Author: Torgomian Varazdat

DOES SERGE HAVE OPPONENTS?

A1+
[08:52 pm] 22 May, 2007

"I do not think that Serge Sargsyan is popular, he simply does not
have opponents and the opposition field is empty", said politician
Alexander Iskandaryan, when making predictions on the presidential
elections. Reflecting on the opposition field, he said he was
confident, it was impossible to unite efforts, to create a leader,
to work out a positive style for him and to work with mass media
in 6 months. "If nothing unexpected happens in the political life
of Armenia, most likely candidate will become a president", said
the politician.

As to the parliamentary elections, Alexander Iskandaryan noted
that this time people voted rationally. They understood that it was
beneficial to choose this or that power and not this or that political
figure for sympathizing with him. As estimated Mr Iskandaryan, this
was a progress, as compared with the accepted revolutionary period
when 99 percent of the society voted for one person. He brought the
example of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, when people jointly voted for him from
heart. "Today people realize that they should select not a handsome
president but they should make a rational choice".

The Armenian voters "sold their votes". "It was not necessarily
important to sell one’s vote for money.

People gave their votes the one who repaired entry doors, roads,
that is to say, the voters understood their benefit". "This works in
other countries as well. The difference is that in other countries
political actors promise to adopt bills, which will improve the
state of pensioners or the social situation of students". Alexander
Iskandaryan stated that the active participation of the voters in
the elections proved the development of democratic system in Armenia.

According to Alexander Iskandaryan, positive assessments of
international observers, registered progress should be confirmed by
elections in Karabakh and by presidential elections in Armenia.

ROGER KAROUTCHI OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN APPOINTED FRENCH MINISTER OF STATE ON PARLIAMENT ISSUES

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 21 2007

PARIS, MAY 21, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. 56-year Roger Karoutchi
of Armenian origin got the portfolio of the Minister of State on
Parliament Issues at the cabinet of Prime Minister of France Francois
Fillon.

As the Armenian Horizon newspaper of Canada states, Roger Karoutchi
was elected in 1999 as a member of the French Senate. He represents
at the Europarliament the Christian-Democratic Party.

According to Horizon, Karoutchi is against Turkey’s membership to
the EU and demanded many times from official Ankara to recognize the
Armenian Genocide.

ANCA JOINS WITH ASSYRIAN AND GREEK COMMUNITIES IN SEEKING JUSTICE FOR TURKEY’S GENOCIDAL CRIMES

ArmRadio.am
21.05.2007 17:57

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) joined with Pontian
Greeks – and all Hellenes around the world – in commemorating May
19th, the international day of remembrance for the genocide initiated
by the Ottoman Empire and continued by Kemalist Turkey against the
historic Greek population of Pontus along the southeastern coast of
the Black Sea.

"We join with the Hellenic American community in solemn remembrance
of the Pontian Genocide, and in reaffirming our determination to
work together with all the victims of Turkey’s atrocities to secure
full recognition and justice for these crimes," said Aram Hamparian,
Executive Director of the ANCA.

The Ottoman Empire, under the cover of World War I, undertook a
systematic and deliberate effort to eliminate its minority Christian
populations. This genocidal campaign resulted in the death and
deportation of well over 2,000,000 Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks.

The Pontian Genocide has been formally acknowledged by Greece and
Cyprus and, within the United States, by the states of New York,
New Jersey, Florida, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania,
and Illinois, among others.

ARKA news Agency, Armenia
May 18 2007

VOLUME OF TRANSACTIONS BY PLASTIC CARDS IN ARMENIA MAKES AMD
36,223MLN

YEREVAN, May 18. /ARKA/. The volume of transactions with all types of
plastic cards in Armenia made AMD 36,223 with the number of 839,402
in the first quarter of 2007.
According to the statistics of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA), the
volume of transactions by cards increased by 1.51 or AMD 12,234mln,
and the number by 1.45 or 260,046 transactions as compared to the
same period in 2006.
The cashless transactions by cards made AMD 2,828mln against AMD
1,991mln in the 1st quarter of 2006.
According to the CBA, the number of transactions with local ArCa
cards made 404,792 to the amount of AMD 12,617mln. As compared to the
same period in 2006, the volume of transactions increased by 1.69 or
AMD 5,163mln, and the number – by 136,093 transactions or 1.51 times.

During the 1st quarter of 2007, the number of transactions with VISA
cards made 274,648 totaling AMD 15,295mln. As compared to the 1st
quarter of 2006, the volume of transactions increased by 1,43 or AMD
4,610mln and the number of transactions – by 1.44 or 83,915.
During the accounting period, 49,511 transactions were performed by
international MasterCard to the amount of AMD 3,186mln, thus
increasing by 1.5 times in the volume and 1.75 times in the number of
transactions.
110,451 transactions totaling AMD 5,135mln were performed by means of
other international plastic cards. As compared to the same period in
2006, the volume of transactions increased by 1.37 and the quantity –
by 1.2 times.
As of March 2007, the number of plastic cards in circulation in
Armenia made 232,762 against 209,113 at the beginning of the year.
($1 – AMD 354.86). L.M. -0–

US STATE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE POSTS ANNOUNCEMENT DISPUTING AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY

ArmRadio.am
17.05.2007 17:57

The State Alumni website -an online community
of alumni of US government-sponsored exchange programs has posted
an announcement that disputes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,
APA reports.

The announcement calls all interested persons to participate in the
conference on "Soushi’s role in Armenian history" to be held on June
20-25. The announcement "falsifies the name of ancient Azerbaijan
town of Shusha" stressing its role in the "liberation" movement during
the first Karabakh war and as the cultural centre of Armenians.

Among the organizers the website notes Kamo Areyan, Education Minister
of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Hamlet Grigoryan, Rector of the
Artsakh State University.

The Association of Azerbaijani students studied in US has already
applied to the editors of the web-site with protest letter.

Montreal couple face human-trafficking charges

Canadian Press

May 18, 2007 at 2:26 PM EDT

RTGAM.20070518.whumantraf0518/BNStory/National/hom e

MONTREAL – The RCMP in Montreal have arrested a couple for human-trafficking
and say it is the first arrest of its kind in Canada.

RCMP spokeswoman Constable Magdala Turpin said Friday that a 29-year-old
Ethiopian woman was forced to work round the clock at a residence in nearby
Laval after her travel documents were withheld.

A new law came into effect in November 2005 to deal with human-trafficking.

Constable Turpin told a news conference that it is the first time in Canada
that human-trafficking charges have been laid in a case of international
scope.

Nichan Manoukian and his wife, Manoudshag Saryboyadijan, are facing charges
of trafficking in persons, receiving material benefit from it and
withholding travel or identity documents.
The couple, who are Canadian citizens, obtained the services of the
Ethiopian woman while living in Lebanon and brought her back with them when
they returned to Canada. Police say she had been living with the family for
some time, working as their nanny, and had lived alone.
Laval police began investigating after receiving anonymous tips from a
number of people, Detective-Sergeant Richard Brosseau of Laval police said.
"They had contact with the woman and they found her behaviour bizarre,"
Det.-Sgt. Brosseau said. "She was always confined to the home, she was never
allowed to go outside without one of the couples. When she went outside, she
couldn’t speak to anyone."
She was not physically abused, he said.

ARAM I CATHOLICOS RECEIVES NEWLY-ELECTED LEBANESE BOARD OF LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 18 2007

ANTELIAS, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The newly elected
Lebanese Board of the Liberal Democratic Party headed by deputy Hakob
Gasarjian visited the Antelias Cathedral on May 17. Noyan Tapan was
informed about it by the Press Services of the Catholicosate of the
Great House of Cilicia.

His Holiness giving his blessing to the newly-elected Board, discussed
with its members the issues Lebanon and especially the Armenian
community are interested in. His Holiness particularly emphasized
the necessity of keeping the unity of the Armenian community inside
the country.

The importance of having utmost participation in different spheres
of the Lebanon life was also emphasized during the meeting. The
Catholicos mentioned that one must in every case emphasize the reality
of the Armenian community’s being one of the seven main communities of
Lebanon. Aram I attached importance to the necessity of activization of
the cooperation among the Armenian deputies of the Lebanese Parliament.

IS CEC POWERLESS?

A1+
[07:26 pm] 18 May, 2007

Today people assembled in front of the Central Electoral Commission
to support the World Box Champion Israel Hakobkokhyan.

To remind, three days ago Israel Hakobkokhyan went on hunger strike in
front of the CEC. He demands to consider election results at Precinct
11 invalid.

Though Garegin Azaryan, the CEC Chairman, met Hakobkokhyan and
explained that his request is beyond the CEC jurisdictions, the latter
did not give up his intention.

During our visit, Israel Hakobkokhyan was hardly able to speak as
his condition was rather poor.

Physicians state that he has certain problems with blood pleasure.

Former Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan, informed the Armenian Red Cross
about Israel Hakobkokhyan’s strike, but so far none of them has
turned up.

Tsovinar Khachatryan, the CEC Press Secretary, notes that it is
beyond their competence to support a hunger-striker. "He must have
submitted an application to reconsider and recount election results
in due time. He has chosen the worst way: the strike may be harmful
to his health," she told A1+.

AZERIS CONFUSE "ARMANI" WITH "ARMENIA"

armradio.am
18.05.2007 17:46

A "Giorgio Armani" shop was opened in Baku today, Trend reports

Representative of the company Viktor Biffy told the journalists that
"Armani" has serious and long-term programs to implement in Azerbaijan.

The most important is that the representative clarifies that the
company has absolutely nothing to do with either Armenia, or Armenians.

RALLY ORGANIZERS CALL ON ARMENIAN OPPOSITION TO UNITE

Arminfo
18 May 07

Yerevan, 18 May: Speaking at a rally in Yerevan’s Liberty Square
[18 May], Heghine Bisharyan, the deputy chairman of the opposition
Orinats Yerkir party, said that the opposition’s main task should
be unification.

As a first step, she called [on the opposition] to coordinate efforts
when preparing and filing an appeal with the Constitutional Court to
have the outcome of the [12 May] parliamentary election voided. She
read out the Orinats Yerkir party board statement, which claims that
there were wide-spread fraud and violations during the polls and the
vote count. The document also claims that the authorities did their
best to make the irregularities invisible.

Nikol Pashinyan, the leader of the Impeachment bloc, said it was a
mistake for the opposition to participate in the race separately. He
called on the opposition leaders to forgive each other and unite.

People’s Party of Armenia leader Stepan Demirchyan, addressing those
gathered, said that it is impossible to bear the impunity, killings in
broad daylight and other typical things of the antidemocratic regime.