Author: Zargarian Hambik

RUSSIAN SKINHEAD ATTACKS INCREASE IN WAKE OF GEORGIAN WAR
Paul Goble

Georgiandaily
October 07, 2008
NY

After a decline in the first nine months of 2008, the number of
Russian skinhead attacks on ethnic minorities increased last month,
in part because many non-Russians returned to cities in the Russian
Federation after holidays but also in part because of the anti-minority
sentiment whipped up during the Russian invasion of Georgia.

Last week, the Moscow Human Rights Bureau released its report for
the first three quarters of this year. It found that there had been a
decline in the number of attacks on ethnic and religious minorities
for the first eight months compared to the same period in 2007,
a finding that Russian news outlets celebrated.

But the Moscow Bureau reported that the number of attacks, deaths
and wound inflicted, and what it described as "terrorist attacks"
on minorities, such as blowing up of a Moscow cafe frequented by
minorities or a firebombing of an Orthodox Church in Karelia, had
all gone up during the last month of that reporting period.

During that month, the bureau said, there had been 27 xenophobic
attacks which had resulted in 11 deaths and 34 injuries. The most
frequently attacked groups were Azesrbaijanis, Daghestanis, Armenians,
Uzbeks, Ingush, Tajiks, Chinese, people from the Arab world, Russians
and Japanese

The presence of Russians on this list, the bureau’s experts said,
"in a majority of cases" reflects not an outbreak of russophobia but
rather the involvement of ethnic Russian skinheads who have suffered
injuries or deaths when they have attacked members of ethnic or
religious minorities.

In an article published in "Gazeta" yesterday, the bureau’s Semen
Charniy pointed out that the earlier decline so many Russian outlets
have noted was the product of the departure of many non-Russians to
their homelands over the summer and that the increase in September
followed their return to Russian cities.

But Charniy stressed one aspect of the Moscow Bureau’s report that had
received less attention earlier. The violence of skinhead attacks on
minorities is increasing: "If earlier, most of the cases involved
beatings," he noted, "the now, the main goal [of the skinheads]
is not to beat but to kill."

And President Dmitry Medvedev pointed out that Russian officials
"are beginning to encounter [such attacks] in places and for reasons
about which [no one] had thought before," an indication that xenophobic
attacks are spreading and being directed at groups beyond those, like
"persons of Caucasus nationality" who had been the primary objects
of hate crimes earlier.

Charniy did not link the recent decline to Moscow’s stepped up
enforcement program – something Medvedev is committed to doing –
or the upsurge to the nationalist anger toward minorities during and
after the Russian military action in Georgia. But both are clearly
part of the explanation.

On the one hand, the bureau reported, 19 individuals were convicted
of hate crimes. And on the other, anti-immigrant groups, encouraged
by anti-Georgian messages in the Russian media, stepped up their
activities in August and September against many groups but not
Georgians.

Three things are striking about this report and the reaction it has
generated. First, skinheads are becoming more active and violent
rather than less across Russia. Second, they are being energized by
the government’s own nationalistic propaganda even as Moscow promises
and in some cases acts against them.

And third – and this is by far the most important aspect of this
situation – Russian skinheads whose passions are inflamed about a
particular ethnic or religious minority as a result of media coverage
or an actual development may very well strike out at members of other
readily identified minorities rather than the one they say they are
angry at.

Thus, as German Pastor Niemuller reminded the world 70 years ago, no
one can feel comfortable when radical nationalists attack minorities
because when the former get away with beating or killing the latter,
the members of ever more groups are at risk, however safe they assume
themselves to be.

CONFERENCE OF BSEC MEMBER COUNTRIES OPENS IN KRASNODAR PROVINCE

ARMENPRESS
Oct 2, 2008

KRASNODAR, OCTOBER 2, ARMENPRESS: The international conference of
member countries of Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization
started its works today in Krasnodar province, Russia, press service
of provincial department of complex development of resort centers
and tourism reported.

"The participants of the council will discuss the issues of
development of resort and tourist complexes in Krasnodar province and
in participating countries, the potential and investment opportunities
of resort towns, as well as modern approach towards preparation of
staff for the tourist branch," the press service reported.

