Author: Harutyunian Christine

ARMENIANS SHOULD REACT ADEQUATELY TO AZERBAIJAN’S TOUGH MOVES

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.04.2008 16:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "I don’t think the NKR government should coordinate
with Armenia every move it makes for recognition of Nagorno
Karabakh. Independence is the expression of will of Karabakhi people
through the referendum and passage of the Constitution on December 10,
2006. And we must fulfill the will of our people.

Since it is compatible with the stance of Armenia, other countries and
international organizations, it is already the job of the diplomats
and negotiators. As to the National Assembly, it must observe the
provisions of the Constitution," said Vahram Atanesyan, chairman of
the NKR National Assembly Committee on Foreign Relations.

"The Karabakh side never stated to endorse the principles proposed
in Madrid. We rejected those principles from the beginning," he said.

The NKR minister of foreign affairs Georgy Petrosyan thinks Azerbaijan
is aspired to derive maximum benefit from the talks. "Azerbaijan
has made its stance tougher. It means that the Armenian sides should
draw conclusions and take adequate moves," the minister said. "The
independence and freedom of NKR cannot be an issue of discussion,"
he added, Karabakh-Open.com reports.

PARLIAMENT SPEAKER DISCUSSES RELATIONS WITH KAZAKH DEPUTY SENATE CHAIRMAN

ARMENPRESS
April 10, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, ARMENPRESS: Parliament chairman Tigran Torosian
received today deputy chairman of Kazakhstan’s Senate, Mukhambet
Kopeev, who has arrived here to attend Serzh Sarkisian’s inauguration
ceremony.

Torosian was quoted by parliament press office as saying that the
visit is a good occasion for both sides to take stock of bilateral
relationships. He said inter-parliamentary contacts between Armenia
and Kazakhstan are ‘passive.’ Mukhambet Kopeev was quoted as saying
that creation of a four-party coalition in Armenia will help the
government to move forward.

The press service said the two men spoke also about a set of other
issues, including Kazakhstan’s upcoming chairmanship of the OSCE.

CIVIL APPEAL COURT TO EXAMINE GALA’S COMPLAINT ON APRIL 11

Noyan Tapan
April 10, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Civil Appeal Court will examine
the complaint on the dispute between Gyumri mayor’s office and Chap
LLC – founder of Gala television company on April 11, at 11 am,
NT correspondent was informed by the headquarters on protection of
speech freedom and Gala TV company.

To recap, on November 23, 2007, Gymri mayor’s office filed a claim to
the RA Economic Court with the request to oblige Chap LLC to remove
its broadcasting antenna from Gymri’s old television tower which,
according to a cadastre certificate, was managed by the mayor’s office
since November 5, 2007. In its counter-claim, Chap LLC requested to
establish a servitude on this tower for installing a broadcasting
antenna on it. The company filed a counter-claim to court after the
mayor of Gyumri V, Ghukasian had twice rejected the offer of some
public figures to solve the problem outside of court and then he had
rejected (in a court speech of his representative) the offer to sign
a reconciliation agreement and to rent the tower.

Judge of the Shirak regioal court A. Khachatrian on February 29 ruled
to sustain the claim of the mayor’s office against Chap LLC and oblige
this company to remove the antenna and cable from the tower. Chap
LLC on March 28 disputed this decision in the RA Civil Appeal Court.

RUBEN SAFRASTYAN: TURKEY MAY REVIEW ITS APPROACHES ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

armradio.am
10.04.2008 15:21

Serzh Sargsyan’s pre-election statements on establishment of
Armenian-Turkish relations without any preconditions and holding open
discussions received a positive reaction both in the West and in
Turkey, Director of the Oriental Studies Institute of RA National
Academy of Sciences, Turkologist Ruben Safrastyan told a press
conference today. He added that this is proven by Turkish President
Abdullah Gul’s congratulation to Serzh Sargsyan on his victory in
the presidential elections.

Besides, according to Ruben Safrastyan, if the "Justice and
Development" Party remains in power, it’s not ruled out that official
Ankara may reconsider its approaches on establishing relations with
Armenia. The Turkologist reminded the words of Turkish Foreign Minister
Ali Babacan that the economic, no t the political interests should
be taken into consideration in Armenian-Turkish relations.

