Author: Zaminian Bedik

RUSSIA’S LAVROV DISMISSES ARMS HANDOVER TO ARMENIA

AzerNews Weekly
Jan 21 2009
Azerbaijan

Russia has told the Azerbaijani government that it did not transfer
arms and military machinery valued at $800 million to Armenia following
recent media reports of such a transfer that have raised tensions
between the two countries.

On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov telephoned his
counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov. Lavrov said his country`s foreign
ministry had investigated the issue, assuring Mammadyarov that
Russia had not handed over ammuniations or weaponry to Armenia,
with which Azerbaijan has been involved in a dispute over Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh.

The sides agreed to continue holding talks to look into the matter
more thoroughly.

Prior to his conversation with Mammadyarov, the Russian minister told
a news conference on Friday that Moscow had requested Baku produce
an original of the document proving the arms handover had occurred,
but a search has revealed that there is no such document.

At the same time, Lavrov noted that Russia has never denied it is
maintaining military and technical cooperation with Armenia. He added
that Armenia was part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO), the military arm of the CIS, and military purchases could be
granted to the organization`s members.

On January 8, Azerbaijani media published a document listing alleged
armaments handed over to the Armenian Defense Ministry from Russia`s
military base in Gumri. The 69 types of arms, transferred under
the authorization of Vyacheslav Golovchenko, deputy commander for
armaments of the Northern Caucasus Military County, included tanks,
a great number of rocket launchers, grenades, ammunition, grenade
launchers, sub-machine guns, TNT fuses, mine-launchers, Grad missile
launchers, and canons.

Col. Alexander Drobishevsky, the acting spokesman for the Russian
Defense Ministry, has dismissed the reports, although another ministry
official earlier confirmed the delivery of arms.

The Azerbaijani government has expressed deep concern over Russia`s
move. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said
an investigation provided substantial grounds to conclude that the
arms transfer had indeed taken place.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict for nearly
two decades. Peace talks followed a lengthy war that ended with the
signing of a cease-fire in 1994, but have brought few tangible results
so far. Armenia continues to occupy Upper Garabagh and seven other
Azerbaijani districts in defiance of international law.

Russia is one of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, a team of
diplomats also representing the United States and France that is
mediating a peaceful settlement to the Garabagh conflict.

Further, the Azerbaijani ministry`s statement said that Russia`s move
was in outright violation of the five UN resolutions on the Garabagh
problem urging an unconditional pullout of the Armenian forces.

"This primarily refers to the violation of Russia`s commitment not
to contribute to the furthering and strengthening of the occupation
of Azerbaijan`s territories by any steps," noted the statement.

Baku thereby called on Moscow to take all actions to eliminate the
consequences of the arms transfer.

Russian Defense Ministry representatives are due to pay a visit to
Azerbaijan within days, the Milaz website quoted Russian military
sources as saying. Russian military officials will attempt to reduce
tensions betwen Moscow and Baku triggered by the weapons handover.

Observers note that Russia supplied $1 billion worth of arms and
ammunition to Armenia in 1996. Since then, Russia has continued
providing arms to the Armenian military.

US JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS SEND STRONG MESSAGE TO TURKISH PRIME MINISTER

APA
Jan 23 2009
Azerbaijan

Ankara-APA. US five largest Jewish organizations send a letter to
Turkish Prime Minister Receb Tayib Erdogan and expressed concern
over the anti-Semitist action in the country. Israel’s operation in
Gaza cannot afford ground for anti-Semitism, said in the letter, APA
reports quoting the Turkish newspapers. "Protesters before the Israel’s
consulate in Istanbul showed hatred toward the Jewish people. There
are anti-Semitist slogans everywhere in billboards. Jewish people
living in Turkey feel themselves under threat and pressure. It is
clear that there is connection between raising anti-Semitism and
instigations by the officials".

American-Jewish Committee (AJC), Anti-Defamation League (ADL),
Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
(CPMAJO), Jewish Institute of National Security Affairs (JINSA)
and B’nai Brith organization.

ADL chairman Abraham Foxman told Milliyyet newspaper that Prime
Minister Receb Tayib Erdogan’s statements contributed to the
anti-Semitism in Turkey. "Turkey was our friend. I am sorrowful and
confused. You may not like the Israel’s policy, but there is a method
of criticism. It is clear that the Prime Minister chose the words
carefully. He is using very sharp words".

Representative of other Jewish organization reminded about that they
opposed the recognition of "Armenian genocide" in the Congress for
long years. "This time it will be difficult. Earlier we supported you
not only for the fair case of Turkey, but also it was our friend. Now
it is difficult to say that Turkey is our friend".

ARMENIA’S GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS POSSIBLE AID TO CRISIS-BITTEN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

ARKA
Jan 21, 2009

YEREVAN, January 21. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
met Wednesday with representatives of local chemical enterprises to
discuss possible government assistance to the sector amid the global
financial and economic crisis. The private sector is likely to help
the government take a swift action to deal with the effects of the
economic crisis, the RA Government’s press service reports.

