January 8 - the first working day of the year - is already being referred to as “Black Monday” by some Azerbaijanis, who were horrified at a steep overnight rise in utility prices.

The sixth suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of Hrant Dink, the late editor-in-chief of newspaper “Agos”. He is a student named Erhan Tunjel. The precautionary measure against him is imprisonment.

“We continue to put pressure. We especially direct these pressures on Armenia, but Azerbaijan is also being exerted”, said President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe René van der Linden asked by Azeri agency “APA” why the PACE doesn’t exert pressure on Armenia though the latter doesn’t carry out the PACE special resolution.

President of the PACE Nagorno Karabakh sub-Committee, British Parliamentarian Lord Russell Johnston will arrive in the conflict region in late spring/early summer.

The meeting of the OSCE Minks group Co-Chairs and NKR President Arkadi Ghoukasyan have ended in Stepanakert.

On January 25, Aram Sargsyan, leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia, commented on the announcement of Terry Devis, Council of Europe General Secretary, in which the latter said that it is upon the UNO to grant independence to Kosovo, Nagorno Karabakh, Cyprus and other territories. Today, Aram Sargsyan considered the issue from angles.

«Robert Kocharyan is to bear responsibility for everything that might happen these months», Aram Sargsyan, leader of Democratic Party of Armenia announced today in the Pastark Club.

The parties Ramkavar-Azatakan and Dashink promote activity in the same territory. The information gives grounds to anticipate pre-election alliances among the parties.

The negotiations with the Azeri authorities can be qualified constructive. Trend agency reports that Mettew Bryza, the OSCE Minsk group US Co-Chair, made such an announcement on the Karabakh conflict settlement.

On January 25, the OCSE Minsk group Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov /Russia/, Mettew Bryza /USA/ and Bernard Fassier /France/ left Yerevan for Stepanakert with the framework of the regional visit.

«There are many things accumulated which I'd like to share with you», said Robert Kocharyan to RF President Vladimir Putin about his new plans, thoughts and ways of cooperation.

On Thursday the delegations of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet to discuss the settlement of the Karabakh conflict within the framework of the PACE winter session.

“The results of the 2007 elections will be drawn by the computer. If they blame me ‘drawing’, I tell them ‘let’s draw’ together”, said President of the Central Electoral Committee Garegin Azaryan in answer to accusations in his address. He announced that the CEC never calculates the results of the elections: they simply add together the data from different polling stations.

“The appointment of the US Ambassador to Armenia is important for the relations of the two countries, but Armenia does not accept that decision”, said U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Anthony F. Godfrey in “Urbat” club. According to him, the RA Government has approved of the candidacy of Hogland put forward by the US President, and the decision is up to the Senate.

After about 50 minutes of discussion the PACE plenary session adopted the report on honoring of obligations and commitments by Armenia prepared by George Colombier (France) and Mikko Elo (Finland). 35 deputies participated in the voting.

“Armenia and Azerbaijan couldn’t find a common language”, this is how “Izvestia” qualified the Moscow meeting of Oskanian and Mamadyarov.

On January 23 the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Vartan Oskanian and Elmar Mammadyarov met in Moscow under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs.

Hrant Dink's funeral was held on January 23. As a sign of respect to Hrant Dink’s memory a number of rallies were held in different parts of Armenia with calls and appeals. A similar march was held in Vanadzor on the initiative of Lory TV Station.

Hrant Dink, noted editor who was shot before his office on Friday, was laid to rest in Istanbul today. Armenia was represented at the funeral by Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakossian, and by Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, in Istanbul, Karen Mirzoyan.

On January 23 the funeral of Hrant Dink was held in Turkey, which united not only Armenians but also all people condemning the heinous murder. Today a rally was held in Azatutyun Square, Yerevan to commemorate Hrant Dink.

Washington, DC - Armenian Caucus Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-NY) will introduce a resolution in the House of Representatives this week condemning the assassination of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink on January 19, 2007 in Istanbul, Turkey.

“We mourn the premature death of Hrant Dink, a leading journalist, writer and editor of Agos newspaper.The impudent step of the Turkish extremists comes to prove that the right of free expression and diversity of opinion are completely breached in the Turkish reality.

Turkish nationalist Yasin Hayal confessed that he provoked the murder of editor-in-chief of newspaper «Agos» Hrant Dink. Hayal told the police officials that he gave a gun and money to Ogun Samast who is arrested with the accusation of Dink's murder and has pleaded guilty.

Representatives of Russian NGOs have condemned the murder of Hrant Dink, editor of newspaper “Agos”.