Author: Hovhannisian John

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Feb 18 2008

Armenia has day of silence on eve of presidential election

18.02.2008, 13.33

YEREVAN, February 18 (Itar-Tass) – Armenia has a `day of silence’ in
electioneering on Monday on the eve of the country’s presidential
election. Political agitation is prohibited all over the country,
according to the republic’s Election Code norm.

Contrary to tradition the main newspapers were published in Armenia
on Sunday to tell the readers about the latest events in the election
race. No papers will be published on Monday and also on the election
day – Tuesday in order not to break the `political silence.’

The election meetings’ noise is past, the candidates have given an
account of their political platforms and now pieces of agitation
posters and leaflets are blown by the wind in the streets of Yerevan
and other cities and settlements of the republic. Despite the fact
that in accordance with the law the candidates’ headquarters must
clear the walls of houses of all posters and remove them from
billboards, the faces of the candidates are still seen there
reminding passers-by of the ended storm of political passions.

Meanwhile, the election campaign has turned out to be the nosiest and
vociferous over the whole history of independent Armenia. The current
presidential election is the fifth since the country proclaimed
independence. Emotions sometimes were running too high and debates
were turning into personal insults. The authorities’ activities have
been most severely criticised by oppositionists. Opposition members
accused the government of all sins even using the most insulting
expressions.

Against this background the candidate from the power, incumbent Prime
Minister Serzh Sarkisyan in his speeches was composed calling for
tolerance and unity. `The time has come to overcome the split
undermining the national potential,’ the presidential candidate said.
Moreover, at the last election meeting on Sunday he apologised for
mistakes committed by the authorities over 17 years since the
proclamation of independence of Armenia and promised to correct them
if he is elected president. It is no surprise that such stance is
liked by the electorate, which is reflected in the results of public
opinion polls.

The main opponent to power is Levon Ter-Petrosyan who headed the
country in 1990-1998. The first president of Armenia built his
election campaign on severe criticism of the current Armenian
leadership accusing them of making gross mistakes practically in all
spheres.

Other candidates expressed programmes differing from each other in
nuances. However, all the nine hopefuls have a common position on the
role and place of Armenia in the international community and on the
ways of the Karabakh conflict settlement.

Meanwhile, missions of six international organisations have been
accredited for monitoring the coming presidential elections in
Armenia to be held this Tuesday. The Armenian Central Election
Commission (CEC) reported that they include missions of CIS and CIS
Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, the ODIHR and the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the
European Parliament.

Representatives from the Russian State Duma (lower house of
parliament), led by first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee
for CIS Affairs Konstantin Zatulin, were expected to come on Sunday.
The delegation includes five representatives from the United Russia
Party and one representative from the factions of the Liberal
Democratic Party, the Communist Party and the Just Russia Party each.

The Armenian CEC invited as observers ambassadors of OSCE member
countries, other foreign ambassadors in the republic, the head of the
OSCE mission in Armenia, the special representative of the CE
secretary-general in Yerevan, the chief of the Yerevan office of the
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, the
head of the local branch of the International Foundation for
Electoral Systems and the chairman of the Central Election Commission
of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh republic.

A total of 13,400 observers from 39 local non-government
organisations were accredited. The non-government organisation Your
Choice delegated the greatest number of representatives.

The issue of relationship between Armenia and Russia was invariably
raised at the electioneering meetings and practically each candidate
voiced support to the preservation of equal and mutually advantageous
cooperation and partnership with the Russian Federation. Many
candidates called for the development of contacts with NATO within
the programme of partnership pursued by the Alliance. Nevertheless,
on the eve of the election Prime Minister Sarkisyan considered it
necessary to stress once again that the issue of the country’s
admission to NATO is not on the foreign policy agenda of Armenia.

Despite the passions running high, the situation in the republic is
calm, however, reinforced police patrols are on duty in the streets
of Yerevan. A total of 8,000 policemen are engaged in efforts to
maintain law and order on the day of voting.

GOBLE’S PLAN ON KARABAKH PROBLEM STILL REMAINS THE OBJECT OF FIERCE DISCUSSIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.02.2008 GMT+04:00

There are two versions of the plan; "Goble-1" and "Goble-2". The
first version was approved and encouraged by the Administration of
George Bush already in January 1992. "Goble-2" emerged in 1996.

For 20 years since the beginning of the Karabakh conflict many
suggestions have been made for its resolution. As a rule, all of them
were based on one soul idea, according to which the both parties should
work towards reaching a compromise to come to a peaceful agreement. The
plan of the American politician Paul Goble is among the so-called
"compromise settlements". However, Goble’s plan remained only a plan,
since it included an argument, which, according to a western mind was
totally irrational. "Own lands" mustn’t be given up to the enemy or it
would be the same as to stop being a representative of your own nation.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "In fact there are three ways of solving the problem
of Nagorno-Karabakh: 1) displacing or killing all the Armenians on
this territory (which is morally impossible), 2) placing numerous
foreign troops in Nagorno-Karabakh for locating the parties (which
is physically impossible), 3) leaving Nagorno-Karabakh under the
control of Armenia (which is politically impossible). This is why
the key to the resolution of the conflict is the territory exchange
on the following conditions; a) giving the part of Nagorno-Karabakh
to Armenia together with the territories of river heads, flowing to
Azerbaijan’s side, b) giving under the Azeri control the territory
of Armenia, separating the Republic of Azerbaijan and its Nakhichevan
autonomy (Megrian Corridor)". However, in this case Armenia would lose
its only and the most vital exit to the outside world though Iran
during blockades. Meanwhile, the left bank of the Arax River with
the length of 42 km would become the most important strategic means
of communication, which would link Turkey, the Nakhichevan autonomy
and Azerbaijan," this is, actually, what exactly the plan looks like.

In fact, here are two versions of the plan; "Goble-1" and
"Goble-2". The first version was approved and encouraged by the
Administration of George Bush already in January 1992. In 1996 emerged
"Goble-2".

The author accepted that in the first version he had made "a big
mistake", since "he hadn’t realized what a psychological meaning
the common border with Iran has for Armenia." "Goble-2" didn’t
anticipate any abolition of the Armenian-Iranian borders and didn’t
allow territorial attachment of Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Instead, "Goble-2" suggested exchanging the southern part of
Armenia (the Region of Megri) with the western part of Nakhichevan
autonomy, where it has a 9-km border with Turkey. At the same time
Nagorno-Karabakh, together with the Lachin Corridor become a part
of Armenia, or get independence; the blockade of the Armenia-Turkish
border is abolished, the problem of non-enclave existence of Nakhichev
Autonomy of Azerbaijan is solved, the border between Armenia and
Iran are preserved, and is only moved to north, which has a key
geopolitical significance: in this case when being passed to Armenia,
the part of Nakhichevan Autonomy doesn’t allow any joining with Turkey
and Azerbaijan.

The truth is that Goble’s plan on Karabakh problem is still the object
of fierce discussions. There is even the opinion that this plan with
some changes was the very object of discussion of the meeting of the
Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Rambouillet in 2006. And the
latest rumors about the upcoming "exchange" ("the giving of Megri")
started in the beginning of 2004. In the same year of 2004 in the
report of the American Analytical Center STRATFOR "Battle for the FSU:
Wooing Armenia" the experts of the Center declared that Washington
will do everything to drive Armenia to a tight corner and then the
revision of priorities in favor of the USA will have no alternatives
for this republic.

Since then neither in Armenia, nor in Azerbaijan there are any
discussions about the "exchange", and even if there are, then only
within the frames of election campaign. It is not very likely that
this very plan is on the bases of "mutual compromise", but giving it
up for good would be very untimely too.

AZERBAIJANIS APOLOGIZE TO ARMENIAN COMPOSER

Noyan Tapan
Feb 15, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Composer Ara Gevorgian proved
that he is the author of "Artsakh" composition. Stating this at the
February 15 press, he added that the texts with apologies to him have
been placed on the Azerbaijani website

To recap, the Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia Polad Byulbyulogli
accused Ara Georgain of presenting "Artsakh" musical composition is
an Armenian one.

A. Gevorgian proved, by means of documents, that this music was
written by him and he owns the copyright on this work: the copyright
was registered in the U.S. Congress Library in 1998.

A. Gevorgian said that Russian pirates illegally copying discs are
also to blame. According to him, recently he came across a pirate
disc. Among 8 Azerbaijani compositions on it was a work allegedly
performed by Jivan Gasparian who actually has never performed it. "They
take duduk performances from various places and attribute them to
Jivan Gasparian," A. Gevorgian said.

TER-PETROSIAN FURIOUS AS BAGHDASARIAN STAYS IN RACE
By Ruzanna Stepanian and Ruzanna Khachatrian

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Feb 14 2008

Artur Baghdasarian faced accusations of "treason" and secret
collaboration with the government from fellow opposition candidate
Levon Ter-Petrosian on Thursday as he finally refused to drop out of
the presidential race in favor of Armenia’s former president.

The two opposition leaders traded bitter recriminations, ending
speculation about the formation of an electoral alliance between them
before the first round of voting slated for February 19.

In a written statement, Baghdasarian’s Orinats Yerkir Party said its
leader will not after all urge supporters to vote for Ter-Petrosian
and could endorse the latter only in the event of a run-off vote
pitting the ex-president against Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian.

"We find the second round inevitable," Baghdasarian’s campaign manager,
Heghine Bisharian, told journalists. "Besides, Artur Baghdasarian is
a candidate aspiring not to the second but first place."

Ter-Petrosian was apparently unaware of but seemed to anticipate this
turn of events as he campaigned in Armenia’s southeastern Syunik
region. Speaking at a rally in Meghri, a small town on the Iranian
border, he claimed that he and Sarkisian are the only "real" election
contenders and that six other candidates are simply helping the prime
minister become Armenia’s next president.

"Artur Baghdasarian is threatening to join the list of those
candidates," said Ter-Petrosian. "Whatever he says, if Artur
Baghdasarian doesn’t join our movement, he will play the role of a
traitor, he will help Serzh Sarkisian." The former parliament speaker
would be "finished" as a politician in that case, he added.

The pro-Ter-Petrosian daily "Haykakan Zhamanak" went further,
alleging in its Thursday edition that Baghdasarian has already cut
a secret deal with Sarkisian that will see the two men go into the
second round. "Artur Baghdasarian’s political biography shows that at
critical moments he always did what was needed by Serzh Sarkisian,"
charged the paper.

Baghdasarian denied and condemned the allegations as a "blackmail"
in an interview with RFE/RL later in the day. "By the same token,
I can say that he who doesn’t join me commits treason, that he who
doesn’t join me is with Serzh or Robert [Kocharian," he said. "But
I won’t do that for now and am calling for an end to this posture."

"Levon Ter-Petrosian has no right to make such statements about
a 100,000-strong team and myself. Furthermore, they say one thing
during negotiations in the evening but publish a different thing in
the morning. We find this approach unacceptable," added Baghdasarian.

"When I look at their newspapers I become convinced that Levon
Ter-Petrosian apparently reached an agreement with Serzh Sarkisian to
break up and divide the entire opposition field," Bisharian alleged
for her part. "They are pursuing a policy which plays into Serzh
Sarkisian’s hands."

The two opposition frontrunners for weeks negotiated on the possibility
of joining forces against Sarkisian but failed to reach agreement
before Saturday’s deadline for candidates’ withdrawal from the
race. Baghdasarian, who had been a staunch supporter of Ter-Petrosian
during the latter’s rule, implied this week that he might still
endorse the former president while having his name on the ballot.

"We never talked about Artur Baghdasarian joining Levon Ter-Petrosian
or Levon Ter-Petrosian joining Artur Baghdasarian. We talked about
alliances and consolidation," Baghdasarian said on Thursday without
elaborating.

Armenia’s leadership appears to have been worried about the
possibility of an electoral alliance between Ter-Petrosian and
Baghdasarian. President Robert Kocharian held a rare news conference
last week to advise the ex-speaker against throwing his weight behind
Ter-Petrosian.

Interfax News Agency, Russia
Russia & CIS General Newswire
February 14, 2008 Thursday 12:31 PM MSK

Skinheads charged in Moscow region killings to face trial

MOSCOW Feb 14

Moscow prosecutors have sent to court the criminal case against a
group of skinheads charged with eight counts of hate crime in the
Moscow region.

"The members of the group deliberately looked for people of non-
Slavic stock and attacked them. When they set out for their
‘actions’, they armed themselves with axes, hammers, knives, and also
took household gloves to avoid leaving evidence," the prosecutors
said in a release.

According to information in the possession of investigators, five
victims of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, and also a Russian
citizen with non-Slavic looks were attacked by neo-Nazis in the
period between February and April 2007. Two died at the scene, and
three are crippled.

CONVERSE BANK TO PARTICIPATE IN FOUNDATION OF POST BANK

Noyan Tapan
Feb 12, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Serious work is being done in
Armenia with the aim of founding Post Bank, and an agreement on its
joint creation has been reached with Converse Bank, the RA minister
of transport and communication Andranik Manukian told reporters on
February 12.

Speaking about activities of HayPost in the past year, the minister
said that many positive changes have taken place in the postal system
after its transfer for management: the manager has made investments
in some post offices, which were repaired and brought into line with
international standards. A. Manukian announced that 50 post offices
will be repaired this year.

According to him, the process of reducing HayPost’ staff has finished,
and the manager promised to create normal working conditions for
employees.

The minister did not exclude the possibility of privatization of
HayPost in the future, adding that this issue is not under discussion
now.

Armenian President: In the process of the pre-election rally certain
candidates lose the nerves

February 8, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated today
that `the candidates, who have never faced tense situations in their
lives, in the process of the intense pre-election Ñ?ampaign sometimes
lose the nerves’.

Mediamax reports that the President said this, commenting on the
statements of presidential candidate Artur Baghdasarian, according to
which his life is in danger.

`Yesterday, the meeting of the representative of the National Security
Service with Artur Baghdasarian took place to clarify the details of
the threats, voiced against him and the provision of protection’, the
President stated.

According to him, it turned out that the threats, which were received
by Baghdasarian, are `not serious’. Robert Kocharian stated that Artur
Baghdasarian received a letter from an Armenian, living in the USA, in
which the latter asked him to be careful, and the second message of an
analogous content was received by phone by the father of one of the
leaders of `Orinats Yerkir’.

President instructs to launch probe into the case of fire at the
Ministry of Justice

armradio.am
09.02.2008 11:53

This night fire broke out at the premises of the Ministry of Justice of
the Republic of Armenia. About 30 fire-engines arrived at the site of
the accident to extinguish the fire. The two upper floors were almost
completely burnt. The Minister of Justice, the Prosecutor General and
the Head of the Rescue Service immediately arrived at the accident
site.

This morning President Robert Kocharyan instructed the law-enforcement
bodies to carry out corresponding investigation to reveal the reasons
of the fire. At the same time, President Kocharyan instructed the
Armenian Government to undertake rapid measures to provide the Ministry
of Justice with a new building to ensure the normal activity of the
agency.

Robert Kocharyan appreciated the work of the fire brigade, due to which
the penetration of fire into the premises of the Prosecutor General’s
Office and the Administrative Building of the Court of Cassation was
prevented.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 9 2008

Finding Solution to Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict is Vital to Security,
Stability and Economic Growth of Region: says NATO Parliamentary
President (interview)
09.02.08 12:00

Azerbaijan, Baku 8 February / corr Trend K.Ramazanova / Trend’s
Interview with NATO Parliamentary President, Jose Lello.

Question: What is your estimation of the results of the presidential
elections in Georgia? To what extent could these elections and
Mikhael Saakashvili’s victory in the presidential elections promote
the regulation of the public and political situation in Georgia?

Answer: International observers generally agreed that the conduct of
the 2008 extraordinary presidential election in Georgia was in
essence consistent with universal principles for genuine democratic
elections, whose results are a viable expression of the free will of
the Georgian people. This is another important step forward for
Georgia’s developing democracy. However, it is important that the
country’s leadership fulfils its stated intention to look seriously
into all flaws and irregularities documented by international
observers and addresses all the problems before the parliamentary
elections take place.

Under President Saakashvili, Georgia has made enormous progress in
economic and political reforms. In fact, in a very short space of
time Georgia has emerged as one of the world’s fastest growing
economies. Even so, much remains to be done, and it is important that
Georgia builds up a consistent record of free and fair election
elections. Of course, Georgia faces some extremely complex internal
political problems. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly has repeatedly
expressed its concern over the lack of progress in resolving the
frozen conflicts in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, but we
welcome Tbilisi’s stated intention to resolve these conflicts through
peaceful negotiation. We will continue to urge the member governments
and parliaments of the Alliance to assist the parties in finding
mutually acceptable solutions.

Question: Energy security is an important part of dialogue between
Europe and the Caspian Sea region. To what extent could cooperation
in this sphere be successful and what are your views on future
interaction in the oil and gas sector between Europe and the Caspian
Sea Region, in particular, Azerbaijan?

Answer: The Caspian Sea region is undoubtedly assuming an
increasingly important geopolitical role, and this is, to a
considerable extent, due to mounting concerns about energy security
and diversity of resource supplies. Energy security has indeed become
an inseparable part of the dialogue between Europe and the countries
of the Caspian Sea region. Over the last decade European and US
interests in the region have grown substantially; and, considering
the direct link between energy supply and the security of the
Alliance member states, it is only natural that energy security has
also become a matter of concern for NATO.

As the European Union seeks to promote the diversification of energy
supplies, which is crucial for its energy needs, its interaction with
the countries of the Caspian Sea region, particularly with
Azerbaijan, is bound to grow. Memorandums of Understanding on Energy
Security recently signed by Azerbaijan with the European Union and
the United States are significant steps in that direction. They also
underscore Azerbaijan’s important role in the sphere of energy. The
opening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and the South Caucasus
gas pipeline has already allowed the transportation of large volumes
of the region’s natural resources to Europe. However, the future of
the energy sector co-operation will depend on stability and security
in the South Caucasus-Central Asia region that can only be achieved
by solving regional conflicts and by strengthening the rule of law
and implementation of political and economic reforms in the countries
of the region.

Question: Tehran calls on the international community, in particular,
the IAEA, to close the nuclear file on Iran, because it was confirmed
that the Iranian nuclear program is of a peaceful nature. Are there
any unsettled issues with Iran and is there a need to adopt a third
resolution by the UN Security Council?

Answer: I assume you are referring to the United States National
Intelligence Estimate document which said that Iran had halted its
nuclear weapons programme as a result of international pressure. The
document also said that Iran is keeping open the option to develop
nuclear weapons. Other intelligence service estimates have come to
different conclusions, and there are still unresolved questions about
Iran’s nuclear activities and intentions. There is agreement across
the transatlantic alliance, however, that nuclear proliferation in
the region is extremely dangerous and that international pressure
should be maintained on Iran to ensure that it does not violate its
obligations as a member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Question: The resolution of the Kosovo problem remains in focus of
the world community. Taking into consideration that international
mediators state the inefficiency of their efforts, what further
actions should be taken? What is the solution to the situation?

Answer: The NATO PA recognises that the Kosovo problem remains the
most pressing security issue in the region and that the final outcome
of the status talks on Kosovo will have an impact on the security of
the Balkans. There is a consensus among our members that this outcome
should be a compromise solution acceptable to all sides, although we
realise the difficulties that international mediators face in their
efforts to reach an agreement between the parties. The NATO PA
nevertheless strongly supports the international format of
negotiations. In this context, a new UN Security Council resolution
might be the best way of specifying the final arrangement, although
we know that Russia has stated it would veto any resolution if the
agreement were not reached between Pristina and Belgrade. It has to
be added that some members of our Assembly underscore the importance
of finding a solution as they view the present status quo as
untenable and insist that further delays might have negative impact
on security situation in the region.

The Alliance has played an active role in stabilising the Balkans and
it is clear that a lot more has to be done to fully integrate the
countries of the region into the Euro-Atlantic community. Therefore,
the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, along with NATO and other
international institutions, will continue assisting Kosovo even after
its status has been determined.

Question: What are your views on a solution to the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh on the basis of
the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan? Is the NATO prepared to
assist in the rapid resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
taking into consideration that talks within the OSCE are still
failing?

Answer: Finding a solution to the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, as
well as other territorial conflicts in the South Caucasus, is vital
to the security, stability and economic growth of the region. The
Alliance has repeatedly expressed its support for the independence,
sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries in the South
Caucasus. But it has to be stressed that the mandate to resolve the
regional conflicts rests with other international organisations, such
as the OSCE and the UN. NATO advocates a peaceful solution for the
unresolved conflicts but does not seek to assume a direct role in
finding them.

The NATO PA, for its part, has kept the issue of the unresolved
conflicts in the South Caucasus, and in particular the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, on its agenda and is determined to
continue acting as a forum for all relevant parties to exchange
views. We will also work to facilitate confidence- and
consensus-building measures. We are concerned with the rise of
military budgets in the region and strongly plead against a military
solution to the conflict that could only lead to further instability.

Question: What are NATO’s priorities with respect to the South
Caucasus, in particular, Azerbaijan in 2008? To what extent is NATO
interested in the further expansion of relations with this region?

Answer: NATO and the NATO PA will continue maintaining high-level
working contacts with the leaders of the South Caucasian states in
support of our objectives in the region, namely promoting democratic
transition and regional security and enhancing NATO co-operation
programmes there. NATO’s relations with Azerbaijan will continue in
the framework of the latter’s implementation of IPAP, security and
defence sector reforms, as well as its participation in NATO-led
operations. NATO PA will be soon holding a Rose-Roth seminar in Baku
in cooperation with the parliament of Azerbaijan that would address
issues pertinent to the Alliance’s interests and concerns with
particular reference to the Caucasus-Central Asia region.

NOR ZHAMANAKNER PARTY DEMANDS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES ENSURE
NORMAL PROCESS OF RA PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES’ ELECTION CAMPAIGN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of the incident,
which happened the day before during the rally of RA presidential
candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian and the political forces supporting him
in Artashat, the Board of the Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) party, on
February 7, made a statement demanding that law enforcement bodies
immediately undertake preventive measures and ensure normal process and
security of the RA presidential candidates’ election campaign.

"Scandalous incidents were recorded in Artashat during the previous
presidential elections as well, when in 2003 the head of the
preelection headquarters of RA presidential candidate Aram Karapetian
was stabbed with knife. The authorities and especially law enforcement
bodies not only failed to draw conclusions from it, but also
contributed to deepening of the criminal situation in conditions of
criminal negligence and connivance. The incidents of Artashat make the
current situation more eminent especially on the background of populist
statements having nothing in common with reality, voiced by Serge
Sargsian on virtual grounds, as well as nonsense presented by Robert
Kocharian on television from time to time and allegedly concerning the
stability of the situation," the statement read.