Month: July 2007

"’KGB-IZATION’ OF ARTSAKH IS DANGEROUS FOR ARMENIA," STEPHAN SAFARIAN
BELIEVES

Noyan Tapan
Jul 6, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The two real candidates for the post of
the President of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, between whom the
main struggle is developing, enjoy unequal campaign resources. This
point of view was expressed by Sergey Minasian, an expert of the
Caucasian Media Institute, during the debate with Stephan Safarian,
the Head of the National Strategic Investigation Center and the
Secretary of the Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction of the RA National
Assembly, held on July 6. According to Sergey Minasian, Bako Sahakian,
the former Head of the National Security of the Republic of Nagorno
Karabakh, uses the whole administrative resource of the country,
whereas, Masis Mayilian, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs,
is deprived of such an opportunity.

Stephan Safarian declared in his turn that the fact that opposition
parties support Bako Sahakian, the candidate from the authorities,
speaks not about political solidarity, but about the absence of an
alternative. In addition to this, according to him, the scenario
conducted in the parliamentary elections of Armenia can be made
use of in Artsakh as well. By this scenario the Bargavach Hayastan
(Prosperous Armenia) party, which was created by the authorities,
became the main rival of the Hanrapetakan (Republican) party.

The NA MP mentioned at the same time that he is personally acquainted
with Masis Mayilian and excludes the fact that the latter can be
"a henchman."

Stephan Safarian also added that they should do everything in order
to hold elections in harmony with democratic standards in Artsakh,
since, according to him the world community has already made harsh
statements about this occasion. He also mentioned that the possible
"KGB-ization" of Artsakh is dangerous for Armenia.

"NOT ONLY ZHARANGUTIUN (HERITAGE) PLAYS GREAT ROLE IN FAILURE OF BILLS THREATENING AZATUTIUN (LIBERT) RADIO STATION," STEPHAN SAFARIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jul 6, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. A statement was made by Stephan Safarian,
the Secretary of the Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction of the RA National
Assembly, during the debate organized on July 6 that not only the
Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction, but also the other opposition
force, as well as some individual MPs played a great role in the
failure of the adoption of the package of bills, which envisaged
to make amendments and addenda in the RA laws on "State duty" and
"Radio and Television." In response to the question of whether the
failure of those bills was connected with responses of international
organizations, he mentioned that the protection of the interests of
the Azatutiun (Liberty) radio station were more important for him,
personally, than those responses of international organizations,
"as the Azatutiun stands out with its comprehensive media among other
numerous mass media."

In response to the question of why Larisa Alaverdian, a member of the
Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction, declared in one of her interviews
that the world community can shake its finger at Armenia, S. Safarian
mentioned that if Armenia lives according to international standards
and the rules of the whole world, as well as receives financial
assistance from foreign organizations, then it should take their
points of view into consideration.

ARMENIAN APRICOT HAS BECOME A SYMBOL OF FRIENDSHIP, DAVID LOKIAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Jul 6, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Apricot First International
Conference started on July 6 in Yerevan on the initiative of the RA
Ministry of Agriculture and the RA National Academy of Sciences. David
Lokian, the RA Minister of Agriculture, said that the goal of holding
the conference is to ensure the apricot’s scientific and marketing
advertising abroad, as well as to assist businessmen in apricot
exporting.

In the Minister’s words, the Armenian apricot has become Armenia’s
invitation card, a symbol of friendship, and the cooperation of the
RA Ministry of Agriculture with many countries starts with planting
apricot gardens in the given country. "Today there are such gardens
in China, in Thailand, Iran and Syria," D. Lokian said. He mentioned
that this geography should be expanded, presenting our country’s
"best brand" to the whole world.

Samvel Avetisian, the RA Deputy Minister of Agriculture, said that
holding of such events will create new possibilities for the promotion
of apricot exports. "Currently apricot export potential makes 10-20
thousand tons in average, and up to 30 thousand tons can be exported
in favorable years, which also satisfies the domestic demand," the
Minister said. In his words, 1000-1500 hectares of new gardens have
been planted in Armenia since 2000.

Currently their total area is nearly 11 thousand hectares.

A business forum under the title "The Phenomenon of Armenian Apricot"
will be also held, a film "The Apricot’s Significance and Its History"
will be shown, trips to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Ashtarak’s
Surb Tsiranavor Church, as well as visits to apricot gardens and
processing factories will be paid for within the framework of the
two-day conference.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER TAKES PART IN ARMTECH 2007 CONFERENCE BEING HELD IN SAN FRANCISCO

NoyanTapan
Jul 6, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Foreign Minister, Vardan Oskanian,
left for the U.S. on July 5 to take part in the Armtech 2007 three-day
conference and exhibition organized in San Francisco, dedicated to
issues of high technologies in Armenia. Noyan Tapan was informed
about it by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department.

The RA Foreign Minister will make a speech at the conference on July 7.

"FRIENDSHIP" DANCE ENSEMBLE AND DANCERS OF U.S. DANCE SCHOOLS CONDUCT CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Noyan Tapan
Jul 6, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The "Barekamutiun"
("Friendship") state dance ensemble and the dancers of the U.S. dance
schools, who presented dance items of different genres in classical,
Armenian, modern, and jazz styles, gave a final concert in Yerevan
within the frameworks of the Armenian-American cultural exchange
program.

According to Arevik Ashkharhoyan, the Head of the the "Friendship"
dance ensemble, 12 students from the U.S. Greensboro and Archdale
schools, Bethesda royal academy, as well as from Universities of
Arkansas and Maryland and three leading ballet masters from the New
York Broadway: Debbie Chodyniecki, Freddie Li Hede, and Natalia
Davidson, conduct courses of modern dance in Armenia within the
framework of the exchange program. At the same time the American
students become acquainted with Armenian national and classic dance
art due to the dancing-masters of the "Friendship" dance ensemble.

Artak Alexanian, the producer and author of this program, mentioned
that this cultural program will be continued and declared that the
head of the American side of the program is Natalia Davidson, who
has Armenian nationality. There was a time when she danced in the
"Friendship" ensemble for a year, then left for the United States,
where she founded her dance school. The author of this program
is convinced that this Armenian-American cultural program can be
considered successful.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FOOTBALL GAME BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN HELD IN TURKEY ENDS IN DRAW

Noyan Tapan
Jul 6, 2007

TRABZON, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The football game between the Armenian
representative team and that of Azerbaijan ended in a draw (0:0)
in the football tournament of the first sports games of the member
countries of the Black See Economic Cooperation Organization held in
the city of Trapizon in Turkey. They did not qualify to take part
in the further stages, and the representative teams of Moldova and
Russia from the subgroup reached the next stage.

In the competitions of the Greco-Roman wrestling Gevorg Gevorgian
(54kg, Gyumri) was awarded a silver medal, and Zhozeph Babayan
(42kg, Yerevan), as well as Arthur Alexanian (63kg, Gyumri) took
third place. Haykaz Samvelian (55kg, Yerevan) was awarded a bronze
medal in the competitions of tae kwon do.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARARAT DEFEATS PYUNIK IN POSTPONED GAME

Noyan Tapan
Jul 6, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The postponed game of the 11th stage of
the Football Highest Group Championship of Armenia between the teams
Pyunik and Ararat took place in the Republican sports ground on July
5. Ararat defeated Pyunik with a score of 4:3.

REPRESENTATIVE OF LEGAL SUCCESSOR OF LEVON GULIAN DOES NOT EXCLUDE POSSIBILITY OF MURDER OR SUICIDE

Noyan Tapan
Jul 6, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The conclusion concerning the absence
of posthumous injuries, as well as the origin of injuries inflicted
on the body of Levon Gulian, does not affirm the official version
of the police in any way. This statement was made at the July 4
press conference by Hrair Ghukasian, the representative of the legal
successor of Levon Gulian, who died in the building of the Criminal
Investigation of the Police under unknown circumstances.

It should be mentioned that, according to the version of the
police, Levon Gulian tried to escape by jumping from the window,
fell down and died as a result of the fall, that is to say, it was
an accident. However, Hrair Ghukasian did not exclude the possibility
of murder or suicide.

The lawyer mentioned that, according to the conclusion of the forensic
examination of the body of Levon Gulian, which was conducted by foreign
experts, the bruise and scratch under the left eye, as well as a number
of bruises and scratches on the hands and feet of the aggrieved could
be a result of the influence of another force, which preceded the fall:
for example, it could be punches or blows with other subjects.

