ARMENIANS HAVE ALL BASES TO BE CONSIDERED NATION HAVING UNIQUE CIVILIZATION, DIRECTOR OF “NORAVANK” SCIENTIFIC-EDUCATIONAL FUND SURE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Unlike many other
nations, Armenians have all bases to be considered a nation having
a unique civilization. At the May 4 discussion organized at the
“Noravank” scientific-educational fund, Gagik Haroutiunian, the fund
Director expressed such an opinion, presenting results of a survey
on the theme “Armenians’ Political Orientations” held among famous
politicians. According to him, those bases are: Armenians’ origin,
the Armenian language occupying its unique place in the Indo-European
family, the Mesropian letters, Armenian Apostolic Church, literary
heritage, architecture and, according to some specialists, even the
Armenian dance. In Gagik Haroutiunian’s opinion, it is not just a
fact having historic meaning.
According to him, orientations of civilization have a very important
role in the present world as the “civilization” conception has moved
to the global strategic political field. According to Haroutiunian,
conflicts of civilizations of the present and future will be main
directions and main danger of the global strategic policy. “Not taking
into account approaches of civilization in political developments
may cause serious danger for any nation, and Armenians are not
an exception,” the speaker mentioned. According to the speaker,
some strategy must be worked out in sumilar conditions which will
allow avoid danger and use possibilities. The unigue civilization
orientation of Armenians that must be combined with upmost involvement
in world processes may serve as such one. The speaker mentioned that
Anglo-Saxons, Chineses and Jews lead such a strategy today. In the
opinion of Tigran Sargsian, the Chairman of the RA Central Bank,
Armenians represent a civilizations existed once but today they are
not a civilized nation. According to him, the national electorate
of Armenia is today disrupted and is not able to form some valuable
standards and a system of moral norms. According to Sargsian, today
the Armenian nation needs an impudent program which will allow to
gather potential for turning point development. Hasmik Hmayakian,
an employee of the RA NAS Institute of Oriental Studies mentioned
that the same issue is today discussed in Egypt as well, but it is
studied in that country at the high state level. NA Deputies Vazgen
Manukian, Armen Ashotian, Khachatur Sukiasian, the RA President’s
Advisor on Security Issues Garnik Isagulian, representatives of public
organizations, experts participated in the discussion.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST CLEARLY SAY TO AZERBAIJAN THAT KARABAKH ISSUE HAS NO MILITARY WAY OF SOLUTION
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
VILNIUS, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. RA Foreign Minister
Vartan Oskanian participated on May 4 in the conference entitled
“Common Vision for Common Neighborhood” in capital of Lithuania,
Vilnius. The Presidents of Lithuania and Poland made opening speeches
at the conference. At the beginning of the conference, on behalf
of participants, President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus expressed
condolence over the tragic crash of the Armenian plane. Heads and
Foreign Ministers of a number of Baltic, CIS and Eastern European
countries, other high-ranking officials participated and made
speeches in the conference. In his speech Minister Oskanian first of
all thanked the participants for the words of condolence, then spoke
about political developments in the post-Soviet region. The Minister
presented the settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as
well. “Democracy is not an issue to be settled immediatly, it may not
be established in a night. We know and are sure that as far we are
on a right way and are sure that we move forwards, evolutionary and
ascending approach towards democracy is more effective and certain,”
Minister Oskanian said. Speaking about the process of settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the Minister emphasized that “with
oil reserves and present high prices for oil, the Azerbaijani side,
unfortunately, has come to the conviction or at least states publicly
that they have at hand the variant of solving the problem in the
military way. It will not be easy to go to mutual compromise with such
a thinking. But, they must be clearly told by the EU and international
community that the issue has no military way of solution, and that
necessary mutual compromises must be implemented to reach settlement,
just like ones, Armenia has alreday done.” As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
Minister Oskanian had a number of bilateral meetings within the
framework of the conference. The process of negotatians which are at
the final stage of development of the Armenian-EU Actions Plan within
the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy was discussed with
Javier Solana, the High Representative for the EU Common Foreign
and Security Policy. The interlocutors discussed the process and
prospects of the negotiations on the Karabakh conflict settlement as
well. Armenia-OSCE cooperation issues as well as the present stage
of the peaceful settlement process of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
were discussed with OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karel de Gucht. The
Ministers touched upon the Armenia-Belgium relations as well,
discussing possibilities of further development of mutual cooperation.
Minister Oskanian met with Foreign Minister of Romania Razvan Ungureanu
as well. The Ministers discussed issues of bilateral cooperation
as well as issues concerning the “Dialogue and Partnership Forum”
Black Sea conference to take place in Bucharest in coming June.

CATHOLICOS ARAM I EXPRESSES HIS CONDOLENCES TO RA PRESIDENT AND CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
ANTELIAS, LEBANON, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. His Holiness
Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia expressed his deep condolences in letters
sent to the president of Armenia Robert Kotcharian and the Catholicos
of All Armenians, His Holiness Karekin II after an airplane belonging
to the Armenian Armavia Airlines crashed into the Black Sea in the
early morning hours of May 3, killing about 113 passengers and crew
members. “On this sad occasion we share your, our motherland’s and
our nation’s pain. We ask God to grant heavenly rest to the innocent
victims of the crash and to console their relatives with the Holy
Spirit,” the Pontiff wrote. The Catholicos also informed that requiem
services will be held this Sunday in memory of the victims of the
crash in the Mother Cathedral of St. Gregory the Illuminator in
Antelias and in all the Dioceses of the Catholicosate of Cilicia.

CONFERENCE ON THEME “MESROP MASHTOTS AND ARMENIAN ALPHABET” TAKES PLACE IN OXFORD UNIVERSITY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
LONDON, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A conference of the
theme “Mesrop Mashtots and the Armenian Alphabet” took place on April
28 at the Exeter College of the Oxford University. Theo M. van Lint,
Professor of the Armenology Department functioning by Gulbenkian fund’s
financing at the Oxford University, Dr. Jos J.S. Weitenberg, the Chief
of the Armenology Department of the Leiden University (Netherlands),
Vrezh Nersesian, the head of the Birtish library “Christian Middle
East” department, Erna Shirinian, the head of the ancient literature
department of the Yerevan Matenadaran (Armenian repository of ancient
manuscripts), others made speeches at the conference. As Noyan Tapan
was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, RA Ambassador to United Kingdom Vahe Gabrielian made
the opening speech at the conference. He touched upon in his speech
the role of the Armenian letters in the Armenian history and affair
of formation of the Armenian people’s identity, their political
meaning and lessons. The conference followed the medieval literary
men’s exhibition with hand-written and printed copies of the 11-18th
centuries, The exhibition was organized from March 20 to April 30 of
the current year in the exhibition hall of the Bodleian Library of the
Oxford University. The Armenian collection in Oxford has started since
1635. The Armenology Department functioning at the Oxford University
by Galust Gulbenkian fund’s financing was founded in 1965.

EVENTS DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS HELD IN CITIES OF POLAND
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 05 2006
WARSAW, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Events dedicated to
the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims took place in the city of
Krakow, Poland, on April 29. The liturgy was celebrated to the memory
of innocent victims in the Saint Mikolay church of Krakow. Then the
divine service and lighting of candles took place at the khachkar
(cross stone) placed in the yard of the church. RA Ambassador to
Poland Ashot Galoyan, RP Senate Deputy Piotor Boron, Chairman of the
Armenian Culture Association of Krakow Adam Terketski made speeches
at the event. RA Ambassador A.Galoyan and Senator Boron laid wreaths
to the khachkar. Pupils of the Krakow Sunday school made speeches
in the yard of the Saint Mikolay church. Members of the authorities
of the Malopolska province and Krakow city, society of Poland, press
representatives as well as numerous members of the Armenian community
of Poland were invited to the event. As Noyan Tapan was informed by
the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, events
dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims were held
in Wraslow, Jeshuv, Elblong, Ljublin.

3 OUT OF 5 ARMAVIA’S PLANES MANUFACTURED BY AIRBUS FIRM
Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armanian airline Armavia’s A-320
plane that crashed on May 3 was munifactured by Airbus firm in 1995
and was acquired on leasing by Armavia in 2004. To recap, recently
the airline management stated that 90% of its flights are operated by
planes manufactured by Airbus. 3 out of 5 planes of Armavia, including
one A-320 and two A-319, have been manufactured by the Airbus firm. The
134-seat A-319 made in 2004 was leased by the airline only a month
ago. Besides, Armavia has a 350-seat IL-86 and a 120-seat YAK-42. In
2005, Armavia transported 500,100 passengers, 257,100 of whom – from
Armenia to other countries, and 243 thousand passengers – to Armenia.

CONSTRUCTION VOLUME GROWS BY 25.1% IN ARMENIA IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2006 ON SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR
Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-March 2006, construction
work of 27 bln 863.4 mln drams was done in Armenia, or by 25.1% more
than in the same period of last year. According to the RA National
Statistical Service, construction of production facilities amounted
to 12 bln 928.4 mln drams. Building and assembly work made 22 bln
711 mln drams, of which the building and assembly work of production
facilities – 8 bln 469 mln drams. In January-March 2006, construction
work of 1 bln 281.5 mln drams was carried out in the earthquake
zone at the expense of all sources of financing for construction,
restoration and repairs of social and production facilities, or 4.6%
of the total volume of construction in Armenia, including construction
work of 640.9 mln drams (about 1.42 mln USD) of production facilities
(5%). In January-March 2006, 97 new residential buildings of the
total area of 41,956 square meters were put into operation in Armenia
at the expense of resources of the population and organizations,
which made up 136.7% of the respective index of the same months of
2005. Particularly, 2 residential buildings of the total area of
605 sq.m. were put into operation in Yerevan with organizations’
resources, and 95 residential buildings of the total area of 41,351
sq.m – with resources of the population.

EXECUTIVE BODY – JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT TO BE CREATED IN RA JUDICIAL SYSTEM
Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The draft law on judicial service,
which was passed in first reading by the RA National Assembly,
envisages the creation of a judicial department. The Head of the RA
Cassation Court Staff Edgar Sedrakian told NT correspondent that the
judicial department will be accountable to the RA Council of Justice,
the Council of Court Chairmen, the General Assembly of Judges, and,
to some extent, to the Chairman of the RA Cassation Court.
According to E. Sedrakian, the new body to be created is called
upon to assist and promote the independence of courts, strengthen
the independence of the judiciary, while not interfering in the
administration of justice, as well as to ensure the full and efficient
execution of powers given to Armenian courts, the RA General Assembly
of Judges, the RA Council of Court Chairmen and the RA Council
of Justice and their participation in civil legal relations. The
judicial department will represent a single system of vertical
subordination composed of structural and separated (consisting of
the RA court staffs) units. The main task of the body is to create
favorable conditions for efficient functioning of judicial power by
implementing the appropriate personnel policy, financial, material,
technical and other measures. The department will fulfil such functions
as to examine the functioning of Armenian courts, work out proposals
for improving their activities and financing, analyze and summarize
judicial practice and statistics, organize the work of court archives
and the development and introduction of necessary program measures
of court proceedings and record keeping, as well as to organize
information and legal support of court activities and carry out work
on coordination of the legislation.
The department will also keep the personal files of judges and court
employees, implement preparatory work for holding competitions to fill
vacancies in the judicial service and organize the work of competition
commissions, supervise budget resource spending by Armenian courts
and the judicial department’s units, and perform an audit of their
financial activities.

STATE ASSISTANCE TO BE SHOWN TO RELATIVES OF PASSENGERS DIED IN PLANE CRASH
Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the
RA Government’s Information and Public Relations Department,
the Government discussed the draft decision about showing state
assistance to funeral of people died in the consequence of the plane
crash. According to it, it was decided to allocate 129 mln drams
(about 287 thousand U.S. dollars) from the Government’s reservation
fund envisaged by the RA 2006 state budget to assist victims’
funeral, preparing and placing gravestones (1 mln 500 thousand
drams on the account of every victim). Other 15 mln 255 thousand
drams were allocated to the Yerevan Mayor’s Office to give it to
the “Special Service for Inhabitation” CJSC of the Mayor’s Office
to assist the funeral (135 thousand drams on the account of every
victim). By the decision, the RA Minister of Labour and Social Issues
was allowed to give on hand the financial resources allocated by the
mentioned decision to people undertaking the burial of the plane crash
victims. The RA Ministry of Finance and Economy was instructed to open
a special current account for, with its help, everybody who wants has a
possibility to show assistance to families of the plane crash victims.

ORGANIZATIONS OF ARARAT MARZ ENGAGED IN CHILDREN’S ISSUES JOIN THEIR EFFORTS
Noyan Tapan
May 05 2006
ARTASHAT, ARARAT, MAY 5, NOYAN TAPAN. The Acceptance and Orientation
Center of the Fund for Armenian Relief and the RA Ministry of
Labour and Social Issues with the participation of organizations
engaged in the children’s issues of the Ararat marz held a seminar
on May 3 in Artashat. The goal of the seminar organized within the
framework of the “Attention to Every Child” program financed by the
UN Children’s Fund was to inform specialists working with children
about children’s problems and ommissions existing in the system. As
the Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by organizers of the event,
the goal of the program is to stregthen ability of the civil society
to protect children’s rights and to assist implementation of programs
concerning children’s issues in Armenia. Seda Arzumanian, the program
head, representatives of the children’s acceptance and orientation
center drew specialists’ attention to issues of protection of the
rights of children left without parents’ care and brought up with
difficulty. It was mentioned during the seminar that today the state
makes an attempt to assist such children, register them, give refuge,
help to stand on their own feet. Keeping children in the center of
constant attention, taking teenagers back of a bad way, giving them
corresponding educationa and bringing up, ways and types of works
with children brought up with difficulties and other themes became a
dispute subject which was touched upon by Directors of Artashat No2,
No3 schools Norik Shahinian, Margush Mirzoyan, Ararat city social
service employee Hovsep Ghazarian, chiefs of Masis, Artashat and
Ararat police departments on teenagers affairs, others.