CHARITY CONCERT DEDICATED TO MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS TO BE GIVEN IN MOSCOW
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 18:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Araks” Belgian band will give a charity concert
dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims. The event
was initiated by the Russian-Armenian Commonwealth NGO and will take
place in the Hermitage garden on April 24 at 7 p.m.
Moscow time. As reported by Yerkramas, the newspaper of Armenians
of Russia, “Araks” performs traditional Armenian music in modern
interpretation. The band plays classical guitar, flute, cello, shvi
and duduk.
The purpose of the concert is to attract the attention of the Russian
public and political circles to the Armenian Genocide issue and
contribute to the consolidation of the Armenian community, especially
the youth. The information sponsors of the concert are some Russian
media. Outstanding Russian public and political figures were invited
to the concert.

HEADS OF “GAZPROM” AND “HAYRUSGASARD” DISCUSS THE AGREEMENT ON STRATEGIC PRINCIPLES OF COOPERATION
ArmRadio.am
12.04.2006 15:18
During their meeting in Moscow Heads of “Gazprom” and “Hayrusgasard”
Companies Alexey Miller and Karen Karapetyan discussed the process of
accomplishment of the agreement on strategic principles of cooperation.
The agreement was signed between “Gazprom” and the Armenian government
on April 6.
Press Service of “Gazprom” Company informs that “during April
11th meeting special attention was paid to the issues purchase and
renovation of the 5th energy block of Hrazdan Thermal Power Plant
for raising the efficiency of manufacturing gas into electric energy.”

RA PRESIDENT RECEIVED THE MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE DELEGATION
ArmRadio.am
12.04.2006 15:40
RA President Robert Kocharyan received today the delegation headed
by Congressman Jim Kolbe, which comprises Congressman Scott Garrett,
Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation John
Danlovich, other officials.
The President noted with satisfaction that US-Armenia relations
experience dynamic development.
In his turn Jim Kolbe welcomed the successful mission of Armenian
peacekeepers.
Expressing his gratitude for the financial assistance to be provided
to our country in the framework of the Millennium Challenge Program,
Robert Kocharyan noted that Armenia is loyal to the reinforcement
of democracy and liberalism, at the maintenance and development of
which the program is directed. The President attaches dual importance
to the program, since it includes the marzes of the Republic, which
can lead to the decrease of discrepancy in the development of Yerevan
city and rural settlements.
Robert Kocharyan said also that the Armenian side expects distinct and
clear partnership relations from the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
The interlocutors stressed the importance of the improvement of the
Electoral Code in raising the level of the elections to be held 2007
and 2008.
During the meeting reference was made to the settlement of the
Karabakh issue.

“ARMENIAN NAVY BAND” AND “SYSTEM OF A DOWN” TO RECORD A JOINT ALBUM
ArmRadio.am
12.04.2006 17:05
The “Armenian Navy Band” plans to release a joint album with the
“System of a Down/” rock group, Armenian manager of the “Armenian
Navy Band” John Grigoryan said today. On April 22 the concert of the
“Armenian Navy Band” and Arto Tunjboyajyan is expected.

ARMENIAN KHACHKARS EXHIBITION TO OPEN IN LOUVRE IN FALL
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 20:11 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An exhibition of Armenian khachkars (cross stones)
will open this fall in Louvre within the framework of the Year
of Armenia in France, reported the press office of the RA Embassy
in Paris.
To note, the Year of Armenia is France will start September 21,
2006 on the Armenian Independence Day and finish July 14, 2007,
on the French Independence Day. The program provides for some 200
events in 40 cities of France.

MCC GRANT TO OPEN NEW HORIZONS FOR ARMENIA
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 22:07 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The U.S. Congressional delegation lead by Jim
Kolbe and Scott Garrret together with Chief Executive Officer of
the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Ambassador John Danilovich is
going to visit all the South Caucasian states. The visit bears a
familiarization nature. The delegation has already paid a call to
Georgia in Armenia. Then it will head for Azerbaijan, Congressman
Kolbe told reporters in Yerevan. In his words, the MCC grant rendered
to Armenia will open new horizons and prospects for the republic. “The
economic development of a state should march in step with the reforms
within the civic society and democracy consolidation,” he remarked.
Congressmen Kolbe also noted that during the meeting with the Armenian
leadership they discussed security issues and the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict peaceful settlement. “I thanked President Kocharian for the
contribution to the war on terror and participation of the Armenian
peacekeeping mission in Iraq,” Jim Kolbe emphazised.

SCOTT GARRETT: “WE BELIEVE ARMENIA WILL NOT ABANDON DEMOCRATIC PATH”
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.04.2006 22:31 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ If the upcoming elections in 2007 and 2008 are
undemocratic the U.S. can reconsider the Millenium Challenge Compact
with Armenia, Congressman Scott Garrett told reporters in Yerevan. In
his words, transparent and fair elections provide not only for
openness on the election day but also for the election campaign,
the role of media and the work with the NGOs. “However we believe
that Armenia will not abandon democratic path and will properly hold
the parliamentary and presidential election,” he remarked.
The Congressman also said that struggle against corruption occupies
a special places in the program.
“Corruption exists everywhere and I think that the level of corruption
in your republic will lower,” Garrett said adding that he represents
New Jersey where many Armenians live.
From: Baghdasarian

“ILLEGAL WHITEFISH” IN THE MARKETS
A1+
[01:15 pm] 12 April, 2006
By the order N-38A of February 9, 2006 the RA Minister of Ecology
prohibited to catch whitefish in Sevan. Nevertheless, According to
trustworthy sources, the fishermen still continue to catch them.
The fact that whitefish is sold in the markets of the Gegharqounik
region and the capital testifies to this.
One fish weighing about 300 grams costs about 400-500 AMD.
“Qyavar” TV Company of Gavar

THE ACADEMY WILL BE REFORMED OR WILL REACH A DEADLOCK
A1+
[01:47 pm] 12 April, 2006
The annual general session of the National Academy of Science convened
today. The scientist gathered in the NAS hall first listened to the
speech of the ex NAS President Fadey Sargsyan. He was especially
excited at the fact that at the beginning of the session the message
of the Catholicos of all Armenians Garegin II was read.
The message said that during his 12-year office Fadey Sargsyan did
everything for the development of the Academy and is a deserved son
of the Armenian nation.
“I would not be able to do anything if it weren’t for the support of
all the workers of the Academy.
Nevertheless, I am sure that whoever becomes the next President will
work better than me”, Mr. Sargsyan said. As for the message of the
Catholicos, he considered the blessing of His Holiness the greatest
award of his life.
Nevertheless, the scientists who made speech during the session
did not share the opinion about the development of the Academy. He
announced that no reforms have been introduced for 12 years and that
the NAS has almost twice as more workers as it needs. If there are
2500 people working in the Academy instead of 3700 and the budget
allots 8 million AMD instead of 6 million, the scientists will get
a salary of 100 thousand AMD and will be able to work properly.
The NAS annual report was represented by Academician Edward Ghazaryan,
the secretary of the Academy and the ex Minister of Education and
Science. He criticized the Mass Media for announcing that the Academy
is idle and has published only three books in a year.
Ghazaryan announced that for the last year the scientists
have published not three but 138 monographs and organized 20
international conferences in which more than 400 foreign scientists
have participated.
“The majority of the awards given by the RA President has been given to
the scientists who get a miserable salary but still continue working”,
Edward Ghazaryan said.
To note, after the resignation of Fadey Sargsyan Edward Ghazaryan is
considered the main candidate for the post of the NAS President. The
elections of the President and the NAS Presidium will be held in
a month.

THE RESIDENTS OF KOZERN DISTRICT REACHED KOCHARYAN
A1+
[03:33 pm] 12 April, 2006
The residents of Kozern district were gathered together opposite
the residence of President Kocharyan and demanded to discuss their
problem with the corresponding structures and sub-structures of the
municipality. They were offended by the remarks of the Yerevan mayor
Yervand Zakharyan.
The participants of the meeting met Yervand Zakharyan yesterday. The
latter told them that their information about the instructions of
the Prime Minister is false.
Let us remind you that last week Khachatour Vardanyan, the head of
the territorial self-government administration, assured the residents
that a committee has been formed which will investigate the issue
of privatization of the Kozern district and give answers to their
questions.
Yervand Zakharyan promised the residents of the district that he
will clear up what to do within two months. “He tells us he can do
whatever he wants in this city. He says he can evict us whenever he
wants”, said Samvel Lazarian, head of the NGO “Community and Right”
who represents the interests of the residents of Kozern. Yervand
Zakharyan blamed them for giving a political context to the issue,
and blamed the NGO for supporting them.
As the participants of the meeting claimed, today’s act of
complaint was a forced one. “We still have three days till civic
disobedience. This was a necessary step so that take the opinion of
the people into account. We will not take a step back,” said Samvel
Lazarian. Let us remind you that the residents of Kozern promised
not to organize anything within ten days, and then, in case of need,
they will even form new authorities and defend themselves.
At present deputy mayor of the city Kamo Areyan, four residents of
the district, as well as the head of the NGO “Community and Right”
are in the RA President’s residence.