Month: May 2008

CONTESTS OF BEST SCIENTIFIC WORK, MUSIC COMPOSIION AND WORK OF ART TO
BE HELD THIS YEAR ON INITIATIVE OF WAC AND UAR

YEREVAN, MAY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative and with the financial
assistance of the World Armenian Congress (WAC) and the Union of
Armenians in Russia (UAR), contests of the best scientific and creative
works will be held this year as well. The start of these contests was
announced at the May 8 press conference. Unlike in 2007, this year WAC
and UAR initiated contests for employees of the RA National Academy of
Sciences (NAS) and the members of the Union of Artists and the Union of
Composers. The prize fund makes 80 thousand dollars.

The theme of the literary contest is "The Armenian at the Beginning of
the 21st Century", with the prize fund making 15 thousand USD. The
prize fund of the journalistic contest "Armenia is the Homeland of All
Armenians" is 10 thousand USD, while the prize fund of the contest of
paintings, sculptures, works of graphic and decorative arts on the
subject "Armenia and Its Residents Through the Eyes of A Painter" makes
10 thousand USD.

The NAS and the Union of Composers have allocated 30 thousand and 15
thousand dollars respectively for rewarding the winners of the contests
of best scientific works and best music compositions. The deadline for
submission of contest participation bids is January 31, 2009.

According to Vladimir Aghayan – head of the WAC Armenian branch and the
vice president of the UAR, WAC and UAR pay great attention to promoting
the activities of scientific and creative intellectuals in Armenia and
assist with solution of their problems. He said that the creative
contest, which was first organized last year, will provide a new
incentive for writers and reporters. In his words, the responses that
came after these contests confirmed the necessity to continue providing
support to creative unions. He said that the president of the WAC and
UAR Ara Abrahamian was the first person to invest in the Union of
Writers’ Fund for Development of Literature founded in 2005. Since then
A. Abrahamian has provided assistance to the fund. Based on this
example, the RA NAS created a Fund for Development of Science, whose
co-chairmen are A. Abrahamian and the NAS president Radik Martirosian.

V. Aghayan expressed a hope that other businessmen will follow the
example of A. Abrahamian and will help make work of creative and
scientific intelligentsia more efficient. "If a writer takes his pen
and starts creating in these diddicult conditions, this is already an
achievement. It is an important stimulus to encourage the work of
creative intellectuals and scientists," he underlined.

The chairman of the Union of Writers Levon Ananian stated in his speech
that such initiatives of WAC and UAR are especially praiseworthy today
when the nation is separated. In his words, these organizations view
culture and science as an important link which should play a unifyning
role for the nation. L. Ananian also informed those present about
another step taken within the framework of the initiative of WAC and
UAR: the three novels to win awards this year will be published with
their support. "A. Abrahamian is a benefactor devoted to the nation,
whose support contributes to the development of our literature," L.
Ananian said.

6 ARMENIAN NGOs TO RECEIVE GRANTS

YEREVAN, MAY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Six Armenian non-profit NGOs will receive
grants of the World Bank and the Open Society Institute Assistance Fund
for implementation of programs aimed at promoting civil involvement, NT
correspondent was informed by the WB Yerevan Office.

"We Plus" NGO will receive a grant for increasing the awareness of
voters at the elections to local government bodies to be held in Gyumri
in late 2008.

The Armenian-French Development Fund will use its grant to help with
social integration of the leavers of special schools for children with
hearing defects, while Sustainable Water Environment NGO will promote
the participation of young people in solution of environmental
problems, in particular, it will assist students of Vanadzor and
Dilijan higher educational institutions to get knowledge about
environmental protection.

The Field of Education NGO will examine the problems of secondary
schools in Shirak marz, while "SKARP" Health Center NGO will help with
social integration of young people with problems of the locomotor
system.

Lawyers for Human Rights orhanization has received a grant in order to
increase rural residents’ information about the activities of local
government bodies.

Over the past 10 years, 53 local NGOs have received grants of a total
of 491 thousand dollars.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VIK DARCHINIAN – DMITRY KIRILOV FIGHT TO TAKE PLACE ON AUGUST 2

SYDNEY, MAY 9, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The fight between famous
Armenian boxer Vik (Vakhtang) Darchinian and Russian boxer Dmitry
Kirilov has been postponed and will take place on August 2.

Internet media also report that Vik Darchinian will be one of the
boxers of the new computer game, Prize Fighter Don King. The game will
be put on sale next month.

