Month: November 2006

FINLAND TRIES TO PREVENT FAILURE OF EU-TURKEY TALKS
PanARMENIAN.Net
31.10.2006 17:49 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Finland, which presides the EU at present, has
sponsored “crisis talks” to prevent failure of talks on Turkey’s
accession to the EU.
November 5-6 a meeting is expected with participation of
representatives of Turkey, Greece, as well as the Greek and Turkish
communities of Cyprus. Meanwhile, Finnish diplomats did not comment
on these reports, RFE/RL said. November 8 the European Commission
report on progress made by Turkey on the way to EU accession will
be presented. The document is expected to be critical of Turkish
authorities for not ensuring freedom of expression as well as failing
to end torture of prisoners and establish control over the army.

MONUMENT TO WORLD-WIDE FAMOUS COMPOSER KHACHATURIAN OPENED IN MOSCOW
PanARMENIAN.Net
31.10.2006 18:09 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A monument to world-wide famous composer Aram
Khachaturian opened in Moscow Tuesday.
Russian President’s spouse Lyudmila Putina, Armenian President Robert
Kocharian and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov took part in the opening
ceremony. The bronze monument made by sculptor Georgy Frangulyan and
architect Igor Voskresensky shows the maestro surrounded by musical
instruments at a moment of creative inspiration.
“The monument symbolizes friendship between our peoples and I am sure
that natural flowers will always be laid to its pedestal,” Lyudmila
Putina is convinced.
Armenian President, who arrived to the ceremony with his spouse Bella
Kocharian, noted that the life of Khachaturian, his fate and creation
is “a brilliant example of interweaving of the fates of our peoples.”
It is very important that the image of Khachaturian remind us of the
happy future of our peoples.” Yuri Luzhkov, who cut the ribbon along
with President Kocharian, underscored that the monument was opened
in an important year for Russians and Armenians – that of Armenia in
Russia, reports RIA Novosti.

SCHIFF LAUDS LEADER PELOSI’S COMMITMENT TO GENOCIDE RECOGNITION LEGISLATION
Asbarez
11/1/2006
WASHINGTON–Congre ssman Adam Schiff, the author of Armenian
Genocide legislation, which passed the House International Relations
Committee, Friday, commended Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
for her support of Genocide recognition legislation. Pelosi recently
committed to support Armenian Genocide legislation in the 110th session
of Congress if she becomes Speaker of the House.The Speaker of the
House is responsible for the House Floor schedule and determines what
legislation is brought to the floor for a vote. With Leader Pelosi’s
past support of Genocide recognition legislation, it is anticipated
that if she becomes Speaker of the House she would schedule a vote
on a Genocide resolution.
“There is no hiding the fact that one and a half million Armenians
were deliberately murdered at the beginning of the 20th Century, and
it is high time that we as a nation recognized these heinous crimes
for what they were – a genocide,” Schiff said.”I stand with Leader
Pelosi in her commitment to get this important legislation passed..”
Over the last five and a half years, Schiff has worked hard to ensure
the U.S. and the international community recognizes the Armenian
Genocide.In June of 2005, Schiff secured a commitment for a mark-up
on Armenian Genocide Recognition legislation from House International
Relations Committee Chairman, Henry Hyde (R-IL).A mark-up is the
final hurdle a bill must pass before a vote by the full House of
Representatives is possible. The mark-up followed in September of
2005. Congressman Schiff’s work with Chairman Hyde enabled the House
International Relations Committee to pass Armenian Genocide legislation
(H. Con. Res. 195 and H. Res. 316) for the first time in five years.
Schiff’s resolution (H. Con. Res. 195) commemorates the Armenian
Genocide and urges Turkey to acknowledge the role of the Ottoman Empire
in it.The resolution also urges Turkey to go beyond recognition of
the Genocide and reach a just resolution with the Armenian people.
After passing the Schiff resolution, the Committee then approved a
second resolution sponsored by Congressmen G. Radanovich (R-CA),
Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI), Adam Schiff and Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
that also recognized the Armenian Genocide (H. Res. 316).
Although Congressman Schiff’s legislation passed the House
International Relations Committee with overwhelming support, Speaker of
the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) has refused to bring the legislation
to the House Floor so all Members can vote on it.
Congressman Adam Schiff is a member of the Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues.He represents California’s 29th Congressional District,
including the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, Glendale,
Griffith Park, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena,
and Temple City.

WWF TO CONTINUE PROTECTION OF ARMENIAN LEOPARDS
Armenpress
Oct 31 2006
KAPAN, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS: Arthur Khoyetsian from the Armenian
office of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said the office has planned
a set of measures for the next year as part of a bigger project aimed
to help Caucasian leopards.
Some 10-12 leopards are believed to live in Armenian forests, mainly
in the southern province of Syunik and in central Ararat province. The
total number of leopards in the South Caucasus is about 20-24, with
another 10-12 in Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Some 5-7 leopards are thought to live also in Nagorno-Karabakh
forests. Khoyetsian said four-wheel cars, binoculars and other
equipment were given to special anti-poaching groups of local
residents in these provinces and special classes were conducted for
rural schoolchildren.
The leopard is included in the Red Data Book of Rare and Endangered
Species (Red Book) in all countries of this region and in the UNEP-WCMC
Database on Threatened Animals of the World. Several years ago the
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) started a special project for protection
of leopards in Armenia. The leopard was thought to have disappeared
from the region in the 1960s, but absence of special surveys until
the end of 20th century did not allow to exactly evaluate the leopard
condition in the Ecoregion.
The situation with the leopard population in the Caucasus is critical,
which is caused by the continuation of over hunting of ungulates
(bezoar goat, roe deer, wild boar, etc.) – primary prey species, and
poaching of the leopard itself. The long-term goal of this project
is conservation of the Caucasus leopard in its historical range in
the Ecoregion.
Khoyetsian said WWF Armenian Office will bring next year red deers,
which are on the verge of extinction in Armenia, from Georgia to
resettle them in Armenian forests.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MONUMENT TO WORLD-FAMOUS ARMENIAN COMPOSER OPENS IN MOSCOW
Armenpress
Oct 31 2006
MOSCOW, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS: As part of Year of Armenia in Russia
monument to the world-famous Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian was
inaugurated today in Moscow with the participation of the Armenian
President Robert Kocharian, Russian First Lady Lyudmila Putina,
Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov and others.
The monument made by sculptor Georgi Frangulian and architect Igor
Voskresenski is erected near the House of Composers. “The opening
of the monument is one of the best events of the Year of Armenia in
Russia declared by the presidents of the two countries. Year, within
the framework of which we are giving new impetus to our spiritual,
economic, political and human relations,” Moscow mayor said adding
that Aram Khachaturian is the classic of world culture in the works
of which people see national music and Armenia’s beauty.
Luzhkov highly assessed the public activity of Khachaturian and pointed
out that it is a high time to combine the spiritual potential of the
two countries.
President of Armenia Robert Kocharian said that it is a great honor and
pride for any nation when a monument to its sons is being erected in
another country. And the pride doubles when the son, in this case Aram
Khachaturian, is loved in Russia as much as he is loved in Armenia.
According to the Armenian president, the life and fate of Aram
Khachaturian is wonderful example which shows how the cultures
and fates of the Armenian and Russian peoples are merged. “We are
often being asked whether we do everything necessary so that the
new generation remembers about our distinguished and general pages,
how our fates are tied with each other.
The works of Aram Khachaturian always remind us about our general
past,” Kocharian said.
The Russian First Lady Lyudmila Putina considered it symbolizing
that the monument to the composer has been erected nearby the music
institutions of Moscow where Aram Khachaturian lived and worked.
She said the monument also symbolizes the friendship existing
between the Armenian and Russian peoples. The Chairman of the Russian
Composers’ Union Vladislav Kazeni said that Aram Khachaturian’s music
is eternal and tells about happiness, love and beauty of the world
for which everyone must fight.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT OFFICE OPENS IN AKHURIAN
Armenpress
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS: A regional office for management of
water resources of the Akhurian water basin was inaugurated today. The
office was established with the support of the USAID and PA Government
Services organization.
The office, furnished with advanced equipment, will manage water
resources of Shirak and Armavir provinces fully and part of Aragatsotn
province. Armenian Water Resources Management Agency set up in 2003
five regional water resources management basins. The Akhurian basin
has become the first to have its own office. The second will open
before the end of the year in the southern Kapan, the administrative
center of Syunik province.
Creation of these offices is part of a program designed to decentralize
water resources management system.

KARABAKH FM SAYS STEPANAKERT WANTS SOONEST SOLUTION TO THE CONFLICT
Armenpress
Oct 31 2006
STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS; Nagorno-Karabakh foreign minister
Georgy Petrosian refused to make forecasts about a possible date of
a solution to the conflict with Azerbaijan saying his government’s
approaches concerning the future of Karabakh did not change.
Petrosian refused also to comment on speculations and forecasts that
the conflict could be settled only after 2008 or 2009 when Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh will have had national elections,
saying Stepanakert wants a soonest resolution of the dispute and
establishment of good neighborly relations with Azerbaijan.
Speaking to Armenpress Georgy Petrosian said this kind of relations
between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan would become a steady guarantee
of regional peace and stability. “Only long-lasting peace is able to
ensure security, freedom and dignity for the people of the region,”
he said.

PARLIAMENT MEMBER UNDERSCORES POLITICAL WILL OF AUTHORITIES AND VOTER HIGH TURNOUT FOR FREE ELECTIONS
Armenpress
Oct 31 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 31, ARMENPRESS: An opposition parliament member
revealed today that in order to hold just and free elections Armenian
authorities and the opposition should display sufficient political
will, while the ordinary citizens should be active and realize the
key importance of elections.
Shavarsh Kocharian, who is also chairman of a minor National Democratic
Party, told a round table discussion of the revised election code
that no matter how good an election code is it cannot ensure free
and fair elections without political will and voter activity.
Kocharian echoed a range of pro-government and opposition parties
which argue that elimination of single-mandate election system and
transition to 100 percent proportional system when all members of
the National Assembly are elected by party lists is one of the key
mechanisms that can help ensure free polls.
He cited the example of former communist countries of Central
Europe which he said have all passed to proportional election
system, while authoritarian regimes have chosen single-mandate or
majoritarian system. Another key factor to ensure free elections,
according to Kocharian is that all-level election commissions must
have representatives of the opposition wing.
“The whole election process- from ballot printing, ballot casting to
ballot calculation must be made as transparent as possible and the
rights of proxies must be specified, he said.

NEW CRITICISM OF CHAIRMAN OF ROMANIA’S ARMENIAN COMMUNITY
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
01/11/2006
The European Commission is looking forward to a new candidacy of a
European commissioner from Romania. To remind, the country’s prime
minister previously appointed the chairman of Romania’s Armenian
community, head of Romanian Parliament’s Financial Committee, Varuzhan
Voskanian. Yet, Voskanian was compelled to withdraw his candidacy
after a few episodes of his biography surfaced.
According to European media, Voskanian is suspected to be an
intelligencer of Romania’s Sekuritate special service. Reportedly,
he ran a small right-wing party was financed by a Romanian
businessman. Varuzhan Voskanian denies the accusation. President of
the European Commission Jose Manuel Barosso backs the candidacy of
Monica Makove, justice minister of Romania.

155 SCHOOLS IN YEREVAN TO BE HEATED BY ELECTRICITY THIS WINTER TOO
By Karine Danielian
AZG Armenian Daily
01/11/2006
This year, already 50 Yerevan based schools have local heating systems
and 45 of them are ready for the coming winter. Kamo Areyan, deputy
mayor of Yerevan, said this at the regular press conference. The rest
155 schools under the control of the Yerevan Mayor’s office will be
heated by electricity. As a result of inventory, the experts found
out that the schools need to purchase 120-130 heaters more.
Yerevan Municipality pays Double Attention to City’s Damaged Buildings
This year the framework of the rehabilitation of the dwellers of the
damaged buildings will be enlarged.
Last year only one building was built for the dwellers of the third
and fourth class damaged buildings. As a result, 43 families received
homes. Kamo Areyan, Deputy Mayor of the Yerevan city, said this at
the regular press conference.
It is envisaged that this year, two buildings with 100 apartments
will be built for 136 families. Another building with 36 apartments
will be renovated for safe dwelling. He added that the state is going
to allocate AMD 2,1 billion for realization of all these projects.