Minsk Says That It Supplied Weapons To Armenia, Eritrea And Sudan La

MINSK SAYS THAT IT SUPPLIED WEAPONS TO ARMENIA, ERITREA AND SUDAN LAST YEAR

r/2008/08/05/ic_articles_259_158327/
Aug 5 2008
Belarus

The Belarusian government has announced that it did not import any
conventional weapons and supplied arms only to Armenia, Eritrea and
Sudan in 2007, BelaPAN said.

A report sent to the UN Register of Conventional Arms says that
Belarus supplied Sudan with two modernized versions of the BTR-70
armored personnel carrier, sold 10 122-milimeter D-30 howitzer guns
to Armenia and nine Uragan multiple launch rocket systems to Eritrea.

The value of the contracts was not disclosed.

In 2006, Belarus shipped 41 T-72 tanks to Azerbaijan in its only arms
trade deal that year.

In 2005, Belarus supplied Azerbaijan with 19 T-72 tanks, exported
two Mi-8 helicopters to Slovakia and two Mi-24 choppers to Djibouti,
the lowest amount of weapons sold by the country in a decade.

In 2004, Belarus supplied Sudan with 21 BRDM-2 armored reconnaissance
vehicles, seven BTR-80 and 10 BTR-70 armored personnel carriers and a
BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle. In addition, Belarus sold two Su-25
fighter jets to Ivory Coast.

In 2003, Belarus exported nine BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles,
39 BRDM-2s and 32 artillery systems to Sudan, 19 missiles for the
Igla mobile anti-aircraft system to Sweden and 20 armored vehicles
and 16 artillery systems to Ivory Coast.

Between 1996 and 2002, Belarus sold arms to Iran, Algeria, Sudan,
Ivory Coast, Peru, Congo, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia,
Uganda, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates and Ukraine.

http://naviny.by/rubrics/inte
www.naviny.by/

Freight Traffic In Armenia Reduces 4.2% Over Six Months Of 2008

FREIGHT TRAFFIC IN ARMENIA REDUCES 4.2% OVER SIX MONTHS OF 2008

ARKA
Aug 4, 2008

YEREVAN, August 4. /ARKA/. Freight traffic in Armenia reduced 4.2%
over six months of 2008, compared with the same period of the previous
year, to 4,234,300 tons by late June, National Statistical Service
of Armenia reports.

According to the statistical report, 50.7% of these cargoes were
transported by motor vehicles, 0.1% by aircrafts and 18.1% through
pipes.

The report says the freight traffic totaled 1472.5 million ton/km
at the first half of 2008 after growing 3.9%, compared with the same
period a year earlier.

BAKU: Presidents Of Azerbaijan And Armenia May Meet By October 15

PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA MAY MEET BY OCTOBER 15

Azeri Press Agency
Aug 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Moscow – APA. Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov did
not rule out the next meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents
by October 15.

APA reports quoting Novosti-Armeniya agency that Elmar Mammadyarov
said the presidents’ meeting depended on the talks between the foreign
ministers."If we feel that we have found a common platform, there is
nothing impossible," he said,

The minister said the meeting his Armenian counterpart was constructive
and productive. Edward Nalbandian underlined that they had reached an
agreement on continuing the negotiations basing on Madrid proposals. He
said the next meeting of the ministers might take place within the
framework of UN General Assembly session late in September.

"Today we felt how important such meetings are. It is possible that
we will meet before the General Assembly", he said.

Boxing: Darchinyan Promises Showtime Highlight Reel Knockout

DARCHINYAN PROMISES SHOWTIME HIGHLIGHT REEL KNOCKOUT

SecondsOut
Aug 1 2008

Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan

Former flyweight world champion Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan has
talked a big game in the days leading up to his junior bantamweight
world championship showdown with Dimitri Kirilov on Saturday night
at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, but can he back
up those challenging and threatening words after his last two outings?

Dimitri "The Baby" Kirilov 29-3-1 (9) will defend his IBF junior
bantamweight title against former IBF flyweight champion and knockout
artist Vic Darchinyan 29-1-1 (23) live this Saturday on Showtime
Championship Boxing at 9pm ET / PT delayed on the west coast.

Here’s what the fighters had to say just two days before they battle
in the ring:

DIMITRI KIRILOV

"Darchinyan has a very unorthodox style, but it makes no difference. I
will fight the way I always have. I will use my boxing skills and
strategy to keep him off me.

"It does not matter how much power he has or he says he has. I’ve been
in the ring with big punchers before. Whatever Vic Darchinyan has,
it’s not enough to beat me.

"Freddie (Roach, his trainer) tells me ‘The bigger they punch, the
harder they punch, the harder they fall.’

"I feel very at home in Tacoma and I’m looking forward to defending
my title on Saturday."

Kirilov says ‘No Trespassing’ on his title turf: Tom Casino

VIC DARCHINYAN

"Kirilov has never been KO’d before. He’s going to get his first
knockout this Saturday.

"I have not made any changes in my game plan. Against Nonito Donaire, I
just got caught, that’s all. If anything, I am more focused than I ever
was before. My left hand is much stronger. My right hand is faster.

"I never respect my opponents before I fight them. I respect them
only after I knock them out. I help them wake up and help them to
their corner.

"I am here as a proud rep of my home town of Vanadzor, Armenia. I am
also very proud to fight out of Australia.

"I am here to put on another exciting show for Showtime. I am going
to fill up your highlight reel.

"Everyone at the Emerald Queen Casino is going to hear my punches,
lefts and rights. The people come out to watch the KO and that’s what
I am here for.

"Freddie Roach (Kirilov’s trainer) says I am predictable. The only
thing he can predict is that his boy is going to get knocked out."

In the co-feature, U.S. Olympian and undefeated prospect Andre "The
Matrix" Dirrell 15-0 (10) will put his flawless record on the line
against fellow unbeaten Mike "The Persecutor" Paschall 17-0-1 (4)
in a 10-round super middleweight brawl.

The Assessment Of The American Political Scientists

THE ASSESSMENT OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENTISTS

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 31, 2008
Armenia

"Foreign Policy" journal and the Peace Foundation – the two leading
American Institutes of Political Science, have published the expertise
rating list of the world’s countries which were found to be legally
incompetent.

The list reflects the authorities’ inability to maintain territorial
integrity as well as the countries’ demographic, political and
economic situation.

According to the research, Georgia and Azerbaijan were found to be
more legally incompetent than Armenia.

Moldova is considered the most unstable state in Europe. Belarus,
Georgia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine rank as the 53rd, 56th, 64th and the
108th countries respectively. Armenia occupies the 109th horizon in
the list.

Yerevan Hopes For Peaceful Resolution Of Karabakh Conflict – Foreign

YEREVAN HOPES FOR PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF KARABAKH CONFLICT – FOREIGN MINISTRY

Interfax
July 30 2008
Russia

YEREVAN. July 30 (Interfax) – The Armenian authorities are doing
everything possible to ensure the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-
Karabakh conflict, the country’s Foreign Minister Edvard Nalbandian
said.

"We are doing everything in our power to make sure that the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved peacefully, and we hope that
the problem will be solved solely by peaceful methods. We attach a
great importance to solution of this conflict and discuss all changes
surrounding this issue with the Nagorno-Karabakh leaders," Nalbandian
told a press conference on Wednesday.

"Today I am going to Moscow where on August 1 I will have a meeting
with Azerabaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov at the
proposal of the co-chairmen of the OSCE (Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe) Minsk Group that mediates the Nagorno-
Karabakh conflict," Nalbandian said.

The meeting will focus on "those proposals that were made by the
mediators in Madrid and approved by the Armenian and Azeri presidents
at their meeting in St. Petersburg," he said.

The co-chairmen will hold separate meetings with the Armenian and
Azeri foreign ministers in Moscow, the ministers will meet one-on-
one and in a more extended format, Nalbandian said.

Georgia Carries Out A Systematic Policy Of Wiping Out Armenians From

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.07.2008 GMT+04:00

GEORGIA CARRIES OUT A SYSTEMATIC POLICY OF WIPING OUT ARMENIANS FROM JAVAKHK

Tbilisi cannot but understand that Azerbaijan and Turkey have
implemented a policy of destructing and excluding Armenians if not
from the region, then, at least, from the enclaves and places of
dense habitation.

Once again the situation in Javakhk has become strained. Yet again
Armenia finds excuses through appropriate formulations of the kind:
RA Foreign Ministry closely watches the situation in Javakhk. No one
knows what is really going on, and yet people die; Armenians of Javakhk
are on the edge of complete eviction. It means the Turkish-Azerbaijani
forces have gained control of the northern border of Armenia too.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On July 18, 2008 there was an explosion by the house
of Akhalkalaki Chief of Police in the regional center of Akhalkalaki,
mostly inhabited with Armenians. In the evening several policemen,
as well as about 40-50 strangers in civilian clothes, all armed,
burst into the house of United Javakhk democratic alliance member
Gurgen Shirinyan under pretence of detention in connection with the
explosion, and searched the house. During the unauthorized search,
under mysterious conditions was killed policeman Arthur Berujanyan,
Armenian by birth. On July 20 Georgian Special Forces encircled a
rundown building in Akhalkalaki, where, as they claimed, Shirinyan was
hiding. In the course of the operation another Armenian policeman was
killed. Day and night the office of United Javakhk democratic alliance
is under police control. On July 21 at 4:00 a.m. the Emergency Platoon
broke into the house of a United Javakhk leader Vahagn Chakhalyan,
searched the house and arrested him and his family members. Hours
later Chakhalyan, his father and underage brother were transferred to
the regional center of Samtskhe-Javakheti-Akhaltsikhe, after which
they were all removed to Tbilisi, their detention term prolonged
for another 2 months. Immediately following Chakhalyan’s detention,
another 6 members of "United Javakhk" were detained, who were set
free after inquiry was held.

Though various Armenian experts and journalists claim that the
occurrences in Javakhk are provocation, the systematic policy of wiping
out an aboriginal nation, which finds itself to be a minority, cannot
be treated as provocation. However strange it may be, no one paid
much attention to Saakashvili’s statement in Kars, saying "Azerbaijan
is the guarantor of Georgia’s independence." Presently they are the
mainstream of both foreign and home policy of Georgia, which, in fact,
has never really been independent, like Azerbaijan… If the Georgian
President were more sincere, he was to have mentioned that Turkey and
the USA were guarantors of Georgia. However, the funds for the transit
of the Caspian oil made Saakashvili say what he said. Tbilisi cannot
but understand that Azerbaijan and Turkey have implemented a policy
of destructing and excluding Armenians if not from the region, then,
at least, from the enclaves and places of dense habitation.

The railway project Kars-Tbilisi-Baku, which is already most often
referred to as Baku-Ankara railway, had its say in the aggravation of
situation too. Actually, Armenia was made to realize that she has to
change her attitude towards other countries of the region, otherwise
she will lead herself into a deadlock and be completely isolated. In
a word, Armenia is suggested to become a second Georgia -controlled,
weak and torn apart by antagonism. Moreover, Armenia may simply be
crossed off the map. Not by chance President of Turkey Abdullah Gul
mentions only Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan among countries of the
region. Iran and Armenia are not even made mention of.

"Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project (BTK) is open to all the countries
in the Caucasus," declared Gul at the ceremony of inauguration
of the Turkish section construction of the railway. In his words
"The project will not only unite Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, but
will also bring together Asia and Europe." "The project is of great
economic importance to the region and to other countries involved in
the project. In spite of doubts on the part of ‘some countries’ about
expediency of BTK, a range of Asian states, including Kazakhstan, are
interested in the implementation of the project. And Kazakh President
Nursultan Nazarbayev confirmed it," announced Gul at the ceremony.

The Turkish President also voiced satisfaction that along with Turkey,
Azerbaijan and Georgia attached great importance to the project
too. "Should the countries have political ambitions, a plenty of
projects can be implemented, such as Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipe,
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipe and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which
we are already putting into practice. I am sure the project will
be a success, since all the three countries apply great efforts. The
project unites not simply two countries but the entire Caucasus region,
which proves independence of these countries," Gul said, Trend Azeri
news agency reports.

In all probability the conflict in Javakhk will be settled, but
there is no guarantee that Armenians in Javakhk will share the fate
of Nakhichevan or the lowlands of Nagorno-Karabakh. If the railway is
opened by 2011, which does not raise a slightest doubt, the future of
Javakhk looks vague for Armenians. Finally Georgia will have to carry
out the EC resolutions on resettlement of Turk-Meskhetins, who will
definitely be moved to Samtskhe-Javakheti, in spite of the fact that
Armenian MPs of Georgian Parliament strongly refute the fact. However,
no one really listens to them in Tbilisi, and especially in Javakhk
or Yerevan…

NKR permanent rep to assist in attracting investments to NKR economy

NKR permanent representations to assist in attraction of investments to
NKR economy

2008-07-25 13:43:00

ArmInfo. Meeting of heads of Permanent representations of the NKR to
Armenia, France and Germany with Director of Artsakh investment fund
Karen Yesayan was held within the frames of events dedicated to the
15th anniversary of creation the NKR Foreign Ministry.

As special correspondent in Stepanakert reports, the meeting was
purposed to get acquainted with the programmes of the Fund for further
establishment of a mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign
partners through the republic’s representations.

Having presented the Fund’s programmes, K. Yesayan said thee he expects
assistance of the NKR representatives abroad in their implementation.
He emphasized the guarantees of a mutually beneficial cooperation with
investors will be assured. Heads of the Permanent representations of
Nagorno Karabakh said that the fact the country needs not a
humanitarian assistance but cooperation is an evidence of the NKR
consistence. At the same time, they talked about the necessity of a
purposeful work to gain confidence of the potential investors, the NKR
participation in international exhibitions, etc.

Participants in the meeting promised all kinds of assistance to the
Fund in attraction of foreign investments to the NKR economy.

86 people accused of links with Ergenekon to stand trial Oct. 20

PanARMENIAN.Net

Eighty-six people accused of links with Ergenekon to stand trial in
Turkey Oct. 20
26.07.2008 16:53 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Eighty-six people, accused of creating an armed
terrorist group to overthrow the government, will go on trial on
October 20. A Turkish court agreed on Friday to hear the controversial
Ergenekon case, accepting the 2455-page indictment.

The first hearing of the case will be held on October 20 at a prison
complex in Silivri town of Istanbul because of the large number of
defendants.

The indictment said the investigation led the officials to a terrorist
organization named Ergenekon, which has not been the subject of any
criminal case previously and which has different objectives and
activities when compared to other terrorist organizations.

"It has been determined that the nearest goal of the organization is
to carry out activities that will cause governmental weakness in the
country and to create a chaotic atmosphere that will spoil the public
order, moreover, as a final goal, the organization aims to make people
approve an unlawful attempt to be carried out against the government
in such a chaotic atmosphere and to take over the government through
an unlawful intervention," the indictment said.

Prosecutors accuse so-called Ergenekon gang of at least two violent
acts initially blamed on Islamists – the 2006 bombing of a secularist
newspaper and an armed attack on a top court the same year in which a
senior judge was killed.

The group is also accused of planning to assassinate some prominent
Turks in the past few years, including the Prime Minister Tayyip
Erdogan, army chief Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, 2006 Nobel literature
laureate Orhan Pamuk, pro-government journalist Fehmi Koru and some
pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) officials.

The indictment added the gang is not linked to the Turkish armed
forces and National Intelligence Agency (MIT).

The long waited indictment was submitted only two weeks ago, although
the Ergenekon case started 13 months ago with the discovery of
grenades in a house in Istanbul’s Umraniye district.

The lack of the indictment in the operation, and the detainment of
anti-AKP politicians, journalists and intellectuals without any legal
charge raised eyebrows in Turkey, as many questioned whether the
operation is being used to suppress opponents of the ruling party.

Apart from the 86 already indicted, about 20 other people, including
two retired four-star generals, a popular journalist and a prominent
businessman, are awaiting charges, some of them in prison.

An additional indictment would be prepared for those detained in the
sixth wave of the operation in July 1, including Kemalist Thought
Association Chairman Retired Gen. Sener Eruygur, Retired Gen. Hursit
Tolon and Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO).

The film director Halis Yavuz Isiklar, who had been also taken into
custody in the same wave, was released late on Friday by the Istanbul
court.

Turkish public is divided over the issue, even some question whether
such organization exists or it is just a cover to suppress the
opposition.

The extent of the operation had widened since the closure case against
the AKP filed in March. Although the closure case and the Ergenekon
case are separate legal processes, Erdogan had linked the two cases
saying the closure case against the AKP was filed due to the
government’s determination in the Ergenekon case, Hurriyet reports.

BAKU: Azeri Ministry Denies Russian Report On Arms Procurement Drive

AZERI MINISTRY DENIES RUSSIAN REPORT ON ARMS PROCUREMENT DRIVE

Azad Azarbaycan TV
July 24 2008
Baku

Text of report by Azerbaijani private TV station ATV on 24 July
[Presenter] Reports published in Russia’s Moscow Defence Brief
magazine about arms that Azerbaijan purchased between 2000-2007 are
not true. A source at the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry press service
told "Son Xabar" that by circulating these kinds of reports, pro-
Armenian forces aim to divert the international community’s attention
from Armenia which is building up its armament.

[Correspondent over archive footage of the 26 June military parade]
Russia’s Moscow Defence Brief magazine has published a list of military
hardware that Azerbaijan purchased between 2000-07. It is noted in
the magazine that Turkey allocated 170m dollars in military aid to
Azerbaijan in 2005. Azerbaijan also obtains small arms and modern
equipment from the US and Israeli firms on the basis of commercial
deals. Azerbaijan signed an agreement with Ukraine on the purchase of
12 MiG-29 fighter jets, two MiG-29 UB and 12 E-39 jets in 2005. Under
a bilateral agreement, Azerbaijan will buy from Russia several BTR-90
S and 70 BTR-80 A [armoured personnel carriers] in 2008.

According to the list, Azerbaijan bought 106 T-72 tanks between
2002-06. Our country bought two more BMP-1 military hardware from
Ukraine in 2005; 36 pieces of 130-mm projectiles from Ukraine and
72 pieces of 100-mm anti-tank projectiles from Bulgaria in 2002; 12
pieces of 9RK58 Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems in 2004-05. It
is claimed in the list that Azerbaijan bought dozens of such weapons
from Turkey, Georgia and Ukraine.

A source at the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry press service told "Son
Xabar" that these reports were not true. The press service stressed
that by outlining the strengthening of armament in Azerbaijan,
numerous pro-Armenian forces functioning in Russia actually want to
divert the international community’s attention from Armenia, which
is building up its military. The ministry said that the figures in
the magazine were exaggerated and noted that they were absolutely
wide of the mark. Ulviyya Aliyeva, "Son Xabar".