Author: Karabekian Emil

Armenian National Committee of Canada
Comité National Arménien du Canada
130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com

Media Advisory

April 28, 2009
Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian

TVO Telecasts a Segment on the Armenian Genocide

Ottawa -TVO, the Ontario public television network, on the 94th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, on April 24 broadcasted an
interview with the Executive Director of the Armenian National
Committee of Canada. Steve Paikin conducted the interview for `The
Agenda with Steve Paikin’ program.

The video clips of the interview is on TVO website.

Please go to the below link and click on `Aris Babikian’ icon to view
the interview.

AWSP_Int1_20090424_779496_0

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The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
issues.

——

Le CNAC est l’organisation politique canadienne-arménienne la plus
large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux,
chapitres et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations
affiliées à travers le monde, le CNAC s’occupe activement des
inquiétudes de la communauté canadienne-arménienne.

Regional Chapters/Sections régionales
Montréal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge –
St. Catharines – Windsor – Vancouver

TURKISH OPPOSITION ACCUSES PRIME MINISTER OF TREACHEROUS ATTITUDE TO AZERBAIJAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.04.2009 16:55 GMT+04:00

Even if the Turkish President and Prime Minister could not explain
the Armenian-Turkish Issue to President Obama, they could have shown
him Justine MacCarthy’s book, Deniz Baykal , leader of the Turkish
Republican People’s Party, said.

According to Turkish pro-oppositional party leader, Obama used
an Armenian term, without mentioning anything about the other
party. "There were many Turks who died during World War I. The
‘route map’ elaborated by Armenia and Turkey did not in any way
normalize Armenian-Turkish ties but it did harm Turkish-Azerbaijani
relations. Turkey has to realize Azerbaijan’s concerns. It’s
Azerbaijan’s friendly ties with Turkey rather than its ruling party
that will be eternal. We broke friendly ties with Azerbaijan but
didn’t get any of NATO’s promises fulfilled," Turkish mass media
report, quoting Mr. Baykal.

American writer and scenarist Justine MacCathy wrote the book "Anatolia
1915", in which he negates the fact of the Armenian Genocide.

VTB BANK ARMENIA NET INCOME COMPRISED AMD 2,9 BILLION IN 2008

PanARMENIAN.Net
29.04.2009 20:47 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In 2008 VTB Bank Armenia net income comprised AMD
2,9 billion against AMD 0,8 billion in 2007, VTB Bank Armenia Director
General Valeri Ovsyannikov told a news conference on Wednesday.

"Despite difficulties world economy faced in 2008, VTB Bank Armenia
had a significant income," VTB Bank Director General stated.

According to him, in 2008 bank’s credit portfolio was increased by
73% to comprise AMD 70,8 billion, which is a result of major client
inflow and implementation of new credit programs.

As per 2008 results, clients investment assets comprised AMD 27,4
billion, and time deposit volumes grew by 33%, compared to 2007,
comprising AMD 14,5 billion.

Net operating income comprised AMD 9,1 billion in 2008, increasing
78%-79% compared with 2007 results, he said.

Up to June 20, 2006 VTB Bank (Armenia) has operated under the name
"Savings Bank of the Republic of Armenia." Armsavingsbank was founded
in 1923 with an aim to render banking services, particularly to
attract savings and grant consumer loans. Since April 2004 one of the
RF leading banks, Vneshtorgbank, became the shareholder of over 70%
of Armsavingbank shares, thus Armsavingsbank became integrated into
the network of Vneshtorgbank subsidiaries operating worldwide. In
June 2006 Armsavingsbank was renamed to "VTB Bank (Armenia)" CJSC.

In July 2007 VTB acquired 30% less one share from "Mika Armenia
Trading" LTD company and became the sole shareholder of 100% shares
of its subsidiary in Armenia, "VTB Bank (Armenia)" CJSC.

Activity Program of "VTB Bank (Armenia)" envisages further expansion
of Armenia`s economy financing. In subsidiary bank development program
it is intended to achieve 20% of corporate clients lending market,
and 15% in the sphere of funds attraction from legal and physical
persons. Beside, the Bank constantly renews the range of services
offered to retail business customers and enlarges its activities in
most diverse spheres of business, from small enterprise servicing to
expansion of collaboration with major corporate clients.

Bank has 78 branches, 984 employees.

13 WOMEN CRIMINALS DISCOVERED IN THE REPUBLIC DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 30, 2009
YEREVAN

During the first quarter of 2009, 13 women criminals have been
discovered in the republic, 190 – are wanted.

Head of the information department of the Armenian Police Armen
Malkhasian told Armenpress that compared with 2006 and 2007 during
2008 the number of crimes in Armenia committed by women increased by
56: 585 crimes have been registered. Cases of robbery and swindler
overwhelm. During 2008, 53 cases of robbery and 42 cases of swindler
committed by women have been discovered.

The number of murders conducted by women is small: in 2006 no murders
have been registered, in 2007, 4 murders have been committed and in
2008 – 3. Most crimes have been conducted by 30-49 year-old women; in
2006, 315 crimes have been revealed, in 2007 – 282 and in 2008 – 312.

During the last three years the most crimes committed by women have
been registered in the capital: in 2006 – 273, in 2007 – 237, and in
2008 – 254.

During 2006, 23 prostitutes have been arrested, in 2007-2008 – 14;
in 2007, 5 women dealing with trafficking and in 2008 – 7.

PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT MARIOS GAROYIAN HEADS CYPRUS COMMEMORATION OF 94TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Gibrahayer
26 April
Nicosia

Cyprus Parliament President Marios Garoyian headed the Cyprus
commemoration of the 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
in a political gathering that took place at PASIDY Hall in Nicosia
on April 25, that was attended by more than 400 community members,
leaders and representatives of Cypriot political parties and embassies.

Garoyian was warmly greeted by an enthusiastic crowd who welcomed the
second top man in Cyprus of Armenian decent, as the main speaker of
the evening.

Garoyian said that the reason why we pursue the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide, is not because we are filled with hateful of
revengeful feelings towards the Turks, but because we want justice to
be attributed to a historical wrongdoing that needs to be recognised
not only by the international community but by the Turkish government.

He further stated that he was filled with fresh resolve ever since
he visited Armenia and the Genocide Monument in Yerevan and that he
would continue struggling for both our homelands, Armenia and Cyprus.

Opening remarks to the event were made by Armenian MP Vartkes
Mahdessian – who will also be addressing the Cyprus Parliament
tomorrow, Thursday 30 April at 4:00 pm.

The event also included a20cultural program that featured the
Hamazkayin Sipan Dance Ensemble, Eurovision finalist Gore Melian,
Zara Melian, Lilia Khachadrian as well as Alisa Vosganyan on the kanon.

Cyprus’s political parties commemorated the 94th Anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide by the Turks by issuing statements of support
for the Armenian people. Cyprus is among the first nations to have
recognised the Armenian Genocide by the Turks and is one of the key
supporters of Armenia in the EU.

A day earlier the Armenian youth organised a march from Eleftherias
Square to Armenia street where they met with community members who
joined them to the Genocide Monument where a Vigil was held.

Greek and Turkish language newspapers, TV and the media in general
give wide coverage of all events that were organised last week.

ARMENIAN HEALTH CARE MINISTER: ARMENIA IS DOING ITS BEST TO GET READY FOR POSSIBLE ATTACK OF SWINE FLU

ArmInfo
2009-04-29 21:58:00

Armenia is doing its best to get ready for possible attack of swine
flu, says Minister of Health Care of Armenia Haroutyun Kushkyan.

The Armenian authorities are implementing a special program complying
with the WHO standards and are carrying out active preventive
measures at the country’s airports. "We are also planning to inform
our people via television. As of today, the situation in Armenia is
under control," Kushkyan said.

159 people have already died of swine flu. 2,498 are in
hospitals. Cases of swine flu have been registered in Austria, Germany,
Spain, Scotland, Canada, Israel and the United States.

TURKEY URGES OBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF JOINT HISTORY WITH ARMENIA

armradio.am
29.04.2009 12:54

Turkey and Armenia’s joint history should be evaluated with "an
objective and scientific approach," the Turkish National Security
Council, or MGK, said after a meeting held Tuesday, Hurriyet Daily
News reported.

"The joint history of the Turkish and Armenian nations should be
evaluated with an objective and scientific approach that is supported
by undisputable proofs and documents and is free of all pre-conceived
notions," the MGK said in a statement issued after the meeting.

NATO WELCOMES STEPS AIMED AT ESTABLISHMENT OF NORMAL RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND TURKEY

NOYAN TAPAN
APRIL 28, 2009
YEREVAN

Armenia intends to strengthen and to develop mutually beneficial
cooperation with NATO within the framework of the Partnership for Peace
program. RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated at the April
28 meeting with Ambassador, NATO Deputy Secretary General Claudio
Bisogniero. He welcomed Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Actions
Plan (IPAP) as a format of efficient cooperation. E. Nalbandian
also stressed that Armenia will continue cooperating with NATO in
the directions of peacekeeping, fighting international terrorism,
liquidation of consequences of natural calamities, and in other
directions.

Attaching importance to development of cooperation with Armenia,
Claudio Bisogniero said that NATO highly assesses Armenia’s partnership
and the 2006-2008 results of IPAP implementation and expressed the hope
that the 2009-2010 Actions Plan will be also implemented successfully.

According to the report of the RA Foreign Ministry Press and
Information Department, in the context of discussion of regional issues
Claudio Bisogniero expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded
in the process of normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. He
emphasized that NATO welcomes steps aimed at establishment of normal
relations between Armenia and Turkey.

NATO WELCOMES THE STEPS ARMENIA AND TURKEY TAKE TOWARDS ESTABLISHMENT OF NORMAL RELATIONS

armradio.am
28.04.2009 14:47

On April 28 the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian,
received NATO’s Deputy Secretary General Claudio Bisogniero.

Greeting the gust, Minister Nalbandian noted that Armenia is willing
to reinforce and develop the mutually beneficial cooperation with
NATO within the framework of the Partnership for Peace Program.

The Armenian Foreign Minister attached importance to the Armenia-NATO
Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) as a productive framework
for cooperation. Edward Nalbandian stressed that Armenia would continue
the cooperation with NATO in the directions of peacekeeping, fighting
international terrorism, eliminating the consequences of natural
disasters, etc.

Emphasizing the importance of the cooperation with Armenia, Claudio
Bisogniero said the North Atlantic Alliance ranks high the results of
IPAP implementation and voiced hope that the Action Plan for 2009-2011
would also be successfully completed.

NATO’s Deputy Secretary General presented the results of the NAT O
summit in Strasbourg.

Mr. Bisogniero appreciated the progress towards normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations, emphasizing that NATO welcomes the steps
targeted at the establishment of normal relations between Armenia
and Turkey.

RAFFI HOVHANNISYAN: THOUGH ARMENIA SHOULD PUT PRECONDITIONS, IT’S TURKEY THAT DOES IT

armradio.am
28.04.2009 15:00

Success in the reconciliation talks between Turkey and Armenia
requires both sides to withdraw their preconditions, according to
Armenia’s first foreign minister, former foreign minister of Armenia
Raffi Hovhannisyan told the Hurriyet Daily News & Economic Review in
an interview.

"There is asymmetry. Though in fact Armenia should put preconditions
[before the reconciliatory talks], it’s Turkey that does it. If
it continues like this, they won’t be possible to establish ties,"
Raffi Hovannisian said.

"All three presidents of Armenia deserve criticism of their human
rights and democratic records but all of them attached great importance
to relations with Turkey and reiterated their calls for dialogue
without any precondition," he said.

"The historians should not study whether it was genocide or not. It’s
very obvious that what happened in 1915 constitutes genocide. Thus
they should study how it occurred," he said.

"My roots are in Ordu, a coastal town [in Turkey] near the Black
Sea. Many members of our family were the victims of genocide. But it
was a Turkish family who saved my mother. We cannot blame all Turkish
people for what happened at that time," Hovannisian said.