Base Metals first major social insurance tax payer
28-01-2008 11:21:14 – KarabakhOpen
The Base Metals company leads the list of Karabakh-based companies by
the sum of the social insurance tax paid from January 1. The company
has paid 313 059 200 drams to the Social Security Fund.
The second company is Karabakh Telecom with 117 391 200 drams. Artsakh
Energy, Dorojnik, Artsakhgas and Armenian Watch and Jewelry are among
top ten taxpayers.
Russia & CIS General Newswire
January 24, 2008 Thursday 8:35 PM MSK
Moscow should make every effort to solve murder of Armenian national
– Yerevan
YEREVAN Jan 24
The Armenian Foreign Ministry said it hopes the killers of an
Armenian student in Moscow will be punished.
"The Armenian Foreign Ministry hopes that Russian authorities will
make every effort to solve this crime and punish the culprits,"
Armenian Foreign Ministry press secretary Vladimir Karapetian said.
"Unfortunately, we do not possess all of the information," he said.
According to earlier reports, Vladimir Karamdzhian, 20, a student at
the Moscow Automobile and Road Construction Institute (MADI), was
attacked by a group of teenagers and died in hospital.
Karamdzhian died without regaining consciousness at Moscow Hospital
No. 50, law enforcement agencies told Interfax on Thursday. The
attackers stabbed him in the heart.
A criminal case has been opened under Criminal Code Article 105, part
2 (premeditated murder committed by a group). The prosecutor’s
office’s investigation department is conducting the investigation,
the source said.
Two Armenian nationals have been attacked in Moscow in recent years,
and the incidents had triggered a public outcry.
On May 25, 2006, three youths stabbed Artur Sardarian, 19, to the
head and neck. He died of the sustained wounds. The Moscow Regional
Court is conducting a re-trial of the accused.
On September 26, 2007, Armenian MP Tigran Arzakantsian was assaulted,
stabbed and shot. Two suspects were detained during the
investigation. Charges have been brought against them.
PanARMENIAN.Net
UN Sec. Gen. doesn’t approve deployment of EU peacekeepers in Kosovo
26.01.2008 14:06 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ United Nations Secretary-General Ban
Ki-Moon said he can’t support the intention to deploy
EU peacekeeping forces in Kosovo. `The international
community remains deeply divided on Kosovo,’ he said
in Slovenia, RE/RL reports.
The leaders of Kosovo are planning to proclaim
independence in the near future.
The UN Security Council has failed to reach consensus
on the problem so far.
DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL JOHN EDWARDS VOICES SUPPORT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.01.2008 13:28 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Former North Carolina Senator and Democratic
Presidential hopeful John Edwards added his voice to the list of
Presidential candidates calling for passage of the Armenian Genocide
Resolution, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
In his January 24th letter to the ANCA, Sen. Edwards stated that,
"I support the Congressional resolution declaring the massacre of
1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 a genocide."
Edwards went on to note that, "we must also continue to strengthen
our relationship with Turkey, an important democratic ally against the
forces of tyranny in the region." Remarking on U.S.-Armenia relations,
Edwards stated that, "As President, I will prioritize our special
relationship with Armenia and the goal of a lasting peace to Nagorno
Karabakh and the entire region."
As a Senator, John Edwards cosponsored successive Armenian Genocide
Resolutions beginning in 2002. He also supported Section 907
restrictions on U.S. aid to Azerbaijan due to its ongoing blockades of
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. His advocacy on behalf of the family of
17-year-old Nataline Sarkisyan, who died after her insurance company
denied funding for a liver transplant, has been warmly received by
Armenian Americans around the country.
JAN POULSEN THE NEW HEAD COACH OF THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL TEAM
armradio.am
24.01.2008 16:10
During a press conference on January 24 the President of the Football
Federation of Armenia Ruben Hayrapetyan presented the new head coach
of the Armenian national football team Jan Poulsen (Denmark).
Before coming to Armenia Poulsen trained the youth and national teams
of Denmark, Singapore and Jordan. The contract of the 62-year-old coach
expires in May 2010. The new coach is familiar with Armenian football
only though video materials. He is informed about the progress in 2007.
Mr. Poulsen highly assessed the professional skills and the work done
by Ian Porterfield.
IN 2009 ARMENIA MAY MOVE INTO GROUP OF COUNTRIES WITH UPPER-MIDDLE INCOMES
Noyan Tapan
Jan 24, 2008
YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. Nominal GDP made 3 trillion 140.4
billion drams in Armenia in 2007. Per capita GDP made 981 thousand
drams or 2,848.4 USD, the RA minister of finance and economy Vardan
Khachatrian said at the January 24 press conference. According to
him, per capita GDP as expressed in dollars grew 3.3fold compared
with 2003 and 4.8fold compared with 2000.
It was stated that in 2007 Armenia’s real GDP exceeded 1989’s GDP
index by 47%, the 2000 index – threefold.
In his words, Armenia is among countries with low-middle incomes by
its per capita GDP. The minister explained that countries with per
capita GDP of up to 650 USD are considered countries with low incomes,
those with the index of 650-3,611 USD – countries with low-middle
incomes, those with the index of 3,611-11,111 USD – countries with
upper-middle incomes, and countries with per capita GDP of over 11,111
USD are considered as countries with high incomes.
The minister expressed an opinion that in 2009 Armenia may move into
the group of countries with upper-middle incomes.
He said that in 2003 the dollar’s purchasing power parity made 3.3,
while in 2007 it made 3.
DELEGATION OF THE PACE AD HOC COMMITTEE TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN JANUARY 28
armradio.am
23.01.2008 17:10
On January 28 the members of the pre-election mission of the PACE ad
hoc Committee on Monitoring of the Presidential Election in Armenia
headed by John Prescott will arrive in Yerevan.
On January 29 the delegation will have meetings with the Special
representative of the Council of Europe Secretary General Bojana
Urumova and members of the OSCE/ODIHR Observation Mission. At the
National assembly they are expected to meet with NA Speaker Tigran
Torosyan and members of the Armenian parliamentary delegation to PACE.
The same day members of the mission will be received by the President
of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Gagik Harutyunyan and President
of the Central Electoral Commission Gargein Azaryan. The delegation
will also meet with Ambassadors of CoE member states accredited
in Armenia.
January 30 individual meetings with presidential contenders are
expected.
These will be followed by roundtable discussions featuring
representatives of non-governmental organizations and mass media. The
same day the delegation will be received by RA President Robert
Kocharyan.
January 31 the PACE delegation will meet with members of the National
Committee of the Television and Radio Company and the Council of
Public Television and Radio Company of Armenia. The delegation will
be received by RA Foreign Minister Vartan Osknaian and Chief of Police
Hayk Harutyunyan.
The same day the PACE delegates will again meet with CEC President
Garegin Azaryan.
The visits of the pre-election mission of the PACE ad hoc Committee
in Monitoring of the Presidential Election in Armenia will be summed
up with a press conference at the National Assembly.
The delegation will leave Yerevan on February 1st.
ORHAN PAMUK SHOCKED BY SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
Sabah
Jan 23 2008
Turkey
The Supreme Court of Appeals has annulled the decision made by the
local court, rejecting cases opened for damages against a statement
made by Orhan Pamuk.
Pamuk may face another action
The Supreme Court of Appeals has annulled the decision made by
the local court rejecting cases opened against Pamuk’s statement;
"we have killed one million Armenians."
The Supreme Court of Appeals has annulled the decision made by the
local court rejecting actions opened for damages against statements
by Orhan Pamuk. Therefore, now new cases may be opened for damages
caused by a statement by Orhan Pamuk. The plaintiff claimed that
Orhan Pamuk is accusing every person in Turkey with murder by saying
‘we have killed 30 thousand Kurds and one million Armenians.’ The
plaintiff stated: "no one in Turkey can say this out loud." The
Small Claims Court in ªiºli rejected the case by claiming it can
not be considered an attack on personal rights just because one is a
citizen of the Turkish nation. The Supreme Court of Appeals, however,
has now annulled the decision made by the local court.
–Boundary_(ID_HsJeRrCNkdoFbYak8ERsfw)–
THE TIME TO WITHDRAW FROM THE CIRCLE
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir
Jan 18 2008
Armenia
In the Armenian presidential election 2008, besides the ideas and
programs which the presidential candidates present one after another,
brighter than ever, the society also wants to know whether the
reproduction of the government would be so difficult if the first
president of Armenia did not run in the election. Now it is obvious
that the government is worried about his participation. Some people
think this worry is false, and say Levon Ter-Petrosyan is the most
desirable opponent for the government because the ex-president is
vulnerable considering the events that took place during his office
and the memory of the society. Yet some people believe that Levon
Ter-Petrosyan will be the new president of Armenia, and others believe
that for the first time in the past years there will be real struggle
in Armenia, and for the first time the scenario of the government
is endangered.
It is perhaps very difficult to prove or crush each of these opinions
because there are arguments for all the opinions that the government’s
worry is sham, Levon Ter-Petrosyan will win, and the plough of the
reproduction of government has run into a stone.
Therefore, I will avoid this, also because the outcome of the election
on February 19 will not give an answer which of the three or may
be the existing one thousand and three options was true. However,
one thing is obvious that the reality is different, and everyone
understands, realizes and feels this. In this context, one of the
important questions is whether Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s political
activity is the cause of the change of the reality or the change of
the reality enabled him consider returning to politics. At first sight,
the difference may not be considered as essential. A considerable part
of the society will think that Ter-Petrosyan’s return is important
because the society had used every resource for struggle against the
government, and if Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s factor were not activated,
they society would have to obey and rely on the government’s kindness
to make at least one positive move once in five years to make life
attractive and desirable for the society as well.
But perhaps the difference is great whether Ter-Petrosyan has changed
the reality or the change of reality has brought about Ter-Petrosyan.
The first should make us worry along with the excitement. The worry
is that the reality again depends on one person, despite the aims
he pursues, despite the first president’s evaluation of the past,
acknowledgement of mistakes and self-denial to help the society. Even
the good cannot produce quality, if it depends on one person, and if
certainly this one is not God. Meanwhile, Levon Ter-Petrosyan is not
God. The problem is whether the first president’s political activity is
an expression of change of the reality. In other words, Ter-Petrosyan
has returned not because his patience was wearing thin, he could not
bear the injustice but because as an experienced political activist,
he realized the change of reality and decided to become an active
participant of the political process. In this case, the situation,
the prospect of development is much more reassuring because if Levon
Ter-Petrosyan is the expression of the change of the reality, it means
in any case the new reality brings about new inevitable solutions, and
the activity of the first president will be in this context. Meanwhile,
it is more favorable in terms of social development because the persons
brought by a new reality are preferable to a new reality brought by
persons. I do not pretend to answer the dilemma I set forward but I,
nevertheless, pretend to think that the answer should be found and
understood as soon as possible because its influence on the political
developments may be essential. After all, we have been turning round,
and one more circle may be fatal in terms of vertigo.
ARMENIAN MPS PREVENTED FROM EQUATING KOSOVO CONFLICT WITH NAGORNO KARABAKH DURING PACE DEBATES
Azeri Press Agency
Jan 22 2008
Azerbaijan
The issue on election of judges from five countries to the European
Court of Human Rights has been debated today in the plenary session
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). APA’s
European bureau correspondent following the session reports that the
list from Azerbaijan was not put to the vote, as it had been rejected.
The list of the candidates from Turkey, Moldova, Bulgaria, Slovenia
and Latvia has been confirmed. Following this, the parliamentarians
started debating the report prepared by Lord Russell-Johnston
"Developments as regards the future status of Kosovo" (Doc.11472).
Lord Russell-Johnston noted that the solution of the Kosovo status
process is a fundamental element for ensuring peace and long-term
stability in Europe.
Lord Russell-Johnston notes in his report that the positions of
Pristina and Belgrade cannot be reconciled, it creates a long-term
frozen conflict in the Balkans and hinders stability in the region
and Europe.
According to Lord Russell-Johnston, the settlement of the conflict
will not serve as a precedent.
"It is, indeed, a unique situation which I cannot see anywhere else
in Europe," he said.
"I shall repeat my personal view that, in the absence of a mutually
accepted solution, independence is the only viable solution," he said.
Comparing Russia with a bear Lord Russell-Johnston criticized official
Moscow’s position on the problem of Kosovo.
"I can not understand why Russia hinders determination of the status
of Kosovo, while it supports separatist regimes like South Ossetia
and Abkhazia," he said.
Following this, discussions started. Some European parliamentarians
said UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari’s plan is the only viable
solution for the region and Europe. Russian parliamentarian Konstantin
Kosachev protested against Lord Russell-Johnston’s accusations against
official Moscow and regarded his comparison as disrespect.
Armenian Parliamentarian addressing the participants tried to
compare Nagorno Karabakh conflict with Kosovo and wanted to found
similarities. Swiss parliamentarian Dick Marty stated that Kosovo will
be precedent. Ganira Pashayeva, member of Azerbaijani delegation to
PACE noted that this conflict continuing in Europe for a long time
will be solved recently and stated that she is anxious about several
countries’ trying to use Kosovo for their interests. She noted that
Armenian officials and Armenian counterparts’ reports on regulation
of Kosovo conflict can be precedent for the regulations of conflicts
in CIS countries are very regretful.
"Such opinions cause damage to the peaceful negotiations continuing
between Azerbaijan and Armenia. I want to tell Armenian counterparts
and members of assembly that, there is not similarity between Kosovo
conflicts with conflicts in CIS region. They are very different in
their history, reasons and root. Council of Europe, Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe, European Union, UNO officials and
OSCE MG co-chairs announced it several times. New President of PACE
Lluis Maria de Puig stated the same opinion in the press conference
yesterday," she said. Ms. Pashayeva noted that Nagorno Karabakh
conflict occurred due to Armenians’ occupying 20 % of Azerbaijani
territories. She stressed that, 7 Azerbaijani regions, as well as
Nagorno Karabakh is under control of Armenia. She noted that Armenia
pursued ethnic cleansing policy in occupied regions and that there
is not even one Azerbaijani there.
These issues are clearly shown in resolution 1416 along with UN
resolutions. I can enumerate some facts, but I think these are enough
to show to my Armenian counterparts that Kosovo and Nagorno Karabakh
are different conflicts. Nagorno Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia
conflicts which are lasing for years impede establishment of stability
and security in South Caucasus. The solution of the conflicts is
necessary for each of us. To our regret, Armenia does not fulfill
UN and PACE resolutions on the solution of the conflict, does not
withdraw occupied Azerbaijani territories. Armenian representatives
make such statements which serve to straining situation. We ask
leadership of Council of Europe and Parliamentary Assembly to comment
strictly against several countries’ delegations’ using debates on the
settlement of Kosovo conflict for their political interests. Though
20% of the regions are under occupation, Azerbaijan prefers
process of negotiations, peace talks. Such statements of Armenian
political figures against such good will should worry international
organizations, including Council of Europe which recommends peaceful
solution to the conflicts," she said.
The other Azerbaijani representative to PACE Gultakin Hajiyeva
called to be careful in the discussions on the further status of
Kosovo. MP noting that it is possible to look for parallels among
existing conflicts stressed that each conflict is unique for its
nature and origin.
Ms. Hajiyeva called on Armenian parliamentarians to refrain from
searching similarities between Kosovo and Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
The discussions continue.