Month: May 2008

LEVON TER-PETROSIAN REJECTED SERGE SARGSIAN

AZG Armenian Daily
27/05/2008

Local

Levon Ter-Petrosian office rejected the proposal to be involved in
the Public Council to be formed on the initiative of President Serge
Sargsian, according to "Azatutyun" radio-station.

Levon Zurabian said to "Azatutyun" that the issue of involvement
in the mentioned council may become a subject of discussion only in
case of satisfaction of their demands – to release all the political
prisoners, to annul the changes in the Law of Mass Meetings and to
start an independent investigation into March 1 incidents.

"Our position is clear – the country is in political crisis and
in order to overcome that political crisis a dialogue is needed
between the authorities and the opposition during which we will find
compromised resolutions to come out of this political crisis", he said.

THEY DEMAND POLITICAL ASYLUM FOR ZHIRAIR SEFILIAN

A1+
[08:11 pm] 26 May, 2008

"We demand to cease ongoing "chases" against Zhirair Sefilian and to
grant him a residence permit in the Republic of Armenia," said the
adherents of Sefilian.

On May 26 the Committee supporting Sefilian handed an open letter
to the Armenian leadership and representatives of international
structures. The protest action started from the OSCE Yerevan office.

"Zhirair Sefilian is chased for his political standing. We urge you to
stop the ongoing persecution and prevent Sefilian’s banishment from
the Republic of Armenia as it is a rough breach of human rights,"
runs the letter.

Sefilian is prosecuted for his announcement "to smash the heads of
those who would dare to surrender the liberated territories and the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic," reminded the presentees.

"The problem refers to all Karabakh war veterans including Zhirair
Sefilian. We call your attention to Sefilian’s deeds while considering
the issue of granting Sefilian a political asylum," said veteran
Robert Hairumian in the name of Sefilian’s proponents.

Former Mayor of Goris Town, Samvel Harutiunian said, "Eveybody
knows that the authorities started in pursuit of Zhirair Sefilian
long ago. Sefilian played a significant role in the proclamation
of the NKR independence in 1992. The NKR President made a wise and
fair decision that Sefilian should settle in the lands liberated by
him. The President thought his decision would contribute to NKR’s
resettlement with Diaspora Armenians."

Reminder, the term of Sefilian’s detention expires on June 9. In case
the Administrative Court upholds the authorities’ motion to expel
Sefilian, the family will have to leave Armenia where they have spent
17 years of their lives.

Sefilian’s wife Nanor informed A1+ that she has no intention to move
elsewhere with her two underage children.

"The country doesn’t belong to Serzh Sarkissian, Robert Kocharian
and Alvina Zakarian. The country belongs to ordinary people. The
illegitimate authorities tarnish the countries reputation," said
Sefilian’s wife.

ARE THREE MONTHS ENOUGH?

A1+
[04:22 pm] 26 May, 2008

The Democratic Party of Armenia (HDK) at the head of Aram G. Sarkissian
has released a statement which says in part,

"We are confident that the political crisis in the country is caused
not by ideological debates over socio-economic, political, legal
issues but by some people’s overweening ambition to come to power.

As a result, most people have become aliens. The society is divided
into protesters and people doing their utmost to protect their fortune
amassed through illegal means. The logical outcome of the events
were profound hatred and intolerance instilled among people. People
standing in the background made use of the situation with their
"devilish skills." The pre- and post-election periods accompanied with
innocent victims and tragic outcome imply taking the following steps,

uncover and give legal assessment to real wrongdoers on legal
grounds. The initiators, provocateurs, key participants as well as
high-rank officials engaged in the occurrences must stand trial. They
were to avert the tragic events of March 1, exclude injustice,
falsifications and partiality.

Public demands to launch an impartial and convincing investigation
over the March 1 events and disclose the armed people who opened fire
at the participants and law-enforcement bodies.

The delay of the investigation gives rise to rumours and intensifies
the heated atmosphere. On the other hand, there are political figures
among the detainees whose crime hasn’t been proved over the past
three months.

We believe that the authorities will be able to take drastic steps
to overcome the crisis in case they are filled with willingness and
determination to rectify former mistakes.

The HDK is ready to help direct the country onto the right and safe
path if the gap between the past and the present still deepens,"
holds the HDK statement.

AND WHO REPORTED ON AT 8 O’CLOCK?

A1+
[05:02 pm] 26 May, 2008

The deputy chief of Yerevan’s Nor-Nork police department, Lieutenant
Colonel of the RoA Police Armen Nikoghossian was found guilty of
abuse of power.

"On February 29, 2008, Nikoghossian was instructed by the chief of the
department A. Karapetian to take to his nephew Suren Hairapetian, an
activist of Levon Ter-Petrossian’s team, key participant of opposition
demonstrations and provoker of March 1 mass disorders.

As soon as the police employees started to search the territory the
demonstrators showed resistance as they had been informed beforehand
by Nikoghossian.

The general jurisdiction court of Avan and Nor-Nork communes sentenced
Armen Nikoghossian to a two-year imprisonment with a one-year
probation period.

Note, according to a May 22 press release of the RoA Procurator’s
Office, metal constructions – so-called "hedgehogs", adapted for
causing bodily injuries to law-enforcement bodies had been taken to
Liberty Square at 8 p.m. on February 29.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARAM KARAPETIAN RELEASED

A1+
[05:45 pm] 26 May, 2008

Taking into consideration Karapetian’s motion the Prosecutor General
instructed to change Karapetian’s preventive punishment, custody,
by a written undertaking not to leave the republic.

Reminder, Aram Karapetian was taken to Erebuni Medical Centre on May
16. A group of doctors led by Professor Lusia Mikayelian examined
Aram Karapetian and diagnosed "essential hypertension, III-IV phase
heart brain, coronary angioneurosis".

The consilium for the patient Aram Karapetian was organized at the
cardiopulmonary department of Erebuni Medical Centre on May 21. The
consilium suggested continuing therapy.

On May 22 Aram Karapetian filed a motion to the Prosecutor General
with a request to change his restraint.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FOREIGN MINISTER LEAVES FOR BRUSSELS AND MOSCOW

Panorama.am
21:20 26/05/2008

Tomorrow the Foreign Minister of Armenia Edvard Nalbandyan leaves
for Brussels and Moscow, reported the press service of the Foreign
Affairs Ministry.

According to the source on 28 May the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Edvard Nalbandyan and the Minister of Defense Seyran Ohanyan will
take part in 26+1 North Atlantic Council session in Brussels where
the officials will discuss Armenia-NATO cooperation activities,
the project implementation.

On 29 May Minister Edvard Nalbandyan leaves for Moscow for three-days
labor meeting. Minister Nalbandyan will have a meeting with Sergey
Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia, Aleksey Ostrovski, the chairman
of State Duma CIS countries affairs committee and Nikolay Borduzhay,
secretary in chief of Collective Security Contract organization. On
1 June Minister Nalbandyan will return back to Armenia.

ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN CUSTOMS REPRESENTATIVES MADE AGREEMENTS

Panorama.am
21:21 26/05/2008

The representatives of Armenian and Russian customs service made some
arrangements on distributing alcoholic beverage, said Garnik Mirzoyan,
the head of transferring calculation of Customs statistical department
in a meeting with media representatives in Yerevan. He said that on
19-22 May Armenian and Russian officers of Customs Service held a
labor meeting in Moscow.

In particular the officials made arrangements that the Russian side
will provide information to the Armenia side about the working process
of transferring alcoholic beverage in Poti-Caucasus transfer line.

According to G. Mirzoyan the important think in the field is creating
ground for reliability. He said that Armenia will provide information
about the sign types to Russian colleagues.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BRAND: LABORATORY CHECKING QUALITY

Panorama.am
21:22 26/05/2008

It is necessary to found a laboratory in Armenia where the brand
quality could be checked, said Arsen Ghazaryan, the president of
Businessmen and Manufacturers Union in a meeting with journalists.

According to him 6-7 representatives of the current market could join
and found such laboratory which would provide payable service.

"The quality of Armenian cognac is important for our businessmen as
it is the brand of our country," said A. Ghazaryan. He said that it
would give a chance to improve the quality of Armenian brandy and
make it more competitive. In future Armenian wine can also become
competitive and be checked in another laboratory.

ARMENIA – BRIDGE BETWEEN ISLAMIC AND EUROPEAN FINANCE WORLD

Panorama.am
17:41 26/05/2008

How to apply Islamic financial services? The question is being
discussed in Armenia. Current topic is a unique tool in the modern
world, said the Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan in financial
banking first conference organized in Armenia on 24 May in Dilijan.

Common services are served in London and United Arabic
Emirates. "Taking into account the legislation of Islamic financial
service, Armenia can pretend to have privileges," said T. Sargsyan. He
mentioned that Armenia has been always intended to become a bridge
between Islamic and European financial worlds.

ARMEN NAZARYAN A GOLDEN MEDAL HOLDER

Panorama.am
18:46 26/05/2008

Armenian judo sportsman Armen Nazaryan gained a golden medal in Judo
World Cup in 66kg range. According to the Armenian Judo Federation
five Armenian sportsmen took part in the championship – Arthur Srapyan
(60kg), Armen Nazaryan (66kg), Hakob Arakelyan (90kg), and Anush
Hakobyan (52kg). Arthur Srapyan and Anush Hakobyan occupied 7th
horizontal in their ranges.

The World Championship of Judo took place in Moscow in 23-24
May. Armenian delegation consisted of the sportsmen, the president
of the federation Aleksan Avetisyan and two trainees Gagik Aghamalyan
and Arthur Gevorgyan.