Author: Toneyan Mark

Agence France Presse — English
May 12, 2007 Saturday

Armenian opposition cries foul over election

by Mariam Harutunian

Armenians voted Saturday in parliamentary elections billed as a
litmus test for democracy but immediately denounced by a main
opposition party as fraudulent.

"I fear these elections were grossly falsified," said Tigran
Mkrtchian, a spokesman for the pro-Western Country of Law party, the
leading opposition party in opinion polls.

"This has been one of the worst elections possible," Mkrtchian said
of the polls in the impoverished ex-Soviet country, where no election
has been judged fair since independence followed the collapse of the
Soviet Union in 1991.

"We recorded widespread violations in many forms," he said. "Some
pro-government parties were giving bribes of between 4,000 and 20,000
drams (11-56 dollars/eight-41 euros) right in front of polling
stations."

Opposition parties had vowed to organize street demonstrations Sunday
to attempt to overturn the results if fraud was suspected.

Surveys show Armenians are hungry for reform, with an overwhelming
majority supporting radical change, but polls predicted
pro-government parties would come out ahead in the election.
Preliminary results are due Sunday.

Preliminary figures showed voter turnout at 57 percent, the Central
Elections Commission said after polls closed.

The vote was seen as a key test of democratic reform in the small,
mountainous republic wedged between Turkey and Iran.

Hundreds of local and international observers were monitoring the
vote, including more than 300 from the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, which was to issue a report on the election
Sunday.

The vote was also a dress rehearsal for a presidential election next
year at the end of President Robert Kocharian’s second term.

Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian, Kocharian’s chosen successor, is
expected to use the parliamentary vote as a springboard to launch his
presidential campaign.

More than 20 opposition parties were running and analysts say these
divisions scuttled chances of defeating two pro-government parties —
Sarkisian’s ruling Republican party and the Prosperous Armenia party
headed by millionaire former world arm wrestling champion Gagik
Tsarukian.

Outside a polling station in the capital Yerevan, Samvel Isabekian
said he had voted for Sarkisian, a former defence minister and
military leader in Nagorny Karabakh, a disputed region seized by
Armenia from neighbouring Azerbaijan in the early 1990s.

"I voted for the Republican party because it has the strongest leader
and our country needs a strong hand," said Isabekian, 23.

Speaking to journalists after marking his ballot, Kocharian said he
had voted "for the future of Armenia and for the continuation of
reforms in economic, social and other areas."

"I hope that a real opposition will be present in parliament, not an
opposition that represents the interests of foreign states," he
added, in reference to frequent claims that Armenian opposition
parties are acting on behalf of Western governments.

Sarkisian said the Republicans had "very high chances" of winning the
most votes and that there were no signs of falsification.

"I want this election to be, for our people and for observers, the
best in the history of independent Armenia," he said after voting.

US officials have said the provision of 235 million dollars (175
million euros) in aid to Armenia under the Millennium Challenge Fund
would be threatened if the vote is deemed unfair.

The European Union has warned that a democratic election is necessary
if Armenia wants to continue to participate in the European
Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) programme, under which the EU has pledged
to build stronger economic and political ties with the country.

Cuts in foreign assistance could be disastrous for Armenia, where
more than 30 percent of people live on less than two dollars (1.50
euros) a day.

About 2.3 million of Armenia’s three million people were registered
to vote in elections for 131 seats in the National Assembly.

Ninety of the parliament’s members will be elected from party lists,
while the remaining 41 seats will go to the winners of individual
mandates.

CANADIAN ENVOY SAYS TIES TO GROW DESPITE ‘GENOCIDE’ ROW

Turkish Daily News
May 9 2007

Canadian Ambassador here Yves Brodeur yesterday admitted that his
country’s recognition of the killing of Armenians at the hands of
the Ottoman Empire as genocide did affect bilateral ties, but said
he believed trade and investment relations would grow further despite
differences.

"I do understand that Turkish authorities are upset with the position
adopted by Canada on this issue. It does affect the relationship but
I do believe that despite our differences we have a relationship which
is mature enough to allow for the development of trade and investment
relations," Brodeur said to the Turkish Daily News.

He said: "At the end of the day, Canadian investors and business
people believe in this country’s potential. They can make a huge
contribution to its development and they are interested in a long
term partnership. Turkey needs investors and solid partners if it
wants to maintain the same growth."

Despite the Turkish government’s warning, Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper recognized the killing of Armenians during World War
I years as genocide in a declaration he issued on April 24, a day
of commemoration for the alleged genocide. In 2004, the Canadian
parliament adopted a resolution acknowledging the genocide claims.

SHUSHI – CORNERSTONE OF VICTORIES
By Kim Gabrielian, Stepanakert

AZG Armenian Daily
10/05/2007

May 9th has a peculiar importance in Karabakh, as it covers three
memorable holidays. It’s difficult to give preference to one of
them. The sacrament of these holidays is: it is impossible to win
the struggling people.

The foundation of the Defense Army of Nagorno Karabakh is connected
with the liberation of Shushi. The military actions of Shushi were
realized by the defense forces of Artsakh. Till today the liberation
of Shushi causes the military theorists’ surprise and admiration.

The auhorities of Nagorno Karabakh, and also Azerbaijani authorities
knew that possession of Shushi would mean the possession of the whole
Nagorno Karabakh.

We know today that the Azerbaijani military forces, which were placed
in Shushi at that time, planned to attack and capture Stepanakert, with
the help of the subdivisions of the 4th armed forces of USSR. It would
mean the actual collapse of Karabakh. Fortunately, this intendance
of the enemy was prevented. The defense forces of Karabakh attacked
Shushi and liberate it during a night. It was a brilliant manifestation
of military skills.

It was the base of the foundation of Nagorno Karabakh Defense
Army. Shushi became the cornerstone for the further victories. The
victorious way stretches up to May of 1994, when the enemy was forced
to sign an agreement of armistice.

According to Hovhannes Arzumanian, veteran of WWII, forefather
of Artsakh’s journalism, the soldiers of Kharabakh excel their
grandfathers in courage. And it confirms that the act of motherland’s
rescue passes from father to son.

What happened 15 years ago is now celebrated as a Day of Victory in
Stepankert, despite of Azerbaijan, where May 9th is a day of sorrow.

Today’s military parade in Stepanakert is the manifestation of the
military might of Nagorno Karabakh Defense Army.

THREE POLICEMEN SUFFERED IN YESTERDAY’S SCUFFLE OF MEETING PARTICIPANTS WITH LAW MACHINERY

Arminfo News Agency
2007-05-10 18:51:00

Three policemen suffered in yesterday’s scuffle of participants of
the meeting of several oppositional parties of Armenia with the law
machinery, the first deputy Head of RA Police, Lieutenant-General
Ararat Makhtesyan said at today’s press-conference. To recall,
the meeting, organized by the "Republic" and "New Times" parties
and the "Impeachment" bloc, was held in the evening in the square
near Matenadaran.

According to Ararat Makhtesyan, the indicated parties had appealed to
the Mayor’s Hall at the end of April with request to allow a meeting
in the Freedom Square. However, in view of May 9 festive events in
Yerevan, including in the Freedom Square, it was proposed to hold
the meeting near Matenadaran.

Makhtesyan emphasized that only a meeting but not a procession was
allowed.

According to the meeting participants, they required to set free
recently detained ex-Head of RA MIA Alexander Arzumanyan, suspected
of money-laundering. As Makhtesyan said, no demands were made to the
law machinery. Head of the "Impeachment" bloc and editor-in-chief
of the "Haikakan Zhamanak" newspaper Nikol Pashinyan together with
several associates broke through the row of policemen and rushed to
the doors of NSS. In the opinion of A. Makhtesyan, it provoked clash
of the meeting participants with the policemen, during which three
policemen received physical injuries. The policemen took measures
to recover the public order. However, the General did not specify
them. The Prosecutor’s Office of the Center and Nork-Marash Yerevan
communities is preparing the materials on the incident. Asked if it
was necessary to use the tear-gas, A. Makhtesyan said it has not yet
been clarified who applied it.

According to him, the gas was aimed just against the policemen. In
conclusion, the General said: "The operative situation in the capital
is under full control, everything will be done within the frames
of the law to keep the rights of citizens, assure the public order
and prevent any displays of law-breaking . Decisive measures will be
taken with respect to those who try to destabilize the situation and
the disturbers will subject to liability".

WORLD RED CROSS RED CRESCENT DAY – "TOGETHER FOR HUMANITY".

Arminfo News Agency
2007-05-08 12:44:00

This year’s World Red Cross Red Crescent Day underscores the importance
and power of partnerships by stressing the need for stronger local
and global alliances in order to meet today’s growing humanitarian
challenges, says the jount statement by the presidents of the
Interrnational Committee of the Red Cross and the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement represents
the world’s largest humanitarian network. It is made up of the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and 185 member
National Societies, as well as almost 100 million volunteers. Each
year, on 8 May, the Movement marks World Red Cross Red Crescent Day
by highlighting the role of its staff and volunteers in saving lives
and assisting vulnerable communities around the world. The theme of
this year’s event is "Together for Humanity".

"We know from long experience in dealing with crises that no single
government or organization alone can tackle the rising challenges posed
by catastrophes, conflicts, health emergencies, poverty and migration,"
said the president of the International Federation, Juan Manuel Suarez
del Toro, and the president of the ICRC, Jakob Kellenberger, in a joint
statement. "It will take solid coordination and better partnerships
at all levels, including governments, donors, humanitarian agencies,
the private sector and individuals, in order to reduce the impact
of wars, disasters and disease, while making vulnerable communities
stronger and safer," they added. An excellent example of how combined
efforts have had a major impact on disease is The Measles Initiative,
which is supported by the American Red Cross, the Centers for Disease
Control, the UN Foundation, UNICEF and the WHO. Together, they have
achieved a remarkable 75 per cent reduction in the number of measles
deaths in Africa, and a 60 per cent reduction worldwide since 1999.

Another successful example is the Keep up anti-malaria campaign in
Africa, where several National Societies have teamed up with the
International Federation to pioneer a new community-based education
and follow-up programme to ensure that mosquito bed nets are properly
used by people to control the spread of malaria. "We need to see
more of these types of initiatives," said Suarez del Toro. "They are
crucial if we want to scale up our humanitarian response and meet
the Millennium Development Goals."

He added that the community-level presence of Red Cross and Red
Crescent National Societies worldwide gave them "unique insight"
into the needs of vulnerable groups, enabling them to come up with
local and sustainable solutions.

"The benefits of working in partnership are far greater than the sum
total of our activities as individual actors," Kellenberger said. "It
would be difficult for the ICRC to protect and assist civilians during
conflicts, help the wounded, visit detainees, and reunite separated
families, without the support of the staff and volunteers of National
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide."

As an example, he highlighted the joint efforts of the Somali Red
Crescent Society and the ICRC to help victims of the recent fighting.

RPA SLOGAN CAN NOT BECOME REALITY UNTIL HALF-CRIMINALIZED REGIME OF KOCHARIAN-SARGSIAN PAIR EXISTS, SUREN ABRAHAMIAN STATES

Noyan Tapan
May 04 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Though the "For You, Armenia" slogan
of the Republic Party of Armenia (RPA) sounds very beautiful, it can
not become reality "as long as the Kocharian-Sargsian pair with its
half-criminalized, half-oligarchic regime exists." Suren Abrahamian,
a member of the Political Council of the Hanrapetutiun (Republic) party
made such a statement on May 4, during a debate with Rafik Petrosian,
the Chairman of the National Assembly Committee on State and Legal
Issues, a member of the RPA faction. He mentioned that today about 90%
of the population of the country has an opposing posture and strives
for reforms. In S. Abrahamian’s words, the responses of voters to
speeches made by Hanrapetutiun representatives during pre-electoral
meetings prove it.

The Republic party participates in the parliamentary elections with
a goal of power shift. In S. Abrahamian’s words, for him and members
of his party the deputy’s mandate is a mean for implementing system
amendments.

R. Petrosian in his turn mentioned that the best way of power shift
is the elections, whereas, in his words, calls made in streets
are anti-constitutional. In response to it, S. Abrahamian stated:
"Impeachment" alliance members are so literate that will never make
anti-constitutional calls."

R. Petrosian also mentioned that one can reach system changes without
power shift, with the help of improvement of laws. Whereas, in his
words, the opposing forces represented at the parliament "did not
do anything except criticizing the authorities few minutes a day and
did not write even a half a line of a law."

Opposing, S. Abrahamian mentioned that the parliament was formed
in 2003 as a result of false elections, and they were not able to
participate in works of a non-legitimate NA.

Responding observation of one of journalists that people compulsory
come to the RPA pre-electoral meetings, R. Petrosian answered that
he is engaged in affairs of his electoral district and has no time to
watch the party meetings on mass media, consequently, he is not aware
if people come or do not come to those meetings of their own free will.

POLITICAL SCIENTIST: THERE IS NO PROGRESS REGARDING SOLUTION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 3 2007

"There is still no progress regarding the settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. The principles have not been yet agreed. Armenia
continued to occupy Nagorno Karabakh and adjacent regions. Armenians
do not accept the fact.

They call Nagorno Karabakh Armenians as nation basing on the principle
of self-determination," political scientist Vafa Guluzaded said,
APA reports. He said that its aim is to unite Nagorno Karabakh
and Armenia. He also noted that he is against the way of holding
negotiations.

"There has been no improvement in the talks since May 12, 1994. The
co-chairs engaged in imitation. They do not want Azerbaijan to start
war to liberate its lands. Their aim is to give Nagorno Karabakh to
Armenia peacefully. The co-chairs do not refer to the UN Resolutions.

The co-chairing states are unfaithful towards Azerbaijan. It is
nonsense that they recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. The
co-chairs say that Azerbaijan should make a trade-off, and the
presidents should prepare their people for peace. What does it mean?

It means that Azerbaijani people should be ready to give their lands.

The recent report of the US Department of State demonstrates the
state’s unfaithful policy. They want to make us yield to shackling
agreement," he said.

The political scientist stated that he is against debating Nagorno
Karabakh’s status.

"Its debate is injustice. The status of Autonomous Province given to
Nagorno Karabakh by the USSR was illegal. They want to own Karabakh,
as they captured Irevan, Zengezur and Goyje. The only status of
Nagorno Karabakh is that it is an inalienable part of Azerbaijan,"
he said.

PALLONE, KNOLLENBERG AND CROWLEY URGE STATE DEPARTMENT TO CLARIFY MISREPRESENTATION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH

ArmRadio.am
04.05.2007 10:41

Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI) were joined by House Foreign Affairs Committee
Member Joe Crowley (D-NY) this week in urging the State Department
to clarify inaccurate language in its 2006 human rights report that
dramatically mischaracterizes the fundamental realities of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, reported the Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA).

"Armenian Americans appreciate the leadership of Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairmen Joe Knollenberg and Frank Pallone and Congressman Joe
Crowley in seeking clarification from the Department of State
concerning its patently inaccurate and entirely unprecedented
misrepresentation of Armenia as an occupier of Nagorno Karabagh
and Azerbaijani territory," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "We look forward to the State Department’s timely response
to their questions and to learning of the steps that the Secretary
intends to take to rectify the damage that this ill- advised and
destructive misrepresentation has already caused to the peace process."

The controversy began earlier this year with the inclusion, for the
first time, of language in the Armenia and Azerbaijan sections of the
State Department’s 2006 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices,
which asserted that Armenia is occupying Nagorno Karabakh and
Azerbaijani territory. While the State Department initially made a
correction to this text, albeit not a fully accurate one, it later
reverted to its original wording following public threats by Azerbaijan
to cancel bilateral security talks in Washington, DC.

During a May 2nd House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on
the human rights report, Congressman Crowley, a senior and well-
respected member of the panel, submitted the following question to
the State Department’s witness, Assistant Secretary for Human Rights
Barry Lowenkron: "The statement that ‘Armenia continues to occupy
the Azerbaijani territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding
Azerbaijani territories’ in the 2006 State Department Human Rights
report on Armenia has created significant controversy among the US,
Azerbaijan, Armenia and NK. Can you confirm that the references to
Armenia’s forces and NK’s status do not reflect the facts on the
ground and are contrary to current U.S. policy?"

Rep. Crowley went on to "urge that this factually incorrect statement
be removed forthwith" from the report in an effort to preserve its
integrity.

In a separate letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, issued on
Thursday, May 3rd, Reps. Pallone and Knollenberg expressed "strong
concerns regarding inaccuracies in the recent series of changes
to the Armenia section of the 2006 Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices." They argued that, "in addition to the troubling precedent
set by allowing a foreign state to shape the assessments of our human
rights report, we are deeply disturbed that the State Department’s
mischaracterization of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is inaccurate,
unprecedented, and counter-productive to our government’s goal of
actively promoting constructive engagement in the peace negotiations
in the region."

The Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs specifically called on Secretary Rice to
publicly clarify that the report’s language describing Armenia as an
occupier of Azerbaijani territory and Nagorno Karabakh is inaccurate
and does not reflect US foreign policy; the United States views the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict as fundamentally about the self-determination
of the people of Nagorno Karabakh; and this misrepresentation would
not appear in future reports or other official documents.

NO FIGHT BETWEEN ARMENIANS AND AZERIS IN PFUR, A SPOKESMAN SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.05.2007 17:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There was no fight on the territory of the People
Friendship University of Russia, Galina Kuzmina, Spokesman for the
PFUR told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. The injured Azeri young man is
not a PFUR student, according to her. "I learned about the fight from
Internet. Our University has held Planet South West Festival for 21
years. Representatives from over 100 countries take part in it. It’s
a festivity not only for the students but also for their friends and
countrymen from various institutions and Moscow residents. The order is
secured by police and OMON. To be honest, there were attempts to start
a fight but they were prevented immediately. We are not responsible
for what is happening beyond the university’s territory. There was
no fight within the university and no one was injured.

Earlier Russian media reported that on May 1 a mass fight took
place between the students of Azerbaijani and Armenian origin of the
People Friendship University of Russia. The fight was stopped by OMON,
however it continued in the backyard of the campus, where the students
escaped. Some sources say, one man was taken to hospital with a gun
wound. Over 20 people were detained, all are foreign citizens.

ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER CAMPAIGNS IN SOUTH ARMENIA, PROMISES VAST REFORMS

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
30 Apr 07

[Presenter] Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan spent the weekend in Syunik
[Region]. As he has put it, he takes the people’s trust with him
from each meeting, and leaves those gathered with hope and belief
that the problems will be solved.

[Correspondent over video showing Sargsyan campaigning in Agarak]
Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan, who is on a working visit in Syunik,
made his first stop at the border town of Agarak. The town is among
the few in the republic where the employment problem has been almost
solved. If a new railway is built, Syunik Region, and Agarak in
particular, will benefit greatly. The prime minister said that the
Yerevan-Agarak air link is planned to be restored too.

[PM Serzh Sargsyan, shown speaking to people] Our government’s
policy is to build roads, provide natural gas, water, build culture
facilities, health facilities, and establish good conditions for
investors to create jobs which seems to become reality here.

[Correspondent] Syunik is a border region, and the demographic issue
is hotter here. The government will solve your problems, and families,
especially the young ones, should have many babies, the prime minister
said. Sargsyan spoke about the rumours, according to which Meghri
has become a subject in the talks with Azerbaijan.

[Sargsyan] No territory can be a subject of bargain. No territory
can be used for other purposes or alienated from our country.

[Correspondent] During his meetings with the residents of Kajaran,
Kapan, Goris and Sisian, Sargsyan said that the economic successes of
the past seven years enable the government to initiate bigger projects.

[Sargsyan] There are good grounds to implement reforms of second
generation; reforms that will result not only in quantity but also
in quality growth.

[Correspondent] Despite the heavy rain, the residents of Jermuk stayed
until the end of the meeting with the country’s prime minister. Vayots
Dzor Region has a great potential for tourism sector, and both the
president and the cabinet attach importance to it. However, citizens
too should take care of the territory and help the government,
said Sargsyan.

[Sargsyan] I am calling on all of you to take care of our historical
and cultural monuments.

[Correspondent] The prime minister spoke about the future programmes
to assist rural areas when speaking in the village of Maliska and in
Yeghegnadzor. The farmers will receive money from the government for
each hectare of land they cultivate. It will be more effective than
the subsidies that are given now. Farmers will be protected from the
setbacks of the nature by insurance.

[Sargsyan] We will assist in development of insurance companies for
agricultural purposes. I am sure that in these conditions, agricultural
product of industrial significance will appear, which will result in
the establishment of processing enterprises.

[Correspondent] There are many problems, but there are projects in
place to resolve them. However, people’s trust and enthusiasm are
needed to implement them. Sargsyan was urging people to actively
participate in the 12 May election and vote for the political force
that will develop the country.