Author: Nanijanian Alex

OSCE, EU URGE FURTHER PROGRESS ON KARABAKH
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 5 2006

Europe’s two leading security organizations have commended Armenia and
Azerbaijan for moving closer to ending the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and urged both nations to build on the progress "as soon as possible."

In separate statements, the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe and the European Union highlighted fresh hopes for a speedy
solution to the Karabakh conflict that have been raised by the latest
meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents.

"We are encouraged that negotiations in 2006, facilitated by the
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group and supported by the OSCE Chairman
in Office, have brought the sides closer to agreement on the basic
principles for the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,"
the foreign ministers of OSCE member states said at the end of a
two-day meeting in Brussels.

The statement urged Presidents Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan and Robert
Kocharian of Armenia to "redouble their efforts in the coming year
to finalize these basic principles as soon as possible." Its content
was agreed with and signed by the foreign ministers of the two South
Caucasus states. OSCE ministers failed to reach a similar agreement
on other "frozen conflicts" in the former Soviet Union.

"The EU is encouraged by the active dialogue between Armenia and
Azerbaijan to find a settlement to the conflict," Finland’s Foreign
Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the EU’s rotating
presidency, said in a statement issued on behalf of the bloc late
on Monday. "We call on both parties to seize the opportunity to make
progress without delay," he added.

Aliev and Kocharian held face-to-face talks for a third time in less
than a year on the sidelines of last week’s summit of former Soviet
republics in Minsk, Belarus. They indicated afterwards that they made
further progress towards a compromise peace accord.

Belgian Foreign Minister Karen De Gucht, the OSCE chairman-in-office
who attended the opening session of the Minsk talks, was reported to
say that a solution is in sight for Karabakh in the next year. "There
is a very good chance that we can (resolve) this conflict in the
course of next year," he told a news briefing in Brussels. "We have
made really substantial progress, if not a breakthrough."

But speaking to RFE/RL on Monday, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian cautioned against excessive expectations from the next
round of Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations. He indicated that the
conflicting parties have yet to fully agree on the main point of the
existing international peace plan: a referendum on Karabakh’s status.

"We’ve got to be very careful about appearing too optimistic,"
Oskanian told Reuters news agency in a separate interview.

He said although there has been progress on the basic principles of
a Karabakh settlement, working out its details could prove even more
difficult. "That’s where the positions are inching closer, but we
are not there yet. Once we conclude the document, we have to go into
a second layer where we may face fresh problems because discussing
details sometimes could prove more problematic than the principles."

Oskanian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov were due
to discuss their next steps on the fringes of the OSCE conference.

But they avoided any face-to-face meetings in the Belgian capital,
opting instead for "proximity talks" through the French, Russian and
U.S. mediators.

Agreement on Karabakh is further complicated by the forthcoming
Armenian parliamentary elections as well as presidential ballots due
in both Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2008. Analysts doubt that Aliev
and Kocharian will risk a domestic nationalist backlash and announce
unpopular peace deals ahead of the polls.

ONLY ARSHAK HAYRAPETIAN STANDS ON PEDESTAL OF HONOUR OF ROSTOV TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan
Dec 06 2006

ROSTOV-ON-DON, DECEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The free-style
wrestling international tournament finished on December 5 in
Rostov-on-Don. Armenian sportsmen are also among representatives of
5 countries. Only Arshak Hayrapetian (66 kg, Yerevan) stood on the
pedestal from them. He won the 3rd place.

ALI ABBASOV: ICT SECTOR INCOMES TO EXCEED PETRODOLLARS BY 2015 IN AZERBAIJAN

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 5 2006

Communications and Information Technologies Minister Ali Abbasov
interviewed by APA

– Achievements and main indicators made in information and
communication technologies life of Azerbaijan can be very
interesting. And expectations for 2007.

– Annual growth rate in the ICT sphere has exceeded general growth
rate by 2 or 3 times in Azerbaijan during recent years. Gross
Domestic Product growth hit 30% in 2005 and 2006, which changed the
ratio. The growth in communications sphere was 30% in 2006. Recently
the internet users increased by 10-15%, mobile users 30-32 per 100
people, websites reached 10 000 in number. We intend to turn to the
leader of the region in this sphere. 80% of postal networks will
be centralized in a computer center. As from next year posts will
offer banking services. At present AzTV covers 98% of Azerbaijan’s
territory and ITV (Public TV) covers 88%. Coverage of the other
broadcasters is between 50% and 60%. According to these indicators,
Azerbaijan is not behind in the world. Telecommunication field will
be the top priority following the oil sector.

– What about creation of innovation zones. What are the expectations?

– We have great targets. If we can implement these projects, the
incomes of this sector will overtake petrodollars in 2012-2015. These
ideas failed in some countries. Ireland, China, Malaysia, India and
South Korea succeeded in this sphere. We are consulting with Monitor
and AlimBus. We plan to forward our proposals to the Government and
Parliament by March 31, 2007. The proposals reflect privileges in
taxes and customs duties. President Ilham Aliyev declared ICT sector
the new priority of Azerbaijan while addressing Bakutel international
exhibition in October. These plans attracted many foreign companies
to Azerbaijan. CISCO, Intel and other famous companies want to take
part in the creation of technoparks. Ericsson, Siemens and Huavey
are among the interested.

– Will innovation zones be created in one region or a number of
regions for Phase 1?

– We speak about privileges which can also be misused by some
companies. We want to remove imbalance between Baku and regions. We
think the project should cover all over Azerbaijan and the companies
have privileges in the operating activities.

– Which components does the innovation zones project include and is
it possible to differentiate the privileges among regions?

– We are negotiating with both the Government and he companies in
order to satisfy the both parties at the same time. Creation of
technoparks will be followed by production and export of electronics.

At the next stage Azerbaijan will be a bridge between the West and
the East. The prices of western imports will fall by five times.

Azerbaijan will form a giant info market. Submarine optical cable
should also be laid in the Caspian, which will be a shortcut
between the West and the East. Creation of Azerbaijan Technologies
University for development of education and human capital is also
under discussion, of which founder is not the Government but ICT giants
like CISCO, Ericsson who want to qualify personals for themselves.

– Will Azerbaijan participate in funding the project?

– The Government can allot some activities for companies free or with
privileges. Also, the government investment is vital for creation of
e-government, adoption of new laws, improvement of legislation and
necessary infrastructure. Foreign companies are planned to finance
creation of new ventures, installation of new systems. Foreign
investors demand security for their investment, like international
oil contracts, the innovation zone project contracts should be
ratified at parliament. And in this case, protection of investment
and the commitments of the foreign companies can be ensured. As in
oil contracts, these contracts should reflect percentage of revenues.

If we can send the proposals to parliament in March, the first
investment will flow to Azerbaijan in fall.

– All TV broadcasters should convert to digital system by 2015. How
will this project be realized?

– There is almost no digital system in the South Caucasus and Central
Asia. According to the demands of International Telecommunication
Union, all countries to convert to digital system. We prepared a
program envisaging transition to digital system by 2015. The Cabinet
approved our program and it seems to me the program will be implemented
successfully.

– What difficulties do you experience in transmission of foreign
broadcasters in Azerbaijan?

– 5 foreign TV and 7 radio channel broadcast in Azerbaijan. Some
violate our laws. According to the legislation, a foreign broadcaster
can transmit if there is a intergovernmental agreement. There is no
problem with Russia broadcasters. We also have agreement with Turkey.

In reality, TRT doesn’t pay for broadcasting, but the problem will
be solved next year.

– Iranian, Russian and Central Asian broadcasters interfere in the
airspace of Azerbaijan. The Government blames private channels of
Azerbaijan for this interference. What measures are being taken?

– It is impossible to completely prevent electromagnetic waves. The
broadcasting can reach 300km, but 500km in sea. International
Telecommunication Union has rules. For instance, if Iran has a
channel in 25th channel near the border, Azerbaijan is not allowed to
broadcast in 25th channel. Countries should show tolerance. We are
concerned that foreign broadcastings coincide with ours. I met with
Iranian minister in Antaliya and we agreed to sign an agreement on
this field. The channels will be distributed after this agreement is
signed. Our private broadcasters are guilty sometimes because their
broadcasts are weak. All broadcasters, in particular privately-owned
channels should strengthen broadcasting.

– Armenians use our transmitters in the occupied lands and interfere
in Azerbaijan’s airspace. What pressures can the ITU exert on Armenia
about this problem?

– Our transmitting stations were left in Shusha, Jabrail, Gubadli
and Zengilan. I brought up this issue and put forward demands in the
ITU conference. There are some conflict zones in the South Caucasus
as well. But, the Union has no experience in this sphere, Azerbaijan
was the first to raise this question.

– Communications enterprises are planned to be privatized within the
public properties privatization program. How the process is going on?

