Author: Kanayan Tamar

AFFAIRE RAMIL SAFAROV
Plusieurs centaines de jeunes Arméniens ont manifesté à Ottawa
(Canada) devant les Ambassades de Hongrie et d’Azerbaïdjan

A l’appel de l’Association des Jeunes Arméniens du Canada, une
manifestation réunissant plusieurs centaines de personnes s’est
déroulée devant les Ambassades de Hongrie ainsi que d’Azerbaïdjan à
Ottawa. Les manifestants protestaient contre l’extradition par la
Hongrie de l’assassin azéri Ramil Safarov qui avait à Budapest en
février 2004 tué dans son sommeil à coups de hache l’officier arménien
Kourken Markarian. Arrivé à Bakou, l’assassin était aussitôt libéré et
promu commandant par le dictateur de la Caspienne, Ilham Aliev. Les
manifestants -dont une majorité était composée des jeunes- ont
condamné la libération de Safarov par la Hongrie et exigé que
l’Azerbaïdjan cesse ses déclarations guerrières, ainsi que sa
politique raciste fondée sur la haine envers les Arméniens. Des prises
de paroles se déroulèrent tant devant l’Ambassade de Hongrie que celle
d’Azerbaïdjan.

Krikor Amirzayan

dimanche 9 septembre 2012,
Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

MilAz.info, Azerbaijan
Sept 8 2012

Azerbaijani President: Azerbaijan is a reliable partner of NATO

18:50 08-09-2012

“An active dialogue between NATO and Azerbaijan is very important for
regional stability and cooperation. Azerbaijan is a reliable partner
of NATO’, – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said after meeting with
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, APA reports quoting the
official website of the Azerbaijani President.

The President noted that the relations between Azerbaijan and NATO
member states are very broad, predictable and are friendly character
and this, in turn, further increases the current relationship between
NATO and Azerbaijan.

‘We are working on many issues. One of these questions – the situation
in Afghanistan. Azerbaijan from the first day to participate in
peacekeeping operations and contributed to operations International
Security Assistance Force. We have doubled the number of our troops in
Afghanistan. We contribute and by supporting the placement, transit,
logistics, including the use of air space. Today, over 30 percent are
sent to Afghanistan nonmilitary cargo transported via Azerbaijan. We
are ready to continue our work”, – the head of State said.

The President stressed that Azerbaijan is ready to participate in the
development process and after 2014: “We are also involved in training
programs, non-military aid programs. We have helped the Fund for the
Afghan National Army and made a statement for further assistance. In
other words, this is a very sincere and open co-operation based on
common values. We will do everything possible to ensure that our
Afghan friends were able to eliminate all the difficulties arising in
front of them”.

The President said that with NATO Secretary General discussed the
situation in the region, regional security and the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: “Azerbaijan is
committed to an early resolution of the conflict based on the
principles of international law and territorial integrity. We are very
grateful for the support of NATO’s territorial integrity. This is
reflected in the documents of the Chicago summit, as well as the
previous and the Lisbon summit in Bucharest. Azerbaijani lands, we can
say that its already 20 years under occupation. We must put an end to
this injustice, to remove this regional threat”.

According to the president at the meeting was also discussed energy
security: “Azerbaijan is working closely with NATO member states on
the issue. We have opened vast reserves of energy, has a modern
transportation infrastructure, pipelines. We plan to build a new
pipeline TANAP. Through this line, we can transport our resources to
the European markets. As a reliable partner in the field of energy
security, Azerbaijan is ready to continue its efforts to strengthen
the partnership. I am confident that this partnership will continue,
and given that we are already working with the Member States on issues
of energy security, it will be successful. In the energy balance of
some member countries the share of Azeri oil exceeds 30 percent. I am
sure that there will come a time when our gas will also play a major
role in gas consumption in Europe, our friends and neighbors”.

20 Minutes, France
7 sept 2012

Tensions entre l’Azerbaïdjan et l’Arménie

Mis à jour le 07.09.12 à 13h38

Le secrétaire général de l’Otan, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a déploré
vendredi la grce accordée par l’Azerbaïdjan au meurtrier d’un
Arménien, jugeant que cette décision risquait de raviver les tensions
entre les deux pays du Caucase.

Bakou et Erevan se sont livré une guerre dans les années 1990 pour le
contrôle du Haut-Karabakh.

«L’acte que (ce militaire) a commis en 2004 est un crime et ne devrait
pas être glorifié», a déclaré Anders Fogh Rasmussen à des étudiants en
diplomatie dans la capitale azerbaïdjanaise. «Le conflit entre
l’Arménie et l’Azerbaïdjan ne doit pas être relancé (…) Il n’y a pas
de solution militaire à ce conflit», a-t-il ajouté.

Promu dès son retour au pays

L’officier azerbaïdjanais, Ramil Safarov, a été reconnu coupable du
meurtre d’un officier arménien, le lieutenant Gurgen Markaryan, lors
d’un voyage linguistique parrainé par l’Otan, à Budapest en 2004.
Safarov s’était introduit dans la chambre du militaire arménien et
l’avait attaqué à la hache et au couteau, tranchant presque sa tête.

Condamné à la prison à vie, il a passé huit ans derrière les barreaux
mais l’homme de 35 ans, rapatrié de Hongrie la semaine passée, a été
accueilli tel un héros : il a été promu commandant et a été indemnisé
pour les salaires qu’il n’a pas touchés durant son séjour en prison.

L’Arménie a suspendu ses relations diplomatiques avec la Hongrie et
les opposants du Premier ministre Viktor Orban considèrent la
libération de Safarov comme suspicieuse, à un moment où Budapest tente
de resserrer ses liens économiques avec l’Azerbaïdjan, pays au riche
sous-sol. Le gouvernement hongrois a dit avoir reçu l’assurance des
autorités azerbaïdjanaises que Safarov continuerait de purger sa peine
dans son pays.

L’Express, France
4 sept 2012

Meurtre d’un Arménien: “l’assassinat a été commis sous le patronage de
l’Etat azéri”

Par LEXPRESS.fr, publié le 04/09/2012 à 16:53, mis à jour à 17:18

L’accueil reçu dans son pays par l’Azéri Ramil Safarov, condamné à
perpétuité en Hongrie pour un meurtre commis en 2004, et ajussitôt
gracié a ravivé les tensions entre Erevan et Bakou. La réaction de
l’ambassadeur d’Arménie à Paris, Viken Tchitétchian.

Très vive tension entre l’Arménie et l’Azerbaïdjan. Suspension des
relations diplomatiques entre la Hongrie et l’Arménie. Provocation
ouverte de Bakou à l’égard de l’Union européenne et de la communauté
internationale. A l’origine, un meurtre horrible perpétré par un
soldat azerbaïdjanais à l’encontre d’un jeune officier arménien en
Hongrie, dans le cadre d’un stage de formation organisé par l’OTAN. Le
meurtrier, condamné à 30 années de prison incompressibles par la
justice hongroise, a été subitement extradé vers Bakou, le vendredi 31
septembre, puis aussitôt gracié par le président de l’Azerbaïdjan et
accueilli comme un héros national.

L’ambassadeur d’Arménie à Paris, Viken Tchitétchian, livre ici son
indignation et fait part de son inquiétude sur l’évolution de la
situation.

Dans quelles conditions un jeune officier arménien, Gourguen
Margarian, a-t-il été tué par le militaire azerbaïdjanais Ramil
Safarov?

Viken Tchitétchian, ambassadeur d’Arménie à Paris: “L’Arménie n’est
pas surprise par l’attitude de Bakou, mais s’indigne de la décision de
la Hongrie.”

DR

«
L’argent du pétrole vaut-il plus que la morale humaine et les valeurs
fondamentales qui font l’Europe? »

Le 19 février 2004, Gourguen Margarian, officier de l”armée
arménienne -qui participait à une formation d’anglais organisée à
Budapest dans le cadre d’un programme du “Partenariat pour la paix” de
l’OTAN- a été assassiné par l’officier azéri Ramil Safarov, qui
participait à la même formation. Aveuglé par le racisme et la haine
ethnique cultivée au niveau de l’Etat azéri, ce dernier a égorgé, à 16
coups de hache, Gourguen Margarian pendant son sommeil. Il était 5
heures du matin. Cet acte d’une rare atrocité, commis froidement, a
alors choqué toute la société hongroise, mais aussi tous les pays et
de nombreux responsables de l’OTAN. Toutes les instances européennes
nous ont néanmoins recommandé de faire confiance à la justice et de
dépasser l’émotion pour s’en remettre à la souveraineté du jugement
sévère qui serait rendu à l’encontre du coupable: on voulait
absolument convaincre les autorités arméniennes qu’il s’agissait de
l’acte d’un dément, d’un acte isolé. Nous disons aujourd’hui, face à
l’évidence des suites données par Bakou à cette affaire, qu’il ne
s’agit en rien d’un acte isolé. Nous n’avons cessé d’alerter tous nos
partenaires et interlocuteurs des risques de transfèrement de Safarov
vers l’Azerbaïdjan, et le comportement de l’Azerbaïdjan a montré que
nous avions, hélas, raison.

