Author: Emil Lazarian

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
May 27, 2006 Saturday 02:49 PM EST
”Black boxes” from crashed Armenian plane brought to Paris
by Mikhail Timofeyev
Two flight data recorders from the Armenian Airbus-320 passenger
plane that crashed in the Black Sea of Sochi on May 3 were brought to
Paris on Saturday.
Specialists will examine and open the so-called “black boxes” to
retrieve memory microchips that record different flight data
parameters and conversations in the cockpit.
After that the recordings will be analysed in Moscow by experts from
Russia, Armenia, and France.
The CIS Interstate Aviation Committee said earlier it would take at
least 15 days to analyse the data in the recorders.
IAC head Tatyana Anodina said about 2,000 planes of the Airbus-320
type are operating around the world, and everybody wants to get full
and objective data about the accident as soon as possible.
According to Anodina, two black boxes from the crashed plane record
conversations in the cockpit and plane system data. “Unfortunately
the voice recorder was seriously damaged but the data recorder,
according to preliminary information, is in excellent condition.
Recordings will be analysed in Russia, using equipment from France
where the Airbus-320 airliner was designed,” she said.
There were three flight data recorders aboard the plane but no
signals from the third one have ever been registered, which suggests
that its radio beacon was knocked off during the crash.
Flight data recorders used on aircraft of the Airbus-320 type
withstand the depth of up to 6,000 meters for 30 days, experts from
the French air crash investigation bureau said.
Each flight recorder weighs 10 kilograms, including a seven-kilogram
armoured casing for the gadget. The casing can withstand water
pressure at a depth of 6,000 meters, the temperature of 1,100 degrees
Celsius, and the compression of 2.2 tonnes.
Of 113 people who were abroad the plane, 51 bodies have been found so
far.
The Airbus A-320 of the Armenian airline Armavia plunged into the
Black Sea as it was making a landing manoeuvre in the early hours of
May 3. The accident claimed the lives of 113 people.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net
Russia Cannot Be Responsible for All Post-Soviet
Conflicts

27.05.2006 15:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia cannot be responsible for all post-soviet
conflict, Aide of Russian President Sergey Prikhodko stated at a
meeting with journalists in Azerbaijan. In his opinion, if Russia’s
efforts are needed, it will do even more than necessary. «However,
Russia cannot impose its will upon independent states. A solution,
which is not acceptable for the Azeri people, cannot be imposed,»
Sergey Prikhodko said, reports the Echo newspaper.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenpress
AZERI PRESIDENT AGREES TO MEET WITH KOCHARIAN IN BUCHAREST

BAKU, MAY 26, ARMENPRESS: Azerbaijani foreign
minister Elmar Mamedyarov told journalists today that
president Ilham Aliyev has agreed to hold another
meeting with Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian in
Bucharest, Romania, on the sidelines of the Black Sea
Dialogue and Partnership summit on June 5.
He said the Aliyev-Kocharian meeting was discussed
with high-level delegation of diplomats from Russia,
France and USA who visited Baku together with the OSCE
Minsk group cochairmen. Mamedyarov said the proposal
was made by the diplomats and accepted by Aliyev.
Viktor Soghomonian, a spokesman for Armenian
president Robert Kocharian, has confirmed that
Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents will meet in
Bucharest, Romania.
He said both presidents have accepted invitations
to attend the Black Sea Partnership and Dialogue
summit, slated for June 4-5, but he added it was not
yet clear whether it would be a separate meeting or a
meeting on the summit’s sidelines.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA PRESIDENT RECEIVES FINNISH ORTHODOX CHURCH HEAD

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian received
on May 26 Leo Makkonen, the head of the Finnish Orthodox Church and
Archbishop of Karelia and All Finland, accompanied by Karekin II
Catholicos of All Armenians.
The President of the republic expressed satisfaction on the occasion
of the Finnish Orthodox Church head’s visit and mentioned that the
states and peoples gain from the two churches’ warm relations.
Characterizing today’s mutual relations of the Armenian Apostolic
church-state as excellent ones, Robert Kocharian said that Armenia is
a region where the church, belief and preserving of traditions are of
fatal meaning. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA President’s Press
Office, Archbishop Leo and Catholicos of All Armenians appreciated
Finnish Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic Churches’ cooperation.
Attaching importance to interchurch contacts, they mentioned that as
Christian churches, they exchanged viewpoints concerning problems
arisen in front of the Christianity and mankind.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: OYK PARTY’S CIVILIZED STEP SHOULD HAVE JUST OPPOSITE
RESPONSE

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Orinats Yerkir” (Country of Law)
party’s leaving the political coalition and declining posts undertaken
within the framework of the coalition agreements was a principal,
respectable and correct step. Tigran Torosian, the RA National
Assembly Deputy Speaker and the Chairman of the Republican Party of
Armenia expressed such an opinion, answering journalists’ questions on
May 25. According to him, in the world and particularly in many and
many countries – members of the Council of Europe, it is an frequently
met, usual event when coalitions do not keep their existence till the
next elections. According to T.Torosian, the OYK party’s quite
“civilized step”, though, “should have just the opposite response.”
Whereas, according to him, “the one that took place during the
statements’ time of the National Assembly and during the discussions
of the four-day sittings’ agenda preceded it, is absolutely
inadmissible, by the type of its expression.” At journalists’ request,
touching upon the conflict of the recent days of the “Azgayin
Miabanutiun” (National Unity) and “Orinats Yerkir” (Country of Law)
parties and the accusations in one another’s address, the NA Deputy
Speaker mentioned: “The most important thing is that the society
itself makes serious consequences arising of the happened as it must
elect a new parliament only in a year which must decide future life
for 5 years.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DELEGATION OF FRENCH SISTER CITY BOURG LES VALENCE ARRIVES IN TALIN

TALIN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation of the sister city of
Talin, Bourg les Valence (France) is in Armenia. The delegation
members and the Talin local authorities had a meeting on May 25 during
which they planned future programs and defined new spheres of
cooperation. As Mnatsakan Mnatsakanian, the Talin Mayor informed the
Noyan Tapan correspondent, they implemented numerous programs in Bourg
les Valence. A monument to the Armenian Genocide victims was opened in
that city by financial resources of the Talin Mayor’s Office, an
exhibition-sale of Art school pupils’ works was organized. And Bourg
les Valence presented the Armenian sister city buses, showed
methodical and material assistance to those educational institutions
where French is taught.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Presidnet Robert Kocharyan congratulated the Armenian people

ArmRadio.am
27.05.2006 14:44
President Robert Kocharyan issued a congratulating message on the
occasion of the Republic Day. The message says, in particular,
`I congratulate you on Republic Day. Independence was the
centuries-long target of the Armenian people, which became reality due
to our people’s struggle for liberation and especially the heroic
battles in May.
With its short existence between 1918-1920 the first Republic of
Armenia inspired the hope of having own independence. It also laid the
foundation of the Soviet Armenia and today’s Republic of Armenia.
I congratulate all of us on the Republic Day. May 28 is an important
factor on our way of building towards national statehood, freedom and
democracy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian, Azerbaijan presidents to meet in Romania for first time
since failed France summit

AP Worldstream; May 26, 2006
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in Romania,
possibly next month, government spokesmen said Friday, for talks aimed
at resolving a nearly two-decade conflict over the disupted enclave of
Nagorno-Karabakh.
Government officials in Yerevan and the Azerbaijani capital Baku both
confirmed that Robert Kocharian, of Armenia, and his Azerbaijani
counterpart, Ilham Aliev, were intending to meet, but gave no further
details.
The two Caucasus leaders are expected to attend a forum for Black Sea
countries scheduled for June 5 in the Romanian capital, Bucharest.
Talks held between the two presidents in France in February ended in
failure, despite international mediators’ efforts to push the leaders
to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh’s status.
The enclave is inside Azerbaijan but populated mostly by ethnic
Armenians, who have run it since an uneasy 1994 cease-fire ended six
years of full-scale fighting.
Sporadic border clashes have grown more frequent since the breakdown
of talks and the lack of resolution has hindered development
throughout the strategic Caucasus region.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CITY OF BERD TO HAVE CHURCH AT LAST

BERD, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The city of Berd of the Tavush marz will
again have a church: after destroying the only church of the city in
1930s, a new church has not been build yet. As Andranik Sharian, the
Berd Mayor informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent, construction of the
new church in the city will start this year and end, perhaps, in
2008. According to the Mayor, the place where the church will be built
have already been decided and the necessary geological works have
already been done. The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, with
benefactors’ assistance, will care expenses for contruction of the new
church.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

L’Arménie pays de paradoxes
Benoît Legault
Édition du samedi 27 et du dimanche 28 mai 2006
Mots clés : Arménie (Pays), Tourisme
Partout dans le monde, des pays s’ouvrent aux voyageurs. Parmi eux,
l’Arménie, où on découvre le paradoxe d’une vie religieuse intense
et d’un nightlife inoubliable. C’est un petit pays du Caucase entouré
de voisins exotiques… tels l’Iran, la Turquie, la Géorgie et
l’Azerbaïdjan. Mais l’Arménie est près de l’Occident en matière
de spiritualité et, maintenant, de tourisme.
Dans une nature mythique, de grands monastères subliment les paysages.
Un de ces joyaux architecturaux est le monastère Haghpat, inscrit au
Patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO. Photos: Benoît Legault
=0DErevan — L’Arménie est le plus vieux pays chrétien du monde
(depuis le IVe siècle), une identité qui a forgé la vie et
l’histoire de son petit peuple martyrisé par des voisins non
chrétiens (on pense au génocide turc de 1915 en particulier). Un
Canadien francophone ne peut qu’être très touché par un pays qui a
préservé son identité par la religion pendant 15 siècles. La
visite des monastères est d’ailleurs l’un des moments forts d’un
voyage en Arménie.
Ce pays est une ex-république soviétique, et c’est visible.
L’architecture, les voitures, même la grisaille égayée par une
grande élégance féminine, tout rappelle l’Union soviétique. Le
russe y reste parlé plus couramment que l’anglais comme langue
seconde.
Les liens historiques fraternels tissés avec la France exhalent la
chaleur naturelle des Arméniens envers les francophones (on compte
350 000 Français d’origine arménienne, dont le plus connu est
Charles Aznavour). Il y a peu, très peu de touristes en Arménie,
mais visiter ce pays procure des sensations à la Tintin : on a
l’impression d’être un vrai voyageur, un vrai explorateur. Les
Arméniens s’intéressent vraiment aux visiteurs, comme êtres
humains. Et personne n’a cherché à me faire surpayer un produit ou
un service sous prétexte que j’étais un touriste (par ailleurs, les
vols à la tire sont très fréquents).
Quelque 90 % des visiteurs font partie de la diaspora arménienne, au
moins deux fois plus nombreuse que la population de l’Arménie (3,8
millions d’habitants). La communauté arménienne de Montréal, elle,
compte 30 000 personnes, soit la moitié de ce groupe au Canada.
=0D=0D
De succulentes ptisseries sont proposées en bord de route.
=0DLa diaspora est riche et donc pleine de ressources. Aussi, les
Arméniens sont très doués en affaires. Dans une large mesure,
c’est elle qui finance et orchestre le renouveau économique du pays et
en particulier de sa capitale, Erevan (1,2 million d’habitants, le tiers
de la population nationale). Le visage de cette ville change donc très
rapidement. Imaginez, son produit intérieur brut du pays augmente de
plus de 10 % par an, alors que l’activité économique se déroule
surtout à Erevan. La population en général demeure pauvre même
si ce n’est guère évident : les Arméniens soignent beaucoup
leur apparence.
Erevan rayonne d’une vie nocturne grouillante et spectaculaire, presque
indescriptible. Les artères de son joli centre-ville, d’allure
européenne, sont envahies par des flots de fêtards joyeux. On mange
et on boit aux terrasses dans une atmosphère méditerranéenne qui a
un je-ne-sais-quoi de plus exotique qu’ailleurs, car, après tout, on
est ici en Orient ! Avec un climat de type continental sec, brûlant
l’été et frigorifique l’hiver, l’idéal est d’y aller au printemps
ou à l’automne.
Mais l’Arménie ne convient pas à tout le monde. Le pays vit un
conflit frontalier armé avec l’Azerbaïdjan à propos de la région
du Karabagh. Aussi, elle est située dans une zone sismique et on se
souvient du tremblement de terre de 1989, qui a fait 25 000 morts. On
se sent toutefois en sécurité. Le plus grand danger encouru semble
être de se faire renverser par une voiture, les automobilistes ne
laissant aucune, mais alors là aucune chance aux piétons.
Voilà une destination qui permet d’ouvrir grand les yeux sur un autre
mode de vie de notre petite planète, au-delà des sentiers battus.
À l’heure du rouleau compresseur de la mondialisation, vivement le
dépaysement ! D’autant plus que cette destination n’est plus très
difficile d’Accès : British Airways, Austrian Airlines et Lufthansa
proposent des vols directs à partir de l’Europe, puis Air France la
dessert depuis quelques mois. Le décalage horaire de neuf heures y est
toutefois éprouvant.
***
Renseignements
– Hôtel Marriott Armenia Yerevan, marriott.com/EVNMC.
– Tatian’s Travel : tatianstravel.com, DiscoverArmenia.am.
– Achat en ligne d’artisanat arménien de qualité :
MadeInArmeniaDirect.com.
– Armenia Tourism Development Agency : ArmeniaInfo.am.
***
Notre journaliste était invité par l’hôtel Marriott
Armenia Yerevan et les lignes aériennes Lufthansa, qui ont rendu
possible ce reportage… effectué dans le cadre du tout premier voyage
de presse touristique de l’histoire de l’Arménie.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress