Author: Badalian Vardan

INITIATIVE OF ZHARANGUTIUN FACTION ON APPLYING TO CONSTITUTIONAL COURT JOINED ONLY BY MPS OF OYP AND INDIVIDUAL MP VIKTOR DALAKIAN

Noyan Tapan
Nov 14, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The Republican Party of
Armenia faction of the RA National Assembly has refused and the
ARF Dashnaktsutiun and Barhavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia)
factions have not responded to the signature gathering initiated
by the Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction since October for the
purpose of applying to the Constitutional Court with regard to the
constitutionality of a number of provisions of the law on "Alienation
of Property for State Needs". This statement was made by Larisa
Alaverdian, a member of the Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction in the
November 13 sitting of the National Assembly. According to her,
besides the members of the above-mentioned faction the application
has been signed only by independent MP Viktor Dalakian and the members
of the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) faction.

It should be mentioned that signatures of at least 27 MPs are necessary
for applying to the Constitutional Court, whereas Zharangutiun
(Heritage) and Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) have 7 and 8 MPs,
correspondingly.

SERGEY STANISHEV:" NOGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT CAN NOT BE ALWAYS FROZEN"

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 13 2007

"Nogorno Karabakh conflict is a painful problem for Azerbaijan,
Armenia and region". Sergey Stanishev, Bulgarian Prime Minister told
journalists, APA reports

Mr. Stanishev mentioned that he helped to the establishment of Prague
process when Bulgaria headed OSCE in 2004.

"I consider that constant decision should be made to ensure regional
cooperation. The conflict can not be always frozen. The sooner
solution variant for ensuring the development and stability is found,
the better it is," he said Mr. Stanishev noted that he will visit
Yerevan and stressed that he will say opinions sounded here in Yerevan.

"Bulgaria wants the development and stability of region as one of
the region countries and as a member of EU. Present situation is not
in the interest of Azerbaijanis and Armenians. There are a lot of
refugees in Azerbaijan as a result of Nogorno Karabakh conflict and
one part of country territory is not under control of authority.

Armenia can not establish economic relations with its neighbors
because it is blockaded, the conflict impede to the economic and
social development of this country."

Mr. Stanishev regarded talks on settlement of the conflict as a
difficult process and stressed the necessity of finding constructive
solution.

"I want to mention that Bulgaria and Greece waged a lot of wars for
territory and for the access of Aegean Sea for centuries. We are not
absolutely interested in our borders because the two countries are
the members of EU.

TURKEY INTERESTED IN TRANS-CASPIAN GAS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION – GUL

Russia & CIS General Newswire
November 6, 2007 Tuesday 7:25 PM MSK

Turkey is interested in the implementation of the Trans-Caspian gas
pipeline project, Turkish President Abdullah Gul has said.

"We should attach primary importance to the construction of
a Trans-Caspian gas pipeline, and we need to cooperate with our
Turkmen brothers more actively to this end," Gul said at a joint press
conference with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev summing up the outcomes
of their negotiations in Baku on Tuesday.

Turkey would like to see peace in the South Caucasus as soon as
possible, including through the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in a peaceful way, on condition that Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity is preserved, and Ankara is willing to contribute efforts
to this end, Gul said.

Gul thanked the Azeri leadership for supporting the non-recognized
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s efforts to end its international
isolation.

Talking about economic cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan,
Gul said, "Our midterm goal is to increase trade turnover from the
current more than $1 billion to more than $3 billion," he said.

"Turkey is prepared to be involved in Azerbaijan’s economy more
actively through investment and trade and economic ties," he said.

Turkey hopes for the soonest possible implementation of the Baku-
Tbilisi-Kars railroad construction project, Gul said.

Gul also mentioned the establishment of a common Azeri-Turkish-
Georgian economic zone as a common goal for the three countries and
called for easing conditions for cargo transportation.

About 2,000 Turkish companies operating in Azerbaijan have invested
$2.5 billion in that country’s economy, Gul said. Turkish businesses
have made the largest investment in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan,
and the overall volume of Turkish investment in Azerbaijan’s economy,
including the energy sector, amounts to $5 billion, he said.

KOCHARIAN THINKS THERE WILL BE NO DESTABILIZATION AHEAD OF Elections

Russia & CIS Presidential Bulletin
November 6, 2007

Armenian President Robert Kocharian has said he does not think that
the situation in Armenia could destabilize ahead the 2008 presidential
elections in the country.

I have always said in my speeches that I see no dangers here,
Kocharian said at a meeting with teachers of the Yerevan State
Medical University.

Life is getting better year after year. Problems, that we have had,
are now disappearing, the president said.

The status of the country has changed and today there is no anger or
depressed state of mind, he said.

Previously, some opposition politicians had tried to use this to push
people to rioting and illogical steps, Kocharian said.

The Armenian National Assembly elections that took place this May
showed that politicians who assume the most aggressive positions were
not elected to the parliament, Kocharian said. Political forces or
politicians that will show aggressiveness will just go bankrupt.

There is no place for them in politics. I am aware of this, the
Armenian president said.

Opposition is needed in country’s political life and it should
criticize, while the absence of opposition has a negative influence
on the country and weakens its competitiveness in the international
arena, the president said.

Kocharian’s speech was broadcast by the Armenian Public TV channel.