Twelve states are the members of BSEC including Albania, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Greece, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Romaine,
Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

DISCUSSION WAS NOT OBJECTIVE

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
01 Oct 2008
Armenia

The discussion held yesterday by the Monitoring Committee of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) was mainly
devoted to the last report of Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas
Hammarberg and the process of Armenia’s implementation of Resolutions #
1609 and 1620.

"Unfortunately, I can’t say that the major part of the speeches
was sufficiently impartial, taking into consideration the fact that
attempts were made to associate the situation with the Karabakh issue,
the so-called occupation of the Azerbaijani territories by Armenia and
the ethnic cleansings. That is, I can’t say that the discussion was
objective," Head of the Armenian delegation David Haroutyunyan reported
to Radio Station "Liberty" at the end of the Committee session.

However, Mr. Haroutyunyan also said that the Armenian delegation was
able to point out to the Committee members certain positive progress
made by Armenia. "First of all, I attach much importance to the
fact that the inquest is over, because delays in inquest procedures
constitute a most serious violation of human rights and should be
put an end to as quickly as possible.

The case is still being considered by the court, and at this stage,
I attach importance to holding an independent and impartial proceeding
which will make it possible to eval uate the process at the end. The
fact that certain positive steps have already been taken does not
give way to any doubt, in my opinion.

"Unfortunately, we are still unable to achieve the adoption of
any document on setting up a fact-finding expert group, but the
negotiations with the Commissioner for Human Rights and the experts
continue intensively.

I hope that the adoption of a legal document of setting up that group
is a matter of just a couple of days," D. Haroutyunyan mentioned,
not ruling out the possibility that Thomas Hammarberg will again
visit Armenia in the nearest future.

The Monitoring Committee didn’t discuss the recent amendments to the
law "On Television and Radio".

ARMENIA’S BEST IT STUDENTS RECEIVE ANNUAL PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS DURING SYNOPSYS WEEK

armradio.am
30.09.2008 11:42

Synopsys, Inc., a world leader in software and IP for semiconductor
design and manufacturing, today announced that 29 of Armenia’s
brightest IT students were awarded Presidential Awards during Synopsys
Week. Established in 2005 with the approval of Armenia’s previous
president, Robert Kocharyan, Synopsys entered into an agreement with
the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund to establish the Annual Educational
Awards for the best IT students in Armenia. The awards honor students
who have the highest grades, are active in social programs, have
participated in Armenian Microelectronics Olympiads, have written
scientific papers or articles, and who have comprehensive knowledge
and talent.

In 2008, the committee selected 20 deserving students from the State
Engineering University of Armenia (SEUA), Yerevan State University
(YSU), the Engineering College of the American University of Armenia
(AUA), and the Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) State University (RAU). Nine
students were also chosen from eligible high schools, including
the A. Shahinyan Physics-Math Special School, Quant College, Anania
Shirakatsi College, Photon College from Gyumri, and Evrika College
of Vanadzor (see Appendix 2). The Presidential IT Awards Committee
screened 134 nominees: 83 students from four universities and 51
pupils from six schools.

"It is an honor to continue the tradition of the Presidential IT Awards
with President Serzh Sargsyan," said Rich Goldman, co director of the
Board of the Annual Presidential Educational Awards, vice president
of Corporate Marketing and Strategic Alliances at Synopsys, and chief
executive officer of Synopsys Armenia CJSC. "The awards are becoming
an enduring testament to Armenia’s growing prowess in engineering."

This year, the committee expanded the list of nominations with a new
category, "Grand Prix." Along with certificates, financial awards
and an Apple iPod Shuffle, winners received special Presidential
Educational Trophies symbolizing the IT industry. Following the awards
ceremony, the winners had a special meeting with the President of
the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan.

A number of categories and financial awards, financed by Synopsys
Armenia closed joint stock company (CJSC), have been established for
the winners: 1. Grand Prix (1200$/360000 AMD) 2. Best PhD Student
(Icategory-1000$/300000AMD, II category- 750$/225000 AMD) 3. Best
Master Student (Icategory-750$/225000AMD, II category-500$/150000
AMD) 4. Best Bachelor Student (Icategory-500$/150000AMD, II
category-400$/120000 AMD) 5. Best female student (500$/150000 AMD)
6. Best high school student (100$/30000 AMD)

"The development of the IT industry in Armenia is very important," said
Ara Vardanyan, co-director of the Board of the Annual Presidential
Educational Awards, and acting executive director of the Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund.

