Author: Kanayan Tamar

VARDAN OSKANYAN: "AZERBAIJAN TRIES TO MAKE USE OF THE INTERNAL SITUATION IN ARMENIA"

Today
tics/43541.html
March 5 2008
Azerbaijan

"Azerbaijan tries to make use of internal situation, established in
Armenia, both in the military and political sense".

The due announcement was made by Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan.

The Armenian Minister reminded that Azerbaijan has applied UN
resolution on Nagorno Karabakh, with voting scheduled for March 14.

"We continue diplomatic works to prevent this resolution, as we
consider that it is applied to make use of the internal political
situation in Armenia by Azerbaijan", Oskanyan noted.

At the same time, the minister said Azerbaijan has a right to apply
the resolution any time. "However, it should be taken into account
that there is an unexhausted potential in the negotiation process,
the newly elected president of Armenia is ready to continue talks
on the Karabakh issue from the grounds we have achieved by now",
Oskanyan noted.

He also added that in case this resolution is applied the newly elected
president of Armenia will be in a difficult state "which will mean
that Azerbaijan intends to change its strategy on the talks".

He considers that Armenia’s efforts to resists Baku’s steps have
given good results.

Oskanyan said Azerbaijan’s substantiations on the resolution are based
on the Kosovo precedent, which Armenia regards as an unsubstantiated
ground from their side.

"Baku just tries to make use of the situation in Kosovo and internal
political situation in Armenia in an attempt to settle its tasks and
reach recognition of its territorial integrity, which Azerbaijan had
attempted to do more than once, but failed", Oskanyan noted.

At the same time, the minister noted that he can not predict results
of voting on the resolution.

"I can only assure that co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group attempt
to persuade Azerbaijan to withdraw the resolution. I do not know
whether they will be successful or no, but I do hope that OSCE
Minsk Group member-states will not support the said resolution",
Oskanyan announced.

UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF TROUBLED BY ARMENIAN VIOLENCE

TREND Information
March 2 2008
Azerbaijan

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said Sunday she was "deeply
troubled" by the reports of deaths and injuries in clashes between
police and opposition protestors in Armenia. ( dpa )

Louise Arbour said she was also concerned at reports that force had
been used against peaceful demonstrators and that opposition protestors
had been detained.

Eight people were killed in violence Saturday in the capital Yereven
where thousands of protestors have taken to the streets following
disputed February 19 elections. A 20-day state of emergency has
been declared.

Arbour called upon the authorities to exercise the utmost restraint.

LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES TRY TO DETAIN SARGIS HATSPANIAN

Noyan Tapan
Feb 28, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The representatives of law
enforcement bodies have tried to detain Sargis Hatspanian, a citizen of
France, who stopped the hunger strike on the eve, on the Freedom square
at about 11 o’clock on February 28. However, the attempt of the law
enforcement bodies have failed by the interference of Aram Manukian,
a member of the Armenian National Movement board, Grigor Haroutiunian,
the Secretary of the People’s Party of Armenia, and Mikael Danielian,
the Chairman of the Helsiniki association. The latters, as well
as Sargis Hatspanian, clarified to the representatives of the law
enforcement bodies that they have no such competences as in case of
implementing any action towards Sargis Hatspanian, who is a citizen
of France, they should first of all turn to the Embassy of France in
the Republic of Armenia.

It should be mentioned that Sargis Hatspanian had made a speech
in front of the supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosian gahtered on the
Freedom square before that and introduced his motivations for joining
the movement. He also stated that he has become aware of the fact
that the RA Police has plaaned his detention. In this respect Sargis
Hatspanian declared that he "was put into prison in France, Germany,
Turkey" for his position devoted to his nation "and is now ready to
be put to prison for the same position in Armenia as well."

VAHAN HOVHANNISIAN RELIEVED OF POST OF VICE SPEAKER OF ARMENIA’S PARLIAMENT

DeFacto Agency
Feb 28 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 28.02.08. DE FACTO. On February 28 Armenia’s National Assembly
received Vahan Hovhannisian’s resignation from the post of RA NA Chair.

The Chair of Armenia’s NA Tigran Torosian expressed his gratitude
to Vahan Hovhannisian for efficient work he had carried out, while
being vice speaker, and wished him successes in his further activity.

