Author: Tadevosian Garnik

FIFTEEN JOURNALISTS SEEK POLITICAL ASYLUM IN PROTEST AGAINST CLOSURE OF NEWSPAPERS

International Freedom of Expression eXpress (IFEX) Canada
May 29 2007

Francais: Après la fermeture de leurs journaux, 15 journalistes
demandent l’asile politique en signe de protestation
Country/Topic: Azerbaijan
Date: 29 May 2007
Source: Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Person(s): Uzeir Jafarov
Target(s): editor(s) , journalist(s)
Type(s) of violation(s): harassed
Urgency: Threat
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders today condemned the constant
government harassment of opposition media, which has led 15
journalists working for two daily newspapers, the
Azerbaijani-language "Gundelik Azerbaijan" and the Russian-language
"Realny Azerbaijan", to seek political asylum between 25 and 29 May
2007 after their newspapers were closed the week before. Fearing for
his safety, the editor of the newspaper "Nota Bene" has also
requested asylum.

"First the offices of ‘Gundelik Azerbaijan’ and ‘Realny Azerbaijan’
were shut down for alleged fire safety violations, then on 26 May,
the owner of their premises suddenly rescinded their lease, forcing
them to vacate immediately," Reporters Without Borders said. "They
would have us believe this is just a coincidence. These are the
methods of an authoritarian regime."

The press freedom organisation added: "If President Ilham Aliev wants
to protect the press, he should help these two daily newspapers find
new premises. The 41 employees and contributors to these newspapers
are now without any source of income; some of them feel threatened
and the country’s press is all the poorer."

The 14 "Gundelik Azerbaijan" and "Realny Azerbaijan" journalists
submitted their political asylum requests to the US, German, British
and Norwegian embassies and the office of the Organisation for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). They include "Gundelik
Azerbaijan" editor Uzeir Jafarov, who said they were seeking asylum
because of prosecution, and because arrests and attacks made it
impossible for them to work as journalists.

Jafarov was attacked and beaten on 20 April after giving evidence at
the trial of Eynulla Fatullaev, the founder of "Gundelik Azerbaijan"
and "Realny Azerbaijan", who received a 30-month prison sentence the
same day for "defaming" and "insulting" Azerbaijanis in an article
about Armenia.

The satirical website , whose editor, Habib
Muntezir, is based in Germany, has meanwhile become inaccessible
again since 21 May because of a hacker attack on the host server of
Site5 server. Muntezir is convinced the attack was deliberately
targeted. It is not the first time the site has been attacked.

l/83739/

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ARKA NEWS AGENCY PUBLISHES BULLETIN "FINANCIAL INDICATORS OF ARMENIAN BANKS IN 2006"

Arka News Agency, Armenia
May 29 2007

YEREVAN. May 29. /ARKA/. ARKA News Agency published the second issue
of the annual bulletin "Financial Indicators of Armenian Banks in 2006"
(based on independent audit results), first presented in May 2006. The
bulletin is compiled on the basis of official financial reports of
banks and published once a year upon completion of independent audit
check-ups in banks and publication of these check-ups’ results in
the press.

The bulletin’s structure has sections presenting both basic financial
indicators of each bank separately (table 21 for each bank and one
summary table for the entire system), and comparative tables on
banks (rankings on separate indicators of activity) Unlike interim
quarterly financial reports of banks, annual reports, approved by
independent auditors and accepted by bank shareholders, reflect the
final information on accounting balance, reports on financial results,
funds floatation, and change in the own capital of banks, which are
corrected and approved by auditors.

ARKA News Agency works since May 1, 1996, and specializes in providing
financial, economic, and political information.

Since 1999 ARKA News Agency publishes the quarterly bulletin "Basic
Indicators of Armenian Banks, since March 2005 – quarterly bulletin
"Credit Organizations of Armenia", and since May 2006 – "Financial
Indicators of Armenian Banks" based on annual independent audit
check-ups.

GYMNAST VAHAGN STEPANIAN INCLUDED IN FIRST TEN IN WORLD STARS INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

Noyan Tapan
May 29 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Sports Gymnastics International
Tournament under the title World Stars was held on May
24-28 in Moscow. It is also one of regular tours of World Cup
Tournament. Representative of Armenia Vahagn Stepanian took the 9th
place on parallel bars, the 10th place on the loop and the 15th on
the wooden horse. Serob Soghomonian was the 26th both on the wooden
horse and on the horizontal bar.

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
May 25 2007

Turkish organizations start campaigning for closure of Armenian
nuclear plan

Igdir, 25 May: Several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the
eastern Turkish city of Igdir have launched a campaign for closure of
the Metsamor nuclear power plant of Armenia which is situated only 16
kilometres away from the Turkish border.

Releasing a written statement on behalf of 28 NGOs, Volkan Bayat,
chairman of the Igdir Solidarity Association, said on Friday [25 May]
that whole eastern and southeastern Anatolia would be affected in
case of an accident at the Metsamor nuclear power plant.

"The power plant was declared by the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) and the EU as the most dangerous power plant in the
world. This power plant should be shut down as soon as possible," he
said.

Bayat called on all residents in the city to extend support to their
campaign, adding that they would submit the signatures they collected
to the IAEA.

The Metsamor nuclear power plant was built in 1970s, about 30
kilometres west of the Armenian capital of Yerevan. The plant was
constructed with two VVER-440 Model V230 nuclear reactors and the
technology used at the time is no longer acceptable by modern safety
standards.

The power plant produces about 40 per cent of Armenia’s electricity.
It was closed due to the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. However, energy
shortages in Armenia caused the Armenian government to decide to
reopen the plant in 1993.

The EU continues to encourage the Armenian government to shut down
the Metsamor power plant but the Armenian government first wants to
acquire enough alternative sources of energy to compensate for a
shutdown of the reactor.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 26 2007

Azerbaijan’s FM: Seven regions adjacent Nagorno Karabakh to be
categorically returned

[ 26 May 2007 13:10 ]

`Peaceful solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is so important
for Azerbaijan and Armenia and the entire region.

Negotiations on the basic principles are under way. The principles
refer to the territorial integrity [of Azerbaijan], withdrawal of
Armenian forces and repatriation of internally displaced people into
their homes,’ said Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov,
APA reports.
He added that Armenia should comprehend that resolution of the
conflict within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan is
unavoidable.
He noted that Armenia will categorically return the seven regions
adjacent Nagorno Karabakh.
`Simply, it requires time. Withdrawing forces from these regions,
clearing from mines and rehabilitating infrastructure are necessary
points,’ he noted.
Mr. Mammadyarov said security in Lachin Corridor is utmost important
and they have reached agreement on stationing peacekeepers in this
zone.
`Simply, the issue how to compose the peacekeeping forces remains
open. Discussed issues are not to include OSCE Minsk Group and South
Caucasus countries in the composition of peacekeeping forces,’ he
concluded. /APA/

REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS TAKES ON AGBU IN MELKONIAN CASE

AZG Armenian Daily
26/05/2007

Lawyers: "Yerevan is siding with AGBU"

Nicosia – Cyprus Attorney General Petros Clerides, as the legal
representative of the Republic of Cyprus, is expected to take court
action against the AGBU within the next two or three weeks in an
effort to resume the campaign to save the Melkonian school in Nicosia
and aim for its earliest operation.

Some 50 members of the Armenian community, Representative Vartkes
Mahdessian and Melkonian alumni who gathered in Nicosia on Monday
night heard lawyers Costas Velaris and Christina Sarris say that the
Attorney General, who has received several hundred letters, e-mails
and pressure, will take action on behalf of the Armenian community
of Cyprus.

Attorney General Clerides, however, will re-appoint the trio of
Velaris, Sarris and former Attorney General Alecos Markides to
undertake the case in his name as they have nearly two years’ worth
of preparatory work and documentation. The three lawyers had in
the past-represented Patriarch Mutafyan in the Cyprus cases against
the AGBU.

On the issue of payment it was made clear that the Attorney General
has appointed the three lawyers, but he will not pay for legal costs,
to which Costas Velaris seemed unconcerned, saying "there is no need
to deal with that issue right now". Velaris appealed to the members
of the community or anybody else in the world to come forward with
information or documentation that could help the case.

He added that "this time" there would be transparency in the
communication of information and any progress report, with Christina
Sarris saying any report and information would be posted on any
website of the community’s choice.

Responding to calls from the audience to adopt a "proper" channel of
communication through the Armenian MP’s office and then to use the
community’s hierarchy of political and other organisations, Velaris
said "anyone wishing to contact us may do so", but added that he and
his co-counsels did not want to get involved in the local politics
of the small community, where he assumed that "there is no one who
wants to see the destruction of the Melkonian."

At the same time both Velaris and Sarris contradicted themselves by
saying in separate statements that "the action would be in the name
of the Armenian community of Cyprus" while in other statements they
said that "the beneficiaries, according to the spirit of the Melkonian
Trust, are ALL the Armenians around the world."

Velaris was also caustic about some of the obstacles that the case
has faced, adding that no one or any organization had contacted the
three lawyers with a compromise deal or offer and neither were there
any threats or suggestions.

"Unfortunately the government of Armenia has sided with the AGBU
in this matter," he said, while he also expressed his dismay at the
"stupid" decision of some judges in Cyprus courts, such as the case
of the overturning of the first preservation order on the Melkonian
estate.

The authority of Interior Minister Neoklis Sylikiotis has since
reinstated the preservation order. As regards the future structure
of the Melkonian, Christina Sarris said that as the Attorney General
has undertaken the case, he also has the supreme authority to appoint
the trustees of the school and its estate in the future.

Sarris also mentioned that "as far as I know the Melkonian will be used
by the nearby Aghlandjia state school" that had structural problem
and two construction workers were killed, and that the move would be
"from the new school year, in September."

Some other suggestions and rumours were raised during the meeting,
but Gibrahayer Newsletter will refrain from publishing them as they
were not supported with any concrete evidence.

ANOTHER ARMENIAN CITIZEN AGAIN KILLED IN MOSCOW

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.05.2007 13:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Moscow police investigates murder of an Armenian
citizen in the eastern district of the Russian capital. The body
of 30-year-old Aharon Tigranyan was discovered yesterday near the
entrance of ¹15 house on the Rudnevka street, law enforcement bodies
informed. According to medical examination A. Tigranyan died in the
result of plural knife wounds.

The police has filed a criminal case. The investigation works out
all versions of what happened, including murder on national ground,
Russian media report.

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NIKOLAY GRIGORIAN APPOINTED DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF RA PUBLIC SERVICES REGULATORY COMMISSION

Noyan Tapan
May 25 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Under the May 23 decree of the Armenian
president Robert Kocharian, Nikolay Grigorian was appointed the
deputy chairman of the RA Public Services Regulatory Commission for
a five-year term. NT was the RA president’s press service that the
decree takes effect on May 29, 2007.

MASTER CLASS ON THE DUDUK AND CONCERT BY GEVORG DABAGHYAN

ArmRadio.am
25.05.2007 10:46

In collaboration with the music section of the Studies and
Documentation Centre of Armenian Culture, Venice, directed by Minas
Lourian, the Intercultural Institute of Comparative Music Studies
has organized its first seminar on the duduk, a double-reed woodwind
instrument made of apricot wood. A symbol of the Armenian musical
tradition, the duduk (conventionally called the " Armenian oboe")
is a very popular instrument with a warm slightly nasal tone creating
evocative sounds. It is played to accompany songs and dancing in all
the regions of Armenia and is the principal instrument at weddings
and funerals.

In 2005 the duduk was decreed a masterpiece representing the Armenian
musical tradition in the UNESCO "Programme of Masterpieces of the Oral
and Intangible Heritage of Humanity". The director of the relevant
section is the celebrated musician Gevorg Dabaghyan, who will be the
leading player in the concert and seminar. He will be accompanied by
the two musicians from his trio, a second duduk player who plays a
continuous drone, thanks to a circular respiration technique, and a
percussionist who will play the dhol.

A teacher at the Yerevan State College, Dabaghyan is a major living
expert on this very ancient instrument. He has founded several
ensembles, including Shoghaken, a group dedicated to conserving the
very rich Armenian folk music heritage. Liturgical music also features
prominently in Dabaghyan’s vast repertory and is a fundamental part
of a thousand-year old tradition characterised by strong Christian
roots, going back to when Armenia was the first country to proclaim
Christianity as its state religion in 301.

CURRENT FORMAT OF NEGOTIATIONS OVER NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IS FALSE, ADVISER TO NKR PRESIDENT SAYS

Noyan Tapan
May 24 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The U.S. State Department’s annual
report where Karabakh is presented as an Azerbaijani territory
occupied by Armenia is evidence of the circumstance that the State
Department often makes statements contradicting one another and has
no single political line on a concrete issue. Arman Melikian, Adviser
to NKR President for political affairs, stated at the May 24 press
conference. As he affirmed, the Armenian side to some extent has its
share of guilt in this issue. The Armenian side cannot present to a
sufficient number of international organizations that NKR does not
make part of Armenia," A. Melikian said.

In connection with Karabakh’s involvement in the negotiations
process A. Melikian said that NKR was left out of the negotiations
process, as a result of which it turned into negotiations format
of Azerbaijan-Armenia Presidents and Foreign Ministers. However, in
the words of the Adviser to NKR President, this format is "false,"
as it cannot completely express the essence of the conflict.

A. Melikian said that it is not clear yet when NKR can become a
participant of negotiations. In his words, Minsk Group Co-chairs Yuri
Merzliakov and Bernard Fassier being in Armenia in these days hinted
that they are not the cause of Karabakh’s not taking part in the
negotiations. However, in A. Melikian’s words, "if the Co-chairs have
decided to the detriment of one of the sids that this side should not
take part in the negotiations or have given consent to such format,
then they have their share of guilt."

A. Melikian also expressed bewilderment in connection with the
circumstance that OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs speak about return of
Azerbaijanis, but do not speak about return of Armenians to Baku,
Kirovabad and Shahumian. In his words, the Armenian side will agree
to immigration of Azerbaijani refugees only after return of Armenian
refugees to Azerbaijan. And if Armenian refugees do not want to return,
in A. Melikian’s words, liberated territories controlled by Armenian
side will be the best place of residence for them.