COMBAT AGAINST DRUG ADDICTION IN KAPAN

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[12:41 pm] 28 April, 2006

NGO “Apek” has realized programs of combating drug addiction in
different towns of the Syunik region, but only Qajaran got interested
in them and wanted to join the structure “European cities against
drugs”.

Coordinated combat against drug addiction in Armenia starts from
Qajaran. Several specialists will be trained there. According to
Swedish specialist Per Johanssen, the number of drug addicts is not
very high in Armenia and we must make use of the opportunity to make
it still lower.

During the first semester of the previous year three cases of drug
trafficking have been revealed, whereas this year the number has
increased five fold.

TV Company “Sosi” of Kapan

SPRING CONSCRIPTION STARTS

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[01:01 pm] 28 April, 2006

Robert Kocharyan has signed a decree about the starting the 2006
spring conscription.

In April-May of the current year all those RA citizens who are 18
years old and have not served in the army will be summoned to fulfill
their military duty.

During the same period all those soldiers who have been serving for
the last two years will be sent home.

2 -3 CHILDREN DON’T GO TO SCHOOL IN EACH VILLAGE

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[05:48 pm] 27 April, 2006

The drawings of 15 schoolchildren from Armavir, Vayots Dzor, Tavush
and Yerevan were presented in the UNO Armenian Office with the title
“School is for everyone.” The results of the composition with the
same title were also made public during the exhibition. Let us mention
that 54 drawings and 39 compositions were chosen out of 1000 works.

Such exhibition is held in Armenia for the first time though more
than 80 countries united under the motto, “Education is for all.”

All the drawings and compositions called on giving equal and available
rights to everyone. The chief of the UNICEF Sheldon Ett reminded
the people present that the right to get qualified education is
registered in the “International Convention on Children’s Rights”
which was also signed by the RA Government.

After making inquiries that the majority of children go to school she
announced, “You are the happiest people in the world, as many children
in other communities of the world are deprived of that opportunity
either because of the lack of financial means or because they don’t
realize the importance of education.” According to their data 90%
Armenian children go to school.

The chairman of the NGO “An anchor of hope” Susanna Tadevosyan
mentioned, “Our survey of the Armenian marzes revealed the 3 – 4
children from each village do not attend schools which is determined
by multiple social reasons. And when we asked whether invalid children
are among them we got a terrible answer, “Do they go to school?”

THE PEOPLE’S PARTY SHOULDERS THE PEOPLE EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES

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[07:08 pm] 27 April, 2006

The NA deputy and the member of the Armenian People’s Party Vardan
Lazarian called on the sufferers from the greenery to struggle and
recover their rights saying that the party will shoulder them with
everything possible. There were many residents present in the party
office today from Kozern, Byuzand, Northern and Main Avenues and the
gardens of Dalma who came to listen to specialists’ opinion about
their benefit from the decision of the Constitutional Court.

They were more interested in the fact whether the press conference was
organized by the “Justice” Bloc or the APP. The APP press secretary
Ruzan Khachatryan didn’t answer the question. Advocate Vahe Grigoryan
claimed that though the CC deemed the disputed acts anti-constitutional
and the deadline of their expiration is October 1, it won’t be easy
to evict the dwellers from their homes as there are other legal acts
in the country besides the decision of the CC.

By the way, the first Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan was also present
at the press conference. First of all she mentioned that the new
Ombudsman was very wise as he could make the CC admit the first three
points. “I deem it a historical moment and your victory,” concluded
Larissa Alaverdyan.

She noted that they have much to do in new conditions, and the
restoration of each citizen’s rights can be considered a step forward
for the establishment of legal country.

Let us remind you that certain articles of Civil and Land Codes and
one governmental decision were considered to be anti-governmental.

PRIMATE GALSTANIAN MAKES AN APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

AZG Armenian Daily
28/04/2006

On Monday, April 24, 2006, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian,
Primate of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese, sent a letter of
appreciation and gratitude to The Right Honorable Stephen Harper,
Prime Minister of Canada. In his letter, Bishop Galstanian thanked the
Prime Minister for his courageous action and pressed forward to urge
the Harper government to pass a law condemning all Genocide deniers.

The faithful of our Diocese and Armenian communities of Canada should
note that His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian met with The Right
Hon. Stephen Harper on March 21, 2006 in the office of the Prime
Minister in Ottawa. The purpose of the meeting was to thank Mr.

Harper for his past support of Bill M-380 in the House of Commons,
and use the opportunity to further the discussion on the Armenian
Genocide. On this occasion, Bishop Galstanian also presented a letter
from His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians.

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada, in Montreal, is pleased
to go on record to express its gratification that the accelerated
pace of efforts of the Diocese for recognition of Medz Yeghern
has been successful. This diligent and conscientious process has
brought about a timely and concrete statement from the Office of the
Prime Minister. Mr. Harper signed and sent the statement to Armenian
organizations across Canada on Wednesday April 19, 2006, days leading
up to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide.

Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese

“ARMENIA RESPECTS THE TERRITORIAL WHOLENESS OF AZERBAIJAN”

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[05:16 pm] 27 April, 2006

The NKR NA deputies cannot be involved in the PACE Armenian
delegation. RA NA deputy Speaker Tigran Torosyan announced about it in
the capital of the NKR after the Armenia – Karabakh intergovernmental
committee session hold in Stepanakert.

He mentioned that the Karabakh issue has been actively discussed within
the past 1 – 2 years in European establishments. The PACE adopted
1416 resolutions in 2005 connected with the conflict settlement. A
resolution was adopted on the refugee issue, and a document is formed
on missing people. At present an ad-hoc committee works in the PACE
under Lord Rasel Jonestone’s leadership. According to Tigran Torosyan
the committee members will visit the region in autumn.

While speaking of the Armenian engagement in European institutions
he underlined that our delegation has so far worked in our
favour, especially in the issue of the recognition of Karabakh
sovereignity. “Even the co-chairs of Minsk group agree with this. If
we ask the opinions of America and Azerbaijan they are also sure of
the results of the new referendum in Karabakh,” stated Tigran Torosyan.

As for the PACE resolution, in which the two sides are called
on ceasing their militant announcements, according to Tigran
Torosyan there are no mechanisms to control the commitment of the
resolution. Perhaps the control of the resolution commitment is put
into the committee’s competence.

Asked the question how he will comment on Aliev’s announcement to
solve the conflict within the framework of the territorial wholeness
of Azerbaijan, Tigran Torosyan answered that they respect Azerbaijan’s
wholeness but it has nothing to do with the NKR right to soveregnity.

Another key issue of the intergovernmental committee session agenda
was the amendment of the NKR Constitution. According to the NKR NA
deputy chairman Rudik Husnuntsi the Constitution will be passed by
the end of the year. At present they work out the first 8 chapters,
and Karabakh expects Armenia’s assistance on this score. Husnuntsi
claims that the NKR Constitution will greatly differ from the Armenian
one with its characteristics.

“I hope that there won’t be any blows from the American side and they
won’t have their negative impact on the conflict settlement,” noted
Tigran Torosyan while speaking about the Iranian-American relations
and their possible influence on the Karabakh issue.

THE ARMENIAN WRESTLER IN THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

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[08:04 pm] 27 April, 2006

The Armenian wrestler Karen Mnatsakanyan (65 kg) moved on the finals in
the European wrestling championship held in Moscow and will struggle
with the Georgian David Bedinadze for the European champion’s place
tonight. At present Mnatsakanyan already has a bronze medal and will
strive to provide his success.

Karen Mnatsakanyan beat the Azeri Fuad Aliev in the quarterfinals
and the Ukrainian Aleksey Mnatsakanyan.

Let us mention that Karen Mnatsakanyan is a former European champion,
a bronze medal winner and the World vice-champion.

Unfortunately, Mkitar Hunanyan (74kg) and Robert Petrosyan (96kg)
were beaten in the first phase and will not continue their further
participation in the championship.

THE NETHERLANDS WILL GIVE MONEY TO NGOs

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[07:36 pm] 27 April, 2006

The Armenian NGOs which will be involved in the program “Consolidation
of Human Rights” don’t contemplate over their financing. The Armenian
branch of the Open Society Institute Assistance Fund (OSIAF) and the
Netherlands Embassy in Tbilisi announced about the new grant 3 – month
program on the “consolidation of human rights through development of
abilities of the chosen NGOs.”

The Netherlands Embassy will allocate 513,810 USD within three and
a half years. The investment of the OSIAF Armenian branch in the
program will be about 373,050 USD. The NGOs will be chosen through
competition and each of them will get 25000 – 35000 USD.

According to the director of the OSIAF Armenian branch Larissa Minasyan
5 – 7 NGOs will be chosen which will initiate their activity in the
following fields; closed establishments of human rights protection,
speech freedom, availability of independent mass media and justice and
the security of people emphasizing the economic right of the vulnerable
stratum. The Armenian side will provide financial control. After
signing the grant agreement, Ambassador Onno Elderenboskh voiced hope
that the program will greatly contribute to the country.

The official implementation of the program will be on May 11.

KAREN MNATSAKANYAN BECAME THE EUROPEAN CHAMPION

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[08:54 pm] 27 April, 2006

Karen Mnatsakanyan (60kg) became the European champion in the wrestling
of Greek – Roman style held in Moscow. The Armenian wrestler beat
his Georgian rival David Bedinadze in the finals with the overall
3:0 and became the European champion for the 3rd time.

Karen Mnatsakanyan had significant advantage over his Georgian
rival. The Armenian sportsman beat Azeri wrestler Faud Aliev before
moving on to the finals.

By the way, Karine Shadoyan (72kg) won a bronze medal for Armenia in
the women tournament.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PATRIARCH OF GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA, CATHOLICOS ARAM I INDIGNANT AT IDLENESS OF UN

Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. Patriarch of the Great House of Cilicia,
Catholicos Aram I is indignant at the idleness and silence of
international judicial instances operating under UN mandate regarding
the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. Cilicia Patriarchy Department
of Information and Press told ArmInfo.

According to the source, Aram I expresses his indignation at the
superficial attitude of UNESCO to the destruction and “cultural
Genocide” of Armenian historical monuments by the same barbarians
who committed the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915 and
in Azerbaijani Sumgait in 1988. “Why doesn’t UNESCO take measures to
stop the destruction of Armenian monuments in the historical Western
Armenia, Cilicia, the khachkars in Old Julfa and to restore Saint
Makar Monastery in Cyprus transformed into a public dining-room?”

asks Catholicos Aram I. He calls the international community for
recognition of Armenian Genocide like the other displays of Genocide –
Holocaust and the Genocide in Rwanda – were recognized.