PROPOSITION DE LOI UMP POUR PUNIR LA NEGATION DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Agence France Presse
25 avril 2006 mardi 6:28 PM GMT
Eric Raoult, depute-maire UMP du Raincy (Seine-Saint-Denis), a indique
mardi par un communique qu’il venait de deposer une proposition de
loi visant a penaliser la negation du genocide armenien.
“Les recents evenements survenus a Lyon, a l’occasion de l’edification
d’un monument a la memoire du Premier genocide du XXème siècle, et les
polemiques qui s’en sont suivies, comme les declarations frequentes du
gouvernement turc, ne peuvent laisser l’opinion, comme le legislateur,
indifferents”, a affirme M. Raoult.
Il propose “d’etablir des poursuites, dont les peines s’inspirent
de la loi Gayssot, et du negationnisme de la Shoah”, soit “un an
d’emprisonnement et 45.000 euros d’amende”.
Le groupe socialiste a l’Assemblee nationale propose lui aussi une
loi sanctionnant la negation du genocide armenien, qui sera debattue
lors de la seance d’initiative parlementaire le 18 mai.
La France a reconnu officiellement ce genocide dans une loi du 29
janvier 2001.
Les Armeniens affirment que jusqu’a 1,5 million des leurs ont peri
dans un genocide orchestre par l’empire ottoman (1915-1917).
Le 18 avril, cinq des 36 stèles d’une monument a la memoire du genocide
armenien, a Lyon, ont ete profanees. Comme lors d’une manifestation
pro-turque un mois plus tôt, des slogans negationnistes ont ete
releves.
–Boundary_(ID_7O0NIcf0JT69g3HS11lzr A)–

1000S OF IRANIAN ARMENIANS MARCH IN TEHERAN ON MONDAY TO EXPRESS CONDEMNATION OF 1915 ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN OTTOMAN TURKEY
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 26 2006
YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. 20 thousand Iranian Armenians took to the
streets in Teheran on Monday holding banners with words of the 1915
Armenian Genocide condemnation on them, Armenian Foreign Ministry
press service reports.
On the same day, Haykazun Alvrtsyan, lecturer at Yerevan State
University, spoke in Ararat culture center as well as Armenian
Ambassador to Iran Karen Nazaryan and Armenian Apostolic Church
Teheran Diocese Archbishop Sepuh Sargsyan.
A memorial service was held in St. Sargis church in Teheran and floral
tribute was paid to the genocide victims.
Iranian media outlets paid attention to Armenian Genocide. In
particular, Iran News daily published an interview of Armenian
Ambassador to Iran.

PRESSURE ON TURKEY CONCERNING ARMENIAN ISSUE INTENSIFIED: EXPERT
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 26 2006
YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. Pressure on Turkey concerning the Armenian
issue intensified, mainly by Europe, Head of the Department on Turkey,
the Institute of History of the Armenian National Academy, doctor of
historic sciences Ruben Safrastyan stated today during a round table
on the genocide issues and the Armenian-Turkish relations.
“The Europarliament’s resolution of 1987 ‘On Political Resolution to
Armenian Issue’ means that Europe admits existence of the Armenian
issue and proposes its solutions. The integrated Europe considers
recognition of the Armenian genocide by Turkey to be the most important
precondition to it,” Safrastyan said.
On the other hand, according to him, the genocide issues and
Armenian-Turkish relations are not included in the list of the 150
issues, which will be discussed in connection with Turkey’s admission
to the EU.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EVENTS DEDICATED TO 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN OTTOMAN TURKEY TAKE PLACE IN LONDON
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 26 2006
YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. Events dedicated to 91st anniversary of
Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey took place in London. Armenian
Foreign Ministry press service says Ealing Mayor Michael Elliott, MP
Rt. Hon. Stephen Pound and Armenian Ambassador to Great Britain Vahe
Gabrielyan spoke at an event held on April 21 in London Borough of
Ealing. Polish, Representatives of Albanian and Assyrian communities
of British capital attended the event.
On April 22, a march was staged by Armenian community in one of
London’s central streets.
500 marchers carried banners demanding to recognize Armenian Genocide
fact and condemning the policy of the genocide denial by Turkey and
Great Britain.
Upon completing their march, representatives of Armenian organizations
sent a message to British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Memorial services for the genocide victims were held in Armenian
churches in London.

ARMENIAN-LITHUANIAN TRADE AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION STILL ON LOW LEVEL
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 26 2006
YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. The Armenian-Lithuanian trade and economic
cooperation is still on a low level and does not open up the two
parties’ potentials, despite the fact that some goods turnover growth
was recorded in 2005 compared to 2004.
The Public Relations Department and Press Service of the RA Government
reported that Armenian Premier Andranik Margaryan expressed such an
opinion during his meeting with Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus
In this context, Margaryan expressed confidence that organization
of a business-forum in the frameworks of the Lithuanian President’s
visit to Armenia will serve as an additional incentive for a further
extension of trade and economic relations between the two countries The
parties also pointed out the importance of signing of the agreement
“On Encouragement and Mutual Protection of Investments”, and also
amendments to the agreement “On Trade and Economic Cooperation
between Governments of Armenian and Lithuania” Margaryan and Adamkus
emphasized the importance of business conferences, frequent mutual
visits, periodic exchange of business information and organization
of exhibitions for encouragement of trade and economic relations.
“Extension is necessary in the cooperation between chambers of commerce
and industry, manufacturers and enterprise unions, strengthening of
interaction in the field of small- and medium-scale enterprises’
development, and also fields of science, technologies, innovation
policy, agriculture, transport and tourism,” they said.
In their turn, the two countries’ vice-ministers of agriculture and
transport presented possibilities of cooperation in these fields.
Adamkus stressed the necessity in improving transport networks,
including putting the Abkhazian railway into operation. Margaryan
responded that Armenian repeatedly expressed readiness to participate
in practical works in this field.
They also touched upon cooperation in the sphere of energy,
particularly the energy security issues.
Margaryan also told the Lithuanian president about the current
situation with Armenia’s relations with the region’s countries in
the frameworks of the regional cooperation.
The delegation led by Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus is currently
in Armenia by invitation of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan until
25-26 April.

1000 ARMENIAN BIGGEST TAXPAYERS TRANSFER OVER AMD 61.2BLN TO STATE BUDGET IN 1ST Q 2006
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 26 2006
YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. 1000 biggest taxpayers in Armenia
transferred over AMD 61.2bln to state budget in the 1st Q 2006.
According to the list placed on the State Tax Agency’s official
Internet site, tax receipts made about AMD 33.7bln and customs AMD
27.6bln.
Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Plant, who has paid AMD 5bln over a period
between January and March, is placed atop the list. The second biggest
taxpayer is ArmenTel Telecommunication Company with its AMD 3.8bln. The
company is followed by ArmRosgasprom CJSC with its AMD 3.2bln.
Flash and Kah Petrol Service oil traders, who injected AMD 1.9bln
and 1.67bln in the state budget, ranked 4th and 5th.
Armenian Electric Networks (AMD 1.34bln), Armenian-Canadian Grand
Tobacco (about 1.1bln), Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (AMD 1bln),
MIKA Armenia Trading (AMD 655mln), Armenia-International Airports
(AMD 530mln), Coca Cola Hellenic Bottlers Company (AMD 300mln),
HSBC Bank Armenia (AMD 175.8mln), Armenian Railway CJSC (173.6mln and
Armenian Savings Bank (161.3mln) are included in the list of hundred
largest taxpayers of Armenia. ($1 = AMD 447.36).

UNION OF ARMENIAN YOUTH OF POLAND ORGANIZES “PROCESSION OF SILENCE” IN FRONT OF TURKISH EMBASSY IN WARSAW
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 26 2006
YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. Union of Armenian Youth of Poland
organized “procession of silence” in front of the Turkish Embassy
in Warsaw. According to the Press and Information Department of the
RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event was held on April 23, in
memory of victims of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915.
On the same day in Warsaw was held a memory evening organized by Polish
Union of Friends of Armenian Culture, “Poland-Armenia” community and
Union of Armenian Youth in Poland.
In the evening in St. Khach (St. Cross) Warsaw Church a liturgy was
chanted in memory of victims of the Armenian Genocide.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HISTORIC 6-0 WIN FOR ARMENIA VS IRELAND IN DIV III
European Hockey.Net News, UK
April 26 2006
First ever win for lowest seeded IIHF member country.
Armenian ice hockey history was written as Armenia’s national team
won its first game ever as it defeated Ireland 6-0 in the 2006 IIHF
World Championship, Division III in Reykjavik, Iceland.
John Ghazanchyan was the hero with two goals and three assists while
Gevork Kandakharyan had one goal and three assists. Goaltender Lavik
Ghazaryan was credited with the shutout, also a historic first.
Armenia, who going into the championship was ranked 45th out
45 nations in the IIHF World Ranking, debuted in the IIHF World
Championship program in 2004. The historic win came in Armenia’s
10th world championship game. It is a remarkable result given the
fact that Armenia lost to Ireland 23-1 only a year ago and 15-1 in
the Division III championship two years ago.
Link:
s/story.html?id=20060426204516historic60winforarme niavsirelandindiviii
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT GIVEN DIPLOMA OF HONORABLE DOCTOR OF YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus who
is in Armenia on an official visit visited Yerevan State University
on April 26 where he was given the diploma of the Honorable Doctor
of YSU. V.Adamkus made a speech before the lecturers and students of
the University, answered the questions interesting them. The Armenian
people, as the Lithuanian President emphasized, is a unique people
that has preserved its national originality, Armenia was one of the
first ones in the world to invent the alphabet, was the first one to
adopt Christianity at the state level. “Your state has overcome many
difficulties and violence,” V.Adamkus declared mentioning that these
words remind of his state, Lithuania. The two states, nations, their
fates and history, according to the Lithuanian President, are alike,
Armenia and Lithuania have the same feelings, hope and expectations
so, they will be sincere partners in the issue of building a common
European future. “As far as the states speak the language of confidence
and respect, the future of the world has a serious and firm basis,”
Valdas Adamkus mentioned.

VALDAS ADAMKUS: ANY NATION HAS RIGHT TO BE FREE AND INDEPENDENT, TO PRESERVE ITS ORIGINALITY IN ITS TERRITORY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Any nation, state,
human being has the right to be free, independent, to preserve its
originality in its territory. Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus
declared this on April 26, answering the question about Lithuania’s
position in connection with the Nagorno Karabakh problem at the
meeting with lecturers and students of Yerevan State University. “In
my opinion, what belongs to you should remain your possession, there
should be no argument in connection with this, but all this should be
formed through a dialogue,” he emphasized. The Lithuanian President
called on to start speaking with one another as only in this way
there can be a mutual understanding based on right solutions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress