DAY OF RA NAS NEW CHAIRMAN’S ELECTION TO BE DEFINED ON APRIL 19
Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The day of electing the new Chairman of
the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia will be decided at April 19
sitting of the RA NAS Chairmanship. Academician Sergey Hambardzumian,
the acting Chairman of the CIS stated about this at the April 12 annual
general meeting. Academician-Secretary Eduard Ghazarian presented
the report on work of the academy. According to the report data, as
of January 1, 2006, 3724 people, including 2115 scientific workers,
80 full members and 18 corresponding members of the RA NAS work in
the academy staff. The total sum of financing of the academy made
a bit more than 3 bln drams (about 6.7 mln U.S. dollars), 2 bln 244
mln drams of which is budget financing. The academy got additional
140 mln drams from the RA Government’s reserving fund for purposeful
programs and capital construction. Non-budget financial resources made
630 mln drams. 75% of all the financial resources was allocated to
scietific-research institutes, 5% to academic institutions, including
libraries, the Scientific-Educational Center, etc. The share of
the RA NAS Chairmanship made about 5%. Fadey Sargsian, the former
Chairman of the NAS, whose resignation took place at his request,
thanked all those who he has worked with during the last years. He
mentioned that the year of 2005 was a difficult one for the academy,
particularly, in the sense of coming reforms. But according to him, the
academy employees were able to widen the international scientific ties,
implement a number of most important researches and workings out. He
expressed confindence that anybody who will occupy the Chairman’s
post, will work better than he, even owing to his being younger,
and wished success to the new administration. The general meeting
estimated the 2005 work of the academy satisfactory.

PROGRAM DIRECTED TO INVALID CHILDRENS’ INTEGRATION TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN ARMAVIR MARZ
Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Healthy Start: Protection
of Invalid Childrens’ Rights” three-years program will be
implemented in Armenia, on the initiative of the “Mission to East”
Danish organization. This will first of all be implemented in 10
communities of the marz of Armavir, by the “Nairi” organization of
invalid children’s parents, the “Bridge of Hope” (Huysi Kamurj) NGO
and by the “Arabkir” medical complex. As Gayane Azoyan, the “Nairi”
Chairwoman mentioned at the April 12 press-conference, the goal
of the program is to change the society’s attitude and health care
sphere specialists’ approach in the interests of invalid childrens’
integration. She mentioned that within the framework of the program,
children having physical deformity will be found out and involved
in the education system. Besides, parents’ groups having necessary
knowledge and skills will be created in the marz of Armavir. G.Azoyan
also mentioned that there are 450 invalid children in Armavir. As
Inna Mnatsakanian, the Armenian office head of the “Mission to East”
Danish organization mentioned, the National Council for Protecting
Invalids’ Interests will also be created within the framework of the
program. The Council will regulate works done in that direction. It
was also mentioned that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
finances the program.

DISTINGUISHED FILM MAKER ARA VAHUNI PASSES AWAY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 13 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Early April 13
distinguished Armenian script writer, film director, writer Ara
Vahuni, 68 passed away of an incurable disease. Ara Vahuni was born
on February 24, 1938 to the family of famous poet, translator and
satirist Suren Vahuni. After graduating from the directors department
of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow in 1968,
he worked at Hayfilm and Hayk film studios, also in the RA Defence
Minsitry . Ara Vahuni is the author of more than 40 documentary and
feature films, and Honored Art Worker of Armenia. He was awarded
a State Prize of Armenia for the documentary films “The Curtain
Does Not Go Down” (1973), “Family Tree” (1975), “Elegy” (1978) and
“The Echo of Distant Whistles”. The works of Ara Vahuni won awards
at a number of film festivals. Besides the above mentioned films,
it is also worth noting the film “Musa Ler-88, or Year of Dragon”-
about the devastating earthquake and the Karabakh movement, as well
as one of the last considerable works of the famous film maker –
“Round Dance”(2005) According to film director Ruben Gevorgiants,the
Chairman of the Union of Cinematographers of Armenia, a decision has
already been made to name Grand Prix of the “It’s Me” annual festival
of young documentary film makers “Ara Vahuni Award”.

“MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE FUND – ARMENIA” STATE NONCOMMERCIAL ORGANIZATION TO BE CREATED
Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 13 sitting, the Armenian
government made a decision to create Millennium Challenge Fund –
Armenia (MCF- Armenia) state noncommercial organization and to
approve its regulations. According to the RA Government Information
and PR Department, the decision was made in compliance with the RA
Law on State Noncommercial Organizations and the requirements of the
Millennium Challenge Compact signed between the RA government and the
US (the Millennium Challenge Corporation) on March 27, 2006. Under
the decision, the main objective of MCF – Armenia activities is to
carry out work on implementation of this program. It is stipulated
that the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy is the authorized state
body to govern the organization.

GOVERNMENT LIQUIDATES YEREVAN STUDIA CJSC
Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 13 sitting, the Armenian
government made a decision about liquidation of Yerevan Studia
CJSC. The decision was made taking into account the fact that although
the company has paid all its debts, it is impossible to organize normal
activities of Yerevan Studia CJSC under conditions of small allocations
from the state budget and low commercial incomes. According to the
RA Government Information and PR Department, it was also decided
to separate property of balance value of 42 mln 84 thousand 433.5
drams (about 93.5 thousand USD) from property of Yerevan Studia CJSC
in order prescribed by law and to transfer it, as state property,
to Public Television and Radio Company Board state establishment,
increasing the company’s authorized capital in the amount of the
property value by issuing additional shares.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT LIQUIDATES “YEREVAN SPORT AND CULTURAL CENTER AFTER K. DEMIRCHIAN” STATE NONCOMMERCIAL ORGANIZATION
Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 13 sitting, the RA
government made a decision to liquidate Yerevan Sport and Cultural
Center after K. Demirchian state noncommercial organization. According
to the RA Government Information and PR Department, the decision was
made in connection with alienation of the property attached to the
above mentioned organization to BAMO LLC under the RA governmental
decision No 1321 of August 25, 2005.

3 TOURS REMAIN TO THE END OF CHESS EUROPE INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2006
KUSADASI, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. After 8 tours in the men’s and
women’s chess Europe individual championships being held in the
Turkish city of Kusadasi, Croatian Zdenko Kozhul is the only leader
in the men’s competitions. He has gained 6.5 points. Vasili Ivanchuk
(Ukraine) who is currently in second place lags behind him by 0.5
points. A number of chess-players share 3-19th places with 5.5 points
each. Representatives of Armenia Ashot Anastasian and Artashes Minasian
are among them. One more Armenian chess-player, representative of
Georgia David Haroutiunian, is also in this group. The results of
another Armenian chess-players are the following: Tigran L.Petrosian,
Tigran Kotanjian 4.5 points each, Arman Pashikian 3.5 points. Tea
Bosbum-Lanchava (Holland) and Yekaterina Atalik (Turkey) are in the
lead in the women’s competitions. Elina Danielian and Lilit Mkrtchian
among representatives of Armenia perform most successfully. Each of
them has gained 5 out of 8 possible points and shares 11-30th places
with a group of chess-players. Another 2 representatives of Armenia,
Nelli Aghinian and Siranush Andreasian, have 4.5 points each. 3 tours
have remained to the end of the men’s and women’s Europe championships.

FORMAT OF KARABAKH TALKS DID NOT CHANGE
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2006 02:47 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is
and will be in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group, OSCE MG French
Co-Chair Bernard Fassier stated in Yerevan. In his words, the format
of the talks can simply be adapted to the current conditions.
“If we are not content with our activities, we have the right to
utilize everything that can help solve the NK conflict,” Bernard
Fassier said.
At that he remarked that the issue of deployment of peacekeeping forces
at the contact line, equally as EU and NATO joining the talks is part
of the concept of adaptation of the format of talks over settlement
of the NK conflict.

FASSIER: THERE WILL BE NO WAR BETWEEN PARTIES OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.04.2006 02:33 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries are convinced
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict cannot be solved by force, OSCE MG
French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier stated in Yerevan. In his words,
there will be no war between the parties to conflict in any conditions.
“A war will be a catastrophe to all parties to conflict and the region
as a whole. War means new victims, destruction, refugees, unnecessary
and unjustified expenses, which can be spent on peaceful development
of the region. War is the worst script, at which there are no winners,”
the French diplomat underscored.
Bernard Fassier said the OSCE MG officially calls the parties to
conflict to arrive at a peace accord, in spite of past losses. “It
should not be specified who attacked the first, who seized something
or lost it.
If we give hope to both parties for continuation of the peace talks,
this means we have found new principles of settlement. These are not
new talks, these are new principles,” the French Co-Chair remarked.

LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR ‘NATIONAL HERO’
By Ruzan Poghosian
AZG Armenian Daily
14/04/2006
Yesterday, the Budapest Municipal Court convicted Ramil Safarov to
life imprisonment with no right to amnesty for 30 years. Charged
with axing to death Armenian serviceman Gurgen Margarian in his
sleep on February 19 2004, Safarov received the ultimate punishment
under Hungarian law. All efforts of the Azerbaijani side to portrait
Safarov as not guilty proved futile as the evidence of premeditated
murder triumphed over Azeris fake proofs.
“That was the ultimate verdict for the Hungarian court,” Nazeli
Vardanian, attorney of Gurgen Margarian, told daily Azg over the phone.
Prior to bringing in the verdict the court listened to Safarov’s final
words. The embarrassed “national hero” of Azerbaijan said at first
that he has a poor command of Russian and the court should review
his initial evidence, then he went on the last try to persuade the
court that he has mental disorder and murdered Margarian while having
an attack. He said he remembers nothing, even why he had bought the
axe. He had no intention to murder the Margarian and did not attempt
the life of Hayk Makuchian, the other Armenian serviceman.
“He said no words of regret; never felt sorry for taking the young
Armenian’s life,” Nazeli Vardanian added.
Upon hearing the verdict, Safarov’s defense said they will file an
appeal, though the judge’s words clear up any doubt of the defendant’s
guilt.
The Azerbaijani “national hero” and “man of the year” will stand the
next trial on the second charge on May 3.