Author: Nalbandian Albert

Panorama.am

18:44 20/09/2008

PRESIDENT OF FRANCOPHONES SENT CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE

`In such responsible period francophone countries are together with
Armenians to share their happiness and to support to build richer and
more prosperous life, to support Your country which is meeting
challenges to establish democracy, human rights, and transparency,’
says the message sent by Abdu Duff the head of Francophones
International Organization devoted to the National Day of Armenia.

The message also says that the Republic of Armenia keeps investing new
ideas and values to the development of the Organization.

Source: Panorama.am

PanARMENIAN.Net

Number of assaults through national hatred decreased in Russia
20.09.2008 13:39 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The number of assaults through national hatred
decreased in Russia, said a representative of Sova analytical center.

`71 people died and 268 were wounded in 2008,’ Galina Kozhevnikova
said. `Over 50 acts of vandalism against religious facilities were
committed.’

According to the Moscow Human Right Bureau, natives of Uzbekistan,
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan were mostly assaulted. Human
rights advocates say several dozens of thousands of skinhead
organizations are functioning throughout Russia, Interfax reports.

OIF SECRETARY GENERAL’S CONGRATULATION TO PRESIDENT SARGSYAN

armradio.am
20.09.2008 14:45

Secretary General of the International Francophonie Organization
(OIF), Abdou Diouf sent a congratulating message to RA President Serzh
Sargsyan on the National Holiday of Armenia – the Independence Day.

Wishing peace, happiness and prosperity to RA President and the
Armenian people, the Secretary General notes, in part: "At this
special moment Francophonie countries stand side by side with Armenia
more than ever to share its joy and support their efforts to build
a wealthier and more prosperous Armenia, to assist your country,
which is struggling for democracy and human rights, for a peaceful,
a fairer and opener world.

I would like to note with pleasure that the Republic of Armenia has
never stopped contributing to the ideas and values of Francophonie
and offers its support for the concrete activities our Organization
launches for the sake of lasting development."

ANKARA CAN INFLUENCE BAKU TO PROMOTE KARABAKH PROCESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.09.2008 15:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The OSCE Minsk Group is an efficient format for
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, the Armenian Foreign
Minister said.

"The talks are continued on the basis of the OSCE MG Co-chairs’
proposals and I think there are good prerequisites for resolution
of the conflict, what can create new opportunities for regional
cooperation," Edward Nalbandian said, the RA MFA press office reported.

Commenting on Azeri media reports, according to which OSCE MG U.S
Co-chair Matt Bryza said that Turkey can help Armenia to assume a
more flexible stand on Karabakh, Minister Nalbandian said, "Mr Bryza
has erroneously said Armenia instead of Azerbaijan, since Turkey can
only influence on Baku to take a more flexible stand."

"Both Turkish and Azeri leaders speak of ‘one nation and two
states’. So, the talk about Ankara’s possible influence on Yerevan
is an exaggeration," the Minister said.

THE CULTURAL OBJECTS OF SOUTH OSSETIA DAMAGED IN THE CONFLICT INCLUDE TWO CHURCHES AND A SYNAGOGUE

Interfax-Religion
19 September 2008, 16:13
Russia

Moscow, September 19, Interfax – Two churches and a synagogue are
included in the list of 11 objects of cultural heritage of South
Ossetia, which have documented destructions from the Georgian army
aggression on August 8-12, 2008.

During the battle action the shell hit ruined the southern wall and
corner of the church located not far away from the village of Nizhny
Tbet; the area of destroyed space is about five meters. The church
was built in the late Middle Ages, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reports Friday.

Service premises of the Tskhinvali Church of Nativity of the Blessed
Virgin (the former Armenian Church), built in 1718, were destroyed
during a massive fire of the city by the Georgian army.

The ancient synagogue located in Tskhinvali also has significant
damages. The building requires essential repairs and restoration.

Besides, the Georgian army ruined several graves and tombstones at
the memorial cemetery of defenders and civilians who died during the
aggression of 1990s and damaged the local chapel.

