Author: Mamian George

Canada NewsWire (press release), Canada
Feb 21 2008

Armenia – Journalists physically attacked during election campaign

MONTREAL, Feb. 21 /CNW Telbec/ – Reporters Without Borders called
today for the punishment of those responsible for attacking or
obstructing three journalists as they were covering the presidential
election campaign in Erevan on 19 February. "The authorities must
take these incidents seriously," it said. "The journalists were
simply doing their job."

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said
the election victory of former prime minister Serge Sarkassian was up
to international standards but improvement was needed.

When journalist Lusine Barsegian, of the opposition paper Aikakan
Jamanak, took photos of ballot-box stuffing and non-secret voting at
a polling station, she was beaten by two men who seized her camera
and dictaphone after she refused to leave. Witnesses, including a
police official, failed to intervene and she was hospitalised. A
legal inquiry has been opened.

Samvel Avagyan, who works for the daily paper Haik, had his
dictaphone snatched from him when he tried to question people in a
bus taking them to polling stations after being given ballot papers
by police near a market.

Cameraman Ovsep Ovsepian, of the TV station A1+, was attacked as he
got out of his car by thugs who seized his recordings and tried to
smash his camera. He was insulted by one of the attackers who spotted
a leaflet of opposition candidate Levon Ter-Petrossian in the car.

For further information: Katherine Borlongan, secretary general,
Reporters Without Borders, (514) 521-4111, Cell: (514) 258-4208, Fax:
(514)
521-7771, [email protected]

RA MFA EMPLOYEES DISCHARGED FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.02.2008 13:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The law prohibits diplomats and employees of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs from engaging in political activity, RA
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian told reports today when commenting
on some diplomats’ going across to Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s side.

"I signed an edict on dismissal of the Ministry’s spokesman and other
5 employees, who voiced support to Levon Ter-Petrosyan," he said,
adding he was sad to know the news.

"I do not understand how an ambassador appointed by the President
can support a politician who labels the state and its President as
"bandit". However, the point is that all these people were appointed
by the former President. Unfortunately, we just appoint ambassadors
but do not train them. Anyway, I am convinced that the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs will not be slackened by isolated cases of the kind,"
the Minister said, adding he warned President Kocharian about the
"weak and unhealthy atmosphere in the Ministry still in 1998."

"There will be no ‘witch hunt’ in the Ministry. I am confident that
the current events will not affect the work. Furthermore, our weakness
may be used by Azerbaijan which has been for a long time looking for
ways to destabilize Armenia," the Minister said.

On February 24, RA MFA head of department of information division
Vladimir Karapetian, head of UN division of international organizations
department Varsenik Baghdasarian, head of U.S. and Canada division
of American department Karine Afrikian, head of NATO division of
arms control and international security department Marta Ayvazian,
European department advisor Arakel Semerjian , second secretary of
Latin America division of American department Elen Movsisian announced
their support to Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s movement.

SLOVENIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS ARMENIA

armradio.am
25.02.2008 10:25

The delegation headed by the President of the Committee of Ministers
of the Council of Europe, Slovenia’s Foreign Minister Jan Kubis will
arrive in Armenia today on a one-day visit.

Press and Information Department of RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs
informs that in the framework of the visit Jan Kubis will have
meetings with the President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, Speaker of
the National Assembly Tigran Torosyan, Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan
and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.

POLICE REFUTE RUMORS ABOUT RESIGNATION OF HAYK HARUTYUNIAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The rumors about the resignation of
the chief of the RA police Hayk Harutynian and the heads of the police
do not correspond to reality, is said in the February 23 statement of
the RA police.

According to the statement, the heads and all the subunits of the
police perform their functions and are ready to give a resolute
counterblow to any attemp to disturb the public order and destabilize
the situation, preventing lack of constraint and protecting the
constitutional rights of citizens.

FEW THOUSAND SARGSYAN’S SUPPORTERS MOVING TO YEREVAN FROM RA REGIONS?

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.02.2008 18:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A few thousands of Serzh Sargsyan’s supporters,
the prime minister of Armenia, are moving towards Yerevan- the
capital of the republic from the regions of Armenia. The information
is reported from IA REGNUM with reference to the source in the
Police of Armenia. The source refused to mention the exact number
of the people who are intended to defend their votes in favor of
the candidate on behalf of the authorities. It is worth mentioning
that pursuant to the data of the CEC of Armenia, S. Sargsyan gained a
victory in the first round of the presidential elections of the 19th
of February. As it was reported in the Police the biggest number
of the prime minister’s supporters is moving towards the capital
from Ararat valley. Meanwhile Yerevan is presently enveloped in the
manifestations of the opposition’s supporters which are headed by
the first president of the country, Levon Ter-Petrosyan. In this
connection the possibility of collisions is not excluded.

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ORGANIZATION FIXES CASES OF VIOLENCE DURING ARMENIAN ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 22, 2008

NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian government should
investigate alleged assaults on election observers and journalists that
marred the presidential election on February 19, 2008, Human Rights
Watch said today. According to victim testimonies taken by Human Rights
Watch, assailants beat and threatened opposition party activists,
domestic observers, and journalists who attempted to document election
fraud at polling stations during the presidential vote.

"These election-day attacks targeted the very people trying to ensure
the integrity of Armenia’s vote," said Holly Cartner, Europe and
Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The Armenian government
should carry out independent and speedy investigations to ensure
justice is served and to send the message that intimidation won’t
be tolerated."

In nine cases documented by Human Rights Watch, assailants intimidated,
threatened, and even violently attacked opposition party activists,
domestic observers and journalists at eight polling stations
in and around the capital, Yerevan. Victims variously described
their assailants as "big guys," "athletic," "tough," and apparently
supporters of Sargsian. Most victims had been attempting to expose what
they believed to be violations of electoral rules, such as incorrect
voters’ lists, intimidation of voters, violations of the right to a
secret ballot, and ballot-box stuffing. None of the victims was able
or willing to return to the polling station to continue observing
the voting.

In several incidents, the assaults took place in the presence of
police and polling station officials who did not intervene, and in
one case a police officer appeared to assist the assailants. Some
victims reported the attacks to police, who are investigating.

Human Rights Watch called on the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to look into election-related violence
and ensure that its final report on the vote records these incidents.

In one case documented by Human Rights Watch, assailants grabbed a
Ter-Petrosian proxy (a candidate’s authorized representative) at a
polling station in Yerevan, forced her into a car and drove her to
a remote area. There, they beat her in the head and face, threatened
to rape her and attack her family, and abandoned her. She eventually
made her way to a police station where she filed a complaint. She is
still suffering from headaches.

At least three journalists were attacked.

The OSCE election monitors stated that the elections were held
"mostly in line" with international commitments.

DAVID KALASHIAN GAINS 6 OUT OF 7 POSSIBLE POINTS IN AEROFLOT OPEN’S TOURNAMENT B

Noyan Tapan
Feb 20, 2008

MOSCOW, FEBRUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The Aeroflot Open international
chess festival continues in Moscow. In the main tournament, Karen
Asrian among the representatives of Armenia has the best result. He
has gained 4 out of 6 possible points and shares the 4-11th places. In
tournament B, David Kalashian has 6 points after 7 tours and shares
the 1-2nd places with Vang Lee (China).

LEVON TER-PETROSIAN’S SUPPORTERS ARE HOLDING A PROCESSION ALONG THE CENTRAL STREETS OF YEREVAN, AND THEY HAVE REACHED THE REPUBLIC SQUARE

Mediamax
February 20, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. The supporters of presidential candidate Levon
Ter-Petrosian are holding a procession along the central streets
of Yerevan and are at present in the Republic Square, shouting out
"Levon – President!"

Mediamax reports that in his speech during the rally the Armenian
Ex-President stated that "regular disgraceful elections took place,
during which violence was used, which influenced the will of the
people".

According to Ter-Petrosian, "despite all the efforts of the authorities
and the criminal world, the national candidate won on February 19".

He stated that "the first unlawful action was realized by the Central
Electoral Commission of Armenia, which provided wrong information on
the number of the persons having voted".

"Let them not doubt that we will gain victory by our accurate program.

We will proceed calmly, confidently, without doubts in the final
victory", the presidential candidate stated.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 19 2008

Svante Cornell: Azerbaijan should ask the world community why there
is no support for the victims of Nagorno Karabakh conflict –
EXCLUSIVE

[ 19 Feb 2008 13:49 ]

Washington. Husniyya Hasanova-APA. Svante Cornell, expert for
Caucasus of Institute for Security and Development Policy of Sweden
interviewed by APA

-The world countries have started to recognize Kosovo’s independence.
Do you think that some states will take the same approach to Nagorno
Karabakh in the pretext of recognition of Kosovo’s independence?

– Basically, my answer will be this. First the Armenian side
certainly will try to make a precedent of Kosovo case and use it as
an argument for the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh by the
international community. However this is not necessarily likely to
happen. But it also depends on the way in which Azerbaijan will deal
with this political situation. What I mean is this: first, obviously
there is difference between the case of Kosovo and Nagorno-Karabakh.
The most important difference it is the issue of ethnic cleansing.
You can say that there are similarities between Kosovo and
Nagorno-Karabakh because of the fact that Kosovo is an ethnical
Albanian state; the Armenians will argue that Nagorno-Karabakh is
second Armenian state and there is nothing strange about it. However,
in Kosovo it is very clear that the ethnic cleansing, a violation of
the international humanitarian law was conducted by the Serbian
government, almost half of the Kosovo population were forced flew
from their homes at some point of conflict or either internally
displaced as refuges. In the case of Karabakh, it was the Azerbaijani
population not only in Karabakh but in the seven regions around
Karabakh was subjected to the process of ethnic cleansing primarily.
This means that in the case of Kosovo aggressor was mother state
which is Serbia, in the case of Karabakh conflict the aggressor is
the state which occupy the territory and it is Armenia. This is
fundamental differences in the conflict which shows that those two
conflicts are not comparable. What I am trying to point here that is
this: the Azerbaijani government has a choice now between at the one
hand to try to oppose during the recognition of Kosovo and implicitly
accept that there is precedent and act against this precedent. I
would think that much more intelligent way to react the situation
would be embrace the situation and to say that in the case of Kosovo
the victims of ethnic cleansing were given the support of
international community however in the case of Azerbaijan we do not
see the same level of support for the victims of ethnic cleansing.

-The world community is not informed well about the differences of
the conflicts of Kosovo and Nagorno Karabakh. Do you think it gives
advantages to Armenian side?

– Let me answer your question in this way: Thanks to the very good
economic situation in the past few years, Azerbaijan has been able
gradually very strongly improve its capacity to carry its message to
the world. I think it will be the first priority of Azerbaijani
government to use these financial abilities in order to in a very
smart way hailer the message and hailer the discussion of the issue
toward international community. And with the help its allies, I think
with the help of the western countries that supported the
independence of Kosovo but who don’t want this translating into the
precedent for the Caucasus, I think Azerbaijan should work both on
the public opinion in the west and secondly should work together with
its western allies to basically make sure that its position is
understood by the western community.

– Do you think Kosovo precedent will complicate the negotiations
around the Nagorno Karabakh conflict?

– I would say that Kosovo question has delayed the procedure of the
conflict resolution in all South Caucasus region. I think for the
past three years at least, it has been an obstacle the Kosovo’s
conflict resolution because everybody was waiting what is gonna
happen in Kosovo. I think that for the certain period of time it will
continue to have an impact on the negotiation process. It is a
delicate situation and difficult situation. The major impact which
the Kosovo case is going to have it will decrease the Armenian sides
interest in a compromise. Already in Armenia you find that there is
an argument that the process of self-determination is gaining the
increasing international recognition. They speak about East Timor,
Eritrea, Montenegro and now about Kosovo. What they are saying is
that the principle of self-determination is getting more ground. What
I think is important to know, especially for Azerbaijan, is that self
determination and territorial integrity not necessarily opposite.
There is not legal provision which say that the self determination is
equal to independence. In this situation it is in the interest of
Armenia to use the Kosovo case as a precedent for Karabakh. However
it will be dependent on the foreign polices of Armenia and Azerbaijan
to present their arguments in front of the world community to see
which one gets support. As we know that the 1990ths Armenia was very
successful in influencing the international opinion and gradually
over time we have relatively increase in Azerbaijan’s ability to
carry its message to the world.

Iran, Russia accelerate construction of electricity grids

Tehran, Feb 19, IRNA
Iran-Russia-Electricity

The Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia signed a letter of
understanding on Tuesday to speed up construction of power grids in
both countries.

The agreement was signed between Iran’s Energy Minister Parviz Fattah
and Chairman of Board of Directors of RAO UES of Russia Anatoly
B. Chubais.

The two sides called for expansion of mutual cooperation at mutual
and regional level.

Referring to the recent visit of Russian president to Tehran, the
Iranian minister said the visit was a turning point in expansion of
cooperation between the two countries.

Both Iran and Russia possess huge oil and gas resources which have
created grounds for expansion of cooperation in the energy sector,
he said.

It is quite obvious that expansion of ties between Iran and Russia
would dissatisfy a number of countries but the two powerful nations
are to keep on in line with their national interests, Fattah said.

Iran is ready to connect to Russia national grid and that Iran is
currently exchanging energy with regional countries such as Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Turkmenistan, he said.

Calling for expansion of investments in energy, electricity and dam
construction in both countries, Fattah said Iran and Russia could
cooperate in construction of Sangtoudeh 1 and 2 in Tajikistan.

The Russian envoy, for his part, said his country is willing to
broaden cooperation with Iran in energy sector adding that Iran
has had a remarkable progress in electricity industry and that the
generation of electricity has risen up ten percent in parallel with
6.5 percent of demand in market.

Iran and Russia are powerful in electricity sector, he said adding
that Russia is ready to broaden cooperation in the sector.

Russia benefits from powerful electricity networks in the North and
Iran in the South, the said adding that the two countries can jointly
cover the needs of regional countries, he pointed out.

Since generation of electricity by the year 2010 will hit 15 Gigabyte,
he said Russia has predicted a dlrs 130 billion investment in the
sector.

The two sides are to review cooperation in energy sector in the
upcoming session of the commonwealth countries in Moscow on May 23rd.