Author: Topchian Jane

REPAIRED BUILDING OF ABOVIAN PENITENTIARY INSTITUTION’S INVESTIGATION ISOLATION CELL PUT INTO OPERATION

Noyan Tapan
March 18, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The building of the
investigation isolation cell of the Abovian penitentiary institution
was put into operation after major repairs on March 18. Nearly 280m
drams (903 thousand USD) has been allocated from the state budget
for the major repairs and furnishing of the construction. Up to 100
people can be kept at the investigation isolation cell, there are 26
two-berth and four-berth cells.

As Nikolay Arustamian, the RA Deputy Minister of Justice, informed
journalists, infrastructural reforms of penitentiary institutions are
being implemented at present: within the framework of the reforms,
construction of a new penitentiary institution has started in the
territory near Etchmiadzin, repairs and major repairs are being done
in different penitentiary institutions.

Ashot Martirosian, the Head of the Penitentiary Department of the
Justice Ministry, said that the RA President and government have
instructed to create normal communal conditions in all penitentiary
institutions unitl 2010. 2bn 600m drams has been allocated from the
state budget in the current year for implementing construction and
repairs in penitentiary institutions.

The Abovian penitentiary institution is intended for women and
under-age people. 182 convicts are being kept there at present, 133
out of them are women, 49 under-age people. 51 people are being kept
at the investigation isolation cell.

"VIMPELCOM": MOBILE COMMUNICATION OF REASONABLE QUALITY IN ARMENIA

ARKA
March 18, 2008

YEREVAN, March 18. /ARKA/. The mobile communication in Armenia is of
reasonable and good quality, "Vimpelcom" Director on CIS countries
Ilya Chulyukin said.

Russian "Vimpelcom" company (Bee Line trademark) owns 100% of the
shares of Armenian "ArmenTel" telecommunication company that holds
the monopoly on stationary communication in Armenia.

"We watch the quality of communication quite closely not only in
Armenia, but also in other networks in other countries. The matter is
that the service quality is a priority for "Vimpelcom" dealt with by
special departments that check the quality with special instruments,"
Chulyukin told journalists in Yerevan.

In the scope of modernization of mobile communication network in
Armenia switchboards have been replaced he said adding that the mobile
network will be renewed next year.

Chulyukin reported that the equipment is being replaced in motion,
the works are being carried out at nights, but interruptions occur
in the operation.

"The replacement itself is being done in stages and different producers
cannot be combines due to negative effects it may have on quality, that
is why we move from the remote areas to the center of the country,"
he said.

Chulyukin also said "Vimpelcom" attaches particular importance to
training of technical personnel.

"ArmenTel" closed joint stock company is a daughter company of Russian
"Vimpelcom" and offers stationary communication services to over
600,000 subscribers and mobile communication service to over 450,000
subscribers in Armenia.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF RUSSIA

Noyan Tapan
March 18, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Receiving the Russian deputy foreign
minister, state secretary Grigory Karasin on March 18, the Armenian
foreign minister Vartan Oskanian expressed gratitude to Russia for
support at this responsible for the Armenian people moment. Speaking
about bilateral cooperation in various spheres, the sides expressed
satisfaction at the high-level relations between Armenia and Russia.

According to the RA MFA Press snd Information Department, the
interlocutors addressed the postelection developments and the internal
political situation in Armenia, saying that all necessary steps must
be taken in order to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.

The sides spoke about the Nagorno Karabakh problem settlement process,
the violation of the cease fire on the contact line of the armed forces
of the NKR and Azerbaijan in early March, and the results of the vote
on Azerbaijan’s draft resolution at the UN General Assembly. They
also discussed issues related to regional and global security, the
situation after declaration of Kosovo’s independence, the positions
of Armenia and Russia on this issue, as well as some issues related
to the NATO summit to be held in Bucharest in early April.

AMERICAN ANALYST: THE USA ACTUALLY HAS BEEN LOOKING AT SANCTIONS ON ARMENIA

Azeri Press Agency
March 18 2008
Azerbaijan

Washington. Husniyya Hasanova-APA. Lauren Goodrich, Eurasia analyst
of Stratfor, Strategic Forecasting, Inc. interviewed by APA

– On March 4, in the frontline between Azerbaijani and Armenian
forces were fixed the bloodiest crash. Why did it happen almost at
the same time when the Armenian political crisis was in its highest
point and just couple days after the clash between police and peaceful
demonstrators?

– There were so many things moving at this moment. This type of
political circumstances was not around for Azerbaijan and Armenia for
the past 10 years. It is very interesting time for the region. It is
partly because of the fact that Armenia had internal political chaos,
the fact that the USA have been threatening Armenia with sanctions, the
fact that Russia is pumping a lot of money into Armenia and Azerbaijan,
U.S. is pumping money both countries, and the fact that such region
of the world are very vulnerable because of that situation. So many
interesting things are happening right now that I expect such things
(a violation of ceasefire) happen quite frequently at this moment. I
expect unless Russia and the USA come to different understanding. The
US and West are scrambling to make sure that situation doesn’t escalate
further that where it is now.

– You said that Russia has pumped a lot of money into Azerbaijan
and Armenia. Do you believe that the country, which invested money
in these countries, wants the further escalation of situation in
Nagorno Karabakh?

– I think Russia does at this moment. Moscow does want to see situation
get a lot worse because they know that west doesn’t want see the war
between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and specially the United States. The
United States is so invested in Armenia and Azerbaijan that it is
one of the places where Russia interested in the unstable situation
because it will affect the USA in Washington. The USA at this moment
is going to do everything possible to prevent this escalation. They
are going to that through sanctions, if necessary they can do it
through political intimidations, There are quite options which the
United States have. I spoke with the office of Condoleezza Rice about
this specifically. Her office said that the quote itself was published
out of context but the USA actually has been looking at sanctions on
Armenia since March, 2007. At this time, the President George Bush was
looking at possible sanctioning Armenia 50% on economic aid and 30%
on military aid. It was the time when the pipeline between Armenia
and Iran was going on and you know that the USA and Iran are in a
very difficult situation. They (the White House) decided that they
are going to put sanctions on table and because of that Yerevan has
backed off from Iran in small existence.

But now the sanctions have written again because of internal political
situation and the possibility that Armenia and Azerbaijan could be
looking at war. The sanction is a way that the USA thinks that will
make a lot of sense to Armenia because Armenia is so much poor country
that its neighbor Azerbaijan. So these economic cuts will make a huge
difference to Armenia. I believe the USA has pressure on Azerbaijan
too. The problem is that any relations between Azerbaijan and the
USA isn’t laud as the relations between the USA and Armenia because
the Armenian lobby and Diaspora so much bigger and powerful that
Azerbaijani one. I do expect a meeting to be held between both sides
because the USA and France are pushing for meeting to try resolve
what is going on between Armenia and Azerbaijan. One possibility is
at the upcoming NATO conference in April.

– During the clashes between police and civilians in Armenia, where
8 people died, the reaction from West wasn’t as strong as it usually
comes when the government tries to suppress its own population.

Doesn’t it seem to you quite strange?

– I am not sure that it is because of Armenian Diaspora inside of the
United States. It is really tied up in the politics at this moment. I
am not sure that it is because Bush has also been talking about upping
the money going into Armenia and doesn’t want to publicize that the
things are so unstable.

President Bush and the State Department 3 months ago started to talk
about how much money for 2009 the USA is going to give Armenia. The
Bush administration has requested 3 million dollars in extra aid for
Armenia military aid and 300 000 dollars for military training. It
is not just for Armenia but the same amount is being earmarked for
Azerbaijan too. The whole reason why Bush administration is looking
on more money for them is because they worry that Russia is restoring
control in that region and more money is great way to buy them back.

– But the Bush administration already announced 59% aid cut for
Armenia in 2009!!

– It is under consideration and it is not for sure yet. It is
completely up the air and they are waiting how the situation will
play out. Then they will decide do they want sanctions, if they want
to cut aid or they want to give more money to Armenia. It is depend
how the Armenian government will respond to them. If they willing to
call back from aggression with Azerbaijan, if they willing to turn
more to the west.

It is just rumors which I hear on my side, but I heard that there
is going to be meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijan presidents at
NATO summit next month. The meeting will be mediated between the USA
and France. So that where I would look next and but at the same time
a lot of things can happen in next few weeks.

YEREVAN NOT WORRIED ABOUT UN NAGORNO-KARABAKH RESOLUTION

Regnum
March 17 2008
Russia

Vote on the Azerbaijan-introduced resolution of UN General Assembly on
Nagorno-Karabakh has inspired Yerevan, REGNUM correspondent in Yerevan
quotes Viktor Sogomonyan, press secretary of Armenia’s president,
to state at a press conference on March 17.

According to Sogomonyan, the Armenian side has been inspired by the
fact that "all civilized countries either abstained from the vote,
or disapproved the resolution," realizing that it might aggravate
the situation. Commenting on the question whether the Armenian side
was going to halt negotiations with Azerbaijan, Sogomonyan observed
that such a step of Azerbaijan in UN raised a number of questions,
in particular, how serious is Baku about the negotiation process.

He said, however, that the issue is not so far on the table. Speaking
of the fact of the resolution’s being adopted, he stated that
it was quite predictable. "It is not the first instance when an
Azerbaijan-initiated legally non-binding document is passed. The
Armenian side is not worried about it," Sogomonyan concluded.

Interfax News Agency, Russia

Former Senator Chakhmakhchian to stay in custody (Part 2)

MOSCOW March 13

The Russian Supreme Court has upheld the custody of former Kalmykia
Senator Levon Chakhmakhchian, who is charged with fraud, lawyer
Valentina Sizova told Interfax.

"The Moscow City Court earlier extended his custody until April 15,"
she said.

The lawyers asked the court to announce the judgment as illegal and
release the ex-senator from custody. The Supreme Court heard the case
via video hookup.

"Ex-senator Chakhmakhchian, Audit Chamber inspector Armen Oganesian
(Chakhmakhchian’s son-in-law) and chief accountant of the Russian-
Armenian Business Cooperation Association (chaired by Chakhmakhchian)
Igor Arushanov were charged with stealing $1.5 million from Transaero
Airline," a source at the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office said
earlier.

The Federal Security Service apprehended the suspects while they were
receiving the money.

SERZH SARGSYAN: "COUNTRY SHOULD CREATE HIGHLY PAID JOB VACANCIES"

Panorama.am
March 14, 2008

The country should create highly paid job vacancies and credits
which are available for the citizens, said the Prime Minister and
president-elect Serzh Sargsyan in a TV discussion held yesterday.

To the question what the country is going to do to guarantee welfare
for the young families, he answered: "In 2007 five strong banks entered
the Armenian market, and it means that the credits will decrease in
the future. If we manage to stabilize the situation in the country
in 2008 and the investors fell certain, then we should wait for some
changes," said the Prime Minister.

ARMENIAN MEDIA BAN STILL IN FORCE

Radio Liberty
March 14 2008
Czech Republic

Armenia’s leading newspapers critical of the government were unable to
resume publication on Friday despite a softening of the controversial
government ban on independent news reporting announced by President
Robert Kocharian.

The Armenian authorities also failed to unblock access to the websites
of RFE/RL’s Armenian service and local online news services.

Under the 20-day state of emergency declared by Kocharian on March 1,
the Armenian media could only cite the government and law-enforcement
bodies when covering national politics. More than a dozen independent
and opposition publications suspended or were forced to suspend their
operations as a result. In a decree signed on Thursday, Kocharian said
they can resume their work so long as they do not publish "obviously
false or destabilizing information."

The editors of seven newspapers affected by the severe restrictions
said censors from the National Security Service (NSS), the Armenian
successor to the Soviet KGB, ordered the printers not to publish
their Friday editions after examining their content. Only one of the
papers, "Aravot," was said to have been given an explanation of the
publication ban.

"There was a KGB censor at the Tigran Mets printing company who locked
himself in a room and made phone calls to his superiors," the "Aravot"
editor, Aram Abrahamian, told RFE/RL. "He then told my deputy that
[a newspaper article about opposition leader] Levon Ter-Petrosian’s
news conference contains obviously false information and that the
newspaper can therefore not be printed."

"I suppose the authorities did not want to see balanced information
containing their views along with those of the opposition," said
Abrahamian. "They want to make sure that only their opinion, their
version of events is made public."

"Nothing has changed. NSS employees continue to sit at printing
shops and check the newspaper content," agreed Hayk Gevorgian, acting
editor of "Haykakan Zhamanak," Armenia’s best-selling daily staunchly
supportive of Ter-Petrosian.

Local online publications not controlled by the government are
similarly unable to resume their work. Haykazn Ghahriyan, editor
of Lragir.am, said Internet service providers told him that the NSS
has not yet allowed them to revise the list of news websites blocked
following the imposition of emergency rule.

The chief executive of Armenia’s largest Internet firm, Arminco,
confirmed this. "I am looking for [NSS] officials with whom I can
discuss the problem," Andranik Aleksanian told RFE/RL. "Maybe they
just forgot to drop the restrictions."

An NSS spokesman refused to comment on the situation, referring
all inquiries to Kocharian’s press service. Victor Soghomonian, the
presidential press secretary, confirmed that the former KGB is tasked
with enforcing the media restrictions. He suggested that the newspapers
in questions were prevented from publishing because they violated
conditions spelled out in the presidential decree. It was signed by
Kocharian amid mounting international pressure on Armenian government
to lift the state of emergency and the resulting restrictions.

In a joint statement, the seven newspapers and three online
publications brushed aside Kocharian’s decree as a "wretched attempt
to mislead the international community and the Armenian public."

"With such provincial tricks, it is impossible to create a semblance of
democracy and thereby counter authoritative international structures’
legitimate demands to ensure freedom of speech and end illegal
restrictions and bans," they said. "We regard the actions of the
Armenian authorities, ostensibly aimed at restoring internal stability,
as an attempt to maintain dictatorship."

In a Thursday interview with RFE/RL, Justice Minister Gevorg Danielian
admitted that the notion of "obviously false information" can be
open to "differing interpretations." Still, he came up with his own
explanation of the term not defined by Armenian law. "It is when you
have clear-cut official information from several sources, know what
a particular fact is, but then get different information which is
not only unconfirmed but does not correspond to the existing facts
in any way," he said.

NKR MPS CALL ON INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO AVOID DOUBLE STANDARDS AS REGARDS UNRECOGNIZED STATES

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2008 14:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Democracy, Homeland and ARFD – Movement 88 factions
of the Nagorno Karabakh National Assembly adopted a declaration on
occasion of proclamation of independence by Kosovo’s parliament on
February 17, 2008.

The declaration reads:

"Defending the right to free self-determination;

Welcoming the stand of the international community in respecting the
human and civil rights of the majority of Kosovo’s population;

Noting that the Azerbaijani authorities have been systematically
carrying out a policy of discrimination, civil rights restriction,
ethnic cleansing and deportation against the indigenous Armenian
people of Nagorno Karabakh for many decades, thus forcing formation
of organized self-defense;

Considering that, in this way, from the moment of legal decline of
the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan has lost all legal and moral rights to
exercise governmental authority over Nagorno Karabakh;

Regretting the human and other losses during the conflict and,
especially, in the stage of armed confrontation;

Hoping that it is possible to achieve a mutually acceptable solution
through negotiations, which would guarantee the international
recognition of Nagorno Karabakh’s free self-determination;

We call on the parliaments of all countries to be consistent in
recognition of states formed on the grounds of the right of peoples
to self-determination and to refrain from applying double standards."

TWO IP TELEPHONY PROVIDERS LICENSED IN ARMENIA
by Michael Lacquiere

Global Insight
March 11, 2008

Armenia’s Public Service Regulatory Commission (PSRC) has awarded
IP telephony licences to Arnako International and two branches of
the Bione Company, reports ARKA. The operators will receive their
licences and numbers from the PSRC, and will then need to apply to
fixed-line incumbent Armentel for connection.

Significance:Armentel renounced its monopoly in the IP telephony
sphere in October 2007, and since then 95 IP telephony licences have
been issued by the PSRC. The market is now better set for competition,
following a long-running dispute last year that saw Armentel disconnect
rival operators attempting to offer IP telephony, which enraged some
200 providers.