Author: Zaminian Bedik

27TH SESSION OF PABSEC STARTED IN YEREVAN

ArmRadio.am
07.06.2006 15:45

The 27th plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black
Sea Economic Cooperation Organization started today at RA National
Assembly. The event was attended by delegations of legislative bodies
of 11 states (except for the delegation of Serbia and Chernogoria)
and representatives of international organizations.

In his opening speech Chairman of the National Assembly, President
of the PABSEC Tigran Torosyan noted that as a powerful structure
of the region, the Assembly is gradually expanding its activity,
becoming a powerful factor of political and economic stability in the
region. Economic cooperation between the countries of the region and
development of infrastructures will result in establishment of an
atmosphere of trust, which will in its turn promote the resolution
of existing problems in the region.

IN Tigran Torosyan’s words, a number of steps for fostering economic
cooperation have been taken during the six months of Armenia’s
presidency over the Assembly; the legal base of the structure has
been reinforced. Different Committees of the Assembly held sittings,
discussing issues related to fighting economic crimes and elaboration
of concrete steps to deepen the dialogue between countries. The coming
two days provide the best opportunity to discuss a whole circle of
issues. He expressed the hope that this work would be effective.

According to the Chairman, by continuing the work in the direction of
primary issues in fostering economic cooperation, the Parliamentary
Assembly is representing the interests of all countries and the region
as a whole.

Accomplishment of joint economic programs will make it possible to
attract new investments and technologies.

Tigran Torosyan emphasized also that the Parliamentary Assembly’s role
in the development of diplomacy. He highly appreciated the work of
the International Secretariat, due to which all events are organized
on the highest level.

President Robert Kocharyan issued a message, wishing effective work
to the Assembly. “Up until now the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
Organization has been effective in launching economic cooperation
in the region. Nevertheless, there is still a great potential. It is
necessary to promote joint investments in the infrastructures of the
region, particularly in the spheres of energy and transport. Cultural,
educational, scientific programs and development of tourism may also
be of great importance. Such contacts allow to know each other better,
promotes the dialogue of youth in our country, which is an important
precondition for active business ties. Through legislative activity
you can create a favorable legal field for effective cooperation,”
Presidents message says.

An address was issued also by RF D Foreign Minister, BSEC
chairman-in-Office Sergey Lavrov. In his words, the structure should
direct its efforts at establishing peace in the region, since the
work of the organization allows settling the problems of cooperation
more coordinately.

To remind, Armenia undertook presidency over PABSEC last year during
the 26th session held November 23-24 in Tirana. Representatives
of Milli Mejlis of Azerbaijan are also in Armenia to undertake the
presidency for the next six months.

MANIFESTATION A EREVAN CONTRE LA XENOPHOBIE EN RUSSIE

Agence France Presse
5 juin 2006 lundi 11:28 AM GMT

Une centaine de personnes ont manifeste lundi devant l’ambassade de
Russie a Erevan pour protester contre le racisme et la xenophobie en
Russie, a l’origine, selon elles, de plusieurs meurtres recents de
jeunes Armeniens.

“Stop au fascisme”, declaraient les panneaux apportes par des militants
du Comite d’Helsinki et de neuf autres organisations de jeunes.

Les manifestants ont remis a l’ambassade une declaration accusant
“certaines structures d’Etat” russes de couvrir les assassins.

“Le fait que des groupuscules racistes et fascistes agissent sans
entraves et que leurs crimes et les assassinats restent essentiellement
impunis suggère que les activites desdits groupuscules beneficient
de la protection de certaines structures d’Etat de la Federation de
Russie”, declare ce document.

Selon les manifestants – et les medias armeniens – six jeunes Armeniens
ont ete tues a Moscou depuis le debut de l’annee “sur fond de haine
interethnique”.

Le 25 mai, un jeune Russe d’origine armenienne a ete tue a coups de
couteau par un groupe de jeunes a bord d’un train de banlieue près de
Moscou, en criant “Gloire a la Russie”, selon l’avocat de la famille.

Le 22 avril, un autre jeune Russe d’origine armenienne, Bagan
Abramiants, a ete tue d’un coup de couteau en plein jour dans une
station de metro du centre de Moscou.

“Il y a un vide ideologique en Russie a la suite de la chute des
valeurs et principes democratiques. Certaines forces cherchent
a combler ce vide avec une ideologie nationaliste. Il faut les
arreter”, a dit a l’AFP le president du Comite d’Helsinki d’Armenie,
Avetik Ichkhanian.

–Boundary_(ID_WFb+HtfZx7hm6jG1GW6EqA )–

RALLIES AGAINST RF NATIONAL HOSTILITY IN BRITAIN

A1+
[02:39 pm] 06 June, 2006

more images A rally of protest was initiated by the Armenian students
of Great Britain in connection with the increase of murders, racism
combat and hatred of mankind apparent in the Russian Federation. The
site of the rally was the territory opposite the Russian Embassy in
Great Britain.

“We, the students of Great Britain, express our deepest regret on
these events and on the increase of xenophobia in Russia. We call
on the Russian authorities to take drastic measures and to punish
the initiators in order to prevent suchlike cases in future,” this
is a quotation from the students’ statement which was given to the
Russian Embassy of Great Britain. The students also claim that “the
outcome of racism and xenophobia in the recent years has been very
appalling. About 28 foreigners were murdered in 2005 and more than
402 people were beaten and attacked by the racists. They were mainly
from Caucasus and Middle Asia including many Armenians. 6 Armenians
were killed in Moscow in 2006 because of their nationality.”

Panorama.am

14:58 02/06/06

NATURE PROTECTION MINISTER WELCOMES INITIATIVE ON SEVAN TROUT

Recently a mass media outlet announced that Nig Aparan Union, chaired
by Armenian chief prosecutor Aghvan Hovsepyan, has come up with an
initiative to recover Sevan trout in the lake. Nature Protection
Minister Vardan AIVAZYAN welcomed the initiative. Aivazyan also said
that the chief prosecutor has suggested the ministry of nature
protection to cooperate in the initiative. This is the second similar
imitative launched by Nig Aparan this year. Is it possible that this a
remark addressed to nature protection minister by the
union?/Panorama.am/

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
June 2 2006

Norwegian envoy visits Nakhchivan

Baku, June 1, AssA-Irada

The Norwegian ambassador to Azerbaijan Steinar Gil has paid a visit
to the country’s exclave of Nakhchivan on Wednesday.
Gil met with representatives of political parties, NGOs and public
organizations operating in the Autonomous Republic.
The diplomat told a news conference following the meetings that his
country is making effort to settle the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict within international norms and backs the
activity of the OSCE mediating the negotiations.
The ambassador praised the relations between the two countries. He
said issues of economic cooperation were in focus during the
discussions he had with the leadership of Nakhchivan.*

ERDOGAN MEETS U.S. REPRESENTATIVES

Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 31 2006

ANKARA – “It is a must to lift unfair isolations and embargoes imposed
on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC),” said Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan when he met the members of a U.S. House
of Representatives delegation in Ankara on Tuesday.

Erdogan and delegation members focused on Cyprus, Iran, relations
between Israel and Palestine, Iraq and allegations regarding the
so-called Armenian genocide, during the meeting.

Erdogan said “TRNC is for peace and it should not be punished. Also
Greek Cypriot administration –which voted against Annan Plan–
should not be rewarded. We expect the United States to take new steps
on this issue”.

Regarding Hamas, Erdogan said, “To assure the security is the first
thing to do to settle the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, and then,
road map should be re-activated. We support a solution based on
a two-state formula. Palestinian people should not be punished by
cutting humanitarian aid.”

-IRAN-

“Turkey is for a fair solution,” said Erdogan regarding Iran issue.

As regards developments in Iraq, he indicated, “Kirkuk`s status
should be preserved. Deployment of joint efforts against terrorist
organization (PKK) is important.”

Erdogan also explained his interlocutors Turkey`s theses about
allegations regarding so-called Armenian genocide.

On the other hand, U.S. Congressmen Roy Blunt and Steny Hoyer supported
Turkey`s suggestion to establish a commission of historians to study
the allegations (of the Armenians).

Hoyer noted that Turkey and the United States attach utmost importance
to security and stability in Middle East and the world, adding that
elimination of terrorism is a priority for both countries.

Regarding Israeli-Palestinian dispute, Hoyer said that the United
States welcomes the message sent by Turkish FM Abdullah Gul`s
(to Hamas) asking it to give up terrorism and supporting two-state
solution.

Noting that statements of Hamas to destroy Israel by means of
terrorism caused uneasiness in the United States, Hoyer said that
they will not recognize Hamas as a legitimate interlocutor until it
gives up terrorism.

WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN ARMS FROM GEORGIA NOT TO DESTABILIZE SITUATION

RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
May 31 2006

RBC, 31.05.2006, Baku 16:36:47.The withdrawal of a small portion
of military equipment and assets from the Georgian military base in
Akhalkalaki to the Russian base in Gyumri, Armenia, cannot destabilize
the political-military situation in the region, Vice Minister and
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov told a press conference in Baku,
noting that it was not so much equipment, but rather military assets
that were being removed from Georgia. At the same time, he stressed
that this did not go against Russia’s obligations under the Treaty on
Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), Azeri information agency
Trend reported.

Most of the military hardware will be withdrawn from the Russian
military base in Akhalkalaki through Azerbaijan to Russia, according
to the minister. As for the Russian peacekeeping presence in Georgia,
Moscow has no plans to cancel their 6-month rotation, and will continue
to follow all the procedures in this regard as stipulated in respective
agreements, Ivanov stated.

FROM ARMENIA TO COLUMBIA IS ONE STEP IF YOU HANG THE FLAG UPSIDE DOWN

Panorama.am
17:33 31/05/06

Today NA extraordinary session discussed the draft law “On state
flag of Armenia.” The draft was submitted by the Ministry of Culture
and Youth Affairs on behalf of the Armenian government. NA decided
to give a rapid solution to the draft with all three readings to be
concluded today.

NA session started with 99 deputies but during the discussion of the
draft law only some 20 deputies were left. NA deputy Viktor Dallakyan
expressed his concern saying that he cannot understand those deputies
who have initiated this extraordinary session but are not present
during the discussion of the draft law.

V. Dallakyan was asked two compare this government-initiated draft with
the one proposed by Orinats Yerkir. “It is not within parliamentary
ethics that the draft proposed by Orinats Yerkir is not discussed
any more. It would be better to have it as an alternative,” he
said. However, he prefers the one submitted by the government though
it has its shortcomings as well. V. Dallakyan thinks that the flag of
Armenia should be stuck on the cars of the Armenian president, prime
minister and NA Chairman. He has suggested that in the parliament.

NA plans to finish the discussion of the draft and adopt it as soon
as tomorrow.

RUSSIAN DEFENSE MINISTER RULES OUT IMPOSED SOLUTION TO KARABAKH CONFLICT

MosNews, Russia
June 1 2006

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Wednesday that talks
between Azerbaijan and Armenia were the only way to resolve the
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, the Interfax news agency reported.

Speaking in Baku, where he met his counterparts from other post-Soviet
states – members of the CIS – he said a solution imposed from outside
could be counterproductive and dangerous.

Russia, the United States, and France co-chair the Minsk Group of
nations tasked with helping solve the 18-year-old conflict.

At the same time, the minister did not rule out that a peacekeeping
contingent could be deployed in the conflict zone in the
self-proclaimed republic of Nagorno-Karabakh “in the foreseeable
future”.

“As far as Nagorno-Karabakh is concerned, I do not rule out that
peacekeeping forces could be brought in in the foreseeable future.

Their mission will be to guarantee the implementation of all political
agreements that will be reached sooner or later,” he said.

This uncertainty cannot continue forever, he said.

CRASHED A-320 DATA COULD BE DECODED IN TWO MONTHS – MINISTER

RIA Novosti, Russia
May 31 2006

MOSCOW, May 31 (RIA Novosti) – The decoding of the flight data from
an Armenian Airbus that crashed into the Black Sea May 3 could take
up to two months, the Russian transportation minister said Wednesday.

Igor Levitin said experts would have to check about 300 technical
parameters from the flight data recorder to establish the cause of
the tragedy, and that Armenian technicians would have to be involved
because the plane’s pilots spoke Armenian during the tragedy.

The recovery operation at the scene of the disaster was officially
declared over on May 24.

Tatiana Anodina, head of the Interstate Aviation Committee, said
earlier that experts might face problems deciphering data from the
cockpit flight recorder, because of damage to the recording medium.

The airliner, operated by Armenia’s Armavia, crashed while flying
from the Armenian capital, Yerevan, in stormy weather 6 kilometers
(3.7 miles) from Russia’s Adler airport, which services the popular
resort of Sochi. All 113 people on board died.