Author: Kharatian Ani

ADMINISTRATIVE COURT TO MAKE PUBLIC DECISION ON LAWSUIT OF 4 FORMER COLLABORATORS OF SYSTEM OF MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON MAY 29

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 14, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The examination of the lawsuit of 4
former collaborators of the system of the RA Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on restoring them on their previously held offices started
in the Administrative Court of the Republic of Armenia under the
chairmanship of judge Hovsep Bedevian. Vladimir Karapetian, the Head
of the Press and Information Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Karine Afrikian, the Head of the U.S. and Canada Division
of the RA MInistry of Foreign Affairs, Marta Ayvazian, the Head of
NATO Division of Arms Control and International Security Department,
and Arakel Semirjian, the European Department Adviser, were relieved
of their posts for breaching the provisions of the law on "Diplomatic
service" on the February 25 and March 3 orders of Vardan Oskanian,
the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Levon Baghdasarian, the representative of the plaintiff’s side,
stressed that law prohibits a diplomat to make use of his/her
official position and working resources in the interest of parties,
non-governmental organizations and other political or religious
activities. Such actions have not been made by his defendants,
moreover, law prohibits to release a person from his/her post
for his/her convictions and viewpoints. According to him, just a
preoccupation is expressed on the occasion of the created situation
in the country in the February 24 statement of the plaintiff 4
former collaborators, the violations in the electoral process were
obvious and everybody was speaking about them. Plaintiff Vladimir
Karapetian clarified that the statement was not of political but of
civil character and was in keeping with the approaches expressed by
the representatives of the leadership of the country in that period,
the institution of about forty cases in connection with the violations
speaks about this. He quoted the public speeches of RA President
Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Serge Sargsian and Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanian. The further March 1 events: 10 victims, hundreds of
injured, split society as a result of extreme confrontation, tens of
statements from international organizations prove that the situation
caused anxiety.

The plaintiffs mentioned that the distorted variant of the February
23 statement of Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Bayburdian, Ambassadors
Ruben Shugarian, Levon Khachatrian and Razmik Khumarian, which preceded
their statement, was introduced to court by the respondent side. The
plaintiff’s side introduced to court the statement in its initial form,
which was attached to the materials of the case.

In response to the question of the plaintiff’s side of whether they
can mention one expression in the statement of the plaintiffs, which
will show that the diplomats have supported any political force,
the respondent side only mentioned that the text of the statement
was made public by RA former President Levon Ter-Petrosian in the
Liberty square of Yerevan. No argument was either brought about the
fact that corresponding punitive measures have not been applied,
for example, against RA Deputy MInister of Foreign Affairs Gegham
Gharibjanian for supporting current Prime MInister Serge Sargsian,
one of the candidates running for the post of the RA President. And
Ruben Hakobian, the Consul General of Armenia to Saint Petersburg,
was released from his post by rotation order and not for taking part
in the campaign of the Dashnaktsutiun party, therefore, according to
the plaintiff’s side, a discriminative attitude has been displayed
towards them: they have been quickly released from their positions
without demanding an explanatory note.

Satenik Abgarian, the Head of the Legal Department of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, who represented the respondent side, and Levon
Amirjanian, the Adviser of the Secretariat of the staff of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, insisted upon the answer submitted to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to which the release of the
former collaborators from their posts is within the law and proceeds
from the provisions of the law.

The trial finished in the court, the court will make public its
decision on May 29.

GASOLINE PRICE RISES BY 11.5%, DIESEL FUEL PRICE BY 24.5% IN ARMENIA IN PAST YEAR

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 14, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Prices of gasoline and diesel fuel rose
by 2.5% and 5.2% respectively in Armenia in April on March 2008.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, the growth in
gasoline and diesel fuel prices made 11.5% and 24.5% respectively
in April 2008 on April 2007, and 3.3% and 7.5% respectively in April
2008 as compared with December 2007.

4.1% fall in fuel prices was registered in April on March 2008 in
connection with 5% fall of the price of liquid petroleum gas.

PAUL MURPHY USED "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" EXPRESSION

Panorama.am
21:01 13/05/2008

The British Government has condemned desecrating Armenian khachkar
commemorating Armenian Genocide in Cardiff. It took place on 27
January, in the day of Holocaust, reported New Generation cultural
union.

Paul Murphy the state secretary of Wales said that "he condemns the
desecrating of Armenian Genocide monument in Cardiff in 2008 January".

"I condemn the rude attempts to desecrate the monument. It comes
to prove that we need to treat seriously racism; brutal and hateful
attempts and we should join to stand them. I hope that when the guilty
are revealed it would smoothen the pain," said the state secretary
of Wales.

AZERBAIJAN’S DEFENSE MINISTRY: "THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON INCREASE OF ARMENIA’S MILITARY EXPENSES IS INTENDED FOR AN INTERNAL AUDIENCE"

Today.Az
politics/44969.html
May 14 2008
Azerbaijan

The announcement of the Armenian Defense Minister that the military
expenses will rise and reach level of the military budget of
Azerbaijan, is, in fact, intended for the internal audience.

The due announcement was made by spokesman for the Defense Ministry
of Azerbaijan Eldar Sabiroghlu, commenting on the announcement of
Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Oganyan about the plans to raise
military expenses.

He noted that the concerns of the Armenian military commans is quite
understandable.

"Let them raise the military expenses, if they can. This is their
internal matter. However, we should consider to what extend Oganyan’s
announcement is substantiated. The reality is quite different. Which
economic resources and development will Armenia be able to use to
raise the military expenses? It all creates doubts", said he.

At the same time, Sabiroghlu noted that in fact , the economic
situation in Armenia is in a poor state. According to him, the hard
economic situation obliged the Armenian people to go to streets during
the presidential elections.

The spokesman for the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan noted that
currently the government of Armenia cannot provide good conditions
either for people or for the army.

"Armenian militaries are not supplied with even minimal food ration. On
the basis of definite information I can say that in the last year
hundreds of soldiers deserted not being able to stand hunger. Or the
parents are sick and tired of carrying food to military parts for
their children", said Sabiroghlu.

According to him, the facts were reflected in the announcements of
the organization of soldiers’ mothers.

Sabiroghlu reminded that the overall state budget of Armenia equals
the military budget of Azerbaijan.

"Therefore, they should not deceive either their people or the
world society. Currently everything in the region works against
Armenia. Azerbaijan’s supremacy in the military sector is recognized
even by some Armenian experts. Oganyan makes hints on it in his
announcement", said Sabiroghlu.

LOST ARMENIANS IN NAKHIJEVAN RETURN

Panorama.am
21:02 12/05/2008

Armenians lost in Nakhijevan will return back to the mother land
"after correspondent measures are taken", said Seyran Ohanyan the
Minister of Defense of Armenia. According to him two weeks ago it was
announced that the lost people can return back but after the defense
minister should take some measures.

The minister does not think that the Azeri side will refuse to return
the prisoners, as "there is an agreement". The minister added that in
previous cases they had also made some agreements but "the conditions
were changed".

On 3 May Azeri side refused to return the prisoners back. The Minister
of Defense of Armenia announced that four citizens of the RA Vanik
Zmboyan, Artyom Zohrabyan, Karen Torosyan and Aghasi Enokyan have
been accompanying to their friend and were lost in the way back.

ACCORDING TO CHAIRMAN OF CONTROL CHAMBER, DIFFERENCE REGISTERED IN PRICES OF STATE PROCUREMENT AGENCY AND ACTUAL MARKET PRICES

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 12, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The shortcomings of the 2007 state
budget’s execution are mainly related to state procurement, the
chairman of the RA Control Chamber Ishkhan Zakarian said during
a talk with reporters on May 12. "We see a serious difference in
the prices given in the report of the State Procurement Agency and
actual market prices, which causes concern," he said. In his words,
no detailed report has been presented by the agency, to which about
193 billion drams was allocated by the 2007 budget. "We need new
definite state mechanisms in order to determine the difference in
the actual market prices and those declared," I. Zakarian underlined.

LEVON MELIK-SHAHNAZARYAN: AZERI SPECIAL FORCES ATTEMPTED ON MY LIFE

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.05.2008 17:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I want to tell Azerbaijan’s President Ilham
Aliyev that I am alive and I will continue my activity. Aliyev
sponsors international terrorism and if I die he will be the only
man to blame for it," Armenian expert and political scientist Levon
Melik-Shahnazaryan told a news conference in Yerevan.

"The Azeri special forces, who attempted on my life, had been
instructed or at least encouraged by Ilham Aliyev," he said.

On April 22, a bullet hit the iron-barred window of the expert’s
house in Ptghni settlement not far from Yerevan. "The man detained
by Armenian law enforces is not a citizen of Armenia. His testimony
proved my suspicions that the order was received from Azerbaijan,"
Melik-Shahnazaryan said.

The Armenian expert doesn’t rule out that Azeri special forces will
hunt after Armenian political scientists and prominent journalists.

"Azerbaijan launched a new stage of "struggle" against Armenia. It
took up the Israeli scheme, according to which any enemy of Israel
should be killed, no matter where he lives. They threatened me and
my family if I don’t stop my activities," he said, adding that upon
completion of the investigation he will bring a suit against Aliyev
to the European Court of Human Rights.

Earlier, Baku just sponsored international terrorism, now it acts
independently. Bin Laden’s fellow fighter, who detained in Germany,
testified that al-Qaeda leader visited Baku 86 times during past 10
years. We should not forget about hundreds of Afghan mujahids who
fought against Armenians in Karabakh. Furthermore, all drivers of
Iranian trucks entering Armenia are Azeris by origin and have Azeri
passports. It’s quite possible that besides their direct job, they
act as scouts," Melik-Shahnazaryan emphasized.

OPPOSITION IN HAGHTANAK (VICTORY) PARK

AZG Armenian Daily #090
13/05/2008

Local

Representatives of opposition political forces led by Levon
Ter-Petrosian visited Unknown Soldier Monument in Haghtanak park
on May 9 to lay a wreath to the monument. Levon Ter-Petrosian was
accompanied by Stepan Demirchian, Aram Sargsian, Hovhannes Honhannisian
and Vagharshak Harutyunian. Ter-Petrosian had a conversation with
veterans and congratulated them on the Victory Day.

Co-thinkers of the opposition accompanying Levon Ter-Petrosian
from time to time were articulating "Levon-President" and "Free,
independent Armenia".

To recall, during his presidential years Levon Ter-Petrosian never
visited Haghtanak Park, and May 9 was not a holiday in those years.

President Serzh Sargsyan’s congratulation on the Victory and Peace Day

armradio.am
09.05.2008 11:38

Dear veterans,
Dear compatriots,

I congratulate you on the Day of Victory and Peace.
The triumphant end of the Great Patriotic War was an exceptional event
in the life of our people. All parts of the Armenian nation had their
contribution to bringing this victory closer, participating in the army
of the allies, the resistance movements and especially in the ranks of
the Soviet Army. The victory achieved at the cost of great sacrifices
opened new horizons not only for curing the wounds but also developing
our country. Contemporary Armenia is the continuation of the republic
that was saved and prospered due to the feats of those who shaped this
victory.

From 1992 May 9 acquired a dual meaning for us. The liberation of
Shoushi proved to the new generation that it is the worthy successor of
the heroic past of the predecessors. Shoushi became the symbol of
freedom-loving and strong will of our people.

On this festive with day we remember those who sacrificed their life
for the motherland with great pain, but also with pride. We shall
always keep bright the memory of our heroes.

Congratulating on this double May holiday, I wish all of us a peaceful
sky and deeds worthy of our historical victories.

ARMENPRESS

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER UNDERSCORES INCREASE OF
EFFECIENCY OF WORK WITH MASS MEDIA

YEREVAN, MAY 8, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsian today at the session once again
referred to the work with the mass media and necessity
of establishment of dialogue between the press
services of the ministries and mass media. According
to the prime minister, often such events are being
voiced by press which do not correspond to reality.
The public is waiting for answers which are not
officially commented. For avoiding it, the press
services of the all ministries must analyze the
information spread about them through mass media. It
is very important that a dialogue be established
between the media and press services of the
ministries.
Armenian prime minister noted that seminars will be
conducted for journalists and representatives of the
press services, ?thus the standards by which we must
deal with media will be established?.
The prime minister reminded also his assignment
that hence, the publications in media will be analyzed
for having real picture of the events. According to
him, mass media must realize that they are responsible
for the information they are spreading.
Speaking about the increase of gas tariffs by gas
stations widely spread in press, the prime minister
noted that today 214 gas stations are functioning in
the market and the owners of a part of them have
already decreased the prices, but it is necessary to
study the market to find out the mechanisms of
formation of prices and understand whether the market
is competitive or not.
Tigran Sargsian, referring to the necessity of
giving explanations to mass media, mentioned also the
theme of increasing pensions and allowances. According
to him, the public asks many questions connected with
it and assigned Armenian labor and social affairs
minister to explain the issue through mass media.
Around 50 percent of applications and complaints
are connected with the illegal construction in
Yerevan. ?The complaints over the issue are a lot and
continuative. For its regulation, it is necessary to
conduct consultation with the participation of
interested bodies,? he said, adding that it must be
found out whether administrative reforms must be
undertaken or legislative changes.
The prime minister also assigned all the ministers
to present through mass media the priorities of their
ministries and clearly define the results they are
expecting in 2008. It is the position and assignment
of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsian.
The ministries have also been assigned to define
the priorities and expected results for 2008-2012.
T. Sargsian said that for the implementation of the
5 pan-Armenian programs included in the government?s
program 5 commissions have been set up which must
present to the public the mentioned programs and make
them subject for public discussion.