ACCORDING TO CHAIRMAN OF ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS’ COUNCIL OF JAVAKHK, REFUSAL OF GEORGIAN ARMENIANS REQUEST TO GIVE STATE STATUS TO ARMENIAN LANGUAGE NOT MORAL
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 17 2006
AKHALKALAK, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Nino Burjanadze,
the Georgian Parliament Speaker stated that though at elementary level,
everybody must learn the Abkhazian language in Georgia. The “News of
Georgia” department of the “RIA-Novosti” information agency informed
about this on April 14. The Parliament Speaker reasoned his idea with
the fact that the Constitutional status of the Abkhazian language
obliges to respect that language. According to the “A-Info” agency,
Khachatur Stepanian, representative of the Samtskhe-Javakhk Armenian
Public Organizations Council, responding Burjanadze’s statement,
again touched upon the problem of giving state status to the Armenian
language in the southern regions of Georgia populated with Armenians
(Samtskhe-Javakhk and Tsalka region). According to Kh.Stepanian, if
the language of the main inhabitation (60 thousand) of the territory
de facto independent of the central authorities is constitutionally
made state, at least in a part of the territory of the country and
its teaching in the whole country is considered necessary, it will be
immoral to refuse the request of giving state status to own language
of 200 thousand law-abiding citizens (Armenians of North Georgia)
of the country.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF MOSCOW PREPARES TO MARK 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 17 2006
MOSCOW, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian community
of the capiltal of the Russian Federation plans a number of events
dedicated to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. On the
initiative of the “Mitk” (thought) Armenian Youth Union, a meeting
with Yuri Barseghov, the Director of the Armenian Institute of
International Law and Policy of Moscow, Law Doctor, Professor, took
place at the conference-hall of the Russian Public Political Center
on April 14. The following issues were discussed at the meeting:
the Armenian Genocide as a crime against mankind and the mankind,
international recognition of the fact of the Armenian Genocide and the
legal resposibility of Turkey, official recognition and condemnation of
that crime by Turkey itself, ways of just liquidation of consequences
of the genocide, the Hay Dat (Armenian cause) solution based on the
international law. The organizer is the “Mitk” Armenian Youth Union,
which is the youth project of the “Russian-Armenian Cooperation”
public organization. Armenia young people’s meeting with Giovanni
Guaita, an Italian writer, author of a number of books about the
history of Armenia, the Armenian Church and the Armenian Genocide,
took place on April 15 at the cultural center of the Moscow city
department of the Union of Armenians in Russia. The program involves
presentation of a rare multimedia disk involving documents, photo and
video facts concerning the Armenian Genocide, questions and answers
concerning those materials. The Union of Armenians of Russia and
the Association of Armenian Youth’s Intellectual Cooperation are the
organizers of the event. 21:00- 02:00, April 22- Mourning vigil at
the Surb Haroutiun Armenian Church. The action is held already for the
second year. The goal of the action is to reach universal condemnation
of that crime against the mankind and prevetion of similar crimes in
future. The organizers are the Coordination Council of Armenian Youth
Organizations, the Armenian Students’ Association of the Moscow State
University and the “April 24” organization committee. At 11:00, April
24, the memory day of the Armenian Genocide victims, representatives
of the RA Embassy to the RF, the New Nakhijevan and Russian Diocese of
the Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian public organizations will lay
wreaths at the khachkar (cross stone) in the territory of the Surb
Haroutiun Armenian church. At 12:00 the Liturgy will be celebrated
at the Surb Haroutiun church to the memory of the Armenian Genocide
victims. The Liturgy will be celebrated by Bishop Yezras Nersisian,
the Primate of the New Nakhijevan and Russian Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church. At 13:30 the same day, a mass meeting is envisaged
at the Turkish Embassy. The organizers are the Union of Armenians of
Russia, the “Mitk” Armenian Youth Union, the Coordination Countil of
Armenian Youth Organizations.

ARMENIAN-LATVIAN FISH AND CRAYFISH PROCESSING JOINT VENTURE SET UP IN RIGA
Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. A joint venture for fish and crayfish
processing was set up in the capital of Latvia – Riga in January
2006. According to Hayk Mejlumian, Director of programs of the RA
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), the enterprise will start
operating until late 2006. He said that the European Union does
not yet allow to import fish products and processed crayfish from
Armenia into EU member states. However, it will become possible if
Armenian fish and crayfish are processed in Latvia, which is a EU
member state. In his words, it is envisaged that the Armenian-Latvian
enterprise will produce frozen, canned fish, as well as other processed
fish products. The enterprise plans to export its production to Sweden
and Finland.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ALAVERDI COPPER SMELTI0NG-WORKS’ EMMISSIONS TO DECLINE BY 30% IN A YEAR
Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2006
ALAVERDI, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Measures are underway to reduce
emissions of the Alaverdi copper smelting-works. Nikolai Feofanov,
head of the production department of the copper smelting-works, told
NT correspondent that after the installation of absorbtive equipment,
which will take about a year, emissions will decline by 30%. The works
currently employs 650 people insteas of the previous 850 employees,
200 of whom were transferred to the Drmbon concentration mill (Artsakh)
of the Armenian Copper Company.

DESPITE ASSURANCES, FILM “ARARAT” AIRED WITH ABRIDGEMENTS IN TURKEY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 17 2006
ISTANBUL, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The film “Ararat”
of world-famous Canadian Armenian film director Atom Egoyan was finally
aired on April 13 in Turkey by Canal Turk television channel. However,
according to the newspaper “Marmara” (Istanbul), despite assurances
to air the film without abridgement and censorship, two scenes –
one showing a Turkish officer burning a group of Armenians and the
scene of an Armenian woman’s rape – were removed, while sound was
muted in the scenes cotaining swear-words. No Turkish company agreed
to dub the film, so the Turksih subtitiles were prepared by Canal
Turk. Prior to the film’s demonstration, program presenter Turkcai
Eozkan stated that “Ararat” contains “imperialistic propaganda”
and recommended the viewers “never to belive the lies expressed
in the film”. The airing of “Ararat” was followed by the program
“Truths”, in which Baskn Oran, progressive Turkish intellectual,
Kemal Yavuz, retired general, Hrant Dink, editor of the newspaper
“Akos” (Istanbul), and Necati Seonmez, film critic, were invited
to take part. At the beginning of the program, it was announced
that at the last moment Dink declined to take part due to some
private reasons. Baskn Oran also refused to participate in the TV
program. Kemal Yavuz said that the events shown in the film “do
not correspond to the reality” and that the international courts,
even US archives “failed to present any fact against a number of
Turkish officials who were put on trial for committing the genocide
and who were eventually recognized innocent”. Necati Seonmez in his
turn criticized Eozkan for putting pressure on the viewers before
the film’s demonstration. He noted that in his opinion, “Ararat”
is the “most unsuccessful” of Atom Egoyan’s films. Nevertheless,
he was appreciative of the film’s artistic structure.

147 TITLES OF BOOKS TO BE PUBLISHED IN ARMENIA BY 2006 STATE ORDER
Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the 2006 state
order, it is envisaged to publish about 147 titles of childrens’,
popular scietific, encyclopedian, jubilee, translation and other
literature. About 135.4 mln drams (about 300 thousand U.S. dollars)
will be allocated from the state budget for that purpose. As the Noyan
Tapan correspondent was informed by Seyranuhi Geghamian, the Chief
of the Publishing Department of the Book Publishing Agency of the RA
Ministry of Culture and Youth Issues, publication of books dedicated
to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will continue this
year as well. According ti S.Geghamian, it’s envisaged to allocate
31 mln 730 thousand drams for publication of 62 titles of children’s
literature, 30 mln 596 thousand drams for 7 encyclopedian, 16 mln
391 thousand drams for 15 popular scientific, 11 mln 636 thousand
drams for 8 titles of jubilee, 21 mln 506 thousand for 17 titles of
translation and 24 mln 190 thousand drams for 38 titles of other
literature. According to S.Geghamian, the commission defining the
state order gives preference to publication of modern Armenian writers
and literature in translation. According to her, the commission gets
300-350 claims every year, 150-170 of which are affirmed. It was
mentioned that every year 1100-1200 titles of books are published in
Armenia, the average print run of which makes 500-1000 copies. But,
according to S.Geghamian, the most part of them is not sold the main
reason of what is high prices. For making literature published by the
state order available for readers, their prices are fixed considerably
low of their cost price.

