Author: Hambardsumian Paul

NO REASONS TO LIFT STATE OF EMERGENCY – KOCHARIAN

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS
March 5, 2008
Russia

The state of emergency introduced in Yerevan following mass riots in
the city will be maintained, Armenian President Robert Kocharian said.

"As of yet, we are not sure that such incidents will not take place
again, and this could lead to more danger," Kocharian told journalists
on Wednesday.

"Firstly, one should be certain that riots will not repeat themselves
in order to lift the state of emergency. Today, there is no such
certainty, because the whereabouts of the organizers of the riots
have yet to be established," the Armenian president said.

People who used "arms and explosives against police" are still at
large, Kocharian said.

Yerevan’s city hall should not sanction new opposition protest actions,
the president said, adding that he advocates legal restrictions on
rallies in downtown Yerevan. "One should introduce legal restrictions,
for example on staging rallies on Liberty Square no more than once
or twice a week," the president said, stressing, "We should make sure
this situation does not happen again."

"There should be a swift reaction on the first day. The main thing
is to avoid a negative development of the situation; the main thing
is that there is no psychosis," Kocharian said. "We all should learn
a lesson from these events," he said.

The opposition, headed by Levon Ter-Petrosian, a former Armenian
president, launched mass protests the day after the February 19
presidential election, demanding a revision of the results.

Police dispersed the rally on Liberty Square on March 1. The protesters
then moved to an area adjacent to the embassies of France and Italy,
where up to 10,000 people rallied. Police reported that, by the
evening, the situation had become uncontrollable and crows had started
looting nearby government institutions and private shops, setting cars
ablaze in the process. An end was put to the rioting after a 20-day
state of emergency was introduced in Yerevan by a presidential decree.

According to official data, eight people died and 131 sustained
injuries in the rioting.

Besides Kocharian said, that the situation at the contact line between
the Nagorno-Karabakh and Azeri armed forces has stabilized.

"There was an attack on a stronghold, and it was captured. A response
came immediately, and the status quo was restored," Kocharian said
at a press conference.

The conflicting sides reached a ceasefire agreement, Kocharian said.

He praised the role of OSCE chairman-in-office’s representative for
Nagorno-Karabakh Andrzej Kasprzyk in settling the incident.

"We are capable of settling this incident," Kocharian said.

The Armenian president suggested that Azerbaijan might have thought
that Armenia lost its focus on Nagorno-Karabakh or that "some major
units were withdrawn from Nagorno-Karabakh to maintain order in
Yerevan."

"I don’t think that it would have been politically correct to take
advantage of such a situation," he said.

Earlier Armenian Prime Minister and President-elect Serzh Sargsyan
said, that the Armenian army inflicted "numerous" fatalities on Azeri
forces in a clash on Tuesday, and territory seized by the Azeris on
Tuesday morning was returned to the Nagorno-Karabakh government.

"There are negotiations in progress on the peaceful resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Sargsyan said.

"I am sure that common sense will take the upper hand, and I rule
out the military resolution of the conflict," he said.

Armenia and Azerbaijan concluded a ceasefire in May 1994.

NKR DM: SITUATION ON CONTACT LINE IS CALM

arminfo
2008-03-05 13:25:00

ArmInfo. Presently, the situation on the contact line of the NKR
and Azerbaijani Armed Forces is calm, press-secretary of NKR Defense
Ministry Senor Hasratyan told ArmInfo.

He said that single shots are sometimes heard from the opposite side,
however, the situation in general is calm and under control. The
press service of RA Defense Ministry also reports that the situation
on the contact line of the Armenian and Azerbaijani AF is normal and
no shots have been fixed.

To recall, on March 3 night, the special operations detachment
of the Azerbaijani AF, having passed the northern part of the
Karabakh-Azerbaijani contact line, took one of the positions of the
NKR Defense Army in the direction of Levonarkh village. As a result
of prompt actions of the NKR AF, in several hours of intensive combat
action, the opposing side dropped back having left 8 killed soldiers
and armament. Two soldiers have been wounded from the Karabakh party.

RA MINISTER OF DEFENCE RECEIVES NEW MILITARY ATTACHE OF RF EMBASSY

Noyan Tapan
March 5, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 4, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 4 Mikayel Haroutiunian, the
Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia, received Colonel
O. Demidov, the military attache of the Embassy of the Russian
Federation, on the occasion of the termination of his tenure in
Armenia, as well as Captain Al. Frolov, the newly-appointed military
attache of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic
of Armenia.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA Ministry
of Defence, during the meeting the sides discussed issues concerning
the current state of the bilateral relations in the military sphere
and the perspectives for deepening them still more.

KOCHARIAN: STATE OF EMERGENCY WAS A NECESSITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.03.2008 15:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The latest developments proved necessity of
imposition of emergency rule in Yerevan, RA President Robert Kocharian
told a news conference today.

"The imposition of state of emergency prevented greater losses. The law
enforcement bodies possess enough materials, including video records,
which will help to assess the situation correctly and undertake proper
states. The investigators work round the clock.

The population will be informed of the process every day," the
President said.

He divided the participants of disorders into three groups. "The
first group includes the initiators of the melee at the French
Embassy. It can for its part be divided in two subgroups. The first
subgroup incited protesters to unrest. It specifically refers to Nikol
Pashinyan. The second tried to calm down the demonstrators. Here I
can mention David Shahnazaryan.

The third group includes those who immediately participated in the
rally and then started looting," the President said.

"All these people committed different crimes. However, it would
be unfair to punish the victims of the rally without punishing its
initiators, who let the crowd get out of control. Gathering people,
that had shouldered huge responsibility," he noted.

"We know where to search for armed participants of the melee, although
they are trying to hide now," Mr Kocharian said. "I reiterate the
Prime Minister’s call to those who participated in the disorders to
attend police stations of their own free will, what will considerably
extenuate their guilt."

"WE WILL RESTORE AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AT ANY PRICE"
By Hakob Chakrian

AZG Armenian Daily
06/03/2008

Karabakh conflict

Ilham Aliyev announced in Khanlar on March 4

March 1 incidents led to unprecedented heightening of tension of
inner political situation in Armenia. On the borders of the Republic
of Nagorno Karabakh the military-political situation is also tensioned.

Independent of the nationality the initiators that increased the
tension serve one purpose – the common purpose to return Nagorno
Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

The increasing tension of Armenian inner political life, as well as
the military-political tension gave Ilham Aliyev one more opportunity
of threatening Armenia with warlike announcements, in order to make
recurrent announcement of Azerbaijani resolution to regain their
territorial integrity.

Turkish Public TV responded immediately Ilham’s announcement
saying, "Being in Khanlar town Ilham Aliyev mentioned that Nagorno
Karabakh conflict should be settled in the framework of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity. He said that Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
is recognized by the whole world, and they will not allow separating
Nagorno Karabakh from Azerbaijan. Reminding of the available countries
that are concerned over the strengthening of Azerbaijani military
forces Aliyev underlined that the negotiation process continues for
the present but they will restore Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
at any price".

EU MEDIATOR BOUND FOR ARMENIA

United Press International
March 3 2008

YEREVAN, Armenia, March 3 (UPI) — European Union officials have
announced a mediator will be sent to Armenia to help ease post-election
tensions that have resulted in at least eight deaths.

Javier Solana, foreign police chief for the European Union, asked
Peter Semneby, his special envoy for the South Caucasus, to visit the
troubled nation after speaking Sunday with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian, Deutsche Welle reported Monday.

The disputed Feb. 19 elections in Armenia led to an eruption of
violence that has killed at least eight people.

An estimated 19,000 demonstrators protested alleged government
interference in the outcome of the vote. Witnesses said police
used truncheons and tear gas on the protesters, which were largely
supporters of opposition presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian,
while firing their guns into the air. Dozens of the protesters were
reported injured while police said 33 officers were injured during
the conflict.

Kocharian, the outgoing president, has declared a 20-day state of
emergency in the country.

SEMNEBY: ALL ARMENIAN POLITICAL FORCES SHOULD JOIN TO TACKLE CRISIS

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.03.2008 14:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan met Monday
with EU Envoy for South Caucasus Peter Semneby.

The delegation headed by Mr Semneby included Raul de Luzenberger,
Ambassador, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to
Armenia, Andrey Didenko and Rasa Ostrauskayte, advisors for the EU
Envoy, and Serge Smessov, France’s Ambassador to Armenia, the RA
government’s press office reported.

The officials focused on the recent disturbances and the possibilities
to resolve the political crisis in Armenia.

The authorities should exert every effort to smooth the situation and
prevent a split in the society via political dialogue, according to
Mr Semneby.

For his part, PM Sargsyan said all those who initiated the crime should
be called to account. He reiterated his readiness for cooperation,
emphasizing, "We are determined to cooperate with all who wish
stability and glory for Armenia," he said

IFEX – News from the international freedom of expression community
________________________________________ _________________________

UPDATE – ARMENIA

4 March 2008

Media ordered to cite only government sources; three websites, one radio
station blocked

SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York

**Updates IFEX alert of 3 March 2008**

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 3 March 2008 CPJ press release:

ARMENIA: Media restrictions imposed as president declares emergency

New York, March 3, 2008 – Armenian authorities should immediately lift
restrictions on independent news reporting and the censorship of
independent news Web sites, steps imposed when President Robert Kocharian
declared a state of emergency on Saturday, the Committee to Protect
Journalists said today.

Kocharian declared a 20-day state of emergency after clashes between
government troops and opposition supporters in the capital, Yereven,
resulted in eight deaths and more than 100 injuries, according to
international press reports. Protesters claimed that vote-rigging marred
the February 19 presidential election that ended in victory for Kocharian’s
hand-picked successor, Serzh Sarkisian. Hundreds of troops were deployed in
Yerevan to clamp down on the demonstrations. The state of emergency also
banned public gatherings, set travel restrictions, and gave police expanded
search powers, according to international news accounts.

As part of the declaration, Kocharian ordered media outlets to cite only
official sources when reporting on national politics. Several independent
and opposition news Web sites that operate under Armenian domain names were
also blocked today. They included Web sites run by the pro-opposition news
agency A1+ and the independent newspapers Aravot (Morning) and Aikakan
Zhamanak (Armenian Time), according to the news agency Armenia Today.
Armenia Today reported that local Internet users received a message that
said: "Warning! As ordered by a state decree, some informational Web sites
will not be accessible." The Armenian Service of the U.S.-funded Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) was blocked within the country.

"We’re alarmed by this blatant attempt to censor news of the disputed
election," CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. "We call on Armenian
authorities to withdraw the ban on independent newsgathering and
dissemination, and restore access to independent and opposition media."

Sarkisian took about 53 percent of the vote on February 19, according to
official results, and is due to take office in April. Rival candidate Levon
Ter-Petrosian, who was Armenia’s first post-Soviet president, contested the
results and claimed the election was rigged, according to RFE/RL.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which
monitored the election, said the vote was mostly in conformance with
international standards. But OSCE monitors noted flaws in vote-counting and
said officials blurred partisan and governmental interests.

Up to 20,000 Ter-Petrosian supporters began rallying in Yerevan on February
21; their skepticism about the results was fanned when two Central
Elections Commission members and a deputy prosecutor general publicly
questioned the fairness of the vote, RFE/RL reported.

Authorities deployed police when Ter-Petrosian’s supporters built a tent
camp on the capital’s Freedom Square and groups of protesters staged
rallies in front of different government buildings, the news agency Regnum
reported. The stand-off reached its peak on Saturday morning when police,
claiming that they had received reports of alleged arms distribution and
coup plotting, started dismantling the tents, according to local press
reports.

Angered protesters, in turn, attacked police with metal rods and Molotov
cocktails, burned cars, and looted local shops, Reuters reported. The
protests calmed when Ter-Petrosian called on Sunday for a halt to the
violence, Regnum said.

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to
safeguard press freedom worldwide. For more information visit

For further information, contact Nina Ognianova (x106) or Muzaffar
Suleymanov (x101) at CPJ, 330 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001, U.S.A.,
tel: +1 212 465 1004, fax: +1 212 465 9568, e-mail: [email protected],
[email protected] , [email protected], Internet:

The information contained in this update is the sole responsibility of CPJ.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit CPJ.
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U.S. DIPLOMATS HOPE FOR SOONEST RESOLUTION OF ARMENIAN CRISIS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.03.2008 18:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On March 1, Armenia’s Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan
has phone conversations with Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of
European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried and his deputy, OSCE Minsk
Group Co-chair Matthew Bryza.

The U.S. diplomats voiced hope for soonest resolution of the political
crisis via peaceful dialogue.

For his part, thanking the American counterparts for support, PM
Sargsyan assured that the Armenian government will do its utmost to
avoid violence and restore public order and stability.

On March 1, Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian declared a 20-day
emergency rule in Yerevan.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PROMISES YEARS OF POLITICAL CONFLICT AHEAD

Azeri Press Agency
March 3 2008
Azerbaijan

Armenia’s main opposition leader has vowed to continue protesting
against the result of the presidential election, which he says was
rigged (BBC).

The majority of demonstrators in a standoff with police in Armenia’s
capital ended their protest on Sunday but a few dozen refused to go
home and set fire to abandoned police vehicles.

Most of the crowd, which numbered about 2,000, headed away from a
square in the Armenian capital where they had been demonstrating after
a message was read out from opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosyan
urging them to go home.

Levon Ter-Petrosian made the pledge despite the deaths of eight people
in clashes between his supporters and riot police on Saturday.

A state of emergency is in force in the capital Yerevan and the army
has been patrolling the streets.

The election was officially won by PM Serzh Sarkisian with a big
majority.

International observers judged the election to be generally democratic
but noted some problems with the vote count.

Two pan-European bodies, the Council of Europe and the Organisation
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), have voiced concern
about the situation in the ex-Soviet republic.

The OSCE is sending an envoy to try to arrange talks between the
government and the opposition.

The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Armenia
to conduct a "prompt and independent investigation into the use of
lethal force by security forces".

Mr Ter-Petrosian told reporters there could be years of political
conflict ahead.

"Acting within the law…we will struggle… until the removal of
this hateful, criminal regime… without being afraid of prison and
without being afraid of their threats," he said.

Mr Ter-Petrosian expressed regret about the eight people who died on
Saturday after armed police fought pitched battles with protesters who
had set up barricades in the city centre, but he said the government
was to blame.

The authorities said they had to restore order after 11 days of mass
demonstrations which they had repeatedly warned were illegal.

Outgoing President Robert Kocharian declared a state of emergency
was in force until 20 March.

Mr Ter-Petrosian was the president of Armenia in the 1990s but recently
made a dramatic comeback as an outspoken opposition leader, the BBC’s
Matthew Collin notes.

Mr Ter-Petrosian gave his news conference on Sunday at his heavily
guarded mansion on a hill-top overlooking Yerevan where he says he
is being kept against his will by police.

But the authorities insist he is not under house arrest.

Official results gave Mr Sarkisian 53% of the vote in the 19 February
election, with Mr Ter-Petrosian getting 21.5%.

OSCE special envoy Heikki Talvitie hopes to have talks with all the
key figures concerned.

In its preliminary assessment of the election, the OSCE said last
month that the vote had been "mostly in line with the country’s
international commitments".

However, it also noted some "problems… particularly during the
counting".

HRW reported instances of intimidation at eight polling stations in
or around Yerevan.

"Assailants intimidated, threatened, and even violently attacked
opposition party activists, domestic observers and journalists,"
it said on 22 February.