Month: March 2007

ODE TO OUR SPORTSMEN
Alisa Gevorgyan

"Radiolur"
21.03.2007 11:25

Aram Moosakhanyan was born in Iran. He has been living in Canada ever
since 1999. He has practiced music for a long time, but his first
serious achievement is the album released in 2006.

"I consider that my first serious work is the "Here, it’s me" album
issued on March 15, 2006. For one year radio stations in different
countries have aired the songs included in the CD. I have a great
number of songs, which I will present in my next CDs.

– Your new song is titled "To our sportsmen." What will you say about
this song?

– The song was composed based on the poem by famous Iranian-Armenian
poet Varand. At my request, wonderful Boston Armenian poet and a
good friend of mine Avik Dermenjyan wrote an ode to our sportsmen. I
slightly redesigned these compositions. In the result the song "To
our sportsmen" was born. Actually, the lyric was written by Aram,
Avik and Varand, the music was composed by Aram Moosakhanyan.

– What will you say about your future plans?

– I’m very busy now. I’m working on a new CD in Armenian, which will
include the above-mentioned song. I hope the album will be released
in Armenia in December 2007. I’m also working on my new clip, which
will be probably completed by May 28.

RA PRIME MINISTER SENDS A TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCE TO HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART

ArmRadio.am
21.03.2007 12:05

RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan sent a telegram of condolence to
his Russian counterpart Mikhail Fradkov connected with the tragedies
in Russia that took the lives of numerous people, Press and Information
Department of RA Government informs.

The message says, in part:

"Dear Mikhail Efimovich, On behalf of the Armenian Government and
myself I express deep condolence connected with the blast at Kuzbas
coal mine, the fire in Krasnodar region and the air crash in Samara
that took the lives of a number of people.

At this tragic hour for Russian people I express my sincere condolence
and sympathy.

I ask to convey my condolence to the families and friends of the
victims.

KEY HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE HOLDS HEARING ON THE DARFUR ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

ArmRadio.am
21.03.2007 10:25

On Capitol Hill, a key House Subcommittee held a hearing on the Darfur
Accountability and Divestment Act (H. R. 180). The bill, spearheaded by
Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), prohibits US government contracts
with companies that conduct business operations in Sudan, with the
purpose of exerting economic pressure against the government of the
Republic of Sudan for its human rights abuses and participation in
the crime of genocide.

The Armenian Assembly of America submitted testimony for the record
in support of current efforts to bring legitimate pressure on
the government, to affect change in its domestic and international
conduct, toward addressing the dire humanitarian situation in Darfur,
and preventing future violence in that region.

The Assembly’s testimony said in part, "Armenian-Americans, as
descendants of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, cannot remain
indifferent to the suffering of the people of Darfur. Inaction is
not an acceptable course of action."

MORE THAN 20 PROFANED MONUMENTS IN THE BASIN OF LAKE VAN

ArmRadio.am
21.03.2007 12:40

The reconstruction of the Church of the Holy Cross on Akhtamar Island
is the simple political calculation of the Turkish side, a PR action
to counter the process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
Director of the Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan told Armenpress.

He noted that the results of the study carried out by the London based
" Komitas" Institute reveal that there are more than 20 demolished
and profaned monuments in the basin of Lake Van. "We have many other
monuments on the territory of Turkey, which present a great value like
Akhtamar. But I must say with regret that these are irreversibly lost
because of permission of the Turkish authorities. I hope the Turkish
side will have the courage to bring these constructions to the former
shape. Otherwise, the reconstruction of the Holy Cross turns into a
simple propaganda action," said Hayk Demoyan.

Turkey pursues also economic aims from the perspective of attracting
tourists to Akhtamar Island, and according to the Director, it hardly
has the long-term and humanitarian programs of rescuing the cultural
heritage of Armenia on the agenda. He mentioned that if the Turkish
side is ready, the Institute is ready to provide the pictures and
geographic locations of the Churches the remnants of which need
to be saved. Nevertheless, according to Hayk Demoyan’s assessment,
if Akhtamar has been reconstructed properly, it deserves praise.

Let us remind that the Turkish Culture Minister has sent an invitation
to RA Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs to attend the opening
ceremony of the Church.

THE ROMANIAN AMBASSADOR ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO THE COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA

ArmRadio.am
21.03.2007 13:24

RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan received the newly appointed
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania Mrs. Mrs. Crina
Rodica Prunariu.

Congraulating the Ambassador on starting her diplomatic mission
in Armenia, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that she will
direct her activity to the further development and reinforcement of
Armenian-Romanian relations and friendly ties.

Attaching importance to Romania’s membership to the European Union
from January 1, 2007, Andranik Margaryan expressed confidence that
Romania will have its positive involvement in the further development
of Armenia-EU relations and the process of accomplishment of Armenia’s
Action Plan with the European Union.

Speaking about Armenia’s relations with NATO both in the bilateral
and multilateral formats, the Prime Minister mentioned that Armenia
anticipates the assistance and participation of Romania in the
execution of the Individual Partnership Action Plan with NATO.

Mrs. Mrs. Crina Rodica Prunariu assured that assuming the position
of the Ambassador to Armenia, she is ready to apply all its efforts
and capacities to deepen the relations between the two countries
even more. "Armenia is a very important country for us, taking into
consideration that we have always been historically tied and have
the same interests and aspire to be help each other."

The interlocutors also underlined the role of the Romanian-Armenian
community in the development of bilateral ties, especially the economic
relations, especially considering that the current Economy Minister
of Romania comes from the Armenian community.

At the end of the meeting Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan wished
success to the newly appointed Ambassador, assuring that his is
willing help her carry out her diplomatic mission in our country.

BORIS FRLEC: THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS ARE A CHALLENGE TO THE ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES

ArmRadio.am
21.03.2007 14:03

"The recently amended Electoral Code provides for a healthy legal base
for conducting democratic elections. However, it is a challenge to the
Armenian authorities do demonstrate good will in its implementation
to have these and subsequent elections be held in compliance with the
OSCE commitments," Head of the Observation Mission of the OSCE Office
for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, Ambassador Boris Frlec
said in his first press conference.

The delegation comprised of 13 people has been in Armenia from March
19 at the invitation of RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. Another
29 observers from 18 countries will join the mission by weekend. 300
short-term OSCE/ODIHR observers will arrive in Armenia in May.

This is the 6th time the OSCE is carrying out observation mission
in Armenia. Boris Frlec declared in Yerevan today that the long-term
observers have started the monitoring a bit earlier to get acquainted
with the pre-election atmosphere and the political parties. The
Ambassador added they are ready to meet with all parliamentary and
non-parliamentary forces in case the latter wish so.

ONE MORE ARMENIAN CHURCH WILL SURVIVE

Yerkir
20.03.2007 12:45

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – In February 2007, the first stage of the
St. Echmiadzin Church reconstruction was completed in Tbilisi.

The 200-year-old church was not functioning for the last year. Due
to frequent earthquakes and construction works of the underground,
dangerous surface fractures appeared on this architectural monument
and it eventually appeared on the edge of destruction.

In July, 2006 the Argentina affiliate of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Executive Board and the US West Coast diocese of Holy See Echmiadzin,
the first stage of the church reconstruction was launched.

It included reinforcement of the church base, internal columns and
walls of the building with the help of metallic structures. The
reasons that caused water collection under the building have been
eliminated. The "Karutsapatum and Spasarkum GAK" CJSC (Author
Sergey Atoyan; Architect Henrik Aghalaryan) are in charge of the
reconstruction design of the church.

It is envisaged to start internal renovation in the near future.

Primate of Georgian Diocese Bishop Vazgen Mirzakhanyan is hopeful
that by the end of the year the Saint Echmiadzin church of Tbilisi
will be reopened.

Thus the 150000 Armenians based in Georgia will have the opportunity
to preserve their national and spiritual pride.

WORKSHOP ON "EARTHQUAKE SAFER SCHOOLS"

ArmRadio.am
20.03.2007 12:24

A two-day workshop "Earthquake Safer Schools" organized on March 13-14
by UNICEF jointly with a team of trainers from the UN International
Secretariat for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) and Central Asia Earthquake
Safety Initiative (CARESI) brought together representatives of the
Ministry of Education, the National Institute of Education, the Crisis
Management Academy, the Armenian Red Cross, school administrators
and teachers to discuss how to ensure that schools and communities
are better prepared for an earthquake. The workshop was funded by
the European Community Humanitarian Office.

"Disasters, including earthquakes, can happen anywhere at any
time. Given their impact on children, their families and their
communities, we have an obligation to prepare for them beforehand,
and not just respond to them once they occur," UNICEF Representative
Sheldon Yett said, addressing the workshop participants.

Educational institutions and properly trained school administrators,
teachers and children have an important role to play in preparing for,
and mitigating the consequences of an earthquake. "We know well that
the earthquake threatened communities need earthquake resistant schools
to protect the lives of the children. However, community participation
and education are equally necessary to make mitigation and disaster
preparedness work, and effective communication and cooperation between
local officials, emergency specialists and the education community
is key", the UNICEF Representative stressed.

Children also share information that they learn in schools with other
members of their community.

With the support of UNICEF, the Ministry of Education has already
introduced "life skills" in the basic education curriculum. Life
skills are skills which can help children make informed decisions,
communicate effectively, and develop coping and self-management
skills. The material includes lessons on disaster preparedness.

Among other topics, the workshop addressed such important issues as
the role of school administrators in developing practical contingency
plans, and the roles of teachers and other community members as first
responders while awaiting support from rescue services.

"It is important that the Ministry of Education and the National
Institute of Education closely cooperate with the Crisis Management
Academy in further improving the knowledge and skills of school
administrators and teachers on disaster preparedness and response,"
Deputy Director of the National Institute of Education Vardan
Ghandilyan pointed out, adding that there is a wealth of resources
on disaster preparedness and response already available.

"Recent international experience has shown that, as was true in the
last major earthquake in Armenia in 1988, children in schools are
sometimes among the most vulnerable" Sheldon Yett emphasized.

POLLS IN TURKEY SHOW SUPPORT FOR RELIGIOUS AND ETHNIC PLURALISM

ArmRadio.am
20.03.2007 12:48

Most Turks believe the state should help preserve different religious
and ethnic groups in the face of rising nationalism, according to a
poll published Monday.

The poll by the Konda institution published in the Milliyet daily
showed that 66.4 percent believe the state should support efforts
to protect ethnic differences as opposed to 33.6 percent who say it
should not, the Turkish Daily News reports.

A total of 76.4 percent said the state should be involved in efforts
to preserve different religious groups while 23.6 percent said it
should not.

The poll, conducted among 48,000 people countrywide in October, comes
at a time of intense debate over surging nationalism following the
murder of an ethnic Armenian journalist by a suspected ultranationalist
grouping.

Turkey is home to tiny minorities of Jews, Armenians and Greeks,
as well as a sizeable Kurdish community in the Southeast, where
separatist rebels have waged a bloody 22-year campaign for self-rule.

Improving the freedoms of its Kurdish and non-Muslim minorities is
one of the key elements in Turkey’s troubled accession talks with
the European Union.

Last year, the EU partly froze Turkey’s membership talks over its
failure to grant trade privileges to Cyprus, an EU member it does
not recognize.

PETER SEMNEBY: ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN MUST WORK WITH THE SOCIETIES

ArmRadio.am
20.03.2007 13:35

Today Azerbaijan and Armenia must work with their societies more
actively for signing a peace agreement, EU Special Representative
for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby told "Trend." According to him,
"both the Armenian and Azerbaijani sides can do much more in the
settlement of the Karabakh issue."

"It’s time for the parties to seriously address the issue of signing
an agreement. We hope that in compliance with the principles we issued
at the end of the past year and based on the results of the meeting
between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan Robert Kocharyan and
Ilham Aliyev, it is possible to reach an agreement," the EU Special
Representative added.