Author: Emil Lazarian

CAPTAIN”S PERFORMANCE WAS EXEMPLARY

Panorama.am
17:11 09/05/06

Exclusive Interview of Michael Bagdasarov, Armavia air company owner,
to Panorama.am (part 2) – In the course of the last 3 days Armavia
lost 2 airliners A-320. How will this loss impact the performance of
the air company, particularly in regards to flight management?

– First, many companies have expressed their assistance.

– According to our sources, the first assistance was rendered by air
company Siberia.

– Assistance was rendered by Siberia and Souz Atlant as well as
Volgograd airlines and Aeroport. Besides, as mentioned earlier, we
have already received new airliners. Therefore, the number of our
airplanes reaches 5, which will be enough for normal performance.

– There are some concerns that the company will go bankrupt.

– I may disappoint those people who think that Armavia will go
bankrupt. Our personnel will get stronger after such bitter experience.

– We had an impression that they wanted to put all the responsibility
for the accident on the captain of the airliner G. Grigoryan. What
is your personal opinion in this regard?

– These are stupid things expressed by non-responsible people. They
also said that there was not enough fuel in the airliner. However,
the place of the accident was contaminated with fuel. The recordings
between the air controller and the pilot prove that the performance
of the captain of the plane was exemplary which cannot be said about
the air controller.

– Is that true that the air controller was arguing with the captain
as some mass media say referring to Georgian sources?

– No, they were not arguing. But the point is that the air controller
sent the plane to the second round while the plane was almost to land.

However, we cannot assert that the accident happened due to
air controller’s fault. The air controller just worsened the
situation. There are series of issues why the accident could take
place.

There is a transcript where the air controller twice tried to send
the plane back to Yerevan and then again to Sochi after which it sent
the plane to the second round.

However, why coundn’t the pilot land the airplane? No one has enough
proof to blame the pilot in that, thus far. It was an experienced,
high-level pilot who was one of the best. He had previous experience
in Krasnodar and knew the location very well…

– We had an impression that some Russian parties are not very
interested in finding the “black box” recorder. What do you think?

– Impressions may be different. The Russian side is seriously engaged
in the investigation of the case. It should be noted that there is
also the Airbus which is interested to take the case to its end. As
far as Russians are concerned, it depends who we look at. The head of
commission is very interested. If we look on state bodies, they are
interested, too. May be someone is not interested. There were rumors
that there was not enough fuel or that the pilot was not experienced
weren’t they.

– They also say that there was no navigator on board.

– There was a navigator and a technician on board.

There is a group of people who just make up such stories, do you
understand?

– Thank you for the interview. Once again we render our
condolences.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A VICTORY ACHIEVED AS A RESULT OF CONTINUOUS EFFORTS

Panorama.am
14:25 10/05/06

Today president of “Protection of Consumer’s Rights” Abgar Yeghoyan
came out with following statement:

“For the last seven months “Protection of Consumers’ Rights” /PCR/
NGO has kept a close eye on the problem of outrageous bills presented
by “Armentel” CJS to its subscribers for using telephone lines to
access internet.

At the end of last year, when first informed about the problem, PCR has
sent letters to the RA Ombudswoman, RA Attorney General and RA Public
Services Regulatory Commission. PCR and the National Assembly Deputy
Collaboration Group made a joint announcement in this regard. Besides
PCR has informed its partners and constituents through its e-network
about methods of blocking international call exits of ordinary phone
lines to avoid undesirable outcomes of being charged for undelivered
services and received positive feedback for this activity.

Since October 2005, PCR was open for consumers who were willing to
appeal against the bills presented to them. During six months PCR
has received 32 appeals.

PCR was not the only organization trying to protect deceived consumers,
several other civil society organizations as well several deputies
of the National Assembly joint their efforts to advocate for
telecommunication consumers. Taking into consideration the amount
of consumers’ appeals the RA Public Services Regulatory Commission
formed a working group to study the problem, which also included
representatives of various civil society organizations, as well as
PCR’s representative.

Examinations made by the working group showed that even specialists of
“Armentel” CJS at the company’s headquarters did not succeed to access
those foreign web-sites from where damaged files supposedly enter
subscribers’ computers, as well as it was proved that the methods
of blocking international call exits of phone lines provided in
“Armentel’s” information brochures did not function properly.

Even though this issue has become a public concern number of “Armentel”
subscribers who received outrageous bills kept growing. In order to
solve the problem PCR prepared a civil suit against “Armentel” CJS
on the behalf of 32 plaintiffs who have appealed to PCR. Before the
case went to court good news came from “Armentel” CJS. At the meeting
held on May 5th, 2006 the RA Public Services Regulatory Commission
decided to accept “Armentel” CJS’s suggestion, as an expression of
good will, of disregarding bills generated as a result of internet
access through telephone lines of those subscribers who have presented
a written appeal to “Armentel” CJS from November 2004 to April 1st,
2006. Those subscribers who have already paid their bills will have
a chance to make international calls according to the amount they
have paid beforehand. “Armentel” CJS is to inform all subscribers
about this decision until May 13th, 2006, also the company received
a recommendation from the Public Services Regulatory Commission
to consider the opportunity of including into the list all those
subscribers who have appealed in written form to “Armentel” CJS from
April 1st,2006 until May 5th, 2006.

The problem is not completely solved with this decision; meanwhile at
least rights of numerous consumers will not be violated. PCR believes
that this can be called a victor for the efforts made by the civil
society organizations and appropriate state structures”.

EUROPE DAYS TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
10.05.2006 13:37

Traditionally Europe celebrates May 9 as the day of birth of united
and peaceful Europe. On this occasion May 11-18 events dedicated
to the Europe Day will be held in Armenia at the initiative of the
European Movement.

Head of the European Movement in Armenia Viktor Yengibaryan told
“Arminfo” that the opening of the Days of Europe in Armenia will be
held at the Museum of Folk Arts.

The event will be attended by representatives of RA Government,
National Assembly, NGOs and educational establishments. Greeting
speeches will be delivered by Head of the European Movement in Armenia
Viktor Yengibaryan and representative of the Armenian delegation to
the European Commission Georg Miller.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRIZE TO HRANT DINK

Lragir.am
10 May 06

The Stern Weekly reports that Hrant Dink, Editor-in-Chief of the Agos
Weekly published in Turkey, will receive the Henri Nannen prize of
the German Gruner & Jahr Publishers and Stern Weekly. Hrant Dink was
distinguished for high professionalism and bald standpoint of an honest
and brave citizen, writes the Stern. The prize was given to one of 191
press reporters. The prize will be delivered to Hrant Dink in Hamburg
on May 12. For Hrant Dink, the Stern writes that he gives his vote to
his people, he is a voice of his people. The Stern emphasizes that the
bald materials of the editor of the Agos has broken the wall of silence
and fear in Turkey, behind which the Armenians of Turkey are living.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Website: <;

REQUIEM SERVICES HELD IN PRELACY CHURCHES FOR PLANE CRASH VICTIMS

On Sunday, May 7, by the directive of H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, special requiem services took place in all of the
Western Prelacy churches in memory of the victims who perished in the plane
crash that occurred on Wednesday, May 3rd.
The Prelate presided over Holy Mass at Holy Martyrs Church in
Encino. In attendance were the Honorable Gagik Giragossian, Consul General
of Armenia, Executive Council Chairman Mr. Hrair Balian, A.R.F. Central
Committee representative Mr. Koko Topalian, H.E. Archbishop Vatche
Hovsepian, and hundreds of faithful.
In his sermon, the Prelate made a special reference to the lives
lost in the plane crash and once again expressed his condolences to the
Consul General and to the families of the victims. The Prelate urged the
faithful to pray for the souls of the deceased and prayed to Almighty God to
keep us all away from harm.

IN SAN FRANCISCO AND LAS VEGAS

On Sunday, May 7, Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, co-director of
the Prelacy Christian Education Department conducted Holy Mass at St.
Gregory Church in San Francisco. Alongside the special requiem services for
the plane crash victims, a special service took place for H.M.E.M. scouts.
Very Rev. Fr. M. Aznikian presented the more than 20 scouts with ribbons for
completing the first part of the `St. Mesrob Mashdots’ program. After
successful completion of the second part of the program, the scouts will be
awarded with the `St. Mesrob Mashdots’ medal.
On the same day, Rev. Fr. Ardag Demirjian of St. Mary’s Church
conducted Holy Mass at the Las Vegas parish where requiem services also took
place for the plane crash victims. Several members of the Holy Martyrs
church choir took part in the ceremonies. Under the direction of the Prelate
and the Religious Council and in collaboration with the city’s parish
council, Mass is offered on the first Sunday of each month. On this
occasion, Rev. Fr. A. Demirjian conveyed the Prelate’s blessings to the
parishioners and bade success to the new parish council’s endeavors.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Regnum, Russia
May 9 2006

Armenian President and Prime Minister congratulated veterans on
Victory Day

On the occasion of the Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War and Day
of Shusha Liberation Armenian President Robert Kocharyan sent message
of congratulation. As REGNUM was informed at the Armenian
presidential press office, in particular, the president congratulated
in it his compatriots on Day of Victory and Peace, pointing out that
it is impossible to forget Armenian people’s contribution to victory
in WWII, during which Armenian soldiers, officers and generals fought
at all fronts, honorably representing Armenia.

