Author: Tadevosian Garnik

RA NA SPEAKER RECEIVES INVITATION TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO IRAN

Noyan Tapan
Jun 18 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 18, NOYAN TAPAN. A deputy friendship group with
IRI parliament will be created soon at RA NA, which will make a
contribution to development of interparliamentary relations. RA NA
Speaker Tigran Torosian reported at the June 18 meeting with IRI
Ambassador to Armenia Alireza Haghighian. He epxressed he hope that
the relations of Iranian parliament with RA NA of fourth convocation
will be as much warm and friendly as with the previous one. T. Torosian
said that NA is ready to offer cooperation programs.

Alireza Haghighian attached importance to development of bilateral
relations in all spheres mentioning that the seventh sitting of
intergovernmental commission is to be held in July in Yerevan. The
current programs will be discussed, proposals will be worked out for
deepening cooperation in economic, agricultural, cultural, energy
spheres at the sitting. The Ambassador said that projects of HPPs’
construction on Araks banks have finished, construction activities
will start with the next step.

The IRI Ambasssador conveyed NA Speaker the congratulatory message
of IRI parliament Chairman Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel and his invitation
to pay an official visit to Iran.

YEREVAN KENTRON DISTRICT RESIDENTS LEFT WITHOUT CABLE TELECOMMUNICATION

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 18 2007

YEREVAN, June 18. /ARKA/. Yerevan Kentron district residents are
left without cable telecommunication because of automatic telephone
station breakup.

Armenian Rescue Service points out mobile phone numbers: 093 563877
and 091 512991for possible fires or other emergency situation.

ArmenTel enjoys sole right for providing stationary telecommunication.

The company is also one of the country’s two mobile communication
operators.

100% of the company’s stakes belong to Russian Vympelcom (Bee Line
trademark).

The number of ArmenTel’s stationary telecommunication subscribers
reached 608.5 thousand and 452 thousand mobile communication
subscribers.

THE FRUITS OF HAYRIK MURADIAN’S WORK
By Hovhannes Yeranian

Yerkir.am
June 15, 2007

The 29th Folk Music Festival will be launched on June 19 at the State
Engineering University. Why was this university selected to host the
festival? There is one simple answer. The festival was founded by
Hayrik Muradian, an exceptional figure in Armenian folk music.

"Being a great patriot Hayrik Muradian was behind the worship for
folk music that started in 1960’s," Professor of the State Music
Conservatory of Yerevan Alina Pahlevanian says.

"Hayrik Muradian used to sing in then Polytechnic Institute and when he
sang the students felt the call of their blood," Pahlevanian says. The
students liked his performances so much that he made them periodical,
and this is how the folk music festival started.

Alina Pahlevanian recorded Hayrik Muradian and published a selection of
songs based on these recordings. This was a unique selection of songs.

However, after the book was published it became clear that over thirty
wonderful songs from Muradian’s repertoire were left out of the book.

Two years ago, in the framework of celebration of Hayrik Muradyan’s
100th anniversary it was planned to reprint the expanded selection
of songs.

However, the publication of the book was delayed for some reasons.

We are happy to announce that this publication was included into the
list of books to be printed with government funding. We are sure that
the selection will become the handbook for all those interested in
folk music.

It should be added that it was Hayrik Muradian who founded the folk
band at Yerevan State University that later became the foundation for
establishment of the University’s Cultural Club. Muradian also founded
the "Van" band at the Engineering University, two children’s choirs.

Nevertheless, unfortunately, these songs are still not as popular as
they deserve to be.

ARMENIAN PREMIER UNHAPPY WITH AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT’S "BELLIGERENT" RHETORIC

Arminfo
15 Jun 07

Yerevan, 15 June: The 12 May parliamentary election in Armenia was
mostly free and fair, the special representative of the EU in the
South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, said during his meeting with [Armenian]
Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan today.

The Armenian government’s press service reported that Semneby
congratulated Sargsyan on the successful election. Semneby said
that in comparison with the previous elections in Armenia, progress
is apparent. He expressed the hope that this positive trend will
continue in the 2008 presidential election. "The European Union is
watching election processes in Armenia with a great interest. Their
results are quite important from the point of view that Armenia was
the first country in the region where elections were held after the
Armenia-EU partnership programme was adopted," Semneby said.

[Passage omitted: Semneby congratulated Sargsyan on the victory of
his party]

Thanking him for his assessment of the election results, Sargsyan
assured Semneby that positive trends will not only be maintained but
will develop further ahead of the forthcoming presidential election,
and that more efforts will be made for democratic processes on the
whole. He voiced his assurance on behalf of the president, too.

Sargsyan and Semneby discussed the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict
settlement as well. Semneby detailed Sargsyan about his discussion
with the Armenian foreign minister, saying that the EU continues
to show growing interest in the settlement of the conflict not only
because Armenia and Azerbaijan are important partners of the EU, but
also to establish an atmosphere of trust and cooperation. Sargsyan
said with regret that in contrast to the belligerent rhetoric of
the Azerbaijani president and the increase in Azerbaijan’s military
budget every year, Armenia maintains its position on the peaceful
settlement of the conflict. "If Azerbaijan is really interested in
a compromise and peaceful settlement of the conflict, why does not
it make relevant public statements, but acts in the opposite way,
thinking it can use force to sign a document quickly and in its
favour? This kind of approach leads nowhere," Sargsyan said. He added
that it would be hard to imagine how the Azerbaijani president is
going to explain the essence of his statements to his nation if a
compromise document is signed.

Semneby, who shared Sargsyan’s concerns, tried to explain it by the
methods that the Azerbaijani media use in their work, adding that
the Azerbaijani president has not been making such statements in
the recent period. He emphasized the importance of establishing an
atmosphere of trust again and presented the EU’s approaches to the
peaceful settlement of the conflict.

For his part, Sargsyan stated Armenia’s willingness to make a
compromise, saying that a compromise does not mean a one-sided
concession.

PETER SEMNEBY: EU INTERESTED IN THE RESOLUTION OF THE KARABAKH CONFLICT

armradio.am
16.06.2007 11:58

The European Union is interested in the resolution of the Karabakh
conflict, defends the efforts of the OSCE Minsk group and is ready
to have its own contribution to the settlement of the conflict,
EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semeny said.

In his words, The European Union can maximally help to reinforce
the measures of trust. "It is necessary to thoroughly discuss the
measures we can undertake. We have already started applying some
measures in Georgia, and we think these can be appropriate for
Armenia and Azerbaijan. In particular, the question refers to the
establishment of contacts between the conflicting sides, and if
this initiative succeeds, in the future it will become possible
to speak about establishment of transport communication, noted the
European diplomat, adding that the suggestion is not meant for the near
future. Besides, he noted that the conflict is strengthened with "costs
and risks. "Saying risk, I mean the sharpening of the conflict, while
the costs are closely connected with the loss of economic revenues,"
he mentioned.

Speaking about the replacement of the OSCE Minsk Group, Peter Semneby
said it is practically possible in case of consent of the parties,
but there is no such question on the agenda today.

CB FORECASTS: PROSPECT OF DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIA’S INSURANCE SYSTEM ENVISAGES AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH OF INSURANCE PREMIUMS BY 10,6% WITHIN 2007-2009

ArmInfo
2007-06-14 21:06:00

By RA CB forecasts, the prospect of development of Armenia’s insurance
system envisages average annual growth of insurance premiums by 10,55%
within 2007-2009.

According to RA CB forecasts, presented in the document "Prospects
of development of insurance system for 2007-2009", reduction of
insurance premiums by 0,3% is expected during 2007, while growth of
premiums by 15,4% is predicted during 2008 and by 16,5% in 2009. The
growth of insurance premiums during 2006 made up 61,8% or 4.8 bln
drams. Growth by 32,7% per insurance money is expected in 2007-2009
and by 32,2% during the current year. The compensations, paid by
Armenia’s insurance companies within 2006, grew by 25,6% to 607.3
mln drams. At that, the insurance money per aviation risks have not
been taken into account. As for the sum insured, the megaregulator
forecasts their average annual growth in 2007-2009 by 7,6%, while
their growth in 2006 made up 36,8%. Growth of insurance money by 7.1%
is expected within the current year, by 7.5% during 2008 and by 8.1%,
on average, during 2009. Growth of money aimed at reinsurance of
risks in an average annual section within 2007-2009 will make up 3,8%.

By forecasts of RA CB, the size of assets of insurance companies in
2007 will grow by 24,3%, in 2008 – by 14,1%, in 2009 – by 18,3%. The
liabilities in 2007-2009 will grow by 8,43% per year, and the
own capital – by 24,15%. RA CB notes that the plans of strategic
development for 2007-2009, presented by 12 insurance companies,
as well as the reporting indicators for 2005 have been used when
drawing up the forecasts of prospects of development of the country’s
insurance market.

According to the Ranking of the leading insurance companies of Armenia,
prepared by ArmInfo, 11 leading insurance companies of Armenia gathered
insurance premiums to 1.4 bln drams ($3.8 mln) over the first quarter,
2007, that exceeds the indicator of the similar period, 2006, by
69,4%. The total volume of compensations, upon results of 1Q, 2007,
made up 168,7 mln drams ($464,000), that twice exceeds the indicator
of the similar period, 2006.

The total assets for 1Q, 2007, made up $19.5 mln, while the total
size of the own capital for the same period made up $13.1 mln.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: NEXT KOCHARYAN-ALIYEV MEETING IS POSSIBLE AT SUMMIT OF CIS LEADERS THIS OCTOBER

Regnum, Russia
June 14 2007

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan does not rule out an
opportunity of another meeting of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev this year. In an interview
to Kentron TV-Channel, Vardan Oskanyan noted that the meeting is
possible at the next CIS leaders summit in early October. At that,
the Armenian foreign minister noted that by present moment there are
no preliminary agreements about a possible meeting.

Vardan Oskanyan noted that a three-page document is now on the
negotiation table over the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The document
includes all possible principles of settlement. The document is quite
complicated and is a result of the two-year negotiation process
at the level of foreign ministers and presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan. "If we base upon the document, I have some optimism, and
some shift can be expected as a result of discussions at the level of
presidents. The document is logical and compromise, although is does
not fully reflect claims of the parties," Vardan Oskanyan said adding
that despite numerous shifts, there are still some uncoordinated issues
left, and the parties will have to settle the most difficult problems.

Vardan Oskanyan announced that first of all, it is necessary to
resolve and give response to the questions regarding the right of the
nation of Nagorno Karabakh for self-determination through a referendum,
presence of a corridor for regular land transport link between Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh, as well as settlement of all issues concerning
people security. The Armenian foreign minister assured that the three
principles are a logical foundation of settling the issue, but not a
pre-condition and are basis of the Karabakh conflict settlement. There
are positive changes in all the three dimensions both for Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh.

OPPOSITION PARTY GETS PARLIAMENTARY CREDENTIALS
By Astghik Bedevian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
June 13 2007

Elected MPs of an opposition party led by Armenia’s ex-parliament
speaker have finally collected their parliamentary credentials after
a week’s delay.

Eight members of Artur Baghdasarian’s pro-western Orinats Yerkir voted
into the National Assembly in last month’s legislative elections
received their mandates at the Central Electoral Commission on
Wednesday.

According to Orinats Yerkir’s central headquarters, Artur Baghdasarian
accompanied by several members of his party left for Vanadzor on a
business trip later in the day.

Baghdasarian’s deputy Mher Shahgeldian told RFE/RL that Orinats Yerkir
has not yet picked their faction’s leader and secretary.

However, Baghdasarian is likely to take charge. Another senior Orinats
Yerkir member, Heghine Bisharian, is likely to get the secretary’s
position.

"We all will be represented in standing committees," Shahgeldian added.

However, no applications from Orinats Yerkir for membership in
committees have been received at the National Assembly yet.

Meanwhile, ex-foreign minister Raffi Hovannisian’s Heritage party,
which like Orinats Yerkir until yesterday refused to pick up their
parliamentary mandates pending the Constitutional Court’s review of
election appeals, held their first meeting at the National Assembly
today. The seven-member faction elected Hovannisian their head and
Stepan Safarian secretary. It also adopted its statutes.

The Heritage deputies nominated their members to be involved in several
standing committees. In particular, Armenia’s first ombudswoman Larisa
Alaverdian was proposed for the parliament’s committee on European
integration, theology professor Vartan Khachatrian for the defense,
national security and internal affairs committee, educator Anahit
Bakhshian for science, education, culture, youth and sport affairs,
political scientist Stepan Safarian for foreign relations committee,
civil rights lawyer Zaruhi Postanjian for state and legal issues
committee, and university lecturer Armen Martirosian for the committee
on social, health and environmental issues.

ERZURUM HOSTS INT CONFERENCE ON TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 13 2007

The second international conference on Turkish-Armenian relations
will be held in the city Erzurum, Turkey on June 21-22, APA reports.

Azerbaijani Parliamentarian Ganira Pashayeva and deputy director
of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences History Institute Jabi
Bahramov will represent Azerbaijan at the conference.

Ganira Pashayeva told the APA that experts from European Union member
states and the US, historians, scientists will participate in the
conference.

The aim of the conference is to reveal false Armenian genocide claims
and debate basing on historical documents.

"Holding the event in Erzurum is not accidental. Armenians committed
massacres against Turks in 1915 here, a lot of mass graves were found
and the process is still continuing," she said.

The parliamentarian said that Armenian scientists and experts from
Armenia and al over the world have been invited to the conference,
but they have not stated whether they will attend the conference.

"They always avoid debating this issue on the level of experts. They
know that their lies will be revealed," she said.

Ganira Pashayeva said that one section of the conference will cover
Armenia’s occupation Azerbaijani territories, genocide committed
by Armenians against Azerbaijanis, Nagorno Karabakh conflict and
realities of the world.

"We will address the conference on both issues, distribute necessary
materials to inform the foreign visitors," she said.

LEVON ARONIAN IN LEAD WITH SCORE OF 3 – 2 IN SECOND TOUR TOURNAMENT OF PRETENDERS FOR WORLD CHESS CHAMPION TITLE

Noyan Tapan
Jun 12 2007

ELISTA, JUNE 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Levon Aronian drew the game with Alexei
Shirov in the 5th tour of second tournament of pretenders for world
chess champion title on June 11 in Elista. The Armenian chess-player
is in the lead with the score of 3 to 2.