To note, Vahan Hovhannisian had stated his intention to tender
resignation on February 22, and on February 25 he filed a
resignation. This decision a member of ARF Dashnaktsutyun Bureau
motivated by breaches committed in the course of presidential elections
in Armenia.

To remind, a candidate nominated by ARF Dashnaktsutyun Vahan
Hovhannisian participated in the presidential elections held in Armenia
on February 19. According to the RA CEC, Vahan Hovhannisian received 6,
2% of the electors’ votes.

DINK MURDER SUSPECT LAWYER INSULTED JOINT ATTORNEYS AND ARMENIAN NATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.02.2008 16:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ At the Hrant Dink murder fourth hearing at the
Istanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court on 25 February, suspect Ersin Yolcu
was questioned in the morning. He stands accused of aiding and abetting
the crime and faces 15 to 20 years imprisonment.

During the lunch break of the hearing, suspect Yasin Hayal’s lawyer
Fuat Turgut, known for his ultranationalist leanings and aggressive
manner, insulted the joint attorneys. He also insulted Armenians in
general. The joint attorneys demanded that the court president remove
Turgut One of the joint attorneys, Kezban Hatemi, told journalists
during the break that gunman suspect Ogun Samast had insulted her.

The lawyers for the Dink family had made three demands prior to the
hearing: Arguing that the minutes of the hearing were insufficient
to prepare their case, they have requested access to the recording
of the hearing.

The third hearing of the case was recorded and recording will continue
during the case.

According to Fethiye Cetin, one of the joint attorneys, the refusal
to unite the cases is protecting the criminal organization behind
the murder. The request of joint attorneys to have access to the CD
recordings (audio and visual) of the third hearing on 11 February
was also refused by the court.

Lawyer Cetin criticized the fact that the court has freed four suspects
from attending court hearings despite the fact that gendarmerie
informant Coskun Igci, Irfan Ozkan and Erbil Susaman have not been
questioned yet.

Igci has also given a statement in the Trabzon trial against police
intelligence officers, saying, "I told them about the murder plans
four months earlier." He is still to be questioned in Istanbul.

At the hearing yesterday, suspects Yasar Cihan, Halis Egemen, Salih
Hacisalihoglu, Ersin Yolcu, Ahmet Iskender, Mustafa Ozturk and Alper
Esirgemez were cross-examined, BIA Turkish news agency reports.

IRAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES SERZH SARKISIAN ON BEING ELECTED PRESIDENT

ARMENPRESS
Feb 26, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26, ARMENPRESS; The government press office said
president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has
sent a message of congratulations to prime minister Serzh Sarkisian
on the occasion of his election as president of Armenia.

Ahmadinejad’s message reads as follows.

"I extend my warm congratulations to you, the government of Armenia
and the people of Armenia on the occasion of your being elected as
president of the Republic of Armenia.

I hope that during your term in office steady and deep relationships
between our countries and constructive partnership will continue to
develop, as well as friendly contacts between our people will multiply.

I wish you good health and success, and happiness and prosperity to
the people of Armenia. I invite you to pay a visit to Iran."

Interfax, Russia
Russia & CIS
February 21, 2008

Putin confirms Russia’s readiness to assist in Nagorno-Karabakh
settlement
MOSCOW Feb 21

Russia is ready to participate in the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement to
the extend its help is required, Russian President Vladimir Putin
Enhanced Coverage LinkingVladimir Putin -Search using:
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told his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Monday, Putin’s aide
Sergei Prikhodko told reporters.

"The Karabakh problem was discussed without going into details. The
problem of Kosovo was also touched upon," he said.

"The two countries’ positions on these issues are identical,"
Prikhodko added.

Both presidents pointed to the pernicious effect of Kosovo’s
decisions, which are outside the framework of the law, he said.

Putin and Aliyev are both convinced that the unilateral decisions by
Kosovo and the actions of some countries are fraught with negative
consequences, the aide said.

US Fed News
February 22, 2008 Friday 7:02 AM EST

DECLARATION BY PRESIDENCY ON BEHALF OF EUROPEAN UNION ON PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION IN ARMENIA, FEB. 19

BRUSSELS, Belgium

The European Union issued the following common foreign and security
policy statement:

The European Union congratulates the Armenian people for the conduct
of a competitive presidential election in Armenia.

The European Union notes the statement of preliminary findings and
conclusions of the International Election Observation Mission which
concluded that the presidential election in Armenia, an important
test for democracy in this country, was conducted mostly in line with
OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and standards. The European
Union welcomes the genuine efforts that were made to address the
shortcomings noted in previous elections.

However, the EU also notes that the report raised concerns about the
electoral process and that further improvements are necessary to
address the remaining challenges. It notes in particular that,
according to ODIHR, improvements and additional political will are
necessary to tackle concerns such as the lack of public confidence in
the electoral process, the absence of clear separation between state
and party functions, and ensuring equal treatment of candidates.

The European Union looks forward to the final results of the
presidential election and calls on the competent authorities to
ensure that complaints are adequately investigated and shortcomings
addressed.

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb. 25, 2008

Azerbaijan Supports Peaceful Settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict:
Ambassador
25.02.08 20:40

Kazakhstan, Astana, 25 February /corr. TrendNews K.Konirova / On 25
February the 16th anniversary of tragic events in Azerbaijan’s city
of Khojali was marked in Astana at Azerbaijan’s Embassy in
Kazakhstan.

`On the night of 25 to 26 February 1992 the Azerbaijani settlement of
Nagorno-Karabakh, Khojali, was occupied by Armenian separatists, with
active participation of military personnel and army tanks of the
366th regiment of the Russian army. In a matter of several hours,
more than 600 unarmed Azerbaijani citizens, including 106 women and
83 children, were brutally killed,’ said Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to
Kazakhstan, Latif Gandilov, said in the opening of the event.

Later the Imam of the Azerbaijani diasporas in Astana, Hashim Agayev,
read a prayer in memory of the people killed on that bloody day.
Remembering those events, he said that he was one of the
eyewitnesses. During that time, he was serving in the soviet Army,
but after those bloody events, he came to defend his Native Land.

Later a documentary film was shown depicting the tragic events.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador said that the terrorist claims of Armenia
contrast with all international and good-neighborhood standards.

`Azeri people do not oppose the Armenian people, but they do oppose
bloodshed. Azerbaijan supports the peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and these events should be remembered
forever in memory of our descendant,’ the diplomat said.

The event was also attended by Vice Interior Minister of Kazakhstan
Saylau Serikov’s son Lieutenant Colonel of Kazakhstan’s Interior
Ministry Anatoly Serikov. Saylau Serikov was part of the Governmental
delegation who in 1991 left for Khojali city to look into the tension
being experienced in the city. On route to Nagorno-Karabakh, the
helicopter which carried the MPs, representatives of the Azerbaijan
Government and journalists was fired at.

`I remember how before the trip to Nagorno-Karabakh my father was
concerned by the situation in Azerbaijan. He had many Azerbaijani
friends and he could not believe the events taking place there,’
Anatoly said. He recalled that after his father’s death, on the day
of his burial, they received many letters of condolence not only from
the military people and Government, but also from ordinary citizens
of Azerbaijan. `It touched me and I promise that I will do my very
best to settle the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,’ Anatoly Serikov said.

The event in the Embassy was attended be scientists, journalists,
diplomats, representative of Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry and
journalists.

Currently Azerbaijani diasporas in Astana comprise of 5,000 people.

Hürriyet, Turkey
Feb 20 2008

A Turkish university adds Armenian language courses to its curriculum

Nuran Cakmakci

A leading Turkish university based in Istanbul has started offering
classes in Armenian language as part of its course load. Following
approval by the Bosphorus University’s senate, three new classes in
Armenian language are set to enter the curriculum.

The first Armenian language class, which started in the second half
of the 2007-2008 school year, is focusing on the reading of Turkish
texts written in the Armenian alphabet. Two more classes which will
focus on the alphabet, basic vocabulary, linguistic rules, and
text-reading of the modern Western Armenian language, will open up in
the coming period.

The Armenian language class which has already been included in
curriculum offerings was filled quickly, with students currently
waiting for spaces to open. Offered along the lines of Bosphorus
University’s standard language programs, the Armenian lessons will be
taught alongside cultural history. Armenian is a criticial language
for students doing research into Ottoman history, as it allows for
the examination and reading of various important texts in this
discipline.