According to the finger-print investigation, only three of the
finger-prints taken from inside and outside of the window (from
where, according to the police, Levon Gulian jumped) belonged to
L. Gulian. As for the other finger-prints discovered on that window,
they belong to a person, who has not been revealed by the investigation
as yet. The finger-prints of Levon Gulian were not found on the two
tubes either: according to the version of the police, Levon Gulian
tried to jump down by taking hold of a tube, but beating against this
tube he fell to the ground. According to the conclusion of the complex
fibre and forensic-chemical investigation, micro-particles of soot,
concrete, and plaster, as well as traces of yellow paint and rust
(one of the above-mentioned tubes was painted yellow, the other one
was not painted, it was rusty) were not found in the contents under
the finger nails of the hands and clothes of Levon Gulian.

The aggrieved party expects that the preliminary investigation body
will answer the question of whose activities or inactions gave rise
to the fact that Levon Gulian was limited in freedom and submitted to
violence, as well as under what circumstances he died. "It is a fact
that a number of illegal measures were taken against Levon Gulian from
May 10 to 12: limitation of freedom, violence, as well as many others,
and he was brought to the RA Police station without any legal bases
and died under very strange circumstances," the representative of
the legal successor of the aggrieved party said.

MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION SIGNED BETWEEN PROSECUTOR’S GENERAL OFFICES OF ARMENIAN AND HUNGARY

Noyan Tapan
Jul 6, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Aghvan Hovsephian, the Prosecutor
General of the Republic of Armenia, and Thomas Kovach, the Prosecutor
General of Hungary, signed a memorandum of cooperation between the
Prosecutor’s Offices of the two countries. With this memorandum
the sides, particularly, envisage to cooperate in preventing people
trafficking and illegal migration.

Aghvan Hovsephian mentioned that there has not been any
legal-contractual documents signed between the systems of the
prosecutor’s office concerning cooperation so far: this memorandum
is the first document of that kind, the preparation of which has a
history of seven years. The RA Prosecutor General mentioned that this
document will give an opportunity to make that cooperation more active.

Aghvan Hovsephian congratulated his colleague on the occasion of
conducting a complete, comprehensive, and objective investigation
of the murder case of Gurgen Margarian, a military officer in the RA
Armed Forces, in Budapest.

"This is a bright example of the fact that any person, who has
committed a crime, cannot evade a criminal responsibility," he said.

Thomas Kovac mentioned in his turn that his country has been a member
of the European Union since 2004 and that it is ready to pass its
experience concentrated in this sphere to Armenia.

In response to a correspondent’s question of whether the extradition
of Ramil Safarov, who killed G. Margarian with an axe, to Azerbaijan
is possible, Thomas Kovac mentioned that there is not such an issue
on the agenda at present, taking into consideration the fact that the
case filed against R. Safarov for submitting the collaborator of the
prison to violence is still underway.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BROTHER AND NEPHEW OF HAKOB HAKOBIAN, MP IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, DETAINED

Noyan Tapan
Jul 6, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The collaborators of the RA Police
blowed up the gates of the houses of the brother of Hakob Hakobian
(Lady Hakob), an MP in the National Assembly, and his nephew,
broke into their houses and detained the brother of H. Hakobian:
Simon Hakobian, and the latters youngest son: Vardan Hakobian. The
eldest son of Simon Hakobian: Stephan Hakobian, managed to escape. The
policemen discovered a great amount of ammunition.

According to the information provided by the Daily "Haykakan Zhamanak"
("Armenian Time"), Simon Hakobian was kept in the police station for
2 to 3 days, and as for Vardan Hakobian, he is still detained.

According to the Daily "Haykakan Zhamanak" ("Armenian Time"), the order
of the above-mentioned operation "comes from above." Robert Kocharian,
the RA President, and Serge Sargsian, the RA Prime Minister, ordered
the law-enforcement bodies to quickly reveal the murder of Sedrak
Zatikian, the son of Vahan Zatikian, a former MP and late member of
the RPA, which was committed on June 22, 2006. It is supposed that
the associates of Hakob Hakobian are connected with this murder.

According to the Daily "Haykakan Zhamanak", these special operations
against the family of the MP began after detained Arsen Arushanian
gave evidence concerning the murder case of S. Zatikian on June 31,
when he mentioned the names of certain people among the associates
of Hakob Hakobian.

In addition to other versions, the Daily writes that the murder of
Sedrak Zatikian is connected with the councillor elections held
in the Malatia-Sebastia community on September 25, 2005, where
Simon Zatikian received a great number of votes, and the Hakobians
feared that he could quickly take the positions his late father had
enjoyed. Therefore, "the Hakobians had a problem in losing the sphere
of their influence and that is why the murder of Sedrak Zatikian was
organized," the newspaper mentions.