Author: Badalian Vardan

PRESSURE ON THE COURT

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 08, 2008
Armenia

The hearing on the criminal case regarding the breaches during the
presidential elections was underway in Gyumry yesterday.

Petros Makeyan’s, Ashot Zakaryan’s and Shota Saghatelyan’s supporters
and relatives expressed desire to participate in the hearing. These
people were not only from Gyumry but also from Yerevan.

The court hearing, presided by Vahe Khachatryan was to be held in the
hall envisaged for 70 people and there was no space for most of their
relatives and supporters. They demanded a larger hall. The people
gathered in the entrance broke the windows. The hearing started late
and one of the policemen even lost consciousness.

So the strategy to turn the court hearing into a rally is underway.

ARMENPRESS

ARMENIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER EXPRESSES HOPE THAT
TURKEY NOT TO RETURN TO ITS PREVIOUS STYLE

YEREVAN, MAY 8, ARMENPRESS: `In general, previously
there was an impression that the impulses received
from the Turkish side before April 24 included
positive elements connected with the regulation of the
Armenian-Turkish relations then those received after
April 24,’ Armenian deputy foreign minister Arman
Kirakosian said, commenting with the request of
Armenpress, on the statement of the Turkish ambassador
to Azerbaijan in which the latter said that Turkey
connects the regulation of relations with Armenia with
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict regulation and Armenia’s
refusal of efforts of international recognition of the
Armenian genocide.
`If the information about the statement of the
Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan corresponds to
reality, we may only express hope that it is not the
continuation of previously noted tendency and is not
return to the previous style,’ A. Kirakosian said.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Azerbaijan doesn’t allow Armenians in the country
07.05.2008 15:19 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian community forms a
powerful constituent of consortiums in the South
Caucasus, with exception of Azerbaijan, Anton
Krevenyuk writes in `Genocide in action: Armenians are
banned in Azerbaijan’ article posted on the website of
the Center for Political Freedom.

`The Armenian community of soviet Azerbaijan abandoned
the country. Today, there is a rule in Azerbaijan –
not to allow entry of Armenians. A person, whose
surname ends in `yan’, will never be sold a ticket to
Baku. There are tough restrictions on all of Armenian
origin in Baku. Websites in .am domain do not open.
Use of the Armenian language in any form is
inadmissible,’ the article says.

It continues: `To be honest, I should mention that the
things are quite different in Armenia. Here, Azeris
are met with cautiousness but they have the
possibility of free movement accompanied by security
officers. But Azeris do not go to Armenia. The
Azerbaijani society eyes a trip to Armenia as a
criminal offence.’

DOCUMENTARY SHOT ABOUT SAHAKIAN CHORUS OF CONSTANTINOPLE

ISTANBUL, MAY 5, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Turk producer Feza
Senar has shot a documentary film about the Sahakian chorus due to the
financial means provided by the Ministry of Culture of Turkey. The
film, which tells about the 305 years old chorus performing Armenian
church psalms, folk songs, as well as western classic songs, will be
presented in the Turkish and international film festivals in the near
future.

The documentary film presents the daily routine of the members of the
chorus, which includes 100 young people and 170 children aged 5-16 and
youths, and the rehearsals of the chorus.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Tigran Balayan: Armenian-Iranian relations not
targeted at third states
06.05.2008 16:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia eyes Iran as a friendly
state with a historically formed Armenian community,
said the Spokesman for the RA Foreign Ministry.

`The Armenian-Iranian relations are not targeted at
any other state. We enjoy bilateral cooperation, what
is natural for neighbors. Armenia is willing to
establish diplomatic relations with all neighbor
countries,’ Tigran Balayan said when commenting on in
the U.S. concerns over development of the
Armenian-Iranian relations expressed in the Country
Reports on Terrorism 2007.

Touching on the other items of the report, Mr Balayan
said that the criticism arouses concerns.

`As to struggle against corruption, it’s one of the
aspects of Serzh Sargsyan’s election program. Armenia
has joined a number of international documents and
will continue its efforts in the field,’ he said, RA
MFA press office reported.

AFFMA – 2008 Arpa International Film Festival
2919 Maxwell St.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Contact: Sylvia Minassian
Phone/Fax (323) 663-1882
Email: [email protected]

ARPA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: OCTOBER 24-26 IN LOS ANGELES
-Festival Organizers Announce Call-for-Films

The 11th Annual Arpa International Film Festival will be held October
24-26 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

Arpa International Film Festival’s mission is to cultivate cultural
understanding and global empathy by creating a dynamic forum for
international cinema. Arpa presents the works of local and
international filmmakers who explore such issues as diaspora, war,
genocide, dual-identity, exile, and multiculturalism – issues that are
extremely relevant to the community of Los Angeles Armenians that
founded the festival and to the global community. Through film
screenings, panel discussions, and networking events, the festival
strives to bridge the cultural divide by fostering dialogue among
people of diverse ethnicities and lifestyles.

The festival is presently seeking entries from filmmakers. Submissions
can be made in the following categories: Feature Film, Short Film,
Documentary, Animation, and Music Video. Entries must be received no
later than July 1, 2008. Rules and entry form are available online
at: and For more information,
please call (323) 663-1882.

The festival concludes with an awards banquet attended by filmmakers
and celebrities. Past festival and awards banquet attendees include
Academy Award-nominated director Atom Egoyan and his wife, actress
Arsinée Khanjian; singer/songwriters Serj Tankian and Alanis
Morissette; `Raging Bull’ screenwriter Mardik Martin; producers Arthur
Sarkissian, Robert Papazian, Don Roos, and Jim Hirsch; actors Ken
Davitian, Tippi Hedren, Vivica A. Fox, Cheech Marin, Dean Cain,
Shohreh Aghdashloo, Tony Shaloub, Frances Fischer, Alison Janney, Adam
Goldberg, Michael Goorjian and Marco Khan.

Festival director Alex Kalognomos says, `After last year’s 10th
anniversary celebration ` with Mardik Martin, Ken Davitian, Shohreh
Aghdashloo, and Carla Garapedian in attendance ` Arpa’s planning
committee wanted our 11th year to be about reinvention and the
perfection of our mission. So this year, we’ve redefined our goals as
an international resource for filmmakers wanting to present their
films in Los Angeles; and, we’ve fostered stronger bonds with Los
Angeles-based filmmakers to help them surge to the next level in their
careers. 2008 is about moving forward with clear goals ` and being
victorious. We have every major genre of film represented in our
competitions, including music videos and animation. We envision a
year that will see major Hollywood veterans working in our festival to
support and mentor our emerging writers, directors, producers, and
actors.’

The film festival is produced annually by the Arpa Foundation for
Film, Music and Art (AFFMA), a non-profit, tax-exempt art organization
founded in 1995 by patron Mrs. Sylvia Minassian. AFFMA promotes the
arts and enhances the cultural environment of Los Angeles by providing
networking opportunities for filmmakers, musicians and artists. For
more information about becoming an AFFMA member, volunteer, or
filmmaker please visit or call 323-663-1882.

Levon Ter-Petrossyan is sure that new demonstrations will be held in
Yerevan soon

2008-05-02 17:43:00

ArmInfo. I am sure that new demsnstrations will be held in Yerevan very
soon and thousands of people will take part in them, the first
president of Armenia, the leader of the opposition Levon Ter-Petrossyan
said during the 2nd congress of his supporters today.

During these actions Ter-Petrossyan will inform the opposition of their
further steps. For the moment the priority task of the national
movement is to liberate all political prisoners. Otherwise no dialogue
with the authorities is possible. "By keeping those people hostage the
regime hopes for a ransom and submission on our part, but we, the
people, will struggle until the last political prisoner is set free,"
Ter-Petrossyan said.

He said that unlike the authorities the opposition would act in
compliance with the law. "The people who tasted victory on Feb 19 will
not retreat and will continue to fight for its rights till the end,"
Ter-Petrossyan said.

"IN ARMENIA WORKERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TREATED WITH PARTICULAR RESPECT": ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERGE SARGSIAN’S MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATION ON OCCASION OF LABOR DAY

Noyan Tapan
May 1, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian president Serge Sargsian
addressed the citizens of the country with a message of congratulation
on the occasion of Labor Day. The message reads:

"Dear compatriots,

I congratulate you on Labor Day.

May 1st is traditionally celebrated as the holiday of workers. In
Armenia workers have always been treated with particular respect. May
1st is the holiday of those who by their hard day-to-day work
contribute to the country’s progress by developing the Armenian
economy.

We are aware that today the workers of our country have serious
expectations from the new authorities in such issues as job creation,
the improvement of the labor market, the legal regulation of labor
relations, and a rise in salaries. All these problems are in the
center of our attention and will be solved.

Congratulating you on May 1st, I wish you peaceful and creative work
for the welfare of your families and our country".

SENATOR OBAMA PLEDGES CONTINUED EFFORTS TO PRESS TURKEY TO ACKNOWLEDGE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
April 30 2008

YEREVAN, 30.04.08. DE FACTO. Democratic Presidential Candidate
Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) pledged to continue his efforts to press
Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, in a strongly worded
statement submitted on April 28 to the Congressional Record marking
the 93rd Anniversary of this crime against humanity, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The statement by the Senator, who has been endorsed in the Democratic
primaries by the ANCA, was one of 30 remarks by Senators and
Representatives including those by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
(D-NV), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden (D-DE),
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and DCCC Chairman Chris Van
Hollen (D-MD). Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) offered remarks at the
April 23rd Armenian Genocide observance on Capitol Hill.

"Armenian Americans value Senator Obama’s consistent and principled
leadership in pressuring Turkey to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide
and to end its shameful campaign to deny this crime against humanity,"
said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "He remains clearly the
best positioned to bring about real change, real action, and real
hope for an end to the cycle of genocide."

In a statement issued to the Armenian American community on January
19, 2008, Sen. Obama noted, "America deserves a leader who speaks
truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to
all genocides. I intend to be that President."

ARMENIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY BETTER PRESENTED IN ITALIAN MARKET THAN THOSE OF GEORGIA AND AZERBAIJAN

Noyan Tapan
April 29, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 29, NOYAN TAPAN. With the aim of developing Armenia’s
tourism sector, the USAID-financed Competitive Armenian Private Sector
(CAPS) Program assists both with participation of tour operators
in exhiitions and with encouragement other directions of marketing,
and the results of this approach are quite notable in terms of target
markets of France, Italy, the UK, Russia and the Diaspora, the CAPS
chief expert Alan Saffery said during a talk with NT correspondent.

According to him, the steps taken in Italian market in 2007, in
particular, participation in three exhibitions held in Italy are a good
example of progress made by combination of Armenian tour operators’
participation in exhibitions and other marketing activity.

The program’s travel marketing and communication advisor Nadia Pasqual
said that the Armenian Tourism Development Agency (ATDA) and Armenian
tour operators have taken part in international tourism exhibitions in
Milan for 5 years but no significant results were registerted before
2007. The reason is that after the exhibitions, the Armenian tour
operators did not carry out proper work on establishment of business
links, issue of press releases, and other marketing activity. As a
result, only a few Italian tour agents and journalists on tourism had
information about Armenia. N. Pasqual pointed out that it is already
expedient to create an Armenian representative office on tourism in
Italian market.

A. Saffery said that the CAPS is also taking steps to present Armenia
as a tourism place in the Internet. According to him, there is little
video information on Armenia in famous tourism portals, altough it is
first of all essential to provide information in the form of texts
and images. In his opinion, Armenian government spends little money
on tourism marketing: in 2005, 14 eurocents was spent per capita in
Armenia for this purpose, whereas the same index in Slovenia made
4.2 euros.

Nevertheless, according to N. Pasqual, Armenian tourism industry
is better presented in Italian market than those of Georgia and
Azerbaijan, and Italian tour agents have not established such links
with these countries as they have with Armenian tour operators and
state structures of the tourism sector.

Coordinator of the CAPS tourism cluster Armine Israelian said that
Armenian tour operators’ expenses on marketing are gradually growing.