Que s’est-il passé pour que la justice hongroise, qui a initialement
condamné Safarov à la perpétuité, accède finalement à la demande
d’extradition de Bakou?

Les faits ont été à ce point flagrants que la justice hongroise a
effectivement prononcé contre l’assassin une peine de prison à vie
incompressible. La présidente du tribunal a insisté sur le caractère
exceptionnellement cruel du meurtre. C’était une réaction adéquate et
une sentence de toute évidence justifiée; tous les arguments des
avocats du coupable ont été balayés sans difficulté, aucune argutie
avancée par les Azéris n’a résisté à l’examen des faits. Après une
telle sentence, je ne sais pas ce qui a pu aboutir au transfèrement de
l’assassin vers l’Azerbaïdjan. Nous avons travaillé au plus haut
niveau avec les autorités hongroises qui nous ont régulièrement assuré
que Safarov ne serait pas extradé; nous leur avons également
recommandé de ne pas prendre au sérieux les promesses faites par Bakou
que la peine serait purgée en Azerbaïdjan. Or, au final, non seulement
l’assassin, sitôt arrivé à Bakou, a été gracié par Ilham Aliev, mais
il a été aussi promu à titre extraordinaire au grade de major, a reçu
huit années de salaire d’un seul coup couvrant les années effectuées
en prison en Hongrie, et il a même reçu un logement! Tout cela met en
évidence le fait que l’assassinat a été commis sous le patronage, si
ce n’est sous l’ordre, de l’Etat azéri. Pour preuve, le criminel est
récompensé et rétribué pour son acte monstrueux.

A quelles conséquences internationales faut-il s’attendre?

La décision du gouvernement hongrois est pour nous inacceptable.
Budapest ne pouvait pas connaître les vraies intentions de Bakou. La
vérité est que la Hongrie, membre de l’Union européenne, du Conseil de
l’Europe, de l’OTAN, de l’OSCE s’est engagé dans un complot au côté de
l’Azerbaïdjan en vue de justifier l’extradition de l’assassin. De
négociations officieuses, au plus haut niveau, ont été menées pendant
des mois ; les Azéris eux-mêmes le déclarent. Toutes sortes de rumeurs
circulent au sujet d’éventuelles contreparties offertes par Bakou: mon
métier ne consiste pas à les relayer, mais je m’en inquiète.

L’Arménie n’est pas surprise par l’attitude de Bakou, mais s’indigne
de la décision de la Hongrie. Une enquête officielle mettrait en
lumière tous les dessous de cette affaire, mais ses conclusions
pourraient conclure à un véritable scandale.

Faut-il de nouveau craindre la guerre?

Avec un tel style de comportement à Bakou, on n’est jamais à l’abri.
Nous détestons la guerre, mais elle ne nous fait pas peur. Mais, en
l’occurrence, nous assistons à un défi lancé par l’Azerbaïdjan à
l’ensemble de la communauté internationale. La question posée est
simple: est-ce que l’argent du pétrole vaut plus que la morale humaine
et les valeurs fondamentales qui font l’Europe? Nous attendons une
réponse claire de la part de nos partenaires et de la part de la
communauté internationale.

Business Recorder
Sept 8 2012

Last battle for top slot in Chess Olympiad on Sunday

Saturday, 08 September 2012

ISTANBUL: The Open Section in the 40th World Chess Olympiad is heading
towards an exciting finish on Sunday as three teams are entering the
11th and final round with equal points – China, Armenia and Russia.

The top trio got eight wins from ten games with one draw and one loss.

China’s top striker Ding Liren nicely outplayed Alexander Onischuk in
the Rook endgame, and with the other three games being drawn, China
signed an important victory against USA.

Russia assumed a quick lead against Argentina as Diego Flores lost the
wandering Knight right from the opening.

But Argentineans held two draws with white pieces and Sandro Mareco
pressed hard against Dmitry Jakovenko. Mareco was a pawn up but he
couldn’t convert the advantage and the match finally ended in Russia’s
favour.

