Author: Mamian George

TURKEY GOING TO INITIATE DISCUSSION ON FROZEN CONFLICTS IN UN SECURITY COUNCIL

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2008 13:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As a member of the UN Security Council, Turkey
will initiate discussions on frozen conflicts and will promote
implementation of UN Resolutions on the issue, Turkish Ambassador to
Azerbaijan said.

"Turkey organized a trilateral meeting between Foreign Ministers
of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey in New York in September, when a
decision to continue talks was taken," Hulusi Kilic said.

"Soonest resolution of lingering conflicts will help establishment
of peace and security in the region," he added.

SERZH SARGSYAN: ARMENIA STRIVES TO ESTALISH CLOSER RELATIONS WITH EUROPE

Noyan Tapan
Oct 27, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia strives to establish closer
relations with Europe, it attaches great importance to the expansion
of its relations with Europe and expects the assistance and support of
the EU on this path, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan stated during
the October 27 meeting with the EU Special Representative for the
South Caucasus Peter Semneby.

NT was informed by the RA president’s press service that at the meeting
S. Sargsyan and P. Semneby discussed the regional developments,
the Karabakh problem settlement process, and Armenian-Turkish
relations. Noting that Armenia is in favor of a peaceful solution
of the Karabakh problem, S. Sargsyan said that the Armenian side
recognizes the OSCE Minsk Group as a format, while the co-chairs of
the OSCE Minsk Group as mediators.

P. Semneby welcomed Armenia’s initiative and resolution to regulate its
relations with Turkey, saying that the EU will assist with the process
of regulating the relations between the two neighboring countries. He
expressed a high opinion about the creation of a fact-finding group
on the March 1 events, as well as about the involvement of both the
parliamentary and extraparliamentary opposition in the group’s work.

MICHEL ROCARD: THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUST BE RECOGNIZED
Jean Eckian, Paris

Lragir.am
11:30:08 – 27/10/2008

Always fervent supporter of Turkey’s entry in European Union, former
French Prime Minister, Michel Rocard, declared, on October 24, to
the microphone of the " Grand Journal" on French network TV Canal+,
that Europe needed Turkey and the Soviet ex-Republics, in particular
for energy reasons. He however indicated that " it will be necessary
well that Turkey regulates the Cyprus issue and recognizes the Armenian
Genocide". " Turkey knows " , he said.

Former french Prime Minister concluded by saying: "We had also many
difficulties of condemning France of Vichy".

SOCIAL EXPENDITURE MAJOR PART OF ARMENIA’S ON-BUDGET EXPENDITURES NEXT YEAR

ARKA
Oct 27, 2008

YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. Social expenditures will form a major
part of Armenia’s on-budget expenditures, next year, RA Premier Tigran
Sargsyan stated at a discussion of the 2009 draft budget at a joint
meeting of parliamentary commissions.

The share of education, public health and social security will be
47.2% of the total on-budget expenditures next year, he said. The
Premier pointed out that a total of 441bln AMD will be allocated to
the sectors, exclusive administrative expenditures – an increase of
69bln AMD as compared with this year.

The RA Premier also reported that a total of 126bln AMD will be
allocated to the education system – an increase of 23bln AMD or 22.2%
as compared with this year.

"It will allow us to raise the wages of teachers, administrative and
auxiliary personnel," T. Sargsyan said.

Specifically, the rate of teachers’ monthly salaries, inclusive
of salary supplements, will be 116,300 AMD against the current
89,000. The monthly salary of administrative personnel will be raised
up to 176,000 AMD against the current 136,000 AMD.

"We ensure higher rates of increase in the education sector as compared
with the others," T. Sargsyan said.

He reported that a total of 65nlm AMD are budgeted for the health
system – an increase of 11.5bln AMD or 21%.

"Free primary medical service remains a priority for us. The country’s
entire population will be involved, with only dental services to be
free for certain population groups," the Premier said.

T. Sargsyan pointed out that the average monthly salary of medical
personnel will be raised. Specifically, the salary of doctors in
outpatient clinics will be raised up to 93,000 AMD against the current
77,000 AMD, and that of paramedical personnel up to 60,000 AMD against
the current 49,000 AMD.

Hospital doctors will receive 66,000 AMD against the current 51,000
AMD, and the paramedical personnel 52,000 AMD against 42,000 AMD.

Armenia’s on-budget social expenditures are to total 250bln AMD next
year – an increase of 34bln AMD or 16% as compared with this year.

The Premier pointed out that the RA Government will continue raising
the minimum monthly wages, which will reach 30,000 AMD next year –
an increase of 20% and more as compared with this year.

The monthly family allowance will be raised up to 23,600 AMD against
the current 21,000 AMD.

