Author: Chmshkian Vicken

ATOMREDMETZOLOTO TO PROSPECT FOR URANIUM IN ARMENIA FROM SEPTEMBER

Noyan Tapan
April 22, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA minister of environmental
protection Aram Harutyunian and the director general of
Atomredmetzoloto OJSC (Russia) Vadim Zhizhov on April 22 signed an
agreement on creating a closed joint-stock company (CJSC) on uranium
prospecting. Under the agreement, the company will be registered within
3 months, then it will receive a licence for uranium prospecting in
Armenia. It is planned to start geological prospecting in September
in Syunik marz.

According to A. Harutyunian, Armenia and Russia signed an agreement on
cooperation in the peaceful use of atomic energy as early as 2000. In
February 2008, the RA ministry of environmental protection and Rosatom
agency (Russia) signed a memorandum on development of cooperation in
geological exploration of uranium mines, mining and processing. This
memorandum confirmed the sides’ intention to found a joint venture.

A. Harutyunian said that the whole process of geological prospecting
will be transparent and in line with requirements of the Armenian
legislation. In his words, the Russian side envisages to make
investments of about 3 million dollars this year.

The authorized capital of the joint venture makes 92 mln 241 thousand
drams (over 297.5 thousand USD). A temporary account will be opened
in Areximbank CJSC (Gazprombank Armenia) in order to set up this
company. Atomredmetzoloto will pay (in money) 50% of the company’s
authorized capital. The Armenian side – the ministry of environmental
protection will pay its share of capital in property, as well as in
the form of geological and other information.

Atomredmetzoloto company manages all the uranium manufacturing assets
of Russia and implements some projects in Kazakhstan. The company
is in second place in the world by its uranium reserves. 100% of
Atomredmetzolot’s shares is owned by Atomenergoprom OJSC that makes
part of the Russian atomic energy agency Rosatom.

DAVID HARUTYUNYAN: ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES SHOULD TAKE MEASURES TO FIND A WAY OUT OF CURRENT SITUATION BEFORE JUNE

arminfo
2008-04-22 22:58:00

ArmInfo. Armenia should take measures to normalize the activity of
democratic institutions in the country, Chairman of the Armenian
delegation to PACE, Head of the Armenian National Assembly’s
Standing Commission for Legal Issues David Harutyunyan said at a
press-conference in parliament, Tuesday.

According to him, the Armenian delegation presented over 30 proposals
on the PACE resolution "On Functioning of Democratic Institutions in
Armenia". "The proposals didn’t aim to dampen the document, as the
latter is tough enough.

We just wanted to introduce some specifications in the resolution.

Certainly, we disagreed with some issues, but these were secondary
issues", the MP said. He stressed that the resolution has items,
according to which Armenia’s authorities should take urgent
measures before June 2008. "These items include ensuring in the
political system mechanisms due to which the opposition is given
certain rights and bears responsibility before the state. Today the
situation is extremely serious, and the Armenian authorities should
act intensively", Harutyunyan said. Another issue concerns electoral
processes. "Actually, electoral commissions should be free, i.e. no
political force should influence them", he stressed. The MP added that
the resolution raised issues on releasing persons detained on the
basis of "sophisticated charges". First and foremost, the Armenian
authorities should be encouraged to carry out all the requirements
of the resolution. Harutyunyan noted that relevant mechanisms should
be set up to implement the resolution adopted at the April 17 PACE
session.

TURKISH DAILY NEWS: ARMENIA COLD TO TURKEY’S CALL FOR DIALOGUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.04.2008 15:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ali Babacan sent a letter
to his newly appointed Armenian counterpart, saying that Turkey is
open to dialogue for normalization of troubled ties.

"There is no doubt that there are problems in the two countries’
relations but a solution passes through dialogue. Our doors are open
to dialogue," Babacan said during a news conference with visiting
Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, Turkish Daily News reports.

Commenting on the Armenian-Turkish relations, Armenia’s Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian said, "We have numerously stated that we
are willing to normalize relations without preconditions. Genocide
is a black page in our common history. We should turn over this page
and build our future."

"We received the letter from Babacan and we think it very positive,"
the TDN quoted an Armenian diplomat, who wished to remain unnamed.

"But this [call for dialogue] should not only be in words, but also in
deeds. We expect action," he said, reiterating Armenia’s willingness
to re-establish diplomatic relations and re-open the borders without
any preconditions. "This is one of the key elements.

It is nonsense for a European Union aspirant country to keep its
borders closed," the diplomat said.

The TDN article also mentions of the Armenian Diaspora’s pressure
for international recognition of the Armenian Genocide as well as
"invasion of Nagorno Karabakh, an Azeri territory, by Armenian troops."

Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 over the Nagorno
Karabakh issue.

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: nian.htm

Read the public statement here:
ferences/WCCMECC/eng.htm#4

INTERNATIONAL ECUMENICAL CONFERENCE
ON MIGRATION IN ANTELIAS

"RELIGIONS SHOULD PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ISSUES OF CONCERN TO OUR
SOCIETIES"

SAID CATHOLICOS ARAM I
IN HIS CONCLUDING REMARKS

The international ecumenical conference on migration, which was launched on
April 14 in Antelias, concluded its activities Wednesday afternoon.
Catholicos Aram I presided over the conference.

Addressing the attendants during the final session, the General Secretary of
the World Council of Churches (WCC), Dr. Sam Kobia, presented the statement
to be adopted by the conference, prepared by a special committee on the
basis of the delegates’ proposals and discussions. Dr. Kobia thanked the
Middle East Council of Churches, the conference’s organizing committee and
the delegates for their active participation. He also expressed special
gratitude to Catholicos Aram I, both for the hospitality demonstrated by the
Catholicosate of Cilicia and for the Pontiff’s valuable contribution on the
basis of his extensive ecumenical and interfaith experience.

Praising the conference organizers, the Pontiff stressed the importance of
discussing pan-humanitarian and shared concerns during such conferences.
"The issue of migration is not a religious issue or an issue pertaining to a
specific community or context. It is a human issue which is expressed in
different forms and has different implications in different environments.
Therefore, migration being a global issue and at the same time a local
issue, we need to develop both a global perspective and contextual
approach," he said.

>From an interfaith perspective, and particularly in a Muslim-Christian
environment, the Pontiff underlined that failing to integrate becomes a
dangerous phenomenon that leads to the birth of various forms of evil of
violence. "Integration is one of the critical issues that we are facing
today in many societies. Isolation could become a source of evil. All groups
living in one place, need to be integrated into a common life sustained by
shared values. We must move from co-existence to broader communities," the
Pontiff stressed.

The conference’s concluding session was chaired by the chairwoman of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia’s ecumenical committee, Dr. Nora-Bayrakdarian
Kabakian, who also addressed the conference delegates. Also speaking during
the sessions were Ibrahim Shamseddine (Shiite community), Member of the
Lebanese Parliament Dr. Farid Al-Khazen (member of the "Michelle Aoun" Bloc)
and the general Secretaries of WCC and MECC, Dr. Sam Kobia and Gerges Saleh
respectively.

##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos245.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities 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.

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

International Herald Tribune
April 17 2008
France

Today is Thursday, April 24, the 115th day of 2008. There are 251
days left in the year.

Highlights in history on this date:

1915 – The Ottoman Turkish Empire begins the brutal mass deportation
of Armenians during World War I.

1521 – Spanish rebels are defeated at Villalar, Spain, and leaders
of anti-Hapsburg movement are executed.

1617 – Concino Concini, Marquis d’Angre, is assassinated by order
of France’s King Louis XIII, and Charles d’Albert, Duke of Luynes,
takes charge of government of France.

1671 – Defeated Cossack rebel leader Stenka Razin is captured by
loyalist Cossacks in Russia and turned over to the czar’s forces.

1792 – Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle composes France’s national anthem,
La Marseillaise.

1877 – American Federal troops are ordered out of New Orleans, ending
the North’s post-Civil War rule in the South.

1898 – Spain declares war on United States after receiving U.S.
ultimatum to withdraw from Cuba.

1915 – The Ottoman Turkish Empire begins the brutal mass deportation
of Armenians during World War I.

1916 – Some 1,600 Irish nationalists launch the Easter uprising by
seizing several key sites in Dublin. The rising is put down by British
forces several days later.

1953 – British statesman Winston Churchill is knighted by Queen
Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

1967 – Soviet Cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov is killed when parachute
straps of his spacecraft get entangled, and he plunges to earth.

1969 – Lebanon’s Premier Rashid Karami resigns amid dispute over
government’s restrictions on Palestinian guerrillas.

1970 – China launches its first satellite.

1971 – Soviet cosmonauts link up with unmanned satellite prior to
attempt to build world’s first orbiting space laboratory.

1975 – Terrorists from the German Red Army faction occupy the West
German Embassy in Stockholm, taking 12 people hostage and killing
two of them.

1975 – Thousands of Vietnamese refugees are flown to U.S. island of
Guam as communists move rapidly in their takeover of South Vietnam.

1980 – The United States launches an abortive attempt to free
American hostages in Iran, a mission that results in the deaths of
eight U.S. servicemen. President Jimmy Carter announces the failed
mission to the American people.

1989 – Rebels shell eastern Afghanistan city of Jalalabad, killing
at least 54 people.

1990 – The U.S. space shuttle Discovery takes the Hubble Space
Telescope into orbit.

1991 – South African government announces it will uphold agreement with
African National Congress to free all political prisoners by April 30.

1992 – OPEC nations reject a demand by Iran for increased production.

1993 – Commandos break into a cockpit of a commandeered Indian Airlines
plane in Amritsar, India, shoot dead the lone hijacker and free all
141 people aboard.

1994 – Cuban exiles are received by President Fidel Castro, the man
some have long wanted to overthrow.

1997 – Islamist militants armed with sabers and axes strike two
villages in Algeria, butchering 47 people in a pre-election terror
wave that leaves an estimated 420 dead in a few weeks.

1998 – In front of a cheering crowd, 22 Rwandans convicted of genocide
are executed by firing squad in Kigali.

1999 – A car bomb explodes in one of London’s biggest Bangladeshi
communities, injuring seven people. A racist group claims
responsibility.

2000 – Iranian hard-liners close down 14 pro-democracy publications
in a strike against a major pillar of the reform movement.

2001 – A jury is chosen in the murder trial of a former Ku Klux
Klansman charged 38 years after the church bombing that killed four
black girls in Birmingham, Alabama.

2003 – Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of Nelson Mandela,
is convicted of fraud and theft by a regional court in Pretoria, South
Africa, and sentenced to five years in prison. Madikizela-Mandela was
charged with running fraudulent schemes to obtain about $125,000 in
bank loans and insurance payments.

2005 – Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators collect in Mexico City’s
central square and surrounding streets to protest the prosecution by
federal authorities of Lopez Obrador, the capital city’s mayor and
a leading contender for president in 2006.

2006 – Three bombings hit an Egyptian beach resort popular with
foreigners, killing at least 21 people and wounding more than 60 a
day after Osama bin Laden issues a taped warning against Westerners.

2007 – Mexico City lawmakers vote to legalize abortion in the first
12 weeks of pregnancy.

Today’s Birthdays: Edmund Cartwright, English inventor of first power
loom (1743-1823); Anthony Trollope, English novelist (1814-1882);
Shirley MacLaine, U.S. actress-dancer-author (1934–); Sue Grafton,
U.S. mystery/crime novelist (1940–); Barbra Streisand, U.S.
actress-entertainer (1942–); Eric Bogosian, U.S. actor (1953–);
Cedric the Entertainer, U.S. comedian (1964–).

AAA TO CONTINUE SERVING ARMENIAN PEOPLE WITH ITS ACTIVITY

Noyan Tapan
April 15, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 15, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 15, RA President Serge
Sargsian received Hrayr Hovnanian, the Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA). According to the
report provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s Press Office,
the interlocutors spoke about the Armenia-Diaspora relations,
Armenia-United States cooperation during the meeting.

H. Hovnanian said that the Armenian Assembly of America expects to
continue cooperating with the newly elected President and to serve
the Armenian people with its activity.

ANGELA MERKEL: ONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW HIS HISTORY, CAN’T BUILD HIS FUTURE
By A. Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
16/04/2008

Genocide

Yesterday, during the session of the Council of Europe Parliamentary
Assembly, Councilor of Germany Angela Merkel answered the questions
of the delegates present to the session. Member of the Armenian
delegation Raffi Hovanissian asked the German Councilor about the
attitude of Germany to the issue of recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, taking into account that Germany was the first state to
recognize the holocaust. Mr. Hovanissian also wandered how can Germany’
s leadership in such an issue go together with its position on the
Armenian Genocide.

Ms. Merkel answered that Germany supports the discussion of the
Armenian Genocide, especially in those countries, where similar
tragedies have taken place. One who does not know his history,
can’t build his future, she said. Ms. Merkel added that it is not
only freedom that unites Europe, but also tolerance, which is very
important.

GREEK AMBASSADOR TO AZERBAIJAN: "WE SUPPORT AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY AND NEGOTIATIONS WITHIN OSCE MINSK GROUP"

Azeri Press Agency
April 11 2008
Azerbaijan

Baku. Arzu Yagubova -APA. Themistoclis Dimidis, Ambassador of Greece
to Azerbaijan gave an interview to APA.

-President of Azerbaijan is planning to visit Greece this year. Visit
of the Greek Parliament’s Speaker to Azerbaijan is also on the
agenda. Do you have information about the dates of these visits?

-Regarding to the visit of Azerbaijani President to Greece, I can say
that Greek side has suggested realizing it in the middle of November
this year. I know that the Speaker of Greek Parliament has accepted
the invitation to visit Azerbaijan. Exact dates of the visits will
be made public after the mutual agreements on that.

-Which positive impact does Ilham Aliyev’s visit have on the
development of bilateral relations?

-Official visits are always important for the bilateral relations
between the countries. Documents signed as a result of these visits
promote intensifying of bilateral ties. I think Ilham Aliyev’s upcoming
visit will also contribute to further development of both political
and economic relations between Greece and Azerbaijan.

-Can we say that Greek-Azerbaijani relations are in the period of
high development?

-Political relations between Greece and Azerbaijan are quite enough
higher. Greece supports Azerbaijan’s integration into the European
institutions. We are continuing to support Azerbaijan in the Council
of Europe too. Both countries are closely cooperating within the
regional organizations like Black Sea Economic Cooperation.

Unfortunately, the level of economic relations does not meet the
existing potential and we have to work in this direction. Greek
Minister of Economic Development K. Folias’s visit to Azerbaijan
last month was a serious step toward this. Speaking figuratively,
doors are open for the mutual useful cooperation. Our cooperation
has not to be restricted by the energy sector only. The development
of trade and restored energy fields are also included in our plans.

Establishing of the Business Council will also make our countries
closer.

-In which phase is the establishing process of the council?

-This idea was put forward by the Minister of Economic Development
of Greece K. Folias in Baku and it is in the phase of negotiations now.

Azerbaijani Ministry of Economic Development is working on this
issue. The discussions are going on and I have no details about the
present phase. I only know that the Greek side has submitted to the
Azerbaijani Ministry of Economic Development analogical projects
signed with other countries. Azerbaijani officials are studying
these documents and I hope they will give appropriate respond in the
near future.

-There are not many Greek companies in Azerbaijan. How do you
explain it?

I take this fact into account talking about the economic relations.

One of the reasons is that Azerbaijan is not known in Greece well. It
has reasons. For example, Azerbaijani Embassy in Greece was opened in
2004. It is not much period to inform Greeks about Azerbaijan. Greek
businessmen invest capital in the countries, which they know well.

For example, Near East and Middle East, as well as Balkan States. I
think that if Greek businessmen have much information about Azerbaijan,
they will invest capital in Azerbaijan.

-Greece has supported Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity in
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. What about Athens’ position on the
conflict at present?

Our position is clear and we have stated it several times. We support
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and negotiations process within
the framework of OSCE MG. We support negotiations on the level of
the Presidents. Greece supports peaceful solution to the conflict.

-How do you evaluate discussion of this issue in the international
organizations, including UN?

Azerbaijan is an independent country and it can raise its problem in
the UN. I have not right to say something about Azerbaijan’s foreign
policy. I think that Azerbaijan has right to pursue independent
foreign policy as a sovereign country.

-How will be the solution to the conflict within the framework of UN,
EU in comparison with OSCE?

I can only say that this is in the capasity of Azerbaijani
government. Azerbaijan has its position on it and the problem will
be solved in accordance with its position. I cannot say about the
ways of solution to the conflict on behalf of Azerbaijan.

-How was Greece’s position on the resolution on Occupied Territories
of Azerbaijan in UN General Assembly?

Greece’s position on this issue was neutral as 26 countries of EU,
except France. I want to touch upon several technical factors, whilst
speaking about this issue. EU countries form common position before
consideration of such issues within the framework of international
organizations. Greece’s position was neutral in accordance with common
position of EU countries.

"ARMENIA HAS POWERFUL AUDIENCE"

Panorama.am
17:51 11/04/2008

"This is my first visit to Armenia. Before arriving I was thinking
about the competition among the participants of the festival and the
musicians taking part in the festival. Now I can see that the level of
the competency is high enough and that all the participants are world
wide known artists," said Kshishtof Penderecki famous composer who
arrived in Armenia to take part in "21st perspectives" international
musical festival. He expressed his admiration towards the Armenian
Symphonic musical brand and the musical group of H. Chekichyan.

The famous musician’s wife Elzjbietta Penderecki said that she was
fond of "Hover" group and she plans to invite them to Poland to
participate in musical festival named after Beethoven in 2009. The
couple mentioned that they have achieved and got acquainted with good
Armenians and they will keep being in touch with them.

Another participant who arrived from France Mishel Letique said he was
impressed with the audience visiting the classical music festivals. "In
Europe only adults go to the classical music concerts, but here many
Armenian youth is coming," he said.

PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION HOPES THAT ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES WILL BE ABLE TO DEEPEN DEMOCRATIC PROCESS

Noyan Tapan
April 10, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Jose Manuel Barroso, the President
of the European Commission, has addressed a congratulatory message
to Serge Sargsian on the occasion of assuming RA President’s post. He
expressed the hope that European Commission’s relations with Armenia
will continue developing and strengthening through the European Union –
Armenia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and European Neighborhood
Policy Actions Plan.

Then, according to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the European
Commission’s Armenian delegation, Jose Manuel Barroso’s message read:

"The European Commission looks forward to continuing to develop and
strengthen relations with your country in the context of the European
Union-Armenia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the European
Neighbourhood Policy Actions Plan.

"Your government faces important challenges in promoting and
implementing an agenda of political and economic reforms including
the stabilisation of the democratic process and the dialogue among
the different political forces and with civil society.

I would like to underline that despite current internal difficulties in
Armenia the European Commission stands ready to accompany your efforts
to build a prosperous State respecting human rights and the rule of
law while pursuing successful economic and social development policies.

In this context, I hope your government will be able to further
deepen democracy, notably in ensuring that electoral processes are
held in full compliance with OSCE and other international standards
for democratic elections. In this respect I trust that shortcomings
identified by the 2008 International Election Observation Mission
will be diligently addressed."

The President of the European Commission assured that all these issues
are in the focus of his attention.