Author: Kanayan Tamar

LES NOUVELLES D’ARMENIE : UN MIRACLE

I would like to congratulate Nouvelles D’Armenie’s 20th anniversary.

Each month, when I receive a copy of this wonderful publication, I am
amazed by its variety of articles, photos, analyses, and news coverage.

Under the dire financial conditions of the Diaspora, publishing a
magazine of such quality is nothing short of a miracle.

I wish you continued success,

Harut Sassounian, Publisher,

The California Courier

Je voudrais feliciter Les Nouvelles d’Armenie pour son 20ème
anniversaire.

Chaque mois, lorsque je recois un exemplaire de cette merveilleuse
publication, je suis epate par la variete de ses articles, photos,
analyses, et la couverture des news.

Dans les conditions financières desastreuses de la diaspora, publier
un magazine d’une telle qualite n’est rien de moins qu’un miracle.

Je vous souhaite de poursuivre dans ce succès.

Harut Sassounian, Editeur

The California Courrier

Glendale, Cal, USA

vendredi 17 mai 2013, Jean Eckian ©armenews.com

L’ARMENIE S’EST QUALIFIEE POUR LA FINALE DE L’EUROVISION DE DEMAIN SOIR A MALMO (SUEDE)

Hier soir lors de la 2e demi-finale de l’Eurovision 2013 a l’Arena
de Malmo (Suède), l’Armenie s’est qualifiee pour la finale. Ainsi
le groupe Dorians et son chanteur Gor Soudjian accompagne de Tony
Ayomi le guitariste du groupe Black Sabbath avec la chanson ” Lonely
Planet ” qui passait en 11e position des 17 pays de la demi-finale,
s’est qualifie pour la finale de l’Eurovision de demain soir. Le
vote etait realise a hauteur de 50% par un jury et 50% par votes
des telespectateurs. De France et d’autres pays d’Europe, nombreux
etaient les Armeniens qui ont vote pour le representant de l’Armenie
par sms ou telephone. L’Armenie etant privee de vote de vote pour son
candidat. A noter que l’Azerbaïdjan et la Georgie se sont egalement
qualifies pour la finale.

Ce sera la 6e participation de l’Armenie au concours de l’Eurovision.

En 2006 c’est le chanteur Andre avec ” Without Tour Love ” qui avait
pris pour l’Armenie la 8e place. En 2007 l’Armenie etait representee
par Haygo et la chanson ” Anytime You Need ” finit egalement a la
8e place. En 2008 Sirousho avec ” Qele Qele ” prit la 4e place, la
meilleure de l’Armenie a ce jour. En 2009 les s~urs Inga et Anoush
Arshakian se classèrent 10e. En 2010 la superbe Eva Rivas et son
non moins super ” Apricot Stone ” prirent pour l’Armenie une très
honorable 7e place. En 2011 malheureusement Emmy et sa chanson ” Boom
Boom ” n’eurent pas l’occasion d’exploser en finale, etant eliminee en
demi-finale. L’an dernier, l’Armenie avait decide de ne pas participer
a l’Eurovision qui se deroulait a Bakou en Azerbaïdjan. Cette annee,
l’Armenie revient. Et elle est en finale de l’Eurovision.

A vos ecrans demain soir sur Frande 3 dès 21h (ou sur d’autres chaines
armeniennes ou etrangères) pour voter pour l’Armenie !

Krikor Amirzayan

vendredi 17 mai 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

APA, Azerbaijan
May 18 2013

Chairperson of Slovenian National Assembly’s committee: Nagorno
Karabakh conflict can anytime turn into a crisis on dangerous scale
[ 18 May 2013 13:52 ]

Following the meeting with the Azerbaijani delegation, Committee
chairperson Janja Klasinc has made a statement

Baku – APA. Following the meeting with the Azerbaijani delegation,
chairperson of the Foreign Relations Committee of the National
Assembly of Slovenia Janja Klasinc has made a statement, APA reports.
Janja Klasinc said that members of the Foreign Relations Committee
discussed the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, stressed the importance of
speedy and efficient peaceful settlement of the conflict,
unconditional withdrawal of the foreign military units from the
occupied territories and the real restoration of full sovereignty of
Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders as stated in
the resolution passed at the 86th plenary session of the UN General
Assembly on May 14, 2008, and reiterated in the resolutions and
documents of the UN, EU, Council of Europe and other international
organizations.

`Members of the delegation of the Azerbaijani Parliament led by Elkhan
Suleymanov informed Slovenian parliamentarians about the situation in
Nagorno Karabakh, the killing of 20 000 persons as a result of the war
between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 1992-1994 and displacement of
hundreds of thousands of people from Nagorno Karabakh and seven
adjacent regions occupied by Armenia.

20-year diplomatic and mediation activities have not produced results
up to now. The Nagorno Karabakh problem remains open and moreover, the
frozen conflict can anytime turn into a crisis on dangerous scale.

It is clear that the status quo doesn’t contribute to the solution of
the problem, can even worsen the situation and create obstacles for
stability of the strategically important region and hinder the
development of both EU partners involved in the conflict.”

TheNewsTribune.com
May 18 2013

Denmark favorite to win Eurovision Song Contest

An ethno-inspired flute and drum tune from Denmark is the bookmakers’
favorite to win this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, which
also features a bizarre opera pop number from Romania and an Armenian
rock song written by the guitarist of Black Sabbath.

BY MALIN RISING; ASSOCIATED PRESS

MALMO, Sweden – An ethno-inspired flute and drum tune from Denmark is
the bookmakers’ favorite to win this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on
Saturday, which also features a bizarre opera pop number from Romania
and an Armenian rock song written by the guitarist of Black Sabbath.

Yes, it’s that time of the year again.

The televised pan-European extravaganza, known for its kitschy shows,
bad taste and bizarre offerings, is still expected to be seen by about
125 million television viewers worldwide.

This year’s contest is being hosted in Malmo, southern Sweden,
following the victory of the Nordic country’s contestant Loreen with
“Euphoria” last year.

According to bookmakers, the hippie-chic Emmelie De Forest of Denmark
is the favorite to win, driving the song “Only Teardrops” with her
deep, Shakira-like voice. Her main challenge comes from the clean-cut
techno pop tune “I Feed You My Love” by Norway’s Margaret Berger, who
rose to fame at home after becoming the runner-up in Norway’s version
of Pop Idol in 2004.

“I will be nervous before going on stage,” De Forest said Friday. “I
think we have a really good song that can take us far, but let’s see,
anything can happen.”

Finland’s Krista Siegfrid provided this year’s controversy, ending her
bouncy bubble-gum pop number “Marry Me” with a girl-on-girl kiss that
some have interpreted as a stance promoting gay marriage. While the
show will not raise eyebrows in most parts of Western Europe – where
Eurovision has long been a bastion of gay culture – the act may jar
sensitivities in parts of eastern and southern Europe.

“The fact is that Finland is the only country in the Nordic countries
where gay marriage is not allowed, and I think that’s wrong,” Siegfrid
told The Associated Press. “It’s 2013 now and … I can kiss anyone I
want to. It shouldn’t be a problem.”

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who arrived in Malmo to watch the
competition Saturday, said it is a unique event that unites Europe.

“We see the old Yugoslavia, now independent states, after a decade of
war they always vote for each other in Eurovision, ” Bildt said. “That
I think is fun.”

This year’s competition also sees the return to the international
stage of two seasoned European stars. “Total Eclipse of the Heart”
singer Bonnie Tyler is representing Britain with “Believe In Me” while
Anouk, whose song “Nobody’s Wife” was a big hit in Europe in the
1990s, is singing the song “Birds” for The Netherlands.

Among the more notable performances is the Ukraine’s Zlata Ognevich
with her song “Gravity.” Ognevich is carried onstage by the tallest
man in the U.S. – Ukrainian-born Igor Vovkovinskiy. Vovkovinskiy – who
stands 7 feet, 8 inches (234 centimeters) -wobbles onstage in a fur
and feathers, placing the fairy-like Ognevich on a rock where she
stands for the rest of the performance.

There is also Armenian rock group Dorians, whose gloomy song “Lonely
Planet” has been written by Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.

Romania’s Cezar, who resembles a Dracula reborn as a high-pitched
vocalist, is apparently a reputable opera singer, but is attempting a
crossover opera pop number with techno beats and pyrotechnics. Three
muscular male dancers in red body paint are delivered out of a large
red cape.

Two semifinals this week have whittled down the contestants from 40 to
26. The winner is picked by juries and television viewers across the
continent, and the winning nation will stage next year’s event.

Having won five times, most famously with ABBA’s Waterloo in 1974,
Sweden is a veteran of Eurovision. This weekend it is taking the
opportunity to showcase some of its big music acts. The opening of the
competition is set to feature a song especially composed by Swedish
super DJ Aviici, together with ABBA members Bjorn Ulveaus and Benny
Andersson.

Yet the event – with a price tag of around 153.5 million Swedish
kronor ($23 million) – won’t measure up to last year’s lavish
competition hosted by oil-rich Azerbaijan in its capital, Baku.

“We have attempted to host Eurovision with less money to show that it
is possible to do this without it being too painful for the host
country,” said Jan-Erik Westman, a spokesman of host broadcaster SVT.

The festive atmosphere was visible throughout the city of Malmo on
Saturday, where residents and visitors blended on the streets waving
the flags of their favorite countries.

—

Associated Press television producer David MacDougall and Associated
Press reporter Jan Olsen contributed to this report.

Armenian-Turkish relations discussed during Obama-Erdogan meeting –
Turkish press

May 18, 2013 | 14:54

Armenian-Turkish relations likewise were discussed during the meeting
that was held in Washington, DC. between US President Barack Obama and
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

During the news conference following the 2.5-hour talk, the Turkish PM
noted that aside from the Syrian developments, which were their main
agenda item, they also discussed issues on Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran,
and Afghanistan, Sozcu daily of Turkey reports.

Separately, Mevlut Cavusoglu, the person in charge of the external
relations of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP),
noted on NTV television that, during his talk with the US President,
Erdogan also brought the Cyprus and the Nagorno-Karabakh issues into
the agenda.

News from Armenia – NEWS.am

Bako Sahakyan meets Armenian parliamentarians

22:16 – 18.05.13

President of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) Republic Bako Sahakyan
received Saturday members of the Armenian National Assembly’s Standing
Committee on Foreign Relations.

The meeting with the delegation, headed by the Committee’s chief,
Artak Zakaryan, focused on the cooperation between the two Armenian
republics.

The president said there are great potentials for reaching a tangible
success in the sector, adding that cooperation with Armenia’s National
Assembly is of key importance in that context.

The sides agreed that that it is necessary and possible to work
towards a further expansion and deepening of cooperation.

Armenian News – Tert.am

Artsakh President attends Berdzor town 21st anniv. liberation events

May 18, 2013 – 17:48 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On May 18, Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan
partook in festive events dedicated to the 21st anniversary of the
liberation of Berdzor town.
President Sahakyan laid garland at the memorial perpetuating the
memory of perished during the Artsakh Liberation War freedom fighters
and handed in state awards and valuable gifts to a group of
individuals.

In his speech President Sahakyan noted the liberation of Berdzor as an
important military, political and psychological victory that ended the
seven decade long blockade of Artsakh, adding that without this it
would be impossible to protect the independence and freedom of the
republic, and create firm basis for its reliable development and
continuous strengthening.

Artsakh President underlined that the development of the Kashatagh
region would remain at the authorities’ spotlight and a number of
major projects would be implemented there in the coming years.

Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church
Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, Prime Minister Ara Haroutyunyan, other
officials, a group of RA MPs, the heads of Syunik and Vayots Dzor
provinces of the Republic of Armenia, guests from Armenia and the
Diaspora attended the event, Central Information Department of the
Artsakh Republic President’s Office reported.

Armenian FM to visit UK

15:35 18.05.2013

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian will pay an official visit
to the United Kingdom May 20-21.

Within the framework of the visit to London, the Armenian Foreign
Minister will hold talks with his British counterpart.

Minister Nalbandian is scheduled to meet with the Chairman of the
House of Lords and other high-ranking officials.

As part of the visit Edward Nalbandian will deliver a speech on
Armenia’s foreign policy at the Oxford University.

Orange: Free eye care services for around 4,800 people in Kotayk region

13:30 18/05/2013 » HEALTH

In the scope of the free eye screening and eye treatment project
jointly implemented by the Armenian Eye Care Project (AECP) and the
Orange Foundation in Kotayk region in March, April and May, around
4,800 adults and children underwent eye screening and 1,500 glasses
were provided. 300 people underwent laser and surgical treatment, as
during the preliminary screening problems requiring such intervention
had been revealed. Besides, 9 schools of Kotayk region hosted special
classes on eye care for 700 children parallel to eye screenings,
company’s press service reported.

`Kotayk is the 7th region visited in the scope of our joint initiative
with the Armenian Eye Care Project, where we could be of any help to
local people. We are happy to support and bring real changes into the
lives of these people and their families. Now we are planning a visit
to Tavush region and we encourage everybody to visit and benefit from
free eye care services,’ said Francis Gelibter, Chairman of the Board
of the Orange Foundation.

`Our long-lasting and ongoing partnership with the Orange Foundation
is a matter of priority for us. It creates wide opportunities for us
to develop our activities in the regions of Armenia. Following our
visit to Kotayk region, the AECP is heading to Tavush to continue its
mission there. Our medical specialists will be in Ijevan, Tavush and
Noyemberyan. The mobile eye hospital will stop in Dilijan, Ijevan,
Berd and Noyemberyan,’ said Nune Yeghiazaryan, Country Director of the
Armenian Eye Care Project.

The project will be implemented in 2 phases. In the 1st phase our
medical specialists will examine all those who will wish to undergo
preliminary eye screening followed by organization of surgical
treatment for those socially vulnerable groups with whom serious
problems requiring surgical intervention will be revealed. Such
patients will be recommended to have their free treatment in the
mobile eye hospital. Those in need of glasses will be provided glasses
made special for them. On May 13-27 the AECP medical staff will be in
Ijevan, on June 3-8 – in Tavush and on June 10-15 – in Noyemberyan.

As a reminder, for more details the inhabitants of Tavush region will
need to apply to the local health center and follow the announcements
posted there. For more information they may also call the AECP office
(010 55 90 68). The schedule of visit to Tavush region may be
downloaded from

Source: Panorama.am

Scandal rising after death in the military: Killed soldier’s father
heads to Yerevan with son’s body

12:05 – 18.05.13

The father of Luxe Stepanyan, the Armenian army private reported
killed earlier this week, is heading to Yerevan with the coffin
carrying his son’s body to hold a protest in front of the Government.

Ashkharhik Stepanyan, a resident of the Verin Getashen village
(Martuni region), says he has taken such a decision to voice his anger
against what he considers an unjust murder.

Relatives of the servicemen speaking to Tert.am said they are angry
particularly because they are aware Stepanyan had no guilt in the
incident which caused his death.

Stepanyan, 19, was shot on the head by a fellow servicemen on
Wednesday afternoon and died shortly after, said a report released by
the Ministry of Defense later a day later.

Another private, David Khachatryan. was severely wounded in the
gunshot and rushed to hospital, reported the Ministry.

The killed serviceman’s father told our correspondent that the family
seeks to have the all the circumstances fully resolved.

`I what to know what happened to my son,’ he said. `I hear something
from those in the military unit, and completely different things on my
way and in the village.’

Stepanyan added the police have tried several times tried to stop them
on the way to Yerevan