Author: Tamamian Anna

"ANDRANIK MARGARYAN’S DEATH BOOSTED RPA’S RATING"

A1+
[03:21 pm] 18 April, 2007

Sociologist Aharon Adibekyan, head of the "Sociometer" Centre announced
today that the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) and the Republican
Party of Armenia (RPA) have a real chance to be elected in the RA
National Assembly. The polling initiated by the centre testifies to
his conclusion.

"The Prime Minister’s death has had a positive influence on the RPA;
the party’s reputation has considerably increased. But it is due
to mention that not many know Serge Sargsyan as the chairman of the
party," says the sociologist.

On April 14 the center conducted polling in Yerevan and in 29
cities. 1500 people participated in the polling. In comparison with
the previous polling, the rating of the PAP has decreased and that
of the RPA has increased.

51% of the respondents have already decided which candidate/party/
to vote for; 11% of them will vote for the PAP and 14% – for the RPA.

The center also held polling on Serge Sargsyan’s appointment to the
RA Prime Minister’s post. 34% of those surveyed consider the decision
wrong, whereas 19,3 % assume the contrary.

45 % of the respondents noted that there will be serious stuffing and
frauds during the upcoming election, and 3, 8 % think the elections
will be conducted on a high level.

In reply to our question, whether people inspire confidence to the
polling results, Mr. Adibekyan said, "If your enemy starts gossiping
about you, it contributes to the increase of your rating."

In the end, Mr. Adibekyan informed us about their intention to
initiate three more polling, one in Yerevan, the second in the RA
villages and the third one throughout the republic.

SPACIOUS SHOW OF ARMENIAN FILMS TO BE ORGANIZED IN GERMANY IN 2007

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The year of 2007 was stated the
year of show of Armenian films in Germany. More than two dozens of
Armenian films from Hamo Beknazarian’s films to works of directors
of the modern period will be shown in different cities and regions
of Germany during the year. The first show of Armenian films will
take place on May 5-9 in Berlin.

As film director Haroutiun Khachatrian mentioned in the interview to
the Noyan Tapan correspondent, a big delegation formed of Armenian
directors, Armenologists and historians, with participation of who
the conference entitled "The Armenian Cinematography and Genocide"
will be held, will also leave for Berlin during those days.

Show of Armenian films is carried out in Germany at the German side’s
proposal. In H. Khachatrian’s words, owing to the joint cooperation of
the RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Issues and National Film Center
of Armenia, preliminary agreements were reached with the German side:
besides show of films, conferences on Armenoloyy will be organized
in Germany, exhibitions will opened.

"This is a part of the cultural policy. A cultural year of Turkey
will be held in Germany this year, and by the Germans’ wish, Armenian
cultural events will also be held there during the same period of
time," H. Khachatrian emphasized.

The show of Armenian films will continue in Germany till October.

Armenia, Egypt sign agreements on cooperation

Arminfo
16 Apr 07

Yerevan, 16 April: Armenia and Egypt have signed eight agreements on
cooperation in a number of fields. Documents were signed during
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan’s visit to Egypt.

A meeting of Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Husni Mubarak, as well as
a meeting between the Armenian president and Egyptian Prime Minister
Ahmad Nazif took place during the visit. An Armenian-Egyptian business
forum also took place.

Entrepreneurs from both countries agreed to create an
Armenian-Egyptian business council. An agreement was signed on
cooperation between Yerevan State Medical University and the medical
department of Cairo University.

Armenian Public TV reported that during the news conference Kocharyan
expressed Armenia’s readiness to create a joint free market zone,
which will improve the trade turnover between Armenia and
Egypt. Kocharyan also said that the Egyptian market is open to
Armenian entrepreneurs and creates positive conditions for the
implementation of joint projects in the fields of information
technologies and manufacturing.

Panorama.am

18:07 14/04/2007

LPP LEADER SAYS ITS SYMPATHIZERS DO NOT GO TO ELECTIONS

Hovannes Hovannisyan, chairman of Liberal Progressive Party (LPP) of
Armenia explained today why his party does not take part in the
elections. He believes the elections fail to reflect the real vote of
confidence to political forces. `Free and fair elections are vital for
the establishment of the political field. The elections here do not
fix the real vote of confidence to political forces,’ he
said. Hovannisyan also said the political parties are too many in
Armenia, which makes the political field `irrational.’ He said people
who sympathize them make up 45% but 90% of them refuse to take part in
elections.

