RESTORERS’ SCHOOL TO BE FOUNDED IN ARMENIA WITH ITALIAN SPECIALISTS’ ASSISTANCE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 12 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Government
of Italy allocated in 2006 35 thousand evros and the Embassy of
Italy to Armenia – 29.5 thousand evros for keeping and restoring the
historic-cultural monuments in Armenia. Roberto Nocella, the Second
Secretary of the Embassy of Italy to Armenia stated about this at
the April 11 press-conference. According to the Second Secretary of
the Embassy, Armenia was given this year scholarship for 26 months,
from the scholarships being allocated by the Italian Government to
specialists of different countries for studying the Italian Language
and culture. Those scholarships will be given in Armenia first of
all to those specialists who are engaged in study of architecture,
restoration of frescos and fastening of monuments. Roberto Nocella
emphasized that sources of the Armenian-Italian friendship, having deep
roots, continues to productively develop today as well. According to
him, following the UNESCO example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of his country implements activity aimed to keeping monuments in
different countries of the world. According to R.Nocella, restoration
of a cultural monument in any country may be considered the best
cultural dialogue.
According to Professor Gaiane Casnati, the Director of the
Armenian Architecture Study and Documentation Center of Milan, the
Armenian-Italian joint works have given their positive results in the
direction of restoring monuments since 2000. The monastic complex of
Marmashen was restored, the preliminary appearance of the Yereruyk
temple is studied at present. The state of wall-paintings of the
Kobayri monastery will be studied with the help of Italian specialists
and their restoration scheme will be drafted this year. Gaiane Casnati
mentioned that Italian specialists jointly with the Government of
Armenia participate in works of fastening the castles of Amberd and
Dashtadem. She informed that seminars with participation of Armenian
and Italian architects will be organized in Armenia during this
year. According to G.Casnati, the final goal of that joint activity
is creation of the Restorers’ School in Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EGOYAN’S “ARARAT” FILM TO BE SHOWN IN TURKEY ON APRIL 13
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 12 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Turkish
“Canal Turk” private TV will demonstrate late on April 13 Atom
Egoyan’s “Ararat” film where the theme of the Armenian Genocide is
touched upon. According to Radio Liberty, the TV speaker assured
on April 12, that the film will be shown without shortenings and
cencorship.” According to him, it was decided to show the film after
the event when the survey showed that 72% of televiewers wants to
watch Egoyan’s film. According to the information of the “Francepress”
agency, the Government of Tukey did not prohibit show of the film. The
agency reminds at the same time that in 2004 a Turkish company intended
to show the “Ararat” film at cinemas, but then refused this idea,
having a fear that show of the film may raise a wave of complaint
and the cinema halls must be controlled by policemen.

“ARMENIAN NAVY BAND” AWARDED BBC MUSIC PRIZE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 12 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The “Armenian Navy
Band” headed by Arto Tunboyaciyan fixed an excellent victory in the
sphere of music, being announced on April 7, as the main prize-winner
of the BBC world authoritative music awarding. By a votion implemented
in the Internet by music lovers, the band entered the final stage
with the Brazilian “Seu Jorge”, Iraqian “Ilham al Madfai” and Italian
“Enzo Avitabile and Botari” groups. The jury members who were music
critics recognized the “Armenian Navy Band” as the winner among those
four groups. According to the “Azg” daily, the awarding ceremony took
place on April 7, at the “Brickstone” Academy hall. Arto Tuncboyaciyan
was invited to the awarding. He had a 5-minutes solo performance after
getting the prize. The “Armenian Navy Band” was sympathized by music
lovers for vanguard-folk interpretations of traditional Armenian
melodies. Arto Tuncboyaciyan left London for New Jersey on April
10, where he lives with his wife and two children. John Grigorian,
the Armenian manager of the group mentioned that the band’s “Voice
of our Soul” disk supported this victory. This disk was recognized
the 14th among the 950 disks released all over the world in 2004.
According to him, this prize will give the band, first of all, fame,
then, self-affirmation. “People chose us who gave us power and move
our ship forward,” he said. In all probability, the band will have a
concert in Yerevan on April 24, the memory day of the Armenian Genocide
victims. Foreign singers as well as Arto’s son will participate in
the concert.

AZNAVOUR LIGHTS CANDLE IN GOSHAVANK AND HAGHARTSIN CHURCH
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 12 2006
IJEVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. World famous chanson
singer Charles Aznavour visited Goshavank and the Haghartsin church
complex, accompanied by his son, Misha, on April 9. Aznavour was met
in the village of Gosh with great warmness, “salt and bread.” Girls
of the village presented him flowers, and an old woman from the
village presented some jam prepared by herself. Dozens of families
from the regions of Ijevan and Dilijan came to see Aznavour. The
latter presented them autographs, was photographed with them.
Aznavour lighted candle in Goshavank and the Haghartsin church.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HAY DAT COMMITTEE OF TEHRAN ORGANIZES SERIES OF EVENTS DEDICATED TO 91st ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 12 2006
TEHRAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Within the framework
of events dedicated to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
the Hay Dat Committee of Tehran envisaged to send a corresponding
package of documentary data concerning to the Armenian Genocide to
foreign embassies accredited in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Swiss
Lawyer Alfred de Zayas’ books in English and French are also included
in the package. The theme of the Genocide under the light of the
international legal reasonings is touched upon in the books.
Within the framework of publication and propaganda works, an
information package concerning the Armenian Genocide will be sent to
Iranian mass media and deputies of the Islamic Parliament. During the
last year, the Hay Dat Committee was engaged in works of gathering
and translating researches concerning the Genocide implemented by
the Armenian, Iranian and European sources, with the initiative of
preparing documentary films. The Armenian Issues Research Center
(AIRC) undertook works of Persian translation and publication of
three books on the theme of the Genocide. Within the framework of
events dedicated to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
the center will organize on April 18 an event of spiritism, with the
participation of Persian intellectuals, writers and deputies of the
Islamic Parliament. Doctor Afrough, a deputy of the Islamic Parliament
will be the speaker of the day. As the Tehran “Alik” daily informs,
the Hay Dat Committee also organizes a people’s public event of
spiritism of Armenians of Tehran on April 24.

RUSSIA CAN DEPRIVE ARMENIA OF ITS ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, ECONOMIST EDUARD AGHAJANOV STATES
Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia has sold 27% of its
45% holding of ArmRusgasprom company to Russia, as a result of
which Gasprom company (Russia) has become the owner of 82% of
ArmRusgasprom. Independent economist Eduard Aghajanov said during
the April 12 press conference that he was informed about it from the
Russian press and Gasprom’s website. According to him, Russia has
also bought the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, which means that Russia
is likely to form a rigid integrated structure in this sector and
completely deprive Armenia of its energy independence or security. In
the opinion of E. Aghajanov, after all this it is funny to speak
about Armenia’s energy independence, since the country, in his words,
has received status of a Russian region and has been transformed from
an outpost into an appendage. He noted that Russia is conducting a
colonial policy with respect to Armenia. According to E. Aghajanov,
it is a nonsense to give everything to one state, since there is
another player in the energy sector of the region – Iran.

PATRIARCHS AND HEADS OF CHURCHES IN JERUSALEM CALL FOR ENDING SUFFERING
WAFA – Palestine News Agency, Palestine
April 12 2006
Emerged because of Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
JERUSALEM, April 12, 2006 (WAFA) -Patriarchs and Heads of Churches
in Jerusalem called on the international community to put an end for
the suffering emerged because of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
In a message issued Wednesday on the occasion of the Easter Falls
2006, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem said “it is
not permitted to boycott a people on whom oppressions and injustices
were and are imposed, while the international community remained so
far paralysed in putting an end to these oppressions, and therefore
this paralysis gave birth to violence, terrorism and the humiliation
of the human person.
They revealed that instead of boycotting, “we appeal to the
international community to seize the opportunity of this phase in
history of the conflict in order to try seriously to put an end to
the suffering of our land and of all its inhabitants”.
They called upon international community to transform “our land in
a land in which shines the glory of the human being liberated from
all kind of oppression and fear, where the glory and the voice of
God appeared to man”.
“We appeal to our leaders, knowing they are facing difficult decisions.
If a sincere will exists, there will be capacity and power to overcome
all obstacles, in order to reach security, peace and justice to all,
Palestinians and Israelis alike,” the added.
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches also called upon the Israeli
Authorities so to see that unilateral measures are another aspect of
the conflict and the permanence of the sufferings for both peoples.
“Therefore, we urge them to take the right measures to liberate the
human being, Israeli or Palestinian, and to see in the Palestinian
Authority a help and a partner to construct a peace, for which the
building is not something impossible”.
The message was signed by: Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem,
Patriarch Michel Sabbah, R.C. Latin, Patriarch Torkom I Manooghian,
Armenian Orthodox, Fr. Pierbattista Pizziballa, ofm, Custos of the
Holy Land, Archbishop Anba Abraham, Coptic Orthodox, Archbishop
Swerios Malki Murad, Syrian-Orthodox, Archbishop Abouna Grima,
Ethiopian Orthodox, Archbishop Paul Sayyah, Maronite, Bishop Riah Abu
el-Assal, Anglican, Bishop Mounib Younan, Lutheran, Bishop Pierre
Malki, Syrian-Catholic, Rev. Raphael Minassian, Armenian Catholic
and Archimandrite Mtanios Haddad, Greek Catholic.

