Armenpress
ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF TURKEY SAYS ANKARA CONTINUES
DISCRIMINATORY POLICY AGAINST NON-MUSLIMS

ISTANBUL, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS: In an interview to
a Turkish daily Hurriyet the Armenian Patriarch of
Turkey and Istanbul, Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian, said
the government of Turkey continued the discriminatory
policy against its non-Muslim national minorities.
As an example he cited a government decision that
exempts donations to Muslim foundation from taxes and
imposes huge taxes on donations to Christian and other
religious foundations. He said also the government
pays for electricity consumed by mosques, while this
privilege does not apply to Christian churches, though
Christians, like Muslims are also citizens of Turkey
and pay taxes.
Mutafian cited another example, saying the
government pays for accommodation of Muslim pilgrims
when they visit holly Islam sites. which is not the
case with Christians and Jews when they make
pilgrimage to Jerusalem. “All these manifestations of
discrimination make Christians feel humiliated,” the
Armenian Patriarch said, adding also that the
government has not responded to the Armenian
Patriarchate’s request to open a theological
department at an Istanbul University for Christian
Armenian students.

THE STORY OF A WEAPON
Lragir/am
23 March 06

Member of Parliament Shavarsh Kocharyan thinks Russia is not our
strategic partner, because in the years of collapse of the Soviet
Union Armenia received 1.5-2.5 times less tanks, guns, armored
machines, helicopters, than Azerbaijan. We did not get planes at all,
whereas Azerbaijan got 50.
Hearing this statement, the deputy chairman of the All-Armenian
Movement Aram Manukyan said it was not quite true, but he said, `I am
not telling what I know and what I can tell.’
Manuk Gasparyan, who had been listening to all this, carried on the
topic. According to him, along with the withdrawal of the Russian
forces from Georgia the `scrap metal’ weapons are brought to
Armenia. In the meantime, Azerbaijan will acquire modern weapons. The
weapon brought from Georgia to Armenia is `junk weapon,’ agreed Aram
Manukyan.
By the way, in accordance with the European convention on restriction
of conventional weapons, the weapons of the Russian military bases in
Armenia are `counted’ in the arsenal of Armenia.

Mikhail Piotrovski: Yerevan continues to remain a city of museums
ArmRadio
23.03.2006 14:15
President Robert Kocharyan received today the Director of the State
Hermitage, correspondent-member of the National Academy of Sciences of
the Russian Federation Mikhail Piotrovski.
He said it was a pleasure for him to visit his native city, where he
was born and grown up. According to Piotrovski’s assessments, although
much has changed since his last visit, Yerevan has kept its face and
style and continues to remain a city of museums.
The scientist presented the current state of the Hermitage and spoke
about exposition changes.
He attached importance to the cooperation between the two countries
and noted that constant contacts, scientific conferences, exchange of
experience will provide the opportunity to organize the work more
correctly and present the Armenian culture in the best way.
Noting that the exhibition of `Treasures of St. Echmiadzin’ held in
the framework of the Year of Armenia in Russia was a great success,
Mikhail Piotrovski informed that he intends to open a Urartu
exhibition hall in the Hermitage by the end of the year.

Today is the professional day of meteorologists
ArmRadio
23.03.2006 15:20
This year the professional day of meteorologists is celebrated under
the `Alleviation of the results of natural disasters and danger
prevention’ slogan. 90 percent of the natural disasters are
conditioned with weather changes.
2005 was full of such disasters. Today the issue of global warming is
in the center of the scientists’ attention. Some scientists predict
that starting from 2030 the opposite process, i.e. global freezing, is
possible.
The meteorological service in Armenia faces a number of problems
ranging from low salaries to training of high-level
specialists. However, the employees of the service hope that these
will be resolved in course of time.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

$300 000 for founding an Armenian radio station in Turkey
ArmRadio
23.03.2006 15:35
This year the Armenian Diaspora of Turkey intends to air radio
programs in Armenian, the Turkish `Zaman’ notes according to `Regnum’
Agency.
According to the editor-in-chief of the Armenian `Agos’ newspaper
Hrant Dink, the Armenian Diaspora has already collected $300 000 for
that purpose.
`The Armenian Diaspora has its schools and newspapers. Currently we
are trying to found an Armenian radio in the country. A corresponding
application has been already sent to the Chief Council of Radio and
Television of Turkey,’ Hrant Dink noted.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Those who suffered from the activity of “ArmenTel” continue to protest
ArmRadio
23.03.2006 14:30
Several groups were protesting today in front of the government
building. Dwellers of the Northern Avenue, Buzand Street and Dalma
Parks joined the residents of the area adjunct to the Tbilisi Highway
and the citizens who suffered form the activities of `ArmenTel.’
Arshak Sadoyan, who was heading the strike of the latter, declared
that the protest will continue until the government gives a
response. They met the Minster of Transport and Communication Andranik
Manukyan. The latter told the strikers that he will submit
corresponding documents to the Prosecutor’s Office and hopes that the
issue will be resolved in their favor.

Presidential Youth Award will be given to talanted children in the sphere of classical music
ArmRadio
23.03.2006 13:00
This year the Presidential Youth Award will be rewarded also to
talented children in the sphere of classical music.
During the press conference at the `Hayastan’ All-Armenian Fund Office
Rector of the Yerevan Conservatory Sergey Sarajyan informed that two
of the four compositions presented have been selected.
This year a number of works have been presented in the `Cinema and
Art’ nomination, and according to famous singer Barsegh Tumanyan, it
has been hard to make a choice. A prize of $5 000 is to be awarded in
the sphere of classical music. $ 2 500 will be awarded in the cinema
and art nomination.

NKR President will have meetings with the leadership of Armenia
ArmRadio
23.03.2006 12:34
Starting March 22 President of Nagorno-Karabakh Arkadi Ghukasyan has
been in Armenia on a working visit.
NKR Presidnet’s Press Service informs that during his visit Arkadi
Ghukasyan will have meetings with the leadership of Armenia.

PanARMENIAN.Net
Evans Will Not Be Recalled Most Likely, Armenian
Political Scientist Believes

23.03.2006 19:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans
will not be recalled to all appearance as the American
diplomat has expressed not only his own opinion but
also that of two thirds of the House, political
scientist Levon Melik-Shahnazaryan stated in a
conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his
words, the recall of an ambassador, whom Daniel Fried
called «fantastic», cannot be taken as US federal
authorities confronting congressmen’s opinion. «Thus I
suppose J. Evans will continue his service as US
Ambassador to Armenia till the end of his tenure,» the
political scientists remarked.
To remind February 19, 2005 John Evans indicated the
importance of recognition of the Armenian Genocide at
a meeting with California Armenian community members.
«I will today call it the Armenian Genocide,’ Evans
said. In the opinion of State Department officials
Evans did not have the right to make statements of the
type even in his personal capacity.

`Los Angeles Times’ turns to the issue of the Armenian Genocide
ArmRadio
23.03.2006 10:55
In its editorial under `It was a genocide’ title, the `Los Angeles
Times’ turned yesterday to the possible recall of the US Ambassador to
Armenia John Evans, reminding that he has recognized the Armenian
Genocide.
“The Department of State avoids the concept of `genocide’ not because
it does not want to argue about historic issues, but just considering
the fact of being the strategic partner of Turkey,’ the newspaper
notes.
`The time has come that we should not close our eyes on the issue and
accept the history. The Armenian case cannot be considered even
marginal. Punishing the Ambassador for telling the truth about the
events of 90 years ago would suit a monarchy using dual standards, but
not a country leading in the free world,’ the editorial of the `Los
Angeles Times continues.