Also, the president stressed that May 9 gained new sense thanks to
Shusha liberation in 1992 (Nagorno Karabakh Defense Army and troops
of volunteers liberated Karabakh the town of Shusha, strategically
influencing war actions – REGNUM). It became a symbol of Artsakh
Liberation War (Artsakh is historical name of Nagorno Karabakh –
REGNUM). Commemorating the Day, we revere the memory of heroes,
fallen during the Great Patriotic and Artsakh Wars, the president
pointed out.

On the occasion of the holiday, Armenian Prime Minister Andranik
Margaryan also sent a message of congratulation. In particular, the
address says that the victory over Nazism was a great event for the
whole world. Armenian people defended their homes and motherland at
that time, and they did in the recent history, the premier stressed,
pointing out that Armenia celebrates the 15th anniversary of
independence this year, which was achieved at a high price.
Maintenance of independence, strengthening of the state needs
devotion of every Armenian, the Armenian premier stressed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Transitions Online, Czech Republic
May 9 2006

Speaker Blindsides President on NATO

by Emil Danielyan
9 May 2006

A potential presidential challenger may be signaling a shift in the
geopolitical mood in Armenia. From EurasiaNet.

The ambitious speaker of Armenia’s parliament, Artur Baghdasarian,
has stoked geopolitical controversy in Yerevan by calling for the
country’s eventual withdrawal from the Russian-dominated Collective
Security Treaty Organization and, ultimately, its accession to NATO.

The extraordinary statements, which run counter to one of the main
tenets of Armenian foreign policy, prompted a stern rebuke from
President Robert Kocharian and his close political allies.
Baghdasarian responded by threatening to pull his Orinats Yerkir
(Country of Law) party out of Kocharian’s governing coalition.

The row is widely linked to the parliamentary and presidential
elections scheduled for 2007 and 2008. Some local observers believe
Baghdasarian is courting Western support to bolster his reputed
presidential ambitions. The controversy also provides additional
evidence that the geopolitical mood in Armenia – a country
traditionally oriented toward Russia – is slowly shifting.

The controversy began on 19 April, when Baghdasarian’s comments were
published by one of Germany’s most prominent daily newspapers, the
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. `Armenia’s future is the European
Union and NATO,” Baghdasarian said, adding that Russia “must not
stand in our way to Europe.” Kocharian distanced himself from these
remarks, saying they do not reflect his administration’s policy.
“Armenia is not planning to join NATO,” the Golos Armenii newspaper
quoted him as saying in late April. He also reportedly demanded an
`explanation’ from Baghdasarian. The criticism was echoed by the
leaders of the two other parties represented in Kocharian’s cabinet.
Baghdasarian’s comments appear to have also raised eyebrows in
Moscow. Senior Russian lawmakers reportedly raised the matter with
Baghdasarian during a meeting of a Russian-Armenian commission on
inter-parliamentary cooperation that took place in St. Petersburg in
late April.

However, the 37-year-old speaker struck a defiant note during a
parliament session in Yerevan on 2 May, asserting that NATO
membership was essential for Armenia’s `European integration.’ “I see
Armenia’s future in the European Union, rather than the
Russia-Belarus union,’ he said. Baghdasarian downplayed his
differences with the Armenian government’s position, but warned that
if they are deemed `serious’ by Kocharian, Orinats Yerkir will not
hesitate to quit the governing coalition.

The pro-presidential coalition – comprising Orinats Yerkir, the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), and Prime Minister Andranik
Markarian’s Republican Party of Armenia – has been beset by
infighting ever since the signing nearly three years ago of a
power-sharing agreement. The squabbles have, until now, centered
solely on domestic issues. But the Yerevan daily Aravot on 3 May
quoted ARF leader Vahan Hovannisian as suggesting that the latest row
has exposed `disagreements of a strategic character’ within the
pro-Kocharian camp.

Those disagreements may well deepen in advance of next year’s
Armenian parliamentary election. Baghdasarian effectively kicked off
his party’s election campaign in April when he publicly criticized
the government’s controversial privatization policies, scoring points
with the disgruntled electorate. Such opposition-style tactics
already helped Orinats Yerkir form the second largest faction in
parliament on the basis of the results of the May 2003 election. The
party, which now claims to be the largest in Armenia, was not
implicated in reports of serious irregularities that marred that
vote.

The Orinats Yerkir leader, who is often criticized for employing
populist tactics, is also seen as one of Kocharian’s potential
successors. The incumbent’s second and final term in office expires
in 2008. Observers say Western support would only increase
Baghdasarian’s chances of making a strong run in the next
presidential ballot.

Western policymakers and analysts seem to be showing growing interest
in Baghdasarian, underscored by the decision by a major European
newspaper to run an extensive interview with him. Baghdasarian’s
comparative youth and stated commitment to democratic reforms have
already earned him comparisons to the revolutionary leaders of
Georgia and Ukraine, Mikheil Saakashvili and Viktor Yushchenko.
Baghdasarian helped foster such an image by traveling to Kyiv last
December to deliver a passionate pro-democracy speech during the
first-anniversary celebrations of Ukraine’s Orange Revolution. His
calls for Armenian membership in NATO may thus further boost his
stock in the United States and Europe.

Those calls also reflect an ongoing broader change in the
foreign-policy orientation of Armenia’s political elite, a process
that seems to have accelerated amid Yerevan’s recent gas dispute with
Moscow, and its controversial settlement. The idea of joining NATO,
unthinkable in the past, is increasingly embraced by the country’s
mainstream opposition groups. Some opposition leaders defended the
speaker against the recent political attacks stemming from his NATO
remarks.

Even as Kocharian insists that Armenia’s military alliance with
Moscow remains the bedrock of Yerevan’s national-security doctrine,
Armenian authorities are enhancing security cooperation with NATO and
the U.S. in particular. Armenia’s participation in the U.S.-led
alliance’s Partnership for Peace program is currently being
significantly upgraded in accordance with an `individual partnership
action plan,’ or IPAP, launched last December. The IPAP calls for
sweeping political and military reforms in order to boost civilian
control over the military, as well as to promote the armed forces’
`interoperability’ with the armies of NATO member states. The
Armenian military is already involved in the NATO-led peacekeeping
operation in Kosovo, and has a small contingent of non-combat troops
in Iraq.

As part of the IPAP, Yerevan also undertook to draft and publicize
its `defense doctrine’ as well as a broader `national security
strategy.’ An ad-hoc government commission headed by Defense Minister
Serge Sarkisian is working on the two documents. `We are working hard
together to help Armenia to realize its desire to have stronger
relations with the Euro-Atlantic family,’ U.S. Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza
said during a March visit to Yerevan. `We are pleased with the
considerable progress made in this regard over the past year.’

According to a senior NATO official who visited the Armenian capital
recently, the IPAP is `not incompatible’ with Armenia’s membership in
the Collective Security Treaty Organization, as it falls one step
short of accession talks with the alliance. `It is up to Armenia to
decide whether it wants to go further,’ the official said.

Emil Danielyan is a Yerevan-based journalist and political analyst.
This is a partner post from EurasiaNet.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Radio Netherlands, Netherlands
May 9 2006

Armenian roots
By Bertine Krol

09-05-2006

Alex Peltekian is a Dutchman with an extraordinary story to tell. He
was born 50 years ago as Alexander Luijten, but in 2000 took the
surname of his biological father, a French-Armenian army officer.

While looking into his roots, he also learned about the Armenian
people and their long history of repression and persecution,
including an horrific massacre by Turkish troops in 1915.

To listen to the program:

dutchhorizons/060510dh?view=Standard

EUobserver.com, Belgium
May 9 2006

Turkey and France clash over Armenia ‘genocide’
09.05.2006 – 10:34 CET | By Teresa Küchler

Turkey has recalled its ambassador to France in protest against a
French bid to criminalise denial of the alleged Turkish genocide of
Armenians in the early 1900s.

Turkey has always rejected claims by international historians that
1.5 million Armenians died between 1915 and 1923 as a result of
systematic genocide while modern-day Armenia was under Turkish
Ottoman control.

