“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.

TURKS AND AZERIS OF AMERICA ENVISAGE TO HOLD DEMONSTRATION OF COMPLAINT IN NEW YORK ON APRIL 22
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
NEW YORK, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Assembly of
Turkish American Associations and the Azeris’ Union of America envisage
to hold a demonstration of complaint in the “Times” square of New York
on April 22, two days before the memory day to the Armenian Genocide
victims. According to the Istanbul “Marmara” daily, Tomris Azeri,
the Chairman of the Azeris’ Union of America stated that their goal
is to make “massacres conducted by Armenians against Azeris” audible
to the world. According to him, “the world is not enough aware of
those massacres that were conducted by Armenians against Turks and
Azeris.” It is envisaged to place during the demonstration a huge
screen in the “Times” square on which a “documentary film” about
“the genocide implemented by Armenians” will be shown.

FIRST ISSUE OF “PRACTICE OF EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS” MAGAZINE PUBLISHED
Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The presentation of the first issue
of the “Practice of the European Court of Human Rights” magazine took
place on April 19. The magazine contains general information about
the history, structure, legal proceedings of the European Court
of Human Rights, verdicts brought in from 2005 up to March 2006,
statistical data, other documents concerning the court’s activity. The
court’s decision on the first complaint received from Armenia was
also published in this issue: RA citizen, member of the Hanrapetutiun
(Republic) party Armen Mkrtchian, according to the police, participated
in the unsanctioned rally of May 14 2002, for which he was arrested and
by the court’s decision an administrative fine was imposed on him. 5
decisions on cases accepted from Armenia up to now will be published
in the magazine’s next issues. It is envisaged to deliver the magazine
to judicial system’s structures, to the RA Chamber of Advocates, to
the Prosecutor’s Office, to educational institutions and NGOs. The
magazine is published by the Center for Democracy and Law NGO with
the financing of the Embassy of Great Britain in Armenia. Judge of
the European Court Alvina Gyulumian and Chairman of the Chamber on
Criminal and Military Cases of the RA Cassation Court Mher Khachatrian,
are, in particular, included in the magazine’s editorial board.

ELECTIONS OF CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF ARMENIA APPOINTED ON MAY 17
Noyan Tapan
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Election of the Chairman of the
National Academy of Sciences of Armenia will be held on May 17. The
decision about it was made at the sitting of the RA NAS Chairmanship
on April 19.

MILITARY TRAINING IS GOING ON IN NK
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
April 19, 2006 Wednesday
On the territory of Nagorny Karabakh’s region and some occupied
Azerbaijan areas Armenia separatists are carrying out military
training. Military units together with the mobilizing population
take part in the training. The training’s aim is to put Armenian
forces on a war footing. General-Colonel Mikhail Arutyunyan, deputy
defense minister, general head quarters’ commander will take part in
the training as an observer.

EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO PROTECTION OF CULTURAL VALUES OPENS IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 19 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 19, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On April 18,
within the framework of the European Union -Armenia Cooperation
Committee, an exhibitiom dedicated to protection of cultural values
opened at the National Assembly. Armenian monuments being in the
territories appeared out of Armenia after the World War I are mainly
presented in the exhibition. Committee Co-Chairman Armen Rustamian
attached importance to opening of a similar exhibition, in the
sense of drawing the society’s attention to protection of historic
monuments. Representatives of the delegation of the EU-Armenia
Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, NA deputies, etc. participated
in opening of the exhibition which was initiated by the public
organization studying the Armenian architecture. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the NA Public Relations Department, Armen Hakhnazarian, the
Chairman of the public organization studying the Armenian architecture,
presenting gems of the Armenian architecture, mentioned that the
goal of the organization is protection and valuation of Armenian
architectural values in the territories appeared out of Armenia after
the World War I. NA Deputy Hranush Hakobian attached importance to
organization of the exhibition, from the viewpoint of presenting
the Armenian cultural values to the European deputies. Mrs. Hakobian
emphasized that annihilation of archtectural monuments by neighbors
is inadmissible, reminding that both UNESCO and civilized world arise
the issue of protection of cultural values.