The place of holding matches between national football teams of
Armenia and Azerbaijan to be determined today

ArmRadio.am
12.05.2006 10:30
At a special meeting in Nion, Switzerland, Heads of Football
Federations of Armenia and Azerbaijan will decide today the place of
holding qualification matches of the 2008 European Championship
between national teams of the two countries.
The Armenian delegation comprises President of the Football Federation
of Armenia Ruben Hayrapetyan, Executive Director Armen Minasyan and
Plenipotentiary Representative of RA President and Government,
President of the Public Radio and Television Council Alexan
Harutyunyan.

RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND NORWEGIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS STATE SECRETARY
DISCUSS ISSUES RELATING TO COOPERATION AT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 12, RA Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian received the delegation led by Norwegian Foreign Affairs
State Secretary Kjetil Skogrand who is in Armenia within the framework
of a regional visit. The guest expressed satisfaction with the level
of relations between Norway and Armenia giving assurance that there is
a potential of deepening them for even more. In particular,
possibilities of development of cooperation in the sphere of economy,
energy, nature protection were mentioned. As Noyan Tapan was informed
from RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, the
interlocutors discussed issues relating to programs being implemented
in the region with the assistance of Norway. Then the sides touched
upon issues of cooperation within the framework of international
organizations. Presenting Armenia’s approaches towards regional issues
Minister Oskanian particularly dwelt on the recent developments in the
Nagorno Karabakh settlement process.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PRESENTS CURRENT STAGE OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
SETTLEMENT PROCESS TO OSCE SECRETARY GENERAL

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The OSCE Secretary
General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut arrived in Armenia on the occasion
of launching the Melange Program on destruction of rocket fuel that
has remained in the territory of Armenia since the Soviet time. He met
with the Atmenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on May 12. The OSCE
Secretary General expressed his appreciation for the contribution
Armenia has made to the OSCE activities. The sides spoke about the
programs being implemented in the country by the OSCE Yerevan Office,
as well as the process of democratic reforms in Armenia. According to
the RA MFA Press and Information Department, the interlocutors
discussed in detail the developments taking place in the OSCE region
and the ongoing reforms in the OSCE structure. V. Oskanian presented
the current stage of the Karabakh conflict settlement process. Marc
Perrin de Brichamaut was appointed as OSCE Secretary General in
January 2005, replacing Jan Kubish, representaive of Slovakia. The
Melange Program being implemented in Armenia is considered to be one
of the most successful programs carried out by the OSCE in its
participating states due to some peculiarities of the program, and the
high level of cooperation of the sides. The OSCE Secretary General’s
visit to Armenia will last until May 14.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF OSCE
CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE DISCUSS PROCESS AND PROSPECTS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH
SETTLEMENT

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The negotiations
process and prospects of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement were
discussed at RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian’s May 12 meeting with
Special Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Pierre Chevalier who
is in Armenia on a regional visit. As Noyan Tapan was informed from
RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, Personal
Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office on the issue of Nagorno
Karabakh settlement Andrzej Kasprczik also took part in the meeting.

THREE ARMENIAN FILMS TO PARTICIPATE IN GEORGIAN “SESILI” YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the “Directors
without Borders” program, three Armenian directors will participate in
the “Sesili” youth film festival to take place in Tbilisi on May
15-22, each of them presenting one documentary film. Vardan Hakobian
will present the “Duduk” (Armenian National Pipe) film, Anna Movsisian
the “-40 Degree” film, Aram Shahbazian will present “Wheels” film. As
the Noyan Tapan was informed by Susanna Haroutiunian, the Chairwoman
of the Film Critics and Film Journalists Association of Armenia, show
of 7 Armenian documentary films will be organized with a separate
program during the days of the festival: Aram Shahbazian’s “Shepherd’s
Monologue,” Aram Yeritsian’s “In the Open Air,” Suren Ter-Grigorian’s
“Born from Fire,” Ruben Khachatrian’s “Monologue” and “Pray for You,”
Vardan Hakobian’s “Duduk” and Nika Sheck’s “Song of Stones” and “I Saw
the World Here” films. Susanna Haroutiunian mentioned that those films
were shown in February in Iran as well.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

POSSIBLY, MESKHETIAN TURKS TO BE RESETTLED IN TSALKA REGION

AKHALKALAK, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Different kinds of
discussions on resettlement of Meskhetian Turks in Georgia are going
on. According to the A-Info agency, the issue, exactly in what
Georgian regions the Turks will be resettled, is of special interest.
The program-proposal on final settlement of the problem will be
presented by the country’s Ministry on Issues of Refugees and
Resettlement. According to Temur Lomsadze, Chief Adviser of State
Minister on Issues of Conflict Settlement, which is engaged in the
issue of Meskhetians’ return, such a territory can be the Tsalka
region as the houses of the Greeks who have emigrated from Tsalka can
be bought at incomparably cheap prices.

FOR FIRST TIME IN HISTORY OF CALCUTTA ARMENIAN PHILATHROPIC ACADEMY,
IRANIAN ARMENIAN CHILDREN TO HAVE THEIR SUMMER HOLIDAYS IN IRAN

CALCUTTA, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On May 11, by
blessing of Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians, for the first time
in the history of the Armenian Philantropic Academy of Calcutta, 24
Iranian Armenian children left for Iran after three years of studing
at the academy to have their summer holidays with the parents and
relatives. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Calcutta Armenian
Philanthropic Academy, Ararat Yeghikian, the official representative
of the academy in Iran and former graduate arrived in Calcutta some
days ago to accompany children. He had meetings with the heads of the
academy, got acquaited with children’s living conditions, their marks,
future plans, making him sure that the academy faces numerous
challenges. But A.Yeghikian also pointed out that the positive
movements noticed in the academy during the few recent months arise
hope that the historic educational institution is in good hands. After
a short pray in the ceremonial hall of the academy before seeing off
the children, Archimandrite Oshakan Gyulgyulian wished them good way,
expressing a hope that after having the holidays among family and
relatives, the children will return the academy cheerful, freshened
and with new positive fillings to continue their education in the 185
years old educational institution.

ATOM EGOYAN WELCOMES CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT CONCERNING
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Canadian Armenian
famous film producer Atom Egoyan welcame Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper’s statement concerning the Armenian Genocide, Radio
Liberty informs. “I think, Harper’s Government fostered just from the
beginning a brave position towards few issues which may remain in
depths of history. Meanwhile those issues need detailed
examination. It is very interesting for me that conservatory
governments often seem to be morally more responsible than it was
possible to imagine,”
Egoyan said to the Canadian Press. “I am sure that the only mean to
fix a progress in this issue is giving recognition in as many places
as it is possible and isolution of the Government of Turkey. This is
the only way to bring to changes,” Atom Egoyan expressed an
opinion. There is information that the Foreign Ministry of Turkey has
an intensive tie with Harper’s staff, making an attempt to assure the
Prime Minister “not to go into details of the issue.”
Meanwhile they write in the Turkish press that Canada may be taken the
possibility of participating in programs of building the first atomic
power station in Turkey.

DEFENCE MINISTRY OF GEORGIA BRINGS DETACHMENT INVOLVING 50 PEOPLE INTO
JAVAKHK

AKHALKALAK, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Defence
Ministry of Georgia brought a detachment of special meaning involving
50 people to Javakhk, reasoning it by securing freely removal of the
military technique from the Russian military base of Akhalkalak.
According to the “A-Info” agency, Georgian soldiers are now placed in
the building of the Ninotsminda regional police. It is envisaged to
implement removal of the first group of the military technics on May
15.

CONVERSE BANK TAKES FIRST PLACE BY ITS OVERALL CAPITAL IN FIRST
QUARTER OF 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. In the first quarter of 2006, Converse
Bank was in first place by its overall capital in the RA banking
system. The newly appointed director general of the bank Artak
Hanesian stated during the May 12 press conference that in the
indicated period, the overall capital grew by 6.2% to about 9.5 bln
drams (about 21 mln USD). The bank’s assets increased by 10.7% over
the same period and made 46.2 bln drams, while crediting volumes – by
2.9% to 17.6 bln drams. By these indices Converse Bank took 3rd and
5th places respectively in the RA banking system. The bank’s profit
amounted to 612.8 mln drams. The total amount of transfers made by
natural persons grew by 24.8% on the same quarter of last year and
made 34.7 mln USD. According to A. Hanesian, in the period under
review, the share of mortgage credits made 372 mln drams, which is
more than half the programmed index. Converse Bank currently provides
credits repayable over 10 years at an annual interest rate of 13%. In
the words of the bank’s director general, these terms are quite
favorable for Armenia. In the first quarter of 2006, VIP MONEY
TRANSFER and INTEREXPRESS transfer systems, a new form of deposit – a
cumulative one, as well as provision of loans under the collateral of
real estate and cars were introduced in Converse Bank.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress