JEAN-LOURIS LAURENS: “WE HOPE THAT PROGRESS WILL BE FIXED IN ARMENIA DURING NEXT ELECTIONS”

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Five years of Armenia’s
membership to the Council of Europe – it’s a good reason to estimate
all achievements on this way. Jean-Louris Laurens, the Director
General of Political Affairs of the Council of Europe stated about
it. According to his estimation, repeal of the death penalty in Armenia
and reformation of the Constitution of the country became a great
achievement. He estimated positive Armenia’s adoption of few dozens
of laws and legislative acts, corresponding to demands of the Council
of Europe. According to Jean-Louris Laurens, at present the Council
of Europe and the European Union lead negotiations on widening the
cooperation, thus, among the 46 countries of the Council of Europe
and the 25 members of the European Union. According to Jean-Louris
Laurens, in this sense, the role of the Council of Europe is getting
great in implementation of the “New Neighborhood Policy.” Besides,
deepening of the cooperation with the European Union passes through
the way of cooperation with the Council of Europe: “This circumstance
shows that the way to Europe is single.” Jean-Louris Laurens stated
that the Council of Europe attaches great importance to holding
free and democratic elections and connected with it, is going to
concentrate its attention to holding the coming elections in Armenia:
“We hope that a progress will be fixed in Armenia during the next
elections. Free and just elections must be held, and the people’s will
must not be flouted.” Responding to journalists’ question about the
issue that the Council of Europe is not successive in its own demands,
and that the CE observers’ delegation displayed its position rather
clear after the falsifications in the November 27 referendum, the CE
representative said that Armenia is not the only country among the
CE members which has similar problems. To avoid problems during the
coming elections, the CE is going to beforehand start corresponding
work with state structures of Armenia.

FRENCH PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER SEND MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCE ON OCCASION OF PLANE ACCIDENT

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. French President Jacques
Chirac sent a message of condolence to RA President Robert Kocharian
on the occasion of the accident of A-320 plane of Armavia airline
carrying out Yerevan-Sochi flight. “Mr President, My dear friend,
I was upset to learn the news about the plane crashed near Sochi, as
a result of which more than a hundred people died, the majority of
which were citizens of Armenia. At these tragic moments, on behalf
of the whole French people, accept my sincere condolences addressed
to you, to the families and relatives of the victims. Mr President,
please, accept the assertion of my respect and my friendly feelings
at this moment of ordeal”. As Noyan Tapan was informed from the French
Embassy in Armenia, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin sent a
message of condolence to Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian:
“I was deeply upset to learn the news about the plane that had an
accident near Sochi, in consequence of which more than a hundred
people died, the majority of which were Armenians. At the moment of
the cruel ordeal of your country I want to present my condolences to
you and the whole Armenian people,” the message, in particular, read.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy sent a message of
condolence to his Armenian colleague Vartan Oskanian. “I was deeply
upset to learn the news about the crashed plane, in consequence of
which more than a hundred people died, the majority of which were
Armenians. At the moment of ordeal accept my support and condolences,”
the French Foreign Minister’s message, in particular, read.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO CHANGE OF PRIME MINISTER ENVISAGED IN NKR

Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian disproved
the news about the NKR Prime Minister’s expected change. “There is
no such an issue on our agenda,” Arkadi Ghukasian stated in the May
5 interview given to journalists in Yerevan.

NO MEETING BETWEEN NKR PRESIDENT AND OSCE MG FRENCH CO-CHAIR HELD

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On May 4, the
representatives of Co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group on settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict Bernard Fassier met with the
representatives of NKR President Arkadi Ghukasian and discussed some
issues. NKR President informed about it during his May 5 interview to
journalists. His meeting with the French Co-chair did not take place
as A.Ghukasian was informed about the meeting late: NKR President
was not able to meet the Co-chair in the first half of the day
and in the second half Fassier was already leaving. In response to
journalists’ questions, NKR President mentioned that he does not hold
the opinion that “we are very close to the final settlement of the
problem”. “Nothing can be excluded, may God help us to quickly find
the compromise necessary for all sides but no one can say whether this
will be in July, in August or in February,” Arkadi Ghukasian declared.

ARMENIANS HAVE ALL BASES TO BE CONSIDERED NATION HAVING UNIQUE CIVILIZATION, DIRECTOR OF “NORAVANK” SCIENTIFIC-EDUCATIONAL FUND SURE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Unlike many other
nations, Armenians have all bases to be considered a nation having
a unique civilization. At the May 4 discussion organized at the
“Noravank” scientific-educational fund, Gagik Haroutiunian, the fund
Director expressed such an opinion, presenting results of a survey
on the theme “Armenians’ Political Orientations” held among famous
politicians. According to him, those bases are: Armenians’ origin,
the Armenian language occupying its unique place in the Indo-European
family, the Mesropian letters, Armenian Apostolic Church, literary
heritage, architecture and, according to some specialists, even the
Armenian dance. In Gagik Haroutiunian’s opinion, it is not just a
fact having historic meaning.

According to him, orientations of civilization have a very important
role in the present world as the “civilization” conception has moved
to the global strategic political field. According to Haroutiunian,
conflicts of civilizations of the present and future will be main
directions and main danger of the global strategic policy. “Not taking
into account approaches of civilization in political developments
may cause serious danger for any nation, and Armenians are not
an exception,” the speaker mentioned. According to the speaker,
some strategy must be worked out in sumilar conditions which will
allow avoid danger and use possibilities. The unigue civilization
orientation of Armenians that must be combined with upmost involvement
in world processes may serve as such one. The speaker mentioned that
Anglo-Saxons, Chineses and Jews lead such a strategy today. In the
opinion of Tigran Sargsian, the Chairman of the RA Central Bank,
Armenians represent a civilizations existed once but today they are
not a civilized nation. According to him, the national electorate
of Armenia is today disrupted and is not able to form some valuable
standards and a system of moral norms. According to Sargsian, today
the Armenian nation needs an impudent program which will allow to
gather potential for turning point development. Hasmik Hmayakian,
an employee of the RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies mentioned
that the same issue is today discussed in Egypt as well, but it is
studied in that country at the high state level. NA Deputies Vazgen
Manukian, Armen Ashotian, Khachatur Sukiasian, the RA President’s
Advisor on Security Issues Garnik Isagulian, representatives of public
organizations, experts participated in the discussion.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST CLEARLY SAY TO AZERBAIJAN THAT KARABAKH ISSUE HAS NO MILITARY WAY OF SOLUTION

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006

VILNIUS, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian participated on May 4 in the conference entitled
“Common Vision for Common Neighborhood” in capital of Lithuania,
Vilnius. The Presidents of Lithuania and Poland made opening speeches
at the conference. At the beginning of the conference, on behalf
of participants, President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus expressed
condolence over the tragic crash of the Armenian plane. Heads and
Foreign Ministers of a number of Baltic, CIS and Eastern European
countries, other high-ranking officials participated and made
speeches in the conference. In his speech Minister Oskanian first of
all thanked the participants for the words of condolence, then spoke
about political developments in the post-Soviet region. The Minister
presented the settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as
well. “Democracy is not an issue to be settled immediatly, it may not
be established in a night. We know and are sure that as far we are
on a right way and are sure that we move forwards, evolutionary and
ascending approach towards democracy is more effective and certain,”
Minister Oskanian said. Speaking about the process of settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the Minister emphasized that “with
oil reserves and present high prices for oil, the Azerbaijani side,
unfortunately, has come to the conviction or at least states publicly
that they have at hand the variant of solving the problem in the
military way. It will not be easy to go to mutual compromise with such
a thinking. But, they must be clearly told by the EU and international
community that the issue has no military way of solution, and that
necessary mutual compromises must be implemented to reach settlement,
just like ones, Armenia has alreday done.” As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
Minister Oskanian had a number of bilateral meetings within the
framework of the conference. The process of negotatians which are at
the final stage of development of the Armenian-EU Actions Plan within
the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy was discussed with
Javier Solana, the High Representative for the EU Common Foreign
and Security Policy. The interlocutors discussed the process and
prospects of the negotiations on the Karabakh conflict settlement as
well. Armenia-OSCE cooperation issues as well as the present stage
of the peaceful settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
were discussed with OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karel de Gucht. The
Ministers touched upon the Armenia-Belgium relations as well,
discussing possibilities of further development of mutual cooperation.

Minister Oskanian met with Foreign Minister of Romania Razvan Ungureanu
as well. The Ministers discussed issues of bilateral cooperation
as well as issues concerning the “Dialogue and Partnership Forum”
Black Sea conference to take place in Bucharest in coming June.

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.

CONFERENCE ON THEME “MESROP MASHTOTS AND ARMENIAN ALPHABET” TAKES PLACE IN OXFORD UNIVERSITY

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006

LONDON, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A conference of the
theme “Mesrop Mashtots and the Armenian Alphabet” took place on April
28 at the Exeter College of the Oxford University. Theo M. van Lint,
Professor of the Armenology Department functioning by Gulbenkian fund’s
financing at the Oxford University, Dr. Jos J.S. Weitenberg, the Chief
of the Armenology Department of the Leiden University (Netherlands),
Vrezh Nersesian, the head of the Birtish library “Christian Middle
East” department, Erna Shirinian, the head of the ancient literature
department of the Yerevan Matenadaran (Armenian repository of ancient
manuscripts), others made speeches at the conference. As Noyan Tapan
was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, RA Ambassador to United Kingdom Vahe Gabrielian made
the opening speech at the conference. He touched upon in his speech
the role of the Armenian letters in the Armenian history and affair
of formation of the Armenian people’s identity, their political
meaning and lessons. The conference followed the medieval literary
men’s exhibition with hand-written and printed copies of the 11-18th
centuries, The exhibition was organized from March 20 to April 30 of
the current year in the exhibition hall of the Bodleian Library of the
Oxford University. The Armenian collection in Oxford has started since
1635. The Armenology Department functioning at the Oxford University
by Galust Gulbenkian fund’s financing was founded in 1965.

EVENTS DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS HELD IN CITIES OF POLAND

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006

WARSAW, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Events dedicated to
the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims took place in the city of
Krakow, Poland, on April 29. The liturgy was celebrated to the memory
of innocent victims in the Saint Mikolay church of Krakow. Then the
divine service and lighting of candles took place at the khachkar
(cross stone) placed in the yard of the church. RA Ambassador to
Poland Ashot Galoyan, RP Senate Deputy Piotor Boron, Chairman of the
Armenian Culture Association of Krakow Adam Terketski made speeches
at the event. RA Ambassador A.Galoyan and Senator Boron laid wreaths
to the khachkar. Pupils of the Krakow Sunday school made speeches
in the yard of the Saint Mikolay church. Members of the authorities
of the Malopolska province and Krakow city, society of Poland, press
representatives as well as numerous members of the Armenian community
of Poland were invited to the event. As Noyan Tapan was informed by
the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, events
dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims were held
in Wraslow, Jeshuv, Elblong, Ljublin.

3 OUT OF 5 ARMAVIA’S PLANES MANUFACTURED BY AIRBUS FIRM

Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armanian airline Armavia’s A-320
plane that crashed on May 3 was munifactured by Airbus firm in 1995
and was acquired on leasing by Armavia in 2004. To recap, recently
the airline management stated that 90% of its flights are operated by
planes manufactured by Airbus. 3 out of 5 planes of Armavia, including
one A-320 and two A-319, have been manufactured by the Airbus firm. The
134-seat A-319 made in 2004 was leased by the airline only a month
ago. Besides, Armavia has a 350-seat IL-86 and a 120-seat YAK-42. In
2005, Armavia transported 500,100 passengers, 257,100 of whom – from
Armenia to other countries, and 243 thousand passengers – to Armenia.