Author: Hambardsumian Paul

ARMENIAN PUPIL OF ISTANBUL TAKES FIRST PLACE IN DRAWING INTER-COLLEGE COMPETITION

Noyan Tapan
June 5, 2009

ISTANBUL, JUNE 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The pupils of Armenian
Dadyan college of Istanbul have had great success in Sea and Istanbul
inter-college competition held by Doganca Museum.

The Marmara weekly announced that third-form pupil Selin Chitchian took
the first place and was rewarded with a computer and 500 Turkish liras
(about 0). And fourth-form pupil Garun Atelmsh received 100 liras
(about ) and encouraging gifts for his drawing work.

NATO TAUGHT GEORGIA A LESSON
Georgy Dvali

WPS Agency, Russia
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
June 3, 2009 Wednesday

NATO’S MILITARY EXERCISE ENDED IN GEORGIA; Military exercise of the
Alliance in Georgia is finally over.

International military exercise within the framework of the Partnership
for Peace NATO’s Program in Georgia officially ended, yesterday. The
war game in Georgia lasted almost a whole month despite bitter
protests from Moscow. Russia is convinced that the West abets the
Georgian leadership and President Mikhail Saakashvili responsible
for the shooting war in South Ossetia last August.

The exercise in Vaziani not far from Tbilisi began on May 6 and
included two phases. Cooperative Longbow (May 6-19) was focused on
compatibility of international brigades deployed in crises. Cooperative
Lancer that followed concentrated on deployment of battalions in the
field. Over 1,000 servicemen from regular armies of 14 NATO members
and partners participated in the exercise.

Official Tbilisi regarded the exercise as a political gesture rather
than a military event. Russia was categorically against organization
of a military exercise in Georgia. It was convinced then and remains
convinced now that the Alliance encourages Saakashvili and Co to
launch new escapades. (One such escapade resulted in a shooting war
in South Ossetia last year.) NATO leadership feigned innocence and
insisted that the exercise had been planned long ago and had nothing
to do with Russia or runaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

In any event, the event was noticeably less grandiose than Brussels
had hoped to make it – partially due to the pressure applied by Moscow,
partially to financial problems. Armenia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Moldova,
Serbia, and Estonia begged off at the last possible moment. Armored
battalion of the Georgian regular army quartered in Mukhrovani mutinied
literally a day before the planned beginning of the exercise. Official
Tbilisi announced right then and there that the putschists were out
to wreck the NATO exercise.

By and large, the exercise was a success – discounting the incident
with a Canadian wounded when a hand grenade exploded before he
tossed it.

Defense Minister David Sikharulidze called the exercise "a
necessary element of Georgia’s prime objective – Euroatlantic
integration." Saakashvili himself visited Vaziani to thank NATO
officers for "support" of Georgia’s efforts to evolve to standards
of the Alliance.

"That was a routine exercise, nothing more. The involved servicemen
drilled peacekeeping operations. The legend stipulated a situation
resembling the Iraqi one," Arsenali Chief Editor Irakly Aladashvili
said. "It is the political aspect of the exercise that really counts. I
mean, NATO supported Georgia despite Moscow’s protests."

ECOLOGICAL DISASTER IN ARMENIA

LRAGIR.AM
12:59:12 – 05/06/2009

The head of the Greens Union of Armenia Hakob Sanasaryan and the
Director of the Institute of Hydroecology and Ichthyology of the
National Academy of Sciences Boris Gabrielyan dwelt on the iconological
danger, which threatens Armenia, in particular the Sevan issue.

The Lake Sevan is of great importance for our region as a reserve of
sweet water, stated Boris Gabrielyan. He noted that the main problem
is the quality of the water. In order to get sufficient quality of
water, 2 problems are to be solved. The first is the increase of the
level of water and the second is the restoration of the fish reserve.

The question on the restoration of the reserves of the Ishkhan fish
is also very important for Sevan. There are 4 kinds of this fish in
the lake, 2 of which disappeared. The reserves of the Sig fish are
also in danger.

The head of the Greens Union Hakob Sanasaryan noted that the Sevan
issue is on governmental level. In 2008, a presidential commission
was set up, which did not produce any effect. Law forbids fishing in
Sevan, but people continue doing it.

As to Yerevan, Sanasaryan stated that the main problems of the city
are the elimination of green and the unclearness of Hrazdan River.

GUEVREKIANS ESTABLISH $100,000 ENDOWMENT FUND FOR ARS

vrekians-establish-100000-endowment-fund-for-ars/
June 3, 2009

WATERTOWN, Mass.-On the eve of the Armenian Relief Society’s
centennial, Jacky and Seta Guevrekian of Egypt established an endowment
fund of $100,000 to be part of the ARS Endowment Fund. The annual
proceeds of the fund will be used by the ARS, Inc. Central Executive
Board to pursue the implementation of its humanitarian projects
in Armenia.

Jacky Guevrekian was born and raised in Alexandria, Egypt. He studied
at the St. Marc French High School then went into the jewelry business,
the profession of his father. In 1969, he married Seta Kezelian, the
daughter of one of the prominent Egyptian-Armenian families living
in Cairo. They were blessed with two sons, Vahram and Tro.

The Guevrekian family relocated to Cairo in 1975. In 1990, they
launched their tourism business by establishing the Nile Crocodile
Cruise and Travel Ways companies.

The family actively takes part in the Egyptian-Armenian
community. Jacky Guevrekian was a member of the boards of trustees of
the Armenian Church of Alexandria and Cairo. He was also a member of
the Political Council of the Egyptian-Armenian community. He cooperated
closely with the "Gamk" Athletic Union and the "Harachtimaser"
Cultural Organization of Alexandria. In Cairo, he was chairperson
of the Homenetmen "Ararat" Chapter for two terms. He is currently a
member of the Prelacy Executive Council of Cairo as well as a board
member of the "Houssaper" Cultural Association.

Seta Guevrekian has been a long time member of the ARS Cairo Chapter,
serving as its chairwoman in 2008.

ARS, Inc. Central Executive Board member Maro Froundjian, who was
visiting Egypt for Mother’s Day, stated that "the Guevrekian family
is one of those numerous diaspora families who live and breathe their
love of Armenia. We are happy that the ARS projects in Armenia have
inspired the Guevrekians and that they have chosen to serve Armenia
through the ARS, Inc. The endowment fund they established will help
the implementation and development of our projects in Armenia and we
are confident that others will follow the example of the Guevrekians,
enabling the ARS to better serve our homeland as well as the diaspora
Armenian communities worldwide."

VLADIMIR DOROKHIN: RUSSIA’S POSITION OVER NAGORNO-KARABAKH IS NEITHER PRO-ARMENIAN NOR PRO-AZERBAIJANI

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
05.06.2009 13:37 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russia’s role in the process of settling the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is so efficient, as it demanded, Russian
Ambassador to Azerbaijan Vladimir Dorokhin said.

"Russia stands for peaceful settlement of the conflict. There
was a period when Moscow wanted to send its peacemakers to
Nagorno-Karabakh. The composition of international mediators on the
conflict has been formed and Russia has to reckon with it," Dorokhin
said at a meeting in the Azerbaijani President administration Strategic
Studies Centre on Friday.

Russia cannot take the settlement of the conflict in its hands and
command," Dorokhin added.

According to him, Russia’s position is neither pro-Armenian
nor pro-Azerbaijani. "We want to reach fair settlement of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the ambassador said, Azerbaijani Trend
News reports.

POLITICAL SCIENTIST: JUST BEFORE THE MEETING ARMENIA HAS TURNED OUT TO BE UNABLE TO ACCEPT THE SHARE OF COMPROMISES THE MEDIATORS RECOMMENDED IT TO TAKE

Today.Az
2811.html
June 3 2009
Azerbaijan

"My opinion about the contacts of presidents, despite the large number
of meetings, has not changed", said political scientist Rasim Agayev,
commenting on the upcoming St. Petersburg meeting of Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia.

According to him, those contacts in fact do not give anything without
a preliminary work, except for the fact that the sides voice their
positions and if they have any new proposals, they voice them.

"A historical experience in general and in conflict situations,
particularly in the Middle East, shows that a breakthrough can be
expected only in the event like it was in Camp David when Americans,
while reconciling Egypt and Israel, brought them together and demanded
to strike a peace agreement. At that moment Americans had political
figures, who were flexible and ready for due compromises, at hand",
said Agayev.

"In this case, a particularly optimistic outcome is not expected,
because just before this meeting it became clear that Armenia was not
ready to digest a dose-offs that are recommended by the mediators,
specifically Matthew Bryza. And this is the matter.

‘Tsar’ to open Moscow Film Festival

Event to run until June 28

Variety.com
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Festival News

By BOBBIE WHITEMAN

The 31st Moscow Film Festival will open June 19 with helmer Pavel
Lungin’s Un Certain Regard player "Tsar."

Lungin, a Russian now based in France, will also chair the jury for
the Official Competition, which unveiled its full lineup on Tuesday.

Among the 16 pics in the running for statuettes of St. George are Noah
Buschel’s "The Missing Person."

Austrian helmer Robert Dornhelm will lead the jury in the Perspectives
section for debuts and experimental films. Among the 13 competitors is
Duncan Jones’ Sundance player "Moon."

Event will also feature a co-production forum and a focus on Bulgaria.

The fest, which is celebrating its 50th year, ends June 28.

The 31st MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Competition program

`Bibi, ` Hassan Yektapanah, Iran
`Tréfa` (Prank), Péter Gárdos, Hungary
`Come dio comanda` (As God Commands), Gabriele Salvatores, Italy
`Beauty, ` Toshio Goto, Japan
`Mala Moskwa` (Little Moscow), Waldemar Krzystek, Poland
`Melodiya dlya sharmanki` (Melody for a Barrel Organ), Kira Muratova, Ukraine
`Mooki bo’era (Burning Mooki), ` Lena and Slava Chaplin, Israel
`Palata nomer 6` (Ward No. 6), Karen Shakhnazarov, Russia
`Petia po doroge v tsarstvie nebesnoye` (Pete on the Way to Heaven), Nikolai Dostal, Russia
`Mediatori` (The Mediator), Dito Tsintsadze, Georgia, Germany
`The Missing Person, ` Noah Buschel, U.S.
`Cinco dà – as sin Nora ` (Five Days Without Nora), Mariana Chenillo, Mexico
`Rani` (Crayfish), Ivan Tscherkelov, Bulgaria
`Happy New Year, ` Christoph Schaub, Switzerland
`Jeo nuk ui game` (Today and the Other Days ), Wee An Choi, Korea
`Chudo` (Miracle), Alexander Proshkin, Russia

Perspectives Program

`Faasuto sukuwaddo` (The First Squad), Yoshiharu Ashino, Russia, Japan, Canada
`Je te mangerais` (You Will Be Mine), Sophie Laloy, France
`Last Conversation, ` Noud Heerk
t Days), Cemal San, Turkey
`Koma` (Coma), Ludwig Wûst, Austria
`Sukunat` (Silence), Yolqin To’ychiyev, Uzbekistan
`Die Dame Mit Dem Hündchen` (Lady With the Little Dog), Julij Koltun, Germany
`Bonded Parallels, ` Hovhannes Galstyan, Armenia, France, Norway
`Metastaze` (Metastases), Branko Schmidt, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia
`Aya seyahat` (Journey to the Moon), Kutluo Ataman, Turkey
`Moon, ` Duncan Jones, U.S.
`Perfidia` (Perfidy), Rodrigo Bellott, Chile, U.S.
`Sobytie` (The Event), Andrey Eshpay, Russia

estivals&jump=story&id=1061&articleid= VR1118004434&cs=1

SYRIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT YEREVAN IN COMING DAYS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
02.06.2009

/PanARMENIAN.N et/ Syria’s President Bashar Assad will arrive in
Yerevan in coming days, Armenian Foreign Minister said.

"I am glad that the agreements achieved during my visit to Damascus
are already being implemented," Edward Nalbandian said during a joint
press conference with his visiting Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem.

"We discussed the Armenian-Syrian relations, regional issues, Nagorno
Karabakh conflict and normalization of Armenian-Turkish ties," he said.

For his part, Mr. Muallem said that his country wishes to develop
relations with Armenia.

THE PRESIDENT INSTRUCTED TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS ON "THE TERMS AND LEGAL PROCEDURES OF THE AMNESTY"

AZG Armenian Daily
03/06/2009

Presidential

Armenian President Serzh Sargsian instructed the heads of Armenia’s
law-enforcement agencies and Justice Minister Gevorg Danielian to
submit proposals on "the terms and legal procedures of the amnesty"
by June 15, RA President’s office reports.

"The presidential administration was instructed to summarize within
the mentioned period relevant proposals from political forces, figures
and the [presidential] Public Council," the office said in a statement,
according to Azatutyun radio station.

A. BAKHCHAGULIAN SAYS THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS OF YEREVAN PASSED IN A FAIR AND TRANSPARANT WAY

ARMENPRESS
June 1, 2009

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, ARMENPRESS: The May 31 Municipal elections of Yerevan
were conducted in a fair and transparent way, secretary of Central
Electoral Commission Abram Bakhchagulian said during today’s meeting
with journalists.

According to him, during the elections publicity was ensured,
the Central Electoral Commission applied an inner net through
which the electoral commissions of polling stations operatively
conveyed information on the process of elections and calculation of
votes. A. Bakhchagulian noted that the representatives of polling
station commissions and Central Electoral Commissions gave a fast
respond to the flaws and violations registered in the polling stations
by visiting the place of incident and rectifying them.

9:00-14:00 o’clock is the deadline for presenting the
application-complaints to the commissions of electoral
constituencies. A. Bakhchagulian said that after their discussion it
will become clear what kind of flaws and violations took place and
whether they had an impact on the results of elections or not.

A. Bakhchagulian considers the 52% of participation in the elections
as a high result.