Month: March 2007

DAYS OF ARMENIAN CULTURE TO BE HELD IN BELARUS FROM MARCH 26 TO APRIL
1

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Days of Armenian Culture will be held
in the Republic of Belarus from March 26 to April 1. The 62-member
Armenian official delegation will be headed by the RA Minister of
Culture and Youth Issues Hasmik Poghosian. Head of the ministry’s
foreign relations department Susanna Khachatrian stated this at the
March 22 press conference. According to her, the exhibition of painter
Hakob Hakobian will open at the National Art Museum of Belarus, the
photo exhiition "Armenia: Architecture and Landscape" – at the Museum
of History, the photo exhibition "Art without Borders: The World of
Sergei Parajanov" – at the Cinema House. The companies of the
Pantomime Theatre and the Chamber Theatre will give performances in
various cities of Belarus. Days of Armeian Cinema will be held at the
Cinema House of Minsk. "Barekamutyun" ("Friendship") ensemble,
singers Inga and Anush Arshakian and Armenian singers – partcipants of
the international festival "Slavyanski Bazar" being held in Belarus
will take part in the gala concert of official opening of Days of
Armenia in Minsk. S. Khachatrian said that during Days of Armenian
Culture in Belarus, working meetings of the culture ministers of two
countries, a joint press conference, as well as meetings with members
of the local Armenian community will take place.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LEVON ARONIAN IS IN LEADING GROUP OF "AMBER" INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

MONTE CARLO, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Levon Aronian played drawn games
with Pyotr Svidler on March 22 at the 5th stage and speed and blind
chess of the "Amber" international tournament in Monte Carlo. Levon
Aronian (Armenia), Vasili Ivanchuk (Ukraine) and Vladimir Kramnik
(Russia) have 7 points each from the 10 possible ones and head the
tournament table.

Grigory Karasin: political will necessary to resolve the Karabakh conflict

ArmRadio.am
23.03.2007 16:00

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told the press that `
resolution of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is possible only in
case of existence of necessary political will.’

Reminding that in the current stage there are contradictions between
the parties on the main principles of settlement, he said that all
mediator countries, including Russia, `are doing a serious work to
resolve it.’ `Henceforth Russia will; do everything to resolve the
conflict. In this regard official Moscow launches activity in two
directions,’ the Deputy Foreign Minister added.

`To accelerate the process of settlement of the conflict official
Moscow organizes high-level bilateral meetings between Yerevan and
Baku,’ said Grigory Karasin.

ARF to present platform but respond to libelling

23.03.2007 14:14

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Armenian Revolutionary Federation will present its
ideas and platform but that does not mean it will not respond to the
libels, Hrair Karapetian, the leader of ARF faction in parliament has
said.

He said that the party’s logo in the parliamentary election will be
"Your old friend is Dashnaktsutyun." Speaking of consultation to
ensure free and fair election, Karapetian said that in District 4
where is running, such consultations have been held.

Stepan Zakarian of the People’s Party of Armenia said that the
proposal voiced by Armenian Democratic Party leader Aram G. Gasparian
to set up a special council is not suitable. He said the opposition
forces should cooperate in electoral commissions.

Galust Sahakian of the Republican Party said his party does not hold
negotiations with other parties, including the Prosperous Armenia,
with an aim to hold free and fair election. "There is no such a need
but we are adamant to prevent possible fraud," he said.

Lyzhkov and Zakharyan opened the Moscow House in Yerevan

23.03.2007 16:34
Hasmik Dilanyan
"Radiolur"

The Mayors of Yerevan and Moscow Yervand Zakharyan and Yuri Luzhkov
opened the Moscow House in Yerevan. The Moscow Mayor was satisfied
with the construction works, and during the solemn ceremony he
expressed his gratitude not only to Mayor Yervand Zakharyan, but also
the architect of the building Levon Vardanyan.

Before the opening ceremony Yervand Zakharyan and Yuri Luzhkov
discussed the further steps of cooperation between the two
capitals. In Yervand Zakharyan’ s words, the Moscow House is important
not only for Moscow, but also Yerevan.

It’s worth mentioning that on March 25 the two Mayors will attend the
ceremony of opening of the `Yerevan’ Trade Centre in Moscow. Yuri
Luzhkov mentioned that the trade centre in Moscow will only deepen the
relations between the two countries.

Yuri Luzhkov did not rule out that his business wife may decide to
make investments in Armenia. `Despite all the rumors, my wife is a
rather successful businesswoman and can make correct investments,’ he
said.

`We want to solve the social questions existing between the two
capitals and believe that the cooperation will be productive,’
Mr. Luzhkov considers.

Yuri Luzhkov, who is a frequent guest in Yerevan, is particularly
pleased with the constant changes in out city.

It comes out that our Russian friends are well familiar with Armenian
culture. Quite recently the Mayor of Moscow was surprised at the
number of people gathered at the opening ceremony of Aram
Khachatryan’s monument in the Russian capital. According to
Mr. Luzhkov the President of Russia Vladimir Putin also participated
in the opening ceremony. In his words, Russian and Armenian cultures
are linked with many ties.

During today’s opening ceremony the Armenian translation of Yuri
Luzhkov’s ` Renewal of History’ book was presented. In this book the
Mayor tried to analyze the most important issues of world politics and
the challenges of the 21st century.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Hayk Demoyan: Reconstruction of Aghtamar Church is propaganda

23.03.2007 17:05
Marlena Hovsepyan
"Radiolur"

Did official Yerevan have to accept the invitation of the Turkish
Government to participate in the opening ceremony of the Church of the
Holy Cross? In response to the question Director of the Genocide
Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan said: `Participating or not, we were to
have a clear stance on the fact of reopening.’

According to him, we should not be extremely inspired about the
reopening of the Church. `I never get inspired about actions the aim
of which is very simple: this way Turkey is trying to influence the
opinion of the international community, displaying a Turkey that cares
for the Christian heritage,’ he says. According to him, it is obvious
that although having the budget of $2 million, it is an initiative
pursuing propaganda aims.

Hundreds, if not thousands of Armenian monuments in Turkey have been
demolished just during the Turkish Republic, a country which
consistently demolishes Armenian traces. `This can only evidence that
in the current republic the human killings of Young Turks have turned
into monument killing or killing of memory,’ he said.

It’s worth mentioning that Turks call Aghtamar Island Agdamar, which
means ` white vein’ when translated from Turkish. According to Hayk
Demoyan, this is also a killing of memory: `It’s clear that they will
not say Aghtamar and the Church of the Holy Cross. They will call it
Agdamar Church, and the Armenian identity won’t be mentioned,
either. Therefore, the disputes about the cross are grounded.’

For Turkey reopening of Aghtamar Church will have not only political
but also economic dividends, Hayk Demoyan continues: Turkey will
rapidly return the $2 million spent due to tourism.

Recently we have been witnessing a dangerous process: merging of
Tirkish and Azerbaijani propaganda. If we lose the sense of time, we
shall pay a high price tomorrow, he says.

To counter the Turkish-Azerbaijani propaganda, the issue of creation
of a pan-Armenian structure should be on the agenda.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF TURKEY TO PARTICIPATE IN RE-OPENING CEREMONY OF
SURB KHACH

ISTANBUL, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Archbishop Mesrob
Mutafian, the Armenian Patriarch of Turkey will participate in the
re-opening ceremony of the Aghtamar Surb Khach (Saint Cross) church.

The Patriarch informed the Ministry of Culture of Turkey about his
agreement for the participation. As Marmara states, it is still
decided to hold the opening ceremony of the restored church without a
cross, bell and religious ceremony. Later the issue of the cross and
bell will be discussed by corresponding bodies and they will be placed
in the case of necessity.

INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL STRATEGIC RESEARCHES BECOMES MEMBER OF BLACK SEA
REGION’S WORKING GROUP OF NATO SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS’ CONSORTIUM

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. Newly founded Drastamat Kanayan
Institute of National Strategic Researches of RA Defence Ministry has
lately become member of Working Group of Black Sea Region of
Consortium of Defence Academies and Institutes of Security Researches
of NATO Scientific-Research Council. Noyan Tapan was informed about it
from RA Defence Ministry. It is mentioned that during last year
Armenian Institute of National Strategic Researches successfully
played the role of Secretariate of Interdepartmental Commission of
Armenian National Security Strategy.

IN CASE OF FAIR ELECTIONS, "ZHARANGUTIUN" TO GET MAJORITY OF ELECTORS’
VOTES, PARTY BOARD CHAIRMAN IS SURE

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The boundless administrative and
information possibilities will allow the ruling forces to have success
at the May 12 elections. But, if fair elections are held, the
"Zharangutiun" (Heritage) party will get the majority of the electors’
votes, as party leader Raffi Hovannisian enjoys great popularity.
Vardan Khachatrian, the Chairman of the "Zharangutiun" board made such
a statement during the debate organized on March 23. In his words,
data of the sociological surveys held by them prove it. V. Khachatrian
mentioned that parties are in unequal conditions in the sense of
presenting their activity by mass media. Proving the said, the
"Zharangutiun" Board Chairman mentioned that press conferences and
statements of their party representatives and especially of
R. Hovhannisian are not covered by the authorities’ instruction.

Hamlet Haroutiunian, a Council member of the Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA), participating in the debate stated in his turn that the
authorities have neither problem nor time to put any party in
information blockade. The republicans’ activity, in his words, is
aimed to solution of other issues, particularly, to anti-corruption
struggle. "Corruption is everwhere, from Belgium to China: it is the
mankind’s guide. It is impossible to liquidate corruption but it is
possible to decrease its sizes," H. Haroutiunian said. In his words,
an exhibition where means assimilated by corrupted officials and then
taken with the legal bodies’ efforts were presented, was recently
organized even in autoritarian China. Opposing the opponent,
V. Khachatrian emphasized that unlike China, means stolen by officials
is never presented anywhere in Armenia, and those officials remain
unpunished.

LAKE SEVAN LEVEL RISES BY 2 CM IN JANUARY

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, NOYAN TAPAN. In January Lake Sevan level rose by 2
cm and as of January 31, made 1898.26 m, which exceeds the index of
the same day of 2006 by 17 cm. According to the data of RA National
Statistical Service, in the majority of Armenian rivers average
monthly water outflows made nearly 90-120% of norm.