Author: Emil Lazarian

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP UNDER 20 HELD IN YEREVAN
A1+
[02:11 pm] 04 May, 2006
Chess World Championship of girls and boys under 20 will be held in
the chess house after Tigran Petrosyan on October 2 – 17, 2006. The
Championship will comprise of 13 rounds and will be held according
Swiss contest rules and criteria.
The prize winners of 20-year-old previous championship, continental
champions, first 6 winners of the FIDE fixture table and the world
champions under 18 and 16 will participate in this championship.
But if any country doesn’t meet the championship criteria, a girl
and a boy chess players may present the country in question. The
head of the championship committee will be RA Defense Minister and
the Armenian Chess Federation Chairman Serge Sargsyan.
Let us mention that it will be the greatest championship held in
Armenia in the recent years and carries great authority.
As a rule, the winners of Chess World Championships under 20 later
had great success in other tournaments.
Only Vladimir Hakobyan and the 2005 world cup-holder Levon Aronyan
have become champions among Armenian young chess players so far.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN CHURCHES WORLDWIDE TO OFFICIATE REQUIEMS ON AIR CRASH VICTIMS
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 02:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ May 5 Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) temples
worldwide will officiate requiems on victims of the air crash near
Sochi. We condole with relatives and friends of the victims. However,
we, the Christians, believe, that human soul does not die and we
will pray for the souls of the victims find their bliss in the Divine
Kingdom,” said head of the New Nakhichevan and Russian Dioceses of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, bishop Yezras Nersisyan, reports Interfax.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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:
THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’
ASSOCIATION (HEHOM)
IS HELD IN JBEIL
The Armenian Church University Students’ Association (HEHOM) organized
its annual conference in the Bird’s Nest school in Jbeil on April
29-30. About 25 young students, who contribute to the mission of
the Armenian Church through the Catholicosate of Cilicia, gathered
to enrich their information on the church and religion so they can
continue their work with further understanding and realization.
Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia, delivered a special lecture during the conference, talking
about the main families of Christian Churches. The Bishop explained
the history of these churches and of their differences with the
Armenian Church.
In the second part of his lecture Bishop Alemezian spoke about the
ecumenical movement and the role of the Catholicosate of Cilicia. He
explained the reasons behind the church having various families
currently, the main theological differences between various church
groupings, the history of the ecumenical movement and its principal
aim, the theoretical unity of churches. The Bishop also spoke about
the religious, humanitarian, social and other multi-faceted functions
of this international movement.
The interest showed by the attendants in these subjects rendered the
lecture a two way discussion.
The spiritual advisor of the association, Rev. Fr. Housig Mardirossian,
spoke about the seven sacraments of the Armenian Church, their history
and their role in Christian life. He also explained details related
to each of them.
Enriching moments of Bible reading were also held during the
conference.
##
View photo here: tm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
youth 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.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN VLADIMIR PRYAKHIN’S OPINION, LEGISLATION IN SPHERE OF ARMENIAN MEDIA IS NOT PERFECT YET
Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. “Free press is an integral part of
democratic society: without free press it is impossible to completely
ensure human rights, to effectively fight corruption, etc”. Consuelo
Vidal, Head of UN Yerevan Office, declared this at the May 3 event
dedicated to the International Press Freedom Day. She said that
often the journalists’ work is connected with risk and is not
safe. C.Vidal reminded that cases of violence towards journalists
are frequent in the modern world. She congratulated the Armenian
journalists with the International Press Freedom Day and wished them
to more minutely cover such an important world problem as poverty
reduction. Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of OSCE Yerevan Office,
informed that the office is actively working with the state structures
and NGOs of Armenia for the purpose of assisting the development
of free press. The Ambassador regretted to say that the Armenian
legislation in this sphere is not perfect yet. According to Hranush
Hakobian, Chairwoman of NA Standing Committee on Issues of Science,
Education, Culture and Youth, great progress has been registered in
the sphere of development of media during the years of Armenia’s
independence. Meanwhile the MP wished the Armenian mass media to
strive for perfecting the quality of their work. To recap, the event
was organized by the Yerevan Offices of UN and OSCE, as well as by
the initiative “Cooperation for the Sake of Free Society”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UNIBANK INTENDS TO INCREASE SHARPLY ITS MORTGAGE PORTFOLIO
Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Unibank will create a specialized
mortgage center at its branch to be opened in Yerevan. Chairman of
the Unibank Council Gagik Zakarian stated this at the May 3 press
conference. According to him, the center will provide mortgage loans
to Yerevan residents under a speedy procedure. Unibank’s mortgage
portfolio currently exceeds 5 mln USD. It is envisaged that this year
it will exceed 20 mln USD. The bank implements mortgage crediting
through 11 branches in Armenian marzes. Another 10 branches will
be opened in 2006. Acording to Unibank Chairman Vardan Atayan, the
bank provides up to 10-year mortgage credits at the annual interest
rate of 16%, with a prepayment in the amount of 30% of real estate
purchased. Unibank plans to improve mortgage crediting terms: to reduce
the interest rates and prepayment and extend credit maturity period.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SEARCH OPERATION CONTINUES AT A-320 CRASH SITE
Regnum, Russia
May 4 2006
Near Sochi, where A-320 airbus crashed on May 3 making 113 people
dead, search operation has been carried out through the whole night
and has continued now. 12 vessels as well as several special boats
of the Russian Emergency Ministry are planned to operate in the area.
Vessels with deep-water equipment are just about to arrive to the
crash site, headquarters of the search operation inform.
As REGNUM earlier reported, 47 bodies were found, 17 of them
identified. The work is to continue today, on May 4. The airbus’s
flight recorders that could clarify details of the accident have not
been found yet. The Russian emergency ministry calls bad weather
conditions as main reason for the crash. The Russian Transport
Ministry and Armavia Company, to which the airbus belonged, think
the same. However, there is an assumption that was made public by
Governor of Krasnodar Territory Alexander Tkachyov saying that human
factor is to blame.
There are two commissions at once that investigate the accident. The
Russian one is headed by Transport Minister Igor Levitin. “Together
with us our colleagues from Armenia are working. Defense Minister Serzh
Sarkisyan has held together with us a joint session with operative
groups. We cannot speak on provisional results yet. Expert group has
started working. Communication of the Air Traffic controller with the
crew is to be decoded yet,” the Russian minister is quoted as saying
by RTR.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GASOLINE PRICE GROWS 1.9% IN ARMENIA IN APRIL
Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The price of gasoline grew by 1.9%,
while the price of diesel fuel declined by 0.5% in Armenia in April
on March 2006. According to the RA National Statistical Service, the
prices of gasoline and diesel fule grew by 6.2% and 1.6% respectively
in April 2006 on the same month of 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PARLIAMENTARY HEARINGS ON ECONOMIC REFORMS IN ARMENIA TO BE HELD ON MAY 18
Noyan Tapan
May 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Parliamentary hearings “The Economic
Reforms in Armenia: Results and Development Prospects” will be held on
May 18 on the initiative of the RA National Assembly Standing Committee
on Financial, Credit, Budget and Economic Issues. According to the
committee chairman Gagik Minasian, the purpose of these hearings is
to analyze the process of reforms, which may become a stimulus for
developing the respective programs in the future. It is expected that
representatives of the parties not represented in the parliament,
as well as of various NGOs, scientific research institutions and
other organizations concerned will participate in the hearings.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIAN TV CHANNELS AIR FIRST REPORTS OF SOCHI AIR CRASH
Sources:
RTR Russia TV
NTV
Channel One TV
Moscow 3 May 06
Following early agency reports about an air crash of an Armenian
Airbus A320 passenger jet near Sochi, all leading Russian TV channels
reported first details of the tragedy.
Russia TV channel at 0300 gmt led with a correspondent report from
Sochi. Presenter Irina Losyuk said that a rescue operation was in full
swing, with additional Emergencies Ministry and border guards boats
making their way to the scene, with special equipment for deep-water
rescue operations and a group of divers on board. The television
said 13 bodies had been recovered, and that there were 113 people on
board, including five children and eight crew members. An operative
headquarters of the rescue operations is working in Adler airport.
Russia TV showed the head of the southern regional search and rescue
detachment of the Russian Emergencies Ministry, Igor Nazdrim, saying
the following: “All our boats, big and small, have been summoned. Our
cutter Mangust which was on duty this morning was one of the first
to arrive on the scene. Small boats from all the rescue stations,
over 10 small boats are there. They are gathering the debris and
fragments, and we have found some bodies as well. We are continuing
our search. The sea is choppy, about force one, and a storm is
increasing. The current is flowing towards Sochi.”
The TV said that Armavia, the Armenian air carrier, which was set
up in 1996, owns three A320, a Yak-42, an An-24 and rents two Tu-154
aircraft. The airline has more than 500 staff, and the main office is
in Zvartnots international airport. Russia TV’s correspondent reported
from Yerevan on the phone to say that the airline has cancelled
half of its flights for today and the managers are at the airport,
leaving for Sochi at 0800 hours to be at the scene.
Relatives of the passengers are arriving at the airline office,
he added.
