Author: Emil Lazarian

"MER HAYRENIK" IS NOT ARF DASHNAKTSUTYUN’S ANTHEM

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 21 2006

On the second day of the extraordinary meeting of the National Assembly
Speaker Tigran Torosyan did not put the bill on the anthem of the
Republic of Armenia to voting. "The voting will be tomorrow morning,"
said Speaker Tigran Torosyan to news reporters.

His decision not to put the question to voting gave rise to opinions
that the speaker of the National Assembly was not sure the outcome
would be as they had planned. Tigran Torosyan disagrees, "We must be
very responsible towards this question, and Armenia cannot start 2007
without an anthem."

During the debate on this bill the focus was on the provisional article
of the bill that "Mer Hayrenik" is our anthem until the adoption of
a new anthem. Tigran Torosyan thinks that the government, which is
the author of the bill, will not have withdrawn this provision. The
main opponent of the bill was the ARF Dashnaktsutyun.

In this connection, Tigran Torosyan noticed that it is wrong to
think that "Mer Hayrenik" is the anthem of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun,
and reminded that "Mer Hayrenik" was the anthem of Armenia in the
early 20th century and until December 6, 2006.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

YEARENDER: FROZEN CONFLICTS RING BLACK SEA REGION
by Leon Mangasarian, dpa

Deutsche Presse-Agentur
December 20, 2006 Wednesday 5:00 AM EST

The Black Sea region’s frozen conflicts are unresolved wars or disputes
which involve Russia.

They include Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and
Nagorno-Karabakh.

All four of these territories are diplomatically unrecognized
mini-"states" which have split off from other countries which were
parts of the former Soviet Union.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia have both left Georgia, Nagorno- Karabakh is
legally part of Azerbaijan but has split off with Armenian assistance,
and Transnistria has seceded from Moldova.

With the European Union due to extend its borders to the Black Sea
after the planned admission of Bulgaria and Romania on January 1,
2007, the frozen conflicts are poised to gain greater attention in
Europe’s capitals.

Romanian President Traian Basescu warns that the frozen conflicts are
a threat to the EU not least as breeding grounds for organized crime,
human-trafficking and drug-smuggling.

A German Marshall Fund study terms the conflicts "an unresolved
legacy of the Soviet empire" and warns they "threaten the periphery
of a continent composed of secure democracies."

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt says in his blog that "all of
them have the potential to destabilize a wider region if they flare
up again."

Although Russia’s role can be seen to varying degrees in all the
frozen conflicts, Russian President Vladimir Putin vigorously denies
any role in stirring up problems in the region.

"They have nothing to do with Russian machinations," said Putin at
a summit with European Union leaders in Finland last October, adding,

"Don’t try to blame us for what we can’t do because in the post-
Soviet space we have quite a few frozen conflicts."

Moscow backs breakaway Transnistria both economically and with troops
from its 14th Army which are stationed in the territory guarding a
huge munitions supply.

"With Russian support, the Transnistrian leader, Igor Smirnov, has
little incentive to compromise in his drive towards independence,"
a report by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group says.

Smirnov, who has run Transnistria since 1991, won a fourth term in
elections earlier this month.

Russia has also supported the breakaway Georgian regions of South
Ossetia and Abkhazia. Georgia accuses Russian peacekeeping troops of
siding with the separatists in both provinces.

The Russian state backs Armenia without which Nagorno-Karabakh could
not survive either militarily or economically.

"Over half its army are believed to be Armenian citizens," the
International Crisis Group says.

Despite ongoing attempts to mediate a diplomatic deal, voters in
Nagorno-Karabakh this month overwhelmingly backed a draft constitution
which describes the territory as a sovereign state.

Over 500,000 Azeris have been displaced from the region since 1994
when it came under the control of Armenian and ethnic Armenian forces

during a war. Since then an uneasy truce has been in place.

Armenia and Azerbaijan are debating the possibility of allowing a
referendum to determine the future status of Nargorno-Karabakh.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIE : TROIS MILLE ANS D’ARCHITECTURE A LA CONCIERGERIE

NEWS Press
21 decembre 2006

Centre des Monuments Nationaux

Situee a la croisee de l’Orient et de l’Occident, l’Armenie, premier
pays chretien, nous transmet malgre 3000 ans de conflits incessants,
d’invasions et d’occupations, un riche et très singulier heritage
culturel et artistique.

Articulee autour des douze capitales qui ont jalonne cette histoire
tourmentee, l’exposition mettra en valeur le patrimoine architectural
armenien : vestiges, sites et villes majeurs, nombreuses eglises et
monastères. Une part importante de l’exposition sera consacree a son
actuelle capitale Erevan.

Des photographies grand format accompagnees de cliches et plans
anciens illustreront ce panorama complet, depuis la citadelle de Van,
construite au IXe siècle avant J.C, jusqu’aux edifices contemporains
d’Erevan.

Des objets et elements ethnologiques provenant des collections du Musee
d’Histoire d’Armenie a Erevan (monnaie, costumes, broderies, tapis,
dentelles, tissus brodes, parures en argent) viendront completer cette
approche du patrimoine architectural armenien en evoquant les usages
et traditions.

Cette manifestation est organisee avec le soutien d’ " Armenie,
mon amie ", Annee de l’Armenie en France.

Commissariat general de l’exposition :

Sylvie Clavel, administratrice de la Conciergerie, Paris Narek
Sargsyan, professeur d’architecture , Erevan

Commissariat scientifique de l’exposition :

Mourad Hasratian, directeur de la section Architecture de l’Institut
d’Art, Erevan, Zaven Sargsian, directeur du musee Paradjanov, Erevan,
auteur des photographies de l’exposition

Scenographie : Alain Daronian, architecte

Informations pratiques

Information du public :

Centre des monuments nationaux Conciergerie 2 boulevard du Palais
75001 Paris tel. 01 53 40 60 80

Droits d’entree du monument :

Plein tarif : 8 euros – Tarif reduit : 6 euros – Tarif groupe : 6,
80 euros

Forfait scolaire : 30 euros

Gratuit pour les moins de 18 ans et demandeurs d’emploi et pour tous
le 1er dimanche de janvier, fevrier et mars

Horaires :

Ouverte tous les jours, sauf les 25 decembre 2006 et 1er janvier 2007
de 9 h a 17 h du 15 decembre 2006 au 28 fevrier 2007 de 9 h 30 a 18
h du 1er mars au 18 mars 2007

Accès :

Metro : Cite, Châtelet, Hôtel-de-Ville Bus : 21, 24, 27, 38, 47, 58,
69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 85, 96 RER B et C : St-Michel-Notre-Dame

–Boundary_(ID_cuhPtBvChfKBw erHehKhrw)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UNE ARMENIENNE MENACEE D’EXPULSION

Ouest-France
20 decembre 2006 mercredi

A l’initiative du Reseau education sans frontières, un rassemblement
de soutien sera organise pour Nelly Avetisyan et sa fille, jeudi 21,
a partir de 17h, devant le collège Echange, rue de Dinan. Originaire
d’Armenie, Nelly a ete deboutee du droit d’asile. Violoniste de
profession, elle est membre de l’orchestre Ars Juvenis. Sa fille
est elève au collège Echange. Suite a un appel de la prefecture pour
retablir un arrete de reconduite a la frontière, le cour administrative
d’appel rendra son jugement le 22 decembre.

–Boundary_(ID_mannssnK4ZjIzHqC5lIF5A)- –

ARMENIAN EXHIBITION IN THE NOTRE DAME DE PARIS

Yerevan, December 21. ArmInfo. Eduard Nalbandyan, Ambassador of
Armenia to France, and Deputy Mayor of Paris attended the opening
ceremony of Armenian exhibition in Notre Dame de Paris on 19 December.

Foreign Ministry of Armenia reported ArmInfo today that Armenia’s
history, architecture of churches, nature, art and culture were
exposed. The exhibition demonstrates Armenian civilization, its rich
heritage and tests of history it was through due to its specific
geopolitical location.

The exhibition is organized within frames of the year of Armenia
in France under the support of Mayor’s House of Paris and Society
Geographic. The exhibition will be open till 25 March 2007.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HIGH-TECH HARE WITH ARMENIAN NAME

Yerevan, December 21. ArmInfo. A cute-as-a-button gadget could soon
find its way to your desk – a Wi-Fi-sensing plastic rabbit called
Nabaztag (which in Armenian means "hare").

StarTribune.net reports that the rabbit has been produced by The Smart
Object Company (Violet) (France). It costs $150. The rabbit is for fun,
useful for downtime activities and guaranteed to generate reactions
from co-workers.

The Nabaztag can – through a speaker, its twirling ears or lights –
read your e-mails, tell you if your stocks are rising or falling,
read you the headlines from your favorite RSS feed, tell you the time,
give you a weather forecast, and more.

The bunny is powered via the provided AC adapter. The Nabaztag has
multicolored lights beneath its plastic hide, so his nose and belly
began to light up with glowing yellow spots as it awoke for the first
time. It only works with home wireless networks.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANTELIAS PUBLISHES THE SECOND EDITION OF "ARMENIAN CILICIA"

ArmRadio.am
21.12.2006 15:33

The Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Printing House in Antelias recently
published the second edition of Dr. Haroutyoun Der Ghazarian’s
topographical work " Armenian Cilicia" with the generous financial
support of the Department of Armenian Affairs of the Calouste
Gulbenkian Foundation.

The first edition of this valuable topographical work on Cilicia was
published in 1966 also in Antelias. The author has dedicated his book
to "the eternal memory of passionate protector of the Armenian Church
and the Cilician See, Catholicos Zareh I."

This study is unique in its kind as the only topographical study
of the region. In 399 pages, it condenses valuable information,
photographs and topographical maps prepared by the author himself.

Dr. Der Ghougassian has authored the book based on his observations
during his journeys through Cilicia as a young man. The work was first
prepared as a personal self-interest on the part of the author and
was later edited for publication. It is particularly valuable for
researchers interested in the Cilician world.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN CONVEYS CONDOLENCE TO THE TURKMEN PEOPLE

ArmRadio.am
21.12.2006 17:19

President Robert Kocharyan today conveyed a telegram of condolence to
the Government of Turkmenistan connected with the death of President
Saparmurat Niyazov.

The telegram says,

"Those in Armenia took the death of the Turkmen President Saparmurat
Niyazov with great sorrow.

On behalf of the Armenian people and myself I convey condolence to
the people and authorities of Turkmenistan, President Niyazov’s family
and friends.

Saparmurat Niyazov stood at the roots of independent of Turkmenistan
and was its permanent leader.

We highly assess his contribution to the reinforcement and development
of Armenian-Turkmen relations.

I’m confident that henceforth Turkmen people will continue taking all
efforts for the further flourishing of motherland and reinforcement
of Turkmenistan’ s statehood and sovereignty.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ORINATS YERKIR FACTION REFUSES TO SIGN UNDER DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO ELECTORAL CODE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 21 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. On December 19, RA NA Orinats
Yerkir (Country of Law) faction refused to sign under the draft
amendments to Electoral Code to be submitted to the parliament
in second reading. Faction member Hovhannes Margarian informed
journalists about it on December 20. To recap, before discussion in
first reading, the Ardarutiun (Justice) and National Unity opposition
factions had also withdrawn their signatures. So, the authors of
the draft submitted to the parliament as a result of revision of
1.5 years are RPA, ARFD, ULP factions and People’s Deputy, Business
MP groups. "They make an attempt to leave out opposition’s pivotal
and valuable proposals from the draft amendments to Electoral Code,"
H.Margarian said to journalists. In his words, this is inadmissible
not only for the parliamentary opposition having worked hard for
about 1.5 years in the working group composed of representatives of
all NA groups and factions, but also will be inadmissible for OSCE
and Venice Commission. As the MP estimated, the above mentioned draft
in its current form endangers holding of free and fair elections.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PREMIERE OF FILM ABOUT THEATER CRITIC LEVON NERSISIAN TO TAKE PLACE ON DECEMBER 21 AT NAREKATSI ART UNION

Noyan Tapan
Dec 21 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. "Though nothing has been preserved
from Levon Nersisian in written form, this does not impede for both
artists and his students to remember and glorify him. His heritage is
more than something written on paper." RA People’s Artist, composer
Tigran Mansurian said this at the December 20 meeting at the Hayeli
(Mirror) club dedicated to L.Nersisian’s 75th anniversary. In
T.Mansurian’s words, though in our mentality we attach an absolute
value to written materials, the oral speech has greater influence
and can give the better lead. "He was a kind of a man than did
not need to leave written heritage. L.Nersisian wanted to remain
a legend and writing kills a legend," the composer said. In Soviet
years L.Nersisian was persecuted by the authorities because of his
intolerance. Nevertheless, in T.Mansurian’s words, for L.Nersisian, it
was not important in what period he lived, as "he lived with the ideas
that were his." Poet Hakob Movses said that L.Nersisian was the only
person who tried to create the image of a free man in Soviet years. In
his words, the theater critic made freedom serve for morality and did
so that this freedom to be perceived rightly and to be an example
for the generations. The premiere of a 30-minute documentary about
L.Nersisian will take place on December 21 at the Narekatsi art union.