Author: Antonian Lara

AZERBAïDJAN ET ARMENIE S’ACCUSENT MUTUELLEMENT DE RUPTURE DU CESSEZ-LE-FEU

Agence France Presse
7 mars 2006 mardi 1:59 PM GMT

Bakou

L’Azerbaïdjan a accuse mardi l’Armenie d’avoir viole le cessez-le-feu
au Nagorny Karabakh et provoque la mort d’un soldat azerbaïdjanais,
Erevan reprochant pour sa part a l’armee azerbaïdjanaise d’avoir tue
un soldat armenien le 3 mars.

Les Armeniens ont ouvert le feu mardi a 04h45 (00h45 GMT) depuis la
region de Terter a la limite du Nagorny Karabakh (enclave separatiste
peuplee d’Armeniens en territoire azerbaïdjanais) et du reste de
l’Azerbaïdjan, tuant Parviz Cahangirov, un soldat ne en 1986, a
declare le ministère azerbaïdjanais de la Defense dans un communique.

Le ministère accuse egalement les Armeniens d’avoir blesse un soldat
qui se trouverait “dans un etat grave”.

“Cette information (…) ne correspond pas a la realite. De plus,
nous sommes fatigues des violations periodiques du cessez-le-feu de la
part de l’Azerbaïdjan”, a declare de son côte a l’AFP le responsable
de l’information de l’Armee de defense du Karabakh, Senor Astratian.

Ces derniers jours, le ministère armenien de la Defense a diffuse
des informations faisant etat de violations du cessez-le-feu.

“Le 3 mars, la partie azerbaïdjanaise a ouvert le feu en direction
de la division armee d’Idjevan (nord de l’Armenie) blessant a la tete
l’appele Arsen Zakvossian, âge de 19 ans, qui est decede a l’hôpital”,
a indique le ministère dans un communique.

Le cessez-le-feu a ete viole les 4, 5, 6 et 7 mars par l’Azerbaïdjan,
a affirme le responsable de presse du ministère, Seïran Chakhsouvarian.

Un conflit meurtrier avait eclate au debut des annees 1990 a propos
du Nagorny Karabakh, qui a proclame unilateralement son independance
en 1991. L’Azerbaïdjan veut en reprendre le contrôle.

–Boundary_(ID_kGVUUDsKHPPBH+XVkGcsbA)- –

MURDERER OF ARMENIAN OFFICER TO GET SENTENCE ON APR 13, 2006

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 8 2006

YEREVAN, March 8. /ARKA/. On April 13, 2006, the Budapest court is to
pass a sentence on the Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov, who killed
the Armenian officer Gurgen Margaryan, the lawyer Nazeni Vardanyan,
who represents the Armenian side, told the RA Public Television.

She reported that the next court sitting is scheduled for April 4,
2006. Vardanyan pointed out that the Azerbaijani side is trying to
delay the trial by submitting numerous petitions to the court.

Specifically, the Azerbaijani side petitioned for a witness to be
summoned and for another psychiatric examination to be made. The court
rejected both the petitions, the reason being that the Azerbaijani side
might have invited the witness during the whole year of court hearings.

According to the results of the latest psychiatric examination, the
murderer is criminally sane, does not suffer from any serious disease,
including mental diseases, and was not in a state of affect at the
moment of murder.

On February 19, 2006, Lieutenant of the RA Armed Forces Gurgen
Margaryan, which was attending English language courses in Budapest
under the Partnership for Peace program, was brutally killed with an
ax while asleep by the Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov. In Baku,
Ramil Safarov was declared a man of the year.

US DOES NOT CONSIDER KOSOVO POSSIBLE INDEPENDENCE PRECEDENT FOR KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.03.2006 19:06 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The US thinks that the conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh
and South Ossetia have unique characteristics and need to be dealt with
“as separate issues”, US State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said
when commenting on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s warning that
granting independence to Kosovo might set a very dangerous precedent
for settlement of conflicts in the former Soviet Union. “Our position
is that conflicts in Nagorno-Karabakh and South Ossetia have unique
characteristics that need to be dealt with on their own merits and
that’s how we view the issue,” Sean McCormack remarked.

MATTHEW BRYZA ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO DEEPENING OF DEMOCRACY IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 09 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Issues concerning
Armenian-American relations were discussed at RA NA Speaker Artur
Baghdasarian’s March 8 meeting with Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. Touching
upon the parliament’s work, Artur Baghdasarian mentioned that
after the adoption of the constitutional amendments 70 new laws and
amendments to laws are envisaged mainly in three directions – local
self-government and territorial government, court and legal systems
and Electoral Code. NA Speaker expressed gratitude to the U.S. for
the assistance rendered to Armenia attaching importance that economic
assistance is accompanied by assistance to democratic reforms. Matthew
Bryza also attached importance to deepening of democracy in Armenia
mentioning that conflicts settlement, energy security and economic
development are within this framework. A special importance was
attached to fighting corruption as ensuring of a possibility of
stable investments. Touching upon energy problems, Matthew Bryza
attached importance to development of alternative possibilities in
the respect of energy security. As Noyan Tapan was informed by NA
Public Relations Department, both of the sides attached importance
to the implementation of the Millennium Challenge program, publicity
in the course of this program’s implementation – ensuring of public
control by means of NGOs. In connection with the Nagorno Karabakh
problem Artur Baghdasarian said that the year 2006 hasn’t exhausted the
possibilities of problem’s peaceful settlement yet and there are still
opportunities of success in the negotiations process. M.Bryza also
attached importance to the problem’s settlement for the development
of the region. Within this framework they also attached importance to
normalization of relations with the neighbors to which the U.S. can
provide assistance. They also attached importance to possibilities
of development of the EU New Neighborhood program and Euroatlantic
cooperation. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans was also present
at the meeting.

ARMENIA INVITED FOR NGOS’ CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON PROJECT OF ROADS RESTORATION IN SAMTSKHE-JAVAKHK, GEORGIA

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 9 2006

YEREVAN, March 9. /ARKA/. Armenia is invited to take part in NGOs’
consultative meeting on March 14 in Tbilisi on the project of roads
restoration in Samtskhe-Javakhk, Georgia’s Armenian-populated province,
as part of Millennium Challenges American Corporation program, Caucasus
Environmental NGO Network’s press service told ARKA News Agency.

The press-release says Millennium Challenges Georgian Office’s
conditions on the project are to be discussed at the meeting.

The aim of the meeting is to present the process of the project
implementation to NGOs and people and consider possibility of public
participation in it, the press release says.

Millennium Challenges American Corporation approved five-year program
for Georgia that costs $295.3mln. Tbilisi intends to target some
$130mln for Samtskhe-Javakhk development, of which $110mln will be
spent for new highway construction.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Library & Museum of America, Inc.
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-926-2562 ext. 3
Fax: 617-926-0175
Website: <;
Contact: Mariam Stepanyan

March 3, 2006

Contact Person: Mariam Stepanyan

Phone: 617.926.2562 , ext. 3; Email: [email protected]

REFLECTIONS & EXPRESSIONS BY MEGERDITCH TARAKDJIAN

Armenian Library & Museum of America (ALMA) hosts sculptor and painter
Megerditch Tarakdjian’s exhibit “Reflections & Expressions”. After
numerous solo and group art exhibits in Canada, Tarakdjian opens his
first exhibit in New England area at ALMA’s contemporary art gallery.

Tarakdjian is originally from Syria, but has been living in Montreal,
Canada since 1982. While being a graduate of the Saryan Academy of Arts
in Aleppo, Syria, Tarakdjian started his artistic ventures relatively
later in life. Tarakdjian finds that his profession as a medical doctor
helps him to better understand and later reflect different facets of
human condition in his sculptures or painting. His oil paintings are
mostly in vibrant and unique combination of colors. The subjects in his
paintings are naïve in serene life scenes.

Tarakdjian’s bronze and fired clay figurines depict the various states
of the human condition. His treatment of the eyes of his subjects brings
to life the richness of the subject’s character in the sculptures: the
viewer can see a smile, a tear, or a deep thought in their depth. Arto
Tchakmakchian, sculptor and member of The Royal Canadian Academy of
Arts, finds Tarakdjian’s art “original in conception” and with “a unique
style of composition”.

Tarakdjian’s sculptures are on permanent display at the College des
Médecins du Québec in Montreal and the Embassy of the Republic of
Armenia in Ottawa.

The artist reception is scheduled for 4-7pm March 18 at ALMA’s
contemporary art gallery (in the heart of Watertown Square, 65 Main
Street, Watertown MA). It is open to public. The exhibit will last
through April 30. Gallery hours are Thursday 6-9pm, Friday and Sunday
1-5pm, and Saturday 10am-2pm. For more information about this and other
exhibits on display at the gallery this spring please visit
<; or call 617.926.2562.

Attached is an image of Tarakdjian’s bronze sculpture “Cuddle”.

About ALMA

Founded in 1971, ALMA’s mission is to present and preserve the culture,
history, art and contributions of the Armenian people to Americans and
Armenians alike. Since its inception, ALMA’s collection has grown to
over 22,000 books and 20,000 artifacts, making it perhaps the largest
and most diverse holding of Armenian cultural artifacts outside of
Armenia. As a repository for heirlooms, the collection now represents a
major resource not only for Armenian studies research, but as well as
for preservation and illustration of the Armenian heritage. In 1988,
ALMA acquired a 30,000 square foot facility in Watertown, MA – one of
North America’s oldest and most active Armenian communities. The
facility includes exhibition galleries, Library, administrative offices,
function hall, climate-controlled vaults and conservation lab.

ALMA is the largest ethnic museum in New England and the only
independent Armenian Museum in the Diaspora funded solely through
contributions of individual supporters. An active Board of Trustees and
volunteer base augments the museum’s staff. Museum’s active schedule of
changing exhibits includes the use of the library primarily by
researchers and interested general public seeking research materials on
Armenians. In addition, the museum sponsors lecture and presentation
program on related topics.

Hours: Friday and Sunday, from 1-5 P.M., Saturday 10AM-2PM and Thursday
evenings from 7-9 P.M. Admission: ALMA members are free/ $5 for
non-members. Children under 12 get in are free.

For more information please visit our website
<; , or call 617.926.ALMA (2562).

Directions

Driving: Take route 95 to 128 to 90 (Mass Pike East) towards Watertown.
Take exit 17- Watertown/Newton. Go North 1 mile towards Watertown
Square. As you cross the small bridge, get into the 2 left lanes. Turn
left on Main Street. Turn right on Church Street, and then turn right
into the municipal parking lot.

MBTA: Buses 71, 70/70A, 57, 52, 59, 502, 504. Please visit
<; for schedules and maps.

GROWTH IN GAS PRICE TO RAISE BUSINESS COST PRICE IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development is studying the possibilities of mitigating the
consequences of growth in price for gas supplied for Armenian
economy. Director General of the Armenian Development Agency
Vahagn Movsisian informed about this at the March 11 press
conference. According to him, the growth in price for gas supplied
to Armenia will raise the cost price of business run in Armenia.

MODERN OUT-PATIENTS’ DEPARTMENTS TO BE BUILT IN THREE RURAL COMMUNITIES OF GEGHARKUNIK MARZ BY WB FINANCING

Noyan Tapan
Mar 13 2006

GEGHARKUNIK, MARCH 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Modern typic out-patients’
departments will be built during this year in the rural communities
of Zolakar, Geghahovit and Yeranos, the marz of Gegharkunik, by the
World Bank financial resources.

Those departments will be provided with newest medical equipment and
transport means. According to data of the Health Care Department
of the Gegharkunik regional administration, 50 thousand dollars
equivalent drams were spent on building and equipment of each of
the medical departments. The construction works will start from
April. Re-training courses for the medical staff of the mentioned
communities will be organized in parallel to implementation of the
program within the framework of the “Family Doctor” program.

KARABAKH WAR PARTICIPANTS: YEREVAN SHOULD QUIT TALKS WITH BAKU

PanARMENIAN.Net
13.03.2006 23:40 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Any Armenian-Azeri dialogue is possible only if
official Baku stops anti-Armenian hysteria, recognizes Artsakh belongs
to Armenians, Artsakh war participants say. Armenian authorities should
quit the Armenian-Azeri talks over the Nagorno Karabakh settlement,
says an open letter of a group of participants of the Artsakh war. The
message authors are convinced that participation of Artsakh (Nagorno
Karabakh) in the talks is not acceptable either. “We do not trust
these talks and those, who negotiate on behalf of Armenians. Any
Armenian-Azeri dialogue is possible only if official Baku stops
anti-Armenian hysteria, recognizes Artsakh belongs to Armenians, as
well as recognizes its responsibility for violent deportation of Azeri
Armenians and unleashing a war against the autonomy,” the statement
says. The document notes that there is no actual settlement of the
Karabakh issue, as during the talks it was not possible to form any
compromise, all OSCE MG proposals contained unilateral concessions
and violated the rights of the Armenian people of Artsakh for living
in their homeland.

ARMENIAN FM MET WITH CSTO SECRETARY GENERAL

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.03.2006 19:32 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Vartan Oskanian yesterday met with Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Nikolay
Bordyuzha, reports the Armenian MFA Press Service. During the meeting
the parties discussed situation in the CSTO territory and prospects
of enhancing organization efficiency.

Besides, CSTO cooperation prospects with other organizations were
discussed. Thereupon, N. Bordyuzha presented the results of his visits
to Central Asian countries and the UN Headquarters.