Month: May 2008

"TEGHUT PROTECTION GROUP" STAGES YET ANOTHER PROTEST

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 23, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Members of "Teghut Protection Group"
organization staged yet another protest against the operation of Teghut
mine outside the Armenian government’s building on May 22. The citizens
carrying placards "Put an End to the Country’s Plundering", "Teghut
is a Crime against Generations", "Teghut is Biggest Taling Dump in the
World" demanded that the operation of the mine be immediately stopped.

The group member, National Assembly deputy Zaruhi Postanjian said
that a week ago the indicated organization and she as an MP applied
in writing to the government with the demand to stop the work on the
mine’s operation, to revise the government decisions on the mine’s
operation and to make an international expert examination of the
project on operation of Teghut mine.

According to her, no answer has been received so far. Besides, a
number of questions have been put, in particular: "Who is behind the
Liechtenstein-based organization that owns 81% shares of ACP company
holding a licence for operation of Teghut mines". Z. Postanjian
stated that they will take all possible steps in order to prevent the
implementation of this decision of the government: they will apply
to court and international environmental protection organizations.

In her words, ACP company cannot be trusted as it has not fulfilled
its obligations on relaunching of Alaverdi copper foundry.

ARMENIAN YOUNG MAN KILLS HIS COMPATRIOT DURING FIGHT IN GLENDALE

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 23, 2008

GLENDALE, MAY 23, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Hayk Torosyan,
20, an Armenian man, was stabbed during a fight in Glendale in the
night of May 17. He was taken by ambulance to hospital, where he was
pronounced dead.

Police spokesman John Balian of the Glendale Police Department said
that Torosyan had been involved in an argument with his girlfriend’s
ex-boyfriend on May 16. Later that day, Torosyan and a friend, Brian
Herbert, 38, went looking for the ex-boyfriend, Avetis Barnasyan, 23,
also Armenian. The two men found Barnasyann early Saturday. Balian
said Torosyan and Barnasyan fought and during the fight, Torosyan
was stabbed once in the chest with a knife. Balian said the knife
punctured his heart.

Police arrested Herbert and Barnasyan on suspicion of murder. Balian
said the two men were released by the court on May 20, because Torosyan
had initiated the fight and Barasyan was simply defending himself.

GEORGETOWN BOYS PERFORMANCE STAGED IN CANADA

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 23, 2008

OTTAWA, MAY 23, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Director Sam Hancock
staged The Georgetown Boys performance at the John Elliott Theatre on
May 14 on the basis of author Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch’s "Aram’s Chioce"
book. The story is about 110 Armenian orphan boys, who were brought
to Canada in 1923 after surviving a genocide to live in Georgetown.

ARMENIAN SPECIALISTS FROM 15 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SUBMIT BIDS FOR TAKING PART IN CONFERENCE OF FORUM OF ARMENIAN ASSOCIATIONS OF EUROPE, REGISTRATION OF PARTICIPANTS CONTINUES

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 23, 2008

BRATISLAVA, MAY 23, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian
political and cultural figures, businessmen, media representatives,
scientists, and lawyers from more than 15 European countries have
expressed willingness to participate in the conference of the
Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe to be held on May 29-30
in Bratislava (Slovakia). France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland,
Hungary, Czech Republic, Belarus, Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh are among
these countries. The United States will be also represented at the
conference.

As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Ashot Grigorian, the
Chairman of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe, the goals
of this conference dedicated to the 90th anniversary of proclamation
of the First Republic of Armenia and the 10th anniversary of creation
of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe are discussion of
measures undertaken against Turkish-Azeri anti-Armenian lobbying that
has become active, and information war, putting forward the issue of
recognition of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic parallel with the issue
of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, elaboration of lobbying in
the issue of Nagorno Karabakh settlement and general approaches over
it, support to spreading of Armenian culture in European countries,
coordination of programs aimed at preservation of the Armenian nation
in the Diaspora.

According to him, the conference will also pursue consolidation
of the huge potential of Armenian businessmen acting in various
countries of the world, creation and strengthening of business
contacts between them. One of the goals of the conference to be
held in Bratislava will be also creation of FAAE four permanently
acting departments, juridical, business, information, as well as
science-education-culture-sport.

The conference is envisaged to make amendments to the FAAE Regulations
and programs, elections of FAAE Board of Trustees will be held. FAAE
Declaration will be adopted by the results of the conference.

VARNA CITY COUNCIL DECLARES APRIL 24 AS COMMEMORATION DAY OF GENOCIDE VICTIMS

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 23, 2008

VARNA, MAY 23, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The Bulgarian Varna city
council has adopted a declaration, which condemns the 1915 Armenian
genocide. As Azatutiun (Liberty) reports, citing The Sofia Echo
periodical, the council has also declared April 24 as Commemoration
Day of Armenian Genocide victims.

The city council members expressed hope that their decision will
contribute to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide both by the
other cities of the country and the state of Bulgaria.

The opposition has raised the issue on the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide in the Bulgarian parliament for several times, the latest
of which on January 17 of this year. However, the parliamentarian
majority refuses to include the presented dratfs on the agenda,
avoiding spoiling relations with Turkey.

DELEGATION HEADED BY SLOVAK MINISTER OF JUSTICE TO PAY VISIT TO ARMENIA ON MAY 26-28

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 23, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A delegation headed
by the minister of justice of the Slovak Republic Stefan Harabin will
pay a visit to Armenia on May 26-28. NT correspondent was informed
by spokeswoman for the RA ministry of justice Lana Mshetsian that the
delegation is composed of the Slovak deputy ministers of justice and
the head of Armenian community of Slovakia Ashot Grigorian.

Within the framework of the visit, it is envisaged to sign an agreement
on development of cooperation in the sphere of justice. On May 28
the delegations of the justice ministries of the two countries will
visit the Memorial Complex of the Armenian Genocide Victims and lay
wreaths at the monument, after which the ministers will give a joint
press conference.

The Slovak minister of justice has developed a bill envisaging
responsibility for denial of the Armenian Genocide – imprisonment of
up to 5 years.

DELEGATIONS OF CENTRAL BANKS OF ARMENIA AND IRAN DISCUSS ISSUES OF COOPERATION ON FINANCIAL CONTROL AND FIGHT AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING AND TERRORISM FINANCING

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 23, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues related to cooperation between
Armenia and Iran on financial control and the fight against money
laundering and terrorism financing were discussed at the meeting of
the delegations of the central banks of the two countries in Yerevan
on May 22.

According to the press service of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA),
the delegation headed by the deputy chairman of the Central Bank of
Iran Dr.

Resa Rai is on a working visit to Armenia. The delegation is composed
of the Iranian ambassador to Armenia, the chief advisor to the chairman
of the Central Bank of Iran, the secretary of the executive commission
and the director general of Mellat Bank.

Durind a meeting of the Iranian delegation, the CBA deputy chairman
Artur Javadian and the heads of the CBA units, A. Javadian briefly
presented Armenia’s development prospects as a regional financial
center.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ELITE STAGE GROUP TOURNAMENT OF EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP UNDER 19 STARTS IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 23, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The elite stage seventh group tournament
of the European Football Championship under 19 started in the Abovian
city and Yerevan Mika club sports grounds on May 22. The national team
of Armenia competed with the football players of Turkey in Abovian and
was defeated with the score of 1:2. The 1:3 score was registered in
the Ukraine – Spain game, which was held in the sports ground of Mika.

THIS YEAR CLASSES WILL FINISH ON MAY 24 IN ARMENIAN SCHOOLS

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 23, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Classes for all forms of Armenian
comprehensive schools will finish on May 24 this year. As Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed by the Public Relations Department of the
RA Ministry of Education and Science, on June 2-20, pupils of the 4th,
9th, and 11th forms will take exams of passing to the next form and
final exams.

On June 3, pupils of the fourth form will take exams in Mother
Tongue, a dictation or a test, by the option of the school
administration. Exams in Mathematics will be held on June 6, the
examination tasks will be made up by schools’ methodical unions,
by 5 variants. Marks for exams will be given by a 5-point system.

9th-form pupils of comprehensive schools will take exams in Armenian
Language, Literature (exposition), Mathematics, and Foreign Languages
in the written form. History of Armenia, Geography, and natural
sciences subjects by pupils’ option are among the oral exams. For the
first time this year exams in Mathematics will be held by tests made
up by the Estimation and Testing Center of the RA Ministry of Education
and Science. Marks to all examination works will be given by a 5-point
system. The examination in Physical Culture will be held at least 5
days before the exams in other comprehensive subjects. The dates of
the first two exams are set by the Ministry of Education and Science,
on June 3 and 7, and the others are set by school administrations.

The number of exams for 11th-form leavers is almost the same as the
number of final exams to be taken by the 9th-form pupils. Exams in
Armenian Language, Literature, Mathematics, and Foreign Languages
subjects will be held by the final and united system, the same day,
on June 2, 11, and 17, respectively. One of the tasks of the June 5
oral examination in History of Armenia will be written, in the form
of a test. Exams in natural sciences subjects, Chemistry, Physics
will be organized on June 14. Marks will be given for all exams by
a 20-point system, only Physical Culture by a 5-point system.

GREGORY AND EMMA MELIKIAN COUPLE AWARDED ARIZONA UNIVERSITY MEDAL OF EXCELLENCE

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 23, 2008

SCOTTSDALE, MAY 23, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The Gregory and Emma
Melikian couple, who founded the Armenian Church and Cultural Center
in Scottsdale, was honored with the University Medal of Excellence.

Arizona State University President Michael Crow presented Gregory
and Emma Melikian with the University Medal of Excellence for their
leadership and civic engagement during the ASU graduation ceremonies
on May 8.

The Melikians have also supported ASU for more than three decades. They
have also invested in historic preservation of more than a dozen
properties in Scottsdale. The University Medal of Excellence
honors innovative leaders who have advanced awareness and action on
issues that affect the well-being and positive development of their
communities.