"An irreparable damage has been inflicted on the original human
environment of South Ossetia people. Thereby Georgian authorities have
materially violated such basic internationally accepted acts as the
Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event
of Armed Conflict, 1954, the Convention Concerning the Protection of
the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972, and UNESCO Declaration
concerning the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage, 2003,"
Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Yakovenko said.

LAVROV: THE RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA AND S. OSSETIA AS INDEPENDENT STATES MUSTN’T BE A PRECEDENT FOR KARABAKH

The FINANCIAL
Sept 16 2008
Georgia

The FINANCIAL — Russia signed a treaty with breakaway regions of
Georgia, formalizing military and economic ties between MOSCOW ,
South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

According to Bulletin, Russia and Nicaragua are the only nations
thus far to recognize the independence of the separatist provinces,
moving to do so after the five-day war between Georgia and Russia in
August. The recognition was widely perceived to be retaliation for
the American recognition of Kosovo in February.

"The just-signed treaties stipulate that our countries shall be
taking joint necessary measures to eliminate the threat to peace,
address problems in this sphere and resist acts of aggression," said
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said to Itar- Tass news agency. "A
repeat of the Georgian aggression … would lead to a catastrophe
on a regional scale, so no one should be in doubt that we will not
allow new military adventures."

Kyiv Post reports that, Parliament in Ukraine ‘s Crimea peninsula,
defying the country’s pro-Western leaders, called on the national
parliament to follow Russia’s example and recognize Georgia’s two
separatist regions.

The recognition by Russia of Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia as
independent states does not set a precedent for other post-Soviet
breakaway regions, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov said on
September 18, RIA-Novosti reports.

According to RIA-Novosti, Lavrov said that unlike Georgia, other
ex-Soviet states involved in territorial disputes do not plan to use
military force to resolve them. "There can be no parallels here,"
he said.

Lavrov said Russia is committed to its mediation efforts in disputes
between Moldova and its breakaway Transdnestr Region, mainly populated
by ethnic Russians and Ukrainian s, and Armenia-Azerbaijan talks on
the disputed Nagorny Karabakh territory.

According to China View, in Aug. 7 Georgia launched attack on South
Ossetia, which has enjoyed de facto independence since 1992, in an
attempt to retake control of the region. Russia sent troops into the
region on the next day and defeated Georgian forces in a five-day war.

The West accused Russia of bullying its small neighbor. But MOSCOW
argued that its military operations were intended to protect civilians
and enforce peace in the region. Russia’s recognition of the two
regions as independent states on Aug. 26 further enraged the West.

HAUT-KARABAKH: LA POSITION DE LA RUSSIE INCHANGEE (MEDVEDEV)

RIA Novosti
16 Sept 2008
Russie

MOSCOU, 16 septembre – RIA Novosti. La Russie maintient sa position
a l’egard du processus de paix du Haut-Karabakh, une republique
autoproclamee a majorite armenienne sur le territoire azerbaïdjanais,
a declare mardi le president russe Dmitri Medvedev lors d’une rencontre
avec son homologue azerbaïdjanais Ilham Aliev, en visite en Russie.

"Nous pouvons compter sur la reprise des contacts
(armeno-azerbaïdjanais) dans un avenir proche", a estime M. Medvedev
qui s’etait prononce en faveur de negociations directes entre les
parties pendant l’entretien.

La Russie est toujours prete a oeuvrer pour la recherche d’une solution
mutuellement acceptable, a-t-il assure, sur fond de reconnaissance
par Moscou, le 26 août dernier, de l’Abkhazie et de l’Ossetie du Sud,
deux republiques autoproclamees en territoire georgien.

Le conflit dans le Haut-Karabakh a eclate en 1988, quand cette enclave
peuplee principalement d’Armeniens a annonce son intention de se
separer de l’Azerbaïdjan, avant de proclamer unilateralement son
independance en septembre 1991. Cette demarche a declenche une serie
d’affrontements armes. Conformement a l’accord d’armistice signe le
12 mai 1994, Bakou a perdu le contrôle du Haut-Karabakh et de sept
regions adjacentes.

Depuis 1992, des negociations sur le règlement du conflit du
Haut-Karabakh se poursuivent dans le cadre du Groupe de Minsk de
l’OSCE (Russie, France et Etats-Unis). Bakou insiste sur le respect
de son integrite territoriale, alors qu’Erevan defend les interets
des habitants de l’enclave.

–Boundary_(ID_sL/UskfGse/9lZjf6B8gCg) —

CHAIRMAN OF RA CASSATION COURT HANDS IN HIS RESIGNATION

Noyan Tapan

Se p 16, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The chairman of the RA Cassation
Court Hovhannes Manukian on September 16 handed in his resignation to
the Armenian president without making any comments, NT correspondent
was informed by spokeswoman for the RA Cassation Court Alina Yengoyan.

IRAN, ARMENIA FMS DISCUSS CAUCASUS DEVELOPMENTS

IRNA
Sept 16
Tehran

Iran-Armenia-FMs

Iranian and Armenian foreign ministers in Tehran on Tuesday exchanged
views on the latest developments in the Caucasus region and reviewed
ways out of the current crisis.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Manouchehr Mottaki said
that in his meeting with Edward Nalbandyan, the two ministers also
discussed promotion of Tehran-Yerevan relations.

Mottaki added that the visit to Tehran by his Armenian counterpart
was a chance to maintain Iran’s diplomacy of easing tension in the
Caucasus region and also in pursuit of Iran’s talks with the Russian,
Azeri and German officials to this end.

Referring to his Monday visit to Germany, Mottaki said his visit to
Berlin took place in line with Tehran’s shuttle diplomacy to promote
peace and stability in the Caucasus region.

In the aftermath of Georgia war, Iran has started an initiative
by making visits to Russia and Azerbaijan to mediate peace in the
Caucasus region.

He also met with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier,
to encourage the European countries to help solve the Caucasus crisis.

The Armenian minister, for his part, told reporters that he was
satisfied with his talks with Mottaki.

He wished that the current regional crisis would be solved through
peaceful negotiations.

Nalbandyan also voiced Yerevan’s support for Tehran’s detente
diplomacy stressing that Armenia would always welcome sustainable
peace in the region.

THREE MEMBERS OF MCA-ARMENIA PROGRAM’S COUNCIL OF BENEFICIARIES WILL NEITHER PROPOSE THEIR OWN CANDIDACIES NOR ENDORSE OTHER CANDIDACIES FOR UPCOMING ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan

Se p 15, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The Millennium Challenge Account
(MCA) – Armenia program’s public control body – the Council of
Beneficiaries (CB), which protects the interests of 750 thousand
direct beneficiaries, has some system shortcomings in its regulations:
5 out of the 15 CB members – respresentatives of civil society also
work in the Governing Council of the program which causus a direct
clash of interests.

For this and several other reasons, three members of the CB:
Levon Barseghian, Seyran Martirosian and Arthur Sakunts (members of
Partnership for Open Society organization) stated at the September
15 press conference at Urbat Club that henceforth they consider it
inexpedient to run in the 3rd stage of the program’s elections to be
held in September. They added that in addition to Partnership for
Open Society, 41 other NGOs will neither propose their candidates
nor endorse any other candidates for the elections.

Besides, as the three members of CB said, during the July 23
regular sitting of MCA-Armenia program, the Governing Council made
a unanimous decision to reduce the program’s water construction
work by about 50-70% due to the depreciation of the dollar and a
rise in building material prices, which the CB members considered
as unacceptable. "The reduction in water constuction work in rural
areas and marzes directly hits the interests of farmers. We believe
that the dollar-dram fluctuations should not affect the interests of
farmers. The government should make a correct decision in this issue
and allocate additional sums for full implementation of the program,"
they said.

At the same time, according to the CB members, in the past two years
(the program was launched on September 29, 2006) those members of
the Council of Beneficiaries who also work in the Governing Council:
Hrachik Javadian, Ashot Voskanian, Karen Nazarian and others – have
participated in the program tenders.

The three members of the CB noted that they have spoken repeatedly
about this problem at council sittings but to no avail. "Nobody has
listened to us and taken our opinion into account. As a result we
got what we now have."