Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

UMBA, ADA AND AEIG SIGN ARMENIAN-GREEK BUSINESS COOPERATION AGREEMENTS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 27 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Business cooperation agreements were
signed on June 27 among the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen
of Armenia (UMBA), the Armenian Development Agency (ADA) and the
Association of Exporters and Importers of Greece (AEIG). The documents
were signed by the Chairman of UMBA Arsen Ghazarian, the Chairman of
ADA Vahagbn Movsisian and the Chairman of AEIG Tomas Vassaras.

A. Ghazarian said that unlike the Armenian-Greek interstate relations,
the business links between the two countries are "quite modest and
weak" due to bilateral passiveness in the issue of studying each
other’s market and risk assessment.

The purpose of signing the agreement is to encourage the bilateral
commodity turnover through business forums and exhibitions. "The
annual commodity turnover between Armenia and Greece makes only 10
million dollars," he noted, adding that Greece can export to Armenia an
additional number of goods that Armenia currently imports from Turkey.

In the opinion of A. Ghazarian, among most profitable spheres of
the Armenian-Greek cooperation are construction, tourism, banking
activity, as well as international advice and audit, where, in his
words, the Greek market is quite flexible.

WATERSHED BETWEEN PEOPLE AND AUTHORITIES INADMISSIBLE, CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF NKR SAYS

ArmInfo
2007-06-27 10:27:00

Masis Mailyan, a candidate for president of Nagorny Karabakh Republic,
was on air of the NKR Public TV and Radio Company. Particularly,
he dwelled on the problems of the people-authorities relations.

"There is a watershed between the people and the authorities,
which is inadmissible. Recently I have met many voters and all they
complain of the indifference of officials to their problems. It is
inadmissible. The situation must be changed. The people must know how
the authorities work and protect their rights. The state must help the
people and serve to it," Masis Mailyan said, ArmInfo’s correspondent
to Stepanakert reports.

The pre-election campaign in NKR is in process. The election is
scheduled for July 19.

PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

June 20, 2007
___________________

CHOIR ASSOCIATION HONORS MAESTRO KHOREN MEKANEJIAN

By Lydia Kurkjian

Few musicians have the chance to be recognized for their achievements during
their lifetime. But when that musician is Maestro Khoren Mekanejian,
coordinator of music ministry for the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America (Eastern), it is only fitting to celebrate all that he has
accomplished.

On Sunday, June 3, 2007, the Association of Armenian Church Choirs of
America (AACCA) organized a gala celebration of Maestro Mekanejian’s
life-work, including his unique musical arrangement of the sacred music of
the Divine Liturgy.

The celebration marked the grand premiere of the "Khorenian Badarak" at St.
Vartan Cathedral in New York City. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Fr.
Mardiros Chevian and presided over by Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate
of the Eastern Diocese. The hymns of the liturgy were sung by the St.
Vartan Cathedral Choir. Faithful and friends of Maestro Mekanejian who had
traveled from as far away as Canada and California packed the Cathedral.

Most in attendance experienced the "Khorenian Badarak" for the first time
and many were moved to tears by the angelic sounds of the St. Vartan
Cathedral Choir and altar servers. The choir, which had been practicing for
this special occasion for weeks in advance, consisted of both professional
and nonprofessional singers from around the tri-state area, with Florence
Avakian serving as organist. Soloists included Maestro’s daughter Hasmig
Mekanejian, Vagharshag Ohanian, Anahid Zakarian, Dr. Levon Capan, Maro
Partamian, Solange Merdinian, and Anoush Barclay.

During the celebration, Archbishop Barsamian presented the Maestro with the
St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal and Encyclical on behalf of His Holiness Karekin
II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.

"In the decades you led the choir of the Mother See, you brought your grace
and rich experience to the celebration of the Divine Liturgy by assuring it
was conducted properly," the Catholicos wrote in his Encyclical. "You also
composed a new melody for the Divine Liturgy which was sung in the Mother
Cathedral numerous times and was accepted with love by our devoted
faithful."

CELEBRATING A LIFE

Following the Divine Liturgy, the AACCA hosted "Maestro Khoren Mekanejian:
The Man and His Music," a tribute dinner and program in Maestro’s honor.
Archbishop Barsamian offered the invocation, opening the afternoon’s
celebration.

Fr. Untzag Nalbandian, serving as master of ceremonies, welcomed the crowd
of almost 250 people, commenting that the guests were gathered to honor a
man who "connected our children all over the Diocese and at our camps to
their roots, history, and heritage through our Armenian songs."

Arpie Kouzouian, chairman of the AACCA, detailed Maestro’s background,
highlighting his accomplishments and thanking the AACCA Central Council for
the hard work and dedication that went into planning this event.

Fr. Haigazoun Najarian, Diocesan Vicar of the Eastern Diocese and one of
Maestro’s notable former students, raised a glass in toasting his former
instructor who taught in the seminary at Holy Etchmiadzin when Armenia was
still under Soviet rule. He noted that Maestro’s other students include His
Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians; Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese; Fr.
Untzag Nalbandian, and Fr. Zenob Nalbandian.

Fr. Najarian said Maestro instilled in his students a sense of love and
appreciation for liturgical music at a time when it was not easy to be a
Christian. "In those days, it was hard to stay true to the music," Fr.
Haigazoun said. "But Maestro never wavered."

Fr. Mardiros Chevian, dean of St. Vartan Cathedral, spoke on his
relationship with Maestro and the partnership they have forged over the
years. Along with serving the parishes of the Diocese, Maestro oversees
liturgical music at the Cathedral.

"Anyone who thinks a priest can do it on his own is wrong," Fr. Chevian
said. "Teamwork is important. Maestro and I work side by side. I never
worry about being prepared for the major feast days or special occasions
here at the Cathedral."

MUSICAL CAREER

After these kind remarks, the crowd enjoyed dinner and a movie. A
commemorative DVD, entitled "The Man and His Music" and edited by Artzagank
Armenian TV, used archival footage and stills to take viewers through
Maestro’s childhood, beginnings as a musician, and his work with the Church.

Of particular interest to the crowd was his work within the Diocese.
Maestro Khoren came to New York in 1993 when Archbishop Barsamian invited
him to conduct the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir.

"We are thankful to our Primate for his far-sighted vision in inviting
Maestro Khoren to come to our Diocese," Fr. Nalbandian said. "And not only
to invite him, but to create the music ministry position. We are thankful
for that."

Since coming to the Diocese, Maestro’s role has expanded greatly. Along
with working with the AACCA and teaching the students of St. Nersess
Seminary, Maestro travels to Diocesan camps during the summer months and
gives music lessons at area Armenian schools on Saturdays.

Before the most recent celebration, Maestro had been awarded the Soorp
Mesrob Mashdotz Medal and Encyclical from the Catholicos of Cilicia Karekin
I in 1991 and the Mashdotz Medal from Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin I
in 1997.

During the banquet, the Primate spoke about Maestro’s passion for music and
how he has put his skills to good use bringing people closer to God.

"Life is God’s gift, but with this gift God also gives us talents. Using
these talents we make life meaningful," Archbishop Barsamian said. "For 70
years of life, Maestro Khoren has been using the gifts God has given him to
strengthen our Church and the Armenian community."

REFLECTING ON PASSION

After the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" and Maestro blew out the candles on
his cake, he reflected on the past 70 years. He expressed his love and
gratitude for his family: his wife Flora, son Hagop, daughter Hasmig,
son-in-law Manuel, and their two children, Ani and Levon. Maestro
especially thanked the young servers of the dinner, his former students, who
worked so hard all afternoon to make the evening a success.

Arpie Kouzouian and Anoush Givelekian, chair and vice-chair of the AACCA
respectively, presented Maestro with a commemorative plaque in honor of his
continued passion to the sacred music of the Armenian Church.

The day-long program ended with the riveting musical performance by the
Cathedral Choir. Maestro introduced and conducted each song, all of which
were handpicked because of their significance in Maestro’s career.

Maestro’s daughter, Mezzo Soprano Hasmig, sang a particularly moving
rendition of "Hokees (My Soul)" dedicated to her father.

Maestro enthusiastically signed copies of "The Songs of My Life," his new
biography and songbook published by the AACCA which is now available through
the St. Vartan Bookstore.

"I am not happy I turned 70," he said with a smile. "But I am happy that
the audience has understood my work. When God gives life, he gives every
person a purpose. This is my purpose. I made a promise to Vasken I, and I
am grateful that I was able to keep it."

If they were unfamiliar with his life work previously, all those in
attendance could now attest to what the AACCA’s Givelekian had to say about
Maestro: "We have a living legend in our midst, and we must take advantage
of all he has to offer. His legacy will be alongside Gomidas and Yegmalian;
his rendition of the Divine Liturgy is truly a masterpiece!"

— 6/25/07

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): During a 70th birthday celebration, Archbishop Khajag
Barsamian, Primate, presents Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, coordinator of music
ministry for the Diocese, with the St. Nersess Shnorhali Medal and
Encyclical on behalf of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): Arpie Kouzouian and Anoush Givelekian, chair and
vice-chair of the AACCA respectively, present Maestro Mekanejian with a
commemorative plaque during a gala celebration at the St. Vartan Cathedral
on June 3, 2007.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): Maestro Khoren Mekanejian leads a choir during a
celebration of his life and work organized by the Association of Armenian
Church Choirs of America (AACCA).

# # #

Neo-cons Spinning Hearts and Minds

Published on Sunday, June 24, 2007 by Inter Press Service
by Khody Akhavi

WASHINGTON – As the George W. Bush administration struggles through its
last two years in office, it appears that the agenda of neoconservative
ideologues has finally lost its appeal among strategic parts of the
U.S. foreign policy apparatus.

But as their influence has waned at the Pentagon and State Department,
neo-conservative hawks have taken charge on the battlefield of public
diplomacy.Intent on fixing what American Enterprise Institute (AEI)
fellow Joshua Muravchik termed Bush’s `public diplomacy mess,’
right-wing hawks have gained control of the weapons in the `war of
ideas’ ‘ U.S. government-funded and supported media outlets such as
Voice of America (VOA), Al-Hurra, and Radio Farda, which broadcast to
the Middle East and aim to offer an alternative view of the news.

The recent appointment of Jeffrey Gedmin, a veteran neo-conservative
polemicist, as the director of Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE),
and a smear campaign that led to the recent resignation of Larry
Register, Al-Hurra’s former news director, appears to herald a turn
towards more ideologically rigid programming.

As a result, viewers and listeners of U.S.-supported media in the
Middle East are being exposed to a tougher ideological line that
endorses the hallmarks of the neoconservative agenda ‘ regime change
and interventionist policies in the region.

`No group other than neocons is likely to figure out how to do that,’
wrote Muravchik, in a December 2006 article in Foreign Policy magazine
entitled `Operation Comeback’, a reference to the declining influence
of neo-conservatives in the Bush administration. `We are, after all, a
movement whose raison d’etre was combating anti-Americanism in the
United States. Who better then to combat it abroad?’

In a widely-circulated email memo sent to White House advisor Karl Rove
in July 2006 and obtained by IPS, the former Republican Speaker of the
House Newt Gingrich also criticised the State Department’s inability to
manage the information campaign advocating U.S. foreign policy
interests in the region.

He called on Karen Hughes, undersecretary for Public Diplomacy and
Public Affairs at the State Department, to `run the information
operation aimed at delegitimising Syria, Iran and Hezbollah every day.’

Earlier this year, a report authored by Ladan Archin, head of the
Pentagon’s Iran directorate who, in the run-up to the Iraq War, worked
in the agency’s controversial Office of Special Plans, charged that
both VOA’s Persian TV service and Radio Farda, a Persian-language radio
station that broadcasts from Prague and Washington, were too soft in
the their criticism of Iran’s regime.

Archin’s report, which was obtained by the McClatchy Newspapers
Washington bureau, complained that, while VOA’s Persian TV service
`often invites guests who defend the Islamic Republic’s version of
issues, it consistently fails to maintain a balance by inviting
informed guests who represent another perspective on the same issue.’

With the neo-conservative drums beating inside the Washington Beltway,
the reshuffling of key positions at REF and Al-Hurra came as no
surprise.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced in February a major
initiative to promote democracy in Iran, including 50 million dollars
to increase Persian-language television broadcasts.

Congress also appropriated 21.4 million dollars to expand VOA’s Persian
television programming to 12 hours a day, and 14.7 million dollars more
for Radio Farda (which means `Tomorrow’ in Farsi).

In early 2007, the Broadcasting Board of Governor’s chairman, Kenneth
Tomlinson, named Gedmin, a former AEI fellow and a founding member,
along with Vice President Dick Cheney and former Pentagon chief Donald
Rumsfeld, of the Project for a New American Century, as RFE’s director.
Gedmin’s new job gave him control over Radio Farda and Voice of
America. Some listeners have since noted changes in the tone and
content of their programming.

A Jun. 14 VOA broadcast in Persian, for example, featured an original
interview with AEI fellow and leading neo-conservative Richard Perle on
the future of democracy in Iran, as well as a roundtable discussion
with Shahryar Ahi, chief organiser of a conference of Iranian
opposition groups in Paris. Ahi, an informal liaison during the 1970’s
between the Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, and the White House,
currently works with the Shah’s 45-year-old, Washington-based son, Reza
Pahlavi.

Radio Farda has featured three exclusive and well-publicised interviews
with Perle, Michael Rubin, yet another AEI fellow, and Pahlavi,
according to Hossein Derkhshan, an Iranian blogger whose weblog,
hoder.com, is widely read.

As the Bush administration ramps up its offensive against Iran’s regime
through VOA and Radio Farda, neo-conservatives have also taken aim at
Al-Hurra, a U.S.-sponsored Arabic-language satellite television station
that broadcasts to 22 countries across the Middle East on an annual
budget of more than 70 million dollars.

In early June, Register resigned from Al-Hurra after less than six
months on the job, in the wake of a series of public attacks against
him and the station’s allegedly anti-U.S. content by neo-conservative
columnist Joel Mowbray in the opinion pages of the Wall Street Journal.

Mowbrey complained that Register was directly responsible for most
Al-Hurra broadcasts that, among other things, carried Hezbollah leader
Hassan Nasrallah’s December 2006 speech in its entirety, reported
uncritically on last year’s Holocaust conference in Iran, and referred
to the establishment of Israel in 1948 as `al Naqba,’ which means
`catastrophe’ in Arabic.

`Our taxpayer-financed Arabic network was set up to counter Al-Jazeera,
not echo it,’ he wrote.

Since its launch in 2004, Al-Hurra had served as the centrepiece of
Washington’s `aggressive post-9/11 courtship of the Arab world’ and was
`fulfilling its mission’ until it hired Register, according to another
Mowbray column.

Yet Register’s predecessor, Moufac Harb, resigned a month after a
scathing report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
found that Al-Hurra lacked `a comprehensive, long-term strategic plan’
and criticised its reported audience statistics.

Register, a veteran producer and vice president who worked at CNN for
20 years, was supposed to boost the profile of the station, win
audience share and generate political debate. But his attempts to
appeal to an Arab audience ostensibly went against the goals of the
neo-conservative establishment in Washington.

`The conservative crusade against Register demonstrates one of the
great difficulties facing any official American broadcasting in the
Middle East,’ wrote Marc Lynch, a professor at George Washington
University whose blog, www.abuaardvark, on Arab media and politics is
widely read in Washington, in Britain’s Guardian newspaper.

`To be a free and credible media outlet means allowing critics of
American policy to speak and covering news that might make America look
bad,’ he noted. *****

FIVE ARMENIAN WRESTLERS PARTAKE IN THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

ArmRadio.am
25.06.2007 13:50

June 24 the Youth Freestyle Wrestling Championship kicked off
in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Armenian sportsmen Artyom
Hambartsumyan (50kg), Tsolak Arakelyan (55kg), Arthur Arakelyan (60kg),
Suren Adyan (66kg), Samvel Adyan (74kg) and Grigor Grigoryan (84kg)
are participating in the tournament. The chief coach of the Armenian
team is Araik Baghdatyan.

DISCUSSIONS TO BE ORGANIZED IN NATO ON OCCASION OF DECLARING MONATORIUM OVER CFE TREATY BY RUSSIA AND AZERBAIJAN

Noyan Tapan
Jun 22 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Mikayel Haroutiunian, the RA Defence
Minister, received Robert Simmons, the special representative of the
NATO’s Secretary General in the South Cacausus and Middle Asia. During
the June 22 meeting the interlocutors mainly spoke about Armenia-NATO
relations.

Attaching importance to Armenia’s participation in international
peacemaking missions, Robert Simmons particularly appreciated the
cooperation in Kosovo where Armenia has become a serious security
guarantee together with other peacemaking forces.

The sides exchanged ideas concerning the process of the reforms
envisaged by the Individual Partnership Actions Plan (IPAP), the
involvement of citizens in the sphere of defence, the clarity of sphere
activities, the continuing participation of Armenian divisions in the
structure of international peacemaking forces, and issues concerning
the training of specialists.

R. Simmons expressed his satisfaction on the occasion of the successful
implementation of the IPAP stages. He mentioned that the partnership
does not compete with other security systems, be that Russia or
the Collective Security Treaty Organization. Just on the contrary,
all efforts are directed to the defence of interests of cooperating
countries, including Armenia.

M. Haroutiunian declared that one of these days the Armenian Human
Rights Defender (Ombutsman) will have a representative of armed
forces, which will contribute to the creation of Human Rights Defender
Institution in the Armenian Armed Forces.

At the end of the meeting the sides touched upon the developments
taking place in the region. M. Haroutiunian expressed his anxiety
about the recent statement of Azerbaijan concerning the fact that it
wants to leave the Treaty of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe
(CFE Treaty). R. Simmons stressed in his turn that NATO is definitely
for a complete implementation of all the provisions of the treaty,
which is conditioned by the necessity of preserving security and
stability in the region. He added that NATO will organize special
discussions concerning the fact that Russia and Azerbaijan have
declared a moratorium over this treaty.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the RA Defence
Ministry, Samvel Mkrtchian, the RA representative to NATO, was also
present at the meeting.

ARMENIAN MINISTER SAYS AZERBAIJAN RENEGES ON KARABAKH AGREEMENTS

Mediamax news agency
20 Jun 07

Yerevan, June 20. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan refuted
the statements of the Azerbaijani side, according to which "Armenia
took a delay in the negotiation process on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict settlement".

The Armenian foreign minister said this, commenting on Mediamax’s
request on the statement of the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan
Araz Azimov, which was spread by Interfax Agency today.

"Armenia and the international community on the whole should seriously
analyse and assess the present situation. And if till September there
is a break in the talks, it should be regarded as a delay for Armenia,
as a chance to again assess the situation", Araz Azimov stated.

Mediamax reports that, speaking during the joint news conference with
the NATO Secretary General’s special representative for Central Asia
and the South Caucasus, Robert Simmons, Vardan Oskanyan stressed that
the position of the official Yerevan remains unchanged – "Armenia is
ready to continue the talks on the basis of the present proposals".

The foreign minister stated that during the latest meeting of the
Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents, which took place in St Petersburg
on 9 June, "there appeared the first obvious signs that the Azerbaijani
side tries to renounce some agreements, reached earlier".

"Taking into account that fact, I do not rule out that the statement
of Araz Azimov is an effort to launch a counter-offensive and impose
the responsibility on Armenia", Vardan Oskanyan stated, answering
Mediamax’s question.

The Armenian foreign minister did not comment on the statements,
according to which Azerbaijan refused the idea of holding a referendum
in Nagorno-Karabakh. Together with that, Vardan Oskanyan repeated, "we
see the trend of renouncing a number of agreements, reached earlier".

"We need time to understand, what such a behaviour of Azerbaijan can
lead to – toughening of position, total shift of policy or anything
else", Vardan Oskanyan stated

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO PROBLEMS OF ARMENIAN COMMUNITIES IN RUSSIA AND GEORGIA OPENS IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Jun 19 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 19, NOYAN TAPAN. "The Homeland-Diaspora relations
are very complicated, they have not been studied up to this day,
and our task is to regulate these relations and to clarify the mutual
obligations." Manuk Topuzian, Minister-Head of RA government’s staff,
stated on June 19 at the international scientific-practical conference
under the title Armenian Communities at the Current Stage: Survival,
Prospects.

In the words of Gagik Haroutiunian, Director of Noravank
scientific-enlightening fund, the relations between Armenia and the
Diaspora are of strategic importance. Among the most important tasks
he mentioned elaboration and implementation of joint programs of the
structure, which is engaged in issues of contacts between Armenia
and the Diaspora, etc.

The conference has been organized by the Caucasian Media Institute,
Noravank fund and Yerkir union of NGOs on repatriation.

The goal of the conference is to discuss the situation in some
Armenian communities of Russia and Georgia, to try to work out adequate
mechanisms on raising the efficiency of homeland-Diaspora contacts,
to begin a public discussion about the above mentioned problem in
Armenia and in the very Diaspora.

The conference will continue on June 20.

ROMIK MANUKIAN RELIEVED OF POST OF SHIRAK GOVERNOR, WHILE VARDGES MATEVOSIAN APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF VAYOTS DZOR MARZ

Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. By a decision taken by the Armenian
government on June 14, Romik Manukian was relieved of the post of
governor of Shirak marz (province). According to the RA Government
Information and PR Department, by another decision, Vardges Matevosian
was appointed governor of Vayots Dzor marz.

THE MEMBERS OF THE INITIATIVE GROUP FOR BAKO SAHAKYAN CLARIFIED

KarabakhOpen
14-06-2007 09:34:10

Roudik Housnounts and Vahram Atanesyan, members of NKR Parliament and
the initiative group for Bako Sahakyan, clarified in the newspaper
"Azat Artsakh" why B. Sahakyan has a right to be a candidate for
the post of president. "We, of course, cannot predetermine the final
decision rendered by the NKR CEC. But we have our understanding of
the issue. Yes, for a certain period of time Bako Sahakyan worked
in Moscow, but he was always registered in Stepanakert. From the
point of view of the international law the diplomatic or any other
representation of any country is considered the territory of that
country; therefore, in the given period presidential candidate Bako
Sahakyan was always on the territory, which is a common civic territory
for all of us, including the "human rights activist", as long as NKR
is not internationally recognized. If Albert Voskanyan and the likes
of him are turning situations stemming from the unrecognized status
of NKR into an argumentation, then that qualifies an activity, which
we do not name." – says the clarification note.

Note that the "Center of r Civic Initiatives" NGO chairman A. Voskanyan
has sent a letter to the CEC, stating that B. Sahakyan did not reside
in NKR for two years. The CEC has not given a concrete answer to the
question. In their letter the MP’s also note, that the regulation "so
not authorize public statements regarding Constitutional questions."