Author: Nalchajian Markos

INVESTIGATION STARTED AT ZVARTNOTS AIRPORT

armradio.am
15.02.2008 16:35

The commission investigation the reasons of the accident at Zvartnots
airport started the work on February 14.

Press Secretary of the Head of the General Board of Civil Aviation
Gayane Davtyan told "Noyyan Tapan" correspondent that 10 specialists
from Belrus, 2 from the Interstate Aviation Committee and 10 from
Armenia met with the Head of the General Board of Civil Aviation today.

Gayane Davtyan informed also that Canadian specialist will also
arrive in Armenia tonight. The burnt CRJ-100 plane operated by Belavia
Company was produced in Canada.

MINISTER OSKANIAN MEETS WITH GEORGIAN AND SERBIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS IN KIEV

Noyan Tapan
Feb 14, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. On February 13-14, Armenia’s
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian in Kiev participated in a Special
Session of the EU and Black Sea Economic Cooperation Foreign Ministers
Meeting. On February 14, he spoke at the EU and Black Sea Foreign
Ministers Meeting, during which the further cooperation of the EU and
Black Sea countries and possibility of declaration of new programs
in the transport, energy, environmental spheres was discussed.

During the meetings in Kiev a joint statement of EU and Black
Sea countries Foreign Ministers and the Declaration of the BSEC
organization Foreign Ministers Council on BSEC organization – EU
partnership was adopted.

During the meeting with Foreign Ministers of BSEC organization
member-countries V. Oskanian on behalf of RA signed a Memorandum of
Understanding on the development of waterways in the Black Sea region.

During the visit V. Oskanian also had bilateral meetings. With
Georgia’s newly-appointed Foreign Minister David Bakradze V. Oskanian
discussed issues of concern to the two countries, noting the two sides’
commitment to deepen relations and to support mutually beneficial
projects in all areas.

Acknowledging the two countries’ differing approaches to conflict
settlement, they reaffirmed that they would continue to be circumspect
in their policies, intending to buttress as much as possible
Armenia-Georgia relations which is at the basis of South Caucasus
stability. Minister Oskanian highlighted that it is important for
both countries to be engaged in regional transport programs.

Minister Oskanian also met with Serbia’s Foreign Minister Vuk
Jeremic. They discussed the Kosovo issue and related developments,
the approaches of interested parties on the settlement of existing
conflicts.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, Minister Oskanian’s meeting with Ukraine’
Foreign Minister, Vladimir Ogrizko is expected on February 15.

LEVON TER-PETROSYAN BRINGS THREATS

Panorama.am
16:36 14/02/2008

"I want our nation to avoid the dangers. Levon Ter-Petrosyan brings
threats with him," said writer Razmik Davoyan who was recently moved
away from ARF.

He said that he is not against the free elections, but "I wish our
nation elects who they want to except Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Once we
did a mistake, we should not repeat it," he said.

He said that probably our nation has some problems with the
memory. Davoyan said that the nation should be aware of the forthcoming
problems and do not forget their history.

Davoyan said that he was more than sure that these forthcoming
presidential elections would be transparent and free.

Radio Liberty, Czech Republic
Feb 14 2008

Another Oppositionist Backs Ter-Petrosian

By Anna Saghabalian

Former President Levon Ter-Petrosian secured on Thursday the backing
of yet another opposition party which urged Armenians to help him
thwart a `reproduction’ of the country’s present leadership in next
week’s presidential election.

In a statement, the Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) of Aram Karapetian,
an opposition politician known for his pro-Russian views, said it is
joining the `popular movement’ led by Ter-Petrosian in the hope of
seeing `systemic changes’ in Armenia. `Armenian society has found the
courage to rise up and get rid of practices infringing on our
national dignity, and the Nor Zhamanakner Party is naturally with the
people,’ it said.

The statement came two days Karapetian exhausted all legal
possibilities of overturning the Armenian authorities’ refusal to
register him as a presidential candidate. The Central Election
Commission (CEC) said late last year that Karapetian failed to prove
that he has permanently resided in Armenia for the past ten years,
something which is required by the Armenian constitution. The
outspoken oppositionist, who has spent much of the past 15 years in
Moscow, unsuccessfully challenged that assertion in Armenian courts.

Nor Zhamanakner, which polled more than 3 percent of the vote in last
May’s parliamentary elections, said the CEC’s refusal to register
Karapetian dealt a `very serious blow to the legitimacy of the
presidential elections.’ This might explain why its statement only
implicitly urged Armenians to vote for Ter-Petrosian.

`As you can see, we are not making a direct endorsement,’ Karapetian
told RFE/RL. He claimed that the authorities plan to rig the February
19 vote and that its outcome may well be decided on the streets of
Yerevan.

Karapetian also said that he and his supporters will participate in
Ter-Petrosian’s next Yerevan rally scheduled for Saturday. `We will
be supporting the movement which aims to rid Armenia of its present
authorities,’ he said.

Ter-Petrosian’s presidential bid was already endorsed by nearly two
dozen mostly small opposition parties. Only one of them, the
Zharangutyun party of Raffi Hovannisian, is represented in Armenia’s
parliament.

Toronto Star, Canada
Feb 14 2008

What’s On: Stage

T.O. Tix offers tickets, some discounted, for a variety of shows and
productions. or in person at the Yonge-Dundas Square
booth.

Brand New

A Crooked Man by Richard Kalinoski tells the story of Hagop, an
elderly man tormented by what he witnessed during the 1915 Armenian
genocide. His reporter grandson gets him to finally face his demons
and reveal a terrible secret from his past. The Alianak Theatre
Productions show, a world premiere, runs Wed. to Mar. 2 ($10-$25 at
416-504-7529). The Theatre Centre, 1087 Queen St. W.

[other plays omitted]

icle/303339

PM SERGE SARGSYAN MET WITH THE AMBASSADOR OF IRAN

armradio.am
13.02.2008 15:59

RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsyan received the newly appointed
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic
of Iran to Armenia Seid Ali Saghaian.

The Prime Minister first congratulated the Ambassador on appointment
and expressed confidence that the relations between Armenia and Iran
will continue developing with the same success during his tenure in
office. Serge Sargsyan underlined that Iran has been and remains an
important country for Armenia, the cooperation and friendship with
which have deep historic roots.

Seid Ali Saghaian conveyed to Serge Sargsyan the warm greetings
of the First Vice-President of Iran, Mr. Davudi. The Ambassador
noted he numerously visited Armenia before his appointment and is
well familiar with the developments in our country. He expressed
willingness to do his best for the further deepening of relations
between the two countries.

During the conversation the parties noted that the relations between
Armenia and Iran,23specially in the fields of energy and transport,
are developing rather dynamically, there are many opportunities for
the development of cooperation in the spheres of science, technology,
education, science, etc.

Appreciating the level of bilateral economic relations, Prime
Minister Serge Sargsyan and Ambassador Seid Ali Saghaian underlined
that the volume of commodity turnover between the two countries does
not correspond to the level of political relations and the existing
potential.

AL HOSNI PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO ARMENIAN PRESIDENT

Times of Oman
p;detail=14444&rand=0QfjweFv5sTKvjUne56pnx0u9i
Feb 13 2008
Oman

YEREVAN – Sheikh Abdullah bin Zahir Al Hosni has presented his
credentials to President Robert Kocharian of Armenia as the Sultanate’s
non-resident ambassador to Armenia.

During the meeting, the ambassador conveyed the greetings of His
Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to President Kocharian along with
His Majesty’s best wishes for the Armenian friendly people. On his
turn, the Armenian president praised the Sultanate’s wise policy,
wishing His Majesty the Sultan and the Omani people further progress
and prosperity.

The Armenian president expressed his wishes to develop economic
relations with the Sultanate.

AZERBAIJAN AGREES TO CONDUCT OF CONFERENCE WITH PARTICIPATION OF ARMENIAN MP

arminfo
2008-02-11 19:49:00

ArmInfo. Azerbaijan agrees to the conduct of a conference of
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with the participation of Armenian MPs,
the first vice speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan, the chairman
of the parliamentary safety and defense committee Ziyafer Askerov.

Trend news agency (Baku) reports that last week the chairman of PACE
Ad Hoc Committee on Nagorno-Karabakh Lord Russel Johnston visited
Azerbaijan and Armenia to discuss the possibility of conduct of
a conference with the participation of Armenian and Azeri MPs in
Strasbourg in Apr 2008.

"At the same time, we object to bilateral cooperation with Armenia
prior to the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," Askerov
said. "We want such meetings to give real results. We have taken part
in a number of such events but none of them have given tangible results
so far. We also want international organizations to show a serious
approach to the fulfillment of PACE resolution on Nagorno-Karabakh
and to exert pressure on Armenia in the matter," Askerov said.

ARMENIAN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY ON THE SUIT OF LEVON TER-PETROSIAN

Mediamax
February 11, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Constitutional Court (CC) of Armenia took to
consideration today the suit of the presidential candidate Levon
Ter-Petrosian, who demands to recognize as "insuperable" the obstacles,
which arose on his way of continuing the pre-election campaign.

Mediamax reports that the interests of the plaintiff in the Court
are presented by the members of the pre-election staff of Levon
Ter-Petrosian Ruben Torosian, Artak Zeinalian and Robert Sanoian. The
presidential candidate himself was not present at the session of CC.

The representatives of the Ex-President accused the Public TV of
Armenia (PTVA) in carrying out "mass anti-agitation campaign against
Levon Ter-Petrosian", "spreading libel and misinformation".

According to Ruben Torosian, "by such actions, the PTVA creates unequal
conditions for the presidential candidates, which is a gross violation
of the legislation".

We turned to the CEC, the PTVA Board, the National Commission on TV
and Radio Broadcasting, however, the given bodies did not react",
Torosian stated.

The CC judges left for the decision room to make a decision on the
suit of Levon Ter-Petrosian.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Frequent visits to Karabakh help to prove that NKR
established itself as state
08.02.2008 13:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `We do think that Nagorno Karabakh
is a part of Armenia. It’s inhabited by Armenians.
This is a territory which established itself as a
state. It held numerous democratic elections,’
President of the Union of Armenians of Russia Ara
Abrahamyan told Day.az when asked if visits of Russian
pop stars and intellectuals to Karabakh hamper
resolution of the conflict.

`On the contrary, we think that the more art workers
and officials visit Nagorno Karabakh the sooner the
international community and Azerbaijan will understand
that NKR is a state and it makes no sense to change
the status quo. We will go on organizing tours to the
region. But I should note that actors, businessmen and
politicians visit NKR without our help,’ Mr Abrahamyan
said.