Author: Kanayan Tamar

RUSSIE-AZERBAIDJAN: RATIFICATION DE LA DECLARATION SUR L’AMITIE ET LE PARTENARIAT STRATEGIQUE

RIA Novosti
16:04 | 02/ 10/ 2008
Russia

International

BAKOU, 2 octobre – RIA Novosti. Le parlement azerbaïdjanais a ratifie
jeudi la Declaration sur l’amitie et le partenariat strategique
Azerbaïdjan-Russie, rapporte l’agence News-Azerbaïdjan.

Le document prevoit le renforcement de la confiance et du partenariat
strategique entre l’Azerbaïdjan et la Russie, et la contribution a
la paix et a la stabilite dans la region.

Une grande importance est attachee a l’assurance de la securite
energetique globale.

Les parties ont pris l’engagement de regler le conflit du Haut-Karabakh
pacifiquement, en conformite avec les principes du groupe de Minsk de
l’OSCE, les normes du droit international, et les principes d’integrite
et d’inviolabilite territoriale.

La Russie et l’Azerbaïdjan ont convenu de lutter ensemble contre toute
manifestation du terrorisme, du separatisme, de l’extremisme, ainsi
que contre le trafic de stupefiants et la criminalite transfrontalière.

La Declaration sur l’amitie et le partenariat strategique
Azerbaïdjan-Russie a ete adoptee le 3 juin 2008 a Bakou.

–Boundary_(ID_6HWn45/Tn9eRiARjPQrngA)–

US SUPPORTS PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

TREND Information
03.10.08 11:37
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 3 October/ TrendNews, corr N. Abdullayeva/ The United
States supports peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
John Negroponte, deputy US Secretary of State said at a meeting with
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku.

"The talks between the sides of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must
be accelerated," he said.

Negroponte stated Azerbaijan’s important role as a producer country
and transit of energy resources.

Mammadyarov stated that Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can only be solved
within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Minister said occupied
lands of Azerbaijan must be freed and internally displaced persons
must return to their homes.

The meeting also focused on current bilateral cooperation between the
sides. The parties stressed that the ties between Azerbaijan and US
are on high level.

GURGEN ARSENYAN WELCOMES ANY STEP THAT WOULD REDUCE THE TENSION IN ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

armradio.am
01.10.2008 17:17

"I welcome any step that will allow to reduce the tension in
the Armenian-Turkish relations and raise the level of possible
cooperation," leader of the United Labor Party Gurgen Arsenyan told
a press conference today, assessing Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s
visit to Armenia. He welcomed Serzh Sargsyan’s initiative targeted
at bringing the process of the Karabakh conflict settlement to a more
productive phase.

According to him, the latest Russian-Georgian event showed that
the normalization of relations with Turkey is of vital importance
for Armenia.

"Armenia’s economy would be at the threshold of paralysis if the
war lasted another 10 days," he said. It’s necessary to normalize
the relations between the two countries and establish economic,
political and public ties.

Asked whether Turkey’s activeness can play a negative role in the
Karabakh conflict resolution, Gurgen Arsenyan said it’s necessary
to apply diplomatic flexibility to avoid that danger. "If Turkey’s
activeness can bring any danger, the leadership of the country should
be able to neutralize it with its diplomatic tools: it’s already the
task of the diplomats," Gurgen Arsenyan said.

RUSSIAN AND AZERBAIJANI SPECIAL SERVICES TRY TO AGGRAVATE SITUATION IN JAVAKHK: ARMENIAN EXPERT

ArmInfo
2008-09-29 14:02:00

ArmInfo. The Russian and Azerbaijani special services try to aggravate
the situation in Javakhk, a political expert, deputy Director of the
"Caucasus" Institute Sergey Minasyan told ArmInfo.

‘Both the special services of Russia and Azerbaijan, as well as
some forces make such attempts. In particular, there were repeated
news releases over recently about the situation in Javakhk just in
the Russian mass media’, he said and added that there were also new
releases by Azerbaijan during a five-day South-Ossetian war saying
that the Russian airplanes which bombarded Georgia flied from the
Armenian airdromes, that was multiply refuted by the Defense Ministry
of Armenia.

‘It is clear that all the means are good during a war, however the
Georgian authorities has already let Armenia see that it understands
the real state of things, and no complications related to the
information war occurred, neither in Javakhk’, S. Minasyan resumed.

To recall, there was an information in a number of the Russian mass
media from the beginning of combat operations in South Ossetia saying
that the Armenians of Javakhk wish to separate from Georgia. The
information was not confirmed and was refuted by the public-political
organizations of Javakhk.

COMMISSIONER HAMMARBERG RELEASES HIS FINDINGS OF MARCH 1 EVENTS

A1+
[05:14 pm] 29 September, 2008

Strasbourg, 29.09.2008 – "There is an urgent need to reach a
satisfactory solution for prisoners and to hold accountable those
responsible for the March events." With this main message, the
Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg,
published today his summary of findings on a visit to Armenia carried
out last 13-15 July to weigh the progress made in investigating the
violent events which ensued following the demonstrations after the
Presidential election.

"The situation of persons deprived of their liberty continues to be a
source of serious concern" said the Commissioner. "Questions persist
as to the very nature of the criminal charges and the intent of the
investigations carried out." Commissioner Hammarberg also regretted
that prosecution cases against 19 persons were based solely on police
testimony.

The Commissioner was particularly concerned about the seven persons
remaining in preliminary detention, including prominent opposition
representatives. "It is unacceptable to continue to hold in detention
or to convict – even to non-custodial sentences – anyone solely
because of their political beliefs or non-violent activities."

Furthermore, the Commissioner focused on the setting up of a national
commission of inquiry. While welcoming the proactive approach of the
Government in this regard, he recommended that continued efforts be
made, in tandem with international expert advice, and through a broad
and fully inclusive consultation process. "The establishment of a
group of experts tasked with carrying out a comprehensive, independent,
impartial, transparent inquiry, which would be perceived as credible
by the whole population of Armenia, appears to be within reach. I
hope that this opportunity will be recognised and will continue to
meet with a constructive response by all the relevant actors."

SPECIAL MISSION TO ARMENIA SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

By Thomas Hammarberg Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council
of Europe

Introduction

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights visited Armenia
from 13 to 15 July 2008. The special mission was organised following
the adoption of Resolution No. 1620 (2008) of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on 25 June 2008, whereby
the Commissioner was invited to:

-contribute to the participation of international experts in the
work of the ad hoc committee of the Armenian Parliament (National
Assembly) tasked with the inquiry into the events of 1 and 2 March 2008
(hereinafter "inquiry committee"), provided the conditions regarding
independence, transparency and credibility are met by the relevant
body; and

-inform the PACE Monitoring Committee at its meeting on 11 September
2008 on the progress regarding the inquiry committee as well as the
release of persons deprived of their liberty in relation to the events
of 1 and 2 March 2008.

The following reflects a summary of findings as presented by the
Commissioner to the PACE Monitoring Committee meeting in Paris on 11
September 2008.

Persons deprived of their liberty in relation to the events of 1-2
March 2008 1. The situation with respect to the persons deprived of
their liberty in connection with the 1-2 March events continues to
be a source of serious concern. There is an urgent need to deploy
the requisite political will to achieve a solution.

2. The preliminary investigation phase of all criminal cases relating
to the events of 1-2 March 2008 has now been completed. Most of the
cases have been brought to court, and a large majority of the persons
concerned – virtually all of them opposition supporters – have been
found guilty and sentenced. There are currently seven persons in
preliminary detention, trials concerning 14 detainees are in progress,
and 39 persons have been sentenced to prison terms. Some 42 persons
have been sentenced to non-custodial measures, i.e. probation or fines,
mostly in the context of fast trial proceedings.

3. The Commissioner finds that serious questions persist as to
the very nature of the criminal charges brought against the persons
apprehended in connection with the events of 1-2 March. In particular,
the letter by the Head of the Special Investigation Service issued
in early March 2008 to some regional prosecutors, requesting them to
collect information on participants in opposition rallies, rather than
information on specific acts, raises questions about the nature and the
intent of the investigation. The Commissioner is particularly concerned
as regards the remaining seven persons in preliminary detention,
including the three members of parliament and the presidential campaign
leader for Levon Ter-Petrosyan, who are charged very broadly for
trying to prepare a coup d’état (usurpation of power, Section 300
of the Criminal Code). The Commissioner’s concern is exacerbated by
the fact that in several of those cases, the relevant court ordered
further two-month extensions as recently as early September 2008.

Prosecution cases against 19 persons were based solely on police
testimony. Many of the Commissioner’s interlocutors considered that
the principle of equality of arms was not being applied in practice,
and the resort to fast trial proceedings in a number of cases –
certain of which had lasted less than 30 minutes – gave rise to
questions. To date, no law enforcement officials have been charged
in connection with the 1 March events.

The Commissioner wishes to underline that it is unacceptable to
continue to hold in detention or to convict – even to non-custodial
sentences – anyone solely because of their political beliefs or
non-violent activities.

4. The Commissioner strongly agrees with the statement made by PACE
President Mr. de Puig on 29 July 2008: "It should be clear that the
detention of people in relation to [the 1 March] events, other than
those who committed grave crimes, is unacceptable to the Assembly. I
therefore urge the authorities to release these people as soon as
possible."

Inquiry into the events of 1-2 March 2008

5. The Armenian Government has sought the assistance through the good
offices of the Commissioner of an international expert in setting
up and devising the mandate of a national commission of inquiry. The
Commissioner welcomes the pro-active approach taken by the Government
in this regard.

Based on discussions held during the July 2008 mission of the
Commissioner to Armenia, the expert (who participated in the visit)
prepared a memorandum outlining the major considerations and issues
in both the process of setting up an expert committee to carry
out the inquiry and substantive aspects of its work (scope of
the investigation, mandate, etc.) in order for it to comply with
the requirements of the PACE resolutions and the Commissioner’s
recommendation. The expert transmitted the memorandum to the Armenian
Government on 21 August 2008.

The Armenian authorities responded promptly, by drawing up a draft
Presidential decree setting up a group of experts tasked with
establishing the facts of the events of 1-2 March 2008. However,
more work is needed to develop the decree, which would serve as a
foundation for the work of the group of experts. Further, a broad,
fully inclusive and comprehensive consultation process is necessary,
to ensure overall support and the involvement of the parliamentary
and extra-parliamentary opposition.

6. The Office of the Commissioner and the expert are engaged in an
ongoing dialogue with the Government of Armenia about procedures
and substantive issues relating to the group of experts. It is very
important, for instance, that the report of the group of experts be
made public and accessible to the country’s population.

7. The efforts made by the Armenian authorities since the
Commissioner’s July 2008 mission should be seen as positive steps. The
Commissioner would recommend that continued efforts be made, in
tandem with international expert advice, to ensure the success of
this process. The establishment of a group of experts tasked with
carrying out a comprehensive, independent, impartial, transparent
inquiry, which would be perceived as credible by the whole population
of Armenia, appears to be within reach. It is the Commissioner’s hope
that this opportunity will be recognised and will continue to meet
with a constructive response by all the relevant actors.

–Boundary_(ID_/madrYiBaZ2y2Tg8pqEA9A)–

SERGEY NASIBYAN: "NON-DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN AZERBAIJAN ARE DIRECTED AGAINST ITS OWN SOCIETY".

Panorama.am
19:48 26/09/2008

Chairman of the NKR CEC Sergey Nasibyan’s answers to the mass media
questions

Question: The Azerbaijani mass media state that on October 15 the
most boring presidential elections are going to be held in the whole
history of Azerbaijan. In your opinion, what are the reasons for
such statements?

Answer: Many people, both in Azerbaijan and outside the country,
understand that the forthcoming elections can not be free and just,
that the candidates are not provided with equal conditions. And it
is not surprising for a republic, where the son inherits the power
from father.

The elections will indeed be one-man-for-one-seat, as
there is no a competent, authority-independent civil society
in Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, the international observers, who
do not want to fix serious deviations from the democratic norms in
Azerbaijan, and who, as a rule, get away with phrases like "everything
has passed within the law", " certain shortcomings have occurred",
"these elections are better than last year’s", etc., unwittingly
contribute to this.

Question: According to you, how can the actual boycott of the elections
by the Azeri opposition be explained? According to the Azeri mass
media, one can not feel pre-election activity either among candidates,
or the electorate.

Answer: To my mind, it does not seem strange. Everything proceeds
from the predetermination of the election results. And all the
symptoms of this are obvious. For instance, even the candidates are
selectively given money for their pre-election campaign; high-ranking
officials of the republic, who by law have no right to take part in
the agitation campaign, participated in the agitation meetings of
"Yeni Azerbaijan" dominant party; technical equipment and domestic
appliances of one of the opposition parties have even been stolen… It
is no coincidence, that some oppositional parties have already signed
a joint statement on recognizing the presidential elections illegal,
essentially, because of the fact that the government did not consider
their requests concerning the free expression of their will in media
and guaranteeing publications in electronic media.

At the same time, the boycott of presidential elections by the
Azeri opposition makes their results doubly predictable. British
non-governmental organization LINKS has particularly noted this. In its
report on the pre-election situation in Azerbaijan it mentions that the
decision of the majority of the Azeri opposition leaves little doubt
in the "victory" of the candidate from the dominant party Ilham Aliyev.

Question: On the threshold of presidential elections, the Azeri
mass media also demonstrates noticeable passiveness in covering the
pre-election processes. How can you explain this?

Answer: Perhaps this can be explained by the fact, that the
governmental newspapers are oriented only to covering the dominant
party’s candidate campaign, while the opposition’s newspapers criticize
the government and do not cover the elections. As a rule, independent
editions that give a full-fledged coverage of the elections are
apparently very few in Azerbaijan.

They confess in Azerbaijan, that a society with legal culture, skills
of political activity, experience of competitiveness and a dialogue
with the state, and even institutions, capable of expressing moods
of this or that group of citizens has not been established in the
country yet.

Question: According to you, what consequences will these "boring"
elections in Azerbaijan have on the region, and particularly, what
influence will they have on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement?

Answer: First of all, the non-democratic elections are directed
against the Azerbaijani society, which will be thrown back again for
at least 5 years in advancing the democratic processes and creating
a true democratic society.

It is also understandable that as a result of such elections the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process will not win neither. Ð~P
just and overall solution to the problem may be connected mostly
with the democratization of the societies of conflicting sides and
the maturity of the civil society.

–Boundary_(ID_i558lvf0Ub5oO+1bHhReMA)–

Film Review of Karen Oganesyan’s "The Ghost" ["Domovoy" (Russia)]

A Magnum Studio production in association with Central Partnership.
(International sales: Central Partnership, Moscow.)
Produced by Ruben Dishdishyan, Anna Melikyan. Directed by Karen
Oganesyan. Screenplay, Oleg Malovichko.
With: Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Mashkov, Chulpan Khamatova.

Variety.com
Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Reviewed by ROBERT KOEHLER

TORONTO — If Karen Oganesyan’s "The Ghost" hadn’t been so blatantly
tooled as an item for Hollywood remake, it might have proved to be a
clever fusion of the twin Russian obsessions for the criminal
underground and the literary world. When the film’s bestselling crime
novelist hits a creative slump and finds sudden inspiration from a
hitman who could have popped from the pages of one of his tomes, the
action flirts with outright comedy, but turns into a merely mediocre
shoot-’em-up straining for effect. Surefire local B.O. likely will gird
a future deal with a Stateside studio.

