Author: Tambiyan Samvel

DISASTER-HIT ARMENIAN CARRIER REPLACES DOOMED AIRBUS PLANES

Agence France Presse — English
May 18, 2006 Thursday 11:18 AM GMT

Armenian airline Armavia, which lost two of its Airbus planes in
accidents this month, took delivery of a replacement aircraft on
Thursday and was due to acquire another shortly, its press department
said.

One of Armavia’s doomed planes plunged into the Black Sea off Russia
for reasons that are still unclear, killing 113 people. The other
was destroyed in a fire at Brussels airport.

Thursday’s acquisition is a nearly new Airbus 319, manufactured in
2004, which has seen one year of service in the United States. It
arrived at Yerevan airport from Mexico, where it had been serviced,
the company said.

Armavia is due to take delivery of an Airbus 320 soon.

The remainder of its fleet consists of two other Airbus 319s, another
Airbus 320 and two Russian Yak 42s.

COURSES OF INTERNATIONAL IDEA IN ARMENIA TO START IN JANUARY 2007

Noyan Tapan
May 16 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 16, the Central Electoral
Commission (CEC) and the International Institute of Democracy and
Elections Assistance (International IDEA) signed an agreement on
mutual understanding on the program “Development of Stable Democracy
in Armenia: Improvement of Skills of Electoral Administration
and Political Participation”. As Noyan Tapan was informed by CEC
Spokesperson Tsovinar Khachatrian, under the above-mentioned program
it is planned to organize courses for those studying the electoral
administration. The courses will be organized on the basis of the
methodological materials of BRIDGE worked out jointly with the
International IDEA, Australian Central Electoral Commission and
UN. The program lasts 2 years including January 2007. In total, the
program amounts to 385414 euros. According to the agreement on mutual
understanding, the financing is to be implemented by the International
IDEA. According to Tsovinar Khachatrian, the implementation of the
program in the South Caucasus was initiated in 2003. In 2005 the
program was implemented in Georgia. In Armenia the courses will start
in 2007 January. The bids for participation in the courses will be
accepted in October of the current year.

QUESTION OF SPEAKER REMAINED

Lragir.am
16 May 06

The Republican Party seems to have decided to agree tacitly to home
political processes. The leaders of this party except Galust Sahakyan
decline to express their opinion on the fate of the coalition,
the vacant offices of Orinats Yerkir and the likely candidates
of the new speaker of the National Assembly. Several days ago, on
the day when Arthur Baghdasaryan announced about his resignation,
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan, always ready for contacts with
press, managed to evade news reporters waiting for him at the State
Engineering University of Armenia. Several days later, at another
educational institution, Yerevan State University, Deputy Speaker
Tigran Torosyan gave a rather long and far-reaching reply to the
question of possibility of his nomination.

“The National Assembly still has a speaker, and when his place becomes
vacant, we can consider candidacies. Now there is no need for this,”
said the Republican deputy speaker. Tigran Torosyan gave a similarly
meaningful answer to the question if it would not be worth leaving the
position of the speaker of the National Assembly to maintain parity,
considering that the government is led by the Republican. “If there
is a vacancy, we will discuss different issues. Today the speaker of
the National Assembly is in office,” said Tigran Torosyan.

His answers to the other questions about the standpoint of the
Republican on the current situation and possible steps were no less
interesting. “I want to repeat for the third time that we will discuss
it when there is a vacant position. I repeat for the fourth time,”
said Tigran Torosyan. Well, maybe he doubts that the speaker of the
National Assembly will quit, and the position will remain vacant. “I
have to repeat for the fifth time,” said Tigran Torosyan and smiled.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO VISIT ARMENIA LATE IN MAY

ArmRadio.am
16.05.2006 13:00

May 25-26 OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs Yuri Merzlyakov, Steven Mann and
Bernard Fassier are scheduled to visit Armenia. RA Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan told the journalists today that the Co-Chairs have
already presented their suggestions to the parties.

It will become possible to turn to the Azeri attitude in Strasburg
during the meeting of Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers.

In Vardan Oskanyan’s words, it is impossible to have a definite
position on any document, because of the situation and the complexity
of the issue.

“Anything put on the table has both positive and negative sides,
and these should be adjusted in the result of negotiations. If it is
possible, we’ll try to bring the positions closer,” the Minister noted.

In case the Strasburg meeting and the visit of the Co-Chairs succeed,
and progress is achieved, it is possible that the Presidents may meet
in the months to come. According to Vardan Oskanyan, we should wait
for the next opportunity.

“The process of settlement of the Karabakh conflict proceeds
normally. We should continue working and have as a target the rapid
resolution of the issue,” RA foreign Minister noted.

LOST PAGE IN HISTORY, FINALLY DISCOVERED
By Rebecca John

Assyria Times, CA
May 15 2006

Tragedy, loss and prejudice are only a few words we can use to describe
what the Assyrian and Armenian Christians suffered at the hands of the
Turkish Government. Only now, ninety-one years after these murders,
violations and acts of inhumanity took place, has this dark period
in history come to light.

The Genocide of the Assyrian people has been given the cutting name
‘SEYFO’, which translates to mean ‘sword’. This name was given to
represent the brutalities the Assyrians suffered as a result of
refusing to accept the policies of the ruling government which
was seeking to ‘Turkify’ the Christian people of the land. The
self-proclaimed aim of the Empire was to create a Pan-Turkish state,
or perhaps more importantly, a state where the only religion was
Islam. To achieve this ideal, the Turkish Government created laws
with the sole intention to make life for the Christians as difficult
as possible. By law, Christians could not take part in any political
issues, Assyrians could not speak their inherited language and taxes
for the non-Muslims were more than ten times higher than those who
were Turks and Muslims. Those too scared to stay in the villages they
were born in, fled to safety by foot to neighboring countries (most
of which died on their journey from exhaustion and hunger). Assyrians
refusing to leave their homes and deny their faith became targets
for the Turkish Government, which led to the most horrific event
in Assyrian history: The Slaughter of thousands upon thousands of
Assyrians and the forced deportations of many more.

Assyrians and Armenians have taken it upon themselves to educate
people of this Genocide which is often referred to as the ‘the lost
page in history’. Firodil Institute has been spreading the word of
SEYFO with the help of Government MP’s and by organizing ‘Genocide’
events. The most recent and successful event took place on 10th May
2006 at SOAS University (School of Oriental and African Studies)
and proved to be a powerful learning experience for those who attended.

Mr. Lamassu of Firodil Institute, who is an Assyrian himself, spoke
of the disturbing effect that the Genocide aftermath had on him:
“I grew up listening to stories of an uncle who had to watch his
six-month-old child be thrown into a burning clay oven. Juxtapose
the tragic tales I grew up with, with what normal children of normal
environments grow up to; and you will realize why the crimes of 1915
must be recognized as genocide … I am an Assyrian, I am the genocide
and the genocide is me: to deny it you are killing me twice!”

Guest speakers at this event included academic researcher, Sabri
Atman and winner of the ‘Golden Palm’ award, Swedish-Assyrian
Journalist Nuri Kino. Not only did both speakers shed some light
on the Assyrian and Armenian Genocide historically, but they also
spoke of these prejudices still living on in Turkey today. Mr. Kino
explained how Assyrian Christians are still referred to as ‘pigs’,
and how the slaughtering of Assyrians are discussed with a sense
of achievement. Turkey’s attitude towards the Christian People has
raised a question mark over whether Turkey should be allowed to join
the European Union (EU). This proposal has sparked a fear of history
repeating itself for the Assyrian and Armenian people, as many fled
their homeland to escape the Genocide Turkey subjected them to. Nuri
Kino gave his opinions on this matter:

“Turkey claims, yes, Armenians, Assyrians have been killed in ‘war’.
I have evidence it was a plot, a plan to rid Turkey of Christians,
non-Muslims…Turkey must face up to the Genocide towards the Assyrians
and apologize.”

Mr. Kino himself lost various members of his family during the
Genocide with his grandmother being the sole survivor from a tribe
consisting of over three hundred people. His documentary ‘Assyriska
a National Team without a Nation’ was the winner of the prestigious
‘Golden palm’ award (awarded for the first time for a non-American
and a non-fictional film). It was however, Kino’s first documentary
‘A Cry Unheard’ that set him on the road to success, as he followed
the Genocide road, interviewing survivors and performing extensive
research. This experience he claims was both stressful and upsetting
which even took a toll on his health.

Ninety-one years later, news of this haunting Genocide is finally
being spoken of, not with fear, but with sheer will and determination
to force the Turkish Government to admit and apologize for what
happened to the Christians in their country. After almost a century
of lost lives, tragedy and grief, the Assyrians feel they deserve
recognition and an apology, not for the sake of a “lost” nation,
but for the justice of a nation that was stolen.

For more information on upcoming events or on any issues raised
contact Rebecca at [email protected] or Firodil Institute
at [email protected].

e/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3205

RUSSIA BEGINS MOVING ARMS, EQUIPMENT FROM GEORGIAN BASE OUT OF COUNTRY

Kyiv Post, Ukraine
May 15 2006

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) – A train carrying Russian tanks and other arms
and equipment headed toward Georgia’s border on Monday, marking the
start of the withdrawal of Russia’s military bases from the former
Soviet republic under an agreement reached last year.

The train, loaded with equipment removed from the Russian base in the
southern town of Akhalkalaki, which is to be shut by the end of 2007,
was to take its cargo first to Azerbaijan, east of Georgia, and then
north to Russia.

It carried seven T-72 tanks, four armored personnel carriers, eight
combat reconnaissance vehicles, four communications vehicles and
340 cases of artillery shells, said Col. Vladimir Kuparadze, deputy
commander of Russian forces in the Transcaucasus.

Kuparadze said all heavy weapons and vehicles from the Akhalkalaki base
are to be pulled out of Georgia by Oct. 15, including on three more
trains this month and a total of 19 this year. Personnel, firearms
and base property are to be withdrawn and the base closed by the end
of next year, he said.

The other Russian base left over from the Soviet era, in the Black Sea
port of Batumi, is to be withdrawn by the end 2008 under the deal,
which represented a victory for Georgia’s pro-Western President
Mikhail Saakashvili in his effort to reduce Russian influence. The
bases were established in the Soviet era.

Some weaponry and equipment from Akhalkalaki is to be moved to
Russia’s military base in neighboring Armenia – an arrangement that
displeases Armenia’s enemy Azerbaijan. Armenian forces have held
parts of Azerbaijan since a war over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh
enclave that ended with a shaky cease-fire in 1994.

Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 14 2006

Liberation Publishes Turkish Intellectuals’ Statement: We Are
Extremely Concerned About The Draft Law

PARIS – Turkish intellectuals expressed concerns about the draft law
which was submitted to the French parliament by the Socialist Party
with the aim of punishing those who deny so-called Armenian genocide.

In a statement published by the French Liberation newspaper,
intellectuals said, “those who brought the draft onto agenda of the
French parliament have to take into consideration existence of
persons and institutions who are trying to prevent and punish
discussions on the events of 1915. Such a draft law will obstruct
free discussions both in France and Turkey. It will also disrupt the
process of questioning historical and common memory.“

The statement signed by Baskin Oran, Elif Safak, Etyen Mahcupyan,
Halil Berktay, Hrant Dink, Murat Belge, Muge Gocek and Ragip Zarakolu
said, “we, as citizens of the Republic of Turkey, feel the burden of
the inhuman calamity which Ottoman Armenians were subject to. We
share their pain. No one can deny the brutality of 1915. All efforts
to find a cause for those events will be in vain.“

“As the conference in Istanbul on September 23rd-24th, 2005, and
similar other initiatives revealed, democratization process has been
going on in Turkey. This process can enlighten the 90-year darkness.
We will maintain our struggle with calmness and determination to this
end,“ they said.

“However, we are extremely concerned about the draft law which will
be debated by the French parliament in the coming days. Such a draft
law will disrupt the process of questioning historical and common
memory. It will also obstruct free discussions both in France and
Turkey,“ they said.

Turkish intellectuals stressed, “we need to overcome countercharges
of Turks and Armenians in a vicious circle, and turn them into a
humanitarian dialogue and common history by conveying our memories to
each other. We can reach this target only through freedom of
expression and debate, and exchange of information. Like fight
against crimes against humanity, freedom of expression is also an
universal principle. Defending existence of one of these two elements
cannot eliminate existence of the other.“

“Today, unfortunately, both parties are far away from conveying
their way of perception to the other. In recent years, Armenian
nationalists have been supporting laws restricting freedom of
expression in response to the Turkish state`s policy of denial.
However, their efforts can trigger harder disagreements. Therefore,
we call on Armenians not to make a mistake which will be quite
difficult to correct in future,“ they added.

A1+

«JUSTICE» WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE NA PRESIDENT ELECTIONS?

[07:26 pm] 12 May, 2006

The «Justice» bloc will probably not participate in the elections of
the NA President. In 2003 too they boycotted the elections considering
that the Parliament is not legitimate and its President cannot be
considered legitimate either.

Let us remind you that Arthur Baghdasaryan will represent his letter
of resignation on May 22.

The «Justice» bloc will discuss the issue of participating the
elections in its coming session, Stepan Demirchyan, leader of the bloc
told «A1+» with commenting on the decision of the OYP.

As for cooperation with the OYP, he thinks it is early to speak about
it. Member of the bloc Stepan Zaqaryan thinks that the possibilities
of cooperating with Arthur Baghdasaryan will be more real if he
regrets the mistakes and crimes he committed while being in the
coalition.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT PRESS SECRETARY CONFIRMS REPORT ON MEETING OF
SPEAKER AND PRESIDENT ON THURSDAY EVENING

Yerevan, May 12. ArmInfo. Press Secretary of Armenian President,
Victor Soghomonyan, confirms the report on the meeting of Armenian
Parliametnary Speaker,Leader of “Orinats Yerkir” party, Arthur
Baghdasaryan and President Robert Kocharyan late in the evening on
Thursday.

After the meeting, Arthur Baghdasaryan convened an extraordinary
session of “OY” party Board. In fact, the party adopted decision on
withdrawal from the ruling political coalition and on resignation of
the speaker. the most probable nominees to the post of the
parliamentary speaker are considered Karen Karapetyan, the head of
deputy group “People’s Deputy,” Vahan Hovhannissyan, Vice Speaker a
member of ARFD Bureau, Tigran Torosyan, Vice Speaker, Vice Chairman of
RPA.

In addition, the party resolved to recall its ministers from the
government: Sergo Yeritsyan, Minister of Education and Science, Aram
Haroutunyan, Town Planning Minister, Gevorg Gevorgyan, Minister of
Culture and Youth Affairs. To recap, 10 big businessman-members of
the “OY” parliamentary faction have recently left the party. The party
representatives connect the developments around the party with a
certain pressure by the ruling circles that are dissatisfied with the
recent harsh statements by Arthur Baghdasaryan as well as with his
criticism of the state property privatization program 2001-2003.

RA PRESIDENT EXPRESSES HOPE THAT ACCREDITATION OF FIRST AMBASSADOR OF
NIGERIA TO ARMENIA TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL TIES

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Ibrahin Ganyama Abubakar, the newly
appointed Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (residence in
Tehran) to Armenia, handed his credentials to RA President Robert
Kocharian on May 12.

According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA
President’s Press Office, mentioning that at present relations with
Nigeria are limited only by the cooperation within the framework of
international organizations, the President expressed confidence that
accreditation of the first Ambassador of Nigeria to Armenia will
support development of bilateral ties and defining of possible
directions of mutual cooperation.