INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TO TAKE PLACE IN SENATE OF CZECHIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 04 2006
PRAGUE, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. One-day international
conference on the theme “Armenian Genocide” takes place at the
upper chamber of the Parliament of Czechia, Senate, on April
4. According to Radio Liberty, initiators of the first similar
event in Czechia are the Armenian Club acting in Prague and Jaromir
Stetina, a Senate member. Professor Vahakn Dadrian, the Director
of the Genocides Researches Center of the Zoryan Institute makes
analysis of the documents concerning the Armenian Genocide, existing
in Turkish archives. Tessa Hoffman, a famous German public figure
will observe the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide from
the viewpoint of protection of human rights, and Hilda Choboyan,
the Chairwoman of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and
Democracy will touch upon the role of the European Union in the
issue of the recognition. Yelda Ozchan, a Turk historian living in
Germany presents the Turkish viewpoint at the conference. Armenia is
represented at the conference at the state level: Arman Kirakosian,
the RA Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia arrived in Prague.

SECOND MEETING OF CHRISTIAN CONFESSIONS OF GEORGIA TAKES PLACE IN PRIMACY OF VIRAHAYOTS DIOCESE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 04 2006
TBILISI, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The second meeting of
primates of the Christian confessions of Georgia took place on March
27 at the primacy of the Virahayots Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church. Bishop Giuseppe Pasotto, the primate of the Roman Catholic
Church in Georgia, Bishop Malkhaz Songhulashvili, the primate of the
Baptist Church, and Bishop Andreas Stoekl, the primate of the Lutheran
Church participated in the meeting. The meeting started with a pray
after what Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, the primate of the Virahayots
Diocese welcame all those present and mentioned the necessity of
continuing the ecumenic dialogue among churches. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the Press Services of the Virahayots Diocese, the necessity
of getting a legal state by signing a special agreement among the state
and church confessions because of absence of the law “On Freedom of
Conscience and Religion” in Georgia became the first subject of the
discussion. Concerning the issue, His Holiness Vazgen proposed to
address a letter to the President of Georgia, and for intercession,
to the Patriarch of Georgia. The primates of the churches welcame
the proposal of His Holiness and agreed to sign the joint letter. The
primate informed those present that he met with Akhund Ali Aliyev, the
spiritual primate of the Mahometan community who has already given his
agreement to sign the letter. His Holiness Vazgen expressed hope that
he will soon get a positive response from Rabbi Avimelech Rosenblath,
the spiritual primate of the Jewish community as well. His Holiness
Vazgen emphasized that the Government of Georgia must recognize
the rights of representatives of both Christian confessions, and of
Mahometan and Jewish communities, as they made together more than 1
mln people who are full citizens of Georgia. For avoiding religious
and ethnic conflicts in Georgia, His Holiness Vasgen proposed to
create a “Round Table” in Tbilisi which will implement some programs
joint with the “Round Table” functioning in Armenia. By the proposal
of His Holiness, representatives of both Christian confessions and
Mahometan and Jewish communities will be involved in the council
staff. The primates of churches discussed terms of holding the
evening party of spiritual songs at the end of the meeting. The
Primate of the Virahayots Diocese proposed to hold the party of
spiritual songs on April 24, All Saints Day, which coincides this
year with the 91th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide conducted in
Ottaman Turkey. Giving his agreement, Bishop Malkhaz Songhulashvili,
the primate of the Baptist church attached importance to the idea of
holding the event on that day. Bishop Giuseppe Pasotto proposed that
the evening party of spiritual songs become a tradition and is every
year held on Monday following the Easter, symbolizing victory of life
and light against death and darkness. The primates of the churches
agreed to discuss schedule of the next meeting at the evening party
of the spiritual concert.

COURT SUSPENDS PERMISSION TO ERECT MONUMENT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS IN LYON
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 04 2006
LYON, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The court of the French
city of Lyon suspended the permission of building in the city a
monument to the Armenaian Genocide victims. As the Istanbul “Marmara”
daily informs, quoting information of the Turkish “Milliet” newspaper,
the court reasoned its decision by the fact that the Mayor’s Office
of Lyon put under doubt the legality of erecting that monument. It’s
also informed that the role of inhabitants of the place of building
the monument, who sent applications to the responsible authorities,
is great in the decision of the court. At the same time, according to
the same source, Mayor of Lyon Gerard Collomb accused those speaking
against building of the monument of leading “guerilla war on the
legal field.” To recap, the decision of building the monument in
Lyon to the Armenian Genocide victims arose indignation of the local
Turk nationalists who held a demonstration of complaint on March
18. Only owing to interference of the police, this demonstration
wasn’t turned into a collision between the Armenian community of the
city and Turk extremists.

CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO GENOCIDE HELD IN UN WITH EFFORTS OF AMBASSADORS OF ARMENIA AND RWANDA AND ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 04 2006
PRAGUE, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The conference on
the theme “Genocide: Yesterday and Today: With What Lessons We Enter
21th Century” organized at the UN with efforts of the Ambassadors of
Armenia and Rwanda and the Armenian General Benevolent Union finished
late the last week. “It must still be estimated as a regular discussion
held at the UN, this wasn’t held under the UN patronage. The UN gave
only the hall, though UN secretary general Kofi Annan’s assistant
for policy participated in the discussions as well,” Professor Vahakn
Dadrian, the Director of the Genocides Researches Center of the Zoryan
Institute, presented the Armenian veiwpoints at the discussions said
to Radio Liberty. Responding the question what a goal the UN has,
giving place to such discussions, Vahakn Dadrian said that the UN is
not a scientific center, but is a political body, so the main goal
is prevention of future genocides. “The goal is to study the first
and last genocides of the 20th century, to take lessons of them to
prevent future genocides,” Vahakn Dadrian mentioned. Radio Liberty
also informs that among a number of historians and researchers of
genocides, Professor Dadrian arrived in Prague to participate in the
conference concerning the Armenian Genocide organized in the Senate
of Czechia on April 4.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALIS PANIKIAN: “I’M PROUD OF BEING CANADIAN, BULGARIAN AND ARMENIAN”
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 04 2006
TORONTO, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Alis Panikian,
a 21-years Canadian Armenian student who was recognized “Miss
Universe Canada” and got the right to present Canada in the
“Miss Universe” world competition, convened press-conference in
Toronto recently. According to the Istanbul “Marmara” daily, Alis
Panikian informed that she was 5 years old when her mother, Ann,
migrated Canada from Bulgaria with her and they settled in the
city of Toronto. “My Armenian origin comes from my grandfather’s
side. He was an authentic Armenian, my father was half-Armenian,
and I’m a quarter-Armenian. We’ve taken my grandfather’s name. I’m
proud of being Canadian, Bulgarian and Armenian. Though I do not know
Armenian, I have numerous Armenian relatives and friends. I want to
visit my birth palce Bulgaria on a proper occasion to see my father
and relatives,” the Canadian Armenian beauty said. Alis mentioned that
she has numerous wishes the most important of which realized. She also
won in the “Queen of Coffee” international competition taken place
recently in Columbia. Alis Panikian is a second-year student at the
York University of Toronto, learns English and communication skills,
wants to become a journalist, at the same time to go to Paris, Milan
and New York as an experienced model.

ARMENIA NEEDS ABOUT 300 MLN DOLLARS TO HAVE ITS OWN SATELLITE
Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. A seminar “Regional Satellite
Communication Systems: The Current State and New Systems Creation
Prospects” of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
is being held in Yerevan on April 4 with the participation of
representatives of CIS countries. The participants will discuss
issues related to the use of the orbit and radio frequency range
with respect to the radio regulations, coordination of space devices,
frequency distribution and the modern technologies and production of
satellite communication. RA Minister of Transport and Communication
Andranik Manukian told reporters that although Armenia does not have
its own satellite, it has areas for its operation. According to the
minister, about 300 mln USD is needed to have a satellite and cover
its operational costs, while Armenia lacks such an opportunity at
the moment. However, in his words, a program on a common satellite
with CIS countries with a 7% participation of Armenia is now under
discussion. It was noted that Azerbaijan has already applied to the
International Union of Electrocommunication with a request to have its
own satellite. To recap, the ITU, whose membership numbers 190 states,
is an international organization that functions within the system of
the UN and aims to coordinate the activities of various governments
and the private sector in the sphere of global telecommunication
networks and services.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN: LAND ALLOCATION PROCESS SHOULD BE MADE MOST ACCESSIBLE
Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues related to land auctions,
unauthorized buildings and the real estate market were discussed at
the April 4 meeting of the RA President Robert Kocharian and Manuk
Vardanian. R. Kocharian indicated that the land allocation process
should be made most accesssible, with great attention being paid
to a public and transparent holding of auctions. In this connection
the President underlined the necessity of reviewing the land zoning,
which, according to him, will help determine the real reserve prices
of lands at auctions. According to the RA President’s press service,
some options for solution of the problem of unauthorized contructions
that have not been legalized, as well as the issues related to lease
terms at the specially protected forest areas were also discussed
during the meeting. The sides spoke about the tendencies on the
mortgage and real estate market, according to which the number
of transactions concluded in the past two months has increased by
27% compared with the same period of last year. R. Kocharian gave
instructions concerning the issues discussed to the head of the State
Committee of the RA Real Estate Cadastre.

SEVERAL SPANISH DELEGATIONS TO VISIT ARMENIA THIS YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The IBEX Fund of Spanish state
assistance, which is implementing the programs worth a total of 20 bln
euros in various countries, will open an office in Armenia. Speaker
of the RA National Assembly Artur Baghdasarian stated this at the
April 4 press conference on the results of his working visit to
Spain. According to him, it will allow to develop the Spanish-Armenian
business dialog. The Fund’s delegation plans to visit Armenia in
June. In order to promote the bilateral educational and scientific
links, an agreement on setting up a Spanish-Armenian fund on promotion
of scientific and innovation technologies to be financed by Spain was
reached during the meeting. A delegation will pay a visit to Armenia
until September for this purpose. A. Baghdasarian said that a forum
with the participation of representatives of mayor offices of the
two countries will take place in Armenia in late September with the
participation of official representatives of more than 20 Spanish
cities. According to an agreement with the Ministry of Development
of Spain, an expert delegation will soon come to Armenia in order
to implement the ministry’s possible programs in the earthquke
zone. Particularly, it is envisaged to build a 200-300 bed capacity
hospital in the earthquake zone, as well as to use Spanish experience
in Armenia for the introduction of new technologies in the sphere of
small and medium business. An education and business training center
will be founded in Armenia with this aim.

ELECTRONIC REFERENDUM ON ISSUE OF TURNING SHOUSHI INTO ALL ARMENIAN CULTURAL CENTER STARTS ON APRIL 4
Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative of the “Shoushi”
charity fund, electronic referendum () started on April
4, on the issue of turning Shoushi into the all-Armenian cultural
capital. As writer-publicist Bakur Karapetian, the founder of the
fund mentioned at the press-conference of the same day, at least 1
U.S. dollar or 1 evro transfered on the fund account number (“Unibank”
LTD, account number 241001541929) will be at the same time cosidered
one vote for the referendum. According to B.Karapetian, the fund
worked out the program of re-birth of Shoushi as the all-Armenian
educational-cultural and tourism center. Considering creation of
some productions in Shoushi not purposeful, he expressed hope that
the most correct thing is development of tourism there. B.Karapetian
reminded that in the 19th century Shouhsi was a cultural center equal
to Tbilisi with its meaning. It was also mentioned that 8000 people
lived in Shushi at the beginning of the Artsakh movement, and about
2500 people live there at present. With financing and assistance
of the Catholic community of Beirut, the “Shoushi” fund organized
archeological excavations in Shoushi plateau, as a result of what
an old castle of the 12th century was found. The Beirut Catholic
community gave 24 thousand dollars for first works in the direction
of excavations, measurements, study of cultural heritage. The fund
initiated gathering of the Artsakh struggle for existence: within
the framework of the program, the fund records evidences of all
participants of the struggle for existence to publish a many-volume
collection of books in future. B.Karapetian mentioned that the fund
has a goal to support cultural development and moral-spiritual ascent
of Shoushi as well, to turn the fortress city having been a stage of
wars constantly into a center of peace and culture.

SEVERAL LARGE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES TO BE ORGANIZED IN 2006 AT RA NA
Noyan Tapan
Apr 04 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. Several large international conferences
will be organized this year at RA National Assembly. They will be
dedicated to issues of fighting terrorism, ban on chemical weapons,
cooperation between regions and towns, development of democratic
reforms. RA National Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasarian informed about
it at the April 4 press conference mentioning that there are already
agreements, in particular, with the European Union and the U.S around
organizing them. The coming international conference will be held on
April 6-7. It is dedicated to problems of fighting corruption. As
NA Speaker mentioned, after the conference it is expected that
Armenia will join the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against
Corruption (GOPAC) authoritative international organization. A great
number of countries have joined this organization. The organization’s
Secretary General and representative delegations of more than 10
countries, including the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Poland,
the Ukraine, Georgia, will take part in the conference. According
to Artur Baghdasarian, in case of joining GOPAC a good opportunity
will be created in Armenia for involving the political parties, the
civil society and mass media in fighting corruption and the latters
will be able to as actively as possible take part in the process of
public monitoring on using all credits and grants received by the
country. It was mentioned that at present Armenia is already a member
to another organization on fighting corruption, Group of States Against
Corruption (GRECO). However, in NA Speaker’s opinion, it is difficult
to overestimate the political significance of membership to GOPAC. As
NA Speaker affirmed, the formation of the respective structures on
fighting corruption only at the level of the executive power cannot
be very efficient and this regards not only Armenia. “We should
do our best for the law not to be powerless before arbitrariness,
especially in some cases and spheres we meet,” NA Speaker declared.