The benefits for the birth of the third and every next child will be
raised as well.

Lump-sum grants for each child will be raised up to 43,000 AMD against
the current 300,000 AMD. Besides, the funds will be provided to all
families, not only to socially vulnerable ones.

A total of 181bln AMD are budgeted for pensions next year – an increase
of 15% as compared with this year.

The average monthly retirement pension will be raised up to 25,500
AMD against 21,800 AMD this year. Officers and their families will
receive 47,000 ANSD – an increase of 10%.

A total of 1.6bln AMD are budgeted for the compensation of deposits
frozen at the Savingsbank against 1.3bln AMD this year.

In 2009, the revenues of Armenia’s consolidated budgeted are to
total 927bln AMD, expenses 967bln AMD, with the budgeted deficit
being 40bln AMD.

The budgeted exchange rate is 302.4 AMD/$1. The budgeted GDP is 9.2%
(10% this year), with the inflation rate being 4% (±1.5%)

–Boundary_(ID_hO0Zj2nNBygIOxv ZZSAC3Q)–

Agence France Presse
Oct 24 2008

New charge reported in Turkish-Armenian journalist’s murder

ISTANBUL, Oct 24 2008

A 20th suspect has been charged with involvement in the murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink in 2007, the Anatolia news
agency reported Friday.

He is Osman Hayal, the elder brother of the alleged mastermind of the
murder, who is among 19 defendants who went on trial last year.

He is accused of helping and accompanying the self-confessed teenage
gunman, Ogun Samast, when he shot Dink in downtown Istanbul on January
19, 2007.

The prosecution is seeking between 22 and a half and 35 years in jail
for Hayal on charges of "taking part in a murder" and "membership of
an illegal organisation," Anatolia reported.

The 52-year-old Dink, a prominent member of Turkey’s tiny Armenian
community, campaigned for reconciliation but was hated by Turkish
nationalists for calling the World War I massacres of Armenians a
genocide.

The Dink family lawyers say some members of the Turkish security
forces approved of the murder and accuse the police of withholding and
destroying evidence to cover up the killing.

Prosecutors say the security forces received intelligence as early as
2006 of a plot to kill Dink being organised in the northern city of
Trabzon, home of Samast, aged 17 at the time of the murder, and most
of his alleged accomplices.

Two soldiers from the Trabzon gendarmerie intelligence department were
put on trial in January on charges of covering up intelligence.

They testified in court in March they had passed on to their superiors
information of a plot to kill Dink, but said no action was taken.

The case is seen as a test of Ankara’s resolve to eliminate the "deep
state" — a term used to describe security forces acting outside the
law to preserve what they consider Turkey’s best interests.

Dink’s murder sent the country into prolonged shock, and more than
100,000 people took to the streets on the day of his funeral, chanting
"We are all Hrant Dink" and "We are all Armenians."

NA SPEAKER MEETS UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR

armradio.am
24.10.2008 16:34

On October 24 President of the National assembly of Armenia Hovik
Abrahamyan received Consuelo Vidal, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP
Resident Representative in Armenia.

Greeting the guest, Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan congratulated him on
the occasion of the International UN Day and expressed gratitude
for the programs the UN Office in Yerevan has implemented since
1993. Mr. Abrahamyan emphasized the importance of UN support to the
reformation of the local self-governance bodies, the housing the
refugees from Azerbaijan.

Consuelo Vidal said it’s symbolic to meet with the Parliament Speaker
on the UN Day and congratulated Hovik Abrahamyan on being elected to
the high and responsible position. She presented the plan of action
of the UN Office for 2010-2014, which is currently being discussed
with the government.

HAMMARBERG WELCOMES

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
24 Oct 2008
Armenia

"I welcome the decision on setting up the fact-finding expert group,
aimed at realizing an independent, trustworthy and transparent
investigation of March 1-2 developments. The factual and true
description of the real cases is very important. This will contribute
to the future works in the sphere of the protection of human rights, to
be implemented in Armenia," Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner
Tomas Hammarberg announced estimating Serge Sargsyan’s order about
setting up a fact-finding expert group.

3 TURKS CONVICTED OF DENYING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Associated Press Worldstream
October 21, 2008 Tuesday 2:11 PM GMT

A Swiss court convicted three Turkish men of racism Tuesday for
denying that the deaths of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Armenians
under Ottoman rule during the early 20th century amounted to genocide.

State prosecutor Andrej Gnehm said the 58-, 53- and 42-year-old men
have been ordered to each pay up to 4,500 Swiss francs (euro2,940). The
defendants were not identified in the ruling because of privacy laws.

Gnehm said the men helped organize an event in Switzerland last year
during which Dogu Perincek, the leader of the Turkish Workers’ Party,
denied the killing of Armenians was genocide. A Swiss court convicted
him of racism and fined him.

None of the defendants received jail sentences.

The case has caused diplomatic tension between Switzerland and Turkey.

Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed in
1915-18 in Ottoman Turkey in what is widely regarded as the first
genocide of the 20th century. About 20 parliaments have passed
resolutions to this effect.

Turkey denies any genocide, saying the death toll has been inflated
and the dead were victims of civil war and unrest.

PROCEDURE AGAINST "SOUTH CAUCASUS RAILWAYS"

Panorama.am
19:24 22/10/2008

State Committee for Economic Competition of Armenia applied a procedure
for taking advantage over railway freight transmission according to
the claim of "Tariel and Sons" company. According to the official
web site of the Committee, the current company applied that "South
Caucasus Railways" company has increased the transmission price, in
the after math of which "Tariel and Sons" has stopped its activities
for 3 months.

The company asks the Committee to make a survey and to contribute to
the improvement of the situation.

AZERBAIJAN’S FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS SAYS CHANGES IN NEW GOVERNMENT INEVITABLE
[email protected]

Trend News Agency
22.10.08 11:02
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 21 October/ TrendNews, corr A. Huseynbala/ The
ruling New Azerbaijan Party says there is no need for any changes in
the government after re-elected President Ilham Aliyev inaugurates.

"The important for us is society’s being able to elect their leader
in a fair way which has already happened," MP Aydin Mirzazade, member
of NAP Political Council said to TrendNews.

The presidential election in Azerbaijan was held on 15 October. NAP
chairman and current President Ilham Aliyev won 88.73% of votes.

Igbal Agazade, chairman of opposition Umid (Hope) Party, gained 2.86%,
Fazil Gazanfaroglu, chairman of Great Establishment Party, 2.47%,
Gudrat Hasanguliyev, chairman of Unified Popular Front Party , 2.28%,
Gulamhuseyn Alibayli, independent candidate, 2.23%, Fuad Aliyev ,
chairman of Liberal Democrat Party 0.78% and Hafiz Hajiyev, chairman
of Muasir Musavat Party 0.65%.

According to Azerbaijan’s constitution, Cabinet of Ministers resigns
after new president inaugurates and new government is formed.

New President forms his team once again within the powers given by
the Constitution, Mirzazade said.

"Of course, The President will select members of his team," he added.

The main point is not new members of the team, but President’s
continuing his political line at a faster pace. The society
needs resolution of social problems, strengthening of Azerbaijan,
settlement of Karabakh problem and rise in Azerbaijan’s reputation
in international arena, Mirzazade said.

Hafiz Hajiyev, former opposition presidential contender and chairman
of Muasir Musavat Party says changes in the government are inevitable.

" Azerbaijan’s some government figures can not do their task in a
proper way. It means that they do not fulfill presidential decrees,"
Hajiyev said to TrendNews.

But there are official who do their best for Azerbaijan and people
of Azerbaijan. But there are those who create obstacles for the work
of the head of state. They do not allow presidential decrees to be
implemented in local level, he said.

"Ilham Aliyev, who is elected for a second term, must take advantage
of powers granted him by the Constitution. He should dismiss the
officials who commit treason. These officials think they have immunity
for their posts. The government will face danger of treason until
they retain their posts," Hajiyev said.

"Though we expected changes in the government after 2003 presidential
election, it did not take place," Fuad Aliyev, former presidential
contender and chairman of Liberal Democratic Party of Azerbaijan
told TrendNews.

Fuad Aliyev believes that President Ilham Aliyev will make changes
in his team this time. "I think at least 50% of officials will be
dismissed. New persons should take posts in the government regardless
of how hard former officials, who have been in office for 15 years,
will work," he said.

"It is President who decides to make changes in the government. I
do not want to meddle with his authorities," Gudrat Hasanguluyev,
former presidential contender and chairman of the Unified Popular
Front Party of Azerbaijan (UPFPA) said to TrendNews.

UPFPA chairman said he planned to form government of national
confidence if he was elected President.

"All political forces representing different wings would be represented
in the government. Proportional election system would be restored
and political party, who wins parliamentary election, would form the
government. I can not say anything about changes in the government as
this President Ilham Aliyev will decide it himself," Hasanguluyev said.

"This government should be changed completely as it did not do
anything for Azerbaijan for over 10 years," Gulamhuseyn Alibayli,
former presidential contender and member of Initiative Group of
Aydinlar Party said to TrendNews.

"Several Ministries should be united and their authorities should be
distributed in the new government. I think people are bored with the
ministers who have been in office for 10 to 15 years," he said.

Igbal Agazade, former presidential contender and chairman of
opposition Umid Party refused to comment o this issue as this is not
his authority.