Author: Kalantarian Kevo

ARMENIANS ARE VOTING TO ELECT A NEW PARLIAMENT.

Radio New Zealand

May 7 2012

The Republican Party of President Serge Sarkisian and the Prosperous
Armenia party – both in the governing coalition – are seen as the
main contenders.

The main opposition force is the Armenian National Congress, founded
by ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosyan.

President Sarkisian insisted the vote would be fair, but opposition
groups have already voiced concern about irregularities.

The vote is being monitored by about 300 observers from the
Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

ARMENIA RULING PARTY RETAINS GRIP ON POWER

Gulf Times

May 7 2012
Qatar

President Serzh Sarksyan’s Republican Party will keep its grip on
power after a parliamentary election in Armenia yesterday, an exit poll
showed after voting ended in the South Caucasus country. The exit poll
released by Gallup International Association put the party on course
to win more than 44% of the votes in an election that passed off
without any of the violence that marred the last national poll in 2008.

Its main partner in the previous coalition, the Prosperous Armenia
party led by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, was trailing in second place
on nearly 29% of the votes, it showed. “It’s clear who has won,”
Gallup’s Andrey Raychev told Armenia TV, which published the exit
poll. He said the Central Election Commission is expected to start
receiving the first results from regional polling stations across
the country of 3.3mn by midnight.

More than 300 international observers from the Organisation for
Security and Cooperation in Europe monitored voting and will give
their initial verdict today. One observer said privately there had
been some violations, but it was not clear how widespread or serious
they were. Ink stamps on the passports of people who had already
voted had disappeared within 15 minutes, giving them the chance to
vote again, the observer, who did not want to be named, said, citing
several such reports.

The exit poll suggested three parties apart from the big two were
likely to win the 5% of votes needed to enter parliament.

The Armenian National Congress, an opposition coalition led by former
president Levon Ter-Petrosyan, might also cross the 7% threshold set
for blocs of parties to win seats, it showed. The Central Election
Commission said turnout had passed 51.53% three hours before the
polls close.

There were no reports of violence, an encouraging sign for a country
that wants stability to boost the economy, devastated by a war with
neighbouring Azerbaijan in the 1990s and then the 2008-2009 global
financial crisis.

SCR EXPANDS COOPERATION WITH ARMENIAN COMPANIES

/ARKA/
May 7, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, May 7. /ARKA/. South Caucasian Railway (SCR), a Russian-run
company operating Armenia’s railroads, said today it remains committed
to its policy of supporting domestic production and expansion of
cooperation with Armenian companies, citing its cooperation with
Mobile Tiwi company as a good example of fruitful collaboration.

Mobile Tiwi is a supplier of rubber superstructure products for the
needs of the railway.

SCR said it has started cooperation with Mobile Tiwi in 2010. During
this period of time it never fell behind deliveries schedule. In 2012
the company received a certificate of Conformity from Federal Agency
for Technical Regulation and Metrology of the Russian Federation.

‘SCR provides ongoing support for the Armenian economy, which is
expressed primarily in support of domestic producers. In particular,
the railroad gives priority to local companies while purchasing
products, goods and services. Last year the volume of SCR purchases
was over 2 billion drams, and in 2012 this figure will be more than
4 billion drams,’ it said in a press release.

With the gradual development of the rail industry, the number of
employees of partner companies of SCR is growing. Thus, over the past
3 years, about two thousand new jobs have been founded.

In addition, SCR holds a policy of supporting small and medium
businesses, facilitating companies of this type to enter international
markets, providing transportation services to sufficiently competitive
rates.

South Caucasus Railways is a 100% subsidiary of state-run Russian
Railways that was awarded a concesional management of SCR. The 30 year
contract was signed in 2008. It can be prolonged for another 10 years.

75 STILL IN HOSPITAL AFTER BALLOON EXPLOSION IN YEREVAN

06:27 pm | Today | Social

As of May 7, 75 of the 154 people injured during the Friday balloon
explosion in Yerevan are still in hospital. Fifteen of them are still
at reanimation wards.

Doctors say their condition is satisfactory, the Ministry of Health
reports.

At least 154 people were injured in the Armenian capital on may 4 after
clusters of gas balloons exploded at a political rally organised by
the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK).

Municipal authorities blamed the explosions on a cigarette being lit
near the balloons.

The balloons were decorated with the governing Republican Party’s
slogan “Let’s believe in change”.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH CAPITAL CITY TO HOST PARADE ON 20 YEARS OF SHUSHI LIBERATION

news.am
May 07, 2012 | 18:17

STEPANAKERT. – A military parade will be held in the Renaissance
Square on Wednesday devoted to the 20th anniversary of liberation of
Shushi city in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The main rehearsal was held on May 5, Karabakh Defense Ministry informs
Armenian News-NEWS.am. It is expected that the upcoming parade will
exceed all the previous ones by quantity and presentation of military
equipment.

ARMENIAN LEADER: ARMENIAN COMMUNITY HAS SATISFACTORY CO-EXISTENCE WITH MUSLIMS IN IRAN

IRNA
MAY 7, 2012
TEHRAN

Tehran, May 7, IRNA – Armenian religious leader from Sicily Church
Jasliq Aram I said on Monday that Iran acts based on justice and the
Armenian community in Iran has had satisfactory co-existence with
Muslim fellow countrymen for several hundred years.

He made the remarks in his address to a Mass at sacred Sarkis Church
in Tehran.

He said that he believes that Iran has been a successful country in
the Middle East in terms of administering justice.

The Armenian religious leader is scheduled to take part in the Fifth
Conference on Dialogue of Civilizations due to be held in Tehran from
May 14-15.

The Islamic Culture and Relations Organization has invited Jasliq
Aram I to the conference.

Jasliq Aram I will pay tribute to founder of the Islamic Republic
of Iran late Imam Khomeini at his mausoleum and will meet religious
leaders at Qom theological school.

Jasliq Aram I is currently serving as Chairman of World Council
of Churches.

1416**1412

Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 1017220

ARMENIA’S MASS MEDIA PROVIDE BETTER COVERAGE OF ELECTION CAMPAIGN – EXPERT

tert.am
07.05.12

Armenia’s political forces that were running for parliament during
the 2012 parliamentary election campaign had opportunities to deliver
televised election addresses.

Armenia’s mass media provided much more extensive coverage of the
political forces’ elections campaign, Boris Navasardyan, Chairman of
the Yerevan Press Club, told journalists on Monday.

“Although, as compared with last national elections, as well as the
months prior to the 4-week pre-election period, the broadcasters
involved in the survey showed progress, political figures cannot be
said to have shown progress in their behavior,” Navasardyan said. He
noted that hardly any political debates were held during the election
campaign, which is a negative phenomenon.

He pointed out a number of law-related problems.

During the pre-election period, the acts of charity and social
initiatives by the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) and the Rule of
Law party, which were covered by Armenia’s mass media, were actually
camouflaged advertising.

With respect to coverage of the political forces’ election campaign,
Navasardyan noted that the ArmNews TV Company set a record.

“ArmNews mentioned Armenia’s political parties and alliances 295 times,
with the airtime reaching 9,424 seconds,” Navasardyan said. The Kentron
and Yerkir Media TV channels rank second and third respectively.

DOCUMENTARY “SHUSHI’S LEGEND” TO BE SHOWN IN KRASNODAR IN RUSSIAN TRANSLATION

15:24 . 07/05

The documentary “Shushi’s Legend” was translated into Russian
in Krasnodar on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Shushi’s
liberation. The documentary was made at Yerkir Media TV company.

According to the “Yerkramas” newspaper, the film was dubbed at Shochi’s
TV3B TV Company, by the support of the Armenian Union of Sochi and
the Armenian “Yerkramas” newspaper published in Russia.

On May 9, the Armenian nation celebrates three holidays, the victory
of World War II, the liberation of Shushi and the establishment of
the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s defense army.

The documentary “Shushi’s Legend” will be shown in Krasnodar’s cinema.

ARMENIAN DEPUTY PM DISCUSSES IRRIGATION PROJECTS WITH WB REPRESENTATIVE

news.am
May 08, 2012 | 16:41

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Deputy PM and Regional Governance Minister
Armen Gevorgyan on Tuesday received Jean-Michel Happi, World Bank
(WB) Country Manager for Armenia.

The interlocutors examined the course of the irrigation system projects
being carried out in Armenia, and with the WB’s assistance.

They expressed a satisfaction over the quality of the activities and
with respect to their implementation according to schedule.

On behalf of Armenia’s Government, the Deputy PM thanked the WB
in connection with construction of the Marmarik Dam, which was put
into operation just recently. They also reflected on the matter of
continuing dam construction in Armenia. Gevorgyan underscored the
need to expand the opportunities for accumulating water resources in
the country.

It was noted that the Government, with the assistance by the German
KfW Bank, this year plans to commence the preparations for building
the incomplete Kaps Dam.

Armen Gevorgyan and Jean-Michel Happi also discussed the chances for
constructing several incomplete and new dams.

SHUSHI LIBERATION MUST BECOME ALL-ARMENIAN HOLIDAY – COMMANDER

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 8, 2012 – 13:22 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – “The celebrations must feature numerous parades. It
must be a long-awaited holiday,” Manvel Yeghiazaryan told journalists
in Yerevan.

Dwelling on the liberation of Shushi, he said “it became a driving
force for further victories.”

“It made the enemy succumb to panic, while we gained confidence,”
he noted.

Asked whether all the participants of Shushi liberation are presently
known, Yeghiazaryan noted with irony: “As far as I know, only 1500
people participated in the liberation struggle, however about 3000
individuals were granted awards.”

Shushi, due its impregnability, has long served as a unique defensive
point for population of Varanda. In XVIII century it became a fortress
town and a major trade and cultural center in XIX. In 1920, Soviet
power was established in Shushi and in June 1923 Nagorno Karabakh was
transferred to Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. On May 8, 1992,
the city was liberated in an unprecedented operation by Artsakh army.