Author: Talalian Arpi

STATEMENT

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
23 April 07

In preparing for the presidential election on July 19, 2007
the NKR parliament forces – the Democratic Party of Artsakh, the
Azat Hayrenik Party, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Movement 88 – held
consultations. The parties agreed that since the proclamation of NKR
serious steps have been made towards laying the foundation of the
independent state, creating a legitimate and effective government
through presidential, parliamentary and local elections in different
years, an effective army to defend the sovereignty of the country and
security of people, which helped prevent the danger against the regular
development of the country and adopt a line of democratic reforms,
creation of a civil society and dominance of human rights, provide
definite economic progress, implement a number of social programs,
enact legislation for fostering liberal market economy, increasing
investments. The experience of the independent state and the tendencies
of its development were set down in the NKR Constitution adopted by a
popular voting. Nevertheless, there are a number of unsolved problems
in the country. The parties have discussed the situation and agreed on
proceeding from the following priorities in drawing up the agenda for
the upcoming years: – International recognition of the independence
of NKR; – Legislative reforms necessitated by the Constitution; –
Further democratization of the system of public administration,
promotion of the mechanisms of division and counterbalance of
the branches of power, establishment of institutions of public
control over the government; – Drafting of an entitlement social
policy and a national strategy of poverty reduction; – Drafting
and introducing a new concept of finance and loan policy to foster
economic development; – Improvement of the demographic state through
resettlement and support to villages. Proceeding from this agenda,
the parties think they can support a common presidential candidate,
including a candidate nominated on a civil initiative, on the basis
of agreement on the principles of his election program and the
abovementioned priorities. The statement is open to all the other
political forces to join.

STRONG ARMENIA SHOULD BE A RESPONSE TO THOSE WHO PLANNED AND PERPETRATED GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.04.2007 13:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian issued an address
over the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman
Empire in 1915, the RA leader’s press office reports. The statement
says, in part, "Each year on April 24 we commemorate the innocent
victims of the Armenian Genocide. The memory about his crime lives
eternally in our hearts. Many states of the world join the Armenian
people on this mourning day. The international community has come
to understand that Genocide is a crime not only against one nation
but also against the whole humanity. It’s a crime, denial of which
is no less dangerous than its preparation and perpetration. Ordeals
and injustice unite people. Tragedy of the Genocide strengthened the
Armenian self-consciousness, united the Armenianhood and cemented
the aspiration to independent state system. The Republic of Armenia
should prosper and develop and the homeland of the whole Armenianhood.

Strong, democratic and flourishing Armenia should become a response
of the Armenian people to those who planned and perpetrated but still
keep on denying the Genocide."

PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN REMEMBERS GENOCIDE VICTIMS

ARMENPRESS
Apr 24 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 24, ARMENPRESS: In the morning of April 24, President
Robert Kocharian visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to pay tribute to
the victims of the Armenian Genocide and put a flower wreath at the
monument. Below is Robert Kocharian’s statement on the occasion of
the Commemoration Day of the Victims of the Armenian Genocide.

"Dear Compatriots: Each year on April 24 we remember the innocent
victims of the Armenian Genocide, which was carried out in the Ottoman
Turkey. The memories of that ferocious crime live deep in our souls.

Along with the Armenian people other peoples across the world also
commemorate this day. The international community has realized that
Genocide is a crime not only against a particular people, but also
against the humanity. The international community has also realized
that denial and cover up of Genocide are equally perilous.

Hardships and the feeling of injustice tend to pair. The tragedy of
the Genocide made the Armenian identity stronger, compelled us to
come together, and enhanced the drive for independence and statehood.

As the embodiment of the Armenians’ centuries long dream the Republic
of Armenia must prosper and develop. Strong, democratic and prosperous
Armenia will be our response to those who planned, carried out and
now deny the Genocide".

Armenia has been and continues to be US’s valuable ally

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.04.2007 15:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen
Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg congratulated Serzh Sargsyan
on his appointment as RA Prime Minister. "Armenia has been and
continues to be US’s valuable ally and partner in the fight against
terrorism. Congratulating You on the appointment, we express hope that
Armenia and the United States will continue to cooperate in a number
of issues important for both countries," the message of congressmen
says, the RA Press Office reports.

BOYCOTT TURKEY: CROSS TURKEY OFF THE EURO MAP

;voteid =1&pollid=11&poll=Vote
16-04-2007

A French website (not Armenian) invites the European people to
"Cross Turkey off the Euro Map". Also through an innovative sticker,
Appo Jabarian (Executive Publisher/Managing Editor USA Armenian Life
Magazine (English edition) and Hye Kiank Armenian Weekly (Armenian
edition)) calls everyone to boycott Turkey.

Everyday our leaders march us, against our wishes, towards the
integration of Turkey into Europe.

This forced march is being imposed upon us in the name of a bloc
politics very directly inspired by the United States foreign policy
and markets. Bloc politics: the system of "bloc politics" is one in
which nations have organized themselves into groups based on areas of
mutual interest. These blocs tend to be made up of nations with similar
political, historical or cultural backgrounds. But Turkey is NO PART of
the European bloc by any stretch of imagination, be it on sociological,
historical, geographical, cultural, political, or religious grounds.

The citizens of Europe, by a majority of more than 65%, DO NOT WANT
Turkey in the Union. But, once again, their leaders refuse to listen
to them.

Show your disagreement and voice your opposition by marking Turkey
with a red cross on all your banknotes, in the bottom right-hand
corner of the map of Europe at the verso of every Euro. Easy to do,
that is clear, that is precise, free of hatred, and it spreads a
powerful message ! rayezlaturquie.com

Your banknotes remain legal tender which cannot be refused!

MASONS COMING TO ARMENIA – WITHOUT ANY CONSPIRACY
By A. Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
20/04/2007

Certain information sources of "Azg" daily told us that representatives
of a rather influential Mason lodge are coming to Armenia in order
to establish here a structure of theirs. Guy Skobian, representative
of the Mason delegation, in an interview to "Azg" correspondent
represented the rest of the delegation coming to Armenia. It consists
of Claude Geidan, Second Grandmaster of the "Great East" lodge,
Third Grandmaster George Serin, Responsible for Justice Andre Abbe,
Grand Secretary for Foreign Relations Aveline Vallaine, as well as
Councilors Pierre Chaume, Guy Akobian and Marcel Veile.

The delegation is to arrive in Yerevan on April 23.

According to Akobian, the visit is aimed at the development of
relations between the Armenian and French Masons. Guy Akobian refused
to say who shall be receiving the delegation in the airport and who
shall be involved in the process of enhancement of relations. Instead
he said that a number of French Armenian Masons from Paris, Marseilles
and Nice are coming with the delegations who are to visit their
relatives in their homeland.

Akobian said that the "Great East" Lodge is striving for "freedom,
brotherhood and secularity". He also explained that the lodge is not
working secretly, therefore there is no conspiracy in the delegation’s
visit to Armenia.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER: A THIEF THAT STEALS EGGS WILL STEAL A HORSE

Arminfo
2007-04-20 10:15:00

If the Republican Party of Armenia is given an opportunity to
implement its pre-electoral program, during 4 years the party will
double the achievements which have been registered over the past 7
years, Serzh Sargsyan, the Armenian Prime Minister and the Chairman
of the Political Council of the Republican Party of Armenia, said at
his meeting with the voters of the Kanaker-Zeitun community, Yerevan.

The Prime Minister noted that in case the RPA is elected, the people
will feel the changes in the country with every passing month. He
emphasized that the RPA has always given realistic promises and kept
them, and the double-valued economic growth in the country proves
this. At the same time, S.Sargsyan pointed out that the largest
Armenian capital in the world totals $100 bln, but even 1% of these
funds is not directed to Armenia as investments. "To see these funds
invested in the Armenian economy, we should gain the confidence of not
only the foreign forces but also the Armenian people, and the free
and fair elections will guarantee this. I promise that the RPA will
go to the election with no violation of the electoral legislation,"
the Armenian Prime Minister said.

He asked the participants of the meeting to compare the programs
of all the political forces and make a choice with a clear
conscience. S.Sargsyan noted that many political parties failed to
implement their programs and explained it with the fact that they were
not in power. But these forces could have carried out their programs
assisting the authorities, he pointed out. The Prime Minister also
stressed the importance of opening new job positions. In conclusion,
S.Sargsyan appealed to the participants of the meeting to keep the
city clean and to observe the traffic rules. "The thief that steals
eggs will steal a horse," he said.

HEAD OF OSCE/ODIHR OBSERVATION MISSION IS SATISFIED WITH PRE-ELECTORAL SITUATION IN ARMENIA

Arminfo
2007-04-20 19:06:00

The process of registration of parliamentary candidates and political
parties was almost perfect, the head of the OSCE/ODIHR observation
mission Boris Frlec said when meeting the speaker of the Armenian
parliament Tigran Torossyan.

The parliamentary press service reports Frlec to express satisfaction
with the transparent work of the Central Electoral Commission and 15%
participation of women in the party lists. He noted that the Armenian
authorities are showing strong commitment to conduct free and fair
election. Frlec stressed the necessity of enrolling representatives of
all political forces in a special group for monitoring the electoral
processes. The OSCE/ODIHR mission is ready to actively cooperate with
that group.

Torossyan said that the observers and the local political forces have
a common goal – to conduct free and fair election.

The sides noted that the electoral situation in Armenia is calm and
is based on political consensus and competition. Torossyan and Frlec
urged the Armenian police to quickly detect and punish the organizers
and the participants of the Apr 19 skirmish in Yerevan.

To remind, the OSCE/ODIHR mission has been monitoring the electoral
campaign since Apr 8.

TWO CANDIDATES ARE KNOWN

A1+
[07:32 pm] 20 April, 2007

The names of two NKR presidential candidates are already known:
Bako Sahakyan, the head of the NKR National Security Service, and
Dr. Vania Avanesyan, a professor of Artsakh State University.

The initiative groups of these candidates have submitted the documents
for registration with the NKR Central Electoral Commission, the chair
of the NKR Central Electoral Commission Sergey Naibyan informed the
KarabakhOpen.

To remind, the nomination of the candidates kicked off today.

AZERBAIJANI DIASPORA INTENDS TO "EXERT PRESSURE" ON THE ARMENIAN DIASPORA

ArmRadio.am
19.04.2007 13:55

Azerbaijani Diaspora must "exert pressure" on the Armenian
Diaspora, said Avda Abramov, member of Milli Majlis, Head of the
Azerbaijani-Israeli Interparlaimentary Friendship Group, reports
Day.az.

In the Deputy’s words, for this purpose the efforts of several
Diasporas should be unified. "To exert pressure on the Armenian
Diaspora possessing powerful political and information recourses the
Azerbaijani Diaspora should work jointly with Turkish and Israeli
Diasporas," Abramov declared.