ARMEN SMBATIAN:WE WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK OF CONCRETE CAUSES FOR THE
CRASH OF A-320 AIRBUS IN TWO WEEKS ALREADY

Yerevan, June 09. ArmInfo. Already in two weeks we will be able to
speak of concrete causes for the crash of –320 airbus. Armen
Smbatian, RA Ambassador to Russia, said this in the interview to
ArmInfo.

He emphasized that at present decoding of the crashed plane’s black
boxes that completed yesterday doesn’t give any concrete information
on the cause for the crash. Mr. Smbatian said that in order to have
definite idea about the cause for the crash, the specialists need to
decode and compare the data on both of the black boxes of the plane.
wHe emphasized that the suppositions about the cause of the crash
circulating in the local and the foreign press are groundless. At
present the experts carry our decoding of the parametric recorder of
the crashed plane at the International Aviation Center in Moscow.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA FM: WE HAVE NO MAXIMALIST REQUIREMENTS

Yerevan, June 9. ArmInfo. Armenia made serious compromises to achieve
the Karabakh conflict settlement, RA FM Vardan Oskanyan said in an
interview to “Kentron” TV channel.

Having categorically denied the charges in the attempts to “delay the
process”, Oskanyan offered these “critics” to explain by themselves
how they see the conflict settlement. “There exists a definite limit
of compromises, a “red line” which we cannot overstep, no matter how
Azerbaijan blackmails with threats to solve the issue by force and by
its oil-dollars. There exists a border we cannot overstep, as it will
be against national interests. If authorities wish to do it, people
will not allow. Maximum is being done today”, Oskanyan said.

According to him, Azerbaijan, having the alternative of military
solution in mind and maximum delaying the issue resolution, is not
ready for the problem settlement through negotiations and compromises.
“We are already ready for such compromise and our conscience is clear
if Azerbaijan makes the next mistake and tries to solve the issue in a
military way”, Oskanyan said. According to him, it was just Azerbaijan
which did not make adequate steps. “We have no maximalist
requirements. We had touched upon the issue of territories, I tried
to avoid it. Yes, Armenia, in return for recognition of Karabakh
people’s right for self-determination, is seriously discussing this
issue, but Azerbaijan must also be ready for this minimum, i.e. to
recognize the NKR people’s right for self-determination in order to
advance in the process”, Oskanyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIFICATION MAKES ARMENIAN VELVET REVOLUTIONARIES FEEL BAD

Yerevan, June 9. ArmInfo. The representative of the formerly ruling
Armenian National Movement party Aram Manukyan urges Armenian
journalists to fight against Russification.

He says that they on TV are beginning to speak Russian language much
too often. Even mobile services are being Russified. Manukyan is
resolved to fight for the present anthem inherited from the
Dashnaktsoutyun party. The anthem must be preserved not so much
because it calls for revenge but because of the idea of succession.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LEVON ARONYAN AND BRITISH CHESS PLAYER DANNY GORMALLY JUST HAD A
NERVOUS TALK NOTHING MORE: SERGE SARGSYAN

Yerevan, June 8. ArmInfo. “Levon Aronyan and British chess player
Danny Gormally just had a nervous talk nothing more,” said Serge
Sargsyan, Defense Minister, Armenian Football Federation President,
commenting at the request of ArmInfo on an incident between the
Armenian and British chess players at one of night clubs in Turin.

To note, The Times reports the British chess player attacked Levon
Aronyan when the latter was dancing with “Danny’s girlfriend,” the
19-year-old Arianne Caoili . the third in the rating of the Australian
team. The newspaper writes she is as popular in the chess world as
Russian Anna Kurnikova in the world of tennis. The newspaper reports
that Danny’s colleagues say he communicates with her by Internet and
met with her several times in London. The incident did not over by the
attack despite the apologies by the captain of the British team.
Later, Danny Gormally was surrounded by Armenian chess players who
were unaware of the apologies, The Times reports. In fact Danny
Gormally “got a couple of kicks.” To avoid a conflict, the leadership
of the British team advised Danny Gormally to leave the tournament.
This time, the captain of the British team apologized to Serge
Sargsyan. Commenting on the incident to ArmInfo Wednesday, Serge
Sargsyan said: “nothing special happened. Journalists have exaggerated
everything as usually.”

More Russian military hardware pulled out of Georgian base, en route to
Armenia

AP Worldstream; Jun 08, 2006

A convoy of Russian military trucks and other hardware left a Soviet-era
base in Georgia en route to Armenia on Thursday, in the latest pullout of
Russian military equipment from the Caucasus Mountain nation.
After months of contentious negotiations, Georgia and Russia reached
agreement last year on pulling Russian forces out of two bases.
Thursday’s convoy of 40 vehicles and other material from the Black Sea port
of Batumi was headed to the Russian base at Gyumri, Armenia, said Col.
Vladimir Kuparadze, deputy commander of the Russian troops in the southern
Caucasus.
Another 15 vehicles from another base at Akhalkalaki will join the convoy en
route, he said.
Both bases are scheduled to be fully closed by the end of 2008, with much of
the equipment to be sent to Gyumri.
The agreement to withdraw Russian forces from Georgia was a victory for
pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili, who has sought to reduce Russian
influence.

Armenia takes “serious steps” to combat human trafficking – minister

Arminfo
8 Jun 06

Yerevan, 8 June: The Armenian authorities are taking serious steps to
resolve the human trafficking problem, Armenian Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan said at today’s news conference while commenting on
the USA State Department’s report on human trafficking for 2006.

He said that the work was being done in three main directions:
prevention of trafficking, protection of victims and punishment of
criminals.

In this connection, Oskanyan said that the number of criminal cases
instituted into human trafficking had increased. “I cannot say what
result this yields in the struggle against this phenomenon. But the
government is undertaking serious steps to resolve this problem,”
Oskanyan stressed.

He also informed that Yerevan intended to react to the report. “The
problem does exist and it is not a secret to anyone. The issue is very
difficult,” Oskanyan said.

G2: Diversions: The king and I

The Guardian – United Kingdom; Jun 08, 2006
NIGEL SHORT

Kirsan Ilyumzhinov was re-elected FIDE president in Turin by 96 votes
to 54.

As a member of Bessel Kok’s defeated Right Move campaign, I suppose I
should, with my trademark stoicism and magnanimity, congratulate our
adversary on his success. Instead I find myself dwelling on some
rather odd stories generated by the election: the senior federation
official seen wandering around with large amounts of cash; the
delegates who found it necessary to photograph their completed ballot
papers and SMS the pictures to their colleagues before depositing
their votes; and the delegate who chose to deliver his proxy to the
fiercely pro-Kirsan Georgian delegate rather than voting in person
himself.

Of course, there may not have been any shenanigans. Elections,
however, must not only be clean, but be seen to be clean, and it is
high time to appoint an independent authority to ensure this.

As to the Olympiad itself: Armenia were worthy winners, but no thanks
to England. Daniel Gormally, our fourth board, punched Levon Aronian
in the eye at the traditional Bermuda party in a rage of
love-jealousy. He then had to be restrained by grandmaster Yasser
Seirawan. To say that the Armenians were unamused at having their
national hero attacked would be an understatement. Allan Beardsworth,
the England captain, was forced to apologise to their delegation and
Gormally was sent home – partly for his own protection.

England finished 19th – not a bad result in itself. It was John Nunn
who accurately identified the causes of the inevitable decline of
English 15 years ago. Essentially, we are living on a dwindling stock
of capital. Without a shake-up in the game, the rot will continue.

Michael Adams and I both scored plus five. Michael’s performance was
by far the more praiseworthy as he faced much stiffer opposition on
board one. Here is his elegant victory over the leading Iranian.

