Author: Chatinian Lara

ZUBKOV, SARKISYAN SEEK TO EXPAND TRADE, ECONOMIC COOPERATION

ITAR-TASS
March 24 2008
Russia

MOSCOW, March 24 (Itar-Tass) – Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov
met Armenian president-elect Serzh Sarkisyan on Monday.

Zubkov congratulated Sarkisyan on his victory in the presidential
elections in Armenia. "During the meeting, the sides confirmed mutual
interest in intensifying trade and economic cooperation, including
the implementation of joint major infrastructure projects in the
energy sector, transport and telecommunications," the government
press service reported.

CHANGE OF OSCE MG FORMAT IS EQUAL TO BEGINNING OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT PROCESS FROM THE GROUND UP

arminfo
2008-03-24 12:37:00

ArmInfo. Change of OSCE MG format, which Azerbaijan strives for, is
equal to beginning of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process
from the ground up, Head of the "Hay-Dat" Central Office and for
political affairs of ARF Dashnaktsutyun Kiro Manoyan told journalists.

He expressed uncertainty that in this case, when the process will have
to start from the ground up, change of the format of negotiations
will entail Armenia’s compulsory participation in it. "Most likely,
creation of a new format in the negotiation process will attract
the Karabakh party to the process, that will postpone the conflict
settlement", K. Manoyan said.

ARMENIAN PARTIES SIGN COALITION DEAL

Mediamax
March 21 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 21 March. The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Orinats
Yerkir (OYP) [Law-Governed Country], the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
and the [Armenian Revolutionary Federation -] Dashnaktsutyun signed a
four-sided agreement in Yerevan today on forming a political coalition.

Mediamax reports that the agreement was signed by the leaders of the
parties – Serzh Sargsyan, Artur Baghdasaryan, Gagik Tsarukyan and
Armen Rustamyan.

Speaking at a briefing after the signing ceremony, Serzh Sargsyan
described the agreement as "unprecedented".

"The formation of a political coalition aims at realization of
large-scale and serious reforms in Armenia," Serzh Sargsyan stated,
adding that the government needs wide public support for this.

Armen Rustamyan said that the coalition agreement document registers
all the urgent tasks of Armenia as by solving then the country will
step by step move along the path of real reforms and preservation
of stability.

"The sides, which signed the given agreement, take upon themselves
political responsibility for the activities of the authorities,
which is one of the most important peculiarities of the agreement,"
Artur Baghdasaryan stated.

KHALIFA RECEIVES A NOTE FROM ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

Emirates News Agency
March 19, 2008 Wednesday 7:49 PM EST

WAM Abu Dhabi, March 19, 2008 (WAM)–President HH Sheikh Khalifa
bin Zayed Al Nahyan received a note from Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan, in which he extended an invitation to Sheikh Khalifa to
visit Armenia.

Armenian Ambassador to UAE Vahagn Melikyan delivered the note Wednesday
to UAE Foreign Affairs Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan
at his office. Sheikh Abdullah thanked the envoy for the invitation,
hailing the existing relations between the UAE and Armenia, and
stressed the UAE leadership would boost the relations between the
UAE and Armenia in different fields.

RA PRESIDENT RECEIVES RF DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

Noyan Tapan
March 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 19, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 19, RA President Robert
Kocharian received Grigory Karasin, the RF Deputy Foreign Minister,
RF State Secretary. The sides spoke about Armenian-Russian bilateral
relations and emphasized with satisfaction the dynamically developing
cooperation in different spheres.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s
Press Office, the interlocutors also touched upon the post-electoral
developments in Armenia and the home political situation.

PHOTOS SOUGHT FOR ARMENIA EXHIBITION

Lexington Minuteman
/entertainment/arts/x1126220457
March 17 2008
USA

The Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) and Armenia Tree
Project (ATP) are organizing a juried exhibition of photographs of
Armenia’s natural environment. The exhibition, entitled "A Photographic
Journey of Armenia’s Natural Treasures," will be displayed in ALMA’s
Contemporary Art Gallery from Sept. 11 through Oct. 9. The exhibition
will run concurrently with a series of weekly events that highlight
the exhibition’s theme and raise awareness of Armenia’s environmental
challenges.

Anyone with photographs of Armenia’s landscape or natural environment
is encouraged to enter their work for a chance to have it on display
and available for purchase in this exhibition. Entrants need not be
of Armenian descent or trained artists so long as their work is of
sufficient quality.

Images must adhere to the exhibition’s theme of depicting Armenia’s
ecological heritage. The images need not be of present-day Armenia,
but submissions should depict both Armenia’s natural beauty and the
current challenges to Armenia’s environment. Photographs entered for
judging should be in digital format, but hard copies are acceptable.

Originals will not be returned.

Entrants must review and complete the entry form, available
at Up to 20 digital or hard copy
photographs may be submitted for review. The submitted images must
be titled/labeled and accompanied by a price list. Photographs that
are chosen for exhibit will be shown in 16×20 simple black frames.

Artists who want their photography to be in a different sized frame
will be responsible for providing the frame and responsible for picking
up their work at the end of the exhibition should the work not sell.

Submit applications to: ALMA’s Contemporary Art Gallery, 65 Main St.,
Watertown, MA 02472. Submissions must be received by Friday, May 16.

For more information about the exhibit or submission rules, visit
or

RA NA SPECIAL SITTING CONVENED ON MARCH 17 EVENING

Noyan Tapan
March 17, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative of more than sixty
MPs of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia a special
sitting has been convened at 18:30 after the regular sittings of the
parliament on March 17.

The bill on making amendments and addenda to the law on "Holding of
meetings, rallies, marches and demonstrations" is on the agenda. This
statement was made by Tigran Torosian, the Speaker of the National
Assembly, in the NA morning sitting, mentioning that the decree is
already signed.

TO MEET IN BUCHAREST

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on March 15, 2008

OSCE Minsk group Russian co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov announced that the
co-Chairs support the idea of the meeting between the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan in the framework of NATO summit in Bucharest in
the begging of April.

In response to the question regarding the similarity of Kosovo and
Karabakh conflicts Merzlyakov said: ` If I spoke from the point of view
of not the Minsk group co-Chair but a Russian citizen, then you are
well aware of our position. It is universal and can be a precedent for
all the conflicts. Our principle is that the conflicting sides must
come to mutual agreement and try to find mutually beneficial solutions.
As for the co-Chairs, we will support it, we will also help find the
solution and will appear as guarantees of this agreement.’

"HERITAGE" PARTY ALLPIES TO COURT WITH REQUEST TO INVALIDATE DECREE ON DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY

Noyan Tapan
March 14, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The "Zharangutyun" ("Heritage") party
on March 14 applied to the RA Administrative Court with the request
to recognize as invalid the RA presidential decree on declaration of
a state of emergency of March 1, 2008.

According to a press release of the party, "Heritage" finds that
among other restrictions, the suspension of activities of democratic
institutions, in particular, the narrowing of the subject limits of
the mass media contradicts the requirements of the Armenian legislation
and the European Convention on Human Rights. "As a result of all this,
the work of the independent and opposition newspapers and websites
has been frozen, which represents a gross violation of citizens’
rights to receive impartial and comprehensive information," is stated
in the lawsuit of the party.

In its lawsuit filed to the court, "Heritage" requests to invalidate
the above mentioned decree, which, according to the party, is outside
the law and is not in line with the current situation. The plaintiff
petitions the court to use a measure to ensure the lawsuit’s execution:
to ban imposition of new restrictions on constitutional rights by
the Armenian president and to conduct an accelerated court examination.

UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SUPPORTS RESOLUTION ON SITUATION IN OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF AZERBAIJAN

Trend News Agency
March 14 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 14 March / Trend News / On 14 March the UN General
Assembly supported the Resolution on Situation in Occupied Territories
of Azerbaijan, which was presented by the Azerbaijani side.

Some 39 countries voted for and seven countries against the
resolution. 100 members abstained voting.

The Resolution highlights serious concerns that the armed conflict
in the Nagorno-Karabakh territory of Azerbaijan and its surrounding
regions is continuing presenting threats for the international peace
and security and adversely affects the humanitarian situation in the
South Caucasus countries.

The UN General Assembly urges the member-countries to respect and
support sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within
its internationally recognized borders. "The General Assembly
again states that no country should recognize legal the situation
created as a result of occupation of the Azerbaijani territories. No
country should promote or assist continuation of the situation,"
the adopted document says. In a new resolution Azerbaijan calls on
UN Secretary General to deliver a comprehensive report to implement
the resolution. The draft resolution requires an immediate, complete
and unconditional withdrawal of all Armenian Armed Forces from the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan urges UN member states to confirm the indefeasible right
of the people driven out from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan to
return to their land and states the need to provide conditions for
them to do so including the full rehabilitation of the territories
damaged by the conflict.