LEADER OF NATIONAL UNITY PARTY ARTASHES GEGHAMYAN TO BE OFFICIALLY NOMINATED A CANDIDATE FOR ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AT THE END OF NOVEMBER

2007-11-12 14:39:00

ArmInfo. "National Unity Party’s jubilee conference held recently,
as is known, recommended the party’s presidium to nominate our
leader Artashes Geghamyan’s candidature in the coming presidential
election. The presidium of National Unity Party will make the final
decision on this matter at the end of November", Deputy Leader of NU
Party Gagik Tadevosyan told ArmInfo correspondent.

According to him, everything depends on when Artashes Geghamyan
himself will give his consent. "We expect a positive answer from the
party’s leader.

Afterwards the Presidium consisting of 21 members will officially
advance his nominee in the Feb 19 presidential election," G.Tadevosyan
said.

To recall, the Central Electoral Commission will register the
presidential nominees from November 21, 2007, till December 6, 2007,
6 pm.

ARMEX AND THE CENTRAL DEPOSITORY OF ARMENIA WILL BE REORGANIZED INTO OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANIES

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Nov 12 2007

Yerevan, November 12 /Mediamax/. The self-regulating "Armenian Stock
Exchange" organization will be reformed to an Open Joint Stock Company.

Mediamax reports that the corresponding decision was made on November
9 during the special general meeting of the ArmeEx members.

The "Central Depository of Armenia" self-regulating organization will
also be reorganized into an Open Joint Stock Company. The corresponding
decision was also made on November 9, during the special general
meeting of the members of the "Central Depository of Armenia".

EARTHQUAKE

A1+
[03:28 pm] 09 November, 2007

November 9 a 4.5-magnitude earthquake was recorded on the Iran-Turkey
frontier, 23 km south-west to the town of Urmia. The force of epicenter
was six measured on the Richter Scale, RA National Seismic Centre
reports.

TREES WILL BE LOGGED BY GOVERNMENT DECREE

KarabakhOpen
09-11-2007 18:07:55

Logging of forests has been prohibited by a decree of the prime
minister, and from now on logging will be by government decree only,
said the vice premier of NKR, the minister of agriculture Armo Tsatryan
in an interview with Karabakh-Open.com. The decision was made in a
recent consultation on the activity of Artsakh Forest.

According to Armo Tsatryan, complaints came from people on illegal
logging, "although the leadership of Artsakh Forest denies it",
the government held a consultation on it.

It is not a secret that forests were being logged for a number of
years. The problem has been raised at different levels, including at
the National Assembly. As a result the forests near settlements have
been destroyed, whereas in unreachable parts it is impossible to cut
even the sick trees.

The lack of roads helped save forests in some parts.

"From now on all the issues concerning logging will be solved by
the government," Armo Tsatryan says. In the beginning, Artsakh
Forest, now a closed joint-stock company, will be reorganized into
a state non-profit organization. It will deal with preservation and
reproduction of forests. It will also express its opinion on government
decisions regarding logging.

"Some of the powers of Artsakh Forest will pass to the government. Now
we do not have to take rough measures because we cannot afford to
work out a program of protection and reproduction of the forest. Last
time a program was worked out in 1981-1983 for a ten-year period,"
the minister added.

According to Armo Tsatryan, now the government is addressing the
financial problems regarding the Artsakh Forest company.

AGHVAN HOVSEPIAN: CASE AGAINST KARABAKH COMMITTEE IS IN HANDS OF LEVON TER-PETROSIAN

Noyan Tapan
Nov 9, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The volumes of the criminal case
against the Karabakh committee was taken from the archives and handed
to Levon Ter-Petrosian, the first President of the Republic of Armenia,
on the order of the Prosecutor General by the Head of the Investigation
Section of those times yet in November 6, 1996. This statement was
made by Aghvan Hovsepian, the Prosecutor General of the Republic of
Armenia, during the November 9 meeting with journalists, in response
to the question concerning the results of the official investigation
appointed on the occasion of the disappeared criminal case. According
to him, the RA Prosecutor General’s Office has sent a writing to the RA
first President, asking to return the criminal case to the Prosecutor’s
Office. "Criminal cases are prohibited to be handed to another body
by the investigation one by law, even the President of the republic
has no right to demand the criminal cases and keep them in his hands,"
the RA Prosecutor said and added: "In my opinion, Levon Ter-Petrosian
will be so sensilbe as to return the case to the prosecutor’s office."

Vahagn Hayotsian, the executive secretary of the Armenian National
Movement party, refuted the statement of the RA Prosecutor General
in his interview with a Noyan Tapan correspondent, saying that "it
does not correspond to reality."

SAYAT DAVTIAN DIES FROM FIRE-ARM INJURIES ON HEAD

Noyan Tapan
Nov 9, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 9, NOYAN TAPAN. A call was received in the duty
section of the administration of the police of the city of Yerevan
at 18:00 on November 8, which said that a skirmish is happening in
the market situated on Komitas 53 avenue.

The operative group, which arrived at the scene, found out that
an unknown person shot in the direction of Sayat Davtian, born in
1960, the Chairman of the RA Union of Hunters, for three times from a
fire-arm at about 17:45 and the latter died from the injuries received
on the head.

According to the information received from the internet site of the
RA Police, a 9mm calibre cartridge and a bullet have been discovered
at the scene.

A preliminary investigation is being conducted.