Author: Harutyunian Christine

ACTING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO HOLD AN EXTRAORDINARY SITTING

ArmRadio.am
16.05.2007 10:16

The National Assembly of third convocation has called an extraordinary
sitting today. This is the first sitting of the old Parliament. The
Government agenda will be discussed.

After the death of Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan this will be a
procedural sitting for the Government envisaged by the Constitution,
since the liabilities of this Parliament will quit after the formation
of the National Assembly of fourth convocation.

ARMENIAN-OCCUPATION OF AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES PROTESTED IN BRUSSELS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 15 2007

Protest action was held in Brussels on the 15th anniversary of
occupation of Shusha and Lachin regions by Armenian military forces,
vice-president of Congress of Benelux Azerbaijanis Elsevar Mammadov
told the APA.

The protest action near the building of European was organized by the
Coordinating Council of Benelux Azerbaijani Organizations, Congress
of Benelux Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijan Committee of Belgium.

The action started in "Shuman" square at 14.00 by local time with
the participation of nearly 150-200 protesters.

Mammadov said that truths on the occupation of Shusha and Lachin,
the occupation of Azerbaijani regions by Armenians were sounded in
the protest action supported by Azerbaijani Embassy in Belgium.

The protesters demanded withdrawal of Armenians occupying forces from
Azerbaijani territories.

HEAD OF "SOCIOMETER" BELIEVES THAT BECAUSE OF THE DISUNITY OF OPPOSITION, 25% OF VOTES "EVAPORATED" DURING THE ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
May 14 2007

Yerevan, May 14. /Mediamax/. The Head of the "Sociometer" Sociologic
Research Center Aharon Adibekian believes that 25% of electors’ votes
"evaporated" during the parliamentary elections in Armenia.

Mediamax reports that, speaking at a news conference in Yerevan today,
he stated that "the elections were organized considerably better
than the previous ones, but I, as a citizen, am not content with
their results". According to Adibekian, "25% of votes evaporated,
and those 25% equal to 25 seats in the parliament".

The sociologist believes that "not 5, but 8-9 parties should have
been represented in the parliament".

He named the oppositional parties as guilty of the lost percents, which
"built their strategy on the emotional and not the rational basis".

Aharon Adibekian noted that the majority of forecasts of "Sociometer",
done on the eve, came true.

He explained the success of the Republican Party of Armenia "by the
organizational resource" and "the good feedback". "The heads of the
party received information on the work done on a regular basis",
the sociologist stated.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
May 13 2007

MEMBERS OF ARMENIAN CEC SIGN PROTOCOL OF PRELIMINARY OUTCOME OF MAY
12 PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

YEREVAN, May 13. /ARKA/. Members of the Central Electoral Commission
(CEC) of Armenia signed the protocol of the preliminary outcome of
the parliamentary election held in Armenia on May 12.
6 out of 9 members of CEC signed the protocol. Three representatives
of opposition forces – "Justice" bloc, "National Unification" and
"Orinats Erkir" parties – refused to sign the protocol.
According to the preliminary results, five parties overcame the 5%
barrier – Republican Party of Armenia (457,032), Prospering Armenia
(204,443) and ARF Dashnaktsutiun (177,192), as well as the
oppositional "Orinats Erkir" (95,256) and "Heritage" (80,890)
parties. The CEC did not provided percentages gained by the parties
though.
Twenty two parties and one bloc participated in the election
Saturday.
1245 party ticket list candidates and 119 individual candidates were
running for 90 and 41 parliament seats respectively.
53 local organizations (13,808 observers) and six international
missions (767 observers) watched the course of the voting. N.V. -0–

Agence France Presse — English
May 13, 2007 Sunday 10:13 AM GMT

OSCE hails Armenia parliamentary vote

Armenia’s parliamentary election this weekend was a "clear
improvement" over previous polls in the former Soviet republic, the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said Sunday.

"These elections were a clear improvement, and that is good for
Armenian democracy," OSCE election observation coordinator Tone
Tingsgaard said in a statement.

Western governments had put intense pressure on Armenia to improve on
previous elections, which were marred by accusations of fraud and
voter intimidation.

The OSCE "commended steps taken by the Armenian authorities to
address serious shortcomings, including amendments to the election
code. The election campaign was dynamic with extensive media
coverage," the statement said.

It added, however, that "some issues remain unaddressed," and noted
"isolated cases of deliberate falsifications."

The conclusion was a triumph for President Robert Kocharian and his
supporters, who swept the vote, according to preliminary results of
Saturday’s election.

This small country wedged between Turkey and Iran relies heavily on
foreign aid, which the United States had threatened to cut if the
elections were judged fraudulent.

Such cuts could be disastrous for Armenia, where more than 30 percent
of people live on less than two dollars (1.50 euros) a day.

Earlier Sunday, opposition parties rejected the vote and vowed to
launch protests that afternoon.

No Armenian election has been judged free and fair since the country
became independent with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

PanARMENIAN.Net

NKR president signed decree on dismissing Seyran
Ohanyan from post of Defense Minister
11.05.2007 14:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ May 11 Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasian
signed a decree on dismissal of Seyran Ohanyan from the post of
Defense Minister and Commander of the NKR Defense Army, IA Regnum
reports.

Presently Seyran Ohanyan is one of the candidates for the post of the
chief of the RA armed forces’ general staff. May 2 he announced that
he received the proposal on the appointment and gave consent.

Presently the authority of chief of the RA armed forces’ general staff
is entrusted to first deputy Enrico Apriamov.

The post is vacant after the appointment of Mikael Harutyunyan Defense
Minister of Armenia.

Aljazeera.net, Qatar
May 12 2007

Armenia goes to the polls

Thirty per cent of Armenians
live on less than $2 a day [AFP]

Armenians are voting in parliamentary elections in what is seen as a
test for democracy ahead of a presidential election in 2008.

Since Armenia gained independence with the collapse of the Soviet
Union in 1991, no election has been judged fair.

Surveys show Armenians want reform, but pro-government parties are
expected to win Saturday’s poll.

An overwhelming majority of Armenians support radical change.

More than 20 opposition parties are running and analysts say these
divisions have scuttled chances of defeating two pro-government
parties – the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HKK) and the
Prosperous Armenia party.

Opposition leaders claim the vote will be rigged and are already
planning demonstrations on Sunday to pressure the government to
overturn the results.

Cuts in assistance

About 2.3 million of Armenia’s three million people are registered to
vote in elections for 131 seats in the national assembly.

Hundreds of local and international observers are monitoring the
vote, including more than 300 from the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe.

The US and EU have repeatedly warned of negative consequences if no
improvement is seen over past elections, including potential cuts of
foreign aid and the scaling back of relations.

Cuts in foreign assistance could be disastrous for Armenia, where
more than 30 per cent of people live on less than $2 a day.

‘Dress rehearsal’

The election is also seen as a dress rehearsal for a presidential
vote due next year after Robert Kocharian steps down at the end of
his second term.

The HKK, led by Kocharian’s chosen successor, Serzh Sarkisian, the
prime minister, is expected to take first place.

Kocharian has called on voters to support pro-government parties,
saying that if the opposition comes to power it will bring
instability.

Kocharian said on Armenian television: "If the two most important
governmental institutions – the president and the parliament – start
a confrontation, the people will be the ones to suffer."

Polling will close at 7pm (1500 GMT), with preliminary results
expected within 24 hours.

FOR CONSIDERING VALID W. WILSON’S ARBITRATION DECISION ARMENIA SHOULD
APPLY TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL, ARA PAPIAN CONSIDERS

YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. "The only international document, by
which the state border between Armenia and Turkey was determined from
legal point of view was the Treaty of Sevres." Ara Papian, former
Ambassador of Armenia to Canada, stated at the May 11 press conference.
In 1920 the Ottoman Turkey, the first Republic of Armenia and another
twenty countries signed the Treaty of Sevres, according to which
drawing of Armenian-Turkish border was reserved for U.S. President of
that time Woodrow Wilson. The latter made an arbitration decision on
the border in November, 1920, by which the territory of Armenia was to
be 169 thousand sq.km. instead of current 29 thousand.

As A. Papian affirmed, W. Wilson’s arbitration decision has a legal
force by now. Therefore, in his words, Armenia should pursue protection
of its rights, that is, should apply to UN Security Council to discuss
this issue and to make Turkey fulfil the clauses assumed by the Treaty
of Sevres. Thus, as A. Papian said, Armenia will receive a possibility
to demilitarize the border and by this to keep Turkish troops away from
Armenia. Besides, in his words, in case of possible military operations
on Karabakh front Turkey will not be able to give arms to Azerbaijan
any longer.

Armenia Fund USA, Inc.
80 Maiden Lane, S-301
New York, NY 10038, U.S.A.
T/1-212-689-5307
F/1-212-689-5317
http://ww w.armeniafundusa.org
e-mail: [email protected]

Archut Village: Armenia Fund Brings Pieces Together

NEW YORK, New York – Armenia Fund USA is pleased to announce that Archut
village in Armenia will benefit from the agricultural development initiative
that started in Karabakh. Armenia Fund in Yerevan transferred agricultural
technology and supplies to Archut to help family farmers there in crop
cultivation and seasonal agricultural activities. Access to upgraded
equipment is an important part of the Fund’s Agricultural Initiative which
also involves creating jobs and providing improved agricultural practices
for rural communities.

Since the collapse of the Soviet central planning system, villages in
Armenia and Karabakh have been facing serious difficulties, a major problem
being lack of agricultural machinery. The agricultural sector has long-term
needs for more investment and upgraded technology. To address this need,
Armenia Fund has made providing access to updated agricultural equipment an
important part of the region’s development plan.

The Regional Development Program started in Mardakert region of Karabakh in
spring of 2005. In 2006 the program was expanded to Hadrut region. An
important economic underpinning of the initiative is the establishment of
agricultural development associations in all major regions. New tractors,
combines and other agricultural equipment were shipped to Karabakh from
China and Belarus. The project registered success in the first cluster of
villages in Mardakert, and now villages in Armenia, like Archut in Lori
Marz, are also beginning to benefit from it. "New tractors are of great help
to the 480 small households in the village," says Vardan Khachikian, a
resident and head of the village that has just received new agricultural
technology from the Fund. "This is not the first time during the 17-year
existence of Archut that Armenia Fund renders assistance to our communities
in different ways", he notes with gratitude.

In 2000, Armenia Fund built a secondary school in Archut, and later
furnished its classrooms. The French affiliate of the Fund is spearheading
the initiative which currently extends beyond classrooms to include sport
and other facilities for the school.

Archut is reviving today with new hope for a better life. The village is
relatively new, as it was established in 1989 and has 1500 inhabitants, most
of them refugees of war. Its residents are resilient, hardworking, and are a
great encouragement for Armenia Fund as it paves the way for a better
quality of life.

ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: Founded in 1992, Armenia Fund USA was one of the
first of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 19 international affiliates and serves
constituents in all states east of the Mississippi. As a non-profit,
non-governmental, nonsectarian organization, the Fund represents all
Armenian constituents. Armenia Fund USA is the largest contributor to
strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia and Karabakh. The Fund has
adopted a policy to go "Beyond Bricks and Mortar" to provide sustainability
for projects it sponsors.

ARMENIA ARRESTS OPPOSITION ACTIVIST AHEAD OF PARLIAMENTARY VOTE

Agence France Presse — English
May 8, 2007 Tuesday 10:21 AM GMT

Authorities in Armenia announced Tuesday the arrest of a former
foreign minister turned opposition activist on corruption charges in
the run-up to parliamentary elections this weekend.

Alexander Arzumanian was arrested on money laundering charges late
Monday after 55,400 dollars (41,000 euros) was found during a search
of his apartment earlier this month, a spokesman for the National
Security Service told AFP.

Authorities allege Arzumanian was acting as a front for
a Moscow-based scheme to launder 180,000 dollars (133,000 euros)
through Armenia. Officials said 28,000 dollars (21,000 euros) was
found in the home of another opposition activist, former deputy
defense minister Vaan Shirkhanian.

Arzumanian dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.

"This is absurd. It is an attempt to silence representatives of the
opposition," he told journalists before his arrest.

Arzumanian and Shirkhanian are both harsh critics of President Robert
Kocharian’s government. Neither is participating in Saturday’s vote,
instead calling for civil disobedience to overthrow the governmnent.

Saturday’s elections are being closely watched as a democratic test
for Armenia, a mountainous former Soviet republic of 3.3 million in
the strategic Caucasus region on Russia’s southern border.