Author: Nahapetian Samvel

ACCIDENT CAUSES OF ARMENIAN A-320 AIRPLANE TO BE CLEARED UP TILL THE END OF JULY
YEREVAN, JULY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The investigation of the crashed causes
of the Armenian A-320 airplane comes to its end. Tatyana Anodina,
President of the Intergovernmental Aviation Committee (IAC) informed
about this at the July 12 press conference. According to her, the IAC
has got all the necessary materials and the causes of the accident will
certainly be found out. “The work will end until the end of July and
all the materials will be made public,” said the IAC President. In
T.Anodina’s words, the conversations of the A-320 airplane’s crew
will not be published, as the international rules demand it.
Touching upon the actions of the controller of the Sochi airport,
T.Anodina announced that he was obliged to inform the crew about the
change of the weather. At the same time she did not deny the fact
that the controller ordered to stop lowering. “We do not look for
those guilty, the corresponding national bodies are engaged in it,”
announced the President of IAC.

Youth Group of the Eastern Dioceses USA to join HFH Armenia on “Armenian
Build on Faith” Project
ArmRadio.am
13.07.2006 17:30
Twenty-five youth, aged about 24 will join the Armenian Aragatsotn
Diocese Youth Group to build within the context of Catholicos Karekin
II Work Project – Armenian Build on Faith Project.
“First of all, this is a pilgrimage to the motherland and it has an
educational goal,” said the Very Rev. Father Torgom Monk Tonikyan,
Vicar of the Aragatsotn Diocese in Armenia, “This is a great chance
for our youth to demonstrate Christian love to their neighbors and
to the Church.”
July 15, 2006 the members of the Youth Group of the Eastern Dioceses
(USA) will join the other twenty-five members of the Aragatsotn
Diocese Armenia to make their contribution in this upcoming event,
helping some HFH Armenia partner families to build a better homeland
in Gavar town, Gegharkunik region.
They will spend three days at the Habitat for Humanity Armenia building
site, working side-by-side with the families, encouraging them toward
a better future.

Decoding of the flight recorders of the crashed A-320 is in the final stage
ArmRadio.am
12.07.2006 17:17
President of the CIS Interstate Aviation Committee Tatyana Anodina
declared today in Yerevan that decoding of the flight recorders
of the crashed A-320 is in the final stage. For the first time she
officially stated that they have all grounds, which will allow to
detect the exact reasons of the crash.
“The whole information will be publicized by the end of the month
and the work will be completed,” Tatyana Anodina said.
The decoded data will not be disseminated through mass media, as it
is required by international law. Recently “Moskovskiy Komsomolets”
newspaper wrote that the decoding of the flight recorders suggests
that those guilty of the crash should be searched for on the land
and that the human factor cannot be considered the cause of the
tragedy. The paper quoted also pilot Alexander Akimenko’s words:
“There are no felones-de-se among pilots. And after the crewmembers
die, taking also the lives of hundreds of passengers, the culprits
should be searched for among the alive. Tatyana Anodina considers
such publications impermissible and improper.
“Consultation with any structure is excluded. According to
international norms, the Interstate Aviation Committee should draw
objective suggestions and there can be no pressure on the part of
any structure,” she said.
To remind, the last flight of the crashed A-320 was modeled in
Toulouse.
French, Russian and Armenian specialists were participating in the
works. The results of the investigation have not been completely
summed up so far.

AZEBRAIJANIS START FIGHTING OCCUPANT INSECTS
Yerevan, July 11. ArmInfo. Azerbaijanis have again started a fight
against occupation, this time against “insects that have occupied their
lands” coming from the territories under control of Nagorny Karabakh,
APA reports this absurd information.
The source reports that “a mass inflow of vermin and wild animals to
the lands under control of Azerbaijan” is a result of fires in the
territories on the part of Armenia. “Reptiles are attacking sown
areas. Several people have already applied for medical assistance
after snake bites,” APA reports.
Azerbaijani Media report also several cases of flood in the country.
However, no allegations against Armenians have been made so far.

USA AIMING TO DEPLOY NATO FORCES IN KARABAKH – ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER
Arminfo
28 Jun 06
Yerevan, 28 June: A recent statement by the US co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, testifies that a settlement of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict has already been clearly outlined, and
the Armenian side has agreed to this, the leader of the Democratic
Party of Armenia [DPA], Aram Sarkisyan, told a news conference today.
By using the Karabakh issue, the USA is trying to pursue its own
interests in the region, particularly, to deploy NATO peacekeeping
forces in the conflict zone which will in fact turn Armenia into
Iran’s enemy, he said. Sarkisyan believes that if the deployment of
the peacekeepers in the region will be solved, Russia will also lay
a claim for the deployment of its own forces in the conflict zone. At
the same time, the DPA leader considers inadmissible the deployment of
the peacekeepers in the conflict zone regardless of what organization
or country they will represent.
He believes that the deployment of peacekeepers in the Karabakh
conflict zone will undermine a balance and destabilize the situation
in the region. Sarkisyan said that the US policy was a continuation
of NATO’s policy in the region. “NATO has also started to use the
language of an ultimatum applied by the US authorities with regard
to the Armenian leadership. For example, during a recent visit of a
delegation of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to Armenia, members of
the delegation asked Armenian MPs following questions: who Armenia
is today with – NATO or Russia; what is the essence of complimentary
foreign policy conducted by Armenia?” Sarkisyan said.
The members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s delegation said that
if Armenia wants the integration into the EU, it should realize
that the path to the EU is via NATO, he said. They said that
it is impossible to be simultaneously involved both in NATO and
another military organization, he added. “Now the newly-appointed
US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, continues
this language of an ultimatum. Bryza’s utterances [on the Karabakh
settlement scenario] testifies that the USA is fed up with the current
Armenian and Azerbaijani leadership, and by using the Karabakh issue,
they want to exert pressure on them,” Sarkisyan said.
[Passage omitted: criticism of the Armenian authorities]

PRESS-SERVICE OF MOTHER SEE OF ETCHMIADZIN CHANCELLERY EXPLAINS REGULATIONS OF VISITS TO TREASURY
Yerevan, July 6. ArmInfo. Press-service of Mother See of Etchmiadzin
Chancellery explains the situation with the regulations of visits to
the Treasury, Picture Gallery and Museum of Mother See Etchmiadzin.
According to the press-service, the Treasury is in the territory of
the residence of Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, and everyone
needs to get a permission of Bishop Paren Avetikyan or his assistants
to visit this close area. Everyone can visit the Treasury irrespective
of citizenship and social status. At present, construction is in
process in the territory of the Mother See. As a result, the Museum
will be separated from the residence and there will be no necessity
for permission to visit the Treasury any longer.

AZERBAIJAN’S STRICT POSITION IS GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF NAGORNO KARABAKH
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily
07/07/2006
The negotiation process for Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
entered a new stage after the recent statement by Mathew Bryza, US
OSCE MG Co-Chair. The statements made by Bryza were no accidental and
this became obvious after the American Embassy to Armenia published
the joint statement of the co-chairs.
Afterwards, RA and Azeri Foreign Ministers made comments on the
statement, i.e. the OSCE MG Co-chairs statements were discussed in
public. We wonder why the Co-Chairs took that step and what they
expected.
The mediators stated that they spared no efforts to elaborate mutually
acceptable package of concessions and added that at present the sides
in conflict are responsible for the settlement process. By this step,
the Co-chairs expect to find out what are the public opinions in
Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan on the recently made suggestions. Besides,
they intend to prepare the societies for these countries for adoption
of the suggestions. It’s obvious that the international pressure
on the sides in conflict will become more intensive and the points
for the settlement will be imposed to the sides. The statement of
the Great Eight foreign Ministers testifies to this very fact. The
Great Eight Foreign Ministers supported the OSCE MG joint statement
and called for the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan take the
next step to sign peace. In the course of the Great Eight Summit
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will not be able to avert
signing the settlement principles.
The failure of the negotiations may contribute to the international
recognition of NKR.
Taking into account all these recent development, it’s not
excluded that the events will develop in a new and unexpected
direction. Azerbaijan, counting on its oil prospects, will reject to
sign the settlement and will lead the conflict to a dead end. In this
case Armenia will only be able to contribute to the international
recognition of NKR. The strict position of Azerbaijan is the best
opportunity for that. Thus, The failure of the negotiations may
contribute to the international recognition of NKR.

