ISSUE OF INTRODUCING INSTITUTION OF BANK OMBUDSMAN IN ARMENIA TO BE DISCUSSED IN MAY
Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The Union of Armenian Banks (UAB)
will discuss in May the expediency of introduction of the institution
of bank ombudsman in the country. NT correspondent was informed at
the UAB that in accordance with the developed regulations, the bank
ombudsman shall mainly protect the interests of bank customers and
in case of necessity propose the appropriate punitive measures that
the bank should apply against unscrupulous employees. The ombudsman
will also examine complaints about a bank filed by another bank.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS EXPECTS TO RECEIVE 20 MLN EURO CREDIT FROM EBRD
Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenia International Airports
Company – manager of Zvartnots Airport applied to the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with a request to be
allocated a 20 mln euro credit. NT correspondent was informed at the
airport’s press service that the new credit will be used to speed
up the construction of the new terminal. To recap, it is planned to
complete the terminal’s construction, which started two years ago,
in 2007. The ground floor of the building – the arrival and departure
hall will be put into operation this year.

FIDèLE AU POSTE PAR PIERRE-YVES LE PRIOL. LE RETOUR DU GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Le Priol Pierre-Yves
La Croix , France
26 avril 2006
La journee de commemoration du genocide armenien a donne lieu, lundi, a
une abondante couverture televisuelle. Et les images n’ont pas manque
sur les milliers de manifestants qui temoignaient a Paris, Lyon,
Marseille, comme ils le font chaque 24 avril pour se souvenir de 1915.
Ce qu’on pouvait remarquer, dans cet interet manifeste par les
chaînes, c’est qu’il detonnait par rapport a la discretion mediatique
habituelle. Ainsi l’an dernier, pour le 90e anniversaire des massacres,
l’absence des cameras avait ete quasi totale aux defiles.
Dix mille personnes dans les rues, chaque annee, sans incidents a
deplorer, voila qui ne “fait” pas evenement…
Que s’est-il donc passe pour que ce… 91e anniversaire suscite la
curiosite retrouvee des medias? Tout simplement l’emergence, en France,
d’un nouveau negationnisme. À Lyon, le 18 mars, une manifestation
turque avait conteste – pour la première fois – la realite des faits
de 1915. Un mois plus tard, un nouveau memorial lyonnais (inaugure ce
lundi) avait meme ete profane. Une proposition de loi sera d’ailleurs
examinee, d’ici peu, visant a punir toute contestation du genocide
armenien, au meme titre que les denis de la Shoah.
Ce que nous voulons pointer du doigt, dans ce cas d’ecole, c’est
la difference de traitement radicale etablie entre un “marronnier”
journalistique (un evenement repetitif) et une actualite susceptible
d’emerger au journal televise. Ce n’est en rien le nombre des
manifestants (a peu près le meme d’une annee sur l’autre) qui justifie,
ici, une telle inegalite de couverture; mais uniquement l’enjeu
emotionnel suscite, en l’occurrence, par la contestation turque.
On peut comprendre ce que cette donnee de fait a d’exasperant pour
la communaute armenienne, mais aussi pour bien des Francais de souche.
Sans polemique en cours, sans risques de violence, une simple journee
commemorative n’interesse guère la television. C’est bien une prime
que la “logique” mediatique accorde, ainsi, a la strategie de la
tension et aux vertiges de la surenchère.
–Boundary_(ID_ZNQX12kZXfeOv32NYlo/1A )–

DIRECTORS OF PRE-SCHOOL INSTITUTIONS OF ARARAT REGION GET ACQUAINTED WITH CHANGES MADE IN SPHERE
Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006
ARTASHAT, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The Pre-school Education Department of
RA Ministry of Education and Science had organized practical studies
on the subject “The Strategy in the Sphere of Pre-school Education”
for directors of pre-school institutions of Ararat region. Leading
specialists of the Ministry Melsida Sargsian and Hasmik Mitoyan
acquainted those present with the changes being made in the sphere,
gave methodical instructions to the directors for clarifying their work
and for them to be guided by the Labor Code. The directors’ attention
was also called to the first and foremost problem, provision of child’s
development both at home and at the kindergarten before he attends
school. During the practical studies at the same time they touched upon
the strategy of pre-school education, its directions, programs being
implemented and problems, spoke about extension of programs and about
other issues. According to Anahit Hakobian, Head of the Education and
Culture Department of Ararat Regional Administration, no pre-school,
school building and cultural center have been alienated in the region
up to this day, which is the result of of consistent work.

CHAIRMAN OF INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOBILE FEDERATION TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA IN MAY
Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Lord Max Mostin, Chairman of the
International Automobile Federation, will arrive in Armenia on May
11. As Mkrtich Piltoyan, Chairman of the National Board of Road
Security, said at the April 26 press conference, the goal of the
visit is to take part in the newly founded board’s presentation. The
board already cooperates with the International Federation’s Fund,
the goal of which is to direct the sums earned from the profit of
different events organized by the Federation, especially of Formula-1
tournaments, to solution of issues concerning road security. It was
mentioned that among former CIS countries Armenia was chosen as the
first beneficiary.

RUSSIA MARKS 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 26 2006
YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. 91st anniversary of Armenian Genocide has
been marked in Moscow and in Russians regions populated by Armenians,
Armenian Foreign Ministry press service reports. Armenian Apostolic
Church New-Nakhichevan and Russian dioceses leader Bishop Yezras
Nersisyan served a liturgy in Armenian Church of St. Resurrection in
Moscow to remember and honor 1.5mln killed in the genocide.
Then a mourning rally was held in the church’s yard. Armenian Embassy
staff and representatives of Armenian NGOs in Russia attended the
event.
A protest action was staged outside Turkish Embassy in Moscow.
Members of Union of Russian Armenians, Russian-Armenian Cooperation
organization, Armenian Community Organization of Moscow and Ararat
cultural association took part in the rally.
Documents related to Armenian Genocide were shown and Four Years
under Half Moon book written by Raphael de Nogales, these horrible
events witness and Turkish army mercenary, was presented in Ararat
Park Hayat hotel.
Concert of Arax Belgian musical band took place in Hermitage Moscow
Garden.
Besides, Federal Russian TV Channel showed Atom Yeghoyan film “Ararat”
on February 23.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR HAS STABLE EDUCATION SYSTEM WHICH FUNCTIONS IN EDUCATION FIELD OF ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. 240 secondary
schools, 5 middle professional institutions, the State University of
Artsakh, 7 non-state institutions of higher education and branches
function at present in the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. The number
of students of schools, middle and higher educational institutions is
correspondingly 22 thousand, 2 thousand and 7 thousand. Kamo Atayan,
the NKR Minister of Education, Science and Culture informed about
this in the interview to the Noyan Tapan correspondent. According
to Minister Atayan, the NKR has a stable educational system which
functions in the educational field of Armenia. “We have no publication
of own text-books, have no separately worked out educational programs
either and cooperate with the RA Ministry of Education and Science,” he
mentioned. According to K.Atayan, the NKR education system has numerous
problems the primary one among which creation of the material-technical
basis of schools is, what they must do with the help of Armenia. The
Minister also mentioned that an important progress was fixed in the
sphere of school constrution: “In this sense the situation is rather
good, almost all the schools of Artsakh have been constructed.” The
Minister informed that the Ministry of Education of Artsakh implements
at present joint programs with Armenia, in the direction of increasing
the quality of education. “Almost all the teachers of Artsakh undergo
a general computer training now, as it is supposed that later the
computer teaching will be put in the process of teaching all the
subjects,” K.Atayan mentioned.

DELEGATION LED BY CHAIRMAN OF RA CASSATION COURT TO TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF JUDGES IN GEORGIA
Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 26, the delegation led by
Chairman of RA Cassation Court Hovhannes Manukian left for Georgia. The
delegation is to take part in the 4th International Conference of
Judges to be held on April 26-28 in Tbilisi. The main subject of the
conference is “The Reforms in the Sphere of Justice”. Noyan Tapan
was informed about this by Spokesperson of RA Cassation Court Anna
Mkrtchian. Judges from Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Germany will
take part in the conference.

EVENTS DEDICATED TO 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HELD IN THREE ARMENIAN DIOCESES OF IRAN
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
TEHRAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Hay Dat (Armenian
cause) Committees of three Armenian dioceses of Iran worked out
all-embracing programs of spiristic events dedicated to the 91st
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, on
late April 23 the divine liturgy was celebrated by Archbishop Sepuh
Sargsian, the primate of the Tehran Armenian Diocese at the Surb
Sargis church of Tehran. Then RA Ambassador to Iran Karen Nazarian,
representatives of Iranian Armenian unions and organizations as well
as citizens of Armenia being in Iran laid wreaths to the Armenian
Genocide martyrs’ monument placed in the yard of the church. After the
April 24 morning church ceremony, about 20 thousand Iranian Armenians,
after a mass meeting taken place in the yard of the church, started
an organized march in the central streets of Tehran with calls and
slogans condemning the Genocide. A spiritism evening dedicated to the
91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide took place in the evening
in the big hall of the “Ararat” sports and cultural complex. Haykazun
Alvrtsian, a professor of the Armenology Department of the Yerevan
State University, a candidate of philological sciences made a speech
at the event. The RA Ambassador to Iran and the primate of the
Armenian diocese of Iran also made speeches during the event. The
mass media of Iran touched upon the Armenian Genocide. An interview
with Ambassador K.Nazarian was published in the April 24 issue of the
“Iran News” daily. Numerous events, artistic-theatrical performances,
spiritual concerts, speeches, photo exhibitions and other events are
held in other cities of Iran populated by Armenians as well.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF RUSSIA APPEAL TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS’ MEMORY
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
MOSCOW, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Different events
dedicated to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide took
place recently in Moscow and different regions of Russia, populated
by many Armenians. The liturgy dedicated to the memory of more than
1.5 mln compatriots was celebrated on April 24 in the Surb Haroutiun
Armenian church of Moscow by Bishop Yezras Nersisian, the primate
of the Russian and New Nakhijevan diocese of the Armenian Apostolic
Church. Then a mourning mass meeting took place at the khachkar
(cross stone) placed in the yard of the church. Representatives of the
Embassy of Armenia to Russia, Russian Armenian public organizations
participated in the mourning rally. As it was before, a demonstration
was organized on the same day in front of the Embassy of Turkey in
Moscow where representatives of the Union of Armenians in Russia, the
Russian-Armenian Cooperation, the Armenian Community Organization of
Moscow, the “Ararat” cultural association and other organizations as
well as individuals participated and made speeches. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
after the midday opening of the exhibition of documentary materials
dedicated to the Armenian Genocide, then the presentation of the
“Four Years Under the Half-Moon” book written based on memories of
Rafael de Nogales, a witness of the 1915 events, hired officer of the
Turkish army, took place at the “Ararat Park Hyatt” hotel. Late the
same day a concert of the Belgian “Araks” group took place in the
“Hermitage” garden of Moscow. Atom Egoyan’s “Ararat” film was for
the first time shown by all nets of the Russian Federal (former ORT)
TV compnay late on April 23. The theme of the Armenian Genocide was
covered by Russian central and local mass media.