WHERE IS THE 108 MILLION DRAMS?
Lragir.am
24 May 06
Member of Parliament Victor Dallakyan, Ardarutiun Alliance, proposed
to set up an ad hoc committee to study the state of the Armenian
civil aviation. He managed to gather only 26 signatures instead of
the 44 required for including the question in the agenda. While Victor
Dallakyan promises to launch another effort during the next meeting on
June 12-16, the Audit Chamber of the National Assembly carried out an
audit of the General Department of Civil Aviation in 2005. By the way,
the 2005 report of the Audit Chamber is on the agenda of the National
Assembly, but it is not discussed due to the recent political battles.
The Audit Chamber found out that the GDCA failed to transfer the means
that were not spend in the fiscal year, over 1 million dollars, to the
state budget. Hence, the government decision 216 N was violated. In
2003-2004 the government did not make any decisions on accrual and
use of extra-budget funds, and the Ministry of Finance did not give an
approval. The GDCA received financial assistance from other companies,
a total of 108 million drams. This money was spent without drawing
up a bill of quantities, without a government decision, which is a
violation of the RA Law on the Budgetary System.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BLACK BOXES ARE NOT THE END. THE HARDEST THING IS TO TELL THE TRUTH
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
24 May 06
Will the black boxes of the Armenian plane help to reveal the causes
of the plane crash? The recorders have already been retrieved from
the sea bottom and sent for deciphering. In fact, the most difficult
and the most important thing is done, and the only remaining thing
is to decipher the information and tell the society the real cause
of the death of 113 people. The location and retrieval of the black
boxes caused a cheer-up. On the other hand, this process was rather
ambiguous. The first recorder was found on May 22, whereas two or
three days before the Russian minister of transport, the co-chair of
the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Committee Igor Levitin, who
led the search team on the first days of the search after the crash
in Sochi, announced that the black boxes might not be found at all,
and the radio transmitter could have simply come off the recorder.
However, soon after this statement the black boxes were located
and lifted from the sea bottom within two days. The Russian ORTV
even broadcast a story about the achievement of the Russian search
equipment. The experts were even photographed against the black
boxes, with a content smile, as if what they had found was a treasure
of pirates rather than the only evidence to the crash, which took
113 lives.
Was Igor Levitin in such despair as not to bear it any more and
announce while the search was underway that it was impossible to
retrieve the black boxes? Why did he form an atmosphere of despair
instead of inspiring hope? Usually government officials do the opposite
thing, especially the representatives of the Soviet School.
They prefer hiding the truth till the end, regarding it as danger
against the government system. Independent from the sphere, truth
is believed to endanger the leadership, and it was surprising that
Levitin and other Russian officials preferred telling the truth that
the black boxes might not be found. Weren’t their words true?
This suggestion is supported by the fast, even very fast location
and retrieval of the black boxes. Those days of uncertainty ended
up in the settlement of the issue within 48 hours. The search team
suddenly realized that the recorders could be stuck in mud and began
clearing the mud.
All this would be very encouraging if it were not that surprising.
Why did Levitin make such a statement if he was not aware of the
details of the search? And generally it is difficult to explain why
on those days the Russian officials did not hesitate to make official
statements on the plane crash, with the context of impossibility
of revealing the real cause of the crash. What happened that the
recorders were all of a sudden retrieved? What changed? As long ago
as May 18 the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party Aram Karapetyan
announced in Yerevan that something had changed. Karapetyan said,
however, that something had changed, and the recorders would not be
retrieved. If they lifted the recorders from the bottom, it means
something changed twice, and Aram Karapetyan did not manage to inform
the Armenian society or maybe he did not know.
It is difficult to say how many times within the past two weeks, but
it is evident even without Aram Karapetyan, that something changed,
nevertheless. The Russian mass media are still stressing the shortage
of fuel. Again they refer to an anonymous source. In this case,
however, putting forward a new suggestion or refreshing the old one
is mere hastiness. Once the black boxes were found, it is not correct
and decent to start circulating new guesses and ideas when soon the
information of the black boxes will be deciphered. If deciphering
failed, it would be justified to resume guesses but currently it
does not seem to be rewarding. It is notable that over the past
days, when the search was underway, no guesses were made. And their
comeback shows that the situation has changed. If it is the retrieval
of the black boxes, this change should have retained the silence and
created an atmosphere of expectation. Whereas the opposite occurred,
which suggests that the retrieval of the black boxes was the result
of a change.
In this situation it becomes more urgent to find out what had
changed. This may even give a more real picture of the plane crash
than the black box data. Why did they first put forward suggestions
leading to the mistake of the pilot, whereas now they have returned
to the shortage of fuel. Why is Igor Levitin going to represent the
Russian side to the committee, whereas the Armenian side will be
represented by Gagik Galstyan, an air safety investigator of the
Department of Civil Aviation. Are the other, higher officials busy?
Are they busier than Levitin, or is the political schedule in Russia
less tough? Why had the investigators of the Armenian Office of
Attorney General returned from Sochi before the search was over. Was
money a problem to keep two investigators there for two months or
maybe there were not enough people to plant trees in Armenia?
It seems that the hardest thing was to find the black boxes, and the
data of the black boxes would bring peace to the souls of victims and
their families. The hardest thing, however, is going to be telling
the truth, for the only harder thing is hiding the truth.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NAGORNO KARABAKH A SEMI-PRESIDENTIAL COUNTRY
Lragir.am
24 May 06
The Attorney General of NKR, the head of the Task Force on the
Constitution of NKR Armen Zalinyan announced that the idea of a
semi-presidential country will be set down in the Constitution
of Nagorno Karabakh. “The conception of the NKR Constitution has
been published, and currently the first two chapters of the bill of
constitution, the provisions on constitutional order and the basic
human and citizen rights, freedoms and duties are discussed. The
central idea of the Constitution is contained in the following phrase:
the rule of right through the law.
The NKR Constitution will be a constitution of a sovereign, democratic,
legal, social state with a semi-presidential system of governance. It
will be consistent with the tendencies and requirements of development
of constitutional order. And certainly the realities and peculiarities
determined by the problem of strengthening the sovereignty of NKR
will be taken into consideration. In this context, necessary tools
have been set down.
The constitutional experience, the logic and philosophy of
constitutional reforms are important in this context. Certain
provisions in the changed constitution of Armenia will be used in
our constitution,” said Armen Zalinyan.

NOTHING CLOSES ACCIDENTALLY AND THE REPUBLICAN DOES NOT SPLIT ACCIDENTALLY
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
24 May 06
There are two candidates in this photo. One is former, the other
is second. Hrant Khachatryan (on the left) is former candidate of
ombudsman, Tigran Torosyan (on the right) is a new candidate of speaker
of the National Assembly. The reporter of Lragir.am photographed
this pair of oppositionist and pro-governmental figures on their
agreement. We think nothing happens in politics accidentally. Although
Tigran Torosyan is considered a candidate of speaker, he has not
been nominated officially, and his political party has not announced
officially about the nomination of Tigran Torosyan. In fact, Tigran
Torosyan is a future candidate, and one can imagine the future with
one’s eyes closed, when the existing circumstances do not distract. In
fact, there is a circumstance that requires greater attention from
Tigran Torosyan. Member of Parliament Hakob Hakobyan, a member of
the People’s Deputy Group elected from Echmiadzin, is consistently
attempting at nominating another Republican, the leader of the
Republican faction Galust Sahakyan.
Even after Galust Sahakyan’s statement that in case of his nomination
he would withdraw his candidacy Hakob Hakobyan pursues the line of
nominating Sahakyan. It is difficult to explain Hakobyan’s persistence
in any way. He mentions that Galust Sahakyan is stronger and can get
a hold on the parliament before the upcoming election. This strong
candidate, however, openly announces that he does not want to be
speaker of parliament. Hence, Hakob Hakobyan and some other members of
parliament are trying to nominate Galust Sahakyan as speaker against
his will. If it is so, where is the strength of Galust Sahakyan if
he cannot even stop the members of parliament who are pushing his
nomination? Consequently, either Galust Sahakyan is not strong, and
Hakob Hakobyan has other intentions to nominate him, or he is strong
but he is not likely to prevent his nomination. In both cases it is
possible that the Republican faction is on the verge of split. It is
initiated by some force from inside the political party or maybe even
an outside force, strong enough to divide the Republican Party. It
is also possible that Hakob Hakobyan is backed by the Republican
or at least the part of the Republican Party which supports Galust
Sahakyan. This part did not dare to oppose to the prime minister
openly, however, Galust Sahakyan attempts at increasing his importance
in the party. Maybe he is not likely to become a speaker at all, but
he is also reluctant to refuse to become a speaker just for nothing. In
other words, Galust Sahakyan is doing political trade with his party.
Hence, Tigran Torosyan’s wish to have a photograph with Hrant
Khachatryan, which could have been born from the sense of alienation
from his fellows or simply for an exchange of experience, is not
accidental. After all, the story of nomination of Hrant Khachatryan as
ombudsman and the story of nomination of Tigran Torosyan as speaker
are very much alike. And although one of them was nominated, knowing
that he would not be elected, and the other will probably be nominated
with the belief that he will be elected, both believe, nevertheless,
that this will be the last nominations in their political career. Hrant
Khachatryan may give useful advice to Tigran Torosyan not to go in
for the last nomination, and postpone it as long as possible.

ARAM HARUTIUNYAN’S QUESTION IS GOVERNMENT’S PROBLEM
Lragir.am
24 May 06
Of the officials who left the Orinats Yerkir Party Sergo Yeritsyan
was very quickly dismissed from the post of the minister of education
and culture. Aram Harutiunyan, the minister of city planning, is
still in office. He is not a party affiliate any more. “Has anyone
given you a guarantee that you will not be dismissed?” In answer to
this question he said, “It is not a problem that I should decide,
it is a problem to be decided by the government. I have expressed my
willingness; if the government assesses my work, I will fulfill my
duties,” answered Aram Harutiunyan. Aram Harutiunyan is unlikely to
affiliate with any political party in the nearest future.

GARNIK – PRESIDENT
Lragir.am
24 May 06
Garnik Isagulyan, adviser to President Kocharyan, announced that
Serge Sargsyan is the best prepared candidate of president, and
Robert Kocharyan will run for the third term. In answer to our
request to comment on this, Victor Dallakyan, Ardarutiun Alliance,
said, “I think Garnik Isagulyan is the best prepared candidate. I
think if Garnik Isagulyan becomes president, it will be positive,
for the other will not be nominated for the third term.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKADI GHUKASYAN: NAGORNO-KARABAKH HAS ALL THE GROUNDS FOR BEING RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
ArmRadio.am
25.05.2006 17:20
“Nagorno-Karabakh has all grounds to get the recognition of the
international community,” NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan declared
today in Moscow during the meeting of the Union of Armenians of Russia.
“The recent referendum in Chernogoria is a very important precedent. If
the international community is ready to accept the independence of
Chernogoria and Kosovo, I think it will be very hard to explain why
it should not accept the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh,” Arkadi
Ghukasyan said.
In Arkadi Ghukasyan’s words, Nagorno-Karabakh has even greater grounds
for the recognition of its independence.
“If we remember that the people of Nagorno-Karabakh resisted the war
imposed by Azerbaijan and is currently building its independence,
then I think we have all the grounds for being recognized by the
international community. I see no alternative. NKR is independent
and will continue do be, and this does not depend on the will of
Azerbaijan,” Arkadi Ghukasyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ISSUES A STATEMENT ON THE REFERENDUM IN CHERNOGORIA
ArmRadio.am
25.05.2006 18:05
The NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the
referendum on independence in Chernogoria. The document says,
“The referendum in Chernogoria and the recognition of its results
by the international community is a positive fact, in general. We
are confidant that the right for self-determination realized via a
nationwide referendum is of pivotal importance for overcoming similar
situations and is a stable tool for establishing political peace in
the conflict zone.”

PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARYAN MET OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS
ArmRadio.am
25.05.2006 18:20
Presidnet Robert Kocharyan received today the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia), Steven Mann (USA), Bernard
Fassier (France), as well as the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
Grigori Karasin, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried
and representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France,
Ambassador Pierre Morel. The meeting was attended also by Personal
Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.
Participants of the meeting discussed the principles and approaches of
the current stage of settlement of the Karabakh conflict and exchanged
views on the prospects of resolution of the issue.

KARABAKH REPUBLIC HAILS MONTENEGRIN INDEPENDENCE VOTE
Mediamax news agency
25 May 06
Yerevan, May 25: The foreign ministry of the Nagornyy Karabakh
republic today issued a statement about the referendum on independence
in Montenegro.
The statement says the following:
“It is a positive event that a referendum on independence was held
in Montenegro and the international community showed its readiness
to recognize its results. We are sure that the respect for a nation’s
right to self-determination exercised through a nation-wide referendum
is a cornerstone of the settlement of similar situations and is a
tool for establishing political stability in a conflict region.
“In this connection, it is expedient to recall that the disrespect
for the right of the people of Nagornyy Karabakh, who voted for
independence at a referendum on 10 December 1991, in fact resulted
in Azerbaijan’s military aggression against the Nagornyy Karabakh
republic which led to human casualties and destruction.
“In the process of settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict,
the disregard of the right of the people of Nagornyy Karabakh to
self-determination and to political independence and economic and
military security, will reduce the possibility of finding a mutually
acceptable solution and establishing lasting peace and mutual
understanding in the region.”