Author: Vanyan Gary

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER MEETS CHAIRMAN OF COE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS, SLOVAK FOREIGN MINISTER JAN KUBIS

arminfo
2008-02-25 19:09:00

ArmInfo. Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan met Chairman of the
CoE Committee of Ministers, Slovak Foreign Minister Jan Kubis, Monday.

The Armenian governmental press-service told ArmInfo that the meeting
covered the current state of the bilateral cooperation, issues related
to further deepening of the European integration process, as well as
the possibility that EU member Slovakia may support Armenia. Armenian
Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan noted that Armenia is inspired with the
active political dialogue and development of economic ties. "Armenia
completely supports all the initiatives of the CoE Committee of
Ministers currently led by Slovakia", he said.

For his part, Jan Kubis congratulated Serzh Sargsyan on his victory
at the presidential election and wished him good luck. He recalled the
international observers’ assessment which pointed out not only positive
elements, but also the existing problems. He stressed that these
authoritative organizations, which have been carrying out observation
missions in various countries, qualify the presidential election in
Armenia as a step forward as compared with the parliamentary one,
and this is very important for Armenia.

Kubis asked Sargsyan to tell him about his post-electoral plans,
the prospects of Armenia’s cooperation with the EU and NATO,
Armenian-Turkish relations, the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process and
Armenian-Slovak relations.

The sides pointed out that Armenian-Slovak trade-economic cooperation
is not developing as quickly as it should and must be intensified. It
is also necessary to establish active contacts between Armenian and
Slovak businessmen.

Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran
Feb. 26, 2008

Ahmadinejad felicitates new Armenia president

Tehran, Feb 26, IRNA

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday congratulated the new
Armenian president Serzh Sarkisian on his election to the presidency.

In a congratulatory message, Ahmadinejad felicitated his Armenian
counterpart, government and nation on electing the new president.

According to the Presidential Office Information Dissemination
website, the Iranian president expressed hope that Iran and Armenia
will expand ties and consolidate constructive cooperation during the
new term of political era of the friendly country.

Ahmadinejad also called for expansion of good relations between the
two nations based on mutual interests.

Public TV, Armenia
Feb. 22, 2008

TOP ARMENIAN PROSECUTOR FACES DISMISSAL OVER ADDRESSING OPPOSITION RALLY

A message that we literally just now received from the press service
of the Prosecutor-General’s Office.[Presenter reads text of
statement] Armenia’s law on the prosecution service prohibits
prosecutors from gettinginvolved in politics. Article seven of the
law states: A prosecutor cannot be a member of any political party or
engage in politics in any other way. A prosecutor should display
reserve in politics and maintain neutrality in any situation. Gagik
Jangiryan has blatantly violated the requirement of the law, and the
republic’s prosecutor-general [AghvanHovsepyan] has asked the
president of the republic [Robert Kocharyan] to dismiss him from the
office and to exclude him from the prosecution system.

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Feb. 25, 2008

After the Election Political Situation in Armenia is still Unclear

Monday , 25 February 2008

According to the preliminary data, current Prime Minister Serzh
Sarkisyan won the 19 February presidential election in Armenia with
52.8 percent. His main competitor, former President Levon
Ter-Petrossian, got 21.5 percent, former Speaker of the Parliament
Artur Bagdasaryan – 16.66 percent and the Dashnaktsutyun party
candidate, Vagan Ovannissian, took 6.2 percent.

The CIS observers recognized that the election was democratic. The
international observers from OSCE and the European Parliament also
recognized that, all in all, the election met the international
standards but said that there was massive electoral fraud. However,
the campaign teams of the opposition candidates and the observers
belonging to local human rights organizations brought out many gross
violations of the election.

But one should take into account that on February 20 the Presidents
of France, Russia and some other states congratulated Serzh Sarkisyan
on his election, which indicates that he was supported by Moscow and
Europe.

At the same time the opposition appealed against the election
returns. In particular, Artur Bagdasaryan obtained the revision of
the results in more than one hundred polling stations. The position
of Levon Ter-Petrossian is the most radical. His supporters organized
the unlimited protest action at Freedom Square insisting that the new
elections should be called. Ter-Petrossian said that Deputy Minister
of Defense Manvel Grigoryan, to whom many veterans of the
Nagorno-Karabakh war report, had sided with him. The Ministry of
Defense has already denied this information, but there is no exact
information and this is highly charged with grave clashes.

One of the questions is what role Robert Kocharyan will play from now
on? During the election he himself answered that this was the darkest
secret in Armenia and he should be asked this question on April 9
when Serzh Sarkisyan will be inaugurated as President. It is entirely
possible that Kocharyan will become Prime Minister. Especially as
after the constitutional reforms Armenia’s Prime Minister was vested
with wider powers than before 2005 when Premier was only an adjunct
to the president.

According to Serzh Sarkisyan, he is not going to change the Cabinet
drastically since it was formed only 9 months ago and is efficient.
Though, may dismiss the persons, who are the most unpopular, to
please the voters.

As regards Armenia’s foreign policy after the election, a remark
should be made. There are a lot of assumptions which politicians are
pro-Russian and which are pro-Western. As a matter of fact, whoever
comes into power in Armenia, in the major issues he will have to
follow the existing direction – to create good relations with the
Russia-USA-EU triangle. Of course, various scenarios are possible,
but the Yerevan officials are not expected to change their policy
dramatically, whoever is the President. Serzh Sarkisyan is most
likely to pursue the same policy Kocharyan did in the latest years.

February 22, 2008
Eurasian Home

KHU TSZINTAO: "I AM READY TO CONTINUE CONTACTS ON HIGH LEVEL"

Panorama.am
21:23 25/02/2008

President of Chinese People’s Republic Khu Tszintao sent a
congratulation address to Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan in
relation to his election as the president of Armenia. The address
mentioned that the Armenian nation has reported considerable rise in
living standards and wishes the Armenian people to continue the road
of success under the leadership of Serzh Sargsyan.

Serzh Sargsyan was also congratulated by the Chairman of European
People’s Party Vilfrid Martens. The note says the victory of Sargsyan
will boost the political rout stipulated by Armenia which aims to
ensure a unique place in democratic Europe for Armenia.

NIS interparliamentary assembly council secretary general, Michael
Krotov, also congratulated Serzh Sargsyan. Krotov voices his belief
that the engagement of Sargsyan in the top political leadership will
boost political and economic situation in the Republic of Armenia.

Moscow mayor Yuri Lujkov also congratulated Serzh Sargsyan. Lujkov
voices his readiness to boost mutually beneficial relations with the
Republic of Armenia in the economic, social and cultural sectors.

Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
Feb. 24, 2008

Armenia head threatens action
February 24, 2008 – 7:52AM

Armenia’s president has won the support of top security and army
chiefs for tough action against opposition supporters protesting this
week’s election, which they say was rigged.

Crowds of opposition supporters gathered for a fourth straight day in
the capital’s central Freedom Square, demanding authorities annul the
results of the February 19 presidential election won by Prime
Minister Serzh Sarksyan.

Sarksyan, who is 53 and is an ally of incumbent president Robert
Kocharyan, won nearly 53 per cent of the vote compared with 21.5 per
cent for his nearest rival, former president Levon Ter-Petrosyan,
according to official results.

Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters say the election was rigged and charge
ballot stuffing and intimidation.

Saturday’s rally in the Caucasus mountains country, which lasted
about five hours and was attended by about 35,000 people, was the
largest opposition protest since the election.

"Robert Kocharyan characterised the events taking place in Armenia as
an attempt to seize power by illegal means," the presidential press
service said in a statement issued after Kocharyan met top police
officers.

"Our actions will be resolute and tough; they will be directed
towards safeguarding stability and the country’s constitutional
order," the statement quoted Kocharyan as saying.

Kocharyan then met the chiefs of the army and national security
service. "The nation’s stability should in no case become a
bargaining chip," he told senior security officials.

Ter-Petrosyan shrugged off the threats.

"Our struggle will continue as before, by lawful means," he told
Reuters. "Our rallies will go on, just as well as marches and
picketing. They (the authorities) themselves are the ones who
violated the country’s constitutional order."

"Levon is the president!" chanted the rally. "Victory!" and "We will
fight till the end," shouted the protesters.

An opposition tent camp will continue its night vigil in central
Yerevan.

Armenia, an ancient Christian nation of 3.2 million, lies in a region
emerging as a key route for pumping Caspian Sea oil and gas to world
markets, although Armenia has no pipelines of its own.

Western election monitors said the ballot was broadly in line with
the country’s international commitments but further improvements were
necessary.

Kocharyan and Sarksyan are both natives of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region
over which Armenia and neighbouring Azerbaijan fought a war in the
1990s. Some analysts say still-unresolved conflict could flare again
into violence.

Turkey closed its border with Armenia and froze diplomatic relations
in solidarity with Turkic-speaking Azerbaijan.

Relations with Ankara are also complicated by the massacre of
Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War I, viewed by Yerevan as
genocide, a charge Turkey strongly denies.

Turkey congratulated Sarksyan on his election win and said it hoped
for better ties with the Christian neighbour.

EUobserver.com, Belgium
Feb 21 2008

Turkey approves key EU-sought reform

21.02.2008 – 09:05 CET | By Renata Goldirova

The European Commission has hailed Turkey for approving a law to
strengthen the property rights of non-Muslim minorities – something
long sought by the EU which Ankara hopes to join one day.

"The adoption of the new law on foundations is a welcome step
forward", EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn said in response to
Wednesday’s vote in the Turkish parliament (20 February).

But he added: "It is implementation that will be the test of Turkey’s
progress in ensuring rights and freedoms".

Under the newly-adopted bill, Christian and Jewish foundations will
be able to re-gain properties previously confiscated by the state,
such as churches or schools. Assets sold on to third parties are not
included, however.

Some 242 parliamentarians voted in favour of the reform, while 72
were against. The bill still needs backing from the country’s
president, although it is expected to go smoothly. President Abdullah
Gul comes from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

According to data cited by AP, the predominantly Muslim country with
a population of almost 75 million includes 65,000 Armenian Orthodox
Christians, 23,000 Jews and approximately 2,500 Greek Orthodox
Christians.

Turkey started its EU membership talks in October 2005 and since then
it has opened six out of 35 negotiating chapters. Eight areas are
blocked from further progress by member states due to Ankara’s
failure to meet its trading commitments to EU member Cyprus.

The Messenger, Georgia
Feb. 23, 2008

Russian company to bid in Armenia nuclear power station tender

By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
Friday, February 22

Russia will participate in an upcoming tender for the construction of
a new nuclear power station in Armenia, Sergey Kiriyenko, director
general of Russia?s nuclear regulator Rosatom, announced earlier this
month.

Last year the Armenian government announced a tender would be held to
build a new 1000 megawatt reactor to replace the Metsamor nuclear
plant which currently supplies the country with around 40 percent of
its electricity supply.

Armenia is under pressure from the EU to shut down Metsamor due to
safety concerns over its lack of a containment system to deal with
potential radioactive leaks.

While the EU has offered EUR 100 million to assist in Metsamor?s
closure, Armenian officials say that far more than this, around USD
300 million, is needed for its. The government also says that around
USD 1 billion will be needed to construct a new reactor.

Metsamor has been operated by Russian company Unified Energy Systems
since 2003, as part of a five-year arrangement to help Armenia pay
off its USD 40 million debt to Russia for providing uranium.

AZERBAIJANI MP: "EACH BATTALION OF OUR ARMED FORCES IS ABLE TO GET TO YEREVAN"

Today.Az
22 February 2008

Azerbaijan will return its occupied lands under Ilham Aliyev’s
leadership.

Novosti-Azerbaijan reports that the due announcement was made by Milli
Medjlis deputy Elman Mamedov at an event of the youth association
of the Yeni Azerbaijan party on the 16th anniversary of the Khojali
tragedy.

The deputy, who was the chief of executive powers of Khojaly in the
early 1990s considers that the tragedy in the city was caused by
the absence of normal armed forces and firm political leadership of
the country.

Azerbaijan’s ruling elite and opposition were busy with struggle for
power and Khojaly and its population were left to the mercy of fate.

"The situation has changed profoundly: we now have a professional,
well-equipped and trained army. Each battalion of our armed forces
is able to get to Yerevan.

The same can be said about the political leadership of the country in
the person of President Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan has attained great
achievements owing to him, which will promote the decisive victory
over the enemy", E.Mamedov noted.

Mamedov called on the youth to be ready for war for release of
the occupied lands. At the same time, the deputy stressed the need
to intensify political and diplomatic pressure on Armenia, as the
diplomatic efforts of Azerbaijan in the negotiation process may lead
to success only when they are supported by strong armed forces.

RA PROSECUTOR GENERAL PETITIONED PRESIDENT FOR JAHANGIRYAN DISMISSAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.02.2008 18:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today the Office of Public Prosecutor spread a
statement where Gagik Jahangiryan, the deputy chief prosecutor is
accused of joining the opposition of the Republic. The statement
mainly says: "The law on the Public Prosecutor of the RA prohibits
prosecutors to be involved in politics. In the 7th article of the law
it is defined that the prosecutor cannot be a member of any party or
to be involved in politics in any way. In any case the prosecutor must
show political restraint and neutrality. Gagik Jahangiryan, the deputy
chief prosecutor has roughly violated the requirement of the law. In
this connection the Chief Prosecutor has turned to Robet Qocharyan,
the president of Armenia with petition to relieve Gagik Jahangiryan
of his post of the deputy prosecutor and to exclude from the system
of the Office of Public Prosecutor ", -Sona Truzyan, press-secretary
of the Office of Public Prosecutor of the RA informed PanARMENIAN.Net.

It should be reminded that today Gagik Jahangiryan, speaking in public
during the mass-meeting of the opposition in the center of Yerevan,
announced about his joining the movement headed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan,
the first president of Armenia. The deputy prosecutor also mentioned
that "the elections held on the 19th of February were run with rough
breaches, that so many beatings, falsifications, and throwing of so
many ballots had never been before during any elections in Armenia"
"I am making an appeal to all of you to stand up for your votes. It is
high time to get involved in a struggle and to establish the supremacy
of the law in this country", – he announced.