Adams, M (2720) – Ghaem Maghami, E (2584), 37th Olympiad, Turin,
3/6/2006 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Be7
7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 Nf6 9.Nc3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nc6 11.h3 Bf5 12.GBP3 Ne4 (A
time-consuming way of reducing the tension through exchanges) 13.Re1
Nxc3 14.bxc3 Qd6 15.GBP4 Qg6 (Intending Bxh3) 16.Kh1 Rae8 17.Bf4 Bd6
18.Qd2 Rxe1+ (An unnecessary concession of the open e-file) 19.Rxe1
Bd7 20.Ng5! Nd8 21.Ne4 Bxf4 22.Qxf4 Qc6 (The weakness on c7 requires
urgent attention) 23.Bb5 Qd5 24.Re3 (Threatening 25.Nf6+! but it was
stronger to play the direct 24.Bxd7 Qxd7 25.Nc5! as Qd6 fails to
26.Qxd6 cxd6 27.Nd7 winning) f5 25.Bxd7 Qxd7 26.Nc5 Qf7 27.d5!
(Penetration on the seventh rank is more important than pawn
structure.) b6 28.Nd3 Qxd5 29.Qxc7 Ne6?! (Maghami, an aggressive
player by nature, tries to activate when the position does not warrant
it. It was better to try and hang on grimly with Qb7) 30.Qe7 Rd8?!
(Juggling pieces, but they soon come crashing to the ground) 31.Ne5!
Nf4? (Hopelessly optimistic. It was essential to jettison some
material by Qd1+ 32.Kh2 Qd6 pinning the White knight) 32.Rg3
(Simultaneously defending against mate in one and threatening it) g6
DIAGRAM 33.Nf7! (The coup de grace) Qd1+ (The queen is overloaded)
34.Kh2 Black resigns. The rook is attacked and the king is menaced
with mate in two (starting Nh6+).

Armenian minister hopes for peaceful solution to Iran nuclear issue

Arminfo
8 Jun 06

Yerevan, 8 June: Armenia welcomes recent developments in Iran,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan told a news conference
today.

“Because we also believe that the issue should be resolved by means of
a dialogue,” the foreign minister pointed out. He recalled that this
issue was of greet importance for Armenia which borders Iran.

“We welcome any progress in this issue, we welcome EU official Javier
Solana’s visit, the proposal of a new ‘package’, the fact that Iran
did not decline it and that the USA has proposed establishing direct
contacts with Iran,” Oskanyan said.

He also expressed the hope that the positive events of the last week
would yield positive results and that the issue would be resolved by
peaceful means and through talks, without imposing sanctions or using
military force.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Lebanese president meets Karabakh official – Armenian agency

Mediamax news agency
8 Jun 06

Yerevan, 8 June: President of Lebanon Gen Emile Lahhud received the
foreign minister of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic, Georgiy Petrosyan,
in Beirut on 6 June, Mediamax quoted Beirut’s Azdak newspaper as
reporting.

The meeting was held with members of the Central Committee of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun in Lebanon and the
Armenian ambassador to Lebanon, Vaan Ter-Gevondyan, attending.

[Passage omitted: report about the meeting has been posted on the
official website of the Lebanese president]

Armenian minister hopeful Karabakh may be resolved in 2006

Mediamax news agency
8 Jun 06

Yerevan, 8 June: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan does not
rule out that Armenia and Azerbaijan will manage to agree on the
principles of Nagornyy Karabakh conflict settlement in 2006.

The Armenian foreign minister said that “nothing can be ruled
out”. “As the saying goes, hope springs eternal,” Oskanyan said.

The Armenian foreign minister pointed out that the Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents, Robert Kocharyan and Ilham Aliyev, did not
agree on a new meeting at talks in Bucharest on 4-5 June.

“The sides agreed that a meeting would be held between the Armenian
and Azerbaijani foreign ministers if the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen
considered it necessary,” Oskanyan said.

He noted that there was no agreement yet on a possible meeting with
his Azerbaijani counterpart. “It is up to the mediators to decide,”
Oskanyan said.

“In Bucharest, like in Rambouillet, the presidents could not agree on
one very difficult issue,” Oskanyan said. Asked what the expectations
for a possible favourable outcome of the Bucharest talks were based
on, the Armenian minister said: “Every time there are new formulas and
approaches to major issues on the negotiating table, the sides hope
that they will manage to persuade the other side to soften its
position. This did not happen in Bucharest. We should try again.”

The Armenian foreign minister pointed out that the position of the
Armenian side remained unchanged – Yerevan is ready to discuss issues
related to the elimination of the aftermath of the conflict, but only
after Azerbaijan recognizes the Nagornyy Karabakh people’s right to
self-determination.

Oskanyan said that Armenia did not feel pressure from the [OSCE]
mediators and said he doubted they would face this kind of pressure in
the future.