AMBASSADOR OF ARMENIA TO GEORGIA VISITS JAVAKHK TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH SITUATION AT PLACE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
AKHALKALAK, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Hrach Silvanian,
the RA Ambassador to Georgia visited the Samtskhe-Javakhetsi region on
April 15-16. The goal of the visit was to meet with representatives of
the regional administration, regional authorities as well as of public
organizations to get acquainted with the situation at place. First,
the RA Ambassador visited the Saint Gregory the Illuminator church
of Akhaltskha, then a meeting with high grades students, teachers and
representatives of the intellectuals of the region took place at the
Akhaltskha Armenian school. The RA Ambassador presented the meeting
participants the present state of the Armenian-Georgian relations,
programs implemented and envisaged by the authorities of Georgia
and Armenia to improve the social-economic state of the region, he
also touched upon a number of issues causing anxiety of the Armenian
society of Georgia, including the educational reforms implemented in
the country. Then a meeting with the Georgian President’s Authorized
Vice-Representative to the Samtskhe-Javakhetsi, the Akhatskha Mayor,
heads of the legislative and executive bodies of the region took
place in the building of the Mayor’s Office. Issues relating to the
social-economic state of the region were discussed. The Akhaltskha
Mayor proposed to discuss the idea of establishing a close cooperation
between Akhaltskha and a city of Armenia. The Ambassador’s next meeting
was with Giorgy Khachidze, the Authorized Representative of Georgia to
the Samtskhe-Javakhk region which took place in Akhalkalak. Hamlet
Movsisian, a deputy elected at the Parliament of Georgia from
Akhalkalak and Melik Raisian, a deputy elected by proportional order
participated in the meeting as well. G.Khachidze presented programs
addressed to settlement of the social-economic problems of the region,
events implemented during the recent period of time. Then he touched
upon the new law on electing the local self-govenrment bodies,
taking into account that those elections will take place already
this autumn. The necessity of establishing a close cooperation
between the administration of the region and the Embassy was also
discussed at the meeting. The RA Ambassador also raised the issue of
founding the Armenian-Georgian University in the region about which
the agreement was reached between the RA and Georgian Prime Ministers
during 2005. At the end of the conversation Khachidze thanked the RA
authorities for constant assistance shown to Javakhk. Late the same
day, the RA Ambassador visited Ninodsminda where he participated
in the Easter liturgy celebrated in the Surb Sargis Church. Then,
as Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press
and Information Department, a meeting took place with heads of the
executive and legislative bodies of Ninotsminda, the Mayor and Henzel
Mkoyan, a member of the Georgian Parliament elected from the region of
Ninotsminda. The RA Ambassador’s meeting with representatives of public
organizations of the region took place the next day, on April 16, in
Akhalkalak. At Ambassador Silvanian’s request, participants presented
problems of the society of Javakhk. The RA Ambassador also visited the
Surb Khach (Saint Cross) church of Akhalkalak and participated in the
Easter Liturgy and the following celebration. Georgian President’s
Authorized Representative G.Khachidze participated in the church
service as well. A.Amirkhanian, the Georgian President’s Authorized
Vice-Representative to the Samtskhe-Javakhetsi region accompanied
the RA Ambassador during the visit to the region. The visit was held
during the days of the Easter holiday and took place jointly with
the visit of Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, primate of the Virahayots
Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The RA Ambassador returned
Tbilisi on late April 16.

INT’L CONFERENCE TO TABLE TURKISH-ARMENIAN TIES
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
April 19 2006
Baku, April 18, AssA-Irada
A conference, “Establishing a common culture of the Ottoman society:
Turkish-Armenian relations”, will be held in Kayseri, Turkey on April
20-22, Anadolu news agency quoted the Kayseri Unviersity president
Chingiz Utasi as saying.
125 representatives from various countries will attend the event,
including the Armenian Patriarch of the Constantinople diocese Mesrol
Mutafian. The participants will primarily focus on the political and
social aspects of Turkish-Armenian ties.
“We hope that the conference will serve as a new bridge between Turkey
and Armenia,” said Metin Gulgun, head of the event organizational
committee. He added that a similar conference is to be held in
Armenia later.

RA MINISTER OF TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION AND ROSTOV GOVERNOR OFFICIALLY OPEN DAYS OF ARMENIA IN REGION
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
ROSTOV-ON-DON, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
visit paid by the Armenian delegation headed by RA Minister of
Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamian to the region of Rostov
continues. Hovik Abrahamian and RF Rostov Governor Vladimir Chub
opened on April 17 in solemn conditions the Days of Armenia in the
region of Rostov. The RA Minister of Territorial Administration
mentioned in his speech that holding of the Days of Armenia will
give new filling to development of the Armenian-Russian relations
in the humanitarian sphere as well as will give possibility to the
inhabitation of the region of Rostov to contact with the Armenian
culture closer. The concert of opening the Days of Armenia took place
in a warm atmosphere. High-ranking officials of the legislative and
executive authorities of the region of Rostov and representatives
of the Armenian community of the region were present at the
concert. Concerts took place on April 18, within the framework of
the Days of Armenia, in the city of Novocherkask and the settlement
of Chaltir populated by Armenians. As Noyan Tapan was informed by
the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, signing
of a Statement is envisaged on April 19 between the sides in which
further directions of development of the commercial-economic and
humanitarian cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the RF
region of Rostov will be fixed.

PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA TO HAVE ADVISOR FOR NATIONAL MINORITIES’ INTEGRATION ISSUES FROM NOW ON
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
AKHALKALAK, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Position for
President’s Advisor for Integration Issues was created in the staff
of the President of the country to make working out of the ethnic
minorities’ integration policy of Georgia more effective. And Anna
Zhvania was appointed on that post. According to Anna Zhvania, in
the affair of working out the policy of the national minorities’
integration, representatives of those minorities will probably be
involved. Especially for that as well as for acquaintance purposes,
A.Zhvania envisages to visit Samtskhe-Javakhk and Kvemo Kartli
soon. The “A-Info” agency reminds that another state institute, the
State Ministry on Integration Issues (Minister Zinaida Bestayeva)
functions in Georgia for settling the issue of integration of the
national minorities. But the latter was mostly engaged in the issue
of the South Osetia.

MAYOR INVITES OAPS TO SHOW FOR QUEEN’S 80TH
Cambridge Evening News, UK
April 19 2006
MORE than 400 Cambridge senior citizens attended a special celebration
to mark the Queen’s 80th birthday.
The Mayor of Cambridge, Coun John Hipkin, hosted a show – The Best
Musicals Ever- in the city’s Guildhall, and guests also enjoyed
afternoon tea.
They also sang Happy Birthdayto The Queen, and the National Anthem.
Joyce Pilcher, 81, from Sturton Street, said: “I think it’s very
important to mark the Queen’s birthday. I think she’s a very good
Queen, she’s a very caring one.”
Eighty-nine-year-old Maude Chapman, of Staffordshire Street, agreed:
“I think she’s going to do what Queen Victoria did and reign for 60
years I hope.”
Another fan was Ruby Whitehead, 75, of St Matthew’s Street. She said:
“I saw the Queen when she opened The Grafton, I think she’s lovely –
she does a great job for the country.”
Before the tea, she said: “We’re looking forward to the whole afternoon
– I think it’s good they put on things for us senior citizens.”
Eighty-two-year-old Virginia Cole, of Rustat Road, spent three weeks
embroidering a traditional Armenian lace bookmark for the Queen’s
birthday.
She said: “I love the Queen with all my heart, I respect her, I admire
her for her selfless devotion to the nation.”

“ROUND TABLE” ON THEME OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN TURKEY TO TAKE PLACE IN SLAVYANSK-ON-KUBAN
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
KRASNODAR, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A “round table”
of the public-political forces of the city of Slavyansk-on-Kuban,
dedicated to the theme of the regular anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide in the Ottaman Turkey, will take place on April 19 at the
Slavonic State Pedagogical Institute. As the “Yerkramas” (country)
newspaper of Armenians of Russia informs, during the “round table”
in which representatives of public-political organizations of
Slavyanks-on-Kuban will participate, the following issues will be
discussed: – the Armenian Genocide as a crime against the humanity
and mankind; – the international recognition of the fact of the
Armenian Genocide and legal responsibility of Turkey; – the official
recognition of Turkey itself and its condemnation of that crime; –
ideology of Panturkism as a real threat for Europe and the world; –
ways of just liquidation of consequences of the Armenian Genocide;
– solution of the Hay Dat (Armenian cause) based on international
law. The film “I accuse”, prepared by the “Yerkir-Media” TV company
on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
in Turkey will be shown to participants of the event. Adoption of
a resolution is planned according to data of the “round table.” The
greeting message is sent to participants of the “round table” by a
number of public-political figures of Russia, particularly, by Sergey
Shishkarev, a Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation
(“Yedinaya Rossia” (United Russian) faction).

DELEGATION HEADED BY RA MINISTER OF TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION IS IN ROSTOV REGION WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF DAYS OF ARMENIA TO RUSSIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
ROSTOV-ON-DON, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The visit
paid to the region of Rostov by the RA official delegation headed
by RA Minister of Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamian is
within the framework of the Days of Armenia in the region of Rostov
on April 16-19. Gegham Gharibjanian, the RA Deputy Foreign Minister,
Bishop Yezras Nersisian, the primate of the New Nakhijevan and
Russia diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Armen Smbatian,
the RA Ambassador to Russia, Alik Sargsian, the Ararat Governor,
Karine Khodikian, the Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth Issues,
Manvel Ghazarian, a NA Deputy, Martin Sargsian, the Chairman of the
Commercial and Industrial Chamber of Armenia, S.Galstian, the RA Deputy
Minister of Agriculture, H.Kushikian, the Director General of the
“Nairi” medical center, etc. are in the staff of the delegation. The
current stage and prospects of development of the Armenian-Russian
interregional cooperation were discussed at the meeting taken place
on April 17 between Minister Hovik Abrahamian and Vladimir Chub,
the Governor of the region of Rostov. The RA delegation visited the
same day the “Surb Khach” (Saint Cross) Russian-Armenian friendship
museum of Rostov-on-Don as well as the settlement of Chaltir populated
with Armenians of the region of Rostov. As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
H.Abrahamian and V.Chub opened the Days of Armenia in the region
of Rostov on April 17, in solemn conditions. The Armenian dancing
art “Barekamutiun” (friendship) state group, singers Nune Yesayan
and Varduhi Vardanian as well as the Rostov regional philharmonic
orchestra of people’s instruments and the Don Cossacks Song and Dance
State Academician Ensemble participated in the concert of opening
the Days of Armenia. A meeting with representatives of the Armenian
community took place late the same day. April 18 and 19 are also full
of cultural events. Particularly, the RA delegation will visit the
historic-cultural complex of the settlement of Novocherkaskaya and
the Don Cossacks History Museum of Novocherkaskaya and the Catholic
Church. Holding of the Days of Armenia in the region of Rostov are
sponsored by the “Tashir Group,” “Armavia” company and Yerevan “Ararat”
Brandy Factory.

MEETING OF WORKING GROUP ON ISSUES OF RUSSIAN, GEORGIAN AND ARMENIAN RAILWAYS TO BE HELD IN MOSCOW ON MAY 2-6
Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. A meeting of the tripartite working
group on issues of Russian, Georgian and Armenian railways with the
participation of the Abkhazian side will be held in Moscow on May
2-6. The meeting will take place as part of the process of forming an
international consortium for the purpose of relaunching the Abkhazian
railway. According to the RA Ministry of Transport and Communication,
such issues as specifying the activities, scope of competence and
forms of legal organization of the consortium, as well as development
of its business plan are on the agenda of the meeting. Besides, issues
of creating a railway network in Transcaucasia will be discussed. It
was noted that Director of Armenian Railway CJSC Ararat Khrimian is
included in the working group as representative of the Armenian side.

QUALITY CONTROL OF GOODS IMPORTED FROM TURKEY TIGHTENED UP IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The State Customs Committee (SCC)
adjunct to the Armenian government is cooperating with various Armenian
quality certification bodies with the aim of tightening up the control
over quality of goods imported from Turkey, especially foodstuffs. NT
correspondent was also informed from the SCC press service that the
rumors that a ban was imposed on the import of goods from Turkey do
not correspont to reality.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT HAS CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO THE BUDGET, OFFICE OF RA PROSECUTOR GENERAL STATES
Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The materials of the Control
Chamber’s studies on the report on implementation of the 2001-2003
privatization program were sent by the RA National Assembly Speaker
Artur Baghdasarian to the RA Prosecutor General. At the request of
the mass media, the press service of the Office of the RA Prosecutor
General published the reply of the Office, which in particular reads:
In 2001-2003, the State Property Management Department adjunct to
the Armenian government prepared and implemented, in accordance
with decisions of the government, the program of alienation of 206
objects considered to be state proberty. Under Point 3 of the order
established by the governmental decision No 91 of 1994, the main assets
representing state property may be sold only by auction. During the
indicated period, 85 out of the 206 objects were sold by auction,
109 of the remaining 121 objects were alienated through direct sale,
and 12 – through tender. In violation of Point 1 of Decision No 92 of
February 25, 1994, the Company Support and State Property Evaluation
Agency not only set the intitial prices of property but also made
evaluation by using the “balance method”, with evaluation having a
formal character. Alienation was carried out at different prices. It
should be noted that the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy, which
is obliged to send its conclusion about privatization issues to the
government, in some cases expressing its disagreement over alienation
at the given prices and in the given form, expressed its perplexity at
the fact that in some cases the State Property Management Department
does not allocate buildings for state needs, while in other cases it
alienates state buildings at low and concessional prices to private
persons. Such an approach of the State Property Management Department
adjunct to the Armenian government to the process of state property
alienation has caused considerable damage to the budget, as the real
estate was assessed and alienated at the prices, which were much lower
than the actual (market) value. The reply of the Office of the RA
Prosecutor General says that in connection with the above mentioned
facts, some employees of the State Property Management Department
were asked to provide explanations but they failed to explain
clearly in what order the property alienation was carried out. The
evaluation and alienation of property by direct sale or tender was
done arbitrarily, without any order. Moreover, the draft decisions
on property alienation, which were submitted to the government,
as a rule expressed the interests of particular persons. A petition
has been filed to the State Property Management Department adjunct
to the Armenian government in order to eliminate the causes of the
violations revealed and the conditions conducive to their commission
and to avoid such violations in the future. A report on the results
of the checks conducted by the Office of the Prosecutor General has
been submitted to the RA Prime Minsiter.