Month: May 2008

HOT LINE OF LEGAL INITIATIVE PROGRAM CONTINUES OPERATING

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The Institute of Civil Society, the
Armenian Committee of Helsinki Civil Assembly, and the Free Chair of
Civil Initiatives implemented the Legal Initiative program during the
RA presidential elections. As Gayane Markosian, a member of the
initiative, said at the May 7 press conference, the program was to have
finished on March 1, but it was delayed until late May due to the
well-known events. In her words, the 080-080-804 hot line continues
operating within the framework of the program.

Lawyer Ani Nersisian said that after the March 1 events they receive up
to 10 telephone calls daily, part of which regard cases of illegal
arrests. According to the program’s initiators, legal security and
protection of citizens in Armenia should be done permanently. They said
that in most cases citizens prefer rather obeying than protecting their
rights. According to the initiative’s members, in that respect also
there is a need to continue the program.

It was also mentioned that during the presidential elections the hot
line received 475 calls on technical details of elections turnout, as
well as on the violations having impact on the voting process and the
total normal electoral process.

EXHIBITION DEDICATED TO 60th ANNIVERSARY OF RA HONORED PAINTER VALMAR
OPENS AT NATIONAL GALLERY OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. An exhibition dedicated to the 60th
anniversary of RA honored painter Valmar (Vladimir Margarian) opened on
May 2 at the National Gallery of Armenia, where more than 80 works by
the painter were presented.

RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian, Minister of Culture Hasmik
Poghosian, other high-ranking officials, as well as fans of Valmar’s
art were present at the official opening of the exhibition.

Congratulating the painter on the occasion of his jubilee, RA Minister
of Culture awarded Valmar Ministry’s gold medal.

T. Sargsian said that the RA government will undertake steps for
Armenia to become a cultural center in the region. "I think Valmar will
be the soldier of culture, who will prove with his biography that we
have realistic ambitions. I am sure that we will be able to become a
cultural center with Valmar and many talented artists like him," the
Prime Minister said. At the same time he said that to make Armenia a
cultural center we should first of all change society’s attitude to
art, as well as create all possible conditions for artists.

As art critic Saro Sarukhanian evaluated, Valmar is one of the unique
artists, thanks to whose creations the Armenian people became known in
different countries of the world. And, according to him, it is not
accidental that Valmar is considered a painter of Great Armenian World.
According to S. Sarukhanian, with his obstinacy and devotion Valmar was
able to overcome many difficulties and today he is considered one of
the most renowned painters in the world.

"The art loving society in my canvases is able to find and appreciate
everything, which is close to it and seems unique. I try to speak with
people through my paintings, which proceed just from my heart and
essence," Valmar said.

DEMONSTRATION OF SHUSHI CHRONICLE-DOCUMENTARY HELD IN NATIONAL LIBRARY
OF ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The demonstration of the Shushi
chronicle-documentary film directed by Ashot Gevorgian, which is
dedicated to the 16th anniversary of the liberation of Shushi, was held
in the National Library of Armenia on May 8. The foundation history,
the military actions for the liberation of Shushi and the stories of
the freedom fighters, who have taken part in it, are presented in the
45-minute film.

In the words of Ghukas Sirunian, the editor-in-chief of the Information
Department of the RA Ministry of Defence, enormous work is being
conducted in the direction of summarizing all the films shot during the
liberation war of Artsakh on the initiative of the Ministry, so as the
real picture of the war actions is introduced to generations in future.
"The Artsakh war brought us a victory and we are obliged to tell the
current and further generations about that victory," Ghukas Sirunian
mentioned.

David Sargsian, the Head of the National Library of Armenia, stated
that demonstrations of films about the Karabakh war will be organized
in the library until the end of May. "The films are being demonstrated
for the collaborators of the library, students, and representatives of
different departments. This way we are trying to introduce to the young
generation the triumphant pages of our history," David Sargsian
stressed.

5600 VETERANS OF GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR LIVE IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. At present, 5600 veterans of the Great
Patriotic War, including 1500 participants and 4100 invalids, live in
Armenia. This information was provided to a Noyan Tapan correspondent
by the Department on Invalids and Elderly Issues of the RA Ministry of
Labour and Social Issues. It was mentioned that according to the RA Law
on "Veterans of the Patriotic War", veterans receive monthly payments
of honour: 10 thousand drams (approximately 33 U.S. dollars), in
addition to pension.

Veterans pay 50 percent of rent, garbage removal, radio and telephone
subscription payments. They also make use of the privileges for medical
assistance, medicine, in case of necessity for receiving a pass for
health resorts, as well as running in the territory of the CIS
countries once a year.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TALENTED MOSCOW-BASED MUSICIAN SONA ARSHAKIAN GIVES FIRST SOLO CONCERT
IN YEREVAN

YEREVAN, MAY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. The 21-year-old Sona Arshakian from Moscow
gave her first important and responsible concert at Yerevan’s Chamber
Music House. The program of the first solo concert of the Moscow State
Conservatory student was a complex and rich one. On that evening the
young pianist performed works of almost all European composers:
Scarlatti, Beethoven, Brahms, Schumann and Rakhmaninov.

According to Sona, the program was complex but she was well-prepared,
and she expressed a hope that the audience will like her performance.
"My professor is very strict and demanding. We have prepared well for
the concert but the program was difficult," she said.

"I starting playing the piano quite unexpectedly. In our family, I am
the first to practice music, for which I am obliged to a childhood
friend. Following her suit, I started to attend a music school and soon
I realized that I was to play and become a famous pianist," Sona
recalls. Shortly afterwards the gifted girl continued her education at
Yerevan music school after P. Tchaykowsky, and three years later she
left for Moscow to study in Moscow, a city famous for its music
traditions.

The talented and hard-working girl not only studied music in a foreign
city but also improved her music skills and graduated from the
Tchaykowsky music shools with an honors diploma. With the same success
Sona Arshakian entered the Moscow State Conservatory, studying in the
class of famous Professor Yuri Hayrapetian of Armenian descent. "At his
classes, I began to perceive music differently. It is a different
feeling that I can express only on the keyboard of a piano. This
perception is peculiar to my world, in which nothing but nature and
music exists: they are as much in harmony as the air and breath," Sona
said.

In response to the question about why there are no works of Armenian
composers in her concert program, Sona replied that it is a matter of
time, and the next time she will certainly perform works of Armenian
authors.

In addition to playing the piano, Sona likes to sing, paint and dance.
"I like Armenian folk songs above all and I sing them with pleasure. I
often sing in church," she noted.

Sona’s greatest wish to become a great and well-known pianist, for
which she stidies hard. After this solo concert, the young pianist will
give a performance in Moscow. She plans to participate in an
international competition of pianists in Geneva in October.

In 2006 Sona took part in the Citta di Sulmona competition in Italy and
won the second prize, while at another international contest of
pianists in Italy in 2007 she was awarded the 3rd prize and the Special
Prize.

PanARMENIAN.Net

RA FM: Armenian government will do utmost to strengthen democracy
08.05.2008 14:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward
Nalbandian delivered a speech at the the118th session
of the Council of Europe, the RA FA press office
reported.

Thanking the Council of Ministers for support, the
Minister said, `the Republic of Armenia has to
strengthen democracy and the government will do its
utmost in this direction. Our country has still a
great deal of work to do but we are confident that we
can overcome all hardships and continue the course of
reform.’

Touching on the Nagorono Karabakh conflict, the
Armenian Minister confirmed Armenia’s willingness to
continue talks in the framework of the OSCE Minsk
Group.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Serzh Sargsyan off to Stepanakert to participate in
events dated to Shushu liberation
08.05.2008 15:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ NKR President Bako Sahakian met
Thursday with Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan, who
arrived in Stepanakert to take part in festivities
dedicated to the Victory Day, NKR Defense Army
formation and the 16th anniversary of Shushi
liberation.

The Presidents discussed a wide scope of issues
referring to bilateral relations, reported the press
service of the NKR presidential administration.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Sargsyan, Semneby discuss Karabakh process and
Armenia-Turkey relations
08.05.2008 15:29 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
received a delegation headed by EU Special
Representative in South Caucasus Peter Semneby. The
delegation included Ms. Silvie Bavelar who is in
charge of political questions within the EC Delegation
in Armenia, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Republic
of Armenia Serge Smessov, as well as policy advisers
to the EU Special Representative in South Caucasus.

The Prime Minister briefed the guests on the current
tasks and the challenges ahead of Armenia and its
newly formed government and described the steps to
take for their solution. Among priority actions, he
named the efforts towards mitigating the impact of
increased commodity prices, improving and reforming
tax and customs administrations, achieving higher
efficiency in the fight against corruption, getting
the opposition involved in the execution of the
government program, as well as providing for possibly
greater transparency and publicity in all these
processes. The parties have also referred to
Armenia-Turkey relations and the settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The development of
EU-Armenia cooperation under the European Neighborhood
Policy and the continuation of efforts towards the
implementation of the ENP Action Plan have been
emphasized on either side.

The Prime Minister advised that the price problem is
being discussed with the World Bank and the IMF
currently in order to take remedial action as soon as
possible.

With reference to the dialog between the authorities
and the opposition, Tigran Sargsyan reiterated his
previously stated viewpoint consisting in that first
of all we should have a government of responsibility,
if we wish to have a constructive and responsible
opposition. "We must start from ourselves by taking
steps forward in order to win the trust of our people.
I am convinced that our proposals are better than any
other solutions possibly available in Armenia. We have
reached out a hand of cooperation to Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters. We cannot wait for long as
the problems are numerous and the time is short,
especially as we have already proceeded to action,"
-the Prime Minister said.

Concerning the March 1 events and the subsequent
developments, Tigran Sargsyan evoked the clearly
stated position of the RA President and stressed that
the authorities are interested in an unbiased and
comprehensive investigation thereof.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenia, Lichtenstein establish diplomatic relations
08.05.2008 17:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
of Armenia and Rita Kieber-Beck of Lichtenstein signed
an agreement on establishment of diplomatic relations
between the two states, the RA MFA press office
reported.

After the ceremony the Ministers expressed willingness
to develop intergovernmental ties and establish
cooperation in economic, cultural and scientific
fields.

On the same day, Minister Nalbandian met with Dutch
Minister for European Affairs Frans Timmermans to
discuss bilateral relations and a number of regional
and international issues.

Minister Nalbandian briefed on the priorities of the
Armenian government, making special mention of
strengthening cooperation with European structures and
brisking up economic relations.

The possibility of attraction of Dutch investments in
the Armenian economy was also discussed.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net

Turk-Armenian Business Council not permitted to open
branch in Istanbul
08.05.2008 17:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A Turkish-Armenian business
organization is not permitted to open a branch in
Istanbul, in total contrast to the government’s
willingness to restart political dialogue with
Armenia.

While political leaders of both Turkey and Armenia
debate ways to "open dialogue," an effort by a
Brussels-based association of Turkish and Armenian
businessmen has been told that even an Istanbul office
for the nongovernmental organization is off the table.

The request began with Brussels-based Turkish-Armenian
Business Development Council’s request last year to
establish an office in Istanbul. But the request was
quietly rejected by the Interior Ministry in February,
the Turkish Daily News reports.

Kaan Soyak, co-chairman of the Council, confirmed that
four Turkish members of the organization including
himself applied last May to open the office supposed
to connect the Turkey-EU network in order to foster
business opportunities.

"We have received no response for nine months and in
February, the Istanbul Governor’s Office sent a letter
rejecting our request without any justification,"
Soyak said.

Until February, he continued, Turkish and Armenian
members of the Council had the impression that the
Interior Ministry would allow the opening of the
office because at round-table discussions in the
United States last November, Turkish diplomats
heralded the government’s plans to allow the office.
However, the letter from the Istanbul Governor’s
Office was in total contrast to expectations.

The government’s rejection comes right after calls for
dialogue with Armenia in the wake of the elections, a
development that raised hopes for the opening of a new
chapter in troubled relations.

The Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council is a
nongovernmental network of Turkish and Armenian
business leaders working since 1997 for the
restoration of normal relations between Turkey and
Armenia and for the reopening of their common border.

The two neighbors have had no diplomatic links after
Turkey took Azerbaijan’s side in the Karabakh war and
closed the border with Armenia. Ankara also opposes
demands for recognition of the Armenian Genocide.