Author: Emil Lazarian

OPENING OF SAINT CROSS CHURCH IN AKHTAMAR TO TAKE PLACE APRIL 14

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.02.2007 18:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Reconstruction of Saint Cross on Akhtamar island
is of political and economic importance, Samvel Karapetian, historian
and chairman of Era NGO said in Yerevan. The opening ceremony of the
church will take place April 14, 2007.

"Saint Cross is a church that Turks did not dare to demolish event at
the times of mass destruction of churches at the territory of Western
Armenia. Thanks to its world fame the church was saved from vandalism.

Now it’s being reconstructed. More and more tourists are coming to see
it and this has a positive impact on the local economy," he said. The
Armenian historian considers that heads of province administrations
come to understand what a great mistake their grandfathers had
committed by demolishing ancient monasteries and churches, since now
these sights could attract tourists. Karapetian underscored that "it’s
the fault of Armenians who lost their importance and thus allowed Turks
thinking of economic profit form reconstructing Armenian monuments."

"It would be a miracle if an Armenian nameboard would be fastened
next to the Turkish and English ones," Karapetian said adding Turks
will never do that, reports IA Regnum.

The Saint Cross Church was built in 915-921 by architect Manvel under
the rule of King Gagik Artsruni. The reconstruction was started in
May 2005 and finished August 30, 2006.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALL ARMENIA ID DIVIDED INTO 926 COMMUNITIES

Armenpress
Feb 21 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: All Armenia is divided into 926
territorial-administrative units, called communities, including 48
urban and 866 rural communities. The biggest community is the capital
city Yerevan, which is said to have 1.1 million population.

The second biggest community is the town of Gyumri, the administrative
center of the north-western province of Shirak. It has 147,000
population.

Vanadzor, the capital of north-eastern Lori has 105,000 population.

As of January 1, 2007 Armenia’s population was 3.2 million people,
including 2.1 million of urban population and 1.1 million of rural
population.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHURCH AGAINST AIDS

A1+
[12:53 pm] 21 February, 2007

"Unless we struggle against AIDS, there won’t be any Armenian left
in a generation," claims the Reverend Mailyan. The reverend together
with Edward Hovhannisyan, doctor at AIDS Republican Center, met a
group of students in Yerevan State University. He said that thereon
the church will support those struggling against HIV and AIDS. On that
purpose the church has already published several books on AIDS and HIV.

According to the statistics of AIDS Republican Center, 433 people are
infected with HIV, 104 of them being women and 12 – children. 150
out of the infected with HIV have passed into AIDS phase. Edward
Hovhannisyan stated that there are also not recorded contagious
people having various reasons not to turn to doctors’ help. The
doctor reminded the students about three ways of virus transmission:
sexual, through blood and mother to baby. He also informed that the
treatment of HIV and AIDS are free of charge. The expert also talked
about other phases of the disease.

HIV lasts for 7-12 years which later transforms into AIDS, the latter
being incurable. The doctor stated that one type of the virus is
widespread, which is aggressive and is more prone to AIDS. "We are
unable to save lives, but we can prolong the patient’s life."

AIDS Republican Center, founded in 1988, has carried out HIV and AIDS
prevention program in the years of 2001-2006. HIV was first found
among homosexuals in 1981 in America. Nevertheless, scientists’
researches prove its existence in 1950s in Africa.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALTERNATIVE PROPOSES OPPOSITION FORCES STARTING PROCESS OF ROBERT KOCHARIAN’S IMPEACHMENT

Noyan Tapan
Feb 20 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. "Armenia’s enemy is not Turkey,
Azerbaijan and not even Robert Kocharian and Serge Sargsian: our
enemy is the slave living inside us." Mikayel Hayrapetian, Chairman
of Conservative Party of Armenia, declared at the February 20 rally
of Alternative public-political initiative. In his words, one day
this slave will say his word by fighting for his freedom and even
the freedom of those illegally ruling over him.

Another member of Alternative, former Yerevan Mayor Vahagn
Khachatrian said that according to the data published by the
Transparency International international organization, the most
corrupted institution in Armenia is President’s staff. He declared
that they propose all opposition parties starting the process of
R. Kocharian’s impeachment. In V. Khachatrian’s words, facts of
R. Kocharian’s violating a number of provisions of RA Constitution
will be a basis for this process.

In the words of Alternative member, editor of Haykakan Zhamanak
daily Nikol Pashinian, today officials and criminals with shoulder
straps raid Armenian villages and towns with Hammer cars." However,
in his words, the beast named "illegality" should see its death in
the eyes of people who have rised to fight."

The rally was followed by a procession to the building of Board of
Public TV and Radio Company. The goal of procession organizers was to
hand the company leadership an application on giving them the right
of speaking on TV. As soon as the procession started, a conflict took
place between the demonstrants and law enforcement bodies. The latters
demanded that the demonstrants walk by pavements but this order was
disregarded by the crowd.

The next rally of Alternative is to be held on March 2, at 16:00,
in the territory near Matenadaran.

RA CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RECOGNIZES AGREEMENT SIGNED BY ARMENIA AND OPEC AS CORRESPONDING TO CONSTITUTION

Noyan Tapan
Feb 20 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. At the February 20 closed-door
sitting, the RA Constitutional Court decided that the obligations
stipulated in the loan agreement "Production Infrastructures
Restoration Program" signed between Armenia and the OPEC Fund for
International Development correspond to the RA Constitution.

The total cost of the program makes 12.9 mln USD, with the Armenian
government’s participation amounting to 2 mln USD. The loan carries a
4% interest rate and is repayable over 15 years. It aims at developing
mountainous rural communities. Within the program’s framework, funds
will be allocated for road construction, repairs of irrigation systems
and provision communities with gas supply. Armenia is obliged to create
the appropriate conditions for the program’s implementation, while
in case of obligation nonfulfilment the loan shall be repaid quickly.

The RA Minister of Agriculture Davit Lokian said that OPEC determines
the interest rate, taking into account per capita GDP of the given
country.

According to him, Armenia will no longer receive concessional loans
because per capita GDP makes about 2 thousand USD.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HRANT KHACHATRIAN AT LAST MANAGES TO ENTER OFFICE OF PARTY FOUNDED BY HIM

Noyan Tapan
Feb 20 2007

ATTENTION, COMPLETED VERSION!

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. RA MP Hrant Khachatrian, the founder
of the Constitutional Law Union (CLU) Party, accompanied by employees
of Department of Obligatory Execution of Judicial Acts, managed to
enter the central office of CLU on February 20. After waiting at the
door for about half an hour the employees of Department of Obligatory
Execution of Judicial Acts called a locksmith and opened the office
door. To recap, H. Khachatrian had failed to enter the office on
February 8.

On January 31, RA Appeal Court had sustained the lawsuit of a number
of members of CLU chairmanship by recognizing invalid the results of
the party elections held during the September 16, 2006 17th conference
of the party. Due to the disagreements that emerged during the above
mentioned conference of the party, CLU Chairman Hrant Khachatrian
declared about his resignation and about his leaving politics, after
which his deputy Hayk Babukhanian was elected as party Chairman.

In H. Khachatrian’s words, he has never lost the legal status of CLU
Chairman. "For the purpose of suspending destabilizing actions of
impostors I have applied to RA Prosecutor General with the demand to
examine the materials and to institute a criminal case on the fact
of fraud and slander," H. Khachatrian said to journalists.

In H. Khachatrian’s words, for 5-6 months running, the Iravunk,
the official newspaper of CLU, had been engaged in "black PR
and destabilizing the situation cast a shadow especially on the
opposition field." He refuted the rumor that in consequence of his
and his supporters’ telephone calls and threats it was decided to
stop publishing the Iravunk. H. Khachatrian also said that he will
do his best for the Iravunk to be published on coming Friday.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COE COMMISSIONER CALLS ON GEORGIA TO FACILITATE RETURN OF MESKHETIAN TURKS

The Messenger, Georgia
Feb 20 2007

While summing up the results of his visit to Georgia, Commissioner of
the Council of Europe for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg reminded
Tbilisi that Georgia needs to resolve the issue of the return
Meskhetian Turks.

"When entering the Council of Europe, Georgia undertook one concrete
condition concerning the Meskhetian Turks. The government of Georgia
promised that the Meskhetians, who were forced out of Georgia in the
’40s, would be given the opportunity to return to their land," the
CE Commissioner noted.

"Some Meskhetians, a small number, returned to Georgia. But the program
on Meskhetians return has not started in reality," Hammarberg stressed.

According to him, the government of Georgia prepared a bill connected
with the issue, but it was not submitted to parliament for approval.

"During my visit to Tbilisi I raised the issue that the time had come
to pass the bill and start work in that direction," the commissioner
noted.

Hammarberg pointed out that, "There is a certain fear in government
circles of Georgia that conflicts may arise between Meskhetians who
return to the country and the local population."

"The Georgian government claims that certain obstacles may be created
by the residents of the ethnic Armenian nationality with regard to
Meskhetians," he said.

The commissioner stated, "such problems cannot be ruled out, but here
political leadership must be displayed, it is necessary to inform
the local population that Meskhetians lived on this land, they were
forced to leave it and they have a full right to return and live on
this land."

While answering journalists’ questions about how the European
Commissioner evaluated the fact that Georgia had not fulfilled
obligations to the Council of Europe, Hammarberg said, "there is
no government which completely meets the required standards in the
framework of the Council of Europe."

(Black Sea Press)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YURI MERZLYAKOV: INITIATIVES ON RESOLUTION OF NAGORNO-KARABAGH CONFLICT WITHIN UN IMPEDE PEACEFUL NEGOTIATIONS

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Feb 20 2007

In an interview with Trend the OSCE Minsk group Russian Co-Chair
Yuri Merzlyakov stated the initiatives on the resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabagh conflict within UN impeded the peaceful negotiations
on the issue. He noted, "Efforts should be taken to agree the key
principles; one should not focus attention on other matters".

According to Yuri Merzlyakov, if the issue is discussed within
the UN, the known response of the Armenian party, which insists on
bringing Nagorno-Karabagh into negotiations, will be undesirable. He
stressed the UN resolutions were aimed at Armenia’s influencing
Karabagh. Therefore Armenia states if the issue is introduced to the
UN, Azerbaijan will have to negotiate with the Nagorno-Karabagh. The
Russian Co-Chair is sure it may affect the negotiation process.

With regards to the date, when the next meeting between the Azerbaijani
and Armenian FMs is to be held, Yuri Merzlyakov said the meeting was
expected to be held early March 2007, however, the Co-Chairs were
unable to receive confirmation from the conflicting parties.

He also added one of the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs would visit the
region to solve organizational and other issues prior to the meeting
to be held between RA and AR FMs.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OVER 898 THOUSAND BANK ACCOUNTS FUNCTIONED IN ARMENIAN BANKS BY THE END OF 2006

Mediamax Agency, Armenia
Feb 20 2007

Yerevan, February 20 /Mediamax/. As of December 31 of 2006, the number
of customers of commercial banks of Armenia made 761052.

As Mediamax was told in the National Statistical Service of Armenia
today, 39800 of them belonged to legal entities, 721252 – to natural
persons.

As of December 31 of 2006, there were 898197 bank accounts functioning
in Armenian banks. The rest on the deposits in the banks as of
December 31 of 2006 made 121921mln AMD, having increased by 10,3%,
as compared to November of 2006.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT PROPOSED TO TOUGHEN THE LAW "ON PROTECTION OF ECONOMIC COMPETITION"

Mediamax Agency, Armenia
Feb 20 2007

Yerevan, February 20 /Mediamax/. Armenian government presented to
the consideration of the parliament a draft law "On making changes
and amendment to the law "On protection of economic competition"".

As the Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development of Armenia
Armen Gevorkian stated today, the given draft law is worked out,
taking into consideration the practical work of the commission, the
antimonopoly policy of the European states, as well as the present
stage of economic development of the country. According to Armen
Gevorkian, the draft law is to protect the rights of the consumers
and to increase the efficiency of the law "On economic competition".

It determines the possible manifestations of unfair competition,
abuse of the dominating position on the market and the kinds of abuse.

The Deputy Minister also stated that the law toughens the measures
of punishment and administration. According to him, in case the law
is approved, the Commission on Economic Competition of Armenia will
gain additional controls to secure the competition in the country.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress