ELMAR MAMMADYAROV: NO SERIOUS PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN BUCHAREST
ArmRadio.am
06.06.2006 16:17
“We cannot say that considerable progress was achieved during the
last meeting of Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Bucharest
and there is necessity to match up the positions of the parties,”
said Elmar Mammadyarov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan.
He said that “June 6-7 the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs will hold extra
meetings in Bucharest, Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will hold
another round of talks if necessary.”
“There is still hope for peaceful settlement, and we intend to continue
taking efforts in this direction,” Mammadyarov said.
“The work directed at bringing the positions closer continues. The
issue of return of occupied territories and the return of refugees to
their homes is out of the agenda of discussions,” the Azeri Foreign
Minister said.
Elmar Mammadyarov noted that “as for the case of economic autonomy,
the Azeri side does not rule out implementation of the Trieste model,
which also provides for broad autonomy.”
“However, the issue of autonomy refers not only to the Armenian
community of Nagorno-Karabakh but also the Azeri one,” the Foreign
minister said, underlining that “the referendum issue has found its
clear expression in the Constitution of Azerbaijan.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STEVEN MANN LEAVING THE OSCE MINSK GROUP
ArmRadio.am
06.06.2006 15:52
American Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann was appointed
to another position at US Department of State, Azeeri media report.
“Another Co-Chair will represent the US in the OSCE Minsk Group,”
Mann said.
At the same time Steven Mann expressed his attitude regarding the June
5th meeting of Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Bucharest. He
noted that the Presidents held very intensive discussions.
“In the coming days the Co-Chairs will discuss the negotiation
results. They will plan the further steps and will deliver a report
on these at the recurrent sitting of the OSCE Permanent Council,
Steven Mann said.

ALBERT BAZEYAN DOES NOT EXPECT POSITIVE RESULT FROM THE MEETING IN BUCHAREST
ArmRadio.am
06.06.2006 16:56
In the current stage of negotiations over Karabakh conflict settlement
the positions of the parties are divergent, therefore, President of
the “National Revival” Party Albert Bazeyan does not expect positive
result from the meeting in Bucharest. Moreover, it’s not worth saying
that the negotiations over the Karabakh issue can impact the internal
political situation, although, according to Bazeyan, there are forces,
which would like the talks to end counter to Armenia’s interests,
since it would be a good reason for disputes.
The “National Revival” has not decided the format of participating
in 2007 parliamentary elections. Most probably it will not go alone,
but in alliance with opposition political forces. There is still time
for final corrections.
What does today’s National Assembly present? According to Bazeyan,
it is a Parliament where Deputies are brought to vote.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DIFFERENCES AROUSE BETWEEN GEORGIA AND TURKEY OVER KARS-BAKU RAILWAY
Yerkir
06.06.2006 16:57
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Georgia claims its misunderstanding on designing
railroad communication Baku-Tbilisi-Ahalkalaki-Kars, said Director
General of Georgian Railroads Ltd. Irakli Ezugbaya.
In his words, such claims are linked to Turkey and refer to the
technical and economic assessment of the project. He said these claims
will be discussed in late June in the course of transport ministers’
meeting in Tbilisi.
This meeting will be featured with discussion of financing schedule.
Azerbaijan is going to offer Georgia establish a joint venture to
regulate tariffs, Georgia’s share and other matters. Alongside, the
parties will review the technical and economic assessment by Iukse
Dominachi of Turkey. Namely this company was awarded the tender
announced by Turkish Transport Ministry.
Official Tbilisi, in particular, disagrees with transportation
forecasts by Iukse Dominachi on the project. ”If the Turkish party
does nto have an opportunity to work over the technical and economic
assessment of the project, Georgia can do it,” I. Ezugbaya said.
–Boundary_(ID_IezBx9y1rCpi1th4hG+oow)–

YOUNG POLITICIANS FIGHTING AGAINST CORRUPTION
ArmRadio.am
06.06.2006 15:43
How to fight corruption? The question was addressed today by
representatives of Youth Wings of former coalition parties –
ARF, Republican and “Orinats Yerkir.” After mutual accusations
and reproaches, the latter presented own suggestions for fighting
corruption and decided to start a struggle against corruption in
higher educational establishments. They arranged to meet again in
two months to present the results achieved.
According to the President of the Club of Young Politicians Aram
Vardanyan, corruption in Armenia existed, exists and will continue
to exist if the things remain this way.
In his words, any control structures established in Armenia or other
similar countries were more corrupt than the one it was meant to
control. It means that the society itself should fight corruption.
Head of “Nikol Aghbalyan” Youth Union of the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Ishkhan Saghatelyan is confident that one person cannot
fight corruption, cannot condemn and prove.
President of the Youth Union of Orinats Yerkir Party Samvel Farmanyan
suggested to start the fight against corruption from taking back
different privatized constructions.
“These should be taken back and sold at market prices. The revenues
should be given to young families,” Samvel Farmanyan said.

PRESIDENT OF RA COURT OF APPEAL RECEIVED COE REPRESENTATIVES
ArmRadio.am
06.06.2006 15:11
President of RA Court of Appeal Hovhannes Manukyan received
representatives of the Council of Europe Directorate on Legal Issues
Alesandro Manchinie and Jose Maria, as well as Special Representative
of the CoE Secretary General Boyana Urumova.
The meeting aimed at discussing cooperation in separate directions
between court systems of Armenia and the Council of Europe.
Hovhannes Manukyan presented the process of judicial-legal reforms
in Armenia, which is conditioned both with Constitutional amendments
and the results of activity of the judicial system.
The CoE representatives welcomed the activities directed at creating
an effective court system. On his part, Hovhannes Manukyan expressed
the willingness to cooperate in all those spheres, which will be
considered priority by the Council of Europe.

CEREMONIAL HELD IN REPUBLIC SQUARE
A1+
[12:14 pm] 06 June, 2006
The Armenian chess team arrived at the airport “Zvartnots” on June 6
where the team was met by many journalists, high rank officials and
chess fans. They were very confused and couldn’t speak about their
participation in the Olympiad properly. Anyway they answered the
questions of the journalists.
Arshak Petrosyan, chief coach of the team noted that it was a
historical moment for all Armenians. “Our team was really strong and
deserved the victory,” claimed Petrosyan.
The leader of the team Levon Aronyan left for Germany from Turin where
he is to participate in club meetings. His close friend and Grand
Master Gabriel Sargsyan informed that Levon will likely visit Armenia
in close future. Asked the question how he managed to participate
in 13 meetings and gain 10 points Sargsyan answered, “I was lucky,
and the coaches trusted me.”
Armenian Grand Masters headed for Republic Square from the airport
“Zvartnots” where a ceremonial was held with the participation of
the Armenian song stars.
The chess players again made speeches in the square and couldn’t
conceal their excitement. Serge Sargsyan, chairman of the Armenian
Chess Federation noted that but for the Armenians’ assistance the
chess players wouldn’t win.
“I want to assure you that your assistance was vital during the
Olympiad,” said Serge Sargsyan addressing the crowds of people gathered
in Republic Square.
Then he danced with the chess players whole-heartedly.
The ceremonial ended with firework.
It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, NA Speaker
Tigran Torosyan, the leaders of law enforcing bodies and many high
rank officials also went to meet the champions at the airport and
participated in the ceremonial.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LEVON CHAKHMAKHCHYAN WAS ARRESTED
A1+
[04:31 pm] 05 June, 2006
Levon Chakhmakhchyan representing the Parliament of the Republic of
Kalmikia in the RF Council was arrested while getting a bribe of 300
thousand USD, Russian Mass Media report. The workers of the Security
Federal Service arrested him on June 2 and found the mentioned sum
in his bag.
By the way, this sum was only a part of the bribe, the rest was to be
transferred to his bank account. The whole sum was to be 1.5 million
USD. Levon Chakhmakhchyan himself claims that the sum is not his and he
has never seen the money. Besides, he announced that “it is all slander
organized by the head of one of the Russian aviation companies.”
The Prosecutor’s Office in Russia confirmed that they confiscated
the money not from Chakhmakhchyan himself but from one of the two
other people who were with him. By the way, besides Chakhmakhchyan
his son-in-law was also arrested in connection with machinations in
the Calculation Chamber.

RALLY IN ARMENIA OPPOSITE THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY
A1+
[05:38 pm] 05 June, 2006
10 NGOs together with about 50 citizens organized a rally of protest
opposite the Russian Embassy with posters saying “STOP”. They condemned
the activities of the racist groupings in Russia, in particular the
skinheads and demanded the RF authorities to resort to strict measures
to arrest and punish the murderers.
“What is taking place in Russia against Armenian is intolerable. The
Russian authorities do not carry out the necessary investigations
in order to punish the organizers of the murders. We think that the
idleness of the Russian authorities is a way of encouraging,” Arsen
Kharatyan, member of the initiative group “For the Development of
Science” complains.
Head of the Armenian Helsinki Committee Avetiq Ishkhanyan who joint
the rally said, “I am sure that if the Armenian authorities had
a stricter attitude towards the events, there wouldn’t be such a
continuation. If they sent a serious note to the Russian authorities
after the desecration of the Armenian cemetery in Krasnodar, I think
something would be done in that direction”.
The participants of the rally handed their statement to the Russian
Ambassador after which headed for the RA Foreign Ministry saying that
their complaint is not only against the Russian authorities.
“One of the aims of the action is to invite the attention of the
Armenian authorities to the matter.
We must send lawyers from Armenia to Russia to follow the trial,
as it was done in Hungary”, Avetiq Ishkhanyan thinks.

POISONOUS RIVER IN KAPAN KILLS FISH
Armenpress
Jun 06 2006
KAPAN, JUNE 6, ARMENPRESS: On June 5 when some organizations in
Yerevan were marking the World Environment Day residents of the town of
Kapan, the administrative center of the southern province of Syunik,
noticed piles of dead fish in the river of Vachagan that runs through
their town.
Experts from the regional ecological inspection took samples of the
water from the river and bodies of dead fish to examine and find out
what may have caused their death. The results of their examination are
expected today. According to a preliminary theory, the fish might have
died of high concentration of chlorine in the water. Local prosecutors
have opened an investigation into the case.
A similar case was registered back in 1991 when workers of the local
Spin plant poured out poisonous substances into the river.