"By promoting their achievements we can help motivate and encourage
our youth to work harder and acquire more knowledge. I’m confident
that the winners of these awards are going to play key roles in
tomorrow’s Armenian IT sphere."

"The intellectual level of award participants this year has increased
significantly," said Hovik Musayelyan, president of the Annual
Presidential Educational Awards Committee, and executive director of
Synopsys Armenia SJCS. "These young people will help lead our workforce
and are expected to make a serious contribution to Armenia’s future."

"I’m honored to have been nominated and to be one of the winners in
this inspiring group," said Ani Harutyunyan, the 1st category winner
amongst the "Best Bachelor Student" nominees. "Receiving this award at
the beginning of my career obligates me to do my best for the bright
future of Armenia."

CAUCASUS PLATFORM MAY PROMOTE FROZEN CONFLICTS RESOLUTION, TURKISH EXPERT SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.09.2008 16:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s Caucasus platform serves the interests
of all countries in the region, according to deputy chairman of the
Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies (TASAM).

"Such an alliance could serve the interests of all the countries’
involved. Turkey proposed to set up a platform for cooperation and
stability in the Caucasus to help the resolution of conflicts through
dialogue after the Russia-Georgia conflict," Murat Bilhan said.

"Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, the countries planned
to take part in this formation had voiced optimism, however experts are
divided over the prospect of such a platform. I think Turkey’s proposal
as a positive step. It is highly achievable. Azerbaijan and Armenia
have already welcomed the proposal. Iran declared its immediate desire
to join. I believe that Russia will also be positive in its outlook,"
he said, adding that such an alliance could also contribute to the
resolution of frozen conflicts in the region, like Nagorno Karabakh.

"Turkey may host the headquarters of this alliance, as it did in
the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) that was established upon
Turkey’s proposal by in Istanbul in 1994," Bilhan concluded, Hurriyet
daily reports.

ARMENIA SLIDES IN GLOBAL CORRUPTION RANKINGS
By Astghik Bedevian

25 sept 08

The situation with government corruption in Armenia has continued
to slowly but steadily deteriorate in the past year, according to
the latest global survey released by a respected anti-graft watchdog
on Tuesday.

Every year the Berlin-based Transparency International (TI) rates
countries of the world on a 10-point scale, with zero indicating an
extremely high degree of corruption as perceived by entrepreneurs
and experts.

Armenia, along with Argentina, Moldova and four other states, ranked
109th out of 180 nations covered by Transparency International’s 2008
Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). It was assigned a score of 2.9,
faring slightly worse than it did in the previous CPI released one
year ago.

Armenia’s score is based on seven corruption-related surveys conducted
by other organizations, including the World Bank. It had already
dropped by 0.1 point to 3.0 last year, dragging the country down to
99th place in TI’s 2007 rankings.

By contrast, TI found a further significant drop in perceived
corruption in neighboring Georgia, giving the latter 3.9 points and
putting it in 67th place. Georgia was 79th in last year’s CPI.

As always, the Armenian government and its supporters will draw
comfort from the fact that all other non-Baltic former Soviet states
were again judged to be more corrupt than Armenia. In particular, its
arch-foe Azerbaijan regressed to 158th place in TI’s latest rankings.

TI’s Armenian affiliate, the Center for Regional Development (CRD),
portrayed the survey as a further indication of the `systemic’
character of bribery and other corrupt practices that have long
plagued the country.

`Unfortunately, there are very few areas unaffected by corruption,’
the CRD chairwoman, Amalia Kostanian, told a news conference. `If
corruption is systemic, you can not eradicate it in one particular
area.’

The administration of former President Robert Kocharian pledged to
combat corruption throughout its decade-long rule that came to an
end last spring.

It launched in 2003 a Western-backed anti-corruption program consisting
of mainly legislative measures. There is little evidence that they
have reduced the scale of graft, however.

Kocharian’s successor and longtime close associate, Serzh Sarkisian,
admitted in July that the virtual absence of prosecutions of corrupt
government officials has undermined public trust in the declared
crackdowns on corruption. `People must see that we are not only
talking but also acting,’ Sarkisian said in a speech. `If we talk
about corruption all day long and don’t show persons engaged in it,
then our actions will not only produce zero results but will further
aggravate the situation.’

