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.

RA CHIEF POLICE OFFICER CONFERED TITLE OF COLONEL GENERAL
Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of the 5th anniversary
of formation of the RA Police, RA President Robert Kocharian gave
rewards to police servicemen. At the ceremony organized on April
15, Haik Haroutiunian, the RA Chief Police Officer, Lieutenant
General of the Police was confered title of the Colonel General,
Ararat Mahtesian, the First Deputy of the RA Chief Police Officer,
Major General of the Police, Hovhannes Varian, the Deputy Chief
Police Officer, Major General of the Police were confered titles
of Lieutenant General of the Police. Haik Militonian, the General
Department Chief of the RA Police Criminal Secret Service, Police
Colonel was confered title of the Major General. Ashot Gizirian,
the Chief of the RA Police General Department of Struggle against
Organized Crime, Major General of the Police, and Eduard Ghazarian,
the Headquarters Chief of the RA Police, Major General of the Police
were rewarded with the fist level medal “For Service to Fatherland,”
and Alvina Zakarian, the Passports and Visas Department Chief of the
RA Police, Police Colonel, Gagik Minasian, the Staff Department Chief
of the RA Police, Police Colonel were rewarded with second level medals
“For Service to Fatherland.” About a dozen of servicemen of the Police
were rewarded with medal for Martial Service.

PRESIDENT CONSIDERS IMPRORTANT CONTINUATION OF POLICE REFORMS
Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Police must decisively implement
its functions with respecting fully the human rights and fundamental
freedoms. RA President Robert Kocharian formulated in this way the
main issue of the police, having a welcome speech at the April 15
celebration of the 5th anniversary of foundation of the RA Police. The
President mentioned at the same time that the Police must not implement
functions not characteristical for it. He considers necessary to pay
special attention to the issue of providing the police with modern
means, to constinuous work of improvement of professional skills
of the staff. “Modern challenges make the command of time widening
of international cooperation of the police as well, otherwise, it is
impossible to struggle productively against such types of crime as the
money laundering, illegal circulation of narcotics, trafficking are,”
R.Kocharian mentioned, attaching importance to continuing reforms of
the police system as well. The President finds that it is especially
necessary to pay attention to improvement of activity of those circles
which directly and in everyday life relate to citizens. “You must led
with the consciousness that the general characteristic and development
of our country are greatly provided by the quality of your work as
well,” he said. RA Chief Police Officer Haik Haroutiunian mentioned in
his speech that during the recent years serious and fundamental steps
were taken in the direction of activity of the police, formation and
strengthening of the legal field, the cooperation with legal structures
of a number of countries and the Interpol reached a new qualitative
level. “In essense, we already work in new conditions and the evidence
of productivity of this new and modern approaches is not only indexes
fixed in prevention and founding out of crimes but citizens’ belief
towards the police increasing day by day, their intention to support
us, to assist in the struggle against crime,” he said.

LILIT MKRTCHIAN BRONZE PRIZE-WINNER OF EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP
Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2006
KUSADASI, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Representative of Armenia Lilit
Mkrtchian performed successfully in the women’s chess Europe
championship that finished in the Turkish city of Kusadasi. In the
competition among 96 woman chess-players she took the 3rd place
and won a bronze medal. Gaining 7.5 points in 11 tours held by
the Swiss contest rules, Mkrtchian had shared 3-11 places with
a group of participants but after the additional games she was
able to surpass all others and to become the 3rd prize-winner. At
the same time Lilit received the right to take part in the next
world championship. The results of another 4 woman chess-players
representing Armenia are the following: Elina Danielian 6 points
(30-44th places), Nelli Aghinian, Siranush Andreasian 5.5 points each
(45-54th places). 5 representatives of Armenia took part in the men’s
Europe championship. Ashot Anastasian performed most successfully. He
shared 25-35th places with 6.5 points. Artashes Minasian, Tigran
L.Petrosian and Tigran Kotanjian shared 35-64th places with 6 points
each. International master Tigran Kotanjian was able to pass the norm
of grand master. The 5th representative of Armenia, Arman Pashikian,
shared 65-86th places with 5.5 points.
Yekaterina Stalik (Turkey) won in the Europe women’s championship
and Zdenko Kozhul (Croatia) in the men’s championship.

SYMBOL OF FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF ARMENIA AFFIRMED
Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. FFA Chairman Ruben Hayrapetian affirmed
the symbol of the National Championship of Armenia before start of
the 2006 Football National Championship of Armenia. The author of
the symbol is designer Naria Karapetian. The Football Federation of
Armenia, to which the right of the symbol belongs, endows football
clubs and mass media to use it.