ARMENIAN CONSTITUTION READY TO COMBAT CORRUPTION
By Ruzan Poghosian
AZG Armenian Daily
04/07/2006
In the course of the closed sitting, RA Constitutional Court decided
that the commitments fixed in the Anti-Corruption Convention signed
in New York on October 31,2003, keep in line with RA Constitution.
The Anti-Corruption Convention was adopted by means of international
collaboration. It is meant to combat corruption through technical
assistance. 140 countries participate in the Anti-Corruption Convention
adopted by the UN. 52 of these countries have already ratified the
convention. Armen Martirosian, representative of Armenia in the UN,
signed the Convention in New York on May 19, 2005. The convention
came into force on December 14, 2005.
Kim Balayan, member of RA Constitutional Court, held a speech on the
abovementioned issue during the sitting.
After, David Harutyunian, RA justice minister, representative of
RA president at RA Constitutional Court, answered the questions of
the judges.

JERMUK MAYOR ELECTED
Panorama.am
13:20 03/07/06
Yesterday Vardan Hovhannisyan from Armenian Republican Party was
elected as the mayor of Jermuk at community head elections. He was
competing with two more candidates – Ashot Karapetyan belonging
to no party and Vachagan Hovhannisyan from Armenian Revolutionary
Federation. Vardan Hovhannisyan was elected with 2352 of votes from
total of 3480 participating voters.

SKINHEAD GROUP, WHO BEAT AN ARMENIAN, ARRESTED IN KRASNOYARSK
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.07.2006 14:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In late June a group of youth beat an Armenian
citizen on Tatyshev Island in Krasnoyarsk.
The victim got serious bodily injuries. Initially criminal proceedings
were instituted over the fact on article 213 of the Criminal Code
of the Russian Federation – “hooliganism”, however when a group of
minors were arrested on suspicion of committing that crime, the adult
complicit of the beating is also arrested. He introduced himself
as “leader of Krasnoyarsk skinheads” and motivated his actions by
national dislike. After his arrest the Federal Court of the Soviet
region of Krasnoyarsk brought a charge against him on article 282 of
the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – “instigating hatred or
animosity, equally as humiliating human dignity on national ground,
publicly, by using violence.”
The case is in the execution of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Soviet
region. The investigation is checking the complicity of the person
arrested to committing similar crimes. According to Aide of Krasnoyarsk
Territory Prosecutor Yelena Pimonenko, this is the first shaking
demonstration of nationalism in the region. “And the Prosecutor’s
Office will undertake all efforts to prevent such delinquency at
once. We have a strict approach to that phenomenon not to admit its
spreading,” Yelena Pimonenko underscored, reports the Yerkramas,
the newspaper of Armenians of Russia.

OSCE MINSK GROUP’S PROPOSALS ACCEPTABLE FOR ARMENIA
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
04/07/2006
The statements of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, particularly those
of American co-chair Matthew Bryza, are still being commented by
both sides of the conflict. Speaking to a press conference yesterday,
Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian once again confirmed that “in
general the OSCE Minsk Group’s proposals are acceptable for Armenia,
and we are ready to continue negotiations with Azerbaijan.”
In Oskanian’s opinion, the choice was correct as regards the
concessions. “I think the Azerbaijani side will understand that and
will take right steps.”
Azerbaijani deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov stated on his part,
“Many statements of the Armenian side including those about the
referendum, Kelbajar and Lachin do not ring true.” He said that
Azerbaijan will agree only to a nationwide referendum and will never
give up this principle.
Trend news agency quoted Azimov as saying that it is wrong to leave
Kelbajar and Lachin under Armenia’s control and that no one will
allow the Armenian side to keep any lands captive.

FLIGHT OF CRASHED A320 TO BE MODELED
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
04/07/2006
The French specialists are going to model the May 3 flight of the
crashed A320 airbus, Artyom Movsisian, head of RA State Civil Aviation
Department, said.
Gagik Galstian, deputy head of Flight Security Department at RA State
Civil Aviation Department, left for France for modeling activities. The
modeling will be based on the data revealed after decoding the black
boxes of the crashed airbus. The records of the block boxes will help
fully imitate the duration of the flight.

RA MFA DOESN’T PREPARE FOR NEW ROUND OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH TALKS
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.07.2006 19:01 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not
preparing for a new round of the Armenian-Turkish talks, Acting
Spokesman of the RA MFA Vladimir Karapetian told a PanARMENIAN.Net
reporter.
“As for the statement by Turkish MFA Spokesman Namik Tan on the
proposal to form a commission of historians on the investigation of
the fact of the Armenian Genocide, I would like to remind that in
response Armenian President Robert Kocharian proposed to study the
ways for normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations at the level
of an intergovernmental commission,” Vladimir Karapetian said.

FILM ON DESTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS IN GEORGIA TO BE PRESENTED IN MOSCOW
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.07.2006 13:38 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Initiated by Mitk Union of Armenian Youth of Moscow
Yeghishe Gevorgyan’s Stones of Ancestors documentary will be screened
at Rolan cinema. According to the Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians
of Russia, the bi-serial film of ethnic Armenian film director from
Austria shows destruction of Armenian monuments in contemporary
Georgia and presents the current lamentable state of the Armenian
cultural legacy in that country. The film is built in the form of
an interview with Armenian, Russian and Georgian public figures,
who evidence falsification and destruction of cultural and spiritual
monuments of other peoples on the territory of modern Georgia. All
facts in the film are cited without author’s comments.

OSCE MG: KOCHARIAN AND ALIYEV SHOULD SHOW INITIATIVE IN KARABAKH ISSUE
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.07.2006 13:49 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yesterday OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs made a recurrent
statement. It says that principles of conflict settlement in Nagorno
Karabakh, the Co-Chairs have presented to Azerbaijan and Armenia,
are interpreted in different ways. The statement specifically notes,
“Taking it into account we consider necessary to make the following
statement.
Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group reported to the OSCE Permanent
Council on the outcomes of the talks with parties of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. They presented a report on intensive mediation aimed
at coming to an agreement over settlement basic principles within
past seven months. The report contains information on the outcomes
of the three individual and joint visits of the co-chairs to Baku
and Yerevan, two meetings with Azeri and Armenian FMs, Rambouillet
and Bucharest meetings with participation of Kocharian and Aliyev
and visits to the region in May at the level of Deputy FMs of OSCE
MG Co-Chair countries.”
The statement notes that mediation efforts of the co-chairs have
resulted in handing fair, balanced and practical basic principles over
NK settlement. “This proposal may result in singing of a settlement
agreement desirable to both parties. The essence of those principles
lies in withdrawal of Armenian troops from regions around NK and
providing a special model to Kelbajar and Lachin regions (including the
corridor between Armenia and NK). The date and form of demilitarization
of those regions should be determined at later stages of the talks –
at the time of holding a referendum on NK status. According to those
principles, the parties will stop threatening each other and will
fulfill their promises on international and bilateral security.”
Over the issue of the coming referendum on determining the status
of Nagorno Karabakh the Co-Chairs noted that arrangements should be
held for its holding. “It is a pity that the Presidents during their
latest meeting in Bucharest could not agree over those principles. We
believe that both Presidents should take the initiative in their hands
to attain progress in the settlement. In case the Presidents come
to an agreement, we are ready to assist in concluding a treaty.” The
Co-Chairs said no additional meetings are planned on their initiative
in the near future. “In case the Presidents agree to continue the
talks, we can again engage in the matter,” reports Azeri-Press.

FRANCE IMPATIENTLY AWAITING YEAR OF ARMENIA START
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.07.2006 16:03 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 12 Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian and French FM Philippe Douste-Blazy will open the Year of
Armenia in France, French President’s Diplomatic Advisor Laurent Bili
stated at a press conference in Yerevan. In his words, both sides
are ready to introduce the program of events including exhibitions,
concerts, meeting with Armenian art workers. “Events will be held not
only in Paris but also in the other French cities. We are impatiently
waiting for the opening of the Year of Armenia, since this country
is dear for us,” Bili said.
He also said that the main purpose of the Year is to represent this
country to the world. Mr Bili is convinced that the Year of Armenia
in France will become symbolic for both states. “Armenia is a wonder
of a young state with centuries-old history. The French will be
represented the art of ancient and modern Armenia and the art of the
Armenian Diaspora.
Culture is a dialogue of civilizations. It also promotes tourism and
economic development,” Laurent Bili underscored.
As for the financing, the French government will assign 0.5 million
euros. “Some private persons also gave consent to finance the events. I
suppose the sum will total in 1.5-2 million euros. However this figure
is preliminary,” the French President’s Advisor said.

OSKANIAN: RUSSIA SHOULD TAKE MEASURES TO PREVENT XENOPHOBIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.07.2006 16:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During bilateral meetings Armenia always raises the
issue of murders and appliance of violence against Armenians in Russia,
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian stated at a press conference
in Yerevan. In his words, the Russian side also voices concern over
the incidents. “The Russian authorities should take serious measures
to prevent violence and xenophobia, otherwise this can become a threat
for the country. For our part we will continue to pay rapt attention
to the cases of appliance of violence against Armenians in Russia,”
the Armenian FM said.