Author: Tavakalian Edgar

NO POLICE INTERVENTION

A1+
01:40 am | June 01, 2009

Politics

Journalist for "168 Hours" Armine Avetyan and "Transparency
International" representative Sona Ayvazyan were beaten up at the
Malatia-Sebastia district’s 8/05 polling station at around 3 p.m.

"I was standing near the window when 20 shaved-heads came in. Six of
them surrounded the voting booth, while another six started pushing
and beating me and Sona. Commission president Petros Avetisyan,
Vice-president Khachatur Khachatryan were standing calmly and not
doing anything. They held us to the wall, surrounded us and started
stuffing the ballots," Armine Avetyan told "A1+".

They took Avetyan’s recorder, camera and even the phone so she wouldn’t
call anyone.

"Police officers were standing outside, but didn’t do anything."

According to the journalist, the shaved-heads could have been MP Samvel
Alexanyan’s men because Armine Avetyan had prohibited Alexanyan’s
relative from stuffing the ballots and the shaved-head had tried to
bribe the journalist.

"He kept trying to invite me to eat. He told me that he would pay me
money to stop me from doing my job," said Armine Avetyan, adding that
she had called Samvel Alexanyan and told him what had happened. In
response, Samvel Alexanyan told her that she should have called him
on the spot.

MP Anahit Bakhshyan received an alarm and rushed to the polling
station.

"There was a lot of commotion for some reason and it was clear that
they weren’t voters. I called Samvel Alexanyan and told him that this
is not a good service for the president. He got frustrated and told me
that he would tell those people to leave," Anahit Bakhshyan told "A1+".

"A1+" tried to find out information about the incident from proxies
and observers at the polling station, but each of them gave his
own explanation, saying that they had left the polling station at
that moment.

TATEV OHANIAN SAYS AS OF 14:00 THE CENTRAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION GOT NO
SERIOUS APPLICATION-COMPLAINTS

YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS: The elections of Council of Yerevan
Elders are passing in a natural order; the commissions provide the
natural course of the voting. Press secretary of Central Electoral
Commission Tatev Ohanian told Armenpress that as of 14:00 the CEC got
no serious application-complaints and no serious incidents have been
registered. People conducting observation mission in the elections
continue their activity in a natural course visiting different polling
stations. They have also registered no data on violations.
29 local and 1 international organizations with correspondingly
6000 and 15 observers follow the voting process.

RA State Chamber Orchestra is preparing a surprise for classical music
fanciers
30.05.2009 13:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Within 10 years RA State Chamber Orchestra gave over
100 concerts, 11 of which were performed in 2009.
`There are number of classical music fanciers in the
regions. Assertions that classical music became unpopular in Armenia
are wrong. Giving our population an opportunity to visit quality
concerts, exhibitions, festivals should become a priority task. To
achieve this, we have to perform in the regions,’ Art Director of RA
State Chamber Orchestra, Aram Karabekyan stated.
Because of financial crisis, RA State Chamber Orchestra delayed its
foreign tours till 2010. Despite all of this the orchestra will spare
no efforts to keep working. The Orchestra is preparing a surprise for
classical music fanciers. Aram Karabekyan prefers to keep the details
secret.

Russian govt. approves Kyrgyz airbase lease extension to 49 years

14:1529/05/2009

MOSCOW, May 29 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian government has approved the
49-year term of its lease of an airbase in Kyrgyzstan, with an
automatic prolongation every 25 years.
The modified agreement, which was agreed on between the Russian
Foreign Ministry and the Kyrgyz authorities, will replace the existing
deal, which specifies a 15-year lease with an automatic extension
every 5 years.
The document will soon be forwarded to Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev for signing.
Russia established in October 2003 its airbase in Kant, about 20 miles
west of the Kyrgyz capital. The Russian base currently deploys about
400 troops, as well as 20 combat and transport planes, helicopters,
and L-39 trainers.
Russian troops are stationed at Kant under an agreement in the
framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) – a
regional security bloc in Central Asia, which also includes Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The Kant base is intended to provide air cover for possible operations
by CSTO joint forces in Central Asia.
Russia annually pays some $4.5 million to Kyrgyzstan for the lease of
military facilities and also provides Bishkek with military and
technical equipment as part of the lease agreements.
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed a decree in February to
close down the U.S. Ganci airbase at Manas airport located 30
kilometers (17 miles) east of the capital, Bishkek.
Kyrgyzstan officially notified Washington of the termination of the
agreement on a U.S. military presence at the base, and gave it 180
days to withdraw some 1,200 personnel, aircraft and other equipment.
In April, Bakiyev signed a law ending the deployment of foreign
military contingents from Australia, Denmark, Italy, Spain, South
Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Turkey and
France, at Manas.

JOINT PLAN OF ACTIONS FOR TRANS-BORDER COOPERATION OF BLACK SEA STATES PRESENTED

ARMENPRESS
May 29, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 29, ARMENPRESS: Within the frameworks of plan of actions
for the trans-border cooperation of the Black Sea states today a
meeting has been organized in Yerevan dedicated to the preparation of
project proposals. Representatives of NGOs, local self governmental
bodies and scientific-research institutes take part in it.

Specialists of Armenian Economy Ministry present the plan of joint
actions for the trans-border cooperation of Black Sea states,
the application form, order of its infilling and possible ways of
finding partners in the member states to the participants of one-day
working meeting.

Greeting the participants the Deputy Armenian Economy Minister Vahe
Danielyan noted that this is the fourth discussion organized within
the frameworks of the project which significantly differs from the
previous ones.

"On May 5-6 this year we took part in the Trans-border cooperation
summit in Bucharest during which the start of this project for
the Black Sea states kicked off. The specialist of the Economy
Ministry will convey the knowledge got there to you as you are the
main implementers of the project," the Deputy Minister applied to
the participants.

According to him, the project also gives an opportunity to launch a
regional cooperation: provinces of Armenia as well as of other states
will be able to take part in it. V. Danielian said that by taking
part in this project the Black Sea states also try to involve the
international authoritative institutions.

"Although the abilities of international institutions are much higher
but I will advise to implement this project by ourselves; it will
give new opportunities for the development," he said.

The plan of joint actions of Black Sea states which is intended by
2013 is financed by the European Neighborhood Partnership tool. The
overall budget of the project reaches 17 million Euros. According to
the project promotion of trans-border cooperation for economic and
social development through usage of general resources is of primary
importance.

It means that the states must implement the projects
collaboratively. Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine,
Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Azerbaijan take part in the project.

ARMENIA SUSTAINS LOSSES FROM THE VERY START

A1+
12:18 pm | May 25, 2009 | Sports

The World Junior Boxing Championship started at the Sport and Concert
Complex after Karen Demirtchianon on May 23, 2009.

On May 24 Armenian sportsman Jorik Tonoyan (54 kg) beat George Kambosos
of Austria. Tonoyan’s next competitor is Tanavat Sankaev of Thailand.

Arthur Kajoyan (60 kg) beat Chinese Lee Chanjeng 5:1. In round two
Kajoyan will compete with Mateusz Batz of Poland.

Koryun Soghomonyan (46 kg) won over Charley Edwards of England 7:3
and Azat Khachatryan (48 kg) beat Belorussian Maxim Drema 10:3.

Arayik Harutiunian (57 kg) lost to Christy Joyce of Ireland and Abgar
Abgaryan (50 kg) to Oliver Goman of Germany.

Another Armenian sportsman Andranik Khloyan lost to Indian Shiva
Tapay in the 52kg weight category.

World Junior Boxing Championship features sportsmen under 16.

ANTI-CORRUPTION COUNCIL ADOPTS ACTION PLAN FOR 2009-2012

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
28.05.2009 12:22 GMT+04:00

Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan chaired a meeting of the
anti-corruption council.

The officials adopted the action plan for 2009-2012 and discussed the
methods of new institutional monitoring system. To ensure efficient
implementation of anti-corruption policy, the Armenian government
intends to continue engaging the population in the process.

The Prime Minister instructed to hold essential discussions with
representatives of executive agencies, National Assembly, donor
organizations during 15 days and submit proposals.

DAVUTOGLU VISITS BAKU

Turkish Press
May 27 2009

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday held a joint pres conference
with his Azeri counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku. "Azerbaijan’s
stability, well-being, future and territorial integrity are very
important for Turkey," said Davutoglu, adding, "Azerbaijan’s strength
means Turkey’s strength." He said, "Our message to regional actors,
including Armenia, is very clear. The region must be free of
occupations and tensions." Stating that they always express that
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue should be solved as soon as possible,
Davutoglu said Turkey’s view on the issue is clear and that the
problem should be solved within the frame of Azerbiajan’s territorial
integrity. /Milliyet/

VIGEN CHITECHIAN APPOINTED AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF ARMENIA TO FRANCE

Noyan Tapan
May 27, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Under RA President’s May 26 decree Vigen
Chitechian was relieved of the post of RA Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Belgium and head of Armenia’s representation
in the European Union.

According to the RA President’s Press Office, under President’s
another decree of the same day Vigen Chitechian was appointed
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to France
(residence Paris).

TURKISH FM SENDS TERSE MESSAGE TO ARMENIA

AzerNews Weekly
May 27 2009
Azerbaijan

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davudoglu has sent a terse message to
Armenia, affirming that Ankara backs Azerbaijan`s fair cause in the
long-standing conflict with its hostile neighbor.

"The Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict and the liberation of the
Armenia-occupied territories of Azerbaijan is of great importance
for Turkey, and no one should doubt that," Davudoglu told reporters
in Baku after talks with his counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov on Tuesday.

He once again assured the Azerbaijani government and people that, just
as was the case throughout history, Turkey will stand by Azerbaijan
now and in the future.

"This is the message I have brought to Azerbaijan from my country`s
leadership and 70 million Turkish citizens."

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 due to its occupation
of Azerbaijani territories and its claims regarding the alleged
World War I-era genocide. However, there have lately been signs of
normalization in Ankara-Yerevan ties. The two countries` leaders
attended a 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match together in Yerevan
in September 2008 when Abdullah Gul became the first Turkish president
to visit Armenia. Since then, diplomatic efforts aimed at mending ties
continued, and some reports earlier circulated that Turkey plans to
open its border with Armenia soon, sparking an outcry in Azerbaijan.

Some in Turkey say the country may open the border, which utterly
perturbs the Azerbaijani public.

Nonetheless, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during
a visit to Baku May 12-13 that Turkey will not open up its border
with Armenia before the occupation of Azerbaijani territories ends.

Davudoglu said the Garabagh conflict must be resolved under the
auspices of the mediating OSCE Minsk Group, in accord with relevant
United Nations decisions. He also emphasized that progress is discerned
in the peace process for the first time in over a decade and advised
not to miss this valuable opportunity.

The UN has already passed five resolutions on the unconditional
pullout of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani
territories. Nonetheless, Yerevan is sticking to its policy of
occupation and ignoring international law.

"Frozen conflicts in the region are like bombs that can explode
any moment," the Turkish minister said, adding that talks should be
continued to advance their solution.