Month: May 2008

ARMENIAN TENNIS PLAYERS MAKE PROGRESS IN ITF CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

LARNACA, MAY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian tennis players
participating in the ITF Seniors Tennis Championships taking place
in Larnaca have recorded successfull results. As the local Armenian
media report, Haig Ashdjian defeated Laurence Leroy of Australia 6-4,
6-3 and Simon Aynedjian defeated Tasos Theopanous 6-3, 0-6, 6-3.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NUMBER OF CONGRESSMAN CO-SPONSORS OF HRANT DINK BILL REACHES 61

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

WASHINGTON, ,AY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Congressman
Brad Sherman is now a sponsor of House Resolution 102, which honors
the life and legacy of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. The
Assembly-backed bill, introduced in January 2007 by Congressman Joseph
Crowley, also calls on Turkey to take appropriate action to protect
freedom of speech by repealing Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.

"I am proud to cosponsor this important Human Rights legislation,"
Sherman told the Assembly. "It is important that the individuals
behind Hrant Dink’s brutal murder are brought to justice. We must
show the world that Hrant Dink did not die in vain."

"Sherman also supports U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide
and is a cosponsor of House Resolution 106.

VARDAN ADZEMIAN SIGNS CONTRACT WITH GALAXY FOOTBALL TEAM

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

GLENDALE, MAY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Glendale Ararat
Chapter`s star soccer player, Vardan Adzemian just signed a one-year
contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy team. Adzemian also traveled
to Armenia last summer as part of the Pan Armenia games representing
the City of Glendale. Adzemian is currently on loan for a few months
to play for Oregon’s professional team, Portland Timbers. Adzemian
will be back in Los Angeles to play along world class soccer players,
David Beckham and Landon Donovan. Adzemian’s name is already listed
on the Los Angeles Galaxy roster.

MARIOS GAROYAN MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OF GREECE

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 15, 2008

ATHENS, MAY 15, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. "It takes two to tango,
and up to now Cyprus President Demetris Christofias has been dancing
alone," Cyprus House of Representatives president Marios Garoyian said
in Athens on May 12, speaking to reporters after being received by
President of the Greek Republic Karolos Papoulias. This information
was provided by Athens news agency.

The Cyprus parliament leader also said he had noted to Papoulias
that Christofias "has taken initiatives in the right direction,
which has been appreciated by the international community". However,
according to him, "there is also the factor of the standing Turkish
intransigence". "President Christofias has the political volition,
and is trying to overcome the impasse. But it takes two to tango,
and President Christofias is dancing alone," Garoyian stressed.

As regards Christofias’ upcoming new meeting with Turkish Cypriot
leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Garoyian said it had to do with the fact
that the "working groups have not produced tangible results", and
consequently "the two leaders will meet to see where this process
is stumbling".

During his stay in Athens, Parliament Speaker of Cyprus Marios Garoyian
met with a delegation of the Armenian National Committee of Greece
on May 11.

PRICE RISES BEGIN TO BITE IN ARMENIA
By Naira Melkumian

Institute for War and Peace Reporting
May 15 2008
UK

New president and government damaged by steep price hikes.

Armenia’s new government is on the defensive following a 40 per cent
rise in the price of gas which will hit consumers hard.

The new price, 27 US cents per cubic metre compared with the previous
19 cents, is the result of an end to two years of government subsidies,
and together with rising food costs, is hurting the poorest members
of society.

Sixty-seven-year-old grandmother Hasmik falls into this vulnerable
category. Every morning, she sweeps the streets outside local shops in
the capital Yerevan, so as to earn the money she needs to supplement
her meagre pension.

"Ah, my girl, when they put up my pension at the start of the year I
was very happy that I was getting 15,000 drams [around 50 dollars]
rather than 9,350 drams," she told IWPR’s contributor. "But then
food got more expensive, and now they say the price of gas is going
up. Next it will be electricity and water.

"No one needs me – my children aren’t helping any more, nor is
the government, so that’s why I’m sweeping the streets to support
myself. But when winter comes, all my money will go on heating."

Hasmik lowered her grey head and carried on sweeping.

According to Armenia’s national statistics agency, the price of food
products, alcohol and tobacco has gone up seven per cent since the
beginning of the year, non-food items have seen 1.7 per cent inflation
over that period, and utility prices have gone up 6.3 per cent.

In April 2006, the government introduced a temporary subsidy on natural
gas to offset the effect on consumers of a rise in the price of gas
imported from Russia. The authorities initially intended to keep the
subsidy in place until the end of 2008, but the funds allocated for
it have run out as gas import volumes were higher than anticipated.

The end of the subsidy coincided with the start of the presidency of
Serzh Sarkisian – who came to power in a controversial election in
February – and the appointment of a new government.

New prime minister Tigran Sarkisian (no relation of the president)
was forced to announce the news of the end of the subsidy and the
consequent rise in gas prices at the first press briefing he gave,
in mid-April.

The public will not feel the full extent of the change until they get
their winter heating bills. To cushion the blow, Sarkisian announced
that the government was to spend 3.9 million dollars on alleviating
the cost to 130,000 families currently on poverty benefits.

Vardan Bostanjian, a parliamentary deputy with the pro-government
Prosperous Armenia party, admitted the authorities found themselves
in a difficult situation.

"Armenia doesn’t have the financial or budgetary resources to mitigate
the difficult situation caused by the rise in prices," he said.

Economist Eduard Aghajanov argued that the gas subsidy was misconceived
from the start because it did not address the needs of the poor. "The
main beneficiaries were the well-off because they use more gas for
their daily needs," he said.

Another economist, Tatul Manaserian, warned that the prices of other
items were about to take off. "The end of subsidies on gas rates is
leading to a chain reaction, which is causing a rise in the price of
agricultural produce and transport fares," he explained.

Most of Yerevan’s shared minibuses and taxis run on compressed natural
gas, which has led to predictions that the fares they charge will
go up.

An inter-departmental commission in the capital is already discussing
a possible fare rise. In other areas of Armenia, fares have already
risen by 50 per cent.

Prime Minister Sarkisian has commissioned a report on whether the
country’s 214 gas filling stations are artificially inflating their
prices in order to rake in profits.

The price rises could not have come at a worst time for the new
government, which is trying to regain the public’s trust after the
political crisis that hit the country in February and March.

"My salary has stayed exactly the same time and prices just keep on
rising," said 35-year-old single mother Marina. "Now we are waiting
for gas prices to rise, then the price of everything else. I feel
completely unprotected in this state."

Economist Eduard Aghajanov predicted that annual inflation would
reach nine or ten per cent as a result of the price rises. It is
already exceeding government forecasts.

Energy Minister Armen Movsisian said on Public Television that the
government was doing everything in its power to ensure electricity
prices did not rise.

However, the worst may yet to be come.

Alexei Miller, head of the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom, Armenia’s main
supplier, is due in Yerevan soon for negotiations on next year’s price.

Gazprom has agreed not to put up its prices before then, but Armenians
are bracing themselves for an increase from next January that would
inflict more pain on consumers.

GEORGIA: EU OFFICIAL SAYS EVENTS IN ABKHAZIA "DEMONSTRATE DANGERS AND THE NEED TO ACT"

EurasiaNet
May 15 2008
NY

Peter Semneby, the EU special representative for the South Caucasus,
this week traveled to Georgia for talks on the breakaway region of
Abkhazia. The territory has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, as
Moscow has built up its troop presence and sought to formalize its ties
with the region’s de facto leadership, a move Tbilisi says violates
its territorial integrity. Semneby spoke to David Kakabadze, head of
RFE/RL’s Georgian Service, during a stop in Prague following the visit.

RFE/RL: Tensions between Georgia and Russia remain quite high. Is the
EU planning any talks with the Russian side to follow the discussions
in Georgia?

Peter Semneby: We have an ongoing dialogue with Russia, and Georgia
is usually part of that dialogue. There will be several meetings
in the next few weeks with Russia, where I expect that Georgia —
and the situation in the conflict areas — will be discussed.

RFE/RL: George W. Bush this week voiced concerns about Georgia during a
phone conversation with new Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. But many
European Union countries — particularly the members of "old Europe"
— are reluctant to confront Russia on the Georgia question. Why is
the U.S. willing to take up this issue while the EU is not?

Semneby: If you look at statements that have been made by the EU
over the course of the last month or so, you will see the EU has
indeed raised many issues of concern with Russia. I would not agree
with your way of posing this question. We have been concerned in
particular about some unilateral moves [by Moscow] — for example,
the presidential instruction [by then-President Vladimir Putin]
to establish and reinforce the ties with the authorities in the
breakaway regions without the consent of the Georgian government. And
there have been a number of other moves of this kind as well, which
we have raised on several occasions. Look at those statements!

RFE/RL: Evidently not everyone is satisfied. Mikheil Saakashvili,
speaking to visiting EU foreign ministers this week, condemned European
nations for failing to oppose the Soviet Union when it absorbed Georgia
in 1921, and urged Europe to choose a different path this time. Do you
think Europe is about to, as Saakashvili put it, "repeat this mistake"?

Semneby: No, Europe is definitely not about to repeat this part
of history.

RFE/RL: The Kremlin claims its recent moves are only meant to defend
Russian citizens in Georgia’s breakaway regions. One Western diplomat
called these citizens a "fake diaspora" that Moscow has created by
granting Russian citizenship to Abkhaz and Ossetians. Why did it
take so long for the West to realize that Russia cannot be seen as
an impartial mediator or facilitator in those conflicts?

Semneby: There is a kind of dilemma here, in the sense that Russia
is, and will remain, a factor to reckon with in this region. It is
the largest and the most important direct neighbor of Georgia. And
against this background, it is of course crucial — in order to have a
stable neighborhood — to reach a settlement, reach an agreement with
Russia. And that means one has to talk to Russia in order to reach
a solution to the problems. It is a secondary issue whether you call
Russia a mediator, or facilitator, or part of talks, or whatever. But
in the long run, in order to have a stable neighborhood, some kind
of modus vivendi, at the very least, will have to be found with the
largest neighbor of Georgia.

RFE/RL: Abkhazia and South Ossetia are just two of the so-called
"frozen conflicts" on the territory of the former Soviet Union. There
are two others: Nagorno-Karabakh and Transdniester. Does the EU have
a common strategy with regard to those conflicts?

Semneby: First of all, I would like to avoid the term "frozen
conflicts," because it implies that these conflicts are not really
very dangerous. This is a term that invites — to a degree —
complacency, which I think it wrong in this case. Instead of implying
that the conflicts are just below the freezing point, I would say
they are just below the boiling point. They are, rather, simmering
conflicts, where any situation, any incident can actually lead to
a very dangerous escalation. And this is also the basis for our
view of the conflicts. These are conflicts which we cannot allow to
continue in the state that they’ve remained in for so long, because
sooner or later there will be a course of events where we would lose
control. And in that situation we will have to work toward changing,
overcoming, moving the status quo in the conflicts.

RFE/RL: Do you think we could be approaching this critical moment in
Abkhazia now?

Semneby: We have faced some very difficult moments recently, and I
think this should come as a memento to us all. [This] would require —
and I think we have already seen, in terms of the positions and the
statements that have been taken — that there is an even more active
interest and involvement of the European Union and others in these
conflicts. We have been concerned all along, but the events of the
last few weeks have once again, and perhaps more clearly than before,
demonstrated the dangers, and the need to act.

AMBASSADOR OF TURKMENISTAN IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

National Assembly of RA
May 15 2008
Armenia

On May 14 the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of
Armenia Mr Tigran Torosyan received the newly appointed ambassador
of Turkmenistan to Armenia Mr Shohrat Jumayev.

The Ambassador informed the NA President about the ongoing political,
economic reforms in Turkmenistan and ensured the friendly attitude of
his country and his people and the wish of deepening relations in all
spheres with Armenia. Mr Jumayev especially stressed the raising of the
economic ties to political high level relationship and the development
of inter-parliamentary cooperation, and in this context the creation
of the inter-parliamentary friendship group. The Ambassador expressed
willingness to do as much as possible during his term of office
to make closer the traditional ties of two states and peoples. He
thanked the NA President for attending the inauguration ceremony of
the President of Turkmenistan, considering his visit to Ashgabat as
a display of respect. Remembering the disastrous earthquake years ago
the Ambassador noted with gratitude that the capital city was restored
with the efforts of the Armenian builders. As a result of the ongoing
reforms in the country, the Ambassador ensured that a great place was
given to the organization of competitions, and the Armenian builders,
who would like to use their rich experience in Turkmenistan, would be
gladly received in Ashgabat. Touching upon the educational problems
Mr Jumayev stressed that 60 young people get education in Armenia.

Mr Tigran Torosyan congratulated the Ambassador upon his appointment
and expressed hope that the mission will be marked by the development
of inter-state and inter-parliamentary relations, and expressed
willingness to promote the success of the steps taken by the Ambassador
directed towards the deepening of cooperation. Referring to raising
the economic ties to the level of political relations, the NA President
noted that the economic development of the two states would create new
opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. The establishment
of the inter-governmental commission was highlighted, which will give
opportunity for the fulfillment of concrete programmes. In order to
make closer the inter-parliamentary relations Mr Torosyan noted that
till the end of the spring session a parliamentary friendship group
would be set up in the National Assembly. The creation of such group
in the parliament of Turkmenistan and the mutual visits will promote
the development of inter-parliamentary relations. Ensuring his warm
attitude towards the Turkmen people the NA President noted that the
ongoing reforms in the country were visible also in foreign policy,
and the development of relations with certain countries and the
European Union would create new opportunities for cooperation.

During the meeting other issues were also discussed.

SYSTEM’S DOWN: SERJ TANKIAN
Glenn Dixon

Express from The Washington Post
/05/systems_down_serj_tankian.php
May 15 2008
DC

ASIDE FROM RAW POLITICAL FERVOR, one of the things that sets
System of a Down apart from the host of nu-metal also-rans was the
Armenian-American quartet’s defiantly non-Western sound.

But when asked to get all music-theoretical on it, the guy behind
some of the most distinctive hard-rock harmonies since Alice in Chains
shrugs it off.

"I try to get on scales that don’t make me look fat," Serj Tankian
deadpans. "I have no idea, ’cause I’ve never studied music. I really
just do whatever comes naturally to me."

Though born in Beirut, he doesn’t dwell on his songs’ Middle Eastern
vibe:

"I think it’s more in my voice than in my music, to be honest, kind of
like a deep melancholy that comes from the Old World with an optimism
that comes from the New."

The words he pens are a similar no-go. Here’s an odd bit from "The
Unthinking Majority," the second track off Tankian’s solo debut,
"Elect the Dead": "Anti-depressants / Controlling tools of your system
/ Making life more tolerable / Making life more tolerable."

There’s no mistaking the critical tone, but is he pulling a Tom Cruise?

Apparently, the antidepressants Tankian tackles needn’t come from CVS.

"I usually like leaving lyrics pretty much open to interpretation,"
he replies. "When you ask me a question in terms of what I think
about life or civilization or whatnot, I respond pretty openly. But
when it comes to lyrics, I kinda like having the listener internalize
it and live with it and decide what it means. Because over the years
I’ve realized that, just like music, lyrics don’t necessarily solely
belong to the songwriter. They come from somewhere else, from beyond
us, in terms of inspiration. And sometimes the meaning is elusive
even to the person who wrote it."

Still, many of the fans drawn to the 9:30 Club Thursday will be there
for Tankian’s sharp-tongued point of view.

He’s on record as thinking that globally we’ve reached a dead end:

"We’re so addicted to the concept of civilization that we can’t
imagine living ‘outside’ this city called civilization. What would
happen if civilization crashed? No one ever says that."

He decries the tendency to think of war, global warming, population
growth and the consumption of natural resources as separate issues.

"I always see the new world as a more local type of world," he says. "I
don’t see large cities. I see very small communes. I see naturally
produced energy. I see naturally and locally grown organic food. I
see a very beautiful, modern community that still utilizes a high
amount of technology but lives in a very plain type of way."

What’s perhaps weirdest about our conversation is that the voluble
yet somehow easygoing Tankian never comes off defeated.

Knowing he doesn’t have all the answers doesn’t keep the questions
from rocking like hell.

" 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW; 7:30 p.m. $25; 800-955-5566. (U St.-Cardozo)

ARMENIA READY TO CONTINUE NEGOTIATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN ON BASIS OF AVAILABLE SUGGESTIONS – ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Trend News Agency
May 15 2008
Azerbaijan

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated today in Yerevan
that recent statements by the Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister
Araz Azimov regarding settling of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict do
not have any connection with negotiated suggestions.

"Azimov only expressed his opinion reflecting Azerbaijan’s position but
having nothing to do with the negotiations for which determination
of Nagorno-Karabakh’s status through plebiscite of the region’s
population is key priority," Nalbandian said.

According to him, the negotiated suggestions are the result of
long-term efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and Armenia is ready to
continue the negotiations on the basis of the suggestions.

"Our internal policy will not experience drastic changes, but we intend
to achieve success in those directions in which we have failed to do
that," he said.

"We will be very glad to see newly appointed US Ambassador and we
hope he will arrive in Yerevan soon," Nalbandian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MOSCOW COURT SENTENCES RACE-HATE GROUP TO PRISON

RIA Novosti
May 15 2008
Russia

MOSCOW, May 15 (RIA Novosti) – The Moscow City Court sentenced on
Thursday eight men charged with a series of race-hate bombings that
claimed 14 lives in the Russian capital in 2006-2007 to prison,
for terms between two years and life.

The most notorious of the group’s attacks took place on August 21,
2006, when a bomb ripped through the multi-ethnic Cherkizovsky market
in northeast Moscow, killing 11 people including two children, and
injuring over 40.

The court sentenced four defendants to life in prison, one to 20 years,
another to 13 years and the remaining to two years.

An investigation into the blast led police to the "Spas" nationalist
extremist group, the leader of which is said to be a 25-year-old
Muscovite, Nikolai Korolyov, who got a life sentence. The group waged
a campaign against "immigrants" and people of "non-Slavic appearance",
and operated under the cover of a martial arts club.

The market bombers were detained on the day of the attack and
charged with premeditated murder on the grounds of ethnic and racial
hatred. The suspects later confessed that they had been motivated by
racial hatred, prosecutors said.

The group’s remaining attacks were carried out on a student hall of
residence, a cafe, a clinic, a Muslim community center, an amusement
arcade, the offices of the Russky Vestnik newspaper, as well as
shopping centers.

Apart from the bombings, a number of the defendants were also charged
with the murder of an Armenian student in the Moscow Metro in 2006.

Russia has seen a wave of racially-motivated crimes since the collapse
of the Soviet Union in 1991. Routine attacks by skinheads and gangs
on foreigners and non-whites are a regular occurrence. However,
authorities have been generally reluctant to treat the attacks as
race-hate crimes, portraying them instead as acts of hooliganism.