RA MINISTER OF CULTURE AND ITALIAN AMBASSADOR INTERESTED IN EXTENSION OF ARMENIAN-ITALIAN CULTURAL COOPERATION
Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. A number of problems regarding cultural
cooperation between Armenia and Italy were discussed at the March 20
meeting of RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Gevorg Gevorgian
with Italian Ambassador to Armenia Marco Clemente. The Minister and
Italian Ambassador, in particular, touched upon Italian singers’
tours, raising of quality of skills of Armenian singers in Italy,
giving of Italian state stipends to Armenian specialists studying in
cultural educational centers, foundation of a restoration school and a
laboratory in Armenia, as well as issues regarding joint restoration
of any monument of special cultural importance. According to the
Press Service of RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs, Gevorg
Gevorgian and Marco Clemente also stated that they are interested in
the extension of Armenian-Italian cultural cooperation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REPRESENTATIVE OF ARMENIA OPENS INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITION IN MOSCOW
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 20 2006
MOSCOW, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Karen Aghamian,
Chairman of the Painters’ Union of Armenia, represented Armenia at
the International Art Exhibition “Contemporaries-2006” of Moscow
Central House of Painters.
According to the “Yerkramas” (Territory) newspaper of Armenians of
Russia, heads of leading Moscow creative unions and the only one of the
numerous guests, representative of Armenia, made solemn speeches at the
opening of the current “Salon”. As Aaghamian informed the “Yerkramas”
newspaper’s correspondent, this fact was in no way connected with the
Year of Armenia in Russia being held at present. At the exhibition
Karen Aghamian presented a series of works dedicated to subteleties
of interrelations between the sexes. Armenia was represented by Hakob
Hakobian at the annual exhibition of the Central House of Painters
in 2005. The annual exhibition of the Central House of Painters in
Moscow is a tribute to the traditions coming from Soviet times when
painters from the whole country arrived in the USSR capital. Currently
the festival has a title of the international one.

FESTIVAL OF ARMENIAN CULTURE “SOUND, ARMENIAN ZOURNA” HELD IN KUBAN
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 20 2006
KRASNODAR, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The traditional
Festival of Hamshen Armenians’ Culture “Sound, Armenian Zourna (type
of flute)” was held for the 7th time in Kuban. This year the event was
held on March 19, in the village of Shahumian, Tuapse region, Krasnodar
territory, which was the center of the Armenian Administrative Region
included in the Krasnodar territory up to August 1953. According
to the “Yerkramas” (Territory) newspaper of Armenians of Russia,
Armenian creative collectives and performers from different regions
of Krasnodar territory and Republic of Adigeya took part in the
festival. Numerous spectators that gathered in the square before
the House of Culture, applauded to the collectives of the Lazarev
Center for National Cultures of the town of Sochi: “Dekhtsanik” model
ensemble of Armenian song (Adler), “Arevik” ensemble of Armenian dance
(Upper Beranda), “Voice of Hamshen” folk ensemble (Detlyazhka), “Nairi”
model ensemble of Armenian dance (Lazarevskoye), “Hamshen” ensemble
of Armenian music, song and dance (Lazarevskoye), as well as to the
collectives from another regions of Kuban: “Akhpyur” folk ensemble of
Armenian dance (Haykadzor), “Rodnichok” model-artistic dancing ensemble
(Haykadzor), “Yerazank” folk ensemble of Armenian dance (Proletarski,
Maykop region, Republic of Adigeya), “Fortuna” model choreographical
collective (Jubga, Tuapse region), “Caravan” vocal-intstrumental group
(Jubga, Tuapse region). For the first time an Armenian collective
from the Republic of Abkhazia, “Tsovashunch” vocal ensemble, took
part in the festival. All participants of the Festival of Hamshen
Armenians’ Culture “Sound, Armenian Zourna” were given souvenirs
and diplomas. The festivity organizers, Lazarev Center for National
Cultures and Culture Department of Lazarevsk region, town of Sochi,
expressed willingness to hold the next festival in the Apsheron region,
Krasnodar territory, in 2007. Hamshen Armenians make the majority of
the Armenian population on the sea-coast of Krasnodar territory and
in a number of regions of Kuban and Adigeya. They originate from the
region of Hamshen in Western Armenia (currently in the territory of
Turkey) who moved to Kuban in the mid-19th century and beginning of
the 20th century after the Armenian Genocide in Turkey. According to
experts’ data, up to 250 thousand Hamshen Armenians compactly live
in Kuban, Adigeya and Abkhazia and from 700 thousand to 1.5 million
Islamized Hamshen Armenians live in the territory of Turkey within
the limits of traditional settlement.

