OPPOSITION IS FERMENTING
Lragir.am
16 May 06
The controversies inside the government, the coalition seemed to
be going to cheer up the opposition. The opposition, however, keeps
silent, and no actions are taken. “I think there is a rule here.
After the referendum there a strong surge rose, and internal
fermentation followed. One cannot be always alert. These developments
will surely affect these internal processes, developments, the rest,”
says Vazgen Manukyan.
Vazgen Manukyan says there a change in the country is absolutely
necessary, therefore, the social movement does not have an
alternative. According to the leader of the National Democratic Union,
only a social movement can lead to a change. “In other words, this
movement should become so powerful as to make people in power to
start thinking about their future, like in 1990. In fact, there was
a movement, and there was the Central Committee, there was dual power
and the existing situation was, in fact, formed through an election,
and imparted with a legal force,” says the leader of the National
Democratic Union. According to him, only this path will lead to a
change of power in the election 2007. But if the country fails to
reach a condition of social uprising, Vazgen Manukyan considers it
pointless to run for election; at least he says so on behalf of the
National Democratic Union. And the leader of the National Democratic
Union still does not say whether they will again ally with Ardarutiun
or some other force, because it is not certain yet whether they will
run for parliament or not.
According to Vazgen Manukyan, if a social movement develops but fails
to achieve a change of power, it is possible that the Georgian model
will work, but if both fail, the social movement will “skip 2007
and go to 2008.” One thing is certain, according to Vazgen Manukyan,
that there must be a change, that it cannot be achieved by a couple
of parties, and the electoral system does not work in Armenia.

ARTHUR BAGHDASARIAN HASN’T SAID THE WHOLE TRUTH
Anna Israelian
Aravot.am
16 May 06
The RPA and ARF politicians think in this way about those
discrepancies, which the OEP leader produced as the reasons for
leaving the coalition.
The NA chairman Arthur Baghdasarian mentioned in the interview given
on 12 of May that the OEP had discrepancies round inter political or
social-economic problems, democratic reforms and foreign policy with
its coalition partners.
Whether those discrepancies deepened in that period that it wasn’t
possible to work together any more. The RPA member Samvel Nikoyan
answered to this question; “None of the mentioned reasons for
leaving the coalition are news. For example there was a year when the
coalition didn’t affirm the account of the privatization project by
OEP efforts. That is, we have had a worse version.
As regards the approach in the problems of Euro integration I should
remind that one of the superiorities of the foreign policy of a state
is Euro integration. The only difference is that there is no problem
of becoming the NATO member in our agenda.
Other given argumentations of discrepancies aren’t news and can’t be
the reason of leaving the coalition. There were other factors too.”
The PM Andranik Margarian explained the OEP decision in this way to
”Azatutiun” b/s that it was the result of starting the pre-electoral
campaign sooner.
The ARF GB representative Armen Rustamian said on the occasion of the
OEP decision; ”I think it isn’t a complete list. It would be better
for Arthur Baghdasarian to produce those discrepancies completely
after which we’d be able to give remarks.” The ARF Bureau member Vahan
Hovhannisian informed in the interview given to ”Regnum” agency;
‘I haven’t noticed any discrepancies with us. Anyway the conversation
about discrepancies isn’t well grounded. Maybe the OEP is going to
ground but I haven’t heard serious substantiations yet.”
Armen Rustamian also didn’t agree with ”rat race” characteristic;
”I don’t want to offend my partners and I don’t want to use such
terms.” He considers possible that those deputies left the OEP for
ideological reasons; ”It is quite possible as there are a lot of
serious persons there. I don’t think their behavior can be described
by that primitive remarks.
Let’s cite again Vahan Hovhannisian who has mentioned that the
political power must count its possibilities rightly; ”As if you
involve persons into your party for having majority in the parliament
who don’t belong to you ideologically you must face to such a situation
sooner or later.” And the OEP fraction leader Samvel Baghdasarian
whom Arthur Baghdasarian will replace said; ”The reasons are what
were mentioned. And the last problem is the developments on the
account of the project of privatization. There is no other discrepancy.
And other interpretations aren’t true.”
–Boundary_(ID_D/08jkEM6daTvoDKMGovpQ)–

RELIGIOUS LEADERS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN MAY MEET IN MOSCOW
ArmRadio.am
16.05.2006 10:54
The recurrent meeting of religious leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan
may take place July 4-5 in the capital of Russia in the framework of
an international conference of interreligious dialogue.
Information Service of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin informs that
no final decision has been taken about the meeting of the Cathlicos
of All Armenians Garegin II and Allah Shukur Pasha- Zadeh.
The conference will be presided over by the Patriarch of all Russians
Aleksi II.

OPERATION OF LIFTING THE BLACK BOXES OF THE CRASHED A-320 TO START TODAY IN THE BLACK SEA
ArmRadio.am
16.05.2006 11:10
The operation of lifting the black boxes of the crashed A-320 plane
will start today in the Black Sea. The recorders lie 496 meters deep
in the water.
According to preliminary information, the distance between the boxes
makes about five meters.
“The “Navigaor” ship, on which RT-1000 deepwater devise has been
installed, will work in the depth of 500 meters,” said Alexander
Davidenko, Head of the Sea and River Transport Agency of the RF
Ministry of Transport.
Davidenko noted that the devise has never applied in such depth,
but it was tested on the depth of 500 meters.
The specialists hope they will manage to extract the black boxes,
which weight 7 kg.
The “Navigator” has a dynamic location system, which allows it to
stay within the radius of 10 meters, which in its turn provides the
opportunity to normally operate deep in the water.

TURKISH JOURNALISTS WILL TAKE FRIENDSHIP FROM ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
16.05.2006 12:15
“Ararat Mountain is not just a mountain for you. It is your soul,
which is hard for us, the Turks, to conceive,” Turkish journalist
Eje Temelkura said in the talk with “Radiolur” correspondent Gita
Elibekyan.
The reporter arrived in Armenia to write an article about us for the
Turkish “Milliet.” He learned about the life of Armenians. He does
not know so far how his article will be titled, but there is one
thing he knows for sure: he will write about Ararat Mountain.
“The tragic story of Ararat Mountain is painful to me. It is currently
situated on the territory of another country, but you continue to
love it so much,” the Turkish journalist said.
“I imagined Armenian differently. I stayed here for a very short
period of time. It is, however, enough for objectively presenting
the personality and feelings of Armenians to the Turkish society,”
the journalist noted.
What will our Turkish colleagues take from Armenia? “Friendship,”
said photographer Yurtash Tyumer.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO VISIT ARMENIA LATE IN MAY
ArmRadio.am
16.05.2006 13:00
May 25-26 OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov, Steven Mann and
Bernard Fassier are scheduled to visit Armenia. RA Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan told the journalists today that the Co-Chairs have
already presented their suggestions to the parties.
It will become possible to turn to the Azeri attitude in Strasburg
during the meeting of Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers.
In Vardan Oskanyan’s words, it is impossible to have a definite
position on any document, because of the situation and the complexity
of the issue.
“Anything put on the table has both positive and negative sides,
and these should be adjusted in the result of negotiations. If it is
possible, we’ll try to bring the positions closer,” the Minister noted.
In case the Strasburg meeting and the visit of the Co-Chairs succeed,
and progress is achieved, it is possible that the Presidents may meet
in the months to come. According to Vardan Oskanyan, we should wait
for the next opportunity.
“The process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict proceeds
normally. We should continue working and have as a target the rapid
resolution of the issue,” RA foreign Minister noted.

VAZGEN MANUKYAN: WHAT HAPPENED TO “ORINATS YERKIR” PARTY REVEALS THE DEFECTS OF THE GOVERNMENT SYSTEM
ArmRadio.am
16.05.2006 14:49
“What happened to “Orinats Yerkir” Party reveals the defects of the
system,” considers Vazgen Manukyan, Head of the National Democratic
Union.
According to him, this is the most important in the latest
developments, and not the question whether the coalition exists
or not. Such system in Armenia does not promise anything, and this
should be a lesson not only for the authorities or the opposition,
but also for the society.
Speaking about the latest political events and the possible results,
Head of the National Democratic Union expressed the opinion that there
is no coalition as such, since one of the points of the agreement says
that in case one of the parties secedes, the coalition is considered
dissolved. In reality, the Republican Party and the ARF continue to
remain a coalition. “I think, however, that it is not the essential
here. The course of events showed what our system of government is
like,” Vazgen Manukyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TWO DEPUTY MINISTERS TENDER THEIR RESIGNATION
ArmRadio.am
16.05.2006 14:17
According to RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan’s decision, on May
15, 2006 Arayik Grigoryan was dismissed from the position of RA Deputy
Minister of Trade and Economic Development.
According to another decree of the Prime Minister, Artsruni Aghajanyan
was dismissed from the position of RA Deputy Minister of Labor and
Social Issues.
To remind, both Deputy Ministers represent “Orinats Yerkir” Party.

REPUBLICANS NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT “ORINATS YERKIR” WITH OPEN ARMS
ArmRadio.am
16.05.2006 15:00
“The opposition is not a room where “Orinats Yerkir” can enter
or not,” member of “Justice” block Grigor Hartyunyan said today,
turning to the statement that “the opposition is not going to accept
“Orinats Yerkir” with open arms.” According to him, only with their
activity parties can be considered opposition.
Member of the Republican Party, MP Rafik Petrosyan said he does not
want former “Orinats Yerkir” members to join their party, since he
is afraid that in the same way they will withdraw from here.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

URSULA PLASNIK: RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS IN CAUCASUS DEPEND ON DEMOCRACY AND RULE OF LAW
ArmRadio.am
16.05.2006 16:00
After the meeting with OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karel de Gucht, the
Foreign Minister of Austria Ursula Plasnik declared that the settlement
of the “frozen” conflicts in Transnistria, Nagorno-Karabakh and South
Osetia “depends on democracy and rule of law over OSCE territory.”
“Reinforcement of democracy is the basic precondition for establishment
of long-term peace,” Ursula Plasnik said.