Author: Emil Lazarian

PRESENTATION OF VIGEN BABAYAN’S “AKSORANVAG” BOOK TAKES PLACE IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Poet Vigen Babayan is a person
gifted with exclusive talent, and the literary heritage he left is of
great value. David Sargsian, the Director of the National Library of
Armenia mentioned about this at the March 29 presentation of the poet’s
“Aksoranvag” (play of exile) book. According to him, a poem was first
of all life, everyday for V.Babayan, and only then a word and line
written on a paper. He wrote what he thought, felt and lived. All the
works included in “Aksoranvag” were created in the U.S., since 1981,
when the writer appeared in that country irrespective of his will.

“For V.Babayan that country was a place of exile, and all the works
of those years he gathered under the “Aksoranvag” general title,”
D.Sargsian mentioned. In the U.S., V.Babayan worked at the Armenian
editorial of the Voice of America radio in parallel to his literary
activity. He did many translations as well, including works of Victor
Hugo, Byron, Lomonosov and other great figures.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PAVEL NERSESIANTS ELECTED VICE-SPEAKER OF KISLOVODSK MUNICIPALITY COUNCIL

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 30 2006

KISLOVODSK, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The first sitting
of the newly elected Municipality Council was held in Kislovodsk,
at which the heads of the representative body were elected. Director
of Kislovodsk Medical College N.Chaplygin was elected as Chairman,
and Director of Lyceum N 8 M.Goguyev, manager of the Medinvestbank
OJSC Kislodovsk branch V.Malkhozov and head of the “Uyut” foootwear
enterprise Pavel Nersesiants were elected as Vice-Chairmen. Informing
about it, the “Yerkramas” (Territory) newspaper of Armenians of
Russia, reminds that at the previous elections of the Minicipality
Council 6 representatives of the Armenian Diaspora of Kislovodsk,
including P.Nersesiants, became winners in their electoral districts.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WORLD BANK ALLOCATES 8 MLN DOLLARS FOR ARMENIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM

Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The World Bank (WB) has allocated 8
mln dollars for the implementation of the renewable energy program
in Armenia.

Director of the World Bank Yerevan Office Roger Robinson stated during
the March 30 press conference that 5 mln of the indicates sum will
be provided as a credit, while the remaining sum – as a grant from
the Global Ecological Fund.

According to R. Robinson, the program will assist the RA government
to increase the electricity generation capacities, which represent
a private property and are operated by the private sector, by using
the renewable energy-bearing substances. R. Robinson noted that as
a result of the program’s implementation, Armenia will have an extra
capacity of 80 mw, while carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by
nearly 130 thousand tons a year. The program will also be refunded
by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) that
will provide a 7 mln dollar loan, while the Cafesjian Foundation will
participate with own capital of 3 mln dollars. In the words of the WB
Yerevan Office Director, Armenia has quite a considerable potential for
development of small hydropower plants and wind energy. He said that
there are many investors in Armenia who intend to make investments in
these sectors. It was noted that the above mentioned credit is given to
Armenia at a 0.75% interest rate and is repayable over 40 years with
a 10-year grace period. The sum will be provided to the RA government
– to the Renewable Energy and Energy Saving Fund, which in its turn
will extend the loan to commercial banks at a 4.5-5% interest rate,
while the banks will provide credits to private investors at mortgage
market rates. To recap, since 1992 the WB has implemented 42 programs
worth a total of 921 mln USD in Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ACCORDING TO WB REPRESENTATIVE, INCREASE IN GRANULATED SUGAR AND FLOUR PRICES HAS NO RELATION TO GAS TARIFF GROWTH

Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The World Bank (WB) will continue
studying the consequences of the gas tariff increase in Armenia for
1-2 weeks. Director of the World Bank Yerevan Office Roger Robinson
stated this at the March 30 press conference, adding the bank has no
more information than the reporters about what may happen as a result
of the gas tariff rise, as the RA government has not completed the
negotiations yet. As regards the tariff set by the RA Public Services
Regulatory Commission, R. Robinson said that they still have to see
whether the established prices are the real ones. Nevertheless,
he agreed that a rise in the gas tariif will affect some sectors
of the economy. He noted that the recent growth in the prices of
granulated sugar and flour has no relation to the gas tariif increase,
since these foodstuffs are imported into Armenia: granulated sugar –
by 100%, flour – partly.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BELMONT LIBRARY HOSTS CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT

Lexington Minuteman, MA
March 30 2006

Pianist Levon Hovsepian and cellist Arkady Beletsky will present
an afternoon concert of chamber music at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 2,
at the Belmont Public Library, 336 Concord Ave. The free concert,
which will be held in the Assembly Room, is sponsored by the Friends
of the Library as part of the Music on Sunday series.

Hovsepian and Beletsky, who are both on the faculty of the Indian Hill
Music Center in Littleton, will perform works by Bach, Beethoven,
Brahms, Arutunian, Prokofiev, and Popper. Hovsepian also teaches at
the Powers Music School in Belmont.

Both Hovsepian and Beletsky began performing professionally as
children and achieved performing careers overseas before moving to
the Boston area. A graduate of the Komitas Conservatory in Soviet
Armenia, Hovsepian performed throughout Armenia, Estonia and Moldova
and appeared as a soloist with the Yerevan Symphony Orchestra and
on Armenian national television. After attracting major critical
attention in Armenia, he was invited to study at the Longy School
of Music in Cambridge. He made his New York debut in 1994 and became
known for his compelling interpretive style and expansive technique.

He was a prize winner at the Arlington Concerto Competition and has
appeared as a soloist with the Salem Philharmonic Orchestra, the New
England Philharmonic Orchestra, WGBH radio, and Moscow Radio.

Beletsky was born in Kiev, Ukraine and completed his master’s degree in
music at the Gnesin Institute of Music in Moscow. In 1983 he founded
the Renaissance Chamber Ensemble, which rose to prominence as one of
the most prolific and well-regarded chamber groups in pre-Perestroika
Russia, headlining over 1,000 concerts throughout the 15 republics
of the Soviet Union. In 1989 Beletsky emigrated to the U.S. with his
family. Since then, he has performed solo, chamber and orchestral work
at Jordan Hall, Sanders Theater and Mechanics Hall, has participated
in numerous music festivals, and has made a live appearance on WGBH’s
“Morning Pro Musica.”

For more information about the concert, please call 617-489-2000,
ext. 2870.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN THE ARTS: NORA ARMANI

Atlanticville, NJ
March 30 2006

Nora Armani, international singer/actress, will star in a one-woman
show, “On the Couch With Nora Armani,” on Saturday, April 1, at 8
p.m. at St. Stepanos Armenian Church, 1184 Ocean Ave. in Elberon.

Armani alternates between humor and nostalgia in recounting the story
of her family’s expulsion from Armenia by the Turks, their witnessing
of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, her youth in post-revolution Egypt
and immigration to America. This special production is presented for
the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Program and is sponsored by the
Center for Holocaust Studies at Brookdale Community College. Tickets
are $15, $12 for members of the center. For reservations, call (732)
842-650.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

STRENGTHENING OF PARLIAMENT-SOCIETY LINK HIGHLIGHTED

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
March 30 2006

On March 28, a meeting of volunteers of citizens’ information and
communication centers was organized in the National Assembly, in
which NA employees, representatives of USAID/Armenia: Legislative
Strengthening Program, 20 communities of the republic, public
organizations attended.

In his opening speech Hovhannes Zargaryan, Deputy Chief of NA Staff,
informed that by NA President Artur Baghdasaryan’s order a task was
given to strengthen the parliament-society link, which will promote
the further development of democracy and freedom of speech. Hovhannes
Zargaryan proposed those present to promote the solution of the
community problems by ongoing meeting in non-formal conditions. Mr.
Zargaryan informed that studies have been carried out in the
communities of the republic on the establishment of the information
centers. He is convinced that National Assembly and USAID/Armenia:
Legislative Strengthening Program promoted the qualification of NA
Staff employees and rise of work efficiency.

Jill Pender, Director of USAID/Armenia: Legislative Strengthening
Program noted that the goal of the meeting is to promote the
strengthening of parliament-society link. As Mrs. Pender characterized,
USAID/Armenia Legislative Strengthening Program is a special model
of parliament and citizens cooperation.

Hovik Ohanyan, Head of Local Governance Issues Division of Regional
Policy and Analysis Department of the National Assembly and Edward
Safaryan, USAID/Armenia; Legislative Strengthening Program specialist
on Community Policy highlighted the establishment of information
and communication centers, making participant the community in the
legislative works, the establishment of the working relations between
the communities and the National Assembly.

Gohar Poghosyan, Deputy Head of NA Public Relations Department,
Tatul Soghomonyan, Head of Secretariat, Ashot Khachatryan, Head of
Legislative Analysis and Development Department, Lusine Hovhannisyan,
Head of the Division of Information Supply of the Computer Network,
Marusya Asatryan, Head of Information Department, Fatma Khachatryan,
Head of Library Division, Hakob Harutyunyan, Head of Citizen and Letter
Reception Division, Tigran Ghazaryan, Head of Social Policy Research
Department presented the main functions of their subdivisions, the
procedure of organization of parliament works, saying that the freedom
of information is carried out through information accessibility,
which is also an impetus for strengthening parliament-society link.

Concluding the results of the meeting Hovhannes Zargaryan,
Deputy Chief of NA Staff, highlighted the further cooperation, the
implementation of practical steps directed at the establishment of
the communication centers, ensuring that the National Assembly and
USAID/Armenia: Legislative Strengthening Program are ready to promote
their implementation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DIVERSITY DAY CELEBRATED BY SOME LOCAL STUDENTS

Midland Daily News,
March 30 2006

Recently 8th grade English and history students at Jefferson Middle
School participated in an annual “Diversity Day.” The day was part of
“Prejudice and its Consequences,” a unit in which students read “The
Diary of Anne Frank” and “Flowers of Algernon” as well as several
novels with prejudice-related themes; learn about World War II and
the Holocaust; and research and write about a different kind of
prejudice. They learned first hand about the value of diversity in
today’s world.

Thirty-three presenters held a total of 80 sessions, running
concurrently during four 20-minute time slots. In groups of 8-10,
students went to four different sessions to hear about the different
kinds of prejudice. Ranging in age from 16 to 91, presenters came
from Mount Pleasant, Midland, Grand Rapids and Detroit.

Students heard from people who had experienced being a POW and fighting
in the Battles of the Bulge, working as a “Rosie the Riveter,”
being in Memphis during the assassination of Martin Luther King,
living with a disability and being among the first African-Americans
living in Midland, among others. Stories of others’ battles against
prejudice covered Armenian genocide, the Japanese internment camps,
landmark civil rights Supreme Court decisions, the 6,000,000 paper
clip project and more. Students also had a chance to test their own
gender stereotypes in a “Men are from Mars” game and learn about
working with people with mental illness and physical and mental
disabilities from professionals in those fields.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ERDOGAN’S FOREIGN POLICY ADVISER BAGIS IN WASHINGTON

Anatolian Times, Turkey
March 30 2006

WASHINGTON – Egemen Bagis, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s
foreign policy adviser and Justice & Development Party (AKP) deputy,
met Congress members and representatives of Turkish community in
Washington on Wednesday.

Bagis, who is currently in Washington to attend the 25th annual
conference of American-Turkish Council and Turkish-U.S. Business
Council, held meetings with Ed Whitfield and Robert Wexler, founders
of Turkish Friendship Group in U.S. Congress, as well as officials
of Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA).

Speaking to A.A regarding his meetings in Washington, Bagis said,
“we have discussed Turkish-U.S. relations, increasing trade with Iraq
and Afghanistan as well as allegations of so-called Armenian genocide
in the meetings.”

“While April 24th (the date Armenians accepted as anniversary of
so-called genocide) is getting closer, U.S. Congress’ support to
Turkey continues. There is no negative atmosphere,” he noted.

“I explained Turkey’s efforts to settle stability in Iraq. After the
United States, Turkey is the second country with the highest number of
losses (truck drivers, engineers and workers) in Iraq. Turkey exerted
great efforts to convince Iraqi Sunnites to take part in elections
in Iraq. I also conveyed that bases in Turkey are used for soldier
rotation, and Turkey sent humanitarian aid to Iraq. Congress members
told me that they appreciated Turkey’s friendship,” said Bagis.

“U.S. officials asked me about the invitation of Hamas delegation
to Turkey. The visit of Hamas delegation should be considered as the
continuation of the will which brought together the foreign ministers
of Israel and Pakistan, and which supported participation of Sunnite
leaders in elections in Iraq. Turkey has exerted and will exert every
type of effort to prevent death of innocent people in the region.

International community was aware of Hamas’ participation in elections,
and Hamas won the elections. After it was elected, Turkey directly gave
messages to Hamas which could not be given by other countries. This is
a part of our geographical and historical responsibility,” said Bagis.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REPORTS ON ALLEGED MURDER OF AZERI SERVICEMAN FALSE

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2006 00:38 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ This is approximately 25th time the Armenian Ministry
of Defense (MOD) lately denies Azeri MOD reports on alleged break
of the cease-fire by the Armenian party, Armenian MOD Spokesperson,
colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

In his words, a recurrent statement that serviceman Aliyev Farid
Ragim oglu was killed by an Armenian sniper is false.

According to the version of the Azeri party, the incident took pace
“near Alibeyli village in Tovuz region of Azerbaijan.” At that, it
should be noted, that the Azeri serviceman could have been killed by
a sniper, only if he had been within the firing range of a kilometer
from the Armenian positions.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress