Robert Kocharian To Leave For Saint Petersburg On June 9

ROBERT KOCHARIAN TO LEAVE FOR SAINT PETERSBURG ON JUNE 9

Noyan Tapan
Jun 08 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 8, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 9 President Robert Kocharian
will leave for Saint Petersburg to take part in the inofficial
summit of the Presidents of CIS member countries. According to the
information received from RA President’s Press Office, the subject of
economic cooperation will be pivotal during the summit. The President
of Armenia will also take part in the 11th Petersburg International
Economic Forum.

The meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan is envisaged
to take place in Saint Petersburg.

Agreement On Political Coalition Signed At Armenian President’s Resi

AGREEMENT ON POLITICAL COALITION SIGNED AT ARMENIAN PRESIDENT’S RESIDENCE

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 6 2007

YEREVAN, June 6. /ARKA/. An agreement on the formation of political
coalition has been signed at the residence of RA President Robert
Kocharyan.

The RA presidential press service reports that the agreement was
signed by Board Chairman, Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Serge
Sargsyan and Chairman of the Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan.

The agreement was signed on the results of the May 12 parliamentary
elections with the Armenian president’s assistance.

In its turn, the political coalition signed a cooperation agreement
with the ARF Dashnaktsutyun represented by Armen Rustamyan, a
representative of the ARF Board.

The main goal of the coalition is to form efficient legislative and
executive power, which would enjoy public confidence, during the
activities of the Armenian National Assembly of the 4th convocation.

The document envisages the elaboration of the Government’s program of
action on the basis of the election programs of the Republican Party
of Armenia and Prosperous Armenia Party, as well as the achievement
of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun’s goals, which coincide with the ones
incorporated in the Government program, and effective ways of meeting
the challenges facing Armenia.

The political coalition members pledged to implement a common policy,
cooperating with the each other and with the President.

The sides pledged to make efforts toward effective implementation
of the Government’s program, execution of the agreements by means
of authorized representatives in the government structures. The
signatories also pledged not to make any steps that would cause any
damage to the goals incorporated in the agreement.

The political coalition and the party to the agreement declared as
their priorities stable and secure economic development, essential
reduction of shadow economy through the application of fairer
mechanisms of profit distribution, stimulation of export-oriented
production.

Among the parties’ priorities are also enhancing the efficiency
of corruption control, completing the harmonization of Armenia’s
legislation with the reformed Constitution, incorporating
constitutional guarantees of forming a full-fledged system of
restraints and counterbalance between the wings of power in the
legislation and political system, ensuring favorable conditions
for consolidation of civil society, completing the reforms of the
government service system through the formation of a fair and efficient
political system.

The agreement also determines the formats of political coalition and
cooperation in the state government system.

Five parties were elected to Parliament as a result of parliamentary
elections on May 12, 2007: Republican party of Armenia (RPA),
prosperous Party of Armenia (PPA) ARF Dashnaktsutyun, Country of Law
party and Heritage Party.

The first coalition government was formed after the 2003 parliamentary
elections. The coalition was formed by the RPA, ARF and Country of
Law Party.

"No" To Powers Propagating Enmity"

"NO" TO POWERS PROPAGATING ENMITY

A1+
[07:38 pm] 07 June, 2007

Vahan Hovhanissyan from the "Armenian Revolutionary Federation" and
Ishkhan Zakaryan from the "Prosperous Armenia" party were elected as
the NA Deputy Speakers.

110 deputies of 112 voted for Vahan Hovhanissyan and 102 voted for
Ishkhan Zakaryan.

In his speech Vahan Hovhanissyan noted that the nation said "no"
to the powers propagating enmity and said "yes" to the powers which
fight for getting results.

Ishkhan Zakaryan announced that the "Prosperous Armenia" party attached
importance to the parliamentary activities and was ready to serve it.

After the elections Vahan Hovhanissyan stated that he and Ishkhan
Zakaryan referred to their votes with great responsibility.

9 Committees will be in the NA. The financial-credit, budgetary and
economic committee was divided into two parts. Gagik Minasyan from the
"Republican Party of Armenia" was appointed as the Chairman of the NA
Standing Committee on Financial-Credit, Budgetary Affairs, and Vardan
Ayvazyan was appointed as the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on
Economic Affairs. Arevik Petrosyan from the "Prosperous Armenia" party
will head the NA Standing Committee on Human Rights, Ara Babloyan from
the "RPA" was appointed as the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on
Social Affairs, Health Care. Armen Rustamyan will head the NA Standing
Committee on Foreign Relations; Arthur Aghabekyan will be the Chairman
of the NA Standing Committee on Defense, Internal Affairs and National
Security. David Harutunyan will head the NA Standing Committee on
State and Legal Issues, Hranush Hakobyan will be the Chairwoman of
the NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth.

