Month: June 2005

ARMENIA’s CULTURE MINISTRY: THERE TO BE NO NEW ORGANIZATIONS IN BUILDING OF NATIONAL PICTURE GALLERY AND HISTORY MUSEUM
YEREVAN, MAY 30. ARMINFO. “No pleasure establishments will operate in
the building of the National picture gallery and Museum of Armenia’s
history”, says a statement of Armenia’s Ministry for culture and on
youth issues received by ARMINFO today.
To note, some local mass media released information that the
building of the National picture gallery and Museum of history will be
privatized. Besides, it was noted that an Information center should be
created at museum’s ground floor. Gallery’s director Faraon Mirzoyan
informed ARMINFO that they received that offer from the Agency of
tourism development in Armenia. “We rejected the business-plan”,
he noted adding that both the gallery and the museum belong not to
private persons but to all the Armenian people.
Meanwhile, the statement notes that “the ministry is ready to discuss
any offers directed not only to gallery’s but also other cultural
objects’ modernization”.

UNPRECEDENTED EVENT IN THE ARMENIAN FOOTBALL
A1plus
| 12:19:31 | 01-06-2005 | Sports |
The Armenian national youth football team (up to 19 years old) had a
wonderful performance in the Football European Championship second
preliminary phase. The Armenian footballers were included in the
4th group where they played with the national youth teams of Italy,
Belgium and Hungary.
In the last 3rd round the Armenian national team of 19-year-old
players beat the hosts – Hungary 5:0 and reached the final phase of
the Football European Championship. In this game Edgar Manoucharyan
scored 4 times. Another goal was scored by Artak Hovhannisyan. In
the other game of the round Italy was beaten by Belgium 0:2.
The Armenian national youth team took the first place in the 4th
group with 7 points. In the history of Armenian football not a single
team in any age category had managed to each the final phase of the
European or World championship.
The final phase of the European Championship will take place this June
in Northern Ireland, with the participation of 8 teams. From the CIS
and ex-Soviet countries only the Armenian national team was able to
reach the finals.

DISCUSSIONS WITH US SENATOR
A1plus
| 21:15:52 | 31-05-2005 | Official |
Today Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan met with member of
the commission for foreign relations of the US Senate, republican
Norm Colman, Vice President of the Armenian Congress of the US and
the Gafeschyan Fund John Waters accompanied by Regional Director of
the Armenian Congress of the US in Armenia Arpi Vardanyan and Director
of Armenia TV Company Bagrat Sargsyan.
The Armenian Premier highly evaluated the activities of the
Armenaian-American interparliamentary commission, which had held its
recurrent sitting in Yerevan this year and is going to hold another
one at the end of the year in the US. The parties also touched
upon political cooperation. Andranik Margaryan thanked the American
legislators for consistent efforts targeted at the Armenian Genocide
recognition and normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations.
Senator Colman noted that the purpose of his visit is to get
familiarized with the problems available and render assistance in
their resolution.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROBERT KOCHARYAN MET GAFESCHYAN
A1plus
| 21:01:58 | 31-05-2005 | Official |
Today Robert Kocharyan received Armenian philanthropist from the US
Gerald Gafeschyan and Senator Norm Colman.
The parties discussed the Armenian-American cooperation and the
necessity of using the possibilities provided by the Millennium
Challenge Account.
Robert Kochatyan noted that the interparliamentary commission brings
activity in the bilateral cooperation and Armenia being on the path
of reforms receives a serious support from the US.
Norm Colman in his turn noted that the Armenian community has a
considerable potential and can achieve good results.
The parties also touched upon the reforms carried out in Armenia and
regional processes.

WAS TV INDEPENDENT IN YESTERDAY?
A1plus
| 20:01:04 | 31-05-2005 | Politics |
Today I can say that there are no independent TV companies in Armenia”
RA Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan stated at a press conference. When one
of the journalists asked, “Couldn’t you testify it earlier?” Larisa
Alaverdyan said, “I have mentioned it in my annual report and noted
that it depends on the President.
Such statement was caused by the fact that since last December the
Public Television of Armenia has not invited the human rights defender
to take part in the programs.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1plus
| 19:36:10 | 31-05-2005 | Politics |
GAS WILL NOT RISE IN PRICE IN NEAR FUTURE
“Can you render the poor people the opportunity to lay gas at a
normal price” asked Yerevan resident Armen Makaryan when addressing
ArmRosGazprom Deputy Director Ashot Hovsepyan during a round table
organized by the Union of Consumers. According to A. Makaryan, only
10% of the resident in the street have natural gas installed in their
flats as 3000 ADM is demanded for 1 meter of pipe.
“It is the fault of the companies”, Ashot Hovsepyan justified. He
assured that they are not able to provide the gas supply throughout
the whole republic. They have no rights to control the organizations
that received licenses for conduction of construction words.
As for the violations of the gas supply rules and damages, A. Hovsepyan
noted that in Armenia the situation is better than in Ukraine or
Rostov-on-Don. He also reported that last year 30 people dies because
of violations of the safety regulations due to wrong construction of
the flue in private houses.
To note, A. Hovsepyan informed that gas will not rice in price in
the near future.
In 2005-2007 the company is going to invest 21 billion 562 million
AMD for the restoration of gas industry. Presently 270000 houses in
Armenia are supplied with natural gas.