PRICE-GROWTH PRESSURE INCREASES
VASAK TARPOSHYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 09, 2008
Armenia

During the recent times the price-growth evidently pressurizes the
domestic product market. If before the price-growth in Armenia
fluctuated within 3%, we must underscore that during the recent years
it is significantly high.

According to the official data, the price-growth of the last year made
up 6,5%. At the beginning of the year the situation tightened.
According to the observations of the statistic service, as compared to
the same period of the last year the prices have increased by around
11%. The high prices of the products of vital importance are
conditioned by both internal and external factors. The prices of the
products are continuously increasing in the international market that
has become a matter of concern even in the developed countries.

Being a country of limited resources that imports lots of products
Armenia is very vulnerable towards the influences of the foreign
market. It is not accidental that particularly these products become
expensive in the internal market.

The maximum, that the government can do in this situation, is the
mitigation of the influence of price-growth. They can achieve this by
monetary-loan policy and implementation of programs with social trends.
This is probably the only way to restrain the price-growth, and to
support the vulnerable group.

That is why the rumors saying that the increase of the pension on
January was senseless is not right. Doubtlessly had the pensions not
been increased the life of this layer would have been worse.

According to the data of the statistic service in the same period of
the previous year the price of wheat has grown by 45 drams, high-class
flour ` by around 65%, and the first-class ` by 55%. The prices of
these products started to fluctuate between 250 to 350 drams, from the
beginning of April as compared to 160-209 drams of the previous year.
The prices of different types of bread have increased by 40-45%, which
means from 250 to 430.

The price-growth is also high in the market of butter and oil,
respectively 71-51% within a year. The price of butter has reached 2376
drams this year as compared to 1565 drams of the last year and oil
prices have reached 968 drams as compared to 566 drams a liter of the
last year. Whereas not only is there no prospect for the stabilization
of the prices but also ` slow increase.

It’s worth mentioning that the price-growth of the before mentioned
products started last year. If from the beginning of 2007 the price of
wheat increased by 36 drams, from January 2008 it has increased by 9
drams.

The picture is the same in terms of the other products ` the first
class flour has increased by 60 drams from April to December of the
previous year, and by 10 drams from January 2008.

These developments testify to the fact that during the recent times the
price-growth in the domestic market has been mitigated. But it doesn’t
give any grounds to unwind, because the price-growth of the before
mentioned products have been rather abrupt in one year.

The price-growth in the product market is also conditioned by internal
factors. The increase of meat-product is also very noticeable. In
April, for example, the price of pork increased by 9% and beef by 4%.

On the other hand season also has some influence on the consumer
market. It is manifested especially on the agricultural products.
Especially the prices of the vegetables have evidently decreased. And
the prices of fruits have decreased by 8%.

The price-growth of non-food products and some services has been added
to the before mentioned tendencies manifested in the market of
food-products. The pressure of the price-growth in this sphere has
increased especially after the stop of the gas subsidizations.’

WE HAVE LIBERATED OUR HOUSE
ANAHIT YESAYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 09, 2008
Armenia

But to what extent do we realize it?

Interview with SAMVEL KARAPETYAN, Head of the Armenian office of the
Center of Studies of Architectural Monuments in Armenia

`Due to the power of spirit and arms, we liberated Shoushi 16 years
ago, and the town is now viewed as a symbol of victory. However, apart
from being a symbol of victory, Shoushi also used to be a large
cultural center. To what extent are these two factors appreciated now?’

`There was a period in the 19th century when the population of Shoushi
exceeded the population of Yerevan by 1/3. That’s to say, the town
really had the largest Armenian population in the territory which
historically belonged to Armenia and was now under the Russian
protectorate. It had everything: a theatre, printing-houses and
libraries. Naturally, investments were being made in such a town, as it
is done in Yerevan now.

Tiflis had a larger population of Armenians in comparison with Shoushi,
but it was not an Armenian town. There were simply a lot of Armenians
here. And those who made their investments in Tiflis were devoid of the
realization of the fact that they weren’t making their investments on
the Armenian land. The same can be said about Baku.

Shoushi prospered, and I don’t know which of the two towns was the
`Paris’ of the Caucasus in that period.

It had a population of around 45 thousand. In the 19th century the
sects began penetrating into Shoushi, as they do in Yerevan now, and
our church was not the defender of its flock, just the same way as it
isn’t now.

Let me bring a simple example. According to written records (`Pigeon of
Masis’, 1867) the history of the Armenian Church was taught in the
Russian language in the Armenian schools of Shoushi. The local
population asked the Catholicos to intervene and settle the problem.
But Catholicos Makar was indifferent to the issue.

This state of neglect and lack of protection comes from those times,
and it contributed to the activities of the sects. And although the
Armenian society was an overwhelming majority there in comparison with
the Muslims, the town remained absolutely unprotected when the
confrontations with the Turks began. The Turks managed to set the
entire Armenian district on fire. A few building remained wholesome by
some accident; one of them was the `Reality College’ of Shoushi (this
is what we emphasized in the Soviet times) and the other was the
hospital of the Zhamharyans.

Strange though it may seem, the `Reality College’ of Shoushi was burnt
by the people who had liberated the town from the Turks in 1992. There
was absolutely no need to burn the Turksih district of the town which
was saved from fire in the 1920’s. It was our house that we liberated.
We banished the Turks who had thrust in it; they had come and taken
possession of our property and used violence. We lost our patience and
dismissed them from our house. And there was no need no burn the part
of our house that was ever crossed by the Turks.

VICTORY BELONGS TO ALL
Editorial

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 09, 2008
Armenia

And it is impossible to divide it

The day of victory and the anniversary of the liberation of Shoushi is
the cherished day of our calendar when we perceive ourselves as an
entire unity` as triumphed people, a dignified nation and state that
has earned the right to voice its opinion on the global level.

Of course, all kinds of disputes and struggles around political
beliefs, economic interests and other permanent and temporary values
are possible inside such unity, but when the conversation goes around
the May victories uniting us and the common responsibility deriving
thereof, there automatically arises the following question: what do we
have to divide in this particular sphere?

The liberation of Shoushi ` an inseparable part of our generation’s
biography, is the `common capital’ which cannot be divided into parts,
no matter how much we may try. Neither is it possible to insist that it
belongs to the former or present-day authorities, this or that
political force and even some exclusive individual who is the author of
the most heroic feat.

The logic `whether the victory belongs to me or to you’ transfers the
continuing internal political disputes to an extremely dangerous plane.
If the victory of Shoushi can be viewed by such logic too, what’s the
idea of a motherland, common memory and everything else that is
impossible to divide?

To view our common victory through the prism of an internal political
struggle is a harmful bacillus that has already produced its impact on
some participants of the Karabakh War and the heroic battle of Shoushi;
it has even influenced some ordinary citizens.

Discords are always possible while `measuring’ each person’s investment
in the common victory following each war and the political processes
resulting thereof, but as regards the defeat, it always remains in the
status of an orphan. And only after the change of a whole generation
does there arrive the moment of making an accurate and impartial
assessment on the people’s common victory. We are sure that the same
will happen while assessing the Karabakh War in future.

So is there any need to beat to the punch today, on the regular
anniversary of the liberation of Shoushi, and view the history of the
unfinished foreign policy confrontation through the prism of the
`black-and-white’ logic?

If lose the `last stronghold’ of our unity towards the external
challenges, we may also be deprived of the outcomes of the common
victory. Thereafter, we will certainly try to attribute the
responsibility of the common defeat to one another – a situation that
has happened many times in the course of our history.

Smart and far-sighted peoples never try to divide the victories they
gained in the past; they think about new ones. While the short-sighted
peoples, on the contrary, hold such long disputes over the
participation of this or that individual in the process of achieving
the victories that the enemy perceives the moment of launching an
attack and seizing back the victory. Today, the temporary splitting in
the Armenian society has made our enemy happy, but it is not yet sure
whether the Armenians will become united again should Karabakh or
Shoushi become an issue of discussion.

On May 2, Ter-Petrosyan made the following statement, `In case there is
a military threat, I myself will call on the people and the activists
of the pan-national movement to temporarily cease the struggle and
settle down to the protection of their motherland.’ But if the
protection of his motherland is really his cherished desire, what gives
him the right to approve the unrestrained propaganda which now tends to
divide the outcomes of the victory gained at the cost of the lives of
thousands of martyrs.

All that is gained through bloodsheds is a sacred value, and a sacred
value is never divided into parts; it should be worshiped devotedly,
without any bias. Our common victory – the liberation of Shoushi and
the entire territory of Karabakh, is the value which has only one
owner, and that owner is the Armenian nation. All the rest ` from
soldier to general, have been and continue to remain the descendents of
the Armenian people, regardless the form and the extent of their
investment. Otherwise, the people will cease their existence as whole
unity resisting the external challenges, and the state will turn into a
tool for satisfying some temporary ambitions existing inside it.

Realizing that the united responsibility is the last and the most
powerful stronghold for the existence of the Armenian people, today, on
May 9, we congratulate all the participants of the unprecedented heroic
battle of Karabakh, regardless their political affiliation and views.

WHAT WILL OUR ECONOMY BE LIKE IN 2012?
SHUSHAN MATEVOSYAN

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 09, 2008
Armenia

Interview with the member of ARFD parliamentary faction Artsvik
Minasyan.

`The government program aimed at the implementation of reforms in our
country was characterized in deferent ways in the National Assembly. In
your opinion to what extent is the program realistic?’

`It is good you didn’t say `what would you call¦?’ because I usually
avoid giving names to documents. Each document must envisage specific
goals and tasks, and propose concrete solutions to those issues. In
this term the government program includes news ideas, unlike the
previous program there is a certain unification of five pan-national
programs.

According to the Prime Minister by the implementation of the five
pan-national programs Armenia will most probably become a financial,
business, health and cultural center in the region. The goal can be
considered wonderful. But there are no resources and directions
mentioned in this program to achieve the before mentioned goal.

The first guarantee of the implementation of any goal is public trust.
The public must see and feel the idea and trust it. In this regard, I
think, our government has lots of work to do. Each of us must assist
the newly formed government. I’m really concerned about Armenia’s
economic development. Of course it is good to be a regional center or
to have such aspirations, but when we look at the five pan-national
programs we notice that nearly all of them involve the sphere of
service. Unfortunately, the sphere of material production either lacks
or it makes a very small part of the program.

Which means, by trying to render qualitative services in the region,
our country is facing the high risk of fall. Because every service can
be free and qualitative in case there is no conflict in the region. But
the situation is quite the opposite in our region. The second matter of
concern is that the program doesn’t give the clear picture of our
future economy. After all what will the economy be like in Armenia in
2012? How will we manage to solve the employment issue? What will be
the picture of social protection? Of course the state must always do
the maximum, but as a representative of a socialist power I believe
every document must clearly show the role and the participation of the
state.’

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenian people marking Victory Day and Shushi Liberation Day May 9
09.05.2008 19:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is celebrating Victory Day
on May 9. A number of events, specifically laying of
wreaths to Yerablur Pantheon and Unknown Soldier’s
Tomb in Victory Park will be held that day, RA Defense
Minister’s spokesman, col. Seyran Shahsuvaryan told
PanARMENIAN.Net.

May 9 is also celebrated as Shushi Liberation Day, NKR
Defense Army formation day.

Various cultural and sports events are expected in the
NKR capital on this day. A concert in Stepanakert’s
Renaissance Square will end in fireworks.

The Armenian delegation led by President Serzh
Sargsyan will take part in the festivities.

ARMENPRESS

TIGRAN SARGSIAN CONGRATULATES ARMENIANS ON THE VICTORY DAY

YEREVAN, MAY 9, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister
Tigran Sargsian congratulated Armenians on the Day of
Victory and Peace. Governmental press service told
Armenpress that in his message he particularly says,
`Dear compatriots,
I warmly congratulate you on the Day of Victory and
Peace. Today we, together with many nations, are
celebrating anniversary of the historic victory
against fascism which thanks to the patriotism,
devotion, sacrifice and courage of the sons of our
people has become ours too.
The victory is doubled by another great event –
liberation of Shushi. Sixteen years ago in a demanded
war our people registered its right for peaceful and
independent right.
Today I direct my warmest congratulations to the
war veterans, our freedom fighters and whole people
and pay tribute to the memory of those who lost their
lives in this fight.
Dear compatriots, I wish you all good mood, peace
and welfare.’

ARMENPRESS

VLADIMIR PUTIN CONGRATULATES HEADS OF GOVERNMENTS OF CIS

MOSCOW, MAY 9, ARMENPRESS: The chairman of the
Russian government Vladimir Putin sent congratulatory
messages to the heads of governments of the CIS
countries, press service of the Russian Ministers’
Cabinet reported.
In the message directed to the Armenian Prime
Minister Tigran Sargsian, V. Putin says, `On these
days we again remember about the heroic efforts in the
battle field which helped to make fascism collapse and
remember those who were erecting the Great Victory.
We are obliged to keep the memory of general trials
which fall on our people in the fight against fascism,
take necessary lessons so that the valuable experience
of unity and reconciliation pass to our generations.’