SERVICES PROVIDED TO 343,952 PASSENGERS AT ZVARTNOTS AIRPORT IN FIRST
FIVE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, NOYAN TAPAN. In the first five monhs of 2006,
services were provided to 343,952 passengers at Zvartnots Airport,
which is by 7,757 passengers fewer than in the same period of last
year. In January-May 2006, 195,077 passengers arrived at Zvartnots and
148,875 departed from it against 199,134 and 152,575 passengers in the
same months of last year.
NT correspondent was informed at the RA Civil Aviation Department that
in January-May 2006, the cargo transportation made 2,930 tons, which
is by 114 tons less than in the same period of 2005.
In the period under review, 2,420 flights were operated through
Zvartnots Airport, which is by 121 flights fewer than in the
respective period of last year.
The passenger volume and the amount of goods transportation of
Gyumri’s Shirak Airport made 15.1 thousand passengers and 152 tons in
the first months of 2006, which represents an increase of 3.8 thousand
passengers and 27 tons compared with the same period of last year.

Vahan Hovhannisyan: President of Azerbaijan is not ready for concessions

ArmRadio.am
08.06.2006 18:06
`We have seen many times that the President of Azerbaijan is not ready
for concessions, and this can be explained with the public opinion in
Azerbaijan. We should not forget, however, that the public opinion
was formed mostly with the influence of the aggressive statements of
the Azeri President,’ NA Deputy Speaker Vahan Hovhannisyan said.
The Deputy Speaker considers it is irrefutable that the oil factor has
a certain role in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. He does not
think, however, that Baku can use this as a guarantee that no pressure
will be exerted over it in any case.
`In reality, it is not that difficult to match the positions of the
parties, only Azerbaijan should recognize the right of
self-determination of people of Nagorno-Karabakh. International
experience shous that it is an applicable mechanism,’ Vahan
Hovhannisyan said, turning to possible developments of further
development.
The current world processes, in Vahan Hovhannisyan’s opinion, will at
last make Azerbaijan realize the necessity of a more tolerating
approach.

Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan issues a congratulating message on
the occasion of the `Last Bell’

ArmRadio.am
09.06.2006 15:58
`Dear graduates,
I congratulate all of you on leaving school. I’m confident that the
last bell ringing in your school on this festive day will accompany
you throughout your life, arising pleasant and kind memories about the
warm atmosphere, classmates and beloved teachers. I hope that the
knowledge and experience gained at school will help you confidently
step into the big life as deserved citizens of the country to make
your contribution to the further development and prosperity of the
state, justifying the hopes and expectations of your parentsand
teachers, realizing your aspirations and dreams.
I say farewell and wish you success throughout your life and good luck
in all your endeavors.’

NATIONAL KHURAL OF KALMIKIA STOPS POWERS OF SENATOR L. CHAKHMAKHCHYAN
Moscow, June 9. ArmInfo-RBC. The National Khural (Parliament) of
Kalmikia, recalled Senator Levon Chakhmakhchyan by majority of votes
(18 of 19), Kalmikia presidential press-service told RBC. National
Khural Chairman Alexander Dekolov set the issue for voting at the
request of Sergey Mironov, RF Council of Federation Speaker, on a
pre-schedule stoppage of Senator L. Chakhmakhchyan’s powers made on
June 3 2006. The Council of Federation will consider the pre- schedule
stoppage of the senator’s powers at the upcoming session on June 23
2006. L. Chakhmakhchyan headed the Party of Workers’
Self-Determination.
After the party’s self-dissolution in December 2005, L. Chakhmakhchyan
joined the Russian Life Party. He was expelled from the party on June
3 2006. To note, on June 2, L. Chakhmakhchyan was detained in the
course of a special operation of the Federal Security Service officers
for taking a bribe. The confiscated 300,000 dollars were marked with a
special substance, which allowed officers detaining the senator. The
special operation aimed to verify the information that officials take
bribes to remove facts from materials of the Clearing House of the
Russian Federation.

Today, Azerbaijan
June 9 2006
Tahir Taghizadeh: “CIA secret jails reference due to “Azerbaijan’s
strategic location”

09 June 2006 [10:46] – Today.Az

The fact Azerbaijan was included in a report of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) concerning secret jails
presumably run by the US Central Intelligence Agency in Europe is due
to its strategic geographic location, the Foreign Ministry spokesman
Tahir Taghizadeh has said.

“A number of [important] routes lie through the country,” he said,
emphasizing that Azerbaijan does not allow violations of human rights
and relevant international conventions.
According to AssA-Irada, the head of PACE’s special commission, Dick
Marty, stated in the report that 14 European countries cooperated
with CIA or allowed it to run secret jails for suspected terrorists
and to transport them.
Azerbaijan was included in the list only among category B countries,
which are suspected of having their territories used for take-off of
planes, as well as planning and coordination of personnel.
“If the Council of Europe puts forth an initiative, we will cooperate
with the organization openly and transparently,” Taghizadeh said. He
reminded that the country is one of the most active members of the
international anti-terror coalition. Azerbaijan is cooperating with
the other members on technical issues and exchange of information,
the Foreign Ministry official added.
We recall that Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis said
earlier that CIA may be running secret prisons in 46 European
countries.
/AzerNEWS/

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ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO BYPASS MOTORWAY WITHIN REACH OF AZERBAIJANI
GUNFIRE

IJEVAN, JUNE 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Voskepar-Baghanis bypass making part of
Ijevan-Noyemberian motorway is currently under construction. Thus, the
road is being moved away from the border area within reach of
Azerbaijani gunfire. The bypass is being constructed by road builders
of Ijevan with allocations from the RA state budget.

CHURCHES REBUILT IN TAVUSH

NOYEMBERIAN, JUNE 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Opening of the Surb Sargis church of
Noyemberian which is being restored at present by resources of the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, by resources of a benefactor, will
take place in autumn.
Restoration works are being implemented in the Amenaprkich church of
Ijevan as well, by resources of another sponsor from Sarigyugh in
origin, living now in Russia. Restoration works were implemented by
sponsors’ resources in the Surb Sargis church of the village of Tovuz
and in the church of the village of Koti as well.

INDIAN STUDENT STABBED IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Early in the morning of June 9, citizen
of India, 3rd-year student of Yerevan State Medical University after
Mkhitar Heratsi Rakesh Muma applied to Yerevan hospital N 1 for
getting medical service for his wounds inflicted at his hip.
As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed from hospital N 1, the
reception employees immediately informed the Kentron Police about the
incident.
Later the Indian student said in his talk to the investigator that an
unknown person stabbed him at his hip at about 22:20, June 8.
For the present, we have not managed to get any information about the
Indian student’s state either from the University management or from
the hospital employees.

AGAINST OLIGARCHIZATION OF ECONOMY

Lragir.am
09 June 06

Recently a number of owners of kiosks and small businesses have turned
to the Orinats Yerkir Party, asking to help to defend their
rights. Thereupon the Political Council of the Orinats Yerkir Party is
deeply concerned about mass dismantling of kiosks in different
communities of the capital, on highways and undergrounds (namely
Barekamutiun and Sasuntsi Davit underground stations, underground
passages of Abovyan and Koryun Streets). The relevant agencies have
initiated a real massacre of small businesses, referring to
architectural reasons. Not allowing owners to improve the appearance
of their kiosks themselves, they, in fact, aim to deprive thousands of
people of the only means of earning their living.
Considering the high rate of unemployment in the country, we think it
is unacceptable to close down jobs artificially.
The aim is clear: to consolidate and center kiosk trade in the hands
of a group of people. Condemning every effort of oligarchizing the
economy, the Orinats Yerkir Party calls the relevant agencies to stop
activities, damaging the interests of people, under the guise of
different decisions, and to allow small businesses to continue trade
in kiosks.
As usual the Orinats Yerkir Party is determined to back protection of
interests of small businesses, who can apply to the Orinats Yerkir
faction of the National Assembly.

HRANT KHACHATRYAN NAMES HIMSELF
Lragir.am
09 June 06
Hrant Khachatryan, the leader of the Constitutional Right Union, is
trying to define the structural problems of the current situation, and
those which are aggravating the political crisis. These reflections
led him to an idea, which he announced May 9 at the National Press
Club. The leader of the CRUsaid that since the state system is not
based on the political system, it is necessary that the political
forces, which recognize the imperfection of this fact, direct their
efforts at the Central Election Committee.
`It is not enough to say that we are preparing to hold a fair
election, we want to combat electoral fraud, any degree of it is bad.
We have to make efforts today,’ says Hrant Khachatryan. He emphasizes
the continuousness of these steps and announces about the step he has
thought of.
`I am ready to reject my mandate if all the political parties agree
that I become chair of the Central Election Committee. For me it would
mean giving up my position. Everybody thinks this is another hopeless
step but I think all the political forces will accept my proposal, my
initiative, my concession, and I think it is possible that the
political system, independent of its present quality will have a
common interest, a common hope that the next election will be
controlled by the political parties rather than the clannish system,’
says the leader of the CRU Hrant Khachatryan. He urges the Republican
Party and Dashnaktsutiun to accept his proposal. Hrant Khachatryan
thinks it is in their interests too, for the Republican Party, for
instance, is facing divide to become parliamentary majority again.