Author: Kajoyan Gevork

Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 18 2009

U.S aid to Nagorno-Karabakh could adversely affect negotiations:
Azerbaijani FM

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 18 / Trend News E.Tariverdiyeva /

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Washington Yashar Aliyev presented the
official protest note in connection with the U.S. Congress’s decision
to allocate $8 million to the Nagorno-Karabakh. The note says that
such actions by the United States may adversely affect the negotiation
process on the Nagorno-Karabakh, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Elkhan
Polukhov told Trend News.

Polukhov said in the protest note Azerbaijan stated that such actions
call into question the impartiality of the United States as a mediator
in the talks on the Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to Polukhov, the note underscores that the Nagorno-Karabakh
region of Azerbaijan, as well as seven other surrounding areas, is
under Armenian occupation and the U.S. government’s any programs and
activities in the Nagorno-Karabakh without consultations with
Azerbaijan is contrary to officially stated position of the U.S. on
support to sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within
its internationally recognized borders.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the U.S. –
are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. General Assembly’s
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the
occupied territories.

G. SARGSYAN "SERIOUS PROGRESS IN THE STAMPS’ FIELD"

Aysor.am
16/12/09

"The time of canceling the stamps of this year is approaching",
– Gurgen Sargsyan, the Minister of the RA transportation and
communication, announced today on the solemn ceremony in the National
Gallery of Armenia.

According to the Minister it is very symbolic that the two of the
stamps will be canceled in the National Gallery: "They are dedicated
to the two of the best canvas of this Gallery which will be spread
through all over the world from now on."

According to G. Sargsyan during this year the canceling of the stamps
will be more interesting trying to increase the importance of the
sphere.

In 2009 16 stamps have been canceled, three more is going to be
canceled till the end of the year. In 2010 around 25 – 30 stamps is
going to be canceled.

NIKOLAY BORDYUZHA: CSTO MEMBER COUNTRIES FREE TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHER STRUCTURES
Anna Nazaryan

"Radiolur"
15.12.2009 15:58

Summing up the year 2009, Secretary General of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization Nikolay Bordyuzha attached special importance to
the creation of the rapid-reaction forces and the success in fighting
drug trafficking.

Asked about his attitude toward Armenia’s decision to send troops
to Afghanistan, Bordyuzha said: "All CSTO member countries are free
to collaborate with other structures and take decisions which do not
conflict with the CSTO charter. We see no problem in the cooperation
with NATO."

"The developments in Afghanistan show that only with joint efforts
it is possible to solve all the problems there, including the issues
of stability and stable development," Nikolay Bordyuzha said.

GAS PIPELINE ENTERING ARMENIA RENDERED HARMLESS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
14.12.2009 18:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Field engineers have rendered harmless the Ingush
section of the gas pipeline supplying the Russian gas to Armenia. The
issue of resuming gas supply to Ingushetia, South Ossetia and Armenia
is under consideration.

Mozdok-Tbilisi gas main supplies gas to Armenia via Georgian territory,
but Georgia does not purchase the Russian gas.

Gazprom confirmed Sunday evening that Russia temporarily halted
gas supplies to Armenia after an explosive device was found near a
pipeline, BBC reports.

GAS SUPPLIES TO ARMENIA HALTED

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.12.2009 12:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia has temporarily halted gas supplies to Armenia
after an explosive device was found near the North-South pipeline.

"It was decided to slowly bring down the volume of gas in the pipeline
which supplies gas to Ingushetia and North Ossetia and then Armenia,"
a spokesman for Ingushetia’s emergency situations ministry was quoted
by Interfax as saying.

Supplies to Georgia were not affected, a spokeswoman for Georgia’s
Oil and Gas Corporation said.

Armenia receives about two billion cubic meters of gas a year from
Russia via Georgia.

It is not known who was behind the planting of the device on the
pipeline.

ArmRosgazprom said consumers will be uninterruptedly supplied with
gas from the Abovyan storage.

Orange Armenia breaks 100k subscriber barrier

hp?article_id=31281&email=html
Wednesday, 9 December 2009

Armenian mobile start-up Orange Armenia, part of the France Telecom
(Orange) group, has announced the signing of its 100,000th customer,
barely a month after launching services in the country on 5
November. In a statement, the company said it would welcome Ejmiatsin
resident Veronika Arustamyan, who bought the 100,000th SIM card, to
its head office on 9 December.

According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, Orange launched

cellular services in the Republic of Armenia promising to provide
mobile users across the country with `the quality of service and
innovative offers that have become the hallmark of Orange’s reputation
worldwide’. The launch of the country’s third mobile operator – the
market is currently a duopoly of VivaCell-MTS and ArmenTel (Beeline) –
has been eagerly anticipated since Orange was awarded its licence on
19 November 2008. In its press release, the Paris-based firm said that
despite the relatively high penetration rate in the country (83.8% at
30 September according to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database), there
is strong demand for its services. With a population of around 3.2
million people, including 1.1 million in the capital Yerevan, Armenia
offers the FT group `significant growth potential’, it said. In order
to get the service off the ground, Orange has invested around EUR100
million (USD148.5 million) in the land-locked country, and going
forward it intends to provide the necessary expertise and investment
to ensure the development of a `high-quality 2G and 3G+ network
offering nationwide coverage’. It had population coverage of over 80%,
including around 500 towns and villages, at launch.

NGOs urge authorities to disclose circumstances of March 1 tragedy
victims’ death
10.12.2009 14:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On the International Day of Human Rights, several
Armenian NGOs (Helsinki Committee of Armenia, Armenian Committee of
Helsinki Citizens Assembly, Center of Freedom and Law) released a
statement voicing their concerns over the problems in the country’s
justice and law enforcement system.

The statement indicates law enforcement bodies’ unlawful conduct in
2009, particularly extortion of evidence by use of force and
irregularities observed during court proceedings. `A fair example is
the March 1, 2008 tragic events and the subsequent developments,’ says
the release.

According to the representatives of above mentioned state bodies, the
circumstances in which 10 people died during March 1 disorders still
remain undisclosed and over a dozen political prisoners are kept under
arrest.

In their statement, NGOs also urge Armenian authorities to disclose,
within the shortest time-limits, the circumstances of March 1 tragedy
victims’ death and hold the culprits accountable, as well release all
political prisoners.

SEYRAN OHANYAN VISITS THE MOD MP SPECIAL MISSION BATTALION

amp;p=0&id=1080&y=2009&m=12&d=10
0 4.12.09

On the 4th of December, 2009 the RA Minister of Defence Seyran Ohanyan
gave a business visit to the MoD MP Special Mission battalion. During
the visit Seyran Ohanyan got to know the problems and functions of the
battalion, the staffing and the service conditions. He also discussed
the issues regarding construction work in the detachment.

In the end of the business visit the Special Mission sub-units,
through demonstrative battle exercises, introduced the Minister
to their skills and capabilities. Seyran Ohanyan gave encouraging
presents to a number of militants for diligent service.

RA MoD Department of Information and Public Affairs

"DO NOT BECOME SLAVES OF CALLS"

/12/9/aj
09/12/09

Today the National Assembly continued election of members to the
National Commission on Television and Radio.

Continuing his yesterday’s speech ARF-Dashnaktsutyun Chairman
Vahan Hovhannisyan once again highlighted the role of an unbiased
commission. Addressing his colleagues Hovhannisyan said: "Frequently,
our parliamentarians complain of mass media accusing them of an
unbiased attitude towards deputies. This is really sorrowful. But
how can these parliamentarians expect respect from mass media if they
are not independent in their decisions?" said the ARF-Dashnaktsutyun
Chairman.

"Our party will unanimously support candidate Gevorg Harutyunyan
who was able to prove with his deeds that a person affiliated with a
party can act impartially and freely. The freedom of journalists and
party members is not restricted by parties. The country’s unhealthy
atmosphere and cowardice make a person utter nonsense. Do not become
slaves of telephone calls," added Mr. Hovhannisyan

"The four members elected by the National Assembly will be accountable
to the parliament and will obey no other body while implementing
their liabilities. The order of election is a novelty and I do hope
it will work," said Heritage MP Stepan Safaryan.

To remind: seven candidates have been nominated for the four members
of the National Commission on Television and Radio. They are Aram
Melkonyan, Gevorg Harutyunyan, Koryun Arakelyan, Hayk Kotanyan,
Armen Lazarian, Karen Vardanyan and Gohar Arshakyan.

THE JUDGE WAS PERHAPS NOT ORDERED

Lragir.am
09/12/09

Today, at the Ketron and Nork-Marash court of first instance, the
trial of the former political prisoner, the former deputy head of
Matenadaran, the member of the Armenian National Congress Arshak
Banuchyan was to end. Recall Banuchyan is accused of as if hiding
taxes and wasting money. The punishment was asked to be imprisonment
to 4-5 years and Banuchyan’s lawyer demanded to justify him because
Banuchyan’s guilt was not proved.

After waiting for more than 45 minutes, the secretary of the court
hearing processes said that the judge had not yet come out of the
room of consultations and did not make a verdict hence the trial is
protracted. The secretary promised to inform about the next trial as
soon as possible.

Commenting on this incident, Arshak Banuchyan expressed the opinion
that his verdict has not yet been decided in the relevant place which
is Baghramyan 26 (presidential residence).