ARMENIAN-EGYPTIAN BUSINESS FORUM SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN ALEXANDRIA IN 2007
Noyan Tapan
Jun 26 2006
CAIRO, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian Ambassador to Egypt Ruben
Karapetian was on a working visit to Alexandria, an industrial center
of Egypt, on June 21-22 with the aim of discussing and promoting the
opportunities of trade and economic cooperation between Armenia and
Egypt. During the visit, the ambassador met with the management of
the Union of Businessmen of Alexandria (UBA), visited Farco – Egypt’s
largest pharmaceutical company and the Zahran plant of domestic
electric appliances.
During a meeting with UBA Chairman Muhammed Ragab with the
participation of about 25 businessmen, the Armenian ambassador
presented the current satisfactory state of bilateral relations,
stressing the need for further activization of the Armenian-Egyptian
trade and economic cooperation. R. Karapetian pointed out such sectors
as pharmaceutics, IT, agriculture, tourism, education and science as
promising ones.
The sides agreed to sign an agreement on cooperation with the Union of
Businessmen of Armenia and to hold an Armenian-Egyptian business forum
in Alexandria in 2007. The opportunities of implementing long-term
investment programs in Armenia were discussed as well.
According to the RA MFA Press and Information Department, the UBA
also accepted the Armenian ambassador’s proposal to organize a visit
to Alexandria by a delegation of businessmen of Shirak marz. Within
the framework of this visit, it will be possible to sign an agreement
on declaring Alexandria and Gyumri sister cities.
Dr. Medhat el-Dib, Rector of the Institute of Tourism and Hotels
of Alexandria, who attended the meeting, announced his decision to
allocate 5 scholarships to Armenia.

RA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE COOPERATES WITH 30 COUNTRIES WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS AND PROGRAMS
Noyan Tapan
Jun 26 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN. 35 post-graduate scholarships, 20
master’s places and 80 ones for bachelor and specialists with diplomas
are envisaged for RA citizens every year. Corresponding competitions
are implemented for envisaged places. Vahe Grigorian, the Chief of the
International Cooperation Department of the RA Ministry of Education
and Science informed about it at the June 23 press conference.
According to Grigorian, according to interstate treaties, agreements,
practical programs, memoranda of mutual understanding, the Ministry
of Education and Science cooperates with about 30 countries, including
the Russian Federation, Belarus, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Egypt.
According to him, the competition for places for the bachelor and
the educational degree of a specialist with diploma continues in
the RF at present for what the Russian side allocated 70 places this
year. 50 applications were presented for the 70 places at the first
stage of the competition organized in May, 36 people were recognized
winners. A new competition was announced for the vacant 34 places,
agreeing beforehand with the side allocating scholarship.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IT IS NOT EXCLUDED THAT ARMENIAN DOCTORS OF JAVAKHK GET NO CORRESPONDING CERTIFICATES FOR NOT KNOWING GEORGIAN
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006
AKHALKALAK, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By the decision
of the Geogrian Ministry of Labour, Health Care and Social Issues,
doctors of regional hospitals of Akhalkalak and Ninotsminda will also
participate in new testing of doctors.
According to the “A-Info” agency, the medical testing will be held in
the Georgian language for Armenian doctors as well. It is not excluded
on this occasion that doctors of Javakhk will get no corresponding
certificates not for having poor professional skills, but just for
not knowing Georgian, the necessity of which is not very primary in
the affair of treating Armenian patients of Javakhk.
The testing will start from July 1 when accepting of corresponding
appliactions will be completed.

MESKHET TURKS PAY “TOURIST” VISIT TO JAVAKHK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006
AKHALKALAK, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. About 400 Meskhet
Turks arrived in the region of Akhalkalak on June 21. According to the
“A-Info” agency, guests arrived in Javakhk left for the terriroty of
the villages of Khavet, Davni in the south-western part of the region
of Akhalkalak where their forefathers’ settlements were once. Turks
mentioned in conversations with local Armenians that the goal of
their visit is just “tourist” one, and they have no issue of being
re-setteled in this territory.
The “A-Info” reminds at the same time, that the absolute majority of
settlements of Meskhet Turks exiled in 1944 in the regions of Aspindza
and Adigen today re-settled mainly by Georgians.
The tourist visit of Meskhet Turks to Javahkh has no direct tie with
the state program of their re-settlement in Georgia.

BBC WRITES ABOUT “MASKED” ARMENIANS OF TURKEY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006
ISTANBUL, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The unpleasant
event taken place on the day of the visit paid by the Catholicos
of All Armenian to Istanbul, when Turk nationalists were holding a
demonstration of complaint at the airport, became a reason for BBC
correspondent Sara Rainford touches upon this theme as well as the
present state of Armenians in Turkey and the issue of blockade of
Armenia by Turkey. She spoke to Armenians from Contstantinople who
were conditionally named “Vardan” and “Anush.”
“Turks ask me till now from where I am. They have no notion that
hundred of thousands of us lived here once,” “Vardan” said. The
journalist mentions that 60 thousand Armenians live in Turkey, in a
territory where their forefathers lived more than 2 thousand years
ago. It is a very difficult community,” the BBC correspondent noticed.
“We have seen only violence since we were born. Insults are written
on walls of churches, we are humiliated in streets. I think twice
till now wheather to say my name or not,” “Anush” said.
“Life of previous generations was more difficult. It is not surprising
that they do not make public their opinion about the 1915. Armenia
wants that Turkey recognizes the universal slaughter, qualifying it
as a genocide,” the journalist continues.
She mentions that “Anush” and “Vardan” are those scanty exclusions who,
living in Turkey, say what happened in 1915. They forefathers were
by force removed to south. They gave their children to Turk neighbors
for safety and never returned. “Anush” says that it is terrible. Such
a tradegy took place in the family of any Armenian there.
“The international community puts pressure on Ankara now, imposing
to review its position concerning this issue. “Vardan” greets it but
he also feels that in response to it, Turk nationalists’ aggression
increases gradually,” the BBC correspondent writes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MEMORIAL TO VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE OPENS IN VILLAGE OF GUMBURDO, JAVAKHK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006
AKHALKALAK, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A memorial to the
victims of the Armenian Genocide was placed in the village of Gumburdo,
Akhalkalak region, with the sponsorship of a few benefactors residing
in Russia.
According to the A-Info agency, the official unveiling of the memorial
took place on June 22. Those speaking at the unveiling ceremony once
again condemned the Armenian Genocide. At the same time they called on
the Georgian authorities to follow the example of a number of civilized
European countries and also to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
The placing of the memorial in Gumburdo is also symbolic as in 1918
the inhabitants of this village heroically put up resistance to the
Turks who invaded into Javakhk. In these years the half of the Javakhk
population of about 80 thousand people was killed by Turks.

A KINDERGARTEN REPAIRED IN AKHALKALAK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006
AKHALKALAK, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Akhalkalak
kindergarten N 3 was repaired on the initiative of the Javakhk Call
foundation functioning in Javakhk.
Kindergarten Director Lamara Hovhannisian expressing gratitude
to the foundation mentioned that the repair was very timely. The
foundation’s investment made only 2 thousand USD, but this was also
of much importance for the repair.
According to the A-Info agency, the Javakhk Call charity foundation
was created on the initiative of Akhalkalak Mayor Nairi Iritsian and
has a goal to assist development of Akhalkalak infrastructures.

ONE MORE NGO CREATED IN JAVAKHK
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 26 2006
AKHALKALAK, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The constituent
congress of the United Javakhk people’s union NGO was held on June
24 in Akhalkalak.
The congress announced the organization’s main goals – improvement of
the socio-economic position of Armenians of Javakhk, giving the status
of the second state language to the Armenian language in the region,
giving a cultural autonomy to the region.
According to the A-Info agency, the congress also elected chairmanship
of the organization consisting of 13 persons.

“BANK TURANALEM” MAKES REAL THE DREAM OF THE ‘GREAT TURAN’
Yerevan, June 26. ArmInfo. ‘Bank TuranAlem’ subsidiary ‘TuranAlem
Securities’ (Kazakhstan) signed an agreemnt with the Turkish Sekerbank
T.A.S. about purchasing 33,98% shares of the latter.
The press center of the bank reports that the property will be
transferred by October 31, 2006. the amount of the deal is $256
million. As for December 31, 2005 the assets of Sekerbank T.A.S.
equaled $2,3 billion, joint stock capital – $261 million. The bank
is the 17-th biggest of 47 banks of Turkey.
Member of the ‘Bank TuranAlem’ Board Erkin Tatishev says that the deal
will promote private investments of Turkish citizens, will extend
the services of the bank provided to the people of turkey and the
CIS. The press release says that BTA considers Turkey as a powerful and
perspective state. The commodity turnover between Kazakhstan and Turkey
reached $557 million last year, and the Turkish investments into the
economy of Kazakhstan made up $900 million over the recent 12 years.
The purchase of the shares of a Turkish bank will extend the geography
of TuranAlem to 9 countries, including Russia and China.
The partners of TuranAlem are: Slavinvestbank, Omsk-Bank,
Agroincombank, BTA-Kazan (Russia), Astana-Eximbank (Belarus), Silk
Road Bank (Georgia), BTA Investbank (Armenia). BTA intends to become
the biggest bank in the CIS. The bank has representations in Russia,
Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Armenia, Tajikistan, Georgia and China.
BTA-Bank assets are $9,2 billion, aggregate shareholders’ capital –
$1,6 billion. The Armenian branch of the bank is rather weak and
is on the one but last position in the rating list of the Armenian
banking system.

AZERBAIJANI DELEGATION TO PACE TRIES TO ACCUSE KARABAKH AUTHORITIES OF INTENTIONAL BURNING TERRITORIES AROUND NAGORNY KARABAKH
Yerevan, June 26. ArmInfo. In the course of PACE Summer Session opened
in Strasbourg, Monday, Azerbaijani delegation to PACE tried to accuse
Karabakh authorities of intentional burning the territories around
Nagorny Karabakh Republic. The Armenian delegation is headed by Tigran
Torosyan, Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly.
The parliamentary press-service of Armenia reports that after the
session of PACE Bureau, the agenda was changed: the discussion on the
powers of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE was replaced from 29 to 26
June. Referendum for independence of Montenegro and its consequences
as well as the Constitutional amendments in Bosnia and Herzegovina
were added to the agenda as urgent topics. As regards the discussion
of Azerbaijani delegation’s powers at PACE, the organization approved
only 2 of 10 changes proposed by Azerbaijani parliamentarians.
In the course of the meeting of political groups, as it was expected,
the Azerbainani delegation tried to speculate on the problem of fires
in the territories nearing NKR presenting them as intentional acts
by Karabakh authorities. The members of the Armenian delegation, in
their turn, presented the real picture and called the statements
by Azerbaijani party provocation and an attempt to “balance”
the desecration of Armenian historical monuments and to create an
impression that there is no legal order in the territories under
control of NKR Defense Army. As political groups make no decisions at
their meetings, the discussion of the issue had no consequences. The
Azerbaijani delegation may raise the issue of fire on the last day
of the Summer Session. At the same time, it continues collecting
signatures in favor of a project on this problem that may become a
topic for report in future. This issue was not included in the agenda
of PACE, the source reports.