SKINHEADS ACCUSED OF MURDER OF ARMENIAN STAND TRIAL IN NIZHNY NOVGOROD
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.06.2006 15:54 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Two young people, members of a skinhead organization
stand trial in Nizhni Novgorod, Russia. Alexander Boytsov is accused
of public calls for extremist activities and inciting of national
hatred. His friend Roman Lavrentyev is charged of premeditated murder,
the press service of the department for Privolzhsky okrug at the
Russian Ministry of Interior said.
The source said the investigation found out that September 17, 2005
Boytsov and Lavrentyev drinking alcohol with their friends calling them
for violence against people of non-Slavonic nationality. On the same
evening Lavrentyev noticed two unknown men with Caucasian appearance,
one of whom was Tomas Amaryan, an Armenian citizen. Lavrentyev asked
the men for a cigarette but they did not have one and tried to escape
in order to avoid beating. Drunk Lavrentyev decided to kill Amaryan and
ran after him. When the Armenian stumbled and fell down the skinhead
took out a knife and stabbed him many times. Amaryan died in hospital.
It took the investigators two months to find and detain the criminals,
reported RIA Novosti according to the press service.

OFFICIAL BAKU TRYING TO DISCREDIT ARMENIAN PARTY
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.06.2006 15:56 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “By spreading false information about arsons in Azeri
villages set by Armenians and destruction of Azeri cultural monuments
on the territories controlled by the NKR Defense Army, Azerbaijan tries
to neutralize the negative reaction of the international community
to the demolition of the ancient Armenian cemetery in Nakhichevan,
head of the NKR Defense Ministry’s press office, lieutenant colonel
Senor Asratyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words,
after each unsuccessful round of talks on the Karabakh conflict,
in this case, after the Bucharest talks between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani Presidents, official Baku attempts to discredit the
Armenian party. “The Azerbaijani authorities have taken a militaristic
stand by strengthening the anti-Armenian propaganda. They are not
ready for compromise and this impedes the settlement process,” Senor
Asratyan said.

VALDAS ADAMKUS: SECURITY IN SOUTH CAUCASUS VERY IMPORTANT FOR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.06.2006 16:11 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During a meeting with Armenian Defense Minister
Serge Sargsyan Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus underscored that
security in the South Caucasus is very important for the international
community. The report of the Lithuanian leader’s press office says
that Mr Adamkus voiced hope that the current year will offer new
opportunities for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.
Within the framework of his 2-day visit to Lithuania Serge Sargsyan
will meet with Acting Defense Minister of Lithuania Gediminas Kirkilas
and attend the Seimas to hold meetings with the members of the National
Committee on National security, reported BNS.
From: Baghdasarian

NAMIK TAN: TURKEY HASN’T TAKEN PART IN ANY STAGE OF SECRET CIA ACTIVITIES
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.06.2006 18:19 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey yesterday denied any involvement in alleged
CIA secret activities after the Council of Europe (CoE) concluded last
week that 14 European nations colluded with U.S. intelligence in a
“spider’s web” of human rights abuses to help the CIA spirit terror
suspects to illegal detention facilities. “Turkey hasn’t and won’t
take part in any stage of secret CIA activities,” Turkish Foreign
Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said at a weekly press conference.
Tan made the remarks in a response to an Amnesty International
statement on Wednesday which accused seven European countries,
including Turkey, of aiding U.S. abductions of terror suspects. ”
Accusations by Amnesty International, other institutions or people,
shouldn’t be taken seriously,” Tan added. Asked whether Incirlik Air
Base in Adana could be used for alleged transportation of detainees
by CIA secret flights without the Turkish authorities being informed,
Tan ruled out such a possibility, saying, “Incirlik is a Turkish Armed
Force [TSK] base. Our officials are aware of everything that goes on
at the base.” Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul also previously denied
allegations of detainees being interrogated on secret CIA flight at
Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Istanbul, accusing such groundless claims
of being aimed at opening a debate on the sovereignty of the Turkish
Republic, reported ABHaber news agency.
Turkey yesterday denied any involvement in alleged CIA secret
activities after the Council of Europe (CoE) concluded last week that
14 European nations colluded with U.S. intelligence in a “spider’s
web” of human rights abuses to help the CIA spirit terror suspects
to illegal detention facilities. “Turkey hasn’t and won’t take part
in any stage of secret CIA activities,” Turkish Foreign Ministry
Spokesman Namik Tan said at a weekly press conference.
Tan made the remarks in a response to an Amnesty International
statement on Wednesday which accused seven European countries,
including Turkey, of aiding U.S. abductions of terror suspects. ”
Accusations by Amnesty International, other institutions or people,
shouldn’t be taken seriously,” Tan added. Asked whether Incirlik Air
Base in Adana could be used for alleged transportation of detainees
by CIA secret flights without the Turkish authorities being informed,
Tan ruled out such a possibility, saying, “Incirlik is a Turkish Armed
Force [TSK] base. Our officials are aware of everything that goes on
at the base.” Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul also previously denied
allegations of detainees being interrogated on secret CIA flight at
Sabiha Gokcen Airport in Istanbul, accusing such groundless claims
of being aimed at opening a debate on the sovereignty of the Turkish
Republic, reported ABHaber news agency.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN CAN AGREE ON TRIEST MODEL
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.06.2006 17:48 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It seems that the Nagorno Karabakh problem gradually
recedes to the background in the system of priorities of the Azeri
society, Zerkalo Baku-based newspaper reports. Otherwise the public
wouldn’t neglect a statement made by FM Elmar Mammadyarov upon
completion of the presidential meeting in Bucharest. “There is still
hope for a peaceful settlement and we will proceed with efforts in
this direction,” he said. At that the Azeri FM said the Azeri party
doesn’t exclude the appliance of the Triest model.
The resolution on the Free Territory of Triest says, “The integrity
and independence of the Free Territory will be secured by the United
Nations Security Council. The Free Territory will have its flag and
state emblem. It will be governed by the Governor, Governing Council,
National Assembly elected by the people of the Free Territory
and a Juridical department. The governor will be appointed by the
U.N. Security Council after consultations with the governments of
Yugoslavia and Italy. He should not be a citizen of Yugoslavia,
Italy or the Free Territory.
The Governor will be empowered to prevent implementation of agreements
on foreign relations that conflict with the Statute, Constitution
and laws of the Free Territory. The Free Territory will have its own
currency and freed from payment of the Italian state debt.”
“All the items of the peaceful agreement on the formation of the
Free Territory of Triest, including the ones we are concerned about,
are based on reality, the Armenian side often mentions as regards
the Karabakh conflict. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry is cunning
a little when assures that the Triest Model provides for a wide
autonomy. If official Baku agrees on appliance of the model to
the Karabakh conflict it will mean that Azerbaijan relinquishes
the sovereign rights for Karabakh. Some circles, which are close
to the negotiation process, inform that official Baku insist the
“governor be appointed by Azerbaijan after consultations with the
authorities of the Free Territory and the international organization
that will act as a guarantor of peaceful agreements. That is to say,
Baku wishes to maintain just formal sovereignty over Nagorno Karabakh,
following the example of the UK in case with some former colonies,”
the author of the article concludes.

POLAND ADMIRES KADR ZERO BY ARMENIAN PHOTOGRAPHER
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.06.2006 18:33 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The 5th art festival titled “Neighbors for Neighbors”
is over in the Polish capital city. The festival included performances,
exhibitions of photos, sculptures and paintings.
Separate pavilions were given to the guests from Israel. As the only
representative of Armenia, photographer and film director Vahram
Mkhitaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Armenia was not granted
a separate pavilion, since Armenians were not included in the list
of those invited. When asked how he succeeded to take part in the
exhibition Mkhitaryan said, “I was in Poland at the moment and members
of the Eastern Workshop offered to exhibit my works along with theirs.”
Varham Mkhitaryan presented his series of photos titled Kadr
Zero. “These are the first shots in the camera. Many photographers
throw them away, since they have no value. To make a good shot one
should click several times to find exactly what is needed. But the zero
shots carry no negativism and affectation. I just wanted to show them,”
he said. It should be noted that the Kadr Zero was noticed by many art
workers. Some photos by the young artist have been already exhibited in
Galeria SD, one of the most famous galleries in Warsaw. Mkhitaryan said
exhibitions will be also organized in Gdansk and other Polish towns.

FIRST STEP NOT TO FINANCE KARS-AKHALKALAK RAILWAY IS TAKEN
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
16/06/2006
Sticking to its policy of regional cooperation and economic policy,
the US House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services has
taken a decision not to finance Kars-Akhalkalak-Tbilis-Baku railway
bypassing Armenia, RFE/RL reports. The Armenian Assembly of America
thanked congressmen and informed that congressmen Joseph Crowley,
Edward Royce and Bred Sherman proposed an amendment to the banking
procedure 2006 on exports and imports that prohibits assignment of
state finances to projects aimed at isolating Armenia from regional
and trade cooperation.
The amendment passed unanimously, and in AAA’s words, this emphasizes
United States’ resolution to improve Armenian-Turkish relations and
to settle Nagorno Karabakh issues through peace talks. This decision
is also a response to newly appointed US ambassador to Azerbaijan,
Anne Derse, who said that the railway is not in the interests of
regional integration.
In congressman Crowley’s words, the amendment is a signal for Turkish
and Azerbaijani governments that exclusion of Armenia from regional
projects can result in instability. Californian congressman Sherman
reminded that the EU has already made it stance clear on this issue. In
his words, the financing of Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline in 2003 was
a huge mistake as the aim of US foreign aid should be cooperative
solution to the conflict but not financing of suchlike projects.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ZARQAWI’S DEMISE
AZG Armenian Daily
16/06/2006
There is a lesson for us all in the sudden, violent death of terrorist
leader Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq on Tuesday. It is this: Never call
a meeting.
Osama bin Laden probably hasn’t called a single meeting since 9/11,
so he’s still alive and kicking almost five years later. He sends out
inspirational video or audio tapes from time to time, but he’s not
actually running anything, because that would require him to be in
daily touch with lots of people — and if he were, he would be dead by
now. They’d spot him using a satellite phone and drop a missile on him,
like the Russians did to the Chechen rebel leader Dzhokhar Dudayev,
or somebody would just turn him in for the $25 million reward.
Zarqawi HAD to hold meetings, however. He had to organise atrocities,
coordinate logistics, talk on mobile phones, and thus expose himself
to attack on a daily basis, so eventually he ran out of luck. He will
not be missed, especially by the saner parts of the Iraqi resistance
movement — but he has probably already done the state of Iraq
fatal damage.
Zarawi was a foreigner, and most of his fighters were foreigners too,
religious fanatics from all over the Arab world who cared no more
about the lives of Iraqis than they did about their own lives. The
more doctrinally pure among them believed that there should not even
be an Iraqi state; like all Muslim countries, it should be absorbed
into a single world-spanning Muslim state run according to strict
Islamist principles.
It was the US invasion of Iraq that gave Zarqawi and his friends
the chance to move in, but they never dominated the resistance
movement. From the start, the great majority of the people fighting
the American occupation were native-born Sunni Arabs. Some of them,
mostly former Baathists, were nationalists who simply wanted the
Americans out. Others were religiously motivated radicals, long
repressed under Saddam, who also wanted to impose strict Islamic law
on the country. But none of them wanted to abolish the country. Most
of them did not even want a civil war.
That was where Zarqawi’s influence was greatest, and worst. His
gruesome enthusiasm for slowly beheading defenceless hostages and
circulating the videos was bad enough. Indeed, although bin Laden
and Zawahiri were eventually persuaded in 2004 to adopt “al-Qaeda in
Iraq,” as Zarqawi named his organisation, they never had any control
over him, and they worried that his obvious delight in cruelty would
alienate people from the cause. But Zarqawi’s strategy of trying to
trigger a civil war in Iraq by murdering Shia Arabs in large numbers
was as infectious as it was effective.
Logically, Iraq’s Sunni Arabs should not seek a civil war because,
as a mere 20 percent minority in the country, they are almost certain
to lose it. But there is no other strategy that is likely to restore
the Sunnis’ former dominance over Iraq either. When no good strategy is
available, people will often opt for bad strategies rather than accept
defeat — and Zarqawi offered the Sunnis the strategy of civil war.
Like many religious fanatics, he hated people of his own religion
whom he saw as heretics even more than he hated infidels, so he had
no compunction about blowing Shia Arabs up in large numbers simply
because they were Shia. He saw a Sunni-Shia civil war as the best way
of destabilising the government that the US occupation was trying to
install in Baghdad, but also as the best way to ensuring the emergence
of a permanent base for Islamist radicals in the Sunni Arab parts
of the country, which would probably end up beyond Shia control even
after a eventual American withdrawal.
It was Zarqawi’s people who carried out all the early atrocities
against Shia civilians — the bombing of the Najaf shrine in August
2003 (85 dead), the coordinated attack on Shia mosques during Ashoura
ceremony in March 2004 (181 dead), the car bombs in Najaf and Karbala
in December 2004 (60 dead) — and they had the desired effect. Death
squads from Shia militias began killing Sunnis in retaliation,
the mainstream Sunni resistance started to fight back with the same
methods, and Iraq was trapped in the same spiral of violence that
doomed Lebanon to fifteen years of civil war.
Zarqawi is dead, but he has probably achieved his purpose. Baghdad
central mortuary is now receiving close to fifty mutilated bodies each
day, almost all of them victims of sectarian killings, and every month
the number rises. It’s probable that two or three times as many dead
end up in other mortuaries or are simply found and buried by their
relatives without any official record. The situation in Iraq will
probably get much worse, but it is already past saving.
By Gwynne Dyer, a London-based independent journalist whose articles
are published in 45 countries.

DID HUMAN FACTOR CAUSE CRASH OF A-320 AIRBUS?
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
16/06/2006
Or It’s Another Version to Save Russian Air Communicator.
The decoding of the black boxes of the crashed A-320 airbus is
completed, Moskovskiy Komsomolec newspaper quoted one of the experts
as saying.
According to the expert the official data will be published in
several days, but it is known already that the airplane was in perfect
technical condition.
The crash was caused by the so-called human factor.
The expert found no drawback in the technical state of the airbus. The
experts found out that there was no lack of fuel, either.
The experts believe that the airbus crashed because of the crew lost
its orientation in the air space. The crew may appear in such situation
because of bad weather conditions or when they lose concentration.
On May 3, the factor of bad weather conditions was more actual. The
black boxes testify that when the air traffic controller sent the
airbus for the second circle, the crew guided the plane and not
the autopilot.
It’s worth mentioning that earlier the unknown sources spread a
version according to which the crash was caused by the controller of
the Adler airport, as he didn’t take into account the capacities of
the Armenian pilot and didn’t let him land.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FAMOUS AND UNKNOWN BRANDS AT ‘BRAND EXPO’ EXHIBITION
By Ara Martirosian
AZG Armenian Daily
16/06/2006
With an aim of representing Armenian and foreign brands “Brand Expo”
three-day exhibition opened yesterday in Yerevan. Around 40 companies
from various spheres represented the consumers more than 100 famous
and unknown brands.
The pavilion of Ashtarak-kat was as always affluent.
Company’s press secretary, Tatevik Khabazian, informed that they
participate in order to display the company’s new brands, get in
touch with the consumers and get acquainted with their ides. Among
other dairy producing companies was “Marianna”.
“Bjni” mineral water and “Noy” drinking water famous in the foreign
countries were also exhibited. Aries Catering Company has been
in organizing furshets, different events, coffee and lunch breaks
and shows.
Virs Info Company’s “Everything About Armenia” informational web
portal provides information on tourism, leisure, real estate rent
and other spheres.
“Treasures of Armenia” is the name of Nina Hovhannisian’s range
of souvenirs.
Yet, yesterday’s exhibition left somewhat sad impression due to lack
of visitors and the visual mess of products from different spheres.