GEORGIA’S OMBUDSMAN CONDUCTS PRESS-CONFERENCE REGARDING TSALKA EVENTS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006
TBILISI, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the 11th of
March a press conference was conducted in public defender’s office
regarding the incident that took place on the 9th of March as a result
of which Mr. Gevorg Gevorgyan was killed and other ethnic Armenian
citizens of Georgia were injured to various degrees. According to
official data, five suspects were detained by the Police of Georgia
and other suspects are searched for. The incident provoked a mass
protest of ethnic Armenian residents of Javakhk region, which later
grew into violence. The demonstration was dismissed by special
security service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia
based in other regions of Georgia. The next day after the collision a
group of representatives of the Public Defender of Georgia arrived in
Tsalka. After having preliminarily studied the case the Ombudsman of
Georgia Mr. Sozar Subari stated that the conflict happened based on
‘common’ grounds. Public defender called to let government officials
finish the investigation of Tsalka events without any pressure or
hindrance. According to the Armenian portal of Georgia “Armenia.ge”,
Mr. Karen Elchyan, President of the Armenian Centre of Cooperation of
Georgia, has also come out with a statement. He expressed condolences
to the family of the murder victim and presented the official position
of his organization. He stated that there are two different versions of
the motivation of the crime, and one of the versions, namely the ethnic
hatred motivation, is held by the victims of the crime. Responding to a
journalist’s question regarding Javakhk Armenians’ requests of autonomy
for Javakhk he noted that such requests are entirely lawful and are
based on the principles of federalism and territorial integrity of
state. Residents of the region, he stated, are convinced that granting
Javakhk autonomy would contribute to fulfillment of their obligations
and rights as of citizens of Georgia. The Armenian Apostolic Church
Diocese of Georgia has also commented on the events in Tsalka. The
Assistant to the Head of the Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church,
Mr. Levon Isakhanyan supported the position of Mr. Karen Elchyan
regarding the existence of two versions of motivation of the crime. He
added that such crimes are consequence of anti-Armenian hysteria,
launched by the means of Georgian mass-media. On behalf of the Diocese,
he called for the appropriate government bodies to pay sufficient
attention to the problems of the Armenian Apostolic Church Diocese
of Georgia, interethnic relations and defending rights of the ethnic
minorities residing in Georgia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“MULTI-NATIONAL GEORGIA” NOVEMENT AND “NOR SERUND” UNION ASK TO CARRY OUT OBJECTIVE EXAMINATION OF INCIDENT IN TSALKA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006
TBILISI, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the occasion of
the March 9 events in Tsalka, the “Civil Movement “Multi-National
Georgia” union and the “Nor Serund” (New Generation) union of the
Georgian Armenians made a statement in which they turn to the
Government of Georgia with a request to carry out an objective
examination of the incident in Tsalka, to punish those guilty in
the way envisaged by the legislation, as well as to make publicity
to what had happened. The organizations aks the civil society of
Georgia, the Government and President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili
to refer to the problems appeared in Tsalka with the upmost attention
for to avoid a regular interethnic conflict in the territory of
Georgia. “Multi-National Georgia” and “Nor Serund” expressed their
condolence to the family of died Gevorg Gevorkian. To recap, an armed
attack on a group of young people of the Armenian origin took place
on March 9 in the very center of the city of Tsalka (regional center
of the Tsalka region of the Kvemo-Kartli region, Georgia). According
to both witnesses and one of victims, there were about 15 attacking
people and many of them were armed with side-arms. As a result of
knife injuries, Gevorg Gevorkian of 23 years old was killed, he died
at the place, V.Saakian of 25 years old was injured at the foot,
and K.Baloyan of 25 years old was taken in 7 hours to the Tbilisi
city hospital No1 with a serious injury.

TRAIL ON CASE OF MURDER OF IRANIAN ARMENIAN YOUNG MAN TO START ON MARCH 14
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006
TEHRAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The trail on the
case of Miro Begijanian, an Iranian Armenian young man will start on
March 14. As Hovik Behbun, the attorney on the court action informed
the Tehran “Alik” daily, both the defendant and Miro’s family will
be present at the first official judicial hearing. Data of the
judicial-medical examination as well as of ones gathered by the
Police will be discussed at the hearing. According to those data,
the level of liability of each of the defendants will be defined
and the court sentence will be passed. The attorney mentioned that
according to the report of the judicial-medical center, Miro died of
injuries of not one person.
Two of the defendants admitted that they injured Miro. To recap,
Miro Begijanian was killed on September 9, 2005, near the “Ararat”
sport center of Tehran during a dispute with three Persians.

REPS. PALLONE AND RADANOVICH RALLY COLLEAGUES IN SUPPORT OF PRO-ARMENIAN PROVISIONS IN FOREIGN AID BILL
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006
WASHINGTON, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Congressmen
Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George Radanovich (R-CA) called on their
U.S. House colleagues to join them in cosigning a letter calling on
the leadership of the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee to support
pro-Armenian provisions in the fiscal year 2007 foreign aid bill,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). This
bipartisan expression of support, addressed to the panel’s Chairman
Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY), strengthens
the hand of pro-Armenian members of the Subcommittee, most notably
Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, Steve Rothman (D-NJ),
Mark Kirk (R-IL), and John Sweeney (R-NY). Rep. Sweeney, who joined
the panel last year, is one of only two Members of Congress of
Armenian heritage. The letter notes that members of Congress are
“deeply troubled” that the Administration’s request for military aid
for Azerbaijan is considerably higher then the request for Armenia. By
signing the letter, legislators will add their voice to the effort to
ensure that the agreement struck in 2001 between the White House and
Congress to keep aid levels to these two countries equal is fully
respected. In addition, the letter calls for a hard earmark of at
least $75 million for Armenia, a one-year $5 million allocation for
Nagorno Karabagh, and the preservation of Section 907 of the Freedom
Support Act. “We want to thank Congressmen Radanovich and Pallone in
urging the Foreign Operations Subcommittee to support provisions in the
fiscal year 2007 foreign aid bill of special importance to Armenian
Americans,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We also
value the advocacy for pro-Armenian issues from within this panel
by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, the leadership of
Chairman Jim Kolbe and Ranking Democrat Nita Lowey, and the support of
Representatives Steve Rothman, John Sweeney, Mark Kirk, Jesse Jackson,
Jr., Carolyn Kilpatrick, Chaka Fattah, and our other friends.”

ARMENIAN DEPUTY OF IRANIAN PARLIAMENT TO MAKE SPEECH DURING DIALOGUE OF RELIGIONS CONGRESS HELD IN ZAGREB
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006
ZAGREB, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the initiative of
the Center for Dialogue of Religions of the Islamic Communication and
Culture Organization of Iran and of the Cultural Attache of Iran to
Zagreb, the first congress on the Dialogue of Churches started its
work in Zagreb on March 10.
According to the Tehran “Alik” daily, Gevorg Vardanian, the Deputy of
the northern Iranian Armenians at the Islamic Parliament was a member
of the delegation invited from Iran to the congress as a representatice
of the Armenian Christians at the Parliament. The congress ended on
March 11. The theme of the Armenian Deputy’s speech was “Obstacles
of a Successful Dialogue.” He touched upon in his speech not only the
difficulties of a dialogue of religions but events of overcoming them
as well.

VOLUME OF AGRICULTURAL LOANS DOUBLES IN GEGHARKUNIK MARZ
Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2006
GEGHARKUNIK, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The volume of agricultural loans
has doubled in Gegharkunik marz. Andranik Hakobian, Director of ACBA
Bank Gegharkunik Branch, told NT correspondent that in 2004, credits
of the total amount of 1.8 mln USD were provided to 1,400 borrowers,
whereas these indices made 3.7 mln USD and 3,360 borrowers last
year. According to A. Hakobian, small farmers that take loans of up
to 3,000 USD make up 60% of the borrowers. About 20% use loans of up
to 30 thousand USD, and several big farms – up to 150 thousand USD. It
was noted that now all the communities of Gegharkunik marz make use of
the credit services of ACBA Bank, with 100% of the loans being repaid.
The total amount of farm crediting is expected to reach 5 mln USD
this year.

ADA EXPECTS TO RECEIVE CREDITS OF 2 MLN USD FROM WORLD BANK FOR SECOND PROGRAM ON DEVELOPMEMT OF ITS CAPACITIES
Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. At the March 10 sitting of the Armenian
Development Agency (ADA) Board, the draft second credit program on
development of the ADA Foreign Investment and Export Facilitation
(FIEF) capacities with World Bank (WB) resources was approved. ADA
Director General Vahagn Movsisian announced it at the March 11
press conference. According to him, the cost of this program to be
implemented in 2006-2009 will make 2 mln USD. It was noted that the
World Bank recognized the first 3-year credit program on development
of the ADA FIEF capacities as the best implemented program. During
the implementation of this program in 2003-2005, the WB allocated
credit resources of 1 mln USD to the agency. V. Movsisian said
that the spheres of high technologies, information technologies,
fine organic chemistry, exact architecture and biotechnologies, in
which intellectual work accounts for large part of production cost,
were selected as spheres for investment making within the program’s
framework in 2003. Database on possible 7 thousand investors was
created during the program. Information propaganda campaigns were
conducted in the US and European countries, now the second campaign
in the US, as well as propaganda campaigns in the Scandinavian and
Far East countries are underway.
According to the ADA Director General, in the course of these
propaganda campaigns, 30 companies either made investments in Armenia
or expressed an intention to do so. Among these comanies are Microsoft,
Sonix, IBM and Erikson, as well as the German airline Lufthanza. The
ADA created a website with the list of
5 thousand combinations developed in the country for the purpose of
attracting investments to the sphere of fine chemistry in Armenia. This
website, as well as presentation of the Armenian fine chemistry’s
potential in various countries contributed to the fact that the the
eneterprises of the sphere have received orders for synthesis of
500 combinations.
Representatives of 32 foreign companies will visit Armenia in 2006 in
order to become acquainted with the investment opportunities in fine
organic chemistry and biotechnologies spheres of Armenia. According
to V. Movsisian, as a result of developing the ADA capacities,
175 companies were set up in Armenia with foreign capital in
2003-2005 through the agency. Prior to launching the WB program,
the ADA received an average of 300 visitors annually, whereas in
2005 this index increased to 1,350. In the period of 2003-2005,
the ADA organized 40 exhibitions and 32 business forums.

GROWTH IN GAS PRICE TO RAISE BUSINESS COST PRICE IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development is studying the possibilities of mitigating the
consequences of growth in price for gas supplied for Armenian
economy. Director General of the Armenian Development Agency
Vahagn Movsisian informed about this at the March 11 press
conference. According to him, the growth in price for gas supplied
to Armenia will raise the cost price of business run in Armenia.

ARMENIAN DEVELOPMENT AGENCY THE 5TH AMONG SIMILAR STRUCTURES OF 147 COUNTRIES BY QUALITY OF RENDERING SERVICES
Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 9, in Geneva, a representative
of Armenia was given the prize won by the Armenian Development
Agency by the results of the 2005 study conducted by the World
Bank’s Multilateral Investments Guaranteeing Agency (MIGA). Armenian
Development Agency Director General Vahagn Movsisian informed about
this at the March 11 press conference. He reminded that according to
MIGA report of 2005, the Armenian Development Agency was recognized
the 5th among 147 agencies of the world by the quality of rendered
services. MIGA’s study was conducted, in particular, according to
standards of answering questions, preparing for exhibitions and
business forums.
M.Movsisian informed that MIGA delegation’s visit to Armenia is
expected in late March. Issues of cooperation with the Armenian
Development Agency will be discussed during the visit.

AS ADA DIRECTOR ESTIMATES, DIASPORAN ARMENIANS’ INVESTMENT ACTIVITY IN ARMENIA IS UNSATISFACTORY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 13 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian Development
Agency Director General Vahagn Movsisian estimated the Diasporan
Armenians’ investment activity in Armenia as unsatisfactory at the
March 11 press conference.
According to his information, 6 mln Diasporan Armenians live abroad
in about 1.5 mln families, the property of each of them can amount to
100 thousand USD. “We have an investments source valued 150 bln USD,
and even 2-3% of this isn’t used,” V.Movsisian said. According to
him, 300-400 big entrepreneurs having no bisiness connection with
Armenia work in big foreign cities. For the purpose of promoting
their investment activity and export of Armenian production by means
of them it’s envisaged to organize 13 agitation campaigns in foreign
countries. Touching upon the issue of efficiency of Armenia-Diaspora
first economic forum held in 2003 autumn, V.Movsisian said that a
Pan-Armenian Commercial Network was established after the forum. An
attempt to provide constant information for all organizations of
Diasporan Armenian businessmen is made through the network. Canadian
and Iranian Armenian businessmen’s delegations visited Armenia after
the forum. 4 companies were founded in Armenia, the Iranian Armenians’
investment activity became rather active as a result of the Canadian
Armenian businessmen’s visit. Besides, a delegation of 15 Argentine
Armenian businessmen will visit Armenia in late April this year for
the purpose of discussing issues connected with making insvestments
in spheres of tourism, hotel building and agroprocessing. A visit of
80 Lebanese Armenians is expected in June, within the framework of
which a business forum will be organized in Yerevan.