ARMENIANS OF AKHALKALAK PROTEST WITHDRAWAL OF RUSSIAN MILITARY BASE
AZG Armenian Daily
28/04/2006
The residents of Akhalkalak blocked the way of the military
communication car that belongs to the Russian military base #62. The
Russian mass media informed that they hinder the car to move from
a canyon and demand its return to the territory of the military
base. According to one of the activists of the protest, the car was
to go to Tsalka settlement. “The withdrawal of the communication car
means the beginning of military equipment’s withdrawal from Javakhk,”
Regnum agency cited the words of the unknown source in the city. The
Armenian residents of the city are against the withdrawal of the
Russian military base from Akhalkalaki, as many issues are not solved
yet, particularly, the issue of the security of the Armenian residents
of Samtskhe-Javakhk region.
Besides, many families earned their living thanks to the economic
infrastructure of the Russian military base in the region. The
Armenians of Javakhk region demand from the Russian and the Georgian
authorities to explain why the local residents were not involved in
the negotiations over the withdrawal of the Russian military base.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BUSH’S GENOCIDE SPEECH UNACCEPTABLE FOR TURKEY
By Hakob Chakrian
AZG Armenian Daily
28/04/2006
Armenians worldwide focused their attention on president George
W. Bush’s annual speech on April 24.
Turkey also caught it in the spotlight insofar as Turkish papers and
Turkish Foreign Ministry’s statement suggest.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Namek Tan presented the
statement. Responding to US president’s April 24 speech, he said that
there are a few acceptable ideas in it, Milliet newspaper reports. As
to the hint at creating of a joint group of scholars in Bush’s speech,
Tan considered it a positive proposal.
Though the spokesperson has not explained what statements are
unacceptable for Turkey, they are obvious.
Pres. Bush says in his speech: “Today, we remember one of the horrible
tragedies of the 20th century: the mass killing and forced exile of
as many as 1.5 million of Armenians in the final days of the Ottoman
Empire in 1915. This was a tragedy for all humanity and one that we
and the world must never forget.”
Though the statement lacks the word “genocide”, this is a clear-cut
definition of genocides as the UN Convention on Genocide has it.
Moreover, George Bush touches upon the analysis of the Center for
Transitional Justice and though he considers it incomplete, he points
out that it is a serious contribution to deepening the perception of
1915 event.
As it is known, a 17-page report was made in 2003 based on CTJ analysis
in which it draws the following conclusion on the events of 1915 in
the Ottoman Empire: “In whole, these events have all the elements
of genocide as the UN Convention on Genocides defines it. Lawyers,
political scientists, journalists and others will be correct if they
use this definition for these events.”
In other words, by referring to the CTJ’s analysis, Bush indirectly
confirms that the events of 1915 match UN Conventions definition
of genocides.
All these could not certainly be acceptable for the Turkish Foreign
Ministry. What spokesperson Tan avoids say openly write the newspapers
emphasizing that at the end of his speech president Bush passed his
wife’s condolence to the Armenian nation. Curiously enough, Milliet
titled its article on Bush’s speech “No Word ‘Genocide’ but…” thus
showing its displeasure with it.

NEGATIVE BALANCE OF ARMENIAN FOREIGN TRADE AMOUNTS TO ABOUT $ 800 MILLION
AZG Armenian Daily
28/04/2006
According to the results of the CIS countries foreign trade activities
for 2005, the positive balance of Russia’s foreign trade totaled
to $120 billion 131 million. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan also have
positive foreign trade balance that amount to $10 billion 496 million
and $146,6 million respectively. The rest of the CIS member states
fixed negative balance, remaining rather an importing than exporting
countries. According to the indicator of the foreign trade negative
balance, Armenia is on the fourth place after Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan
and Belarus. Then come Moldova ($1 billion 200,6 million), Georgia
($1 billion 624 million) and Ukraine ($1 billion 854 million).

ISRAEL READY TO HOST NATIONAL TEAMS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
AZG Armenian Daily
28/04/2006
According to Azerbaijani mass media, secretary of the Israeli Football
Federation, Naim Simmer, sent a letter to his Azerbaijani counterpart
Ramiz Mirzoyev suggesting to hold the European Championship qualifying
matches between Armenian and Azerbaijani teams in Israel. In Mirzoyev’s
words, he also received such suggestions from football federations
of Luxemburg, Belarus, Bulgaria, Latvia, Moldova and Holland.
Matthew Sprangers, member of the UEFA executive board, said from Baku
that the pitch for the qualifier matches will be chosen after the
meeting in Lyon on May 12. The get-together will draw 3 representatives
of each national football federation and 3 participants from the UEFA.

COMBAT AGAINST DRUG ADDICTION IN KAPAN
A1+
[12:41 pm] 28 April, 2006
NGO “Apek” has realized programs of combating drug addiction in
different towns of the Syunik region, but only Qajaran got interested
in them and wanted to join the structure “European cities against
drugs”.
Coordinated combat against drug addiction in Armenia starts from
Qajaran. Several specialists will be trained there. According to
Swedish specialist Per Johanssen, the number of drug addicts is not
very high in Armenia and we must make use of the opportunity to make
it still lower.
During the first semester of the previous year three cases of drug
trafficking have been revealed, whereas this year the number has
increased five fold.
TV Company “Sosi” of Kapan

SPRING CONSCRIPTION STARTS
A1+
[01:01 pm] 28 April, 2006
Robert Kocharyan has signed a decree about the starting the 2006
spring conscription.
In April-May of the current year all those RA citizens who are 18
years old and have not served in the army will be summoned to fulfill
their military duty.
During the same period all those soldiers who have been serving for
the last two years will be sent home.

2 -3 CHILDREN DON’T GO TO SCHOOL IN EACH VILLAGE
A1+
[05:48 pm] 27 April, 2006
The drawings of 15 schoolchildren from Armavir, Vayots Dzor, Tavush
and Yerevan were presented in the UNO Armenian Office with the title
“School is for everyone.” The results of the composition with the
same title were also made public during the exhibition. Let us mention
that 54 drawings and 39 compositions were chosen out of 1000 works.
Such exhibition is held in Armenia for the first time though more
than 80 countries united under the motto, “Education is for all.”
All the drawings and compositions called on giving equal and available
rights to everyone. The chief of the UNICEF Sheldon Ett reminded
the people present that the right to get qualified education is
registered in the “International Convention on Children’s Rights”
which was also signed by the RA Government.
After making inquiries that the majority of children go to school she
announced, “You are the happiest people in the world, as many children
in other communities of the world are deprived of that opportunity
either because of the lack of financial means or because they don’t
realize the importance of education.” According to their data 90%
Armenian children go to school.
The chairman of the NGO “An anchor of hope” Susanna Tadevosyan
mentioned, “Our survey of the Armenian marzes revealed the 3 – 4
children from each village do not attend schools which is determined
by multiple social reasons. And when we asked whether invalid children
are among them we got a terrible answer, “Do they go to school?”

THE PEOPLE’S PARTY SHOULDERS THE PEOPLE EVICTED FROM THEIR HOMES
A1+
[07:08 pm] 27 April, 2006
The NA deputy and the member of the Armenian People’s Party Vardan
Lazarian called on the sufferers from the greenery to struggle and
recover their rights saying that the party will shoulder them with
everything possible. There were many residents present in the party
office today from Kozern, Byuzand, Northern and Main Avenues and the
gardens of Dalma who came to listen to specialists’ opinion about
their benefit from the decision of the Constitutional Court.
They were more interested in the fact whether the press conference was
organized by the “Justice” Bloc or the APP. The APP press secretary
Ruzan Khachatryan didn’t answer the question. Advocate Vahe Grigoryan
claimed that though the CC deemed the disputed acts anti-constitutional
and the deadline of their expiration is October 1, it won’t be easy
to evict the dwellers from their homes as there are other legal acts
in the country besides the decision of the CC.
By the way, the first Ombudsman Larissa Alaverdyan was also present
at the press conference. First of all she mentioned that the new
Ombudsman was very wise as he could make the CC admit the first three
points. “I deem it a historical moment and your victory,” concluded
Larissa Alaverdyan.
She noted that they have much to do in new conditions, and the
restoration of each citizen’s rights can be considered a step forward
for the establishment of legal country.
Let us remind you that certain articles of Civil and Land Codes and
one governmental decision were considered to be anti-governmental.

PRIMATE GALSTANIAN MAKES AN APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
AZG Armenian Daily
28/04/2006
On Monday, April 24, 2006, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian,
Primate of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese, sent a letter of
appreciation and gratitude to The Right Honorable Stephen Harper,
Prime Minister of Canada. In his letter, Bishop Galstanian thanked the
Prime Minister for his courageous action and pressed forward to urge
the Harper government to pass a law condemning all Genocide deniers.
The faithful of our Diocese and Armenian communities of Canada should
note that His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian met with The Right
Hon. Stephen Harper on March 21, 2006 in the office of the Prime
Minister in Ottawa. The purpose of the meeting was to thank Mr.
Harper for his past support of Bill M-380 in the House of Commons,
and use the opportunity to further the discussion on the Armenian
Genocide. On this occasion, Bishop Galstanian also presented a letter
from His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians.
The Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada, in Montreal, is pleased
to go on record to express its gratification that the accelerated
pace of efforts of the Diocese for recognition of Medz Yeghern
has been successful. This diligent and conscientious process has
brought about a timely and concrete statement from the Office of the
Prime Minister. Mr. Harper signed and sent the statement to Armenian
organizations across Canada on Wednesday April 19, 2006, days leading
up to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese

“ARMENIA RESPECTS THE TERRITORIAL WHOLENESS OF AZERBAIJAN”
A1+
[05:16 pm] 27 April, 2006
The NKR NA deputies cannot be involved in the PACE Armenian
delegation. RA NA deputy Speaker Tigran Torosyan announced about it in
the capital of the NKR after the Armenia – Karabakh intergovernmental
committee session hold in Stepanakert.
He mentioned that the Karabakh issue has been actively discussed within
the past 1 – 2 years in European establishments. The PACE adopted
1416 resolutions in 2005 connected with the conflict settlement. A
resolution was adopted on the refugee issue, and a document is formed
on missing people. At present an ad-hoc committee works in the PACE
under Lord Rasel Jonestone’s leadership. According to Tigran Torosyan
the committee members will visit the region in autumn.
While speaking of the Armenian engagement in European institutions
he underlined that our delegation has so far worked in our
favour, especially in the issue of the recognition of Karabakh
sovereignity. “Even the co-chairs of Minsk group agree with this. If
we ask the opinions of America and Azerbaijan they are also sure of
the results of the new referendum in Karabakh,” stated Tigran Torosyan.
As for the PACE resolution, in which the two sides are called
on ceasing their militant announcements, according to Tigran
Torosyan there are no mechanisms to control the commitment of the
resolution. Perhaps the control of the resolution commitment is put
into the committee’s competence.
Asked the question how he will comment on Aliev’s announcement to
solve the conflict within the framework of the territorial wholeness
of Azerbaijan, Tigran Torosyan answered that they respect Azerbaijan’s
wholeness but it has nothing to do with the NKR right to soveregnity.
Another key issue of the intergovernmental committee session agenda
was the amendment of the NKR Constitution. According to the NKR NA
deputy chairman Rudik Husnuntsi the Constitution will be passed by
the end of the year. At present they work out the first 8 chapters,
and Karabakh expects Armenia’s assistance on this score. Husnuntsi
claims that the NKR Constitution will greatly differ from the Armenian
one with its characteristics.
“I hope that there won’t be any blows from the American side and they
won’t have their negative impact on the conflict settlement,” noted
Tigran Torosyan while speaking about the Iranian-American relations
and their possible influence on the Karabakh issue.