Author: Hakobian Adrine

NKR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
28 May 05

On May 25 the plenary meeting of the NKR National Assembly took
place. Placing changes in the legislative programme of the tenth
session of the National Assembly, the parliament confirmed the agenda
of the meeting consisting of 21 points. The first bill discussed was
the bill on amendments to the NKR Law on Land. The chairman of the
State Committee of Real Estate Cadastre Valery Alexanian mentioned that
the proposed changes will provide wider possibilities for privatization
of land by inhabitants of rural communities, including the families
of killed or disabled azatamartiks, as well as the families of
innocent victims of the war. The bill was approved by the standing
committee of production and industrial infrastructures (Chairman
Kamo Barseghian) and adopted by the parliament. The committee also
recommended the bill on amendments to the NKR law on city building,
proposed by the minister of development of industrial infrastructures
and city building, and the bill on amendments to the NKR laws on
“Commerce and Services”; “Energy Saving and Restored Energy System”,
“Nature Protection and Fees for Use of Natural Resources”, “Trade
Marks and Service Marks and Place of Production of Goods”, Postal
Service”, “Electronic Document and Electronic Digital Signature”,
“Technical Surveillance of Energy System and Energy Consumption”
proposed by the vice minister of industrial infrastructures and city
building Arnold Abrahamian. These bills did not cause controversies
and were adopted by the National Assembly. Presenting the bill on
civilian registry, the minister of justice Robert Hayrapetian said
the aim of the bill is to provide legislative ground for reforms
in the system of civilian registry. The importance of the bill was
pointed out in the review of the standing state and legal committee
(Chairman Youri Hayrapetian). The bill was enacted. The vice minister
of education, culture and sport Slava Asrian presented the amendments
to the laws on “Graduate and Post-Graduate Education” and “Education”
and commented on the essence and role of the educational reforms
emanating from the cited laws. The standing social committee (Chairman
Vasily Atajanian) recommended the bill. The parliament adopted the
amendments. The minister of social security Lenston Ghulian presented
the amendments to the laws on State Labour Agency and social security
of the families of servicemen. According to the representative of
the government, the first document provides for establishing a state
agency which will control the implementation of the Labour Code,
as well as the principles of other legislative acts and collective
agreements containing items on labour. The second bill proposes
amendments which correspond to the references made to the law on
state pensions in effect. The standing social committee approved of
both bills, and they were enacted by the National Assembly. Then the
parliament discussed the package of bills on amendments to the NKR
laws on stable payments for petrol and diesel fuel and tax on trade,
adopted at the first reading, and the law on stable payments. The bill
caused controversies in reference to the maintenance of the rate of the
stable payments in foreign currency. The members of parliament did not
accept the explanations of the vice chairman of the standing committee
of finance, budget and economic management Suren Sarghissian. Taking
into account the absence of the director of the State Tax Agency
Hakob Ghahramanian, the discussion of the package was postponed
to the next meeting of the parliament. By the request of the NKR
Central Election Committee, the parliament discussed and adopted the
expounding of the Point 1 Article 108 of the NKR Electoral Code. Then,
the members of parliament presented their statements. In particular,
Ararat Petrossian expressed concern about the imperfections observed
by him in the course of the election campaign. Edward Aghabekian
congratulated the tenth form pupils on finishing school.

AA. 28-05-2005

BONDS WITH 10-YEAR MATURITY TO BE ISSUED ON JUNE 21 FOR FIRST TIME IN
ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 21, coupon bonds with a 10-year
maturity will be issued in Armenia for the first time. According to
Head of the State Debt Management Department of the RA Ministry of
Finance and Economy Arshaluys Margarian, the total amount of the bonds
to be issued will make 1.5 bln drams (about 3.4 mln USD). He noted
that it is planned to issue bonds with a maturity of 12 years in
September.

BERNARD FASSIER: KARABAKH CONFLICT SHOULD BE SETTLED WITHIN FRAMEWORK
OF TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN

YEREVAN, MAY 27. ARMINFO. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be
settled within the frameworks of the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. Baku’s 525th newspaper reads referring to the press office
of the Defence Ministry of Azerbaijan, French Cochairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group for Nagorny Karabakh Bernard Fassier has made such a
statement during the meeting with Minister of defence of Azerbaijan
Safar Abiyev.

“The whole international community agrees the conflict was resolved
within the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. It
must be so”, Fassier stated, the resource reports. It should be noted
that the embassy of France in Armenia could not either confirm or
refute this information.

ARMENIA, NETHERLANDS MAKE AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION IN EDUCATION AREA

YEREVAN, May 27. /ARKA/. Armenia and Netherlands made an agreement on
cooperation in education area. According to Armenian National
Assembly’s Public Relations Department, the agreement was reached at
the meeting between Armenian Parliament Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan
and Netherlands Education and Science Minister Maria Van Der
Hoven. The sides arranged about establishing contacts between the two
countries universities and about using Netherlands experience in
secondary special education system restoration in Armenia as well as
about mutual visits of specialists and other types of
cooperation. M.V. -0–

Armenpress

RECORD-HIGH HARVEST OF APPRICOTS EXPECTED

YEREVAN, MAY 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenian farmers are expected to gather this
year a record-high harvest of apricots, some 50,000 tons, a ten-time rise
from last year’s 5,000 tons. A senior official of the agricultural ministry,
Garnik Petrosian told Armenpress that bad weather conditions earlier this
year caused only minor damages to apricot tress.
He also said a similarly high yield of peach, cherry and other fruits is
expected that will be quite enough to meet retail sale and processing
industry demands. Petrosian said high harvest is largely due to
recommendations of the ministry, followed by farmers and wider use of
fertilizers and pesticides. He predicted a sharp decrease of price for one
kilo of apricots, saying it will go down to up 100 dram unlike last year
when it was sold at 700-1000 drams.
He also said some 5,000 tons of apricots are very likely to be sold
outside Armenia. According to his forecasts, some 120,000 tons of apples,
470,000 tons of potato are expected this year. Also the grape yield will be
27 percent higher and may reach 190,000 tons against 148,000 tons in 2004.
He said this is due to expansion of land under grape and good weather
conditions.

Armenian victories celebrated in Sardarapat

26.05.2005 17:51

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – An event, organized by the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation (ARF) Supreme Body of Armenia, to mark the May victories
was held at the Sardarapat Museum and Memorial.

In his opening remarks, Supreme Body representative Armen Rustamian
said that the ARF is marking the victories this nation has won in the
battles of Avarair, Sardarapat and Shushi, as well as the victory in
the Great Patriotic War in a unique way — in open-air
celebrations. “May is our symbol of unity. Another such unity will
take place on May 28 around Mount Aragats,” Rustamian said.

Armavir governor Albert Heroyan, in turn, said, “About 3,500 Armenians
have shed their blood at this place to create an independent Armenia.”

“Sardarapat is an unforgettable page of our history, and every
Armenian feels stronger and shrilled here,” Lavrenti Barseghian,
director of the Genocide and Sardarapat museums said addressing those
gathered.

AZG Armenian Daily #095, 26/05/2005

Home

UNFINISHED BUILDINGS OF YEREVAN

There is about a dozen of sold or rented unfinished buildings in Yerevan.
The abandoned and sad appearance spoils the panorama of the city. This year
certain decisions have been taken for these edifices that are located mainly
in the central parts of the city. In particular, the semi-built edifice of a
hotel near the railway station has become a real problem for the city’s
administration. It’s has remained unfinished under the open sky and got
rotten.

As for the new building that is to be built on the place of the former
“Sevan” hotel, the architects will soon submit plans for its construction.

By Karine Danielian

Le Figaro, France
mercredi 25 mai 2005

JUSTICE L’éditeur publie les thèses officielles turques

Le Quid jugé pour négation du génocide arménien

Cécilia Gabizon
[25 mai 2005]

Gorune est un petit-fils de rescapés arméniens. Il porte en lui
l’histoire de ses grands-mères, l’une laissée pour morte parmi les
cadavres, l’autre violée au cours de la déportation dans le désert.
Gorune sait l’apaisement impossible tant que la Turquie niera le
génocide. Comme lui des centaines d’Arméniens regroupés dans le
Comité de défense de la cause arménienne (CDCA) tentent de contrer
les thèses négationnistes. En 2003, ils ont ainsi porté plainte
contre le Quid, accusé de faire prévaloir la version turque et de
présenter le génocide comme une «interprétation arménienne» de
l’histoire. L’Union des étudiants juifs de France, J’accuse, et
Mémoire 2000 se sont joints à la procédure que la justice doit
trancher cet après-midi.

Tout commence en 2002, lorsque des associations juives assignent le
Quid en justice pour avoir publié les chiffres du négationniste
Faurisson. Marc Knobel, président de J’accuse, alerte les
associations arméniennes car, dit-il, «le Quid utilisait les mêmes
procédés, publiant de pseudo-travaux scientifiques pour minimiser le
nombre de morts arméniens et nier le génocide».

Au-delà des estimations des victimes, variant entre 1,2 million
«selon des Arméniens» et 300 000 selon Ankara, le Quid explique dans
la rubrique «Histoire de la Turquie» : «1915… Transfert d’Arméniens
vers les provinces méridionales de l’Empire ottoman (collaborent avec
la Russie) nombreux décès (épidémie, maladie) pendant le voyage.»
Cette description occulte totalement la planification de
l’extermination, s’insurgent les associations arméniennes. Le
directeur général du Quid, Fabrice Frémy, s’en défend : «Nous
évoquons à plusieurs reprises le génocide», en renvoyant au chapitre
sur l’Arménie.

De fait, le Quid mentionne la décision du Tribunal permanent des
peuples en 1984, ou encore la loi française du 29 janvier 2001 qui
reconnaît le génocide. Mais toutes les entrées sur ce printemps 1915
– négation des massacres comme éléments à charge – semblent sur le
même plan. Pis encore, jugent les associations arméniennes, la
version turque est valorisée dans un large encadré. «C’est comme si
l’on donnait la parole aux nazis sur la Shoah», s’insurge Harout
Mardorissian, président du CDCA.

Leur avocat, Me Bernard Jouanneau, propose de remplacer le chapitre
sur la «position turque» par un texte explicite : «La question
arménienne est aujourd’hui réglée par la reconnaissance du génocide
de 1915 par les historiens. Néanmoins, la Turquie continue de nier sa
responsabilité dans le génocide arménien.»

Dans ses conclusions, le procureur n’a pas suivi cette suggestion. Il
estime que la diversité des points de vue vaut objectivité
historique. Pour autant, les associations arméniennes veulent croire
que la justice retiendra «l’atteinte à la dignité humaine». Elles
entendent également proposer à la rentrée un amendement pour punir la
négation du génocide arménien. Pour l’instant, seule celle de la
Shoah est illégale.

E! Online
May 25 2005

System “Mesmerizes” Charts

by David Jenison
May 25, 2005, 4:35 PM PT

The angry American couldn’t compete with the angry Armenians.

In the record store showdown between flag-waving country star Toby
Keith and power rockers System of a Down, the Billboard 200 album
chart was a little bit country and a lot more rock ‘n’ roll. System
of a Down’s Mezmerize debuted at number one, moving 453,000 copies,
according to Nielsen SoundScan.

System’s new CD also opened at number one in 11 other countries,
including Japan, Canada, Germany, France, Austria and Greece, with
sales topping 800,000 worldwide. Mezmerize, the band’s second
straight chart topper, is the first of a two-part concept album.
Hypnotize, the second in the series, will be released in late fall.
The band, all of whose members are of Armenian heritage, is riding
the smash single “B.Y.O.B.,” an anti-war song that stands for “Bring
Your Own Bombs.” Coincidentally, the group earned headlines earlier
this month by dropping the F-bomb during a Saturday Night Live
performance.

This marks the fifth consecutive week a rock act has debuted at
number one–following Dave Matthews Band’s Stand Up, Nine Inch Nails’
With Teeth, Bruce Springsteen’s Devils & Dust and Rob Thomas’
Something To Be. Rock, consigned to dinosaur status in recent years
due to the dominance of pop, country, rap and R&B, has experienced a
renaissance this year, with Green Day’s American Idiot and U2’s How
To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb also topping the charts and albums by
alt-rock stars Weezer and Beck performing strongly.

Meanwhile, Toby Keith, whose pro-war sentiments were vocalized in his
mega-hit “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American),”
checked in at number two with 283,000 copies of Honkytonk University.
His previous album, 2003’s Shock’n Y’all, rode that hit single to
number one with career-best first-week sales of 585,000; the older CD
returned to the chart this week at 174.

Soulful R&B singer Kem sold 140,000 copies of Album II to open at
number five. The former homeless drug addict made his major label
debut in 2003 with Kemistry.

As Idol-mania hits a fever pitch with the season finale Wednesday,
the 13-track American Idol Season 4: The Showstoppers opened at six
with 83,000 copies. The disc features songs from the top 10
finalists, including Bo Bice, Carrie Underwood and Constantine
Maroulis.

The fifth and final Top 10 bow belonged to veterans rockers Def
Leppard, whose double-disc best-of set Rock of Ages: The Definitive
Collection sold more than 65,000 copies to open in the 10 spot.

The rest of the Top 10 were leftovers: Mariah Carey’s The
Emancipation of Mimi at three, Dave Matthews Band’s Stand Up at four,
50 Cent’s The Massacre at seven, Gwen Stefani’s Love, Angel, Music,
Baby at eight and Weezer’s Make Believe at nine.

Rapper Memphis Bleek just missed the Top 10, selling 60,000 copies of
534 to open at 11. The disc benefited from a guest appearance by
“retired” rapper Jay-Z on “Dear Summer.”

Other high-charting newbies included Cowboy Troy’s Loco Motive at 15,
Natalie’s self-titled at 16, Totally Hits 2005 at 20 and Van
Morrison’s Magic Time at 25. Bozo rap-rockers the Insane Clown Posse
followed at 32 with Calm.

Finally, the Black Eyed Peas, whose Monkey Business hits retail next
month, celebrated their 100th week on the charts with Elephunk. The
rap group joins Switchfoot, Beyoncé, Maroon 5 and the Beach Boys as
the only artists currently claming triple-digit stints on the album
chart.

Here’s a recap of the Top 10 albums for the week ended Sunday:

1. Mezmerize, System of a Down
2. Honkytonk University, Toby Keith
3. The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah Carey
4. Stand Up, Dave Matthews Band
5. Album II, Kem
6. American Idol Season 4: The Showstoppers, various
7. The Massacre, 50 Cent
8. Love, Angel, Music, Baby, Gwen Stefani
9. Make Believe, Weezer
10. Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection, Def Leppard

AZG Armenian Daily #094, 25/05/2005

Diaspora

ARTHUR NERSISIAN WON ‘ANAHIT’ LITERARY PRIZE IN NEW YORK

The Armenian Center at Columbia University informed that this year “Anahit”
Literary Prize went to writer Arthur Nersisian. Mr. Nersisian won the prize
for his book “Unlubricated” published by Harper Collins Publishing House.
The book was highly estimated by the critics and The New York Times.

Arthur Nersisian was born and grew up in New York. He studied at the class
of Leo Hamalian, Editor of “Ararat” periodical of AGBU. He wrote 6 novels
and a number of plays that were staged at different theatres in the 1990s.

It’s worth mentioning that the members of the literary jury were Peter
Balakian, Peter Sourian, Nancy Grigorian and Lynds Hamalian.

By Hakob Tsulikian