Author: Tambiyan Samvel

ROBERT KOCHARIAN STATED THAT THE STEPS OF THE EX-PRESIDENT ARE DIRECTED "AGAINST THE REPUBLIC"

Mediamax
February 27, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated
that the steps of the Ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian are directed
"against the republic".

Mediamax reports that the President reminded on late February 26
in an interview to the Public TV of Armenia that a few months ago
Ter-Petrosian already stated that he planed to "dismantle the bases of
state structures". According to Robert Kocharian, in the pre-election
period a few groups of Ter-Petrosian’s supporters carried out active
work, trying to gain over to their side officials, representatives
of law-enforcement bodies.

"I was told about this by the very people, who were made those
proposals. We have been establishing those structures in the course
of many years, were making those structures capable of functioning
and suddenly someone appears, who wants to destroy them. In this
case it would be possible to give other assessments to that behavior,
but today, I will refrain from them", the President of Armenia stated.

THE MAJORITY HAS A CLEAR-CUT OPINION
Armen Tsatouryan

Hayots Ashkhar
Wednesday 27 February 2008

The minority has to admit its defeat

The radical opposition representatives who have been organizing
demonstrations and marches since February 20 were, during the
recent days, persistently advancing the absurd hypothesis as though
L. Ter-Petrosyan, with his 21 percent votes, is the "winning candidate"
of the RA presidential elections. As "evidence", they referred to
the crowded demonstrations and protest marches organized in the
capital city during the past week. Such "logic" helped overlook the
fact that the 21 percent received by L. Ter-Petrosyan made up around
351 thousand votes in numerical expression, whereas incumbent Prime
Minister Serge Sargsyan has received 862 thousand votes, i.e. 2.5
times more than the ex-President.

It turns out that persistently refusing to admit its defeat, the
minority is trying to change the ratio of forces, and this, as we
know, is in contravention of the Constitution and the laws of any
democratic state.

In civilized countries it doesn’t even occur to anyone to dispute
the election results, given such a big difference among the contenders.

Moreover, the defeated candidates do not absolutely start conversations
on such topics in order not to cut a foolish figure in public. It is
possible to find a lot of faults with the electoral system, but to
insist that it is capable of distorting the results 2.5 times means
to sign below a conclusion on one’s own inability to realize his guilt.

The fact that despite the difference recorded as a result of the
elections, they unconditionally become subject to dispute and that the
post-electoral become a tool vs. a goal, is unfortunately obtaining
the "force of tradition" in our reality. For a moment, it seemed to L.

Ter-Petrosyan that it was possible to gather several thousands of
people in the square and to overturn the situation throughout the
country. As to Arthur Baghdasaryan, he may gather around the same
number of proponents; however, this doesn’t imply the emergence of
another self-styled "winning candidate". Moreover, the activists of
the Armenian pan-National Movement and "Yerkrapah", as well as those
who work in Khachatour Soukysayan’s fair are enough for organizing
medium-scale demonstrations.

In fact, the aggressive minority, which has received 2.5 times
less votes, is trying to impose its will on the overwhelming
majority. Instead of being guided by the task of solving some problems
troubling us, such majority guides itself by the slogan "We’ll Win",
aiming to impose its will on the people. And if the goal is to win the
majority of the people, and the tool is the slogan "Levon-President",
the fact that their candidate was defeated in the elections is really
of trivial importance for people guided by such mentality.

This is probably the reason that the proponents of the Prime Minister
who ran for election with the slogan "Ahead, Armenia!" began to
realize that it was too early for them to return to routine work. And
realizing that, they also began organizing rallies throughout the
Republic, with the most recent one held yesterday in the Republican
Square. The February 26 rally showed the real place of the majority
in whose name statements are being made on the Theatrical Square.

The aggressiveness of the minority may also become "contagious"
for the majority and lead to serious confrontations. And the task
of the state is to prevent such incidents and rule out the endless
repetition of the nonsensical attempts aimed at inciting "revolutions",
something which L. Ter-Petrosyan’s proponents initiated and in which
they ultimately failed.

ARMENIAN TV SHOWS POLICE TURNING PREMIER’S SUPPORTERS AWAY FROM CAPITAL

Public TV
Feb. 23, 2008
Armenia

A group of supporters of Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan
were prevented by traffic police from enteringYerevan on foot on 22
February. Armenian Public TV showed video of people saying they wanted
to defend the victory ofSerzh Sargsyan in the 19 February presidential
election. Supporters of former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan have
beenholding rallies in Yerevan since 20 February, saying that the
19 February presidential election was rigged and demandinga repeat
election. The following is the text of the report by state-owned
Armenian Public TV "Haylur" newsbulletin broadcast at 1700 gmt on
22 February:

[Presenter] With the purpose of defending their votes cast in favour
of Armenian president-elect [Serzh Sargsyan]thousands of citizens from
different regions of the country hit today the road to the country’s
capital. However,persuaded by regional and local authorities, voters
from Armenia’s different regions who voted for Serzh Sargsyanhad to
return to their homes.

They were turned back at the road inspection points guarding the
southern and northern entrances to Yerevan. Thepolice explained this
step by the need to prevent clashes in Yerevan.

[Video shows policemen barring a group of people to continue going
on a road; people are shown saying: We aredefending the candidate
Serzh Sargsyan; We have elected Serzh Sargsyan and demand peace in
the country; Armenia ahead,Levon leave!]

ACCORDING TO LEVON TER-PETROSIAN, MOVEMENT IS PROCEEDING MORE SUCCESSFULLY THAN HE PLANNED

Noyan Tapan
Feb 25, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The fair mass of the machinery of
state of Armenia is continuing to join the national movement and that
process will continue. This statement was made by Levon Ter-Petrosian,
the first President of the Republic of Armenia, on the Freedom square
on February 25.

In his words, the movement is proceeding much more successfully,
than he had planned.

In the words of Levon Ter-Petrosian, today Armenia has appeared in
the center of attention of the international community and what is
happening on the Freedom square cannot escape the attention of the
world. He assured those present that soon the European Union, NATO, and
the European Parliament will make corresponding statements. According
to him, he has met with Ambassador Arens, the Head of the OSCE
observation mission on the same day and is going to meet with Jan
Kubish, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovakia and the Chairman
of the CE Ministers’ Committee.

According to Levon Ter-Petrosian, the authorities will not dare to use
any mass acts of violence towards people as they understand that it
will be their end. For that reason they turn to detentions, however,
the more people are detained, the thicker the rows of the movement
become. He stated that they have tried to use psychological pressure
even upon himself by inviting the head of his guards to the police
department and offering to disarm the guards. However, the latter
has refused as the function of the guards of the first President is
defined by law and it does not obey anyone.

Levon Ter-Petrosian mentioned that in spite of the circulating rumours
about the assault upon the participants of the rally, the number of
those "living in tents" is constantly growing, last night it reached
7 thousand. He himself remained on the square and had a rest for a
few hours, all in all, in his car parked in the vicinity. "As far as
I have not moved to the residence of the President, my residence is
the Freedom square," Levon Ter-Petrosian declared.

KOCHARIAN: WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE MISLED

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.02.2008 23:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Several months before the election, Levon
Ter-Petrosyan said that his purpose is to undermine state
institutes. His team-mates held meetings with representatives of
state structures. In some isolated cases they succeeded," Armenian
President Robert Kocharian told the Public Television of Armenia.

"We were warned of the dangerous strategy Levon Ter-Petrosyan
uses. Those cases when Ter-Petrsoyan’s supporters achieved success
have already been rebuffed. Law enforcers have no right in engage
in politics. Diplomats should show restraint. Those who attempt to
destroy the Armenian state system should account for their deeds,"
the President said.

He also reminded that Levon Ter-Petrosyan announced his victory 2
weeks before the election. "He has driven himself into a corner. Now
he gathered his supporters at Liberty Square and announced that
the election was forged. First of all, this is disrespect for his
own nation. I have an impression that this man was an evil for his
country and today he has become a greater evil. Instead of helping
the people out of the deadlock he aggravates the situation. The
authorities can’t tolerate endless violations of the law. Illegal
rallies have been held for 6 days already. The law enforcers had to
suppress the movement but I called on them to be patient. However,
our patience may cause an impression that the law enforcement bodies
are incapable to secure the order. We do understand that there are
many people who are misled. The developments in the Square resemble
an untalented performance.

What the Papers Say (Russia)
February 20, 2008 Wednesday

ARMENIA ON THE BRINK OF CONFRONTATION;
Presidential candidates call on supporters to protest

by Yuri Simonian

Reports from the presidential election in Armenia; A presidential
election took place in Armenia yesterday. There were nine candidates
in all, with two favorites: Prime Minister Serge Sarkisian and former
president Levon Ter-Petrosian. The election outcome may be decided in
the first round of voting.

A presidential election took place in Armenia yesterday. There were
nine candidates in all, with two favorites: Prime Minister Serge
Sarkisian and former president Levon Ter-Petrosian. The Armenian
Central Electoral Commission will announce the preliminary results
today.

Commentators in Yerevan aren’t ruling out the possibility that the
election outcome may be decided in the first round of voting – if
Sarkisian gets 50% plus one vote. His main rival, Ter-Petrosian,
might even finish third or fourth rather than second. In that event,
given that the other candidates who finish ahead of Ter-Petrosian are
unlikely to challenge the results, any protests from Ter-Petrosian
could be dismissed as groundless.

Ter-Petrosian himself, who voted early yesterday morning, is
confident of victory – if not in the first round, then certainly in
the second. He told us: "I have no doubt that I will succeed. My
people are keeping an eye on the situation at polling-stations, and
the authorities won’t be able to manipulate ballot-papers in any
blatant or large-scale way."

Outgoing President Robert Kocharian and his preferred candidate,
Sarkisian, are also confident. They’re planning to celebrate
Sarkisian’s victory with a large rally. Armenia’s capital has also
been swept by rumors of special task force soldiers being transferred
>From Nagorno-Karabakh to Yerevan just before the election; both
Kocharian and Sarkisian are originally from the unrecognized
republic. And rumor has it that the Yerkrapa (Defender of the
Fatherland) volunteer militia is prepared to support Ter-Petrosian.

Before the election, President Kocharian warned that any attempt to
destabilize the situation would be prevented. Ter-Petrosian parried
this unambiguous threat with a compliment: "That’s right. If I were
president, I’d say the same. We have no intention of breaking the
law."

Numerous international observers, including observers from CIS
countries, have been present in Armenia for the presidential
election; they have not recorded any significant violations capable
of affecting the election outcome – at least, none had been reported
as we went to print. The same cannot be said of Armenian activists.

As we reported earlier, it was decided that no exit polls would be
done, in order to avoid raising tension. At the last moment, however,
it was revealed that two non-governmental organizations would be
approaching voters after all. Armenian analysts maintain that these
surveys can be dismissed, since neither of the NGOs in question has
the experience or resources to do proper exit polls; and one of them
has been commissioned by the pro-government Public Television and
Radio Corporation, making its results predictable.

Ashot Melikian, chairman of the Free Speech Protection Committee: "We
can’t say anything for certain. Even in our organization, for
example, voter preferences turned out to be divided. How Yerevan
votes is very important – but I think the fate of this election will
largely be decided in the regions."

The Armenian Central Electoral Commission is scheduled to announce
preliminary results no later than 8 p.m. today, and final results by
February 26.

Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, No. 33, February 20, 2008, p. 8

Translated by Elena Leonova

Turan news agency, Azerbaijan
Feb. 20, 2008

The Azerbaijani defence minister has reproaches Iran for cooperating
with Armenia

At a meeting with Iranian Minister of Defence and Armed Forces
Logistics Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, during his officialvisit to Tehran
on 18-19 February Safar Abiyev reproached that country for
cooperating with Armenia in the economic,political and military areas
while describing itself as a friend of Azerbaijan, Turan said. It
added, quoting theAzerbaijani Defence Ministry press service, that
the main topic of the talks were prospects for the development
ofbilateral military cooperation.

During a meeting between Safar Abiyev and Iranian Foreign Minister
Manuchehr Mottaki, the latter said Iran was ready to play an active
role in the implementation of various projects in Azerbaijan,
Azerbaijan’s APA news agency quotedthe Iranian Foreign Ministry press
service as saying.

"Iran regards the Azerbaijani people as fraternal people and views
Azerbaijan’s development with the samesensitiveness as its own,"
Mottaki said. He added that the two countries’ officials were set to
expand andsupport political and economic cooperation. Abiyev said
Baku believed relations between the two countries would develop at a
high level, APA added.

Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates
Feb. 25, 2008

Armenian authorities call for end to election protests
(AFP)

25 February 2008

YEREVAN – Authorities in the Armenian capital Yerevan on Monday
called for an end to protests against the alleged rigging of the
presidential election as thousands rallied for a sixth day.

The mayor?s office issued a statement calling on demonstrators to
?end the holding of unauthorised protests? which it said had become
an ?unacceptable situation.?

The statement ordered protestors ?not to obstruct the free movement
of traffic and not to prevent citizens from free movement… and to
restore normal life in the capital.?

More than 15,000 opposition supporters gathered Monday on Freedom
Square outside Yerevan?s opera house demanding the result of the
February 19 presidential election be overturned.

Protesters had set up about two dozen tents and kept a constant vigil
in the square, huddling around campfires to keep warm in the bitter
cold.

As at previous protests, several thousand demonstrators marched
through the streets of the capital for more than an hour Monday,
bringing traffic to a standstill as they passed government buildings
surrounded by riot police.

Crowds numbering 20,000 to 30,000 supporters of opposition leader and
former president Levon Ter-Petrosian had rallied for the previous
five days.

Official results from the election gave victory to Prime Minister
Serzh Sarkisian with 53 percent of the vote, followed by
Ter-Petrosian with 21.5 percent.

Slovak Foreign Minister Jan Kubis, representing the Council of
Europe, told journalists after meeting Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian in Yerevan that ?violence is something that must be
avoided at all costs.?

?I hope very much there will be no escalation,? he said.

Kubis said he was ?very glad? there was a place for this kind of
demonstration and praised the government for ?acting in a responsible
way, with restraint.?

The Strasbourg-based Council of Europe has 47 member states and
upholds democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

On Saturday outgoing President Robert Kocharian described the
protests as an attempt at an illegal power grab and promised the
government?s response would be ?decisive and firm to maintain
stability and the constitutional order.?

Today, Azerbaijan
Feb. 25, 2008

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan: "Azerbaijan tries to
speculate with inner political situation in Armenia"

25 February 2008 [16:34] – Today.Az

"The tense inner political situation will affect both Armenia’s image
and process of resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict".

The due announcement was made by Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan on February 25.

He said Azerbaijan tries to speculate with the inner political
situation Armenia. "I don’t want to cite examples but they have seen
a window on the diplomatic level. It seems to them that the powers
and society of Armenia have split and they will be able to implement
definite programs", Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister announced and added
that the situation should be settled as soon as possible.

"We would like to initiate the rapprochement process, we have a new
president, who will come in power on February 9. I consider that we
will be able to go forth", Oskanyan said.

He added that it would be a great pity if the positive image of
Armenia, which the country acquired on the international arena
following presidential elections, is destroyed.

"I understand when such actions are held before publication of final
results of presidential elections.The re-calculation is held 6-7 days
before publication of final results, people protest because their
candidate has not been elected. I consider it to be a normal event in
the democratic society", the minister noted.

At the same time, he continued that if such actions continue after
results come it, it means that opposition intends to change something
and this situation will be treated differently". "The action of
protect after the winner is declared will affect the image of the
country. I hope they will make up their mind and take legal way. They
may protest the results of elections in the Constitutional Court, the
world will treat it normally. I even consider that this will have a
positive impact on other image", Oskanyan concluded.

/Regnum/

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Feb 21 2008

Safar Abiyev: "Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan causes
military and political tenseness in the region"

21 February 2008 [11:30] – Today.Az

Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Safar Abiyev met with Iranian Minister
of Defense and Support of Armed Forces Mustafa Muhamed Najaf to
discuss further prospects of countries’ cooperation in the military
sphere, by results of his visit to Iran on February 18-19.

The due information was provided by Day.Az with reference to
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry.

Thus, M.Najaf expressed need for expansion of cooperation between
Iran and Azerbaijan in the military sphere and expressed hope that
the meeting of the Ministers will promote expansion of the borders of
military cooperation in the framework of existing agreements and will
become an example for relations in other spheres.

S.Abiyev stressed the necessary to boost stability in the region,
noting the tenseness existing there. He said Armenia’s aggression
against Azerbaijan and occupation of a part of its lands causes
military and political tenseness in the South Caucasus.

He also met with Iranian Ministers of Information and Foreign
Affairs, shared views on relations between the countries, legal
status of the Caspian Sea and other issues.

S.Abiyev paid an official visit to Iran by the invitation of his
Iranian counterpart on February 18-19.

/Day.Az/

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