RA MINISTER OF ENERGY AND DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER HAVE MEETINGS IN TEHRAN FOR PURPOSE OF PREPARING ROBERT KOCHARIAN’S VISIT TO IRAN
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jul 5 2006
TEHRAN, JULY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 4, Armen
Movsisian, RA Minister of Energy, Co-chairman of the Intergovernmental
Commission of Armenian-Iranian Contacts, had meetings with Iranian
Minister of Oil Vaziri Hamane and Minister of Energy Parviz Fattah in
Tehran for the purpose of preparing the working visit of RA President
Robert Kocharian to Iran to take place on July 5-6.
The sides attached importance to the forthcoming visit of the
Armenian President, clarified the range of issues aimed at developing
cooperation in the energy sphere to be discussed during the July 5
meetings and negotiations betwen IRI and RA Presidents.
They also touched upon the process of construction of the Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline, the 3rd line of high-volt electric conductivity
connecting the two countries, as well as other projects of two
countries’ cooperation in the energy sphere.
Arman Kirakosian, RA Deputy Foreign Minister, Deputy Chairman of the
Intergovernmental Commission of Armenian-Iranian Contacts, met with
Manouchehr Mottaki, Iranian Foreign Minister, Iranian Co-chairman
of the Intergovernmental Commission of Armenian-Iranian Contacts,
and Mehdi Safari, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, at the meeting Arman Kirakosian touched upon
organization issues of the Armenian President’s visit, mentioned with
satisfaction that the working groups have done everything possible
for organizing the visit efficiently and at a high level.
Opinions were exchanged on issues relating to bilateral and regional
political, economic cooperation, the process of fulfilment of
the agreements reached at the last sitting of the Armenia-Iran
Intergovernmental Commission was discussed.
The Iranian Foreign Minister informed the Deputy Foreign Minister
of Armenia about the recent developments around the Iranian nuclear
program and in his turn inquired about the recent events in the
Nagorno Karabakh settlement.

RELIGIOUS LEADERS DISCUSSING IN MOSCOW FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
04.07.2006, 22.02
ITAR-TASS, Russia
July 5 2006
MOSCOW, July 4 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Orthodox Christians clad in
austere dark clothes and distinguished only by the colour of the
headgear, representatives of the Orthodox Caucasian republics Armenia
and Georgia wearing black hoods, which made them look like stern monks,
aged Catholic cardinals in red hats, Buddhists in red-yellow robes,
Muslims in turbans, bearded Judaists in black hats, all gathered in the
prestigious President-hotel in Moscow, attending the religious summit.
They gladly mix during the coffee breaks, except for Muslims and
Judaists who deliberately keep apart.
They behave the same way at the Summit of Religious Leaders in Moscow,
where all agree about the need to fight terrorism and extremism,
but where Muslims and Judaists continue a fierce dispute about the
ways to overcome the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
COOPERATION OF CHURCHES
Over 150 religious leaders from more than 40 countries attend the
World Summit of Religious Leaders. Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and
All Russia made the initiative for the meeting and the Inter-religious
Council of Russia organized the summit.
The summit does not aim to decide theological problems. As the
organizers of the summit noted, the point of the matter is not that
of creating a united religion but cooperation that can be promoted
by a system of common moral values of world religions.
Virtually all the speakers stressed that religion and terrorism have
nothing in common. Nevertheless, the Middle East conflict could not
but affect the course of the summit.
PALESTINE-ISRAEL
The aggravation of the Palestinian-Israeli crisis prompted an indirect
dialogue between representatives of Judaism and Muslims from Middle
East countries.
Abdullah Maatouq al-Maatouq, the Kuwaiti minister of justice, awqaf
(religious endowments) and Islamic affairs, condemned resolutely
“the killing of peaceful people of Palestine.” “We cannot tolerate
the fact that whole settlements are isolated,” he said.
Ahmad Badreddin Hassoun, the chief mufti of Syria, said, “Islam
and terrorism do not go together.” He reproached religious leaders
of Europe, saying that they had played “a big parts when the Berlin
Wall was being torn down” and asking them why they keep silent now
that a wall is being erected in Palestine.
Chief Rabbi of Russia Berl Lazar said terrorism stems from “the
lack of spirituality that leads to the growth of intolerance and
xenophobia.” He said world terrorism “recruits flunkeys, using
religion, among other things.”
NO CONFRONTATION OF RELIGIONS
“It is important that religious leaders declare here for peace,
against terrorism, but it is no less important that how all these
wishes will be translated into life,” said Chief Rabbi of Central
Asia David Gurevich. “The honest Muslim world,” he said, “should
stop its politicians so that they should not use religion to achieve
annexationist aims.”
Chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia sheikh Ravil Gainutdin
made a call in his statement not to allow for a new confrontation
between religions “in conditions when, aside from the danger of the
spread of international terrorism, there emerges the danger of a
split of the world according to religion.”
Gainutdin called on Europe and the world to study the experience of
goodneighbourly relations between Orthodox Christians and Muslims
in Russia.
“We condemn terrorism and extremism in any form, as well as the
attempts to justify them by religion,” he said.
WHILE POPE AND DALAI LAMA DO NOT ATTEND SUMMIT
Contrary to some forecasts, the fact that Pope Benedict XVI and
Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama XIV are not attending the summit
has not clouded its atmosphere.
Pope Benedict XVI addressed a message to the forum, which was read
out on Tuesday by Cardinal Walter Kasper.
The Pope believes this remarkable meeting bespeaks of the common
wish to create civilization and search for a new, more fare order. He
believes it is necessary to establish areas of cooperation to answer
contemporary challenges of the world. As regards various Christian
confessions, the head of the Vatican is convinced that their main
task is to get to know and begin to respect each other.
The Vatican’s delegation to the Moscow summit is the most
representative one. It includes ten most influential Catholic
hierarchs.
Cardinal Roger Etchegaray told Itar-Tass that the summit is highly
important in present-day conditions, that it offers an opportunity
for a dialogue of representatives of all religions and expressed the
joy that the summit has taken place.
Cardinal Walter Kasper believes it is yet early to predict a meeting
between the Pope and Patriarch Alexy.
He told reporters the subject had not been broached either during
the summit or during bilateral contacts. However, any meetings,
this summit, too, may bring the possibility of such an event closer,
he said.
As to the Dalai Lama whose attendance was prevented by Russia’s
unwillingness to spoil relations with China, his absence did not
affect the course of the summit, even though a few days ago Shajin
Lama (the head of the Buddhist organization) of Kalmykia Tolo Tulku
Rinpoche threatened that Russia’s Buddhists would ignore the summit
if the Dalai Lama did not arrive for it.
“The Dalai Lame is the head of Tibetan Buddhists, and Tibet is part
of China, so this is the matter to be addressed to China,” Hamba-lama
Damba Ayusheyev, the head of Russian Buddhists, told ltar-Tass. He
said Russia’s traditional Buddhist Sangha participates in the
Inter-religious Council and was among the organizers of the forum,
so Russian Buddhists could not but take part in the forum.
The summit in itself, Hamba-lama believes, means “above all respect
for Russia and the evidence of the prestige of the Russian Orthodox
Church and other traditional religions of Russia.”
RELIGIOUS UNITED NATIONS AND G8
The participants in the summit on Tuesday discussed how the factor of
religion could influence politicians, also in order to settle armed
conflicts. It is planned to pass a declaration on the basis of the
forum, to bring it to the notice of the participants in the meeting
of the Group of Eight in St Petersburg.
The organizers of the forum believe such functions will possibly be
held regularly before summits of the G8.
“Leaders of world religions gathered in Moscow in order to exert an
effect on the world situation and to influence political leaders
of countries,” Tagir Samatov, the mufti of Western Siberia, told
Itar-Tass.
He said the wish to create a sort of “United Nations of all
confessions” was expressed at the summit.
Yona Metzger, Israel’s chief rabbi, specifically, came out with the
proposal to create a “United Nations for religious communities”.

ENERGY SECURITY IS ON FOCUS OF ATTENTION OF NATO – SEC-GEN
Author: R.Abdullayev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 4 2006
Ensuring the energy security is on the focus of attention of NATO,
and in the near future it is expected to hold one more session of
Alliance on this topic, the deputy secretary general of NATO Jane
Furne told while answering the questions of correspondent of Trend.
According to him, the energy security, especially security of
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, were on the focus of attention of
several measures of NATO. “There will be held discussions on what
contributions the North-Atlantic Alliance may make to the provision
of security of energy lines,” told Furje.
Besides, Furje expressed his satisfaction with the policy of official
Baku within the action plan of Individual partnership program of NATO
and Azerbaijan.
Deputy secretary general of NATO noted that Azerbaijan’s entrance to
the alliance is not on the agenda. “This question should be addressed
to the head of Azerbaijan,” told Furje, adding that NATO is interested
in development of the relations with each countries of South Caucasus.
Touching on Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Furje noted
that Alliance is not going to substitute the OSCE Minsk Group in the
negotiations, but supports the rapid settlement of the conflict.