Author: Chavushian

A1+

SHOTS AT DEPUTY’S CAR
[02:45 pm] 09 April, 2007

On Saturday midnight, at about 12:30, unknown people fired shots at
Hakob Hakobyan’s car parked in Manushyan Street, Zvartnots Village.

Fortunately, there was no one inside; NA Deputy Hakob Hakobyan, the
owner of the car, had left minutes ahead.

Mr. Hakobyan informed A1+ that the suspected car was a dark blue
BMW. In reply to our question whether Mr. Hakobyan connects the
assault with the upcoming elections, the latter said, `I can only say
that the car belongs to my brother but that day I was the driver. I
can’t say anything more. I have no moral right to suspect anyone. But
I already have certain doubts who the initiators might be.’

Mr. Hakobyan informed us that they have started their own
investigation.

The most striking is the fact the remedial forces didn’t interrogate
Mr. Hakobyan on the matter. `My doubts double as no policeman came to
our place to inquire on the matter, to chain the place or keep an eye
on my family. Everything is quite clear.’

LOCAL AUTHOR PRESENTS ‘A GIFT IN THE SUNLIGHT: AN ARMENIAN STORY’

Valley Sun, CA
April 6 2007

Local author Kay Mouradian will discuss her novel, "A Gift in The
Sunlight: An Armenian Story" at 7 p.m. April 11 in the Donald R. Wright
Auditorium at Pasadena Central Library.

"A Gift in the Sunlight" is inspired by a true story that took place
during the Armenian Genocide nearly 100 years ago.

A young Armenian girl, Flora, and her family are deported from their
homeland in Turkey during World War I. Flora and family are among
two million Armenians forced to walk hundreds of miles through the
barren deserts of Syria. The march becomes a death sentence for more
than a million of them.

Mouradian wrote her first novel after her mother’s recovery from
serous illness prompted her to examine her ancestral past. Mouradian
visited the village in Turkey where her mother’s family along with
20,000 other Armenians was forced to leave their homes. Traveling
across the same deportation route to the deserts of Syria where more
than a million perished in the Armenian Genocide, she became acutely
aware of the suffering of her mother’s generation.

Books will be available for sale and signing immediately following
the author’s presentation. The program is free. For more information,
including parking, call (626) 744-4066, Option 7.

RUSSIA’S GAZPROM TO GAIN CONTROL OVER ARMENIAN GAS NETWORK

Agence France Presse — English
April 6, 2006 Thursday 9:21 PM GMT

Gazprom and Armenia said Thursday they had signed an agreement keeping
natural gas prices low but that will eventually give the Russian gas
giant control over the country’s distribution company, including a
future pipeline to Iran.

"Gazprom and the Armenian government have signed a 25-year agreement
that sets the principles for cooperation in energy projects in
Armenia," said a Gazprom statement.

Speaking in Yerevan, Armenian energy minister Armen Movsessian said
the country would receive under the agreement 248.8 million euros
from Gazprom, which would allow the government to subisdize gas prices
for consumers for three years.

Gazprom also promised to maintain until the end of 2008 its current
price for Armenia of 110 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters, less than
half what the company has been trying to charge other countries.

Under the agreement Gazprom is to eventually gain a majority stake in
the ArmRosgazprom gas distribution company, including a 40-kilometer
(25-mile) stretch of pipeline to Iran that will give Armenia a second
supplier of gas.

Armenia is currently completely dependent upon Gazprom for its
natural gas.

Gazprom currently owns 45 percent of ArmRosgazprom, the Armenian
government 45 percent and the Russian gas company Itera 10 percent.

STATE THAT DOESN’T MARK CHRISTIAN CHURCH WITH CROSS HAS NO PLACE IN EUROPE

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.04.2007 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Official Ankara was gladdened with resumption of the
dialogue that was suspended last December, inasmuch the EU decision
may raise the rating of Turkey that has failed to represent itself
as a tolerant and democratic state. The evidence is the slaying
of Agos editor Hrant Dink, opening of the Church of Holy Cross on
Akhtamar island, intrusion of Turkish troops in Northern Iraq under
the pretence of struggle against the Kurdish Workers’ Party and last
but not least, Ankara’s unwillingness to open air and sea ports for
Cypriot vessels. As it’s known, the talks were broken over Turkey’s
failure to fulfill the additional protocol on Customs Union.

Turkish nationalism is not the only reason which is not openly
mentioned at the talks but which appears another stumbling block
for full membership in the European family. Turkish Post newspaper
writes, " Each morning children dressed in uniform line up in the
schoolyard in front of the statue of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and say
"he is the happy man, who can say he is Turk." According to a Reuters
reporter, since the day of Hrant Dink’s murder more and more Turks see
a threat to the development of the state. Maybe presidential contender
Nicolas Sarkozy is right to say Turkey has no place in the European
Union. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also spoke out against
Turkey’s membership preferring the formula of "privileged partnership."

This position is proved by the fact that wasn’t invited to EU
summit in Berlin. "If Germany invited candidate states it would be a
demonstration of unity of the European family," Turkish MFA official
Levent Bilman said. This address was followed by vague statements by
PM Erdogan and FM Gul who said "they were planning a visit to Berlin
in April and absence of invitation didn’t changed anything."

Nevertheless, the talks may be stopped at any moment if Turkey refuses
to meet commitments as regards Cyprus and the notorious article
301. Another point is relations with the U.S. Washington insists on
Turkey’s accession to the EU but some changes in the U.S.

internal policy may have a negative impact on Turkey.

First of all, it’s the Armenian Genocide bill, complex state of the
Bush administration and tension over the Iranian problem. From this
standpoint thinking that Turkey may join the EU in 10 years is too
optimistic.

A state that doesn’t mark Christian church with cross has no place
in Europe.

"PanARMENIAN.Net" analytical department

NA MEETING: QUESTIONS TO GOVERNMENT

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
07 April 07

During the meeting of the NKR National Assembly on April 4 Member
of Parliament Janna Galstian raised the question of the workers of
the mill who went on strike a few days ago. She asked the government
how the problem of the workers who have not been paid for 6 months
would be solved. Prime Minister Anushavan Danielian said he had
talked to the owner of the company, who blames the managers of the
company. "I told him if the salaries are not paid, they will be
sued," the prime minister said. He also said the owner has left for
Yerevan and promised to solve the problem over the next week. Member
of Parliament Sergey Ohanian said the voters of his constituency
alarmed that old pipes are used to lay out the new pipeline of the
region. The NKR minister of urban planning M. Hakobjanian said old
pipes were bought to lower the costs of the construction, but added
that the pipes were checked and can be used. Member of Parliament
Vahram Atanessian asked if it is expedient to build a gym in Karvachar
in 2008 if there are very many other important issues, namely the
reconstruction of houses. Prime Minister Anushavan Danielian said the
gym is necessary for Karvachar. As to the reconstruction of houses,
he said efforts are made in this direction. Last year 18 houses
were repaired, and this year over a dozen houses will be repaired,
he said. The second question of Vahram Atanessian referred to the
transportation of passengers from the region f Kashatagh.

The minister of territorial administration Armo Tsaturian said the
question was discussed with the administration of the region, which
will come up with a proposal.

MANVEL BADEYAN: THERE WILL BE TIME WHEN BUSINESSMEN WILL REALIZE THEY SHOULD NOT GO TO NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. There will be time when businessmen
will realize that they should not go to the National Assembly –
economists and lawyers should become deputies. Masnvel Badeyan,
former businessman, deputy of the RA National Assembly, expressed
this opinion at the April 5 press conference.

At the same time, he noted that there are mechanisms, including
lobbyist ones, by which businessmen can influnce the National Assembly.

According to M. Badeyan, in 1999, some businessmen decided to enter the
NA as at that time some problems of business protection existed. Yet,
in his words, there has been no case when a busineesman-deputy solved
a problem to the advantage of his personal business.

M. Badeyan said that two thirds of laws adopted by the NA in 1999-2003
passed through the standing committee of financial, credit and
budgetary issues composed of businessmen-deputies. In 2004, according
to him, a negative change occured: "many businessmen deputies went
into the paliament – those who have done nothing, who have not even
entered the building of the NA." "At that time, to be a deputy was
considered to have the title of a nobleman," M. Badeyan said.

HOWARD BERMAN SENDS A LETTER ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO ALL HOUSE MEMBERS

ArmRadio.am
05.04.2007 14:39

The Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region and
the East San Fernando Valley ANC Chapter jointly issued a statement
this week praising Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA-28) for sending
a Dear Colleague letter on the Armenian Genocide to all members of
the U.S. House of Representatives.

The letter to House members included a reference to a recent statement
issued by the respected International Association of Genocide Scholars
that encouraged House member to cosponsor H.Res.106, the Armenian
Genocide Resolution.

In his Dear Colleague letter, Congressman Berman writes, "…it is
now time for Turkey to accept the reality of the Armenian Genocide."

"Our community commends Congressman Berman for his leadership role
in educating Members of Congress on the Armenian Genocide," commented
ANCA-WR Executive Director Andrew Kzirian. "The fact that Congressman
Berman joined with the International Association of Genocide Scholars
in support of H.Res.106 is fresh proof of his longstanding commitment
to this human rights issue so important to tens of thousands of his
constituents in the 28th Congressional District," Kzirian added.

MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM OF TURKEY INCLUDED NAKHIJEVAN, KARABAKH AND TERRITORIES UNDER ITS CONTROL IN ARMENIA’S STRUCTURE

Arminfo
2007-04-05 15:35:00

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey has issued a disc, in
which the hymns of all the Turkic states are included. As the Trend
reports, it is indicated on the cover that Nakhijevan, Karabakh,
as well as the regions under Karabakh control are related to Armenia.

According to the source, this error was first noted in the Embassy
of Turkey in Azerbaijan. According tot their statement, such a gross
error may cause a serious diplomatic misunderstanding. The Ministry
of Culture and Tourism explained this fact by a simple misprint
and promised to correct the error. The Head of the press service
of Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Intigam Gumbatov,
emphasized that the Minister Abulfas Garayev had commissioned to
examine this delicate situation seriously. An official letter will
be shortly written in view of this incident.

PARLIAMENTARIAN ELECTION: RUSSIA WILL AGREE TO ANY CHOICE OF ARMENIAN NATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.04.2007 18:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia is interested in international community’s
ability to draw objective picture of parliamentarian election in
Armenian scheduled for May 2007, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov stated to a joint press conference with RA Acting Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian in Yerevan.

He said, there are representatives from Russia in OSCE watchdog
commission. "Russia’s representatives will be maximum represented
in monitoring missions both from CIS Parliamentary Assembly and OSCE
PA. We fully used our quota and sent 30 observers. Russia will agree
to any choice of the Armenian nation," Sergey Lavrov underscored.

LEVON ARONYAN IS THE 5TH AFTER FIDE CHANGES

ArmRadio.am
04.04.2007 17:40

After the protest of the Indian Chess Federation FIDE implemented
changes in the last list of best chess players of the world. Now it
is headed by Vishvanatan Anand (2786 points), who was occupying the
second place before.

The second comes Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria (2 772 points). Russian
Vladimir Kramink is the third with 2 772 points. Russian Alexander
Morozevich is in the forth place with 2 763 points. Levon Aronyan
went to the fifth position with 2 759 points.

The changes implemented by FIDE are conditioned by the fact that
nitially it did not take into consideration the results of the
Morelia-Linares tournament, where Anand and Morozevich improved
their results.