Author: Zaminian Bedik

RIA Novosti, Russia
July 28, 2006

Armenia’s A-320 crash down to last-second crew panic – official
17:02 | 28/ 07/ 2006

YEREVAN, July 28 (RIA Novosti) – Armenia’s top civil aviation
official said Friday that the May crash of an Armenian Airbus into
the Black Sea had been largely because the crew panicked in the last
few seconds of the flight.

"The A-320’s flight modeling showed the flight was stable until 17
seconds before the crash," said Artem Movsisyan, head of the Civil
Aviation Agency.

The jetliner, operated by Armenian carrier Armavia, crashed in the
early hours of May 3 as it was preparing to land at the airport of
Adler, off Russia’s Black Sea coast. All 113 passengers and crew
died.

Movsisyan’s comments follow a report from the Interstate Aviation
Committee into the cause of the crash. The report said human error
was to blame for the accident.

Movsisyan did not reject this conclusion, but said stormy weather and
inadequate ground control had to be factored in as well. He said
flight recordings suggested that the air traffic controller’s
instructions had made the crew angry and nervous.

Along with Russian and Armenian aviation officials, the Interstate
Aviation Committee includes representatives of Toulouse-headquartered
Airbus, the manufacturer of the A-320.

Senator Reed presses Secretary of State for answers on Evans firing

ArmRadio.am
28.07.2006 11:55

Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) has indicated that he is not prepared to
support the nomination of Richard Hoagland as U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia until he receives meaningful responses to a series of
questions – including several specific inquiries concerning the firing
of the current Ambassador John Evans, reported the Armenian National
Committee of America (ANCA).

In a July 26th letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Senator
Reed explained that he is "concerned that Ambassador Evans is being
forced to resign prematurely." He stressed that he is "particularly
troubled" by reports that he is being recalled because he properly
characterized the Armenian Genocide as a genocide. "Had the term
genocide been coined in the early 1900s, it would have been used to
accurately describe the situation," added the senior Senator from
Rhode Island.

In closing, Senator Reed asserted that he would not be prepared to
support the nomination of a new ambassador to Armenia until he
understands the answers to the following questions:

1) Why is Ambassador Evans being replaced a year before the end of the
customary three-year ambassador term? If he resigned, why would the
State Department accept the resignation of a truly dedicated
individual who is highly respected by the Armenian community?

2) Has the President or State Department directed, either through
written or oral means, Executive Branch personnel not to use the word
‘genocide’ when referring to the atrocities waged against the Armenian
people by the Ottoman Empire? What is the justification for such a
policy?

3) If it is the policy of the United States to not characterize the
systematic killing of over 1.5 million Armenians as genocide, please
elaborate on why these events do not meet the definitions of the
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

4) During Ambassador Richard Hoagland’s confirmation hearing before
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, regarding the Armenian
genocide he stated "I simply have studied the president’s policy.
I’ve studied the background papers on the policy, and my
responsibility is to support the President." What do the background
papers say regarding the Armenian Genocide? I respectfully request a
copy of these background papers so I can better understand the
President’s policy. If that is not possible, I would like to know why.

5) A recent press report outlined Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Matthew Bryza as saying the following regarding Ambassador Evans,
"Ambassadors serve the President and should follow his
policy. President George Bush’s policy on the mass killings of
Armenians is very clear, as he points out in his annual addresses. If
someone disagrees with it, they are at liberty to make their own
decisions, but these should not be divulged. Certainly, our job is
also to advise him, but we must support his policy when it comes to
public statements." This reporting indicates that Ambassador Evans was
asked to resign based on this prior statements regarding the Armenian
genocide. If this is not the case, would you explain the statement by
Mr. Bryza and mits relation to Ambassador Evans?"

Michael Platini to visit Armenia

ArmRadio.am
27.07.2006 13:02

August 2 Deputy President of the Football Federation of France, member
of the Executive Boards of FIFA and UEFA Michael Paltini will arrive
in Armenia on an official visit.

Paltini is arriving at the invitation of the President of the Football
Federation of Armenia Ruben Hayrapetyan, Press Service of the Football
Federation informs.

In the framework of the visit Michael Paltini will have a meeting
with Ruben Hayrapetyan and will participate in the festive ceremony of
opening small football fields in Avan and Kanaker-Zeitun communities
of Yerevan.

To remind, together with UEFA Armenia is accomplishing the "Small
Football Fields" program, under which the Republic will receive 1
million Swiss Franks.

During the visit Michael Platini will have meetings with
representatives of state and public circles of Armenia as well.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION WILL AGAIN INCREASE, MINISTER OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERS

YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. A 0.4% decrease of industrial
production in the first six months of this year in Armenia is
temporary and there are preconditions for registering a 5% growth by
the results of the year, as compared with 2005. RA Minister of Trade
and Economic Development Karen Chshmaritian said this at the July 26
press conference.

In his words, the work of the Glass World plant producing glass
containers that opened recently, the relaunching of the RusAl-ArmenAl
foil plant in September, the active work of the Nairit Plant, the
expected growth of electricity generation connected with increase of
exports volumes will contribute to this growth.

It was mentioned that it is planned to release at least 3000 tons of
aluminium foil at RusAl-ArmenAl, 8 thousand tons of rubber at Nairit
Plant in 2006.

The Minister clarified that decrease of industrial production in the
first six months was conditioned by 20% reduction of production of
diamond-cutting sphere greatly depending on international markets. In
his words, three-four years ago such reduction of this sphere’s
production could have a serious negative impact on both industry and
GDP, whereas at present this impact is compensated by growth of other
branches’ production.

HUMANITARIAN PROGRAM TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN ARTSAKH ON THE INITIATIVE OF BARONESS COX

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
July 27, 2006

Vice-speaker of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament Baroness Cox
will visit Artsakh, this time with a new humanitarian program.

Her partners are a representative of The Children’s Hospital Trust Fund
Daniel Liles, the responsible of the Birth Links Company Cathy Malone,
who will render humanitarian and technical aid to the Center of the
Newborns’ Reanimation that will be opened in Stepanakert within the
program’s frames. The Center being opened in Artsakh will become a
branch of the Center of the University Hospital N 3 in Yerevan.

Baroness Cox informed that a representative of Birth Links Company
Cathy Malone had been to Karabakh six years before and was implementing
various programs there at present. "My goal is to bring to Armenia and
Karabakh as many people as possible, as they will tell the truth about
the Armenians and Karabakh in the future", Caroline Cox underscored,
Noyan Tapan reports.

PROCECUTOR’S OFFICE TO PERFORM NOT A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION BUT ITS LEGALITY CONTROL

YEREVAN, JULY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the legislative amendments’
concept in the RA Legal field, the investigation body will be taken
out from the prosecutor’s office’s system. Davit Haroutiunian, RA
minister of justice, informed about this on July 25. In his words,
the police and other bodies implementing pre-judicial enquiry will
implement the investigation.

The prosecutor’s office will perform control over the legality of
investigation and preliminary investigation. The investigation will
start after receiving information about the crime, from which also
the control of the prosecutor’s office starts. In case of lack of
the corpus delicti, police can stop the investigation independently.

The prosecutor’s office is competent to give assignments to the body
implementing pre-judicial enquiry, to stop the criminal pursuit,
to take part in any investigation action. The prosecutor’s office
is also competent to liquidate illegal actions, but cannot be an
obstacle for the implementation of powers of the body implementing
pre-judicial enquiry. From the beginning of the criminal enquiry until
the presenting the accusation, whole function will be implemented by
the same prosecutor.

In the justice minister’s words, so an attempt is made to disconnect
the powers of the prosecutor’s office and the pre-investigation body,
keeping the self-dependence of each of them.

Answering the Noyan Tapan correspondent, D.Haroutiunian mentioned that
according to the new concept, the prosecutor’s office is not obliged
to institute an action on the basis of the mass media’s publication,
though it has that competence.

RA NA CHAIRMAN STRESSES NECESSITY OF DEEPENING ARMENIA-EU COOPERATION

YEREVAN, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 24,
the delegation headed by Ambassador Peter Semneby, EU Special
Representative in South Caucasus, was received by RA National Assembly
Speaker Tigran Torosian.

Appreciating the high level of Armenia-EU relations, NA Speaker
stressed the necessity to deepen the cooperation. He mentioned that
the creation of cooperation commission with the European structures
headed by the RA President is another step by Armenia confirming
that European integration is among the priorities of its foreign
policy. Tigran Torosian suggested to have a full EU representative
office in Armenia that will enable to solve the problems concerning
mutual relations more actively and operativly.

At Peter Semneby’s suggestion, NA Speaker touched upon the draft
Electoral Code and the preparation for the 2007 parliamentary
elections. It was mentioned that as a result of the discussion of
four dozens of suggestions of the Venice commission with political
forces of the parliament, they succeded in decreasing the number of
diagreements from 15 into 6-7. This creates a hope that at the end
of August, during the discussions with the participation of experts
of the Venice commission, the Electoral Code will be finally formed,
fully matched with the European standarts. For passing the elections
free, just and with democratic standarts, NA Speaker Tigran Torosian
attached importance especially to the creation of favorable atmosphere
between the pro-governmental and opposition political forces.

Ambassador Peter Semneby mentioned that a strong ground is formed
for EU-Armenia interrelations. As for the process of development of
democratic institutes, T.Torosian mentioned that consolidation of
political parties is another result of constitutional amendments,
which will enable to hold more predictable elections corresponding
to international standarts. In answer to P.Semneby’s question, NA
Speaker mentioned that the support of the European community can be
expressed in two ways: first, helping to creating favorable atmosphere,
then by the implementation of observer mission, when there will be
no attempt to use double standarts and to adjust the estimation of
elections with those in Azerbaijan.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from the NA Public Relations Department,
the issue of adoption of individual actions’ program of Armenia
was also discussed at the meeting. Peter Semneby mentioned that in
Brussels they are well informed about Armenia’s serious attitude
towards the relations with EU and the program will be approved after
some specifications.

Azeri youth representatives revealed Armenia’s occupation policy in All-Russian youth camp

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 26, 2006

Author: J.Shahverdiyev

The representatives of Azeri youth raised Nagorno-Karabakh issue
at All-Russian youth camp, Trend reports quoting Elnur Mamedov,
co-founder of "Ireli" youth movement, who is taking part in the event.

During the event that takes place July 20 to 26, 2006 in Tver Region,
representatives of "Ireli" movement reportedly met with head of Russia’
largest youth movement "Nashi"

Vasily Yakimenko.

Besides, said Mamedov, they met with deputy Minister of Defense of
Russia and governors of regions of Tver and Krasnoyarsk, who also
took part in the event. At the meeting, he said, issues concerning
Azerbaijan were discussed. "The min issue we were concerned in was
the certain problems our compatriots face in Russia. Governors said
there is no reason for concern", said Mamedov.

Mamedov said it was not allowed to raise any nationalism-related
issues in the camp. "We wanted to lead a round table on
Nagorno-Karabakh. Despite their refusal, we told the camp participants
of this problem as much as possible. Since most participants knew
about Nagorno-Karabakh only from Armenian sources, we revealed the
truth", said Mamedov.

Albuquerque’s Anna Kostanian, 18, is only 4-foot-11 but has high hopes in pro billiards

Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico)
July 21, 2006 Friday

When Anna Kostanian first started playing billiard tournaments at
age 13, she heard all the requisite "short" jokes.

"You can’t play unless you’re 5 feet tall" seemed to be a favorite.

Fortunately, Kostanian didn’t treat the admonition like it was a
warning sign for youngsters at an amusement park ride.

No, she went ahead and played the game; played well enough that many
of the adult jokesters, men and women alike, were soundly beaten.

Soon, the detractors changed their tune. "They were telling me I had
a natural talent, so I stuck with it," Kostanian says.

Today, at age 18, Kostanian is still playing and – at 4-foot-11 –
she remains short.

In the world of billiards, however, Kostanian stands tall.

Last week she won the 19-and-under national billiards championship
in Tucson and a few days ago turned professional. Kostanian soon will
join the Women’s Professional Billiards Association tour.

Kostanian’s progress in the game has been remarkable.

The second daughter of Hrair Kostanian, owner of The Billiard Palace
at Wyoming and Menaul, didn’t start playing until age 10 after she
had moved to Albuquerque. At that time, her dad owned Pro Billiards
at the corner of Candelaria and Juan Tabo – currently the site of a
Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse.

Anna was born in Armenia, but moved to the United States when she
was 1. The family lived in Los Angeles until she was about 8, before
making the move to the Duke City. Kostanian says she’s not sure why
her family moved here – "I honestly don’t know, I never asked them"
– but she can’t quibble with the results.

It would be reasonable to guess that older sister Izolda was
responsible for luring Anna into picking up a cue. But, Izolda, 19,
disproves the theory that proximity of age in siblings keeps them
close through similar interests. "She doesn’t like bars," Anna says,
completely relaxed while sitting at the Palace. "I like it here.
Everything is free for me."

Kostanian, who graduated from Eldorado High School in the spring,
says she has not considered an advanced education. She plans to put
all her energies into the WPBA tour, where the top players, she says,
can make a million dollars a year through prize money, sponsors and
endorsements.

Currently, she says, Arroyo del Oso director of golf Tony Hidalgo
is her only sponsor, taking care of Kostanian’s airline flights to
places like San Diego, North Carolina, Illinois and Miami.

The tour has 10 major competitions. To remain a professional, she
has to enter at least eight events and finish in the upper half
of the standings in four. One of the competitions has been held at
Albuquerque’s Sandia Casino the past few years. Kostanian, obviously,
is looking forward to entering that event and playing before hometown
fans. This year’s tour stop is scheduled for Oct. 18-22.

Kostanian says each event begins with 64 players, half of those
automatic bids for fulltime participants. The other 32 go to qualifiers
and those who receive invitations or sponsors’ exemptions.

Kostanian says from what she’s seen, most of the women on the tour
get along well and have a lot of respect for each another. She says
they all tend to stay at the same motels.

Also, she says, there do not seem to be head games with one player
attempting to psych out another. But, if that were to come about,
Kostanian has an advantage. It has to do with being vertically
challenged.

All she has to do is tell them what she already believes:

"I think being short in pool is an advantage. You are closer to the
table and you can see the lines better."

Armenian President cancels visit to Moscow

RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
July 21, 2006

RBC, 21.07.2006, Moscow 13:53:40.Armenian President Robert Kocharian
has cancelled his visit to the informal CIS summit in Moscow because of
a cold, RBC was told by the Armenian presidential administration. The
administration officials also said that the President was on a
short-term vacation that he intended to spend in Armenia, and had
been since July 17.

It has also been reported that Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili
will not be going to Moscow. It had been expected that President of
Russia and Georgia would discuss stabilization of relations between
the two states.