Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

FIFTY HOUSE MEMBERS CALL ON FOREIGN AID APPROPRIATORS TO MAINTAIN
MILITARY AID PARITY TO ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN

WASHINGTON, MARCH 17, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Congressmen
Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George Radanovich (R-CA) were joined by
forty-eight of their House colleagues in urging the leadership of
the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee to support pro-Armenian
provisions in the fiscal year 2007 foreign aid bill, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Members of Congress cosigned on March 16 a letter, addressed to the
panel’s Chairman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey
(D-NY), which would strengthen the hand of pro-Armenian members
of the Subcommittee, most notably Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe
Knollenberg, Steve Rothman (D-NJ), Mark Kirk (R-IL), and John Sweeney
(R-NY). Rep. Sweeney, who joined the panel last year, is one of only
two Members of Congress of Armenian heritage.

The letter notes that members of Congress are “deeply troubled”
that the Administration’s request for military aid for Azerbaijan
is considerably higher then the request for Armenia. By signing the
letter, legislators will add their voice to the effort to ensure that
the agreement struck in 2001 between the White House and Congress to
keep aid levels to these two countries equal is fully respected. In
addition, the letter calls for a hard earmark of at least million
for Armenia, a one-year million allocation for Nagorno Karabagh,
and the preservation of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act.

Members of Congress joining Representatives Pallone and Radanovich
in cosigning the letter included: Reps. Tom Allen (D-ME), Robert
Andrews (D-NJ), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Howard Berman (D-CA), Michael
Bilirakis (R-FL), Eric Cantor (R-VA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Dennis Cardoza
(D-CA), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Joseph Crowley (D-NY),
William Delahunt (D-MA), David Dreier (R- CA), Chaka Fattah (D-PA),
Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), Barney Frank (D- MA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Rush
Holt (D-NJ), Michael Honda (D-CA), Dale Kildee (D-MI), James Langevin
(D-RI), Sander Levin (D-MI), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Stephen Lynch
(D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D- NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Doris Matsui
(D-CA), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), James McGovern (D-MA), John McHugh
(R-NY), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Martin Meehan (D-MA), Grace Napolitano
(D-CA), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Bobby Rush (D-IL),
H. James Saxton (R-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI),
Christopher Shays (R-CT), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rob Simmons (R-CT),
Mark Souder (R- IN), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Diane Watson (D-CA),
Henry Waxman (D- CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).

Representatives Knollenberg, Pallone, and Rothman also submitted
individual letters citing their foreign aid priorities for Armenia
and Nagorno Karabagh, among other countries.

The House Foreign Operations panel is set to review the FY2007 foreign
aid bill, which will then be considered by the full Appropriations
Committee and then the full U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate
will finalize its own version, which will be reconciled with the
House bill by a conference committee.

RESULTS OF COMPETITION HELD AMONG ANALYSTS AND EXPERTS SUMMED UP

YEREVAN, MARCH 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Caucasus Institute for Democracy”
development program summed up on March 16 results of a competition
announced among experts and analysts 2 months ago. According to them,
among the more than 30 presented works, Vahagn Aglian was honoured with
the first prize, 300 thousand drams and diploma for the work dedicated
to development of relations of Russia and the South Caucasus. Prizes
of 200 thousand drams and dimplomas were awarded to Artak Shakarian
for the work concerning the process of Turkey’s membership to the
European Union, and Haroutiun Khachatrian, Noyan Tapan agency expert,
for the work “Armenia: Economy Growth Potential of Coming Years.”

Sergey Shakariants for the work “Kosovo and Artsakh,” Hayk Demoyan and
Sergey Minasian correspondingly for the works “Islamic Mercenaries
in Karabakh War” and “Military-Technical Aspects of Regional Safety
and Problems of Control towards Armament in South Caucasus,” were
awarded the third prize of 150 thousand drams each and dimplomas.

Others of other 3 works were awarded encouriging prizes of 50 thousand
drams each: Hrant Ter-Abrahamian and Levon Ghazarian for the works
concerning problems relating to Iran, and Arshak Ohanian for the
analysis of the U.S., NATO and Russia relations and policy with the
South Caucasus.

While summing up the competition results, Gagik Ter-Haroutiunian, the
head of the jury, the Director of the “Noravank” scientific-educational
center, attached serious importance to the issue that analytical
society is formed in Armenia the evidence of what is that the
considerable part of more than 30 works are analytical works of
a rather high quality. Estimating the works, the jury took into
account the authors’ independence and the general quality of the
works. The organizers also mentioned that the competition will become
a traditional one.

ALL-ARMENIAN CONFERENCE OF DIASPORAN ORGANIZATION TO BE HELD IN
WASHINGTON ON MARCH 26-28, 2006

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 16 2006

YEREVAN, March 16. /ARKA/. An all-Armenian conference of diasporan
organizations is to be held in Washington, D.C., on March 26-28,
2006. The Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) reports that among the
participants in the conference will be RA Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
countries Daniel Fried, as well as representatives of the US Red Cross,
Peace Corps and Habitat for Humanity.

During the conference, the member of the US Senate Paul Sarbanes
will receive an award for public services and commitment to the
Armenian Cause.

Over 20 organizations, including “Armenia 2020”, Armenian Network of
America, Armenian High Tech Council of America, Armenian Student’s
Association of America, will take part in the conference. P.T. -0–

CE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS APPROVES 2006-2007 ACTIONS PLAN OF COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIA AND CE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 15 2006

STRASBOURG, MARCH 15, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On March 15, the
Council of Europe (CE) Committee of Ministers approved the 2006-2007
Actions Plan of cooperation between Armenia and the Council of Europe.

After adopting the Actions Plan made up through close cooperation
with the Armenian authorities Ambassador Christian Ter-Stepanian,
Resident Representative of Armenia to Council of Europe, mentioned
that the progress of fulfilment of its obligations by Armenia five
years after joining the Council of Europe was taken into consideration
in the Actions Plan.

He was pleased to inform that the Actions Plan took into consideration
the prospect that opened by reforming the Constitution – for
strengthening the human rights system, judicial power’s independence
and democratic institutions’ activity, in particular, through
development of the civil society, political parties and local
democracy.

He reminded that this program really becomes very useful at the moment
when the Armenian government approved the schedule of the legislative
reforms conditioned by the constitutional amendments adopted by the
2005 November referendum.

“We realize that this cooperation will help Armenia to bring its
legislation and practice in correspondence with European norms and
standards and will enable to accompany the reforms policy, which is
necessary for deepening Armenia’s process of European integration,”
the Ambassador declared.

THE PEOPLE POLLUTING THE STREETS WILL BE FINED

A1+
07:11 pm 14 March, 2006

The street flowerpots of Sisian have turned into garbage bins because
of snow melts. One can see the remains of cigarettes and sunflower,
waste in polyethylene bags everywhere-in the parks, streets,
gardens. The dwelling places and cellars are more polluted than the
rest of the city.

This garbage then spreads easily with the help of cats and dogs. The
director of Sisian’s Cleaning Company ltd Slavik Alaverdyan says
that the garbage cleaning is realized by a schedule; the rubbish
cleaner does its work 3 times a day in each district. According
to S. Alaverdyan 33 rubbish bins will be placed in the nearest
future. It will cost 47000 dollars. Besides, the company will
acquire a new garbage cleaner. There will be another innovation in
Sisian; the Company will take photos of the people who throw their
waste into the street. The photos of these people will be stuck in
visible places for the media .The polluters will be fined from 5000
to 50000drams.

Sisian’s “Sosi” TV channel

ARMENIA JOINS EUROCONTROL ON MARCH 1

Noyan Tapan
Mar 07 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia became the 36th member state
of Eurocontrol on March 1. NT was informed about it from the RA MFA
Press and Information Department.

Becoming a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) in 1922, Armenia joined the International Civil Aviation
Union. Armenia was the first one of the former Soviet republics to
join the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) in 1996. Since
that time, Armenia has received ECAC technical assistance.

Armenia has developed jointly with Eurocontrol a program on
modernization of its air traffic management services. Armenian experts
have been sent to the Eurocontrol Office for this purpose.

According to Eurocontrol’s Director General Victor Aguago, Armenia’s
joining the Eurocontrol is one of the most welcome developments which
is fully in line with the programs aimed at developing the European
Air Management System.

He attached importance to this step in terms of creation of new
airways in the region in European and Far East destinations.

Eurocontrol is a European organization on air traffic safety, whose
main purpose is to develop the European Air Traffic Management System
under current conditions of air traffic growth.

24 OF PARTICIPANTS OF ANTI-ARMENIAN DEMONSTRATION INITIATED BY PANTURKISTS IN TAVRIZ ARRESTED

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 07 2006

TABRIZ, MARCH 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. At the February
26 meeting with the journalists, Colonel Haghighi, Commander of
the law-inforcement bodies of Tabriz, gave explanations about the
anti-Armenian demonstration in front of the building of the Armenian
National primacy building of Atrpatakan held on the same day in Tabriz.

The illegal demonstration was initiated by Panturkist groupings. As the
“Alik” Tehran daily informs, referring to the information of the Tabriz
“Mahde Azadi” daily, the law-inforcement bodies of Tabriz, defending
the minority of the Tabrizian Armenians and holding up the danger
threatening the rights of the population, arrested 24 demonstrants and
gave the cases instituted against them to the law-enforcement bodies.

ARMENIA TO DEVELOP RENEWABLE ENERGY?

Regnum, Russia
March 7 2006

Yerevan, 7 March 2006 (Regnum – website) – The Armenian Government is
negotiating with the World Bank to get $8 mln for developing renewable
energy. The director of the Armenian Renewable Energy Foundation Tamara
Babayan says that the WB is ready to provide $5 mln in soft loans for
the construction of small water and wind power plants and $3 mln in
grants for the formation of a favorable investment climate and the
preparation of business plans. Babayan says that her foundation was
set up in Apr 2005 and start up Nov 21 2005.

The foundation has already applied for a total for $15 mln crediting.

Babayan hopes that the first credit will be received in Apr 2006
– though it has yet to be approved by the WB and ratified by the
Armenian Parliament. The foundation provides credits on a revolver
basis, with the beneficiaries having 30% therein. Babayan says that
other financial organizations are also interested in the program.

EBRD is ready to provide $7 mln, Gafesjyan Foundation $3 mln.

(Delovoy Ekspress)

Today, Azerbaijan
March 10 2006

Reno Harnish: “Nagorno Karabakh conflict should be settled through
talks”

10 March 2006 [17:03] – Today.Az

“The US takes an active part in resolution process of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict in the recent two years,” the US Ambassador to
Azerbaijan Reno Harnish told the journalists.

Saying people are killed in the frontline everyday, the Ambassador
underscored that it is the indicator the Nagorno Karabakh conflict’s
not being “Frozen conflict”.

The diplomat stated that the conflict should be settled through
negotiations. Mr.Harnish expressed his regret that sided failed to
come to agreement in Rambouillet talks and said that the both state
leaderships as well as nations should be met often and continue
regular talks in order to reach agreement.

“The both foreign ministers and co-chairs should intensify attempts
at settlement of the conflict.”

Mr.Harnish added that OSCE Minsk Group American co-chair Steven Mann
will visit Azerbaijan on March 13 and discussion will be held on
continuation of the talks for settlement process, APA bureau in
Sheki-Zagatala reports.

URL:

Zaman, Turkey
March 11 2006

Genocide Movie with Turkish Money

By Foreign News Desk, Istanbul
Published: Saturday, March 11, 2006
zaman.com

The Council of Europe decided to give financial support to the
Italian movie “The farm of the skylarks” which is about the so-called
Armenian genocide.

The Council of Europe foundation Eurimages decided to allocate
600,000 euros to Italian Antony and Paolo Taviani Brothers’ new film
titled “The farm of the skylarks,” which was adapted from Armenian
originated Antoni Aslan’s novel after its last meeting in Strasbourg.

Euroimages’, to which Turkey contributes a million euros yearly, drew
reaction from Ankara. Turkish Representative to Eurimages, Ihsan
Kabil, told Zaman that the movie insults the Turkish army and calls
an army officer a “donkey.”

The meeting in Strasbourg was reported to host many discussions about
this issue. All members, except Turkey, approved the financial aid
for the film, which had previously been approved by a 23-member jury
early this week.

Kabil said Ankara could not prevent the decision despite its
diplomatic efforts. He further noted Eurimages’s French Chairman
Jacques Toubon was quite influential in the decision. “Touban
delivered a 15 minute speech during the meeting and explicitly
supported the so-called Armenian Genocide. He said Turkey committed
the genocide, acting as if he was talking about a historical fact
rather than an unproven claim.” Kabil and Ahmet Boyacioglu, Turkey’s
representatives in Eurimages, gave speeches to criticize Toubon’s
speech and the film. Toubon, also a European Parliament (EP) Deputy,
is known to be a supporter of the so-called Armenian Genocide.

Kabil also remarked about the scenario of the movie and said one of
the Turkish army officers in the film was called a “donkey,” the
movie was not sufficient in artistic value. “There are many
cartoon-like scenes in the film which insult Turks and all of the
Turkish soldiers in the movie were portrayed as cruel people.”