Month: March 2007

42 OF TOTAL NUMBER OF CANDIDATES NOMINATYED BY MAJORITARIAN ELECTORAL SYSTEM ARE CURRENTLY DEPUTIES

Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the data that the
RA Central Electoral Commission (CEC) received from 41 electoral
districts, out of the 174 candidates for deputacy nominated by the
majoritarian electoral system for the parliamentary elections to be
held on May 12, 141 candidates presented the documents necessary for
registration by the specified date.

Out of these 141 candidates, 6 are women (about 4.3%). 51 candidates
were nominated on civil initiative, 90 – by parties, including 26
candidates from the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), 13 – from the
"Orinats Yerkir" Party, 13 – from the "Prosperous Armenia" Party, 8 –
"Alliance" and 5 – from the Youth Party of Armenia.

Bids for registration of the largest number of candidates – 7 – were
submitted to Yerevan’s electoral district No 4 and Aragatsotn marz’s
electoral district No 14. 1 candidate was nominated at each of the
following 5 electoral districts – No 7, 20, 27, 28 and 32. 4 of them
– nonpartisan Samvel Alexanian, RPA member Hrant Grigorian, chairman
of the "Prosperous Armenia" Party Gagik Tsarukian and member of the
same party Melik Manukian are deputies of the RA National Assembly
of the current convocation.

All in all, 42 current deputies have been nominated by the majoritarian
electoral system, including 19 from RPA, 4 from the "Orinats Yerkir"
Party, 2 from the "Democratic Way" Party, 2 from the "Prosperous
Armenia" Party, 1 from the ARF, 1 from People’s Party of Armenia,
and 13 – on civil initiative. Two deputies have been nominated at
each of 6 electoral districts.

Among 33 deputies who either did not submit the necessary documents
by the specified date or officially rejected thier candidacies are,
in particular, Arshak Sadoyan, member of the NA "Justice" faction,
Samvel Babayan, chairman of the "Alliance" Party, Tigran Urikhanian,
chairman of the Progrssive Party of Armenia, as well as 3 members
of the same party, Manvel Yeghiazarian, chairman of the "Arabo" NGO,
Rafik Gevorgian, chairman of the "Noah’s Dove" benevolent union.

The registration of candidates will take place from April 2 to April 7,
6 pm.

ARMAVIA STARTS OPERATING YEREVAN-COLOGNE-YEREVAN FLIGHTS FROM MARCH 29

Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 29, Armavia airline started
operating new flights Yerevan-Cologne-Yerevan. NT correspondent was
informed by the airline that over 50 passengers were transported by
the first flight.

Henceforth, Yerevan-Cologne-Yerevan flights will be operated on
Thursdays.

According to the same source, Armavia operates flights to about
30 destinations.

FOURTH SPECIALIZED INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION "CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIRS. EXPO 2007" TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN ON APRIL 13-16

Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative of the company
Logos Expo Center, the fourth specialized international exhibition
"Construction and Repairs. Expo 2007" will be held in "Dynamo"
stadium of Yerevan on April 13-16.

Gayane Aghabekian, head of the company’s construction unit, told
NT correspondent that more than 60 local and foreign construction,
consulting and design companies will participate in the exhibition.

According to her, the exhibition will enable participants to display
their production and services and will create preconditions for an
increase of foreign investments in the country and integration of
the sector’s Armenian companies into world market.

G. Aghabekian said that the 900 square meter exhibition will have the
following sections: construction technologies and transport means,
building materials, energy-thermal-water supply and safety systems,
interior and exterior design, furniture, etc.

In her words, the event will be held with the official assistance
of the RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, the Union of
Architects of Armenia, the Union of Builders of Armenia and the Union
of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia.

ARMENIA 96TH IN NETWORK PREPAREDNESS INDEX

Arka News Agency, Armenia
March 28 2007

YEREVAN, March 28. /ARKA/. Armenia ranks 96th among 122 countries
in the Network Preparedness Index says the 2006-2007 IT Global
Competitiveness Report prepared by the Economy and Values Research
Center.

According to the report, the strong points of Armenia’s network
preparedness are the companies’ capability to apply new technologies,
availability of scientists and architects, as well as the number of
patented inventions and discoveries per each million of residents.

Among the weak points are high prices for Internet communication,
the number of subscribers and on-line services.

As a partner of the competitive network, World Economic Forum,
participated in the preparation of the report. The report is based on
the network preparedness index, which shows countries’ preparedness
for the development of information and communication technologies,
which promotes competition.

The "Economy and Values" Center studies competitiveness. The Center
introduces new concepts of developing high-level international
communication through a network of advisors and analysts.

REPRESENTATIVES OF UNDP AND RA CASSATION COURT SIGN MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING MEMORANDUM

Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Representative of the UN Development
Program (UNDP) Consuelo Vidal and Chairman of the RA Cassation
Court Hovhannes Manukian on March 29 signed a memorandum on mutual
understanding. The memorandum is aimed at keeping the Armenian public
informed about legal acts and court decisions. In response to a
question of reporters, the signing parties said that for this purpose
the UNDP and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
have allocated 65 thousand USD, while co-financing of the Armenian
government makes 20 thousand USD.

The purpose of the program being implemented since 2003 with the
participation of the UNDP and the SDC is to increase transparency
of the judicial power through mechanisms fitted with information and
communication technologies.

BEREJIKLIAN CONTINUES AS AN OPPOSITION STAR

Mosman Daily, Australia
March 29 2007

WILLOUGHBY MP Gladys Berejiklian turned her seat from marginal to
safe Liberal after gaining 50 per cent of the primary vote.

At the 2003 election Ms Berejiklian received only 144 votes more
than Independent Pat Reilly when preferences were distributed. Now
she holds the seat with a 14 per cent, two-party preferred margin.

Having proved herself with a number of shadow portfolios, Ms
Berejiklian is expected to continue as an Opposition star.

Currently shadow transport minister, she said: "I will work hard in
whatever portfolio is given to me.

"I will work towards the future of a Liberal government."

While votes are still being counted and an Opposition leadership
tussle is in full swing, Ms Berejiklian said she did not know which
shadow portfolio she would be given.

"I am happy to continue in transport and I am proud of what we have
achieved in that area."

Transport is one of the main local issues, and Ms Berejiklian said
former Independent Manly MP David Barr had paid the price for the
plan to widen Spit Bridge.

"Now it’s time for us to see a real solution to the traffic problem,
a holistic approach," she said.

Celebrating her win on election night at the Armenian Club at
Chatswood, Ms Berejiklian thanked the community for their support
and said voters could see she was a hard-working community-based
local member.

2007-2009 COOPERATION PROGRAM SIGNED BETWEEN PROSECTUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICES OF ARMENIA AND RUSSIA

Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2007

MOSCOW, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Prosecutor General Aghvan
Hovsepian and the RF Prosecutor General Yuri Chayka on March 29 signed
the 2007-2009 program of cooperation between the prosecutor’s offices
of the two countries. NT was informed about it from the RA Prosecutor
General’s Office.

The program envisages organizing joint scientific and practical
seminars and round tables on various functions of the prosecutor’s
office in 2007-2009.

Besides, it is envisaged to hold meetings of experts of the
prosecutor’s offices of Armenia and Russia with the aim of experience
exchange, staff training and improvement of qualification of Armenian
and Russian prosecutors.

ST. THADDEUS TO BE REGISTERED ON UNESCO LIST

PRESS TV, Iran
March 29 2007

The Church of Saint Thaddaeus, known also as the Black Church (Ghara
Kelisa), in the Iranian province of West Azerbaijan is to be registered
on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage Sites in 2008.

In making the announcement the deputy head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage,
Tourism and Handicrafts Organization said Iranian officials have done
their best to present a complete file of the ancient church to UNESCO.

If the file was incomplete, UNESCO officials would have informed us
up to now, Seyyed Taha Hashemi added.

Iran’s most interesting and notable Armenian monument, the Black
Church is located near one of the districts of Maku, a town in the
northwest of Iran.

One of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ, Thaddeus was martyred while
spreading the Gospel to this part of the country in the first century.

Some 300 years after his death, the locals constructed the church to
commemorate the apostle.

Not much appears to remain of the original church, which was restored
in the 1329 after an earthquake destroyed the structure in 1319.

Most of the present structure dates back to the 17th century when
the Qajar prince Abbas Mirza renovated and repaired the structure.

These additions are from carved sandstone. The earliest parts are of
black and white stone.

Numerous pilgrims from all over the world gather at the church each
year for the traditional feast-day of St. Thaddeus.

POLAND 1 ARMENIA 0

Sportinglife.com, UK
March 29 2007

Poland extended their lead at the top of Group A despite making hard
work of a poor Armenia side.

A home win always seemed the most likely result with top playing
bottom and the gulf in class told in the 26th minute when man-of-
the-match Maciej Zurawski scored the decisive goal to give the Poles
a five-point lead after Portugal’s draw with Serbia.

The striker looked lively from the off and tested Roman Berezovsky
within three minutes with a right-footed effort from 12 yards.

Soon after Poland defender Dariusz Dudka was inches away from giving
the home side the lead when he headed Lukasz Gargula’s eighth-minute
corner over the bar.

Armenia took 21 minutes to call Polish number one Artur Boruc into
action, but the Celtic goalkeeper had little trouble taking Levon
Pachajyan’s inswinging corner from the left.

Boruc’s Hoops team-mate Zurawski continued to look a danger and was
again denied by Berezovsky with a vicious right-footer from the edge
of the area.

But soon the Celtic striker got the goal his efforts deserved when he
coolly steered Michal Zewlakow left-wing cross into the bottom-right
corner from 12 yards.

It was Zurawski who continued to take the game to the Armenians and
twice in the space of a minute he almost registered his second of
the game.

First Berezovsky came to the rescue with a smart save to deny the
striker from 20 yards before Armenian defender Karen Dokhoyan did
well to get in the way of his effort from similar range.

Berezovsky continued to be the busiest player on the field and
in the 40th minute he was again called into action to deny Jakub
Blaszczykowski’s shot from the left channel.

Pachajyan registered a shot for the home side in the 51st minute
but his 30-yard strike was always rising and finished well above
the crossbar.

But it was the Poles who always looked the more likely to double
the advantage.

Przemyslaw Kazmierczak’s well struck shot was just over Berezovsky’s
bar and a minute later Blaszczykowski’s fierce drive from 20 yards
fizzed just wide of the left post.

Teams:

Poland Boruc, Dudka, Bak, Wasilewski, Zewlakow,Krzynowek (Jelen
83), Blaszczykowski, Lewandowski, Gargula,Zurawski, Kazmierczak
(Sobolewski 61).

Subs Not Used: Kowalewski, Bronowicki, Baszczynski, Matusiak,
Lobodzinski.

Goals: Zurawski 26.

Armenia Berezovsky, Melikyan, Dokhoyan, Hovsepyan,
Arzumanyan,Khachatryan, Nazaryan (Manucharyan 45),Artavazd Karamyan
(Melkonyan 68), Pachajyan,Shahgeldyan (Mkhitaryan 75), Zebelian.

Subs Not Used: Kasparov, Ara Hakobyan, Arman Karamyan, Aleksanyan.

Booked: Melikyan, Pachajyan, Dokhoyan, Khachatryan.

Att: 15,000 Ref: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain).

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKEY CRITICIZES U.S. RESOLUTION ON MURDERED ARMENIAN JOURNALIST

Orange County Register, CA
March 29 2007

We are seeking comments from the Orange County Armenian and Turkish
community on a U.S. Senate panel resolution today condemning the
murder in January of prominent Turkish Armenian editor Hrant Dink.

Turkey has criticized the largely symbolic resolution, but according
to Reuters, a more potent action by the U.S. Congress could come
next month as it weighs whether to debate and back a bill that would
recognize the Armenian massacres by Ottoman Turks as genocide.

In January Register reporter Tamara Chuang wrote about a Costa Mesa
service for the Armenian journalist. More than 300 people attended
that vigil at the St. Mary Armenian Church. The 52-year-old editor
of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, was called a hero for
writing about the mass killings of Armenians upon the breakup of the
Ottoman Empire in the early 1900s.

Many in OC’s Armenian community considered Dink a friend and brother.

We will update this entry with comments from the community as they
become available.

Below is a Reuters story on today’s Senate panel resolution:

Turkey chides US Senate panel over Dink resolution

ANKARA, March 29 (Reuters) – Turkey chided a U.S. Senate panel on
Thursday for backing a resolution condemning the murder in January
of prominent Turkish Armenian editor Hrant Dink, saying the bill was
politically motivated. The mainly symbolic resolution, which can now
pass to the floor of the Senate for a vote, has angered Ankara as
it makes a reference to the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 and
mentions that Dink had faced legal action for writing about them.

The resolution, backed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
took place as the U.S. Congress weighs whether to debate and back a
much more explosive bill that would recognise the Armenian massacres
by Ottoman Turks as genocide.

"It is clear that bringing this resolution (on Dink’s killing) to the
agenda of the Senate serves only to exploit the loathsome murder for
political aims by referring to the events of 1915," Turkey’s Foreign
Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry noted the government had strongly condemned Dink’s murder
and that large numbers of Turks had taken to the streets of Istanbul
at his funeral to show their revulsion.

Dink was shot dead outside his Istanbul office by a young Turkish
ultra-nationalist, who later said he had killed Dink for "insulting"
Turkey. Several other men have been arrested in connection with
the killing.

Before his death, Dink had been prosecuted under a controversial
law for his writings on the Armenian massacres, a highly sensitive
subject in Turkey.

Turkey denies Ottoman forces committed a systematic genocide against
Armenians during World War One. It says large numbers of both
Christian Armenians and Muslim Turks died in inter-ethnic fighting
as the Ottoman Empire collapsed.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has warned of serious damage to
U.S.-Turkish relations if Congress backed the genocide resolution
next month.

Many other parliaments around the world have passed similar resolutions
acknowledging the Armenian killings as genocide.

7/03/turkey_criticizes_us_resolutio_1.html

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress