PROPOSAL FOR REFERENDUM ON CONFIDENCE IN PRESIDENT NOT IMPERATIVE: CC
YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. The RA Constitutional Court (CC) stated
once more that by its decision of April 16, 2003, it upheld the
decision on the election of Robert Kocharian Armenia’s President,
which was adopted by the RA Central Electoral Commission on March 11,
2003. The CC’s decision was final and imperative.
In its statement provided to ARMINFO, the CC once more stressed that
the CC’s proposal for holding of a referendum on confidence in the
President within a year is not imperative and does not have any legal
consequences. According to the statement, the CC’s proposal was
supposed to relieve political tension on the threshold of the
parliamentary elections and referendum on constitutional amendments on
May 25, 2003. In its statement, the CC calls for retraining from
making its proposal a subject of political speculations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BUSINESS-FORUM “INVESTMENT POTENTIALITIES OF ARMENIA” HELD IN UAE ON APRIL
3-7
YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. A business-forum on the topic “Investment
potentialities of the Republic of Armenia” was held in United Arab
Emirates on April 3-7. ARMINFO was informed in the press office of the
Foreign Ministry, the purpose of the business-forum was the
development of Armenia-UAE trade cooperation, increase of the volume
of trade between two countries, as well as more profitable
presentation of the economic and industrial potential of Armenia. For
this purpose a delegation, consisting of representatives of 25
Armenian companies, have arrived in the UAE. During the meetings the
Armenian entrepreneurs have introduced the dynamics of the economic
development of Armenia, more quickly developing and prosperous
directions of the industry of the republic, as well as the main
legislative base which coordinates the investment field of the
country. The participants of the business-forum mainly acquainted with
the opening possibilities in the sphere of information technologies,
pharmacology, jewelry goods, in the sphere of light and chemical
industry, power engineering and other spheres.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF CHINA
YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
met today Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the China Li Gu (name
as given). As ARMINFO reported earlier, Armenian President Robert
Kocharian is to visit China at the invitation of Chinese President Hu
Dzintao. The invitation has been handed over to the Armenian President
by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Gu. Vardan Oskanyan expressed
hope for the forthcoming visit of the Armenian President to CHina will
contribute to development of bilateral relations. The sides pointed
out a high level of the Armenian-Chinese relations, adding that
deepening of political relations may bring the economic, cultural and
business ties to higher level.
Deputy Foreign Minister of China was received by his Armenian
colleague Tatul Margaryan. The sides discussed the ways ot development
of the Armenian-Chinese relations, as well as the cooperation within
the framework of international organizations.

OPPOSITION RALLY PARTICIPANTS MAKE FOR PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. The participants in the
opposition-organized rally have begun their procession to the
presidential residence. The procession is led by the opposition
parliamentarians. Speaking at the rally, Chairman of the “National
Unity” party Artashes Geghamyan urged the coalition-forming parties,
the “Law-Governed Country” party, Republican Party of Armenia and
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) “Dashnaktsutyun” “to get rid
of slavery and join the people.’ In his turn, Chairman of the
opposition bloc “Justice” Stepan Demirchian stated that the
authorities missed the chance of leaving in a civilized manner, and it
is the people that has a decisive word. Any provocation will meet a
resolute rebuff, Demirchian said.
Barbed wire was stretched in front of the National Assembly in
Baghramyan Avenue, and police cordons are behind it. The action
participants reached the “barrier” and stopped.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION CALLS ON PUBLIC TO “LAY SIEGE” TO PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE
YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. “We must lay siege to the residence of the
country’s president until President Robert Kocharyan resigns.”
Secretary of the opposition bloc “Justice” Victor Dallakyan made such
a call at the opposition rally in the Freedom Square in Yerevan
today. He said that Robert Kocharyan in the period of his governance
in the post of Armenian President has discredited the institute of
presidency. “We are for social justice, free and far election as well
as against poverty and usurpation of the power by the illegitimate
president,” Dallakyan said. Leader of the National Democratic Union
Vazgen Manukyan said that Robert Kocharyan’s leaving post of the
president is predetermined. He said that rallies and mass actions are
only the first step in the way towards achievement of power by the
opposition, the second step will be transfer of power to the people
through free and democratic elections. Leader of the
National-Democratic party Shavarsh Kocharyan called on the rally
participants not to yield to provocations and obey only to the
instruction by the opposition. It should be noted that the rally
participants are starting an action along Baghramyan avenue where the
building of the National Assembly and the Presidential Residence are
located. According to operative data, some 8,000 people participate in
the rally, and some 30,000 in conformity with unofficial data.

25 CASES OF MEASLES REGISTERED IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. Twenty-five people ill with measles are
registered in Armenia. Head of the National Program of Immunization,
Deputy Director of the Center for Control and Prevention of Diseases,
the Public Health Ministry of Armenia, Sirak Sukiasyan told ARMINFO.
He said that such an activation of the disease has not been observed
since 1997-98, while in 2003 only 2 cases were registered. Eight
pupils are ill with measles in the schools No.60 and No.68. The
remaining are adults in Yerevan and Gyumri. The Public Health Ministry
takes all the measures to prevent spreading of the disease. According
to preliminary data of physicians, by 2005 the spreading of measles
may increase, and then it will decrease again.
In Armenia, in conformity with the recommendation of the World Health
Organization, children at the age of 1 and 6 are vaccinated against
measles, German measles and parotitis in the regional polyclinics free
of charge.

COALITION REFUSES TO TAKE PART IN THIS THREE-DAY SESSION OF PARLIAMENT
BECAUSE IT WANTS TO PREVENT POSSIBLE CONFRONTATION
YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. The representatives of the ruling
coalition of Armenia motivated their refusal to take part in the
current three-day session of the National Assembly by that they want
to prevent the possible confrontation between the supporters of the
opposition and pro-power forces. Representatives of the ruling
coalition told the journalists today. According to them, today
procession of the opposition up Baghramyan avenue, where the
parliament and the residence of the president are situated, may create
pre-requisites for skirmish between the participants of the procession
and supporters of the ruling coalition, who may come to the building
of the parliament.
Talking to journalists the Vice Speaker of the parliament, member of
the Bureau of the party ARF Dashnaktsutiun Vahan Hovhannisian again
stressed that the requirement of the opposition to include in the
agenda the bill on making amendments to the law on referendum, is not
acceptable for the ruling coalition. “The coalition’s refusing to
take part in the current three-day session of the parliament is not
connected at all with this issue. The representatives of the ruling
coalition have the right not to take part in the sittings of the
parliament just as the representatives of the other parliamentary
forces”, the vice speaker said. At the same time Vahan Hovhannisian
stressed that the ruling coalition is ready to sit down at the
negotiation table with the opposition to discuss the internal
political situation.
Talking to ARMINFO, Chairman of the deputy group “People’s deputy”
Karen Karapetian considered unwarrantable the refusal of the coalition
to take part in the sittings of the National Assembly. According to
him, the internal political situation in the republic is not so
strained in order to resort to such extreme measures. The leader of
the deputy group expressed an opinion that one of the reasons for the
refusal of the ruling coalition is that the agenda of this three-day
session includes only 13 questions, which may be concluded during one
sitting.
Karen Karapetian pointed out that the ruling coalition and other
parliamentary forces have their share of fault in that the opposition
has taken such a irreconcilable position. The deputy thinks that the
ruling majority of the parliament could not find bearings and
elaborate a right tactics of work with the opposition. “We must sit
down at the negotiations table, as no one of the sides can be a
winner, and the whole people will be the loser”, Karen Karapetian
said. According to him, even in the case of reaching power in the
antagonistic situation the opposition cannot change the situation in
the country fundamentally, and the republic will appear in permanent
process of elections and change of power. Karen Karapetian stressed
that in the presence of quorum the deputy group “People’s deputy” is
ready to take part in the three-day session of the parliament. The
leader of the faction of the United labour party Gurgen Arsenian on
behalf of the faction also expressed readiness to take part in the
three-day session of the parliament.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR PRESIDENT MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF “KARITAS” ORGANIZATION
STEPANAKERT, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. NKR President Arkady Ghukassian held a
meeting yesterday with representatives of the Swiss “Karitas”
humanitarian organization, Gido Kappeli, Project Executive in Armenia
and Ruben Khalatyan, Director of the Project. The sides discussed the
possibility of the organization’s humanitarian assistance to the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR).
The NKR presidential press service reports that during the meeting the
NKR President informed the guests of the priorities of the NKR’s
socio-economic development.

FUNCTION ON OCCASION OF COUNTRY’s DAY TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. A function on the occasion of the Day of
Country is to be held in Republic Square in Yerevan on April 25, the
press service of the Public Ecological Council of Yerevan reports.
Tree planting, territory cleaning and an exhibition of works of
ecological organizations are expected to be organized. An exhibition
of works about nature, children’s traditional drawings on asphalt and
a concert of children’s groups are expected as well. the participants
will receive T-shirts with slogans. The opening will be marked by
flying pigeons. The arrangement will be organized by the Public
Ecological Council of Yerevan and the Center of regional development
(Armenian branch of the Transparency International organization).

OPPOSITION TO ORGANIZE PROCESSION TO PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE
YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. Armenia’s political opposition is
organizing a procession to the presidential residence today, Secretary
of the opposition bloc “Justice” Victor Dallakian told a press
conference.
According to him, the people will exclusively act within the
Constitution. “In case of violence, all responsibility will rest with
the junta,” Dallakian said. He reported that the Parliament members
Vardan Mkrtichian and Tatul Manaserian were detained this morning,
while they were informing citizens of the procession. Mkrtichian is
now at the Shahumyan district police department, and Manaserian at the
Kanaker-Zeitun district police department. Dallakian stressed that the
country’s authorities are violating citizens’ constitutional rights to
rallies and processions. In fact, Yerevan and Armenia’s regional
centers are surrounded, the highways are blocked by armed police.
According to the opposition, over 250 people have been detained and
subjected to administrative punishment since March 28. Dallakian also
called a provocation the information spread by the RA Prosecutor
General’s Office that two Moscow residents were detained yesterday.
They were allegedly preparing a terrorist act during the opposition’s
rally, “by an opposition deputy’s order.” “The situation is extremely
strained, and the authorities are exacerbating it. All responsibility
for further developments rests with the authorities,” Dallakian
said. In his turn, the Parliament member of the “Justice” bloc
Shavarsh Kocharian added that “the illegal authorities’ actions are
nothing but terror against their own people.” According to him, the
authorities’ actions run counter not only to the Armenian legislation,
but also to the European Convention on Human Rights. “Even in 1937
people were not kidnapped in the street or taken hostage,” he
said. According to Sh. Kocharian, Armenia has found itself outside the
civilized world due to its own authorities. “We have a choice – either
we return to the Middle Ages or the country’s authorities must leave,”
he said. Sh. Kocharian added that even Azerbaijan is enthusiastic
about the Armenian authorities’ acting in Heydar Aliyev’s
spirit. Artak Zeinalyan, member of the Political Council of the
“Republic” party, adduced the example of Gayane Ashugyan, an active
opposition member, whose 16-year-old daughter was allegedly kidnapped.
Commenting on the Political Coalition’s refusal to take part in the
Parliament’s three-day session, Dallakian stated that “together with
the illegal President, the coalition is responsible for the ongoing
situation in the country.” It is the execution of the RA
Constitutional Court’s decision on amendments to the Law “On
referendum” that must be the basis for the opposition’s dialogue with
the authorities, particularly, with the coalition. However, the
opposition was offered ministerial posts, seats in the “nonexistent”
Security Council. The Coalition is a cover of the authorities’
illegal authorities. Dallakian also reported that the “Justice’ bloc
informed CE Secretary General Walter Schwimmer and PACE President
Peter Shider of the political situation in Armenia. Moreover, in its
the letter Armenia’s political opposition proposes holding a hearing
“Armenian authorities’ antinational policy and a domestic political
crisis.”