THREE KARABAKH SOLDIERS CROSS TO AZERBAIJANI SIDE
Yerkir
02.03.2009 14:26
Yerevan (Yerkir) – Nagornyy Karabakh Republic Defence Army servicemen
Hrant Markosyan, Alik Tevosyan and Artush Sargsyan crossed the
Karabakh-Azerbaijani front line in unidentified circumstances 28
February in the direction of Aghdam, NKR defence ministry press
service reported. The servicemen found themselves on the territory
under control of the Azerbaijani forces. The details of the incident
are being clarified.
YURI MERZLIAKOV: OBJECTIVE CONDITIONS CREATED FOR THE CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
ArmInfo
2009-03-02 10:45:00
ArmInfo. "The conversation was very meaningful. We tried to completely
inform Bako Sahakyan about the meeting of Presidents Aliyev and
Sargsyan in Zurich. We told him what new opportunities we had
seen as a result of that meeting for the settlement process. We
also shared our impressions and ideas, and we are glad they were
heard and understood. We also learned an interesting information
from B. Sahakyan about the social and economic state of Nagorno
Karabakh. Closer we know each other, more interests we have and more
to say to each other", OSCE MG Russian cochairman Yuri Merzliakov
said after a three-hour meeting with NKR President Bako Sahakyan,
ArmInfo special correspondent in Stepanakert reports.
When asked about the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict settlement prospects
in 2009, Y. Merzliakov said: "It is very difficult to give temporary
forecasts.
I cannot say what will happen in 2009, however, I always say that
objective conditions have been created for the conflict settlement
and I think my counterparts are of the same opinion".
ARMENIANS END WHIRLWIND TOUR OF HOLLYWOOD ON THE DELAWARE
By Carlin Romano
Philadelphia Inquirer
0090226_Armenians_end_whirlwind_tour_of_Hollywood_ on_the_Delaware.html
Feb 26 2009
PA
As local Armenian Americans and others looked on, Vardan Hakobyan
of Yerevan’s International Film Festival handed a palm-size ancient
Armenian bell to International Visitors Council vice president Ann
Stauffer at the council’s Arch Street offices.
For visitors from a former Soviet republic that now is a tiny,
landlocked state of only three million people and 29,000 square
kilometers – one-fourteenth the size of historic Armenia – it seemed
just the right gesture at a Tuesday public forum to bring their mutual
adventure to a close.
Stauffer had been chief hostess and den mother to Hakobyan and
nine other members of Armenia’s film world as they raced around
the Philadelphia area for the last three weeks, forging links with
filmmakers and scholars here while staying with host families. (The
group flies home from Philadelphia International Airport tonight.)
"Before coming," Harkobyan explained in Armenian, quickly translated
by local interpreter Asbet Balanian, "we did know that your symbol
was a bell."
Harkobyan paused before making the presentation, confirming that
show-biz timing stretches from Hollywood to Yerevan.
"I don’t know how very old it is," he deadpanned, "but the main thing
is that it doesn’t have a crack."
Nor, it appeared, was there any flaw in the Armenians’ generously
scheduled tour.
It took them to, among many places, an IMAX theater, the Comcast
Center, International House, NFL Films, and even Manhattan for a
quick visit to film sites.
For Hakobyan, the most important stop was the Greater Philadelphia Film
Office. "The first thing I learned," he said, "was the tax breaks that
the state offers to people. . . . Where we are, there’s no such thing."
Hasmik Ysaturyan, a scriptwriter and lecturer in Yerevan, exulted
over visiting film classes at Temple and Drexel Universities.
"I actually saw a dialogue between a student and the professor
where the student wasn’t asleep!" Ysaturyan exclaimed. "Of course,
the technology everywhere we went was astounding. . . . If we had 1
percent of that, we might be able to move mountains."
Siranush Galstyan, who also teaches cinema studies in Yerevan,
gushed about a presentation by film curator Michael McGonigle at the
Philadelphia Museum of Art.
"This man knew about all different countries and their films, and the
top level of artistic films," she said. "His way of thinking was very
close to my heart."
At Tuesday’s IVC session, which featured nine of the 10 visitors
(one had to return home early), several speakers drew contrasts
between their world and ours.
Arsen Arakelyan, director of Armenia’s National Film Center, quoted
an Armenian painter who described his country as "an open museum
under the sky."
In Armenia, observed Arakelyan – young, droll, and Tarantino-like in
striped T-shirt – "a thousand-year old monument is considered new and
recent." (That prompted Stauffer to apologize for the Philadelphia
notion that buildings 200 years old are historical.)
Arakelyan joked that one of Columbus’ crew members was Armenian,
"so we claim Armenian involvement in the discovery of America." He
alluded to Armenia’s tragic history – notably, the Armenian genocide
of 1915-18, in which the Ottomans annihilated an estimated 1.2 million
people – explaining, "If you look into the eyes of an Armenian woman,
they’re very beautiful, they’re very nice, and they’re always sad."
Still, he preferred to emphasize that Armenians maintain their sense of
humor (see Ken Davitian, the short guy, in Borat) and love of family,
making them ideal for show business.
Valeri Gasparyan, another lecturer in Yerevan, provided further context
on his country’s film industry, explaining that the country produced
only "six to eight films" a year in its best times.
Oddly, that doesn’t include many about the genocide. While almost
everything cultural about Armenia in the United States involves the
topic, it remains inadequately rendered onto film at home because
the Soviet Union banned the theme. Now, as a historic subject, said
acting teacher Garegin Grigoryan, it would take "a lot of funding."
After the formal presentations, all the Armenians present agreed that
they consider the seven million Armenians of the diaspora part of them.
"We live in Armenia," said Grigoryan, "but whenever we hear anything
about an Armenian anywhere in the world, we feel proud. Even when we
hear about a bad Armenian, we still feel proud that the best of the
bad is an Armenian."
Manuel Karian, an actor born and bred in Philadelphia who helped
interpret for the visitors, seconded the idea.
"I’ve lived in Armenia and worked on films there for a year, and
I’ve gone five times," Karian said. The Philadelphia area alone,
Karian explained, boasts five active Armenian churches, as well as
Radnor’s Armenian Sisters Academy.
To Grigoryan, Philadelphia was "a lot more relaxed and peaceful"
than expected.
Pushed on that, he admitted finding its nightlife "slow" compared to
"the hustle and bustle" of Yerevan, which is "more like New York."
"Here," he said, "it seems that people just want to go home, be by
themselves and relax."
He was, of course, staying with a host family in Yardley. But one
more trip and he’ll figure out the Yardley-Philadelphia thing.
KIRO MANOYAN: "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HIGHLIGHT OF FOREIGN POLICY"
Panorama.am
17:34 24/02/2009
"Citing the facts we’d like to mention that there will be changes in
Turkey. It is necessary to press on them and to keep the question of
Armenian Genocide in the agenda. The Turkish high ranking officials
distort the facts creating an image that there is no problem of
Genocide for Armenia," said the head of Armenian Cause Office Kiro
Manoyan during a press conference presenting details from their
meetings with the socialists’ fraction of the Council of Europe.
He mentioned that the problem of recognizing Armenian Genocide has
a strategic notion of national security and is the highlight of
foreign policy.
According to Kiro Manoyan, Azerbaijan being concerned about the
Armenian-Turkish relations started a diplomatic campaign against
Armenia.
TENS OF MILLIONS FOR EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS IN NIS
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.02.2009 22:48 GMT+04:00
The European Commission is set to identify environmental rehabilitation
projects worth tens of millions of Euros in newly independent states
(NIS) with poor environmental records.
The program, set to take place from 2010-2013, will tackle
long-standing environmental problems in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Georgia, Moldova, the Russian Federation and Ukraine.
The EU has commissioned multi-disciplinary consultancy Parsons
Brinckerhoff to review past program of environmental activity, under
its Tacis Regional Action Program from 2000-2006, and recommend a
further tranche of work under the European Neighborhood and Partnership
Instrument (ENPI) from 2010-2013. Tacis had a budget of euro 50m
from 2000-2006.
Parsons Brinckerhoff started work on 20 January this year and is due
to report its findings in six months.
Project manager Cristina Pellegrino said: "All NIS have suffered
from a centralized economy, heavy industrialization, concentration of
population in urban areas and the lack of attention to environmental
problems, such as water and air pollution, soil contamination and
unsafe waste disposal.
"There is a lack of safe and clean water and high levels of emissions
to air as well as hazardous waste. Together, they represent more than
10% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions."
EU cooperation objectives are to build closer relationships with
partner states of neighboring countries in Eastern Europe, in
which respect for democratic principles and human rights and the
transition towards market economy are fostered and supported. The
Tacis Regional Action Program’s (1999-2006) environmental wing aimed
to encourage sustainable use of natural resources and increased
resource efficiency, in particular in regards to water, forests
and energy, improving environments and health conditions, while
fostering economic development and contributing to stability and
security. The TACIS Program has, as from 2007, been superseded by the
ENPI – the European Neighborhood Partnership Instrument which offers
deeper political and economic integration to its closest neighbors,
yourrenewablenews.com reports.
ARMENIA FUND BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL IN CHARTAR VILLAGE
armradio.am
23.02.2009 14:49
The Hayastan All Armenian Fund has started construction on a new
school in Chartar, a village in Nagorno Karabakh’s Martuni Region. The
project, worth about 250 million drams (U.S. $820,000), is sponsored
by the fund’s French affiliate.
Much of Chartar’s existing school, built in 1934, was destroyed by
heavy Azeri bombardment in 1992. Since then, classes have been taught
in an adjacent building. As this smaller structure cannot accommodate
all of Chartar’s 116 schoolchildren at once, classes have been run
in shifts.
Currently the foundations of the new secondary school, named Chartar
School #2, are being laid. When completed, the three-story facility
will feature 11 classrooms, a clinic, an events hall, a library,
a computer lab, and a multifaceted playground.
"The Hayastan All Armenian Fund always strives to address the most
critical needs of communities in Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia," said
Ara Vardanyan, the fund’s acting executive director. "We launched the
Chartar project because a modern school, and one that can accommodate
every student with top-notch education, is of utmost importance to
the well-being and continued development of the community."
REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL SECRETARY OFF TO ITALY
PanARMENIAN.Net
23.02.2009 12:02 GMT+04:00
A delegation led by Armenian National Security Council Artur
Baghdasaryan is departing for Italy on February 23.
The delegation includes Deputy Defense Minister, heads of President’s
executive personnel and MFA security division as well as Deputy Mayors
of Gyumri and Gavar.
Mr. Baghdasaryan is scheduled to meet with Minister of Interior Roberto
Maroni, Minister of Department for European Community Policies Andrea
Ronchi, Italian Minister of Public Administration and Innovation
Renato Brunetta and other high-ranking officials.
The agenda includes discussions of the Armenian-Italian relations and
signing of a cooperation memorandum, the RA NSC press office reports.
PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version: nian.htm
"THE FEASTS OF THE CHURCH AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING TRADITIONS ARE NOT
ACTIVITIES,
BUT SPIRITUAL MESSAGES TO TRANSMIT TO OUR CHILDREN"
SAID HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
On February 13 2009 the Armenian Orthodox Church celebrated the eve of the
feast of the "Presentation of Jesus to the Temple" by His parents.
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral of the Armenian Catholicosate was
full and lively particularly with young mothers and their children, parents
and grand parents had brought their children to "offer them" to the Church
and receive its blessings.
In his message Catholicos Aram I said that the parents of Jesus brought
their child to the House of God in order to affirm that the Child belongs to
the Church and therefore, he/she should grow in the Church with God-given
wisdom and grace. "Your presence in this Cathedral today, confirms this
conviction that our children are the children of God and will grow in our
Church, with the spiritual and moral values taught by the Church, and that
they will respond to the challenges coming from our societies clothed by the
teachings of our Church."
In the Armenian Orthodox Church, celebrations on the eve of the feast of the
"Presentation of Jesus to the Temple" is concluded with a very ancient
tradition of lighting bonfire. After the prayers, the clergy and
congregation walk in procession to the place where the bonfire is lit, and
they walk around the bonfire three times, symbolizing purification by light.
At the end of the round, people take the light from the Church to their
homes in specially prepared torches.
##
View the photos here:
tos/Photos358.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.
oikotimes.com, Greece
Feb 14 2009
Arshakyan sisters to represent Armenia – see it here
Inga and Anush Arshakyan have won the right to represent Armenia at
the 2009 ESC in May. Sisters Inga and Anush will sing the song ‘Jan
jan’ which is performed in both Armenian and English. They will be
looking to continue Armenia’s outstanding record in the contest,
having finished 8th, 8th and 4th in their only previous outings,
beginning in 2006.
See their Eurovision entry here. The YouTube clip to the left shows a
recent performance of another song by Inga and Anush.
Thanks to Edward Matevoysan for the prompt results!
ile=articles&id=5122
ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT PROPOSES RAISING CUSTOMS DUTIES OF IMPORTED CONSUMER GOODS
Noyan Tapan
Feb 13, 2009
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. By the amendments proposed to
the RA Customs Code, it is envisaged raising the customs duties of
imported goods not considered as raw material, as well as imported
goods for final consumption up to 15%. The RA minister of economy
Nerses Yeritsian said at the February 12 sitting of the government that
this is allowed by an agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
According to the minister, until now the customs duties of goods
imported into Armenia made either 0% or 10%. "By this proposal,
we will be able to make the import of final consumption goods more
expensive in order to protect domestic producers," N. Yeritsian
said. He announced that this rise will be temporary, while the list
of respective goods will be ready in a few days.
The prime minister Tigran Sargsyan said that customs duties will be
raised for those imported goods, with respect to which "there is a
comptetitive field" in Armenia. In his words, the aim of the government
is to protect domestic producers. He noted that this draft should be
sent to the National Assembly as soon as possible in order to pass the
amendments to the Customs Code by a accelerated procedure this month.