The presenter said that the crashed liner was made in 1995, and up
to 2002 it was used in Australia and then refitted in France to join
the Armenian airline fleet. It is not known when the aircraft was
last serviced, Russia TV said. It then recalled all previous crashes
involving this type of an aircraft.
NTV also started with the crash story at 0300 gmt. It quoted an earlier
Interfax report about 11 bodies found on the scene. It said that oil
spills and rescue vests can be seen on the scene. It is though that
technical faults have developed on board, the TV report said, adding
that the pilots tried several times to land the plane and that the
plane entered water at an angle of 60 degrees. The television carried
a telephone report of its correspondent from Sochi about the rescue
operation currently under way. The report said the early theory about
the cause of the crash is bad weather near Sochi.
The correspondent said that it was raining heavily in Sochi even at
the time of report.
The television said that another two boats from Novorossiysk and
Tuapse were on their way to the scene, with divers on board. It said
the debris sank to the depth of 300 m. An Il-76 was about to fly out
from Ramenskoye airfield near Moscow, with rescue equipment on board,
the television said, adding that another two amphibious planes were
joining the rescuers from there as well.
Channel One TV also led with the crash story at 0300 gmt. It showed
the first footage from Sochi which featured a rescue ship in the
port of Sochi just back from the scene. Correspondents interviewed
the rescuers who said the accident happened at about 4 km away from
the shore. The report also showed footage of Adler airport where
relatives of the crash victims were gathering. The TV also recalled
the technical parameters of the aircraft. It can carry up to 150
people for 5,000 km, its length is 37.5 m and the width is 34 m.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN JET CRASH KILLS 113
By Nikolai Isayev
Metro Toronto, Canada
May 3 2006
SOCHI, Russia (Reuters) – All 113 passengers and crew on board an
Armenian airliner were killed on Wednesday when the plane crashed into
the Black Sea off the Russian coast in heavy rain and disintegrated.
Investigators blamed the bad weather. The Airbus A-320 had been trying
to land at Sochi, a popular holiday spot in southern Russia.
Russian prosecutors ruled out a bomb.
Rescue workers in motorized dinghies criss-crossed heaving seas to
search for survivors but an Emergencies Ministry spokeswoman said
preliminary information was that everyone on board was dead. The
plane was carrying at least five children.
By evening at least 46 bodies had been retrieved from the water,
along with dozens of body parts.
Rescue workers used boat hooks to pull jagged bits of fuselage from
the water. Pieces of foam and fabric from the aircraft’s seats were
piled up on the quayside at Sochi’s port.
The plane, operated by Armavia, had been making a short flight of
about an hour from the Armenian capital Yerevan. Most of the passengers
were Armenian nationals.
Some passengers’ relatives, hoping to collect the victims’ bodies and
bring them home, had arrived at Sochi’s airport on board a special
flight from Yerevan organized by the airline. A second plane of
relatives was on its way to Sochi.
Mostly men, they huddled around a list of victims posted on a
noticeboard in the airport terminal.
VANISHED FROM RADAR
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said 26 of the passengers were Russian
passport holders and almost all the rest were Armenians.
“I was waiting for a call from my mother that she had arrived okay.
But she didn’t phone, so I phoned myself and heard that this accident
had happened,” said Khapet Tadevosyan, 32, at Yerevan airport.
“She flew to Sochi to see her sisters, whom she hadn’t seen for 15
years,” he said.
A spokesman for the Emergencies Ministry said the plane vanished from
radar screens at 2:15 a.m. (2215 GMT Tuesday) near Sochi, which lies
close to the Georgian border.
“A terrorist act is completely ruled out,” Natalia Vishnyakova, a
spokesman for Russia’s Prosecutor General, said on Rossiya television.
An Armavia official said the aircraft had initially been refused
permission to land because of torrential rain, but airport officials
changed their minds.
The crash happened as the crew made a second approach.
“Our initial information is that the only cause was the weather,
for example poor visibility,” said Gayane Davtsian, a spokeswoman
for Armenia’s state aviation authority.
A day of mourning was declared in Armenia, a mountainous state of 3
million people, many of whom have relatives in southern Russia.
Television stations cleared their schedules and were playing somber
music.
Airbus said it would be sending six specialists to help authorities
with the crash investigation.
Attempts to pin down the cause of the crash were hampered by rain
and the fact that most of the plane had sunk to the seabed.
“The main parts of the plane are located at a depth of around 400
meters (1,300 feet),” Emergencies Ministry spokesman Viktor Beltsov
said.
The Airbus A-320, a twin-engined aircraft that seats 150 passengers,
entered service in 1988.
(Additional reporting by Hasmik Lazarian in Yerevan and Jason Neely
in London)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress