Author: Mamian George

ARMENIA’S GAS IMPORTS UP NEARLY 3 PERCENT

United Press International
July 30 2008

Armenia increased its natural gas imports from Russia by nearly
3 percent in the first half of 2008, officials from the Armenian
division of Gazprom said.

ArmRosgazprom, the Armenian subsidiary, said Russian natural gas
exports rose 2.8 percent to 98.8 billion cubic feet, RIA Novosti
reported.

The Armenian news agency ARKA also reported Wednesday that overall
gas consumption grew by 6.2 percent during the same six-month period.

Around 7.6 billion cubic feet of that went to supply the energy sector,
the report said.

Armenia has a pricing arrangement with Russia through 2008 to purchase
natural gas at $110 per 1,000 cubic meters. Russian energy giant
Gazprom plans to increase that price to $165 beginning in 2009,
however.

Plans are under way between the two countries to establish a three-year
term for gas prices once the current $110 contract expires.

LASER PHYSICS: STUDY RESULTS FROM A. SARGSYAN ET AL PROVIDE NEW INSIGHTS INTO LASER PHYSICS

Science Letter
July 29, 2008

According to recent research published in the journal Laser
Physics, "It is demonstrated that the velocity-selective optical
pumping/saturation resonances of the reduced absorption in a Rb vapor
nanocell with thickness L = lambda, 2 lambda, and 3 lambda (resonant
wavelength lambda = 780 nm) allow for the complete elimination of
crossover (CO) resonances. We observe well-pronounced resonances
corresponding to the F-g = 3 & rarr; F (e) = 2, 3, and 4 hyperfine
transitions of the Rb-85 D-2 line with line widths close to the
natural width."

"A small CO resonance located midway between F-g = 3 & rarr; F-e =
3 and F-g = 3 & rarr; F-e = 4 transitions appears only for L>= 4
lambda. The D-2 line (lambda = 852 nm) in a Cs nanocell exhibits a
similar behavior," wrote A. Sargsyan and colleagues (see also Laser
Physics).

The researchers concluded: "From the amplitude ratio of the CO and VSOP
resonances, it is possible to determine the thickness of the column
of alkali vapor in the range of 1-1000 mu m. The absence of the CO
resonances for nanocells with L similar to lambda is attractive for
the frequency reference application and for studying the transitions
between the Zeeman sublevels in external magnetic fields."

Sargsyan and colleagues published their study in Laser Physics
(Saturated absorption spectroscopy: Elimination of crossover resonances
with the use of a nanocell. Laser Physics, 2008;18(6):749-755).

For additional information, contact A. Sargsyan, National Academy
Science Armenia, Institute Physics Research, Ashtarak 0203, Armenia.

Canberra Times (Australia)
July 27, 2008 Sunday
Final Edition

The story of Smyrna

by ALEV ADIL

Smyrna, the wealthiest of Ottoman cities, embodied that empire’s best
qualities of cosmopolitanism and religious tolerance. The city, now
Izmir in Turkey, boasted some of the most luxurious department stores,
cinemas and opera houses in the world.

"The feminine element from the age of about 13 overdresses like a
professional," a British officer observed in 1918. While Greeks
predominated, the city also housed sizeable Armenian, Jewish, Turkish,
European and American populations. The Levantines were by far the
richest community, with the largest stake in every commercial
activity. They were of British and European descent and had lived in
Smyrna since the reign of George III.

Giles Milton’s Paradise Lost: Smyrna 1922 is an engrossing account of
the events leading up to the destruction of the city in 1922, based
largely on the previously unpublished letters and diaries of these
Levantine dynasties. The Whitalls, Girauds and Van der Zees led a
charmed existence.

Life was a glittering round of tennis parties, balls, yachting and
picnics accompanied by bouzouki players. Smyrna had been largely
untouched by the tragedies of the Great War.

The city’s Ottoman governor, Rahmi Bey, a genial Anglophile, even
protected the Armenian population from the deportations and massacres
of 1915 and tried to broker a coup d’e{aac}tat with the British. His
affections were not returned.

"For more than five centuries, the presence of the Turk in Europe has
been a source of distraction, intrigue and corruption," Lord Curzon
declared. "Let not this occasion …

be missed of purging the earth of one of its most pestilent roots of
evil."

The victorious Allies gave the Greeks the go-ahead to invade. News of
the occupation of Smyrna in 1919 and of ensuing Greek atrocities
stirred nascent Turkish nationalism and resistance. The failure of the
Greek occupation three years later evoked no great panic. The citizens
of Smyrna, confident that the warships of the Allied fleet would
protect them, were unprepared for the horror unleashed upon them.

Eye-witness accounts of carnage make for stomach-churning reading, but
faith in human nature is restored by Milton’s accounts of the heroism
of individuals like Asa Jennings. An American employee of the YMCA,
his efforts stirred the Allies and the Greek government into rescuing
half a million refugees. Milton’s book celebrates the heroism of
individuals who put lives before ideologies.

Independent Paradise Lost: Smyrna 1922. By Giles Milton.

Sceptre. 426pp. $35.

RELEASE THE GUY!

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on July 25, 2008
Armenia

Arshak Banouchyan, Deputy Director of the Matendaran who was arrested
in connection with the case examined under the proceedings of the
Special Investigative Service, has been released, and the precautionary
measure against him has been replaced by a signature on not leaving
the republic.

The motion for changing the precautionary measure was submitted
by Stepan Voskanyan, A. Bounachyan’s lawyer. Let’s note that
A. Bounachyan was charged under Section 1 Article 225 of the Criminal
Code (organizing mass disorders).

NKR PERMANENT REPRESENTATIONS TO ASSIST IN ATTRACTION OF INVESTMENTS TO NKR ECONOMY

ArmInfo
2008-07-25 13:43:00

Meeting of heads of Permanent representations of the NKR to Armenia,
France and Germany with Director of Artsakh investment fund Karen
Yesayan was held within the frames of events dedicated to the 15th
anniversary of creation the NKR Foreign Ministry.

As special correspondent in Stepanakert reports, the meeting was
purposed to get acquainted with the programmes of the Fund for
further establishment of a mutually beneficial cooperation with
foreign partners through the republic’s representations.

Having presented the Fund’s programmes, K. Yesayan said thee
he expects assistance of the NKR representatives abroad in their
implementation. He emphasized the guarantees of a mutually beneficial
cooperation with investors will be assured. Heads of the Permanent
representations of Nagorno Karabakh said that the fact the country
needs not a humanitarian assistance but cooperation is an evidence of
the NKR consistence. At the same time, they talked about the necessity
of a purposeful work to gain confidence of the potential investors,
the NKR participation in international exhibitions, etc.

Participants in the meeting promised all kinds of assistance to the
Fund in attraction of foreign investments to the NKR economy.

SERZH SARGSYAN: PRESIDENT GUL’S VISIT TO ARMENIA MAY TURN POSITIVE TENDENCIES IN BOTH COUNTRIES INTO STABLE MOVEMENT

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 23

As RA President Serzh Sargsyan estimated it, tendencies of sound
discussion of problems in Armenian-Turkish relations are noticed in the
two countries’ societies, and Turkish President Gul’s visit to Armenia
may turn these positive tendencies into a good, stable movement.

Stating this at the press conference dedicated to 100 days of his
tenure, the President added: "Sports grounds are not for expressing
hostility, but for showing force, wit, skill." Reminding to those
present that Armenian and Azeri national teams had appeared in the same
sub-group in the selective tour of European Football Championship,
the President said: "We were ready to receive Azeris in Yerevan,
to go to Baku, but there was no readiness from Azeri side, as a
result we lost on both sides." S. Sargsyan emphasized that there are
some people in Armenia and Turkey, who have a different opinion of
Armenian-Turkish relations, but their existence "should not make us
do nothing," "we are obliged to improve our relations."

In spite of the statement of some Turkish politicians and officials
that improval of relations is only beneficial for Armenia, the RA
President considers that improval of relations will be mutually
beneficial. "In general, it is difficult to act against sound logic
and reason," he said adding that if possible Armenia will improve its
relations with Azerbaijan, will constantly deepen its relations with
Iran and Georgia.

Former President Kocharian’s statement over that issue, according to S.

Sargsyan, does not contain any criticism at all, as S. Sargsyan cleared
it up, Kocharian just expressed disagreement with the concrete step of
inviting President Gul to Armenia to watch the match of Armenia-Turkey
national teams in Yerevan. "We did not hold the same opinion in all
issues in the past, either: I preferred expressing my opinion to him
non-publicly. I respect his decision to publicly express his opinion,
I see nothing strange about it," S. Sargsyan said.

S. Sargsyan considers absurd the rumors, according to which, Kocharian
secretly continues ruling the country. "Ruling a state is not ruling
business where an executive director can be appointed and one can keep
the ownership rights and run the business," he said adding that when
making decisions he, certainly, consults with both Kocharian and his
coalition member partners, specialists. "It is my working style and
I will continue the same way, but it is me, who is responsible for
my decisions," he said.

Speaking about the Nagorno Karabakh problem, the RA President
stated that the means of problem’s peaceful settlement have not been
exhausted. He said that he has an impression that President Aliyev is
ready to continue the negotiations. According to Sargsyan, if the Azeri
side complains of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs, the Armenian side
can be quiet. In the RA President’s opinion, this is little cunning
for the mediators to be a bit milder to Azerbaijan or try to fulfil
some of their demands for Azerbaijan not to criticize them.

The RA President also said that until a peace agreement is signed, at
least two officials in the country, the RA President and the Defence
Minister, should consider that operations may start just tomorrow,
and constant efforts should be exerted in that direction, and they
are exerted.

Touching upon the PACE resolutions’ requirements, S. Sargsyan stated:
"Armenia has no problem of managing or not managing fulfilment of
all requirements of PACE two resolutions until January." S. Sargsyan
said that there are deeper provisions in his preelection program,
which will be fulfilled, as the goal of both these resolutions and
his preelection program is to have more democratic Armenia. "Unless
some provision is fulfilled until January, I do not think that it can
result in a flood. Certainly, it is desirable to see such Armenia
as soon as possible, it is desirable to solve all our problems as
soon as possible, but it not right to mention certain terms," the RA
President said.

ARMEN RUSTAMIAN CALLS FOR STOPPING COLLECTION OF SIGNATURES TO BRING ROBERT KOCHARIAN BEFORE HAGUE COURT

NOYAN TAPAN

JU LY 23

Armen Rustamian, a representative of the ARFD Armenian Supreme Body,
considers that the situation formed in the past months in Armenia
contains elements of public crisis. As he stated at the July 23 press
conference, its reasons are two, slowing down of country’s development
rates and post-electoral tension.

According to A. Rustamian, the authorities do their best to carry
out a political dialogue, but their efforts are not accepted by
the opposition.

"We are against that slogan "struggle-struggle," in general, we are
against unbridled struggle, idea of achieving power by all means,"
he said.

A. Rustamian said that the idea of holding special elections is
inadmissible for ARFD. "No issue will be solved through special
elections until the electoral system is matured in Armenia," he said.

Touching upon the issue of existence or non-existence of political
prisoners in Armenia, A. Rustamian said that PACE does not consider
those arrested by the March 1 case political prisoners. According
to him, the political part of that case should be separated from the
criminal one, which is very difficult. In any case, as he mentioned,
it is up to the proper instances to make a final decision.

A. Rustamian called the opposition for stopping the collection
of signatures with the demand of bringing former President Robert
Kocharian before Hague court. According to him, with that step the
opposition only plays into Azerbaijan’s hands.

ARMENIA MAY QUIT EUROPEAN FAMILY

A1+
23 July, 2008

"It is not excluded that Armenia might be left out of the European
family," the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE), Luis Maria de Puig, said during a meeting with the
Zharangutiun (Heritage) Party on July 23.

Today Mr. Puig met with representatives of the NA leading parties
and opposition. The parliamentarian majority mostly dwelt on the
Chairman’s statement made in Baku.

Note, Azeri mass media had distorted the Chairman’s words. Luis Maria
de Puig stressed that the CoE accepts the territorial wholeness of its
member states. The CoE also accepts the principle to self-governance
within the realms of law. The Azeri media had omitted the last part
of the statement.

Secretary of the Zharangutiun Party, Stepan Safarian, confirmed
Puig’s words. Safarian says during the meeting with the PACE Chairman
the Zharangutiun criticized PACE Resolution 1620 which obviously
empowers the Armenian authorities to continue their anti-democratic
policy. Particularly, the PACE welcomed the amendments to the RoA
Law on "Meetings, Assemblies, Marches and Demonstrations" thus giving
the authorities another chance to bar rallies on the grounds of false
data submitted by the Police and the National Security Service.

The opposition asked Mr. Puig why the perpetrators of mass disorders
are not persecuted if the police provide reliable information.

"The Zharangutiun has always highlighted Armenia’s integration into the
European family. But today we are at a loss as the Council of Europe
sets incomprehensible and unacceptable criteria in Armenia-Europe
relations, especially in view of national security, democracy, etc,"
said Stepan Safarian.

Luis Maria de Puig was concerned about Zharangutiun’s opinion towards
the CoE.

He says they will be consistent and most likely Armenia will be the
only CoE member to quit the European family.

Anahit Bakhshian said they don’t wish Armenia to be left out of the
European family. They want Armenia to stick to European standards
and principles.

The PACE Chairman says he has arrived in Armenia to follow the
implementation of the PACE Resolution and to demand an urgent release
for people detained during the post-election period.

During the meeting the Zharangutiun members also raised the issue of
freedom of expression. They demanded implementation of the EC decision
and A1+’s return to the air.

Stepan Safarian says the meeting was fruitful and he noticed resolution
on the part of Luis Maria de Puig.

Luis Maria de Puig has also met with the NA ad hoc Committee
investigating the March 1 occurrences.

OSCE MG: ministerial meeting to mark new stage of Karabakh talks

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.07.2008 17:15 GMT+04:00

Work to settle Nagorno Karabakh conflict suggested by Azerbaijani and
Armenian Presidents in St. Petersburg in June will be the ground for
negotiations between two countries’ foreign ministers in Moscow at
the beginning of August.

"Upcoming negotiations between Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers in Moscow are the beginning of new round marked by the
Presidents’ in St. Petersburg," French Co-Chair of OSCE Minsk Group,
Ambassador Bernard Fassier said.

"The negotiations will be based on Madrid proposals and I am hopeful
that the Nalbandian-Mammadyarov meeting will be natural continuation of
the presidential talks," Fassier said, Trend Azeri news agency reports.

CSTO COMMAND-STAFF DRILL BEGINS IN ARMENIA

Xinhua
July 23 2008
China

Member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) kicked off a joint command-staff drill in Armenia Tuesday,
Russian news agencies reported.

About 4,000 troops from Armenia, Russia and Tajikistan participated
in the four-stage military exercise, coded Rubezh-2008. Other CSTO
members will be represented by military staff from respective defense
ministries.

The first stage of the exercise was staged in Armenia and the second
will be held in Russia at the CSTO joint headquarters.

At the third stage, CSTO nations will conduct a military operation to
protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of an "attacked"
country, and the fourth stage will see a defense operation, the
Itar-Tass news agency reported.

"The aim of the joint Rubezh-2008 command-staff exercise is to
help develop the military component of the CSTO," Artur Bagdasaryan,
secretary of Armenia’s National Security Council, was quoted by the RIA
Novosti news agency as saying at the official opening of the exercise.

"The exercise allows our countries to strengthen direct ties and
increase the overall level of cooperation," said Boris Gryzlov,
speaker of the lower house of the Russian parliament.

"We will see that the members of the bloc can meet any threat to
collective security with an appropriate response," he added.

The CSTO is a security group comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.