Armenia achieved a relatively easy win against Netherlands. Levon
Aronian won a nice game against Anish Giri, while Vladimir Akopian
sacrificed a piece for three pawns and proceeded to an endgame where
his phalanx was unstoppable. Armenia won 3-1.

Ukraine leaped ahead to the 4th place thanks to a narrow 2,5-1,5
victory against Azerbaijan. Czech Republic took an early lead with
David Navara’s win, but then the Polish team switched the gear and won
the remaining three games.

As the leaders have already played against each other, in round 11
they are paired with the teams in the lower point groups: Ukraine –
China, Hungary – Armenia and Russia – Germany.

In the Women Section the things are heating up again as the 22nd-seed
Kazakhstan bravely held the leading China to a 2-2 tie.

Women International Master (WIM) Guliskhan Nakhbayeva held the World
Champion Hou Yifan to a draw, while Madina Davletbayeva totally
outplayed Ding Yixin. Zhao Xue could only Russia convincingly defeated
Armenia by 3,5-0,5, as Lilit Galojan was the only player to make a
draw for her team.

Russia is now even with China in the term of match points, while China
still holds some edge in the tie-break.

Ukraine narrowly beat Poland 2,5-1,5, with Natalia Zhukova bringing
the key point, and is now in serious contention for one of the
medals.even up the score with a victory against Gulmira Dauletova.

>From the other matches, it should be noted that the 2011 World Junior
Champion Deysi Cori beat the top-rated player in the Section, Anna
Muzychuk (2606), as Peru defeated Slovenia by 2,5-1,5.

Top round 11 matches are Russia vs Kazakhstan, Bulgaria vs China,
Ukraine vs Germany and France vs India.

Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
IWPR Caucasus Reporting #656
Sept 8 2012

Axe-Murderer Pardon Hardens Azeri, Armenian Attitudes

Celebrations in Baku and outrage in Yerevan as convicted killer is
welcomed back to Azerbaijan.

By Shahin Rzayev, Naira Melkumyan – Caucasus

Hungary’s decision to repatriate an Azerbaijan officer convicted of
murdering an Armenian studying on the same course abroad has caused
outrage in Armenia, worried foreign diplomats and baffled analysts.

In 2004, Safarov killed Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan with an axe
at a NATO school in Hungary where they were both studying English.

Convicted by a Hungarian court, Safarov was sentenced to life in 2006.
On August 31, however, he was sent back to Azerbaijan on the
understanding, Hungarian officials said, that he would serve out his
sentence there.

Instead, Safarov received a pardon from Azerbaijan’s president Ilham
Aliyev when he arrived in Baku. On arrival, he was welcomed by Defence
Minister Safar Abiyev, promoted to the rank of major, awarded a new
flat and given 45,000 manats – about 57,000 US dollars – in army back
pay for the eight years he spent in prison.

In Armenia, an enraged President Serzh Sargsyan immediately suspended
diplomatic ties with Hungary, accusing the country of betraying
justice in exchange for a loan from Azerbaijan.

Russia, France and the United States, the three countries that act as
the OSCE’s Minsk Group intermediaries in the long-running
Armenian-Azerbaijan stand-off over Nagorny Karabakh, expressed
disquiet at the decision, saying it could endanger the already fragile
peace in the region.

`We are expressing our deep concern to Azerbaijan regarding this
action and seeking an explanation. We are also seeking further details
from Hungary regarding the decision to transfer Mr. Safarov to
Azerbaijan,’ US State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said. `We
condemn any action that fuels regional tensions.’

His comments were echoed closely in Russia, which expressed `deep
concern’. Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said, `We
believe that these actions by Azerbaijan, as well as those of the
Hungarian authorities, run counter to efforts agreed to at
international level… to reduce tension in the region.’

President Aliyev offered only a brief explanation of the pardon,
saying merely that it was in line with national legislation.

Azerbaijani defence ministry spokesman Eldar Sabiroglu went further in
a statement referring to Safarov’s release as a `victory for justice
and Azerbaijani diplomacy’. Sabirov accused the `enemy’ – Armenia – of
responding with `hysterics’.

Most Azerbajanis appeared delighted by their government’s decision.
When Safarov’s return was announced, crowds of young people gathered
to celebrate in parks and streets in the centre of Baku.

In the Akhundov garden, near the city mayor’s office, a dozen young
men waving flags and holding pictures of Safarov chanted anti-Armenian
slogans while police looked on.

