Author: Topchian Jane

ARMENIA JOINED THE PROCESS KNOWING THE PRICE IT HAS TO PAY

Lragir.am
01 April 06

Poverty reduction by 6 per cent and about 34 per cent growth of
income of rural population in five years. This is the result that
the government of Armenia expects after the implementation of the
Millennium Challenge Corporation program on which an agreement was
signed in Washington on March 27.

The minister of finance and economy of Armenia Vardan Khachatryan,
who signed the agreement, met with Armenian news reporters in Yerevan
on March 31 and announced that they hope to get through with logistics
by August and manage work of 6 billion dollars in 2006. A total of 235
million dollars will be allocated within five years. It will almost
entirely be spent on the reconstruction of rural infrastructures.

A special body was set up for the financial management of the
program. The implementation will be controlled by the MCC office
in Yerevan to open in July. A target group board will be set up as
well, the members will be representatives of NGOs, five will become
members of the managing board of the MCC program. Besides these five
representatives of NGOs six members of the board will be from the
government, but only the representatives of NGOs will have the right
to veto.

Before signing an agreement with Armenia the Millennium Challenge
Corporation had signed agreements with another 7 countries, but Vardan
Khachatryan is hopeful that Armenia will be the first or one of the
first to get funding, because our program is more detailed and will
not arouse questions later.

However, not everything is as definitive as it may seem, and Vardan
Khachatryan is hopeful that if Armenia fails to comply with certain
stipulations, the program will be suspended. The stipulations, which
are 16, are different in scope: political, economic, social. Their
compliance is measured by coloring: good is marked green, not very
good is marked yellow, and poor is marked red.

“If two or three of these are marked red, the program will be
suspended, for it will mean that Armenia does not comply with the
stipulation of the program. If the reforms do not move forward, we
will be left out of the millennium programs. But I am convinced that
this will not happen, because the indices are improving year by year,”
says Vardan Khachatryan. Generally, he thinks that the stipulations
underlying the MCC program are problems that Armenia has been tackling
in the past 15 years, and with or without the American program, Armenia
is trying to promote democracy, build a fair system of governance,
because these are prime concerns.

“Last year the index of fair governance changed a little, connected
with the events of April 12. Thus, even if the index does not go down
but remains the same, does not grow, it is assessed as poor. The other
indices have always been satisfactory,” says Vardan Khachatryan. He
assured that when “Armenia entered the process, it realized what was
expected from it.”

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 31 2006

As frequently ceasefire regime is violated in Armenian-Azeri
frontline, as situation is tenser – Defense Minister

Source: Trend
Author: E.Javadova

31.03.2006

As frequently the ceasefire regime is violated in the
[Armenian-Azerbaijani] frontline, as situation is tenser, Safar Abiyev,
the Azerbaijani Defense Minister, told journalists, Trend reports.

He voiced his regret for loss of Azerbaijani soldiers as a result of
intensive armistice breaches by Armenian troops. “The violation of
the ceasefire has become an ordinary case. One more soldier of the
Azerbaijani army died on 30 March as a result of the violation of
the ceasefire in the frontline,” Abiyev underscored.

The minister assured the Ministry and the Commander-in-chief of
Azerbaijan were informed of the recent armistice breaches in the
Armenian-Azerbaijani frontline.

Concerning the rumors on violence reportedly used against the soldiers
of the national army Abiyev stated that there was not a problem of
dedovshina in the Azerbaijani Army.

ACCORDING TO RA FINANCE MINISTER, GAS PRICE INCREASE NOT TO HAVE
UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCES FOR STATE BUDGET

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The increase in the gas price will
not have any unexpected consequences for the Armenian state budget,
RA Minister of Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatrian stated on March
31. Axccording to him, if the government is not satisfied with the
new price of gas, it can compensate the population for some part
of it. “If I am not mistaken, such a three-year program exists,”
the minister noted.

Lennmarker Proposes Aland Islands Model for Karabakh

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2006 21:25 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Parliamentary Assembly special representative
on Nagorno Karabakh Goran Lennmarker proposed to use the model of
the Aland Islands for the conflict settlement, member of the Azeri
delegation in the OSCE PA, chairman of the Milli Mejlis Standing
Committee for Agriculture Eldar Ibrahimov stated. In his words,
when observing the parliamentary elections in Ukraine he met there
with OSCE PA President Alcee L. Hastings, Assembly Secretary General
Spencer Oliver and his assistant Vitaly Yevseyev and requested to
send rapporteur Lennmarker to Azerbaijan early April.

“Last October Mr. Lennmarker paid a visit to Armenia to clarify the
opinion of the government on the report. He did not come to Azerbaijan
due to elections held in the republic that time. I am not aware of the
details Lennmarker achieved agreement on with the Armenian party. But I
believe he should visit Azerbaijan as well to meet with the members of
the delegation to the OSCE PA, Foreign Minister, Milli Mejlis chairman
and the President is a necessity emerges,” the Azeri deputy said.

When asked about the reasons of the delay of Lennmarker’s visit to
Azerbaijan, Eldar Ibrahimov said, “Goran Lennmarker behaves like the
OSCE Minsk Group that is protracting the Karabakh conflict settlement
by all means. They all say “let both states demonstrate political
will and achieve agreement and we will help them.” We ask “why are
you needed and what’s you mission in this case?”

When speaking of the reports saying that Mr.

Lennmarker offered to form a reconciliation committee between Armenia
and Azerbaijan the parliamentarian noted that the issue has not
been considered yet. “We do not need such a committee. Armenians and
Azerbaijanis sit face to face in various international organizations
and speak to each other. They present their positions on the issue,”
he said. When commenting on Lennmarker’s position Ibrahimov said,
“Goran Lennmarker is Swedish. Once a conflict broke out in the
Swedish-inhabited Aland Islands belonging to Finland and as result
the Islands were granted the status of high autonomy. This issue
in mentioned in Lennmaker’s report. He notes that for a long time
already the Swedish population lives in peace maintaining their
culture and native tongue. It means that Armenians can easily leave
within Azerbaijan. I think this proposal was made in our favor.

Representatives of all the nationalities will be rendered security
guarantees in Azerbaijan,” reported the 525th Azeri newspaper.

HARUTYUN KHACHATRIAN: WE HOPE TO RECEIVE BLESSING OF SPECTATORS BEFORE OUR LONG TRIP
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily
30/03/2006

We informed earlier that the world premier of Harutyun Khachatrian’s
“Poet’s Return” documentary took place on January 25-February
5. The film was highly appreciated by both the film critics and the
spectators. The Armenian premier of the film will be held on March
29 at “Moscow” cinema theatre.

The film is based on documentary materials and depicts the contemporary
Armenia through the character of Jivani, folk singer and poet. The
plot of the film develops around the trip of Jivani’s statute from
Yerevan to Javakhk, his homeland.

After the Armenian premier, the film will be shown in Washington, in
Prague, in Italy and in other foreign cities. Mr. Khachatrian said that
many Armenian art critics and film critics are invited to the premier.

“We hope to receive the blessing of the spectators our long trip,
“Harutyun Khachatrian stated.

TURKEY: NON-MUSLIM PLACES OF WORSHIP TO BE RESTORED

AKI, Italy
March 29 2006

Istanbul, 29 March (AKI) – For the first time since the foundation
of Turkey in 1923, the government is funding an ambitious project to
renovate and restore non-Muslim places of worship, such as churches,
monasteries and synagogues. The Foundations General Directorate, an
agency which regulates the status of the non-Muslim faiths, began a
review of important sites around the country two years ago and produced
an emergency action plan involving 750 heritage buildings out of 18,500
such holy sites in the country. The restoration of select monuments has
been welcomed by representatives of the minority religions in Turkey.

Silvio Ovidio, the spokesman of the Jewish community, told Adnkronos
International (AKI) that they welcomed the decision. “We are pleased
with the Directorate’s decision. I don’t think it is related with
Turkey’s EU harmonisation process but rather, the office decided it
on its own. There is one synagogue in Edirne [a city near the Greek
border] included in the renovation plan,” Ovidio added.

Turkey’s Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II also praised the move. “This
shows there is no discrimination”, he told reporters on Sunday, adding
that it was a gesture of good will which he hoped would continue in
the future.

Besides the synagogue, six churches and one monastery will be renovated
in the first stage of the plan. These sites belong to Greek Orthodox,
Assyrian Christian, Greek Catholic and Armenian Orthodox communities.

The status of assets belonging to non-Muslim communities is a source
of tension between Turkey and the European Union which it is seeking
to join.

A 1936 proclamation ordered non-Muslim foundations to provide lists
of their properties, which effectively functioned as deeds.

However, these communities have not been allowed to register properties
ever since 1974 when the Cyprus crisis broke out and the Turkish
minority was being oppressed in Greece. A controversial decision by
the Turkish Supreme Court over the Balikli Greek Hospital Foundation
in Istanbul led to all non-Muslim foundations being banned from buying,
owning or selling properties. The ruling also stated that they had not
been entitled to own property since 1936, and demanded the properties
they purchased after 1936 be handed back to the previous owners,
or if these were dead to be confiscated by the state.

EU officials say that this proclamation violates both human rights
and minority rights.

Under the Lausanne Treaty of 1923 that laid the foundations of the
modern Turkish republic, non-Muslims are equal before the law.

Article 40 of the treaty even specifies that this gives them the equal
right to “establish, manage and control at their own expense; any
charitable, religious and social institutions, any schools and other
establishments for instruction and education, with the right to use
their own language and to exercise their own religion freely therein.”

COMPENDIOUS CEREMONY OF “ARTAVAZD” AWARDING OF THEATRICAL FIGURES OF ARMENIA TAKES PLACE IN KAPAN THIS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 28 2006

KAPAN, MARCH 28, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The compendious
ceremony of the “Artavazd” annual awarding of the Union of
Theatrical Figures of Armenia took place at the cultural center
of Kapan on March 27. The event was for the first time held out of
the capital. The theatrical figures were in Syunik on March 26 and
marked the International Day of Theater here, making an attempt
to drow the authorities’ attention to problems of the 70-years
Kapan Dramatic Theater after Alexander Shirvanzade, including the
unsatisfactory building conditions. Yervand Manarian was recognized
the unstained devoted person of the theater, the best actor-figure
of the theater. Armen Elbakian’s “Man from La Mancha” staging was
recognized the best performance of the 2005-2006 theatrical season,
Larisa Mangasarova was given the prize for the best director’s work
for the “Little Prince” puppet performance. Guzh Manukian was awarded
the prize for the best play of man’s role in the theatrical season, and
Nelli Kheranian, an actress of the Sundukian National Academic Theater
was awarded for the best performance of woman’s role. Karen Grigorian,
a painter of the Yerevan Hrachia Ghaplanian Dramatic Theater was given
the prize in the nomination of the best art design. Mariam Ghazanchian,
Gagik Madoyan, Suren Avoyan and 11 years old Lida Levonian from the
“Metro” theater were recognized the best young actors-actresses. By
the decision of the Kapan community councillor, Hakob Ghazanchian,
the Artistic Head and Director of the Yerevan Young Spectators Theater
was given the title of the Honorary Citizen of Kapan Community.

PRESS RELEASE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Australia & New Zealand
10 Macquarie Street
Chatswood NSW 2067
AUSTRALIA
Contact: Laura Artinian
Tel: (02) 9419-8056
Fax: (02) 9904-8446
Email: [email protected]

29 March 2006

NSW PREMIER WELCOMES ARMENIAN PRIMATE AND FELLOW NSWEC DELEGATES

Sydney, Australia – Today, Premier of NSW, the Hon Morris Iemma MP
welcomed a delegation from the NSW Ecumenical Council that included
His Eminence Archbishop Aghan Baliozian (President NSWEC), Revd Dr
Ray Williamson (General Secretary NSWEC), Most Rev Michael Malone
(Roman Catholic Church) and Revd Dr Ann Wansborough (Uniting Church).

The delegates met with the Premier to extend congratulations on his
appointment and to better acquaint the Premier on the function and
role of the NSW Ecumenical Council. During the course of discussions
points concerning the church were raised with particular focus on
harmony in the community.

The NSWEC is comprised of sixteen member churches throughout the
state of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

In the words of General Secretary Revd Dr Ray Williamson, “Being
together ecumenically is an expression of those churches’ commitment
to seek a more complete communion with one another on the journey to
rediscovering the visible unity of the Church. Being together also
enables the churches to express a common voice on issues of concern
in society, and to work together on specific projects which touch
upon both the life of the churches and the needs of people in the
wider community.”

Other than theological reflection in a forum of member churches,
the NSWEC also undertakes a number of local initiatives ranging from
social justice, work in aid and development, and assisting refugees
with settlement.

ALIYEV: “AZERBAIJAN WON’T TOLERATE INTERFERENCE IN ITS INTERIOR AFFAIRS”

Today, Azerbaijan
March 27 2006

Azerbaijan’s annual development, the natural resources and
strengthening of the positions leads to activization of its enemies.

“We know them and struggle against them,” Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani
President, stated at an event held at the Academy of the National
Security Ministry on Monday.

According to Aliyev, Azerbaijan will reinforce its part in the world
and the region in the future that will lead to increase of enemies
and pressure on the country.

“We won’t tolerate interference in the interior affairs of Azerbaijan,”
the President noted.

According to Aliyev, Azerbaijan does not interfere in the interior
affairs of other countries. Therefore, Azerbaijan does not want any
other country to give instructions or dictate terms.

At present different occurs take place in the region and Azerbaijan
follows them intently. Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan is a member of
the international anti-terrorist coalition. Besides, Azerbaijan itself
lost over 2,000 people as a result of the terrorist acts by Armenia.

URL:

AS RESULT OF TWO STAGES, YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY RECTOR NOT ELECTED
YET

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The two stages of the elections of the
Yerevan State University Rector started on March 22 gave no result,
and those passed to the third stage. The four candidates presented
claims were from the University staff: Gegham Gevorgian, the
Mathematics Department Dean; Samvel Haroutiunian, the Physics
Department Dean; Aram Simonian, the YSU Pro-Rector on the Humanities,
and Gagik Ghazianian, the Law Department Dean. To recap, Aram Simonian
and Gegham Gevorgian aren’t the YSU Council members and have no right
to vote. After the first stage of the election, two of the candidates:
Samvel Haroutiunian and Gegham Gevorgian got correspondingly 4 and 16
votes and remained out of the further struggle. Two candidates, Aram
Simonian and Gagik Ghazinian, got more votes, correspondingly 21 and
28 ones, entered the second stage of the electoral struggle. According
to the regulations of the institution of higher education, the
candidate who will get 36+1 votes, may be elected the Rector. 70 of
the 72 members of the YSU Council participated in the election. Two
of them, NA Deputy Speaker Tigran Torosian and Oriental Studies
Department Dean Gurgen Melikian, are absent for valid reason. As a
result of a hot struggle promoted during the second stage, the YSU
Rector wasn’t elected either. Aram Simonian got 22 votes, Gagik
Ghazinian 32 ones, 9 people voted against all of them, and 7 voting
papers were recognized invalid. So, the YSU Rector’s elections entered
the third stage. According to Aram Simonian, it’s possible that Gagik
Ghazinian wins at that stage, but it isn’t excluded that the 4th stage
will also be held. Before the elections Aram Simonian expressed an
opinion that which of the four candidates is elected, it will be good
for the institution as all the of them are from the University. After
the second stage, Levon Mkrtchian, the head of the NA “ARF” faction
mentioned that he appreciates all the candidates, but finds that it
will be better for the YSU that the Rector is a representative of the
branch of natural sciences. He didn’t hide that he voted for Gegham
Gevorgian at the first stage.