Author: Nahapetian Samvel

AUTHORITIES ARE TO BLAME FOR CRIME

A1+
10-02-2005

“If we politicize a street incident we will break up the activities
of the law enforcement bodies”, ARFD faction leader Levon Lazarian
tried to justify the vague and wait-and-see attitude of the ARFD on
the criminal situation in the country and especially on the skirmish
in one of the Yerevan districts.

Taking into consideration that so many crimes, including the murder of
party-fellow Poghos Poghosyan, is Levon Lazarian sure that the justice
will triumph without politicization of the problem? In answer to this
question he said that many criminals have already been arrested and he
believes that the law enforcement bodies will justify themselves. The
great number of armed guards and their activities he conditioned
by the absence of law on guards and mentioned of the importance of
the bill “On Guards” he had submitted to the consideration of the
National Assembly.

“In soviet times only one person had his own guards and they were
unnoticeable”, Peopleâ~@~Ys Deputy faction representative Mkrtich
Minasyan said.

Leader of RPA Galust Sahakyan used rather sharp expressions. He
stated that such incident negatively tell in the society and people
lose the feeling of security. In his opinion the authorities are
behaving naïvely and indifferently and do not combat criminal
elements. â~@~We are all to blameâ~@~], he said and added that one
cannot expect much of a policeman or investigator, who earn 20-25
thousand drams month. Sahakyan considers that the law enforcement
system badly needs reformation.

–Boundary_(ID_JRupqhqknTInXyWjmmziZw)–

MRI Machines Maker Fonar Posts 2Q Profit

MRI Machines Maker Fonar Corp. Swings to
Second-Quarter Profit on 65 Percent Jump in Sales

Associated Press
Wednesday, February 9, 2005

MELVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — Fonar Corp., a maker of magnetic resonance
imaging — or MRI — machines, on Wednesday posted a second-quarter
profit from a year-ago loss on a jump in sales.

Despite the good news, the company’s stock fell 8 cents, or 4.7
percent, to $1.62 in afternoon trading on the Nasdaq, which President
and Founder Raymond V. Damadian called a case of “buy on rumor,
sell on news.”

The 52-week low of $1 was set Oct. 25.

For the three months ended Dec. 31, net income rose to a profit of
$1.1 million, or 1 cent per share, from a loss of $2.6 million, or
3 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue grew by 65 percent to $29.5
million from $17.9 million.

In a press release, Damadian attributed the improvement to increased
demand and service and repair fees, as well as cost control.

“We believe that our sales and marketing initiatives combined with
continuing cost controls and new business opportunities provide the
company with a solid foundation for sustained profitability for the
remainder of this fiscal year,” he said.

DRAFT AGREEMENT WITH CANADIAN CORPORATION INDUSMIN ENERGY
ON GEOLOGICAL PROSPECTING OF OIL AND GAS UNDER PREPARATION

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11. ARMINFO. In late February Armenia’s Energy
Ministry will approve a draft agreement with the Canadian corporation
“Indusmin Energy” on conducting geological prospecting of oil and gas
in Armenia, says the RA government’s program for 2005. Then the draft
will be submitted for government’s approval.

As energy minister Armen Movsesyan informed journalists earlier, by
prior arrangement Industium Energy is ready to invest $10 mln in oil
and gas prospecting in Armenia. The funds, in particular, will be
invested to geological survey of gas in the Armavir region. Minister
noted that Armenia’s gas resources are not enough for commercial
production but are important for the country. He added that oil and
gas prospecting was conducted in the Soviet time but were not
completed because of lack of funds. -R-

Bush seeks funds for Iraqi partners

UPI, United Press Int’l
February 9, 2005 Wednesday 3:43 PM EST

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 — President George W. Bush will ask Congress for
$400 million to help the military capability of some nations helping
in Iraq, the White House said Wednesday.

The funding would be part of the $81 billion supplemental funding
request for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan he was to
send to Capitol Hill soon.

It was not immediately clear, however, if the $400 million would be
wrapped into the $81 billion figure or added to it.

“The nest hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom
in all the world,” a news release quoted the president. “Our closest
partners agree. For many of these partners, now vibrant democracies
and staunch allies, the tragedy of tyranny is a painful chapter in
their own receipt histories.”

Some 28 nations have troops in Iraq. Among them are former Soviet
satellite states such as Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia and Armenia —
all countries with limited military resources. Their contingents
range from a few dozen soldiers to Poland’s 2,400, of which 800 are
being withdrawn soon.

The United States has about 150,000 troops in Iraq and Britain more
than 8,000. The total multinational force is about 29,000.

OSCE CO-CHAIRS INTEND TO ATTACH THE UN SUPREME COMMISSAR ON CAUSE OF REFUGEES

Azg/arm
9 Feb 05

After the OSCE monitoring group accomplished its mission in Nagorno
Karabakh, Yuri Merzlyakov, an OSCE co-chair, stated at a Stepanakert
meeting with refugees from all over Karabakh: “The task of OSCE
co-chairs is to support the negotiation process. We cannot solve it
instead of the conflicting sides as every suggestion by the co-chairs
uncoordinated with the sides will be turned down by one of the side
as it was in the past. We do everything to bring positions closer and
to somehow break the silence to start the talks. For that reason it
is unbecoming to expect that the co-chairs will find a magic solution
mutually acceptable for both sides. There is no such solution as all
the variants have already been considered. What we can do now is to
pick up elements and adjust them in a way that will bring solution
to at least few aspects of the issue, if it is impossible to give a
final and overall solution to it. Solution that will grant the two
peoples if not to reconcile then to trust and not to see evil in each
otherâ~@~Ys steps the least”.

The issue of refugees was commented by Merzlyakov as integral part
of the conflictâ~@~Ys future settlement. He was suspicious over the
possibility of returning to the former settlements. “I cannot imagine a
situation if, say, Azeris call Armenians to return to Shahumian. Would
you go if they invite?”, he asked the audience.

“There must be proper conditions for people to return. It must be
certain where they are returning to. As far as there are no such
conditions, I think all the calls are simply a propaganda or a
self-deceit or they are lying to others”, the Russian co-chair stated.

The Minsk group co-chairs decided to turn to the UN Supreme Commissar
on Cause of Refugees as the issue is under his jurisdiction. “The
sides should apply to the Department of UN Supreme Commissar on
Cause of Refugees having agreed on the circle of issues and on the
conditions of support”, he said.

Bernard Fassie, the French co-chair, agreed with such a decision
noting that he still sees no solution the refugee issue.

Emphasizing the neutral stance of Minsk group co-chairmanship, Yuri
Merzlyakov said that it is unfair to condemn them of not showing
sympathy to one of the sides and of hiding emotions. They are not
judges and cannot say who is right and who is wrong. The Russian
diplomat confessed that he has a great desire to quit the work after
each such meeting. “But the Bible verse saying â~@~XBlessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of Godâ~@~Y holds me back
from a final decision” Merzlyakov said.

Speaking of the present stage of the talks, Merzlyakov said that the
most important is that there is a talk process and it continues. He
expressed hope the resuming Prague process will work out concrete
agreements on separate issues and they will be filed in one document.

By Kim Gabrielian

–Boundary_(ID_37NXR2DwydUOmSIpLuqYKQ)–

Dutch court to review case of Kurds detained at alleged rebel training camp
by ANTHONY DEUTSCH; Associated Press Writer

Associated Press Worldstream
February 7, 2005 Monday

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — A Dutch court was on Tuesday to review the
cases of 16 Kurds detained last year in the Dutch countryside allegedly
training to carry out terrorist attacks in Turkey and Armenia.

The 16 defendants arrested in a November sweep were to be charged
under tough new anti-terrorism laws that went into effect a few months
before they were detained. Prosecutors say all are members of a rebel
group known as the Kurdish Workers’ Party, or PKK. They are accused
of membership in a terrorist organization and passport forgery,
among other charges.

Charges against 22 others were dropped and they have been handed
over to immigration authorities, prosecution spokeswoman Desiree
Leppens said.

The November raid was the largest single crackdown to date on suspected
PKK members in the European Union. Members of the PKK met openly in
the Netherlands throughout the 1990s, but the group was banned in
Europe last year.

More than 200 police were involved in the operation near the town of
Boxtel in the southern Brabant province.

Police seized night vision goggles, packages of clothing intended to
be sent abroad, instructional materials, passports and identity cards,
prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say “more than 20 people were being trained for armed
conflict … including terrorist attacks” and that they were being
prepped in special war tactics. Others allegedly arranged money
transfers, passports and passed along information to foreign members.

Prosecutors were expected to request more time to prepare their case
at Tuesday’s pretrial hearing.

Fighting between Turkish troops and autonomy-seeking Kurds has killed
some 37,000 people since rebels took up arms in 1984. The rebels
are fighting to carve out an independent state in the mountainous
southeast region of Turkey.

Turkey has long demanded that European Union nations act against
the rebel group, whose sympathizers run a satellite TV station in
Denmark and allegedly collect hundreds of thousands of dollars a year
in major European cities.

In January, a Dutch court blocked the extradition of Kurdish rebel
leader Nuriye Kesbir to Turkey, saying it feared she could be tortured
if sent to a Turkish prison. Kesbir was accused of helping plan a
series of bombings for the PKK in the 1990s.

Azerbaijani president describes Turkey as “closest ally”

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
7 Feb 05

Baku, 7 February: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has stated that Turkey
and Azerbaijan are the closest allies of each other. “Turkey has always stood
by Azerbaijan,” said Aliyev.

Aliyev hosted Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and his delegation at
the Presidential Palace.

In a speech delivered at the palace, Aliyev stressed that relations in all
areas are developing rapidly between Turkey and Azerbaijan. “It is pleasing to
see the developments between our two countries in the areas of economy and
politics. The Turkish investments in Azerbaijan are very prominent for the future
of Azerbaijan,” told Aliyev.

According to Aliyev, Turkey stands by Azerbaijan in the issue of Upper
Karabakh. “We always feel Turkey’s support to Azerbaijan,” expressed Aliyev.

Aliyev thanked Arinc for Turkey’s support that led to the adoption of a
decision by the European Council that describes Armenia’s actions in Karabakh as
“an occupation of Azeri territory”. Aliyev indicated that the understanding of
“one nation, two governments” will always exist between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

Arinc expressed a desire to see the end of Armenian occupation of Karabakh.
“We want the Armenian occupation to end soon and no longer wish to see tyranny
in Karabakh,” said Arinc.

Aliyev will host a dinner tonight in honour of Arinc and his delegation.

Le Monde, France
vendredi 4 Février 2005

Benon Sevan, 40 ans dans la machinerie onusienne

On le croise régulièrement dans les couloirs. Sa femme Micheline, une
Française, travaillait encore récemment dans un service du deuxième
étage. Benon Sevan, le premier responsable de l’ONU mis en cause par
la commission Volcker, a pris sa retraite après la dissolution du
programme “Pétrole contre nourriture” en novembre 2003, mais il a été
prié de rester sur place – avec son salaire – pour participer à
l’enquête.

Arménien de nationalité chypriote, gé de 67 ans, Benon Sevan a fait
toute sa carrière à l’ONU, comme Kofi Annan. Il est entré en 1965 au
département de l’information avant de travailler au comité sur la
décolonisation puis en Afghanistan, où il a été représentant spécial.
Il a été chargé de surveiller le retrait des forces russes de ce
pays.

De retour à New York, il a été nommé directeur du programme “Pétrole
contre nourriture” par Kofi Annan en octobre 1997. Le bureau de
gestion des sanctions contre l’Irak comptait quelque 1 000 personnes
qui surveillaient les contrats, établissaient les listes de biens que
l’Irak était autorisé à importer.

M. Sevan, mis en cause parmi d’autres personnalités, en janvier 2004
par un quotidien irakien, a toujours proclamé son innocence. Jeudi,
son avocat Eric Lewis a publié un communiqué démentant toute
malversation. Il a affirmé que M. Sevan n’avait “jamais accepté quoi
que ce soit de qui que ce soit” et n’avait pas d’intérêts dans une
compagnie pétrolière. Il a accusé la commission de chercher “un bouc
émissaire” et de succomber à “des pressions politiques massives”.

Le directeur de cabinet de Kofi Annan, Mark Malloch Brown, a répondu
à ces accusations avec sévérité. “Benon Sevan est un ami très cher
pour beaucoup d’entre nous – j’ai travaillé avec lui pendant des
années -, mais quand vous avez en face de vous trois enquêteurs
internationaux, un budget d’investigation de 34 millions de dollars
et 65 enquêteurs, vous ne vous érigez pas tout seul en une cour
d’appel de leurs résultats.” Il a annoncé que l’immunité dont
jouissent les fonctionnaires internationaux serait levée dès lors
qu’une procédure judiciaire serait entamée.

Le 19 août 2003, Benon Sevan se trouvait à Bagdad pour préparer la
fermeture du programme. Il allait se rendre dans le bureau situé
juste au-dessous de celui de Sergio Vieira de Mello lorsque le
btiment a été frappé par l’attentat. Lorsqu’il a fermé le programme
“Pétrole contre nourriture”, au milieu des premières allégations de
mauvaise gestion, il a reçu un hommage appuyé de la part de Kofi
Annan.

Corine Lesnes

INTERVIEW WITH PRIME MINISTER

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
04 Feb 05

Mr. Prime Minister, at the last meeting of the government you made
several interesting statements. You also mentioned the necessity of
reconsidering several programs of the government. What are the reasons
for this? – As you know, in 2000 the government worked out the program
of reforms of economic development which included tax, investment, as
well as structural, sphere, regional and several other components. The
program was confined to concrete terms: 2000-2002 years of intensive
reforms, 2003-2005 years of steep economic growth and 2006-2010 years
of potential development of the economy. Today I may state that the
two stages are literally coming to an end and now we not only give an
assessment to the past years of reforms but we have also set new
milestonesbefore the decisive stage taking into account past
achievements and mistakes. – Would you give details? For instance,
the government had estimated a 25-30 per cent growth of the GDP in
2002-2004. In 2002 the growth of the GDP was 36.2 per cent, in 2003
43.8 per cent and in 2004 56 per cent. The estimated indices were
significantly surpassed in foreign trade. Especially good achievements
were reported in the export of goods. It suffices to mention that the
export of 1.1 billion drams in 2000 reached 19.2 billion in 2004. That
is, it grew 17.4 times in the result of which the negative trade
balance of the country was reduced from 14 times to 2 times (export
19.2 billion, import 58.7 billion). Naturally the growth of income
also surpassed the expected rates, which I consider one of the chief
achievements of the economic reforms. For the years 2003-2005 we had
estimated a growth of income by 30 per cents which is indeed a high
rate but in 2003 the rate of growth was 42 percent, in 2004 44.8 per
cent. It is notable that in the budget of 2005 we have already
maintained 42 per cent of growth of income. The government announced
that owing to the reforms the rate of the GDP in 2001 (23.8 billion
drams) would double in the next five years (reaching 47.6 billion
drams in 2006). However, taking into account the high rates of
economic growth, the government planned to increase the volume of the
GDP in the state budget of 2005 up to 48 billion. And this means that
already in 2005 the volume of the GDP of 2001 will have doubled, and
not in 5 but 4 years. By the way, the government kept another
important vow. In two years the volume of income of 2002 doubled in
2004. The planned rates were surpassed as wellin reference to the
minimum and average salaries, allowances and other spheres. The steep
growth of macroeconomic rates once again confirmed that the economic
reforms implemented in the republic are on the right way and proved
their viability. Taking into account these facts the government worked
out a new program of economic development last October, which will
cover the period between 2006-2010 and will mainly be based upon the
rates of the previous years.- By the way, in the meeting of the
government you said that working out of the programs will be over in
the first semester of the current year. At the same time you mentioned
indices which will be a milestone for further macroeconomic rates. I
wonder in what directions the program will develop. – I may say that
the macroeconomic part of the program is ready. At the same time, the
major part still remains. The new program will in fact differ from the
others; besidesthe sums to be provided to spheres and regions and
their sources also the estimated value of each object, the source of
financing and the date will be recorded. Moreover, besides the
material aspect the program will also involve components grounded from
the structural, infrastructure, regional development and economic
aspects of the management system. – Mr. Prime Minister, which will be
the main estimated macroeconomic indices of the NKR development
program for 2006-2010? – You know, while commenting on economic topics
certain journalists mix the numbers and the reader has difficulties in
getting a true idea. In order for it to be easier for you, today I
will mention only one number which will be easy to remember –
100. However, this number refers to the three directions of economic
development. In 2006-2010, that is in five years, it is planned to
double the GDP increasing it once again up to 100 billion drams. The
secondgoal is to double the budget of the country in the mentioned
period. That is to say, in 2010 it will total almost 100 million US
dollars. And third, according to the program, in 2010 the average
salary in the republic will total about100 thousand drams. – Thank
you. We wish to the second program of development of Artsakh worked
out by the government to be as successful as the program for 2000-2005′

REGNUM.
04-02-2005

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Jan 31 2005

Azeri officer to stand trial February 8

BAKU

The trial of senior lieutenant Ramil Safarov, an officer in the
Azerbaijan Army, charged with murdering the Armenian serviceman
Gurgen Markarian in Budapest, Hungary, will be held on February 8.
The Azerbaijani officer will be provided with the second attorney
from Hungary to better defend his rights, lawyer Adil Ismayilov said.

Talks on the issue are underway and the Hungarian lawyer will be
named within the next two days, he said.
Safarov, who comes from Jabrayil District, Azerbaijan’s region
occupied by Armenia, murdered the Armenian officer for humiliating
his honor and dignity.*