Author: Nalbandian Albert

BRITISH MUSICIANS HOLD JAZZ COURSES IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
Mar 28 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 27-30, the British Council
in Armenia in association with well-known jazz musicians Garry Crosby
and Abram Wilson are holding jazz courses for Armenian jazz musicians
within the framework of the “Soldiers of the Future” educational
program. As it was mentioned in the report provided to Noyan Tapan by
the British Council in Armenia, the goal of organization of the courses
is to promote development of performing, stage and improvisatory
skills and enrichment of the reportoire. Parallel with the courses,
the British musicians will share their experience and knowledge with
the local head of the band so that the Armenian band can continue
its activity after their departure. The result of this cooperation
will be presented to the Armenian spectator on March 30 and 31 at the
“Vanguard “folk club: the Armenian musicians will perform with the
British ones. The “Soldiers of the Future” non-profit organization
was founded in 1992 by Garry Crosby, bassist of the well-known “Jazz
Warriors” band, for the purpose of encouraging and supporting young
talented musicians who want to continue their activity in the sphere
of professional jazz.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO INSTALL INDIVIDUAL HELIOSYSTEMS IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Mar 28 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 28, NOYAN TAPAN. Individual heliosystems allow to use
the heat from solar energy for domestic purposes. Vahan Hamazaspian,
inventor of the device, academician of the Academy of Quality Problems,
told NT correspondent that the device is mainly suitable for use in
private houses and farms. Their capacity ranges from 300 watts to 200
kilowatts. 3-5 kw equipment is envisaged for apartment use. The current
price of a 1-kw device is 300 dollars. V. Hamazaspian assured that the
price will decline twofold with an increase in its demand. According
to him, the devices under a guarantee of 50 years have already
been installed in Yerevan, Echmiadzin and Ararat. In the opinion of
V. Hamazaspian, heliofication will enbale Armenia to solve a number of
important problems, particularly, to enhance the energy independence
of the country. He noted that it would be expedient to install these
devices within the framework of the Millennium Challenge Program,
whose main purpose is to reduce poverty in the rural area of Armenia.

THE SECURITY ISSUES OF THE FOODSTUFF

A1+
02:56 pm 28 March, 2006

The NA Deputy Tatul Manaseryan, the Vice-Deputy of the Ministry of
Agriculture Gagik Khachatryan and the representatives of a few public
organizations discussed the security issues of the RA foodstuff and
the ways of their solving during the round table organized in the
National Academy of Science.

The key issues of the discussion were the exertion of new economic
methods available for peasants, the full investments in the legislative
sphere, the regulation of the product export and partial competitive
field.

In Tatul Manaseryan’s opinion it is difficult to rename the former
markets nowadays. The reason for that is the abundance of low quality
products imported to the country and the shadow state of the local
manufacturer. This fact is determined by the absence of appropriate
monitoring and right presentation. “We mustn’t suffice ourselves with
financing peasants and the right export organization,” mentioned Mr.
Manaseryan.

The Vice-Deputy Gagik Khachatryan mentioned that problems of food
security which are also components of the national security are in
the centre of attention of the Armenian population as well as of the
international society. He claims that our legal field must comply
with the international, especially of the European criteria for the
regulation of export issues.

A group has been formed for this purpose in the correspondent
department of the Ministry which works out programs of implementation
of the whole legal field in the Republic within the coming 3 years. “I
admit that everything is not ideal in our country. But one can’t deny
the fact that something is being done.

It mainly refers to the export, to the products of animal origin and
to Armenian honey. A lot of serious steps are made on this score. We
are going to accredit Armenian honey in Europe after the results of
an appropriate laboratory examination,” added Gagik Khachatryan.

The Chairman of the public organization “Farmers’ Movement” Sargis
Setrakyan mentioned that before demanding the quality of the export
attention must be paid to the quality of imported fertilizers. This
assumes full support to the peasant. The Vice-Deputy said that on
this score they will be given 15 million credit with annual 10% for
7 years’ time with 18 months privileged period. This sum will help
the peasants to buy the necessary equipment and fertilizer.

“EDUCATION AIMED TO FUTURE OF ARMENIA” PROGRAM’S IMPLEMENTATION TO SUPPORT IMPROVEMENT OF QULAIFIED LABOUR IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Mar 27 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Minister of Education and Science
Sergo Yeritsian and Consuelo Vidal, the UN Development Program Resident
Representative in Armenia signed on March 24 the “Education Aimed to
Future of Armenia” program financed by the Government of Norway. The
program will assist qualitative and quantitave improvement of the
skilled labour in Armenia, supporting economic increase of the country
within a middle term. This two-years program the budget of which
makes 1 mln 157 thousand 315 dollars, is aimed not only to study
the local labour market but to improve the system of primary and
middle professional education of the country. According to Minister
S.Yeritsian, preparation of qualified specialists according to demands
of the labour market is very important for a country having such
few working places as Armenia has. He mentioned that the Government
of Armenia allocated 55 thousand dollars for implementation of this
program. “I’m sure that qualified specialists prepared by the primary
and middle professional education sphere are the basis which will
support development of the country,” Sergo Yeritsian emphasized.

Consuelo Vidal mentioned that the program is aimed to re-equipment
and improvement of the middle professional education, paying special
attention to the issue of supporting businessmen, especially in
marzes. According to Consuelo Vidal, education is one of the important
directions of the UN Development Program, and the national annual
report of this year will be dedicated to education.

AZERI PRESIDENTIAL AIDE SAYS EU ENVOY’S KARABAKH REMARKS “POLITICAL PRESSURE”

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
25 Mar 06

[Presenter] The fact that the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict has not
been resolved benefits neither Azerbaijan nor Armenia, the EU special
envoy for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, has told Radio Liberty.

He believes that Armenia will remain isolated if the conflict
continues, while Azerbaijan’s efforts to resolve the problem in
a military way may lead to serious consequences. The diplomat has
warned that these kinds of efforts could be abortive. He said that
a military solution to the conflict may undermine the investment
climate in Azerbaijan and discredit the country as a partner.

Baku views this kind of statement as a means of political and
psychological pressure only. The head of the foreign relations
department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Executive Staff, Novruz
Mammadov, has said that if the resumption of hostilities threatens
Azerbaijan’s image as a partner, then European entities must never
cooperate with Armenia, which has occupied the territories of its
neighbour.

[Correspondent, over video of Semneby speaking in Baku, Mammadov]
Peter Semneby’s remarks on the resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict are designed to put psychological and political pressure on
Baku. Novruz Mammadov believes that any international organization
interested in a peaceful solution to the conflict should take a just
position instead of using methods of warning and pressure.

[Novruz Mammadov, captioned, shown speaking] They want to influence
Azerbaijan in a certain way by this message. I believe that there is
no need for it. If Azerbaijan can indeed discredit itself as a partner
if it starts war to liberate its own lands, how come that Armenia
occupied Azerbaijani territories in a war and has kept them under
occupation for 15 years, but this has not discredited Armenia anyhow?

[Correspondent] Mammadov said that the Azerbaijani government was not
interested in a military solution either. However, Baku will use all
the resources to secure its territorial integrity.

[Novruz Mammadov] The Armenian side wishes to legalize the occupation
of the territories and appropriate them. The involvement of the world
community and international organizations in the conflict resolution
has failed to produce positive results so far. War will bring no good
to Azerbaijan or the South Caucasus. You know, war never brings good
to anyone. On the other side, a lot of investments have been made in
Azerbaijan. Billions of investments have been made here and nobody
wishes that those investments be squandered. Neither do we.

[Correspondent] Mammadov commended the EU’s activity in the resolution
of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, but stressed that Baku’s biggest
concession was its participation in the peace talks.

Therefore, international organizations should persuade Yerevan to
give up its non-constructive stand.

B.C. Catholic Newspaper, Canada
March 24 2006

Pope encourages unity of Armenian Christians
By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI encouraged Armenian Orthodox
and Catholics, who trace their origins back to St. Gregory the
Illuminator, to work to restore their unity in one community united
with the pope.

Meeting March 20 with members of the synod of the Armenian Catholic
Church and nearly 200 Armenian Catholic pilgrims, the pope praised
the ecumenical initiatives undertaken by the Armenian Catholic
patriarchate, based in Beirut, Lebanon, and the Armenian Apostolic
Church, an ancient and independent Oriental Orthodox Church that in
recent years has improved its relations with the Vatican.

The Armenian Apostolic Church is the dominant religious denomination
in Armenia, claiming a membership of more than 90 million people.

“I encourage this new-found fraternity and collaboration, hoping that
from it there would arise new initiatives for a common path toward
full unity,” the pope told the group led by Patriarch Nerses Bedros
XIX Tarmouni of Beirut, the Armenian Catholic patriarch.

Pope Benedict praised the faith of Armenian Christians who have
shared the trials Armenians faced throughout the centuries,
“particularly the sufferings endured in the name of the Christian
faith in the years of terrible persecution recorded in history with
the sadly significant name of ‘metz yeghern,'” or “the great
massacre,” in which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by
Ottoman Turks in 1915-18.

Armenians, persecuted by the Ottoman Turks and in the former Soviet
Union, ended up fleeing to other countries, which further split the
Christian community.

Pope Benedict said, “If historic events led to the fragmentation of
the Armenian church, divine providence will ensure that one day it
will be united with its hierarchy in fraternal harmony and in full
communion with the bishop of Rome.”

He encouraged Armenians to work and pray for the day when there will
be “one flock under one shepherd.”

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 23 2006

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE TO HAND SPORTS EQUIPMENT TO ARMENIAN POLICE AT
PRICE OF $40,000

YEREVAN, March 23. /ARKA/. The US Department of State will hand
sports equipment at the price of $40,000 to the Armenian Police. The
US Embassy to Armenia reported that the sports equipment is meant for
organization of the physical training of Armenian policemen from the
Police Academy and Police Training Center. US Vice-Ambassador Anthony
Godfrey will open the ceremony. R.O. -0–

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March 22, 2006
York U beauty wins Miss Universe Canada
By The Canadian Press

Alice Panikian of Toronto was selected Miss Universe Canada 2006,
defeating 48 other hopefuls Tuesday night, March 22, at the
Montreal casino. (Pierre Vidricaire/Sun Media)

MONTREAL (CP) — Alice Panikian of Toronto was selected Miss Universe
Canada 2006, defeating 48 other hopefuls Tuesday night at the Montreal
casino.

The 20-year-old York University student takes over the tiara from
Natalie Glebova, who went on to win the Miss Universe pageant in
Thailand last year.

More: See photos from pageant

“It’s surreal. I think I’m dreaming,” Panikian said, checking her
pulse.

The judges rated the young women on poise, confidence, intelligence,
physical fitness and beauty as they modelled in swimsuits and evening
gowns and made impromptu speeches.

Glebova said Panikian, who also took the Miss Photogenic prize, will
give Canada a strong candidate for the Miss Universe crown for a
second year in a row.

“She’s gorgeous. Absolutely stunning,” the past queen said.

Three Quebecers were among the 10 finalists, but none made the top
five.

The title of Miss Universe Canada allows the winner to travel the
world in defence of a favourite cause. For Panikian, it will be HIV
and AIDS prevention in Africa.

“(AIDS) is very preventable. With education we can save a lot of
lives,” she said.

Armenpress

DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER OF GREECE TO VISIT ARMENIA

YEREVAN, MARCH 23, ARMENPRESS: The Deputy Foreign Minister of
Greece, Evripidis Styliandis, will arrive in Armenia on March 28 for
an official three-day visit to enhance bilateral economic and
political ties and boost Greece’s presence in the country, the Athens
news Agency reported quoting the Hellenic foreign ministry, following
a meeting between Stylianidis and Armenia’s Ambassador in Athens
Vahram Kozhoyan.

“There is an order and commitment from Prime Minister Costas
Karamanlis that I will convey during my visit, that Armenia takes
priority in Greece’s developmental policy and that there is a desire
to boost bilateral economic ties,” Styliandis was quoted as saying.

The Greek embassy in Yerevan has confirmed the report saying
Styliandis will be received here by president Kocharian, prime
minister Margarian and foreign minister Oskanian. He will also chair
the sitting of the joint Greek-Armenian commission on economic
cooperation in Yerevan on March 29. The deputy minister will be
accompanied by members of the Armenian community in Greece.

ARMENIAN COMMUNISTS CONGRATULATE BELARUS LEADER ON “LANDSLIDE” WIN

Noyan Tapan news agency
20 Mar 06

Yerevan, 20 March: The central committee of the Communist Party of
Armenia (CPA) has congratulated Belarussian President Alyaksandr
Lukashenka on “a landslide victory” in the presidential election in
Belarus on 19 March.

The congratulatory message, signed by CPA First Secretary Ruben
Tovmasyan, said that “the outcome of the election has again
demonstrated the aspirations of the Belarus people to live in a
stable country”.

The party’s central committee said that the pace of economic growth
in Belarus under Lukashenka has been substantial.

“The country has managed to avoid negative consequences of the
so-called transition period thanks to its unique development. By
active participation in the vote, residents of fraternal Belarus
demonstrated their inexorability to numerous acts of provocation
masterminded by the criminal West,” the message said.