ARAM I CATHOLICOS TO BE DECORATED WITH PAX CHRISTI ORDER

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 04 2006

ANTELIAS, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. His Holiness
Aram I Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia left for the United
States of America on November 30, 2006. His Holiness Patriarch is
invited to deliver lectures at the U.S. Universities. He will present
himself as the main lecturer at the international summit to take place
on the initiative of the Indianna State University and Notre Dame
University. His Holiness will deliver the next lecture at the Saint
John’s University in the state of Illinois. After the lectures Aram I
Catholicos will get Pax Christi order which is considered one of the
highest U.S. academic awards. Before the above-mentioned lectures,
His Holiness Patriarch will address to participants of the youth
summit organized by the National Primacies of the Detroit Cilician
Dioceses. Aram I Patriarch’s visit to the U.S. will last for a week.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEAR OF ARMENIA IN RUSSIA COMMON ACHIEVEMENT

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 4 2006

YEREVAN, December 4. /ARKA/. The organization of the Year of Armenia in
Russia is the sides’ common achievement, RA Premier Andranik Margaryan
stated during his visit to Moscow, Russia. He expressed the confidence
that the political dialogue, economic and humanitarian cooperation
allow the sides to consistently develop their relations.

According to Margaryan, the arrangements held during the Year of
Armenia in Russia evoked a serious response: Armenia’s best artistic
collectives gave performances, exhibitions, student conferences,
business forums were organized.

Margaryan welcomed the fact that the events were also held in the
Rostov, Astrakhan, Samara, Sverdlovsk and other Russian regions.

The RA Premier pointed out the importance of intensifying
Armenian-Russian humanitarian ties, the Year of Armenia and Russia
and the Year of Russia in Armenia being evidence thereof.

An Armenian Premier-headed delegation went to Moscow on November 30 to
take part in the official closing of the Year of Armenia in Russia. On
December 1, 2006, the Armenian Premier held a meeting with his Russian
counterpart Mikahil Fradkov. The following day Premier Margaryan went
to Saint Petersburg to take part in the opening of the "History of
Armenia" exhibition at the Hermitage. The same day Margaryan took
part in the official closing of the Year of Armenia in Russia.

JAVAKHETI ACTIVIST DEPORTED FROM ARMENIA
By Satenik Vantsian in Gyumri

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 4 2006

An Armenian nationalist activist from Georgia’s restive Javakheti
region was deported from Armenia on Monday shortly after being
controversially handed a suspended one-year prison sentence in a
trial denounced as politically motivated by his supporters.

A court in Gyumri found Vahagn Chakhalian, a young leader of the United
Javakhk organization campaigning for the Armenian-populated region’s
greater autonomy, guilty of illegally entering Armenia, dismissing
his protestations of innocence. It backed prosecutors’ claim that he
crossed the Georgian-Armenian border without a valid Georgian passport.

The court ruled that Chakhalian must return to Yerevan, his temporary
place of residence, and stay there until the verdict’s formal entry
into force. But witnesses said that as Chakhalian left Gyumri for the
Armenian capital in a car he was apprehended by police and escorted
to the Georgian border. His defense lawyer, Tigran Hayrapetian, told
RFE/RL that local police officers showed him a written deportation
order signed by the chief of Armenia’s national Police Service,
Lieutenant-General Hayk Harutiunian.

Chakhalian, 24, was arrested on October 11 just hours after he,
his parents, brother and another United Javakhk activist arrived in
Armenia in a car and were reportedly stopped and beaten up by unknown
men outside Yerevan. The activist, Gurgen Shirinian, sustained severe
injuries and required hospitalization.

Chakhalian was released from custody two weeks later amid an outcry
from a number of Armenian non-governmental organizations and 16
members of Armenia’s parliament. In a joint statement, the mostly
opposition lawmakers accused the authorities in Yerevan of using the
case to please the Georgian government which has been at odds with
United Javakhk.

The violence and the ensued arrest also infuriated the radical group’s
supporters in Javakheti. Dozens of them marched to the Armenian border
to demand his release.

"I repeat that I never illegally crossed the border of the Republic
of Armenia," Chakhalian said in his concluding court remarks.

His mother Gayane also testified at the trial, challenging the
prosecutors to explain why they did not level the same accusations
against herself and the three other persons that entered Armenia with
Chakhalian. "Why is it that only one of us is guilty of breaking the
law?" she said. "Why don’t you try me as well?"

Hayrapetian, for his part, argued that they had no trouble passing
through the Armenian border and customs checkpoints.

Chakhalian’s sympathizers link the case with United Javakhk’s
rejection of the official results of the October 5 local elections in
Javakheti that gave victory to Georgia’s governing National Movement
Party. Alleging massive fraud, United Javakhk rallied hundreds of
supporters in the regional town of Akhalkalaki. The demonstration
turned violent, with the protesters seizing the local government
building before being dispersed by police.

DAVID NALBANDIAN HEADS ARGENTINA NATIONAL TEAM

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 04 2006

MOSCOW, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The most
authoritative among the world tennis group tournaments, the Davis
Cup tournament, started on December 1 in Moscow. The national teams
of Russia and Argentina are at its final stage. Nikolay Davydenko,
Dmitri Tursunov, Mikhail Youzhny and Marat Safin will enter sports
ground among the Russian team staff in the struggle for the "silver
tray." David Nalbandian of Armenian origin heads the Argentina
national team. His playmates are Jose Acasuso, Augustin Calleri and
Juan Ignacio Chela.

EXHIBITION OF ARMENIAN ARCHITECTURAL AND CULTURAL MONUMENTS IN UKRAINE OPENS IN KIEV

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 04 2006

KIEV, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. An exhibition entitled
"Monuments of Armenian Architecture and Culture in Ukraine" opened
in the building of the Paiters’ Union of Ukraine on November 30,
under the patronage of the Embassy of Armenia to Ukraine. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, the exhibition was organized by the Ministry of Culture
and Tourism of Ukraine, State Committee on Nations and Migration
Issues, "Druzhba" (frienship) cultural-enlightenment center, Union of
Armenians of Ukraine and "Nairi" Armenian cultural center. Greeting
those present, Armen Khachatrian, the Ambassador of Armenia to Ukraine,
presented the centuries-old history of the Armenian-Ukrainian ties,
attaching importance to the two peoples’ cultural ties. The First
Deputy Chairman of the Painters’ Union of Ukraine, the Director of
the "Druzhba" cultural-enlightenment center, the Director of the
"Nairi" Armenian cultural center, etc. addressed greeting speeches
to participants of the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

Works of Armenian and Ukrainian painters picturing churches,
monasteries, other monuments spread in Ukraine are presented at
the exhibition.

EBRD TO PROVIDE 5 MILLION-DOLLAR LOAN TO INECOBANK FOR SME FINANCING

Noyan Tapan
Dec 04 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD) will provide a 5 million dollar-loan to
Inecobank for financing Armenian Small and Medium Entrepreneurship
(SME). NT was informed from EBRD that the bank will also increase by 1
million USD the technical assistance provided to Inecobank under the
Trade Financing Program, which is being implemented with the USAID
by the jointly established Multilateral Donor Financing Fund. These
resources will be used to develop the crediting procedure and skills
at Inecobank. Inecobank and EBRD has cooperated since 2005 when the
Armenian bank received its first loan of 1 million USD from EBRD
with the aim of extending the capacities of servicing small and
medium enterprises.

15th ANNIVERSARY OF RA INDEPENDENCE MARKED IN CITY OF BEACONSFIELD

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 04 2006

BEACONSFIELD, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A
concert-evening party dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the RA
independence took place on November 28 at the Saint Mary church of the
city of Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. Representatives
of the local self-government bodies and Armenian community were
present at the event organized by the Chilterns Armenian Society
functioning in Buckinghamshire, with the assistance of the Embassy of
Armenia. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press
and Information Department, British Armenian famous violinist Levon
Chilingarian, the Vardanian string quartet functioning at the Royal
College of Music, etc. performed at the concert. Vahe Gabrielian,
the Ambassador of Armenia, made a speech during the party, briefly
presenting the path passed by Armenia from the beginning of the
independence, expressing gratitude to the Armenian community for the
continuous assistance to Armenia as well as for the contribution in
the affair of deepening the Armenian-British ties.

ARMENIAN PREMIER EXPRESSES CONCERNS OVER VIOLENCE AGAINST ARMENIANS TO RUSSIAN COUNTERPART

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 4 2006

YEREVAN, December 4. /ARKA/. At his meeting with Russian Prime Minister
Mikhail Fradkov, RA Premier Andranik Margaryan expressed his concern
over the more frequent cases of violence against Armenia in Russia.

Although the violence is not specifically against Armenians, its
ethnic nature cannot be ignored, Margaryan said.

Premier Margaryan thanked his Russian counterpart for a constructive
dialogue and expressed the confidence in the necessity of such
meetings, as they allow the sides to throiroughly discuss the existing
problems and mechanisms of solution.
From: Baghdasarian

EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO 100th ANNIVERSARY OF AGBU OPENED AT RA EMBASSY TO GREECE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Dec 04 2006

ATHENS, DECEMBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. An exhibition on
the theme "Armenia in the Art of Engraving" dedicated to the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian General Benevolent Union opened on November
29 in the building of the Embassy of Armenia to Greece. It completely
involves Greek Armenian famous intellectual Hakob Jelalian’s personal
collection with total number of about 130 pieces which will be sent
as a present to Armenia after this exhibition.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and
Information Department, the exhibition is organized by the Embassy
of Armenia to Greece and the AGBU Women’s Committee. Representatives
of the authorities of Greece, Armenian clergymen, business circles,
Armenian community and mass media, diplomates accredited in Greece
took part in the event.

ARMENIAN, RUSSIAN PREMIERS DISCUSS VERKHNY LARS CHECKPOINT PROBLEM

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 4 2006

YEREVAN, December 4. /ARKA/. Armenian and Russian Premiers Andranik
Margaryan and Mikhail Fradkov discussed the problem of the closed
checkpoint in Verkhny Lars. The RA Premier pointed out that this
caused serious losses to Armenia’s economic entities this summer.

Margaryan pointed out the importance of organizing transportation
by means of the Novorosiysk-Poti-Novorosiysk ferry service. He
also drew Premier Fradkov’s attention to the commissioning of the
Caucasus-Poti-Caucasus train-ferry service, pointing out that Armenia
is interested in the construction being completed as soon as possible.

Margaryan also pointed out that Armenian-Russian economic cooperation
is based on direct contacts between Armenian and Russian enterprises.

According to him, a relevant contractual basis has recently actively
been formed.

An Armenian Premier-headed delegation went to Moscow on November 30 to
take part in the official closing of the Year of Armenia in Russia. On
December 1, 2006, the Armenian Premier held a meeting with his Russian
counterpart Mikahil Fradkov. The following day Premier Margaryan went
to Saint Petersburg to take part in the opening of the "History of
Armenia" exhibition at the Hermitage. The same day Margaryan took part
in the official closing of the Year of Armenia in Russia.