‘MY SON SHALL BE ARMENIAN’ FILM DEMONSTRATED IN CANADA

Yerevan, April 13. ArmInfo. ‘My Son Shall Be Armenian’ film by director
Hakob Gudsuzian was demonstrated in Canada on April 11. The film was
made by the ‘National Film Board’ company and the demonstration was
organized by Armenian youth unions of Ottawa, Armenian organizations
of Canada and the Armenian Embassy.

The Foreign Ministry of Armenia report that the film tell about five
Armenians from Montreal traveling to Armenia in order to find evidence
of survivors of the Genocide.

FRAMEWORK OF NEGOTIATIONS TO BE ADAPTED WITHOUT CHANGES

Lragir.am
14 April 06

The framework of talks on the conflict over Karabakh will not change,
and rumors about reporting the issue to the United Nations or other
international organizations are groundless. This was stated by the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chair Bernard Fassier (France) on April 13 in Yerevan.

The French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group said the negotiations
were and will be mediates by the OSCE Minsk Group. He noted that
the framework may simply be adapted. Adapting, according to Bernard
Fassier, means taking advantage of other opportunities outside the
mediatory mission. “There will be an adjustment of the existing
framework, and it means that we the co-chairs will not confine
ourselves to visits and are determined to use every favorable
opportunity,” says Bernard Fassier.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM ADOPTED

Lragir.am
13 april 06

Despite the heated parliamentary debates and revelations that
lasted for three days the National Assembly adopted the report
on performance of privatization of state property 2001-2003, and
the program of privatization 2005-2007. It was confirmed thanks to
“forcing” the members of parliament who hardly ever attend the meetings
of parliament to turn up.

Nonetheless, Victor Dallakyan, Ardarutiun Alliance, called for a
boycott not to have quorum. Only the alliance and some members of
the National Unity followed him. The Orinats Yerkir voted against the
program. The ARF representatives voted as they wanted. Some voted for,
others against the program, yet some abstained. The 10-11 members of
the People’s Deputy Group supplied 15-16 votes.

The head of the Department for Management of State Property Karineh
Kirakosyan announced that the 2005-2007 program is the final program
of privatization, including about 300 companies. The list does not
include educational, scientific and medical institutions.

LEGAL STATUS TO REFUGEES

Lragir.am
14 April 06

The PACE called Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia for granting refugees
in these countries a status that complies with the international law,
informs the news agency ARKA, referring to Russian sources.

In his report Parliamentarian Boris Cilevic invited Armenia, Georgia
and Azerbaijan to grant a legal status to the refugees living in
these countries. It is stated in the report that the status must be
based on the humanitarian law and be equal to the status of refugees
of Chechnya. The author of the report thinks the situation of the
displaced persons and refugees hampers economic, social and political
development in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Boris Cilevic mentions that the efforts of countries for the settlement
of some conflicts, particularly the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh
produced no results, border incidents persist, the fate of the missing
is unknown.

In the report Nagorno Karabakh is said to have the highest number of
refugees. According to the statistics provided by the UN, 235 235
refugees were counted in Armenia, in Georgia – 237 069 in Abkhazia
and 12 131 in South Ossetia. After the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh
there are 578 545 displaced persons in Azerbaijan.

The PACE invited the countries of the EU to render financial support
to Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan to settle the problems of refugees
and the displaced persons.

ARMENIAN BODY CLAIMS 130 POWS IN AZERI PRISONS

Regnum, Moscow
11 Apr 06

As of today there are 130 Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan,
deputy chairman of the Community and Law public organization, Suren
Ovannesyan, has said.

He said that the Armenian Defence Ministry had elaborated a list of
missing people and their whereabouts. However, the process of their
return is practically impossible. Azerbaijan had also published
information about the Armenian prisoners of war. But information
about the prisoners of war has not been made public since [Azerbaijani
President] Ilham Aliyev came into power.

“Access to prisons in Azerbaijan is even barred for international
organizations,” Suren Ovannesyan said and added that Armenian prisoners
of war are exploited as free labour force in Azerbaijan.

Suren Ovannesyan noted that there are no Azerbaijani prisoners of war
in Armenian prisons as they were returned to Azerbaijan unilaterally.

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATED BY THOSE WHO ARE TO PROTECT

Lragir.am
14 April 06

On April 13 the National Assembly heard the report on the activity of
the ombudsman of Armenia in 2005. The report was presented by Armen
Harutiunyan, who became ombudsman in March 2006. According to the
members of parliament, Armen Harutiunyan observed all the rules of
decency and deserves praise. In his report he had included mostly
statistical facts, without dwelling on assessments, and noticed in
the beginning that “the first ombudsman could have been given the
opportunity to present the report on the activity in 2005.” The picture
of 2005 is the following: the ombudsman received 1551 complaints from
1824 citizens, some are signed by groups of people, 533 complaints ,
i.e. 34 per cent were discussed.

In European countries they attend to 20-25 per cent of complaints. The
majority of complaints are about strange methods of investigation
used by the police, the social security agencies for problems with
benefits, courts, the Ministry of Justice, the Office of Public
Prosecutor, the City Hall of Yerevan, regional administrations,
other agencies. The police is in the first place – 191 complaints,
social security agencies are the second – 179, then come courts –
166. The lowest number of complaints are about the Ministry of Finance
and Economy and the Ministry of Energy – three complaints each. This
statistics allowed MP Victor Dallakyan to conclude that human rights
are often violated by those who are called to protect them, i.e. the
police, courts of law, the Office of Public Prosecutor.

EASTER CELEBRATION AND OTHER SPRING TIME EVENTS

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 10:30

Under the Auspices of His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian,
Prelate, a reception will be held at the Armenian Prelacy of Canada
for all fellow worshippers who wish to be blessed on the Feast of
the Holy Resurrection of Jesus Christ after Divine Easter services
on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2006.

During the Lent period, the Prelacy also hosted weekday lectures on
women Saints and the notion of sacredness at all Armenian Apostolic
Churches across Canada.

Under the Auspices of His Eminence, a drawing contest is being held
on Sunday, April 30, 2006, after Divine Liturgy services in Ontario
and Quebec.

Organized by the Christian Education Council of the Armenian Prelacy of
Canada, in collaboration with Christian Education Committee of local
churches, the exhibit will take place in Toronto’s Hovnanian Hall,
Cambridge’s Armenian community centre, and in the Aharonian Hall for
the Montreal and Laval communities.

The contest, which is open to all students, has two age categories:
the elementary level and the intermediary/high school level. The
deadline for submission is April 21, 2006 and drawings should be
given to the respected church secretarial office of each locale.

The award ceremony will be held at the St. Catharines Armenian
community centre on May 13, 2006, during the Canadian Armenian
National Assembly Representatives (CANAR) banquet, where the best
drawings will be displayed.

CHAMBER OF ADVOCATES RELEASES RULES AND APPLICATION FORM FOR THE QUALIFICATION EXAMINATION FOR ADVOCATES

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 11:00

On April 15, 2006, the RA Chamber of Advocates and its Qualification
Commission will hold a press conference to release the Rules and
application form for the upcoming qualification examination for
licensing advocates, which will be held in August-September 2006. The
purpose of the press conference is to present to applicants, the press
and other attendees the Rules of the Qualification Examination and the
application package. A power point presentation will highlight some
of the important features of the Qualification Examination, including
the deadlines for application and examination processes. Among the
speakers will be President of the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia
Ruben Sahakyan, USAID Deputy Mission Director Karl Fickenscher,
Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Arthur Baghdasaryan,
Chair of the Court of Cassation of Armenia Hovhaness Manukyan,
Deputy Prosecutor General of Armenia Gevorg Danielyan, Chair of the
Qualification Commission Yenok Azaryan, a representative from the
Ministry of Justice and ABA/CEELI Liaison Erica Simpson. Ms Simpson
will briefly speak about the cooperation of ABA/CEELI with the Chamber
of Advocates and specifically on the Qualification Examination.

PACE ADOPTS A RESOLUTION ON REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 11:16

Yesterday the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe discussed
the report on “Refugees and displaced persons in Armenia, Georgia and
Azerbaijan” and adopted a resolution. Head of the Armenian delegation
to PACE Tigran Torosyan said that the resolution correctly pictures
the current situation.

The report does not indicate the number of the refugees and displaced
persons. However, the report has a memorandum of the reporter, which
includes interesting figures taken from the report of the UN Supreme
Commissioner on Issues of Refugees.

“It is mentioned, for instance, that the number of refugees
in Azerbaijan is a little more than 83 thousand. At the end of
2004 there were only 8 606 refugees and 500 displaced persons
in Azerbaijan. However, these numbers make it apparent that the
Azerbaijanis’ reports on having 1 million refugees are an absolute
lie,” Head of the Armenian delegation underlined.

ARMENIAN TABLE TENNIS PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

ArmRadio.am
14.04.2006 12:32

Table tennis team of Armenia will participate in the World Table Tennis
Championship to be held April 23 in Bremen, Germany. The chief trainer
of the team is Felix Sargsyan. The team comprises three players –
David Sargsyan, Murad Asatryan and Mesrop Ghukasyan. All thre sportsmen
are included in the top 1 000 of the best tennis player og the world.

Armenia currently ranks 71st in the international table tennis
rating list.