Barev Yerevan Bloc will win the May 5 municipal elections, the leader of the New Armenia Movement and Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian told journalists on Monday.

He urged the opposition to forget their narrow party interests and to vote for the bloc. "If the elections are fair but none of the runners secures more than 40% of votes, the opposition will consolidate and the next mayor of Yerevan will be a nonpartisan politician," Hovannisian said.

As the "godfather" of Barev Yerevan he will support the candidacy of Armen Martirosyan. "Were this moment not so crucial for Armenia, I could well vote for Vahagn Khachatryan from the Armenian National Congress, Armen Rustamyan from the ARFD or even for Vartan Oskanian from Prosperous Armenia, but now I will not do it," Hovannisian said.

A survey held by the Armenian Sociological Association among 1,000 people in Yerevan has shown that on May 5 the ruling Republican Party of Armenia may secure 48.3% of the votes, Prosperous Armenia 18.1%, Barev Yerevan Bloc 7.4%, Armenian National Congress 4.4%, Orinats Yerkir 4.2%, ARFD 2.2%. The turnout will be 60-80%.

The Armenian Office of Gallup International Association has questioned 1,066 people, who have given 41% to the RPA, 14.5% to Prosperous Armenia, 7.9% to Barev Yerevan Bloc, 3.7% to Orinats Yerkir, 2.9% to Armenian National Congress, 3.1% to ARFD, 0.3% to Arakelutyun Party.

"South Caucasus needs the support of the world community as never before, because conflicts in the region still may resume," Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili said at the 83rd Rose Roth Seminar entitled 'South Caucasus: geopolitical developments, the Euro-Atlantic integration and domestic challenges'. The event kicked off today, on April 29, in Tbilisi and will be over on May 1.

Unfortuantely, he said, the region has become one of the complicated areas of post-Soviet transformation.  There are two interstate and three regional conflicts on this small territory, Ivanishvili said. He added that the mechanisms created to resolve those conflicts have brought no results yet.

As for the Russian-Georgian conflict, Ivanishvili said that August 2008 incidents proved very heavy for Georgia. "20% of Georgia's territory is occupied. In August 2008 a heavy crime was once again committed against the Georgian population - ethnic purge, which was carried out in the course of the conflict in Abkhazia in 90s," the prime minister said. Ivanishvili said that the prior task of the government is to organize safe and proper return of the forcefully
displayed persons to their homes.

California Court has ruled in favor of Turkey in the case of Armenians' claims to the territory of the current U.S. military base in Incirlik, Turkey, CNN Turk TV channel reported on Monday.

The judicial proceedings, which lasted about three years, ended by the Court's verdict that "this issue is political rather than judicial." Thus, a group of U.S. citizens of Armenian origin lost the lawsuit.

In December 2010, a group of Armenians living in the United States has instituted a claim against the Turkish government. The claimants demanded compensation of $100 million from the Turkish government for the loss of property of their ancestors. Their grandfathers owned lands of 49.5 hectares in Adana, including the territory of the current U.S. military base in Incirlik.

Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 409,5 drams for 1 dollar, 533drams for 1 EUR and 13,1 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 411,5 drams for 1 dollar, 538 drams for 1 EUR and 13,2 drams for 1 Russian ruble.

Hayak second National Cinema Awards ceremony was held in Yerevan overnight.

‘It's not Me’ by Maria Sahakyan won the Hayak National Cinema Awards for Best Film.  ‘White Tiger’ by Karen Shakhnazarov awarded for Best Foreign Film. Best Leading Actor award went to Shant Honhannisyan - ‘Garegin Nzhdeh’.  Best Leading Actress award went to Mariam Davtyan-
‘The Voice of Silence’. Best Actor in a Supporting Role: ‘Garegin Nzhdeh’ -Khoren Levonyan. Best Actress in a Supporting Role: ‘If Only Everyone’- Zhenya Mkrtumyan. Best Short Film: ‘February 19’ by Tamara Stepanyan.  Best Documentary: ‘The Endless Return’ by Harutyun Khachatryan. 

Best Screenplay award went to Tereza Varzhapetyan for ‘If Only Everyone’.  Best Art Direction: ‘Wandering’ Armen Ghazaryan. Best Composer: ‘If Only Everyone’ - Vahagn Hayrapetyan. Best Animation Film: ‘Ballet’ - Naira Muradyan. Best Debut: ‘The Pheasant Hunter’ - Marine Zakaryan. 

Harutyun Khachatryan, the Hayak Award winner for Best Director: ‘The Endless Return’, surprised everyone refusing from his award and handing it over to Maria Sahakyan, the direct of ‘It's Not Me’.  Khachatryan explained that he has many achievements and it is time to encourable young film directors.


On the margins of the awarding ceremony special awards were given to actor Armen Jigarkhanyan and film director Nerses Hovhannissyan for contribution to the national cinematography, to film director  Pietro Marchello (for ‘ The Silence of Peleshyan’ ), and film director Arman Yeritsyan  (for ‘Donkeymentary’).  Director and producer Vigen Chaldranyan received the special award of the Armenian Culture Ministry for ‘The Voice of Silence’. 
Over 20 films were nominated for the  Armenian National Cinema Awards "Hayak".  e demonstrated at Nairi Cinema. On April 27 the Jury will
hold the final secret voting and announce the winners.  The winners were awarded with Hayak Statuette symbolizing a telescope sight.

The current real estate market dictates the need for new ideas – inexpensive “turnkey” apartments, President of Shen Holding Samvel Beglaryan told ArmInfo when asked to comment on continuing stagnation in Armenia’s construction sector.

 Akram Aylisli, the author of scandalous novel "Stone Dreams" refuted the reports that he has left Azerbaijan, on April 27.

Talking to Azerbaijani kulis.az news website Akram Aylisli stated: "I am in Baku and I am not going to move to anywhere."

Earlier, the Azerbaijani media published information referring to Akram Aylisli's son, according to which Aylisli had left Azerbaijan to find a refuge in other country.

To recall, Aylisli is the author of "Stone Dreams", the book about two Azerbaijani men and their efforts to protect their Armenian neighbors during the Sumgait and Baku Pogroms in the closing years of the Soviet Union. In late 2012 and early 2013, Aylisli found himself embroiled in controversy when his novella, Das Yuxular (Stone Dreams), was published in a Russian-language journal called Druzhba Narodov (Friendship of the Peoples). Completed in 2007, the novella tells the story of two Azerbaijani men and their efforts to protect their Armenian neighbors during the Sumgait and Baku Pogroms in the closing years of the Soviet Union. Many in Azerbaijan took offense to Aylisli's sympathetic portrayal of Armenians.  Protests were organized against the author in Nakhchivan and Baku, including one in front of his home, where signs reading "Why have you sold yourself out to the Armenians?" were displayed and his portrait was burned.  Azerbaijani lawmakers also condemned the work, with one suggesting that Aylisli have his DNA tested, be stripped of his Azerbaijani citizenship and insisting that he move to Armenia. The writer's wife and son were fired from their jobs. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev decreed depriving Aylisli of the "People's Writer" title and the personal pension of the President.

 Barev Yerevan bloc running for the Eleders' Council of Yerevan has appealed to the Administrative Court against the Central Electoral Commission of Armenia, the bloc's campaign headquarters told ArmInfo.

The source reports that Barev Yerevan bloc demands excluding the Republican Party of Armenia from the election campaign as RPA candidate for Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan campaigned on the funds of taxpayers.

 "On April 7 the supporters of the mayor distributed flowers and greeting cards with his photo inside to women, which is an open campaign at the expense of taxpayers," the statement reads.

To recall, six parties and a union have submitted their party lists to run to the Elders' Council of Yerevan: Republican Party of Armenia, Prosperous Party of Armenia, Orinats Yerkir, Armenian National Congress, Mission, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and "Barev Yerevan" Union. The elections will be held on May 5. Political parties will fight for 65 seats at the Elders' Council.  The election campaign started on April 7.

 Tragic loss of life in the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia reminds us that there cannot be a military solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Patrick Ventrell, Acting Deputy Spokesperson, said in a briefing in Washington.

"Only a lasting and peaceful settlement can bring stability, prosperity, and reconciliation to the region. And you know that the United States is a co-chair of the Minsk Group, and we remain firmly committed to working with both sides to achieve peace," he said.

 Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, Head of the ruling Republican Party's Municipal Elections Campaign Headquarters Eduard Sharmazanov has commented on the statements by some MPs from Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) saying that the ruling party needs disappointed, suppressed and never prosperous citizens.

In response to the statements by "the Prosperous," Sharmazanov said that some parliamentarians move beyond correctness.

"It should be emphasized that it is the PAP that does not need secure citizens who would not need their pittances, and that political force will no longer have anything to tell its supporters. We will be building a thriving Armenia. We will do our best to settle that task. And, in that case, only those like Vartan Oskanian and Naira Zohrabyan will remain at PAP," Sharmazanov said.

Azerbaijani writer Akram Aylisli has left Azerbaijan. To recall, Aylisli is the author of "Stone Dreams", the book about two Azerbaijani men and their efforts to protect their Armenian neighbors during the Sumgait and Baku Pogroms in the closing years of the Soviet Union. 

According to Haqqin news agency, the writer's son says that his father has not been at home for several days. But he does not specify where his father is.  

The source says that the mobile and landline phones of the writers do not answer. In the meantime the source does not rule out that Aylisli might have gone abroad to ask for political asylum.      

To recall, in late 2012 and early 2013, Aylisli found himself embroiled in controversy when his novella, Das Yuxular (Stone Dreams), was published in a Russian-language journal called Druzhba Narodov (Friendship of the Peoples). Completed in 2007, the novella tells the story of two Azerbaijani men and their efforts to protect their Armenian neighbors during the Sumgait and Baku Pogroms in the closing years of the Soviet Union. Many in Azerbaijan took offense to Aylisli's sympathetic portrayal of Armenians.  Protests were organized against the author in Nakhchivan and Baku, including one in front of his home, where signs reading "Why have you sold yourself out to the Armenians?" were displayed and his portrait was burned. Azerbaijani lawmakers also condemned the work, with one suggesting that Aylisli have his DNA tested, be stripped of his Azerbaijani citizenship and insisting that he move to Armenia. The writer's wife and son were fired from their jobs. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev decreed depriving Aylisli of the "People's Writer" title and the personal pension of the President.

 The Chinese language is becoming more and more popular in Armenia, and the number of those which want to study it, is growing year by year, a
representative of Armenia's Foreign Ministry, Ashot Voskanyan, said during the event dedicated to the Chinese Language Day at UN Office in Armenia, 26 April.

He also added that Chinese language is in demand among Armenian businessmen when holding business talks.

The Representative of the UN Department of Public Information in Armenia, Maria Dotsenko said: "I am delighted to see the strong interest in the Chinese Language Day in Armenia. I would like also to draw attention to the history and importance of the Chinese language in global affairs. I am confident that this event will further expand the influence of Chinese as a UN official language and youth will learn more about the splendid Chinese civilization and culture and its contribution to the multilingualism and diversity of the UN."

 Armenian second president Robert Kocharyan's spokesperson Victor Soghomonyan has commented on the reports that the Russian Prosecutor General's Office investigates a corruption case where the name of the second president is mentioned.

Soghomonyan called such reports nonsense. He thinks that it is the same as if a citizen of Armenia appeals to the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia for criminal proceedings against ex-president of the USA George Bush and then receives a notification from the Prosecutor General's Office that his letter has been received. 

 "If that citizen draws a conclusion from that notification that the Prosecutor's Office has launched investigation in Bush's case, he needs a psychiatric aid. Unfortunately, the same applies to those few journalists and politicians that take seriously such publications and try to make 'shocking' resolutions.  Obviously, long and useless search for compromising information against Robert Kocharyan makes some people use such primitive methods and invent such fairytales," Shoghomonyan says.

Earlier, Armenian mass media reported citing the letter received by the Administration of the Russian President that there is a case in charge of the RF Prosecutor General's Office where the name of the second president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan is mentioned. This happened after Marina Galuchenko, Head of the Public Relations Office of the National Anti-Corruption Committee of Russia, sent a letter to Vladimir Putin informing that they have documents from Armenia containing facts of Robert Kocharyan's involvement in big business. That was in the period of Kocharyan's presidency and not after his term.

Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA) questioned US Secretary of State John Kerry at a full House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing, Hay Dat Office in Washington reported.  The congressman voiced questions related the case of the Azerbaijani murderer Ramil Safarov who killed an Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan with an axe at the NATO foreign language courses in Hungary on Feb 19 2004. Safarov was pardoned and glorified by President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. Sherman, particularly, asked what steps the Department of State takes to influence Azerbaijan to revise its decision and jail Safarov.

The congressman asked if the Administration of the US President is going to the condition military aid to Azerbaijan with change of the aggressive rhetoric of Baku. Congressman Sherman spotlighted the regular threats by Azerbaijan to hit the civil planes that will fly from the Stepanakert airport. How Azerbaijan will be punished if it hits those civil planes, Sherman asked. The next question was about the Armenian-Turkish relations and the protocols signed in 2009 to stop isolation of Armenia and establish economic and diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey.  Sherman asked if Turkey has taken any serious steps to ratify those protocols. He asked what measures the Department has taken to make Turkey stop isolation of
Armenia.

 Azerbaijan is ready for a major peace agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at a press conference on Friday.

Trend quotes Mammadyarov as saying that he agrees with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's statement about the lack of progress in the negotiations on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

"The belligerents have been discussing its settlement for several years, but the negotiations offered no results," he said. "Ministers meet, but there is no logical conclusion of these negotiations."

"There are many issues that must be discussed between the belligerents including the return of internally displaced persons, the status determination and other issues," Mammadyarov said.

"We are ready to work on a large peace agreement," the minister said. 

He also confirmed his upcoming meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister in Krakow, Poland in May.

 A group of pilots and engineering technicians of Armenian Airlines are holding an action of protest in front of the residence of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.

ArmInfo's correspondent reports from the scene that the pilots say that since 2006, when Armenian Airlines announced its bankruptcy, the company has failed to pay them the compensation they earlier received for the damage caused to their health by their professional activities.

"They said they were no longer able to pay the money after the second President Robert Kocharyan had made them bankrupt and had sold their property to Mikhail Bagdasarov for just $5mln," one of the pilots said.

"Before the constitutional reforms the Constitution said that if a company is legally incapable of making such payments, this should be done by the Government. But the authorities have removed this point and now say that they cannot pay the compensation because of the economic crisis. But Robert Kocharyan has enough money, so, he must pay for what he did," the pilots say.

Chief of the Armenian Police Vladimir Gasparyan has reprimanded the policeman that was on duty during the beating of ilur.am journalist Hakob Karapetyan. His immediate superior has also been reprimanded, while the deputy head of the Nor Nork Police Department has been dismissed.

On April 23 ANC disseminated a statement saying that in the course of Mayor Taron Margaryan's meeting with voters in the Nor Nork Community, Aram Papyan, a member of the given community and the event organizer and his supporters beat up an opposition journalist Hakob Karapetyan.  They seized the camera of the journalist and deleted the record. The journalist got bodily harms.

Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 410 drams for 1 dollar, 535 drams for 1 EUR and 13,1 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 412 drams for 1 dollar, 537 drams for 1 EUR and 13,2 drams for 1 Russian ruble.