Author: Emil Lazarian

THEY DON’T WANT TO SEE THE FILM “THE DA VINCI CODE”

A1+
[02:47 pm] 25 May, 2006

Today a number of organizations released a joint letter to RA Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan with the request to prohibit the screening
of the film “The Da Vinci Code” in the Armenian cinemas.

The content of the letter was as follows, “Don’t let them scold our
God, the faith of our ancestors for the sake of which Vardanants
saints died in the field of Avarair. Keep our children away from that
guilty temptation.” The letter was signed by the representatives
of the Armenian Constitutional Remedial Centre, Armenian Centre of
Integration and Democracy, “Husaber” Charity Fund and the Organization
“Mission to Armenia.”

“St. Echmiadzin Cathedral clearly announced about the inadmissibility
of the demonstration, but we need your order to prevent that God –
denying act. We beg you to prohibit the screening of the film as
quickly as possible,” said the letter.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIGHT AGAINST XENOPHOBIA SHOULD START AT SCHOOL
By Aghavni Harutyunian

AZG Armenian Daily
26/05/2006

The Union of Armenians of Russia held a sitting in Moscow yesterday to
present a report on 5 years of the Union’s activity and to elect a new
chairman and a central supervision commission of the UAR. UNESCO Good
Will Ambassador and Ara Abrahamyan was re-elected chairman of the UAR.

Making the summary report, the Armenian community leader said that
he considers “contribution to strengthening of the Russian state,
international peace and accord in the society” as a major task.

Besides, the largest NGO representing interests of 2.5 million
Armenians intends to “actively participate in the public and political
life of Russia, building of civil society valuable institutions,”
PanARMENIA.net reports.

“We also consider boosting and developing self-organization of our
Diaspora, which is the largest in the world, for the benefit of Russia
and Armenia,” Ara Abrahamyan said. In his words, the UAR also intends
to counteract to demonstrations of ethnic extremism, xenophobia,
racial and national intolerance and terrorism. “Our task is to bring
up the young in an environment of tolerance, as well as to strengthen
centuries-old traditions of friendship and fraternity of the Armenian
and Russian peoples. Meanwhile, if there are extremist organizations
that means they enjoy someone’s support. Many would like to see Russia
burdened with interethnic issues and would like to see instability
here,” Abrahamyan PanARMENIAN.net report referring to Interfax.

Ara Abrahamyan stated that the Armenians have no problems in the
sphere of interethnic relations.

“Armenians live in Russia since the 9th century; this is our home,”
he said.

Russia and Armenia are equally interested in maintaining the power
balance in the South Caucasus, in fostering stability and security
in the region, the UAR chairman stated. “In this regard, Russia is
not indifferent to the situation in the region and Armenia’s role in
it. The Armenians of Russia are also able to foster stability in the
South Caucasus.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MUSIC AWARDS SET FOR TONIGHT
By Alex Dobuzinskis, Staff Writer

Los Angeles Daily News
May 25 2006

Peter Bahlawanian has produced a variety of different live shows in
his career. The Armenian Music Awards is always the one that gets
him in the most trouble.

With five nominees per award and only one winner, artists are bound
to get upset – even if Bahlawanian is not doing the judging.

“In the Armenian community, everybody knows everybody,” Bahlawanian,
35, said. “So it’s like I have all these people that love me, but
then there’s all these people that don’t win and they hate me that
year. So it’s personal.”

As personal as the show is for Bahlawanian, the show’s creator, it
also has an audience all over the world. This year, the show will take
place at the Hollywood Palladium and it will be beamed via satellite
TV to Armenian audiences worldwide.

The show’s performers and presenters are a mix of local artists
Bahlawanian sees in the community and international stars who fly in.

The result is an event that showcases the wide variety of musical
talent among Armenians. This year’s show will feature everything from
a four-person group called Winds of Passion playing duduks, ancient
woodwind instruments made of apricot wood, to the Armenian-American
rock band Slow Motion Reign.

“Before this show started in 1998, the biggest way of finding out
who was a popular singer was how many weddings they would perform,”
Bahlawanian said.

“The awards became a tool of promoting for all these artists” not
doing pop music, he said. “And at the same time, we still have the
popular categories … We’re bringing everybody together.”

This year, celebrity attorney Mark Geragos will host the show, along
with Canadian beauty queen Alice Panikian, a contestant in the Miss
Universe 2006 pageant.

“I just got back from Armenia and I can’t tell you how many people
in Armenia have either watched this live or on one of the DVDs,”
said Geragos, an

Armenian-American who promoted bands such as the Ramones and the
Go-Go’s before he became an attorney.

The Armenian Music Awards started at Glendale’s Alex Theatre and has
grown and changed over time. From 2001 to 2003, it was shown live
overseas and in the United States.

But organizers found the production costs were too high to justify a
live show, Bahlawanian said, so now they broadcast it on a tape-delay.

Organizers expect anywhere from 800 to 1,500 to attend tonight’s show.

In a dress rehearsal Wednesday, a performer from the United Kingdom
tickled the piano keys onstage as dancers chatted and Bahlawanian’s
aunt and his fiance spread white tablecloths on guest tables.

Bahlawanian, a Los Feliz resident originally from Montreal, pledged
this year’s show, titled “From Roots to Youths,” would have something
for everyone.

“Not everybody loves every part of the show, but they love some part
of the show,” he said.

Bahlawanian can only hope that the award show’s losers walk away as
happy as the audience.

IF YOU GO

The eighth annual Armenian Music Awards will be held at 8 tonight
at the Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd. Tickets are $150 for
orchestra seats and $65 for the balcony. For more information, call
(323) 469-7356.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

VLADIMIR JIRINOVSKI: NAGORNO GARABAGH WILL CHOOSE MONTENEGRO WAY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 25 2006

The unrecognized republics in the former USSR territory, including
Abkhazia, Transdnestrovie and Nagorno Garabagh will choose the way
of Montenegro.

The referendum on Montenegro’s independence will be accepted
as precedent by the international law,” said Russian State Duma
vice-speaker Vladimir Jirinovski (APA). Participating in the third
congress of Russian Armenians’ Union, Jirinovski told journalists
that the so-called “Nagorno Garabagh Republic” can gain independence
by following the Montenegro way.

“One day referendums on independence will be held in the South Caucasus
too. For instance, Garabagh will achieve its independence.

Garabagh has a right to be an independent state. In order not to
offend Baku, Nagorno Garabagh can enter Armenia and have partnership
relations with this state,” Jirinovski said.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry Press and Infromation Policy officer
Tahir Taghizadeh told APA that it is not the first time that Jirinovski
makes statements contrary to the Russian Federation’s foreign policy
and against the interests of a country that have good relations
with Russia.

“He needs to be more responsible because of his post. Such statements
by Jirinovski have negative influence on the settlement of the Nagorno
Garabagh conflict and are contrary to the developing Azerbaijan-Russia
friendly relations. Jirinovski is making such statements like a norm,”
Taghizadeh noted.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION COUNCIL OF “LINCI” FUND HELD A SITTING

ArmRadio.am
25.05.2006 17:02

The process of tender for construction of highways, schools and roads
of Yerevan on financial resources of “Linci” fund was discussed
at today’s sitting of the Programs Administration Council of the
Fund. It was presided over by Head of the Office to RA President,
Chairman of the Programs Administration Council of the “Linci” Fund
Armen Gevorgyan.

The participants of the sitting noted that construction companies
show great interest in the tender and a number of applications have
been already submitted.

It has been decided to carry out detailed investigation of the tender
packages submitted, paying great attention to provisions for the high
quality of the works to be accomplished and discipline.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR: RESPECT OF PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION CORNERSTONE OF CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.05.2006 15:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The MFA of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic released
a statement on the referendum on independence in Montenegro. The
statement specifically says, “The holding of the referendum on
independence in Montenegro and readiness of the international community
to recognize the returns is a positive fact.

We are convinced that respect of peoples’ right to self-determination
is a cornerstone of conflict settlement and tool to establish political
stability.

Thereupon, it is expedient to remind that disrespect of NK
people’s right, who voted at referendum held on December 10, 1991
for independence, was a basis for further military aggression by
Azerbaijan.

Further neglect of NKR people’s right to self-determination during
settlement of the Azeri-Karabakh conflict, as well as right for
conditions that will ensure its political independence, economic and
military security, will postpone the prospect of finding a mutually
acceptable solution and establishment of lasting peace in the region.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A PERSON ABANDONING A POLITICAL PARTY WILL ABANDON A STATE

Lragir.am
24 May 06

The leader of the National Self-Determination Union Paruir Hayrikyan
thinks that the secession of the Orinats Yerkir Party from the
coalition and resignation of some members of parliament from the
Orinats Yerkir faction was not strange; moreover, it was predictable
and expected: “each party determines its place.”

On May 24 the leader of the NSDU said he could discern other dangers
behind the recent developments. “The strange thing about it is that
the members abandoned the political party, and the society considers
it a regular thing. Nobody fears that this departure, denial, desertion
is something that should be criticized.”

Whereas this is dangerous for the nation, because “the political
parties are proto-states, a party affiliate is supposed to have an
orientation, and if a person easily deserts the political party, the
same person may easily desert the state.” It is a serious concern and
alarm for the NSDU. “The so-called political parties apparently do
not exist. These are balloons, as people say,” notes Paruir Hayrikyan
and forecasts that if the Republican Party quit power, “a much worse
thing would be awaiting it.”

“If there are no political parties, but certain groups of people take
part in the life of our state under the label of political parties, who
is then leading life of our state? What can be awaiting a nation, whose
political will is accompanied by such disgraceful behavCors?” alarms
the leader of the NSDU.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WHERE IS THE 108 MILLION DRAMS?

Lragir.am
24 May 06

Member of Parliament Victor Dallakyan, Ardarutiun Alliance, proposed
to set up an ad hoc committee to study the state of the Armenian
civil aviation. He managed to gather only 26 signatures instead of
the 44 required for including the question in the agenda. While Victor
Dallakyan promises to launch another effort during the next meeting on
June 12-16, the Audit Chamber of the National Assembly carried out an
audit of the General Department of Civil Aviation in 2005. By the way,
the 2005 report of the Audit Chamber is on the agenda of the National
Assembly, but it is not discussed due to the recent political battles.

The Audit Chamber found out that the GDCA failed to transfer the means
that were not spend in the fiscal year, over 1 million dollars, to the
state budget. Hence, the government decision 216 N was violated. In
2003-2004 the government did not make any decisions on accrual and
use of extra-budget funds, and the Ministry of Finance did not give an
approval. The GDCA received financial assistance from other companies,
a total of 108 million drams. This money was spent without drawing
up a bill of quantities, without a government decision, which is a
violation of the RA Law on the Budgetary System.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BLACK BOXES ARE NOT THE END. THE HARDEST THING IS TO TELL THE TRUTH
Hakob Badalyan

Lragir.am
24 May 06

Will the black boxes of the Armenian plane help to reveal the causes
of the plane crash? The recorders have already been retrieved from
the sea bottom and sent for deciphering. In fact, the most difficult
and the most important thing is done, and the only remaining thing
is to decipher the information and tell the society the real cause
of the death of 113 people. The location and retrieval of the black
boxes caused a cheer-up. On the other hand, this process was rather
ambiguous. The first recorder was found on May 22, whereas two or
three days before the Russian minister of transport, the co-chair of
the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Committee Igor Levitin, who
led the search team on the first days of the search after the crash
in Sochi, announced that the black boxes might not be found at all,
and the radio transmitter could have simply come off the recorder.

However, soon after this statement the black boxes were located
and lifted from the sea bottom within two days. The Russian ORTV
even broadcast a story about the achievement of the Russian search
equipment. The experts were even photographed against the black
boxes, with a content smile, as if what they had found was a treasure
of pirates rather than the only evidence to the crash, which took
113 lives.

Was Igor Levitin in such despair as not to bear it any more and
announce while the search was underway that it was impossible to
retrieve the black boxes? Why did he form an atmosphere of despair
instead of inspiring hope? Usually government officials do the opposite
thing, especially the representatives of the Soviet School.

They prefer hiding the truth till the end, regarding it as danger
against the government system. Independent from the sphere, truth
is believed to endanger the leadership, and it was surprising that
Levitin and other Russian officials preferred telling the truth that
the black boxes might not be found. Weren’t their words true?

This suggestion is supported by the fast, even very fast location
and retrieval of the black boxes. Those days of uncertainty ended
up in the settlement of the issue within 48 hours. The search team
suddenly realized that the recorders could be stuck in mud and began
clearing the mud.

All this would be very encouraging if it were not that surprising.

Why did Levitin make such a statement if he was not aware of the
details of the search? And generally it is difficult to explain why
on those days the Russian officials did not hesitate to make official
statements on the plane crash, with the context of impossibility
of revealing the real cause of the crash. What happened that the
recorders were all of a sudden retrieved? What changed? As long ago
as May 18 the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party Aram Karapetyan
announced in Yerevan that something had changed. Karapetyan said,
however, that something had changed, and the recorders would not be
retrieved. If they lifted the recorders from the bottom, it means
something changed twice, and Aram Karapetyan did not manage to inform
the Armenian society or maybe he did not know.

It is difficult to say how many times within the past two weeks, but
it is evident even without Aram Karapetyan, that something changed,
nevertheless. The Russian mass media are still stressing the shortage
of fuel. Again they refer to an anonymous source. In this case,
however, putting forward a new suggestion or refreshing the old one
is mere hastiness. Once the black boxes were found, it is not correct
and decent to start circulating new guesses and ideas when soon the
information of the black boxes will be deciphered. If deciphering
failed, it would be justified to resume guesses but currently it
does not seem to be rewarding. It is notable that over the past
days, when the search was underway, no guesses were made. And their
comeback shows that the situation has changed. If it is the retrieval
of the black boxes, this change should have retained the silence and
created an atmosphere of expectation. Whereas the opposite occurred,
which suggests that the retrieval of the black boxes was the result
of a change.

In this situation it becomes more urgent to find out what had
changed. This may even give a more real picture of the plane crash
than the black box data. Why did they first put forward suggestions
leading to the mistake of the pilot, whereas now they have returned
to the shortage of fuel. Why is Igor Levitin going to represent the
Russian side to the committee, whereas the Armenian side will be
represented by Gagik Galstyan, an air safety investigator of the
Department of Civil Aviation. Are the other, higher officials busy?

Are they busier than Levitin, or is the political schedule in Russia
less tough? Why had the investigators of the Armenian Office of
Attorney General returned from Sochi before the search was over. Was
money a problem to keep two investigators there for two months or
maybe there were not enough people to plant trees in Armenia?

It seems that the hardest thing was to find the black boxes, and the
data of the black boxes would bring peace to the souls of victims and
their families. The hardest thing, however, is going to be telling
the truth, for the only harder thing is hiding the truth.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GARNIK – PRESIDENT

Lragir.am
24 May 06

Garnik Isagulyan, adviser to President Kocharyan, announced that
Serge Sargsyan is the best prepared candidate of president, and
Robert Kocharyan will run for the third term. In answer to our
request to comment on this, Victor Dallakyan, Ardarutiun Alliance,
said, “I think Garnik Isagulyan is the best prepared candidate. I
think if Garnik Isagulyan becomes president, it will be positive,
for the other will not be nominated for the third term.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress