Author: Emil Lazarian

KOCHARIAN CONGRATULATES NATION ON CONSTITUTION DAY

Armenpress
Jul 4 2006

YEREVAN, JULY 4, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian has
congratulated his country fellows on the occasion of the Constitution
Day marked on July 5. A message by Kocharian says.

"Dear country fellows, I congratulate you on the occasion of the
Constitution Day. The basic law of our country is our people’s choice
and the reflection of their goals. It is of key significance on our
road of building a democratic, social and legal state and our progress
in anchored directly on the strict observance of the Constitution.

In 2005 important constitutional amendments were made, which have
opened new prospects for comprehensive development of the nation and
the country, ensuring a most balanced performance of all branches of
power, strengthening of the human rights protection system.

I believe that the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia in its
modernized form will serve continuously for the next generations."

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NATO DEPUTY CHIEF URGES NEGOTIATED GARABAGH SETTLEMENT

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
posted July 5 2006

Baku, July 4, AssA-Irada
NATO calls on both Azerbaijan and Armenia to seek a negotiated
settlement to the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict, its Assistant
Secretary General Jean Fournet has said.

"The dispute can be resolved only in peace and all other means
questioning this option should be given up," he told a news conference
in Baku on Tuesday.

"We are interested in the continuation of talks. But we have no
intention to act as a part of the OSCE Minsk Group dealing with
the conflict."

Asked of the alliance’s possible role in case the parties strike an
agreement, Fournet said this question could be answered only after
the actual peace accord is reached.

The enforcement of decisions passed by influential international
organizations has been in public domain of late. Particularly alarming
is the fact that the UN Security Council’s four resolutions on the
unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan have not been implemented yet.

Fournet said the issue should not be addressed by NATO proper. He said
all decisions in the alliance are made based on a consensus and are
definitely enforced. Fournet said he is not inclined to talk of other
organizations in this respect but added that all of their decisions
should be properly executed.

The NATO official avoided commenting on the fact that 20%
of Azerbaijan’s territories are under occupation. Although he
repeatedly stated that the alliance is committed to fighting terror,
he failed to put forth a firm stance concerning Armenia’s committing
an act of terror against its neighbor. Fournet hinted, however, that
NATO has no plans to eliminate the aftermath of the Armenian terror,
adding that the organization intends only to jointly struggle against
emerging threats.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LEVITIN MET FRENCH RESCUERS ENGAGED IN A-320 CRASH INVESTIGATION WORKS

PanARMENIAN.Net
04.07.2006 18:23 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During a working visit to France Russian Minister
of Transport Igor Levitin met with the French rescuers, who were
engaged in the works carried out at the A-320 crash site in Sochi,
reported the RF Transport Ministry’s press service. To note, the
flight of the crashed Armenian jet is being modeled in France. It
will be accomplished on the basis of decoded flight recorders and
will help to reconstitute the flight trajectory.

To remind, on May 3 night Airbus-320 owned by Armavia national carrier
crashed in the Black Sea 6 km away from Adler airport killing all
of 113 people aboard, including 6 children and 8 crewmembers. June
17 the Inter-State Aviation Committee completed works on decoding
the records, registered by parameter recorder of A-320, as well as
synchronizing the objective control means aboard and on land.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOCHARIAN’S VISIT BOOSTS IRAN-ARMENIA COOPERATION

Fars News Agency, Iran
July 5 2006

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr
Mottaki stressed that the visit to Tehran by Armenian President Robert
Kocharian, which is to take place on Wednesday, would further develop
the two countries’ mutual cooperation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met with Armenian deputy
Foreign Minister Armen Gragoursian here on Tuesday to discuss avenues
for consolidating the two countries’ ties and exchange views about
Armenian President’s visit to Tehran.

During the meeting, Mottaki assessed the two countries’ relations
as proper and stated that the visit to Tehran by the Armenian
President, Robert Kocharian could pave the ground for enhanced mutual
cooperation and exploration of new mechanisms for the two states’
further agreements.

Pointing to the two countries’ cordial ties, he said that the two
states enjoy abundant potentials for enhanced political, cultural and
economic cooperation and that continued exchanges of visits and view
points can prepare a new groundwork for the existing ties.

For his part, Armenia’s deputy Foreign Minister briefed Mottaki about
the programs to be covered during Kocharian’s visit to Tehran and
voiced his country’s preparedness to develop ties in all political,
cultural and economic areas.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CONSTITUTION DAY CELEBRATED IN ARMENIA TODAY

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2006 13:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenia celebrates the Day of
Constitution. July 5, 1995 the Organic Law of the state was adopted at
a national referendum. November 27, 2005 93.3% of the Armenian citizens
voted in favor of the amendments to the Constitution. The Constitution
of the Republic of Armenia consists of 117 articles. The Republic
of Armenia is a sovereign, democratic state, based on social justice
and the rule of law. In the Republic of Armenia power lies with the
people. The people exercise their power through free elections and
referenda, as well as through state and local self-governing bodies
and public officials as provided by the Constitution, it says.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PLACE OF REPUBLICANIZATION IS HARSNAKAR HOTEL

Lragir.am
05 July 06

The Lragir.am has learned from a source, who is aware of the movement
inside the government connected with the 2007 and 2008 elections,
that a meeting of Republican heads of communities and Republican or
Republicanized businessmen led by Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan took
place in mid-June. According to the same source, they will round up
again till July 10 at the Harsnakar Hotel owned by businessman, Member
of Parliament Ruben Hairapetyan, who is ready to be Republicanized
for the sake of Serge Sargsyan.

The Lragir.am has learned that these meetings are in the context of a
general "mobilization" of Republicans. In particular, Serge Sargsyan,
who also knows that some people hesitate over whose instructions
to carry out, Robert Kocharyan’s or Serge Sargsyan’s, wants to get
clear guarantees. Besides, the heads of communities must report on
the process of Republicanization. Besides, the final scenario of the
extraordinary conference of the Republican Party will be confirmed
at the Harsnakar Hotel.

Finally, our source assures that Attorney General Aghvan Hovsepyan
will also show up at the "rendezvous" at the Harsnakar Hotel.

And it means that the activity of the Union for Armenia Party
he initiated will diminish, or this political party will run
for parliament together with the Republican Party, although in a
recent news conference Member of Parliament Vahram Baghdasaryan,
a representative of the Union for Armenia Party, sounded quite
indefinitely about cooperation with the Republican Party.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CRIMINAL CASE ON DISAPPEARANCE OF LARGE SUM FROM ARDSHININVESTBANK MALATIA BRANCH INSTITUTED

Noyan Tapan
Jul 5 2006

YEREVAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Yerevan Investigation Department of
RA Police carries on investigation on the criminal case instituted
on the fact of disappearance of sums from the depository of the
Ardshininvestbank CJSC Malatia branch.

According to the information on the website of RA Prosecutor General’s
Office, from 19:00, June 30 up to 9:00 July 3, the above mentioned
branch was being guarded by the Malatia Department of RA Police
Patrol-Guard Service. At 9:00, July 3, the guard shift passed the
closed and sealed depository to the branch administration. The latter,
opening the depository door, revealed lack of 41 mln drams, 56 503
USD, 2 690 euros, 44 700 roubles and pawned gold wares, the amount
of which is being clarified.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AMBASSADOR OF GREECE VISITS NOYEMBERIAN

Noyan Tapan
Jul 5 2006

NOYEMBERIAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. On July 1, Panayota Mavromichali,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Greece to the
Republic of Armenia, visited Noyemberian. Greeting the Ambassador
and expressing gratitude for accepting his invitation, Noyemberian’s
Mayor Seryozha Amiraghian mentioned that the five-year friendship
between Noyemberian and Virona, which makes part of the Greece’s
capital Athens, strenghtens year after year including new spheres
of cooperation. In his turn, the Ambassador suggested to organize
reciprocal visits of residents’ groups of both friendly cities.

The Ambassador had a meeting with the Greek community of the
Noyemberian region in the hall of the Noyemberian’s music school. A
small concert was held during which the pupils of Noyemberian performed
Greek songs and dances.

Then the Ambassador visited the "Olympus" center of Greek culture.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AAA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR PRESENTS RA PRESIDENT MAIN DIRECTIONS OF WORK DONE BY THE ORGANIZATION

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jul 5 2006

YEREVAN, JULY 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 4, RA President
Robert Kocharian received Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director of the
Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) and Arpi Vartanian, Regional
Director of the AAA.

The President estimated the cooperation with the Armenian Assembly
of America as productive.

Bryan Ardouny presented the main directions of the work done by the
AAA in the United States in favor of Armenians.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from the RA President’s Press Office,
the interlocuters exchanged thoughts over a number of issues on agenda
of Armenian-American relations and over regional ploblems.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR POPULATION OPINION CAN’T BE NEGLECTED

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.07.2006 15:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "We stand for a peaceful settlement in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict and the interests of the NKR people should certainly
be taken into consideration, AAA Executive Director Bryan D. Ardouny
said in an interview with PanARMENIAN.Net. "First I was in Stepanakert
in 1998, then in 2001. Considerable changes are taking place there:
the people have overcome incredible hardships and now build their
own state. As for the absence of NKR in negotiation process, this
is not correct. As I have already said any decision should be made
taking into account the opinion of the NKR population. Thus, its
participation in the talks is essential," he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress