PanARMENIAN.Net
Iran Not Afraid of U.N. Security Council Sanctions
12.05.2006 13:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad blamed the western powers for pursuing the
policy of double standards as regards the Iranian
nuclear program. He said at a news conference he is
not afraid of the U.N. sanctions and is ready to
negotiate with `any state to settle the crisis.’
However, the Iranian President underscored such talks
should not be held from the position of force. `If
someone pokes a gun into your face trying to make you
say what is needed will you yield to these demands? We
will not,’ Ahmadinejad said when commenting on the
U.S. and Troika’s position on the Iranian problem.
He reiterated Iran’s nuclear program is peaceful and
has no military purpose. `It by no means refers to the
nuclear weapon development or any other military
goals,’ the Iranian President said. At that he
described as `ridiculous’ the attempts the nuclear
powers to make his country abandon the nuclear energy
processing. Tehran is capable to defend its interests,
he said, reported Iran.ru.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Armenia and Nigeria Develop Cooperation
12.05.2006 14:05 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today newly appointed Nigerian
Ambassador to Armenia Ibrahim Ganyama Abubakari
(residence in Tehran) handed his credentials to
Armenian President Robert Kocharian, reported RA
leader’s press service. Noting that the
Armenia-Nigeria relations are reduced to the
cooperation within the framework of international
organizations Robert Kocharian voiced assurance that
the accreditation of the first Nigerian Ambassador
will promote the development of bilateral relations
and clarification of possible ways of cooperation.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Pact of Stability in South Caucasus Discussed in
Brussels

12.05.2006 14:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The discussions of the Pact of
Stability in the South Caucasus started in Brussels
May 12. Romanian parliamentarian Adrian Severin will
give a report and present the principal approaches of
security providing. Upon completion of the discussions
a report will be elaborated. The discussions have been
arranged by the PACE Political Committee.
Representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, EU
and G8 take part in them, reported Prime News.

PanARMENIAN.Net
French MPs Disagree on Armenian Genocide Issue
12.05.2006 14:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ French National Assembly President
Jean-Louis Debre is opposed to the bill that would
penalize those who deny the Armenian Genocide.
Chairmen from both the ruling party and the opposition
Socialist Part (PS) have opposed the bill prepared by
the PS; and although it was rejected by the
Regulations Commission Wednesday, the legislative
proposal will be discussed at the General Assembly on
May 18. Debre said they continuously remind the
parties involved that history cannot be written with
laws. `It is just an offer for now,’ he added. Jean
Marc Ayrault, PS parliamentary group chairman, does
not hide his concerns either. Ayrault warning the
legislative offer will be `a source of chaos and
difficulty,’ stressed the offer came to the agenda as
“a result of big pressure from the party.” PS
Secretary-General Francois Hollande maintained
politicians have the right to speak on historical
issues and supported the bill. Hollande claimed the
acceptance of the genocide is a pre-condition for
Turkey’s membership to the European Union. If the bill
is approved, denial of the Armenian Genocide would
result in a fine of 45,000 and up to five years
imprisonment, reported Zaman Turkish daily.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Armenian Parliament Speaker Goes into Opposition

12.05.2006 15:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chairman of the Armenian National
Assembly, head of Orinats Yerkir party Artur
Baghdassaryan is going into opposition. `We become
opposition but with our own approaches. We have our
own ways of struggle,’ he said at a press conference
May 12 when commenting on the recent developments. To
note, May 11 evening the political council of Orinats
Yerkir party headed by Artur Baghdassaryan came to a
decision to come off the ruling coalition. The
coalition was formed June 11, 2003 soon after the
parliamentary election held on May 25, 2003. An
appropriate memorandum was signed by Armenian
President Robert Kocharian, the Republican Party of
Armenia (headed by Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan),
Orinats Yerkir party and the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation Dashnaktsutyun. Orinats Yerkir party holds
three ministerial portfolios in the Armenian
government, reported IA Regnum.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Bill Providing for Punishment for Armenian Genocide
Denial Introduced in Belgian Parliament
12.05.2006 15:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A bill calling for criminal
responsibility for the Armenian Genocide denial was
introduced in the Belgian parliament by influential
Movement of Reforms serving on the ruling coalition.
The party members suggest the Armenian Genocide denial
be classified as a crime. According to them the law
providing for criminal responsibility for the
Holocaust denial should also refer to the Armenian
Genocide of 1915, reported Marmara.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Preliminary Results of A-320 Crash Investigation
Announced
12.05.2006 13:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Russian Ministry of Transport
has furnished the preliminary results of the A-320 jet
crash near Sochi. The commission has analyzed the
records of the talks between the crewmembers and the
flying control officers as well as the data from the
radar set. While the plane was performing the allowed
approach operation the control officer due to bad
weather conditions ordered the crew to stop reducing
height and make a right turn with gaining altitude.
The plane proceeded to the maneuver but then started
landing again and crashed into the water.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenpress
KAPAN TO HAVE MORE WORKING ELEVATORS
KAPAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS: Authorities of Kapan, a
town in Armenia’s south and the capital of Syunik
province, were promised by the government 40 million
drams this year for a major repair of local elevators.
Deputy mayor Norayr Harutunian told Armenpress this
money is enough for repair of 18 elevators in blocks
of apartments and resumption of operation of 6 control
points. He said out of 158 elevators now only 96
operate.
In 2002 there were only 14 working elevators in
Kapan. By the end of this year their number will be
114. The municipality also plans to allocate money
from its budget to subsidize elevators’ operation
because many residents cannot pay for it.

Armenpress
BELGIAN DRAFT LAW PROPOSES CRIMINALIZING GENOCIDE
DENIAL
BRUSSELS, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS: Belgium’s Reformist
Movement party proposed a draft law in Parliament,
which would expand the definition of genocide denial
to the Armenian genocide. It is already a crime to
deny the Holocaust in Belgium, and the lawmakers who
proposed the bill want to extend the law to denial of
the Armenian genocide as well.
The Belgian Parliament failed to enact the same law
two years ago, fearing reprisals from Turkey. Meantime
Turkey’s ambassadors to Canada and France have
returned to their posts after being recalled to Ankara
because of disagreements on whether the massacres of
Armenians during World War I constituted genocide, a
Turkish diplomat was quoted by France Press as saying
Thursday.
A first reading of the French bill, proposed by the
opposition Socialist Party, is scheduled for May 18.
It follows a 2001 French law officially recognizing
the Armenian genocide and, if approved, the new bill
would provide for a five-year sentence and a 45,000
Euro (57,000 Dollar) fine for any person who denies
that the 1915-17 massacres constitute genocide.
Turkish Lawmaker visiting France said they “relayed
the Turkish people’s strong reaction to our French
colleagues” and warned that there were calls for a
boycott of French goods in Turkey and that
Turkish-French relations would be severely harmed if
the bill is passed, Turkey’s Anatolia news agency
reported.
Turkey was also angered when Canadian Prime
Minister Steven Harper reaffirmed the Armenian
genocide during commemorations of the 91st anniversary
of the Genocide on April 24. The Turkish foreign
ministry said at the time that Harper’s words were
“appalling” and would “negatively affect” bilateral
ties. In protest, Turkey withdrew from a planned
multi-nation military exercise to be held in Canada,
officials in Ottawa said on Wednesday.
In 2002, the Canadian Senate recognized the
Armenian genocide as the first genocide of the 20th
century and the House of Commons followed suit two
years later.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenpress
ARTHUR BAGHDASARIAN DECLARES ABOUT HIS RESIGNATION

YEREVAN, MAY 12, ARMENPRESS: Armenian National
Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian called a special
news conference today to declare his resignation from
the second important post in the country. He said the
decision was made yesterday late at night by the
governing council of his Orinats Yerkir party.
He said he informed about his decision the
Republican Party of Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
and the Armenian Republican Federation – two other
members of the ruling coalition. Arthur Baghdasarian
said they agreed to part in a “civilized way”.
Baghdasarian said that he decided to leave the
coalition because of existing controversies between
him and his partners in the coalition. He said
according to the law, he will present the written
application about his resignation to the next
parliament session that will take place on May 22. He
has to reconfirm his decision within next five days.