Author: Frangulian Shushan

A-320 Crash Investigation Results to Be Announced in Near Future

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.07.2006 14:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the near future the technical committee will
announce the results of the investigation of Armavia-owned A-320 jet
crash, Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin said in Paris. "The
last minutes of the A-320 flight were modeled in Toulouse by French,
Russian and Armenian pilots," Levitin said. In his words, the modeling
was based on the data received from the flight recorders.

"Modeling is the final stage of the investigation. Now we have to sum
up the information collected earlier, after what the commission will
announce the outcomes," the Russian Minister of Transport said.

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.

Ahmadinejad Describes Iran-Armenia Relations Sustainable

Fars News Agency, Iran
July 6 2006

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
assessed his country’s relations with Armenia as sustainable and
comprehensive and further stressed that both sides are interested in
developing ties.

Speaking during a joint press conference after the endorsement of
several joint cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding,
Ahmadinejad described the two countries’ relations as sustainable,
cordial and comprehensive and underlined that both parties are
interested in the development of their mutual ties.

The chief executive official also stated that the two states’
relations and cooperation are on the increase and informed that
during his talks with Kocharian, they have studied bilateral ties
and international issues.

He said that the two sides had also reviewed their mutual cooperation
grounds.

Stressing that Iran and Armenia share many common view points about
international issues, he said both states seek boosting and expansion
of all-out ties.

He also expressed satisfaction with the MoUs endorsed by the two sides
and expressed hope that the agreements signed by the two Presidents
could take a long stride for the development of the two nations’ ties.

The Iranian President also pointed out that the two sides have endorsed
agreements in areas of legal, cultural and economic cooperation as
well as joint venture.

Ahmadinejad added that during the talks, both sides had stressed
operation of joint projects in the least possible time.

ARMENIAN POLITICIAN CLAIMS US MEDIATOR’S PRO-AZERI STANCE

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
posted July 5 2006

Baku, July 4, AssA-Irada
The latest statements by the US mediator brokering settlement to the
Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict "openly revealed
his slant toward Azerbaijan", an Armenian parliament member maintains.

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and the new co-chair of
the OSCE Minsk Group (MG), Matthew Bryza, has told the press that
the mediators submitted a framework accord to the conflicting sides
and outlined its key principles, but added that the latter have yet
to accept it.

Armen Ashotian, who represents the Armenian Republican Party, said
the first part of the statement did not cover determination of the
Upper Garabagh’s status and the issue concerning the Lachin and
Kalbajar districts.

"There is a considerable difference between the statements of Bryza
and those of other MG co-chairs," the MP said.

He went on to say that the United States binds great hopes with its new
intermediary. He said international experience in the area of settling
conflicts over Georgia’s breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South
Ossetia enables a conclusion that "these hopes are not groundless".

Commenting on Bryza’s position on other issues, Ashotian said the
American mediator places a particular emphasis on launching dialogue
between Armenia and Turkey after the Garabagh dispute is settled and
normalizing relations between the two countries in the future.

VISITORS FROM EURASIA TOUR CONCORD PLANT IN SEARCH OF NEW IDEAS, TECHNOLOGIES
By Leo Strupczewski [email protected]

The Delaware County Times, PA
July 6 2006

CONCORD — Five visitors had broken from the tour and joined an
impromptu business meeting. Twenty visitors from Armenia, Moldova,
Georgia and Ukraine toured the Concord Sewage Treatment Plant
Wednesday. The tour was part of an U.S. Department of Commerce program
for mid- and senior-level water resource management and maintenance
engineers and executives from Eurasia.

While Tom Chew, the facility’s managing director, directed the tour,
Karapet Ohanyan was talking with Peter Snow, the training manager
for Godwin Pumps.

It couldn’t have worked out any better for Ohanyan, from Yerevan,
Armenia. He needed a portable water pump, but didn’t want to buy them.

No one in Armenia rents them, Ohanyan said. The same also goes for
Ukraine and Georgia.

"It would be good for both sides if you did rent there," Ohanyan said
through an interpreter.

Snow, an Aston resident, smiled and pulled Godwin’s national sales
manager Joseph Abbott Jr. into the group.

"The idea is to bring them in, expose them to our technologies,"
Abbott said of the program, called the Special American Business
Internship Training Program. "Maybe stimulate some sort of business
relationships."

No deal was settled on the spot, but the program was a success.

The 20 visitors have been in the country for four weeks. They’ve
toured facilities throughout the Mid-Atlantic states and met with
manufacturers, along with local, federal government officials and
water treatment plant officials.

They visited Concord because it’s a smaller plant, Abbott said. It’s
also state-of-the-art and clean.

"They run a nice operation," he said. "I wish they all looked like
this."

For the facility, hosting a similar program six years ago probably
would not have been possible.

"It would have been difficult at best," Chew said. "There just wasn’t
any personnel."

Or space.

Chew said the facility has experienced tremendous growth since 2000.

At the time, there was only one full-time pump operator and two other
part-time employees.

Now, there are six full-time employees and a new garage with office
space. The facility will also break ground on a new pump in August.

All of it is attributed to the population growth in the area. The
facility’s main customer is the Delaware County Prison, but also
serves roughly 2,000 households.

"It’s sort of a chicken and the egg scenario," Chew said. "Concord
could’ve never grown at the rate it did without the facility."

But for Ohanyan and the other visitors, the tour was about picking
up some advice and making contacts.

"At the minimum, I will let people know what I’ve learned," Ohanyan
said. "Everyone here has had lots of patience and interest with us."

NKR PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AND NKR FOREIGN MINISTER DELIVER SPEECHES IN US
INSTITUTE OF PEACE

WASHINGTON, JUNE 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On June 28, in
Washington, the NKR officials delivered a speech at the United States
Institute of Peace at the event on subject "Karabakh Conflict:
Prerequisites of Peace". Diplomats, leaders of strategic centers and
organizations, members of the Armenian Diaspora attended the event. In
their speeches, Ashot Ghoulian and Georgy Petrossian presented the
official position of the NKR on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict focusing
on the history of the conflict and the current stage of the peace
settlement. The NKR Parliament Speaker presented the legal and
historic grounds of the proclamation and establishment of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic stressing their correspondence to the international
norms and experience. Speaking of the situation in the region, Ashot
Ghoulian noted that the NKR regarded with comprehension to the vital
interests of the USA and other countries in the South Caucasus but at
the same time it anticipated understanding of its interests from these
countries.

In his speech, the NKR Foreign Minister stressed that the current
format of the negotiations does not reflect the real point of the
conflict as the Azerbaijani party refuses to negotiate with Nagorno
Karabakh. Thus, Georgy Petrossian noted, since 1988 Azerbaijan has
transformed the possibility of the legal solution of the problem to an
enduring ethno-political conflict. The NKR delegation answered the
attendants’ various questions.

Then, in the U.S. Congress, the NKR Parliament Speaker and Foreign
Minister had a meeting with Ranking Member of the House Foreign
Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, Congresswoman Nita Lowey. In
the course of the talk, the NKR delegation presented the current
social-economic state in the republic, the achievements connected with
the development of democracy in Artsakh and the last developments in
the process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

According to the NKR MFA, in the evening, in honor of the NKR
delegation, a reception took place in Capitol in which the
U.S. Congress members, RA Ambassador to the USA Tatoul Markarian, NKR
Permanent Representative in the USA Vardan Barseghian, leadership of
the Armenian Assembly of America and the Armenian National Committee
of America, Congress staff members, journalists, members of the
Armenian Diaspora took part. Congressmen Frank Pallone, Joe
Knollenberg, Edward Roys, Caroline Malony, Adam Shiff, Bred Sherman,
who heartedly greeted the NKR National Assembly Chairman and Foreign
Minister, delivered speeches at the event. Condemning the aggressive
anti-Armenian policy conducted by Azerbaijan, the Congress members
confirmed readiness to contribute to the establishment and development
of the NKR. In their speeches, the Nagorno Karabakh officials
expressed gratitude to the U.S. Congress and American people on
behalf of the people of Artsakh for adherence to such eternal values
as freedom and democracy as well as for the humanitarian aid rendered
to Nagorno Karabakh. "Artsakh knowingly chose the way of freedom and
democracy and no obstacles will turn it from that way", the NKR NA
Speaker summed up.

After the event, the NKR delegation met with Co-Chairs of the
U.S. Congress of Armenian Friendship Group, Congressmen Frank Pallone
and Joe Knollenberg. The participants of the talk touched upon issues
related to the current social-economic state in the NKR, development
of democracy in Artsakh, assistance rendered by the USA to the NKR and
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
June 30 2006

FAMILIES OF AIR CRASH VICTIMS FROM ARMENIAN A-320 AIRBUS TO RECEIVE
AMD 1MLN SUPPORT

YEREVAN, June 29. /ARKA/. Every family of the 85 Armenian citizens
killed in the air crash of the Armenian A-320 will be given AMD 1mln
(about $2,400). The press service and public relations department of
the Armenian government made such a decision during yesterday’s
sitting of the government.
The financial support will be provided from the AMD 88.472mln
accumulated on the special account of the treasury of the Armenian
ministry of finance and economy. More AMD 2mln will be given to the
families of two Georgian citizens killed in the air crash.
Besides this, AMD 1.472mln will be earmarked for designing of a
monument for the air crash victims.
The families will receive the financial support in cash.
The Ministry of Finance and Economy was assigned to stop receiving
funds on the temporary and off-budget account of the treasury and
close it after all payments are done. R.O. -0–

RUSSIAN INTERIOR MINISTRY SPECIAL TROOPS AND ARMENIAN POLICE JOINT EXERCISES TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.06.2006 14:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Joint tactical-special exercises of Russian Interior
Ministry Special Troops and Armenian Police will be held at the sport
base of Tsaghkadzor resort town in Kotayk region of Armenia. The
soldiers of special detachments of the two countries will hold
an operation to release "hostages" taken by "terrorists." In the
words of Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, "Russia’s and
Armenia’s special troops already had experience of interaction past
October. During the joint exercises the special troops of the two
countries will train joint fulfillment of operative combat tasks and
joint actions to arrest armed criminals, reports RIA Novosti.

PERSONS WITH PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION TO BE INCLUDED IN ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS

ArmRadio.am
30.06.2006 11:37

Between 14-29 June 1460 citizens applied the Central Electoral
Commission to participate in the professional courses for membership to
Precinct Electoral Commissions of Yerevan. The deadline for submitting
applications is 14:00, July 14th.

According to the Electoral Code, starting from the coming nationwide
elections, the electoral commissions will be recruited with persons,
who participated in the above-mentioned courses and received
corresponding qualification.

‘REVALUATION OF DRAM IN THE MARKET IS THE RESULT OF DEMAND AND SUPPLY SITUATION’
By Ara Martirosian

AZG Armenian Daily
30/06/2006

Ardshininvestbank’s Board Chairman Said at the Opening of Bank’s
Offshoot in Etchmiadzin

"Etchmiadzin" branch of Ardshininvestbank opened its doors in a new
building on June 28. As one of the bank’s 51 offshoots, "Etchmiadzin"
with its 18 employees will serve 3-3.5 thousand citizens.

At ribbon-cutting ceremony chairman of Ardshininvestbank’s Board,
Aram Andreasian, stated that contrary to other Armenian banks,
Ardshininvestbank already has branches all over Armenia. He emphasized
that the bank’s policy is to create comfortable conditions for the
clientele and added that 5-6 more branches will be repaired.

Asked about revaluation of Armenian dram, Mr. Andreasian said that
it’s a positive phenomenon in general though exporters suffer
certain loss. Yet, today’s currency is the result of demand and
supply situation in the market. He informed that dollar transfers via
Ardshininvestbank have increased against last year. Besides, big sums
flow into construction sphere and that also affects exchange rates and
increases demand for US dollar. Aram Andreasian thinks that it’s more
important that prices are stable than the changes in exchange rates.

COLUMNIST MURAT YETKIN FACES 4.5 YEARS JAIL
Erol Onderoglu

BÝA, Turkey
June 29 2006

Istanbul prosecutor demands up to 4.5 years imprisonment for "Radikal"
daily columnist Yetkin for criticizing the controversial trial of
internationally accredited Turkish author Orhan Pamuk.

BÝA (Istanbul) – Journalist, author and "Radikal" newspaper columnist
Murat Yetkin has been charged by an Istanbul prosecutor for "attempting
to influence a fair trial" by criticising a 2005 controversial court
case opened against Turkey’s internationally accredited writer Orhan
Pamuk, and may face up to 4.5 years imprisonment if found guilty of
the offence.

Yetkin’s September 18, 2005 dated commentary "Turkey will be put
on trial in the case launched against Orhan Pamuk" was subject to
an investigation where the Istanbul Bagcilar 2nd Court of First
Instance prosecutor on May 4 decided to proceed with the prosecution
of the writer.

The offending article stressed that the Pamuk case would challenge
Turkey during its accession talks with the European Union and asked
"how many people in [capital] Ankara are aware that Turkey will be
on trial in this case as much as Pamuk?"

Yetkin will appear before the court on August 24.

More trials under Article 288

Article 288 of the Turkish Penal Code where comments and opinions
with regard to ongoing court cases are regulated, governs the
controversial charges of "influencing the justice" or "insulting the
court" in Turkey.

Accordingly any verbal or written statement made with the "attempt to
influence the prosecutor, judge, court, expert of witnesses before the
final verdict is passed in an investigation or prosecution launched
with regard to an incident" can be punished with 6 months to a maximum
of 3 years imprisonment. Where the "offence is committed through the
press or by way of publication, the penalty is increased by half".

"Milliyet" and "Radikal" newspaper journalists Hasan Cemal, Ýsmet
Berkan, Haluk Sahin and Erol Katircioglu were on trial for their
own criticism of a court order banning a conference in Istanbul on
Ottoman Armenians but the case was dismissed earlier this year due to
statue of limitations. The Bagcilar Prosecutor’s Office then appealed
the dismissal.

"Radikal" newspaper columnist Murat Belge has only recently been
acquitted on the same charge in a June 8 hearing this year.

Under article 288, the Bagcilar 2nd Court of First Instance had also
tried Van Yuzuncu Yil University Press and Public Relations coordinator
Nalan Akgun and English Language and Literature Department official
Azer Banu Kemaloglu who were charged with attempting to influence
a fair trial by wearing white ribbons on their necks to protest
the arrest of the University Dean Prof. Dr. Yucel Askin. Both were
acquitted in an April 17 hearing.

"Agos" newspaper writers Hrant Dink, Aydin Engin, Serkis Seropyan and
Arat Dink are, however, still being tried under this article and will
appear before the Sisli 2nd Court of First Instance on July 4. The
case is being closely monitored by freedom of expression activists
and organisations world-wide.

–Boundary_(ID_5KvlIorlzx7pyFPZioZeKw )–