WORLD BANK TO PROVIDE 3.1 MLN DOLLAR GRANT TO DEAL WITH HEATING PROBLEMS OF VULNERABLE GROUPS OF ARMENIAN POULATION
Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The World Bank-managed Global
Partnership for Effective Assistance Fund will provide a 3.1
mln-dollar grant for the implementation of a city heating program
in Armenia. Person in charge of foreign relations of the WB Yerevan
Office Vigen Sargsian told NT correspondent that this sum will be
used to solve the heating problems of the vulnerable groups of the
Armenian population. To recap, out of 15 mln USD provided by the
World Bank for the implementation of this program last year, 3 mln
USD was allocated for this purpose.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVES ANNUAL REPORT ON 2005 STATE BUDGET EXECUTION
Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. At the April 27 sitting, the Armenian
government approved the draft law on approval of the annual report
of the 2005 RA state budget execution, which will be submitted to the
National Assembly in prescribed order. RA Deputy Minister of Finance
and Economy, Chief Treasurer Atom Janjughazian told reporters following
the sitting that under the RA legislation, each year the government
shall submit the annual report on execution of the previous year’s
state budget to the National Assembly until May 1. According to
the 2005 report, GDP made 2 trillion 143.9 billion drams. The real
economic growth made 14% in 2005 on 2004. A 0.2% fall in prices was
registered in late 2005, while the average inflation made 0.6%. In
the year under review, the Armenian dram appreciated by 7.3% compared
with 2004. GDP per capita made 697,421 drams (about 1,550 USD),
which exceeds the previous year’s index by 17.6%. Unemployment made
8.1% or 98 thousand people, which is by 1.5 percentage points lower
than in 2004. According to A. Janjughazian, the state budget revenue
collection index made 99.9%. Revenues accounted for 16.7% of GDP,
which is by 0.9 percentage points higher than in 2004. The budget
revenues grew by 24%, while own revenues – by 25.8%. The expenditure
index was fulfilled by 97.1%, which constitutes a 25% increase on the
previous year. An especially low index was registered with respect
to target programs implemented with financial resources from foreign
sources. Last year, Armenia’s state foreign debt made 1 bln 99.2
mln USD, declining by 7.1% compared with 2004, which, according to
A. Janjughazian, was conditioned by a change in the exchange rates
of the main currencies, which make up the state foreign debt basket,
against the US dollar. The ratio of the state foreign debt to GDP made
22.4%. In 2005, Armenia’s domestic debt amounted to 51.3 bln drams
against 46.4 bln drams in 2004. Short-term state bonds account for
13% of this debt, while medium-term and long-term bonds – for the
remaining part.

MEETING OF ISTC BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO TAKE PLACE IN YEREVAN IN JUNE
Noyan Tapan
Apr 27 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN. A meeting of the Board of Directors
of the International Scientific and Technical Center (ISTC) will
take place in Yerevan in June, during which 14 grant programs to be
submitted by various scientific research institutions of Armenia
will be discussed. Director of the ISTC Armenian Regional Branch
Hamlet Navasardian told NT correspondent about it. According to him,
4 Armenian programs were approved at the last meeting of the ISTC
Board of Directors held in Moscow on March 30. Thus, the number
of Armenian programs financed by the center reached 123, with the
total amount of financing making 25.5 mln dollars. The ISTC is
financing 2,318 grant programs of the total amount of 712 mln USD,
which were submitted by scientific institutions of Russia, Belarus,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan and Tadzhikistan. H. Navasardian
said that Armenia is in third place after Russia and Kazakhstan by
the amount of financing. 14% of the funds for Armenian programs has
been allocated to biology and sciences on life, 18% – to physics, 15%
– for synthesis of new substances and 13% – to chemistry. To recap,
the ITSC was established in 1992 by the European Union, Russia, the
US and Japan with the aim of using the potentail of CIS countries’
scientists, who were previously engaged in development of arms,
for peaceful purposes. Later South Korea, Canada and Norway joined
the ITSC.

CEREMONY DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TAKES PLACE AT RA EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 27 2006
WASHINGTON, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A ceremony
dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims took place
on April 24 in the territory of the RA Embassy in Washington. More
than 500 American Armenians, among them representatives of
Armenian-American organizations and the Armenian Apostolic Church,
friends of the Armenian people participated in the ceremony. Wreaths
were laid to the khachkars (cross stone) placed in the territory
of the Embassy on behalf of the RA Embassy, the NKR representation,
Armenian organizations in Washington and individuals. Spiritual heads
of the Surb Mariam Astvatsatsin and Surb Khach Armenian churches of
Washington implemented requiem ceremony in the memory of the Genocide
victims. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press
and Information Department, RA Ambassador to U.S. Tatul Margarian made
a speech during the memorial ceremony, who attached importance to the
activity implemented by the Diaspora in the affair of the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The Ambassador mentioned that
the issue of the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide
is on the agenda of the RA foreign policy. Emphasizing the unity
of Armenian organizations in the issue, T.Margarian also emphasized
the importance of existence of the independent state of Armenia in
the issue of reaching success in the work done in the direction of
international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF BULGARIA MARKS 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 27 2006
SOFIA, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian community
of Bulgaria marked on April 24 the 91st anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. Events took place in Sofia, Plovdiv, Rousee, Varna and
a number of other settlements populated by Armenians. Liturgies
were celebrated in Armenian churches of those cities and wreaths
were laid to monuments to the Genocide victims. Besides, mourning
processions took place in Sofia and Varna. Representatives of the
Armenian community made speeches during the events. On April 13 the
Community Council of the city of Plovdiv respected with one minute
silence the memory of the Genocide victims. Deputy Chairman of the
Community Council Stephan Shivachev called on the People’s Assembly
and Government of Bulgaria to officially recognize the Armenian
Genocide and condemn it as a crime against the mankind. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, opening of a new monument dedicated to the memory of the
Genocide victims took place in Varna. The monument is placed near
the Mayor’s Office and also expresses the Armenian people’s gratitude
towards the Bulgarian people. Varna Mayor Kiril Yordanov, Chairman of
the local Armenian Church Council Tagvor Vardanian, famous Bulgarian
soloist Tsvetan Tsvetkov made speeches at the opening. Wreaths were
also laid to the monement by the Consulates of Russia, Ukraine and
Poland functioning in Varna. Events taken place in Bulgaria were
widely covered by local mass media.

EVENT DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS ORGANIZED IN MONTEBELLO
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 27 2006
MONTEBELLO, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. An event dedicated
to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims was organized on
April 23 in Montebello. Senators and high-ranking officials of the
United States and California, RA Consul General to Los Angeles Gagik
Kirakosian, representatives of the United Body involving community
organizations, primates of Armenian churches and other guests were
present. The event was led by California State Senator J.Spears,
and the speaker of the day was Peter Cowe, the Narekatsi Armenology
Department Director of the South California University. Wreaths
were laid to the Genocide monument in Montebello on April 24. The
Surb Liturgy was celebrated, divine service was held in all Armenian
churches on the same day. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign
Ministry’s Press and Information Department, the day of memory of the
Armenian Genocide victims will be marked on April 27 in Sacramento,
the state Parliament of California. Members of the State Senate and
State Assembly of California, the RA Consul General to Los Angeles,
representatives of community organizations will be present at the
event. To recap, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent
a message on the occasion of the 91st anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. According to the message, April 23-29 were announced in
California days of memory of the Armenian Genocide.

JAVAKHK MARKS 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 27 2006
AKHALKALAK, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The 91st
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was marked in Javakhk on April
23-24. A torch-light procession took place in the cities of Akhaltskha
and Ninotsminda on late April 23. The procession was organized on the
initiative of the “Zori Zorian” youth union. According to the “A-Info”
agency, the liturgy dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide
victims was celebrated on early April 24 in all acting churches of
Javakhk. Representatives of the local self-government bodies of the
region and public organizations laid wreaths to the memorial stone
dedicated to the Armenian Genocide victims.

ARMENIAN POLICEMEN IN AKHALKALAK REPLACED WITH GEORGIANS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 27 2006
AKHALKALAK, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. As a result of
re-formation of the internal affairs system of Georgia, policemen
of the Armenian origin are gradually discharged their work in the
Internal Affairs Regional Department of Akhalkalak and replaced with
Georgians. According to the “A-Info” agency, with the reasoning that
they have got higher education in Armenia just recently (the Akhalkalak
Chief Officer has already given at least such an oral explanation to
former policemen), three captains and a lieutenant of the Armenian
origin were not re-accepted for work. Among them two Captains got
education at the RA Police Academy just by the apply of the Akhalkalak
Internal Affairs Department (which is in the Georgian Internal Affairs
Structure). “A-Info” also mentions that as a rule, Georgian policemen
replacing Armenians yield Armenians with professional skillfulness
and level of education.

AKHALKALAK SCHOOL AFTER RUBEN TER-MINASIAN ON THRESHOLD OF BEING CLOSED
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 27 2006
AKHALKALAK, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Akhalkalak
Armenian secondary school No5 after Ruben Ter-Minasian is on the
threshold of being closed. The problem is that, according to the
“A-Info” agency, the school building is in unsafe state, and the
Government of Georgia decided to restore in Akhalkalak building of
schools having more than 500 pupils, while the school No5 has 120
pupils. Nartsis Karapetian, the Education Department Chief of the
region of Akhalkalak mentions that in the case of not being restored,
the once famous school will not only have first grade in the 2006-2007
academic year, but other grades will be carried to other schools,
and the school will be closed.

ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN: NO ISSUE OF ARMENIA’S MEMBERSHIP TO NATO SET
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 27 2006
SAINT PETERSBURG, APRIL 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenia’s
striving for extending cooperation with the European Union and
NATO is not aimed against Russia. RA National Assembly Speaker Artur
Baghdasarian declared this on April 27. “I am for intensive development
of our relations with the European Union and consistent integration to
the European structures,” Artur Baghdasarian told a journalist in St
Petersburg. As radio Liberty informs referring to the Interfax news
agency, in connection with Armenia-NATO relations NA Speaker said:
“We have an individual partnership actions plan but this is only
cooperation. No issue of membership to NATO is included in the agenda
of Armenia’s foreign policy”. Artur Baghdasarian is taking part in
the special sitting of RF State Duma in St Petersburg dedicated to
the 100th anniversary of the Russian parliamentarianism.