SECRETARY OF SECURITY COUNCIL OF ARMENIA TO TAKE PART IN OCST FORUM IN ST.
PETERSBURG

YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. Armenian delegation, headed by the
Secretary of the Security Council attached to the president of
Armenia, Defence Minister Serge Sargsian, will take part in the
regular sitting of the Committee of Secretaries of Security Councils
of the member countries of the Organization of the Collective Security
Treaty (OCST), which will be held in St. Petersburg on April 16-17.

Press Secretary of defence minister of Armenia Seyran Shahsouvarian
told ARMINFO, during the sitting the participants will discuss issues
of strengthening the security in the territory of the countries of
OCST, elaboration of mechanisms of joint struggle against terrorism
and illegal circulation of drugs, as well as issues concerning
formation of the legal field necessary for preparation of military
personnel of members countries of OCST.

ORGANIZERS OF OPPOSTIONAL ACTION PERSUADE POLICE TO LIQUIDATE CORDONS
BLOCKING PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE

YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. Participants of the oppositional rally who
have gathered near the presidential residence at present demand that
President Robert Kocharyan comes “out behind the barbed wire to held
an open dialogue with the people.” They also demand that Police Head
Hayk Haroutiunyan comes to the meeting and explains why the
presidential residence and the National Assembly are surrounded with
barbed wire. At present, four oppositionist MPs: Victor Dallakyan,
Gagik Kostanyan, Grigor Haroutiunyan and Smbat Ayvazyan are near the
building of the National Assembly and try to meet NA Speaker Artur
Baghdasaryan in order that the latter joins the rally participants.
However, the law-enforcers who surrounded the NA building do not allow
the MPs to enter the Parliament. The people “gave an hour” to the
authorities to fulfill these demands, otherwise, “the people will
resort to other measures,” said Secretary of the Justice bloc Victor
Dallakyan. He said that tonight the opposition leaders will visit the
country’s regions to gather their supporters and “block all the
entries to Yerevan from regions.” In his turn, Leader of the Republic
oppositional party Albert Bazeyan said that “only several meters
remain to the change of power.” Leader of the National Unity party
Artashes Geghamyan asked the policemen to open the cordons adding that
their “names will be added to the history of Armenia with gold
letters.”

It should be noted that representatives of the RPA faction, the United
Labor party and the “National Deputy” deputy group follow the action
sitting on the grass in the territory of the NA.

ARMEN SAGHATELIAN AWARDED WITH GEORGIEVSKI MEDAL

YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. For scientific achievements, the Director
of the Center of Ecological and Noosphere researches of the National
Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia Armen Saghatelian was
awarded with Georgievski medal “Honor. Fame. Labour”.

ARMINFO was informed in the Armenian PR Association, Armen Saghatelian
was awarded during the ceremony of awarding the laureates of the
international Academic Rating “Gold Fortune”, which was held in the
capital of the Ukraine a day before.

DEFENCE MINISTER OF ARMENIA ELECTED PRESIDENT OF CHESS FEDERATION OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. Minister of Defence of Armenia Serge
Sargsian was elected the president of chess federation of
Armenia. ARMINFO was informed in the press office of the federation,
FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumjinov, as well as the President of the
European chess union Boris Kutin and President of Chess Federation of
Georgia Kakha Chogogidze have already congratulated Serge
Sargsian. According to the resource, during the chess conference of
Armenia’s federation Vanik Zakarian was elected the honorary president
of the Armenian federation.

ASSOCIATION PR OF ARMENIA ORGANIZES ROUNDTABLE “TECHNOLOGIES OF VICTORY”

YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. The Association PR of Armenia (APRA)
organizes a Roundtable “Technologies of Victory” in Yerevan on April
20. APRA told ARMINFO that the decision on holding such a meeting is
connected with the fact that yet in May, 2003, the Cassation Court of
Armenia put an end to the trial of “Teleplus” and “ArmenTel.” The
trial initiated by APRA lasted for 10 months. According to APRA
specialists, the given case is the most tangible in the issue of human
rights restoration and that the advertisement by “Teleplus” and
“ArmenTel” was recognized careless, which is a juridical argument
important for trial.

PROPOSAL FOR REFERENDUM ON CONFIDENCE IN PRESIDENT NOT IMPERATIVE: CC

YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. The RA Constitutional Court (CC) stated
once more that by its decision of April 16, 2003, it upheld the
decision on the election of Robert Kocharian Armenia’s President,
which was adopted by the RA Central Electoral Commission on March 11,
2003. The CC’s decision was final and imperative.

In its statement provided to ARMINFO, the CC once more stressed that
the CC’s proposal for holding of a referendum on confidence in the
President within a year is not imperative and does not have any legal
consequences. According to the statement, the CC’s proposal was
supposed to relieve political tension on the threshold of the
parliamentary elections and referendum on constitutional amendments on
May 25, 2003. In its statement, the CC calls for retraining from
making its proposal a subject of political speculations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BUSINESS-FORUM “INVESTMENT POTENTIALITIES OF ARMENIA” HELD IN UAE ON APRIL
3-7

YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. A business-forum on the topic “Investment
potentialities of the Republic of Armenia” was held in United Arab
Emirates on April 3-7. ARMINFO was informed in the press office of the
Foreign Ministry, the purpose of the business-forum was the
development of Armenia-UAE trade cooperation, increase of the volume
of trade between two countries, as well as more profitable
presentation of the economic and industrial potential of Armenia. For
this purpose a delegation, consisting of representatives of 25
Armenian companies, have arrived in the UAE. During the meetings the
Armenian entrepreneurs have introduced the dynamics of the economic
development of Armenia, more quickly developing and prosperous
directions of the industry of the republic, as well as the main
legislative base which coordinates the investment field of the
country. The participants of the business-forum mainly acquainted with
the opening possibilities in the sphere of information technologies,
pharmacology, jewelry goods, in the sphere of light and chemical
industry, power engineering and other spheres.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF CHINA

YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
met today Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the China Li Gu (name
as given). As ARMINFO reported earlier, Armenian President Robert
Kocharian is to visit China at the invitation of Chinese President Hu
Dzintao. The invitation has been handed over to the Armenian President
by Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Gu. Vardan Oskanyan expressed
hope for the forthcoming visit of the Armenian President to CHina will
contribute to development of bilateral relations. The sides pointed
out a high level of the Armenian-Chinese relations, adding that
deepening of political relations may bring the economic, cultural and
business ties to higher level.

Deputy Foreign Minister of China was received by his Armenian
colleague Tatul Margaryan. The sides discussed the ways ot development
of the Armenian-Chinese relations, as well as the cooperation within
the framework of international organizations.

OPPOSITION RALLY PARTICIPANTS MAKE FOR PRESIDENTIAL PALACE

YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. The participants in the
opposition-organized rally have begun their procession to the
presidential residence. The procession is led by the opposition
parliamentarians. Speaking at the rally, Chairman of the “National
Unity” party Artashes Geghamyan urged the coalition-forming parties,
the “Law-Governed Country” party, Republican Party of Armenia and
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) “Dashnaktsutyun” “to get rid
of slavery and join the people.’ In his turn, Chairman of the
opposition bloc “Justice” Stepan Demirchian stated that the
authorities missed the chance of leaving in a civilized manner, and it
is the people that has a decisive word. Any provocation will meet a
resolute rebuff, Demirchian said.

Barbed wire was stretched in front of the National Assembly in
Baghramyan Avenue, and police cordons are behind it. The action
participants reached the “barrier” and stopped.

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION CALLS ON PUBLIC TO “LAY SIEGE” TO PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE

YEREVAN, APRIL 12. ARMINFO. “We must lay siege to the residence of the
country’s president until President Robert Kocharyan resigns.”
Secretary of the opposition bloc “Justice” Victor Dallakyan made such
a call at the opposition rally in the Freedom Square in Yerevan
today. He said that Robert Kocharyan in the period of his governance
in the post of Armenian President has discredited the institute of
presidency. “We are for social justice, free and far election as well
as against poverty and usurpation of the power by the illegitimate
president,” Dallakyan said. Leader of the National Democratic Union
Vazgen Manukyan said that Robert Kocharyan’s leaving post of the
president is predetermined. He said that rallies and mass actions are
only the first step in the way towards achievement of power by the
opposition, the second step will be transfer of power to the people
through free and democratic elections. Leader of the
National-Democratic party Shavarsh Kocharyan called on the rally
participants not to yield to provocations and obey only to the
instruction by the opposition. It should be noted that the rally
participants are starting an action along Baghramyan avenue where the
building of the National Assembly and the Presidential Residence are
located. According to operative data, some 8,000 people participate in
the rally, and some 30,000 in conformity with unofficial data.