Author: Dabaghian Diana

STATEMENT OF LEVON TER-PETROSIAN ON FORMATION OF PUBLIC OPINION DIRECTED AT NON-RECOGNITION OF AUTHORITIES INADMISSIBLE FOR OYP

Noyan Tapan
April 16, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The Orinats Yerkir (Country of
Law) Party attaches importance to starting a dialogue between the
authorities and the radical opposition. This statement was made by
Artashes Avoyan, a member of the parliamentary faction of the Orinats
Yerkir Party, at the press conference, which was held on April 16. He
added that the statement of Levon Ter-Petrosian, the first President of
the Republic of Armenia, on the intention of forming a public opinion
directed at the non-recognition of the authorities is inadmissible
for the members of the Orinats Yerkir Party.

Referring to the discussion concerning the democratic institutions
of Armenia in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
the MP mentioned that he will give a more complete estimation of them
on April 17, when a resolution will be adopted in the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe. He added that all those points,
which were included in the speech of John Prescott, the Head of the
observation mission of the Assembly, concerning Armenia, are stipulated
in the coalition memorandum.

One of those points, in particular, is about freedom of speech,
according to Artashes Avoyan.

RUDOLF DOLZER: "AZERBAIJAN SHOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BRING THE ESSENCE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT TO THE NOTICE OF INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY"

Azeri Press Agency
April 16 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Ulviyya Aliyeva-APA. "The only way to solve Nagorno Karabakh
conflict in line with the international legal norms is the recognition
of Azerbaijan’s legal position by the world community", Rudolf Dolzer,
Director of the Institute for International Law told APA. He said
that the solution of this conflict was one of the important problems
of the world community.

"Azerbaijan should effectively mobilize its forces in order to cope
with the illegal cases and bring the essence of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict to the notice of international community" he said.

ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL DATA, NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO DIED IN CONSEQUENCE OF MARCH 1 EVENTS REACHES 10

Noyan Tapan
April 14, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The number of the victims of March 1
events increased by another 2 and according to official data, reached
10: 19-year-old serviceman Tigran Abgarian died in Mikayelian Surgery
Institute on April 11, at about 18:30, and in half an hour 29-year-old
Samvel Haroutiunian, a resident of the village of Lusarat, Ararat
region, died in Armenia medical center. As Noyan Tapan correspondent
was informed by Ruslana Gevorgian, the Spokesperson of the RA Ministry
of Health, the first died of fire-arms-splinter fractures of 6th and
7th jugular vertebrae and the second of non-fire-arms brain injury.

It was also mentioned that in total, condition of 5 people, who
suffered during the March 1 events was considered grave. One out
of the three that survived will be discharged from hospital N 2
on April 5, condition of another person treated at St Gregory the
Illuminator hospital is estimated as stable and condition of another
person in Erebuni hospital remains grave: he has been again moved to
the reanimation department.

ARMENIA’S PURE IRON CUTS FERROMOLYBDENUM OUTPUT 10% IN Q1

Interfax News Agency
April 10 2008
Russia

Armenia’s OJSC Pure Iron Works reduced production of ferromolybdenum
with 68% molybdenum content by 10.3% year-on-year to 659.5 tonnes in
the first quarter of 2008, a source at the company told Interfax.

In value, ferromolybdenum production fell 6.1% to 7.8 billion dram.

Production of pure molybdenum (99.6% content) dropped 14.8% in volume
and 11.2% in value to 81 tonnes and 1.6 billion dram. The company
also produced 3.3 kg of rhenium salt with 64% rhenium content, down
from 45 kg in the same period last year, worth 3.6 million dram,
down 83.4% year-on-year.

Germany’s Cronimet Mining owns 51% of Pure Iron. The remaining shares
are owned by Armenian residents.

JOSE MANUEL BARROSO HOPES TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.04.2008 19:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Mr Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European
Commission sent a congratulatory message to Mr Serzh Sargsyan,
President of the Republic of Armenia.

The message says,

"Dear Mr President,

On behalf of the European Commission, I would like to convey to you my
congratulations on your election as the new President of the Republic
of Armenia.

The European Commission looks forward to continuing to develop and
strengthen relations with your country in the context of the European
Union-Armenia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the European
Neighborhood Policy Action Plan.

Your government faces important challenges in promoting and
implementing an agenda of political and economic reforms including
the stabilisation of the democratic process and the dialogue among
the different political forces and with civil society.

I would like to underline that despite current internal difficulties in
Armenia the European Commission stands ready to accompany your efforts
to build a prosperous State respecting human rights and the rule of
law while pursuing successful economic and social development policies.

In this context, I hope your government will be able to further
deepen democracy, notably in ensuring that electoral processes are
held in full compliance with OSCE and other international standards
for democratic elections. In this respect I trust that shortcomings
identified by the 2008 International Election Observation Mission
will be diligently addressed.

I assure you of my personal interest in all these undertakings."

ARMENIA: NEW PRESIDENT INAUGURATED, OPPOSITION PROTESTS

UN Observer
esident-inaugurated-opposition-protests
April 10 2008

2008-04-09 | With the area around Yerevan’s Opera in almost total lock
down, prime minister Serge Sargsyan was inaugurated as president in a
ceremony and military parade that citizens could few could get even
remotely close to. As it happened, myself and another photographer
managed to eventually break the police blockade and get right outside
the Opera building, but a lot of good that did us.

Sargsyan was already inside and all we managed to get was the back of
the head of the outgoing president, Robert Kocharian, as he arrived
to enter via a side door.

ANCA INVITES US SECRETARY OF STATE DISCUSS ARMENIAN POLICY

ARKA
April 9, 2008

YEREVAN, April 9. /ARKA/. The Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) has invited US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to discuss
the US policy to Armenia, ANCA press service reports.

In their letter to Rice, ANCA members express their deep concern
regarding the Bush Administration’s seven-year record of largely
counterproductive, frequently unfriendly, and, at times, antagonistic
policies toward Armenia and the Armenian American community.

The April 4th letter, signed by ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, listed
thirteen areas in which the President and his Administration fell short
of both their own commitments and our nation’s basic human rights
standards, retreated from America’s historic commitment to Armenia,
and strained – through a series of ill-advised policies and often
hostile actions – the enduring ties that have long bound together
the American and Armenian peoples.

Over the course of the past seven years, the ANCA has repeatedly
requested, to no avail, the opportunity to meet with the President and
his Secretary of State to discuss these and other issues of concern
to Armenian Americans.

SDEROT ROCKET SIRENS BLARE DURING VISIT BY TURKISH MPS
Roee Nahmias

Ynetnews
April 9 2008
Israel

Turkish parliamentarians tour rocket-battered town in southern Israel,
experience difficult reality first-hand. ‘They looked more alert but
they were understanding about it,’ said officials who were escorting
them. Delegation met later with president, foreign minister

Eight members of the Turkish Foreign Affairs Committee paid a unique
visit to southern Israel on Tuesday, the first such delegation from
Ankara to tour Israel that was not part of an entourage for a visiting
prime minister or other top legislator.

The ‘Color Red’ rocket alert sirens blared throughout the streets
of Sderot while the group was there, warning of an incoming Qassam
barrage from Gaza.

The delegation seemed unfazed by the incident, said Israeli officials
who accompanied the group. "They seemed a little more alert but seemed
to be understanding of the situation. It appeared as though they were
both apprehensive and expectant of the siren alert," State officials
told Ynet.

Heading the delegation, half of whose members belong to the ruling
‘Justice and Development Party,’ is MP Murat Marjan.

"The chairman of the committee came to politics from the academic
world. In their eyes the college is seen as a neutral space which
should not be targeted by terrorists. The fact that the Sapir College
had been hit by Qassam rockets spoke volumes to them," said the
Israeli officials.

No meetings with Hamas >>From Sderot the delegation headed for meetings
with President Shimon Peres, Foreign Affairs Minister Tzipi Livni
and their Israeli counterparts from the Knesset Foreign Affairs and
Defense Committee.

Among the topics raised during the meetings were current tensions
with Iran and Syria and recent calls in Israel to recognize the
Armenian genocide. It was also decided that in an effort to strengthen
relations,

lawmakers from the Turkish parliament and the Knesset would pay annual
visits to each other.

On Wednesday the delegation is scheduled to meet with Palestinian
officials in Ramallah. The MPs will not travel to the Gaza Strip due
to their government’s objection to Hamas’ actions.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed its satisfaction with the
visit and noted it was a testament to the exceptional relationship
between Jerusalem and Ankara.

KOCHARIAN RECEIVES FAMOUS POLISH CONDUCTOR

ARMENPRESS
April 8, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, ARMENPRESS: President Kocharian received today
world famous Polish conductor Kszisztof Penderetski.

Kocharian’s press office said the conductor has arrived in Armenia
to take part in 21-st Century Perspectives musical festival.

Kocharian was quoted as saying that the maestro’s performance in
Armenia is a great musical event, giving Armenian music lovers and
musicians a rare opportunity to watch and listen the composer to
conduct the orchestra that plays his own works.

The composer who has Armenian blood in his veins said his grandmother
was an Armenian who emigrated from Iranian Isfahan. He said he was
happy to visit Armenia.

"This is like returning home for me,’ he was quoted as saying

RA PARLIAMENT TO ISSUE STATEMENT ON KARABAKH RESOLUTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.04.2008 16:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s parliament will issue a statement on
the process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict peaceful settlement,
Speaker Tigran Torosian said.

He called on MPs and factions to discuss the document and put forth
proposals.

The next NA sitting is due on April 10.

The ceremony of inauguration of Armenia’s President-elect Serzh
Sargsyan will take place during tomorrow’s solemn session of the
parliament.