Month: October 2006

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, October 20, 2006

AGBU Breathes New Life Into Gyumri School for Children With Special
Needs

On September 1, 2006, Gyumri Boarding School #3 for students with
special needs, in the northern Armenian province of Shirak, welcomed
this year’s student body to its newly renovated and refurbished
building. Funded by AGBU London and with the contribution of volunteers
from AGBU France, this is the first time this school, which has been
operating for 15 years and enrolls 132 children, has been renovated.

AGBU London provided funds in excess of $10,000 for this comprehensive
renovation project, paying for construction materials and hiring
contractors to complete some of the more specialized tasks. The Chapter
specifically sponsored the construction of new lavatory facilities,
replaced dormitory mattresses and beddings, and installed new flooring
throughout the institution. AGBU France Summer Camp volunteers,
who visited Armenia this past August, participated in the renovation
effort by painting school walls and bringing a much-needed touch of
color and vitality to the facility.

This project is a continuation of AGBU’s commitment to the
reconstruction and expansion of Gyumri, Armenia’s second-largest city,
which was nearly obliterated in the devastating 1988 earthquake. As
part of the organization’s dedication to resuscitating the rich
cultural, educational, and artistic life of the city, AGBU has also
constructed the Gyumri Art Academy, which houses the local campuses of
the Armenian Movie and Theater State Institute, the Music Conservatory,
and the Academy of Fine Arts. In the past, AGBU’s support also made
possible the reconstruction of Gyumri Secondary School #7 destroyed
by the earthquake, and the playground of Lord Byron School. Now,
the organization’s generosity has revived Gyumri Boarding School #3,
and promises an exciting start to the new academic year that began
this month.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City
with an annual budget of $34 million, AGBU preserves and promotes
the Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and
humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in
375 countries.

ARMENIA IS FACING LOSS OF INDEPENDENCE

Lragir, Armenia
Oct 19 2006

The leader of the Liberal Progressive Party of Armenia Hovanes
Hovanisyan stated October 19 at the Pastark Club that the Republic
of Armenia is facing the loss of independence, reports the news
agency ARKA.

According to Hovanisyan, if the election in 2007 is illegal, "Armenia
will become subject of Russia."

"The country’s reputation was damaged, and it cannot bring their
political claims to the world," said Hovanisyan. He stated that his
political party will run in the election and will do everything to
guarantee compliant elections.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NOBODY WORRIES ABOUT GAS PIPELINE

Lragir, Armenia
Oct 19 2006

President Robert Kocharyan conducted the October 19 meeting of the
NKR government and did not give any explanation to the members of
government and the other high-ranking officials on the fate of the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, said the minister of trade and economic
development Karen Chishmarityan. By the way, the media have reported
recently that the 40-km section of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline was
sold to the Russians secretly from the public. According to Karen
Chishmarityan, none of the high-ranking officials inquired about the
fate of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline.

In today’s meeting the government approved the priority of innovative
activities. It was decided to declare development of infrastructures
for innovative activities, the search for alternative sources of
energy, development of hi-tech and the use of sustainable technologies.

Karen Chishmarityan did not point to numbers, but he said recently the
Armenal factory and several other industries have been modernized. He
did not know how much the companies spent on innovations, who get
subsidy for gas, but he said something was done in the cement factory
of Hrazdan.

CONSTANTINE IS MY FRIEND BUT MY GREATEST FRIEND IS TRUTH

Lragir, Armenia
Oct 19 2006

I have known Constantine Zatulin since 1990 and we are close, but I
disagree with his point, stated the leader of the National Democratic
Union Vazgen Manukyan October 19 at the Pakagits Club, when the news
reporters asked him to comment on Zatulin’s statement that in the
Russian-Georgian conflict Armenia must support Russia.

"I think this is absurd. After all, we have lived in this territory
with the Georgians for thousands of years, we are neighbors, there
were great disputes, I dislike a lot of things about the Georgian
policies, but we are neighbors. Besides, we do not have sea, we
have four neighbors, Azerbaijan has blocked all the ways, Turkey
has blocked all the ways, the Iranian road is endangered, because if
America pursues an embargo and other actions, we may lose this way
too, and we are offered to make our relations with Georgia tense,
which will lead to the blockade of this way too and displacement of
the Armenians from Javakheti," says Vazgen Manukyan.

Vazgen Manukyan declined to express his opinion on Igor Muradyan’s
statement on Javakheti that Armenia and the West have made an
arrangement to prevent every movement in Javakheti that might raise
the issues of this region. He says he highly respects Igor Muradyan,
but they are different, he is a political figure, and Igor Muradyan
is a political scientist. "In other words, Igor Muradyan can say
things which a political figure may think about or not but cannot
express. But most probably what he said is not supported by any
argument. Meanwhile, a political figure does not have the right to
say things which are not supported by arguments, whereas a political
scientist has the right to," says Vazgen Manukyan.

EXPLOSION TOOK PLACE ON A-320 PLANE CRASHED IN MAY, ARMENIAN AIRLINES
FORMER PILOT DECLARES

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 19 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The A-320 plane carrying out
Yerevan-Sochi flight, crashed in May, was not uncontrollable and
the real reason of its crash was an explosion. Vladimir Poghosian,
former pilot of Armenian Airlines, declared at the October 19 press
conference. In his words, the heads of flight organization, including
Zvartnots airport’s and Armavia’s flight security departments, are to
blame for the plane crash. In V.Poghosian’s words, before getting on
the plane an argument broke out between two criminal groups, but "they
were premitted to get on the plane where this argument continued." In
his words, "four citizens of Russia rang up and said that shots are
fired on the plane."

As V.Poghosian said, there were traces of shots on the corpses of the
victims. He expressed bewilderment in connection with the fact that
the Armenian side did not express willingness to examine the victims’
corpses. Meanwhile, V.Poghosian refused to mention the facts his
statements are based on.

OSCE CONCERNED THAT ARMENIA MAY BECOME A "THIRD" CATEGORY COUNTRY IN
TERMS OF TRAFFICKING LEVEL

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 19 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. "We are concerned that Armenia is
on the verge of passing from the "second" to the "third" category of
countries in terms of the level of trafficking. Ambassador July Finly,
the US delegation’s representative to the OSCE, stated this at the
OSCE-organized October 19 seminar on fight against trafficking.

According to her, this circumstance shows that the RA government’s
activities related to the fight against trafficking are unsatisfactory:
"International assistance cannot solve all problems of trafficking,
and the Armenian government must take an active part in this fight,"
July Finly said. She expressed a hope that Armenia in cooperation with
international organizations will be able to deal with these problems.

Valery Mkrtumian, Chairman of the Interdepartmental Commission on Fight
against Trafficking, assured that the fight against trafficking is in
the center of the Armenian government’s attention. He said that there
has been success in such issues as informing the population about
the problem, Armenia’s joining the international documents in this
sphere and the development of the respective legislation. At the same
time, according to him, an efficient fight against trafficking in all
directions, particularly in identifying and punishment of criminals,
has not been conducted yet.

Head of the OSCE Yerevan Office Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin said
that the RA government plans to work out a national program on fight
against trafficking in 2007-2009: "OSCE’s assistance for Armenia in
the country’s fight against trafficking is one of our priorities and
we will continue providing necessary help to the Armenian government,"
V. Pryakhin stated.

IN VAZGEN MANUKIAN’S WORDS, RUSSIAN PARLIAMENTARIAN’S STATEMENT IS ABSURD

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 19 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Each of the sides in Armenian-Russian
relations pursues its interests and no one is indebted to another. RA
MP Vazgen Manukian, Chairman of the National Democratic Union, said
at the October 19 press conference. He disagreed to RF State Duma
Deputy Konstantin Zatulin’s statement on clarification of the Armenian
side’s position towards the Russian-Georgian conflict qualifying it as
"absurd."

In V.Manukian’s words, Armenians lived side by side with Georgians
for thousands of years and are obliged to be neighbors. Besides,
two out of four neighbors of Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, closed
all roads. And the road passing through the territory of Iran can be
endangered if U.S. consistently continues its policy of intolerance
towards this country. And under these conditions Armenia is suggested
aggravating its relations with Georgia, which will result in closure
of this last road.

NDU Chairman is not for Armenia’s membership to NATO, either. In
V.Manukian’s words, NATO cannot provide Armenia’s security, as in
the issue of Cyprus it did not protect a member of this organization,
Greece, from infringements of another member, Turkey. He highlighted
the necessity of preserving balanced relations with Russia, Iran,
Turkey and Europe.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A NUMBER OF RA MPs DEMAND TO IMMEDIATELY RELEASE UNITED JAVAKHK
DEMOCRATIC BLOC’S PRESIDENCY MEMBER VAHAGN CHAKHALIAN

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 19 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Two dozens of MPs made a statement
near the RA National Assembly building condemning the attack upon
United Javakhk democratic bloc’s presidency member Vahagn Chakhalian,
activists Gurgen Shirinian and others organized on October 10 in
Yerevan. According to the statement authors, "RA law enforcement
bodies instead of disclosing the rude crime towards national figures,
adopted a policy of slurring over this case," moreover, of punishing
the victims. It was mentioned that a few hours after the incident
V.Chakhalian was arrested by National Security Service employees and
was arrested two days later with an "absurd" accusation of illegally
crossing RA state border.

The MPs demand from law enforcement bodies to disclose and call to
liability the author of the committed crime and to immediately release
Vahagn Chakhalian or at least to remove the preventive punishment
chosen for him, arrest.

As statement initiator Hmayak Hovhannisian said at the October 19
press briefing, "the bloc promoted activity that is beyond the control
of both the Georgian authorities and the circles of Akhalkalak origin
engaged in business who nestled in Yerevan and taking the opportunities
and privileges given to them by the Georgian authorities also started
a super-profitable business in Georgia, at the seaside." Without
rendering it more concrete he hinted that one of the above mentioned
persons is a RA MP and he was recently calling for making investments
in Batumi on all TV channels.

The statement was signed by RA NA Ardarutiun (Justice) faction Head,
PPA Chairman Stepan Demirchian and PPA members Grigor Haroutiunian,
Vardan Mkrtchian, Stepan Zakarian, Edmon Tsaturian, members of the same
faction, NDU Chairman Vazgen Manukian, DPA Chairman Aram Sargsian,
NDP Chairman Arshak Sadoyan, Hrant Khachatrian, non-partisan MPs
Hmayak Hovhannisian, Viktor Dallakian, Tatul Manaserian, Manuk
Gasparian, NA State and Legal Issues Standing Committee Chairman,
member of the People’s Deputy group, RPA member Rafik Petrosian,
and with some reservations Hanrapetutiun Party leader Aram Sargsian
and member of the same party Smbat Ayvazian.

V.OSKANIAN MEETS WITH HIS CANADIAN COLLEAGUE AND MEMBERS OF
CANADA-ARMENIA PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUP

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 19 2006

TORONTO, OCTOBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. On October 18, RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian, who is in Canada on a working visit, met with his
Canadian colleague, Peter Mackey.

During the meeting the Ministers positively estimated bilateral
relations mentioning that there is rather great potential for deepening
cooperation.

The Armenian community’s active role in the issue of deepening
cooperation between Canada and Armenia, as well as its role in the
Canadian public was especially emphasized.

The sides exchanged thoughts about regional problems, in particular,
touching upon Armenian-Turkish relations. In this connection Minister
Oskanian expressed gratitude to Canadian legislative and executive
powers for recognizing the Armenian Genocide highlighting that this is
manifestation of devotion to human rights protection by the Canadian
people.

The Ministers also discussed possibilities of making Armenian-Canadian
contacts more active at international organizations and conferences.

At Peter Mackey’s request, V.Oskanian spoke about regional
developments, Armenian-Turkish relations, current stage of Nagorno
Karabakh settlement negotiations. RA Foreign Minister also presented
Armenia’s position on the resolution to be presented by GUAM at the
UN General Assembly 61st sitting.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, the same day V.Oskanian met with members of
the newly formed Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group at the
Canadian parliament. About 40 MPs are already included in the group
headed by Gary Goodyear.

In his speech made at the meeting with participation of representatives
of various organizations of Canadian Armenian community V.Oskanian
touched upon Armenian-Canadian cooperation in various spheres, as well
as reforms being implemented in Armenia and foreign policy priorities.

Head of Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Gary Goodyear
and Parliamentary Secretary of Canadian Prime Minister, Jason Kenny
spoke at the event. Jason Kenny conveyed to the event participants
the Canadian Prime Minister’s greeting speech.

Turkish troops join Beirut peacekeepers
By ZEINA KARAM
Associated Press

Associated Press
Oct 19 2006

BEIRUT, Lebanon – Turkish soldiers arrived Friday in Beirut to join
the U.N. peacekeeping force in south Lebanon, making Turkey the
first Muslim country to contribute ground troops since the mission
was expanded after last summer’s war.

Two military ships docked at 9 a.m. in Beirut’s harbor. Turkish
officials said they carried some 95 soldiers and civilian engineers,
as well as 46 trucks, four armored personnel carriers and several
bulldozers and other machinery.

More soldiers were scheduled to arrive later in the day, bringing the
number of Turkish soldiers and civilian engineers in Lebanon to 261.

The troops were expected to deploy near the southern port city of Tyre
to help rebuild bridges and roads damaged in the summer’s 34-day war
between Hezbollah and Israel.

The conflict ended Aug. 14 after a U.N.-brokered cease-fire resolution
that calls for an expanded international peacekeeping force to create
a weapons-free zone in the south.

A Turkish government spokesman said earlier this month that the total
number of Turkish personnel in Lebanon would ultimately reach 681,
including sailors and engineers. A vanguard of seven Turkish military
officers arrived in Beirut earlier this week, and a Turkish frigate
is already helping patrol Lebanese waters.

Turkey is NATO’s only predominantly Muslim member, and the country
has close ties to both Israel and Arab states. Its contribution to the
peacekeeping force was met with opposition in the Turkish parliament,
where some lawmakers feared Turkish troops would be drawn into fighting
against fellow Muslims to protect Israel.

Armenians in Lebanon also protested Turkish participation in the
peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, because they blame Turkey’s
Ottoman rulers for the mass killing of Armenians in the early 20th
century.

Many of Lebanon’s Armenian residents fled Turkey.

Turkish peacekeeping troops have served in Bosnia and Kosovo and have
led operations in Somalia and Afghanistan.
From: Baghdasarian