Author: Maghakian Mike

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION’S REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD VISIT NAGORNO-KARABAKH ONLY VIA AZERBAIJAN – MINISTER

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 19 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / Òrend corr K. Ramazanova / The representatives
of the international organizations should visit Nagorno-Karabakh
exclusively via the Azerbaijani territory, the Azerbaijan Foreign
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on 18 December, when commenting on
O’Hara’s possible visit to Nagorno-Karabakh via Armenia. "All the
international organizations recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as a part of
the Azerbaijan, therefore any visit must be paid to the region only
via Azerbaijan," he said.

According to the Minister, Azerbaijan raised the issue to the co-chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group. The representatives of any international
organizations should visit Nagorno-Karabakh via Azerbaijan, except
of that of the chairs.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988 due to the Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, the Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven neighbouring
districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire
agreement which ended the active hostilities. The Co-Chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding
the peaceful negotiations.

Although the Minks Group had made the different suggestion, Armenia did
not turn down its non-constructive position. The last time in November,
the co-chairs had made the written suggestions to the conflicting
sides. Presently the two countries are considering the suggestions.

–Boundary_(ID_2T487pA+whEkgC9Wxu21o Q)–

IMPORT OF BIRD PRODUCTS FROM RUSSIA INTO ARMENIA TEMPORARILY BANNED

Noyan Tapan
Dec 19, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. In connection with frequent
outbreaks of bird flu in Rostov region (Russia), the import of live
birds, poultry, eggs and egg powder has been temporarily banned from
Russia into Armenia since December 13. The deputy head of the State
Food and Veterinary Inspection of the RA Ministry of Agriculture
Gevorg Tovmasian told NT correspondent that bird flu cases were
detected in some Russian cities as long ago as in the summer, and
the import of poultry from these cities into Armenia has been banned
since September 10.

The import of poultry into Armenia has been banned from another
six countries (in addition to Russia): Poland, Bangladesh, China
(Chingshu province), Saudi Arabia, Benin and Myanma. G. Tovmasian
said that constant preventive measures against bird flu are being
taken in Armenia. According to him, there is 24-hour control at
the border check-points to prevent the import of poultry from the
indicated countries.

G. Tovmasian said that after cases of foot-and-mouth disease of neat
cattle were registered in the UK, the import of meat products from
this country has been banned since August 8.

APPLICATION FEES FOR NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS TO INCREASE ON JANUARY 1, 2008

armradio.am
19.12.2007 15:46

Effective January 1, 2008, the application fee for a US nonimmigrant
visa will increase from $100 to $131. This increase allows the
US Department of State and the US Embassy Yerevan to recover the
costs of security and other enhancements to the non-immigrant visa
application process.

Applicants who paid the prior $100 application fee before January
1 will be processed only if they are scheduled and appear for a
visa interview before January 31. Applicants who paid the prior
$100 application fee and appear for visa interviews after January
31, 2008 must pay the difference — $31 — before they will be
interviewed. They can pay this difference of $31 at the consular
section of the U.S. Embassy on the day of their scheduled interview.

The U.S. Department of State is required by law to recover the
cost of processing non-immigrant visas through the collection of the
Machine-Readable Visa application fee. Because of new security-related
costs, new information technology systems, and inflation, the $100
Machine-Readable Visa fee is lower than the actual cost of processing
non-immigrant visas. In fact, the $100 fee was already lower than
the cost of processing non-immigrant visas when the fee was reviewed
as a part of the cost of service study in 2004. The Department of
State has been absorbing the additional cost. We are now collecting
10 fingerprints from each applicant, and the cost charged by the
FBI to review those fingerprints no longer allow us to do this. The
application fee has increased twice since 9/11, the last time in 2002.

US DENIES BACKING TURKEY PKK RAID

BBC
KarabakhOpen
17-12-2007 10:17:26

The Turkish military said only "terrorist" targets were targeted The
US has denied it gave permission for Turkish aircraft to carry out
air strikes against Kurdish PKK separatist rebels in northern Iraq
on Sunday.

The US embassy in Iraq said commanders had not approved the attacks,
but had been informed before they took place.

Iraqi officials said the bombs hit 10 villages near the border,
killing one woman. The PKK reported seven deaths.

Iraq later summoned the Turkish ambassador and demanded a halt to
the strikes, saying they were unacceptable and could seriously harm
relations between the two countries.

Turkey has regularly targeted the PKK inside Iraq in recent months,
but this is thought to be the first fighter jet raid outside its
own territory.

‘Informed’

The Turkish military said its air strikes on Kurdistan Workers’ Party
(PKK) bases deep inside northern Iraq were launched at 0200 on Sunday
(2300 GMT Saturday).

During an operation lasting three hours, targets were hit in Zap,
Hakurk and Avasin, as well as areas in the Kandil mountains. Turkish
media reports said up to 50 planes were involved in the operation.

The Turkish military said only "terrorist" targets were hit, but
the PKK said five of their fighters and two civilians were killed,
while local Iraqi officials said 10 villages were attacked and one
woman killed.

Afterwards, Turkey’s most senior general, Gen Yasar Buyukanit, said
the US had given "intelligence" that aided the operation.

"But what is more important is that the United States last night
opened northern Iraqi airspace to us. By doing that, the United States
approved the operation," he said.

A US embassy official asked to comment on the general’s remarks said US
military commanders had merely known the raid was going to take place.

"We have not approved any decision, it is not for us to
approve. However, we were informed before the event," the official
told the Associated Press news agency.

The US has urged Turkey to step back from a major operation against
the PKK in northern Iraq because it fears military action could
destabilise what has become one the most peaceful and prosperous
regions of the country.

‘Success’

The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, hailed the raids a
"success" and said his government was determined to use all political
and military means, both inside and outside Turkey, against the PKK.

Ankara toughened its line against the group after a spate of rebel
attacks inside Turkey that prompted widespread calls for action.

In October, Turkey’s parliament voted to allow the military to launch
operations into Iraq to combat the PKK, which had stepped up attacks
in Turkey.

Ankara has massed up to 100,000 troops near the mountainous border
with northern Iraq, backed by tanks, artillery and warplanes.

As many as 3,000 PKK members are believed to be based inside northern
Iraq.

Turkey has accused the local Kurdish authorities of supporting them.

THEATRES AND MUSEUMS UNDER "STRONG" ROOF

Panorama.am
22:46 13/12/2007

The executive body disposed 72283.4 thousands drams to the ministries
of culture and town-planning from the reserved budget. According to
the information and public relations department of the government the
decision is conditioned by state aid to "Opera and Bullet National
Academic Theatre named after Al. Spendiaryan". Note that it was
necessary to redistribute the financial means because of the several
changes rose.

According to the decision the economized money will be used in
restoring the roofs of the museum of history, the museum of Hovhannes
Tumanyan, and national academic theatre named after G. Sundukyan. And
several other cultural monuments will be restored with the money.

THE FORMER AUTHORITIES PREPARING TO INSTIGATE CONFLICTS
Kima Yeghyazaryan

Hayots Ashkharh
Dec 14 2007
Armenia

After "National Unity" made a decision (in a November 27 Session)
to participate in the presidential elections with a candidate of
its own, the members of the Armenian pan-National Movement began an
unprecedented campaign of compromise against A. Geghamyan. In a press
conference convened yesterday, NU leader ARTASHES GEGAMYAN touched upon
the accusations and charges addressed to him by the former authorities.

"The developments we see today come to prove that everything is being
done with the purpose of unleashing a civil war in Armenia either
during or after the presidential elections. It is already obvious,
and the former authorities are the advocates of it. They already
realize that they have absolutely no chances for obtaining at least
5-6 per cent of votes; that’s why they instigate civil conflicts,"
A. Geghamyan announced.

Based on the information he possessed, the former authorities are
preparing to instigate disorder on February 19, the day when the
voting is to take place. "We have information that relevant people
will be provoked into organizing acts of disorder in 400-500 electoral
precincts on the voting day. To organize hue-and-cry, to enable their
recommended international structures to interfere in the process,"
he mentioned, disclosing some details of the scenario prepared by
the Armenian pan-National Movement.

And before that, "the former authorities will probably use the foreign
and local press to disseminate false and compromising information in
the address of both the Opposition and the authorities. On top of all,
people may really be stunned by the information published. All that
is being prepared; the relevant players exist."

According to A. Geghamyan, the fact that "National Unity" is the main
target of the former authorities is not at all accidental. Apart from
having no compromising argument against A. Geghamyan, the Armenian
pan-National Movement is unable clear itself of blood.

"After 1990 it never managed to find any compromising argument against
me. Because they never managed to clear themselves of the blood
that so many innocent people shed in the railway station and then
in Sovetashen on May 27, 1990," Mr. Geghamyan announced, reminding
of the May 27 incidents when innocent people died as a result of the
provocation organized by the Armenian pan-National Movement.

As one of the newspapers supporting the Armenian pan-National Movement
reported yesterday, Head of the NU Gavar subdivision was severely
bitten by the Head of the Yerevan Police Department in the presence of
A Geghamyan. And following the rules of the demonstrations organized
near "Nairi" cinema, the newspaper used an indecent word to estimate
A. Geghamyan’s conduct.

In response, the NU leader mentioned that he was not absolutely
surprised by the "Armenian pan-National Movement’s conduct of
compromising people through lies, fraud and blackmail." Especially
when they are well-aware of who their authors are, what kind of people
the members of the Armenian pan-National Movement were before coming
to power, and what the distinguishing features of their own life were.

"Now they are talking about dignity; they are talking about "Nairi"
cinema. It looks as though those people were handing back the empty
bottles of the beer we had drunk in "Nairi" cinema and exchanging
them for beer. And they will say, ‘Geghamyan spoke again.’ This is
who they were. And now they have become a chatterbox and are talking
about anyone they want. What Mher Sedrakyan (the community governor
of Erebuni) said was quite right. They used to swim in Tokhmakh river
and the best job they could give those people was to stand guard for
their clothes, and now "they come to speak about the impoverished
districts and gossip anyone. They don’t even know the town of Yerevan".

Mr. Geghamyan mentioned that he wouldn’t have sunk to the level of the
former authorities and wouldn’t have contradicted them, but he had to,
because during the meeting with LTP it was the ex-President and his
team members that violated the agreement on "mutual correctness".

PM SARGSYAN: EUROPEAN INTEGRATION IMPORTANT FOR ARMENIA’S DEVELOPMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.12.2007 15:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During a visit to Strasbourg, Armenia’s Prime
Minister Serzh Sargsyan met with Council of Europe Secretary General
Terry Davis, the RA government’s press office said.

"The policy of integration into European structures is significant
for Armenia’s development. Democratic and structural reforms keep in
line with the spirit and logic of the European model of development,"
PM Sargsyan said.

For his part, Mr Davis praised frequent visits of Armenian top
officials and meetings in the Council of Europe. "These facts represent
a good possibility for active and practical discussion of cooperation
prospects," he said.

The parties also referred to the upcoming presidential elections
and stressed the importance of holding them in compliance with
international standards.

POLICE CONSPIRACY RUMORS PROMPT TURKEY TO RE-PROBE CHRISTIAN MURDERS
By Jennifer Gold

Christian Post
Dec 12 2007

An investigation has been launched in Turkey to look into possible
conspiracy between Turkish police and at least one of the suspects in
the brutal murder of three Christians in a publishing house earlier
this year.

An Interior Ministry official said that a pair of senior police
inspectors have been given the task of finding out if any officers
assisted the suspects, according to Fox News.

In April, three Christians were tied up, repeatedly stabbed and had
their throats cut in a Protestant publishing house. The trial of
five men accused of the murders began last month but was adjourned
until Jan. 14 as defense lawyers requested more time to prepare
their arguments.

The investigation was launched after some newspapers alleged that
police had conspired with the killers.

Two suspects, Abuzer Yildirim and Salih Guler, reportedly claimed that
another suspect, Emre Gunaydin, had told them that he had met with
police officials who gave him the locations of Christian churches in
the city.

According to the Turkey-based Radikal newspaper, Yildirim said, "I
asked him (Gunaydin) who are the police chiefs that you are speaking
to, he said: ‘Don’t ask, take it easy."’

Allegations of a police conspiracy also arose following the murder
in January of Hrant Dink, an ethnic Armenian who roused the ire of
Turkish nationalists when he described the killings of Armenians in
the early 20th century as genocide. Turkey has denied such claims.

According to Fox News, some believe the authorities failed to act on
reports of a plot to kill Dink, although no evidence has linked any
government or police officials to Dink’s murder.

There are fears that a "deep state" may exist in which a network
of informers and ex-officials are linked to organized crime that
sometimes targets reformers and other "enemies" of Turkish nationalism.

Furthermore, Christian leaders in the country have expressed concern
that nationalists are promoting hostility against non-Turks and
non-Muslims by exploiting the uncertainty of Turkey’s place in the
world, FoxNews reported.

071212/30435_Police_Conspiracy_Rumors_Prompt_Turke y_to_Re-Probe_Christian_Murders.htm

AREVIK PETROSYAN WAS ELECTED AS VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Dec 10 2007

The four-day sittings of November 12-15 of the National Assembly of the
Republic of Armenia was begun by the endorsement of the decisions and
agendas of the National Assembly, after which the deputies continued to
debate, interrupted during the previous four-day sittings, the bill
on Making Amendments and Addenda to the RA Code on Administrative
Offences.

Presenting the view of the Heritage faction the MP Mrs. Larisa
Alaverdyan said that the faction will present its proposals up to
the second reading. Before that they will stay abstain from voting. Mr.

Ara Babloyan, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs,
Health Care and Environmental Protection of the National Assembly and
Mr. Tatul Hakobyan, Deputy Minister of Healthcare in their concluding
speeches proposed the MPs to present their remarks in written form,
assuring that all the constructive proposals will be included in
the bill.

The election of the Vice-President of the National Assembly was
also debated.

Before nominating the candidate Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President
of the National Assembly said that the Heritage faction addressed
with a request letter to replace the member of the Ad-hoc accounting
committee of the National Assembly Mrs. Anahit Bakhshyan with the MP
Zaruhi Postanjyan.

On behalf of the Prosperous Armenia faction Mr. Aram Safaryan proposed
Mrs. Arevik Petrosyan as a nominee for the vacant post of the Vice
President of the National Assembly. Mr. Raffi Hovhannisyan on behalf
of the Heritage faction proposed the nominee Mrs. Anahit Bahkshyan,
and Mrs. Heghineh Bisharyan proposed as nominee Mrs.

Hranush Hakobyan.

The MP Mrs. Arevik Petrosyan, thanking for nominating on a post
of the Vice President of the National Assembly, according to the
political agreement of the coalition, assured that she will do her
utmost for normal activity of the legislative body, realization of all
those programs which will be executed for the favor of the country
and people and will make all for the justification of trust of the
political forces, proposing and protecting her nominee.

The MP Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan thanking for being nominated, said that
the majority has already made its political decision and that the
post belongs to the Prosperous Armenia faction, hence she refuses to
be a nominee.

The MP Mrs. Anahit Bakhshyan thanked the Heritage faction for
nominating her and for the trust and blamed the majority for the
"bolshevik" style of work, though the political majority also tries
to destroy the positions of the minority, but they always will be an
alternative to them and will call to life their understandings about
democracy, political pluralism and tolerances.

The MP Mr. Edward Sharmazanov reminded that according to the memorandum
of the coalition the PAP faction proposed Mrs. A. Petrosyan’s nominee
who is absolutely worth the post for her experience and skills and
has called on to vote for her.

The MPs Mrs. Larisa Alaverdyan and Mr. Styopa Safaryan called
on for voting Mrs. Anahit Bakhshyan, who has political position,
she is a woman of principle and consistent. According to them the
election is the best way of forming a new political opportunity
for the political majority and minority to make a step to mutual
understanding, mutual trust and for establishing pluralism atmosphere:
to elect a representative of opposition in the authority body of the
National Assembly.

Mr. Vahan Hovhannesyan, Vice President of the National Assembly
highlighted that women nominees are offered in the conditions of
pluralism, reminding that yet from the period of the reforms of the
Constitution the ARFD insisted that the rights of minority should be
strengthened by the Constitution but it should be mutually coordinated,
a sad fact that the very political atmosphere is not matured yet the
mutual trust is achieved only by the preliminary consent. The ARF
faction has an agreement with the coalition, being guided with it
will protect A. Petrosyan’s nominee, she is quite worthy this post
with her knowledge and experience.

Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President of the National Assembly welcomed the
step of the opposition on promoting a candidate, as the process of
election is not less important than the result of the election. The
fact that there will be a woman in the post of the Vice President of
the National Assembly Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President of the National
Assembly considered important. It is symbolical, as our political
life corresponds to that situation when it is possible not to protect
women but to involve them in the most complicated and responsible
works. Mr. Torosyan did not agree with the very view of the opponents,
when political arrangements contradict to democratic processes.

On the contrary "All the processes in the political body are the
results of the political arrangements, if there are no arrangements
that parliament is doomed for chaos. And the political forces
should respect those arrangements," said Mr. Torosyan. The appeal
of opposition to mutual understanding and formation of the new
political culture Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President of the National
Assembly considered acceptableif there are all bases for a similar
image of action, whereas the position of majority is an attribute
of intolerance. Creation of the new political culture, the election
of the candidate of opposition in the structure of supervising
body will be caused by everyday work. Majority having proposed
the nominee from opposition should realize, whether effective and
normal work of the parliament will be promoted, or will pursue other
purposes. The Vice President of the National Assembly should solve
one problem – to provide the natural course of the activity of the
parliament. Mrs. Petrosyan corresponds to the demands of that post
therefore Mr. Torosyan called on to vote for her.

In her final speech the MP Mrs. A. Bakhshyan said that she does not
call to vote for her and even does not expect to be elected, but the
day will come when the role of the political minority will be bigger.

The MP Mrs. A. Petrosyan assured that in case she is elected she
will promote the normal work of the National Assembly. The names of
the two candidates, nominated for the post of the Vice President
of the National Assembly Mrs. Arevik Petrosyan and Mrs. Anahit
Bakhshyan were included in the electoral ballots, and a closed,
secret voting was held. After which Mr. Samvel Nikoyan, Head of the
Add-hoc Counting commission, said that in the results of the voting,
Mrs. Arevik Petrosyan was elected as Vice President of the National
Assembly by the votes:79 for and 13 against.

The National Assembly also debated, submitted through the second
reading, bills on Making Amendments and Addenda to the Criminal
Executive Code of the Republic of Armenia and on Making Addenda and
Amendments to the RA Law on Police Service and on Making Addenda
to the RA Law on Currency Regulation and Currency Control and the
package of the bills proposing amendments to other laws.

Mr. Tigran Torosyan, President of the National Assembly said that
Mr. Armen Melikyan, by the decision of CEC will become a member of
the faction of Prosperous Armenia.

The National Assembly will continue the work of the four-day sittings
at November 13.

PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT BRUSSELS AND STRASBOURG

ARMENPRESS
Dec 10 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: Prime minister Serzh Sarkisian left
December 9 to Brussels, (Belgium) and then he will travel to Strasbourg
(France).

The government press office said Sarkisian’s entourage comprises
education and science minister Levon Mkrtchian, deputy foreign minister
Armen Bayburtian, heads of government departments and other officials.

The press office said the Armenian delegation will arrive in Brussels
on December 9 evening. It said the prime minister is scheduled to
have meetings with heads of a number of Europeans organizations.

On December 10 morning he will meet with EU foreign policy and security
commissioner, Javier Solana, education and research commissioner Janes
Potocnik, chairman of the European People’s Party Wilfrid Matens,
NATO secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Brussels mayor
Fred Tielmans.

On December 11 the Armenian delegation will head to Strasbourg,
where Serzh Sarkisian will meet with the Council of Europe secretary
general Terry Davis, European Parliament president Hans-Gert
Pottering, European Parliament’s foreign relations committee chairman
Jazcek Saryuz-Wolski and EU foreign relations commissioner Benita
Ferrero-Waldner.

The government press office said prime minister Serzh Sarkisian will
give interviews also to Reuters news agency, EuroNews TV channel,
La Stampa and the Financial Times newspapers.