Author: Kalashian Nyrie

PanARMENIAN.Net

Opposition parties hold protests in `live queue’ order

13.05.2007 18:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `We have always declared these elections are
accompanied by unprecedented distribution of bribes, and their results
can be called victory of campaign bribes,’ Stepan Demirchyan, leader
of People’s Party of Armenia (PPA) stated, who currently participates
in the on-going protest of the radical `Impeachment’ block.

He said, the party cannot accept the results of the so-called
`elections’. Commenting on statements of international observers
leader of PPA underlined observers give standard formulations, but the
number of people who have gathered in the Square prove that the
society does not accept the results of these election. Outwardly
elections really passed in a quieter atmosphere than it was in 2003,
however observers were well informed about violations during the whole
process, Demirchyan stated.

Commenting on the question why PPA joined the movement of
`Impeachment’ block exactly now, Demirchyan underlined, `During its
last meeting our party made a statement that our attitude towards
elections will be made public at the protest soon after the election
day, but `Impeachment’ block declared about its intention to hold a
rally on the Liberty Square, that’s why we have to wait for them to
finish their meeting and we shall proceed with our own protest’.
According to statements of `Impeachment’ leaders, they are going to
stay in the Square till the final victory, IA Regnum reports.

Because of the rain the total number of participants of the protest is
a little bit less than of previous protests organized by `Impeachment’
block.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: "I WANT THAT THERE ARE OPPOSING FORCES OF ARMENIA
BUT NOT FOREIGN REPRESENTATIONS AT PARLIAMENT"

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. President of Armenia Robert Kocharian
with his wife and daughter participated in the vote of the
parliamentary elections at 11:00 of May 12, at polling station No9/11,
Yerevan S. Spandarian secondary school No24.

"I voted for the future of Armenia, continual character of the economic
and social reforms," the RA President said, expressing a hope that the
elections will proceed in a normal way.

To avoid speculations, Robert Kocharian refused to mention for what
force he voted. "I want one thing that there are opposing forces of
Armenia but not foreign representations in the form of different
factions at our parliament. I do not want to foretell, there are few
hours remained," the country President said.

In the RA President’s words, the most important thing is that after the
elections everybody continues normal working process, a government is
formed and everybody is engaged in his affair. Everybody was evident
till now that the pre-electoral period and the elections were calm till
this moment.

Responding the journalist’s question if political forces prepare for
the parliamentary or president’s elections, the RA President said that
according to the country legislation, everybody may pretend for the
president’s post. The force which will get the most part of votes will
have starting and preferable position.

"I do not think that results of those elections predetermine the
president’s elections. One must estimate from the viewpoint of the new
Constitution: the president who will have good levers at the
parliament, will be a real figure and real head of the state. One must
estimate in the sense what kind of assistant will be shown to the
president by the parliament: the majority will assist, we shall have a
strong president, no assistance will be, a nominal head will be," R.
Kocharian mentioned.

OSCE observers upbeat on Armenian parliamentary vote

Arminfo
12 May 07

Yerevan, 12 May: "Speaking about the organization of the voting
process, we can say that the current situation is encouraging. Voting
is going on well," the spokesman of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
observation mission, Klas Bergmann, has told our correspondent.

He said that he had visited six polling stations in Yerevan together
with the head of the observation mission and vice-president of the
OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Tone Tinsgaard, and some other
observers.
"We were inspired by what we saw at these polling stations. The
atmosphere at the polling stations was heart-warming. We were pleased
with cooperation between voters and officials who informed them about
election procedures.

Moreover, we were surprised at the high turnout – at some poling
stations people queued to vote," the observer said, especially noting
polling station No 12. Speaking about the Armenian authorities’
assistance to the observation mission, Bergmann said that he was
touched by the warm reception that Armenian officials had given to
observers.

[Passage omitted: Bergmann on observers’ plans]

SERGE SARGSIAN: I WOULD LIKE THESE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS TO BE THE
BEST IN ARMENIAN HISTORY

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Prime Minister, Chairman of Board of
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Serge Sargsian with his wife and
daughter took part in voting at 12:00, May 12 at polling station N 9/11
in the building of S. Spandarian comprehensive school N 24.

"I would like these parliamentary elections to be estimated as the best
in the history of our country by our people and many international
observers," the Prime Minister stated after voting.

S. Sargsian expressed an opinion that there will be no falsifications,
"the process of voting has been calm by now, there are no serious facts
causing anxiety, the turnout must be high, as the political forces
conducted a good election campaign."

Touching upon the statements of various political forces that
pro-governmental forces exceeded their authority in the preelection
stage, the Prime Minister said that Armenia is a democratic country,
the preelection stage has passed in line with democratic principles and
all kinds of statements are possible.

S. Sargsian assured that the opposition is mature in Armenia and even
during postelectoral rallies it will not try to violate law or public
order and no conflicts will emerge.

NO MOBILE PHONES IN PRECINCTS

A1+
[09:30 pm] 09 May, 2007

Today the Central Electoral Commission convened a plenary session to
discuss election-related issues. It is noteworthy that voters cannot
photograph ballots by mobile phones at May 12 elections.

"Certainly, we cannot take cellar phones from people.

Commission members can watch voters during the election as the
cabins are open and secure transparency, says Garegin Azaryan, the
CEC Chairman.

Under a CEC decision, voters can attend precincts only once. In case
voters’ names are left out of electoral rolls, they can return to
electoral districts after restoring their right at the corresponding
police department.

ALADDIN BOYUKKAYA: "YEREVAN’S REFUSAL TO ISSUE VISA TO TURKISH DELEGATION IS OBVIOUS EXPRESSION OF HOSTILITY"

Today, Azerbaijan
May 10 2007

"Observers from OSCE member states will also observe the
parliamentary elections in Armenia. But Armenia refused to grant
visa to Turkish delegation to visit Yerevan," Aladdin Boyukkaya,
Turkish parliamentarian from AKP, OSCE PA member told.

He stressed that the state built on hostile ideology can not live,
APA reports.

"Yerevan’s refusal to issue visa to the Turkish delegation is the
obvious expression of hostility against Turks in international scale.

As Armenians do not want any truth to be revealed. They aim to develop
their hostile strategies against Turks. The state built on hostile
ideology can not live. We condemn this act and believe OSCE will
issue warning regarding this issue. As OSCE group of the parliament,
we will take necessary actions. Because we will visit Yerevan on
behalf of an international organization," he said.

Boyukgaya also reminded rudeness against NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s
vice-president Vahit Ardam.

"Ardam went to Yerevan through NATO. Though he received visas, he
faced disrespect in Armenia. They can not bear our visiting Armenia,"
he said.

Commenting on the claims on so-called Armenian genocide, AKP
parliamentarian said Armenians’ policy to force Turkey to accept
these claims will fail.

"As Armenian state policy focuses on hostility against Turkish, they
try to achieve their ambitions in haste. They know well that their
fantasy of genocide is not true. On the contrary, it is Armenians
who committed genocide against Turks. Armenia’s continuing to occupy
Azerbaijani territories led to one million people becoming displaced.

Isn’t it genocide? A state can not be built on hostility. Because
hostility can bring hostility and Armenians can face serious
consequences. I am sure the rulers of Armenia would not be able to
overcome this policy," the parliamentarian underlined.

URL:

ACCORDING TO ANONYMOUS SOURCES, FRENCH ARMENIAN DEPUTY MAY BECOME MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF COUNTRY

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 10 2007

PARIS, MAY 10, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Patrick Devedjian, a
deputy of the French Parliament, close ally of newly-elected President
Nicolas Sarkozy, who is an Armenian by origin, may occupy the post of
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France. The Jumhurriyet newspaper
states about it, quoting anonymous sources of the Elysee Palace.

As it is already famous, Nicolas Sarkozy arrests one’s attention with
his negative views concerning Turkey’s membership to the EU. And
when Ankara heard the news of Sarkozy’s victory at the president’s
elections, political suppositions concerning possible worsening of
the Ankara-Paris mutual relations started. And as the Jumhurriyet
newspaper mentions, the spread rumours about Devedjian’s becoming
the Foreign Minister of France more increase Ankara’s anxiety.

TURKISH FM: ARMENIA IS A COUNTRY FAR FROM CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE AND LIVING WITH DOUBTS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 8 2007

Turkish Foreign Ministry made a statement on Armenian government’s
prohibiting Turkish observers to follow the parliamentary elections
in Armenia in the composition of OSCE mission, APA reports.

The statement says that when 8-member Turkish observer group in the
composition of OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights were about to leave for Armenia on May 6 OSCE told Ankara that
Yerevan does not issue visa to Turkish observers. OSCE officials
said that Armenia does not consider Turkish observers’ arriving in
Armenia expedient.

Turkish Foreign Ministry considers that this step shows that Armenia
is a country far from constructive dialogue and living with doubts.

Turkish Foreign Ministry calls on all states and international
organizations attaching great importance to Armenia’s democratic
development, establishing peace and friendly neighborhood relations
in the region to take all these into account.

ARMENIA AND KARABAKH MARK V-DAY AND SHOUSHI LIBERATION DAY ON MAY 9

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.05.2007 09:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 9 Armenia marks the V-Day and the Day of
Yerkrapah (Union of Volunteers of the Karabakh war). In connection
with these holidays a number of events will be held in the republic.

Particularly events of placing wreaths in "Yerablur" pantheon and
Victory Park, as well as attending to the "Mother Armenia" museum are
scheduled, Defense Ministry Spokesman colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan told
the PanARMENIAN.Net. Participants of events with a minute of silence
will honor the memory of those who perished their lives during battles,
after which a military parade will be held. A concert will be organized
in the Republic Square, which will be concluded by fireworks.

On May 9 Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh mark not only as V-Day in the
World War II, but also as Shoushi Liberation Day, as well as the
foundation day of the NKR Defense Army.

On May 9 in the Revival Square of Stepanakert a military parade of
NKR Defense Army will be held.

After it the Armenian delegation at the head of President Robert
Kocharian together with NKR leadership and President Arkadi Ghukassian
will visit the Memorial Complex of Stepanakert. They will place wreaths
to the monument in memory of those who died during the war. An event
of placing flowers to the tank-monument that first attacked Shoushi
will be organized in Shoushi. In the center of Shoushi officials
will also lay flowers to the monument of Vazgen Sargsyan, military
leader and Prime Minister of Armenia, who was killed during Armenian
National Assembly’s session in 1999.

Besides the Center of Crafts will be opened in Shoushi. Also a
photo exhibition entitled "Shoushi with Children’s eyes" will be
held. Participants of events will attend the St. Kazanchetsost Church
of Shoushi. The "Shoushi Revival" Fund will organize a number of events
in Shoushi. Particularly it is going to open a movie theater in the
town and conduct the "Golden Apricot" film festival. In the evening of
May 8 video projection and presentation of the new general layout, as
well as the new coat of arms and Fund’s plans for reconstructing the
town will be shown on the walls of Shoushi fortress. In the evening
President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Arkadi Ghukassian will
held a reception. At the end a holiday concert with participation of
local and invited singers will be organized in the Revival Square of
Stepanakert. A mass firework will conclude the concert.

Leader of the Armenian communists: Maybe we ate Ukrainian meat over
the soviet times but then children in villages were not waiting for
the men to give them biscuits because of the elections

Arminfo Agency
2007-05-07 14:48:00

"Maybe we ate Ukrainian meat over the soviet times but then hungry
schoolchildren in villages were not running after the electioneers
from Yerevan and waiting for the biscuit promised by some people ", –
first secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee, Rouben
Tovmasyan, said today over the debates in the Mirror club.

He also added that after the election trips to the regions one may
speak about hopeless situation and endless poverty in the regions. , –
Tovmasyan said.

Asked by the ArmInfo correspondent about the actions of the communists
in case of the forthcoming parliamentary election fraud, Rouben
Tovmasyan replied: .