Author: Basmajian Ani

TURKISH "EQUILIBRIUM" – 12 POINTS FOR HAYKO, AND KARABAKH FOR AZERBAIJAN

AZG Armenian Daily
16/05/2007

We were expecting that Azerbaijan would painfully echo Armenia’s
participation in "Eurovision 2007" and its obtained results. But
not so much: Azerbaijan provoked its forgotten absurd viewpoint that
Armenians presented themselves in "Eurovision 2007" with "Azerbaijani
national instrument" duduk. Armenians are accustomed to this kind of
groundless announcements.

Unfortunately Azerbaijan does not adapt to the idea, that it’s not
everything that may be decided by unscrupulous policy. Most of the
Azerbaijani delegates express their dissatisfaction to the fact that
Turkey gave 12 points to the Armenian singer.

By a peculiar coincidence these days the previous Ambassador of
Turkey in Azerbaijan Ulan Cherikoz, who is now the deputy advisor of
the Foreign Ministry of Turkey, announced that Baku is very close to
the settlement of Karabakh conflict corresponding to its own interests.

Here is an example of Turkish "equilibrium".

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CONGRATULATES NATION ON SUCCESSFUL PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

Arka News Agency, Armenia
May 14 2007

YEREVAN, May 14. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
congratulated Monday the nation on successful parliamentary elections.

"Dear compatriots, elections to the fourth-convocation National
Assembly have already completed. They were held in just and transparent
way. Central Election Commission and law enforcement agencies as
well as local and international observers confirm that", presidential
press office quoted Kocharyan as saying in his national address.

In his message, the president pointed out that all the participants of
election process – candidates, their proxies and election commissions –
observed the law.

He said the faults and election irregularities noticed in the course of
the elections will be scrutinized and necessary measures will be taken.

The head of state said that pre-election period has its peculiarities
– sometimes difference in political views escalates into tension
and confrontation.

"However, one of really democratic society characteristics is the
ability to return to normal life and restore the atmosphere of
respect and tolerance. Political discord can be even between close
friends, neighbors and relatives – I think they shouldn’t affect
human relations", Kocharyan said.

He expressed gratitude to all the participants of election processes
who ensured a proper course of elections by their professionalism
and enhanced public confidence in elections.

22 parties and one bloc competed for seats in National Assembly.

Central Election Commission says 1 million 351 thousand 669 or 59.9%
have voted on polling day.

According to Armenian Police Department’s figures 2 million 285
thousand 830 people are eligible to vote in the country.

Three pro-governmental parties – Republican Party of Armenia,
Prosperous Armenia and Dashnaktsutyun – as well as two opposition
parties – Orinats Yerkir and Heritage won seats in National Assembly.

ELECTIONS EN ARMENIE

Europolitique
15 mai 2007

La Presidence allemande et la Commission europeenne ont exprime
leur satisfaction, le 14 mai, a propos des elections legislatives
du 12 mai en Armenie : "les elections ont ete organisees de manière
equitable, libre et dans le respect des engagements internationaux
pris par l’Armenie. Des progrès significatifs ont ete accomplis
par rapport aux elections precedentes," a declare la Presidence
allemande. "Je fais l’eloge du peuple armenien et de ses dirigeants
qui ont organise ces elections dans le respect des engagements pris
a l’egard de l’OSCE et du Conseil de l’Europe ainsi que des autres
normes internationales relatives aux elections democratiques," a
delare Benita Ferrero-Waldner, commissaire aux Relations exterieures
et a la Politique europeenne de voisinage (PEV) a laquelle participe
l’Armenie. Les elections democratiques sont un point prioritaire du
Plan d’action UE-Armenie de la PEV.

–Boundary_(ID_aRdks9D5J4a3Ojsxz4UiBg)–

MCC DELIBERATES ON ROAD RECONSTRUCTION ELEMENT

Panorama.am
20:29 15/05/2007

Today the Millennium Challenges Fund (MCC) – Armenia governing board
deliberated the road reconstruction project funded by Linz Foundation
and road element of MCC-Armenia program.

Some 27.6 km section will be excluded from MCC – Armenia program in
Shirak, Aragatsotn, Lori and Armavir regions taking into consideration
that the section will be renovated under Linz Foundation program,
Armenian government press services.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I RECEIVES THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE UNION OF THE
ARMENIAN EVANGELICAL CHURCHES IN THE NEAR EAST

A delegation representing the Central Committee of the Union of the
Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East visited His Holiness Aram I
in Antelias on May 15. The delegation was headed by Reverend Meguerditch
Karagoezian, President of the Union and included Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian,
chairman of the Central Committee and President of Haigazian University.
Others who formed part of the delegation were members of the Central
Committee, reverends, pastors, and representatives from the Armenian
Evangelical community meeting in Lebanon.

Discussions on ecumenical committees, pan-Christian, inter-faith and
communal issues developed in a warm and friendly atmosphere. His Holiness
and his guests also talked about the strengthening of unity in the Armenian
community of Lebanon.

Rev. Karageozian and Rev. Dr. Haidostian talked about the activities of
the Evangelical Church mentioning particularly those areas where the Church
tries to fulfill the spiritual, moral and educational needs of its followers
within its capacity.

His Holiness highlighted the warm ties between the Armenian Church and the
Armenian Evangelical Community and the spirit of cooperation that has
manifested itself in the life of the Armenian community at large. "In the
end, we are members of the same nation, we have the same past, we have
inherited the same history, we have been victims of the same destiny and
together we fight for our national survival," he said.

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View the photos here:

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The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

RAFFI HOVHANNISSIAN BELIEVES THAT IN REALITY "HERITAGE" GAINED 250 THOUSAND VOTES OF ARMENIAN ELECTORS

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
May 15 2007

Yerevan, May 15. /Mediamax/. Leader of "Heritage" party Raffi
Hovhannissian stated in Yerevan today that in reality during the
parliamentary elections of May 12 their party gained 250 thousand
instead of 80 thousand votes.

Mediamax reports that, speaking at a news conference in Yerevan today,
Raffi Hovhannissian noted that the party has not yet decided whether
"Heritage" will be disputing the results of elections, and it will
make its final decision after the publication of the official results
of the voting.

According to the preliminary data, the "Heritage" party gained 80.890
votes, or the 6%.

Raffi Hovhannissian stated about the readiness to present the
information on violations, which "Heritage" possesses, to those
political forces, which are going to dispute the results of the
parliamentary elections in the Constitutional Court.

"We would welcome the decision of the Constitutional Court on revoking
the results of these elections and hope that the judges of the given
body will take upon themselves the responsibility for the future of
the country", Raffi Hovhannissian stated.

He expressed readiness to cooperate with all the political forces,
both the pro-authority and the oppositional ones.

"Being a national-liberal Armenian-centrist political force, we intend
to act in the parliament as opposition", Raffi Hovhannissian stated.

According to him, the parliamentary elections should teach a lesson
to the oppositional forces, which did not enter the parliament, and
become a reason for their consolidation on the eve of the presidential
elections of 2008.

RELATIVES OF LEVON GHULIAN DEMAND EXAMINATION OF REAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS DEATH

Noyan Tapan
May 14 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. "If the authorities do not assume
responsibilty in connection with the death of citizen Levon Ghulian in
the RA police criminal investigation department, the society will do
so," Larisa Alaverdian, executive director of the organization "Against
Legal Wilfulness", first ombudsperson of the RA, said. During a talk
with NT correspondent, she considered the incident as an example of
gross violation of human rights.

According to an official press release of the police, on May 12 Levon
Ghulian, 31, fell out of the window on the second floor of the Main
Department of the Criminal Investigation and died on the spot. On
that day he was invited to the deparment in order to give evidence
on the fact of the murder of "criminal authority" S. Vardanian.

This notorious murder was committed late May 9 in Yerevan’s Manandian
Street – before of the "Bolero" sauna. L. Ghulian was director of the
"Pandok" restaurant located in the front of this sauna and was one of
the witnesses in this case. According to reports of the Armenian press,
"the father of the killed "authority" is a friend of the policeman who
extracted evidence from L. Ghulian in such a "diligent" way that the
latter did not return from the police…" In the words of relatives of
L. Ghulian, he was thrown out of the window by a high-ranking police
official, who cruelly beat L. Ghulian during his questioning on the
scandalous murder case. They rule out the possibility that L. Ghulian
intended to run away. The relatives say that experts, who examined
L. Ghulian’s body in the mortuary, expressed an opinion that the
death resulted from a blow on the man’s head with a blunt object:
according to them, "such an injury cannot be caused as a result of
falling from the second floor."

On May 14, relatives of L. Ghulian staged a protest in front of the
RA government’s building, requesting that the prime minister Serge
Sargsian intervene and ensure an impartial investigation. Relatives of
the victim envisage to organize a protest in front of the RA Police’s
building on May 15.

In the words of L. Alaverdian, "in many cases, the elementary norm of
human rights protection is not fulfilled in Armenia." A witness in
a murder case is invited to the police without being sent a proper
notice, without a lawyer who may protect his rights. "For years, we
have said that our witnesses are defenceless," L. Alaverdian noted,
adding that the most fundamental human right – the right of life was
violated in the building of the law enforcement body.

The organization "Against Legal Wilfulness" demands that the RA police
chief at least show that he is able to follow all circumstances of
the case with the use of all means in his possession and to reveal
those guilty.

MORE VISITORS TO ART AMSTERDAM

Expatica Netherlands, Netherlands
May 14 2007

AMSTERDAM – More than 17,790 art enthusiasts visited the Art Amsterdam
art fair last week, that was 2,500 more than in 2006, the organisation
announced on Sunday.

The 125 participating galleries saw turnover of more than EUR 5
million. This represented an increase in turnover of 16 percent per
gallery compared to last year.

The Thieme Art Award, a prize for the most promising young artist,
was awarded to Armenian Karen Sargsyan at the opening of the fair.

A record number of 31 foreign galleries were represented at Art
Amsterdam this year. 84 percent of visitors said they planned to
attend again next year, the organisation said.

subchannel_id=1&story_id=39726

Professor Yuri Baturin’s exhibition opened at YSU

ArmRadio.am
14.05.2007 13:43

Famous cosmonaut, Professor Yuri Baturin, who is in Armenia, visited
today the Yerevan State University. A photo exhibition in the hall of
the Scientific Council of the University entitled `A Short Meeting
with the Earth’ and film screening will mark the start of the series
of events organized by the OSCE and the Yerevan State University. The
author of the exhibition is Yuri Baturin.

The participants were greeted by the Head of the OSCE Office in
Yerevan Vladimir Pryakhin, Rector of the Yerevan State University,
Professor Aram Simonyan, representative of the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Armen Baibourtian and Professor Yuri Baturin.

`It’s a great honor for me that the first viewers of my film and
exhibition in Yerevan are the students and faculty of the Yerevan
State University,’ Yuri Baturin noted.
On May 15 he will deliver a lectre `The investigation of the space the
urgent problems of international relations’ for the students of the
Yerevan State University.

RPA representatives head the poll in 23 of 41 single-mandate districts

ArmInfo
2007-05-14 12:47:00

Representatives of the Republican Party of Armenia head the poll in
twenty-three of forty-one single-mandate districts. Representatives of
"Prosperous Armenia" won seven mandates, "Orinats Yerkir" and
"Dashink" parties won by 1 mandate. Nine deputies were elected by
civic initiative.

According to ArmInfo, the following candidates were elected in the
single-mandate districts:

1st district – Ruben Hayrapetyan (RPA)
2nd district – Rafik Petorsyan (RPA)
3rd district – Ashot Tonoyan (Prosperous Armenia)
4th district – Zohrab Zohrabyan (RPA)
5th district – Levon Sargsyan(RPA)
6th district – Haroutiun Pambukyan (RPA)
7th district – Samvel Aleksanyan (civic initiative)
8th district – Hakob Hakobyan (civic initiative)
9th district – Ruben Sadoyan (RPA)
10th district – Khachatur Sukiasyan (civic initiative)
11th district – Grigor Margaryan (civic initiative)
12th district – Versandik Hakobyan (Prosperous Armenia)
13th district – Armen Purgoyan (RPA)
14th district – Lyova Khachatryan(civic initiative)
15th district – Khachik Manukyan(RPA)
16th district – Tigran Stepanyan (Prosperous Armenia)
17th district – Henrik Abrahamyan (RPA)
18th district – Manvel Ghazaryan (RPA)
19th district – Sedrak Saroyan (RPA)
20th district – Hrant Grigoryan (RPA)
21st district – Rustam Gasparyan (civic initiative)
22nd district – Tigran Arzakantsyan (RPA)
23rd district – Hrant Madatyan (Prosperous Armenia)
24th district – Hakob Hakobyan (RPA)
25th district – Sasun Mikaelyan (RPA)
26th district – Robert Tovmasyan (Prosperous Armenia)
27th district – Melik Manukyan (Prosperous Armenia)
28th district – Gagik Tsarukyan (Prosperous Armenia)
29th district – Arkady Hambartsumyan (RPA)
30th district – Victor Dallakyan (civic initiative)
31st district – Karen Saribekyan (RPA)
32nd district – Surik Poghosyan (RPA)
33rd district – Ashot Aghababyan (RPA)
34th district – Martun Grigoryan ("Dashink")
35th district – Samvel Balasanyan ("Orinats Yerkir")
36th district – Mkhitar Baragyan (civic initiative)
37th district – Alexander Sargsyan (RPA)
38th district – Vahe Hakobyan (RPA)
39th district – Samvel Sargsyan ` аÐ?Ð?бп ­ (RPA)
40th district – Mkhitar Vardanyan (civic initiative)
41st district – Hakob Hakobyan ("RPA")

To recap, the winners on the proportional election system are RPA (32.8%),
"Prosperous Armenia" (14.7%), ARFD (12.7%), "Orinats Yerkir" (6.8%),
"Heritage" (5.8%). The turn-out totaled 1,389,521 citizen of Armenia or 59/9% of the
total number of voters.