AZERI PM RECEIVES PARTICIPANTS OF THE 50TH MEETING OF COUNCIL OF CIS DMS
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
May 31 2006
Premier of Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade on 31 May received participants of
the 50th anniversary meeting of the Council of CIS Defense Ministers.
Head of the Azerbaijan Government, noting the contacts established
among numerous departments in the frame of Commonwealth, assessed
activity of the Council of Defense Ministers as one of the necessary
element in cooperation within CIS structures.
Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, speaking on the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, stressed deconstructive position of Armenia
in this question. He said Azerbaijan adheres peaceful settlement of
the conflict in the frame of international law, ensuring territorial
integrity of country.
Chairman of Council of CIS Defense Ministers, Deputy Premier of
Russian Federation, defense minister Sergey Ivanov expressed gratitude
to the Azerbaijani side for well-organized meeting of the Council
and informed the Premier of Azerbaijan on the questions of Agenda,
reached agreements, including the planned joint exercises in 2007.

‘WE DECIDED TO MURDER ARMENIAN RESIDENTS OF ISTANBUL’
By Hakob Chakrian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/05/2006
On May 17, Alparsalan Arslan, member of Grey Wolves group, rushed into
the Ankara’s Supreme Court Council and opened fire on the officials
of the council’s third department.
This terrorist act aroused the indignation both in Turkey, and in USA,
in EU and other countries. On May 25, the Turkish Police arrested
Erhan Timurogli, one of the allies of Arslan, in Ankara. He admitted
the accusations brought by the court and was imprisoned.
Timurogli was accused of murder, of preserving and using explosive
materials, of attempt to seize the power by violence.
According to “Yeni Sharaf” newspaper, Timurogli stated in the court
that he is the old friend of Arslan and they were going to carry out
a number of terrorist acts in Istanbul, including the murder of the
Supreme Court’s Third Department’s Head, and murders of the Armenian
residents of Istanbul.

AJARIA AUTHORITIES WANT AN ARMENIAN CONSULATE IN THE REGION
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/05/2006
A delegation of the Armenian Embassy to Georgia head by ambassador
Hrach Silvanian visited the Autonomous Republic of Ajaria on
May 27-29. The delegation met with authorities of Ajaria and
Batumi. Head of Ajarian government Varshalovidze suggested opening
Armenian consulate in Batumi. The Armenian ambassador welcomed such an
intuitive and promised to discuss the issue with his Foreign Ministry
and to decide the format of representation.
At the meeting the sides discussed various issues connected with
the Armenian community of Ajaria. They also discussed opening of the
tourist season and other issues requiring urgent solution.
The delegation met members of the Armenian community in the Armenian
church, visited the Armenian school and got acquainted with problems
facing the community.
The delegation also took part in celebration of the First Armenian
Republic Day on May 28 organized by the Union of Armenians of Ajaria.

MICROSOFT RANKS KEMAL ATATURK AMONG DICTATORS
AZG Armenian Daily
31/05/2006
The world’s software giant Microsoft listed the founder of modern
Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, among dictators such as Adolph Hitler,
Joseph Stalin, and Mao Zedong in the German 2006 version of its
Encarta Encyclopedia published annually, Turkish Zaman daily reports.
Encarta used mostly by the school-age children and renewed every each
year informs: “Ataturk, born on the 12th of March 1881, and from the
age of five attended military school at the center of anti-Turkish,
Greek and Slav nationalism in Monastery and Thessalonica. He began
studying at Istanbul Military Academy and graduated as brigadier
in 1905.”

MEDIATORS WILL NOT TOLERATE ANOTHER ‘RAMBOUILLET’
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/05/2006
Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents May Be Forced to Agree in Bucharest
Touching on the Nagorno Karabakh issues in February daily Azg ruled
out that the conflicting sides can come to terms at the Rambouillet
meeting. The reason we mentioned was that Azerbaijan’s public opinion
is not ready for any compromise settlement. Once such a document was
signed, the country’s leader would have problems back home. What
is the situation prior to the Bucharest meeting and how probable
it is that the meeting will yield if not an agreement than at least
a breakthrough?
Contrary to the Rambouillet meeting, the get-together in Bucharest
preceded by international pressure on the sides to come to terms. Thus
we can conclude that this time the co-chairs are instructed by the
states they represent to bring the stances of the sides closer.
For that reason during the last visit of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
to the region they were accompanied by the heads of foreign affairs
departments of their state. They visited only Azerbaijan and Armenia
but Not Nagorno Karabakh. It also speaks well for the fact that the
European delegation had a specific message to the heads of Armenia
and Azerbaijan and was not another “acquaintance with positions of
the sides”. It’s not accidental that after the European delegation’s
visit the sides announced about the Bucharest meeting.
This means that the mediating states hope to achieve an agreement and
are not going to tolerate another Rambouillet. It seems the slightly
edited settlement option of Rambouillet will be imposed upon Armenia
and Azerbaijan. But will the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan give
in to the mediators’ pressure? Will an agreement be signed? This is
going to be the toughest trial for both Robert Kocharian and Ilham
Aliyev. Yet, one thing is clear: refusal to sign an agreement can
have bad consequences for the two leaders. What agreement do the
mediators put forward?
Judging from the statements of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents
and foreign ministers as well as mass media reports, the principles of
conflict resolution are roughly as follows: Armenia withdraws from 5
of 7 occupied territories neighboring Karabakh, Azerbaijan recognizes
the right for self-determination of the people of Karabakh and agrees
to hold a referendum there. Before the referendum Nagorno Karabakh
gets an interim status. According to the Western media, the issue of
Kelbajar region is still disputable.
Agreeing to these principles can cause serious inner political problems
for Kocharian and particularly Aliyev. Some of the principles are
extremely unbeneficial for Armenia and some for Azerbaijan. But the
Azeri president is in even tougher situation as the Azerbaijani society
does not even want to hear of Nagorno Karabakh’s self-determination.
However, we cannot rule out the possibility of a signed agreement in
Bucharest due to the international pressure.

ISAKOV AVENUE TO BE FULLY RENOVATED THIS YEAR
By Karine Danielian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/05/2006
Frunze Basentsian, head of the Utility Department at the Yerevan
Municipality, informed at that soon they will begin renovation works
of the Isakov Avenue. The Isakov Avenue will be made a highway that
will lead from Yerevan to “Zvartnots” airport.
It is also envisaged that the gambling houses and the furniture
shops will be separated from the streets by iron decorative walls. In
general, there are 81 objects on the road that have passed the allowed
line for the construction. All of the owners of these shops and other
buildings are warned about coming destruction. New roads 6,5 meters
wide will pass by these buildings. Another 7 meters wide highway
leading to the airport will be constructed.
In general, it is envisaged that AMD 5,1 billion of construction
works will be done in this sphere.
Besides, AMD 755 million will be spent on reconstruction of damaged
buildings. 11 more damaged buildings will be underpinned this year. In
total, there are 72 damaged buildings in Yerevan. By end August,
the specialist will complete the elaboration of the reconstruction
plans of these buildings.
Besides, AMD 2,4 billions will be allocated for the asphalt works of
the Yerevan streets. Basentsyan assured that the illumination will
be resorted in 13 more streets, including the territory stretching
from the Davitashen bridge to the orchards of Arabkir district.

‘ARMENIA SHOULD BECOME THE COUNTRY THAT WE DREAM OF’
Says Artur Baghdasarian
AZG Armenian Daily
31/05/2006
Artur Baghdasarian, leader of “Orinats Yerkir” party, is going to
remain a common deputy of RA National Assembly, and is not going to
be the party’s leader.
As for the members of OY faction, they are determined to talk over
Baghdasrain to remain the party’s leader.
Anyway, Samvel Balasanian, head of “OY” faction, informed ArmInfo
that one can consider that he have already resigned from his
position. Meanwhile deputy Hovhannes Margarian also assured that he
has always been and will always be a member of “OY” party, even till
the end of time.
As for the probable cooperation of “OY” with the opposition forces,
Balasanian said that at present, they don’t hold any negotiations on
that issue. At the same time he didn’t excluded the cooperation of
his party with the opposition forces.

‘BLACK BOXES’ IN SATISFACTORY CONDITION
AZG Armenian Daily
31/05/2006
The “black boxes” of the crashed A320 of Armavia air carrier are in
satisfactory condition. According to “Ekho Moskvi” Radio Station,
the “black boxes” are opened by the specialists of the Inter-state
Aviation Committee. ITAR-TASS informed that the testimonies from the
“black boxes” will be decoded in a month.
On May 27, the “black boxes” were taken to Paris from Moscow for the
specialists to open them. After that, the chips from the “black boxes”
will be taken to Moscow for decoding.

THE PARLIAMENT TURNED DOWN TWO DRAFTS
A1+
[07:28 pm] 31 May, 2006
The draft amendment to the RA Criminal Code which presupposed the
criminal punishment of those businessmen who have refused to pay
6 million AMD was rejected once again in the Parliament. The main
opponents of the draft were the faction “People’s Deputy” and the
Orinats Yerkir, as well as independent deputies.
“The draft amendment to the criminal code was brought to the Parliament
at the end of the previous year and at the beginning of the current
year. This is the third time it has been turned down in the NA,”
member of the OYP Hovhannes Margaryan said.
“The punishment for any economic crime must be economic too. If
the businessmen has appropriated 1000 AMD, he must first restore
the loss and then pay x percent of it. If you take him to prison,
who will pay his debts?” independent deputy Khachatur Suqiasyan told
“A1+”. According to him, it would be better for this person to make
payments and continue his activity. “In other cases if a company uses
fabricated documents and harms the country, they can be considered
criminals”, he thinks.
Besides this, another draft was rejected today. The draft amendments
to the RA Law on Income about registering the estate and income of
individuals was rejected with 54 deputies against is and one for. It
presupposed that the individuals with income of more than 500 thousand
AMD were to register their estate and income.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE WILL BE OPEN FOR JOURNALISTS
A1+
[08:31 pm] 31 May, 2006
The second President of the third Parliament of the RA will be elected
tomorrow, and the heads of the committees will be elected on Friday,
the last day of the special session. Today Minister of Culture Hasmik
Poghosyan was in the Parliament accompanied by the deputies of the
United Labor Party and its head Gourgen Arsenyan. Let us remind you
that Hasmik Poghosyan’s candidacy was put forward by the ULP.
“This sphere is a new one for me,” Hasmik Poghosyan said. But she
promised that she will work with the same principles as before in
the field of culture. In her activity she will base upon the plan of
the party which has put her forward. “Their attitude towards culture
is very close to me. Gourgen Arsenyan has long supported cultural
events. This is the reason of our long-lasting cooperation,” Hasmik
Poghosyan informed the journalists today.
As for detailed plans for future, she considered it early to speak
about them but promised the journalists to keep in touch with them
the same way as before, “The Ministry of Culture will always be open
for the journalists,” Mrs. Poghosyan said.