Author: Elizabeth Jabejian

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone 212.319.6383 x.118
Fax 212.319.6507
Email [email protected]
Website
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 25, 2005
AGBU SCHOOLS BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND ARGENTINA
Canoga Park, CA – The second visit since 1999, Argentinean Armenian
high school students from AGBU Marie Manoogian Institute in Buenos
Aires were invited to Canoga Park, California, to participate in
AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School’s Student Exchange Program from
January 22nd to February 12th, 2005. Through the exchange program,
AGBU schools of Southern California and Argentina foster AGBU’s
mission to provide Armenian youth with well-rounded educations that
also expose them to the common values that bind Armenians together.
“We were honored to welcome our Argentinean students,” said Hagop
Hagopian, Principal of AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School. “This was an
enlightening experience for everyone involved. As the Argentineans
became exposed to our Southern Californian culture, we also got a
taste of theirs. We hope, through this experience, all the students
created friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.”
Chaperoned by Miriam and Jose Tabakian, 14 Argentineans participated in
Manoogian-Demirdjian School’s integrated exchange program of academic,
cultural, and recreational activities, and were hosted by twelve Los
Angeles-area Armenian families. Over the three weeks, the 14 high
schoolers attended classes, including Armenian Cultural Studies,
English Reading Comprehension, English Composition, English Grammar,
Armenian Music, and a variety of elective courses, including Sports,
Computer, and Junior Achievement. Additionally, group outings were
planned to various destinations, including Disneyland, Universal
Studios, Rodeo Drive, Magic Mountain, AGBU Pasadena Center, and the
Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
During August of this year, the academic and cultural exchange will
continue when Manoogian-Demirdjian School students travel to Buenos
Aires for the first time to participate in a comparable program hosted
by AGBU Marie Manoogian Institute.
AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian School in Canoga Park, California, and AGBU
Marie Manoogian Institute in Buenos Aires, Argentina, are two of AGBU’s
leading Armenian day schools and together offer instruction to over
1,300 students. For more information on AGBU Manoogian-Demirdjian
School, please visit For more information on AGBU
Marie Manoogian Institute, please visit
AGBU is the largest Armenian non-profit organization in the world and
annually touches the lives of 400,000 Armenians. For more information
on AGBU and its schools, please visit

IN CASE OF PARITY APPROACH TO ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN COUNCIL OF EUROPE
MAY APPLY TOUGH SANCTIONS AGAINST BOTH COUNTRIES
YEREVAN, MARCH 23. ARMINFO. In case of parity approach to Armenia and
Azerbaijan the Council of Europe may apply tough sanctions against
both countries, says opposition MP Shavarsh Kocharyan.
He says that Europe seems to be closely watching Armenia to see what
the country will chose – European democracy or Asian totalitarianism.
Today only Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia are failing to fulfill
their CE commitments. But if Russia is a country that the CE is
forced to respect – with Azerbaijan it is very tough and is very
likely to suspend the powers of the Azeri delegation during the PACE
summer session. So in autumn it may get to Armenia. Europe wants
drastic democratic reforms rather than feigned European integration.
This may put Armenia into isolation. Even the ruling coalition admits
that one more electoral fraud may prove fatal for the country.
Kocharyan says that the post-Soviet authoritarian regimes are gradually
turning towards democracy which has been proved by the recent events in
Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan. The US and Russian presidents
may have discussed this problem in Bratislava and may also discuss
it during the CE Summit in Warsaw in May.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan News Service
March 23 2005
REGULAR CEASEFIRE BREACH DELAYS RELEASE OF CAPTIVE AZERBAIJANI
SOLDIERS
2005-03-23 20:48
Intensive breach of ceasefire on the front line between Armenia
and Azerbaijan causes problems in release of 3 captive Azerbaijani
soldiers. Member of international working group on hostage, captive and
missed persons Berhard Klazein informed ANS that at defense ministries
of the both sides are negotiating to provide a corridor for release
of the captive soldiers. Besides state committees on hostages and
the missed persons of Azerbaijan and Armenia met in Tbilisi through
mediation of the international working group.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

I-Newswire.com (press release)
March 23 2005
UNICEF Applauds Armenian Ratification of CRC Optional Protocol on the
Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography
President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan today signed the Optional
Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of
children, child prostitution and child pornography, ratified by the
National Assembly of Armenia on 28 February 2005.
