Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION ASSESSES ELECTION: FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL PRESSURE TO TERROR

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.05.2007 18:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The main reason of failure of the opposition
forces at the parliamentary election is the lack of organization,
says the statement issued by the National Democratic Party (leader –
Shavarsh Kocharian). "The elections looked well but the results were
predetermined by the authorities. Physical pressure used during the
previous elections was replaced psychological pressure. Even is case
of absence of falsifications, victory of the opposition was unlikely,"
the statement says.

For his part, Stepan Demirchian, chairman of the People’s Party of
Armenia, said "the new parliament is formed through mass bribe giving,
terror and threats.

When commenting on the statements by international observers, who
praised considerable progress, Stepan Demirchian said "the progress
was obvious in bribe giving." "The party will fight by all means,
including court actions and rallies," he added.

The Democratic Party of Armenia led by Aram Sargsyan will analyze
seriously the elections and take an appropriate decision. Party
leader is for some extent responsible for his party’s failure, Aram
Sargsyan said adding he would not like to give assessments to the
election, since it will look as an attempt to justify faults. "We
have no actual facts of violations. The only thing that confuses
is the high appearance in the regions where 50% of men are abroad
working. "Actually, one party assumed the responsibility for the
future of the republic and it will have to account," he resumed,
Armenian media reports.

The Republican Party of Armenia led by Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan,
Prosperous Armenia party led by entrepreneur Gagik Tsarukyan, AFR
Dashnaktsutyun, Orinats Yerkir party led by former RA NA speaker
Artur Baghdassaryan and Heritage party led by Armenia’s first Foreign
Minister Raffi K. Hovannisian garnered over 5% of votes in May 12
parliamentary election.

PRESS RELEASE
The Heritage Party
31 Moscovian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 53.69.13
Fax: (+374 – 10) 53.26.97
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:

May 14, 2007

Heritage’s Election Surprise

Yerevan–Heritage continues to receive correspondences of congratulation
from thousands of Armenian citizens. Both the process of the elections and
the final results (which registered 5.8 percent in our favor), however, are
not satisfactory. And though the parliamentary elections of May 12 improved
on past elections, they still did not correspond to international standards
and–more importantly–the standards of our national dignity. When, in short
order, the people of Armenia come to power, such shameful elections will not
be condoned.

Both the pre-election campaign season and election day were escorted by
countless substantive violations of law and democratic criteria. The results
registered in some areas (specifically outer villages), which showed a
90-99% allegiance to a given political party, leave much room for concern.
When compared with the enormous success Heritage enjoyed in Yerevan, most
often registering first- and second-place victories in the capital’s
precincts, these outcomes are especially troubling. The concerns are
corroborated by hundreds of reports of violation that poured in from
Heritage’s observers all throughout election night. A sampling of these can
be read at

Yet before the elections themselves were conducted, deliberately unfair
conditions were established to favor those who established them: the ruling
authorities. The television monitoring of the Armenian Center for National
and International Studies clearly concluded that access to the airwaves was
severely limited to opposition parties, while the establishment parties
enjoyed direct contact with millions of voters. The total TV blockade on
Heritage, which lasted a year and a half prior to the arrival of
international observers before the campaign season, was quickly reinstated.
Apparently disturbed by the party’s high rating, the H1 public television
channel simply pretended that Heritage did not exist; from May 4 to May 12,
the most vital week of the campaign period, the party’s successful town hall
meetings and key announcements were not covered. When combined with the
authorities’ blanket refusal to provide Heritage with billboard space and
the authorities’ disrespect for campaign spending limits, the unequal
conditions proved complicit in the elections’ disgraceful execution.

Tomorrow, May 15, the Forum Club will host the Heritage Party’s first
post-election press briefing. Raffi K. Hovannisian, Larisa Alaverdian, and
Heritage media spokesman Hovsep Khurshudian will answer the media’s
questions at the Yerevan Hotel at 13.00.

Founded in 2002, Heritage has regional divisions throughout the land. Its
central office is located at 31 Moscovian Street, Yerevan 0002, Armenia,
with telephone contact at (374-10) 536.913, fax at (374-10) 532.697, email
at [email protected] or [email protected], and website at

Foundation for Economic Development
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 323.888.0049
Fax: 323.888.0043

PRESS RELEASE

May 10, 2007

Contact: Hovhannes Harutyunyan
Tel: 818.983.1566

FED Networks California Businesses During Marani Vodka & Cigar Night WEST

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Foundation for Economic Development (FED),
contractor for the California Trade Office, welcomed business leaders
from across the southland to its first networking mixer of the spring.
Hosted at Spazio Restaurant in Sherman Oaks on April 18th, guests
representing several industries attended the event including those from
the plastic bag, automobile, food, real estate, nutrition,
merchandising, equipment, hospitality, and home improvement industries.
Members of the Armenian-American Chamber of Commerce and other private
investors were also among those attending the event.

The FED hosted the evening’s event to provide a relaxed forum where
professionals from a range of industries could meet one another and
learn more about the business opportunities available for their
companies in the regions served by the trade office.

Among speakers at the event were FED Executive Director Johnny
Nalbandian and Chairman Levon Kirakosian. "We are not only here to
celebrate our past successes, but also to look towards the future and
the new prospects for California businesses," remarked Nalbandian.

Guests enjoyed an elegant three-course California dinner while enjoying
the products of Marani Vodka, one of the FED’s corporate sponsor and the
main sponsor for the evening’s event. Marani, an upstart spirits
producer whose products can be purchased in over 900 stores nation-wide,
recently reached an agreement with the Safeway Group to distribute
Marani products through Safeway’s Vons/Pavilions supermarket chain.

Also co-sponsoring the event was Forbidden Johnny, a new XX-Calvados
apple brandy with a uniquely designed bottle that holds a cigar inside.
A complimentary glassful of the luxurious brandy and a cigar was
presented to all guests. FED board members also held a raffle at the
event that included sponsored prizes and gifts from various members of
the California business community. Among raffle gift sponsors included
Marani Vodka, Forbidden Johnny, Spazio, Sun Plastics, Emil’s Swiss
European Bakery, Café Z’s, and J III & Company Personal Training.

"I really think it’s important that we hold these events for our
business community in order for all of us to really meet and greet the
people we work with in our offices and over the telephones. I think it
only enhances the business experience for all professionals," added
Kirakosian.

Members of the business community not able to attend the event will be
glad to hear that the popular success of evening encouraged the FED to
host Marani Vodka and Cigar Night-East next month in Pasadena at the
critically acclaimed Esquire Bar and Lounge in Pasadena on Tuesday June
12, 2007. Mark your calendars, call Johnny Nalbandian for details at
(323) – 888-0049.

IN DEFENCE MINISTER’S WORDS, IN THE CASE OF PRESENCE OF THE FORCE HE
VOTED FOR AT NA, "ARMENIA WILL BE DEFEDED AND SERVICEMEN’S SOCIAL
PROBLEMS WILL BE SOLVED"

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. "I today voted for a political force in
which I really believe. I am sure that this force will implement all
its programs." Mikayel Haroutiunian, the RA Defence Minister informed
journalists about it after voting at polling station 5/28 of Yerevan on
May 12. He expressed a confidence that in the case of presence of that
force at the National Assembly, Armenia will be defended,
freedom-fighters’ and servicemen’s social problems will be solved. "As
the Defence Minister, I attach importance to just this part of the
program," he mentioned.

M. Haroutiunian is sure that those forces which think about the state,
will have their votes today.

Samvel Babayan is against the battle actions restart in Nagornyy
Karabakh

Arminfo
2007-05-12 12:53:00

One must not allow the battle action restart in Nagornyy Karabakh. We
should do everything possible for peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
conflict, the leader of the Dashink party, ex-defence minister of the
NKR Samvel Babayan told Arminfo correspondent when voting today at the
ballot station 10/24.

Touching on the bellicose statements of Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev, Babayan said that his statements are connected with the
parliamentary election in Armenia. Babayan thinks that nobody has a
right to speak about the territorial trade-off in favour of
Azerbaijan. , – Babayan said and added that Artsakh is an indivisible
part of Armenia.

Asked by the Arminfo correspondent about his attitude towards Seyran
Oganyan’s appointment to the post of commander of General Headquarters
of Armenian Armed Forces, Babayan congratulated him in connection with
this and refused to comment on the fact.

For his part, chairman of the ballot station 10/24 Aleksandr Ayvazyan
said that as of 12:30 PM 150 voters out of 1462 have already voted,
but the names of 10 of them were not mentioned in the lists of voters.

Bloomberg
May 12 2007

Armenians Go to Polls Aware Fraud May Put Aid at Risk (Update3)

By Sebastian Alison and Troy Etulain

May 12 (Bloomberg) — Armenians voted on a new parliament today
knowing that the country, the third-largest recipient of U.S. aid per
capita, might face cuts to assistance if the election is seen as
flawed, as all polls have been since 1995.

Preliminary data indicated about 57 percent of eligible voters cast
ballots, said a spokeswoman for the central electoral commission, who
declined to be identified by name. First results were due shortly
before midnight and would be updated every three hours through the
night, she said.

Government leaders said before the poll that the election would
differ from past votes condemned as rigged by bodies such as the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

“We have all possibilities to conduct the best ever election since
the independence of Armenia” Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan said in
an interview. Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said that “we can’t
afford another election that doesn’t meet international standards.”

Armenia is a former Soviet state of 3.2 million in the South
Caucasus, bordering Turkey and Iran. It became independent in 1991
when the Soviet Union broke up and is heavily dependent on foreign
aid. The U.S. has contributed about $75 million a year in recent
years, and the country also gets substantial investment from the
Armenian diaspora, mainly based in the U.S. and France.

`Expecting Progress’

Sargsyan became prime minister when his predecessor, Andranik
Margarian, died in office in March. The election was already
scheduled. Sargsyan said he’s confident his ruling Republican Party
will be “solidly represented” in the new parliament and that he’d
like to stand for the presidency next year.

“We’re not expecting a perfect election,” Anthony Gordon, deputy
chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Yerevan, said in an interview
yesterday. “We’re expecting significant progress toward
international standards.”

Armenia is the third-largest recipient of U.S. government aid per
capita after Israel and Egypt, Gordon said.

“I don’t expect anything good to come from the election,” said
Kamol, a taxi driver washing his cab who, like all Yerevan residents
approached by Bloomberg today, declined to give a last name. “The
people are being cheated,” Kamol said.

Svetlana and her daughter Nana, both Russian teachers in secondary
schools, said they voted for different opposition parties. Svetlana
said she hopes that after the election “the government will think
about other people than just their own families.”

`Millennium Challenge’

Anna, an international relations specialist, said “the election will
show that Armenia is a democratic country and respects human
rights.” It will “lead to European integration,” she said.

The U.S. and Armenia last year signed a “Millennium Challenge
Compact” under which Armenia may receive a further aid package worth
$235 million to reduce rural poverty. At the time of the signing, the
U.S. State Department said the agreement was “based on the principle
that aid is most effective when it reinforces good governance” and
“economic freedom.” Officials have warned the package could be at
risk if the election isn’t free and fair.

The government has made amendments and improvements to the law
governing the election, Urdur Gunnarsdottir, spokeswoman for the
OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, said in
Yerevan yesterday.

“It is, as always, a question of the will to implement it,” she
said.

The OSCE has about 400 observers in Armenia for the poll, including
about 100 parliamentarians from different European countries.
Gunnarsdottir wouldn’t comment on the election today while voting was
still under way.

The OSCE will hold a press conference on Sunday, May 13, to give its
assessment of the election.

Agence France Presse — English
May 12, 2007 Saturday

Ex-Soviet Armenia votes in key test for democracy

Armenians voted in parliamentary elections Saturday in what is being
billed as a litmus test for democracy in this impoverished ex-Soviet
country.

Surveys show Armenians are hungry for reform, with an overwhelming
majority supporting radical change, but polls predict pro-government
parties will come out ahead in the election.

The vote is seen as a key test of democratic reform in the small
mountainous republic wedged between Turkey and Iran, where no
election has been judged fair since independence with the collapse of
the Soviet Union in 1991.

More than 20 opposition parties are running and analysts say these
divisions have scuttled chances of defeating two pro-government
parties — the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HKK) and the
Prosperous Armenia party headed by millionaire former World Arm
Wrestling Champion Gagik Tsarukian.

Opposition leaders claim the vote will be rigged and are already
planning street demonstrations on Sunday to pressure the government
to overturn the results.

About 2.3 million of Armenia’s three million people are registered to
vote in elections for 131 seats in the National Assembly.

Hundreds of local and international observers are monitoring the
vote, including more than 300 from the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe.

The United States and European Union have repeatedly warned of
negative consequences if no improvement is seen over past elections,
including potential cuts of foreign aid and the scaling back of
relations.

Cuts in foreign assistance could be disastrous for Armenia, where
more than 30 percent of people live on less than two dollars (1.50
euros) a day.

The election is also seen as a dress rehearsal for a presidential
vote due next year after President Robert Kocharian steps down at the
end of his second term. The HKK, led by Kocharian’s chosen successor,
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, is widely expected to take first
place.

Kocharian has called on voters to support pro-government parties,
warning of instability if the opposition comes to power.

"If the two most important governmental institutions — the president
and the parliament — start a confrontation, the people will be the
ones to suffer," he said on Armenian television.

Polling will close at 1500 GMT, with preliminary results expected
within 24 hours.

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH OSSETIA AND TRANSDNESTR MFA CONGRATULATED NAGORNO-KARABAGH ON SHOUSHI LIBERATION

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 10 2007

In connection with May 9 the Republic of South Ossetia and Transdnestr
Moldavian Republic MFA sent congratulatory messages to the NKR MFA.

The South Ossetia MFA message runs, in part: "Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia pays its devoir to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic and has
the honor to send sincere congratulations to the Ministry employees,
veterans and all the heroic people of Artsakh in connection with
the 62nd Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and
Shoushi Liberation Day. Highly estimating the Nagorno-Karabagh people’s
contribution to common struggle against fascism, we together honor the
memory of those perished and pay tribute to the Great Patriotic War’s
living veterans, whose glorious fighting traditions were decently
continued by the Karabagh people’s young generation, who defended
their Motherland’s Freedom and Independence. Expressing our warm and
cordial wishes, we are convinced that the Artsakh people will go on
along the way of maintenance of peace, strengthening its statehood,
successful social, economic and cultural development".

"A bright example of courage, firmness and selflessness of our
grandfathers and fathers urges us to struggle for firm peace on the
land of Transdnestr, defend the priorities of creative and enjoying
equal rights international cooperation. On the nation-wide holiday of
military Glory and civil Courage the TMR MFA again assures the NKR MFA
of its respect and wishes all the employees of the Ministry happiness,
health, peace and prosperity!" the Transdnestr Moldavian Republic MFA
congratulatory message says, in part, the NKR MFA Press Office reports.

OSCE SPECIAL COORDINATOR ARRIVES IN ARMENIA FOR ELECTIONS

ArmRadio.am
10.05.2007 14:50

The OSCE Special Coordinator for the elections in Armenia, Tone
Tingsgaard, arrived in Armenia today, Mediamax reports.

Swedish parliamentarian Tone Tingsgaard, who occupies the position of
the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Vice President, was appointed Special
Coordinator by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Spain’s Foreign Minister
Miguel Angel Moratinos. As such, she will lead all international
short-term election observers of the OSCE.

"I am delighted to be in Armenia in these important and exciting
times," said Ms. Tingsgaard upon arrival in Yerevan today.

"All the international observers have an important role to play as
the elections are crucial for Armenia and its continued democratic
development. I wish the country and all its citizens success on
Saturday", Special Coordinator for the elections in Armenia stated.

RETROSPECTIVE SHOWING OF ARMENIAN FILMS HELD IN ARSENAL CINEMA HALL OF BERLIN

Noyan Tapan
May 08 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. A retrospective showing of Armenian
feature, short, documentary films, starting from Hamo Beknazarian’s
films up to works of film directors of modern period will be held on
May 5-9 at Arsenal cinema hall of Berlin. The retrospective showing
was opened in Berlin by the film "Namus."

As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed from the office of
Golden Apricot (Voske Tsiran) international film festival, a
dispute-discussion will be also organized on the days of Berlin
showing. The subject of dispute-discussion will embrace the history
of cinema up to historic and political subjects having the goal to
bring the past and present of Armenia closer to the European history,
in this case, to German culture.

According to the same source, the showing of Armenian films in Germany
is held at the suggestion of the German side. Thanks to cooperation of
RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs and Armenian National Cinema
Center preliminary agreements have been reached with the German side
about organizing showings of Armenian films during the whole year in
different cities and regions of Germany.

Head of Armenian Cinema Committee Garegin Zakoyan, film director Vigen
Chaldranian, Director of Golden Apricot film festival, film director
Haroutiun Khachatrian left Armenia for Berlin in this connection.