Avet Adonts will head the NA Standing Committee on European
Integration.

David Harutunyan mentioned that the economic growth of the country
could be maintained by political reforms in which the role of the
Committee on State and Legal Issues was of great importance.

Today the NA will form other committees as well. In a couple of days
Serge Sargsyan will be appointed as the RA Prime Minister by the
President’s decree and in 20 day-period the staff of the Government
will be appointed. During this period the newly-elected Government will
present its programs and after 5 days the NA will hear and ratify it.

"Impeachment" Left Constitutional Court

"IMPEACHMENT" LEFT CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

A1+
[09:09 pm] 07 June, 2007

The "Impeachment" block refused to take part in the further judicial
process of the Constitutional Court.

"Today the Court proved that the decision was already made and it was
not to be decided in the consulting room", said Nikol Pashinyan. He
noticed that such a development of events was expected, however until
the present day the Court was balanced. "Today when all mediations
were ignored, it is senseless to stay in the Court any longer. A
conclusive speech under such circumstances would mean self-deceiving",
said Nikol Pashinyan to the "A1+".

The representative of the "New Times" party Hrachja Sargsyan
informed that they would leave the judicial process tomorrow after
the conclusive speech.

Artak Zejnalyan, representative of the "Republican" party informed
that they had not made a decision yet and they would also have a
conclusive speech.

Artashes Avoyan, representative of the "Orinats Yerkir" party noted
that they were getting ready for the conclusive speech. However, he
said that the party did not make a final decision as what it would
do afterwards.

The Session of the Constitutional Court will continue tomorrow at 10
o’clock. The parties will make conclusive speeches.

Minister To Visit Belarus

MINISTER TO VISIT BELARUS

A1+
[02:30 pm] 08 June, 2007

Michael Harutyunyan, the RoA Defense Minister, hosted Marina
Dolgopolova, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
Belarus to Armenia.

The key issues of the discussion were military-technical partnership,
bilateral collaboration within the realms of the Collective Security
Treaty, as well as regional issues.

The parties also dwelt on issues related to Michael Harutyunyan’s
visit to the Republic of Belarus.

Arkady Ghukasian. Nagorno Karabakh Will Never Agree To Be Part Of Az

ARKADY GHUKASIAN. NAGORNO KARABAKH WILL NEVER AGREE TO BE PART OF AZERBAIJAN AND WILL NEVER RENOUNCE ITS INDEPENDENCE
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
07/06/2007

"The authorities of Nagorno Karabakh assume the same attitude that
the negotiations are to be conducted in three-sided format with full
value participation of the representatives of Nagorno Karabakh. It’s
meaningless anticipating something supernatural from the meeting of
the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in St Petersburg", announced
the President of Nagorno Karabakh Arkadi Ghukasian after the meeting
with OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Kingdom of Spain Miguel Angel Moratinos.

"The general problem of the conflict is the status of Nagorno
Karabakh, and if this problem is not solved yet, there is no question
of optimism. If there is no agreement on the status of NKR, it’s
meaningless to discuss the other issues. There is another version:
not to solve any problem, it’s also a way of solving the problems. I
understand that we cannot demand 100 per cent in the negotiation
process. But I want to say again that the most important thing for
us is the status of Nagorno Karabakh", mentioned Arkadi Ghukasian.

Anyway, according to Arkadi Ghukasian the present format of the
negotiations is not logical: "We speak about the destiny of the people
of Nagorno Karabakh, and it’s incomprehensible why Nagorno Karabakh
does not directly participate in the negotiation process".

At the same time, whoever conducts the negotiation process, if it is
in the interests of the people of Nagorno Karabakh, it will be adopted.

"Nagorno Karabakh will never agree to be part of Azerbaijan and will
never renounce its independence.

The rest is the issues of agenda and we are ready to discuss
them. Nagorno Karabakh will have the last word on this issue, and
our people will never agree with any decision that contradicts the
interests of Nagorno Karabakh", announced Arkadi Ghukasian.

What about the fact that Nagorno Karabakh was left behind the
negotiation process Arkadi Ghukasian thought that all of them were
guilty in it. "We understand that the present format of negotiations
will not contribute to the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict",
said the President of Nagorno Karabakh.

To the question of "Azg" daily "How much are the authorities of
Nagorno Karabakh aware of the discussed principles and do they
agree with them?" Arkadi Khukasian answered that there were no basic
contradictions between Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh on the settlement
of the conflict. "Nagorno Karabakh has its own attitude, which must
be taken into account by the authorities of Armenia. It’s not always
that we can persist in our opinion", he said.

David Shakhnazaryan: Armenian Public Hates The Authorities And Despi

DAVID SHAKHNAZARYAN: ARMENIAN PUBLIC HATES THE AUTHORITIES AND DESPISES THE OPPOSITION

ArmInfo
2007-06-06 16:12:00

Armenian public hates the authorities and the opposition, the leader of
the Accord centre, one of the ideological encourager of the Armenian
Pa-National Movement, the former chief of national security, David
Shakhazaryan, said.

Shaknazaryan did not touch on the topic of his speech – but
concentrated attention at the actions of the opposition. He slagged off
the opposition parties and blamed some of them for secret cooperation
with the authorities. He also said that the . Moreover, Shakhazaryan
thinks that the opposition gained many negative features of the
authorities, including scam and non-transparency of activity. Then
Shakhnazaryan started slagging off the authorities. He explained the
fact of the delayed talks on setting up the ruling coalition by the
position of the ARFD. In particular, Shaknazaryan thinks that the
root of the problem is the forthcoming presidential election during
which the incumbent president Robert Kocharyan will be nominated from
the ARFD, Kocharyan (though the Constitution forbids that). For this
reason Shakhnazaryan called the opposition to unite on the ideological
principles at least before the presidential election.

Mortgage Lending Is Again Delayed

MORTGAGE LENDING IS AGAIN DELAYED

KarabakhOpen
06-06-2007 12:53:05

Mortgage lending is again delayed, whereas two months ago the
preparations seemed to be over. We inquired from the minister of
territorial administration and development of infrastructures Armo
Tsatryan, who said there is a legislative basis but new proposals
were offered. These involve investing part of the funds allocated for
mortgage lending in a block of apartments, which young families can
buy on a mortgage loan. It is not known yet how much funds will be
needed and how many apartments there will be. The ministry of urban
planning is studying the proposal.

What if the borrowers want to buy an apartment in another district?

According o the minister, the funds that will not be spend on the
building will be lent as well.

This year the government has allocated 700 million drams for mortgage
lending.

Levon Aronian Beats Magnus Karlsen In First Tour Of Tournament Of Pr

LEVON ARONIAN BEATS MAGNUS KARLSEN IN FIRST TOUR OF TOURNAMENT OF PRETENDERS FOR WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Jun 06 2007

ELISTA, JUNE 6, NOYAN TAPAN. First tour of pretenders for World Chess
Championship finished on June 3 in the town of Elista, Kalmykia. Levon
Aronian-Magnus Karlsen tournament finished in a draw, with the score
of 3 to 3, then, according to contest rules, they played speed chess
consisting of 4 games. A draw, 2 – 2, was again registered. Two swift
games determined the winner. Levon Aronian won with the score of 2
to 0 and passed to the second tour.

Games of second tour will start on June 6. Aronian will compete
with Alexei Shirov (Spain). Peter Leko (Hungary) – Yevgeni Bareyev
(Russia), Sergei Rublyovski (Russia) – Alexander Grishchuk (Russia)
and Boris Gelfand – Gata Kamski (U.S.) pairs will compete with each
other. World champion Vladimir Kramnik, Pyotr Svidler, Alexander
Morozevich (all of them from Russia) and Vishvantan Anand (India)
will join the winners of this tour. In September the eight will
determine world champion in Mexico by circular contest rules.

BAKU: Armenian President Does Not Understand Source Of OSCE Mnsk Gro

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND SOURCE OF OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRMAN’S OPTIMISM

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
June 5 2007

The Armenian President Robert Kocharan stated that the foundation for
optimism of the United States’ co- chairman of the OSCE Minsk group
was not known to him, during an interview with Mediamax agency.

Kocharan was commenting on the recent statement of Metyu Brayzer,
the co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk group which said that Armenia and
Azerbaijan has achieved essential progress in the regulation of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict and once the forthcoming meeting of the
Presidents in St Petersburg scheduled on 9 June is successive the
number of differences regarding the base principles may be decreased.

"I do not understand the source of the co-chairman’s optimism. The
current situation of negotiations, as well as the statements of
Azerbaijan for the last two months do not leave place for hope,"
Kocharan stressed.