Author: Torgomian Varazdat

CONGRATULATIONS TO PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN

armradio.am
30.06.2008 11:53

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan congratulated President of the
Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan on his 54th birthday and wished
him success in the high and responsible position of the Head of State,
Information and Public Relations Department of RA Government informs.

Speaker of the National Assembly Tigran Torosyan also congratulated
Serzh Sargsyan on the occasion of his 54th birthday and wished him
happiness and success in all endeavors targeted at Armenia’s peace
and prosperity.

"HOSTILITIES MIGHT BEGIN ANY MOMENT"
Vladimir Soloviov

WPS Agency
June 27, 2008 Friday
Russia

An interview with President of Armenia Serj Sarkisjan.

Question: The so called NATO Week began in Armenia the day your visit
to Moscow began. What was that? Try as I might, I do not recall any
weeks of the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization in Armenia.

Serj Sarkisjan: There may have been no weeks of the CIS Collective
Security Treaty Organization indeed, but it will be running its first
Border’2008 military exercise in Armenia this September. All I can say
is that we attach more importance to the forthcoming exercise than to
this NATO event. On the other hand, there is nothing extraordinary
about this latter either. There are NATO Information Centers in
Yerevan and Moscow.

We are determined to develop relations with the Alliance within the
framework of the individual partnership program. I trust out Armed
Forces will benefit from the experience. Anyway, we keep saying that
membership in NATO is not on the foreign political agenda.

Question: Armenia will chair the CIS Collective Security Treaty this
year. Do you perhaps intend to reorganize the structure somehow?

Serj Sarkisjan: I do not think that it needs any radical
reforms. Membership in the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization
is extremely beneficial. Our Armed Forces are shaped in accordance
with the Soviet military doctrine. Practically all weapons and military
hardware they wield are Soviet- or Russian-made. All of that has to be
maintained and upgraded, and membership in the CIS Collective Security
Treaty Organization enables us to do so. Status of a privileged partner
in military-technical cooperation with Russia suits us just fine.

Question: Armenia and Azerbaijan procure military hardware with the
abandon that leads observers to the conclusion that hostilities over
Nagorno-Karabakh might resume…

Serj Sarkisjan: Yes, this is a possibility that should be allowed
for. Moreover, the Azerbaijani leadership all but admits that sheer
strength of arms might be deployed by way of a solution. At least
two men in Armenia (supreme commander-in-chief and defense minister)
should always remember that the hostilities might begin any moment.

Azerbaijan is the only country that takes pride in its mounting
military expenditures. Should Baku accept even for a moment the premise
that it will defeat the Armenians, it may give order to the regular
army. If you ask me, however, it is not a solution. There must be a
peaceful solution, and we discussed the matter from precisely this
angle at the meeting with President Ilham Aliyev in St.Petersburg. The
meeting was quite constructive.

Question: Gazprom is out to up gas prices for all CIS consumers
including Armenia, Russia’s strategic partner…

Serj Sarkisjan: We understand Gazprom and believe its top managers
when they say that the decision to up prices is not political. On the
other hand, we would appreciate it if the process is gradual. And yes,
Armenia and Russia are strategic partners.

Question: Running the Armenian railroads, Russian Railroad intends
to restore railroad service with Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Russia via
Georgia. Do you think it possible?

Serj Sarkisjan: Its absence is a major hindrance indeed. Unable to use
land routes, we are compelled to use ferries and that means additional
costs. I think I detect a certain improvement of the relations with
Ankara. Opening of the borders will benefit us all, I’m convinced. At
the same time, we understand that Turkey will treat the matter from
the standpoint of the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. In any event,
the world is changing and it behooves us to change with it.

GORAN LENNMARKER: "YEREVAN AND BAKU HAVE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO RESOLVE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

Today.Az
June 30 2008
Azerbaijan

Yerevan and Baku have a golden opportunity to resolve the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, according to OSCE President.

"We have been working to find a solution to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict for several years. There is an interim decision which will
have a positive impact on the Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. The
sides have a golden opportunity to resolve the conflict," Mr Goran
Lennmarker said in his address to 17th session of the OSCE PA in
Astana, Interfax reports.

Meanwhile, he mentioned, the Karabakh issue will not be discussed.

"The agenda includes issues referring to Georgia," he said. "OSCE
member states support Georgia’s territorial integrity. Abkhazia is a
part of Georgia and a peaceful solution should be found in this vein."

It’s the first-ever OSCE PA session held in Astana, the capital of
Kazakhstan, which will assume presidency in the OSCE in 2010.

BELLICOSE STATEMENTS COMPLICATE NEGOTIATION PROCESS, ARMENIAN FOREIGN
MINISTER SAYS

Y EREVAN, JUNE 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Receiving the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
Bernard Fassier (France), Matthew Bryza (US) and Yuri Merzlyakov
(Russia), and the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Andrzei Kasprzyk on June 27, the RA foreign minister
Edward Nalbandian spoke about Armenia’s approaches to the proposals
that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs presented in Madrid in November
2007. He underlined that the bellicose statements made by Azerbaijani
leaders complicate the creation of an atmosphere of trust during
negotiation process and progress in negotiations.

NT was informed by the RA MFA Press and Information Department that the
co-chairs informed E. Nalbandian about the results of their meetings
with Azerbaijan’s president and foreign minister in Baku, stressing the
necessity to solve the Karabakh problem only in a peaceful way. They
assured the RA foreign minister that they will continue efforts on
bringing the sides’ positions closer – based on the Madrid proposals.

FIRST MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT OF RA HONOURABLE COACH WALTER ATANESIAN STARTS IN YEREVAN

NOYAN TAPAN

JU NE 26

The first boxing youth tournament dedicated to the memory of RA
honourable coach Walter Atanesian started in the Dinamo sports ground
of Yerevan on June 26. 67 delegates from different regions and towns
of Armenia have placed orders for the competitions.

The tournament is of elimination character: the national team will
be formed according to its results and will prepare for the World
Youth Championship to be held in Mexico in October.

The memorial tournament will finish on June 29.

PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV: "AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES ARE THE STRONGEST ARMY OF THE REGION"

Azeri Press Agency
June 26 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku-APA. President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the
Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev addressed the military parade on June 26 in
Azadlig Square dedicated to the 90th anniversary of Azerbaijani Army.

The head of state congratulated Azerbaijani People on this occasion and
called the formation of the army as a remarkable day in the country’s
history, APA reports. The President said while Azerbaijan restoring its
state independence in 1991 the formation of the National Army became
a necessity. "Unfortunately Azerbaijan couldn’t establish its regular
army in the first years of independence. The army-building process
began only in 1993, when the nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev returned
to Azerbaijan’s leadership. The state-building process was carried
out very rapidly thank to Heydar Aliyev’s extraordinary merits".

The President said all necessary measures were taken today to make
the army strongest and professionalism was increasing. "I am very glad
that today Azerbaijani Army meets the highest standards". Ilham Aliyev
said alongside with the professionalism, the material and technical
basis of the army was also strengthened and great work had been done
in this direction. "Azerbaijan’s military expenditures were less for
ten times in 2003. Today Azerbaijan’s total military expenditures
are more than 2 billion dollars. The military expenditures take first
place in the Government’s budget and I am sure it will be so further".

The head of state noted that he supported the local production of
ammunitions and military technical equipments the Azerbaijani Army
needed. "It needs to bring new technologies in the country, to train
professionals and to allocate necessary financial resources for
that. Azerbaijan has all these factors".

Ilham Aliyev said military expenses were equal to the government
expenditures and noted that the expenses would be increased more. The
Supreme Commander-in-Chief noted that Azerbaijan was at war, the war
had not finished yet and said: "We should be ready to liberate our
lands, for this purpose we establish a strong army."

Touching upon the long-lasting negotiations on the settlement of
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijani People
got tired of these negotiations.

"We consider that the negotiations cannot be held eternally. Of course,
there are improvements in the process of negotiations. The proposals
discussed now are based on the principles of Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity. The proposals on the table do not contain any mechanisms
for separating Nagorno Karabakh from Azerbaijan", he said.

The President stated Armenia ignored international legal norms and
added that Azerbaijan intended to continue the negotiations.

"I am sure that we will mobilize all our efforts and achieve our goal
by strengthening our diplomatic, economic and military policy. Justice,
international community, economic opportunities, military power are
in favor of us", he said.

The President said Azerbaijani Army was the strongest army of the
region and underlined that all steps would be taken to strengthen
the army.

Ilham Aliyev regarded the military parade as a great event and
congratulated the personnel of the Armed Forces and Azerbaijani People
on this day.

DEFENSE MINISTER RECEIVED AMBASSADOR OF CHINA

Panorama.am
14:00 24/06/2008

The Defense Minister of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan received the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China
Hong Jiuyin, reported the press secretary of the ministry Seyran
Shahsuvaryan. In the beginning of the meeting, the Defense Minister
has expressed his condolence to the Ambassador for the ten thousands
victims of the latest earthquake in China and for those who died in
the train accident.

Ambassador Hong Jiuyin thanked the Defense Minister and said that
the Government and Armed Forces of China pay much attention on the
relationship and cooperation of Armenia and China. He has particularly
mentioned the relationship of our peoples coming from centuries.

In the name of the Defense Minister of China, the Ambassador invited
S. Ohanyan to China and handed him the official invitation letter.

S. Ohanyan thanked the Ambassador and mentioned that the military
relationship of Armenia and China is on positive level. Many Armenian
military officers are being trained in China every year. This year
again 9 Armenian officers have opportunity to be well trained in China.

In the end of the meeting the sides wished success to Armenian and
Chinese sportsmen who will take part in the Olympic Games in Beijing.

INVESTIGATION INTO 56 CASES RELATED TO MARCH 1-2 EVENTS COMPLETED

NOYAN TAPAN

JU NE 23

As of June 20, 100 criminal cases related to mass disorder on March
1-2 were registered in courts, including 10 criminal cases in the
Criminal Appeal Court. Spokeswoman for the RA Cassation Court Alina
Yengoyan told NT correspondent that out of these cases, investigation
into 56 criminal cases on 63 persons was completed. 55 persons were
sentenced to imprisonment, including 25 suspended sentences. 4+1
court decisions of "not guilty" were passed, punishment not related
to imprisonment was applied with respect to 4 persons, appeals were
filed on 10 criminal cases.

Thus, as of June 20, 2008, the Yerevan Criminal Court had to examine
26 criminal cases, the court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and
Nork-Marash communities – 10 criminal cases, the court of general
jurisdiction of Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun communities – one criminal
case, the Northern Criminal Court – one criminal case, and the Criminal
Appeal Court – 6 criminal cases.

On June 23 the Criminal Appeal Court left unchanged the March 26
decision of the Gegharkunik court of general jurisdiction, by which
Avetik Drechian was sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment under Article
235 part 1 of the RA Criminal Code – illegal procurement, sale,
keeping, transportation or carrying of weapons, explosives or explosive
devices. In connection with another case related to the March 1-2 mass
disorder, Mher Sargsian was sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment under
the CC Article 176 part 2 point 3 – robbery. The court of general
jurisdiction of Arabkir and Zeytun communities sentenced Borik
Arabachian to one-year imprisonment under the same article’s part 1.

SecondsOut
June 22 2008

Abraham Leaves No Doubt With Knockout Of Miranda

Arthur Abraham wins: Tom Casino/Showtime

By Michael Norby: Undefeated IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham
made an explosive US debut on Saturday night, after he knocked out
Colombian puncher Edison Miranda in the fourth round of their much
anticipated rematch at The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in
Hollywood, Florida.

Armenian born German Abraham 27-0 (22) patiently waited for an
opportunity to land his vaunted power as Miranda 30-3 (26)
attacked. He covered up for much of the first three rounds – allowing
Miranda to pound away without landing cleanly before exploding in the
fourth with both hands in a concentrated assault that seen Miranda
fall three times before referee Telis Assimenios waved the fight off.

The contest, televised live on Showtime, was made at 166lbs which many
thought would benefit now super middleweight Miranda. It was Abraham,
however, who was clearly the stronger of the two combatants, taking
advantage of Miranda’s desperate and ardent pursuit of revenge to make
a massive statement to a worldwide audience and, more importantly, to
middleweight kingpin Kelly Pavlik.

Both guys pawed out jabs to begin the first round, but it was
Abraham’s that landed more impressively and he scored well with that
punch in the first minute. Miranda landed the first hard punch of the
fight – a right hand to the head and followed with a left hook moments
later. Abraham responded with a borderline left hook and Miranda ended
the frame with a glancing right hand that forced the German to
retreat. This was not the fiery beginning that had been predicted, but
it was an interesting clash of styles as Abraham backed off looking
for opportunities whilst Miranda came forward menacingly.

Miranda continued to come forward in the second and punched to the
body to begin the round. He missed with a sloppy left hook seconds
later but pinned Abraham against the ropes at the minute mark `
punching the arms of the European as he covered up. Abraham was doing
little in this round, but he was blocking most of what was thrown at
him. A low blow in the final minute forced a respite for the German `
echoing the controversial first fight and drawing boos from the crowd,
although the punch was indeed south of the border. That didn’t stop
Miranda from throwing downstairs and he thumped a left hook to the
ribcage of Abraham to end the round.

Abraham got his jab going a little more often in the third, but again
it was Miranda who was the aggressor as the middleweight champion
continued to cover up. The German finally landed with real power in
the opening minute with a huge right hand to the head but Miranda
continued on the front foot – connecting to the body in spurts
throughout the round. Abraham nailed Miranda again in the final minute
with another right hand – a punch that briefly buckled the Colombian
and a perfect two punch combination, ending with a hard left hook,
provided Miranda with a further taste of the German’s power.

Miranda again found his punches pinging off the arms and gloves of
Abraham at the beginning of the fourth. The German was clearly waiting
for an opening and he found one in the first minute when a right
hand/left hook sequence sent Miranda to the floor. The Colombian’s
legs were unsteady and Abraham attacked fiercely – landing with a
combination upstairs before dumping his man to the canvas again with a
stupendous left hook. Miranda again got up, but Abraham was mighty and
there was just too much time on the clock. With just under two minutes
remaining in the round, another left hook knocked down the Colombian,
prompting referee Telis Assimenios to stop the fight.

Time of stoppage: 1:13 RD4

Photos at
amp;cs=25445

ARMENIA PRESIDENT SERZH SARKISYAN TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO RF ON JUNE 23-25

ITAR-TASS
June 20 2008
Russia

MOSCOW, June 20 (Itar-Tass) — Armenian President Serzh Sarkisyan will
pay an official visit to Russia on June 23-25 at the invitation of
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the Kremlin press service reported
on Friday.

The Russian head of state invited his Armenian counterpart to pay an
official visit to the Russian Federation during a meeting in Strelnya
(suburbs of St. Petersburg) that was held on June 6. "I would like
to invite you to pay an official visit to the Russian Federation in
the next few months, when it will be suitable for you," Medvedev told
Sarkisyan. The Armenian president accepted the invitation.

As the Russian president said during a talk in Strelnya, this is his
second meeting with the Armenian president of late. According to him,
bilateral cooperation has been successfully developing and trade
turnover has been growing.