Author: Emil Lazarian

WB BOARD CONFIRMED PROGRAM OF DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN ARMENIA
Lragir.am
30 March 06
The board of directors of the World Bank confirmed in Washington the
program of development of renewable energy in Armenia, which costs 8
million dollars. According to the news agency ARKA, this was stated by
Roger Robinson, the director of the WB office in Yerevan, during the
news conference on March 30. Roger Robinson said the program will be
funded by a 3 million dollar grant of the Global Energy Foundation
and an IDA loan of 5 million dollars for 40 years, on 0.75 per
cent interest and a grace period of 10 years. Roger Robinson said
the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will provide
7 million dollars, and the Gafeschyan Foundation will allocate 3
million dollars for the program of renewable energy in Armenia. The
WB representative in Armenia said the program must be confirmed by
the government and ratified by the National Assembly of Armenia.
It is estimated to create an additional 80 megawatt capacity of
renewable energy in Armenia within the upcoming 5 years.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“GOLDEN GUITAR-2006” REPUBLICAN FESTIVAL OF AUTHOR SONG TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
Noyan Tapan
Mar 30 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN. The “Ovation” producer center in
association with the Charity Fund of Cultural Development and RA
Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs is organizing a “Golden Guitar”
(“Voske Kitar”) republican festival of author song. Those creating
and performing in the author genre to the accompaniment of guitar
can take part in the festival. Samvel Mesropian, Director of the
“Ovation” producer center, informed about it at the March 30 press
conference. According to him, the goal of the festival of author
song is to summarize the developments of this genre of recent
years, to reveal new authors performing their own songs giving
them an opportunity to perform from on the stage for the first
time. S.Mesropian said that such a festival was last organized
in Armenia in 1999. And before it the “Yeghegnadzor” festival
of author song was traditionally organized. According to Edvard
Zorikian, a member of the festival’s steering committee, a well-known
author-singer, this festival is just an opportunity to touch upon this
genre of art of singing. “This is the kind of art which is very subtle
but is very stable and of principle with its criteria. The lyrics is
dominating here and the guitar is the accompaniment of this lyrics,”
E.Zorikian is convinced. Well-known guitarist Martin Aharonian
emphasized that this genre is very individual and author-singers’
songs mainly contain also autobiographical elements. He mentioned
that at present this is an unknown genre for a wide circle of young
people. The bids for participation in the festival will be accepted
till April 20, after which the pre-selection tour will be held. The
best performers will take part in the contest of the first tour to be
held on May 10-15, then the winners together with well-known authors
performing their own songs will take part in the second tour’s concerts
to be held on June 6-10.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GAVAR THEATER WILL NOT BE REPAIRED THIS YEAR, EITHER
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 30 2006
GAVAR, MARCH 30, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the occasion
of the International Day of Theater, Gegharkunik Governor Stepan
Barseghian congratulated the actors of Gavar Levon Kalantar State
Dramatic theater two days later, meeting with the theater’s creative
collective on March 29. The Governor gave diplomas to 8 actors for
their contribution to the theater development and 7 actors were given
letters of thanks. As the actors mentioned, they are pleased to be
remembered even if once a year but they would like the theater not to
be left without attention. The hope that the theater will be repaired
with the funds of 2006 state budget won’t be fulfilled: the projecting
works implemented by the Ministry of Urban Development that lasted
for about 3 months remained on paper. Whereas, the theater badly needs
repairs. There are more than 0.5 meters of water only under the stage,
the building walls are cracked. In fact, the non-attractive looks of
the theater building won’t change in 2006, either.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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