Author: Toneyan Mark

OYP ADDRESSES OSCE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF LONG-TERM MONITORING MISSION

Noyan Tapan
Dec 12 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The Orinats Yerkir (Country of
Law) Party has addressed the OSCE Office in Armenia with an issue
concerning the implementation of a long-term monitoring mission in the
forthcoming 2008 presidential elections. This statement was made by
Heghine Bisharian, the Deputy Chairman of the above-mentioned party,
at the press conference held on December 12. It should be mentioned
that the latter is the Head of the pre-electoral staff of Arthur
Baghdasarian, the Chairman of the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law)
Party, who has been nominated as a candidate running for the post of
the RA President.

In the words of Heghine Bisharian, the candidates running for
presidency have already found themselves under unequal compettion
conditions.

Particularly, for the past few months Arthur Baghdasarian has had the
opportunity for appearing in the TV air only for 4-5 times, whereas,
every step of Prime Minister Serge Sargsian, the Chairman of the
Republican Party of Armenia and the candidate of the authorities, is
being covered. Heghine Bisharian expressed anxiety in connection with
the fact that, according to the information they possess, the heads
of villages have been appointed chairmen of the electoral commissions
in all the rural communities, who are demanded to provide certain
amount of votes for the candidate of the authorities.

In response to the question concerning the financing sources of
the campaign of the Chairman of the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law)
Party, Heghine Bisharian mentioned that the party has 100 thousand
members and each of those members will make his/her investment and
so the fund of their candidate will be replenished with the maximum
sum envisaged by law. The party will also be supported by certain
businessmen, the names of whom, however, she did not make public.

According to the Head of the pre-electoral staff, the campaign of the
Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) Party will be held without any black
propaganda against other candidates. The Orinats Yerkir (Country of
Law) Party is ready to cooperate with the candidates of other forces
for the purpose of holding free, fair and transparent elections.

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY PARTICIPATES IN DREAM FOR DARFUR OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY IN WASHINGTON

armradio.am
11.12.2007 18:05

The Armenian Assembly of America joined actress Mia Farrow, Olympian
Joey Cheek, and other human rights activists in Washington, DC today
for the final Olympic Torch Relay in the United States. The Assembly’s
participation in today’s event, which coincides with International
Human Rights Day, is part of the organization’s ongoing commitment
to increase awareness of past and current genocides.

Farrow, who participated in today’s relay, has been active in the
Olympic Dream for Darfur campaign since its inception.

"I have passed through these countries that have experienced genocide,"
Farrow told the Armenian Assembly. "The one common thing is ‘how did
this happen?’"

Farrow said that education is the key to genocide prevention.

"As the world community marks International Human Rights Day, it
important to remember all instances of man’s inhumanity to man,
including the attempted annihilation of the Armenian people in
1915," said Assembly Board of Trustees Public Affairs Chair Anthony
Barsamian. "The Dream for Dafur campaign reminds us all that in order
to prevent future atrocities, we must first acknowledge the crimes
of the past."

The Dream for Darfur relay began at the United
StatesHolocaustMemorialMuseum and made its way to the White House and
the Sudanese Embassy, before ending at the Chinese Embassy. Washington,
DC is the final stop of the U.S. portion of the relay which began
internationally on August 9th near the Darfur border, exactly one
year before the summer Olympics, to call attention to the constructive
role that China could play in the Darfur crisis. With the support of
activists, actors and athletes, torch lighting ceremonies have also
been held at sites where genocide has occurred, including Armenia,
Rwanda, Bosnia, Germany, and Cambodia.

"We know that there will be tragedy and immense suffering going on
during the Olympic games unless the Olympic hosts acts now to see
there is security in Darfur," said Jill Savitt, Director of Dream
for Darfur. "It would be an international shame to permit the host
nation of the Olympic games to glorify itself on the world stage
while underwriting and profiting from a genocide."

Jirair Ratevosian, an activist who works closely with the Armenian
Assembly and is co-chair of Massachusetts Dream for Darfur, also
spoke at this final U.S. event.

