Month: June 2009

SOCIOMETER BELIEVES ITS FORECASTS PROVED TO BE CORRECT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 19:06

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today the Head of Sociometer Independent Sociological
Center Aharon Adibekyan stated that the organization’s electoral
forecasts proved to be correct. "The last data we published showed
that the Republican Party will gain 41,5% of votes, plus 10% of those
undecided about the candidate to vote for," Adibekyan stated.

Adibekyan also noted that the two powerful rivals from united coalition
and oppositional ANC did not strive for mandates in the Council
of Elders or overcoming 7% barrier, but rather, for a convincing
victory. He also claimed to be never wrong in his forecasts, ever
since 1992’s elections. When asked by PanARMENIAN.Net reporter to
comment on forecasting no more than 11% of votes and the 4th place in
presidential race for Levon Ter-Petrosyan in 2008, Adibekyan responded,
"During 2008 presidential campaign, around 13% of those questioned
were not sure as to the person to vote for. Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s
taking the second place only shows those people voted for him."

TURKEY "REMOVED THE BRACKETS" AT ISTANBUL CONFERENCE

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 19:06

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On May 26-27 Istanbul hosted a conference
on Armenian-Turkish relations on the initiative of SETA Research
Center. As conference participant, turkologist Artak Shakaryan reported
to PanARMENIAN.Net, the conference was conducted in accordance with
Chatham House principles. Conference participants were obligated to
remain silent on some issues.

"On the whole, the conference was held in good neighborly
atmosphere. As no media representatives attended the conference,
participants were free to express their thoughts and even to
"removed the brackets" in some cases," Shakaryan noted. According to
turkologist, at the conference Turkish part repeatedly emphasized the
idea that Azerbaijan and Turkey are "one nation, two states". "Turkish
participants repeatedly stated that no progress will be registered in
Armenian-Turkish relations, unless there’s any progress in NKR conflict
settlement. Armenia representatives made it clear that if Ankara keeps
setting NKR issue as a precondition, the dialogue between Armenia
and Turkey will be frustrated. This was the most critical moment in
the course of the conference," the turkologist emphasized. According
to Artak Shakaryan, the fact that SETA Center, conference organizer,
acts as a mouthpiece of Turkey, should be taken into consideration.

TIGRAN MANSOURYAN – PLEASED TO SEE THAT HIS BIRTHDAY WAS REMEMBERED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 19:06

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Outstanding Armenian composer Tigran Mansouryan,
who this year celebrates his 70th birthday, is pleased that the
occasion was remembered.

"Two years ago I asked myself a question: will my friends and
colleagues living abroad come here to celebrate my birthday? It isn’t
as if they should draw up their plans beforehand. But we appeared
to be late," Mansuryan said, adding that his teacher – great man and
composer Ghazaros Saryan, preferred to celebrate one of his birthdays
in Aram Khachaturyan’s home-museum which houses over 80 people.

A man having world-wide recognition , Manusuryan finds "dream and
demand to be very close to each other; they are very similar, but I
don’t want to make any demand."

Estimating cultural atmosphere in Armenia, the composer noted,
"We recently observed considerable efforts towards development of
classical music in the country, but we are facing a serious task:
to make classical music and high art accessible to our public in its
everyday life."

Any unfairness, be it of minor importance, hurts the composer. "Our
strength and unity are already known; our losses are already visible. I
want our society to be governed by rule of law, and everybody do what
he is required to."

MOSCOW ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO THE MEETING OF ARMENIAN AND AZERI PRESIDENTS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 19:06

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The oncoming meeting of Russian President with RA
and Azeri Leaders to be held on Thursday in St. Petersburg, testifies
to parties’ intention to proceed with negotiations on peaceful
settlement of NKR conflict, Natalya Timakova , RA President’s Press
Secretary stated.

"RA and Azeri Leaders’ arrival to St. Petersburg to participate in
a forum will allow them to once again discuss current situation. The
important thing is that the parties demonstrate their readiness to a
dialogue and acknowledge Russia’s role of intermediary in NKR issue,"
Timakova emphasized.

KAREN BEKARYAN: I’VE GOT AN IMPRESSION BAKU NOW FEELS OFFENDED BY THE WHOLE WORLD

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 19:06

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Some expectations are justified," Eurointegration
Social Organization Chairman Karen Bekaryan told a news conference.

"When speaking about the meeting between Sargsyan and Aliev, we
should ask ourselves exactly what our expectations are. If you expect
Armenian-Azerbaijani agreement or NKR conflict normalization package
to be concluded in St. Petersburg, your expectations are futile," he
stated, noting that we usually expect more than would be objectively
justified. "Objectively, we have the following: firstly, after Prague
meeting between Sargsyan and Gul, RA President stated that NKR issue
will not be discussed in Armenian-Turkish relations. Secondly, NKR
issue is a foundation stone in the normalization of Armenian-Turkish
ties."

"Negotiations should be considered progressing, only if negotiating
parties’ positions are firmly expressed, not only behind closed doors,
but to the public either.

I’m unaware as to the progress to be achieved in St. Petersburg, but
even the minimal progress will look more real than an imitation." He
also emphasized that Baku is in a very difficult situation at the
moment. "I’ve got an impression Baku now feels offended by the whole
world, especially Turkey, because of Armenian-Turkish negotiation
process. Baku does not believe in Erdogan’s statements – this is the
reason for frequent visits of Turkish representatives to Azerbaijan and
statements in support of Baku. But even this did not help quench the
hysteria, currently observed in Azerbaijan," the politologist stated.

NETHERLANDS AMBASSADOR ONNO ELDERENBOSCH ENDS HIS MISSION IN ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 19:06

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ RA Security Council Secretary Arthur Baghdasaryan
received Onno Elderenbosch, Ambassador of Kingdom of Netherlands,
who ends his mission in Armenia. Parties estimated Armenian-Dutch
relations as positive.

Arthur Baghdasaryan said he anticipated productive cooperation with
new Dutch Ambassador, runs a Security Council press release.

ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN: ARMENIAN-TURKISH TIES NORMALIZATION – IMITATION AND GAME

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009 20:31 GMT+04:00

"We must remember that Turkey is a state with its own traditions. And
any by Foreign Minister, Premier or President should not sound
surprising," Euro-integration NGO’s Chair Karen Bekaryan told today
a news conference. Commenting upon premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
statement on ethnic minorities’ dispossession being "carried out by
fascists", the expert said that it might be caused by two factors:
internal and external.

"Armenian-Turkish relations are key foreign policy factors. Erdogan
has several times announced in Baku that there’ll be no progress
in normalization process unless Karabakh conflict is settled. The
statement aims to soothe Azerbaijani side." "It will certainly
arouse Armenia’s dissatisfaction, pushing Turkey to side with our
country. Nobody Turkey to renounce its history by characterizing past
events as fascism," Bekaryan said.

In his turn, Director of Caucasus Institute Alexander Iskandaryan
characterized such conduct as imitation and game – reiteration of
double standards. "Such is Turkey’s foreign policy: to make different
statements in different places, siding either with Azerbaijan or
Armenia," he noted. "On the one hand, they realize the importance of
Armenian-Turkish ties normalization, but on the other hand, they don’t
want to lose Azerbaijan. They need both," Armenian expert announced.

"Turkey now conducts internal discussions and disputes over the
issue. Erdogan must work on domestic market, pushing ahead with
a foreign policy issue. It’s quite delicate policy," Iskandaryan
stressed.

RA PRESIDENT INITIATED THE ISSUE OF AMNESTY IN ARMENIA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009

/PanARMENIA N.Net/ Today RA President Serzh Sargsyan discussed amnesty
issues with law enforcement officials. He decreed for corresponding
institutions to offer their suggestions on conditions and legal
procedures of amnesty until June 15, 2009.

Sargsyan also assigned his administration with a task of summarizing
offers on amnesty, received from political forces and Social Council
representatives, RA President’s official website reported.

ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN: ARMENIAN SOCIETY CREATES PROBLEMS FOR ITSELF

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009

/PanARMENIAN .Net/ "I believe we’re very passive as a society and as
journalists. Just look at the number of materials published by Armenian
media. I mean not their own materials, but those published in Azeri
or Turkish media," Eurointegration Social Organization Chairman,
Karen Bekaryan told a news conference. According to him, Armenian
journalists always miss out on important factor: information streams or
"information wars" play crucial role in international relations. "We
don’t even realize that we are willingly or, perhaps, on our own
initiatives, contributing to the interests of the opposite party,"
stated Bekaryan, citing the incident when the road map agreement
was published in Sabah Turkish newspaper. "Someone reprinted the
material and the public was wondering whether the information is
reliable. Yet, we’d never undertake such a step towards Turkish
society. Still, we’re forgetting that we’re at informational and
psychological war." Alexander Iskandaryan , Caucasus Institute
Director begged to disagree, stating that the problem lies in the
state the society is in. "Armenian society is currently in a state
where it could turn any event into a problem. Afterwards, articles
start to appear in the media, saying that we’ve once again "sold"
the Krabakh. This reflects the state of society but not the state of
journalists. Journalists are just allowing themselves to be run by
the society," Armenian politologist stated.

"INLIGHT STUDIOS," MHER HARUTUNIAN’S 2 NEWLY NAMED MALL ART GALLERIES TO OPEN IN USA

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009

/PanARMENIAN.Ne t/ Mher Harutunian, an Armenian born artist who moved to
Dayton from New York City in 2000, had established a steady following
at his "Portraits by Michael" art kiosk at Cincinnati’s Eastgate
Mall over a three-year period before mall management approached him
in early 2009 to see if he wanted to expand into a full store.

Pleasantly surprised, he signed a one-year lease agreement on the
3,000 square foot former B Moss women’s clothing store.

Prompted by Eastgate’s encouraging offer, Harutunian next contacted
Dayton’s Mall at Fairfield Commons and received an equally positive
offer. He now has a 16-month lease agreement with Fairfield to occupy
a 2,000 square foot former photography store, selling his works out
of a kiosk on the first floor before the gallery opens.

"Inlight Studios," Harutunian’s newly named mall art galleries, will
feature many of the artist’s works he sells at his kiosks. Ranging from
roughly 250 black and white hand drawn celebrity portraits done in
charcoal to custom portraits of personal photos hand drawn in pastel
or charcoal, Harutunian – who now goes by Michael instead of Mher –
is grateful for the opportunity both malls have given him.

Of the two new galleries, Harutunian thinks the Eastgate store will
offer him more customers, he is even thinking about offering art
classes at his Fairfield store.

Harutunian grew up in Armenia surrounded by art. His father, uncle
and cousins were all artists, with his father’s artwork decorating
the walls in his family’s apartment. He graduated from Yerevan Art
Academy in 1987, where his father was a professor.

>From there, Harutunian did artistic design work in the former USSR
until moving to Boston in 1992, then later to Manhattan in 1996.

With his two new galleries set to open, Harutunian has come a long
way in his 10 years spent in the Dayton area. Before opening his
kiosk at Eastgate, the artist used to sketch people at night in the
Oregon District.