Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

ARMENIAN POLITICAL ANALYST THINKS OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS SHOULD RESIGN

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 17 2006

YEREVAN, July 17. /ARKA/. If OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs say their
imagination is exhausted, they should resign, political analyst Suren
Zolyan said Friday at a press conference in Yerevan.

He thinks if Minsk Group Co-Chairs are not able to fulfill their
mission, presidents of three countries – France, Russia and the United
States – should withdraw them and appoint other persons to these posts.

However, Zolyan doesn’t think the format should be changed, since
there are no other organizations ready to bear such a responsibility,
especially taking into account the fact that the situation is the
troubled region is not stable yet.

Earlier, American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza said the Minsk Group Co-Chairs
exhausted their imagination. He said the Co-Chair have decided to
take a summer brake to let Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents take
a breath. In his words, they are waiting for new proposals from the
conflicting sides.

Bryza said the Co-Chairs had already done whatever possible to settle
the conflict. At the same time, they are ready to keep mediating the
settlement and have no intention to abandon the process.

OSCE Minsk Group was set up in 1992 for mediating Karabakh conflict.

Russia, Franca and United States share the Group chairmanship now.

M.V.-0–
From: Baghdasarian

Russia not to purchase Iran-Armenia gasline

IranMania News, Iran
July 15 2006

Saturday, July 15, 2006 – ©2005 IranMania.com

LONDON, July 15 (IranMania) – Russia has no plans for the time being
to purchase the under-construction Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, said
Armenian Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian.

According to ISNA, the Armenian official further said at a joint
press conference with the Russian transportation minister that such
an agreement has not been reached with the Russian side because the
pipeline is yet to be completed.

The agency further quoted a spokesperson for Armenian energy minister
as saying that the Armenian party has not received any offer from
Russia’s Gazprom regarding the latter’s willingness to purchase the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.

Lusine Harutyunyan said no negotiations have been held with Gazprom
in this respect.

ISNA quoted Gazprom’s deputy chairman, Alexander Ryazanov, as saying,
however, that Russia is keen on purchasing the pipeline, which is
under construction.

He said at the annual meeting of the company’s shareholders in Moscow
that the project will have the capacity to transfer 1.2 billion cubic
meters of gas per annum and that it will become operational in 2007.

The Russian official said the pipeline will provide Armenia with a
more reliable source of natural gas supply.

–Boundary_(ID_AnOkcGjNEjTv3xxQfgVweA)–
From: Baghdasarian

RUSSIANS HAVE NO PLANS YET TO BUY IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE SECTION

Panorama.am
14:42 12/07/06

Armenian minister of defense Serz Sargsyan told a joint conference with
Russian transport minister Igor Levitin that Russians have not plans
yet to buy the Armenian section of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. There
are no such arrangements with the Russian side since there is no
"gas pipeline yet, too," Sargsyan said.

Levitin elaborated on the closure of Verin Lars checkpoint on
Russian-Georgian border. He promised to report to president Putin
as soon as he is in Russia and promised to settle the re-opening in
short time.

Note: The Russian side has again closed Verin Lars checkpoint
on Russian-Georgian border recently on the excuse of making
renovations. In fact, this is the sole automobile rout for Armenian
export and import.

The situation has caused problems for economic entities of Armenia.

It is interesting to note that Levitin is just now going to report to
president Putin as if they do not know what is going on in Verin Lars
and what significance it has. Judging from the answer it may be said
that the checkpoint will remain shut for some time more. /Panorama.am/
From: Baghdasarian

BÝA, Turkey
July 12 2006

Rehn: "High Court Decison Disappointing"

EU Commissioner Olli Rehn criticizes Court of Cassation decision
against Armenian journalist Hýrant Dink, editor of weekly Agos, based
in Istanbul. High Court confirmed prison sentence for "insulting
Turkishness".

BIA News Center
12/07/2006

BÝA (Ankara) – European Commission (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement
Olli Rehn in a public statement on Wednesday expresses
"disappointment" for the confirmation by the Turkish Court of
Cassation of the prison sentence given to Mr Hrant Dink.

"This judgement is the first final judgement by the highest
jurisdiction in Turkey about the interpretation of article 301. In
this sense, it establishes a binding case law that will set the trend
for lower jurisdiction to follow when applying article 301 in the
future," Rehn observed

"It also shows that in the current situation, courts have not
succeeded in establishing a positive case law when interpreting the
provisions of the new Penal Code in line with the relevant EU
standards." he told.

This is all the more serious since there are still a number of
similar court cases pending.

Rehn urged "Turkish authorities amend article 301 and other vaguely
formulated articles in order to guarantee freedom of expression in
Turkey."

The Court of Cassation decided to confirm the prison sentence for Mr
Hrant Dink, editor in chief of Istanbul based bilingual,
Turkish-Armenian weekly, on the grounds that he insulted
"Turkishness" on the basis of article 301 of the new Penal Code.

Dink was sentenced to six months at the local court, and the court
later suspended the sentence justifying it with the convict’s
goodwill. The high court prosecutor however demanded Dink’s
acquittal, but the high court turned down the demand which relied on
the evaluation that Dink’s controversial expressions were
"allegorical" rather more than insulting "Turkishness". (EK/YE)

–Boundary_(ID_Kyycu/YG0Vo1ntg6XYxhgQ)–
From: Baghdasarian

Torosyan: Meetings of Armenian and Azeri Leaders Will Result in Nothing at This Stage

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.07.2006 14:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Speaker Tigran Torosyan yesterday met
with head of OSCE Office in Yerevan, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin,
reports the Press Service of NA of Armenia. When commenting on
Azeri parties speculations, which began a month ago, Torosyan said
Azerbaijan spreads disinformation on fires in NK security zone in all
directions, including international structures. Vladimir Pryakhin
promised to convey T. Torosyan ‘s approaches on fires in Karabakh
to OSCE leaders. Within that context the interlocutors discussed
the statement and expectations of the OSCE MG in settlement of the
NK conflict. It was noted that when there is a goal to solve the
conflict quickly, it is necessary to clearly assess the conduct of
the parties, specifically militant statements and hatred propaganda
of Azerbaijan. It is clear that the co-chairs should be reserved and
careful to promote rapprochement of the parties, however when they
do not express any attitude to negative impact on the society, it
stimulates formal approach to conflict settlement. At the instance of
Vladimir PryakhinTorosyan touched upon the opportunity for the Armenian
and Azeri Presidents to meet within G8 summit in St. Petersburg. He
noted that the meetings will result in nothing new, as mechanisms,
which would allow to determine who is refusing from previous
agreements, are not worked out.
From: Baghdasarian

WILL THE WEST PREVENT 1998?

Lragir.am
11 July 06

The opposition in Armenia ingenuously thinks that Robert Kocharyan
will reach signing an agreement on the resolution of the Karabakh
conflict, and it will lead to a resignation like in the case of
Levon Ter-Petrosyan in 1998. But it will not happen, forecast Hmayak
Hovanisyan July 11. According to him, the West will not allow Robert
Kocharyan’s resignation for having signed an agreement. The member
of parliament believes that the West will do everything to go all
the way to fulfill the principles of the agreement.
From: Baghdasarian

AZG Daily #128, 07/11/2006

Festival

"GOLDEN APRICOT" FILM FESTIVAL LAUNCHES IN YEREVAN

"Golden Apricot" third international film festival
launched in Yerevan. In response to the questions of
the journalists, Atom Egoyan, Canadian film director,
chairman of the fiction films’ competition, stated
that the festival doesn’t yield to the international
film festivals by its content and quality of the
films. He added that the films included in the
competition programs of the festival were thoroughly
chosen by the members of the jury.

The organization committee of the festival says that
the reporters will be able to watch the ceremony on a
big screen that will be put in the square in front of
the cinema. So as to recompense the reporters their
loss, the organization committee will organize free
fourchettes for them. During the fourchettes the
reporters will be able to meet world famous
celebrities. In particular, it concerns Iranian
director Mokhsene Makhmalbafe, Italian Marco
Bellocchio, the French Armenian Robert Getikian, and
outstanding Armenian film director Artavazd Peleshian
and Aleksander Adabashian. All of them will deliver
master classes at RA State Picture Gallery from July
9-16. The festival will launch by the retrospective
show of "Namous" Armenian film screened by Hamo
Beknazarian, founder of the Armenian Cinematography,
in 1925.

About 100 films by directors from 58 countries will be
shown within the framework of the festival on July
10-15. The competition program includes films by Perdo
Almodovar, Krzsystof Zanussi, Aleksander German
Junior, Rakhshan Bani- Etemada. The program of
documentary films includes the films by Mickael
Glavoger, Gunar Bergdal, Sergey Loznica and Victor
Kosakovskiy. "The Armenian Panorama" competition
includes 25 films from various countries.

By Tamar Minasian
From: Baghdasarian

Mediamax presented Banks.am web portal

Yerevan, July 10. /Mediamax/. Mediamax news agency presented its new
internet project in Yerevan today – the financial portal
(Financial Armenia).

The member of the Board of the Central Bank of Armenia, Vartan
Movsisian, representatives of commercial banks of the republic and
journalists attended the presentation, Mediamax reports.

As Vartan Movsisian said at the presentation, "the Central Bank
of Armenia welcomes Mediamax’s initiative for creating the site
This is the first portal in Armenia providing available
and full information about the banking sector of the republic,"
Vartan Movsisian stated.

According to him, "Mediamax’s initiative meets the conception of the
Central Bank aimed at the development of the financial market and the
banking sector in particular." Vartan Movsisian expressed the hope that
Mediamax will cover not only the banking sector but will also worthily
represent the Armenia’s insurance and exchange markets on the web.
From: Baghdasarian

Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly of America in National Assembly

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
July 7 2006

On July 6 the RA NA President received Bryan Ardouny, Executive
Director of the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA). Arpi Vartanian,
the AAA Regional Director participated in the meeting.

Mr. Ardouny informed the NA President about the AAA undertaken steps,
the aim of which is to deepen Armenian-American relationships.

He highlighted the holding of 2007 Parliamentary elections by
democratic standards, which is highly expected not only by the AAA
but also by the U.S. Government, European Union. On his request the NA
President referred to the preparation of national elections, mentioning
that the conformity to democracy standards, first of all, is necessary
for Armenia and Armenian society, because it will predetermine the
future and the development of the country. Besides, the availability
of election legislation, to-be-adopted in October and reformed by
international standards, Mr. Torosyan highlighted the consolidation
and creation of understanding atmosphere of political forces (power
and opposition), which is a difficult task, and is connected with the
changing of public consciousness. The NA President also highlighted
the assistance of the AAA by specific programs in formation of civil
society and development of political science in Armenia, positively
evaluating activity of the AAA, which is undertaking steps toward
development of Armenia within the framework of their opportunities.

During the meeting issues of mutual relations between Armenia and
its neighbors, issues of solution of Nagorno Karabakh problem were
also debated.

Referring to the interview of Matthew Bryza, OCSE Minsk Group
Co-Chair, where the regulation of the Armenian-Turkish relations
is stipulated by the solution of Nagorno Karabakh problem, the NA
President noted that the approach of this type raises surprise, since
the opportunity to solve problems is stipulated by the availability of
good relations. With the same logic, the fact that there is propaganda
of war and hatred towards Armenians in Azerbaijan should not be
omitted from the attention of co-chairs, calling for the peaceful
conflict resolution. It is evident that people are not getting ready
for a solution in places where the hatred is deepened.

Other issues were also discussed during the meeting.
From: Baghdasarian

BREAKDOWN OF ROBOT PILOT OF AIRBUS A-320 COULD NOT LEAD TO AIR CRASH:
HONORED PILOT OF USSR

Yerevan, July 6. ArmInfo. The breakdown of one of the robot pilots of
Airbus A- 320 belonging to Armavia airline that crashed near Sochi
could not lead to the air crash. Dmitry Atbashyan, President of the
National Aviation Association of Armenia, honored pilot of USSR, made
this statements in an interview with ArmInfo commenting on the article
in the "Moskovsky Komsomolets" that the breakdown of the robot pilot
could be a reason of the crash. Atbashyan mentioned that A-320 has no
robot pilots, it has systems of stiffness and controllability. Probably
one of these systems failed, which, however, could not lead to the
crash, he said.

D. Atbashyan believes that a complex of reasons could lead to
the crash: breakdown of the equipment, bad weather, insufficient
equipment at the airport in Adler unable to fulfill even the commands
of the own federal administration. Among the key reasons of the crash
D. Atbashyan mentioned the strong wind shear. At the same time, he
called the acts of Grigor Grigoryan, crew captain, right in the given
situation. D. Atbashyan said he would act in the same way. Commenting
on the report of the "Moskovsky Komsomolets" that the interference
of the second pilot, whose acts contradicted to that of the captain
aggravated the situation, D. Atbashyan said it could not lead to the
crash but for "second causes". In addition, he believes that the crew
could not act in different ways. He thinks that the failure in the
systems could make commands contradicting to the acts of the pilots.

To recap, the crashed A-320 Airbus killed all on board.
From: Baghdasarian