Author: Nalbandian Albert

CENTER FOR TEACHING ARMENIAN FOLK INSTRUMENTS FOUNDED IN JAVAKHK

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 24 2007

AKHALKALAK, MAY 24, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The first group
already functions at the center for teaching Armenian folk instruments
founded recently in Javakhk. Only duduk (Armenian national pipe) and
piano are still taught, but, as responsible for the center Haroutiun
Muradian stated it is envisaged to organize lessons of reed-pipe,
kanon and accordeon as well.

According to Javakhk-Info, the Armenian people’s song and dance,
solfeggio and Armenian musical literature subjects are envisaged by
the education program. The center pupils will study three years and
get a final certificate, and ones wanting to perfect themselves in
the music education will be given the right to continue the education.

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION OF ARMAMENTS IN MINSK

ArmRadio.am
22.05.2007 14:23

An international exhibition of armaments is opening in Minsk. The main
participants of the exhibition are Belarus, Ukraine and Russia. The
joint display of the Russian companies will be presented by
"Rosoboronexport."

ITAR-TASS reports that delegations from Armenia, Venezuela, the United
Arab Emirates, Oman and Syria are expected to visit the pavilion
of armaments.

RUSSIA VIEWS AZERBAIJAN AS IMPORTANT STRATEGIC PARTNER

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
May 21 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / Òrend corr S. Aghayeva / Azerbaijan is an important
strategic partner for Russia and we are interested in developing
the co-operation between the countries, Russian Foreign Minister,
Sergey Lavrov, stated in Baku on 21 May, during a briefing after the
meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov which
was held within the framework of his official visit to the country.

"We have had positive talks on bilateral co-operation, regional bonds
and issues of an international nature," Lavrov said. According to him,
the ministers stressed the necessity to develop the co-operation
with regards to the Caspian Sea’s status, the establishment of
peace and stability in the region through settlement of military
conflicts including Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia backs the settlement
of the conflict on the basis of international principles and mutual
agreement of the parties to the conflict, Lavrov said. As to the
status of the Caspian Sea, the Russian Minister stated that Russia
insisted that the solution to this issue should meet the interests
of all the 5 Caspian countries. Baku and Moscow are prepared to do
their best to reach these goals.

" Russia can play a key role in the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, Mammadyarov noted at the briefing. He voiced his satisfaction
with the activities of the Russian co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk
Group on peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The Azerbaijani Minister added that the positions of the two countries
corresponded for the most part.

–Boundary_(ID_bAC8935C0YJTCTAsXU4N/g)–

MEDIA: BAKU DID NOT LIMIT HIMSELF WITH DIPLOMATIC NOTES AND IS GOING MAKE CLAIMS TO RF FM PERSONALLY?

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.05.2007 17:42 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ It is not excluded that during Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Baku Azeri politicians will make
claims concerning Baku’s dissatisfaction with publications in the
Great Russian Encyclopedia – an article about Nagorno Karabakh, as
well as a TV program on "Rossia" TV channel, where " that region
of Azerbaijan" as called an a historical territory of Armenia,
"Nezavisimaya Gazeta" reports.

"It is worth mentioning that this incident aroused a negative reaction
in Azerbaijan, and even the Azeri MFA sent two notes of protest to
Russia. Analyst Alpay Ahmed thinks such mistakes casts shadow on the
equal relations of both countries. "Moscow states that Azerbaijan is an
important strategic partner for Russia on the long-term perspective. At
the same time official publications and TV channels try to distort
the history of Azerbaijan. In such cases ordinary Azeris have nothing
else than to cast doubt on sincerity of the Kremlin," the political
scientist thinks, the newspaper reports.

Meanwhile as Strana.ru reports, official representative of the
Azeri MFA Ibrahim Khazar stated that in connection with the fact
that Azerbaijan is not satisfied with Russia’s response to its
first note and there is no answer for the second note, "this issue
will be touched during Azeri-Russian high level bilateral meetings,
particularly during Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Baku.

According to the Russian expert "those notes addressed to Russia pour
constantly from that very moment, when the war between Armenia and
Azerbaijan was stopped".

He said, any sneeze from the Russian side, even unofficial, arouses
irritated reaction by Baku, though Americans do such things that
Russia even does not dream of". "Say, the U.S. Congress gives economic
assistance to Nagorno Karabakh, and Azerbaijan does not protest for
that. Because Americans ignore such demarcate and they decide who to
have relations with and in what format," the analyst said.

TURKEY’S POLICY TOWARDS ARMENIAN NOT TO CHANGE

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.05.2007 15:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Turkey keeps to a clear policy towards Armenia
and neither political force will initiate changes. At the same time
we should not forget that all things, which happen in that country
most of all concern Armenia, than any other country in the region,"
Ruben Safrastyan, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of
the RA NAS (National Academy of Sciences) stated at the round table
organized by the Turkish Department of that institute.

He said in any cases it is all the same for Armenia which party
will rule in Turkey. "Indeed, it is easier to speak with one party
than with several parties. I want to remind that when in 2002 AKP
became the ruling party in the country, some rumours occurred about
establishing economic cooperation with Armenia in order to normalize
relations. However, they remained on the level of rumours," Safrastyan
underscored.

Today, Azerbaijan
May 19 2007

German ambassador doubts veracity of German delegation’s visit to
Khankendi

19 May 2007 [10:53] – Today.Az

I do not have any information on German delegation’s visit to
Khankendi, said German ambassador Per Stankina.

He doubts the correctness of the information on German delegation’s
visit to Nagorno Karabakh.

Novruz Mammadov, chief of President’s Office International Relations
Department told APA the visits of Foreign delegations to the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan are closely followed by them.

"We observe such visits and express our position. Armenians regularly
misinform on the visits of foreign delegations or parliamentarians to
Nagorno Karabakh. Despite all these, we always focus our attention on
theses issue."

URL:

Today, Azerbaijan
May 19 2007

German Foreign Ministry respects Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity,
does not recognize so called "Nagorno Karabakh republic"

19 May 2007 [10:44] – Today.Az

Azerbaijani Embassy in Germany appealed to German Foreign Ministry
with regard to the information posted on APA’s web-site with
reference to Armenian sources which said German delegation composed
of political, social and business figures, including Bundestag member
Markus Gizeke is visiting Armenian-occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Embassy second secretary Nasimi Agayev told the APA German Foreign
Ministry replied that it has no information on the visit.

"German Foreign Ministry officially told the Embassy that Berlin
recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, and they do not
recognize so called "Nagorno Karabakh republic." The Ministry also
said that they do not organize visits to Nagorno Karabakh in the
level of government. German government can not control German NGO’s
visits to Nagorno Karabakh as such visits are made individually," he
said.

As to Bundestag member’s being in the composition of the delegation
visiting Karabakh, Foreign Ministry said this information is false.

"Because there is not a person called Markus Gizeke in Bundestag.
There was not such parliamentarian in the composition of Parliament
in the past 15 years," it said.

URL:

WORLD FAMOUS 83-YEAR-OLD OPERA SINGER GOHAR GASPARYAN DIED IN YEREVAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.05.2007 12:30 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ World famous Armenian opera singer, USSR and Armenian
national singer, professor of the Yerevan Conservatory 83-year-old
Gohar Gasparyan died in Yerevan May 16, the PanARMENIAN.Net was told
in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Culture. Still there is no news
about the cause of Gohar Gasparyan’s death.

However the singer, who had suffered from a cerebral stroke several
years ago, was in the reanimation department of "Nairi" Medical Center
during the recent days.

The "Armenian nightingale"- as Gohar Gasparyan was called – was born in
1924 in Cairo. She had studied in the local musical academy. Gasparyan
moved to Armenia in 1948. Beginning from 1949 she had sung title parts
of 23 opera performances in the Opera and Ballet Academic Theater of
Armenia. And generally her repertoire included more than 500 musical
compositions.

Armenian National Committee – New Mexico

108 East Aztec Avenue

Gallup, New Mexico 87301

E-mail: [email protected]

Web:

PRESS RELEASE

: May 17, 2007

Contact: Haroutiun Kassakhian

E-mail: [email protected]

ANC of New Mexico Welcomes Congressman Udall’s Cosponsorship of
Armenian Genocide Resolution

Santa Fe, NM – United States Representative Tom Udall (D-NM-03) became the
latest member to cosponsor H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide resolution,
following a meeting with ANC of New Mexico advocates last month. The
addition of Rep. Udall brings the total number of cosponsors for the
Armenian Genocide Resolution to 193 House Members.

Last month, ANC of New Mexico Chairman Harry Kassakhian met with Robert
Vasquez from Congressman Udall’s Santa Fe district office staff.
Kassakhian, a Udall constituent, was joined by fellow constituent, Levon
Tashjian. In discussing the resolution Kassakhian emphasized that the
matter was an American issue as many victims found refuge in the United
States following the genocide.

Representative Tom Udall represents northern New Mexico and is currently
serving his fifth term in the US House where he is a member of the
influential Appropriations Committee. He comes from a family distinguished
for its devotion to public service. His father, Stewart Udall, served four
terms in Congress before being appointed Secretary of the Interior by
Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Tom’s uncle Morris Udall served in Congress
for thirty years and was a major presidential contender in 1976.
Representative Mark Udall (D-CO) – an early cosponsor of H. Res. 106 – and
Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) are Tom’s cousins and current Members of
Congress.

"We are pleased that Congressman Udall has joined the growing community of
leaders who realize that it is time for the United States to speak with
moral clarity about the Armenian Genocide," said Kassakhian. "For too long
our country has been held hostage by a Turkish government and its proxies
bent on covering up this dark chapter of its history. Congressman Udall’s
cosponsorship reaffirms that there is no profit margin that justifies
remaining silent in the face of genocide."

The Armenian National Committee of America is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.

OSCE HEAD TO CALL ON YEREVAN AND BAKU TO AGREE ON KARABAKH PROCESS MAIN PRINCIPLES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

PanARMENIAN.Net
15.05.2007 17:13 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ OSCE Chairman-in-Office Miguel Angel Moratinos
welcomes activities of OSCE Minsk Group on the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict and is going to call on the conflicting sides – Azerbaijan
and Armenia to agree on Karabakh process main principles as soon as
possible, OSCE MG Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov stated.

On May 10 Spanish Foreign Minister OSCE Chairman-in-Office Miguel
Angel Moratinos together with OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs discussed
the ways of peaceful solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in
Madrid. "Before departing for Baku and Yerevan he wanted to know
our opinion and we gave him our estimations. Miguel Angel Moratinos
perceived them and approved our activity. During his visit to the
region the OSCE head also is going to call on the sides to agree the
main principles of settlement as soon as possible," Merzlyakov said.

The Russian diplomat also informed separate consultations were held
with foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Strasbourg May
10-11. "We discussed those basic principles of settlement, which are
not agreed yet. We received reaction of the sides to our offers. We
will continue the work over them and correspondingly prepare our
offers," Merzlyakov underscored without commenting on his opinion on
the reaction of the conflicting sides to the above-mentioned offers.

Merzlyakov informed the Minsk Group Co-Chairs are preparing a visit
to the region at the end of May.

"But the exact day of the visit is not agreed with the sides yet,
since still there is no confirmation from Yerevan and Baku," he added.

The Russian diplomat said, also still there is no firm agreement
on organizing the next round of talks between Armenian and Azeri
presidents in Saint Petersburg June 10. It will be clear after our
visit to the region," OSCE Minsk Group Russian Co-Chair Yuri Merzlyakov
informed, Trend reports.