Author: Karakhanian Suren

A SUMMIT "ARMENIA’S DEVELOPMENT: THE STUDENTS’ ROLE" TO TAKE PLACE AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.01.2007 15:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Columbia University Armenian Club and Advocates
For Armenia, with the support of the Armenian Center at Columbia
University and AGBU, presents an Armenian Students’ summit: Armenia’s
Development: The Students’ Role at Columbia University on February 3rd
and 4th, 2007. During this two-day summit, students will be informed
about the current state of development and challenges in the IT,
tourism and health-care sectors of Armenia. The PanARMENIAN.Net was
informed in the Columbia University Armenian Club that the discussions
also will cover topics related to the involvement of Armenian students,
living in the United States, in the development of Armenia. Alongside,
the participants of the summit plan to develop small-scale project
that will have an impact on the lives of the people of Armenia, and
humbly contribute to the great task of economic and social development
of Armenia.

4.9% OF CONSTRUCTION WORK IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-NOVEMBER 2006 DONE IN REGIONS HIT BY EARTHQUAKE

Noyan Tapan
Jan 09 2007

YEREVAN, JANUARY 9, NOYAN TAPAN. Construction work of 26 bln 144.3 mln
drams (about 62.14 mln USD) was done in the Armenian regions, which
suffered from the earthquake, in January-November 2006 at the expense
of all financing sources for construction, restoration and repairs
of residential buildings, social and production facilities. This
work accounted for 4.9% of the construction done in the country,
including construction of production facilities of 21 bln 446.5 mln
drams (10.2%).

According to the RA National Statistical Service, 87 new residential
buildings of the total area of 16,974 square meters (5.1% of the area
put into operation in the country) were put into operation in the
Armenian cities and villages, which suffered from the earthquake, in
January-November 2006 at the expense of resources of the population and
the state budget. 44.2% of the total area of residential buildings put
into operation in November 2006 was at the expense of the population’s
resources (100% in 2005).

In January-November 2006, two new comprehensive schools for 300 pupils
were put into operation in the earthquake zone with credit resources
of the World Bank, including a school for 50 pupils in Tashir region
and a school for 250 pupils in Tavush region.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x118
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:

PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

The Supreme Court of Cyprus Rules in Favor of AGBU in the Matter of
its Melkonian Property

AGBU has prevailed in its appeal of the Conservation Order that the
Interior Minister of the Republic of Cyprus had issued in 2004, later
upheld by the Council of Ministers, restricting the use of the AGBU
Melkonian property in Nicosia.

On December 11, 2006, the Supreme Court of Cyprus (Judicial Review
Jurisdiction) rescinded the Conservation Order for lack of
justification. The opinion of the Court written by Hon. Justice
D. Hadjihambis finds the order excessive in scope and in violation of
the principle of proportionality.

The Court has further determined that the Republic of Cyprus has to
bear AGBU’s legal costs in the amount of CYPounds 400.

Separately, the Supreme Court of Cyprus (Appellate Jurisdiction) in a
unanimous opinion dated December 21, 2006, written by Hon. Judge
A. Krambis, has ruled in favor of AGBU in its appeal of an
Interlocutory Order that the District Court of Nicosia had issued on
February 3, 2006, upholding the petition of His Beatitude Archbishop
Mesrob Mutafyan, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, to
restrain AGBU from selling, alienating, or changing the use of the
Melkonian property. Patriarch Mutafyan was seeking a declaratory
judgment that the Melkonian property was held by AGBU "in trust" and
"the re-registration of the said property in his name as trustee for
the Armenians all over the world."

The Supreme Court of Cyprus has recognized AGBU’s full ownership
rights to the property. Quoting extensively from the relevant parts of
the Deed of Transfer of 1926, the Court states that AGBU’s "ownership
of the [Melkonian property] and the right of disposal etc…..was
without the conditions and restrictions invoked by the Respondent."

The Interlocutory Order of the District Court of Nicosia was set aside
and dismissed. The Supreme Court of Cyprus has determined that the
Respondent, His Beatitude Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan, must pay AGBU the
costs of the first instance proceedings and the costs of the appeal.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City with
an annual budget of $36 million, AGBU preserves and promotes the
Armenian identity and heritage through educational, cultural and
humanitarian programs, annually serving some 400,000 Armenians in 35
countries.

For the Armenian version of this press release, please visit

Sylvie Vartan Sends Open Letter to Sentenced Bulgarian Medics in Libya
29 December 2006 | 11:37 | FOCUS News Agency
Los Angeles.

The Bulgarian-born singer of Armenian origin, Sylvie Vartan has sent
an open letter to the Bulgarian medics in Libya, the press center of
the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.
The letter says: `I know that the words cannot diminish the
experienced horror from the injustice of your prison-ship for whole 8
years. I know also to what an extent you feel abandoned after the last
decision ruled by the Libyan court. Don’t lose hope! … Millions of
people around the world are concerned about your tragic fate and are
ready to continue the fight till your release and rehabilitation.
You should feel encouraged by the statements of Lawyers without
Borders and by world known professors defending your cause in the
international press.’
Keep enough courage for the following months! Keep the faith! The
whole world is mobilized and we will not leave the fight until you are
not released! I hope that the New Year will bring you the best gift –
freedom’.

GUL: FIGHT AGAINST ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS REQUIRES A COLLECTIVE EFFORT

Anatolian Times, Turkey
Dec 26 2006

ANKARA – "The fight against Armenian allegations requires a collective
effort and cooperation among state institutions and non-governmental
organizations," Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullah Gul said on Sunday.

In response to a question motion by Zuheyir Amber of the Motherland
Party, Gul said, "the fight against Armenian allegations requires
a collective effort and cooperation among state institutions and
non-governmental organizations. We need contributions of universities,
vocational organizations and businessmen to this end."

"Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan conveyed Turkey`s proposal to
establish a joint history commission to President Robert Kocharian
of Armenia on April 10th, 2005. However, we could receive a positive
response from the Armenian party yet," Gul added.

AZERBAIJAN’S TURN TO ISLAM IS QUITE POSSIBLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.12.2006 13:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan’s turn, as some Azeri politicians say,
is quite possible, responded to the PanARMENIAN.Net journalist’s
question political scientist Alexander Iskandaryan, the Director
of Caucasian Media Institute. In his words, Azerbaijan is divided
into two conditional states: Baku and province, and they are quite
different. "Baku is a civilized European city, and the province lives
by quite other canons and mostly Islamic. This division is typical to
all Middle Eastern countries and here Azerbaijan is not an exception,"
he underlined. The Armenian political scientist stressed that Baku
lives at the expense of oil pipeline and the province of Azerbaijan –
at expense of migrants in Russia. "If one of this components fails
the development of the country can go through any course, including
Islamic," said Iskandaryan.

It is worth mentioning that earlier politician Leyla Yunus during an
interview to ‘Zerkalo’ stated that ‘Azerbaijan should only wait the
day when Azeri Khomeini comes and says: "Neither West, nor Russia,
only Islam!"

ILHAM ALIYEV: BAKU WILL FIGHT FOR KARABAKH EVEN "BY FORCE"

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.12.2006 13:01 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan will never agree to grant sovereignty to
Nagorno Karabakh and will "struggle for the region even by force",
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev told Echo of Moscow. "We have always
eyed the Minsk Group as a unified constitution and I should mention
that the latest period of its activities is remarkable for attempts
to find ways of settlement.

This fact may be described as one of those remaining elements of joint
work of the Group," he remarked adding that the level of cooperation
between the three states has considerable lowered lately. "In
some cases it’s very serious. Within the framework of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement France, Russia and the U.S. demonstrate
cohesion. We respect the states which try to find a solution to the
conflict. But this is our problem and we should not burden it with
anyone else. On the other hand, it’s our land, our territory.

We should be strong. We should strengthen our economy and army. We
should be more active at the diplomatic front. We should become
and are becoming a more significant state than Armenia and should
overweight the Armenian lobby. Armenia as a state is not a rival for
us. As a mater of fact it’s not Armenia that we struggle with. But
for the Armenian lobby the issue would be settled soon and simply,"
the Azeri President said.

WORLD PREMIERE OF ‘THE SPEAR OF CHRIST’

AZG Armenian Daily
20/12/2006

Documentary – History Channel Tracks The 2000 Year Journey Of The
Spear That Pierced The Side Of Christ.

For the first time, a US film crew has traveled to Armenia to
investigate the Holy Lance in Etchmiadzin.

Producer Ken Winikur and Boston-based Northern Light Productions have
recently completed "The Spear of Christ", a one-hour documentary for
the History Channel’s, "Decoding the Past" series.

Filmed in over 4 countries, including Armenia and Turkey, the program
follows the legend of one of history’s most powerful relics on its
2000-year journey. The spear that pierced the side of Jesus Christ
while he was on the cross is believed to hold miraculous powers. It
has been linked to some of history’s most powerful rulers and said
to have been present at some of the greatest battles ever waged.

Constantine and Charlemagne have waved the spear. The ruthless Adolf
Hitler coveted it. Today, four artifacts exist which claim to be
this holy spear: one in Vienna , one in Poland, one in the Vatican ,
and the mysterious lance of Armenia . The program examines each in an
effort to determine which, if any, is the authentic Spear of Christ,
and what powers each may hold.

Tufts Professor, Ina Baghdiantz McCabe, Darakjian Ja farian Chair of
Armenian History at Tufts University provides a historical analysis
of Armenia and the Spear. Unprecedented access to the Holy See of
Etchmiadzin and exclusive footage of the Holy Lance being used in
religious ceremonies will be seen.

For producer Ken Winikur his trip to Armenia is central to the success
of the documentary. Armenia is a beautiful country with a rich history,
says Winikur.

The story of its Holy Lance is virtually unknown to an American
audience and we are excited to feature it in our program.

Winikur’s previous film, Bet Herut, the end of the beginning, a
one-hour documentary investigating the rise and fall of a communal
farming village in Israel made its world premier to a packed house
at the 2003 Philadelphia Film Festival. It has since gone on to show
around the world, most recently on a three city tour in Israel.

The information was rendered by Lola Koundakjian at the Armenian
Poetry Project on the web or
in iTunes/Podcasting.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: WE ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO ARMENIA’S COOPERATION WITH EUROPEAN ORGANIZATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 19 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. The coming six months will be
very active for Armenia in the respect of development of cooperation
with European organizations. Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
declared at the December 19 press conference. In his words, cooperation
with the European Union receives key importance. Thus, Germany that
will preside in EU from January declared about its priorities in
the period of its chairmanship in EU, among which are the Caucasian
region, the New European Neighborhood program. And proceeding from
this, the coming six months will be rather eventful and intensive
in the respect of cooperation with EU. Armenia plans to clarify its
priorities within the framework of the Actions Plan and to present
them to EU. In the Minister’s words, both many-sided cooperation with
the European Union and reaching agreements on a number of issues
with concrete members of EU are scheduled within the framework of
the Actions Plan. V.Oskanian reported that intensive work in another
two European directions – NATO and the Council of Europe, is also
planned. In particular, in the first half of 2007 NATO is to sum
up the results of the first year of Armenia’s cooperation with NATO
within the framework of the Individual Partnership Actions Plan. In
the respect of Armenia’s cooperation with the Council of Europe the
Minister pointed to reforms in the sphere of legislation.

A VOYAGE OF SELF-DISCOVERY: DAUGHTER FOLLOWS AILING FATHER TO ARMENIA
By Bernard Perusse, The Gazette

The Gazette (Montreal)
December 15, 2006 Friday
Final Edition

Le Voyage en Armenie (Armenia)
Starring: Ariane Ascaride, Gerard Meylan, Chorik Grigorian

Playing in French and Armenian with English subtitles at: AMC cinema,
with French subtitles at Ex-Centris.

Parents’ guide: nudity, violence.

– – –

Some directors throw everything at the wall in the hope that
something will stick. Too often, that means lack of direction –
one of filmmaking’s greatest enemies. With Le Voyage en Armenie,
Robert Guediguian (Le Promeneur du Champ de Mars) has clearly adopted
a go-for-broke approach – and it works far more often than not.

Mostly character drama, part thriller, with moments of comedy and
a healthy dose of geopolitical manifesto, Guediguian’s film takes
a few missteps in its unwieldiness. On the whole, however, it’s not
only watchable, but entertaining.

Anna (Ariane Ascaride), a rigid cardiologist, is treating her father,
Barsam (Marcel Bluwal). When a serious heart condition is diagnosed,
longstanding issues between the two come to the surface.

Barsam shuns urgently needed surgery and flees to Armenia, his
birthplace.

A worried Anna takes off after him and finds herself in a country
where she knows no one and does not speak the language. Encounters
with a friendly taxi driver (Romen Avinian), a hairdresser’s assistant
who moonlights as a stripper (Chorik Grigorian) and a former general
(Gerard Meylan), who acts as Anna’s de facto protector, begin to
change her. Within a few days, Anna is no longer so sure about her
roots, her father or herself. Exactly as dad intended, of course.

The top draw in Le Voyage en Armenie is Ascaride’s impressive turn
in the pivotal role, which earned her the best-actress award at
this year’s Rome Film Festival. (She also co-wrote the screenplay
with Guediguian and Marie Desplechin). Meylan, however, is more than
capable as her onscreen companion.

Guediguian has filmed the Armenian countryside lovingly, making it,
in effect, a central character.

What doesn’t work? Some oddly out-of-place narrative techniques –
cornball voice-over flashbacks, for example – and some implausible
plot developments, like Anna’s too-casual familiarity with firearms.

The flaws are not fatal. The voyage in the title – both a literal
and an interior one, as it turns out – is worth taking.