Month: October 2006

THERE MIGHT BE PROGRESS IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTELEMENT BY 2007

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[03:09 pm] 19 October, 2006

"I don’t understand what the Republicans mean by saying that the
Karabakh conflict settlement will be frozen by 2010. I assume that
there might be progress in the conflict regulation by 2007," announced
Hovhannes Hovhannisyan in club "Pastark" today. He doesn’t exclude
that the progress might be perceived after the meeting of Armenian
and Azeri Foreign Ministers scheduled on October 24 in Paris.

Hovhannes Hovhannisyan is concerned about the fact that the compromise
in the Karabakh issue can be unilateral – only by the Armenian
side. He claims that the conflict can be regulated in the realm of
the regional global issues. While speaking of the regional issues
and Russian-Georgian relations, Mr. Hovhannisyan said, "RA Foreign
Ministry doesn’t possess the flexibility required for small countries
like Armenia.

Today our authorities cannot make independent decisions. There is no
need to deceive us by Russian criminal money spent on the construction
of a few buildings in Yerevan. Armenian-Russian relations are based
on fair elections."

Hovhannes Hovhannisyan is convinced that if the forthcoming elections
are fabricated, the next generation will have to struggle for the RA
independence again.

By the way, asked the question whether their party doesn’t intend to
join Raffi Hovannisian-Vazgen Manoukyan alliance, Mr. Hovhannisyan
answered, "I don’t exclude anything. I can say one thing definitely;
they postpone their announcement as they cannot find a hall. The
people entitled to give halls criticize the present authorities but
say that in case they give a hall, their children will be deprived
of their daily bread," said Hovhannes Hovhannisyan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LARGE POTENTIAL FOR STRENGTHENING ARMENIA-CANADA COOPERATION AVAILABLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2006 15:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian during his working
visit to Canada met with his Canadian counterpart Peter Mackey,
reports the Press Office of the Armenian MFA. During the meeting the
parties appreciated the bilateral cooperation level, noting large
potential for strengthening cooperation is available. Oskanian and
Mackey specially stressed the role of the Armenian community of
Canada. Tens of thousands of Armenians residing in Canada actively
take part in the social life of the country, the Canadian FM said.

Besides, the interlocutors exchanged opinions over regional issues,
specifically Armenian-Turkish relations. Vartan Oskanian thanked the
legislative and executive authorities of Canada for recognition of
the Armenian Genocide. The FMs discussed opportunities to activate
Armenian-Canadian contacts within international organizations as
well. At the instance of Mackey, Oskanian presented the current state
of Armenian-Turkish relations, the Karabakh settlement, Yerevan’s
position on the GUAM resolution on frozen conflicts presented during
the UN GA 61st session.

A-320 CRASH RESULT OF CRIMINAL SCUFFLE ABOARD?

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2006 15:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The crash of A-320 liner of Armavia Armenian
Company was a result of a criminal scuffle aboard, former pilot of
Armenian Airlines having 42 years of experience Vladimir Poghosyan
told journalists in Yerevan Thursday. In his words, before the flight
a criminal scuffle of two groupings took place, however they were
allowed aboard. Thus, the scuffle continued in the plane. He remarked,
"calls from 4 Russian citizens indicated there was firing aboard."

The Armenian pilot believes that according to the scheme of approach
landing, the crew had to make a decision on landing at the altitude
of 600 meters, however, "as the weather did not meet the required
minimum of the airport, no crew had the right to land." "Thus, I
cannot understand, why the crew decided to land in Sochi," Poghosyan
said. In his opinion, investigation by an independent Armenian
commission is necessary, as official investigation is not over yet,
reports Novosti-Armenia.

According to the preliminary conclusion of the International Aviation
Commission, inappropriate actions of the liner’s captain resulted
in A-320 crash. No failure of engines or systems was registered,
the plane responded to the robot pilot and crew actions, the level
of fuel was enough for completing the flight successfully.

A-320 liner of Armavia company crashed over the Black Sea on the night
of May 3 during approach landing in Sochi airport. All 105 passengers
and 8 crewmembers aboard died.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN FOCUS OF DUTCH PRESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2006 16:03 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Genocide is kept in focus of the Dutch
press. Big article is published in the Hague-based Volkskrant, part
of front page and on page 4, about the Israeli denial of genocide,
title "Israel want to know no other genocide," subtitle: Stress on
uniqueness holocaust and Turkish pressure make Armenian genocide claim
impossible, the Federation of Armenian communities of Netherlands
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. It is a rather accusing article for
Israel, featuring Yair Auron, professor in history and George Hintlian,
Armenian historian and sociologist.

In Trouw a small article that Sezer has not congratulated Pamuk
on winning Nobel Prize yet, while he normally would have to come
first. Mehmet Ali Birand calls it inappropriate. The silence of the
president probably meant to make clear that he does not like Pamuk’s
texts about the Armenian Genocide.

