Author: Karagyozian Lena

THIS IS THE SCENE THAT RAISED THE SPIRIT OF THE REVOLUTIONARIES
Kima Yeghiazaryan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
06 Nov 08
Armenia

As we know, the members of the NA interim committee dealing with the
investigation of the March 1-2 incidents and their causes recently
visited the Police military unit No. 10/33 with the purpose of meeting
with the commanders and finding out the circumstances of the death
of Tigran Abgaryan, a serviceman who was injured during the March
1-2 incidents and passed away 40 days later.

Commander of the military unit Arsen Galstyan gave the committee
members a thorough description on the number of the servicemen of
the unit, the main tools of their armament and the process of the
activities of the demonstrators and servicemen. He pointed out that on
March 1, around 7 o’clock in the morning, the detachment consisting
of 200 servicemen was deployed in the neighborhood of the opera;
at that time, the territory was already cleared of the demonstrators.

The servicemen were already armed with individual tools of protection,
rubber clubs, anti-attack shields and plastic helmets. Their armament
consisted of special chemical means and bullets with gas grenades
("Tcheryomoukha 4", "Tcheryomoukha 7", "Siren-6" and 6 karabin rifles –
KS-23, that were envisaged for shooting highly explosive shells filled
with gas).

As mentioned by Armen Antonyan, Head of military unit No. 10/33, they
were instructed to move to the intersection of Grigor Lousavorich and
Paronyan streets at around 19:00 p.m., after being deployed in Mashtots
Avenue. In that period, the demonstrators initiated provocative acts
against the soldiers; they threw stones and burning bottles to them
and shouted insults.

According to Mr. Antonyan, 4-5 servicemen were poisoned by the special
means used against them, and some others received missile wounds. The
demonstrators burnt down the ambulance car of the military unit,
which had several injured soldiers lying inside.

At around 21:00-22:00 in the evening, when the soldiers tried to
block the way with barbed wires, the crowd attacked the UAZ vehicle,
forced the soldiers out by beating them and confiscated the vehicle
which was later used for running over Gevorg Tevanyan.

The demonstrators used a great pressure, and the detachment, according
to A.

Antonyan, retreated from Leo Street. A grenade was thrown at them,
but fortunately, it fell between the wall and two parked vehicles. The
vehicles were totally damaged. One of the officers received missile
wounds there.

After a short while, Tigran Abgaryan, a serviceman standing in
the first ranks, fell down unexpectedly. It turned out that he had
received a fire-arm injury on the neck. Because the ambulance of the
military unit had burnt down, it was impossible to provide first aid
to the injured immediately. A little later, he was moved to hospital.

So, what’s described above exactly coincides with the instructions of
Nikol Pashinyan when the latter announced, "Our guys have occupied the
bridge of the avenue. We need 50 volunteers; it’s necessary to move
forward and strengthen our positions. Around 200-300 people should
move forward to the fish store and strengthen our positions next to
the other shops. Our guys guard the barbed wires, hurrah!"

And he also announced, "Dear people, this papa has brought news
that all the soldiers standing in the avenue have escaped" and
generally, "the whole process is under control." Then he spoke into
the microphone, asking Myasnik Malkhasyan, Hakob Hakobyan, Sassoun
Makaelyan and the heads of LTP’s campaign headquarters to approach
the platform for conducting a discussion over the course of their
further activities.

By the way, the operator of "A1+" worked in the same section of the
road (the intersection of Gr. Lousavorich-Paronyan streets), and
what’s even more, the time of filming the scenes coincides with the
description of the Head of the military unit. But for some reason, he
"didn’t notice" the soldiers injured as a result of the operations of
the "peaceful demonstrators" and didn’t film them. Or, he "pretended
not to notice" the burning ambulance car and the other vehicles damaged
by the grenades. Leaving aside Tigran Abgaryan who was falling down,
he hurried to take pictures of the body parts of the piglet "stained
with blood".

We wonder whether the members of the interim committee will try to
combine the description given in the military unit with the speeches
of the revolutionaries or they will lean on the allegations of the
activists who persist in their statements that the police testimonies
and the information obtained from the military unit cannot be
considered reliable.

PRESIDENT SARGSYAN CONGRATULATES BARACK OBAMA

armradio.am
05.11.2008 15:37

President Serzh Sargsyan today sent a congratulatory message to US
President-elect, Senator Barack Obama. The message states:

"Dear Mr. Obama, I warmly congratulate you on being elected the 44th
President of the United States of America.

I’m confident that during your tenure in office the Armenian-American
relations will acquire new quality, the economic and political
cooperation between our countries will deepen for the benefit of our
friendly peoples.

The largest American Armenian structures have many times conveyed
to me their inspiration with your promises of change to the American
people. I highly assess your awareness and approaches towards Armenian
issues. I do believe that American Armenians will become a firm link
between our countries.

The Armenian nation is grateful to the United States for the
multifaceted assistance to our country, which has been continuous
from the very first day of our independence. We shall continue making
efforts for this assistance to contribute to the reinforcement of
democracy and economic growth in Armenia.

As Minsk Group Co-Chair country the US plays an important role in
the process of settlement of the Karabakh issue.

Once again congratulating you on being elected US President, I wish
you good health and productive activity for the sake of the United
States and its people."

BY ELECTING BARACK OBAMA, U.S. GOT RID OF ITS MOST UNSUCCESSFUL PRESIDENT, GEORGE BUSH, ARAM SARGSIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan

Nov 5, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. By electing Barack Obama, the
U.S. got rid of its most unsuccessful President, George Bush, who not
only deceived the Armenians promising them to recognize the Armenian
Genocide, but also put the whole world in a very hard situation,"
Aram Sargsian, the Chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA),
the first Vice-Chairman of the World Armenian Congress (WAC), stated
at the November 5 press conference.

According to him, Obama has promised to recognize the Armenian
Genocide and declared that once more dwo days before the elections. "I
think it can be indeed a great event in both Armenian-American and
Armenian-Turkish relations," the DPA Chairman mentioned.

A. Sargsian also considers that after January 20 B. Obama will carry on
much more active policy in the Caucasian region than his predecessors.

PACE CONGRATULATES AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA ON NEW STEP TO SETTLE NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: PRESIDENT

TREND News Agency
Nov 4 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 4 November /Тrend News corr. R.Novruzov/ PACE
President congratulated Azerbaijan and Armenia on a new step to settle
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by political means.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenia’s Serzh Sargsyan and
Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev signed a declaration at the end of their
meeting in Mein Dorf castle near Moscow on 2 November.

"The beginning of this dialogue is a new hope for the entire region
in terms of stability," said PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig.

According to Puig, PACE is always ready to render assistance to
Azerbaijan and Armenia in their efforts to achieve a peace solution
of the conflict. "Settling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is closest
than ever," he said, adding that this step will entail more intensive
diplomatic negotiations, will improve the trust between Azerbaijan
and Armenia. "We have been working over the peace settling of the
conflict for a rather long period and I am sure the solution is
nearing," he said.

Guided by the international principles PACE has been working to achieve
a peace settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict over last 15 years,
since Azerbaijan and Armenia joined the Council of Europe.

"Presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan who in detail discussed
current state and prospective of the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict by political means, continuing direct dialogue between
Azerbaijan and Armenia through Russia, U.S. and France’s mediation as
co-chairmen of OSCE Minsk Group in a constructive atmosphere, declared
that they would contribute to normalizing the situation in the South
Caucasus and ensure establishment of stability and security in the
region by the settling the conflict by political means," says the
declaration signed at the end of trilateral meeting.

The declaration calls for the settlement of the conflict in line
with the principles and norms of international law and decisions
and documents adopted in this respect which will create favourable
conditions for economic development and comprehensive cooperation in
the region.

The conflict between the two countries of the South Caucasus began
in 1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenian Armed Forces have occupied 20% of Azerbaijan including
the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In
1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement at which
time the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group (Russia, France, and the US) are currently holding peaceful
negotiations.

–Boundary_(ID_gO+69nRLpek q6G3t5sgZIA)–

ARMENIAN POLICE HAS ARRESTED 52 FOREIGN CITIZENS OVER 9 MONTHS OF 2008

ArmInfo
2008-11-04 16:01:00

ArmInfo. Armenian Police has arrested 52 foreign citizens over
9 months of 2008 for various crimes including 36 citizens of CIS
member-states and two people having no citizenship, Sayad Shirinyan,
Head of the Department for Media and Public Affairs, said at a press
conference Tuesday.

He said 78 wanted foreign citizens have been arrested for the period
under review. In addition, 38 wanted citizens of Armenia have been
arrested in abroad.

WE’RE STILL STRONGER THAN AZERBAIJAN

A1+
[08:17 pm] 30 October, 2008

Azerbaijan: Defence Sector Management and Reform, the latest
policy briefing from the International Crisis Group, examines the
difficulties the country faces in upgrading its military. Oil wealth
has been poured into a defence budget that has increased more than
ten-fold in five years, raising concerns President Ilham Aliyev might
eventually choose war with Armenia to recover Nagorno-Karabakh. But
reforms could also make the army more accountable, less corrupt and
a contributor to democratisation.

Unwillingness to take tough decisions, including how far to cooperate
with and accept advice from NATO while balancing relations with
Russia and Iran, has led to stalemate in efforts to reduce widespread
inefficiency, corruption and mistreatment in the army. For now at
least, the delicate military balance with Armenia probably still holds.

Azerbaijan: Defence Sector Management and Reform

Azerbaijan wants to create a strong army to regain Nagorno-Karabakh
and seven adjacent districts, either by improving its negotiating
leverage with Armenia or going back to war. It has exponentially
increased its military budget, though it has not so far gained clear
superiority over Armenian forces. If the new military is to be not
only stronger but also better governed, however, it needs deep reforms
to make it less corrupt and personality driven, more transparent and
better directed. So far there has been insufficient political will
either to do the part that should involve increasing democratic and
civilian control or to break the habit of treating the army as above
all an instrument with which to protect elite interests.

A war in Nagorno-Karabakh is unlikely in the immediate
term. But in the longer term fragmented, divided,
accountable-to-no-one-but-the-president, un-trans¬par¬ent,
corrupt and internally feuding armed forces could all too easily be
sent off to fight to satisfy internal power struggles. A modern and
efficient army, even if subject to democratic, civilian control, is
not unproblematic while the Nagorno-Karabakh situation remains deeply
resented in the polity. However, the ability to hold the leadership
responsible for expenditures and policy priorities at least has the
potential to make the system more responsible and predictable. NATO,
which is helping with military reform, should enhance Azerbaijani
knowledge of peacekeeping and laws of war, and when possible facilitate
dialogue and contacts between the militaries of the two sides. The EU,
U.S. and Russia should also reinvigorate efforts to push the parties
to reach a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The government’s pledge to significantly reform the military is part of
a stated goal of national modernisation and democratisation. Though the
presidential election on 15 October 2008 was technically improved, it
offered no genuine alternative to the incumbent. As democratisation has
stalled, so too have crucial parts of military reform. Thus, parliament
has failed to oversee military expenditure and has no authority to
summon power ministers, including the defence minister, to report on
their activities, but it is itself the product of flawed elections and
far from a truly democratic institution. Democratic improvements in
the military can contribute to national democratisation, but they are
unlikely to drive that process or advance in isolation. If Azerbaijan
is committed to thorough reform of the military, it will need to change
substantially in many other areas of government and society as well.

The defence reforms that have occurred have often been stimulated
by cooperation with NATO. Azerbaijan was one of the first former
Soviet countries to join the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program
in 1994. Especially the 2005 and 2008 Individual Partnership Action
Plans (IPAP) provide a blueprint for democratic control of the armed
forces, defence planning and budgeting, interoperability with NATO and
structural reorganisation according to NATO standards. Baku has often
dragged its feet in implementing IPAP-recommended reforms, however,
in part at least because it has no clear membership aspirations,
due to a foreign policy which seeks to balance interests with the
U.S., EU, Russia and Iran. Moscow’s August military intervention in
Georgia has further convinced it of the advantages of an ambiguous
policy and made it less ready to push forward with NATO integration.

Defence sector reform in Azerbaijan is an understudied subject, about
which little comprehensive analysis has been attempted. The bulk of
research has been carried out by a handful of journalists. The defence
sector remains one of the most secretive and non-transparent segments
of the government. Crisis Group was restricted in its own field work
by limited access to government sources, military personnel and
installations. By improving the dissemination of information, the
government could do more to dispel the doubts that arise regarding
the impact of its increased military spending.

If it indeed wishes to pursue a more efficient, NATO-standard military,
subject to more democratic civilian control and greater transparency
and accountability, the government should:

enhance the oversight capacities of the parliament, especially its
standing committee for defence and security and the audit chamber and
encourage parliamentarians to increase their knowledge about military
reform by organising regular training, work¬shops and conferences;

improve public information on and participation in security sector
management by publishing the NATO IPAP documents, making it easier
to access information on military matters, and setting up a regularly
updated defence ministry website;

increase civilian control in the defence ministry;

complete elaboration of a military doctrine and conduct a strategic
defence review;

amend legislation and military regulations in line with its
international human rights commitments, in particular by disallowing
detention of service personnel without proper trial, adopting a new
law on alternative service and creating a military ombudsman; and

improve personnel management and training by establishing efficient
systems for payment and compensation, officer rotation, reservist
training and call-up systems, military education and merit-based
promotion.

In the meantime, NATO should carefully review its strategic purpose
in working with the militaries of Caucasus states, particularly
with respect to unresolved conflicts. It should focus its military
cooperation with Azerbaijan strictly on efforts to improve democratic,
civilian control of the armed forces and not move beyond the IPAP
while Nagorno-Karabakh remains unresolved. Especially the U.S. and the
EU should at the same time move resolution of that simmering conflict
much higher up their agendas and seek, in cooperation with Russia, to
put pressure on both Azer¬baijan and Armenia to compromise in line
with the principles proposed by the Minsk Group of the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

–Boundary_(ID_GBSBo+RDi3UEswNTpVIDFA)–

AN IRAQI ARMENIAN TEEN SHOWS THE WAY TO A NEW LIFE
By Anahit Hayrapetyan

Reuters
Oct 30 2008
UK

YEREVAN, Armenia, October 30 (UNHCR) – Mariam Sargis has spent most
of her life in Iraq, but the teenager is now getting an unexpected
chance to discover the land and language of her ancestors. And
the 14-year-old is thriving; setting an example to her family, her
community and other refugees with her enthusiasm.

Mariam left Baghdad in 2004 with her father, Sargis, mother, Najva,
and younger brother Minas. They were among hundreds of members of
the Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the world’s oldest Christian
communities, to flee Iraq to escape mounting sectarian violence in
recent years. The majority, including Mariam’s parents, were born in
the Middle East nation.

About 1,000 Iraqi Armenians have been granted refugee or temporary
asylum status in Armenia over the past four years. They live in
rented houses in the capital, Yerevan, or in the provinces of Kotayk
and Ararat.

Most possess limited financial resources and are in urgent need of
material assistance. They also find it hard to communicate in an
unfamiliar language and a major struggle to make ends meet in an
alien land.

"Despite the fact that most Iraqis are of Armenian descent, they only
understand Western Armenian [the modern dialect spoken by much of the
Armenian diaspora], and, as a result, they face difficulties finding
proper employment," noted Bushra Halepota, UNHCR’s representative
in Armenia.

The UN refugee agency, working through its local implementing partner,
Mission Armenia, has been helping the most vulnerable families and
promoting local integration of the refugees. But despite this helping
hand, some – especially the older generation – are finding it hard
to adjust.

Mariam, with her positive outlook and determination to integrate
and succeed, is setting an example to her peers and proving that,
with a bit of will and effort, they can manage and also look to the
future with confidence. Inspired by both small and big achievements,
she is taking firm steps forward.

The outgoing teenager has enthusiastically embraced vocational training
and Armenian-language classes funded by UNHCR. And whenever she finds
things hard-going she just remembers how bad things were in Iraq.

"When my mother starts complaining, I say, ‘But we are safe here,
Mum, cheer up,’" Mariam said. "Here in Armenia, I sleep peacefully
and have good dreams again. I’m finally free of painful memories."

She wasn’t so upbeat when she first arrived here two years ago to what
must have seemed like a bleak future. Everything from the weather to
the language and the people seemed so different, and even menacing –
she remembers feeling scared a lot of the time.

But before long the family came under the wing of UNHCR and Mission
Armenia, which in mid-2007 launched the assistance and integration
programme for the vulnerable Iraqi refugee families in Armenia. Mariam
was found a place in school and she seized the opportunity to make
new friends, expand her knowledge, and learn the Armenian language
and culture.

"I would never have thought the Armenian language could be so different
from mine; so rich and beautiful," she said. "My Armenian language
learning experience was unforgettable. I seem to have gone through
my childhood again, had another first teacher, another community,
another life."

She is now studying to be a hair stylist, which will allow her to
earn a living once she has finished the course. "The classes are
so beneficial and enjoyable. I am inspired by this opportunity,"
said Mariam, adding that her chosen profession would also serve as
an excellent opportunity to meet new people.

Her skills should help her family stay above water during the current
hard times; her father used to own a food business in Iraq, but has
only managed to find odd jobs in Armenia and is having difficulty
paying the rent after using up most of the money he made from selling
the family house in Baghdad.

Mariam is so selfless, she gives the credit to others for her happiness
in Armenia. "I am thankful to all of the people around me who were
so tolerant and caring; my neighbours, my teachers, and my friends,"
she said. "Thanks to the big support of UNHCR, I now believe in my
strength and feel secure."

But she is the one who should be thanked, for making the most of her
new life and setting an example to so many others.

ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN, AZERI FMS TO MEET IN MOSCOW OCTOBER 31

PanARMENIAN.Net
30.10.2008 12:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Foreign Ministers of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan
are scheduled to meet in Moscow on October 31, Azeri FM Elmar
Mammadyarov said.

"On November 1, the Ministers will meet with Co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group. The outcomes of the meetings will be briefed to the
Presidents, who will meet for talks in the future," he said, Interfax
Azerbaijan reports.

Presidents of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan are reported to meet in
Moscow on November 2.

Serzh Sargsyan, Dmitry Medvedev and Ilham Aliyev will discuss the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process, according to the
Kremlin’s press office.

During his formal visit to Armenia on October 20-21, Dmitry Medvedev
said, "I am hopeful that the sides in the Karabakh conflict are ready
to fix progress in the negotiation process. The Presidents of Armenia,
Russia and Azerbaijan will meet in Moscow in the near future to discuss
the issue. Russia will keep on searching for a mutually acceptable
decision on Karabakh."

TOP ADVISER: TURKEY MANAGED TO HAVE ZERO PROBLEM-FOREIGN POLICY

Anadolu Agency
Oct 29 2008

Davutoglu said that all frozen clashes were occurring in the geography
where Turkey was situated, and the real problem was how a new world
order could be established.

A Turkish adviser said on Tuesday that Turkish-U.S. relations would
be a success story.

Ahmet Davutoglu, the chief foreign policy adviser to Turkey’s Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that the new era with the United
States would be a success story whoever was elected the new president
of that country.

"The new president of the United States will be Turkey’s best friend,"
Davutoglu said during a meeting on "Turkey, the region and U.S.-Turkey
relations: Assessing the challenges and prospects" at the Brookings
Institution in Washington D.C.

On Turkey’s relations with Armenia, Davutoglu said that Turkey was
ready to discuss negative problems and two countries should seize
recent opportunities in their relations.

Davutoglu expressed his expectation that the Armenian diaspora should
support the process between Turkey and Armenia, and said this new
process had not caused concerns in Azerbaijan and relations among
Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan would go on synchronously.

The adviser said that there was need for courage and creativity to
solve the Upper Karabakh dispute, and no one could wait for 20-30
years more to resolve the issue.

Davutoglu said that all frozen clashes were occurring in the geography
where Turkey was situated, and said the real problem was how a new
world order could be established.

The Turkish adviser said that a new economic order should be
established and the world needed a new global order.

"Nobody should perceive different cultures as a threat. This is the
wealth of the entire world and humanity," he said.

Davutoglu said the main principle of Turkish foreign policy was
to establish a balance between security and freedom, and told the
gathering that one should not be sacrificed for the other.

"Security means NATO for Turkey, and freedom means the democratization
process in the EU," the adviser also said.

Talking about Turkey’s relations with its neighbors, Davutoglu said
Turkey had managed to have zero problems with its neighbors and told
the participants of the meeting that Turkey had good relations with
Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia and Syria.

Davutoglu said that Turkey had established a strong relationship with
Iran, and also said that Turkey had made progress in its relations
with Armenia and in settlement of the Cyprus issue.

The Brookings Institution and SETA Foundation for Political, Economic
and Social Research will host a conference to examine Turkey’s domestic
and foreign policy challenges and prospects.

After the keynote address by Ahmet Davutoglu, Ibrahim Kalin,
founding director of SETA; Nonresident Fellow Omer Taspinar,
director of the Turkey Project at Brookings; Visiting Fellow Mark
Parris, former U.S. ambassador to Turkey; and Talha Kose of George
Mason University are expected to moderate a series of discussions
featuring a distinguished group of Turkish and American experts,
officials and scholars.

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization
based in Washington D.C. Its mission is to conduct high-quality,
independent research and, based on that research, to provide
innovative, practical recommendations that advance three broad
goals:Strengthen American democracy; foster the economic and social
welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans and secure a more
open, safe, prosperous and cooperative international system.

Turan News Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 23 2008

Russian envoy upbeat on proposed Karabakh talks in Moscow

The August hostilities between Russia and Georgia have become a
convincing reason for finding a solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem, Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan Vasiliy Istratov told a news
conference on 23 October, Turan news agency reported.

The parties to the conflict, i.e. Azerbaijan and Armenia, have been
given a new impetus to reach an agreement, for the problem will not be
resolved on its own, Istratov said, commenting on Russian President
Dmitriy Medvedev’s proposal to hold a meeting between the Azerbaijani
and Armenian presidents in Moscow in early November.

The ambassador also said that he was not aware of the proposal to
deploy Russian peacekeepers in Nagornyy Karabakh and added that the
OSCE Minsk Group remained the main format for the conflict resolution,
Turan reported.