Author: Hunanian Jack

ARAZ AZIMOV: ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI COMMUNITIES OF NAGORNO KARABAKH WILL PARTICIPATE ON CERTAIN STAGES OF DISCUSSIONS

Azeri Press Agency
Feb 28 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku.Lachin Sultanova-APA. "Armenian side taking into account the
stagnation wants to achieve its intention stirring up the water. They
raised this proposal to divert the attention from the main issue.

Araz Azimov, deputy Foreign Minister said while commenting on Armenia’s
proposal on the participation of Nagorno Karabakh Armenians at the
discussions, APA reports.

He noted that, Azerbaijani and Armenian Communities of Nagorno Karabakh
will participate in on creation stages of discussions as it was before.

"The discussions have not reached that stage yet. The issue is
discussed between Armenia and Azerbaijan principally. The concrete
distinguishing factor is that Armenia has occupied Azerbaijani lands.

This fact differentiates the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan
from other conflicts," he said. Azerbaijani diplomat noted that the
occupation should be eliminated and the lands should be liberated.

"After that there will be any progress," he said.

NKR GOVERNMENT AFFIRMED THE MORTGAGE LOAN SUBSIDY PROGRAM

KarabakhOpen
28-02-2008 15:50:57

On February 26 the NKR government affirmed the mortgage loan subsidy
program. Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan and the head of Artsakh
Investment Fund Karen Yesayan told about the details of the lending
program in a news conference after the meeting of government.

Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan said there is sufficient funding for
the program. "We have already assigned 1.5 billion drams, in case of
necessity we will assign more," said the head of government. In answer
to the question whether only the government will fund the program,
Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan said there will be both public funds
and other sources of funding.

The banks which participate in the government mortgage loan program
will provide a mortgage loan of 25 million drams to be repaid in
20 years with an interest rate of 12 percent. The government will
subsidize 6 percent. The government will also subsidize the first
installment on the condition of repayment.

According to Karen Yesayan, in Stepanakert the first installment will
be 20 percent, in the regional centers 30 percent. For apartments in
the new blocks of apartments in Stepanakert the first installment
will be 10 percent, in regional centers 20 percent. The government
will subsidize the first installment if the borrower is the heir of
a killed azatamartik or a disabled of war in Artsakh.

For the government mortgage loan program only the inhabitants of
Stepanakert and the regional centers are eligible. For rural areas,
according to the prime minister, another program of construction of
houses starts.

The prime minister said they will also focus on a program of
construction of blocks of apartments in the capital and the regional
centers for the mortgage loan subsidy program, and construction will
be boosted.

The government has also foreseen loans for redecoration of houses. The
sum of the loan is 3 million drams to be repaid in 5 years.

Karabakh-Open.com asked when applications will be received, Karen
Yesayan said they will announce about the start of the program.

OSCE CIO URGES TO USE DIALOGUE AND COOPERATION TO RESOLVE THE CHALLENGES FACING ARMENIA

armradio.am
26.02.2008 17:15

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva,
called today on all sides in Armenia to engage in dialogue to resolve
the tension that surfaced following the 19 February presidential
election.

In meetings with Armenian officials in Yerevan, the Chairman said
the OSCE was ready to continue helping the country as it attempts to
consolidate its democracy and address the existing shortcomings. The
Organization observed the presidential election, and a core team
remains in the country to observe post-election procedures.

"The Armenian authorities are making every effort to ensure
the opportunity of political dialogue, and all the parties – the
political majority and the opposition – must act in a constructive way
using only legal means. This is the only way that will lead Armenia
towards a stable and lasting success," the OSCE Chairman-in-Office,
Finnish Foreign Minister Ilkka Kanerva said during today’s joint
press conference following the meeting with RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian. According to him, the situation is now complex: the
opposition appeals the election results and the OSCE’s message is
that Armenia should find a way out only via political dialogue and
legal means. The international observers have given a preliminary
assessment. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights has issued two interim reports based on its observations. The
final report will be publicized in late April. According to
Mr. Kanerva’s assessment, the trustworthiness of the report to be
issued a few months following the elections will be higher.

"We are glad to support Armenia as it further improves election
procedures and legislation. Concrete recommendations on how to do this
will be included in the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions
and Human Rights’ comprehensive, final report from the 19 February
elections," he said. "I urge you to view the report as a roadmap to
democratic progress."

The Minister noted the demonstrations held by the opposition for
several days following the election. "I trust that the authorities will
continue to respect the right of citizens to assemble freely and ensure
that public gatherings can take place without hindrance," he said.

Though such demonstrations are part of any vibrant democracy, political
progress can only come through negotiations that involve all sides,
the Chairman said.

"Dialogue and co-operation are the hallmarks of the OSCE, and I call
on you to use these effective tools to resolve the challenges facing
Armenia," he said.

He also called on Armenian leaders to show courage and statesmanship
in the political negotiations that aim to create progress in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, noting that the OSCE would
support the results of the negotiations reached between the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"A peace agreement would be a milestone, but in addition, the
populations on both sides must be prepared for peace through promotion
of friendly and normal contacts across community lines," he said. "The
OSCE is ready to assist both sides in these efforts."

SUREN SURENIANTS DETAINED

Noyan Tapan
Feb 26, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Suren Sureniants, a member of the
political board of the Republic party, was detained on the Freedom
square at about 10 o’clock on February 25 evening. Noyan Tapan was
informed by the Republic party that they are not aware of the reasons
of the detention.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Public
Relations and Information Department of the RA Police, Suren Sureniants
is detained in Central Investigation Department of the Police on the
indications of Part 1, Article 225 of the RA Criminal Code: on the
"Organizing and holding of public event by violation of the order
defined by law" filed criminal case.

According to the Police, Suren Sureniants born in 1975 was brought
to the central department of the police from the Freedom square at
21:30 on February 25. According to the police, on the same day he
organized and held a public event on the Freedom square infringing
the demands of the RA Law on "Holding of meetings, rallies, marches
and demonstrations", "by addresssing direct calls to the crowd,
he had led them."

According to the information Noyan Tapan possesses, at this moment,
on February 26 morning, police collaborators are trying to break
into the appartment of one of the activists of the movement of Levon
Ter-Petrosian (Appartment 1, Zavarian 29).

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 21 2008

Ali Babajan: We want implementation of bills on Nagorno Karabakh
adopted by UN Security Council

[ 21 Feb 2008 12:42 ]

Baku Lachin Sultanova-APA. Turkey wants that Nagorno Karabakh will be
under control of Azerbaijan. Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babajan
said a press conference in Moscow, APA reports
Minister mentioned that Turkey made a lot of statements on the
importance of settlement of `frozen conflicts’ in South Caucasus and
noted that Nagorno Karabakh is also one of the `frozen conflicts’.
`We want implementation of bills on Nagorno Karabakh adopted by UN
Security Council. Turkey supports the liberation of Azerbaijani
occupied lands,’ he said.

Javno.hr, Croatia
Feb. 25, 2008

Armenian Opposition Figures Held, Protest Goes on

Ter-Petrosyan told protesters in Yerevan he should have been declared
the true victor.

Armenian authorities detained top opposition figures on Sunday while
thousands of protesters chanted calls for a re-run of a presidential
election they say was rigged.

The opposition in the Caucasus mountains country has mounted protests
for five days to demand the annulment of the results of the Feb. 19
presidential election in which Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan beat
nearest rival Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

Prominent opposition figures were detained in three separate
incidents on Saturday and Sunday. Among those held was the leader of
one political party and a former deputy prosecutor-general who backed
the protests.

"This confirms the authorities will use force," said opposition
activist Mikail Daelyan.

Western election monitors have said the ballot was broadly in line
with the country’s international commitments but further improvements
were necessary. Ter-Petrosyan supporters say the vote was rigged and
charge ballot stuffing and intimidation.

Armenia, a Christian nation of 3.2 million, lies in a region emerging
as a key route for pumping Caspian Sea oil and gas to world markets,
though Armenia has no pipelines of its own.

Armenia’s electoral commission confirmed Sarksyan, an ally of
outgoing President Robert Kocharyan, won nearly 53 percent of the
vote compared with 21.5 percent for Ter-Petrosyan.

Ter-Petrosyan told protesters in Yerevan he should have been declared
the true victor.

"We must start active moves — our people are already the winner.
This election was barbaric and Armenia never saw anything like what
happened on the election day," he said, without elaborating on what
he planned to do.

Ter-Petrosyan said the protests were gaining momentum, pointing to
fresh support from six senior Armenian diplomats, including the
foreign ministry spokesperson. He also announced he would appeal the
formal election results to the country’s Constitutional Court on
Monday, Arminfo news agency reported.

Sunday’s rally, which lasted for more than five hours, was attended
by around 20,000 people — fewer than the 35,000 who turned out on
Saturday.

"Levon is president – victory!" was one of the rally cries.
Protesters ignored police requests to disperse.

Security services said that amongst the opposition figures arrested
early on Sunday was Aram Karapetyan, the leader of the New Times
party, who had backed Ter-Petrosyan’s campaign.

Six activists said they would go on hunger strikes to protest the
poll results. An opposition tent camp will also continue its night
vigil in central Yerevan.

Sarksyan is a native of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region over which Armenia
and neighbouring Azerbaijan fought a war in the 1990s. Some analysts
say that still-unresolved conflict could flare again into violence.

TOMORROW RALLY EXPECTED AT REPUBLIC SQUARE

Panorama.am
21:26 25/02/2008

The supporters of Serzh Sargsyan from different regions of Armenia,
particularly Artashat, Yeghegnadzor, Ashtarak and other places,
have continued their rallies once again expressing their support for
their candidate.

Republic Party office informs that tomorrow the supporters of Serzh
Sargsyan will arrive in Yerevan from different regions. According to
the source, they are going to organize a rally in support of their
candidate in the Republic Square.

SOME MEMBERS OF RA MINISTRY OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JOINED OPPOSITION MOVEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.02.2008 18:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Some members of the Armenian Ministry of Trade and
Economic Development, namely Vahagn Ghazaryan, Zohrab Hovhannisyan,
Arman Sarukhanyan joined the opposition movement and issued a
statement which says that they expected an election meeting European
and international standards but were disappointed.

Al-Arabiya, United Arab Emirates
Feb 21 2008

[Facts] Precedent?

The West supports independence for the Albanian-majority territory,
but insists it would not set a precedent. Other breakaway regions
around the world disagree. Following are a few that might look with
interest at the Kosovo case:

WEST BANK / GAZA

** Following Kosovo’s declaration of independence, senior Palestinian
negotiator Yasser Abed Rabbo said Palestinians had the "right to
proclaim independence as the people of Kosovo did" as talks with
Israel "have made no progress" since they were re-launched in
November. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ruled out any
unilateral declaration of statehood in the near future, and fellow
negotiator Saeb Erekat said Palestinians needed "real independence,
not a declaration." U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack
called Kosovo a "unique" case which is "not a precedent for any other
situation around the world."

THE KURDS – Turkey/Iraq/Syria/Iran

** Around 20 million Kurds are scattered between northern Iraq,
Syria, Iran and Turkey, describing themselves as the world’s largest
stateless minority. Most live in southeastern Turkey, where Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK) guerrillas have fought an insurgency since 1984
in which more than 30,000 people have died. A ceasefire was called in
1999, but fighting resumed in 2004. Turkey fears that Kurds in
northern Iraq plan to set up their own state, stirring tensions among
Turkish Kurds.

WESTERN SAHARA – Morocco

** The Polisario movement of Western Sahara fought a low-level war
for independence after Morocco annexed the desert territory with the
pullout of colonial power Spain in 1975. U.N. troops have monitored
an uneasy peace since 1991. It is Africa’s oldest territorial
dispute, over land the size of Britain, inhabited by 260,000 people.
A U.N. ceasefire agreement in 1991 promised a referendum on the fate
of the territory, but it never took place and Morocco now rules it
out, saying autonomy is the most it will offer.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH – Azerbaijan

** Sporadic clashes in Nagorno-Karabakh between Azeri and local
ethnic Armenian irregulars began in 1988, escalating by 1992 into
full-scale hostilities between Azeri forces and troops from Armenia.
About 35,000 people died and hundreds of thousands fled before a
ceasefire was signed in 1994. The territory remains part of
Azerbaijan but is controlled by Armenian forces. A major BP-led
pipeline linking Azerbaijan’s Caspian Sea oil fields to world markets
passes a few kilometres from the conflict zone.

PAPUA – Indonesia

** In the remote eastern province of Papua, activists have led a
campaign for more than 30 years to break away from Indonesia, while a
low-level armed rebellion has been rumbling for decades. Critics say
military abuses and dissatisfaction over Jakarta’s distribution of
wealth generated by the mineral- and gas-rich province has fuelled
grievances. A 30-year insurgency in Aceh province, killing 15,000
people, ended in a European Union-monitored peace accord in 2005.

BASQUE COUNTRY – Spain

** Basque separatist movement ETA has spent the past four decades
fighting for an independent Basque state in northern Spain and
southwestern France, killing more than 800 people. The
semi-autonomous Basque region in northern Spain is home to 2.1
million people. More than 750 suspected members have been detained
since 2000. ETA declared a ceasefire last year, but the Spanish
government scrapped peace talks in December 2006 after ETA bombed
Madrid airport, killing two people.

ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA – Georgia

** Home to 200,000 people, Abkhazia is sandwiched between the Black
Sea and the Caucasus mountains and was once a renowned tourist
destination. It fought a 1992-3 war against Georgia and effectively
rules itself. It was isolated for years after the war but has since
forged closer ties with Russia, which has given Abkhaz residents
passports and pensions. South Ossetia fought to throw off Georgian
rule in the early 1990s. A ceasefire was signed but the violence has
threatened to reignite. Russia has peacekeepers in both regions.

TRANSDNIESTRIA – Moldova

** A tiny sliver of land on the Dniestr river, Transdniestria broke
away from Moldova in September 1990. A brief war killed hundreds
before Russian troops intervened. The region of 550,000 people is
dominated by Russian-speaking Slavs, who pressed for independence
fearing Moldova’s Romanian-speaking majority would one day join
Romania to the south. Around 1,200 Russian troops remain.
Transdniestria covers one eighth of Moldovan territory but is home to
the bulk of Moldova’s industrial base.

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KHAZAR IBRAGIM: THE PROCESSES ONGOING IN ARMENIA ARE THE INTERNAL PROBLEM OF THIS COUNTRY

arminfo
2008-02-25 16:22:00

ArmInfo. "Azerbaijan never interferes with the internal problems
of other country and we consider that processes currently ongoing in
Armenia are the internal problem of this country. We just hope that the
situation in Armenia will not affect the negotiation process on the
resolution of Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh",
Khazar Ibragim, spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, said
commenting on Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan’s statement
that Azerbaijan tries to speculate with the internal situation of
Armenia, Day.az reports.