Author: Nadirian Emma

EU READY TO CONTRIBUTE TO ARMENIA TO SETTLING POLITICAL CRISIS

ITAR-TASS
March 3 2008
Russia

BRUSSELS, March 3 (Itar-Tass) – The European Union is ready to make
contribution to Armenia to settling the political crisis in the
country, the Common Foreign and Security Policy’s press service said.

EU Special Envoy to the South Caucasus Peter Semneby will leave
shortly for Yerevan for talks with the leadership of Armenia and the
opposition, the press service said.

On Sunday evening, CFSP High Representative Javier Solana had telephone
conversations with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan.

Solana expressed concern over the introduction of the state of
emergency in Armenia.

"I call on all countries to show restraint in order to normalise life
in Armenia. It is necessary to resume the political dialogue with
the opposition because this is the unique means to move forward,"
Solana said.

During the clashes in Yerevan, eight people were killed and 131
people (72 servicemen and policemen, and 59 civilians) requested
medical attention.

KOCHARIAN CONGRATULATED MEDVEDEV ON ELECTION PRESIDENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.03.2008 18:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian congratulated
Dmitry Medvedev on election President of Russia, the RA leader’s
press office reported.

The congratulatory address says, in part, "I congratulate you
on victory in the presidential election. Armenia appreciates the
partner relations and strategic cooperation our states enjoy. I
am confident that our nations will cement friendly ties and expand
mutually beneficial cooperation. I would like to thank you for your
contribution to development of the Armenian-Russian relations and
voice assurance that you will continue to promote them."

For Immediate Release
eni18190.htm

Armenia: Civilians Die as Police Suppress Demonstrations and Riots

Authorities Should Swiftly Investigate Use of Lethal Force

(New York, March 2, 2008) – The Armenian government should launch a
prompt and independent investigation into the use of lethal force by
security forces to quell demonstrations and rioting overnight on March
1, 2008, Human Rights Watch said today. The violence occurred after a
20-day state of emergency was declared by President Robert Kocharian in
response to an alleged threat to public order posed by opposition
demonstrators.

Clashes between police and demonstrators in downtown Yerevan, the
capital, on the night of March 1-2 resulted in at least eight deaths,
according to the Armenian Health Ministry. Military forces deployed in
Yerevan helped suppress the protests and riots. The ministry also
reported that at least 131 people – including 57 police – were injured,
some of them seriously. Many demonstrators have been reported missing,
according to journalists and other observers in Yerevan.

"The Armenian government should swiftly investigate whether the police
and army used lethal force against protesters in accordance with
international standards," said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia
director at Human Rights Watch. "While the government has a duty to
maintain civic order, lethal force may only be used when strictly
necessary to protect life."

The protests began when tens of thousands of supporters of opposition
presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian took to the streets in
downtown Yerevan on February 20 to denounce the declared election
results and what they alleged to have been electoral fraud (
28.htm
< armeni18128.htm> ). The protests
continued peacefully on Freedom Square for the next 10 days, with some
demonstrators camping out on the square in tents. Early in the morning
on March 1, Armenian security violently dispersed the crowd.

Several demonstrators and eyewitnesses told Human Rights Watch that
violent clashes started late in the afternoon of March 1, after
demonstrators refused to abide by police instructions to disperse.
Police then shot tracer bullets, allegedly resulting in the first
casualties, including the death of a demonstrator.

Later in the morning of March 1, protesters gathered in front of the
French Embassy in downtown Yerevan. Their numbers grew substantially
during the day, as did the police presence. Observers reported that
police were equipped with rubber truncheons, electric-shock devices, and
water cannons, and that military personnel arrived in armored personnel
carriers. Several journalists present told Human Rights Watch that angry
masses of people prepared for a confrontation with the security forces
by arming themselves with stones, wooden sticks, and iron bars. Another
demonstrator explained that people used nearby park benches and fences
to find metal and wooden objects.

By about 5 or 6 p.m., tens of thousands of people had gathered near the
French Embassy. A demonstrator told Human Rights Watch that the crowd
wanted to march towards the home of Ter-Petrosian, who has been under
effective house arrest since police had cordoned off his home.
Demonstrators made a cordon around the rally area using cars and buses.

Violent clashes broke out, according to eyewitnesses, when a tracer
bullet apparently struck and killed a demonstrator. Angry demonstrators
cried for revenge and attacked the security forces. A local observer who
watched a video recording of the events told Human Rights Watch that the
video showed how demonstrators, demanding revenge, placed the dead body
of a man, apparently in his 50s, on top of a car. Eyewitnesses reported
that demonstrators then attacked police, who retreated. One protestor
told Human Rights Watch how a group of young demonstrators chased
police, set fire to police cars, and broke shop windows.

Persons in the vicinity told Human Rights Watch that they heard weapons
being fired. A local source who watched video footage of the aftermath
of some of the clashes told Human Rights Watch: "I saw thick layers of
blood, parts of human bodies, several dead bodies… at least eight
police cars were on fire… a lot of wounded, who cried for help and
water, a lot of people with open head wounds, claiming that they had
been assaulted by police… I saw also wounded police, a lot of blood,
pools of blood."

"Police and security forces clearly faced an extremely difficult
situation," said Cartner. "But they are still obliged to adhere to
standards for the use of lethal force."

The United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by
Law Enforcement Officials call upon law enforcement officials in the
dispersal of violent assemblies to use firearms only when less dangerous
means are not practicable and only to the minimum extent necessary.
Lethal force may only be used when strictly unavoidable to protect life
and only when less extreme means are insufficient to achieve these
objectives.

Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned by reports from journalists and
local observers that many demonstrators have gone missing. In the
current state of emergency, with an effective media blackout, relatives
have little access to information about their missing family members.

"Armenian authorities should promptly make the casualty list public, as
well as the names of those arrested and places of detention," said
Cartner. "The authorities should also not use the state of emergency to
unnecessarily restrict freedom of information."

Under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR),
to which Armenia is a party, governments may limit certain ICCPR rights
only during a state of emergency that is declared during a "public
emergency which threatens the life of the nation." Limits on rights and
freedoms may only be to the extent strictly required by the situation.
Governments must at all times guarantee the right to life, the
prohibition against torture and ill-treatment, the right to liberty and
security of person, the right to a fair trial, and freedom of thought,
conscience and religion, among other rights. The European Convention on
Human Rights provides similar protections.

UN News Centre

ID=25815&Cr=Arbour&Cr1

Deadly post-election protests in Armenia concern UN human rights chief

2 March 2008 – The United Nations human rights chief today voiced deep
concern at reports that at least eight people have been killed and many
others injured during demonstrations in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia,
where the results of recent presidential elections have been disputed.

Louise Arbour, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, issued a
statement in which she said she was particularly concerned that force
was used against peaceful demonstrators yesterday and that opposition
protesters have been detained.

Ms. Arbour called on the authorities in Armenia ` where a state of
emergency has been declared ` to `exercise the utmost restraint and to
ensure that due process is followed in the case of any detentions.’

The High Commissioner noted that Armenia is a signatory to the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) which
states that, even during states of emergency, fundamental rights such as
the right to life and the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhumane and
degrading treatment cannot be suspended.

`Any restrictions of rights must be proportionate and may only be
applied to the extent and duration strictly warranted by the
circumstances,’ the statement added.

Protests began in Yerevan after Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan was
declared the winner of the 19 February presidential poll, a result that
is disputed by the opposition candidate Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

Armenian President: the demonstrators fired at the policemen; "the names
of the organizers are known and they will bear responsibility"

March 2, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated today
that he signed a decree on announcing state of emergency in Yerevan
only after he received information on the injury of 8 policemen by
the demonstrators.

Mediamax reports that the Armenian President said this at a special
beefing today.

Robert Kocharian stated that "the demonstrators are shooting at the
policemen, hiding behind the peaceful people". The President stated
that serious damage is caused to state and private property, shops
are plundered.

"This situation required special attitude, and I, being the guarantor
of the Constitution, was obliged to make the corresponding decision",
Robert Kocharian stated.

According to him, everything started from the moment, when this morning
the participants of Ter-Petrosian’s rally refused to obey the legal
demand of the policemen to inspect the Freedom Square, which became
a reason for the collision. "The policemen should have revealed the
same arms and grenades, which are used today by the crowd", Robert
Kocharian stated.

"The names of the organizers are known and they will bear
responsibility for their deeds according to the law", the President
stressed, noting that "tough measures" will be undertaken.

"I address the people with the request to show restraint and ask them
to understand the steps, which the authorities are forced to take up",
Robert Kocharian stated. The Armenian President said that a decision
is made not to introduce a curfew in Yerevan, "to within the limits
of the possible minimize the inconveniences for our citizens".

Robert Kocharian also stated that for the settlement of the situation,
the Armed Forces will be used. "We are forced to do this after the fact
that people from the crowd started shooting at the unarmed policemen",
the President stated.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S SPOKESMAN DESCRIBED AS "ABSURD" THE INFORMATION ON RESIGNATION OF THE HEAD OF POLICE

Mediamax
February 29, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Spokesman of the Armenian President Viktor
Soghomonian described today as "absurd" and "having nothing to do
with the reality" the information on resignation of the Head of Police.

Viktor Soghomonian said this, commenting on Mediamax’s request on
the publication, according to which, Head of the Armenian Police Hayk
Harutiunian submitted a petition for his resignation to the Armenian
President, which was accepted.

"Hayk Harutiunian enjoys the trust of the President and continues
with great responsibility fulfilling his duties", Spokesman of the
Armenian President stated.

WOMEN HEAD THE MARCH

A1+
[08:22 pm] 29 February, 2008

Today’s march differed from the previous ones. It was led by women
at the head of Lyudmila Sargsian, member of the Social Democratic
Henchak Party.

The demonstrators marched along Vazgen Manukian, Nalbandian and
Tumanian streets and returned to Liberty Square. As usual they saluted
the policemen guarding the Government building with warm applauses.

The policemen smiled in return and took photos.

People affronted Sezh Sarkissian and Arthur Baghdasarian shouting,
"Arthur, traitor." They said "Arthur Baghdasarian hardly differs from
Artashes Geghamian."

ARMENIA INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING COOPERATION WITH MEXICO

armradio.am
27.02.2008 13:30

The Ambassador of the United States of Mexico Alfredo Peres Bravo (seat
in Moscow) handed his credentials to RA President Robert Kocharyan,
President’s Press Office reported.

The President greeted the newly appointed Ambassador and underlined
the sincere interest of the Armenian side to develop the cooperation
with Mexico.

Turning to the current state and perspectives of development of the
Armenian-Mexican relations, the cooperation within international
organizations, the parties emphasized the importance of intensifying
the political dialogue on issues of reciprocal interest, exchange of
information between the business communities, which will enable to
determine the concrete directions of cooperation.

According to the President, in case of coordinated work it is possible
to reach serious results in a short period of time.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PREPARES FOR MASS RALLY

ABC Online
Feb 28 2008
Australia

Thousands of Opposition supporters have camped out in the
Armenian capital Yerevan, ahead of a planned mass rally in growing
round-the-clock protests against last week’s presidential election.

Protesters are calling for Armenian authorities to annul the result
of the February 19 election, which handed victory to Prime Minister
Serzh Sarkisian over Opposition challenger Levon Ter-Petrosian,
over alleged fraud.

Wednesday was the eighth straight day of protests for the Opposition.

Activists were planning a mass rally later in the day, following a
protest on Tuesday that brought tens of thousands into the streets
of Yerevan – a higher number than rallies held in previous days.

Several thousand Opposition supporters spent the night at a protest
camp set up on Freedom Square in central Yerevan. Their numbers
dwindled to around 1,500 people later on Wednesday ahead of the rally.

The activists slept in more than 40 tents marked with the names of
the regions from which they had come or sat around campfires on the
asphalt, talking into the night. Some slept in cars parked nearby.

"It’s the fifth day I’m sleeping out here," said Styopa Sargsian,
22, a musician from the city of Vanadzor in northern Armenia.

"My friends and I brought our instruments with us. We play folk songs
at night. It’s very emotional here. It inspires us," he added.

Sargis Avetian said he was protesting in the square for the seventh
day running, taking turns with some friends to sleep for a few hours
in a three-person tent nearby.

"We’re ready to stay here as long as we have to," Avetian said.

The protests are not sanctioned by the authorities, and President
Robert Kocharian, who backed Sarkisian in the election, warned in
an address on national television that the Government’s patience was
wearing thin.

In a sign of rising tensions, Armenia’s security services also said
earlier that two groups of opposition activists have been arrested
for illegal weapons possession and plotting against the government.

Several former officials have also joined the protests.

Ter-Petrosian, a former president of this mountainous former Soviet
republic, ran on an anti-corruption platform and alleges massive vote
fraud and beatings of his supporters.

He has so far rejected an offer of talks made by Sarkisian at a
pro-Government rally on Tuesday in which the President-elect mentioned
the possibility of a coalition deal with the Opposition.

"We appeal to all former presidential candidates and all political
forces supporting them: let us cooperate right up to the formation
of a coalition government," Mr Sarkisian said at Tuesday’s rally.

The Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) have called for restraint. OSCE observers said
earlier that the election "mostly" met international standards.

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Feb. 26, 2008

OSCE CHAIR-IN-OFFICE CONTENT WITH POSITION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH
LEADERSHIP

YEREVAN, 26.02.08. DE FACTO. The issues referring to the Karabakh
conflict settlement were discussed February 26 in Yerevan in the
course of a bilateral meeting of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
President Bako Sahakian with OSCE Chair-in-Office, Finland’s FM Ilkka
Kanerva.

The interlocutors, in part, discussed the issues referring to the
realization of monitorings on the NKR and Azeri Armed Forces’ contact
line. The parties set forward a number of proposals. Upon the
completion of the talks a joint press conference of the NKR President
Bako Sahakian and the OSCE Chair-in-Office Ilkka Kanerva >>> was
held.

Touching upon the results of the bilateral talks held with the
Karabakh party, the OSCE Chair-in-Office expressed satisfaction with
the fact that the Nagorno-Karabakh political leadership had
reaffirmed its adherence to the peaceful settlement of the issue.
Ilkka Kanerva noted it was very important for him to visit both
Armenia and Azerbaijan and consider the situation from the position
of both parties. He stated Finland, as the country chairing the OSCE,
supported the issue’s constructive settlement and searched for the
ways of its solution.

The OSCE Chair-in-Office noted he had already met with RA President,
RA FM and other officials. `The Karabakh issue was one of the
principal items in our agenda’, the OSCE Chair-in-Office said.
Answering a question if the OSCE Chair-in-Office endorsed the opinion
that the OSCE Minsk group had been exhausted Ilkka Kanerva noted he
did not see serious arguments that could convince him in it. `The
Minsk group, in my opinion, makes its additional contribution to the
process of the issue’s settlement, enhances confidence between the
parties and is a guarantor of achieving positive result. The Minsk
group is an effective mechanism’, the OSCE Chair-in-Office noted.

At the same time, the OSCE Chair-in-Office underscored the importance
of continuation of contacts and meetings between Armenian and
Azerbaijani Presidents.

Touching on the perspectives of advancement of the settlement process
Ilkka Kanerva noted, `When the situation created in connection with
presidential elections in Armenia already becomes a historic event, I
think we’ll have a big ground for growing optimism apropos of the
Nagorno-Karabakh issue’s settlement’.

Touching upon the issue referring to Azerbaijani party’s militaristic
statements Ilkka Kanerva said, `in the course of political debates,
before the issue’ settlement is achieved, strong expressions are used
sometimes, however, they cannot have a positive influence on the
issue’s resolution’.