‘CILICIA’ RESUMES NAVIGATION
AZG Armenian Daily
11/05/2006
Serge Sargsian, Armenia’s defense minister, met with “Cilicia”
vessel’s crew, yesterday.
Colonel Seyran Shahsouvarian, press secretary of RA Defense Ministry,
informed that Karen Balayan, captain of the ship, and writer Zori
Balayan, represented the preparation works for the sea expedition
to Mr. Sargsian.
Mr. Sargsian stated with satisfaction that two previous expeditions
were successfully completed and added that the grasped experience will
help finish the third expedition with honor. Mr. Sargsian awarded
“Cilicia” vessel’s crewmembers with “Admiral Isakov” medal for
restoration of the tradition of middle age Armenian navigation and
shipbuilding and contribution to strengthening the relations between
Armenia and Diaspora.

“NEW TIMES” DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE PROSECUTOR
A1+
[08:11 pm] 10 May, 2006
The Party “New Times” has made a statement today confirming their
desire to find out the real reasons of the A-320 crash.
“The facts we have come to prove that neither the weather, nor the
actions of the dispatchers, nor the versions about the problems in
the VIP hall of the airport “Armenia” do not correspond to the reality
and could be reason of the crash.
By now the RA Prosecutor’s Office has spread information that they
exclude the versions of terrorist act and lack of fuel. This is a
violation of the preliminary investigation as the investigation is not
over until the record boxes containing trustworthy information have
been found. It is noteworthy that the above mentioned two hypotheses
do not proceed from the interests of the authorities and harm their
functions; that’s why the Prosecutor hurries to refute them.
The Party “New Times” has decided to carry out independent
investigation after the end of which the society will be aware of
its results”, the statement says.

PLACE OF THE FOOTBALL MATCHES BETWEEN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN TO BE DECIDED ON MAY 12
A1+
[08:42 pm] 10 May, 2006
On May 12 in the Swiss town Nion (UEFA headquarters) the football
delegations of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet. During the meeting the
place of the football matches of the national teams of the countries
within the framework of the qualifying phase of the 2008 Football
European Championship will be decided.
The Armenian delegation will be represented by President of the
Football Federation Rouben Hayrapetyan, executive director Armen
Minasyan, as well as authorized representative of the President and
the Government Alexan Haroutyunyan. Azerbaijan will participate in
the meeting with the same format. From the UEFA side members of the
executive committee will be present.
Let us remind you that the Azeri side continues to exclude the
possibility of meetings in Yerevan and Baku, and the Armenian side
has more than once confirmed its readiness to host the Azerbaijanis
in Yerevan.

19th CENTURY CHAPEL RECONSTRUCTED IN AKHALTSKHA
A1+
[08:49 pm] 10 May, 2006
In the Ap district of Akhaltskha the ceremony of sanctifying of
the St. Savior chapel took place. The ceremony was carried out by
leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church Georgian diocese Vazgen
Archbishop Mirzakhanyan and deputy leader of Samtskhe-Javakh Babken
abbot Salbiyan.
The chapel was built in the 19th century and destroyed by the
Georgians. It has been reconstructed lately by the local Armenians
and named St. Savior, “A-Info” reports.

CANADIAN FILMMAKER EGOYAN PRAISES HARPER’S STANCE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
By: Jennifer Ditchburn
CP
10, MAY, 2006 – 3:47 pm
OTTAWA (CP) – Celebrated filmmaker Atom Egoyan, perhaps the most
famous Canadian of Armenian decent, praised Prime Minister Stephen
Harper for his controversial recognition of the Armenian genocide.
“I think the Harper government has taken a courageous stand in its
early days, on several issues that could have faded into history
but bear scrutiny,” Egoyan said in an interview Wednesday. “It’s
interesting to me that very often Conservative governments seem to
be more morally responsible than one might imagine.”
Harper recently became the first Canadian prime minister to publicly
declare that the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians during
the First World War constituted a genocide.
The remark has caused a diplomatic row with the Turkish government,
including that country’s withdrawal from an international military
exercise in Canada.
The Turkish press has speculated that Canada could be prevented
from competing for the lucrative sale of reactors for Turkey’s first
nuclear plant.
Egoyan, who devoted his 2002 film Ararat to the issue of an Armenian
genocide, says he has faced plenty of pressure from the Turkish
government over his film and his views, and doesn’t think governments
or individuals should bend on recognition.
“Ultimately, I believe that the only way to have any sort of move
on this issue is to try and seek recognition from as many different
places as possible and isolate the Turkish government,” Egoyan said
from Toronto.
“That’s the only way change will be effected.”
The House of Commons passed a resolution in 2004 characterizing what
happened in Armenia as genocide, but the Liberal government at the
time said it did not constitute government policy. Harper’s comments
went further than any previous government by commemorating what he
termed a “genocide.”
“Ninety-one years ago the Armenian people experienced terrible
suffering and loss of life,” Harper said last month.
“We must never forget the lessons of history. Nor should we allow
the enmities of history to divide us.”
But history has certainly set Turkey against any other government
that has examined the issue of a genocide. Turkish officials have
said there were deaths on both sides during that time, and that they
are casualties of war.
Ankara recently withdrew its ambassador to Canada over Harper’s
remarks, and has now pulled its jet fighters and support aircraft
out of an exercise at a Canadian Forces base in Alberta, scheduled
for next week.
The Turkish embassy wouldn’t comment on suggestions that Canada could
be barred from competing for a contract to outfit a major nuclear
plant project.
But an official noted that the Turkish Foreign Affairs department had
been communicating frequently with Harper’s office to try to dissuade
him from wading into the issue, fearing the Armenian community was
swaying the government.
“There is no scholarly consensus on this, so one way is to go after
politicians and try and change history,” the official said of the
Armenian community.
A similar row is going on between Turkey and France. The French
government is proposing a law that would criminalize denial of the
Armenian genocide, a much more incendiary issue there because of its
large Turkish immigrant population.
To date, 23 countries have recognized the Armenian genocide.
Harper’s comments were not a complete surprise to those who follow
the issue closely.
The Conservative party, and the Canadian Alliance and Reform parties
before it, were consistently supportive of any move to recognize the
death of 1.5 million Armenians during the reign of the Ottoman Empire.
MP Jason Kenney in particular, now parliamentary secretary to Harper,
has pushed for recognition for years.
“It just is a question of fundamental justice for me. I’ve done a
lot of reading of the historical record, and I don’t think this could
legitimately be called as anything but a genocide,” Kenney said.
“This is a particular aspect of the history of the 20th century that
the world needs to never forget.”

WARNING AGAINST MINES
Panorama.am
12:56 10/05/06
Mines “remind” about themselves from time to time, especially at the
borderline areas. An incident has been reported near village Khachik
of Vayots Zor.
According to the source, a village resident’s leg was cut by 1/3 on
May 7 from a mine explosion. Reports say that the resident’s leg is
amputated at Yegheghnadzor hospital.
Another mine explosion was reported in Aragatsotn region on May 9
killing one shepherd.
Rescuers have discovered that Mkrtich Grigoryan found out an unexploded
mine near Sasnashen village. The explosion happened because he tried
to unlock the mine on his own.
These incidents make us ones again to remind people against touching
unknown or explosive items but to inform respective bodies about
them.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE EXCLUDES POSSIBILITY OF TERRORISM ACT
Panorama.am
13:39 10/05/06
According to our sources at the Armenian General Prosecutor’s Office,
two of the verdicts on May 3 Yerevan Sochi plane crash are excluded
at the outset of the investigation of the case – act of terrorism
and not sufficient fuel on the plane.
Investigation is initiated on the case headed by Hakob
Gharakhanyan. The investigation group is already in charge
of the recording between the plane personnel and Georgian air
controllers. Other documents are also available. More than dozens of
employees of air companies are interviewed.

RAT ESCAPE FROM ORINATS YERKIR CONTINUES
Panorama.am
14:21 10/05/06
The leader of democratic party Aram Sargsyan is sure that rat escape
from Orinats Yerkir will continue since “they have no principals and
have not joined the party based on their convictions,” A. Sargsyan
told a briefing today. “Orinats Yerkir was once strong and now they
are looking for another strong one,” he said.
According to him, this is a revenge against Orinats Yerkir for very
expensive seats at the parliament.
“Parliamentary elections are the start for the presidential elections,”
he said. Sargsyan said we will never build a normal society unless
a businessman and a parliamentary are scared of the executive
branch. “They may be called at any time and be guided to certain
actions.” Sargsyan is sure that this tendency is encouraged by the
president of the state.

BIG SUMS TRANSFERRED TO BANK ACCOUNTS FOR RELATIVE A320 VICTIMS
By Gohar Gevorgian
AZG Armenian Daily
11/05/2006
On May 4, special bank accounts were opened at the Finance and Economy
Ministry of Armenia to raise money for the relatives of A320 crash
victims. By 3.45 pm on May 6, the total sum on the accounts amounted
to 22 million 521 thousand drams.
Armavia air carrier also has opened accounts at Armsavingsbank,
Inekobank and Armeconombank but the latter refused provide
information on transferred money saying they can tell it only
to Armavia representatives. Soon after speaking to the company
representatives Inekobank told daily Azg that by 4.00 pm on May
6 there was 2 million 357 thousand drams on the account. Armavia
assured that it will provide information on the size of donations
and will disclose the names of benefactors if allowed.

STATE AND SOCIETY SHOULD COOPERATE
Panorama.am
17:11 10/05/06
The regional development center of Transparency International Armenia
has organized a discussion today on Orhuss convention. Sona Aivazyan,
Transparency International Armenia representative said that the aim of
the discussion is to promote implementation of some of the provisions
of Orhuss convention. Armenia has ratified the convention in 2001.
As mentioned by discussion participants, Armenia will submit a report
to Orhuss committee on steps taken to implement the convention. The
committee has submitted a package of suggestions and Armenia has to
come up with a report on that to be submitted 6 month earlier before
the next meeting, which will be in May 2008.
Regular meetings are planned to make the report a real
action.