Author: Yeghisabet Arthur

UNDP SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE COURT OF CASSATION

ArmRadio.am
29.03.2007 17:15

Today the UNDP Resident Representative Ms. Consuelo Vidal signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chairman of the Court of
Cassation of the Republic of Armenia Hovhannes Manukyan to support
access of the Armenian public to judiciary information, judicial acts
and courts’ verdicts.

Since 2003 UNDP and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
have promoted participatory policymaking in Armenia through
establishing countrywide interactive e-governance systems and an
information society. The focus has been on enhancing the efficiency,
accessibility, and accountability of public administration at the
regional and local levels. The support has translated into free access
to public information, and improved services provided to the public
by the regional authorities and local self-governance bodies.

The current project aims at enhancing participation in the country,
by providing ICT-enabled mechanisms for accessing the judicial
branches of the government, and contribute in this way, to increase
the transparency of the judiciary.

The UNDP Resident Representative said in her remarks: "Participation
is one of the priority issues for UNDP and the Government of
Armenia. Information technologies facilitate the dissemination of
information, provide access to the government and are the perfect
conduit for citizen-government interaction.

This is key for ensuring transparency and accountability." And the
Chairman of the Court of Cassation highlighted the following: "The key
pillars of the second phase of the judiciary reforms are considered the
principles of public awareness and information accessibility. This is
why we sign today this memorandum of understanding with our partners."

ARMENIA BIDS FAREWELL TO ANDRANIK MARGARYAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.03.2007 13:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenia bids farewell to Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan. Yesterday President Robert Kocharian, NA Speaker
Tigran Torosian, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan and other officials
attended the civil funeral. The official farewell ceremony is taking
place at the State Academic Opera & Ballet Theater of Armenia named
after Al. Spendiaryan at the moment. At 3 p.m. Andranik Margaryan
will be buried in the Pantheon named after Komitas.

Delegations from a number of states as well as NATO Envoy for South
Caucasus and Central Asia Robert Simmons and Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, OSCE MG Co-chair Matthew
J. Bryza arrived in Yerevan to participate in the funeral.

Andranik Margaryan died on March 25 afternoon from a cardiac arrest
caused by loss of circulation of the blood in coronary vessels.

Last farewell to Andranik Margaryan

ArmRadio.am
26.03.2007 13:50

The state funeral commission formed on the occasion of the death of
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, headed by NA Speaker Tigran
Torosyan informs that the commemoration of Andranik Margaryan will
take place on March 27 at 6 p.m. at 8, Sayat-Nova, Avan community. On
March 28 at 12 o’clock the last farewell ceremony will be held at the
National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet after Alexander
Spendiaryan. The funeral will take place at 3 p.m. at the Komitas
Pantheon.

AP Newsbreak: U.N. envoy recommends independence for Kosovo

The Associated Press
Published: March 26, 2007

PRISTINA, Serbia: The U.N. envoy for Kosovo says independence is "the
only viable option" for the province, according to a copy of his
report obtained by The Associated Press Monday.

Martti Ahtisaari, who mediated yearlong talks between ethnic Albanians
and Serbs, said that "upon careful consideration of Kosovo’s recent
history, the realities of Kosovo today, and taking into account
negotiations with the parties, I have come to the conclusion that the
only viable option for Kosovo is independence, to be supervised for an
initial period by the international community."

The 3 1/2-page report and his proposal will be delivered to the
U.N. Security Council later Monday.

It is the first time that Ahtisaari has explicitly mentioned
independence in a document dealing with province’s future.

Ahtisaari’s previously proposal provisions for Kosovo’s own
constitution, flag, anthem and army and rights to minority Serbs to
run their daily affairs, setting the stage for Kosovo’s statehood, but
did not use the word "independence."

( w.php)

He handed over his proposal to ethnic Albanian and Serbian leaders in
February, "A return of Serbian rule over Kosovo would not be
acceptable to the overwhelming majority of the people of Kosovo,"
Ahtisaari wrote in his report to the Security Council. "Belgrade could
not regain its authority without provoking violent
opposition. Autonomy of Kosovo within the borders of Serbia however
notional such autonomy may be – is simply not tenable."

Kosovo has been administered by the United Nations since 1999, when
NATO airstrikes ended a Serbian crackdown on ethnic Albanian
separatists. The U.N. plan, drafted by Ahtisaari, is an attempt to
resolve the final major dispute remaining after Yugoslavia’s bloody
1990s breakup.

Ethnic Albanian leaders have supported the plan, while Serbia’s
officials, opposed to the province’s secession, have rejected it,
saying it grants Kosovo de-facto independence.

In his report, Ahtisaari also said that continued international
administration was not sustainable and said that "independence with
international supervision is the only viable option."

"Independence is the only option for a politically stable and
economically viable Kosovo," Ahtisaari wrote.

The U.N. Security Council is to have the final say on the
plan. However, the council is split on the issue, with Russia
supporting Serbia while the United States and the European Union back
the U.N. plan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and other officials have said that
granting Kosovo statehood could set a precedent for separatist regions
in former Soviet republics, such as South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which
broke away from control of the central government in Georgia in wars
in the early 1990s.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
March 26 2007

IRAN’S AMBASSADOR IN ARMENIA EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES BECAUSE OF PM’S
DECEASE

YEREVAN, March 26. /ARKA/. Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia Alireza
Hagigian expressed condolences because of decease of Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan, reported the Iranian Embassy’s press
service.
"In connection with the decease of Armenia’s Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan I sympathize with friendly Armenian people and country’s
Government, as well as with the family of the deceased expressing
deep regret about the untimely loss of the prominent statesman," the
condolences said.
Hagigian said that during Margaryan’s holding the PM’s office,
friendly relations between Armenia and Iran significantly activated.
"The deceased Prime Minister’s kind feelings and good will were the
main motive forces for enlarging and deepening these relations," he
said.
Armenian Prime Minister, Chairman of the Republican Party Andranik
Margaryan died from heart attack at the age of 55 on March 25. L.M.
-0–

RIA Novosti, Russia
March 26 2007

Armenian DM appointed acting prime minister – MP
14:39 | 26/ 03/ 2007

YEREVAN, March 26 (RIA Novosti) – Armenia’s defense minister, Serzh
Sarkisyan, has been appointed acting prime minister, an Armenian
parliamentarian said Monday.

Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan died Sunday of a heart attack at
the age of 55.

The Armenian government and presidential administration have neither
confirmed nor denied the appointment.

On Monday, President Robert Kocharyan accepted the Cabinet’s
resignation due to Markaryan’s death. The Armenian leader charged the
Cabinet with continuing their duties until a new Cabinet could be
formed.

Parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for May 12, and
after the first session of a new parliament, the Cabinet will resign
again.

Markaryan was Armenia’s prime minister since May 2000.

In 1997, he was elected chairman of the Republican Party, which came
to head the ruling coalition in Armenia in 2003.

PanARMENIAN.Net

German FM expressed condolences on PM Margaryan’s decease
26.03.2007 16:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier
conveyed condolences to RA FM Vartan Oskanian on the death of Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan. `Armenia has lost a state figure who
played a substantial role in Armenian life in the course of
years. During my recent visit to Armenia I had the chance to know him
as an experienced political figure and a kind person. Please accept my
sincere condolences,’ the statement says.

Death becomes a political figure in Armenia

27-03-2007 15:46:47 – KarabakhOpen

The government of Armenia resigned after the death of Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan. New prime minister will be appointed within ten
days. The resignation of the government after the death of the prime
minister is in accordance with the Constitution.

`Andranik Margaryan passed away in a crucial period for us when the
government must reach right solutions to find a way out of this
situation,’ said the Armenian president Robert Kocharyan.

The current period is really crucial. As crucial as the period which
preceded the death of Ashot Navasardyan and Vazgen Sargsyan, the
previous leaders of the Republican Party. Death in Armenia is
unfortunately becoming a political figure. The untimely death of
Andranik Margaryan, who was considered by many as a balancer in the
government, mixed the cards. It is possible that someone will have to
open his cards earlier, and someone will get new opportunities. And
though the political forces are reluctant to discuss before committing
the prime minister to the earth who will be appointed prime minister,
the problem nevertheless exists. Because the pre-election period is
not a matter of individuals or even political parties but the
philosophy of development of the state.

Within 20 days after the appointment the new prime minister will
appoint a new government, in other words, the government should be
shaped by April 26, and 16 days later a parliamentary election will be
held in Armenia. And after the first meeting of the new parliament
the government will resign.

It has already become known that the chair of the council of the
Republican Party, the minister of defense Serge Sargsyan will be
acting leader of the Republican Party after the death of Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan, the leader of the Republican Party.

Today, Azerbaijan
March 27 2007

Muhsin Yazichioglu: "Forces against Turkish nationalists state
Azerbaijan might be behind Hrant Dink’s assassination"

27 March 2007 [12:08] – Today.Az

"Hrant Dink was Turkish citizen of Armenian origin. Though we were
against his ideas we would like him to live, we do not want people to
die because of their thoughts. Turks live and contribute to others’
lives," said Muhsin Yazichioglu, leader of Turkey’s Great Unity
Party.

He underlined that the forces against Turkish nationalists take
advantage of Hrant Dink’s assassination.

"We can not allow using this crime as insult, slander and pressure
against Turkish nationalists. Besides, this campaign is not
restricted to us. These forces state that `Azerbaijan might stand
behind this assassination.

"Armenians try to disguise their crimes. Nobody speaks of the
genocide committed in Khojaly 15 years ago. Armenians have not
withdrawn their forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories. The
world community is indifferent towards these events – nobody hears
about one million people, who have become displaced as a result of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict," he told the APA Turkey bureau.

Muhsin Yazichioglu said that Armenia does not observe international
legal norms. "Armenians do not show any sign of withdrawal from these
territories. If Turkey and Azerbaijan show their will, Armenians will
withdraw. Armenia can not survive without opening borders with Turkey
and establishing neighborhood relations with Azerbaijan. Turkey
should not open borders with Armenia and should not have any
relations with Yerevan," he said.

URL:

OSCE Office in Yerevan supports publications on elections

ArmRadio.am
26.03.2007 13:13

The electoral process in Armenia, as well as the corresponding
legislation and its practical implementation during the 12 May
parliamentary elections are the focus of two new publications
presented in Yerevan today.

The publications were prepared by a group of experts from the NGO
Democracy in co-operation with the Armenian Central Electoral
Commission, and published with financial support from the OSCE Office
in Yerevan and the Italian Government.

`The importance of proper education and training for election
officials is crucial for ensuring professionally administered
elections,’ said Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE
Office.

`The new publications will be useful not only for professionals
involved in the electoral process, but also for voters in general.’

Garegin Azaryan, the Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission,
added: `I believe the manuals will help all those involved in the
electoral process to fulfill their functions in line with the Armenian
legislation, will contribute to improvement of election
administration.’

The first publication, a guide for Precinct Election Commission (PEC)
members, will be used during training courses organized by the Central
Electoral Commission with the assistance of the International
Foundation for Election Systems prior to elections. It provides the
necessary information on the functions of PEC members, as well as the
rights and responsibilities of all sides involved in the electoral
process.

The second publication provides a comprehensive analysis of electoral
legislation and its application. It also introduces recommendations
on the settlement of electoral disputes in line with the existing
legislation, and describes potential conflict situations during
elections, and provides advice on how to solve them within the limits
of the existing election procedures.

The two manuals have a circulation of 20,000 copies each.