IAC to complete the discussion of A-320 crash reasons
ArmRadio.am
10.07.2006 12:15
Today the International Aviation Committee should complete the
professional discussion of the reasons of the crash of the Armenian
A-320 on May 3. Experts of the Committee have investigated the
records of the black boxes and have carried out modeling of the last
flight in Toulouse.

Foreign Minister of Lebanon Fawzi Salloukh to visit Armenia
ArmRadio.am
10.07.2006 13:45
July 11-13 the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Lebanon
Fawzi Salloukh will pay an official visit to Armenia.
During his stay in Armenia Fawzi Salloukh will have meetings with
RA president Robert Kocharyan, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan,
NA Chairman Tigran Torosyan and the Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II.
The Lebanese Foreign Minister will visit Matenadaran, the Genocide
Museum and the memorial to the victims of the 1915 Genocide.
July 11 Fawzi Salloukh will meet RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan,
following which the Ministers will give a joint press conference.

Turkish Islamist party holds anti-Israel rally
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
9 Jul 06
Istanbul, 9 July: The SP [Felicity Party] Istanbul Provincial Offices
organized a rally in Caglayan Square denouncing Israel and supporting
Palestine.
Addressing the rally, SP Chairman Recai Kutan said that inhumane
acts were taking place in fraternal Palestine, and that millions
of Palestinians had been ejected from their homeland with blood and
tears for more than half a century now.
Noting that those who stayed behind were exposed to unending cruelty,
attacks and massacres, Kutan said they had all come to this rally
to provide support for Palestine and their Muslim brothers in the
face of the cruelty that had been escalating these past few weeks,
to condemn the cruelty of the bullies, and to warn their allies.
Stating that the Israeli army had gone into the Gaza Strip and
launched a ground operation supposedly to free a soldier who had been
captured by Palestinian resistance fighters on 25 June, Kutan said:
“Over 1.3 million Palestinians are being subjected to cruelty and
inhuman treatment all over a soldier who has been abducted, not
killed. This latest attack by Israel is not an operation to free
their captured soldier. Their goal is to punish the Palestinian
people by depriving them of water, electricity, food and medicine,
and to incite the Palestinian people against Hamas.”
Stating that the world was remaining silent in the face of these
inhumane and horrific practices, and that no body apart from a few
puny voices had spoken out, Kutan noted:
“Where is the UN? Where are the international human rights
organizations? What are the Arab League and the OIC doing? All they
do is make empty and ineffectual diplomatic statements. Now is not
the time for giving ineffective diplomatic words to the Israeli
administration. The entire Islamic world should unite politically,
economically and in other fields as part of the brotherhood of Islam,
and should support one another. Effective policies must be laid out
to counter the tyrants, not empty words. This lack of interest and
silence only serves to increase the pain suffered by the Palestinians
a little more every day, and makes our Palestinian brothers feel alone
and helpless. The greatest onus here is on Turkey. But Turkey is far
from fulfilling its historical responsibility. Staying silent in the
face of cruelty only supports the cruelty.”
Palestinian Prime Minister Isma’il Haniyah attended the rally by
telephone. In his speech Haniyah said that while he could see those
attending the rally his heart was with them.
Saying that he was saluting his Turkish brothers on behalf of his
people, Haniyah said: “Your stance means a lot to us. I can feel
in my heart that you are supporting us. As the Palestinian Prime
Minister and the representative of the Al-Aqsa Mosque I am with you
all in spirit on the streets of Istanbul now. This jihad will go on
whether we are in government or not.”
Addressing those at the rally via a giant TV screen former chairman
of the defunct Welfare Party Necmettin Erbakan stated that Israel
was exhibiting the greatest horror in trying to wipe out the Muslims
living in the Gaza Strip, and he said that the administrations of a
few Muslim countries were just watching it happen.
Erbakan said that the measures necessary to end the massacre in
Palestine needed to be taken immediately.
SP Deputy Chairman Omer Vehbi Hatipoglu stated that Israel was
carrying out genocide before the eyes of the world, and said: “All
you who put the Armenian genocide before us at every opportunity,
where are you now? Are you dead to these events?”
Throughout the meeting slogans were chanted and God is Great was
shouted frequently.
SP deputy chairmen, provincial and district chairmen plus mayors and a
large number of party members together with various NGO representatives
were at the rally, where placards bearing the phrases: “Israel is
committing crimes against humanity, the world watches” and “The only
friends Muslims have are other Muslims” were carried.
Furthermore, the Gulhan-Kadir Ulger couple, who got married today,
attended the rally as bride and groom and stayed a while.

Statement by ARF Bureau
Yerkir.am
July 07, 2006
Editorial
Armenian Revolutionary Federation on July 3 made a statement calling
for a participation in a project to develop border villages. Below is
the text of the statement.
Dear compatriots,
This year the entire Armenian people will mark the 15th anniversary
of its independent statehood. We will mark this holiday with the
consciousness of this holiday’s exclusiveness and resolution to
improve, enrich and strengthen our Armenian home.
Independence is a supreme value and everybody’s duty is to make
Armenia a center for justice, democracy, solidarity.
The third Armenia-Diaspora forum to be held on September 18-20
in Yerevan coincides with the anniversary of our state, another
opportunity to unite our potential and to make it serve for political,
economic, spiritual and cultural development of the Homeland,
to solution of national problems, to overcoming with dignity the
challenges resisted by the Armenians and Armenia in the 21st century.
This time there is a specific goal on the agenda of the forum – to
find funds and to develop especially the border regions of Armenia,
to improve and to modernize rural infrastructures, to assist solution
of the population’s social problems.
The ARF Bureau calls on all structures, units, individuals of Armenia
and Diaspora, first of all its organization circles and members to
take an active part in the implementation of this program, to assume
a concrete commitment.
With this step we should also prove that we can have a strong,
independent country and homeland, we can become an influential
presence in the large family of peoples. Let’s mark the anniversary
of our independent statehood by a concrete work and responsibility.

Consequences of Montenegro referendum
Yerkir.am
July 07, 2006
Armen Rustamian, chairman of the Armenian National Assembly’s Foreign
Relations Committee and Armenian Revolutionary Federation Armenia
Supreme Body representative, delivered a speech at the Council of
Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly summer session.
Below is the text of the speech.
First, I would like to congratulate the peoples of Serbia and
Montenegro for their ability to settle their issue in a civilized and
peaceful manner. It is not hard to imagine what could have happened
if the will of people was ignored, if people were denied the right
to determine their fate on their own, if conducting a referendum was
obstructed or its results were not recognized.
Fortunately, it didn’t happen in Montenegro, it is worthy example to
follow. But sadly, there are many other negative examples. One of them
is the Karabakh conflict. The history of that conflict demonstrates
that efforts to silence a people’s voice and imposing others’ will from
outside result in large-scale humanitarian catastrophe and bloodshed.
This is exactly how, 15 years ago, Azerbaijan responded to the Nagorno
Karabakh people’s legitimate independence referendum conducted in
line with the USSR laws. It was then that an opportunity to settle
the conflict in civilized and peaceful manner was missed.
In those terms, the key conclusion stemming from the Montenegro
referendum is as follows: On the one hand, it is more than apparent
that in the modern world it is impossible to apply the obsolete
mechanisms to complex conflicts and settle them by means of arbitrary
methods.
On the other hand, the necessity to establish situations that would
allow a people to apply its right of self-determination under
international law and through democratic means is becoming more
apparent.
This is the exact key to the Karabakh conflict settlement —
to respect the natural right of the Nagorno Karabakh people to
self-determination. There are no legal, political or historic
alternatives to such settlement.
I would also advise my Azeri colleagues to refrain from abusing the
Karabakh conflict unnecessarily just to justify domestic problems.
I realize that it is necessary for propaganda reasons but it becomes
absurd sometimes.
For example, Azerbaijan’s stance could not be considered constructive
when it declares no cooperation with Armenia in regional projects is
possible until the Karabakh conflict has been settled.
It is absurd when Azerbaijan says no fundamental democratic reforms
are possible in that country unless the conflict has been resolved.
This is either self-deception or an effort to render an ultimatum
to the Council of Europe in order to either force it help settle
the conflict in its favor or stop criticizing Azerbaijan for
democracy-related issues.
But the European experience — and particularly the Serbia and
Montenegro case — proves the contrary: the more democratic the
countries engaged in conflict are the more their people are tolerant
and the more efficient the negotiations.
The Montenegro referendum proved once again the known truth: there
are no democracy, common security and stability without the respect
for a people’s right to express its will freely.
Only when conflicts are resolved without victors and losers there is
a common victory of democracy as is the case with Montenegro.

Karabagh participated in signing the cease-fire and has the right to
participate in the negotiations
Yerkir.am
July 07, 2006
“Nagorno Karabagh Republic is very cautious about deployment of
peacekeeping forces,” Foreign Minister of Nagorno Karabagh Republic
Georgi Petrossian stated at a press conference held in Stepanakert.
NKR’s Foreign Minister stressed that the Karabagh side wants to see not
elimination of the consequences of the conflict but settlement. He
further informed that during a visit to the US representatives
of Nagorno Karabagh Republic had voiced their concern regarding
publicizing of the principles of Karabagh settlement by OSCE Minsk
Group Co-Chair Mathew Bryza.
“The recent developments in the settlement process have created a
new situation and it is not yet known in what format the negotiation
process will be restarted. Our position has not changed: Nagorno
Karabagh participated in the signing of the cease-fire, therefore,
it has the right to participate in the negotiation process where its
fate is being decided,” the Minister stressed as reported by De Facto
Press Agency.

Reintegration processes in the CIS
Yerkir.am
July 07, 2006
The CIS countries’ attempts to transform and adjust this political
union to the realities of the globalized world create new features
in the behavior of the CIS member states. The modification of the
geopolitical orientation of the larger members of the CIS serve as new
signals for such transformations. On the other hand, the traditional
economic and cultural ties and the opportunities for their restoration
serve as a kind of counterbalance for the disintegration processes.
Background of the issue
The main issue on the agenda of the recent summit of Eurasian Economic
Cooperation (known as EurozES) leaders was the issue of establishment
of a customs union in the framework of this organizations.
Against the background of Russia’s rather pragmatic policies towards
the CIS states, political analysts were increasingly optimistic about
this initiative. The leaders of the six members of EurozES announced
that it is possible that the EurozES customs union will be created
by the end of this year, something which was not possible to do in
the past fifteen years.
EurozES, an entity formed in the framework of CIS in 2000, was aimed to
regulate and ensure smooth operation of the member states’ economic
relations, trade regimes, provision of resources, flow of human
capital, technological and infrastructure sectors. Establishment of
more or less liberal and efficient customs and tax regulation regimes
was an axis for the initiative.
Armenia’s expectation from EurozES
Armenia applied to be an observer to this organization. The observer’s
status allows the country to participate in the open sessions,
make statements and receive documents on the decisions taken by the
organization.
The priorities EurozES has set for itself are to some extent related to
Armenia’s vital interests, especially in the sectors of transport and
freight transportation, energy sector, regulation of labor migration
and cooperation in the sector of agricultural and industry.
On the other hand, as a member of the World Trade Organization and
a country with multi-faceted economic, trade and military-technical
relations with CIS countries Armenia could not stay indifferent towards
the transformation and reintegration processes underway in the CIS.
The leaders of the CIS states voice the opinion that the new customs
union which is in the process of being established aims at developing a
common position towards membership in the World Trade Organization. In
this context, the proposal made at the Minsk Summit to set a unified
customs tax in the framework of EurozES is of special interest.
In the context of the recent developments in the CIS Russia’s decision
to increase the prices for gas should be considered quite natural. The
promise-threat to sell 1000 cubic meter of natural gas for 180 dollars
starting next year can easily be understood in this context.
Depending on the supply of the Russian gas, CIS partners including
Armenia will have to diversify their energy resources. In the case
of Armenia, rapid construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline emerges
as increasingly important.
Of course, deepening relations with EurozES member states and
membership in their customs union might be in Armenia’s interests if
the political and regional problems on the way to such membership are
settled. However, to wait that large investments would flow to Armenia
from the EurozES region in near future would be an overly exaggerated
expectation, especially in what concerns investments from Russia.
Russia itself is in dire need of investments. Russia needs millions
and millions of working people. According to different estimates,
5-8 million people from the CIS are currently working in Russia. This
number is far from being sufficient. 65 million people are currently
working in the Russian economy while the expectation is that 8-10
million new jobs will be created in the near future. This is why
the Russian authorities are planning to eliminate all obstacles for
labor migration.
This means Russia itself needs large investments and is using all
methods to attract them. Experts estimates Russia needs investments
of 2-3 trillion dollars in the coming 10 years and will do everything
to encourage such investments. Armenia in its turn can and is making
considerable investments into Russian economy with its qualifies
labor force. This investment is larger than any investment Armenia
can expect to get from Russia.
As to Russian investments made or expected to be made in Armenia,
Russia is solving more political than economic problems through such
investments. The fact that the Russian authorities did not want to
delay the payoff of Armenia’ s debt of 100 million dollars, is an
indirect evidence of this. Meanwhile, successful Russian investments
are more of an exception than a rule.
By Mher OHANIAN

Baku: Armenian and Azeri Presidents Weren’t Invited to G8 Summit
PanARMENIAN.Net
10.07.2006 13:29 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian and Armenian Presidents were not invited
to Saint Petersburg to discuss the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
within the framework of the G8 summit, head of the department for
foreign relations at the president administration Novruz Mamedov
said. He voiced surprise at the information spread by some media on
behalf of the Azeri Foreign Minister on the possible meeting of the
Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders in Saint Petersburg within the G8
summit framework.
“I possess no information on the issue though the invitation would be
admissible for us,” Mamedov said adding that there is little chance
for it. “We have not received any invitation so far and I do not know
whether it will be ever sent,” Mamedov underscored, reported Trend
news agency.

October 1 ANPP to Be Stopped for Refueling
PanARMENIAN.Net
10.07.2006 13:34 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 1, 2006 the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant
will be stopped for refueling, ANPP Director General Gagik Markosyan
said. In his words, within some 45 days a part of the equipment will
be repaired and metal condition will be checked.
The ANPP will be as usual filled up with the fuel supplied by
Russia. At that the price has not changed. “During 45 days 6 urgent
measures for raising the safety of the Nuclear Power Plant will be
carried out jointly with EU Technical Assistance Program TACIS and
the U.S. Energy Department,” Markosyan said, reported Novosti-Armenia.

Lebanese FM to Arrive in Armenia June 11
PanARMENIAN.Net
10.07.2006 13:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh will
be in Yerevan on a formal visit June 12-13, reported the RA MFA
press office. During the visit Mr Salloukh is scheduled to meet with
Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan,
Parliament Speaker Tigran Torosian, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
and Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II. Besides, the Lebanese
Foreign Minister will attend the Matenadaran (the National Depository
of Ancient Manuscripts), the Institute of the Armenian Genocide and
the Memorial to the Genocide victims.