EXTRAORDINARY SESSION AT THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
ArmRadio.am
06.07.2006 10:18
Chairman of RA National Assembly Tigran Torosyan signed a decree,
according to which at the initiative of RA Government, the National
Assembly called an extraordinary session.

THE CRISIS OF FUEL AT “ZVARTNOTS” AIRPORT CONTINUES
ArmRadio.am
06.07.2006 15:08
In the recent days some flights from “Zvartnots” airport are either not
executed, or the planes refuel at reserve airports, Press Secretary of
the Chief Department of Civil Aviation of Armenia Gayane Davtyan told
“Noyyan Tapan.”
According to her, the problem with the avian fuel is connected with
its sole importer “Mika Armenia Limited,” which has not imported a
sufficient quantity of fuel. It is hard to say when the issue will
be regulated.
For executing direct Yerevan-Moscow flight, the planes have to land
at Sochi airport for refueling.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VISTING ARMENIAN LEADER SIGNS ACCORDS WITH IRANIAN COUNTERPART
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
5 Jul 06
[Presenter] Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has left for Tehran
on a working visit. The Iranian president met the Armenian president
at the airport.
President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad said with confidence that Robert
Kocharyan’s visit will give a boost to the development of bilateral
relations.
Robert Kocharyan noted noticeable progress that has been made in
bilateral cooperation since his last visit.
[Correspondent from Tehran] The results of Armenian-Iranian talks
were confirmed in seven agreements signed a while ago.
[Passage omitted: recaps other documents signed during 15 years].
Officials of the two countries, in the presence of Robert Kocharyan
and Ahmadinezhad, signed a memorandum of understanding under which
the Iranian side will support Armenia’s development; a programme of
cultural cooperation between the two countries in 2006-11; and an
agreement on legal cooperation and extradition.
Three agreements were signed in the energy sphere. In particular,
Armenian Energy Minister Armen Movsisyan and the head of the
Iranian Export Development Bank signed an agreement on financing
the construction of a power transmitter. The Iranian and Armenian
energy ministries signed a memorandum on the construction of the
third high-voltage power line.
At a joint news conference the two presidents stressed that the
agreements were signed on cooperation in various spheres, including
the cultural, the economic and legislative spheres.
Mahmud Ahmadinezhad described Armenian-Iranian relations as friendly,
stable and developing and expressed the hope that the signing of the
agreements today will further promote the development of bilateral
relations.
[Passage omitted: the Armenian president hails trade relations between
Armenia and Iran].
Robert Kocharyan urged Iran to invest in Armenia, and expressed the
hope that major programs implemented in the construction sphere will
contribute to this. They said that the two neighboring countries will
be able to achieve all this because of their warm relations.
The Armenian president talked about the times when the two countries
not even had a road connecting them. He recalled that a bridge was
constructed at the beginning of 1990s and today, 15 years later,
they made some noticeable progress.
The presidents also touched on international issues. Mahmud
Ahmadinezhad noted that they shared views on various issues and said
that bilateral programmes will be implemented as soon as possible.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT DISMISSES JUSTICE MINISTRY OFFICIAL
Arminfo, Yerevan
29 Jun 06
Yerevan, 29 June: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has signed a
decree dismissing Samvel Ovannesyan from his post as head of the
criminal execution department of the Armenian Justice Ministry,
the presidential press service has told Arminfo.

ARMENIAN MINISTER SAYS OSCE KARABAKH STATEMENT “NOT PERFECT”
Arminfo
29 Jun 06
Yerevan, June 29: The document on the principles of settling the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict which is on the negotiating table is
comprehensive, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in an
interview with ArmenPress news agency. He was commenting on the 22
June statement by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen.
He said that the document covers every principle that might impact on
the settlement process, mainly the status of Nagornyy Karabakh, the
return of territories, refugees, security issues, the deployment of
peacekeepers and other issues, necessary for achieving a long-lasting
settlement.
Having reached agreement on all these issues, the sides in cooperation
with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will start drafting an agreement
on the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, the implementation
of which demands time.
Touching upon the issue of the “redeployment of Armenian troops from
Azerbaijani territories around Nagornyy Karabakh”, Vardan Oskanyan
noted that such a formula has two aspects – one is the issue of Lacin
District “which must become a corridor connecting Nagornyy Karabakh
with Armenia”. As far as Armenia is concerned, Lacin must have the
same status as Nagornyy Karabakh.
“The second stage applies to Kelbajar District. As far as Armenia is
concerned, everything is clear here – due to security reasons Kelbajar
can be retu rned only after a referendum and after determining the
status of Nagornyy Karabakh. The sides have failed to reach agreement
on these issues as well and this is what the co-chairmen referred
to in their statement, and their wording is very similar to that of
Armenia’s, the minister stressed.
Speaking about who will take part in a referendum on determining the
status of Nagornyy Karabakh, Vardan Oskanyan quoted the statement as
saying that it would be the population of Nagornyy Karabakh to vote.
Apart from that he noted that the co-chairmen stressed in their
statement the significance of international involvement in the
settlement process as it is an important issue for the Nagornyy
Karabakh people.
[Passage omitted: the NKR people has the right to run its own country]
As regards Armenia’s assessment of the document, Vardan Oskanyan said
it was not perfect. However, it is sufficiently sound and balanced,
and contains provisions for equal compromises and “we are confident
that talks can be continued on the basis of these principles”, the
minister stressed. He noted that Azerbaijan continues to make bellicose
statements which surprises the Armenian side, because there is a real
chance of solving all the issues, including the refugee issue.
Azerbaijan must start thinking more realistically and not cherish
such dreams. “We hope that Azerbaijan will realize that there is a
chance to resolve the conflict and achieve a lasting peace,” Vardan
Oskanyan said.

USA AIMING TO DEPLOY NATO FORCES IN KARABAKH – ARMENIAN OPPOSITION LEADER
Arminfo
28 Jun 06
Yerevan, 28 June: A recent statement by the US co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, testifies that a settlement of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict has already been clearly outlined, and
the Armenian side has agreed to this, the leader of the Democratic
Party of Armenia [DPA], Aram Sarkisyan, told a news conference today.
By using the Karabakh issue, the USA is trying to pursue its own
interests in the region, particularly, to deploy NATO peacekeeping
forces in the conflict zone which will in fact turn Armenia into
Iran’s enemy, he said. Sarkisyan believes that if the deployment of
the peacekeepers in the region will be solved, Russia will also lay
a claim for the deployment of its own forces in the conflict zone. At
the same time, the DPA leader considers inadmissible the deployment of
the peacekeepers in the conflict zone regardless of what organization
or country they will represent.
He believes that the deployment of peacekeepers in the Karabakh
conflict zone will undermine a balance and destabilize the situation
in the region. Sarkisyan said that the US policy was a continuation
of NATO’s policy in the region. “NATO has also started to use the
language of an ultimatum applied by the US authorities with regard
to the Armenian leadership. For example, during a recent visit of a
delegation of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to Armenia, members of
the delegation asked Armenian MPs following questions: who Armenia
is today with – NATO or Russia; what is the essence of complimentary
foreign policy conducted by Armenia?” Sarkisyan said.
The members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s delegation said that
if Armenia wants the integration into the EU, it should realize
that the path to the EU is via NATO, he said. They said that
it is impossible to be simultaneously involved both in NATO and
another military organization, he added. “Now the newly-appointed
US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Matthew Bryza, continues
this language of an ultimatum. Bryza’s utterances [on the Karabakh
settlement scenario] testifies that the USA is fed up with the current
Armenian and Azerbaijani leadership, and by using the Karabakh issue,
they want to exert pressure on them,” Sarkisyan said.
[Passage omitted: criticism of the Armenian authorities]

ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS APPOINTS JUSTICE MINISTRY OFFICIAL
Arminfo
30 Jun 06
Yerevan, 30 June: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has signed a
decree appointing Ashot Martirosyan as head of the criminal execution
department of the Armenian Justice Ministry, the presidential press
service has told Arminfo.

SEPARATIST LEADER SAYS AZERBAIJAN NOT READY FOR TALKS WITH KARABAKH
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
29 Jun 06
[Presenter] The president of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic, Arkadiy
Gukasyan, today said that recent revelations on a settlement of the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict [by US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group
Matthew Bryza] cannot change Karabakh’s position. As for Karabakh’s
participation in the negotiations, the president said that this is
still impossible because of Azerbaijan’s non-constructive position.
[Gukasyan] The position of Karabakh has not changed and will not
[change]. All revelations cannot affect us because our position is
stable. Azerbaijan’s position is its destructive approach [as heard].
I do not think that it will be realistic today and Azerbaijan will
be ready to negotiate with Karabakh. It is a wrong impression that
Karabakh needs this. The process needs this.

TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS TIES WITH USA STRONGER THAN BEFORE
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
5 Jul 06
Washington 5 July: Turkey showed its economy is strong after recent
fluctuations in markets, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said
on Wednesday [5 July].
Speaking to Turkish journalists after his joint news conference with
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington on Wednesday,
Gul said that US officials told him that Turkey is strong in economic
aspect and gives confidence to the world. The US officials told him
that Turkey was not considered as a loose link in the chain any more,
he added. Noting that in his meetings in the USA, the importance of
Turkish-US relations was emphasized, Gul said, “our relations are much
stronger and healthier”. “We have discussed Iran, Iraq, PKK terrorist
organization, Middle East problem, recent tension between Israel and
Palestine, Cyprus, ending isolation over Turkish Cypriots, drafts about
so-called Armenian genocide, recent contacts in Damascus about Middle
East problem, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Samsun-Ceyhan pipeline,
Turkey’s economic performance in recent period, Turkey-EU relations and
Turkey’s contributions in regional and international issues,” said Gul.
Regarding visit of Turkish Prime Ministry Adviser Ahmet Davudoglu to
Damascus, Gul said that Turkey launched initiatives to stop tension
in Middle East upon demands, and Davudoglu met the Syrian president,
adding that the meeting was positive.
When asked how recent Israeli-Palestinian tension can be solved,
Gul said, “our position is obvious. Everybody should do their best
and a peace process should start. The ministers and kidnapped soldier
should be released and operations in Gaza should be stopped. Thus,
a new milieu can be established. Both societies should accept the
two-state solution.”
Regarding Cyprus issue, Gul said, “this issue necessitates patience.
We are insistent and determined about negotiations. The important
thing is to explain the right cause to everybody. The United States
does not withhold its support about Cyprus issue, and their efforts
will increase.”
Upon another question, Gul said, “Iraq’s territorial integrity,
political unity and stability are common targets of Turkey and the
United States. Also, we have discussed (with Rice) the attitude of
Armenian lobby in the United States. I said everybody should do their
best to prevent adoption of an Armenian draft in the United States.”
Following the news conference, Gul met representatives of Jewish
lobby in the United States.

RUSSIAN GAS MAJOR TO ACQUIRE IRAN-ARMENIA PIPELINE, SAYS SPOKESMAN
RIA Novosti, Moscow
30 Jun 06
Russia’s gas giant, Gazprom, intends to acquire the Iran-Armenia
pipeline which is being built, the deputy chairman of the company’s
board of directors, Aleksandr Ryazanov, told Gazprom’s annual meeting
of shareholders in Moscow on 30 June.
He said the pipeline will create a reliable supply of gas for Armenia.
“There are problems with the transit of gas to Armenia from Georgia,
because Georgia takes the liberty of siphoning off gas illegally,”
RIA-Novosti quoted Ryazanov as saying.
He said the pipeline should be in use in 2007 and that its transit
capacity will be 1.2bn cu. m. of gas a year.
Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema said after his meeting
with the Russian foreign minister in Moscow on 30 June that Italy
intends to buy Russian gas directly from Gazprom, instead of through
intermediaries.