Author: Torgomian Varazdat

PROTEST RALLY IN RAMIL SAFAROV’S SAKE TO BE HELD BY FORCED MIGRANTS IN DARNAGUL
Author: S. Ilhamgyzy

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 17 2006

On April 15 students have arranged a protest rally in Baku, a rally
that started from the State Language University. Trend reports that by
this rally the youth protested the unjust sentence issued on Azeri
military officer Ramil Safarov by Budapest municipal court. The
students advanced along Rashid Beybutov street. However, the rally
was stopped by police, several students were apprehended.

Today, April 15, another protest action will be held in town of
Darnagul, where forced migrants live. The action is organized by
Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO).

Life sentence has caused a wave of protests in all towns and villages
of Azerbaijan. Rallies and meetings are held across the republic.

Today in Ganja dwellers alongside the refugees and forced migrants
came to streets to take part in the protest rally, but police chased
them away. The protest rallies are expected to arrange in refugees
camps today as well.

AZERIS CONDEMN HUNGARIAN COURT’S HARSH RULING

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
posted April 17 2006

Baku, April 14, AssA-Irada
The Azerbaijani public has strongly condemned the Hungarian court’s
harsh sentence issued on Thursday for the Azerbaijani officer charged
with murdering an Armenian serviceman during a NATO course in Budapest.

Ramil Safarov was sentenced to life in prison after a lengthy trial
that was deemed by many in Azerbaijan as biased. The defense plans
to appeal the case.

The Azeri Defense Ministry came out against the ruling. A spokesman
for the Ministry Ilgar Verdiyev termed the decision as “far from being
objective”. He said that just like during the trial, all the expenses
to be incurred in the higher court would be assumed by the Ministry.

The Foreign Ministry declined to issue a statement concerning Safarov’s
verdict. Its spokesman Tahir Taghizada said that since the proceedings
were a legal issue, the Ministry is not inclined to comment to avoid
escalating tension.

Taghizada said the Ministry will continue dealing with the issue and
further step up its efforts to appeal the case.

“We have been working closely with the Azeri embassy in Hungary with
regard to the trial,” he added.

The hard-line Garabagh Liberation Organization (GLO) has launched a
serious of public actions in Baku and the countryside in protest at
the harsh verdict. At a rally on Friday, its chairman Akif Naghi and
two more protesters were detained.

“The Hungarian court issued an unjust verdict to our citizen
Ramil Safarov. Armenians bribed the court, and the Azeri public and
authorities should come out against this. We demand that this unfair
decision be altered, otherwise, our protests will continue,” Naghi
said prior to the detention.

The chairwoman of the permanent parliamentary commission on human
rights Rabiyyat Aslanova condemned the verdict as well.

“It is very unfortunate that the court handed down such a ruling. But
this will not stop our activity. Certainly, we will take the case
to the court of appeal. I believe the public representatives should
express their attitude on the issue as well,” the MP said.

Another parliament member, Malahat Hasanova, blamed the Azeri
legislative body and public organizations of inaction.

“The parliament and NGOs have failed to do anything to defend
Safarov,” Hasanova told journalists. She said the Azeri-Hungarian
inter-parliamentary friendship group has taken no steps in this area
either. Women’s organizations operating in the country were left out
of these efforts as well, said Hasanova.

The MP condemned some statements suggesting that Azerbaijan break up
its relations with Hungary.

“On the contrary, ties should be forged between the public in the two
countries, while MPs and NGO representatives be invited to Azerbaijan
soon,” she said, suggesting that Hungarians be briefed on the Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict during such visits.

Safarov’s father has approached organizations dealing with his son’s
defense.

“The life imprisonment sentence is a punishment handed down to the
Azeri public as a whole. We should not give way to the mistakes we
have made so far, as Armenians always capitalize on them,” Sahib
Safarov said.

WILL ARMENTEL BE RESOLD?

Yerkir.am
April 14, 2006

The statement made by the Greek OTE company on its intention to sell
its 90 percent stock it holds in the Armenian telecommunications
monopolist ArmenTel to Russian companies has been actively discussed
by the Armenian government which holds the remaining 10 percent of
the ArmenTel stocks. The government’s agreement is mandatory to cut
such deal.

OTE representatives have allegedly made a visit to Armenia recently to
inform the Armenian government about their intention to sell OTE’s
stocks, and judging from the official OTE statements following
the discussion at the government, the latter has agreed to the
deal. However, both the government and the ArmenTel refuse to confirm
or deny the information.

But according to the information obtained from various sources,
OTE is likely to accept the offer of Russian companies, which are
said to offer some $450-500 million. Russia’s Bi Lline, Magaphone and
Vimpelcom are mentioned among the potential buyers but it is not yet
clear whether those companies want to get OTE’s 90-percent stake or
acquire also the 10 percent stake held by the government.

In 2003, the Russian RosTelecom offered $100 million for the 90-percent
stake but the OTE refused since it demanded at least twice as much. The
situation is apparently different now. ArmenTel is a quite profitable
company; the company’s profit stood at $55 million last year.

The OTE explains its intention to sell its stake by the fact that it
wants to concentrate its operations in the Balkans; the company has
lost 216 million euros last year and wants to raise cash by selling
its ArmenTel stake. But speaking at a discussion at the WB office in
Yerevan, ArmenTel CEO Vasilis Fetis boasted the company has received
a $24-million-euro privileged loan. But if the OTE intends to sell
ArmenTel why is it applying for a loan? Is it that OTE wants to
artificially raise the price for ArmenTel?

Panorama.am

18:11 14/04/06

32 CHILDREN SUFFER FROM GERMAN MEASLES

We have been informed from Inspectorate of hygienic anti-epidemiology
that according to the morning data German measles has been found out
at 5 school children of Getap village school.

Yet, later we have been informed by the advisor of the RA Minister of
Health Ruslana Gevorgyan that according to the information they have
cleared, as a result of diagnosis the disease has been found at 32
children all in all, 28 of which study at one school, the other 4 in
another. /Panorama.am/

USA worried at growing Russian presence in Caucasus, congressman tells
Azeris

Ekspress, Baku 14 Apr 06
Yeni Azarbaycan, Baku 14 Apr 06

US Congressman Jim Kolbe has said that the USA is concerned about
Russia’s increasing presence in the Caucasus, Azerbaijani newspaper
Ekspress has reported.

Kolbe said at a news conference in Baku on 13 April: “My country is
concerned about Russia’s increasing military and economic presence in
the Caucasus.

The region is important to all of us. I think that the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas
pipeline increase regional independence and reduce dependence on a
country like Russia.”

Kolbe added that Azerbaijan could wait a little more for the complete
repeal of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act banning US government
aid to Azerbaijan ‘in conditions when the Karabakh settlement is not
far off’. He stressed that the US Congress could allocate funds to
Azerbaijan after a ‘political resolution’ of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict.

The newspaper added that Kolbe discussed Caspian regional developments
and Azerbaijan’s relations with its neighbours at a meeting with
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Mammadyarov told Kolbe that the
Karabakh settlement was possible only on the basis of Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity, Ekspress quoted the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry as saying. It added that the minister also spoke about the
need to jointly fight terrorism.

At the same time, the pro-government newspaper Yeni Azarbaycan quoted
Kolbe as saying that the USA wants a lasting and fair solution to the
conflict and that the USA would be one of the first countries to
assist Azerbaijan in rehabilitating its occupied territories.

Ekspress added that asked about reasons for Azerbaijan’s omission from
the Millennium Challenge programme, the congressman noted that the
main criteria under which countries are given aid are quality of
management and level of corruption.

“Kolbe is waiting ‘impatiently’ for the day Azerbaijan meets those
criteria,” the newspaper said.

Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
3325 North Glenoaks Blvd.
Burbank, Ca 91504
Tel: 818-558-7474
Fax: 818-558-6333
Web:

Primate to Bless Government Officials During

Easter Week Ceremony

The Western Diocese would like to announce that for the first time
in the history of the Diocese prominent leaders from the Los Angeles
area have been invited by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian to
participate in the traditional ceremony of the `Washing of the Feet.’
His Eminence is pleased that the Honorable Supervisor Michael
Antonovich has accepted his invitation to participate in the
observance.

The Washing of the Feet, which is observed on Maundy Thursday during
Holy Week, is one of the most beautiful and meaningful services in the
Armenian Church. It commemorates the blessed occasion when Jesus took
a towel and girded Himself and began washing His disciples’ feet,
setting an example of humility and love for the earliest members of
the Christian Church. It is on this occasion that we contemplate the
true meaning of sacrifice and service. It is these qualities that
define a true leader; therefore it is all the more meaningful that
our elected officials become part of this service.

In regards to the upcoming ceremony His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan
Derderian said, `We, as Armenian-Americans, are truly blessed to be
members of a society where our leaders have become vital participants
in the life of our community. We should extend our hand to them and
become partners in building better cities, and better communities. As
part of this partnership I wish to offer to them the opportunity to
become integrated in all aspects of our culture, so that while
serving as our representatives they can have a true understanding of
what it is to be Armenian.’

The Service of the Washing of the Feet will be conducted by
Archbishop Derderian at St. James Armenian Church, located at 4950
West Slauson Ave., Los Angeles, California 90056. The service will
begin at 7:00pm. All faithful of the Armenian Church are invited to
attend. For more information please call the Western Diocese at (818)
558-7474.

OFFICE OF THE WESTERN DIOCESE
April 6, 2006
Burbank, California

BUDAPEST COURT SENTENCED AZERI MILITARY OFFICER RAMIL SAFAROV TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Author: E. Javadova

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 13 2006

On April 13 Budapest court has sentenced Azeri military officer Ramil
Safarov to life imprisonment, legal representative of Mr Safarov’s
family, lawyer Adil Ismaylov told Trend.

The sentence passed by Judge Andrash Vashkuti says within the framework
of NATO program “Partnership in the name of peace” Azeri military
officer Ramil Safarov was sent by the Ministry of defense to Hungary
for participation in English language trainings in January-February
2004. Several days before the end, on February 19, he slaughtered
Armenian officer Gurgen Markaryan with an axe.

The Judge said the results of the expert review submitted to the
court prove Mr Safarov to have been sane that moment.

Mr Ismaylov said also that after receiving the court decision by
Hungarian lawyers they will appeal to the higher legal instances.

We remind that the court four times arranged an expert review of
Mr Safarov’s psychological state. The review results showed some
discrepancy. First results blaming Mr Safarov were not accepted by
the judge. Hungarian legislation allows only three reviews to arrange
by the judge. But the judge violated the law and arranged the fourth
expert review. The last review concluded that at the moment of crime
and afterwards Mr Safarov was in a sound mind. The lawyers said the
judge had been biased and the last review was conducted incorrectly.

In his last words Mr Safarov did not admit his guilt and said the
reason for murder was the deep offense of state flag of Azerbaijan
by G. Markaryan and his rude words in address of Azeri people.

RUSSIAN MEDIATOR IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO VISIT THE REGION ON HIS OWN

)
14: 21 04/13/2006

OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement Yuri
Merzlyakov does not intend to visit the region on his own following
the example of his colleagues from the US (Steven Mann) and France
(Bernard Fassier), reports a REGNUM correspondent.

According to Merzlyakov, another stage of consultations between the
co-chairs will be held in Moscow, where results of Mann and Fasser’s
visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan will be summed up and issues will be
discussed concerning a visit of the co-chairs to the region planned
for March.

FORMER OFFICIAL OF SYUNIK GOVERNOR’S OFFICE INSISTS THAT HE RESIGNED FOR REFUSING MEMBERSHIP OF RPA

Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2006

KAPAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Lernik Petrosian, the Chief of the
Education, Culture and Sports Department, was discharged the post
recently, according to his own application. As Petrosian himself
emphasized in the interview to the Noyan Tapan correspondent,
“according to the so-called application.” “I was proposed to become
a member of the Republican Party of Armenia, what I refused, so I was
proposed to refuse my post, with what I agree with great pleasure,” the
former Department Chief of the Syunik Governor’s Office stated. Lernik
Petrosian also informed that the Syunik Governor addressed to the
RA Government proposing to join the Kapan college and the Kapan
fulcrum college of the State Engineering University of Armenia. In
other words, according to him, an attempt is made to get rid of
Siranuysh Haroutiunian, the present Director of the Kapan college,
who is the wife of the former Chief of the Education Department. “An
attempt is made to replace the serf orders existing in the Syunik
Governor’s Office out of the Governor’s office and to punish a man
for not obeying,” Petrosian stated. According to data of the Noyan
Tapan correspondent, after disappoinment, Lernik Petrosian became
a member of the “Orinats Yerkir” (Country of Law) party. To recap,
Governor of Syunik Surik Khachatrian is a RPA member.

ARMENIAN CAPITAL’S POLICE CHIEF PLEDGES TO CRACK DOWN ON CRIMES
Tereza Kasyan, Arman Garibyan, “Aylur”.

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
10 Apr 06

[Presenter] The chief of the Yerevan police department, Nerses
Nazaryan, has told journalists that compared with 2005, crime rate
was up by 142 cases in 2006.

[Correspondent] About 1,098 crimes were committed in the first quarter
of 2006 which is more than by 13 per cent compared to 2005.

The chief of the capital’s police department said that the criminal
cases in 2006 increased by 142 compared with 2005. The number of
grave crimes, robbery and drug-related crimes is up and is worrying.

Four of the eight cases of murder over the last three months have been
solved. There are also achievements in fighting against drug dealing.

[Nerses Nazaryan] At present 80 drug dealers and 309 drug-addicts
have been registered by the police departments, 2,030 grams of various
drugs were confiscated in 2006 as against 183 grams in 2005.

A serious work is being carried out in the registration of criminal
cases. There were facts when criminal cases were not registered and
hidden which were punished seriously by the police leadership.

[Correspondent] A total of 152 criminal cases committed in the past
have been solved, the chief of the Yerevan police department added.

He also noted that despite the increase in criminal cases, Yerevan
is one of a secure cities. He also pledged to solve all unresolved
cases as soon as possible.