During the Monday meeting with the RA Minister of Energy and local
businessmen, the premier suggested setting up a task group to discuss
and solve the current problems in chemical industry. The group is to
specify what concrete steps the government is to undertake to help
the sector grapple with economic challenges.

Sargsyan said the government stands ready to support local exporters
by marketing their products.

The premier also charged the RA Minister of Economy to work out
concepts for each industrial sector.

BAKU KEEPS UNDERMINING KARABAKH PEACE PROCESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.01.2009 17:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The new Armenian leadership stands adherent to a
peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through talks in
the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and on the basis of its Madrid
proposals, as well as with full-fledged participation of Nagorno
Karabakh in negotiation process, says Armenian Foreign Ministry’s
2008 annual report.

The report says that last year Azerbaijan made an attempt to dissolve
the OSCE Minsk Group by pushing a draft resolution on Karabakh in
the UN General Assembly. "Although the resolution was adopted with 39
votes, it did not receive support from the OSCE MG co-chair states –
Russia, U.S. and France," it says.

The RA Foreign Ministry also stresses the importance of the Moscow
declaration [signed by Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia
on December 2, 2008], envisaging peaceful resolution of the conflict
and implementation of confidence-building measures.

"Despite the recent intensification of talks, Azerbaijan keeps
undermining the peace process. The Azeri leadership doesn’t stop
military rhetoric and presents the principle of territorial integrity
as the basic principle of the international law," the report says.

It also mentions of the Helsinki declaration, which underscored
inadmissibility of resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict by use
of force, issued by Foreign Ministers of the OSCE MG co-chair states
on December 4.

"Armenia will be consistent in continuing talks in conformity with
the Moscow and Helsinki declarations," the report says.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AWARDS TITLE OF HONORABLE WORKER OF ECONOMY TO HRANT VARDANYAN

ARMENPRESS
Jan 21, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: For long-lasting and fruitful activity
in the sphere of industry and for the personal contribution to the
development of economy Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan decreed
to award the head of the "Grand Holding" company, businessman Hrant
Vardanyan an honorable title of honored worker of the economy of the
Republic of Armenia.

Presidential press service told Armenpress that handing the medal of
the honorable title, Armenian president highly assessed the obvious
contribution of the chairman of the "Grand Holding" to the progress
of the country’s economy, revival and development of traditional
branches of the economy as well as promotion of export.

The president of the country also pointed out the great contribution
of the businessmen to the creation of new working places and highly
assessed his permanent attention towards children.

The head of "Grand Holding" on his part expressed gratitude for
the high title considering it obligatory and viewing it as a high
assessment moving to work with new enthusiasm. Hrant Vardanyan also
presented to Serzh Sargsyan his business initiatives and coming
programs.

NKR PRIME MINISTER RECEIVED MAYOR OF YEREVAN

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department
January 21, 2009

On January 20, the NKR Prime Minister had received the Mayor of
Yerevan Edvard Zakaryan, who was on a working visit in Artsakh. The
guest from Yerevan was present, in particular, at the meeting of
presentation and implementation of electronic system in Stepanakert
City Administration. The new system was made a reality due to the
assistance of Yerevan City Administration. With this regard, expressing
his gratitude, the Prime Minister noted, that it is necessary to
implement modern forms of management, due to which citizens will
spent incomparably less time for settling problems connected with
governing circles, in other spheres of the NKR State system as well.

During the meeting, interlocutors also touched upon the programmes to
be implemented by the fund "Shoushi", discussed problems concerning
the cooperation between the two Armenian capitals.

Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Lisa Kalustian, Chief Deputy Director
300 South Spring Street, Suite 16701
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(213)897-0322
FAX (213)897-0319
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the following
appointments:

Greg Aghazarian, 44, of Stockton, has been appointed to the Worker’s
Compensation Appeals Board. From 2002 to 2008, he represented the 26th
District in the California State Assembly. Prior to that, Aghazarian
owned the Law Offices of Gregory G. Aghazarian from 1997 to 2002 and
worked for the law Offices of David R. LeBeouf from 1993 to 1996. He
earned a Juris Doctorate degree from University of the Pacific, McGeorge
School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in business
administration for the University of Southern California in 1986. This
position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $128,109.
Aghazarian is a Republican.

###

ACCORDING TO HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH, IN 2008 ARMENIA EXPERIENCED MOST SERIOUS POLITICAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS CRISIS

Noyan Tapan

Jan 15, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the Human Rights
Watch international organization, in 2008 Armenia experienced the most
serious political and civil rights crisis since the independence. Radio
Liberty reported this referring to organization’s report.

"According to international experts’ conviction, on March 1 security
forces used disproportionate force to citizens complaining against the
results of the presidential elections, and the state of emergency
announced from March 1 temporarily limited a number of basic
rights. Both actions were widely criticized by the international
community," Human Rights Watch mentioned.

Enumerating the main events that happened last year, the report authors
wrote: "Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan won the February 19 elections,
but the acts of violence and falsifications of that day cast a shadow
on that election."

"Recording that on the voting day in a number of polling stations
opposition activists, journalists and local observers were attacked
by the opposite camp, Human Rights Watch emphasized: "Some cases of
attacks were recorded with the presence of policemen and officials
involved in the electoral process. However, the latters did not
intervene in the incidents, moreover, there was even a case when
a policeman assisted those attacking. The international observers
reported about the violations committed during the elections, including
agitation carried out on the voting day, stuffing ballot-boxes, voter
buying, and mistakes committed when calculating the votes. Meanwhile
the observers criticised the Central Electoral Commission for obviously
failing proper investigation of the complaints."

Touching upon post-electoral developments the organization stated:
"Thousands of supporters of the main opposition candidate, Levon
Ter-Petrosian, after the elections started organizing actions
of protest in Yerevan center, which were peaceful for 10 days
running. However, on March 1 special Police forces started a conflict
with the demonstrants, used disproportionate force, beat them with
clubs, and attacked the demonstrants who tried to evade."

After arresting hundreds of oppositionists, according to the human
rights organization, policemen committed a number of procedure
violations, including depriving the arrested people of the possibility
of communicating with the outer world and having a lawyer. And already
the voting process caused suspicions to a fair legal procedure. It
was mentioned that "a number of arrested people were convicted only
on the basis of policemen’s evidence and with a speeded-up judicial
procedure."

Touching upon independent investigation of the March 1 events, the
report read: "Armenia’s authorities took some steps in this direction
under PACE pressures, but no one has been called for liability for
the victims so far."

According to the report, the freedom of expression right was also
violated, acts of violence were used to journalists criticizing
the authorities last year: "The journalists covering the February
actions of protest had become a target for the Police. In particular,
law enforcers attacked photojournalist Gagik Shamshian, who later,
on March 1, was beaten by policemen, was arrested, hospitalized
due to his injuries, and was released only after the mediation of
the RA Ombudsman. On March 1 the Police also hindered the work of
Radio Liberty journalist, beat the driver, as well as arrested two
journalists during actions of protest in Gyumri and Yerevan."

The report also touched upon checkings done by the tax bodies at
the GALA Gyumri TV company and the revealed abuses stating: "These
steps are widely perceived as a retribution for broadcasting first
President Levon Ter-Petrosian’s speeches criticizing government’s
activity." It was mentioned that violence was also used to a number
of journalists for their professional activity, including Haykakan
Zhamanak correspondent Lusine Barseghian and head of Radio Liberty’s
Yerevan Office Hrach Melkumian.

According to Human Rights Watch, people’s right to hold gatherings
was also violated last year. Stating that in the days of state
of emergency announced in March the National Assembly introduced
limitations to the law regulating this sphere, then reconsidered
them under international community’s pressure, the report recorded:
"The government rejected opposition’s many applications on holding
public actions of protest in late March, at least 90 people were
arrested for taking part in peaceful political walks."

"Besides, the report authors continue, according to Armenian human
rights activists, physical pressures were exerted on some of those
detained on the March 1 events during the arrests, when moving them
from one police department to another or in the isolation ward, while
the officials did not investigate these complaints." In general,
according to the report, tortures and bad attitude to imprisoned
people remain a widely spread phenomenon in Armenia’s prisons.

In the report’s concluding part Human Rights Watch recorded: "The
international observers estimated the February presidential elections
as mainly corresponding to the commitments assumed by the country,
but expressed concerns on the electoral process. The European Union has
also repeatedly expressed concern on force used by the authorities and
demonstrants’ arrests, and the United States dampened the allocations
of the Millennium Challenge corporation’s five-year program."

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT RECEIVES 70 BIDS OF BUSINESS PLANS WITH AIM OF OVERCOMING GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

Noyan Tapan

Jan 15, 2009

YEREVAN, JANUARY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. With the aim of overcoming the
global financial crisis, 70 bids of business plans have been received
in response to the Armenian government’s proposal. The Armenian
prime minister Tigran Satgsyan said at the January 15 sitting of the
government that some of the bids have been accepted for amendment,
while others have been rejected. The plans of interest to the
government are currently being discussed.

In his words, the major stress will be laid on replacement of import
by strengthening the capacities of local producers with export
orientation.

The prime minister said that the RA ministry of economy has been
instructed to discuss the policy on Armenian industry, by its
branches. Discussions of problems related to the development of
chemical and food industries will start next week.

It was mentioned there is a shortage of project managers in the
country, and for that reason many ideas are not realized.

APPELLATE COURT TO HEAR AYVAZYAN’S CASE

A1+
[05:56 pm] 14 January, 2009

The Appellate Court of the Republic of Armenia will hear the protest
against the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash
districts on January 16. Remind that the protest has been entered by
the advocates of the member of the Republic Party Smbat Ayvazyan.

Remind that on November 19, 2008 the Court of General Jurisdiction
sentenced Smbat Ayvazyan to two years’ of prison for carrying illegal
weapon and using violence against a government representative.

The advocates had challenged the court decision stating Ayvazyan’s
arrest was not grounded. Besides, the advocates said they hadn’t
had a chance to invite their witnesses to the sittings. The court
found that during the arrest Ayvazyan displayed disrespect for law
and resisted to the policemen.

Remind that Smbat Ayvazyan was detained on February 24, 2008 when
returning home from an opposition rally.