ARMENIAN CIVIL AVIATION CONFIRMS ARMENIA-REGISTERED PLANE CRASH NEAR TEHRAN
Armenpress
Mar 29 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian civil aviation department has
confirmed earlier reports that a cargo plane that crash-landed at a
sports complex near Tehran on March 28 afternoon, was an Antonov-12
Russia-made plane owned by Fenix carrier registered in Armenia.
The plane went down to the east of the Iranian capital and was gutted
by flames after all 12 people on board and the cargo were safely
evacuated. The plane was en route to the United Arab Emirates. The
Armenian civil aviation said the crash was cased by a collision with
a flock of birds.

GREEK DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DESCRIBES ARMENIA AS “BEST PARTNER”
Armenpress
Mar 29 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS: Armenian agriculture minister
David Lokian, who is also a cochairman of the Armenian-Greek
intergovernmental commission on economic, industrial, technical and
research cooperation, described today Greece as ‘a country that has
been Armenia’s friend for centuries.”
Addressing the 4-th session of the commission that opened today in
Yerevan Lokian said today Greece has serious presence in Armenia. He
said this level of relationships may sometimes result in what he
described as ‘deviations,’ saying also that one of the goal of
this commission is to settle problems that arise. He said president
Kocharian’s visit to Greece last November gave a fresh push to boosting
various-level bilateral contacts and ties. Lokian said he hoped that
all major and minor discrepancies existing in bilateral relations
will be papered over during the meeting.
Greek deputy foreign minister Evripides Styliandis, the Greek
cochairman of the commission, said the Greek party would work to
promote political and economic relations with Armenia. “We shall
resolve all problems inherited from the past and will try to breath in
new life into our economic relationships and raise them to the level
of political interaction,’ he said, adding that part of these problems
had been discussed and there was hope that they would be settled. Mr.
Styliandis also said his government would help Armenia to take forward
its Plan of Actions developed to boost relations with EU as part of its
European Neighborhood Program (ENP). He then emphasized the role of
the Armenian community of Greece in attracting new Greek investments
to Armenia, saying Greek investments in Armenia have reached now 1
billion euros.
‘Armenia is one of the best friends and partners of Greece,” he
said. The session will continue on March 30. The Greek delegation
is expected to visit the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan, meet with
prime minister Andranik Margarian, Armenian Catholicos Karekin II
and president Robert Kocharian.

KOCHARIAN AND ENERGY MINISTER DISCUSS AFTEREFFECTS OF GAS PRICE HIKE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Armenpress
Mar 29 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS: President Robert Kocharian and energy
minister Armen Movsisian discussed today a wide scope of issues
pertaining to ongoing construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and
mechanisms that can mitigate the aftereffects of imminent gas price
hike to become effective from April 1.
Kocharian’s press office said it was decided to continue talks with
the Russian side and present a follow-up package of proposals to the
public after reconciling them with the president of the country.
Movsisian was quoted as saying that the construction of Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline will be over in autumn.
Also a set of issues on renewable energy, particularly, on construction
of small hydro power plants, was discussed. The minister briefed the
president on the pace of construction of 38 such stations. He said
with the current rate of construction of small power plants they will
be able to produce 500 million k/hours of electricity that makes 10
percent of the domestic demand.

SARGSYAN AND PRYAKHIN DISCUSSED PROPELLANT LIQUIDATION PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2006 01:18 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Secretary of the Security Council at the RA
President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan met with head of the OSCE
Yerevan Office Vladimir Pryakhin, RA Defense Minister’s Spokesman
Seyran Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net. During the meeting Vladimir
Pryakhin briefed on the process of the first and second stages of
the propellant liquidation and informed of the works to be carried
out during the third stage, when the propellant will be proceeded
in a fertilizer. The interlocutors also referred to the further
cooperation on democratic control of the armed forces and alternative
military service. Vladimir Pryakhin underscored the importance of
participation of the RA MOD specialists in the programs launched by
the OSCE Yerevan Office.

ARMENIA SHOULD MEET 24 CRECO ANTI-CORRUPTION RECOMMENDATIONS WITHIN 18 MONTHS
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2006 01:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia received 24 recommendations from the Group
of States against Corruption (GRECO), head of the Armenian delegation
to the GRECO Artur Osikyan said at a press conference in Yerevan today.
In his words, the recommendations were elaborated basing on the
report on corruption in Armenia. At that he added that Armenia
should meet the recommendations within 18 months. For his part,
RA President’s Advisor for struggle against corruption Bagrat
Yesayan voiced hope that the ruling coalition will spare no effort
to fulfill the recommendations. He informed that 364 criminal cases
were initiated in Armenia in 2005. The damage from corruption made
3.4 billion drams. 236.4 million was restored. He also noted that 97
Armenian officials were charged with corruption in 2005.

DARTMOUTH CONFERENCE: KARABAKH TALKS SHOULD BE DIVIDED INTO TWO STAGES
PanARMENIAN.Net
30.03.2006 01:41 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The authors of the framework agreement on the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement stated today in Yerevan that
plenipotentiaries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno Karabakh will
conclude agreements on a number of issues within the OSCE Minsk
Group framework. “Those who undertake the responsibility will hold
the negotiations and sign the agreement,” Dartmouth Conference
Co-chair Harold Saunders stated. He divided the negotiation process
into two stages. The first will include intermediate steps, namely
measures for establishment of mutual trust, equal concessions by
the parties, synchronized withdrawal of troops, demilitarization of
the territories, return of refugees, restoration of communications,
economic and cultural cooperation. The second stage will comprise
talks on the NKR final status, conclusion of peaceful agreement and
establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In his words, the formula of the project is as follows “Peace and
intermediate status in exchange for territories”, which differs from
the mutually excluding principles of the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides
– “peace in exchange for territories” and “territories in exchange for
status.” Harold Saunders also noted that the project was submitted
to Russian and U.S. Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, who rated
it positive on the whole. “Ambassador Mann specifically noted the
measures for establishment of mutual trust between the conflicting
parties provided by the framework agreement,” Mr. Saunders said. At
that he noted that the Dartmouth Conference is not a substitute to
the OSCE MG. “The task of the Minsk group is to propose the final
decision while our task is to offer the possible ways of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement,” he stressed.
To note, the Dartmouth Conference launched activities in mid 1960-ies
for the elaboration of common positions of the United States and
Russia on the settlement of regional conflict. After the collapse of
the USSR the conference is co-chaired by Russia and the U.S.

ARMENIAN WEBSITES IN THE HANDS OF AZERBAIJANI HACKERS
By Tamar Minasian
AZG Armenian Daily
30/03/2006
Propaganda Against Andre or Armenian People?
As the recent web events suggest, Azeris are slow to put up with
Andre’s coming performance at the Eurovision and his possible
success. They are also slow to put up with our achievement in the
war that they themselves levied on us. To express their resentment
they turn to the Internet but, alas, using it to deceit others.
It transpired yesterday that several Armenian websites are in the
hands of Azeri hackers. Singer Andre’s website ()
, , ,
, , and a number
of other Armenian sites were attacked by Azeri hackers who, having
broken security, erased all information replacing it with information,
pictures and links on alleged Khojaly massacre.
website is hosted at Dolphin Company’s server in the
USA. Talking to Daily Azg the company’s network administrator Khachatur
Meliksetian said that they immediately closed access to the site when
the website designer turned to them in the morning.
Dolphin’s American chiefs have already confirmed that Azerbaijani
hackers are behind these crimes.
In such cases when the server is located in a foreign country a
state has to apply to the Interpol. But to have grounds for this,
the police should have a complaint from the injured party.
Reportedly the Azerbaijani criminals attacked the website of Alfael
Production Center () too. Alfael representative Vardges
Kirakosian informed something like this happened 2-3 weeks ago. Azeris
hacked the Center’s website notifying that its their work.
If years ago Turks and Azeris used the Internet merely to
disseminate offenses, then today their anti-Armenian propaganda
gets more well-weighed and politicized. For someone unaware of
history information posted at Azeri website can seem convincing
and truthful. One can only dread of the effect that these websites
with ensanguined posters and lively graphic design can produce in
uninformed people.
Should we fight back deceit with deceit by hacking Azeri and Turkish
websites or should we hope that they will some day become mature
enough for a fair game?

KARABAKH CONFLICT FORGOTTEN IN EUROPE?
By Susanna Margarian
AZG Armenian Daily
30/03/2006
Erik Boel, chairman of the European Movement for Denmark, is visiting
Armenia these days. Before arriving in Yerevan he was in Baku where
he met Azeri diplomats, NGO representatives, the Commission for
European Integration and independent experts. Either in Armenia or
in Azerbaijan Mr. Boel sought to familiarize with pro-European forces.
The European official, who is in Armenia at the invitation of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation, visited the Monument of Armenian
Genocide and the Genocide Museum and laid a wreath. Though recognition
of the Armenia Genocide by Turkey is not included in the so-called
Copenhagen criteria as a prerequisite for the country’s membership,
“it will be useful for Turkey to put up with its past as well as
reconcile with the Armenian people,” Mr. Boel stated reminding
Germany’s example. Speaking of Genocide recognition and double
standards that surround this issue, Mr. Boel underscored that his
state and he personally believe that what happened in 1915 was a
factual genocide. Nevertheless, Denmark is so far among the states
that have not officially recognized the Genocide. Perhaps this stands
for the Dane’s laconic inscription in the memory book: “Let us never
forget this tragedy.”
Speaking of Danish public opinion on Nagorno Karabakh issue,
Mr. Boel said: “To be frank, it is one of the forgotten conflicts in
the European environment. We have a close watch on conflicts in the
Middle East and Kosovo but unfortunately not in Karabakh.” The guest
will not visit Nagorno Karabakh this time, but he reads books on the
conflict and meets people in order to probe the issue.

IN YEREVAN HENCEFORTH
By Karine Danielian
AZG Armenian Daily
30/03/2006
Last yea’s winners of the American Green Card lottery will
not apparently have to leave for Tbilisi or Moscow for further
follow-up. According to unofficial information, beginning from April
1 they will be interviewed in the compound of the US Embassy in
Yerevan. Likewise, interviews with Armenian citizens with permanent
living visas and permits will also be held in Yerevan.
In other words, this innovation justifies the sizes of one of the
biggest US embassies in the world.
Daily Azg has sent an inquiry to the US Embassy on this matter.

ARMENIAN ELECTED DEPUTY PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IN ABKHAZIA
AZG Armenian Daily
30/03/2006
Armenia Albert Hovsepian was elected deputy speaker of the Abkhazian
parliament. According to RIA Novosti news agency, former deputy
speaker was promoted to the position of deputy prime minister and
Abkhazia-born Albert Hovsepian came to replace him.