Author: Kanayan Tamar

OLD MISSILES TURNED OUT TO BE YOUNG
by Svetlana Gamova

DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
October 10, 2011 Monday

THE ENDING OF THE SCANDAL RELATED TO THE AIRPLANE FROM LIBYA THAT
TRANSPORTED MISSILES FROM MOLDOVA TO ARMENIA WAS AS LOUD AS ITS
BEGINNING; Mass media of Chisinau published a new list of the Moldovan
armament sold to Armenia. Contrary to assurances of the Moldovan
officials, they turned out to be not outmoded but quite combat capable.

Mass media of Chisinau published a new list of the sold Moldovan
armament. Contrary to assurances of the Moldovan officials, they
turned out to be not outmoded but quite combat capable.

Journalists understood that not everything was in order with the
“Libyan airplane” at the very start when it landed in the airport
of the Moldovan capital on September 12. First, this was a military
airplane and it arrived from Benghazi second, it flew to the military
airport in Marculesti almost immediately and departed from there
being loaded.

The Defense Ministry of Moldova explained afterwards that armament
with expired service life was onboard. According to the ministry,
the cargo was addressed to “one Latvian company” registered in Riga
that was not named due to the reason of “commercial secrecy.” However,
there appeared new information: Defense Minister of Moldova Vitalie
Marinuta reported in the parliament, although without disclosure of
commercial secrets, that the armament was intended for Armenia. Then
the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan invited Ambassador of Moldova
in Baku Igor Bodiu to provide explanations. After the meeting with
representatives of the Azerbaijani authorities he announced that the
loud deal with the Moldovan armament supplied to Armenia was nothing
more than a “sad mistake” that nonetheless “brought an unpleasant
aspect to our bilateral relations.” Expert of the Geneva center for
democratic control over armed forces Viorel Cibotaru confirmed that
the armament was sold to Armenia. Cibotaru also said that the deal
was legitimate and the cargo included missiles.

In any case, it seems that the government will have to explain to
the government and the public why the armament has been sold to a
zone with a frozen conflict. OMEGA agency also reported referring
to its source in the Ministry of Economy that the difference between
the value of the contract and the market price of the sold armament
was not less than $5 million. This meant that the products were sold
cheaply. According to the agency, the secretly sold lot included some
of the most expensive armament models of the national army. Among them
were control and checking systems 9V862 and 9V863 of Cobra missiles,
as well as 9V871-3 for antitank missile systems Konkurs-M. The market
price of each of these systems exceeds $60,000. The lot also included
thousands of missiles Fagot, Konkurs, Shturm-S and Metis. The market
value of only these specifications of the sold armament exceeds $5
million. Besides these types of armament the contract also included
launchers for antitank missiles that, according to the document of
the Defense Ministry, were also sold at an obviously undervalued price.

BAKU CALLS FOR STARTING WORK ON KARABAKH PEACE AGREEMENT WITHOUT STATUS DEFINITION

Interfax, Russia
Oct 10 2011

The ongoing occupation of Azeri lands by Armenia is the main problem
in the Karabakh peace process, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov
told reporters on Monday.

“If the Armenian armed forces leave the occupied lands, the region
will have broad opportunities, communications will be unblocked and
refugees will go back home,” he said.

The occupation of lands and the remaining refugees are the main problem
of the negotiations; the status of Karabakh may be set in the future,
he said. “All of us, including the Armenians, realize that the status
cannot be defined now. That can be done at the last phase only,”
he said.

The cochairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group will visit the region at the
end of this month. “We agreed to carry on the negotiations. Consent
was reached in certain areas, and the progress must not be wasted,”
Mamedyarov said.

There are a number of difficulties at the negotiations, he said.

“There are some questions in which it is hard to find a compromise
formula. We must work on that. There are some unsolved problems,
which must be tackled at the negotiations,” he said.

The minister once again called for starting the work on a peace
agreement without coordinating fundamental principles first.

“Our failure to coordinate these principles is a small problem. The
issues in which the sides cannot coordinate fundamental principles
so far can be resolved in the drafting of the main agreement,” he said.

It is necessary to deploy peacekeepers in the conflict zone, the
minister said. “If the Armenian forces free the territories and the
refugees come back to their lands, their security will have to be
provided. We do not trust the Armenians and they do not trust us,”
Mamedyarov said.

IRDIPLOMACY.IR: TURKEY’S POLICY MAY THREATEN INTERESTS OF NEIGHBOR STATES

Panorama, Armenia
Oct 11 2011

Under strained regional conditions, Turkey is moving in a path which
can oppose to the state interests of neighbor countries, Iranian
“irdiplomacy.ir” news site writes.

The columnist, referring to the Iranian-Turkish strained relations,
writes that the relations between the two countries became tensed
when they uttered different positions for Syrian domestic life.

“If Turkey’s efforts to oust Bashar al-Assad of Syria are failed,
Turkey will have to invent new strategy to live next to Iran and
Syria,” writes the columnist.

Iranian-Turkish relations became even more tensed when Turkey passed
a decision to host NATO’s ABM.

D. HARUTYUNYAN: FUTURE OF SUB-COMMITTEE ON KARABAKH DEPENDS ON POLITICAL SITUATION IN PACE

Panorama, Armenia
Oct 10 2011

Head of the Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe (PACE), David Harutyunyan finds it difficult to
comment on the future of the PACE sub-committee on Nagorno-Karabakh
after Chairman Mevlut Cavusoglu completes his term of office.

“For the present, I would refrain from answering this question,
because there are possible options, there are also some complicated
options. Unfortunately, everything depends on the current political
situation in PACE,” David Harutyunyan told a press briefing at the
National Assembly and at the same time noted that PACE has long ceased
to be an organization propagating values.

“We are deeply convinced that PACE turns into an organization of
interests,” the head of the delegation said.

Note that Mevlut Cavusoglu will complete his term as PACE Chairman
in 2012 January.

TARAFF: BEFORE CALLING FRANCE COLONIAL, TURKEY MUST REMEMBER OTTOMAN SYSTEM

Panorama, Armenia
Oct 10 2011

Turkish professor Murad Belgen has published a story in “Taraf” daily
focusing on official Ankara’s behavior towards French President Nicolas
Sarkozy’s state visit to Armenia and the statement the President has
made there. The Turkish professor has called Turkey’s Foreign Ministry
counterattack to Sarkozy’s statement failed and inaccurate.

Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement counterattacking French
President Nicolas Sarkozy’s calls to Turkey encouraging the country
to recognize Armenian Genocide.

According to Belgen reference to French colonial past isn’t the right
way to resolve the issue of 1915. Before accusing of France, Turkey
should remember that hundred years ago Ottoman colonial system existed.

“We’re trained to say we, the Turks, are good people, we haven’t
committed genocide, those who say it are slanderers,” complains Belgen.

AZERBAIJAN NOT TO GO BEYOND OSCE MG FORMAT – RUSSIAN EXPERT

news.am, Armenia
Oct 11 2011

MOSCOW. – OSCE is the only structure dealing with the security of
Europe, no matter Azerbaijan likes it or not, head of Russian Centre
for Military Forecast Anatoly Tsyganok told Armenian News-NEWS.am
commenting on the statement by the second secretary of the Security
Problems Office of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Elchin Huseynli
that OSCE MG creates opportunities to artificially lengthen the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

OSCE understands that the situation may be settled only through peace,
which goes against the bellicose rhetoric of Baku.

“Minsk group holds that position. Neither Europe nor U.S. wants
war in the South Caucasus. Meantime, Azerbaijani rhetoric that Baku
will not hesitate to use force, finds no support in the West. Thus,
OSCE acts correctly,” the expert said and added that Baku will hardly
manage to go beyond the format set by OSCE MG.

Besides, the conflict settlement depends not only on Azerbaijan but
also Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh as well as Russia, Iran and Turkey,
Tsyganok concluded.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, Huseynli stated that OSCE
creates opportunities in lengthening Karabakh conflict settlement.

According to Huseynli, OSCE MG is almost 20 years old but co-chairs do
not feel the responsibility put on them. Such passivity of the OSCE
MG on Karabakh conflict may serve for the authority of the structure
in the Caucasus to be under attack, Huseynli concluded.

OSCE OFFICE SUPPORTS PUBLICATION OF REVIEW OF HIGH COURT DECISIONS IN ARMENIA

armradio.am
11.10.2011 18:09

An OSCE-supported publication comprising legal review, analysis and
interpretations of selected decisions of the Armenian Cassation Court
was presented today in Yerevan.

The publication covers cases related to human rights and fundamental
freedoms in front of the Armenian Cassation Court, which is the
highest judicial instance in Armenia, except on constitutional issues.

It was prepared by the Association of Judges in partnership with the
Armenian Cassation Court and with the support of the OSCE Office in
Yerevan as a contribution to judicial reform and strengthening of
judicial independence, integrity and competence.

“A strong judicial system is an essential means of securing basic
rights of people,” said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the
OSCE Office in Yerevan. “Judicial independence and impartiality are
important for ensuring public confidence in the authorities. The
Cassation Court has a vital role to play in interpreting the law,
unifying the legal practice and thus ensuring equality of treatment
and consistency of decisions.”

