Author: Chmshkian Vicken

INAUGURATION OF KHACHKAR IN NORWAY

ArmRadio.am
19.04.2007 11:01

On April 21, 2007 a katchkar monument will be placed in Bergen, Norway
dedicated to Fridtjof Nansen and the victims of the 1915Armenian
Genocide perpetrated by Turks, independent correspondent Jean Eckian
informs from France.

In its book "Armenia and the Near East" (1923), Nansen once wrote
"The massacres that started in 1915 have nothing to compare with
the history of mankind. The massacres by Abdul Hamid are minor in
comparison to what today’s Turks have done."

The initiative comes from The Armenian Society of Kaunas District in
Lithuania. When Vahan Arzumanian the head of this Society presented the
project in the annual meeting of the Assembly of Armenians of Europe
(AAE), all the participants decided to collaborate with the organizers.

Bergen is the kingdom’s second largest city, with over 225 000
inhabitants and situated on the west coast of Norway.

ARMENIA AND IRAN CONSIDER THEIR RELATIONS AS STRATEGIC

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 19 2007

YEREVAN, April 19. /ARKA/. Armenia and Iran consider their relations
as strategic, said President of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
(IRIB) Ezzatollah Zarghami during the conference in Yerevan.

He said that the approaches and prospects of both countries’ presidents
are identical and estimated as strategic.

"Armenian-Iranian relations have good prospects, and the efforts of the
high-ranking officials are directed to the deepening and development
of bilateral relations," Zarghami said.

He pointed out that in the economic sphere serious cooperation
programs are implemented, and some of these projects are on the
implementation stage.

He said that within his visit to Armenia he discussed with the
country’s officials the level of cooperation and prospects of
interaction in the media sphere.

Zarghami said that Iran has about 100 TV and Radio stations, many
of which are satellite broadcast. He pointed out that in this way
they can develop and deepen relations with neighboring countries,
especially with Armenia.

"New cooperation program will allow to prepare documentaries about
each country’s possibilities, particularly, in the sphere of economy,
as well as to create programs and films about historical-cultural
traditions and heritage of Armenia and Iran. It is the best way
to demonstrate one’s originality and unite the societies of both
countries," Zarghami said.

He visited Armenia on April 16 by the invitation of Alexan
Haroutiunian, Board Chairman of Armenia’s Public TV Channel, with
the aim of discussing the issues connected with the deepening of
Armenian-Iranian cooperation in TV sphere.

RUSSIA’S VIMPELCOM GETS FULL CONTROL OF ARMENTEL

Prime-Tass Business News Agency, Russia
April 19, 2007 Thursday 11:53 AM EET

MOSCOW, April 19 (Prime-Tass) – Russian mobile company VimpelCom
has gained full control of Armenian telecom operator ArmenTel
after acquiring a 10% stake in the operator from the government of
Armenia for 38.6 million euros, VimpelCom said in a press release
late Wednesday.

Russia’s second biggest mobile company has also agreed to pay an
additional amount equal to 10% of ArmenTel’s retained net profit for
the period between November 2006 and April.

In November 2006, VimpelCom bought 90% in the operator from
Greece-based Hellenic Telecommunications Organization for 341.9
million euros, and assumed ArmenTel’s debt of about 40 million euros.

ArmenTel is a fixed-line and mobile operator in Armenia with licenses
in the GSM 900 and CDMA standards. ArmenTel’s subscriber base
includes approximately 608,500 fixed-line subscribers and 452,000
mobile subscribers.

RA PRESIDENT SIGNS DECREE ON SPRING CALL-UP

Noyan Tapan
Apr 18 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 18, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian signed
a decree on holding 2007 spring call-up and demobilization. Noyan
Tapan was informed about it from RA President’s Press Office.

According to the decree, RA male citizens will be called up for
compulsory military and alternative service in 2007 April-June, who
turn 18 before the day of call-up, as well as who lost the right of
deferment from compulsory military call-up received before.

Servicemen who have done compulsory military service in the established
term will be demobilized in 2007 April-June.

AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS TO MEET IN BELGRADE

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 17 2007

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov is to visit Serbia’s
capital Belgrade tomorrow, Ministry’s press secretary Khazar Ibrahim
told APA Azerbaijani and Armenian Foreign Ministers will hold next
round of negotiations for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict
tomorrow.

The meeting with participation of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will
cover the core principles of the conflict regulation.

This is to be the second meeting of the Foreign Ministers within
the Prague process in 2007. The first meeting was held in Geneva on
March 14. Elmar Mammadyarov will attend the conference of the Black
Sea Economic Cooperation Organization Foreign Ministers scheduled
for April 19 in Belgrade.

"SHNORHALI" CHOIR OF CATHOLICOSATE OF GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA GIVES ANNUAL PERFORMANCE FOR ARMENIAN AND FOREIGN AUDIENCE

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2007

ANTELIAS, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The choir
"Shnorhali" (conductor Zakar Keshishian) of Catholicosate of the Great
House of Cilicia gave an annual performance recently in the Assembly
Hall of the American University of Beirut.

According to the press service of Catholicosate of the Great House
of Cilicia, the aim of the concert was to put new vibrance into the
cultural life of the Lebanese Armenian community, especially after
war hardship suffered by Lebanon.

The concert presided by Catholicos Aram I was attended by foreign
diplomates, ambassadors of a number of European countries, the
president and teaching staff of the American University of Beirut,
representtaives of political organizations, members of cultural and
charitable unions, as well as by Armenian and foreign music lovers.

During the concert that lasted for an hour and a half, works of
Yervand Yerkanian, Ruben Altunian, Nerses Shnorhali, Komitas, Barsegh
Kanachian, Tatul Altunian and others were performed.

PRESS RELEASE
The Heritage Party
31 Moscovian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 53.69.13
Fax: (+374 – 10) 53.26.97
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:

April 16, 2007

Heritage Charges Through Weekend

On Saturday, April 14, school principal Anahit Bakshian, Yerevan State
University professor Vardan Khachatrian, and other Heritage candidates
joined Raffi K. Hovannisian on a campaign tour through Karakert, Dalarik,
Baghramian, Miasnikian, Nalbandian, Metsamor, and other cities and villages
in the Armavir region. At Etchmiadzin, the final stop, hundreds of Heritage
supporters packed one of the city’s largest halls to listen to the party’s
program for a new Armenia. (Needless to say, having witnessed the size and
spirit of the crowd, the government’s H1 television journalists quickly
escaped; the footage was not shown.)

On Sunday, April 15, as buses of volunteers distributed campaign literature
in Dzoraglukh, Ttujur, Chknagh, Vardenis, Aparan, Avan, Oshakan, and dozens
of other cities and villages across the republic, Raffi K. Hovannisian
walked through Yerevan’s Shengavit district; for four hours, he talked with
citizens about Armenia’s problems and the solution we must find in ourselves
and together.

On Monday, April 16, Heritage’s campaign bus "Toward Victory" carried Raffi
K. Hovannisian to Aparan, Kuchak, Saghmosavank, Ohanavan, Mughni, Kosh,
Ujan, Byurakan, Agarak, Voskevaz, Oshakan, and Ashtarak, where Heritage
representatives walked the streets and spoke with the people. These talks
often evolved into larger public meetings, where Hovannisian and his fellow
citizens engaged one another with questions and suggestions. At night, Raffi
and Armenouhi Hovannisian had supper with the Indian and Dutch ambassadors
to Armenia.

Tomorrow, at Heritage Headquarters, Raffi K. Hovannisian will receive
officials of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission led by Ambassador
Boris Frlec. Also at Heritage headquarters, party spokesman Hovsep
Khurshudian will hold the first of Heritage’s biweekly press briefings,
which are open to all media and the public.

Founded in 2002, Heritage has regional divisions throughout the land. Its
central office is located at 31 Moscovian Street, Yerevan 0002, Armenia,
with telephone contact at (374-10) 536.913, fax at (374-10) 532.697, email
at [email protected] or [email protected], and website at

PREPARATIONS IN FULL SWING FOR THE HMEM REGIONAL GAMES IN CYPRUS

Gibrahayer – Nicosia April 11, 2007 – HMEM-AYMA is performing the
final touches for what is destined to be one of the most active &
exciting weekends in the recent history of our community. More than
100 youths, members of HMEM men’s football and girls’ basketball
teams, along with HMEM World, Regional and Local brass, will be
arriving to Cyprus to take part in the HMEM Regional Games organised
by the Cyprus Chapter of this World-wide Armenian Sports Organisation,
AYMA.

A total of four football teams and four basketball teams will be
participating, including the host teams, AYMA Football team under
coach Vazken Bodigian, and the much-promising HMEM-AYMA Basketball
team under coach/captain Markrid Kazandjian.

AYMA’s football team is not a new participant in HMEM games. Its first
participation was to the 6th Pan-HMEM games which took place in 2001,
in Beirut, Lebanon. Bodigian’s boys, having Andrew Konyalian as
Captain, will be called to play host and gain a ticket to the finals.

The HMEM-AYMA "newcomer" has been the surprise-talk of the past
week. After beating first-division strong hold ETHA in a friendly
match last Friday, spirits are running high within the AYMA committee,
the coach and the girls. A re-match has been scheduled for coming
Friday, at 9:00 p.m. at the "Evangelos Florakis" closed stadium.

Our guest teams

AYMA will be playing host to HMEM Lebanon’s football & basketball
teams, HMEM Kuwait’s football & basketball teams, HMEM Holy-Land’s
football team and Damascus’ basketball team.

All are due here with hopes of scoring success in the sports field, as
well as forging ties with their brothers & sisters of AYMA, which
rejoined the HMEM family in recent years.

Speaking to Gibrahayer, HMEM-AYMA president Dr. Antranik Ashdjian
stressed: "Our aim is to give Armenian-Cypriot youth and our community
in general, the opportunity to acquaint with the sports and social
privileges which come with our membership in HMEM. We are at a
geographical position that allows us to become a centre-point and not
the isolated, closed and introverted society of the past."

"An unforgettable weekend"

The weekend of 28th & 29th April will indeed be a unique one. Arrivals
will start as early as Thursday 26th. "Our guests will be here to
interact with our youth, and our Community members. They are NOT going
to be anyone’s "private" or "exclusive" guests, to be ferried around
secretly or to private functions. Every function we organise, every
excursion, shopping spree, lunch or dinner. they may be joined by our
community’s members. That is the whole aim.

Interaction. Interaction. And more Interaction," Ashdjian pointed out.

Friday will be dedicated to excursion and/or shopping, while the main
sports events will take place on Saturday.

"Having four teams in each sport makes it easier for us to hold a
two-round competition. We want the games to end in one day, so that
all our marzigs can freely participate & enjoy themselves at the KEF
we have in store for Saturday evening."

Semi-finals will take place concurrently on Saturday morning, while
the basketball & football finals scheduled for the afternoon will be
kept apart so as to encourage spectators to be present at both.

The evening KEF at "I Yitonia ton Asmaton" in Aglandja will include
the presentation of the Cups to the winners of the games. The
highlight will come when Hratch Gaydzagian, accompanied by Seto &
Shake Baghdassarian and Vahe Simonian, will take the stage & lead us
into a real KEF. "We have tried to book as large a place as possible,
with the best price we could get, so that more people can
participate. How many times do you get the opportunity to be on the
same dance floor with 100+ Armenian youths from other communities?"
said Ashdjian, reminding that booking in advance would be a wise move,
bearing in mind the response from Armenian Cypriot youth initial
responses.

Sunday will include an official visit of all the participating
delegations to the Armenian Prelature and the Armenian Genocide
Monument, followed by a BBQ Party at AYMA. While in the afternoon all
guests will participate in the ARF-Dashnaktsoutiun Day celebration at
the PASYDY Amphitheatre.

Teams will begin departing on Sunday evening, with remaining ones
having excursions or other activities on Monday, again with the
participation of community members.

We are certain, it will be a weekend that none of us will forget.

ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN NOT DISCONTENT WITH COVERAGE OF PROCESS OF AGITATION CAMPAIGN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Artur Baghdasarian, Chairman of Orinats
Yerkir (Country of Law) Party, does not agree with the forces who in
consideration of already committed violations consider the elections
as falsified. "How can you consider the elections as falsified if
they have not been held yet?"

OYP Chairman stated at the April 13 press conference. In
A. Baghdasarian’s words, some violations have been indeed committed,
and they have informed the Central Electoral Commission about them
and informed the Police about the shortcomings found in electoral
rolls expecting that they will be corrected in the established term.

A. Baghdasarian said that OYP is not discontent with coverage of the
process of agitation campaign. "If we are not satisfied with little,
we will not be satisfied with much, too. We should not forget that
no one covered our activity a year ago," OYP Chairman emphasized.

A. Baghdasarian stated that he is against revolutions. "I am for
changes made not through revolution but through evolution. But if they
hamper the evolution, naturally, a necessity of revolution emerges,"
he said.

Answering the question whether he expects any serious change after
Serge Sargsian’s appointment to Prime Minister’s post, A. Baghdasarian
said: "S. Sargsian has always had his considerable role in the
government’s activity and to expect any serious change is senseless,
as when his being the Defence Minister he also de facto played a
bigger role than the Defence Minister’s post presumes."

Author: Hakobian Hasmik Editor: Eghian Robert

ARMENIANS’ PROVOCATION AT UN HEADQUARTERS PREVENTED

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 12 2007

Armenians failed to achieve their provocative aims during the
exhibition on the Rwanda genocide at UN headquarters, APA US bureau
reports.

Armenians attempted to set up boards "proving killing of one
million Armenians in Turkey", after the interference of Turkish
diplomats, the UN Department of Public Information decided to close
the exhibition. Ferhan Haq, press service officer of the organization
stated that UN does not take stance on the events happened long before
the organization was established and the exhibition devoted to Rwanda
genocide should cover tragic history of this country.

The decision of the UN Department of Public Information caused Armenian
ambassador to UN Armen Martirosyan’s protest.

The genocide in Rwanda was committed against ethnic Tutsis 14 years
ago. According to international organizations, extremist Hutu militia
groups killed 500,000 civilians within 100 days.