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EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS COURT TO CONSIDER INFRINGEMENT OF PROPERTY RIGHTS OF ARMENIANS IN TURKEY

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 15. ARMINFO. The European Court of Human Rights is expected to announce a decision next week on the property rights of minority foundations. Specifically, the Court will adjudicate two cases filed by the Soorp Purgich Armenian Hospital Foundation and the Fener Greek Boys High School Foundation against Turkey.

In both cases, property gifted to the Armenian and Greek foundations were seized as the Turkish courts upheld orders declaring that the bequest violated a decree disallowing non-Moslems from donating real estate. If the court rules in favor of the foundations, hundreds of buildings seized in the past may be returned.

Earlier this year, Armenian Assembly Board Member and former Board of Directors Chairman Van Krikorian testified before the Helsinki Commission on freedom of religion in Turkey with respect to the Armenian Church and community. During his testimony Krikorian noted that "for centuries, Armenians paid and in many places still pay a high price for their Christianity," and that seizure and destruction of Armenian Church property was commonplace. Krikorian noted that in 1914, in Turkey, there were approximately 5,000 Armenian Churches, seminaries and schools registered by the Patriarchate and that today, 90 years after the Armenian Genocide, there are less than 50 Armenian Churches.

46 PEOPLE GET DROWNED DURING SWIMMING SEASON IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. 46 people got drowned in Armenia in Apr 12-Sept 13, reports the press service of Emergency Department.

12 of them were children. 9 people drowned in Lake Sevan.

In 2004 the index was 18 people with 6 ones drowned in Sevan.

ARMENIA READY TO JOIN CE "STAGE" PROGRAM AND ESTABLISH CULTURAL CONTACTS WITH AZERBAIJAN

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. The South Caucasian culture ministers are to meet in Kyiv Sept 15.

The press service of Armenia's Culture and Youth Ministry reports that during the conference Armenia's Culture Minister Hovik Hoveyan will speak about introducing the CE "STAGE" project (support of transitional cultural processes in Big Europe) in the South Caucasus. Hoveyan will introduce projects to develop culture and society as well as to establish cultural cooperation between Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. CE experts have already visited Armenia and have presented the STAGE. The period of the project will be specified during the conference.

The enlarged conference will last till Sept 16. The key topic will be Culture and Cultural Policy for Development.

The STAGE was launched in Dec 2000 to help the South Caucasus to develop effective transitional cultural policies and to encourage contacts between the region and Europe.

Attending the conference will also be observers and donors from Greece, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine as well as delegates from all 48 signatories to European Cultural Convention.

Opening the event will be Ukraine's Culture and Tourism Minister Oxana Bilozir and CE Deputy Secretary General Maud de Boer-Buquicchio.

"COCA-COLA" IN ARMENIA WAS FINED $100.000

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. Armenia's Commission on economic rivalry protection decided to fine "Coca-Cola Hellenik bottling company Armenia" for about $100.000 (1% of company's profit for 2004). The decision was made because of abuse of dominating position in Armenia's soft drink market in the first six months of 2005, on the basis of "Jermuk Group" company's complaint. To note, Coca-Cola shares about 70% of sale market. Company's representative was displeased with such a decision.

GREEK AMERICANS CALL FOR ADOPTION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LEGISLATION

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. The American Hellenic Institute (AHI), today, urged House International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde (R-IL) to work for committee approval of Armenian Genocide legislation, set to be considered by the panel on Thursday, September 15, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a September 13th letter to Chairman Hyde, AHI Executive Director Nick Larigakis, explained that, "Americans of Hellenic origin, and I believe most Americans, have long held that the U.S. Congress should be on record as recognizing the Armenian Genocide, commemorating this crime against all humanity, and applying its lessons to help prevent future atrocities and genocides." He went on to note that "Sadly, due to the powerful pressure brought to bear by the Turkish lobby's threats and intimidation, legislation along these lines has been blocked from passage."

22 PAINTINGS OF ST. PETERSBURG ARTISTS WERE GIFTED TO ARMENIA's NATIONAL PICTURE GALLERY

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. 22 paintings of modern St. Petersburg artists were gifted to Armenia's National Picture Gallery. Saint Petersburg mayor Valentina Matvienko participated at exhibition's opening ceremony.

In her words, works of Russian artists having a great contribution to the development of Russian culture are represented at the exhibition. To note, the exhibition has been organized within the framework of St. Petersburg's Days in Yerevan.

QUALITY OF ARMENTEL'S CELLULAR COMMUNICATION SERVICE TO BE IMPROVED ON SEPT 15

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. Due to modernized equipment of ArmenTel company, the quality of mobile communication will be improved starting from September 15, Minister of Transport and Communication of Armenia Andranik Margaryan said at the Parliament.

He said the quality of mobile communication in Armenia does not meet any standards. The quality of ArmenTel's cellular services have worsened after the second mobile communication operator Viva Cell entered the cellular market. In this connection, the minister noted that ArmenTel was fined for $350,000 for low quality cellular communication. Besides, ArmenTel applied to the Ministry for doubling the tariff of fixed local calls. The Ministry is to consider the application and response to it within 45 days. If the Minister reject's the application, ArmenTel has a right to prolong its monopoly license till 2012 (instead of the present 2010).

VIVA CELL HAS 217,OOO SUBSCRIBERS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 14. ARMINFO. Viva Cell obtained 217,000 subscribers during its 2 and a half month of activity in the mobile communication market of Armenia, Armenian Minister for Transport and Communication said at the Parliament, Wednesday.

He said 85,000 of the subscribers are SIM Cards owners. To note, Viva Cell launched activity in the country on July 1 2005. As of the first half of 2005, the only rival ArmenTel had 257.7 thousand subscribers of mobile communication.