Author: Nahapetian Samvel

A-320 MYSTERY IS IN BLACK BOXES

Yerevan, May 12. ArmInfo. Interview with the director general of the
Armavia company Norayr Belluyan.

Q: The media are appearing with various versions of the A-320
crash. Not only specialists but even politicians are speaking about
it. What is Armavia’s version?

A: Until we have black boxes, we better refrain from giving versions?
Who are we trying to deceive? Our own selves, people, the world
aviation community? The media’s versions can be just versions but
some of them are beginning to make conclusions based on their own
interpretations. This is not right. I can understand when versions are
given by aviators, but when they come from people who know nothing
about aviation, this is more than strange. All this is causing
confusion and is spawning myriads of fantastic rumors. The key problem
now is that we can’t say anything specific as the search is not over
yet. But I very much hope that the black boxes will be found and we
will learn why the plane fell into the sea, But unfortunately, the
boxes are still in the sea.

So, there is no sense in guessing. My position of principle is that
only specialists have the right to speak about the causes of the
crash. What I can say today and for sure is that the experts have
ruled out the version of terrorist act onboard. As regards, the
version that there was little fuel – an experienced pilot must be a
kamikaze to fly without fuel. As you know, the public prosecutor’s
office has ruled out this version too. That’s why I urge everybody to
refrain from own conclusions, though I well understand that people
can’t help rumoring about such an accident. But one must not look for
sensations in human tragedy and broken lives.

Q: What do you think about the fact that the talk of the crew with the
Georgian air controllers was made public the very next day of the
crash, while the records of the Sochi air control agency over two
weeks later? It is exactly because of this fact that people are asking
questions.

A: In fact, on the very first day of the tragedy they in the Sochi
airport told us that the air controller forbade the plane to land
because of bad weather and told the crew to make the second turn. But
an air controller can’t order a pilot if he should land or
not. According to IKAO rules, he should inform and recommend – no
more, and it is for the crew itself to decide to land or not to
land. Now Russia and Armenia have set up a special commission to give
answers to all questions and to make them known to the public. I am
more than convinced that nobody will allow anybody to conceal any
information and to soft-pedal the issue. Yes, the air controller did
not let our pilot to land – this is sure. But we can’t yet say that
otherwise everything would be OK. The air controller must have had
reasons for recommending “not to land.”

Q: What do you think about the charge that the plane could have some
technical problems because it was not checked up in Brussels?

A: The plane was checked up in Budapest and not in Brussels. Each
plane has its flight limit after which it must be checked up. Today
the international rules are so tough and so strictly observed that no
plane can take off without check up. For example, if a plane has 5
hours left it uses them to fly to Brussels or Budapest or any other
town where our technical partner, Sabena Technics, will send it
to. The technical problems must have arisen in the air, otherwise we
would know that as we are informed of any even very small problems
onboard.

Q: First, you said that the amount of the insurance compensation will
be $20,000, then, that this sum is approximate.

A: A representative of the London insurance company visited Yerevan a
few days ago. He carried out very serious thorough work, Insurance is
a very delicate business and it is hard to say now how much will be
given as compensation – $20,000, 22,000 or 25,000. Why we first said
$20,000? Because approximately as much is given in such cases, but the
specific amount is not known yet.

This depends first of all on the results of the investigation. But
certainly the compensation will be paid. Let’s say that until the
cause of the crash is known the insurance company will not be able to
specify the amount.

Q: What can you say about the incident in Belgium when two Armenian
airbuses burnt down in a fire. Do you think it was a tragic
coincidence?

A: The point is that until now the scene is still cordoned off and
even Sabena Technics representatives are no let in. Some explosions
are still taking place there. The place is very toxic and nobody is
let in. We are still unaware what actually happened there and what
caused the fire. We know as much as you do – from newspapers and TV. I
don’t think it was some act of sabotage against the Armenian
aviation. Those who are investigating the case will say sooner or
later what happened.

Q: Has the loss of two planes affected the schedule of you company’s
flights in any way?

A: Yes, it has – because to lose two planes is a big blow. We are
delaying flights but Atlant Union (Russia) will let us Il-86 or Tu-154
and we will have delays only in exceptional cases. Most likely next
week we will already have the second A-319. As you remember we earlier
mentioned about our plans to lease fresh airbus. We did not hurry but
now we need it urgently. So very soon Armavia’s fleet will consists of
A-320, two A-319s and two Yak-42s. We are also negotiating leasing a
CRG, an American plane for 70-75 passengers. It will fly only to
middle distances – Rostov, Min Vody, Sochi. So, we have enough planes
for meeting our schedule.

Q: These are short-term plans, and what about mid- and long-term ones,
are they still in force?

A: Absolutely all. We are planning to open a flight to Milan. The
flight we have long been talking about – Yerevan-New York-Los Angeles
is also in the offing. For this purpose we are going to rent a new
A-330 or Boeing-767. We are also planning a flight to China via
Central Asia. I don’t want to give specific dates, but we are actively
working on theses projects and are not going to give up any of them.

Q: What was the reaction of the world aviation community to the Sochi
tragedy? What attitude did you, as director of Armavia, felt towards
your company?

A: You know, I could hardly imagine that the tragedy will receive such
strong compassion from the world aviation community. it was a natural
human reaction, but many companies offered specific assistance in a
whole number of questions and I am very grateful to them.

FRANCE SPLIT OVER ARMENIAN BILL
By Ali Ihsan Aydin, Paris

Zaman, Turkey
May 11 2006

French National Assembly President Jean-Louis Debre is opposed to
the bill that would penalize those who deny the so-called Armenian
genocide.

It is not the job of the parliament to record the history of other
nations, Debre told Zaman.

Chairmen from both the ruling party and the opposition Socialist Part
(PS) have opposed the bill prepared by the PS; and although it was
rejected by the Regulations Commission Wednesday, the legislative
proposal will be discussed at the General Assembly on May 18.

Debre said they continuously remind the parties involved that history
cannot be written with laws. “It is just an offer for now,” he added.

Following PS Parliamentary Group Chairman Jean Marc Ayrault, the
Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) Parliamentary Group Chairman
Bernard Accoyer also opposed the legislative bill. Focused on recent
discussions over the colonialism law, Accoyer yesterday recalled a
discussion held a few weeks ago that ended with the conclusion that
no law should be passed on historical issues. However; the PS is
again leaning in the same direction with this initiative, Accoyer
criticized. They will nevertheless not endorse a group decision,
and the UMP deputies will be free to vote as they see fit.

Jean Marc Ayrault, PS parliamentary group chairman, does not hide
his concerns either. Ayrault warning the legislative offer will be “a
source of chaos and difficulty,” stressed the offer came to the agenda
as “a result of big pressure from the party.” Ayrault told Zaman that
the bill has divided the parliament as well as the party, and as the
PS group chair he does not wish to further comment on the issue.

PS Secretary-General Francois Hollande maintained politicians have
the right to speak on historical issues and supported the bill.

Hollande claimed the acceptance of the so-called genocide is a
pre-condition for Turkey’s membership to the European Union. Agence
France-Presse (AFP) reported the bill has divided French politics and
whether or not the bill will pass will depend on the number of deputies
participating in the vote. Very few deputies had joined in the2001 vote
where the parliament recognized the 1915 events as “Armenian genocide”.

Armenian bill process continues amid French Commission’s rejection

The French National Assembly’s Regulatory Commission Wednesday rejected
a bill proposed by socialist deputy Didier Migaud.

Assembly analysts say the Commission’s rejection of the bill
criminalizing denial of the so-called Armenian genocide, means the
actual rejection.

The draft law will be submitted to a parliamentary discussion on May
18, since the PS brought up the bill for discussion in parliament
since it met “its limited number of rights” to set the parliamentary
agenda, a permission that is granted in accordance with a party’s
share of seats in parliament.

The parliamentary speaker will, however, ask for a preliminary vote
prior to the parliamentary investigation into the bill.

If the majority votes against the parliamentary investigation, the
bill will automatically be left off the parliamentary agenda.

Parliamentary approval of the bill will be followed by a Senate
discussion.

If the bill is approved, denial of the so-called Armenian Genocide
would result in a fine of ~@45,000 and up to five years imprisonment.

BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT TURNED DOWN BILL RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.05.2006 14:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The People’s Assembly of Bulgaria has turned down
the bill on recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire
in 1915.

Bulgarian coalition, having historical Turkish origins, voted against
the bill unanimously. The opposition supported the draft. After
the vote opposition MPs stated that Bulgaria will have to recognize
the Armenian Genocide soon or later, reports the Public TV Company
of Armenia.

ORINATS YERKIR IS ON THE OFFENSIVE

Lragir.am
11 May 06

Nothing dramatic is happening with the Orinats Yerkir Party, said
the secretary of the Orinats Yerkir faction on May 11 to define the
resignation of the businessmen members of parliament of the faction.

At the Pakagits Club she met with news reporters to comment on the
recent developments. Heghineh Bisharyan thinks the resignation of
the businessmen members of parliament is an openly guided process
but Heghineh Bisharyan declines to specify who guides this process.

“Today, in my opinion, business and politics are interdependent,
and naturally a businessman cannot be independent, which gives
rise to such developments. This phenomenon allows to think about
what is going on. Every political force and every businessman may
face it. It does not matter how many members the Orinats Yerkir has,
seven, thirteen or three, it will go on operating clearly, working,”
states the secretary of the Orinats Yerkir faction, adding that the
party is on the offensive.

Heghineh Bisharyan thinks certain political forces are worried by
the advancement of Arthur Baghdasaryan, whom she describes as an
honest and outspoken figure, who is truly eager to make changes in
the country. “Unlike other political forces, which have displayed
themselves in the political sphere, they failed to change the situation
in the country in so many years. I advise you to go around the regions
to see if politics of the recent years has changed anything in our
lives or not,” says the secretary of the Orinats Yerkir faction.

Heghineh Bisharyan mentions that presently the Orinats Yerkir Party
is exposed to a large-scale attack, and it is the latest political
fashion to criticize the leader of the party Arthur Baghdasaryan.

Heghineh Bisharyan thinks it would be better if Arthur Baghdasaryan
resigned and the party seceded from the coalition. Though Heghineh
Bisharyan says it is her personal opinion, she mentions, nevertheless,
that the entire party and personally Arthur Baghdasaryan share her
opinion. And according to the secretary of the Orinats Yerkir faction,
even if there are people in the party who would try to influence
Arthur Baghdasaryan to keep their offices, they will not succeed.

“There are people everywhere who crave for office. There are people
who care for their position only. The leader of our party does not
crave for office, and it does not worry him, and I think he will not
share that opinion,” says Heghineh Bisharyan. She assures that with
62 thousand members the resignation of several members of parliament
will not undermine the Orinats Yerkir Party and its activities. In
addition, Heghineh Bisharyan thinks that during the vote the Orinats
Yerkir relied on the population and not its member businessmen.

“The Orinats Yerkir does not buy votes, and we will receive more
votes. I am one of the builders of the party, and those who quit the
party are not among these builders, upholders of the party, those who
solve the financial problems of the party. The Orinats Yerkir party
will not suffer losses, neither in terms of money nor number,” says
Heghineh Bisharyan. For the rumored resignation of Samvel Balasanyan,
the leader of the faction, she believes that Samvel Balasanyan is not
going to leave the party, neither are the other members of parliament
who have a definite standpoint. The secretary of the Orinats Yerkir
faction announces that the key upcoming issue is the parliamentary
election, which will have an essential role for the country.

“Together with all the non-governmental organizations we must focus
on the upcoming election. The upcoming election is utterly important
for the future of our country. For a great number of political forces
are established, and we do not know around and for what these are
established, without a political platform, an ideology, and it is
not clear either what gaps they are going to fill in,” says Heghineh
Bisharyan. She states that all are parties whose leaders utter a
sentence, a word, and people wonder what they told. With the forces
should be employed to reach transparency in elections. For the
abovementioned businessmen, Heghineh Bisharyan finds it difficult
to answer where they will go, saying there regard to this the choice
of political parties by these businessman is, according ot Heghineh
Bisharyan, a matter of taste.

NK CELEBRATES 61st ANNIVERSARY OF VICTORY IN GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR, FORMATION OF NKR DEFENSE ARMY AND 14 YEARS OF LIBERATION OF SHUSHI

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
May 10 2006

STEPANAKERT, May 10. /ARKA/. Nagorno-Karabakh simultaneously celebrated
three holidays, namely 61st anniversary of victory in Great Patriotic
War, formation of the NKR Defense Army and 14- years of liberation
of Shushi.

According to “ARKA”s correspondent in Stepanakert, festival began
early in the morning with festive march of army columns along the
streets of the republic.

Authorities of NKR, with President Arkady Ghukasyan at the head, as
well as governmental delegation from Armenia headed by the RA Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan visited Memorial Complex of the capital,
where they honored the memory of people killed in the Great Patriotic
and Karabakh wars. Flowers were laid at the memorials of the Great
Patriotic War hero Marshal O. Baghramyan, legendary hero of Karabakh
war Ashot Gulyan and on graves of perished warriors.

Solemn events were held in Shushi. Flowers were laid on the memorial of
Vazgen Sargsyan and twice Hero of Soviet Union, pilot Nelson Stepanyan.

In educational institutions and institutes of Nagorno-Karabakh meetings
were held with veterans of the Great Patriotic War and Karabakh war,
concert and sportive events.

In the evening in the central square of Revival of Stepanakert local
and invited from Armenia artist performed in front of people of
Karabakh and after which was a festive firework.

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
May 9 2006

French Historians Protest Armenian Bill

PARIS – A group of French historians, who last month put together a
letter of protest against a proposed “Armenian genocide law,” have
now come together again to publish a declaration against the draft of
the new law, which mandates prison sentences for those who deny the
genocide.

The bill, which was put together by the opposition Socialist Party in
France, and which will come before the French Parliament on May 18
for debate, has elicited protest from French historians on the
grounds that it carries stiff penalities for those denying the
Armenian claims, and in this sense infringes on freedom of expression
in France. The declaration from the group of historians against the
bill, who have expressed that they are “in a state of deep shock”
about it, notes, among other things, that “history teachers in French
schools will be taken hostage by this law.”

Among the historians signing off on this new declaration of protest
are well-known French academics such as Jean-Pierre Azema, Elisabeth
Badinter, Marc Ferro, Jacques Julliard, Pierre Nora, Mona Ozouf,
Jean-Pierre Vernant, and Pierre Vidal-Naquet.

EU ready to assist in Garabagh settlement

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
May 5 2006

Baku, May 4, AssA-Irada — The European Union is ready to assist
in settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno)
Garabagh, the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has said.

“Intense talks are underway between the conflicting sides with
the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group,” he told a conference in
Lithuania on Thursday held as part of the summit of Baltic and Black
Sea member states.

“Some elements of a possible accord are already discernible.”

Solana added that reaching peace depends directly on the parties to
the conflict.*

ARMENIAN FOUNDATION RAISING FUNDS FOR KARABAKH’S RECONSTRUCTION

Mediamax news agency
5 May 06

Yerevan, 5 May: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said in Yerevan
today that the Ayastan All-Armenian Foundation is “a well-established
organization”.

Speaking at a session of the board of trustees of the foundation,
Robert Kocharyan suggested honouring the memory of the victims of
the ArmAvia plane that crashed over the sea near Sochi on 3 May,
Mediamax reported.

The Armenian president noted that the foundation celebrates its 14th
anniversary this year. The organization has implemented many programmes
“of vital importance to the country”.

Naira Melkumyan, executive director of the Ayastan All-Armenian
Foundation, said that the organization gathered 12.7m dollars in 2005
and has received 7.5 m dollars in four months of 2006.

The Ayastan All-Armenian Foundation implemented about 100 programmes
in Armenia and Artsakh [Nagornyy Karabakh] in 2005. In 2006, it
will focus on the Revival of Artsakh programme and 7.7m dollars have
already been collected for its implementation.

CONFERENCE ON THEME “MESROP MASHTOTS AND ARMENIAN ALPHABET” TAKES PLACE IN OXFORD UNIVERSITY

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006

LONDON, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A conference of the
theme “Mesrop Mashtots and the Armenian Alphabet” took place on April
28 at the Exeter College of the Oxford University. Theo M. van Lint,
Professor of the Armenology Department functioning by Gulbenkian fund’s
financing at the Oxford University, Dr. Jos J.S. Weitenberg, the Chief
of the Armenology Department of the Leiden University (Netherlands),
Vrezh Nersesian, the head of the Birtish library “Christian Middle
East” department, Erna Shirinian, the head of the ancient literature
department of the Yerevan Matenadaran (Armenian repository of ancient
manuscripts), others made speeches at the conference. As Noyan Tapan
was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, RA Ambassador to United Kingdom Vahe Gabrielian made
the opening speech at the conference. He touched upon in his speech
the role of the Armenian letters in the Armenian history and affair
of formation of the Armenian people’s identity, their political
meaning and lessons. The conference followed the medieval literary
men’s exhibition with hand-written and printed copies of the 11-18th
centuries, The exhibition was organized from March 20 to April 30 of
the current year in the exhibition hall of the Bodleian Library of the
Oxford University. The Armenian collection in Oxford has started since
1635. The Armenology Department functioning at the Oxford University
by Galust Gulbenkian fund’s financing was founded in 1965.

ROW OVER GENOCIDE

7DAYS, United Arab Emirates
May 4 2006

Turkey warned France yesterday that bilateral ties could suffer if
the French parliament adopts a bill that would criminalise any denial
that Armenians massacred during World War I were victims of genocide.

“In our meetings (with French officials), we stress that adoption
of the bill could lead to irreparable damage in long-standing
Turkish-French ties and that this should not be allowed,” foreign
ministry spokesman Namik Tan said.

Expected to be voted on later this month, it provides for one year’s
imprisonment and a $57,000 fine for denying that Armenians were
victims of genocide.

If adopted, it will follow a 2001 French decision that infuriated
Turkey by acknowledging that the mass killings in the dying days of
the Ottoman Empire amounted to genocide.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered in
orchestrated killings between 1915 and 1917 by Turks, as the Ottoman
Empire was falling apart. Turkey rejects that, saying 300,000 Armenians
and at least as many Turks died in civil strife.

enocide.html