REPRESRESENTATIVE OF ARMENIAN CHURCH PARTICIPATES IN MEETING OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF EUROPE CHURCHES’ CONFERENCE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
ETCHMIADZIN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Bishop Natan
Hovhannisian, the Primate of the English Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church participated on May 23-31 in the annual meeting
of the Central Committee of the Europe Churches’ Conference taken
place in the city of Derry, North Ireland. 40 members of the Central
Committee presided by Jean Arnold de Clermont (ECC Chairman) from the
Reformed Church of France and vice-presided by Archbishop Anastasios
from the Orthodix Church of Tirana and All Albania participated in the
meeting. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Interchurch Relations’
Department of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, issues on the
ECC agenda which relate to configuration of the ecumenic movement,
relations of the World Churches Council and the Commission of Refugees’
Issues in Europe, Council of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences Council
and Europe Protestant Churches’ community with the ECC and the third
European Ecumenic Assembly were discussed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BARSEGH TUMANIAN’S SOLO CONCERT DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF MAY 3 PLANE CRASH VICTIMS TAKES PLACE WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF “NATIONAL GALLERY” FESTIVAL
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA People’s Artist
Barsegh Tumanian’s solo concert dedicated to memory of the A-320
plane crash victims took place on June 3, within the framework of
the “National Gallery” second music festival. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the Responsible for Public Relations of the festival,
it’s Barsegh Tumanian’s first solo concert after getting title of the
RA People’s Artist and the world-famous bass singer dedicates it to
memory of the May 3 plane crash victims. Barsegh Tumanian graduated
from the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory. He perfected himself in
the La Scala Opera Theater of Milan in 1982-1983, and in the Moscow
Conservatory in 1985. Since 1989 when Barsegh Tumanian performed in
the Gala-Concert dedicated to Armenian earthquake victims (Royal Opera
House, Covent Garden) he has become a desirable guest of world opera
stages. He performed on stages of best opera theaters and concert
halls, including London Wigmore Hall, Melbourn Opera, Munich Opera
Theater, Paris Opera Bastille, New York Metropolitan Opera, Amsterdam
Concertgebouw, etc. Barsegh Tumanian’s solo concerts in Washington,
Boston, Montreal and Toronto took place during the 2002-2003 series
of concerts.
The “National Gallery” second festival of classic music is being held
from April 20 to June 28.

ARMENIAN APPOINTED TO POST IN GOVERNMENT OF STAVROPOL TERRITORY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
STAVROPOL, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By the order of the
Stavropol territory Governor, Vladimir Minosiants was appointed Deputy
Head of the Staff of the Stavropol territory Government. According to
the Yerkramas (Territory) newspaper of Armenians of Russia, before
this appointment Vladimir Minosiants held the post of Assistant to
the Stavropol territory Governor.

PREMIERE OF COMPOSER TIGRAN MANSURIAN’S CONCERTO FOR VIOLIN AND ORCHESTRA TO TAKE PLACE IN SWEDEN
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By Canadian Armenian
violinist Levon Chilinkirian’s order, Tigran Mansurian, a famous
composer, RA People’s Artist, Professor of Yerevan Komitas State
Conservatory wrote a Concerto for Violin and Orchestra premiere of
which will take place in Sweden. As the composer mentioned in the
interview to the Noyan Tapan correspondent, this work will be performed
in five cities of Sweden, with participation of the Chamber Orchestra
of Sweden. According to T.Mansurian, though the level of orchestras
of Armenia is high, his and their cooperation does not succeed. “If
I write a new work, it must be checked but orchestras are not ready
to check those works. But I have no such a problem in Europe,” the
composer mentioned.
However, he is sure that orchestras of Armenia are not indifferent
to his art.
T.Mansurian cooperates woth “ECM” company of Munich. The latter
releases regularly his works which are spread all over the world. The
“ECM” company has released Mansurian’s four CDs, and will release
another soon. “I have never seen such an interest towards my work. I’m
glad that my works are being spread in U.S., Europe, Japan and I’m
sure that they will be performed in future in the Fatherland as well,”
the composer emphasized. Tigran Mansurian informed that presentation
of his “ARS poetrica” CD will take place in Yerevan in July. It was
written based on 10 poems of Yeghishe Charents.

ARMENIAN GIRL FROM ASTRAKHAN PASSES TO SEMI-FINAL OF EUROVISION-2006 CHILDREN’S CONTEST
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
June 05 2006
KRASNODAR, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Selective tours
of the Eurovision-2006 children’s contest were held in 2006 in RF
regions. Armenian girl from Astrakhan Luara Hayrapetian from 150
participants of the national selective contest of child-singers
Eurovision-2006 passed to the semi-final. Five bids were sent to
the contest from Astrakhan region but the jury chose Luara and her
song “Red Hat.” According to the Yerkramas (Territory) newspaper
of Armenians of Russia, Luara Hayrapetian is only 8 years old, she
attends grammar school N 3. The girl has been engaged in singing when
she was 5. She has been attending children’s variety studio Vesnushki
of Viktoria cultural center of Astrakhangazprom LTD for already
three years. In spite of her young age Luara has repeatedly become a
winner at different international and Russian conests. She received
grand prix at the Rainbow (Raduga) international festival in 2003
in Volgograd, in the nomination “Little Miracle.” This year she has
also received grand prix in the Russian contest of variety song in
the city of Tuapse. Luara also registered victories in the region:
she recieves scholrarship of the government of Astrakhan region.

ACCORDING TO WB YEREVAN OFFICE DIRECTOR, APPRECIATION OF ARMENIAN DRAM INDICATES STRENGTHENING ECONOMY
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The appreciation of the Armenian dram is
one of the indications of a strengthening economy. The World Bank (WB)
Yerevan Office Director Roger Robinson stated this in a response to NT
correspondent’s question. According to him, the dram’s appreciation
is also conditioned by cash flows to Armenia, as well as by the
depreciation of the US dollar against the pound, euro and the Russian
ruble in recent weeks. In his words, the Armenian economy is small,
so the external price shocks rapidly affect the market.
In the opinion of R. Robinson, the exchange rate of the dram stabilized
for a moment and will again do so after its appreciation observed
in the last few weeks, since the Armenian market is currently
“very efficient”. He noted that the Armenian production continues
to be competitive, at the same time a growth of productivity is
continuing. The WB representative expressed a satisfaction over rates
of development of the Armenian economy, and and the growing credits
from the banking system to the economy.

50 TONS OF CONFIRMED GOLD RESERVES IN SOTK MINE
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Sotk mine is a promising one: it
contains 50 confirmed tons of gold. B. Sharman, Director General of
the Ararat Gold Extraction Enterprise, stated this during a media tour
organized by the Club of Economic Reporters. To recap, since 2002,
the owner of 100% shares of the enterprise is the First Dynasty Mines
Armenia company. The enterprise was set up in 1998 for extraction of
gold-containing ore at Sotk and Meghradzor mines and processing this
ore at the Ararat gold recovery factory. B. Sharman noted that this
year the enterprise already exported 1.4 tons of gold, in 2002 – 3.2
tons. It is envisaged to increase the mining amount of ore to 1 mln
tons annually, 6 grams of gold on average is obtained from 1 ton of
ore. In 2001-2005, the total turnover of the company amounted to 116
mln USD, but it has not paid yet dividents. It was noted that the last
studies here were conducted in 1988 and, according to preliminary data,
the confimed reserves of gold total 120 tons. B. Sharman said that it
is envisaged to build a a new gold processing plant, and the company
applied for permission two months ago. Previously the government
rejected the project of constructing a plant 6 km from the shore of
Lake Sevan. The enterprise director Vardan Vardanian said that now
it is proposed constructing a plant 35 km from Lake Sevan, which,
as he assured, poses no threat to the lake. About 85 mln USD will
be invested in construction of the new plant. To recap, 145 thousand
tons of gold has been exported in the world from 1858 until now. The
US is in first place in terms of gold reserve resources, followed by
Germany and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
India is the largest consumer of gold. The biggest gold mine is in
Indonesia. The reserves of mines currently operating in the world
will have been exhausted in 12 years.

YEREVAN PREPARES TO MEET ITS CHAMPION CHESS PLAYERS ON LATE JUNE 5
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Members of the Armenian men chess
players team got title of champion of the World Olympiad finished on
the previous day in Turin and of the women team performed with success
will arrive in Yerevan at 22:00, June 5, by the Paris flight. As RA
Prime Minister Andranik Margarian informed journalists at the NA on
the same day, the champions will soon be rewarded from the state
budget according to the Government’s decisions, additional awards
will also be. According to the Prime Minister, just after the chess
player’s arrival, a glorifying event is envisaged for them on the
Freedom square of Yerevan.

HENRY CUNY: FRENCH UNIVERSITY IN ARMENIA BECOMES BRIDGE AMONG FRENCH AND ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The French University in Armenia has
fostered three most important missions since the first day of its
existence: to secure high education quality, to attempt to prepare
such specialists who are necessary for further development of Armenia,
guarantees for providing university students with work. Henry Cuny,
the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Armenia
stated about it at the June 5 press-conference. The French diplomat is
very satisfied that the University started functioning just from the
year when he started officiating in Armenia. According to Henry Cuny,
during the recent period the University has become a bridge among
French and Armenian businessmen. It is already the third year that
high year students of the University do their education practical
work in different cities of France. According to the Ambassador,
this important practical work is financed with the means of the
Armenian-French Chamber of Trade and Insdustry. This practical work
gives them possibility to directly contact with works of business
management and work organization. Rector of the French University in
Armenia mentioned that besides Armenian businessmen, 8 students of
the University will also participate in the international economic
forum to take place in Marseilles on June 20. A similar forum will be
held in Lyon as well in 2007 during which pavillions will be given to
Armenian businessmen who will present their production in France during
those days. More than 1000 businessmen participate in this economic
forum. The French University Rector also mentioned that master classes,
separate courses relating to management and enterpreneurial activity
will start functioning at the University from this academic year.

MORE THAN 3 MLN USD ALLOCATED FROM STATE BUDGET FOR MAJOR REPAIRS OF YEREVAN SCHOOLS
Noyan Tapan
June 05 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN. 10 bln drams (23 mln 256 thousand USD)
has been allocated to the sphere of education by 2006 RA state budget,
1 bln 350 mln drams out of which is envisaged for major repairs of 15
schools within the jurisdiction of Yerevan Mayor’s Office. As Onik
Vatian, Head of the Education Department of Yerevan Mayor’s Office,
informed at the June 5 press conference, this year repairs will be
implemented at Yerevan schools with the resources of the Foundation
of Social Investments, as well as the Lincy Foundation. The latter has
planned to fundamentally repair 6 comprehensive schools. O.Vatian said
that the repairs of some schools will finish not at the beginning but
at the end of the schoolyear. According to the head of the Education
Department, 132 thousand pupils attended Yerevan schools last year,
while their number was 130707 in 2005-2006 schoolyear. According to
O.Vatian, the number of 10-form pupils is more by 154 as compared
with the previous year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress