RA GOVERNMENT TO RENDER HUMANITARIAN AID TO LEBANON
AZG Armenian Daily #141, 28/07/2006
War in Lebanon
RA Government has adopted the decision at today’s special session
on rendering a humanitarian assistance to Lebanon that is currently
engaged in military actions.
RA Government press-office informed that it was decided to to send
medicaments, tents and preparations to Lebanon as a humanitarian
assistance. It was also decided to send a humanitarian cargo on July
27 evening by Yerevan- Allelo charter route.
Gagik Yeganian, the Head of the Migration Agency, informed that 550
people from Lebanon and 54 people from Israel have arrived in Armenia
during these days. He also said that 120 people more will arrive to
Armenia from Allepo on July 27 by a charter flight. According to him,
the majority of the evacuated people are citizens of Armenia. However,
he noted, there are citizens of other countries among them: 49
Lebanese and 2 Israeli. It was noted at the session that the number of
evacuated people is growing day by day. Meanwhile, many of them have
no relatives in Armenia. In view of this, the Government has discussed
the issue of rendering a necessary assistance to these persons.
By Gohar Gevorgian

Armavia Disagrees with Inter-State Aviation Committee Conclusion on Causes of A-320 Crash
PanARMENIAN.Net
27.07.2006 16:54 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armavia Armenian national carrier disagreed with
the conclusion of the Inter-State Aviation Committee on the causes of
A-320 crash over the Black Sea on May 3, 2006. Company owner Mikhail
Baghdasarov stated he disagreed with the conclusion of the Inter-State
Aviation Committee, according to which the liner crew was considered
guilty of the death of 113 passengers. “The Inter-State Aviation
Committee conclusion can be appealed against,” he said.
Besides, a representative of the Central Board of Civil Aviation
of Armenia stated that, “the Inter-State Aviation Committee had
probably made a political decision and Armenia has nothing to add
to it.” Yesterday, after making public the official outcomes of the
research of the causes of A-320 crash, the Central Board of Civil
Aviation agreed with the decision of Inter-State Aviation Committee
specialists.
We remind that July 26 Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin,
who leads the Government Commission for investigation of causes of
crash Armavia’s A-320, called crew mistake as the cause of the plane
collapse, Gazeta.Ru writes.

IAC CONCLUDES THAT PLANE CREW AND PILOTS WERE GUILTY FOR MAY 3 CRASH OF A-320 AIRBUS
AZG Armenian Daily #141, 28/07/2006
A-320 Air Crash
As a result of the investigation of the causes for the A-320
“Armavia” liner May 3 crash, it became clear that the airplane,
which was carrying out an automatic process of landing, was on the
exact landing line when, by the air controller instruction, caused
by the meteorological conditions, the plane crew stopped landing
and started the right turn with climb at the height of about 340
m. This is said in the official conclusion of the Intergovernmental
Aviation Committee. According to the conclusion, the pilot-in-command
switched off the autopilot system during the right turn and, after
a short period of climb under conditions of horizontal position loss
by the airplane, he put the liner in a landing position again. Under
conditions of such inadequate actions of the captain, there could
be no proper control by the second pilot taking into account the
landing parameters: steering incline, height, speed. Further actions
of the crew were dictated by signals of the warning system about the
threat of approaching the land, they were not coordinated and not
aimed at the airplane withdrawal from the landing regime. According
to IAC, no wrecks were fixed in the airplane engines and systems,
it was responding to both the autopilot commands and to the crew
instructions and the quantity of aviation fuel was quite enough for
successful completion of the flight.
According to IAC, the crash happened May 3 at 2:13 AM by Moscow time.
The investigation was carried out in compliance with the rules of
the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Interstate
Agreement, signed between the 12 states, including Armenia and Russia.
During investigation, all the documents concerning the airplane,
the screw and the airplane-maintaining services, underwent study. The
Commission has also prepared recommendations for prevention of such
air-crashes in the future, it is noted in the conclusion. It’s worth
mentioning that Mikhail Baghdasarov, the owner of “Armavia” company,
stated in the interview to “Liberty” Radio Station that he disagrees
with the conclusion of IAC and is going to appeal against that as soon
as he returns to Armenia. He is currently at a hospital in Germany.
By Marietta Khachatrian

KAREN TCHSHMARITIAN: IN 2006 ECONOMIC GROWTH IS FIXED IN ARMENIA
AZG Armenian Daily #141, 28/07/2006
Economy
By end 2006 the growth of the Armenian GDP will surpass 10%. Karen
Tchshmaritian, RA Trade and Economic Development Minister, said this
at today’s press conference. He said that in the first half of 2006,
the economic growth made 11,8%(AMD 809,2 billion), while the index
deflator of GDP totaled to 1,8%. He said that the economic growth in
the second half of the year will surpass that of the January-June. In
particular, this will happen thanks to launching new factories,
the development of minor and medium businesses, the growth of the
food production volumes, the growth of agriculture and construction
spheres. He pointed out the “ArmenAl” plant will issue its production
already in September, securing 3 thousand tones of production by the
end of the year. Besides, the production volume of “Nairit” will make
8 thousand tones, Tchshmaritian said.
Besides, he said that in the first half of this year, the monetary
profits of the population grew by 17,4%, the expenses increased
by 19,2%, including the expenses for purchasing goods and services
that grew by 13,5%. He stated that the retail trade turnover also
grew by 12,1%, while the construction volume grew by 31,8%, he
said. Commenting on the opportunity to purchase the ‘Mars’ factory, he
said that AFK ‘System’ company, Russia, entering the Armenian market
will considerably contribute economy of Armenia. At the same time
the Minister added that there is no official information about AFK
‘System’ intending to purchase the shares of ArmenTel. It~Rs worth
mentioning that ‘Mars’ electronic equipment factory was handed to
Russia in return of the public debt of Armenia. In 2005 the factory
produce rate came to $1 million, 2 times more than in 2004. The
factory is soon to receive license to work for the Russian military.
Transport Minister of Russia Igor Levitin said that AFK ‘System’
must elaborate a program of ‘Mars’ factory development and make it
agree with the Armenian side, so that the Russian Government agree
to consider the proposal to purchase the factory.
Besides, he added that in 2006, the indicator for the foreign
tourists’ visits to Armenia will grow by over 25% in 2006. He said
that RA Government actively elaborates projects for development of the
infrastructures on both the budget sources and the financial sources
allocated by “Millennium Challenges” corporation. The minister stated
that the development of the infrastructures will lead to considerable
growth of the tourists in 2007. He added that in the first half of the
year 46023 foreign tourists visited Armenia and 42675 Armenia tourists
left for foreign countries, this surpasses the same indicator of the
last year by 13,5%.
As for the investments made in Armenia, Minister said that In the
first half of 2006, mainly “investment production” was imported to
Armenia. He said that the growth of the equipment and cars’ import
made about 14,7%. Moreover, only two plants imported equipment costing
over EURO 70 million in the period under review. The import indicator
also influenced the consolidation of AMD against USD by 4,1%, as well
as 18,1% of the custom’s office cost, he said. In this connection,
he said that the custom’s office cost growth is conditioned by the
import of a more quality and expensive production.
By Ara Martirosian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARTAN OSKANIAN RECEIVES PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF IMF IN ARMENIA
AZG Armenian Daily #141, 28/07/2006
Meeting
RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received Nienke A.Oomes, Permanent
Representative of the International Monetary Fund in Armenia. According
to the Press Service of RA Foreign Ministry, Mr. Oskanian congratulated
the guest with her new position and wished her success in carrying out
her duties. The sides exchanged views on the prospects for developing
the further cooperation between Armenia and IMF. James Mc.Kew,
former IMF Representative in Armenia, who was also present at the
meeting, highly estimated the cooperation level with RA Government,
stating that many projects are being successfully implemented thanks
to that. Mr. Oskanian represented the current stage of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement to Mrs. Nienke A.Oomes.

JAMES MC.KEW: NEXT AGREEMENT BETWEEN ARMENIA AND IMF TO BE SIGNED WITH NO DIFFICULTIES
AZG Armenian Daily #141, 28/07/2006
Meeting
RA PM Andranik Margarian met with James Mc.Kew, Permanent
Representative of the International Monetary Fund in Armenia. The press
service of RA Government informed that RA PM gave positive evaluation
to Armenia’s cooperation with IMF in the course of Mc. Kew’s mission
in Armenia. Margarian said that IMF and Armenia managed to settle a
number of issues in these years thanks to their cooperation.
In his turn, Mc.Kew, pointed out a number of positive changes in the
social-economic sphere. He stated that such problems as the government
debts for salaries and pensions, as well as high level unemployment
existing in 2002, were settled. Mc.Kew also represented the further
programs of IMF, particularly, the monitoring of RA Government’s
implementation of its commitments, the monitoring of the financial
sector, the statistics, as well as rendering technical assistance.
Mc.Kew stated that the next agreement between Armenia and IMF will be
easily signed, as, according to preliminary evaluation, the structural
reforms in Armenia will soon be completed, while the economic growth
surpassed the planned level.
In his turn, Margarian underscored that the IMF programs coincide
with the country’s priorities for development.

ARMENIANS TO CROSS RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN BORDER LATE TODAY
Panorama.am
16:20 27/07/06
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanyan expressed his
hope that soon the Armenian nationals will be able to cross Ergnety
checkpoint which has been idle for some time but hopefully will help
Armenians to get to their motherland since Verin Lars check point is
closed. Gharibjanyan informed reporters that Zurab Noghaideli, Georgian
prime minister, has arrived in Tbilisi early today. He has a memorandum
from the Armenian government waiting on his table. The memorandum
asks the Georgian authorities to permit the Armenian nationals to
cross the border. Gharibjanyan assured that the checkpoint near
Ergneti residential area is dysfunctional but he hoped that Georgian
authorities would use the idle checkpoint to enable Armenians to
come to Armenia through Georgia. Gharibjanyan said Georgian foreign
ministry has already approved the memorandum from the Armenian
government. The deputy minister assured that the problem is between
Russian and Georgian authorities. He advised Armenian nationals to
use Novorosisk-Poty port while coming from Russia. /Panorama.am/

TIGRAN TOROSIAN MEETS WITH UNDP COORDINATOR
AZG Armenian Daily #141, 28/07/2006
Meeting
Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torosian today met with the
UNDP Coordinator Consuela Vidal. RA National Assembly’s Press Service
informed that that Ms. Vidal expressed readiness to conduce the UNDP
programs towards preparing fair and democratic elections. Mr. Torosian
answered that the reforms of the Electoral Code are aiming to
provide transparent and legitimate elections and are assisting the
establishment of tolerance among the political powers of Armenia.
The Speaker also represented the elaboration process of a legislation
bill on lobbyism. In which the UN Armenian office also takes
part. Issues of international assistance to legislation reforms in
Armenia were discussed.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY HELPS AMERICAN FAMILY TO FLEE FROM LEBANON
Panorama.am
18:02 27/07/06
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanyan informed reporters
that there are no casualties among Armenians in the Middle East
war. In his words, the Armenian political parties in Lebanon have
issued a joint statement today expressing their concerns about the
war and greeting the care of the Armenian authorities about Armenian
nationals living Lebanon.
The deputy minister also informed the reporters that the Armenian
foreign ministry has helped an American family to leave Lebanon shortly
after the war began. The American family came to Armenia to spend their
holidays and went to Lebanon to continue their vacation. On the 6th day
of their stay, the war started. Their requests to move stayed without
response and only the Armenian foreign ministry helped the family to
leave Lebanon. Today, the American family expressed their sense of
gratitude to the Armenian embassy in Lebanon, Armenian foreign ministry
and Armavia air company, saying they are safely in USA./Panorama.am/

LORI PROVINCE REPORTS 6.5 BILLION DRAMS GDP GROWTH
Armenpress
VANADZOR, JULY 27, ARMENPRESS: Authorities in the northeastern province
of Lori reported a significant upsurge in region’s GDP in the first
six months of the year, which they said rose to 18.5 billion drams
against 11.5 billion Drams from a year ago.
They said growth was reported in all industries of the region,
except light and food industries, which produced 130 million Drams
less worth goods from a year ago.