INCREASE IN CREDIT PORTFOLIOS OF ARMENIAN BANKS REGISTERED IN FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. During the March 15 meeting of the
Armenian President Robert Kocharian and the newly appointed chairman
of the Union of Armenian Banks, Director General of ACBA Bank Stepan
Gishian, the sides attached importance to the necessity to increase the
number of transactions conducted through the banks, in which case it
will be possible to secure the local resources of economic investments
by concentrating the monetary resources available in Armenia.
S. Gishian reminded the Armenian President that an increase in the
credit portfolios of the banks was already registered in the first
quarter of this year, and consistent steps are being taken to attract
more deposits.
According to a press release of the RA President’s press service,
the sides also discussed the decisive steps expected on the mortgage
market this year, which will open new opportunities for the population.

PUNITIVE MEASURES TO BE APPLIED TO BODIES THAT GRANTED CERTIFICATES TO TURKISH GOODS NOT METING REQUIREMENTS OF NORMATIVE DOCUMENTS
Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. In the period of January-February
2006, the RA Quality Inspection made examinations of 103 samples of 45
Turkish goods taken from 42 economic entities at 6 test laboratories
in Armenia. It was found that 11 types of chocolate bars, 3 types
of chocolate sweets, chewing gums of 5 types made in Turkey, as well
as one type of Turkish wafer, chocolate cream, tinned peas and soap
did not meet the requirements of the normative documents, technical
regulations and the RA Law on Foodstuff Safety. Georgy Gyozalian,
Deputy Head of the State Quality Inspection of the RA Ministry of Trade
and Economic Development, said at the March 15 press conference that
the inspection will send a letter to the RA Accrediting Council with
the request to apply punitive measures to the bodies that certified
the above mentioned goods.
According to G. Gyozalian, the examinations were made after the press
publications about the chocolate bar “Safari” of the Elvan company
being made in Baku. The examinations revealed that the chocolate
“Safari” imported to Armenia was made in Turkey.
Based on the results of the conducted checks, orders were issued to
discontinue and forbid the sale of the above mentioned products not
meeting the requirements of the technical regulations, while Hasmik
Manukian enterprise that conducts wholesale trade at Surmalu Fair and
imports the production of the Elvan company (Turkey) was instructed
to remove the production from circulation, inform consumers about it
and to take these products back from consumers. Administrative fines
in the amount of 2.3 mln drams were imposed on the executives of the
economic entities engaged in the sale of products not in line with
the requirements of technical regulations.
G. Gyozalian said that the inspection also examined the chocolates of
Russian and Ukrainian production sold in Armenia, and no violations
of the normative documents’ requirements were found. Besides, the
tea “Azerchay” made in Azerbaijan was examined, and its sale was
discontinued due to the reason of not meeting the requirements of
normative documents. It was noted that the inspection will complete
checks at the perfume market late next week. The water colors of
Iranian production are now undrergoing tests, which were initiated
after a child was poisoned as a result of using these products.

POLICE GENERAL PROMISES EXPOSE MYSTERY OF VOSKEPAR TRAGEDY
Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Events taken place in 1991 in Voskepar
are presented in publicist and poet Ignat Mamian’s “Cry of Wounded
Mountain” documentary book the presentation of which took place on
March 14 at the Writers Union of Armenia (WUA). This isn’t the first
time that the publicist touched upon the tragedy of Voskepar. I.Mamian
presented the heroic battle of the police duty detail boys died at the
Katarka mountain as well as the military-political picture created at
borders of Armenia, particularly in the Noyemberian-Ghazakh, in the
“Tragic Daylight” book as well.
According to WUA Chairman Levon Ananian, though 15 years passed
after the Voskepar events, it has still remained unknown by now how
and by which traitor the murder of the sons of Armenians fighting in
Voskepar was organized. “The heroic event is called the tragedy and
mystery of Voskepar. This history remains a completely not deciphered
one even today,” L.Ananian mentioned.
According to poet, translator Nerses Atabekian, I.Mamian has gathered
“the reality flying to bits in the crossroads of time” for 15 years and
made an attempt to present the heroic deed of the Armenian policemen
both in Artsakh and in bordering regions of the republic. According
to him, a movement started in 1980 which, it’s a pity, is spoken about
only now: this was the police detachment of special significance formed
in 1990. Hundreds of young people joined it. They participated both in
martial shift in the border regions of Armenia and in military actions
going on in Artsakh. According to N.Atabekian, the existence and work
of the police detachments also became an incitement for formation of
the RA National Army.
According to Major General Ararat Mahtesian, the RA Police Chief’s
First Deputy, in epilogue of the book the author presented a number
of questions which must get their answers. “I would attempt to find
answer for some “whys” for those are less in the author’s third book,”
he mentioned.

“ONE NATION, ONE CULTURE” ALL-ARMENIAN SECOND FESTIVAL TO BE HELD ON JUNE 23-30
Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The “One Nation, One Culture”
all-Armenian second festival will be held in Armenia and Arstakh
on July 23-30 for the purpose of sterngthening and deepening the
Armenia-Diaspora cultural ties. More than 1500 artists from different
communities of Armenia, Artskakh and Diaspora will participate in
the festival. 100 mln drams (about 222 thousand U.S. dollars) were
allocated from the state budget.
As Tamar Poghsosian, the Executive Director of the “One Nation,
One Culture” fund mentioned in the interview with the Noyan Tapan
correspondent, the group regulating the festival works has already
sent official invitations to all the all-Armenian structures, and
conditions of participation in the festival were officially made
public with the help of embassies.
The “One Nation, One Culture” first festival became a national fete
and a new impulse of spiritual uniting of all the Armenians. The
festival gives possibility to present our national culture with joint
efforts and to unite round the idea of one nation, one culture, one
Fatherland,” T.Poghosian mentioned. The Executive Director of the
fund also mentioned that faults existed during the previous festival
were taken into account, and they will attempt to hold it this time
more organized.
The solemn opening ceremony of the festival took place on June 23 at
the Karen Demirchian Sports and Concert Complex. Numerous concerts,
exhibitions, theatrical performances will be organized within the
framework of the festival both in Yerevan and in RA marzes and Artsakh.
The RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Issues and the “One Nation, One
Culture” fund are the festival organizers, as well as the Armenian
General Benevolent Union and National Armenian Educational and Cultural
Union assist it.

ARMENIAN CEMETERY IN OLD JUGHA TURNED INTO FIRING GROUND BY AZERIS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 15 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. After more than
3500 khachkars (cross-stones) were completely destroyed in the ancient
Armenian cemetery in Old Jugha in December 2005, the number of which
formerly reached 10 thousand, according to eye-witnesses, in early
March this year the Azeri servicemen turned this territory into a
firing ground.
Informing about this, RA Foreign Ministry Press Service also spread
photos making it evident that the cemetery in Old Jugha doesn’t
exist any longer, just like the Pombloz Church, St Saviour Church
and Red Church.

Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2006
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUES WITHOUT ARMENIAN CHESS-PLAYERS
YEKATERINBURG, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Two tours are already over
in the chess women’s championship being held in the Russian city of
Yekaterinburg. 16 out of 64 participants of the competitions being
held by the “Knockout” contest rules will continue to play. The
representatives of Armenia aren’t among them. In the second round
grand master from Yerevan Elina Danielian was defeated by one of the
strongest Russian chess-players, Alexandra Kostenyuk, with a score
of 0 to 2. Before this, after being defeated in the first round,
the other representative of Armenia, Lilit Mkrtchian, was left out
of the competition.

ADMINISTRATIVE COURT OF BERLIN TERRITORY REMOVES BAN ON HOLDING “TALAAT-PASHA ACTION”
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 15 2006
BRUSSELS, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The administrative
court of Berlin territory removed the ban the German police had imposed
on holding of the rallies envisaged by the Turks on March 15 and
18. Nevertheless, as Noyan Tapan was informed by ARF Dashnaktsutiun
European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy, the court
decision is preliminary and can be reconsidered by the Supreme Court
of the territory.
To recap, the German authorities had prohibited a series of
rallies the Turkish organizations planned to hold in mid-March in
Berlin. The rallies will be the beginning of the events under the title
“Talaat-Pasha Action” within the framework of the “Grand Operation
– 2006” initiative. The initiative a number of Turkish figures,
led by former President of self-proclaimed Republic of North Cyprus
Rauf Denktash, came up with, pursues the goal to achieve Bundestag’s
withdrawing its resolution on the Armenian Genocide. A large rally
is envisaged on March 18, in Berlin, within the framework of the
action. Before it, on March 15, Denktash will lay a wreath on the place
where Talaat was killed by Armenian revenger Soghomon Tehlerian. A
“Talaat-Pasha Conference” will be held on March 19 in Berlin.

CE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS APPROVES 2006-2007 ACTIONS PLAN OF COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIA AND CE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 15 2006
STRASBOURG, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On March 15, the
Council of Europe (CE) Committee of Ministers approved the 2006-2007
Actions Plan of cooperation between Armenia and the Council of Europe.
After adopting the Actions Plan made up through close cooperation
with the Armenian authorities Ambassador Christian Ter-Stepanian,
Resident Representative of Armenia to Council of Europe, mentioned
that the progress of fulfilment of its obligations by Armenia five
years after joining the Council of Europe was taken into consideration
in the Actions Plan.
He was pleased to inform that the Actions Plan took into consideration
the prospect that opened by reforming the Constitution – for
strengthening the human rights system, judicial power’s independence
and democratic institutions’ activity, in particular, through
development of the civil society, political parties and local
democracy.
He reminded that this program really becomes very useful at the moment
when the Armenian government approved the schedule of the legislative
reforms conditioned by the constitutional amendments adopted by the
2005 November referendum.
“We realize that this cooperation will help Armenia to bring its
legislation and practice in correspondence with European norms and
standards and will enable to accompany the reforms policy, which is
necessary for deepening Armenia’s process of European integration,”
the Ambassador declared.

ACCORDING TO TIGRAN TOROSIAN, PACE COMMISSION ON KARABAKH PROBABLY WILL CONTINUE WORKING
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 15 2006
PARIS, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The fate of the PACE
Ad Hoc Commission on Nagorno Karabakh will be discussed at the March
15 PACE Bureau sitting in Paris. The report of Chairman of Ad Hoc
Commission on Nagorno Karabakh Russel Jonston was heard in the evening
of March 13, at the sitting of PACE Commission on Political Issues.
As RA NA Vice Speaker, head of Armenian parliamentary delegation in
PACE Tigran Torosian informed radio “Liberty”, to all probability,
at the PACE Bureau today’s sitting it will be finally decided that
the Ad Hoc Commission on Nagorno Karabakh will continue working under
the aegis of the Bureau.
According to Torosian, the Chairman of the PACE Commission on Political
Issues objected at the previous sitting considering that it’s not
right that PACE Bureau establish an ad hoc commission on issues
within the interests of this or that PACE commission, in this case,
Commission on Political Issues.
Lord Russel Jonston expressed an opinion at the end of his yesterday’s
speech that it will be right that the Ad Hoc Commission on Nagorno
Karabakh preserves its status. “He emphasized that in the future the
Commission’s most important task will be to prepare the two peoples for
future solutions. I.e., the Commission will do its best for appeals
for war and hatred to cease,” the head of the Armenian parliamentary
delegation in PACE mentioned.
According to Tigran Torosian, the Armenian and Azerbaijani delegations’
opinions aroud the issue coincided: “it’s right that the Commission
should preserve its status and continue being engaged in these issues”.

GRAND MASTER GABRIEL SARGSIAN RECOGNIZED WINNER OF REYKJAVIK TOURNAMENT
Noyan Tapan
Mar 15 2006
REYKJAVIK, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN. Representative of Armenia Gabriel
Sargsian performed very successfully in the large chess tournament
held in the capital of Iceland Reykjavik. In the competition among
102 chess-players he gained 7 out of 9 possible points and shared
the 1-5th places with another 4 participants. As the tournament
coefficients of the grand master from Yerevan were higher, he was
given the first place and the title of the winner. G.Sargsian gained
5 victories in the tournament, drew 4 games and was never defeated.