LEVON ARONIAN IS 4th WITH 6 POINTS AT LINARES SUPER TOURNAMENT
YEREVAN, MARCH 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Time out is stated on March 8 at the
chess super tournament in the city of Linares, Spain. Levon Aronian
played a drawn game with Viswanathan Anand (India) at the 12th stage
held on March 7. Anand got 7.5 points from 12 possible ones and is
the leader. Aronian is in the 4th place with 6 points. Vasili Ivanchuk
(Ukraine) is his rival at the 13th stage to take place on March 9.
PRESS RELEASE
The Heritage Party
31 Moscovian Street
Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 27.00.03, 27.16.00 (temporary)
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46 (temporary)
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:
March 9, 2007
Raffi Hovannisian: The Imperative of Equal Campaign Conditions
Yerevan–The "Friday" Press Club today hosted a news conference of Raffi K.
Hovannisian, Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs and founder of the
Heritage Party. He was accompanied by Armenia’s first Ombudswoman Larisa
Alaverdian and school principal Anahit Bakhshian, the second and fourth
candidates on Heritage’s proportional list for the upcoming parliamentary
elections.
In his opening statement, Hovannisian focused on the immediate imperative
for equal campaign conditions in all fields. Free, fair, and democratic
elections require, in Hovannisian’s words, the fulfillment of three
conditions: Access to public sites necessary for the exercise of free
assembly; the enforcement of campaign finance limits; and access to print
and broadcast media.
These remarks were delivered to a room full of newspaper reporters and radio
journalists. Television representatives, with the lone exception of Yerkir
Media, were absent, suggesting that, only 63 days before parliamentary
elections, the TV blockade against Heritage is still in force. Letters of
inquiry sent by the party to the prime minister, mayors of all Armenian
cities, directors of billboard associations, and executives of television
networks have received no responses to date.
Founded in 2002, Heritage has regional divisions throughout the land. Its
central office is located at 31 Moscovian Street, Yerevan 0002, Armenia,
with email contact at [email protected] and website at
US SENATE COMMITTEE DELAYS VOTE ON DINK RESOLUTION
EmÝne Kart Ankara
Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 7 2007
A decision by the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on Tuesday
to delay a planned vote on a resolution condemning the murder of
Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink and calling on Turkey to abolish
a penal code article widely considered to be a barrier standing in the
way of freedom of expression has led to disappointment in the Armenian
diaspora while pleasing Ankara in that US lawmakers apparently have
taken Turkey’s concerns into consideration.
"We are troubled that Senator Lugar — apparently acting at the
request of the administration — has delayed the US Senate’s tribute
to the life and memory of Hrant Dink," said Aram Hamparian, executive
director of the influential US-based Armenian lobbying organization
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), was quoted as
saying in reference to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’
ranking member, Richard G. Lugar. "We look forward to the panel, at
the next opportunity, rejecting any efforts to block or water down
this measure and passing it in the form it was introduced."
On Tuesday, when the committee gathered at a "business meeting," Lugar
objected to the resolution text and wanted the "Armenian genocide"
expression to be taken out of the resolution.
The non-binding resolution, drafted by Democrat Senator Joe Biden,
chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, condemns the murder
of Dink and calls for abolishment of the infamous Article 301 under
which Dink was tried and handed a six-month suspended sentence for
"insulting Turkishness" and also calls on Turkey to establish full
political, diplomatic and economic relations with neighboring Armenia.
"Apparently the reason for the delay is a disagreement among US
lawmakers, as some of them expressed their uneasiness over certain
expressions used in the resolution," diplomatic sources on Wednesday
told Today’s Zaman, avoiding comment on whether the US lawmakers were
upset by the "genocide" expression.
"This is a non-binding resolution, and what matters for us is the US
administration’s stance in regard to Armenian allegations. So far,
the US administration hasn’t bowed to Armenian pressure to officially
recognize the allegations," the same diplomatic sources said.
Senator Lugar and Senator Biden are expected to draw up a new joint
text for the same resolution before the committee gathers for the next
meeting, the Anatolia news agency reported from Washington yesterday.
Meanwhile, officials at the Turkish Embassy in Washington have been
constantly informing US lawmakers over "inappropriate expressions"
and facts in the resolution.
–Boundary_(ID_96dTNv8Ekrq3zA/UQBjWpg )–
DOGU PERINCEK NOT PERMITTED TO SPEAK LONG
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 07 2007
LAUSANNE, MARCH 7, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The first sitting
of trial against head of Turkish Workers Party Dogu Perincek that
started on March 6 in Lausanne passed in strained atmosphere. An
accusation of denying the Armenian Genocide has been brought to
Perincek. According to the Marmara newspaper of Istanbul, Perincek
who had taken with him documents weighing 90 kg for introducing them
to the court had no opportunity to speak about them long.
Moreover, the judge warned the latter that if he continues giving a
lecture, he will deprive him of the right of speaking at all. After
the court sitting Perincek said that they asked him so many questions
about Talaat Pasha that ha had to ask the judge whether they try him
or Talaat Pasha there. 160 members of Talaat Pasha organization who
had left for Lausanne to follow the process of trial and to support
Perincek and a number of journalists were not permitted to enter
the court hall. Former President of North Cyprus Rauf Denktash and
protector of official Turkish viewpoint, historian Justin McCarthy
were also deprived of such an opportunity. Therefore, the Turks having
left for Lausanne limited themselves to holding a rally in the square
dedicated to Perincek’s defence. The trial is to finish until March 9.
PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
THE NEW VOLUME OF THE "HASK" ARMENOLOGY YEARBOOK IS PRESENTED TO
ARMENIAN INTELLECTUALS
ANTELIAS, Lebanon – The latest volume of the "Hask" Armenology Yearbook,
entitled "New Period. Year X" has been published by the Catholicosate of
Cilicia’s publishing house in Antelias. The volume is dedicated to the
1000th anniversary of the writing of "Madian Voghperkoutian" by St. Gregory
of Narek. Published by the joint efforts of the Cilician Holy See and the
Armenian Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the yearbook has
been an enriching contribution in the field of Armenology particularly in
the last decade.
The volume brings together articles by Armenian and foreign armenologists,
whose contributions provide it with a unique value and importance. The
preface to the volume is written by His Holiness Aram I, who accurately
portrays the current situation of Armenology in our reality.
"Armenian chairs established in Western universities are partial and
inconclusive initiatives. However, they have funds available to them.
Armenology is striving to keep its quality in the Yerevan State University.
But even there, the decrease in the number of students, the decline in the
scientific and philosophical quality of the research projects and
publications, as well as their diminishing numbers cause concern. In the
field of Armenology we expect more from Yerevan State University, something
which can be achieved through financial contributions, the creation of an
interests towards Armenology in Armenian students, as well as a reevaluation
of the methods and priorities in the teaching of Armenology," writes the
Pontiff. His Holiness also praises the role of Dr. Zaven Yegavian, Director
of the Armenian Affairs Department of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.
The volume combines 28 topics in 451 pages. The editorial work of the volume
was carried out by Rev. Bartev Gulumian, with the final editing of Mr.
Jirayr Tanyelian. The volume was presented to the attendants of the
intellectuals’ meeting held in Antelias on March 2.
##
View the cover here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the books
published in the Printing House of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.
PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN MET WITH GEGHARKUNIK MARZPET
armradio.am
05.03.2007 17:55
During today’s working meeting RA President Robert Kocharyan and
Gegharkunik Marzpet ArsenGrigoryan discussed the socio-economic
situation in the region.
Speaking about the works carried out in 2006 and the deeds for 2007,
the interlocutors referred to the school-building, water supply and
other programs financed by the state budget, the Linsi and other
foundations. The Marzpet presented the process of accomplishment of
the President’s instructions about the community budget executions.
Reference was made also to the problems Sevan National Park faces. The
President instructed to investigate the information about illegal
constructions and ring these to the legal field through court.
BAND’S ‘SCREAMS’ HELP RAISE AWARENESS
By Eileen Duffy
Tribune Staff Writer
South Bend Tribune, IN
March 1 2007
Carla Garapedian was raised on Elton John — not Black Sabbath.
So the prize-winning filmmaker and former BBC News anchor never
imagined she’d attend a nu metal band System of a Down’s concert,
let alone collaborate with the group on a documentary.
Like Garapedian, System of a Down’s members are all Armenian Americans
whose grandparents survived the Armenian genocide early in the
20th century. Also like Garapedian, System of a Down has enjoyed
international commercial success while confronting human rights
violations — specifically, genocide.
But when Garapedian found herself outside a benefit concert the band
headlined in April 2004, she knew none of this. She was simply sitting
at a booth, handing out pamphlets on the Armenian genocide to support
a group called the Armenian Film Foundation. But she soon found the
band’s fans consistently waved her information away, telling her that
System of a Down’s music had already taught them about the atrocity —
and other genocides as well.
"Here was a level of political awareness that I hadn’t seen in this
generation of young people before. I had an impression that people in
the 17-to-22 age frame were not particularly interested in genocide
and certainly not interested in talking about history," she says.
"But they were. This group was."
A few months later, Garapedian was sitting down with System of a
Down’s lead singer, Serj Tankian, to discuss a joint project.
The two chose to create a documentary focusing not just on the Armenian
genocide, but on the history of genocide denial.
Such was the birth of "Screamers," a documentary that uses System of a
Down’s concert tour to tell the story of genocide throughout the last
century. Told without narration, the film focuses partly on Tankian
and his grandfather — just a boy when he experienced deportation,
death marches and the loss of his brothers.
There is a delicate reverence owed to victims of genocide, as
Garapedian can testify from her experience in journalism. While
sitting in a van in Chechnya with another reporter and a photographer,
Garapedian was approached by a local woman, who invited the journalists
to see her sisters.
The woman led them to where the burnt torsos of her sisters were lying,
Garapedian remembers. One was still wearing her eyeglasses.
"As we stood there, my colleague, who is Catholic, crossed himself
immediately," she says. "When you’re (facing) a human being who is
dead, you have to give a quiet moment to that before you bear witness,
before you show the world what’s going on."
But the volume must soon be raised if genocide is to be stopped,
Garapedian adds.
"When Rwanda was going on, we weren’t walking around like, ‘OH MY GOD,
there’s a holocaust going on. We’ve got to stop it!’" she says.
"Through their fan base and their own personal experiences, (System
of a Down) tries to connect us to that outrage I think we should
be feeling."
That’s why Garapedian thinks System of a Down’s heavy, angry music
provides a good backdrop for a film about genocide. She admits that
at first, the music sounded like "screaming" to her — until she
started to pick up on the Armenian and other influences in the sound.
"I started to get an ear for it. I started to read the lyrics and
found even the screaming made sense," she recalls. "I started to
listen to it as a whole, and I got it."
A 60-year-old woman recently wrote to Garapedian after seeing the
film in Boston with her friends, Garapedian says.
" ‘We never thought we’d connect to this music in any way,’ she wrote,"
Garapedian says. " ‘But there’s something about the way this music
is woven into this film that actually makes sense.’
"Some critics have not approved of my choice to cut between rock
performances and genocide victims. But that’s an artistic choice
I’ve made," Garapedian continues. "To have this music about anger
and rage and passion — I see it as being very appropriate to the
subject matter."
ARMENIAN AND AZERI FMS MAY MEET IN GENEVA
armradio.am
28.02.2007 15:45
The meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan
may take place in Geneva.
According to the Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri
Merzlyakov, the place of holding the recurrent stage of negotiations
between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan Vartan Oskanian
and Elmar Mammadyarov has not been determined yet. "Geneva is among
the alternatives discussed, but none of the parties has given any
decisive answer," Merzlyakov informs.
According to the source, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
told journalists in Kazakhstan that the meeting will take place in
Geneva. The Foreign Ministers of the two countries are expected to
participate in the 4th session of the UN Human Rights Council to be
held March 13-April 5 in Geneva.
UEFA TO DECIDE PLACE OF MEETING OF NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAMS OF ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
Noyan Tapan
Feb 27 2007
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Meetings of the national teams of
Armenia and Azerbaijan are envisaged by the program of the Europe
football championship on September 8 and 12. The competition place
is not decided yet. The Azerbaijani side proposes to hold meetings
in Ukraine, and the Armenian side proposes to hold in Yerevan and
Baku. The UEFA Executive Committee will make the final decision.
TALK ABOUT MOUNTING U.S. ANTI-AIRCRAFT DEFENSE SYSTEM IN POLAND PREMATURE
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.02.2007 15:16 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "We are not speaking of mounting an anti-aircraft
system in Poland. We just have an offer from the United States,"
Polish Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga told a news conference in
Yerevan. In her words, the issue will be decided by the government
but it’s premature to speak of it. "Security is a priority issue for
Poland. U.S. plans have been arousing negative reaction in Russia for
a long time. However the policy of declarative statement differs from
the policy of actions," she noted. The Polish FM underscored that all
positions that will maintain the balance of forces in the region and
won’t undermine European security should be taken into account during
the talks.