Author: Torgomian Varazdat

PACE CO-RAPPORTEURS TO VISIT AZERBAIJAN ON MAY 16-17

Azeri Press Agency
April 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Strasbourg. Fuad Gulubayli-APA. CE Monitoring Committee has held
meeting in Strasbourg today, Samad Seyidov, Head of Azerbaijani
Delegation to PACE told APA.

He said that Co-rapporteurs on Azerbaijan would visit Azerbaijan on
May 16-17. Co-rapporteurs will make a report on Azerbaijan and submit
it to PACE June session.

The meeting has discussed the issue on Armenia as well. It was
noted at the meeting if democracy was not solved in Armenia, special
investigation commission on Armenia would be established and voting
right of Armenian delegation would be frozen.

CALL FOR MERGER OF TWO DINK CASES

Today’s Zaman
April 17 2008
Turkey

The Hrant Dink Duyarlýlýk Grubu (awareness group), composed of several
deputies, journalists and artists, has asked that the assassination
case of slain Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink be retried and
that cases in Trabzon and Ýstanbul related to the trial be merged.

The trial of gendarme officials suspected of having prior knowledge
of the journalist’s assassination continues in a Trabzon court while
another case is in progress at the Ýstanbul 14th High Criminal Court,
where the masterminds of the Dink murder are being tried. The awareness
group held a press conference at Parliament yesterday and released
a written statement read by Justice and Development Party (AK Party)
Istanbul deputy Mehmet Domac.

The statement, which included the group’s request to merge the cases
from the Istanbul and Trabzon courts, read: "Significant information
has surfaced subsequent to the testimonies of two gendarme officials
tried in the second hearing in a Trabzon court on March 20. Officials
that were charged for misconduct stated that they had informed their
superiors of their knowledge [of the threat against Dink] five months
prior to Dink’s assassination — but that no measures were taken.

They have also confessed that they had faced pressure to hide the
plot and prepare fake documents after the assassination. On the other
hand, we also know that Trabzon and Istanbul police departments’
intelligence services were tipped off about the plot before it
happened. It is obvious that Dink was killed despite the fact that
two gendarme officials had the knowledge of the plot."

"These two gendarme officials were actually questioned along with
other officials by civil administration inspectors. According to a
report presented by the inspectors, only these two officials were
allowed to be interrogated and further objections were refused.

However, their recent statements make it clear that the interrogation
was not conducted properly and that decisions that were subsequently
made were wrong," the statement further read. The group also addressed
authorities who allowed the administrative investigation as well as
those who did not permit a retrial, saying: "Do not obstruct justice
or conceal evidence."

–Boundary_(ID_pC0iqQRwT94ZDKD5FX xUkA)–

CONTRACTOR FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF 5th UNIT OF HRAZDAN TPP TO BE ANNOUNCED IN MAY

Noyan Tapan
April 16, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The results of the tender for the
major contractor to reconstruct the 5th power unit of the Hrazdan
Thermal Power Plant (TPP) will be summarized in May. The chairman
of ArmRusgazprom company’s board, director general Karen Karapetian
said at the April 16 press conference that the company plans to make
investments of about 170 mln USD along with the purchase of the 5th
unit worth 248.8 mln USD. As a result, a station equipped with modern
gas turbines with a capacity of 440 megawatts will be built. In the
words of K. Karapetian, they also intend to buy 4 units of the TPP
transferred to Russia under Property for Debt Program. These units
should be joined to the 5th unit in order to make a complex.

According to him, in all likelihood the TPP will make part of the
authorized capital of ArmRusgazprom CJSC and will be a separate
economic entity.

The agreement envisages putting the 5th unit into operation in 2010.

MONITORING OF NKR AND AZERBAIJANI ARMED FORCES’ CONTACT LINE PASSED WITHOUT INCIDENTS

DeFacto Agency
April 16 2008
Armenia

YEREVAN, 16.04.08. DE FACTO. On April 15, in accordance with the
earlier achieved agreement with the NKR authorities the OSCE mission
conducted a regular monitoring of the contact-line of Nagorno Karabakh
and Azerbaijani armed forces northward of the settlement of Talysh,
NKR Martakert region.

>From the positions of the NKR Defense Army the monitoring was conducted
by Coordinator of the OSCE office lieutenant colonel Imre Palatinus
(Hungary) and Field Assistants of the Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Irzhi Aberle (the Czech Republic) and Zhaslan
Nurtazin (Kazakhstan).

The monitoring passed in accordance with the planned schedule. No
violation of cease-fire regime was fixed. The monitoring mission
from the Karabakh side was accompanied by representatives of the NKR
Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs.

LEVON TER-PETROSIAN MAKES AN APPEAL TO PRISONERS ON HUNGER STRIKE

Noyan Tapan
April 11, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The first Armenian president Levon
Ter-Petrosian on April 10 made an appeal to the prisoners, who were
arrested under the criminal case in connection with the March 1 events
and are currently on a hunger strike. He said that remaining faithful
to the ideas of freedom and democarcy, the Armenian people has not
reconciled and will never reconcile itself to the fact of forcible
violation of its will. "It is no accident that the swearing-in
ceremony of the newly-converted usurper took place on the one hand,
under the bayonets of numerous battalions of police and army, on the
other hand, it was accompanied by mass events of national anger and
protest". According to L. Ter-Petrosian, amidst these events, the
hunger strike of many political figures and azatamartiks (freedom
fighters) both in custody and at liberty is of special importance.

At the same time he appealed to them to end the hunger strike. "Being
aware of the importance of this extreme means of political struggle and
deeply appreciating the feat of those on hunger strike, I, however,
appeal to them to end the hunger strike from this moment. Your
health, inflexible will-power and resolution are necessary for futher
contribution to the national struggle. April 9 is the beginning
rather than the end of this sacred struggle, the political ways of
which will soon be accessible to our society. I have no doubt that the
continuance of the national movement will also make the international
community to change its attitude to our state," is said in the appeal
of Levon Ter-Petrosian.

PROTESTS ON RISE IN ARMENIAN REGION
by Lusine Barseghyan

Haykakan Zhamanak
April 8 2008
Armenia

Police officers go hunting drunk

Protests in Kotayk Region continue

The number of people who went on hunger strike in Hrazdan [Armenia’s
Kotayk Region] became 10 yesterday [7April].

Nine more [Karabakh war] veterans from Ashtarak, Eghvard, Hrazdan towns
joined the hunger strike of handicappedveteran Arshavir Bozinyan in
the Vanatur village near Hrazdan, who has been on strike for fourteen
days in a rowdemanding that Sasun Mikaelyan [arrested MP] and other
political prisoners be released.

Yesterday after midnight information was received that around
20 police cars with several dozens of police officerstook nine
veterans on hunger strike to the Hrazdan police station. If in the
nearest three days the protesters’demand is not realized and all the
political prisoners, in particular Sasun Mikaelyan, are not released,
wives of theperished fighters [in the Karabakh war] are going to join
the protesters. Several of them already came to join thehunger strike
yesterday, but Bozinyan didn’t allow them [to do so].

Yesterday veterans from other Armenian regions – Maralik, Shamshadin
etc. gave a call to Bozinyan and said that they were joining the hunger
strike. The same will continue in all the villages until we reach our
goal; any day now you willsee that women will also join the hunger
strike; personally I am going to bring my wife and she will sit next
to me,said Arshavir Bozinyan. What we only demand is justice. We see
what is happening in Yerevan, we were present during all the events,
and we saw that everything was organized by the authorities. If
you don’t release all the politicaldetainees, I will go on hunger
strike with other women on 10 April, says the wife of the perished
[in Karabakh war]soldier, Zhaneta Nersisyan.

In the meantime, the repression in Hrazdan continue with renewed
energy. The local police every day take photos ofthe people during
rallies, and then at night take them to the police station. As
Hrazdan dwellers say, they take them at2000 [1500 gmt], keep them
until 0400-0500 in the morning [2300-2400 gmt] and then release.

Criminal cases have already been launched against two female
participants of the rally according to Article 225.1 of the Criminal
Code (organizingand holding of mass gatherings in violation of the
law). [Passage omitted]

As Hrazdan dwellers say, police officers in most cases get drunk and
only then start detaining people. My friend was sitting next to me on
hunger strike; they [the police] came five times a day and took his
tent away. They did it manytimes; so much suppressed and frightened
him and threatened his family that people and I asked him to leave.

They [thepolice officers] didn’t dare to come in sober state, to take
both him and the tent, said Arshavir Bozinyan. Theveteran anticipated
yesterday that the police will attempt to detain new protesters in
the same way. [Passageomitted]

Yesterday, the march took place in addition to the rally. The Hrazdan
town dwellers marched from the Vanatur village to the perished
soldiers’ monument to lay flowers. During the march, the police
periodically said by loudspeakersfrom Vanatur that the gatherings
were illegal and threatened to apply administrative fines against
the protesters.

U.S. EMBASSY IN ARMENIA URGES TO EXERCISE CAUTION

A1+
09 April, 2008

The government of Armenia is inaugurating a new president on Wednesday,
April 9, at 2 in the afternoon. Large crowds are expected in the
downtown area in connection with the official events, which will
include a military procession through Freedom Square and evening
festivities at Republic Square.

Although we have no specific information, it is possible that protests
may occur.

We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended
to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into
violence.

American citizens are therefore urged to avoid any areas of
demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the
vicinity of any demonstrations.

American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local
events and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Information
on upcoming demonstrations can be found at the following
website: sular/acs_warden.php.

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: "INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD PUT PRESSURE ON ARMENIA TO SOLVE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

Azeri Press Agency
April 8 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigorieva -APA. "Armenia is inaugurating the new
president tomorrow despite it has experienced a crisis of century in
its history.

The international community should put pressure on Armenia for
releasing of political prisons and creation of appropriate atmosphere
for the solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict", International Crisis
Group stated on the situation in Armenia, APA reports. The Group said
quiet complicated situation was created in Armenia. ICG Caucasian
coordinator Magdalena Fricheva said that seriously suffered democracy
lost in the country, where all power structures were concentrated
in the hands of executive and security bodies. ICG considers that
the US and European countries should explain to Armenia further
complications of the cooperation if it will not achieve the democratic
development. "EU and the US should stop foreign assistances temporarily
if Armenia will not take appropriate steps in the near future".

DRAWING OUT OF NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY STARTED IN ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-04-07 16:09:00

ArmInfo. Armenian consulting company Ameria and WYG International
have started drawing out of national road safety strategy started in
Armenia, ArmInfo correspondent was informed from Ameria.

Armenia is experiencing rapid growth in motor vehicle ownership and
use. In the last five years the motor vehicle fleet increased by 30%,
while the traffic carried by road increased by 38% (freight) and 61%
(passengers).

This rapid motorization is causing traffic congestion in Yerevan
and traffic accidents to increase rapidly across the country. During
the last five years the number of accidents in Armenia increased by
40%. Over 25% of Armenia’s traffic accidents occur in Yerevan and 75%
of them involve pedestrians.

Based on this situation, the Government of Armenia and the World Bank
initiated Traffic Management and Safety Project. Road safety was one of
the most important components of the overall initiative. As a result of
the competitive tender announced by the World Bank, the consortium of
WYG International (UK) and Ameria CJSC (Armenia) was awarded a contract
for "Preparation of National Road Safety Strategy for Armenia".

In the result, WYG International and Ameria will prepare the core
component of the traffic management and safety project – the national
road safety strategy for Armenia, with the development objective to
reduce the rate of traffic accidents and traffic fatalities in Armenia
and reduce congestion in Yerevan. It will be achieved by improving
the institutional structure for managing traffic safety, improving the
institutional capabilities of the municipality of Yerevan for traffic
management and passenger transport regulation, and will improve the
traffic carrying capacity and traffic safety of Yerevan streets.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN BELIEVES THAT ARMENIA CAN BYPASS NEGATIVE IMPACT OF
GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECESSION

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. "If we view the Armenian economy by
taking the 2007 indices into account, the country is in a state of
sustainable development," the Armenian president Robert Kocharian said
when responding to the question: "In what level of development is the
economy that you are passing to the president elect Serge Sargsian?"

According to R. Kocharian, out of economic indices of 2008, a decline
was registered only in trade of March, which is "natural and related to
the internal political situation. However, it is obvious that all this
is being overcome."

"I do not doubt that we have the opportunity to end this year with
serious indices," the president said. He proposed taking into account
the fact that by forecasts, the global economy is in a recession. "It
may have a negative impact on Armenia’s economic development rates but
I am sure that even under these conditions we can conduct such a policy
that Armenia will bypass the negative impact of the global economic
recession," he said.

In his words, a global economic crisis or a strained internal political
situation have a more profound effect on those countries which have a
developed capital and securities markets because "it is much easier to
take panic steps" to leave these markets. He explained that the
Armenian securities market is underdeveloped, while the capital market
has not actually formed. Investments have mainly been made in the real
sector of the economy and there is no possibility to take them back,
which, for example, can be done by getting rid of securities. It was
mentioned that in such countries the impact of an international
economic crisis is reflected in trade, particularly, in trade of
durable consumer goods. "I think that those businessmen who will try,
so to speak, to insure themselves against riskiness, will lose, whereas
active participants in the markets will benefit," the Armenian
president explained, adding that he does not see any deep-laid problems
of Armenia’s economic development.