Author: Ekmekjian Janet

ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY RESULTS, ARTUR GEVORGIAN ELECTED PREFECT OF DAVTASHEN COMMUNITY

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 19, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the preliminary results of
the May 18 prefect’s elections of Yerevan’s community of Davtashen,
Artur Gevorgian, the deputy Davtashen prefect, has been elected
prefect. He is the nephew of former National Assembly deputy Ruben
Gevorgian.

As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Tatev Ohanian, the
Spokesperson of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC), 15 585 or
56% of the total number of community’s voters, 27 785, took part
in voting. 15 366 voters voted for the only candidate, 123 voted
against. 92 ballot-papers were recognized invalid. The number of
inaccuracies is 16.

ASYLUM CASE REOPENED ON TRANSCRIPTION ERROR
Bob Egelko

San Francisco Chronicle
/c/a/2008/05/15/BAI210LPON.DTL
Thursday, May 15, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO — When Svetlana Grigoryan was presenting her case
for political asylum in the United States, she testified through an
interpreter that a crowd of people attacked her family in her native
Armenia in 1995, badly injuring her and killing her 13-year-old son,
"because my mother was a cook."

At least that’s how it read in the transcript of the 2003 hearing,
which prompted the immigration courts and a federal appeals court to
rule that Grigoryan had failed to show she was a victim of political
persecution.

Then an immigration lawyer took a look at her case, talked to
Grigoryan, and figured out that the transcript was wrong – she’d
actually testified that she was attacked "because my mother was
a Turk."

That made a difference. Turks slaughtered between 1 million and 1.5
million Armenians in the genocide of 1915-16. An Armenian who fled
the country after being assaulted because of her Turkish descent
could have a strong case for asylum.

On Monday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco
told the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals to reconsider Grigoryan’s
case and decide whether she had been persecuted. The "transcription
error … goes to the heart of her claim," said the court, which had
ruled against her in 2005.

"Now she can tell her story," said her attorney, Artem Sarian.

Grigoryan, who lives in the Los Angeles area, entered the United
States and applied for asylum in 1999. She said in her application
that she and her parents had been harassed by Armenians because her
mother was Turkish.

The family moved to Azerbaijan in the 1980s, but Grigoryan said she
was beaten and jailed there after war broke out with Armenia.

The family returned to Armenia in 1992 and Grigoryan became president
of an organization that helped soldiers wounded in the war. She said
a rivalry within the organization led to the January 1995 assault
that injured her and killed her son.

Grigoryan had difficulties in her asylum application, the appeals
court said, because her first lawyer filed written arguments that had
little to do with her case and virtually conceded she was ineligible
for asylum. A disciplinary agency in Connecticut, where the lawyer
practiced, cited him for unethical conduct in her case, the court said.

Sarian said Grigoryan contacted him in 2005, after the immigration
courts ordered her deported, and he looked at the case records. They
included the transcript of the 2003 hearing containing a transcription
mistake that was obvious, even though it had been overlooked by the
immigration judge, the immigration appeals board and Grigoryan’s
first lawyer, Sarian said.

"Nobody really cared about this person," he said.

COOPERATIVE LANCER/LONGBOW – 2008 HAS BEEN LAUNCHED

mp;p=0&id=469&y=2008&m=05&d=15
14. 05.08

On 14 May at the beginning of "Cooperative Lancer/Longbow – 2008"
Exercises Main Planning Conference (MPC) the Deputy Chief of the
General Staff of Armenian Armed Forces, Major General Arshaluys
Paytyan and the Deputy Chief of Staff of Allied Land Component Command
Heidelberg, Brigadier General Claudio Verchellotti have had greeting
and opening speeches for the participants.

Overall 110 militaries of 30 nationalities took part in the conference:
37 from various NATO headquarters, 63 representatives from 21 countries
who will participate in the exercises.

Invitations to participate in "Cooperative Lancer/Longbow – 2008"
exercises were sent to the member states of NATO, Partnership for Peace
(PfP), Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) and (ICI).

The following states have sent their officers to Armenia: 7 from
NATO members (Canada, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, UK and
USA), 13 from PfP programme (Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belarus,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland and Ukraine)
and 1 from Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (United Arab Emirates).

During the days of the MPC the Exercise plan will further developed,
legal issues will be agreed, training events and manning lists will
be coordinated etc.

* "Cooperative Longbow – 2008" is a NATO/PfP Command Post
Exercise (CPX) with Rapid Crisis Response Operations elements
for a Multinational Brigade (MB) on the planning and management of
peacekeeping operations. It is expected to have approx. 350 officers,
warrant officers, and NCOs as participants.

"Cooperative Lancer – 2008" is a NATO/PfP Field Training Exercise
(FTX) with participation of a Multinational Battalion. The Exercise
will consist of three stages and as a result of the exercise the
involved troops will obtain skills in peacekeeping operations and
develop infantry skills in a realistic operational environment. This
exercise is expected to have 800 officers, warrant officers, NCOs
and privates as participants.

PRINTING HOUSE WAS SET UP IN SHUSHI

KarabakhOpen
15-05-2008 11:14:53

The Public Television of Artsakh informed that the Rebirth of Artsakh
Foundation set up a printing house in Shushi which according to the
director has modern equipment. The printing house is likely to become
the most famous printing house in the region.

The printing house is located in the former building of Artsakh Post.

According to the director, it will have a staff of 10.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Three AGBU-supported Concerts Celebrate the Armenian Musical Heritage in
Bulgaria

During the month of April, the Bulgarian-Armenian community hosted a
trio of concerts that celebrated the vitality of the Armenian musical
heritage across Bulgaria. From the AGBU Sofia Chamber Orchestra to the
AGBU Erebouni band of Plovdiv, the wealth and spectrum of
Bulgarian-Armenian talent impressed audiences across the country.

On April 6, a fundraising concert was held in the southeastern city of
Sliven to aid in the building of the St. Hagop Armenian Church complex
in neighboring Yambol, Bulgaria. Jointly organized by Sliven’s Armenian
Church Parish Council, AGBU Sliven and AGBU Plovdiv, the event showcased
musicians and speakers from Plovdiv, including Diana Manukyan, Tateos
Sandjakyan, the duo Anna and Suren Hanamiryan and the AGBU Erebouni
band, and Sliven, including the "Pretty Towngirls" from Drujba library,
Naiden Arsenyan and Hripsi Garabedyan.

Despite the poor weather conditions, the concert was sold out,
demonstrating the resiliency of Armenian music lovers. Official guests
at the event were Sonia Arshavir, Chairman of AGBU Yambol and the city’s
Armenian Parish Council; Edouard Arsenyan, Chairman of the Coordinating
Committee for Armenian organizations in Plovdiv and AGBU Plovdiv board
member; Georgi Zafirov, regional coordinator of PP Ataka and chairman of
the Yambol Regional Youth Committee for culture, religion and politics;
Chrastanka Shakliyan, deputy of the Bulgarian Democratic Party; and Ivan
Petrov, a local town councillor.

The concert concluded with a medley of popular Armenian tunes by the
AGBU Erebouni band, which performed under its artistic director Sona
Feschiyan.

On April 20, the AGBU Sofia Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of
conductor Bedros Papazyan, performed at the National Academy of Music.
The event was dedicated to both the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide and the centennial of Bulgarian composer Marin Goleminov.
Papazian was a student of the esteemed Goleminov, and included in the
concert’s program was one of Goleminov’s most beloved works, "Five
Sketches," for string orchestra.

Concertmaster Desislava Popova performed a solo piece, while harpist
Kohar Adonyan presented "Frescoes." The concert also featured guest
violinist Vache Hoveyan, an alumnus of the Yerevan State Conservatory
and New York City’s Mannes College of Music. A winner of many
international prizes, Hoveyan has performed around the world and is
currently a professor at the Yerevan State Conservatory and founder of
the Aram Khachaturyan String Quartet. Accompanied by the AGBU Sofia
Chamber Orchestra, Hoveyan performed Hindemith’s "Mourning Music."

Two young cellists, Dimitar Tenchev and Nikola Damyanov, also took to
the stage to deliver a riveting performance of Antonio Vivaldi’s
"Concerto for Two Cellos."

The orchestra also played "Shushanik" by E. Mirzoyan, while the encore
performance of Komitas’ "Krunk" emotionally resonated with the capacity
crowd.

The same day, AGBU Silistra organized a concert, entitled "Sunny Smiles
>From Armenia," at Silistra’s Dramatic Theatre Hall under the auspices of
the city’s mayor, Ivo Andonov. A longtime supporter of the local
Bulgarian-Armenian community, Mayor Andonov extended official
invitations for the event to various Armenian diplomats, including His
Excellency Sergey Manasaryan, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia in
Bulgaria, and the Honorary Consul Ehiazar Uzunyan of the Republic of
Armenia in Plovdiv.

Other official guests at the April 20 performance were District Governor
Svetlana Velikova; Roupen Chavoushian, AGBU Plovdiv Chairman; Edouard
Arsenian, Plovdiv Coordinating Committee of Armenian Organizations
Chairman and AGBU Plovdiv committee member; and Arakel Kaprielyan, AGBU
Plovdiv committee member.

The event which was covered extensively by the local media, included
performances by a number of Plovdiv musicians, including the AGBU
Erebouni band and the duo of Anna and Suren Hanamiryan.

Roupen Chavoushian presented Mayor Andonov with a special award in
recognition of the mayor’s outstanding contribution in promoting and
preserving the Armenian culture in his municipality.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City with an
annual budget of $34 million, AGBU preserves and promotes the Armenian
identity and heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian
programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians on six continents.

With reporting by Prof. Boyanka Arnaoudova in Sofia, Bulgaria.

AZERBAIJAN ATTACKS THE ARMENIAN MILITARY POSITIONS

armradio.am
12.05.2008 16:28

Press Service of RA Ministry of Defense informs that on May 12,
at about 11 a.m. the Azerbaijani Armed Forces bombarded the military
positions of the Armenian Armed Forces near Baghanis village in Tavoush
Marz. Press Secretary of RA Minister of Defense, Colonel Seyran
Shahsuvaryan informed Radiolur that resident of Baghanis village,
herdsman Lorik Avagyan (born in 1957) was wounded as a result of
the offensive.

Lorik Avagyan was taken to the town hospital of Ijevan, where he was
operated on. His condition is moderate.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Condoleezza Rice: I am hopeful for strengthening of friendship with Armenia
08.05.2008 18:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice congratulated Edward Nalbandian on appointment as
Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the RA
MFA press office reported.

The congratulatory message says in part, `I
congratulate you on appointment as Foreign Minister of
the Republic of Armenia and looking forward to meet
you. I am hopeful that we will strengthen the
friendship between our countries. We should carry out
a good deal of joint work for final resolution of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict and normalization of
diplomatic and economic relations with the neighbors.
We also hope that Armenia will give a new impetus to
democratic reform and restoration of civil freedoms –
the values that underlie our relations.’

A1+

LEVON TER-PETROSSIAN VISITS YERABLUR
[07:28 pm] 08 May, 2008

On May 8 the atmosphere in the Military Cemetery
`Yerablur’ was gloomy and depressing. The Yerkrapahs
had their interpretation of the situation. `How can we
be in joy and happiness when our friends are under
arrest?’, they claimed.

Levon Ter-Petrossian, Aram Sargssian, Stepan
Demirchian and other leaders of All-Armenian National
Movement, several members of the `Yerkrapah
Volunteers’ Union’ (YVU), as well as chairmen of
various parties and youth organizations silently
ascended to the tomb of Vazgen Sargssian.

Levon Ter-Petrossian laid a bunch of pink roses on the
tomb of Vazgen Sargssian. He bowed before Greta
Sargssian congratulating her on the public holiday and
showed his membership card of YVU, which Vazgen
Sargssian himself had presented to him.

Sasoun Mikayelian, Myasnik Malkhasian, Hakob Hakobian,
Smbat Ayvazian, Gagik Jhangirian, Mushegh Saghatelian,
Husik Baghdasarian, Hovik Harutyunian, Ashot Zakarian
and other yerkrapahs, who regularly visited Yerablur
on May 8, were not able to pay respect to their dead
friends today. They will have to spend the day under
arrest.

At 9 a.m. members of the `Yerkrapah Volunteers’
Union’, in the head of Chairman Manvel Grigorian
visited their friends’ graves at Yerablur Military
Cemetery. Later on, members of the Republican Party
paid their respect to their dead fellows and
colleagues.

Scheme for implementing tourism development concept to be worked out in
Armenia soon

YEREVAN, May 7. /ARKA/. The program of measures to be taken for
implementation of tourism development concept is to be worked out in
Armenia soon, Armenian Economy Minister Nerses Yeritsyan said Tuesday
at the second forum on tourism.

Currently the ministry is expecting proposals from the private sector
to establish main directions and objectives of the program, the
Minister said. He stressed that the strategy shows the political will
of the government, but serious efforts of all involved businessmen are
required to implement the strategy.

On February 13 2008 Armenian Government adopted tourism development
concept for up to the year 2030. The concept provides for development
of target tourism markets, formation of tourist clusters for certain
cultural and historic sights of Armenia, creation of industrial
business-centers outside Yerevan.

According to the ministry, 450,000 tourists will visit Armenia by the
end of the year, which will constitute 20% of the growth in the sector.

According to the statistics, average annual growth of tourist visits
has been 25% since 2001.

318,000 and 381,000 tourists visited Armenia in 2005 and 2006
respectively. During 5-7 years Armenia intends to bring the number of
tourist visits up to 1mln per year. `0–

NATO pursues close cooperation and political dialog with Armenia

armradio.am
06.05.2008 11:42

Congratulatory messages keep coming in on the appointment of Tigran
Sargsyan as Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia. NATO
Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer wrote in his message:

"I take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment as
Prime Minister of Armenia and wish you every success with the discharge
of your new duties.

The NATO and Armenia have been involved in sustained cooperation in the
field of international security as evidenced by Armenia’s valuable
contribution to NATO’s commitment in Kosovo. We pursue close
cooperation and a political dialog under the Individual Partnership
Action Plan (IPAP) with a view to reforming your defense system and
strengthening democratic institutions in Armenia.

You assumed office in difficult and challenging times for your country,
and I hope that by building on the present achievements and by
maintaining the momentum of reforms implemented under the Individual
Partnership Action Plan, we will manage to further strengthen the
cooperation in a variety of spheres.

In order to assist Armenia along the path of reforms, I look forward to
working with you on different issues and hope to meet you in the near
future."