Author: Ekmekjian Janet

ARAM KARAPETIAN DOUBTS THAT ARF AND BARGAVACH HAYASTAN TO SUPPORT SERGE SARGSIAN’S CANDIDATURE AT PRESIDENT’S ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
May 30 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The opposition’s participation in the
president’s elections with a joint candidate is the authorities’
bait. Aram Karapetian, the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner (New Times)
party made such a statement at the May 30 meeting with journalists. In
his words, there is neither such a necessity nor such a possibility at
present: "what meaning do the discussions about a joint candidate have
if Chairman of the Azgayin Miabanutiun (National Unity) party Artashes
Geghamian stated just from the beginning about his participation in the
president’s elections?" According to foresight of the Nor Zhamanakner
head, the president’s elections will be held by two stages, by the way,
the opposing candidate entered the second stage who will be supported
by other opposing forces, will naturally become a joint candidate.

Instead of discussing problems of the opposition, in A. Karapetian’s
words, it would be correct that the authorities think about having
their own joint candidate and care if the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation and Bargavach Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia) party will
support candidature of RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsian.

A. Karapetian reminded that he addressed to the Prosecutor’s Office
for the aspersion published about him in the Hayots Ashkharh (Armenian
World) newspaper. In one of its articles the newspaper called the Nor
Zhamanakner head "a secret agent with who the center keeps contact
with the help of door duster."

A. Karapetian stated that article author, respondant Gagik Mkrtchian
mentioned in the explanation given to the police that in Aghayan’s
dictionary the word "agent" means "a clergyman managing spiritual
affairs of a territory," and with the expression "contact with
the center" he meant "the contact with the much-suffered Armenian
people." G. Mkrtchian also insisted in his explanation that
"A. Karapetian is today the manager of the spiritual affairs of the
whole opposition."

RA PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND ADMINISTRATION OF POLAND

Noyan Tapan
May 30 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 30, RA Prime Minister Serge
Sargsian received the delegation led by Minister of Internal
Affairs and Administration of Poland Janus Kaczmarek. Noyan Tapan
was informed about it from RA government Information and Public
Relations Department.

The Prime Minister stated with satisfaction that Armenian-Polish
relations develop successfully within the framework of both bilateral
and multi-lateral cooperation. He emphasized that European direction is
one of priorities of foreign policy for Armenia and cooperation with EU
gives wide possibilities to deepen dialogue with EU member-countries,
too, to practically use the possibilities given by the European
Neighborhood policy.

Serge Sargsian emphasized that Armenia considers Poland as one of
its main partners and will strive for using Poland’s possibilities
for the purpose of more closely integrating to European structures
also expecting Poland’s active participation in the process of
implementation of the Actions Plan.

The Polish Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration attaching
importance to the role of Armenia in the South Caucasus in his speech,
said that Poland supports process of Armenia’s European integration
and expresses readiness to present Polish experience in a number of
spheres and also to assist in case of its introduction. The Minister in
detail presented the limits and functions of activity of the structure
headed by him.

During the meeting they attached importance to the proposal to
create a working group, which is to professionally study structural,
function and other issues and with proposals of practical assistance
and cooperation to present all this to the sides.

Serge Sargsian asked to inform the Polish Prime Minister about this
approach and to put it into practice after receiving approval by
his counterpart.

The Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration also congratulated
the Prime Minister on the occasion of successful holding of
parliamentary elections, the evidence of which, in his words, is also
various international monitoring missions.

16-YEAR-OLD SHUSHAN HAKOBIAN COMMITS SUICIDE IN KAPAN

Noyan Tapan
May 29 2007

KAPAN, MAY 29, NOYANH TAPAN. Sushan Hakobian, 16, of the city of Kapan,
committed suicide on May 28 at about 11:30 pm. NT correspondent was
informed from the prosecutor’s office of Syunik marz that the girl
hanged herself from the supporting column of the tonratoon (building
used for baking bread) adjacent to their own house. She was a 9th
former of Kapan’s comperehensive school No 7. The form master Narine
Kyureghian described Shushan as a pupil of ordinary intelligence and
good conduct. She was the only child.

A criminal case was opened under Article 110 Part 1 of the RA
Criminal Code.

The prosecutor’s office is conducting an investigation. No details
were reported.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Sargsyan: we will strengthen independent state system
basing on democratic values
28.05.2007 13:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ After centuries, Armenia’s independence was restored
on May 28, 1918 as result of heroic victories in Sardarapat,
Bash-Aparan and Karaklis. These battles proved the freedom-loving
spirit of our nation, exclusive solidarity of the clergy and
intelligentsia, who fought side by side with the regular army,’ says a
congratulatory statement of Armenian Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan
over the Day of First Republic of Armenia.

`The lessons of these heroic battles maintained the idea of freedom
and independence. They passed through generations and became apparent
again in the Artsakh war, specifically in the liberation battles for
Shushi.

The Republic of Armenia is 19 year old now. It has stepped on the path
of harmonic development along with the civilized states. I am
convinced we will proceed with strengthening our state system basing
on democratic values, economy development, maintenance of all our
achievements and securing a worthy place for our country in the
international processes,’ Serge Sargsyan said, the RA government’s
press office reports.

Today, Azerbaijan
May 26 2007

Bernard Fassier: "Returning of seven regions should the first step in
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict"

26 May 2007 [12:59] – Today.Az

"We recognize Nagorno Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan," OSCE Minsk
Group Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov told a press conference in
Baku.

The diplomat said the meeting with President Ilham Aliyev was
efficient enough, APA reports.

"We had thorough debates with Azerbaijani President. We had met with
Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov before. Matthew Bryza could not
come to Azerbaijan because of his work schedule. We are expressing
the positions of all co-chairs. All three of the co-chairs will visit
the region next time. We will try to determine the basic principles
of the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. We do not intend
to publicize these principles, as they have not been completely
coordinated. But there are not many uncoordinated issues. Both
parties mean the same but speak differently while commenting on
territory. The co-chairs propose to withdraw troops from all occupied
territories. But it should be realized gradually. The process will
take much time," he said.

OSCE Minsk Group French co-chair stated that Nagorno Karabakh is
Azerbaijani land.

"No country in the world, including Armenia recognizes Nagorno
Karabakh as an independent state. All these territories should return
to the control of Azerbaijan in the end," he said.

The French co-chair said the presidential elections in France will
not change the country’s position on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

"We try to be fair mediators in the process of negotiations. No
election or change of power in the co-chairing countries will
influence this issue," he said.

He said the process of settlement has to be based on three main
principles of international law.

"The principles of the solution have to be coordinated. Easier way of
solution has to be found to every conflict. The first step in the
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be returning of
seven regions. If Azerbaijan can return these regions, it will be the
starting point in the process of settlement," he said.

Bernard Fassier said the internally displaced persons will be brought
back to their native lands.

He compared the co-chairs’ mission with the work of builders.

"We are preparing a fundament," he said.

The co-chairs said that control over Lachin corridor will be a very
difficult problem. Yuri Merzlyakov said that this problem will be
debated at the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents in St.
Petersburg.

"We hope that the presidents will achieve improvements. If basic
principle is coordinated, further steps will be discussed," he said.

Bernard Fassier did not rule out the co-chairs’ visit to Nagorno
Karabakh after the Presidents’ meeting.

URL:

PACE STANDING COMMITTEE ADOPTS A RESOLUTION ON THE MISSING PERSONS IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS

ArmRadio.am
25.05.2007 17:40

On May 24 the report on missing persons in Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Georgia was discussed during the sitting of the PACE Standing
Committee. According to the Press Service of the Council of Europe,
Dutch Politician, Rapporteur Leo Platvoet noted that 7 538 people are
missing in the region as a result of conflicts in Nagorno Karabakh,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It was noted also that the issue should
not be considered political and depend on the political settlement
of the conflicts in the region.

The Committee adopted a resolution, where it addresses the three
countries, suggesting to cooperate and work jointly to find and
identify the missing persons.

The Committee reminds that families of the missing need social,
material and moral support, and the memory of the missing should
be respected.

OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS: NKR PARTICIPATION IN NEGOTIATION PROCESS AT DEFINITE STAGE TO BECOME NECESSARY

Arminfo
2007-05-24 12:03:00

Participation of Nagorno Karabakh in the negotiations process at
definite stage will become necessary, the French and Russian Co-chairs
of OSCE Minsk Group on Karabakh conflict settlement Bernard Fassier and
Yuri Merzliakov said at today’s press-conference in Yerevan. B. Fassier
recalled that NKR representatives had participated in negotiations in
the past and not the Co- chairs decided to disaffirm it. "The Co-chairs
think that participation of NKR representatives in negotiations at
definite stage will become not only useful but necessary and priority",
B. Fassier said. For his part, Y. Merzliakov said he fully agrees
with his French counterpart.

FEWER ISSUES REMAIN TO AGREE ON

KarabakhOpen
24-05-2007 16:42:28

"Nothing is decided unless everything is decided." On May 24 the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairs who mediate the talks over Karabakh reasserted
this approach in a news conference in Yerevan. Yuri Merzlyakov and
Bernard Fassier of the three co-chairs visited first Yerevan and
left for Baku this morning via Tbilisi. In Yerevan the co-chairs
met with the president, the foreign minister and the prime minister
of Armenia. They say there is progress, and they hope for the same
in Baku. The co-chairs did not visit Karabakh and did not meet
the leadership of Karabakh in Yerevan. Yuri Merzlyakov told news
reporters in a separate talk that he had had a telephone talk with
Arkady Ghukasyan.

Ghukasyan had told him he was busy and could not come to Yerevan
and the co-chairs were also too busy and did not have enough time to
visit Karabakh. Merzlyakov hopes that in about two weeks they will
visit the region again, this time all the three co-chairs together:
Fassier, him and Bryza. During the next visit they will go to Karabakh,
and if they do not have enough time, the leadership of Karabakh will
arrive in Yerevan and they will meet.

Generally the co-chairs say the involvement of the representative of
Karabakh in the talks at some moment is crucial. For the time being,
Armenia and Azerbaijan are negotiating the basic principles of the
agreement. In this connection Merzlyakov reminded that "nothing is
decided unless everything is decided." But he also says fewer issues
remain to agree on. There are no, and there cannot be new proposals,
there can be only details of implementation of the basic principles,
says the Russian co-chair. He says these details are discussed during
the meetings of the foreign ministers, whereas the co-chairs expect
global political approached from the meeting of the presidents.

According to Yuri Merzlyakov, the adoption of the basic principles
is important for the parties not to reject the agreement later as
they have done before. Merzlyakov says agreement on these principles
does not mean signing a definitive agreement. Elaboration of the
definitive agreement will start after agreement is reached on the
principles. The elaboration of a peace agreement will last long,
different specialists will be involved. Yuri Merzlyakov says the
agreement on the basic principles is essential to start work on the
agreement. He thinks the document that is on the ground is not such
as to satisfy both parties but it is balanced.

As to the militaristic statements of Azerbaijan, the co-chairs decline
to comment on them. They say they cannot comment on something they
did not hear.

Bernard Fassier says, however, that nobody in Moscow, Washington or
Paris thinks the war is a way to resolve the conflict. There is no
alternative to peace talks, the co-chairs say.

TEAM OF ARMENIA TO RECEIVE TEAM OF LIECHTENSTEIN ON MAY 31 AT FIRST STAGE OF 2nd GROUP OF EUROPE YOUTH FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
May 23 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The Europe youth football championship
will start on May 31. Teams of 51 countries from the 53 UEFA
member countries will participate at the qualification stage of the
championship. They were devided into 10 groups. Teams of Czechia,
Ukraine, Turkey and Liechtenstein are the rivals of the team of
Armenia involved in the 2nd group. The competition of the Armenian
football players with the latter will take place on May 31, in the
Hanrapetakan (Republic) sports ground of Yerevan. The youth team of
Armenia will start a teaching and training-preparatory gathering in
Yerevan on May 26.

ARMENIA SENDS NEW ROTATION OF TROOPS TO KOSOVO
By Hovannes Shoghikian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
May 23 2007

Armenia sent a fresh contingent of troops to Kosovo on Wednesday,
in a regular rotation of its small peace-keeping force serving there
under NATO command.

The platoon of 34 servicemen were to join a Greek army battalion
deployed in the east of the former Yugoslav province. They will rotate
in for the same number of Armenian soldiers that have completed their
six-month tour of duty.

The troops left Yerevan after a farewell ceremony attended by Defense
Minister Mikael Harutiunian and other top military officials. Many
of them have already served in Kosovo and Iraq where 46 Armenian
soldiers have been deployed since January 2005.

"We already have a steady contribution to international security,"
Harutiunian said in a speech at the ceremony. "In both Kosovo and Iraq,
we have acquired the reputation of a reliable partner."

The deployment of Armenian troops in Kosovo in February 2004 marked the
start of Armenia’s first-ever military mission abroad. The development
highlighted the strengthening of its security ties with NATO and the
United States in particular.

U.S. officials have expressed hope that Yerevan will also commit
troops for Western-led military operations in other conflict zones,
notably Afghanistan. Earlier this year, the U.S. military donated a
mobile field hospital to the Armenian army’s special peace-keeping
battalion, which provides personnel for the Iraq and Kosovo missions.

Speaking to journalists, Harutiunian said that a dispatch of Armenian
troops to Afghanistan is "not on our agenda today."