Author: Torgomian Varazdat

BATTLE FOR LEVON TER-PETROSYAN?
Lragir.am
20 Oct 06
The first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan will run in the
presidential election 2008, stated Ararat Zurabyan, the chair of
the administration of the All-Armenian Movement. “I believe that
the appearance and activity of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, and his word
will have more importance than the activities of several political
forces of Armenia,” says Ararat Zurabyan. However, he says, his
confidence is not the result of his talk with Levon Ter-Petrosyan
but his personal impression. Perhaps, it is not worthwhile to mention
that the All-Armenian Movement will nominate Levon Ter-Petrosyan.
Thereby the figures of the previous government appear in a curious
state, when two forces representing the former government consider
Levon Ter-Petrosyan their candidate. The point is that Babken Ararxyan,
the informal leader of Alternative, a union created several days
ago, expressed his personal opinion that Levon Ter-Petrosyan is his
candidate. Ararxyan announced, of course, that if Levon Ter-Petrosyan
is not nominated, they will go on to think what to do.
Meanwhile, Ararat Zurabyan knows what to do. He stated that the
All-Armenian Movement will propose another candidate, and according
to Zurabyan, it could be Babken Ararxyan.
This statement, which appears innocent at first sight, acquires an
absolutely different shade when we consider that Babken Ararxyan
and other former members of the All-Armenian Movement set up a new
political union, which was criticized by Ararat Zurabyan one or
two days ago. In fact, Ararat Zurabyan has a milder opinion now and
says he does not want to say anything negative about Alternative,
adding that this force has been set up recently, and it takes time
to evaluate their activities.
“We are a political force which works. If say two, ten or one hundred
figures choose to follow another path, we do not try to prevent them,
or to join, or not to join. The All-Armenian Movement is a separate
unit, I think it is serious enough to work, to act and unlike others
we alone can do more,” says Ararat Zurabyan. He tries to find out that
his criticism was determined by the worry that the establishment of
Alternative can give rise to a number of problems.
“When there is something, definite, there is a political party.
Generally, the political party is the place of political activities,
in normal societies, I think it is wrong to set up another unit.
People have set up a unit which they think is the right way. I think
it is not. I do not battle this unit, I have no wish and have no such
intentions. I am ready to cooperate, I am ready to do everything.
Maybe the problem is different. Nobody put the question differently:
why is this unit set up or why Babken Ararxyan did not want to become
the chair of the administration of the All-Armenian Movement and
preferred to lead 18 persons rather than a political party,” says
Ararat Zurabyan. And though he states that there is no need to seek
controversies between Alternative and the All-Armenian Movement,
he nevertheless, displays these controversies. And when he says it
is unnecessary to seek, he probably means that there is no need to
look for them because the controversies are evident.
These controversies can be settled by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, in other
words, the nomination of Ter-Perosyan can bring together Alternative
and the All-Armenian Movement. But this is highly hypothetical because
for the time being Ter-Petrosyan divides these forces. For instance,
Ararat Zurabyan states that in 1996 Ter-Petrosyan’s election campaign
was badly coordinated, and the candidate, who had 70 percent of votes,
hardly won the election. One may ask what relation Alternative has
with this. The relation is that in 1996 the headquarters of Levon
Ter-Petrosyan was led by Babken Ararxyan.
“Do you think the election in 1996 was the result of good
coordination? If there is anyone who thinks that Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s
team was coordinated correctly in the election 1996, which produced
an outcome, you are mistaken,” says Ararat Zurabyan, which allows to
conclude that the member of the administration of the All-Armenian
Movement is simply joking when he says that after Ter-Petrosyan the
next candidate, the reserve, will be Babken Ararxyan, who hindered the
absolute victory of Levon Ter-Petrosyan in the presidential election,
making it appear doubtful. However, Zurabyan’s words allow concluding
that his criticism is directed against the coordinator Ararxyan,
because Zurabyan says maybe he was a bad coordinator but he will make
a good candidate. And why not? Especially that Ter-Petrosyan could
lead Babken Ararxyan’s election headquarters.

Armavia has no information on showdown on Airbus A320 board
Regnum, Russia
Oct 20 2006
Armavia Armenian Airlines has no information on a shootout allegedly
taken place on board of the Airbus A320 flying from Yerevan to Sochi
on May 3, 2006 and resulting in its crash near Sochi coast. The
announcement is made by spokeswoman for the airlines Jasmen Vilyan
while she was commenting on a statement by former pilot of the airlines
Vladimir Pogosyan, who claimed that the A320 crashed in a result of
a showdown onboard.
As Jasmen Vilyan said, “if they have such information, they should
go to the Prosecutor General’s Office to investigate the facts
provided.” If the statements do not correspond with the reality,
Armavia can claim for instituting a criminal procedure on the
statements.
In its turn, Armenia’s General Department of Civil Aviation does not
either confirm or deny statements of certain persons concerning the
Yerevan-Sochi flight crash. They in the department stress that the
opinion of the institution remains the same and was presented by its
head Artyom Movsisyan. “The cause of the crash of the Armenian Airbus
A320 flying from Yerevan to Sochi on 3 May was lack of coordination
between actions of the crew in the last 17 seconds of the flight,”
Movsisyan is quoted as saying at a news conference on July 28.

AZG Armenian Daily #201, 21/10/2006
Middle East
ISRAEL APPLIED NEW WEAPONS IN GAZA
The Palestinian physicians in Gaza have registered strange wounds
caused by the unknown weapon. The British “Guardian” informed that
according to the testimonies of the physicians, the new weapon causes
internal wounds and traumas. The wounds may frequently cause amputation
of legs and hands, or be fatal for the patients.
As compared with traditional weapons used during the attacks,
the new weapon leaves no broken pieces in the human body. The
physicians revealed particles resembling dust spread on the wounds
of the patients.
The new weapon disfigures the human bodies and cuts them in parts,
one of the Gaza physicians stated. He added that they have found that
the internal organs are burnt and has small particles on them.
According to the British newspaper, the particles found on the wounded
organs can’t be seen through X Ray, which makes it different to find
the wounds and treat them.
Some of the experts believe that such traumas may be caused by weapons
that contain metal explosives.
By Petros Keshishian

ANKARA HAS NO REASON TO BE ASHAMED OF ITS HISTORY, TURKISH FM ASSURES
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.10.2006 14:20 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish government “uses all the possibilities
of international law up to bringing in suits” to prevent final
ratification of the French bill calling for imprisonment for the
Armenian Genocide denial, Turkish FM Abdullah Gul told parliament
today. He remarked that “France insists that historians should deal
with the disputable moments of its history on one hand and tries
to legalize Armenians’ claims lacking historical basis on the other
hand. “Turkey will lose nothing but France’s image will be damaged,”
Gul said.
The Turkish FM also assured that “Turkey has no reason to be ashamed
of her history.” “We are a nation sure of its past. The government has
opened the archives, including military and secret ones for everyone
wishing to investigate the events of 1915. Moreover, the parliament
has decided to form a commission that will examine the archives of
third states of that period,” Gul said.
Turkish parliamentarians voiced opinion that by adopting the bill
the French parliament “limits one of the fundamental freedoms of any
European state – freedom of speech,” “We hope that the ratification
process will be stopped and the French will regain consciousness,”
Gul underscored, reports ITAR-TASS.

UWP VOICES SUPPORT TO HAKOB HAKOBYAN
Panorama.am
15:47 17/10/06
The leader of United Working Party (UWP), Gurgen Arsenyan, raised
his surprise that some representatives of pro-government and
opposition parties try to take up functions of prosecutor general by
saying half of the deputies sitting in the parliament hall may be
arrested. Arsenyan called his colleagues to support Hakob Hakobyan
and was happy that the latter said he has nothing to be afraid of.
He said life will show who will be arrested and who not. He blessed
god that the opposition is not in power. Otherwise, he said, they
would arrest everybody.

JOINT TURKISH-ARMENIAN EXHIBIT FACES FORWARD
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Oct 16 2006
While diplomatic relations are on a knife’s-edge due to the French
Parliament passing a bill penalizing denial of the so-called Armenian
genocide, Turkish and Armenian documentary photographers were in
Istanbul yesterday to open a joint exhibit.
Ten photographers put together the exhibition called
“Merhabarev/Yerevan-Istanbul,” which depicts daily life in Yerevan
and Istanbul. It opens on Oct. 22 and runs through Oct. 29.
The exhibit’s title is a combination of the words “Merhaba” and
“Barev” meaning “Hello” in Turkish and Armenian respectively.
The Turkish documentary photographers are Ozcan Yurdalan, Serra
Akcan, Mehmet Kacmaz, Kerem Uzel and Tolga Sezgin, and those from
Armenia are Ruben Mangasaryan, Karen Mirzoyan, Anahit Hayrapetyan,
Nelli Sismanyan and German Avagyan.
Mainly highlighting the importance of direct dialogue and an
unprejudiced approach, the photographers focused on the importance
of greetings in all encounters by combining the two words.
The photographers also aimed at emphasizing the importance of the
future and of looking towards the future even when catching daily
life on film.
In the belief that relations between the two nations can become
normal by overcoming problems stemming from a lack of dialogue and
overcoming prejudices, the photographers aimed to reflect what they
saw and experienced through their lenses.
After first opening in Yerevan’s best-known cultural center the Moscow
Cinema, it’s on in Istanbul and will then go to Europe to France,
Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.

esctoday.com, Netherlands
Oct 13 2006
Too many participants? what would happen
Eurovision Song Contest full?
With all 37 participating countries at the 2006 Eurovision Song
Contest almost certain to return in Helsinki next year, and with both
Serbia and Montenegro stating their intention to enter the
competition following the disengagement and independence of the two
states, we are already set to have 39 countries participating in
2007. Today, esctoday.com spoke to Svante Stockselius, EBU’s
Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor, to confirm what would
happen if more than 40 countries enter and for his interpretation of
the rules.
Mr. Stockselius confirmed to esctoday that 40 is the maximum number
of participants that will be allowed to enter the Eurovision Song
Contest. If all 37 participating countries from 2006 return to the
Eurovision Song Contest in 2007, and Serbia and Montenegro return as
separate countries after their withdrawal in 2006, there would only
be one remaining spot for a new or returning country at the
competition.
With Czech and Georgian television interested in joining the
competition, the possiblility that Lebanon will seek to enter next
year (if they can agree to broadcast the Israeli song), and the
possibilty that Austria, Italy and Hungary may return, there could be
a situation where 44 countries will apply to participate in Helsinki.
With only a month to go before countries must submit their decision
on participation to the EBU, esctoday.com today contacted Svante
Stockselius to confirm what would happen, should this scenario unfold
before confirming the news that Montenegro will participate in
Helsinki!
Mr.Stockselius confirmed that the current rules do provide for a
solution: “First we will look at the countries’ participation over
the last five years, if that did not give the answers, we would move
to a draw”.
What does this mean?
Should this scenario occur, Austria would definitely return to the
competition if they enter, and would not take part a draw because
they have participate in four of the last 5 years.
Both Serbia and Montenegro should be included because they have
partiipated in the competition twice in the last five years, albeit
as one joint pariticipant in 2004 and 2005.
So, if Serbia, Montenegro and Austria all apply, they would join last
year’s participants at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest. No debut
countries would be able to enter.
However…
Matters would become complicated if Italy was to return. Although
this seems unlikely in 2007, it would be very popular with fans of
the Eurovision Song Contest. Italy would also have a case to join the
‘Big 4’ as part of a new ‘Big 5’ because they are one of the primary
contributors to the EBU. This means that should they return,
Armenia’s place at the contest may be in jeopardy because they have
only participated once and they may be forced out of the competition.
If Italy do not enter, Serbia and Montenegro both enter as separate
countries and Hungary applies to return to the Eurovision Song
Contest, a draw would be needed to select the 40th participant
between Hungary and Armenia who have both participated once in the
last five years. No new participants would then be able to enter in
2007.
Without Italy, but including Serbia and Montenegro as separate
countries and the return of either one of Austria or Hungary,
Georgia, Czech Republic, Lebanon and any other country looking to
enter the Eurovision Song Contest would be turned away.
Should none from Austria, Hungary or Italy return and Serbia and
Montenegro both participate, if Czech Repulblic, Georgia and Lebanon
or any other debut country enter, a draw would be held to select one
final participant in Helsinki.
Until the deadline for entry submissions passes, this will be a topic
of debate for fans of the Eurovision Song Contest. In November, we
will know which countries will participate in the 2007 Eurovision
Song Contest.

A1+
PARTIAL MONITORING OF BORDER LINE
[06:49 pm] 13 October, 2006
According to preliminary agreement, the OSCE mission carried out
monitoring of the border line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan near
village Gyulistan, region of Martakert.
The OSCE observing mission was led by personal representative of the
OSCE CiO, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk, as well as assistants Peter Key
from Great Britain and Gunter Folk from Germany.
Foreign Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh Republic informs that the
monitoring was carried out in compliance with the plan. But in
contrast to the Karabakhian side, the Azeris did not take the
monitoring group to the front of the border. No cases of violation of
cease-fire were recorded.

VAFA GULUZADE: LEGALLY NOTHING CAN PREVENT AZERBAIJAN FROM STARTING WAR
PanARMENIAN.Net
11.10.2006 17:12 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Azerbaijani government has not undertaken any
obligation forbidding it to start war,” former presidential advisor
Vafa Guluzade stated.
According to him, the document on ceasefire of May 1994 records of
“ceasefire before achieving peace.”
“There are no other obligations except this one and the state leader
has many times said that if the peaceful talks fail the liberation of
lands is Azerbaijan’s indefeasible right. However it does not mean that
Azerbaijan will launch war. All including Europe know that Azerbaijan
will not do this,” Heydar Aliyev’s former advisor said. In his opinion,
Azerbaijan can take the move only being sure of capability to defeat
Armenia and Russia. “Only in this case the European Union mat ask
Azerbaijan to undertake not to defeat them,’ he said.
He also remarked that legally nothing can prevent Azerbaijan from
liberating the territories by force.
However, the political scientist remarked, war is a very complicated
variant, since “the occupant is Russia and Azerbaijan will have to
fight against Russia,” reports Media Forum.

ETISALAT (DUBAI) DENIES IT HAS BOUGHT STAKE IN ARMENTEL
TeleGeography, D.C.
Oct 11 2006
UAE-based operator Etisalat has denied media reports that it has agreed
to purchase a 90% stake in Armenian fixed line operator ArmenTel,
writes Bloomberg. The Russian Kommersant newspaper, citing a source
close to the Armenian government, yesterday reported that a consortium
led by the Dubai-based telco, and including investment fund Istithmar,
had agreed to pay Greece’s Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation
(OTE) USD600 million for its stake in the Armenian telco. The source
said that the consortium won the tender earlier this year, beating
off rival bids from Russian companies AFK Sistema and VimpelCom,
and a consortium of VTEL Holdings and Knightsbridge Associates.