Saakashvili’s gamble may cost Georgia dear

By Paul Taylor, European Affairs Editor – Analysis
 
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Georgia’s hopes of joining NATO and the European Union have suffered a setback because of this week’s fighting with Russia, potentially reducing its attractiveness to investors.
 
The conflict over the breakaway region of South Ossetia has revived transatlantic and intra-European differences over Georgia and further undermined [...]

Luis Maria de Puichy-new guru of democracy for armenians

As it was expected the visit of PACE Chairman Luis Maria de Puichy to Armenia was followed by numerous lectures on democracy. Of course we don’t intend to contradict the regular guru of democracy, but nonetheless, we must introduce our observations regarding this topic.
Should we consider people’s opinion?

Don’t teach the Armenians to love democracy!

Yerevan
Vadim NOVIKOV
The report of the US Department of State on the post-election situation in Armenia has roused indignation of the Deputy Armen Ashotyan, representing the party in power. At the press-conference on June 5 he noted that only the data of the oppositionists had been used while preparing the report.

Armenia. Disappointed revolutionaries.

THOMAS HAMMERBERG, Council of Europe High Commissioner for Human Rights, arrived in Yerevan on Sunday on a three-day official visit. Yesterday evening, after finishing all the planned meetings and visits, Mr. Hammerberg also met with the journalists.
Although the CoE Commissioner said that during the past three days he had already estimated the process of the [...]

ARMENIA UNDER NO DANGER

The Presidency of the EU Council has been shifted to France from July 1 up to the end of the year.
   During the coming six months the French Presidency is planning to reform Europe’s energy policy, to contribute to the maintenance of the environment and assist the struggle against the climate change. French Ambassador Extraordinary [...]

Destruction of historical monuments in Azerbaijan. EU will monitor in September

A delegation led by Robert Palmer, Council of Europe Director for Culture, Cultural and Natural Heritage Tuesday visited Azerbaijan, where he announced that the Council of Europe’s Ministerial Cabinet will visit the region in September to assess the destruction of historical monuments in Azerbaijan .

AZERBAIJANI DIPLOMACY HOLDS NO VICTORY

Thus, in the frameworks of their regional visit, the Co-Chairs of the Minsk Group yesterday visited Stepanakert and had a meeting with the NKR authorities.
   Was this a “pro-forma” visit or do the Co-Chairs still hope that it will be possible to push the Azerbaijani authorities towards the implementation of the “Madrid” proposals prior to [...]

A1+/To be or not to be?

Interview with GRIGOR AMALYAN, Head of the National Committee on Television and Radio
  
   “Mr. Amalyan, are there any justifications to the claims that ‘A1+’ has won the case and proved its righteousness in the European Court of Human Rights?”
   “First of all, it is necessary to find out why ‘Meltex’ company lodged an appeal with [...]

THE PROPOSALS OF PACE RESOLUTION MUST BE ADDRESSED TO EVERYONE/Armenia and PACE resolutions

Interview with RPA deputy chairman, MP Razmik Zohrabyan regarding PACE last resolution.
“The PACE resolution regarding Armenia particularly states that from now on the authorities must not put improper restrictions on the demonstrations organized by the opposition. It seems PACE is not satisfied with the amendments and supplementations made in the law on “Holding rallies, demonstrations [...]

THE WEST AND OUR REGION

We continue the publication of the interview with political scientist LEVON MELIK-SHAHNAZARYAN
 
 
“Don’t you underestimate the geopolitical factor while stressing the omissions of our delegation? Doesn’t this account for the fact that the West is much more sensitive to the ‘pro-Russian Armenia’ than to the anti-democratic deviations of the neighboring Georgia and Azerbaijan?”

P.A.C.E. PASSES RESOLUTION ON ARMENIA

Late in the evening yesterday, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe passed the Resolution on “Armenia’s Compliance with Resolution # 1609”. Almost all the proposals of the Armenian delegation were accepted.

P.A.C.E. RESOLUTION REFERS TO THE POLITICAL ARENA ON THE WHOLE

KIRO MANOYAN, person in charge of the ARFD Central Office of “Hay Dat” and Political Affairs, was the guest-speaker of “Pastark” (argument) club yesterday.
   Mr. Manoyan considered the hearings organized by US House of Foreign Affairs Committee (concerning the US Policy in the South Caucasus region) one of the most important events of the recent [...]