Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

"CONTINUATION OF TALKS FOR SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT POSSIBLE ON THE NORMS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW", K. IBRAHIM

AzerTag
March 19 2008
Azerbaijan

Khazar Ibrahim, Press-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Wednesday said voting by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs against the
UN General Assembly’s draft resolution, "The situation in the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan", was incomprehensible and incorrect action.

Speaking about the Co-chairs’ unfair position towards the issue,
K. Ibrahim noted "supporting the resolution the international
community once again demonstrated their stance on the settlement of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan".

"Armenia and those who support it, have to understand that continuation
of negotiations regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is possible
on the norms of international law", said K. Ibrahim.

He stressed though official Baku made known its position regarding
the conflict, the co-chairs would continue their mediation mission
on the principles of the Helsinki Final Act.

As to the Armenian Foreign Minister’s statement regarding the
resolution’s negative influence on negotiation process, the Ministry’s
spokesman said the negotiations carrying out with Armenia were
Azerbaijan’s great compromise to this country.

He said Armenia had to take constructive measure instead of making
groundless statements.

AZERBAIJAN AGGRESSIVELY "FLIRTS" WITH EVERYONE

KarabakhOpen
19-03-2008 16:50:19

The settlement of Karabakh has reached a point when the possibility
to maneuver is zero. The parties, both Armenian and Azerbaijani,
have come closer to the "moment of truth" and must distinctly outline
their stance.

The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group voted against the UN resolution
which recommends withdrawal of the Armenian troops from the area
of the Karabakh conflict, return of the Azerbaijani refugees and
deployment of peacekeepers.

The resolution does not convey anything about the future status
of Karabakh.

At the same time, Azerbaijan does not reject the talks mediated by
the OSCE, during which, according to the Armenian side, the status
of NKR is discussed. Evidence to this are the statements by the OSCE
co-chairs, namely the United States that Washington recognizes the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan but the status of Nagorno-Karabakh
must be determined through peace talks.

In his recent statement the U.S. co-chair Matthew Bryza spelled out
what the governments of both countries are trying to veil. A complex of
proposals is on the agenda which can be discussed and which must lead
to the return of territories of Azerbaijan, return of refugees. It
includes the corridor connecting Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia,
the presence of international peacekeeping force. In other words,
all these points will underlie the peace agreement which will foster
prosperity in the region, Matthew Bryza said.

The situation is that of a stalemate. Azerbaijan, flirting with the
West, participates in the talks as a result of which the secession
of Karabakh and its relation to Armenia must get international
recognition. At the same time, the Baku authorities are flirting
with their own public, reassuring them that the secession of Karabakh
is impossible. They also aggressively "flirt" with Karabakh, trying
to show that neither the international law, nor the pressure of the
international community and "moral" political principles are primary
for them.

Perhaps it is time that Baku made a decision and maybe stopped
participating in the talks.

Besides, the Armenian government should spell out distinctly what
awaits Armenia in case of success or failure of the talks. What
situation will occur if Azerbaijan, nevertheless, accepts the
independence of Karabakh?

What will happen if the talks lasting for a decade crush? And isn’t
freezing the best way out of the situation?

EASILY REFUTED

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
March 19, 2008

Political analyst Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan said, all the nine points
of the resolution "About the Situation in the Occupied Territories
of Azerbaijan" submitted by Azerbaijan to the 62nd session of the UN
General Assembly are easily refuted.

Besides that, OSCE Minsk Group co-Chair countries: the United
States, France and Russia, which are also the permanent members of
the UN Security Council voted against the resolution and the other
permanent members of the Security Council: Great Britain and China
abstained. "The resolution contains provisions on the internationally
recognized Azerbaijani borders. It’s worth mentioning that the UN
has never recognized Azerbaijani borders, moreover when Azerbaijan
became member of the UN, NKR was not in Azerbaijan and UN was not
going to recognize the borders of Soviet Azerbaijan," L. Melik
Shahnazaryan said.

NA VOTES TO AMEND RA LAW ON ON CONDUCTING MEETINGS, RALLIES, MARCHES AND DEMONSTRATIONS

armradio.am
18.03.2008 12:37

RA National Assembly convened a special sitting yesterday upon the
initiative of the Deputies. The agenda included two issues: making
amendments and addenda to the RA Law on Conducting Meetings, Rallies,
Marches and Demonstrations (first reading) and making amendments
and addenda to the RA Law on Conducting Meetings, Rallies, Marches
and Demonstrations (second reading). The draft was authored by more
than 60 Deputies representing four parliamentary factions, except for
"Heritage." The initiative of amending the law in force is associated
with the necessity to improve the ill-defined legal norms after the
events of March 1, MP Rafik Petrosyan explained.

When working out the draft law, the Deputies were guided by Articles
11 and 18 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental
Freedoms, which envisage certain restrictions. Eth experience of
European countries has also been taken into consideration. The
draft is targeted at preventing the infringement of other citizens’
rights when carrying out one’s constitutional right. It is noted,
in particular, that public mass arrangements can be banned by an
authorized body, if there are credible data that there are directed
at breaking the constitutional order, inflaming racist or religious
hatred, propagating war or violence, r can lead to the disturbance
of state security, public order, the society’s health and morals,
violation of others’ constitutional rights and freedoms.

The draft was adopted with 90 pro and 6 cons.

THE OFFICER OF ARMED FORCES OF RA WAS AWARDED FOR COURAGE

p;p=0&id=383&y=2008&m=03&d=18
15.0 3.08

On March 15,2008 RA Defense Minister Michael Harutyunyan visited the
military hospital of RA Armed Forces in Yerevan to find out about the
health condition of Senior Lieutenant Armen Hakhanyan wounded during
the attack of the divisions of the Azeri Armed Forces on one of the
NKR positions the night of March 4. The Defense Minister awarded Armen
Hakhanyan with a Drasdamat Kanayan order and a Tissot Swiss watch.

Michael Harutyunyan told reporters that Senior Lieutenant Armen
Hakheyan and the Deputy Commander of Platoon were wounded from the
Armenian side on March 4.

Armen Hakhanyan was at the front line. He managed to show resistance
to the Azerbaijani forces with his soldiers, as a result of which he
was wounded.

He was immediately taken to hospital and received necessary medical
aid. His condition is not grave, he receives necessary treatment.

ARMENIAN MPS TIGHTEN LAW ON RALLIES

Reuters
March 17 2008
UK

YEREVAN, March 17 (Reuters) – Armenia’s parliament imposed restrictions
on holding rallies on Monday, fearing clashes between police and the
opposition after a state of emergency expires on Friday.

President Robert Kocharyan declared the 20-day emergency rule in the
capital Yerevan on March 1 following mass protests against a Feb. 19
presidential election, which the opposition says was rigged. Eight
people were killed and more than 100 were injured in the clashes
between police and protesters.

"The events in Yerevan on March 1 demonstrated that the existing law
(on rallies) has a number of drawbacks which need to be addressed.

This is prompted by the lesson we learnt," deputy Rafik Petrosyan
told parliament.

Shortly before midnight on Monday, an emergency session of parliament
voted 90-6 to pass the two readings of the law.

One of the amendments allows the authorities to ban a rally "if they
receive trustworthy police or security service reports that such
an action may threaten national security, public order or violate
citizens’ constitutional rights".

The opposition, led by former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan who was
defeated in last month’s election, said it would defend its right to
hold rallies despite the restrictions. Serzh Sarksyan, prime minister
and Kocharyan’s ally, won the election.

"This is evident this (law) is directed against us. We will continue
our struggle by all lawful means," said Ter-Petrosyan’s spokesman Arman
Musinyan. "If they don’t allow a rally now, it will happen tomorrow,
if not — then a day after tomorrow."

"They cannot keep issuing refusals for a whole year."

Last week Kocharyan lifted some media restrictions imposed after the
post-election protests.

The new law on rallies should come into force on the 10th day after
its publication in Armenia’s official gazette. (Reporting by Hasmik
Lazarian; Writing by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Elizabeth Piper)

NOVRUZ MAMMADOV: "OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIR COUNTRIES SHOULD CLARIFY THEIR POSITIONS"

Azeri Press Agency
March 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova – APA. "Even putting the resolution on
Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan to the vote in the UN General
Assembly is important issue for Azerbaijan" said Novruz Mammadov,
head of foreign relations department of the President’s Office in an
exclusive interview with APA.

He called the resolution as an important document."UN General
Assembly reaffirmed and supported the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan, recognized the fact of occupation of Azerbaijan’s
territories and demanded Armenia to withdraw its armed forces from
the Azerbaijani lands immediately. This resolution has an important
political and legal significance. It passed a decision based on the
previous resolutions of the UN Security Council and decisions of
other international organizations and especially underlined that
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan should be restored within the
norms and principles of international law. Meanwhile, the OSCE Minsk
Group co-chair countries should clarify their positions. They have
to make it clear why leaders of those countries periodically state
that they recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, but when
this issue comes to agenda their representatives to UN take different
positions. Voting on the resolution gives a chance to Azerbaijan to
make differences between friends and foes. I think there is no need
to hurry. It is principal that Azerbaijan took successful diplomatic
step and achieved the adoption of necessary resolution". N. Mammadov
said 39 countries voted in favor of the resolution: "Support of 39
countries for this resolution confirmed Armenian isolation in this
issue, Angola and Vanuatu supported Armenia. US, France and Russia
should have their own reasons, but their contrary position toward
the resolution is regrettable. They forced us to think about whether
representatives of these countries are really trying for fair solution
of the conflict or not?"

RA PRESIDENT WON’T PROLONG EMERGENCY RULE

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.03.2008 15:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ No violations of the emergency rule were fixed
during the period of March 1-17, Armenian President’s spokesman Victor
Soghomonyan told a briefing today.

"President Kocharian has no intention to prolong the state of
emergency. The Armenian authorities are thankful to the population for
understanding. As to limitations on freedom of media, the decision
was dictated by security interests. Now I can say that Armenia’s
democracy was rescued from chaos and shocks," he said.

"Some editorial offices were publishing deliberately false
information. We offered them to remove a number of quotations but
they refused. As to closure of e-media, it’s hard to follow how the
law is observed in this case. There are only three days left. I think
everything will be all right," Mr Soghomonyan said.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian imposed a 20-day emergency rule
on March 1.

RF DUMA RECOMMENDS GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIONS IN UNRECOGNIZED REPUBLICS

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.03.2008 14:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Participants of Russian Duma hearings on the
unrecognized republics on the territory of Georgia and Moldova
recommend the government to establish diplomatic relations with them.

On March 13, the Duma members discussed the possibility of recognizing
independence of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdnistria and
recommended to establish diplomatic representations in these republics,
refraining from immediate recognition of their sovereignty.

"After recognition of Kosovo by several dozes of states, Russia has
full authority to recognize Abkhazia’s sovereignty," said Nugzar
Ashuba, speaker of the Abkhazian National Assembly.

"Given the Kosovo precedent, Russia has sufficient ground to
declare recognition of Abkhazia’s independence, thus cementing its
international weight and influence of a world power. Georgian leaders
are facing an opportunity to resolve a number of social and economic
problems while Georgian people will finally stop thinking about war,"
Mr Ashuba said, Deutsche Welle reports.

AVERAGE MARKET PRICE FOR FLATS UP IN YEREVAN IN 2007

ARKA
March 14, 2008

YEREVAN, March 14. /ARKA/. The average market price for 1sq, meter
of dwelling space in residential buildings in Yerevan reached 257,
100 AMD in 2007 against 196,700 in 2006.

The annual report of the RA Real Estate Register says that the highest
prices for flats were recorded in the Center community of Yerevan –
448,300 AMD, and the lowest in the Nubarashen community – 125,900 AMD.

In the Arabkir community the price reached 360,300 AMD, in the
Karaker-Zeitun community 266,600 AMD, and in the Nor-Nork community
229,300 AMD.

In the Avan community, 1sq. meter of dwelling space cost 220,500 AMD,
in the Erebuni community 227,300 AMD, in the Shengavit community
241,700 AMD, in the Davidashen community 250,100 AMD, in Achapnyak
234,600 AMD, in Malatia-Sebastia 223,400 AMD. ($1 – 309.08 AMD).