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PRESIDENT SERZH SARKISIAN RECEIVES CONSUELO VIDAL, UN PERMANENT COORDINATOR AND UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE

ARMENPRESS
June 17

President Serzh Sarkisian received today Consuelo Vidal, UN Permanent
Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia.

The presidential press office told Armenpress that President Sarkisian
emphasized greatly the programs ran by different UN agencies in Armenia
for years, aimed at strengthening the state and boosting the economy.

Expressing his pleasure over the close and constructive interaction
Serzh Sarkisian said that the Armenian side is ready to deepen it
and use the available possibilities more effectively.

According to Ms. Vidal, Armenia is an active member of UN making its
positive contribution to its work.

She presented to the president programs and the activity of 12 UN
agencies operating in Armenia saying that it is their wish that they
serve more effectively for the prosperity of the Armenian people.

She said also that a new four-year plan of cooperation between Armenia
and UN is being developed currently. She said they would like the
government to point out the priority directions and sectors where it
expects UN support.

Serzh Sarkisian listed as priority shifting from humanitarian projects
to development ones, expressing also a wish that joint projects be
more tangible and addressed.

He especially emphasized the expertise assistance provided by all
UN agencies, noting that the government’s capacity is growing year
after year and now the main problem is to use it more effectively.

During the meeting the sides also spoke about changing prices of
food commodities and fuel in global markets in the context of food
security and relevant cooperation between the government and UN.

They also referred to social and economic conditions of refugees
singling out apartment purchase certificate program as an important
move in this direction.

At the end of the meeting Ms. Consuelo Vidal invited President
Sarkisian to visit the UN Armenia Office to see on the ground its work.

BY WEF’S 2008 REPORT ON WORLD TRADE PROMOTION, ARMENIA IN FIRST PLACE AMONG CIS COUNTRIES BY TRADE PROMOTION INDEX

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 17, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, NOYAN TAPAN. By the 2008 Report on World Trade
Promotion of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Armenia is in 61st place
among 118 countries by the trade promotion index, taking the first
place among CIS countries and exceeding the indices of Ukraine (68),
Azerbaijan (78) and Russia (103). NT was informed by the Economy and
Values research center – partner of the WEF’s Global Competitiveness
Network that this report was published by the WEF for the first time
and analyses the conditions of ensuring efficiency of the factors
forming the basis of free commodity flow among countries – in each
of the examined countries.

According to the report, Armenia is in 43rd place by the market
entrance freedom index: the economic policy conducted in Armenia
sufficiently promotes the foreign production inflow. On the other
hand, the impact of regulation on the country’s borders on trade is
especially unfavorable (87th place). Armenia is in 77th position by the
index determining the transport and communication infrastructures and
in 53rd position by the index of the sector’s business environment. Out
of the factors influencing international trade, the tariff and
nontariff restrictions (14th place) and the legislative field on
business environment (47th place) are especially effective.

It is said in the report that among Armenia’s results in the sector,
the most vulnerable ones are the efficiency of customs regulation
(103rd place), transparency of the activities of the regulatory bodies
on the borders (92nd place), the availability and quality of transport
means (89th place), and the access and quality of information and
communication means (86th place).

Hong Kong and Singapore are the world leaders by their trade promotion
indices: they are in leading positions in terms of international
trade openness and investment attraction ability.

AN ARMENIAN KILLED BY TWO AZERBAIJANIS IN VOLQOQRAD, RUSSIA

Today.Az
45717.html
June 17 2008
Azerbaijan

Two Azerbaijanis, suspected of killing an Armenian, were arrested in
Staropoltavsk region of Volqoqrad, Russia.

The conflict is proposed to arise late on June 9 in the Voyage cafe of
Verkhni Yersultan settlement of Staropoltavsk region of Volqoqrad. The
fight involved two Armenian ethnic and two Azerbaijanis.

A source from the Investigation Department under the Russian
prosecutor’s office on Volqoqrad reported that the conflict is most
likely on the domestic issues. In the result, an Armenian was wounded
and died, the second has been hospitalized in a severe state.

The Pallas regional investigation department under Russia’s
Prosecutor’s Office instituted a criminal case under article 30, p.3,
article 105. p 2 "attempt of murder". Currently, both suspected are
under arrest.

As is reported, two young men (1985 and 1986) have no Russian or
Azerbaijani citizenship, but they had resided in the region for about
15 years and were engaged in agricultural works.

SCORES ARRESTED, CONVICTED IN CONNECTION WITH MARCH RIOTS IN YEREVAN – PROSECUTOR GENERAL

Interfax News Agency
June 16 2008
Russia

Armenia’s Prosecutor General Agvan Ovsepyan on Monday informed
co-reporters of the PACE Monitoring Commission George Colombier and
John Prescott about the situation with the arrests that followed the
March 1 riots in Yerevan.

"A total of 115 people were arrested in connection with the riots.

At present, 17 people are in custody and 78 criminal cases against
88 persons have been sent to courts," the Prosecutor General’s press
secretary Sona Truzyan quoted Ovsepyan as saying.

"As of June 16, 35 people have been convicted, 14 have received prison
terms of between 1 and 5 years, 35 have been put on probation, 3 have
been acquitted, 64 have pleaded guilty and testified," Ovsepyan said.

More than 200 policemen, including high-ranking officers, have been
interrogated since March to establish what led to human casualties
and whether the use of force to disperse the riots was justified.

ANOTHER YOUTH MOVEMENT

Panorama.am
18:14 14/06/2008

"Together" youth movement is not politicized and there is no need to
politicize it, said Hakob Hakobyan a member of the movement group.

According to him the member of the movement are from different
political parties, NGO-s and neutral citizens who do not belong to
any party. H. Hakobyan said that recently they have organized a march
on breaking the rules of traffic.

Erik Antaranyan, a member of the group said that they should implement
a project introducing the symbols of our country to our citizens. They
are going to put boards of our flag in the main roads of our country.

THREE CANDIDATES NOMINATED FOR POST OF RA NA DEPUTY IN ELECTORAL DISTRICT 17 IN DEFINED TERM

Noyan Tapan

Ju ne 16, 2008

YEREVAN, JUNE 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Three nomination orders were received
for taking part in the by-elections to be held by the majoritarian
system on August 24 in Electoral District 17 for the post of the
RA National Assembly deputy in the defined term: until 18:00, June
15. Former MP Hrant Khachatrian, the Chairman of the Constitutional
Right Union, currently non-party, who does not work enywhere,
was nominated by the civil initiative system on the last day. This
information was provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent by Armen
Margarian, the Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Electoral
District 17. Earlier: on June 13 and 14, necessary documents for
nomination were introduced by former member of the People’s Party
of Armenia, currently non-party Grisha Virabian, who does not
work anywhere, and by Hovik Abrahamian, a member of the Republican
Party of Armenia steering body and the Head of the RA President’s
administration. The first was nominated by the civil initiative system
and the second by the decision of the RPA Executive Body.

The documents necessary for the registration of the documents are to
be submitted to the Electoral Constituency Commission until 18:00, July
10. The registration will be made from July 15 until 18:00 July 20.

Electoral District 17 includes city of Artashat of the Ararat region
and 24 adjacent rural settlements.

It should be mentioned that the holding of a by-election in the given
electoral district is conditioned by the ahead of time stopping of the
deputy powers of Henrik Abrahamian, the brother of Hovik Abrahamian,
who was elected in the May 12, 2007 parliamentary elections.

POLISH FESTIVAL AWARDS IRANIAN CHOIR

PRESS TV
; sectionid=351020105
June 16 2008
Iran

An Iranian church from Isfahan Province has won the second award of
Poland’s International Festival of Orthodox Church Music ‘Hajnowka’.

In its first participation in the annual event, the Children’s Choir
‘Komitas’ received the second award of the ‘parish choirs’ category.

Iran’s Armenian Community formed the choir in 2005 and its members
were trained by Armen Amirchanian, a graduate of Armenia’s National
Conservatory.

The international event, which aims to present the artistic and
spiritual values of church music, has been organized by the Orthodox
Church Music Foundation in Hajnowka, Poland.

The 27th edition of the polish festival was held from May 20 to 25,
2008 in Bialystok, Poland.

A SPECIAL FATHER’S DAY HOMECOMING FOR A FRESNO FAMILY
By Ksee News

KSEE
54.html
June 16 2008
CA

Multimedia Watch The Video It was a very special Father’s Day for one
Fresno family. Arthur Mkoian, a recent high school graduate who gained
national attention when he and his family were told they were facing
deportation has been reunited with was dad. For more than two months
Reuben Mkoian was separated from his family, awaiting deportation to
Armenia. After a special intervention from U.S. Senator Feinstein and
Congressman Jim Costa, Reuben Mkoian is back home in Fresno with his
family. Sean Thomas reports.

BAKU’S POSITION NOTHING BUT BADLY-HIDDEN POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC BLACKMAIL

PanARMENIAN.Net
16.06.2008 15:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Nagorno Karabakh’s Foreign Minister Georgy Petrossian
commented on Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov’s
statement on "some nuances" in Armenia’s new leadership’s stance,
the NKR permanent representative office told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"I am not aware of any changes in Armenia’s stance on the
Azerbaijani-Karabahki conflict. As my Armenian counterpart has already
stated, Armenia’s position on Nagorno Karabakh is unchangeable,"
Georgy Petrossian said.

"NKR’s standpoint has not changed either. Without agreement of the
NKR people, no document on conflict settlement with Azerbaijan can
be signed and all the more realized."

"Azerbaijan’s position that peaceful settlement of the conflict is a
compromise on its part is nothing but a badly-hidden political and
diplomatic blackmail directed to mediators and Armenia. Official
Baku has initially counted on the Azerbaijani-Karabakhi conflict
settlement by pressure, threats and blackmail. Such a policy which
aims at imposing their own scenario of conflict settlement not only
threatens the negotiation process but also undermines the regional
security and stability," he said.

Speaking about Tatarstan’s model as a possible model of autonomy for
Nagorno Karabakh, the NKR Minister said, "Azerbaijan’s representatives
do not take into consideration the fact that Tatarstan is a subject of
a federative state. If Azerbaijan intends to become a federative state
and grant the national minorities – Lezghins, Talyshs, Awarians, Udins,
etc. – the status of federation subject it is the right of people of
the Azerbaijani Republic. The given initiative can only be welcomed;
however, we do not see us in this formation.

We have made our choice. Our independence cannot be an article of
commerce."

INVESTIGATION OF MARCH 1 OCCURRENCES TO START

A1+
[08:19 pm] 16 June, 2008

On June 16, with 93 pros, no cons and abstentions the National
Assembly adopted the draft decision on "Forming an ad hoc commission
to investigate the events of March 1 and 2 and their consequences. The
draft decision suggests creating an ad hoc commission to submit to the
NA a conclusion on the events of March 1 and 2 and their reasons. It
is noted that " the Commission is aimed at investigating the events
of March 1 and 2 and their results, the legality of the cases of
violence and the Police actions, the clarification of the conditions
of the death of the victims, presenting suggestions on political,
legal and solutions to prevent the reoccurrence of such events."

When carrying out the enlisted responsibilities, the Commission is
authorized to submit inquiries to the state and local self-government
bodies, law-enforcement bodies, which should provide necessary
information.

Within three days after its formation the Commission will send
an invitation to Levon Ter-Petrossian and other non-parliamentary
forces to participate in its activities with the right to speak at
the parliament.

One representative from each non-parliamentary force, the list of
which will be determined by the Commission will have the right to
participate in the latter’s work.

The Commission should elect a President and Vice-President. By October
25, 2008 the Commission should report to the National Assembly on
the results of its work by presenting a conclusion.

The "Zharangutiun" Party boycotted the vote on the grounds that the
National Party had rejected their proposals.