Author: Emil Lazarian

Armenia Fund USA, Inc.
152 Madison Avenue, Suite 803
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-5307
Fax: 212-689-5317
E-mail: [email protected]

Charles Aznavour and Baroness Carolyn Cox Support
Armenia Fund USA’s Phonathon 2006, April 27-30, 2006
~A message in your homes from
two great philanthropists and supporters of Armenia~
NEW YORK, New York – Armenia Fund USA (Fund), East Coast Affiliate of
Hayastan Himnadram All-Armenian Fund, is pleased to announce that France’s
most famed singer Charles Aznavour and Baroness Carolyn Cox of the British
House of Lords have given their support to the Fund’s Phonathon 2006 that
will be conducted on April 27th through 30th, 2006. With their messages of
appeal delivered straight to many home phones, the fundraising campaign will
benefit the Agricultural Initiative for Haterk farmers in Mardakert region
of Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Fund has taken the lead among the 18 worldwide affiliates of Hayastan
Himnadram in the implementation of the Agricultural Initiative of the
larger, more comprehensive “Rebirth of Artsakh” Regional Development
Program. (The other components of the larger program include medical
facilities, auxiliary roads, water distribution projects, education and
housing).
As part of the Fund’s awareness and fundraising campaign, French-Armenian
singer Charles Aznavour and Baroness Caroline Cox of Queensbury, Deputy
Speaker of the British House of Lords, and have given their encouraging
support and endorsement to the recently launched Agricultural Initiative.
The initiative is a three-year, three region development plan designed to
help farmers in Nagorno-Karabakh move from subsistence farming to export
production in order to economically strengthen both themselves as well as to
stabilize the region economically. With these changes, they will move beyond
producing only enough to feed their families – thereby improving their
families’ health; providing for their families’ educational and day-to-day
needs; and increasing their production of quality agricultural goods.
Charles Aznavour, one of France’s most popular singers, songwriters and
actors, is a philanthropist and a well-known supporter of Armenian causes.
He has stood beside the Armenian people since the disastrous earthquake of
1988 and delivered humanitarian aid to the devastated towns and villages in
Armenia. Charles Aznavour has been honored with a statue in Gyumri, Armenia
in recognition of his outstanding humanitarianism towards people of Armenia.
What makes this honor even greater is that it was the first time in Armenia
a statue was erected for an honoree while that person was still alive!
Baroness Caroline Cox – member of the British House of Lords, human rights
advocate, head of Christian Solidarity Worldwide- is also a staunch
supporter of Armenia and Karabakh, having made more than 60 trips there
since the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991.
The Fund, in cooperation with Hayastan Himnadram’s Yerevan affiliate and the
Nagorno-Karabakh government, will establish Agricultural Development
Associations (ADAs). Starting with Haterk, the ADAs will provide
modern agricultural equipment and technology to farmers who, by becoming
members of the ADA, will have access to discount rates for fertilizers,
seeds, tractors, etc. in order to work the land at affordable rates. The
program’s initial goal is to substantially improve the overall agricultural
productivity of Karabakh farmers; and the ultimate goal is to reduce rural
poverty in the region
During April 27th-30th, Armenia Fund USA with the help of its enthusiastic
group of volunteers – eager to make a difference- will conduct follow-up
calls and take pledges from donors wishing to help the Fund in its efforts
to combat rural poverty in Nagorno-Karabakh. The volunteers will answer
their questions and spread the word about the Agricultural Initiative.
Volunteers participating in Phonathon 2006, especially those who have
visited Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, are very passionate about donating
their time during those 4 days to support the campaign.
If you would like to be part of Phonathon 2006, please call us at
212-689-5307, or e-mail: [email protected]. We need your help!
ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: ARMENIA FUND USA, founded in 1992, was one of the
first of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 18 international affiliates and serves
constituents in all states east of the Mississippi. As a non-profit,
non-governmental, nonsectarian organization, the Fund represents all
Armenian constituents.

Armenia Fund USA is the largest contributor among the 18 international
affiliates – supporting strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia and
Karabakh, and having helped build 138 miles of roads, 100 miles of
waterways, 36 schools, 3 electric transmission networks, 210 residential
buildings and 15 healthcare institutions.
Armenia Fund USA’s Mission is the development of strategic socio-economic
infrastructure in Armenia and Karabakh, focusing on major projects such as
major highways, schools, drinking water to communities and humanitarian
programs in education, training and medical facilities. The Fund has adopted
a policy to go “Beyond Bricks and Mortar” to provide sustainability for
projects it sponsors.
To learn more about Armenia Fund USA, please go to our website at
or call us at 212-689-5307.
Armenia Fund USA, 152 Madison Ave., Suite 803, New York, NY 10016
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FERTILIZER
A1+
[04:14 pm] 05 April, 2006
By the decision of the Georgian Government, every family of the rural
residents of the Samtskhe-Javakhq region will receive a present of
25 kg of fertilizer.
The Ministry of Agriculture has already carried out corresponding
calculations according to which 1096 tons of fertilizer will be
distributed to 47 844 families.
According to A-info, the 25 kg of fertilizer to be allotted is too
little even for the smallest rural economy. Every spring an average
amount of 500-1000 kg fertilizer is used by these families.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RESIDENTS OF KOZERN ARE “CIVIC REBELS”
A1+
[04:41 pm] 05 April, 2006
The residents of the district Kozern which is also a realization zone
are afraid that one day they will have the same fate as the residents
of the North Avenue. They applied to the RA Government to get right
of property for their houses. The Government promised to take care
of it, but the residents are not sure.
Today the head of the NGO “Community and Right” Samvel Lazarian
who represents the rights of the Kozern residents rendered a press
conference.
According to the census carried out by the NGO, there are 783
people living in Kozern 153 of which are not included in ht official
lists. There are 7-8 elite houses in the district which belong to
rich people and are not threatened. As for the other residents,
they have been forbidden to carry out construction work.
“We applied to the President, the municipality and the Prime
Minister, but all our applications appear in the office of the Yerevan
municipality urban development program which does not correspond to
the promise we were given”.
Samvel Lazarian claims that the residents have applied to the local
cadastre to register their houses but they were rejected. Nevertheless,
the residents of Kozern are going to fight till the end. They
expect an answer within 10 days, otherwise “Kozern will announce
civic disobedience”. They did not explain what they by “civic
disobedience”. Samvel Lazarian joked, “We will announce Kozern an
independent republic”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FADEY SARGSYAN DECIDED NOT TO RESIGN
Lragir.am
05.04.2006
The meeting of the presidency of the National Academy of Sciences
of Armenia on April 5 lasted for over 4 hours, but no episode of the
forecast came true. Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan did not turn up,
the president of the NAS did not resign.
The gathering of the academicians, who lived the greater part of their
lives under the Soviet rule, reminded similar gatherings of Soviet
times. The leader is never mistaken, the criticizer is a betrayer. The
meeting of the presidency of the NAS of non-Soviet Armenia heard
the 13 accusations of Academician Henry Nersisyan against Fadey
Sargsyan. Henry Nersisyan was characterized as “having dishonest aims,
an extremist capable of anything, eccentric.” And Fadey Sargsyan as
someone who made Armenia prosperous, having great merits, too tolerant.
The finish of the “revived” Soviet lifestyle was “disturbed”
by Academicians Hrachik Simonyan and Lenser Aghalovyan only, who
disagreed to the words addressed to Henry Nersisyan. Moreover,
like Henry Nersisyan, they wanted to find out where the 50 million
drams economized from the sum of honorariums of the academicians,
the annual 5 million drams from the lease of the territory, belonging
to the NAS, as well as donations to the NAS disappear. The commission
had not answered these questions either.
And the chair of the commission Yuri Chilingaryan declined to
answer the same questions during the meeting, saying “we wouldn’t
like to frighten our benefactors.” It apparently means that not
everything is clean but let us not talk about it “not to frighten
our benefactors.” Instead, speaking about the Medical Genetic Center,
headed by Tamara Sargsyan, Fadey Sargsyan’s daughter, the commission
found that the phrase “her daughter’s center” used by Fadey Sargsyan
is unacceptable. Similarly, it means that Fadey Sargsyan cannot be
introduced as the president of the NAS, Yuri Chilingaryan cannot be
introduced as the head of the department of Yerevan State University.
Fadey Sargsyan has formed a bureau, an advisory body, which passed
decisions, however. Nevertheless, the commission thinks that the law
was not broken. At the same time, the presidency of the NAS offers “to
choose in such cases the way which is more democratic, like the system
of academy.” However, no one explained why such a democratic system
does not accept criticism or an opinion that differs from the majority.
At the end, not deferring to some people’s requests, Fadey Sargsyan
announced that there was no reason for dismissing Henry Nersisyan. And
deferring to the request of the same persons, announced that he will
not resign. And the meeting of the presidency of the NAS decided to
approve the findings of the commission, eliminate the shortcomings,
reported by the commission.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CIS AIR-DEFENCE COMMANDERS HOLD EXERCISE AT RUSSIA’S BALTIC FLEET
RIA Novosti, Moscow
5 Apr 06
Kaliningrad, 5 April: A training assembly of air-defence commanders
from CIS member states has got under way on the basis of the Baltic
Fleet.
The Baltic Fleet press service told RIA-Novosti that the training
assembly of members of the coordinating committee for air-defence
issues under the CIS Council of Defence Ministers will be held on
5-8 April on the basis of the Baltic Fleet air force and air-defence
facilities. The chairman of the coordinating committee, Russian Air
Force Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Mikhaylov, will lead the assembly.
The delegation will include chiefs of air-defence troops of the
Armenian, Belarusian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik, Uzbek and Ukrainian armed
forces, representatives of the Russian Defence Ministry and Russian
industry, as well as representatives of the executive bodies of the
CIS and the Collective Security Treaty organization.
“The programme of the training assembly of military leaders envisages
a visit to the command post of the Baltic Fleet air force and
air-defence, practical training at the command post, familiarization
with the way air defence is arranged on the fleet’s surface ships,
and work at the Baltic naval base,” the source said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES FERTILIZER TO PEASANTS OF JAVAKHK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 05 2006
AKHALKALAK, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By the decision
of the Government of Georgia, every family of the rural settlements
of Samtskhe-Javakhk will get 25 kg chemical fertilizer as a present,
for agriculture at the spring sowing. The Ministry of Agriculture
of the country and the staff of the authorized representative
of the President in Samtskhe-Javakhk have already implemented the
corresponding calculation, according to which 1096 tons of fertilizer
will be given to 47844 families. During the preliminary period, the
Government’s assistance will be given to the regions of Akhaltskha,
Aspindza, Adigen and Borzhom of the lower zone, then to the regions
of Akhalkalak and Ninotsminda of the higher zone. At the same time,
according to the “A-Info” agency, 25 kg fertilizer to be given to
villagers is few even for the smallest rural family-household which
uses up to 500-1000 kg fertilizer in middle in different cases during
the spring sowing.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KNOLLENBERG QUESTIONS SECRETARY RICE OVER ARMENIA-AZERI MILITARY AID DISPARITY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 05 2006
WASHINGTON, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
Assembly of America (AAA) commended Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues Co-Chair Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) for questioning Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice on the disparity in military funding to
Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY)
2007 budget. During a hearing before the House Foreign Operations
Subcommittee on Appropriations, Knollenberg questioned Rice over the
Administration’s proposal to provide Azerbaijan with an approximately
20 percent increase in military funding over neighboring Armenia. In
her response, Rice said that the issue of need and requirement is
handled on an individual basis and that the U.S. is working with
both governments. Rice also noted that the U.S. and Armenia recently
signed a five-year $235 million Millennium Challenge Account (MCA)
Compact which will help Armenia reduce rural poverty. Rice also
added that the U.S. maintains good relations with both Armenia and
Azerbaijan. Knollenberg countered that the U.S. is a leading mediator
in the Nagorno Karabakh peace conflict, pointing out that a disparity
in military funding can damage U.S. credibility in the region. Rice,
answered in part, that slight differences in military assistance can
be tolerated between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Administration’s
2007 funding proposal for Foreign Military Financing (FMF) calls for
$4.5 million for Azerbaijan and only $3.5 million for Armenia. The
proposed budget also recommends $885,000 for Azerbaijan versus
$790,000 for Armenia in International Military Education and Training
(IMET) assistance. Congressman Jesse Jackson (D-IL) expressed concern
over the decrease in U.S. economic assistance to several countries
including Armenia. Jackson noted that the Administration requested $50
million in assistance to Armenia in FY 2007 while Congress provided
Yerevan with just under $75 million in FY 2006. “We appreciate
Congressman Knollenberg’s leadership on this critical issue,”
said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. “Given the ongoing
bellicose statements emanating from Azerbaijan, the Assembly will
continue to fight to ensure that parity is reinstated.” “We also
commend Congressman Jackson for raising concerns about the decrease
to Armenia and will continue to work with our friends in Congress to
increase this request, especially in light of the ongoing blockades
by Turkey and Azerbaijan,” Ardouny continued.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ENTITLED “ROLE OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY-CIVIL SOCIETY COOPERATION IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION” TO BE HELD ON APRIL 6-7 IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. An international conference entitled
“The role of National Assembly-civil society cooperation in fighting
corruption” will be held on April 6-7 at RA National Assembly. The
conference was organized by NA, OSCE, Eurasia Foundation, USAID, UNDP,
on RA NA Speaker Artur Baghdasarian’s initiative (by the agreement
reached during his visit to U.S.). The conference will open on April 6,
by speeches of A.Baghdasarian and Eurasia Foundation Vice-Chairwoman
Andrea Harris, U.S. Ambassador to RA John Evans, UN Resident
Coordinator Consuelo Vidal, OSCE Yerevan Office Head Vladimir Pryakhin.
Then the discussions will continue on the following subjects:
“Parliament-civil society cooperation models and GOPAC experience”,
“Parliament-civil society cooperation in fighting corruption”,
“State-NGOs cooperation experience”, “Some legal problems of fighting
“shadow law”, negative fenomenon giving rise to corruption”, “The
role of public control bodies in fighting corruption”, “The role of
the Control Chamber in fighting corruption: new possibilities and
new prospects in the context of the constitutional reform”, ” The
cooperation of the Control Chamber with meas media and civil society”,
“The role of mass media in fighting corruption”, “The correlation
of corruption and press freedom”, “RA mass media legislation and
the influence of its application on journalists’ involvement in
anti-corruption activity”. On April 7, group discussions will be held
on the subjects “NA-civil society cooperation”, “The role of external
control bodies in fighting corruption”, “The role of press in fighting
corruption”. Representatives of a number of international organizations
and 10 countries (including U.S., Canada, Germany, Poland, Romania)
take part in the conference. According to the report provided to Noyan
Tapan by RA NA Public Relations Department, within the framework
of the conference it is envisaged to found an Armenian structure
of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption
(GOPAC). After the adoption of a statement, the conference will be
concluded by a press conference.

NO ISSUE OF RA NAS CHAIRMAN’S RESIGNATION ON AGENDA OF COMING SITTING OF CHAIRMANSHIP
Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The enlarged sitting of the Chairmanship
of the National Academy of Sciences takes place on April 5. The main
issue is the discussion of results of the work of the commission
controlling the financial activity of the RA NAS administration,
particularly, of Chairman Fadey Sargsian. The commission was
created by academicians Anri Nersisian’s and Hrachik Simonian’s
demand. Representatives of the RA NAS and leading institutions of
higher education of the country are involved in the commission. As the
Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by the RA NAS Press Service,
no issue of F.Sargsian’s resignation is on the agenda of that sitting.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT IS READY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH PROPER RECEPTION OF AZERBAIJANI NATIONAL TEAM, RA PRIME MINISTER ASSURES
Noyan Tapan
Apr 05 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The assistance programs implemented
by UEFA considerably contribute to development of football and, in
general, sport, in the country. RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
declared this on April 4, receiving UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer
Olsson. In particular, the Prime Minister attached importance to the
Hat Trick investment program, as well as the Small Fields program
aimed at promotion of children’s football in the country. A.Margarian
emphasized that the Armenian government pays great attention to the
restoration of the good traditions of the Armenian football: the state
renders assistance for the purpose of allocating areas for sports
grounds, buying sports equipments, implementation of construction,
etc. Expressing satisfaction with establishment of close cooperation
between RA government and Armenian Football Federation, as well as
among the Federation and football clubs, Lars Olsson gave assurance
that football development can also contribute to society’s progress
by uniting several thousands of fans around a single goal. He also
attached importance to promotion of mass and especially children’s
football, in particular, to the Small Fields program mentioning that
the financial assistance given by UEFA for this and other programs will
not only continue but will also increase. As Noyan Tapan was informed
from RA Government Information and Public Relations Department, at the
meeting the interlocutors also touched upon the preparation of Football
Europe Championship to be held in 2008, in particular, the issue of
Armenian and Azerbaijani national teams’ appearing in the same group
in the selective tour, as a result of drawing lots. In this connection
A.Margarian assured that the Armenian government is ready to solve
issues of proper reception of the Azerbaijani national team, providing
the security of the competitors and their fans. Expressing gratitude
to the Prime Minister for such an approach, Lars Olsson emphasized that
UEFA expects such security guarantees from the Azerbaijani side, too.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress