ANALYSTS SPECULATE ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER MARGARYAN MIGHT HAVE BEEN MURDERED - The sudden death of Armenia’s Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, 55, on March 25 has set off red flags amongst veteran Armenia-watchers, some suggesting foul play. Whatever the cause, the politician’s death resulted in overnight changes for the fragile Armenian democracy and a host of other issues including the European Community’s quest for energy security in the Caucasus region and enforcement of international sanctions aimed at Iran. With Presidential elections approaching, Margaryan was increasingly seen as a viable alternative to the powerful Defense Minister Serge Sarkisyan, an ally of current President Robert Kocharyan, who is moving toward the completion of his term of office. Both men come from Nagorny Karabakh, an enclave inside the territory of neighboring Azerbaijan. Armenia’s armed seizure of this area in the 1990’s remains a volatile point of contention with Azerbaijan, a flash point in the Caucasus that continues to destabilize the region and slow down cooperation in economic development.