Author: Nalbandian Eduard

FIFTY-NINE CITIZENS ACCUSED OF MASS DISORDERS ON MARCH 1 IN YEREVAN

arminfo
2008-03-10 12:43:00

ArmInfo. Fifty-nine citizens are accused of mass disorders on March
1 in Yerevan. Criminal cases have been initiated of 4 articles of
the Criminal Code of Armenia.

Press Secretary of the Prosecutor General’s Office Sona Truzyan told
ArmInfo a large-scale work has been carried out within the frames of
investigation, the identity of provokers of clashes, key organizers
and their methods have been exposed. The investigation exposed a
number of structures that assisted the organizers, coordinated their
actions aimed to destabilize the domestic-political situation in the
country. Referring to the direct protesters, a source reports that
people were paid by 5-10,000 drams per night to stay in the Liberty
Square. They were provided with metal rods, 20 liters of petrol and
some blue explosive substance. Each part in the Square was controlled
and financed by definite people. For instance, parliamentarian Sasun
Mikaelyan, who is currently wanted, funded the protesters from Hrazdan,
who were "recruited" by a certain Gor.

A protester, resident of Tsakhkadzor, Armen Aleksanyan, says:
‘When I was in the Liberty Square I understood that Sasun Mikaelyan
funds and provides food to the residents of Hrazdan and nearby
villages. He funded Baregamyan, who paid by 5,000 drams to every
resident of Hrazdan and nearby villages through Gor’. Moreover,
the witness says that Mikaelyan also called ‘for seizure of the
power by all means’. The aforementioned Baregamyan and Gor have been
detained. The identity of the persons who beaten up the officer of
Gugark Criminal Investigation Department, Lt. Colonel Marat Manukyan
has been revealed. It was the former police officer Christofor Elazyan
who has been arrested. Operative measures are taken to find the
others who beaten up M. Manukyan. As of March 8, 180 police officers
and servicemen as well as 48 citizens received bodily harms in mass
clashes of March 1.

NKR PRESIDENT AND RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN DISCUSSED ISSUES REFERRING TO INVESTMENT PROGRAMS

DeFacto Agency
March 10 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 10.03.08. DE FACTO. The problems and perspective of the
development of economy’s various spheres were discussed March 8 at
a meeting of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian
and the Russian businessmen headed by Ruben Vardanian and Levon
Hayrapetian.

The guests, in part, familiarized themselves with the Republic’s
macroeconomic indices, peculiarities of tax field, discussed the
issues referring to realization of investment programs, the Central
Department of Information under the NKR President reports.

The NKR President welcomed the Russian businessmen’s readiness to
promote Artsakh’s development and assured that the NKR leadership
would do its best to deepen and widen mutually profitable cooperation.

The NKR PM Ara Harutyunian and the members of the NKR government
participated in the meeting.

Matthew Bryza considers Serzh Sarkisian a `special leader’

March 7, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Deputy Assistant of U.S. Secretary of State Matthew
Bryza stated that he considers Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh
Sarkisian a `special leader’, `who has vision and approaches, which we
want to see for implementation of joint programs’.

As Mediamax was told in the press service of the government, Matthew
Bryza said this during his meeting with Serzh Sarkisian on March 6.

`You are a special leader. We in principle support you. The U.S. Charge
D’Affaires in Armenia and I believe that you have the vision and the
approaches, which we want to see for the implementation of joint
programs. We want you to reach success and we want Armenia to be
successful’, press service of the government quotes Matthew Bryza.

U.S. diplomat noted that before the meeting he had time to get familiar
with Prime Minister’s speech at yesterday’s session of the government
and is very glad for the emphases made by Serzh Sarkisian.

Mediamax reports that, starting the session of the government on March
6, Serzh Sarkisian, in particular, stated that `it is necessary to get
involved in a dialogue, even if the interlocutor is blinded by hatred’.

According to Bryza, it is time to ease tension. He noted that all sides
should demonstrate responsibility and should realize that it is
necessary to reestablish all the positive that was in Armenia before
the given situation.

Serzh Sarkisian, in his turn, stated that he did not say anything
extraordinary during the session of the government, but repeated what
he had been saying in the course of the recent few months. The Prime
Minister stated that it is necessary to continue dialogue with all the
people, who want to cooperate with authorities. What concerns the ones,
who do not have such desire, according to Serzh Sarkisian, they may
think whatever they want, but in case the law is violated, they will
bear responsibility for their actions.

Press-secretary of Armenian president: Next meeting of presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan to take place at first convenient moment

2008-03-07 17:23:00

ArmInfo. The next meeting of presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will
take place at first convenient moment, press-secretary of the Armenian
president Viktor Sogomonyan said at the briefing, Friday.

Touching on possible meeting between the incumbent president of Armenia
Robert Kocharyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Viktor
Sogomonyan said it is hardly possible since there is only a months till
ending of the term of Kocharyan’s staying in office.

He also said that Robert Kocharyan has only one expectation from his
meeting with the American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew
Bryza – observation of the cease-fire regime and prevention of new
provocations at the contact line.

Armenian National Committee of Canada
Comité National Arménien du Canada
130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com

PRESS RELEASE

March 6, 2008
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumdjian
Telephone: (613) 235-2622

The ANCC Welcomes Minister Maxime Bernier’s Statement
on the Situation in Armenia

Ottawa – A state of emergency was declared in Armenia on March 1st to
end public demonstrations by some of the opposition led by Levon Ter
Petrossian, rejecting the results of the presidential elections
despite the reports of observers from OSCE, Council of Europe and EU
describing the elections in line with international commitments and
standards. Heavy force was used by the riot police to disperse the
gatherings, followed by a day of violence and clashes resulting in the
death of eight people. The clashes are the worst civil violence in
Armenia’s post-Soviet history.

Defeated in the presidential elections, ARF Party candidate Vahan
Hovhannissian called for calm even before the start of the
post-electoral violence, insisting that government and opposition
start a dialogue in a constructive spirit and national consensus.

The international community has expressed its concern. The United
States and the European Union called on both the government and the
opposition for moderation.

The Hon. Maxime Bernier, Canada’s minister of foreign affairs, has
urged all parties involved to show restraint in their actions and
urged the government of Armenia to lift the state of emergency as soon
as possible. `We welcome the statement of the Hon. Minister Maxime
Bernier urging the government and all political affiliations to seek
solutions to their current differences within the framework of their
democratic institution,’ stated Dr. Girair Basmadjian, president of
the Armenian National Committee of Canada. `All efforts, such as those
of the European Union and the encouragement by Canada are supported by
the Armenian National Committee for regional resolution of the
crisis,’ concluded Dr. Basmadjian.

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Pour diffusion immédiate

Contact: Roupen Kouyoumdjian
Téléphone: (514) 334-1299

Le CNAC salue la déclaration du Ministre Bernier
concernant la situation en Arménie

Ottawa-Un état d’urgence a été déclaré en Arménie le 1er mars pour mettre fin aux manifestations par certains groupes de l’opposition regroupés autour de Levon Ter Petrossian rejettant le résultat des élections présidentielles malgré les déclarations des observateurs internationaux de l’OSCE, du Conseil de l’Europe et de l’ Union Européenne qui jugeaient l’élection conforme aux normes internationales.

L’intervention musclée de la police anti-émeute pour disperser les rassemblements a dégéneré en émeutes entraînant le décès de huit personnes. Ces émeutes présentent le sommet des violences publiques dans l’ère post-Soviétique de l’Arménie.

Vahan Hovhannesian, candidat du part FRA défait aux élections présidentielles, lançaiit un appel au gouvernement et à l’opposition à engager le dialogue dans un esprit constructif.

La communauté internationale a exprimé sa préoccupation. Les États-Unis et l’Union Européenne ont appelé à la modération tant le pouvoir que l’opposition.

L’Honorable Maxime Bernier, ministre des Affaires Étrangères du Canada, a demandé les partis intéressés de se restreindre, et au gouvernement arménien de mettre fin à l’état d’urgence aussitôt que possible. `On salue la déclaration de l’Hon. Ministre Maxime Bernier appelant le gouvernement et tous les partis politiques de trouver des solutions à leurs problèmes courants à travers leurs institutions démocratiques,’ déclara le docteur Girair Basmadjian, président du Comité National Arménien du Canada. `Tous les efforts, come ceux de l’Union Européenne et l’encouragement par le Canada, sont soutenus par le Comité National Arménien du Canada pour une résolution régionale de cette crise,’ a commenté le docteur en guise de conclusion.

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Le CNAC est l’organisation politique canadienne-arménienne la plus large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux, chapitres et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations affiliées à travers le monde, le CNAC s’occupe activement des inquiétudes de la communauté canadienne-arménienne.

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues.

Regional Chapters/Sections régionales
Montréal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge – St. Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver

IRAN: NAME OF MAJLIS ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES IN ESFAHAN TO BE ANNOUNCED TODAY

Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Esfahan Provincial TV
March 5 2008
Iran

In Esfahan Province there are 16 candidates competing over each seat
to enter the Majlis. The head of the [elections]supervision of the
Guardian Council in Esfahan [Mohammad Reza Akrami], has confirmed
the eligibility of 60 per cent ofthe candidates [in Esfahan Province]
for the eighth round of the Majlis elections.

He added: "Considering the eligibility conditions, there has been
a good competition for all the parties andindividuals [candidates]
in all the constituencies in Esfahan Province in such a manner that
on average there would be16 people competing over each seat. The
highest rate of competition has been in Kashan, where there would be
28 peoplecompeting over each seat. And the least [rate of competition]
has been among the Armenians [Christian minority in Iran] in south of
Esfahan, where all the people who had participated have been announced
eligible. This means that 100 percent of them are eligible.

There are three people [among Armenians of south Esfahan] who are
competing. In centre of theprovince, that is the town of Esfahan,
there would be 22 people competing over each seat.

"As our dear countrymen are aware, overall 20 representatives can be
elected to enter the Majlis, one personfrom the Armenians of southern
Iran [southern Esfahan] and 19 people from Esfahan Province. There
would be five peoplefrom the town of Esfahan and 14 people from other
towns in the province.

>From today, which is 15 Esfand [5 March], the names of the candidates
will be announced completely. This means thattoday is the last day to
announce the names of the elections’ candidates who are eligible and
qualified. From theend of today, that is 12 midnight, the beginning of
16 Esfand these people can start their permitted election campaigns
until 24 hours before the polling. That is possibly until 0800 in
the morning on Thursday 23 Esfand. Until this timethey will have the
change to run their election campaigns."

ANAR MAMEDKHANOV: "ARMENIA’S REQUEST TO STOP FIRE IS AN UNSUCCESSFULLY VEILED ATTEMPT TO SHIFT THE BLAME FOR INITIATION OF HOSTILITIES ON AZERBAIJAN"

Today
olitics/43572.html
March 6 2008
Azerbaijan

"The request of Armenian military command, which called on Azerbaijan’s
Defense Ministry and international organizations, to stop fire on the
contact front line is a unsuccessfully veiled and dilettante attempt
to shift the blame for initiation of hostilities on Azerbaijan".

The due announcement was made by MP Anar Mamedkhanov, commenting on the
information that Armenia’s military command appealed to Azerbaijan’s
Foreign Ministry and international organizations with a request to
stop fire.

He said, such cases have already taken place in modern history, when
the real guilty of military actions tried to shift the blame on their
enemies. In particular, we remember well that before occupying Poland,
German radio stations reported the attack of Poles on the borderline
city of Gleiwitz.

"This information is also a part of work in an attempt to consolidate
the supporters and opponents of the Karabakh dynasty, led by Robert
Kocharyan and Serzh Sarkisyan, which rules over Armenia by method
of terror. It should be considered that censorship has been applied
in Armenia, there is a deficit of true information about processes,
ongoing not only within the country, but also on the front line.

The Armenian authorities try to fill this information vacuum by an
obvious disinformation of not only the world community, but also
their citizens. Kocharyan-Sarkisyan’s regime undertakes churned steps
to retain its power, as they understand that if they fail to retain
it, they will have to bear responsibility for all crimes, committed
against the Armenian citizens.

Therefore, they try again to play the Karabakh game, owing to which
they have reached the political top in Armenia.

The appeal of the military command of Armenia, as well as other steps
of the Kocharyan-Sarkisyan’s regime, undertaken before and following
the application of censorship and emergency state are aimed to unite
the Armenian community to prevent the return of Karabakh to Azerbaijan.

But I think that the Armenian citizens and the world community, which
have already seen the real face of the working powers of Armenia,
who are ready to shed blood of their compatriots, they way they did
with Azerbaijanis in the years of the Karabakh war, are already well
aware of the real motives of Kocharyan-Sarkisyan’s current actions",
Mamedkhanov concluded.

AZERI FORCES INCUR "NUMEROUS" FATALITIES – ARMENIAN PM

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS
March 4, 2008
Russia

The Armenian army inflicted "numerous" fatalities on Azeri forces in
a clash on Tuesday, and territory seized by the Azeris on Tuesday
morning was returned to the Nagorno-Karabakh government, Armenian
Prime Minister and President-elect Serzh Sargsyan said.

"In the morning, the Azeri side attacked the Nagorno-Karabakh positions
and temporarily captured them," Sargsyan said at a ceremony at which
three Armenian coalition parties signed a joint statement.

"We have sent a proposal to the Azeri Defense Ministry via mediators
that the hostilities be stopped, but they have refused," the prime
minister said.

"By this hour, the positions have been returned to the Nagorno-
Karabakh side, and the enemy has retreated, leaving numerous dead
bodies on the battlefield," he said.

"There are negotiations in progress on the peaceful resolution of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Sargsyan said.

"I am sure that common sense will take the upper hand, and I rule
out the military resolution of the conflict," he said.

AZERBAIJAN MINISTRY OF DEFENSE: 12 ENEMY SOLDIERS KILLED, 15 WOUNDED IN CLASH

Azeri Press Agency
March 4 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku.Rashad Suleymanov. Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense has released
official information on the all-the-day military clashes between
Armenian and Azeri armed forces at the frontline.

Lieutenant colonel Eldar Sabiroghlu, Press Secretary of Azerbaijan’s
Ministry of Defense, told APA that violation of the ceasefire by
Armenian Armed Forces since early morning escalated to a tension at
several points of the frontline.

"The exchange of fire is still ongoing. You see, Armenian is trying
to divert the attention of their citizens and the world community
from the internal and domestic unrest and bloody actions. That is
the reason why Armenia resorted to this. Azeri Armey courageously
and bravely repelled the enemy, prevented their attacks and gave
deserving retaliation. 12 enemy soldiers were killed and 15 wounded.

Three soldiers of Azerbaijani army were shot dead and one wounded,"
he added.

Today’s incident, as the both sides say, has been heavier than most of
the skirmishes that intermittently break out along a cease-fire line.

DEPUTY MAYOR ANNOUNCED YEREVAN DAMAGES

Panorama.am
16:50 04/03/2008

The total territory where Levon Ter-Petrosyan and his confidents
held unauthorized meetings and organized social disorder on 1 March
covered 10 hectares. The information is provided by Kamo Areyan,
the first deputy mayor in a press conference held on today.

According to him, the mass disorder covered the squares next to the
municipality of Yerevan.

According to Areyan, it was particularly closed Mashtots avenue till
Mashtots-Saryan crossroad, Italy street from Grigor Lusavorich street
to Italy embassy.

The streets of Beyrut and Argishti, the park next to Miasnikyan
monument, and Paronyan street to Leo were totally occupied.

He said that the ground of the terraces is spoiled, and now they
measure the exact surface. More than 120 meters long gates at Children
Park were broken. The benches, garbage cans and advertisement posters
near the square were also damaged. The granite stones of the monument
are also damaged. 52 benches in "Karapi Lich" are broken.