The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) has refuted the rumors about the growing discrepancies between the young and experienced RPA members. The discrepancies have allegedly been caused by the fact that candidate for mayor Taron Margaryan's campaign office is headed by the younger generation of the RPA, particularly, by Vice Speaker of Armenian Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov.      

When commenting on this information for ArmInfo, the RPA Deputy Chairman Razmik Zohrabyan stressed that these are the wild guesses of the mass media. Zohrabyan said that Margaryan's campaign office headed by Sharmazanov is working very effectively and the party has no complaints about Sharmazanov's activity. Zohrabyan thinks that these rumors are disseminated by those who envy the leadership of the campaign office and Sharmazanov. He said that the enviers might also be RPA members.

In its strategy the government of Armenia has chosen the way of the stage-by-stage liberalization of the air traffic market, deputy chief of CAGB, Aram
Marutyan, said at today's session of Armenia's Public Council.

He said that in 2008 they signed a "horizontal agreement" with the EU, where the points on liberalization of the air traffic market were fixed. At present, we have been negotiating with the EU on offering of more favorable conditions to the Armenian air companies, he said and added that such conditions may affect much development of the civil aviation of the country, as they will give an opportunity of using the European air area.

Touching on the relations between "Armavia" and "Zvartnots" airport, Marutyan said that CAGB used to take attempts for settlement of the conflict between them. The last negotiations resulted in a compromise solution, according to which the air company was given some privileges. As for the air fuel problem, he said that in this matter the airport is guided  by the points of the agreement made with the government of the country.

To note, Armavia air company has started the bankruptcy proceedings since 1 April 2013 and stopped all the flights. The total debt of the air company to the state amounted to 6,9 bln drams plus more than 12 bln drams of fines. Moreover, Armavia owed $35 mln to banks as well as to "Zvartnots" airport and navigation services of Russia.

In response to some political media's publications about the closure of a number of branches allegedly owing to financial problems, VTB Bank (Armenia) reports that the project of reformatting, modernization and optimization of the branch network launched in 2012 aims to make the customer service conditions as convenient as possible. This is the key task of the Bank and under the project 20 branches were renovated in 2012 and over 20 will be reformatted in 2013. 

As regards the Tashir branch, VTB Bank (Armenia) specifies for a number of political media that the branch is not liquidated but it suspended its activity on 15 April 2013 and its assets and liabilities were transferred to the Stepanavan branch. Thus, the Bank ensured the security of the deposits of the Tashir branch customers and also ensured the possibility of their further servicing.     

"The current policy of VTB Bank (Armenia) aims to upgrade the servicing points and to enhance the customer service level. Therefore, providing the branch with such conditions implies additional investments. This was not financially justified for the Tashir branch if the Bank takes measures to ensure uninterrupted process of servicing and continues operating in the neighboring town of Stepanavan. Like previously, the branch customers have an
opportunity to use e-service devices installed by the Bank. They can withdraw cash from their bank accounts and make payments via these devices. The Bank also offers the customers to receive the funds remitted via the money transfer systems to the customers' accounts without visiting the bank. Internet banking is also available. The funds of the pensioners are transferred to their bank accounts. It should also be noted that an ATM will be installed in Tashir by late April 2013", the Bank's statement says.

To note, at present VTB Bank (Armenia) has 67 branches in operation (against 70 branches in the same period of 2012), 43 of them in Armenia's regions and 24 in Yerevan.   

To recall, VTB Bank (Armenia) CJSC became a member of the VTB Group in April 2004. At the moment, VTB Bank OJSC, the second largest bank in Russia, owns 100% of VTB Bank (Armenia)'s shares. The Bank is among the leaders of the Armenian banking system by a number of indices.

 The "Armavia" company has not yet started bankruptcy proceedings. In this context, it is very much important to preserve the material and technical
facilities of the air company as well as its staff, the head of Armenia's Public Council, Vazgen Manukyan, said at today's session of the Council.

He said that both Armavia with its incorrect management and the state, staying aside from the problems of the national air carrier,  are blamed for the situation created in the civil aviation of Armenia. The monopoly of the air company as well as of Zvartnots airport also played a negative part in this problem. "Resolving of this problem is very much important for Armenia in the context of ensuring its security", - Manukyan said.

For his part, a member of the Council, Vazgen Safaryan, said that the total debt of the air company to the state amounted to 6,9 bln drams plus more than 12 bln drams of fines. Moreover, Armavia owed $35 mln to banks. The statement by the leadership of Armavia to suspend flights and start the bankruptcy proceedings seriously damaged interests of passengers and has resulted in sharp growth of the air ticket prices... The Public Council offers the government to take measures for the obligatory availability of the national air company. The Council has also offered the government to become an
intermediary between the national carrier and "Zvartnots" airport for resolving of all the problems, including the refusal of the monopoly rights by the airport.

To note, Armavia air company has started the bankruptcy proceedings since 1 April 2013 and stopped all the flights.

The statements by ambassadors of Poland, Switzerland and Germany about "Civilitas" foundation mean expressing their solidarity to the foundation, Ambassador of Poland to Armenia, Zdislaw Raczynski, said at today's press-conference in Yerevan.

He said that they did not study the details of the case as it is very much difficult. He also added that by visiting the foundation they wanted to express their solidarity and point at the importance of everything the foundation has been implementing in Armenia.

To recall, earlier the ambassadors of the USA, Germany, Switzerland and Poland called in the authorities of Armenia to stop the criminal case against Civilitas foundation.

The total of 21 delegates of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe signed a joint declaration, calling to recognize the 1915 Armenian Genocide. They said recognition will lead to the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkey.

The full text is provided below:

"Recognition of genocides is an act which contributes to the respect for human dignity and the prevention of crimes against humanity;

The fact of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire has been documented, recognised, and affirmed in the form of media and eyewitness reports, laws, resolutions, and statements by the United Nations, the European Parliament and Parliaments of the Council of Europe member States, including Sweden, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland, France, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Cyprus, the Russian Federation, as well as the US House of Representatives and 43 US States, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, Canada, Uruguay and Lebanon.

The undersigned, members of the Parliamentary Assembly, call upon all members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to take the necessary steps for the recognition of the genocide perpetrated against Armenians and other Christians in the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century, which will strongly contribute to an eventual similar act of recognition by the Turkish authorities of this odious crime against humanity and, as a result, will lead to the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkey and thus contribute to regional peace, security and stability."

 U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff made a speech on U.S. House Floor in Armenian language on April 24. The speech was timed to the 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in early 20th century.

The congressman said that he speaks the language of the people that were subjected to annihilation by Turkey, the language of mothers that were killed with kids in their hands, the language of those few people that survived Turkish yataghan and found shelter in the USA.

Today, when nearly a century has passed since that tragedy, Turkey still denies the Genocide of Armenians, but the American people has always had the courage to look reality in the face and call the things by their real names, he said. Rep. Schiff is sure that the U.S. authorities will sooner or later follow the example of the ordinary Americans.

"We are all Armenians today," the congressman said.

 The Foreign Affairs Ministry of Turkey issued a press release in which it criticized US President Barack Obama's statement released on the occasion of April 24, that is, on the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 1915.

The press release notes that, in his statement issued on Wednesday, April 24, Obama unfortunately demonstrated this year once again a one-sided approach which reflects the Armenian views, Milliyet daily of Turkey reported.

"Issued under the influence of domestic political considerations and interpreting controversial historical events on the basis of one-sided information and with a selective sense of justice, such statements damage both Turkish-American relations, and also render it more difficult for Turks and Armenians to reach a just memory.

"Our expectation from an important ally of Turkey such as the US is not to further deepen the problem, but to provide constructive contributions for its resolution, and to encourage the Armenian side, which avoids objective and scientific research of the issue, to be more realistic and conciliatory," the Turkish MFA press release states in particular. 

To note, in his April 24 statement this year US President Barack Obama again did not use the term "genocide" and, instead, he said "Medz Yeghern," which means "Great Slaughter," in Armenian, to describe the Armenian Genocide.

The Police of Armenia is a post-partisan structure and should not be involved in political processes, says the statement of the Police on the April 24 incident with Leader of PAP Gagik Tsarukyan.

To recall, G. Tsarukyan and his son visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial on April 24. The law-enforcers did not let Tsarukyan to leave the Memorial walking the way foreseen for members of parliament and officials, where his car was parked. The policemen told him to walk the common road together with the people. He went the common way, but halfway he bypassed policemen and went on walking the way foreseen for the officials.  Some representatives of PAP have harshly criticized the given actions of the police.

In a return statement, the Police declare that they are well aware of all the nuances of the election campaign for to the Elders' Council of Yerevan. Nevertheless, the Police urge Prosperous Armenia Party not to politicize their legal actions to protect public order.

 Poland cannot recognize independence of Nagorno Karabakh, given that Armenia has not done it yet, Polish Ambassador to Armenia Zdzislaw Raczynski told media in Yerevan, Thursday.

"Poland supports the EU's stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and comes out for peaceful resolution of the conflict within the OSCE Minsk Group," the ambassador said. At the same time, he said, the unresolved conflict negatively affects both the conflicting parties and the region, in general.  Zdzislaw Raczynski said he is sure that Armenia and Azerbaijan will achieve an agreement in a peaceful way.

"These two countries will co-exist for centuries and they should be ready to resolve the conflict. This will happen in a peaceful way and journalists as a link in this chain must prepare the people for such development of the situation," the ambassador said.

As regards Azerbaijan's threats to hit civil planes of NKR, Ambassador Raczynski said that he has no information of such statements at the official level.

Commenting on pardon and glorification of Ramil Safarov, the murderer of the Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan, Zdzislaw Raczynski called Azerbaijan's actions inappropriate and harmful for the negotiation process.

 Tensions broke out between police and protesters in Thessaloniki on Wednesday at the annual commemoration of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey nearly a century ago. Police used pepper spray to disperse the 250 protesters, mostly from Greek-Armenian groups, who had gathered outside the Turkish consulate in the northern city of Thessaloniki, enetenglish.gr. reported.

The incident occurred when a number of protesters challenged a riot police cordon, demanding permission to hand a protest petition to consulate staff.

Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 412 drams for 1 dollar, 536drams for 1 EUR and 13,1 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 413,2 drams for 1 dollar, 540 drams for 1 EUR and 13,2 drams for 1 Russian ruble.

The Police of Armenia have disseminated a statement on the incident with a member of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) Party. The statement provided to ArmInfo reads that on April 22 the Yerevan Police Center of Operative Control received an alarm from the head of the ANC's campaign headquarters in the Ajapnyak Administrative District, who informed the police that some young activists of the Party were attacked while campaigning near the building No.9 of Nazarbekyan Quarter (Ajapnyak).

A member of the ANC territorial office in Ajapnyak, Alexander A. (1986) told the operative group which arrived at the spot that at 7:30pm on the same day two unknown attacked and beat him up in the yard of the above building. He refused to file a police report and was hospitalized.

Investigation revealed that on April 22 at 7:30pm, members of ANC Alexander A. and Ishkhan M (1995) had a quarrel in the yard of the above building. Hovhanness G. (1987) interfered with the quarrel. On April 23 at 8:00pm Ishkhan M. applied to hospital for medical aid. 

A criminal case has been initiated at the Mashtots Investigation Office of the Police on the basis of Article 117 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. Preliminary investigation is underway.

 French-Armenian actor and film director Serge Avedikian will present Armen Tigranyan's Anoush in Yerevan on Apr 26.

According to Avedikian, this is a new original version of the well- known Armenian opera. There will be just 37 people on the stage, including musicians, who will play folk instruments.

In Yerevan the opera will be shown in Sundukyan Drama Theater on Apr 26-27 and May 3-4 and then will be taken to France to be presented to in Theatre Nanterre-Amandiers on May 22, 23, 25 and 265.

Conductor is the artistic director of the Chamber Orchestra of Armenia Vahan Martirosyan, choreographer and stage and costume designer Nicolas Musin. Starring are Sofia Sayadyan (Anoush), Liparit Avetisyan (Saro), Gurgen Baveyan (Mosi), Kristine Sahakyan (mother of Anoush) and Lilit Soghomonyan (mother of Saro).

The project has been supported by the French and Armenian culture ministries and sponsored by VivaCell-MTS.

 Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) seriously condemns violence against the opposition journalist, Naira Zohrabyan, Secretary of PAP Faction in the Parliament, told ArmInfo, Thursday.

To recall, on April 23 ANC disseminated a statement saying that in the course of Mayor Taron Margaryan's meeting with voters in the Nor Nork Community, Aram Papyan, a member of the given community and the event organizer and his supporters beat up an opposition journalist Hakob Karapetyan.  They seized the camera of the journalist and deleted the record. The journalist got bodily harms. However, Hakobyan Managed to take the photo of Aram Papyan, who was beating him. Papyan is a member of the current Elders' Council and candidate of the Republican Party to the future Elders' Council of Yerevan.  ANC reports that police officers did not respond to the incident.   

Zohrabyan said that as a parliamentarian, citizen and former journalist, she considers inadmissible any obstacles to activity of journalists. She said that very often some journalists who are charged 'from above' to make provocations attend PAP's meetings with voters. However, even in such situations, PAP does its best to prevent any conflicts or obstacles to activity of those journalists. 

"In the given case, I am sure that iLur.am correspondent would not make provocations. Various criminal elements are behind the incident. Such incidents are inadmissible as they once again demonstrate the difference between the statements on tolerance and objective reality," Zohrabyan said.

The construction in the center of Yerevan has found itself in the focus of the activists' attention again. Concerned with the plans to erect 2 multi-storey hotels near the Northern Avenue, the civil initiative "Save Yerevan" demands stopping the construction in the center of Yerevan. 

On April 25 activist Isabella Sargsyan told journalists that the active construction rates threaten many historical monuments in Yerevan. For instance, it is planned to erect multi-storey hotels near the building (in Pushkin-25) designed by architect Tamanyan, and these hotels will be top-heavy constructions for such narrow streets.

Sargsyan pointed out that Yerevan is losing its historical look due to such projects. The initiative urges the opposition forces taking part in the elections to the Yerevan Elders' Council to support their efforts to save the Armenian capital.

Earlier a number of initiatives expressed their concern with the construction of a hotel complex near the AOKS building, as well as the plans to move the Afrikyans' house because of the new road near the Northern Avenue. Environmentalists say that according to the space snapshots, Yerevan has lost nearly 70% of green zones owing to the active construction over the past 20 years.

 An Apr 24 Armenian Genocide remembrance event in Izmir ended in a scuffle, reports Haber.

The incident occurred between members of the Turkish People's Liberation Party, who said that there was no Armenian Genocide and it is just a lie fabricated by the United States, and the people who were there to commemorate those killed in the massacres.

The fighters used flags and plastic bottles. The police stopped the clash.

Violence against journalists is part of the authorities' campaign on rigging the elections to the Yerevan Elders' Council, Arman Musinyan, Spokesperson of the Armenian National Congress Party (ANC), said at a press conference on Thursday. He said that the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
has made the ANC a target. This is proved by the fact that they beat an iLur journalist and an ANC activist, who was distributing booklets.

To recall, on April 23 the ANC disseminated a statement saying that during the Apr 23 meeting of mayor Taron Margaryan with the voters in Nor Nork community, Aram Papyan, representative of the community and the organizer of the meeting, hindered journalist Hakob Karapetyan's work because Karapetyan was a representative of the opposition mass media. Papyan and his supporters took away the camera from the journalist and deleted the record. Afterwards they beat him. The journalist received various bodily injuries.  Another incident took place in Ajapnyan administrative district.   

Musinyan thinks that the authorities, representatives of the incumbent mayor Margaryan's campaign headquarters and Margaryan himself realize that they will be defeated in case of fair elections. "Today they organize provocations and beat the journalists and activities of the ANC, tomorrow they will rig the voter lists", he said. He added that the population's attitude to the ruling party is extremely negative, and the ANC representatives saw that during the meetings with the voters.

The British Embassy in Armenia and the Foreign Ministry of Armenia have no official information on a visit of Prince Charles to Armenia.

Nevertheless, according to ArmInfo's sources, the initiator of Prince Charles's possible visit to Armenia is former prime minister of Armenia Armen Sargsyan, who is in friendly relations with the Prince of Wales.  Reportedly, the visit is scheduled for late May.

To recall, in 2010 President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan made a private visit to Great Britain also at the initiative of Armen Sargsyan. In Britain, the president met members of the Royal Family.

 In his annual address to the Armenian community in the USA On April 24, the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, U.S. President Barack Obama once again avoided the internationally acknowledge term 'Genocide' and characterized the massacre of 1.5 million of Armenians on the Ottoman Empire with the Armenian equivalent "Meds Yeghern" (Big Massacre). 

In his address, Obama says that the USA commemorates the Meds Yeghern and honors those who perished in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. Ninety-eight years ago, 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. "We pause to reflect on the lives extinguished and remember the unspeakable suffering that occurred. In so doing, we are joined by millions across the world and in the United States, where it is solemnly commemorated by our states, institutions, communities, and families. We also remind ourselves of our commitment to ensure that such dark chapters of history are not repeated.

I have consistently stated my own view of what occurred in 1915, and my view has not changed. A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all of our interests. Nations grow stronger by acknowledging and reckoning with painful elements of the past, thereby building a foundation for a more just and tolerant future. We appreciate this lesson in the United States, as we strive to reconcile some of the darkest moments in our own history. We
recognize those courageous Armenians and Turks who have already taken this path, and encourage more to do so, with the backing of their governments, and mine.

The history and legacy of the Armenian people is marked by an indomitable spirit, and a great resiliency in the face of tremendous adversity and suffering. The United States is stronger for the contributions Armenian-Americans have made to our society, our culture, and our communities. In small measure we return that contribution by supporting the Armenian people as they work toward building a nation that would make their ancestors proud: one that cherishes democracy and respect for human liberty and dignity.

Today we stand with Armenians everywhere in recalling the horror of the Meds Yeghern, honoring the memory of those lost, and affirming our enduring commitment to the people of Armenia."

ANCA responded to President Obama's refusal to honor this pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide:

"Sadly, President Obama chose today not to lead, but rather to follow Ankara's gag-rule on his Administration's condemnation and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. His public retreat, under Turkish pressure, comes despite his own pledges to acknowledge this crime and our government's record, dating back more than half a century, of having recognized the Armenian Genocide as a clear case of genocide," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Our President's complicity in Turkey's denial of truth and its ongoing obstruction of justice will not derail our progress toward a
truthful, fair, and comprehensive international resolution of Turkey's still unpunished crime against the Armenian nation."