HOUSE OF WRITERS UNION NOT TO BE DESTROYED
Lragir.am
17 April 06
On April 17 the president of the Writers Union of Armenia Levon Ananyan
gave certain certainly on the building of the Writers Union. He was
in Lebanon and participated in the all-Armenian conference of writers
when he learnt about the noise over the house of the Writers Union.
Levon Ananyan says the building of the Writers Union on Baghramyan
Street will not be sold or destroyed. However, the building needs
repair, confesses the president of the Writers Union. Nevertheless,
he says, he had rejected the offer of an investor to repair the
building on the condition of building a high-rise over the Writers
Union, the four floors would be given to the Writers Union for free.
“The investor said it would be better if the building of the Writers
Union was included in the high-rise, but the administration discussed
and rejected the offer,” said Levon Ananyan. According to him, it is
impossible to destroy the house of the Writers Union and carry out
construction for three years, because it will disrupt the work of the
Writers Union, which has, Levon Ananyan says, improved significantly.
“No offer that is connected with destroying the house of the Writers
Union will be accepted. I would resign rather than accept such an
offer,” says Levon Ananyan. He is ready to accept another offer,
however. And there is such an offer from a group of Armenians from
the United States. Levon Ananyan says the point of the offer is to
add a building to the Writers Union, Levon Ananyan says, to improve
the conditions of writers. The president of the Writers Union says
this offer needs to be considered. However, there was no dissent on
behalf of writers but not with regard to the offer itself. Simply Levon
Ananyan reminds that when he was elected president of the Writers Union
he raised the issue of an additional building to improve conditions
of the Writers Union. The conference of the Union approved the concern
about the building, says Levon Ananyan.
He is also surprised that the rumored sale of the building raised
such a great noise, whereas no one was anxious when the government
decided to triple the cadastre value and the tax on property for the
buildings of creative unions.

YES TO ABKHAZIAN, HOW ABOUT ARMENIAN
Lragir.am
17 April 06
Akhalkalaki, April 14, A-Info. According to the news agency RIA Novosty
information released on April 14 Georgian speaker Nino Burdjanadzeh
stated that everyone in Georgia must learn the Abkhazian language,
at least the elementary level. The speaker of the parliament said
this necessuty is motivated by the constitutional status of Abkhazian,
which requires honoring this language.
Khachatur Stepanyan, the representative of the Council of Armenian
NGOs of Samtskhe-Javakheti, in response to Nino Burdjanadzeh’s
statement, raised the question of the official status of Armenian
in the south of Georgia (Samtskhe-Javakheti and Tsalka), populated
with Armenians. According to Khachatur Stepanyan, if the country’s
government considers making the language of a de-facto independent area
with a population of 60 thousand official in this area and teaching
it at schools, it would be immoral to refuse an official status for
200 thousand law-abiding citizens (the Armenians of South Georgia).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND ARMENIAN APOSTOLIC CHURCH JOIN FORCES TO SERVE PEOPLE IN NEED
ArmRadio.am
17.04.2006 17:36
Habitat for Humanity and the Armenia Apostolic Church today
announce a partnership aimed to combat poverty housing in Armenia
and worldwide. The partnership highlights the common goals shared
between Habitat for Humanity and the Armenian Church.
“Habitat for Humanity and the Armenian Apostolic Church share a
commitment to help those in need, to advocate for the poor and to
transform dehumanizing conditions that perpetuate poverty,” said
Jonathan Reckford, chief executive officer of Habitat for Humanity
International. “This new partnership is a blessing that will allow
us to serve more families in need both in Armenia and worldwide.”
The agreement will be signed by Jonathan Reckford, chief executive
officer of Habitat for Humanity International, His Holiness Karekin II
Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Armenian Apostolic
Church. This will become an annual event to be held in the name of
His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of the Armenian Church Patriarch
of the Armenian Church and implemented by Habitat for Humanity Armenia.

MEMBERS OF EU – ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMISSION TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN
ArmRadio.am
17.04.2006 10:37
Members of the EU – Armenian Parliamentary Cooperation Commission
will arrive today in Armenia.
In the Parliament they will participate in 8th sitting of the EU –
Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Commission.
During the visit members of the delegation will meet Ra President
Robert Kocharyan, NA Chairman Arthur Baghdaaryan, Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and Ambassadors
of EU member states.

DAYS OF ARMENIA TO START IN ROSTOV REGION
ArmRadio.am
17.04.2006 11:10
In the framework of the Year of Armenia in Russia Days of Armenia will
start today in Rostov region. On this occasion an official delegation
headed by RA Minister of Territorial Administration Hovik Abrahamyan
has already departed for Rostov.
Members of the delegation will meet the Governor of Rostov region
Vladimir Chub and representatives of the Armenian community. They
will visit the “Saint Cross” museum of Russian-Armenian friendship,
the Museum of History of Kazaks of Don and Mother Cathedral of
Novocherkask.

DELEGATION OF PACE COMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND MEN HERE IN ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
17.04.2006 11:27
PACE Rapporteur of the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women
and Men Mrs. Vera Oskina and employee of the Assembly’s Secretariat
Mrs. Zhannick Devaux are scheduled to meet today RA Minister of
Health Norayr Davvidyan, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Aghvan
Vardanyan, Deputy Minister of Urban Development Rusan Alaverdyan and
Human Rights Defender Armen Harutyunyan.
The delegation will be received by Deputy Chairman of the National
Assembly Tigran Torosyan, Head of the Standing Committee on Social,
Health and Ecology Affairs Gagik Mkheya, Deputies Hermine Naghdalyan
and Armenuhi Hovhannisyan.

THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF SYRIA CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF ITS INDEPENDENCE
ArmRadio.am
17.04.2006 12:20
Today the Arab Republic of Syria is celebrating the 60th anniversary
of its independence.
On the occasion of the day, a congratulating address was issued by
Minister Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of Syria in the Republic of
Armenia, Doctor Mukhlis Farauni.

SITTING OF THE CHIEF COUNCIL OF THE WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
ArmRadio.am
17.04.2006 13:45
On May 16 the sitting of the Chief Council of the World Armenian
Congress will be held in Yerevan, in the framework of which the future
plans will be discussed. Reference will be made also to the activities
carried out last year, Vice-President of the World Armenian Congress
Vladimir Aghayan told ” Armenpress” correspondent, adding that the
issue of opening Offices of the Congress in different countries will
discussed as well.
“Offices of the structure must exist in different countries. This
will make the activates directed at uniting the Armenians of the
world more efficient.”

“ARMENTEL” KEEPS AVOIDING RESPONSIBILITY
ArmRadio.am
17.04.2006 13:30
At 3 a.m. today the trial of “ArmenTel” case will continue at the
First Instance Court of Ararat-Zeytun community of Yerevan.
To remind, Internet user Iren Sargsyan was forced to pay the immense
sum registered on her account. Iren Sargsyan applied the Court, but
representatives of the Company continue to insist, “The citizens are
obliged to pay no matter whether they made international calls or not,
otherwise their telephones will be disconnected for ever.”
MP Arshak Sadoyan also defends the citizens’ rights. According to
his calculations, “ArmenTel” has presented debts ranging form 300
thousand to 2 million AMD to hundreds of its subscribers. According
to the Deputy, this way ” ArmenTel” tries to earn additional sums
from the population.
The complaints of the citizens continue to increase. However,
“ArmenTel” continues to avoid responsibility and forces people to
pay the unrealistic sums.
Head of the Association of Consumers Armen Poghosyan told “Radiolur”
correspondent that the number of those who suffered from the activity
of “ArmenTel” Company gradually increases.

RUSSIAN MP PAYS HOMAGE TO 1915 GENOCIDE VICTIMS
ArmRadio.am
17.04.2006 13:53
Russian MP, member of “Yedinaya Rosia” Party faction Sergey Shishkarev
paid homage to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. “Yerkramas”
newspaper of Armenians of Russia informs that on the occasion of the
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide he underlined in his address
to the Armenians of Kuban that the tragic events of 1915 were the
preamble to the terrible crimes against humanity, which the 20th
century was full of.