Author: Adrine Hakobian

Counterpunch.com
October 25, 2006
FBI Reveals Investigation Continues
The Vindication of Sibel Edmonds
By JOHN STANTON
On October 10, 2006, FBI spokesman Bill Carter confirmed that matters
raised by Sibel Edmonds and shielded form public view by the
invocation of the US States Secret privilege were still under internal
investigation by the Bureau.
“Due to the fact that the allegations of Sibel Edmonds reflect
internal administrative and investigative matters it would not be
appropriate to respond to your inquiry. I will point out that the DOJ
Office of the Inspector General has reviewed this matter and released
a public report. I would refer this report to you for your review. The
Inspector General’s report concluded that the FBI did not adequately
investigate allegations Ms. Edmonds made regarding a co-worker. After
the OIG’s initial classified report, the FBI conducted further
investigation into Ms. Edmonds’ allegations. That investigation is
continuing.”*
Back in March of 2002, Edmonds was released from the FBI over her
discovery of an array of espionage activities. Looking back, and with
the benefit of new information from the FBI and elsewhere, it appears
that the government of Turkey was spectacularly successfully in
compromising FBI, CIA, DEA, DIA and DOS operations, and was also able
to mount other espionage programs that allowed Turkish interests to
obtain assorted military and WMD technology know-how, and garner US
and Israeli military support for its bloody internal struggle against
its significant and much maligned Kurdish population/opposition.
The Turks: Masters of Espionage
The Turks would not have been successful in staging what may be
recorded as one of history’s finest intelligence coups had it not been
for many sympathetic US military personnel, bureaucrats and
politicians who, whatever their egotistical reasons, believed
themselves to be acting in the USA’s best interests. Certainly, no one
can accuse them of not effectively representing their powerful Turkish
clients whether in defeating US Congressional action recognizing the
Armenian Genocide or ensuring that US corporations close lucrative
deals in Turkey.
The sympathizers names are now overly familiar: Douglas Feith, Brent
Scowcroft, William Cohen, Richard Perle, Michael Leeden, Bob
Livingston, Marc Grossman, Paul Wolfowitz, Eric Edelman, Richard
Armitage, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Dennis Hastert, et al. Rather
than re-hash their affiliations and track records here, visit
rightweb.irc-online.org to find out more about their linkages to each
other and Turkey (Israel too).
The Turks knew it would take lots of cash to pull off such a scheme
and sustain it. The illicit drug trade provided an endless source of
funds to pay for WMD components, US defense technology, politicians,
money laundering schemes, counterterrorist operations, safe
interrogation houses, and dozens of front companies. Given Turkey’s
solid reputation as a key refining point/middleman for opium coming
out of Afghanistan (it is ultimately transported into the Balkans and
on to Europe and the USA), it is no surprise that the Turkish
government always seems to have a steady supply of cash to spread
around. Perhaps it is just coincidence, but under the watchful eyes of
the Pentagon and US law enforcement and intelligence agencies, opium
crop production in Afghanistan has increased over the last decade. The
profits from refining and distribution of the product have flooded the
black market– the playground for intelligence operatives and assorted
criminal enterprises.
Joltin’ Joe Ralston
Desmond Fernandes, has recently published an extraordinary piece
titled Turkey’s US Backed War on Terror: A Cause for Concern?* The
information provided in this publication shows the lengths to which
the US and Turkey (and Israel) will go to keep some very nasty
activities quiet. One of the more interesting bits of news in the
report is that, at the invitation of the Turkish government, US and
Israeli forces are assisting the Turkish government in military
operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PPK) and the Kurdish
people and their culture. The US is ostensibly engaged in
counter-narcotics operations with the Turks.
Joseph Ralston, former USAF General and now Lockheed Martin employee
and American Turkish Council principal, is the special
envoy/coordinator for US-Turkey anti-Kurdish operations. In October
2006, the US Congress approved the sale of 30 of F-16 combat aircraft
worth $2.9 billion to Turkey.
The world has seen the effects of similar alliances on persecuted
people, most notably the tragic one between the US and Israel. That
template will now be applied in Turkey to manage the Kurds. It’s their
turn to be abused and pushed from their homelands by the same methods
and equipment used against the Palestinians (and now the
Iraqis). American leaders sanctioned the elimination of the
Palestinian leaders and their people, even groups freely elected like
Hamas. With eager US approval, Israeli military operations continue
unabated in Gaza and the West Bank into late 2006. US support for
Israel’s destruction of the Shia population in Lebanon during the
Hezbollah-Israeli conflict in 2006, along with decades of unswerving
support in the United Nations and the US Congress is notoriously
legendary. All this bodes ill for the Kurds.
And so it begins. According to kurdmedia.com, “the PKK – the most
prominent Kurdish freedom movement – declared a unilateral ceasefire
that went into effect on Sunday 1 October. It still remains unilateral
– the entire Turkish establishment, from top general Yasar Buyukanit
to prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has rejected it, clearly
stating their determination to continue the war Joseph Ralston spoke
for the US government when he indicated that “a ceasefire sort of
implies an act that is taken between two states, two actors, to do
that. And I don’t want to confer that kind of status on the PKK by
saying a ceasefire”
According to Fernandes, “General Joseph W. Ralston, the US
government’s Special Envoy who is responsible for countering the
terrorist PKK and coordinating actions and eliminationist strategies
with the Turkish and Iraqi states[He]just so happens to be a member of
the Board of Directors of Lockheed Martin, the same corporation whose
deal for the sale of 30 F-16s [to Turkey] sits in the venerable halls
of Congress at this very moment” in time. F-16s it must be remembered,
were needed during Turkey’s genocidal War on Terror during the 1990s
because of their usefulness in obliterating Kurdish settlements,
killing civilians and terrifying Kurdish civilians.
It is widely known that the Turkish military used Lockheed Martin
F-16s to assist with the destruction of Kurdish villages in North
Kurdistan during the 1990’s Dirty War, with the facts well-documented
by human rights groups. In 1995, Human Rights Watch documented arms
sales to Turkey, along with related violations of the laws of war by
that state[It] included the many gross abuses that Turkey perpetrated
against the Kurdish people [with] the F-16 fighter jet figure[ing]
prominentlyIn a report ordered by the [US] Congress, the State
Department admitted that the abuses included the use of US Cobra
helicopters, armored personnel carriers, and F-16 fighter bombers. In
some instances, critics say, entire Kurdish villages were obliterated
from the air.
This proposed [new multi-billion dollar] sale in 2006, the [Pentagon]
has claimed, will enhance the Turkish Air Force’s ability to defend
Turkey, no doubt against its internal Kurdish threat in [the Kurdish]
colony in the southeast, and its external one in southern
Kurdistan/Northern Iraq[The aircraft will be used to patrol the]
nation’s extensive coastline and borders against future threats and to
contribute to the Global War on Terrorism and NATO operations With
this in mind, you should ask yourself what, exactly, General Ralston
is coordinating. We all know the real deal, don’t we? We all know who
have been the targets of those F-16s”
Lt. Col Dickerson: Human Hot PotatoPlame & Wilson: Spies Like Us
On Monday, October 2, 2006, Captain Warren Comer (USAF, 374AW/PA,
Yakota Japan) indicated that the USAF could provide no further
information about Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Dickerson, a central
figure in the Edmonds’ matter. “Looking at your request, the only
information that I can confirm to you is what is written in the Fuji
Flyer newspaper that you read. For any other questions on this
subject, please refer to the FBI or the US State Department.”***
Taking Captain Comer’s advice, the US State Department was
contacted. On Tuesday, October 3, 2006, Ms Nancy L. Beck (US DOS,
PACE) indicated that “Responding to your inquiry, this is not a matter
for the US Department of State. Recommend you direct your question to
the FBI or Department of Justice.”
Dickerson was recently deployed to the Iraqi theater of operations
where he heads up logistics matters for an element of the USAF. His
handlers in the intelligence community apparently are happy about that
and so must be the public affairs personnel who don’t want anything to
do with him.
In 2002, Dickerson and his spouse Melek Can left the country for
Belgium and a quiet post with NATO after Edmonds’ exposed them as
Turkish operatives or, perhaps, US counterintelligence
operatives. Dickerson and his wife’s activities remain a
mystery. According to various reports, they were once stationed in
Ankara, Turkey in the 1990s, and had contact with Douglas Feith and
Marc Grossman. Another report indicated that: in 1995, while in
Turkey, Dickerson was the subject of investigation for accepting money
from foreign agents, whereupon he was abruptly transferred to
Germany. In 1999, Major Douglas Dickerson returned to the United
States. His wife, Melek Can Dickerson, started to work for American
Turkish Council (atc.org) and related Turkish American business
groups.
In 2001, Dickerson was apparently given a position in the weapons
systems acquisition arena with the Pentagon and US Department of
State. Dickerson’s areas of responsibility supposedly included Turkey,
Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. He also had
dealings with Edelman formerly US Ambassador to Turkey, and now with
the Pentagon’s Policy Organization. Dickerson was also active with ATC
and Scowcroft. He and his wife associated with several Turkish and
American individuals from the Turkish Embassy and the ATC. Many of
these folks were targeted by FBI counterintelligence for criminal
activity. But thanks to the Turkish government’s penetration of the
highest echelons of the US political-military-intelligence-corporate
apparatu s, the Pentagon and US State Department forced the FBI to back
off any criminal investigations that may expose criminal activity, and
untidy and covert operations.
Finally, there’s the perplexing case of Valerie Plame and Joe
Wilson. According to dozens of media reports, Valerie Plame was
introduced to Joe Wilson by Brent Scowcroft at an ATC
function. Shortly thereafter, the pair was invited to a Turkish
Embassy function. Quickly after that, Plame’s CIA WMD operation
(Brewster Jennings) was exposed by then Under Secretary of State,
Richard Armitage. Coincidently, Dickerson was in close proximity to
Plame & Wilson in the 1999-2002 timeframe and the Pentagon and US
State Department. It seems likely that only a Turkish operative
located somewhere in the US government/intelligence community would
have uncovered that information and disclosed it to the Turks and
their US sympathizers. Was it Wilson? Dickerson? Armitage?
More fallout is to come from the Edmonds’ matter and the word in
Washington, DC-Metro is that it will involve some individuals named in
this piece.
John Stanton is a Virginia based writer specializing in national
security and political matters. Reach him at [email protected]
* Email to FBI PA Bill Carter from John Stanton. Thanks to Mir Carter
and the FBI, plus the reference to
usdoj.gov/oig/special/0501/index.htm. The CIA, DOD-IG, DEA and Turkish
Intelligence did respond.
** From the October 2006 electronic edition of Variant: Cross Currents
in Culture, No. 27, Winter 2006 variant.randomstate.org and from
Chapter 5 of the book by Desmond Fernandes and Iskender Ozden (2006)
US, UK, German and NATO ‘Inspired’ Psychological Warfare Operations
Against The Kurdish ‘Communist’ Threat in Turkey and Northern Iraq
(Apec Press, Stockholm)
*** 8.pdf
html

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 60; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
October 16, 2006
___________________
FR. DOUDOUKJIAN GRANTED PECTORAL CROSS ON ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION
By Florence Avakian
For Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, pastor of the St. Peter Church of Watervliet,
NY, ministry is about building a connection to the next generation. For the
past 10 years, passing the flame of Armenian Christianity has been the focus
of his ministry.
On Sunday, October 1, 2006, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), presented Fr.
Doudoukjian with the pectoral cross in honor of the 10th anniversary of his
ordination to the priesthood.
“The idea of ‘Carrying the Flame’ has been the over-arching theme of Fr.
Stepanos Doudoukjian’s entire ministry,” said the Primate in his remarks
during the celebration. “The idea of ‘Youth Carrying the Flame’ has the goal
of passing the flame of our heritage on to our children, who will carry it
into the 21st century. Der Stepanos is surely a man who has chosen to carry
that flame, and he does so with the utmost respect and love for what our
flame represents.”
“By carrying that flame, Der Stepanos has devoted his ministry to inspiring
others to carry it beside him,” the Primate added.
Fr. Stepanos not only works with youth in his parish but also works as
director of youth and vocation at St. Nersess Seminary, organizing events
designed to bring the next generation deeper into the fold of Christ.
“This demonstrations his wonderful, loving touch,” the Primate said. “As an
American-born priest, he speaks in a special way to those born in this
country, and has made it a special part of his ministry to reach the newest
of our newcomers.”
CONTINUING THE TRADITION
In his remarks during the celebratory dinner, Fr. Doudoukjian pointed out
that the cross he was presented with is an eternal reminder of Jesus’
suffering. He noted that his passion for the pastoral vocation was shared
by his friend Fr. Haroutiun Dagley, who was ordained just one week before
Fr. Doudoukjian. Fr. Dagley passed away in 2002.
The two friends spent their traditional 40-day retreat after ordination
together. “I wear this cross in memory of Fr. Dagley,” Fr. Doudoukjian said
emotionally.
He also paid tribute to his wife, Yn. Paulette, and his children Jonah, 5,
and Gloria, 3. “It’s a blessing to have my family work with me,” he said.
ANSWERING THE CALL
The son of Sona and the late Charles Doudoukjian, Fr. Doudoukjian was born
and raised in Teaneck, NJ, and earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary
education from Dominican College in Orangeburg, NJ, and his master’s of
divinity degree from St. Nersess and St. Vladimir’s Seminaries.
Expanding his religious education, he traveled twice to Armenia, and spent
six months in Jerusalem. From 1994 to 1995, he worked as a pastoral
assistant and youth director for the Church of the Holy Martyrs in Bayside,
NY, and at the Diocesan Center, focusing on college ministry.
When he was ordained in 1996 by Archbishop Barsamian, he requested the name
Stepanos, in honor of his deceased twin-brother. Following his Karasoonk (a
40-day secluded religious retreat) at St. Nersess Seminary, he celebrated
his first Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday, March 31, 1996. In addition to his
parish work, the Primate assigned him to serve as the director of the St.
Nersess Summer and Winter Conferences for Armenian youth, a position he
still holds. He also directs the St. Nersess Youth and Vocations, a
recruitment program for new priests. He calls the latter “one of the most
important institutions.”
More important for Fr. Doudoukjian than being granted the pectoral cross is
the focus on his “responsibility as a priest. It is a simple reminder to
live out my vocation each day, to be humble, to be a servant, and a shepherd
for the flock,” he notes.
In wanting to connect with his parishioners, he offered a retreat entitled,
“God’s Call To You,” on September 30, 2006, which was also attended by the
Primate. “It was a quiet time to reflect, and to reconnect with God, and
with prayer. It was a reaffirmation of my calling.”
He said when he was ordained he wrote a poem, “The Call,” in which he
related the choice that everyone (not just priests) makes, to respond to or
disregard God’s “Call”. “The retreat was just such an opportunity to think
about such decisions,” he says.
For the future, he wants God “to achieve something through me, and for me to
continue to serve him. I pray that many more men and women will serve our
church, because at the end of the day, it’s an honor to be walking with the
Cross.”
The celebratory dinner was held at St. Peter Church, and was attended by
more than 150 parishioners and friends, following the Holy Badarak that
morning, celebrated by Fr. Doudoukjian.
The dinner was sponsored by the parish council members Joanne Scaringe and
Mary Hartunian, and featured the church’s Sipan junior dance group as well
as congratulatory remarks by parish council chairman Robert Meeson, and
vice-chairman Erik Trojian.
— 10/16/06
E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,
PHOTO CAPTION (1): Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, pastor of the St. Peter Church
of Watervliet, NY, delivers communion during the badarak on Sunday, October
1, 2006, the celebration of the 10th anniversary of his priestly ordination.
PHOTO CAPTION (2): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, presents Fr.
Stepanos Doudoukjian with the pectoral cross marking his decade of ministry.
PHOTO CAPTION (3): Dancers from the Sipan dance group of the St. Peter
Church of Watervliet, NY, perform on Sunday, October 1, 2006, for
parishioners during the dinner celebrating the 10th anniversary of the
ordination of the parish’s pastor, Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian.
PHOTO CAPTION (4): Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjian, pastor of the St. Peter Church
of Watervliet, NY, speaks about answering God’s call during the celebratory
banquet marking the 10th anniversary of his priestly ordination.
# # #

BN/DeStem, Netherland
October 6, 2006
1915? Genocide? Waar gaat dit over? ‘; De meeste Turken weten niet
wat er is gebeurd in de oorlog met Armenie’
Door Edine Wijnands
Turkse Nederlanders zijn in rep en roer. Vorige week besloten het CDA
en de PvdA kandidaat-Kamerleden van hun lijsten te halen, omdat die
niet willen erkennen dat Turkije zich in 1915 schuldig maakte aan
genocide.
Yusuf Kaplan, duo-raadslid voor de PvdA in Bergen op Zoom wrijft zich
eens goed achter de oren. “Het is toch waanzin dat wij onze kostbare
tijd moeten besteden aan iets dat in 1915 in Turkije plaatsvond?”
Maar goed, gebeurd is gebeurd en Kaplan, die een gooi wil doen naar
een Statenzetel bij de provinciale verkiezingen in maart, weet dat
ook hij de vraag kan krijgen voorgeschoteld: hoe sta jij in de
kwestie Armenie? “En dan moet ik in alle oprechtheid antwoorden dat
ik geen flauw idee heb. Net als heel veel Turken in Nederland weet ik
niet wat er nou eigenlijk precies is gebeurd in 1915. Er is namelijk
nooit een gedegen, onafhankelijk onderzoek naar geweest.”
In 1915 was het oorlog, dat weet Kap- lan. En in die oorlog is bloed
gevloeid. “Onvermijdelijk”, zegt daarop Mustafa Cicek, CDA-raadslid
in Oosterhout. “Wie oorlog voert, heeft bloed aan zijn handen.”
De vraag is alleen of Turkije destijds bewust zoveel mogelijk
Armeniers heeft gedood. Een vraag die volstrekt irrelevant is, vindt
Kaplan. “Nogmaals: waar hebben we het over? Deze oorlog speelde zich
af in het Ottomaanse rijk. Dat bestaat niet meer. Sinds 1923 kennen
we de Turkse republiek. Waarom moeten wij ons in Nederland opeens
verantwoorden voor iets dat ons land, de Turkse republiek, niet eens
heeft gedaan? Je rekent een huidige inwoner van de Duitse republiek
toch ook niet meer af op de Tweede Wereldoorlog?”
Ook Erkal Ucerler, CDA-raadslid in Breda, betreurt het dat zijn
partij een standpunt over de Armeense kwestie verlangt van Turkse
Kamerleden zonder dat er een onafhankelijk onderzoek is geweest. “De
partij moet iemand niet dwingen om zichzelf te verloochenen. Dan word
je politiek monddood gemaakt. Dat kan en mag niet in een land waar
iedereen het altijd heeft over het recht op vrijheid van
meningsuiting.”
Cicek zegt, net als Kaplan, ook: “Ik weet niet wat deze zaak van
bijna honderd jaar geleden met de Nederlandse Tweede Kamer te maken
heeft. Met de toekomst van dit land.”
Hij vindt het, net als zijn partijgenoot Ucerler, erg jammer dat zijn
partij zulke rare sprongen maakt. Ucerler: “Het dwarsboomt de
integratie, de participatie van Turken in de Nederlandse
maatschappij. Nederlanders zien opeens Turken die zich druk maken
over een kwestie uit de Turkse geschiedenis en denken op basis
daarvan misschien dat Turken radicaliseren.” Cicek: ” Op die manier
groeien bevolkingsgroepen niet naar elkaar toe. Integendeel.”
Cicek snapt de woede van de Turkse gemeenschap wel. In die van
Oosterhout hoorde hij veel geluiden van mensen die niet meer willen
stemmen op CDA of PvdA. En sterker: hij twijfelt zelf ook.
“Want welke zeggenschap heb jij als Turks Kamerlid straks als je
gedwongen wordt om over bepaalde zaken een uitspraak te doen waar je
niet achter staat. Ja, ik ben boos op het CDA. Die heeft zich
kennelijk laten leiden door Europese normen. Het is Europa, en met
name Frankrijk, dat opeens die hele Armeense kwestie naar boven
haalt. In mijn ogen om zo opnieuw het Turkse lidmaatschap van de EU
tegen te gaan. Ik wil van Balkenende een duidelijke uitspraak. Pas
als die mij overtuigt, krijgt hij mijn stem. ”
Helemaal niet stemmen, is trouwens voor hem, noch voor de andere
Turkse raadsleden, een optie. “Nee, dan straal je een negatieve
houding uit. Bovendien verlies je elke kans om mee te praten”, aldus
Ucerler. “Je moet stemmen. En als het aan mij ligt gewoon nog op het
CDA.”
Ook Kaplan blijft zijn PvdA trouw. “Natuurlijk, we kunnen over een
punt van mening verschillen, maar er zijn nog tientallen andere zaken
waar ik me wel in kan vinden.” De lokale politici zijn het over een
zaak helemaal met elkaar eens. Wethouder Hatice Can-Engin van de
gemeente Gilze en Rijen verwoordt dat zo: “Mijn werk is om me druk te
maken over de toekomst van mijn gemeente. Niet over het verleden van
haar voorouders.”

CONCEPT OF SCIENTIFIC REFORMS TO BE SUBMITTED IN NOV-DEC 2006
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 18, 2006
YEREVAN, August 18. /ARKA/. A concept of reforming Armenia’s scientific
sector is to be submitted for a public discussion in November-December
2006, RA Minister of Education and Science Levon Mkrtichyan told
reporters.
According to him, the Armenian Government has approved a list and
schedule of necessary measures. An interagency task group has been
formed as well.
“During one month the group is to elaborate a comprehensive program of
scientific reforms. The program is supposed to settle all disputable
issues by March-April 2007,” he said.
The formation of a single system of managing Armenia’s scientific
sector is to get under way in the second ten-day part of December 2007.
The Minister pointed out that in 2007-2008 funding of the program
will be received, particularly under the EU-implemented program.
Mkrtichyan said that the implementation of the program will resolve
the problem of forming a special scientific fund in Armenia.
“It should be noted the schedule of implementation is rather strict,
and the interagency group will supervise its fulfillment,” P.T. -0–

EU Special Envoy for the South Caucasus to visit the region later in July
ArmRadio.am
15.07.2006 14:00
After July 20 EU Special Envoy for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby
will pay a visit to the region.
The EU Representative is scheduled to visit Armenia 23-26 July,
Press Service of RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs. Preceding
that Peter Semneby will visit Azerbaijan.
During the visit Mr. Semneby will have meetings with the Foreign
Ministers of the two countries and will discuss issues connected with
EU’s cooperation with Armenia and Azerbaijan in the framework of the
European Neighborhood Program.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
May 4 2006
RA NA Deputy: Mass media to contribute to high-legitimacy of RA
authorities
3rd stage of negotiations over establishment of Armenia-EU activity’s
plan held in Yerevan
`Grief journal’ to be opened in RA Foreign Ministry and RA diplomatic
missions abroad in connection with Armenian plane crash near Sochi
President of Abkhazia sends condolence telegram to RA President
Robert Kocharyan
Air crash of Armenian airbus common tragedy of Armenian and Russian
peoples
Putin asks RF Attorney-General to do their best to find out reasons
of A-320 plane crash
Search-and-rescue operations of Armenian plane crash conducted on
high professional level
Armavia’s director general presents his condolences to all those who
were affected by crash of Armenian airbus
Bodies of air crash victims of Armenian A-320 to be delivered to
Yerevan at 22:00
Ambassador: Armenian President to travel to Ukraine in 2006 fall for
official visit
French Co-Chair of OSCE MG, Armenian President to discuss
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement
Igor Levitin: no presumed causes of Armenian aircraft crash under
consideration before black box cockpit tape recorder listening
*************************************** ******************************
RA NA DEPUTY: MASS MEDIA TO CONTRIBUTE TO HIGH-LEGITIMACY OF RA
AUTHORITIES
YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. Mass Media will contribute to high-legitimacy
of Armenian authorities, as the Chairman of the RA NA Standing
Committee on Science, Culture, Youth and Education Hranush Hakobyan
told journalists.
`Taking into consideration coming parliamentary and presidential
elections in Armenia in 2007 and 2008, this question is timely as
never before’, Hakobyan noted in her speech during an event dedicated
to World Press Freedom Day, which was held in the UNO Yerevan office.
In her words, press creates image of political parties, politicians
and authorities, and popularity of this or that political power
depends on objectivity of Mass Media.
`I am sure that during coming elections Armenian Mass media will show
high-objectivity’, Hakobyan summarized. S.P. –0–
************************************************ *********************
3RD STAGE OF NEGOTIATIONS OVER ESTABLISHMENT OF ARMENIA-EU ACTIVITY’S
PLAN HELD IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. 3rd stage of negotiations over establishment
of Armenia-EU activity’s plan in the framework of European
neighborhood policy was held in Yerevan. According to the Press and
Information Department of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during
negotiations sides discussed problems, which had remained unsolved by
the end of previous stage of program discussion. Results of
discussions were estimated by the participants as positive. During
negotiations the head of the Armenian delegation was the RA Deputy
Minister of Foreign Affairs Armen Bayburdyan and head of the EU
delegation was EU Commission Director for Eastern Europe, South
Caucasus and Central Asia Hugo Mingarlly.
The European side expressed its sincere condolences regarding tragedy
of the Armenian air liner before the beginning of negotiations. S.P.
–0–
************************************************ *********************
`GRIEF JOURNAL’ TO BE OPENED IN RA FOREIGN MINISTRY AND RA DIPLOMATIC
MISSIONS ABROAD IN CONNECTION WITH ARMENIAN PLANE CRASH NEAR SOCHI
YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. `Grief Journal’ will be opened in the RA
Foreign Ministry and RA diplomatic missions abroad in connection with
Armenian plane crash near Sochi. According to the Press and
Information Department of the RA Foreign Ministry, representatives of
accredited embassies in Armenia will be able to write down
condolences in this journal on May 5 and 6 from 12 till 15.00
o’clock,
A period of mourning was declared in Armenia on May 5 and 6 in
connection with crash of the Armenian airplane as well as in Russia.
Airplane of `Armavia’ Air Company flying from Yerevan to Sochi
crashed above Black Sea near Sochi on Wednesday night. According to
preliminary data all passengers and the crew of the plane were
killed. S.P.-0–
************************************************ *********************
PRESIDENT OF ABKHAZIA SENDS CONDOLENCE TELEGRAM TO RA PRESIDENT
ROBERT KOCHARYAN
YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. President of Abkhazian Republic Sergey
Bagapsh sent a condolence telegram to the RA President Robert
Kocharyan in connection with tragic death of passengers and crew of
the A-320 Armenian air plane, RIA-Novosti reports. `On behalf of
people of the Abkhazian Republic and on my own behalf I express
sincere condolences the Armenian nation in connection with tragic
death of passengers and crew on board the Armenian plane A-320
belonging to `Armavia’ company. Sorrowful news about the air crash
entailing many human victims brought grief into hearts of Abkhazian
people. Big Armenian Diaspora lives in our republic, secular
friendship connects our nation with it. That is why sorrow of
irreplaceable loss becomes stronger’, telegram notes. Bagapsh
expressed sympathy to families and relatives of tragically perished
people. S.P.–0 –
************************************************ *********************
AIR CRASH OF ARMENIAN AIRBUS COMMON TRAGEDY OF ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN
PEOPLES
YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. The air crash of the Armenian airbus A-320
near Sochi is a common tragedy of the Russian and Armenian peoples.
The press service of the Kremlin reports that Russian President
Vladimir Putin and Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated this
during their telephone conversation.
Putin also presented his condolences to Kocharian concerning this air
crash. Putin told Kocharian about the search and rescue operation
implemented by Russians in the air crash area and further actions
that are being planned.
In his turn, Kocharian expressed gratitude to the Russian President
for the telephone call and detailed information.
The Presidents presented deep and sincere condolences to relatives
and close people of the air crash victims
The A-320 airbus of the Armenian `Armavia’ air company crashed over
Black Sea near Sochi at night on Wednesday. All the people on board
were killed: 113 people, 77 of them were Armenian citizens. May 5 and
6 are announced mourning days in Armenia and May 5 was announced the
mourning day in Russia. R.O. –0–
************************************************ *********************
PUTIN ASKS RF ATTORNEY-GENERAL TO DO THEIR BEST TO FIND OUT REASONS
OF A-320 PLANE CRASH
YEREVAN, May 3. /ARKA-RIA Novosti/. Vladimir Putin asked the RF
Attorney-General Vladimir Ustin to do their best to find out reasons
of the A-320 plane crash.
`I hope that in short time, despite difficulties connected with
finding flight recorders, which I hope anyway will be found,
investigation will make clear the real cause of the catastrophe’,
Putin, RF President stated during his meeting with Ustin on Thursday,
RIA-Novosti reports. .
Plane crashed at Wednesday night, 113 people died. S.P. –0–
************************************************ *********************
PUTIN ASKS RF ATTORNEY-GENERAL TO DO THEIR BEST TO FIND OUT REASONS
OF A-320 PLANE CRASH
YEREVAN, May 3. /ARKA-RIA Novosti/. Vladimir Putin asked the RF
Attorney-General Vladimir Ustin to do their best to find out reasons
of the A-320 plane crash.
`I hope that in short time, despite difficulties connected with
finding flight recorders, which I hope anyway will be found,
investigation will make clear the real cause of the catastrophe’,
Putin, RF President stated during his meeting with Ustin on Thursday,
RIA-Novosti reports. .
Plane crashed at Wednesday night, 113 people died. S.P. –0–
************************************************ *********************
ARMAVIA’S DIRECTOR GENERAL PRESENTS HIS CONDOLENCES TO ALL THOSE WHO
WERE AFFECTED BY CRASH OF ARMENIAN AIRBUS
YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. Director General of `Armavia’ air company
Norair Belluyan presented his deep condolences to all those people
who have been affected by the crash of the Armenian airbus at night
on 3 May near Sochi.
`We grieve together with you and our grief is comfortless. There are
no words to express the whole pain of the sufferings of thousands of
people who received such a terrible news,’ Belluyan’s address says.
He pointed out that in spite of all the modern technological progress
and activities aimed at providing security of flights, we could not
overcome the raging element, and this terrible day will never be
forgotten.
Belluyan assured that over the time passed from the moment of the
tragedy, Armavia’s team works on decreasing the heaviest consequences
of the tragedy 24 hours per day. `Thousands of people from many
countries assist us with it. We receive addresses with words of grief
and support from enterprises, organizations, air companies, hundreds
and hundreds of people,’ Belluyan said.
At night on 3 May a shocking tragedy occurred over the waters of
Black Sea – the airbus A-320 of `Armavia’ air company crashed while
landing at the airport of the city of Adler under heavy weather
conditions. As a result, 113 people were killed, 6 among them were
children. R.O. –0–
************************************************ *********************
BODIES OF AIR CRASH VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN A-320 TO BE DELIVERED TO
YEREVAN AT 22:00
YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA – `Novosty Armenia’/. Bodies of the air crash
victims of the Armenian A-320 airbus will be delivered to Yerevan at
approximately 22:00, RA Minister of territorial administration Hovik
Abrahamyan reported during a briefing at the government who leads the
intergovernmental commission for delivery of the victim’s bodies and
organization of funerals.
According to him, about 20 or 30 identified bodies will be delivered
to Armenia.
He said that 47 bodies have currently been take out and 20 of them
were identified.
`Today will visit `Zvartnots’ airport and discuss all organizational
issues with its administration: how will the bodies be delivered and
where their relatives will take them,’ he said.
The A-320 airbus of the Armenian `Armavia’ air company crashed over
Black Sea near Sochi at night on Wednesday. All the people on board
were killed: 113 people, 77 of them were Armenian citizens. R.O.
–0–
************************************************ *********************
AMBASSADOR: ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO TRAVEL TO UKRAINE IN 2006 FALL FOR
OFFICIAL VISIT
YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan is to
travel to Ukraine in 2006 fall for official visit, Ukrainian
Ambassador to Armenia Alexander Bozhko said Thursday in Yerevan.
Bozhko also said Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan is
expected to visit Ukraine in June, before Kocharyan, to lay proper
groundwork for talks between the two countries”, Bozhko said.
In his words, a wide range of relations between the countries,
including ties in economy and defence areas, are expected to be
discussed during the presidential visit. M.V. -0—
************************************************ *********************
FRENCH CO-CHAIR OF OSCE MG, ARMENIAN PRESIDENT TO DISCUSS
NAGORNO-KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. The French Chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group
Bernard Fassier and RA President Robert Kocharyan are to discuss
issues of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement in Yerevan. The press
service of the French Embassy in Armenia reports that Fassier has
arrived in Yerevan. He is only to hold a meeting with the RA
President. Immediately after the meeting, he is to leave Yerevan for
Baku.
The decision of Bernard Fassier’s visit was made as a result of
Moscow consultations between the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs with the
participation of Personal Representative of the OSCE
Chairman-in-Office Andrej Kasprzic. P.T. -0-
************************************************ *********************
IGOR LEVITIN: NO PRESUMED CAUSES OF ARMENIAN AIRCRAFT CRASH UNDER
CONSIDERATION BEFORE BLACK BOX COCKPIT TAPE RECORDER LISTENING
YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. No presumed causes of Armenian aircraft crash
are being considered before black box cockpit tape recorder
listening, Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said.
“We don’t consider any version so far until decoding black boxes and
giving evidence about what actually happened”, Levitin said.
In his words, the area of water where the accident happened is under
interior and emergency ministries’ control.
Armavia Armenian Air Company’s jet plunged into Black Sea near
Russian resort of Sochi Tuesday night. All 113 aboard the craft were
killed in the crash. M.V. -0—

OSCE COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL TO NA PRESIDENT AND BOOKS TO NA LIBRARY
National Assembly of RA, Armenia
March 7 2006
On March 6, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, head of OSCE office in
Yerevan, handed over to the library of the National Assembly books
in Armenian, Russian and English concerning different spheres.
Artur Baghdasaryan, President of the National Assembly, noting that
effective cooperation has been established between the National
Assembly and OSCE, also touched upon the stable traditions, which
are disclosed in that cooperation.
The Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, head of OSCE office in Yerevan,
highlighted the role of the National Assembly in the formation of
the civil institutes and establishment democracy. Noting that after
the constitutional amendments the powers of the parliament has been
expanded, the Ambassador highlighted the deepening of cooperation
between OSCE and NA in the spheres of the improvement of law-making
activity, anti-corruption combating, etc. “I cannot but make use of
the opportunity and note the wonderful cooperation that was has been
established between OSCE and National Assembly,” said Mr. Pryakin.
According to the agreement reached with the Parliament Preisdent,
another sphere will become the anti-corruption activity, the
improvement of law-making activity and the compliance of the Electoral
Code with the new realities, the result of which will become the
contribution to the free, fair and transparent 2007 parliamentary
elections.
The Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, head of OSCE office in Yerevan,
awarded an OSCE commemorative medal for the development of close
cooperation with OSCE to NAS President Artur Baghdasaryan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

5 ARMENIAN BOXERS TO TAKE PART IN WARSAW TRADITIONAL INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT
Noyan Tapan
Mar 09 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. A traditional international
boxing tournament will be held on March 15-20 in Warsaw. The
tournament is dedicated to the outstanding boxing specialist Felix
Shtam. Representatives of Armenia will also compete with boxers of
different countries of the world. Chief trainer of Armenian national
team Rafael Mehrabian included the best 5 boxers in the team for
taking part in the authoritative tournament to be held in the capital
of Poland. These boxers are: Gabriel Tolmajian (54 kg weight category,
Yerevan), Andranik Hakobian (75kg, Echmiadzin), Hrachya Javakhian (64
kg, Vanadzor), Samvel Matevosian (69 kg, Vanadzor) and Artak Malumian
(81 kg, Vanadzor).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARTAN OSKANIAN RE-AFFIRMS THAT ARMENIA DOESN’T CONSIDER THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS FAILED
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “It’s seems a bit
strange to us that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmen’s regular sitting
will take place in Turkey,” Foreign Minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian
stated in the March 10 interview to the “Shant” TV company. According
to him, the choice of Istanbul as a place of meeting was a suprise for
Armenia to some extent. At the same time, according to the Minister, it
isn’t excluded that the geographical convenience had a role here. It’s
envisaged that a day before the Istanbul meeting, Steven Mann, the
OSCE Minsk Group American Co-Chairman will arrive in Yerevan and
Baku. According to Vartan Oskanian, the latter will make an attempt
to get clearly know from the two countries’ Presidents their will in
the issue of continuing the process: “After this visit the Co-Chairmen
will decide the next steps: wheather to invite a Foreign Ministers’
meeting or to invite a Presidents’ meeting, or they three will visit
the region.” As for the Rambouillet meeting, in the Minister’s opinion,
a progress was really fixed in the issue of the Karabakh conflict
settlement in 2005: “There was an agreement on the majority of the main
principles, one-two other problems remained on which the Presidents
should come to an agreement, and the Co-Chairmen logically thought
that this inertia will continue: unfortunately, this didn’t happen.”
Vartan Oskanian re-affirmed that Armenia didn’t consider the
negotiation process failed: “It’s another issue that the issue on
agenda in Rambouillet was rather difficult, and the Presidents still
had no solution after having worked for a year. But taking into account
the present progress, we find that it would be a pity to miss such
an opportunity which certainly would be difficult to create again. In
Azerbaijan they also think in their hearts and souls that one mustn’t
miss this progress.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Jordan News Agency (Petra), Jordan
Sept 20 2005
Regent Congratulates President of Armenia
Amman, Sept. 20 (Petra)– His Royal Highness Prince Ali Bin Al
Hussein, the Regent, on Tuesday sent a cable to President of the
Republic of Armenia Robert S. Kocharian congratulating him in his
name and on behalf of the Jordanian people and government on the
occasion of his country’s Independence Day. The Prince wished the
President continued good health and happiness and the Armenian people
further progress and prosperity. //Petra//
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress