Author: Nalbandian Eduard

Regnum News Agency, Russia
Feb. 20, 2008

International observers: Armenian presidential election mostly in
accordance with international standards

According to preliminary assessment of international observers from
the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe), the OSCE/ODIHR (Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights), the European Parliament, the
presidential election in Armenia mostly satisfied the international
standards, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Vice President, Senator from
Belgium Anne-Marie Lizin said at a press conference on February 20.

A REGNUM correspondent quotes her as saying that high-ranking
officials took all possible measures to address shortcomings fixed at
previous elections. `The European observers have found that the
Armenian authorities took effective measures to address the
shortcomings of the last elections, but it is necessary to work for
further change and demonstrate political will to touch upon the
subjects that cause lack of public confidence in the election
process,’ Lizin noted.

She added that the Central Election Commission (CEC) showed high
level of transparency in its actions except for the process of
tackling complaints that were discussed at informal meetings of the
commission without election agents, observers or the media. Despite
the fact that it does not conflict with the legislation of the
country, such way of their actions posed under threat the confidence
of the election participants.

Lizin added that many candidates were participating actively in the
election campaign and had an opportunity to present their programs to
the electorate; they didn’t encounter obstacles in organizing
rallies.

Speaking on election campaign coverage in the media, Lizin noted that
mostly the coverage of all the candidates in the media was balanced.
However, one of the candidates was granted more negative coverage by
television channels, especially by the Armenian Public Television.
`At the same time, the candidate from the ruling party continued
fulfilling his duties of the prime minister that brought him some
advantages during the election campaign,’ she added. The observers
emphasized that there was absolutely no criticism against the
authorities on television.

In general, Anne- Marie Lizin noted that some members of the
observation mission became the witnesses of `very-very bad
incidents,’ however, the process made the impression of some
progress. `We cannot state on the scale of such accidents, but the
very fact that those accidents took place must be taken into
account,’ she stated noting that `for example some participants may
initiate vote recount.’

Kavkazskiy Uzel, Russia
Feb. 21, 2008

NAGORNO KARABAKH MARKS ANNIVERSARY OF SECESSION MOVEMENT

The rally was held in the central square of the region’s capital,
Stepanakert (Xankandi), to mark "the 20thanniversary of the Karabakh
movement" which sought the region’s secession from Azerbaijan, the
reportadded.

Speaking at the rally, Karabakh’s president Bako Sahakyan said that
"the main achievement of the Artsakhmovement was the restored
statehood of the Armenian people… We once again tell the world that
Artsakh (the Armenianname for Karabakh) will never give up freedom
and independence gained with blood. The security of the Nagornyy
Karabakh republic will not be the subject of bargaining".

Sahakyan said that "our army is strong" and is ready to give an
appropriate rebuff to the enemy.

Kavkazskiy Uzel said that a statement by the Karabakh parliament was
also read out during the 20 February rally.

According to the statement, the Nagornyy Karabakh parliament
"confirms the Karabakh people’s determination to build a democratic
and sovereign state that was proclaimed on 2 September 1991 on the
basis of the right toself-determination".

The parliament expressed Karabakh’s readiness to resolve the dispute
with Azerbaijan through talks. It urgedAzerbaijan to give up the
policy of confrontation and form an atmosphere of mutual trust that
would give a positiveimpulse to the efforts to find a solution to the
conflict.

The Karabakh parliament asked the world community to show
understanding to Karabakh’s desire "to become afull member of the
community of free states".

On 20 February 1988, a session of the Council of Deputies of the
Nagornyy Karabakh Autonomous Region declared itsecession from the
Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic and its unification with the
Armenian Soviet SocialistRepublic, Kavkazskiy Uzel said.

EurActiv, Belgium
Feb 20 2008

Franco-Turkish dispute overshadows Nabucco project

Published: Wednesday 20 February 2008

Gaz de France’s intention to become the seventh partner in the
Nabucco pipeline project has been thwarted by Turkey’s decision to
block the participation of the company following a motion by the
French Parliament to outlaw denial of the Armenian genocide.

The decision to withdraw the application of Gaz de France (GDF) for
participation in the Nabucco project was announced on 18 February by
France’s Minister of Trade Hervé Novelli during a visit to Istanbul.

?We have recalled our application because we think that the decision
of the Turkish authorities was dictated by political reasons,"
Novelli said.

GDF is the second French company, following Total, to have its bid to
become a partner in Nabucco blocked for political reasons by Turkey,
a key transit country for the pipeline.

There are also growing concerns that disputes between Paris and
Ankara could harm business ties between the two countries. French
President Nicolas Sarkozy has made no secret of his opposition to
Turkish EU membership and has declared that "Turkey has no place in
Europe" (EurActiv 11/12/07).

In an apparent effort to downplay the situation, Novelli said that
the French government had not endorsed a bill, approved by the
country’s national parliament and passed to the Senate, outlawing
public denials that the massacre of Armenian civilians by Turkish
(Ottoman) troops in 1915 was an act of genocide.

The bill is not on the government’s agenda, Novelli said, according
to the Turkish daily The New Anatolian.

Novelli also insisted that GDF is "looking ahead", and that its
eventual future participation in the project cannot be ruled out. "It
is true that political disputes have affected economic decisions
[…] but (business) decisions should be taken on economic grounds,"
he said.

The Nabucco pipeline project is to span 3400 kilometres, bringing 31
billion cubic metres of natural gas per year from the eastern end of
Turkey across Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary into Austria.

Nabucco is geopolitically significant because it will bypass Russia,
but the project, scheduled to be completed by 2013, has encountered
financing problems and a lack of political will from some member
states.

KOCHARIAN: I WON’T ALLOW ANYONE TO JEOPARDIZE STABILITY ON ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.02.2008 18:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian President Robert Kocharian held a
meeting with the command of the RA armed forces.

Prime Minister Serzh Sagsyan also attended the meeting, the RA leader’s
press office reported.

"Stability is one of the greatest achievements of the recent years
and I will never allow anyone to jeopardize it. The President bears
responsibility and I am determined to take measures to secure order
in the republic," he said.

"The power is elected legally and no one can influence on political
processes be illegal means," he said.

The army commanders said that the army has always been the guarantor
of stability and will take measures to secure the constitutional
order following the instructions of the Supreme commander.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SIGNS DECREE ON RELIEVING GAGIK JHANGIRIAN OF POST
AS DEPUTY PROSECUTOR GENERAL

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian president Robert
Kocharian on February 23 signed a decree on relieving Gagik Jhangirian
of his post as deputy prosecutor general of the Republic of Armenia.

By another presidential decree of the same day, Gagik Jhangirian was
deprived of the rank of legal councillor of state of first class.

SERGE SARGSSYAN SAYS ARMENIA CHOSE PEACEFUL AND ECONOMICALLY STABLE FUTURE

ARKA
Feb 22 2008

YEREVAN, February 22. /ARKA/. The Armenian people chose a peaceful and
economically stable future for their country, the statement of Armenian
Prime Minister Serge Sargssyan placed in his official website reads.

"I am proud to have our citizens’ confidence necessary to continue
our efforts aimed at the country’s advancement along the path of
economic and social development. I am grateful to all those people
who voted for me. However, as I stated before the elections, I am
going to become the president of all Armenians," the statement says.

"Today we can state with confidence that democracy won, and tomorrow
we must start working anew to guarantee progress for every person
in Armenia, become a strong support for them, and then proudly state
"Ahead Armenia!.

I am happy to receive the apparent support of our people twice during a
year. It will help me in responding to foreign challenges and pursuing
the country’s foreign policy more efficiently," the premier says.

The statement also says that after publicizing the preliminary voting
results some opposition forces are trying express their discontent
provoking violence.

"In our country every person has the right to freedom of speech and
expression of his opinion, but provocation of unrest and instability
has nothing to do in a democratic country," Sargssyan said. The prime
minister said the law enforcement bodies will interfere only in case
of necessity to regain public order.

According to Armenian Central Electoral Commission, Armenian Prime
Minister, President of the Republican Party of Armenia Serge Sargssyan
has received 52.86% of votes.

WILL JHANGIRIAN BE FIRED?

A1+
22 February, 2008

Under the RA Law on "Prosecutor’s Office" public prosecutors cannot
be engaged in politics

"A prosecutor cannot affiliate himself with a party or be engaged
in politics. He must demonstrate political moderation and observe
neutrality."

"Gagik Jhangirian has made a rough breach of law.

Armenia’s Prosecutor General has applied to the RA President to
dismiss Jhangirian from the position and remove him from the system,"
Spokesperson for the RA Prosecutor General Sona Truzian reports.

A NUMBER OF LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS ARE NECESSARY FOR EFFICIENT PROTECTION OF VICTIMS, LAWYERS SAY

Noyan Tapan
Feb 22, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. It is necessary to create
institutions of compulsory medical insurance and insurance of transport
means with the aim of efficient protection of crime victims, the
deputy chairman of the RA Chamber of Lawyers Nikolai Baghdasarian
stated at a press conference on February 22 – Day of Protection of
Crime Victims. In Armenia, the amount of compensation to the familiy
of a person who died in a car accident is less that the compensation
envisaged for a person who received injuries and undergoes treatment
at a medical institution.

According to the lawyer, Armenia must fulfil its obligation: to
compensate for the harm caused to a crime victim, regardless of
the fact whether the crime was disclosed or not. This is directly
stated in the instruction of the CE Ministerial Committee. In case
of disclosure of the given crime, this sum will be taken away from
the person who has committed the crime – for benefit of the state.

According to Nikolai Baghdasarian, an amendment should be made to the
Law on Advocacy so that the Office of Public Defender can provide
free legal assistance to victims, whereas today only suspects,
defendants and accused persons have this right. He said that in case
of increasing the Chamber’s financing (which currently makes 156 mln
drams) by 100 mln drams, the Chamber will be able to ensure provision
of free legal assistance to victims by means of 60-70 public defenders.

Member of the Council of the RA Chamber of Lawyers Hayk Aluvmian
attached importance to stipulation of the notion of moral damage in
the Armenian legislation. In his words, it will be not difficult to
assess the amount of moral damage: the courts should adopt legal acts
on some case or another, thanks to which a court precedence will be
established and the issue of assessing the amount of moral damage
will be solved easily.

GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT ASKED ARMENIA

Panorama.am
16:18 21/02/2008

Micheal Sahakashvili, the president of Georgia asked Armenian
government to help the injured people in the Armenian-Georgian
boarder. The cause of people got injuries is the snowstorm. According
to the Georgian media the president announced about it before leaving
for Moscow. The Georgian president said that the situation in those
regions is in bad conditions because of the weather.

ARMENIA ELECTION BROADLY FAIR: OSCE OBSERVERS
Margarita Antidze

Reuters
February 20, 2008

YEREVAN (Reuters) – Armenia’s presidential election was broadly fair,
Western observers said on Wednesday, but thousands of protesters said
the vote was rigged to hand victory to Prime Minister Serzh Sarksyan.

Sarksyan, who has vowed to continue the policies of his ally, incumbent
president Robert Kocharyan, took 52.86 percent of the votes, the
Central Election Committee said.

This was enough for outright victory in the first round.

Yesterday’s presidential election in Armenia was conducted mostly
in line with the country’s international commitments," observers
from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
said in a statement.

"Further improvements are necessary to address remaining challenges,"
it added.

Earlier, Kocharyan congratulated Sarksyan on his victory in what he
called free and fair elections.

Supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, a former president who trailed in
a distant second to Sarksyan, according to official results, refused
to recognize the result.

Between 15,000 and 20,000 protesters gathered at a rally in central
Yerevan, chanting "Levon! Levon!" and "Serzh: leave!," a Reuters
reporter said.

They allege the vote was marred by ballot-stuffing and intimidation
of the opposition and have vowed to protest until the result is
overturned.

Armenia is squeezed between Turkey and Azerbaijan in a region that is
emerging as an important transit route for oil exports from the Caspian
Sea to world markets, though Armenia has no pipelines of its own.

Analysts say an unresolved conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan over
the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh could flare again into
violence.

Stalled efforts to reach a peace deal are likely to be the biggest
challenge facing the new president.