ARRIVAL SECTION OF NEW TERMINAL AT ZVARTNOTS AIRPORT TO BECOME EFFECTIVE IN TWO DAYS
Armenpress
Sept 12 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS: Argentina’s Aeropuertos Argentina
that was granted the right to lease Armenia’s main airport Zvartnots
in 2001 for several decades took today a group of local journalists
to the airport to show the arrival section of its new international
terminal.. The arrival terminal will handle the first flight that
will arrive from the southern Russian Mineralny Vodi on September 14.
Juan Pablo Gechigjian, the chief manager of the airport, told
journalists that out of $63 million investment earmarked for the
construction of the new terminal $35 million were spent on building
the arrival section, which he said is furnished with the most advanced
equipment. He said the departure section will be ready to process
passengers only in 2007 May.
The state-of-the art terminal makes Zvartnots airport number one
airport in the South Caucasus.
Juan Pablo Gechigjian said the arrival section is capable to process
around 1000 passengers an hour, twice more than the old one. According
to him, when accomplished the new terminal will be able to handle
some 2 million passengers a year, significantly up from 1,1 million
now. He said the new terminal has an advanced security system.

A VISIT TO ARMENIA MAY BE FATAL
A1+
[01:04 pm] 12 September, 2006
Eleven Azeri journalists and legal representatives are in peril lest
they should be deprived of citizenship because of their 5 – day visit
to Armenia.
The Azeri “Civil Solidarity” youth organization demands to deprive Arzu
Abdulaeva, chairman of the Helsinki National Committee, and other 10
participants of citizenship who were involved in the works of “Trust
Building” summer camping which were implemented in “Gugark” camp not
a long way from Vanadzor. The authors of the announcement find their
action a “treachery” to the country; “It is treachery to have a rest
in a country which captured 20 percent of the lands, committed the
Khojalu holocaust, one of the bloody genocides of the 20th century.”
It will be interesting to know the reaction of the authors of
the announcement when they learned that their compatriots besides
having a good rest in Armenia, managed to make friends with some
people of their age in Armenia and in Artsakh as well. By the way,
most of the Artsakh residents felt the menace of the Azeri bombing,
lost their husbands, parents and other close relatives in the war,
but it didn’t hinder them from shaking hands with the Azeris, making
friends with them and getting excited when parting with them.

ARMENIANS OF LEBANON UNANIMOUS ON NOT ADMITTING TURKISH PEACEKEEPERS TO LEBANON
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.09.2006 13:02 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Not to allow Turkish peacekeepers to Southern
Lebanon as part of the UN peacekeeping forces, we act as a united
front, editor-in-chief of the Azdak, the largest Armenian newspaper
of Lebanon, Shahan Kandakharyan stated in an interview with
PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, at the community level Armenian
political parties and NGOs will make statements. “The Armenian
community has no discrepancies over this issue. We also hold protest
actions in front of a number of embassies of western countries. We
handed letters to ambassadors and diplomatic representatives,
indicating grounds for not admitting Turkish troops in the south
of Lebanon. The special message of Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia Aram I to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is among respective
actions,” he said.
The editor-in-chief of the Azdak also noted that local, regional and
world media pay much attention to protest actions of the Armenian
community. “We hope our efforts will not be in vain and Turkey will
not be included in the UN peacekeeping contingent. A country, which
is a strategic and military partner of Israel and blocks Cyprus must
not be admitted to Lebanon.
Also a country, where human rights are violated and the Armenian
Genocide of 1915 is denied cannot take part in settlemetn of the
Middle East crisis,” noted Shahan Kandakharyan.

EMIGRATION OF ARMENIANS FROM NOT OF MASS CHARACTER
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.09.2006 13:08 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian community of Lebanon, like the
entire Lebanese society, has just started recovering from the war,
unleashed by Israel, editor-in-chief of the Azdak, the largest Armenian
newspaper of Lebanon, Shahan Kandakharyan stated in an interview with
PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, although hostilities did not touch
towns and blocks, populated by Armenians, the huge damage and economic
crisis had their impact on the community. We do not have statistical
data yet, however, for sure the emigration of the Armenian community
was not of mass character.
Nevertheless, many members, having dual citizenship, left the
country. We believe most of them are absent temporarily. A country,
which has experienced a war, finds itself in a situation, in which
emigration increases and economy falls into decay. The Armenian
community cannot stay and live under those conditions.
All organizations of the community work jointly to end this
situation. We work to create a future for the country and Armenians
of Lebanon.
Kandakharyan underscored that unless the Middle East crisis gets is
political solution, forecasting the developments is difficult. “It
is not clear whether there will be an attempt to solve the issue by
military and political tools. At present the international community
and superpowers should be interested in establishment of peace in
the region.
This is the only way to put into effect programs on restoration of
the destroyed infrastructure of Lebanon, to revive the economy,”
the editor-in-chief of the Azdak underscored.

A RALLY AGAINST “ARMENTEL”
A1+
[01:55 pm] 12 September, 2006
more images Today a rally was organized against “ArmenTel” opposite the
Ministry of Transportation and Communication. This time the initiators
of the rally were a number of companies providing Internet services.
The strikers claim that over 100 companies were deprived of telephone
connection without preliminary warning at 2:00 on September 7. When
they tried to make inquiries from the Committee Regulating Public
Services they were told that they must turn to “ArmenTel” with that
question as the Committee is not entitled to deal with the matter
bothering them. “When the Ministry of Transportation and Communication
regulated the sphere we had no problems on this score.
But now neither the Committee Regulating Public Services nor “ArmenTel”
want to fulfil their functions and obligations,” says Gnel Militonyan,
head of one of the companies.
He assures that their activity doesn’t contradict the provisions of
License 60; they made their payments in due time and have faced no
problems. Then the participants of the rally headed to the Committee
Regulating Public Services to talk to Robert Nazaryants, chairman of
the Committee.
They have also issued a complaint-statement to the Committee
Regulating Public Services, President Kocharyan, RA NA Speaker and RA
Prime Minister. The statement says that many employees of companies
providing Internet services have been left without work because of
the telephone disconnection and they demand either to resume their
connection or to provide their workers with job. By the way, their
workers are mainly pensioners, invalids, students and most of them
live in regions. Over 50 companies signed the statement.
At present, the strikers are opposite the Committee Regulating Public
Services.

A FALSE ALARM
A1+
[02:14 pm] 12 September, 2006
On September 11 the regional police station of Shirak marz got a
signal informing them of the existence of a bomb located at school
37 in Gyumri.
On arriving at the scene the workers of the Shirak rescuers’ board
and Gyumri police station immediately evacuated the school and its
surrounding. They chained the whole territory so that nobody but the
experts could step into the area. The experts of the Russian base 100
were invited for mine clearing but no bomb was found in the territory.
The alarm was aroused via a mobile phone.
TV Company “Tsayg”, Gyumri.

“ARMENIAN ARINER” DON’T APPROVE OF THE US NEW AMBASSADOR
A1+
[03:53 pm] 12 September, 2006
The youth organization “Spirit Guards” of Armenian Ariner Order is
against Richard Hogland’s assignment on the post of the US Ambassador
to Armenia.
“The representatives of the youth of Armenia, who are faithful to
their traditional beliefs and customs, consider the appointment of the
homosexual ambassador to Armenia inadmissible and nasty from the moral
point of view. Besides, Richard Hogland has preconceived and biased
opinion about Armenians,” says Edgar Helhelyan, chairman of the board.
The representatives of the organization were indignant at the decision
of calling former US ambassador to Armenia John Evans back. They think
the official Washington has showed its negative attitude towards
Armenia and Armenians spread all over the world. This attitude is
determined by the fact that Americans have common interests with
Turkey on economic, military and political issues. Edgar Helhelyan
claims that John Evans was one of the unique officials in the USA who
could openly divulge the truth and name the mass murders of 1886 –
1923 committed by the Turkish government genocide.”
By the way, the youth organization “Spirit Guards” released a statement
in this connection. They are going to send it to the Armenian and
American authorities. If this act of complaint doesn’t work they are
going to organize rallies on the day of Hogland’s arrival in Armenia.

“NO COUNTRY HAS THE RIGHT TO RESTRICT IRAN’S RIGHTS”
A1+
[04:35 pm] 12 September, 2006
Tigran Torosyan, RA NA Speaker, met with Iran’s parliamentary Speaker
Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel who arrived in Armenia on two-day official
visit.
The two sides focused on the intensification of bilateral relations,
promotion of parliamentary cooperation in the press conference. Iran’s
parliamentary Speaker claims the parliamentary cooperation between
the two countries is not on the relevant level.
“All countries have equal rights, regardless of their power at
that moment. No country or state has the right to use its power and
restrict the rights of other countries,” declared Tigran Torosyan while
answering the question of an Iranian journalist on Iran’s chances
to use nuclear power for peaceful purpose. He voiced hope that the
questions concerning the Iranian nuclear reserves will be solved
during the negotiation procedure and the interests of our neighbours
will not be neglected.
While speaking of the Armenian genocide Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel avoided
uttering the word “genocide” but he said that before the revolution
the Armenians living in Iran were deprived of the right of organizing
marches and showing their respect and sympathy towards the victims
of April 24 whereas today there have such a right.
While speaking of the energetic plans, Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel noted
that both Iran and Armenia follow the construction of the first gas
pipeline and consider the possibilities of the second one. At present,
the most important thing is to provide Armenia with gas. Then they
may consider the possibilities of exporting gas to other countries
as well. He also mentioned that they have made arrangements with
the Armenian side on oil issue but he didn’t go into details. Both
gas and oil will contribute to the enlargement of goods circulation
which is over 200 million USD today.
Tigran Torosyan attached great importance to Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel’s
visit underlying its significance for the two sides. Mr. Torosyan
also added that regardless of the religious differences in the two
countries, Iran and Armenia are in close friendly relations which is
an outcome of mutual respect.
Gholam Ali Haddad-Adel said that the Armenians of Iran are actively
engaged in social and political life of their country and they have
two deputies in the Iranian parliament.

OSCE OffICE IS CONCERNED OVER CASES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST JOURNALISTS
A1+
[04:40 pm] 12 September, 2006
YEREVAN, 12 September 2006 – The OSCE Office in Yerevan issued the
following statement today:
“The OSCE Office in Yerevan is deeply concerned over recent incidents
of violence and intimidation against local journalists which have
obstructed their professional duties and infringed upon the freedom
of expression.
According to reports, on 6 September, the Editor-in-Chief of Iravunk
newspaper, Hovhannes Galajyan, was attacked and beaten by unknown
men outside his Yerevan home. On 12 July, freelance journalist Gagik
Shamshian, who works for Chorrord Ishkhanutiun and Aravot newspapers,
was threatened and abused.
The Office considers it extremely important for these cases to be
properly investigated and calls for the perpetrators to be punished
in full accordance with the law. Law-enforcement bodies are urged to
undertake prompt measures to ensure the safety of media professionals
in order to promote freedom of expression in the country.
The Office welcomes the statements by the Human Rights Defender
(Ombudsman), the President’s Press Secretary and civil society
organizations, who condemned these acts of violence against
journalists.
The OSCE Office in Yerevan will be closely following developments
related to these cases.”

NEWLY BUILT NORTHERN ELITE AVENUE ON FIRE
Panorama.am
12:15 12/09/06
Yesterday night fire started at Northern Avenue, a newly built elite
community in downtown Yerevan. Later reports said only a semi-built
building was on fire and not the whole street. Several municipality
employees rushed to the place of incident in the middle of the
night. Some citizens said, “This is the damnation of the robbed
residents. It is not possible to build a house on damnation…”
Rescue services report they received the fire alarm at about 9:42
p.m. A fire brigade set off to the place of the incident at 9:50
p.m. At about 23.16 p.m. the firemen could completely eliminate
the fire.
Considerable damage has been caused to the building.
Reminder: The construction of the Northern Avenue started in the
year 2001. More than $200 million was expected to be invested in
this elite community. The investors are either Russian companies or
wealthy Armenian community living in Russia.