Month: November 2006

THEY GET DOWN TO HADRUT WITHOUT GETTING THROUGH THE RECONSTRUCTION OF MARTAKERT
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
During the meeting of the NKR National Assembly yesterday Speaker Ashot
Ghulyan called the members of parliament and the members of government
to contribute to Telethon 2006. He also stated that the personnel of
the parliament and the members of parliament decided to donate 350
thousand drams to Armenia Foundation, which is 5 percent of salaries.
Member of Parliament Sergey Ohanyan representing the region of
Martakert expressed his worry that without finishing the reconstruction
of Martakert we get down to raising funds for the reconstruction
of the region of Hadrut. He informed that the reconstruction of
the ruined school of the village of Harutiunagomer, Martakert had
been included in the project but “now they say the school will not
be reconstructed.” In answer NKR Prime Minister Anushavan Danielyan
said these decisions are made by the foundation.
“We have inquired, they said the pledged sums were not donated,
therefore they have to cut the projects,” said the prime minister.
The estimated costs of the project of the reconstruction of Martakert
was 17 million dollars. Last year 5 million dollars was raised. 1
million was raised in Armenia and Karabakh, 2.5 million was donated
by benefactors. Hence, hardly 1.5 million out of the pledged amount
was raised.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EVENTS DEDICATED TO WOODROW WILSON’S MEMORY HELD IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The November
16 event organized at the Armenian Union of Writers was dedicated
to the 150th anniversary of 28th U.S. President, Nobel prize-winner,
Armenia’s great friend Woodrow Wilson. In the words of Levon Ananian,
Chairman of the Armenian Union of Writers, the Armenian people has
always highly estimated W.Wilson’s activity for the sake of Armenian
people and numbers him among such friends of Armenia as Anatole Franz,
Fridtjof Nansen, Johann Lepsius, Franz Werfel and other great people.
In 1920 W.Wilson made decision On Delimitation Between Turkey
and Armenia, Armenia’s Outlet to the Sea and Demilitarization of
Turkish Territories Adjacent to Armenian Borders having a historic
significance. According to the decision, Wilson completed and
ratified Articles 88-89 of the Treaty of Sevres giving them an
international-legal final form.
In the words of Rafael Hambartsumian, Chairman of Board of the Azgayin
Miasnutian Ukht Party, the Treaty of Sevres signed on 1920 August 10
is considered a document that has preserved its international legal
significance up to present. But, according to the Party Chairman,
it is more than 80 years the Treaty of Sevres is presented wrongly in
the History of Armenian People textbooks. Six out of 480 points of the
treaty concern Armenia, but none of this points has been fulfilled,
while ten states achieved independence by this treaty. “The main reason
of Armenians’ failure was the policy carried on by the Bolshevik
Russia, as it had contacts with Turkey and would not permit Armenia
to have an integral territory,” R.Hambartsumian said. In his words,
the treaty also envisaged to create a large Armenian community in
Turkey, which, however, was not realized. In R.Hambartsumian’s words,
a number of measures and mechanisms should be worked out today for
using the treaty.
For perpetuating the name of Armenian people’s friend W.Wilson
the Azagayin Miasnutian Ukht Party members proposed naming streets,
schools after him in Yerevan and in the regions, erecting a monument to
Wilson in Yerevan, releasing stamps dedicated to his 150th anniversary,
as well as holding Wislon Days in Armenia and Diaspora.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AIR ARABIA COMPANY OPERATES FIRST SHARJAH-YEREVAN FLIGHT
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The airline Air Arabia (UAE) on
November 16 operated the first Sharjah-Yerevan flight with an Airbus
320. The company’s official Armenian representative Versand Hakobian
said that the flight will be operated twice a week – on Wednesdays
and Saturdays. Prior to that, Armenia-UAE flights were operated by
Armavia. According to him, Air Arabia operates flights only to Alma-Ata
and Astana of other CIS cities. He added that it was Armenia’s economic
growth that prompted the company to open flights to Yerevan.
Head of the RA Civil Aviation Main Department Artyom Movsesian said
that in recent years European carriers started to operate flights
in addition to traditional airlines in the Armenian aviation market,
currently – also some Arab airlines. In his opinion, this new flight
will promote the economic and political cooperation between the
two countries.
It is noteworthy that Air Arabia now operates flights to more than
30 destinations in 20 countries.

ARMENIA READY TO ENCOURAGE BUSINESSMEM FROM UAE IN IMPLEMENTATION OF JOINT INVESTMENT PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation headed by Shaikh
Abdullah ben Muhammad al-Tani, President of the airline Air Arabia –
national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, was received on November
16 by the RA Deputy Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanian.
Shaikh Abdullah ben Muhammad al-Tani arrived in Yerevan with the
aim of participating in the ceremony of opening the inaugural flight
Sharjah-Yerevan-Sharjah.
During the meeting, G. Gharibjanian said that Armenia welcomes the
entry of Air Arabia, the national carrier of Sharjah Emirate into
Armenia, which will be a positive incentive for the formation of a
healthy and competitive price policy in Armenia’s aviatransportation
sphere.
According to the deputy minister, Armenia welcomes the entry of the
emirate’s capital into Armenia and is ready to encourage businessmen
from there to engage in joint investment programs in agriculture,
tourism and real estate sectors of the country. Particularly,
he mentioned the agreement on financing the repairs of Haghartsin
church complex, which was reached during the visit of Sharjah’s Emir,
Shaikh Sultan ben Muhammad al-Qasimi to Armenia in September 2005.
According to the RA MFA Press and Information Department, the sides
also discussed the opporunities of setting up joint ventures, companies
and production in Armenia and of exporting this production to Russia
and other CIS countries thanks to the geographical position of Armenia.

PROMISE OF 40 THOUSAND DOLLARS’ DONATION RECEIVED DURING PHONETHON HELD IN ARGENTINA
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. According to
latest data, a promise of 40 thousand dollars’ donation was received
during the phonethon held the other day in Argentina on the threshold
of the annual telethon of the Hayastan All Armenian Fund. As Noyan
Tapan correspondent was informed from the Fund’s Public Relations
Department, annual European phonethon started on November 16 in
France. In total, 700 volunteers take part in the phonethon. During
the European phonethon the volunteers will ring up not only French
Armenians, but also representatives of Armenian communities in Germany,
Switzerland, Holland and Belgium.
It was also mentioned that during the phonethon that started in
Armenia on November 15 the Fund employees will telephone more than
1300 Armenian small, medium-sized and big enterprises until November
17 calling them for making a contribution to the Artsakh Revival
program implemented by the Fund. It is noteworthy that the funds
raised during the Telethon 2006 will be provided for implementation
of the program’s second stage, development of NKR Hadrut region.

ARKADY GHOUKASSIAN MEETS WITH AMERICAN ARMENIAN BENEFACTORS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
LOS ANGELES, NOVEMBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Nagorno
Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukassian met with the representatives
of the Armenian community of U.S. West Coast in Los Angeles. Consul
General of Armenia to Los Angeles, Armen Liloyan took part in the
reception organized for the NKR President. Those present expressed
readiness to do everything possible to assist successful holding of
the telethon to be held on November 23 in U.S. for the purpose of
fund-raising for Artsakh improvement and development.
As NT was informed from the Press Service under NKR President,
A.Ghoukassian also had individual meetings with well-known benefactor
Albert Boyajian, active participant of telethons organized in U.S.
Arkady Avanesian, Chairman of Americans to Artsakh organization Zaven
Khanjian, Chairman of U.S. West Coast Armenian Jewellers Association
Levon Shant Haytayan. Prospects of implementation of different projects
in Artsakh in spheres of economy, education and culture were discussed
during the talks. The necessity to attract additional investments to
Artsakh was especially stressed.
NKR President’s meetings in Los Angeles continue.

AMERICAN EMBASSY IN ARMENIA TO PRESENT CARS OF “CHEVROLET” AND “LADA-NIVA” MODEL TO COUNTRY’S FRONTIER TROOPS
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
A solemn ceremony of presentation of four cars of “Chevrolet” and nine
cars of “Lada- Niva” model to the frontier troops of RA National
Security Service will be held tomorrow in the American Embassy
in Yerevan . As ArmInfo was told in the USA Embassy in Armenia,
the Charge d’Affaires of the American diplomatic mission, Anthony
Godfrey, the deputy Director of the RA National Security Service,
Major-General Romik Haroutiunyan, the commander of Frontier Troops,
Major-General Armen Abramyan will participate in the event.

ARMENIAN PEACEMAKING CONTINGENT’S STAY IN IRAQ WILL BE MEANINGLESS IN 15-18 MONTHS: MEMBER OF ARF DASHNAKTSUTSYUN PARTY
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
The Armenian peacemaking contingent’s stay in Iraq will be meaningless
in 15-18 months, Kiro Manoyan, the head of the Armenian office of the
“Hay Dat” organization and a member of the ARF Dashnaktsutsyun Party,
said at a press-conference in the National press-club, Thursday.
He reminded that the ARF Dashnaktsutsyun Party strongly objected to
sending the Armenian peacemakers to Iraq for a number of reasons,
first of all, because of Diaspora’s concern about this. However,
the authorities of the country had to send the contingent under the
pressure of the USA. Official Yerevan has conducted complimentary
foreign policy – it yielded to the pressure of the USA, resisting
the pressure of Russia which was against, Manoyan noted. However,
he is convinced that in 15-18 months the necessity of the Armenian
peacemakers in Iraq will be no longer relevant, as even such a loyal
ally of the USA as Great Britain has already declared its intention
to withdraw its peacemakers.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

COMBAT ACTIONS WON’T START IN THE NKR ZONE SOON, DEFENSE MINISTER OF ARMENIA
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 16 2006
Serzh Sargsyan, Secretary of the National Security Council at the
President of Armenia and the Minister of Defense of Armenia, at the
meeting with relatives of the military men serving in Gyumri, said
that combat actions in the zone of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict won’t
re-start soon.
Notwithstanding the militarist calls of Azeri authorities, “Azeris
can’t commence military actions today, they won’t succeed in it and
it is not a secret to anybody”, said the Minister. He explained the
militarist statements of Azeri authorities with their intention to
justify their huge military budget and to draw grounds for it.
S. Sargsyan said that the one who starts the war first will lose. He
pointed out that Azeris will abstain from military actions because
of the pressure from international community. The one who breaks the
present ‘non peace non war’ conditions will lose because negotiations
on settlement of the conflict are in the progress now.

VENICE’S HAUNTED PALAZZO IS SOLD: GRISLY TALES HOLD NO FEAR FOR AMERICAN BUYER
National Post (f/k/a The Financial Post) (Canada)
Calgary & Vancouver Edition
November 16, 2006 Thursday
ROME – Venice’s most famous haunted house, the Ca Dario on the Grand
Canal, has been sold to an unnamed American entrepreneur, despite
its grisly past.
The four-storey palazzo, elegantly clad in pink marble, has lain
vacant for the past decade because Venetians are so scared of its
history. Almost all of its inhabitants in the five centuries since
it was built have come to an untimely end.
Its last owner, Raul Gardini, a business tycoon, shot himself shortly
after buying the house because he feared arrest for allegedly paying
out more than (ps)50-million ($107-million) in bribes to politicians.
Before him, in the 1970s, Giordano delle Lanze was bludgeoned to
death with a statue by his gay lover, an 18-year-old Croatian sailor.
Christopher Lambert, an Englishman who bought the house in the ’80s,
fell down the stairs of his London house shortly after signing the
deeds, in an apparent suicide.
Local folklore claims the curse on the house comes from the Knights
Templar cemetery it is built over. The palazzo was completed in 1487
by Giovanni Dario, a senator. He lived in it with his daughter and
son-in-law, until she committed suicide.
In the 16th century, the house was lived in by the Barbaro family
until their son, Giacomo, was killed in an ambush. An Armenian jewel
merchant went bankrupt after buying it.
In later centuries, there was a suicide at a party in front of guests
and an American who bought the house fled the country when rumours of
his homosexuality leaked out. His lover then killed himself in Mexico.
The buyer of the palazzo has not revealed his identity, but has
paid $11-million for it, according to the newspaper La Stampa. In
recent years, the Dario palazzo has been offered to the Guggenheim
and Benetton families, both of whom turned it down.
It has also been marketed to Woody Allen and Elton John. Venetians
currently go on ghost tours of the property during the day, but are
loath to stay there past sunset.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress