Armenian Catholicosate and Canadian Prelacy Thank Prime Minister for
Genocide Recognition

ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 12:18

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Catholicosate of
Cilicia and His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the
Armenian Prelacy of Canada, issued separate thank you letters to the
Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Canada’s prime minister, for
acknowledging the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

In a statement made to the Armenian National Committee of Canada
(ANCC), the Prime Minister acknowledged the motion adopted by the
House of Commons recognizing the Armenian Genocide as the first
genocide of the 20th century and condemning it as a crime against
humanity.

`My party and I supported those resolutions and continue to recognize
them today¦ I join with you today in remembering the past and I
encourage you to continue honouring your forefathers by building a
bright future for all Canadians.’

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos, along with His Eminence, Prelate
Hagopian, and ANCC representatives, met with the Prime Minister, at
his request, in October 2005. During this meeting, His Holiness
discussed with Harper the issue of the Armenian Genocide and its
recognition by the Canadian government, as well as the possibility of
establishing a Canadian Embassy in Armenia, and expressed hope that
the Catholicosate and the Prelacy will continue to work together with
the Canadian Government on matters of concern for Canadians and
Armenians on multiple levels.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Vardan Oskanyan: After the Ramboulliet the negotiations are in a
semi-deadlock

ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 13:05

`After the Ramboulliet the negotiations on settlement of the Karabakh
conflict have found themselves in a semi-deadlock. Some progress was
registered before Ramboulliet, and today attempts are made to restart
the process,’ RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan declared during the
meeting with the faculty and students of Artsakh State University.

The Foreign Minister noted that in reality the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict and the official recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic are the major issues in Armenia’s foreign policy. In the
sphere of interior policy the Minister emphasized the democratization
of the society and the stable economic development.

Turning to the current situation of settlement of the Karabakh
conflict, Vardan Oskanyan noted,’ Azerbaijan should understand that
that the wheel of history cannot be turned back. Baku should refuse
from the idea of military resolution of the conflict.’

Turning to the regional issues, the Foreign Minister noted the bad
influence of Russian-Georgian relations on the overall situation in
the region.

NKR President and RA Foreign Minister attach importance to the
deepening of interagency ties

ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 14:00

April 28 NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan received the Armenian
delegation headed by Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan. NKR
President’s Office informs that the interlocutors turned to
prospects of development of interagency cooperation between Foreign
Ministries of the two countries. Attaching importance to the programs
of deepening the existing ties, Arkadi Ghukasyan confirmed that this
will promote the reinforcement of the positions of the Armenian side
in the negotiations process.

Arkadi Ghukasayn had a separate meeting with RA Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan. The parties discussed the current situation of the
talks on settlement of the Karabakh conflict and exchanged views on
the recent suggestions of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Armenia continues reinforcing its capacity to resist terrorist threats

ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 14:32

`With the considerable assistance of the US Armenia continues
reinforcing its capacity to resist terrorist threats,’ says the annual
report of the US Department of State on fight against terrorism.

`Despite the fact that there are no terrorist groups in Armenia, the
geopolitical location of the country, its `leaky’ borders and the free
visa regime provide growing opportunities for illegal trafficking of
prohibited matters, people and finances. The deepening political and
economic ties of the Armenian government with neighboring Iran have
restricted the criticism of Iranian radicals in Armenia. Armenia has
normal diplomatic and economic relations with Syria. There are large
Armenian communities in Iran and Syria,’ the document notes.

The report mentions that Armenia continues to take efforts in the
direction of raising the level of protection of important documents
and has started implementation of special facilities for checking
passports.

The annual report of the Department of State notes that in August 2005
Armenia adopted the national control list, which includes those goods,
which cannot be exported or require a special export license.

PACE Presidnet: In case Azerbaijan applies force, it will end its
membership to the Coucil of Europe

ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 14:52

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
René Van der Linden said in his exclusive interview to MEDIAMAX
Agency that in case of resumption of the war between Armenia and
Azerbaijan `the membership of the countries tying to resolve the
conflict in a military way to the Council of Europe will become
impossible.’

Commenting upon the militant statements of the Azerbaijani leader,
PACE President said, `They should know that if they decide to use
force, it will put an end to their membership to the Council of
Europe. However, I am sure no one will demonstrate such behavior.’

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Manuk Gasparyan surprised with the rapid political developments in the
country

ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 15:31

`Preceding the coming parliamentary elections, the developments in
Armenia change rapidly, which is just unexpected,’ considers Manuk
Gasparyan, NA Deputy, Head of the `Democratic Way’ political party.

If months ago he was making predictions which political parties would
be represented in the next Parliament, then today he considers that
making such predictions is a thankless thing.

The Deputy is confident that it is natural that the events should
develop rapidly, adding, however, `I did not expect that the
politicians would start using black PR against each other as early as
a year and two months before elections.’

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Ruben Safrastyan: The struggle for Genocide recognition should be
transfered to the international legal field

ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 15:43

`It is the proper time to transfer the struggle for the Armenian
Genocide recognition from the political sphere to the international
legal field and, why not, think about reimbursement,’ said head of the
Department of Turkey at the RA Academy of Sciences, Doctor Ruben
Safrastyan.

According to him, the Armenian government should undertake the
resolution of this issue via forming all-Armenian commissions, which
will decide upon the forms of compensation and choose the legal
structures, which must be applied to.

12th meeting of US-Armenia Task Force to start in Yerevan on May 2

ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 15:55

The 12th meeting of the US-Armenia Task Force (USATF) will be held in
Yerevan on May 2. The meeting will be chaired by RA Minister of
Finance and Economy Vardan Khachatryan and US Coordinator for Europe
and Eurasia Tom Adams. According to the Press Service of the RA
Ministry of Finance and Economy, it is envisaged to discuss issues of
bilateral interest, present the programs under implementation and to
clarify issues of the programmed measures. Among the issues on the
USATF agenda are measures to encourage Armenia’s economic development,
democratic reforms, the Millennium Challenge Program-related issues,
macroeconomic policy and long-term development promotion programs, tax
and customs sector reforms. Problems of agriculture, judicial and
energy sectors, educational and scientific issues, as well as the
fight against terrorism and other programs of mutual interest will be
addressed during the meeting. The USATF was established in 2000 with
the aim of promoting the cooperation between the two countries and
enhancing the efficiency of assistance programs implemented by the US
government in Armenia. The USATF holds two meetings annually – in
Washington and Yerevan. Over the past decade, the US government has
implemented various development and humanitarian programs of a total
of 1.6 billion dollars in Armenia.

Armenia-Iceland – 10:5

ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 16:00

Hockey Federation of Armenia informs that in the Armenian national
hockey team scored 10:5 in the match against the team of Luxemburg at
the World Championship held in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Denis Kulagin, suspected of killing an Armenian citizen, was released

ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 16:30

Denis Kulagin, 17, suspected of killing an Armenian citizen, was
released today. According to a source in the law enforcement bodies,
the schoolboy was released after the expiration of the 72-hour
detainment term authorized earlier by the court.

To remind, April 22, 2006 near the Pushkinskaya metro station a fight
took place, in the result of which a student of one of the Moscow
Institutes, Armenian in origin Vahan Abramyants was knifed and
died. Immediately after this the fight participants escaped. A
criminal case was launched according to the Article 105 of the RF
Penal Code.