Month: June 2005

NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF KOREA TO ARMENIA HANDS HIS CREDENTIALS TO RA PRESIDENT
YEREVAN, June 28. /ARKA/. The newly appointed Ambassador of Korea to
Armenia Kim Jae-Sup (residence in Moscow) handed his credentials to RA
President Robert Kocharyan. According to RA President’s Press Service
Department, Kocharyan congratulated the Ambassador and expressed
hope that Armenian-Korean relations will experience new stage of
development. According to the president, though last year the trade
turnover between the countries grew twice, nevertheless the indicator
is lower than it could be. In regard with this he emphasized the
necessity to take measures to increase efficiency of trade turnover.
The Ambassador attached importance to the economic constituent of
the bilateral cooperation and promised to apply all the efforts to
expand the relations.
Kim Jae-Sup was born in 1945. In 1968 he graduated from the Department
of International Affairs of the National University of Seoul. Since
1969 he has been working in Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In
1981-1984 he occupied the post of a Councilor of the Korean Ambassador
to India, in 1990-1992 he was a Councilor of the President of Korea,
in 1995-1998 he became the Korean Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to Czech Republic. In 2003 he occupied the post of
a Deputy Minister of Foreign affairs and Trade of Korea. A.H. –0–

RUSSIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, June 28. /ARKA/. A Russian national exhibition is to be
held in Yerevan in December 2005. According to the list of major
arrangements of the Russian CCI for the latter half of 2005, the goal
of the exhibition is the development of relations between Armenian
and Russian business communities.
The exhibition organizers are the Department of Exhibitions and Fairs,
RF CCI, and the RF Ministry of Economic Development. P.T. -0–

KOCHARYAN SUPPORTS CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
A1plus
| 21:04:48 | 28-06-2005 | Politics |
Robert Kocharyan assured AGO Group head Ronald Wegener that he is a
supporter to the constitutional reform and will convince the society
that it is a positive change for the future. The President also noted
that the referendum will be adopted as result of cooperation.
Mr. Wegener said he rates the agreements achieved with the Venice
Commission and the changes to the draft constitutional reform as
positive. In his words, after the adoption of the draft in the second
reading and its confirmation by the referendum “a new page in the
Armenian history will open”.
He welcomed the adoption of the new principle of power division and
formation of independent juridical system, the guarantee of which
can become the formation of the Justice Council not presided by
the President.
Mr. Wegener also highlighted the election of the Mayor of Yerevan. He
reminded that an agreement on the issue was achieved within the
European Charter of local self-government, which called for the
elective post of the Mayor.
The Ago group members also paid attention to the problem of A1+
TV Company. They did not touch upon the topic during the meeting
with Robert Kocharyan but reminded the Foreign Minister of the problem
available stressing that freedom of speech should be secured.

AGO GROUP FAMILIARIZED WITH KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
A1plus
| 20:44:26 | 28-06-2005 | Official |
June 28 Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received AGO
Monitoring Group of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers,
headed by German permanent representative to the CoE Roland
Wegener. Ambassadors of France, Switzerland, Sweden, Netherlands,
Romania and Turkey to the CoE also serve on the Group.
The parties discussed issues referring to the constitutional reform
process and expressed satisfaction with the resolution adopted last
week in Strasbourg and with the positive outcome of the talks between
the Venice Commission and the Armenian delegation.
Vardan Oskanyan highly appreciated the activities of the Group noting
that the PACE resolution will play a decisive role in the further
development of democracy in Armenia.
The parties also noted that the constitutional reform will have a
positive impact on the final fulfillment of Armenia~Rs commitments to
the CoE and exchanged views on strengthening of democratic institutes
and freedom of press.
Minister Oskanyan also presented to the guests the current stage of
the Karabakh conflict settlement.

ARMENIA HAS ADVANCED ON THE PATH OF REFORM
A1plus
| 20:16:49 | 28-06-2005 | Official |
Today Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received the AGO Monitoring
Group of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, headed by
German permanent representative to the CoE Roland Wegener.
The parties discussed Armenia’s honoring the commitments to the
CoE, specifically the constitutional reform process. Mr. Wegener
noted of considerable progress judging from the draft constitutional
amendments. He stressed the importance of the atmosphere of consent
on the project calling it a positive stimulus for referendum.
In his turn Robert Kocharyan noted that Armenia has advanced on the
path of reform and intends to complete the process till the end of the
current year. The President mentioned the presentation of the draft
to the society as a priority task. It’s is the deposit of success,
the President noted.
The members of the Ago Group also showed interest in the Armenian
economy development and Karabakh settlement process.

ARMENIAN-SYRIAN POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS
A1plus
| 19:04:08 | 28-06-2005 | Politics |
Today RA Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gegham Gharibjanyan
received the delegation headed by Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmad
Arnous. The joint delegation of the Syrian Ministries of Finance and
Foreign Affairs arrived in Armenia on a 3-day visit to hold recurrent
political consultations and sign an agreement on avoiding double
taxation between the governments of the two states.
During the visit the parties discussed issues of mutual interest as
well as the prospects of cooperation with international organizations
and some regional problems available in the Near East and South
Caucasus.
The discussions focused on widening the legal field and trade economic
relations.

CIVIC SERVICE SYSTEM BECOMES MORE INDEPENDENT
A1plus
| 18:48:05 | 28-06-2005 | Politics |
“Today I will be sincere with you”, chairman of the council of civic
service Manvel Badalyan stated at today’s press conference. He informed
that this year the first stage of training and certification of all
the civic servants will be completed.
“The problem is that over 50 civic servants are avoiding the
examination trying to gain time for finding protectors. However it
will not happen”, M. Badalyan said. In his words, 3 absences from
the certification exam are equal to dismissal.
In his opinion the system of civic service is becoming more and
more independent year by year. Manvel Badalyan also informed that
the state budget provides for 5 billion 109 million AMD for the
salary to civic servants. “In 2006 the basic salary will be raised”,
M. Badalyan resumed.

AZG Armenian Daily #119, 29/06/2005
Culture
FAMOUS TOKYO QUARTET TO PERFORM IN YEREVAN
The remarkable ensemble of Eastern and Western musicians, as the Tokyo
string Quartet is, will perform at Aram Khachatrian Music Hall on
July 1. The concert repertoire will include works of Johannes Brahms,
Maurice Ravel and Hikaru Hayashi.
Formed at the American Julliard School of Music 35 years ago by 4
Japanese musicians, the quartet has undergone considerable changes
since. Canada-born Armenian Peter Oundjian has been the first violinist
of Tokyo for 15 years but had to trade his position at the band for
Toronto’s chief conductor after injuring his hand.
This single Yerevan concert of Tokyo quartet (Kikuei Ikeda – violin,
Kazuhide Isomura – viola, Sadao Harada – cello) is a huge event
for the CIS not only because it’s the first concert in post-Soviet
territory but also for the fact that the musicians will perform
with 4 instruments made by famous Italian master Stradivarius and
played by Nicolo Paganini. Japanese Nippon Music Foundation bought
the instruments (violins dated 1680 and 1727, viola – 1731, cello –
1736) from Washington’s Corcoran exhibition hall where they rested
and handed to Tokyo quartet in 1995.
The organizer of this unique concert is the Prospects of 21st Century
international music festival, which has invited many eminent musicians
during 5 years of its activity. 4 of 7 world’s famous quartets –
Borodin, Chilingirian, Kronos and Tokyo – have already been to Armenia.
The visit of the Tokyo quartet is largely due to the efforts
president of the festival composer Stepan Rostomian and manager Sona
Hovhannisian. “A nation that created Narekatsi and Komitas cannot
descend to the level of a folklore country. We have great folklore
but we are a cultural country and should keep this title”, Rostomian
said. Stepan Rostomian recalled David Harrington, first violin
of Kronos quartet, admired by Geghard and saying in an interview,
“I did not sleep whole night, your country is a holy country, your
music is a holy music. I am going to record Komitas in Geghard”.
Among other sponsors of the concert are VIVA Cell mobile
operator, Great Wheel Company, the Austrian Airlines and Colde
Tulip. Informational support by Printinfo Publishing House, Armenia
TV and daily Azg.
By Melania Badalian

AZG Armenian Daily #119, 29/06/2005
Culture
HASMIK PAPIAN GIVES CONCERTS IN PARIS
Famous soprano Hasmik Papian sang in eight performances of
Tchaykovsky’s “The Queen of Spades” at Opera Bastille on May 28-June
19.
Parisian Le Monde informed that the version performed at the Opera
Bastille was the repetition of the one staged by Leo Dodin in 1999. A
number of famous Russian singers participated in the concerts in Paris,
including Vladimir Galuzin, marvelous tenor. Genady Rozhdenstvensky,
famous conductor, led the orchestra.
“The Queen of Spades ” was staged in St. Petersburg in 1890 for the
first time. It is one of the most complete pieces by Tchaykovsky. The
libretto was written by Modest Tchaykovsky. There are great changes
made in the opera based on the piece with the same name written by
Aleksander Pushkin.
By Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily #119, 29/06/2005
Culture
SUPERB PERFORMANCE OF MARINE ABRAHAMIAN AT RUDOLFINUM
Warm Welcome of Prague Spectators 31 Years Ago
Soloist of Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, professor of Yerevan
Conservatoire, Marine Abrahamian, performed at Josef Suk Hall of
Rudolfinum Concert Hall in Prague on June 15. Wild applause made
her return 3 times for a new performance. Czech spectators were
delighted. “Original performance, superb technique and high performing
art”, the most influential Czech newspaper MF Dnes wrote the next
day. Art critic of Prazhski Noveni, Robert Bland, gave his appraisal,
“All maturity of Abrahamian’s technique came about as a humble
instrument called to express the original musical content… Total
command of the theme and the skill of revealing it are perhaps the
real mastery of her performance”. The author also praises Abrahamian’s
repertoire, which included Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy and Ravel.
Laureate of Smetana Award back in 1974, student of Jacob Flier of
Moscow Conservatoire, Marine Abrahamian reminded the Czech spectators
once again of the art and culture that remote Armenia has.
While talking to Marine at a cafe in downtown Prague, an old woman
approached us and learning that we understand Czech thanked Marine. It
turned out that she attended her concert at Rudolfinum.
The pianist confessed to us that the concert repertoire was rather
complicated and that the works she chose are considered to be a
touchstone for professional musicians. Marine Abrahamian thanked the
organizers of the concert, particularly the Prague Philharmonic that
invited her to Czech Republic. “I feel that my concert at Rudolfinum
opens a new period for me and gives new momentum to work”, she says.
By Hakob Asatrian in Prague