Author: Talalian Arpi

GAGIK JHANGIRIAN: THE REGIME HAS A MAXIMUM OF 25 DAYS TO RELEASE POLITICAL PRISONERS

NOYAN TAPAN

Dec 18, 2008
YEREVAN

Judge Zhora Vardanian presiding over the December 18 court sitting on
the case against Gagik Jhangirian, former deputy prosecutor general
of Armenia, rejected the defence’s petition for his self-challenge
and went to the consultation room to make a decision about the next
petition for his self-challenge. This decision will be made public
at the court sitting on December 22. The court did not examine either
the defence’s petition on inadmissibility of recognizing the military
jacket as material evidence as it was confiscated with gross judicial
violations and there are no words "Spetsnaz" written on its back as
it was testified by a policeman. According to the presiding judge,
the court will express an opinion about the petition in its sentence.

The defence complains that the court has a preconcieved opinion
about the case, acts on the prosecution’s side, does not protect
the interests of the law and uses double standards. The defence
believes that the court is not unbiased and objective and it is
evident, in particular, from the presiding judge’s statements that
the case against G. Jhangirian is not one of the March 1 cases: it
is clear even to a child that G. Jhangirian is persecuted for his
political views. "You also took part in illegalities by permitting
eavesdropping at the presidential election on February 19," the
defence lawyer Lusine Sahakian said. According to the defence, the
decision of the presiding judge not to recognize G. Jjangirian as a
victim is also biased, even though the judge admitted the fact of
G. Jhangirian’s being subjected to beating: "it is not known who
beat him". G. Jhangirian in his tirn said that the conduct of the
court proves once againt that his case is not criminal but it is a
political requital. "From the case of political hostages, only the
rod of Myasnik Malkhasian will remain, the rest is nothing," he said,
hinting at "the case of the seven". "The regime has a maximum of 25
days to release the political prisoners, we have waited for 10 months
and will wait for another 10," G. Jhangirian added.

TODAY CNNTURK TO SHOW DOCUMENTARY ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 17, 2008

ISTANBUL, DECEMBER 17, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. This evening the
CNNTurk TV company will show a documentary under the title Society’s
Sorrow: 1915: Turks and Armenians.

According to the Marmara daily of Istanbul, the film shows an
all-embracing package of Armenian-Turkish relations from the past
up to the present and tries to look for answers to the following
questions: how did Armenian and Turkish peoples living together in
the lands of Anatolu for many centuries become enemies and why, how
was the decision of deportation made, which became the cornerstone
of breaking off the contacts.

Opinions of renowned intellectuals, historians, artists, and
researchers on these issues are presented in the film.

THERE’S NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE

The Messenger
Dec 17 2008
Georgia

This is a popular Russian saying. We are using it here because
this column concerns Russia’s conduct in the occupied territories
of Georgia.

Since Russia occupied parts of Georgia in August it has continually
reinforced its occupying army and is now introducing even more troops,
tanks and other assault weapons onto Georgian territory. Neither
Georgia nor the Western powers can do anything to stop this. This
already serious situation is being further aggravated by information
spread in the Georgian media that there is a real possibility of
Moscow repeating its aggression in a very short while, maybe before
the new US Administration starts fully functioning.

Some days ago Georgian news agency Media News reported that Putin had
recently considered two different plans to attack Georgia. One was
submitted by the Russian Defence Ministry, another by the External
Intelligence Service. The Defence Ministry plan was proposed by the
head of the General Headquarters of the Russian Armed Forces, Nikolai
Makarov, and envisages the storming and taking of Tbilisi as quickly
as possible, because if Georgia manages to introduce an efficient air
defence system Russian aviation will lose its effectiveness. Makarov’s
plan envisages a sudden attack by airborne forces under the command
of General Evtukhovich and Russian paratroopers from the Tskhinvali
region town of Akhalgori, which would take approximately 3 hours. Other
Russian paratroopers will take Tbilisi International Airport and other
important sites in and around the capital, so that within the first
few hours of the conflict they will suppress the resistance of the
Georgian Armed Forces. At the same time, Russian troops will block
the Georgian central highway so that Georgian troops in the Western
part of the country will not be able to relieve Tbilisi.

Makarov’s plan is confident that street fights and severe resistance
will take place in Tbilisi, but even in such a situation the Russian
political leadership should not take the decision to stop fulfilling
its intention.

The head of the External Intelligence Service, Mikhail Fradkov, has
greatly criticised Makarov’s plan, saying that it may have no fault
from the military point of view but is politically unacceptable. The
Russian Intelligence Service is sure that storming Tbilisi will be
militarily successful, but Moscow must then forget about installing a
pro-Russian government in Georgia. The Russian Intelligence Service
also thinks that such a storming of Tbilisi might give the USA and
Turkey legal grounds to assist Georgia militarily. Its bosses have
offered Putin an alternative plan: a blockade of Tbilisi. According
to this, Russian paratroopers will occupy Poti and block the
Tbilisi-Gori highway so that Georgian troops cannot reach the
capital. Simultaneously Russian troops deployed in Armenia will
block all the roads entering Georgia from the south, thus preventing
humanitarian cargo from reaching Tbilisi through Batumi and Turkey. At
the same time, serious pressure will be put on Azerbaijan, to prevent
it sending humanitarian assistance to Georgia. This plan envisages
creating a humanitarian catastrophe in the capital within a fortnight,
and the fall of Tbilisi, bloodlessly, in a few days.

Georgian commentators think such a thing is possible. Military analyst
Irakli Sesiashvili told Versia newspaper that he suspects this idea
of Russia’s intentions is close to reality, and could become so in
a shorter period than we could imagine. It should be said that if
Georgia takes some serious and efficient steps immediately, Russia’s
plans will be frustrated. But Georgia will suffer if Moscow starts
implementing either plan. Both these options are wicked, and one more
barbaric than the other.

Maybe we could suggest that such speculations about external threats
are being deliberately broadcast to divert people’s attention from
internal problems. But in late spring and early summer of this year
the Georgian media disseminated information about a possible Russian
attack in August. This warning was ignored by our Western friends,
but the attack happened. Russia again has the means to create any kind
of provocation, its politicians are sure they can persuade European
leaders not to interfere, and the US is in the process of transition
from old to new administration.

The Russians say it – No smoke without fire.

AZERBAIJAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY: "ARMENIA MUST APOLOGIZE TO AZERBAIJAN AND THE WHOLE WORLD"

Today.Az
itics/49625.html
Dec 17 2008
Azerbaijan

The Democratic Party of Azerbaijan has released a special statement
connected with the strengthening of relations between Turkey and
Armenia, reports Day.Az with reference to the press service for
the party.

As is reported the strengthening of relations between the countries
allows to settle the Karabakh conflict peacefully.

"In order to regain trust between the peoples and stability in
the Caucasus it is primarily necessary to establish peace in the
region. Armenia must recognize the genocide of Azerbaijanis of 1918
and genocide in Khojaly in 1991.

Moreover, it must recognize its occupation of Azerbaijani lands. Only
after it it would be possible to speak of creation of the Caucasus
Union and accession of Armenia.

Armenia must apologize to the world community and to Azerbaijan for
its actions", says the statement.

PRESS RELEASE

Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) – Yerevan Office
53-55 Pavstos Buzand Street, 0010
Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Contact: Inessa Grigoryan
Tel: (+374 10) 522076; 562068
Fax: (+374 10) 522076
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Children of Armenia Fund – New York Office
162 Fifth Avenue, Suite 900,
New York, NY 10010, USA
Contact: Samantha Wagar
Tel: 212 – 994 – 8234
Fax: 212 – 994 – 8299
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Community of Lernagog Raises Public Awareness on HIV/AIDS

December 17, 2008 Lernagog, Armavir District ¾ Following World AIDS
Day celebrated worldwide on December 1, the community of Lernagog
recently hosted an event in the premises of a newly renovated village
school with the aim of raising public awareness and advocating HIV/AIDS
free behavior in the community and throughout the region. Lernagog is
one of six villages included in Comprehensive Rural Development Program,
initiated and implemented by the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) since
early 2006. Other communities constituting COAF’s Model Cluster include
Argina, Dalarik, Karakert, Miasnikian and Shenik.

The event was organized by the members of the local "YES" youth club on
healthy lifestyle established by Heifer International in close
cooperation with COAF. COAF health education team additionally supported
Lernagog club members in developing and elaborating the materials for
the event. Through the mentioned club, which makes part of a chain of 30
clubs operating in four villages of the Model Cluster and one
neighboring Hushakert, the local youth acquires knowledge and builds
capacity on disease prevention, healthy nutrition, physical activities
and healthy behavior. Other clubs focus on such areas of development as
agribusiness, civic education, ecology, logics and journalism/public
relations.

The participants and organizers built the event on question and answer
scheme, which was taking part among inhabitants of the Earth planet and
other planets of our Universe. The main character named Little Healthy
landed on the Earth planet from the Planet of the Healthy and knew very
little about HIV/AIDS. The members of Lernagog Youth Club on Healthy
Lifestyle invited Little Healthy to join their discussion and talk about
the difference between HIV-infected individuals and people suffering
from AIDS, the nature of HIV and ways of its transmission, the essence
of ‘risk group’ and its potential members. Through role play, the event
participants also considered HIV transmission through unprotected sex
and also presented some statistics on HIV/AIDS affected children and
adults throughout Armenia and abroad.

Of special importance were the stage decorations, divided into two
colors – white and black. The white part of the stage was totally
inhabited by healthy people, and the guests and the local community
could witness that this part was blossoming with flowers and flourishing
with sunshine, thus promising a bright future and prosperity for its
inhabitants. Meanwhile the opposite black camp symbolized diseases in
general, and AIDS in particular, with its grey and gloomy colors,
arousing sadness and bore among its residents.

For the past two years, apart from classes on healthy lifestyle
conducted in Lernagog and other five villages of the Model Cluster, COAF
community health education program additionally included trainings and
workshops on first aid, prevention of infectious diseases, management of
chronic health problems, prenatal care, child care, cervical and breast
cancer prevention, family planning, sexually transmitted diseases, and
family violence.

# # # #

THE MINISTER REFUTES

Hayots Ashkharh Daily
16 Dec 2008
Armenia

There have been no discussions about allocating money to Armenia,
during the session of the council of the corporation "Millennium
Challenges" held on December 11.

Commenting on the rumors circulated in the press regarding the delay
of the financial assistance shown to Armenia Minister of Economy
Nerses Yeritsyan underscored that it was the regular meeting of the
council of the corporation "Millennium Challenges" during which they
have touched upon certain indexes in Armenia.

The Minister said "Millennium Challenges" is guided by certain
principles: firstly they assess the criteria of the country based on
which the corporation decides whether or not to allocate money for
that country.

N. Yeritsyan expressed surprise regarding the false information
spread about that meeting, even saying that the claim submitted for
the allocation of financial assistance to Armenia has been refused.

He touched upon the report made by the corporation "Millennium
Challenges" which says that the council has discussed the reforms
initiated by the Armenian government and has expressed concern
regarding certain indexes: democracy, corruption, political freedom
and supremacy of law. The council has also underscored that during
the recent months Armenia has recorded progress, but they hope that
the Armenian government is ready to implement essential and serious
reforms.

The Minister said according to the assessments of the corporation
"Millennium Challenges" Armenia doesn’t have serious problems in terms
of the quality of life, economic policy, the management of the natural
resources and the realization of investments: "Armenia has already
started to carry out reforms, they have already recorded this and they
are following the process. We have already formulated the problems
and the actions to be taken during the coming two years," he said.

According to the Minister the report made by the corporation
"Millennium Challenges" doesn’t mention anything about the sum to be
allocated to Armenia, as certain Mass Media report.

HARD FINANCIAL-ECONOMIC SITUATION IN ARMENIA HAD GOT WORSE BEFORE WORLD CRISIS, FORMER RA CBA CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 16, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. "The 2008 economic year started
very badly in Armenia: the event undertaken by the authorities by
the name "elections" damaged country’s economy," Bagrat Asatrian, the
former Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA), stated at the
December 16 press conference. According to his evaluation, Armenia’s
economic growth rates decreased from the very beginning of the year, an
unprecedented inflation was recorded, the year started with a reserve
loss amounting to 50m USD, which was an exclusive index. In fact,
as B. Asatrian concluded, the financial-economic condition had got
worse in Armenia before the world crisis. According to him, in that
period the authorities deceived themselves and did not wish to see the
existing problems. Besides, according to B. Asatrian, the 2009 state
budget was not brought in line with the threats of the world economic
crisis to mitigate their consequences even if a little in Armenia.

The other participant of the dispute, National Assembly Bargavach
Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia) faction member Vardan Bostanjian said
that B. Asatrian’s speech has a political shade of meaning. Touching
upon the evaluations voiced by his opponent, he said that it
is impossible to constantly preserve the rate of high economic
growth. As to the budget, according to V. Bostanjian’s evaluation,
"it is a complicated document made up as a result of the joint work
of the executive and legislative powers."

Opposing to V. Bostanjian, B. Asatrian stated that he is not opposing
to his country. "Those opposing were the organizers of the slaughter
in Yerevan streets on March 1, they are today’s deputies, who have
become deputies by violating the law," he said. B. Asatrian also said
that he has information that even for solving economic problems the
authorities intimidate people. He gave an example that to regulate
the dram exchange rate "from above" they called and warned exchange
points workers that unless they obey the orders, the 6th department
will solve that problem.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO EXPLAIN ANTI-CRISIS STRATEGY

ARKA
Dec 16, 2008

YEREVAN, December 16. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Government and mass media are
planning to launch a joint PR Campaign to explain the state anti-crisis
strategy, RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan reported the Golos Armenii
(Voice of Armenia).

"I have already stated that collective consultations will be an
important part of our anti-crisis program," the premier said, adding
the government would permanently consult with international financial
organizations and business circles about the possible way out of the
difficult economic situation.

The premier stressed the importance of unbiased and transparent media
coverage of the global economic recession.

SARKOZY ‘ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT’ FOILED

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.12.2008 12:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A man wielding a hand-held electric self-defense
weapon was arrested Monday while trying to enter the grounds of the
French presidential palace, a police official said.

A photographer witnessed guards wrestling the man to the ground
at the main entrance to the Elysee Palace, where President Nicolas
Sarkozy works.

The man was armed with a self-defense "shocker" less powerful than a
taser, the police official said – not a knife, as first believed. The
official was not authorized to speak publicly about the arrest and
asked not to be identified by name.

The 25-year-old man was being held at a police station of Paris’
8th district where the Palace is located, the official said. The
suspect’s motive was not immediately clear.

Sarkozy was meeting with Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic of Montenegro
at the time of the arrest around 12:40 p.m. (11:40 GMT). Djukanovic
met with the French leader as part of his country’s efforts to join the
European Union. France currently holds the bloc’s rotating presidency,
The Associated Press reports.

Islamic Republic News Agency website
Dec 14 2008

Iran calls for expansion of ties with Armenia

Tehran, 14 December: Visiting Armenian Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources Armen Movsisyan conferred on Sunday [14 December] with
Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki on expansion of cooperation between
the two countries.

Movsisyan is also the Armenian head of Iran-Armenia Economic
Commission which is to meet in Tehran.

At the meeting, Mottaki expressed satisfaction with the termination of
military conflicts in Ossetia noting that its aftermath will not harm
Armenia anymore. He added that Iran and Armenia are true friends
through hardship and happiness.

On construction of oil and gas refinery, laying pipelines and
construction of power plants and dams, Mottaki said that Tehran
welcomes any projects the help improve the living standards of the
people of border areas and will spare no efforts to help implement
development and industrial projects in Armenia.

Rendering more financial facilities for Iranian businessmen along with
improving the methods for transit of Iranian-made goods to Armenia and
the Caucasus would be vital for expansion of economic cooperation
between the two countries.

The Armenian minister, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the
current level of relations between the two countries and expressed the
hope that with the launching of Armenian consulate in Tabriz,
cooperation between the two countries businessmen and industrialists
will expand.