Author: Nalbandian Eduard

[ 16:25 – 07.05.2008 ] DMITRIJ RUPEL: "EUROPEAN UNION SPEAKS AGAINST
MILITARY SETTLEMENT OF ANY CONFLICT"

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. High mark was given to the level of
the cooperation of Armenia and the European Union at the February 6
joint press conference of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia,
Dimitrij Rupel, the Mininster for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, which is
currently presiding over the European Union, and Benita
Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for External Relations and
European Neighbourhood. They gave positive marks to the results of the
European Union Troika visit to Armenia.

In the words of Vardan Oskanian, the most important peculiarity of the
Troika visit to Armenia is that the visit is being paid in the period,
when the Action Plan has already started to be implemented within the
frameworks of the New European Neighbourhood Policy. In addition to
this, as the Minister observed, the Troika visit is being paid in a
period, which is of great significance for Armenia, that is to say, on
the eve of the presidential elections.

Vardan Oskanian once again affirmed the devotion of Armenia to the
issues concerning the development and deepening of relations with the
European Union.

In his words, at present, the most important tasks for the European
Union in the region of the Southern Caucasus are the issues concerning
the regulation of the Karabakh conflict and the Armenian-Turkish
relations.

Dimitrij Rupel stated that issues concerning the process of the
implementation of the Action Plan, including issues connected with the
development of economy and the deepening of democratic processes, were
discussed during the meeting with Vardan Oskanian: "The main message of
the European Union to the countries of the Southern Caucasus is that
our friends should be friends between themselves as well," Rupel
stated. In his words, the European Union is ready to cooperate with
regard to the issue on the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish
relations and the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia
and Turkey.

As regards the continuous military rhetoric, which comes from Baku,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner pointed out the inadmissibility of the
settlement of the conflict through a military way. In her words, the
political will of the parties is necessary for the regulation of the
Karabakh problem. She also expressed hope that during the pre-electoral
campaign in Armenia and Azerbaijan no one will make such statements,
which can do much harm to the peaceful regulation of the conflict. In
his turn, Dimitrij Rupel mentioned that the European Union speaks
against the military settlement of any conflict: "We would offer to put
an end to such a rhetoric."

At the same time, in response to the question concerning the necessity
of the joining of the Karabakh side in the negotiations, Dimitrij Rupel
said: "The involvement of one more side in the negotiation process will
not help the settlement of the issue."

PanARMENIAN.Net

Kosachev: Georgia’s quitting CIS anti-missile defense system insignificant
06.05.2008 14:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Georgian Foreign Ministry addressed a note to
the Russian diplomatic mission to inform of its breaking off the
bilateral agreement on cooperation in the anti-missile defense system
concluded on April 19, 1995.

The move followed the shooting down of two Georgian unmanned aircrafts
over the territory of Abkhazia. Meanwhile, Russia accused official
Tbilisi of aggravating tensions in the conflict zone where flights of
warplanes are forbidden.

Earlier, Georgia had seceded from the Council of CIS Defense
Ministers, formally remaining within the unified CIS anti-missile
defense system.

Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Batu Kutelia said that secession is
conditioned by Georgia’s aspiration to NATO.

`The Georgia-NATO agreement on date exchange and airspace control
conflicts with the commitments Georgia undertook to the CIS. Georgia
announced its political line envisaging no participation in CS
military events and we are hopeful that Russia will treat our decision
with understanding,’ he said.

Deputy Secretary of United Russia party’s general council, chairman of
State Duma committee on external relations Konstantin Kosachev that
actually Georgia’s secession is insignificant. This country just tries
to gain political dividends,’ he said, United Russia party’s website
says.

The CIS anti-missile defense system brings together Armenia, Belarus,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and
Ukraine.

POLITICAL SECRETARY OF "HERITAGE" FACTION: LEVON TER-PETROSIAN’S SPEECH AT 2nd CONGRESS OF NATIONAL MOVEMENT WAS DEEPLY ANALYTICAL

Noyan Tapan
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The speech of the first president Levon
Ter-Petrosian at the 2nd congress of the National Movement in Yerevan
on May 2 was deeply analytical," Vardan Khachatrian – member of the
National Assembly "Heritage" facion, political secretary of Heritage
Party – expressed an opinion at the May 4 briefing. "I think one
of the most important points of the speech was that in fact, the
movement leader did not reject dialog with the current authorities,
and, nevertheless, the moral standard that they may engage in dialog
only after the release of those imprisoned was put in the basis of
such a dialog," the deputy said.

V. Khachatrian declared that at the same time he shares the criticism
leveled at European structures by L. Ter-Petrosian. In his words,
he was surprised at the fact the presidential election in Armenia
was observed by the PACE mission headed by John Prescott, a person
representing the UK’s political power wing. According to the deputy,
J. Prescott is "acussed in connection with rigging at the last three
elections in the UK," and as a result of it, "a trial is underway
in Europe". "I was greatly surprised that it was to some extent with
formulation of John Prescott that the final opinion of the European
observer mission on the presidential election in Armenia was stated,"
V. Khachatrian said.

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
May 3 2008

Azerbaijan’s FM meets with chairman of European Court of Human Rights

03 May 2008 [15:18] – Today.Az

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov received chairman of the
European Court of Human Rights Jean-Paul Costa, as reported by the
press service for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

Costa noted that the number of claims, submitted to the European
Court, as well as the initiated court processes in this connection,
has risen, which creates obstacles in work. In this connection, he
said there is a need for support of the member-states of this
structure, including the cooperation with Azerbaijan.

At the same time the visitor highly evaluated the rapid growth rates
in Azerbaijan, special geographic location and close cooperation with
European structures.

In turn, Mamedyarov noted that integration with the European
institutes is a priority in the external policy of Azerbaijan and the
European Court may contribute to conduction of judicial reforms in the
country.

At the same time, the Minister spoke of the unsettled conflict between
Azerbaijan and Armenia, noting that Armenia’s aggression does not
comply with its commitments before the European structures of the code
of European behavior.

"The new leadership of Armenia should realize that the soonest
resolution of the conflict should be useful for them and there is a
need for support of international institutes in this issue", said
Mamedyarov.

/Day.Az/

URL:

SEYRAN OHANYAN VISITS MILITARY UNITS

Panorama.am
17:17 01/05/2008

On 3 May the Defense Minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan will visit
military units in Northern-Eastern borders of Armenia, particularly
Tavush region (Noyemberyan). The information is provided by the press
secretary of the Defense Ministry.

The minister will get acquainted with the social conditions of life
of the servicemen and all the problems they meet. After the minister
will have a meeting with the mass media representatives.

WILL TRANSPORT FEE GET HIGHER

Panorama.am
18:26 01/05/2008

Economist Edward Aghajanov considers the transport fee increase quite
realistic. "If gaze price is increased, then transport fee can get
higher also," said the economist. And what the consequences of it
will be, he said "Unfortunately, there are only 4-5 types of goods
in Armenia which make pricing – gaze, electricity, oil and wheat. As
soon as one of these gets higher others follow it."

According to the economist the country’s authorities should organize
100% compensation for the poor people, as the high prices especially
concerns the poor.

Remind that yesterday the current question was discussed in the NA
as some transport companies protest on increasing gaze prices.

ISTANBUL COURT SEARCHING FOR LINKS BETWEEN ERGENEKON AND DINK MURDERERS

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.04.2008 17:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The hearing for the 19 suspects in connection to the
murder of Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of Agos bilingual newspaper,
continued in Istanbul’s 14th High Criminal Court.

It is being investigated into whether Veli Kucuk, arrested as suspect
in links with Ergenekon, visited Yasin Hayal in prison.

The attorneys for the Dink family stated that Veli Kucuk visited Hayal
in jail after the event. The attorneys asked Hayal: "Did you get to
know him after meeting with Veli Kucuk in jail?" Hayal responded:
"They also know that this did not happen." It was stated that a
letter was sent to both the Istanbul Bayrampasa and Trabzon prisons
to receive detailed information on Veli Kucuk’s visit to see Hayal.

The court has decided to send a written request for the investigation
into the claim that Veli Kucuk met with Yasin Hayal, while he was
serving time for the McDonalds bombing, Sabah Turkish newspaper reports

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR HOSPITAL OF MARTAKERT PAID 36 MILLION DRAMS OF SOCIAL TAX

KarabakhOpen
29-04-2008 10:08:08

The Base Metals Company is again at the top of the list of the
taxpayers of the social tax in Karabakh. Since the beginning of the
fiscal year the company has paid 159 million 956 thousand drams of
the social tax. Karabakh Telecom is the second, which paid 47 million
342.8 thousand drams.

The top ten includes Artsakh Energy, Artsakh Bank, Dorojnik, Armenian
Watch and Jewelry, Artsakhdor Institute, the medical association of
Martakert (36.4 million drams) and Artsakh Brandy Company.

Karabakh Telecom is again at the top of the list of major taxpayers
with 447 million 210.8 thousand drams. The top ten major taxpayers
are the Base Metals Company, Artsakh Energy, Artsakh Bank, Artsakh
Gas, Dorojnik, Artsakh Brandy Company, Avant-garde, Brandy Factory
of Stepanakert, Sigma Group Service.

INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT BEING HELD IN GYUMRI

Noyan Tapan
April 29, 2008

GYUMRI, APRIL 29, NOYAN TAPAN. An International Chess Tournament
started on April 25 in Gyumri on the initiative of the Armenian
Chess Federation and Chess Academy. 12 chess players from Russia,
the Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia take part in it.

Grand masters Arman Pashikian and Tamaz Gelashvili (Georgia) are in
the lead with 2 points each after 3 tours.

The tournament will finish on May 6.

RESPONSE OF TAX SERVICE TO KARABAKH-OPEN.COM

KarabakhOpen
29-04-2008 10:04:47

On April 19 Karabakh-Open.com published a story on separate points
of which we have observations.

First of all, we would like to note that the quarterly statements are
submitted to three not one officer of the Tax Service, including the
head of the corresponding department.

Each quarter our service receives 1300 statements the deadline of
submission of which is 20 days. Lines occur because the accountants
usually submit the statements in the second half of this term, and
most often on the last days although they can present them earlier,
in a calmer atmosphere.

There would have been no lines at all if the accountants were confident
of their qualification. In that case, they would send the statements by
mail, and they would be accepted in the absence of their authors. It
should be noted that about 500 businesses send statements by mail,
and the other 800 stand in line who submit the documents on the last
days of the 20-day period.

Soon we will use a new service, and the statements will be possible
to email. Those who are fond of standing in line should take into
consideration this way if they do not want to waste time. Only high
qualification will help save time.

It is necessary to use modern methods which require qualification. It
is impossible in an hour, and queues will continue for some
time. However, the conditions for those standing in line are not bad,
our service has moved into a comfortable building with light corridors
and benches for visitors.

The tax service of the city has 25 workers with one head and four
heads of departments. There are no obstacles at the entrance, entrance
is free.

However, there is another service on the second floor, and the entire
building is guarded.

We do everything to reduce bureaucracy, we respect everyone’s opinion
and constructive criticism if it is objective but not rumors and
street talks.

Head of the tax service of Stepanakert K. Grigoryan