Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

MUSIC ART NEEDS GREAT STATE CARE

Noyan Tapan
April 14, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 14, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. A meeting that was
held on April 14 in the Hayeli (Mirror) club was dedicated to the
discussion of the problems in the sphere of classical and variety
music. Pianist Armine Grigorian, the Director of Aram Khachatrian
House-Museum, and singer Nune Yesayan took part in the meeting.

The speakers held the same opinion, according to which great state
care is needed to have good results in any genre of music art, which
should be started from music schools. Both of them consider that
specialists regulating the sphere, producers, managers are needed
for music art development and achieving good results, otherwise a
musician is not able to pave a way in that sphere alone.

"For instance, I would very much like to have a producer and a manager,
who would attend to organization issues of my activity, I and I would
be engaged in singing," Nune Yesayan said. She expressed satisfaction
with the fact that a producers class has been created in Yerevan
Cinema and Theater State Institute lately.

The singer is also dissatisfied with the fact that in the variety
sphere any young person aged above 17 can be called a singer and even
a star after releasing one or two clips. "I myself have passed a great
school for becoming a fully-fledged singer, but now everyone sings
as he likes. Like representatives of any sphere, singers should also
receive education, be educated by the proper specialists," she said.

According to the singer, today there are both talented young people and
proper funds, but we need elaboration and implementation of a correct
program regulating and controlling the variety sphere for wealthy
performers presenting tasteless art not to keep down the talented ones.

Armine Grigorian said that variety is presented to the public more than
classical music. "Media also play a significant part in it by showing
classical music concerts, for instance, in the midnight. Classical
music cannot be promoted only by concerts, proper TV programs dedicated
to classical music are also needed," she emphasized.

According to the pianist, young music specialists graduating from
the Conservatory have no possibility of making their name in the
homeland, therefore they leave for abroad to seek success there. "The
competition field we have in the variety sphere should be also created
in the sphere of classical music, for representatives of high music
art also to have their competitors and appreciators there," she added.
From: Baghdasarian

"FARM OF LARKS" FILM TO BE SCREENED IN LEBANON

Noyan Tapan
April 14, 2008

BEIRUT, APRIL 14, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The film "Farm
of Larks" of Paulo and Vitorio Tavian brothers will be screened in
the galleries of Lebanon since April 17. The author of the film is
Antonia Arslan. The film is dedicated to the Armenian Genocide and
has already received a wide response in the world, bringing forth
the indignation of Turkey in this direction.
From: Baghdasarian

SHANT HARUTYUNIAN ARRESTED

Noyan Tapan
April 11, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Late April 10, the former leader of
Tseghakentron party Shant Harutyunian was arrested within the framework
of the case investigated by the RA Special Investigation Service in
connection with the March 1 events in Yerevan. This information was
confirmed during a talk of NT correspondent at the press center of
RA National Security Service.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN MPS COMMENT ON NEW PREMIER’S APPOINTMENT

Mediamax
April 11 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 11 April: The political forces represented in the parliament
of Armenia pin certain hopes to the appointment of Tigran Sargsyan
to the position of prime minister.

A member of the faction of the Republican Party of Armenia,
Rafik Petrosyan, said that "Tigran Sargsyan enjoys authority in
international financial organizations, the opinion of which was taken
into consideration while choosing the new prime minister".

Secretary of the opposition Heritage party faction Stepan Safaryan
singled out Tigran Sargsyan’s constructiveness and readiness for
dialogue, which he demonstrated back when occupying the position of
chairman of the Central Bank. At that the MP expressed the doubt that
the new prime minister would manage to compare the efforts of all the
four participants in the ruling coalition. The Heritage representative
stated that he expected serious changes in the law-enforcement bloc
of the new government.

Member of the Orinats Yerkir faction Mher Shahgeldyan stated that
Tigran Sargsyan is an administrative professional and expressed
the hope that the new prime minister would manage to realize planned
large-scale reforms. According to Shahgeldyan, by the end of this week,
the composition of the new government would become known.

Head of the Dashnaktsutyun parliamentary faction Hrayr Karapetyan
stated that "time is ripe for structural changes in the government
and that consultations with the president and the prime minister will
show how the ministerial portfolios will be distributed".

Member of the Prosperous Armenia faction Naira Zohrabyan stated that
the issue of appointing the prime minister is the prerogative of the
Republican Party of Armenia and that their party had demonstrated "work
attitude" towards the decision of the president and the RPA council.

"Time will show how expedient the appointment of Tigran Sargsyan for
the given position was," she stated, noting that Prosperous Armenia
counts on preserving all its ministerial portfolios.
From: Baghdasarian

RA PARLIAMENT CALLS TO LIVEN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT PROCESS

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.04.2008 16:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia’s parliament opened Thursday discussions
of the statement on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

"The Armenian National Assembly offers the President and government to
liven and expand the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process and
develop measures to raise public awareness about the problem," said
Tigran Torosian, the author of the motion and Speaker of the RA NA.

He said the document offers to brisk up the Armenian policy on Karabakh
and elaborate legal acts which will allow ensuring security of Nagorno
Karabakh in case of Azerbaijan’s aggression.

"The necessity to develop this document was dictated by a number
of reasons: recent processes do not inspire optimism; Azerbaijan’s
warlike statements grow more frequent; hatred against Armenians is
propagandized," the Speaker said. "Azerbaijan’s undisguised attempts
to suppress the peaceful process and to resolve the conflict by use
of force as well as blackmail of the OCSE Minsk Group arouse concerns."

Mr Torosian noted that various international organizations make
unaddressed remarks to put an end to bellicose statements. "Speaking
about Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity recently, the OSCE MG
Co-chairs seem to have forgotten that two principles lie in the
basis of the talks. Meanwhile, the right of Karabakhi people to
self-determination is indisputable from the standpoint of international
law," he said.

After discussions, the proposals will be adopted as a resulting
document of the National Assembly, Novosti Armenia reports.
From: Baghdasarian

EDWARD NALBANDIAN IS EXPECTED TO REPLACE VARDAN OSKANIAN

Azeri Press Agency
April 10 2008
Azerbaijan

Yerevan- APA. Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanian has taken leave
of the staff of his office. APA quotes Arminfo, Armenian ambassador
to France, Israel, Vatican and Andorra Edward Nalbandian is expected
to replace Vardan Oskanian in this post. Edward Nalbandyan was born
in 1956 in Armenia.

He graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations
in 1978 and post-graduated from the Oriental Studies Institute of
USSR Academy of Sciences in 1988. He was working for USSR embassy in
Libya in 1978-1983 and USSR foreign ministry in 1983-1986. He was
counselor of USSR, later Russian Embassy in Egypt in 1986-1992 and
Armenian charge d’affairs in Egypt, Morocco and Oman in 1992-1993. He
was appointed the Armenian ambassador to France in 1999. Edward
Nalbandyan was decorated with USSR order of Friendship of Peoples
and Vatican’s St-George Grand Cross order. He is a knight of French
Legion of Honor. He speaks French, English and Arabic. He is married
and father of one daughter.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S NEW PRESIDENT SWORN-IN

Xinhua

April 9 2008
China

MOSCOW, April 9 (Xinhua) — Armenia’s new President Serzh Sargsyan
was sworn-in Wednesday, and named central bank chief Tigran Sarksyan
as Prime Minister of the Caucasus state.

Sargsyan was elected president in the Feb. 19 elections, which were
followed by opposition protests and a state of emergency.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at a special parliamentary
session in a theater of the capital Yerevan, according to reports
reaching here.

Sargsyan was Armenian prime minister before defeating the other eight
candidates in the elections.

A mountainous country with about three million people, Armenia has
seen repeated political violence and post-election protests since
gaining its independence with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIA’S INCOMING PRESIDENT PLEDGES FOUR-PARTY GOVERNMENT
by Natalia Leshchenko

World Markets
Global Insight
April 9, 2008

Armenian president-elect Serzh Sargsyan has pledged to form a
coalition government, encompassing members of all four political
parties currently in the parliament. In an interview with Russian
newspaperRossiiskaya Gazeta, Sargsyan set the future government
the goal of "winning, in the regional competitive struggle,
international recognition as a country providing the best conditions
for entrepreneurship and investments." He also pledged to work against
poverty and unemployment, as well as claiming that his government will
"guarantee freedom and equality, the supremacy of law and principles
of ensuring democracy." The formal transfer of power is to take place
next Tuesday, 15 April.

Significance:Sargsyan is working hard to dissipate the memories of
protests against his election that left at least eight people dead on
1 March 2008. Hence his pledges for respect to democracy and also the
idea of creating a coalition government; given that the opposition
is barely represented in parliament, the coalition would make only
a superficial image of unity rather than genuinely reaching out to
the government’s opponents. The goal of becoming a key investment
destination for the region is an ambitious one indeed, something that
would not be easy to achieve given World Bank recognition of Georgia
as a top reformer, and Azerbaijan’s staggering growth rates. The
government is evidently still shocked by the degree of public protest
it has faced, and it realises that economic improvement at least is
vital for avoiding popular discontent in future, and this realisation
bodes well for economic reforms in the country.
From: Baghdasarian

TIGRAN SARGSYAN APPOINTED ARMENIA’S PRIME MINISTER

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.04.2008 20:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on
appointment Tigran Sargsyan Prime Minister of Armenia, the RA leader’s
press office reported.

Earlier today, Serzh Sargsyan signed an edict on dismissal of the
government. Members of government are instructed to perform their
duties before formation of new government.

According to the RA Constitution, the President accepts the
government’s resignation on the day he assumes the office. The head
of state appoints Prime Minister within 10 days. The new government
is formed within 20 days after the appointment of Prime Minister.
From: Baghdasarian

ACCORDING TO MATTHEW BRYZA, U.S. READY TO COOPERATE BOTH WITH NEW ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND LEADERS OF ALL POLITICAL FORCES

Noyan Tapan
April 9, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN. The U.S is ready to cooperate both with
the newly elected Armenian president and all the political forces and
their leaders. "Armenia is not only its president but also all the
Armenians living here," the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State,
U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza said during a
talk with reporters on April 9.

He wished the Armenian people and the new president strength and
courage in order to find a balance between the wishes of each citizen
and those of the whole people. As for Serge Sargsian’s statement
that limitless freedom may restrict the main rights of the society
and some individuals, M. Bryza said: We are in favor of freedom. We
believe that the Armenian people is intelligent and can find this
balance. In his words, the freedom of assembly should be restored
in the country as quickly as possibly. At the same time he said that
the leaders of the opposition political forces should also be ready
to find common language with the government.

M. Bryza wished that the newly elected president would continue
activity for settlement of the Karabakh conflict. According to him,
the framework agreement currently on negotiation table has not been
completed yet.

Responding to the question about Azerbaijan’s efforts aimed
at dissolving the Minsk Group, the U.S. representative said that
maintaing this format is not so important to him. I know that my
country and me have a great role in this issue, he pointed out.
From: Baghdasarian