Author: Toneyan Mark

ARMENIAN POLICE PUT OSCE EMPLOYEE DOWN FOR OPPOSITIONIST

Azeri Press Agency
April 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Iravan -APA. Armenian police detained the female employee of the OSCE
Iravan Office on March 27.

According to Armenian sources, she came into the police’s notice,
when entered to the "Armentel" mobile operator’s office in Iravan’s
North Avenue together with her friend. Police put them down for the
opposition members, who were walking on the North Avenue as a protest
action. OSCE employee and her friend were taken away to the police
office. They were released after the OSCE Office interfered to the
incident. OSCE Iravan Office desired explanation from the Armenian
government.

THERE ARE NO POLITICAL PRISONERS IN ARMENIA, RPA SPOKESPERSON STATES

Noyan Tapan
March 31, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Eduard Sharmazanov, the Spokesperson
of the Republican Party of Armenia, a member of the parliamentary
faction of the same name, does not exclude that extra-parliamentary
forces will be also involved in the new government, in particular,
the National Democratic Union headed by Vazgen Manukian. According
to him, V. Manukian has always proved that he is ready for a sound
dialogue with the authorities. Besides, as E. Sharmazanov said at the
March 31 press conference, people, who will be able to implement new
reforms and will solve the problems faced by the country, should be
involved in the government.

At journalists’ request, touching upon everyday "political" walks
organized by oppositionists in Northerth Avenue, and bringing their
participants to the Police, E. Sharmazanov stated that he cannot give
a legal evaluation to all this. Nevertheless, as the deputy from RPA
assured, RPA is against political persecutions. Meanwhile he stated
that there are no political prisoners in Armenia. In response to the
question of how much the fact of bringing people from a walk to police
corresponds to democratic standards, E. Sharmazanov answered with a
question: "And is making an attempt of revolution, coup d’etat after
elections held in line with international standards is a manifestation
of democracy?"

E. Sharmazanov affirmed that holding a military parade on the day of
the new President’s inauguration does not contradict the democratic
norms, either.

In response to the question of during RA Prime Minister Serge
Sargsian’s last visit to Moscow especially for what he thanked RF
President Vladimir Putin, the RPA Spokesperson said that S. Sargsian
just expressed gratitude "to the head of the country – Armenia’s
strategic partner."

COUNCIL FOR PROMOTION OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP ESTABLISHED IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

DeFacto Agency
March 31 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 31.03.08. DE FACTO. According to the decree the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President Bako Sahakian signed current
March 27 the Council for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship has been
established in the Republic. The composition of the Council has also
been approved; the NKR PM Ara Harutyunian has been appointed the head
of the newly established structure.

According to the Central Department of Information under the
NKR President, the Council has been established to promote
entrepreneurship, stimulate investments and remove administrative
impediments.

Panorama.am

17:38 28/03/2008

USA WILL COOPERATE WITH ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES

The USA is ready to cooperate with the new Armenian
authorities, said Josef Pennington, the temporary
chairman of the USA Affairs. `The State Secretariat of
the USA has congratulated Armenians for conducting
competitive elections, but I can not conclude what
will be the future steps and positions of the USA,’ he
said.

At the same time the American diplomat mentioned that
the Government of the USA is ready to work with the
new staff of Armenian authorities.

Pennington mentioned that that he has received an
invitation as the representative of the USA Embassy in
Armenia to take part in the oath ceremony of Serzh
Sargsyan. He added that he will be present at the
ceremony party.

Note: the oath ceremony of the president of the
Armenia Serzh Sargsyan will be held on 9 April in
Opera and Bullet National Academic Theatre.

Source: Panorama.am

KARABAKH DISMISSES AZERI LEADER’S NON-RECOGNITION REMARKS

Mediamax
March 28 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 28 March: Nagornyy Karabakh republic (NKR) parliament speaker
Ashot Ghulyan described Azerbaijani President [Ilham Aliyev’s]
comments and "his understanding of the conflict settlement" as
"inadequate regarding the realities".

Ghulyan made the statement in response to Mediamax’s request to
comment on Aliyev’s recent remarks that there is no issue of secession
of Nagornyy Karabakh from Azerbaijan "now, or in five or ten or a
100 years".

He said that the de facto independence that the NKR gained equally
with Azerbaijan on legal basis cannot be a subject for compromise.

"As far as the conflict consequences are concerned, we take the
issues concerning Azerbaijan with understanding, and we expect a
similar attitude from Azerbaijan," he added.

"We assess the situation realistically and think that the recognition
of Nagornyy Karabakh is in Azerbaijan’s state and national interests,"
Ghulyan said.

He conveyed hope that the "pre-election euphoria that characterize all
the recent statements by Aliyev would soon give way to common sense,
especially since recent developments show that Baku’s unrealistic
tone does not elicit a practical support."

KNESSET DECISION TO DISCUSS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WAS QUITE PREDICTABLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.03.2008 13:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Israeli-Turkish relations leave much to be
desired in recent times. In this view, Knesset’s decision to discuss
the Armenian Genocide issue was quite predictable, Director of the
Institute of Oriental Studies at the RA Academy of Sciences, Dr Ruben
Safrastyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"With Islamists coming to power, Turkey is experiencing reconsideration
of the Middle East policy, especially relations with Israel," he said.

"The crack in relations emerged in 2006, during the Israeli-Lebanese
collisions. The initiative of Israeli MPs might be also linked to the
activity of the Jewish organizations in the United States. Even if
Knesset votes the motion down, it will do good. The more people speak
about the necessity to recognize the Armenian Genocide, the better."

On March 26, the Knesset decided that a parliamentary committee
will discuss whether to recognize the World War I-era mass murder of
Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as Genocide.

SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT IS FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO ONLINE NEWSPAPERS

KarabakhOpen
28-03-2008 11:15:43

The parliamentary hearings on publication of books and the press
on March 27 was organized by the NKR National Assembly Committee of
Social Affairs and the Committee of Foreign Relations.

The discussion on the press was heated. The focus was on government
assistance to non-governmental newspapers a provision on which was
included in the law on the budget a few years ago.

The chair of the Committee of Foreign Affairs Vahram Atanesyan
reminded that a few years ago agreement was reached in negotiations
with the government that the government will provide assistance to
non-governmental online newspapers in accordance with the law on
the state budget. But dissatisfaction was voiced that the government
discriminated the media.

On a proposal of journalist and non-governmental organizations a
non-governmental council was set up to coordinate those processes,
however, according to Vahram Atanesyan, the council did not work
well. Member of Parliament Gegham Baghdasaryan also noted the failure
of the council, underlining that the council worked for a year, than
stopped working at all, and the reason, according to the member of
parliament, was the change of attitude of the government.

The members of parliament underlined the importance of government
assistance to non-governmental newspapers, noted that the money
foreseen by the state budget must be equally distributed to
non-governmental newspapers, especially that this year the newspapers
of parliamentary parties got assistance from the government which is
enough for the newspapers to come out.

Gegham Baghdasaryan reminded that this year 55 million drams is
foreseen for NGOs and non-governmental media which must be spent in
accordance with the provision on outlays. Vahram Atanesyan offered
to provide funding to NGOs and the media with different articles.

It was also noted that government assistance does not mean funding
the given media, and cannot have any effect on its policy.

Speaker Ashot Ghulyan and the chair of the Union of Journalists Kim
Gabrielyan said it is necessary to fund online media, considering
their role in presenting NKR to the worldwide information space. "The
government provides too little money for the foreign information
policy and it is necessary to think about this," Kim Gabrielyan said.

Discussion of publication of books in Karabakh was less active. The
deputy minister of education and science Slava Asryan presented facts
for the years 2004 to 2007. According to him, in 2006 10 million
drams was allocated and 16 books were published, in 2007 28 books
were published on 9 million drams.

It was also noted that books by several authors, as well as those
authors who live outside Karabakh but write about Karabakh were
published on government funding.

The author of a number of books Shahen Mkrtichyan voiced concern
that the government provides a lot of money for publishing books but
"almost nothing is done regarding propaganda, policy." With regard
to the intensive anti-Armenian propaganda of Azerbaijan, Shahen
Mkrtichyan said of all the books published in Karabakh over this
period none can be presented to the world. "Perhaps only "Koltso" by
Nvard Soghomonyan," he said. It was noted that not every book should
be published on government funding and there is a huge problem with
"normal books".

The proposals and observations offered during the hearings will be
presented to the government.

ARMENIAN EDUCATION SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES, DOMESTIC EMPLOYERS DISCUSSING COOPERATION PROSPECTS

ARKA
March 27, 2008

YEREVAN, March 27. /ARKA/. Armenian education sector representatives
and domestic employers are discussing cooperation prospects.

Arsen Ghazaryan, the president of the Union of Armenian Entrepreneurs
(Employers) and Businessmen, said during the round-table discussion
held Thursday that ties between universities and labor markets should
be established.

"Employers understand very well that they won’t find high-qualified
specialists without cooperation with education system", he said
adding that legions of students seek jobs as employers search for
skilled specialists.

Ghazaryan said that a shortage in specialists, such as software
developers, lawyers and engineers, is seen in some areas.

Deputy Education Minister Ara Avetisyan said that employers’
recommendations and correctly-worded demand will make it possible to
set education criteria.

SEVERAL ARMENIAN PARTY WORKERS AND NON-PARTISANS CONTEND FOR THE POST OF ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER

arminfo
2008-03-25 20:06:00

ArmInfo. Several Armenian party workers and non-partisans contend
for the post of the Armenian prime minister. In particular, these
are people who have been working with Armenian Prime Minister,
newly-elected President Serzh Sargsyan. During a conversation with
Armenian MPs and different politicians, the information that the main
contenders for the prime minister’s post are Head of the parliamentary
faction of the Republican Party of Armenia Karen Karapetyan, Chairman
of the Central Bank of Armenia, non-partisan Tigran Sargsyan, Armenian
Vice Premier, Minister of Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamyan,
Director General of ArmRusgasprom, non-partisan Karen Karapetyan,
Mayor of Yerevan, non-partisan Yervand Zakharyan proved true.

Recently the leader of one of the political parties of Armenia told
ArmInfo that even though the name of the new prime minister was yet
unknown, he knew that there was one more person that might hope to
get the post. Some experts say that this person is the president of
Troika Dialogue company (Russia) Ruben Vardanyan, who is presently
in Yerevan. One more possible candidate is the former premier Armen
Sargsyan, who now lives in London. In 1998 he was rudely pressured
by the then defense minister Vazgen Sargsyan into giving up his post.

Nevertheless, the leaders of the Republican Party are sure that their
candidate has the best chances. The vice chairman of RPA Galust
Sahakyan has told ArmInfo that the next prime minister will be a
member of RPA.

Trading Markets (press release), CA
March 24 2008

POLITICAL SCIENTISTS AND EXPERTS CONSIDER UN RESOLUTION AS SUCCESS OF
AZERBAIJAN`S DIPLOMACY AND SERIOUS DEFEAT OF ARMENIA

Sunday, March 23, 2008; Posted: 09:17 PM

Baku, Mar 22, 2008 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) — Majority of
foreign experts consider the resolution The situation in the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan adopted by the 62nd session of the UN
General Assembly as the Azerbaijan diplomacys greatest success
achieved for recent years.

One of the Kremlin`s leading analysts, director of the Russian
Political Researches Institute Sergey Markov regards that the
resolution is the great victory of Azerbaijani diplomacy and a
serious defeat of Armenia. According to him, the reason why USA,
Russia and France voted against the resolution is that there is a
strong Armenian Diaspora in those countries.

Echo Moskvy radio station anchor Jeyla Latynina said, West supported
Armenia during the active phase of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.
Azerbaijan was viewed as the country where Azerbaijan Turks and
Asians live. However, Azerbaijan chose the way of peace, development
and increasing of the GDP. The country did not want to lose its
strategic position and started exporting Caspian petroleum in the
difficult conditions. We can see that Azerbaijan, which has been
concentrating on recovering its economy for the past ten years, has
gained the image of a country surpassing Armenia. It is a very
important stage.

Armenian press considers adoption of the resolution as the defeat for
the Armenian diplomacy. Golos Armenii newspaper says that it is a
dangerous precedent for Armenia. It claims that it appeared to be the
failure of Armenian lobby.

Political scientist Alexander Karavayev said OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs must realize that Baku is not satisfied with their
activity. They seem to be at stalemate.

Karavayev points out that official Baku gained important allies
through GUAM and OIC.

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