"Ottoman Turks systematically slaughtered and fatally deported
millions of Armenians from 1915 to 1923, including my own
great-grandparents. The massacres of 1.5 million Armenians was the
first true genocide of the 20th century and as you all know- it was
not the only one," said Ratevosian.

"This is why it’s crucial that our own government call the Armenian
Genocide by its proper name, so we may better learn to recognize
genocide, stop genocide and prevent genocide in the future."

As a member of the Save Darfur Coalition, the Assembly has played a
leading role in the Olympic Torch Relay. In September, the Assembly
organized an event at the Tsitsernakabert Genocide Memorial in Yerevan,
where the torch was lit from the eternal flame and was passed among
survivors of genocide in remembrance of all those who lost their
lives in Darfur and in previous atrocities. His Holiness Karekin II,
Catholicos of All Armenians and the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan
Williams were among those who participated in the Yerevan ceremony.

The U.S. leg of the relay kicked off on September 9th and events have
taken place in 60 cities, including Cambridge, Massachusetts, where
the Assembly participated in the torch-lighting ceremony led by the
Catholicos at HolyTrinityArmenianApostolicChurch. The torch was later
taken to City Hall Plaza in Boston for the concluding torch-lighting
ceremony with communities from around the state by Archbishop Vicken
Aykazian, president of the National Council of Churches in the USA
and Legate of the Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
(Eastern).

Dream for Darfur, a global advocacy campaign, organized the Olympic
Torch Relay which aims to use the Olympic ideals of peace and
international cooperation to raise awareness of Darfur as a step
towards building an international anti-genocide movement for the
future.

ARMENIAN-KAZAKH RELATIONS ENHANCING

ARKA News Agency
Dec 11 2007
Armenia

YEREVAN, December 11. /ARKA/. Armenian-Kazakh relations make a great
leap forward, said Charge d’Affaires of Kazakhstan to Armenia Yerlan
Kubashev.

The testimony of Armenian-Kazakh friendly relations is bilateral
visits and dialogues between both country leaders, as well as CSTO
cooperation, according to him.

Kubashev believes Armenia and Kazakhstan should develop bilateral
economic relations. A number of negative factors impede bilateral
cooperation, particularly, absence of borders, problems with transport
communications, lack of competence in marketing, Kubashev said.

"In this connection, we meet with Armenian entrepreneurs to improve
the situation," the Charge d’Affaires said.

He pointed out that an expo of Armenian goods will be held in
Kazakhstan in 2008.

Kubashev attached importance to the role of the Armenian-Kazakh
intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation. He pointed
out that the members of the commission are to meet in Kazakhstan in
April 2008.

The Charge d’Affaires believes the Armenian Disapora in Kazakhstan
(which numbers about 30,000) can greatly contribute to the development
of bilateral economic relations. Armenians in Kazakhstan are actively
involved in the country’s economy, particularly in such spheres as
construction and hotel business.

45,000 small Armenian enterprises were registered in Kazakhstan in
late 2006 with 21 joint corporations. Their main directivities are
trade, production and sales of construction materials.

Armenian-Kazakh trade turnover totaled $191.3mln in January-October
2007 – 62.4% increase. Armenian exports to Kazakhstan totaled $6.6mln –
80.4% increase as compared to January-October 2006.

Kazakh imports to Armenia totaled $184.7mln – 61.8% increase in
the reporting period. Imports from Kazakhstan totaled $4.2mln by
increasing thrice.

The share of Kazakhstan in Armenia’s foreign trade turnover was 5.5%
in January-October 2007.

CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS RECEIVES AMBASSADOR OF BULGARIA HAVING FINISHED HIS DIPLOMATIC MISSION IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Dec 11, 2007

ETCHMIADZIN, DECEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. On December 11, Catholicos of
All Armenians Karekin II received Stefan Dimitrov, the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to Armenia, who has
finished his diplomatic mission in Armenia.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the Information
Services of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, during the meeting,
His Holiness the Patriarch expressed satisfaction with development
of Armenian-Bulgarian relations and close cooperation between the
two states.

The Patriarch in the person of the Ambassador expressed gratitude to
Patriarch Maxim, the Head of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the
Church Synod for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH EU HIGH COMMISSIONER KHAVIER SOLANA

Armenpress
Dec 10 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Serzh
Sargsian, who is in Brussels on a working visit, met today with the
EU High Commissioner Khavier Solana.

Governmental press service told Armenpress that during the meeting
Khavier Solana greeted the visit of the Armenian prime minister
to Brussels and noted that it is taking place on right time when
presidential elections are going to take place in Armenia. The high
commissioner pointed out that he had many times met with the Armenian
president with whom he has warm relations and discussed issues on
the development of EU-Armenia relations. He also underscored the
conduction of the coming presidential elections in accordance with
international standards.

On his turn, the Armenian prime minister conveyed the greetings
of the Armenian president noting that he is aware of their warm
relations. S. Sargsian said that main issues of Armenia are elections,
process of democratization, which first of all stems from the interest
of Armenia and its people. "We seek to conduct good elections and
be assessed not only from outside but inside as well," the prime
minister said.

He noted that in this respect, parliamentary elections conducted
in Armenia were positively assessed and Armenia is interested in
developing the success that is to say to conduct the presidential
elections better.

According to him, today Armenia has a number of difficult issues –
Karabakh conflict, relations with Turkey, conduction of reforms of
the second round. He noted that these issues may be regulated only
by a person who became president as result of elections conducted in
accordance with international standards.

Khavier Solana agreed with the Armenian prime minister, expressing
hope that the elections will pass on a high level.

During the meeting the interlocutors also referred to the regional
issues including the Karabakh conflict regulation issue. Armenian
prime minister pointed out that Armenia sees regulation of Karabakh
conflict only in a peaceful way. According to him, in spite of
Azerbaijan’s military rhetoric, there are big opportunities for it,
as he believes that the peaceful regulation of the conflict does not
have any alternative.

Khavier Solana also considered the military regulation of the conflict
inadmissible, pointing out that EU will not let such worsening of
the events. The prime minister pointed out that having EU’s support,
it is possible to regulate relations with Turkey as well.

EU high commissioner noted that after the elections the work towards
implementation of Armenia-EU Action program carried out within the
framework of EU new neighborhood policy will continue.

At the end of the meeting Khavier Solana wished success to the prime
minister and Armenia.

After the meeting with the EU high commissioner Serzh Sargsian met
with the EU Science and Research Affairs Commissioner Yanes Potochnik
and leader of the European People’s Party Wilfred Martens.

The prime minister is also expected to meet with NATO Secretary
General Yaap de Hoop Scheffer, mayor of Brussels Freddy Tielmans.

ARMENIA THE SECOND AT JUNIOR EUROVISION -2007

armradio.am
09.12.2007 01:36

Armenia occupied the second position at the Junior Eurovision Song
Contest 2007 held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Only one point did not suffice to gain victory. Maximum 12 points
were given to Armenia by Georgia, Belgium, Russia, Romania, the
Netherlands and Ukraine. Sweden and Greece gave 10 points, 7 points
came from Belarus and 5 points – from Serbia.

Alexey Zhigalkovich from Belarus with the song S Druzyami (With
Friends) won the 2007 Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

A1+

`KARABAKH PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BECOME A CHANGE’
[08:31 pm] 06 December, 2007

The official campaign has not been launched yet, but Chairman of the
RA NA Tigran Torosyan assesses this pre-election period satisfactory.

But one problem bothers the NA Chairman. `Some people go beyond the
limits of certain issues, regarding the NKR problem. Karabakh issue
has become a change and it is prohibited’. Tigran Torosyan did not
tell `A1+’ which party stipulated Karabakh problem. `I think that you
are well-aware of everyone’s announcements and will draw conclusions’.

Tigran Torosyan is not concerned by the anti-propagating behavior of
the National TV Company, since he does not have time to watch TV. `I
do not follow the programs on the National TV and cannot estimate the
situation’.

To our observation that the National TV Company differs from others by
accumulating financial means, while the law demands pluralism, Mr
Torosyan said: `Mass media often shows incoherent approach. Each one
should account for his steps, regarding the implemented
methods’. Tigran Torosyan also noticed that mutual offences preserved
in other countries as well, and reminded the elections of the prime
minister in Italy.

Mr Torosyan pointed that he did not find anything bad in stirring in
the past. `Reflecting in the past is quite normal, but within the
limits of decency. We may discuss any issue within the frameworks of
politeness’.

To the question of `A1+’ how the parliamentary majority will work if
Ter-Petrosyan is elected, Tigran Torosyan responded: `The parliament
and, particularly, I have always worked with the former and with the
present presidents and I will go on working within the frames of the
laws and the Constitution, but I will definitely say that Levon
Ter-Petrosyan will not be elected’.

7 POLICEMEN RECOGNIZED AS AGGRIEVED PARTY WITH REGARD TO CASE ON OCTOBER 23 PROCESSION

Noyan Tapan
Dec 5, 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. 7 police collaborators have
been recognized as aggrieved party with regard to the case on the
October 23 procession. This information was provided to a Noyan
Tapan correspondent by the Press and Public Relations Department of
the RA Police. The issue on recognizing other people as aggrieved
party will be decided after receiving the conclusion of the forensic
examination. Particularly, the conclusion of the forensic examination
of Tigran Makeyan, the son of Petros Makeyan, the Chairman of the
Democratic Way party, has not been received as yet.

It should be mentioned that a clash happened between the police
collaborators and the procession participants during the procession
held on October 23 for the purpose of making people aware of the
October 26 rally of the opposition. The police filed a case on the
indications of Article 316 of the RA Criminal Code: using violence
towards a representative of the state power. Nikol Pashinian, the
editor-in-chief of the Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Time), and Shogher
Matevosian, the editor-in-chief of the Fourth Power newspaper, Petros
Makeyan and his sons Tigran and Karen Makeyans are involved in the
case as defendants.

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 6 2007

DID THE ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PUSH NKR PRESIDENT ADVISER INTO THE GAME?

I disagree with Alik Arzumanyan that the adviser to the NKR president
Arman Melikyan had been hired as a presidential candidate to blacken
Levon Ter-Petrosyan, stated the president of the Association of
Political Scientists Hmayak Hovanisyan on December 6 at the Azdak
press club. He thinks the ex-adviser to the NKR president is running
in the Armenian presidential election to play the game of Robert
Kocharyan. `Arman Melikyan has been seconded here to display a rigid
stance on Karabakh and enable the administration to avoid signing a
memorandum on the principles of resolution of the Karabakh issue, to
suspend it until the presidential election for the administration,
especially for Robert Kocharyan. Therefore, if you noticed, Arman
Melikyan is criticizing Serge Sargsyan but is loyal to Robert
Kocharyan,’ Hmayak Hovanisyan says.

He does not doubt that Arman Melikyan is an impostor. `Therefore,
Arman Melikyan displays a stiff stance on Karabakh, at the same time
denounces Serge Sargsyan as the godfather of corruption, and this is
part of the game. It is necessary to show to the political centers of
the world that Arman Melikyan is not working on this government, but
is the representative of the Karabakh society to this election, for
the time being separating Serge Sargsyan from the so-called Karabakh
aura, which is now negative because there is a distinction between
Armenians of Karabakh and Armenia, and apparently Arman Melikyan is
supposed to assume these charges,’ Hmayak Hovanisyan says.

In this context, he appeals to the people of Karabakh saying that in
the years of war the Armenians of Armenia helped the Armenians of
Karabakh to get liberated of Azerbaijanis, now the Armenians of
Karabakh should help the Armenians of Armenia to get liberated of the
existing system, the yoke of the people representing this system.
`They must lend us a hand, and we can thereby bring into being the
cherished idea of one nation, one fatherland, which is now endangered
by this situation,’ Hmayak Hovanisyan says.

GEORGE KATSIRDAKIS OF NATO ARRRIVING IN ARMENIA TODAY

armradio.am
04.12.2007 10:12

George Katsirdakis, the Head of the Defense Partnership and Cooperation
Directorate of NATO’s Defense Planning and Operations Division,
is arriving in Armenia today.

December 4-5 George Katsirdakis will hold meetings at the National
Security Service, the Police, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and
Defense, and will visit the National Academy of Sciences.

George Katsirdakis will meet with students at NATO Infomation Office