Source: Panorama.am

GEORGIA EYES IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE ý

PRESS TV, Iran
April 13 2007

The recently launched Iran-Armenia gas pipeline has drawn the interest
of Georgia to explore the possibilities of joining in on the plan.

Immediately after the pipeline was inaugurated in March, the Georgian
President Mikheil Saakashvili made a "private" trip to Armenia
described by governmental sources as "only for skiing".

Saakashvili’s trip included discussions with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian, in which the foreign ministers of the two countries were
also later involved.

Armenian media sources have speculated that the transfer of Iranian
gas from Armenia to Georgia was a very likely topic on the agenda.

Although no statement was issued on the nature of talks, Armenian
political analysts have rejected the notion that the trip was merely
for "relaxation", according to Armenia Now Online weekly’s website.

"Rather, they link Saakashvili’s visit, at least indirectly, to the
opening of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline."

The remarks by Shavarsh Kocharian who heads the National Democratic
Party at the Armenian Parliament further testify that the pipeline
must have been a main topic of talks.

"If the two countries’ leaders met, it is impossible that such a
serious issue as the gas pipeline should not have been touched upon,"
Shavarsh has said.

Further, economist Eduard Aghajanov emphasizes that Georgia’s desire to
reduce its dependence on Russia for gas supplies could have prompted
Saakashvili to explore import possibilities with Armenian officials,
as he has done already with the leadership of Armenia’s neighbor,
Azerbaijan.

"If there is a possibility to receive gas from a third source, then
a reasonable politician would not miss that opportunity by any means,
not to remain hanging on Russian gas," Aghajanov has said.

Currently, Georgia receives some 2.3 million cubic meters per day
come from Azerbaijan.

Iran currently delivers a daily volume of 10 million cubic meters of
natural gas to Armenia. The agreement is signed for 20 years. For each
cubic meter of Iranian gas, Armenia is to deliver 3 kWh of electricity
to Iran.

The idea for Georgia to import Iranian gas via the Iran-Armenia
pipeline is not a new one. Former foreign minister Salome Zourabichvili
raised the issue during an official visit to Yerevan in 2004.

Iran provided emergency supplies during Georgia’s January 2006
gas crisis.

–Boundary_(ID_paSm3yLtMQ/RP/1KssGUJA)–

COOPERATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AND PHARMACEUTICAL SECTORS TO BE MAIN SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION AT ARMENIAN-EGYPTIAN BUSINESS FORUM
Author: Editor: Eghian Robert

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. A business forum with the participation
of 21 businessmen from the Armenian side will be held within the
framework of the visit to be paid by the Armenian president Robert
Kocharian to Egypt on April 14-15. Mushegh Sargsian, Deputy Director
for Enterprise Development and Export of the Armenian Development
Agency (ADA), stated this on April 13.

According to him, the RA Minister of Trade and Economic Development
Karen Chshmaritian is envisaged to present the macroeconomic
situation in Armenia during the business forum, while Director
General of ADA Vahagn Movsisian will speak about Armenia’s investment
environment. Besides, considerable printed material about the Armenian
economy has been sent to Egypt.

M. Sargsian reminded that the forum to be held is not the first step
aimed at economic cooperation with the Egyptian side: particularly,
an exhibition of Armenian production was held in Cairo three years
ago. However, in his words, due to the current regimes of agricultural
production export to Egypts, Armenian agricultural products cannot
be sold at compatitive prices on the Egyptian market.

M. Sargsian said that both Egypt and Armenia have developed IT and
pharmaceutical sectors, and issues of Armenian-Egyptian cooperation
in these sectors will mainly be discussed at the business forum.

RA CEC CALLS FOR REFRAINING FROM ACTIONS DESTABILIZING SITUATION

Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. "The act of violence committed
towards Bargavach Hayastan Party’s offices in Avan and Kanaker-Zeytun
communities is an attempt to form an atmosphere of intolerance during
the elections," RA CEC’s April 12 statement made on the occasion of
explosions that took place the same day at Party’s offices read.

"Condemning the incident, the Central Electoral Commission of Republic
of Armenia calls electors, political forces, all participants of
elections for refraining from actions destabilizing the situation, for
manifesting mutual tolerance and assisting with holding of democratic
elections," CEC stated.

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA CONDEMNS THE EXPLOSIONS IN THE OFFICES OF THE PROSPEROUS ARMENIA PARTY

Arminfo
2007-04-12 18:36:00

Today’s explosions in the offices of the Prosperous Armenia party, like
the recent assassination attempt on Mayor of Gyumri Vardan Ghoukassyan,
are the direct evidence of the fact that the parliamentary election
are accompanied with serious domestic political processes, Galoust
Sahakyan, the head of the Republican Party’s faction, told ArmInfo
correspondent, Wednesday.

He emphasized that all these crimes will have a negative effect
on the spirits of the public on the threshold of the election. At
the same time he couldn’t tell the motive of the crime, stressing
that the law-enforcement agencies must answer this question. Saying
that this incident may become an object of political speculations,
G.Sahakyan said, "I don’t rule out that many forces will be tempted
to ascribe this incident to somebody, but I reiterate that the RPA
members have at least friendly relations with all the members of the
Prosperous Armenia party, moreover, we have no claims against either
this or any other parties," Sahakyan said in conclusion.

Condemning the explosions in the offices of the Prosperous Armenia
party, the Republican party of Armenia states that such steps are
directed against the Armenian nation and state and they are taken by
those forces which are not ready for fair political fight. The RPA
appeals to the country’s political forces not to yield to criminal
groupings’ provocation and to consolidate in the name of the election
complying with international standards. The party also appeals to
the law-enforcement agencies to be more alert at this fateful moment,
to prevent the attempts to destabilize the situation and to find and
punish the criminals with the utmost rigor of the law.

To note, explosions were committed in two offices of the Prosperous
Armenia this night. The investigation is underway.

ARTUR BROTHERS NOT IN THE COUNTRY, SAYS MUTUA.

Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Kenya
April 12 2007

Caption: Lang’ata MP Raila Odinga claimed that the Artur brothers
had re-entered the country.

The government has dismissed media reports alleging that the Artur
brothers are back in the country.

Addressing the media during his weekly briefing, Government Spokesman,
Dr. Alfred Mutua termed the reports as cheap propaganda aimed at
misleading and confusing Kenyans.

Mutua cautioned leaders against inciting the public.

Meanwhile, the saga of the two Armenian brothers Artur Margayan and
Sargasyan resurfaced in parliament on Thursday as the government
revealed it will not make public the Kiruki led inquiry report amidst
demands from MPs that it does so.

Internal security assistant minister Peter Munya told parliament, that
the report borders on the country’s national security and releasing
it will jeopardize the country’s security apparatus.

The internal security assistant minister was responding to Ndhiwa
member Orwa Ojode who had raised the matter.

Ojode accused the government of concealing information from the public
yet the matter caused panic as 8 police officers and senior government
officials were sacked in connection with the incident.

Ojode argued that taxpayers money was spent in instituting the Kiruki
led commission of inquiry thereby owing the public an explanation
into the two Armenians presence in the country.

Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli claimed the two brothers were brought into
the country for an assassination mission, alleging that there was an
attempt to conceal the Armenians true identity and their mission by
sacking some police officers.

However Munya was adamant that the report touches on immigration
clearance and releasing its details will expose the country’s security
system.

Munya said the government has studied the recommendations and concluded
that making public their contents is not in the interest of Kenyans.

Langata member Raila Odinga described the Armenian incident as
a scandal. He claimed that since their deportation they have been
spotted in the country twice, saying once in Mombasa and at a separate
time at the Nakuru state lodge.

Munya however said he will not engage in speculation but added that
the records reveal that there was a security breach at the airport
and the government is working on seeing how to improve it.

TURKEY CHARGES 11TH SUSPECT OVER MURDER OF JOURNALIST

Agence France Presse — English
April 11, 2007 Wednesday 4:02 PM GMT

An Istanbul court on Wednesday charged an eleventh suspect over
the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, Anatolia news
agency reported.

The court charged Mustafa Ozturk with being an accomplice in the
January 19 killing and aiding a criminal organisation. It remanded
him in custody pending trial.

Ozturk had been questioned by police in February and was subsequently
released by a court, but the prosecutor in charge of the investigation
appealed and secured an arrest warrant in his name.

He was caught last month in a house raid in the eastern city of
Erzurum.

Among the 11 suspects is the alleged assailant, a 17-year-old jobless
secondary school graduate who officials say has confessed to gunning
down Dink, 52, outside the offices of his Turkish-Armenian weekly
Agos in Istanbul.

Prosecutors have yet to complete their indictment on Dink’s murder.

Dink was branded a traitor by nationalists for urging open debate
on the World War I massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire,
which he labelled as genocide, a label that Ankara fiercely rejects.

He was given a suspended six-month sentence last year for "insulting
Turkishness" under a penal code article that has been used to prosecute
a number of intellectuals and raised alarms about freedom of speech
in Turkey.