Justice Minister David Haroutyunyan has decided to participate in the upcoming Parliamentary elections in the list of the Republican party, the press service of the Ministry informs.

Aram Karapetyan, leader of the “New Times” Party, is going to run for the parliament by majority system. So far he hasn’t decided in which constituency of Yerevan he will be nominated.

On February 8, Hrant Khachatryan tried to carry out the verdict of Cassation Court under which the elections of the CRU presidium made in CRU 17th sitting were found null and void. Hrant Khachatryan was accompanied by the representatives of the Compulsory Executive Offices. Does it mean that Mr. Khachatryan attempts to restore his stance in the party?

The political forces, factions and parties of the RA NA, issued joint statement condemning Hrant Dink’s assassination and the events following it.

« Practically the NKR Justice Ministry resembles that of the EU and the RA», Robert Hayrapetyan, NKR minister of Justice, announced today during the press conference.

On February 8, Court of First Instance of Kentron and Nubarashen communities was to hold hearing on Gagik Shamshyan’s case but it was cancelled because of the absence of two witnesses. The trail was postponed till February 12.

February 8, 2007, Yerevan, Armenia – Today, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Human Rights Defender's Office (HRDO) of Armenia signed an agreement that marked the start of a new joint project in support of human rights protection and promotion in Armenia.

The leaders of “Ramkavar Azatakan” Party, Social Democratic “Hnchakyan” Party and ARF “Dashnaktsutyun” have met in Paris.

The trial of editor-in-chief of newspaper “Agos” Hrant Dink who was killed three weeks ago has restarted in the court of Shishli district of Istanbul. Dink was accused under the Article 301 of the Turkish Criminal Code for insulting Turkishness.

Today «New Times» party has made the following statement: «On February 5 of the current year deputy President of the Constitutional Right Union Hayk Baboukhanyan made a statement and demanded Aram Karapetyan to give the list of those 51 members of the party who participated in the 17th session of the CRU.

Leader of Orinats Yerkir Party Arthur Baghdasaryan assured that while being in the coalition they have not privatized any part of land. “The OYP has never tried to steal anything from the people. We still think that many people have assimilated territories under the cover of privatizations”.

«I'm not so romantic as to think that the authorities will allow the elections to be fair and devoid of fabrications», said leader of Orinats Yerkir, former NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan in National Press Club. During the administrative sitting the party has decided to participate in the elections alone. Nevertheless, they are ready to cooperate with all the political parties who will struggle not only by words, but also by action.

«The sides have found common approaches to the main elements of the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, but they are still discussing technical elements», announced US Co-Chair of the Minsk group Mathew Bryza in Baku, Azeri Mass Media report.

On behalf of the CRU presidium Hrant Khachatryan has sent a message to all the RA parties, NGOs and Mass Media.

According to press rumors, press speaker of Robert Kocharyan Viktor Soghomonyan will be the second in the proportional lists of «Prosperous Armenia» after Gagik Tsaroukyan. Nevertheless, Soghomonyan informed «A1+» today that he has said more than once that he is not going to participate in the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

Goran Lenmarker, special envoy on Nagorno Karabakh issue at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, assumes that the OSCE observers will arrive in Armenia 1 – 1.5 months earlier the parliamentary elections. Prior to their arrival, another delegation will come to Armenia to observe the preliminary works.

The observers of “Supreme Council” NGO will not participate in the May 12 parliamentary elections. On February 6, the Central Electoral Commission rejected the application submitted by the NGO for observers’ accreditation. The denial is determined by the fact that the name of the NGO doesn’t meet the law on the NGOs.

Hovik Abrahamyan, Minister of the Territorial Administration of the Republic of Armenia, will punish most of the community heads of Shirak marz. Today he went to Gyumri to meet with the mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, deputy regional head and representatives of the communities.

Ahmed Ilhan Gyuler, head of the Istanbul police department, was dismissed from work. He is accused of not preventing Hrant Dink’s assassination and not informing the officials about the warning.

While leaving the cobbler’s stall, do not forget to take the check!

WASHINGTON, DC - The Bush Administration, in its FY2008 federal budget, has proposed a 49% cut in aid to Armenia, and is - once again - seeking to break the agreement it struck with Congress more than five years ago to maintain parity in military aid levels to Armenia and Azerbaijan, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)

The Constitutional Right Union has two Presidents: one of them is founder of the party Hrant Khachatryan, and the second is the de jure President, Hayk Baboukhanyan. The first cannot enter the party office and is going to re-establish his authorizations with the help of the court officers. The second announces that he is the President of the party which was confirmed during the 18th special session of the party which took place last Saturday.

During the 9th session of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary cooperation committee which took place in Brussels a resolution was adopted which found the organization of the upcoming Parliamentary elections in compliance with the European standards extremely important. In this context the resolution also finds freedom of press important and called on the authorities to investigate the cases of violation against journalists.

Today the Parliament started its work with the participation of 100 deputies. After the RA National Anthem NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan voiced hope that the Parliament will be able to work properly at least in this four-day session.