Author: admin

Georgian governor vows to meet “fair” demands of ethnic Armenians

Kavkasia-Press news agency
23 Mar 05

Tbilisi, 23 March: The Georgian president’s representative in the
Samtskhe-Javakheti province, Goga Khachidze, yesterday held a meeting
with representatives of public organizations of the [predominantly
Armenian-populated] Akhalkalaki and Ninotsminda Districts and activists
of the 13 March rally staged in Akhalkalaki [in protest at the planned
closure of the Russian military base in the area]. The meeting was
also attended by MP for Akhalkalaki District, Hamlet Movsesyan,
and the head of the Akhalkalaki administration, Artur Yeremyan.

At the meeting, the local activists raised several pressing issues.
The demanded that Khachidze address the issues of reopening a passport
office (which has been relocated to Akhaltsikhe) and teaching Armenian
history in Armenian schools. They also said that locals should
be able to communicate with authorities in the Armenian language,
stressed the need for more democratic election of local government
bodies, and requested the establishment of a customs checkpoint in
[the village of] Zhdanovka near the Georgian-Armenian border. At the
moment, customs clearance of goods imported in Samtskhe-Javakheti from
Armenia can be performed only in the town of Akhaltsikhe which is 100
kilometres away from the border. In addition, the participants said
that the Akhaltsikhe-Akhalkalaki-Ninotsminda-Zhdanovka road urgently
needed repair.

Goga Khachidze vowed to resolve the issue of reopening the passport
office in Akhalkalaki by 28 March. He also promised that the Georgian
Education Ministry would approve a programme of teaching Armenian
history in Armenian schools. As regards local government issues, MP
Hamlet Movsesyan said that a new local government law to be adopted
by the parliament would be more democratic.

The president’s representative was not ready to give complete answers
to the rest of the questions. The sides agreed to recommend to the
[central] authorities to set up an expert group which would draw up
proposals aimed at resolving the current problems.

Goga Khachidze told journalists that all demands raised at the meeting
were fair and promised to do his best to resolve the problems.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Defence Ministry denies rumours of mobilization

A1+ web
23 Mar 05

Society fears that mobilization started in the republic after the
recent developments on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Even young men
under 30, who have already served in the army, are afraid to go out.

The press secretary of the Armenian defence minister, Seyran
Shakhsuvaryan, denied rumours that are going around the city about the
mobilization. He also denied that dozens had been killed in Karabakh
or on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

According to the information we possess, the last skirmish on the
border resulted in 13 Armenian casualties. Seyran Shakhsuvaryan denied
this and said that three soldiers had been killed in the Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic [NKR]. This has already been reported by the NKR
Defence Ministry.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan News Service
March 23 2005

ARMENIAN SIDE FIRES AT AZERBAIJANI POSITIONS IN AGHDAM REGION
2005-03-23 10:43

Armed forces of Armenia in occupied Shikhlar village of Aghdam
region shot Orta Qishlaq village of the same region at midnight for
4 hours on March 23. ANS Qarabaq bureau Armenian forces in occupied
Qarvand village of Aghdam fired from machine and sub-machine guns on
Azerbaijani positions in Mirashelli too. Enemy forces targeted houses
in the villages.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SFStation.com, CA
March 23 2005

Kathryn Keats and Aram Avagyan Take To The Stage
Soulful Lyricist Reclaims Her Voice

LOCATION/TIME
The Empire Plush Room
415-885-2800 940 Sutter St.
San Francisco, CA 94109

The soulful Kathryn Keats returns to the stage to reclaim her voice
and music career on March 29, 2005 at San Francisco~Rs world famous
Empire Plush Room. Performing with Ms. Keats is the Grammy award
winning Armenian composer, Aram Avagyan.

Fifteen years have passed since singer/songwriter Kathryn Keats
stepped off the stage at the height of her career to protect her
life. Today, the period she spent looking over her shoulder has
ended. Kathryn Keats is back to reclaim her voice with the upcoming
release of her CD ~SAfter The Silence~T and pursue the career that had
been put on hold, not altogether silenced.

Kathryn Keats is thrilled to perform her original music at the Empire
Plush Room after enjoying a sold out performance at The Knitting
Factory, Hollywood. Kathryn offers a crossover of music which
incorporates her vast experience in love and life.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan News Service
March 23 2005

AZERBAIJAN CHESS FEDERATION TO PREVENT SO-CALLED TOURNAMENT BY
ARMENIANS IN OCCUPIED QARABAQ
2005-03-23 12:07

Azerbaijan has appealed to World Chess Federation (FIDE) protesting
international chess tournament’s taking place by Armenia in
occupied Daqliq Qarabaq. The letter addressed to FIDE president
Cristina Ilumjanova says that Armenian attempt to hold international
chess tournament in occupied territory of Azerbaijan contradicts
international law norms. President of Azerbaijan chess federation
Aynur Sofiyeva urges to prevent the following attempt by Armenian side
to hold international tournament in occupied Daqliq Qarabaq. The
appeal reminds that Daqliq Qarabaq is historical territory of
Azerbaijan and turned out an uncontrolled zone as a result of Armenian
occupation. Last year Armenian side held such a tournament in occupied
Daqliq Qarabaq but later Azerbaijani side managed to prevent it to
be registered as international by FIDE and other organizations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PAN-ARMENIAN MUSICAL FESTIVAL ENTITLED “EGHEGAN POGH” (“PAPE”) TO BE
HELD IN ARMENIA FOR FIRST TIME IN AUTUMN

YEREVAN, MARCH 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The Pan-Armenian musical festival
entitled “Eghegan Pogh” (“Pape”) will be held in Armenia for the
first time within the framework of the festival entitled “One Nation,
One Culture” on September 25-29. According to Garnik Guyumjian, the
Head of the Department of State Programs, Cultural Cooperation and
Education and Science attached to the RA Ministry of Culture and
Youth Affairs, the ensemble of folk instruments from Armenia, the
Diaspora and the CIS countries will participate in the festival.
According to G. Guyumjian, the purpose of the festival is to
familiarize the wide public with performers and composers working in
the genre of gusan and folk song in Armenia and the Diaspora. The
festival will be held in two directions: festival and competitive.
The exhibition will be opened, as well as the conference devoted to
the problems of the development of the folk song art will be held
within the framework of the festival.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEREVAN’S MAIN PLAN ENVISAGES TO RESTORE GREENERY

AZG Armenian Daily #051, 23/03/2005

Yerevan

Romik Kosemian, head of the Ecology Department at Yerevan Municipality,
represented the municipals ecology programs for 2005 at a regular
briefing.

The more Yerevanners and the ecology organizations blame the Yerevan
Municipality for annihilating green territories of the capital
during the recent decade, the more municipal officials try to prove
the contrary.

As 2005 is announced a year of tree planting for Yerevan, the mayor’s
office decided to renovate the water supply system to have good results
first of all. Thus, 640 million AMD are envisaged to be spend on
the tree-planting program in total. On June 1, the renovation works
of the water supply system will be completed (including 31 parks,
gardens and lawns).

The local administration bodies will allocate 326 million AMD. 90
million AMD will be allocated by a separate program for the renovation
of the water supply system of Tsitsernakaberd.

On April 16, within the framework of the annual municipal weekend
activities, 30 thousand trees and bushes will be planted. Nobody
knows whether the newly renovated water supply system will manage to
water the newly planted trees or the majority of them will get dried
up just like the ones planted during the past years did.

Generally, the Municipality will have planted 117 thousand trees
and 260 thousand bushes covering 360 hectares’ area by the end of
2007. 60-80 thousand trees will be planted in the woods, according
to the agreement signed with Hayantar.

The most unbelievable correction in the plans is that they decided to
increase the current indicator of 4sq.meters of greenery to 20-22 sq.
meters. It is envisaged in the main plan of Yerevan.

A special committee is numerating the kiosks set up on the formerly
green lawns. It is envisaged to step by step remove these unauthorized
buildings.

By Karine Danielian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Several players returning to Romanian team

Sports Network
03/22 17:08:09 ET

Bucharest, Romania (Sports Network) – With Victor Piturca back as the
Romania national team coach, several old faces returned to the mix.

Roma’s Cristian Chivu, Dynamo Kyiv’s Tiberiu Ghioane and Politehnica AEK
Timisoara’s Viorel Moldovan and Cosmin Contra are all back with the squad
after extended absences. All four players will be at Piturca’s disposal
Saturday against the Netherlands.

Victor Piturca was re-appointed as Romania’s national team coach back in
December. Piturca replaced Anghel Iordanescu, who resigned on November 19
following a disappointing 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw against Armenia.

Romania, which failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup finals and EURO
2004, is second in its World Cup 2006 qualifying group. The squad has 10
points from five matches, and hosts leaders Holland on March 26. The Dutch
also have 10 points but are ahead on goal differential and have only played
four games.

GOALKEEPERS:

Bogdan Lobont (Ajax)

Marius Popa (Politehnica Timisoara)

DEFENDERS:

Cosmin Contra (Politehnica Timisoara)

Cristian Chivu (Roma)

Sorin Ghionea (Steaua Bucharest)

Adrian Iencsi (Spartak Moscow)

Petre Marin (Steaua Bucharest)

George Ogararu (Steaua Bucharest)

Mirel Radoi (Steaua Bucharest)

Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk

MIDFIELDERS:

Constantin Galca (Almeria)

Tiberiu Ghioane (Dinamo Kiev)

Nicolae Mitea (Ajax)

Dorinel Munteanu (Steaua Bucharest)

Daniel Pancu (Besiktas Istanbul)

Florentin Petre (Dinamo Bucharest)

Mihaita Plesan (Universitatea Craiova)

FORWARDS:

Gigel Bucur (Sportul Studentersc)

Andrei Cristea (Steaua Bucharest)

Adrian Ilie (FC Zurich)

Viorel Moldovan (Politehnica Timisoara)

Daniel Oprita (Steaua Bucharest)

03/22 17:08:09 ET

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EDUARD ROSSEL SUGGESTED FOUNDING ARMENIAN TRADE CENTER IN SVERDLOVSK REGION

PanArmenian News
March 22 2005

22.03.2005 07:11

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian has met
with Sverdlovsk Russian region Governor Eduard Rossel, the Press
Service of the Armenian Government reported. In the course of the
meeting Margarian noted that active cooperation between Armenia and
25 administrative subjects of Russia was established recently,
agreements between the Governments of Armenia and Moscow, Leningrad,
Saratov, Astrakhan, Kirov regions and the Krasnodar territory are
signed. In his words, the commodity turnover between Armenia and
Russia grows constantly, also due to cooperation with the
administrative subjects. Eduard Rossel acquainted with the social and
economic situation in the Sverdlovsk region and development
prospects, noting that the region is the first one in Russia to
implement a long-term development program, one of its main components
being stimulation of cooperation with neighbor countries, including
Armenia and its regions. He suggested Armenia founding a trade center
in Sverdlovsk region, organizing an exhibition of the Armenian
production, creating joint ventures, as well as invited the Armenian
party to participate in an annual international economic forum.
Having accepted the Governor~Rs proposals, Mr. Margarian noted that
after the signing of the agreement it will be possible to use the
potential of the Commercial and Industrial Chambers of Armenia and
Russia, the Association of the Russian-Armenian Business Cooperation.
The interlocutors also noted that the Vladimir Putin~Rs coming visit
to Armenia and the official opening of the Year of Russia in Armenia
will be a new stimulus for further strengthening the Armenian-Russian
relations. At the completion of the meeting the parties signed a
Protocol on the outcomes of the visit of the Sverdlovsk delegation to
Yerevan, which notes the main directions of the commercial and
economic, industrial and humanitarian cooperation, as well as
emphasizes the need for signing an inter-governmental agreement for
the realization of the cooperation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SCHOLAR OF “GENOCIDE” CLAIMS MEETS WITH BAYKAL

Turkish Press
March 22 2005

Justin McCarthy from Louisville University, an expert on the Armenian
“genocide” claims, yesterday met with opposition Republican People’s
Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc.
Baykal stressed the importance of rectifying a “great deception” on
this issue, adding, “We want to make sure the debate will move away
from a political framework to a scholarly one based on historical
documents.” Arinc also said that Turkey is ready to make available
every document in its possession on Armenians and that it has never
committed a genocide. McCarthy added, “There was a war in eastern
Anatolia during World War I, not a genocide campaign against the
Armenians in the region.” Stressing that the Armenian accusations
of genocide were illogical, McCarthy said Turkey was one of the most
important countries in the world and a model country in its region.
He also emphasized that resolutions taken by several countries’
parliaments concerning the Armenian genocide claims were politically
motivated. /Hurriyet/

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress