Author: Chmshkian Vicken

AEPLAC TO HOLD PRESENTATION OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT ON ARMENIAN ECONOMY FOR 2006

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 25 2007

YEREVAN, July 25. /ARKA/. AEPLAC, Armenian-European consulting center
for economic politics and law, is to hold presentation of its annual
report on Armenian economy for 2006 on Thursday in Yerevan.

The centre press office says the report contains a detailed analysis
of macroeconomic developments in Armenia compared with international
indicators.

The report also considers important issues such as GDP stricture and
its per-capita quota, industrial and agricultural output distribution.

Inflation, labor market, financial and banking sectors, state budget
and foreign debt are in the report’s focus as well.

AEPLAC European Director Kenneth Munther will open the presentation.

Armenian Trade and Economic Development Minister Nerces Yeritzyan
and World Bank Yerevan Office Head Aristomene Varoudakis are set to
speak at the presentation ceremony.

Armenian government members and MPs as well as representatives of
international organizations, diplomatic missions, businessmen and
scientists will attend the event.

NEXT OSCE MONITORING OF ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI FRONTLINE SCHEDULED

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
July 24 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend E.Huseynli / The next monitoring will
be held in the line of contact of troops near the village of Merzili
near the Agdam Highway on 25 July in compliance with a mandate from
the special representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the Defence
Ministry of Azerbaijan reports.

Jaslan Nurtazin and Peter Key, field assistants to the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office’s special envoy, Andrzej Kasprzyk, are in charge
of monitoring the Azerbaijani side of the frontline

Imre Palatinus and Antal Herdiks, field assistants to the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office’s special envoy, will carry out the monitoring on
the Armenian side of the frontline in the territory internationally
recognized as Azerbaijani territory.

Over the past period the Armenians have frequently fired at Azerbaijani
positions located in Gazakh District.

Gazakh is located in 520km west of Baku.

ARMAN BABAJANIAN HAS GONE ON HUNGER STRIKE

Noyan Tapan
Jul 23, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Arman Babajanian, the editor-in-chief
of the "Zhamanak Yerevan" Daily, who was condemned to three and a
half years of imprisonment for evading military service, has gone on
a hunger strike.

According to the information provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent
by Nikolay Baghdasarian, the defender of the journalist, in this
way his defendant is protesting against the July 19 decision of
the Commission on issues concerning early parole and serving one’s
punishment. He claims not be introduced with the grounds for rejecting
the application concerning early parole. According to the Commission,
the negative characterization has served as a basis for rejecting the
application. However, according to the personnel of the "Nubarashen"
penitentiary office, the characterization was a positive one,
otherwise, the penitentiary office would not submit that application
to the Commission.

AK PARTY WINS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

PanARMENIAN.Net
23.07.2007 14:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party)
won a landslide victory in yesterday’s general elections, leaving
its nationalist rivals far behind as it secured an unparalleled 46,9
percent of the national vote, comfortably ensuring that it will again
form a single-party government.

The center-left but nationalist Republican People’s Party (CHP), the
closest rival of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AK Party, won
20,7 percent of the vote, finishing the race close to the far-right
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The MHP secured a return ticket
to Parliament, following a five-year break, with 14,3 percent. The
results reflected 98 percent of the votes having been already counted.

"Our democracy successfully passed a significant test in a manner that
would constitute a model to the world and proved its maturity. Our
democracy emerged stronger. The winner of the elections is democracy,
security and stability," Erdogan told supporters packing a street
outside his party headquarters, Zaman reports.

In response to accusations of opponents, who say Erdogan wants
to turn Turkey into an Islamic state, the PM pledged to maintain
secular democracy and work for national unity. "We are not going to
reconsider attitude to human values and fundamental principles of
our republic. We promise to secure Turkey as a united country with
no signs of discrimination," Erdogan said.

Vote in Turkey is compulsory. According to the CEC, 80% of those 42
million eligible to vote, took part in the parliamentary elections.

ARMENIAN MINISTER, US DIPLOMAT DISCUSS MILITARY COOPERATION

Arminfo
18 Jul 07

Yerevan, 18 July: The Armenian defence minister, Mikayel Harutyunyan,
and the newly-appointed US charge d’affaires to Armenia, Rudolf Perina,
discussed military cooperation between Armenia and the USA today.

At the meeting, Perina noted the importance of the appointment of
a new US ambassador to Armenia because this proceeds from the two
countries’ interests, the Defence Ministry press service told Arminfo.

Issues related to the Nagornyy Karabakh peace process, ensuring peace
and stability in the region, and military reforms were also discussed
at the meeting.

Lraper.org
July 19, 2007

DON’T LOOK BACK, MR. GHUKASYAN

NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan believes that the political forces
must honor the choice of people. In speaking about the complaints
regarding the voting, Arkady Ghukasyan agreed there are complaints but
he does not think they all are grounded. These must be checked, there is
an authorized body which will attend to it but it will not influence the
democratic image of the country, Ghukasyan thinks. He regrets to say
that black PR has penetrated from Armenia to Karabakh. According to
Arkady Ghukasyan, the statements that there was pressure from the
security agencies are not true either. "When people see they will be
defeated, they start inventing tales."

The reporters asked the president to comment on the opinion of the
Armenian pollster Aaron Adibekyan who said Bako Sahakyan is "daddy",
Masis Mayilyan is "glamour", and that in Karabakh they prefer a "daddy".
Personally I am not acquainted with Mr. Adibekyan, and for me it is
difficult to comment. I think it is an insult for the people of
Karabakh. As to Igor Muradyan, he is a sick person. Certainly, he has
made a great contribution to the nation. But such statements regarding
this country are immoral," Arkady Ghukasyan said.

Arkady Ghukasyan thinks his statement on endorsing Bako Sahakyan
will influence the people for whom Arkady Ghukasyan is an authority. The
others will not. At the same time, Arkady Ghukasyan said if usually the
political forces are first elected then form a coalition, in Karabakh it
is the contrary, the political forces have united before the election.
"I think it is determined by the personality of Bako Sahakyan. As well
as the peculiarities of Karabakh. We are at war, and we must mobilize
people for the solution of these problems." According to Arkady
Ghukasyan, the union of forces endorsing Bako Sahakyan is not
artificial. Arkady Ghukasyan said opposition forces also united for Bako
Sahakyan. "The opposition is perceived to be resentful. The opposition
are the people whom we dismissed at one time because they do not deserve
these posts. This is called opposition. But I think the opposition must
have an idea, and in that case the classic formula will work," Ghukasyan
said.

Arkady Ghukasyan said he leaves with the feeling that he fulfilled
his duty, and is hopeful that the new president will rule the country
better than him.

19-07-2007 16:34:41

BAKO SAHAKYAN CONSIDERS REPORTS ON BREACHES AS BLACK PR

The presidential candidate Bako Sahakyan and his wife voted at
polling station 4/1 in Stepanakert. After the vote Bako Sahakyan held a
briefing. First, however, he congratulated everyone on the election day.
"Our people once again proved their commitment to democratic values. For
us, the elections are a means of establishing the civil society," he
said. With regard to the pre-election period, he said: "I think it
passed on a high level." In answer to the question of Masis Mayilyan’s
headquarters’ reports on breaches, Bako Sahakyan said it is black PR
which is witnessed for the first time in Karabakh. One of the reporters
asked if his opponents will remain at their posts in case he is elected
president. "The political culture demands that first of all the people
who were in the team were appointed. But it does not mean that the
opponents will be persecuted. My slogan was "Together for Artsakh" and I
will continue to uphold it," he said.

19-07-2007 14:56:28

NKR CEC CHAIR: TURNOUT IS HIGH

The chair of the NKR Central Electoral Commission Sergey Nasibyan
released the data of turnout. According to him, 25 percent of voters
have already voted.

As of 11 o’clock, turnout totaled 24.5 percent. 22 273 out of 91
180 have voted already. The highest turnout was reported in the region
of Shahumyan, 44.5 percent, Martakert follows with 37.41 percent. The
lowest was in Stepanakert 15.6 percent, then Martuni 22.3 percent. On
the whole, however, the turnout is high.

According to Sergey Nasibyan, the CEC got 6 complaints which are
now being studied.

MASIS MAYILYAN: BLACK PR WAS LAUNCHED BY PEOPLE WHO BREAK THE LAW

"I think the people launched black PR who break the law," Masis
Mayilyan said in commenting on Arkady Ghukasyan’s and Bako Sahakyan’s
statements that reports on irregularities are black PR. Masis Mayilyan
believes that he will win if there are only separate cases of fraud.

Arkady Ghukasyan has stated earlier today that he addressed
reports on wrongdoing and concluded that the people who feel they will
lose the election are making such statements. The reporter asked to
comment on this statement. Masis Mayilyan said: "The CEC is entitled to
addressing irregularities." "I do not know why people attend to their
duties," he added.

The president endorsed the common candidate. Will it affect the
outcome? In answer to this question Masis Mayilyan said: "I think if he
supports the common candidate, I will get more votes."

In commenting on Adibekyan’s notorious statement on "daddy" and
"glamour", he said: "Our people will evaluate Adibekyan. If there is
mass wrongdoing, people will give their answer."

"If you do not win, will you remain deputy minister or will you
wait until they dismiss you?" In answer to this question he said he
thinks about victory only. "Will you work with Bako Sahakyan if he is
elected?" In answer to this question he said: "First I will congratulate
him. It depends on the team he will be working with. If he is going to
work with the team that is beside him now, I must think well before I
make a decision."

"If we love our country, we must admit our faults. We must not
cheat anyone, neither ourselves nor the international community. We must
be a democratic country and not be considered as such if we want to get
our place in the world. Everyone must acknowledge this, including the
wrongdoers. The law is important of all. Only a legitimate president can
represent our country and establish law and order in the country," the
presidential candidate told reporters. He added that if we hold an
election marred by fraud, in the future they will not recognize our
elections. "The problem is that we are not holding an election for them,
we hold it for people first of all, and everything should be in
compliance with the law, for us to be able in the future to insist on
the election and claim recognition of our republic. Because they will
recognize us if we are like them. And we want the civilized world to
recognize us, therefore we must simply be civilized."

19-07-2007 17:19:40

MASIS MAYILYAN’S HEADQUARTERS GOT NO RESPONSE FROM CEC

Today the election headquarters of Masis Mayilyan submitted 14
complaints to the CEC, each contained several breaches of the electoral
legislation. So far we have received no response, said Yuri Zakharyan,
deputy head of the election headquarters of Masis Mayilyan, in an
interview with KarabakhOpen.com. They received response to the complaint
of July 18. By the way, the chair of the CEC said they had responded to
6 complaints but did not specify what kind of response they had given.

19-07-2007 17:52:28

INHABITANTS OF YEREVAN’S 33rd DISTRICT SEND APPLICATION-COMPLAINT TO RA PRESIDENT

Noyan Tapan
Jul 18 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. An application-complaint was passed to
the RA President’s administration on July 18 with the signatures of 241
inhabitants of Yerevan’s 33rd district (with Khanjian-Tigran Mets-Melik
Adamian-Main Avenue borders). Similar application-complaints were
also sent to the RA NA Speaker, Tigran Torosian, RA Prime Minister,
Serge Sargsian, RA Ombudsperson, Armen Haroutiunian.

Angela Aghajanian, a resident of the above mentioned district,
said to Noyan Tapan correspondent that the basis of all problems,
which have emerged in the district announced as a development zone
is the imperfection of the law "On Property Alienation for Public
and State Needs," and their application also includes a proposal to
amend that law.

She said that only 30 out of 300 apartment owners have signed an
alienation agreement with the City Center Development company carrying
out development in that district. Many inhabitants do not sign the
agreement, as they consider that "they will exchange the house for a
paper, as we should wait for two or three years for that house." While,
in A. Aghajanian’s words, those carrying out development should provide
an apartment to development zone inhabitants at the moment of signing
the agreement, giving them 2-3 months for vacating the houses. It
was mentioned that the inhabitants of the 33rd district are not sure
that on the basis of the alienation agreement they will not be forced
to leave the apartment ahead of the schedule and will not be offered
money in the amount mentioned in the property valuation protocol and
not corresponding to the market value.

A. Aghajanian also said that 71 apartment owners have not signed
protocols of valuation of real estate used by them and challenge them
at the court.

It should be mentioned that a fair operates in the Firdousi street
sector of 33rd district, where the local residents are engaged in
small business. In A. Aghajanian’s words, it will be right that they
receive a compensation for their lost business by those carrying
out development.

PROBLEM OF GOAL-KEEPER SOLVED

A1+
[01:49 pm] 17 July, 2007

The Armenian champion team "Pyunik" is in Ireland and is getting
prepared for the meeting with "Derry City" within the frames of
Championship League. Vahan Danielyan, press secretary of "Pyunik"
informed the "A1+" that 19 footballers headed by Armen Gjulbudaghjants
left for Ireland. Among them are 4 footballers from Argentina and
Hzejna Felix from Cameron. Hamlet Mkhitaryan will not take part in
the meeting since he is injured. Goal-keeper Gevorg Kasparyan will
also participate in the game. Bogodar Lopes from Argentina will be
the second goal-keeper of the team.

The Championship League will be launched today. The first meeting
is due in Georgia, where the local "Olympy" will meet with "Astana"
team from Kazakhstan.

MELIK JANOYAN, A JAVELINE THROWER FROM GYUMRI, TAKES EIGHTH PLACE IN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Jul 16, 2007

DEBRETSEN, JULY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Athletics Championship
of those under 23 finished in the city of Debretsen, in Hungary on
July 15.

Melik Janoyan (Gyumri) took the eighth place with a record of 72m
and 80sm in the struggle of javelin throwers.

Los Angeles Times, CA
Calendar Live
July 15 2007

Tankian works outside the System

Band, orchestra or artist:

Music venue name:

By August Brown; Geoff Boucher, Times Staff Writer

SYSTEM OF A DOWN’S Serj Tankian is one of modern metal’s most popular
singers. He’s fond of wry political laments howled over demented
guitar thrash tempered with Armenian folk. He is also a gentle
protector of insects.

When an errant moth flew into the living room of his Calabasas home
while Tankian served rosewater tea, he rushed to cup his hands around
it and set it free out the back door. It was a sweet gesture from a
vocalist whose most well-known chorus lyric is "I don’t think you
trust in my self-righteous suicide." But it gave a hint of where
Tankian’s head is at as he prepares to release "Elect the Dead," his
debut solo album, due Oct. 23.

ADVERTISEMENT

Recorded in his rural home studio, with Tankian handling most of the
non-percussion instruments and engineer duties, "Elect the Dead" is
more tender and songwriterly than "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize," the
two recent chart-topping System records. It’s still a brutally
engaging guitar-rock album, to be sure, but it seems to come from a
longing for small, more personal changes than System’s sonic assault
suggests.

"Civilization is already over," Tankian said. "What I felt with this
record is that micro leads to macro. The other day I was trying to
make a left turn on the freeway and a lady slowed to let me in, and
that’s the same thing as kindness between nations."

Likewise, "Elect the Dead" is full of tiny deviances from System’s
sound that add up to a distinctly different record. "Feed Us" is rife
with jazzy breakdowns and nervous catcalls, and "Lie Lie Lie" is a
daffy cabaret number with campy girlish shrieks. "Unthinking
Majority" and "Empty Walls" are more traditionally pummeling rockers.
But it seems Tankian isn’t burdened by the expectations placed on him
as a vanguard representative of modern heavy music and as an activist
for the Armenian diaspora.

Last year, Tankian lobbied Congress to pass an amendment recognizing
the Armenian genocide in Turkey. While the album does have oblique
references to "the East where you killed her," "Elect the Dead" isn’t
a policy paper, nor a way to distance himself from System. Because
even with its steely lyricism and throttling textures, "Elect the
Dead," as in his band’s best moments, is also really, really funny.

"Even politics can’t be completely serious," Tankian said. "We’re
silly creatures. If we could record the thoughts of animals, they’d
think we’re ridiculous."