Author: Torosian Aram

A 770-YEAR-OLD LEGENDARY MONASTERY IN NAGORNO KARABAKH

Aysor
April 2 2010
Armenia

St. Hovhannes Mkrtich Cathedral of legendary monastery of Gandzasar
turns 770 years. On this occasion, by decision of President of
Nagorno Karabakh Bako Sahakian and leader of the Artsakh Diocese of
the Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Pargev Martirosian there
will be held celebrating events to mark this anniversary.

Prime Minister of Nagorno Karabakh ha signed a decree on establishment
of a joint commission, which had already held its first meeting. The
schedule and programme of the upcoming events were approved. In
particularly, there will be held concerts, exhibitions, science
conferences with participants from Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and
Diaspora; a film about Gandzasar monastery it is also expected to be
shot as well as a page on Internet to be opened.

St. Hovhannes Mkrtich Cathedral is Gandzasar monastery’s most
important structure; it is a large church with a cupola in the
inscribed cross plan. The Cathedral was built between 1216 and 1238,
and has been hailed as a "crown jewel" and the "encyclopedia" of
Armenian architecture by the famous Russian scholar Anatoly. L.

Yakobson of St. Petersburg’s Hermitage.

TOMORROW ARMENIA PASSES THE AZERBAIJANI CAPTIVES

Aysor
April 2 2010
Armenia

Tomorrow, on April 3 at 10:00 on the Armenian – Azerbaijani close
border by the mediation of the Red Cross international committee
and the humanitarian initiation of the Armenian side will be passed
the two corps of the Azerbaijani which are in Armenia because of
the events that took place on March 3 in Koti village, and Tagiev
Eldar Heydarogli arrested in Armenia on December 28, 2009, informs
the press and public relations department of Armenia.

The latter who was an inhabitant of Alibeyli village in Tovuz region
of Azerbaijani Republic was arrested while he was trying to cross
the border in Tavush region.

SOS SARGSYAN: MOSCOW CINEMA OPEN-AIR HALL NOT APPROPRIATE PLACE FOR CHURCH

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.04.2010 12:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Old Yerevan was famous for its churches before
they were ruined during the sovietization, USSR People’s Artist Sos
Sargsyan said.

"Any church helps create completeness of a city atmosphere. However,
I think Moscow cinema open-air hall is not an appropriate place for a
church. Churches are not constructed in such closeness, particularly
by Armenians," he told a PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent.

The Armenian government complied with the offer of Moscow Cinema LLC
on an unpaid alienation of the land-plot located at 18 Abovyan St. of
Yerevan and occupied by Moscow cinema open-air hall to the benefit
of Holy See of St. Etchmiadzin with property rights for construction
of a new church similar to St. Poghos-Petros Church, which had stood
there before it was ruined by the soviet regime.

Sos Sargsyan is USSR People’s Artist (1985), laureate of the Armenian
SSR state prize (1975 – for the role of Mkrtych in Triangle film, 1967;
1979 – for theatrical work; 1988 – for participation in Matenadaran
TV-film.) He is a laureate of the USSR cinema festival in Prizes for
Best Performance nomination in 1986. He was a presidential candidate of
the ARF Dashnaktsutyun in 1991. Sos Sargsyan was born on October 24,
1929, in Stepanavan, Armenia. He is a graduate of Yerevan Institute
of Fine Arts and Theatre (1954). From 1954 he performed at Sundukyan
Academic Theatre and started acting in films in 1959. He is the
founder and head of Hamazgain Theatre.

HARSH PUNISHMENT FOR ARMENIAN MINISTERS BEGINS

Tert.am
14:27 ~U 01.04.10

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan today charged all those ministries
in which Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission had uncovered
violations and neglect in 2009 with the task of presenting him with
the details on the measures taken to eliminating those violations
within a week’s time.

During today’s government session, Tigran Sargsyan said that all
those ministers are aware of the president’s handling of violations
revealed by the Commission.

In his words, if, at first, the president issued only sharp warnings
to those ministers in relation to violations, well then now the second
phase begins.

"There will be strict punishment in those ministries where the
Commission registers violations and neglect," said Tigran Sargsyan.

NKR OFFICIALS MEET WITH SAVE THE CHILDREN NGO STAFF

Tert.am
11:26 ~U 31.03.10

On March 30, Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) President Bako Sahakyan met with
the Save the Children Area Director for Middle East and Eurasia Tom
Tauras and country director in Armenia Irina Saghoyan, according to
a release issued by the NKR President central information department.

Issues related to the activities carried out by the organization in
Nagorno-Karabakh and prospects of cooperation were discussed during
the meeting.

KARABAKH PRESIDENT, HARUT SASSOUNIAN DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF KARABAKH

Yerkir
31.03.2010 12:43

Yerevan (Yerkir) – President of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Bako
Sahakyan discussed the socio-economic development of Artsakh with
Harut Sassounian, the president of the United Armenian Fund and
Vice-Chairman of the Lincy Foundation, on March 30.

They both participated on March 31 in the opening ceremony of a new
building of the Stepanakert school #1, constructed by the "Save the
Children" organization jointly with the NKR government.

At the ceremony Bako Sahakyan awarded Sassounian with Medal of
Gratitude.

UAF’S 155TH AIRLIFT DELIVERS 4.7 MILLION OF AID TO ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
March 30, 2010

GLENDALE, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The United Armenian
Fund’s 155th airlift arrived in Yerevan on March 27, delivering $4.7
million of humanitarian assistance.

For this flight, the UAF itself collected $4 million of medicines and
medical supplies donated by various charities, including AmeriCares
($3.8 million), Catholic Medical Mission Board ($240,000), and Health
Partners International of Canada ($45,000).

Other organizations which contributed goods for this airlift were:
The Armenian EyeCare Project ($300,000), Armenian Technology Group
($70,000), Armenian Relief Society-Western Region ($59,000), Fund
for Armenian Relief ($33,000), St. Vartanantz Apostolic Church
($26,000), Dr. Samuel Malayan ($25,000), and Bay Area Friends of
Armenia ($22,000).

Also contributing supplies to this airlift were Armenia Fund USA
($17,000), Armenian Missionary Association of America ($15,000),
American University of Armenia ($13,000), Eastern Prelacy ($12,000),
Fletcher School of Law ($11,000), Vartan Gregorian ($11,000), Dr.

Hagop Hovaguimian ($9,000), and Dr. Viken Garabedian ($9,000).

The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Catholic Eparchy,
Armenian General Benevolent Union, Armenian Missionary Association
of America, Armenian Relief Society, Diocese of the Armenian Church
of America, Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America,
and The Lincy Foundation.

PRICES OF PRECIOUS METALS DROP IN ARMENIA

ARKA
March 30, 2010
Yerevan

YEREVAN, March 30, /ARKA/. The State Depository of Precious Metals
and Stones Agency has set new prices for purchase and sale of precious
metals for the period of March 29-April 4, 2010.

The press office of the ministry of finance said the following prices
have been set for purchase and sale of one gram of precious metals by
government agencies. Gold is bought at 12,804.79 Drams (-557,19) and
sold at 13,918.25 дÑ~@амР° (-605,64); silver is bought at 195,68
Drams (-11,52) and sold at 212,70 Drams (-12,52); platinum is bought
at 18,584.55 Drams (-844,64) and sold at 20,200.60 Drams,

(-916,08); palladium is bought at 5,307.79 Drams (-320,46), and sold
at 5,769.34 Drams (-348,32). ($1-396.59 Drams ).

OSCE TO MONITOR ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN BORDER TOMORROW

Tert.am
14:54 30.03.10

The usual monitoring of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border by the OSCE
will take place tomorrow in Tavush marz (province), in the area of
Idjevan, at the village of Berkaber.

Until the monitoring, at 10 am, a discussion will take place with
the participation of the Tavush regional governor, reads a release
issued by the RA Ministry of Defence information and public affairs
department.

YOSEF SHAGAL: ADOPTION OF "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" RESOLUTION IN ISRAELI PARLIAMENT IS OUT OF THE QUESTION

Today
March 30 2010
Azerbaijan

"The adoption of the resolution on the "Armenian genocide" in the
Knesset is out of the question," former member of Knesset, president
of Israel-Azerbaijan International Association Yosef Shagal said,
while commenting on the reports that the issue on "Armenian genocide"
would be discussed in Israeli parliament (Knesset).

He mentioned that the issue has been raising up by three-member Meretz
faction in the Knesset for several years now.

"This is a marginal faction, actually it does not represent anyone,
it has no influence in the Knesset. They know very well that this issue
causes interests in media. This is the only opportunity for Haim Oron
to mention his political existence. There is no opportunity to adopt
any resolution. One can only exchange views on how many persons will
attend the hearings," he said.

Shagal said the issue was raised when he was member of the Knesset
and only eight attended the similar hearings. He supposes that only
two – Haim Oron and the person chairing the meeting will attend the
hearings this time.

"This issue does not raise interest and is of speculative character.

Such issues are raised so that they can cause some discussions in
press. I consider that this issue should not be taken seriously. By
covering it, creating agiotage, we favor those who are interested in
fanning the fame for completely populist purposes," he said.