The publication of a detailed analysis of 30 decisions on most
controversial criminal cases will be distributed among judges and
lawyers, as well as made available to the general public. It is
expected to reduce the number of the Cassation Court appeals as lawyers
and individuals will be better informed about similar decisions taken
in the past.

Some 60 representatives of the Armenian judiciary, state institutions,
prosecutors, lawyers, academia, advocates, students and international
organizations attended the launch of the publication.

Professor Vahe Yengibaryan, Executive Director of the Association of
Judges of Armenia, said: “It is for the first time that this sort of
legal analysis is being done. Lawyers, defenders and the prosecution
often express different opinions on the same issue, and there has been
a definite need for a unified approach to be taken by the Cassation
Court. This explanatory publication will serve the needs of not only
judges and lawyers, but also of the public at large”.

SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL TO LAUNCH BY “12TH NIGHT” PERFORMANCE BY DECLAN DONNELLAN

ARMENPRESS
19:48, 11 October, 2011

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 11, ARMENPRESS: Shakespeare international theater
festival named after Vahram Papazyan will be conducted October
14-29 in Yerevan. The festival which has become one of the most
important pages of Armenia’s cultural life, simultaneously gaining
international recognition, is a member of the Euroepan network of
Shakespeare festivals from the last year.

Chairman of the Union of Theatrical Figures of Armenia, founder of
the festival Hakob Ghazanchyan told Armenpress that because of some
financial issues the destiny of the festival was unknown, but with
the support of Yerevan Mayor, its conduction became reality this year.

According to him, “12th Night” by world famous theatrical director
Declan Donnellan will be the core performance of Shakespeare
international theatrical festival. The performance has been staged
with participation of distinguished artists of Russia.

IRELAND STRIKER: ARMENIA SCORED 11 GOALS IN LAST 3 GAMES AND THAT’S PHENOMENAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 11, 2011 – 14:25 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Ireland striker Simon Cox says he’s praying that
Ireland captain Robbie Keane can recover from his injury in time to
face Armenia in Dublin on October 11 night even though Keane’s absence
would hand Cox the chance to start the game and turn himself into an
Ireland hero, Herald.ie reports.

“I’d love to see Robbie play, he’s our best chance of getting through
and you want your best players out there. You can’t be selfish in these
situations,” Cox told the Herald. “Robbie would be devastated to miss
this game but I know he’s working as hard as he can to be fit. If
he’s not fit, he will give full support to whoever fills his place.

Oct 11 sees a clash of styles with the meanest defense in Europe
(eight successive clean sheets for Ireland) against one of the
deadliest strike forces around (11 goals in the last three qualifiers
for Armenia), the report says.

“They (Armenia) have scored 11 goals in their last three games and
that’s phenomenal for any team, even more so at international level,
but with our defensive record I feel we can deal with that. Not just
the guys at the back but the whole team, because we defend as a team,”
Cox said.

ARMENIA HOSTS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENFORCEMENT OF JUDICIAL ACTS

Tert.am
15:50 ~U 11.10.11

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan participated in the opening of
the International Theoretical and Practical Conference “Contemporary
Problems and Development Trends of State and Private Systems of
Compulsory Enforcement of Judicial Acts” in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia.

Armenian Minister of Justice Hrair Tovmasyan was present at the
conference as well.

The Armenian premier noted that the formation of Armenia’s enforcement
system has been a rather difficult process. “Our aim was to find
efficient mechanisms of enforcing judicial acts and building up public
confidence in this institute. With this end in view, our legislation
has gradually been reformed, and we are ready to share our experience.

We are also interested in studying international experience,
particularly the institution of private enforcement systems. We know
that some countries are efficiently applying this mechanism though they
have their state enforcement institutes,” the Armenian premier said.

Armenia’s system of enforcement of judicial acts has launched an
electronic mechanism of holding auctions. “We believe that this
mechanism makes the enforcement system more transparent thereby
building up our citizens’ confidence in it. We should also admit that
the volume of e-transactions is not yet so large. Among the factors
accounting for that is that Armenia’s IT and telecommunication sectors
have been rapidly developing over the past five years only. The number
of Internet users has been rapidly increasing as well. In 2008, we
registered 45,000 Interne users, whereas this number has now reached
341,000,” the Armenian premier said.

Tigran Sargsyan hopes that the conference will help to find new
mechanisms of enhancing the enforcement system’s efficiency.

Among the participants are delegates from Armenia, Belgium, Czech
Republic, Belarus, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova,
Israel, Georgia, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine, and Nagorno-Karabakh.