His prime minister, Tigran Sarkisian, (no relation) has been even more
vocal in acknowledging the seriousness of the problem. Sarkisian has
described graft as the number one problem facing Armenia.

Opposition politicians and other government critics dismiss the
significance of such statements, saying that corruption is one of the
pillars of Armenia’s political system that has allowed Kocharian,
Sarkisian and other top officials to stay in power. They also say
that Armenian law-enforcement agencies are themselves too corrupt to
tackle the problem in earnest.

UN News Centre

Black Sea region needs greater UN presence, countries tell General Assembly

Lazar Comanescu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Romania

27 September 2008 ` Senior officials from Romania and Bulgaria have
called on the United Nations to play an enhanced role in promoting
democracy and regional peace and stability across the Black Sea area,
saying the recent conflict in Georgia signalled some of the challenges
the region faces. Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu told the
General Assembly’s annual high-level debate today that the benefits
that would flow from a more stable region are enormous.

`If we take a closer look we see a region with a large population, an
important hub for energy and transport flows, a great economic
potential,’ he said.

`The United Nations should be there to assist the region not only in
de-frosting conflicts, but also to help coastal countries in
cooperating to solve problems related to pollution, illegal migration,
organized crime and drug trafficking, so as to project stability and
to support development.’

Mr. Comanescu said the conflict in August in Georgia’s breakaway South
Ossetia region, `with its reverberations in Abkhazia and the entire
State of Georgia and beyond, should focus the attention of the
international community on all protracted conflicts in the area,
including Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh.’

In his address yesterday to the Assembly, Bulgarian Prime Minister
Sergei Stanishev said the UN’s experience in peacemaking and conflict
prevention could be much better utilized by the Black Sea region.

`Democracy, security and cooperation still have their further way to
go in the Black Sea region,’ he said. `More coherent efforts are
needed for the ultimate settlement of the protracted conflicts
there. Frozen conflicts should not be neglected because they tend to
re-ignite tension time and again.’

Mr. Stanishev said the fighting in South Ossetia between Georgian,
Russian and South Ossetian forces provided `ample evidence’ of the
need to resolve frozen conflicts sooner rather than later.

`Should the plans for a regional centre for UN mediation in the
Western Balkans/Black Sea area meet approval by Member States,
Bulgaria stands ready to host it in Sofia, and to facilitate in every
possible way its activities in South-East Europe, in the South
Caucasus and other neighbouring areas,’ he added.

Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, also speaking yesterday in the
General Debate, said it was vital to keep working towards greater
stability across South-East Europe, particularly given the `unfinished
business’ in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

`The foundations for stability in this country reside in the respect
for equal rights for all three constituent and sovereign people:
Croats, Bosniaks and Serbs,’ Mr. Sanader said.

`The Republic of Croatia, along with the international community,
stands ready to support and assist Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as
all the countries in the region, through an active policy of
cooperation. Such cooperation paves the way for long-standing security
and prosperity in South-East Europe.’

ARMENIAN IMEX GROUP TO ISSUE 1 BLN DRAMS WORTH CORPORATE BONDS

ARKA
Sep 25, 2008

YEREVAN, September 25. /ARKA/. Armenia’s IMEX Group Ltd plans to issue
on October 13-15 coupon bonds worth 1bln drams. The nominal price of
the 24-month bonds is 10,000 drams with 11.5% annual yield.

The income from the issue will help the company expand business and
increase circulating assets, said Norayr Khachatryan, president of
IMEX Group.

"We plan to attract enterprises and financial organizations, as they
can get major benefits from investments in our company," he added.

Ameriabank is the underwriter of the issue.

"The advantage of the bonds is that they have a put option, allowing
redemption a year after the issue," said Arak Anesyan, president
of Ameriabank.

The Central Bank of Armenia licensed IMEX Group’s issue on September 1.

The deadline for the public subscription is October 10.

IMEX Group is the official representative of 75 European companies in
Armenia. It represents such companies as the Ideal System, Keramika,
Thermotech, BAXI, Ermenegildo Zegna and Emporio Armani.

The company’s sales proceeds totaled 8.3bln last year. Its net
profit amounted to 1bln drams with 22.5% earnings yield. IMEX Group’s
2004-2007 investments were worth 800mln drams.

The Ameriabank CJSC (former Armimpexbank) was established in 1992 as
the Armenian branch of the USSR Vnesheconombank.

Last August the TDA Holding Limited, affiliate of the Russian Troika
Dialog, became the bank’s shareholder. The bank was renamed Ameriabank
this May.

According to ARKA, the bank ranks 11th among the 22 local commercial
banks for its first-half assets and liabilities. Ameriabank ranks10th
in local market for total capital and the sixth for authorized capital
stock. ($1 – 304.31 drams)

US ENVOY NOMINEE DOESN’T BOW TO ‘GENOCIDE’ PRESSURE

Today’s Zaman
26 September 2008, Friday
Turkey

The Bush administration’s nominee for US ambassador to Turkey has
refused to call the killings of Anatolian Armenians during World War
I "genocide" or "ethnic cleansing," despite pressure from a leading
pro-Armenian Democratic senator.

During his confirmation hearing before the US Senate’s Foreign
Relations Committee on Wednesday, career diplomat James F. Jeffrey
responded to leading questions, particularly posed by Democratic
Senator Robert Menendez.

In May 2006 US President George W. Bush removed John Evans, then
ambassador to Armenia, who had openly described the Armenian killings
as genocide, in violation of Washington’s official policy. He nominated
career diplomat Richard E. Hoagland for the post, but Menendez blocked
the nomination when Hoagland failed to describe the Armenian incident
as genocide. Bush then nominated Marie Yovanovitch, who also declined
to use the word "genocide." She recently arrived in Yerevan.

In her opening testimony at her confirmation hearing in June,
Yovanovitch used the terms "mass killings," "ethnic cleansing" and
"forced deportation" when describing the incident. The first question
posed to Jeffrey by Menendez during his confirmation hearing, according
to the Anatolia news agency, was "What should the US do in the event
of Turkey’s acceptance of genocide of its own accord?"

"The administration will make a decision by taking all factors
into consideration," Jeffrey said in response. Jeffrey also said
that he would support initiatives which encourage Turkish-Armenian
rapprochement and noted that Washington favors the unconditional
opening of borders with Armenia by Turkey as well as the establishment
of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

When Jeffrey used the term "forced exile," while speaking of the 1915
incidents, Menendez said that he was disappointed that this term fell
short of the term "ethnic cleansing," which was earlier used by some
US officials.

In response, Jeffrey said that he was behind statements by officials
which outline US policy, but still refrained from using the term
"ethnic cleansing," Anatolia reported.

Armenia claims that Ottoman Turks killed up to 1.5 million Armenians
during World War I, toward the end of the Ottoman Empire, and labels
the killings as genocide. Turkey says that the casualty figures are
inflated and that the deaths occurred during a time of civil conflict
when both Armenians and Turks were killed.

In early June Bush announced his intention to nominate Jeffrey as
the new US ambassador to Turkey, replacing the current Ambassador
Ross Wilson. Jeffrey is a career member of the Senior Foreign
Service currently serving as deputy national security advisor to
the president. Before he can begin his mission in Turkey, Jeffrey’s
nomination must be approved by the US Senate.

Earlier this week, Bryan Ardouny, executive director of the Armenian
Assembly of America, outlined the expectations which the Armenian
diaspora in the US has of the ambassadorial nominee. "This represents
a critical opportunity for the US ambassador to Turkey to go further
than Ambassador Yovanovitch and, this time, to squarely affirm the
Armenian genocide," said Ardouny.

PUBLIC CHAMBER AFFILIATED TO THE ARMENIAN POLICE TO BE CREATED

ARMENPRESS
Sep 24, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS: With the decision of the Armenian
government a public chamber affiliated to the Armenian police will
be created, chief of the police Alik Sargsyan said today at a press
conference. The chamber will be formed in the coming days and will
include intellectuals – writers, musicians, scientists, representatives
of non-governmental organizations.

Alik Sargsyan said that by the creation of the council it will be
possible to make the work of the system more transparent for the
public. The members of the council will not only participate in the
works but will also have oversight function.