Author: Torgomian Varazdat

U.S. EMBASSY IN ARMENIA URGES TO EXERCISE CAUTION

A1+
09 April, 2008

The government of Armenia is inaugurating a new president on Wednesday,
April 9, at 2 in the afternoon. Large crowds are expected in the
downtown area in connection with the official events, which will
include a military procession through Freedom Square and evening
festivities at Republic Square.

Although we have no specific information, it is possible that protests
may occur.

We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended
to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into
violence.

American citizens are therefore urged to avoid any areas of
demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the
vicinity of any demonstrations.

American citizens should stay current with media coverage of local
events and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Information
on upcoming demonstrations can be found at the following
website: sular/acs_warden.php.

INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: "INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD PUT PRESSURE ON ARMENIA TO SOLVE NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT"

Azeri Press Agency
April 8 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Tamara Grigorieva -APA. "Armenia is inaugurating the new
president tomorrow despite it has experienced a crisis of century in
its history.

The international community should put pressure on Armenia for
releasing of political prisons and creation of appropriate atmosphere
for the solution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict", International Crisis
Group stated on the situation in Armenia, APA reports. The Group said
quiet complicated situation was created in Armenia. ICG Caucasian
coordinator Magdalena Fricheva said that seriously suffered democracy
lost in the country, where all power structures were concentrated
in the hands of executive and security bodies. ICG considers that
the US and European countries should explain to Armenia further
complications of the cooperation if it will not achieve the democratic
development. "EU and the US should stop foreign assistances temporarily
if Armenia will not take appropriate steps in the near future".

DRAWING OUT OF NATIONAL ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY STARTED IN ARMENIA

arminfo
2008-04-07 16:09:00

ArmInfo. Armenian consulting company Ameria and WYG International
have started drawing out of national road safety strategy started in
Armenia, ArmInfo correspondent was informed from Ameria.

Armenia is experiencing rapid growth in motor vehicle ownership and
use. In the last five years the motor vehicle fleet increased by 30%,
while the traffic carried by road increased by 38% (freight) and 61%
(passengers).

This rapid motorization is causing traffic congestion in Yerevan
and traffic accidents to increase rapidly across the country. During
the last five years the number of accidents in Armenia increased by
40%. Over 25% of Armenia’s traffic accidents occur in Yerevan and 75%
of them involve pedestrians.

Based on this situation, the Government of Armenia and the World Bank
initiated Traffic Management and Safety Project. Road safety was one of
the most important components of the overall initiative. As a result of
the competitive tender announced by the World Bank, the consortium of
WYG International (UK) and Ameria CJSC (Armenia) was awarded a contract
for "Preparation of National Road Safety Strategy for Armenia".

In the result, WYG International and Ameria will prepare the core
component of the traffic management and safety project – the national
road safety strategy for Armenia, with the development objective to
reduce the rate of traffic accidents and traffic fatalities in Armenia
and reduce congestion in Yerevan. It will be achieved by improving
the institutional structure for managing traffic safety, improving the
institutional capabilities of the municipality of Yerevan for traffic
management and passenger transport regulation, and will improve the
traffic carrying capacity and traffic safety of Yerevan streets.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN BELIEVES THAT ARMENIA CAN BYPASS NEGATIVE IMPACT OF
GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECESSION

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. "If we view the Armenian economy by
taking the 2007 indices into account, the country is in a state of
sustainable development," the Armenian president Robert Kocharian said
when responding to the question: "In what level of development is the
economy that you are passing to the president elect Serge Sargsian?"

According to R. Kocharian, out of economic indices of 2008, a decline
was registered only in trade of March, which is "natural and related to
the internal political situation. However, it is obvious that all this
is being overcome."

"I do not doubt that we have the opportunity to end this year with
serious indices," the president said. He proposed taking into account
the fact that by forecasts, the global economy is in a recession. "It
may have a negative impact on Armenia’s economic development rates but
I am sure that even under these conditions we can conduct such a policy
that Armenia will bypass the negative impact of the global economic
recession," he said.

In his words, a global economic crisis or a strained internal political
situation have a more profound effect on those countries which have a
developed capital and securities markets because "it is much easier to
take panic steps" to leave these markets. He explained that the
Armenian securities market is underdeveloped, while the capital market
has not actually formed. Investments have mainly been made in the real
sector of the economy and there is no possibility to take them back,
which, for example, can be done by getting rid of securities. It was
mentioned that in such countries the impact of an international
economic crisis is reflected in trade, particularly, in trade of
durable consumer goods. "I think that those businessmen who will try,
so to speak, to insure themselves against riskiness, will lose, whereas
active participants in the markets will benefit," the Armenian
president explained, adding that he does not see any deep-laid problems
of Armenia’s economic development.

17th FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP OF ARMENIA’S HIGHEST GROUP TO START ON APRIL
6

YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The 17th football championship of
Armenia’s highest group will start on April 6. Eight teams will compete
for the title of champion.

The following matches will be held at the first stage: Ararat (Yerevan)
– Cilicia (Yerevan), Pyunik (Yerevan) – Ulis (Yerevan), Gandzasar
(Kapan) – Banants (Yerevan) and Mika (Ashtarak) – Shirak (Gyumri). The
matches begin at 4 pm.

FRANK PALLONE PAYS TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE SURVIVOR ARMENIAN WOMAN

Noyan Tapan
April 4, 2008

Congressman Frank Pallone paid tribute in memory of Armenian Genocide
survivor Askouhy Jallyan-Vassilian, who passed away on February 27
shortly after celebrating her 94th birthday. Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian
attended a markup session of the House of Representatives Committee on
Foreign Affairs as it worked on a resolution recognizing the deplorable
deprivation of human rights that occurred during the Armenian genocide.

Mrs. Jallyan-Vassilian was born on February 12, 1914, in Orfa,
Turkey. Mrs.

Jallyan-Vassilian was able to flee the horrors of genocide when she
escaped with her mother to neighboring Syria.

CONCERT OF DILIJAN GROUP TAKES PLACE IN LOS ANGELES

Noyan Tapan
April 3

On March 30 the concert of the Dilijan group took place at the
Zipper Hall of Los Angeles, during which Armenian pieces by Arthur
Avanesov, Eduard Hayrapetian and Tigran Mansurian were performed for
the first time.

As Los Angeles Times writes, the goal of the impressive Dilijan Chamber
Music Group is to celebrate the riches of Armenian music and give a
forum to Armenian musicians based in Los Angeles and beyond.

SERZH SARGSYAN MEETS WITH COCHAIRMEN ON 3 APRIL

Panorama.am
18:41 01/04/2008

On 3 April the president-elect Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan leaves
for Romania to take part in the NATO summit.

According to the press and public relations department of the
Government the Foreign Affairs Minister Vardan Oskanyan, Samvel
Lazarian the chairman of the RA committee in NATO, Eghishe Sargsyan
the Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the RA in Romania
and the chairmen of the Government common departments are included
in the delegation headed by Serzh Sargsyan.

The meeting of Serzh Sargsyan and the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen is
planned to be held in Bucharest. The same day the Armenian delegation
will return to Armenia.

INCIDENT OCCURS IN ISRAELI KNESSET’S COMMISSION WHILE DISCUSSING ISSUE ON "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE"

Azeri Press Agency
April 1 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Lachin Sultanova-APA. "Which commission of Israeli Knesset
will discuss the so-called Armenian genocide", this was discussed
in the commission of Israeli Parliament. APA reports quoting
Israeli mass media that Josef Shagal, who is from Baku by origin,
and representative of the ruling party Zeev Elkin had a conflict,
they insulted one another.

At the end of the discussions decision was passed to discuss the
"Armenian genocide" in the Knesset’s commission of foreign affairs
and security.

After the meeting, Josef Shagal told journalists that the events
happened in Turkey in 1915 were historical facts.

"Armenians were citizens of Turkey, but supported Russia in
Russia-Turkey war. This is called collaborationism. Analogous event
happened during Lebanon war when SADAL fighters. Hezbollah killed
those, who supported us and could not leave the country. It should
be taken into consideration that they were killed not because they
were Christians, but because they were collaborationists", he said.

FIVE PEOPLE UNDERGO MEDICAL TREATMENT

AZG Armenian Daily
01/04/2008

Post-election

Five people (a soldier and 4 citizens) that suffered from March 1 mass
disorder at present undergo medical treatment in the medical centers
of RA Ministry of Health. According to "Armenpress" agency, in St.

Grigor Lusavorich, N2 and "Erebuni" Medical Centers undergo medical
treatment one citizen each, in "Armenia" Medical Center – one citizen,
who is in reanimation department. One soldier remains in Pr.

Mikaelian Surgery Institution’s reanimation department.