VISITS OF PRESIDENTS OF FRANCE, ROMANIA AND SLOVENIA TO ARMENIA EXPECTED TILL LATE THIS YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 30 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. It’s envisaged
that till late 2006, RA President Robert Kocharian will pay a
working visit to Germany, an official visit to Kazakhstan, will
participate in the CIS summit to take place in Minsk. RA President’s
Spokesman Victor Soghomonian stated about it at the August 30 press
conference. In his words, French President Jacques Chirac’s, Romanian
and Slovenian Presidents’ visits to Armenia are expected till late
this year. V.Soghominian mentioned that the information about the
RA President’s visits and foreign states heads’ visits to Armenia
are preliminary.
Terms and details of the visits are defined by diplomatic
channels. Responding a journalist’s question concerning the
possibility of a visit to be paid to Armenia by President of Iran
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Victor Soghomonian mentioned that he has “no
clear information at the moment” about it.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER GETS INVITATION TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO CHINA
Noyan Tapan
Aug 30 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues of deepening the
Armenian-Chinese interpaliamentary ties were discussed at the August
30 meeting of RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian with
Tszo Syuelian, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to
Armenia. Ambassador passed to the NA Speaker PRC Parliament Speaker
W.Bango’s invitation to pay official visit, mentioning that the
visit will assist development of interparliamentary and insterstate
relations. Receiving the invitation, Tigran Torosian mentioned that
good friendly relations were established between parliaments of the
two countries and mutual visits assist their development. A Chinese
parliamentary delegation will also visit Armenia soon. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the NA Public Relations Department, issues of
development of interparty relations were also discussed between the
Republican Party of Armenia and the Communist Party of China.
They also touched upon the possible participation of China in
construction of the Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilisi-Baku railway: the RA
NA Speaker estimated as positive the interest of China in issues of
economic development of the region and expressed a hope that such a
variant of the part, passing through South Caucasus, of the railway
tiing Europe with Eastern Asia will be chosen which will really
assist strengthening of peace and good-neighborly relations in the
region. Tszo Syuelian promised to pass the Armenian party’s anxiety
to Peking.

RUSSIA CALLS FOR BETTER AVIATION SAFETY
Alex Nicholson
AP Online
Aug 31, 2006
Russia’s prime minister said Thursday its civil aviation industry
must be overhauled to reduce reliance on aging aircraft following
three major crashes that killed more than 400 people.
“We must now make decisions and take active measures,” Prime Minister
Mikhail Fradkov said at a Cabinet meeting that focussed on flight
safety. “We cannot wait for more tragedies.”
Some of Fradkov’s statement was broadcast prominently on state-run
television, apparently to try to reassure Russians that the government
is taking action on safety while creating momentum for reform in
the sector.
Last week, a Tu-154 jet belonging to Russia’s Pulkovo Airlines
crashed in Ukraine after encountering a storm, killing all 170 people
aboard. In July, an Airbus A310 belonging to Russian airline S7
skidded off a runway and burst into flames in the Siberian city of
Irkutsk, killing 124 people. And an A320 belonging to the Armenian
airline Armavia crashed into the Black Sea while trying to land in
the Russian resort city of Sochi in rough weather in May, killing
all 113 people aboard.
Fradkov said that Russia needed to increase production of “new,
modern planes,” and noted that foreign companies would have a role
to play in that process.
“We do not have the right to lose our aviation industry. This is
inarguable,” the RIA Novosti agency quoted him as saying. “This does
not exclude working with foreign partners, but it must be harmoniously
combined with the interests of our manufacturers and our consumers.”
Fradkov called for a balanced approach, saying it would be wrong to
focus narrowly on designing new aircraft at the expense of existing
factories, just as it would be wrong to favor new, foreign-made jets.
“No one will forgive us if we waste time and funds to create
new aircraft and simultaneously lose our existing production
capacities. And no one in the country will forgive us if we make flight
safety our greatest priority, but rely on imported aircraft alone,”
Fradkov said.
He put Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov in charge of flight safety.
Ivanov, who is also defense minister, suggested at the meeting that
inadequate weather forecasting had been partly to blame for the crash
in Ukraine.
Despite having the capacity to roll out dozens of new planes annually,
Russian factories produced just a handful of civilian aircraft last
year, while Russian airlines imported 20 used foreign jets. New foreign
equipment is prohibitively expensive for all but the national flag
carrier Aeroflot. The lack of an affordable leasing system that would
allow companies to acquire new Russian planes means that companies
typically opt to buy older foreign or domestic jets.
“From an economic point of view, it is impossible for new aircraft to
compete with used jets,” said Alexander Rubtsov, general director of
the Ilyushin Finance Co. leasing company in a comment published in
the Vedomosti business daily this week. “But just buying older jets
runs counter to the interests of passengers, whose lives and safety
depend directly on the condition of an airline’s fleet.”
Fradkov suggested some of the many airlines that have emerged in Russia
since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 compromise safety by
cutting corners, saying that “economic interests sometimes conflict
with questions of security.”
Russia is moving ahead with the creation of a long-discussed aircraft
holding company _ the United Aviation Corp. _ that will unite Russia’s
civilian and military producers under one roof. The company has been
promised hefty state funding and will be 75 percent controlled by
the state.
Fradkov’s comments coincided with reports this week that a Russian
state bank had bought more than 4 percent in European aerospace giant
EADS, in what was interpreted as a push to forge closer ties with
the Airbus parent company.

INDEPENDENCE HOLIDAY TO BE CELEBRATED WITH NUMEROUS EVENTS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 30 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The 15th anniversary
of the Independence of Armenia is a great event, and the state does
its best to make it a real holiday for RA citizens and Armenian
Diaspora. Victor Soghomonian, the RA President’s Press Secretary
stated about it at the August 30 press conference. He stated that
a military march past will take place on the Republic square of
Yerevan on September 21. Numerous events of cultural, scientific
and other spheres to be held on September 18-25, particularly, the
Armenia-Diaspora 3rd forum which is scheduled for September 18-20,
will be dedicated to the Independence holiday.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VILLAGE HEAD OF DALAR, ARARAT, KILLED
Noyan Tapan
Aug 30 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Tigran Petrosian, the head of the
village of Dalar, the marz of Ararat, was killed with fire-arms
at about 09:30 early on August 30. According to the Noyan Tapan
correspondent’s non-official information, former village head Gegham
Badalian killed him, with shots fired from his sporting-gun. According
to the information of the same sources, the above-mentioned two persons
were close friends till the last elections of the local self-government
bodies, but after Petrosian’s nomination as the village head,
their relations were strained. Tigran Petrosian addressed to the
RA Prosecutor’s Office with a request to reveal abuses made during
officiating of the previous village head. Particularly, the acting
village head accused the previous one of taking wheat from villagers
instead of taxes and of not giving corresponding receipts, of leasing,
by breaking the law, the former building of the village post-office
for 98 years, etc. Later, it became clear that former village head
of Dalar Gegham Badalian came to the legal bodies, confessing his
offence and mentioning as an explanation that Tigran Petrosian
“incited” him to take step.

RUSSIAN PM ORDERS DEPUTY TO LEAD FLIGHT SAFETY REFORM EFFORTS
AP Worldstream
Aug 31, 2006
Russia’s prime minister on Thursday ordered Vice-Premier Sergei
Ivanov to take charge of efforts to improve flight safety following
three major crashes involving Russian passenger jets or airports in
recent months.
“We must now make decisions and take active measures,” Prime Minister
Mikhail Fradkov said during a Cabinet meeting. “We cannot wait for
the next tragedy.”
With the Transport Ministry due to submit flight safety a proposal
for government consideration Friday, Fradkov ordered Ivanov, who is
also Defense Minister, to lead the effort. The measures are to involve
both civilian and military flights, Russian news agencies reported.
Some of Fradkov’s comments were broadcast prominently on state-run
television, in an effort to assure Russians that the government is
taking action in response to the crashes.
Fradkov said that work on developing ways improve safety “must
be conducted in an open manner, because people want to know the
situation,” RIA-Novosti reported.
A Tu-154 jet belonging to Russia’s Pulkovo Airlines crashed in Ukraine
last week after encountering a storm, killing all 170 people aboard.
An Airbus A-310 of the Russian airline S7 skidded off a runway and
burst into flames in the Siberian city of Irkutsk in July, killing
124 people, and an A-320 of the Armenian airline Armavia crashed
into the Black Sea while trying to land in the Russian resort city
of Sochi in rough weather in May, killing all 113 people aboard.

ACTION IS BROUGHT ON FACT OF DALAR VILLAGE HEAD’S MURDER: FORMER VILLAGE HEAD IS ARRESTED
Noyan Tapan
Aug 30 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN. A criminal action was brought on the
fact of murder of Tigran Petrosian, the head of the village of Dalar,
the marz of Ararat. The action was brought by characteristics of
Article 104 of the Criminal Code: “murder.” According to the official
information of the Press Service of the RA Prosecutor’s General
Office, at about 09:30, August 30, the acting village head of Dalar
was shot with sporting-gun by former village head Gegham Badalian,
in the yard of the village head’s office. Petrosian died at place,
because of 4 fire-arms injuries in the region of the chest. Gegham
Badalian was arrested. The preliminary investigation is in process.

AUTHORITIES: FORMER HEAD OF ARMENIAN VILLAGE ADMINISTRATION KILLS INCUMBENT
AP Worldstream
Aug 30, 2006
The former head of an Armenian village’s administration shot the
incumbent to death Wednesday, the prosecutor-general’s office said.
The shooting took place in the courtyard of the village administration
building of Dalar. The prosecutor’s office said Gegam Badalian,
who had headed the administration until last fall, was arrested and
charged with killing his successor, Tigran Petrosian.
The prosecutor’s office said Petrosian had recently reported to the
regional prosecutor that Badalian allegedly had embezzled funds.

5 WORKS PASSED TO SECOND STAGE OF COMPETITION FOR RA ANTHEM TO BE BROADCAST BY PUBLIC TELEVISION ON AUGUST 31
Noyan Tapan
Aug 30 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN. 5 works passed to the second stage of
the competition for the RA anthem will be performed by the symphonic
orchestra and academic choir at 19:00, August 31, on the Public
Television. The goal of the broadcast is public hearings. Noyan Tapan
was informed about it by the competition commission on choosing
the RA anthem text and music. At 20:00 of the same day, those
who want may listen to those 5 variants of the anthem at the “Aram
Khachatrian” concert hall as well, in concert performance. According
to the information got from the Public Relations Department of the RA
Ministry of Culture and Youth Issues, written observations concerning
variants of the anthem may be presented to the information reception
room of the Ministry at 10:00-17:00, every day.

ITALIAN CHEESES MOZZARELLA AND MOZZARELLA-PIZZA TO BE PRODUCED FOR FIRST TIME IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Aug 30 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Starting September, the newly
established farm Dili (Dilijan) will become the first one to
produce Mozzarella and Mozzarella-Pizza cheeses in Armenia. Ashot
Tamrazian, founder and head of the farm, said during the August 30
press conference that initially these products will be sold on the
domestic market, while later they will be exported to Russia and Arab
countries. Cheeses of this type are mainly used to make pizza.
According to A. Tamrazian, about 2 mln USD was invested in Dili,
thanks to which it became possible to create 50 jobs and import 120
head of cows of Schviz and Simmental breed. These cows are artificially
inseminated, which allows to produce the same amount of milk throughout
the year. The farm plans to produce 3 thousand litres of milk daily
in about two years. Besides, according to A. Tamrazian, they also
purchased pigs of Landras type.