Author: Zaminian Bedik

GAZPROM REPRESENTATIVE SERGEY KUPRIYANOV: ARMENIA MAY BE LEFT WITHOUT GAS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 20 2006

Gas supply of Armenia may run out if repair work of gas pipeline is
finished late. That means, Armenia may be left without gas, Gazprom
representative Sergey Kupriyanov told reporters, APA reports.

He stated that the repair works will probably be delayed.

"The delay of the repair works is not excluded. The situation of
the pipeline is dangerous. We are trying to repair the pipeline with
Armenian specialists. At present 30 per cent of gas is delivered to
Armenia by spare pipeline. But delivery capacity of the pipeline is
law. Armenia covers its demands for gas through supplies in underground
reserves", he noted. Sergey Kupriyanov said that the reason of the
accident is unknown.

There was an accident in Georgian part of the gas pipeline two days
ago. As a result, the gas supply to Armenia has been cut off. Georgia
notes that the reason of the accident was landslide.

Iranian Students News Agency, ISNA, Iran
Dec 16 2006

Iran ready to export gas to Armenia by Feb. 2007 Service: Energy
ISNA – Tehran
Service: Energy

TEHRAN, Dec.16 (ISNA)-Iran is ready to export gas to Armenia in
January and February 2007 based on the 23 billion and 800 million
dollars worth Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction contract.

"Although the domestic contract deadline between Iran’s national gas
company and the supervisor of the project was marked September 2007,
but after the protocol between Iranian and Armenian officials was
signed, the project period decreased from 930 to 650 days," stated
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction executive, Mohammad Reza
Lorzadeh.

"We have succeeded with an effort to decrease the project time up to
300 days and we shall have the experimental installation of gas
pipeline by January," he added while noting the conclusions of the
referred protocol.

He also informed that the gas export transfer would take place
through both land and water. Lorzadeh acknowledged that presently 113
km of the pipeline construction project from Tabriz to Nordouz
(before Iran-Armenia borderline) was covered through mountain
regions. He also said that constructing the pipeline under the Aras
River and stabilizing the borderline was another part of the project.

Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

Dec 15 2006

OSCE Office presents publication on main aspects of cyber security in
Armenia

YEREVAN, 14 December 2006 – Cyber security and cyber crime, including
the global threats in this respect and their relevance for Armenia,
international standards and Armenian efforts to combat it are the
focus of a publication, presented in Yerevan today.

Supported by the OSCE Office, it included the conclusions of a recent
roundtable discussion on cyber security, as well as recommendations
from an OSCE-supported cyber security task force.

"The importance of cyber security management continues to grow as the
global digital economy develops. The inadequate protection of
information technology could hinder the development of Armenia and
not only in the information and communication sectors," said
Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE Office.

"Best international practices offer Armenia models that can be
applied to fill in the practical gaps. An important step in this
respect was the ratification by Armenia in March 2006 of the Council
of Europe Convention against Cyber Crime. The publication presented
today can help Armenia in its efforts to safeguard cyber security,
combat cyber crime and adopt policies to foster technological
innovation."

Ara Yeremyan, Head of the Criminal and Administrative Law Unit of the
Legislative and Analytical Department at the National Assembly,
added:

"It is crucial for Armenia to create a comprehensive approach, taking
into account international standards and other countries’ experience.
This publication is a useful tool in that work."

The Task Force on Cyber Crime and Cyber Security was created at the
initiative of the OSCE Office in Yerevan and includes members from
the Police, the National Security Service, the National Assembly and
the Presidential Administration. It was designed to co-ordinate
efforts in this area, raise awareness on the issue and propose
concrete steps to improve the situation.

Limited copies limited copies are available at the OSCE Office in
Yerevan.

ARREST OF NATIONAL HERO SEFILYAN IS RESULT OF AGREEMENT ON TERRITORIAL
CONCESSIONS: ARMENIAN MP

Yerevan, December 15. ArmInfo. The arrest of the national hero Zhirayr
Sefilyan is most probably the result of final agreement on the
Armenian side’s territorial concessions to Azerbaijan and the wish of
the Amenian athorities to neutralize people who may oppose such
policy, says the leader of the opposition Democratic Way party, MP
Manuk Gasparyan,

At the same time, Gasparyan is sure that shortly on the request of the
Russian special services the Armenian authorities will set Sefilyan
free.

Gasparyan says that the charges of forcible change of the
constitutional order the authorities have made against Sefilyan are
absurd. Sefilyan is not big enough for uniting the opposition against
the government.

To remind, the coordinator of the Union of Armenian Volunteers
initiative, Karabakh war hero Sefilyan was arrested on Dec 9.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Russia Economically Indifferent to Armenia
15.12.2006 16:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Pro-Russian orientation of Armenia can be extended
dependently on success or failures of the pro-western Georgian
democracy, head of the center of Caucasian Studies at the Moscow State
Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) Vladimir Zakharov said in
an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, U.S.’s war against
Iran or establishment of cooperation between Iran and West in the
light of possible settlement of the problem of the Iranian nuclear
program can correct Armenia’s foreign line.

`Yerevan is closely connected with the CSTO and Russian companies make
big purchases in Armenia but I should confess that Russian businessmen
show little interest in what is happening in the country. Not economic
partnership but economic indifference can be observed and Armenia
slowly but faithfully turns to the West. In this case there is one
efficient remedy. Russia must as soon as possible improve the
situation. According to surveys, The army of adherents to all Russian
has considerably reduced in Armenia recently and unfortunately this is
Russia’s fault first of all,’ he said.

At that he underscored that there are political forces in Armenia
heading for NATO and wishing not only to receive assistance but also
become full member of the Alliance. `But then a question arouses. What
about Turkey? Are the tragic events of 1915 forgotten? If Turkey is a
partner Armenia will have not only to communicate with her but also
host Turkish troops. Everything can happen…’ he said.

Zakharov also remarked that formation of a new military bloc
Turkey-Georgia-Azerbaijan is not far away. `Armenia remain alone in
the unequal opposition and in this view the role of Russia, as a main
strategic and military partner increases,’ he said.

Armenpress

PARLIAMENT MEMBER BLAMES RIFT AMONG OPPOSITION FORCES
ON THEIR LEADERS

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 15, ARMENPRESS: A parliament
member Manuk Gasparian blamed the rift among major
opposition parties on their leaders’ ambitions.
Gasparian who is head of a minor party called
Democratic Path, argued at today’s news conference
that opposition forces were originally unable to join
efforts as they pursue differing ideologies.
Gasparian said his party, which ‘professes
social-democratic ideas’ has nothing to do with
liberal forces. He then opined that leaders of all
opposition and pro-government parties must contest the
2007 parliamentary elections from single-mandate
constituencies.
Gasparian said his party will nominate 5 or 6
candidates to run from single-mandate constituencies,
adding that the party will not contest the 2008
presidential polls as it does see a candidate within
its ranks who deserves it.

MAHMUD MAMMADGULIYEV: WE SUGGESTED AGO GROUP TO STOP MONITORING ON AZERBAIJAN

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 14 2006

"The main themes we discussed with AGO group were the situation of
press and elections in Azerbaijan. I informed them about the position
of the Azerbaijani side on the issues concerning press and said that
ANS’s closure and removal of the newspapers from their offices are
juridical issues," Mahmud Mammadguliyev Deputy Foreign Minister told
the APA European bureau.

Mahmud Mammadguliyev said he met with the Council of Europe Secretary
General Terry Davis, AGO group and the head of permanent delegation
of San-Marino chairing CE Committee of Ministers and these meetings
were productive. He said that AGO group has prepared several surveys
on Azerbaijan.

"These questions have already been sent to Azerbaijan and we will
present our answers to AGO group. During our meeting with AGO group
we made several proposals concerning mass media. We suggested them
to prepare a wide and long-lasting program on mass media. It would
be better for the CE, or EU to participate in the preparation of
the program. AGO group mostly worried about mass media and political
prisoners. We gave information about these issues to the group. As to
political prisoners, we said that a special working group was formed
on this problem and the group had a meeting in early December.

Azerbaijan is ready to cooperate with AGO group on this problem,"
he said.

"We said that Azerbaijan is under special monitoring for 5 years.

Basically, Azerbaijan has fulfilled the majority of the CE
commitments. Some issues the fulfillments of which depend not only on
Azerbaijan, but the whole region remain. We would like this monitoring
process to finish soon and like other countries to be under ordinary
monitoring. The monitoring is held in all CE member states and there
are commitments have not been fulfilled in other countries. What is the
need of holding monitoring within a special group in this case? AGO
group is ready consider this issue and our permanent representation
will continue work on the issue," he said.

Mahmud Mammadguliyev said he expressed gratitude to the CE Secretary
General Terry Davis for his position on the referendum held in the
occupied Azerbaijani territories.

"In 15-20 minutes’ meeting with Terry Davis we mainly discussed the
situation in Azerbaijan and cooperation with the CE. As you know, Terry
Davis made a statement on the referendum held in Nagorno Karabakh. May
be the statement is not thorough and there are points in the statement
that do not satisfy us. But anyway, I was grateful to the Secretary
General for expressing his position on the issue," he said.

NATIONAL UNITY CONSIDERS ZHIRAYR SEFILIAN’S ARREST AS PART OF AUTHORITIES’ LONG-RANGE PLAN

Noyan Tapan
Dec 14 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The arrests of Zhirayr Sefilian,
the Commander of the Shoushi special battalion, the Coordinator of
the Defence of Liberated Territories public initiative, and Vardan
Malkhasian, a member of the Homeland and Honor Party’s Political
Board, make part of the long-range plan of the authorities. The plan’s
goal is to beg the international community’s indulgence towards the
falsifications to be committed at the forthcoming parliamentary and
presidential elections. This was mentioned in the draft statement
submitted by the National Unity Party for the discussion of the
parties making part of the Anti-criminal Movement. In the opinion
of the latter’s authors, artificially inflaming the home political
atmosphere in the country, they make an attempt to inspire the
international community that only the current ruling duet – RA
President Robert Kocharian and Defence Minister Serge Sargsian can
settle the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. "The Kocharian-Sargsian duet
tries to create an illusion among the international community and
especially the OSCE Minsk Group country-co-chairs that allegedly the
Nagorno Karabakh settlement is fraught with very serious consequences,
even with the danger of a coup d’etat," the document read. According to
the statement, the authorities have already fulfilled this scenario
at the 2003 presidential and parliamentary elections. At present
the authorities will also try to prepare a rich soil for falsifying
the forthcoming elections "in advance convincing the international
community that only under conditions of majority of criminal-oligarch
forces at the newly elected NA supporting Kocharian-Sargsian duet
it will be possible to ratify the document of Nagorno Karabakh
settlement approved by Kocharian." As Gagik Tadevosian, the Board
member of the National Unity Party, stated, the party did not take
part in opposition’s rallies in connection with Sefilian’s arrest,
as it was preparing its own analysis, which was expressed in the
above mentioned statement.

EU-AZERBAIJAN EXPAND PARLIAMENT CO-OP

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Dec 12 2006

As is reported, on 13-14 December, the 7th meeting of the European
Union-Azerbaijan Parliament Cooperation Committee will be held in
Strasbourg.

A delegation led by deputy speaker, chairman of the natural resources,
energy and ecology standing committee of Milli Majlis Valeh Alaskarov
will take part at the event. The Azeri parliamentarian delegation
comprises MPs Rovshen Rzayev, Azer Amiraslanov, Guler Ahmadova,
Zhala Aliyeva, Chingiz Asadullayev, Rauf Aliyev, Ulvi Guliyev and
Fuad Muradov.

The meeting participants will discuss issues of partnership and
cooperation relations in the fields of economic, social, agricultural,
protection of environment between the Committee and Azerbaijan. Also
are to be discussed the political situation in the country, human
rights, word and press freedom, democratic steps, as well as the
questions related to the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Vice-speaker of Azerbaijan Parliament Valeh Alaskarov is to present
a report on the results of the Committee’s meeting in 2005.

AMERICAN SENATORS INSIST ON NEW CANDIDACY FOR AMBASSADOR IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.12.2006 16:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
today called on President George W. Bush to propose a new candidacy
to serve as US Ambassador in Armenia instead of Richard Hoagland,
who was blocked by the US Senate, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA). Senators Menendez and Reid, citing the
growing Hoagland controversy, recommended, in a December 1, 2006
letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, that the best way to
move this process forward would be for "the President to withdraw his
nomination of Richard Hoagland as U.S. Ambassador to Armenia and to
propose a new candidate to serve in this important position."

In their words, the tough stand of the Armenian community in the USA
against Hoagland’s designation will serve United State’s national
interests.

"Armenian Americans welcome the principled stand taken today by
Senators Menendez and Reid in defense of our nation’s fundamental
commitment to recognizing, preventing and punishing genocide," said
ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "We deeply appreciate their leadership
and value their understanding of the simple truth that a denier of
the Armenian Genocide cannot effectively promote U.S. interests or
American values in Armenia – a country that rose from the ashes of
Turkey’s brutal campaign of extermination and exile." He said.

It is worth mentioning that the new Congress of the USA begins its
work in January. In the new Congress the majority belongs to Democrats,
who are against George Bush’s policy in denying the Armenian Genocide.

According to the US Constitution, the president can either present
a new candidacy or again offer Richard Hoagland’s candidacy. He also
can seize the opportunity of break in Congress’ works and designate
the Ambassador in Armenia without confirmation in Senate. In this
case the senators will no have veto power.