Author: Emil Lazarian

133 GIRLS AND WOMEN CHRISTENED ON OCCASION OF FOUNDATION OF TATEV MONASTERY
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
GORIS, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. 133 girls and women whose name is Tatev
were christened in the Tatev monastery on August 25 on the occasion
of its foundation. Initiators of the event were the Syunik Regional
Governor’s Office and the Syunyats diocese primacy. In Syunik Regional
Governor Surik Khachatrian’s words, the initiative was at the same
time aimed to show that sectarian structures have no place in Syunik,
and the only belief is Christianity and the Armenian Apostolic Church.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VARTAN OSKANIAN: EUROPEAN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY IS IN KEEPING WITH REFORMS PROGRAM IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 29 2006
LJUBLJANA, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Vartan Oskanian,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia made a speech on August 29
at the “Caspian Oulook – 2008” forum jointly organized by the Foreign
Ministry of Slovenia and the Ljubljana Institute for Strategic
Studies. Participating in the discussions concerning the EU New
Neighborhood Policy, Minister Oskanian spoke in his speech about
cooperation of the EU and Armenia within the framework of the New
Neighborhood Policy of the European Union. The RA Foreign Minister
particularly emphasized the importance of implementation of the Europe
neighborhood policy in the region for establishing peace, stability,
development. In the Minister’s words, the New Neighborhood Policy is
keeping with the programs of reforms in Armenia: it clearly directs
and plans the process of reforms to be implemented in Armenia in the
economic and political spheres in coming years. The Foreign Minister
of Armenia expressed a hope that simultaneous implementation of the
European Neighborhood Policy by the three states of South Caucasus
will help promotion of regional cooperation as well, at the same
time making public processes and ways of settling conflicts more
democratic and transparent. Touching upon the present state of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Minister Oskanian considered
Azerbaijan’s policy of giving a possible military solution to the issue
or its postponing as one laying obstacles. In the Minister’s words,
the negotiations are on the critical point today, and the international
community must do everything to bring Azerbaijan back to a realistic
and constructive field to seriously discuss those principles which are
on the negotiation table today. EU Commissioner for External Relations
Benita Ferrero Waldner, State Minister of Georgia Georgi Baramidze,
EU Special Representative, Ambassador Peter Semneby, Foreign Minister
of Azerbaijan Elmar Mamedyarov and Foreign Minister of Lithuania Petras
Vaitiekunas also touched upon, in their speeches, issues relating to
relations of the European Union and South Caucasus. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department,
within the framework of the forum, Minister Oskanian met with OSCE
Minsk Group American Co-Chairman Matthew Bryza and Pierre Chevalier,
the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office.
Minister Oskanian will return Armenia on August 30.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMS BEING IMPLEMENTED ON ACCOUNT OF STATE BUDGET FINISH IN MARZES OF LORI, TAVUSH AND GEGHARKUNIK
Noyan Tapan
Aug 29 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The school building programs being
implemented on the account of the state budget finish in the marzes
of Lori, Tavush and Gegharkunik. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the
Press Service of the RA Ministry of Urban Development, the marzes
of Tavush and Gegharkunik were allocated from the state budget 80
mln drams each for school building. 346.2 mln drams (about 865.5
thousand U.S. dollars) were allocated from the 2006 state budget for
implementation of construction works in schools of Lori. The money
was spent for finishing construction works of Spitak No4 school (50.2
mln drams), Alaverdi sports school (106 mln drams), secondary school
of the village of Shnogh (100 mln drams). The works are at the final
stage in Vanadzor No5 school.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“SONG OF YEAR OF ARMENIA” FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE IN SOCHI
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 29 2006
SOCHI, AUGUST 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “Song of Year of
Armenia” traditional music festval took place in the health resort-city
of Sochi the last week-end. According to the “Yerkramas” (country)
newspaper of Armenians of Russia, besides young participants of the
competition, recognized grands of the Armenian pop music Nune Yesayan,
Ashot Ghazarian and Andre, the participants of the “Eurovision 2006”
festival, participated in the festival. Money, gathered as a result of
selling the tickets will be given to the fund of assistance to families
of the people died as a result of the crash of the plane fulfilling
the May 3 Yerevan-Sochi flight. The festival of Armenian song is held
in Moscow since 2003, but in 2006 it was decided to hold it in Sochi.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA IS AN ADVERSARIAL REGIME
Lragir.am
30 Aug 06
The chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on External Relations Richard
Lugar, a Republican from Indiana, listed Russia among Iran and
Venezuela as an “adversarial regime”. Addressing the opening of the
International Energy Security Summit In Indiana on August 29, the
senator said, “adversarial regimes from Venezuela, to Iran, to Russia
are using energy supplies as leverage against their neighbors.” “We
are used to thinking in terms of conventional warfare between nations,
but energy is becoming a weapon of choice for those who possess it,”
said the senator in his report, warning about the threat of energy
capacities in international relations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSCE OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES VISIT PENAL COLONY FOR WOMEN AND JUVENILES
ArmRadio.am
30.08.2006 13:00
OSCE Office representatives and board members of the Public Monitoring
Group for Penitentiary Institutions today visited the Abovian Women and
Juvenile Colony to present school-related items for the new academic
year to children in detention, as well as provide OSCE publications
to the library.
The visitors met with prison administration, detainees and the only
child born in prison, who will go to a regular school for the first
time this year.
Board members also observed physical conditions and the overall
protection of detainees’ rights.
“This is my fifth visit to this criminal executive institution,
and I can see some progress in the area of arranging visits and
cell space allocation,” said Michael Baghdasaryan, Chairman of the
Board. “However, there is still obviously room for improvement in
the sanitary and hygiene conditions of the institution”.
The OSCE has been supporting criminal justice reform in Armenia
since 2001, among other ways through helping to establish the Public
Monitoring Group, which began operating in 2004. The Group monitors
the rights of detainees in criminal executive institutions and provides
recommendations to the Justice Ministry to improve the situation.
Besides day-to-day support provided to the group, the OSCE Yerevan
Office provides regular training for the members of the Group,
jointly with OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights,
and invites experts in the field from other participating States to
exchange experiences with their Armenian colleagues.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TRUE PATRIOTISM
Aram Abrahamian
Aravot.am
29 Aug 06
Richard Hogland’s appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to Armenia caused
a great attention both in Armenia and Diaspora and in the U.S. Armenian
lobbyists, as well. Thanks to John Evans who has pronounced the word
”genocide”, irrespective of the fact he has done it accidentally or
in favor of patriotism. But it isn’t secret that the recognition of
genocide by the U.S. depends on Evans or Hogland as much as holding
fair elections in Armenia depends on Victor Soghomonian. Especially in
a country like the U.S. is, the Ambassador expresses the opinion of
its government, the latter reflects designed, formulated conception
of national interests. Otherwise we can conclude that if Mr. Evans
remained in his post, U. S. would change its policy in the problem
of genocide.
I think our sensuality approach to the political issues. Not only
the opinion of ambassador but the president’s too can be decisive in
the U.S. For instance, the current president of that country isn’t
a giant of wisdom but it doesn ‘t have any influence on the common
U.S. citizens, designed mechanisms operate there as there are in the
foreign policy. That same person /Bill Clinton for example/ is inclined
to recognize the Armenian genocide before and after his posting. But
when he feels the post of president he refuses. It’s another approval
that the person isn’t decisive at all in the policy of that country.
In my opinion Evans’ true pro-Armenian policy would be expressed when
he didn ‘t ignore the results of referendum in 2005. Because having
democratic, developing state is the most important thing for us. Only
in that case our country can develop and become a factor in this
region. Becoming a factor our national problems will be easy to solve.
–Boundary_(ID_mvCk9StnQWypeYp+7f1ZBA)–

DELEGATION OF INDIAN JEWELRY EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL TO TRAVEL TO YEREVAN
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 29, 2006
YEREVAN, August 29. /ARKA/. A delegation of Indian Council for
Precious Metals and Jewelry Export Promotion is to arrive in Yerevan
on Thursday. Armenian Trade and Economic Development Ministry’s press
office says Indian jewelry presentation will be held on August 31
in Yerevan.
A day later, on September 1, the delegation will meet Tigran Davtyan,
deputy minister, and Gagik Lazarian, the ministry official in charge
of precious stones and jewelry.
The ministry’s press report says the council is interested in
establishing business ties with former soviet republics.
The Indian delegation’s visit to Armenia is a part of its
South-Caucasian regional tour. The delegation is now in Azerbaijan
and on August 29 will head to Georgia and then to Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

3 QUESTIONS WITH LEBANESE ARMENIAN SINGER NOURHANE
By Sherif Awad
Egypt Today, Egypt
Aug. 29, 2006
Nourhane and her passion for change
Lebanese Armenian singer Nourhane received the award for Best Young
Female Artist’s Voice for her latest video clip, Men Zaman(Long Time
Ago) at the 6th International Oscar Video Clip Festival that took
place in Cairo this past August.
In this clip, directed by Elie F. Habib and written and composed by
Marwan Khoury, Nourhane is a desperate lover who tries to warn her
man of an unknown danger, while in her first clip, “Habibi ya
Einy” (My Love, My Dear), directed by Walid Nassif, she portrayed
a woman able to turn the dullness of any place into a lively show.
Her second clip, Shaklo Keif saw Nourhane lead a feminist revolution
against her lover, throwing vegetables at his new car, ultimately
forcing him to raise the white flag.
Nourhane spoke last month with Contributing Writer Nadine Emile:
NOURHANE ON HER PASSION FOR CHANGE: Of course it is better for the
artist to be different, because not all the people have the same
tastes. For example, there are people who loved me in “Habibi
Ya Eini,” others in “Shaklo Keif,” and others were
crazy about my character in “Men Zaman.” The clip that
I am now in the process of making will have a completely different
character from all the ones I have made before. This clip is called
“Tab Wana Mali” — it’s an old folkloric song from
the movie Beyn El-Kasreyn (Palace Walk) by Naguib Mahfouz, and I
took the song and made a remix. I will shoot it in Egypt You know,
I was watching the movie and I really loved the song, that’s
why I decided that I wanted to do it.
ON SNUBBING BIG PRODUCTION COMPANIES: If I am going to be an artist
in these big companies just as a filling spot, then I do not want to.
I am more comfortable and happy this way — I’m in the
beginning of my career and I have the freedom to present my clips
or album in the time that I find suitable. But if there is a company
that will use me as a star, of course I can consider it.
ON THE PRICE OF SUCCESS: I don’t have the privacy I used to
have. My friends love to stay out late at night partying, I love that,
but I can’t. Still, it doesn’t matter ’cause my aim in
the end is to be a famous artist, so I gave it priority in my life.
photo at 020

TULIP JOSHI’S HOT AND SULTRY LOOKS SCORCH THE RAMP
By Nitin n Sethi, Bollywood Trade News Network
Glamsham.com, India
Aug. 29, 2006
Tulip Joshi is being seen in a new ‘Avtaar’ these days and the
shutterbugs seem to be the happiest of the lot. Tulip scorched the
ramp again reminiscent of her earlier days for Nisha Jamval fashion
show at Amara organized by Viren Shah last weekend. The concept of
the show was ‘Phoenix India’ and had celebs from different walks of
life strutting the ramp. Tulip looked resplendent and enchanting and
had the crowd raving about her. “It was exciting after a long hiatus
from the ramp. It’s been ages since I last walked the ramp. It was
deja vu!! But guess it was great fun and damn cool. The outfits too
looked pretty. I loved every bit of it,” expressed Tulip.
It was quite a bit of revelation since Tulip had earlier done a
contrasting de-glam avatar as Kalki in MATRUBHOOMI. Tulip who played
the girl next door Anjali in Yash Chopra’s dream debut MERE YAAR
KI SHAADI and then wowed the critics in a totally de-glam role as
Kalki in Mathrubhumi is all set for a total image make over in her
forthcoming films.
After her hard-hitting performance in MATRUBHOOMI, Tulip is all set to
sizzle and blaze the screen in a glamorous avatar in her forthcoming
HOSTEL and SHOONYA set to release this winter. “I am so excited to be
doing commercial cinema back again. Though I am proud of MATRUBHOOMI,
because it gave me an opportunity to showcase my acting skills in the
beginning of my career, I always relished doing mainstream films. I
want to play roles that would suit my age. MERI YAAR KI SHAADI and
DIL MAANGE MORE were essentially commercial films and I had a blast
shooting for it. “I would love to do roles that the youth would relate
to. I’m quite young and have a long way to go. I am also excited about
my forthcoming films that will project a glamorous image, which is
my real life image. Infact everyone teases me that I am essentially
a fashion child,” she said.
“Bollywood has changed so much and with so much influx of designers
in the industry, the look of the films have undergone a sea change. I
would really love to do light hearted campus capers that will appeal
to the youth. Even one of my forthcoming films deals with the issues
of the youth. I am looking forward to doing commercial cinema back
again,” she added
Incidentally Tulip is half Armenian, half Indian by birth and is a
fashionista in the true sense of the word. She will always be found
in a designer wear. Tulip swears by Prada, Armani, La Perla, Versace
and also has a collection of over 300 pairs of designer tinted glasses
from Roberto Cavalli, Gucci, Dolce and Gabanna, Versace, etc.
Amongst her favorite Indian Designer is Varun Behl, a 3 times winner
in Milan and whose forte is designing the European line.
Those who have seen her latest photo-shoot pics. Swear by her hot and
sultry look. Definitely with her acting talent and gorgeous drop-dead
looks, Tulip is all set to sizzle in her glamorous avatar…
“Tulip looks luminous even when she is chained to a post in a cowshed
in MATRUBHOOMI,” as one of the critic sums it up best.
photo at
_tulip_joshi.asp
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress