Author: Kanayan Tamar

2-2.5MLN USD DISTRIBUTED BY THE RULING PARTIES

15:22 . 08/05

2/3 of Armenia’s voters vote frankly, and only 1/3 expects something
before the elections. This is the opinion of sociologist Aharon
Adibekyan.

He considers the “Sociometer” centre headed by him to be the best in
the region and one of the best in the world. Aharon Adibekyan thinks
that mainly the candidates nominated by the majoritarian representation
have distributed election bribe. In any case, only 3/5 of the votes
is a result of election bribes.

According to his calculations, 2-2.5mln USD was distributed mainly
by the ruling parties, not including the phones. Nevertheless, he
states that democracy has won in Armenia. Adibekyan said without
giving names he was told himself: “we’ll buy the votes and we’ll win”.

The sociologist positively assesses the calm atmosphere in the polling
stations and dreams about the future elections.

“All of us are responsible. Our poverty, our immaturity, our
self-importance: all these are added and the elections take place
outside the polling stations. At least we have discipline at the
polling stations now. That is a very important fact. We have only to
raise the political culture of the voters a little, to grow a little
rich so that people are able to vote not being guided by economic
interests but by ideas,” Aharon Adibekyan said.

IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: WE HAVE EXCLUSIVE RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA

arminfo
Tuesday, May 8, 17:18

Iran has 15 bordering neighbors, but we have exclusive relations with
Armenia, Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Seyed Ali Saghayian, who is
completing his diplomatic mission in Armenia, made such statement
at his farewell meeting with Agricultural Minister of Armenian Sergo
Karapetyan, Wednesday.

The press-service of the Agricultural Ministry told ArmInfo the meeting
was held at the request of the Iranian Ambassador. The Iranian diplomat
congratulated the minister on successful parliamentary elections and
briefed on the results of his diplomatic mission.

“Our strategic relations have been formed as a result of the political
will of the two countries’ leaders, which, in turn, contributed to
enhancement of regional stability and security,” Seyed Ali Saghayian
said.

The minister, in turn, highly appreciated the personal contribution
of the ambassador to development of agricultural relations between
Armenia and Iran. He said that for Armenia boosting relations with
Iran is of exclusive importance.

DEFENDERS OF MASHTOTS PARK DEMAND PUNISHING POLICEMEN WHO APPLIED FORCE AGAINST THEM ON APR 29

arminfo
Tuesday, May 8, 18:14

The defenders of Mashtots Park demand punishing the policemen who
applied force against them on Apr 29.

In their letter to the Prosecutor General the greens demand making
responsible police officers Karen Movsisyan, Robert Melkonyan and
Valery Osipyan.

They even have a picture of Movsisyan beating a green activist.

On May 2, the next day after President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit to
Mashtots Park, the Mayor of Yerevan decreed to remove the boutiques
he had instructed to place there earlier.

The Greens are not satisfied though. They say that, according to the
Constitution, the President does have the right to interfere in the
work of local governments and they marched to the Municipality building
on May 4 in order to hand the Mayor a copy of the Constitution.

ARMENIA’S MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE BIDS FAREWELL TO OUTGOING IRANIAN AMBASSADOR

news.am
May 08, 2012 | 16:12

YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan bid
farewell to outgoing Iranian Ambassador Seyed Ali Saghaeyan on Tuesday
on the latter’s request.

“We have 15 direct neighbors, but the most exclusive relations are
with Armenia. Our strategic relations come forth due to the political
will of both states, which have also contributed to the stability
and strengthening of peace in the region,” Saghaeyan said.

The Minister gave appraisal of Ambassador’s personal contribution to
the cooperation in field of agriculture.

Touching upon the development of further relations during his visit
to Iran, Karapetyan stated that expanding and deepening of relations
are of paramount importance for Armenia as well.

RPA’S OBSERVER POCKETS MONEY FOUND IN VOTING ENVELOPE – PAPER

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 8, 2012 – 11:03 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – According to Zhoghovurd paper, a strange envelope
emerged from the ballot box during ballot count at 5/4 polling station
in Yerevan’s Davitashen district.

A voter put AMD10000 note in the envelope along with an unchecked
ballot paper which said: “You won’t get away with this, rascals”.

Observer representing the ruling Republic Party of Armenia, head of
the local housing community Derenik Ziroyan took the money and put
it in his pocket, the paper says.

Proxy of the opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC) Anahit
Nersisyan asked him: “Did you put the money in? Why are you taking
it?” Ziroyan, however, gave no response.

It is worth noting that this incident has not been registered.

When Zhoghovurd’s reporter asked Nersisyan why it was not documented,
the proxy replied: “A protocol would not change anything. It was of
no use.”

THEY DON’T CARE FOR 10,000 DRAMS OF RPA AND PA

Story from Lragir.am News:

Published: 10:52:08 – 08/05/2012

The citizens of Armenia are not what the politicians criticize them
for, trying to justify their own inability.

The People Newspaper reported that during the count in polling station
5/4 in Yerevan the commission members found a 10,000 dram banknote
in the envelope and a note on the ballot stating ~Syou will not get
away with it~T. The Republican proxy and the chair of the municipality
Derenik Ziroyan took the money and put it in his pocket.

A similar case was reported in Koti village, Tavush region, polling
station 40/23. The members of the commission found a torn 10,000
dram banknote in the envelope with a ballot voted for the Prosperous
Armenia Party. It was the answer of the villager to the briber.

6TH (DAB) REGIONAL CO-PRODUCTION FORUM TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN JULY 10-12

armradio.am
08.05.2012 11:59

The 6th Directors Across Borders (DAB) Regional Co-Production Forum
will be held in Yerevan July 10-12 within the framework of the 9th
Golden Apricot International Film Festival.

The DAB Co-Production Forum is an annual event aimed at promoting
talents and film production/co-production in the Eastern Partnership
countries, namely: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova
and Ukraine. DAB Regional Co-Production Forum is part of the DAB
Eastern Partnership Program which is supported by the European Union
and implemented by GOLDEN APRICOT Fund for Cinema Development in
Armenia and its partners – MAIA (Italy), INTERFILM (Ukraine), Cinema
Art Center Prometheus (Georgia) and INTERNEWS (Armenia).

This year’s DAB Regional Co-Production Forum is focused on
feature-length fiction film projects. Directors and producers from
the above mentioned countries can apply with film projects which are
in development phase. Preferable that they be co-production projects.

The DAB 2012 Forum will mainly consist of short trainings program
conducted by renowned trainers and guest speakers; this will
provide directors and producers of selected projects with innovative
opportunities for collaboration and developing careers. Alongside
trainings, the Forum will include pitching session and one-to-one
meetings with international professionals and producers.

DID MP’S SON ATTEMPT TO HIJACK VILLAGE ELECTION DOCUMENTS?
Grisha Balasanyan

hetq
13:05, May 8, 2012

A tense atmosphere reigned throughout Election District 21 in Armavir
Marz on May 6.

MPs Nahapet Gevorgyan (Republican Party) and Roustam Gasparyan
(Prosperous Armenia) were out and about on election day on a sacred
mission to round up votes for their respective parties.

The fact that there is no love lost between the two only escalated
tensions.

Hetq has learnt that around 2 am on May 7, when Armen Sargsyan,
President of the Ajgevan village election committee was transporting
election documents to the town of Armavir for processing, his car
was stopped by a son of one of the above-mentioned MPs.

The man ordered Sargsyan to hand over the documents or else. Sargsyan
was able to flee the scene and head to the Prosperous Armenia Party
headquarters.

A group of men then escorted Sargsyan and the documents to the election
district office.

We telephoned Sargsyan for clarification. He neither denied nor
confirmed the story.

“I will tell you only if you show up at the Prosperous Armenia offices,
in the presence of our boss Roustam Gasparyan,” Sargsyan said.

We’ve been trying to get in touch with Gasparyan since last night to
no avail. Our telephone calls are being returned with the notation,
“Out of Reach”.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN TO PARTICIPATE IN SHOUSHI LIBERATION CELEBRATIONS

Panorama.am
08/05/2012

Second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan will participate in
celebrations dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the establishment
of NKR Defense Army and liberation of Shoushi, Viktor Soghomonyan,
Kocharyan’s spokesman, told Panorama.am.

Read also: Serzh Sargsyan leaves for Artsakh

ARMENIAN GRANDMASTERS ARE THE FAVORITES OF USA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

ARMENPRESS
8 May, 2012
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 8, ARMENPRESS: Armenian grandmaster from America Varujan
Hakobyan will play under the first number in the starting USA national
chess tournament in traditional chess centre of USA Saint Luis city.

Armenpress was informed about this from Armenian chess federation.

12 chess players will take part in the competition including famous
grandmasters Hikaru Nakamura, Gata Kamsky, Grigory Kaydanov, Aleksander
Onischuk and others.

Hakobyan who traditionally has good performance in USA chess
tournaments this time also is considered to be as one of the favorites
of the tournament.

In USA women national chess tournament in Saint Luis city will take
part Armenian grandmaster from America Tatev Abrahamyan who will
struggle with Irina Krush, Sabina Foishor and other 6 grandmasters
for the tournament’s medals.