Month: April 2007

PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Lusine Mnatsakanyan
Tel: 3741 56 0106
Fax: 3741 52 15 05
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.himnadram. org

06.04.2007

The Three Best will Get the Prize

Life is short, art is eternal…
The April 5th exhibition at the center of innovative and experimental art
(NPAK) served a taste of eternal art, displaying the works of the semi
finalists of the President of the Republic Youth Prize in the Fine Arts and
Film nomination.
The President of the Republic Prize was established 3 years ago by
initiative of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund and the sponsorship of the
Robert Boghossian & Sons Fund. The nominations are `Fine Arts & Film’ and
`Literature’, and beginning from 2005, a nomination for the best `Classical
Music’ was added. The Prize is to evaluate and encourage young Armenian
artists and promote their further advancement.
The `Fine Arts & Film’ nomination includes painting, sculpture, graphic
arts, tapestry, ceramics, photography, design, etc. Each year, the President
of the Republic gives away 3 prizes in this category, each including a
monetary award of $2500, a certificate and a medal.
Seyranoush Manoukian, a member of the panel of judges says, `The most
important thing is that year after year, quantitatively and qualitatively
the participants are growing. In a wider chose, the best catch the eye more
easily. Besides, for the winners, this Prize is a good financial and
spiritual inspiration for newer creations.’
This year of the 46 applicants, 28 made it to the final stage. Of the 28
finalists, 5 presented films, there were 2 collections of clothes, and
21artists contested with their paintings and photographs.
`Competition is quite acute. I can see there are very good paintings. I’m
not sure if my landscapes will win’ says one of the participants, a student
of the Panos Terlemezian Fine Arts academy Gayane Khachatrian.
`Of course, I would like to be amongst the winners; however participation is
already victory of a kind. If my paintings made it to the semi finals and
even if they are not chosen to be the best, at least, this means they are
good enough’, says a student of the Yerevan Arts Academy Knarik Harutiunian.

One of last year prize winners Hripsime Davtian admitted that the Prize has
not only been an assessment of victory for her, but has obliged her to paint
more and better. `I need to remain worthy of the Prize I received’ says
Hripsime. It has to be said that Arthur Hovannisian’s works who is also a
last year laureate, were recently displayed in one of the best galleries in
Moscow and received high praise.
While this year’s participants are still excited and full of hope awaiting
the evaluations of their creations; creations which are the embodiment of
their unique perception of the world, their taste, and boldness of youth,
creations which will be evaluated and selected by the commission of highly
competent specialists.
The Commission has already made its selection, but the names of the winners
will be announced only after the decision has been approved by the President
of Armenia.
The 3 prizes will surely go to the best 3 creations, to artists whose work
is most in the spirit of eternal art.

PR Department

* Please, indicate the source.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONGRATULATES THE NEW ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER

On April 5, 2007, His Holiness Aram I sent the following congratulatory
letter to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenian, Serj Sarkesian, on
the occasion of his appointment to this position.

Your Excellency
Serj Sarkesian
Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia
Yerevan

Dear Mr. Sarkesian,

It is with special joy that we greet your appointment as the Prime
Minister of the Republic of Armenia.

We are personally acquainted with you and have seen in you a person
dedicated to Armenia and the Armenian nation. You have carried out all the
official responsibilities trusted to you with an active spirit and an
organized and systematic manner. We are confident that with the same
commitment and dedication you will perform this new mission entrusted to you
in cooperation with the President of the Republic of Armenia, His Excellency
Robert Kocharian.

On this occasion we would like to assure you that the Catholicosate of
Cilicia will continue its full support for the government of Armenian and
the benefit of our homeland and nation.

We pray to God to bestow you with good health and renewed will so you can
serve the Republic of Armenia and to strengthen its position in the
international arena.

With Pontifical blessings and warm greeting,

ARAM I
CATHOLICOS OF CILICIA

##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Habitat For Humanity Armenia
Yerevan 0037, Cholakyan street, No.38
Tel: (+374 10) 246 023
Cell (+374 91) 206 468
Email: [email protected]

His Holiness Karekin II Work Project’ Begins
Volunteers to help eradicate poverty housing in Armenia

YEREVAN, Armenia (April 6) – Buckets, shovels and trowels will swing into
action next week, as building begins to lift 37 families from poverty
housing in Armenia.
The second annual "His Holiness Karekin II Work Project" kicks off in
Armenia April 10. Volunteers from around the globe will descend upon
Armenia, to build homes side by side with homeowner families, local
sponsors, volunteers, dignitaries, and monks from the Armenian Apostolic
Church.
"The Armenian Apostolic Church is delighted to launch this event once
again with Habitat for Humanity. It’s not only a celebration of people
coming together to help families in need, but it’s also an important step
toward removing the blight of poverty housing in Armenia," says Archbishop
Vicken Aykazian of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
During building events around the country from April through October, 37
homes for families in need will be completed in Armenia, symbolizing 36
worldwide Dioceses, plus the Holy See of Mother Etcmiadzin. His Holiness,
Karekin II, Catholicos of all Armenians, is expected to bless the event’s
official opening at the Etchmiadzin Gevorgyan seminary on April 10.
Churches and individuals are challenged to fully sponsor, or to contribute
to a home. The Catholicos Project Family Sponsorship Cost (FSC) for 2007
will be $7,360, which is an average of renovations and half-build homes.
The first building event kicks off with a volunteer team coming from the
U.S. Volunteers will be working on "half-build" homes, many of which were
left unfinished after the economic collapse in the early 1990s in Armenia.
The Haroyan family of the Khor Virap village is the first selected among the
37. Sahak, 43, and his wife Piruza, 36, are vegetable farmers, currently
residing in a neighbor’s basement with their three children, aged 18, 16,
and 14. Economic strife forced the family to the basement for seven years,
as they have been unable to raise enough funds to complete their own home.
Piruza suffers rheumatism in her legs due to the humidity. "If you help us
we will finish and move to our new house by the next winter," Piruza tells a
visiting Habitat team.
The Armenian Church signed a historic partnership with Habitat for Humanity
in April 2006, aimed to combat poverty housing in Armenia, and worldwide.
The first "His Holiness Karekin II Work Project" was held in Gavar, Armenia,
where a building was renovated for 24 families, with an additional 13 homes
being built around the country.
In Michigan in 2005, the Catholicos participated in the annual home blitz
build, the Jimmy Carter Work Project, where he met with President Carter.
Following that, the Catholicos gave his blessing for a home-building event
to be created and held in Armenia.
In Armenia, a country of 3 million nestled in the southern Caucasus, more
than 40,000 families live in poverty housing. Over the past decade, a
devastating earthquake, conflict, the Soviet Union’s collapse, and a
newfound independence have led to economic crisis. Thousands still live in
metal "domiks", iron containers used for temporary earthquake relief, which
act like refrigerators in the winter; and boilers in the summer. Habitat
for Humanity Armenia has been working with families in need since 2000, and
provided homes for more than 1,400 people.

About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a nondenominational Christian charity dedicated to
eliminating poverty housing. It has built more than 200,000 houses; more
than one million people are living in Habitat homes they helped build and
own through low-cost, no-profit mortgages. We have positively affected lives
in nearly 100 countries around the globe.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity in Armenia, please visit:

PRESS RELEASE
Gavar Special School in partnership with Focus on Children Now, Inc.
33 Miqaelyan Street
Gavar, Gegharkunik 1201
Republic of Armenia
Contact: Lavrik Arevshatyan
Tel: [374] 264.24308
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

Glendale, CA based Focus on the Children Now, Inc. (FCN), an organization
whose mission is to assist needy children in Armenia, has recently
completed its first successful clothing drive. Collected were over 2000
items of clothing intended for the most disadvantaged people in the
Republic of Armenia. Gavar Special School was selected as the first
organization to receive a donation of 15 large boxes of gently used
clothing to be used for the special needs resident students, with
remaining clothing to be distributed within the larger Gavar community.

A large portion of the clothes were collected by Eileen and Audria Amirian
of Glendale, California through activities held at Clark Magnet High
School and La Canada Preparatory School. Students and families brought
over many clothes with them to school where the items were collected by
Mr. Vahik Rostami and taken to Prime Linen which donated laundry
facilities and 1,500 square feet of storage space for holding and
organizing the clothes in preparation for shipment to Armenia.

Brothers, Robert and Avo Amirian and Mr. Varooj Kureghian as well as the
Amirian Sisters sent the first shipment of clothing to Gavar Special
School which arrived on March 12, 2007 in Gavar, Republic of Armenia. The
Staff and Volunteers of Gavar Special School have received the packages
with enthusiasm, which have been unpacked and categorized for
distribution. Over 200 people will receive items, with priority given to
the 92 special needs children of Gavar Special School. Most of the
students come from extremely poor family situations being that the
Gegharkunik Region of Armenia from which Gavar Special School draws its
student body is the poorest in the country.

Focus on the Children Now, Inc will continue its work to help some of the
most disadvantaged communities in the Republic of Armenia by partnering
with various community organizations around the country. Many of these
organizations were met through the recommendations of Peace Corps
Volunteers who live and work in rural Armenia.

In the future, Focus on the Children Now, Inc will continue to send
shipments of gently used clothing. If you wish to donate items to help
the most disadvantaged in rural Armenia, please contact Mr. Varooj
Kureghian at 818-517-7080.

ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER, NATO CHIEF DISCUSS TIES

Arminfo
5 Apr 07

Yerevan, 5 April: NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
positively assesses Armenia’s fulfilment of the Individual Partnership
Action Plan with NATO, Scheffer said at his meeting with Armenian
acting Defence Minister Serzh Sargsyan held in Brussels on 4
April. Sargsyan is in Brussels with a working visit to attend a NATO
meeting in the format of Armenia-NATO 26+1.

According to Armenian Defence Ministry press service, Scheffer said
that he was informed about the political developments in Armenia and
hoped that regardless the position Sargsyan is to hold NATO-Armenian
relations will continue to develop.

NATO’s special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia Robert
Simmons, who also attended the meeting, positively assessed Armenia’s
fulfilment of the plan. The parties discussed issues related to reforms
in the defence sector, the national security strategy, cooperation and
Armenia’s participation in peacekeeping missions. "I hope that positive
trends will continue, and we can expand cooperation," Simmons said.

"Certainly, an efficient army is the main guarantor of our security. In
addition to this, relations with NATO and our participation in the
CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization] make our security
system complete," Sargsyan said.

On the same day, Sargsyan met EU Commissioner for External Relations
and Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who welcomed Armenia’s
efforts in the new European Neighbourhood policy. The parties pointed
to the importance of holding forthcoming parliamentary election in
line with European standards.

Serzh Sargsyan was appointed prime minister by a presidential decree
on 4 April.

VARDAN GHUKASYAN ONE OF FIVE RPA FIGURES

A1+
[02:17 pm] 05 April, 2007

NA deputy Hmayak Hovhannisyan talking about the assault against Gyumri
mayor Vardan Ghukasyan, mentions, ‘ I share Ashot Aghababyan’s idea;
the assault right after the RPA assembly was not just a casual
accident. Some other time that could be easier to do.’

He highlights the fact that the assault happened right on the way home,
‘It speaks about a deliberate show; a certain grouping against another
in and around the party.’

He also believes that the assault took place on the very casting day
of election results in Armavir.

‘Whether it is just a coincidence or not, you are to judge. It happened
right on the day when Prosperous Armenia and Republican Party started
a polemics about the election casting,’ In addition he states that the
attack was against a master of applying administrative resources for
the sake of government. Judging all his skills and abilities he can
be considered one of the five RPA figures similar to Hovik Abrahamyan
and others.

NIS OBSERVATION MISSION HEAD SAYS THEY WILL ISSUE STATEMENT ONE DAY AFTER ELECTION RESULTS

Panorama.am
16:34 05/04/2007

NIS observation mission will issue its statement on the parliamentary
elections in Armenia one day after summary reports on voting results,
Vladimir Rushailo, NIS observation mission head, told reporters in
Yerevan. He said the statement will be developed overnight based on
questionnaires which will be filled in by observers. "We want to make
sure that we do not draft our statement beforehand, as speculated by
some," Rushailo said.

The mission head also said they do not prefer one candidate to
another. He said they want to be sure that the elections are compatible
with the Election Code of countries where elections take place.

ARMENIAN SCHOOLBOY SPENT UNFORGETTABLE TIME WITH JACQUES CHIRAC

Arminfo
2007-04-04 17:21:00

A six-former Yuriy Danielyan from the Yerevan school N50 has been
received in Paris by the President of France Jacques Chirac. Yuriy
was living in the house of one of the President’s advisors. Having
known about it, the President invited the boy to his residence. "He
treated me, my French "father" and my brother to tea and very
tasty biscuits. Then we went to see the palace together. I liked
everything there since I have never seen the real palaces. We were
talking with Mr. Chirac in French. "He complimented me for a correct
pronunciation. He was asking me about my Yerevan school and my family",
a lucky Yuriy told ArmInfo correspondent.

In his French school in Ici-Le-Mulino, Yuriy and his several coevals
initiated a performance of Hovhannes Toumanyan’s plays "Death of Kikos"
and "Liar" in French.

As the Head of the Parliamentary Commission for culture, sports,
youth, science and education, Hranush Hakopyan, told ArmInfo, 539
Armenian schoolchildren visited the French capital, Lyons, Marseilles
and a Parisian suburb Ici-Le-Mulino in 2007, within the frames of
the Year of Armenia in France. According to a bilateral agreement,
as many children more should visit France in the near future.

The Year of Armenia under a motto "Armenie Mon Amie" had started in
France on September 21, the Day of Armenia’s Independence, and it
will be completed on July 14, 2007. It is scheduled to hold about 600
cultural, economic and charitable actions in over 120 French towns
within the frames of the Year. The Senate and the National Assembly
of France allotted 100,000 Euro each to organize the children’s
travel. The "Armavia" air Company organized free charter flights to
France for the children and their lives were insured by " Rosgosstrakh"
Russian Company free of charge.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OPENING CEREMONY OF NEW HEAD OFFICE OF HSBC BANK ARMENIA HELD IN YEREVAN

Arminfo
2007-04-04 19:48:00

The opening ceremony of the new head office of the HSBC Bank Armenia
in a high-class new building at Teryan 66 was held in Yerevan,
Wednesday. Present at the event were Head of the Central Bank of
Armenia Tigran Sargsyan, representatives of banking and business
organizations, the diplomatic corps accredited in Armenia and the
clients of the HSBC Bank Armenia.

In his speech, Chief Executive Director of the HSBC Bank Armenia
Tony Turner noted that the new head office will partially solve the
problem of high demand for the bank’s services. In this connection,
the bank is going to open three more branches in Yerevan and the
regions of the country, as well as to increase the number of bancomats
to 44. Yet, Head of CBA Tigran Sargsyan noted with humor that not only
the employees of the HSBC Bank Armenia, but also the CBA were looking
forward to the opening of the new office. He added that the HSBC’s
promises to open three more branches are not enough as "we hope that
the bank will not only continue growing in the territorial meaning, but
also actively introduce new banking services in the Armenian market".

To note, in 2006 the HSBC Bank Armenia demonstrated the highest level
of net profit – 2.856 bln AMD, or $7.9 mln. The bank holds the leading
position by the volume of mortgage credits portfolio. The bank also
showed the highest rate of banking retail growth. At the moment, $39
mln out of the $98 mln of total volume of credits are retail credits.

According to the Ranking of Armenian commercial banks prepared by
the Agency of Rating Marketing Information (ArmInfo), by January 1,
2007, the amount of the total capital of the bank was $19.8 mln
(5th position), the assets – $220.6 mln (1st position), the total
provision of crediting – $85.0 mln (3rd position). By the natural
persons’ deposits, the bank holds the 1st place – $103.4 mln.

NONA HOVAKIMYAN WAS DISMISSED

KarabakhOpen
05-04-2007 10:50:06

"The head of the Stepanakert branch of the State Cadastre Committee
Nona Hovakimyan was dismissed," confirmed NKR Prosecutor General
Armen Zalinyan answering the question of KarabakhOpen.

"The investigation revealed circumstances and she could not remain
in this position any more, because Nona Hovakimyan had attempted to
obstruct the investigation," the prosecutor general said.

According to Armen Zalinyan, the audit of the State Cadastre Committee
started a month ago and is not over yet. Only the audit of the
Stepanakert branch has finished, and charges were brought against
the head of the department and the cashier.

Armen Zalinyan said the cashier was charged with embezzlement and
is under arrest. "The case involves multiple cases of embezzlement
through forging official documents. By preliminary data, the sum is
360 thousand drams," Armen Zalinyan said.