Author: Nahapetian Samvel

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS NOT TO RESPOND YET LILIT POGHOSYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
June 25, 2008
Armenia

As we know last week the Temporary Committee Investigating March 1-2
Developments came to a decision to involve the extra-parliamentary
forces that attained 3% and more votes during the parliamentary
elections ("United Labor Party", "National Unity" and "Nor Jamanakner")
in the works of the Committee with the right to a consultative vote.

As the Head of the Committee, Secretary of RPA Faction Samvel
Nikoyan informed during the press conference, hold after the session
"National Unity" and "United Labor Party" officially responded to the
invitation and vice Chairman of the National Unity Sargis Muradkhanyan
participated in yesterday’s session, Leader of the United Labor Party
Gurgen Arsenyan was also going to participate in the session but for
unknown reasons he was not present yesterday.

>From the ex-presidential candidates, leader of the National Democratic
Party Vazgen Manukyan accepted the proposal for cooperation and
Tigran Karapetyan expressed his negative stance, saying that his
participation in the works of the Committee is senseless until "the
main instigator of the massive disorder deigns to bring his personal
participation in the works of the Committee and pursues his "rights".

Attaching great importance to the fair examination of March 1
developments the Committee came to a decision to appeal to interested
extra-parliamentary forces and representatives of society, those
who cannot be involved in the works of the Committee. The goal is
to clarify "what questions do our people have, what issues would
they like the Committee to clarify. To spell out the agenda of those
issues the Committee will appeal to the social organizations and the
political forces to submit them in a written form."

Samvel Nikoyan appealed to the Human Rights Defender and anticipates
his assistance.

As for independent MP Lyova Khachatryan the latter withdrew his
candidacy yesterday. The reason is "the atmosphere of distrust and
hostility, towards the Committee and himself in particular, because
he is in very close relations with the Prosecutor General and people
think this will prevent him from being impartial. That is why he
came to a decision to withdraw his candidacy to contribute to the
neutralization of the negative attitude."

By the time the Parliament is on holiday, up to September L.

Khachatryan’s seat will be vacant.

Samvel Nikoyan said yesterday’s working session was marked with the
adoption of the Committee’s working regulation: "This issue has been
discussed in all the previous sessions. Each member of the Committee
has submitted his stance. Today we managed to solve that issue by
means of consensus."

We have included one expert in the Committee on contract
bases. Later we will invite other experts, by the proposal of the
extra-parliamentary opposition. "Besides the fact that L. Ter-Petrosyan
can participate in the works of the Committee by the status of a
member, he can send his expert to participate in the works. They
expressed distrust, they wanted to send Gevorik, instead we propose
them to send their expert as well," S.

Nikoyan said.

The international organizations haven’t yet responded to the appeal of
the Committee to send their experts. The responsible representative
of OSCE office particularly mentioned that they couldn’t take
swift decisions regarding procedural issues. If it turns out that
the European structures can’t send their experts because they lack
similar practice, the Committee will appeal to other international
organizations.

"And what about the participation of "Heritage" Faction? Should we
consider this topic closed?"

"No. We are waiting for the leader of "Heritage’ faction to return. The
day before, immediately after the briefing I went to see the leader of
the faction but unfortunately he had left the country. We will meet
when he returns," the Chairman of the Committee said in response to
our question.

WHAT THE RUSSIAN PAPERS SAY WASHINGTON ADVOCATES AZERBAIJAN’S ACCESSION TO NATO

RIA Novosti
June 25 2008
Russia

from Nezavisimaya Gazeta

During U.S.-Azerbaijani security consultations, to be held in Baku in
July, the sides may consider the possibility of Azerbaijan’s accession
to NATO, Anne Derse, U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said on Tuesday.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev plans to visit Baku on July 3.

Azerbaijan is the third country in the GUAM block comprising Georgia,
Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, which the West says should be
admitted to NATO. As for Moldova, its non-bloc stance may change
after the presidential elections this fall.

The Baku authorities claim to be surprised by Derse’s words.

Kyamil Khasiyev, Azerbaijan’s representative at the bloc, said:
"Azerbaijan is not in a hurry to join NATO, although our cooperation
with it is proceeding quite well."

He also denied the possibility of holding a referendum on NATO
accession, as Georgia did.

Political analyst Rasim Musabekov said: "The Azerbaijani authorities
have never voiced a desire to join NATO." He thinks this would have
more serious consequences for the country than in the case of Georgia.

"Only Russia is against Georgia joining the bloc, but in our case we
will also have to deal with the opposition of Iran. And don’t forget
about the frozen war with Armenia," Musabekov said, adding that the
benefits of joining NATO were questionable. "The West wants this,
but what would Baku gain?"

Alexei Malashenko, an expert at the Carnegie Moscow Center,
said: "There is nothing surprising in the processes underway in
Azerbaijan. They are logical, and I don’t think Moscow views them
as sensational. If Azerbaijan joins NATO, this will add a highly
interesting factor to the Karabakh conflict."

David Babayan, a political analyst from the disputed Nagorno Karabakh
republic, said: "The territory of Azerbaijan is one of the most
desirable parts of the Europe-South Caucasus-Central Asia structure,
with a potential link to China and India. In this sense, the West
will, predictably, do its best to encourage NATO cooperation with
Azerbaijan."

Babakyan said Azerbaijan’s possible accession to NATO would influence
the situation in Nagorno Karabakh, because the West needs stability
in the South Caucasus and therefore settlement of the Karabakh problem
to carry out its challenging geopolitical project.

ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS STRIVING FOR BILLION-DOLLAR TRADE TURNOVER

ARKA
June 24
YEREVAN

The presidents of Russia and Armenia both plan to increase bilateral
trade turnover to billion dollars in the coming two years, RIA
Novosti reports.

Armenia-Russia trade turnover exceeded $0.8bln last year. According to
Medvedev, Russia has invested some $1.2bln in Armenia’s economy. He
believes this can serve a good basis for bilateral trade-economic
cooperation.

Armenian and Russian presidents met today in Kremlin to discuss
bilateral economic and political cooperation issues, as well as the
Karabakh conflict settlement.

The Russian leader suggested that they focus on trade-economic issues.

Medvedev approved of the dynamic development of Armenian-Russian
economic cooperation. In his turn, RA President Serge Sargsian
assured his Russian counterpart that bilateral relations will become
closer.

OIC FOREIGN MINISTERS BACK LEYLA ALIYEVA`S INITIATIVE

State Telegraph Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
June 22, 2008

Foreign ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference have
supported the initiative by Alliance of Civilizations Coordinator
of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation
Leyla Aliyeva entitled Justice for Khojaly, Freedom for Karabakh.

The resolution adopted at the 35th meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers
Council in Kampala, Uganda, provides for setting a Day of Victims of
Humanitarian tragedies in the OIC countries, including the Khojaly
genocide.

The resolution also provides for holding a campaign to deliver
truths about Armenia`s aggressive policy against Azerbaijan to the
international community.

Speaking to journalists, Leyla Aliyeva expressed her gratitude to
the OIC foreign ministers for backing her initiative.

ALLIANCE LEADERS ARRIVE IN ARMENIA

Panorama.am
17:11 23/06/2008

In the frames of "NATO Week" in Armenia the leaders of the Alliance
are expected to arrive in Armenia, as well as a range of events,
said Gegham Gharibjanyan, the Vice Foreign Minister of Armenia in a
press conference, today.

It is the second time NATO Week is conducted in Armenia. The mission
of the Week is to present the principle directions of the Armenia-NATO
cooperation, the direction of the modern projects of the Alliance
and its basics to the state and society.

On June 24 international forum starts where several issues will
be discussed.

OIC CALLS FOR END OF ISOLATION OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS

Hurriye
June 20 2008
Turkey

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) called on Friday
for an end to the isolation of Turkish Cypriots in the "Kampala
Declaration" adopted at the foreign ministers’ meeting of the
organization in the Ugandan capital of Kampala.

In the declaration, the organization reiterated its commitment to a
fair solution of the Cyprus problem.

"The organization once more reaffirms its solidarity with its Muslim
brothers in North Cyprus," the declaration said.

The declaration called on the international community, including
OIC member states, to take concrete steps to end the isolation of
Turkish Cypriots.

OIC member states also voiced their support for a peaceful solution
to the Arab-Israeli dispute, and welcomed the signing of the Doha
Agreement that solved the political crisis in Lebanon.

The declaration also supported efforts to ensure national compromise
among all Iraqi people, and emphasized the importance of preservation
of Iraq’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity.

In the declaration, the organization condemned the terrorist attacks
in Afghanistan and called on the international community to extend
more assistance to the Afghan government and people.

The organization said that member states had the right to use nuclear
energy for peaceful purposes, and also said that the Iran nuclear
energy controversy should be solved through peaceful means.

The OIC member states condemned Armenia’s aggressive attitude towards
Azerbaijan, and asked Armenia to withdraw from the Azerbaijani
territories immediately and without precondition.

In the statement, the organization also condemned all acts of
terrorism, and underlined importance of cooperation against terrorism.

The members also condemned Islamophobia and discrimination against
Muslims, and called on the international community to take efficient
measures to prevent them.

ARMENIA: "INSUFFICIENT PROGRESS" ON PACE DEMANDS

A1+
[03:39 pm] 20 June, 2008

An urgent debate on Armenia at the plenary session of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is warranted, according to
the head of PACE’s Monitoring Committee.

Progress made so far by the Armenian authorities in meeting the
Assembly’s demands following the February 2008 post-election violence
has been judged insufficient by the committee’s co-rapporteurs Georges
Colombier (France, EPP/CD) and John Prescott (United Kingdom, SOC),
its chair Serhiy Holovaty said in a letter today to the Assembly’s
President.

The two parliamentarians made a two-day visit to the country (16-17
June) to assess progress, in line with an earlier decision taken by
the committee in Kyiv.

SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT MEETS CHEZH AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-06-18 17:06:00

Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Tigran Torosyan met Czech
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Ivan Jestrab,
Wednesday.

The Armenian parliamentary press-service told ArmInfo that during
the meeting Torosyan pointed out the development of the relations
between the two-countries’ parliaments. For his part, Jestrab shared
his impressions with Torosyan and noted that he is going to visit
Armenia more frequently.

To note, this is the first visit of the Czech diplomat to Yerevan. He
noted that he has already felt the necessity to visit the regions
of Armenia.

The Czech diplomat stated that his country shows great interest in
countries of the South Caucasus, particularly, in Armenia. He noted
that in January 2009 the Czech Republic will become the presiding
country in the EU for the first time and it is currently preparing for
this honorable and difficult mission, intending to promote partnership
with eastern neighbors of the European Union. He also said that the
Czech Republic is ready to support the South Caucasus development
and ensuring of security of the region.

Ivan Jestrab also touched on development of the economic and scientific
and cultural relations between Armenia and the Czech Republic which
still lie behind the high level of the political cooperation. He thinks
fortification of these relations is one of his direct tasks. In this
context, the ambassador emphasized importance of the Czech Republic
Embassy opening in Yerevan. The parties also touched on the necessity
of cooperation within the frames of international organizations.

A1+ CASE: "ARMENIA WON NOT DEFEATED"

Panorama.am
15:13 18/06/2008

"The decisions of the European Court of Human Rights should not be
considered as victories or defeats as every decision is aimed to help
and direct the State, officials and public representatives to make the
local legislations in line with the European standards," said Gevorg
Kostanyan, the Deputy Minister of Justice and the representative of
the RA Government in the European Court of Human Rights, in a press
conference, today.

In particular the deputy minister finds it inaccurate the announcements
of "Meltex" company about their victory. Remind that yesterday;
on June 17 the European Court of Human Rights upheld the case of
"Meltex" company vs. Republic of Armenia. The RA Commissioner in the
European Court of Human Rights said that the Republic of Armenia has
more gained in this case than it is defeated.

2 of 3 are declined

"We can state that RA is not defeated as they have appealed 3
demands and 2 of them are declined. The court upheld only 1 point
and registered a violation," said the Deputy Minister. According
to the appeal, the company notified that its freedom of speech and
independence and independent investigation are violated.

According to the European Court the right of independent investigation
of "Meltex" company is not violated and no restrictions are
conducted. According to the Court the right of freedom of expression is
violated as the National Committee of TV and Radio did not clarified
the subpoints of the decline. In this regard, the Deputy Minister
said that the decision will help the committee to be more accurate
in providing the basis of declines.

London gets its part

Mesrop Harutyunyan and "Meltex" company expected to get 1mln 500
thousands dollars for compensation from the RA. But in the result of
the RA Government negotiations the company will get EUR 30 thousands.

The company applied to the court to get financial, moral and advocate
expenses compensations, by the way, the company mentioned two types
of advocate service compensation – internal and international.

The European Court declined to affirm internal compensation and made a
decision that only international advocate service expenses should be
compensated. Note that the company’s international advocate service
provider is "KJRP" company which presents the interests of Azeri
citizens in the court.

The Deputy Minister of Justice said that "Meltex" company has right
to take part in the tenders of getting broadcasting frequency.

BBC NEWS

Prison for Turkey book ‘insult’

A Turkish publisher has been sentenced to five months in prison for
publishing a book by a British author about the mass killing of
Armenians in 1915. Ragip Zarakolu was found guilty of "insulting the
institutions of the Turkish republic" under Article 301 of Turkey’s
penal code.

The controversial law was recently reformed under pressure from the EU
to ensure freedom of speech in Turkey.

This is the first high-profile verdict to be handed down since then.

Mr Zarakolu’s sentence seems to confirm campaigners’ fears that
changes to the law were merely cosmetic, says the BBC’s Sarah
Rainsford in Istanbul.

In April it became a crime to insult the Turkish nation, rather than
Turkishness. But insulting the Turkish nation can still be punished by
up to two years in jail.

Sensitive issue

Mr Zarakolu was brought to trial for publishing a book by British
author George Jerjian on the mass killings of Armenians under the
Ottoman Empire in 1915.

Turkey denies the killings were genocide and the issue remains highly
sensitive.

Passing sentence, the judge told Mr Zarakolu he had insulted the
Turkish republic and its founders. His own defence – that he had the
right to criticise – was rejected.

Mr Zarakolu’s case was not referred to the Turkish ministry of
justice, as required under the reforms, and he has said he will appeal
against the verdict, our correspondent reports.

His sentence will not be imposed until that appeal process is
complete.

Outside the court, Mr Zarakolu said that such rulings had silenced
many writers in Turkey but that he would continue to challenge the
restrictions.

"I was partly waiting for this result. But it is a struggle for the
truth and it will go on. I do not accept myself as convicted. This is
a conviction for official history and for denialism," he said.

The justice ministry recently revealed that 1,700 people were tried
under Article 301 in 2006 alone.

Story from BBC NEWS:
/7459729.stm