ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PRESENTS CURRENT STAGE OF KARABAKH CONFLICT
SETTLEMENT PROCESS TO OSCE SECRETARY GENERAL

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The OSCE Secretary
General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut arrived in Armenia on the occasion
of launching the Melange Program on destruction of rocket fuel that
has remained in the territory of Armenia since the Soviet time. He met
with the Atmenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on May 12. The OSCE
Secretary General expressed his appreciation for the contribution
Armenia has made to the OSCE activities. The sides spoke about the
programs being implemented in the country by the OSCE Yerevan Office,
as well as the process of democratic reforms in Armenia. According to
the RA MFA Press and Information Department, the interlocutors
discussed in detail the developments taking place in the OSCE region
and the ongoing reforms in the OSCE structure. V. Oskanian presented
the current stage of the Karabakh conflict settlement process. Marc
Perrin de Brichamaut was appointed as OSCE Secretary General in
January 2005, replacing Jan Kubish, representaive of Slovakia. The
Melange Program being implemented in Armenia is considered to be one
of the most successful programs carried out by the OSCE in its
participating states due to some peculiarities of the program, and the
high level of cooperation of the sides. The OSCE Secretary General’s
visit to Armenia will last until May 14.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA FOREIGN MINISTER AND SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF OSCE
CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE DISCUSS PROCESS AND PROSPECTS OF NAGORNO KARABAKH
SETTLEMENT

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The negotiations
process and prospects of the Nagorno Karabakh settlement were
discussed at RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian’s May 12 meeting with
Special Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office Pierre Chevalier who
is in Armenia on a regional visit. As Noyan Tapan was informed from
RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department, Personal
Representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office on the issue of Nagorno
Karabakh settlement Andrzej Kasprczik also took part in the meeting.

THREE ARMENIAN FILMS TO PARTICIPATE IN GEORGIAN “SESILI” YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. Within the framework of the “Directors
without Borders” program, three Armenian directors will participate in
the “Sesili” youth film festival to take place in Tbilisi on May
15-22, each of them presenting one documentary film. Vardan Hakobian
will present the “Duduk” (Armenian National Pipe) film, Anna Movsisian
the “-40 Degree” film, Aram Shahbazian will present “Wheels” film. As
the Noyan Tapan was informed by Susanna Haroutiunian, the Chairwoman
of the Film Critics and Film Journalists Association of Armenia, show
of 7 Armenian documentary films will be organized with a separate
program during the days of the festival: Aram Shahbazian’s “Shepherd’s
Monologue,” Aram Yeritsian’s “In the Open Air,” Suren Ter-Grigorian’s
“Born from Fire,” Ruben Khachatrian’s “Monologue” and “Pray for You,”
Vardan Hakobian’s “Duduk” and Nika Sheck’s “Song of Stones” and “I Saw
the World Here” films. Susanna Haroutiunian mentioned that those films
were shown in February in Iran as well.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

POSSIBLY, MESKHETIAN TURKS TO BE RESETTLED IN TSALKA REGION

AKHALKALAK, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Different kinds of
discussions on resettlement of Meskhetian Turks in Georgia are going
on. According to the A-Info agency, the issue, exactly in what
Georgian regions the Turks will be resettled, is of special interest.
The program-proposal on final settlement of the problem will be
presented by the country’s Ministry on Issues of Refugees and
Resettlement. According to Temur Lomsadze, Chief Adviser of State
Minister on Issues of Conflict Settlement, which is engaged in the
issue of Meskhetians’ return, such a territory can be the Tsalka
region as the houses of the Greeks who have emigrated from Tsalka can
be bought at incomparably cheap prices.

FOR FIRST TIME IN HISTORY OF CALCUTTA ARMENIAN PHILATHROPIC ACADEMY,
IRANIAN ARMENIAN CHILDREN TO HAVE THEIR SUMMER HOLIDAYS IN IRAN

CALCUTTA, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On May 11, by
blessing of Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians, for the first time
in the history of the Armenian Philantropic Academy of Calcutta, 24
Iranian Armenian children left for Iran after three years of studing
at the academy to have their summer holidays with the parents and
relatives. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Calcutta Armenian
Philanthropic Academy, Ararat Yeghikian, the official representative
of the academy in Iran and former graduate arrived in Calcutta some
days ago to accompany children. He had meetings with the heads of the
academy, got acquaited with children’s living conditions, their marks,
future plans, making him sure that the academy faces numerous
challenges. But A.Yeghikian also pointed out that the positive
movements noticed in the academy during the few recent months arise
hope that the historic educational institution is in good hands. After
a short pray in the ceremonial hall of the academy before seeing off
the children, Archimandrite Oshakan Gyulgyulian wished them good way,
expressing a hope that after having the holidays among family and
relatives, the children will return the academy cheerful, freshened
and with new positive fillings to continue their education in the 185
years old educational institution.

ATOM EGOYAN WELCOMES CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER’S STATEMENT CONCERNING
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Canadian Armenian
famous film producer Atom Egoyan welcame Canadian Prime Minister
Stephen Harper’s statement concerning the Armenian Genocide, Radio
Liberty informs. “I think, Harper’s Government fostered just from the
beginning a brave position towards few issues which may remain in
depths of history. Meanwhile those issues need detailed
examination. It is very interesting for me that conservatory
governments often seem to be morally more responsible than it was
possible to imagine,”
Egoyan said to the Canadian Press. “I am sure that the only mean to
fix a progress in this issue is giving recognition in as many places
as it is possible and isolution of the Government of Turkey. This is
the only way to bring to changes,” Atom Egoyan expressed an
opinion. There is information that the Foreign Ministry of Turkey has
an intensive tie with Harper’s staff, making an attempt to assure the
Prime Minister “not to go into details of the issue.”
Meanwhile they write in the Turkish press that Canada may be taken the
possibility of participating in programs of building the first atomic
power station in Turkey.

DEFENCE MINISTRY OF GEORGIA BRINGS DETACHMENT INVOLVING 50 PEOPLE INTO
JAVAKHK

AKHALKALAK, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Defence
Ministry of Georgia brought a detachment of special meaning involving
50 people to Javakhk, reasoning it by securing freely removal of the
military technique from the Russian military base of Akhalkalak.
According to the “A-Info” agency, Georgian soldiers are now placed in
the building of the Ninotsminda regional police. It is envisaged to
implement removal of the first group of the military technics on May
15.

CONVERSE BANK TAKES FIRST PLACE BY ITS OVERALL CAPITAL IN FIRST
QUARTER OF 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. In the first quarter of 2006, Converse
Bank was in first place by its overall capital in the RA banking
system. The newly appointed director general of the bank Artak
Hanesian stated during the May 12 press conference that in the
indicated period, the overall capital grew by 6.2% to about 9.5 bln
drams (about 21 mln USD). The bank’s assets increased by 10.7% over
the same period and made 46.2 bln drams, while crediting volumes – by
2.9% to 17.6 bln drams. By these indices Converse Bank took 3rd and
5th places respectively in the RA banking system. The bank’s profit
amounted to 612.8 mln drams. The total amount of transfers made by
natural persons grew by 24.8% on the same quarter of last year and
made 34.7 mln USD. According to A. Hanesian, in the period under
review, the share of mortgage credits made 372 mln drams, which is
more than half the programmed index. Converse Bank currently provides
credits repayable over 10 years at an annual interest rate of 13%. In
the words of the bank’s director general, these terms are quite
favorable for Armenia. In the first quarter of 2006, VIP MONEY
TRANSFER and INTEREXPRESS transfer systems, a new form of deposit – a
cumulative one, as well as provision of loans under the collateral of
real estate and cars were introduced in Converse Bank.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARSHAK SADOYAN: IT IS POSSIBLE TO SOLVE SOME PROBLEMS EVEN UNDER BAD
AUTHORITIES

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. A NGO to protect the interests of
consumers in the telecommunication sector will soon be set
up. Chairman of the Alliance of National Democrats (AND) Party Arshak
Sadoyan said during the May 12 press conference that it is possible to
solve some problems even under bad authorities. The matter concerns a
recent decision of the RA Public Services Regulatory Commission, which
approved ArmenTel’s proposal to forgive the complaining subscribers
the sums to be paid for international calls made by error while using
the Internet in the period from November 2004 to April 1, 2006. The
company also expressed a willingness to register the already paid sums
as a prepayment for fixed-line phone services. According to A Sadoyan,
such bills sent to subscribers by ArmenTel total nearly 600 thousand
dollars. A. Sadoyan also stated that AND will struggle for the
independence of Armenia’s energy sector. In his words, “in this
sector, no other state should have a monopoly, and all the facilities
transferred should be returned to the Armenian people.”

“WORLD VISION” TO IMPLEMENT IN ARMENIA PROGRAM OF SURGERY OF CHILDREN
WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The “World Vision” organization will
organize an official reception on May 17 in the “Winter Garden” hall
of the “Yerevan” hotel to present problems of children with special
needs in Armenia and to get necessary financial means for their
surgery and treatment. According to the information submitted to Noyan
Tapan by the Armenian Office of the organization, the event is
entitled “By presenting whole-heartedly, You Present the World.” A
video material presenting the preliminary stage of surgery of the
children with special needs will be shown during the event, after what
pupils of the Fund after Spivakov will show a music performance. It is
mentioned that the “World Vision” organization implemented a similar
program the last year as well, by private financial resources
allocated from Germany.