Author: Jagharian Tania

CATHOLICOS ARAM I EXPRESSES HIS CONDOLENCES TO RA PRESIDENT AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006

ANTELIAS, LEBANON, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia expressed his deep condolences in letters
sent to the president of Armenia Robert Kotcharian and the Catholicos
of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II after an airplane belonging
to the Armenian Armavia Airlines crashed into the Black Sea in the
early morning hours of May 3, killing about 113 passengers and crew
members. “On this sad occasion we share your, our motherland’s and
our nation’s pain. We ask God to grant heavenly rest to the innocent
victims of the crash and to console their relatives with the Holy
Spirit,” the Pontiff wrote. The Catholicos also informed that requiem
services will be held this Sunday in memory of the victims of the
crash in the Mother Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in
Antelias and in all the Dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.

NO AVAILABLE EQUIPMENT CAPABLE OF RECOVERING BLACK BOXES – MINISTER

RIA Novosti, Russia
May 4 2006

SOCHI, May 4 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s transportation minister said
Thursday the flight recorders from an airliner that crashed off
Russia’s southern coast Wednesday with the loss of 113 people were
too deep in the sea to be recovered with available equipment.

The black boxes of the Armenian plane are at a depth of 680 meters
(2,230 feet), and there is no available equipment in southern Russia
that could recover them, Igor Levitin said.

On Thursday, French experts picked up a radio signal that could be
coming from the black boxes of the crashed plane. They said the signals
had been included in the design of the plane to make it easier to
identify the location of the flight recorders after a possible crash.

“Many fragments have been discovered where the signal was established,”
Levitin said. “We believe this is where the disaster happened.”

The minister said a request would be sent to the Navy to find the
necessary equipment.

“There is an experimental model in the north of the country, and we
will try to deliver it to the operation site,” he said. “It can work
at a depth of 500 meters [1,640 feet].”

He said the operation involved a Be-200 aircraft searching the coastal
line. Levitin added that recovery teams had reached Loo, a town 15
kilometers (9 miles) from the popular resort of Sochi and would now
move back to Adler, the airport servicing Sochi where the Airbus had
been trying to land when it crashed in poor weather.

Sergei Kudinov, the head of the southern regional center of the Russian
Emergency Situations Ministry, said international technologies would
be used to lift the black boxes from such a depth.

“We will employ international technologies, in particular, from France,
the U.S. or Norway,” he said.

OLEXANDR BOZHKO EXPRESSES HIGH OPINION ABOUT ARMENIAN-UKRAINIAN RELATIONS

Noyan Tapan
May 04 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 4, NOYAN TAPAN. “The Armenian-Ukrainian relations continue
developing sucessfully, and last year was a confirmation of it.” The
Ukrainian Ambassador to Armenia Olexandr Bozhko stated this during a
press conference on May 4 at the National Press Club. According to
him, Armenia and Ukraine have some common goals, particularly both
countries strive to integrate into Europe. O. Bozhko said that today
the commodity turnover between the two countries makes 100 mln USD,
which is a good index. Over the last 4 months of 2006, trade between
Armenia and Ukraine increased 2-3fold compared with the same period
of last year. The ambassador noted that the two countries should pay
great attention to diversification of electricity generation sources
and ways of transporting the power-bearing substances. Ukraine is
currently working with Iran in this direction. Nevertheless, in the
opinion of O. Bozhko, such energy programs can be implemented only
with the assistance of Europe. As regards the sale of the 5th unit
of Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant to Russia, O. Bozhko said: “I think it
was a compulsory decision for the Armenian government, and I find it
difficult to say what prompted it to make such a decision. The decision
was taken by the Armenian government that bears responsibility for it.”

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY STANDS IN SILENCE TO RESPECT MEMORY OF VICTIMS OF PLANE ACCIDENT AND STOPS WORK

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 03 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. At the May 3 plenary
sitting RA National Assembly stood in silence to respect the memory of
the victims of the plane accident that happened the same day. At the
suggestion of Ardarutiun (Justice) faction Secretary Viktor Dallakian,
it was decided to stop the sitting. Meeting the request of National
Unity faction Head Artashes Geghamian the parliament decided to
form a working group consisting of representatives of all groups and
factions for the purpose of rendering assistance to the families of the
victims. As Hakob Hakobian, member of the National Deputy MP group,
MP elected from Echmiadzin, declared, according to preliminary data,
18 of the victims were from his electoral district. The MP will
give 1000 dollars from his private means to the family of each of
the victims. As Galust Sahakian, Head of the RPA faction, informed
journalists, according to his data, part of the passengers was leaving
for Sochi for the purpose of taking part in the conference organized
on the initiative of the Prometevs-Chimprom company’s owner Senik
Gevorgian. According to preliminary data, former Head of the Armenian
Civil Aviation Department Vyacheslav Yaralov, former Head of the
National Security Service Husik Haroutiunian and the son of the former
Head of the same service Karlos Petrosian were among the victims.

MAY 5 AND 6 DECLARED MOURNING DAYS IN ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.05.2006 19:21 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian proclaimed May 5
and 6 the days of mourning for the passengers killed the Yerevan-Sochi
crash, reported the RA leader’s press service. To remind, May 3 night
À-320 Armavia-owned plane crashed into the Black Sea most likely
over bad weather conditions. The plane was conveying 113 passengers
including 23 Russian citizens. They all died. The place was trying
to land in the airport of Adler, however the control officers did not
allow the landing because of bad weather conditions. The communication
with the plane was lost at 2.12 a.m., six minutes before the scheduled
landing in the Sochi (Adler) airport. A criminal case according to
Article 263.2 of the Penal Code (violation of operation of an aircraft)
was initiated.

The A-320 wreckage of the plane lay 300 meter deep in the Emeretin bay.

–Boundary_(ID_sYmS6cMIE2eCRRc9qMO5lw)–

WORLD WILL NOT IMPACT IRAN-ARMENIA COOPERATION

Lragir.am
03 May 06

The concerns about the nuclear program of Iran and possible
developments will not impact the U.S.-Armenia economic relations and
programs underway. This was stated by U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John
Evans May 2. The ambassador also made it clear that the U.S. approach
towards Iran will not impact the Iran-Armenia energy programs.

He said the United States understands the state of Armenia, which
needs to diversify its energy sector, and here gas is concerned as
well. John Evans said the American legislation provides for sanctions
against entities that would make big investments to the energy sector
in Iran, however, he said, this is not the case.

“THE PEOPLE MISS SOCIALISM”, – THE COMMUNISTS OF MAY PARADE WERE SURE
Margaret Yesayan

Aravot.am
02 May 06

The Communistic Party of Armenia celebrated yesterday the International
Day of Labors Solidarity. Other parties weren’t celebrating the
occasion; they perhaps consider the day of labors as remains of
communism and left the square for the communists. But if every
oppositionist party was able to gather the same quantity of people
as the communists did Ruben Tovmasian’s dream of last 15 years would
come true and socialism would enter with a new power. But as usual
the oppositionists were impeded by their ambitions and fear of being
considered not free, that’s why they didn’t join their friends. The
communists with red flags, red ties and red bands were walking on
Mashtots avenue. Some hundreds of people, more than 1000, crying
thunderous ”hurrah”s and ”viva”-s reached the Republic Square. But
they declared that they were reaching the Lenin Square. Just at that
moment the Central Committee Secretary was declaring by microphone;
”The communists of Armenia are entering into the square”. It
seemed you were in other time zone and not in the 6th year of the
21st century. It seems the participants of that parade have come
from 60-70’s. They weren’t even hide that they dream of socialism and
again consider as the number one enemy ”the system in the person of
the USA which spread anticommunist, antidemocratic hysteria. Just it
craves of becoming the tyrant of the world by cannibal globalization
and aggression.”

The colonel Daniel Tadevosian has come to the parade with all his
medals and persuasion; ”We must bring the socialism back for the
people live equally as it was during socialism. I don’t say there
weren’t mistakes at that time but who has built this city?” A lot of
pupils from the schools of Masis N3 and Normarg village came to May
parade with red ties. A communist woman who was leading them declared
that the pupils like the pioneer order but there are also people who
prohibit the restoration of the past.

Comrade Haroutiunian is sure that there are two parties in Armenia;
“One is the communistic party, the other is anticommunist party,
that is, the remain are anticommunist parties”.

Communists of some regions were brought to the capital for taking part
in the parade. The “Communistic Party of Leninakan”, “Communists of
Kirovakan”, ” Workers of Lenin region of Yerevan”, “Comrades from
Hoktemberian” and a lot of pioneers were here yesterday. A real
festive mood, which reached till the comrade Myasnikian monument. It
was written on some of posters; “Forever with Russia”. To our question
again Russia when the same Russia took our property instead of gas,
debt and don’t know for what else, comrade Tovmasian answered;
“We have always condemned and condemn that the people’s property
is being sold whoever it is sold, even to Russia, but we sell it
ourselves. And it is more profitable that Russia buys it and not
other countries”. A heap of red flags remained in the grass.

–Boundary_(ID_r1sUKfph3F2UuB2l0ExgyA)–

KOULAGIN ACCUSED OF ABRAHAMIANTS’ MURDER IS RELEASED
By Nana Petrosian

AZG Armenian Daily
02/05/2006

The parents of 17 years old Vigen Abrahamiants, Moscow resident,
who was killed recently, do not believe that Denis Koulagin was the
murderer of their son. The law enforcement bodies released 16 years
old Koulagin, as there is not enough evidence against him. The police
has only the confession of the teenager that was achieved through
illegal interrogation.

It’s worth mentioning that the police hasn’t found the knife that
the murderer used, while the video camera didn’t taped any actions,
according to the preliminary investigation. Denis Koulagin himself
got a stab of knife on his face.

News.ru informed that Simon Tsatourian, the attorney of the
Abrahamiants family, stated that at present the investigation is
more inclined to the initial cause of the murder – the attack of the
skinheads. Tsatourian said that currently a parallel interrogation
is being carried out. “The witnesses apply to us themselves. We
can assure that the murder was committed by the skinheads. We can’t
accuse Koulagin of anything. We have quite a different idea of the
murderer. He was a well-prepared professional who had totally figured
out his actions. This is proved both by the character of the stab
and the immediate disappearing of the murderers from the place of
the crime,” he said.

Besides, according to Tsatourian, the fact that the friend
of Abrahamiants was also stabbed with knife denies the common
cause of the murder. “The witnesses state that they had seen the
skinheads. The skinheads undergo special trainings, they have their
ideology, literature, armed groups and organizations. It’s clear that
the crimes committed in Moscow belong to the same chain of the crimes
of nationalistic character in St.

Petersburg and Voronezh. Thus, we can speak of certain moods existing
in Russia that lead to destruction of the society and the moral values
of the state,” he said.

We hope that taking into account this very factor, the investigation
will find the true murderer of Vigen Abrahamiants.

US-ARMENIAN TASK FORCE MEETS IN YEREVAN

Armenpress
May 2 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 2, ARMENPRESS: The 12-th meeting of the US-Armenian Task
Force has started today in Yerevan chaired by Armenian economy and
finance minister Vartan Khachatrian and Tom Adams, a US administration
official in charge of Europe and Eurasia affairs.

The meeting will discuss a wide scope of issues of bilateral
interest. On the meeting’s agenda are also issues on measures to
promote Armenian economy development, democratic reforms, issues
pertaining to the Millennium Challenges Account program, reforms
in customs and taxation areas and others. Also discussed will be
agriculture, energy, education, judicial sectors related issues.

The US-Armenian Task Force was founded in 2002 to promote US-Armenian
cooperation. The Task Force holds two annual meetings, one in Armenia
and one in the USA. In the last decade the government of the USA has
carried out $1.6 billion worth various development and humanitarian
projects in Armenia.

ARMENIA-ARTSAKH PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION
Laura Grigorian

Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
02 May 2006

On April 26 the first meeting of the NKR-Armenia Parliamentary
Cooperation Committee took place in the meeting hall of the
NKR government. Speaker Ashot Ghulian thanked the members of the
delegation, led by Deputy Speaker of Armenia Tigran Torossian, who
arrived in NKR for the meeting. He said the parliamentary cooperation
between Armenia and Artsakh started in the years of the war, and is
already sustainable, accomplished and has traditions. It is another
expression of unity of our nation, another manifestation of fulfillment
of our desires and goals. According to the NKR Speaker, the relations
between the parliaments can be considered a serious precondition for
the establishment of external relations of the parliaments of both
Armenia and NKR. “In fact, the cooperation between the parliaments
of Armenia and Artsakh had a considerable progress, contributing
to the strengthening of the Armenian statehood and the ability to
tackle the challenges of the time,” said Ashot Ghulian. He mentioned
that the agreement on the cooperation between the parliaments of
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh will undergo changes, determined by
the political problems and requirements of the time, which are also
aimed at improvement of effectiveness of contacts between the two
parliaments. The NKR Speaker said the achievements and plans in this
sphere are not limited, and emphasized the importance of clear and
effective continuation of cooperation of the parliaments.

In this context he emphasized the permanent contact among the
representatives of the two parliaments, particularly the meetings of
the parliamentary committee, which are regularly held in Stepanakert
and Yerevan. Ashot Ghulian says there is no need to dwell on the effect
of this cooperation on the improvement of the legislative activity
of both Armenian parliaments, the unity of our people, establishment
of external parliamentary relations and other spheres. In conclusion
the Speaker assured that the recurrent meeting of the committee held
in Stepanakert for the first time will be a new progressive step
in the activities of both parliaments for the sake of the Armenian
people and its well-being. Deputy Speaker of Armenia Tigran Torossian
also commended the fact of meeting in Stepanakert, and emphasized
that the two Armenian states are steadily moving forward. Tigran
Torossian agreed to the idea that it is time to modify the agreement to
correspond to the problems and objectives that the two states have. In
this context, he emphasized the importance of the meeting for the
improvement of further activities of both parliaments. The head of
the Armenian parliamentary delegation assured that the members of
parliament of Armenia will make efforts for not only the effective
activity of the committee but also the unity of the peoples of both
Armenian states in general.

The Deputy Speaker of NKR Rudik Hyusnunts presented the agenda of
the meeting, including the questions of effectiveness of legislative
activities in terms of structural improvement of standing committees
(speakers Yuri Hayrapetian, Chair of the Standing State and Legal
Committee, NKR and Deputy Speaker of Armenia Tigran Torossian),
presently ongoing debates on the Karabakh issue at European
organizations and parliamentary organizations and the possibilities
of fostering cooperation between the two parliaments in this context
(speakers Tigran Torossian and Vahram Atanessian, Chair of the
Standing Committee of External Relations, NKR), and cooperation
of the National Assemblies of NKR and Armenia for drafting the NKR
Constitution (speakers Rudik Hyusnunts, Deputy Speaker of NKR, and
Tigran Torossian, Deputy Speaker of Armenia). On April 27 the second
meeting was scheduled.