A1+
THE GOVERNMENT WILL REMAIN THE SAME WITHOUT OYP
[02:50 pm] 12 May, 2006
According to ex NA President Khosrov Haroutyunyan,
the fact that Orinats Yerkir quit the coalition does
not mean that the three-party government will resign.
According to him, the President and the Prime Minister
of the country have all the mechanisms to control the
situation. Let us remind you that according to the
memorandum signed in the presence of Robert Kocharyan
the political coalition can leave office if one of its
members quits before the appointed time. `Yes, but it
does not mean the exclusion of the second memorandum,’
the leader of the Armenian Christian-Democratic Party
said.
He treats the situation created calmly and thinks that
the Minister offices left by the OYP members will be
taken by the other coalition parties or professional
Ministers will be appointed. And what was the reason?
Was it pressure upon the OYP or it is a specially
processed plot? `I don’t think it is processed. If you
remember, last year there were rumors about
disagreements, about the coalition would split, but a
meeting took place with the President and the issue
was settled. It was decided that the coalition would
act together until the coming Parliamentary
elections’, Khosrov Haroutyunyan commented.

A1+
RECORD BOXES NOT FOUND YET
[12:57 pm] 12 May, 2006
Today special telemetric investigation of the bottom
of the sea in the place of the crash of the Armenian
plane A-320 will be carried out with special
equipment. The specialists hope that this way they can
find the exact place of the record boxes. Let us
remind you that yesterday the French specialists joint
the search works.
By now the coordinates of the two voice signals have
been established. According to the specialists the
signals most probably belong to the boxes. But the
specialists do not rush in quick conclusions as
according to them the parts of the boxes sending the
signals could have been broken from the boxes during
the crash which means that the signals may be coming
not from the boxes, `Vesti’ reports.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Artur Baghdassaryan to Offer Resignation May 22
12.05.2006 15:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chairman of the Armenian National
Assembly, head of Orinats Yerkir party Artur
Baghdassaryan said at a press conference May 12 he is
going to submit his resignation. `Under the
circumstances I think it’s inadmissible not no
resign,’ he remarked. In his words, according to the
regulations he will hand in his resignation on May 22
and will confirm it in 5 days. `We certainly could
hold a vote of confidence but I would not like to
leave such way,’ the Speaker said. Besides, he said,
all members of Orinats Yerkir party who hold offices
in the government and other state structures will
leave the posts. It should be noted that Orinats
Yerkir holds three ministerial portfolios, these being
the town-planning (the Minister has come off Orinats
Yerkir today), education and science as well as youth
affairs, reported IA Regnum.

PRESS RELEASE/News Bulletin
Armenian Forests NGO
38 Moskovian St., apt. 10
Yerevan 02, Republic of Armenia
Phone: (374 10) 54-15-29
Fax: (374 10) 58-20-39
E-mail: [email protected]
12 May, 2006
News Bulletin #2
This is the second news bulletin of the activities carried out in
ten communities throughout Armenia under the Community Environmental
Action Groups project. The first news bulletin was posted in
December 2005.
Mher Sharoyan
Media Coordinator
Armenian Forests NGO
This bulletin is an update of the actions carried out in the period of
January-April 2006 by the Environmental Action Groups of the communities
selected within the USAID-funded “Community Environmental Action Groups”
project that is implemented by Armenian Forests NGO.
Given the fact that spring is one of the two windows for doing forest
and park establishment and restoration most of the activities of these
groups have been focusing on that during this period. In the summer they
will concentrate on lobbying and other activities including focus on
solid waste and other environmental issues.
1. Tavush marz, Sarigyugh community
Local group had consultations with the director of Ijevan’s Dendropark
Mekhak Sayadyan for sowing yew seeds nearby Sarigyugh village. The
sowing took place on 10-15th April.
The Sarigyugh activists also participated in the cleaning works of
surroundings of Ijevan town’s main waste disposal site, collecting
mainly polyethylene bags. The action was organized by “Young Tavush”
youth NGO, members of which are part of action groups in Ijevan and
Sarigyugh. The action was supported by Tavush governor Mr. Ghularian,
Ijevan mayor Mr. Ghalumian, Director of local stone producing
enterprise Mr. Grigoryan.
Local Environmental Action Group coordinator has met with the head of
local community Mr. Elarian and discussed the possibilities of involving
funds for fencing the planned Plane tree park to be established near the
village. The local group has also applied to the local World Vision
branch for getting funds for the above-mentioned goal, as well as met
with the Environmental department head of the Tavush marz. No funds have
been allocated yet.
Due to bad weather – non-stop rains and dampness – the care works of the
yews growing in nearby forests have been postponed till May.
2. Tavush marz, Ijevan community
In January 2006 local coordinator met with local
agricultural-environmental “Bardi” CJSC director and discussed the plans
of Ijevan’s greening and restoration. Local activists also agreed with
local “Ijevan” TV to broadcast cartoons on environmental issues.
Meetings have been held with the representatives of local forest
economy, Nature Protection Ministry’s agencies, Ijevan branch of Yerevan
State University as well as local TV, as a result of which a round
table-discussion was held January 29 on the topic “Why are forests
logged?”. The roundtable was broadcast on the local TV channel.
As a result of cooperation with the mayor’s office it was agreed to
restore local Azatamartikneri Park. Armenian Forests NGO (hereinafter
AFNGO) specialists advised upon the types of trees and bushes that
should be planted there. After that the projected number of trees and
bushes (mainly pine trees and rose and arbor-vitae (lat. Thuja) have
been obtained for planting.
March 29 restoration works of the Azatamartikneri Park launched with
participation of the municipality’s staff, local YSU branch students, as
well as AFNGO employees. Some 80 pine trees and 1500 rose bushes and
arbor-vitae were planted during three days, and the care works are
organized by the local group. The event was covered by national and
local media.
3. Tavush marz, Gosh community
The planting and terracing of the first section of the hill slopes
behind the Gosh Monastery continued and was accomplished, and the
planting on the second section started. The planted trees will have wind
and water protective importance for the Monastery and nearby households.
The activists have carried out care and treatment of the trees planted
in fall 2005. They also cleaned a territory at nearby forest from thick
branches, cut stubs and spunk.
A subbotnik (cleaning of area) was organized in the village, the streets
of the community were cleaned by the local youth group. Similar works
have been carried out on the shore of Gosh lake – during an eco-tour
organized for the activists.
Currently the environmental group carries out treatment and protection
of the yew trees in nearby forest (Note: Due to the fact that yew trees
are quite rare in Armenia, any forested territory that has yew tree
cover near Sarigyugh and Gosh communities is under special attention of
Armenian Forests NGO and community groups.)
4. Lori marz, Lejan community
This is the last of the ten communities selected. The environmental
action group members were gathered and local coordinator was appointed.
The most pressing environmental issues of the community have been
identified; and based on their needs, targeted trainings have been
conducted for the active group and a working plan has been drafted.
As an initial action they decided to begin coppicing works of the nearby
forest in the beginning of May. It is also planned to green the
surroundings of the local school and post office, and plant poplar trees
alongside the road entering the village. For this purpose AFNGO plans to
purchase 200 trees (150 poplar, 50 pine trees) and 2500 bushes for
planting.
As another issue that will be addressed is the contamination of the
village river with solid waste; discussions with the village
administration and AFNGO specialists are being carried out regarding its
cleaning and restoration.
5. Lori marz, Stepanavan community
January 31-February 2 trainings have been held for the action group.
February 2 the AFNGO specialists and the local coordinator met with the
mayor of Stepanavan Mr. Gharakeshishyan, during which an agreement was
reached to allocate 1.1 ha of land at Ajapnyak district of town for
establishing a new park. Afterwards meetings with experts of
municipality’s architecture department were held to discuss issues
related to the establishing the park and land leveling works.
Following the mayor’s pledge to assist in every possible means, land
works of the area allocated for park started early April and the area
was made ready for planting. Seedlings were obtained from Vanadzor
forest economy, because the prices at Stepanavan’s forest entity were
high. The group planted a total of 200 trees and 1500 bushes on April 15
and16th. The local action group manages the park including the watering
of seedlings and other care work.
The local activists also met with the director of the local forest
entity, who has promised to provide free seedlings for planting on the
slopes of the Dzoraget river gorge.
6. Lori marz, Vanadzor community
There is an idle water-purifying station situated at the Pambak river
shore within the town, which the municipality planned to allocate to
“Asad” LLC for producing chemical substances. The local environmental
group found out that the company doesn’t have a comprehensive strategy
of waste management, which would definitely lead to contamination of the
river. The group undertook relevant measures in working with members of
city elders’ council, in result of which the territory was not allocated
to the mentioned company.
The activists have also inquired about the place and prices of
submitting certain types of wastes (like polyethylene bottles and bags),
which gave the consumers an opportunity to separate their waste disposal
and compensate certain expenditures. The local coordinator has regular
meetings with the local media and comments and gives interviews on the
community’s environmental problems, as well as recommends necessary
actions to improve the situation.
Throughout April 2006 large-scale coppicing works have been undertaken
on one of the hill slopes surrounding Vanadzor, where they plan to
rehabilitate a total of 30 hectares of forest. Particularly on April 7th
and 14th an overall of 40 students and volunteers from Yerevan and
Vanadzor participated in coppicing works, a technique of regenerating
trees from stumps. Two exchange students from Lithuania and Slovenia,
who are in Armenia for cultural exchange program, also participated in
coppicing works. Coppicing works are initially guided and supervised by
AFNGO specialists, and after relevant instructions the action groups
carry out the works on their own.
7. Gegharkunik marz, Sevan community
Major issues in this settlement include town greening, waste management
and having clean lakeshore of Sevan. Following extensive trainings held
for the local group by AFNGO specialists February 22-24, schoolchildren
eco-teams were set up in the town and special courses were held for
women activists. For involving all interested parties the activists had
meetings with the mayor of Sevan and other municipality officials,
school teachers, students, community members, NGOs, as well as local
media. As a result of cooperation, together with local STV-1 TV the
action group has prepared and aired a TV discussion on the topic of
“Public’s role in environmental process”.
On April 21 the rehabilitation works of two city parks began, which will
continue in early May as well. A similar number of trees and bushes as
in other community parks have been planted in both areas, and the nearby
residents take care of the seedlings. In another area, due to
social-cultural issues, guarding of the territory is carried out. The
planting and all other activities are being covered by the local TV
channel.
8. Gegharkunik marz, Martuni community
Two action groups are set up in Martuni – a youth group (9 people) and a
school group (10 pupils). The “Martuni Women’s Community Council” NGO,
which comprises the core of the local environmental group, has allocated
a room with relevant equipment for the activists.
The local Peace Corps volunteers, among them an environmental
specialist, expressed a will to assist the group in every possible way.
In February the local coordinator met with the municipality officials to
discuss the possibilities of rehabilitating the city park. An agreement
was reached on maintenance and shared investment for restoring the park.
Following three-day trainings of the youth groups of the town,
preparatory works were extensively organized and seedlings have been
obtained upon the guidance of AFNGO specialists. April 21 the
restoration works started, as a result of which 125 trees and 1700
bushes were planted with joint efforts of AFNGO staff and local
activists. Mayor of Martuni and marz authorities also participated in
the works.
The action group also met with the Martuni branch representatives of
“Sevan” National Park and discussed issues of Sevan lakeshore
restoration. In result it was decided to rehabilitate the protective
forest cover near the shore through coppicing.
9. Kotayk marz, Tsakhkadzor community
Local activists and AFNGO staff have together stopped a case of illegal
logging in the nearby forest of the resort town, and have come to an
agreement with the company that caused the damage to compensate the
loss. The company is to allocate certain amount of funds to plant a
corresponding number of trees (as many as have been cut) and even go
further to assist in restoring another area of forest. For correct
rehabilitation of the damaged forest, AFNGO specialists have examined
the territory, did the relevant planning, and scheduled the works for
May 2006.
Activists lobbied local authorities for allocation of several areas
around the town for additional reforestation. After cooperation with
forest economy and municipality, it was agreed to plant trees on
treeless areas of nearby forest land to expand forest cover. Restoration
works, as well as coppicing of certain areas will start in early May.
The activists are to obtain seedlings in cooperation with the
pan-Armenian tree planting project led by Nig-Aparan Union, which
promised to provide a necessary amount of seedlings free of charge.
Local youth and school environmental groups have been trained by AFNGO
forest specialists for appropriate work during tree planting. Tree
planting and coppicing works in the community and nearby forests will be
implemented by the forces of local action group.
The local coordinator also worked closely with municipality to obtain a
territory for establishing a forest nursery.
The AFNGO specialists have supported local “Forests for future
generations” NGO, members of which are also part of the environmental
group, to apply to Open Society Institute for financial assistance to
conduct research on civil society issues.
10. Vayots Dzor marz, Jermuk community
Local activists have tracked illegal logging of pine trees in nearby
forests, and reported about the case to local authorities and forest
economy. The group members have also witnessed cutting of ash trees in
city parks, after which the municipality undertook relevant measures.
The local coordinator led a group of local schoolchildren to conduct a
subbotnik (cleaning of area) nearby their school on April 22, after
which a tree planting in the backyard and surrounding territory was
organized.
The coordinator has also met with municipality officials and agreed upon
establishing a new park on 1 hectare. The territory was allocated for
the purpose, yet the planting works have been postponed till May due to
cold weather.
For additional information or any question feel free to contact Mher
Sharoyan, Assistant Project Coordinator, at [email protected] or
call (+374 10) 54-15-29.

SPEAKER ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN ANNOUNCED ABOUT HIS RESIGNATION
Lragir.am
12 May 06
On May 12 at the National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan announced
about his resignation and the secession from the coalition of the political
party he leads. Arthur Baghdasaryan says his decision and the decision of the
political party are determined by three major disagreements with their
colleagues in the coalition and President Kocharyan. These refer to the economy, home
and foreign policies. `Yes, we are against a criminalized economy.Yes, we
think that a freely developing economy and society can do more for a country
than the government policies altogether. Therefore, we state that economic
legislation cannot be criminalized. Decentralization of power and businessis
required. Our consistent integration with European Organizations should beour
priority in politics. And we must foster democratic reforms,’ stated Arthur
Baghdasaryan. He mentions that the same atmosphere made the members of
parliament, who own businesses, to come out of the political party. =80=9CI do not blame
these businessmen, I blame the society of fear. For presently businessmen are
in fear. If they have heard whispers that there is disagreement between
Arthur Baghdasaryan and Robert Kocharyan, it is already an argument that should
make them realize where they are going to appear. Even though debates were
underway on those days,’ says Arthur Baghdasaryan.
Arthur Baghdasaryan also mentions about controversies on foreign policies.`
For us, European integrity does not have an alternative. We emphasize the
consistent fulfillment of commitments our country assumed and a consistent
development of Euro-Atlantic partnership. On this path we emphasize the consistent
development of friendly relations with Russia, and we are not supposed to
oppose Russian and Western values. I find that tomorrow Armenia will be inthe
European Union as a friend of Russia,’ says the speaker of the National
Assembly.
He says democracy and freedom can foster development of a country and a
nation more than various government policies. `We need an alternative, full of
changes, we do not need an atmosphere of fear, which suffocates dissent. We
must choose this path. This is our vision, our vision of a political
organization, and we will be guided by it,’ says Arthur Baghdasaryan. He says it is
natural that he first informed the president and the coalition colleagues about
his resignation, with whom he worked for several years and even had success.
The speaker of the National Assembly says it is wrong information that the
real cause of his resignation and disagreement with the president was the
Karabakh issue. `I think the talks for the settlement of the Karabakh issue are
highly constructive. Our country has a highly constructive standpoint on this
question,’ says Arthur Baghdasaryan.
`Our political decision that was made was to be made, because we were
constantly involved in scandals. Now we have decided to follow our own path. The
coalition will probably continue to operate, the Republican Party and
Dashnaktsutiun will, I think, go on to involve new players in the coalition. But
future developments will show,’ says Arthur Baghdasaryan. He did not give details
on the future, not even on likelihood to stand for president, which will be
decided in the future, says Arthur Baghdasaryan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Hrant Khachatryan: The opposition is not a gathering of the defeated

ArmRadio.am
12.05.2006 16:52
`The opposition is not a gathering of the defeated and the persecuted,
who need to regain strength and try to seize power in this or that
way. Besides, Arthur Baghdasaryan should be accepted or rejected by
the people,’ President of the Constitutional Right Union Hrant
Khachatryan said in response to the question whether Arthur
Baghdasaryan will have a place in the opposition after he resigns.
Although it is common to say that preelection processes start the very
day after the elections, the internal political developments in
Armenia, according to Hrant Khachatryan, already take a preelection
nature. With this the history of coalitions can hardly be considered
over, but it is for sure that the history of this coalition is ended,
Mr. Khachatryan is confident.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Sitting of the Political Coalition Council, featuring President Kocharyan

ArmRadio.am
12.05.2006 15:44
Today the political coalition council held a sitting, featuring RA
President Robert Kocharyan. Head of the `Orinats Yerkir’ Party Arthur
Baghdasaryan informed about the decision to leave the coalition.
Participants of the meeting thanked for the joint work within the
coalition.
Representatives of the Republican Party of Armenia and the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation expressed readiness to work in the framework
of the political memorandum signed and to accomplish the political
aims of the coalition through cooperation of all forces represented in
the National Assembly.

Viktor Soghomonyan: NA Chairman’s resignation will not result in a
political crisis

ArmRadio.am
12.05.2006 17:34
`RA President Robert Kocharyan responds calmly to the fact of
secession of the `Orinats Yerkir’ Party from the coalition, as well as
the resignation of the Chairman of the National Assembly,’ President’s
Press Secretary Viktor Soghomonyan declared.
Commenting on the latest events around `Orinats Yerkir,’ Viktor
Soghomonyan said, `Change of the composition of the coalition is
common for any civilized country. In this case nothing extraordinary
occurred, moreover if we consider that there certain disagreement
existed within the coalition and these would naturally sharpen even
more in the preelection period, which we observed during the last
month. At the same time we are confident that the occurred will not
lead to a political crisis. The `divorce’ took place in a civilized
atmosphere. The Republican Party and the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation continue to work in the framework of the political
memorandum. After the changes resulting from the situation both the
Government and the National Assembly will continue to work normally,’
President’s Press Secretary said.

Turkish press 12 May 06

Quotes package from BBC Monitoring
12 May 06
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 — ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
France and the Armenian issue
Posta (tabloid) “The Armenian Diaspora’s activities regarding the
[alleged] genocide will continue for many more years. For many more
years, (especially as long as Turkey goes on with its current
sleepwalking attitude), there will be big arguments and political
rivalries. If we do not make good calculations from today on and do
not keep our reactions within realistic limits, in the future there
may not be any card left for us to play.”
(Commentary by Mehmet Ali Birand)
Hurriyet (centre-right) “France is not the old strong country of
Europe any more… This trauma is taking democracy, secularism,
freedom of thought and expression champion France away from reason and
logic to such an extent that it is coming into a dramatic
contradiction.” (Commentary by Tufan Turenc)
“In this atmosphere [in France] in which a battle is going on to win
votes, is there any need to point out how vitally important the votes
of over 300,000 French Armenians are? Relations with Turkey? Nobody is
currently minded to think about that. Internal political competitions
may sometimes get in the way of the long term interests of a country.
France is going through such a period.” (Commentary by Ferai Tinc)
Milliyet (centrist) “If Turkey has any importance in the eyes of Paris
as a friend and partner, it has to know that its current attitude will
backfire.” (Commentary by Sami Kohen)
Iran/USA
Yeni Safak (liberal, pro-Islamic) “The world is on the brink of a
dangerous division into camps. The Iran crisis is only one dimension
of this crisis. Very soon we will face new shockwaves. Latin America,
Africa and Asia too are being shaken by anti-American developments.
The USA may come face to face with a crushing geopolitical defeat.”
(Commentary by Ibrahim Karagul)
Kurds/USA
Radikal (centre-left) “Turkey has amassed a [military] force at the
border that will be sufficient for a broad operation. It is
waiting. The USA, Iraq and the [northern Iraqi] Kurds are against
Turkey doing its own business… Not only [the northern Iraqi Kurds],
the USA too is openly using the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] for its
own ends. The US embassy in Ankara denies reports that they are in
contact with the PKK. But if the newspaper archives are checked it
can be seen that these contacts go back years.”
(Commentary by M. Ali Kislali)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia Fund USA, Inc.
152 Madison Ave, S-803
New York, NY 10016, U.S.A.
T/1-212-689-5307
F/1-212-689-5317
e-mail/ [email protected]

Armenia Fund USA Restores Neurosurgical Division of Astvatsatsin
Hospital in Yerevan
~Building on the successful maintenance of somatic division of the same
hospital~
NEW YORK, New York – Armenia Fund USA (Fund), East Coast Affiliate of
Hayastan Himnadram All-Armenian Fund, is pleased to announce that much
needed renovation works to restore the neurosurgical division of the
Astvatsatsin Hospital, Yerevan, Armenia, have started in April, 2006. The
project is a continuation of the previous restoration works done for the
somatic division (a division for children with issues such as malnutrition,
lack of normal growth and other developmental physical conditions) of the
same hospital. Having started last year, the project was brought to its
successful completion through the generous contribution of Mr. Agop
Giritliyan – an Armenian philanthropist from Istanbul where he is well-known
for his assistance to more than 5,000 promising Armenian students.
Agop Giritliyan’s generosity has restored not only two of the most critical
wings of the hospital, but, most importantly, the hope of the children and
staff of Astvatsatsin Hospital for a better quality of healthcare service.
The hospital which provides care for children from ages two to eighteen is
also considered to be the primary emergency care provider in the region.
Built in 1982 and not having undergone any kind of renovation since Soviet
times, the hospital represented an example of a construction in deplorable
conditions suggesting an image of a place to die rather then heal. With Mr.
Giritliyan’s generous support, Armenia Fund USA’s undertaking of the
restoration of this critically important healthcare center was a step to
meet immediate healthcare needs of many children in Armenia.
The renovation of the somatic division last year was implemented in parallel
with a World Bank initiative to moderately renovate the first two floors of
the hospital. This year, building on the success and well-maintenance of the
infrastructure, Mr. Giritliyan is undertaking the renovation of the
neurosurgical division of the children’s hospital. The project is scheduled
to be completed by August 25 of 2006. The state-of-the-art renovation of the
division is a bold initiative to take the provision of adequate healthcare
service to a different level for children who are in desperate need.
The right of every child and adult to proper healthcare, established by
multiple international protocols and conventions, still remains an
unaccomplished task for thousands of children in Armenia and Karabakh. The
Fund’s initiative of renovating the children’s hospital in Yerevan is a
working example of how Armenia Fund USA collaborates with its donors who
have specific philanthropic goals in mind and choose a direction in their
efforts to make a difference. The Fund’s other projects in the area of
public health and medical care include the Armine Pagoumian Polyclinic and
Diagnostic Center in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh.
Armenia Fund USA has distinguished itself by implementing projects ranging
from grassroots development to specific problem-solving initiatives. With
the support of its donors and constituents, the Fund will continue in its
mission of improving lives by building foundations that will sustain the
economic growth and stability of the country and its people.
ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: ARMENIA FUND USA, founded in 1992, was one of the
first of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 18 international affiliates and serves
constituents in all states east of the Mississippi. As a non-profit,
non-governmental, nonsectarian organization, the Fund represents all
Armenian constituents.

Armenia Fund USA is the largest contributor among the 18 international
affiliates – supporting strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia and
Karabakh, and having helped build 138 miles of roads, 100 miles of
waterways, 36 schools, 3 electric transmission networks, 210 residential
buildings and 15 healthcare institutions.
Armenia Fund USA’s Mission is the development of strategic socio-economic
infrastructure in Armenia and Karabakh, focusing on major projects such as
major highways, schools, drinking water to communities and humanitarian
programs in education, training and medical facilities. The Fund has adopted
a policy to go “Beyond Bricks and Mortar” to provide sustainability for
projects it sponsors.