A WARNING ASSAULT ON JOURNALISTS
A1+
[05:47 pm] 16 May, 2006
Today at 01:45 AM after finishing the work of the TV Company “Lori”
executive director Narine Avetisyan found that certain people had
thrown stones at her car parked in the yard of the TV Company. “We
found out that there are not such kind of stones in the area.
Those large stones were taken to the territory deliberately,” Narine
Avetisyan informed “A1+” about it.
She doubts that the attack had a special reason as other cars parked
in the same territory were not damaged. According to Narine Avetisyan
they broadcast a program on May 15 referring to the issues of cottage
settlements.
There were many acute announcements and questions during the program,
and it turned out that the inhabitants of the above mentioned
settlements are being displaced from their homes and their lands are
sold to others.
As soon as the executive director of the “Lori” TV Company found her
car in that awful state she called the police. They arrived at the
scene in 20 minutes, made examination and then took the car to the
penalty area for further examination. The police also took the stones
with them.

THE USA WILL ASSIST THE ARMENIAN POLICEMEN
A1+
[05:53 pm] 16 May, 2006
On May 16 at the US Embassy in Yerevan, a contract for $699,000 for
development of the Police Computer Network will be signed. The company
AEAI (Advanced Engineering Associates International) with its Armenian
partner Yerevan Computer Research and Development Institute (YCRDI)
have been selected by the US Embassy to develop the Network.
This Project is included in the Letter of Agreement on Narcotics
Control and Law Enforcement between the Government of the United
States of America and the Government of Armenia.
The specific goal of this project will be to increase the ability of
Armenian law enforcement to conduct timely investigations, assist
in the refinement of all law enforcement databases to increase
sharing between law enforcement agencies, improve Armenia’s ability
to access international criminal databases and shorten the time it
takes U.S. and Armenian law enforcement to ascertain the whereabouts
of suspected international criminals. This program seeks to create
synergy between on-going assistance efforts with the Armenian Border
Guard, Customs, Police and Interpol, the General Procuracy and all
other law enforcement entities.

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN PLAYS WITH ROBERT KOCHARYAN
A1+
[06:23 pm] 16 May, 2006
At present the fact of Arthur Baghdasayan’s leaving the Coalition is
the main concern in the political sphere. Why did he do it and what was
his step motivated by? Further political procedure and developments
will likely answer these questions. So far we tried to answer them
through the Internet polls.
33% participants of the survey think that Arthur Baghdasaryan’s
act was determined by Robert Kocharyan’s pressure. 20% claim that
Arthur Baghdasaryan wants to increase his image, 6% maintain that
his step was caused by the conflict of the parties “Orinats Yerkir,”
“Dashnaktsutyun” and “Republican,” and 3% consider it an “intrigue
of the Coalition.” 38% of those surveyed urge that it was a game with
Robert Kocharyan which was planned beforehand. 549 people participated
in the polls.
We offer our readers to answer the question “Whom would you elect
if you had a chance,” though it is already evident that the next
candidate of the NA Speaker is Tigran Torosyan.

THERE WERE DRUNK PEOPLE ON THE PLANE
A1+
[07:22 pm] 16 May, 2006
Today Michael Baghdasarov, owner of the “Armavia” company, didn’t
exclude that there were drunk people on the A-320 airplane but he
excluded the possibility of panic on the plane saying that “Dispatchers
record all conversations and they would have recorded it as well. The
voice of the pilot was very quiet and he spoke rather calmly.”
There was no thief on the plane. There wasn’t any bustle either. I
don’t exclude the possibility that some people were drunk, but I must
underline the fact that the bodies of many victims haven’t been found
yet. This itself testifies to the fact that they were wearing belts,
thus there couldn’t be any panic on the plane.
Baghdasarov added that they haven’t found the bodies of more that
60 people and those found are mainly women and elderly men, which
means that mainly men who are accused of organizing a bustle on the
airplane wore belts.
He also excluded the existence of weapon on the plane.
“It is impossible to take any weapon to a plane as they check
everything.”
Mr. Baghdasarov excluded 3 versions. “Our conclusions must be
warranted, we have the following facts; 8 tons of kerosene testify
that there was enough fuel on the plane. The plane underwent all the
necessary checks, we simply mistook Belgium for Budapest, but the
checking were made and our planes systematically undergo technical
checking in Yerevan”
As for the pilot’s sophistication there shouldn’t be any doubt on
this score. He studied abroad and was properly trained. We don’t
possess other facts.”
Baghdasarov noted once more that the weather was terrible on that day
but it couldn’t hamper the landing. “Armenian airplanes of Soviet
period encounter such problems in awful weather conditions whereas
the weather is not a serious problem for “Airbus” planes.”
Baghdasarov voices hope that the record boxes will be taken out of
the depth of the sea and they will be able to reveal the truth. “It
is a French airplane, the investigation is held by the “Airbus”
investigation bureau and I think that the record boxes will be
deciphered by the French as well, though Armenians and Russians
will also participate in the process as they are both conducting
investigation.”
He informed the journalists that they are negotiating with the
insurance company so that the payments will be done in time. “Today
the representatives of the company will arrive from London. Before
that they came from Russia. I think that the insurance money will
be paid soon.” “Armavia” has already bought a new plane and “Airbus
319” will be in Armenia on Thursday. The airplane was transported to
Canada, the pilots are having a rest at present and tomorrow they
will fly to Yerevan and on Thursday evening the airplane will make
its first flight. Baghdasarov promises that “Armavia” will hold the
flights according to the schedule by 3 “Airbuses” and 1 “Yak 42.” The
company intends to buy a new American plane for 50-70 passengers.

ARF SUPREME BODY OF ARMENIA REPRESENTATIVE MEETS WITH EUROPEAN DIPLOMAT
Yerkir
16.05.2006 12:07
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – ARF Supreme Body of Armenia representative Armen
Rustamian met on May 16 with Henrik H. Kroner, Secretary General of
the International European Movement, at the Simon Vratsian Center
in Yerevan.
This was the second visit of Mr. Kroner to Armenia.
Mr. Kroner briefed on his organization’s programs in assisting
Armenia’s European integration. Armen Rustamian, in turn, briefed
him on the efforts of the Armenian authorities and the ARF aimed at
political reforms.
ARF Bureau’s Political Affairs Office Director Kiro Manoyan also was
present at the meeting.

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER TO LEAVE FOR STRASBOURG TOMORROW
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 16 2006
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will fly to Strasbourg
tomorrow to attend the 116th session of the Council of Europe Committee
of Foreign Ministers on 18 and 19 May.
The Ministry told APA that human rights and cooperation between the
Council of Europe and the European Union will be priority on the
agenda. The Russian Federation will take over the presidency of the
Committee of Ministers from Romania, for a period of six months.
At the invitation of Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis,
the Ministers will hold an informal meeting with Martti Ahtisaari,
the United Nations Special Envoy for the future status of Kosovo. The
Ministers will also discuss other major priorities resulting from the
Council of Europe’s Third Summit in Warsaw, namely: the reinforcement
of the Council’s action in support of democracy and good governance,
the development of intercultural dialogue and the Organisation’s
process of internal reform.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, will present the priorities
for his presidency at the end of the session.
Within the session, Elmar Mammadyarov and his Armenian counterpart
Vardan Oskanyan will hold next round of negotiating process for the
settlement of the Nagorno Garabagh conflict in the framework of the
Prague process. The Ministers will exchange views on new proposals
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs presented to the conflicting sides in early
May. It will be determined after the meeting of the two Ministers
whether there will be a need for the meeting of the Azerbaijani and
Armenian Presidents.
Minister Mammadyarov will also attend GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan and Moldova) Foreign Ministers meeting in Kiev on 21
May.

ARMENIAN COMMEMORATES FERDOSI SERVICE: LITERARY
ISNA, Iran
May 16 2006
TEHRAN, May 16 (ISNA)-Simultaneous with Iranian eminent poet,
Abolghasem Ferdosi’s National Day in Iran, Armenian writers association
held a commemoration ceremony for this poet.
In this ceremony, Iran’s cultural consultant to Armenia commented,
Shahnameh was the result of this poet’s 30 year untiring efforts and
that this book was intended not only to protect and preserve Iranian
culture and identity, but of all nations.

450,000 TURKS IN FRANCE: WILL YOU IMPRISON US ALL?
By Ali Ihsan Aydin, Paris
Zaman, Turkey
May 16 2006
The bill, punishing those who deny the Armenian genocide due for
discussion in the French Parliament on Thursday, is worrying the
450,000 Turks living in France.
If the bill is enacted, tens of thousands of Turkish expatriates will
become potential offenders.
Turkish-French citizens say the denial bill cannot be enforced say,
“Will you put in prison tens of thousands deniers of the genocide?”
Turkish expatriates have been reacting against the Socialist Party
(PS), which prepared the bill, and will organize protests on May 18
before the French Assembly.
They will send their message to the French parliamentarians by chaining
themselves and taping their mouths.
Turkish-origin head of the PS’s Strasbourg-Neuhof town regional office
Saban Kiper, protests his party’s attempt and said, “I find it really
unnecessary.” Kiper has been conducting negotiations for three weeks
with the party’s regional office and headquarters, as well as evoking
Turkish-French citizens to protest the bill.
“Tens of thousands of Turkish-French citizens like me want to be proud
of this country. However, how can you feel proud of it; it calls your
ancestors murderers,” said Kiper, PS’s only Turkish origin regional
branch president.
Saban, also a member of the French Joint Culture Youth Council, says
tens of thousands of Turks in France may be imprisoned, if the bill
is enacted.
Cojep President Ali Gedikoglu said they protested the motion with
the slogan, “Don’t restrict freedoms, don’t keep the truth in the
dark,” and thousands of Turks sent letters of protest to the French
authorities.
Gedikoglu announced they will protest outside the French Parliament
while the motion is being discussed on May 18; sending their message
to parliamentarians by chaining themselves to the gates and tapping
their mouths shut.
The Cojep president indicated they were able to make contact with
leading figures from the Socialist Party and may possibly meet with
party leader Francois Hollande.
Paris Anatolia Cultural Center Chairman Dr. Demir Onger thinks the
motion is “a result of the effective lobbying activities the Armenian
Diaspora in France has been conducing for 80 years,” and says, “This
attempt is a shame for France that pretends to be the champion of
freedom of expression.”
“France, which refers the past to the historians when the issue is
its own history, passes a law on the history of another country and
displays a paradoxical attitude,” cardiologist Dr. Onger defends,
accusing France of “playing with the fire.”
Demir Onger noted they established the “Union for Freedom of
Expression” in order to protest the motion and sent thousands of
protest letters to the French authorities.
Onger criticized Turkey’s ineffective lobbying, describing it as
“a vertical lobbying” conducted by top level bureaucrats or company
bosses. Onger stated the Armenians follow a policy from the bottom
up and said Turkey must initiate activities in an effort to persuade
the French people in the long term.
Yuksel Bilici, an expatriate graduate student on “Turks’ political
participation in France” living in the capital Paris, termed the
proposal as an “election present” for the Armenian Diaspora asking,
“Will they put 500,000 Turks in Jail?”.
Suleyman Toppeker, an official translator, said, “If 15,000 people
sign a petition claiming ‘We do not believe in the genocide’, they
will be immediately jailed”.
Marc Semo, an expert on Turkey from the leftist French paper,
Liberation, advocating that the draft, which will cause problems over
freedoms, concerns France a great deal and emphasizes the difficulty
in the implementation of such a law.
There is no political integrity in France prior to the election due
in 2007, Semo revealed, and added French President Jacques Chirac,
favoring Turkey, will not be able to do anything because the law
could be acceded in parliament on May 18.
The notice of motion leads to some concerns among expatriates, while
several Turkish foundations and institutions in France have noticeably
remained silent.
Some other foundations referring to Zaman’s view avoided sharing
their assessments on the issue. Few pay attention to the case except
for a number of foundations in France, where nearly 450,000 Turkish
people reside.

ARMENIA DIAMOND, GOLD PRODUCTION -27%
By Jeanette Goldman
Diamonds.net, NY
May 16 2006
(Rapaport…May 16, 2006) Armenia’s cut diamond and gold production
dropped 27 percent in the first four months of 2006, reported Armenia
Diaspora on May 15. Twelve companies that are monitored by the trade
and industry development ministry produced $64.6 million worth of
goods, 75 percent of which was manufactured by diamond manufacturing
companies. Armenia’s sale and exports during the four month period
dropped 24 percent compared with 2005.
The ministry blamed the drop on the global markets, saying that higher
oil and gold prices, coupled with depreciation of United States dollar
value have significantly cut demand for luxury items.
The ministry also blamed lack of effective management, lack of
financial resources and less rough diamond imports from Russia for
the decline.

ARMENIA-TURKEY BORDER ISSUE: OPEN SESAME OPEN
By Ece Temelkuran, YEREVAN (Milliyet)
Translated by Murat Sogangoz
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
May 16 2006
“I pray to Jesus every morning for the opening of the borders!”
Anait has a spontaneously smiling face. She is a strong woman, but her
voice is quite soft. In a clothing bazaar, she prefers Turkish while
speaking among the clothes she brought from Laleli (Istanbul) to sell.
The surprise during the first trip “We are alone now. It will be good
for both for you and us when the border is opened. Trade with Turkey
is vital for our economy. When they say ‘the border remains closed’,
it gives us big pain.
Anait is one of the oldest merchants. She had started visiting Turkey
in 1993. Firstly she was bringing automobile components to Turkey.
She reached to Georgia via bus and then to Ardahan from there. She
never forgets her first trip: “I was afraid. I didn’t know how
the Turks were. Would they attack me? The bus got out of order in
Ardahan. All the passengers were women. A Turk came and gave water
melon and cheese to everyone. He also got the bus repaired and demanded
no money. He said “sell your goods and then you may pay”. “Now,
90 per cent of the goods in Armenia are coming from Turkey.”
Dream of a job in Marmaris Anait says “if there were 100 people who
had visited Turkey in 1993, now there should be 1 million”. She says
“all the goods of Turkey are fine” and she is dreaming to have a job
with her unemployed son at a Marmaris hotel for this summer. Anait
tells about the feelings of the Armenian men and women praying for
the opening of the border: “It will be very good. Both for you and us!”