Author: Jidarian Alex

7 APPLICATIONS HANDED IN AT CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO APPEAL RESULTS OF NA ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
May 29 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The Impeachment alliance, Orinats
Yerkir (Country of Law), Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) and Hanrapetutiun
(Republic) parties addressed to the RA Constitutional Court (CC) with
applications to appeal results of the National Assembly elections
taken place on May 12.

Robert Chobanian, the head of the applications department of the RA
Constitutional Court informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent about
it. To recap, applications concerning appeal of the results of the
elections by the proportional electoral system were to be accepted,
according to the law on CC, only till 18:00, May 26.

There were three applications presented to the CC concerning appeal
of the results of the elections by the majoritarian electoral system:
Heghine Bisharian appealed from electoral district No11, Hovhannes
Margarian from No33, and Mushegh Saghatelian from electoral district
No36. The deadline for accepting applications concerning appeal of
the results of the elections by the majoritarian electoral system
was May 24.

USE OF ARMENIAN "APRICOTABS" ALLOWED IN THE US

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The Sports Committee of the Russian
Federation submitted a bid for purchase of a large batch of Armenian
natural food supplement "Apricotabs" made of apricots. Khachik
Gevorgian, director general of the supplement-producing Hagenas
company, told NT correspondent that "Apricotabs" is envisaged for
members of Russian national sport teams.

According to him, during tests on sportsmen by the Russian office of
Med and Life company (US) "Apricotabs" helped remove fatigue so
efficiently that it was decided to check if there are any dopes in
this supplement. However, the Russian anti-dope center did not find
any banned substances in the supplement. Kh. Gevorgian said that
"Apricotabs" is made of apricots only, and every tab is equivalent to
eight fresh apricots.

The director of Hagenas company noted that tests on "Apricotabs" were
completed in Georgia and the national olympic committee of this
country is going to buy the supplement for Georgian sportsmen. The US
Federal Drug Administration has already allowed to sell "Apricotabs"
in the US.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS CONGRATULATES SCHOOL LEAVERS

Noyan Tapan
May 25 2007

ETCHMIADZIN, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos
of All Armenians sent a message of congratulation on the occcasion of
the day of blessing of school-leavers. According to the Information
Services of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the message
particularly reads the following:

"Dear school-leavers,

We address our Patriarchal blessing to you from the Mother See of
Holy Etchmiadzin and congratulate you on the occasion of finishing
the school education. You are today school leavers and are on the
threshold of a new period of life.

Go along the roads of your life with stable steps and infallible march
and more strengthen cognition of spiritual values and do valuable
affairs for the sake of implementation of kind dreams and wishes
carefully cherished in your sole, for the sake of our Fatherland and
our Surb Apostolic Church.

With blessing,

Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians."

ARMEN AYVAZYAN: TURKEY’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS ARMENIA WILL NOT CHANGE EVEN IF IT JOINS THE EU

ArmRadio.am
25.05.2007 16:55

It is too early for Armenia to express any position on Turkey-EU
relations: at last, Turkey’s accession is an issue to be decided by
the European Union, Director of the "Ararat" strategic centre Armen
Ayvazyan said during a discussion on May 25.

According to him, some Armenian politicians are incorrect in their
opinion that becoming an EU member, Turkey will change the attitude
towards Armenia.

Armen Ayvazyan noted that even if Turkey joins the EU, it will use
all the opportunities in the framework of the organization to exert
pressure on Armenia.

Turning to the elections expected in Turkey in summer, Mr. Ayvazyan
noted that no matter who wins – the Islamists or the secularist forces
– Armenian-Turkish relations ill not change.

OPENING OF CYPRUS-ARMENIA EMBASSIES "ON NEXT PRIORITY"

Financial Mirror, Cyprus
May 25 2007

Marios Garoyian, the young and dynamic leader of the ruling Democratic
Party of Cyprus (DIKO) sees the upgrade of relations with Armenia as
next on the Cyprus government’s agenda.

In a meeting with the President of the Armenian Journalists
Association, Asdghig Kevorkyan, the chief editor of Azg daily, Hagop
Avedikian, and the President of the Cyprus Union of Journalists,
Andreas Kannaouros, Garoyian showed great interest to find ways to
improve ties with Armenia, "as we are both victims of a common enemy,
Turkey."

Garoyian added that through the strengthening of the relations between
the two nations a lot can be achieved, and this could begin through
the cooperation between the journalists associations, especially as
the Cyprus Union of Journalists enjoys great respect and has the full
cooperation of the state.

As regards the upgrade of diplomatic relations, to which Avedikian
commented that he was not satisfied by the present level and that "more
could be achieved", Garoyian revealed that once the present round
of the expansion of Cyprus’ diplomatic service has been completed
to include all members of the 27-nation enlarged European Union,
"I have been told by the Foreign Ministry that Armenia is high on
their agenda. It is our next priority."

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OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS REFUSE TO COMMENT ON SITUATION AROUND REPORT OF US DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND STATEMENTS OF AMERICAN CO-CHAIR

Arminfo
2007-05-24 12:10:00

Thursday, speaking a press conference in Yerevan, French and Russian
co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group on settlement of Karabakh conflict,
Bernard Fassier and Yuri Merzlyakov, refused to comment on the
situation around the report of US Department of State and on the
statements of their American colleague Matthew Bryza.

In response to ArmInfo’s question if the contradiction of the
statements of Mr. Bryza and the acts of US Department of State
discredits the institution of co-chairs, Mr. Merzlyakov replied that
the two co-chairs in the hall "really represent all the three co-
chairs, but they are not empowered to answer the questions regarding
bilateral issues or American bureaucratic systems." He added that
Mr. Bryza explained the situation. "However, I think you’d better
wait two weeks and ask this question to Mr. Bryza when the co-chairs
arrive in the region in full staff," Yuri Merzlyakov said. For his
part, Mr. Fassier also said that the issue is bilateral.

To recap, recently US Department of State has come out with a report
on human rights. The initial report mentioned Nagorny Karabakh as
occupied. The Armenian party applied to the Department and the formula
underwent some changes.

Thus, the report said that the Armenian forces occupy a great part of
Azerbaijani territory adjacent to Nagorny Karabakh. In an interview
with AzerTAg state agency on April 24, Matthew Bryza said that the
statement in the initial version of the report was wrong. He assured
the Azeri agency that the report will not be amended any more. However,
the next day, the report was presented in its initial version under
pressure of Azerbaijan.

NAGORNO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IS NOT PROBLEM OF THIS OR THAT SCHEME, THIS IS PROBLEM OF BALANCE OF FORCES

Noyan Tapan
May 24 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. "In 2006 both Yerevan and Baku under
the pressure of mediators concentrated their attention on discussion
of some stage-by-stage-package scheme of settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict and in no way can reach an agreement over the key
issues." David Petrosyan, political analyst of Noyan Tapan news agency,
stated at the international conference Caucasus-2006.

He said that in spite of promises about quick settlement of conflict,
including about possible signing of document about "principles"
of settlement by R. Kocharian and I. Aliyev, such possibility is
improbable not only this year, but also in the coming 2 or 3 years.

In D. Petrosyan’s words, the problem of settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict is not the problem of this or that scheme/variant, according
to which negotiations are concretely carried on. This problem as before
is the problem of the most complicated balance: military-political,
geopolitical, foreign lobbying, balance of forces in capitals of
foreign players and capitals of conflict sides, economic forces,
renouncing the doctrine of "delayed revenge" in Baky and assymetrical
response in Yerevan and in Stepanakert in the form of the doctrine of
maintaining the territories of "security zone," etc. He said that
change of system of balance of forces is a complicated and long
process, which will not finish in the foreseeable future.

To recap, the conference has been organized by the Caucasian Media
Institute with the financial support of Swiss Agency for Development
and Cooperation.

Representatives of Armenia, Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and U.S. take
part in the conference, which will last until May 25.

RA DM: ARMENIAN PEACEMAKER, WOUNDED IN IRAQ, TO RETURN TO ARMED FORCES AFTER COMPLETION OF COURSE OF TREATMENT

arminfo
2007-05-23 14:15:00

The Armenian peacemaker Georgy Nalbandyan, wounded in Iraq in autumn,
2006, will return to the Armed Forces without fail, after completion
of the course of treatment, RA DM Mikael Haroutyunyan told journalists
today.

He recalled that G. Nalbandyan is presently in the USA. According
to the Minister, the course of treatment will be completed soon
and, after return, G. Nalbandyan will be offered several posts for
choice. "He will continue the service in RA AF without fail", RA DM
said. To recall, the Senior Lieutenant Georgy Nalbandyan (born in 1981)
was undermined in November, 2006, during the peacemaking mission in
Iraq. He was severely wounded as a result of which his leg under knee
was amputated. After wounding, he was conveyed to Germany and then
to the USA.

CONSECRATION OF SCHOOL-LEAVERS AT MOTHER SEE AND DIOCESES

Noyan Tapan
May 22 2007

ETCHMIADZIN, MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. By the patriarchal order of Karekin
II Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, ceremonies of consecration
of pupils and school-leavers will be carried out at the Cathedral of
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and churches of Armenia.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information Services of the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the consecration ritual will take place at
the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin from 13:00 to 19:00, once an hour.

MUSEUMS OF ARMENIA STILL HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS

Noyan Tapan
May 19 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The museums of Armenia also join the
Museum Night action organized already for the third time on the
initiative of Directors of the museums of France. Paravon Mirzoyan,
the Director of the National Gallery of Armenia stated about it at
the meeting taken place in Urbat club. In his words, this country
having the richest European cultural traditions has a goal to unite
by this action all the museums of the world presenting one night to
exclusively one night: all the museums joined the action were open
during the whole night of May 19: cultural events of different types,
national traditional ritual performances, concerts, film shows will
be organized.

As P. Mirzoyan mentioned, galleries and museums present the country
face. In his words, tourists’ first impressions about this or that
country are formed just from museums.

In P. Mirzoyan’s words, museums need constant care, state assistance:
"According to my estimation, the state of our museums has already
improved at some extent, and I hope that care towards them will more
increase soon."

Karine Rafayelian, the manager of the D. Demirchian House-Museum,
who was present at the meeting, mentioned that though their museum
was a branch of the Charents Museum of Literature and Art, but also
needs assistance. To recap, the 30th anniversary of the foundation
of the house-museum and the 130th anniversary of D. Demirchian is
marked this year.

"We prepare for this jubilee year with our own forces: we staged the
Vardanank work with schoolchildren, and a conference dedicated to the
writer’s creative heritage will also be organized later. The museum
displays have not been changed since 1977, and we are not able to
organize a new show," K. Rafayelian emphasized.