ARMENIAN CITY OF GYUMRI AND BRAZILIAN CITY OF OZASCO BECOME BROTHER CITIES
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 10 2006
YEREVAN, July 10. /ARKA/. The Armenian city of Gyumri and Brazilian
city of Ozasco have become friend brother cities. The relevant
decision, made by the Ozasco parliament before, was signed the city
mayor Emidio De Souza on July 4, 2006.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry press service reported that the ceremony
of signing was attended by ministers of the city government and MPs
of the Ozasco parliament, presidents of Brazilian-Armenian unions
and organizations, and also the leader of the Brazilian Diocese of
the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Tatev Gharibyan.
De Souza also handed a letter, addressed to Gyumri mayor Vardan
Ghukasyan, over to general consul of Armenia Ashot Yeghiazaryan. In
the letter, the mayor of the Brazilian city invites Ghukasyan to pay
an official visit to Ozasco within the near few months to get familiar
with the life of this city.
During the ceremony of signing it was stated that according to the
request by the General Consulate of Armenia and the local Armenian
Diaspora, the Ozasco city administration will allot a necessary
territory for construction of a Trade and Cultural Center of
Armenia. R.O. -0–

27 NEW AIDS CASES RECORDED IN ARMENIA IN JAN-MAY 2006
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 10 2006
YEREVAN, July 10. /ARKA/. Twenty-seven new AIDS cases and 26 new HIV
cases were recorded in Armenia in January-May 2006. The RA Statistical
Service reports that one HIV-infected child under 14 was registered
during the period under review.
Twenty-one AIDS cases and 27 HIV cases were recorded during the
corresponding period of last year.
In May 2006 alone, seven new AIDS cases and 11 new HIV cases were
recorded in Armenia against 0 and 3 cases in May 2005. In May 2006,
one HIV-infected child under 14 was registered. P.T. -0–

Gul: Turks, Greeks And A United Cyprus Can Be A Basin Of Cooperation
Anatolian Times, Turkey
July 9 2006
WASHINGTON D.C. – “Turks, Greeks and a united Cyprus can be a basin
of cooperation for the region. Both the EU and we need such a thing,”
said Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul
on Thursday. Speaking at a meeting at the Brookings Institution,
Gul said, “we missed a great opportunity to find a solution to the
Cyprus issue in 2004 after the Greek Cypriot administration rejected
the plan of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. However,
they were awarded with the EU membership while the Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was punished.”
Recalling that Turkey revealed its Action Plan for Cyprus in January,
Gul said, “we proposed that all restrictions should be lifted at
the same time. However, we were told that we should lift embargo
first. I hope that the situation will not further deepen. We have
assumed a productive attitude, and worked hard to find a solution.”
Upon a question about the terrorist organization PKK, Gul said,
“we appreciate the United States’ efforts to eradicate the terrorist
organization. The United States was one of the countries recognizing
the PKK as a terrorist organization. However, we expect the United
States to expand more support. We cannot understand presence of the
PKK in Iraq.”
Replying to another question about Iran’s nuclear activities, Gul said,
“we believe that Iran should not miss the recent opportunity. Five
permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany
have put forward a quite reasonable proposal.”
Referring to recent developments in Iraq, Gul said, “we wish that all
different ethnic groups will leave together in Iraq in peace. However,
there are different groups in Kirkuk. Therefore, only one of them
should not determine the future of the city.”
Upon questions about the so-called Armenian genocide, Gul said, “Turkey
has proposed to form a joint committee of historians as an expression
of its good will. We believe that it was the Armenian diaspora which
put forward such baseless allegations. We think that tragic events
during the World War I should not be used for political purposes.”

Politician slams US policy on Garabagh
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
posted July 10 2006
Baku, July 7, AssA-Irada — An Azeri party leader has said the latest
statements by US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza testify
to United States’ aspiration to settle the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict soon.
Washington attaches great importance to the South Caucasus region
in terms of safe transportation of energy resources to the West and
resolution of conflicts flaring in the Middle East and Central Asia,
chairman of the Justice Party, MP Ilyas Ismayilov said.
“The United States is therefore making effort to settle conflicts
that continue to jeopardize its interests in the region.”
The party leader said that particularly alarming is the United
States’ efforts to solve the Garabagh conflict “on the basis of
current realities, but not the principles of international law”,
i.e. Washington demands that Azerbaijan make compromises instead of
putting pressure on the aggressor.
Ismayilov said Bryza’s statement that “the conflict can’t be settled
through military action” was addressed to Azerbaijan.
“In general, the position of the West, including the United States,
serves to revive the theory of ‘violence is the law’ that was used
in the early 20th century. This theory incites violence, terrorism
and anarchy in the world,” he said.
The MP said Azerbaijan could accept determination of the status of
Upper Garabagh through a referendum only if it is held as a nationwide
poll, as the national interests and Constitution disallow holding a
poll in a separate territory of the country.
“If international organizations insist on a referendum, the vote must
be held across Azerbaijan.”
Ismayilov said that President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated
that he won’t sign any agreement contradicting Azerbaijan’s national
interests.
The President’s latest statements allayed public concerns, he said.
“I also view his statements as a response to those trying to take
advantage of the Garabagh conflict to pursue their ends,” the MP
added.*

Iranian envoy says Garabagh mediators’ efforts ‘fruitless’
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Posted July 10 2006
Baku, July 7, AssA-Irada — The Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan Afshar
Suleymani has said mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group in settling the
Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict has been fruitless
and other levers of influence should be sought to reach peace.
“Each side is defending its own interests. Upper Garabagh has turned
into an intensely watched issue and the co-chairs [from the United
States, Russia and France] have their own interests in this respect,”
the envoy said during a visit to the areas in the Tovuz District
bordering on Armenia. The district is often subjected to shooting
by Armenians.
“The main thing is the Azerbaijani people’s interests, and they are
being abandoned. The co-chairs just sit down and make proposals,
but they should put pressure.”
The ambassador who met with local residents to become familiar with
their living conditions said the rights of the local population to live
and work freely is restricted and their security is not being ensured.*

ARMENIAN AND GEORIGAN PRIME MINISTERS OBSERVE HIGH LEVEL OF FRIENDSHIP AND
COOPERATION BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
July 10 2006
YEREVAN, July 10. /ARKA/. Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia
Andranik Margaryan and Zurab Nogaideli pointed out a high level of
friendship and cooperation between the two countries and peoples. The
press service and public relations department of the Armenian
government reported that during the meeting in Batumi the Prime
Ministers expressed satisfaction with the intensification of bilateral
relations and contacts at different levels over the last period.
They also expressed confidence that during the working visit of the
Armenian Prime Minister and the sitting of the Armenian-Georgian
intergovernmental commission for the issues of economic cooperation,
a wide scope of issues on various areas of mutual interest will be
discussed, possible ways for their solution will be found, and also
new proposals, aimed at further development of economic relations
between the countries will be worked out.
The Prime Ministers pointed out with satisfaction that a number of
decisions of the previous sitting of the commission were fulfilled. In
particular, the agreements “On International Automobile Communication
Between Armenia and Georgia” and “On Cooperation of Armenian and
Georgian Governments In Combat Against Theft Of Transportation Means
and Assurance Of Their Return” have already been signed. Besides
this, the railway communication Yerevan-Tbilisi-Batumi-Yerevan was
opened. They also pointed out a considerable progress in specifying
the Armenian-Georgian frontier.
Margaryan and Nogaideli also discussed the problem of operating
regional railways. They agreed to create a joint working group,
particularly for finding a possibility and expediency of resumption
of the railway Kars (Turkey) – Gyumri (Armenia) – Tbilisi.
Margaryan visited Batumi on July 7 to participate in the regular
fifth sitting of the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission
for economic development. R.O. -0–

Mediamax presented Banks.am web portal
Yerevan, July 10. /Mediamax/. Mediamax news agency presented its new
internet project in Yerevan today – the financial portal
(Financial Armenia).
The member of the Board of the Central Bank of Armenia, Vartan
Movsisian, representatives of commercial banks of the republic and
journalists attended the presentation, Mediamax reports.
As Vartan Movsisian said at the presentation, “the Central Bank
of Armenia welcomes Mediamax’s initiative for creating the site
This is the first portal in Armenia providing available
and full information about the banking sector of the republic,”
Vartan Movsisian stated.
According to him, “Mediamax’s initiative meets the conception of the
Central Bank aimed at the development of the financial market and the
banking sector in particular.” Vartan Movsisian expressed the hope that
Mediamax will cover not only the banking sector but will also worthily
represent the Armenia’s insurance and exchange markets on the web.
From: Baghdasarian

WHY SUGGESTIONS ON PLANE CRASH CHANGED?
Lragir.am
10 July 06
The results of investigation into the crash of the Armenian plane
on May 3 in Sochi were said to be officially published July 10. In
the meantime, the Russian media have been reporting unofficial data
recorded by the black boxes. The Russian media, in fact, assumed
a rather interesting role in the period that followed the crash,
regularly publishing information about the search, investigation and
deciphering of the black boxes. The publication of data of the black
boxes several days before the investigation would end perfectly fit
into the role of the Russian media. It is notable, however, that on
July 6 the Moskovski Komsomolets, in fact, countered to the version
consistently stressed by the Russian media that the cause of the crash
was the human factor. The publication of the MK shifted the focus
onto the technical problems of the plane. This is a rather important
fact, considering that the newspaper’s conclusions are based on the
opinions of Russian experts. The same experts, who upheld the human
factor since the crash till the publication of July 6.
The reason for this change in the opinion of experts, in other words
the Russian standpoint, could be the deciphering of the black box
data, which show that there was a problem with the autopilot. A
scrutiny of the publication of the MK reveals, however, that this
information actually supports the probability of the human factor.
The point is that if we believe what the newspaper writes, after the
autopilot failed the captain took up conducting of the plane. Hence,
the captain was responsible for the actions and developments that
followed. Moreover, the newspaper writes that at some point the second
pilot started conducting the plane as well. The plane received two
opposite commands from the first and second pilots. So it becomes
evident that the crew disagreed in an emergency. The newspaper puts
this fact unambiguously, independent from its reason.
Hence, in fact, the human factor is stressed, which was unable to
tackle technical problems with the plane. However, is it possible
that the Russian experts cannot realize this in trying to present the
information as technical problems of the plane. Either they cannot
understand it or they do understand but they pursue some other aim.
The second is closer to the reality. The point is that the Russian
side, which has taken over monopoly on information on the crash,
suddenly starts referring to the French side, and even stats that
the French failed to provide some data for reasons that are not clear.
In addition, it is mentioned that without this information it is
impossible to find out the real cause of the crash. In other words,
the Russians are apparently trying to redirect responsibility for the
investigation towards France. Therefore the necessity to neutralize the
version based on the human factor occurs, highlighting the technical
factor. It is rather difficult to tell the reason for this shift of
the vector of investigation. It is interesting, however, that this
shift occurred when the president of Armenia was visiting Iran.
At first sight this has nothing to do with the investigation into
the crash. However, a scrutiny of the chronology of “non-official
reporting” in the media reveals that it overlaps with the visits of
the Armenian leadership. And the Iranian visit was notable in the
sense that the core issue of the visit was the engagement of Russia
in the project of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. France seems to
have no relation to this and it may not have any. But the version
of technical problems of the plane enables the continuity of the
investigation. As soon as the human factor is confirmed, everything
will end. Whereas the technical factor gives rise to the necessity of
a new investigation: why did the machine break down, who is supposed
to guarantee the technical security of the plane, was it the fault of
the producer of wrong maintenance? These questions provide a large
space for investigation. In other words, the question remains up in
the air, and the families of victims are sure not to learn the real
cause of the plane for a long time. It is not clear yet, however,
whether they have started to wonder about the cause, for when the
minister of defense returned from Sochi, he said the relatives of the
victims may not be interested in the cause, for their concern is to
find the bodies of their relatives.
Judging by the investigation, apparently nobody wants to know the cause
of the crash. Maybe they already know or maybe they do not want to
know. It is also possible that they do not manage. The investigation
of the plane was underway when the second plane crashed, taking 120
lives, another Airbus, the plane of Siberia Airlines. By the way,
this company used to be the shareholder of Armavia for a long time.
HAKOB BADALYAN

Azeri Foreign Minister to leave for Turkey
ArmRadio.am
10.07.2006 11:46
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov will leave today
for Turkey on a three-day official visit. In addition to bilateral
relations and prospects of settlement of the Karabakh issue the Prime
Ministers of Azerbaijan and Turkey will discuss issues of regional
and international concern.

At least 124 killedin an air crash in Irkutsk
ArmRadio.am
10.07.2006 11:31
A Sibir Airlines passenger jet with 200 people on board veered off
the runway early Sunday while landing at Irkutsk Airport in eastern
Siberia, crashed into a concrete barrier and burst into flames,
killing at least 124 people, according to the Russian Ministry of
Emergency Situations.
The front of the Airbus A-310 was crushed, and 53 people were
hospitalized, most of them with burns, the Ministry informed.
So far, 120 bodies have been recovered. Another 25 are missing and
while most are feared dead, witnesses reported seeing some people
jumping from the wreckage and leaving the crash site.
It is the second fatal crash inside Russia involving an Airbus aircraft
this year. On May 3, all 113 people aboard an Armavia Airlines flight
died when the Airbus 320 crashed into the Black Sea near the Russian
resort of Sochi.
The plane had departed from the Armenian capital of Yerevan.
Three Sibir Airlines flights have been involved in fatal incidents
inside Russia since 2001, including Sunday’s crash.
On October 4, 2001, Sibir Airlines Tupolev TU-154M was hit by a
Ukrainian surface-to-air missile over the Black Sea near Sochi,
killing all 77 aboard. The missile was fired as part of a training
exercise. The flight was heading from Tel Aviv, Israel to Novosibirsk
in Siberia. On August 24, 2004, Sibir Airlines Tupolev TU-154B2
departed Moscow for Sochi and disappeared more than an hour after
take-off. All 46 people on board were killed when the plane went down
near Millerovo, Russia.