Author: Nargizian David

Los Angeles Times, CA
Jan 2 2009

Trash contract touches off legal disputes in Montebello

Attempt to put an exclusive waste-hauling contract to a referendum
heads for court — as do as two lawsuits over the proposed ballot
measure.

By Catherine Ho
January 2, 2009

Even for a city used to political upheaval, there’s a lot of trash
talk lately in Montebello.

A divided City Council in this Eastside suburb touched things off last
summer when it voted to award exclusive trash rights to one company,
Athens Services, beginning in 2015. The action would force out 12
independent haulers who have served the community for decades. As part
of its agreement, Athens would grant the city a one-time payment of
$500,000, and a 7.5% share of its monthly revenues.

Then-Mayor Bill Molinari and Councilwoman Mary Anne Saucedo-Rodriguez
voted against the deal, saying that it was unfair to residents who
could end up paying more for trash collection because of a lack of
competition.

"It’s the right of choice to get the best price for goods and
services," Molinari said. "When they take away your choice, the
consumer is always the victim and has to pay more."

Since then, residents and haulers have repeatedly turned out at City
Hall to protest the agreement. Union leaders pulled their endorsements
of Councilman Robert Urteaga, one of three council members to support
the deal. And now there is talk of a recall campaign — the second in
less than two years.

Three council members were voted out in 2007 over whether the county
should provide police and fire services to the city and whether that
issue should be placed before voters.

All this in a city where the fight over trash rights has turned
simmering political rivalries into red-hot feuds.

"We’re upset because it didn’t go up to bid," said Aron Petrosian,
president of Commercial Waste Services, an independent trash hauling
company that also serves Montebello. "Athens might be qualified, but
they’re not the only ones that can do it."

Montebello, a suburb of 62,000, is predominantly Latino but has a
significant Asian and Armenian population. Armenian American families
have been entrenched in the hauling industry here for generations, and
the squabbling over trash rights has a personal dimension for some who
have family members working for competing haulers.

After the council’s vote, opponents began gathering signatures for a
referendum on the Athens’ contract.

Within days, haulers had collected nearly twice the 2,530 signatures
needed to qualify a referendum for the ballot.

But two lawsuits have been filed against the city, one challenging the
validity of the referendum. The first, filed Oct. 6 by Montebello
resident Irene Villapania, alleges that petitioners left out key
information to collect signatures. It seeks to block the city from
putting the referendum before voters. Athens is paying the legal fees.

The second lawsuit, filed Oct. 14 by Montebello residents Mike and
Rosemary Torres, demands that the city make a decision on the
referendum. Both suits are pending in Los Angeles County Superior
Court, with hearings scheduled for this month.

In October, the same majority on the council who approved the contract
voted to keep the referendum off the March ballot, sending it to the
courts for a judge to decide.

The council’s vote also rankled powerful labor interests. Maria Elena
Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County
Federation of Labor — which helped elect Urteaga in November 2007 —
pulled the union’s endorsement of the councilman.

"Your recent actions in your capacity as council member on the
Montebello City Council has caused great harm to the men and women
that work and live in the city of Montebello," Durazo wrote in an
Aug. 20 letter. "Further, your actions have caused your previous
supporters to question your commitment to support working people."

The day after the council voted to send the referendum to the courts,
a group opposed to the contract posted details of Urteaga’s criminal
record on a website, including a 1999 no-contest plea for grand theft
of personal property totaling $30,000, according to court documents.

Urteaga admitted the felony conviction, saying that he got tangled up
in sports gambling during college and stole money from a friend to get
himself out of debt. He pleaded no contest. "I got in over my head,
took money that didn’t belong to me, thought I could pay it back and I
couldn’t," he said. "I owned up to my mistakes, paid full restitution
and did community service. I regret that it happened every day of my
life, but it’s made me a much more honest person because I don’t want
to be caught up in that type of situation again."

