Author: Chavushian

"NOR ZHAMANAKNER" TO SUPPORT SAMVEL HAROUTIUNIAN’S CANDIDATURE AT ELECTORAL DISTRICT No37

Noyan Tapan
Apr 03 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The "Nor Zhamanakner" (New Times)
party will support in electoral district No37 candidature of
non-partisan Samvel Haroutiunian, nominated on the civil initiative
by the majoritarian electoral system at the May 12 elections and will
support him with its all efforts. Noyan Tapan was informed about it
by the Information Services of the "Nor Zhamanakner" party.

Today, Azerbaijan
April 2 2007

Armenian armed forces violate ceasefire again

02 April 2007 [23:26] – Today.Az

Armenian armed forces violated the ceasefire again.

Armenian armed forces fired on the positions of Azerbaijani Army and
Tapqaraqoyunlu village of Goranboy from occupied Talish village of
Tartar at 20.00 yesterday.

Firstly, the enemy forces fired on the flock of sheep belonging to
Tapqaraqoyunlu residents. 5 sheep were killed. The shepherds hardly
left the place of accident

The Armenian forces fired on the positions of Azerbaijani Army and
Chiragli village by submachine and machine guns from occupied Bash
Garvand village of Aghdam for 15 minutes from 8 a.m today, APA’s
Karabakh bureau reports.

URL:

VLADIMIR KARAPETIAN COMMENTS ON RENOVATION OF THE CHURCH OF HOLY CROSS ON AKHTAMAR ISLAND

ArmRadio.am
30.03.2007 10:06

We are pleased that the Armenian Church of Holy Cross on Akhtamar
island, a jewel of world architecture, has been beautifully restored
and renovated, albeit without a cross, and as a museum.

This is a positive move and holds the potential of a reversal of the
policy of negligence and destruction.

We hope the same kind approach will extend to cover the
nearly-collapsed churches of Ani, Mush, Tegor, and a dozen other
priceless examples of Armenian medieval architecture, which have
been abandoned at best, or more often, intentionally vandalized,
simply because of their Armenian identity.

Unfortunately, this opening was not transformed to a new opportunity
in Armenia- Turkish relations, because the Turkish government has not
found it expedient to do so. Instead, it will remain a formal ceremony,
in which a small official delegation will participate.

The border was not opened, even for one day, to allow our peoples
to share this singular, historic event together. Instead, those
from Armenia wishing to attend will be forced to travel, through a
third country, two days to get there and back. This could have been
a four-hour car ride across the border enjoyed by many.

Turkey’s announcements about the opening of this renovated church
do not include the word ‘Armenian’ anywhere. Names of kings and
regions from medieval times are evoked, but no mention is made of its
Armenian and Apostolic belonging. This is an evasion of the Turkish
government’s responsibility not only to history and memory, but to
its own Armenian minority.

Ironically, at the same time, many are heralding this renovation
as a step forward in Armenia-Turkey relations. This is because the
Turkish authorities need to demonstrate something positive in that
direction. It is no coincidence that this opening is being held just
as the US Congress is considering a resolution on affirming the US
record on the Armenian Genocide.

Even before the opening, pictures of the renovated church are being
distributed in Washington as a sign of goodwill from Turks towards
Armenians, and therefore obviating the need for third country pressure
on Turkey.

Armenia and Armenians wish for substantive progress with Turkey
regarding our painful past and a potential of a shared future as
neighbors. Armenia and Armenians do not want to be played in a
never-ending process of gestures that do not intend to make real
inroads in reconciliation, and instead are simply public relations
moves.

Armenia asks that the international community encourage Turkey
to engage in a substantive process toward open borders and normal
relations and not be satisfied with isolated symbols and gestures.

24 POLITICAL PARTIES AND ONE ALLIANCE SUBMITTED DOCUMENTS

KarabakhOpen
29-03-2007 18:34:50

27 political parties and one alliance had been nominated for the
parliamentary election on May 12. March 28 was the deadline of
submitting documents for registration. By the deadline 24 political
parties and one alliance had submitted the documents with the Central
Electoral Commission. On April 2-7 the CEC will study the documents
and make a decision on registering or not.

The following parties have submitted documents for
registration. National Democratic Party (Shavarsh Kocharyan), National
Agreement Party (Aram Harutiunyan), National Solidarity Party (Artashes
Geghamyan), Bargavach Hayastan Party (Gagik Tsarukyan), Dashink Party
(Samvel Babayan), Heritage Party (Raffi Hovannisian), Democratic
Way Party (Manuk Gasparyan), Impeachment Alliance (Nicol Pashinyan),
ARF Dashnaktsutyun (Armen Rustamyan), Progressive Party of Armenia
(Tigran Urikhanyan), Democratic Party of Armenia (Aram Sargsyan),
Youth Party of Armenia (Sargis Asatryan), People’s Party of Armenia
(Stepan Demirchyan), Communist Party of Armenia (Ruben Tovmasyan),
Republican Party of Armenia (Andranik Margaryan, Serge Sargsyan),
Marxist Party of Armenia (Davit Hakobyan), All-Armenian Movement Party
(Ararat Zurabyan), Republic Party (Aram Sargsyan), United Labor Party
(Gurgen Arsenyan), United Liberal National Party (Levon Martirosyan),
Nor Jamanakner Party (Aram Karapetyan), Social Democratic Henchak
Party (Lyudmila Sargsyan), Christian Democratic Rebirth Party (Mkrtich
Gimishyan), Orinats Yerkir Party (Arthur Baghdasaryan).

The leader of the Progressive Party of Armenia Tigran Urikhanyan kept
his promise and withdrew his candidacy. Three other members of this
party Hamazasp Uzunyan, Nuneh Ghumashyan and Armen Martirosyan running
for parliament under the majority system withdrew from the race as
well. Sonya Gevorgyan and Victor Martirosyan (Orinats Yerkir), Ananik
Nikoghosyan, Sargis Tamazyan, Victor Mirumyan (All-Armenian Movement)
left the race. Nshan Vagharshakyan from Bargavach Hayastan Party and
Arshak Sadoyan, the leader of the Alliance of National Democrats, will
not run in the parliamentary election under the majority system. The
vice president of Vedi Alco Armen Ghazaryan will not compete with
the owner of Vedi Alco Manvel Ghazaryan at electoral district 18. In
electoral district 13 heated struggle was expected among the freedom
fighter Manvel Eghiazaryan, Republican Armen Purtoyan, and Edward
Madatyan who is wanted by the police. The freedom fighter changed
his mind and did not submit the documents for registration.

MIKAYEL KOLOYAN ESTABLISHES TWO RECORDS OF ARMENIA IN WATER SPORTS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2007

MELBOURN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Water Sports World Championship
continues in the Australian city of Melbourn. On March 28, Armenian
swimmer Mikayel Koloyan overcame 100 m race area in 53.01 seconds, took
80th place among 169 participants and established a new republican
record. He established the second record of Armenia in 200 m free
style passing the area in 1 minutes 55.06 seconds and was recognized
66th among 117 participants.

Haroutiun Haroutiunian in 100 m free style and Aram Nazarian in 100
m and 50 m brass swimming style established personal records. They
took 97th place (among 125 swimmers), 15th place (among 117 swimmers)
and 98th place (among 125 swimmers), respectively.

OSCE MONITORING MISSION MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
March 28 2007

OSCE monitoring mission has made some recommendations related to
the fires in Nagorno-Karabakh in the contact line of Azerbaijani
and Armenian troops, Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental
Activities Bernard Snoy told the APA. The recommendations include
taking some measures and implementing projects. The mission recommended
holding seminar on operation of water reserves, fighting against
fires and hold meeting on discussion of report of the mission as
short-term initiatives. But as long and medium-termed initiatives, the
mission recommends rehabilitation of burnt forests and lands, planning
measures against fires, prophylactics of the fires, modernization of
equipment, investigate the fires, regional cooperation on fighting
against fires and operation of water reserves and taking necessary
measures in order to protect environment.

According to Snoy, these recommendations have been filed firstly
"to governments of Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh" as well as to
relevant structures and programs of OSCE and UN. The recommendations
are aimed at rehabilitation of fire-affected areas, elimination of
the risk of fire in future and reduce its possible negative results.

Press TV, Iran
March 26 2007

Sarkisyan appointed Armenia’s acting PM
Mon, 26 Mar 2007 17:23:00

Armenian Defense Minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, has been appointed
acting Prime Minister, after Andranik Markaryan died Sunday of a
heart attack at the age of 55.

President Robert Kocharyan on Monday accepted the Cabinet’s
resignation due to Markaryan’s death. The Armenian leader charged the
Cabinet with continuing their duties until a new Cabinet could be
formed.

Parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for May 12, and
after the first session of a new parliament, the Cabinet will resign
again.

Markaryan was Armenia’s prime minister since May 2000. In 1997, he
was elected chairman of the Republican Party, which came to head the
ruling coalition in Armenia in 2003.

PRESS TV, Iran
March 26 2007

Ancient cave holds historic riches
Mon, 26 Mar 2007 08:39:52

Inhabited by the descendants of the Median Empire, the western
Iranian province of Kurdistan is an ancient area within the country
that is home to old and astonishing monuments.

There is a cave between the townships of Divandarreh and Saqqez that
reveals Arsacid dynasty riches which predate the birth of Christ.

The Karaftu cave has an engraving in Latin on the opening wall with a
stone script which literally reads, "Where Heracletus dwells the evil
can not enter." The cave is said to have been a temple of the Grecian
deity.

Another wall illustrates a rider who is hunting a deer.
Archaeologists attribute the scene to the Parthian king Gudarz after
he defeated the Armenian Monarch.

The 750-meter-long calcareous cave dug into the mountain has survived
many different eras with people using it as accommodation. It
includes four floors and a few chambers which all reflect different
elements of ancient civilizations.

The first archeological excavations conducted at the site occured in
2000.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 26 2007

ARMENIAN CB PERMITS INECOBANK TO PARTICIPATE IN MASTERCARD
INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT SYSTEM

YEREVAN, March 26. /ARKA/. The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA)
permitted Inecobank CJSC to participate in the international payment
system MasterCard. The CBA press service said that the decision was
made by the CBA Board.
Inecobank CJSC was registered ob February 7, 1996. As of December 31,
2006, the assets of the bank made AMD 22.4bln, the total capital –
AMD 6.1bln, the balance sheet profit – AMD 2.4bln, the profit for
2006 made AMD 1bln. The bank’s authorized capital makes AMD 2.4bln.
According to the CBA recent data, 209,113 plastic cards were in
circulation in Armenia at the beginning of 2007. The number of Master
Cards issued by Armenian banks made 11,817.
National payment system "Armenian Card" became a full member of
MasterCard payment system in December 2002, which empowered it to
issue and serve EuroCard/MasterCard, CirrusMaestro cards and the
banks – founders of the company – to become its associated members.
($1 = AMD 359.96). L.M. -0–

RA CEC REFUSES TO ACCREDIT OBSERVERS OF "GRAFT" UNION OF GIFTED WOMEN"
CHARITY NGO

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. At the March 27 sitting of the RA
Central Electoral Commission (CEC), participants observed a one-minute
silence in memory of the Armenian prime minister Andranik Margarian
who died suddently two days ago.

By the unanimous decision of the commission, the application for
accreditation of observers of the "Graft" Union of Gifted Women"
Charity NGO was rejected due to the absence of democracy and human
rights protection issues in the charter goals.

The CEC also approved the forms of certificates of candidates for
deputacy by the majoritarian and propotional electoral systems.