The 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be remembered this week in Fresno with a series of events, including a visit by a former U.S. ambassador to Armenia who spoke out about the genocide, The Fresno Bee reported.

Nearly a century after 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, the U.S. government still fails to label the ethnic cleansing as a "genocide."

The G-word was the "inappropriate" term and the event's history was so taboo it couldn't even be discussed, said former U.S. ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans, who held the post from 2004 to 2006.

Evans challenged that taboo in a 2005 speaking tour in California where he first described the Ottoman Empire's assault as a genocide -- an act that thrust him into an uncomfortable position with his bosses.

"After I leveled with California audiences about the Armenian Genocide in February 2005 ... I returned to Armenia as ambassador, but was required to issue a statement to the effect that what I had said was 'inappropriate,' " Evans said.

"The fact that the subject was treated as taboo meant that it could not even be discussed," he said. "That had to change, even if it cost me my job."

Evans, a career foreign service officer, was recalled from his ambassador's posting in Armenia before the end of his planned three-year assignment. He retired from the foreign service 18 months after his genocide remarks.

The first president of Armenia Levon Ter-Petrosyan did not run for president because of financial difficulties,   Gurgen Yeghiazaryan, a member of the
opposition wing of the Social-Democratic Hnchakyan Party (SDHP), said during a press conference on 22 April. 

He said that Ter-Petrosyan's age was just an excuse. "He said in his statement that besides the age, there is also a technical reason, which, I guess, is lack of funds", - he said and added that Armenian National Congress had financial problems during the parliamentary election as well. At present, in the Yerevan Council of Elders election ANC and its candidate Vahagn Khacharyan have the same problem. He disproved the rumors according to which ANC gets financial aid from the Prosperous Armenia Party, initiated by the second president of Armenia and the enemy of the ANC, Robert Kocharyan.

He also added he does not understand the decision of ANC to discuss a problem of joining Raffi Hovannisian's movement "New Armenia", as it is senseless to join a man which has been leading the people to nowhere. "Why has Raffi Hovannisian set up a movement? Why did he heroize president Serzh Sargsyan which is not a hero? Monte Melkonyan but not Serzh Sargsyan is a hero. It is clear that his only purpose is to split the opposition field", - he said and added that the only person which could change the situation is Ter-Petrosyan but not Raffi Hovannisian.  "Even a folklorist Vardan Sedrakyan could become the president but not Raffi Hovannisian", - he concluded.

President of Syria Bashar Hafez al-Assad  has highly appreciated  the Armenians of Syria who do not leave the country despite the political crisis. On April 21 in Damascus the Syrian president received different delegations representing various parties from Lebanon and highlighted the loyalty of the Lebanese and Armenian communities of Syria in particular.

Speaking of the Armenian community in Syria, Assad said that Armenians closely integrated into the Suyrian public and have become part of it.  He recalled that during the civil war in Lebanon Armenians did not leave the country like they do not leave Syria now.

During the two-year bloodshed in Syria about 70 thousands of people have fallen victims. About fifty Armenians have been killed. Notwithstanding that difficult situation, many Syrian Armenians continue leaving in Syria.

The only way for the Armenian people to get rid of Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan is suicide, Gurgen Yeghiazaryan, Leader of the Social-Democratic Hnchakyan Party, a candidate of the Armenian National Congress (ANC) for the Elders' Council of Yerevan, told media, Monday.

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has reappointed Tigran Sargsyan to his post of the prime minister, though most political forces and economists harshly criticized the latter. Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan have been reappointed as well.

Yeghiazaryan said the president reappointed Tigran Sargsyan intentionally in order the criticism for the heavy social and economic situation in the country is addressed to him.

"The Armenian people have no other chance to get rid of Sargsyan and his 'fruitful' activity but to make a mass suicide," the politician said. He said that the president's staff steals funds from the state budget through public organizations.

 LOT Polish Airlines will resume direct flights to Yerevan in June, Deputy Minister of the Economy, Tomasz Tomczykiewicz, said citing LOT General Manager at the third meeting of the Armenian-Polish Parliamentary Committee in Yerevan on April 22.

"It is difficult to speak of development of bilateral economic ties without direct air communication," he said.

To recall, the Polish Airlines along with British Airways and Air Baltic (Lavtia) stopped flights to Yerevan in the middle of the last year. Head of the Chief Civil Aviation Department of Armenia Artyom Movsisyan told media in late March that the companies left the country "for commercial reasons." Among such reasons was lack of "open sky" policy and the high service prices at Zvartnots Airport. At present, after Armavia national air carrier announced a bankruptcy procedure, the following companies make flights to Armenia: Aeroflot, SarAvia, S7, Polet Airlines, UTair, Transaero, Lufthansa, Air France, Austrian Airlines, Aseman Airlines, Czech Airlines, and Fly Dubai.

 Heritage Party has organized an action of protest in front of the Armenian Prosecutor General's Office over interrogation of Armen Martirosyan, Heritage Party Vice Chairman. Martirosyan was summoned to the Chief Investigation Department on the basis of his application following his beating by law-enforcers during the opposition rally on April 9 in the Baghramyan Ave. In front of the building, the picketers put a straw man in the uniform of a senior police officer with a slogan: "Punish the scoundrels!"

Leader of Heritage Party Raffi Hovannisian also participated in the picket. The picketers were with red scarves symbolizing blood. The picketers were carrying banners: "Policeman or Slave?" "Say No to Sadist Policemen!" "Say No to Policemen breaking noses" etc. 

On April 9 simultaneously with Serzh Sargsyan's swearing-in ceremony Raffi Hovannisian took an oath in front of the people in the Liberty Square and then organized a march along Baghramyan Street to the president's residency. As a result, there were clashes with the police. Heritage Party Deputy Head Armen Martirosyan was beaten up.

 ԱրմԻնֆո գործակալության կողմից Երևանի բանկերից ստացված տվյալների համաձայն, տարադրամի փոխանակման բանկային կետերում այսօր ԱՄՆ դոլարի առքի առավելագույն գինը 1 դոլարի դիմաց կազմել է 414 դրամ, ԵՎՐՈ-ի առքի առավելագույն գինը`540 դրամ, իսկ ռուսական ռուբլու առքի գինը`13.5 դրամ: ԱՄՆ դոլարի վաճառքի նվազագույն գինը կազմել է 415.5 դրամ, ԵՎՐՈ-ի վաճառքի գինը` 544 դրամ, իսկ ռուսական ռուբլու վաճառքի գինը`13.2 դրամ:

 Today, the maximum buying rates at commercial banks of Yerevan were 414 drams for 1 dollar, 540drams for 1 EUR and 13,05 drams for 1 Russian ruble. The minimum selling rates stood at 415,5 drams for 1 dollar, 544 drams for 1 EUR and 13,2 drams for 1 Russian ruble.

Head of the Armenian National Congress Party's (ANC) Faction in the Parliament Levon Zurabyan has addressed a letter to Armenian Police Head Vladimir Gasparyan alarming of certain obstacles to ANC's election campaign for the Elder's Council of Yerevan.  The copy of the letter provided to ArmInfo reads that on April 17 and 18 representatives and supporters of the Republican Party created obstacles to the campaigning activists of the party in the Avan and Center administrative districts of Yerevan. In particular, the activists were illegally demanded to stop campaigning and were threatened with violence.  Later on April 19 the Police prevented the campaign in front of the Yerevan Municipality, though it was not a mass event. The Police grossly violated the citizens' rights to vote, to free movement and freedom of assembly, used violence towards participants in the peaceful procession and tried to fail the election campaign of ANC. In his letter, the ANC representative blames the police for failing to protect the law and keep political neutrality, and for fulfilling illegal orders of the ruling polital force.

Zurbanyan demands the Police to stop violating the rights of the citizens and put an end to illegalities and protect the public order and the people's right to vote in line with the Constitution and legislation of the Republic of Armenia. He suggests the Police to name the police officers responsible for protection of legal order and legal election process, which will allow creating rapid response mechanisms to prevent illegalities in future.

To recall, March 21 was deadline for registration of political forces and their candidates for the May 5 elections to the Elders' Council of Yerevan. Six parties and a union have submitted their party lists to run to the Elders' Council of Yerevan: Republican Party of Armenia, Prosperous Party of Armenia, Orinats Yerkir, Armenian National Congress, Mission, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, and "Barev Yerevan" Union. Political parties will fight for 65 seats at the Elders' Council.  The election campaign started on April 7. The elections will be held on May 5. May 4 is a say of "silence" when campaign is prohibited. By preliminary data, 261 observers will be following the elections.

 President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has reappointed Seyran Ohanyan to the post of the Defense Minister of Armenia, the presidential press-service told ArmInfo.  The decree was signed on the basis of Article 55.4 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia.

To recall, on April 9 the Government resigned after the swear-in ceremony of the Armenian President. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan submitted the statement on resignation of the Cabinet of Minister's.  Before formation of the new government, all the members continued their work as acting ministers.

 President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has reappointed Edward Nalbandian to the position of the Armenian Foreign Minister.

"In line with Article 55.4 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, I appointed Edward Nalbandian Foreign Minister of the RA," president's decreed.

To recall, on April 9 the Government resigned after the swear-in ceremony of the Armenian President. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan submitted the statement on resignation of the Cabinet of Minister's. Before formation of the new government, all the members continued their work as acting ministers.

 Representatives of Turkish intelligentsia will hold several events in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir on 24 April, at the memorial day to the victims of the Armenian genocide in 1915.

As Armenian daily "Marmara" published in Turkey reported, the organizers of the events came forward with a statement which, in particular, says that the Armenians which are the most ancient owners of these lands, "were wiped out" in the course the movement that started on 24 April 1915.

Corruption and lack of transparency in government remain the most significant human rights problems in Armenia, says the 2012 Report on Human Rights Practices issued by State Department.

In fact, today the parties to the Karabakh conflict are already ready to conduct a direct dialogue without intermediaries, an expert on international issues, Hovanes Igityan, told ArmInfo correspondent. 

The expert hearings on building of the third tailing dump of the Tukhmanuk deposit located in Aragatsotn region were held today. As press-service of Armenia's Nature Protection Ministry reported, according to the results of the hearings Minister Aram Harutyunyan charged to submit in a written form all the suggestions and viewpoints in a week, and the relevant conclusion will be made.

It is already for several months as a decision of "Mega Gold" company to build the tailing dump causes displeasure of ecologists.  Ecologist Knarik Hovanesyan told Arminfo correspondent that the deposit is very much close to Melik village. Moreover, the noxious waters from both tailing dumps flow to Getik river, which is the only source of irrigation for the village residents. As a result, after such irrigation fruit trees are damaged and the potato harvest reduced much.

The danger is that Getik river runs to the Khalavard basin and then to Aparan basin. Both basins are used for irrigation. This means that hundreds hectares of fertile lands may be damaged.

For her part, the head of the "Union  of green activists of Armenia", Hakop Sanasaryan, added that development of the deposit is dangerous not only for Melik village but for the whole Ararat valley, as the tailing dumps contain heavy metals which interfere agriculture products through the irrigation water. This is dangerous for people, as it may become a reason of various illnesses and also weakens the immune system.

To recall, on 25 January 2013 the public ecological alliance and "Union of green activists of Armenia" sent a letter to the head of the Global Gold Mining, Van Krikoryan, with a demand to suspend the activity of the GGM in Armenia till compensation of the economic damage which development of Tukhmanuk deposit caused.

Director of the Armenian branch of GGM, Ashot Pogosyan, told ArmInfo correspondent earlier that all the accusations are groundless, as permanent ecological monitoring of independent experts are held at the territory of Tukhmanuk deposit and near it.

 Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan appointed Tigran Sargsyan as Prime Minister on Friday in accordance with point 4, article 55 of the Constitution, reports the press service of the Armenian President.

The Armenian Government resigned on Apr 9, following Serzh Sargsyan's swearing in as President. According to the Constitution, the new Cabinet should be formed within 20 days after the Prime Minister's appointment.

 April 19 marks the launch of New Armenia's movement that will consolidate the whole opposition field to fight the ruling regime, Heritage Party leader Raffi Hovannisian said during the meeting with his supporters on Friday. He said that all political forces can join the movement provided that they will
fight till the end. He stressed that it is the movement of the people who won on Feb 18.  

Hovannisian said that on April 9 the Armenian authorities demonstrated that they will stick at nothing and will even sacrifice their own people to maintain their personal power. He thinks that there is no time to wait for 5 more years and it is necessary to find the ways to overthrow the power as soon as possible. The Heritage leader calls on all presidents who "were elected but did not rule Armenia, as well as the political forces that were elected but did
not become a parliamentary majority" to join him and conduct a joint fight "against the evil".  

To note, Petros Makeyan, Chairman of the Democratic Motherland Party, which has been a member of the Armenian National Congress before, was also present at the meeting. So were Hovhannes Igityan, former member of the Board of the Armenian National Movement Party, which no longer exists, and Armen Rustamyan, Head of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun Faction.  

Rustamyan said that to make the ruling regime resign and to avoid bloodshed, the opposition should use soft power in its fight. He reiterated the ARFD's position that it is necessary to change the governance system as soon as possible and to switch to the parliamentary regime. "The Parliament should have the people who deserve being in Parliament, not the ones the President or the ruling party wants to see", Rustamyan said.

He thinks that the levers of the anti-corruption fight should belong to the opposition. "The Prime Minister cannot fight corruption, because he is corrupted himself. If the authorities really want to fight corruption, the relevant commission set up by the Government should be headed by the opposition", said Rustamyan.

From the point of view of Serzh Sargsyan and the ruling elite Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan is lesser of the evils. This is the reason of Serzh Sargsyan's decision to leave Tigran Sargsyan at his position of premier, political expert, Ruben Mehrabyan, told Arminfo correspondent.  

"I think that the president is guided by the principle "one shouldn't change houses in midstream". Of course, such an approach contains certain internal contradiction. Nevertheless, one should take into consideration that the ruling system contains numerous vulnerable points, and any sharp movement will become a threat to the stability of this system. For this reason, Sargsyan avoided sharp movements and left Tigran Sargsyan at his position of premier", - Mehrabyan said.

He said that today's power system in Armenia consists of a certain mixture of the checks and balances system between various groups of interests and influence. Against such a background, a decision to replace Tigran Sargsyan from the position of prime minister would cause the unhealthy interest among all the interested groups which would try to redistribute this balance in favor of themselves. Another not less important factor in favor of Tigran Sargsyan's remaining at his position, are the talks on association agreement with the European Union. "It is no secret, that they have started negotiating when Sargsyan was a prime minister, and it would be expedient to end the talks when the latter is still at his position. I think Sargsyan will be hardly replaced before the ending of all these processes linked with the EU, but the force-major situations", - Mehrabyan concluded.

 In Q1 2013 Areximbank-Gazprombank Group increased its assets by 15% as compared with Q1 2012 due to the 14% growth in lending. The press service of the Bank told ArmInfo that by 1 April 2013 the assets totaled 123.4 bln AMD, and lending - 93.9 bln AMD.

The source says that as of 1 April 2013 the total liabilities of the Bank amounted to 106.4 bln AMD, having grown by 14.9 bln AMD, or by 16% as compared with the same period of 2012. the individuals' funds totaled 31.9 bln AMD, having grown by 11.8 bln AMD, or by 59%.

As of 1 April 2013, the total capital of the Bank amounted to 17 bln AMD, which was by 1 bln AMD or 6.5% higher than as of 1 April 2012.