Urteaga said he voted for the contract because it would generate
revenue for the city by granting a one-time payment and a percentage
of subsequent revenue.

"I look out for the residents’ best interest," he said. "My job isn’t
to protect the haulers, it’s to protect the residents."

All commercial haulers pay 13% of their revenue to Montebello. If the
contract with Athens goes through, Athens would pay the city a
franchise fee of 20.5% of revenue on all commercial accounts.

Athens has hauled residential trash, which includes pickup for
single-family homes and apartments with fewer than four units, in
Montebello since 1962. The company, along with 12 other haulers, also
collects commercial waste.

Urteaga said the city didn’t open the contract for bidding because any
bid made now would be null and void by 2015, and companies would have
to rebid at that time anyway, he said. The Athens deal was presented
only after the company approached the city administrator with a
proposal for an exclusive contract, he said.

Some Montebello residents stood behind the decision to sign the
contract, saying Athens is the best hauler to get the city to comply
with environmental standards. Others said their elected officials were
looking out for themselves.

"I’m not happy because the City Council is supposed to represent us,
not sell us out to whoever will give them the highest kickback,"
Montebello resident Raul Yanez said.

>From 2005 to 2008, Athens made contributions totaling $21,100 to the
three council members who supported the contract, according to city
records.

Dennis Chiappetta, executive vice president of Athens, said the
referendum was "fatally flawed" because petitioners lied to residents
to get their signatures. He said Athens is the best suited to serve
Montebello because it has a material recovery facility that converts
waste into recyclable materials.

But Petrosian said he and other haulers just want a fair chance at
keeping their business in Montebello.

"How can they not put it out to bid not just to me, but to other big
conglomerates?" he said. "What are they afraid of?"

World bids adieu to a rocky 2008; worries over ’09

The Associated Press
Thursday, January 1, 2009

PARIS: When French shoppers start cutting back on buying champagne,
oysters and foie gras for New Year’s, it’s been a rough year.

As Europe rang in 2009, many revelers said belt-tightening was their
top New Year’s resolution. The vow followed the most volatile
financial year in decades, a time that saw stock markets melt around
the world and hundreds of thousands of workers lose their jobs.

Throngs of merrymakers popped champagne corks and exchanged kisses on
Paris’ famed Champs-Elysees avenue. But even shoppers in the affluent
area surrounding the blue-lit Eiffel Tower had scaled back purchases
for the traditional New Year’s Eve feast.

"We’re not going to celebrate in a big way – we’re being careful,"
said architect Moussa Siham, 24. "We will be eating fish for New
Year’s dinner."

In New York, hundreds of thousands of revelers packed a frigid Times
Square for the descent of the famous Waterford crystal ball at
midnight, eager to say goodbye to 2008 and hoping to put economic
troubles in the past.

Sydney was the world’s first major city to ring in 2009, showering its
shimmering harbor with a kaleidoscope of light that drew cheers from
more than a million people.

Spectator Randolph King, 63, of York, England, whose retirement fund
was gutted in the global financial crisis, summed up the feeling of
many as 2008 came to a close.

"I’m looking forward to 2009," he said. "Because it can’t get much
worse."

Political and religious leaders offered few words of consolation, with
the majority predicting more gloom for the year to come.

In the splendor of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI
called for "soberness and solidarity" in 2009.

During a year’s end vespers service Wednesday evening, the pope
admitted these times are "marked by uncertainty and worry for the
future" but urged people not to be afraid and to help each other.

In Greece, arsonists attacked at least 10 banks and two car
dealerships around Athens early Thursday, police said. No injuries or
arrests were reported by authorities.

Police had braced for violence at New Year following serious riots
earlier this month over the police’s fatal shooting of a teenage boy.

At Athens’ main Syntagma Square, some 200 pro-Palestinian protesters
stageda peaceful demonstration. Under the eyes of scores of riot
police, the protesters chanted slogans and burned flags of Israel, the
United States and the European Union.

President Karolos Papoulias promised to pay heed to the concerns of
low-income Greeks, who have used the recent riots to express their
dissatisfaction with dismal economic prospects.

"Let us listen to the cry of despair by all those who live on the
margins of society and face insecurity about tomorrow," Papoulias
said.

In Iceland, an annual New Year’s Eve broadcast featuring the country’s
prime minister was forced off the air by demonstrators who stormed the
hotel where it was being filmed. Protesters lobbed fireworks and water
balloons at police, who responded with pepper spray.

Increasingly rowdy demonstrations have been a fixture of Iceland’s
political scene since the country’s economy, an early victim of the
credit crunch, imploded under the weight of its debts.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel
pledged to continue campaigning for stronger regulations to keep
financial markets in check.

"The difficulties that await us in 2009 will be great," Sarkozy
predicted.

Meanwhile, partygoers everywhere struggled to forget their troubles.

In Ireland, Danny McCoy, a recently laid-off construction worker,
mulled over his waning fortunes as he got his hair cut at the
Drumcondra Barber Shop on Dublin’s rough north side.

"Last New Year’s I had a fat wallet. I didn’t have to worry about
paying for my round, never mind the taxi fare home," he said. "Tonight
I’ve a mind to keep the festivities close to home, because I can’t
really afford to do anything."

London Mayor Boris Johnson rejected defeatism in a New Year’s message
projected on the wall of the Shell Building.

"There are those who say we should look ahead to 2009 with
foreboding," Johnson said.

"I want to quote Col. Kilgore in ‘Apocalypse Now’ when he says
‘Someday captain, this war is going to end’; and someday, this
recession is going to end," he added. "Let’s go forward into 2009 with
enthusiasm and purpose."

But one poll found that Britons were preoccupied with their sinking
finances.

Some 48 percent intended to reduce or eliminate debt for their New
Year’s resolution, and 42 percent planned to cut spending, according
to the surveyby Loudhouse Research.

In Italy, which is going through a recession, many were forced to hold
more modest celebrations this year. A retailers’ association said
Italians would spend 9 percent less than last year on their New Year’s
Eve dinner, while 4 percent would not celebrate at all.

In Malaysia, the government – mindful of the shaky economy – opted
against sponsoring any celebration at all.

In Hong Kong, thousands thronged to popular Victoria Harbor for a
midnight fireworks display, but those with investments linked to
collapsed U.S. bank Lehman Brothers found little joy in the
celebration.

"I don’t think there’s any reason for me to celebrate after knowing
that my investment is worth nothing now," said electrical repairman
Chan Hon-ming, who had purchased a $30,000 Lehman-backed investment.

In India, many were happy to see the end of 2008, after a series of
terrorist attacks in several cities, culminating in a three-day siege
in Mumbai in which gunmen killed 164 people.

"The year 2008 can best be described as a year of crime, terrorist
activities, bloodshed and accidents," said Tavishi Srivastava, 51, an
office worker in the northern city of Lucknow. "I sincerely hope that
2009 will be a year of peace and progress."

In Thailand, after protests paralyzed the government for months, the
country was finally calm on the last day of 2008 as loyalists of
ousted ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra took off for a five-day
national holiday.

Celebrations were muted in China, where fireworks and feasting are
reserved mainly for the Lunar New Year, which in 2009 begins on
Jan. 26.

At midnight in Japan, temples rang their bells 108 times –
representing the 108 evils being struck out – as worshippers threw
coins as offerings and prayed. In Tokyo, volunteers stirred huge pots
of New Year’s rice-cake soup and doled out blankets and clothing to
the needy.

Japan has long boasted a system of lifetime employment at major
companies, but that has unraveled this year amid the financial crisis.

"There’s no work," muttered Mitsuo Kobayashi, 61, as he picked up a
wool scarf, a coat and pants. "Who knows what next year will bring?"
___ Associated Press writers Dheepti Namasivay in Paris, France,
Frances D’Emilio and Ariel David in Rome, Italy, Shawn Pogatchnik in
Dublin, Ireland, Robert Barr in London, England, Patrick McGroarty in
Berlin, Germany, Valur Gunnarsson in Reykjavik, Iceland, Derek
Gatopoulos in Athens, Greece, Kristen Gelineau in Sydney, Australia,
Denis Gray in Bangkok, Thailand, Dikky Sinnin Hong Kong, China, Eileen
Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Biswajeet Banerjee in Lucknow, India,
and Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo, Japan, contributed to this story.

On This Day: The USSR Is Born
December 30, 2008
Dulcinea

On Dec. 30, 1922, Russia and three other republics formed the constitution
of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The USSR began with Russia and three other republics: Belorussia, Ukraine
and the Transcaucasian Republic (composed of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia). `
The new communist state was the successor to the Russian Empire,’ writes
History, `and the _first country in the world to be based on Marxist socialism_
( tory.do?action=3DVideoArticle&id=3D5644) .’

The government had an executive branch, called the Central Executive
Committee, along with a legislative organization called the Council of People’s
Commissars. _Government members were elected by local councils_
( /n.htm#ussr) , known as `Soviets,’ that went on to
the Congress of Soviets.

The USSR, also known as the Soviet Union, grew in the wake of the 1917
Bolshevik Revolution led by Vladimir Lenin. The Bolshevik Party, later renamed the
Communist Party, had full control over the Soviet government.

Lenin was in ill health when the USSR was formed and was not present at the
Congress. He did, however, release a letter called _`The Question of
Nationalities or “Autonomisation”_ () that
addressed his beliefs about the new union.

Though Russia’s subsequent actions would indicate otherwise, the Communist
Party wanted the various nations that made up the USSR to join or secede
willingly. `_We want a voluntary union of nations,_
( n.htm) ‘ Lenin said in a quote that appears on the wall of the
Central V.I. Lenin Museum, `a union which precludes any coercion of one nation by
another-a union founded on complete confidence, on a clear recognition of
brotherly unity, on absolutely voluntary consent.’

Josef Stalin followed Lenin as head of the Communist Party, and therefore
head of the USSR, ruling the country for its first three decades. Stalin
instituted `five-year plans’ designed to advance industrialization and build the
USSR into a world power. `Among the long-time plans of the USSR leaders was to
prove that the Communist ideology offered the only right way of development
and that the _Soviet Union dominated other major Superpowers of the World_
( ry/152/) ,’ writes Russia-InfoCentre.

During his rule, Stalin shaped the international reputation of the Soviet
Union, which grew to 15 republics by 1940. Stalin’s reign was marked by
government and army purges, the creation of a draconian secret police, and
government-engineered famines that killed millions.

The USSR existed until 1991, when Russia, Belarus and Ukraine-the three
remaining states that founded the Soviet Union-_declared that it was dissolved_
( -this-day/On-This-Day–3-Soviet-Republics
-Form-a- Commonwealth.html) . It was officially dissolved on Dec. 21 and
replaced with the Commonwealth of Independent States.
()

Leni n drew inspiration from the works of Karl Marx, who advocated socialism
and the collective ownership of land and resources. During the rule of Czar
Nicholas II, Lenin and many other Bolsheviks were exiled from Russia for their
revolutionary beliefs.

After the monarchy was overthrown in March 1917, _Lenin and the Bolsheviks
returned to Russia_ ( html)
to lead a second revolution. In October, the Bolsheviks were able to seizethe
White Palace and take over the Russian government. The Bolsheviks instituted
socialist rule, placing the country’s banks, factories and farms under
government control.

The BBC provides a timeline of the USSR, from creation to dissolution.
2551.stm

NKR PRESIDENT HELD MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS…

Azat Artsakh Daily
29 Dec 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On 25 December NKR President Bako Sahakyan held meetings with members
of the NKR National Assembly’s factions ("Democracy", "Homeland",
"ARF-Dashnaktsutyun&quo t; – "Movement 88"). A wide range of issues related
to internal life of the republic and socioeconomic development
in the year of 2008 were discussed at the meeting. The President
expressed satisfaction with the work of the Parliament, especially its
cooperation with the executive branch, other institutions, as well
as with hearings and international scientific conferences organized
by the National Assembly.

Bako Sahakyan noted that the process of forming a professional
parliament should gradually begin.

CALLS TO BE POSSIBLE ON NEW YEAR’S EVE?

A1+
[08:20 pm] 25 December, 2008

The "ArmenTel" company (Beeline trademark) has started networking as
it prepares for the load of calls on New Year’s Eve. The company will
form on-duty groups of workers, as well as an Information Technologies
administration and Customer Service section. "ArmenTel" administrators
will be at the workplace during the holidays to find quick solutions
to issues that come up.

According to the data of "ArmenTel", calls made on New Year’s Eve
increase by nearly half a million compared to regular days, while
the number of SMSs received goes up by 60%.

HASAN JELAL GUZEL: "THOSE WHO LAUNCHED ARMENIAN APOLOGY CAMPAIGN BETRAYED THE MOTHERLAND"

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 22 2008
Azerbaijan

Istanbul. Mayis Alizadeh – APA. "I am from Gaziantep, everybody knows
that the Armenians together with the French killed about 5000 civilians
in the region. Our "intellectuals", who have launched apology campaign,
do not speak about Armenians’ aggression against Turks in Anatolia
and Caucasus," former minister of state Hasan Jelal Guzel told APA’s
Turkey bureau exclusively. He said those who started Armenian apology
campaign were known for their double standards in Turkish society.

"They support Barzani in northern Iraq, but do not speak about
Turkmens undergoing aggression in Kirkuk. These "intellectuals"
always had biased position on Turkish people. Those who have launched
this campaign say they do it to eliminate enmity between the two
nations. But in order to eliminate enmity Armenia should fulfill
the conditions. President Abdullah Gul visited Armenia and Armenian
leadership will visit Turkey. Some other steps may be taken, if the
relations improve.

For that at first injustices against Azerbaijan should be eliminated
and Armenians must withdraw from the lands they occupied. If our
"intellectuals" starts such campaign while we are trying to normalize
relations in the region, I will bring to agenda the oppressions
Armenian dashnaks committed against us 100 years ago. Then it will
create tensions and damage the peace process. It meets interests of
Armenian Diaspora before anything else".

Hasan Celal Guzel said the Armenian Diaspora did not want the
normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. "The main issue
for them is a rancor and revenge. Our "intellectuals" are playing into
the hands of Armenian Diaspora with starting this campaign. The Western
media is writing now that the Turkish "intellectuals" also started
to recognize the fact of "genocide". Barack Obama was elected the
President and he made some promises to Armenians. Barack Obama may use
the phrase of "Armenian genocide" on April 24. Instead of prevention
this action, we give an opportunity to the Armenian Diaspora. It is not
particular to unveil military secrets to betray the homeland. These
"intellectuals" are betraying the homeland. The "intellectuals",
who called their country as a "state committed genocide", are high
traitors. This process will have a negative impact on the Armenian
people too. This campaign damages the Turkey’s policy and benefits
for the Armenian Diaspora".

MINISTER: ARMENIAN ENERGY SYSTEM READY FOR WORK IN WINTER PERIOD

ARKA
Dec 22, 2008
YEREVAN

The Armenian energy system is ready for works in hard winter period,
said RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan.

"We have a high readiness and there will be no serious problems
connected with the current activities," he told reporters on Monday.

Movsisyan noted the program for 2008 is successfully implemented.

"We have not recorded any force majéur situations this year and
despite problems the country’s energy system worked normally," he said.

In connection with this, the Minister congratulated the powermen with
their occupational holiday, the Day of Powerman, and wished them
health and new successes in the development of the energy sector.

–Boundary_(ID_pKeSlSMptL8gwICMaB78PQ)–

BANK VTB (ARMENIA) OFFERING 2 NEW TIME DEPOSITS ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

ARKA
Dec 18, 2008

YEREVAN, December 18. /ARKA/. On New Year’s Eve, Bank VTB (Armenia)
is introducing two new time deposits for the population – VTB-New
Year and VTB-Ruble.

Needs and suggestions of depositors were maximally considered in
developing the new deposit terms, reports the Press Service of Bank
VTB (Armenia) closed joint stock company.

According to the report, VTB-New Year deposit is accepted from citizens
(residents and non-residents) in Armenian Drams and U.S. Dollars
(minimum initial deposit is 9,000Drams for Dram deposits and $90
for USD deposits) by February 29 2009, for a period from 90 to 270
days. Bearing in mind the upcoming holiday expenditures, interest
can be paid in the beginning of the period (9% p.a.) or in the
end of the period (9.5% p.a.) as requested by depositor. No limits
for replenishment and no taking are envisaged for the VTB-New Year
deposit. Interest on cumulative part of the deposit will be paid at
the end of the period.

Time deposit VTB-Ruble is accepted in Russian Rubles only for a
period from 90 days to a year, with minimum initial deposit of 30,000
Rubles that can be replenished and at an interest rate of up to 7.5%
p.a. Interest is paid to depositors every month or at the end of the
agreement period.

Upon request VTB-VISA payment card can be issued to depositors under
the following conditions: free issue, free servicing throughout the
card validity period, free encashment of interest paid to the card
account and no requirement on card account balance, says the report.

VTB-New Year and VTB-Ruble deposits are insured in the order and for
the amount set by the RA law on guarantee and compensation for bank
deposits of individuals.

Bank VTB (Armenia) (Armsavingsbank before June 20 2006) joined the
VTB Group in April 2004. Currently the bank VTB is the full owner of
Bank VTB (Armenia) closed joint stock company.

The share capital of the bank was 13.9bln Drams, owned capital 23.2bln
Drams as of 1 November, the bank’s assets 98bln Drams, credit portfolio
74.7bln Drams and total liabilities 74.8bln Drams. Net profit of the
bank totaled over 2.4bln Drams in January-September 2008.

According to the information of ARKA Agency, as of the end of Q3 Bank
VTB (Armenia) was the second among Armenian banks in terms of total
capital, credit investments; it ranked the third in terms of share
capital. The bank had the fourth largest assets, liabilities and
profit gained in January-September 2008. ($1=308.34 Drams).

TRIAL ON "CASE OF SEVEN" STARTS

Noyan Tapan

Dec 19, 2008

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The trial on the "case of the seven"
started on December 19, parallel to which people gathered in the yard
of Yerevan Shengavit community court and in the adjoining street were
holding an action of protest.

The seven persons, mostly activists of first President Levon
Ter-Petrosian’s preelection campaign, are accused of organizing
mass disorders and seizing power after the February 19 presidential
elections. In her interview to Noyan Tapan correspondent one of
the action participants, Armenian National Congress member Anahit
Tadevosian stated that they have come to fight for their imprisoned
friends, who are unequivocally political prisoners and people
prosecuted for their political views. RA Ombudsman Armen Haroutiunian
was also at the court hall.

The court sitting (judge Mnatsakan Martirosian) started 15 minutes
late. The people gathered in the hall met the seven defendants
standing before the court with a storm of applause. From the very start
writer-publicist Shant Haroutiunian made a statement mentioning that
he is imprisoned only for expressing his political views. According to
him, after the February 19 presidential elections he struggled against
the Putin authorities of Armenia, who are the placemen of Russia.

Besides Shant Haroutiunian, former Foreign Minister Alexander
Arzumanian, National Assembly deputies Sasun Mikayelian, Miasnik
Malkhasian, and Hakob Hakobian are among the defendants. The other
two defendants are Grigor Voskerchian and Suren Sirunian.

Defendant Suren Sirunian also made a speech saying that he has come
to "box with the authorities" and will not permit it to turn into
kickboxing. S.

Sirunian warned the court that if unequal conditions are created for
the defence and prosecutor parties, he will leave the court hall.

Defendant, former Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanian, in his turn,
stated that the defendants on the March 1 case and he personally are
the problem of the Republic of Armenia. He affirmed that the court
was obliged not to accept the "case of the seven" for examination,
as it is a mockery.

The defence party made a petition to challenge judge Mnatsakan
Martirosian, which was turned down by the court after an hour’s
interval. The lawyers again submitted the same petition, after which
the judge again announced an interval for two hours.

ARMENIAN EX-FOREIGN MINISTER ON TRIAL OVER DEADLY UNREST

Agence France Presse
Dec 19 2008

YEREVAN (AFP) — Seven top opposition supporters, including a former
foreign minister, went on trial in Armenia Friday on charges of seeking
to overthrow the government in unrest this year that left 10 dead.

Cries from supporters of "We are with you!" greeted the defendants
as they entered a courtroom in the capital Yerevan where they face
charges of seeking to "usurp state power" when they organised mass
protests in February and March.

Former foreign minister Alexander Arzumanian, three members of
parliament and three other government critics each face up to 15
years in prison if convicted.

Outside the courtroom, dozens of protesters chanted "Free political
prisoners!" and held pictures of the seven accused.

Before pleas could even be entered, lawyers for the defendants issued
a series of petitions to the court, including one for the judge to
recuse himself. The proceedings were initially suspended so the judge
could consider the motions and then later adjourned until December 23.

Speaking to the court, Arzumanian condemned it for bringing the case
to trial.

"You dare to accuse us! Me and my friends are the founders of this
state. I signed dozens of international agreements in the name of the
republic of Armenia. You should not have accepted this case," he said.

The charges stem from street battles that broke out when riot police
moved in to disperse thousands of supporters of former Armenian
president Levon Ter-Petrosian rallying to denounce President Serzh
Sarkisian’s victory in a February election.

Two police officers and eight civilians were killed in the clashes and
dozens more were injured, many from gunshot wounds. Ter-Petrosian had
finished second in the vote and his supporters denounced the result
as rigged.

Arzumanian, Armenia’s foreign minister from 1996 to 1998, was
Ter-Petrosian’s election campaign manager.

Critics allege that the prosecution is politically motivated and aimed
at stamping out opposition to Sarkisian in the ex-Soviet republic.

In an interview with Russian newspaper Kommersant published Friday,
Ter-Petrosian said the charges against his supporters were "crudely
forged" and that the trial was a form of "political punishment."

"The authorities are doing everything they can to shift responsibility
to the opposition for their own crimes, namely the usurpation of state
authority through the falsification of elections and the execution
of peaceful protesters," he said.

The trial will be closely watched abroad as a sign of whether Armenia
is meeting its democratic commitments.

Human rights and democracy watchdog the Council of Europe has already
raised concerns about "seemingly artificial or politically motivated
charges" against opposition supporters.

A committee of its parliamentary assembly recommended suspending
the voting rights of Armenia’s delegation, saying there are "strong
indications" that many prosecutions in connection with the unrest
"have been politically motivated."

The assembly is to vote on the recommendation at the end of next month.

Dozens were arrested following the violence and 52 have already
been tried and received prison sentences ranging from six months to
nine years.

Armenia — a mountainous country of about three million people
wedged between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran and Turkey — has seen
repeated political violence and post-election protests since gaining
independence with the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991.