ARMENIAN PRESIDENT, NATO OFFICIAL DISCUSS TIES
Arminfo
23 May 06
Yerevan, 23 May: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and the special
representative of the NATO secretary-general for the South Caucasus,
Robert Simmons, today discussed prospects for developing relations
between Armenia and NATO.
Robert Kocharyan rated highly the implementation of a partnership
plan with NATO and noted that essential progress had been recorded in
the implementation of the programme’s provisions within a short time,
the presidential press service told Arminfo.
The importance of carrying out appropriate reforms in the
Armenian defence system and strengthening democracy were noted
in this context. Looking at relations with NATO in the context of
Armenia’s integration into Europe, the president also noted that an
interdepartmental commission had been set up in Armenia recently to
coordinate work with various European structures. The commission will
regularly report to the president on its work in various fields.
“Our goal is not to fall behind the schedule but move forward rapidly
and implement joint programmes,” Robert Kocharyan said.
At the request of his guest, the Armenian president briefed him on
the latest developments in the peaceful settlement of the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict.

U.S. MAY ALLOCATE $43 MILLION FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF MILITARY AIRDROMES IN AZERBAIJAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2006 14:28 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Pentagon requested the U.S. Congress for $43
million for the reconstruction of four military airdromes in Azerbaijan
and organization of anti-missile defense and radio-electronic
intelligence, reported Express Baku-based newspaper citing sources
within the Pentagon.
According to some independent sources, some airdromes in Azerbaijan
have been already conveyed to the United States. Analysts say the
U.S. may use the airdromes in case of a military operation against
Iran.

DECODING OF THE BLACK BOXES OF THE CRASHED A-320 WILL MOST PROBABLY START TOMORROW
ArmRadio.am
24.05.2006 16:40
Press Secretary of the Chief Agency of RA Civil Aviation Gayane
Davtyan told “Radiolur” that tomorrow morning Armenian specialists
will leave for Moscow, where most probably Armenian, Russian and French
specialists will decode the black boxes of the crashed A-320 Airbus.
RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Russia Armen
Smbatyan said that in case of necessity the decoding of the black
boxes will continue in Paris.
According to Gayane Davtyan, in case the recorder boxes are not too
damaged, the first information about the records will be known in 2-3
days. However, according to the data of the Russian side, the black
boxes are damaged.

RECORD BOX DECODING TO TAKE 15 DAYS
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.05.2006 14:09 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It will take the International Aviation Committee
some 15 days to decode two record boxes of A-320 jet that crashed
near Sochi May 3, Russia’s Intergovernmental Aviation Committee head
Rudolf Teymurazov said. Today the governmental committee will fix
the terms for the delivery of the record boxes to the International
Aviation Committee.
The expert also informed that the devices will be examined by the
IAC with the participation of foreign specialists who were engaged
in the search works, reported RIA Novosti.
According to the international rules, specialists of the French
Intelligence and Analysis Bureau take part in the investigation of
aviation incidents on behalf of France, the producer of the aircraft.
To remind, on the night of May 3 a Yerevan-Sochi flight of Armavia
national carrier crashed in the Black Sea 6 km away from Adler
airport killing all of 113 passengers, including 6 children and 8
crewmembers. Among them were 26 Russian citizens, one Ukrainian and
one Georgian citizen, while the rest were Armenian citizens.

NATO ENVOY PRAISES ARMENIA’S PROGRESS IN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMME
Arminfo
22 May 06
Yerevan, 22 May: Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan
met the special representative of the NATO secretary-general for the
South Caucasus, Robert Simmons, today, a source in the press service
of the Armenian Foreign Ministry has said.
Summing up the outcome of working meetings of representatives of NATO
and members of inter-agency commissions for the implementation of the
Individual Partnership Action Plan [IPAP] programme on 18-19 May,
Simmons highly appreciated the implementation of the plan and said
that Armenia had made considerable progress in the implementation of
the provisions of the programme within a short time.
Kirakosyan said that cooperation with NATO and Armenia’s participation
in the IPAP programme and the Partnership for Peace programme are an
important element of the country’s security system.
He also stressed the importance of expanding political dialogue with
NATO, carrying out relevant reforms in the defence system and devising
a national security conception.
The sides also stressed the importance of informing the wider
public of NATO’s purposes and policies, especially of cooperation
between Armenia and NATO. The deputy foreign minister touched on the
settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict and the current status
of Armenian-Turkish relations.
[Passage omitted: Simmons took part in IPAP implementation commission
meeting]

“GRAND” INSURANCE COMPANY STARTED RECEPTION OF DOCUMENTS
ArmRadio.am
24.05.2006 15:00
Today the “Grand” insurance company has started reception of documents
for paying the insurance sums to the families of the victims of
the A-320 plane crash. Director of the Company Artak Antonyan told
“Radiolur” that documents of 30 people have been already submitted. The
reimbursement sum has not been determined so far, but the company
will pay up to US$20 000 for every victim.
Payment of the sums will start from June 18.
To note, planes of “Armavia” Company crashed in the Black Sea and
burnt at Brussels airport were also insured at “Grand” Company. Artak
Antonyan did not inform about the volume and terms of paying these
insurance sums.
For receiving the insurance sums, families of the air crash victims
can call 51-28-24 or 093 40 09 14 (cell).

ARMENIAN POLICEMEN TAKE PART IN 10TH INTERNATIONAL ALL ROUND EVENTS “ANTI-CRIMINAL 2006” IN ST.PETERSBURG
Yerevan, May 23. ArmInfo. Armenian policemen are taking part in the
two-day 10th international all-round events “Anti-Criminal 2006”
in St.Petersburg.
The press service of the Armenian police reports that attending the
event are Byelorussian special purpose militiamen, Finnish air rangers,
Russian policemen. The participants are competing in shooting, running,
driving, hand-to-hand fighting and are showing their knowledge of
police rules. The key prize is 100,000 RUR.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NATO IS ONE OF THE WARRANTEES OF ARMENIA’S SECURITY
Yerevan, May 23. ArmInfo. NATO may assist normalization of relations
between Armenia and Turkey, reports the parliamentary press center
the words of Robert Simmons, Special Representative of NATO Secretary
General in South Caucasus and Central Asia, who met today with the
Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Tigran Torosian.
In his return Mr. Torosian noted that NATO is also one of the
warrantees of Armenia’s security, therefore cooperation between Armenia
and NATO and NATO Parliament Assembly will proceeded, irrespective
of political shifts in eth ruling coalition of Armenia.
Tigran Torosian informed the Special Representative that a special
Commission under President Robert Kocharian is created in order to
enhance the cooperation between Armenia and Europe.
Both the sides emphasized the elections of 2007-2008 and their
correspondence to European standards, as well as the necessity to
extend the IPAP of Armenia. Robert Simmons stressed the importance
of the Parliament and democracy in cooperating with NATO. He added
that the Parliament can play a major part in realizing the IPAP,
which first of all aims protection of democratical values.

BROTHER OF ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER AND “IRAVUNK” NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENT SQUABBLE
Yerevan, May 23. ArmInfo. The brother of Armenian Defense Minister,
MP Alexander Sargsyan and “Iravunk” newspaper correspondent Taguhi
Tovmasyan squabbled at the Armenian National Assembly over the article
published in the newspaper. The publication says that A. Sargsyan
joined a quarrel with the drunk at a restaurant in Yerevan.
The parliamentarian attacked the journalist in the corridor of the
Armenian parliament demanding the source of her information otherwise
she would face problems. However, asked if he threatens her, A.
Sargsyan said that he just warns. The correspondent proposed the
parliamentarian to refute the information in the newspaper or to
apply to the Court against her, In response, A. Sargsyan called the
newspaper nothingness and its correspondents complete nonentities,
stating that he will not “stoop to” write a refutation. In response
to another journalist’s attempt to support T. Tovmasyan, A. Sargsyan
called him too young to speak.

CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF OF ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE HERE ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT
ArmRadio.am
24.05.2006 15:10
The delegation headed by Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces of
Ukraine, Colonel-General Sergey Kirichenko arrived today in Armenia on
a two-day official visit. Kirichenko had a meeting with his Armenian
counterpart Colonel-General Mickael Harutyunyan. Members of the
delegation will visit the memorial to the victims of the Armenian
Genocide and the mine-clearing center. Later the guests will visit
the Military Institute after Vazgen Sargsyan.
The Ukrainian delegation will be received also by the Catholicos
of All Armenian Garegin II. In the evening the Chiefs of General
Staffs of Armed Forces of the two countries will sign a memorandum
on cooperation. Mickael Harutyunyan and Sergey Kirichenko told the
journalists they are going to share the experience gained.
“We are pleased with the warmth, hospitality and friendliness we saw
here in Armenia today. We are confident that today’s work will yield
great results.
Your experience of participating in peacekeeping missions will be
especially useful for us,” Sergey Kirichenko said.