Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

THE UNION OF THREE OPPOSITIONAL FORCES PLANS "TO REALIZE A DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION, TO BANISH THE RULING REGIME AND HOLD NEW PARLIAMENTARY AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA"

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
May 10 2007

Yerevan, May 10. /Mediamax/. Member of the Political Council of
the "Republic" Party Suren Sureniants stated in Yerevan today that
"yesterday’s rally proved that the public has a more determined mood
than it did in 2003".

Mediamax reports that, speaking at a news conference in Yerevan today,
Suren Sureniants stated that "yesterday the people saw the real format
of the opposition, that is – the "Impeachment" bloc and the "Republic"
and "New Times" parties".

According to him, if during the previous pre-election campaigns
the oppositional forces were for the reestablishment of justice,
"today the task of preserving the civil dignity dominates".

Suren Sureniants noted that the union of the "Impeachment" bloc,
together with the "Republic" and "New Times" parties, "was formed
spontaneously, however, it has a single ideology – to realize
democratic revolution, to banish the ruling regime and to hold new
parliamentary and presidential elections in Armenia".

Answering Mediamax’s question on which the difference of their union
from the "Justice" bloc, formed in 2003, is, Suren Sureniants stated
that "the forces, entering the "Justice" bloc, did not have a single
ideology, whereas we have set the most important task for ourselves
– to reach the resignation of the ruling regime, and we have more
resource of confidence among the population".
From: Baghdasarian

ELECTION CAMPAIGN COVERAGE BY THE PUBLIC TV AND PUBLIC RADIO THE MOST BALANCED

ArmRadio.am
10.05.2007 17:15

The "TIM" Research Center and the Yerevan Press Club (YPC) presented
today the regular intermediate report on the results of the monitoring
of the coverage of pre-election campaign by the Armenian media in
the period starting from April 24 and to May 5, Mediamax reports.

The Chairman of the YPC Boris Navasardyan stated that during the
12 days of monitoring the audience of the Armenian media had the
opportunity to receive information about the majority of political
forces, participating in the election campaign. At the same time,
he stated, the given statement concerns mostly the citizens of the
capital, which has a larger choice of channels.

Boris Navasardian stated that from the four channels, which devoted
most of the time to the coverage of the activities of political
parties /ALM, Second Armenian TV-Channel, Yerkir Media and Kentron/,
only two of them broadcast in the regions of the country.

35% of the air time of ALM, devoted to the parties, fell on the share
of the People’s Party, 28% – the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA). 83%
of the broadcast time of the Second Armenian TV-Channel fell on the
share of four parties – Dashnaktsutiyun, United Liberal-National
Party, Republican Party and Prosperous Armenia Party.

Boris Navasardyan noted that relatively more balanced was the coverage
of the pre-election campaign by the Public TV and the Public Radio
of Armenia. He expressed an opinion that this is conditioned by the
greater attention of the international observers to the activity of
the Public TV and Radio Company.
From: Baghdasarian

TANER AKCAM: "I HAND MY AWARD TO MY KILLED FRIEND, HRANT DINK"

Noyan Tapan
May 08 2007

NEW YORK, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Turk historian Taner
Akcam’s book entitled "Shameful Deed: The Armenian Genocide and Issue
of Turks’ Responsibility" was awarded the Minnesota Book prize.

As the Startribune newspaper published in the U.S. states, the
jury giving the prize to the Turk historian qualified the book as
"a progressive work" and added that Akcam with his book "presents a
challenge to denial of the genocide."

On the occasion of getting the prize, Taner Akcam, a lecturer of the
Minnesota University History Department made a speech during which
he said: "I give this prize to my killed friend Dink."
From: Baghdasarian

4 KARABAGH PARTIES TO SUPPORT BAKO SAHAKIAN’S NOMINEE AT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 8 2007

Political forces presented at the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic Parliament
– Artsakh Democratic Party, Free Motherland Party, ARF Dashnaktsutyun
and Movement-88 – spoke in support of the nominee of the Director of
the NKR National Security Service Bako Sahakian for the Presidential
elections to be held July 19.

A common statement circulated today runs that holding consultations on
the issue the parties "agreed on the principles of the NKR domestic
and foreign policy for the coming years", DE FACTO own correspondent
in Stepanakert reports.
From: Baghdasarian

RPA WILL RECEIVE 35-40% VOTES IN UPCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS, MEMBER OF PARTY BOARD CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
May 09 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The Republican Party of Armenia will
receive 35-40% votes in the parliamentary elections, which will give
the party a possibility to form government. Ara Hakobian, RPA Board
member, Adviser to RA Prime Minister for information technologies
affairs, gave assurance at the May 9 press conference.

He attached importance to holding free and fair elections not in
the respect of observers’ estimation to the process of elections,
but in the respect of formation of atmosphere of confidence in the
country. This, in A. Hakobian’s words, is necessary especially from
point of view of economic competition and development of Armenia’s
abilities to resist challenges to preservation of national ideology.

As A. Hakobian estimated, the prevailing majority of political forces,
in particular, RPA, do their best to bring election campaign in line
with democratic standards. It was mentioned that as organizations
and political forces observing the election campaign estimate,
"anti-agitation takes small place." At the same time, in A. Hakobian’s
words, "few political forces taking part in the elections have an
ideological basis."

The member of RPA Board also touched upon the arrest of Alexander
Arzumanian and Vahan Shirkhanian who were ministers in the years when
the Armenian National Movement held the power. Taking as a basis the
statement spread in this connection by RA National Security Service,
he said that "at least an attempt was made to carry out actions in the
political field, which do not proceed from Armenia’s interests." At
that, in A. Hakobian’s words, "the source of means found at them is
very doubtful."
From: Baghdasarian

KARABAKH LIBERATION ORGANIZATION: PROPOSALS OF OSCE MINSK GROUP MEAN THAT AZERBAIJAN WILL LOSE NAGORNO-KARABAKH

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
May 7 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend S.Ilhamgizi / "Karabakh Liberation
Organization (KLO) considers that according to the proposals made by
the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, only five districts surrounding
Nagorno-Karabakh will be released (on very severe conditions),
the destiny of the remaining two districts remains uncertain and
Nagorno-Karabakh will be lost forever," mentioned by the KLO statement
made on 7 May.

The statement says that the key task of the peacekeeping forces that
will be placed in the region will be not to allow the governments of
Azerbaijan and Armenia to interfere in Nagorno-Karabakh and to ensure
free, unchecked activities of occupant regime of fictitious country.

KLO considers that the Government should not participate in
implementing deceitful and bloody plan against Azeri people and
State and should immediately terminate the negotiations and refuse
the mediation of the Minsk Group, which meet the interests of Armenia.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus appeared in
1988 due to the territorial claims of Armenia against Azerbaijan.

Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani lands including
Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven Districts of the country surrounding
it. Since 1992 to the present time, these territories have been
under the occupation of the Armenian Forces. In 1994, Azerbaijan
and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement at which time the active
hostilities ended. The Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia,
France and USA) holds peaceful negotiations.

The Karabakh Organization Committee (KLO) was founded in Baku on
28 January 2000 with an objective to conduct public struggle for
the liberation of Nagorno-Karabakh from the Armenian occupants. The
organization headed by Akif Nagi, the candidate in historical sciences,
unites over 10,000 people, including outstanding representatives of
intelligentsia, refugees and internally displaced people, youth,
former fighters, senior ranking officers in reserve, as well as
different social layers of the population.
From: Baghdasarian

EGYPTIAN, AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS DISCUSS MIDEAST AFFAIRS

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 7 2007

CAIRO, May 7 (Itar-Tass) – Cairo negotiations between Egyptian
President Hosni Mubarak and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham
Aliyev focused on the situation in the Middle East, the Caucasus and
Central Asia.

Aliyev arrived in Cairo on Sunday to pay a three-day working visit.

A representative of the Egyptian presidential secretariat said
the leaders discussed the situation in the Gulf in the light of a
confrontation between Iran and the West, the current state of affairs
in Iraq and Lebanon, the Palestinian-Israeli peace process and the
lift of blockade on Palestinian lands.

Karabakh was a separate item on the agenda. Egypt respects the
sovereignty of Azerbaijan and calls for a peaceful settlement of the
Karabakh conflict in conformity with international law and resolutions
of the UN Security Council and with support of the OSCE Minsk Group,
Mubarak said.

Aliyev invited Mubarak to pay an official visit in Azerbaijan.

On Monday Aliyev will meet with Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif and
attend the signing of 12 cooperation agreements concerning agriculture,
trade, energy, tourism, sports, pharmaceutical industry, banking,
science and information.

It is planned to sign an agreement on Azerbaijani Airlines flights
between Baku and Sharm-el-Sheikh. Negotiations on Egypt Air regular
flights between Cairo and Baku are underway.

On Sunday Aliyev was received by the Grand Imam of the world largest
Islamic University Al-Azhar Dr. Muhammad Sayid Tantawy and opened a
new building of the Azerbaijani embassy in Cairo.

On Monday he will meet with People’s Assembly Chairman Ahmed Fathi
Sorour and Secretary General of the League of Arab States (LAS)
Amr Moussa.
From: Baghdasarian

Ex-foreign minister and ex-deputy defense minister of Armenia
suspected in money laundering

Arminfo Agency
2007-05-07 14:47:00

Ex-foreign minister of Armenia Alexander Arzumanyan and the foreign
deputy defence minister of Armenia Vahan Shirkhanyan are suspected in
money laundering, National Security Service (NSS) press-centre told
ArmInfo.

Investigation showed that while in Moscow from April 24 to 36, the
initiators of the so-called "Non-Cooperation Movement," ex-foreign
minister of Armenia, Alexander Arzumanyan, and the former deputy
defence minister, Vahan Shirkhanyan, agreed with a certain Levon
Markos, Russian citizen, to organize delivery and legalizing of some
dubious financial means. It is noteworthy that Levon Markos has been
wanted by the Armenian Prosecutor’s Office since 2005 for financial
fraud. The source reports that L. Markos pursues some goals during the
pre-election campaign in Armenia. They transferred 180,000 US dollars
in parts to the accounts of 9 nominee names on April 27 via Yerevan
"Converse Bank". A criminal case has been initiated on Article 190.3
of the Armenian Criminal Code. The search in the flats of
A. Arzumanyan and V. Shirkhanyan exposed a large amount of money in
foreign currency. A. Arzumanyan refused to explain the source of the
55,400 US dollars found in his flat. NSS Investigation Department is
investigating the case.
From: Baghdasarian

Representatives of Armenia Fund visited Karabakh

07-05-2007 12:06:52 – KarabakhOpen

Gevorg Toroian, representative of the American office of Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund, vice-director of the fund Ara Vardanyan and Hrach
Hovanisyan have visited Stepanakert recently. The delegation also
included Andrea Pampanini and Steve Sharon, members of the
agricultural commission.

The guests took part in the meeting of the board of the grant project
` Agriculture Development Initiative’. During the meeting, reports on
the implementation of the programs of reconstruction of Martakert and
Hadrut were heard, the director of the Karabakh-based Rural and
Agriculture Support Fund said to the KarabakhOpen. He also informed
that the preparations in Hadrut have already started. The money raised
in the past two annual pan-Armenian telethons in Los Angeles was
directed at the program of rebirth of Artsakh. The program also
includes development of agriculture in the regions of Martakert and
Hadrut.
From: Baghdasarian

RA DM about regular threat of Ilham Aliyev: aggressive statements do not
befit president of country that negotiates on peaceful settlement of Karabakh
conflict

Arminfo Agency
2007-05-07 14:54:00

RA DM Mikael Haroutiunyan considers the recent statements of
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as continuation of Azerbaijan’s
propagandistic policy, RA DM told journalists today. To recall, Ilham
Aliyev has threatened Armenia with war again and made some statements
about the alleged agreements on the Karabakh conflict settlement.

In M. Haroutiunyan’s opinion, if Azerbaijan was actually ready for
war, it would start that long ago. "They are well aware of the
potential of the Armed Forces of Armenia and NKR", the Minister said
and added that "if , nevertheless, the Azerbaijanis start that, they
will receive what they deserve". He recalled of the necessity of
mutual compromises. "If Azerbaijan refuses to make concessions, we
shall not compromise one-sidedly", RA DM emphasized. He said that
aggressive statements do not befit the president of Azerbaijan as a
country that negotiates on peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
conflict.
From: Baghdasarian