HRAYR KARAPETIAN: NO NEED TO DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT
Yerevan, May 12. ArmInfo. “I do not think that the resignation of
Artur Baghdasarian and withdrawal of “Orinats Yerkir” party from
coalition create the necessity to dissolve the parliament,” Hrayr
Karapetian, Secretary of ARFD faction, said this, commenting on the
recent events.
He added that RA National Assembly is able to normally function at
present and carry out constitutional reforms. He stated that a certain
vacuum has been shaped in the management of RA Parliament that is to
be overcome as soon as possible. Karapetian said that the new speaker
may be elected in the next parliamentary sitting after five days from
the decision on Baghdasarian’s resignation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS ASK FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE TO PROTECT THEM
SOCHI, May 12. ArmInfo. The air traffic controllers who witnessed the
May 3 crash of A-320 airbus, turned to RF Federal Security Service
with the request to protect them and their families.
According to “Life” magazine, they stated they are not guilty in the
crash, b ut they are afraid that the relatives of 113 victims in the
crash will take revenge of them. According to the information from the
trustworthy sources, the air traffic controllers who turned for help
to RF Federal Security Service take special measures for safety. The
officials of relevant bodies met with them to discuss the situation
and evaluate the risk.
It’s worth mentioning that earlier the statement of the employees of
the Adler airport was published. According to them, nobody threatens
to the air traffic controllers who worked at the tragic night.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SERGO YERITSIAN TO RESIGN FROM POST OF RA MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
ATTENTION, CORRECTED VERSION! YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. RA
Minister of Education and Science Sergo Yeritsian, member of the
Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law) Party, will resign after May 22. Noyan
Tapan correspondent was informed about it from the Ministry. Chairman
of the Orinats Yerkir Party and NA Speaker Artur Baghdasarian said in
the May 12 statement that after his official resignation all state
officials representing the party should resign from their posts during
the next NA 4-day session to start on May 22.

CONVERSE BANK PLANS TO MAKE PROFIT OF 2 BLN DRAMS THIS YEAR
YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. This year Converse Bank plans to make a
profit of about 2 bln drams (about 4.5 mln USD). Director General of
the Converse Bank Artak Hanesian said during the May 12 press
conference that it is expected that the bank’s assets will increase by
15%, its overall capital – by 25.2%, and credit portfolio – by 7.8% by
late 2006. The mortgage credits are envisaged to increase almost
2.6fold. According to A. Hanesian, it is quite possible that the
annual interest rates of deposits with the bank (currently making
4-7%) will soon rise by one percentage point. He said that 2006 was
declared Year of Customer by the Converse Bank. In this connection the
bank will develop the institution of individual servicing, join the
Europay international payment and settlement system and start
servicing Visa cards by its cash dispensers. Besides, the bank will
open 5 new branches this year, including 3 ones in Yerevan. It was
noted that in 2006, the bank envisages to introduce quality-management
ISO 9001:2000 and financial monitoring systems in line with
international standards.

FINAL DECISION ON TURNING CONVERSE BANK INTO OJSC TO BE MADE BY AUGUST
YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The Converse Bank will make a final
decision on turning Converse Bank CJSC (Closed Joint Stock Company)
into an open joint stock company (OJSC) by August 2006. The bank’s
director general Artak Hanesian stated this at the May 12 press
conference. According to him, work on introduction of corporate
governance is currently underway at the bank. In this connection, some
changes were made in the bank’s regulations, in its council and
executive body. Particularly, former director general of the bank
Smbat Nasibian who owns 15% of shares has become a member of the
council. The remaining stake of Converse Bank belongs to a
non-resident legal entity and a non-resident natural person. It was
noted that Converse Bank is conducting negotiations with the USAID on
the issue of guaranteeing 50% of the bond issue.

INVESTIGATION INTO INDIAN STUDENT CASE CONTINUES
YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The prosecutor office of Yerevan’s Arabkir and
Kanaker-Zeytun communities is conducting an investigation into the criminal
case which was opened on April 20 in connection with the suicide of Prasant
Anchalia, 20, an Indian student of Yerevan Medical Univesity. NT was infomed
about it from the RA Prosecutor General’s Office. To recap, P. Anchalia on
April 20 threw himself from a window of the student dormitory and died while
being taken to hospital. According to the investigators’ information, on the
morning of April 20, Prabhat Kumar, who shared a room with P. Anchalia in the
dormitory, accused Anchalia of stealling 120 dollars from him, but the latter
denied this accusation. Kumar demanded that Anchalia return the money, and
warned that otherwise he will go to police. Then Kumar went to the bathroom.
When he returned to the room, he did not find Anchalia there and later saw
hin lying on the ground at the building.

WHY SPEAKER OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CHOSE TO RESIGN
Lragir.am
12 May 06
`I could stay, raise the question of my confidence, put it to vote,
but I think that my resignation was the dignified way,’ said Arthur
Baghdasaryan on May 2, announcing about his resignation and answering
the question why he resigned and did not offer the question to vote.
`Today different members of parliament came to see me, suggested
putting the question to vote, but I considered resignation to be the
dignified way,=80=9D said Arthur Baghdasaryan. He will inform the
parliament about his resignation at the four-day session of the
parliament on May 22. Then, in accordance with the law, Arthur
Baghdasaryan will confirm his resignation within five days.
Tigran Torosyan is viewed as a likely candidate of speaker of the
parliament. The majority will nominate him. Arthur Baghdasaryan said
he approved the candidacy of Tigran Torosyan, for he is a very decent
person. However, Arthur Baghdasaryan declined to say how the Orinats
Yerkir would vote to Tigran Torosyan, saying that it is a matter of
political decision.

MESKHETI TURKS WILL SETTLE IN TSALKA

Lragir.am
12 May 06

AKHALKALAKI, 12 MAY, A-INFO. Debates on settlement of Meskheti Turks
in Georgia continue. It is especially interesting to know in what
regions of Georgia the Turks will settle. The Ministry of Refugees and
Re-Settlement will present a proposal, containing the final solution
of the problem.
Temur Lomsadzeh, the advisor to the minister of conflict settlement on
return of Meskhs thinks that the region of Tsalka may be chosen, where
it is possible to purchase the houses of the Greeks, who migrated from
this region, at a low price.

Levon Lazarian appointed RA Minister of Education and Science

ArmRadio.am
12.05.2006 17:57
`Radiolur’ learned from non-official sources that RA Minister of
Education and Science was dismissed, and he will be replaced by Head
of the ARF Parliamentary faction Levon Lazarian, who occupied the
position twice in the past.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT OF ACADEMY IS NOT AN EASY JOB
Lragir.am
12 May 06
Rumors circulate at the National Academy of Sciences that the possible
candidates of president of the Academy to be elected on May 17 are
Radik Martirosyan, Robert Atoyan, Yuri Shukyuryan, Lenser Aghalovyan,
and Edward Ghazaryan.
Edward Ghazaryan says the work of the president of the Academy is a
difficult and responsible job because the equipment is old, salaries
are low, the staff is aged, there are other big and small
problems. The scientific staff of the academy wants a president who
would solve these problems. And they demand a program from the
candidates. At this point the opinions of the staff and the
academicians clash. The latter are trying to avoid fair elections. 250
members of the scientific staff extended a proposal to the leadership,
which is an effort of holding transparent elections. Azat Sargsyan, a
leading scientific worker of the Institute of Mechanics, proposes to
hold an election in two rounds.
First, on May 17 the candidates will be nominated, then they will
extend a program on promoting science. `We think about the next
generation,’ says Azat Sargsyan. Second, the scientists demand that a
representative of the scientific organizations be chosen who would
vote to the election. The president is elected by 69 academicians and
17 associate members. The academicians discussed the proposals. It was
decided to nominate the candidates on May 17. On the same day the
nominees will present their program and the scientific staff will have
an opportunity to ask them questions. And the second proposal
naturally does not favor the possible nominees. Edward Ghazaryan says
withregard to the second question they applied to the government,
which will extend it to the National Assembly, where the question will
be raised.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress