Author: Tvankchian Parkev

TWO PEOPLE HOLD 17 PERCENT OF THE GDP OF ARMENIA

Lragir
Dec 21 2007
Armenia

The ex-prime minister of Armenia Hrant Bagratyan calculated and stated
December 21 at the Hayeli club that two persons hold 17 percent of
the GDP of Armenia: Robert Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan.

"How can such a president or such a prime minister rule neutrally
in such a country?" Hrant Bagratyan stated, noting that with this
status Serge Sargsyan could not be a defense minister, then a prime
minister, and afterwards become a president because he has possessions,
businesses which will prevent him from ruling neutrally.

However, Hrant Bagratyan’s judgments are not based on evidence but
judgments on what has happened.

"For the president, he is engaged in banking, he controls a large
share of import. He directly controls at least two banks. He has an
important role in mining, construction," Hrant Bagratyan says. He gives
the example of privatization of the copper and molybdenum factory. In
2004 the factory was sold for 132 million dollars, while the annual
profit of the factory exceeds this sum several times. "I think the
interests of the president and the ruling clan featured in this deal,"
Hrant Bagratyan says, noting that otherwise no such deal would be made,
especially on a condition of payment of 132 million dollars in three
years for a factory with an annual one billion dollar of turnover.

Hrant Bagratyan says it is not the same as the Azerbaijani oil but
the price of molybdenum grows faster than oil’s, and for Armenia the
factory of Zangezur is one fourth of the value of the Azerbaijani oil
but this potential is wasted. As to Serge Sargsyan, Hrant Bagratyan
points to Armavia among the prime minister’s possessions. "Nobody
is so ingenuous. If Baghdasarov were not the government’s protege,
Serge Sargsyan’s or Robert Kocharyan’s, he would not be its owner. Its
predecessor was the Armenian Airlines which had 30 flights a month.

The annual number of passengers was 900 thousand to 1 million 100
thousand. Assume 1 million. The average price of a ticket is 300
dollars. In other words, its assets total 300 million dollars,"
Hrant Bagratyan says, noting that Armavia was privatized for 0 dollar.

As to the question of reporters whether under the former government
when Levon Ter-Petrosyan was president, and he was prime minister,
there was no protectionism, Hrant Bagratyan says Levon Ter-Petrosyan,
him, and the ministers did not run businesses. "It may sound ambitious,
but I think only the former government can speak about honesty," Hrant
Bagratyan says. He also stated that if Ter-Petrosyan comes to power,
he will have a point in his program that a person, a businessman,
who is appointed to a high-ranking post, lends his property to the
government til the end of his office.

ARMENIA URGES NOT TO LINK NAGORNO-KARABAKH SETTLEMENT WITH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Russia & CIS General Newswire
December 19, 2007 Wednesday 10:13 PM MSK

The possibilities to solve Nagorno- Karabakh conflict peacefully
have not been exhausted, Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan said
at a meeting with EU Special Envoy for South Caucasus Peter Semnebi
on Wednesday.

The Armenian government told Interfax that Sargsyan supported
simultaneous recognition by Armenia of the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan and Azeri recognition of the right of the people of Nagorno-
Karabakh for self-determination.

Semnebi said, that after meeting with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev
he had an impression that the conflict could be resolved only after
the presidential elections in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Semnebi said that the European Union is interested in maintaining
all agreements that the sides have reached in negotiations as well
as in creation of a good foundation for continuation of these talks.

Sargsyan repeated his position saying that presidential elections
in both countries should not be linked with the settlement of the
conflict.

"Why should the candidates for president conceal their opinion on a
solution to the conflict? If there is a problem in convincing citizens
to their sincerity or if there is a concern that after the signing
the document the number of votes for the candidate might reduce, this
is not a reason. Some candidates might think it is a disadvantage,
but it is extremely important for both nations that the candidates
for president clearly express their positions," Sargsyan said.

Sargsyan added, that the president should be able to tell his voters
after the elections: "You voted for my program and I ought to implement
it." mg dp

TOO EARLY TO TALK OF AZERBAIJAN-ARMENIA DEAL – MINISTER

Russia & CIS General Newswire
December 18, 2007 Tuesday 10:05 PM MSK

Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov argued on Tuesday that
an agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia on principles for the
settlement of the conflict between them over Nagorno- Karabakh was
impossible before presidential elections in the two countries in 2008.

"Let the co-chairmen of the Minsk Group of the OSCE [Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe] first come to the region in mid-
January 2008, we will have more negotiations and it is after that
visit that one will be able to say anything at all," Mammadyarov said
in answering a question from Interfax.

The Minsk Group is a body appointed by the OSCE to mediate in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"So everything else is so many populist statements," Mammadyarov added.

He also ruled out the possibility of Azerbaijan and Armenia signing
any secret conflict settlement agreement.

"Nobody wants any secret ‘Molotov-Ribbentrop pact,’ and that is
impossible anyway. The people must know what is being done and make
their assessment. We think that, in case we come to an agreement on
any principle or draft document that suits Azerbaijan and Armenia,
such information will be made public," the minister said.

The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was a 1939 nonaggression treaty between
the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. It was named after the then
Soviet and German foreign ministers, Vyacheslav Molotov and Joachim
von Ribbentrop.

Mammadyarov said "people’s diplomacy" would have an important role to
play if Azerbaijan and Armenia brought their positions closer together.

He expressed support for possible future nongovernmental contacts
between the two countries. "We are neighbors, and I can see no problem
if our public at nongovernmental organization level holds discussions,"
he said.

Mammadyarov also said Azerbaijan had "grievances with certain points"
in a draft document on conflict settlement principles prepared by the
Minsk Group and put before him and his Armenian counterpart during
talks in Madrid.

"We have grievances but we are ready to work on them," Mammadyarov
said.

By and large, the Minsk Group’s proposals are not new, he argued.

They are "part of the Prague process, which has been going on for
three and a half years," he said.

HOUSE APPROVES $58.5 MILLION FOR ARMENIA AND REINSTATES MILITARY PARITY

armradio.am
19.12.2007 10:25

The House of Representatives last night approved the Fiscal Year (FY)
2008 Omnibus Spending Bill, reinstating military aid parity to Armenia
and Azerbaijan by allocating $3 million in Foreign Military Financing
(FMF) to both countries. Despite Azerbaijan’s continued war rhetoric
throughout the year and exponential increase of its military budget,
the Administration had proposed to provide Baku with $2 million more
in military assistance (FMF and International Military Education
Training).

The Omnibus spending package, which combines 11 of the 12 annual
appropriations bills into one measure, provides some $516 billion in
federal funding, including $58.5 million in assistance to Armenia,
an increase of $23.5 million over the Administration’s proposal,
but less than the nearly $75 million approved in FY 2007. Armenia’s
neighbors, Azerbaijan and Georgia, are slated to receive $19 million
and $50.5 million respectively.

"The final number for Armenia represents a compromise between the
House and Senate funding levels approved earlier this year- $68
million and $39 million respectively," stated Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. "We appreciate the efforts of Subcommittee Chairwoman
Nita Lowey, (D-NY) and her colleagues with respect to the provisions
regarding Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. We must ensure that despite
a reduction in assistance that Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have the
necessary resources to continue their progress in strengthening their
democratic institutions," continued Ardouny.

The bill also includes renewed funding confidence building measures for
the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: ".funds made available
for the Southern Caucasus region may be used, notwithstanding any other
provision of law, for confidence-building measures and other activities
in furtherance of the peaceful resolution of regional conflicts,
especially those in the vicinity of Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh."

In addition, the final measure provides continued funding for the
Millennium Challenge Account program (MCA), although reduced from $1.8
billion to $1.5 billion. Armenia, based on its record of performance in
key indicators, is a recipient of MCA with a five-year $235.65 million
compact to reduce rural poverty and increase agricultural productivity.

The agreement on the Omnibus Bill was reached late last week
and finalized over the weekend. The Senate is expected to begin
consideration of the bill today. Once passed by both chambers, the
bill will be sent to President Bush for his expected signature.

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES ARE FULL OF DETERMINATION TO SECURE NORMAL CONDITIONS FOR HOLDING THE ELECTIONS AND THEY WILL SEND AN INVITATION TO OSCE ODIHR

Mediamax
December 18, 2007

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian authorities are full of determination
to secure normal conditions for holding free and fair presidential
elections on February 19 of 2008.

Mediamax reports that Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said
this in Yerevan today.

He stressed that Armenia cannot make a step back as compared to the
parliamentary elections of May 12, which gained positive assessment
of the international observers.

"We should hold better elections", Vartan Oskanian stated.

The Minister informed that in the course of the nearest few days,
he will send an invitation to the OSCE Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) for the realization of a
full-scale observation mission during the upcoming elections.

ISLAMIST COLUMNIST: THE JEW IS A CURSE

MEMRI, DC
Milli Gazete
sonal/en/4156.htm
Dec 18 2007

Fahri Guven of the antisemitic Islamist Turkish daily Milli Gazete
quoted in his column the following excerpts from a recently published
book by M. Ertugrul Duzdag and Ali Ulvi Kurucu presenting them as
historical truths that every Muslim must take into account:

"The Jew is a curse. If you enter a war against the Jew you end up
fighting powerful nations behind him. If you try to make peace,
years pass with no result. He lies 70 lies. It is not surprising
that America supports Israel. It is because America is a province of
Israel! Last century it was god-damned Britain that was under [Jew’s]
command, this century they made the U.S. their servant…

"Don’t forget the Russian revolution. The only non-Jew was Stalin but
his wife was Jewish. Karl Marks was a Jewish psychopath. Behind the
Free Mason’s that played a role in every revolution is Jewish power
and intelligence. The Jew wants to rule the world, and step by step,
he is advancing towards his goal of destroying faith, respect, love,
honor, family values in the world.

"The Zionist organization, exaggerated what was done to the Jews at
the time of Hitler; created a genocide balloon; blew into it hard
enough so it could fly. He blew it to ten, fifty, hundred times more
than what it really was. Then they [Jews] made this the subject of
thousands of novels, plays and films.

"Who would have believed a hundred years ago? But here it is now;
a Jewish state in the midst of Muslims like an abscess."

"Look at Armenia. This too will become tomorrow’s Israel. It was built
by Christians to severe the ties between Turkey and the Muslim Turkish
world and it will grow. It will be the roadblock between Turkey and
Azarbaycan and the rest of the Turkic world."

Azat Artsakh Tert, Nagorno Karabakh Republic NKR
Dec 15 2007

About the afterwar peace

By Mourad Petrossian

The abilities of the diplomacy even run by the president or the
prime-minister are nothing if the moral conditions aren’t good.
…We see how many generations of presidents, prime-ministers and
diplomats were trying to solve the Jerusalem problem, but in vain…
Because averything depens not on …, but depends on the fact how the
reality is reflected in the society’s conciousness. Who, when and
where has ever seen or heard that there was a problem which was
solved in diplomatic way? Nobody, nowhere and never…
There are three necessary conditions to reach peace between two
confronting sides.
1. When one of the confronting sides conciously accepts that it’s
weak or it’s aims aren’t honest enough.
2. When the the two sides conciously understand that it’s
impossible to win the other or when both of them have equal rights.
3. When a third side, which is powerful enough, represses one or
both of the confronting sides to make a peace treatment.
But if none of these conditions doesn’t exist, then the beginning
of the war is inavoidable. And this war will continue so long as one
of the upper said conditions takes place.
Why does the Arab-Israely confrontation continue more than half a
century? Because both Arabic and Israely sides are conciously sure
that they are right and honest and most of all they trust their aim
and if it’s necessary they’ll reach it in any case.
Israely society was more tired in the beginning of the 1990-th
than the Palestinian Arabs, but they didn’t accept the peace
treatment signed by Rabin’s Government because they didn’t want to
cede the half of Jerusalem and other strategic regions. And as long
as something continues to be the people’s oppinion, any international
peace programm will fail.

Russia & CIS General Newswire
December 14, 2007 Friday 1:26 PM MSK

Azerbaijan may conduct antiterrorist operation in Karabakh – Foreign
Minister

BAKU Dec 14

Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov has said that if
information about Kurdish terrorist bases in Nagorno-Karabakh proves
to be true, Azerbaijan might conduct an anti- terrorist operation
there.

"As for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), Azerbaijan can conduct an
anti-terrorist operation in its territory, if this information [about
the deployment of Kurdish terrorist bases in the occupied lands] is
confirmed," the deputy minister said at a briefing on Friday.

BARACK OBAMA HEARS FROM ARMENIAN AMERICANS DURING VISIT TO LOS ANGELES

armradio.am
14.12.2007 10:33

Presidential candidate Barack Obama heard from Armenian
American activists during his most recent swing through southern
California. Senator Obama was in town for a number of events, including
a major rally at the Gibson Amphitheater at Universal Studios.

ANC-PAC supporters greeted Senator Obama at a political event held
in support of San Fernando Valley area Congressman Howard Berman
(D-CA). Obama engaged in a positive dialogue with longtime ANC
leader Aida Dimejian, who encouraged the presidential contender to
fully address issues of concern to Armenian Americans as part of his
broader campaign efforts. She also reminded the Senator that hundreds
of thousands of Armenian Americans are voters in the Golden State,
as well as in key swing states such as New Hampshire and Nevada.

"I told Senator Obama that we want him to be a leader on our issues,
from ending Turkey’s denial of the genocide, to boosting U.S. economic
ties to Armenia. I believe he understood and appreciated my message,"
Dimejian remarked after speaking with the Senator from State of
Illinois.

Last year ANC-Eastern Region Executive Director Karine Birazian urged
Senator Obama, at a town hall meeting, to cosponsor the Armenian
Genocide resolution (S.Res.106). Immediately following her comment,
Obama stated that the Armenian Genocide was one of the most horrific
tragedies that occurred during the 20th Century. He also stressed
the importance of working to end the campaign of denial and speaking
the truth, which in some instances has unfortunately jeopardized
peoples’ careers. Yet to date, the Senator has not become a cosponsor
of S.Res.106. Senator Obama did write a letter to Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice expressing his concern with the Bush Administration’s
shameful decision to fire former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John
Evans.

CASE OF MURDER OF HEAD OF STATE TAX SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO BE EXAMINED IN POLICE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 13, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. By the instruction of RA Prosecutor
General Aghvan Hovsepian, the criminal case on the fact of death of
citizen Levon Gulian on May 12, 2007 in the administrative building of
the RA Police has been sent to the newly created Special Investigative
Service. Sona Truzian, the Spokesperson of the RA Prosecutor General,
informed Noyan Tapan correspondent about it on December 13. Cases of
murder of Albert Ghazarian, Lori region Prosecutor, on August 25,
as well as of Dmitry Yermolov, a Russian serviceman, a RF citizen,
on August 6 were also sent to the same service for examination. A
number of criminal cases regarding activity of law enforcement bodies
are also being examined by the Special Investigative Service.

Another scandalous case, case of murder of Shahen Hovasapian, the Head
of the Investigation Department of the State Tax Service attached to
the RA government, committed on September 6, 2006, has been sent to
the Police, where the examination of the case will continue.

It should be mentioned that according to the new law On Prosecutor’s
Office due to the constitutional amendments, the Investigation
Department of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office was liquidated
on November 30, henceforth the most part of the criminal cases
will be examined in the RA Police, and the investigation bodies of
Tax, Customs, and National Security Services will examine criminal
cases regarding the corresponding sphere. The newly created Special
Investigative Service has been created as an independent structure and
is not subordinate to any department. Criminal cases regarding state
officials and electoral falsifications will be examined in the Service.