COURT SANCTIONS HOLDING OF TURKISH RALLY IN BERLIN AT THE SAME TIME PROHIBITING “ANY NEGATIONIST EXPRESSIONS”
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 20 2006
BRUSSELS, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Chamber of the
Supreme Administrative Court of the Land of Berlin made public its
verdict, according to which it invalidated the police decision about
prohibiting the holding of the rally envisaged by Turks on March 18 in
Berlin within the framework of the so-called “Tallaat-Pasha Action”. As
Noyan Tapan was informed by ARF Dashnaktsutiun European Armenian
Federation for Justice and Democracy, the court verdict mentions
that “statements that no Armenian Genocide took place in 1915 are a
slander which is a violation that can be punished by Article 189 of
the Criminal Code,” so is subject to criminal prosecution. To recap,
the above-mentioned article also envisages punishment “for disrespect
to the deceased”. So, the court sanctioned the holding of the rally
at the same time prohibiting “any negationist statement be it in
oral or written form”. Besides, the court called on the police to
follow this with all responsibility. “This unprecedented verdict is
a legal recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the first ban on the
Turkish negationism in Germany,” Hilda Choboyan, Chairwoman of the ARF
Dashnaktsutiun European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy,
declared. “This is the beginning of the liquidation of the legal fog
in connection with this issue. Henceforth this is the legal act of
the Land of Berlin,” she emphasized and called on the whole European
community to struggle against the negationist policy of Turkey.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TREASURES OF GULBENKIAN MUSEUM TO BE EXHIBITED IN ISTANBUL IN APRIL
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 20 2006
ISTANBUL, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. An exhibition of
models of the Ottaman period art kept in the famous Galust Gulbenkian
museum of Lisbon will open at the Sabanci museum of Istanbul during
April. The Istanbul “Marmara” daily informs about this, quoting
the information of the “Skylife” official newspaper of the “Turkish
Airways.”

ISSUES OF ARMENIAN-INDIAN COOPERATION IN SPHERE OF JEWELRY AND DIAMOND MANUFACTURING DISCUSSED
Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues of deepening cooperation between
Armenia and India in the sphere of jewellery and diamond manufacturing
were discussed at the March 18 business meeting organized in Yerevan
by the Association of Goldsmiths and Jewellers of Armenia. At the
event the Armenian side was presented by 7 and the Indian side by 3
companies. The meeting was followed by the exhibition of the Armenian
participant companies at the salesroom of the Jewellery Plant of
Yerevan. During the meeting’s opening speech Emil Grigorian, the
Chairman of the Association of Goldsmiths and Jewellers of Armenia
presented the jewellery and diamond manufacturing as an important
branch of the RA economy as needing usage of little raw materials and
power-consuming, it has possibility to develop in the existing hard
transport conditions. He asked the meeting participants to discuss
issues of education, marketing, deliveries of coloured natural precious
stones and diamond, cooperation in the issues of creating joint
ventures. The Indian side was interested in the order of training the
staff of the branch. According to E.Grigorian, the problem is solved
by training the staff both in the industrial educational institution
and at industrial enterprises. Fuad Hamamji, the representative of the
“Al-Manara Jewellery” Indian company functioning in the United Arab
Emirates mentioned that he arrived in Armenia from Lebanon where the
jewellery is concentrated in hands of Armenians. He attached importance
to Armenian jewelry enterprises’ quick response to preference of
assortment in Arabic market as well, increasing of capabilities to
turn out as precious as possible production of more improved quality
as it’s difficult to compete with Indian and Chinese companies having
cheap labour. According to Grigorian, both small and big enterprises
function in Armenia the bag of equipment they possess gives possibility
to turn out production of any quality and design: particularly, the
Jewellery Plant of Yerevan carries out orders of the “Cartier” and
“Louis Vuitton” companies. But new markets are necessary to use and
develop the existing capacities completely. Nader Nasreddine, the Sale
and Marketing Manager for Persian Gulf, North Africa and Iran of the
Rosy Blue Indian company founded the “Diamotech” diamond enterprise
in Armenia, considered possible exchange of the company’s small raw
diamond with worked diamond of Armenia as well as carrying out of
orders of working precious stones in Armenia. Indian companies have
strong positions, particularly, in the Congo market of diamond and
coloured precious stones. By the Indian side’s proposal, cooperation
possibilities will be discussed after visiting Armenian jewellery and
diamond manufacturing enterprises on March 20. A big Armenian-Indian
business forum will take place at the Armenian Development Agency on
the same day.

