Author: Maghakian Mike

ONE MORE CONGRESSMAN JOINS WORKING GROUP ON AZERBAIJAN

Azeri Press Agency
Feb 5 2008
Azerbaijan

Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz and Bill Shuster sent the letter to
counterparts and invited them to join Working Group on Azerbaijan
in US House of Representatives on January 30, Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry told APA

The letter envisages strategic importance of Azerbaijan, its
cooperation with the US on the struggle against terrorism, Azerbaijan’s
role for exportation of energy recourses of Caspian Sea to world
market, development of US- Azerbaijan interparliamentary relations
and Working Group’s role for giving information to Congressmen about
Azerbaijan and the region. Democratic Congressman Randy Kuhl from
New-York announced that he joined Working Group on Azerbaijan. Number
of members in Working Group reached to 31.

He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2004 and now
represents the 29th Congressional District of New York. He serves on
three House Committees in the 110th Congress and is a member of six
subcommittees: On the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee he
is on the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings,
and Emergency Management and the Subcommittee on Water Resources
and the Environment. On the House Agriculture Committee is serves
on the Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture. On the
Committee on Education and Labor he serves on the Subcommittee on Early
Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education and the Subcommittee on
Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness. He dropped
his name from the list of co-authors of bill on Armenian genocide
presented to the House of Representatives.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS LIMITED IN ARMENIA

Lragir
Feb 1 2008
Armenia

The Human Rights Watch report for 2008 states that in Armenia the
reporters continue to encounter threats in their activities.

Among cases of violence the assault on Hovanes Galajyan, editor of
the Iskakan Iravunk Newspaper, is mentioned. The report also mentions
the arson of the cars of the owner of the Im Iravunk Newspaper and
the founder of panorama.am Ara Saghatelyan, and the founder of the
Football Plus Newspaper Suren Baghdasaryan.

The Human Right Watch report mentions the imprisonment of the editor
of the Yerevan Newspaper Arman Babajanyan, considering the sentence
as too severe.

The report also points to the closure of Gala TV, an independent
channel of Gyumri, for avoiding taxes.

CHAIRMAN OF APNM BOARD ACCUSES AUTHORITIES OF CREATING OBSTACLES TO LEVON TER-PETROSYAN’S CAMPAIGN

arminfo
2008-01-29 20:21:00

ArmInfo. "The authorities of Armenia pose obstacles to the campaign of
Levon Ter- Petrosyan, the first president of Armenia and currently a
presidential contender, by taking our cars to the car pound", Chairman
of Board of the Armenian Pan National Movement Ararat Zurabyan told
ArmInfo correspondent.

He said that Levon Ter-Petrosyan himself and the leaders of the
political forces supporting him actively visit Armenia’s regions. For
instance, they are going to pay a visit to Gegharkunik region on
January 30. "What does it mean to take the cars of the APNM leader
and Chairman of the Republic Party to the car pound? This certainly
means that the authorities do their best to create problems for Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s campaign headquarters. These are purposeful steps
which are a part of their illegal actions", Zurabyan said.

He noted that the drivers of the cars, which are currently at the
car pound, are ready to pay the relevant fines if they have made
any violation.

However, the absurdity of the situation is that these drivers are given
no oral or written clear answers, he said. "They took away the drivers’
licenses first, but then returned them and took no further steps. Each
one is trying to place the responsibility on the superior. Meanwhile,
the authorities simply do not realize what consequences their actions
may have", Zurabyan stressed.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER THANKS RESIDENTS OF ECHMIADZIN FOR CREDENCE GIVEN TO HIM AND REPUBLICAN PARTY

arminfo
2008-01-29 18:31:00

ArmInfo. "During the past parliamentary election I said that if the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) fails to receive the credence of
people, I won’t advance my nominee at the presidential election. I am
very grateful to you for your confidence", Armenian Prime Minister,
Leader of the RPA, and currently a presidential candidate, Serzh
Sargsyan said during a meeting with residents of the town of
Echmiadzin, Armavir region.

"I am deeply convinced that we’ll see a good future and Armenia will
develop faster in the near future", he stressed. According to him,
some candidates suggest that the number of the army should be decreased
to 10-15 thsd. "At the moment the Armenian army defends 1280 km of
borders. Just imagine what will happen to our country if our army
consists of 10 thsd people", Sargsyan said. "We’ll never take such
steps that can weaken the strength of our army", he added. The prime
minister also stressed that the authorities intend to increase army
expenditures, as well as the military servicemen’s salary with every
passing year.

Sargsyan compared the development of the country with a road which
can’t be without obstacles. He assured that Armenians will live better
in 4 years. He added that over the next 20 days many candidates will
come to Echmiadzin and give populist promises. However, he expressed
hope that people themselves will be able to distinguish empty promises
from real ones. Touching upon the black PR, he noted that during the
pre- electoral campaign he is going to defame none of the candidates
not because these candidates’ biography is pearly but because he’ll
focus his attention on the country’s future.

VAHAN HOVHANNISSYAN URGES CITIZENS TO VOTE SECRETLY

armradio.am
30.01.2008 16:04

The presidential candidate from ARF Dashnaktsutyun Vahan Hovhannissyan
summed up today the results of the first ten days of the election
campaign.

According to him, during the visits to the regions of the country,
he revealed that the residents of rural settlements are interested
in the political life, are concerned about the future of Armenia and
are not solving solely daily problems. The presidential candidate
stated that people are particularly concerned about the opportunity
of secret voting.

Vahan Hovhannissyan informed that in the Northern regions of the
country, the electors have been suggested the idea that in the end
Vahan Hovhannissyan will give his votes in favor of the candidate from
the authority, and have been persuaded to vote openly. He stated that
this is "an absolute lie and a legend," and that even in the second
round he is not going to give his votes to any of the candidates,
since he is sure that he will be the one to participate in the second
round. ARF Dashnaktsutyun will not tolerate such attitude towards
the electors and urges all the citizens not to give any promises and
defend their right for secret voting," Vahan Hovhannissyan stated.

The candidate did not agree with the result of public opinion surveys
of international organizations, noting that he does not trust the
agents of those companies, which work in the provinces. He noted
that 170 thousand citizens have already signed agreements with
Dashnaktsutyun and their number continues growing.

Talking about the pre-election campaigns of the rivals, Vahan
Hovhannissyan stated that some of them are extremely passive, but at
the same time, there are candidates, who visit the regions, and the
escort accompanying them, is enough to secure audience for them.

IF SERGE SARGSIAN IS ELECTED PRESIDENT, ARMENIA WILL BECOME A DICTATORIAL STATE, FREEDOM FIGHTER FROM DIASPORA SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jan 30, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian citizens have become the
most tolerant ones today, whereas the same Armenians do not show
tolerance in other countries. "In France, every day people rise for
protection of their rights. I take the view that Armenian citizens
have become used to an atmosphere of fear and for this reason they
submit to everything," Sargis Hatspanian, the coordinator of "Akos"
NGO made this statement on January 30.

(Sargis Hatspanian was born in Turkey, he is a French cistizen and
has lived in Armenia since the early 1990s. He participated in the
Artskah war and runs a business now).

He expressed confidence that in case of Levon Ter-Petrosian’ being
elected president of Armenia, "we will live in a country of the rule
of law", whereas in case of election of Serge Sargsian, Armenia will
become a dictatorial state.

In the words of S. Hatspanian, thanks to L. Ter-Petrosian,
newly-independent Armenia has entered the foreign policy field, while
under the current authorities the country is "undergoing regression,
Armenia is not spoken about abroad, and there is an impression that
there is Armenia in the Caucasus".

As S. Hatsapanian put it, thanks to the "wonderful diplomacy" of
L. Ter-Petrosian, the Artsakh problem was viewed as a problem of
Artsakh and Azerbaijan before 1998. According to him, since 1998,
the problem has been moved to Armenia-Azerbaijan plane.

According to the coordinator of "Akos", today the previous authorities
are accused of adopting a defeatist position on the Artsakh problem,
however, 3 times as many Armenians lived in the liberated territories
during the presidency of L. Ter-Pterosian as they live now. "Thousands
of people have left Artsakh after the war. What has happened that
Karabakh man has left his liberated village and land after victory and
emigrated?," S. Hatsapanian said, adding that now even businessmen
from Artsakh do not want to make investments in Karabakh, and money
for implementing reforms in the country is raised through marathons.

PRIME MINISTER REITERATES HIS PLEDGE TO DOUBLE WAGES, PENSIONS AND GDP

ARMENPRESS
Jan 28, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 28, ARMENPRESS: Prime minister Serzh Sarkisian
reiterated his pledge to make Armenia a different country with better
living conditions, higher wages and retirement pensions if his country
fellows vote for him in the February 19 presidential election.

Addressing a crowd in Yerevan’s Erebuni district on Sunday Serzh
Sarkisian said the core of his program is to build a prosperous
Armenia.

"To make a judgment of a society’s moral standard we need to look at
what it is doing for its younger generation. I offer the concept of a
prosperous, protected Armenia , I propose that we build a country in
which young people will have good opportunities to grow and develop
and in which senior citizens will be protected and secured," he said.

Sarkisian admitted that the biggest problem is to eradicate poverty,
and this could be done with a strong and just state.

"We have a very good ground to build a prosperous Armenia, to at least
double wages, to double the government budget by 2012 and increase
per capita GDP to 7,000 US Dollars," he said.

Serzh Sarkisian said when he had worked as interior and national
security minister in 1996-1999 many government ministers, court judges
and officials were tried and sentenced to different prison terms for
abuse of their powers. He vowed to renew the crackdown on corruption
and pursue the fight for justice.

The same day Sarkisian met also with residents of Nubarashen district
of Yerevan.

LEVON TER-PETROSYAN’S FOLLOWERS DO NOT ACCEPT OTHER OPINIONS

Panorama.am
18:32 28/01/2008

Yesterday Levon Ter-Petrosyan met with people in Agarak, Eghnik,
and Bazmaberd. The people their came to the crossroad and closed it,
they met Ter-Petrosyan with our national Kochari. Ter-Petrosyan talked
with them about the future changes he plans to carry out.

After this meeting he went to Talin.

Before he started his speech, Sargis Karapetyan who participated in
Karabakh war cried "Levon, go away, we won’t vote for you" and tried
to come near the stage.

But the bodyguards and people from Talin did not allow him and took
him far from the meeting place.

"Probably Sargis got some penny from Serzh Sargsyan, but he can never
disturb us," said Ter-Petrosyan and started his speech.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan said that people from Talin accepted him unhappily
in 1996 but "I understand, as the reality then was very sad and the
city was quitted".

Ter-Petrosyan and the participants of the meeting signed oral
agreement, that if "Serzh Sargsyan comes to Talin you should not even
come out from your houses, but some of you can be brought unwillingly,
then stand back to him".

One of the participants said after the meeting, that Ter-Petrosyan
did not say anything about the violation, but everybody has right of
voice and speech.

COURT DECISION ON AZERBAIJANI OFFICER RAMIL SAFAROV UPHELD

Azeri Press Agency
Jan 29 2008
Azerbaijan

Court hearing on the appeal against the decision November 17, 2006 of
Budapest city Court in connection with the incident occurred between
Ramil Safarov, officer of Azerbaijani Army who was sentenced to life
imprisonment for assassinating Armenian lieutenant Gurgen Markaryan
and court supervisors was held today, Azerbaijani Embassy in Hungary
told APA.

The process lasted 2 hours. Public prosecutor~Rs appeal was read,
as he did not attend the court hearing. Public prosecutor asked the
court to aggravate punishment on Ramil Safarov on November 17, 2006.

Hungarian lawyer of our officer Clara Fisher asked court to mitigate
punishment.

Ramil Safarov addressed the process and said that he agrees with the
opinions of the lawyer. Judge Gobor Shomodi publicized the decision
at the end.

Appeals Court made a decision on upholding decision of Budapest city
Court on November 17, 2006 (8-month suspended sentence). Officials of
Azerbaijani Embassy in Hungary also participated in the court hearing.

On April 13, 2006, Budapest city court sentenced Ramil Safarov to
life in prison for murdering Armenian officer Gurgen Markaryan.

Budapest city Appeals Court upheld the decision on February 22, 2007.

Incident between Ramil Safarov and court supervisors occurred on June
19, 2004. Court supervisors wanted Ramil Safarov to give them phone
card, but Safarov did not understand what the court supervisors
want, as he does not know Hungarian, so problem occurred between
them. 8 police handcuffed Safarov and used force to him. Though Ramil
Safarov~Rs lawyers appealed to court after this incident, court said
that there was no motive and therefore the case was cancelled.

Following this, the opposite side petitioned mutually for Azerbaijani
officer’s resisting authority.

SOLANA: WESTERN BALKANS INCLUDING KOSOVO TO BE ACCESSED TO EU

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.01.2008 14:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The EU Troika failed to reach an agreement on
the final status of Kosovo. Neither of the sides was willing to
compromise. Of course, this is regrettable, as a negotiated settlement
remains in the best interest of both parties," said Javier Solana,
the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

"The EU has repeatedly stated that the status quo is unsustainable
and stressed the need to move toward a solution, which is vital for
European and regional stability. Such a solution should ensure a
democratic, multi-ethnic Kosovo’s commitment to the rule of law and
to protection of minorities and cultural and religious heritage. We
understand that Kosovo is mainly a European responsibility as we
believe that Western Balkans, including Kosovo, have their future in
the European Union" he said.

As to the conflicts in the South Caucasus, the EU Commissioner said,
"We will continue supporting international efforts to resolve these
conflicts, including the one in Nagorno Karabakh. We are also ready
to support confidence building measures, as we are already doing in
Georgia. And last but not least, we encourage the countries in the
region to find constructive ways to improve their relations with
their neighbors. Here again, we are ready to help," Trend reports.