Washington ProFile - International News & Information Agency - Issue ESD_27-28

ARMENIA: Detained Opposition Leader Appeals to European Court

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:08:36 -0400

Alexander Arzoumanian, the former foreign affairs minister of Armenia and the co-founder of the “Qaxaqatsiakan Anhnazandutjuan” (Citizens’ Resistance) political movement, who was arrested on May 8 and later received a two-month long preliminary incarceration (until the results of the final investigation become available and the ultimate punishment is determined), appealed to the European Court of Human Rights on May 31.

Armenia to Create Peacekeeping Force

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:31:45 -0400

On the basis of existing peacekeeping missions, Armenia is set to integrate a permanent peacekeeping force into the system of the armed services of the country.

Russia Ready to Fully Fund New Nuclear Plant Construction in Armenia

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:30:28 -0400

Russia has expressed its readiness to entirely fund construction of a new nuclear power plant in Armenia.

Azerbaijan and Georgia Conduct Joint Power System Repairs

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:29:06 -0400

The work that will become a part of the possible synchronization of electric power systems of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey will be carried out only between Azerbaijan and Georgia during the first stage of the project.

AZERBAIJAN: Opposition Party Complaints of Unlawful Interruption of Session

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:27:51 -0400

The opposition Umid party of Azerbaijan, as announced by its chairman Igbal Agazade, sent a note of protest to international organizations and missions, as well as to the Ministry of Interior of the country, complaining “against the unlawful activities” of district interior forces against their party.

Belarus to Face Education Gap in 2011

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:15:43 -0400

The Minister of Education of Belarus Alexander Redkov announced at a Council of Ministers session dedicated to the discussion of the 2007-2016 general public education program, that by 2011 Belarus will have the lowest rates of primary school enrollment since the country’s independence.

Tehran Seeks To Build Hydro Stations in Belarus

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:14:26 -0400

Minsk and Tehran are discussing the possibility of cooperating around the construction of hydro power stations on the territory of Belarus, announced the First Deputy General Director of Belenergo Alexander Sivak.

Belarus Hopes to Attract Vietnamese Investment for Exploration of Iranian Oil

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:13:13 -0400

BelorusNeft is seeking to attract the financial resources of the Vietnamese state oil company Petrovietnam for exploration of the Iranian Jofeir oil field.

Poll: Georgians Favor Azerbaijan, Ukraine; Dislike Russia

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:11:59 -0400

According to a poll conducted by the Georgian Consulting Group, Azerbaijan and Ukraine top the list of the countries perceived by the Georgians as friendly, with 12 percent of the respondents casting their votes for them.

GEORGIA: Former Lawmaker Found Strangled

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:06:32 -0400

Zviad Tsetskhladze, a businessman and former lawmaker, was found dead in his office in downtown Tbilisi on May 28. Friends and relatives said Tsetskhladze, 61, had been found tied to a chair and had shown signs of strangling.

AZERBAIJAN: Journalists Imprisoned for Publishing Critical Article on Islam

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:41:57 -0400

The district court of Baku sentenced columnist Rafik Tagi and the editor of the Senet newspaper Samir Sadatoghlu to three and four years of imprisonment, respectively, for igniting religious hatred.

GEORGIA: Top Military Official Busted on Drug Use

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:42:40 -0400

The Head of the ground forces of Georgia, Cpt. Zazu Khavtasi, was detained by the military police of the country and later confessed to possession and use of narcotics.

KAZAKHSTAN: Nazarbayev’ Son-in-Law on International Wanted List

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:43:02 -0400

Former Kazakh ambassador to Austria and son-in-law of Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Rakhat Aliyev, has been put on the international wanted list by his own government.

KAZAKHSTAN: Nazarbayev President for Life?

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:37:28 -0400

The Parliament of Kazakhstan approved an amendment to the country’s Constitution, according to which the First President Nursultan Nazarbayev has a right to be re-elected as head of the country for an unlimited number of terms.

Kazakhstan to Build Road Connecting China and Europe

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:35:57 -0400

The government of the Central Asian republic is evaluating a project aimed at building a new transportation corridor between Western Europe and Western China, connecting mainland China to the European markets, which could cost up to $2.3 billion.