Author: Kharatian Ani

REPUBLICANS THINK ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN’S PRONOUNCEMENTS ARE FLIRT

Lragir.am
17-09-2007 14:34:41

The new deputy leader of the Republican Party Galust Sahakyan gave some
distant and indirect advice to the ARF Dashnaktsutyun regarding the
presidential election of 2008. The ARF leadership had stated during the
opening of the General Meeting of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun in Karabakh
though they are in government and they take part in problem solution,
they do not take part in the distribution of economic levers. The
reporters asked about Galust Sahakyan’s attitude, considering that
Sahakyan took part in the opening of the General Meeting and represents
the force which is also part of government. "I think we don’t need
to criticize, we will be doing our job. I think the practice of the
past years showed that before every election they use dark colors to
describe the Republican Party and take the best for them. On the one
hand, they have got used to it, on the other hand, we can analyze it
in our conference and give a reply," Galust Sahakyan says.

The reporters reminded that Hrant Margaryan, member of the ARF
bureau, had said in an interview with the Diasporan media that the
ARF Dashnaktsutyun is positive opposition. Galust Sahakyan says these
pronouncements are but flirt. "There cannot be a positive or negative
government or opposition. There is an opposition camp and there is a
camp of pro-government parties. All the rest is flirting, and everyone
is accountable for their actions at some point. We are saying that
we are responsible for the functions in government in the years when
we were part of government or we’ve been government, both for the
negative and the positive. This is our stance, and in some sense we
do not accept the stance of Dashnaktsutyun," Galust Sahakyan says.

The deputy leader of the Republican Party made some hints at the
ARF Dashnaktsutyun regarding the presidential election and the
post-election process. "Will they run in the election with the mantle
of opposition or a pro-government party? If they wear the mantle
of opposition, they cannot be in government, and if they are part
of the government, they must come to agreement with the centrists
regarding the election and control of its conduct. This is not under
consideration now. There is an option: they can recall their government
levers or ministers and change their capacity. Besides, since they
were in government for so many years now, they may stay and run in
the election with more correct and more governmental responsibility,"
Galust Sahakyan says.

The context of his words is if the ARF Dashnaktsutyun misbehaves in
the presidential election, it may lose its share of government.

However, at least verbally, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun did not behave
in the parliamentary election; in other words, it wore the mantle
of opposition, as Galust Sahakyan put it. However, it did not
prevent Dashnaktsutyun from becoming part of Government. As to who
or what may prevent Dashnaktsutyun from wearing the same mantle of
opposition in the presidential election and staying in government,
Galust Sahakyan made clear that the Republican Party is not going to
remove Dashnaktsutyun from the feeder of government. "I think it is
in the principles and political behavior of the Republican Party,
and we think the political forces should not be removed from the
government levers because our political state is such that everyone
should participate in the political life," says the deputy leader of
the Republican Party.

In other words, Dashnaktsutyun may put up its own candidate, criticize
the Republican Party, accuse the Republican Party of everything but
receive a share in government. "It depends on how they are going to
run in the election. They may even run in the presidential election
and keep their government levers. It depends on what they can tell
the society," Galust Sahakyan says.

He states that the Republican Party is not insulted by the criticism of
the ARF Dashnaktsutyun, which blames the Republican Part for everything
even though it is also part of government. Galust Sahakyan even says
the Republican Party is ready to continue to cooperate with the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun. "In politics there is no insult, they see the results,
analyze and go on. It depends on the political situation after the
presidential election, and it depends on the society’s expectations
from the government," Galust Sahakyan says. According to him, forces
cannot be fully estranged in politics.

SAHAKYAN SUGGESTS DASHNAKSUTIUN EITHER TO PUT DOWN COAT OF OPPOSITION OR REFUSE ITS PORTFOLIOS

Panorama.am
16:30 17/09/2007

"I believe we will not have any problem of responding to Dashnaksutiun
and will continue our work. In the course of years, attempts have been
made to ascribe all black colors during elections to the Republican
party and the best to them," Galust Sahakyan, newly appointed deputy
chairman of the Armenian Republican Party (HHK), reacted so to the
question of reporters today who asked to comment on an opinion in
Supreme Assembly of Dashnaksutiun saying Dashnaksutiun is not identical
with authorities in power in terms of illegalities. Sahakyan said
the attitude is typical not only to Dashnaksutiun also saying they
have got used to it and will analyze and react accordingly during
their assembly.

Speaking about the election formats of Dashnaksutiun, Sahakyan
stated that Dashnaksutiun must decide now if it will take part in the
elections in an "opposition coat" or as part of authorities. "If they
are going to take part in an opposition coat, it means Dashnaksutiun
will not be part of authorities. If it is part of authorities, it
must make arrangements with the authorities in power on supervision of
elections," HHK deputy chairman said suggesting Dashnaksutiun either
to refuse from the layers of authorities, call back its ministers
and take part in the elections in that format or keep to authorities
and take part in the presidential elections "more correctly" and
"with the responsibility of an authority."

RUSSIAN MTS PURCHASES 80% STAKE IN INTERNATIONAL CELL HOLDING LTD – OWNER OF K-TELECOM

ARKA
14 Sept 2007

YEREVAN, September 14. /ARKA/. The biggest operator of mobile
communication in Russia and CIS – Mobile telesystems (MTS) OJSC
reported about purchase of 80% stake in International Cell Holding
Ltd. that is 100% indirect owner of Armenian leading mobile operator
K-Telecom company (VivaCell trademark).

The sides signed an option agreement on purchase/sale of the remaining
20%.

The value of transaction made EUR 310mln, including EUR50mln to
be paid to the seller during 2008-2012 if set target indicators of
revenue and profitability of K-Telecom are achieved.

MTS is also to allocate EUR 140mln credit to K-Telecom to refinance
existing loan facilities and for further investments.

The option agreement on purchase/sale of the remaining 20% comes
into force not earlier than June 2010 and will be effective till
2012. The price for the holding of stock is set based on estimate of
an independent international bank.

This purchase fully complies with MTS’s strategy to capture rapidly
growing markets of CIS, President of MTS Leonid Melamed said.

According to him, Armenia became MTS’s sixth country of operations
in CIS.

"We are pleased to gain entry into this exciting market by partnering
with the market’s leading mobile operator. VivaCell’s high-quality
organization, professional management team and exceptional network
quality coupled with MTS’s experience in the CIS will create synergy
allowing us to fully utilize the market’s potential in the best
interests of our subscribers and shareholders," Melamed said.

"Management has built a solid business in a short period of time, as
well as established foundations for future growth of K-Telecom, and
we are please to enter into this partnership. We would also like to
welcome K-Telecom’s employees in our ranks. Together we will continue
our proud traditions of being one of the top wireless operators in
the world," Melamed added.

In his turn, Chairman of the Board of Directors of K-Telecom Pierre
Fattouche stressed that he remains committed to Armenia’s potential
and to K-Telecom’s development and the consolidation of its leading
position in the market. "Looking ahead, we see great growth prospects,
enhanced through our partnership with a leading wireless operator
such as MTS," Fattouche said.

K-Telecom operates in GSM standard covering the entire territory of
Armenia. The license of the company is valid till 2019. As of July
1 2007 the company’s subscribers numbered 986,000, which, according
to the estimates of MTS, make up 66% of the market.

US, BSEC HOST JOINT ENVIRONMENTAL SYMPOSIUM IN ISTANBUL

New Anatolian, Turkey
13 September 2007

A joint symposium on "Environmental Protection for Economic Growth:
the Best Implementations in Environment", which is co-sponsored by the
U.S. Department of State and the Organization for Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC), has begun in Istanbul on Wednesday.

The symposium brings together government, business and civil society
leaders from the United States and BSEC-members countries Turkey,
Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova,
Romania, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine to discuss how environmental
protection could boost economic development and broader cooperation
in the region.

BSEC Secretary-General Leonidas Chrysanthopoulos said at the opening
of the symposium that the Black Sea is a common point of interest
for these countries to collaborate in improving living standards.

He said that Black Sea is not protected by common policies or regional
implementations, however, BSEC has been pointing out the importance
of cooperation among Black Sea countries to control environmental
pollution, eliminate consequences of natural or industrial disasters,
establish management strategies at coastal areas and boost tourism
by the help of environment-friendly activities.

Chrysanthopoulos also said that BSEC underscored in its action plan
the importance of using advanced environment-friendly technologies
and the waste management in coastal provinces.

On the other hand, U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary
Colleen Graffy said that pollution in agricultural areas, rivers,
lakes and seas will cause diseases.

Highlighting the importance of education for people and governments
to become environment-conscious, Graffy said that governments,
private sector and people should leave aside their self-interests
and work together.

UNEXPECTED TRUST TOWARDS AGHVAN HOVSEPYAN

A1+
[08:45 pm] 13 September, 2007

The fourth plenary session expressed its deep trust towards the RA
General Prosecutor. Aghvan Hovsepyan was appointed the RA General
Prosecutor with 118 for, 3 against and 4 invalid votes – heading the
system in the third period.

Such a trust towards him was unexpected. In his post-election speech
Aghvan Hovsepyan noted that the votes were binding and promised to
justify the expectations. The NA elected him and during the upcoming
6 years only the NA can release him of the post with the proposal of
the president.

The speeches of the deputies were pathetic, appraising words were said
on his professional qualification, poetic and painting abilities. They
talked about such qualifications of Aghvan Hovsepyan that had nothing
in common with his being elected for the third time.

Artyusha Shahbazyan’s speech from the "Armenian Revolutionary
Federation-Dashnaktsutyun" was more impressive, than the speeches of
the representatives of the "Heritage" party. The deputy mentioned
that Levon Gulyan went to the Prosecutor’s Office of his own free
will and fell down the window. At he end of his speech he point:
"The legislative bodies should prove the society, by their fair
job that the rule of law concerns everyone". The behavior of the
"Orinats Yerkir" party was very strange. Its representatives did not
make speeches and did not call the fraction to voting.

HHSh: "COLD AND DARK OVERCOME EXACTLY DURING OUR YEARS IN POWER"

Panorama.am
14:04 12/09/2007

The deputy chairman of Pan Armenian National Movement (HHSh) board,
Andranik Hovakimyan, called the recent 10 years "years of regression
in certain aspects."

"There is no development in any sector. There is no progress also in
Nagorno Karabakh conflict which brought these authorities to power
in 1998." In his words, if Armenia was comparable with Azerbaijan and
Georgia with resources and could solve challenges more easily in 1997,
it is not so today. Armenia has lost those communication opportunities
that Azerbaijan has got hold of, Hovakimyan said.

Answering to his opponent Armenian Democratic Liberal Union (HJAM)
chairman Seiran Avagyan’s accusation at Hayeli club today who said
that HHSh must first give an answer to dark and cold years during its
rule which have stayed in public memories, in case it comes back to
active politics, Hovakimyan said: "I was expecting a more serious
answer. I would not go down to that level of primitivism. Answers
to cold and dark have been answered numerous times. HHSH solved the
energy crises that some post-soviet states still have in 1995

when the nuclear power plant re-opened at the cost of $70 million." In
his words, the energy crisis that is talked about much by the
authorities in power, has been overcome during the years of HHSh
power also saying it is not proper for a serious political figure
"to play on low emotions."

ARG MARKS 10-TH ANNIVERSARY

ARMENPRESS
Sept 12 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS: President Robert Kocharian paid
a visit today to the headquarters of ArmRosGazprom (ARG) company,
a joint Russian-Armenian natural gas operator, to congratulate the
company and its personnel on the 10-th anniversary of their operation.

After a stroll around the new central office of the company Kocharian
presided over a meeting of Armenian and Russian officials.

Kocharian lauded the company for its huge progress and input into
boosting Armenia’s economy.

According to Karen Karapetian, ARG director general, the ARG has
invested $110 million Drams into the rehabilitation of the country’s
natural gas network.

Needham takes stand against Anti Defamation League positions

GateHouse News Service
New! Wed Sep 12, 2007, 03:37 PM EDT

Needham –

The following letter has been sent to the Anti Defamation League by
the Needham Human Rights Committee.

To the New England regional and national boards of the ADL:

We are the Human Rights Committee of Needham, Massachusetts, appointed
by the Board of Selectmen. For many years we have worked closely with
the ADL in Boston and that office has provided us with expert advice,
powerful educational programming and has stood with us as allies in
the face of oppression and hate. When our community was repeatedly
leafleted by hate organizations, the ADL stood with us, helping our
committee and our town strategize on how best to respond to these
hateful incidents. When we looked for an educational program to bring
into our high school to help our students face their own prejudices
and biases, we chose the "World of Difference." We have since expanded
the program to our middle school, and we have the only middle school
in Massachusetts in which the program is provided as part of the
curriculum. Those programs have been transformational for our
students.

When we implemented activities to educate ourselves and our residents
about cultures and experiences that are different from ours, our town
was certified by the ADL as being "No Place for Hate." That is a
distinction of which we are very proud. Our "No Place for Hate"
program has expanded to our high school, where last March our students
created and produced thematic programming throughout the entire month.
Andy Tarsy, Regional Director of the New England ADL, was the kickoff
speaker.

We now find ourselves in a difficult position because we also believe
that the massacre of Armenians in 1915 was a genocide and we support
the resolution before Congress that would officially recognize the
Armenian genocide as such. We, like you in your mission statement,
believe it is our responsibility "to secure justice and fair treatment
for all." We are surprised and disappointed therefore that the
national board of the ADL has not stood with the Armenians as they
seek justice and fair treatment.

In the past few weeks, the ADL has asked us to detach the "No Place
for Hate" program from the controversy surrounding its positions
regarding the Armenian genocide. We are unable to do so. We cannot
proudly cite our town as "No Place for Hate" when the sponsoring
organization is not doing all in its power to work against hate and
oppression. The national board’s unwillingness to fully support
recognition of the Armenian genocide is in our view undermining the
excellent work of our regional ADL board and our community efforts to
be "No Place for Hate."

We strongly support the positions of the New England regional ADL
board and therefore call on the national board of the ADL to:

-acknowledge the Armenian genocide as a genocide, not ‘tantamount to genocide’;

-support the resolution before Congress which officially recognizes
the Armenian genocide;
-make these policy changes promptly.

In our opinion, the longer the national board waits, the more
credibility the organization loses, and the more difficult it is for
us as a committee for human rights to carry on our work in partnership
with the ADL. We would greatly appreciate your timely and thoughtful
attention to this matter as we determine what recommendation we will
make to the Needham Board of Selectmen regarding our continuation with
the "No Place for Hate" program. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

The Needham Human Rights Committee

Source: 185

ARMENIA PARLIAMENT MAY RE-APPROVE AGHVAN HOVSEPYAN AS PROSECUTOR GENERAL

ARKA
10 Sept 2007

YEREVAN, September 10. /ARKA/. The Armenian Parliament is most likely
to re-approve Aghvan Hovsepyan as Prosecutor General, Parliament
Speaker Tigran Torosyan told a press conference.

According to him, important reforms have been launched at the RA
Prosecutor General’s Office, especially after the constitutional
reforms, which is the reason for the RA President’s proposal for the
approval of Aghvan Hovsepyan. "It is most important that the reforms
continue and be effectively completed," he said.

Torosyan pointed out that some questions concerning a number of
criminal cases are likely to be asked during the discussions. He
expressed hope that the Prosecutor General will provide comprehensive
answers.

RA President Robert Kocharyan proposed that the RA Parliament
re-approve Aghvan Hovsepyan as RA Prosecutor General. The President’s
proposal was put on the agenda of the four-day session of the
Parliament opened on Monday.

According to the constitutional amendments enforced in 2005, the
RA Parliament is entitled to approve RA Prosecutor General at the
President’s suggestion. The RA Parliament is to appoint RA Prosecutor
General before November 8, 2007.

ARMENIA AND GERMANY TO DISCUSS BOOSTING COOPERATION

ARMENPRESS
Sep 10, 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: On September 11-12 high-ranking
government officials of Germany and Armenia will convene in Yerevan
for two-day negotiations on boosting cooperation, Armenian economy
and finance ministry said today.

It said the Armenian delegation will be headed by economy and finance
minister Vartan Khachatrian and the German delegation by Rolf Baldus,
head of a German economic cooperation and development ministry’s
department on the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

The negotiations’ agenda will be toped by issues related to
implementation of joint projects encompassing finance, private sector,
energy, water, nature protection and other sectors.

The sides will also discuss an agreement on excluding double
taxation. The two-day talks will be wrapped up by a memorandum.