DECODING OF CRASHED A-320 PlANE’S RECORDS COMPLETED
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The Interstate Aviation Committee on
June 17 completed the work on decoding of records made by the flight
recorder of A-320 plane that crashed near the Russian city of Sochi
on May 3. NT was informed about it from the spokesman for the head
of the RA Civil Aviation Department.
The flight recorder of the plane recorded information about 8 flights
(included the last tragic one) of the above mentioned plane during
a period from April 30 to May 3, 2006.
The total duration of records is 26 hours 20 minutes, including the
whole duration of the last flight – 1 hour 26 minutes.
The analysis results provided the following information:
a) the plane did not crash in the air,
b) the engines functioned until the plane hit the surface of water,
c) the amount of fuel in the plane was sufficient to make a safe
landing,
d) during the last minute, the flight was operated by the crew,
with the plane’s autopilot off.
It was indicated that based on the analysis and ongoing studies, a
conclusion about the causes of the crash will be made and respective
instructions on flight safety will be issued.

AMERICAN ARMENIAN POETESS ASYA ASATRIAN ASSISTS INHABITANTS OF GYUMRI OLD PEOPLE’S HOME
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
GYUMRI, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. American Armenian poetess Asya Asatrian
visited recently the Gyumri invalids’ and old people’s home, taking
small presents.
As the poetess mentioned in the interview to the Noyan Tapan
correspondent, when visiting Armenia, she considered weigh upon
her sole to meet with inhabitants of the Gyumri old people’s home,
to organize a party to make their everyday life interesting.
It is already the second time that Asya Asatrian visits the Gyumri
old people’s home and assists the local inhabitants. Attaching
importance to similar meetings, the poetess noticed that every
Diasporan Armenian’s obligation is to visit such an institution
when visiting the Fatherland, as, according to her, even a short
meeting and conversation is very important for inhabitants of the
old people’s home.

DILIJAN TO BECOME ATTRACTIVE FOR TOURISTS AGAIN
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
DILIJAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. About 10 thousand tourists are expected
to visit Dilijan this year against 3 thousand in 2005. Deputy mayor
of Dilijan Armen Makarian told this to reporters.
According to him, Dilijan has always been a tourist center, the renting
of houses being one of the main incomes of the local residents. He
said that in the 1980s, the city population used to increase threefold
in summer when the number of tourists would reach 70-75 thousand.
The speaker noted that few of the 22 rest homes in Dilijan are
operating now. The Dilijan Sanatorium repaired by SlavGroup will open
again in the next few days, and the Impulse Pension – on June 25. It
is envisaged to put the city hotel (currently under repair) into
operation in May 2007. The Mountainous Armenia Sanatorium under the
jurisdiction of the RA Ministry of Defence is also undergoing repair.
A. Makarian said that the Dilijan historical reserve is being
restored with funds of the Tufenkian Foundation. The reserve was
leased by the foundation for 50 years. It will be restored to its
original appearance and will include a historical museum, a smithy,
carpet-making and other workshops. A 5-star hotel will be built near
the historical reserve by the foundation.
In addition, the Armenian Tourism Development Agency is implementing
the Competitive Private Sector in Armenia Program in the city. Within
its framework, more than 75 private houses offer comfortable conditions
to tourists. In the words of A. Makarian, all these houses accomodate
tourists in summer months.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: ONLY AMENDMENTS TO ELECTORAL CODE ARE NOT ENOUGH FOR HOLDING ELECTIONS WITH DEMOCRATIC STANDARDS
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 2O, NOYAN TAPAN. RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran
Torosian recieved on June 20 Heike Renate Peitsch, the Ambassador of
Germany to Armenia.
Congratulating Tigran Torosian on the occasion of his being
appointed on the NA Speaker’s post, Mrs. Peitsch emphasized the great
responsibility that is increased especially before elections, and
she attached importance to development of friendly relations which
the Parliaments may greatly assist.
Touching upon work of the Parliament, the NA Speaker attached
importance to reflection of the constitutional amendments
in the legislation of Armenia what means editions of about 60
laws. Appreciating improvement of the political atmosphere of Armenia
before the coming state elections, Tigran Torosian emphasized that
amendments only to the Electoral Code are not enough for holding
elections with democratic standards. He considered inadmissible the
political forces’ enmity towards each other, attaching importance to
their rivalry.
According to the NA Speaker, improvement of the political atmosphere
and holding of elections with democratic standards will assist security
of future developments of the European integration.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NA Public Relations Department,
problems of interparliamentary relations will also be discussed at the
meeting: fixing readiness of bilateral cooperation, Tigran Torosian
attached importance to presence of clear programs what will make
effective the mutual relations.
Study of the German experience was attached importance to in the
issue of creating a full multi-party system in Armenia.
Activity of German funds in Armenia was also touched upon. The meeting
participants attached importance to study and exchange of German
parties’ experience for all the parties of Armenia, abstaining from
one-sided direction.

CHAIRMAN OF RA NA COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND CZECH PARLIAMENTS
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 20, members of RA National
Assembly Standing Committee on Defence, National Security and Internal
Affairs met with the delegation of Czech Republic Senate’s Committee
on Foreign Relations, Defence and Security.
Committee Chairman Aramayis Grigorian gave assurance that the visit
is an important step in development of Armenian-Czech relations. He
attached importance to cooperation between the parliaments, respective
committees of the two countries. Cooperation at international
organizations, in particular, within the framework of CE and
Euroatlantic Alliance, Czech Republic’s experience in the issue of
integration to European structures and exchange of experience in the
legislative field was considered to be important. Aramayis Grigorian
presented the Committee’s activity, the current level of Armenia-NATO
relations.
In cooperation with NATO he attached importance to cooperation in
the spheres of defence reforms, fighting terrorism, perfection of
the legal field.
A.Grigorian mentioned that Armenia has joined the planning and
reconsideration process of the Partnership for Peace, as well as the
agreement On the Status of the Armed Forces of NATO – Partnership
for Peace.
Rostislav Slavotinek, Vice-Chairman of Czech Senate’s Committee on
Foreign Relations, Defence and Security, gave assurance that the visit
will promote friendship and cooperation between the two countries. In
the sphere of interparliamentary cooperation he attached importance
to cooperation at the level of the committees. R.Slavotinek briefly
presented the structure of the Czech parliament, the Committee’s
functions, spheres, touched upon the peculiarities of the Czech
army, reforms in the police system. It was mentioned that the Czech
parliament consists of two Chambers – the Chamber of Deputies and
the Senate. The Senate is formed by the principle of majoritarian
electoral system, it consists of 81 deputies. The Czech army has
been professional since January 1 2005, it has about 30 thousand
servicemen. Czech Republic is a member to NATO and takes an active
part in the programs of NATO. Slavotinek mentioned that a Military
University having a high qualification works in Czech Republic and
proposed that the Armenian side send officers to study there.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA NA Public Relations Department,
at the meeting the sides touched upon issues of regional cooperation,
attached importance to activization of parliamentary cooperation. Other
issues of bilateral interest were also discussed, the directions of
future cooperation were outlined.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMISSION APPROVES FINAL REVISED VERSION OF RA NATIONAL SECURITY DRAFT STRATEGY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Interdepartmental
Commission Coordinating Development of the RA National Security Draft
Strategy headed by Secretary of the National Security Council under
the Armenian Presidennt, RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian on June
20 held a final draft discussion sitting.
According to Spokesman for the RA Defence Minister Colonel Seyran
Shahsuvari an, the commission approved the final revised version of
the document. During the process of developing the draft, about 615
proposals received by the interdepartmental commission were taken
into consideration. A draft dictionary of main terms of the National
Security Strategy was also presented to the sitting participants.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

40 REFUGEE FAMILIES IN ARTASHAT GET FLATS
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
ARTASHAT, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The Artashat Mayor’s Office
allocated flats to 40 refugee families. The flats are provided with
sanitary junction, electrecity and heating system. As the Noyan
Tapan correspondent informs from Artashat, it became possible
only as a result of finishing construction of the many-apartment
building half constructed still since 1990s by money allocated
from the state budget. The construction was implemented by the
“Artashatshin” LTD. According to Artashat Mayor Gagik Muradian, two
other many-apartment buildings will be put in the service in the city
in 2007, and new ones will add them in future.

SERGE SARGSIAN TO LEAVE FOR MINSK TO PARTICIPATE IN SITTINGS OF COMMITTEE OF CSTO SECURITY COUNCILS SECRETARIES AND COUNCIL OF DEFENCE MINISTERS
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by the Secretary
of the National Security Council under the Armenian President, the
RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian on June 21 leaves for Minsk in
order to participate in the sitting of the Committee of Secretaries of
the Security Councils of the Collective Security Treaty Organization
(CSTO) and the sitting of the Council of the CSTO Defence Ministers. NT
was informed about it from the spokesman for the RA defence minister
Colonel Seyran Shahsuvarian.

RA DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER AND OSCE REPRESENTATIVE ON FREEDOM OF MEDIA DISCUSS ISSUES RELATING TO REFORMS OF THIS SPHERE IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues relating to freedom of media in
the territory of OSCE, legislative reforms of this sphere in Armenia,
as well as proposals to implement joint programs were discussed at
the June 20 meeting of RA Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Bayburdian
with OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti.
As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, the sides expressed satisfaction with the
current level of Armenia-OSCE relations in the sphere of freedom of
media and expressed willingness to continue to cooperate in the future.

VAHAN HOVHANNISIAN: COMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS TO BE TOUCHSTONE FOR DEMOCRATIZATION OF COUNTRY
Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Vahan Hovhannisian, the RA National
Assembly Deputy Speaker and Levon Mkrtchian, the RA Education and
Science Minister met on June 19 with Anthony John James Cantor, the
Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
to Armenia and A.Page, the Deputy Chief of the Foreign Ministry’s
Eastern Department.
Vahan Hovhannisian touched upon the inner developments of the country,
reforms addressed to the European integration, political formations,
parliamentary and presidential elections to take place in 2007
and 2008.
According to Vahan Hovhannisian, the presidential elections will
greatly depend on the coming parliamentary elections. They will
be a touchstone for democratization of the country as well, so all
political forces must spare no efforts not to allow breakings. The
legislative, economic and political reforms being implemented in
the country are on a right way, though there are faults in their
implementation. Outer factors also leave their negative stamp on
development of economy of Armenia, particularly Turkey’s blockade and
Azerbaijan’s non-constructive position connected with settlement of
the Karabakh issue.
Responding A.Page’s question, what foresights of settlement of the
Karabakh issue exist, the NA Deputy Speaker informed that there were
three proposals within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group which
Armenia accepted, and Azerbaijan refused. The latter wants not to
see the problem, but to liquidate consequences what is not possible
withouth solution of the problem. Vahan Hovhannisian considered
inadmissible the Azerbaijani intention to solve in future by power
by accounting of the oil factor and the international community’s
not taking serious steps against that phenomenon.
As Noyan Tapan was informed by the NA Public Relations Department,
A.Page mentioned that some economic circles may connect solution of
the issue with the oil factor but it is not the official position of
the Great Britain, and assured that his country does its best to find
a mutually beneficial solution for settlement of the Karabakh issue.