VARTAN OSKANIAN AND JEAN-LOUIS LAURENS DISCUSS PROCESS OF FULFILMENT OF ARMENIA’S COMMITMENTS TOWARDS CE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On May 5, RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian received Director General on Political
Affairs of Council of Europe Jean-Louis Laurens who is in Armenia for
the purpose of taking part in the conference under the title “Armenia
and Council of Europe: Five Years of Membership”. The interlocutors
briefly touched upon the five years of Armenia’s membership to CE
paying attention to the process of fulfilment of the obligations
assumed by Armenia. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign
Ministry Press and Information Department, Jean-Louis Laurens highly
estimated cooperation between CE Yerevan Office and Armenian Foreign
Ministry. The sides exchanged thoughts about the regional processes,
as well as issues on the agenda of CE Foreign Ministers’ Council
sitting to be held on May 18-19.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HUMAN FLOW DOES NOT DISCONTINUE TO ARMENIAN EMBASSY IN PARIS SINCE EARLY MORNING
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
PARIS, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Since early morning of
May 5, the human flow has not discontinued to the Armenian embassy in
Paris, where a book of mourning was opened in connection with Armenian
plane’s crash near the Russian city of Sochi on May 3. According to the
RA MFA Press and Information Department, tens of ambassadors accredited
to France, various state and political figures, deputies, senators,
representatives of international organizations and high-ranking
officials of the French Foreign Ministry came to the Armenian embassy
in Paris to offer their condolences. The French President Jacques
Chirac sent a message of condolence to the Armenian President. The
message in particular reads: “Mister President, dear friend, with
deep pain I heard the tragic news of the plane crash near Sochi last
night, which resulted in the loss of over a hundred human lives,
mostly Armenian citizens. On behalf of the French people and myself,
I offer sincere condolences to you and the family members and friends
of the victims of this tragedy. Mr President, please accept my best
regards and sincere friendly feelings in these difficult times.” The
French Prime Minister Dominic de Villepin, Senate President Christian
Poncelet and the Foreign Minister of France Phillip Douste-Balzy
offered their condolences.

RA NA SPEAKER RECEIVES TELEGRAMS OF CONDOLENCE FROM PARLIAMENTARY PRESIDENTS OF BELGIUM, GEORGIA, UKRAINE, GREECE, IRAN AND FROM RF STATE DUMA VICE-PRESIDENT
Noyan Tapan
Armneians Today
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. President of Belgian
Senate Anne-Marie Lizin, President of Georgian Parliament Nino
Burjanadze, President of Ukrainian Supreme Rada Vladimir Litvin,
President of Greek Parliament Anna Benaki, President of IRI
Parliament Gholamali Haddad-Adel, Vice-President of RF State Duma
Artur Chilingarov sent telegrams to RA NA Speaker Artur Baghdasarian
extending their condolences to the relatives of those who died in
the accident of the Yerevan-Sochi plane. According to RA NA Public
Relations De partment, the telegrams of condolence continue to be
received.

JEAN-LOUIS LAURENS ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO SUCCESS OF DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The achievements over
the last 5 years that have passed since Armenia joined the Council
of Europe, as well as the prospects were discussed during the May
5 meeting of the RA National Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasarian
with Director General of the Council of Europe (CE) Political
Affairs Jean-Louis Laurens. It was noted that it has been a period
of active work and cooperation, during which the guidelines on the
country’s route from the Council of Europe to the European Union have
been outlined. Artur Baghdasarian presented the process of honoring
Armenia’s commitments assimed in the European parliament, noting that
after making the amendments to the RA Constitution, legislative reforms
are underway in the judicial, local self-government and territorial
administration systems and the RA Electoral Code. Pointing out the
importance of successful democratic reforms in Armenia, Jean-Louis
Laurens underlined the necessity of the legisalative bases and
political will for holding free and fair national elections in the
country. In his opinion, the political course that Armenia adopted
five years ago was of great significance for the country’s progress in
integrating into the large European family and adopting its system of
values. According to the RA National Assembly PR Department, Special
Representative of the CE Secretary General to Armenia Boyana Urumova
was present at the meeting.

ACCORDING TO EVU DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, KARABAKH PROBLEM SOLUTION SHOULD NOT ENDANGER SECURITY OF ARTSAKH PEOPLE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Erkrapah Volunteers
Union (EVU) only had the task of solving the problem of security
of the Artsakh people. This problem has been solved today, it has
just not been stipulated diplomatically. EVU Deputy Chairman Myasnik
Malkhasian stated this during the May 5 meeting at the National Press
Club. According to him, the solution of the Karabakh problem should
not endanger the security of the people of Artsakh.
In his words, the liberated territories that have formed a
security zone for Artsakh today represent such guarantees. No
part of the territory of Armenia should be made a discussion
subject at negoatiations, first of all, the problem of Artsakh’s
self-determonation should be solved and Artsakh should have a border
with Armenia. “These are the principles, within the framework of which
we will be satisfied with the problem’s solution,” he stated. “The
Erkrapah was created with the aim of liberating territories, and we
have accomplished that task. We liberated so many regions as to prevent
the capital and other settlements of Artsakh from being shelled,”
another deputy chairman of the union Ara Ketikian said. According to
him, the Erkrapah uttered its weighty word with the Armenian army on
the battlefield. “In 1994, considering peace as the highest value,
we made not a compromise but a unilateral concession, preventing
the further advance of our military units to Gandzak and other
territories,” Ketikian said. As regards the return of territories,
this issue, in his words, is under the jurisdiction of the country’s
highest authorities.
Ketikian said that the Erkrapah also said its word after 1994 – by
promoting the strengthening of the Armenian army and working among
the youth. “We are not guaranteed against resumption of war and should
be prepared for it any moment.
Everybody has already understood that it is number one
guarantee.” Myasnik Malkhasian said that the time has shown that the
Erkrapah should not get involved in political processes. He noted that
the EVU has remained true to Sparapet Vazgen Sargsian’s behest that
Erkrapah must act as a lightning-conductor. At the same time, he said
the EVU members are citizens and may participate in parliamentary
elections. The union expects its members to win in majoritarian
elections. According to the speaker, some unpredictable developments
may take place in the upcoming parliamentary elections. He noted
that various political forces will balance the field, so electoral
commissions will be deprived of great opprtunities to falsify.

DOCUMENTARIES OF TURKISH, IRANIAN AND RUSSIAN FILM MAKERS TO BE DEMONSTRATED IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the documentary
film program “Film Makers Without Borders”, the Golden Apricot cinema
development fund and Art-film will show 3 Turkish documentaries, 2
Russian and 3 Iranian ones at the cinema hall of the National Picture
Gallery on May 7. All eight documentaries have been demonstrated at
various international film festivals and won awards. Art Director of
the Golden Apricot international film festival Susanna Harutyunian told
NT correspondent that the same program enviasages demonstration of 7
Armenian documentaries in Turkey in May. The works of Armenian film
directors will be shown once again in Turkey, this time during the
1000 and One Documentaries film festival to be held in the period
of September 29 to October 5, 2006. It is envisaged to organize
discussions and meetings with film directors of various countries
during the festival. The Armenian documentaries will be also
demonstrated at the Kinoshock international festival in the Russian
city of Anapa in October. According to S. Harutyunian, Iranians also
had the opportunity to watch these Armenian documentaries in February
of this year.

TWO ARMENIAN PLANES BURN DOWN AT BELGIAN COMPANY’S BASE
Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Early May 5, four planes, which had
been sent to Brussels for technical examination, including an A-320
plane of the Armavia airline and an A-320 of Armenian International
Airways, burnt down at the base of the Sabina Technic company
(Belgium). Spokeswoman for the RA Civil Aviation Main Department
Gayane Davtian told NT correspondent that there were no victims.

EXPERT COMPANIES APPOINTED BY REINSURERS OF ARMAVIA’S GRAND INSURANCE COMPANY TO INVESTIGATE CAUSES OF A-320 CRASH
Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The famous Aircliams expert organization
and Beaumon&Son legal expert organization are investigating the causes
of the Armenian airline Armavia’s A-320 plane crash near the Russian
city of Sochi on May 3. NT correspondent was informed about it from the
Grand insurance company (Armenia) that insured Armavia. According to
the company, the plane, its crew and passengers have been insured in
order prescribed by the Armenian legislation by the Grand insurance
company, which has reinsured the risks assumed by it with 14 large
London reinsurance companies. The amount of compensations to be
paid to relatives of the passengers killed in the crash will be
determined based on the official conclusion to be made by Airclaims
and Beaumont&Son, which have been appointed by these reinsurance
companies. Grand reminds that under the Warsaw Convention of 1929,
the amount of compensation for life insurance cases in international
air transportation is limited to 20 thousand US dollars.

ARMENTEL PROLONGS TERM OF FREE TELEPHONE CALLS TO SOCHI UNTIL MAY 7
Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The term of free telephone calls from the
Armenian fixed telephone network to the hot line in Sochi was prolonged
until May 7. Noyan Tapan was informed about it from ArmenTel’s press
service. The phone numbers of the hot lines are:
00-7-86-22-44-00-88
00-7-86-22-44-12-32.

RUSSIA JOINS ARMENIA IN MOURNING
BBC NEWS:
europe/4975648.stm
2006/05/05 07:09:46 GMT
Armenia and Russia have begun public mourning for 113 people feared
killed when an airliner crashed into the Black Sea near the Russian
city of Sochi.
Most of the dead were Armenians on a flight from Yerevan, and the
small Caucasus republic is holding two days of mourning while Russia
will hold one.
Moscow has appealed for foreign help to retrieve the Armenian Airbus
A320’s flight recorders.
Signals suggest they have been located at a depth of 680m (2,200ft).
The important thing is to be able to bury the victims so that there
is a place where you can go to cry Arman Davtian brother of victim
The search for bodies is continuing, with 50 retrieved as of Friday
morning. Of these, 41 have been identified – 31 of them Armenians
and 10 Russians.
The 105 passengers included 26 Russian nationals, and six children
were also aboard.
While the cause of the crash is not known, officials say bad weather
at the time may have brought it down as it tried to make a second
landing attempt.
It reportedly hit the sea at an angle of 60 degrees, 6km from the
coast near Adler airport, just outside Sochi.
DNA tests
Flags are flying at half-mast in Armenia and Russia and public
entertainment events have been cancelled as a mark of respect for
the dead.
TV channels in Russia have changed their schedules to drop
entertainment programmes on Friday, Itar-Tass news agency reports.
Russia is preparing to fly the first identified bodies to Yerevan,
the Armenian capital, on Friday on a transport plane while a passenger
plane will take back bereaved relatives.
DNA samples have been taken from relatives who did not find their loved
ones’ remains, in the hope of identification at a later stage, Russian
Transport Minister Igor Levitin was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass.
“The tests will be done by Russian experts at a request by the Armenian
side,” he added.
Correspondents reported scenes of anguish in Sochi and Yerevan.
“The victims’ bodies are unrecognisable, horribly disfigured –
a mother wouldn’t know her own son,” one young man looking for his
brother-in-law’s body told AFP news agency in Yerevan.
Another young man, Arman Davtian, had just returned from Sochi where
the remains of his brother had been identified.
“I hope that all the other families can recover the bodies,” he said.
“The important thing is to be able to bury the victims so that there
is a place where you can go to cry.”