AIR FRANCE OFFERS DISCOUNTS FOR NEW PARIS – YEREVAN FLIGHT
Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The French company Air France, which
will operate three flights a week in Paris-Yerevan destination starting
March 28, intends to offer considerable discounts. NT correspondent was
informed at the company’s office in Yerevan that in case of purchasing
a ticket until April 9 for a Yerevan-Paris-Yerevan flight, the price
will be 332 dollars. The purchased tickets may be used until June
15. The price of a ticket outside this move makes 472 dollars. To
recap, the company Armavia that also operates Yerevan-Paris flights
is offering discounts as well – the price of a return ticket will
make 299 dollars until June 30, whereas the price of a ticket in this
destination is 474 dollars.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN TAX BODIES REVEAL CASES OF ILLEGAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. Employees of the Operative
Investigation Department of the State Tax Service (STS) adjunct to the
Armenian government revealed some cases of illegal entrepreneurship. NT
correspondent was informed at the STS press service that a pavilion
used for illegal trade in gold jewelry was discovered at the address:
Yerevan, 110/7 Sebastia St. 130 items of jewelry worth a total of 11
thousand 411 USD were on display in the shop window at the moment of
discovery. Administrative fines prescribed by law were imposed in
connection with this case. An illegal workshop of wooden doors was
discovered as a result of anothet investigative measure at 134 Sebastia
St. 256 doors of the total value of 5 mln 160 thousand drams (about 11
thousand USD) were found in the workshop. An illegal spare part shop
that provided services for most of minibus passenger transportation and
taxi services was found as well. Besides, an unregistered storehouse
with spare parts of 7 mln drams without the purchase documents was
discovered by STS employees.

VOTE ON DRAFT LAW ON ABOLISHMENT OF STATE MONOPOLY IN NUCLEAR ENERGY SECTOR POSPONED AGAIN
Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. At the four-day sittings of the RA
National Assembly that started on March 20, the parliament adopted
6 draft laws and a legislative package, which were discussed at the
previous 4-day sittings and envisage amendments and additions to
a number of laws. The NA also ratifieed 8 international agreements
presented by the RA President. The vote on the draft law on amendments
to the Law on Energy was postponed indefinitely. To recap, the draft
proposes abolishing the state monopoly in the energy sector. The draft
aroused serious objections, and the government agreed to postopone
the vote until the current 4-day sittings, after which the vote was
postponed indefinitely. According to the NA Speaker Artur Baghdasarian,
it will be revoted on after being discussing byt the NA together with
the government.

ARMENIA AND INDIA HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS
Noyan Tapan
Mar 20 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The visit of the Indian representative
business delegation headed by the RA Honorary Consul Harshad Mehta
in Mumbai (former Bombay) shows that the sides have a considerable
intention to strengthen the existing links. RA Deputy Foreign Mininster
Armen Bayburtian stated this during his welcoming speech at the
Armenian-Indian business forum that opened at the Armenian Development
Agency (ADA) on March 20. According to him, the Honorary Consulate
of Armenia in Mumbai that opened last year has already generated the
first results of its activities. 36 representatives of various Armenian
companies and departments and 18 representatives of the Indian side
are participating in the event. Mrs. Reena Pandey, the Extraordinary
and Plenipotentairy Amabassador of India to Armenia, said that trade
turnover between the two states has grown by 50% in recent year and
this growth tendency is continuing, since there are opportunities for
cooperation, particularly in such spheres as metallurgy, information
technologies, film making industry, pharmaceutics, jewelry making,
precios stone cutting, tourism, and food industry.
(According to the RA official data, in 2005 the trade turnover
between the sides made about 15.9 mln USD. As of late 2005, 50
legal entities were operating in Armenia with Indian capital – with
investments of about 1.1 mln USD). The ambassador noted that issues
of economic cooperation development will be discussed at the sitting
of the Armenian-Indian intergovernmental commission in Yerevan this
year. The RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentairy to India
Ashot Kocharian underlined that the programs on joint work of the
Honorary Consulate of Armenia in Mumbai, the Armenian embassy in India
and the Indian embassy in Armenia have alrady been worked out. Harshad
Mehta, Honorary Consul of Armenia in Mumbai, promised that the office
headed by him will do everything to promote economic cooperation
between the two countries. He pointed out the already formed efficient
cooperation in the precious stone cutting sector. According to RA
Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development Tigran Davtian,
there is a great potential for developing the trade and economic
relations between Armenia and India. The two countries have entered
a stage of sustainable dynamic development, with almost the same
branches being considered as leading ones both in the economies of
Armenia and India. According to him, the annual export volumes of
India’s information and high technology enterprises have exceeded
10 bln USD, while at one time this index made only 50-100 mln USD,
as currently in case of Armenia. T. Davtian said that having arrived
in Armenia on March 18, the members of the Indian business delegation
have already had a number of meeting with the Armenian partners,
thanks to which some agreements have been reached. The representatives
of the Indian business delegation will continue their meetings with
Armenian businessmen on March 21.