Author: Hunanian Jack

U.S. CAN SUSPEND FINANCIAL AID TO ARMENIA OVER EMERGENCY RULE

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2008 15:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Millennium Challenge Account implementation in
Armenia may suffer from imposition of emergency rule, U.S. Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice said when addressing the House appropriations
subcommittee hearing on the State Department’s budget.

Rice said that the state of emergency in Armenia, imposed recently
after rioting against the results of the presidential election,
had made it necessary to suspend some U.S. programs there, ITAR-TASS
reports.

FREEDOM OF PRESS WOES, SELF-CENSORSHIP IN US STATE DEPT REPORT

Today’s Zaman
March 13 2008
Turkey

The US State Department’s annual human rights report on Turkey has
highlighted a case filed against prominent defense analyst and Today’s
Zaman columnist Lale Sarýibrahimoðlu in its section covering freedom
of speech and the press as part of respect for civil liberties in
the country.

"The law provides for freedom of speech and of the press; however,
the government continued to limit these freedoms in occasional cases.

The government intimidated journalists into practicing
self-censorship," the report released on Tuesday maintained.

"In April an Ýstanbul court began investigating journalists Lale
Sariibrahimoðlu of Today’s Zaman newspaper and Ahmet Þýk of Nokta
newsmagazine under Article 301, after Þýk published a Nokta story
in which Sariibrahimoðlu expressed concern about the ‘mentality’
of the military and its role in internal security. The court held
its first hearing on Nov. 12; the case continued at year’s end,"
the report noted.

"The government, particularly the police and judiciary, limited
freedom of expression through the use of constitutional restrictions
and numerous laws, including articles of the penal code prohibiting
insults to the government, the state, ‘Turkishness,’ Ataturk or the
institutions and symbols of the republic," the report said.

It referred to the notorious Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code
(TCK) many times, particularly in relation with freedom of speech
and the press. The vague article, which foresees imprisonment for
"insulting Turkishness," has been used in the prosecution of a number
of writers and intellectuals, including slain Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink and Turkey’s Nobel Prize-winning novelist
Orhan Pamuk.

–Boundary_(ID_NOBlQY6Y2nAlsSh6hyRAtw)–

ARMENIAN LEADER CRITICIZED IN U.S.

The Associated Press
Wednesday, March 12, 2008.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza,
who recently returned from Armenia, sharply condemned a government
crackdown on protests following last month’s presidential election.

Bryza also raised concern about the recent arrests of government
opponents close to former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

The government declared a 20-day state of emergency on March 1 after
clashes between protesters and police left eight people dead and
dozens injured.

"The violence really was deplorable," Bryza said Monday. "It seems
clear that the reaction by the government was harsh and brutal."

Following the Feb. 19 vote, election officials declared Prime Minister
Serzh Sargsyan the winner over Ter-Petrosyan, who appealed, claiming
fraud, and organized protests. On Saturday, the Constitutional Court
rejected the appeal.

AZERI RULING PARTY OFFICIAL DISMISSES US-BASED BODY’S RESEARCH RESULTS

Day.Az
March 11 2008
Azerbaijan

11 March: We have repeatedly stated that there are some international
organizations that deliberately try to put Armenia and Georgia above
Azerbaijan when compiling their reports.

MP Mubariz Qurbanli, deputy executive secretary of the [governing]
New Azerbaijan Party, said this in a comment on the Index of State
Weakness [published] by the Brookings Institution research centre
which describes Azerbaijan as weaker than Armenia and Georgia in
terms of statehood.

Qurbanli believes that the first reason for our country allegedly
lagging behind the neighbours is Christian solidarity because, as
Christians, leaders of such organizations protect Armenia and Georgia.

"They try show to Western countries that everything is allegedly
normal in these states and they can be given the aid they need. The
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict [over Nagornyy Karabakh] lies in the
root of the biased attitude towards Azerbaijan. Pro-Armenian circles
which put Azerbaijan lower than Armenia in such lists try in this
way to obtain levers of pressure on our country," he said.

Qurbanli noted that this was confirmation of the double standards
that the Brookings Institution research centre was guided by when
preparing the said report.

The MP said that such ratings cause regret and indignation in
Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan is much stronger than Armenia and Georgia from the point
of view of economy, politics, democracy and human rights. Azerbaijan
is stronger than these countries both in terms of living conditions
and social security. We know this, and organizations that prepare
ratings know this full well," Qurbanli said.

AGIOTAGE IN FOREIGN CURRENCY MARKET OF ARMENIA ON NOVEMBER 23-25, 2007 WAS CAUSED BY SPECULATIVE BEHAVIOR OF SOME BANKS AND EXCHANGE OFFICES AND LARGE-SCALE CASH TRANSACTIONS OF SOME BUSINESSMEN

Noyan Tapan
March 10, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, NOYAN TAPAN. There was an agiotage decline in
exchange rates in the Armenian foreign currency market on November
23-25, 2007, and the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) announced that the
results of its checks would be made public after the elections. NT
was informed by the CBA press service that what happened at that time
was the result of the speculative behavior of some banks and exchange
offices operating in the market, as well as of several businessmen’s
large-scale cash transactions with foreign currency.

Out of the banks operating in the market in the indicated period,
Prometey Bank LLC was the one to establish the lowest exchange
rate, lowering it to 280 drams. By buying foreign currency at
a low exchnage rate, the indicated bank’s branch in Tigran the
Great Avenue contributed to the formation of queues of citizens
in Ardshinvestbank CJSC (located about 100 meters away on the
same avenue). Ardshininvestbank in its turn did not refrain from
making incomes through buying U.S. dollars at a low exchange
rate, estabslishing the exchange rate at 291 drams against one
dollar. Another bank located a little away – HSBC Bank Armenia CJSC
fixed the exchange rate at 300 drams against one dollar, which resulted
in longer queues at this bank.

In connection with this fact, the CBA took a numer of measures,
including checks in Prometey Bank LLC, paying attention to all the
functions and processes related to the purchase and sale of foreign
currency. The checks revealed violations of the acts regulating
the sector, as a result of which punitive measures were taken with
respect to the bank, including suspension of the operation of one of
its branches, which was actively engaged in the purchase and sale of
foreign currency. The bank was also instructed to tighten control in
the other branches. It was decided to suspend the operation of the
other branches of the bank as well if the bank fails to carry out
these instructions within 3 months or carries out these instructions
improperly. The bank was also instructed to revise its activity and to
present a new program, according to which the bank and its branches
should not conduct the policy of making foreign currency exchange as
one of the main activities of the bank, which will probably result
in a decline of the share of incomes from foreign currency exchange
in the overall incomes of the bank. (The decision on the punitive
measure with respect to Prometey Bank is available at ).

Cash operations with U.S. dollars, which were done by natural persons
with each other and some banks (Armeconombank OJSC, Ararat Bank OJSC),
were registered as well. Some of these natural persons are former
employees of exchange offices. It is noteworthy that deals of these
groups were conducted every day during the indicated period. The CBA
transferred the summary information on these persons to law enforcement
bodies for further examination.

Cases of cashing large amounts of dollars were registered in the
banking system on November 19-23, 2007: the total amount made 10
million USD, and it is impossible to trace the further "fate" of 3
million dollars of this sum by using the information collected by
the CBA.

Big operations on deposit and withdrawal of cash in dollars were
done by some organizations engaged in entrepreneurial activity –
customers of Unibank CJSC and HSBC CJSC. At the same time, big
operations on deposit and withdrawal of foreign currency by natural
persons – customers of the same banks were registered. Based on the
results of the CBA’s analysis, there is much probability that these
operations service the shadow turnover of some organizations engaged
in entrepreneurial activity. This information was sent to the State
Tax Service.

In the indicated period, the lowest exchange rates were established
by the following currency exchange points: Armenia Hotel Complex
(purchase rate 274 drams), Keramika LLC (275 drams), PSR LLC (Ani
Hotel) – (275 drams).

According the CBA, these companies have always displayed such behavior,
they establish the lowest exchange rates in the market.

As for other exchange points, Valetta LLC was the one to fix the
lowest rate of 276 drams. Numerous violations were registered
during CBA checks in Valetta and several other currency exchange
points. Fines from 50 thousand to 750 thousand drams were imposed on
economic entities for these violations. The proceedings on cancelling
the foreign currency purchase and sale licences of 7 exchange points
are underway.

Le Point
6 mars 2008

Elections contestées; Arménie

Katia Swarovskaya

Erevan en état de siège. Une opposition muselée. Des élections
contestées. Après la victoire du Premier ministre Serge Sarkissian à
l’élection présidentielle, l’Arménie se réveille avec la gueule de
bois, secouée par des émeutes qui ont fait 8 morts et 130 blessés. La
cause ? Les opposants de cette petite république du Caucase coincée
entre l’Iran, la Turquie et l’Azerbaïdjan estiment que le scrutin a
été truqué. Mais les observateurs de l’OSCE jugent que les élections
se sont déroulées à peu près normalement. Le chef de l’opposition,
Levon Ter-Petrossian, parle d’un régime « de voleurs et de criminels
». L’affrontement entre les deux camps porte aussi sur la question du
Haut-Karabakh, enclave arménienne en Azerbaïdjan rattachée à Erevan
en 1994, le candidat de l’opposition se prononçant pour la
restitution de certains territoires au pays voisin. Une instabilité
nouvelle qui s’ajoute aux maux chroniques de l’Arménie : manque
d’énergie et endettement auprès de la Russie.

CSTO military exercises in Armenia and Russia

armradio.am
07.03.2008 19:12

The exact terms of holding the `Frontline 2008′ military exercises of
the Collective Security Treaty Organization will be determined during
negotiations to be held in Yerevan later in March, ITAR TASS reported.

The First Deputy Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff Ivan Babichev informed
that the military exercises will be held on the territory of Armenia
and Russia in four stages.

According to the General, the scenario of the military exercises is as
follows: one of the CSTO member states has undergone aggression and has
applied to the other countries for military assistance.

In the first two stages of the exercises the mechanism of presenting
corresponding suggestions to the supreme body of the organization.

‘In the third stage it is expected to organize the actions directed at
the sovereignty and territorilal integrity of the given state. The
fourth stage envisages implementation of the defense action,’ Babichev
said.

BRYZA HEARD WHAT HE EXPECTED TO

Hayots Ashkhar
Published on March 07, 2008

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State MATTHEW BRYZA, Co-Chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group, says that he has arrived in Yerevan to have a meeting
with different parties with the purpose of forming an idea about the
current situation, and to address certain messages.

Listening on Television to the Prime Minister’s speech during the
Government session, Bryza yesterday said to S. Sargsyan, `It was what I
expected to hear from you as a result of our meeting, but, to may great
joy, you have already spoken about it.’

According to Mr. Bryza, it is time to eliminate the tension; everybody
should demonstrate responsibility and realize that it is necessary to
restore all the positive achievements Armenia had before the current
situation.

Touching upon the state of emergency declared, Mr. Bryza mentioned that
it cannot, naturally, continue forever, and it is now necessary to
direct all the efforts towards settling the problem; at the same time,
he expressed belief that the state of emergency is really a tool which
allows to relax the tension and return the processes to their regular
course of development. He underscored that it is impossible to move
towards democracy unless there is law and order in the country.

Mediamax, Armenia
March 7 2008

Armenian president, US official discuss situation in country

Yerevan, 7 March: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan met Matthew
Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State [for European and Eurasian
Affairs]

and OSCE Minsk Group’s US co-chair, in Yerevan today.

The president’s press service said today that the situation in
Armenia in the post-election period was the main issue discussed at
the meeting.

Pointing to the Armenian authorities’ responsibility to maintain
stability, security and public order in the country, Kocharyan said
that all the measures taken had been dictated by the situation. He
said these measures had been aimed at stabilizing the situation,
neutralizing threats and returning the processes back to their normal
flow.

Bryza said that the US was closely watching the developments in
Armenia. He said that Washington treated the Armenian authorities’
steps with understanding but the US administration was concerned
about the current tension. He said it was important for all the sides
to show responsibility and ease the tension as soon as possible.

"Matthew Bryza discussed with Robert Kocharyan certain restrictions
that are conditioned by the situation," the press service said.

Marios Garoyian elected President of Cyprus Parliament

07-03-2008 10:48:00 – KarabakhOpen

Gibrahayer – Nicosia Thursday 6 March, 2008 – Marios Garoyian was today
elected President of The Cyprus House of Representatives. His political
career rocketed in the last three years. In 2006 he was elected member
of Parliemant and then President of DIKO and today he was voted to the
second highest political position of the country thus becoming the
highest ranking Armenian political figure outside Armenia.

Marios Garoyian was born on May 31, 1961. He has a son and a daughter.

Parliamentary Activities
At the parliamentary elections of 21 May 2006 he was elected Member of
the House of Representatives standing as a DIKO candidate in Nicosia.
He was elected President of the House of Representatives for the
remainder of the
Ninth Term of Office of the House.

He is a member of the Committee of Selection, of the House Standing
Committee on the Environment and of the House Standing Committee on
Foreign Affairs and an alternate member of the Special House Committee
on Declaration and Examination of Financial Interests.
He is an alternate member of the delegation of the House to the
Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly.

Political – Social Activities
He was president of the `Anagennisi’ student union in Italy (1981) and
of the National Student Union of Cypriots in Perugia (1983) and a
member of the Executive Committee of the Pancyprian Student and Young
Scientists Federation.
He was also president of the District Committee of the Youth
Organisation of DIKO (NEDIK) in Nicosia and secretary of Unionism of
the Labour Department of the party.
He was director of the President’s Office of the House of
Representatives from 1991 to 2001, during the presidency terms of
Alexis Galanos and the late Spyros Kyprianou. He was director of the
Press Office of the President of the Republic Tassos Papadopoulos and
Deputy Government Spokesman from 2003 to 2006.
Since 1988 he is a member of the Central Committee of DIKO and since
1997 a member of the Executive Bureau of the party. On 22 October 2006
he was elected president of DIKO.
He is a member of the National Council, the supreme advisory body to
the President of the Republic on the Cyprus problem.

Publications
He has published a series of articles on the Cyprus problem and the
European Union, as well as on various topics of wider public interest
in the Cyprus and foreign press. As an international and a political
analyst he regularly co-operates with the Cyprus and Greek mass media.

Honorary awards
The Hellenic Republic has awarded him the `Supreme Commander of Honour’
decoration.

Studies
Political science (specialisation in history and international affairs)
(University of Perugia, Italy).

gibrahayer.com