Author: Hunanian Jack

DEPARTMENT HEAD OF AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATION URGES NOT TO EXPECT REVOLUTIONARY CHANGES FROM NEW FRENCH PRESIDENT (VIDEO)

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
May 21 2007

Extract from Trend’s interview with the head of the Foreign Relations
Department at the Executive Administration of Azerbaijani President,
Novruz Mammadov.

– A new President has recently been elected in France, which is
a co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group on peaceful settlement of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. How do you view the cooperation prospects
between Azerbaijan and France under Nicola Sarcozy rule?

– I believe the current and future relationships between Azerbaijan and
France have been built on a fundamental basis. Different viewpoints
and forecasts are voiced now as it was on the eve of the elections,
but the main line of the relationships between two countries and
nations will remain unchanged. The new administration of Sarcozy
proves the fact another time. Moreover, we should not expect any
revolutionary changes from Sarcozy as well.

video at
wsId=929089&lang=EN

FORMATION OF PROPER DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IN ARMENIA POSSIBLE UNDER ECONOMIC STABILITY ONLY

Arka News Agency, Armenia
May 21 2007

YEREVAN. May 21. /ARKA/. Formation of a proper democratic system in the
country is possible under economic stability only, Armen Ashotyan,
member of the Republican Party of Armenia faction reported at a
press-conference on Monday.

"Emergence of a really functioning democratic system is possible
provided that a favorable economic situation is established, that is,
a minimal economic well-being. This is the primary factor of democracy,
because democratic principles work where the electorate has resolved
its economic problems," he said.

Ashotyan added that the unprecedented economic growth, recorded in
Armenia over the last 4-5 years, logically leads to the fact that
economic prerequisites have already been created for emergence of a
really working democratic system.

Conference on Information Technologies to be held in Yerevan

ArmRadio.am
21.05.2007 12:12

May 21-23 an international forum entitled `Information Technologies in the
educational system of the 21st century’ will be held in Yerevan.

Organizers of the arrangement told ArmInfo that a broad framework of issues
related to the sphere will be discussed.

The forum will feature specialists from Great Britain, Germany, Italy,
Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan and Mongolia.

The event has been organized by the Tempus Programme of the European Union,
the Open Society Institute, the British Council and the USAID.

TOROSYAN PINPOINTS TO OPPOSITION’S FAILURE TO UNITE

Panorama.am
20:37 18/05/2007

Tigran Torosyan, vice chairman of the Armenian Republican Party,
believes it is not a big tragedy that some political parties
will not be present at the 4th parliament. "I think, if they
come up with conclusions, they will enter the next parliament,"
Torosyan told a press conference at Tesaket Club. The vice chairman
believes the elections were conducted "freely and fairly" but with
some breaches. Torosyan said the protests of the opposition are
"justifications" and not "fair assessment."

The vice chairman pinpointed to the inability of the opposition to
unite as a reason for their failure at the elections. Asked if some
of the opposition may be represented in the government, Torosyan
said, "Those having representatives in the government, cannot be an
opposition." Torosyan asked to wait 10 days and see which political
forces will be represented in the government.

RA CEC SUMMARIZES RESULTS OF ELECTIONS TO RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BY
PROPORTIONAL ELECTORAL SYSTEM: SMALL DIFFERENCE AS COMPARED WITH
PRELIMINARY DATA

YEREVAN, MAY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. By the protocol of the May 19 sitting,
the RA Central Electoral Commission (CEC) ratified the results of the
May 12 elections to the RA National Assembly. 3 out of 9 members of
the commission refused to sign the protocol – Felix Khachatrian
("Justice" bloc), Zaven Pluzian ("National Unity" party) and Sona
Sargsian ("Orinats Yerkir" party). F. Khachatrian said about the
protocol: "This is a monument at the grave of the Armenian democracy."
At the beginning of the sitting, he expressed his discontent regarding
the essential difference between the preliminary and final data, as
well as the corrections made in the protocols of several precinct
electoral commissions (PEC) and their stamping by the respective
district electoral commissions (DEC), which, in his words, is a
violation of the law. CEC deputy chairman Abram Bakhchagulian
explained that corrections are related to the number of ballots given
by DECs to PECs, and they were brought into line with the receipts of
the ballots given.

According to the protocol of the CEC, 1,391,540 out of the 2,319,722
voters included in the lists participated in the voting in 1,923
polling stations. 38,002 ballots were recognized as invalid. The
total number of valid ballots and ballots with votes in favor of all
23 parties and one bloc makes 1,351,423, the number of inaccuracies –
14,665.

Republican Party of Armenia received 458,258 votes,

"Prosperous Armenia" party – 204,483 votes,

ARF – 177,907 votes,

"Orinats Yerkir" party – 95,324 votes,

"Heritage" party – 81,048 votes,

United Labor Party – 59,271 votes,

"National Unity" party – 49,864 votes,

"New Times" party – 47,060 votes,

People’s party – 37, 044 votes,

"Alliance" party – 32,943 votes,

People’s Party of Armenia – 22,762 votes,

"Republic" party – 22,288 votes,

"Impeachment" bloc – 17,475 votes,

Communist Party of Armenia – 8,792 votes,

National Democratic Party – 8,556 votes,

"Democratic Way" party – 8,351 votes,

"National Concord" party – 4,199 votes,

Democratic Party of Armenia – 3,686 votes,

"Christian People’s Rebirth" party – 3,433 votes,

United Liberal National Party – 2,739 votes,

Marxist Party of Armenia – 2,660 votes,

Youth Party of Armenia – 2,291 votes,

Social-Democratic Hunchak Party – 989 votes.

The RA CEC made a decision on election of the RA NA deputies by the
proportional electoral system with 6 votes in favor, 2 against and one
abstention. Based on this, 41 deputies have been elected from the
Republican Party of Armenia, 18 – from "Prosperous Armenia", 16 – from
ARF, 8 – from "Orinats Yerkir" and 7 – from "Heritage".

"ORINATS YERKIR" HOPES FOR POLITICAL CONSOLIDATION OF ARMENIAN OPPOSITIONAL PARTIES

Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
May 17 2007

Yerevan, May 17. /Mediamax/. "Orinats Yerkir" party (OYP) hopes for
consolidation of the oppositional forces of Armenia, member of the
OYP Political Council Samvel Farmanian stated in Yerevan today.

Mediamax reports that, speaking at a news conference in Yerevan today;
Samvel Farmanian stated that the oppositional forces should get united
and put on the agenda concrete issues, related to the solution of the
social problems of the population. At that, the OYP representative
found it difficult to name the concrete political forces, noting that
"important are the principle and the goals of consolidation".

Samvel Farmanian confirmed the statement of the Leader of OYP
Artur Baghdasarian on the intention to appeal the results of the
parliamentary elections of May 12 in the Constitutional Court of
Armenia.

Answering the question of Mediamax on whether the party may renounce
their mandates in case of a negative verdict of the Constitutional
Court, Samvel Farmanian stated that the OYP is not inclined to take
up boycott policy, as it is sure that its activity in the parliament
in many respects will assist the protection of the interests of the
population.

NEW PUBLIC CENTERS ON NATURE PROTECTION INFORMATION TO FUNCTION SOON IN GYUMRI, HRAZDAN AND GAVAR

Noyan Tapan
May 17 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. A memorandum on mutual understanding was
sined on May 16 among the representatives of the OSCE Yerevan Office,
RA Ministry of Nature Protection and Governor’s Offices of Kotayk,
Shirak and Gegharkunik. According to this memorandum, new public
centers on nature protection information (Aarhus) will open in Gyumri,
Hrazdan and Gavar. To recap, centers of the mentioned organization
function in the cities of Yerevan, Varadzor, Goris, Kapan, Dilijan,
Ijevan still since 2002.

The goal of activity of the Aarhus centers is to stimulate
accessibility of the nature protection information, public
participation in the nature protection issues and accessibility of
justice. The society will be given at the centers free consultation
concerning their rights, obligations and corresponding legislation.

RA Minister of Nature Protection Vardan Ayvazian attached importance to
the initiative of opening centers, mentioning that "according to the
Aarhus programs, great attention will be paid to problems of nature
protection security as well, particularly, decomposition of lands,
saltation and water resources." Head of the OSCE Yerevan Office,
Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin mentioned: "Armenia is now the leader
of the Aarhus movement quickly developing in the OSCE territory."

The triglot (Armenian, English, Russian) web site of the
Aarhus centers was also opened during the event. Its address is

EDUARD SHARMAZANOV: "MAY 12 ELECTIONS ARE BEST ARMENIAN ELECTIONS IN 21ST CENTURY"

Noyan Tapan
May 15 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The May 12 parliamentary elections are
the best Armenian elections in the 21st century. Eduard Sharmazanov,
the Public Relations Responsible of the Republic Party of Armenia
expressed this opinion at the Urbat club on May 15. In his words,
naturally, there were defects as well what is proved by the 9
criminal actions brought on those case. He at the same time expressed
a confidence that "those defects will be checked in future, and
Armenia will more enter the era of developed democracy from elections
to elections."

According to E. Sharmazanov’s observation, in these elections the
citizens of Armenia "pay a tribute not to the electoral bribe but to
the ideological struggle, programs as well as propaganda mission." In
his words, its bright evidence is entrance of the Zharangutiun
(Heritage) party to the parliament.

In his words, the RPA will become a "force making more serious and
weighty decisions." E. Sharmazanov refused making foresights concerning
possible formation of the political coalition, only mentioning that
the RPA will present its position concerning that issue after official
publication of the final results of the elections. In his words,
formation of a coalition will greatly be provided by results of the
discussions at the RPA Council as well as with other parties. "The RPA
is theoretically ready for cooperation with all the forces, but the
cooperation can not be an end in itself: it must have strong edges
and bases," E. Sharmazanov said.

ARMENPRESS

EXPERT IN TURKISH STUDIES WARNS OF SERIOUS GLOBAL AND
REGIONAL CHALLENGES

YEREVAN, MAY 11, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian expert in
Turkish studies warned today that the country is set
to face a string of serious challenges in the near
future, which he said would be prompted by imminent
regional and global developments.
Speaking to a news conference Ruben Safrastian,
director of the Institute of Eastern Studies, an
affiliation of the National Academy of Sciences,
explained that the dominating trend in the South
Caucasian region in the next several years will be the
drive of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia towards allied
relationships.
Safrastian said for the time being these three
nations are boosting close economic collaboration, but
he argued that their economic ties are very likely to
develop into political and military alliance.
Safrastian also pointed out NATO’s stepped activity
in the Southern Caucasian region with Georgia moving
steadily towards full accession with this
organization, saying a possible U.S.. strike on Iran
would bring about heavy aftereffects for the entire
region.
According to him, in view of current and expected
developments, Armenia’s foreign policy should become
more determined, clear-cut and coordinated. He said
the country should use all its resources and potential
to maintain and reinforce relations with Russia.
"It is important that Armenia withstand
polarization of the world and find its right place.
Russia’s Putin made clear his plans to make his
country a real force center and offer an alternative
development way and in all likelihood the US-Russia
standoff may extend to our region," Safrastian said.
He said allied relations with Russia have no
alternative. In a reference to the Karabakh conflict
Safrastian said there are more indications of external
pressure on Armenia and that is why Armenia should
press for peaceful resolution of its dispute with
Azerbaijan.

A1+

INACCURACIES ON THE LISTS
[12:15 pm] 12 May, 2007

The beginning of Parliamentary elections was very
active in Erebuni Community. About 8 a.m. in the 8th
street of the Community a great number of mini buses
were gathered and they moved in different directions.

Our journalist noticed many inaccuracies in the
voters’ lists. Citizens also confirm the fact of
lists’ inaccuracies. It was obvious that 20-30 percent
of voters were either absent from Armenia or moved to
other apartments.

One of Erebuni Community resident’s said, `39 people
are on the list from our entrance whereas only 19-20
neighbors live there and 3 of them are tenants’. The
resident who provided this information to our
journalist did not wish to mention his/her name as he
would face problems with the Community administration.