Author: Nahapetian Lilit

NKR PEOPLE HAVE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION IRRESPECTIVE OF AZERBAIJAN’S WILL

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.03.2008 18:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia will never make unilateral concessions in
Karabakh resolution, Prime Minister and President-elect Serzh Sargsyan
said in Yerevan.

"Armenia has potential to resolve the Karabakh conflict peacefully. No
doubt, the March 1 disorders did not do good to the negotiation
process. Our image was damaged. However, this will not affect the
talks.

We will always be guided by our national interests," he said.

"The NKR people have the right to self-determination irrespective
of Azerbaijan’s will. A month or two after I assume the office
I will present more precise information on our further steps. I
haven’t personally met Ilham Aliyev yet but I think that a couple
of meetings will be enough to understand whether he is ready for a
peaceful solution," the Prime Minster said, Novosti Armenia reports.

APPEAL OF THE UNION OF ARMENIANS OF RUSSIA TO THE PEOPLE OF ARMENIA
Ara Abrahamian

AZG Armenian Daily
11/03/2008

Post-election

Dear compatriots,

Our hearts mourned and responded with grief to the latest events
in Armenia.

Armenia faces an extremely serious challenge and its future depends
on the solution of the current situation.

We share the feelings of our compatriots who are not content with the
current situation. We can understand the will of the people to express
their own opinion and their urge to achieve the implementation of
positive reforms. Unfortunately, their natural endeavor was used by
evil forces. They consciously provoked the people and arouse hatred
in the crowd, trying to split the nation, provoking resistance in
prohibited manners. As a result, many people died.

The state of emergency is announced in the capital.

There still exists the danger of civil resistance. We call for both
the Armenian authorities and for the opposition leaders to realize
their responsibility for the state of Armenia and its people and to
find a solution to the situation through negotiations and constructive
collaboration.

We call for the authorities to preserve the constitutional norms,
when maintaining stability and order.

We believe that such slogans of the opposition as "who is not with us
is against us" are inacceptable. Such slogans never brought anything
but tragedy to any nation.

Not only the political figures or the authorities, but also each of
us bears historical responsibility for today’s situation.

In this hard period we call for our compatriots to refuse any steps
that may deepen the tension. The loss of the traditional unity of
our nation may have negative impact of the international image of
Armenia and may cause real threats against the weakening of our
country’s defense.

Dear compatriots, brothers and sisters, I urge you to realize
the current situation, to be above any sentiments and to spare no
efforts to maintain civil reconciliation and constitutional order in
our country.

We are sure that the Armenian people will overcome this challenge
with honor this time too.

NA CONVENTIONAL SESSION WILL TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 12TH,2008

Azat Artsakh Daily
Published on March 11, 2008
NKR Republic

As NKR NA press service informed, the Speaker of NKR National
Assembly Ashot Ghoulian on March 10th convened a working conference,
by participation of chairmen of permenant commissions and executives
of the stuff’s services.

The theme of discussion was the question of formation of the next
conventional session’s agenda of the sixth session of National
Assembly. In that connection the reports of the chairmen of permenant
commissions about thematic inclusions of bills being in circulation,
degree of urgency and readiness, problems arisen throughout the course
of it and their solution were heard. Exchange of opinions took place,
as a result of which the scope of agenda questions exposed to the
establishment of conventional session was corrected. According to
the acting legislative norm, the speaker of the parliament stated,
that NA conventional session would be convened on March 12th,2008,
at 11:00, in NA conference hall.

"KELE-KELE" IN EUROVISION

Panorama.am
16:38 10/03/2008

In "Eurovision-2008" held in May Sirusho is going to present
"Kele-Kele" song in Belgrad. On 8 March public TV organized life
broadcast show and 86.5% of the audience voted for this current
song. The composer of the song is Arthur Ter-Hovakimyan.

Note that the TV audience was given a chance to select from four
different songs, the author of which is Sirusho herself. Sirusho was
recognized as year’s best singer in NAtional Award Ceremony. The singer
studies in Yerevan State University International Relations Department.

Sirusho was born in January 7, 1987. She was 7 when stood on stage in
Canada for the first time, she held concerts in Belgium, USA, Greece,
Netherlands, Iran, Russia, Georgia, Hordanan, and other countries.

Sirusho’s first song album called "Sirusho" was published in 1999,
and the second one "Sheram" published in 2005.

This is the third times Armenia takes part in this international
competition. In 2006 Andre presented Armenia with the song "Without
Your Love" and gained the eighth place. Last year another Armenian
singer Hayko presented Armenia in Eurovision with the song "Anytime
You Need" and gained the eighth place. The other day it was announced
that Russian singer Dima Bilan will present Russia. This singer took
part in Eurovision in 2006 and gained the second place.

THE STATE OF EMERGENCY MITIGATED

armradio.am
10.03.2008 15:30

As it is known on March 1st RA President Robert Kocharyan signed a
decree on declaring a state of emergency in Yerevan in compliance
with Articles 55.14 and 117.6 of RA Constitution.

Today President Kocharyan signed a decree on implementing amendments
in the decree dated March 1, 2008. RA President’s Spokesman Viktor
Soghomonyan presented the decree to mass media representatives today.

The Spokesman noted that taking into consideration that no violation
of the state of emergency has been registered in Yerevan, noting the
stabilization of the domestic political situation, having the objective
to ensure the soon return of the country and the population to normal
life, RA President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on abolishing
parts 6 and 7 of the 4th point of the decree, which provided for

Temporary interruption of activities of parties and other public
organizations, which hinder the elimination of the conditions that
served as a basis for imposing the state of emergency;

Extradition of violators of the legal regime of the state of emergency
who do not reside in the given area

Viktor Soghomonayn noted also that specialists at RA President’s Office
are working in the direction of finding other legal solutions to the
provision of the decree on emergency on restriction of mass media
activity, which will enable to mitigate the level of restrictions.

Rate of juvenile crime is down

09-03-2008 15:57:42 – KarabakhOpen

According to the press service of the NKR Office of Prosecutor General,
the rate of juvenile crime has decreased considerably. In 2007, 27
adolescents committed 41 crimes, whereas in 2006 33 committed 29 crimes.

During the recent meeting the College of the NKR Office of Prosecutor
General announced that in 2007 the district court received 25 claims on
damage of 53 million drams inflicted on the state. 24 claims were met,
1 was declined.

29.4 million drams was returned to the state budget, of which 27.4
million is the debts of borrowers who failed to repay loans, 1.9
million is rent for land.

In 2007 the NKR Office of Prosecutor General received 579 reports and
complaints from citizens.

STATE BUDGETARY REVENUES GROW BY 13.1% IN JANUARY 2008 ON SAME MONTH OF
LAST YEAR

YEREVAN, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA state budgetary revenues made
over 47.4 bln drams (about 154.5 mln USD) in January 2008, the
expenditures made 32.2 bln drams, as a result of which the
government-approved quarterly program was fulfilled by 31.9% and 18.6%
respectively. The annual programmed indices of the state budget were
fulfilled by 6.5% (revenues) and 4.3% (expenditures).

According to data of the RA ministry of finance and economy, the state
budgetary revenues grew by 13.1% on January of last year and made 5.5
bln drams. Taxes and duties increased by 9.1 bln drams, compulsory
social insurance payments by 685 mln drams, official grants by 4.5 bln
drams, while other revenues (previously called "nontax revenues")
declined by 4.3 bln drams. As a result, the share of taxes and duties
grew by 10.8% in the total amount of revenues, while the share of other
revenues declined by the same percentage. In particular, taxes made up
79.7%, state duties – 3.1%, compulsory social insurance payments –
13.1% and other revenues – 4.1% of the revenues of the state budget.

In accordance with Article 9 Point 18 of the RA Law on the 2008 State
Budget of the RA, the state institutions’ off-budget funds, whose
revenues amounted to about 851 mln drams against 434.8 mln drams last
year, were also included in the state budget.

RSF URGES LIFT OF STATE OF EMERGENCY, MEDIA FREEDOM

Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF)
March 5 2008
France

A 20-day state of emergency which President Robert Kocharyan
proclaimed in the capital Yerevan on 1 March is having aserious
impact on the activity of the news media, Reporters Without Borders
said today. The emergency was declared afterclashes between security
forces and opposition protesters who say last month’s presidential
election wasrigged.

"This authoritarian decision to liable to reinforce part of the
population’s resentment of the lack of realfree expression in Armenia,"
the press freedom organization said. "We urge the authorities to lift
the stateof emergency so that the media can resume working normally
and report on the circumstances in which force was used inclashes
leaving a toll of eight dead and more than 130 wounded."

Under the state of emergency, all news media are required to use only
official information in their domesticcoverage. Reporters Without
Borders has learned that access to several online news publications
– including the newsagency A1+ (), the opposition
newspaper Haykakan Jamanak () and website of the
daily Aravot() – has been blocked by their hosting
service provider, Arminco Ltd, on the orders of the securityservices.

The programmes of Radio Free Europe, the only foreign radio station to
broadcast in Armenian, have been replaced bymusic, and the station’s
website is also inaccessible.

Three pro-government dailies – Azg, Hayastani Hanrapetutyun and
Hayots Ashxar – continue to be published but one ofthe most popular
newspapers, Aravot, did not appear yesterday. The issue was banned
by the security services after itwas sent to the printer’s. The
newspaper’s staff then decided to publish blank pages in protest but
they were prevented from doing this as well. Other newspapers such
as Haykakan Jamanak and 168 Zham were not published either.

A complaint has been brought against Levon Barseghyan, the president
of the "Asparez" journalists club inGyumri, the second largest
city (125 km north of Yerevan), accusing him of organizing illegal
gatherings. He has denied this, and his denial has been supported by
several witnesses, but his trial is due to start within a few days.

At least three journalists have had run-ins with the police in
Gyumri. Radio Free Europe correspondent SatenikVantsyan was hit by
police officers. Nune Arevshatyan of Aravot was manhandled by policemen
who took her camera. AndArmine Vardanyan of local television station
Gala TV was arrested while doing her a report and her equipment
wasconfiscated, including the video she had filmed just before
her arrest.

Many journalists have criticized the vagueness of the directive
banning the use of unofficial information as itcomplicates their
work. When they interview members of the government, for example,
they often do not know whether they can publish the information.

The TV stations are under especially close surveillance. The national
news reports and information they are providingare in fact being
broadcast by police press officers. Not only is the video footage
the same but also the analyses andcomments.

NKR MFA WILL ASSIST THE OSCE MISSION

Azat Artsakh Daily
06-03-2008
Republic Of Nagorno Karabakh

On March 6, in connection with the NKR MFA demand to conduct a
crisis-monitoring on the Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan armed forces
contact line near the Levonarkh settlement, where on the night of 3-4
March, the Azerbaijani armed forces violated the cease-fire regime, the
Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
presented a note to the NKR MFA with a request to assist the conduct
of a crisis-monitoring on March 7.

The NKR MFA expressed its readiness to assist in the organization and
conduct of the crisis-monitoring and ensure the OSCE Mission members’
security. From the Azerbaijani side the monitoring group will be
headed by Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Andrzej Kasprzyk.

NKR MF URGES CONDUCTION OF CRISIS MONITORING AT CONTACT LINE

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.03.2008 16:18 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On March 5, the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs
sent a note to the office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office and demanded to conduct a crisis monitoring of
the contact line where the Azerbaijani armed forces violated the
ceasefire regime the day before.

The copies of this note, reflecting the NKR authorities’ official
viewpoint, have been sent to the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-chairs from the U.S., Russia and France, the NKR MFA
press office reported.

On March 4, Azeri special forces attacked one of Armenian
positions. The attack was rebuffed and status quo restored. Two
Armenian officers were injured. The Azeri side lost 8 soldiers killed.