Author Anton (Konstantin Khabensky) is signing copies of his latest
book, "The Ghost’s Revenge," in a Moscow bookstore when he witnesses
hitman Mikhail (Vladimir Mashkov) perform a swift assassination across
the street. Beset with his own personal and familial demons, Anton
proves vulnerable to Mikhail’s entreaties to let him provide the author
with an insider’s view of the life of a killer-for-hire. Even
half-interested viewers will be far ahead of Anton in his shock that
he’s become a pawn in Mikhail’s larger game, which turns out to be only
slightly intriguing.

Camera (color, widescreen), Zaur Bolotaev; editor, Oganesyan; music,
Nino Katamadze, Gocha Kacheishvily, Ucha Gugunava, David Abuladze;
production designer, Ulyana Ryabova. Reviewed at Toronto Film Festival
(Contemporary World Cinema), Sept. 9, 2008. Running time: 110 MIN.

html?categoryid=31&cs=1&nid=3078

IS WASHINGTON SEEKING A SUBSTITUTE FOR SAAKASHVILI?

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.09.2008 GMT+04:00

Americans are more alarmed about bankruptcy of their banks rather
than about distant Georgia, which they had initially taken for the
US State of Georgia.

Forty days after Saakashvili’s "five-day" war the world experienced
changes that may serve as a basis for establishment of new and
reconsideration of already existing relations on a global scale. What
is most important in Georgian President Saakashvili’s "achievements"
is the rapid stir-up of Turkey, which has made a powerful regional
player of herself and in case fortune smiles, it may take up the role
of a super-state in the Islamic world.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It is quite logical that Iran should try to hinder,
but Turkey has more trump cards at the moment and, however banal it
may sound, the most important of them is the result of "football
diplomacy". However, the Turkish Government will always remember
the precept of the Turkish Republic Founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk:
"Once Russia will lose control over the nations it keeps under its
thumb. The world will enter a new phase. And at that very moment
Turkey must determine its position".

Most likely, without the South Ossetian conflict the trilateral meeting
of the Armenian, Turkish and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers would not be
organized. On the other hand, the logic of development of the regional
relations would sooner or later bring about attempts of normalizing
Armenian-Turkish relations and regulating the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
with participation of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Only the process
grew faster now and neither the OSCE Minsk Group, nor the mediators can
be useful at present circumstances. One thing can be said for sure –
international conflicts cannot be solved through force and Georgian
President has proved it lately.

Saakashvili’s hasty decision on "returning South Ossetia and Abkhazia
and restoring constitutional order" had a maximum effect on the
U.S.-Russian relations. As a matter of fact, with her latest statement
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declared a diplomatic war
to Russia. Taking into consideration the financial and bank crisis
in America, arises the parallel between the South Ossetian war, US
Presidential Elections and the crisis itself. However, the impulsive
and unrestrained Georgian President had overlooked one fact: Americans
are more alarmed about bankruptcy of their banks rather than about
distant Georgia, which they had initially taken for the US State
of Georgia.

In her speech to the transatlantic German Marshall Fund US Secretary
of State declared: "Russia’s attack on Georgia merely proved what we
had already known – that Russia could use its overwhelming military
advantage to punish a small neighbor. But Georgia has survived. Its
democracy will endure. Its economy will be rebuilt. Its independence
will be reinforced. Its military will, in time, be reconstituted. And
we look forward to the day when Georgia’s territorial integrity will
be peacefully restored."

Condoleezza Rice also stated that US will offer financial support
to Georgia, which sounds rather odd for a country that is in crisis
herself. "We and our European allies will also continue to lead the
international effort to help Georgia rebuild – an effort that has
already made remarkable headway. The United States has put forward a
$1 billion economic support package for Georgia. The EU has pledged
500 million Euros," the US Secretary said.

Meanwhile the RF Foreign Ministry spread a statement blaming the US
Secretary of State for lack of knowledge of the conflict history and
for being lenient toward Mikhail Saakashvili. "Rice assures that the
causes of the Caucasian conflict go back to the fall of the Soviet
Union. In fact, professionals know quite well that they go deeper into
History, when Abkhazia and Ossetia became part of Russia, independent
of Georgia. Speaking about the period of the Soviet Union collapse,
it should be mentioned that in 1991 Georgian President Z. Gamsakhurdia
announced: "First of all it is required now that all the Ossetians be
deported to Russia, the territory of Abkhaz habitation be curtailed
and sovereignty of Ajaria be liquidated. The titled nation owns the
whole territory and it must live on its native land, where there is
no room for autonomy of other nations." However, Gamsakhurdia did
not limit himself with the statement and declared war against South
Ossetia and Abkhazia, which took lives of numerous people," the RF
Foreign Ministry statement says.

By the way, Georgian opposition leaders’ visits to the USA have become
more frequent recently. Doesn’t it mean that Washington is seeking
a substitute for Saakashvili, whose actions put the world before the
threat of a new confrontation?

IRAN OPEN TALKS WITH BAKU AND YEREVAN FOR MEDIATION IN KARABAKH ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.09.2008 13:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Tehran has opened talks with Baku and Yerevan for
mediation in the Karabakh issue, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbaijan said.

"Tehran wants a resolution of the Karabakh conflict within
international and legal norms. But it wants a peaceful resolution,"
Nasir Hamidi Zare said, ANS TV reports.

RA PRESIDENT CONGRATULATED ARMENIAN PEOPLE ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

ArmInfo
2008-09-22 09:31:00

ArmInfo. RA President Serzh Sargsyan congratulated the Armenian people
on Independence Day.

As the presidential press-service told ArmInfo today, the
S. Sargsyan’s felicitation says: "I congratulate all of us on
the occasion of the 17th Anniversary of our independence. Today
is conceivably our main state holiday. Seventeen years ago our
collective will turned the dream of the generations of our nation
into the irreversible reality. Restoration of the Armenian statehood
was a historic imperative. Our people had never come to terms with
losing independence. We couldn’t come to terms because our historians
and writers said centuries ago that captivity and rule of invaders
were unlawful. Seventeen years ago, the citizens of the Republic of
Armenia, who gave their votes for independence, created the history
of contemporary and future Armenia. Not incidentally on this festive
day each of us poses same questions: what the independence has been
for me?; what have been Armenia’s achievements on this road?; what
should be our country’s course of development?; what state traditions
we will leave to our children born in freedom? I ask myself the same
question. Independence is the materialization of our dream, it is
our biography, with ups and downs, strives and fights, opportunity
and possibility to defend our national dignity, sacrifice, national
achievements obtained through that sacrifice, and the right for all
of us to share the pride of these achievements.

Independence is the right to shape our history by our will, and that
independence is indispensable and indisputable.

In seventeen years we have been able to protect our country, to
establish state structure, to lay foundations for growing economy,
and to give a new breath to our culture, education, and health care.

Today our country is moving forward, and if there is a progress it
means that there is a force behind that progress. That force is our
compatriots, their work, devotion and sacrifice. That force belongs to
each of us. All this makes September 21 a proud national holiday. This
pride is not haughtiness at all. Our pride is not inspired by our
glorious history only, or by the achievements and victories of our
predecessors, it is also inspired by our state traditions which are
being formed today. Since independence we have been creating new
traditions of the Armenian statehood.

Along with excellent traditions there are unfortunately some which
are unacceptable. Henceforth, we are a mature state and must be able
to uproot negative trends which hamper our progress, simultaneously
fostering the good, values for which the generations have fought,
values we cherish: freedom, democracy, and equally before the law. We
will stand by those values.

>From year to year for us freedom and independence acquire new meaning
and substance. We were able to overcome difficulties and didn’t
tumble. It became clear for us that only independence can give us
the ability to protect the interests of Armenia and the Armenian
people. We will continue to protect those values by all possible
means", RA president’s felicitation says.