The day news

2008-03-01 08:49:00 Protesters in Liberty Square dispersed

ArmInfo. Armenian Special Services officers dispersed the opposition rally led by the first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan earlier in the morning on March 1. ArmInfo correspondent on the spot reports that Special Services troops have surrounded the Liberty Square. The traffic in the city center is blocked. Journalists are not allowed to the Liberty Square. Law- enforcers are currently removing the tents of the protesters from the square. Witnesses say police applied batons, electric jolts and other
special means. All this resulted in mess in the square. By unofficial data, hundreds of people were harmed. It is noteworthy that approximately at 7:00am Levon Ter-Petrosyan informed the
protesters of the possible dispersal and urged them not to panic, stay in the place and do not conflict with the police. After the dispersal, the ex-president was let. The ex-president demanded the police a relevant order for the dispersal of demonstration. He is still in the square. A large group of people is near the square area and protests against the actions of law-enforcers.

The action of protest lasted 10 days from February 20. President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, the Police and the Municipality had repeatedly warned the protesters that their action is illegal and
application of force is possible. However, protesters ignored these warnings.








Politics

2008-03-01 09:52:00 Police and special services patrolling Yerevan Liberty Square

ArmInfo. Police and special services are patrolling the Liberty Square in the

The police block all the nearby streets. Hundreds of police officers and servicemen, the so-called "red berets" and officers of special services, as well as fire machines are in the square.

Lt. Colonel of the Police, who did not want to name himself, told ArmInfo that two police officers were harmed when scattering the demonstration in the Liberty Square earlier in the morning today. 'I am not informed if there were injured among the protesters. I don't care for them. We will clean the square, complete the operative investigation and open it', he said.


2008-02-29 23:06:00 9 more criminal cases on rigging presidential election returns instituted in Armenia

ArmInfo. On February 28 the Central Electoral Commission sent materials concerning 9 polling stations to the Prosecutor-General's Office. At these polling stations discrepancies between protocols on the Feb 19 presidential election and the extracts from them were found out.

The press-service of the Prosecutor-General's Office told ArmInfo that discrepancies were found out at polling stations 9/18, 17/05, 20/04, 22/21, 22/22, 22/30, 24/18, 24/19, 38/62. 9 criminal cases have been instituted under Article 150 of the Armenian Criminal Code. Investigation is underway.


2008-02-29 23:00:00 Representatives of Armenian National Movement urges all honest members of the ruling party to join the movement of Levon Ter-Petrossyan

ArmInfo. During today's rally of supporters of the first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrossyan, Member of the board of the Armenian National Movement Aram Manukyan urged all honest members of the Republican Party of Armenia and its partner parties, Prosperous Armenia and Orinats Yerkir, to join the opposition.

He said that there was nothing shameful and bad in returning to honest life. Manukyan said that he already had 17 kg of returned cards of members of the abovementioned parties.


2008-02-29 22:54:00 Levon Ter-Petrossyan calls Artur Bagdassaryan national traitor without pronouncing his name

ArmInfo. I will not pronounce his name any more. I just want to say that he is a person who has betrayed the Armenian nation, presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrossyan said during today's rally of his supporters meaning Artur Bagdassaryan.

To remind, today Bagdassaryan's party Orinats Yerkir signed a coalition agreement with the Republican Party of Armenia and Prosperous Armenia party. Bagdassaryan will be given the post of secretary of the National Security Council.


2008-02-29 18:14:00 Presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosyan applies to Constitutional Court

ArmInfo. Presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosyan has applied to the Constitutional Court (CC), the CC press-service told ArmInfo correspondent.

Levon Ter-Petrosyan disagrees with the official presidential election returns published by the Central Electoral Commission on February 24. To recall, on March 3 the CC will consider the claim of another
presidential candidate, Leader of the People's Party Tigran Karapetyan.


2008-02-29 17:34:00 Robert Kocharyan: Azeri President is open to communication

ArmInfo. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is open to communication, President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan said while meeting with students of Yerevan State University today.

He said that at different forums he is usually seated near Aliyev because presidents are usually seated in alphabetic order. "We are on normal terms. He is open to communication and we have had no problems so far. I think that the new president of Armenia will continue active contacts with President Aliyev till the autumn. In Sept Azerbaijan is holding presidential election and the contacts will be stopped for some time to be continued later," Kocharyan said.


2008-02-29 17:34:00 Nazim Ibragimov: Position of Armenian lobby is one of the reasons why the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is still unresolved

ArmInfo. The Armenian lobby is stronger than Armenia and it is wrong to compare their relations with relations between Azeri Diaspora organizations and Azerbaijan, the chairman of the State Committee for Contacts with Azeris Leaving Abroad said during a press-conference today.

Day.Az reports Ibragimov to say that the Armenian lobby is a big century-old organism with its heart in Etchmiadzin. The Armenian lobby is actively involved in the political processes in the world and is not controlled by Yerevan. On the contrary, it is they who control Armenia. This is one of the reasons why the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is still unresolved. They finance Armenia and control its policies, Ibragimov said.


2008-02-29 17:32:00 Ombudsman of Armenia applies to police to investigate statements about law-enforcers' attacks on journalists

ArmInfo. Ombudsman of Armenia Armen Harutyunyan has applied to the head of Yerevan department of RA Police to investigate the statements about law-enforcers' attack on journalists.

As the Armenian ombudsman's press-service told ArmInfo, on Feb 29 media said that a policeman attacked the press photographer of "Aravot" (Morning) and "Chorrord Ishkhanutyun" (Fourth Power)
newspapers, Gagik Shamshyan, at Liberty Square. At the same time, another policeman tried to took away Shamshyan's camera and tore his jacket. It is also reported that Lyova Yeghiazaryan, a member of the Republic party, and his son Artak Yeghiazaryan, a journalist of "Hayk" newspaper, have been detained by the Avan division of the Yerevan department of RA Police. The latter was told to stop
attending the opposition's rally.


2008-02-29 17:26:00 Chairman of precinct election commission sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment for rigging votes

ArmInfo. The court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nor Nork communities acknowledged the accusations against Eduard Aghajanyan, the chairman of the precinct election commission at polling station 9/31, grounded. Aghajanyan was blamed for rigging the votes.

The press-service of the Prosecutor-General's Office told ArmInfo that on Feb 29 Aghajanyan was found guilty under Article 150 of the Armenian Criminal Code and sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment.


2008-02-29 17:19:00 Armenian president says local mass media normally cover domestic political events in the country

ArmInfo. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said today over the meeting with students of Yerevan State University that local mass media are normally covering domestic political events in the country.

He also added that mass media found themselves polarized at the pre-election and post-election periods but there nothing strange in it. Such a situation happens in many countries. 'Assessment of
events is partial and editorial office of any mass media is free in their assessment. But it is disinformation which traces other specific goals, when they say that there were 200-500 thsd people at
a rally where only 7-8 thsd people were present', - the president said.


2008-02-29 17:12:00 Secretary of RPA parliamentary faction: those who accumulated hatred towards the power over 10 years gather at the opposition rallies

ArmInfo. All those who accumulated displeasure and hatred towards the state structure and the Armenian authorities over 10 years gather at the opposition rallies, secretary of the RPA parliamentary faction Samvel Nikoyan told ArmInfo correspondent.

He also added that not only those who voted for the first president on 19 February gather at the rallies of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's supporters, or those who trust in him. A part of the people which gathered at Liberty Square simply voted against the authorities, that is to say, against their representative -
Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, Nikoyan said, and added that the present post-election situation was in fact predictable. "But as the leader of our party said, citizens of the country must not be divide at "friends" and "strangers" and we should wait for the opposition to accept our suggestion about the talks', - Nikoyan said.


2008-02-29 16:52:00 Robert Kocharyan: Independence of Kosovo was inevitable and it will have a positive influence on the problem of recognition of independence of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

ArmInfo. The independence of Kosovo was inevitable and it will have a positive influence on the problem of recognition of the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan said during his meeting with students of Yerevan State University today.

The Kosovo precedent is extremely important for Armenia and for Nagorno-Karabakh. At the same time, the case of Kosovo is different from the case of Nagorno-Karabakh as Kosovo is situated in the center
of Europe and enjoys lots of advantages. Nagorno-Karabakh started its struggle for independence earlier than Kosovo did - in 1991 - and we will be consistent in our struggle. The independence of
Nagorno-Karabakh is a fact for us and now it is for other countries to recognize it, Kocharyan said.


2008-02-29 16:51:00 Transparency International: Serzh Sargsyan and Vahan Hovhannisyan exceeded maximal 70 mln AMD bar of expenses on electoral campaign

ArmInfo. According to the preliminary data of monitoring held by the Center for Anti-Corruption Research and Initiative Transparency International (TI), Serzh Sargsyan and Vahan Hovhannisyan exceeded the maximal 70 mln AMD bar of expenses on the electoral campaign.

TI Armenia Chairwoman Amalia Kostanyan said at a press-conference, Friday, that Serzh Sargsyan spent 92.7 mln AMD, and Vahan Hovhannisyan - 86.5 mln AMD on campaign materials (booklets, pens,
flags, etc.) and campaign activities. Sargsyan spent 8.7 mln AMD on brochures and booklets, 350 thsd AMD - on flags and pennants, 300 thsd AMD - on pens with the campaign slogan "Forward, Armenia!". It is noteworthy that there are three interrogative marks in the document before the column "Carrying people by 25-50 buses to Serzh Sargsyan's rallies". Amalia Kostanyan recalled that individuals have
right to transfer money to the presidential candidates' funds. Particularly, she pointed out that 124 out of 128 natural persons preferred transferring money to Serzh Sargsyan's fund (a total of about 50 mln AMD). As regards the rest of the presidential candidates, according to the same monitoring, Artur Baghdasaryan spent 46.6 mln AMD, Levon Ter-Petrosyan - 38.6 mln AMD, Artashes Geghamyan - 16.2 mln AMD, Tigran Karapetyan - 15.2 mln AMD, Vazgen Manukyan - 5.8 mln AMD, Arman Melikyan - 0.7 mln AMD, and Aram
Harutyunyan - 0.5 mln AMD.


2008-02-29 16:44:00 Robert Kocharyan: One should distinguish objective reasons and speculative efforts in growth of foodstuff prices

ArmInfo. One should distinguish objective reasons and speculative attempts in the growth of foodstuff prices, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said at a meeting with students of the Yerevan State University, Friday.

According to him, there are two reasons for objective growth in foodstuff prices. The first reason is the increase in oil prices, which automatically causes growth in prices of other goods, including foodstuff. The second one is the gradual transition to biofuel, and one of its main components is grain. In the United States, Japan, Sweden, Brazil the process of transition to biofuel is going on rather actively. And the growth in grain prices automatically raises the price of flour, butter, meat, combination
fodder, etc. "In this situation the state should trace and exclude the attempts of speculation by means of monitoring, as well as to adjust wages and pensions according to index. And if the price growth is inevitable,
it should be done without serious consequences and with minimal harms to citizens", the president said.


2008-02-29 16:43:00 Samvel Nikoyan: It is alien to Levon Ter-Petrossyan to act within the law

ArmInfo. Levon Ter-Petrossyan is not fair when he says that our parliament adopts laws in haste, says the secretary of the parliamentary group of Republican Party of Armenia Samvel Nikoyan.

"He is also wrong when saying that the adopted laws are not applied. Today, our country needs a big arsenal of laws for effective development," says Nikoyan. "While Ter-Petrossyan is blaming the parliament for the situation he has created himself, we can see certain negative processes in the foreign policy and economy. Business and foreign capital are afraid of internal political instability. That's why our party insists that the opposition stop its rallies and accept our proposal for cooperation."

Nikoyan doubts that Ter-Petrossyan will keep his promise to use of legal mechanisms to dispute the results of the past presidential election, particulartly, to appeal the Constitutional Court. "The deadline for appeal is Mar 3 and they have not done this so far. So, it seems that it is alien to Ter-Petrossyan to act within the law and he will use only political mechanisms in his fight for power," says Nikoyan.


2008-02-29 16:42:00 Robert Kocharyan: Even in the highly developed countries the number of the protesting electorate is big and this is normal

ArmInfo. The fact that 350 000 people voted for Levon Ter-Petrosyan is quite normal since even in the highly developed countries the number of the protesting electorate is big, Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said today over the meeting with students of Yerevan State University.

He also added that the protesting electorate may be conditionally divided at two categories - those who are always displeased with the authorities and those the life of which is not put in order. This is normal and natural. There are such people in any country including the USA and Germany. Kocharyan also said that to be representative of the opposition electorate does not at all mean "to be hungry", since there are many successful citizens at Liberty Square, and they are also citizens of this country. Their
staying at Liberty Square is evidence of the fact that the country reaches the normal level. 'If not Levon Ter-Petrosyan, there would be somebody else not so much acerbated. Another thing is - how much the
opposition electorate is radical and the fact that such a big number of people followed Levon Ter-Petrosyan despite his position on the national issues should become the main one when making serious
conclusions', - the president said.


2008-02-29 16:41:00 Thousand-strong procession of Levon Ter-Petrosyan's women-supporters being held in center of Yerevan

ArmInfo. A thousand-strong procession of Levon Ter- Petrosyan's women-supporters, the second one over the latest days, started in Yerevan today at 5:00 PM.

As ArmInfo correspondent reports, the women-demonstrators intend to pass through the Northern Avenue, the Republic Square, Vazgen Sargsyan and Italy Streets and return to the Liberty Square through Nalbandyan and Tumanyan Streets. The women are accompanied by men. The oppositionist also intend to pass in front of the French Embassy building, the president of which was one of the first who congratulated Serzh Sargsyan on the presidential election in Armenia. As of the action organizers say, the procession is
purposed to demonstrate the decisiveness of the Armenian people to protect their rights irrespective of the foreign states' position. The women- demonstrators chant "Levon! Levon!" and "Serzh, go away!". The procession is headed by Chairman of the "Hnchakyan"
Social-Democratic party Lyudmila Sargsyan and member of Board of the People's party of Armenia Ruzan Khachatryan.


2008-02-29 16:37:00 President of Armenia leaves post of president light-hearted and with satisfaction

ArmInfo. President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan told students at Yerevan State University, Friday, that he leaves the post of the president light-hearted and with satisfaction.

The president said that much had changed to better over the ten years of his presidency. 'In 1998, a few cars could be seen resting at Lake Sevan. One could hardly find a good restaurant in Yerevan to invite foreign guests. There was no operating cinema. People were walking in the streets idle. The picture is quite different now. I am proud to have such fortune to bear this burden', the president said.

He also mentioned that the state budget grew 8 times, the economy worked during his terms. At the same time, Robert Kocharyan stressed that the new president will face uneasy tasks to solve, including
fulfilling large-scale projects in many spheres. The president regrets for not having enough time to make reforms also in the pension sphere where a relevant concept has been elaborated. He also regrets that the problem of concession of the railway was settled so late. 'I am sure, in a few years, our railway will change to better and will operate at full capacity. I can hardly say what was the most
difficult decision I have made when in power. I do not like looking back. I always look ahead', Robert Kocharyan said.

The president admitted that he will rest for a while after leaving the presidential residence. 'However I can state strictly that I am not used to rest long', the president said.


2008-02-29 16:33:00 Application of force inadmissible either by authorities or by opposition: Chairman of ARFD party faction

ArmInfo. Application of force is inadmissible either by the authorities or by opposition, Chairman of ARFD party faction Hrayr Karapetyan said at a briefing in the parliament, Friday.

He thinks that in such a tense political situation application of force is inadmissible. The problem must be settled through negotiations, H. Karapetyan said. He is sure that it is impossible to conduct transparent elections on the election system operating in Armenia. 'First of all, Armenia needs system changes. The point is not the persons. If the ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan's team admits this fact, they will agree to start negotiations', he said. Moreover, Karapetyan stressed that Liberty Square is not
the place for dancing.


2008-02-29 16:31:00 Robert Kocharyan: I think no more state officials will support Levon Ter-Petrosyan

ArmInfo. "I think that no more state officials will support Levon Ter-Petrosyan", Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said at a meeting with students of the Yerevan State University, Friday.

According to him, one shouldn't call the employees of the Armenian Foreign Ministry and other structures, who joined Levon Ter-Petrosyan, "traitors". In particular, 10 employees of the Armenian Foreign Ministry are the ex-president's relatives or have other relations with him. "I am amazed at another thing. During my 10-year term in office we dismissed none of the relatives of the former administration's representatives and are not going to dismiss them. I am not used to fighting with women and children. Vano
Siradeghyan's wife is the head of a library today. And the wife of Ara Sahakyan, the former vice-speaker, is the head of an asylum. But those on the platform of the rally saw that no more people are joining them after Deputy Prosecutor General Gagik Jhangiryan, and actually sacrificed the diplomats, shooting down their career. And then the orators cry out that the country's state system has been flawed. And 7-8 thousand people are applauding. What country do they mean? A
rmenia. Why are they so happy? I don't understand", the president said.


2008-02-29 16:30:00 Armenian political expert: There is influence from outside but everything is decided on the spot

ArmInfo. "International structures obey ultimatums seldom. International structures usually are not inclined to abruptly change what they have already said", Alexander Iskandaryan, the director of the Caucasus Media Institute, a political expert, said at a press-conference at Tesaket club, Friday,
commenting upon Armenian ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan's statement that "the West has 10 days to support democracy".

According to him, this would mean to show one's own incompetence. There may be some changes under the ongoing processes, he said. The ongoing processes affect the vision of the foreign world, which is not so much important, he said. "Certainly, Moscow, Brussels and Washington exert some influence, but everything is decided on the spot", Iskandaryan said.


2008-02-29 16:28:00 Levon Ter-Petrosyan blames international European organizations and their representatives for subconscious displays of racism

ArmInfo. During today's thousand-strong rally of his supporters at Liberty Square, RA presidential contender Levon Ter-Petrosyan blamed the international European organizations and their representatives for subconscious displays of racism.

He said that the policy of dual standards during assessment of the election processes and repressions against the opposition can be named just so. "I said yesterday that the European observers show a formalist approach during assessment of the internal political processes in Armenia. At the same time, I marked out the position of Russia. Today, I have to do the same with the USA, the representative of which in OSCE made a statement demonstrating a serious attitude of the United States to the problem of the democracy
development in Armenia", Ter-Petrosyan said. He also
expressed indignation by the circumstance that the European international organizations did not fulfill their direct commitments to the people, in particular, the Armenian people. He emphasized that OSCE experiences a serious crisis, which is displayed by their position on the presidential election in Georgia and Armenia. "If their positions do not change, the people, who strive for democracy, will require from the European observers to stop their police policy", L. Ter-Petrosyan said.


2008-02-29 16:26:00 Robert Kocharyan: We concealed the date of beginning of operation on liberation of Shoushi from Levon Ter-Petrosyan

ArmInfo. " We concealed the date of beginning of the operation on liberation of Shoushi from Levon Ter-Petrosyan", Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said at a meeting with the students of the Yerevan State University, Friday.

He stressed that he had told nothing about Ter-Petrosyan's negative role in warfare for 10 years, as there was no need in this - the topic of Nagorno-Karabakh was not used by presidential candidates. "However, when Ter-Petrosyan started speculating on this topic, I thought that it was my duty to tell about the 15-year old events in an interview with some Armenian TV channels on February 16. I assure
you that I told only 10-15% of what had happened. I am convinced that Vazgen Manukyan also can tell a lot of interesting things on this topic. In Armenia we were guided by those who had similar approaches,
and we had to conceal several things from Ter-Petrosyan", Kocharyan said. He promised that after he leaves the post of the Armenian president he will be franker on this topic.


2008-02-29 16:23:00 RA president sees four possible versions of further development of political situation in country

ArmInfo. RA President Robert Kocharyan sees four possible version of further development of the political situation in the country.

During today's meeting with students of the Yerevan State University, he said that bad tradition developed in Armenia since 1996, when a presidential contender, having taken the second place upon the election results, strongly disagrees with them. He starts to argue the election results both in the legal field, appealing the voting results, and in the public one, organizing rallies and other protest actions.

He also said that the daily rallies, organized by the first President of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan, may, first of all, lead to the fact, that more and more people will gather in these rallies, however, having achieved some peak, "they will face a dead end" and everything will come to naught. Under these conditions, those who take part in the rallies, will be strongly disappointed and undergo a psychological stress, which will be expressed by them at the next voting, having not voted for their present leaders",
R. Kocharyan said. Second, he said, there is also another tradition in Armenia:
the rally participants will take by storm any state establishment. They will turn out to be out of the law from this moment, and the law-enforcement system will apply force protecting the constitutional order, after which the most active participants in the rally will turn out to be in the places where they will be able to analyze the occurrence. Third, the rally organizers thank their supporters and let them go home, while they stay in their firm and irreconcilable positions getting ready for the next election.
Fourth, the most favourable and reasonable version: the rally organizers thank their supporters, let them go home, congratulate the winners and "then leave away to write the next scientific work", the president said and emphasized that the authorities are ready for all the four versions to the full.

Robert Kocharyan said that the authorities, for their part, have two scenarios of d\the events development: either to wait patiently until the rally "wave thins out" or clean up the Liberty Square by
police measures. "One should understand that the power action starts only when the rally participants do not obey the legal requirements of the Police and put up a resistance, thus turning out
to be beyond the law. If everything happens within the frames of the law, there is needless to apply force", RA president emphasized As Robert Kocharyan emphasized, he does not accept any comparisons of the present protest actions with the period of 1989-1990. "A powerful Soviet Empire was under destruction, while now, Armenia is an independent state and any comparisons are inappropriate", the president said. Moreover, he did justice to the organizers of the present rallies and said that "they amuse the people
very well and, what is non-typical for the Armenian National Movement party, they feed the people. Usually, it was quite opposite", Robert Kocharyan said.


2008-02-29 16:19:00 Armenian political expert: The days after decision of constitutional Court will be the most critical in the present domestic political situation

ArmInfo. The days after decision of constitutional Court will be the most critical in the present domestic political situation, Armenian political expert, director of Caucasus Mass Media Institute Aleksandr Iskandaryan predicted at today's press-conference in Tesaket club.

Assessing the existing contradiction as quite harsh he said that radicalization is its tool. At the same time he said that nevertheless Ter-Petrosyan will appeal to Constitutional Court and the situation will hardly change sharply until the decision of the CC. The days after decision of constitutional
Court will be the most critical ones irrespective of the decision. Then everything will depend on the actions of the authorities and on the reaction of the Liberty Square, the political expert thinks.

He also added there is serious potential of protest in Armenia. 'The position that exists in the country is not really a powerful political form of expressing protest. We have no opposition. We have a big number of people which have a feeling of protest'. In fact Ter-Petrosyan managed to tell the society - I am anti-power. He managed to gather so different types of protest. At the same time Iskandaryan said that such a protest cannot exist for a long time, it should turn into something or not.

Asked about suggestion of Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan to cooperate till creation of the coalition, Iskandaryan said that if Sarkisyan applied to everybody except Levon Ter-Petrosyan, it is not so much significant. 'But if we mean Levon Ter-Petrosyan, I do not understand what suggestion you
mean. Today Ter-Petrosyan is fighting, he is fighting for the post of the president but not prime minister, a deputy, etc', - Iskandaryan said.


2008-02-29 16:16:00 Community Council of Burgas (Bulgaria) adopts special decision on recognition of Armenian Genocide

ArmInfo. Community Council of Burgas (Bulgaria) adopted a special decision on recognition of Armenian Genocide, Thursday, by majority of votes (43 , 2 ).

Armenian Foreign Ministry press-service reports, the key points of the decision are as follows: recognition of Armenian Genocide of 1915; declaration of April 24 a Day of Commemoration for the victims of Armenian Genocide by Burgas Municipality; demand for recognition of Armenian Genocide by Bulgarian National Assembly.


2008-02-29 16:07:00 Gyumri Prosecutor's Office takes no interest in violations during presidential election submitted by Asparez Club of Journalists

ArmInfo. Gyumri Prosecutor's Office has taken no interest in the violations during presidential election submitted by Asparez Club of Journalists so far. Head of Asparez Club Levon Barseghyan said at a press conference, Friday, that the fellows of the Prosecutor' Office have just expressed readiness to study the materials on February 18 and 20 when Asparez failed to study several hundreds of calls to the Hot Line for some technical reasons. L. Barseghyan has hundreds of pictures witnessing voters' bribery on
Election Day. Moreover, GALA TV recorded some citizens who admit that they sold their votes for a few thousands of drams. L. Barseghyan said that about 600 cars without number plates visited
precincts on February 19 and yards of private houses and were welcomed by people with the cries 'They have brought us money!' Police responded to these information only in 3 days and exposed just
6 cars without number plates. 'Given all the aforementioned, I cannot agree with the results of the presidential election', L. Barseghyan said.

For his part, Head of Helsinki Committee Armenia Avetik Ishkhanyan called the past election 'money roundabout'. He said that like the international observers he observed no serious violations at precincts. However, outside the precincts, in front of Serzh Sargysan's campaign headquarters in Gyumri, as well as in Tavush and Lori, A. Ishkhanyan became witness of rows for 5,000 vote bribes. 'It was very strange for me to see how intellectual people sell their votes for 5,000 drams'. A. Ishkhanyan said.


2008-02-29 15:20:00 Leader of oppositional Republic party: Armenian authorities have changed their tactics

ArmInfo. At the Feb 29 several thousand strong rally of Armenian ex-president Levon Ter-Petrosyan's supporters at Liberty Square in Yerevan, Leader of the oppositional Republic party Aram Sargsyan pointed out that the present Armenian authorities have changed their tactics.

According to him, judging by the information policy of TV channels over the past two days, the Armenian authorities have been trying to seem kind to people and "to make radicals of us". "However, these authorities have never been kind. They are simply trying to seem kind under the pressure of the people's powerful movement", Aram Sargsyan said. Speaking of colored revolutions in the post-Soviet area, the oppositionist noted that in Ukraine everything finished within 3 months, and in Georgia - within two weeks
and a half. Meanwhile, in Armenia "people have been standing at the square for only 9 days, and the power vertical is fluctuating. We only need to hold another powerful procession, the way we did two days ago, and the power vertical will finally break down", Aram Sargsyan stressed.

Editor-in-Chief of Haykakan Zhamanak daily Nikol Pashniyan, the conductor of the rally, drew a parallel between the Armenian of 1992-1994 and the present situation at Liberty Square. As Pashinyan said, within the specified period Armenia experienced shortage of fuel and products as a result of blockade, now the Armenian authorities are trying to hinder the supplies of food and fuel to Liberty Square, where the round- the-clock protest action of the opposition continues. However, the oppositionist expressed confidence
that Ter-Petrosyan will gain victory for the second time.

To note, about 40-50 thousand people are present at the rally at Liberty Square.


2008-02-29 15:19:00 Chairman of Federation Council of Russian Federal Assembly congratulates Serzh Sarkisyan for victory at the presidential election

ArmInfo. Chairman of Federation Council of Russian Federal Assembly Sergey Mironov congratulated Serzh Sarkisyan for victory at the presidential election.

As ArmInfo was informed from press-service of the Armenian government, the message says about fruitful and active work of Sarkisyan at various state posts. Mironov is sure that S.Sarkisyan's further activity at the post of Armenian president will promote fortifying of Armenia's positions at the world arena as well as further development of strategic partnership with Russia.


2008-02-29 15:17:00 Robert Kocharyan: Present presidential campaign in Armenia may shatter positions of Armenia in settlement of Karabakh conflict

ArmInfo. The present presidential campaign in Armenia may shatter the positions of the Armenian party in the settlement of Karabakh conflict, President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan said at a meeting with the students of Yerevan State University, Friday.

He called inadmissible both artificial protractions and any hasty decision on the settlement process. Everything must be well weighted. No matter how much time it will take, a year, two or more. Deviation from fundamental approaches is inadmissible. In this situation, defeatist statements by one of the presidential candidates not only encourage the rival but also make the mediators think over the situation. As a result, such sentiments may make them put the stress in favor of the opposite party. The president
said that mediators may say: '350,000 people in Armenia (who voted for Levon Ter-Petrosyan by official data of Armenian CEC - ArmInfo) are ready to transfer Nagorny Karabakh to Azerbaijan. We will take this into account'.

He also added that over the ten years of his presidency, the positions of Armenia in the settlement process have only strengthened. 'I am sure the new president will not resort to such defeatist actions given his biography and the political way he has passed', Robert Kocharyan said.


2008-02-29 15:12:00 Robert Kocharyan: We should build such a country to which students educated in foreign countries would like to return to work

ArmInfo. "We should build such a country, to which students who received higher education in foreign countries would like to return to work", Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said at a meeting with the students of the Yerevan State University, Friday.

He said that his daughter got education abroad, however, she has returned and works in Armenia. In general, over the past 3 years the ratio of the students leaving Armenia forever and those returning to
Motherland to work has changed in the latters' favor. Students having good knowledge are sure to find a job in Armenia, however, one shouldn't forget that "students may be tempted abroad, and this is a
problem to be solved by Armenia", the president said.


2008-02-29 15:00:00 President of Syrian Arab Republic congratulates Serzh Sargsyan on victory at presidential. election

ArmInfo. President of the Syrian Arab Republic Bashar al-Asad congratulated Serzh Sargsyan on victory at the presidential election in Armenia.

As RA governmental press-service told ArmInfo, the Syrian president said in particular: "I wish you health and happiness, as well as prosperity and progress to your people. Taking the opportunity, I
want to express confidence that the friendly relations and cooperation between our countries will get their development the next years as well".


2008-02-29 14:53:00 Serzh Sarkisyan: Participation of ARFD in the new coalition is not ruled out

ArmInfo. Participation of ARF Dashnaktiutyun in the new coalition is not ruled out, Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, which gained a victory at the presidential election, said today when signing an agreement on cooperation between the RPA and Orinats Yerkir party.

According to the signed agreement, the former candidate for president, leader of the OY party Artur Bagdasaryan will occupy the post of secretary of National Security Council under the president. Speaking about another coalition partner in the person of ARFD, Sarkisyan said its participation in the new coalition is not ruled out. 'I think we shall get their respond and I will be very happy if the coalition becomes four-party', - Sarkisyan said and added that Prosperous Armenia party will also become true
partner of the coalition. For his part, Artur Bagdasaryan said that he made "an important invention" over the talks, that "the authorities are ready to unite election programmes of all the forces of the coalition and to make cardinal changes in the country'. 'This political decision was approved by our
party as well as by the RPA. We shake hands as the whole country will win because of such cooperation', - Bagdasaryan said.


2008-02-29 14:31:00 Armenian people should unite to stabilize the situation in the republic, participants in the Round Table think

ArmInfo. 'Armenian people should unite to stabilize the situation in the republic, since stability
is a pledge of normal functioning of the country', - the head of "Stability" public movement Suren Mamikonyan said today at the Round Table held in Yerevan.

He also added that the presidential election in Armenia were held in line with all international standards and nobody has a right to cast doubt upon their results. Participants in the Round Table specially mentioned the fact that the newly elected president gave a hand to the opposition, since this is evidence of his wisdom.

They condemned the opposition actions, in particular Levon Ter-Petrosyan's. Participants in the Round Table congratulated Armenian Prime Minister for gaining a victory at the presidential election. 'Armenian Premier Serzh Sarkisyan won at the election. But one should take into consideration
that Levon Ter-Petrosyan collected 21% of votes which is evidence of the fact that there are many people in the country which are displeased with the incumbent authorities. The new president's task is to build a state in which there is no displeased person', - Academician Babken Harutyunyan said.


2008-02-29 14:24:00 RA presidential contender Arman Melikyan: We shall go out of this situation together either winners or loosers

ArmInfo. As a result of the election, not one or another political team but the whole society should win, RA presidential contender, ex-Foreign Minister and adviser of the NKR president Arman Melikyan said at today's press-conference in "Tesaket" club.

Having said that he does not want to see everything in black colors, Melikyan expressed confidence that the seeds of the future progress are hidden in the present situation. "Everybody is tired of the situation that all the political forces are grouped around the authorities. It is the time for the RPA, which form the majority in the Parliament, to get rid of the political "leeches", however, he did not specified which leeches. At the same time, he expressed confidence that "we shall have what we had before"
without an efficient strong opposition. The coalition in the staff which he had earlier, will be a bad step both for the ruling force and for those who strives to come closer to the authorities. We have to search for the new ways. In case of correct steps, there will be two powerful political forces in Armenia, which will be able to lead the country, having elaborated the game rules", A. Melikyan said. He exampled the normally developed countries He also said that, from t
his point of view, it would be right for the political forces, supporting Levon Ter-Petrosyan, could unite into a powerful
pro-western political force. "The society should become a winner in these election. We shall go out of the present situation together either winners or loosers".

Along with it, Melikyan said that there is no legal way out of the developed situation and it is necessary to search for political ways under open and direct participation of the public. He added that the law is a "occupied" category in Armenia. The present events in the Liberty Square are the expression of protest against unfairness, not all the participants in the rallies support L. Ter-Petrosyan, simply, the latter and the forces, supporting him, have become a center of rallying of the people, demanding
fairness, A. Melikyan said. Having emphasized the necessity of going by the way of a political dialogue, he added that if not this way is chosen, the country's society will turn out to be "halve". "If violence is applied, we shall have a lost society. This is an inadmissible luxury for us", A. Melikyan emphasized.


2008-02-29 14:02:00 Arman Melikyan confirms his proposal to mediate in settling domestic political crisis in Armenia

ArmInfo. Presidential candidate Arman Melikyan intends to meet with Levon Ter- Petrosyan and Serzh Sargsyan to study their stands. A. Melikyan informed media at Tesaket Debate Club, Friday. Earlier, A. Melikyan announced his intention to mediate in settling the domestic political crisis in the country.

He stressed that public statements in the city squares are important but they not always contain real motives. A. Melikyan pledged 'to act transparently informing public through Media of his every step'.
He thinks that the public has a right to demand reconciliation and crisis management from the parties. A. Melikyan was satisfied with the response by political forces to his proposal to start a political dialogue. Although he has not received any direct applications, but developments show that the parties are thinking over his proposal. The recent statement by the prime minister on cooperation up to
formation of coalition government testifies to it, he said. 'However, this will not settle the conflict. If L. Ter-Petrosyan and his supporter-forces enter the coalition, it will be like a deal bearing no relation to ideology. The people will not understand them', A. Melikyan said.


2008-02-29 13:48:00 NKR ex-foreign minister thinks Armenia's position regarding Kosovo is balanced

ArmInfo. The NKR ex-foreign minister and president's advisor as well as candidate for president Arman Melikyan thinks Armenia's position regarding Kosovo is balanced. To recall, the Armenian party said it will not hurry up to recognize Kosovo's independence.

'I think this is a balanced position. Actually, our foreign policy steps should not depend on the present conjecture. In this sense our approach is balanced. Finally, why should we recognize Kosovo, but not, let us say, North Cyprus? Why should we prefer Kosovo? Is it because several countries recognized Kosovo? I think it is senseless. It's better to recognize Karabakh. It will be clearer than if we recognize Kosovo today', - Arman Melikyan told ArmInfo correspondent.


2008-02-29 13:45:00 DMs of Armenia and Georgia discuss prospects of military cooperation

ArmInfo-BLACK SEA PRESS. Defense Ministers of Armenia and Georgia Mikael Harutyunyan and David Kezerashvili discussed the prospects of development of the Armenian-Georgian military cooperation at Thursday meeting in Tbilisi. As RA DM press service reports, the parties discussed the issues of regional security, as well as experience exchange in the area of defense reforms. Harutyunyan and Kezerashvili emphasized urgency of creation of a contractual-legal base for development of bilateral military and military-technical
cooperation. The same day, M. Harutyunyan
met Georgia's Foreign Minister David Bakradze. The parties said that the internal stability both in Armenia and in Georgia is necessary for strengthening of the region's security. According to the press-release, M. Harutyunyan laid a wreath to the Memorial of the heroes, died for the territorial integrity of Georgia.


2008-02-29 13:28:00 Armenians in Tbilisi commemorate victims of pogroms in Sumgait

ArmInfo-Black Sea Press. The Armenian Embassy in Georgia, Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church with support of the Center for Cooperation of Georgian Armenians organized a number of events in Tbilisi to mark the 20th anniversary of the pogroms of Armenians in Sumgait, Azerbaijan. The Armenian Embassy reports, Armenian Church Surb Gevorg served a liturgy for the victims of Sumgait pogroms. A photo-exposition was held at the local Petros Adamyan Armenian Dramatic Theatre. The meeting of local Armenian
community at the theatre started with a minute of silence in memory for the victims. Ambassador of Armenia to Georgia Hrach Silvanyan opened the official part of the cycle of memorable events.


2008-02-29 13:27:00 Armenian Ombudsman studying facts of violence to parliamentarian Zaruhi Postanjyan

ArmInfo. Armenian Ombudsman Armen Haroutunyan applied to the head of Central Department of Yerevan Police for verification of the facts brought in the statement by Armenian parliamentarian Zaruhi Postanjyan, Ombdusman's press-service told ArmInfo.

The statement, in particular, says that on February 27 Z. Postanjyan was subjected to violent treatment at the Central Department of Yerevan Police. In addition, the microphone of Radio Liberty correspondent was confiscated at the same Department. The call center refuse to accept the claim by parliamentarian Stepan Safaryan's against the incident. To recall, S. Safaryan and Z. Postanjyan visited the Department to verify the information on detention of some young supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosyan.


2008-02-29 13:23:00 OSCE MG cochairmen to meet in one of European cities in midst of March

ArmInfo. OSCE MG Cochairmen Matthew Bryza, Bernard Fassier and Yuri Merzliakov will meet in one of the European cities in midst of May, Personal Representative of OSCE CIO Andrzej Kasprzyk told APA.

As the source reports, A. Kasprzyk said that after the visit of OSCE Chair-in-Office Ilkka Kanerva to the region, the cochairmen will be able to present new recommendations on the conflict settlement. He also said that during the forthcoming meeting with the cochairmen, he will share his impressions with them in view of OSCE CIO's visit to the region. Afterwards, the mediators will prepare a revised version of proposals on the conflict settlement, presented to the parties in Madrid.


2008-02-29 13:23:00 National Security Service of Armenia makes no comment on item in February 29 issue of Haykakan Zhamanak daily signed by some NSS high-ranking officers

ArmInfo. National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia press-service makes no comment on the item 'NSS not Gorik Hakobyan' in February 29 issue of Haykakan Zhamanak daily. Thus, the item that was signed by 'a group of high-ranking officers of NSS' expresses indignation at the methods of smuggling in own people (the protesters in Liberty Square two officers of NSS, Thursday. NSS press center confirmed the incident). 'It has turned out that Gorik Hakobyan considers the people in the Liberty Square as enemy or rival',
the item says. The authors of the item emphasize
that the given working style is characteristic to G. Hakobyan personally and not the NSS, in general. The item contains some assessments and epithets insulting G. Hakobyan. 'We say away with Gorik Hakobyan! NSS does not belong to him. The most important thing to understand is that any operative measure must soften the situation and not aggravate it. We bindingly state that NSS must support people and in case such phenomena are repeated, we will resort to tougher methods. After the given incident, a group of
NSS veterans decided not only to join the people but also to expose and prevent any
similar provocation in Liberty Square', the item says.

To recall, earlier many fellows of other ministries and departments were dismissed for much more harmless statements.


2008-02-29 13:22:00 Stepanakert disproves the next disinformation of Baku

ArmInfo. The governmental circles of Nagorno Karabakh republic called the information of Baku "about resettlement of Kurds in Lachin region" "the next bungling fable".

ArmInfo correspondent was told that such an absurd information, being far from the reality, fit well into the policy of official Baku on maligning of the NKR. To recall, deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov told about the alleged process of "resettlement of Kurds in Lachin region" during the press-conference in Baku.








Economy

2008-02-29 13:31:00 9.9% GDP growth recorded in Armenia for Jan 2008

ArmInfo. GDP in Armenia grew by 9.9% over Jan 2008 as compared with the same period of 2007 and made up 101.2 bln AMD ($330 mln) in market prices, the RA National Statistical Service reports. In January as against December 2007, GDP was down 76.4%. GDP index deflator grew by 6.5%. GDP for January 2008 totaled 75.2 bln AMD ($245 mln) in basic prices.

GDP grew due to a considerable increase construction by 79.7% to 7 bln AMD ($23 mln), reail turnover - by 10.7% to 58 bln AMD ($188.5 mln), electricity generation by 7.8% to 663.5 mln kWh, services
(exclusive of trade) by 7.4% to 37.1 bln AMD ($121 mln).

Industrial produce was up 0.1% for Jan 2008 as against Jan 2007 and made up 52 bln AMD ($169 mln). The share of industry in GDP made up 51.1% (ArmInfo). Average salary was up 25.6% for Jan 2008 as against the same period of 2007. Comparing to December 2007, this indicator was up 19.5% to 84,355 AMD or $275.

Foreign turnover grew by 29.5% over Jan 2008 as compared to Jan 2007 and by 33.5% as against Dec 2007, making up 103.3 bln AMD or $336.9 mln. In the structure of foreign turnover, exports grew by 2.4% per year and fell by 36.5% to 18.7 bln AMD ($61 mln) in Jan 2008. Exclusive of diamonds item, exports was up 12.7% to $52.7 mln for the period under review. The annual growth of imports made up 37.4%. In Jan exports fell by 32.8% to 84.6 bln AMD ($275.9 mln). Exclusive of diamonds item, this indicator was up 42.6%
per year to $267 mln.

The Armenian CB exchange rate for Jan 2008 made up 306.83 AMD/$1USD.








Finance and banks

2008-02-29 14:01:00 Exchange rate of dram against US dollar and EUR

ArmInfo Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 307 drams for 1 dollar, 464 drams for 1 EUR and 12,53 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 309 drams for 1 dollar, 468 drams for 1 EUR and 12,6 drams for 1 Russian ruble.


2008-02-29 13:31:00 International gross reserves of Armenia grown by 55% in 2007 and amounted to $1656.9 mln

ArmInfo. International gross reserves of Armenia have grown by 55% in 2007 and amounted to $1656.9 mln. Foreign-exchange holdings have grown by 56% in 2007 and amounted to $1647.2 mln, monthly reference book of Armenian Central Bank says. The SDR size in IMF reduced by 31,2% in 2007 and amounted to $9,7 mln.

To note, international gross reserves amounted to $1072 mln at the end of December 2006, foreign-exchange holdings - $1058 mln, the SDR size in IMF - $14.1 mln. The share of gold in international gross reserves was set to nil in December 2003.