PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I APPOINTS DR. YEGAVIAN AS CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL ADVISOR
In a special Pontifical letter sent to Dr. Zaven Yegavian, the director of
the Armenian Communities Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation,
His Holiness Aram I appointed him an advisor to the Catholicosate of Cilicia
in cultural and educational issues.
His Holiness writes in the letter: “It is the first time in the history of
our Holy See that such an honor is granted.” “The Armenian culture and
Armenian schools have been the most essential fields of the mission of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia’s centuries-old See. In face of the increasing
spiritual-intellectual needs of our people in the present, it is important
that our Holy See continues to make Armenian culture and schools priorities
with increasing commitment,” he continues.
Referring to the expanding work of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in the
cultural and educational fields, the Armenian Pontiff praises the Calouste
Gulbenkian Foundation in general and Dr. Zaven Yegavian in particular for
their pivotal role in the efforts to spread Armenian cultural values and
progress Armenian education.
His Holiness states that the cooperation between the two sides has led to
the enrichment of Armenian culture both in Armenia and the Diaspora. He
expresses hope that this cooperation will continue with renewed commitment
for the benefit of the Armenian culture and schools.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
THE AMBASSADOR OF CYPRUS VISITS ANTELIAS
His Holiness Aram I received the Ambassador of Cyprus to Lebanon, Mr. Nikos
Panayi on April 5. Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, the primate of the Diocese
of Cyprus, also attended the meeting.
His Holiness and the Ambassador exchanged viewpoints on various topics
including the parliamentary elections to be held in Cyprus next month, the
discussions around solutions to the Cyprus issue, Turkey’s EU bid, issues
related to the cooperation between the Catholicosate of Cilicia and the
Greek Church of Cyprus, as well the ongoing political dialogue in Lebanon.
The Pontiff stressed the importance of Cyprus for the Armenian Church and
nations both in a spiritual and cultural sense, and in terms of human
rights. He emphasized the importance of the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide and the just solution of the Cyprus issue to both nations and said
it was essential for the two churches and nations to establish closer
cooperation in this respect.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HEHO M ORGANIZES A GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CONTEST BETWEEN THE STUDENTS OF
ARMENIAN SCHOOLS
The Armenian Church University Students’ Association (HEHOM) organized a
general “knowledge contest” between the students of Armenian schools, with
the aim of bringing them together in a social environment.
The contest was held in the Catholicosate of Cilicia on April 1. Students
from Yeghishe Manoukian College, Levon and Sophia Hagopian College,
Haratch-Gulbengian College, Melankton and Haig Arslanian Djemaran, the
Armenian Catholic Hripsimiants School, the Armenian Catholic Mesrobian
School, the Armenian Evangelical School (Beirut), and the Armenian
Shamelian-Tatigian Evangelical School participated in the contest.
Although outside the classroom, the students were able to enrich their
knowledge about religion, geography, literature, science, sports, history
and film in a friendly environment.
The group representing Melankton and Haig Arslanian Djemaran won the first
prize. The second and third prizes were won by the Armenian Catholic
Hripsimiants School and Yeghishe Manoukian College respectively.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the youth
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COMMUNISTS ENDORSE RUSSIA
Lragir.am
08 April 06
`People who will raise their hands against the Russian-Armenian
friendship are foe number one of the Armenian people,’ stated Ruben
Tovmasyan, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the
Armenian Communist Party on April 8.
And if those who raise their hands against the Russian-Armenian
friendship are those people, who are arousing an anti-Russian hysteria
on the price of gas and sale of the fifth generating unit of the
Thermal Power Plant of Hrazdan to Russia.
The leader of the Communist Party thinks this anti-Russian hysteria is
aroused by the Americans who want to break relations between Armenia
and Russia. ` God forbid this. We have to be very thoughtful with
Russia,’ says Ruben Tovmasyan.
Personally, his approach to Russia is not only thoughtful but also
tender.
He does not blame Russia for increasing the price of gas, and he does
not think that they coerced Armenians into transfer of the fifth
generating unit of the Thermal Power Plant of Hrazdan to them. `We
condemn selling people’s property, which has been done since the
1990s,’ says Ruben Tovmasyan. However, he says more with regard to the
fifth generating unit of the Thermal Power Plant. According to Ruben
Tovmasyan, not only Russia is to blame for having exercised pressure,
but also Armenia, which put it out for sale. `You put it out for sale,
and they bought it,’ says Ruben Tovmasyan, `you’ is the government and
`they’ is Russia.

GOVERNMENT MUST CONTROL ENERGY SECTOR
Lragir.am
08 April 06
Mher Shahgeldyan, Chair of the Committee of Defense, National Security
and Internal Affairs, answering to the our news reporter’s question
onthe transfer of the Thermal Power Plant of Hrazdan to Russia, said
this deal needs to be viewed from two aspects, political and
economic. `Of course, from the political aspect the Armenian
government must absolutely control its energy sector, especially
strategic energy generation. From the economic aspect, it is possible
that an energy plant, for instance, is co-owned by foreign
companies. Of course, if they are friendly countries, and the
companies are known worldwide. However, it is also a fact, and we have
stated this for a number of times, that for the national security and
energy independence the government must have control and levers of
management.
For economic benefit, it is important that about 600 million dollars
is invested in Armenia, which will enable to operate the fifth
generating unit and export electricity to neighbor countries. As far
as I know, the fifth generating unit was put out to auction formerly,
and there were no buyers willing to make investments to operate it.’

NKR FOREIGN MINISTER LAYS EMPHASIS ON FULL ENGAGEMENT OF KARABAKH
Lragir.am
08 April 06
On April 7 Georgy Petrosyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of NKR, met
with the newly-appointed EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby.
Congratulating Peter Semneby on his appointment, Georgy Petrosyan
emphasized the role of the European Union in promoting democracy and
maintaining stability in the region.
Peter Semneby informed that the mandate of the EU Special
Representative had been expanded and now includes prevention and
settlement of conflicts.
On the request of the EU Special Representative the foreign minister
of NKR briefed Peter Semneby on democratization in NKR, as well as the
stance of official Stepanakert on the settlement of the conflict,
underlining the necessity of full engagement of Nagorno Karabakh in
the talks.
Expressing concern about recently frequent cases of violation of the
ceasefire at the front line between the armed forces of Nagorno
Karabakh Republic and Azerbaijan, Georgy Petrosyan extended the text
of the statement of the NKR Foreign Ministry, calling Azerbaijan and
Armenia for confirming their willingness to achieve a peace settlement
of the Karabakh conflict.
NKR Special Representation to RA
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VIVA CELL NOT READY TO PURCHASE 90% OF “ARMENTEL” SHARES
Yerevan, April 7. ArmInfo. VIVA Cell, second mobile connection
operator in Armenia, is not ready to purchase 90% of “ArmenTel” shares
from OTE, Greek company. Ralph Yirikian, general director of VIVA
Cell, informed ArmInfo. “We have just entered the Armenian market of
mobile connection,” he said. At the same time, he added that such an
opportunity isn’t excluded in the future. It’s worth mentioning that
OTE anounced about its decision to sell 90% Of “ArmenTel” shares,
after the consultations with RA Government, recently.
RA Government sold 90% of “ArmenTel” shares to OTE at $142,5 millions
in 1997. The rest 10% of the shares still belong to RA
Government. While VIVA Cell company became second mobile connection
operator in Armenia since June 1, 2005

THE SERVICES OF AMBULATORY-POLYCLINIC SYSTEM WILL ALWAYS BE FREE
Yerevan, April 7, ArmInfo. The services of the ambulatory-polyclinic
system of Armenia will always be free for all categories of citizens,
said Minister for Healthcare Norayr Davidian.
Over the last 15 years the healthcare services were chargeable for
everybody except the indigent. Since the beginning of 2006 these
services have become free. In order to provide free ambulatory
treatment at the polyclinics additional AMD 7 billion (about $14
million) was granted by Government. Minister Norayr Davidian also
informed that last year the polyclinics of Armenia were visited 6,635
million times by the citizens.
The state budget 2006 assigns AMD 39,1 billion to healthcare against
32,9 in 2005. The polyclinics receive the major part – AMD 14,3 billon
of all the financing, 24,7% more than last year.

Armenian opposition MP says gas deal with Russia “economic sabotage”
Arminfo, Yerevan
7 Apr 06
“The agreement between the Armenian government and Russia’s Gazprom is
an act of economic sabotage against the people,” the deputy chairman
of the National Unity Party, Agasi Arshakyan, has told Arminfo news
agency.
He said he was certain that Armenia will spend the funds received for
the fifth unit of the Razdan thermal power plant on containing the
rise of tariffs for the Armenian consumers, and that the 140m dollars
of investments envisaged by the project will be allocated from the
profits of the Russian side.
“Armenia will pay 110 dollars for each 1,000 cu.m. of gas, which means
that Russia will return the 243m dollars it paid,” the MP said. Soon
the price for the Armenian consumers will be set at 68 drams per one
cu.m., but “this price will not last more than a year”, he said.
Arshakyan noted that Armenia discussed an Iranian offer of barter
supplies of gas in exchange for electricity from the fifth unit of
Razdan at the rate of 3 kW per one cu.m. of gas in December
2005. “Iranian gas is 20 per cent more efficient than Russia’s and for
one cu.m. of Iranian gas Armenia could obtain no fewer than 5
kW. Hence, Armenia could leave itself around 2.5 kW from each cu.m. of
Iranian gas,” Arshakyan said. He assured that the fifth unit of the
Razdan power station could work without significant investments for
around ten years at the capacity of 445 MW.
“I do not believe that Iran gave up the project,” Arshakyan said and
added that “Russia does have influence over Iran, but we should be
able to demonstrate independence in something at least”.

Armenian premier, EU envoy discuss ties, Karabakh
Arminfo
6 Apr 06
Yerevan, 6 April: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan and EU
envoy for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby discussed the issues of
Armenia-EU cooperation in Yerevan today.
Markaryan expressed his hope that Semneby would continue the
productive activity of his predecessor Heikki Talvitie in the South
Caucasus, the governmental press service told Arminfo. He stressed
that Armenia is interested in opening of the European Commission
office in Yerevan, taking into consideration the implementation of the
action plan within the European Neighbourhood Policy.
He also expressed hope that the approval of Armenia’s action plan
would not be dragged out in case of the successful Armenia-EU talks in
May 2006. Markaryan welcomed the extension of the EU special
representative’s mandate for the settlement of frozen conflicts,
stressing that all efforts of international structures are aimed at
achieving speedy and peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict. The
prime minister also expressed concern about Azerbaijan’s bellicose
statements and frequent violations of the cease-fire regime.
For his part, Peter Semneby said that he intended to visit the region
more frequently because relations between the EU and the South
Caucasus have reached a new quality. He stressed that the EU is
interested in speedy resolution of regional conflicts. Peter Semneby
said that he would arrive in Armenia again together with the OSCE
Minsk Group co-chairmen.
He said that in his activity he would focus on the Karabakh
settlement, the establishment of supremacy of law in Armenia and
reforms in juridical system.
The sides also stressed the importance of conducting elections in
Armenia in full compliance with international standards. They also
discussed Armenian-Russian cooperation and Armenia’s energy policy.