Author: Frangulian Shushan

PRESS RELEASE – 3/15/07
2007 Arpa International Film Festival
2919 Maxwell St.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Contact: [email protected]
Phone/Fax (323) 663-1882

ARPA FILM FESTIVAL OF LOS ANGELES TO CELEBRATE 10th ANNIVERSARY
–Festival Organizers Announce Call-for-Entries

The festival is presently seeking entries from Armenian filmmakers.
Submissions can be made in the following categories: Feature Length,
Short Film, Documentary, Animation, and Music Video. Entries must be
received no later than June 30, 2007. Rules and entry form are
available online at: and For more
information, please call (323) 663-1882.

Other upcoming events include the AFFMA Tent Sale: Community Outreach
in support of filmmakers. Sponsored by Prudential – John Arrow
Division. Sunday, April 1, 9am to 5pm – 13103 Ventura Blvd., Studio
City, CA 91604. Also, AFFMA will be presenting a fashion show,
Saturday, June 16, at 11am at the Sheraton Universal.

Dedicated to cultivating cultural understanding and global empathy,
Arpa creates a dynamic forum for international cinema with a special
focus on the work of filmmakers who explore the issues of Diaspora,
exile, and multiculturalism. Arpa nurtures Armenian cinema and
cultivates the next generation of filmmakers in Los Angeles and
abroad. In a world increasingly dependent on cultural understanding,
Arpa has emerged as one of the most dynamic festivals in Los Angeles.

The 10th Annual Arpa International Film Festival will be held November
2-4 at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. The festival concludes with
a Gala Awards Banquet to be held on Sunday, November 4 at the Sheraton
Universal Hotel.

For more information about the tent sale or to make a donation, please
contact Amalia Khachikian at (818) 380-2165. For more information
about AFFMA, please visit

SAMVEL BABAYAN IS IN FREEDOM

A1+
[06:37 pm] 14 March, 2007

The correspondent of A1+ was received by security guard of the
"Dashink" Party. The latter claimed that the party members were
holding a sitting, and none of them could receive us. He advised us
to retire as it would be waste of time to wait for the head of the
press secretary.

On the whole, the general atmosphere seemed to be quiet in the office;
there was no bustle and hustle.

But we were forbidden to take any photos or to see Samvel Babayan. The
guard stated that Samvel Babayan was in the office and presided over
the sitting.

Nevertheless, we managed to talk to Gnel Ghlechyan, member of the
party’s board, who refrained from commenting on the rumors about
Samvel Babayan’s arrest. He only refuted the rumors on Samvel Babayan’s
detention.

"IT IS NECESSARY TO FOUND CITIZEN’S INSTITUTE TO HOLD FEAR ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA," VAHAN SHIRKHANIAN FINDS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 14 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, NOYAN TAPAN. "I left the proportional list of the
"Zharangutiun" (Heritage) party of Raffi Hovannisian as I find that
it is meaningless to participate in the elections in a list of a
separate party," RA former Deputy Defence Minister, former Deputy
Prime Minister, non-partisan Vahan Shirkhanian stated at the March 14
press conference, adding: "I thought that an opposing joint field will
be." In his words, "no elections may be in Armenia as "the electoral
system is broken in the country, the citizen’s institute is liquidated,
a coutry citizen is not sure that he forms the power."

"This is the reason that a group of people as well as parties do
not participate in this farce and set a task to found the citizen’s
institute in the country," V. Shirkhanian mentioned. In his words,
if nothing changes in that sense in the future and a citizen does
not feel himself as the country owner, "the leit-motiv of 2007 and
2008 elections will be race for making use of the authorities’ wealth."

ARMENIA’S STATE COMMISSION ON POWS, HOSTAGES AND THE MISSING PERSONS RECEIVED NO REQUEST TO RELEASE OF AN AZERI SOLDIER SAMIR MAMEDOV

Arminfo
2007-03-14 19:36:00

The Armenia’s State Commission on POWs, Hostages and the Missing
Persons received no request to release Azeri soldier Samir Mamedov,
Armen Kaprielyan, Head of the Work Group of the Commission, told
ArmInfo correspondent. As per the agency’s information – referring
to Shain Sailov, Secretary of Azeri State Commission – a request from
Azeri side was sent to Armenian Commission.

The source informs that Bernhard Clasen, Co-Chair of the International
Work Group for search of the missing persons, and captivated in the
Karabakh conflict, – requested Armenian side to release S. Mamedov.

Karine Minasyan, Armenian coordinator of the Work Group, told ArmInfo
correspondent that Mr. Clasen didn’t request Armenian authorities in
this regard.

"What answer can be expected if there was no request?" K.Minasyan
noted. She reminded that the International Working Group is aware of
Mamedov’s situation, however, it didn’t receive any official request
from the Azeri State Committee to take up this issue. K.Minasyan added
that the Group usually works at the requests of State Committees and
relatives of the missing persons, POWs and hostages.

To note, Samir Mamedov voluntarily crossed the Armenian border on
Dec 24, 2006. At the moment, he is in the "Yerevan" penitentiary of
the Armenian Justice Ministry.

YEREVAN-MOSCOW RELATIONS CAN BE DESCRIBED AS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.03.2007 19:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia and Russia have enjoyed friendly and
strategic relations during 15 years that passed since the establishment
of diplomatic relations between the two states, Russian Ambassador
to RA Nikolay Pavlov told a news conference in Yerevan.

Relations are dynamically developing in political and economic fields,
he said. "Bilateral visits of leaders of the states and governments
are very important since they suppose discussion of regional problems,
bilateral relations and cooperation on the international arena,"
Pavlov said.

"However, there are some difficulties in economic cooperation,
specifically absence of transport communications between Armenia
and Russia.

Nevertheless the commodity turnover between our states reached $426
million against $350 million in 2005. The amount of Russian investments
in the Armenian economy is growing. The activities of Gazprom, Armenal
and VTB (Vneshtorgbank) as well as Vympelcom’s coming to the Armenian
telecommunication market can serve as an example. As to starting of
5 Armenian enterprises conveyed to Russia within "Property for Debt"
treaty, this is an issue of concern not only for Armenia but also for
Russia. The work of the Armenian-Russian intergovernmental commission
on economic cooperation in aimed at resolution of these problems,"
the Russian diplomat said.

The Russian Ambassador also pointed out to the efficient
Armenian-Russian cooperation in military field. "Russia guards
Armenia’s state borders with Iran and Turkey, Armenian servicemen
study in Russian institutions. Furthermore, Russia supplies Armenia
with technical equipment at reduced prices," Pavlov underscored.

U.S. STATE SECRETARY IS MISTAKEN

A1+
[03:59 pm] 12 March, 2007

more images "Today’s NATO doesn’t resemble the former NATO; the
structure got adapted to new conditions", Vardan Oskanyan, RA
Foreign Minister said during the official opening ceremony of the
NATO informative centre.

He focused on the activity of the NATO underlying the fact that people
came to realise the difference between today’s and former NATO.

The Armenian FM assured once more that the engagement into the
Individual Partnership Action Plan doesn’t hinder Armenia’s relations
with its military partner Russia.

In answer to our question whether the above-mentioned Action Plan
implies any commitments from the Armenian side towards Iran, Vardan
Oskanyan said, NATO is adherent of peaceful settlement of conflicts
and no military methods will be applied against Iran.

Jean Fournet, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy
is content with the implementation of the Individual Partnership
Action Plan signed with NATO. He highlights the activity of the
informative centre which is aimed at enhancing cooperation between
Armenia and NATO.

As for the Nagorno Karabakh issue Fournet claims that the conflict must
be settled in a peaceful way; NATO watches the regional developments
and gets information on the conflict from the diplomats of the
conflicting sides.

While speaking of the report of the U.S. State Secretary according to
which Armenia has occupied 7 Azeri regions and the NKR, RA Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan found it a misunderstanding, a technical
error and not the U.S. official stance. The Foreign Ministry intends
to submit a written notification to the State Secretary on the issue.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CLAIMS TURKEY IS TRYING TO PUNISH US OVER RESOLUTION

IPR Strategic Business Information Database
March 11, 2007

According to Sabah, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian claimed
that Turkey was trying to punish the US for the Armenian resolution
now before Congress. In Washington, Oskanian said that he thought
governments shouldn’t intervene on the issue, but adding that since
the Turkish government lobbied against passage of the resolution,
his government also had to take action.

Azat Hayrenik Party said to support Bako Sahakyan

04-03-2007 15:20:59 – KarabakhOpen

KarabakhOpen.com has learned that the conference of the Azat Hayrenik
Party in the morning of March 3 decided unanimously to support Bako
Sahakyan in the upcoming parliamentary election.

The Council of the party instructed the presidium to release the
decision of the Council. It is not known yet whether the party will
name the head of the NKR State Security Service or will only support
him in the election.

The Azat Hayrenik Party, which was literally set up on the eve of the
parliamentary election 2005, has 12 representatives to the NKR
parliament of 33. The leader of the party is Arayik Harutiunyan, a
well-known businessman in Karabakh. Rudik Hyusnunts, a member of the
Council of the Azat Hayrenik Party, is the deputy speaker of
parliament.

Regnum, Russia
March 9 2007

Armenian foreign minister: Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku Project
produces negative political situation in the region

Position of teh official Yerevan on construction of the
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway bypassing Armenia remains the
same: the Armenian side opposes it, Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan announced at a news conference on March 9.

A REGNUM correspondent quotes him as saying that from the economic
point of view the project will do no harm to Armenia, as the country
is suffering losses already because of closure of the
Armenian-Turkish border. `From the political point of view, the
project produces negative atmosphere in the region, particularly,
affects forming of favorable relations,’ the minister said.

Speaking on Kazakhstan’s possible participation in the project,
Vardan Oskanyan said that during the last year Armenian-Kazakh
meeting, the Kazakh side was not very optimistic about the project.
`Maybe, they have changed their attitude, but I know nothing about
it,’ said Vardan Oskanyan adding that the Armenian side would
continue opposing the project. At the same time, according to the
Armenian foreign minister, probably, participants of the project have
financial problems, if they would like to join Kazakhstan to it.

Armenia presses forward with judicial reform

ArmRadio.am
10.03.2007 11:29

The World Bank Board of Directors approved a credit of US$22.5 million
for the Second Judicial Reform Project (JRP2) for Armenia. The project
aims to provide the country’s judicial system with the administration,
quality facilities and expanded capacity that are necessary to improve
the efficiency, reliability and transparency of judicial
operations. The project will also continue to improve public awareness
of services and access to legal and judicial information.

The project will be supported by a US$3 million co-financing Policy
and Human Resource Development (PHRD) Grant from the Japanese
Government. The grant will support capacity building and technical
assistance activities within the judicial reform project.

It is expected that the increased efficiency of court proceedings,
publication of decisions, and better public awareness of judicial
performance will encourage the public to make greater use of the
courts to handle disputes, and contribute to the stronger protection
of property and contract rights that are critical for a market
economy. The project will also improve access to judicial services in
rural areas, which are often not the focus of judicial reform efforts
but are nonetheless a critical factor in poverty reduction.

The Second Judicial Reform Project has six main components: (1)
Building the capacity of a reformed Council of Justice and an
effective Judicial Department, expanding judicial automation, and
developing a judicial database; (2) building a new Cassation Court
complex and rehabilitating regional courthouses; (3) establishing a
permanent Judicial Training School and supporting the development of
training curricula; (4) improving the enforcement of judicial
decisions; (5) strengthening arbitration services; and (6) expanding
access to legal information and raising public awareness of judicial
reform and legal rights, particularly by building on public
information campaigns, such as the ` My Rights’ TV show, previously
introduced under JRP1. This final component will also support the
involvement of civil society in monitoring and evaluating the
implementation and outcomes of judicial reform in the country.

By the time the project is completed, the courts and the enforcement
service will have undergone improved training and their capacity to
process cases faster as well as manage an expanding caseload will have
increased. Citizens will have better access to legislation and
judicial decisions through online services. The majority of regional
judicial buildings will be rehabilitated (at least 20,000 sq meters),
and case recording systems and automated case management software will
be in place in all renovated courts.

The credit is provided on `hardened’ IDA terms with a maturity of 20
years, and a grace period of 10 years. Armenia joined the World Bank
in 1992 and IDA in 1993, and the country has been in the process of
graduating from IDA since July 1, 2006. Commitments to Armenia amount
to approximately US$1.25 billion for 47 operations.