i-Newswire, 2005-03-24 – ~SThe commercial sexual exploitation of
children is a horrific crime and an intolerable violation of child
rights,~T says Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative in Armenia. ~SThe
ratification of this Protocol is a major step forward in the campaign
to protect the children of this country from sexual exploitation and
abuse. With its ratification, Armenia joins a transnational
partnership to tackle this global crime.~T
The Protocol applies to children under the age of 18 and obliges
ratifying countries to take measures to prevent, investigate and
punish cases of sexual exploitation and sale of children and provide
victims with proper counseling and rehabilitation.
~SUNICEF estimates that over one million children worldwide enter the
multi-billion dollar commercial sex trade every year, though accurate
statistics are hard to come by given the clandestine nature of this
industry, says Yett. ~SIt is clear that this is a global scourge,
affecting every country in the world, including Armenia.~T
These exploited children are at increased risk of violence, drug
abuse, and disease ~V including HIV/AIDS. The damage endures long
after the violations; sexually exploited children suffer harm ~V
sexual, physical and emotional ~V that can last a lifetime.
The Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and
child pornography was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly on 25 May
2000. Armenia~Rs ratification brings the total number of ratifying
countries up to 88.
~SWe will continue to support the Government of Armenia in its efforts
to build a protective environment for children, including the
measures required as a result of this ratification,~T says Yett. ~SThe
National Assembly is now considering the second Optional Protocol to
the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which addresses the
involvement of children in armed conflict. We urge its speedy
ratification.~T
###
UNICEF began working in Armenia in 1994. UNICEF is mandated by the UN
General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children~Rs rights,
to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to
meet their full potential.
For further information:
Emil Sahakyan, Communication Officer, UNICEF Yerevan, tel: ( +374 1 ) 523 546
[email protected]
Angela Hawke, UNICEF Regional Office for CEE/CIS, tel: ( +41 22 ) 909 5433
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FORUM ON KARABAKH PROBLEM DECIDES TO DEVELOP ACTION PROGRAM
YEREVAN, MARCH 21, NOYAN TAPAN. “The Karabakh problem is unduly
politicized, unsuccessful negotiations are continuing, making
it possible for Azerbaijan to falsify the history,” chairman of
the Democratic Party of Armenia Aram Sargsian said at the March 18
forum on the Karabakh problem. According to him, as a result of this,
Nagorno Karabakh is considered an “occupied territory”, the Armenians
of Karabakh living in their cradle are qualified as “secessionists”,
while the Armenian people and the Armenian statehood as “aggressors
and invaders”. The speaker noted that in recent years the essence of
the Karabakh problem has been distorted at international instances,
and at various discussions it is presented as just a territorial
dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The forum , which was
organized by the steering committee “For Defence of NKR” and attended
by representatives of the public and a number of political forces,
adopted a resolution on behalf of the Armenian public. It is noted
in the resolution that certain high-ranking officials continue to
assert with a dangerous and unreasonable optimism that “nothing has
happened, there is no threat to Artsakh.” “The Armenian public does
not share such a dangerous position,” the document says. The forum
participants demand that a summary documemt (diplomatic note) on the
essence of the problem and the state position on it be presented on
the official level to the international community and the intermediary
states and organizations. The historical and legal bases, as well as
unquestionable arguments for the NKR formation in accordance with the
norms of international law and its independence from Azerbaijan should
be laid out in the document. The forum participants also considered
it necessary, for ensuring the participation of the whole Armenian
people in the solution of the Karabakh problem, to develop a concept
and implement an action program, for which purpose a center should
be set up to coordinate the program implementation. The RA National
Assembly is proposed it should recognize the NKR’s total independence
based on the legal and international norms.

Kommersant
Today is Mar. 17, 2005 09:50 AM (GMT +0300) Moscow
Armenia Exchanges Electricity for Iranian Gas
//With the Help of Gazprom and RAO UES of Russia
Friendship of nations
Yesterday, Gazprom Deputy Chairman of the Board Alexander Ryazanov promised
the Armenian President Robert Kocharyan during their meeting in Yerevan to
begin the construction of Armenian section of the Iran-Armenia pipeline, so
Razdan thermoelectric power plant could receive Iranian gas. On the same day
RAO UES of Russia Deputy Chairman of the Board Andrey Rappoport promised to
assist in finding means to build the fifth block of the Razdan power plant.
Representatives of two Russian monopolies were supposed to persuade the
Armenian president that Russia would help secure its power supply, in view
of the upcoming visit of President Vladimir Putin to Yerevan.
Iran-Armenia pipeline, length 140 km, including the reconstruction of the
currently functioning Kadjaran-Yerevan pipeline is estimated by $220
million. Armrosgazprom (45 percent owned by Gazprom) became the
subcontractor to construct the 41 km on Armenia’s territory a week ago. Iran
committed to supply Armenia 36 billion cubic meters of gas in the next 20
years.
Yesterday, the parties confirmed the agreement on gas to be directed from
Iran to Razdan power plant in return for electricity according to the rate
of 1 million cubic meters of gas to 3 million kilowatt-hour. Alexander
Ryazanov said that construction in Armenia will begin on April 1. In
response, Kommersant source in Armenian presidential administration said
that Kocharyan suggested Gazprom to finance reconstruction of the gas
pipeline currently active on the territory of Armenia. The possible ways of
Gazprom’s participation in the project are not being publicized.
Nevertheless, it is known that the finances for the whole project ($220
million) have not been drawn yet. Therefore, there remains a possibility
that Gazprom may count on a share in the future property.
Earlier, RAO Chairman of the Board Anatoly Chubais said that the power
holding was looking at the possibility of participating together with
Gazprom in the construction of Iran-Armenia pipeline. That is why
negotiations between the head of the Federal Grid Company and RAO Deputy
Chairman of the Board Andrey Rapport are not accidental. The Federal Grid
Company press service announced yesterday that no concrete decisions had yet
been made.
All offers of the Russian business before Putin’s visit to Yerevan,
scheduled for March 25th, are aimed at convincing the Armenia president of
the fact that Russia will support all large-scale projects that would secure
power supply to the Republic. It looks like in exchange for that the
Russians will want a guarantee of preservation of the military base near
Yerevan, where the Russian military could relocate in case of withdrawal
from Georgia.
A few hours before the meeting with the president, Rapport passed the
technical and economical offer of RAO regarding the construction of the
fifth block of Razdan power plant, completed before March 15, to the Energy
Ministry of Armenia. Razdan power plant produces 20 percent of all Armenia’s
electrical energy. It should be financed by the scheme of project financing,
however, in case of approval of the offer, RAO is willing to help find
investors.
by Artem Erkanyan, Yerevan; Natalya Grib
Russian Article as of Mar. 17, 2005
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WATERTOWN TAB
Fingers on the pulse of the town
By Dan Atkinson/ Staff Writer
Friday, March 11, 2005
There are many books about the history and culture of Watertown. Ann
Forbrush and Kathy Lobo wanted theirs to be a little more hands-on.
The two artists spent the past 18 months collaborating on four copies
of a four-volume set of artist’s books about the town, funded by a grant
from the Watertown Cultural Center. The books, which were displayed at the
Armenian Library and Museum of America, use textures and unconventional
design to focus on the artistic and creative history of Watertown.
“We’re interested in the fragments you see from the past,” Forbrush
said. “There’s a lot of little treasures around Watertown.”
For example, Lobo said, Watertown resident Sterling Eliot invented the
quadricycle – a four-wheeled pedal car that contained the model for the
braking system still used in cars today. And anyone who has thawed out a
pizza in the oven owes a debt to Watertown’s Euphrates Bakery, the first
business to market the frozen pizza.
Each book uses different artistic techniques to examine different areas
of Watertown, Forbrush said. “First Hand,” which looks at inventions and
products from Watertown, uses collage and occasionally the products
themselves, while “Hand Wrought” is made of various textiles and rubbings of
other handcrafted items around the town. “A Show of Hands” shows Watertown
residents and their hands creating everything from paintings to food, while
“Hand Signals” is a tribute to the Perkins School for the Blind, made up of
the various tiles and materials that comprise the school cut into outlines
of the school’s architecture.
Forbrush took photographs for the books and Lobo worked on the binding,
but the artistic direction of the books was collaborative, Lobo said.
“We passed the baton back and forth. We were constantly looking over
each other’s shoulder,” she said.
While each of the books has a different look, they are unified by their
focus on art and creation and their physical presence. “Hand Signals” is
bound with bolts to hold its blocks of wood and tile together, and “A Show
of Hands” is bound in a concertina style, stretching out to six feet when
fully extended.
A previous “handbook” that focused on women working with their hands
was the inspiration for this project, Forbrush said. And the pair has made
artist’s books out of less obvious material before, like an edible book
constructed of flatbread bound with licorice. But they think these new
volumes will be a bit longer-lasting.
“Artist’s books are an exploding niche,” according to Forbrush, who
said the pair is looking to sell the other three sets of books to a library
or university. “It’s a very small edition, one-of-a-kind.”
“You can’t make these with machines,” Lobo said.
But while these editions may be limited, Watertown’s history is not,
Lobo said. She and Forbrush want to create more artist’s books about the
town over the summer.
“We’re just scratching the surface,” she said. “There were so many
other stories people were telling us.”
One set of four has been donated to the Armenian Library and Museum of
America, 65 Main St.
Dan Atkinson can be reached at [email protected].
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
March 4 2005
OSCE FACT-FINDING TEAM TO PRESENT ITS REPORT ON MARCH 17
BAKU, MARCH 4, ARMENPRESS: An OSCE fact-finding mission that
traveled in early February across several Armenian-controlled regions
of Azerbaijan, surrounding the administrative borders of Nagorno
Karabagh to inspect Baku’s allegations that they were populated
illegally with Armenian settlers, will publicize its report on March
17. The OSCE officials, including Minsk group chairmen, will present
their report to OSCE Permanent Council.
An Azerbaijani ANS news agency said the report was discussed by
Minsk group cochairmen and Azerbaijani foreign minister Elmar
Mamedyarov in Prague earlier this week, where he was supposed to have
another meeting with Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian. However,
the meeting has been postponed by at least one week because of
Oskanian’s continuing illness.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #019, 04/02/2005
Cinematography
HOLLYWOOD’S SPIRIT IN ARMENIA
New Birth of Hayfilm
Hayfilm, the first and the biggest cinema studio of the Soviet Armenia,
was founded in1923. In 1957 it was called Hayfilm, while in 1966,
it was named after Hamo Beknazarian. Since the very first years it
became clear that the cinema studio will have a long and fruitful
creative life. But, as a result of the changes in the course of the
last 15 years, Hayfilm suffered hardship. Today the studio works in
unbearable conditions, it has only one camera. It is obvious that
the studio can’t work in such conditions for a long time, one should
make huge investments to enter the international cinema market and
should be well-equipped technically. So, it was decided to privatize
the cinema studio.
“About a year and a half ago, we began discussions in that direction,
but we didn’t agree on some points and demands with the investors
(Ara Abrahamian, Gerard Gafestchian) and we stopped the process,”
Gevorg Gevorgian, head of Hayfilm cinema studio, said. At present,
Khachik Khachikian, American-Armenian businessman, chairman of Vision
Quest Pictures company, wants to privatize the studio. He will allocate
$1,5 million for the privatization of the studio, while the further
investments will surpass $100 million. According to Mr. Gevorgian,
by the instruction of RA prime minister, the possession of the studio
is being calculated. As for the concern that the deal may turn to be
an unreal one, Mr. Gevorgian assured that “one of the key points of
the agreement is that all the possession should remain to the state
until the investments are made.” The name and the emblem of the studio
(the statue of David of Sassoon) will be preserved.
Representing the plan of the future building of Hayfilm, made by
an American-Armenian Architect, Mr. Gevorgian described the main
constructions of the studio. Mr. Gevorgian denied the information that
the current building of the studio will be totally ruined. “The studio
will be preserved with its main edifices. The small and unimportant
constructions may be destroyed,” he said.
The construction of the cine-city will have two stages. The first
one includes the total renovation of the whole studio, construction
of squares, creation of artificial lakes and fountains, construction
of 12 gigantic pavilions (each of them is a double one, i.e. there
will be 24 pavilions in total), the establishment of a cinema-school,
where the students of our cinema and art institutes will study. The
investor will secure equipment that keeps in line with the European
criteria. The cinema production section, as well as the artificial
city will be constructed in the territory of Hayfilm. Investments
amounting to $112 million are envisaged for this stage. The films of
the studio will be rerecorded in the digital format. An international
film festival is envisaged to be held in Hayfilm.
They envisage building a hotel complex in the second stage. This
hotel complex will be no entertainment center but will receive the
cinema figures from foreign countries. $100 million is envisaged for
this stage. In fact, the investments will surpass the expectations.
In one word, a real miracle is going to take place in the course of
the coming five years.
The new Hayfilm will have 2500-3000 employees instead of the 300 that
are currently working at the studio. This will solve the issue of
the unemployment and the minimal salary of the employees will amount
to $100.
Simultaneously with the reconstruction works, many films will be shot
at Hayfilm. The studio envisages to shoot 5-6 début films, 4 feature
films and 4 cartoons will be produced by Hayfilm in 2005. The studio
will represent Edgar Baghdasarian’s “Mariam” and Vigen Chaldranian’s
“Agatangeghos” films in at Cannes Film Festival. In case they manage,
they will send a film to the US Film Academy to be nominated, as well.
Mr. Gevorgian stated that AMD 250 million are allocated for the studio
from the state budget annually.
Let’s wish success to the authors of this great initiative and let’s
hope that one day we will again be proud of the miracle the Armenian
cinema creates.
By Gohar Gevorgian
–Boundary_(ID_egX9SHSgHgOpyCN4jj92qQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russian paper sees Georgia-Armenia as friends ‘on paper’
The Messenger, Georgia
Feb 11 2005
The Russian newspaper Gazeta SNG reports that the participation of a
low ranking delegation from Armenia at the funeral of Prime Minister
Zurab Zhvania demonstrated the relations these two countries have
with each other.
For some reason, the paper writes, the first president of Armenia
Levon Ter-Petrosyan and the ex-speaker of the Armenian assembly Babken
Ararktsyan were the ones who arrived in Tbilisi for the burial ceremony
of Zhvania. This friendship, the paper states, “means almost nothing
for the two ‘brothers’ – neither for Georgia nor for Armenia.” Opposite
directions in foreign policy will have adverse affect on the relations
of Tbilisi and Yerevan, the paper concludes. According to the paper,
Armenian-Georgian relations are facing a difficult time. Armenia does
not comprehend the open anti-Russian approach of the current Georgian
leadership, and Tbilisi accuses Yerevan of the opposite. The politics
led by Zurab Zhvania helped control the reforms of Saakashvili.
“Now the president is free and can do everything he sees as right.
The only thing that can stop him, according to the Georgian observers
is the appointment of the Minister of Defense Irakli Okruashvili
to the position of the Prime Minister, who is famous for his harsh
statements. It is still impossible to make Georgia a united state,”
the paper writes.
The paper notes that Georgia participates in GUUAM, an international
body that paper describes as an incapable organization. However,
the paper states, the presidents of Ukraine and Georgia make every
effort to “raise this ancestor if integration from the dead.”
The paper writes that Georgia does not share Armenia’s opinion, even
in the Karabakh conflict. However, official Tbilisi is content not to
make statements regarding “the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.”
“During the visit to Armenia in 2004, people hinted to the Georgian
president that it would be better if he would pay attention to the
settlement of his own conflicts,” the paper notes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress