DAY OF MOURNING DECLARED IN RUSSIA
ArmRadio.am
24.08.2006 12:20
According to RF President Vladimir Putin’s decree, August 24 has been
declared a day of mourning in Russia.
State flags will be lowered all over the country. All TV and radio
companies, cultural establishments have been instructed to cancel
the entertainment events and broadcasts.
“Armenpress” was told at the Russian Embassy in Armenia that between
14:30 – 17.30 a condolence book will be opened in the Embassy.
To remind, August 22 Russian Tu-154 plane crashed in Donetsk region
of Ukraine killing all 170 people on board including 45 children.

200 FOREIGNERS IN ARMENIA NEED FOOD AND CLOTHES
ArmRadio.am
24.08.2006 13:05
The Norwegian Council of Refugees, the UN High Commissioner on Refugees
and the Migration Agency of RA Ministry of Territorial administration
applied RA Governmental Commission coordinating benevolent programs
with the request to provide food and clothes to about 200 foreigners
residing in Armenia, including those from Lebanon.
Head of the Commission Simon Ter-Simonyan told “Armenpress” that the
issue will be discussed in the upcoming sitting of the Commission.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FILM NIGEL ANDREWS
By Nigel Andrews
FT
August 21 2006
De Niro and Pacino, together at last: at least in two scenes of Heat
(BBC1 10.35pm), Michael Mann’s 160-minute cop opera. The film’s
full-orchestra verismo and strong performances are fun, especially
compared to the tin-whistle impact of Mann’s new Miami Vice. Pacino
mesmerises as the detective needing one last notch on his career
belt, while De Niro is moodily effective as the notch. Pity about
the conjugal psychobabble (Pacino’s walk-out wife wanting emotional
‘closure’) that extend the film to its roadshow length.
Sergei Paradjanov’s The Colour of Pomegranates (Artsworld 4.10pm) is
a modern classic. Notionally the screen biography of an 18th century
Armenian poet, this 1969 Russian film is more a moving mosaic:
a near-abstract homage whose jewelled tableaux honour not just
an artist’s life but the landscapes of his mind. Russia honoured
Paradjanov, a homosexual as well as nonconformist filmmaker, by
shoving him in jail: at least till the world’s pleas won a reprieve.
Frankenstein (Film4 4.55pm) is a classic more honoured in homage and
citation than in the observing. How often do we get to see James
Whale’s peerless film? Here is a chance. Boris Karloff glumps and
glowers, amid the thunder, lightning, shadows and screams, as Mary
Shelley’s great gothic novel births a great gothic movie.

RELATIVES MOURN, SEARCHERS COMB RUSSIAN PLANE CRASH SITE IN UKRAINE
Sergei Venyavsky
AP Writer Irina Titova contributed to this report from St. Petersburg
AP Worldstream
Aug 23, 2006
Investigators on Wednesday combed through the wreckage of a Russian
jet that crashed into a Ukrainian field during a severe thunderstorm,
killing all 170 aboard, while relatives _ their faces swollen by
tears _ struggled to make sense of their loss.
Dressed in black, grieving relatives gathered silently at the
airport in St. Petersburg, Russia, which was the doomed plane’s
destination. Nearly 200 relatives have said they plan to visit the site
where the Pulkovo Airlines’ Tu-154 crashed Tuesday, Vasily Nalyotenko,
deputy head of St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport, said.
Emergency officials working at the scene said parts of 140 bodies
had been found in the wreckage of the plane, which was flying from
the Russian Black Sea resort of Anapa _ a popular family holiday
destination.
Two flight recorders were found amid the blackened debris, said
Transport Minister Mykola Rudkovsky. The recorders appeared to be in
good condition, investigators said, expressing hope they can explain
what caused the third passenger airliner crash this year in the former
Soviet Union.
Officials said preliminary information suggested weather had caused
the crash about 45 kilometers (30 miles) north of Donetsk, a city in
eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials said a storm with heavy winds, driving rain and
lightning was raging through the region at the time of the crash
and a Russian emergency official said the plane was likely hit by
lightning. Rudkovsky suggested it might have ran into a cyclone.
Valentina Risunkova, whose 34-year-old son, Eduard, died, said
he had asked his parents to pick him and his girlfriend up at the
St. Petersburg airport, then called again to thank them in advance. The
couple had taken the train down to Anapa, but “decided to return by
plane because they were tired from the sun,” she said. When Risunkova
heard there had been a crash, “I fainted and fell to the floor.”
Fragments of the plane _ its engines, parts of the landing gear,
the nose and chunks of the fuselage _ were scattered around rolling
fields and a small forest near Sukha Balka, a village about 400 miles
(640 kilometers) east of Kiev.
Oleksandr Livochka, deputy prosecutor from the Donetsk region, said
on Ukraine’s NTN television that DNA testing might be needed to
identify remains.
Alexander Pomov, a doctor working at the scene, said preliminary
information indicated the victims died from the impact.
Of the 170 people on board, 45 were children aged 12 and under,
Pulkovo Airlines deputy director Anatoly Samoshin told reporters at
the St. Petersburg airport. The list of passengers, many of whom were
from St. Petersburg, appeared to include many families.
An elderly man who refused to give his name said he lost three
grandchildren _ age 3, 10, and 11 _ along with his son-in-law and
his son-in-law’s mother.
His daughter _ the children’s mother _ had skipped the family vacation
because she had to work, he said.
Russian officials said a citizen of Netherlands, France, Finland and
two Germans were also on the flight.
Ukraine declared a day of mourning Wednesday, canceling entertainment
and sport events. Black ribbons were attached to national flags
throughout the country. The government also said it would scale back
celebrations Thursday to mark its 15th Independence Day anniversary,
postponing fireworks and a concert in downtown Kiev until the weekend.
Thursday will be a day of mourning in Russia.
The crash was the third major incident involving Russia’s aviation
industry this year.
An Airbus A-310 of the Russian airline S7 skidded off a runway and
burst into flames on July 9 in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, killing
124 people. On May 3, an A-320 of the Armenian airline Armavia crashed
into the Black Sea while trying to land in the Russian resort city
of Sochi in rough weather, killing all 113 people aboard.

DPM COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF 80% INTEREST IN ARMENIAN DENO GOLD
Market Wire Incorporated
Aug 23, 2006
Precious Metals Inc. (TSX: DPM) (“Dundee Precious”, “DPM” or “the
Company”) is pleased to announce that it has completed the transaction
previously announced on August 10, 2006, with Vatrin Investment Limited
(“Vatrin”) with respect to the acquisition of 80% of the Kapan Mining
Project, located in Southern Armenia, for US$22 million, plus an
additional US$10 million investment commitment for mine expansion.
The Kapan Mine is located approximately 1.5km from the town of Kapan
and some 320km south of the Armenian capital of Yerevan. It has annual
production of 300,000 tonnes of ore from its current underground
operations, which DPM intends to expand in order to maximize the
present mine milling capacity of over 1 million tonnes/year. The
concentrate produced at Kapan is readily saleable due to the lack of
impurities or deleterious elements.
Dundee Precious Metals Inc. is a Canadian based, international mining
company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and
mining of precious metals. It currently owns the Chelopech Mine,
a producing gold/copper mine, and the Krumovgrad Gold Project, a
mining development project, both located in Bulgaria, and is engaged
in mineral exploration activities in Serbia. In addition, Dundee
owns a 100% interest in the Back River gold exploration project in
Nunavut, Canada and an 80% interest in the Kapan Mining Project in
Armenia. The Company also holds a significant and strategic portfolio
of investments in the precious metals and mineral related sector.
FORWARD- LOOKING STATEMENTS
This news release may contain certain information that constitutes
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently
characterized by words such as “plan,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,”
“believe,” “anticipate” and other similar words, or statements that
certain events or conditions “may” or “will” occur. Forward-looking
statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at
the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of
risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual
events or results to differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements. These factors include the inherent risks
involved in the exploration and development of mineral properties,
the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other
geological data, fluctuating metal prices and other factors described
above and in the Company’s most recent annual information form under
the heading “Risk Factors” which has been filed electronically by
means of the Canadian Securities Administrators’ website located
at _www.sedar.com_ () . The Company disclaims
any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements if
circumstances or management’s estimates or opinions should change. The
reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements.
Contacts: Dundee Precious Metals Inc. Jonathan Goodman President &
Chief Executive Officer (416) 365-2408 [email protected]
Dundee Precious Metals Inc. Gabriela M. Sanchez Vice President Investor
Relations (416) 365-2549 [email protected]

EUROPEAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEES PRESIDENT PATRICK HICKEY TO VISIT ARMENIA ON SEPTEMBER 7-9
Noyan Tapan
Aug 23 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 23, NOYAN TAPAN. By the invitation of Gagik
Tsarukian, the Chairman of the Armenianm National Olympic Committee,
the delegation of the European Olympic Committees (EOC) headed by
Patrick Hickey from Ireland, the newly elected President of that
organization will visit Armenia on September 7-9. The guests will
get acquainted with sports structures of Armenia and problems of
the Olympic movement in the republic. Meetings with the ANOC heads,
members of the executive committee and heads of sporting federations
are envisaged. The delegation will visit the Olympic sports complex
of Tsaghkadzor, Etchmiadzin and Matenadaran (Armenian repository of
ancient manuscrips).

FRENCH MIDEAST EXPERT FEELS UN SANCTIONS WILL STRENGTHEN IRAN
Liberation website, Paris
23 Aug 06
Olivier Roy, French expert on Iran and director of the National
Scientific Research Counci, has said that possible UN sanctions would
only strengthen the Iranian regime. The following is an excerpt from
an interview with Roy, by Marc Semo, headlined ‘Iran is asserting
itself as a major regional power”, published by French newspaper
Liberation website on 23 August:
[Passage omitted]
[Semo] Why does Iran refuse to suspend its nuclear programme?
[Roy] In this area Iranian policy is a constant: Teheran wants to
be able to continue enriching uranium, officially for a civilian
programme but at the same time without forgoing the military option.
That is also why Iran is working to conquer the strongest possible
position on the regional chessboard, which explains its role in the
latest crisis in Lebanon.
Curiously, the Westerners saw nothing coming. Since the start they
have managed the Iranian nuclear question in a narrowly bilateral
manner by proposing a package to Tehran, a graduated programme of
incentives and pressures, to encourage it to yield.
On the other hand the Iranian strategy, especially since the arrival in
power of Ahmadinezhad, has been to regionalize this test of strength to
force the Westerners to make a drastic choice: Either have a general
crisis or let Iran continue the enrichment.
The Iranians have the feeling this strategy has paid off. In Lebanon
they have emerged strengthened from a conflict in which they did not
directly participate. Granted, they finance, arm and train Hezbollah,
but they were able to stay in the background.
Similarly, without ever appearing at the front of the stage they are
benefiting from the other conflicts in the region, in both Afghanistan
and Iraq. Furthermore, they are more discreet there, knowing that
time is in their favour.
[Semo] Is the Iranian government united on the nuclear issue?
[Roy] There are inevitably debates and disagreements, but I do
not believe the disagreements are such that they can be exploited
by a policy of pressure. The pragmatic Rafsanjani (editor’s note:
the former president, considered a reformist) wanted to gain time by
presenting Iran as an essential element to regional stability. Mahmud
Ahmadinezhad, by contrast, thinks a forceful approach is the best
solution. There were reportedly tensions within the Tehran government
when he denounced the “illegitimacy” of Israel for the first time.
Since then there have been other provocations, the latest of which
is the exhibit of cartoons about the Holocaust, but each time he has
been able to claim he is the winner.
That being said, Ahmadinezhad must not be seen as a madman with
his finger on the nuclear button. He is consistent with the line of
the Islamic Revolution, not in the “Thermidorian” trend, of course,
but in that of a revolution after the revolution. Furthermore, his
strategic choices are not in complete contradiction with those of
his predecessors.
Iran feels its nuclear capacity will enable it to assert itself
as the major regional power. For Ahmadinezhad, taking the lead of
the rejection front against Israel has the taste of revenge. This
pan-Islamic talk plays on the chord of anti-imperialism, Arab
nationalism and anti-Zionism. This was also seen during the Lebanese
crisis. It enables Tehran to delegitimize a bit more the Arab regimes
in place. The leader of Hezbollah, Hasan Nasrallah, is today seen in
the Arab street as the new Nasser.
[Semo] What will be the effect of possible international sanctions?
[Roy] They always strengthen the authoritarian regimes in place. In
this case, there is also no consensus in the UN Security Council
and these possible sanctions will not be supported by true coercive
measures. The regional actors and the neighbouring countries, although
almost all allies of the West (Dubai, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
the Kurds, and so forth), will not hesitate to circumvent them to do
lucrative deals. Major economic powers like Japan, and also China,
have already announced their refusal of any embargo on Iranian energy
exports. Tehran will therefore be able to continue selling its oil,
and at a higher price thanks precisely to the sanctions. At the same
time, the Iranian leaders will strengthen their power by managing
the distribution of the concealed income from the smuggling.
[Semo] So what can the international community do?
[Roy] If they want to be consistent, the Westerners must find a
global strategy for the Middle East. Up to now they have managed
these various regional conflicts separately, as if they were
compartmentalized. Or in the name of ideological visions of fighting
terrorism or Islamo-fascism.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SUSPENSION OF GAS SUPPLY TO GEORGIA BY “ITERA” COMPANY TO HAVE NO IMPACT ON ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
24.08.2006 13:55
Suspension of gas supply to Georgia by “Itera” Company will have
no impact on the volume of Russian gas supplied to Armenia, Press
Secretary of ” HayRusgazard” company Shushan Sardaryan told MEDIAMAX
Agency.
Shushan Sardaryan noted that Georgia receives gas not only from
“Itera” but also from “Gasexport,” which is supplying gas also to
Armenia. “Gasexpo” pays for transferring gas to Armenia through
Georgian territory.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL TO BE BUILD IN LAS VEGAS
Yerkir
24.08.2006 13:53
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – The Armenian Community of Las Vegas, Nevada HAS
announce the formation of the Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee
comprised of local Armenians dedicated to the erection of an Armenian
Genocide Memorial in Las Vegas.
After several meetings with Mayor Oscar Goodman and Councilwoman
Lois Tarkanian , the City of Las Vegas has decided to dedicate land
in downtown Las Vegas. Mayor Goodman announced Las Vegas’ commitment
and the location of the Memorial at the annual April 24 commemoration.
The budget for this historical Monument has been set at $150,000.

CIS SECURITY BLOC’S DRILL IN KAZAKHSTAN “UNPRECEDENTED MERGER” – OFFICIAL
Source: Interfax-AVN military news agency website, Moscow
23 Aug 06
Aktau, 23 August: The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)
is an unprecedented military political merger on the CIS territory,
Col-Gen Ivan Babichev, deputy chief of the CSTO Unified HQ, said at
the opening ceremony of the Rubezh-2006 exercise in Kazakhstan today.
“The CSTO is an unprecedented merger on the post-Soviet territory,
as far as commitments undertaken by member states in the field of
military integration are concerned,” Babichev said.
According to him, the article, saying that aggression against one
or more CSTO member states will be considered aggression against all
member states and that other member states will provide the necessary
assistance, including military one, is the most crucial section of
the Treaty.
Babichev noted that the following collective security regions defended
territorial integrity and sovereignty of CSTO member states: the East
European Region (Russia, Belarus), the Caucasian (Russia, Armenia),
and the Central Asian (Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan).
“The Collective Rapid Deployment Forces are the forward echelon of
the CSTO military component,” Babichev emphasized.
He pointed out that Rubezh-2006 was another step, aimed at training
CSTO member states’ armed forces. It is conducted under the decision
of the CSTO Defence Ministers Council. The exercise will refine taking
decisions on employing the CRDF, combating threats and challenges,
including international terrorism and extremism, planning joint
operations, organizing cooperation with uniformed agencies of CSTO
member states.
Rubezh-2006 is held at a firing range 30 km east of the town of Aktau
in Kazakhstan. The exercise is headed by Kazakh Defence Minister
Army Gen Mukhtar Altynbaev. It involves about 2,500 servicemen, 60
armoured vehicles, almost 50 guns and mortars, about 40 aircraft and
helicopters, and 14 warships and auxiliary weapons.