INTERNET BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA: GEORGIA DELIBERATELY OBSTRUCTS TRAFFIC TRANSIT?
Regnum, Russia
Aug. 9, 2006
The Georgian side, to all appearances, just switched off hardware
maintaining Armenia’s access to the internet, ArmenTel national
monopolist internet provider press secretary Hasmik Chutilyan said
in an interview to REGNUM. She says “the connection has just been
interrupted on the Georgian territory, which is hard to interpret at
the moment.”
Chutilyan stated recently that the internet connection was completely
restored after the cable failure on the Black Sea seabed, for which
“satellite connection and reserve sources had been used.” She also
said that the recovery of the Black Sea cable was underway and to be
completed in 10 days.
As it was reported earlier, population of Armenia twice for the last
week had been cut off the internet. The reason of the failure in
the work of Armenian internet providers became the cable breakage
on the Georgian territory. According to ArmenTel information, the
cable was damaged on August 4 in the Kutaisi region resulting in
Armenia’s having no internet connection for 6 hours. On August 5,
the cable was damaged on the Black Sea seabed.
The data transfer is performed through the only cable connecting
Armenia and Ukraine via Georgia on the Black Sea seabed. In the south,
the cable is connected to the analogous Iranian communications. Lately
it has been a third large-scale internet cable failure on the Georgian
territory.

MOST ARMENIANS ‘NOT DEPENDENT ON REMITTANCES’
By Shakeh Avoyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Aug. 10, 2006
The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) cited on Wednesday the findings of
new research to substantiate its assertion that most Armenians do not
live off external cash remittances and are therefore not suffering
from the dollar’s continuing dramatic depreciation.
Karine Karapetian, head of the bank’s statistics department, said a
household survey commissioned by the CBA has found that only 37 percent
of Armenian families regularly receive and rely on hard currency sent
by their members working abroad. She said most of those families are
part of the middle case, contrary to the widely held belief that the
beneficiaries of remittances are mainly low-income people.
However, this claim seems to be in conflict with the survey’s finding
that the incoming financial assistance is enough to meet only the
basic consumption needs of 76 percent of its recipients. Only one
percent of them can afford to save some of that cash.
CBA Chairman Tigran Sarkisian and other officials have consistently
insisted that poor households have been largely unaffected by a more
than 40 percent plunge in the dollar’s value against the Armenian
dram that has been registered since January 2004. They say a strong
dram has meant low inflation, which is far more important for the poor.
Government critics claim, however, that the Armenian authorities have
been “artificially” bolstering the dram to siphon off a large part
of the hard currency flowing into Armenia and benefit a small circle
of government-connected importers. The CBA has repeatedly dismissed
the claims, blaming the dram’s appreciation on recent years’ sizable
increase in the volume of the remittances.
According to Karapetian, they totaled at least $940 million last
year and are projected to rise by 17 percent this year. The dram has
already gained 13 percent in value against the dollar since January,
reaching a new high this week.

PAPER REPORTS ON GREEK PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS SERVING OVERSEAS
Ta Nea, Athens
5 Aug 06
Text of report by Loukas Dhimakas, “Greek military expeditions to
the unknown”, published by Greek newspaper Ta Nea on 5 August
Greece is preparing to embark on yet another uncertain “peacekeeping”
mission, with an unknown – and unpredictable – exit time. The
possibility of Greek participation in a military mission to Lebanon
was mooted by the government itself and, irrespective of official
statements, the Pentagon [Greek National Defence Ministry] has already
begun to draft various plans concerning our country’s participation.
As staff officers have pointed out: “The issue is not a simple
one and it is being carefully examined from the military point of
view.” Beyond the grave operational dangers facing any mission
operating in an unknown environment, the staff officers have to
face another major headache – the sheer numbers involved. There are
currently 1,221 members of the Greek armed forces – men and women –
serving in “peacekeeping operations” under the auspices of NATO, the
EU or the UN, in 15 hot spots around the world. The cost to Greece
is nearly 200m euros per year.
However, this is not the only issue. A number of missions have
already existed for over 15 years, with the most difficult of them
being Afghanistan. In the case of that country, the official view
expressed two days ago was that another 15 years would be required
before this mission could be successfully concluded. It should be
remembered that when, in 2003, the first Greek Army engineers left
for distant Kabul, it was generally believed that the situation there
would have been settled within two or three years. Today, the Taleban
attacks are becoming even more fierce, with 1,700 persons killed this
year alone. In the meantime, a few days ago the Americans handed over
responsibility of the south Afghanistan hotbed to a NATO-led force,
while they are preparing for their gradual withdrawal.
The current situation causes serious concerns to many of the European
countries participating in the multinational mission there and
vindicates the German analyst of “Die Zeit,” Mr Matthias Geis, who
recently wrote. Either today in Kosovo and in the Congo or tomorrow
in the Middle East, peacekeeping missions follow less and less a
well-planned strategy and more and more the necessities created by
the UN, the USA and… [ellipses as published] CNN!
In the countries of the former Yugoslavia, the foreign military
presence – including that of Greece – continues to be necessary for
over 12 years now, while there is no visible time for an exit. As
an experienced staff officer commented recently, “an exit strategy”
is rarely drafted. His comment was mainly directed at the Americans
who are, more or less, “directing” all peacekeeping operations during
the past 15 years. The same staff officer admits that “this can be
clearly seen in Iraq” and states that Washington is “applying pressure”
on its allies to join the countries willing to contribute troops.
However, he also points out that in certain cases, such as in the
Balkans, the Greek presence is necessary for geopolitical, economic
and diplomatic reasons. As he is quick to stress, “there exists a
new form of diplomacy – that of peacekeeping operations”.
The commander of the Greek battalion serving in Afghanistan is a man
of a few words. He is Stavros Varounas, a lt-col in the commandos and,
as he explains: “Our mission is very difficult. There are dangers
every single day.”
“Nevertheless,” he adds quickly, “we are professionals, well-trained,
well-armed and, naturally, we take all precautionary measures”.
These measures, however, did not prove sufficient to prevent a bomb
attack against a Greek convoy on the outskirts of Kabul a few months
ago. Nor did it prevent a rocket attack – fortunately without any
casualties – a few days ago against the headquarters of the ISAF
[International Stabilization Force] where 29 Greeks are billeted
temporarily.
“It was painful, but fortunately we suffered only two lightly-injured
soldiers,” says a Special Forces non-commissioned officer that was
travelling on the convoy attacked. He believes that “we were mistaken
for others”, since the “Yunan” (Greeks) are looked upon in a different
light from the other allies. A now retired general, however, takes a
more realistic view and says that the attack amounted to a “warning”
to the Greeks so that they, as well as the other Europeans, will not
consent to the handing over of responsibilities from the United States
to NATO.
The Greek mission, in addition to the security measures it is taking,
has another “shield”. This is the humanitarian work it is carrying
out. This applies mainly to the Kosovo, where certain local leaders
and a number of Albanian-speaking extremist elements do not look
favourably upon the Greek presence.
As Lt-Col Nikos Mekras, commanding officer of the 501st Battalion
deployed in Urosevac told Ta Nea: “The Greek Force in Kosovo is a
factor for security and stability in the region.” The battalion has
under its command one platoon from Armenia. As he explains, there
is constant collaboration with the local authorities, while the
main work of the ELDIKO [Greek Force in Kosovo] is the distribution
of humanitarian help, public works construction and the offer of
medical care.
Last year, a 15-member strong unit of Greek soldiers came very near
to a general shootout with an extremist mob that was probably directed
against them.
The incident took place in the northern Kosovo village of Urosevac. The
Greeks were guarding a Serbian Orthodox church when they were attacked
and endured an hours-long siege by Albanian-speaking extremists that
wounded one lieutenant. A non-commissioned officer who was a member of
the unit describes the incident as follows: “I lived through a mini,
but nevertheless real, ‘Black Hawk Down’ experience. Fortunately, the
armoured vehicles arrived on time, followed by US helicopters that
started firing, throwing tear gas and flares and were thus able to
save us.” He stresses that it was a difficult night, with everybody
risking their lives.

BERLIN’S ETHNIC CLEANSING EXHIBITION CONTROVERSIAL IN POLAND
Report by Krysia Kolosowska
Radio Polonia, Poland
Aug. 9, 2006
Some Poles are wary of an exhibition on expulsions in the 20th century
which opens in Berlin tomorrow, headed by the vocal champion of German
expellee claims, Erica Steinbach.
The exhibition aims to show how expulsions – what we would call today
‘ehtnic cleansing – affected various European nations, starting from
the Armenians in 1915, through the Germans at the end of World War II,
to the Balkan nations more recently.
Erica Steinbach went out of her way to assure that the exhibition is
not biased and that its intentions are honest.
“Naturally, we will show forced expulsions and deportations after
1939 of Poles, the Baltic people and Ukrainians and the expulsions
of Germans at the end of World War II. Their fate will be presented
in a historical context.”
But Poland is wary when such exhibitions are organized by the German
Union of Expellees, which represents the interests of Germans displaced
from their homes in present-day Poland, the Czech republic and other
east European countries.
The resettlement was orchestrated by the victorious Western Allies and
the Soviet Union and affected also millions of Poles, Ukrainians and
Jews. German expellees have long been advancing compensation claims
towards Poland for property left behind on its territory.
Piotr Nowina-Konopka from the Warsaw-based Schumann Foundation says
that under Erica Steinbach the Union of German Expellees did a lot
to sour bilateral relations.
“Mrs Steinbach is neither a historian nor an expellee, she hasn’t
a moral right to defend the case. Second point – we had already bad
experience with the association under her leadership and that’s why
in Poland there is a generally bad feeling about its activities and
this latest initiative. Of course, must see the exhibition to judge
whether it’s objective and whether it shows the reason that led to
all the cruelties that, without any doubt, happened.”
Voices can be heard in Germany today that the suffering of Poles at
the hands of Nazi Germans between 1939 and 1945 is comparable with
the suffering of German expellees at the end of the war.
Eva Kraftchyk of the German DPA agency understands Poland’s suspicions
that Germany is trying to rewrite its history, but she thinks such
fears are exaggerated.
“The tone of discussions in Poland over the past months is not very
objective. I don’t think that anyone who is serious in Germany would
try to pretend that Germany did not attack Poland, is not responsible
for the Holocaust and did not start the war.”
Furthermore, Eva Kraftchyk believes that the expellees have a moral
right to show their suffering.
“The refugees lost their homes in what is now western Poland,
Kaliningrad, the Czech Republic and other countries. That was a very
dramatic experience for these people. Now they are very old and they
want to tell their stories. I don’t think this should arouse fears
that Germany is trying to rewrite its history. It’s about showing
all the facts.”
Piotra Nowina-Konopka agrees that the suffering of the expellees needs
to be remembered but he expects more good will first to be shown by
the German Expellees Union.
“The most important problem in Polish-German relations is to find
reconciliation in truth and good will. But this was missing when we
were observing the activities of Mrs Steinbach.”
The Polish government is sending an independent expert to Berlin to
visit the exhibition and appraise its message. Only then will Warsaw
take a stand on the exhibition.
ticle.asp?tId=40301&j=2

HEAD OF ORGANIZATION FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS PROTECTION KILLED IN ARMENIA
Author: À. Mammadov
TREND, Azerbaijan
Aug. 9, 2006
(PanARMENIAN.Net) – Well-known entrepreneur, head of the Organization
for Children’s Rights Protection Alexander Givoyev was killed
on Ashtarak-Gyumri highway in Armenia. Upon receiving an alarm on
shooting the policemen found Givoyev’s body with wounds, reports Trend.
It was found out that the entrepreneur with his family was heading
for Gyumri in his own car. When he stopped at a shop and got off
the car an unknown fired on him out of a red VAZ-2199 car. Givoyev
died immediately. Shop assistant Gyulnara Karapetyan also died from
wounds. A criminal case was initiated and an investigation started,
reported Newsarmenia.ru.
–Boundary_(ID_U1exb2oulweirR6ti8 aBLw)–

CANADIAN COMPANY INTENDS TO MAKE LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Aug 10 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The Canadian company Dundee Precious
Metals (DPM) purchased a large stake of Deno Gold Mining Company
(DGMC) CJSC (Armenia), which was founded in 2004, and intends to
make long-term investments in further development of the mines
near Kapan. Under an agreement signed in Yerevan on August 10,
the only shareholder of DGMC, British company Vatrin Investment
Ltd. passes 80% of its shares to Dundee Precious Metals. Paul Bushell,
representative of Vatrin Investment, told reporters that the deal’s
cost and other details will be announced later. At the same time,
Dundee Precious Metals expressed a willingness to invest 10 mln USD in
DGMC’s assets in the near future for research work and other capital
expenditures. For the same purpose, it is envisaged to get additional
crediting from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD). DGMC located in Kapan is carrying out mining in the Shahumian
polymetal mine and Kapan’s central copper mine. DPM, which is one of
Canada’s leading mining companies, intends to increase the annual
extraction at the mine to 1 mln tons instead of the current amount
of 300 thousand tons. Jonathan Goodman, Chairman and Chief Executive
Director of Dundee Precious Metals, said that there are all the three
prerequisites for their business in Armenia. These are a) the country’s
commitment to developing this sector, b) experienced workforce, c)
the possibility to manage the assets for a long-term perspective,
paying attention to the environmental issues. “Our goal is not just to
get money and run,” he noted. Paul Bushell expressed an opinion that
having such an investor as Dundee Precious Metals is a great success
for Armenia, as DPM intends to operate here for 20-25 years. “This
is your government’s policy success,” he noted. EBRD representative
Mark Rachovides reminded that the bank has already allocated a 4.5
mln-dollar credit to DGMC, which has achieved a remarkable success
in organizing production at the abandoned mines. He added that the
bank anticipates to sign bigger deals with this company in the future.

DOES ARMENIA WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH TURKEY?
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Aug. 9, 2006
Armenia is trying to be close with Turkey. Regnum News-Agency referring
to the document entitled Armenian commitments within the framework
of the Individual Partnership with NATO, placed in web-site of the
Ministry of Defence of Armenia informed. The document says that the
main purpose of Armenian foreign policy is a full-fledged integration
to European structures, and also aiming at being close with NATO,
it intends to activate practical and political cooperation with the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
The document highlights that allegedly “in the point of relations with
neighbors Armenia desires stability and security in the region as well
as a constructive development and improving of these relations. Armenia
makes efforts aiming at peace regulation of the Nagorno-Garabagh
conflict and will assist the OSCE Minsk Group.”
It is noteworthy that “Armenia provided to be aimed at regulating
of relations with Turkey and will be consistent with regulation of
a constructive dialogue with Turkey, including relations with Turkey
for these purposes.” The document affirms so.
It is appropriate mention that Armenia is a military-strategic partner
of Russia, a member of the Organization of Treaty for Collective
Security, and also a military bastion of Russia in the South
Caucasus. Because making a curtsey towards the European structures,
particularly NATO, can mean the policy of double standards. While
NATO-Russian relationship develops not simple and Russia has been
always against NATO enlargement to the East, Armenian foreign policy
looks hypocritical and double-faced. The statement that Armenia
will assist the OSCE Minsk Group causes distrust, as its destructive
position and desire to keep status quo is also available.
Armenian’ desire “to be consistent with regulation of a constructive
dialogue with Turkey” within the context of the demands of recognition
of “Armenian genocide”, and consequently, demands of compensation
from Turkey, are beneath criticism, in general.
–Boundary_(ID_epXW9h9fbl/uqM3JXya92w)–

T.TOROSIAN: IMPOSSIBLE TO CREATE A FULL-FLEDGED PARTY IN A YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Aug 10 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, NOYAN TAPAN. It’s impossible to create a
full-fledged party in a year. Tigran Torosian, the the RA National
Assembly Speaker, expressed such an opinion, commenting upon the
possible role of the “Bargavach Hayastan” (“Prospering Armenia”) and
“Miavorum Hanun Hayastani” (“Unification in the Name of Armenia”)
parties, which are newly being formed, in the political life of the
country. Responding the question concerning RA Prosecutor General
Aghvan Hovsepian’s standing up for the “Miavorum Hanun Hayastani”
party, in the interview given to the “France-Armenie” magazine, the
NA Speaker said that one must remember the experience of Artashes
Tumanian, the fomer head of the RA President’s staff when the latter
founded a party and when it became obvios that he had a serious
role, he was discharged. “Mr.Hovsepian is the Prosecutor General
of the country, he is also a lawyer, and I think that the following
developments will not have a similar outcome. But I agree that legal
bodies must have no participation in the political life,” the NA
Speaker said.
“Parties, which are not fully formed yet, are of some danger for the
political multi-party system, as not having any experience, not having
a fully formed party, groups of people attempt to use other means for
having success. It may be financial means, may be administrative means,
etc.,” Tigran Torosian said.

RUSSIA TO AIM AT RAPID SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO-GARABAGH CONFLICT
Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Aug. 9, 2006
On August 8 Safar Abiyev, the Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan,
General Colonel met with Vasiliy Istratov, the Ambassador of Russia
to Azerbaijan. Minister congratulated the guest on new appointment and
wished him successes in development of Azerbaijan-Russian relations.
Safar Abiyev, General-Colonel said that Azerbaijan is ongoing
collaboration with Russia in many fields, including military field.
He told: “Russia is our historical neighbor. We have to make all
efforts for maintenance and development of neighborhood traditions.
It is not by chance that 50th anniversary of the meeting of the
Council of Ministers of Defence of CIS was held recently in Baku. It
was extremely useful arrangement.”
V. Istratov, the Ambassador told: “I am very pleased being appointed
as Ambassador to Azerbaijan. I believe that nothing will impede
development of Azerbaijan-Russian bilateral relations. Azerbaijan
should become Russian partner in all fields. We’ll make all efforts for
that. The efforts of the President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin
and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev aim at this purpose. We
shall continue our cooperation with Azerbaijan in military field.”
Regarding the settlement of Azerbaijan-Armenian Nagorno-Garabagh
conflict, the Minister of Defence of Azerbaijan emphasized: “We desire
that Russian Federation as Co-Chairman State activates its efforts
once more for conflict regulation. Russia knows well the history and
reasons of appearance of this conflict.”
V. Istratov said: “Azerbaijan is an important State for Russia in
the South Caucasus region. Russia will aim at rapid settlement of
Nagorno-Garabagh conflict.”
The meeting exchanged views concerning perspectives of
Azerbaijan-Russian cooperation in all fields.
–Boundary_(ID_k2mU3hquNLZA/DrSsBJ6Dw)–

T.TOROSIAN: PAWNING FOR GETTING OFF WITH CALL UP IS AN UNSUCCESSFUL SOLUTION
Noyan Tapan
Aug 10 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Tigran Torosian, the RA National
Assembly Speaker, believes that the pawn for getting off with the
call up for studying abroad is an unsuccessful solution. Responding
a reader’s question in the “Azg” daily internet site, he said that
this system brings to a fact that children from poor families lose
the possibility of getting high-quality education, even if the
foreign university covers all expenses. The one asking the question
criticized that decision of the RA Government, according to which,
boys going abroad to study, are obliged to pay pawn equivalent to 10-15
thousand dollars to the state treasure house for being transferred
to the reserve.
“Though the goal is understandable: to make students interested
in returning Armenia. And a student, got the privilege, who is
transferred to the reserve, must be under an obligation towards
the Fatherland. But this student must be returned Armenia owing
to attention and care,” the NA Speaker said. Tigran Torosian also
said that the Ministry of Education and Science must keep an eye on
the process and progress of education of students studying abroad,
and after they return Armenia, it must propose a job of at least 1-2
years at a state structure. “Still in 1999 I gave this idea to the
Minister of Education of that time, who considered it very attractive,
but no step has been taken by now.
Probably, it needs to be fixed by a law,” the NA Speaker said in
his answer.