PARLIAMENT IN FIRST READING DISCUSSES NEW BILL “ON CONSTITUTIONAL COURT”
Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 13, RA National Assembly in
the first reading discussed the new bill “On Constitutional Court”. It
will be voted at the next four-day session. The government motivates
adoption of the law in new edited variant by the necessity to bring
it in correspondence with the reformed Constitution. In particular,
the circle of Constitutional Court’s powers ans subjects applying to CC
was enlarged, the forms of judicial control were increased. The bill
also clarifies the order of applying to CC reducing the possibilities
of refusing to accept the application by formal bases. In connection
with the latter the bill stipulates that an application submitted to CC
is subject to obligatory registration. If it is obviously not within
the powers of the CC to examine the issue raised in the application
or the issue is presented by a body or person not having the right
to apply to the Constitutional Court, the Constitutional Court gives
back the application within a 5-day term. An application submitted
to the CC can be withdrawn by the claimant before the beginning of
the court examination.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND OSCE MG FRENCH CO-CHAIR DISCUSS PROSPECTS OF KARABAKH SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 13 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On April 13,
OSCE Minsk Group French Co-chair Bernard Fassier was received by RA
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. As Noyan Tapan was informed by RA
Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, the interlocutors
discussed the current state of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement,
exchanged thoughts about the prospects of the negotiations.

RA MINISTER OF CULTURE EXPRESSES READINESS FOR HOLDING DAYS OF CULTURE OF SYRIA IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 13 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. They are impressed in
Syria and even today remembers the days of the Armenian culture held
in 2004, and now as well, in spite of the hard political situation,
they are willing to start a new practical programs of cultural
cooperation. Doctor Mukhlis Faraone, the acting charge d’affaires
of the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Syria to Armenia stated about
this at the April 12 meeting with Gevorg Gevorgian, the RA Minister
of Culture and Yough Issues. Doctor Faraone appreciated the Armenian
traditional culture coming out of depth of millenniums and its modern
developments. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Press Service of the
RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Issues, Gevorg Gevorgian mentioned
that the culture is the most powerful and kindest armament in the
affair of settling political wrinkles and disagreements. He emphasized
that a thick army of Armenians spread all over the world, finding
refuge in Syria in early 20 century, has kept its native language and
its cultural identity owing to the Arab people’s attitude and display
of kind will. And this year, when Armenia will celebrate the 15th
anniversary of its independence, the Minister expressed readiness
to receive and hold the days of Syrian culture in Armenia, within
the framework of those celebrations. And as a practical assistance
and new edge of cooperation, Gevorg Gevorgian proposed the Damascus
Opera Theater having biography of many years activity to exchange
specialists of opera art. The Minister also proposed organization of
the week of Syrian films in Yerevan cinemas.

CONCERT DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO TAKE PLACE IN MOSCOW HERMITAGE GARDEN ON APRIL 24
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 13 2006
MOSCOW, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the initiative of
the “Russian-Armenian Concord” public organization, a charity concert
of the Belgian “Araks” group will take place in the Hermitage Garden
of the city of Moscow on April 24. The concert will be dedicated to
the memory of victims of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey. As the
“Yerkramas” (country) newspaper of Armenians of Russia informs,
the “Araks” group performs traditional Armenian music in the modern
interpretation and uses classic guitar, flute, violoncello, pipe and
duduk (Armenian national pipe). The goal of the concert is to draw
attention of public and political circles of Russia to the theme of
the Armenian Genocide, as well as to support consolidation of the
Armenian community, particularly, of youth. The information sponsors
of the concert are a number of Russian leading mass media. Prominent
public and political figures of Russia and Armenia are invited to
the concert. Entry is free.

