Author: Ekmekjian Janet

WOMEN MAKE 71% OF PEOPLE HAVING UNEMPLOYED STATUS IN ARMENIA IN LATE MARCH
Noyan Tapan
May 22 2006
MAY 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The averige number of the economically active
inhabitation of Armenia made 1163.6 thousand people in January-March,
92.3% or 1074.3 thousand of who were engaged in the economy, and 7.7%
or 89.3 thousand of who had no job. The latters were registered at
the “RA Employment Service” agency of the RA Ministry of Labour and
Social Issues and got unemployed status.
According to data of the NA National Statistical Service, as of late
March, 92.5% or 107.5 thousand people of the 116.2 thousand registered
ones searching job were unemployed. 84.7% or 91 thousand of them got
the unemployed status.
Women made 71% of the officially registered unempolyed people.

NATO IS NOT OFFERING PEACEMAKERS TO KARABAKH
Lragir.am
23 May 06
It is unlikely that NATO will deploy peacemaking forces in the
Karabakh conflict area. This viewpoint was expressed by Robert
Simons, the special representative of the Secretary General of NATO,
who is visiting Armenia for two days. Simons said the question of
peacemakers could be considered only after an agreement between the
parties. Moreover, Simons thinks that the parties will be deciding
the number of these forces, what organizations they will represent
and where they will be stationed.
Simons said the question of peacemakers could be decided by the sides
after reaching an agreement. He mentioned that NATO is not offering
participation in the peacemaking mission. Generally, Robert Simons
states that NATO is not engaged in the settlement of the Karabakh
conflict but it is willing to support the OSCE Minsk Group. According
to Robert Simons, the mandate of mediation of the settlement of the
conflict belongs to the OSCE.
Robert Simons states that the head of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Pierre Leluche can have his stance on the settlement, and he can
even offer mediation. He states that the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
is an independent organization and can have its standpoint, but
the standpoint of NATO is that the talks for the Karabakh conflict
are mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group, and they can only give their
support. He says almost the same thing about the Armenian-Turkish
relations, stating that it is a matter of bilateral relations.
Although Turkey approved launching an individual partnership program
with Armenia, Simons said, nevertheless, that NATO does not attend
to the internal political problems of its members.

ACCORDING TO VICTOR DALLAKIAN, THERE IS NO COALITION ANY MORE, AND NEW MAJORITY MUST BE CREATED
Noyan Tapan
May 23 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The National Assembly Speaker’s
resignation may not be considered not to be an agenda issue of the
Parliament, and deputies have a right to touch upon that issue. Victor
Dallakian, the “Ardaroutiun” (Justice) faction Secretary stated
about it at the May 22 NA sitting, in responce to Tigran Torosian’s
persuasions to pass to discussion of the agenda issues. “Nobody has a
right to advise deputies and say that they do not speak in connection
with the agenda: I told you, isn’t the NA Speaker’s resignation
an issue of the agenda?,” Dallakian mentioned. According to him,
a serious event took place in the country which must be estimated
by deputies. Dallakian stated that today the coalition making the
parliamentary majority, which has 50-55 deputies, makes an attempt
“to re-form parliamentary works.” The “Ardaroutiun” faction Secretary
mentioned that there is no coalition any more, and there are two ways
in the created situation: dissolution of the Parliament and holding
of new parliamentary elections, or resignation of the Government and
formation of a new parliamentary majority.

NO MATTER HOW UNNATURAL IT SEEMS
By Ruben Hayrapetian in Moscow
AZG Armenian Daily
23/05/2006
The coverage of the Armenia A320 crash in Russian media is viewed in
Armenia as an expression of sympathy from the Russians. In general,
it is so. Yet, no matter how indiscreet raising this issue may seem,
it turns out that even the coverage of such a tragic accident cannot
avoid being politicized. Media reports that followed the crash reveal
underlying themes.
So, what are the Russian papers writing? The crash of A320 early
this month and the fire at the Brussels airport are viewed as a
manifestation of rivalry between Boeing of the USA and European
Airbus. The Russian printed press writes that in this rivalry the
US monopolistic interests coincide with Washington’s foreign policy
in the region where “pro-Russian” Armenia upsets its plans regarding
monopoly in Caspian basin.
In terms of time the crash coincided with the Vilnius get-together of
anti-Russian forces where US vice-president Dick Cheney’s speech caused
panic in Kremlin. Russian FM Sergei Lavrov’s toothless response that
Cheney’s assistants misinterpreted “our democracy” reduced Russian
leadership’s comeback to minimum. It’s clear that a scandal with
world leaders at the threshold of hyped up G8 summit in Petersburg
was not playing into president Putin’s hands.
Reportedly, the Kremlin “warned” mass media to overlook the American’s
ultimatum-like speech. But on the other hand, how to mitigate the
fact of humiliation before a public challenge? It is here that the
mass media resorts to full-scale broadcast of Armenian jet crash. A
very human, distracting and respectful way towards the “strategic
partner”…

CE MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER WRITTEN QUESTION ON ARMENIA’S NEW OCCUPATION PLANS
Author: R.Abdullayev
TREND, Azerbaijan
May 22 2006
The Council of Europe Ministerial Committee will consider on 24 May a
written inquiry by an Azerbaijani parliamentary representative to the
PACE, MP Rafael Huseynov, on the level of permanent representatives.
The document titled “New plans of occupation by belligerent Armenia
posing serious threats to stability and development in the South
Caucasus” was included in the draft agenda of the 965th meeting of
the CE Ministerial Committee to be held in Strasbourg on 24 May.
The discussions rank as the third in the initial agenda of the
gathering.
The document underlines that by intensifying its hostilities
during recent days the Republic of Armenia, shown in Assembly
resolution (1416 (2005) as an occupying state conducting ethnic
cleansing against the Azerbaijanis, is putting forward its new
aggressive plans. Armenia has occupied 7 adjacent districts around
Nagorno-Karabakh and uses these territories as a buffer zone between
the other territories of Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh. However,
despite the existing cease-fire in recent days, the armed forces of
Armenia are continuously threatening hostilities on the front line
bordering the positions of Azerbaijan, which is located hundreds
of kilometres from Nagorno-Karabakh. These attacks, accompanied by
numerous human losses among the civilian population and the military
contingent of Azerbaijan, as well as with great material losses and
destruction inflicted on the country, openly demonstrate the purposes
of Armenia to occupy some other territories of Azerbaijan.
On the other hand, Armenia has escalated its efforts to pursue its
plots vis-a-vis Azerbaijan. Thus, the previously existing intentions of
Armenia to seize the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan of Azerbaijan
are now openly being manifested. Armenia has set up appropriate
military and intelligent structures in this regard, a cease-fire regime
is repeatedly being violated in the front line areas almost on a daily
basis, groundless misinformation is being spread by them concerning
the alleged destruction of some old graves in Nakhchivan with the
intention to substantiate by false means their territorial claims and,
moreover, a new wave of ideological war has been launched by Yerevan.
Rafael Huseynov asked the Committee of Ministers “In the present
situation when Armenia, officially considered to be an occupier by the
Assembly, putting forward manifestly its new occupying intentions and
with this purpose in mind undertaking concrete steps, what discussions
can the Committee of Ministers conduct within its competences and
what effective measures can it take in order to stop the aggressor”.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER FORMALLY SUBMITTED RESIGNATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
22.05.2006 12:55 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During today’s sitting Chairman of the Armenian
National Assembly Artur Baghdassaryan formally submitted his
resignation. According to the regulations, the Parliament Speaker
should confirm his resignation within 5 days and then leave his
post. To remind, Artur Baghdassaryan announced of the intention to
leave the post May 12, after Orinats Yerkir Party political council
decided to secede from the ruling coalition. It should also be noted
that head of the parliamentary committee on defense, home affairs
and national security Mher Shahgeldyan and head of the parliamentary
committee on social issues, health and ecology Gagik Mkheyan offered
resignation today.

ANDRE, 8st to EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

Jean Eckian
May 21, 2006
Retransmitted in 24 countries of Europe, the Eurovision Song Contest
exists since May 24, 1956. For its first participation, in front of
150 million people, Armenia, represented by the singer ANDRE with his
song “With your Love” was classified in 8th position.
In France, during the presentation of the Armenian singer, the
presenter star of French TV (France 3), Michel DRUCKER said: “In 1915,
1 million and half of Armenians perished in the first genocide of the
twenty century by the Turks. Will be needed nevertheless, a day, that
Turkey recognizes this genocide “

TWO WEEKS AFTER CRASH AND HANGAR FIRE, ARMAVIA TAKES SECOND A319, PLANS TO ADD REGIONAL AIRCRAFT
By David Kaminski-Morrow in London
Flight International
May 19 2006
Two weeks after separate accidents wiped out much of its fleet,
Armenian carrier Armavia has taken delivery of the second of two
Airbus A319s and stated that it intends to complement its fleet with
50- to 70-seat regional aircraft.
Yerevan-based Armavia has received the A319 which, like its
predecessor, was formerly operated by US carrier Independence Air. It
will bear the registration EK-32012. “Soon this aircraft will begin
operating scheduled services,” says the carrier.
It has also revealed that its fleet plan includes acquiring a regional
aircraft with 50-70 seats, but the carrier has not indicated a type –
although it says that the aircraft will be “American”.
Armavia fleet additions come two weeks after a fatal Black Sea crash
and a subsequent maintenance hangar fire at Brussels destroyed two
of its three Airbus A320 aircraft.
Introduction of the A319 brings its fleet up to six aircraft – two
A319s, its sole remaining A320, an Ilyushin Il-86, plus a Yakovlev
Yak-42 and Yak-40 – but the airline says that its policy is not to
use aircraft manufactured before 2000.

A BOYCOTT SET UP AGAINST THE NEW SPEAKER
A1+
[04:47 pm] 18 May, 2006
“Justice” Bloc made a decision about their strategy after the
resignation of NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan and during the election
of the new Speaker.
The decision made at the end of one-year session was not accepted
unanimously. First of all the representatives of the “Republican” party
did not participate in the session, besides, Arshak Sadoyan, Chairman
of “National Democrats’ Alliance”, didn’t approve of the strategy.
“I have always said and still claim that the question of alternative
approach should be taken into account.
NA isn’t a puncher to decide who is a NA candidate and to participate
in that process with one candidate.
Anyway, it will be much wiser to propose several candidates for the
post, ask them questions, hold disputes and discussions, etc.”
By the way, Arshak Sadoyan informed his partners of the bloc that if
they counter any problems they can nominate his candidacy for the NA
Speaker’s post. Mr.
Sadoyan excludes the version of self nomination saying, “I am against
self nomination for any office.
I have always claimed that I cannot propose my candidature as it
won’t look beautiful.”
In Sadoyan’s opinion there will be great surprise in the Parliament
in this connection as everything is possible in the country in which
lingers of pressure are well known to him. But Sadoyan didn’t comment
on what he meant by saying surprise.
Ruzan Khachatryan, press secretary of the “Justice” Bloc, noted that
the party has no expectations connected with the nomination of the
NA Speaker’s office as they decided neither to participate in the
process nor to vote.
The deputies of “Justice” will likely participate only in the
discussions to make their point of view audible. “Justice” Bloc didn’t
take part in the 2003 elections either and won’t do it this time on
the same grounds. The reasons are as follows; NA elections are held
with frauds and they don’t go in line with the reality, thus “Justice”
doesn’t want to be involved in those “inland intrigues.”
By the way, another opposing power of the NA, “National Unity,”
has also decided not to participate in the parliamentary elections.

HAYORDATS TUN OPENED IN ASHTARAK
Noyan Tapan
May 18 2006
ASHTARAK, MAY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. Hayordats Tun (Armenian-borns’ house)
acting under the patronage of the Armenian Apostolic Church was founded
in the city of Ashtarak, the marz center of Aragatsotn. This center
of religious, artistic and Armenian-type education of the younger
generation was founded on the initiative of Archimandarite Torgom
Tonikian, the primate of the Aragatsont diocese who is the spiritual
instructor of the Yerevan Hayordats school as well.
Pupils attending the Hayordats school, studying the centuries-old
history of the Armenian Church, at the same time become skilled
at different branches of art, enjoy pleasure of contact with
beautiful. The city art school passed under management of the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin for the Hayordats school of Ashtarak. Programs
of fundamental restoration of the new educational institution are in
process at present.