Author: Kalashian Nyrie

RUSTAMIAN: ARF HAS POTENTIAL TO PREVENT ELECTION FRAUD

Yerkir
26.05.2009 16:02

Yerevan (Yerkir) – "It is no secret that Dashnaktsutyun has found
itself in one against eight – or two against seven- situation in
the election commissions," Armen Rustamian, the ARF Supreme Body of
Armenia chairman, told a news conference today.

He said the party will make sure that no election fraud is taking
place and that the Elections Code is working properly. He said the
ARF has always had that potential.

Rustamian said that each election in this country brings more
questions than answers, and this election, unfortunately, is no
exception. Rustamian added that there is no dispute in this election,
saying that this is probably due to the fact that the public as well
as the political forces did not realize the significance of this
election. The main topic for the dispute, he said, should have been
the changes in the system of governing Yerevan.

The mayor must be accountable before the people, if not directly,
at least before the people’s delegates, the council, he said. "For
the first time, the law on Yerevan will be put to test. But many
people don’t even have an idea about the law," Rustamian said.

"It is important that knowledgeable people are elected. It is also
important that people apply this law properly.

Artsvik Minasyan, the ARF candidate for mayor, said that ea ch
political force is trying to present its position in this election,
and it is natural that the ARF became an opposition force. He said
that after the election, there will be a chance for the party to have
a place in that field.

"NAGORNO KARABAKH: FACTS AGAINST LIES" BOOK PRESENTED IN MOSCOW

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
26.05.2009 14:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Arsen Melik-Shahnazaryan’s book "Nagorno Karabakh:
facts against lies" was presented in Armenian embassy in Moscow.

The event was attended by embassy officials and members of the
Armenian organizations.

Counselor of the embassy Ruben Azizbekyan and permanent representative
of NKR in Moscow stressed the importance of the research carried out
by the author of the book.

NKR representation in Moscow is circulating the book about the
true struggle of Arstakh people and their right to live freely on
their land.

RUSSIAN ARMENIANS’ UNION: ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS OF USA HAVE A HOSTILE ATTITUDE TO EACH OTHER

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
25.05.2009 15:59 GMT+04:00

Armenian organizations of USA have taken a hostile attitude towards
each other, Chairman of Russian Armenians’ Union and Armenian World
Congress, Ara Abrahamyan told a news conference. "I’ve recently been
to USA and had various meetings there. I managed to meet the grandson
of Henry Morgenthau, US Ambassador to Turkey at World War I times.

He gave me the copies of documents and evidences of American diplomats
on Armenian Genocide. We intend to present all these materials in
the fourth volume of collected articles on the Armenian Genocide. But
there’s a question why didn’t our organizations in USA do this before,"
Ara Abrahamyan said. According to him, all Armenian organizations and
structures have to act as a united force in Genocide recognition issue.

"I believe that no organization has a right to declare it’s the only
one to be in charge of Genocide recognition process and lobbying
for national interests," RAU Chairman emphasized. According to him,
Armenian organizations have to organize direct meetings with US
President and his Administration, besides working with Congress
representatives.

GEORGIAN JAZZ SINGER NINO KATAMADZE KNOWN FOR HER SONG DEDICATED TO ARMENIA TO GIVE CONCERT IN AZERBAIJAN

APA
May 21 2009
Azerbaijan

Baku. Ulkar Gasimova – APA. Posters of the Georgian jazz singer and
artist Nino Katamadze’s two-day concert in Baku were installed in
the capital, which announce that Katamadze will perform concerts in
Baku on May 30 and 31. The city residents have been already informed
that the Georgian jazz singer will perform at the Azerbaijan State
Philharmonic Hall and the Face Club.

APA correspondent learned that Katamadze was known in the world for
her song "Olei" dedicated to Armenia. The song was composed in the
genre of vocalise and its b-roll contains the views of Armenia. The
song is presented on Internet as "Olei Yerevan" and its b-roll is
available at Katamadze attended
the jazz festival in Armenia and said she dedicated this song to
Armenia. said that the Georgian performed a
large concert program in Armenia and it was great happiness for the
Armenian people to listen her. Deputy Director of the Azerbaijan
State Philharmonic Hall Afat Mikayilov told APA that they would
investigate the issue and if the facts were confirmed the concerts
would be delayed.

MOSCOW OPPOSED TO "OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE" WITH GARABAGH SETTLEMENT

AzerNews Weekly
May 20 2009
Azerbaijan

A top Russian security official has said Moscow was opposed to any
"outside interference" with the resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.

Speaking on Friday in Yerevan, Yuri Zubakov, Deputy Secretary
of Russia`s Security Council, told a conference on security and
cooperation in the volatile Caucasus region that his country was
against attempts to force any "recipe" of the conflict settlement
upon the parties.

"The main responsibility should rest with the conflicting sides
themselves. And only a decision that would promote peace and strengthen
stability in the Caucasus and prevent it from turning into a ground for
military and political rivalry will be able to stay on," Zubakov said.

According to the deputy secretary, though the sides have not achieved
any progress in the peace process so far, tendencies inspiring optimism
have been observed.

"Despite the fact that some important issues regarding the main
principles of the Garabagh settlement have yet to find their solution,
the tendency that has emerged is a basis for logical, but cautious
optimism."

CRIMINAL APPEAL COURT KEEPS UNCHANGED FIRST INSTANCE COURT’S SENTENCE ON GAGIK JHANGIRIAN’S CASE

Noyan Tapan
May 20, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia’s Criminal Appeal Court
presided by Arshak Khachatrian on May 20 kept unchanged the sentence
of Yerevan Kentron and Nork-Marash communities’ court on the case
of former RA Deputy Prosecutor General Gagik Jhangirian. Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed about it by RA Cassation Court Spokesperson
Alina Yengoyan.

It should be mentioned that the first instance court found
G. Jhangirian guilty of using violence to power representative not
dangerous for life or health (part 1, Article 316, RA Criminal Code)
and sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment.

CYPRUS INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING TIES WITH ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.05.2009 22:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 19, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Karine
Kazinyan met with Petros Kestoras, newly appointed Cyprus Ambassador
to Armenia (residence in Moscow). Expressing satisfaction with Cyprus’
constant support to RA, Ms. Kazinyan hoped for further development
of warm relations between two states. The Greek diplomat in his turn
reiterated official Nicosia’s interest in further strengthening of
ties with Yerevan.

Expressing gratitude to Armenia for balanced position on Cyprus
issue, Petros Kestoras introduced latest developments in negotiation
process. At the Ambassador’s request, Karine Kazinyan exchanged with
him views on Karabakh settlement talks, RA MFA Press Service reports.

FASSIER DISCUSSES KARABAKH ISSUE IN TURKEY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
19.05.2009 11:22 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Minsk Group French Co-chair, Ambassador Bernard
Fassier was in Ankara yesterday for several meetings including one
with Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, the undersecretary of the Foreign
Ministry. This was Fassier’s first visit to the Turkish capital in
his capacity as a Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group – a post he assumed
in 2004.

"The meeting between Apakan and Fassier focused on exchanging
views concerning the current phase in the process of resolving the
Nagorno Karabakh dispute in the light of a recent meeting between the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan, which took place in Prague on
May 7," Today’s Zaman cited a source as saying.

"During the meeting with Fassier, the Turkish side reiterated its
continued support of the OSCE Minsk Group as a permanent member that
had been there from its inception," the source said.

While speaking to reporters over the weekend in Baku ahead of
his departure for Ankara, Fassier was quoted by the Azerbaijani
media as saying: "This is one of the usual discussions between the
members of the Minsk Group France and Turkey. We will discuss all
current issues. There have recently been many visits from Turkey to
Azerbaijan. We will discuss them."

NKR FM: KARABAKH STATUS – CORNERSTONE IN CONFLICT SETTLEMENT PROCESS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
18.05.2009 20:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "15 years of ceasefire, establishes firmer
foundations for NKR statehood and helps build a dynamic system,"
NKR FM Georgy Petrosyan said in an interview to Nagorno Karabakh
Public Television.

"Certainly, it is not the ideal option we’d prefer, but in my view,
we managed to solve the most important problems. We created an army
and build an internal state government system. And all that was done
in wartime and after signing the ceasefire," NKR FM said, stressing
at the same time that Karabakh is seen as a cornerstone in conflict
settlement process.

RPA FACTION REPRESENTATIVES WITHOUT ALTERNATIVE NOMINATED TO TWO VACANT LEADING NA POSTS

Noyan Tapan
May 18, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly at the May 18
sitting started election of NA Vice-Speaker and Chairman of Standing
Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Affairs.

According to the decision made by the Republican Party of Armenia
Executive Body, on behalf of the RPA faction, faction head Galust
Sahakian nominated candidatures of faction Secretary Samvel Nikoyan and
faction member Artak Davtian to the vacant posts, respectively. There
were no other nominations.

According to the NA Regulations, the election will be done by secret
ballot.

At a discussion held before it, in response to deputies’ questions,
S. Nikoyan said that he will continue heading the NA Ad-hoc Committee
on Events Occurred on 1-2 March in Yerevan and Their Reasons.

Unlike the coalition that expressed readiness to vote for, the
Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction, according to faction Secretary Larisa
Alaverdian, is going to vote following its conscience.