Author: Emil Lazarian

JIVAN GASPARYAN GAVE CONCERT IN COMMEMORATION OF KILLED IN A-320 CRASH

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.05.2006 17:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ May 16 famous Jivan Gasparyan gave a concert
in commemoration of those killed in A-320 crash. Gasparyan, the
masterly duduk player, is the co-author of music to “The Gladiator”,
Code Da Vinci”, “Doctor Zhivago” and others. The senior priest of
the Armenian-Grigorian Church of Krasnodar held a service before the
concert, reported Yuga.ru.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARA ABRAHAMYAN WILL PARTICIPATE BUT WON’T INTERFERE

A1+
[08:41 pm] 17 May, 2006

We are so far unsuccessful in uniting the Armenian Diaspora, and only
the Armenians of Russian keep working without disagreements. This
is the opinion of Ara Abrahamyan, head of the Union of Armenians of
Russia and President of the World Armenian Congress.

“In 1999 there were about 450Armenian NGOs. I applied to them in
connection with the elections the next year and it turned out that
they are not liked to each other and are not a political power. So
the idea to create the Union of Armenians of Russia was born.

Later on the NGOs either disappeared or joined us, and we were able to
do considerable work together and to keep up our interests in Russia,”
he said.

Speaking about his participation in the inner political events of
Armenia Ara Abrahamyan said that 500 thousand citizens of Armenia
live in Russia and he cannot but participate in the coming elections.

“We will participate but we will not interfere.

Armenia is an independent state,” Mr. Abrahamyan said.

Speaking about his relationships with the political parties
Mr. Abrahamyan noted that he has meet the representatives of all the
parties and discussed variants of efficient cooperation which have
nothing to do with politics.

As for the information about him supporting the newly created party
“Unity for the Sake of Armenia”, Mr. Abrahamyan did not refute it,
“We are ready to support them if it helps Armenia.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANOTHER ILLEGAL CHAIRMAN? …AND THAT IS RADIK MARTIROSOVICH

Panorama.am
16:34 17/05/06

Today Radik MARTIROSYAN, YSU former rector, academician was elected as
the president of National Assembly with 46 of votes. 27 academicians
voted against and 6 ballot papers were considered invalid.

His rivals Lenser Aghalovyan received 35 votes and Eduard Ghazaryan
-36.

So, the talks that Radik Maritorisyan was promised this position
by the ruling authorities upon his resignation of the rector’s post
proved to be reality.

Once again an illegal president is going to rule the Academy
of Sciences. The point is that according to the Law on State Non
-commercial Organizations the presidents of such organizations should
not be above 65.

“There is no age limit in any country. The president of the academy
has another status,” closed the issue the newly elected president.

Yuri SARGSYAN, Rector of Engineering University does not see
any contradictions between the election procedures and academy
charter. Although it was clear that he himself did not put his
candidacy because he is above 65. Academician Anri NERSISYAN, on the
other hand, notices contradictions between the law and AS charter. “I
don’t know why they recall it only now,” he said.

Another academician Rafael GHAZARYAN said he would prefer either
Lenser Aghalovyan or Eduard Ghazaryan.

“They are young and have contributed a lot to the academy,” he said.

The newly elected president stated that there are going to be
reductions in the academy. He refuted the rumors that election bribes
were given out. “I don’t have money to give out,” he said. Lenser
Aghalovyan, on his own turn, doubted that academicians would take
bribes “no matter how hungry they are,” he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“BOOK EXPO AMERICA” EXHIBITION-SALE TO START IN WASHINGTON

ArmRadio.am
18.05.2006 11:20

“Book Expo America” exhibition-sale of books will start today in
Washington. The Armenian national association of publishers will
also participate in the event. About 120 Armenian books, including
publication about the Armenian Genocide will be presented.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AMBASSADOR OF KUWAIT HANDED CREDENTIALS TO RA PRESIDENT

ArmRadio.am
18.05.2006 13:35

Today the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Kuwait to
Armenia Majdi Ahmad Ebrahim Al-Daffi (seat in Tehran) handed his
credentials to RA Presidnet Robert Kocharyan.

The President underlined the necessity of expanding the relations with
Arab countries, thus emphasizing the role of Kuwait in this context.

Turning to the relations between the two countries, the interlocutors
noted that there is considerable potential for collaboration. They
attached importance to immediate business contacts and exchange of
information in the de velopment of economic ties.

The Ambassador thoroughly presented the situation in Kuwait and the
regional developments.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KOSOVO CONFLICT SETTLEMENT TO BECOME PRECEDENT FOR POST-SOVIET PEACE PROCESSES

Yerevan, May 17. ArmInfo. If Kosovo is given self-determination, one
will hardly be able to convince Transdniestria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia
and Nagorny Karabakh that they are unrecognized states of second rate –
as such a decision on Kosovo will in fact mean secession of territory
and violation of territorial integrity, says Russian political expert
Andranik Migranyan.

The Russian president and FM have repeatedly said that if the West
tears Kosovo away from Serbia this solution may become a precedent
for other conflicts in other regions.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CSTO TO DISCUSS THE CREATION OF A COMMITTE OF HEADS OF GENERAL STAFFS OF ARMED FORCES

ArmRadio.am
18.05.2006 10:53

During today’s sitting of the Heads of General Staffs of Armed Forces
of Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states
issues related to some power structures within the organization will
be discussed. The issue of creation of a Committe of Heads of CSTO
General Staffs is also on the agenda of the sitting.

SENIOR DIPLOMATS FROM US, RUSSIA AND FRANCE TO ACCOMPANY THE OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS

ArmRadio.am
17.05.2006 18:10

During their visit to the region May 24-26 the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs will be accompanied by senior diplomats from Russia, United
States and France.

MEDIAMAX Agency informs that the delegation of mediators will comprise
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigori Karasin, US Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State Daniel Fried and Director on Political Issue of
the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs Stanislas D’Labouiet.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REPUBLICANIZING OF TEACHERS IS UNDERWAY

Lragir.am
17 May 06

The head of the Department of Education of Armavir region
Gayaneh Sardaryan, a cadre of Albert Heroyan, governor over the
past 10 years, who has occupied different offices following the
forever-with-government principle, called the directors of schools of
the region on May 16 and instructed them to write two applications:
one for resignation, the other for affiliation with the Republican
Party. The first application is for those who are reluctant to write
the second application. Those who choose the second application and
join the Republican Party will have to create party cells in places.

Some school directors are said to be dissatisfied with this instruction
of the regional administration. A direction said, “if I tell my
teachers to become Republican, they will tell me you sold yourself,
and now you are making us sell ourselves, won’t they?”

Note that in early May “republicanizing” of 120 teachers was reported
in Yerevan. In the meantime, the government has been constantly
asserting how unacceptable it is to turn schools politically partisan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ORINATS YERKIR GIVES WAY TO SHADE FIGURES

Lragir.am
17 May 06

Member of Parliament Hmayak Hovanisyan thinks that Speaker Arthur
Baghdasaryan resigned and seceded from the coalition because he imposed
his candidacy to president on his coalition colleagues. There was
nothing the coalition could do but to hope that Arthur Baghdasaryan
would repent. This did not happen. “If Arthur Baghdasaryan had not
stated twice that in case of disagreement he would secede from the
coalition, the other steps would not follow.

Arthur Baghdasaryan was careless enough to reveal his calculations,
enabling his coalition colleagues to take steps in advance.”

Hmayak Hovanisyan reminds that the president was placed in a difficult
situation by the Republican Party which defined Robert Kocharyan’s
statement as “a call for war” and by the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation with their statement on genetic incompatibility with
the Turks. However, at that time no such steps were taken because
Dashnaktsutiun and the Republican Party were reluctant to secede from
the coalition. Hmayak Hovanisyan says the secession of Orinats Yerkir
from the coalition does not fit Robert Kocharyan’s plans. Robert
Kocharyan, who would not like to give the position of the speaker
of the National Assembly to the Republican, will have to give
away, for there is nothing he can do, “the situation developed too
fast.” Hmayak Hovanisyan is said to have disapproved the decision
of Orinats Yerkir to secede from the coalition, he had even tried
to warn the other members of the coalition to prevent them. However,
they did not listen to Hmayak. In his undertaking Hmayak Hovanisyan
is not driven by his affection for Orinats Yerkir, but cool-headed
calculations. “The process of ousting Orinats Yerkir from power goes
along a process of becoming engaged in power, which shows that the
connection between the political and business elites has grown into
fusion, and the business elite will no longer be subjected to political
figures and will not act in the political sphere on the instructions
of political figures; it will act directly. Arthur Baghdasaryan is
a bearer of qualities typical of a public political figure. If he
is ousted, he will be replaces by people who are devoid of these
qualities, which is a tragedy for our country.”

Many are encouraged because they believe that if Arthur Baghdasaryan
quits, he will give way to them to the pro-Western’s niche.

Hmayak Hovanisyan is not encouraged by this. Hmayak Hovanisyan,
like Arthur Baghdasaryan, would like Armenia to become more deeply
integrated with NATO and the European organizations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress