Author: Khoyetsian Rose

ARMENIA COMMITTEE HAS SEVERAL DAYS OF LIFE
Lragir/am
20 March 06
The opposition alliance 17+1 met on March 20 at the Congress Hotel
of Yerevan for the first time in 2006. The main political forces
of Armenia – the National Democratic Union, the Liberal Progressive
Party of Armenia, Nor Zhamanakner, Hayrenik yev Pativ, Hanrapetutyun –
participated in the rally that lasted for an hour and a half.
After the meeting the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party Aram
Karapetyan told our reporter that the main problem is to form a
committee “Hayastan” or a civic action group.
“Seriousness is in two things: is there external influence and
financial means? Even if, God forbid, joint work fails, it will not
be a tragedy. Certain people will start a series of certain actions,
and finally a body will form by all means. It is important that 17+1
is safe and sound.” There are two ways.
Either the political parties form the coordinating body or, if not,
there is a proposal to form the committee by a civil movement.”
The leader of the Hayrenik yev Pativ Party Garnik Margaryan also thinks
that if there is not a visible process, it does not mean that nothing
is being done. A number of questions were solved in daily meetings. “I
am hopeful that the civil movement will form, and the movement will
begin. It is a matter of days, and there are all the preconditions.”

ELEMENT BAND PRESENTS ARMENIAN CD YEV O PHE
Panorama.am
18:16 17/03/06
Band incorporates sounds of Europe and the Mediterranean, while
maintaining purity of original compositions
Titled Yev O Phe, Element Band´s first Armenian CD brings a refreshing
and long-awaited sound to Armenian music by partnering distinct vocals
with colorful, warm and exotic arrangements.
While the sounds of Europe and the Mediterranean come to life through
the use of classical guitar, violin, bass, accordion, bouzouki,
mandolin, and keyboard, Yev O Phe remains free to be distinctively
Armenian.
The band takes great pains to keep the Armenian songs pure, but uses
bold arrangements and genuine sounds of instruments to introduce
exciting twists and compositions of traditional songs.
Element Band first captured the attention of audiences with their
performance at the John Anson Ford Theatre in May 2005, as the opening
act for the French gypsy band Bratsch. They later opened for the
legendary Demis Roussos at the Kodak Theater in November 2005.
Element Band members include Ara Dabandjian (arrangements, keyboards,
classical guitar, accordion, string instruments), Saro Koujakian
(songwriter, vocals and guitar), Gars Sherbetdjian (vocals), Shant
Mahserejian (violin), Jeremy Millado (bass). Yev O Phe
During the Middle Ages, as a result of greater and more enduring
contact between Armenia and the West, the 36-letter Armenian alphabet
incorporated two additional letters, o and phe, to better reproduce
the sounds of European tongues–all the while, needless to say,
remaining utterly Armenian. As a result, the modern Armenian alphabet
can almost perfectly replicate the pronunciations of various languages.
So it is with Element´s Armenian compositions that incorporate the
sounds of Europe and the Mediterranean, while remaining untethered,
simply free… to be Armenian–uniquely.
–Boundary_(ID_4JowMj+YRuGKEa g+T+AVmQ)–

RA FOREIGN MINISTRY GREETS EU AND CE FOR HARMONIZATION OF EFFORTS
FOR PURPOSE OF STRENGTHENING OF DEMOCRATIC STABILITY
YEREVAN, MARCH 17, NOYAN TAPAN. After the March 15 4-sided meeting
within the framework of European Union-Council of Europe dedicated
to the memorandum on mutual understanding between the Council
and Europe and European Union, which is still being worked out,
the executives of these two organizations made conclusions. The
conclusions, in particular, emphasize the necessity of deepening
cooperation with Council of Europe member-states taking part in the
European Neighborhood policy, as well as the importance of regular
consultations between representatives of interested states and CE
and EU.
According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by RA Foreign
Ministry Press and Information Department, Armenia came up with such
an initiative some months ago considering that it’ll be necessary
to closely coordinate works between CE and EU in the sphere of
realization of common priority goals and joint programs.
Realizing that the obligations assumed by these countries at the
moment of joining the Council of Europe correspond to the priorities
on democracy, legal state and human rights included in EU Neighborhood
policy national actions plans, RA Foreign Ministry is convinced that
these countries deal with common problems, which makes joint activity,
experience and information exchange necessary and useful.
RA Foreign Ministry greets both of the organizations for harmonization
of their efforts for the purpose of strengthening democratic
stability in the interested states and for will manifested in
the issue of stimulation of regional cooperation in the spirit of
European building.

ARMENIANS IN FRANCE PROTEST AGAINST TALAAT PASHA ACTION IN BERLIN
PanARMENIAN.Net
17.03.2006 00:12 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ March 15 demonstrations were held in French cities
of Paris, Marseilles and Valence against Talaat Pasha commemoration
in Berlin. The participants of the meeting emphasized inadmissibility
of Turkey’s denialist policy, noting “This Turkey does not have a
place in a democratic world”.
The court of Land Berlin had prevented the police from prohibiting
the so-called Talaat Pasha Action scheduled for March 18-19. However
human rights organizations and political figures supported the
police and censured the court’s decision, which will be appealed in
the supreme legal instances. They called upon the leadership to bar
actions targeted at denial of genocides and crimes of war, reported
Yerkir Media TV Channel. To remind, the other day the German police
barred a series of rallies the Turkish organizations planned to hold
in Berlin in mid March.
The prohibition was based upon Article 189 of the German Criminal
Code, which bars to express “disrespect for the dead”. In its
statement the German authorities used expression “dead in 1915”
to avoid term Armenian Genocide. The rallies are planned to start
with an event titled Talaat Pasha Action within “Big Program – 2006”
initiative advanced by a number of Turkish political figures urging
the Bundestag to withdraw the Resolution on the Armenian Genocide.

KARABAKH ISSUE – GLOBAL SECURITY PROBLEM
PanARMENIAN.Net
15.03.2006 19:00 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Territorial integrity of Azerbaijan”, “Nagorno
Karabakh Autonomous Region”, “liberated territories”… Theses are the
ungrounded notions imposed upon the Nagorno Karabakh Republic, former
NKR Deputy Defense Minister, lieutenant general Vitaliy Balasanyan
stated in an interview with Karabakh-online. In his words, the issue
is being purposefully politicized though it should be considered within
the legal field. “What does the expression security belt mean? I don’t
know such notion in the world practice when the territories belonging
by right are kept but even trees are not planted there. This notion
should be removed from the lexicon, recognize the NKR integrity within
its present borders and not follow the tastes of those who politicize
the issue artificially,” he underscored.
When touching upon the relations with the neighbor states, first of all
with Iran, Vitaliy Balasanyan noted that NKR is an independent state
bordering with Armenia and Iran. “During the pre-soviet period Iran
was Armenia’s age-old neighbor. Moreover Armenians made significant
contribution to the formation of the Persian State. We had common
interests including culture. We could jointly reconstruct and preserve
the monuments of Persian culture – mosques in Shushi and Aghdam. I
think we should use the border with Iran,” Balasanyan said.
He also reminded that the Karabakh problem is of pan-Armenian and
even global importance. “Some third states really attempt to cause
contradictions between the Armenian and Karabakh authorities. “I do
not notice any tension. Anyway the Nagorno Karabakh issue should be
over any personal ambitions,” the lieutenant general stated.

ALL WOMAN PASSENGERS TO BE GIVEN ROSES AT ZVARTNOTS AIRPORT ON MARCH 8
Noyan Tapan
Mar 07 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Yerevan Zvartnots airport’s manager
“Armenia International Airports” company will give roses to all woman
passengers on March 8, in connection with the Women’s International
Day. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by airport’s press
service, such an action is carried out at Zvartnots for already the
third year.

BRITISH AMBASSADOR: “WE SUPPORT SETTLEMENT OF CONFLICT THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS”
Today, Azerbaijan
March 7 2006
“We favor endeavors for peaceful settlement of Azerbaijani-Armenian
conflict.”
“All sides are concerned in resolution of the conflict through
negotiations, and this is the main point in restoration of the peace,”
British Ambassador to Azerbaijan Laurie Bristow told journalists,
APA informs.
He also took a stance on the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish’s
opinion on war probability between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Saying he was not active participant or co-chair in OSCE Minsk Group,
the ambassador added that heads of the both countries are in favor
of settling the conflict through talks.
“For many years this conflict’s remaining unsolved doesn’t enable
to create illusion about the problem. Both Azerbaijan and Armenian
leaderships support resolving the conflict through negotiations. We
support this process.”
URL:

BEFORE HIS PLANE HAS TAKEN OFF, JOHN EVANS WILL CARRY ON HIS MISSION
AZG Armenian Daily
03/08/2006
Yesterday journalists had the chance to find out whether the
information about Amb. Evans being called back is true or false. At the
press conference of Matthew Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for European and Eurasian Affairs, at the US Embassy, the ambassador
answered this question. “We all serve our country’s president. I
hope no one expects that an ambassador will remain forever. In fact,
I do not know when I will finish my mission to Armenia. And I have
submitted no documents for resignation. I am still here and will
continue as a head of this mission as long as I am not aboard the
plane to leave the country.” Matthew Bryza, on his part, said that
there is no question of recalling Amb. Evans and he is an excellent
ambassador. The USA is lucky to have John Evans in Armenia, and his
recalling will be as late as possible.

MORE TRUCE VIOLATIONS REPORTED IN NORTHEASTERN ARMENIA
By Hrach Melkumian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
March 8 2006
The Armenian military accused Azerbaijani forces on Wednesday
of continuing to violate the ceasefire regime in the westernmost
section of the heavily militarized border between the two South
Caucasus states.
Echoing statements by the Defense Ministry in Yerevan, military
commanders in Armenia’s northeastern Tavush province said their
border posts have been under daily automatic gunfire from Azerbaijani
positions for more than a week. They insisted that their troops are
not returning fire to prevent the situation from escalating further.
“I have just been informed that our positions were again fired upon,”
Major Tigran Gevorgian, chief of staff of an Armenian army regiment
stationed in the regional capital Ijevan, told RFE/RL. “We registered
five such incidents yesterday.”
“There have been no cases of truce violation from our side,” he said.
“We haven’t even returned fire. But we have increased our vigilance
and are ready to defend our land at any moment.”
One of Gevorgian’s soldiers, the 19-year-old Arsen Zakevosian, was
wounded and died while being transported to a military hospital in
Ijevan on Friday from his unit’s positions just outside the border
village of Kayan. The Armenian military says it has not suffered any
other casualties so far.
The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has not reported any fighting in the
area close to eastern Georgia and denies the Armenian accusations. It
said on Monday that the Armenians themselves breached the truce by
killing an Azerbaijani army conscript in a section of the frontline
east of Nagorno-Karabakh. Karabakh Armenian forces dismissed the
claims.
Residents of Kayan, meanwhile, confirmed that gunshots on the border
have been more frequent in recent days. “We are all used to shootings,”
said Arsen Ghazarian whose family house is located on the edge of
the village, just meters from an army roadblock.
“The Azerbaijanis shoot all the time,” said one of his neighbors,
Telman Pirumian. “Even small children are not quite scared of that.”
Susanna, an elderly villager, harked back to the pre-war Soviet years
when local residents lived in peace with their Azerbaijani neighbors
and took pride in Kayan’s status as the main gateway to Armenia. “We
could go to Tbilisi and any other place from here. But now the road
[running through Kayan] is closed. We are in quarantine.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WASHINGTON RECALLED ITS AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 8 2006
Tbilisi. March 08 (Prime-News) – John Evans, ambassador extraordinary
and plenipotentiary of the US to Armenia, was recalled to Washington
The recall was caused by Ambassador’s statement on Genocide of
Armenians in Osman Empire in 1915.
During the meeting with representatives of Armenian diaspora in San
Francisco on February 19, 2005 John Evans stated about importance of
acknowledgment of genocide of Armenians.
“I would call it genocide of Armenians,” Evans stated.
This evaluation caused dissatisfaction of the US because the
representatives of American administration and officials refrained
to mentioning ‘genocide’ regarding the tragedy in Turkey.