Author: Jalatian Sonya

French Ambassador to Armenia confidant the Armenian-Turkish border will be
opened

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 13:12

October 27 Secretary of the Presidential Council on National Security,
RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan received the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia Henry Cuny, on
the occasion of completion of the latter’s mission in our country.

Speaking about the gradually deepening Armenian-French relations, the
Minister said that French President Jacques Chirac’s visit was a
bright evidence of it, and it was a great even in the life of the
country.

In his turn, Henry Cuny informed that he highly assesses the warm
attitude of Armenia toward his country and added: `I have special
attitude toward the Armenian nation and its culture. I’m leaving,
taking a rich library about Armenia. I’m sure that during my next
visit peace will be established and the borders will be open. Closed
border is an anachronism, an improper step by a country applying for
EU membership.’

Thanking for the productive activity during the Ambassador’s tenure in
office, particularly for the cooperation in the military sphere, Serge
Sargsyan wished success to Henry Cuny in his further activity.

ALVARD PETROSIAN: CONSIDERING RUSSIA OUR ELDER BROTHER IS SERVILITY

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenians should be sober when
estimating other countries’ actions towards Armenia and should not
suffer from unselfishness. Alvard Petrosian, member of RA NA ARFD
faction, expressed such an opinion at the October 27 press
conference. For instance, today Armenians are filled with gratitude
towards France for the French parliament’s establishing punishment for
denial of the Armenian Genocide. But, in A.Petrosian’s words, it
should be taken into consideration that "unless this proceeded from
the interests of the French state, this country would not make such a
decision."

According to ARFD faction member, she also considers as unacceptable
the approach, according to which Armenia cannot live without
Russia. A.Petrosian said that though she as an intellectual was formed
in the atmosphere of Russian culture, has always admired Russian
literature, she is convinced that even in relations with a friendly
country one should not lose sense of national dignity and should not
forget that Russia has its interests as well. "We are a very important
refuge for Russia, but considering Russia our elder brother is
servility," A.Petrosian declared. Commenting upon RF State Duma Deputy
Konstantin Zatulin’s statement about clarification of Armenia’s
position on Russian-Georgian conflict, A.Petrosian gave assurance that
"if our people holds its spine straight, no country’s official will
dare to expert pressure upon us."

PanARMENIAN.Net

No CIS State Except Russia Experiences Problem of Skinheads
27.10.2006 15:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ No CIS state except Russia experiences the problem
of skinheads. The social poll among 2011 respondents conducted by
Gallup in the post soviet space showed that 71% of the Russian
citizens are aware of the problem. At that the urban population is
better informed that the people living in rural areas. 80% of the
residents of Russian major cities know about skinheads. In Moscow and
Saint Petersburg the index reaches 92.5% and 97.5% relatively.

80% of the Russian citizens consider that severe measures up to
imprisonment should be applied against skinheads. 83.9% of women and
76.1% of men adhere to tough policy. The older are the people the more
intolerant is their attitude.

Only 4% support the skinheads’ activities to some extent and 1.3%
consider that skinheads should receive financial support. At that the
sociologists are concerned over the fact that every ninth young man
supports skinheads, reports Lenta.ru

JAILED SOLDIERS’ LAWYERS FACING PROSECUTION
By Anna Saghabalian and Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 25 2006

State prosecutors have launched criminal proceedings against the
defense attorneys of three Armenian soldiers sentenced to life
imprisonment on what local and international human rights groups see
as trumped-up murder charges, it emerged on Wednesday.

Zaruhi Postanjian, Ashot Atoyan and Stepan Voskanian are being
investigated for allegedly showing contempt for three judges of the
Armenian Court of Appeals that handed down the ruling last May.

It is not clear when the judges lodged a formal complaint with the
Office of the Prosecutor-General. The latter opened a criminal
case against the lawyers on October 10, the day after the Court
of Cassation, Armenia’s highest body of criminal justice, agreed
to consider their appeal against the extremely controversial life
sentences.

The lawyers strongly deny the contempt of court accusations that
could be leveled against them and see the prosecutors’ move as a
retaliation for their vocal support for the jailed soldiers. "They
are thereby trying to force us to abandon the case," Voskanian told
RFE/RL. He said it is the three judges that repeatedly insulted the
defense lawyers during the appeal proceedings and must be prosecuted.

The extraordinary criminal proceedings bring a new twist to the saga
of Razmik Sargsian, Musa Serobian and Araik Zalian. The three young
men were originally convicted of murdering two fellow servicemen
in Nagorno-Karabakh and sentenced to 15 years in prison by a local
court of first instance in April 2005. They protested their innocence
throughout the trial and appealed against the verdict only to see it
toughened to life imprisonment by the appeals court.

Military prosecutors allege that Sargsian, Serobian and Zalian murdered
the two other soldiers and dumped their bodies into a reservoir in
northern Karabakh in December 2003 following a brawl over a food
parcel that was delivered to one of the servicemen. The accusations
are based on Sargsian’s pre-trial testimony in which he admitted to
this version of events.

However, Sargsian subsequently retracted the testimony, saying that
he incriminated himself and his comrades under brutal torture. The
two other defendants, who never pleaded guilty to the charges, also
claim to have been mistreated in custody.

Both courts refused to investigate the alleged torture, denied by the
prosecutors, leading the defense lawyers and Armenian human rights
activists to denounce the trials as a parody of justice.

Ruben Sahakian, chairman of Armenia’s Chamber of Advocates, expressed
serious concern at the case on Wednesday, saying that the leadership
of the bar association will meet soon to discuss it. "We will adopt
a statement during that meeting," Sahakian told RFE/RL.

The case has also had a resonance outside Armenia, with Human Rights
Watch finding the torture allegations "credible" and urging the Court
of Cassation to give the young men a fair trial.

"Human Rights Watch believes that it is very important that … a
prompt investigation into the allegations is ordered, and that all
measures are put in place to ensure that any conviction based on
evidence coerced under torture does not stand," the New York-based
group’s director for Europe and Central Asia, Holly Cartner, said in
a September 12 letter to the Armenian Court of Cassation.

Aaron Rhodes, executive director of the Vienna-based International
Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, echoed those concerns in a
similar letter sent to Yerevan three days later. "The investigation
into the murders, and the subsequent trials, were marred with
irregularities that raise questions about Armenian prosecutors’ and
judiciary’s professional qualifications and commitment to international
standards for a fair trial," Rhodes wrote.

The defense trio suspects that both murders were committed by Captain
Ivan Grigorian, the Karabakh Armenian commander of the army unit
where the dead soldiers served. According to their version of events,
Grigorian beat one of the soldiers to death and killed the other
after the latter refused to "confess" to the crime.

The commander of the Karabakh army, Lieutenant-General Seyran Ohanian,
lent more credence to these suspicions when he wrote to Armenia’s
chief military prosecutor in early 2004 and asked him not to bring
charges against Grigorian. Ohanian argued that the officer had greatly
contributed to the Armenian military victory over Azerbaijan.

"ARMENIAN ARMY MUST GET THERE FIRST"

A1+
[04:49 pm] 25 October, 2006

"The Armenian press sees only the dark and light sides of the
Russian-Georgian relations. The press is flooded by either pro-Russian
or pro-Georgian issues", politician Levon Meliq-Shahnazaryan
thinks. But the attitude of Armenia, Azerbaijan and other countries
towards the Russian-Georgian relations is not less important.

"In the Russian-Georgian relations the approach of Armenia must
be moral, that is we must try to soothe tension; as for direct
interference, it must be restricted only within the framework of
the interests of our compatriots". Mr. Meliq-Shahnazaryan is truly
concerned about who will occupy the areas after the Russian troupes
leave them. "If Turkish troupes are to be allocated there, it means
Armenian army must get there first", he said.

Levon Meliq-Shahnazaryan does not provoke war. He has no doubts that
after the Turkish troupes come to replace the Russian ones in Javakhq,
all the Armenians will leave the territory. "If there are countries
which are ready to launch war to protect the interests of their one
or two citizens, we have more reasons to protect the Armenians of
Javakhq", the politician said.

FAREWELL VISIT OF AMBASSADOR OF FRANCE TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Oct 24 2006

On October 23 the President of the National Assembly of the Republic
of Armenia received the Ambassador of France in Armenia Mr. Henry
Cuny on the occasion of the end of his ambassadorial mission.

"Thanking you for the efficient joint work I would like to express
in your person the pledge of friendship towards the Armenian people,"
said Mr. Cuny and assured that the departure from Armenia does not mean
a farewell to Armenia. Later on Mr. Cuny will officiate in Slovakia,
but he intends to contribute to the continuation of educational
programs as much as it is possible. About his five-year tenure in
Armenia Mr. Cuny said, that they have been interesting and important
working years, he has also obtained dozens of friends. Mr. Cuny
stressed the importance of the development of Francophonie in
Armenia, as the European values are on the basis of it, and the way
of integration to Europe becomes shorter with the development of
Francophonie values. The Ambassador of France in Armenia also touched
upon the forthcoming general elections, stressing the importance
of 2007 parliamentary elections in the context of 2008 presidential
elections. The Ambassador noted that the coming elections will be an
examination for Armenia on its way to democracy, and from the view of
the development of the country it is very important to successfully
pass this examination.

Mr. Tigran Torosyan thanked Mr. Cuny noting that the years of his
mission have been a decisive period of the irreversibility of returning
to European family, and expressed willingness to support him from
now on. Thanks to the Ambassador’s efforts the French culture and
language really got more disseminated in our country. The President
of the National Assembly noted that Mr. Cuny leaves a good, but at
the same time complicated inheritance for his successor, because
the new Ambassador will have to maintain and continue what already
exists. For the success of the forthcoming general elections the NA
President highlighted the importance of consolidation of political
forces. He noted that the successful examination of democracy depends
not only on the adoption of laws, but also on their enforcement in real
life. It is time not to provide objective explanations for mistakes,
but find ways of eliminating them.

During the meeting the parties spoke also about the draft law
of condemning the denial of the Armenian Genocide adopted by the
National Assembly of France. At the Ambassador’s request the President
of the National Assembly shared his impression about the adoption
of the draft law and the reaction that followed it. Quoting words
by Jacques Chirac said on another occasion: "They lost their best
possibility to stay silent," Mr. Torosyan described the behaviour of
those organizations that have condemned the decision of the National
Assembly of France. And the reactions of Turkey and Azerbaijan are not
absolutely within the limits of logic and common sense. Mr. Torosyan
noted that the draft law does not aim to arrest anybody, but calls for
vigilance, for not putting up moral issues to a political auction,
because those who try to teach France democracy, find themselves in
a ridiculous situation.

OSKANIAN-MAMMADYAROV MEETING TO BE HELD IN PARIS

Public Radio, Armenia
Oct 20 2006

The meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers, featuring
the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will be held in Paris today. Vartan
Oskanian is due to meet also with the Foreign Minister of France
Philippe Douste-Blazy.

DON’T GO COLD TURKEY

Financial Times, UK
22 October 2006 Sunday 8:33:05 PM GMT

The negative rhetoric has heated up. Following France’s decision
to outlaw denial of the 1915 Armenian genocide, the likelihood that
Turkey’s entry into the European Union will stall has also risen.

With the formal suspension of accession talks a distinct possibility,
should investors fret?

General elections in 2007 add spice to the row with France. But
political uncertainties should not overshadow Turkey’s robust economic
achievements. These include speeded-up structural reform, particularly
in the financial system, fiscal consolidation, and strong productivity
growth. Momentum has been driven less by the prospect of EU entry than
by the stringent requirements of successive International Monetary
Fund loan agreements. The latest of these imposes targets of a primary
budget surplus and 4 per cent inflation.

While inflation is running significantly higher in the wake of currency
declines earlier this year, 12-month expectations have fallen, and
the central bank remains draconian. Admittedly, not all is rosy on
the economic front tourism receipts, direly needed to offset a record
trade deficit, are tumbling but Turkey’s economy looks more resilient
to political upsets than in the past.

What does this mean for markets? Stocks have underperformed the MSCI
emerging markets index, in dollar terms, by 16 per cent in the past
year but have recovered strongly since June. Spreads on Turkish debt
have widened from a May low of 164 basis points over US Treasuries,
according to the JPMorgan EMBI+ index, to 224bp. But at only 40 basis
points above the emerging market average, this suggests investors
are relatively sanguine about the EU debate.

Emerging market investors have proved forgiving, perhaps overly,
in the face of this year’s emerging market wobbles. Still, while
Turkey remains vulnerable to waves of increased global risk aversion,
the reassuring trend of domestic economic policy, if not politics,
is not in doubt.

ARMENIA, BELARUS READY TO HELP OVERCOME RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN CRISIS – PM

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Oct 23 2006

Yerevan, 23 October: Moscow and Tbilisi have not requested that
Armenia help to normalize Russian-Georgian relations, Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Markaryan today told a joint news conference with
his Belarussian counterpart, Syarhey Sidorski.

Sidorski said that the relations between Georgia and Russia are the
two countries’ internal affair, however, Armenia and Belarus are ready
to render assistance if Georgia and Russia make a request of this kind.

ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN WON’T MAKE UP ITS MIND

Lragir.am
Oct 23 2006

Although a parliamentary election is going to be held in Armenia
in seven months, the election code has not been adopted yet, and no
possibility of political agreement on all the questions is outlining
yet.

The proposals of the political parties which are not represented to the
parliament are not taken into account. The debates are mainly about the
correlation of the proportional and majority seats. All the political
parties except the Republican Party endorse a 100 percent proportional
system of election. The ARF Dashnaktsutyun is faithful to its style,
"We are for the proportional system but we are not ready for it yet,"
this is the standpoint of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun which was reasserted
on October 23 at the National Assembly.

Unfortunately, the members of the ARF decline to say when we will be
ready for a proportional system of elections, in 10 years or in 110
years, and what we should do to prepare for it.

As usual, this time too only the opposition and one or two
representatives of the parliament majority were present. The
button-pushers referring to themselves as members of parliament did
not listen either. Shavarsh Kocharyan was trying to understand how
it happens that other bills are included in the agenda, meanwhile
the draft electoral code worked out by his political party has been
circulated since March 2006 but has not been included in the agenda.

Victor Dallakyan wanted to convey to everyone that the proportional
system is the right system, and politics is the business of the
political forces.

The deputy foreign minister of defense Arthur Aghabekyan stated about
the bill on the defense of Armenia that the offered ammendments are
not only meant to make the law compliant with the new Constitution
but are also important for the army. In particular, it is offered to
set down in the law that the defense minister is empowered to study
and evaluate the political-military situation, the military threats,
the degree of the country’s security, takes part in working out the
major directions of the military policy of the Republic. In the law
the ministry of defense is entitled to these powers. Besides, Arthur
Agabekyan said the defense minister will not fulfill these functions
alone but after consulting the corresponding agencies of the Ministry
of Defense and experts.