Author: Vanyan Gary

VYMPELCOME BECOMES 100% OWNER OF ARMENTEL

Arka News Agency, Armenia
April 19 2007

YEREVAN, April 19. /ARKA/. Russian Vympelcom (Beeline trade mark)
has bought 10% of ArmenTel’s stakes from Armenian government for EUR
38.6mln, RIA Novosti says referring to the Russian operator’s report.

After buying the state-owned 10% Vympelcom became the owner of 100%
of ArmenTel’s shares. The amount paid for 10% made one-ninth of the
sum paid for 90% bought in November 2006.

In addition, Vympelcom will pay 10% of ArmenTel’s not distributed
net profit for a period between 90% and 10% acquisition.

Vypmelcom bought 90% form Greek Hellenic Telecommunications
Organization (OTE) for EUR 341.9mln in November 2006 and assumed
commitments worth 40 million.

One of the tender’s conditions was renunciation of monopoly in Armenian
telecommunication market.

ArmenTel enjoys monopoly on stationary telecommunication and internet
services as well as one of hem country’s two mobile operators (GSM
900 and CDMA standards).

ArmenTel had some 608.5hnd stationary and 452 mobile telecommunication
subscribers by late 2006.

PARKER, MCQUEEN TOP ACTORS AT BEVERLY HILL FEST
By Gregg Kilday

Back Stage, NY
April 18 2007

"Occupation 101," directed by brothrs Sufyan Omeish and Abdallah
Omeish, was the recepient of the Golden Palm Award at the 7th annual
International Beverly Hills Film Festival, which concluded Sunday.

The documentary about the U.S. government’s involvement in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, also took the prize for best editing.

The awards were handed out at the gala awards ceremony held at the
Beverly Hills Hotel in honor of the Hearts of Hope Foundation.

Molly Parker was named best actress for her role in writer/director
Matt Bissonnette’s "Who Loves the Sun," while the best actor
award went to Steven R. McQueen for "Club Soda," directed by Paul
Carafortes. "Soda" also won the audience choice award for best short.

R. L. Hooker was honored as best director for his short film "The Knife
Grinder’s Tale." The prize for best producer went to director/producer
Michael Feifer for "Chicago Massacre: Richard Speck," a horror film
based on the true mass murder that took place in 1966. "Massacre"
also won the Audience Choice Award for best feature.

The Audience Choice Award for best documentary went to "Dominick
Dunne In Search of Justice, " directed by the daughter-father team
of Clara Kuperberg and Robert Kuperberg.

The Armenian feature "Big Story in a Small City," from writer/director
Gor Kirakosian, was named best foreign film.

The best cinematography prize went to the short "Tug," directed by
David Andrew Ward.

Writer/director/producer Ray Griggs’ "Lucifer" was hailed as best
animation.

Writers Wil Ramos and Ian Clark took best screenplay honors for their
short "Waning Moon."

Special Jury Awards were presented to David Gow’s "Steel Toes,"
best feature film; Edward Blackoff’s "Incest: A Family Tragedy,"
best documentary; and Cameron Fay’s "Redemption Song," best short film.

The Golden Palm Screenplay Competition Award went to David Krae for
"Lucretia." First runner-up was Vikram Kumar for "In Times of War,"
and second runner-up was Kitania Kavey for "Shades of Sin."

The five-day fest opened April 11 at the Clarity Theater in Beverly
Hills with the feature "Who Loves the Sun."

BUSH HOPES FOR FREE ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA
By Emil Danielyan and Karine Kalantarian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
April 17 2007

U.S. President George W. Bush has congratulated Serzh Sarkisian on
his appointment as Armenia’s new prime minister and urged him to help
ensure the proper conduct of the upcoming parliamentary elections.

"We look forward to the parliamentary elections on May 12 and hope
that you will help ensure that these elections are free and fair,
meet international standards, and bolster the relations between our
two countries," Bush said in a congratulatory message made public by
Sarkisian’s office on Tuesday.

The Bush administration strongly criticized Yerevan for serious
fraud reported by international observers during the last Armenian
parliamentary and presidential elections. Sarkisian, who was the
country’s defense minister before replacing the deceased Prime Minister
Andranik Markarian on April 4, played a key role in the conduct of
those polls.

U.S. officials have said that the upcoming vote is a good opportunity
for the Armenian authorities to redeem themselves. They have warned
that a repeat of serious fraud would jeopardize the release of $235
million in additional U.S. economic assistance to Armenia. Still,
the U.S. administration is unlikely to ostracize Yerevan in the
event of another deeply flawed ballot now that it is hoping to
broker a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict before the end
of this year.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried implied last week
that Washington does not expect the Armenian elections to be fully
democratic. "We don’t expect perfection," he told journalists. "We
don’t expect to go from deeply flawed to perfect, but we do expect
to see substantial forward progress."

Fried noted at the same time that Armenia should have been "way ahead
of Georgia" in terms of democratic reforms given the strength of its
worldwide Diaspora and its links with Europe and the United States.

"Armenia should be doing better," he said. "It should be a leader. It
should be a prospering country. It has all the ingredients."

Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian repeated his government’s
election-related assurances on Tuesday as he spoke at a meeting
in Vienna of the main decision-making body of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe "This is a huge test for Armenia’s
democracy and I firmly believe that we together – the government,
the opposition, the public and the OSCE – we together can indeed hold
a normal election that will greatly contribute to Armenia’s further
democratization processes," he said.

Sarkisian, in the meantime, toured the Aragatsotn and Armavir regions
in southwestern Armenia, meeting local residents and listening to their
grievance. Even though he claimed that the trip has no connection
with the elections, it was clearly aimed at shoring up popular
support for his Republican Party (HHK), which intends to again win
the largest number of parliament seats. Sarkisian was accompanied by
Khachik Manukian, the HHK’s candidate in a single-mandate constituency
covering the mostly rural area.

Voters in the regional town of Talin were clearly reluctant to heed
Sarkisian’s implicit calls for Manukian’s reelection to the National
Assembly. "He hasn’t met with people here since the last election,"
said one man. "How can we vote for him?"

"Are you sure another candidate would do a much better job?" countered
Sarkisian.

The meetings in Talin and other local communities began with moments
of silence observed in memory of the late Prime Minister Markarian.

Local residents complained to Sarkisian about widespread unemployment,
serious problems with supplies of drinking water and irrigation,
and the poor condition of community schools and hospitals.

The Armenian premier assured them that those problems will be solved
over time but cautioned against expectations of rapid betterment. "If
somebody promises you to solve all problems in one or two years,
then rest assured that that person is a liar," he said, adding that
at least four more years are needed for a "qualitative change" in
the socioeconomic situation in regions outside Yerevan.

Sarkisian also defended the Armenian government’s economic track
record, arguing that the country’s Gross Domestic Product and state
budget have doubled in the last seven years.

We are the same for you, we are there for you, we are your old friend
Editorial

Yerkir.am
April 13, 2007

Statement by ARF Bureau representative Hrant Margarian

`Dear fellow-citizens,

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Party is starting its march
towards the victory. A victory that will first of all be the victory
of the nation. A victory that we will accomplish together.

We are expecting your participation in the elections. We are expecting
that you will give your votes to the ARF with confidence and trust. We
are looking forward to working diligently so that we can win together.

We are different from everyone. We are not going to spread hatred
with our campaign, we are not going to threaten or bribe our
voters. We are entering the political arena with our organizational
capacity, our work and our platform.

I am sure that our wise and cautious nation, our nation that has
dignity will ignore empty threats, temporary pressures and bribes and
will give its vote to the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. By voting
for the ARF you will ensure your victory.

We are sure that we will have our people’s vote of confidence. ARF is
the most experienced and at the same time the most vibrant
organization in the Armenian political reality.

ARF is a pan-Armenian organization that is present in more than 30
countries. ARF includes all segments of the Armenian nation. ARF is a
true organization that was not established around any individual or
group interests.

ARF is a party that has a rich biography, a functioning structure,
ideology, collective accountability and responsibility.

ARF is the party of true patriots and is the friend of the most
vulnerable segments of our nation. ARF was there in the liberation war
in Artsakh, ARF is there in the most recent processes of determination
in Javakhq. Gevorg Chavush, Aram Manukian, Levon Shant, Siamanto,
Daniel Varuzhan, Tatul Krpeyan, Artur Mkrtchian, Shahen Meghrian and
many many other outstanding patriots were ARF members.

When our organization was outlawed and exiled we did not accommodate
to the violence and overcame it through underground struggle. Then we
joined the government for the sake of our country and our nation.

ARF always saw the truth and called things with their names. ARF never
deviated from its proclaimed goals and never identified itself with
any negative phenomena. ARF always preserved its own identity and
adhered to its principles.

The people will trust the ARF, will unite around it and vote for it
because ARF is the political force that has a program and will to
implement that program, because the Armenian nation is the Alpha and
the Omega for the ARF. We want to govern the nation without ruling it,
we want to lead the nation.

Restoration of justice and creation of development opportunities for
all is our goal. ARF has the will and determination to realize this
because ideological strength and political will is needed to fight
corruption in the country. ARF is the force to do this because ARF
aims at conscious support of the nation.

ARF’s supporters are people with dignity, people who are ready for
struggle. No one should solve his problems through criminal relation.
No one should feel unprotected in the country. Everyone should be
equal in front of the law.

ARF has a vision of the future. It has a vision of organizing and
developing the nation and the country. ARF is not dominated by the
momentary interests of any individuals or groups. Political power is
not a means of solving personal problems and gaining personal wealth
for the ARF.

ARF strives for national development, national security and
consolidation of a powerful homeland. ARF believes that it is possible
to significantly increase the population of Armenia. Because with the
ARF’s victory poverty will be eliminated in the country.

Our economy has the potential that, if used and managed properly, will
allow increasing the minimum salary and pension to 30,000 or 50,000
drams.

Dear nation, last time we gained 11% of your votes. We joined the
government and managed to accomplish some success.

Today we are relying on you to form the next government that would
ensure a true fight against corruption, protectionism and the
atmosphere of impunity.

We will address every citizen, we will present ourselves the way we
are, and we will win the vote of confidence of our nation.

I am sure our voters can differentiate between the good and the
bad. Our nation will vote for the ARF because they place their
children’s future above everything else.

Dear nation, we are the same for you, we are there for you, we are
your old friend. Let us go together towards the victory’.

YUSUF HALAJOGHLU: IF THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGGINGS FOUND BONES COLLECTED ONE ON ANOTHER IT CAN NOT BE CALLED MASS BURIAL PLACE

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 13 2007

"In Turkey archaeologists are in charge of carrying out diggings in
the mass burial places. But before the diggings archive materials
are researched, the eye- witnesses of the events, grandchildren of
massacred people are interviewed," director of Turkish History Agency
Yusuf Halajoghlu exclusively told APA. Yusuf Halajoghlu shared some
details of researching mass burial places.

"After researches archaeologists work in the burial places. The
archaeological research of mass burial places should be conducted
very cautiously. The most characteristic feature of mass graveyards is
that they scattered in dispersed form. If the archaeological diggings
found the bones collected one on another it can not be called mass
burial place".

Yusuf Halajoghlu said it is very important that bones found in
dispersed form. "If the bones are found row by row it can be thought
that dead bodies are buried immediately. When the bones are found
in that form it can not be called mass graveyard Arzurum and Van
Universities have scholars specialized in the researching of mass
burial places. If there is need, we engage them in the research
works. The diggings process should be approached very carefully
using special archaeological instruments". Yusuf Halajoghlu said
archaeological diggings will be carried out in Mardin in connection
with so-called ‘Armenian genocide’. "There are evidences that Mardin
has mass graveyards. As you know some Swedish MPs claimed that surianis
were massacred in Mardin. MP from Sweden David Lant accepted to join
diggings in that territory. We even agreed to send the archaeological
findings to be researched in international laboratory.

We are waiting for research results now," the historian underlined.

LEBANESE FOREIGN MINISTER: ARMENIAN DIASPORA IS NOT INFLUENTIAL IN LEBANON

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 13 2007

Azerbaijan Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with Lebanon’s
Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh. The meeting of Foreign Ministers
discussed bilateral relations development perspectives, mutual
establishment of embassies and other issues of mutual interest.

Lebanese Foreign Minister thanked Elmar Mammadyarov for the
humanitarian aid from Azerbaijan during Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

Mammadyarov informed Fawzi Salloukh on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
and stressed the importance of friendly states’ position for the
solution of conflict. Fawzi Salloukh said Armenian Diaspora in Lebanon
has no influence on the political life. He said his country stands
for soonest peaceful solution to the conflict under principles of
international law. The meeting also discussed issues of international
and regional scale. Azerbaijan FM met Lebanese MP Valid Jombulat
that day. The sides made an exchange of views on various issues of
bilateral interest.

GALUST SAHAKIAN CONSIDERS EXCLUSION OF TENSION DURING ELECTIONS PRIMARY TASK OF ALL POLITICAL FORCES
Author: Karapetian Rita Editor: Eghian Robert

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Exclusion of tension during the
elections is the most important task of all political forces. Galust
Sahakian, the Chairman of the RPA faction of the RA National Assembly
stated about it at the April 13 parliamentary briefing, taking into
consideration firing of RPA Council member, Gyumri Mayor Vardan
Ghukasian and his companions’ cars as well as explosions in the
"Bargavach Hayastan" (Prosperous Armenia) party offices.

In G. Sahakian’s opinion, all political forces must undertake
responsibility for the mentioned cases. In his words, legal bodies
must reveal the crime, and political forces must make the position
towards such a way of actions the task of their agenda.

In the RPA faction head’s opinion, one must reveal not only the ones
done it, but the reasons as well. Otherwise there is no guarantee
that more serious cases will not happen. It was also mentioned that
the important thing is disclosure of the crime, and it is a second
problem with what political force it is connected.

G. Sahakian agreed that the atmosphere of unpunishment created in
the country is one of the reasons of similar crimes, and the RPA,
as a ruling party, has the part of its guilt. But, those accusations
of the opposition that it is a intent by the authorities, do not
correspond to the reality.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CONDEMNS THE BLASTS AT "PROSPEROUS ARMENIA" OFFICES

ArmRadio.am
12.04.2007 17:00

The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) has condemned the blasts in
two Offices of the "Prosperous Armenia" Party.

Armenpress was told from RPA that the statement of the party says that
" these nasty steps are directed against all the political forces of
Armenia, our country and people." "Such steps are taken by those who
are unable to lead an honest and fair political struggle and are ready
to destabilize the situation in the country without differentiating
between means. Such way of action has never had success in Armenia
and will never have."

The Republican Party of Armenia has called on all political forces of
Armenia not to obey to the provocations of "criminal groups" and to
use every chance of cooperation for the sake of holding the forthcoming
parliamentary elections in compliance with international standards."

The party also applied to law-enforcement bodies to "increase vigilance
to prevent the attempts of destabilizing the situation in the country,
reveal the criminals having no motherland and nationality."

SHENES ERZIK: I SUPPORT DECISION SUITING BOTH AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 12 2007

"I support the decision suiting both Azerbaijani and Armenian national
associations", UEFA vice-president Shenes Erzik told APA-Sport.

He stated that he couldn’t participate in the meeting on the Azerbaijan
– Armenia match venue held in UEFA headquarters because he is ill.

UEFA official declined to express his position on the issue. Erzik
noted that he will discuss the issue with AFFA president Ramiz
Mirzeyev.

"I cannot say anything without speaking to Ramiz Mirzeyev. I will
answer your question after I study the opinion of AFFA president",
he said.

UEFA Executive Committee will pass the final decision on the venue
of Azerbaijan Armenia match at April-18 meeting in Cardiff, Wales.

6 MORE TV CHANNELS TO BE MONITORED BEFORE ELECTIONS

Panorama.am
17:06 10/04/2007

A monitoring conducted among seven TV channels indicates that Armenia
TV hosted no political or public figures in its "guest studio." In
some sense it is clear because most political programs are aired on
TV5. So, the question is why TV5 is not included in the sample.

Boris Navasardyan, chairman of Yerevan Press Club said "6 more TV
channels will be included in the sample starting April 8, the launch
of pre-election campaign."

The monitoring will pay special attention to the volumes of paid and
free air used by the political parties. Navasardyan said methodological
innovations will be applied during the study. In case a political
figures is broadcast without a mention to the political party he/she
belongs to, no identification with a political party is made.