ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER BLAMES EX-SPEAKER FOR HIDING TRUTH ABOUT RESIGNATION
Mediamax news agency
22 May 06
Yerevan, 22 May: The leader of the Orinats Yerkir Party, Artur
Bagdasaryan, who resigned from the post of the parliamentary speaker
today, and the leader of the National Unity Party, Artashes Gegamyan,
traded mutual accusations at the National Assembly session today.
Artashes Gegamyan in particular said that “the Armenian president and
the defence minister managed to pull down the Orinats Yerkir Party
within several days”.
“Artur Bagdasaryan is speaking about the atmosphere of fear reigning
in Armenia. Most likely, this atmosphere of fear is hindering him
to tell the whole truth that precisely Robert Kocharyan and Serzh
Sarkisyan forced him to resign from the post of speaker,” the leader
of the National Unity Party said.
In reply, Artur Bagdasaryan said that if the National Unity Party
had not left the opposition camp after the first round of the 2003
presidential elections, “a different political situation would have
emerged in the country”. Artur Bagdasaryan said that Artashes Gegamyan
had thus implemented “Serzh Sarkisyan’s order”.
The politicians’ quarrel lasted for quite a while after which they
decided to continue their dispute on the air of one of the Armenian
TV channels.
[Arminfo, Yerevan, in Russian 1733 gmt 22 May 06 quoted Serzh Sarkisyan
as saying that he was “absolutely uninterested in the quarrel between
Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan and the leader of the opposition National
Unity Party”.]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI OFFICIALS, OSCE MEDIATORS DISCUSS CURRENT STAGE OF KARABAKH TALKS
ANS TV, Baku
24 May 06
The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs had a meeting at the Azerbaijani Foreign
Ministry today. During the meeting, they discussed the current stage
of the talks on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and prospects for its
settlement. Details of the meeting have not been disclosed. After
their meetings in Baku, foreign diplomats will visit Armenia.
[Video showed Minsk Group co-chairs and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
Grigoriy Karasin, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and
Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried, French Foreign Ministry political
director Stanislas de Laboulaye]
[At 0954 gmt on 24 May, Turan news agency quoted Karasin as saying
that the talks were “useful”, while others declined to comment.]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RESTORE THE DUELS
Anna Israelian
Aravot.am
24 May 06
According to one of the ARF deputy if tradition of duels is restored
we w?n’t be forced to hear the offences which the OEP and “National
Unity” addressed to each other in the NA yesterday.
Here are passages from those declarations.
Hovhannes Margarian /OEP/; “Where were today’s Pharisees when hundreds
of thousands issues were being discussed in the parliament? Where was
that same Geghamian who betrayed the leader of the opposition Stepan
Demirchian in the second stage of the presidential elections in 2003
taking some thousands of dollars? Where was he when the question of
deposits was being discussed, when schools and nursery schools were
being privatized very cheaply, when problems of disaster zone were
being discussed? When were you, the Savior, when the opposition was
fighting in favor of justice? Certainly he was hiding waiting for
new commands from the influential officials who using Geghamian’s
oratorical potential were financing him in indirect way. Everybody
knows what happens to those who have become unnecessary after
being used. I must mention that Arthur Baghdasarian being 37 years
old and the OEP is 10 have had more serious achievements than you
with your empty critics addressed to Robert Kocharian and Serge
Sargsian. Speaking about robbery you ownbuildings and complexes,
criticizing the corruption you are fed by the authority.
Hmayak Hovhannisian /independent deputy/; “A scenario is being realized
here making each other abolish public politicians for anti-ideological
and anti-political elements. Our so-called political field has become
a stable… The journalists and I are the unhappiest persons in this
hall, because we have to find some regularity in the stable. Stable
rules act here.
Mher Shahgeldian /OEP/; “If anybody likes to feel himself in the
stable it is his choice… I turn to “National Unity”, you try to
carry out your policy by craftiness. Don’t you ask for economic
orders periodically from the Minister of Defense and get it. We know
about it.”
Samvel Balasanian /OEP/; “I don’t know what Hmayak Hovhannisian speaks
about. I compare this misfortune with Alyonka from Russian tale who
was sinking.
Dear Alyonka, Alyonushka, maybe you have lost your patrons. /”Sheep”, –
Hmayak Hovhannisian cried from his sit. A.I./. Becoming the opposition
we are criticized by Hmayak Hovhannisian, we also were being criticized
when we were the authority”.
Gagik Kostandian; /National Unity/ “You betrayed the ANM and Levon
Ter- Petrosian in 1998, and you betrayed the coalition in 2006. If
you have taken money for your betrayal, it’s a problem but if you
are a principal betrayer, it’s another problem. You declare that
you have defended Robert Kocharian in the first and second stages,
but how can we understand your step, is it a betrayal or next play
of the authorities to form a false opposition. Didn’t you know with
whom you were going to work? Your partner political powers are the
same, they haven’t changed, admit that posts admired you. And you
awakened before the elections, that the coalition///// I have been
in the boxing ring since for about 17 years, and I have seen a lot
of blows below the belt, we considered those sportsmen as sons of
the beach. I haven’t seen a political power, which blows below the
belt. Your declaration that we are financed by Serge Sargsian and
are engaged in supplies, that information is false and old”.
Artashes Geghamian; “I’ll compliment Arthur Baghdasarian. He is too
///. He said here that the way of lie is short like the way of the
thief, it lasts 40 days. It seems he saw today. His way last only a
day /and read the declaration signed on 19 of February according to
which the results of the elections can’t be recognized legal. -A.I./
Let the people decide which category he is.”
Stepan Zakarian /”Justice”/; If there was a healthy society it would
be interested from the beginning where Serge Sargsian has got such
big money for being able to but a politician or a party… I think
that the feeling of fear about which he was speaking prevented the
NA chairman to say it.”
Vram Gyulzadian /OEP/; “Geghamian says that when the Public Prosecutor
is engaged in planting trees, potato specialist must carry out
policy. It is honor for me to be a potato specialist. And thanks
to my farmer partners we had potato in cold and famine years. Has
anybody been saved by your pompous speeches?”

A QUESTION REMAINED
Tigran Avetisian
Aravot.am
24 May 06
Irrespective of the circumstance how Arthur Baghdasarian’s resignation
is marked, beforehand planned action to the opposition, current
demonstration of populism or demonstration of money and influences,
result of ‘Elite quarrels”, he behavior is worth to be respected. If
we even consider that it is planned beforehand he must be too brave
for going to it. It is risky to leave the current post for the coming
one. And that current post is enough influential; sit of the second
figure, some posts of Ministers, a lot of posts of third and forth
“echelons”. Not speaking about the great opportunity of successful
business for the OEP relatives. Everybody knows that nobody can carry
out a successful business without authority support. Does he have
guarantees that he gets all it back? He should be satisfied what he
has already had express some wise thoughts like Galust Sahakian and
keep enjoying the life. Like Sergo.
About populism. OEP isn’t far from it. But other powers of the
coalition also like it. No authority power has sent in his resignation
up to the present day. And why should it send? So-called populism
is a “sickness” for normal countries where public opinion means
something. While that populism costs nothing in Armenia.
Anyway, it will be better for Arthur Baghdasarian to answer to a
principle question. Why did he assisted Robert Kocharian’s candidacy
in 2003 when all authority falsifications existed in that time, too.

AZERI LEADER, RUSSIAN, US, FRENCH OFFICIALS DISCUSS KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
Azartac news agency, Baku
24 May 06
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has met Russian Deputy Foreign
Minister Grigoriy Karasin, US Assistant Secretary of State for European
and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried and French Foreign Ministry’s
Ambassador at Large Pierre Morel to discuss the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Azerbaijani state news
agency Azartac reported on 24 May.
The meeting was also attended by the co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk
Group and the personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office
on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, Andrzej Kasprzyk, Azartac said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SECOND FLIGHT RECORDER RECOVERED FROM PLANE CRASH THAT KILLED 113
Pravda, Russia
May 24 2006
The flight data recorder was lifted by a diving apparatus from a depth
of about 1,640 feet (500 meters) after it was separated from a thick
layer of silt, Transport Ministry spokeswoman Svetlana Kryshtanovskaya
said, according to the RIA-Novosti news agency.
The so-called “black box” was discovered within 16 meters (50 feet)
from the spot where workers found the plane’s cockpit voice recorder
Monday.
Russian TV channels showed footage of a yellow, remote-controlled
apparatus lifting the red recorder from the sea surface, the AP
reports.
Investigators hope the two recorders will help answer why the Armavia
Airbus A-320 plane plunged into the sea on May 3 amid heavy rain and
poor visibility. The flight had been en route to the southern Russian
sea resort Sochi from the Armenian capital, Yerevan. All passengers
and crew members on board were killed.
Prosecutors almost immediately dismissed the possibility that
terrorists had brought the plane down, and officials point to rough
weather or pilot error as the likely cause. Armavia officials have
suggested, however, that air traffic controllers were at least partly
to blame.
Top Armenian aviation officials will travel to Moscow Thursday for the
deciphering of the black boxes, a process that could also take place
in Paris with the involvement of Airbus, Armenia’s civil aviation
authority spokesman Gayane Davtian said.
Meanwhile, the victims’ relatives will receive compensation of
US$20,000 (~@15,550) each, the insurance company liable for the
payouts said Wednesday.

KOCHARIAN EXPRESSES GRATITUDE FOR ACTIONS TAKEN AFTER AIRBUS A320 CRASH
Interfax, Russia
May 24 2006
MOSCOW. May 24 (Interfax) – Armenian President Robert Kocharian has
expressed gratitude for the actions taken by Russia after the crash
of the Armavia Airbus A320 near Sochi in a telephone conversation
with President Vladimir Putin.
“The Armenian president expressed gratitude for Russia’s efficient
and full-scale involvement in the rescue operation after the crash and
congratulated the president for the successful completion of efforts
to recover the flight recorders,” the Kremlin said, adding that the
conversation was initiated by Kocharian.
Putin “expressed hope that the recovering of the black boxes, which
became possible as a result of the unique skills of experts, will
allow to uncover all the details of the crash,” the Kremlin said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

2ND RECORDER RECOVERED FROM ARMENIAN PLANE
Niagara Gazette, NY
May 24 2006
MOSCOW
Searchers on Wednesday recovered the second flight recorder from an
Armenian airliner that crashed into the Black Sea three weeks ago,
killing all 113 people aboard, local media reported.
The flight data recorder was lifted by a diving apparatus from a
depth of about 1,640 feet after it was separated from a thick layer
of silt, said Transport Ministry spokeswoman Svetlana Kryshtanovskaya,
according to the RIA-Novosti news agency.
The data recorder was discovered within 50 feet from where workers
on Monday found the plane’s cockpit voice recorder.
Russian television channels showed a yellow, remote-controlled
apparatus lifting the red recorder from the sea surface.
Investigators hope the two recorders will help answer why the Armavia
Airbus A-320 plane plunged into the sea May 3 in heavy rain and poor
visibility. The flight had been en route to the southern Russian sea
resort Sochi from the Armenian capital, Yerevan.
Prosecutors almost immediately dismissed the possibility that
terrorists had brought the plane down, and officials point to rough
weather or pilot error as the likely cause. Armavia officials have
suggested, however, that air traffic controllers were at least partly
to blame.
Top Armenian aviation officials will travel to Moscow Thursday for
deciphering the recorders, a process that could also take place in
Paris with the involvement of Airbus, said Gayane Davtian, a spokesman
for Armenia’s civil aviation authority.
Meanwhile, the victims’ relatives are to receive compensation of
$20,000 each, the insurance company liable for the payments said
Wednesday.
“The insurance payments will not depend in any way on the cause of
the catastrophe,” said Artak Antonian, head of the Grand insurance
company.

U.S. ENVOY TO ARMENIA RECALLED
By Emil Danielyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
May 24 2006
President George W. Bush has officially confirmed the impending
dismissal of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans which Armenian
circles in the United States attribute to the diplomat’s public
recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide.
The White House announced on Tuesday that Bush will ask the U.S.
Senate to endorse his nomination of Richard Hoagland, Washington’s
outgoing ambassador to Tajikistan, as Evans’s replacement. It offered
no explanation for the widely anticipated move.
Evans has been tipped to lose his current job for the last three
months. Armenian-American groups and activists have suggested that
he is paying the price for his controversial reference to the mass
killings and deportations of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey as “genocide.”
U.S. officials have declined to publicly confirm or deny this. “We
all serve at the pleasure of the President,” Assistant Secretary of
State Daniel Fried told the Armenian Assembly of America on March 27
when asked to comment on the issue. The Assembly and another Armenian
lobbying group in Washington, ANCA, have voiced strong support for
Evans, demanding that the Bush administration refrain from recalling
the envoy.
Evans has served as ambassador to Armenia for less than two years.
All of the four previous heads of the U.S. mission in Yerevan had
longer tenures. “I do not know when I will be leaving Armenia and
I have not submitted by retirement papers,” the 58-year-old career
diplomat told reporters on March 7.
Evans openly contradicted the long-running policy of successive U.S.
administrations when he declared in a February 2005 speech in
California that “the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the
20th century.”
Washington was quick to disown the remarks, saying that it reflected
only his personal views and did not signify any change in U.S. policy
on the sensitive subject. “He did not coordinate with the U.S.
government. He did not clear his remarks with the State Department,”
a senior Bush administration official told RFE/RL at the time.
“I used the term “genocide” speaking in what I characterized as
my personal capacity,” Evans clarified in a subsequent written
statement. “This was inappropriate.”
The extraordinary genocide recognition led to a decision by the U.S.
Foreign Service Association to give Evans its annual prestigious award
designed for American diplomats displaying “constructive dissent” in
their work. However, the association then unexpectedly withdrew the
award. Reports in the U.S. press suggested that the decision, which
came ahead of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s June 2005
trip to Washington, was made under pressure from the State Department.
Turkey, which is a key U.S. ally, vehemently denies that the Armenian
massacres constituted a genocide and has repeatedly warned Washington
against using the politically sensitive term.
In his last April 24 address to the Armenian-American community,
Bush again stopped short of describing the mass killings as genocide,
speaking only of “one of the horrible tragedies of the 20th century.”
But he at the same time cited and praised an independent study,
commissioned by prominent Armenians and Turks in 2002, which concluded
that the slaughter of some 1.5 million Ottoman Armenians fits the
internationally accepted definition of genocide.

NEWSPAPER DEMANDS CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST SARKISIAN BROTHER
By Ruzanna Stepanian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
May 24 2006
An opposition-linked newspaper demanded on Wednesday that Armenian
law-enforcement authorities launch criminal proceedings against
a controversial brother of Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian who
reportedly verbally abused and threatened one of its journalists.
Taguhi Tovmasian of the “Iravunk” bi-weekly reported last week that
Aleksandr “Sashik” Sarkisian clashed with several reputed crime figures
during a birthday party at one of Yerevan’s expensive restaurants
earlier this month. Tovmasian says Sarkisian confronted her in the
Armenian parliament on Tuesday to express his fury with the article
and demand that she disclose its source. She says he threatened to
create “problems” for her after she refused to do that.
In separate letters to the police, the Prosecutor-General’s Office
and the National Security Service (NSS), the “Iravunk” management
said all of this is sufficient grounds for a criminal case against
the influential businessman and member of Armenia’s parliament. It
also demanded that the law-enforcement agencies ensure the physical
security of its young female employee.
“He [Sarkisian] wants to know the source? I am the source,” Hayk
Babukhanian, the “Iravunk” editor-in-chief, told RFE/RL.
Tovmasian also struck a defiant note. “Sashik Sarkisian cared not so
much about the veracity of the information as its source,” she said.
“He was endlessly making threatens like ‘If you don’t name the source,
you’ll have problems; you know who I am.'”
“He didn’t care whether or not what I reported was true,” she added.
“This only shows that what I wrote was true. It can be said that I
rubbed salt against his wounds with that article. He proved this with
his brazen behavior.”
“Iravunk,” which is linked to a small opposition party called the
Union for Constitutional Rights, claimed that Sarkisian went to the
restaurant on May 2 to celebrate with dozens of crime figures the 50th
anniversary of a prominent Russian mobster. The paper, one of the
best selling in Armenia, said that at one point he started angrily
quarrelling with some them over a business-related matter. It also
noted that some of them were among the passengers of the Armenian
airliner that crashed off the Russian Black Sea coast a few hours
later.
Sarkisian, meanwhile, refused to speak to journalists and comment
on the scandal as he attended a parliament session on Wednesday. His
powerful and normally reserved brother Serzh is currently attending
the Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy and was not available for comment.