Author: Hovik Karapetian

OBSERVERS WORKING IN VAIN
A1+
| 18:54:12 | 11-10-2005 | Politics |
Yesterday during a special sitting the Central Electoral Committee
adopted a package of proposals of “It’s Your Choice” NGO. The package
provides for concretization of responsibility, that is, if an observer
makes a violation, not the organization he represents but he himself
will be called to account.
By another proposal the right of moving within the polling station
should not belong to one observing organization but to all the
observers.
This time “It’s Your Choice” organization observed the election to the
local self-government in 98 polling stations in Kotayk, Ararat, Vayots
Dzor and Syunik. By their assessments, the election that could seem
peaceful but it is not the evidence of conscious choice of the voters.
As Chairman Harutyun Hambartsumyan says, new violations were fixed
along with the old ones.
Vice Chair Khachik Voskanyan in his turn noted, “In Nor Hajn, for
example, open voting was a mass violation. We kept the election at
focus. Observers worked in 2 shifts. Cases of illegal filling the
ballot-boxes were not fixed.”
To note, the organization submitted the report to the CEC, yet in vain.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MAMMADYAROV: THE MORE ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGED IN KARABAKH SETTLEMENT THE BETTER
Pan Armenian News
03.10.2005 12:37
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
said he is unaware of the issues discussed during the OSCE Minsk
Group meeting in Vienna. In his words, the Azerbaijani Ambassador
was instructed to obtain the essential information. Elmar Mammadyarov
said that OSCE MG U.S. Co-Chair Steven Mann will arrive in Baku late
October. The Minister also expressed opinion on the possibility
of conveying a certain part of the MG authority to the Council of
Europe. “The more organizations are engaged in the Karabakh conflict
settlement the better,” he stated, APA Azeri new agency reported.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Toronto Star
Oct. 2, 2005
Scarborough nursing home caters to Armenian residents
Seven Oaks nursing home at Military Trail and Ellesmere Rd. in Scarborough
opened in 1989 and serves 250 residents. Its website lists the following
facts:
A number of beds are designated for residents of Armenian heritage, and
volunteers from the Armenian community are active in the home.
Seven Oaks offers a day centre, providing a structured program for about 20
seniors a day living independently in the community.
Services including nursing, medicine, food and nutrition, and staff
education programs that run from spiritual and religious care to music and
art therapy.
An on-site child care centre offers opportunities for intergenerational
programming between children and residents.
Volunteers form a core part of life at the home, leading social activities,
working in the gift shop, and taking part in other activities.
Seven Oaks works with organizations in the surrounding community, including
the Rouge Valley Health System Centenary Site, the Scarborough Community
Care Access Centre and West Hill Support Services.
Source:

AZG Armenian Daily #167, 17/09/2005
Meeting
MARGARIAN-AHMADINEJAD MEETING IN NEW YORK
On the sidelines of 60th Session of the UN General Assembly Armenian Prime
Minister met yesterday President of Iran. According to sources close to the
RA government, PM Andranik Margarian told the Iranian President that Iran’s
balanced policy played a significant role in maintaining stability in the
South Caucasus and expressed hope that Tehran will continue this policy.
President Ahmud Ahmadinejad stated that Iran’s policy is to deepen
Armenian-Iranian relations. The sides emphasized the importance of
implementation of mutual economic projects.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION RETURNS HOME
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 13 2005
Parliamentary delegation headed by Chairman of the Milli Majlis of
Azerbaijan Republic Murtuz Alaskarov on September 11 having finished
the visit to the USA, has come back home.
At the Heydar Aliyev International Airport M. Alaskarov informed
journalists that the delegation took part in the Second World
Conference of the chairmen of parliaments, which passed in the United
Nations General Assembly in New York.
In the action, discussed were issues of the role of legislature in
settlement of the international problems, multilateral cooperation,
the contribution of parliaments to democracy and other questions
Speaking at conference, attended by chairmen of parliaments of
about 150 countries, Murtuz Alaskarov has in detail informed on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, about preparation for
parliamentary elections to take place in Azerbaijan in November of
this year, has carried out a number of bilateral meetings.
Within the framework of conference, also took place the meeting with
chairmen of parliaments of GUAM member countries. At the meeting GUAM
in the international organization, roles of parliaments the exchange
of opinions on transformation has taken place in the decision of
conflicts, realization of the project of the frame program between
GUAM and the USA, etc.
At airport, the deputy speaker Ziyafet Askarov, the head of Milli
Majlis Administration Safa Mirzoyev and other officials met Murtuz
Alaskarov.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee – Professional Network
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.3500 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
September 8, 2005
Contact: Lerna Kayserian
Tel: (818) 500-3500
OVER 40 YOUNG ARMENIAN AMERICAN PROFESSIONALS PARTICIPATE IN THE ANC
PROFESSIONAL NETWORK’S INAUGURAL SUMMER TRIP TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, ARMENIA – As part of its ongoing objective to develop
activities and programs that promote the growth of young Armenian
American professionals and strong leaders, the Armenian National
Committee-Professional Network (ANC-PN) hosted its inaugural Summer
Trip to Armenia. Over 40 young Armenian American professionals from
across the nation embarked on the 13-day trip, which traversed the
Republics of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
The participants boarded planes destined for the Republic of Armenia
on Wednesday, August 10th, 2005 and arrived in Yerevan at Zvartnotz
International Airport late Thursday evening August 11th. While in
Armenia, the participants visited the sites of the Khor Virap
Monastery, Tsitsernakaberd, the Matendaran, Yerablur National
Cemetery, Etchmiadzin, Sardarabad, the temple of Garni, the Geghard
Monastery and Mayr Hayastan Monument. The participants also toured the
famous Kotayk Beer and Ararat Cognac factories.
ANC-PN trip participants attended a reception organized by the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) in honor of the Chairman of
the Democratic Party, Howard Dean. Also present was Los Angeles City
Councilman Eric Garcetti. The group of young professionals spent the
evening conversing with the delegation from the United States, as well
as expatriates and leaders from the local community.
A major highlight of the trip was a three day sight seeing excursion
to Nagorno-Karabakh. On the way to Nagorno-Karabakh, the group made a
lunch stop in Ghapan, Sister City to Glendale and home to many of the
participants. While in Nagorno-Karabakh, the participants attended a
dinner hosted by the ARF and visited the Parliament House, various
churches, mosques, berts (fortresses), museums and monuments situated
in the cities of Shushi, Stepanagert, Aghdam.
The Nagorno-Karabakh excursion also included a significant visit to
the village of Ashan, located in the Martuni region, where funds
raised from ANC-PN’s 2004 Christmas Party were used to improve and
renew one of the Armenian Relief Society’s Sosseh schools.
Upon their arrival from Nagorno-Karabakh, the participants attended a
forum organized by the ANC-PN, titled `Business in Armenia for
Diasporans.’ Among the contributors to the forum were Vicken Arabian,
representing Yerkir U.S.A. organization and Alex Sardar, who works for
US AID and is the Chief of Party for its Civic Advocacy Support
Program.
`I thought the forum was informative, motivational, and touching. It
is remarkable how the diasporan community has contributed to their
homeland by moving to Armenia and working there. They are pioneers for
those of us who are starting to see the big picture,’ stated Arbi
Karapetian, a trip participant.

After 10 days of traveling, eating, dancing, learning and bonding, the
group returned home on Monday, August 22nd, 2005. The leadership of
the ANC-PN, encouraged by the positive feedback received from the trip
participants, has already begun planning for 2006, which promises to
build on the successes of this year’s trip.
In her remarks regarding the trip, ANC-PN President Jeannine Topalian
said, `A lot of hard work and planning went towards making this
endeavor as successful as it could possibly be. I am pleased to see
that it did just that by yielding such positive results.’
`The Republics of both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh are wondrous
places. I had the time of my life there. I saw and learned much and
made a number of cherished new friends along the way. It is an amazing
and life-altering experience for one to return to their ancestral
homeland. I thank the ANC-PN for affording me the opportunity to do
so. I can hardly wait till next year’s trip,’ commented Steve
Torossian, another participant.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.
Editor’s Note: Photos Attached. Photo 1 Caption: ANC-PN trip
participants with Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean
in Armenia. Photo 2 Caption: ANC-PN trip participants in
Nagorno-Karabakh.
#####
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Today, Azerbaijan
Sept 2 2005
First meeting of autumn parliamentary session held
02 September 2005 [14:38] – Today.Az
The first meeting of the autumn session of the Milli Majlis
(Parliament) was held on Thursday.
In his remarks, Murtuz Alasgarov, the chairman of the Milli Majlis,
said that spring and special sessions were successfully completed,
Trend reports. The MPs adopted 145 laws and resolutions, and put some
bills to the vote in the first and second readings.
Alasgarov noted that the parliamentary elections would be held on 6
November, and all conditions were established to hold democratic and
transparent elections. According Alasgarov, they planned to adopt laws
on administrative execution, address social aid, investment activities.
The Azerbaijani MPs will discuss a draft state budget for 2006 and
other budgetary documents in October. Alasgarov also stressed that
the economic growth over the first 6 month of 2005 comprised 17%,
the industry potential – 20%. As predicted the budget for 2006 will
make up $3,200 million.
The deputies commemorated martyrs’ memory in relation to the 12th
anniversary of the occupation of the regions Gubadli, Fuzuli, Jabrail
by the Armenian armed forces and discussed the agenda.
They proposed to put the bills on oil and indexation of savings to the
discussion, as well as adopt a statement in relation to the military
review planned by Armenians in Nagorniy Karabakh. Stressing importance
of both laws, Alasgarov said that the issues would be discussed
during the session due to the disagreements with the state bodies. The
meeting approved the working plan and considered other issues.
URL:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
HIS HOLINESS MEETS WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE
WCC DIAKONIA AND SOLIDARITY MIDDLE EAST DESK
His Holiness Aram I met with the director of the WCC Diakonia and Solidarity
Middle East Desk, Dr. Michel Nseir, in Bikfayya on August 24. Dr. Nseir had
come to consult with His Holiness on the problems the WCC faces in the
Middle East.
The two talked about issues related to cooperation between the churches in
Jerusalem and the World Council of Churches. They also discussed problems
related to the Greek Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
His Holiness and Dr. Nseir also discussed about the activities and work of
the Middle East Council of Churches and the agendas of the two upcoming
ecumenical meetings in Damascus and Beirut.
The first meeting will look into preparing the delegates form the Middle
East to participate in WCC’s 9th congress in Brazil in 2006. The agenda of
the second meeting will include discussions about the possibility of
cooperation between ecclesiastical organizations and churches.
The Catholicosate of Cilicia will send delegates to both of these
conferences. The primate of the Diocese of Tehran, Archbishop Sebouh
Sarkissian and the Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate, Bishop Nareg
Alemezian, will participate in the meeting to be held in Damascus.
The chairwoman of the Catholicosate’s ecumenical committee, Dr. Nora
Bairakdarian-Kabakian will participate in the meeting to be held in Beirut.
His Holiness made certain recommendations to Dr. Nseir on how to render WCC’
s Middle Eastern department more active and effective.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

New screen version of Bellini’s “Norma” to premiere at Vyborg festival
RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 17 2005
VYBORG, August 17 (RIA Novosti) – A new screen version of Vincenzo
Bellini’s opera “Norma” is expected to be among the highlights of
the 13th Window onto Europe film festival, now under way in the
northwestern Russian town of Vyborg.
The film’s director, Boris Airapetyan, said the opera-film genre,
highly popular in Europe these days, had almost sunk into oblivion
in Russia and that the most recent Russian production made in this
genre dated back to 1984.
Airapetyan said quite a few film distributors in the West had already
asked him for permission to screen the picture. He said that this
autumn, it would be simultaneously shown at open-air movie theaters
in five European cities (Salzburg, Vienna, Geneva, Stuttgart,
and Berlin). In Russia, however, the interest has been quite low.
Airapetyan said most of the national television broadcasters had
expressed doubt the film would fit in with their formats and only
executives of the arts channel Kultura had signaled they were willing
to run it.
“Norma,” which premiered in Milan in 1831, is believed to be one of
the most challenging operas. Out of its twenty stage productions,
only four were a success.
“But I decided to take the risk; I sought to find a clue to the
mystery behind this opera, benefiting from the brilliant vocalists
I had at my disposal, especially for the lead parts,” the director
said. “Asmik Papyan, a soloist with the Vienna Opera and [New York’s]
Metropolitan, sings the part of Norma, and Gegam Grigoryan, a soloist
of St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theater [also known in the West as the
Kirov], sings Pollion.”
In 2002, Airapetyan staged “Norma” for Armenia’s National Opera in
the capital of Yerevan. This production was shown at Moscow’s Bolshoi
Theater in 2003 and nominated for the national Golden Mask award in
five categories.
The screen version, too, was made in Airapetyan’s native country,
Armenia. Much of it was filmed in a temple erected by ancient Romans
to celebrate their conquest of Armenian lands.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Ukrainian-Russian transport plane passes desert, mountain tests
Inter TV, Kiev
15 Aug 05
A new Ukrainian-Russian plane, the An-148, has completed yet another
field test. This time the plane successfully passed tests in the
Uzbek deserts and Armenian mountains, the Antonov design bureau said.
Pilots did not have any complaints about either engines or
electronics. The real technical specifications of the plane [measured
during the tests] coincided with those planned. In other words,
the tests showed that the An-148 is suitable for work in Central
Asia and the Middle East. The Antonov design bureau is planning to
complete all the tests by March 2006. Nevertheless, mass production
of the plane has already been started in Kiev and Voronezh.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress