Author: Ekmekjian Janet

RIA Novosti, Russia
May 13 2007

Update: Five parties elected to Armenia parliament -election
commission
16:52 | 13/ 05/ 2007

YEREVAN, May 13 (RIA Novosti) – Five parties have been elected to
Armenia’s parliament, with the pro-presidential parties leading the
polls, the ex-Soviet nation’s election commission said Sunday.

The processing of 99.99% of ballot papers showed that the Republican
Party led by Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan received 457,032 votes
(33.8%), the pro-presidential Prosperous Armenia and Dashnatsutyun
gained 204,043 (15.1%) and 177,192 (13.1%) votes, respectively, while
the opposition parties Orinats Yerkir and Heritage won 95,256 (7%)
and 80,890 (6%) votes, accordingly, the election commission said.

More than 2 million Armenians voted May 12 in Armenia’s fourth
elections since the South Caucasus country gained independence in
1991, with twenty-two parties and one election bloc running for 131
seats in the parliament.

However, opposition parties said the vote was falsified and affected
the election results. Particularly, Orinats Yerkir said it intends to
challenge the vote results in a court of law.

"There were large-scale violations in the process of voting and
during the vote count. The intimidation of electors, the use of
bribes and non-existent ballot papers, numerous breaches in the vote
count and the distortion of real voting results give ground to
question the legitimacy of elections," the party said in a statement.

Observers earlier said they had not registered any serious violations
during the parliamentary elections.

Vartan Oskanian hopes the vote of the people will be decisive

armradio.am
12.05.2007 15:52

`I hope that the elections will be normal and will reflect the
political balance in the republic, and the vote of the people will be
decisive, as a result of which a good government will be formed,’ RA
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian noted after casting his ballot at
polling station #09/11.

According to him, the stage of election preparation was better as
compared to the previous elections. This I evidenced also by the
intermediate reports of the observers. In the Minister’s words, if the
voting also corresponds to the trends of the past month, the country
will receive a positive evaluation.

According to Vartan Oskanian, the expectations of the international
community are great, everyone’s attention is focused on the elections
in Armenia and everyone is anticipating free and fair elections without
frauds.

`We have been an independent republic for 15 years. The society,
political forces and institutions are more mature and create a good
basis for normal elections,’ the Foreign Minister stated.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Parliamentary election to become most honest in Armenia’s history
12.05.2007 14:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Leader of Heritage opposition party, former RA
Foreign Minister Raffi K. Hovannisian thinks that the parliamentary
election will become the most honest and fair in Armenia’s
history. The most important task is the victory of people’s will,
according to him.

Mr Hovannisian said his party has fixed some 1000 violations which
will be made public after the CEC announces the outcomes. `We will
present the facts but not suppositions,’ he said.

EAVESDROPPING BOOSTED OYP RATING

A1+
[03:13 pm] 09 May, 2007

"We have announced that we are participating in the May 12 elections,
therefore they are afraid of us. The Orinats Yerkir Party will enjoy
about 22 per cent votes," Heghine Bisharyan, an OYP representative,
said at the Friday Club today.

Today Heghine Bisharyan announced that Arthur Baghdasaryan is in peril,
"People are murdered or knocked down for their political views and
orientation."

"The eavesdropping had a positive influence on our campaign. Our recent
meetings were overcrowded. People are eager to support OYP. Obviously,
I cannot speak about my everyday problems on the telephone as I know
that my talks are being wiretapped."

To the question whether the OYP won’t bring a suit against
eavesdroppers Ms Bisharyan responded, "Laws are violated in
Armenia. The acting authorities decide everything."

The OYP Deputy Chairwoman referred to the election frauds as well. "As
far as I know our high-level officials ordered to cut the votes in
OYP’s favour."

"We shall watch the elections; in case they are faked there will be
serious shakes in the country."

THE FINALISTS OF THE TENDER ON THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN OF THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SUMMER CAMP IN ARMENIA ARE SELECTED

Arminfo Agency News
2007-05-09 12:12:00

Ameria CJSC has finalized the first stage of the project on the
establishment of the first international summer camp in Armenia and
selected the finalists of the tender on the architectural design of
the summer camp.

Ameria CJSC told ArmInfo that more than 20 architectural and
engineering companies applied to the tender announced in March
2007. The best 3 projects were submitted by the 4th studio of
"ArmProject" OJSC, "Storaket" Architectural Studio, as well as by
the architect V. Harutyunyan. The finalists will receive awards of
AMD 300’000 each. The winner company will be chosen in June 2007
based on the additional discussion of technical proposals presented
by the finalists.

On behalf of several Armenian investors from Diaspora "Ameria"
CSJC implements the launch of the international summer camp in
Dilijan, Armenia. The major objective of the Project is to attract
children from Armenia and Armenian Diaspora from all over the world
to Motherland. The investment value of the Project is around USD
5mln. Village Camps, one of the best worldwide chains from Switzerland
specialized in summer camp operation is contracted for management of
the camp.

To note, Ameria is a group of professional services companies
registered in Armenia with the objective to provide a comprehensive
package of professional advisory and assurance services. Ameria
specializes in four major areas of professional activities: management
advisory services; assurance and advisory services; legal advisory
services; investment banking. Established in 1998, the company has
become a leader in the Armenian market of advisory services bringing
an international reach and local touch to complex issues rising in
more than 30 industry sectors.

PRESIDENT ALIYEV MEETS SPEAKER OF PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY OF EGYPT

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
May 7 2007

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on Monday met Ahmed Fathi Surur,
Speaker of the People’s Assembly of Egypt in Cairo.

Mr. Ahmed Fathi Surur presented the Members of Egyptian Parliament
and expressed pleasure to see the Head of the Azerbaijan State in
Cairo, highly estimating his visit to Egypt and stressed necessity
of expansion of inter-parliamentary links.

President of Azerbaijan updated the Speaker on accomplishments
Azerbaijan reached in economic field, on realization of the projects
of international importance.

Speaking of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
President Aliyev informed on the policy of aggression and occupation
Armenia pursues, as a result of which a part of the country has
been occupied.

Members of the People’s Assembly of Egypt emphasized necessity of
the withdrawal of the Armenian aggressive forces from the Azerbaijan
territories, finding quick resolution to the problem, return of the
refugees and IDPs to their homelands.

Then, a special medal was presented to President of
Azerbaijan. Mr. Ahmed Fathi Surur said the golden medal is presented
to high guests of the People’s Assembly of Egypt. AzerTAg

ROCK BAND "BAMBIR" TO GIVE CONCERT AT URBAT CLUB ON MAY 4

YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The rock band "Bambir" will give a
concert at Yerevan’s Urbat Club on May 4. The artistic director of the
rock band Gagik Barseghian said at a press conference prior to the
concert that in June "Bambir" will also have concerts at the puppet
theatre after Hovhannes Tumanian. According to him, the band will
sing songs writted based on Armenian and English fairy tales, as well
as quatrains of Hovhannes Tumanian.

In the words of G. Barseghian, although rock is considered serious
music, there are few rock fans in Armenia. "Two types of music –
restaurant and good restaurant music are favored in Armenia. Music is
never taken seriously here. Armenians consider music just as a means
of enjoying themselves," the artistic head of "Bambir" noted.

He said that "Bambir" mainly gives performances in the US and European
countries. The rock band was founded in 1978. Until now it has
released 3 discs and plans to release the 4th one by late 2007.

IN OPINION OF AHARON ADIBEKIAN, RPA TO BECOME BACKBONE OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW CONVOCATION

Noyan Tapan
May 03 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. "The backbone of the National Assembly
of new convocation will be the Republican Party of Armenia, whose
union with the ARF will already be enough to form a coalition,"
Director of the "Sociometer" independent sociological center Aharon
Adibekian stated at the May 3 press conference.

"However, to judge by statements of RPA leaders, they are in favor of
a broader coalition," he noted. So, according to A. Adibekian, it may
turn out that the "Prosperous Armenia" Party (PAP), the RPA and the
ARF will unite. As the sociologist put it, "PAP’s position will be
interesting here." To fulfil its pre-election promises, this party,
in his words, will have to offer the RPA to form an alliance at the
cost of great concessions (ministerial posts, division of posts).

ABOUT $2, 5 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS TO SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESS IN NKR IN 2007

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 3 2007

Current year leasing services are to be included in the frames of
state programs targeted at rendering assistance to small and medium
business in the Nagorno-Karabagh.

It will, in part, refer to purchasing agricultural equipment, IA
REGNUM reports. To note, 50 million drams (about $ 140 thousand)
are provided for that purpose via leasing system.

According to the data of Artsakh Development Agency, as a whole
890,533 millions drams ($2, 5 millions) will be allocated for the
implementation of state assistance program in 2007; 800 millions will
be allocated from the state budget of 2007.

Considerable works are to be carried out within the frames of the
programs targeted at stimulating export. Brochures, business offers
are to be prepared for possible investors. The most part of the
means allocated for the implementation of state assistance programs –
about 796 millions drams – will be targeted at crediting. The sums’
considerable part has been earmarked for agriculture. The branch of
processing agricultural raw materials will be underlined. 370 millions
drams have been earmarked to credit the sphere.

GOVERNMENT SAYS NO POINT IN SPENDING MONEY FOR THE SAME CAUSE TWICE

Panorama.am
20:26 03/05/2007

Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan expressed discontent with
Aghstev residents saying they should have destroyed the houses,
which are under the danger of flood when they received financial
assistance last year. Sargsyan said the government cannot provide
the same assistance each year.

Sargsyan was talking about 105 million Armenian drams assistance that
the Armenian government provided for cleaning the base of Aghstev
River last year. The government also allocated funds to residents
for moving from the area. Contracts were signed with some residents
but they persistently refuse to move from their houses. The prime
minister expressed discontent that the government has to solve the
same problem time and again.