments attracted wide criticism,
but Erdoðan has shown openly shown his support for him by publicly
praising him.

In 2006, Zapsu drew harsh criticism from political circles —
particularly the Republican People’s Party (CHP) — over statements he
made in reference to Erdoðan during a meeting with American Enterprise
Institute (AEI) officials. Zapsu had said in a speech that the US
should "use" Erdoðan. This statement sparked fierce debate in Turkey,
with the CHP harshly criticizing the government and Erdoðan.

However the prime minister backed Zapsu once more, saying he was
satisfied with Zapsu’s explanation of the matter.

Zapsu also lobbied against the Armenian genocide bill pending in the
US Congress during talks with Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat speaker of
the US House of Representatives, in 2007.

Also, the German Embassy in Ankara awarded Zapsu the order of merit
of the Federal Republic of Germany — an honor that may be awarded
in all fields of endeavor and is the highest tribute Germany can pay
to individuals for their services to the nation — for his "excellent
efforts" in improving bilateral relations between Germany and Turkey.

Zapsu was born in 1956 and holds a degree from both a Turkish and a
German university. His father is of Kurdish origin while his mother
has roots in the Balkans. His grandfather Abdurrahim Zapsu is also
a leading Kurdish personality.

–Boundary_(ID_YxckL8ZJ2Yi3mZjbBOgQh A)–

JOHN PRESCOTT, HEAD PACE AD HOC COMMITTEE MISSION TO OBSERVE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA MARCH 6

arminfo
2008-03-05 14:26:00

ArmInfo. John Prescott, Head PACE Ad hoc Committee Mission to observe
presidential elections in Armenia will pay a post-election fact-finding
visit to Armenia March 6-7.

Press Service of the Armenian National Assembly told ArmInfo that
Presidenr Robert Kocharyan will receive Mr. Prescott on March 6. The
same day, Mr. Prescott will meet with NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan and
Head of NA delegation to PACE David Haroutunyan. Later PACE deputy
will meet with Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, Levon Ter-Petrosyan
and public organization representatives.

John Prescott is expected to meet also with Constitutional Court
Chairman Gagik Haroutunyan, CEC Chairman Garegin Azaryan and CE
Ambassadors to Armenia. On March 7 John Prescott will have a meeting
with the parliamentary factions of Orinats Yerkir, ARF Dashnaktsutyun
and Heritage parties. The same day, John Prescott is expected to
meet with Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan, Chairman of National
Commission for Television and Radio Grigor Amalyan and Chairman
of the Council of Public Tele-Radio Company Aleksan Haroutunyan,
as well as Head of the Armenian Police Hayk Haroutunyan.

NATO APPRECIATES ARMENIA’S REFORM PROGRESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.03.2008 13:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recent developments in Armenia – rallies,
disorders and imposition of state of emergency – aroused our serious
concerns. We will address the issue in our consultations with Armenia,
NATO Special Representative for the South Caucasus Robert Simmons
told a news conference in Moscow.

"Armenia is NATO’s partner state, which implements the Individual
Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). We appreciate the progress Armenia has
fixed in the reform process, specifically as regards the rule of law
and democracy. But there is problem over Nagorno Karabakh. NATO is
not directly engaged in the settlement process but we closely watch
the work carried out by the OSCE Minsk Group. Despite skirmishes at
the border, we think that there are chances to resolve the conflict,"
Mr Simmons said, RFE/RL reports.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN DESCRIBES AZERBAIJAN’S BEHAVIOR AS

armradio.am
05.03.2008 16:59

RA President Robert Kocharyan declared in Yerevan today that
Azerbaijan’s attempts to use the situation in Armenia for improving
its positions at the contact line with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
are "politically discourteous."

Speaking at a press conference today, Mr. Kocharyan said that the
night of March 4th the Azerbaijani forces attacked one of the front
positions of the Defense Army of Nagorno Karabakh and occupied it. "NKR
soon regained control of the position as a result of decisive response
actions," the President said. He informed that one of the Armenian
Officers was wounded in the hand, another one hurt the leg from
mine blast.

Robert Kocharyan said that yesterday the Personal Ã~Pepresentative
of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk held negotiations on
cease-fire in Baku.

"After the Karabakh forces regained the position, the Azeri troops
started shooting from mortars. For a very long time Azerbaijan had
not used artillery during the violations of the truce," the President
noted.

"Possibly, it seemed to Azerbaijan that the events in Armenia
have reduced the alertness of the Defense Army of Nagorno
Karabakh. Certainly, it’s not the case. Moreover, I think that using
the situation in Armenia that way was politically discourteous,"
Robert Kocharyan noted.

–Boundary_(ID_eTTq97iF4gotJDV5i7D3ZA)–

PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV: "AZERBAIJAN WILL SECURE ITS TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AT ANY COST"

Azeri Press Agency
March 4 2008
Azerbaijan

Khanlar. Elbrus Seyfullayev-APA. "Azerbaijan has not pulled out its
principal position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and entire world
recognizes the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan", said President
of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in his public speech in Khanlar.

APA correspondent reports, the president touching upon the Karabakh
issue said that Azerbaijan’s position would result with the
liberation of occupied territories. "We are enhancing our military
capacity. Some international organizations concern about the increasing
of Azerbaijan’s army potential, but it is our job and reinforced army
potential will be resulted with the problem solution finally. We will
not allow anyone’s ultimatum to Azerbaijan and separation of Nagorno
Karabakh from Azerbaijan. The negotiation process is in progress for
the time being. Azerbaijan will secure its territorial integrity at
any cost", said the President.

TROOPS PATROL ARMENIAN CAPITAL

Aljazeera.net
March 4 2008
Qatar

Soldiers are on the streets of Yerevan for a second day, after Robert
Kocharian, the country’s president, imposed emergency rule.

The 20-day period was announced after protesters fought with police
in the capital on Saturday.

They accuse Kocharian and Serzh Sarkisian, Armenia’s prime minister,
of rigging last month’s presidential elections.

The authorities said that eight people, seven protestors and one
policeman, were killed in Saturday’s clashes, although some opposition
groups say the number of deaths was higher.

The disturbances are the worst civil disobedience in Armenia since
its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Witnesses said they had seen police fire tracer rounds above the
heads of protesters and lob tear gas into the crowd on Saturday.

Demonstrators armed with metal bars and petrol bombs torched cars
and looted shops.

Emergency laws have banned all public meetings and restricted media
reporting.

Levon Ter-Petrosian, the defeated presidential candidate, has blamed
police brutality for the violence.

Diplomatic intervention

Heikki Talvitie, a special envoy for the Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), when asked if a negotiation between
the two sides was possible, said: "In all likeliness, this kind of
dialogue between Ter-Petrosian and the government, at the moment,
is not possible."

However, he said there was a possibility that both sides could
negotiate in the days to come.

Talvitie said: "Let’s not exclude it from the future."

Earlier, the envoy flew into Yerevan on Sunday and met Kocharian and
Sarkisian for talks.

Talvitie also met the opposition groups in order to break the deadlock.

A US state department spokesman said Washington was sending Matt Bryza,
deputy assistant secretary of state, to help "facilitate discussions"
between the government and opposition.

But he stressed Bryza would not carry out "formal mediation".

Meanwhile, analysts say Armenia is heading for a period of uncertainty
as neither side has shown much willingness to back down.

Petrosian has told his supporters not to rally during the 20-day
emergency period.

However, he said he wass prepared to continue the protests afterwards.

A western diplomat said: "Petrosian is very determined and very
charismatic. He’ll find it difficult to step back from this now."

Disputed poll

February’s presidential poll saw Sarkisian win 53 per cent of the
vote and Petrosian 21.5 per cent.

The OSCE described the election as flawed but sufficient enough for
Armenia to fulfil its international obligations.

Kocharian and Sarkisian have presided over a period of economic growth,
but detractors accuse their government of corruption and nepotism.

Petrosian was Armenia’s first president after it broke away from the
Soviet Union.

Although street demonstrations forced him to resign in 1998, he
is still supported by many who want an alternative to the current
government.

NO SIGN OF NEGOTIATIONS IN ARMENIA STANDOFF: OSCE
By James Kilner

Reuters
March 3 2008
UK

YEREVAN (Reuters) – Armenia’s main opposition group and the government
are unlikely to start negotiations soon to end a standoff which
triggered rioting that killed eight people, a European envoy said on
Monday after he met both parties.

Soldiers patrolled Yerevan’s streets after President Robert Kocharyan
imposed emergency laws on Saturday following clashes between police and
protesters — the worst civil violence in Armenia since independence
from the Soviet Union in 1991.

The protesters accuse Kocharyan’s ally and Prime Minister Serzh
Sarksyan of rigging a presidential election last month. Opposition
leader and former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan blamed police brutality
for the violence.

"In all likeliness this kind of dialogue between Ter-Petrosyan and
the government at the moment is not possible," Heikki Talvitie,
a special envoy for the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE), told reporters after being asked if the two sides
would start negotiations.

"But let’s not exclude it from the future," he added.

Armenia is a country of around 3.2 million people on the edge of

A U.S. State Department spokesman said Washington was sending
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Bryza to help "facilitate
discussions" between the government and opposition. But he stressed
Bryza would not carry out "formal mediation".

"This is a situation where we need to see both the parties work with
one another, engage in dialogue, not violence," the spokesman said.

EMERGENCY LAWS

Ter-Petrosyan has told his supporters not to rally during the 20-day
emergency laws which ban meetings but he has also said he is prepared
to continue the protests afterwards.

"He’s very determined, very charismatic," a Western diplomat said.

"He’ll find it difficult to step back from this now."

Kocharyan and Sarksyan have presided over a period of economic growth,
but detractors accuse their government of corruption and nepotism.

Ter-Petrosyan was Armenia’s first president after it broke away from
the Soviet Union, and although street demonstrations forced him to
resign in 1998 he is still loved by many who want an alternative to
the current government.

Witnesses saw police fire tracer rounds above the heads of protesters
and lob tear gas into the crowd on Saturday. Protesters armed with
metal bars and petrol bombs torched cars and looted shops.

The emergency laws ban public meetings and restrict media reporting.

Armoured personnel carriers were still guarding the main square on
Monday, but traffic has returned to the streets and shops were open.

"It was very bad on Saturday," Sahak, a 25-year-old unemployed man,
said as he watched workers hammer together a broken metal shelf in
a looted supermarket.

"But we now really hope that is all over."

Sarksyan officially won 53 percent of the vote and Ter-Petrosyan
won 21.5 percent, in an election the OSCE described as flawed but
sufficient for Armenia to fulfil its international obligations.

Diplomats expect a harsher follow-up report from the OSCE this week.

(Additional reporting by Margarita Antidze and Hasmik Lazarian;
editing by Andrew Roche)