Author: Karagyozian Lena

VARDAN OSKANYAN DOUBTS THERE WILL BE A CHANGE AT THE LAST MOMENT

Lragir, Armenia
Sept 28 2007

The Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oskanyan leaving for New York
for the UN General Assembly said in a news briefing with Armenian
reporters on September 27 no meeting with the Azerbaijani foreign
minister Elmar Mammedyarov in New York has been arranged. "No meeting
has been arranged. I very much doubt there will be a change at the
last moment," Vardan Oskanyan says.

Instead, the meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will take
place. The reporters wanted to know the purpose of the meeting since
they visited Yerevan a few weeks ago and met with Vardan Oskanyan.

"The topic of the meeting with the co-chairs is going to be the
continuation of what they presented to the Armenian president, the
Azerbaijani president and the NKR leadership. We are interested in
Azerbaijan’s reaction," the Armenian foreign minister says. He also
said the further moves towards the settlement will be discussed
as well.

THIS YEAR ARMENIA WILL TAKE PART IN JUNIOR EUROVISION SONG CONTEST FOR FIRST TIME
Author: Hakobian Hasmik
Editor: Eghian Robert

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 28 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. This year Armenia will take part
in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for the first time. Armenia will
be represented by the Arevik junior ensemble of Public Television
and Radio. At the contest the Arevik ensemble will perform the song
"Dream" by Marianna Javakhian. As Arpine Hovhannisian, the specialist
of vocal of the ensemble, informed the Noyan Tapan correspondent,
soon a clip will be shot on the song for the contest.

A. Hovhannisian said that the performance of the ensemble will be
accompanied with a dance by the "Nane" show-ballet group. 8 singers of
Arevik aged 10-15, including 3 soloists, will take part in the contest.

It should be mentioned that the Junior Eurovision – 2007 Song Contest
will take place on December 8 in Rotterdam. Representatives of 17
countries will take part in the contest.

RUSSIA SHOULD ASSIST IN SETTLING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT: GERMAN MP

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 27 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend I.Alizade / A member of Germany’s
Bundesliega (Parliament), Arnold Vaatz, said on 27 September in Baku
that Russia should assist in settling the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

" Russia’s assistance in reaching stability in the region is very
important," Vaatz said. According to him, Germany recognizes the
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and supports the peaceful
settlement of the conflict.

"We hope that the conflict will be resolved within the territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan provided that the security of the local
residents in the Nagorno-Karabakh will be ensured," he said.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries appeared in
1988 due to Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since
1992, Armenia has occupied 20% of Azerbaijani land including the
Nagorno-Karabakh region and its seven surrounding districts. In 1994,
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a cease-fire agreement at which time
the active hostilities ended. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group
(Russia, France, and the US) are holding peaceful negotiations.

AZERBAIJAN TO RAISE ISSUE ON RECOGNIZING ARMENIA AS AGGRESSOR STATE IN NATO PA

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Sept 27 2007

Azerbaijan will raise issue on recognizing Armenia as aggressor state
in NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA), first vice-speaker of Azerbaijani
Parliament Ziyafat Asgarov told the journalists, APA reports.

He stated that they have already achieved it in one committee of
NATO PA.

"If NATO is one of the organizations participating in the insurance
of just, security in Euroatlantic, it should comment on this issue.

We will raise this issue in NATO PA, so that Assembly can make
political decision on it," he said.

The next meeting of NATO PA will be held in Reykjavik, capital of
Iceland on October 25-27.

RESIDENTS OF YEREVAN’S KENTRON COMMUNITY AREAS SUBJECT TO URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEMAND MAYOR’S RESIGNATION
Author: Editor: Eghian Robert

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 27 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Residents of Yerevan’s Yeznik
Koghbatsi Street and the Dalma gardens staged a demonstration in
front of the RA government’s building on September 27 in connection
with procrastination of the privatization of the residential areas
occupied by them. They demand that their violated rights be restored
and their right of ownership over the apartments and land plots used
by them be recognized.

Vachagan Hakobian, chairman of Protection of Own Rights NGO, told
NT correspondent that on April 13 of this year the Armenian prime
minister Serge Sargsian received the denonstrators and promised
to solve this problem after the parliamentary elections. The prime
minister instructed the Yerevan mayor Yervand Zakharian to speed up
the real estate privatization in these areas but this instruction
has not been fulfilled so far.

In the words of V. Hakobian, under a number of governmental decisions,
which were later recognized as anticonstitutional, the Yerevan
municipality (using the levers of force structures, administrative and
court systems) have evicted Armenian citizens from their apartments.

"We demand the mayor’s resignation: he must be called to account
for selling areas to businessmen under the pretext of "state needs",
V. Hakobian stated.

Sedrak Baghdasarian, chairman of Victims of State Needs NGO, noted that
in case of failing to get a positive response from the prime minister,
the residents will send an open letter to the country’s president, and
to a number of international structures, including the European Court.

ARMENIA’S REPRESENTATIVE IN UN: AZERBAIJAN FAILED TO TAKE SPECIFIC STEPS FOR RESOLUTION ON KARABAKH TO BE ADOPTED BY UN

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Sept 27 2007

ArmInfo. The agenda of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly
includes 2 items concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Yet,
Azerbaijan took no specific steps, except including these issues
in the session’s agenda, Armenian Representative in the UN Armen
Martirossyan told journalists.

The diplomat recalled that Armenia is against discussion of this
issue in the UN. At the same time, the ambassador refused to give
any details on the countermeasures being taken by Armenia. "We are
instructed to continue our diplomatic work in the UN to prevent
the adoption of a resolution directed against Armenia’s interests,
though the UN resolution has a recommendatory character and has no
political or legal force," he stated.

To note, the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly, which started
on September 25, has 2 items regarding the Karabakh conflict. One of
them covers the continuing conflicts on GUAM’s territory, the other
one – the situation on Azerbaijan’s occupied territories.

PRESS RELEASE
USC Institute of Armenian Studies
Tel: 213-821-3943
Email: [email protected]

Advocate of Armenian Music to Play Two Concerts at USC

A devoted advocate of Armenian music, Vatche Mankerian, a pianist and
composer, will give two concert-lectures titled `A Retrospective of
Piano Music by Armenian Composers.’ The concerts will be held on the
University of Southern California campus in Bovard Auditorium on October
7 and October 14 at 4:30 p.m.

The first concert will include works by Spendiarian, Barkhoudarian,
Komitas and Khatchaturian. The October 14 concert will include works by
Baghdassarian, Mansurian, Harutiunian and Babajanian. It is believed
these unique concerts mark the first time a retrospective of music by
Armenian composers will be presented on a major American university
campus.

Ever since his sold out debut in 1985, at the Wilshire Ebell Theater of
Los Angeles, Mankerian has continuously gained recognition and critical
acclaim as a recitalist and soloist appearing with symphony orchestras.
A multi faceted artist, Mankerian distinguishes himself as a pianist,
composer, lecturer, teacher and author.

As a recitalist he has appeared in major cities on four continents.
Mankerian’s performances have received enthusiastic reviews from the
press, The Los Angeles Times affirmed `Mankerian performed with quiet
poetry… there was nothing assembly line about the reading.’ The
Cleveland Plain Dealer described him as `a bold and vibrant
performer.’

Mankerian is considered by many to be the leading interpreter of the
piano music of Arno Babajanian. In October 1995, Mankerian performed his
New York Debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall where he presented
Babajanian’s complete piano works. In April 1995, Mankerian gave the
U.S. premiere of Babajanian’s `Heroic Ballade’ for piano and
orchestra. In 1996, at Pasadena’s renowned Ambassador Recital Hall
Mankerian single handedly organized the only concerts outside of Armenia
celebrating Babajanian’s 75th anniversary.

Mankerian was featured in the Warner Brothers production of NBC pilot
`Witches of Eastwick’ performing the works of Chopin; he was one
of the Rhapsody in Blue pianists at the Olympic opening ceremonies in
Los Angeles in 1984; and was a featured artist at the Spirit of Armenia
concert at the Hollywood Bowl in July of 2007.

In addition to being a world class pianist, Mankerian, a USC Thornton
School of Music alum, serves as the program manager for the USC
Institute of Armenian Studies.

Housed in the USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences, the USC
Institute of Armenian Studies serves as a non-partisan center around
which the entire Armenian community can rally. USC College is the
university’s primary center for research in the basic sciences,
humanities and social sciences. It is the largest of USC’s 19 academic
schools.

Ticket sales from the concerts raise money for the Institute and are
tax deductible. For tickets and information, please email
[email protected] or call 213-821-3943.

NAGORNI GARABAGH CONFLICT TO IMPEDE DEVELOPMENT OF REGION AND DEEPENING OF INTEGRATION

Demaz.org, Azerbaijan
Sept 26 2007

Press center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan informed
that September 20, Minister, Elmar Mamadyarov, met with delegation
of subcommittee on democratic governing of the Committee on Civil
Security Dimension of NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Head of delegation,
Chetin Kazak, informed that the visit aimed to make acquaintance with
current situation in Azerbaijan, changes took place for the last 5
years in geo-political state of the South Caucasus.

E. Mamadyarov informed in details about principal directions of foreign
policy of Azerbaijan, emphasizing that strengthening of cooperation
with NATO and Euro Atlantic structures is of special importance for
foreign policy of our country. He informed about realization of second
stage of "Action Plan on Individual Partnership" with NATO. Minister
spoke of projects of oil and gas pipelines Baku-Tbilisi-Jeykhan and
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum – one of the major successes of foreign policy
of our country, underlining, that Azerbaijan takes much pains to
"NABUKKO" project.

Focusing on problems faced by Azerbaijan, Elmar Mamadyarov, declared
that regional conflicts impede development of South Caucasian countries
and deepening of integration. He stressed possibility of regulation of
Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorni Garabagh problem only within territorial
integrity of our country.

Delegation members asked Minister questions concerning realization
of energy projects, fulfillment of 4 resolutions adopted by UN in
connection with Nagorni-Garabagh conflict, activity of European Union
and NATO to regulate the conflict.

Elmar Mamadyarov brought official position of our country relating
to the above issues to the notice of guests.

FIELD OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES SHOULD MODERNIZE STRUCTURE OF ARMENIA’S ECONOMY

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 25 2007

YEREVAN, September 25. /ARKA/. The field of information technologies
should modernize the structure of Armenia’s economy, Armenian President
Robert Kocharian told journalists after the official opening of the
office building of Synopsys Armenia.

"Information technologies should play a weighty role in the economy
of Armenia," Kocharian said.

According to him, attention and a system approach toward IT sphere
seriously promotes the young people in selecting specialty.

In providing faster development of IT field, the main problem is lack
of specialists, Kocharian said.

The President expressed confidence that the programs implemented by
Synopsys Armenia lay groundwork for more serious development in IT
area in future.

"Synopsys company took root fundamentally in Armenia, which can
give a good impetus to other companies for coming into the country,"
Kocharian said.

According to the information of the Ministry of Trade and Economic
Development, annual growth of IT sector reached 15-20% in Armenia in
2006, with total annual production in the sphere making 100mln dollars,
as per the estimates.

As per the data of 2006, the number of companies in IT sector reached
200 in Armenia. More than 30% of them are companies with foreign
investments. More than 5,000 people are employed in IT area.

Synopsys Inc. entered the Armenian market in October 2004 after
the signing of an agreement on merger of Leda Design and Monterey
Arset into Synopsys Armenia Closed Joint Stock Company. The company
carries out research and engineering works on automation of electronic
designing, development of intellectual property, as well as industrial
designing.

During the two years Synopsys provided technical investments for
total of 360mln dollars to Armenia.

ANDRZEJ KASPRZYK: KARABAKH CONFLICT ISN’T PROTRACTED OR FORGOTTEN, BUT DORMANT

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.09.2007 14:46 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not a protracted
or forgotten, but a dormant conflict," the special representative
of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk said
24 September during the "Prospects for Peace in Nagorno Karabakh"
international conference in London.

The special representative gave a report on the negotiations between
Armenia and Azerbaijan noting that the sides have failed to get things
moving so far. "However, everything depends on the political will of
both parties," he said.

Amb. Kasprzyk regretted about casualties at the frontline.

For his part, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus,
Mr Peter Semneby said in his speech that the development of relations
between the European Union and the South Caucasus states within
implementation the European Neighborhood Policy initiatives would
play a great role in resolution of the conflict.

The conference which took place in the International Institute
for Strategic Sciences was organized by the coalition Consortium
of Initiatives which brings together several international NGOs,
including Consolidation Resources, Link and International Alert.

These NGOs are dealing with the conflicts and have vast experience
in resolution of conflicts in the Caucasus.

The conference was also attended by the parliamentarians of Azerbaijan
and Armenia, the Armenian Ambassador to the UK, chairman of the
U.S.-Armenian Chamber of Commerce, representatives of the European
Parliament and NGOs as well as Azerbaijani and Armenian media,
journalists from BBC, Guardian, Aberdeen and Cambridge Universities,
Trend news agency reports.