`I think it’s absolutely right that Ramil was freed,’ said Iskander
Atazade, one of the students out celebrating. `I don’t consider him a
hero, but he repaid a small part of a very big debt.’

In Armenia, the reaction was one of fury.

A small group of protesters gathered outside the Hungarian embassy,
hurling tomatoes and shouting abuse.

Protesters suggested that Safarov had been prompted to carry out the
killing by the `massive anti-Armenian propaganda spread by the
authorities’ as the Karabakh dispute unfolded.

`By issuing a pardon this, the Azerbaijani state is officially
admitting that it does not regard the murder of Armenians as a crime,’
Gagik Baghdasaryan, a history teacher in Yerevan, said.

Widespread criticism of Armenia’s foreign ministry for failing to
block Safarov’s repatriation was cut short when President Sargsyan
announced that ties with Budapest were being cut.

`With this decision, they [Hungary and Azerbaijan] have sent a message
to murderers that murder committed for religious or ethnic reasons can
go unpunished,’ he said. `I cannot tolerate this. The Republic of
Armenia cannot tolerate it. The Armenian people will not forgive it.’

Richard Giragosian, head of the Centre of Regional Studies in Yerevan,
said the real danger coming out of the Safarov case was that it risked
reigniting conflict.

`The likelihood of a resumption of war has increased. You have to
understand that Azerbaijan has become unpredictable – you have to
expect anything from a country that can forgive murder,’ he said.

In Azerbaijan, Hikmet Hajizade, a former ambassador to Russia who now
heads the Far Monitoring think-tank, said any change in the dynamics
had to be an improvement.

`The talks process is at a dead-end and all these meetings of
presidents, the Minsk Group and so on are no more than a pretence,’ he
said. `The Safarov case might at least give an electric shock to the
process and bring this half-dead body out of a coma. In any case,
nothing could be worse than what we have now.’

Azerbaijanis who follow the foreign media were concerned that granting
Safarov a pardon had badly damaged their country’s reputation.

`This is what happens when the public isn’t allowed to do anything.
They are angry,’ said Khadija Ismailova, a journalist with Radio
Liberty. `I think Safarov did something terrible. He created lots of
problems for Azerbaijan. But people who are victims of occupation
think he is a hero because he did something. He acted wrongly, but he
did act. `

Tom de Waal, a veteran observer of the South Caucasus now at the
Carnegie Endowment in Washington, was baffled as to what might have
prompted Aliyev to take what he called a `deeply provocative’ step.

`It is a worrying indication of the quality of advice that President
Ilham Aliyev is receiving from his inner circle,’ he wrote in a
comment piece for the BBC. `Over the past few years, the government in
Baku has spent tens of millions of dollars of its new oil revenues
promoting the image of Azerbaijan as a new, modernising, dynamic
country. The effect has been quite successful, with results ranging
from Azerbaijan joining the UN Security Council to Baku hosting
feel-good events such as the Eurovision Song Contest.

`All that PR work now has to contend with a contrary image of the
government welcoming home an axe-murderer.’

As for Hungary, officials insisted they had received firm promises
from Azerbaijan that Safarov would see out his term. Armenians,
however, pointed to news reports a week before his release that
Budapest – hard hit by financial crisis in Europe – was looking to
borrow money from Azerbaijan.

Responding to rumours that it had investments in Hungary, the State
Oil Fund of Azerbaijan issued a statement denying that it held
securities or other financial instruments in that country.

Shahin Rzayev is IWPR’s Azerbaijan country director. Naira Melkumyan
is a freelance journalist in Armenia.

Times of Malta
Sept 8 2012

Sub Sarkisov hits winner to down low-key Malta

Saturday, September 8, 2012 by
Kevin Azzopardi, National Stadium

Malta 0
Armenia 1
Sarkisov 71

In a group replete with strong footballing nations like Italy, the
Euro 2012 runners-up, Denmark and the Czech Republic, Armenia are
arguably the weakest team other than Malta.

That is not to say that Armenia are easy opponents as their rise in
the FIFA rankings in the last few years has been nothing short of
remarkable but, in the eyes of many, last night’s opening World Cup
qualifier against the former Soviet republic heightened hopes of a
positive start by the national team to this campaign.

Such optimism had also been fuelled by back-to-back friendly wins over
Luxembourg and San Marino in Pietro Ghedin’s first two games in charge
in his second stint as Malta coach but Armenia were a different
proposition yesterday.

