Month: April 2007

PanARMENIAN.Net

Russian FM arriving in Armenia on formal visit
02.04.2007 13:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is arriving
in Armenia on a formal visit April 3, the RA MFA press office
reports. The Russian FM is scheduled to meet with Armenian President
Robert Kocharian, Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II and Acting
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. Besides, the Russian delegation will
lay wreaths to the Memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims in
Tsitsernakaberd. April 4 Sergey Lavrov will attend the Yerevan State
University for a meeting with the students and teaching staff.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Bryan Ardouny calls to allocate not less than $75
million for Armenia in fiscal 2008
02.04.2007 14:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Testifying before the House Appropriations
Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations Appropriations and Related
Programs, which decides assistance levels to Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh, Bryan Ardouny, Executive Director of the Armenian Assembly
of America, urged the Subcommittee to continue funding for Armenia at
`not less than’ $75 million and to allocate $10 million for Nagorno
Karabakh.

`It is essential that significant assistance to Armenia be maintained
in the face of the fourteen-year blockades by its neighbors, Turkey
and Azerbaijan,’ said Ardouny, and also noted the `compelling
humanitarian and development needs’ in Karabakh. `We also urge the
Subcommittee to institute new report language requiring a full
accounting of the steps the U.S. has taken and the responses therein
to eliminate these blockades,’ he continued.

With respect to regional cooperation, Ardouny stressed that `ongoing
attempts to isolate Armenia, such as the Azeri-proposed rail bypass of
Armenia, run counter to U.S. policy goals,’ and urged the Subcommittee
to build upon legislation (H.R. 3361) introduced last Congress by
Subcommittee Member and Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI) to combat such attempts and look for opportunities to promote
regional cooperation. `For example, funding should be made available
to provide for minor repairs needed to open the existing Kars-Gyumri
rail link between Turkey and Armenia.’

Ardouny also expressed the Armenian Assembly’s extreme concern with
the `inclusion of counterproductive language’ in State Department
reports and noted that language `labeling Armenia as an occupier is
not only patently false, but also directly contradicts the U.S. role
as a mediator and undermines’ U.S. credibility. Ardouny’s testimony
urged that it be `corrected post haste.’

While noting that the Armenian Assembly supports the purpose of the
Millennium Challenge Act (MCA) to improve democracy and good
governance in Armenia, Ardouny shared the concerns raised by many
Members of the Subcommittee, including Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY),
that MCA funds `should not be used as a substitute’ for other funding
priorities. Specifically, it should not be used as a justification to
cut the Freedom Support Act (FSA), which provides critically important
assistance programs to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.

Ardouny drew attention to Azerbaijan’s ongoing war rhetoric, `despite
U.S. demands to cease such provocative actions,’ and called on the
Subcommittee to carefully monitor U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan `to
ensure that the principle of military and security parity’ envisioned
with the conditional waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act
`is maintained throughout all funding areas.’ Further, should Baku
continue its anti-Armenian rhetoric, Ardouny urged the Subcommittee
`to suspend the waiver authority it granted and reinstate Section 907′
of the Freedom Support Act.

Ardouny also underscored the importance of Armenia’s energy security
and `urged the Subcommittee to utilize the tools at its disposal to
pave the way for Armenia’s full inclusion in, and contribution to,
existing and future energy and development projects.’

PanARMENIAN.Net

GUAM urges UN `to recognize territorial integrity as basis for
conflict settlement’
02.04.2007 14:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Valeriy Chechelashvili, the Secretary General of
GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova), stated that the
principle of territorial integrity should be the basis in the
resolution of all conflicts. This principle should be recognized at
the level of UN resolutions.

He informed that GUAM offers the UN General Assembly a draft
resolution which includes this principle. `The UN General Assembly
will consider draft proposals submitted by GUAM member states on the
settlement of conflicts in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Nagorno Karabakh
and Transdnistria, which target at supporting these countries within
their internationally recognized borders,’ he said.

The GUAM Secretary General stressed that the latest statements by
participants in the resolution process makes their loyalty suspicious
to this internationally accepted principle. `It is almost OK in words,
while we still have problems with respect to frankness in statements
by some participants in the settlement process,’ Chechelashvili noted.

The GUAM Secretary General cited Grigoriy Karasin, the
Status-Secretary of the Russian Foreign Ministry, who originally
estimated the prospective for resolution of conflicts in Abkhazia and
South Ossetia in his interview with Boss magazine. `Particularly, he
does not unilaterally define Russia’s official position on territorial
integrity of Georgia. We would like to hear more exact signals in this
respect from the participants in the peace process, perhaps from
Russia as well,’ Chechelashvili said, Trend news agency reports.

PanARMENIAN.Net

A number of experts suppose A. Margaryan’s death may
influence on internal political situation of Armenia

The post of prime minister in Armenia is not political
one, i.e. it does not determine anything, until any
force majeur situation takes place.
28.03.2007 GMT+04:00

As expected, Armenian Prime Minister’s sudden death became a cause for
various kinds of conjectures and suppositions for a number of experts
and analysts. Even some Azeri and Russian political scientists began
to guess that Andranik Margaryan did not die naturally. Let us leave
those suppositions on the conscious of `experts’, moreover if those
suppositions do not have anything in common with the reality.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ And moreover, it is immoral to make such statements
or draw a parallel with the `fusillade in the parliament’ in 1999. The
late Premier was distinguished with his rare ability to keep away from
games of politics. And maybe because of this A. Margaryan occupied
the post of Prime Minister for a long time. It’s also true that the
post of prime minister in Armenia is not political one, i.e. it nearly
does not determine anything, until any force majeur situation takes
place, like the resignation of Levon Ter-Petrosyan in 1998. But this
is rather an exception from rules. According to the Constitution of
the country the post of Prime Minister in the table of ranks occupies
the third place following the posts of President and Speaker. However
the fact that this post belongs to the ruling Republican Party of
Armenia (RPA) cannot be ignored.

Now Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan will head the list of the
Republican Party of Armenia; most probably Mr. Sargsyan will become
Armenia’s Prime Minister till the May 12 parliamentary election in the
country. What will happen after the elections is not clear yet.
Though RPA declares the position of the party has not undergone any
changes, actually republicans staggered a bit. The Prime Minister was
a rather outstanding figure in the party and after his death the party
may gather less votes than they expected. But all these are
suppositions. It seems that currently everyone will be satisfied
seeing Serzh Sargsyan in the post of Prime Minister simultaneously
keeping the post of Defense Minister. And regardless of the attitude
of opposition to this appointment, which by the way, merely does not
decide anything and cannot do anything, only Serzh Sargsyan remains
almost the only candidate for this post proceeding from the Regulation
of RPA and agreement between coalition parties-RPA, ARF Dashnaktsutyun
and United Labor Party (ULP), which replaced `Orinats Yerkir’.

But this is country’s internal policy. As to the foreign policy, here
too the policy of the RA again according to the Constitution,
determines the president of the country and not the Premier. Because
of this very reason there is no base to worry for European and Russian
officials that Armenia’s foreign course may undergo a rapid
change. According to political scientist Sergey Markedonov, on the eve
of parliamentarian election in Armenia the death of Andranik Margaryan
may seriously influence on the internal political situation of the
country, taking into account the fact that how policy on the
post-Soviet territory is personalized. At the same time, as the expert
thinks, serious changes are not expected in Armenian-Russian
relations. According to Markedonov, any following leader of Armenia
`will carry out less pro-Russian and more diverse foreign policy, but
it will not become a change towards Russia’. Indeed, some Russian
analysts for some reasons considered Margaryan a pro-Western
politician; actually this did not represent the facts obviously.

As to the personality of future prime minister, for the most part
besides Serzh Sargsyan still no candidature is being viewed for that
post. Good or bad-is a secondary question, since the most important
challenge for Armenian authorities is to provide stability and normal
parliamentary elections. And nobody but the current Defense Minister
can handle this task.

«PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical department

Members of the Republican Party visit Yerablur

ArmRadio.am
02.04.2007 15:22

On the occasion of the 17th anniversary of the Republican Party of
Armenia Chairman of the National Assembly Tigran Torosyan, President
of the Republican Party Council Serge Sargsyan, other members of the
Republican Party laid a wreath of flowers at the tombs of Ashot
Navasardyan, the founder of the party, and Vazgen Sargsyan.

`The Party has had many achievements and it must continue playing an
important role in the political life of our country. With Andranik
Margaryan we had already formulated the issues of 2007-2012, and the
solution of these issues in the upcoming years is a matter of the
Party’s honor and commitment to its lheritage,’ NA Chairman Tigran
Torosyan told the journalists.

In his words, it would not be correct to say that all the issues are
resolved today: new problems come forth every day.

`Of course, the loss is great, but I’m sure the Party will find the
strength to overcome these psychological difficulties and continue its
activity for the sake of the way the Party has passed and in memory of
the Party’s leaders, ‘ Tigran Torosyan noted.

British Film Festival to be held in Yerevan and Gyumri

ArmRadio.am
02.04.2007 15:08

April 3-7 the British Council in Armenia will hold a British Film
Festival in Yerevan. The opening of the 6th festival of British films
will take place at `Nairi’ cinema on April 3.

The festival will open with the Oscar winner `Permanent Gardener film.

Five films will be screened in the framework of the festival, all of
which have received prizes at different popular film festivals.

April 5-7 the British Film Festival will be held in Gyumri.

The revenue of the festival will be used for charity.

Every year the British Council organizes the Festival to present the
best contemporary British films.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Ankara tries to convince international community of
good attitude to Armenia

Turkey opens a church but outlaws praying in it.
Turkey speaks of tragedy of 1915 but stubbornly denies
the term `genocide.’
30.03.2007 GMT+04:00

The inauguration of the St. Cross Church, forethought by the Turkish
government as counterbalance to the Armenian lobby throughout the
globe, has taken place. Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafyan of
Constantinople attended the inauguration ceremony although
representatives of the Echmiadzin and Cilician Catholicosates did not
arrive.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Patriarch could nothing but attend the
inauguration, since his absence might have negative consequences for
the Armenian community of Istanbul. According to the Turkish
Constitution, an Armenian Patriarch is merely an official and any step
against Turkey may harm the 70-thousand Armenian community of
Istanbul.

Ankara failed to reach its goal to make the inauguration a universal
event. Neither the Turkish Prime Minister nor the Minister of Foreign
Affairs appeared at the ceremony. Furthermore, representatives of the
Armenian Diaspora refused to arrive. However that may be, Turkey is
doing its utmost to convince the international community of its good
attitude to Armenia. The latest example is the condolences expressed
on the death of Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. Turkish
Ambassador to Georgia attended the funeral; Turkish MFA officials made
notes in the mourning book in the Armenian Embassies. Thus, we can say
that Turkey gave a lesson to Azerbaijan on the conduct accepted in the
civilized world. Turks’ attitude towards Armenian is scarcely better
than Azeris’ but sometimes one should observe the rules accepted in
diplomacy. Unfortunately, Baku has not mastered them yet.

Turkey proceeds with the policy launched in mid 1990-ies. Despite the
sad experience of the Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Committee,
Turkey still calls on Armenia to form a joint commission of
historians, now with participation of a third party. `I propose to
form this commission with participation of a third party, including
the United States, to cast light on this tragedy and pave ways for
joint work,’ Turkish FM Abdullah Gul writes in the articles titled
`Politicization of the Armenian tragedy’ published in The Washington
Times.

According to the Turkish Foreign Minister, such a commission may
promote normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. However, what
Turkey says is not that what it does. Turkey opens a church but
outlaws praying in it. Turkey speaks of tragedy of 1915 but stubbornly
denies the term `genocide.’ Moreover, it speaks of `Muslims and Turks
who died during the World War I’, not to mention spelling Akdamar
instead of Akhtamar. The Armenian MFA says it did want to describe the
opening of the St. Cross Church as a real move towards reconciliation
of the Armenian and Turkish peoples. `However it’s extremely hard to
do this if the Turkish government doesn’t recognize the true value of
civilization and the people, who built this monument. Armenia thinks
that lifting of the blockade imposed in 1993 may facilitate real
progress in the Armenian-Turkish relations,’ the RA MFA statement
says. «PanARMENIAN.Net» analytical department

IN WORDS OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY REPRESENTATIVE, WOMEN MUST SUBJECT
POLITICAL PROCESSES TO QUALITATIVE CHANGES

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Women in Armenia must strive for
accepting posts both in legislative and in executive power to correct
faults of work of man politicians. Heghine Bisharian, the Deputy
Chairwoman of the "Orinats Yerkir" (Country of Law) party (OYP),
nominated as a deputy’s candidate at district electoral commission
No11 (Shengavit-Erebuni) by the majoritarian electoral system,
expressed such an opinion at the April 2 debate. In her words, today
women meet obstacles during their political activity just for the
reason that they are representatives of the fair sex. For example, in
H. Bisharian’s words, corresponding bodies of the community of
Shengavit first of all for that reason do not allow to fasten her
pre-electoral posters in places envisaged for them, and then for the
reason that she is a representative of an opposing party.

Another participant of the debate, Karine Hakobian, a member of the
Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA), former Deputy Minister of Labour
and Social Issues, at present occupying the third horizontal of the
DPA proportional electoral list, mentioned that women must subject the
political processes to a qualitative change. In her words, though
women really have much to do in the political sphere, but their
striving for creating political biography must not be an end in
itself. In K. Hakobian’s words, if women enter the parliament in the
way as the men do, that’s, owing to falsifications, nothing will
change to better.

ON OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THEATER, PROMINENT FIGURES OF
ARMENIAN HISTRIONIC ART ARE AWARDED "ARTAVAZD" PRIZES

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, NOYAN TAPAN. "Artavazd" annual prizes defined by the
Union of Theater Figures were already for the 7th time given to
prominent figures of the Armenian histrionic art on March 30, the
International Day of Theater.

In the words of Lilit Arzumanian, the Chairwoman of the theatric
"Artavazd" annual awarding committee, theater critic, they attempted
to estimate the placed orders as objectively as it is possible: every
order was discussed in details and impartially. In her words, orders
placed from theaters of the marzes were not chosen because of their
not corresponding to the awarding standards: "they were very poor."

Lilit Arzumanian is sure that today, in the consequence of universal
mess of values, similar false companies and structures wants to take
the place of the theater. In her words, in this case the theater must
not only more strengthen but also play its part of creater of true
values.

According to the awarding committee’s decision, the "Artavazd" big
prize, a small statue, was awarded to prominent figure of the Armenian
histrionic art, actress Galya Novents, for honourable and faultless
service to the national art. The "I Zen" ("Up In Arms") performance
(producer Ara Yernjakian) of the Yerevan Chamber Theater was awarded
the same prize in the "Best Performance" nomination.

Armen Marutian and Satenik Hakhnazarian were awarded "Artavazd"
memorial medals in the "Best Man’s and Woman’s Role" nominations.

Davit Minasian from the Yerevan Hamazgayin Theater for staging of the
"Shan Aghjik" (Dog’s Daughter) performance, Grigor Khachatrian from
the Hr. Ghaplanian Dramatic Theater and Zaruhi Antonian from the
Hovh. Tumanian Puppet Theater got the "Artavazd" memory medal
correspondingly in the "Best Producer," "Best Young Actor," "Best
Young Actress" nominations.

ARMENPRESS

ARMENIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN EUROPEAN JUDO CHAMPIONSHIP

YEREVAN, APRIL 2, ARMENPRESS: Four or five Armenian
athletes will fly to Serbia’s capital city Belgrade
this week, the venue of the European Judo Championship
that kicks off on April 5, to fight for its medals.
Gagik Aghamalian, chief coach of the Armenian team,
said among the athletes are Hovhannes Davtian (60 kg),
a winner of a Grand Prix tournament and Armen
Nazarian, 66 kg, who won a silver medal of a previous
European judo championship.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress