Month: November 2006

AZG Armenian Daily #216, 11/11/2006

Culture
FEAST OF GREAT MUSIC HELD ALMOST UNNOTICED
On November 3, a significant concert of modern classic
music was held in Yerevan. The concert was dedicated
to the 85th anniversary of Armenian composer Eduard
Mirzoyan. The concert was interesting for two reasons:
firstly, for its conductor Murad Annamamedov, head of
the Philharmonic Orchestra of Yaroslavl, secondly, two
pieces by Eduard Mirzoyan and his great student Avet
Terterian were performed. Annamamedov performed the
famous Symphony by Mirzoyan and one of the unknown
pieces by Terterian.
Murad Annamamedov is one of those musicians who are
devoted to the Armenian art and carry out its
propaganda abroad. In the beginning of the concert, he
heartily greeted our people and country. At the end of
the concert, in response to “bravos” addressed to him,
Annamamedov suddenly turned to the audience and said:
“Let’s preserve this treasure. They represent the
Armenian culture in the world,” pointing out our
Philharmonic Orchestra.
At the same time, unfortunately, the premiere of Avet
Terterian’s piece was not properly welcomed. The
concert hall was half empty. Moreover, none of the TV
channels or the newspapers highlighted the event or
made an interview with Murad Annamamedov. Something is
strange in Armenia. We all are guilty that the
large-scale audience didn’t pull in for such an
events.
After the concert, when congratulating the conductor,
another Armenian classical musician Aleksander
Harutyunian approached Annamamedov to congratulate and
thank him for brilliant performance of the pieces.
When Annamamedov learnt who was congratulating him, he
knelt before of Harutyunian.
By Harutyun Khachatrian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1+
NEW AMBASSADOR TO CZECH REPUBLIC
[06:06 pm] 10 November, 2006
RA Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to
Czech Republic Ashot Hovakimyan handed his credentials
to President Vaclav Klaus.
During the meeting of the President and the Ambassador
the sides highly appreciated the friendship between
the two countries and their people. Nevertheless, they
stated that there is still much to do in order to
stimulate cooperation in political, economic and
cultural fields.
The sides also referred to the cooperation within the
framework of the Individual partnership action plan of
the EU New neighborhood program.
At the end of the meeting President Klaus sent best
regards to his Armenian colleague and wished the newly
appointed Ambassador good luck in the fulfillment of
his diplomatic mission.

A1+
TIME WILL COME, AND DALLAQYAN WILL MAKE UP HIS MIND
[06:07 pm] 10 November, 2006
`When the most important moment comes, I will decide
how to participate in the 2007 Parliamentary
elections’, today in `Pastark’ club NA deputy Viktor
Dallaqyan neither confirmed nor refuted the
information about his participation in the elections
as member of `Prosperous Armenia’. Instead, he
referred to the possible developments of the inner
political situation in Armenia.
According to him, the 2007 Parliamentary elections,
the confrontations inside the authorities, the
Karabakh conflict, the end of the office of Robert
Kocharyan, as well as other issues can affect the
inner political situation in Armenia. In Contrast to
2003, this time the Presidential elections will follow
the Parliamentary ones. `Those political powers which
will be dominating after the Parliamentary elections
will influence the Presidential elections’, Mr.
Dallaqyan mentioned.
Although the deputy thinks that during the past 15
years Armenia suffered from the problem of fabricated
elections, this time there is a chance to organize
free and fair elections in 2007. According to him, we
must put an end to the slogan of Nicaraguan despot
Samosa, `You won during the elections, I won while
calculating the votes’.
In the organization of free and fair elections Mr.
Dallaqyan found the order of formation of the
electoral committees important. `The electoral
committees must consist of equal numbers of
representatives of the authorities and the
opposition’.
As for the 2008 budget which according to the Prime
Minister is just wonderful, Viktor Dallaqyan thinks it
is another `survival budget’.
Dallaqyan drew parallels between the budgets of
Armenia and Azerbaijan and drew a sad conclusion, `The
settlement of the Karabakh conflict has been taken to
the economic field. The country which has stronger
economy will be dominating while settling the
conflict’.
In order to show the gap between the economic
development of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Viktor
Dallaqyan enumerated, `In 2003-2007 the budget of
Azerbaijan rose 8 times, whereas that of Armenia –
four times. During the last nine months the economic
growth of Azerbaijan was 34%, whereas that of Armenia-
12.5%. Besides, the state budget of Azerbaijan allots
1 billion USD to the defense of the country, whereas
that of Armenia – only 263 million USD’.

Panorama.am
13:57 10/11/06

CHOIR SPEGHANY CELEBRATES 10TH YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT
Choir Speghany is celebrating 10th year of its
establishment. Sarina Avtandilyan, art head of the
choir, said it is established only for children of
freedom fighters who perished during Karabakh war. `In
1996 when the choir was established, we hoped that it
will become a second family for the children and the
music will become balsam (speghany). That is why the
choir is named Speghany and our hopes were realized,’
she said.
In 2007 the choir will take part in European festival
of young ensembles in Bazel (Switzerland). Besides,
the group will participate in the contest in Germany.
In 2003, Speghany released its first CD included
Armenian spiritual music. In 2004 it won a second
prize in Aretso (Italy) and received the title of
laureate of international contest. /Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
14:54 10/11/06

FOUNDATION ASKS FOR DONATION TO MAKE SCHOOL FURNITURE
Levon Lazarian, minister of education and science,
complained in a press conference today that only
Diaspora Armenians financially support Hay Dproch
Foundation (Armenian School) and not local business
community and other benefactors. Levon Aharonyan,
chairman of the board of directors of the foundation,
was surprised that support to schools is not
widespread. `There are many rich people here… We must
tell them and educate,’ he said.
Hay Dproch Foundation was established in 2003 and put
an aim to provide desks, chairs and blackboards to 500
schools. Until today, the foundation managed to
provide furniture to 133 schools with 12,000
schoolchildren. The furniture is mainly provided to
borderline area schools, including some in Nagorno
Karabakh.
Each desk and chair costs them $50 but because of
depreciation of dollar this sum is not enough.
Therefore the foundation management asks for at least
$60 of donation. /Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
16:08 10/11/06

DALLAKYAN JUSTIFIES PROSPEROUS ARMENIA’S CHARITY ACTS
`If the state does not perform its functions,
benefactor do them if their actions do not contradict
to the Law on Benevolence,’ Viktor Dallakyan, member
of parliament, told a press conference today in a kind
justifying Prosperous Armenia party and its chairman
Gagik Tsarukyan who engaged in charity before the
elections.
Speaking about the possibility that he may join
Prosperous Armenia, he said, `I am in the process of
deciding.’ /Panorama.am/

Panorama.am
17:51 10/11/06

STATE UNIVERSITY DISCUSSES SECURITY STRATEGIC PLAN
Yerevan State University (YSU) scientific board
discussed today national security strategic plan. `We
hold discussions to consider expert opinion,’ Serzh
Sargsyan, defense minister and YSU management board
chairman, told reporters today.
Some experts believe the plan is too descriptive.
Others think, `It is a result of hard work.’ There was
an opinion that Armenia should concentrate its
diplomatic efforts on Russia, USA, Iran and France.
Speaking about Armenian budget on military, Sargsyan
said he is against of taking money away from oligarchs
and giving to military. He believes shadow e economy
must be eliminated but this does not mean that only
oligarchs must pay taxes.
Speaking about US Defense Minister Donald Ramsfeld’s
resignation, Sargsyan said, `It is an administration
issue of USA and Mr. Ramsfeld personally,’ also saying
this issue has nothing to do with the security
strategic plan of Armenia.
The plan will be approved next year. However, not the
parliament but the government will approve it.
Sargsyan said the strategy is `the political program
of authorities.’ /Panorama.am/

Armenpress
YEREVAN TRAFFIC CREATES CHAOS

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: Road police
officers in Yerevan say the crucial increase in the
number of cars is number one problem that hinders
their efforts to bring some order to the streets.
Around 12,000 cars are said to be bought by Yerevan
residents annually. In addition to it, some 20,000
other cars enter the city from nearby and remote
regions.
A drastic increase in the number of taxis is
another problem. Some 6,000 officially registered
taxis alone run in the town’s streets, but road police
officers say their real number is thrice bigger,
implicating that some 12,000 taxis are not registered
avoiding taxes.
The government has released 600 million drams for
upgrading traffic lights in Yerevan. The Yerevan
municipality is negotiating with World Bank a credit
that it wants to spend on reforming the transport
system. Last week the president of the country
instructed several government agencies to join efforts
and bring order to the streets, saying the focus must
be on thousands of minibuses which are the main
commuter means in the city.
Police officers are trying to prevent minibuses to
stop and pick up or unload passengers wherever they
want, but at special stops only.
Officials in Yerevan municipality cite also the
construction boom in the city, the absence of a ring
road and few parking lots as yet other reasons that
create chaos in the streets.

A1+
LEFT AND RETURNED
[02:15 pm] 10 November, 2006
Yesterday head of the court office Hakob Hakobyan
phoned editor-in-chief of daily newspaper «Pakagits»
Agapi Haykazouni, apologized for what happened and
informed that the property of the newspaper will be
taken back to its place as it was all due to a
misunderstanding, Agapi Haykazouni told. Nevertheless,
press secretary of the Justice Ministry Anahit
Voskanyan refuted the information saying that there
has not been a misunderstanding.
Let us remind you that yesterday the court officers
confiscated the property of «Pakagits» according to
the decision of judge A. Petrosyan from the court of
the first instance of Noubarashen.
«The property of the company «Agapi Hrat» publishing
the newspaper has been confiscated due to the court
decision as the company refused to sign any
documents», Anahit Voskanyan informed. As for the
return of the property, he said that the editorial
office does not have the right of alienation of the
property.
By the way, Agapi Haykazouni informed that part of the
property is damaged. «Who will compensate for our
moral damage? This was a psychological attack, we are
sure. We will soon open the brackets», she promised.

A1+
SERGE SARGSYAN WILL NOT HELP ARMAN BABAJANYAN
[06:08 pm] 10 November, 2006
Editor-in-chief of the newspaper `Zhamanak Yerevan’
Arman Babajanyan who is sentenced to four years
imprisonment, applied to the special committee with
the RA Defense Minister at the head asking to stop
prosecution against him.
According to the law adopted in 2003, all those
citizens who are over 27 years old and have once
escaped from military service, can pay a certain sum
to the committee and avoid imprisonment. According to
the advocates of Arman Babajanyan, the law is
applicable in his case too. But it turned out that it
is not.
`We have a written conclusion which says that the
Committee cannot investigate those cases about which
there is a court decision. This is clear as the
committee cannot be higher than the court’, Serge
Sargsyan said. He claimed that the committee has never
discussed a case where a court decision has been made.
`The committee discusses only the cases of those
citizens who have volunteered to represent them’.
Arman Babajanyan was sentenced to four years
imprisonment for document forgery and for escaping
military service.