THE ARMENIAN WRESTLER IN THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
A1+
[08:04 pm] 27 April, 2006
The Armenian wrestler Karen Mnatsakanyan (65 kg) moved on the finals in
the European wrestling championship held in Moscow and will struggle
with the Georgian David Bedinadze for the European champion’s place
tonight. At present Mnatsakanyan already has a bronze medal and will
strive to provide his success.
Karen Mnatsakanyan beat the Azeri Fuad Aliev in the quarterfinals
and the Ukrainian Aleksey Mnatsakanyan.
Let us mention that Karen Mnatsakanyan is a former European champion,
a bronze medal winner and the World vice-champion.
Unfortunately, Mkitar Hunanyan (74kg) and Robert Petrosyan (96kg)
were beaten in the first phase and will not continue their further
participation in the championship.

THE NETHERLANDS WILL GIVE MONEY TO NGOs
A1+
[07:36 pm] 27 April, 2006
The Armenian NGOs which will be involved in the program “Consolidation
of Human Rights” don’t contemplate over their financing. The Armenian
branch of the Open Society Institute Assistance Fund (OSIAF) and the
Netherlands Embassy in Tbilisi announced about the new grant 3 – month
program on the “consolidation of human rights through development of
abilities of the chosen NGOs.”
The Netherlands Embassy will allocate 513,810 USD within three and
a half years. The investment of the OSIAF Armenian branch in the
program will be about 373,050 USD. The NGOs will be chosen through
competition and each of them will get 25000 – 35000 USD.
According to the director of the OSIAF Armenian branch Larissa Minasyan
5 – 7 NGOs will be chosen which will initiate their activity in the
following fields; closed establishments of human rights protection,
speech freedom, availability of independent mass media and justice and
the security of people emphasizing the economic right of the vulnerable
stratum. The Armenian side will provide financial control. After
signing the grant agreement, Ambassador Onno Elderenboskh voiced hope
that the program will greatly contribute to the country.
The official implementation of the program will be on May 11.

KAREN MNATSAKANYAN BECAME THE EUROPEAN CHAMPION
A1+
[08:54 pm] 27 April, 2006
Karen Mnatsakanyan (60kg) became the European champion in the wrestling
of Greek – Roman style held in Moscow. The Armenian wrestler beat
his Georgian rival David Bedinadze in the finals with the overall
3:0 and became the European champion for the 3rd time.
Karen Mnatsakanyan had significant advantage over his Georgian
rival. The Armenian sportsman beat Azeri wrestler Faud Aliev before
moving on to the finals.
By the way, Karine Shadoyan (72kg) won a bronze medal for Armenia in
the women tournament.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PATRIARCH OF GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA, CATHOLICOS ARAM I INDIGNANT AT IDLENESS OF UN
Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. Patriarch of the Great House of Cilicia,
Catholicos Aram I is indignant at the idleness and silence of
international judicial instances operating under UN mandate regarding
the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. Cilicia Patriarchy Department
of Information and Press told ArmInfo.
According to the source, Aram I expresses his indignation at the
superficial attitude of UNESCO to the destruction and “cultural
Genocide” of Armenian historical monuments by the same barbarians
who committed the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915 and
in Azerbaijani Sumgait in 1988. “Why doesn’t UNESCO take measures to
stop the destruction of Armenian monuments in the historical Western
Armenia, Cilicia, the khachkars in Old Julfa and to restore Saint
Makar Monastery in Cyprus transformed into a public dining-room?”
asks Catholicos Aram I. He calls the international community for
recognition of Armenian Genocide like the other displays of Genocide –
Holocaust and the Genocide in Rwanda – were recognized.

ANOTHER SCUFFLE IN TSALKA
A1+
[09:17 pm] 27 April, 2006
In the Greek village Edikilisia a scuffle was initiated by Armenians
and Greeks on the one hand and by Svans on the other hand. The scuffle
was motivated by the toasts of Armenians and Greeks drunk to their
nations which wasn’t approved by Svans.
The special groups of the Georgian Interior Ministry and National
Security Service meddled with their brawl, and mainly Armenians and
Greeks suffered as a result of this interferance.
According to the agency “A-INFO” only the mediation of the Georgian
Parliament deputy could abate their rage.
The situation is stable in Tsalka after that incident.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RIVERS FLOOD IN ARMENIA
Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. Heavy showers of the recent few days have
exceeded the monthly average sediment in Armenia. In fact, several
rivers flooded, Armenian Rescue Service press-center told ArmInfo.
The Rivers of Tsits Kar and Galou, Aragatsotn region, flooded on
April 25 damaging the riverside agricultural lands. The bridges
linking the town of Aparan to the villages of Lusagyugh and Saralanj
were flooded as well. Representatives of the Town Planning and Road
Building Department of Aragatsotn Regional Administration and rescuers
arrived at the place of the flood. The River Arpa flooded the riverside
territories. Heavy hail damaged the gardens and other plants in the
village of Chiva. The damage caused is currently estimated.

EXACERBATION OF IRAN-USA RELATIONS CAN INFLUENCE THE KARABAKH CONFLICT
Stepanakert, April 26. ArmInfo. Exacerbation of Iran-USA relations
can affect the situation in South Caucasus region and influence
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said in an interview to ArmInfo
correspondent David Babayan, political scientist from Karabakh.
According to Mr. Babayan, the Azeris are especially in the Iran-USA
relations. Azerbaijan is standing for political resolution of the
of the controversies on one hand and on the other Azerbaijan is
afraid of Iran’s military attack in case war starts and Azerbaijan
becomes the ally of the USA. The political scientist added that in
some sense Azeri authorities are interested in the exacerbation of
the situation in Iran, aiming to unite the so-called ‘Southern’ and
‘Northern’ Azerbaijan with the help of America. Taking an active part
in the campaign against Iran on the USA’s side, Azerbaijan longs to
obtain the sympathies of the West and settle the Karabakh conflict
to its own benefit.

“RUSSIA FOR RUSSIANS!” SLOGAN WILL RUIN RUSSIA
Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. A number of Russian politicians, public
figures and sportsmen from the Union of Civil Resistance to Fascism
have asked the Public Prosecutor of Russia to give a legal assessment
of the growing xenophobia in the country.
Russian TV reports them to urge the Public Prosecutor to take measures
against the authors of the slogan “Russia for Russians!”
The chairwoman of the commission on information policy of the Russia’s
Federation Council Lyudmila Narusova says that the slogan “Russia
for Russians!” is not only non-constructive but also criminal and is
leading multinational and multi-religious Russia to collapse.
“Hence, we are asking you to give a legal assessment of this slogan
and to take measures against those propagating it,” she says.

PHOTO EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN CULTURAL MONUMENTS IN TURKEY AND NAKHIJEVAN OPENS IN WASHINGTON
Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. The photo exhibition of the Armenian
cultural monuments in Turkey and Nakhijevan was held at the
Armenian Embassy to USA, on April 24. The Armenian Organization for
Architectural Researches initiated the photo-exhibition. The Press
Service of RA Foreign Ministry informed ArmInfo about this.
The photo exhibition is aimed to show the world that the Armenian
historical-cultural monuments are being consistently ruined one after
another. Holding speech at the opening ceremony, Tatoul Margarian,
RA Ambassador to USA, highly estimated the research works of the
Armenian historical monuments out of Armenia. He added that the issue
of the monuments’ preservation is a very actual one. In particular,
he pointed out the destruction of the Armenian Middle Age grave yard
in Old Jugha,(Nakhijevan. The exhibition will be on for 10 days. The
representatives of the Armenian Diaspora and many American political
figures have already visited the exhbition.

PRICES FOR INTERNET SERVICES TO FALL BY 10-15% ON AVERAGE FROM MAY 1 IN ARMENIA: FORECAST
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 26 2006
YEREVAN, April 27. /ARKA/. Prices for internet services will fall
approximately by 10-15 on average, the technical director of “Arminco”
company Grigory Sagiyan reported.
According to him, it is due to the price-cutting on average by 25%
made by “ArmenTel” Telecommunication Company for internet services on
15 April. “The prices decreased by 29% for large customers of internet
services, by 20% for medium customers, and by 10% for small customers,”
he said.
ArmenTel Telecommunication Company confirmed the information about the
price-cutting on average by 25%. They pointed out that this decision
was made in keeping with ArmenTel’s commercial policy.