AZERBAIJAN’S UNWILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT THE MINSK GROUP’S SUGGESTIONS
SHOWS THAT ARMENIA MUST BE INTERESTED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS
Yerevan, July 22. ArmInfo. The leader of the Republican Party of
Armenia, Prime Minister Andranik Margarian once again affirmed
his adherence to the course assumed in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement.
On a party meeting Mr. Margarian stated that he will strive for
the recognition of the right of the Armenian people of Karabakh for
self-determination, for insuring the security of the borders and of the
people. He added that compulsory terms of the conflict’s settlement
are the following: the Republics of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh
must have a common border, Armenia’s borders must not be changed and
Karabakh itself must be a subject of the negotiation process.
Commenting on the recently published suggestions by the OSCE Minsk
Group, the Prime Minister said that the terns about withdrawing
Armenian forces and dislocating peacemaking forces in Karabakh in
exchange of a referendum could be accepted, hadn’t Azerbaijan always
rejected these terns and threatened with military aggression. Mr.
Margarian also noted that the armistice is preserved on the frontier
for already 12 years and thanked the Minsk Group for its contribution.
Andranik Margarian said that the possibility of ceding Azerbaijan
certain territories can be considered only in context with a number
of cessations from Azerbaijan. First of all Armenia demands holding
a referendum on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh and providing the
Republics of Armenia and Karabakh a common border. He expressed hope
that the President of Armenia will never give consent to one-side
cessations.

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN EMPHASIZES IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUING COMPLEMENTORY FOREIGN POLICY
Yerevan, July 22. ArmInfo. Armenia conducts balanced foreign policy,
making the integration into Europe and development of the interstate
relations within the framework of CIS, as well as the development of
bilateral relations with several countries are priority course in
its foreign policy of Armenia. RA PM Andranik Margarian, leader of
Republican Party, said at today’s party congress.
“Taking into account our national and state interests, we state that
we are ready to cooperate with the countries in the region both in
the political and economic, and in the military spheres,” he said.
The interstate cooperation should be built on the principles of
equality, Margarian emphasized.

COOPERATION OF THE REPUBLICAN AND ‘THRIVING ARMENIA’ PARTIES STIL
DEBATABLE
Yerevan, July 22. ArmInfo. The ‘Thriving Armenia’ party is still to
be organized and ordered to cooperate with the Republican Party,
said the leader of the latter, Prime Minister of Armenia Andranik
Margarian. ‘Thriving Armenia’ must also work out a certain program,
so that its potential partners might decide the question about
cooperation. In his return the head of the Republican Party Council,
Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian said that the cooperation with
‘Thriving Armenia’ is quite possible and even favorable.

DEFENSE MINISTER PROMISES TO HOLD IN 2007 THE BEST ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA’S HISTORY
Yerevan, July. ArmInfo. The parliamentary elections of 2007 will
be the best of all the elections ever held in Armenia, declared
Defense Minister of Armenia, head of the Republican Party Council
serge Sarkisian. He explained that he will see to it personally, and
added that the international observers have noticed the growing level
of transparency and democracy from election to election in Armenia.

RA DM: RPA IS MOST AUTHOROTY PARTY OF ARMENIA
Yerevan, July 22. ArmInfo. The Republican Party of Armenia is the
most powerful political force of the country. Serge Sargsian, RA
Defence Minister, said today.
“We have our program and we will work for ourselves,” he said
stating that the results of his party’s work will be obvious in
several months. He said he would never join any other party but RPA,
as he had been cooperating with that for many years. In response to a
question whether he is the leader of RPA, Sargsian said he is one of
the party leaders. As for the issue that DM’s membership to any party
contradicts the Constitution, he said that any ministerial position
means a political activity. Commenting on RPA plans for the coming
elections, he said that it’s early to talk of them. He said there is no
need to open a RPA structure in NKR. At the same time he stated that
the political forces of Armenia should unite to acheive great goals
for our motherland. As for his nomination for the coming presidential
elections in 2008, Sargsian stated that his decision will depend on
his party’s participation results at the parliamentary elections in
2007. In response ot a question whether he has any rivals in Armenia,
he said that he has only opponets in our country.

DEFENSE MINISTER’S MEMBERSHIP WILL NOT PROMOTE A SPLIT IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
Yerevan, ArmInfo. The membership of Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian
and his election the head of the Party Council will nor split the
Republican Party of Armenia into two, said Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian. He noted that the Code of the party distinctly determines
the power and authority of each office and throughout the 16-year
long history of the party never has any conflict occurred. All the
ideological controversies were settled through debates. Mr. Margarian
denied the opinion that membership of a minister in a party runs
contrary to the Constitution. He said that the office of a minister
is a political one itself, therefore nothing can prevent a minister
from taking part in party activity.

RA PM ANDRANIK MARGARIAN CONDEMNS ANY ATEMPT OF EXERTING PRESS ON
MASS MEDIA
Yerevan, July 22. ArmInfo. RA PM Andranik Margarian condemned any
attempt to exert pressure on the journalists. He said this at today’s
press conference, commenting on the recent attempt to set on fire
the editorial office of “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” newspaper.

SERGE SARGIAN:RA PRESIDENT REALLY CAUGHT FLU
Yerevan, July 22. ArmInfo. Serge Sargsian, RA Defence Minister,
expressed regret that RA President Robert Kocharian caught flu and
failed to participate in the CIS non-formal Summit in Moscow. RA
PM Andranik Margraian expressed the same opinion at today’s press
conference.
In repsonse to the viewpoint of some political experts who said that
RA President didn’t go to the summit deliberately, Sargsian said that
RA President really caught flu.
It’s worth mentioning that on the day of the summit it turned out that
RA President will not be able to participate in that beacuse of flu.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS BEING PREPARED TO THE ELECTIONS 2007-2008
Yerevan, July 22. ArmInfo. Although on the latest, 10-th meeting of
the Republican Party the issues of the elections in 2007-2008 were
not directly considered, the party is actively getting prepared to
them, said the leader of the party Andranik Margarian. He did not
prognosticate the party’s success in the parliamentary elections,
but said that the party will try hard to achieve and even to improve
the results of the 2003 elections. Andranik Margarian also found
difficult to point out a certain rival party of the Republican.

Iran leader’s warning to Israel
BBC NEWS:
2006/07/23 15:49:10 GMT
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has warned Israel that it has
“pushed the button of its own destruction” because of its actions
in Lebanon.
He also said Israel should “pack up” and move elsewhere, repeating
comments made last year.
Israel has accused Iran of involvement in the capture of the two
Israeli soldiers, which sparked the current crisis, claims Iran denies.
Iran has also been accused of supplying Hezbollah with money and arms.
“Israel pushed the button of its own destruction by attacking Lebanon,”
Mr Ahmadinejad said while addressing an education conference.
I advise them to pack up and move out of the region before being
caught in the fire they have started in Lebanon Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Iranian president
He did not give further information but suggested Islamic nations
and others could isolate Israel and its supporters, AP news agency
reported.
He also repeated last year’s calls for Israel to move out of the
Middle East, comments which sparked widespread condemnation.
“I advise them to pack up and move out of the region before being
caught in the fire they have started in Lebanon,” he said.
Iran helped found the Lebanese-based Hezbollah in 1982, but says it
only gives spiritual and political support to the group, not financial
aid, training or weapons.
It has also rejected Israeli claims it was involved in the capture
by Hezbollah of two Israeli soldiers two weeks ago, which led to the
Israeli strikes on Lebanon.