Month: May 2008

ACTION OF PROTEST AGAINST OPERATION OF TEGHUT MINE TAKES PLACE NEAR RA GOVERNMENT BUILDING

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. A group of members of the Movement of
Teghut Protection organization, on May 15, organized an action near
the RA government building, complaining against the operation of
Teghut mine.

Citizens carrying placards reading "Stop Robbing Our Country!,"
"Teghut, a Crime Towards the Generations," "Teghut, the Biggest
Tailing of the World," including RA National Assembly deputy Zaruhi
Postanjian, demaded stopping mine’s operation. The deputy said that
the government has always signed agreements without public control,
but in this case it will not be permitted to implement the program
of Teghut mine operation.

The action participants conveyed their demand to the RA Prime Minister
in a written form, that is, to stop the work already started in the
mine territory and to reconsider the government decisions on the
operation of the mine.

STEPS TAKEN IN DIRECTION OF RATIFICATION OF TRANSACTIONS OF UN EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMISSION ON "HEAVY METALS" IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The "Assistance for Ratification of
transactions of UN European Economic Commission on "Heavy Metals""
three-day workshop, which was attended by representatives of over ten
countries, launched its proceedings in Yerevan on May 14. Within the
frameworks of the UN corresponding convention eight transactions have
been adopted for 29 years, which regulate the exhaustion of almost
all the most important harmful materials into atmosphere.

Armenia ratified the convention in 1997. However, as Angella Turlikian,
the chief specialist of the Protection Department of the RA MInistry
of Environmental Protection, mentioned, none of those transactions
has been ratified up to now. The reason, according to her, is that the
implementation of the strict demands defined by those transactions are
not available for Armenia as yet. Among them are, in particular, the
detailed making inventory of exhaustions and the continuous running of
land-survey and the investment of "best available technologies." In
the words of A. Turlikian, the making inventory conducted in the
republic and the running of land-survey do not correspond to the
demands of the transactions as yet.

According to her, the objective of the workshop is to contribute
to the abolishion of obstacles for the ratification of one of those
transactions: the transactions on "Heavy metals." This transactions
regulates the exhaustions of mercury, lead and cadmium. A. Turlikian
mentioned that the issue is very up-to-date for Armenia, as there
are sources of exhaustions of heavy metals. They are, in particular,
the factories of non-ferrous metals and cement.

The given transactions has been ratified by 29 out of 51 countries,
which have voted for the convention. At present, steps are taken
in Armenia in the direction of its ratification and the settlement
of the problems connected with the implementation of the obligations
prodeeding from them. It was also mentioned that a cartography program
of the sources and quantities of exhaustions has been carried out
in the republic. In addition to this, the monitoring station of
transborder pollution will be put into operation in a month. The
government of Norway has sponsored the creation of this station
in Armenia.

DAVID BOYAJIAN AWARDED FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO STRUGGLE AGAINST ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

WATERTOWN, MAY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The Massachusetts
Governor’s Council issued a resolution honoring Newton resident David
Boyajian for his role in the campaign against the Anti-Defamation
League’s denial of the Armenian Genocide. The corresponding resolution
of the House was introduced by Marilyn Petitto Devaney, a Governor’s
Council member and Watertown Town Councilor.

NUBAR AFEYAN AWARDED ELLIS ISLAND MEDAL

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

CAMBRIDGE, MAY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Noubar B. Afeyan,
Ph.D., was among this year’s recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of
Honor. Afeyan was given the medal by the National Ethnic Coalition
(NECO) during a special ceremony held on May 10 in New York City.

The Ellis Island Medal of Honor is awarded to outstanding Americans
who have distinguished themselves as citizens of the United States
and have enabled their ancestry groups to maintain their identities
while becoming integral parts of American life.

88TH ANNIVERSARY OF AYNTAP HEROIC BATTLE CELEBRATED IN PASADENA

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

PASADENA, MAY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. A celebration
dedicated to the 88th anniversary of the Ayntap heroic battle took
place in the AGBU Boyajian hall of Pasadena on April 26. Chairman
of the Union Avetis Demirchian welcomed those present, then Pargev
Taragchian’s prayer was followed by a dinner party. An artistic
announcement was made after the dinner and the chorus of women of
the Lark musical union with Vache Parsumian at the head performed.

THREE CONCERTS DEDICATED TO ARMENIAN MUSICAL HERITAGE HELD IN BULGARIA

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

SOFIA, MAY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. During April the
Bulgarian Armenian community organized three concerts dedicated to
Armenian musical heritage. As the local Armenian media report, the
concerts held with the support of the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU) were success.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS COMMEMORATED IN KUWAIT

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

EL KUWEIT, MAY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The memory of the
victims of the Armenian Genocide was commemorated in Kuwait on April
24. For the purpose of attending the commemoration events Kiro Manoyan,
Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Director, was in Kuwait.

He visited the national college of the colony, where he took part in
other April 24 events. College director Manuk Manukian introduced a
report to the students of the college on the proceedings of Hay Dat.

A great number of young people commemorated the memory of the victims
of the Armenian Genocide in the St. Vardanants church on April 23. The
control evening held under the sponsorship of Archbishop Koryun
Papian was organized by the ARF Kuwait "Christapor" youth union and
"Hrayr Hell" youthful union.

MUSIC DIRECTOR OF ARLINGTON PHILHARMONIC RUBEN VARTANYAN DIES

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

ARLINGTON, MAY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. 70 years old Ruben
Vartanian, the Music Director of the Arlington Philharmonic died at
his home in Arlington on May 7. The cause of death was a cerebral
hemorrhage.

Maestro Vartanyan had been an Arlington resident since arriving in
the area in 1988. He had served as the music director of the previous
Arlington Symphony for 13 years, and took the helm of the Philharmonic,
when it was created in 2005.

SIPAN’S GIRLS PERFORMING IN NICOSIA

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

NICOSIA, MAY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The Sipan Dance
Ensemble performed at the Acropolis Park in Nicosia on May 14. As the
Gibrahayer reports, the the Ensemble performed at a United Nations
sponsored Cultural event.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PUPILS OF NAREG SCHOOL OF CYPRUS PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS EVENT

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

NICOSIA, MAY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The annual Sports Day
of Nareg School took place on May 14. As the Gibrahayer electronic
medium reports, the Nareg schools of Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca
took part in this sports event.