PRIMATE GALSTANIAN MAKES AN APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
AZG Armenian Daily
28/04/2006
On Monday, April 24, 2006, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian,
Primate of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese, sent a letter of
appreciation and gratitude to The Right Honorable Stephen Harper,
Prime Minister of Canada. In his letter, Bishop Galstanian thanked the
Prime Minister for his courageous action and pressed forward to urge
the Harper government to pass a law condemning all Genocide deniers.
The faithful of our Diocese and Armenian communities of Canada should
note that His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian met with The Right
Hon. Stephen Harper on March 21, 2006 in the office of the Prime
Minister in Ottawa. The purpose of the meeting was to thank Mr.
Harper for his past support of Bill M-380 in the House of Commons,
and use the opportunity to further the discussion on the Armenian
Genocide. On this occasion, Bishop Galstanian also presented a letter
from His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of
All Armenians.
The Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada, in Montreal, is pleased
to go on record to express its gratification that the accelerated
pace of efforts of the Diocese for recognition of Medz Yeghern
has been successful. This diligent and conscientious process has
brought about a timely and concrete statement from the Office of the
Prime Minister. Mr. Harper signed and sent the statement to Armenian
organizations across Canada on Wednesday April 19, 2006, days leading
up to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese

“ARMENIA RESPECTS THE TERRITORIAL WHOLENESS OF AZERBAIJAN”
A1+
[05:16 pm] 27 April, 2006
The NKR NA deputies cannot be involved in the PACE Armenian
delegation. RA NA deputy Speaker Tigran Torosyan announced about it in
the capital of the NKR after the Armenia – Karabakh intergovernmental
committee session hold in Stepanakert.
He mentioned that the Karabakh issue has been actively discussed within
the past 1 – 2 years in European establishments. The PACE adopted
1416 resolutions in 2005 connected with the conflict settlement. A
resolution was adopted on the refugee issue, and a document is formed
on missing people. At present an ad-hoc committee works in the PACE
under Lord Rasel Jonestone’s leadership. According to Tigran Torosyan
the committee members will visit the region in autumn.
While speaking of the Armenian engagement in European institutions
he underlined that our delegation has so far worked in our
favour, especially in the issue of the recognition of Karabakh
sovereignity. “Even the co-chairs of Minsk group agree with this. If
we ask the opinions of America and Azerbaijan they are also sure of
the results of the new referendum in Karabakh,” stated Tigran Torosyan.
As for the PACE resolution, in which the two sides are called
on ceasing their militant announcements, according to Tigran
Torosyan there are no mechanisms to control the commitment of the
resolution. Perhaps the control of the resolution commitment is put
into the committee’s competence.
Asked the question how he will comment on Aliev’s announcement to
solve the conflict within the framework of the territorial wholeness
of Azerbaijan, Tigran Torosyan answered that they respect Azerbaijan’s
wholeness but it has nothing to do with the NKR right to soveregnity.
Another key issue of the intergovernmental committee session agenda
was the amendment of the NKR Constitution. According to the NKR NA
deputy chairman Rudik Husnuntsi the Constitution will be passed by
the end of the year. At present they work out the first 8 chapters,
and Karabakh expects Armenia’s assistance on this score. Husnuntsi
claims that the NKR Constitution will greatly differ from the Armenian
one with its characteristics.
“I hope that there won’t be any blows from the American side and they
won’t have their negative impact on the conflict settlement,” noted
Tigran Torosyan while speaking about the Iranian-American relations
and their possible influence on the Karabakh issue.

THE ARMENIAN WRESTLER IN THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
A1+
[08:04 pm] 27 April, 2006
The Armenian wrestler Karen Mnatsakanyan (65 kg) moved on the finals in
the European wrestling championship held in Moscow and will struggle
with the Georgian David Bedinadze for the European champion’s place
tonight. At present Mnatsakanyan already has a bronze medal and will
strive to provide his success.
Karen Mnatsakanyan beat the Azeri Fuad Aliev in the quarterfinals
and the Ukrainian Aleksey Mnatsakanyan.
Let us mention that Karen Mnatsakanyan is a former European champion,
a bronze medal winner and the World vice-champion.
Unfortunately, Mkitar Hunanyan (74kg) and Robert Petrosyan (96kg)
were beaten in the first phase and will not continue their further
participation in the championship.

THE NETHERLANDS WILL GIVE MONEY TO NGOs
A1+
[07:36 pm] 27 April, 2006
The Armenian NGOs which will be involved in the program “Consolidation
of Human Rights” don’t contemplate over their financing. The Armenian
branch of the Open Society Institute Assistance Fund (OSIAF) and the
Netherlands Embassy in Tbilisi announced about the new grant 3 – month
program on the “consolidation of human rights through development of
abilities of the chosen NGOs.”
The Netherlands Embassy will allocate 513,810 USD within three and
a half years. The investment of the OSIAF Armenian branch in the
program will be about 373,050 USD. The NGOs will be chosen through
competition and each of them will get 25000 – 35000 USD.
According to the director of the OSIAF Armenian branch Larissa Minasyan
5 – 7 NGOs will be chosen which will initiate their activity in the
following fields; closed establishments of human rights protection,
speech freedom, availability of independent mass media and justice and
the security of people emphasizing the economic right of the vulnerable
stratum. The Armenian side will provide financial control. After
signing the grant agreement, Ambassador Onno Elderenboskh voiced hope
that the program will greatly contribute to the country.
The official implementation of the program will be on May 11.

KAREN MNATSAKANYAN BECAME THE EUROPEAN CHAMPION
A1+
[08:54 pm] 27 April, 2006
Karen Mnatsakanyan (60kg) became the European champion in the wrestling
of Greek – Roman style held in Moscow. The Armenian wrestler beat
his Georgian rival David Bedinadze in the finals with the overall
3:0 and became the European champion for the 3rd time.
Karen Mnatsakanyan had significant advantage over his Georgian
rival. The Armenian sportsman beat Azeri wrestler Faud Aliev before
moving on to the finals.
By the way, Karine Shadoyan (72kg) won a bronze medal for Armenia in
the women tournament.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PATRIARCH OF GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA, CATHOLICOS ARAM I INDIGNANT AT IDLENESS OF UN
Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. Patriarch of the Great House of Cilicia,
Catholicos Aram I is indignant at the idleness and silence of
international judicial instances operating under UN mandate regarding
the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey. Cilicia Patriarchy Department
of Information and Press told ArmInfo.
According to the source, Aram I expresses his indignation at the
superficial attitude of UNESCO to the destruction and “cultural
Genocide” of Armenian historical monuments by the same barbarians
who committed the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915 and
in Azerbaijani Sumgait in 1988. “Why doesn’t UNESCO take measures to
stop the destruction of Armenian monuments in the historical Western
Armenia, Cilicia, the khachkars in Old Julfa and to restore Saint
Makar Monastery in Cyprus transformed into a public dining-room?”
asks Catholicos Aram I. He calls the international community for
recognition of Armenian Genocide like the other displays of Genocide –
Holocaust and the Genocide in Rwanda – were recognized.

ANOTHER SCUFFLE IN TSALKA
A1+
[09:17 pm] 27 April, 2006
In the Greek village Edikilisia a scuffle was initiated by Armenians
and Greeks on the one hand and by Svans on the other hand. The scuffle
was motivated by the toasts of Armenians and Greeks drunk to their
nations which wasn’t approved by Svans.
The special groups of the Georgian Interior Ministry and National
Security Service meddled with their brawl, and mainly Armenians and
Greeks suffered as a result of this interferance.
According to the agency “A-INFO” only the mediation of the Georgian
Parliament deputy could abate their rage.
The situation is stable in Tsalka after that incident.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RIVERS FLOOD IN ARMENIA
Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. Heavy showers of the recent few days have
exceeded the monthly average sediment in Armenia. In fact, several
rivers flooded, Armenian Rescue Service press-center told ArmInfo.
The Rivers of Tsits Kar and Galou, Aragatsotn region, flooded on
April 25 damaging the riverside agricultural lands. The bridges
linking the town of Aparan to the villages of Lusagyugh and Saralanj
were flooded as well. Representatives of the Town Planning and Road
Building Department of Aragatsotn Regional Administration and rescuers
arrived at the place of the flood. The River Arpa flooded the riverside
territories. Heavy hail damaged the gardens and other plants in the
village of Chiva. The damage caused is currently estimated.

EXACERBATION OF IRAN-USA RELATIONS CAN INFLUENCE THE KARABAKH CONFLICT
Stepanakert, April 26. ArmInfo. Exacerbation of Iran-USA relations
can affect the situation in South Caucasus region and influence
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said in an interview to ArmInfo
correspondent David Babayan, political scientist from Karabakh.
According to Mr. Babayan, the Azeris are especially in the Iran-USA
relations. Azerbaijan is standing for political resolution of the
of the controversies on one hand and on the other Azerbaijan is
afraid of Iran’s military attack in case war starts and Azerbaijan
becomes the ally of the USA. The political scientist added that in
some sense Azeri authorities are interested in the exacerbation of
the situation in Iran, aiming to unite the so-called ‘Southern’ and
‘Northern’ Azerbaijan with the help of America. Taking an active part
in the campaign against Iran on the USA’s side, Azerbaijan longs to
obtain the sympathies of the West and settle the Karabakh conflict
to its own benefit.

“RUSSIA FOR RUSSIANS!” SLOGAN WILL RUIN RUSSIA
Yerevan, April 26. ArmInfo. A number of Russian politicians, public
figures and sportsmen from the Union of Civil Resistance to Fascism
have asked the Public Prosecutor of Russia to give a legal assessment
of the growing xenophobia in the country.
Russian TV reports them to urge the Public Prosecutor to take measures
against the authors of the slogan “Russia for Russians!”
The chairwoman of the commission on information policy of the Russia’s
Federation Council Lyudmila Narusova says that the slogan “Russia
for Russians!” is not only non-constructive but also criminal and is
leading multinational and multi-religious Russia to collapse.
“Hence, we are asking you to give a legal assessment of this slogan
and to take measures against those propagating it,” she says.