Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

VAAN OVANNISYAN: "NAGORNO GARABAGH MUST RETURN TO THE NEGOTIATION TABLE"

Today
cs/42525.html
Jan 22 2008
Azerbaijan

Nagorno Garabagh must return to the negotiation table.

The due statement was made by Vaan Ovannisyan, member of the Bureau of
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation "Dashnaktsutsun", representing
his election program.

"It is necessary to ensure Nagorno Garabagh’s participation in the
peaceful settlement of the conflict", the Armenian politician said.

According to Vaan Ovannisyan’s election program, the problem settlement
must be acceptable for the citizens of Armenia and Garabagh.

Notably, the presidential elections in Armenia are scheduled for
February 19 of 2008.

RA PRESIDENT ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO WORK OF ODIHR OBSERVATION MISSION

Noyan Tapan
Jan 22, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. "We are interested in holding
elections meeting the international standards and have tried to
do everything possible in the respect of their organization," RA
President Robert Kocharian stated on January 22, receiving Ambassador
Geert-Hinrich Ahrens, the head of the observation mission of the
OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

Saying that this period is very responsible for the country, the
RA President attached much importance to the observation mission’s
work. R. Kocharian expected serious cooperation from the observation
mission, the goal of which, in his words, should be the holding of
good elections. At the same time, he said that he would like each
call and information to be checked in detail until being registered.

According to the report provided to NT by the RA President’s Press
Office, Ambassador Ahrens also expressed readiness for cooperation. He
briefly presented the work to be done by the long-term and short-term
observation missions.

NIKITA MOBILE LICENSED TO BRING MOBILE INTERNET TO ARMENIA
by Michael Lacquiere

Global Insight
Jan 21 2008

Russian game company Nikita Mobile has been awarded a licence by
Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) to provide
data transmission and internet access in the capital city of Yerevan,
reports ARKA. Nikita’s partners in Armenia include the country’s two
mobile operators, VivaCell and Armentel, as well as internet service
provider Cornet-AM.

Significance:Late last year, both VivaCell and Armentel were awarded 3G
licences, thus paving the way for the provision of value-added services
(seeArmenia: 9 October 2007:and10 October 2007:). The gaming market
would increase the operators’ appeal, especially among the younger
demographic, while also contributing towards ARPU and revenues. ARPU
levels in Armenia were high at the end of the third quarter of 2007,
with VimpelCom reporting that Armentel’s was $17US.6, while Mobile
TeleSystems reported that VivaCell’s was $15US.7.

Armenian singers support Serge Sargsyan

armradio.am
19.01.2008 14:29

A number of famous singers today officially declared about the decision
to support Prime Minister of Armenia, President of the Republican Party
Serge Sargsyan at the forthcoming presidential elections.

`We have not made that decision forcedly. We did that with the call of
the heart, since the Republican Party has always stood next to culture.
Serge Sargsyan is aware of the victories and pains of our country,’
Shushan Petrosyan noted.

`The candidate whom I’d liek to teh Presidnet of my country is
resolute, courageous and clever,’ Nune Yesayan said.

The future President of Armenia, according to singer Hayko, must first
of all be a commander, `with whom we shall feel strong and will be
citizens of a good country.’ `I want me and the future generations to
be proud of my Motherland. And I see the realization of my wish in the
candidate elected,’ Forsh noted.

Participants of the event stressed the importance of Serge Sargsyan’s
support to the realization of different cultural programs and
initiatives. The meeting was concluded with a song specially dedicated
to the presidential elections.

BAKU WILL NOT CONSIDER INCLUDING NAGORNO-KARABAKH IN NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS

Trend News Agency
Jan 18 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 18 January / Trend corr. J.Babayeva / Baku will
not consider including Nagorno-Karabakh in the negotiations process,
Khazar Ibrahim, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Press Secretary,
stated to Trend on 18 January.

"This issue has not been included in the document, which is on the
table of discussions," Ibrahim said.

OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs submitted written proposals to settle the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to the Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign
Ministries in December. Bernard Fassier, the France Co-chair OSCE
Minsk Group, mentioned the discussions held in Yerevan to include
Nagorno-Karabakh in the negotiations process.

Nizami Bahmanov, the head of the Azerbaijani community of
Nagorno-Karabakh, expressed his disagreement with the statement
concerning the inclusion of Nagorno-Karabakh to the negotiation
process.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988, due to the Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Since 1992, the Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven neighbouring
districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire
agreement which ended the active hostilities. The Co-Chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding
the peaceful negotiations.

MAIN ACHIEVEMENT OF THE DEFENSE ARMY’S ANOTHER YEAR OF PEACE FOR KARABAKH

KarabakhOpen
18-01-2008 13:14:09

On January 17 the minister of defense Movses Hakobyan held a news
conference and summed up the results of the year 2007. He said the
main achievement is the peaceful year.

The minister underlined that in 2007 the military and political
situation has become complicated in the region. The main factor,
according to him, is Azerbaijan’s militaristic statements and the fact
that even in international organizations the Azerbaijani leadership
threatens to resolve the conflict through force. As a result the
number of skirmishes at the line of contact tripled in 2007.

The situation in Turkey and Iran is also complicated. In addition,
the minister said tensions at the border with Iran were relieved after
the statement by the U.S. State Department statement that Iran does
not produce nuclear weapon.

With regard to the unsettled conflicts in Afghanistan, Iran, Kosovo
Movses Hakobyan underlined that it is highly important for Karabakh
to track the conflicts involving Muslim countries. "Azerbaijan makes
efforts to put pressure on the Armenian side through the countries with
which it has religious and ethnic ties," the minister of defense says.

According to Movses Hakobyan, in 2007 the army achieved its
goals. Despite provocations, tension at the front line has weakened,
and it was relatively calm at the border in the past few months.

With regard to achievements, the minister noted that last year
a large-scale exercise was held, in which all kinds of forces
participated.

The construction of an anti-tank line was completed and this year
the focus will be on the personnel line. "We are going to finish the
construction of command posts, as well as to lay out safe passages
to the front line," the minister said.

Movses Hakobyan also said this year the NKR Army of Defense is
likely to buy a new system of air defense. "Presently, each square
meter of the sky of Karabakh is defended, and in case of danger
three weapon emplacements will be operated. However, there is need
for modernization, and this year we will spend more on buying new
weapons," the minister said.

"REAL ELECTIONS ARE THE KEY TO STRENGTHENING ARMENIA"

A1+
[07:16 pm] 17 January, 2008

Armen Rustamyan, head of the ARF headquarters announced today:
"Real elections are the key to strengthening Armenia, and only by
the conscious vote of each citizen we can have real elections". The
ARF candidate Vahan Hovhanissyan’s headquarter will work with the
consciousness of the mentioned formula. The pre-election headquarters
will comprise central headquarters, regional, community and district
headquarters.

According to Armen Rustamyan, the party will have 1923 headquarters
in the RA territory. They have 10 million drams in the pre-election
found and it will reach to 70 million drams and will not surpass
permitted limit.

As to the agreements, which the RA citizens sign with Vahan
Hovhannisyan, their number is 117 thousand, but the process will be
carried out till the day of elections.

Armen Rustamyan underlined the importance of political debates, which
will not only reveal the candidates, but will give better opportunity
voters to compare them and will make the candidates repeat their
promises another time from the TV, so that they will not forget them
when elected. Vahan Hovhannisyan will participate in all meetings –
in the cities, regions, communities. The ARF is going to visit each
village during the campaign.

Armen Rustamyan prioritized control during the election process,
and the control should be implemented by all political powers. They
are willing to collaborate with all those powers which will combat
against election frauds. Armen Rustamyan does not doubt that election
frauds will be carried out.

They will appeal to court if they have evidences on frauds. "But we
are not headed by the version that if our candidate is not elected,
then election is rigged.

In this case we may declare that the election is already rigged,
since 9 candidates cannot become presidents at the same time",
considers Armen Rustamyan.

He already has facts that some high-ranking officials abuse their
positions. They are gathering facts and if those officials do not quit
their illegal activities, they will announce the names of perpetrators,
date and place.

The ARF will punish those party members who will not obey the
headquarters’ orders. Armen Rustamyan also prioritized activity of
electorate: "We call electorate and other powers to follow their
electoral rights, since real elections can be anticipated by the
voters’ active participation".

"IMPROPER APPEAL"

Armen Rustamyan considers Yerevan Mayor’s appeal not to hold gatherings
improper. "We will not obey the Mayor’s appeal. Armenia is in the
pre-election process and all officials should realize that political
powers should use their legal and constitutional competences properly".

The ARF is ready to shift the field; particularly it has experience
in working in oppositional and authorities’ fields. "We have been in
both fields, while altering the fields we do not later our principles
and ideas, we change only methods".

Armen Rustamyan also underlined the essence of victory. "But it is
more important how real the victory will be".

WAR WITH ARMENIA NOT OVER – AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Jan 17 2008

Azerbaijan, Agdam, 17 January / Òrend corr G. Jabiyev / The Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev said on 16 January that the war with Armenia is
not over and accused Armenia of making false statements of its victory.

" Armenia did not win the war. The war is not over. Only the first
stage of the war has been completed," Ilham Aliyev said at the opening
ceremony of the Olympic Complex in the Guzanli village in the Agdam
region of Azerbaijan located close to the occupied territories.

Armenia has occupied the Azerbaijani territories utilising foreign
assistance. "The economy of Azerbaijan is 5-6 times stronger than
that of Armenia. And the economic development of Azerbaijan has
strengthened its position," President Aliyev said.

The President noted a change in Armenia’s position in demanding
independence for Nagorno-Karabakh. Five or six years ago Armenia
demanded independence for the occupied territories, but now this
position has changed.

Nagorno-Karabakh will never become independent. This statement is
also supported by the international mediators, the President said. "
Armenia unwillingly accepts this reality. Earlier we spoke about
vacating four of the regions, but now we speak about seven."

The President also touched upon the territory of Armenia today. "In
1918, the city of Iravan (now Yerevan) was given to the Armenians.

That was a big mistake. The Iravan Khanate was Azerbaijani land and
the Armenians were just guests living there," he said.

The Azerbaijani President voiced his opinion on the claims by
international organizations regarding the situation of human rights
in Azerbaijan, and called it unjust. "International organizations are
using double standards in this connection. They should concentrate
on accusing Armenia, which has violated the rights of more than 1mln
people," he said.

–Boundary_(ID_D8L6AnZUDRZxYIPZxbOk2A)–

LAVROV TO HEAD RUSSIAN DELEGATION AT SAAKASHVILI INAUGURATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.01.2008 15:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will head the Russian
delegation at the inauguration of Georgia’s re-elected President
Mikheil Saakashvili, Russia’s Ambassador to Georgia Vyacheslav
Kovalenko said.

The inauguration due on 20 January will start at Saint Bagrat Church
in Kutaisi and will be continued at the Georgian parliament building
in Tbilisi, the Georgian MFA press office reported.

RF MFA: GEORGIA’S POPULATION TO DECIDE WHETHER TO JOIN NATO

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.01.2008 17:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia’s population will decide on joining NATO. But
in this case Russia will make appropriate conclusions on ensuring
its security," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"I would like to remind that Georgia undertook to prevent deployment of
military from third countries after withdrawal of Russian troops. Let’s
wait and see," he said, RIA Novosti reports.

On January 5, 72,5 per cent of Georgia’s electors voted for joining
NATO.