GEORGIAN PRESIDENT SAYS MOSCOW THREATENS NEW DEMOCRACIES IN EASTERN EUROPE
Karl Ritter
AP Worldstream
May 04, 2006
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili on Thursday accused Russia of
trying to undermine national sovereignty and economic growth in the
fledgling democracies emerging from the former Soviet empire.
Saakashvili warned that democratic advances in Georgia, Ukraine and
the Baltic countries since the collapse of communism were under threat
from Moscow, which he said suffered from “imperial nostalgia.”
“Freedom is under threat,” Saakashvili told a forum of Baltic and
Black Sea leaders in the Lithuanian capital. “Political forces in
Moscow actively work to undermine our economies, our sovereignty,
and even our system of governance.”
Georgia, is heavily reliant on imports of cheap Russian natural gas,
and Saakashivili accused Russia of using “new tools such as energy
dependence, state censorship and the power of national monopolies”
to bully its neighbors.
“We still have imperial nostalgia around us,” Saakashivili said,
also noting a recent Russian ban on imports of Georgian wine.
Ties between Moscow and Tbilisi have cooled markedly since
Saakashvili swept to power more than two years ago during Georgia’s
Rose Revolution.
Earlier Thursday, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney accused Russia
of restricting the rights of its citizens, and said “no legitimate
interest is served” by turning energy resources into implements
of blackmail.
The presidents of Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Poland and Moldova also attended the summit, sharing their
experiences in democracy-building after the Soviet collapse.
The countries are in different stages of integration with the West
through membership in NATO and the European Union. The Baltic countries
and Poland are both NATO and EU members, while Ukraine and Georgia
are still looking for membership in both.
Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga said NATO hopefuls should
not expect “any concrete invitations for accession” when her country
hosts an alliance summit in November.
Ministers from Azerbaijan and Armenia also attended the summit, and
used the occasion to accuse each other of aggression in the disputed
enclave of Nagorno-Karabach.
Nevertheless, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana proclaimed:
“Here we can see the elements of a possible breakthrough.”
The countries accuse each other of frequently violating the shaky
1994 cease-fire that ended fighting between Azerbaijani and Armenian
forces over the enclave.
Solana said the EU was committed to “underpin an agreement” in
Nagorno-Karabach and other so-called “frozen conflicts” in the Black
Sea region, including Trans-Dniester, which broke away from Moldova
in 1992.
Delegates also expressed hope that the spread of freedom in the region
would reach Belarus, which Cheney called “Europe’s last dictatorship,”
and condemned the arrest of Bealrusian opposition leader Alexander
Milinkevich.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CIS SECURITY BODY CHIEF SAYS NATO FAILING TO COOPERATE
Interfax-AVN military news agency website, Moscow
4 May 06
Minsk, 4 May: The secretary-general of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization [CSTO], Nikolay Bordyuzha, says that cooperation between
NATO and the CSTO is failing to take shape as the alliance does not
realize its full importance.
“That is their problem. They fail to understand the situation on a
global scale regarding security and the modern-day threats that hang
over mankind. If anyone says they do not see the point of cooperation,
there must be political reasons at play,” Bordyuzha told Interfax in
Minsk on Thursday [4 May] before the start of the first Belarusian
information forum, “Media against the challenges and threats of the
21st century”.
In his view, “it is only joint efforts that can solve problems to do
with terrorism and extremism and the illegal drugs trade”.
Bordyuzha said: “We are willing to cooperate with any organization
that stands up for security.”
The CSTO comprises Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan.

GERMAN PRESIDENT AND CHANCELLOR SEND TELEGRAMS OF CONDOLENCE TO RA PRESIDENT
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 04 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On May 3, German
President Ho rst Kohler and German Chancellor Angela Merkel sent
telegrams of condolence to RA President Robert Kocharian in connection
with the accident of Armavia airline’s Yerevan-Sochi A-320 plane. “We
ask to present our condolences to the relatives of the victims and
to the mourning people, we are with them mentally on these days” the
German President’s telegram provided to Noyan Tapan from the Embassy
of Germany in Armenia read. The telegram of the German Chancellor,
in particular, read: “I would like to extend my deep condolences to
you on behalf of the Federal government. Please, convey our sincere
condolences to the families and relatives of the victims”. German
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also sent a telegram of
condolence to RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.

US ADMINISTRATION OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO RELATIVES OF A-320 PLANE CRASH VICTIMS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 04 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The US President Bush
Administration offered condolences to the family members of the victims
of the Armavia crash in the Black Sea near Sochi. According to the
Regnum news agency, the statement issued in Washingtom in particular
reads: “We offer our sincere condolences to the peoples of Armenia
and Russia, and to the families of those who died in the plane crash.”

VICTOR YUSHCHENKO OFFERS CONDOLENCE ON TRAGEDY OF ARMENIAN PLANE CRASH
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 04 2006
KIEV, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Ukrainian President
Victor Yushchenko sent letters of condolence to the Armenian President
Robert Kocharian and the Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the
letters he offered condolence to the family members and friends of
the victims, to the Armenian and Russian peoples on the tragedy of
the Armavia crash near the Russian city of Sochi. According to the
press service of the Ukrainian president, the tragic news caused a
feeling of deep grief in Ukraine. Victor Yushchenko’s message to the
Armenian President Robert Kocharian in particular reads: “We share
your deep pain from the irreplacable loss that the friendly people of
Armenia has suffered. On behalf of the Ukrainian people and myself,
I offer sincere condolences to the families of the victims and the
Armenian people.”
From: Baghdasarian

JOHN EVANS: THE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS OF ALL OF US AT US EMBASSY AND MILLIONS OF OUR COMPATRIOTS IN THE US ARE WITH YOU IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 04 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The US embassy in
Armenia published the message of condolence from U.S. Ambassador John
Evans, which reads: “On behalf of the employees of the U.S. Embassy
in Yerevan, I offer condolences to all Armenians, Russians and others
on the tragedy of the Armavia crash in the Black Sea near Sochi. This
terrible event has effects that go far beyond the lives lost in the
crash itself. It also touches the lives of family members, neighbors,
friends and co-workers. And when so many lives are lost together, in
the same moment, the loss is especially grave. The thoughts and prayers
of all of us at the U.S. Embassy and millions of our compatriots in
the United States are with you in these difficult times.”

LARGE FRAGMENTS OF A-320 PLANE FOUND AT BLACK SEA BOTTOM
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 22:57 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Large fragments of A-320 plane are found at Black
Sea bottom by means of a deep-water device. “The device is controlled
from the board of Captain Beklemischev ship. Exact coordinates will
be determined within a few hours and deep-water special equipment
will be delivered to that place,” said a participant of the search
operation. In his words, all objects found are identified as A-320
fragments. “It is not ruled out that exactly in those parts of
the crashed plane flight recorders are situated,” the source said,
reports RIA Novosti.

INSURANCE COMPANY TO PAY $20 THOUSAND TO FAMILIES OF AIR CRASH VICTIMS
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 23:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ MIKA Ltd. President and owner of Armavia company
Mikhail Baghdasarov confirmed insurance will be paid to families of
the victims of A-320 plane crash. “The air company annually paid
several million dollars of insurance and now it will pay some $20
thousand to relatives of the air crash victims.”
Mikhail Baghdasarov noted the crashed plane had no problems and enough
fuel. He called to wait for the conclusion of French specialists and
independent experts. In Baghdasarov’s words, the air catastrophe
inflicted rather large financial and moral damage to the company,
reports the Public TV Company of Armenia.

ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA EXTENDED CONDOLENCES TO FAMILIES OF PLANE CRASH VICTIMS
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 23:27 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) has
condolences to all the families and friends of the victims of the
Armavia plane crash in Sochi.
The message of Chairman of AAA Board of Trustees Hirair Hovnanian says,
“On behalf of the Armenian Assembly of America’s leadership, members
and staff, I extend my heartfelt condolences to all the families
and friends of the victims of the Armavia plane crash in Sochi. This
tragedy, in which our fellow compatriots perished, is a great loss
for the entire Armenian nation. You are in our thoughts and prayers.”

UNIDENTIFIED CORPSES OF VICTIMS OF A-320 CRASH TO BE BURIED IN SOCHI
PanARMENIAN.Net
05.05.2006 00:17 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Identified corpses of victims of A-320 plane crash
will soon be sent to Armenia, reported Deputy Chair of the Armenian
community of Sochi Hrach Makiyan told journalists Thursday.
Unidentified corpses of victims will be buried in Sochi, Interfax
reports.