SEVERAL RESIDENTS OF VAYOTS DZOR REGION WILL BE RESETTLED
A1+
[03:23 pm] 24 May, 2006
Robert Kocharyan and Vayots Dzor regional governor Samvel Sargsyan
discussed the results of the work carried out in the region last year
during today’s working meeting.
The main issue discussed was the problem of landslips and the process
of resettlement of people from dangerous areas. It was decided that in
2007 too money will be allotted from the state budget for that purpose.
Issues about the compensation of the losses of the region because
of natural disasters, the re-exploitation of the Eghegnadzor tinned
fruit factory and the restoration of the irrigation network were
also discussed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERI ANALYST SAYS KARABAKH RESOLUTION DEPENDS ON RUSSIA’S REDUCED ROLE
ANS TV, Baku
23 May 06
Political analyst Vafa Quluzada has said that there is no strategic
partnership between Azerbaijan and Russia because the latter is widely
perceived as Armenia’s ally.
In an interview with “Point of View” programme on commercial ANS TV,
Vafa Quluzada said that the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict could only
be solved once the geopolitical situation changes in the region and
Russia’s influence on Armenia diminishes.
He also called on Azerbaijan to promote political and economic
cooperation with the West as this would contribute to the country’s
progress.
No further processing planned.

KARABAKH ISSUE DISCUSSED IN AZERBAIJAN
A1+
[03:52 pm] 24 May, 2006
Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk group Yuri Merzlyakov, Bernard Fassier and
Steven Mann met the heads of the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan. The
meeting lasted 1.5 hours but no statement followed, agency “Trend”
reports.
Deputy Foreign Ministers of Russia and France and assistant of the US
State Secretary Daniel Fried also participated in the meeting. The
co-chairs will meet the President of Azerbaijan today after which
they will make a statement about the course of the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict.
The sides are to take decisive steps for the final settlement of
the conflict, but final clarification of the negotiation process
will be done at the end of the week, Daniel Fried announced. He
reminded that this is the third time he has visited Azerbaijan for
the last 6 months. “My aim is to find ways for the settlement of the
conflict. The population of the region has the right of peace.” Daniel
Fried underlined that “the states are to take steps in that direction”.
“President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev and President of Armenia Robert
Kocharyan are able to settle the conflict peacefully,” the American
diplomat thinks.

DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN IS DISPLEASED
A1+
[04:04 pm] 24 May, 2006
Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Araz Azimov said that the
statements of the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs about new offers in
connection with the settlement of the Karabakh conflict do not inspire
optimist, agency “Trend” reports.
“With suchlike announcements the co-chairs mean to raise the importance
of their work in the eyes of the people,” Araz Azimov mentioned. He
also said that there are clear problems the solution of which can
be expected after plain and evident steps. “These steps must be
represented to Azerbaijan distinctly”.

THEY CONDEMN THE ACT OF SERGE SARGSYAN’S BROTHER
A1+
[04:27 pm] 24 May, 2006
The Political Council of the party “Homeland and Honor” has made
a statement expressing indignation about the cynical behavior of
Alexander Sargsyan towards Taguhi Tovmasyan, the correspondent of
the newspaper “Iravounq”.
“The Political Council supports freedom of speech and the staff of
the newspaper “Iravounq”. We look forward to the hour when all the
people who have that kind of behavior will be punished regardless of
their position”, the statement says.

REAL APACHES TO COME TO ARMENIA TO DANCE
Panorama.am
12:49 23/05/06
On the invitation of US Embassy Yellow Bird apache dance group will
arrive in Armenia soon. The group will stage dances in Ararat on May
26, in Yerevan on May 27 (Cascad) and in Gyumri on May 29 (Theater
Square).
According to US Embassy press services, Yellow Bird has a good name
to continue the old cultural heritages in America. Accompanied by
history long stories and elements of North American Indian art,
their dances present the art and culture of Native Americans to the
present and future generations. It will be interesting to Armenians,
who also have had long lasting history, to see the American native
culture, especially that we know about it only from films and
books.

ARMENIAN CIVIL AVIATION GENERAL DEPARTMENT TO LEAVE FOR SOCHI
Panorama.am
12:54 23/05/06
The Armenian Civil Aviation General Department representative will
leave for Sochi today to participate in the committee work studying
the reasons of A-320 airliner crash on May 3 costing 113 lives.
The group will study the “black box” recorder information which was
discovered recently, Gaiane Davtian CAGD Head press secretary told
Panorama.am.
The department authorized Gagik Galstyan, flight security inspection
department inspector to participate in the committee work. Igor
Levitin, Russian Transport Minister, heads the committee.
Yesterday, 1 of “black box” recorders of A-320 airliner was discovered
from Black Sea, under 296 m depth. The device has recorded talks
between the airliner personnel and the dispatcher as well as talks
in the pilot’s cabin.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHY DID EUROPEANS CHOOSE THE “MONSTERS”?
Panorama.am
14:35 23/05/06
The Armenian Apostolic church representatives are concerned with the
victory of Finnish group Lordi at Eurovision 2006. In a discussion
held at Ararat diocese, priest Tovma Andrasyan said that the victory
of the “monsters” indicates that Europe is undergoing a phase of
decline of moral values. The priest also quoted statistics saying
the higher the standard of living in European countries, the more
mentally ill they have. “The churches in Scandinavia are empty,”
he said, adding that there is no greater sin than indifference.
Michael Hambartsumyan, psychologist did not agree with him. In his
words, the choice of the Europeans reflected everything that the
youth does not agree now.
The psychologist suggests taking the performance only as a show
and not as moral degradation. “The Finn needed the first place and
they reached their aim – serious marketing was conducted beforehand
on audience preferences. They understood that there is a need for
rock music since Eurovision has long been taken as a contest of pop
music. I do not think we have to look for religious origins here,”
Hambartsumyan said.

BIG CENTRALIZATION OF PROPERTY OBSERVED IN ARMENIAN BANKS
Panorama.am
14:36 23/05/06
Big centralization of property is observed in the Armenian banks. The
number of property owners in 2 out of 15 banks is above 20. The
number of shareholders in one of the banks reaches 1000, expert on
corporative management of International Financial Corporation (IFC)
Panos Labrapolus told a seminar today, speaking about a study conducted
by IFC in April-May, 2006 among 15 banks of Armenia.
In the words of P. Labrapolus, in only 6 banks of Armenia the
minimal share of shareholders does not reach even 2% of the total
capital. The controlling packet of interests in most Armenian banks
belongs to one or several persons. The research says that only two
intend to take their shares to the stock exchange and transform
into open share holdings. 12 banks prefer to enlarge their scope of
activity, attracting financial means of shareholders or international
organizations and not use the financial flows of deposits. Indicating
the need to improve the corporative management, P. Labropolus suggested
using as many means of depositors as possible. According to the study,
most local banks think that corporative management is on low level
in Armenia and only 26% think that it is quite developed.
In the words of P. Labrapolus, the results of the research will
enable the organization to specify those areas of their activity that
need change.

GRAND INSURANCE FIRM STARTS PAYING COMPENSATIONS FOR KILLED AIRLINER PASSENGERS’ RELATIVES
Armenpress
May 24 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 24, ARMENPRESS: Grand Insurance firm said it is starting
the process of paying compensations to the families of passengers
who were killed when an Armenian Airbus-320 plunged into the Black
Sea on May 3 killing all 113 people aboard.
An official of the firm said relatives of the killed passengers can
apply any time. Grand Insurance company belongs to Mikhail Baghdasarov,
the owner of Armavia air company that operated the Airbus-320. The
firm has re-insured the assumed risks with 14 insurance companies in
Great Britain.
Baghdasarov earlier said compensations may amount up to $20,000
Meantime the second flight recorder of the plane has been recovered
from the site where the Airbus crashed into the Black Sea May 3. A
spokesperson for the Russian transport ministry overseeing the search
operation, said the second black box, which recorded flight data and
had been thought to be lying 3-5 meters (10-16 feet) away from the
first one, was actually located 16 meters (about 40 feet) from the
first recorder and was buried deeper in silt.
The first box was recovered on Monday. A special intergovernmental
investigation committee will be set up to decipher the flight data
from the plane.