Author: Khondkarian Raffi

FORMER CANDIDATE’S AIDE ATTACKED

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
June 11 2007

Police on Monday confirmed reports of an attack in which a former
parliamentary candidate’s aide received gunshot wounds and was later
brought to nearby hospital in an unconscious state.

Samvel Petrosian, 50, who had worked for former candidate in Echmiadzin
Hakob Hakobian, was reportedly hospitalized with gunshot wounds in
the abdomen in the early hours of the morning.

As of Monday evening, the police have established that the wounds
were inflicted by 39-year-old Armen Hovsepian. No further details
about the identity of the suspect or circumstances of the case are
released, as police investigation is continuing.

Hakob Hakobian stood as a candidate for parliament in a single-mandate
constituency just south of Yerevan, but was eventually disqualified by
court for forging signatures to secure registration with the district
election commission. He confirmed to RFE/RL on the phone that Petrosian
was one of the most active campaigners at his headquarters. According
to him, Petrosian had troubled relations with local police and
representatives of the rival candidate’s camp, who, he claimed,
several times tried to convince him to stop his activities.

"The investigation is still continuing, and I hate to interfere with
it. But if you ask my personal opinion, then I think yes, this attack
is linked with the elections, because he [Petrosian] complained to
us on many occasions that he had been receiving threats."

Hakobian fingers at the camp of the rival candidate, retired General
Seyran Saroyan, who eventually won the first-past-the-post race
after his main rivals dropped out of struggle at the early stage of
the campaign. Hakobian, in particular, mentions a person nicknamed
Ataman, who is a neighbor of Petrosian and a Saroyan associate. He
remembers his former campaigner mentioning several times the name of
Ataman and his overt threats during the campaign.

The election campaign in the town of Echmiadzin, where the holy see of
the Armenian Apostolic Church is situated, was marred by unprecedented
violence, including kidnapping, arson and armed assaults.

CANDIDATE FOR BELGIAN PRIME MINISTER SUPPORTS RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENCOIDE

AZG Armenian Daily
09/06/2007

In the course of his recent speech at the Belgian Parliament, in
response to a question of a depute, Ives Leterme, representative of
the Chistian-Democratic Party, stated that he recognized the Armenian
Genocide and can’t deny that fact. Our source in Belgium informed
that Ives Leterme is one of the main candidates for the post of the
Belgian Prime Minister. His close ally among the Christian-Democratic
Party members is Shahnour Minasian, member of the same party’s board.

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ARMENIAN, SERBIAN LEADERS SEND CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE

Serbianna.com, MI
June 8 2007

Addis Ababa, Jun 07, 2007 (Ethiopian Herald/All Africa Global Media
via COMTEX) — President Girma Wolde-Georgis received a congratulatory
message from Armenian President, Robert Kocharian and Serbian President
Boris Tadiae on the 16th anniversary of May 28, said the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.

In a press statement sent to ENA yesterday, the Ministry said that
President Kocharian expressed his strong conviction that the bilateral
relations between Armenia and Ethiopia would be further enhanced.

Serbian President Tadiae also said in his message that the bilateral
relations between the two countries are based on mutual understanding.

The presidents extended best wishes for President Girma and a peaceful
and prosperous future for Ethiopia.

Similarly, Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Minister Advisor, Ittekhor
Chowdhury, has sent congratulatory message to his Ethiopian
Counterpart, Seyoum Mesfin.

Meanwhile, the 16th anniversary of May 28 was celebrated at Ethiopian
Embassies in Gahanna and India, in the presence of senior government
officials from the respective countries, Ethiopian diplomatic staff
and Ethiopian communities, said the Ministry.

FLIGHT SAFETY RULES ENDORSED IN RA

Noyan Tapan
Jun 07 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Flight safety rules in Armenia were
endorsed at the June 6 sitting of RA government. Artyom Movsesian,
head of RA Civil Aviation Department, informed the journalists that
the endorsement of the new rules is conditioned by the demands of
ICAO International Aviation Organization and amendments made in RA Law
"On Aviation."

A. Movsesian mentioned that it is stipulated by the new rules how to
exploit an aircraft in order to avoid crashes. Visible flights, as
well as cases of illegal interference are also regulated by them. In
his words, it is also stipulated what interference the pilot should
untertake in case of illegal interference in the aircraft. This
concerns the conversations with the serving organization, etc. The
responsibility of the aircraft commander, too, has been increased in
order to avoid such kind of crashes.

FOR ARMENIA SELF-DETERMINATION OF NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEOPLE IS THE RED LINE IN TALKS

Lragir.am
05-06-2007 16:34:36

The Spanish minister of foreign affairs of Spain, the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Miguel Angel Moratinos and the Armenian foreign
minister Vardan Oskanyan held a news conference on June 5 for Armenian
and Spanish reporters in Yerevan.

Although Miguel Angel Moratinos is in Armenia as the representative
of the OSCE, Vardan Oskanyan said since this is the first visit of a
high-ranking Spanish official to Armenia, the parties discussed the
establishment of bilateral relations and cited real prospects for
it. The central topic was certainly the settlement of the Karabakh
issue. Miguel Angel Moratinos had stated in Baku yesterday that
the parties are close to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. In
Yerevan he repeated this, explaining that he means the parties display
political will. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office called for optimism,
encouraged to be hopeful and not to make false forecasts.

Miguel Angel Moratinos and Vardan Oskanyan expressed optimism that
the meeting of Kocharyan and Aliyev in Saint Petersburg on June 9
will uphold compromise, and it will be possible to cite progress
after this meeting which will enable a breakthrough towards the
resolution of the issue. During the news conference Vardan Oskanyan
said regarding the optimism of the international mediators that if the
meeting of presidents takes place, it means there is a necessary basis,
"because the definitive decisions are made by the presidents. We must
always be optimistic, I find it difficult to measure the prospects
of a breakthrough. But the presidents have certain basis to make
a decision."

Besides the Armenian government, Miguel Angel Moratinos will meet
with NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan. He stated before the meeting
that the parties should use this important opportunity to reach a
breakthrough in the relations. The OSCE is ready to encourage and
support the sides through reaching a resolution. There is basis for
progress in relations, he said.

The reporters noted that in 1994 the OSCE acknowledged three sides
of the conflict, Karabakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan, whereas now
Karabakh is not participating in the talks. "I will meet with the
representatives of Karabakh. It is important to encourage the Armenian
and Azerbaijani sides to reach progress towards the settlement of this
issue and improve the state of the citizens of Karabakh," Miguel Angel
Moratinos said, without specifying whom he means Armenia or Karabakh.

The reporters reminded Miguel Angel Moratinos about the truce enacted
on February 6, 1995, which, however, does not work or does not work
effectively. There are no military actions but there are casualties
at the line of contact. In this connection, Miguel Angel Moratinos
said the best way of bringing the agreement into being is progress
in the talks.

Vardan Oskanyan stated in answer to the question of the Spanish
reporters that for Armenia the self-determination of the people of
Nagorno-Karabakh is the red line in the talks. "The parties cannot
agree on or set down any other issue without the establishment of
the right for self-determination.

This conflict stems from the issue of self-determination of
Nagorno-Karabakh. All the other issues are the consequence of the moves
Azerbaijan made: the war, the use of force against the peaceful claims
for self-determination." Vardan Oskanyan is sure that the status of
Nagorno-Karabakh can be set down through recognizing the right of
people for self-determination. "If it is set down, the other problems
will be solved by all means."

VARDAN AYVAZIAN: MY TOMORROW’S FATE DOES NOT DEPEND ON POST OF MINISTER OF NATURE PROTECTION

Noyan Tapan
Jun 05 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. "My tomorrow’s fate does not depend on
the post of Minister of Nature Protection, as I have been a Mayor,
have taken various posts previously," RA Minister of Nature Protection
Vardan Ayvazian stated in his June 5 interview to journalists. In
his words, his activity is not limited to only executive power:
"the most important is to carry out political activity together with
the political team," he said.

As the Minister informed journalists, sitting of RPA Board will
be held on June 6 where it will be decided in what sphere he
will continue working in the future, for the present, he has not
been informed whether he will be included in the staff of the new
government. A. Ayvazian considered possible division of the Ministry
into two Ministries.

In V. Ayvazian’s words, he is the Minister of Nature Protection
who hold this post longer than another Ministers and he does not
consider that there is little work to do in the NA: "there is equal
responsibility both in the executive and legislative powers."

The Minister also said that he will continue heading the Union NGO
of Georgian Armenians, which at the 2008 presidential elections,
in all probability, will support the candidate nominated by RPA.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Poland supports OSCE MG and is for peaceful solution to Karabakh problem
02.06.2007 14:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Poland supports peaceful solution to the Nagorno
Karabakh conflicts, Polish Interior Minister Janusz Kaczmarek stated
in Baku. `Poland supports the initiative of the OSCE Minsk Group on
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. The only thing that can be
added is that first of all interested parties must agree between
themselves,’ Kaczmarek underscored, `Novosti-Azerbaijan’ reports.

FOUR ENGAGED IN GYUMRI SHOOT-OUT IN SEARCH

Panorama.am
19:32 01/06/2007

After a shoot-out on May 20, 2007, Spartak Ghukasyan and Kolia
Ghukasyan, resident of Terian and Ghukasyan streets in the
town of Gyumri escaped together with Rustam Sargsyan and Telman
Karapetyan. Shirak region prosecutor’s office has instituted a criminal
case and all four are in search. Assuming they may be either in Armenia
or Russian, some Armenian citizens inquired how they can help to find
out the persons. Panorama.am posts the photographs of the persons in
search taken from the Armenian police.

ARMENIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT BEGINS HEARING CLAIMS OF ELECTION IRREGULARITIES

Arminfo
1 Jun 07

Yerevan, 1 June: The Armenian Constitutional Court has begun to hear
the claims filed by four opposition parties – New Times, the Republic,
Orinats Yerkir [Law-Governed Country Party] and the Impeachment bloc –
who dispute the results of the 12 May parliamentary election.

Constitutional Court chairman Gagik Harutyunyan said that the
combined claim is unprecedented in its scale and takes up over
4,000 pages. The defendant is represented by Justice Minister David
Harutyunyan, Armenian police deputy chief Ararat Mahtesyan, Central
Electoral Commission [CEC] chairman Garegin Azaryan, and CEC lawyer
Nune Hovhannisyan.

There were so many people wishing to attend the hearing that the
Constitutional Court staff issued tickets for the seats.

The hearing began with CEC lawyer Hovhannisyan’s petition to dismiss
the case because Nikol Pashinyan, the editor-in-chief of the Haykakan
Zhamanak newspaper, and another reporter of the same paper, cannot
represent the Impeachment bloc since they are not professional
lawyers. The Constitutional Court chairman replied that they do not
represent themselves but a political force. Hovhannisyan, however,
insisted that her petition be examined. A break was announced in this
regard. After a short break, the court turned down the petition.

The court session is held amid tightened security with a great number
of police officers around the court building. Ministers and MPs are
attending the hearing.

ARMENIAN FOOTBALL YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM BEATS LICHTENSTEIN TEAM IN GROUP TOURNAMENT OF EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Jun 01 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The national team of Armenia received the
national team of Lichtenstein in the first game of group tournament of
Europe Football 2007-2009 Youth Championship on May 31 at Yerevan’s
Republican sports ground. Armenian football players won with the
score of 1 to 0. Semyon Muradian scored the only goal. The next game
of Armenian youth national team will take place with the local team
on June 6 in Ukraine.