SWORD OF COMMANDER ANDRANIK RETURNS TO HIS HOMELAND

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| 14:29:42 | 08-04-2005 | Social |

Today Serge Sargsyan, Defense Minister and Secretary of the National
Security Council, received the members of the Pan Armenian Union
“Commander Andranik” with Norayr Mushegyan, President of the Union
at the head.

The reason for the meeting was special: Serge Sargsyan introduced to
the guests the sword and the medals of Andranik Ozanyan brought to
Armenia from France by the Armenian Defense Ministry.

The members of the Union thanked the Defense Ministry for returning
the sword and the medals of Commander Andranik to Armenia.

JAZZ HAS MANY COLORS

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| 14:15:46 | 08-04-2005 | Culture |

What is the color of jazz? «Jazz has so many colors that it is
factually colorless. And today it depends on the music that will
sound», says Vardan Ayvazyan, student of the Yerevan Art Institute
after Terlemezyan. He is one of the 15 participants of the competition
of artists «Colors of Jazz» which started today in the Artist’s
House.

Students of the Yerevan State Art Academy and Art Institute after
Terlemezyan take part in the competition. Serine Avagyan, student of
the Yerevan State Art Academy, thinks that «Jazz color is red as it
is the music of aggression, craziness». The exhibition was organized
by the American Embassy to Armenia and the Artists’ Union.

Cooperating with the Smithson National Museum, the USA has announced
April the Month of Jazz starting from 2002. Days of Jazz are being
organized in Armenia fro the 4th time already. Concerts will be
organized in different halls of Yerevan. Except the ball «Swing»
on April 9 the entrance of all the other concerts will be free.

–Boundary_(ID_QDEIrajCebn2C5SJSQb6PA)–

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| 16:20:11 | 08-04-2005 | Sports |

SAMBO COMPETITION IN GYUMRI

In Gyumri the Armenian Championship of sambo took place in which
about 60 sportsmen took part.

For the Armenian sportsmen this was a good preliminary phase before
the Sambo European Championship in Moscow.

On April 8-10 in Gyumri the youth championship of sambo will take
place.

A1plus

| 15:44:20 | 08-04-2005 | Politics |

NOT YET TIME FOR CHANGE OF AUTHORITIES

“We consider the developments in Kyrgyzstan undesirable. We are against
bloodshed, but the authorities do everything to realize the Kyrgyz
variant in Armenia”, said Viktor Dallakyan, secretary of the Justice
bloc in the today’s press conference in the club “Azdak”. This was said
in answer to the questions what the opposition will do on the threshold
of the 1st anniversary of the events on the Baghramyan avenue.

As we have already informed, on April 12 or 13 the opposition will
not take any drastic measures. Only a forum will be organized in
which representatives of the political powers will take part. Asked
why this variant was chosen Rouzan Khachatryan, press secretary of
the Armenian Democratic Party explains: meetings with the society
prove that the people are decisive, and if we once again go out to
the streets the problem will be solved once and for all.

“We will choose the proper moment to realize change of authorities
as a result of the public movement”, says Viktor Dallakyan.

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| 17:31:42 | 08-04-2005 | Sports |

COMPETITION OF JOURNALISTS IN ODESSA

The Armenian football team of journalists will leave for Odessa to take
part in the Football International mini Competition. It will be devoted
to the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and will be held on April
10-13. Other National Teams of the CIS countries will take part in the
competition which was organized by the Odessa Sport Journalists Union.

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17:09:29 | 08-04-2005 | Sports |

THE FAILURE OF “PYUNIK” IN THE ARMENIAN CUP

The Armenian Champion and cup-winner “Pyunik” disqualified from the
Armenian Cup 2005. In the second match against “Kilikia” no goals
were scored, and as far as “Kilikia” had won the previous game 1:0,
they will continue to play.

The failure of “Pyunik” testifies to the fact that the team has serious
personnel problems, and with these players it cannot pass the barrier
of the first phase of the Champions League. It is difficult to say
if in the coming Championship of Armenia “Pyunik” will be invincible
or not.

It is already known that the champion will soon have a new foreign
coach who at the same time will be the coach of the National Team.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YELTSIN WAS NOT EXPECTED IN BAKU

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| 17:02:51 | 08-04-2005 | Politics |

Boris Yeltsin, the first President of the Russian Federation, who
is in Azerbaijan on a 4-day visit, has announced in Baku that in the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict the Russian point of view is well
known and no changes are anticipated.

It is noteworthy that the members of the Azerbaijani organization
of freeing Karabakh were against Yeltsin’s visit. The members of
the organization remind that while being President Mr. Yeltsin had
a strict attitude towards Azerbaijan.

“We must not forget that Yeltsin helped Armenia openwardly. Henceforth
his visit to Azerbaijan must be forbidden”, said Akif Nagin, head of
the organization. Nevertheless, the members of the organization have
announced that they will not organize an action against Yeltsin.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WE AND THE EU

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| 16:56:09 | 08-04-2005 | Official |

Today Robert Kocharyan has had a consultation with the members of
the Committee regulating the meeting of commitments taken upon before
the EU.

The course of amending the Laws about elections, parties, local
self-governing, human rights, mass media and a number of other fields
has been discussed.

The members of the Committee have informed that they have already
sent to the EU Venice Committee the draft laws amended taking into
account their offers. They expect to receive positive opinion about
them and to logically finish the process.

Issues about constitutional amendments have also been discussed. Robert
Kocharyan found it important to form a final draft with a high level
of consensus.

According to the members of the Committee, if the draft constitution
has the positive conclusion of the Venice Committee, and a referendum
is organized, Armenia will finish the year of 2005 without any other
commitments to the EU.

ABOUT 1.7 MLN DOLLAR LOANS PROVIDED BY ARMENIAN PAWNSHOPS AS OF MARCH 1

YEREVAN, APRIL 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Demand for loans provided by pawnshops
is constantly increasing in Armenia. The RA Deputy Minister of Finance
and Economy David Avetisian told NT correspondent that over the last
year, the number of pawnshops has increased by 14 to 48 ones. As of
March 1, the total amount of the loans provided by them made about
750.5 mln drams (about 1.7 mln USD), their authorized capital –
348.2 mln drams, while the resources attracted – 452.8 mln drams. It
was indicated that although the monthly interest rates of pawnshop
loans are high in the country, the market is quite competitive – an
owner does not have more than 3 pawnshops. D. Avetisian informed NT
corresponent that in all likelihood starting from June, the pawnshops
will be obliged by law to give loans in Armenian drams only.

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20:21:02 | 08-04-2005 | Politics |

RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR LEAVING ARMENIA

Today the Russian Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary
to Armenia Anatoly Dryukov rendered his last press conference as
ambassador.

By the existing criteria Dryukov has been ambassador for quite a
long time. Before leaving Armenia Anatoly Dryukov thanked all those
with whom he had worked for keeping the Armenian-Russian relationships
on a high level.

“The Russian Federation considers Armenia as an independent and
sovereign state which has its profits”, mentioned the ambassador.

By the way, the ambassador who has worked in Armenia for many years
foresaw that in the near future the starting of military actions
between Armenia and Azerbaijan is impossible.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress