Month: March 2007

"BOURGAS STUDIES" EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO NATIONAL HOLIDAY OF BULGARIA
OPENS IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The exhibition entitled "Bourgas
Studies" opened on March 1 at the Armenian Society for Cultural
Relations with Foreign Countries (AOKS) is dedicated to the 129th
anniversary of liberation of Bulgaria from the yoke of Ottaman
Turkey. More than four dozens of works of photographer Hrachia Babayan
are presented at the exhibition. Life of Armenians living in Bourgas
are presented in H.Babayan’s photos. As Stepan Dimitrov, the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to Armenia
mentioned at the opening of the exhibition, though the Liberation
Holiday of Bulgaria is March 3, Bulgarians do preparatory works
started from the first day of spring for it is mentioned at a proper
level. In the Ambassador’s words, end of the Russian-Turkish war was
fixed by the Treaty of San Stefano signed in 1878, and Bulgaria which
was under the Turkish yoke for 500 years, was liberated. S.Dimitrov
mentioned that the national holiday of Bulgarians has more important
meaning as Bulgaria became a European Union member starting from
January 1. Touching upon the Armenian-Bulgarian ties, the Ambassador
mentioned that the friendly relations of the two people have history
of centuries. He also mentioned that 45 thousand Armenians live today
in Bulgaria.

CREDIT EDUCATION SYSTEM TO FUNCTION FOR ALL PROFESSIONS OF YSU
MAGISTRACY FROM NEW ACADEMIC YEAR

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The credit education system will
function for all profession of the magistracy at the Yerevan State
University starting from the 2007-2008 academic year. It supposes
increase of the education quality of the magistracy and it’s
correspondence to the international standards.

YSU Rector Aram Simonian stated about it at the March 1 press
conference.

A.Simonian mentioned that the current educational year was rather full
in the sense of reforms of higher educational institutions: both
contents and staff changes were made at the higher educational
institution. The YSU Rector also stated that works on introduction of
the credit system are done in the sector of bachelor’s education as
well: it will probably be implemented in a year.

"Connected with introduction of the new system, the YSU actively
cooperated during the recent period with almost all state institutions
of higher education of the republic, particularly, with the State
Engineering University of Armenia, M.Heratsi State Medical University,
State Economy University of Armenia, Agrarian University of Armenia,"
A.Simonian mentioned, noticing that state institutions of higher
education in Armenia more cooperate with foreign universities than
with each other. In his words, it would be more effective if Armenian
institutions of higher education are able to start correct cooperation
with each other in all directions: educational, scientific, exchange
of experience, etc. At present, the State University cooperates with
the SEUA not only at the educational level but also in the sphere of
scientific-research works. There is a preliminary agreement with the
same institution of higher education for founding such a center which
will be engaged in the problem of making scientific researches
commercial which will be directly connected with production. Those
predominating directions and spheres by which it is purposeful to do
scientific-research work are already defined at the YSU. A.Simonian
also mentioned that some staff policy is carried on at the higher
educational insitution in this direction: seven new scientific centers
and two laboratories were founded. It is also envisaged to work out
scientific-educational programs in the sphere of Ottaman Studies as
there are only 1-2 specialists in that sphere.

Armenian officials to be invited on opening ceremony of St Cross
Church in Akdamar

02.03.2007 12:12

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Opening of the St Cross Church in Akdamar will be a
gesture to Armenians and the whole world, Yusuf Halacoglu, head of the
Turkish Historical Society stated. `We don’t have anything to hide. I
shall be present on the ceremony,’ he said.

Armenian officials, leaders and culture ministers from European
countries will be invited to the opening of the church, The New
Anatolian reports. The opening ceremony will be held not April 11, as
was scheduled before, but April 15.

The opening of the church located on Akdamar Island was delayed until
April 24 by the Culture Ministry, but under the pressure of
Turkish-Armenian community and Constantinople Patriarch Mesrob II
Mutafyan the ceremony was changed to an earlier date.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri Ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs back to Nagorno Karabakh conflict

ArmRadio.am
2007-03-02 14:53:00

Ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Vilayat Guliyev is back
to Nagorno Karabakh conflict. V. Guliyev – presently Ambassador of
Azerbaijan to Poland, declared that he met with Polish Foreign
Minister Anna Fotyga before her visit to Azerbaijan, and – "presented
materials on Nagorno Karabakh conflict Ms. Fotyga," Azeri media
reports.

"The yesterday’s meeting of Ms. Fotyga with President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev demonstrated that Polish Foreign Minister has objective
views regarding Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Ms. Fotyga is aware of
Armenia’s destructive role in the region," declared V. Guliyev.

In her tern, Ms. Fotyga made no comments speaking for her "being aware
of Armenia’s destructive role." On the contrary, at the press
conference in Yerevan, Ms. Fotyga said that Azeri mass media
incorrectly interpreted her words on settlement of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict – "within territorial integrity of Azerbaijan."

Karabakh historian: one shouldn’t step on dead bodies for one’s own interests

ArmRadio.am
2007-03-02 14:42:00

"Today, official Baku applies to international organizations to
qualify the events in Hojalu as a genocide. But how can one speak of a
genocide if the Karabakh side officially, at a governmental level
provided a corridor so that the peaceful population could safely go to
Aghdam?", Hrachik Harutyunyan, a Karabakh historian, told an ArmInfo
correspondent.

According to him, the Azeri military servicemen accompanied the
peaceful population to the Armenian village of Nakhijevanik along the
provided corridor. Nakhijevanik, like other nearby Armenian villages,
as well as Stepanakert, the capital of Karabakh, were constantly under
artillery bombardment from Aghdam, a town which turned into a strong
military base by the Azeri authorities. The historian considers that
the people of Hojalu were deliberately taken under artillery
bombardment in order to compromise President Ayaz Mutalibov and
discharge him. "By the nature of my service, I managed to recapture
the Azeri communication personnel’s negotiations which were held all
night long from 25 to 26 Feb 1992. In the morning, the signaller of
the Regional Department of Internal Affairs of Hojalu with "Chinar"
call-sign reported about what had happened. Receiving no answer, he
swore and stopped talking. One shouldn’t step on dead bodies for one’s
own interests. People should know the truth about Hojalu. Sooner or
later, the truth will come out", H.Harutyunyan said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GIBRAHAYER
e-magazinehttp://gibrahayer.cyprusnewsl etter.com
The largest circulation Armenian e-magazine
Circulates every Wednesday
Established in 1999

CYPRUS GOVERNMENT ISSUES NEW PRESERVATION ORDER ON MELKONIAN PROPERTY
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRAISES MINISTER SYLIKIOTIS AND ARMENIAN
REPRESENTATIVE MAHDESSIAN FOR THEIR HELP

Nicosia (March 2, 2007) — The Melkonian Alumni Association of Cyprus
would like to announce that Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis has
issued a new preservation order on for the disputed estate of the
Melkonian school in Nicosia which could cause indefinite delays in the
administrators’ efforts to dispose of the land.

The order was published in the Republic of Cyprus Official Gazette
(Section III(i), No. 4178) on Friday, March 2nd, 2007, with immediate
effect, which means that no one can harm any part of the old buildings
erected in 1925 or even cut any of the trees of the forest on Limassol
Ave. planted by the first orphans who found shelter in Cyprus after
the Genocide of the Armenians by the Ottoman Turks.

A previous order, declaring most of the 125,000 sq.m. property a
heritage site with "historical, architectural and national importance"
had been overturned by the Supreme Court in Nicosia last December
following an appeal by the lawyers of the AGBU.

The Armenian community then wrote to the President of the Supreme
Court, the Attorney General, political party leaders and the Interior
Minister expressing its dismay at the decision and calling on all
parties involved to review the matter and reinstate the preservation
order.

Reports published in the Cyprus media and reported on CyBC public
television in February suggested that the Town Planning Dept. had
reviewed the case and was working on a new preservation order based on
stronger arguments justifying the decision in order to prevent the
case from being thrown out of court again.

"I am delighted with this news as it shows the determination of the
Republic of Cyprus and in particular the Minister of Interior to
protect this important site not only for the Armenians of Cyprus and
the whole Diaspora, but also for all the people of Cyprus for whom the
Melkonian has been and will always be a jewel with historic value,"
said the Armenian Representative in the House, Vartkes Mahdessian.

The Melkonian Alumni, who were at the forefront of the struggle to
save the Melkonian ever since the decision to close the school was
made three years ago, were praiseful of the efforts of a few dedicated
people at the Town Planning Authority.

"They seem to have appreciated more than some people in Cyprus and
abroad the true value and importance of this historic school and the
need for quality education," the Alumni said.

The Alumni also made references to the justification used to
reintroduce the new preservation order according to which it is deemed
imperative "to protect the larger part of the property with historic
traditional buildings as a unified whole, as the property with its
structured and natural environs is part of the larger historic and
traditional town planning network of Nicosia, which must be
protected."

The Alumni conclude that "with such decisions, as well as the general
support of the whole community, hopes to reopen the school one day are
revived. We thank the Representative, Mr. Mahdessian and the
Minister, Mr. Sylikiotis, for all their efforts in this direction."

LPPA AND SDHP SUBMIT APPLICATIONS ON NOMINATION TO RA CEC

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 2, the Liberal-Progressive
Party of Armenia (LPPA) and Social-Democrat Hnchak Party (SDHP)
submitted applications on nomination by proportional system for
forthcoming parliamentary elections to RA CEC. Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed about it by CEC Spokesperson Tsovinar
Khachatrian. 28 candidates are included in LPPA’s list. It is headed
by Party Chairman Hovhannes Hovhannisian. 20 candidates are registered
in SDHP’s list headed by Party Chairwoman Lyudmila Sargsian.

"LET WORTHY FORCES AND NOT THOSE HAVING MUCH MONEY WIN," RAFFI
HOVANNISIAN SAYS

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. The Zharangutiun (Heritage) Party will
go to the forthcoming parliamentary elections independently and only
by the proportional system. This was announced at the Party Board
Council’s March 2 sitting. The Council of Party Board decided not to
take part in the parliamentary elections by majoritarian system "for
the purpose of not undermining the party’s resources and forces." The
proportional list consisting of 58 people was affirmed at the
sitting. The first four persons on the list are Party leader Raffi
Hovannisian, first RA Ombudsperson Larisa Alaverdian, Chairman of
Party’s Board Council Vardan Khachatrian, headmaster of Yerevan school
N 27 Anahit Bakhshian. R. Hovannisian said that Zharangutiun Party’s
participation in the elections is a "civil, realized decision, love
and service for homeland."

In his words, the coming generation should inherit a democratic, legal
and sovereign state. In R. Hovannisian’s words, they will do their
best for Armenia to belong not only to separate groups, but to each
citizen. Wishing success to the parties competiting with Zharangutiun
at the elections, Zharangutiun’s leader called everybody for
struggling in an honest field based on mutual respect and ensuring
free competition. "Let the worthy forces and not those speaking much,
having much money win," R. Hovannisian said adding that Zharangutiun
will win under equal conditions.
From: Baghdasarian

HAYKO HAS ALL ABILITIES FOR WINNING EUROVISION CONTEST, NADEZHDA
SARGSIAN SAYS

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Like presidential and parliamentary
elections, contests and competitions are also distorted in
Armenia. Yeghishe Petrosian, Director General of Ardzagank studio,
expressed such an opinion in his interview to Noyan Tapan
correspondent. He said that he knew in advance that Hayko will
represent Armenia at Eurovision-2007 music contest and the voting, in
his words, had a formal character. "In our country they try to push
out telented young people and to push through their people, in
consequence of which art suffers," Y. Petrosian emphasized. "To
participate in the contest was Hayko’s dream, so, let his dream come
true," singer Emma Petrosian said. Meanwhile, she considers that
bright individualities should take part in such contests, for
instance, singers like Aramo. "Foreign art critics have always highly
estimated Aramo’s art of performing and I think it would be right if
he participated in the contest," the singer said. In the words of
singer Shushan Petrosian, Hayko has presented a beautiful song. Though
Eurovision is not so acceptable for the singer, nevertheless, in her
words, if Armenia takes part in that contest, we should support the
Armenian singers. "We should support them and not reduce them to
despair. And Hayko should do his best for at least being included in
the best ten," S. Petrosian said. In Nadezhda Sargsian’s words, the
voting for electing the representative of Armenia passed in honest
conditions. By the way, her daughter, Emmi had also participated in
the election of Eurovision-2007’s Armenian participant, but she gained
the lowest points as a result of TV viewers’ voting. In N. Sargsian’s
words, if the song presented by her daughter was better, she would
win. "And Hayko deserved winning. Today our duty is to support him
and not criticize him inappropriately. I think Hayko has all abilities
to win," N. Sargsian said.

52 SMALL HYDROPOWER PLANTS TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN ARMENIA IN 2007-2010

YEREVAN, MARCH 2, NOYAN TAPAN. It is envisaged to construct and put
into operation 52 small hydropower plants, including 36 ones on
natural water flow, in Armenia in 2007-2010. 47 bln 453 mln drams
(about 135 mln USD) will be spent on their construction. According to
the RA Public Services Regulatory Commission, this year 20 small
hydropower plants with the total capacity of 21,888 kilowatts will be
put into operation. At present 52 small hydropower plants with the
total capacity of 64,377 kilowatts operate in the country. According
to the same source, it is envisaged to put into operation 102 small
hydropower plants with the total capacity of 183,903 kilowatts or
annual prodcutivity of 662.2 mln kwh in 2010. Most of them will be
constructed in Lori, Syunik, Vayots Dzor and Tavush marzes. To recap,
in 2006 the amount of electricity generated by small hydropower plants
did not exeed 3%. In 2010, this index will increase fourfold and make
12%.