Yerevan—Yesterday evening, April 9, at Heritage Party headquarters Raffi K. Hovannisian, accompanied by Heritage MP Stepan Safarian, received US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Matthew Bryza.

As scheduled beforehand, the participants of the 5th Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy held a protest action near the RA Embassy in the Ukraine at 12:00 local time. Representatives of the Armenian Community joined the protestants.

Today the Leader of the People’s Party of Armenia (HZhK), Stepan Demirchian, went to the Statue of Miasnikian to honour the memory of the March 1 tragic events. The HZhK leader gave an interview to representatives of foreign and local mass media.

RA President's inauguration started at 2:00 p.m. Armenia's flag, Constitution and Bible had been taken to the Opera and Ballet Theatre from the President's residence before the offset of the inauguration ceremony.

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Matthew Bryza who participated in the inauguration of President-Elect Serzh Sarkissian on April 9 gave an exclusive interview to Radio Liberty in which he spelled out interesting and important ideas regarding the political situation in Armenia.

Today several dozens of young people held a protest action near the RA Procurator’s Office with the following posters, “Release political prisoners immediately!” “We shall win,” “Struggle to the end!” etc.

3000-5000 citizens crowded near the Statue of Miasnikian continue shouting, “Struggle till the end,” “Serzhik, go away,” “Robert and Serzh, you are murderers,” “Your Excellency, robbers.”

Today while Serzh Sarkissian was swearing an oath at the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet after Alexandre Spendiarian, groups of policemen armed with truncheons rushed from Shahumian Square towards the Statue of Miasnikian.

Following his inauguration on April 9, Armenia’s new president Serzh Sargsian should investigate last month’s violence and take other decisive steps to address the human rights crisis in the country, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch urged Armenia’s international partners to help the country meet its international commitments and get it on track to democratic development.

The police began executing orders and keeping public order in Yerevan streets since 10:00 am. It was reported a few days ago that the flow of traffic near the Opera House will be tied up on April 9.

Under RA Constitution, Armenia’s President-Elect Serzh Sarkissian will assume office on April 9 by swearing in during a special sitting of the National Assembly to be convened at the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet after Alexander Spendiarian.

Over 5000 Armenians of Little Armenia district, Hollywood, held a protest at 6:00 pm, 8 April. They remonstrated against Serzh Sarkissian’s inauguration due today at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Armenia.

Minutes ago the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) held a special session on which Chairman Serzh Sargssian introduced his candidate Tigran S. Sargssian for the position of Armenian next Prime Minister. Out of 98 members of the Republican Party 90 were present and they all voted for Tigran Sargssian.

Today Democracy practitioners gathered in Kiev for the 5th Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy. The Assembly had brought together some 600 participants from various countries.

Dear compatriots, It is the last time I have addressed you as President of Armenia and great is my desire to report on the path we have covered.

Yerevan/Tbilisi/Brussels, 8 April 2008: As Armenia inaugurates a president tomorrow amid its worst political crisis this century, the international community must press it to defuse tensions and release political prisoners to ensure stability and the environment to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan.

“Today the two sides blame each other for March 1 but they both bear moral responsibility for it”, declares Arman Melikian, former Presidential Candidate. “I find it necessary to state that the RA Police and the Armed Forces directly obey the acting RA President and the National Assembly and March 1 was not an exception.”

“The European Court is likely to resume the inquest of Armenian claims”, Gevorg Danielian, Minister of Justice told “A1+”. “We weren’t inclined to delay the inquest of any claim. The 6 months’ period was necessary to restore the documents”, declared Gevorg Danielian and thanked Mesrop Movsessian, Director of “A1+” for he hadn’t politicized the matter and had declared he could see no reason for delay.

“For 5 years I have been uselessly knocking at hundreds of doors. No one is concerned about my daughter’s murder”, Norvard Mouradian told A1+.

Hunger-strikers were beaten last night at about 1.30 in Vanatur District, Hrazdan. “Yesterday another 9 people joined Karabakh War Veteran Arshavir Bozinian in defense of detained MP Sasoun Mikayelian”, Armen Khachatrian, member of the pre-election headquarters for Levon Ter-Petrossian informed A1+. “They were all taken to police departments and one of them, hunger-striker Jivan Hovhannissian is in extremely poor health.”

Today the relatives of the recent detainees held a protest action near the Procurator's Office. Dressed in black, the protestants grouped near the building holding the detainees' portraits and posters with an inscription, “Release the detainees!”

Alexander Stubb was appointed as Foreign Minister of Finland today. The new Minister, serving also as the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, pledged to push ahead with Finland's Chairmanship priorities.

RA Ombudsman's opinion on the amendments to the Law on “Marches, Rallies and Demonstrations” in the main coincides with that of the Venice Commission, the Department of the Information of the RA Ombudsman's Office reports.

Under a decree of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia a consulate of Armenia opened in the Hague, Netherlands, on March 1. The consular service starts on on April 9, 2008. Below is the consulate's temporary address,