They dictated matters for long swathes and it was only the stoic
defending of the likes of Andrei Agius and Luke Dimech and the fine
showing of keeper Andrew Hogg that prevented the visitors from a more
emphatic victory.

Indeed, Malta’s defiance at the back was the only bright note on an
otherwise disappointing evening for the hosts.

The team did their best to heed Ghedin’s instructions to try and pass
their way through rather than resort to long balls but the red-shirted
players were devoid of cohesion, particularly in midfield where Daniel
Bogdanovic and Andrew Cohen, the wide men, and Andre Schembri were
peripheral figures.

This below-par showing will have left Ghedin in no doubt as to the
magnitude of the task facing his team in an intimidating Group B where
a daunting clash against Italy in Modena awaits Malta next Tuesday.

On the occasion of FIFA Fair Play Day, Michael Mifsud and Sargis
Hovsepyan, captains of Malta and Armenia respectively, made a
declaration, pledging to play fair and according to the rules.

Ghedin’s selection showed one change from the friendly win against San
Marino last month as experienced defender Dimech received the nod
ahead of Ryan Camilleri.

Dimech, who returned to the national fold for the warm-up game against
Liechtenstein last February after a lengthy absence, partnered Agius
in central defence as Jonathan Caruana was kept in reserve.

With Clayton Failla unavailable, Ghedin switched Alex Muscat to
left-back with Steve Borg patrolling the right flank.

The two central midfield slots were occupied by Roderick Briffa and
Gareth Sciberras as Bogdanovic and Cohen played on the wing with
Schembri detailed to probe for openings behind Mifsud, our lone
striker.

Armenia’s tactical module was similar to that of Malta with Yuran
Movsisyan leading the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Five minutes into the game, Marcos Pinheiro Pizzelli profited from a
miscued clearance by Dimech but his effort was blocked.

Malta’s first notable chance came courtesy of Briffa whose central
drive from outside the box posed no trouble to Grevorg Kasparov, the
Armenia goalkeeper.

Armenia were the brighter side in the early exchanges.

They threatened to break the deadlock on 18 minutes when Henrikh
Mkhitaryan, who had gone close with a rising effort, surged forward on
the left before driving in a low cross that reached Levon Airapetian
at the far post. He steadied himself before hitting a shot that
whistled past the upright.

On the eve of the match, Ghedin had emphasised the importance of
making good use of possession but his charges were finding it hard to
pass the ball around with a modicum of precision with the consequence
that their attacking threat was negligible.

Not so can be said of Armenia who were quick to break forward every
time they had the ball.

Hogg did well to beat away a dangerous corner by Pizzelli.

In a rare Malta counter-attack, Sciberras sent Bogdanovic running
through on the right with a superb pass and the latter’s attempt to
cross the ball to Mifsud was deflected over the bar by Hrayr Mkoyan.

Close to the half-hour, Armenia were unlucky not to take the lead.

Movsisyan released Pizzelli and the latter mustered a fierce shot that
ricocheted off the near post and onto the leaping Hogg. The ball
soared tantalisingly towards goal but Muscat ran back and hooked the
ball away.

With Malta unable to stem the tide, Armenia stayed in control.

They threatened again when the ball reached Mkhitaryan in the six-yard
box but Borg made a providential tackle to dispossess the Armenia
winger.

Boos echoed around the stadium when Austrian referee Rene Aisner
ignored Malta’s claims for a penalty after the sprinting Mifsud
appeared to have been pushed to the ground as he tried to latch on to
Cohen’s inviting pass after the Hibs livewire had tricked his way past
two defenders.

Five minutes into the second half, Dimech caught the eye with a timely
intervention to block Mkhitaryan’s angled drive after the Armenia
winger had made headway inside the Malta box.

Moments later, Hogg thwarted Armenia as he smothered away Aras
Ozbiliz’s long-range strike.

At the restart, Malta were again forced to play second fiddle to the
Armenians who were quicker on the ball and brisk in their movement,
especially in midfield.

It took Malta 16 minutes of the second half to create a chance. Mifsud
twisted and turned in the opponents’ box before delivering a low ball
for Schembri but he was closed down by two Armenia players.

Malta’s resistance was breached with 19 minutes left when Movsisyan
drove towards the byline down the left before picking out substitute
Artur Sarkisov who beat Hogg from close range.

Ghedin made his first substitution 15 minutes from time, throwing on
Ryan Fenech for Cohen.

Fenech’s first contribution was to deliver a looping left-wing cross
which was diverted away for a corner.

As the minutes ticked away, Malta’s hopes of an equaliser receded
amidst Ghedin men’s troubles to find some sort of fluidity in their
play.

Armenia came close to increasing their lead through Mkhitaryan whose
initial effort, following a set-piece pass from Ozbiliz, took a
deflection and drifted just wide of the near post.

The Armenian winger was then foiled by Hogg who parried away his
powerful effort from inside the box.

At the other end, Borg’s effort from a wide position was stopped by
the visitors’ goalkeeper.

In stoppage time, Hogg was prominent again when palming away a
menacing ball by Sarkisov from the right.

Malta: A. Hogg, A. Muscat, G. Sciberras, A. Agius, L. Dimech, D.
Bogdanovic, R. Briffa (86 S. Bajada), M. Mifsud, A. Cohen (75 R.
Fenech), A. Schembri, S. Borg.

Armenia: G. Kasparov, S. Hovsepyan, R. Arzumanyan (80 V. Aleksanyan),
H. Mkoyan, A. Yedigaryan (53 D. Manoyan), H. Mkhitaryan, K. Lazarian,
L. Airapetian, A. Ozbiliz, M. Pizzelli (65 A. Sarkisov), Y. Movsisyan.

Referee Rene Aisner (Austria).

Yellow cards Sciberras; Mkoyan; Dimech; Hovsepyan.

Attendance 3,800.

Malta Players’ Ratings

Hogg-7.5, Muscat-6.5, Sciberras-6, Agius-7, Dimech-6.5, Bogdanovic-5,
Briffa-5.5, Mifsud-5, Cohen-6, Schembri-5, Borg-6.

Aftermatch comments…

National coach Pietro Ghedin lamented the way his team conceded Artur
Sarkisov’s goal yesterday, adding Malta had played almost at a par
with their more-quoted opponents yesterday.

`Armenia have great potential but it’s a pity we lost this way because
the lads were rarely second best tonight.

`In the end, we got punished for one of the few mistakes we committed.
In my opinion that was a soft goal they scored and we should have
never let that to happen.

`It’s hard to lose this way but that’s football.’

Malta’s next match will be in Modena on Tuesday against group favourites Italy.

`We have a couple of days to reflect. But Italy will be an-other
story. There’s room for improvement but we shall not let this upset
affect the team’s preparations for the next group match.’

Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)
September 7, 2012 Friday

NATO seeks closer ties with Azerbaijan

| BRUSSELS, Sept 7 (KUNA) — NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh
Rasmussen commended Azerbaijan for its progress in defence reforms and
called for closer security cooperation during his first visit to the
country on Friday, said a NATO statement.

Rasmussen thanked Azerbaijan for its participation in the NATO-led
mission in Afghanistan and relayed the Alliance’s appreciation for the
country’s additional support given to NATO operations, through over
flight and transit lines. Azerbaijan is also helping to fund the
training of Afghan security forces. Rasmussen also expressed his
appreciation to Azerbaijan’s intention to continue to support
Afghanistan after the ISAF mission ends in 2014.

“Our relations are developing steadily and positively,” the Secretary
General said after talks with President Ilham Alyiev. Azerbaijan is a
“valuable partner for NATO,” and stressed that the Alliance was
determined to build closer ties.

The NATO chief also raised the issue of regional stability in a speech
to the Azeri Diplomatic Academy. He urged Azerbaijan and Armenia to
reconcile. “The only way forward is through dialogue, compromise, and
cooperation,” he said. (end) nk.ajs KUNA 071834 Sep 12NNNN

ITAR-TASS, Russia
September 7, 2012 Friday 03:46 PM GMT+4

Armavia intention to refuse from SSJ-100 not to affect SSJ project

VLADIVOSTOK September 7

Head of the United Aircraft Corporation Company ProfileMikhail
Pogosyan believes that the intentions of the Armenian air company
Armavia to refuse from operating the medium-haul airplanes Sukhoi
Superjet-100 (SSJ-100) will not affect the SSJ-100 project in general.

“There are no reasons for serious concerns on this issue. We are
dealing with Armavia, as long as we deal with it, we will tell you
everything,” he said on the sidelines of the APEC summit.

The head of the United Aircraft Corporation Company Profileadded that
the situation of the Armenian air company deserves attention, because
it turned out to be on the verge of bankruptcy. Meanwhile, he noted
that the airplane has been operated only for a year, and this is not
enough to make definite conclusions. As far as the SuperJet air crash
in Indonesia is concerned, “two people have made a mistake,” Pogosyan
underlined.

Moskovsky Komsomolets, Russia
Sept 5 2012

HUNGARY: I AM NOT GUILTY!

The “broad” gesture may become the beginning of a new war

by Elena Gamayun, Elena Borisova

BY ITS IRRESPONSIBILITY HUNGARY ACTUALLY PUT THE TRANSCAUCASIAN REGION
ON A VERGE OF A NEW WAR; The broad gesture of Hungary that extradited
Ramil Safarov, killer of an Armenian officer, to Azerbaijan (he was
immediately pardoned there and also treated very kindly) became the
stone that might cause an avalanche in international policy. It
threatened not only the Armenian-Hungarian relations but also the
beginning dialog of Armenia with turkey, the fate of the negotiation
process on Nagorno-Karabakh and even interaction of countries inside
of the CIS.

The broad gesture of Hungary that extradited Ramil Safarov, killer of
an Armenian officer, to Azerbaijan (he was immediately pardoned there
and also treated very kindly) became the stone that might cause an
avalanche in international policy. It threatened not only the
Armenian-Hungarian relations but also the beginning dialog of Armenia
with turkey, the fate of the negotiation process on Nagorno-Karabakh
and even interaction of countries inside of the CIS.

The bureau for coordination of struggle against organized crime and
other dangerous kinds of crime on the territories of the CIS countries
found itself in a difficult situation. Meeting of the council of
interior ministers of the CIS countries will take place in Baku
between September 6 and 8 to discuss changing of the chair of the
council for the next year. The problem is that Armenia is the chain in
the council now and according to regulations of the council rotation
is done according to the Latin alphabet. This meant that at this
council Armenia had to transfer its powers of the chair to Azerbaijan.
However, the Armenian delegation already reported that because of the
actions of Baku it would not take part in the meeting of the council
and would not transfer the powers of the chair to Azerbaijan too. Head
of the police of Armenia reported that he would hand these powers over
to the Interior Minister of Russia. Thus, it will be up to Russia to
find a way out.

NATO is another structure that has “suffered” in this conflict. NATO
Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is going to arrive to Yerevan.
It is already clear that behavior of Hungary, a NATO member, will
become the main topic of communication with President Sargsian. We
should not forget that the fact of the cruel murder took place at the
training courses of the alliance in the framework of Partnership for
Peace program in Budapest. Hungary was very upset then that the evil
deed of Safarov cast a shadow not only on the country but also on the
NATO structures that failed to provide security for participants of
the partnership program. Now the shadow grew to an indecent size
because a NATO country actually contributed to liberation of the
killer. The Armenian party also reported that Turkey, another NATO
country, took an active part in negotiations between Azerbaijan and
Hungary about extradition of Safarov. This circumstance shows that
some sub-alliances are formed inside of the alliance with their narrow
geopolitical interests, which is not very good for the NATO image.

Possible participation of Turkey in the extradition will not be
beneficial for the already complicated Armenian-Turkish relations. For
instance, the Foreign Minister of Armenia already announced that
participation of Turkey in the negotiation process on Nagorno-Karabakh
was impossible and negotiations on this issue were impossible now at
all.

The action of Hungary also hinders relations of Armenia with the EU.
Armenian politicians already expressed discontent with the fact that
European structures did not react to the accident duly. Almost five
days passed since the moment of the “heroic” return of Safarov to the
native country but only the US, Russia and France characterized this
event negatively. Along with this, Hungary declared protest to the
Ambassador of Azerbaijan too saying that Baku simply deceived it.
During the negotiations about extradition it was said that Safarov
sentenced to lifelong imprisonment would be put to prison after
arrival to Azerbaijan. The Foreign Ministry of Hungary stated that it
was a shock for them that Safarov was not only released but was also
given a new apartment, a title of a major and a new post in the armed
forces of Azerbaijan. However, this “regret” is only an indicator of
professionalism of the Foreign Ministry of Hungary. In case of due
studying of the issue it was possible to guess that Azerbaijani
authorities would hardly imprison the person whom they proposed to
make “hero of Azerbaijan.”

[Translated from Russian]