Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

LEADER OF FRONTIER JOURNALISTS NGO TO ORGANIZE PHOTO EXPOSITION ON MAY 9 HOLIDAYS

Stepanakert, April 15. ArmInfo. Leader of Frontier Journalists NGO
intends to organize a photo exposition of “Navigator” Studio headed by
the famous fill director Karen Gevorgyan on May 9. This day is a triple
holiday for Nagorny Karabakh: Day of the Victory in the Great Patriotic
War, Day of NKR Defense Army, and Day of Liberation of Shushi.

League Coordinator Georgy Ghazaryan informs ArmInfo’s special
correspondent to Stepanakert that similar expositions will be organized
in future as well to show the unbiased picture of military actions of
Nagorny Karabakh conflict on the basis of archive materials. A number
of journalists from Armenia expressed an intention to participate in
the exposition.

A studio of young journalists has recently opened at the NGO. It will
contribute to creative growth of journalists. To support beginners,
seminars, symposiums and other events are planned. A newspaper
“Zarkerak” will be published as well.

BRITISH COUNCILS’ MISSION IMPORTANT FOR ARMENIA, NA SPEAKER STATES

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 18 2006

Yerevan, April 18. /ARKA/. Speaker of the RA Parliament Artur
Baghdasaryan attaches importance to the British Council’s mission in
Armenia. At his meeting with Head of the British Council office in
Armenia Nigel Townson Speaker Baghdasaryan expressed hope for further
cooperation with the British Council.

The sides discussed the possibility of the British Council’s assistance
in organizing the teaching of English and computer skills from the
first year in Armenia’s schools. This innovation will soon be pout
into practice in conformity with Artur Baghdasaryan’s new legislative
initiative. The sides also pointed out the importance of retraining
specialists, providing assistance in methods of teaching and adopting
international experience.

Welcoming the initiative, Townson expressed willingness to help in
its development. A program will be elaborated for the consolidation
of relations between the RA parliament and the British Council.

STEVEN MANN TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN APRIL 20

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.04.2006 21:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Minsk Group U.S. Co-chair Steven Mann will
arrive in Yerevan April 20, Elizabeth Zentos, information officer
of the public affairs section of the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, told
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In her words, Mr. Mann will pay a call to
Yerevan after the meeting with Russian mediator Yuri Merzlyakov.

During the visit the OSCE MG U.S. Co-chair is scheduled to meet
with Armenian President Robert Kocharian and Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian. “I think Ambassador Mann will meet with reporters though
there is no precise information on the issue yet,” Ms.

Zentos said. After visiting Yerevan Steven Mann will head for Baku.

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 14 2006

FOREIGN MINISTER OF EGYPT: ARMENIANS PLAY SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN HISTORY
OF EGYPT

YEREVAN, April 14. /ARKA/. Armenians play significant role in the
history of Egypt, according to the message of the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Egypt Ahmad Abu al-Geyd, ready during the celebration of
100 years of foundation of the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU) in the Embassy of Armenia in Egypt.
According to the Press and Information Department of the RA Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Al-Geyd in his message also pointed out the
importance of development of Armenia-Egypt relations. During the
ceremony welcoming message of the RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
was ready.
The RA Ambassador in Egypt Ruben Karapetyan, Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Consul Fatma Zakhra, AGBU President Perch
Sedrakyan and head of the Cairo filial of the AGBU Onik Blektaryan
made welcoming speeches during the celebration held in the Armenian
Embassy with participation of 400 invited foreign guests.
Festive events on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of foundation
of the AGBU opened in Egypt on April 12. S.P. – 0 –

The Gauntlet, CA
April 14 2006

System Of A Down singer signs new act

System Of A Down frontman Serj Tankian has announced a new signing
to his Serjical Strike record label. According to a press release,
Tankian has inked a deal with Dallas, Texas group Fair To Midland,
who were named as one of the top 100 unsigned acts of 2005. Tankian
said about the signing, “They are one of the best live unsigned bands
I have ever seen. Their songs are moody and dynamic, not dependent on
one catchy beat or emotion to present their art.”

Fair To Midland has already recorded and released a debut album on
its own, titled Inter.Funda.Stifle.

Tankian will serve as executive producer for the group’s next effort,
which it plans to begin recording later this year.

Through Serjical Strike, Tankian has previously released albums by
Kittens For Christian, Bad Acid Trip and former Guns N’ Roses
guitarist Buckethead, as well as Serart, his own collaboration with
Armenian vocalist and percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan.

System Of A Down will hit the road on July 1st as co-headliners of
this summer’s Ozzfest.

CRITICISM FROM A COALITIONAL PARTY

AZG Armenian Daily
14/04/2006

“I do not agree with the critical statements addressed to RA
government by Orinats Yerkir party for violations in the course of the
privatization processes in 2001-2003,” RA PM Andranik Margarian said
at a parliament hearing on April 12. He emphasized that all decisions
for privatization were taken in the course of government hearings
where the ministers from Orinats Yerkir were present as well. “If this
party had any objections concerning the privatization processes, they
could state about that during the government hearings,” he emphasized.

YURI MERZLYAKOV: THERE ARE NO CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN THE MEDIATORS

ArmRadio.am
13.04.2006 17:39

“Fassier will explain everything to you. Ask him. Together we
shall pay a visit to the region in early May. The one who has the
opportunity visits the region. There are no other reasons for this,”
Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov told in his
phone talk with “Radiolur” correspondent Tatul Hakobyan, in response
to the question why the mediators are visiting the region separately.

In response to the question whether Russia does not find itself in
an unequal position, when French and US Co-Chairs visit the region,
Merzlyakov responded, “I never think that way, I completely trust my
colleagues. Moreover, I’m not going to arrive in the region, since on
April 21 I’ll meet Armenian Foreign Minister in Moscow. You should not
ask me this question. Today Fassier will explain everything to you.”

Merzlyakov confirmed in his interview to “Radiolur” that there are
no contradictions between the mediators, they work as a team.

AXE-MURDER AZERBAIJANI SOLDIER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN HUNGARY

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
April 13, 2006, Thursday
16:55:07 Central European Time

An Azerbaijani soldier who brutally murdered an Armenian lieutenant
with an axe during a NATO Partnership for Peace training course in
Budapest was sentenced to life imprisonment Thursday.

Lieutenant Ramil Safarov, 29, was convicted of killing Armenian
Lieutenant Gurgen Markarian, 26, with an axe and a knife in 2004.

Budapest District Court Judge Andras Vaskuti ruled that Safarov killed
his victim in a “premeditated, malicious and cruel” manner.

Safarov hacked Markarian to death with a knife and an axe in the
early hours of the morning while he slept in the same room as a
Hungarian soldier.

A policeman at the time said the murder had been committed with
unusual cruelty, saying that “besides the knife wounds to his chest,
the victim’s head was practically severed from his body.”

Safarov, who was also convicted of planning the murder of a second
Armenian officer, is expected to be eligible for parole in 30 years.

Witnesses at the time said there had been no arguments between the
men, but relations between the two former Soviet Republics were tense
after Armenian-backed forces drove Azerbaijan’s army out of the ethnic
Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in the early 1990s.

DRAFT LAW ON MAKING AMENDMENT TO RA LAW ON ENERGY PASSED IN FIRST READING

Noyan Tapan
Apr 11 2006

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly on April
11 passed in first reading the revised version of the draft law on
making an amendment to the RA Law on Energy. The previously voted
draft proposed that the provision, according to which nuclear
energy is a state monopoly, should be removed from the current
law. Taking into account the proposals made during discussion,
the government agreed to stipulate additionally that the shares
of the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant are state property and are not
subject to privatization. Besides, it is stipulated that the nuclear
facilities and subsatnces are property of the Republic of Armenia,
while nuclear substances and nuclear facilities to be built after
this law’s taking effect may be the property of legal entities. The
nuclear power plants and nuclear facilities considered important in
terms of security will be build and stopped operating under a separate
law to be submitted by the government.

INTERPARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS NORMALLY DEVELOP

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 11 2006

On April 11 Artur Baghdasaryan, RA NA Speaker received Tomasz Knothe,
Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Armenia.

Mr. Ambassador extended to the NA President the official invitation
to visit Poland. During the meeting both sides highlighted the
development of the Armenian-Polish interparliamentary relations, the
cooperation within the framework of EU New Neighbourhood programme,
the assistance to Armenia and the establishment of relations between
the regions of two countries. They also discussed issues concerning
the official visit of the Speaker of the Senate of Poland to Armenia.