ARMENIAN NATIONAL-CULTURAL AUTONOMY ESTABLISHED IN KALININGRAD OBLAST

KALININGRAD, November 17 (Noyan Tapan). The first constituent
conference of the Armenian Diaspora of the Kaliningrad oblast was
held in Kaliningrad on November 10. The Armenian Diaspora sent 150
delegates, who are outstanding figures of the spheres of science,
education, medicine, industry, business, culture and art, to the
conference.

The Armenian regional national-cultural autonomy of the Kaliningrad
oblast was established on the basis of the Russian law “On National and
Cultural Autonomy”. The new organization united three regional public
organizations and two local national-cultural autonomies. Governing
bodies, i.e. the Autonomy Council, the Auditing Commission, the
Council on Education and Youth Affairs, the Board of Trustees, the
Artistic Council, have been formed. Felix Gevorgian, the Chairman
of the “Armenian Scientific-Informational and Cultural Center” pubic
organization was elected Chairman of the Autonomy.

Consul General of Armenia to St. Petersburg Ruben Hakobian, as well as
German Ananiants, a representative of the Union of Armenians of Russia,
and Oleg Panasenko, a representative of the regional administration,
participated in the work of the conference.

The directorate consisting of professional builders has been formed
with the purpose of the construction of the Armenian Church. The
first stage of the construction of the Armenian Church is scheduled
for spring 2005. The project of the work of the autonomy for 2005
is approved.

Two Armenian Sunday schools, the “Armenia” ensemble of folk dances,
the “Nairi” regional newspaper, a youth organization, an informational
center, a chess club after Tigran Petrosian, a a computer graphic
studio successfully operate in the Armenian Diaspora of the Kaliningrad
oblast today.