October 27 of 1999 was a sunny day like today. It was also Wednesday as today. It was the day of exchanging answers and questions between MPs and Government members in Parliament. {BR} No one could even think that day would grow gloomy after noon. Approximately at 5:00 PM 5 men in arms headed by Nairi Hunanyan, burst into Parliament Sitting Hall and shot Parliament Speaker Karen Demirchyan, Armenian...

It was already reported in one of previous news items that 50 of the marchers, who came to the parliament house, were allowed to enter the National Assembly compound to put flowers at the October 27 terrorist act victims’ monument while the other participants of the rally were denied entry.{BR} The victims’ relatives and fellow MPs from the opposition were among those permitted entry....

“Lawlessness and impunity reign in the country and power turned into means of suppression in the hands of current administration”, MP Victor Dallakyan said at the rally.{BR} He presented analysis of the October 27 terrorist action and the follow-up situation. Another opposition activist, Ashot Manucharyan, said fight is still not over and urged all those political forces united in 90s to unite again.

The marchers reached their destination – house of the parliament. According to anticipations, only 50 of them were permitted to enter the National Assembly’s compound and commemorate the victims of the October 27 terrorist act by laying flowers at their memorial erected here.{BR} The rest stood behind the gate as were denied entry. They hung flowers up on bars of the fence.

As many as 300 residents of Armenia’s town of Abovyan were prevented from attending the opposition Tuesday’s anti-terror rally. Traffic wardens stopped them, tore banners from their hands and took them in a police station.{BR} Republic party leader Bazeyan informed the rally participants about that. At the moment, new groups of people are joining the rally making he number of the event...

Anahit Bakhshyan, widow of former National Assembly vice-speaker Yuri Bakhshyan killed in the 1999 terrorist act in Armenian parliament, said speaking at Tuesday’s the opposition-staged rally that, in her opinion, the memorial event had to be staged by the authorities, not the opposition activists and the victims’ relatives.{BR} She said atmosphere of fear, hypocrisy and sycophancy was...

“Armenian communities worldwide grew demanding rather toward their motherland than Turkey”, American leader of Artarutyun opposition parties’ bloc Armen Zakaryan said Tuesday in a phone interview with our correspondent.{BR} Our compatriots overseas have already come to the sad realisation of the fact that Armenian authorities are “reaping the fruits of them, at the same time,...

Some 1,500 people gathered Tuesday at liberty Square in Yerevan to take part in a rally staged by Artarutyun opposition bloc to mark the fifth anniversary of terrorist act in Armenian National Assembly.{BR} The rally participants paused to remember and honor the victims of that horrible crime. Relatives of those killed in the terrorist attack are present at the event. Republic party leader Albert...

Yesterday we were informed by Russian and Georgian Media that during the visit of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan to Georgia at attempt upon his life was masterminded. It was to be made in the jazz-club where the Presidents of both countries were. Fortunately, encroachment was prevented. {BR} We have today asked the Armenian parliamentarians who at the planned and failed attempt was made. Armenian...

Meeting with “No Terrorism!” motto will take place tomorrow. It will end in a march to Parliament in the memory of October 27 victims. Near the Memorial in Parliament courtyard a few tens of people will lay wreaths. {BR} Municipality hasn’t sanctioned the march and the action. We asked Tigran Torosyan, head of Armenian delegation in CE how CE will treat the fact. “I think everything...

”An MP is obliged to be honest, impartial, restrained and exemplary. He must not stress his official status mistakenly. He is obliged to exclude rudeness display in verbal and written contacts, to be respectful and patient with people and to follow the rules determined by moral norms widely accepted”, it’s a citation from the Armenian bill on “Behavior of MPs”. {BR} Under...

Parliament sitting took place. There were 21 issues entered on the agenda. Majority of them was for voting and 20 international agreements to ratify. 88 MPs were registered in the beginning of the sitting, and then 5-7 remained as usual. {BR} Parliament Vice-Speaker Tigran Torosyan said at the conversation with us that there will be no sitting on Wednesday since the agenda will be concluded. But...

On October 25-26 CE Monitoring Commission will hold the sitting in Tbilisi. Georgia’s commitments will be discussed. Board of Armenian Social Organizations of Samtckhe-Javakhq has addressed the following memorandum to the Commission drawing its attention to the grave situation in Samtckhe-Javakhq. {BR} ”Because of discriminating laws in Samtckhe-Javakhq region the Armenian population has...

In 2005 construction of the new road connecting Tbilisi with Akhalqalaq will start. It is not known yet where from the sums will be obtained. World Bank will allocate a part. {BR} According to Georgian President, negotiations are carried on with the donor organizations. Sahakashvili announced that the road must be built within 2 years so that Javakhq population may have free access to the Georgian...

It turns the claim of “Justice” Bloc on holding a march from Freedom Square to Baghramyan Avenue on October 26 corresponds with the demands of law. Gagik Baghdasaryan, Yerevan Mayor’s Executive on holding meetings, marches and demonstrations informed this. {BR} Mr. Baghdasaryan was asked why Municipality didn’t sanction the march in that case. “I have conducted a survey...

"The OSCE Office in Baku welcomes the end of the trials of the final group of defendants, arraigned on charges arising out of civil disturbances during the post Presidential Election period that began many months ago.{BR} "The Office is, nonetheless, deeply concerned by the severity of the sentences awarded in the Court judgements passed today. The OSCE observations will be represented in a report...

Ashot Manucharyan, a representative of Intellectuals Forum, speaking Friday at a meeting held by the Forum at Armenian National Sciences Academy building, criticized Armenian government’s recent decision to dispatch a group of soldiers in Iraq. “One or two individuals have declared a war to Iraq on behalf of us”, he said.{BR} He, however, didn’t share an opinion that the...

Armenian intellectuals gathered today in National Sciences Academy building in an angry protest against the government’s recent decision to send a group of Armenian military to Iraq.{BR} Raphael Ghazaryan, a member of Armenian National Sciences Academy, accused Armenian leadership of taking west-leaning stance on Iraq issue in an apparent attempt “to please our western master”....

National Self-determination Union leader Parutr Hayrikyan convened a news conference on Friday to mark 17th anniversary of Ankakhutyun /Independence/, the first independent newspaper in Armenia.{BR} The newspaper was launched amid Soviet-era widespread oppression, when those pronouncing independence word underwent harassment from the authorities, Hayrikyan said speaking at the news conference. He...

Members of “Ramkavar” Party of Armenia are alarmed for the atmosphere around the Armenian Apostolic Church. They think existence and further activity of Church are doubtful. {BR} ”Establishment of Anthilias Diocese in Canada, bombing of the Armenian Church in Iraq, the “traditional” curses addressed to the ecclesiastics in Jerusalem and disappearance of Deacon Zorik Abeshyan...

The sitting of “Justice” Bloc took place. Representatives of all the member-parties participated in it. Stepan Demirchyan presided over the sitting. Issues over the meeting and the march scheduled on October 26 were discussed. {BR}

Well-known journalist Veronica Cherkasova was murdered in Minsk. She was found in her apartment. The sources in Byelorussian law-enforcement inform about 20 knife stabs were on her corpse. The same source also says that the metallic door of the apartment wasn’t broken and nothing was stolen, under the preliminary information. {BR} After the referendum conducted for prolongation of President’s...

Dashnaktsuthun, Ramkavar-Azatakan and Hnchak traditional Armenian parties in the United States addressed Wednesday American citizens of Armenian origin urging to cast their votes for Democrat John Kerry on Nov 2.{BR} The parties emphasized his favorable attitude toward Armenian community in the U.S., his stance on the 1915 Armenian Genocide and attention to Karabakh problem.

“I am not sure the National Assembly’s all seats should be filled through party lists”, Armenian parliament vice-speaker Tigran Torossyan said Wednesday in National Press Club.{BR} In his opinion, sudden switch to that system can have dangerous consequences. He said tycoons stripped from their right to be chosen in individual races and left with no room to run for parliament seats...