Month: April 2007

NEITHER KARAPETYAN NOR BABUKHANYAN TO BE SUED

A1+
[05:10 pm] 11 April, 2007

RA General Prosecutor’s Office refused to bring a suit against Aram
Karapetyan, leader of the New Times Party, and Hovhannes Galajyan,
editor of "Iskakan Iravunk" (True Right) newspaper or Hayk Babukhanyan.

Reminder, the newspaper has recently published an article according
to which Karapetyan has sold the party’s proportional ticket at
high prices.

In this respect Aram Karapetyan has applied to the RA General
Prosecutor’s Office to charge the slanderers and put an end to the
fabricated announcements.

Sona Truzyan, press secretary of the General Prosecutor, notes
that no action has been brought before court because of the lack of
grounded facts.

YOUTH STIR UP A REBELLION

A1+
[05:41 pm] 11 April, 2007

Today "Sargis Tkhruni" Youth Student Union held an action of protest
opposite the RA Ombudsman’s Office.

"The acting regime has got an opportunity to control the whole
public on the eve of the RA presidential elections," Narek Galstyan,
representative of the union, announced.

We boycott the March 30 decision of the National Commission Regulating
Public Services under which the subscribers of the advance mobile
communication must sign an agreement and fix whom the cellar phone
belongs to.

We call on the RA Human Rights Protector to see to the matter and
stop the process. Otherwise he will turn to a tool in the hands of
the acting administration," Narek Galstyan says.

In Narek Galstyan’s words, the union won’t tolerate any permissiveness,
"the times of the Stalin dictatorship are left behind, all new-born
Stalins are doomed to failure." The union announces civil disobedience
to the acting authorities.

To note, the demonstrators tied their mouths with black ribbons and
handed their demands to the Ombudsman in a sealed parcel.

ALEXANDER SARGSYAN DOESN’T PROMISE THE MOON

A1+
[06:02 pm] 11 April, 2007

Electoral area 37 includes the territories of Sisian and Goris. The
main struggle in the given precinct will be between Alexander Sargsyan,
member of the PPA and Serge Sargsyan’s brother and freelance candidate
Samvel Harutyuanyan. To note, Samvel Harutyunyan also runs on the
proportional list of the Heritage Party.

Alexander Sargsyan has been visiting villages and presenting his
pre-election programme since the official onset of the campaign.

In Mr. Sargsyan’s words he doesn’t promise the moon; he will do
his best to curtail social-economic problems and to reduce them to
the minimum.

"I am a man of his word and I shall prove my words via my actions,"
Alexander Sargsyan noted during his meeting with the residents
of Sisian.

TV Company "Syuni," Sisian.

COMPACT DISC ON SLAUGHTER IN THE VILLAGE OF MARAGHA RELEASED

A1+
[06:32 pm] 11 April, 2007

Presentation of CD, containing video and photo sources, archive
documents, publications and evidence of eye-witnesses of mass slaughter
of civilian population of the village of Maragha, NKR Martakert region,
by Azerbaijani armed units, took place in the Artsakh State University.

The disk was released upon the initiative of the Karabakhi journalist
Narine Aghabalian in "The Milky Way" studio and was timed to the 15th
anniversary of the tragic events in Maragha. The archive documents
in Armenian, Russian and English were provided by the NKR MFA,
"The Fund against Legal Despotism" and the others.

While opening the presentation, which was attended by representatives
of authorities, community, and the republic’s journalists, Chairman
of the NKR National Assembly Standing Commission on Foreign Relations
Vahram Atanesian noted that Maragha had not been a weapon emplacement
and had not constituted a menace to the Azerbaijani side, but the
mass crimes had been committed toward civilian citizens.

"Maragha became one of the most monstrous demonstrations of the
Azerbaijani authorities anti-Armenian policy", – the deputy emphasized.

By comparing different lists it was established that 81 civilian
citizens, 67 people were seized hostages in Maragha. The fate of many
of them remains unknown till now.

At the presentation NKR National Assembly Chairman Ashot Ghoulian
stressed that the slaughter in Maragha corresponded to genocide
according to all parameters.

"The eyes of witnesses of the tragedy in Maragha express the same as
the eyes of the people who went through the genocide of 1915. Maragha
continues to present day", – the Speaker noted.

According to him, there are no positive changes today in Azerbaijan’s
policy toward Armenians.

By the depth of human tragedy, degree of cruelty, number of people, who
were exposed to violence and were seized hostages, the tragic events
in the Karabakhi village Maragha take special place in the chronicle
of the Karabakh national and liberation movement, and it is necessary
to bring to the notice of the world community the truth about them –
such an idea was run all in the course of the CD’s presentation.

STATE SHOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION TO ECONOMY

A1+
[07:08 pm] 11 April, 2007

Khachatur Sukiasyan And Hrant Vardanyan Share Their Contemplations

Today the Mirror Club hosted businessmen Hrant Vardanyan and Khachatur
Sukiasyan, who debated on the upcoming parliamentary elections.

"I don’t care who the governor is. The representatives of two great
business families, who rank among the top five in the RA tax field,
are sitting here. Please, do not compare Hrant Vardanyan or Khachatur
Sukiasyan with Gagik Tsarukyan. We are the pillars of the country,"
Hrant Vardanyan, president of "Grand Candy" announced.

Mr. Vardanyan didn’t want to debate with Mr. Sukiasyan as, in his
words, he have similar views on many issues.

Hrant Vardanyan assures that he isn’t engaged in any pro-governmental
party although he doesn’t conceal his affection towards them. "The
main merit of a businessman should be his dignified attitude towards
the state budget," the two businessmen claim.

"The problem mainly arouses between corrupted businessman who are
in close ties with the acting officialdom and make fortune through
illegal methods; they try to get a deputy mandate with those sums to
protect their property," Hrant Vardanyan says.

Khachatur Sukiasyan claims that the results of his recent
survey revealed that political figures possess more capital than
businessmen. Besides, there are people who made fortune without any
minor business.

In Hrant Vardanyan’s opinion the state pays little attention to the
sphere of economy. "In case the economy weakens we shall be deprived
of culture, sports, etc."

The guests of the club disagreed only in view of the Armenian-Turkish
frontier opening. Mr. expressed his approval, whereas Mr. Vardanyan
was against the frontier opening. "The opening of the frontier will
be of no importance lest the Genocide conflict between Turkey and
Armenia is settled," he states.

GOVERNMENT MINISTERS KNOWN

A1+
[09:19 pm] 11 April, 2007

Under the degree of RA President Robert Kocharian, the following
people were appointed the RA Government members,

Aghvan VARDANYAN – Minister of Labor and Social Affairs

Norayr DAVIDYAN – Minister of Healthcare.

Karen CHSHMARITYAN – Minister of Commerce and Economic Development

David HAUROUTYUNYAN – Minister of Justice

Vartan OSKANIAN – Minister of Foreign Affairs

Vardan AYVAZYAN – Minister of Environmental Protection

David LOKYAN – Minister of Agriculture

Armen MOVSISYAN – Minister of Energy

Levon MKRTCHYAN – Minister of Culture and Science

Hasmik POGHOSYAN – Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs

Hovik ABRAHAMYAN – Minister of Territorial Administration

Andranik MANUKYAN – Minister of Transport and Communication

Aram HAROUTYUNYAN – Minister of Urban Development

Vardan KHACHATRYAN – Minister of Finance and Economy

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ORINATS YERKIR PARTY LEADER ALARMS ABOUT DANGERS ARMENIA FACES

Panorama.am
20:42 11/04/2007

Arthur Baghdasaryan, chairman of Orinats Yerkir Party (OYP) that has
joined the opposition for almost a year, enumerated the risks that
Armenia faces during a community meeting. Interestingly enough, the
dangers were the same when his party was part of the ruling coalition.

Baghdasaryan said one of the dangers is the "paralyzed industry." "It
is not oligarchs that must raise up the industry. If "Yeraz" car
factory worked, we would not import Pejo cars from Iran but would
export from Armenia and sell in Iran," OYP leader said rhetorically. He
recalled that Michael Baghdasarov received $7 million and Gagik
Tsarukyan – $9 million from the state budget last year. "These $16
could have been invested in several factories," Baghdasaryan said.

The leader enumerated several other problems in social field, education
and science. "Why should the pensions rise only by 1000 Armenian
drams when they drastically go up in our neighboring countries,"
he raises the question. Baghdasaryan said he has solutions to the
problems written in his pre-election program.

SHANT.TV AND KENTRON.TV WEB PORTALS FOR SALE

Panorama.am
20:17 11/04/2007

An electronic message disseminated today says that and
internet portals are for sale. Applications for the
competition are accepted until April 30, 18:00, the message says. The
applications are accepted at [email protected] e-mail and must have a
reference to price offer. The electronic letter says the offers with
unacceptable price offers will be rejected.

Panorama.am asked Shant and Kentron TV companies if they know about
the competition. Kentron told they know nothing about it. So did
Shant TV. Artak Arshakyan, Shant TV technical director, said they
already have two portals – և

Obviously, this is a very profitable business at the pre-election
period. If political parties decide to run the campaign in the
internet, the owners of the sites may gain good profits.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

EASTER EVE CELEBRATED AT THE ACUSA CENTER

The Armenian Church University Students’ Association (ACUSA) members
happily greeted His Holiness Aram I in their center in Antelias on Easter
Eve.

This youth movement, which works under the patronage of the Armenian
Church (Catholicosate of Cilicia), has always received special attention
from the Pontiffs of this Holy See. Driven by his great interest in the
Armenian youth, His Holiness Aram I particularly focused his attention on
their active participation in the life of the Armenian Church. ACUSA became
an important medium contributing to the Catholicosate’s Youth Department and
youth movement, operating under the auspices of the Armenian Church, and
participating in international ecumenical meetings.

After the Easter Eve Service in the cathedral and dinner with the Seminary
students and Cilician Brotherhood members, the Catholicos visited the ACUSA
center accompanied by its spiritual advisor, Rev. Fr. Mesrob Sarkissian. The
Armenian youth received His Holiness with warm greetings on the joyful
occasion of Easter.

The Catholicos blessed the youth and praised their multi-faceted work,
including the creation of a socially safe environment for the Armenian
youth, providing social service to deprived Armenian families, publishing
the new volume of "Deghegadou" (the ACUSA publication) and establishing a
new website. His Holiness offered guidance on these projects to the ACUSA
members and its central committee.

The meeting also included the traditional "egg-game" and an Easter
reception during which ACUSA members thanked His Holiness for his Pontifical
care.

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the youth
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
The Heritage Party
31 Moscovian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 53.69.13
Fax: (+374 – 10) 53.26.97
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:

April 12, 2007

Heritage Receives European Election Monitors, Takes Campaign on the Road

Yerevan–The Heritage Party campaign bus "Toward Victory" today carried
candidates, volunteers, and reporters to the regions (marz) of Kotaik and
Davush, and specifically to the towns of Dilijan, Tsaghkadzor, Hrazdan,
Bjni, Charentsavan, Yeghvard, and Nor Hajn, where Raffi K. Hovannisian led
spontaneous public gathering with his fellow citizens.

Meanwhile in Yerevan, parallel efforts were being organized by Heritage’s
growing youth corps in the capital’s streets and universities, today
particularly in the Central and Achapniak districts.

At Heritage headquarters, party representatives received a joint election
monitoring delegation of the Council of Europe and the OSCE. Yerevan State
University professor and Heritage leader Vardan Khachatrian and spokesman
Hovsep Khurshudian discussed the imperative of equal financial conditions,
equal access to media, and equal access to public facilities for all
participating parties. The group, led by Dutch parliamentarian Leo Platvoet,
was assured that if these standards are met, Heritage will accept the
results of the May 12 elections as its clear-cut winner or, alternatively,
will extend its hand of congratulation to the party most worthy of the
public’s trust.

Founded in 2002, Heritage has regional divisions throughout the land. Its
central office is located at 31 Moscovian Street, Yerevan 0002, Armenia,
with telephone contact at (374-10) 536.913, fax at (374-10) 532.697, email
at [email protected] or [email protected], and website at