Armenian Airbus crash due to ‘human factor’: minister
Agence France Presse — English
July 26, 2006 Wednesday 9:25 AM GMT
The crash of an Armenian Airbus plane off Russia’s Black Sea coast
in May that killed all 113 people on board was caused by a “human
factor”, Russian Transport Minister Igor Levitin said Wednesday.
“Weather conditions were difficult, the human factor played its role,”
Levitin was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying at a press
conference, held about the results of an inquiry into the crash of
the A320 liner belonging to Armavia airlines.
Tatyana Anodina, head of the intergovernmental aviation committee
that took part in the enquiry, said: “The main pilot did not ensure
control of the plane as far as angle and altitude were concerned,”
ITAR-TASS reported.
“The co-pilot did not ensure necessary control on the descent,”
Anodina said, adding that an alarm system had gone off as the plane
plunged but that it was too late to regain altitude.
The Airbus A320 plunged into the Black Sea on May 3 amid rainy weather
as it was coming in to land in Sochi — a popular coastal resort city
in southwest Russia.

U.S. Preparing Azeri Airport for Incursion into Iran?
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.07.2006 16:11 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. is going to reconstruct one the
Azeri military airdromes in order to refuel NATO jets flying to
Afghanistan. According to Jonathan Henick, the PR officer at the
U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan, negotiations are held with the Defense
Minister of the republic on the issue. The American diplomat remarked
that before the Azeri side chooses an appropriate airdrome the
facilities of the international airport after Heydar Aliyev will be
used for the purpose, reported Day.az.

The International Herald Tribune: “Dutch Disease” Threatens Azerbaijan
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.07.2006 16:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ For Azerbaijan, the biggest question at present
is what to do with the so-called “wall of money” that will start
to accrue once the oil begins to flow. Some observers are already
predicting a bad case of pending “Dutch disease”- by which an increase
in oil revenues renders a country’s manufacturing less competitive
by raising the exchange rate – unless Baku manages to divert both
state and private investment into the non-oil sector and addresses
the subject of income disparity between the new rich and the growing
number of disgruntled or desperately poor,” Thomas Goltz wrote for
The International Herald Tribune.
“For now, the question of the political ramifications of future
oil-related wealth is on hold as investors, citizens and former
pipe-dreamers celebrate the realization of what is now a “pipeline
to somewhere.” I hope my zany motorcycle circus of six years ago
played some little part in this process. I also hope that the current
leadership of Azerbaijan will use the occasion of its new-found wealth
to win more than just fair-weather friends and address some of the
urgent social issues at play here on the shore of the Caspian,”
the observer wrote.

House of Representatives Voted Against Kars-Tbilisi-Baku Railway Project Financing
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.07.2006 17:19 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The House of Representatives today voted to help
ensure that U.S. regional cooperation and economic integration is
maintained by making certain that no Export-Import funding is used for
a railroad project sponsored by the Turkish and Azeri governments that
seeks to exclude Armenia from economic and regional transportation
opportunities, reported the Armenian Assembly of America.
Lawmakers approved H.R. 5068, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization
Act of 2006, which included an amendment by Congressman Joseph Crowley
(D-NY), along with Congressmen Edward Royce (R-CA) and Brad Sherman
(D-CA), ensuring that taxpayer dollars will not be spent on efforts
that would isolate Armenia – which is already facing dual blockades
by Turkey and Azerbaijan.
In a statement submitted for the House record, Crowley said “This
language will assist in promoting stability in the Caucasus region,
help in ending long standing conflicts, and save U.S. taxpayers the
responsibility of funding a project that goes against U.S. interests.”
“Passage of H.R. 5068 with the Crowley-Royce-Sherman provision,
which was modeled after H.R. 3361 helps ensure that the U.S. will
not be party to the flawed policies of Armenia’s neighbors,” said
Executive Director Bryan Ardouny.
“This time we must ensure that Armenia is not bypassed,” Ardouny said.

120 People to Be Evacuated from Lebanon to Armenia Tomorrow
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.07.2006 17:42 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 120 Armenians will be conveyed from Lebanon to
Yerevan July 27. According to Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister
Gegham Gharibjanian, 51 of them, mostly foreigners, requested the
Department for Migration at the RA government to grant them the status
of temporarily protected persons. Gegham Gharibjanian remarked that
the status will be granted to them in the near future.
All those who wish to arrive in Armenia will be granted a free 3-month
visa. The Armenian Embassies in Lebanon and Syria of on working round
the clock, reported the RA government’s press office.

IMF Highly Appreciates Cooperation with Armenian Government
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.07.2006 17:49 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met today
with Permanent Representaive of the International Monetary Fund in
ARmenia Nienke A. Oomes, reported the RA MFA press office. The
interlocutors discussed the Armenia-UMF cooperation. Former OMF
Permanent Representaive James McHugh, who was also present at the
meeting, gave a high estimate to the collaboration with the Armenian
government and successful implementation of joint projects. By the
guest’s request Vartan Oskanian briefed on the current stage of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN BELIEVES QUANTITY OF ARMS AND MONEY CAN’T ALWAYS BE DECISIVE FACTORS IN WAR
AZG Armenian Daily #140, 27/07/2006
Opinion
Azerbaijan had many opportunities to make sure that the end of the
war isn’t always conditioned by the quantity of arms or money. Tigran
Torosian, Speaker of RA National Assembly, said this at today’s
meeting with the representatives of the Armenian youth. He emphasized
that in 90-ies, in the course of the military actions in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict zone, Azerbaijan was stronger thanks to its military
capacity, but only the people who fought a war for the sake of their
homeland took the victory. He added that since the end of 20th the
political situation is quite changed and there are international
game rules that one should take into account. As for the militant
statements of Azerbaijan, Torosian conditioned them by the lack of
Baku’s will to recognize the independence of NKR. “But Baku realizes
that there are no preconditions or prospects for resumption of the
war,” he emphasized. He also focused the attention to the fact that
the international community more frequently gives preference to the
people’s right for self-determination. He underscored that NKR people
achieved their independence in accordance with the international law
and the legislation of USSR.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY FORCES DISCUSS AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED BY OPPOSITION PARTIES
AZG Armenian Daily #140, 27/07/2006
Speaker of the National Assembly Tigran Torosian and the leaders of
Parliament factions discussed the amendments to the Electoral Code
suggested by the opposition. The opposition suggests adoption of 100%
proportional electoral system and forming of electoral committees
exclusively from members of political parties. The participants of
the meeting did not come to consensus on these questions. Before late
august a parliamentary workgroup is to be created in order to consider
the notes by the Venice Commission and the opposition suggestions.

DAVID HAROUTIUNIAN: ARMENIAN JUDGES WILL HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL IN ACCEPTING GIFTS
AZG Armenian Daily #140, 27/07/2006
Judiciary Reforms
>From now on the Armenian judges will have to be very careful in
accepting gifts, Armenian Justice Minister David Haroutyunian said
during a press-conference today.He said that the Justice Ministry
16-member working group set up in Mar 2006 has already drafted a
package of court system reforms. One of the key points is that the
Armenian judges must abstain from accepting any kinds of gifts. They
can do this only during weddings, their own birthdays and birthdays
of their relatives but then too they should report on gifts to the
Commission on Ethics. Haroutyunian said that from now on the first
instance courts will specialize in criminal, economic and other
cases. The Economic Court will be dissolved, the Court of Cassation
divided into two chambers of three judges each. From now on it will
be the authority of the Council of Justice to announce vacancies
and to test applicants for judges. Of 25 judges passing the exam
the Council will select 16 ones and will submit the list for the
President’s approval. However, they will enter into their offices
only after completing a 1.5-year training course at special School of
Judges.Haroutyunian said that judges have no right to have private
businesses or to hold some paid position. They must be politically
neutral and not affiliated to any party. They can take part in
elections only as voters or electoral commissioners.
At the same time, Haroutyunian refused to comment on his future
political activities saying that this was not the topic of the
discussion.
By Nana Petrosian

RA GOVERNMENT ISN’T GOING TO PLACE BONDS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKETS NEXT FEW YEARS
AZG Armenian Daily #140, 27/07/2006
Economy
In the next few years the Armenian Government is not going to issue
bonds for placement in the international market, Armenian Finance and
Economy Minister Vardan Khachatrian said during a press-conference
today.He said that presently the country has enough resources,
including credits, and is not going to take up “additional burden.”
Khachatrian said that Moody’s rating of Armenia is 1 point higher than
that of Fitch Ratings. Fitch Ratings was more rigid in assessing
the financial risks of the possible resumption of the Karabakh
conflict. One of the negative factors in Armenia is high dollarization.
Moody’s experts say that this makes the Armenian economy
vulnerable. They say that in the mid-term future Armenia has good
chances for ensuring GDP growth and reducing high poverty and
unemployment.
With its not very big currency debt and favorable repayment terms
Armenia can well justify its rating.
In late 2005 the share of the national debt in GDP was 23% which is
not bad for countries like Armenia.
Moody’s experts do not believe that Armenia may resume its war with
Azerbaijan in the mid-term future, but for as long as the conflict is
unresolved, the region will stay in uncertainty. In early June Fitch
gave Armenia BB- issuer default ratings. At the same time, Fitch gave
the country a short-term sovereign rating in foreign exchange B and
country ceiling rating BB.
By Ara Martirosian