April 2006

1  NCI founder Raffi K. Hovannisian’s comments are covered by Zhamanak daily in “Armenia Needs New Approaches.”

NCI’s March 31 seminar on “Ways to Surmount Armenia’s Information Crisis ” is covered by Pakagits.

3  Raffi Hovannisian’s press conference at the Pakagits Press Club is covered by Shant and Yerkir television, Radio Liberty and Armenian Public Radio, ArmeniaLiberty, RFE/RL Newsline, Noyan Tapan and ArmInfo news agencies, Lragir, Panorama, Kavkazskiy Uzel, and Azg, Aravot and 168 Zham newspapers.

6  Raffi Hovannisian confers with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Ambassador Peter Semneby.

14  Raffi K. Hovannisian receives delegation of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs.

17  Hovannisian’s commemorative visit to Karen Demirchian’s memorial dedicated to the late parliament Speaker’s 74^th birthday is referenced by A1 Plus and Panorama.

20  The National Citizens’ Initiative convenes a specialized policy seminar on “Corrupt Society: Who is to Blame?,” covered by Armenia and Shant television, Armenian Public Radio, and Noyan Tapan, Arminfo, and A1Plus news agencies.

21  NCI seminar is covered by Azg, Aravot, Lragir, Pakagits, and Iravunk.

24  NCI staff lay wreath at the Tsitsernakaberd memorial to the victims of the 1915 Genocide. Raffi Hovannisian offers comments to Armenia, Yerkir, Avetis, Noyan Tapan, and French television, to Armenpress, ArmInfo, and A1Plus news agencies, and to Radio Liberty and Panorama.

25  IFES chief of party Chedomir Flego visits NCI, confers with Raffi Hovannisian.

Raffi Hovannisian receives Indian Ambassador Reena Pandey.

Raffi Hovannisian gives interview to Slovenian television.

Iranian deputy chief of mission Ali Akbar Jokar visits NCI, meets with Raffi Hovannisian.

28  Raffi Hovannisian’s article is published and distributed by United Press International as “Outside View: Armenia Seeking a New Place in the World,” and is reprinted in the World Peace Herald.

28-30  In Belgium, NCI founder Raffi Hovannisian attends and addresses the Brussels Forum on “Transatlantic Challenges in a Global Era,” meets with Dr. Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union; NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer; Romanian President Traian Basescu; United States Senators John McCain, Bob Bennett, and George Voinovich, and John Edwards (former);Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium; Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt; General James Jones, Supreme Allied Commander in Europe; Chairman Elmar Brok of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs; Belgian Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman-in-Office Karel De Gucht; Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay; Jordanian Senator Marwan al-Muasher; former Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio; DaimlerChrysler Chairman Dieter Zetsche; and several others.