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Jailed pro-opposition editor set free. Virtually all newspapers report that Arman Babajanian, the editor of the pro-opposition Zhamanak Daily, who has been suffering from a brain tumor, was set free on parole on Tuesday after spending more than three years in prison for draft evasion. Babajanian’s release came just hours after a state commission discussed his worsening health condition and decided to let him undergo urgent treatment in a civilian hospital. The decision was swiftly endorsed by a Yerevan judge. HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK writes that yesterday evening, former President Levon Ter-Petrossian visited Babajanian and wished him a speedy recovery.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejects rumors that Armenia is a transit country for Hezbollah armaments. HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK quotes Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tigran Balayan, as saying that the allegation that Armenia is a transit country for arms to Hezbollah is "ridiculous and groundless." He describes the charge as "mere nonsense and mean provocation." The daily wonders why the Foreign Ministry does not issue a statement refuting the rumor or why it does not demand compensation for defaming Armenia and its authorities from foreign newspapers that have reported on the issue. / Also covered by ARAVOT
Analyst says President Sargsian will visit Turkey. In an interview with HAYOTS ASHKHAR, political analyst Richard Giragossian opines that President Sargsian will go to Turkey to attend an October soccer match even if there is only a slight chance of opening the border. According to him, even if Turkey opens the border and establishes diplomatic relations with Armenia, the world should understand that it is not an award or present to Armenia, but the minimum that Turkey is obliged to do.
Shahnazarian on Armenia-Turkey discussions. Opposition activist Davit Shahnazarian tells ARAVOT that the recent statement made by President Sargsian, according to which he will go to Turkey only if the Armenian-Turkish border is opened or is on its way to being opened, is a sign that President Sargsian "perceives his strategic mistakes." According to Shahnazarian, the process of football diplomacy was a "mistake from the beginning" and now President Sargsian "understands that he was deceived like a child by Turkey." Shahnazarian asserts that President Sargsian will make his second mistake by not going to Turkey, because by not going he will "show Armenia's weakness."
Azerbaijani presidential aide rejects N-K independence, says issue is degree of autonomy N-K will have. "The basic principles of resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict favored by international mediators preclude international recognition of the disputed territory’s secession from Azerbaijan," stated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s Chief Foreign Policy Aide. “As is pointed out in the ‘Madrid principles’ and as the President of Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated in his speeches, the conflict can be resolved only within the framework of the country’s territorial integrity,” Novruz Mammadov said in an interview with the APA news agency published on Tuesday. He said future agreements on N-K’s status envisaged by the proposed settlement would "amount to clarifying the extent of the Armenian-populated enclave’s autonomy within Azerbaijan." / RFE/RL
OSCE Monitoring Mission conducts observation of ceasefire line, no violations reported. HAYOTS ASHKHAR reports that the OSCE Monitoring Mission observed the contact line near the Martakert region on August 4. No cease-fire violations were registered.
Foreign Minister speaks to Greek counterpart. Foreign Minister Nalbandian and his Greek counterpart had a telephone conversation to discuss regional issues. / HAYASTANI HANRAPETUTIUN
March 1 Fact-Finding Mission concludes one police officer shot by fellow officer, not rally participants. According to ARAVOT and HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK, the Armenian National Congress issued a statement yesterday saying that the Fact-Finding Mission for the March 1 events issued its third report on July 29, which contains expert analysis on the circumstances of police officer Tigran Abgarian's death. According to the ANC, the report reveals that on March 1, Abgarian was killed by one of his commanders and not by the rally participants as was initially stated by the authorities.
Heritage Party to act independently of other opposition elements. According to RFE/RL, the Heritage Party said on Tuesday that it has decided to act more independently in the political arena after failing to get Armenia’s leading opposition forces to join forces with it. “We believe that every opposition political force should independently decide its tactics and take its actions,” Hovsep Khurshudian, the Chief Party Spokesman, told reporters at a news conference. He said that "opposition parties do not need to rally around a single leader at this stage in their struggle against the Armenian government."
ANC representatives to visit Hrazdan. HAYKAKAN ZHAMANAK states that today, representatives of the Armenian National Congress will visit Hrazdan and hold a series of discussions. |
