Month: April 2007

WOUNDED MAYOR OF GYUMRI IS IN GRAVE CONDITION

Arminfo
2007-04-02 23:52:00

The mayor of Gyumri Vardan Ghoukassyan, who was seriously wounded
on Monday, is continues to be in a grave condition. A source from
the reanimation department of the Grigor Lusavorich Health Center has
told ArmInfo that Ghoukassyan has been shot in the buttocks and rectum
and has undergone a seriuous surgery. "He is in grave condition and
everything may happen. The doctors are presently conferring," says
the source.

To remind, the attack on Ghoukassyan took place on the Yerevan-Gyumri
highway near Ashtarak. Witnesses say that at 10:30 PM the mayor’s
cortege (Mercedes and Volvo) underwent a dense gun-fire from a gray
Jeep with no numbers. As a result, three people were killed, six
people, including the vice mayor, wounded.

Ghoukassyan was going back from Yerevan where he had taken part in a
meeting of the board of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia. The
board met to discuss the RPA candidacy for prime minister.

RPA EXPRESSED CONDOLENCES TO RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF DIED AS A RESULT OF ATTACK ON MAYOR OF GYUMRI

Arminfo
2007-04-03 12:03:00

The Board of the Republican party of Armenia expressed its condolences
to the relatives and friends of the died as a result of attack on
the Mayor of Gyumri Vardan Ghoukassyan. According to RPA statement,
spread today, the party condemns this crime and requires from the
country’s law machinery to reveal the criminals in the shortest
possible time and punish them.

According to the refined data, the attempt at the Mayor of Gyumri
happened on the Yerevan-Gyumri highway not far from the Ashtarak
town. Witnesses say that at 10:30 PM the mayor’s cortege (Mercedes and
Volvo) underwent a dense gun-fire from a gray Jeep with no numbers. As
a result, three people were killed, six people, including the vice
mayor, wounded. The surgeons of the Yerevan Nork hospital have started
the operation for saving the life of V. Ghoukassyan. His life is out
of danger, while his deputy Gagik Manukyan is in a gravest state. The
doctors do everything possible to save his life.

To remind, the attack on Ghoukassyan took place on the Yerevan-Gyumri
highway, when Ghoukassyan was going back from Yerevan where he had
taken part in a meeting of the board of the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia. The board met to discuss the RPA candidacy for prime minister.

ACRA CREDIT BUREAU STARTS PROVIDING INFORMATION TO BANKS AND CREDIT ORGANIZATIONS

Arminfo
2007-04-02 20:51:00

The national credit bureau ACRA has started providing credit references
to commercial banks and credit organizations, the president of the
Central Bank of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan said during the presentation
of ACRA on Monday.

He said that the information provided by ACRA will allow commercial
banks to score the solvency of their borrowers. Sargsyan expressed
hop that in just a few months the Armenian banks will start crediting
exclusively on the basis of ACRA references.

The Head of the Central Bank stressed the importance of the Bureau
activity as an institutional structure during reformation of the
country’s financial system. According to him, the enterprises and
companies should be interested in the formation of their positive and
successful credit history that will allow them to attract comparatively
cheaper financial resources. This will also become a serious stimulus
for withdrawal of these enterprises from the shadow sector and passing
to an adequate financial accountancy and its transparency.

As the Executive Director of ACRA Arat Arzoyan noted, the Bureau’s
activity is distinguished by a high degree of security, efficiency and
accuracy of the information given. Asked by ArmInfo about the terms
of information gathering from organizations, that render the public
services, A. Arzoyan said that the relevant agreements have already
been signed with the most of them, however, it will possible to give
this information only after passing a Law about Credit Bureaus in
the country in view of the necessity of protecting the relevant civil
rights. According to him, one of the share-holders of the Bureau, a
world-known American Dun and Bradstreet International LTD had played an
great role in assurance of high technical opportunities of ACRA. The
Bureau’s shareholders also include the Central Bank that owns 10%
of shares, the HBM Service CJSC, created by the Union of Banks of
Armenia, the Credential Inc.

Corporation, that had come out with an ACRA creation initiative three
years ago, the Armeconombank, the Conversebank, the First Hypothec
Company, the "Smart Tech" and "Alfa Plus Consulting" Companies.

Presently, starting from 2003, the ACRA’s data bank comprises about
half a million credit histories and 200,000 borrowers registered.

RUSSIA ANTICIPATES THAT THE ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA WILL CORRESPOND TO ACCEPTED DEMOCRATIC NORMS

ArmRadio.am
03.04.2007 14:15

Russia anticipates that the parliamentary elections in Armenia "will
be held on a high organizational level and will correspond to the
accepted democratic norms," official representative of the Russian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mikhail Kaminin declared on the eve of
the visit to the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to Armenia,
Mediamax reports.

Kaminin noted that during his visit the Russian Foreign Minister hopes
to hear his counterpart’s evaluation of the pre-election situation
in Armenia.

"We expect that the elections will be held on a high organizational
level and will correspond to the accepted democratic norms. We shall
endorse the process by sending Russian observers in the framework of
the CIS and the OSCE," Mikhail Kaminin mentioned.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA MOD REFUTES THE RECURRENT MISINFORMATION OF AZERBAIJAN

ArmRadio.am
03.04.2007 14:38

The Armenian Ministry of Defense has refuted the recurrent reports of
Azeri media on the violation of the cease-fire regime. Press Secretary
of the Ministry of Defense, Colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan told ArmInfo
that the information does not correspond to reality.

Referring to the Press Service of the Azeri MOD, Day.az reported
on April 2 that the cease-fire regime was violated at the contact
line of the Armed Forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan. "On April 2
the Armenian armed divisions deployed near Shavarshavan village
in Noyemberyan region of Armenia opened fire in the direction of
Azerbaijani positions near Farahli village in Ghazakh region, "
the sourse writes. In this regard Seyran Shahsuvaryan reminded that
the divisions of the Armed Forces are deployed at the contact line,
and not the " armed divisions."

POLICEMAN KILLS AN ARMENIAN IN SAMTSKHE JAVAKHK

ArmRadio.am
03.04.2007 15:12

Paata Chaviashvili, a patrol officer in Samtskhe Javakhk, shot killed
local resident Mikhael Kirakosyan. According to the data of the Imedi
TV the accident took place yesterday at about 4 p.m. when Kirakosyan
was riding from Borzhomi to Akhaltskha. The policeman opened fire at
him after the motorcyclist refused to stop.

The doctor on duty in Akhaltskha hospital David Jimchvelidze said
Kirakosyan was wounded in the left of his back. The exact reason of
the death will be determined through an examination. A criminal case
has been launched at the District Prosecutor’s Office of Samtskhe
Javakhk. The criminal has confessed his guilt.

The wife of the killed, Svetlana Amirkhanyan, demands to punish the
patrol officer to responsibility.

ARMENIAN BOXING CHAMPIONS TO BE KNOWN ON APRIL 8

ArmRadio.am
03.04.2007 15:35

On April 4 the Armenian Boxing Championship will start at "Dinamo"
gymnasium of Yerevan. More than 100 sportsmen will participate in
the competition.

The Champions of Armenia will be known on April 8.

Secretary General of the RA Boxing Federation Levon Hovhannisyan
told " Noyyan Tapan" that the sportsmen who will perform best at the
championship will be included in the national boxing team of Armenia,
which will participate in the World Championship in September.

ARMENIAN SPEAKER SAYS DEFENCE MINISTER TO BE APPOINTED PM

Arminfo
3 Apr 07

Yerevan, 3 April: The board of the Republican Party of Armenia [RPA]
has unanimously nominated acting Defence Minister Serzh Sargsyan for
prime minister, Tigran Torosyan, the speaker of the parliament and
the deputy chairman of the RPA, told journalists late at night on 2
April following the sitting of the party board.

Torosyan said that according to the constitution Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan must hold consultations with the parliament majority
on 3 April. But taking into account an agreement reached earlier,
Serzh Sargsyan will be appointed prime minister, Torosyan added. "I
think that Kocharyan will sign a decree to appoint Serzh Sargsyan
prime minister on 4 April," he said.

He went on to say that under the law, Sargsyan should to present to
the parliament a new cabinet and its programme. However, taking into
account "the current realities, no changes in the cabinet should be
expected", Torosyan added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS OFFICE
Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
Website:

April 3, 2007
___________________

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS TRIP BRINGS ARMENIA AND KARABAGH TO LIVE

Young people who want to see the real Armenia have an opportunity to join
the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) on its highly-praised Young Professionals
Trip this June.

Participants will do more than just see the historic and cultural highlights
of Armenia. They will see first-hand the contribution of the Diaspora in
bringing hope, opportunity, and empowerment to the people of Armenia.

"We want them to see that Armenia is more than museums, churches, and
shops," said Arto Vorperian, FAR’s project manager who will again lead the
trip. "The goal is to introduce them to the people of Armenia, the men and
women who are building better lives for their families thanks to the
resources and programs provided by Diasporan organizations such as FAR."

The trip is open to young people between the ages of 23 and 40. They will
see all the traditional tourist spots, but also see first-hand the successes
of FAR programs, such as the Children’s Reception and Orientation Center or
the Gyumri Information Technology Center. Participants also attend meetings
with important Armenian cultural and political leaders to hear about the
progress being made in the nation.

"Visiting Armenia, I got the chance to feel the pulse of the country that my
grandparents and my ancestors called home," said 2006 Young Professionals
Trip participant Lori Yeghiayan. "The FAR Young Professions trip gave me
more than a tour of Armenia. It brought the country to life for me. I no
longer view the land of my ancestors as a myth or a memory. Instead, I feel
that I have discovered my own Armenian heartbeat and the handfuls of
Armenian soil that I keep within me – that all Armenians do, no matter what
nation we call home."

Participants also spend time outside Yerevan, with over-night stays in
Nagorno-Karabagh, Gyumri, Goris, and on the shores of Lake Sevan.

The 2007 trip runs from June 9 to 22 and costs $2,650, which includes
airfare to and from Armenia (departing from New York, NY), double-occupancy
hotel accommodations (Hotel Congress in Yerevan, superior accommodations
outside of Yerevan), all taxes, two meals per day in Yerevan, three meals
per day outside of Yerevan, entrance fees, and guided daily sightseeing.

Space is limited, and the registration deadline is April 28, 2007. For more
details, contact Arto Vorperian by calling (212) 889-5150 or via e-mail at
[email protected]. A full tour itinerary can be found on FAR’s website:
wwwfarusa.org.

— 4/3/07

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Information Services
Address:  Vagharshapat, Republic of Armenia
Contact:  Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Tel:  +374-10-517163
Fax:  +374-10-517301
E-Mail:  [email protected]
Website: 
April 3, 2007

Conference of Married Priests in Holy Etchmiadzin

On Friday, March 30, the annual Clergy Conference of Married Priests
convened in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin under the presidency of His
Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. 
More than 180 married priests from throughout the dioceses of Armenia and
Artsakh, led by their respective primates, gathered once again in a
tradition begun by His Holiness after his election as Pontiff of the
Armenian Church.

The day began with the procession of clergymen leading His Holiness to the
Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin, to offer the Sunrise Service in solemn
anticipation of the approaching Feast of the Glorious Resurrection of
Christ.  Immediately following the church service, the meeting began with a
moment of silence in memory of Andranik Margarian, the recently departed
Prime Minister of Armenia.  His Holiness offered a prayer for the repose of
the soul of the late Prime Minister, asking God to receive His servant in
eternal lights.

As the first session commenced, His Grace Bishop Mikael Ajapahian, Primate
of the Diocese of Shirak, and organizer of the conference, presented the
agenda for the day.  Papers were presented to the clergymen by Rev. Fr.
Vahan Azarian (Diocese of Gougark), Rev. Fr. Kyuregh Talian (Diocese of
Kotayk), Rev. Fr. Gevork Ter Barseghian (Diocese of Gegharkunik) and Rev.
Fr. Varag Hakobian (Diocese of Shirak).  The presentations covered a wide
range of topics, including the current status of spiritual, pastoral,
administrative and ecclesiastical life within the parishes and dioceses of
Armenia.

Chancellor of the Mother See, His Grace Bishop Arshak Khatchatrian presented
a summary of the new law of the Republic of Armenia regulating the
relationship between the Holy Apostolic Armenian Church and the Republic of
Armenia.  On behalf of the conference, the gathered priests expressed their
gratitude to the state authorities for the enactment of the law.

In the afternoon, the priests gathered for the second session, when they had
the opportunity to offer their questions, comments and suggestions regarding
the presented papers, as well as other topics challenging Armenian Church
and society today.

At the conclusion of the discussions, His Holiness Karekin II received the
participants of the conference in the Pontifical Residence and extended his
blessings to them.  His Holiness expressed his appreciation to Bishop Mikael
for organizing the conference and to all the priests for their vigilant
service reinforcing the presence of the Church within the life of the
Armenian people and thereby making the mission of Church more effective. 
The Armenian Pontiff also addressed the questions which had been raised by
the participants, providing the assembled priests with answers, advice and
encouragement to continue steadfast in their service to God and man.

In the evening, prior to the closing prayer, His Holiness granted pectoral
crosses and letters of blessing to a number of priests in appreciation for
their continued diligent labors.