Month: May 2008

FOUR BOXERS OF ARMENIA BECOME PRIZE WINNERS IN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT OF SPAIN

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The International Boxing Tournament
finished in the city of Valadolid in Spain on May 18. 5 Armenian
delegates were among those of 8 countries. Eduard Hambardzumian
(64 kg, Yerevan) was the best among them. He defeated all the four
competitors and took first place.

Hovhannes Danielian (48 kg, Yerevan) and Hrachia Javakhian (64 kg,
Vanadzor) took third place. All the three above-mentioned boxers have
passes for the Beijing Olympic Games. Ara Puluzian (60 kg, Etchmiadzin)
gained silver medal.

ARARAT YEREVAN IN LEAD OF TOURNAMENT TABLE OF ARMENIAN FOOTBALL STAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER 6 STAGES

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The games of the sixth stage of the
Star National Football Championship of Armenia took place on May
17. The following results were registered: Mika – Ulis 1:0, Gandzasar
Ararat 2:3, and Cilicia – Pyunik 0:3. The Shirak – Banants game was
postponed. Ararat Yerevan is in the lead of the tournament table
with 18 points. The games of the next seventh stage are scheduled
for May 30.

CATHOLICOSATE OF GREAT CILICIAN HOUSE TAKES PART IN MEETING OF WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES AND CHURCH FAMILIES

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

ANTELIAS, MAY 20, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Bishop Narek
Aleemezian, the Head of the Interchurch Relations of the Catholicosate
of the Great Cilician House, was the chairman of the second meeting
of the consultation commission of secretaries of the World Council
of Churches and Church Families, which took place in the Geneva
headquarters of the World Council of Churches on May 13-15. The
objective of the commission is to make the existing cooperation
between the World Council of Churches and the Church Families deeper.

His Holiness Narek stressed the importance of this meeting as
a meeting link for regional and world interchurch relations and
attached importance to the imperative needs of the cooperation and
common posture on the issues all the churches are interested in.

It was decided to convene the next sitting of the commission in June
2009 in Geneva.

S. ASTOURIAN TO DELIVER SPEECH ON FIRST REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA IN CANADA

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

OTTAWA, MAY 20, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Professor S. Astourian
from the Berkeley University of California will give a lecture entitled
"The first Republic of Armenia" on May 26 in the Sourp Hagop School
of Canada. The lectures will continue on May 27, 28, 29, 30.

The lecture series is organized by the literary committee of
Hamazkayin-Sanahin.

"10 POEMS EVERY ARMENIAN KNOWS" PROGRAM TAKES PLACE IN WATERTOWN

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

WATERTOWN, MAY 20, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The "Ten Poems Every
Armenian Knows" literary program was held by poet Diana Der-Hovanessian
and Berj Chekijian in the Armenian Library and Museum of America in
Watertown. This information was provided by the local websites.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ADAM SCHIFF URGES U.S. LEADERSHIP TO CALL UPON TURKEY TO LIFT ITS BLOCKADE OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

WASHINGTON, MAY 20, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Congressman Adam
Schiff has introduced a bill urging the President and Secretary of
State to call upon Turkey to immediately lift its ongoing blockade
of Armenia. The "End the Turkish Blockade of Armenia Act" requires a
report from the Secretary of State within 30 days of final passage
that will outline steps taken by the U.S. to end Turkey’s blockade
of Armenia.

"We need to step up pressure on Turkey to lift the draconian blockade
of Armenia, permitting Armenian businesses to fully participate in
the global economy and assisting Armenia’s integration into Europe,"
said Adam Schiff.

Rep. Schiff is a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues and the co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National
Security. He serves on the House Appropriations Committee, the House
Judiciary Committee, and the House Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence.

DAVIT ISHKHANYAN: VOTERS IN ASHAN UNDERWENT PRESSURE

KarabakhOpen
20-05-2008 13:02:31

On Sunday local elections were held in several communities in
Karabakh. No incidents were reported. Including in the village
of Ashan of the region of Martuni where Norair Khachatryan, the
former head of the kolkhoz in the early 1990s, became head of the
community. He won the election with a small advantage of 14 votes
(190-176). The other candidate was Armen Balasanyan, non-partisan,
whom the ARF Dashnaktsutyun endorsed.

It is notable that in 2000 the council of the village gave a vote
of no confidence to Norair Khachatryan who won the race (perhaps it
was the only case in Karabakh). Charges were brought against him for
misconduct however the court dismissed the case.

We talked to the representative of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun to Artsakh
Davit Ishkhanyan who comes from Ashan. "As I voted on Sunday, I
witnessed unpleasant things," Davit Ishkhanyan said.

It turns out that the winner got the small advantage through pressure
but not by the regional administration and the police. "The deputy
minister of defense Vardan Balayan and the commander Haik Sargsyan
pressured on part of the population, especially those who serve in
the army. They helped their candidate win through different methods,
including intimidation," said Davit Ishkhanyan.

According to him, there was no clash of ideas of the candidates. They
merely wanted their candidate to win. "They wanted to have anyone
but the candidate of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun," Davit Ishkhanyan said.

The leader of Dashnaktsutyun in Karabakh voiced concern that people
are insecure from such pressure. "We warned the government about
the pre-election situation but nobody took action to prevent this
situation," said Davit Ishkhanyan. He thinks this situation is the
result of impunity in the country.

The political activist thinks impunity will annihilate the efforts of
the government to carry out reforms. "People rely on the new government
but arbitrariness and impunity will eventually crush their hopes,"
said Davit Ishkhanyan.

He noted that as far as he knows the elections in other communities
were compliant, although the race was tense in Chartar. In addition,
Davit Ishkhanyan says democracy is for ourselves rather than for
display.

PALACE NATAVAN WILL BE RESTORED

KarabakhOpen
20-05-2008 13:03:38

In January Rebirth of Shushi Foundation organized a telebridge
Shushi-Bethlehem during which 5.7 million dollars was raised.

The Foundation sustains an Info Travel Center which is in the building
of the former coach station. Soon the ceremony of pan-Armenian awards
Golden Ladle will be held there. The Foundation set up a printing
house which will employ ten people.

What projects will be carried out on the funds raised during the
telebridge?

This question interests our readers, which we asked to the
representative of the foundation in Shushi Arthur Hambardzumyan.

According to the representative of the Foundation, about 3.4 to 4
million dollars have been directed at the reconstruction of the Palace
of Natavan which will accommodate a hotel. It is also foreseen to
reconstruct the historical Adamyan Street and the old houses on this
street. Arthur Hambardzumyan assured that the historical appearance
of the town will not be distorted.

One more project is aimed to improve water supply of the town. The
old water pipeline will be repaired which had been laid out in 1896
by Tadevos Tamiryan.

According to Arthur Hambardzumyan, by the end of the year the old
Eastern Bath will be repaired. In summer the roof of the Lyceum of
Young Ladies will be repaired, and next year the ministry of culture
and youth will move into this building.

The Green Pharmacy which is not far from the museum is also under
repair.

After repair it will be a pharmacy.

THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL SECTOR

KarabakhOpen
20-05-2008 13:04:05

The main topic of the first forum of NGOs of Karabakh on Saturday was
the relations between the government and NGOs, as well as cooperation
with international organizations. The Forum was initiated by the NKR
Center for International Cooperation, the Resource Center, Stepanakert
Press Club, the Union of Journalists of Artsakh, Pedagogue, Young
Democrats and Haik’s Generation NGOs.

The representatives of 80 organizations were invited, about 60 of
them and the representatives of the government participated. The
forum was funded by the government and several organizations.

It could be concluded from the reports that the relation between
the NGOs and the government is rather weak. Some even said their
activities sometimes turn out meaningless because of the lack of
corresponding institutions.

For instance, the president of Artsakh Association of Human Rights
Georgy Safaryan said recently nobody has turned to them because he
says their "hands are short". "Nobody will see a doctor who cannot
help them," he says. Georgy Safaryan says the activities of his
organization have no effect on the general atmosphere.

The president of Stepanakert Press Club Gegham Baghdasaryan says the
weakness of the non-governmental sector is because the government has
one pole, meanwhile the non-governmental sector cannot be government
or opposition, it must be "the third power". "The non-governmental
organizations cannot be an annex of the government, they must be
partners but for this reason the sector must be independent, first
of all, financially," Gegham Baghdasaryan said. He also underlined
that the NGOs should be beside the society, beside ordinary citizens
because if they stand by the government, they reinforce the pole of
the government.

Most participants of the forum noted in their speeches that independent
from the recognition of independence of NKR Karabakh must be a
democratic country in which every person should be able to defend
their rights.

The fact that NKR is not recognized leaves its trace. For instance,
the citizens of NKR have no possibility to defend their rights at
international rostrums, which has a negative effect on the general
atmosphere.

In the meantime, the non-governmental sector could have had
a deciding role in recognition. The participants of the forum
noted that in this situation the NGOs have more possibilities to
represent Karabakh to the world than political organizations. However,
cooperation with international organizations often gets controversial
interpretations. In addition, it is done on the government’s
suggestion.

Nevertheless, the forum underlined the importance of cooperation with
foreign organizations, including Azerbaijani NGOs.

ON PLURALISM AND RESPONSIBILITY

KarabakhOpen
20-05-2008 13:04:25

President Bako Sahakyan met with the members of the Democratic Party
led by the speaker of the NKR National Assembly Ashot Ghulyan.

According to the press release, "the president highly appreciated
the constructive atmosphere among the political forces, the society
and the government." In this context, the president underlined the
necessity for an open discussion of the problems the country is facing.

Several days ago Prime Minister Ara Harutiunyan met with the members
of his Azat Hayrenik Party.

Earlier the second conference of the Democratic Party had been held
in which Ashot Ghulyan said "the efforts of some political parties
to pull the blanket to their side" are not the best stimulus for
political cooperation.

By the way, all the political parties of the parliament, the Democratic
Party of Artsakh, Azat Hayrenik, the ARF Dashnaktsutyun and Movement
88, endorsed President Bako Sahakyan in the past presidential election.

Presently there is no opposition in Karabakh.