Author: Kalashian Nyrie

Serbia back on Kosovo offensive, with Russian help
24 Feb 2008 17:09:25 GMT
Source: Reuters
By Douglas Hamilton

BELGRADE, Feb 24 (Reuters) – Serbia was back on the offensive over
Kosovo’s independence on Sunday, blaming the United States for crisis
in the Balkans while its ally Russia accused the Americans of
destroying "world order".

Three days after young rioters in Belgrade embarrassed the country by
attacking Western embassies and looting shops, Serbian Prime Minister
Vojislav Kostunica said it is Washington that is threatening peace and
stability.

In a strongly worded statement from Moscow, Russia also accused
Washington of trampling on international law.

"The United States must annul the decision to recognize a false state
on the territory of Serbia," Kostunica said. "It must reaffirm U.N.
Security Council resolution 1244, which guarantees Serbia’s sovereignty
and territorial integrity."

"Continuation of the policy of force will deepen the crisis that
undermines the foundations of world order and threatens peace and
stability in the Balkans," he said. Serbia has expressed official
regret for riots last Thursday during which the U.S. embassy was
attacked and set on fire. The mission sent dependents and support staff
to Croatia for safety.

This week, Serbia is getting high-level support from Moscow. Kostunica
is due to host Russian President Vladimir Putin’s likely successor,
Dmitry Medvedev, on Monday.

The Russian foreign ministry, in a statement, again demanded a
"compromise" on Kosovo, which diplomats believe is headed for
partition, although Serbia has never formally proposed it.

"Do support for the Kosovo Albanian side alone, contempt for law for
the sake of so-called ‘political expediency’, and indifference to the
fate of a hundred thousand Serbs who… are effectively being driven
into a ghetto not amount to flagrant cynicism?" it said.

"Is it not cynical that the Serb people is being openly humiliated
while Belgrade is being promised a Euro-Atlantic future if it agrees to
the carve-up of Serbia?"

The foreign ministry statement recalled that Russia had a peacekeeping
contingent in Kosovo from 1999 to 2004, under the aegis of the NATO-led
KFOR force which has 17,000 troops there.

"It was withdrawn due to our fundamental disagreement with bias
favouring one side in Kosovo matters…" the ministry said.

Instead of supporting Kosovo Albanian independence and other actions
"destroying world order", there must be a "a decision based on law and
compromise between Belgrade and Pristina", the ministry statement said.

It did not say what compromise Russia has in mind. But on the ground in
Kosovo, ethnic Serbs in the north are making steady efforts to resist
the authority of the new state and its Western backers, with the
support of Serbia and Russia.

Russia has not yet openly proposed a return of Russian troops to
Kosovo. But is U.N. ambassador Vitaly Churkin has warned that it will
not stand by and allow Kosovo Serbs to be forced to accept the rule of
the new republic.

ANAND DRAWS WITH TOPALOV, MAINTAINS LEAD

PTI
Feb 23 2008

MORELIA (Mexico) February 23: World Champion Viswanathan Anand
maintained his slender half point lead after playing an eventful draw
with former world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria in the sixth
round of the Morelia-Linares chess tournament.

Anand took his tally to four points out of a possible six after the
end of the penultimate round of the event and is likely to play the
second half at Linares as a leader when it begins in the Spanish
hamlet on February 29th.

In the final round at Morelia, Anand meets Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine.

It was a game with wild complexities between Topalov and Anand. Playing
white the Bulgarian went for a fashionable variation against Anand’s
Nimzo Indian defense and the middle game that ensued ensured a
keen tussle.

Topalov was able to open up black’s kind side after a couple of pawns
and a set of minor pieces changed hands but soon after Anand was in
his element in working out the country play.

Topalov tried to attack on the slightly weakened king side but that
was neutralised by Anand’s counter play around the center.

After subsequent exchanges the players reached a queen and pawns
endgame where the peace was signed after 42 moves. This was Topalov’s
first draw after two consecutive losses.

>From the perspective of decisive results, this was perhaps the dullest
day in the category 21 super event as only Azerbaijani Teimour Radjabov
was able to score a victory over young gun Magnus Carlsen of Norway
while the remaining games ended without any result.

It was an early finish between Ivanchuk and Alexei Shirov of Spain
while the last game to end in the day between Levon Aronian of Armenia
and Peter Leko of Hungary also saw the points being split.

With eight rounds still to come, Aronian remained in sole second spot
on 3.5 points while Radjabov eclipsed Carlsen from the joint third
spot to share it now with Shirov and Topalov on 3 points each.

Sharing the joint sixth spot now are Carlsen, Leko and Ivanchuk who
all have 2.5 points in their kitty.

Double Bishops in chess are considered an excellent weapon when they
spit fire in an open position. Magnuc Carlsen learned it the hard
way against Radjabov.

>From an innocuous looking Ruy Lopez, Radjabov sacrificed a pawn to
reach an ending where he had a bishop pair and his rook firmly placed
to do the demolition act.

Once Carlsen lost the extra pawn he had ample worries in shape of pawn
weaknesses on the queen side and Radjabov showed just the requisite
technique to score his first victory in the tournament.

Ivanchuk and Shirov battled out for just 28 moves before sharing
the point in a queen pawn opening while Leko mustered enough counter
attack on the queen side at the expense of a pawn to keep Aronian at
bay in an English opening game.

The game was drawn after 50 moves.

Results round 6:

Veselin Topalov (Bul, 3) drew with Viswanathan Anand (Ind, 4).

Levon Aronian (Arm, 3.5) drew with Peter Leko (Hun, 2.5).

Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukr, 2.5) drew with Alexei Shirov (Esp, 3)

Teimour Radjabov (Aze, 3) beat Magnus Carlsen (Nor, 2.5).

RUSSIA’S PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES SERGE SARGSYAN

armradio.am
21.02.2008 11:53

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated RA Prime Minister
Serge Sargsyan on his victory in the presidential elections.

"We in Russia highly appreciate the relations between the two countries
based on trust, constructive cooperation and reciprocal support. The
consistent deepening of partnership relations fully corresponds to
the interests of Armenian and Russian citizens, and promotes the
reinforcement of stability in the South Caucasus.

I want to emphasize your personal contribution to the development
of Armenian-Russian relations. I’m sure that your activity in the
highest post of the President of the Armenian state will serve to
the further progress of our relations.

NKR STATES READINESS TO RESOLVE CONFLICT WITH AZERBAIJAN VIA TALKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.02.2008 18:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the
resolution passed on February 20, 1988 at the extraordinary session
of the Soviet of People’s Deputies of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous
Oblast, the Nagorno Karabakh National Assembly:

– reaffirms the determination of the people of Artsakh, which is
embodied in the Constitution adopted at the nationwide referendum on
December 10, 2006, to build a democratic, sovereign state that has
been proclaimed on the basis of the right to free self-determination
on September 2, 1991 and vested with independence at the Referendum
of December 10 of the same year;

– certifies that the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is ready to resolve
the existing differences with Azerbaijan exclusively by means of
negotiations;

– insists that the authorities of Azerbaijan respect their obligations
to the international community, including the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic; abandon the unpromising policy of confrontation and form
an atmosphere of confidence and tolerance between the parties, which
will have a positive impulse on the efforts at finding ways for a
comprehensive settlement;

– appeals to the Parliaments of all States, the United Nation and
other interested international structures to promote a dialogue
between the elected representatives of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
and Azerbaijan;

– expresses certainty that the international community properly
values the achievements of the Nagorno Karabakh people in building a
democratic state governed by the rule of law, forming a civil society
and takes with understanding its legal aspiration to become a full
member of the community of free states.

This statement was made public and was fully approved at the
nationwide meeting attended by thousands of people on Revival Square
of Stepanakert.

Karabakh army is ready for its mission

19-02-2008 11:47:51 – KarabakhOpen

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the liberation movement in
Karabakh Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan met servicemen of the NKR Defense
Army, the department of information and public relations of the NKR
government reports.

During the talk Ara Harutiunyan emphasized the role of the militia and the
regular army in the establishment and security of the Karabakh state.

He commended that the military units are being modernized and reinforced.

Vazgen Manukian stated that the "purity of presidential elections
depends on the will and the wishes of the electors"

February 19, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian presidential candidate, Leader of
National-Democratic Union (NDU) Vazgen Manukian stated today that
"the fairness and the purity of presidential elections depend on the
will and the wishes of the electors".

"I believe in our people and hope to win", Vazgen Manukian stated,
noting that he "voted for the sake of Armenia’s future, about which
we dreamt and for which we have been struggling for already 20 years".

Noting the importance of the present presidential elections, NDU Leader
expressed confidence that "a new volume is starting and it is important
what will be written tomorrow on the first page of the given book".

Vazgen Manukian informed that his staff will keep constant contact
with the proxies in all the 1923 polling stations. "If there are
force-majeure events, we will react to them", he stated.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Feb 18 2008

Exit polls not legally forbidden in Armenia

YEREVAN, February 18. /ARKA/. Exit polls are not legally forbidden in
Armenia, Central Election Commission Secretary Armen Bakhchagulyan
said on Monday.

`Exit polls are not prohibited by Armenian law. We will be guided by
principles `what is not forbidden, is permitted’ and every
organization can carry out any activity, but election campaigning
outside oiling stations’, he said.

U.S. Embassy in Armenia and U.S. Agency for International Development
decided on January 18 not to hold exit polls during the 2008
presidential election in Armenia.

However, exit polls won’t be held, because International Republican
Institute and Baltic Surveys Ltd/Gallup failed to reach an accord on
procedural matters and to find solution acceptable to all.

Sergey Kapinos, the head of the OSCE Yerevan Office finds reasons for
refraining from exit polls objective.

He pointed out the lack of the idea of who will conduct exit polls as
one of these reasons.-0—

Robert Kocharyan: The serious candidate for president differs from all
rest as he tries to give such promises and present such a programme
which he will be able to fulfill if elected

2008-02-16 19:54:00

ArmInfo. ‘The serious candidate for president differs from all rest as
he tries to give such promises and present such a programme which he
will be able to fulfill if elected’, Armenian president Robert
Kocharyan said in an interview with several Armenian TV channels.

He also added as real is a candidates approach as much his chance to be
elected the president. ‘This electoral campaign surprised me with the
contents of promises. I have got an impression that some candidates do
not know Armenian Constitution’, – he said and added in fact the
president was the head of the government in 2003 – he ratified all the
decisions of the government, and the prime minister held all the
sittings of the government charged by the president. Today the
situation is absolutely different. After the parliamentary election I
do not have a right to ratify decisions of the government like a
president. I do not have authorities in the economic sphere either. I
can put forward any thesis only thanks to my own authority’.

The president said that some candidates for president say they will
raise salary fourfold. ‘How are you going to do that, if there is the
parliamentary majority, which formed the government and which is
responsible for these issues? Only a fully-fledged candidate from the
power can give such promises – the incumbent prime minister’, – Robert
Kocharyan said and added that the Armenian people needs improvement of
the living standard but conflicts always lead to worsening of the
economic indices.

US OFFICE OF DEFENSE COOPERATION UPGRADES ENGLISH LANGUAGE LABORATORY

armradio.am
15.02.2008 15:45

US Charge’ de Affaires, a.i. Joseph Pennington and Armenian Minister of
Defense Michael Harutyunyan inaugurated the recently upgraded language
laboratory at the Aviation Institute in Yerevan on Friday, Februay
15. The US Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) provided the
$93,000 upgrade which featured fifteen new desk-top computers. The
new computers will enable Armenian military students that use the
English language laboratory to individually utilize language learning
software. Each student station is networked to the instructor’s
computer to provide flexibility for instruction. The laboratory, which
was originally set up by the US contractor Dal Media Solutions in
2006 and funded through ODC at a cost of $92,000, is already equipped
televisions, CD players, and DVD/VHS players to help students learn
English. Its purpose is to prepare Armenian military personnel for
study in U.S. military training facilities. About twenty-five Armenian
officers and sergeants attend military courses each year in the US
though the ODC’s International Military and Education (IMET) program.

This same program, currently funded by the US State Department,
is what also provided the funding to upgrade the laboratory

The new lab upgrade will help fulfill the joint goal of the US ODC
and the Armenian Ministry of Defense to centralize English language
instruction standards, and develop an intensive English language
course to support Armenian military personnel preparing for their
studies in the US. The ODC plans to provide an American English
language instructor later in the year to assist with instruction and
English course standards.

The US Office of Defense Cooperation in Armenia works to foster US
government and industry assistance in the Armenian defense sphere. The
US ODC works for the US Chief of Mission in Armenia and the US European
Command, located in Stuttgart, Germany.

TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIAN TO OBSERVE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OF ARMENIA IN STAFF OF PACE

Noyan Tapan
Feb 15, 2008

ANKARA, FEBRUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Nursuna Memecan, an MP of Istanbul
of the ruling "Justice and Development" party of Turkey, will observe
the forthcoming presidential elections in Armenia on February 19.

As the Jihan agency reports, the Turkish parliamentarian has been
included in the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe composed of 27 members, which will visit Armenia on
February 18-20 headed by John Prescott with the mission of observing
the presidential elections jointly with the observers of the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights’ Office and the European Parliament.

It should be mentioned that Mrs. Memecan, according to the Turkish
press, was included in the delegation of the Great National Assembly
of Turkey, which was leaving for the United States for the purpose
of preventing the adoption of Resolution 106 on the Armenian Genocide
in the Commission of Foreign Relations of the House of Representatives.

It should also be mentioned that before the regular hearing of the case
on the murder of Hrant Dink, the former editor-in-chief of the weekly
Agos, which was held a few days ago, about 300 people had gathered in
front of the building of the court and Nursuna Memecan together with
Etyen Mahchupian, the current editor-in-chief of Agos, as well as a
few Turkish intellectuals and MPs, was among the crowd. The gathered
people stretched "For Hrant, for justice" poster and demanded that
the murder case of the editor-in-chief should be completely revealed.