"LET THE EARTH BREATHE" EXHIBITION OPENS AT HAIGAZIAN UNIVERSITY

Noyan Tapan
April 9, 2008

BEIRUT, APRIL 9, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. With the collaboration
of the Ministry of Environment, and the financial sponsorship of
MTC TOUCH, the leading mobile telecommunications company n Lebanon,
the collective painting exhibition entitled "Let the Earth Breathe"
opened on April 4 at the Haigazian University Art Center, Matossian
Gallery, amidst a big crowd of diplomats, religious leaders, artists,
media representatives and art appreciators.

EVENT DEDICATED TO THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF INSTITUTE OF ARMENIAN STUDIES TO TAKE PLACE IN LOS ANGELES

Noyan Tapan
April 7, 2008

An unprecedented gathering of distinguished community leaders will
celebrate the Third Anniversary of the USC Institute of Armenian
Studies, by saluting the achievements of California’s Armenian
community during the last half-century. The celebration will be held
Los Angeles on May 18.

FUNDS FROM STATE BUDGET TO BE ALLOCTATED FOR IRRIGATION SYSTEM REPAIRS FOR FIRST TIME

Noyan Tapan
April 4, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The 2008 program on repairs of
irrigation systems was approved at the April 4 sitting of the Armenian
government. The chairman of the RA State Water Industry Committee
Andranik Andreasian told reporters after the sitting that the program
envisages allocating 1 bln 407 mln drams (about 4.5 mln USD) from the
state budget for major repairs of the irrigation systems. According
to him, it is for the first time that state budgetary resources are
allocated not only to fill the gap of the system’s current expenditures
but also to relieve the burden of capital expenditures.

A. Andreasian said that the program has two subcomponents: urgent
work to be done prior to the irrigation season, and major work,
including major repairs of pumping stations and main water-pipes.

It was stated that the Millennium Challange Program on the irrigation
systems will be implemented starting from next year. Studies and
design research work is currently underway.

ARMENIAN GROUP TO HAVE CONCERT IN WATERTOWN ON APRIL 11

Noyan Tapan
April 3

On April 11 the BLACK SEA SALSA plays at the Mosesian Theatre in the
Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown, marking the first time
the Center has engaged an Armenian group to play at the 350-seat
auditorium. Led by trumpeter Dan Teager (Tergukasian) and featuring
John Baboian on guitar, the 15-piece group has established itself as
one of Boston’s premier festival bands, which performs Latin jazz,
blues and Armenian rhythms.

SCREENING OF FILM ABOUT AMERICAN ARMENIAN ADVOCATE CHARLES GARRY TO TAKE PLACE IN NEW YORK

Noyan Tapan
April 1, 2008

The screening of "THE PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE" film will take place in
New York on April 5. The Hrag Yedalian’s feature-length documentary,
which is titled "The People’s Advocate: The Life and Times of Charles
R. Garry", tells about Armenian-American civil rights attorney Charles
Garry’s turbulent career.

The documentary traces Garry’s life from his experiences as a young
Armenian growing up in Fresno, Calif., to his ascendance as the
attorney of the Black Panther Party.

The film will make its East Coast debut at the 15th Annual New York
Underground Film Festival.

ARMENIAN OPEN FIRST BADMINTON INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT HELD IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
March 31, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The first International Badminton
Tournament was held on March 28-29 in Yerevan on the initiative of
the International and Armenian Badminton Federations. 16 male and
female sportsmen represented each of the following countries: Armenia,
Bulgaria, Russia, and Artsakh in the tournament. The tournament was
sponsored by Bulgarian Armenian Buzand Kasabian, the Chairman of
the Badminton Federation of Bulgaria, the Chairman of the Badminton
International Federation’s Balkan and Black Sea Countries’ Committee.

Vasili Kuznetsov (Moscow) won in men’s monogames and Anna Nazarian
(Yerevan) in women’s monogames. Hayk Sisakian – Sargis Hakobian and
Anna Nazarian – Sona Ghukasian pairs won in pair games.

After the end of the tournament the participants will have
demonstrative games in Gyumri and Vanadzor.