Month: April 2007

CHIEF MARXIST OF ARMENIA CONVINCED THAT POWER SHIFT FROM BELOW WILL HAPPEN IN COUNTRY

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. "The historic moment of implementing
political change of generations in Armenia has come. A political
figure looks like a football player and a political figure should
feel the moment of leaving like a football player feels the moment
of his leaving the field." David Hakobian, Chairman of Marxist Party
of Armenia, candidate for deputacy registered by majoritarian system
at electoral district N 41, stated at the April 17 press conference.

He said that the majority of people have struck a passive pose and
show great indifference, and the regions are in extremely grave
socio-economic condition. Under such conditions, in D. Hakobian’s
words, "power shift" in the parliament is a necessity, as the
parliamentary power is the prelude of presidential power. In his words,
"the new leder should be born among the people and not among Karabakh
vikings. People’s eye is God’s eye, and the person whom the people
will see will be the leader of the country," D. Hakobian said.

He said that 15 years running pseudo-democrats implemented power
shift not through the vote, but through "Bonapartism, political
ventures." D. Hakobian especially emphasized that Serge Sargsian has
missed the historic moment of being the first figure of the country
and gave assurance that "the power shift will be from below."

D. Hakobian also said that "country’s authorities, from Armenian
National Movement up to now, from Levon of Aleppo to Robin Hood,
have the same national and economic ideology and today’s Karabakh
vikings are the transformed form of Armenian National Movement."

In connection with his joint visit to Tavush with National Unity
Party Chairman Artashes Geghamian David Hakobian said that he
highly estimates Geghamian as a political figure and attaches great
importance to having a companion-in-arms today. He also stated that
in case of being elected as an MP he will be involved in the National
Unity faction.

LANDS OF 27 THOUSAND HA TO BE SOWN WITH TRUCK CROPS AND MELONS IN ARMENIA THIS YEAR

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Lands of the total area of 27 thousand
ha will be sown with truck crops and melons in Armenia this year. NT
correspondent was informed from the Plant Cultivation and Seed Growing
Department of the RA Ministry of Agriculture that young tomato plants
will occupy an area of 8-9 thousand ha, while demand for high-quality
tomato seeds has grown this year.

In order to meet this demand, seeds of such tomato varieties as "Dick",
"Reed", "Elitar Pakhmurny" and greenhouse type "Florida" have already
been imported into Armenia.

Other truck crop and melon seeds to be distributed to farms are of
local production: they will be allocated by the RA Scientific Center
of Truck and Industrial Crops, the Gyumri Selection Station and by
the Sortseedvegetable companies of Akhurian and Armavir.

To recap, last year the gross croppage of vegetables amounted to 780
thousand 25 tons, with the average crop yield making 309.8 centners.

I TAKE PART IN EUROVISION-2007 CONTEST ONLY WITH EXPECTATION OF WINNING, HAYKO SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. "I take part in the Eurovision-2007
contest only with the expectation of winning. If I do not appear
in the best ten, this does not mean that the defeat will endanger
my career." Singer Hayko representing Armenia in Eurovision-2007
contest stated at the April 17 press conference. In response to the
question why he preferred to take part in the contest to be held on
May 12 with the "sad" song "Any time you need" created by him and
not with a rhythmic song, Hayko said: "I am not going to change my
style for Eurovision and to perform with the clothes of devil, as
representatives of Finland performed last year."

In the words of Hrach Keshishian, General Producer of Public
Television of Armenia, many foreign musicians hold the opinion that the
probability of Armenia’s winning Eurovision is great. In his words,
though the Lordi Finnish rock group was recognized the winner at
the competition last year, this year they will pay more attention to
song-ballades. At the same time, he said that this year the majority
of contest participants have presented rock music.

To recap, the author of lyrics of the song "Any time you need" is
Karen Kavalerian residing in Moscow and the song was instrumented by
Ara Torosian.

Hayko’s performance, which, according to the contest program, will
be the penultimate, will be accompanied by the dance staged by
Andrei Sichov.

FOUR ARMENIAN FILMS TO BE SHOWN AT SIRACUSA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Films of four Armenian directors will
be shown on April 17-23 at the Siracusa International Festival in New
York. The Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed about it by the office
of the "Golden Apricot" (Voske Tsiran) international film festival.

Levon Grigorian’s "Memories about Sayat Nova," Haroutiun Khachatrian’s
"Poet’s Return," French Armenian director Robert Gedikian’s "Return to
Armenia" films and young director Artur Mikayelian’s "The Unemployed"
animation film to be presented in Siracusa participated in the
"Armenian Panorama" competition program of the "Golden Apricot"
international film festival in 2006.

Haroutiun Khachatrian, the Director of the "Golden Apricot"
international film festival, producer left for New York to participate
in the festival.

SPACIOUS SHOW OF ARMENIAN FILMS TO BE ORGANIZED IN GERMANY IN 2007

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The year of 2007 was stated the
year of show of Armenian films in Germany. More than two dozens of
Armenian films from Hamo Beknazarian’s films to works of directors
of the modern period will be shown in different cities and regions
of Germany during the year. The first show of Armenian films will
take place on May 5-9 in Berlin.

As film director Haroutiun Khachatrian mentioned in the interview to
the Noyan Tapan correspondent, a big delegation formed of Armenian
directors, Armenologists and historians, with participation of who
the conference entitled "The Armenian Cinematography and Genocide"
will be held, will also leave for Berlin during those days.

Show of Armenian films is carried out in Germany at the German side’s
proposal. In H. Khachatrian’s words, owing to the joint cooperation of
the RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Issues and National Film Center
of Armenia, preliminary agreements were reached with the German side:
besides show of films, conferences on Armenoloyy will be organized
in Germany, exhibitions will opened.

"This is a part of the cultural policy. A cultural year of Turkey
will be held in Germany this year, and by the Germans’ wish, Armenian
cultural events will also be held there during the same period of
time," H. Khachatrian emphasized.

The show of Armenian films will continue in Germany till October.

VAHRAM BAGHDASARIAN CONDEMNS NEGATIVE PHENOMENA MANIFESTED DURING PREELECTORAL CAMPAIGN

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia is already taking steps for
joining the European family and proceeding from this we should hold
the forthcoming elections in line with the European standards. Vahram
Baghdasarian, deputy of RA National Assembly, candidate for deputacy
by majoritarian system at electoral district N 30, stated at the
April 17 press conference.

"I condemn all phenomena, which may have a negative impact on the
international authority of Armenia and call all political figures of
Armenia for carrying out the prelectoral struggle by presenting their
program and ideology," he stated. At the same time, V. Baghdasarian
mentioned that the current preelection campaign once more demonstrated
that no exact party system has been formed in the country, the bright
confirmation to which is participation of such a great number of
parties in the preelection marathon.

As regards the preelection struggle going on in electoral
district N 30, he said that "the struggle proceeds in the measured
course." V. Baghdasarian assured that he will do his best to prevent
possible negative phenomena both during the preelection campaign and
during the elections.

He also emphasized that the prevailing majority of electors are
interested in socio-economic problems: employment of population in
remote populated areas, raising accessibility and level of medical
services, etc.

NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE FROM ETCHMIADZIN TO OSHAKAN TO TAKE PLACE IN JULY 2008

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2007

ETCHMIADZIN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. A meeting on the issue of formation
of the All-Armenian Youth Church Organization of the Armenian Apostolic
Church was held on April 16 in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. The
meeting chaired by the primate of the US Western Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church Archbishop Hovnan Terterian was attended
by young people from the Armenian, Georgian and Artsakh dioceses.

According to a press release submitted to NT by the press service
of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the dates of the First Deputy
Assembly and the National Pilgrimage were clarified at the meeting. The
deputy assembly will be convened on July 11-12, 2008, in the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin, while the pilgrimage from Etchmiadzin to
Oshakan will take place on July 12-13 of the same year.

About three hundred young people will participate in the deputy
assembly, over two thousand will go on a pilgrimage.

L’ARMENIE AU COEUR; DOCUMENT

Ouest-France
16 avril 2007 lundi
Sarthe, Pays de Loire Edition

L’Armenie est un vieux pays, au destin tragique. Rien de tel pour
le connaître que de lire ce gros recueil qui lui est entièrement
consacre. On y trouve des textes qui rappellent les racines de
cette enclave chretienne au Proche-Orient, d’autres qui retracent
l’effroyable genocide dont il a ete victime, et d’autres enfin qui,
sous la forme de reportages, plongent au coeur de sa douloureuse
realite. Eclairant.

Fragments d’Armenie, presente par Gerard Chaliand, editions Omnibus,
846 pages, 27.

–Boundary_(ID_EaldZam/ZPmFJKY7GugqeA)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SELF-IMMOLATION ATTEMPT MADE OUTSIDE ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT BUILDING

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Police Central Department
on April 16 received information that Armen G., 43, tried to commit
suicide through self-immolation at the main entrance of the building
of the RA government.

Employees of the state protection service, who were on duty in the
indicated place, prevented the man from committing self-immolation
after he had poured gasoline all over himself.

According to a press release of the RA police, the prosecutor’s
office of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash communities is conducting
an investigation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DECISION OF RA PUBLIC SERVICES REGULATORY COMMISSION CONTRADICTS CITIZENS’ AND NATIONAL SECURITY, SARGIS TKHRUNI UNION STATES

Noyan Tapan
Apr 17 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 17, NOYAN TAPAN. The Sargis Tkhruni student-youth
union started a struggle against the March 30 decision of RA Public
Services Regulatory Commission, according to which starting July 1,
2007, prepayment cards of mobile communication will be given to
subscribers on the basis of a written contract.

The application addressed to Gorik Hakobian, Chief of RA National
Security Service, read that some provisions of the decision contradict
citizens’ and national security.

According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan from the union,
first of all, according to the law "On RA Public Services Regulatory
Body," the Commission should balance the interests of consumers and
suppliers, but the consumers were not given a possibility to express
their opinion to protect their interests.

The decision also contains some non-explained issues, for instance, can
one person buy several prepayment cards, does an under-aged child have
the right to buy a card and to conclude a contract and if not does his
parent have the right to conclude the contract on behalf of the child.

"Isn’t this decision made for establishing total control before the
presidential elections and inspiring fear to people in the legal
way?" the application read.