Author: Chmshkian Vicken

THE MEDIATORS PROMISE A "FAIR, BALANCED SETTLEMENT BASED ON MUTUAL CONCESSIONS"
Tatul Hakobyan

"Radiolur"
24.05.2007 12:23

For the first time after the parliamentary elections the OSCE Minsk
Group co-Chairs are in the region to prepare the meeting of the
Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents on June 10 in the framework of the
CIS non-official summit in Saint Petersburg. On May 23 the Russian
and French Co-Chairs had meetings with President Robert Kocharyan,
Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.

Before leaving for Baku, on May 24 they summed up the results of their
visit at a press conference in the French Embassy in Yerevan. Bernard
Fassier said they will return to the region early June, and this time
Matthew Bryza will join them.

Merzlyakov said President Kocharyan has given a positive answer to
the suggestion to hold the recurrent meeting of the Presidents of
Armenia and Azerbaijan in Saint Petersburg. In Yerevan the discussions
focused on the main principles of the working document on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement. "We think there is certain progress,
and we hope that it will further develop in Baku," said Merzlyakov,
underlining that the positions of the parties still diverge on a
number of details of the settlement. The Russian Co-Chair did not
clarify which details he was speaking about.

"I dislike the concept "new suggestions," because everyone lays his
own sense in these words. The matter is not about new suggestions,
the basic principles are known. At least during the past year and
a half these principles have been the same, but there are some
nuances. Today the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan are
negotiating the details of settlement, but we expected a more global
political approach on the part of the Presidents," Merzlyakov said.

"The Presidents should display political will. We cannot make decisions
instead of them," Fassier added.

On behalf of France, Russia and the US, the French Co-Chair assured
that none of the mediator countries views war as a way of conflict
settlement. "There is no resolution other than peace talks. War is
not a solution," Fassier underlined.

Will the meeting in Saint Petersburg be the last this year? Merzlyakov
said everything depends on the forthcoming meeting and it’s not
ruled out that another meeting will be needed to agree upon the basic
principles of settlement.

Merzlyakov said the question does not refer to signing the final
document by yearend. "We are working on the basic principles of
settlement. If it is approved by both sides, it will enable us to start
preparing the agreement," he said and added that after accepting the
basic principles, the parties will not be able to deny the suggestions
of settlement as it was the case before."

Merzlyakov said "the future agreement will not be 100% satisfactory
for all the parties, but as we think, it will be fair, balanced and
based on mutual concessions."

In response to the question about the involvement of Nagorno Karabakh
in the negotiations, Bernard Fasssier and Yuri Merzlyakov asserted
that after a certain point in the negotiations "the participation of
Nagorno Karabakh will be useful; and necessary."

RUSSIA CONTINUES MILITARY PULLOUT FROM GEORGIA

RIA Novosti, Russia
May 24 2007

TBILISI, May 24 (RIA Novosti) – Another train carrying Russian military
hardware from a Soviet-era base in Georgia left the Caucasus state
Thursday, the Georgian Defense Ministry said.

The train from the Akhalkalaki base, about 30 kilometers (19 miles)
from the border with NATO member Turkey, is transporting trucks and
communications equipment to Russia via Azerbaijan, the ministry said.

It is the third train loaded with military equipment to leave Georgia
this year under Russia’s March 2006 agreement with the ex-Soviet
state, which has sought closer ties with Western organizations,
including NATO.

Russian troops and hardware are to completely withdraw from Georgia’s
two Soviet-era bases in Akhalkalaki and Batumi by 2008. The pullout
from Akhalkalaki is to be completed in the fall of 2007.

The bulk of Russia’s weapons will return to Russia, and the rest will
be delivered to a Russian base in Armenia.

RAMIZ MEHDIYEV: IF SURVEY IS CARRIED OUT WE WILL SEE THAT 98 PERCENT OF POPULATION SUPPORT ILHAM ALIYEV’S PRESIDENCY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 23 2007

"Recent events occurred in Azerbaijan press is not related to
forthcoming presidential elections. Accepting reality we can see
groundlessness of thought on the relation between presidential
elections and newspapers’ issues", Ramiz Mehdiyev, President Office’s
head was quoted by APA as saying. Ramiz Mehdiyev sure of Azerbaijan
president’s authority said "I am sure if survey is carried out we
will see that 98 percent of population intends to vote for Ilham
Aliyev’s presidency".

"So explaining press events with forthcoming elections is groundless.

We wait for normal, cultural, democratic opposition in the country.

We also want our press have the level of press of civil countries
not being source of offensive ad insulting articles. The newspapers
are publishing many rumors and disinformation. This does not coincide
with Azerbaijani mentality".

Touching upon the pardon on journalists Ramiz Mehdiyev said President
issues several pardon decrees a year. He said he hoped for the soon
release of journalists.

Ramiz Mehidyev commented on the issue of number of journalists
imprisoned in Azerbaijan. "Everyone should obey the law. Journalists
are not allowed to do anything they wish even selling the interests
of Azerbaijan. Oppositions in neighboring countries do not libel their
government in spite of much worse situation in Armenia. We all should
try to have a democratic patriotic, cultural opposition.

Everyone should settle its personal problems in accordance with law."

NZHDEH TEAM BECOMES WINNER OF ARMENIAN VOLLEYBALL WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
May 21 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The second tour of Armenian Volleyball
Ladies’ Championship finished on May 20 at Yerevan’s Kilikia sports
ground. The Nzhdeh team of Yerevan State Base Medical College won
the title of the champion in the competition among four teams. The
national team of Sisian took the second place, of Stepanakert third
place, of Artik fourth place.

The second tour of Armenian Volleyball Men’s Championship will be
held on May 24-26 at the Kilikia sports ground.

TO MORE EFFECTIVELY ORGANIZE WORK AT PARLIAMENT AND GOVERNMENT, RPA TO ATTEMPT TO INVOLVE OTHER FORCES REPRESENTED AT PARLIAMENT AS WELL

Noyan Tapan
May 17 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Emphasizing the fact of activization
of the political dialogue between the two states during the recent
years, what was also displayed by implementation of a number of mutual
visits of high level, RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsian and Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of German
to the RA Heike Peitsch spoke at the May 16 meeting for continuing
and more deepening that process.

The RA Prime Minister mentioned that Armenia attaches importance
to the political dialogue with Germany within the context of both
bilateral relations and development of the European and Euroatlantic
cooperation. In S. Sargsian’s words, Germany, as the present presiding
country of the European Union as well as one of the biggest donor
countries of the EU, can have a considerable contribution at the
stage of implementation of the EU-Armenia Actions Plan.

Touching upon the parliamentary elections held in Armenia, the German
Ambassador said that estimations of different monitoring missions,
in general, prove that free and fair elections were held which are a
rather big progress compared with the previous ones. Heike Peitsch
expressed a hope that the presented remarks and proposals, noticed
defects about which the RA President as well mentioned, will be taken
into consideration and corrected till the next elections.

S. Sargsian, expressing gratitude for the presented estimation,
attached importance to opinions and observations of all those
countries, international organizations which assisted and assist
Armenia on the way of solution of the existing problems and with
which Armenia cooperates.

Responding the Ambassador’s question, if the political force headed by
the Prime Minister which having the absolute majority at the parliament
will form a government without other political forces represented
at the parliament, the Prime Minister said that possibilities of
the Republican Party are quite enough for taking that step but, to
organize work both at government and at parliament more effectively
and to use possibilities of all capable forces in the interests of the
state and people, they will attempt to make them as well participant
of that work.

The interlocutors expressed their satisfaction concerning the
Armenian-German bilateral relations as well, mentioning that there is
still great unused potention in the sense of economic cooperation as
well in the direction of what an active work is done. Heike Peitsch
mentioned that the German side is pleased with all the programs
implemented in Armenia with the assistance of the German government and
will continue mutual cooperation with the government of Armenia in the
direction of liberation and reforms of the market, development of the
hypothecary market and in a number of other directions. The Ambassador
stated that the agreement on military cooperation is also at the
final stage of development and will be ready for signing very soon. He
assured that after the end of the term of presiding at the EU in late
June, his country will continue deepening the cooperation with Armenia
within the framework of both bilateral and EU Neighbourhood Policy.

INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY

A1+
[07:18 pm] 16 May, 2007

RoA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan stated in a briefing on May 16 that
he had got the letter of Levon Gulyan’s relatives. They urge to expose
and prosecute the murderers of Levon Gulyan. To remind, Levon Gulyan
was invited to the Police for interrogation in connection with the
murder near his restaurant. According to the Police, he tried to
escape through the window of the second floor, slipped, fell down
and died of injuries.

Meanwhile, Levon’s relatives say he was beaten to death and thrown
out through the window. The relatives went on protest on May 15 and
sent a letter to the Prime Minister asking for a fair investigation.

"The investigation is underway. When it ends, the relevant agencies
will inform the society," Serge Sargsyan said.

SADOYAN IS DISAPPOINTED WITH ELECTION OUTCOME

A1+
[08:45 pm] 16 May, 2007

Today, controversial atmosphere reigned in the National Assembly: some
party members congratulated each other on the victory; others avoided
journalists and comforted each other saying that "Life continues.

Not everything is gone!"

Gurgen Arsenyan, the leader of the United Labour Party, made an
impressive speech. Arshak Sadoyan, the leader of the Alliance of
National Democrats, was rather indignant and disappointed. He
doesn’t even hope that "the opposition will unite and struggle
together." Nevertheless, we have expressed our readiness to join in
the united struggle.

"I think that the oppositional should unite and take serious measures
before the presidential elections," Arshak Sadoyan said.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER INTRODUCES NEW HEAD OF GENERAL STAFF OF ARMED FORCES TO TOP OFFICER CORPS

Noyan Tapan
May 15 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 15 the Armenian prime minister
Serge Sargsian introduced Lieutenant General Seyran Ohanian – the
newly appointed head of the General Staff of the RA Armed Forces, first
deputy minister of defence of the RA – to the top officer corps of the
RA Armed Foces. NT was informed about it from the RA defence ministry.

International observers assess the coverage of the Public TV and Public
Radio as the most balanced

ArmRadio.am
14.05.2007 14:35

The International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) for the 12 May
parliamentary elections in Armenia, which is a joint undertaking of
the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
(OSCE/ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the
European Parliament (EP) turned to the media coverage of the elections
in its statement of preliminary findings and conclusions.

The report says, in part: `The Election Code provides for airtime to
all candidates based on `equal conditions.’ Each registered party/bloc
in the proportional contest was entitled to a maximum 60 and 120
minutes of free airtime and no more than 120 and 180 minutes of paid
airtime on public television and radio respectively. The CEC allotted
the sequence of appearances in free and paid airtime by
lottery. Public media adhered to their obligations in a somewhat
formalistic manner: public TV H1 decided that all free campaign slots
could be broadcast daily as a bloc, in the time period set by the CEC
but outside primetime viewing.

Political and electoral events were extensively reflected in newscasts
and current affairs programmes inthe broadcast media.7 Many media
outlets tried to cover a broad range of political subjects, and thus
to

The two public broadcasters (H1 television and Public Radio) mostly
guaranteed access to the media for contestants. Public Radio offered
balanced political coverage (both in time and tone).

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
May 13 2007

Republican Party of Armenia retains strong lead

Yerevan, May 13. /Mediamax/. The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
continues confidently leading the parliamentary elections,
correspondent of Mediamax reports from the Central Electoral
Commission.

Mediamax reports that the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has
processed the votes of 1.260.000 electors. All in all 1.375.733
electors participated in the elections.

According to the preliminary data, the RPA received 429.895 votes (34
%).

Then come the `Prosperous Armenia’ – 190.053 votes (15 %),
`Dashnaktsutiun’ party – 165.922 votes (13 %), `Orinats Yerkir’
party – 87.812 votes (6.9 %), the `Heritage’ party – 68.930 votes
(5.5 %), United Labor Party – 54.874 votes (4.3 %), `National
Unification’ party – 45.997 votes (3.6 %), the `New Times’ party –
42.678 votes (3.4 %).