THE PRESIDENT MUST BE INTERROGATED
A1+
[04:31 pm] 06 September, 2006
“The scandalous story of Watergate repeats itself in Armenia”, member
of the Heritage party Raffi Hovannisian told a news conference today
which wasn’t visited by a single journalist from any TV Company.
Thanking the journalists present Mr. Hovannisian mentioned that the
persecutions of his party realized during the last months are organized
by the highest level of power. “In the Republic of Armenia which is
supposed to be a lawful country late at night without the decision of
the court people close down my house which is also my office. Four days
later at midnight they commit another crime – the break into my office,
turn on the computer and steal top secret information about the party”.
Examination showed that a robbery has taken place, but the law
enforcement bodies refuse to initiate a criminal case. “We demand
to reveal the “Mister Gate” scandal. The law enforcement bodies
must interrogate the president, his administration and those who
control the court system and the activity of the TV Companies”,
Mr. Hovannisian said.
The Heritage party has appealed the decision of the Kentron community
police about refusing the demand of the party to initiate a criminal
case. Raffi Hovannisian is convinced that the lists of the activists
of the party and the analytic materials have been stolen in order to
threaten the members of the party. “I hope that the National Security
Service will reveal what happened. I’m sure that it was the answer
of our political activity in the atmosphere of fear which has been
reigning in the country lately”.
Let us remind you that during the latest conference of the party Vardan
Khachatryan has been elected leader of Heritage. In this connection
Mr. Hovannisian said that natural changes are good for any party.

“THE PRESENT AUTHORITIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDERS”
A1+
[06:02 pm] 06 September, 2006
According to the statement made by the party “New Times” the murder of
Head of the Operative Investigation Department of the State Tax Agency
Shahen Hovasapyan and the violence against the journalists testify
to the fact that the crisis in Armenia is deepening and threatens
to shatter the basis of the state. The statement claims that the
“present authorities with criminal elements are responsible for all
suchlike crimes”.
According to the statement, “the resignation of the heads of the
power structures is extremely urgent”, as in case of the absence of
radical changes all the spheres of life will collapse.
“Today the necessity of getting rid of the criminal authorities is
more urgent than ever. With this aim the party “New Times” calls
on the society to unite and to fight against the criminals”, the
statement says.

SENDING TROOPES TO LEBANON WOULD BE FAVORABLE FOR ARMENIA
A1+
[08:23 pm] 06 September, 2006
Turkey has made a decision about sending a peace-making mission
to Lebanon. Let us remind you that the Armenian community had
previously expressed concern in this connection. Armenia is not going
to participate in the peace-making activities, speaker of the RA
President Viktor Soghomonyan had informed late in August. “Armenia
is not ready to send a peace-making mission to the conflict zone,
especially as at present the UN has not yet established the mandate
of the peace-making forces”, he underlined.
Ex Minister of Defense, Lieutenant-general Vagharshak Haroutyunyan
finds peace-making missions important in today’s world. “Peace-making
missions are a serious factor in the foreign policy of the
country. Taking into account its chances, Armenia has to actively
participate in peace-making activities. It is favorable for the
country”, he said.
According to Vagharshak Haroutyunyan, in case of Lebanon we must take
into account our relations with the country and the support Lebanon has
shown after the Genocide granting asylum to those Armenians who escaped
from Ottoman Turkey. Besides, “There can be serious developments in the
region. It is the center which has the main stores of oil. That region
is the center of the collision of the interests of super powers”.
Referring to the peace-making mission sent to Iraq, Vagharshak
Haroutyunyan said that these are two completely different cases. “The
Armenian forces in Iraq were considered part of the anti-Iraqi
coalition, and conflict in Iraq was between the forces and the
population. In these circumstances we created a dangerous situation
for our community and with this step involved the community into the
conflict. In case of the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, the sides
are interested in the allocation of peace-making troupes. That is, in
one case we have to do with war, and in the other – with a conflict”.
The other ex Minister of Defense, Vazgen Manoukyan also thinks that
the Armenian forces must participate in the peace-making activities
in Lebanon. “I was against the Armenian troupes being sent to Iraq
first because of the Armenian community, and then I did not find it
a right war. In case of Lebanon I think we ought to do it as we have
a large community there.
Besides, what is taking place in the Arabian world is extremely
important for us as we have an advantageous ground in the Arabian
world. Even if we have victims, war is war; it won’t result in
hostility with Israel or the Arabian world. On the contrary, it can
contribute to closer connections. On the whole, I think it would be
right to send troupes to Lebanon”.

IRAVUNK NEWSPAPER EDITOR SAYS HE IS ATTACKED FOR HIS PROFESSIONAL WORK
Panorama.am
15:48 06/09/06
“I left home at about 10 a.m. Suddenly two skinheads appeared,
knocked me down and started beating with feet,” Hovhannes Galajyan,
editor of Iravunk newspaper, details the attack made on him.
The skinheads escaped when they saw people coming out of the building,
Galajyan says. The editor reported to the district office of the
Armenian police. The attack is connected with my professional
work, Galajyan assures, because, as he says, he has no personal
enemies. However, the editor does not clearly understand which
publication has caused such violence.
Armenian Aryan Union Supreme Board has issued a statement raising
its voice of protest against the regular encroachment of a mass
media representative.
The statement demands from the law enforcement structures of Armenia
to take measures and punish the criminals.

WORLD BANK SURPRISED AT ECONOMIC INDICATORS OF ARMENIA
Panorama.am
17:54 06/09/06
The economic growth of Armenia continues to surprise the World Bank
(WB), Roger Robinson, the head of WB Yerevan office, said during a
presentation organized by AEPLAC experts. In his words, no one would
believe five years ago that Armenia will have two-digit growth of
GDP, increasing public incomes by two and considerably diminishing
the level of poverty. “In the beginning of this year, no one could
suppose that Armenia would have 11.7% of GDP growth,” Robinson said.
Armenia overpasses all countries of the world, with the exception
to Turkmenia and Azerbaijan, in growth indicators. “However, we may
not count these countries because their growth is connected with
known factors.
If these factors are eliminated, Armenia will take the lead,”
Robinson says.
Robinson indicated that Armenia needs to implement institutional
reforms to keep to the same indicators, particularly in tax and
customs services.

ARMENIA TO HAVE EU DEVELOPMENT LEVEL IN 17 YEARS, AEPLAC EXPERT SAYS
Panorama.am
17:03 06/09/06
“If we suppose that the averaged indicator of GDP growth in Armenia
makes up 12.2%, we can conclude that the country may reach the level
of development observed in European Union countries in 17 years,”
Artashes Shaboyan, expert of AEPLAC, said during a presentation on
“Economic development of Armenia – 2005.”
In his words, real GDP in 2005 is higher by 1.8 times than the same
indicator in the year 2000. In absolute terms, it makes up 2.2 billion
Armenian drams. The expert forecasts further growth in GDP in the
coming years, too.
Shaboyan indicated that the construction ratio makes up 21.7% whereas
in 2001 this indicator was only 9.7%.
The AEPLAC expert says GDP mostly will account on construction and
agriculture in future.

LLNL SEEKS PARTNERS FOR RAD DECONTAMINATION TECH
Terror Response Technology Report
September 6, 2006 Wednesday
Vol. 2 No. 18
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is offering the
opportunity for partnership and licensing of a new technology for
selective and effective radionuclide decontamination of urban transit
infrastructure. LLNL says that usually radionuclide decontamination
agents have been developed and used in sterile, nuclear power
environments but that the lab has developed technologies to
understand the chemical and physical properties of surfaces found
in the urban environment pertaining to public transportation and
address interference, specificity and efficiency problems found in
commercial nuclear decontamination agents. Additionally, LLNL hopes
to partner with a U.S. business and Armenia’s Yerevan Scientific
Research Institute through the Department of Energy’s Global
Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention program to develop coatings
and other vehicles for the immobilization and removal of radioactive
contaminants. Sol. No. FBO138-06. Respond by Sept. 22. Contact:
Connie Pitcock, administration, 925-422-1072, [email protected].

ANKARA SLAMS EU REPOT ON TURKEY ‘SLUGGISHNESS’
Written by The Media Line Staff
The Media Line, NY
Sept 6 2006
Turkey is dismissing a damning report from the European Union, which
claims Ankara is dragging its feet on reforms, imperative to paving
Turkey’s way into the EU.
A recent report adopted on Monday by the EU General Assembly’s
foreign affairs committee criticized Turkey for its slow progress in
democratic reforms.
But Ankara said the report “lacked common sense” and “smacked of
political bias,” Turkish Daily News reported.
The required reforms include the protection of minorities and freedom
of expression and religion.
The EU is also insisting Turkey recognizes Cyprus and has been
critical of Ankara’s refusal to recognize the killing of Armenians
during World War I as a genocide.
Dutch lawmaker Camiel Eurlings, who penned the report, said Turkey
must move forward with its efforts to incorporate reforms, or else
risk halting accession negotiations.
Last week the EU warned Turkey that its refusal to open ports and
harbors to transportation from Cyprus, an EU member, could cause a
crisis in the talks.
The committee report will be debated by the EU General Assembly later
this month.
Turkey is engaged in accession talks into the 25-member bloc. Talks
could take up to 15 years, and entry is not guaranteed.
Some governments are reluctant to see the mostly Muslim and relatively
poor Turkey enter the EU.

NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS HEAD VISITS ARMENIA
Panorama.am
18:25 06/09/06
Sheikh Ahmad Badr Al-Din Hassun, a religious head of Syrian Arabic
Republic, is in Armenia by the invitation of Garegin B, Catholicos
of all Armenians.
“This person is not an ordinary religious head. He opens a way
in the Islamic world and tries to lay a bridge between Islam and
Christianity. He is often criticized by his co-brothers for his
open mind to Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism and other religious,”
Archbishop Yeznik Petrosyan said while introducing the guest.
During his four-day visit, Sheikh Ahmad has changed his impressions
about Armenians. “While reading books about Armenia, I had the
impression that Armenians are serious personalities. During these
days, I realized that this nation has a lot of energy. I hope that
globalization will not affect the national face of this nation,”
the religious head says.
Sheikh Ahmad has met with NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan and Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan. The religious head came to realize
that Armenians are a peaceful nation and they do not hate Turkey
or Azerbaijan.
Sheikh Ahmad raised his surprise at the statement made by Pashazade,
the religious head of Caucasian Muslims about jihad. The statement
said in particular, that Pashazade is ready to announce jihad for
the liberation of Azerbaijani territories. Sheikh Ahmad explains that
the best jihad “helps people to enjoy the blessings of life and not
to be killed.”

ANKARA STEPS UP EFFORTS FOR CHANGES IN EP REPORT
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Sept 6 2006
The Turkish Foreign Ministry criticized yesterday the European
Parliament’s highly critical report on Turkey, calling on MEPs to show
common sense and make making necessary changes before the report goes
to a vote in the full EP late this month.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Namik Tan in a statement said that
the report puts too much emphasis on “elements that have nothing
to do with Turkish-European Union affairs that won’t contribute to
relations and are far from being reasonable or objective.”
Tan said that some elements in the report are “far from reality and
penned with political motives, [and] don’t mesh with the European
Parliament’s respectability.”
“Attempts to impose conditions that are far from being objective —
such as the so-called Armenian genocide which requires a serious
academic study — were met with deep sadness,” he added.
Turkey’s permanent Ambassador to the EU Volkan Bozkir warned that
the report approved by the EP Foreign Relations Committee has many
parts that could damage Turkey’s relations with the Union, urging
necessary changes to be made immediately.
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan also ruled out taking the report prepared
by MEP Camiel Eurlings seriously, stressing that Turkey will never
accept the Armenian genocide claims.
“Turkey’s stance and decisiveness on the so-called Armenian genocide
issue is clear and nobody should expect us to change that,” Erdogan
said. “European parliamentarians have already debated this issue and
rejected the genocide claims.”
Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk
warned the EP about dangers of approving the report in the assembly
saying, “If you increase your demands of Turkey every year, you will
give an impression that the EP is against Turkey’s membership in
the EU.”