Month: April 2007

MAYOR OF ARMENIA’S SECOND CITY SURVIVES ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

Mediamax news agency
3 Apr 07

Yerevan, 3 April: An assassination attempt on the life of Gyumri mayor
Vardan Ghukasyan was made at about 2230 [1730 gmt] on 2 April on the
Ashtarak section of the Yerevan-Gyumri highway.

The mayor of Armenia’s second city received a bullet wound.

Ghukasyan underwent surgery in the Yerevan-based medical centre
Surb Grigor Lusavorich late at night on 2 April. His life is not in
danger now.

Three people died in the attack – the mayor’s two bodyguards and
his driver.

According to available information, Ghukasyan’s car came under fire
from a grey-coloured car without license plates. The car escaped from
the scene.

Criminal proceedings have been launched. An investigation is under way.

[Arminfo news agency, Yerevan, in Russian 0405 gmt 3 Apr 07 reported
that Ghukasyan came under attack when he was on his way to Gyumri from
Yerevan. He visited Yerevan to take part in the Republican Party’s
board session on 2 April that nominated acting Defence Minister Serzh
Sargsyan for prime minister.]

SERGEY LAVROV ARRIVED IN YEREVAN

ArmRadio.am
03.04.2007 10:02

The Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Lavrov arrived in Yerevan today
on an official visit.

Meetings with RA President Robert Kocharyan, the Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin II and Acting Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian are
envisaged in the framework of the visit.

During the stay in Armenian the Russian delegation will visit
Tsitsernakaberd to lay a wreath of flowers at the memorial to the
Armenian Genocide victims.

On April 4 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit the
Yerevan State University, where he is expected to deliver a speech.

ASSAULT AGAINST GYUMRI MAYOR

ArmRadio.am
03.04.2007 10:28

Between 10 and 11 p.m. last night, unknown people shot at the car
of Gyumri Mayor Vardan Ghukasyan on his way back from Yerevan to
Gyumri. Vardan Ghukasyan was in a "Mercedes" car with the driver. He
was accompanied by another car with bodyguards. The driver and two
bodyguards were shot dead. Vardan Ghukasyan and his Deputy Gagik
Manukyan were wounded and taken to St. Grigor Lusavorich hospital. A
few minutes ago "Radiolur" was told from the hospital that the
Mayr’s condition is stable. According to our correspondent in Gyumri,
6 people are injured.

Vardan Ghukasyan was returning to Gyumri after the extraordinary
sitting of the Republican Party of Armenia. Last night RA Defense
Minister Serge Sargsyan also visited the hospital.

THE FOREIGN MINISTERS WILL MEET IN ONE OF EUROPEAN CITIES

ArmRadio.am
03.04.2007 11:13

The recurrent meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and
Azerbaijan Vartan Oskanian and Elmar Mammadyarov is planned to be
held in one of the European countries, Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov told APA agency.

The diplomat noted that the Co-Cghairs are currently preparing the
recurrent meeting. Initially, it was suggested that the meeting
would be held on April 25 in the framework of the sitting of the CIS
Council of Foreign Ministers in Astana. However, later it was decided
to hold the meeting in one of the European countries. The reason is
that the participation of the two Foreign Ministers in the sitting
is not certain, Yuri Merzlyakov noted. The diplomat underlined that
the mediators have not presented their suggestions on the place and
time of the meeting to the Foreign Ministers.

Yuri Merzlyakov also commented on the statement of the OSCE PA
President Goran Lenmarker that the document on the resolution of
the conflict will be signed after the parliamentary elections in
Armenia. The diplomat noted the is not aware why the OSCE PA President
made the statement.

SERGE SARGSYAN TO BE NOMINATED FOR RA PRIME MINISTER

ArmRadio.am
03.04.2007 12:48

The Political Council of the Republican Party of Armenia unanimously
voted to nominate RA Acting Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan as Prime
Minister of Armenia, Speaker of the National assembly of Armenia,
Vice-President of the Party Tigran Torosyan told the journalists after
yesterday’s meeting of the Political Council of the Republican Party.

In his words, in compliance with RA Constitution, on April 3
RA President Robert Kocharyan must hold consultations with the
parliamentary majority, but according to an earlier agreement Serge
Sargsyan will be appointed RA Prime Minister. "I think on April 4 the
President will sign a decree on appointing Serge Sargsyan the Prime
Minister of Armenia," Tigran Torosyan underlined, reminding that in
compliance with the current legislation, Serge Sargsyan must submit to
the parliament an action plan and the staff of the new government. In
the Speaker’s words, "considering the current realities, changes in
the staff of the government are hardly possible."

SEGOLENE ROYAL WANTS A LAW TO PENALIZE THE NEGATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ArmRadio.am
03.04.2007 13:30

Segolene Royal, socialist candidate for presidency and supported
by Dashnaktsutyun Party, indicated she favors the law penalizing
the negation of the Armenian Genocide, specifying that "it will
be the position of the Foreign policy if she is elected President,
independent correspondent Jean Eckian informs.

Ms Royal said this in an interview to the French Nouvelles d’ Arménie
Magazine review. Currently, this clause is to be endorsed by Senate.

On the other hand, Ms Royal declared to be in favor of Turkey’s
accession to the European Union, contrary to the other principal
candidates: Nicolas Sarkozy, Francois Bayrou and Jean-Marie Lepen.

–Boundary_(ID_AGsya4hmQJJA5UEcomG4Tg)–

KARABAKH SETTLEMENT TO BE A CENTRAL TOPIC OF OSKANIAN-LAVROV MEETING

ArmRadio.am
03.04.2007 12:08

In response to the question of RIA Novosti about the expectations
from Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Armenia, RA Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian said: "We attach great importance to this visit primarily
because such visits on the high level are necessary for maintaining
the pace of development of bilateral relations. The visit is also
important for us from the perspective of the opportunity of getting
familiar with Russia’s stances on the processes ongoing in our region,
in the immediate neighborhood and on the global levels. I’m sure a
useful exchange of opinions will launch on the situation in Iran,
the Kosovo issue, Russian-Georgian relations, the reforms in most
important international organizations and other urgent issues.

Minister Lavrov’s visit overlaps with the 15th anniversary of
establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Russia, and
it will enable us to evaluate the way passed and plan the future deeds.

Certainly, the bilateral relations are deep and the agenda is broad,
Armenian-Russian relations are developing in all directions. We shall
discuss all these issues, laying an emphasis on issues of cooperation
in the spheres of security, transport and energy. The settlement of
the Karabakh issue will be a central topic of discussion.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY EXTENDS CONDOLENCES

ArmRadio.am
03.04.2007 13:42

The Council of the Republican Party of Armenia condoles with the
families and friends of the victims killed as a result of murderous
assault against the Mayor of Gyumri Vardan Ghukasyan.

In its statement disseminated today the Party denounces the crime and
demands from law-enforcement bodies to disclose it as soon as possible
and to call the criminals to responsibility. "We are sure that any
assault against the stability of social life is destined to fail,"
the statement says.

Let us remind that On April 2 three were killed as a result of a
murderous assault on the Mayor of Gyumri on his way back from Yerevan
to Gyumri after the Sitting of the Republican Party Council.

SERGE SARGSYAN WAS NAMED PRIME MINISTER, AND REPUBLICAN PARTY WILL NOT NAME DEFENSE MINISTER

KarabakhOpen
03-04-2007 10:57:54

The Council of the Republican Party confirmed on April 2 the decision
of the executive committee of the party to name Serge Sargsyan prime
minister.

Speaker Tigran Torosyan, the deputy leader of the party, stated
that the most experienced and suitable candidate of the party is
Serge Sargsyan.

"In appointment of prime minister everything should be natural and
correct.

The Republican Party has several ministers in the government but I
am sure th at Serge Sargsyan is the most experienced and suitable
candidate," Tigran Torosyan said.

He mentioned that Serge Sargsyan’s experience and other reasons
make it obvious that the Republican Party made the right decision
"because appointment to such high-ranking positions is not the case
when there are many candidates and competition."

According to Tigran Torosyan, the president of Armenia must hold a
political consultation with the political forces today with only a
day before the deadline of appointment of prime minister. "Although
it is already obvious that the coalition will endorse Serge Sargsyan,"
said Tigran Torosyan after the meeting of the Council of the Republican
Party. He said he thinks that by the end of the ten-day term on April
4 the president will appoint Serge Sargsyan prime minister.

With regard to the possible replacements in the government, the speaker
of the National Assembly said considering the present situation
the government will not change. As to combining the posts of the
prime minister and the defense minister, Tigran Torosyan said it is
unconstitutional. Tigran Torosyan also said the Republican Party’s
Council did not discuss candidates for the office of the defense
minister. "The Republican Party has never named defense ministers
and will not name," said the speaker of the National Assembly.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN KARABAKH RELEASED THEIR DECISION

KarabakhOpen
03-04-2007 11:00:32

After the extraordinary regional meeting of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun
Artsakh the representative of the ARF Central Committee to Artsakh
Arthur Mosiyan released in a briefing on April 2 the decision of
the meeting. It states that NKR is facing external and internal
challenges and outlines the ways of solution of these problems
offered by the ARF Artsakh organization. The ARF Karabakh thinks
that NKR is facing complicated external challenges in connection with
the international recognition of the independence of Artsakh within
the de facto borders. Besides, the organization thinks there are a
number of economic and social problems in Artsakh, namely in terms of
social justice and legality. The ARF Dashnaktsutyun of Karabakh thinks
the rate of emigration is very high, especially from the strategic
regions, which will question the victory in war at the cost of the
lives of many soldiers. The ARF Artsakh organization thinks the
Armenians of Artsakh are in a state of apathy, an inadequate moral
and psychological state, which endangers the track for the logical
completion of the liberation struggle.

"The ARF Artsakh organization thinks the best way to tackle the
abovementioned challenges is to restore the atmosphere of political
solidarity in the country. The upcoming presidential election must
facilitate progress in public administration and development of
the country, in forming a government with a new qualitative basis,
as well as to promote the development of the political sphere on the
basis of a political agreement, a consensus.

The extraordinary regional meeting of the ARF Artsakh organization
decided to instruct the Artsakh Central Committee of the ARF to define
the possibility for naming a common candidate for president of NKR
through negotiations with the political and public forces in the
country in the light of the abovementioned principles. The regional
meeting authorized the Central Committee to announce about its own
candidate or to hold another extraordinary regional meeting of the
ARF Artsakh organization in case the political agreement fails,"
runs the statement of the regional extraordinary meeting of the ARF
Artsakh organization.