ROW OVER GENOCIDE
7DAYS, United Arab Emirates
May 4 2006
Turkey warned France yesterday that bilateral ties could suffer if
the French parliament adopts a bill that would criminalise any denial
that Armenians massacred during World War I were victims of genocide.
“In our meetings (with French officials), we stress that adoption
of the bill could lead to irreparable damage in long-standing
Turkish-French ties and that this should not be allowed,” foreign
ministry spokesman Namik Tan said.
Expected to be voted on later this month, it provides for one year’s
imprisonment and a $57,000 fine for denying that Armenians were
victims of genocide.
If adopted, it will follow a 2001 French decision that infuriated
Turkey by acknowledging that the mass killings in the dying days of
the Ottoman Empire amounted to genocide.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered in
orchestrated killings between 1915 and 1917 by Turks, as the Ottoman
Empire was falling apart. Turkey rejects that, saying 300,000 Armenians
and at least as many Turks died in civil strife.
enocide.html

Armenia Fund, Inc.
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www.armeniafund .org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 4, 2006
Armenia Fund Mourns Over Armavia Air Disaster
U.S. Western Region Leadership at Zvartnots Airport
Los Angeles, CA – Armenia Fund U.S. Western Region offered its deepest
condolences to the families of the victims of the Armavia airliner
crash that occurred on May 2, 2006. The tragedy happened over the
Black Sea, six kilometers off the Russian resort city of Sochi.
Armenia Fund’s leadership, Chairperson Maria Mehranian and Executive
Director Sarkis Kotanjian, were both at Zvartnots International
Airport in Yerevan immediately following the air disaster. Mehranian
and Kotanjian are currently in Armenia representing the U.S. Western
Region at the Armenia Fund’s International Board of Trustees meeting
which will be held on Friday, May 5, 2006.
“Today marks a tragic event in Armenian history. I deeply share the
pain and sorrow of the victims’ families. My thoughts and prayers go
out to those who lost loved ones”, said Maria Mehranian after seeing
first hand the waves of families and friends, lined up at the airport,
asking questions and demanding answers.
Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and
infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Armenia Fund, Inc. is the U.S. Western Region affiliate of “Hayastan”
All-Armenian Fund. Tax ID# 95-4485698

KAREKIN II: WE MOURN OVER GREAT LOSS TOGETHER WITH RELATIVES OF VICTIMS AND WHOLE ARMENIAN PEOPLE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 03 2006
ECHMIADZIN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Information
Services of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin provided Noyan Tapan the
text of the telegram of condolences of Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II in connection with the crash of the Yerevan-Sochi plane,
in which, in particular, it is said: “We learnt about the crash of the
Yerevan-Sochi plane and about numerous victims with a deep grief. We
mourn over this great loss with the victims’ relatives and with the
whole Armenian people. On behalf of the Congregation of the Mother
See of Holy Echmiadzin and the Supreme Church Council we present our
condolences to the families and relatives of all victims”.

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I EXPRESSES HIS CONDOLENCES TO PRESIDENT ROBERT
KOTCHARIAN AND THE CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS KAREKIN II
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.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The
Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is
located in Antelias, Lebanon.

UNIBANK INTENDS TO INCREASE SHARPLY ITS MORTGAGE PORTFOLIO
Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Unibank will create a specialized
mortgage center at its branch to be opened in Yerevan. Chairman of
the Unibank Council Gagik Zakarian stated this at the May 3 press
conference. According to him, the center will provide mortgage loans
to Yerevan residents under a speedy procedure. Unibank’s mortgage
portfolio currently exceeds 5 mln USD. It is envisaged that this year
it will exceed 20 mln USD. The bank implements mortgage crediting
through 11 branches in Armenian marzes. Another 10 branches will
be opened in 2006. Acording to Unibank Chairman Vardan Atayan, the
bank provides up to 10-year mortgage credits at the annual interest
rate of 16%, with a prepayment in the amount of 30% of real estate
purchased. Unibank plans to improve mortgage crediting terms: to reduce
the interest rates and prepayment and extend credit maturity period.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Press Release
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS RECEIVES THE COMMITTEE FOR THE
COMMEMORATION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
His Holiness Aram I received the Central Committee for the
Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide in Lebanon in his office in
Antelias on May 2.
The committee was formed on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide. It includes members from the three Armenian
religious sects, three parties and three charity unions. The committee
met His Holiness to thank him for his pontifical support and to listen
to his advice.
The Pontiff highly praised the committee for its unity in functioning
and commended the great public march it organized on the occasion of
the Armenian Genocide’s 91st anniversary.
“The Armenians of Lebanon established and valued themselves with the
highest will and self realization. They showed that the statements
delivered here and there both in internal and external circles about
the Armenians of Lebanon not representing the same situation today
as in the past, about the Armenians of Lebanon not being united,
etc, are not true. In fact, when more than fifty thousand Armenians
walked united on the highway from Antelias to Bourdj Hammoud, they
testified and others witnessed that the Armenians of Lebanon are
strong, organized and united now more than ever,” His Holiness said.
Speaking about the initiatives dedicated to the Armenian Genocide
in general, the Armenian Catholicos said: “I watched with pride as
the children of our nation, young or old, leaders or regular people,
intellectual or worker climbed to Dzidzernagapert as one nation to
express their respect and loyalty to our victims. I watched with pride
as the Armenians of Lebanon demanded their nation’s rights. I watched
with pride as the children of the same Armenian nation all around the
globe renewed their oath to remain loyal to the legacy of our nation’s
martyrs, practically pursuing the violated rights of their nation,”
On the Armenian efforts to pursue the nation’s rights, the
Catholicos advised that these works should be better organized and
systematic. “They should be organized and pursued with a collective
approach. Such initiatives that suit the circumstances of the current
world should be brought under the spotlight.”
His Holiness Aram I explained that these works should have three
directions: “the first, our nation: Collective memory should be
kept alive in the life of our nation and particularly our youth. The
families, churches, schools and clubs have an important role in this
respect. Second, the international community: We should always revert
to media technology to remind people that the Armenian cause remains
unsolved and to point out that the international community should take
appropriate action in this regard. Third, Turkey: It is also important
to always remind Turkey, with the effective methods of a civilized
world, that it can’t deny the truth. Turkey should acknowledge the
Genocide planned and executed by the Ottoman Turkish Empire.”
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
history and mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The
Cilician Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is
located in Antelias, Lebanon.

UNIASTRUM BANK TO HAVE STAKE IN UNIBANK’S CAPITAL
Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. Uniastrum Bank (Moscow) will apply soon
to the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) with a proposal to have its
stake in the capital of Unibank (Armenia). Unibank Council Chairman
Gagik Zakarian stated this at the May 3 press conference. In his
words, Uniastrum’s stake in Unibank will make about 10 mln USD,
after which the Armenian bank’s capital will increase to nearly 14
mln USD. G. Zakarian expressed a hope that the CBA and the Central
Bank of Russia will grant permission for transactions with Unibank
in the near future, and the deal will be concluded this year.

SUPER S J GROUP TO SELL JERMUK MINERAL WATER BY USING ITS OWN TRADE MARK
Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. At the May 3 sitting, the RA Commission on
Protection of Economic Competition decided that Super S J Group company
shall remove its production with packages, which so much resemble the
trademark of Jermuk Group company as to mislead the consumer, from
the market within 40 days. Besides, the commission considered the
sale of such production to be an instance of bad faith competition
and made a decision to impose a fine of 100 thousand drams (about
220 dollars) on Super S J Group. During the commission’s sitting,
Super S J Group’s representative assured that the company has already
created its trademark and will start selling its bottled mineral water
“Jermuk” by using this trademark in 40 days. The commission received
a letter from the RA Intellectual Property Agency, according to which
no trademark under the name of Super S J Group has been registered,
and the bottles of “Jermuk” sold by the company have a trademark that
resembles to the point of confusion the trademark that has belonged
to Jermuk Group with the right of ownership for 10 years.

40% OF TRANSFERS FROM NATURAL PERSONS ABROAD TO ARMENIA MADE BY UNISTREAM SYSTEM
Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The total amount of money transfers from
other countries to Armenia by the UNIstream system without opening a
bank account made 250 mln USD in 2005, or 40% of the money transfers
made by natural persons. Chairman of the Unibank’s board Vardan
Atayan stated this during the May 3 press conference. According to
him, this year it is envisaged to increase these transfers to 400 mln
USD. Transfers from 46 countries to Armenia are currently made by the
UNIstream system. The system, which was founded by the Uniastrum Bank
(Russia), covers about 80 countries with its 30 thousand service
offices, about 3 thousand of which operate in Russia. It was noted
that UNIstream’s services doubled in Armenia in 2005, amounting to
a total of 383 bln drams (about 851 mln USD).

HEAD OF RA PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATION RECOGNIZED “ENEMY OF PRESS”
Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the results of the
traditional survey of the members of RA National Press Club, by
the majority of votes, Head of RA President’s Administration Armen
Gevorgian was recognized the “enemy of press” for the period from May
3 2005 to May 3 2006. According to Narine Mkrtchian, Chairwoman of the
National Press Club board, the certificate of the “enemy of press”
will be sent to him “for fulfilling the role of the chief censor of
Armenian media”. None of the pretenders got a sufficient number of
votes in the nomination “friend of press”. To recap, the title of the
“enemy of press” was earlier received by RA President Robert Kocharian
(three times), RA MP Hranush Hakobian and the Armenian State System.