Author: Tavakalian Edgar

JEWISH COMMUNITY OF ARMENIA CONSTANTLY FELT ANDRANIK MARGARIAN’S
SUPPORT

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, NOYAN TAPAN. "The Jewish community of Armenia
grieves over the untimely death of prominent state and political
figure, RA Prime Minister and Chairman of Republican Party of Armenia
Andranik Margarian," community Chairwoman Rimma Varzhapetian’s
statement mentioned. "The Jewish community of Armenia constantly felt
support and assistance by Andranik Margarian in creating necessary
conditions for development of spiritual and cultural values of Jews of
Armenia. We are very grateful and will always remember the assistance
of the party headed by him in building a Memorial to victims of
Armenian and Jewish Genocide being an example of tolerance," the
statement read.

ARMENPRESS

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT SENDS CONDOLENCES ON DEATH OF
ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER

YEREVAN, MARCH 25, ARMENPRESS: President of Russia
Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences on the death
of the Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian to
his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian, the family
members and friends of the prime minister; press
service of the Russian president reported.

All the territories are under NKR jurisdiction

23-03-2007 11:53:03 – KarabakhOpen

I should note first that our territories are not related to Armenia.
The liberated territories are the reality that emerged in the result
of the Karabakh-Azerbaijani conflict, said Arthur Mosiyan, the
representative of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Central Committee to Artsakh,
in an interview with KarabakhOpen. ` During the war our soldiers drew
the present border of NKR with blood. It is set down in the
Constitution adopted in December of last year that all these
territories are under the NKR jurisdiction. Different countries may
define the reality in different ways.’

Over 150 families resettle in Karabakh in 2006 – agency

Arminfo
23 Mar 07

Stepanakert, 23 March: In 2006, 155 families (487 people, including 66
children) were resettled in Nagornyy Karabakh from Armenia and other
countries.

They received a resettler’s status and enjoy privileges given by the
government. In total, 105 houses have been built for resettlers, and
another 38 have been renovated. The number of refugees registered by
the NKR [Nagornyy Karabakh republic] Department for Migration,
Refugees and Resettlers, stands at 3,840. According to Serzh
Amirkhanayn, head of the department, the process of registering
refugees is coming to an end. The main efforts in 2008-10 will be
directed towards resolving the housing problems of refugees. In 2006,
26 houses were built and renovated for the refugees, and 11 of them
are in Stepanakert. In addition, 24 houses were acquired for
refugees. Last year [2006], about 1bn drams [about 2.8m dollars] were
spent on the programme. Forms now are being filled in to identify the
size of moral and material damages each family has incurred so that to
provide them with compensation in the future. Another 12 houses will
be built for refugee families in 2007. According to Amirkhanyan, the
efforts of Armenia, Artsakh [Karabakh] and the [Armenian] diaspora
need to be consolidated to solve the problems of refugees.

A1+

ALTERNATIVE’S RALLY WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF POLICE AND CHILDREN
[09:00 pm] 23 March, 2007

The recurrent rally of the `Alternative’ Public-Political Initiative
was held with heated emotional exclamations and without any serious
incident. It is noteworthy that the participants of `Spring’ Juvenile
Festival occupied one side of Freedom Square and the leaders of
Alternative – the other.

The participants elbowed through the crowd and expressed their
regret. `The square is full of children otherwise we shall smash their
heads,’ they shouted. At about 5:00 p.m., the leaders of `Alternative’
assembled people in the corners of the square.

Nikol Pashinyan, one of the leaders, said they hold their rallies in
the square to show they are not afraid of anyone.

`It is characteristic of terrorist organizations to use children to
protect their skins from the enemies’, said Mr. Pashinyan.

Vahagn Khachatryan, member of Alternative, added that they don’t
disturb the children. They will assemble at the square to protect
their rights violated by higher institutions.

The participants circled at the square with the shouts, `Freedom’ and
`Impeachment’. Further on they headed to Republican Square. Nikol
Pashinyan called on the Armenians to be prudent and join their meeting
on March 30.

COURT REFUSES APPEAL OF "ALTERNATIVE" INITIATIVE GROUP TO RECOGNIZE INVALID MAYOR’S DECISION PROHIBITING MASS MEETING IN AZATUTIAN SQUARE

Noyan Tapan
Mar 22 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The Court of 1st Instance of Yerevan
communities of Kentron and Nork-Marash refused on March 22 the appeal
of Nikol Pashinian and Petros Makeyan, members of the "Aylentrank"
(Alternative) initiative group against the Yerevan Mayor. The claimant
side demanded to recognize invalid Mayor Yervand Zakharian’s 13.03.2007
decision on prohibiting the mass meeting of "Aylentrank" in Azatutian
(Liberty) square. The court at the same time found that the report
informing about the decision and the notification sent to the claimant
side was carried out with violation of the order and term fixed by
the law what, however, can not have essential meaning to satisfy the
appeal. In the words of Arsen Amian, the Mayor’s Office Representative,
Law Department Deputy Chief, the mass meeting was prohibited for the
reason that "Garun-2007" festival must be held in Azatutian square
on the same day, at 17:00-19:00, March 23. The organizer of the
festival, as it became known from explanation of the Mayor’s Office
Representative, is the Mayor’s Office.

Representative of the claimant side Vahe Grigorian in his turn stated
that the court had not been independent and impartial when carrying
out the legal procedures. He particularly complainted that the court
refused the mediations on inviting Mayor’s authorized representative
Gagik Baghdasarian as an evidence as well as on demanding copies of
registers, by what it would be proved that the decision was not made
and was not sent within that period of time as it is mentioned in the
documents. The claimant side also found that A. Amian had no proper
commissions to represent the Mayor, he represented the Mayor’s Office.

Responding the last statement, A. Amian mentioned that the Mayor’s
Office staff is called to secure implementation of the commission
preserved for the Mayor by the law. As the Noyan Tapan correspondent
was informed by the "Aylentrank" office, the claimant side intends
to appeal the court decision at the Appeal Court on Civil cases.

ARMENIAN FM TO DISCUSS GLOBAL ISSUES WITH RUSSIAN COUNTERPART

Regnum, Russia
March 21 2007

Visit of minister of foreign affairs of Russia Sergei Lavrov to
Armenia is planned for early April, REGNUM reports Armenian foreign
minister Vardan Oskanyan to inform at a news conference March 21 at
the REGNUM’s Yerevan press office.

Oskanyan said that the meeting agenda would be extensive and deep.

"Of course, first of all, issues of bilateral relations are to be
discussed – they are multifaceted and lie practically in all the
spheres: security, political dialog, economic and social issues,
and issues of culture and education," Oskanyan observed.

According to the Armenian FM, the issue of Nagorno Karabakh will be
one of the most important topics discussed. "We are to talk about
regional issues related to the energy field, transport, and security.

Besides, based on my earlier experience of meetings with Sergei Lavrov
and other high-ranking officials of the Russian foreign ministry,
global topics will also be discussed."

"I always use the opportunity to learn the position of Russia on
several important subjects that directly or indirectly influence
Armenia’s external policy," Vardan Oskanyan added. He mentioned, in
particular, issues related to Iran, Middle East, Palestine, Kosovo,
expansion of NATO, reforms at the United Nations Organization and the
OSCE. "All this is really a matter of our interest and concern. And
this meeting will give us a good chance to hold such a discussion,"
the minister concluded.

RA PRIME MINISTER SENDS A TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCE TO HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART

ArmRadio.am
21.03.2007 12:05

RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan sent a telegram of condolence to
his Russian counterpart Mikhail Fradkov connected with the tragedies
in Russia that took the lives of numerous people, Press and Information
Department of RA Government informs.

The message says, in part:

"Dear Mikhail Efimovich, On behalf of the Armenian Government and
myself I express deep condolence connected with the blast at Kuzbas
coal mine, the fire in Krasnodar region and the air crash in Samara
that took the lives of a number of people.

At this tragic hour for Russian people I express my sincere condolence
and sympathy.

I ask to convey my condolence to the families and friends of the
victims.

AHMADINEJAD OPEN FIRST STRETCH OF ARMENIAN GAS PIPELINE FROM IRAN

The Associated Press
International Herald Tribune, France
March 19 2007

YEREVAN, Armenia: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his
Armenian counterpart on Monday formally opened the first Armenian
section of a natural gas pipeline linking the two countries.

Ahmadinejad and Armenian President Robert Kocharian inaugurated the
40-kilometer (25-mile) section in the town of Meghri, just over the
border from Iran.

"This is more proof of our friendship," Kocharian said at the ceremony,
which was delayed by hours because rain and fog prevented a helicopter
flight that was to transport Ahmadinejad. He arrived by road.

Under the first stage of the project, Iran is to deliver up to 400
million cubic meters (14 billion cubic feet) of gas a year; when the
pipeline is completed and extends to the capital, Yerevan, the volume
could rise to 2.5 billion cubic meters (88 billion cubic feet) a year.

The project was launched in 2004 after more than a decade of
negotiations.

Russia, which supplies most of Armenia’s gas, had objected to the
project. Armenian officials said last year they were discussing the
prospect of Russia’s natural-gas monopoly Gazprom purchasing the
Armenian section of the pipeline from Iran.

Landlocked Armenia has developed its relations with Iran amid
economic troubles caused by the closing of its borders with Turkey
and Azerbaijan in the wake of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh,
a region of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenian and ethnic Armenian
Karabakhi forces.

Iran has also sought projects and influence in other parts of the
former Soviet Union, mostly in Central Asia.

Last year, Ahmadinejad opened an Iranian-financed tunnel improving
connections between impoverished Tajikistan’s north and the capital
region. Tehran has focused mostly on transport and infrastructure
projects and restoring historically close cultural ties.

IRAN HAS NO OBSTACLES TO DEVELOPMEMT OF ITS RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA, MAHMUD AHMEDINEJAD STATES

Noyan Tapan
Mar 19 2007

MEGHRI, MARCH 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Following the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline opening ceremony on March 19, an agreement on cooperation
for construction and operation of hydropower plants on the Arax River
was signed between the two governments. Then a joint press conference
of the presidents of the two countries Robert Kocharian and Mahmud
Ahmedinejad took place.

R. Kocharian said that the opening of the gas pipeline is an historical
event which opens a new page in Armenian-Iranian relations. "After
independence, Armenia encountered great difficulties – war, blockade,
energy crisis. Today these difficulties are somewhat vague in our
memory but we all remember the good will of the Iranian people and
authorities and their willingness to help us. Our relations are
proceeding in a systematic way, and we are grateful to the Iranian
side for such attitude," the Armenian president said. He noted that
only 10 years ago the energy systems of Armenia and Iran were not
interconnected while today the matter concerns construction of a
second high-voltage line.

Expressing satisfaction over the opening of the gas pipeline, the
Iranian president said: "I’m glad that we have the opportunity to open
a gas pipeline, provide a new service to the Armenian people and take a
great step in development of Armenian-Iranian relations. Over the past
15 years, the bilateral relations have undergone a development. The
peoples of the two countries are prepared to further develop and extend
bilateral relations. I think these projects realized have strengthened
even more the friendship and links of our two peoples." According to
M. Ahmedinejad, during his short visit, issues related to bilateral
relations, previous programs were discussed, new agreements in new
spheres were reached. "Iran has no obstacles to development of its
relations with Armenia," he stated.

Assessing the current level of bilateral relations, the Armenian
president said that active political contacts are done through
intergovernmental commissions. "It is crucial to form a sensitive
field in our relations and try to implement economic programs which
will link our economies not only in trade but also in infrastructure
sphere. This is the essence of our relations, political contacts
and steps taken in the sphere of economy and it presupposes serious
prospects in terms of developing our bilateral relations."

In response to the question: "Which projects do you give
preference?" the Iranian president said that development of bilateral
relations in energy, economic, commodity turnover, water resources
and communication sectors was discussed, and respective expert work
will start soon in these sectors. "We view development of the two
countries in the interest of the peoples of our countries and for
the benefit of regional stability and security," he said.