Author: Zakarian Garnik

JOINT STATEMENT OF OSCE MG CO-CHAIR STATES WAS RED OUT IN YEREVAN
Author: A.Mammadov

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
May 25 2006

Today, the Russian deputy foreign minister Grigori Karasin, the USA
state secretary assistant Daniel Freed and advisor of the French
Foreign Ministry Pyer Morel red out the joint statement of the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chair states in Yerevan as a result of their visit
to Armenia.

According to information of Medimaks, it was stated in the statement:
“We, deputy foreign ministers of Russian Federation, the United States
of America and France, together with the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk
Group and the special representative of the present chairman of OSCE,
arrived in Yerevan to assist in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
peacefully and therefore, it is high time for both sides to reach an
agreement on the basic solution principles,” told in the statement.

It is necessary to note that practically the text is similar with
the previous statement of the representatives of the OSCE Minsk group
co-chair states.

ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS HAD TELEPHONE CONVERSATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.05.2006 13:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Initiated by the Armenian party, Armenian President
Robert Kocharian had a telephone conversation with his Russian
counterpart Vladimir Putin, reports Kremlin Press Service. Robert
Kocharian thanked the Russian party for efficient full-scale
involvement of all services in the search and rescue works after the
crash over the Black Sea and congratulated on the successful completion
of the complicated operation of lifting the flight recorders.

In his turn Vladimir Putin hoped the lifting of flight recorders
would allow clearing out the circumstances of A-320 crash soon.

On the night of May 3 a Yerevan-Sochi flight of Armavia airlines
crashed in the Black Sea 6 km away from Adler airport killing all of
113 passengers, including 6 children and 8 members of the crew. Among
them were 26 Russian citizens, one Ukrainian and one Georgian citizen,
while the rest were Armenian citizens.

THE PLACE OF DECIPHERING THE RECORD BOXES IS NOT KNOWN YET

A1+
[06:00 pm] 24 May, 2006

The search for the record boxes of the plane A-320 lasted 20
days. Today it is over and both boxes are in the Sochi port waiting
to be taken to Moscow.

The deciphering of the record boxes will take place not in France as
it was announced but in Russia, the International Aviation Committee
informs. As “Vesti” reports, head of the Committee Tatiana Anodina
informed about it. Experts of the Aircrash Investigation and Analysis
International Bureau, representatives of the RF Prosecutor’s Office
and representatives of all those structures which participated in
the search work will participate in the deciphering.

According to Tatiana Anodina, the first box which was found recorded
the conversations on board. It was in bad condition as it records on
a common tape and lay under the water for a long time. The second
box fixes the information on a digital camera and it ought to be
better preserved.

“The fact that the Russian specialists managed to find the record
boxes is extremely important. This is a unique case. It is the first
one in the international practice when the work was successful in
the rough sea, with a complicated underwater relief,” RF Minister of
Transportation Igor Levitin said.

By the way, the information about the deciphering of the record
boxes has been controversial. Different versions have been
circulating. According to one of them, the boxes will be deciphered
in Paris.

ROMANIAN FM: THERE IS HOPE FOR PROGRESS IN KARABAKH ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2006 15:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan “strives for just and stable peace in
the region and prefers the stepwise settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said. In his words,
first the Armenian armed forces should abandon the territories around
Nagorno Karabakh where the refugees will return immediately. At
the second stage the displaced persons should return to Shushi and
other towns. “Only after that the status of Nagorno Karabakh can be
considered,’ he said.

Judging from the sequence sounded by the Azeri FM no progress can be
expected in the conflict settlement in the near future. “The Armenian
side demands guarantees for the right to self-determination of the
Nagorno Karabakh population in exchange for releasing the territories
around Karabakh. Return of Lachin and Shushi is not discussed. Return
of Kelbajar is doubtful. The positions of the sides have not come
closer for a centimeter,” New Time Baku-based newspaper says.

For his part Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu remarked
that the Nagorno Karabakh conflict was many times discussed by the
CoE. “Presently a hope for progress appeared. Political dialogue is
of utmost importance at the current stage of the talks. The meeting of
the Presidents may contribute to the alleviation of tension,” he said.

PACE RAPPORTEUR ON MONITORING OF CULTURAL MONUMENTS, EDWARD O’HARA’S VISIT TO AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA DELAYED

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 23 2006

PACE rapporteur on monitoring of cultural monuments, Edward O’Hara’s,
British parliamentarian, visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia which was
considered on May 28, delayed, Azerbaijani delegation member to PACE,
Rafael Huseynov has told APA.

According to him, mission headed by O’Hara had been considered to
begin the visit from Azerbaijan: “Today we were informed that O’Hara
has delayed the visit. I will clarify the matter. But presumably the
visit was cancelled by the wish of Armenian side.”

It should be noted that PACE planned to send a mission to region
headed by parliamentarian from Great Britain, on May 28. It was
considered that the mission will prepare report on ancient Alban
historic monuments claimed to be in Nakhchivan, historical monuments
of Azerbaijan and Armenian in Georgia, as well as historical cultural
monuments of Azerbaijan in Armenia, as well as in the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan by Armenians, investigating historical and
cultural monuments in Shusha.

NATO IS A “PARTNER” OF ARMENIA

A1+
[08:07 pm] 23 May, 2006

It is upon Armenia to decide how to cooperate with NATO. “NATO
doesn’t force any country to become its member and doesn’t hamper its
cooperation with other countries,” claimed Robert Simmons, special
envoy of the NATO Secretary General on South Caucasian affairs during
today’s press release.

Mr. Simmons answered various questions within half an hour and repeated
his above mentioned words several times. NATO is ready to support
Armenia in taking out the Russian military bases but “it is upon
the country to decide how long to keep them in its territory.” It
is upon Robert Kocharyan to participate in the NATO Parliamentary
Assembly or not. If NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan resigns for his
positive attitude towards the NATO, it is not upon Mr. Simmons to
give his evaluation of the matter either, “In any country people
may have diversity of opinions and they are free to express them,
but the Armenian Government decides its strategy itself.” Simmons
maintains that the NATO and Armenia are “partners” at present, and
such relations are profitable for the two sides. In the framework
of “partner relationship” they implement the program of Individual
partnership. The NATO representative registered positive progress in
the course of 6-month implementation.

The real evaluation will be given during the NATO session which will
be held on June 14. RA Foreign Minister and Defense Minister will also
participate in the session. By the way, Robert Simmons expressed his
hesitation on the claims of the RA officials that the RA army will
meet the NATO criteria in 2015. “it is not a university where one
has to fix a deadline,” said Mr. Simmons noting that there are the
NATO member countries which haven’t yet finished the reforms of the
defense and security fields.

While referring to the Karabakh conflict Robert Simmons stated that
NATO is not directly engaged in it but it support the OSCE Minsk
group. As for settlement of the peacekeeping forces of the NATO member
countries in the “occupied lands,” Simmons claims that it will be
probable only in case Armenia and Azerbaijan come to an agreement
on this score. By the way, Mr. Simmons didn’t understand and didn’t
want to make accurate what the Armenian journalist meant by saying
“occupied lands.” Simmons only urged that NATO doesn’t mingle with
the affairs of its member countries, let us take Turkey and Armenia
for instance, and leaves it for the member countries to settle their
affairs themselves.

PEOPLE PAYING HOMAGE TO VICTIMS WERE SCARED

Lragir.am
23 May 06

The parliamentary minority failed to gather enough signatures to
set up an ah-hoc committee on the government actions directed at
aviation. May 23 was the deadline of the poll, initiated by Member
of Parliament Victor Dallakyan. He had gathered 26 instead of the
required 44 signatures. Ardarutiun Alliance, the National Unity, the
Orinats Yerkir Party and even a member of the People’s Deputy Group,
Artusha Movsisyan had signed. Emma Khudabashyan and Hmayak Hovanisyan
had also joined the poll.

“Our purpose was to set up a committee after the poll during the
meeting of June 12, which failed, unfortunately,” stated Victor
Dallakyan. He said it had been foreseen that the committee would
operate through the summer and publish the findings in autumn.

“I think the atmosphere of fear spoken about over the past few days
played its role, and the National Assembly, which had observed two
minutes of silence for the victims, feared to join this initiative,”
says Victor Dallakyan. He rejects the view of Republican Member of
Parliament Galust Sahakyan that the initiative of the opposition was
an attempt of political manipulation with the plane crash. In reply
Victor Dallakyan merely read an extract from this legislative action,
where the goals of the ad-hoc committee are stated. “I just read:
a study of safety guarantees in civil aviation. Hence, there is
nothing to manipulate. In other words, probably, Galust Sahakyan is
not interested in the state of the civil aviation. Did you see any
implications of manipulation in this single line? Probably, they are
now busy with minibus lines,” stated Victor Dallakyan.

Man to be charged in hit-run

11 were hurt Sunday at Southfield church; police find no link between
Troy man and group members

The Detroit News
Tuesday, May 23, 2006

By Mike Martindale

SOUTHFIELD — A Troy man expected to be charged today in a weekend
hit-and-run incident that injured 11 people apparently has no links or
ties to the group, police said.

Police say a 1994 Plymouth Voyager drove into a crowd behind Alex
Manoogian School at St. John’s Armenian Church around 2 p.m. Sunday.

Four adults and seven children were injured as they tried to scramble
out of the way of the vehicle, which witnesses said accelerated toward
the group and plowed through three inflatable Moonwalk children’s
events, then sped away.

The suspect was arrested at his home in Troy.

“We have been unable to establish any link between him or anyone that
was attending the event,” said Southfield Police Detective Sgt. John
Harris. “From interviews with him, officers could find no reason for him
to target them.”

Harris noted two individuals, a 42-year-old Allen Park man and a
32-year-old West Bloomfield man, jumped on the vehicle in an effort to
get to the driver or the vehicle’s keys.

“The Allen Park man injured his right hand attempting to break out a
window,” said Harris, adding the man was dragged nearly 70 feet before
he was either thrown or fell from the Voyager.

The names of those taken to area hospitals were not released by police,
and the extent of their injuries were unknown. No one had
life-threatening injuries, and most of the victims were treated and
released.

Among them: a 35-year-old Farmington Hills woman who suffered a broken
pelvis while holding her 3-year-old son; a 41-year-old Farmington Hills
woman who fractured an ankle; a 13-year-old Waterford girl (right knee);
8-year-old Oak Park girl (ankle); 9-year-old Southfield girl (arm);
8-year-old Hamtramck boy (scrapes, bruises); 10-year-old Oak Park boy
(stomach pain); 7-year-old boy (ankle); 6-year-old girl (leg).

You can reach Mike Martindale at (248) 647-7226 or [email protected].

pps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060523/METRO02/6052303 46/1009

OPPOSITION IS NON-LICENSED ACTIVITY

Lragir.am
23 May 06

“I congratulate Arthur Baghdasaryan on the final establishment of
the Orinats Yerkir Party,” said the leader of the Ramkavar Party of
Armenia (Liberal Democratic Party of Armenia) Harutiun Arakelyan May
23, assessing the recent developments related with the coalition and
the Orinats Yerkir Party.

The Ramkavars say Orinats Yerkir made a political decision. The members
of parliament who left the party for the mandate and their businesses
also made a political decision. The leader of the Ramkavar Party does
not share the joy of certain members of parliament, for they also
have entrepreneur members of parliament. Harutiun Arakelyan relies
on his experience as a person who witnessed rats in politics.

“In 1993-1994 the same happened in our political party. Members of
parliament tended to affiliate with the Ramkavar Party; well, they had
heard about the Diaspora, a rich political party, etc. Later they left,
however. The new bureau of the political party has changed its style
of work to prevent this from reoccurring,” said Harutiun Arakelyan.

The Ramkavar Party has worked out with the Hzor Hayrenik Party 100
amendments to the electoral legislation to reduce and eliminate the
influence of economic factors and businessmen on political processes.

“We especially underline two: application of the proportional system of
vote and lifting of the immunity of members of parliament.” According
to Harutiun Arakelyan, the latter will make the mandate of a member
of parliament less attractive for a businessman. “They will leave
the National Assembly alone. The National Assembly has deviated from
its main function – the National Assembly is a place where laws are
made.” For the opposition, it is neither a place, nor a geographical
location, and Harutiun Arakelyan says it is funny when Orinats Yerkir’s
affiliation with the opposition is met with slings and arrows.

“Opposition is a stance. Some oppositionists have assumed a status
as if they are supposed to get a license for being opposition.

We do not need anybody’s permission for our opposition stance.”

The Ramkavar Party will stand for elections in 2007 and 2008. It will
act seriously. The question of candidates and alliances with other
political forces will be decided in the extraordinary congress of
the political party in February 2007.

“NORTH AVENUE” GAINS REAL SHAPES

Yerevan, May 22. ArmInfo. The “North Avenue” Project starts to gain
real shapes. As the Vice Mayor of Yerevan Karen Davtyan said, this
is the first big city planning Program in Armenia in the post-Soviet
period. The Program is complex and, taking into account its scale, it
is unprecedented for the capital. The total territory of construction
is 70-80 thsd. sq. m. The construction is carried out since 2003. The
idea of the “North Avenue” belongs to the author’s group headed by the
former Chief Architect of Yerevan Narek Sarkissyan. Separate buildings
were included in the initial Project later. In addition to tenement
houses and commercial objects, underground complex constructions, which
had never been before in the capital, are also built. For example,
an underground two-high car park, which will allow to considerably
mitigate the functioning capacity of the Yerevan streets by cars. A
foot-street is also built, as it is customary in many cities of
the world.

It is scheduled to complete the “North Avenue”, which is conventionally
divided in three sections, at the end of 2007. Eleven builders are
involved in the Project implementation. Particularly, the “Local
Developers”, “Aykapal”, “Has Profit”. Among the foreign builders,
a good work of the “Moscow House”, “AVO FM”, “Nazaret Berberyan”
Ltd. and “Garni Group” companies was especially noted.