Month: July 2009

IN DAVIT SHAHNAZARIAN’S WORDS, KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT AT PRESENT THRUSTED UPON US BY STRONGEST OF WORLDS

Noyan Tapan
July 30, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The Karabakh conflict settlement at
present reminds of the Dayton process, that is, the settlement is
thrusted upon us by strongest of the world. Representative of the
Armenian National Congress (ANC) Davit Shahnazarian expressed such
an opinion at the July 30 press conference. In his words, among the
U.S., Russia and France there is an agreement on the Karabakh issue:
to reach serious movements if not a final solution. "In my opinion,
they already prepare the great agreement in Krakow," D. Shahnazarian
mentioned. According to his prevision, four factors can prevent from
signing of that agreement: if there is power shift in Armenia through
special elections, if Russia changes its positions for some reasons,
if Azerbaijan does not satisfy itself with what it gets, or if a
force major situation is created in the world and region.

Touching upon the Madrid document, D. Shahnazarian mentioned that
there is no formulation in it about the Karabakh status. Instead, in
his words, it is mentioned that the territories got liberty must be
controlled by the armed forces of Azerbaijan. The ANC representative
added that he does not share OSCE Minsk Group American Co-Chairman
Matthew Bryza’s opinion that a referendum and will is, in essence,
the same. As D. Shahnazarian explained, a will can not have legal
consequances.

He also stated that though there are different approaches on the
Karabakh problem at the ANC, everybody is of the same opinion in
one issue: the problem must be settled based on the principle of the
nations’ self-determination. But, first of all, in D. Shahnazarian’s
words, the radical opposition, in the face of the ANC, must first of
all reach power shift.

SERZH SARGSYAN TO LEAVE FOR BISHKEK ON WORKING VISIT ON JULY 31

Noyan Tapan
July 30, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Serzh Sargsyan is
leaving for Bishkek on a working visit on July 31 to take part
in the unofficial summit of the heads of the Collective Security
Treaty Orgaization’s member countries. The RA Presiden’s Press Office
reported this.

HIS HOLINESS CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF SERBIA

Noyan Tapan
July 30, 2009

ETCHMIADZIN, JULY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Karekin II Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians received on July 29 President of Serbia
Boris Tadic who is on an official visit in Armenia. The President of
Serbia was accompanied by RA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information Services of the Mother
See of Holy Etchmiadzin, at the meeting His Holiness Patriarch touched
upon the brotherly warm ties created between the states and peoples
and expressed a hope that after this visit they will more develop and
strengthen, in the interests of the Armenian and Serbian peoples’
prosperity. Mentioning that the Armenian Apostolic Church has warm
brotherly relations and ties with the Orthodox Church of Serbia, His
Holiness emphasized the two churches’ cooperation in the interchurch
relations.

B. Tadic expressed his admiration towards the Armenian culture and
Christian values. Speaking about the important role of the Serbian
Orthodox Church in the life of his country, he expressed a hope that in
parallel to the two coutries’ relations’ becoming close, the relations
between the two churches will also develop and more strengthen.

FIRST DAY OF BEITEDIN FESTIVAL IS GUY MANOUKIAN’S, HE WILL PERFORM WITH ARMENIAN PHILHARMONY ORCHESTRA

Noyan Tapan
July 30, 2009

BEIRUT, JULY 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Assouman album
of Lebanese Armenian famous composer of songs, pianist Guy Manoukian
which was released on June 15 is the first in Lebanon since the day
of its release and during a month it has already managed to get a
golden color in the whole Middle East. According to Radio Liberty, it
is Guy Manoukian’s new, 6th album. It will be officially presented in
Europe on August 3 and will be sold under the title Vibes (Tremolos).

"My new album is called Assouman, it is a Persian word and means
"clear sky". I have been working at it for two years, it is my best
work ever, half of the album is my typical style, that is, the East
meets West with a modern twist, the other half of the album is more
international. My music is not pure Arabic, it is an unique mixture,
new sounds, there are Persian and Arabic, Chaldean and Assyrian
sounds," Guy Manoukian said at the Asia Uncat TV show.

The Armenian composer calls his music Lebanese and explains how that
unique and new sound appeared: "I was born and grew up in Lebanon
and when you live in Lebanon you deal with music and culture of
different nations from all sides. I have studied classical music
since my childhood, I have also listened to French songs, as it is a
French-speaking country, then I have also listened to English songs on
radio… Growing up in Lebanon made me what I am now in music. That is
why I call my music Lebanese which is a mixture of Eastern and Western
music and it is more than a simple mixture, it is something new."

Like his music includes numerous elements of different cultures, Guy
Manoukian himself also has numerous talents: he is a composer, pianist
and also a basketball-player and a lawyer with higher education.

However, he owned up at the interview with Asia Uncat that he considers
music to be a way of living: "Playing basketball, law and music create
my musical career… In basketball you learn to play in a team, you
learn to trust people. Now I have my group and I work with them in
the same way as a trainer with a basketball team, and it helps me a
lot. And when you study law you begin to separate the true from the
wrong and you become a more practical person. I am an artist but I am
not among the artists who are isolated from life and I think that all
these things complement each other and promote my music in some way."

A week after presenting his new album in Europe, on August 9, Guy
Manoukian will take part in the greatest Beitedin festival of the
Middle East held in Lebanon which was launched on July 2 this year and
consolidates such famous names as Charles Aznavour and film director
Emir Kusturica with his No Smoking unique band.

One day of the festival, August 9 is Guy Manoukian’s. He will perform
with Armenian Philharmony Orchestra.

"In my career as a musician of the Middle East it is one of the
greatest achievements that a musician can have. I will perform to
the accompaniment of Yerevan Philharmony Orchestra and Mario Reyes
from the Gypsy Kings group and it is really very inspiring for me,"
Guy Manoukian said at the Asia Uncat TV show.

"WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE BIRTHPLACE GEORGIA AND HOMELAND ARMENIA", HEAD OF ARMENIAN THEATER OF TBILISI SAYS

Noyan Tapan
July 30, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The tours of Tbilisi’s
Petros Adamian State Armenian Dramatic Theater in Yerevan will end
on July 31. This time the actors of this theater performed Ashkharums
Imn Dun Is work by the motives of Sayat-Nova’s works, G. Sundukian’s
Khatabala, H. Paronian’s Paghtasar Akhpar, G. Khanjian’s The Guards
of the Ruins and R. Kuni’s Escape from Your Wife performances.

"We are happy to have birthplace Georgia and homeland Armenia," art
director of the theater Armen Bayandurian stated at a conference on
July 29. He noted that Armenian and Georgian Ministries of Culture
cooperated in organizing the tours, and RA Ministry of Diaspora also
assisted them. According to A. Bayandurian, a new stage has begun in
the life of the 153 years old theater, a new generation has come to
the theater, who also brought a young spectator with them.

Touching upon the problems of the theater, the art director noted
that it would be very good if the actors of the theatre were awarded
honorary titles of the Republic of Armenia, as currently Georgia does
not have those titles and the Armenian theater of Tbilisi serves for
the preservation of Armenian literature and language. By the way,
under USSR many famous actors of Tbilisi’s Armenian Theater were
awarded the title of RA People’s or Merited Artist.

Director of the theater Felix Khachatrian touched upon another problem.

According to him, today the building of the theater is in bad
conditions and needs to be repaired.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIRST CONCERT OF OPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL TO BE OF VARIOUS GENRES

Noyan Tapan
July 30, 2009

YEREVAN, JULY 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The Open Music Festival will be
launched on July 30 with the performance of the Vahagn ensemble of
drums. Reporting this in July 29 press conference the organizer of the
festival, the art director and principal conductor of the National
Chamber Orchestra of Armenia Aram Gharabekian noted that the first
concert, like the whole festival, will be of various genres. On July
30, mezzo soprano Anna Mayilian with the works of Komitas, kanon player
Narek Kazazian with Khachatur Avetisian’s Perpetuum Mobile will also
perform at the concert and the Chamber Orchestra will perform works
by Aram Khachatrian, Wolfgang Mozart, Joseph Haydn and other famous
composers.

Touching upon the affordability of the prices for concerts tickets
he noted that the scales of the festival and the participation of
numerous musicians from abroad need proper expenses because of which
the entrance of the concerts could not be free. However, according
to A. Gharabekian, taking into account the high standards and the
wonderful quality of sound in the concerts it can be mentioned that
the tickets are not so expensive.

At the end of the conference A. Gharabekian accompanied the reporters
to the open-air hall of the Moscow Cinema where all the necessary
equipment has been already installed to begin the series of the
concerts.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN CB FORECASTS 15%-16% DECLINE IN REAL PRIVATE EXPENSES IN 2009

ArmInfo
2009-07-30 19:34:00

ArmInfo. The Central Bank of Armenia forecasts 15%-16% decline in
real private expenses in 2009, says the monetary credit policy of
the Central Bank of Armenia.

Private investments will drop by 35%-38% due to decline in capital
inflows and population’s incomes.

Private consumption will drop by 4%-6%. In June-Dec 2009 private
expenses will be 8%-9% lower than potential level. This will result in
2.%4-2.7% inflation pressure. In Jan-June 2010 the decline in private
expense will slow down due to the government’s anti-crisis programs.

IN JULY-DEC 2009 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN ARMENIA WILL GROW BY 1.6%

ArmInfo
2009-07-30 17:28:00

ArmInfo. In July-Dec 2009 the unemployment rate in Armenia will grow by
1.6%, says the monetary credit policy of the Central bank of Armenia
for Q3 2009.

The average salary will drop by 1.5% due to declining wages in the
private sector. The efficiency of labor will decline by 12%. This
may result in certain inflation pressure. The spending per worker
will grow. In Jan-June 2010 the situation on the labor market will
be improved by the government’s anti-crisis projects.

ARMENIAN PM MEETS WITH IFC VICE PRESIDENT

ArmInfo
2009-07-30 19:06:00

ArmInfo. Today Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan met with
Vice President of International Finance Cooperation Jyrki Koskelo.

The press service of the Government of Armenia repors that Sargsyan
expressedg conviction of the success of IFC’s programs in Armenia. IFC
is planning to finance development of mortgage crediting market
and suggests cooperation in real sectors: water power engineering
and renewable energy, financial sector. To date, the Corporation
has successfully implemented projects in mining, health care and
information technologies. Sargsyan pointed out the importance of
IFC’s experience and expressed hope for stable mutually beneficial
cooperation.

GERMANY TO GRANT ARMENIA 4MLN EUR FOR CREATION OF A BIO-SPHERE RESERVE ON THE BASIS OF SHIKAHOGH PRESERVE

ArmInfo
2009-07-30 18:33:00

ArmInfo. Germany will grant Armenia 4mln EUR for creation of a
bio-sphere reserve on the basis of Shikahogh preserve, says the head
of the Armenian Office of KfW bank Karapet Gevorgyan.

Additional 1mln EUR will be granted for research, development of
programs in the field of environment protection and organization of
regional conferences.

This may seem a small sum but this is the biggest money ever provided
for an ecological project. The grant will be provided in the coming
months.

The Armenian-German inter-governmental financial cooperation was
started in 1995.