Author: Vanyan Gary

STEPANAKERT POLICLINIC EQUIPPED WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Panorama.am
17:41 22/02/2008

"Armenia" all fund provided a policlinic in Stepanakert with new
equipments costing 464.779 US dollars. In the end of the year 83,815
people were cured in the therapy department, 24,228 were examined.

The fund organized to reconstruct a hospital in Hadrut till the middle
of 2008.

Note that the fund drafted a project to reconstruct the policlinic. The
fund organized seminars and discussions with medical and administrative
staff to improve the quality of the medical service in the current
policlinic.

BABACAN: TURKEY STANDS FOR "RETURN OF KARABAKH TO AZERBAIJAN"

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.02.2008 14:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey stands for return of Nagrono Karabakh to
Azerbaijan, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said in Moscow at
a joint news conference with Sergei Lavrov.

"Our country repeatedly spoke about the necessity to resolve frozen
conflicts in the South Caucasus. We support the UN Resolutions on
the issue and stand for liberation of seized territories," he said,
RIA Novosti reports.

The Nagorno Karabakh conflict is dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Group,
represented by Russia, France and the U.S. Armenia insists in a
package resolution of the conflict while Azerbaijan prefers a stepwise
resolution which supposes return of territories to Azerbaijan, return
of Azeri refugees and only then talks on Karabakh’s status.

AZERI CIVIC SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVES TO VISIT NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ARMENPRESS
Feb 21, 2008

BAKU, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: A group of Azerbaijanis representing
different non-governmental organizations are planning a visit to
Nagorno-Karabakh in spring as part of so-called ‘people’s diplomacy’
aimed to help Armenia and Azerbaijan find a mutually acceptable peace
formula for resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The news was announced by Arzu Abdulaeva, the chairwoman of the
Helsinki Civil Assembly National Committee of Azerbaijan.

The ten-member group, according to her, will spend one week in
Nagorno-Karabakh.

She said leaders of both Armenia and Azerbaijan shoulder exercise
equal efforts to find an end to the dispute.

She said they want to go to Nagorno-Karabakh as ‘such visits are
important for understanding, on both sides that Armenians and Azeris
have no alternative to peaceful co-existence."

However, chairman of a radical Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO),
Akif Naghi, said no Azeri must travel to Nagorno-Karabakh or Armenia
as long as Armenians continue ‘occupation of Azeri regions."

In a related news a top Azerbaijani diplomat said his country’s
president is not prepared yet for meeting with new president of
Armenia to resume face-to-face talks over the resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov told Trend news agency that such
a meeting needs to be preceded by careful preparation and besides,
it should be initiated by the OSCE Minsk Group’s cochairmen.

In February 19 election prime minister Serzh Sarkisian won an outright
victory with almost 53 percent of the vote to become Armenia’s next
president.

Azimov said he did know when the Minsk group’s cochairmen may visit
the region.

NA SPEAKER’S CONGRATULATION ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KARABAKH MOVEMENT

armradio.am
20.02.2008 17:55

Speaker of RA National assembly Tigran Torosyan issued a congratulating
message on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Karabakh
Movement.

"Dear compatriots, 20 years have passed after the day when the people
of Nagorno Karabakh stood up in defense for its national-liberation
movement. In 20 years we can confidently state that this movement that
became national, has succeeded, which is evidenced by the existence
of Nagorno Karabakh.

Today we should remember with gratitude the thousands of Armenians
we took weapons to defend our fair struggle and brought our victory
closer at the cost of their lives. The liberation war of Artsakh
became the indivisible part of the Armenian history.

The existence of two Armenia states is already a fact, which the
world cannot but take into account. And, sure, the day when the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic will be recognized by other states is not
that far away.

I congratulate all of us on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of
our just struggle and I wish to express confidence that next 20 years
will be a period of prosperity and progress, love and conformity."

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Feb 19 2008

RA PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: IRRESPECTIVE OF DEVELOPMENTS AROUND
KOSOVO NAGORNO-KARABAKH TO BE INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC

YEREVAN, 19.02.08. DE FACTO. Nagorno-Karabakh issue is
unprecedented and can serve as an additional factor for Europe, RA
Parliament Speaker Tigran Torosian stated noting he could prove it
even not as Armenia’s citizen and Parliament’s Chair, IA REGNUM
reports.

In his words, "irrespective of what will subsequently take pace
in Kosovo, I am more than sure that Nagorno-Karabakh will be a free
Republic", he noted.

On February 17, 2008 the Serbian region of Kosovo declared its
independence under the aegis of the U. S. and the EU, however,
against the will of the U. N. Russia considers Kosovo’s independence
to be an inevitable precedent destroying the system of international
law, which, nevertheless, should be taken into consideration while
settling the issues concerning recognition of the unrecognized states
on the territory of the former USSR. The U. S. has already recognized
Kosovo’s independence, as a token of protest Serbia has recalled its
Ambassador from Washington. The U. K., Germany, Italy and France have
also announced their recognition of Kosovo’s
independence.

"Authorities use the whole palette of violations and falsification" Ter-Petrosian’s Spokesman stated

February 19, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Spokesman of the staff of presidential candidate
Levon Ter-Petrosian Arman Musinian stated in Yerevan today that the
"authorities use the whole palette of violations and falsification
to secure the victory of Serzh Sarkisian".

Mediamax reports that, speaking at a news conference in Yerevan today,
Arman Musinian stated that the pre-election staff of the former
President of Armenia received many messages from polling stations
about cases of pressure on the proxies of Ter-Petrosian right up to
physical violence, used against the latter".

"Os special concern is the situation in Abovian and Artashat towns,
as well as in the Erebuni community of Yerevan, where the voting
proceeds from dictation of the authority representatives", Arman
Musinian stated.

According to him, in various regions there are cases of bribery of
electors registered, agitation in favor of Serzh Sarkisian, threatening
and kidnapping of proxies, open voting, ballot box stuffing, organized
delivery of electors to the polling stations, use of forged passports.

"All the violations are fixed and will be presented to the observers
and to the Central Electoral Commission", Musinian stated. According
to him, "already now one can establish that in certain region there
are no elections, there is an effort of power seizure".

"We are sure that even these falsifications will not help the
candidate from the authorities to gain victory, and the people,
who decided to take up violations, will undergo strict punishment",
Arman Musinian stated.

ARMENIAN ARMY TO BE ON ALERT ON ELECTION DAY – DEFENCE MINISTER

ArmInfo
Feb 15 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 15 February: Asked if any provocation by Azerbaijan is
possible on the day of the [19 February] presidentialelection,
Armenian Defence Minister Mikayel Harutyunyan said today that the
front positions of the Armenian armed forceswill be put on alert on
the election day.

"Everything is possible. Why not? If events in the country start
developing like this, they may take advantageof the situation,"
the minister told reporters.

He said he does not think that the current situation in the country
is tense. "Normal processes are under way. Iam sure that people will
not follow the path of fomenting tensions," the minister said.

Robert Kocharyan: It has always been prerogative of the state to apply
force within the law, including during post-election period

2008-02-16 20:18:00

ArmInfo. It has always been and is the prerogative of the state to
apply force within the law, including during post-election period,
President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan said in an interview to local TV
channels today.

Recently people have expressed growing concern with respect to the
coming election. Election is always followed by certain tension. The
task of the state is to keep the post-electoral processes in check. If
the election is followed by peaceful actions and demonstrations, the
state will have nothing to do but to see that everything goes well. But
if anybody tries to cause disorders, the state machinery will have to
put things in order and will apply force within the confines of the
law. "We have such a right and my duty as president is to prevent any
encroachments on the constitutional order. I have always complied with
my duties and to protect order is one of my duties," Kocharyan said.

"Stability is one of our key achievements. It is the basis of our
national welfare. And we will not allow a group of people to spoil our
work," Kocharyan said. He said that it was necessary to carry out
active explanatory work with people so as to prevent clashes and
confrontation. "Some people are using blackmail and are trying to prove
their own courage. However, our authorities are trusted and our law
enforcement system is strong. And this is also one of our
achievements," Kocharyan said.

MY WEAPON IS HIDING
James Hakobyan

Lragir
Feb 13 2008
Armenia

There is usually one counterargument to any pledge by presidential
candidates to bring about changes in the country. The Republican
candidate, his team and the leaving president Robert Kocharyan answer
their opponents that they apparently have not read the Constitution
and do not know that the president is not empowered to make such
changes because the parliament and the government hold the levers
of governance, and the parliament and government are held by the
Republican Party. If we assume that this counterargument of the
government is logical, the aspiration of Serge Sargsyan to become
president becomes illogical. If he is the leader of the parliament
majority and the prime minister nominated by this majority, why
does he want to be a president who does not possess the levers to
make necessary changes in the country or the levers are with the
parliament and the government? In that case, Serge Sargsyan would
not need to occupy any position at all because he is the leader of
the majority party, the Republican Party. By leading the Republican
Party, he would actually lead the country, if the Constitution vests
government in the parliamentary majority.

Consequently, Serge Sargsyan has not read the Constitution either or he
is being driven by inertia towards presidency, or yet Serge Sargsyan
is aware that the government of Armenia has nothing to do with the
Constitution and if the post of president passes to the opposition,
most members of his party may appear in the camp of that opposition,
forgetting about the powers vested in them by the Constitution,
and forsaking the leader of their party. After all, Serge Sargsyan
knows best the degree of loyalty and motivation of devotion of his
own team. Therefore, perhaps the Republican candidate appears to the
society during his campaign absolutely alone, knowing that his team
is not one he can be proud of. Or maybe Serge Sargsyan does not know
who his team is, therefore he is alone on the stage.

Formally, the Republican Party is his team. But what is the Republican
Party? It is a severely exaggerated body where people have gathered
who think Serge Sargsyan needs them and they need Serge Sargsyan. These
people might feel offended that their leader avoids appearing with them
in public. However, the feeling of need offsets insult, making think
that if Serge Sargsyan steps on the stage alone, it is the right way.

And unlike Levon Ter-Petrosyan, for instance, who states that if
he comes to power, people will get posts who will have possibly
contributed to the victory of the movement he leads, Serge Sargsyan
will give posts to people who hid the best during his election
campaign, not disturbing him. And perhaps Serge Sargsyan’s team is
the people who are hiding today.

ARMENIA IS AMONG MAIN COUNTRIES-RECEIVERS OF TRANSFERS FROM RF GASTARBEITERS

arminfo
2008-02-12 11:18:00

ArmInfo. A new record on money transfer to CIS countries from
gastarbeiters (migrant workers), working in RF, was fixed in 2007.

As the Russian Mass Media report, according to the Central Bank’s,
about $36 bln have been transferred abroad in 2007 by natural
persons from Russia via money transfer systems and the ‘Mail of
Russia’. Transfers of gastarbeiters in Russia make up a considerable
part of these amounts. Uzbekistan (16,7%), Tajikistan (15,9%), Ukraine
(15,4%), Armenia (10,1%) and Moldova (8,7%) have become the main
receiver- countries. By estimations of experts of the Institute of
Energy and Finances, the ‘transfers from Russia to Armenia increased
from $615 mln in 2006 to almost $700 mln in 2007’. At the same time
the experts think that Russia does not sell to disadvantage either
from such a practice. According to the data of the Federal Migration
Service, the gastarbeiters turned out products in RF to $50 bln in
2007, (about 4% of RF GDP volume), and transferred only $13 bln to
the Motherland. The workers, officially registered in the municipal
companies, have to be paid 20 – 25 thsd rubles monthly, while 10-15
thd rubles per month are enough for illegal workers.

The experts specify that money transfers are only part of the funds
carried outwards by gastarbeiters. About $18 bln are carried over in
cash and via a system based on the chain of personal contacts.