Author: Tigranian Ani

HRANT KHACHATRYAN WILL GIVE UP CITIZENSHIP

Lragir
Feb 11 2008
Armenia

Hrant Khachatryan, leader of the SIM Party, who has endorsed Vazgen
Manukyan in the presidential election, told news reporters on February
11 at the Azdak Club if the process happening with the SIM Party
is not placed on the legal path, if legality is not established,
if the results of the illegal acts of the legal and judicial bodies
are not repealed, when Haik Babukhanyan’s and his supporters’ rights
to the SIM Party have been restored, he will appeal to the president
of Armenia who is the guarantor of the Constitution and laws and give
up citizenship of Armenia.

Hrant Khachatryan will wait for two more days and if it does not
happen, he will appeal to the president of Armenia and give up
citizenship. He says if we live in a country of illegality, he does
not want to be a citizen of such a country, to have any relation to
such a state. However, he will continue to live in Armenia, only he
will have no right to vote.

Hrant Khachatryan sees no danger of being deprived of a chance of
political activities, saying that over the past year the SIM Party has
faced a lot of problems and proved that it is a strong party and does
not depend on one person. As to losing the right to vote for Vazgen
Manukyan whom he has endorsed, Hrant Khachatryan says if he knew it
took Vazgen Manukyan a vote, he would wait and give up citizenship
after the presidential election but he believes that everything does
not depend on his cote, since Vazgen Manukyan has thousands of other
supporters, and he is hopeful that their number will grow.

NA SPEAKER MET WITH THE AMBASSADOR OF BULGARIA

armradio.am
12.02.2008 17:28

On February 12 Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Tigran
Torosyan received the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of
Bulgaria to Armenia Thodor Staykov.

Congratulating the Ambassador on appointment, Speaker Tigran Torosyan
noted that traditionally friendly Armenian-Bulgarian relations are
normally developing and there are new perspectives of deepening
those. It was noted that the dynamics of development of economic
ties is satisfying, although the numbers do not correspond to the
existing capacities. Mr. Torosyan also appreciated the cooperation
within international organizations.

The Ambassador of Bulgaria expressed willingness to promote the
development of Armenian-Bulgarian relations. He noted that Bulgaria
is ready to assist Armenia on the way of European integration. He
informed the Armenian Parliament Speaker about the internal political
situation in Bulgaria.

During the meeting the interlocutors discussed issues related to
transport communication. Reference was made to Tigran Torosyan’s
forthcoming visit to Sofia.

IS "RAT RACE" IMPOSSIBLE?

A1+
11 February, 2008

Republican Party (HHK) members Sasun Michaelian and Hakob Hakobian
voiced support for candidate Levon Ter-Petrossian at the upcoming
presidential election.

"We shall consider their behavior later. Currently, we are seriously
engaged in the pre-election campaign.

After the election of February 19 the party will draw conclusions on
their step," HHK Press Secretary Edward Sharmazanov told A1+.

In reply to A1+’s question whether the party is concerned over a
possible "rate race," Sharmazanov said, "We don’t fear it as the HHK
is a mighty, strong and unflinching party. You will make certain of
it during the February 19 election."

Asked whether his statement didn’t run counter to the events of
February 9, Sharmazanov said, "The party cannot bear responsibility
for the decision of 2-3 members. It won’t affect the party’s activity
and ideology. The Republic of Armenia is a democratic country and
each person is free to make a choice. And yet, it is difficult for
me to understand people you say one thing and another."

Asked whether the party will apply sanctions against the members,
Sharmazanov said, "All members who disobey the party rules and
decisions of the Supreme Board, incur a penalty. They are even
"fired." Their fate will be decided after the election," he added.

In response to our question if censorship is exercised on Armenian
TV Companies as they cover presidential candidate Serzh Sarkissian’s
campaign with delay, Sharmazanov said, "The epoch of censorship has
passed away."

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext. 202
Fax: +37410. 565601
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

01-02-2008

Minister Oskanian participates in in the 44th Munich Security Conference

Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian participated in the
44th Munich Security Conference on Saturday and Sunday February 9 and 10.

Former German Defense National Security Advisor Horst Teltschik, who heads
the conference, presided over the two days during which several heads of
state as well as more than 40 foreign and defense ministers, and 500-plus
members of the media and international policy makers participated in open
dialogue about current and future security challenges.

Under the general conference topic of "The World in Disarray – Shifting
Powers – Lack of Strategies," Turkish Prime Minister Regep Tayip Erdogan
spoke on Turkey’s Foreign Policy and Security Interests.

Following the Prime Minister’s statement, Minister Oskanian took the floor,
responded to Erdogan’s articulation of his vision as a democratic and major
strategic player in the region and beyond, contributing to peace and
stability.

Minister Oskanian began by acknowledging that the Prime Minister takes pride
in Turkey’s democratization and "its geostrategic role in our region and
beyond, to achieve peace and stability." Minister Oskanian continued by
saying, "Mr. Prime Minister, you also reiterated your firm commitment to
becoming a full member of the European Union, which we in Armenia support.
This is precisely the kind of neighbor we would like to have. But as you
know, today the border between our two countries is closed. By Turkey. We’ve
often raised this issue, stating that we would like to have normal ties with
Turkey, open borders and diplomatic relations. Armenians would like to be
the beneficiaries of the vision you projected here today. But we have heard
you, loud and clear, repeating two main reasons, or excuses, for keeping
that border closed. One of your reasons is Armenia’s engagement in the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the second is our pursuit of genocide
recognition. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict is between Armenians and Azeris.
Genocide recognition is our moral, historic obligation. Our countries are
not at war, Mr. Prime Minister, and I wonder whether short of being at war,
the reasons you always offer are sufficient to justify maintaining closed
borders between our two countries. You can help us, by your positive
engagement, to resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Having normal
relations, open borders and diplomatic relations, will allow us together to
address our differences on the genocide issue. There are important processes
going on and Turkey can be a natural bridge for the Caucasus, with EU and
NATO. So I wonder whether you think that with Turkey’s positive engagement
in our region, with equal, neutral relations with all, Turkey wouldn’t play
a more positive role in addressing those very issues that you consider to be
obstacles for normalization of our relations."

Turkey’s Prime Minister did not respond to Minister Oskanian’s questions
about the geopolitical situation and prospects for normalization. Instead,
he repeated the offer to convene historians, spoke about "1915 massacres
being not proven historically" and on the one hand offered historians,
archaeologists and others to study the matter, and on the other hand
rejected the possibility of genocide being part of Turkish culture.

During the conference, Minister Oskanian held meetings with Lithuania’s
Foreign Minister, and the German Foreign Ministry’s Political Director, Dr.
Volker Stanzel.-0-

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 8 2008

Council of Europe to Hold Meeting With Azerbaijani and Armenian MPs
-Subcommittee Chairman
08.02.08 11:22

Azerbaijan, Baku, 8 February / Trend corr. I.Alizadeh / The
Parliamentary Assembly Council of Europe (PACE) is to hold a meeting
on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with participation
of Azerbaijani and Armenian MPs in Strasburg in 2008. `We need an
agreement from both sides to implement the meeting,’ Rassel Johnston,
PACE Subcommittee chairman on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, stated
during his visit to Azerbaijan.

According to Johnston, the aim of the visit is to find a solution and
a possible dialogue between the conflicting countries. The chairman
of the Subcommittee noted that he would hold a meeting with the
President Ilham Aliyev, as well as Oktai Asadov, the Speaker, as well
as representatives of the political parties.

`The Council of Europe does not engage in the direct settlement of
the conflict. Our goal is to create favourable conditions to settle
the conflict,’ he said.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began in
1988, due to the Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan.
Since 1992, the Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of
Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven
neighbouring districts. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a
ceasefire agreement which ended the active hostilities. The Co-Chairs
of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France, and the US) are currently
holding the peaceful negotiations.

In January 2005, PACE passed Resolution 1416 on the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. The resolution stated that Armenia had occupied the
territory of Azerbaijan and made proposals to regulate the conflict.
PACE established the Subcommittee to control the implementation of
the document.

Johnston will meet with the Azerbaijani Parliament speaker, leaders
of the permanent commissions and representatives of parties
represented in the Parliament, as well as with the President Ilham
Aliyev.

The visit will conclude on 8 February.

Wired News
Feb 9 2008

The Erkenekon Gang: It’s Turkey’s Susurluk Scandal All Over Again

By Bruce Sterling February 08, 2008 | 1:55:58 AM

"The investigation has found that the gang is linked to a clandestine
phenomenon referred to as the "deep state" in Turkey that stages
attacks using "behind-the-scene" paramilitary organizations such as
Ergenekon to foment public opinion according its own political
agenda. Ergenekon is the title of a legend that describes how Turks
came into existence.

"This particular gang is suspected of involvement in a number of
political attacks on individuals and institutions, including the
murder of ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. At least eight of
the suspects are retired from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

"The suspects, who include retired military generals, journalists and
underground bosses, have not yet been charged and are still under
interrogation, but the police found a list of people the gang had
planned to assassinate, including pro-Kurdish Democratic Society
Party (DTP) deputies Ahmet Türk, Leyla Zana and Sebahat Tuncel;
Diyarbakýr Mayor Osman Baydemir; Nobel Prize-winning author Pamuk;
and journalist Fehmi Koru, who is also a regular columnist for
Today’s Zaman.

Pamuk was their next target

Charges of denigrating Turkishness had once been brought against
Pamuk over remarks he made to a Swiss newspaper about the number of
Kurds and Armenians killed in Turkey. Pamuk was apparently the next
planned assassination on the gang’s list. According to daily Posta,
Ret. Maj. Gen. Veli Küçük, who was detained in Tuesday’s raid, had
contacted through Muhammed Yüce — a former army sergeant — Ret.
Col. Fikri Karadað, requesting he find them a hit man to do the job.

Karadað is the leader of the ultranationalist Association for the
Union of Patriotic Forces (VKGB), (((they probably passed the
"PATRIOT Act" — oh wait, wrong NATO country))) whose leaders are
already under detainment facing several charges for crimes from theft
and felony to blackmail and extortion.

Also, at least two VKGB members were detained in relation to the
Ergenekon investigation in Diyarbakýr on Wednesday. The hit man they
found was identified by the police as Selim A. The Ergenekon crowd
found YTL 2 million — the pay promised to Selim A. — and a Glock
revolver for the assassination. Selim A. was captured after the
police found out about the plan by monitoring phone conversations. In
addition to Selim A. and Küçük, Karadað and Yüce were also detained
in Tuesday’s operation.

An unresolved murder resolved?

Police have found evidence linking the Ergenekon gang to the
assassination of Necip Hablemitoðlu, shot to death in 2002 after
concluding that residents of the Bergama region campaigning against
gold prospecting in their area were manipulated by Germans protecting
their economic interests, in a comprehensive study he conducted on
the subject. An Ýzmir businessman questioned over the Hablemitoðlu
murder as a key suspect was later killed by a hand-grenade thrown
into his Alsancak office, which was allegedly the work of the gang to
keep him silent.

The businessman reportedly threatened the gang, saying he would
confess if they failed to pay him the money they promised for the
academic’s assassination… (((etc etc etc wow etc etc I don’t
believe it etc etc I am shocked, shocked))).

2/the-erkenekon-g.html

ARMENPRESS

GOVERNMENT TO RELEASE 480 MILLION DRAMS TO COMPENSATE
ASF-CAUSED DAMAGES

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, ARMENPRESS: The government
said today it will release 480 million Drams in
assistance to farmers who had to destroy their pigs to
prevent the spread of a deadly disease, known as the
African Swine Fever (ASF) that killed thousands of
animals last year.
The distribution of the aid will be handled by the
agricultural ministry.
The deputy minister of agriculture, Samvel
Avetisian, told after a government session that owners
of pigs will receive 1005 drams (a little over $3) per
each kg of the destroyed meat.
He said the list of farmers whose pigs were
affected by the disease will have to be verified yet
by special task units that were set up to address the
problems on local level.
He said no farmer whose pigs were destroyed will be
omitted. Overall 18,800 pigs were registered to have
died or destroyed because of the disease.
The African Swine Fever (ASF) slipped into
Armenia’s northerner regions from Georgia last summer
and then spread to other areas of the country and then
slipped into Nagorno-Karabakh killing thousands of
animals there as well.
Experts say the African Swine Fever is a viral
transboundary animal disease that can neither be
prevented medically nor can it be treated. There is no
vaccine against the disease which causes high
mortality ranging from 80 to 100 percent.

AZERBAIJANI GOVERNING PARTY INFORMS PUBLIC OF OCCUPATION OF ANCIENT AZERBAIJANI LANDS BY ARMENIANS

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 7 2008

Azerbaijan, Baku, 7 February / Òrend corr S. Ilhamgizi / Azerbaijan’s
governing New Azerbaijan Party (NAP) informed the public how the
Armenian state was established on the ancient Azerbaijani lands. A
round table on the subject of ‘Main Purposes of Fighting against
Armenia’s Provocations in Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict’ took place
on 6 February and was organized by the NAP.

"The historical facts cited by President Ilham Aliyev about the
establishment of a state by the Armenians in the ancient Azerbaijani
land, about turning the ancient Irevan khanate into their capital
Yerevan should be publicized on a wide scale," the Executive Secretary
and the Deputy Chairman of the NAP Ali Ahmaov said.

"During the last 200 years the Armenians committed the most serious
international crimes, namely occupation, ethnic cleansing and
falsification of historical facts," he said.

"Ilham Aliyev’s statements that Armenians came to the Azerbaijani
territory as guests are proved by historical facts. The manuscripts
about migration of Armenians to the Azerbaijani land are kept
in archives," the Director of the Historical Institution in the
Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences Yagub Mahmudov said.

"The resettlement of Armenians to North Azerbaijan began after the
Turkmenchay agreement was signed. In 1828, an Armenian province was
established in the Azerbaijan land. A total of 1,114 villages out
of the 1,125 which were given to the Irevan province were entirely
Azerbaijani. Historical documents say that in 1886 Azerbaijanis
comprised 86.5% of the population in the Irevan province," Mahmudov
said.

"In 1978, Armenians in the Agdara region of Azerbaijan erected a
monument to the 100th anniversary of their resettlement in that land.

Later, when they realised that this historical fact would be used
against them they removed the monument," he said.

–Boundary_(ID_MW4aN2DYCQguLo0fiCh4mA)–

NEW SCHOOL PICK OF THE WEEK: VANES MARTIROSYAN
By Jake Donovan

BoxingScene.com, AR
Feb 7 2008

If there’s anything worse than having a nightmare while sleeping,
it’s living through one while you’re awake.

Welcome to the world of anyone standing in the opposite corner of
undefeated junior middleweight Vanes "The Nightmare" Martirosyan.

It’s been pure hell for each of Martirosyan’s 18 opponents (and
counting) to date, as the transplanted Armenian has not lost a round,
never mind a fight, since turning pro in early 2005. That streak,
along with his winning ways (18-0, 12KO), both figure to continue
Thursday. On tap is once-beaten Midwestern junior middleweight Michi
Munoz, as Martirosyan is slated for his first scheduled ten-round
bout, which serves as the co-feature for the next installment of
VERSUS FIGHT NIGHT series.

The bad news gets worse for Munoz and all future opponents –
Martirosyan continues to improve with every fight. If there was a
single criticism to his game, it’s that the Armenian all too often
sought the knockout without the benefit of a jab to set up his
attack. A typical Martirosyan fight went as follows: bell rings,
Vanes is in your face, launching power shots from all angles until
you either fall or have lost every round.

Not much has changed – well, two things to be exact. One is his
trainer. Having previously been shacked up with two-time Trainer
of the Year Freddie Roach, Martirosyan packed his bags late in 2007
and headed to Houston, where he now serves under the tutelage of the
well-respected Ronnie Shields.

The other change in his career: the kid now has a jab. You’ll recognize
it quickly if you’re his opponent: it’s the long stick that’s buried
in your face from the opening bell.

Though only 21 years old and still learning with each fight,
Martirosyan has already come a long way from his amateur days. Those
days began 14 years ago, when his father took him to the gym as a
7-year old living in heavily Armenian-populated Glendale, CA, where his
family moved from his native Armenia when he was just four years old.

The trip to the gym was a family affair, with his brothers (one
older, one younger) accompanying. All three took a liking to the
sweet science, but kids being kids, gravitated toward other sports as
well. His older brother eventually traded in his gloves for swimming
trunks, while baby bro turned to soccer. Vanes, who was home-schooled
throughout his childhood, took a liking to basketball, but his trainers
and father refused to stray from the ring, spotting something special
from the very beginning.

Their instincts were correct. Martirosyan led a brilliant amateur
career, going 120-10 in the non-pay ranks. All but one amateur loss
was eventually avenged, including a March 2004 win over Andre Berto.

The only one to go unchecked was in his final amateur fight, dropping
a decision to eventual Silver medalist Lorenzo Aragon in the second
round of the 2004 Olympics, where he represented the United States.

Aragon was a 30-year old, two-time amateur world champion at the time;
Martirosyan had just turned 18.

Simply put, experience prevailed over youth.

Turning pro in 2005, Martirosyan has been brought along at a steady
pace, while appearing on several networks in the preliminary stage
of his career. His first slice of limelight came in 2006, when Vanes
opened up a summer PPV telecast headlined by Oleg Maskaev’s repeat
knockout win over Hasim Rahman. Martirosyan was riding a four-fight
knockout streak and had Marcus Brooks down and nearly out in the
opening round, but was forced to settle for a lopsided unanimous
decision.

The brash 6’0" junior middleweight has also managed face time on
Versus and Telefutura, though the lion’s share of his bouts to date
have served as under card filler, mostly in Las Vegas. Whether or not
his fight makes its way to television is of little concern to the
Armenian; activity is far more important, or at least as important
as his pre-fight ritual, always putting on his right glove first.

It’s a fitting superstition, as most of Martirosyan’s fights end
courtesy of a big right hand. It’s how his last televised fight came
to a close, with a fusillade of straight rights bombarding Dan Wallace
early and often before a final straight right sent him crashing to the
canvas. Wallace was left in a limp state, collapsing into the referee’s
arm as the fight was waved off midway through the opening round.

What set up the right hands? A steady jab, with Vanes landing it the
moment he left his corner to begin the fight.

When Martirosyan isn’t in your face, it’s because he’s taking a step
back to see where he can next land a shot. It can be a left hook to the
body, or a left hook upstairs. Quite often it’s a 1-2 as he creeps back
inside to close the gap. It could also be a right uppercut from short
or long range, popping his opponent’s head out of its protective shell
to set you up with a money shot, which these days could be any punch.

But it’s not always about the power. Every so often, you run into
an opponent who refuses to go quietly. Martirosyan experienced that
in his last fight, just one month ago, when Clarence "Sonny Bono"
Taylor forced the Armenian to work every step of the way, even in
serving on the business end of a shutout. Martirosyan never wilted,
fighting fire with fire throughout on a cold and rainy night in Los
Angeles, even in realizing the night was not ending in a knockout.

Despite an influx of his fellow Armenians making the trip from Glendale
to cheer on their favorite son, Vanes remained poised beyond his 21
years, never feeling the need to try to do too much to impress the
crowd. Win today, look spectacular the next fight.

With each fight, Martirosyan becomes more and more of a complete
fighter, much to the delight of manager Shelly Finkel and promoter
Top Rank, both of whom have been with him since his pro debut. Both
have nothing but rave reviews for their star in the making, as his
consistent development becomes their dream come true. Though their
dream continues to serve as everyone else’s nightmare.

Jake Donovan is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America
and the Tennessee Boxing Advisory Board. His feature column runs every
Tuesday, and his Prospect of the Week series runs every Thursday. Jake
is also BoxingScene’s official Telefutura correspondent.

&id=12476

EU WARNS CAUCASUS LEADERS ON FROZEN CONFLICTS
by Leigh Phillips

EUobserver.com
February 5, 2008 Tuesday 9:27 AM GMT

The commissioner for external relations and European Neighbourhood
Policy (ENP) Benita Ferrero-Waldner has warned Azerbaijan’s leaders
that so-called frozen conflicts in the South Caucasus region could
be a barrier to deeper cooperation with the European Union.

"It is evident that the presence of frozen conflicts in the
region is an obstacle to further development of the countries
individually, including their own cooperation at the regional level,"
the commissioner told local reporters after the opening of a new
commission delegation in Baku.

"And it also limits the possibilities of cooperation initiatives
that could be implemented by the European Commission," she added,
according to Azeri news service Today.az.

The EU’s South Caucasus ‘troika’ arrived in Azerbaijan yesterday (4
February) as part of a whistle-stop tour of the volatile region to
discuss the developing relationship between the EU and Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Georgia.

The commissioner, who together with Slovene Foreign Minister Dimitrij
Rupel and EU Special Representative for the Southern Caucasus
Ambassador Peter Semneby are in the Caucasus to hold high-level
meetings with the region’s leaders, as well as open new fully-fledged
European Commission delegations in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Ahead of the official blue-ribbon-cutting ceremony opening the
Azeri commission delegation yesterday, Ms Ferrero-Waldner said:
"[The new delegations] open a new chapter in our relations with
these countries. It is a confirmation of the commission’s commitment
to cooperate closely with the South Caucasus countries, supporting
reforms with a view to bringing the whole region closer to Europe".

The troika members are to look at the state of implementation of the
ENP Action Plans and the current situation of the frozen conflict in
Ngorno-Karabakh. However, the main focus of cooperation with Azerbaijan
in particular is good governance, socio-economic reforms and energy.

The ENP offers Europe’s sea and land neighbours a privileged
relationship, involving a "deeper political relationship and economic
integration" than with other regions.

Its central element is the bilateral ENP Action Plan agreed between
the EU and each country, which demands a series of political and
economic reforms.

The ENP Action Plans in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia were adopted
in late 2006. Implementation is supported by assistance to the tune of
¤92 million in Azerbaijan, ¤98.4 million in Armenia and ¤120 million
in Georgia up to 2010.

"The European Union promised to the Azerbaijani government to open
the office long ago and I have done my best to fulfil this promise,"
said Ms Ferrero-Waldner at the opening, according to Azeri news
service Today.az.

The Azeri deputy prime minister Abid Sharifov was welcoming,
but reminded the troika that the country had been waiting for the
inauguration of the office for more than ten years.

The dispute over the province of Ngorno-Karabakh officially ended
with a ceasefire in 1994 after the death of some 25,000 people and
the displacement of more than a million. However hundreds have been
killed in the years since in incidents across the ceasefire line.

The director of the International Crisis Group’s Europe programme,
Sabine Freizer, warned last week that Azerbaijan has recently been
massively expanding its military spending, raising it by 82% in 2006,
and called on the EU to get more involved in resolving the conflict.

–Boundary_(ID_KXvGBbJC6WtKuN8zB0vuWQ)- –