They suggest Erdogan did congratulate Pamuk also was meant in his
fight with Sezer, the newspaper writes.

OSCE MG CONSULTATIONS SCHEDULED OCTOBER 23

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2006 16:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Co-chairs of the OSCE MG for settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict will hold consultations prior to the Paris
meeting of Armenian and Azeri FMs, to be held October 24. The co-chairs
are supposed to meet October 23, Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE MG
Yuri Merzlyakov told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, the
Paris meeting will have the ordinary format. "The Ministers will meet
tete-a-tete first, then the co-chairs will join them," Merzlyakov said.

AZERIS AND TURKS OF ROMANIA "CRITICIZE" FRANCE FOR GENOCIDE BILL

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2006 17:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday a protest action took place in front of
the French Embassy in Bucharest against the French Parliament adopting
a bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide.

Representatives of the Azerbaijani and Turkish communities, Tatar and
Turkic national minorities took part in the action. The participants
"criticized the scandalous legislation, adopted by the legislative of
that country." The demonstration participants, having Turkish and Azeri
flags, demanded that France "be careful with human rights." Having
handed the resolution to the Embassy, the participants of the rally,
widely covered by the media, laid a black wreath to the French
diplomatic mission, reports APA.

BELARUS PM TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA OCTOBER 22

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2006 17:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A governmental delegation, led by Belarus PM
Sergey Sidorsky will pay a visit to Armenia October 22-24, Head of the
Information Department, Belarus MFA Spokesperson Andrey Popov stated at
a news briefing for the media. In his words, within the framework of
the visit talks with Armenian PM Andranik Margaryan and meetings with
President Robert Kocharian and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin
II are scheduled. Humanitarian and regional cooperation, expansion
of trade and economic ties, specifically increase of supplies of
Belarus automobile and agricultural equipment will be considered,"
Popov underscored. Presentation of innovation technologies of Belarus
and its High Technologies Park is planned.

A scientific and practical seminar on new Belarus developments in
medicine production is to be held, reports IA Regnum.

EU DEMANDS LAYING RAILWAY FROM TURKEY TO EUROPE THROUGH ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2006 17:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, who are included
in the TRACECA, support the Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway
project, however EU does not have a positive stance on the matter,"
stated National Secretary of TRACECA inter-governmental commission
Akif Mustafayev. In his words, the EU does not want Armenia to stay
aside of regional projects. The EU demands to lay a railway from
Turkey to Europe through Armenia in exchange.

"However, it is not possible before settlement of the conflict
in Nagorno Karabakh. The unwillingness of individual states to
finance Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars project will not tell on its
implementation in any way. The countries participating in the project
have already indicated their readiness to allocate means for holding
works," Mustafayev states, reports APA.

AZERBAIJAN MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM UNESCO FOR DEMOLISHING ARMENIAN KHACHKARS

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2006 18:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An international delegation comprised of
representatives of different National Parliaments and a Scottish
history-of-art specialist, were received by Mr. Kotchiro Matsuura,
Director-General of UNESCO, from whom they requested an international
investigation and open denunciation of the crime perpetrated on the
Armenian cemetery of Old Julfa by the army of Azerbaijan, independent
French journalist Jean Ackikian told PanARMENIAN.Net.

The delegation was formed at the behest of the Parliamentary Group
Switzerland-Armenia – mainly the Co-Chairmen – the National Councilors
Dominique de Buman (Vice-Chairman of the Christian Democratic-Party)
and Ueli Leuenberger (Vice-Chairman of the Green Party) – with the
support of Mr. Charles Aznavour, Ambassador of Armenia to UNESCO. The
Parliamentarians submitted to the UNESCO Director-General comprehensive
documentation on the subject, as well as a signed Memorandum in which
five recommendations are presented to the state of Azerbaijan, among
which, the construction of a Christian memorial on the site of the
old cemetery. If Azerbaijan does not answer these recommendations,
the delegation of the members of Parliament will seek for exclusion
of Azerbaijan from the UNESCO through the mediation of the European
governments, Switzerland, Russia and Canada.

CIVIL AVIATION OF ARMENIA REFRAINS FROM COMMENTS ON CRIMINAL SCUFFLE ABOARD A-320

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.10.2006 18:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Central Administration of the Civil Aviation
of Armenia does not deny or confirm statements of individuals,
referring to the crash of A-320 flying from Yerevan to Sochi, Central
Administration Spokesperson Gayane Davtyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter. In her words, the viewpoint of the Central Administration
of the Civil Aviation of Armenia is unchanged and it was expressed by
Administration Chief Artyom Movsisyan at a news conference on July
28. "The actions of crewmembers being uncoordinated within last 17
seconds of the flight was the cause of the liner’s crash," Movsisyan
had stated. We remind that A-320 plane of Armavia Armenian company
fell into the Black Sea on the night of May 3, when approaching
Adler. 113 persons died.