UCLA CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 13 2006
LOS ANGELES, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “Armenia:
Challenges of Sustainable Development” is the theme of an international
conference to be held at the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA), on Saturday, May 6. The conference featuring specialists in
economics, finance, and governance is dedicated to UCLA Professor
Emeritus of Economics, Armen A. Alchian, a world-renowned economist
and teacher who was born in Fresno in 1914 and joined the UCLA faculty
in 1946. The conference is organized by the Armenian Educational
Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History at UCLA and the Armenian
International Policy Research Group (AIPRG), with support from the UCLA
Von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies and the Department of
Economics. AEF Chair Holder Richard Hovannisian will open the morning
session with introductory comments on “The Economic Factor,” followed
by the presentation of Professor Alchian and his contributions to
economic theory by a similarly distinguished Professor of Economics,
Harold Demsetz. Enrique Gelband, Deputy Division Chief and former
Mission Chief to Armenia of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will
give the keynote address on “Growth and Poverty Reduction in Armenia:
Achievements and Challenges,” the title of his recent book published
by the IMF. A panel discussion on the subject will be moderated by
UCLA Professor of Economics Michael Intriligator and include William
Ascher, McKenna Professor of Government and Economics at Claremont
McKenna College; Daniel Mazmanian, Director of the Judith and John
Bedrosian Center on Governance and the Public Enterprise at the
University of Southern California; and Ara Khanjian, Professor of
Economics at Ventura College. The Saturday afternoon session moderated
by Professor Lee Ohanian of the UCLA Department of Economics focuses
on specific topics relating to Armenia’s economic development. David
Grigorian of the IMF will speak on “Tax Potential versus Tax Effort:
Factors behind the Stubbornly Low Tax Collection in Armenia; Bryan
Roberts of the Department of Homeland Security, “Remittances, Poverty,
and Growth in Armenia”; and Nerses Yeritsyan, Central Bank of Armenia,
“Financial Sector Development in Armenia: Problems and Challenges.” A
discussion period will conclude the afternoon session. Richard
Hovannisian stated: “I am pleased that after sixteen wonderful
semi-annual conferences on Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces,
we shifted the focus to contemporary issues in 2005 with ‘The
Enduring Legacy of the Armenian Genocide’ and ‘Three Turkish Voices
on the Armenian Question.’ Now, for the first conference of 2006,
the economic and fiscal challenges facing the Republic of Armenia
will be addressed… The subject of this conference is of critical
importance to Armenia and all those concerned with the welfare of
its people.” The conference is open to the public and free of charge.

FESTIVE EVENTS DEDICATED TO 100th ANNIVERSARY OF AGBU START IN EGYPT
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 13 2006
CAIRO, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Festive events
dedicated to the 100th anniversary of foundation of the Armenian
General Benevolent Union (AGBU) started on April 12 in Egypt. In
this connection RA Embassy in Cairo organized a reception with
participation of about 400 invitees from numerous countries of
the world. The greeting messages of RA Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu al-Gheyd were
read at the ceremony. The Egyptian Foreign Minister in his message
especially emphasized the important role of Armenians in the history
of Egypt and attached importance to development of Armenian-Egyptian
relations. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press
and Information Department, AGBU Chairman Perch Sedrakian, AGBU Cairo
branch Chairman Onik Blektanian, Armenian Ambassador to Egypt Ruben
Karapetian, Deputy Foreign Minister of Egypt, Ambassador Fatma Zahra
made greeting speeches.

DOCUMENTARY BY CANADIAN ARMENIAN AUTHOR AND FILM DIRECTOR HAKOB GUDSUZIAN ENTITLED “MY SON SHALL BE ARMENIAN” SHOWN IN OTTAWA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 13 2006
OTTAWA, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On April 11, the
80-minute documentary by Canadian Armenian author and film director
Hakob Gudsuzian entitled “My Son Shall be Armenian” was shown at the
Canadian Libraries’ and Archives’ Institution, on the initiative of
the Ottawa Armenian Youth Unions and with the assistance of a number
of Canadian Armenian organizations and RA Embassy. The film was
produced by the Canadian National Film Board. Studying the idea of
Armenian originality, the author accompanied by 5 Armenian residents
of Montreal, visited Armenia, the country of his ancestors, for the
purpose of collecting testimony from those who have experienced
the Genocide and for passing the viewers his reflections about
the history and future of the Armenian people spread throughout the
world. As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, after the showing of the film the viewers
among which there were many people of foreign nationalities (Jews,
residents of Rwanda) had an opportunity to ask the author questions.

ARMENOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM ORGANIZES MEMORY-EVENING DEDICATED TO 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 13 2006
JERUSALEM, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A memory-evening
dedicated to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will
be held by the Armenology Department of the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem on April 26. According to the information submitted to
Noyan Tapan by the Armenology Department of the Hebrew University,
Archbishop Torgom Manukian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem will
participate in this event of painful memories and self-examination,
but aimed to beleif and optimism. Yossi Sarid, a member of the
Israel Knesset, and Professor Abraham Terian, a famous Armenologist
awarded the “Fullbright” grant will make the main speeches during
the evening. Tsolak Momjian, the Honourary Consul of the Republic of
Armenia and Professor Michael E.Stone, the Chief of the Armenology
Department of the Hebrew University, the organizer of the evening
will aslo make speeches. The reception that will start at 18:30,
and the official event following it at 19:00, will take place in the
“Beit Belgia” subsidiary building of the Givat Ram campus of the
Hebrew University.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF 2001-2003 STATE PROPERTY PRIVATIZATION PROGRAM AND PROGRAM OF 2005-2007
Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly on April 13
approved with 65 votes in favor, 9 votes against and 10 abstentions the
report on implementation of the 2001-2003 state property privatization
program. Representatives of the United Labor Party (ULP) and Orinats
Erkir factions voted against and abstained from voting. The 19 deputies
who did not participate in the voting were representatives of Justice,
National Unity factions and the People’s Deputy group. At the same
time, a deputy from each of the ULP, Orinats Erkir and the opposition
National Unity factions, which took a negative position the day
before, voted in favor of the report. The parliament also approved
the 2005-2007 state property privatization program with 80 votes
in favor and 5 abstentions. The National Assembly passed in second
reading the draft law on state assistance for innovation activity,
as well as drafts on making amendments and additions to a number of
laws in the sphere of education.

ARMENIAN PRODUCTION EXHIBITION AND ARMENIAN-IRANIAN BUSINESS FORUM TO BE HELD IN MAZANDARAN ON MAY 12-14
Noyan Tapan
Apr 13 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. An exhibition of Armenian production
and an Armenian-Iranian business forum will be organized in the Iranian
province of Mazandaran on May 12-14. Executive Director of the RA
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) told NT correspondent about
it. In his words, the business forum participants will discuss issues
of setting up joint ventures for fish food production, agricultural
machinery assembly, dried fruit equipment, agricultural produce
processing, building material production, tourism, public catering and
consumer services. With the aim of promoting the activities of such
joint ventures, he underlined the necessity to create intermediary,
information investment infrastructures, which will allow to form
a system for implementation of Armenian-Iranian microecnomic
programs. S. Hovakimian noted that the second Armenian-Iranian
economic forum will be held in Yerevan on June 13-14, during which
it is envisaged to discuss issues related to terms of setting up a
joint investment fund and measures aimed at softening the mutual trade
terms. Executive director of the RA CCI said that the Armenian side
received an invitation to participate in an international universal
exhibition to be held in May in the port of Enzeli that was declared
a free economic zone. The Iranian side expressed a willingness
to allocate free pavilions of 500 square meters for 10 Armenian
enterprises. Besides, the Armenian side was offered to occupy a
total exhibition area of 5 thousand sq.m. during this event. The RA
CCI has chosen 50-60 enterprises in information technologies sector,
agricultural processing, machine-building, fishing industry and other
spheres for participation in this exhibition.