Author: Nalchajian Markos

PanARMENIAN.Net

Peace in the region dictates price for oil

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran excludes the possibility of armed
attacks on the part of the USA and Israel, as well as any other
military operations in its region till January 2009.
08.07.2008 GMT+04:00

The Iranian issue is again а priority for the world brought
forth by several factors. One of the essential, though far not the
most important factor is yearning of US President Bush to complete his
office `with dignity’. No one in the President’s administration speaks
of the possible failure, though such turn of events is quite probable,
even predictable. The background information on Iran, its nuclear
program and the possible war of the US against the Islamic Republic of
Iran bears a close analogy with the eve of the U.S. intrusion into
Iraq in 2003.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ However, American generals declare the unfeasibility
of opening the third front. The other day Admiral Michael Mallen,
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Military Forces, noted
that military operation against Iran would be `too difficult’ for the
US Armed Forces.

Fuel was added to the fire by Israel, which `does not exclude the
possibility of using force to make Iran give up the operations of
enriching uranium.’ The position of Tel-Aviv is logical – Iranian
missiles `Shahab’ fly up to the boundary of Israel and even to
Nathanza, where nuclear facilities are located. Meanwhile the Foreign
Minister of Iran declares at a press conference in the UN that `Iran
excludes the possibility of armed attacks on the part of the USA and
Israel, as well as any other military operations in its region till
January 2009.’ Such rumours are periodically circulated in Mass Media,
increasing fear of the market to face instability in the area of the
Persian Gulf and pushing up the price for oil.

Foreign Minister of Iran motivates his position with the view that
Israel has not yet recovered from the invasion into Lebanon in
2006. `And the US cannot afford another war at the expense of its
tax-payers,’ Mottaki declares. At the same time the diplomat notes
that the sanctions applied by the Security Council have in no way
blown up the defensive potential of the country, though they called
the country to break cooperation with Tehran. `Our country is
all-sufficient on the military-defensive level,’ underlines Mottaki.

The FM of Tehran also assures he will soon consider the promising
suggestions of the `Big Six’ of international mediators to regulate
the nuclear problem in Iran. He is sure that the document empoweres
his country to use atom for peaceful purposes.

In his turn Oil Minister of Iran Gholam Hossein Nozari declares: `The
price for oil will boost in case of aggression against Iran. Any
attempt of attack on Iran will be met strictly. Even a statement on
the possibility of aggression can provoke fluctuations of oil price
with amplitude of $10-15. But in case Iran is attacked the price for
the `black gold’ will become unpredictable,’ Nozari is certain.

`Security of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which passes 80%
of the oil mined in the area of the Persian Gulf, is under the
responsibility of the region’s countries. And Iran, being the regional
power-holder, plays a key role in this area,’ the Oil Minister states.

`Relations between the United States and Iran should be viewed in
diplomatic, military and economic aspects,’ declares Richard
Giragosian, Contributing analyst at Jane’s Information Group. `After
the 9/11 the American-Iranian relations entered a new stage. The
United States launched a campaign against Taliban, which served Iran’s
purpose. However, the war on terrorism drew Iran into the `axis of
evil.’ The U.S. inaccurate control over the post-war Iraq helped Iran
to grow into a regional power-holder. As to Iran’s nuclear program, it
is a matter of national dignity and response to the nuclear threat
from Israel and, quite possibly, from Pakistan and India too.’

Discussing a possible U.S. attack on Iran, the American expert says,
`It will be inefficient and unproductive. The American army is
over-occupied with Iraq and Afghanistan and its technical facilities
are limited. But the most important factor is that, in case of
aggression, pro-governmental and pro-oppositional forces of Iran will
unite in defense of their homeland.’

`Presently the U.S. position is to prevent Iran’s influence over Iraq,
which becomes especially apparent in the delivery of weapons to
Shiites by `Hezbollah,’ Giragosian considers. `At the same time, the
Iranian factor is a serious challenge for the U.S.-Russia
relations. Washington is arriving at a conclusion that she’d better
talk to Iran rather than threaten her. However the President’s
administration is not ready for such steps. I am hopeful that with
coming to power, Barack Obama will change the U.S. attitude toward
Iran,’ notes Giragosian.

`As for Armenia it has a unique chance to become a bridge between Iran
on the one hand and the U.S. and EU on the other. Azerbaijan cannot be
viewed on this level, since it experiences problems with Iran. This
perspective is of great importance to Armenian and the Armenian
authorities should seize the opportunity,’ Giragosian concludes.

«PanARMENIAN.NetÂ&#xBB ; analytical department

Armenia’s prime minister charges authorities to enhance public services

YEREVAN, July 10. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargyan
charged today executives, governors and the Mayor of Yerevan to enhance
public services.

The Premier instructed the authorities to adopt relevant legislative
acts and norms in ten days, as well as to hold receptions for citizens
every month and raise public awareness of legal acts. The copies of
these documents and information about receptions will be available on a
website, Sargsian said.

According to the Premier, these activities will help the government
enhance public services.

The repeated complaints against government agencies show that local
authorities are sometimes negligent of their duties, according to the
Prime Minister.

`The authorities should always report on administration of citizens’
complaints to gain public trust and improve their image.’ `0-

COMMITTEE FOR PROTECTION OF POLITICAL PRISONERS AND PERSECUTED PEOPLE CREATED

NOYAN TAPAN

Ju ly 9

According to human rights activist Vardan Haroutiunian, the
Armenian authorities have fulfilled only one of the provisions of
PACE Resolution N 1609, at that, only formally. That provision,
as V. Haroutiunian said at the July 9 discussion, is the National
Assembly ad hoc commission created for the purpose of investigation
of the March 1 events. The members of that commission, according to
the human rights activist, depend on the authorities and therefore,
cannot carry out fair and unbiassed investigation. "So far, none
of the commission members has demanded releasing even if one of the
political prisoners with a signature at the preliminary examination
stage," he said.

V. Haroutiunian said that a signature on not leaving the place of
their residence has been chosen as restraint to 25 people on the
March 1 case, 3 people have been acquitted, and today 82 people are
in custody. According to the human rights activist, when the Press
Service of the Prosecutor General’s Office reports that there are
17 prisoners in prisons on the above mentioned case, it means that
the Prosecutor’s Office means only those whose sentence has not been
pronounced yet. While, according to the human rights activist, the
others, convicts, remain political prisoners.

Karapet Rubinian, a representative of the National Movement (NM),
said that a Committee for Protection of Political Prisoners and
Persecuted People has been created lately. One of its primary goals
is to provide financial assistance to families of imprisoned people.

CLOSE AND REMOTE INTERESTS

Panorama.am
20:00 07/07/2008

The close relationship between Armenia and Georgia does not mean that
those two countries can not have separate national interests. "Though
Armenia is more intended to occupy neutral position in the affairs of
Osetia and Abkhazia, the countries which wish to declare independence
are precedent cases for NKR," said politician Sergey Minasyan.

To the politician the problem with destroying Armenian churches in
Georgia are not "problematic". Both Armenia and Georgia are aware of
smoothening the points; otherwise the inter-state relationship and
regional security will appear under threat.

As for the membership of Georgia to NATO, he said that much depends
on the relationship of West, NATO and Russia and not simply on the
changing Georgian standards.

SERGEY MARKEDONOV: "…AZERBAIJAN WILL NEVER TAKE ARMENIA’S PLACE IN RUSSIAN POLICY IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS"

Today.Az
July 8 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Sergey Markedonov, famous Russian political
scientist and chief of department of problems of international
relations under the Institute for Political and Military Analysis.

– How do you assess results of Russian President Dmitri Medvedev’s
visit to Baku?

– Dmitri Medvedev’s visit to Azerbaijan is a positive step. The head
of state even called Azerbaijan the strategic partner in the South
Caucasus. Undoubtedly, the visit fixed numerous bilateral compliments.

However, I would not overestimate this event, as Russia and Azerbaijan,
alongside with sympathies and antipathies, have definite objective
restrictions. Thus, Baku is discontented with Moscow’s position on
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan expects a more appropriate
position on the Karabakh issue from Russia.In turn, the Kremlin is
resented with Azerbaijan’s close relations with NATO, traditionally
warn relations with Georgia and others. Medvedev’s visit could not
settle a number of issues, as their settlement requires serious and
durable approach. Such issues are not settled within one visit.

I think Russian President, visiting Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and
Kazakhstan, wanted to learn their positions.

– Why does Moscow intend to buy natural gas to Baku? Some time ago
Russia supplied gas to Azerbaijan itself and coolness was caused by
differences in this very sphere…

– I am not an economist and it is difficult for me to comment on this
issue. Though the past years, energy in Russia has transformed into
political factor. From the political point of view, this issue can be
characterized as a thaw in the relations between the two countries. By
2006 Vladimir Putin had managed to promote further development of
Russian-Azerbaijani relations. There were mutual visits, signing of
agreements and contracts and so on,

However, beginning from the end of 2006 relations started to cool due
to the gas and Georgian factors. Dmitri Medvedev decided to attain
thaw in them.

– Before the visit of the Russian President to Baku, newly elected
president of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan had paid an official visit to
Moscow, during which the sides discussed Nagorno Karabakh issue
among others. Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan also discussed the
Karabakh issue. Do you think, Medvedev intends to ensure more active
participation of Russia in the resolution of this issue?

– No progress should be expected until the sides find a mutually
acceptable formula of the conflict resolution. The talks with
participation of Dmitri Medvedev, George Bush and Barak Obama, if the
latter becomes a President, can be held hundreds of times. The talks
will be senseless until the sides make concessions. Anyway talks are
better than military actions. Moscow’s role in the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict should not be overestimated. There are no USSR or Central
Committee of the Communist party to help settle the issue.

– Will the visit of the Russian President to Azerbaijan promote
further close cooperation and closing of the two countries?

– Before 2006 Russia and Azerbaijan had been demonstrating possibility
to settle any issues in the way acceptable for all. I think Azerbaijan
will never take Armenia’s place in Russian policy in the South
Caucasus. It will never become Russia’s main partner in the Caucasus.

AZERBAIJAN WANTS TO BORROW TWO UAVS FROM GEORGIA

Rezonansi
July 3 2008
Tbilisi

Baku and Tbilisi have been negotiating a sensitive question for about
a month now. The Azerbaijani government has asked Georgia to provide
two UAVs for a period of six months. The GPSearch.org website cited
an unidentified representative of the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry
as the source of this information.

According to the website, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was
planning to raise the question at his meeting with Mikheil Saakashvili
when he arrived in Batumi to attend the GUAM summit two days ago. It
is not known whether the two presidents actually discussed this and,
if so, how their conversation ended.

The source in the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry said that the aircraft
is to be used for reconnaissance missions in Nagornyy Karabakh.

The request has clearly created an awkward situation for Tbilisi since
Georgia has friendly relations both with Azerbaijan and Armenia. If
Baku’s request is rejected, the Azerbaijani government will be
unhappy. On the other hand, Yerevan is set to protest if Georgia
agrees to provide the UAVs.

The Georgian Defence Ministry’s press service has said that it knows
nothing about Azerbaijan’s request.

What should official Tbilisi do? Political analyst Ramaz Saqvarelidze
believes that Georgia faces a dilemma and will have to choose the
lesser of two evils.

"You can imagine how Armenia will react if Georgia provides Azerbaijan
with the UAVs. You probably remember that Georgia criticized
Russia for supplying weapons to the Abkhaz in the past. Similarly,
if Georgia hands over the aircraft to Azerbaijan, it will inflame
conflict between the two states, i.e. Georgia will contribute to the
resumption of conflict.

"Is it in Georgia’s interests to do this? The answer depends on
the strategy that the country will adopt. An individual sometimes
has to choose the lesser of two evils. Georgia will anger Aliyev
if it rejects Azerbaijan’s request. It will anger Armenia if it
provides the aircraft. The country will have to decide according to
its strategy which of the two options is the lesser of two evils",
Saqvarelidze said.

Relations with Azerbaijan more important than ties with Armenia

Political analyst Soso Tsintsadze holds a different view on this
subject.

"It is true that we need to maintain some kind of a balance
since Armenia is our neighbour but we are closer to Azerbaijan
than to Armenia as far as the matters of territorial integrity are
concerned. Moreover, the Azerbaijani press is not particularly pleased
with the fact that the [Georgian] president appointed Van Baiburt, an
ethnic Armenian, as his advisor on ethnic minorities. It is therefore
a very sensitive question.

"In truth, Armenia’s policy towards Georgia has not been quite
friendly. Since I am not an official, I can avoid the insincerity of
political correctness. Being an independent expert, I can express my
opinion and say the things that the Georgian government will never
say because of diplomatic ethics and national interests.

"If Georgia were to choose, relations with Baku are 100 times more
important than relations with Yerevan. Armenia should understand
this and behave accordingly because we have no choice. Georgia and
Azerbaijan are in a similar position today.

"Many people probably remember that the foreign minister of Nagornyy
Karabakh who spoke at an international meeting in Vladikavkaz
(which I attended too) made the kind of anti-Georgian statements
that even Bagapsh and Kokoyty have hardly ever made. He publicly
said that he hoped that a day would come when Tskhinvali and Sukhumi
would gain completely independence from Tbilisi and its imperialist
rule. Yerevan’s representative attended the meeting too but he did
not protest and even applauded him. This is the reality. It would
therefore be unwise for Georgia to confront Azerbaijan in order to
preserve good relations with Armenia. People in Baku have already
suggested that Georgians are ungrateful as Azerbaijan has aided them
by supplying oil, has and so on.

"It is true that Azerbaijan can afford to buy UAVs on its own
but extra aid can do no harm. Azerbaijan is trying to gain as many
allies as possible. Georgia is not a second-rate state in this region
and hence Baku considers Tbilisi’s stance on any issue to be very
important. Armenia needs to understand this. Yerevan is concerned
with its own interests and is trying to secure railway connection
with its strategic ally – Russia. God forbid an armed conflict starts
between Baku and Yerevan, the Armenians will use the railway that
they are trying so hard to restore to receive military supplies",
Soso Tsintsadze said.

"Unfortunately, Azerbaijan and Armenia are not the same kind of
allies for Georgia. It is understandable that Georgia is trying to
maintain friendly relations with its neighbours. However, relations
with Azerbaijan are a lot more important than relations with Armenia
as far as the question of territorial integrity is concerned," the
political analyst concluded.

Xinhua, China

FM: Armenia not planning to join NATO

2008-07-07 00:28:21 Print

MOSCOW, July 6 (Xinhua) — Armenian Foreign Minister Edvard
Nalbandian said the south Caucasus state is not seeking to join NATO,
but will enhance cooperation with the alliance, reports reaching here
said on Sunday.

"NATO membership does not rank among Armenia’s foreign-policy
goals, but Armenia is cooperating intensively with the alliance,"
Interfax quoted Nalbandian as saying at a joint news conference with
his Czech counterpart Karel Schwarzenberg in the Armenian capital of
Yerevan.

NATO and Armenia have recently completed a "positive" two-year
cooperation program, he said, noting a new two-year cooperation
program is underway.

Russia has repeatedly warned against NATO’s eastward expansion,
expressing concerns over the bid for the alliance’s membership by
former Soviet republics, such as Georgia and Ukraine.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

GEVORG KOSTANIAN APPOINTED ASSISTANT TO RA PRESIDENT

NOYAN TAPAN

Ju ly 3

On July 2, RA President Serzh Sargsian signed an order on appointing
Gevorg Kostanian Assistant to the RA President. Noyan Tapan was
informed about it by the RA President’s Press Office.

Earthtimes (press release), UK

Verizon Adds 22 New Channels to FiOS TV Lineup – Including 15 in HD –
for Fort Wayne, Ind., Customers

Posted : Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:29:53 GMT

Author : Verizon
Category : Press Release

First in Series of Content Additions Will Include Multicultural and
Sports Programming, Big Ten Network FORT WAYNE, Ind., July 1

FORT WAYNE, Ind., July 1 /PRNewswire/ — Verizon FiOS TV is now even
better for customers here as the company has launched 22 new channels,
including 15 additional high-definition (HD) channels. FiOS TV customers in
Fort Wayne now have more than 440 HD choices available at any time, with a
total of 41 HD channels and more than 400 HD video-on-demand (VOD) titles
offered each month.

The first in a series of channel additions coming this year, new content
includes sports favorites like the Big Ten Network and new HD channels like
CNBC, Bravo and USA. The next series of content additions will include more
HD channels, including CNN, TBS, Lifetime, three new Starz channels and two
new Showtime channels, as well as 16 new multicultural channels.

[Note: A list of all the new channels can be found below.]

Verizon will continue expanding its FiOS TV channel lineup this year, with
a major focus on HD content. By year-end, Verizon will offer all available
major HD programming.

"High-definition and sports content are among the most popular TV
programming, and we’re bringing the best of both to FiOS TV," said Terry
Denson, vice president – FiOS TV content and programming. "The addition of
new HD and sports channels, along with the new multicultural content and more,
is part of our commitment to lead the industry in the scope and quality of our
programming."

Fort Wayne customers are the first to receive the new FiOS TV channel
lineup. During the next few months, Verizon will roll out the new content,
region by region, in other areas where FiOS TV is available.

Verizon Leads the Way With 15 New HD Channels, More to Come in July

FiOS TV customers in the Fort Wayne area will now have a total of 41 HD
channels. As Verizon previously announced, customers will get to see some of
their favorite channels in HD, including Animal Planet, TLC, Science Channel
and Smithsonian Channel. Other new HD programming that FiOS TV customers in
Fort Wayne now receive includes CNBC, Bravo, USA, Cinemax, HBO, History
Channel, Weather Channel and SCI FI.

Those customers who subscribe to FiOS TV’s Movie Package – which already
includes more than 40 channels from Showtime, Starz, The Movie Channel,
Encore, Sundance Channel and IFC, as well as access to hundreds of free movies
on VOD – will soon have access to five new HD channels from Starz and
Showtime: Starz Edge, Starz Comedy, Starz Kids and Family, Showtime and
Showtime 2.

Big Ten Network and More Sports Content

For sports fans, Verizon is launching three new HD sports channels.
Verizon has always placed a high priority on providing all major sports
programming and offering as much as possible in HD.

The company has now added top college basketball and football action with
the Big Ten Network, which will be available in both standard- and high-
definition. In addition, Verizon has launched two other new HD sports
channels – Versus/Golf Channel, which features live events and original
programming from Versus as well as PGA Tour and additional golf coverage; and
the Outdoor Channel 2, which provides programming that promotes traditional
outdoor activities like fishing, hunting and shooting sports.

As previously announced, Verizon will also soon offer Setanta Sports, a
premium channel dedicated to bringing European and International soccer and
rugby to U.S.-based fans. When the channel launches in July, no other cable
provider will offer Setanta.

New Multicultural Content for Diverse Audiences

Verizon has been focused on bringing a range of diverse, multicultural
content to its FiOS TV customers. Within the next month, Verizon will begin
offering Fort Wayne customers 16 new multicultural channels, including leading
channels for Arabic, Portuguese and Russian audiences, among others. These
new channels continue to make FiOS TV an outlet for emerging and independent
networks to showcase their diverse programming.

Much of the multicultural content comes from WorldTV, a division of
content management and delivery company GlobeCast, which previously signed a
distribution deal with Verizon for top-tier international channels. The new
GlobeCast WorldTV international television channels include MBT (Arabic), RTPI
(Portuguese) and RTR Planeta (Russian). In addition to the WorldTV content,
Verizon will offer South Asian channel ZEE TV and Filipino channel GMA Pinoy
TV. Verizon also recently added Spanish language network Univision to the
Fort Wayne lineup.

Verizon’s FiOS TV service offers a broad collection of all-digital
programming, with more than 400 total channels and 10,000 video-on-demand
titles, 70 percent of which are free. The VOD library also includes an
increasing number of HD titles, with 1,000 HD VOD titles per month by the end
of the year. FiOS TV is currently available to more than 6.5 million homes in
13 states. In the little more than two years since the service first
launched, the company has signed up more than 1.2 million FiOS TV customers
who enjoy hundreds of digital video and music channels, high-definition linear
and on-demand programming, the nation’s largest collection of video-on-demand
content, a robust interactive media guide, and other advanced features. For
more information on FiOS TV, visit Consumers can also
call their local Verizon sales office or 888-438-3467.

Verizon is adding the following new channels to the FiOS TV lineup in
Fort Wayne:

New Channels Now Available
Animal Planet HD TLC (The Learning Channel) HD USA HD
Bravo HD Outdoor Channel 2 HDVeria TV
Cinemax West HD Reelz Versus/Golf HD
CNBC HD+ RFD TV WAPA TV
Current TV SCI FI HD Weather Channel HD
HBO West HD Science Channel HD Univision
Big Ten Network HD Big Ten Network Smithsonian Channel
History Channel HD HD

Channels Coming Soon
GMA Pinoy TV Setanta Sports ZEE TV
CNN HD TBS HD Lifetime HD
Showtime West HD Showtime 2 HD Starz Kids and Family
Starz Comedy HD Starz Edge HD HD

Globecast WorldTV International Programming:
Kuwait TV (Arabic) MBT (Arabic)
Public TV of Armenia (Armenian)
BN (Balkan) NTV Hayat (Balkan) CTN (Cambodian)
KISB4 – CBS KISB5 – MBN KISB7 – Sky Baduk
(Korean) (Korean)(Korean)
TVK (Cambodian) RTPi (Portuguese) Pro TV (Romanian)
RSC 1 (Romanian) RTR Planeta (Russian)

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a
leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication
innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.
Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, serving
more than 67 million customers nationwide. Verizon’s Wireline operations
include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business
solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings
customers the benefits of converged communications, information and
entertainment services over the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network. A
Dow 30 company, Verizon employed a diverse workforce of approximately 232,000
as of the end of the first quarter 2008 and last year generated consolidated
operating revenues of $93.5 billion. For more information, visit

VERIZON’S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches
and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other
information are available at Verizon’s News Center on the World Wide Web at
To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News
Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news
releases.

SOURCE Verizon

PRESIDENT SARGSIAN APPOINTS NEW DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF

ARMENPRESS
July 2,2008

President Serzh Sargsian signed a decree July 2 to dismiss Grigor
Grigorian from the position of commander of interior troops and deputy
chief of the government affiliated police.

The presidential press office said by another decree President Serzh
Sargsian dismissed Garegin Gabrielian from the position of head of
Vazgen Sargsian military academy appointing him commander of interior
troops and deputy police chief.