– First, joint enterprises are privatized and, then, the state-owned
enterprises. The Government’s participating interest in Azercell
Telecom was planned to be privatized this year, but the process
was put off for next year. There are problems with assessment and
privatization of this high-income enterprise. AzEuroTel and Catel are
in privatization auction now. We will also take a step in privatization
of the state-owned enterprises in 2007. Mechanism for assessment of
telecommunication system has changed recently.

– With what kind of succession will the privatization be carried out?

– Teleradio Unit will not be privatized so far. The Government’s
participation in television and radio activities is necessary because
there are lots of problems in this field. Azerpocht will not be
privatized so far either because it is not considered profitable.

Aztelecom and Bakitelecom can be privatized. Internet providers-
Bakinternet, Aztelecominternet and Azerin can be privatized.

Telephone outlets will be privatized earlier than Teleradio and
postal ones.

– Customers complain about tariffs of cellular providers and many
wait for Azerfon-the third operator.

– Azerfon doesn’t have so great potential as Azercell and Bakcell
have in the market in order to reduce prices. Azerfon’s first step
will cover price-related activities. Azerfon’s coming on line will
have positive influence on market prices. Bakcell’s price policy has
influenced the market greatly. I think Azerfon will take concrete
steps in this direction.

– Are you satisfied with the tariffs offered by internet providers?

– They try to keep the current prices unchanged. I don’t understand
their policy, they can’t expand their customers stock without reducing
prices. Unfortunately, their appeals sent to us suggest that the
existing prices remain unchanged. The State can offer financial
resources. They should be capable of borrowing long-term loans which
will enable them to reduce prices. At present, the providers’ incomes
only consist of the tiny payment of the customers.

2007 WILL BE A YEAR OF MEETINGS FOR "ALTERNATIVE"

A1+
[05:13 pm] 04 December, 2006

Since February 20, 2007 a series of meetings will start in Armenia
organized by NGO "Alternative". As Nikol Pashinyan claims, "If today
we have ten associates, tomorrow their number will be doubled".

Until then, according to member of the initiative group Petros Maqeyan,
they visit the regions of the Republic and try to represent their ideas
and "the model of the future" to the people. Nikol Pashinyan promised
to speak about the model in more detail during the meetings. As for
raising public awareness, Nikol Pashinyan noted that the absence of
the TV journalists from their press conferences is another obstacle
on their way.

The main aim of "Alternative" is the change of authorities which they
intend to reach by all means.

"Only radical actions will make the offered model of future realistic
and will prevent the reproduction of the authorities", says the
statement of the initiative group.

15th ANNIVERSARY OF RA INDEPENDENCE MARKED IN CITY OF BEACONSFIELD

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 04 2006

BEACONSFIELD, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A
concert-evening party dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the RA
independence took place on November 28 at the Saint Mary church of the
city of Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. Representatives
of the local self-government bodies and Armenian community were
present at the event organized by the Chilterns Armenian Society
functioning in Buckinghamshire, with the assistance of the Embassy of
Armenia. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press
and Information Department, British Armenian famous violinist Levon
Chilingarian, the Vardanian string quartet functioning at the Royal
College of Music, etc. performed at the concert. Vahe Gabrielian,
the Ambassador of Armenia, made a speech during the party, briefly
presenting the path passed by Armenia from the beginning of the
independence, expressing gratitude to the Armenian community for the
continuous assistance to Armenia as well as for the contribution in
the affair of deepening the Armenian-British ties.

Standard, Kenya
Dec 2 2006

Confessions of Artur brothers’ driver

By Saturday Standard Reporter

A man who drove the bogus Artur brothers around Nairobi gave
startling confessions to the twin parliamentary committees taking
evidence on the Armenian saga.

Among the untested claims by Mr Richard Ambwayo Nerima, a former
driver of businessman Raju Sanghani, who was instrumental in their
adventure in Kenya, is that his colleague drove them on a
surveillance mission around the Standard Group premises before the
March 2 raid, in which they were implicated.

He was also there when they were buying reflective jackets and
walkie-talkies, which he believes were used in the raid. During his
appearance before the joint committee, co-chaired by Kabete MP Paul
Muite and Changamwe MP Suleiman Shakombo, he gave a breakdown of the
Government vehicles they had at their disposal.

Arturs were taken to State House

He was also categorical he saw them mingle with the daughter of an
influential Narc activist and a former top Criminal Investigations
Department official.

"I have visitors from Dubai. Because you are a good driver and you
have worked with the police. I want to assign you the task of taking
them around. You will pick them up in the morning and drop them home
in the evening,” Sanghani told Nerima, when he gave him the job.

For the job, he was assigned a Mercedes Benz registration KAB 300R.
The fleet at their disposal later grew larger, including one from Mr
Baktash Akasha, the son of slain drug dealer Abdullah Kassim Akasha.

Sanghani is the man, who in July stepped into the Shedrack Kiruki
Committee investigating the activities of the so-called Artur
brothers and confessed he brought them into the country.

Nerima claimed he knew the Arturs were taken to State House by
well-connected personality and that at one point they even were under
the comfortable guard of some members of the elite Presidential
Escort.

Arturs roughed up hotel security

Soon after the visit to State House, Nerima claimed, a senior
Presidential Escort officer and a State House official began to
process travel documents for their visit to Uganda.

At some point, the Artur brothers were scheduled to meet a senior
official of the Ugandan Government at a Nairobi hotel. The hotel
security men attempted to block them from entering after they refused
to identify themselves.

The Arturs, who had several bodyguards, two of who were Tanzanians,
reacted by roughing up the hotel security and went ahead to meet the
Ugandan official whose name is given only as a Mr Obel.

In his testimony to the committee, whose final findings are yet to be
officially made public, who included a former senior police officer
and a Narc activist, regularly visited the Artur brothers in their
Runda residence.

Vehicles with Government registration numbers

The former senior police officer was among the revelers who regularly
patronised the Runda residence to party and make merry with the Artur
brothers.

He shocked the committee with further revelations that the Narc
activist, together with Sanghani, actually accompanied the Artur
brothers to view the Runda house before they rented it.

The activist had bodyguards, whose names were furnished to the
committee, and often used vehicles with Government registration
numbers.

Some of the vehicles, according to Nerima, who also says he was fired
from the service after being accused of corruption, are the ones that
were being used by the Artur brothers.

He said that, while some of the number plates on the vehicles could
have been fake, most of them were genuine. He said that it was only
on a few occasions that he would be asked to change number plates
before the Arturs drove out on private missions that he did not know.

Accompanied by between two to four chase cars

He said that, on their first visit to the country in November just
before they rented the Runda residence, the Artur brothers were
received by his boss, Sanghani, who helped check them into a Nairobi
hotel.

Together with two other colleagues, the Artur brothers occupied four
rooms in the hotel, including a presidential suite, where they
received their visitors.

In the later stages of their stay, however, they were using vehicles
belonging to the Narc activist, some of which were unregistered.

During their most dramatic moments, the Arturs would drive in and out
of their house accompanied by between two to four chase cars and
police guards.

He said the Arturs, whom he was informed by the bodyguards were
investors, might have been introduced to State House by someone he
did not name.

Brother were given police bodyguards

It could have been as a result of the State House connections that
the Arturs were also given police bodyguards who drove them around,
he claimed.

Nerima says he used to drive the Arturs around the city prior to
their being given police guards, as a result of which he got to know
a number of their dealings and could thus identify the senior
Government officials they often met.

Some of the police body guards, he said, were his workmates when he
served in Nyeri as a police officer.

He told the committee that, on one occasion at around 5pm, he
escorted the Artur brothers to the CID headquarters, scenes of crime
offices, where they remained for a very long time.

The bodyguards and the woman who used to drive them around, Ms
Shifana, had accompanied them.

Panorama.am

18:33 01/12/06

DEFENSE MINISTER: THERE CAN BE NO WORD ABOUT KARABAKH
BEING PART OF AZERBAIJAN

Asked what is his assessment of Kocharyan-Aliev
meeting in Minsk, Serzh Sargsyan, defense minister,
said, `It’s better to ask that question to Robert
Kocharyan. I have not participated in the meeting.
However, Robert Kocharyan, and Aliev as well as
foreign agency heads of the two countries said it was
a normal meeting.’

Sargsyan believes that in this and other negotiations
there will be difficulties. `The solution will be
painful. If it were an easy issue, it would have been
solved long ago,’ he said.

Sargsyan also said he is not Nostradamus to say when
the conflict will be settled. `We also recognize the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan but we also
recognize the territorial integrity of Nagorno
Karabakh because both countries have been established
based on Soviet laws. There can be no word about
Karabakh being a part of Azerbaijan,’ the minister
said speaking about a statement by NATO which says the
alliance supports the territorial integrity principle
for the frozen conflicts in South Caucasus.
/Panorama.am/

WWF ADVOCATES LEGALIZATION OF HUNTING IN ARMENIA

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 30 2006

Every year poachers kill about 300 bezoar goats, 30 bears and 15
moufflons on the territory of Armenia. All these animals are registered
in the International Red Book, Karen Manvelyan, the representative
of the Caucasian Office of the World Wildlife Fund in Armenia, told
an ArmInfo correspondent.

For an efficient fight against poaching, the Armenian Government has
worked out a draft law regulating hunting and activity of hunting
grounds. The first public hearings of the draft law took place in the
Yerevan office of Arhus Ecology Center. In K.Manvelyan’s opinion,
Armenia needs a legal document not only to regulate the hunting
activity, but also organize the protection of wild animals. He
said that some items of the bill don’t comply with international
standards. In the global practice, hunting grounds are created near
reserved zones making hunters interested in protecting objects of
hunting and organizing a struggle against poaching.

The draft law doesn’t stipulate the quantity of rare kinds of
animals, hunting of which will be allowed for trophy or scientific
reasons. In the global practice, this quantity is 0.3-0.5% of the
general population of animals. 50% of funds received from the trophy
hunting should be spent on recovery of the animal’s population. The
draft law should also provide for the inventory of animals which was
held in Armenia 40 years ago. According to the WWF estimation, the
livestock of some species of wild animals in Armenia is no more than
250, so the hunting of them should be forbidden. The share of reserved
zones on the territories of national parks is underestimated in the
draft law, according to international standards, it should be no less
than 75% of the park’s territory. If all the proposals are taken into
account, it will be possible to decrease the risks of corruption in
the regional ecology inspections which shut their eyes to the poaching
by high ranking officials. We are not against the law on hunting and
hunting grounds, as forbidden fruit is sweet, K.Manvelyan said.

POLITICIANS DISAGREE ON QUALITY OF NEXT PARLIAMENT

Panorama.am
16:26 29/11/06

Hermine Naghdalyan, member of Republican faction at the parliament,
hopes the parliament will ensure a new quality after 2007
elections. "The upcoming parliament will have different and better
qualities," she told a press conference today. Asked what may be
different if the same politicians and political parties combat for
elections, she said she believed new political faces will come about.

Shavarsh Kocharyan, leader of Armenian Democratic Party (ADP), believes
that ideological combat has given way to material and monetary values.

COEXISTENCE AMONG RELIGIONS IN ISFAHAN PROVES FREEDOM OF RELIGION IN IRAN

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Nov 28 2006

Isfahan Governor General Seyed Morteza Bakhtiari here Tuesday said
that peaceful coexistence of Muslims and believers of other religions
in Isfahan is one of the prominent features of the city’s residents,
as is evident in all aspects of their lives and marks freedom of
religion in Iran.

He made the remark in a meeting with foreign guests from 15 countries
visiting Isfahan to attend the International Conference dubbed ‘The
Cultural Heritage Support in the Islamic World and Islamic Civilization
Role in Human Civilization’ (November 27-29).

"Despite unfair propaganda about lack of freedom of religion in Iran,
the Armenians residing in the city of Isfahan observe their religious
rites with full freedom.

"Many Isfahani Armenians were martyred during the Sacred Defense era
(1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war) and they are even represented in Majlis,"
he added.

Turning to the historical features and scientific background of the
city, the governor general noted that great scientists have been
raised in Isfahan and their works are being taught in universities
throughout the world.

"Besides, there are many prominent artists in Isfahan and the city
is considered as Iran’s hub of tourism on account of these artists,"
he added.

Head of Islamic Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization
(ISESCO) regional office in Tehran, Abbas Sadri, said that Isfahan has
a high capacity for cultural programs and that several international
conferences were held in the city in recent weeks.

"ISESCO programs marking the city’s designation as the cultural
capital of the world of Islam were conducted successfully and Isfahan
is expected to host more conferences in the coming months," he added.

The International Conference dubbed ‘The Cultural Heritage Support in
the Islamic World and Islamic Civilization Role in Human Civilization’
(November 27-29) opened at Isfahan’s Abbasi Hotel on Monday.

The event is attended by intellectuals from 18 countries. It has
been organized jointly by ISESCO and Iran’s Islamic Culture and
Communications Organization.

The three-day international conference aims to assess the current
status of cultural heritage in the world of Islam and predict the
prospect of cultural, economic and social development of Islamic
civilization.