Month: April 2007

COMMISSIONS OF HAYKAVAN VILLAGE HEAD STOPPED AHEAD OF TIME
Editor: Eghian Robert

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Government made a decision
at the April 12 sitting on stopping ahead of time commissions of
Rafik Ghazarian, the rural community head of Haykavak, marz of
Armavir. Special elections of the rural community head will be held
on the last Sunday of the 30-day term following the day when the
decision will come into force.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Government’s Information and
Public Relations Department, by another decision, commissions of the
rural community councillor of Jrashen, marz of Armavir, were also
stopped ahead of time.

IT WAS NOT OUT POWER, ARF BUREAU REPRESENTATIVE STATES
Author: Davtian Armen Editor: Eghian Robert

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

KAPAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. "Such a situation is created in Armenia
when people gather round a person, and a party is created." ARF Bureau
representative Hrant Margarian made such a statement at the meeting
with voters at the Kapan Culture Center. And Dashnaktsutiun, in his
words, unlike many other political forces, is a party having ideology.

H. Margarian assured that if the ARF gets the people’s vote at the May
12 elections and come to power, it will struggle against corruption,
atmosphere of unpunishment in the country. At the same time he did
not exclude that some people accuse the ARF saying that "you were
among the authorities why haven’t you done all these by now?" "You
are right. But we say that it was not our power, it was a power formed
round another’s pivot, which we made a part. And we now say that the
next power must be formed round our pivot to be able to solve those
issues," ARF Bureau representative said.

ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN NOT DISCONTENT WITH COVERAGE OF PROCESS OF AGITATION CAMPAIGN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Artur Baghdasarian, Chairman of Orinats
Yerkir (Country of Law) Party, does not agree with the forces who in
consideration of already committed violations consider the elections
as falsified. "How can you consider the elections as falsified if
they have not been held yet?"

OYP Chairman stated at the April 13 press conference. In
A. Baghdasarian’s words, some violations have been indeed committed,
and they have informed the Central Electoral Commission about them
and informed the Police about the shortcomings found in electoral
rolls expecting that they will be corrected in the established term.

A. Baghdasarian said that OYP is not discontent with coverage of the
process of agitation campaign. "If we are not satisfied with little,
we will not be satisfied with much, too. We should not forget that
no one covered our activity a year ago," OYP Chairman emphasized.

A. Baghdasarian stated that he is against revolutions. "I am for
changes made not through revolution but through evolution. But if they
hamper the evolution, naturally, a necessity of revolution emerges,"
he said.

Answering the question whether he expects any serious change after
Serge Sargsian’s appointment to Prime Minister’s post, A. Baghdasarian
said: "S. Sargsian has always had his considerable role in the
government’s activity and to expect any serious change is senseless,
as when his being the Defence Minister he also de facto played a
bigger role than the Defence Minister’s post presumes."

Author: Hakobian Hasmik Editor: Eghian Robert

POLICE REFUTE INFORMATION ABOUT THREATS TO CANDIDATES FOR DEPUTACY BY PHONE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Though there were no victims, the
explosions at Bargavach Hayastan Party’s offices are grave crimes,
as this is infringement upon democracy and country’s authority. Hrayr
Karapetian, Head of RA National Assembly ARFD faction, stated at the
April 13 press briefing. Reminding that over 200 foreign observers
are in Armenia, he said that this time "we should be able to prove
that we are able to hold normal elections as a civilized people."

In H. Karapetian’s words, before these cases many signals were received
at Police from preelectoral headquarters of various candidates that
they received threats of explosions from unknown people by phone. In
particular, about 10 days ago the businessman who provided territory
to one of candidates registered at electoral district N 5 received
such threats. "I think investigating all signals of the kind is the
task of Police. It is possible that the same people threatened at
one place and fulfilled it without threatening at another place,"
Hrayr Karapetian said.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from Information and Public Relations
Department of RA Police, the Police have not received any signal
about such threats.

Author: Karapetian Rita Editor: Eghian Robert

COOPERATION OF CIS COUNTRIES’ FRONTIER TROOPS NEED TO BE EXTENDED, RA PRESIDENT SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 13, RA President Robert
Kocharian received the delegation led by Vladimir Pronichev, Chairman
of Commanders Council of CIS Countries’ Frontier Troops. Noyan Tapan
was informed about it from RA President’s Press Office.

R. Kocharian said that parallel with increase of danger of spreading
terrorism and drugs in the world the challenges thrown down to frontier
services also increase, so extension of cooperation of CIS frontier
troops has become a necessity.

The guests presented R. Kocharian the issues discussed during the
Council’s 57th sitting being held in Yerevan and approaches on their
solution.

Editor: Eghian Robert

PPA TO RESTORE PEOPLE’S FAITH TOWARDS ELECTORAL PROCESS, STEPAN DEMIRCHIAN ASSURES
Author: Editor: Eghian Robert

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The People’s Party of Armenia (PPA)
will call on the people during the propaganda campaign to certainly
have active participation in the parliamentary elections. PPA
Chairman Stepan Demirchian stated about it at the April 13 press
conference. Otherwise, in his opinion, favourable conditions will
be created for electoral falsifications. The PPA, as S. Demirchian
assured, will do its best to restore the people’s faith towards the
electoral process.

He mentioned that the PPA has never been engaged and is not engaged
now, either, in using black propaganda technologies against other
political forces.

Whereas, in S. Demirchian’s words, similar technologies have always
been used towards the PPA. But irrespective of everything, in his
words, the "Ardaroutiun" (Justice) faction was able to keep its
existence "from elections to elections, and, unlike the ruling
coaltion, did not fall."

Touching upon activity of mass media, S. Demirchian mentioned that
during the pre-electoral period the latters are striking with balanced
covering of political events, what, in the PPA leader’s words, was
at all absent till the pre-electoral period.

ARAM KARAPETIAN DOES NOT EXCLUDE THAT EXPLOSIONS IN "BARGAVACH HAYASTAN" PARTY OFFICES ARE ORGANIZED JUST BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THAT PARTY
Author: Editor: Eghian Robert

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Members of the "Anticriminal" movement
foresaw long ago that the pre-electoral campaign in Armenia will
be accompanied by events of criminal character: encroachments and
explosions. Aram Karapetian, the Chairman of the "Nor Zhamanakner"
(New Times) party stated about it at the April 13 debate. In his words,
those previsions come true: "the elections were turned into a military
action." A. Karapetian did not exclude that possible organizers
of the explosions in two territorial offices of the "Bargavach
Hayastan" (Prosperous Armenia) party are just "Bargavach Hayastan"
representatives who used the happened as PR action. And in general,
as A. Karapetian emphasized, either authorities or criminal forces,
which are more and more identified, stand on the back of political
crimes in Armenia.

Another participant of the debate, Chairman of the People’s Party
Tigran Karapetian mentioned that if those explosions were implemented
on the initiative of the "Bargavach Hayastan" party within the
framework of PR-action, that party would not restore the ruined
constructions continuously for few days and would uninterruptedly
show them on TV. Whereas, in T. Karapetian’s words, the latters
immediately started restoration of the offices. Touching upon the
elections, the PP Chairman expressed an opinion that "ones giving
money will not have success" this time. T. Karapetian also mentioned
that in the case of appearing at the NA, PP members will agree each
of their steps with the people.

A. Karapetian in his turn stated that in the case of fair elections
the "Nor Zhamanakner" party will get 20-25% of the electors’ votes
and will start at the parliament the process of RA President Robert
Kocharian’s impeachment.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STEPAN DEMIRCHYAN DOESN’T ANSWER HYPOTHETIC QUESTIONS

A1+
[05:05 pm] 13 April, 2007

more images "The People’s Party of Armenia will pass the 5%
threshold," Stepan Demirchyan, leader of the People’s Party of Armenia,
assures. The party attaches great importance to direct contact with
the electorate.

In reply to a journalists question whether the collapse of the
"Justice" block will hinder the PPA activity, Mr. Demirchyan said,
"Surely not. "Justice" was not eternal."

PPA has started its campaign from the frontier regions. "The scene
is hopeless in the RA regions; residents don’t trust elections but
they don’t seem discouraged," says Mr. Demirchyan.

I don’t assume that bribes will impact on the outcome of the
election. Bribes merely insult the dignity of the voters and humiliate
people. I am convinced that people will be guided with conscience
and remorse.

People know on which side one’s bread is buttered.

One of the journalists remarked that sheep were slaughtered for the
PPA during the previous election campaign and wondered why the party
members aren’t received the same way. "I advise you not to make fun
of it. People did everything open-heartedly. I am warmly received
in the RA regions and let’s not deem animal slaughter as criterion
for elections."

Mr. Demirchyan welcomes the presence of international observers in
the May 12 elections and said, "Nevertheless, the decisive factor
is public’s organisation and will-power. We rely on the Armenian
people. People speak of the constitutional order with irony. This
gives rise to quizzical attitude towards the acting laws and RA
Constitution. We must do our utmost to prevent election frauds."

In reply to the question how the People’s Party will react if the
Republican Party of Armenia and the Prosperous Armenia Party propose a
coalition, Mr. Demirchyan said, "I don’t answer hypothetic questions."

ARMENIA JOINS INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON PROTECTION OF ALL PERSONS FROM ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Resident Representative
to the UN, Ambassador Armen Martirosian on April 10 signed the
International Convention on the Protection of All Persons from
Enforced Disappearance. NT was informed about it from the RA MFA
Press and Information Department.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UPCOMING MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTERS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 18

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. A regular meeting of the Armenian
foreign minister Vartan Oskanian and the Azerbaijani foreign minister
Elmar Mamedyarov with the participation of co-chairs of the OSCE
Minsk Group and the personal representtaive of the OSCE chairman
is scheduled to take place in Belgrade on April 18. NT was informed
about it from the RA MFA Press and Information Department.