Author: Kajoyan Gevork

EXPLOSION IN "PROSPEROUS ARMENIA" PARTY’S OFFICE

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 12 2007

On the night from April 11 to 12 explosions occurred in the two offices
of "Prosperous Armenia" Party in Yerevan. No casualties were reported,
APA repots. President Robert Kocharian ordered law- enforcement bodies
to find the culprits.

According to the President’s press secretary Viktor Sogomonian, the
accident is as an attempt of escalating the situation on the eve of
parliamentary elections.

"Prosperous Armenia" founded in 2004 is governed by businessman Gagik
Sarukian. Experts said the party was promoted by Robert Kocharian.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN CONFIRMS NEW GOVERNMENT COMPOSITION

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 12 2007

Armenia’s President Robert Kocharian decreed on approving new
composition of the government, APA reports. All ministers represented
in Andranik Margarian’s government will hold analogous posts in the new
government. There is no decree on only appointment of Defense Minister.

First Deputy Defense Minister, Armenian Armed Forces chief Mikael
Arutunyan is acting defense minister.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: NECESSITY HAS ARISEN TO ADOPT NEW APPROACHES IN INOFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES SECTOR DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT

Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. During the April 12 meeting of
the Armenian president Robert Kocharian and the heads of over ten
companies of the Armenian IT sector, participants discussed issues
related to increasing the number of companies engaged in the IT
sector, preparing qualified employees, ensuring the participation of
Armenian IT companies in international exhibitions and creating the
opportunities for holding exhibitions in Armenia.

R. Kocharian said that the difficulties related to the previous
monopoly in the communication sector have been overcome, which will
be a good stimulus for further development of information technologies.

According to heads of IT companies, although a 20-30% growth is
registered in the sector annually, its share in economic, especially
export indices, is still not large, which is not in line with the
real potential of the IT sector.

Proposals on some issues discussed were made at the
meeting. Particularly, it was proposed to attract purpose credit
resources for increasing the number of IT companies, and to create
an educational center for preparing qualified engineers, at which
short-term training courses should be organized as well.

NT was informed from the RA president’s press service that R. Kocharian
said that the state is interested in rapid implementation of all
useful proposals. He underlined that a necessity has arisen to adopt
new approcahes in the IT sector development concept.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION DEBATE WITH EU LOOMING
EmÝne Kart Ankara

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
April 11 2007

A draft framework decision by EU term president Germany and Justice
Minister Cemil Cicek’s approach toward the issue of freedom of
speech is likely to spark a new verbal sparring match between the EU
candidate country and the bloc, with a disagreement between the two
sides over what should be legally protected within the framework of
freedom of expression.

Ankara has been concerned that the draft introducing punishment for
denial of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity could be
used to silence debate about Armenian claims of genocide at the hands
of the Ottoman Empire and these concerns have already been conveyed
to the German government both during last month’s talks in Berlin
between Cicek and his German counterpart, Brigitte Zypries, as well
as during talks between Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and his German
counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, which also took place in Berlin
earlier this month.

The draft would bring up to three years of imprisonment for those who
deny "genocides and war crimes committed against humanity." According
to the draft, punishment of crimes of racism, xenophobia and denial of
genocide will not be immediately binding for the member EU countries,
but they will eventually have to transpose their national legislation
accordingly. Ankara argues that if the draft is adopted, any decision
by a national court or a national parliament of an EU member country
that would make it a crime to deny that Armenians were victims of
"genocide" at the hands of the Ottoman Empire would open the way for
imprisonment for dismissing the genocide charges in other EU member
countries. Late on Monday, following a Cabinet meeting, Cicek for
the first time publicly complained of the draft, mentioning the draft
would be brought on agenda of the EU later this month.

"This is an extremely inappropriate draft," Cicek said, criticizing
those who say there is no freedom of expression in Turkey or freedom of
expression has been limited in Turkey for not showing the appropriate
reaction to the draft, which he described as "devastating for the
freedom of expression."

Certain circles in Ankara and Ýstanbul are saying that the EU forms
the basis of freedom of expression, Cicek said, suggesting that this
draft would block conducting research on historical facts. He added
that PM Recep Tayyip Erdoðan would bring up the issue during his
talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel as he travels to Germany
over the weekend to jointly open with her Hanover Messe 2007, the
world’s largest industry and technology fair.

As for the Germany’s position, when approached by Today’s Zaman
following Cicek’s statement, Klemens Semtner, counselor for political
and press affairs at the German Embassy in Ankara, said the primary
motive of the draft — which was originally drawn up in 2001 after a
decade of escalation in racist crimes and xenophobia in all Europe,
which also targeted people of Turkish descent — was not made with
the Armenian allegations in mind.

"In the context of freedom of speech, we’re talking about statements
that incite hatred and violence, and I believe that no country would
regard these kinds of statements within the framework of freedom of
expression," Semtner said. "The draft text doesn’t cover governmental
statements and scientific research," he added, referring to Cicek’s
argument suggesting that if adopted, the draft would also block
scientific studies.

"There is a broad consensus among EU member countries that such
statements aimed at inciting hatred are not covered by freedom of
expression," he emphasized.

Meanwhile, an EU diplomat, speaking with Today’s Zaman separately
under condition of anonymity, warned that the Turkish government
should not evaluate the draft decision and the infamous Article 301
of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) — which makes it a criminal offense
to denigrate "Turkishness" and is widely considered as a barrier in
front of freedom of expression in Turkey — within the same context.

"I don’t remember that there was a call for inciting hatred in
any of cases opened under Article 301," the same diplomat said,
referring to the fact that under the Article 301 many intellectuals,
including slain journalist Hrant Dink and Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk,
were also charged. "These are not comparable," he concluded.

–Boundary_(ID_w9e+T/EPLxu24JVfe7Xf9w) —

AZERBAIJANI EMBASSY IN US SENDS REPORTS ABOUT SEMA ASSOCIATED TO FOREIGN MINISTRY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 11 2007

Azerbaijani embassy in the US has sent reports about the American SEMA
Associated company, which is reportedly preparing a general plan of
Shusha, to the Foreign Ministry, Azerbaijani embassy told the APA.

Khazar Ibrahim, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry said they will
investigate whether this company is operating in the occupied
Azerbaijani territories.

"If it is so, we will send corresponding reports to the US state
bodies, including the Department of State. We will demand the company
to stop operating in Nagorno Karabakh. The action which is contrary
to the international law and Azerbaijan legislation might result in
the company’s having no access to Azerbaijan. If it does not work out,
we will try to influence on the company through the US state bodies,"
he said.

PIPELINE TALKS HALT NOT END OF PROCESS-TURK OFFICIAL (10/04/2007)

Energy.gr, Greece
April 10 2007

Turkey has suspended talks with Gaz de France (GDF) over the proposed
acquisition by the French group of a stake in a major gas pipeline
project, but the decision is not final, a Foreign Ministry official
said Friday.

A press report claimed Thursday the talks had been suspended because
of a political row sparked by French pressure to label Turkish action
against Armenians during World War I as genocide.

"This is not a final decision. We understand that the negotiating
process has not yet come to an end," the diplomat told AFP on the
condition of anonymity.

"This is a commercial issue between companies and they will make the
final decision on the basis of financial considerations," he added.

The five-company Nabucco consortium, involving Turkey’s BOTAS, plans
to build a 3,300-kilometer (2,000-mile) pipeline that will carry
natural gas from the Middle East and Central Asia to the European
Union via Turkey and the Balkans, bypassing Russia.

"Negotiations have been complicated and slowed down by the genocide
issue," confirmed another source close to the case.

The other partners in Nabucco are Austria’s oil and gas group OMV,
Hungary’s MOL, Bulgaria’s Bulgargaz and Romania’s Transgaz.

The consortium is seeking a sixth partner in the 6-billion-dollar
(4.5-billion-euro) project, expected to become operational in 2012.

The other partners reportedly approved GDF’s participation, but BOTAS
has opposed it because of a French draft law on the Armenian massacres.

A bill was adopted by the National Assembly in Paris in October
calling for jail sentences for those who deny that Ottoman Turks
committed genocide against Armenians during World War I.

It must still go before the Senate, then back to the lower house
before becoming law.

Turkey had at the time threatened unspecified measures against the
bill, which followed a 2001 resolution by the French parliament
recognizing the killings as genocide.

In November, the Turkish army froze bilateral military ties with
France over the bill.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin perished in orchestrated
killings between 1915 and 1917 under the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey categorically rejects the genocide label and says thousands of
Turks and Armenians were killed in civil strife when Armenians took
up arms for independence in eastern Anatolia and sided with Russian
troops invading the crumbling empire.

ARF CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF WITH LARGE RALLY

Yerkir
10.04.2007 13:03

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – "Dashnaktsutyun is launching its campaign
well-prepared to a victory, which will belong to the people and will
be acquired jointly," ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian told
thousands of participates of the April 9 rally in Yerevan’s Charles
Aznavour square.

Residents from Armenian regions arrived to Yerevan to cast their
support to the ARF.

"We will not curse anybody, we will not seed hatred, neither will we
threaten or pay election bribes. I am sure that our wise people will
ignore the lie and pressure, and will secure its victory by voting
for the ARF," Hrant Margarian said.

ARF Supreme Body of Armenia representative Armen Rustamian said that
the ARF stands before the people with its work and has nothing to be
shame of, and it is responsible for what it has not completed.

"More seats in the parliament will strengthen the might of the ARF
for many times to solve the problems the country faces. In the May 12
vote we will solve an issue of forming a government because only one
year later, the presidential election will be held, and the parliament
will be decisive for that election. Our gaol is to make citizens feel
secure in his country," Rustamian said.

"Welcome to a new period, which, I am sure, we will open in Armenia’s
history on May 12," ARF Bureau member and deputy parliament speaker
Vahan Hovhannisian said. "We are gathered here today to show that
we will trust Dashnaktsutyun as we trust our old friend," he said,
adding that Dashnaktsutyun considers everyone its friend regardless
what party they belong to.

"We are not a party created around one individual," Hrayr Karapetian,
the leader of the ARF faction in parliament said, adding that any
ARF member to be elected to parliament will be carrying out the
party’s program.

Armenian singers performed in concert during the rally. New songs
dedicated to the ARF were performed.

ATG TO TEST NEW VARIETIES OF HARICOT, MAIZE AND SUDAN GRASS

ARMENPRESS
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS; The Armenian Technology Group (ATG),
a non-profit organization, based in Fresno, California, USA, will
implement this year a pilot program in Ararat, Tavush and Armavir
regions to test three American species of haricot.

The Yerevan Office of the ATG said three species had been tested
already last year yielding a very good outcome and bringing substantial
profits to farmers who planted it on their lands.

Also two varieties of American lentils will be planted in these areas
this year to see what they would yield. The ATG plans also to test
three verities of American maize which would be used as fodder.

Apart form that the ATG will plant five hectares of land with Sudan
grass in Yeghegnadzor as fodder and the yield will be given to a goat
farm established there with the help of the USDA.

ARMENIAN FAMILY MURDERED IN STAVROPOL

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 06 2007

STAVROPOL, APRIL 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A triple murder
took place in a private house along the street of Lermontov, the city
of Stavropol where Armenians, natives of Baku, have lived already
for a long time. The "Yerkramas" (country) newspaper quotes words
of Prosecutor of the Stavropol region of Leninskiy Andrey Vlasov, in
the words of who the murder took place on late April 1. An Armenian
businessman (whose name is not stated), his wife and mother were
killed with a knife. Their bodies were found by the daughter of the
killed people who returned from a walk in that Sunday evening. As the
investigation established then, jewels and technical equipment were
stolen from the house. Besides the murder with a goal of robbery,
the investigation did not exclude other motives, either.

ARMENIAN EXPERT: NO US ACTION AGAINST IRAN WILL BE TAKEN TILL LATE MAY

Regnum, Russia
April 5 2007

No military intervention into Iran is expected now, the director of
the Oriental Studies Institute of the Armenian National Academy of
Sciences, Prof. Ruben Safrastyan said at a news conference today.

According to him, today there is only information campaign that is
manipulating public opinion and hints that a war is possible.

"However, by the end of May, when the UN ultimatum expires, there will
be no US military actions against Iran. In late May, US Third Fleet
is to arrive in the Persian Gulf that is to rotate with the fleet,
which is now deployed there. But Iran’s isolation has not reached
the stage wanted by the USA," Safrastyan says.

At the same time, according to the professor, Iran has a
thousand-year-long experience in diplomacy, so the USA must consider
the country seriously. Ruben Safrastyan reiterated that Iran is not
Iraq, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is not Saddam Hussein. "One must keep
this in mind, first of all, by the US administration," he stressed
saying that the Iran-US relations are important for the whole world
and, naturally, no wonder, that everyone’s attention is engrossed
with it.