Author: Vardanian Garo

BÝA, Turkey
Jan 28 2008

Suspects in Nationalist Gang Known for Causing Trouble

Veli Kücük, Kemal Kerincsiz and Sevgi Erenerol, arrested under
suspicion of membership in the ultra-nationalist Ergenekon gang, are
all names known for their interest in trials opened for `crimes’ of
thought and belief, as well as ensuing violence and pressure.

Býa news centre

28-01-2008

Erol ÖNDEROGLU
The public has often heard the names of retired brigadier general
Veli Kücük, lawyer Kemal Kerincsiz and the spokesperson for the
Turkish Orthodox Patriarchate, Sevgi Erenerol, when trials concerning
the freedom of press, expression or belief were opened and they
wanted to be co-plaintiffs.

Some of the trials which they joined or attempted to join as
co-plaintiffs paved the way for the murder of Turkish-Armenian
journalist Hrant Dink, who himself had been on trial and sentenced
for `denigrating Turkishness.’

Kücük pulling the strings?
The Sabah newspaper has reported claims that Veli Kücük may be the
person behind the murders of Hrant Dink and academic Necip
Hablemitoglu, the murders of three Christians in Malatya, the murder
of Ibrahim Ciftci (who was a key suspect in the Hablemitoglu murder
and was killed by a hand grenade thrown into his office), as well as
the attack on the State Council.

Involvement in case against Turkish Protestants
Erenerol tried to become a co-plaintiff in a trial against Hakan
Tastan and Turan Topal, both accused of Protestant missionary work
and charged with `denigrating Turkishness, inciting to hatred and
hostility and collecting data in an illegal manner.’ Erenerol’s
request was refused.

The plaintiffs in the case are lawyer Kerincsiz and his team. Because
the defense lawyer and the defendants were threatened and insulted,
there were extraordinary security measures at the last hearing. The
court case will continue on 13 March.

Hrant Dink was frightened of Kücük
After Hrant Dink was killed on 19 January 2007, lawyer Erdal Dogan
told several newspapers that the journalist had said before, `When
Veli Kücük started watching the trial, that’s when I started to get
frightened.’ Kücük filed a complaint against Dogan, demanding
compensation of 10,000 YTL, arguing that Dogan had portrayed him as a
murderer. The trial continues.

Veli Kücük’s name is also mentioned in the Susurluk scandal, which
rocked Turkey in 1996. A car crash showed connections between the
police, an MP, the military and ultra-nationalists. Ever since,
people in Turey speak of a `deep state’, i.e. illegal forces working
behind the front of an illusionary democracy.

Harrassment at Agos trial
When Agos journalists Hrant Dink and Aydin Engin were on trial for
`attempting to influence the judiciary’, Kerincsiz, Kücük and
Erenerol were present at the trial. The bigger group which they were
part of was frequently warned during the hearing. In front of the
court, two people were beaten by the nationalist group which attacked
verbally and physically.

Kerincsiz was the defense lawyer for Muzaffer Tekin and Ergün Poyraz,
both also in prison for suspicion of being members of the Ergenekon
gang. Kerincsiz has argued that his profession means that he cannot
have connections to the organisation.

Writers targeted
However, Turkey and the world know Kerincsiz from writer Orhan
Pamuk’s trial. Pamuk was threatened and insulted in the corridors of
the court building and eggs were thrown at him. Later, writer Elif
Shafak and Hrant Dink had to experience similar harrassment.

Kerincsiz and his associate lawyers also sued those writers who
criticised their attempts to stop the Ottoman Armenian conference in
September 2005. In the case against Hrant Dink, Aydin Engin, Serkis
Seropyan and Arat Dink from the Agos newspaper there was again a very
tense atmosphere.

Akkus a "model student"

Recep Akkus, who has been seen at the same events as Kerincsiz, is
the person behind criminal complaints against Taner Akcam, a
historian and writer for Agos newspaper, Arat Dink and Serkis
Seropyan of Agos newspaper, Karekin II, the head of the Armenian
church, as well as Joost Lagendijk, the co-chair of the EU Turkey
Joint Parliamentary Committee. (EÖ/TK/AG)

NEW OWNERS OF ARARAT GOLD RECOVERY COMPANY ASSUME OBLIGATION TO COMPENSATE FOR DAMAGE DONE BY PREVIOUS ONES

Noyan Tapan
Jan 25, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian minister of
environmental protection Aram Harutyunian recently met with the
director general of Ararat Gold Recovery Company (AGRC) Dimitry
Kalandadze and the chairman of the board of directors Vardan
Vardanian. The minister informed reporters on January 25 that during
the meeting, they discussed a number of issues related to capital
investments in Sotk and Meghradzor mines, re-equipment of production,
use of new environmentally friendly technologies, revaluation of the
mines’ resources, as well as some environmental problems.

A. Harutyunian said that the new owners of AGRC have assumed
the obligation to compensate for the damage done by the company’s
previous managers as a result of violations, including deliberately
underestimating the mineable reserves.

HOSTILE TURKEY IS NATO’S REPRESENTATIVE IN REGION

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.01.2008 16:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NATO is represented in the region neither by France
nor Belgium or Greece but by Turkey, a state that doesn’t conceal
its hostility toward Armenia, RA National Assembly Vice Speaker,
presidential hopeful Vahan Hovhannisian said in an interview with
Military Diplomat magazine.

"As proved by surveys, the Armenian society tends to oppose the
republic’s membership in NATO at the moment. However, I can’t assert
that such a position will be maintained. Various societies throughout
the globe have been inspired with the most unexpected ideas and
the Armenian public is not an exception," he said. "I would like
to draw attention to Russia’s position which evidently thinks that
its soviet satellite nations will always remain as such. However,
the recent developments in the post soviet space do signal that the
situation cardinally changed and Russia has to prove the expediency
of being its ally."

"I don’t think Russia comprehends this fact. Some Russian forces
suppose that "Armenia has nowhere to go" and, therefore, can be dealt
shortly. But there is an old rule: if you think that your friend is
"in your pocket" you pave the way for distrust. This rule functions
despite your growing oil income. That is why I refrain from assuring
that the Armenian society will keep opposing NATO membership," Mr
Hovhannisian said.

RA FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON REFUTES DPA AGENCY’S INFORMATION

Noyan Tapan
Jan 24, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. Vladimir Karapetian, the Spokesperson
of the RA Foreign Ministry, refuted the information of the DPA German
agency, according to which, the diplomats representing Armenia
in Buenos Aires appeared on the list of diplomats of more than 30
countries, against which the Foreign Ministry of Argentina started
examination on the suspicion of illegal import of cars. "No Armenian
diplomat has ever purchased a car for personal use in Argentina and
taken part in any deal pursuing profit," he said to Radio Liberty.

THE SLAIN ARMENIAN JOURNALIST HRANT DINK REMEMBERED

MEMRI
Jan 23 2008
DC

Hrant Dink, a Turkish-Armenian journalist whose assassination one year
ago shocked Turkey, was commemorated last Saturday with ceremonies
and protest rallies. Thousands of demonstrators gathered at the spot
outside the office of Dink’s newspaper Agos in central Istanbul,
where he was gunned down by a nationalist-Islamist teenager.

Most mainstream Turkish columnists have dedicated their columns to
Dink’s murder, accusing the authorities for stalling the investigation
and covering up for the behind-the-scene actors. There are allegations
that some police officers were involved in the crimes of both Dink’s
assassination and the brutal murder of three Christians in Malatya,
but none were brought to justice.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL TER-PETROSIAN’S SUPPORTERS RALLY IN YEREVAN

Russia & CIS General Newswire
January 22, 2008 Tuesday 7:49 PM MSK

About 6,000 people gathered for a rally on Freedom Square in Yerevan
on Tuesday in support for Armenian presidential candidate Levon
Ter-Petrosian.

"Our struggle has entered a new phase. We have reached a point where
words cease and deeds start," Ter-Petrosian said at the rally.

"The authorities personified in Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian and
President Robert Kocharian have plunged Armenia into a destitute
condition, but there is a real opportunity to build a decent country
today," he said.

"Sarkisian has no support in society. He hopes for bribes and vote
rigging," he said.

Ter-Petrosian said his supporters were prepared to devote all their
resources to winning the elections. "We need to switch from words
to action. We cannot tolerate the reproduction of the incumbent
authorities," he said.

About 3,500 demonstrators marched along central streets in downtown
Yerevan following the rally, which paralyzed traffic in the center
of the city for an hour.

Presidential elections in Armenia will take place on February 19.

The Central Elections Commission (CEC) registered nine candidates to
run in them.

PACE: KOSOVO CAN’T BE PRECEDENT FOR RESOLUTION OF SIMILAR CONFLICTS IN EUROPE

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.01.2008 16:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ New PACE President Lluis Maria de Puig doesn’t
think the Kosovo process can become a precedent for resolution of
other similar conflicts in Europe. "There is nothing in common between
the situation in Kosovo and developments in other parts of Europe. I
am hopeful that the Kosovo problem will be resolved on the basis of
consensus and in the framework of international law," the new PACE
President said.

PACE is scheduled to discuss Kosovo’s future status on January 22,
RIA Novosti reports.

ACCUSATION BROUGHT AGAINST HEAD OF STATE TAX SERVICE DEPARTMENT

Noyan Tapan
Jan 22, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Accusation was brought to Armen
Ohanian, the Head of the 9th Department of the Investigation Unit of
the State Tax Service under the RA government, by part 4, Article 258,
RA Criminal Code, hooliganism with use of arms. As NT correspondent was
informed by the Special Investigation Service, the defendant admitted
his guilt and gave confession evidence, as well as expressed readiness
to compensate the damage inflicted to the citizen, who suffered.

It should be mentioned that on December 27, Ohanian, near Yerevan’s
Arhestavorneri street, house 117, by showing an obviously disrespectful
attitude to people engaged in trade and to buyers, grossly violated
the public order with use of his Makarov arms. According to the data
of the preliminary examination, Ohanian also delivered a blow to the
head of Ashot Hambartsumian, a resident of house 117, then shot at
the latter’s car with a pistol.

RUSSIAN NATURAL GAS IMPORTS TO ARMENIA GROW 20 PERCENT IN 2007

ARMENPRESS
Jan 22, 2008

YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS: Deliveries of Russian natural gas
to Armenia last year grew nearly 20 percent over the previous year
to 2.054. billion cubic meters.

In 2006 overall 1.7 billion cubic meters of Russian gas had been
shipped to Armenia across Georgia.

Shushan Sardarian, a spokeswoman for Armenian-Russian HayRusGazard
joint venture, said natural gas consumption last year grew 19 percent
to almost 1.9 billion cubic meters, up from 1.6 billion in 2006.

She said consumption by households last year grew 33 percent to about
535 million cubic meters.

Industrial consumption also grew 18 percent to 406 million cubic
meters.

A slight decrease was reported in energy sector which consumed 507
million cubic meters against 511 million in 2006.

LEVON PACHAJYAN SIGNS A FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT WITH GAIS GOTEBORG

ArmRadio.am
22-01-2008

GAIS Goteborg has signed Armenian Player of the Year Levon Pachajyan
from FC Pyunik on a four-year contract. The 24-year-old midfielder
scored ten time in 23 appearances as Pyunik secured a seventh straight
league title in November and was ever-present for Armenia in 2007
"Every Armenian player dreams of playing for a top European club and
playing in a major league," said Pachajyan, who has been capped 18
times. "It is exactly the same for me. It is a massive honour to play
for a big European club, but it is hard to earn a move to one. First
you have to establish yourself in one of the more modest leagues."