AMBASSADOR OF LEBANON TO ARMENIA PROPOSED TO PUBLISH VOLUME DEDICATED
TO ARMENIAN-LEBANESE RELATIONS

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
Armenian-Lebanese relations in the sphere of culture were discussed at
the April 13 meeting of Gevorg Gevorgian, the RA Minister of Culture
and Youth Issues with Jebrail Butros Jaara, the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lebanon to Armenia. Touching upon
the cultural exchanges implemented within the framework of the
2004-2007 practical program of cultural cooperation, Ambassador Jaara
facted that during these years Armenia has been more attentive towards
Lebanon, than they towards Armenia. The Ambassador assured that this
omission will be filled in future, and proposed to publish a volume
dedicated to the Armenian-Lebanese relations where documentary
materials and documents kept in archives of the two countries as well
as in the Mechitarist Congregation will be included and summed up. As
Noyan Tapan was informed by the Press Service of the RA Ministry of
Culture amd Youth Issues, Jebrail Jaara and Gevorg Gevorgian discussed
possible variants and prospects of developing cultural tourism in
Armenia. The sides touched upon some organization issues and ones of
defining the terms of holding the cultural days of Armenia in Lebanon
in 2006 as well.

YOUTH OF AKHLTSKHA PUT IN GOOD ORDER ARMENIAN SURB NSHAN CHURCH AND
ITS YARD

AKHALKALAK, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Works of
improvement started inside the Surb Nshan Armenian church of
Akhaktskha and in its yard, on the initiative of the “Zori Zorian”
youth union. Doors of the Surb Nshan church were close during the
Soviet years, and after independence of Georgia the Georgian Orthodox
Church pretended for this Armenian church, what, according to the
“A-Info” agency, has caused serious disagreements many times. Maybe
for this reason, the issue was frozen by the interference of the
state, and the church was left careless. According to the youth of
Akhaltskha, irrespective of the fact, what a position the Georgian
state and the Orthodox Church will have, the Surb Nshan church is an
Armenian sanctuary for them and deserves at least modest attention
paid by them.

MONUMENT TO AREMINAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO BE ERECTED IN LYONS

LYONS, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenians of Lyons
(France) resumed construction of a monument to the victims of the
Armenian Genocide. Last month, the construction work was forcibly
discontinued after a number a complaints filed. In this connection the
mayor of Lyons provided explanations saying that the court permitted
the construction based on a number of legal amendments submitted to
court. According to the newspaper “Marmara” (Istanbul), the monument’s
construction will be completed until April 24 – Day of Remembrance of
the Armenian Genocide victims. To recap, the decision to erect a
monument to the victims of the Armenian Genocide aroused discontent of
the city’s Turkish community. Some Turkish nationalists on March 18
even staged a protest, which did not deteriorate into clashes with
members of the Armenian community only thanks to police intervention.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRENCH ARMENIAN BENEFACTOR TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO
SHEKHER VILLAGE COMMUNITY OF NKR

STEPANAKERT, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 13 meeting with NKR
President Arkadi Ghukasian, French Armenian benefactor Karpis
Nikoghosian presented the program of providing the school built in
2002 in the village of Shekher, Martuni region, with his and Nikol
Nikoghosian’s funds, with a separate gymnasium. The benefactor also
informed the President about a number of long-term programs aimed at
development of cultural and sports-cultural life in the
village. K.Nikoghosian assured that the program of scholarship
envisaged for school-leavers who entered higher educational
institutions will also continue.
A.Ghukasian greeted the benefactor’s initiatives and mentioned that
the authorities in their turn are ready to render necessary assistance
to implementation of such programs useful for the nation.

CHARITY PROGRAMS OF ABOUT 92 MLN DOLLARS IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA LAST YEAR
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Report of Simon Ter-Simonian, the
Chairman of the Coordinating Commission of the Government’s charity
programs, about works implemented within the framework of the charity
and humanitarian aid programs during the 2005 was taken into
consideration at the April 13 sitting of the RA Government. As
S.Ter-Simonian informed journalists after the sitting, 145
international and republican organizations, implemented charity and
humanitarian programs of 41.84 bln drams (about 92 mln U.S. dollars)
in the republic during the last years. Among those programs, 53 ones
were long-term and 92 ones were short-term. Like the previous years,
the “Hayastan” (Armenia) all-Armenian fund, Social Investments Fund of
Armenia, Armenian organizations recognized in Diaspora (Armenian
branch of the “Fund for Armenian Relief” American charity organization,
Armenian Gospel Mission, etc.) implemented various and volumnious
programs. It was mentioned that loads of about 14.92 bln drams duty
cost were imported in 2005 the republic from 137 countries on the
address of 137 organizations. It’s about 3.5 bln drams less compared
with 2004, what, according to the Commission Chairman, is provided by
gradually passing from humanitarian aid to development programs. 69.5%
of imported loads is of the health care sphere and only 1.8% is food
products. The main part of loads, 73.9% was imported from the U.S.,
4.6% from Switzerland, 3.2% from Iran, 3.2% from Germany.
S.Ter-Simonian also informed that 33% of charity works was implemented
in the sphere of health care, 19% in the sphere of education and
science, 16% in the spiritual sphere. It was also mentioned that no
overdue medicines were imported Armenia after 2004. Import of used
toys and “Pentiun-1” and “Pentiun-2” computers to Armenia was also
prohibited.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA FIRST OMBUDSPERSON TO PRESENT SOCIETY DURING NEXT WEEK 2005 REPORT
ON HER ACTIVITY

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. RA first Ombudsperson Larisa
Alaverdian will present the society during the next week her 2005
activity report. She informed about this at the April 13 sitting of
the RA National Assembly. “It’s is shown in report with examples and
analyses that really, violations of the human rights are of system
character in Armenia,” she mentioned. According to L.Alaverdian, those
are violations in all those spheres which are very important from the
viewpoint of the national security. L.Alaverdian was invited to the
Parliament for discussion of the RA Ombudsperson’s annual report about
the 2005 activity and violations of the human rights and fundamental
freedoms in the country. Newly appointed Ombudsman Armen Haroutiunian
presented the report. L.Alaverdian considered the process of
discussing the report at the NA “not rather legal” when she was
deprived of the possibility to report about her own activity herself,
but may only make use of the right of making a speech.

CHAIRMAN OF ELECTORAL COMMISSION STATES ABOUT ELECTORAL VIOLATIONS
IMPLEMENTED BY HIMSELF

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Non-partizan Spartak Yeghiazarian, an
inhabitant of the village of Oshakan, the marz of Aragatsotn,
addressed to the “Azgayin Miabanutiun” (National Unity) party and
asked to give him possibility to meet with mass media to state about
electoral violations implemented by him.
Alexan Karapetian, the Secretary of the NA “National Unity” faction
informed about this at the April 14 parliamentary briefing. “Reports
of the two stages of the presidential elections and the referendum do
not correspond to the reality, I myself had violations,” was mentioned
in the application. Spartak Yeghiazarian who was also present at the
briefing informed that during the 2003 presidential and parliamentary
elections as well as the 2005 referendum, he was the Electoral
Commissions Chairman of correspondingly No 04/30 and No 14/32 polling
stations, being the RA President’s representative in the commissions.
According to Yeghiazarian, accounting of voting papers of the first
stage of the presidential elections in his polling station showed that
Robert Kocharian got 12% of votes. Artashes Geghamian, the Chairman
of the “Azgayin Miabanutyun” party was on the second place, and Stepan
Demirchian, the Chairman of the People’s Party of Armenia was on the
first place. But as a condition was made concerning securing 60% in
favour of Kocharian, votes given in favour of Geghamian and Demirchian
were also accounted in his favour. Yeghiazarian mentioned that during
the first stage not all the polling stations of the marz secured such
a result. Particularly, in No04/29 polling station votes given for
Kocharian made 29%. But during the second stage, more than 50% of
votes was fixed in favour of Kocharian in that polling station. He
mentioned that the same mechanism was used in all over the marz.
According to Yeghiazarian, during the referendum on the constitutional
amendments electoral commissions were beforehand given electoral rolls
of the polling stations where full names of inhabitants, their
passport data and signatures were mentioned. According to the
Commission Chairman, 60 people in reality participated in the
referendum, 30 of who voted “yes,” 22 “no,” 8 voting papers were
recognized invalid.
But 1649 “yes” were presented in the lists prepared beforehand. Such a
process took place in the whole marz. Responding the Noyan Tapan
correspondent’s question, Yeghiazarian stated that he was given no
bribe, and he implemented those violations as a result of pressure put
on him. He stated that he was frightened threatening that they will
harm his two children, but today he is not afraid of anything and
decided to repend. He mentioned that he is ready to bear the
responsibility for his offence. Yeghiazarian promised to make in
future public names of all those guilty, starting with the President’s
staff up to their local authorities. Yeghiazarian mentioned that he
addressed to the RA President’s staff and the Defence Ministry with
this issue, but there was no result. He also made an attempt to
address to the Prosecutor’s Office, but his application was not
accepted. Yeghiazarian also informed that he addressed to the National
Press Club, asking to convene a press-conference on this issue, but he
was refused.

RA NA SPEAKER RECEIVES INVITATION TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO MOROCCO

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. Newly appointed Ambassador of the
Kingdom of Morocco to Armenia Abdeljalil Saubry presented details of
home political and economic life of Morocco at the April 14 meeting
with RA National Assembly Speaker Artur Baghdasarian. The Ambassador
on behalf of his country’s parliamentary chairman invited RA NA
Speaker to pay an offical visit to Morocco attaching importance to
development of parliamentary relations between the two countries as
part of interstate relations. Congratulating the newly appointed
Ambassador and wishing him success on his mission, Artur Baghdasarian
expressed readiness to support him and said that soon a deputy group
of friendship with Morocco will be founded at the NA. The group can
pay its contribution to development of interparliamentary relations.
They also attached importance to cooperation at international
structures. According to NA Public Relations Department, the
possibility of Morocco’s participation in foundation of a center of
Arab culture in Armenia was also discussed at the meeting.

OIL DOES NOT RISE TO TRIALEP MOUNTAINS

AKHALKALAK, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Oil of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyan oil pipeline does not rise to the section of
Trialep mountains (Tsalka-Borzhomi border line in Georgia). A-Info
agency reported it, citing the unverified data of a source. In the
opinion of experts, oil fails to reach this section because of its
small amount and the steep slope of the pipeline. It is noteworthy
that the oil pipeline was constructed through Trialep mountains with
the intention to bypass the Armenian-populated Javakhk, although in
case of passing through Javakhk it would have been shorter and less
expensive.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN AMBASADOR TO GEORGIA AND LEADER OF VIRAHAYOTS DIOCESE TO
VISIT JAVAKHK ON EASTER

AKHALKALAK, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
Ambassador to Georgia Hrach Silvanian and Leader of Virahayots
(Armenians of Georgia) diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church Bishop
Vazgen Mirzakhanian intend to visit Javakhk on April 15-16 on the
occasion of Easter. According to A-Info Agency, a preliminary
agreement envisages that the Armenian ambassador and the diocesan
leader will participate in Easter celebration festivities, as well as
meet with heads of the administrative regions and NGO representatives
in Javakhk.