ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES ZAMAN SPECULATIONS
Armenpress
Apr 25 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 25, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign ministry has denied
today media reports that president Kocharian is likely to visit the
United States of America.
A spokesman for foreign ministry, Hamlet Gasparian, said it was wrong
to conclude from an interview by Armenian deputy foreign minister
Arman Kirakosian to Turkish daily Zaman that Kocharian was going to
visit Washington after Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev.
He said the conclusion was either a wrong translation of the interview
or a distortion of Kirakosian’s words.
Gasparian said in a last week interview with Zaman Arman Kirakosian
did not say Kocharian would visit Washington following Azeri president
Aliyev’s visit, but singling out good relations between Washington
and Yerevan did not exclude that Kocharian may visit the U.S.A. in
any time in future.
Meantime Azeri president Ilham Aliyev has left today for a four-day
official visit to Washington. In the USA he is scheduled to discuss
various issues with president George Bush, vice-president Dick Cheney,
defense secretary Rumsfeld and secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. The
outgoing US Ambassador in Baku Reno Harnish was quoted by local media
last week as saying that the Karabakh problem will be high on Aliyev’s
Washington agenda.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN RECEIVES LITHUANIAN COUNTERPART
Armenpress
Apr 25 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 25, ARMENPRESS: Armenian president Robert Kocharian
received today his counterpart from Lithuanian, Valdas Adamkus,
who has arrived here on a two-day official visit.
Kocharian’s press office said after the ceremonial welcome of Adamkus
at Kocharian’s residence the two presidents had a face to face
conversation and discussed the entire scope of bilateral relations,
Armenia-EU relations, regional issues, as well as exchanged opinions
on a string of important international issues.
This was followed by Armenian-Lithuanian talks with the focus on
boosting economic and trade ties. The talks ended with signing
of an agreement on reciprocal encouragement and protection of
investments. The presidents also gave an interview to journalists.

ELDER EDUCATION AND TRAINING WEEK BEGINS TOMORROW
Armenpress
Apr 25 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 25, ARMENPRESS; An Armenian foundation set up to help
elder citizens to train and get new specialties throughout their
life is launching a week of education for elder persons on April
26. The week is made up of special training courses, round tables,
presentations, open door days, a conference and a series of workshops.
The ministry of education in cooperation with German union of higher
schools will open on April 27-29 Education and Career EXPO-2006. Forty
universities of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh will showcase their
services and goods. The week will be closed by events in Vanadzor
and Ijevan.

STAVROPOL COMMEMORATES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.04.2006 20:55 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenians of Stavropol Region paid tribute to their
compatriots, who fell victims of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman
Turkey in 1915-1923.
Divine service was held in Armenian churches of Budyonnovsk,
Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk, Georgiyevsk towns and Edissiya village. Priest
of the Holy Cross church of Budyonnovsk Arsen Budaghyan addressed
the commemoration meeting at the Armenian Culture Center in
Zelenokumsk. April 24 I Accuse documentary, produced by Yerkir
Media TV Company (Armenia) was screened for those present, memories
of witnesses were read. Zelenokumsk youth activists of Bartsrunk
Armenian organization arranged the meeting. In the evening I Accuse
documentary also was shown by Stavropol city TV, reports the Yerkramas,
the newspaper of Armenians of Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CANADIAN GOVERNMENT REAFFIRMS MOTIONS RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.04.2006 21:57 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Mackay,
in response to Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis’ (Scarborough-Agincourt)
question, reaffirmed today Canadian Government’s policy on the
Armenian Genocide, reports the Armenian National Committee of Canada
(ANCC). Mackay stated that the Government reaffirmed the motions
of the Senate of Canada and the House of Commons, recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. At the end of the Question Period the Speaker of
the House invited the members of the House to observe a minute of
silence in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Earlier
in the day a delegation from the ANCC and its regional chapters,
headed by Hagop Der Khachadourian, ANCC International, and Archbishop
Khajak Hagopian, prelate of the Armenian Church of Canada, visited
the Armenian Embassy to lay a wreath at the monument dedicated to the
victims of the Armenian Genocide. The House of Commons had a session
where Genocide affirmation statements were made by the representative
of all political parties.

TURKEY REFUSED COOPERATION WITH CANADA OWING TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.04.2006 22:05 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey refused Canada’s participation in the tender
for the building of the nuclear power plant. The decision was passed
due to Ottawa’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey
in 1915. “Canadian companies, which are going to take part in the
tender for the building of the nuclear power plant in Sinop Black Sea
province, will not be admitted due to Ottawa Administration recognition
of the Armenian Genocide,” the Hurriyet Turkish newspaper writes.
Referring to a senior representative of the Turkish MFA the newspaper
notes Ankara could not presume “the Canadian Government will
jeopardize the wide-scale cooperation between the two countries for
the sake of a few Armenians’ votes.” “All foreign governments should
now understand that they will have to pay for unfair accusations
against Turkey. Everyone should know we follow with attention all
initiatives in all regions of the world and they will encounter
the same attitude,” the Turkish diplomat said, reports RIA Novosti
referring to the Hurriyet.

BUENOS AIRES ARCHBISHOP CALLED TURKEY TO UNCONDITIONALLY RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PanARMENIAN.Net
25.04.2006 23:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There ceremony of commemoration of victims of
the Armenian Genocide, held by Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio,
Archbishop of Buenos Aires (Argentina) was a peculiar beginning of
events marking the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, reports
the Press Service of the Armenian MFA. The Cardinal urged Turkey to
unconditionally recognize the Armenian Genocide as a gravest crime
of Ottoman Turkey against the Armenian people and the entire humanity.
A mourning liturgy was served April 24 in Armenian churches of
Argentine. Wreaths were laid at Armenian monuments. Youth organizations
organized political actions: a procession, which then came to the
Turkish Embassy building to protest. British House of Lords former
Speaker, baroness Caroline Cox delivered a lecture at the International
Book Exhibition. Speaking of this crime against humanity she said
the Genocide was not properly recognized in some countries owing
to political considerations. She hoped Turkey will finally realize
“the importance for the Turkish people to get rid of this load.”
April 24 events marking the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
continues in Argentine. Armenian community members laid a wreath
to monument to Argentinean national hero – general San-Martin. A
monument opened in the Armenian Square of Buenos Aires dedicated to
victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Argentinean media wrote about the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
for several days. April 23 the central 7th channel broadcast a program,
dedicated to the Genocide.

LITHUANIA WILL ASSIST ARMENIA WITHIN EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.04.2006 00:08 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Talks with the Lithuanian President were
productive, a range of matters of mutual interest, specifically
the current bilateral relations, including European Neighborhood
Policy were discussed, Armenian President Robert Kocharian stated
at a joint news conference with his Lithuanian counterpart Valdas
Adamkus in Yerevan. “We are grateful to Lithuania for assistance in
implementation of political reforms within the European Neighborhood
Policy,” Kocharian said.
In his words, during the talks the parties agreed to hold joint
business forums that will determine priorities of development
of economic ties. “During the talks we discussed cooperation in
agriculture, security of foodstuffs, exchange of students,” the
Armenian leader said.
In his turn Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus remarked that the talks
held were constructive. “We will assist and promote Armenia within the
European Neighborhood Policy. Time has come to speak about regional
cooperation between South Caucasus and Baltic states. I believe this
will become real soon,” the Lithuanian President said.

KOCHARIAN: NO PRESSURE IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.04.2006 00:12 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There is no pressure in the Karabakh settlement,
there is a normal negotiation process, Armenian President Robert
Kocharian stated when answering a question of a Lithuanian reporter at
a news conference in Yerevan. In his words, the co-chairing countries
in the person of the OSCE Minsk Group join their efforts to activate
the talks. The Armenian leader emphasized that the OSCE MG mandate
“does not provide for pressure on any party.” As of the possible
participation of Lithuania in the settlement, Kocharian said the
OSCE MG format suits both parties. He also said that he does not see
any link between the intense situation around Iran and the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. As of regional cooperation, in the words of the
Armenian leader, it is possible only after peace is established. “Most
important – it is necessary to form a confidence atmosphere and in
that context Lithuania can be useful,” the Armenian President said.

DATE OSCE MG VISIT TO KARABAKH CONFLICT REGION NOT KNOWN YET
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.04.2006 00:45 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The exact date of the visit of co-chairmen of OSCE
Minsk Group to the region of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is still
unknown, said Bernard Fassier, the French co-chair of OSCE MG. He
said OSCE Minsk group mediators are going to meet early May in Moscow
to discuss the current stage of the conflict resolution and further
actions. Following Moscow meeting, the co-chairs will probably visit
the region, Fassier added. He said also the date of consultation and
visit would be disclosed in a few days, reports Trend.