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LARGE SCALE MILITARY COOPERATION BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND USA OUT OF QUESTION, HEIDAR ALIEV SAID
US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA VISITS YEREVAN BRANDY COMPANY
ARMENIAN JUDGES INTIMIDATE WITNESSES OFFERING TESTIMONY
"DISLIKED" BY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE
JANUARY 31.Armenian judges intimidate witnesses
offering testimonies "disliked" by the Prosecutor's Office, says the
report on monitoring of minor courts prepared by the Helsinki
Association of Armenia (HAA).
According to HAA Chairman Mikael Danielian, the monitoring was
conducted under the "Human rights and administration of justice"
program with the assistance of the European Union. The monitoring,
which was conducted in April-July 2001, involved 50 courts in
Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor. According to the report, most of the
violations are committed at the pre-trial stage, and judges on their
part, just ignore the statements of defendants and their lawyers
concerning violations. Moreover, the statements made both by
defendants and by witnesses concerning the use of violence by
law-enforcers are disregarded by judges as well. Conspicuous is also
the inequality of the parties during legal proceedings. The
arguments advanced by the Prosecutor's Office are not challenged by
the court, whereas the lawyers can hardly draw the judges' attention
to the facts confirming the Defense's position. The report points out
that the decisions made by courts contain such absurd and arbitrary
interpretations of the laws, that the impartiality and
incorruptibility of judges can be challenged.
FIRST HUMAN RIGHTS WEB-SITE OPENED IN ARMENIA
JANUARY 31. The first human rights web-site has
been opened in Armenia, Chairman of Helsinki Association Mikael
Danielian told journalists today. From now on one will be able to
find there facts on human rights violation, freedom prevention and
restriction in Armenia.
He said the web-site includes the Open Pages journal covering human
rights subjects. Everybody is invited to place his articles at the
web-site. The authors are willing to publish any opinion even if they
do not share it.
Danielian said the web-site was created with the support of the U.S.
Embassy in Yerevan and the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Kiev.-
"ARMENTEL" TO SELL 20% OF ITS SHARES
JANUARY 31. The "ArmenTel" company intends to sell
20% of its shares, Minister of Transport and Communication Andranik
Manukian told reporters. He stressed that he gave his preliminary
consent to the deal on condition that the shares are placed on the
local market.
Manukian pointed out that "ArmenTel"'s cost is 205mln. USD, but he
found it difficult to forecast the estimated value of the company's
shares. According to the minister, the sum will not be large, as
"ArmenTel" is in strained financial circumstances.
According to the information at Manukian's disposal, the Greek OTE
company, which holds 90% of "ArmenTel"'s shares intends to sell its
share in the capital of the Armenian telephone operator and leave
Armenia. Talking to ARMINFO, Minister of Justice David Harutiunian
confirmed this information. Both the ministers believe that the OTE
intends to accuse the Armenian government of violating the terms of
the contract for sale of "ArmenTel" signed in 1997.
The minister of transport and communication added that he will
struggle for the abolition of "ArmenTel"'s monopoly of
telecommunication. According to the government's license #60 of June
24, 1997, this license will be in effect for 15 years, from March 1,
1998.
As it was reported, on September 27, 2001, the Board of Directors of
the "ArmenTel" company made a decision on primary placement of
additional shares of the company at the Armenian "Armex" stock
exchange. The time and term of the deal are not determined.
ARMENIAN NATIONAL SECURITY BODIES ARREST TURKISH SPY
JANUARY 31. The National Security bodies of Armenia detained a Turkish spy on January 26. According to the information reported to ARMINFO by the press service of the Ministry of National Security, the detainee is a citizen of Armenia, his name is not made public. the task set to him by the Turkish National Intelligence (Milli Istihbarat Teskilati-Mit) was collecting political, economic and military information and reporting it to the Turkish side. Criminal proceedings have been initiated on Article 59 of the Criminal Code (high treason by means of espionage). The preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Investigations Department of the Ministry of National Security. WINNERS OF CONTEST "WATER IN OUR LIFE" GRANTED DIPLOMAS
BAKU CONSIDERS NECESSARY COOPERATION WITH EU IN PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT
OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
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JANUARY 31. A large scale military cooperation between
Azerbaijan and the USA is out of the question, Azeri President Heidar
Aliev said, before his leaving for New York for participation in an
international economic forum.
The Azeri president called groundless statements of several observers
concerning the scale of the Azeri-American military cooperation. He
said this cooperation will be carried out within definite frameworks,
on the basis of concrete programs elaborated for 2002. According to
the Baku mass media, Aliev called paltriness statements on the fact
that the USA has rendered more assistance to Armenia than to Baku
this year.
It should be noted that the USA intends to render $50 mln free
assistance to Azerbaijan, while aid to Armenia will make $90 mln,
plus additional $4.3 mln for development of military sphere.
JANUARY 31.US Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Armenia John Ordway has visited the Yerevan Brandy
Company for the first time. The YBC President Pierre Larretche and
Vice-President Hrant Bagratyan received the ambassador, the YBC
press-service told ARMINFO.
The ambassador displayed great interest in the company's activities,
production cycle, as well as in issues connected with intellectual
property (trademark, forgery).
Pierre Larretche thanked John Ordway for his visit and invited him to
one of the company's production centers.
JANUARY 31. Pupils of 15 Yerevan schools took part
in a composition contest "Water in Our Life," organized by the
Yerevan Municipality within the framework of a public campaign held
by the Utilite company from Italy. Winners were granted diplomas.
According to Representative of Utilite managing the municipal water
supply system Richard Volkling, the campaign is aimed at teaching the
younger generation to husband natural resources and to explain them
that they are not endless and unless treated with care they may be
damaged.
Best excepts appeared in the press.