A spokesperson for the foreign ministry in Ankara said on Monday (9
May) that the ambassador was recalled for a short time to discuss
what Ankara calls the “baseless allegations of Armenian genocide” in
France.

Later this month French parliamentarians are set to discuss and vote
on a law that would make denial of the so-called Armenian genocide a
crime.

The law would mirror existing French legislation against
holocaust-denial, carrying a sentence of up to five years’ prison and
a 45,000 fine.

“The adoption of these texts will provoke irreparable damage to
Franco-Turkish relations,” a Turkish government spokesperson said,
according to French media.

Ankara recognises just 500,000 Armenian deaths during “the Ottoman
war,” and rejects the “genocide” tag saying both sides suffered
severe losses, with Armenia allied to Russia at the time.

Brussels MEPs, acting on a French initiative late last year, also
demanded that Ankara recognises the genocide of Armenians as a
“prerequisite for accession to the European Union.”

The European Commission’s translation database, IATE, defines
genocide as “harmful acts…committed with intent to destroy, in
whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”

A commission official told EUobserver that Brussels’ enlargement unit
avoids using the word because “the commission is a forward-looking
institution.”

Trade sanctions mooted
The head of the Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs commission,
Mehmet Dulger, said this weekend that Turks could boycott French
products and French firms could lose lucrative contracts if the
legislation is passed, according to Reuters.

“Turkey will not accept becoming a toy in the French election
campaign,” Dulger said, with a nod toward the French presidential
race in 2007.

He added that he would lead a group of Turkish lawmakers to Paris
this week to lobby against the bill.

In 2001, Turkey cancelled multi-million euro deals with French
enterprises after the French parliament officially recognised the
genocide.

Turkish lawmakers are also preparing a rival law accusing France of
committing genocide during its colonial rule in Algeria.

The legal proposal has also come under fire from less politicised
voices, with Turkish and French intellectuals protesting over the
“inflation of laws of memory” and criticising the government’s
“promulgation of official truths.”

Meanwhile, an open letter to “our French friends” signed by nine
groups of Turkish entrepreneurs and trade unions, published in
several French daily newspapers, said “it is not up to the law to
describe history.”

Turkey and Armenia have no diplomatic relations and closed borders,
with the landlocked country keen for Turkey to open up highways for
trade to western Europe.

“We are too small to have enemies,” an Armenian diplomat said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

New Anatolian, Turkey
May 9 2006

US congressmen praise Turkish-Israeli ties

The New Anatolian / Ankara

U.S. congressmen yesterday told Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul
of their appreciation for the development of Turkish-Israeli
relations, despite the visit by a Hamas delegation to Ankara, Turkish
government sources told The New Anatolian.

The remarks by the U.S. delegation, which was composed of members of
the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee, were made
during a meeting with Gul in Ankara. The talks were dominated by
recent developments in the Middle East especially Israel, Iraq and
Iran, as well as the Armenian genocide claims, which brought Turkey
to the edge of a crisis with France and Canada.

According to the sources, while the U.S. officials didn’t express
dissatisfaction over Hamas’ February visit to Turkey following the
Palestinian elections that brought the militant group to power, they
praised the developing pace of cooperation and relations between
Turkey and Israel, both strategic allies of the U.S.

Gul explained Ankara’s stance towards Iran’s nuclear program,
underlining that Turkey is against the presence of weapons of mass
destruction (WMDs) in the region, which might pave the way for a new
crisis in the Middle East.

The visit by the U.S. delegation coincided with the visit by top
Iranian nuclear envoy Ali Larijani, something which didn’t escape
notice.

On the issue of the latest developments in Iraq, the U.S. officials
suggested Turkey invite Iraq’s new prime minister to Ankara as a sign
of Turkish support for the country’s political process, diplomatic
sources said.

Gul for his part touched on the importance of preserving Iraq’s
territorial integrity and national unity, urging the U.S. to support
all Iraqi groups.

Gul underlined that while Ankara has the opportunity to deal with the
developments in the Middle East in detail, Washington has a global
perspective towards the region because of its geographic location and
said that despite the presence of differences in perceptions, the
U.S. and Turkey should work together to create a joint vision in the
region.

Concerning the Armenian genocide claims, while Gul explained to the
U.S. officials that the events of 1915 were not genocide, the U.S.
side stressed the need to establish a joint commission composed of
Turkish and Armenian historians to study the controversial events.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress