Author: Badalian Vardan

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Feb 15 2007

GLOBAL CONGRESS OF ARMENIAN TECHNOLOGIES TO KICK OFF JULY 4-7 IN SAN
FRANCISCO

YEREVAN, February 15. /ARKA/. The global congress of Armenian
technologies (Armenian Technologies Congress – ArmTech 2007) will
first be held in San-Francisco on July 4-7, reported Tony Moroyan,
Viasphere International Inc. Executive, ArmTechCongress President.
"This is the first Congress and an exhibit in the IT sector. They are
intended for professionals, interested in integrating the global
Armenian community in the developing technological sphere," Moroyan
said.
According to him, the Congress is aimed at encouraging professional
contacts and establishing mutually beneficial relations among
representatives of the active business.
"An Armenian activity at such a level is to be held in the Silicon
Valley for the first time. Participating in it will be
representatives of all segments of high and information technologies,
not only the currently active but also new spheres that are currently
under development, as well as projects that have not yet been
implemented," reported Moroyan.
According to him, there will be participants also from Europe,
Brazil, Canada and other countries.
"We anticipate success in this undertaking, and already plan to
regularly hold this activity once in two years," said Moroyan.
In his turn, Director General of Viasphere Technopark, one of the
congress organizers Aram Vardanyan pointed out that according to the
existing plans, 50 companies will participate in the Congress.
Armenia used to have good traditions in the IT sector. It is
necessary to Armenia to restore its rating in this sector, and this
congress will contribute to it. R.O. -0–

MELANCOLIE MUSICALE DE L’ARMENIE
Patrick Labesse

Le Monde, France
14 fevrier 2007 mercredi

Musique Un Concert Au Theatre Des Abbesses;

AVANT une serie de " concerts d’adieu ", prevus en octobre et novembre
au Palais des congrès, a Paris, Charles Aznavour presentera, samedi 17
fevrier, au Palais Garnier, une soiree de gala au profit de l’operation
" Jeunes ambassadeurs pour l’Armenie " (accueil en France de plusieurs
centaines d’enfants d’Armenie apprenant le francais).

Prolongement du concert donne par le chanteur a Erevan le 30 septembre
2006, qui marquait l’inauguration de l’Annee de l’Armenie en France
(jusqu’au 14 juillet 2007, plus de 500 evenements), ce concert sera
l’un des moments forts de cette saison.

Samedi 10 fevrier, l’Armenie s’exprimait au Theâtre des Abbesses,
a Paris. Après quelques pièces en solo interpretees par le joueur de
kamantche (vielle a pique) Gaguik Mouradian, formidable ciseleur de
cordes, la sonorite douce et plaintive du doudouk de Levon Minassian,
hautbois a neuf trous taille dans l’abricotier, tisse le fil conducteur
du repertoire. Levon Minassian a grandi a Marseille, mais il porte
la terre de ses aïeux en lui et dans cet instrument dont il joue
depuis l’âge de 16 ans. Laureat du " Trophee des maîtres ", reunion
des grands interprètes, revelatrice de nouveaux talents du doudouk
ayant lieu tous les dix ans a Gumri, deuxième ville de l’Armenie,
il a enregistre deux albums (label Long Distance), en collaboration
avec Peter Gabriel, Aznavour, Sting, I Muvrini, participe a plusieurs
musiques de films avec le compositeur Armand Amar.

Autour de lui, deux autres joueurs de doudouk, venus d’Armenie, Amen
Ghazarian et Arthur Ghasabian, charge de faire le bourdon (note tenue,
le dam) sous la melodie. A deux (dans la tradition, le soliste est
accompagne du bourdon) ou a trois, les musiciens deroulent de lentes
musiques tristes, poignantes et infiniment sensuelles.

Rejoints sur certaines pièces par deux talents sûrs du chant armenien,
Roselyne Minassian et le puissant Hamlet Gevorgian, connu comme le plus
renomme specialiste du chant traditionnel a Erevan, les doudoukistes
dictent la loi de la melancolie austère et belle impregnant la musique
de l’Armenie, des melodies qui semblent porter en elles la memoire,
l’histoire douloureuse du pays.

–Boundary_(ID_TgOcaVPNbXeOnotsbYxyMQ)–

PRODUCER READY TO TAKE THE LAW CASE TO THE END

Panorama.am
19:38 12/02/2007

Armen Mazmanyan, an actor and producer, assured he is going to take the
law case with Tigran Karapetyan to its end. "I just made assessment. I
think these assessments were very mild in order to insult the real
face of that person," he told a press conference.

Earlier Tigran Karapetyan, chairman of People’s Party, opened a
lawsuit against Mazmanyan for insulting him. The prosecutor’s office
has opened a criminal case, which is now in the court.

Mazmanyan says he does not know any civilized way of fight against
Tigran Karapetyan. He just wants to beat him in the street. He says
the court may find him guilty for saying that Tigran Karapetyan is
"illiterate" even when he makes 30 mistakes in one sentence.

NUMBER OF TRANSIT FLIGHTS THROUGH AIR SPACE OF ARMENIA GROWS BY 300% SINCE 1996

Noyan Tapan
Feb 12 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The number of transit flights
through the air space of Armenia has grown by 300% since 1996. 70-80
flights are made through Armenia’s air space daily. Deputy Director
of ArmTeronavigatsia Eduard Piloyan told reporters that airlines pay
40-55 euros for each 100 km of a transit flight. Armenia’s transit
air space makes 297 km. According to Sahak Hakobian, Head of the
Legal Unit of the RA Civil Aviation Main Department, this year it
is planned to complete preparatory work related to Armenia’s joining
JAA. Armenia has been a candidate for JAA membeship since 2004. The
main goal of JAA is to ensure the unity of aviation and flight safety
standards throughout Europe.

ARMENIAN JUSTICE MINISTER DAVID HARUTYUNYAN FILES APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO REPUBLICAN PARTY OF ARMENIA

Yerevan, February 9. ArmInfo. Yesterday, Armenian Justice Minister
David Harutyunyan filed an application for admission to the Republican
Party of Armenia, the press-service of the Armenian Ministry of
Justice told ArmInfo, Friday.

According to the source, D.Harutyunyan will participate in the May
12 parliamentary elections on RPA’s proportional ticket. To note,
the tickets of the parties intending to take part in the elections to
the National Assembly are to be officially submitted to the Central
Electoral Commission before 6 PM, March 3. The local press had earlier
reported that the Justice Minister would run for Parliament on the
proportional ticket of the Prosperous Armenia Party.

ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN DOES NOT REGRET

A1+
[06:47 pm] 07 February, 2007

Leader of Orinats Yerkir Party Arthur Baghdasaryan assured that
while being in the coalition they have not privatized any part of
land. "The OYP has never tried to steal anything from the people. We
still think that many people have assimilated territories under the
cover of privatizations".

Arthur Baghdasaryan does not apply to court as such cases are
numerous. Besides, "We know that the court system is not independent
in Armenia. This is another serious reason why we prefer to act
publicly". "We have declared political peace and non-political
war, political competition and non-political hatred", said Arthur
Baghdasaryan.

Asked what they will do if the events of April 12 repeat themselves,
the former NA Speaker got angry, "The NA Speaker is not the guard of
the building.

There is a special service which provides the security of the
building. I was the only official who publicly criticized the actions
of the government".

By the way, Arthur Baghdasaryan mentioned that they do not regret
for anything they did. He claimed that they have been firm in their
political principles. "We have had serious disagreements, but we
have stood our ground firm. There have been good things, and bad
things too".

HRANT KHACHATRIAN AGAIN FAILS TO ENTER CLU OFFICE

Noyan Tapan
Feb 08 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 8, NOYAN TAPAN. On February 8, at 12:00, founder of
Constitutional Law Union (CLU) party, RA MP Hrant Khachatrian visited
CLU office, accompanied by employees of Department of Obligatory
Execution of Legal Acts.

As the door opened, a brawl started between him and Hayk Babukhanian,
which was qualified by H. Khachatrian several hours later in his
interview to journalists as a "light incident" and by H. Babukhanian
as "an attempt upon his life." Immediately after the incident
H. Babukhanian, as he told, went to police and presented the incident
as an attack "upon free press and opposition party." He introduced
some documents to the employees of the Department of Obligatory
Execution of Legal Acts, according to which CLU obeying the court
decision invalidated the results of its 18th conference and hold a
new conference where new party leadership was elected in quite legal
way. After H. Babukhanian’s explanations employees of the Department
of Obligatory Execution of Legal Acts, then H. Khachatrian and his
supporters went away. "This is our property, our party," H. Babukhanian
said. He stated that they will not permit H. Khachatrian to enter
the party office territory. "Though juridically H.

Khachatrian is a CLU member, nevertheless his entrance is prohibited
due to a number of acts done by him," H. Babukhanian said.

ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO OSCE PROPOSED TO ELABORATE RESOLUTION ON KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
07.02.2007 17:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian delegation is not concerned over
the possibility of raising the Nagorno Karabakh problem at OSCE PA
session by the Azeri side, RA NA vice-speaker, head of the Armenian
delegation to the OSCE PA Vahan Hovhannissian told reporters today.

"Azerbaijan will raise the issue again and we will respond. Nothing
will change," he said.

"We have got a report and the Armenian side proposed to elaborate a
resolution on its basis,’ he added.

According to the vice-speaker, in order to avoid a one-sided resolution
the Armenian side offered OSCE PA President Goran Lennmarker to form
an independent working group that will include a representative of
Armenia and Azerbaijan as well as representatives of the European OSCE
member states. "We will invite experts from Karabakh, of course," he
underscored adding that the proposal is under discussion at present,
reports newsarmenia.ru.

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Coordinator of Information Services
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

February 7, 2007
___________________

DECADE OF SERVICE BY FR. ODABASHIANHONORED

By Florence Avakian

Through his dedicated ministry, Fr. Simeon Odabashian has always been an
inspiration to people of all ages interested in serving the Armenian Church,
a role model of a young man who humbly dedicates his life to his faith and
community.

Over the past three years, he has shared his quiet yet strong passion with
the parishioners of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church of Providence, RI,
where he serves as its pastor. Therefore, it took some doing by the Sts.
Sahag and Mesrob parish council and parishioners to convince the priest,
known for his humility and modesty, to have a celebration of the tenth
anniversary of his ordination as a priest.

The special day on Sunday, December 3, 2006, began with Fr. Odabashian
celebrating the badarak, after which a champagne reception was held in the
church hall, hosted by the parish’s Women’s Guild and attended by more than
200 people. In honor of Father Odabashian, a special proclamation by Rhode
Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri was read at the event.

Guests of honor attending included Fr. Odabashian’s parents Diramayr Zabel
and Norair Odabashian, along with his sister Marsha. Also honoring him was
Fr. Joseph Santos of the Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Providence.

In his message of tribute to Fr. Odabashian, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), recalled
the day ten years ago when he ordained the young priest.

"It is always powerful to see one give his life whole-heartedly to service
to his church and to God. It is hard to believe that a full decade has
elapsed since that day," he wrote. "But it is not hard to believe that
Fr. Simeon has proven himself a worthy pastor and a true son of the Armenian
Church."

"Many people have benefited from Hayr Soorp’s guidance," the Primate
continued. "Though Sts. Sahag and Mesrob parish is the most recent to be
blessed, I know many Armenians in many communities throughout the Diocese
who owe a lot to the pastoral leadership of Fr. Simeon."

Following his graduation from St. Nersess Armenian Seminary and St.
Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary, Fr. Odabashian served as pastor of the St.
Gregory of Narek Church of Cleveland, OH, and then as coordinator of the
Diocese’s Mission Parish Project, through which he served the spiritual and
administrative needs of small, growing communities throughout the Diocese.

He has also been an instructor of liturgical practice at St. Nersess. In
addition to his position as pastor of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church,
he also represents the Eastern Diocese in the Joint Commission on the
Eastern/Oriental Orthodox Churches.

$1,400 IN GIFTS DONATED

Dn. Gary Alexander, who served as master of ceremonies at the celebration,
called Fr. Odabashian a long time friend.

With so many friends, more than $1,400 in gifts were sent in to celebrate
Fr. Odabashian’s anniversary. Following his wishes, the money was divided
between Providence’s sister parish, the St. Katoghigeh Church in Jervezh,
Armenia, and the Noubarashen Orphanage in Yerevan.

On behalf of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Church, a hand-cross made in Armenia
as well as a volume of "The Armeniad" was presented to Fr. Odabashian by
Parish Council Chair Linda Minassian during the celebration, organized by
co-chairs Elizabeth Kooloian and Joyce Avedisian.

Additionally, a letter from Fr. Fr. Shnork Kasparian was read. And the
audience was treated to a special performance of the Junior Choir of Sts.
Sahag and Mesrob Church under the direction of Maestro Konstantin
Petrossian.

— 2/7/06

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Fr. Simeon Odabashian, pastor of the Sts. Sahag and
Mesrob Church of Providence, RI, was honored by his parishioners for his ten
years of pastoral service on December 3, 2006.

# # #

RA DEFENSE MINISTER HAD A FAREWELL MEETING WITH THE ITALIAN AMBASSADOR

ArmRadio.am
07.02.2007 17:50

February 7 Secretary of the Presidential Council on National
Security, RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan received the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Marco Clementi, who is
completing his mission in Armenia, Press Secretary of RA MOD Seyran
Shahsuvaryan informs.

Speaking of Armenian-Italian military relations, the parties turned
to the necessity of expanding bilateral cooperation. Reference was
made also to the reforms in the Armed Forces in the frameworks of
the Individual Partnership Action Plan.

Thanking the Ambassador for the productive activity during his tenure
in office, Minister Sargsyan wished him success in his future activity
and said: " Once again I want to emphasize the role of Rome and Italy
in our history. Again I get convinced that today Armenian culture
continues to develop in Italy.

On this positive background we are obliged to develop the military
cooperation. I’m confident we shall succeed."