“UNITY TREE PLANTING” IN KOTAYK MARZ
Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2006
HRAZDAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the “Unity
Tree Planting-2006” (Miasnutyan Tsaratunk) program, tree planting was
organized in the marz of Kotayk on April 15. 10 thousand young plants
of decorative trees were brought to the marz for that purpose. These
plants were given to communities. Besides, the Mayor’s Office of
Hrazdan bought 8000 young plants from the hotbed, to plant them in
the territory of the city.
From: Baghdasarian

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DECLARED GOVERNMENT DECISION UNLAWFUL BUT …
Lragir.am
18 April 06
The Constitutional Court of Armenia read the ruling on the government
action of alienation of property of the residents of Buzand Street
and North Avenue at 17 PM April 18. The ruling contained 17 points and
it took Gagik Harutiunyan, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court,
and the present 45 minutes to read it.
The residents of Buzand Street and North Avenue, present at the
hearing, applauded to the decision of the Constitutional Court. The
Constitutional Court recognized the government decision on alienation
of property of the residents of Buzand Street and North Avenue for
the development of Yerevan unconstitutional.
The decision of the Constitutional Court says that under the
Constitution of Armenia property can be alienated only on exclusive
superior public interest. In accordance with the decision of the
Constitutional Court, the property of the residents of Buzand Street
and North Avenue was alienated without sufficient statutory grounds
and a cause and effect relation between the national and community
interest and the necessity for alienation of property.
The Constitutional Court finds that in its famous decision the
government did not show that the alienation was based on exclusive
public interest. The Constitutional Court decided that the decision
of the government and the sections of the Civil and Land Codes of
Armenia the government decision emanated, are not consistent with
the Constitution of Armenia.
In accordance with the decision of the Constitutional Court, by
October 1, 2006 the government and the National Assembly must adopt
necessary legislative acts to suspend the decision of the government
on alienation of the property of residents of Buzand Street and North
Avenue. The decision of the Constitutional Court cannot be appealed.
The residents who have lost their property considered this decision
their first victory. But it can also be their last victory, if it
is a victory at all. The point is that the decision is in favor of
the government rather than the residents. In fact, the decision on
recognizing the action of the government unconstitutional has no
retrospective force. In other words, no one will recover the losses
of residents. Of course, the persons who lost their property can sue
their property after October 1, when the decision of the government
is suspended. However, they may not have this opportunity either. The
problem is that the decision of the Constitutional Court is a new
circumstance to the case that enables the residents to sue their
property in the court of law. However, if the inconsistency between the
Civil Code and the Constitution of Armenia is eliminated by October
1, the decision of the Constitutional Court may not be considered a
new circumstance. Therefore, the joy of the residents might be early
and determined by their unawareness of legal procedures. And the
decision of the Constitutional Court may simply solve the question
of constitutionality for future alienation. This is, of course,
favorable for the residents, not for those residents who have lost
their property, however, but for the residents of the streets that
are found on the map of national needs.
Besides, the decision of the Constitutional Court favors the government
rather because it solves a minor problem and helps it to avoid the
snowball effect. Even the government recognized that alienation was
unconstitutional and it could not carry on. Besides, the government
could not change the regime of alienation set up by themselves. A
way out was found, which improved the image of the ombudsman, and
entitled the government to more legal alienation by virtue of the
decision of the Constitutional Court, necessary to sell the apartments
built currently. After all, the buyers will not buy apartments this
intensively, if the lawfulness of construction arouses suspicion.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE ATTENDING CHARITY CANTEEN INCREASES IN GAVAR
Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2006
GAVAR, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. It is about 2 years a charity canteen is
working in Gavar with the financing of the “Mission Armenia” benevolent
NGO. The canteen is intended for lone old people and pensioners
above 60. 120 needy people attend the canteen 5 days a week. Due to
abject poverty, young families also have expressed willingness to
attend the canteen. Though they are able-bodied, they have no job. To
recap, during the first months of canteen’s foundation the number of
people attending the canteen was not so big but it is increasing at
present. It is envisaged to continue the program in Gavar until 2013.

MANE TILES ORGANIZES TREE PLANTING ON APRIL 15 IN YEREVAN AND BRYURAKAN
Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. It is the second year the Mane Tiles
Armenian-American enterprise producing ceramic tiles and mosaics
made from natural stones organizes tree planting in Armenia. As Arman
Balian, head of the marketing department of the enterprise, informed
at the tree planting organized on April 15 at the Victory Park,
decorative trees were planted in the green territories adjoining the
sports and concert complex after Karen Demirchian and near Byurakan
observatory. A.Balian also said that the production of Mane Tiles
made from Armenian raw materials is mainly sold in U.S.