SERGE SARGSIAN CONSIDERS SALE OF HRAZDAN TPP 5th UNIT TO RUSSIA TO BE SUCCESSFUL
Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian
consideres the sale of the 5th power unit of Hrazdan Thermal Power
Plant to Russia to be a successful and favorable deal. He expressed
this opinion in an interview to Radio Liberty on April 11. In repsonse
to the criticism that only 150 mln USD was needed for repairs of the
5th unit and there was no necessity to sell it, S. Sargsian said
that at least 180 mln USD was to be spend and the return on these
investments would come in 10 years at best. “That is, we would have
a enterprise operating at a profit in 2017 at best. And how much
would this profit be, how much would the gas price increase?… As
they say, only Nostradamus can answer these questions,” the minister
added. S. Sargsian does not subscribe to the opinion that all energy
capacities of Armenia have been given to one state. “First, not all
capacities. Second, if we think more carufully about it, we’ll see
there is no difference here, Not a difference at all.
And third, when economic deals and politics are being mixed, one gets
neither politics nor economy as a result,” S. Sargsian noted.

5th UNIT OF HRAZDAN TPP TO BE SOLD TO ARMRUSGASPROM RATHER THAN TO GASPROM
Noyan Tapan
Apr 12 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Contrary to the previously made
statements, the 5th unit of Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant will be sold
not to Gasprom company (Russia) but to its Armenian subsidiary –
ArmRusgasprom, which follows from new reports of Gasprom. There was
a press release on Gasprom’s website on April 11 about a meeting
between Chairman of Gasprom board Alexei Miller and Director General
of ArmRusgasprom Karen Karapetian. The press release in particular
reads: “Gasprom OJSC and the Armenian government on April 6 signed
a 25-year agreenment that specifies the strategical principles of
cooperation in gas energy projects in the territory of the Republic
of Armenia. The document envisages that ArmRusagasprom will take
over the 5th unit of Hrazdan TPP (Hrazdan-5), as well as some
facilities of Armenia’s gas sector from the Armenian government. The
preliminary sale agreements shall be signed until April 14, 2006,
while the transfer of property rights with respect to the indicated
facilities shall take place until January 1, 2007. By the end of
the deal, Gasprom’s stake in ArmRusgasprom’s capital will make a
qualified majority.” Thus, the main mechanism of the deal between
the RA government and Gasprom may be as follows. ArmRusgasprom’s
capital increases to at least 248 mln USD, and the new shares are
acquired by Gasprom. As a result, Gasprom’s stake in ArmRusgasprom
will make a “qualified majority”. (At the moment it is not yet clear
what percentage it will constitute). Gasprom and the RA governemnt
currently have a 45% stake each. With this sum, ArmRusgasprom will
purchase the 5th power unit and other “gas facilities” from the RA
government. It is not also clear what “facilities” are meant, but
it is almost obvious that it may be the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline,
the construction of which is not completed at the present time and,
according to RA Energy Minister Armen Movsisian, it may not be sold,
but it is envisaged to complete its construction by late 2006. NT
failed to receive any comments on the above mentioned press release
of Gasprom from official Armenian bodies.

CHURCH LEADERS IN JERUSALEM OPPOSE PALESTINIAN BOYCOTT
Catholic World News
April 12 2006
Jerusalem, Apr. 12 (AsiaNews) – In a joint Easter message, the 13
patriarchs and heads of Christian Churches in Jerusalem have made
a powerful appeal for reconciliation between Israel and Palestine,
the AsiaNews service reports. The Christian leaders also called on
the international community not to boycott the Palestinian people by
stopping aid.
The leaders of the Christian communities in the Holy Land– Orthodox,
Armenian, Latin Catholic, Copt, Syriac, Anglican, and Lutheran–
call on their faithful to practice a “clear challenging love to all
with whom we come in contact.” In a message directed to Israeli and
Palestinian political leaders, they say: “If a sincere will exists,
there will be capacity and power to overcome all obstacles, in order
to reach security, peace and justice to all, Palestinians and Israelis
alike.”
In their appeal to the international community, the Christian leaders
argue that “it is not permitted to boycott a people on whom oppressions
and injustices were and are imposed.” Rather than withdrawing aid
to the Palestinian people, the Church officials ask world leaders to
“try seriously to put an end to the suffering of our land and of all
its inhabitants.”