Author: Tavakalian Edgar

DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ARMENIA RESOLVED TO SUPPORT NONE OF PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS

arminfo
2008-02-04 17:35:00

ArmInfo. Democratic party of Armenia resolved to support none of the
presidential contenders at the forthcoming February 19 presidential
election. As DPA leader Aram Sargsyan said at today’s press-conference,
such a decision was made by an extended session of the Democratic
party’s Republican Board.

A. Sargsyan said that even in 1998, DPA demanded political assessment
of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s regime, "however, no one was punished and
it does not mean that those unpunished have become non-guilty". As
for the present authorities, DPA has been in the opposition to Robert
Kocharyan’s administration since 1998, and it multiply criticized the
present authorities. "The decision was made because we know all the
9 candidates, their political biographies, capabilities and wishes
in case of victory in the election, which don’t coincide with the
Democratic party’s position.

That’s why we are not going to support any of them", Aram Sarksyan
said.

Touching upon the prospects of the second round, DPA leader expressed
doubt that ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, let us say, will
participate in it.

"If he participates, we’ll not support him, we aren’t naive children as
to believe in statements that Levon Ter-Petrosyan has changed over the
past 10 years", DPA leader said. As to supporting the candidature of
Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, the Democratic party will
assemble the day before the second round and discuss the issue,
Sarksyan said.

DPA leader isn’t afraid that after making such a decision Levon
Ter-Petrosyan ‘s teammates will call him "sold out to the authorities"
or "fulfilling authority’s order". "I am not afraid of labels,
but I’ll tell them I am able to enter into controversy with any
representative of Levon Ter-Petrosyan ‘s team and to remind him of
his defeatist actions during the Karabakh war and other abominable
behavior", DPA leader said.

Lebanese TV goes on, despite attacks
MBC, LBC proceed with planned broadcasts

Variety
February 1, 2008
By HABIB BATTAH

BEIRUT — The massive car bombing in Beirut on Jan. 25 could not have
come at a worse time for Arab television giants MBC and LBC. Hours
after the attack, which killed one of Lebanon’s top terror
investigators, both networks were to air big-budget shows live across
the Middle East from studios within the Lebanese capital.

But as the nation reeled from its ninth high-profile assassination in
three years, producers at both networks had concluded that their
much-anticipated programs would go on as scheduled.

Featuring an elaborately lit set, and despite an official day of
mourning declared by Lebanese prime minister Fouad Siniora, cameras
rolled and catchy signature music cued as LBC unveiled the fifth
season of its hit reality series "Star Academy."

The season premiere of the Endemol-licensed show opened with lavish
dance displays including a cover performance of the massive club hit,
"Love Is Gone" by David Guetta. As one of the contestants sang the
track while strumming an electric guitar, go-go dancers gyrating
behind him ripped off their cloth tops beneath an artificial on-stage
rain shower. The effect was just a peek at the high-powered season
ahead, the host warned with a wry smile.

Meanwhile at competitor MBC, the attack — one of the deadliest since
the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005 — coincided
with a star-studded broadcast of its new variety showcase, "Al Arrab,"
featuring popular Lebanese Armenian host Nishan Der Haroutiounian,
widely known simply as Nishan.

He opened the show by paraphrasing a quote by Bob Marley, telling his
audience that following an assassination attempt on the reggae star’s
life, he had vowed, "never to take one day off."

"Who else other than the Lebanese people have grown adamant enough to
withstand the challenges of politics," he told viewers across the
region.

Nishan told Variety he had persuaded network mangers at Dubai-based
MBC that his show would be aired from Beirut, despite a broadcast
rescheduling following a previous assassination last year.

"It was one of my demands that I start the show from Lebanon," he
said. "I personally believe that as a Lebanese citizen, if I leave
Lebanon for my career — like so many other people have done — then
this country would be emptied."

A similar sense of resilience was reflected at LBC, indicating that
despite the intensifying violence, Lebanon remains an essential
production location.

"The show must go on," said LBC spokeswoman Sana Iskandar in a
statement. "The Lebanese people made their choice years ago to proceed
in challenging bombs and terrorism. And we, as Lebanese, are proud to
confirm our will for life and surviving through all ordeals."

Military plane crashes in Azerbaijan killing people

29 January 2008 [18:30] – Today.Az

18:30

Day.Az has reported the names of casualties.

These are Fahreddin Askerov and Afgan Aslanov

———–
18:00

In early 2007 Azerbaijan received modernized fighters MiG-29.

The fighters were presented at the air base near Baku on March 29,
2007. The planes were bought in Ukraine, yet their number and exact
modification are not known.

The purchased planes were said to be better than western analogs and
fighters of the Armenian air forces.

Several specialists consider that the purchased fighters are of 9-13
modification, modernized with installation of a navigation system.

The engines, modernized at the Lvov plant, can also apply corrected
air-bombs and air-to-ground missiles with TV-guidance.

———–
17:14

MIG-29 plane crashed near Baku, while operating a testing flight,
Day.Az reports. Two people died. Causes are being investigated.

————–
16:19

A military plane crashed in Zeynalabdin Tagiyev’s settlement near Baku.

The due announcement was made by a source in Azerbaijan’s Ministry of
Emergency Situations.

Officials of the Ministry of Emergency Situations were called to the
site of the accident.

The information about casualties is being studied. The plane crashed
near Gilezi settlement.

TERRY DAVIS: HARD TO PREDICT THE INFLUENCE OF KOSOVO INDEPENDENCE ON RESOLUTION OF OTHER CONFLICTS

armradio.am
29.01.2008 15:57

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Terry Davis declared in
an interview with Trend agency that it’s very hard to predict the
influence of declaration of Kosovo independence on "frozen conflicts"
including the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. "The resolution of the
Karabakh issue depends on the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan,"
Terry Davis underlined.

"The OSCE Minsk Group can help, but the resolution of the issue depends
on the governments and peoples of the two countries," Mr. Davis
said and added that he would advise both Armenia and Azerbaijan to
"continue the works in this field."

Asked whether the Council of Europe has the opportunity to have any
influence on the conclusion of an agreement between the parties, Davis
responded: "It is very important not to underestimate the efforts
of the international organizations. The Minsk Group addresses the
issue under the auspices of the OSCE and it would be incorrect for
the Council of Europe to get engaged. In case these is a mediator,
the efforts of a second one are unnecessary."

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe added that it is
necessary to pay attention to the suggestions of the OSCE Minsk Group.

AZERBAIJAN AIR FORCE JET CRASHES IN CASPIAN SEA
by Afet Mekhtieva

Reuters
29 Jan 2008 15:12:34 GMT

BAKU, Jan 29 (Reuters) – A MiG-29 from Azerbaijan’s air force crashed
into the Caspian Sea on Tuesday during a routine training mission,
killing both crew members, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said.

The military jet went down in the sea near the village of Shurabad
north of Baku, the spokesman said, adding that a recovery operation
was underway to locate the telemetric recording devices on board.

Azerbaijan last year displayed its new generation MiG-29 planes
purchased from fellow ex-Soviet republic Ukraine, never clarifying
how many of the jets are in its air force.

The Central Asian nation has been in low-level armed conflict with
neighbour Armenia since 1988, and any public accounting of its arsenal
remains a government secret.

AZERBAIJAN AIRCRAFT CRASH INTO THE CASPIAN SEA, KILLING CREW

Xabar.info
Jan 29 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan’s military fighter aircraft on Tuesday crashed into the
Caspian Sea, killing two crewmembers.

The aircraft MiG-29, in service of Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces, fell
into water at around 12.50pm (GMT+3, Baku) while training combat
maneuver over the sea.

Although Azeri authorities declined, some witnesses said the jet fell
into water after crashing with another fighter in training flight.

Authorities said crewmembers Afgan Aslanov and assistant Fakhraddin
Asgarov couldn’t survive the accident.

The jet wreckage has been found at waterdepth of 30 meters and bodies
of crewmembers have not been pulled out yet.

Azerbaijan, which is in the state of war with Armenia over Nagorno
Karabakh Conflict, continues to retool and upgrade its military fleet
and modernize army. The country bought new military fighters last
year. Xabar.Info

HILLARY CLINTON SUPPORTS ADOPTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION; PLEDGES TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AS PRESIDENT

arminfo
2008-01-25 17:03:00

ArmInfo. Democratic Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, in a forceful
statement shared today with the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA), [Ho. Hee. Dashnaktsutyan Washington-ee Hai Tahd-ee Krasenyag]
called for Congressional passage of the Armenian Genocide Resolution
and pledged that, as President, she will recognize the Armenian
Genocide.

"Our common morality and our nation’s credibility as a voice for
human rights challenge us to ensure that the Armenian Genocide
be recognized and remembered by the Congress and the President of
the United States." – Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) said. "Armenian
Americans from across the United States welcome Hillary Clinton’s
strong support for the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution,
and her pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide as President of the
United States," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Hillary
Clinton’s statement, which reflects her consistent track record of
support in public office, speaks powerfully to our community’s deeply
held concerns regarding the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the
expansion of the U.S.-Armenia relationship, and a fair and democratic
resolution of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict."

SOCCER-DANE POULSEN NAMED NEW ARMENIA COACH
by Gennady Fyodorov

Reuters
Jan 24 2008
UK

YEREVAN, Jan 24 (Reuters) – Former Singapore coach Jan Poulsen has
been appointed to lead Armenia in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers,
the Armenian FA said on Thursday.

The much-travelled Dane, who also coached Jordan during last year’s
under-20 World Cup, replaces Briton Tom Jones, who was sacked following
Armenia’s poor Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

Jones took over as Armenia’s caretaker coach midway through last year
after the death of fellow-Briton Ian Porterfield.

Armenia have been drawn in European Group Five for the 2010 World
Cup qualifiers along with Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Bosnia and Estonia.

MATTERS OF PROTECTION
By Kristen Stevens

Turkish Daily News
Jan 24 2008
Turkey

In the year since Turkish-Armenian editor Hrant Dink’s murder stained
this country’s fabric, my husband and I welcomed our fair-skinned son,
a Turkish citizen, into the world. Living in Turkey, I cannot deny
that I am scared for his safety and his future.

Since his birth, three Protestants were strangled after extensive
torture in Malatya because of their faith and attempts were made on
the lives of clergymen in several cities. So far authorities have
shown nothing but disregard for the recent escalation in violent
hatred here along ethnic, religious and nationalist lines. Soli Ozel,
an international relations professor at Bilgi University, wrote in
daily Sabah last week, "The political authority hasn’t clamped down
on the matter determinedly in any of these cases and hasn’t openly
declared that what was done was evil." Nor have they done anything
to scrap Article 301 even as it continues to hinder free speech and
condemn people like Dink to petty convictions that only serve to fuel
nationalist hatred.Two days before the anniversary of a murder born
of growing intolerance for minorities and free speech, Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdoðan set the public discourse over the flames of a
different freedom: the right of women to wear Islamic head cover in
school. He announced that his government would change the constitution
to lift the ban on religious headscarves in public universities.

Flawed mission

The prime minister extols the virtues of one freedom of religion and
not others, revealing a flaw in the government’s mission. They want
to sell the West on the idea that American-style freedom to worship
(secularism) suits their own cause of upending one of the country’s
founding principles that limited the influence of religion on the
state (laicism). If they were smart salesmen – or virtuous in their
ideology – they would not choose one religion’s exemption from the law
over another’s. By ignoring the trampled freedoms of religious and
ethnic minorities to worship and express themselves, the government
sets itself up to lose in the secular arena as well.

But the real losers are members of the next generation who saw images
of an ethnic Armenian Turkish journalist lying face down shot after
being convicted of insulting Turkishness. Leaders must take measures
to reassure kids that the same won’t happen to them if they speak or
write freely. In what might turn out to be a bold step in the right
direction, Turkish authorities arrested 30 people on Tuesday suspected
of a series of politically inspired killings and attacks.

Among them is a well-known lawyer involved in court cases against
Dink and Turkish Nobel prize winning author Orhan Pamuk, whose case
is ongoing. Maureen Freely, a writer, journalist and translator of
Pamuk’s books who grew up in Istanbul, told me during an interview on
Monday that the nationalist perspective could evolve into something
more benign through conversation and inclusion. "For Turkey to truly
prosper, people have to have room to maneuver," said Freely, who was
in town to remember Dink.Meanwhile over the weekend a Turkish court
blocked access to popular video sharing Web site YouTube for the second
time this year. At fault was a video insulting Ataturk, founder of
the republic. But nationalists posting death threats on Web sites are
protected. I stood holding my baby son on Saturday as nationalists
chanted insults when Dink’s wife Rakel addressed the crowd where her
husband was shot. Do they enjoy more freedoms than our children will?

–Boundary_(ID_yJlLSJnttYZWG6WGm7sBlw)–

VAHRAM BARSEGHIAN: MANY COMPANIES TRY TO EVADE TAXES THROUGH THEIR BRANCHES

Noyan Tapan
Jan 23, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. In 2007, 284 billion 781.5 million
drams (by the average annual exchange rate, about 833 million USD)
was transferred to the Armenian state budget by tax authorities, which
exceeded the 2006 index by about 65 billion drams. The head of the RA
State Tax Service (STS) Vahram Barseghian said at the January 23 press
conference that particularly, in the third quarter they succeeded in
ensuring a monthly tax collection growth of 7-10 billion drams.

According to him, last year the STS managed to refund the whole
amount of excess payments owed to tax payers – 21 billion 318 million
drams. V. Barseghian stated that a growth in revenues from all taxes,
except excise tax, was registered. Simplified tax revenues grew by
30.8% to 10 billion 39 million drams, which, according to him, is
much less than the expected index. In 2007, the number of companies
liable to this tax (envisaged for small enterprises) grew 13fold,
while tax revenues increased only twofold.

According to the STS head, a considerable number of these 26,325
organizations are not those liable to simplified tax because these are
branches set up by big companies which try to evade taxes in this way.