STATEMENT BY JUSTICE FACTION
A1plus
| 18:42:39 | 31-05-2005 | Politics |
Today all the parties serving on the Justice faction with the exception of
Republic party held a sitting, the agenda of which contained one item only –
to issue a statement on the draft constitutional amendments. The statement
adopted by the faction is presented below.
STATEMENT
Armenia is not a democratic and rule of law country. Falsified elections,
union of authorities with criminal elements, shadow economy and corruption,
extreme social polarization, human defenselessness, restrictions of
expression, media and assemblies are conditioned by that.
Decrease of our country’s international reputation, isolation from regional
projects and imitation of Euro-integration are continuing.
Constitutional reforms have crucial role in overcoming these dangerous
tendencies and paving a way of development. On 19 January, 2005 we publicly
stated our three fundamental approaches on separation and balance of powers,
judicial system independent from executive and real local self-government.
In case of their adoption we are ready to cooperation in the whole process
of constitutional reforms.
The Draft Constitutional Amendments presented by NGO “Democracy” is drafted
according to our approaches and is mainly supported by the “Justice” and
“National Unity” factions.
The Draft Constitutional Amendments adopted by the National Assembly in the
first reading on 11 May, 2005 rejects necessary reforms for the country’s
democratization and is directed to the preservation of authoritarian system
in the country.
The “Justice” and “National Unity” factions state:
1.In case the submitted Draft is put to Referendum, we’ll call of saying
“No” to that Draft.
2.Real democratic Constitutional Reforms have no alternative and will be
realized after legal authorities are established

AZG Armenian Daily #099, 01/06/2005
Culture
COMPETITION OF VIOLINISTS IN YEREVAN
Aram Khachatrian International competition of violinists continues
in Yerevan. The first stage of the competition will finish today.
The Preparatory Committee informed that Prof. Grigory Zhislin from the
Royal College of Music in London failed to arrive in Armenia due to
technical problems. The organizers are also saddened that 23-year-old
Chinese Tzin Yunyuan could not come because of health problems. Only
12 of overall 18 participants who presented works of Bach, Paganini,
Mozart and Khachatrian will enter the next stage.
On occasion of the competition at the House-Museum of Aram Khachatrian
Swiss Suzy Meter displayed her photos of Khachatrian during his last
London visit. London-born Armenian, Asatur Gyuzelian, introduced
the photographer to Khachatrian while in London in 1977 and she has
been taking his photos for 2 months. Suzy Meter presented 25 photos
to the Museum yesterday. They depict the composer surrounded by his
friends and family members.
By Tamar Minasian

‘IT COMES FROM NATURE AND GOES TO NATURE’
AZG Armenian Daily #099, 01/06/2005
Culture
Painter Nikol Aghababian who has staged sole exhibitions in Armenia
and other countries of the world represented his works at the National
Library yesterday. With daring touches and gay colors he depicts his
country’s nature and Tiflis (Tbilisi).
The painter explains warm and bright colors of his canvases with
the fact that he is Armenian and lives in Armenia. “Those colors are
peculiar for Armenia with its sun, mountains and gorges”, he says.
Nikol Aghababian is looking to paint other such series as “The
Old Tiflis”. This series features ancient urban architecture of the
Armenians. I think that Gyumri, Goris and Shushi will also be included
into such series”, he says.
The painter’s friends and colleagues accompanying him during the
exhibition shared with their thoughts. “Nikol Aghababian has created
an environment of speaking colors where I would like to live and
love. This is an environment of light created by the authors daring
dabs”, one of the painter’s friends said.
Painter Hrant Tadevosian spoke of Nikol’s boundless love and
devotion. “He wakes up every morning and throws himself to the nature
to his beloved native nature which he depicts with bright colors”,
he said.
By Gohar Gevorgian

A NEW PROGRAM OF SUPPORTING THE GEORGIAN LANGUAGE IN JAVAKHQ
A1plus
| 13:03:19 | 01-06-2005 | Social |
The Georgian Ministry of Education, with the support of the OSCE
National Minorities Committee Representative in Georgia, is realizing
a program of supporting the studying of the Georgian language in
Javakhq in the local non-Georgian schools.
The program will train 20 teachers-trainers who will later train the
teachers of Georgian of the non-Georgian schools. A competition of
trainers is being held now in which 60 people will participate.
The aim of the program is to train more than 200 teachers who can
contribute to the more effective studying of Georgian in Javakhq.
The information is provided by the agency “A-Info”.