Author: Nanijanian Alex

DASHNAKS ACCEPT VOTE RESULTS
By Ruzanna Khachatrian and Astghik Bedevian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
May 15 2007

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) on Tuesday
accepted the official results of the weekend parliamentary elections
but declined to clarify whether it wants to cut another power-sharing
deal with their winner, the Republican Party (HHK) of Prime Minister
Serzh Sarkisian.

In a statement presented by its leaders, the nationalist party said
the vote moved Armenia closer to meeting international standards
for democratic elections. It also welcomed a relatively high voter
turnout reported by the Central Election Commission.

The statement added that the polls were marred by vote buying and
voter intimidation but did not specify whether Dashnaktsutyun thinks
that seriously affected their outcome. "We wish the political force
that won a majority [in parliament] success, urging it to act with
responsibility commensurate with internal and external challengers
facing our state and people," it said.

According to the preliminary CEC figures, Dashnaktsutyun won 13
percent of the vote, giving it 16 seats in the 131-member parliament.

The party, which is particularly influential in the Armenian Diaspora,
holds 11 seats in the outgoing National Assembly.

The HHK, by comparison, grabbed at least 65 seats and will indirectly
control several others, putting it in a position to form a new
government single-handedly. The Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK)
of tycoon Gagik Tsarukian will boast the second largest parliament
faction comprising 25 deputies.

Speaking at a joint news conference, party leaders were vague on
chances of Dashnaktsutyun remaining in the HHK-led government, saying
only that they will continue to support President Robert Kocharian.

"We have supported the current president, and the current president
continues to perform his duties," one of them, Armen Rustamian, said.

"We will continue that cooperation."

"We have received no offers to form a coalition," he said. "Frankly
we don’t think the picture in the new National Assembly leaves room
for such an offer."

Rustamian and other Dashnaktsutyun leaders indicated during their
election campaign that their party will remain in government only if
it gets the post of defense minister. They also said it will quit
the governing coalition if the newly elected assembly is dominated
by the Republicans and the BHK.

The HHK spokesman, Eduard Sharmazanov, told reporters on Tuesday that
the ruling party has not yet decided whether it should share power with
Dashnaktsutyun and the BHK. "The Republicans have repeatedly said that
they are ready to form a coalition for the sake of Armenia’s future,"
he said. "We already have such experience with Dashnaktsutyun."

Sharmazanov confirmed that Sarkisian will continue to serve as
prime minister at least until next year’s presidential election. He
also dismissed opposition accusations of vote rigging, saying that
Saturday’s elections were the "best" in Armenia’s post-Soviet history.

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:

A FORMER ANTELIAS ORPHANAGE STUDENT
VISITS CATHOLICOS ARAM I

On the occasion of his 95th birthday, Peniamin Chakmakjian, one of the
former orphans of Antelias Orphanage, visited the Catholicosate of Cilicia
with his wife Mary on May 14.

The Armenian Genocide survivor from Yozgat recounted to His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I, his life in the former orphanage in Antelias, remembering
the teachers he had, and the two clergy who had visited Antelias during the
graduation ceremony to examine the Near East Relief orphanage site which was
to become the headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in 1930.

Chakmakjian presented to His Holiness an Armenian-English dictionary he
had been awarded by the orphanage’s director Roy L. Davis for securing the
highest average among his peers.

In a very touching moment after the former orphanage student kissed the
Right hand of the Pontiff, he handed him a donation, as a show of gratitude
to the roof under which he had spent his years as a child.

"When I see Antelias today, so beautiful, so bright, my heart fills with
endless joy and I remember my childhood, my friends in destiny, my old
cottage which has now become the headquarters of the Armenian Church. On
this holy land of Antelias we received education, we learnt to remain
Armenian, live as Christians and thus take our revenge on the enemy who
deported us," he said.

The Catholicos expressed his happiness for the visit by the elderly
couple, talked about the mission of the Near East Relief in taking care of
Armenian orphans, the progress in the recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
praised Chakmakjian’s contribution to the Holy See and wished them good
health and bright days ahead.

The past and the present merged in one touching and eternal moment in
Antelias, a moment that can leave its imprint on generations to come.

##
View the photos here:
*****
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.

Javier Solana: The parliamentary elections in Armenia met the OSCE and CoE
standards

ArmRadio.am
14.05.2007 15:24

EU High Commissioner for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier
Solana congratulated the Armenian nation for the success registered at
the parliamentary eklections held May 12.

Armenpres was told from Javier Solana’s Office that the EU High
Commissioner said, in part: `The parliamentary elections in Armenia
met the OSCE and the Council of Europe standards, and I urge the
Armenian Government to rapidly react to the shortcomings registered by
the international observers.’

`This is good news and it will have a positive influence on the
EU-Armenia relations, especially considering that these are the first
elections after the signing of the EU-Armenia Action Plan. The
Armenian people demonstrated a great political maturity in the current
elections. I’m sure the European Union and Armenia will continue
developing the relations in the atmosphere of partnership,’ said
Javier Solana, adding that this will be a positive signal to the other
countries of the region.

He also congratulated the observers who participated in the elections
`on the occasion if the successful completion of their important
mission.’

Washington Times, DC
May 11 2007

Sarkozy mars Turkish EU aim
By Andrew Borowiec
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
May 11, 2007

NICOSIA, Cyprus — Nicolas Sarkozy’s election as president of France
is likely to make Turkey’s membership in the European Union more
elusive than ever, Turkish analysts say.
His categorical opposition to Turkish membership in the 27-nation
bloc is "hammering the last nail into the coffin of Turkish-EU
relations," one analyst said.
"This is bad for Turkey," said Mehet Ali Birand, a leading
Turkish liberal commentator.
During his electoral campaign, Mr. Sarkozy stressed his view that
Turkey is not a European country and that its membership would dilute
the bloc’s cohesion and dangerously stretch its borders. Mr. Sarkozy
also has said he would sign a French bill passed by parliament
penalizing all those who deny the genocide of Armenians.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s embattled prime minister, asked
the European Commission "to avoid statements and attitudes that would
negatively affect our negotiating process."
As it is, the process has been dogged by problems that include
Turkey’s refusal to recognize the Greek Cypriot government, the
degree of Turkish freedom of expression, the army’s role in politics,
and its refusal to acknowledge World War I Ottoman massacres of
Armenians.
Turkey’s negotiations with the European bloc have stalled. The
European Union has suspended talks on eight of 35 parts of the
negotiating process, but European Commission President Jose Manuel
Barroso said the whole concept is based not on one country’s views
but "on the basis of a mandate decided unanimously."
Instead of admitting Turkey, Mr. Sarkozy has proposed that the
European Union give the country the leading role in a planned
grouping of Mediterranean-area countries. Turkey has rejected
suggestions of a "privileged association" with the bloc.
Regardless of whether Mr. Sarkozy’s election will have an
immediate effect on Turkey’s EU talks, relations between France and
Turkey appear to be heading into troubled waters.
After the French National Assembly vote on the massacres of
Armenians in October, Turkey froze contacts with a French pipeline
consortium and warned the United States that approval of a similar
bill by the U.S. Congress would cast "a serious shadow" on its
relations with Washington.
According to the mass-circulation Istanbul daily Milliyet, Mr.
Sarkozy’s election "will further worsen the already chilly
Turkish-French ties."
Meanwhile, popular disinterest among Turks toward the European
Union has been growing. "The enthusiasm is gone," said Can Baydarol,
a Turkish political scientist. "Turkey could easily move toward a
more isolationist policy."

PARADE DEDICATED TO 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF SHUSHI LIBERATION TOOK PLACE IN STEPANAKERT

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.05.2007 14:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A parade dedicated to the 15th anniversary of
liberation of Shushi, formation of the NKR Defense Army and 62nd
anniversary of Victory in the World War II was held in the Renaissance
Square in Stepanakert on May 9. The parade was run by First Deputy
Commander of the Nagorno Karabakh Defense Army, Major General Movses
Hakobyan and was inspected by NKR Defense Minister, Lieutenant General
Seyran Ohanyan.

Over 1500 military marched in the parade.

Armenian President Robert Kocharian, NKR President Arkady Ghukasian,
RA NA Speaker Tigran Torosian, primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the
Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, head of the
Yerkrapah Union of Volunteers, General Lieutenant Manvel Grigoryan
and Generals of the Armenian and NKR armies attended the event.

Elements of the Armenian and NKR Defense Army, veterans of the World
War II and Karabakh War marched along the Renaissance Square. Aviation,
tank units, artillery and air-defense troops were enabled in the
parade, which was the biggest in the NKR history record.

Wreaths were laid to the Memorial to the killed soldiers.

Festivities were dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the liberation
of Shushi. Officials laid flowers to the monument to Vazgen Sargsyan
in Shushi. Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan chanted a liturgy in
Ghazanchechots Church.

Inauguration of Yerevan Cinema reconstructed and equipped in the
framework of Renaissance of Shushi Foundation programs was also held.

"It’s hard to overvalue the significance of liberation of Shushi. It
gave a start to glorious victories. The blockade was run and overland
communication with Armenia established. Each soldier knew he doesn’t
fight for others’ land but liberates the seized part of his homeland,"
NKR Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan said.

RUSSIA HOPES PRESIDENTS WILL ACHIEVE TURNING POINT IN THE KARABAKH NEGOTIATIONS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 10 2007

"We hope the meeting of the Presidents [Armenian and Azerbaijani]
in St Petersburg on June 10 will reach decisions which will be a
turning point in the settlement of the conflict. It will be clear
soon whether the meeting will achieve concrete results," Russian
Ambassador to Azerbaijan said.

Touching on the delay of reply to Azerbaijan’s second note to Russia,
the Ambassador said he is against to assess this as delay.

"Do not think that only Russia delays response for notes. We have
facts that Azerbaijan also delayed the reply to our notes," he said.

Ambassador said his latest visit to Russia is not related to
Azerbaijan’s notes but his personal affairs.

AZERBAIJAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER HOLDS CONSULTATIONS AT RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
May 10 2007

Russia, Moscow / corr. Trend R.Agayev / Within his two-day visit to
Moscow on 7-8 May, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Araz
Azimov, held a number of meetings at the Foreign Ministry of Russia
which focused on regional and international security, as well as the
development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia.

Azimov made a report on Azerbaijan’s policy on security at the
invitation of the Center for Caucasus Researches of the International
State Institute of International Relations on 8 May before the
professors and teachers of the Institute and representatives of the
expert society. On the same day, Azimov delivered a report at the
Moscow Center of Carnegie on contemporary challenges of Azerbaijan
and regional security.

Azimov spoke of the results of the consultations held at the Russian
Foreign Ministry and the multi-sector foreign policy of Azerbaijan.

In particular the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan said that
Azerbaijan, as a State of South Caucasus, does not shun from any deep
regional frames and pursues multilateral policy. According to him,
Azerbaijan implements open and sequential foreign policy directed
towards close integration with leading political centers around the
world. " Azerbaijan, like Russia, attaches a great importance to the
security of its borders in accordance with the national interests
and resources," Azimov said.

At the Foreign Ministry of Russia, Azimov held meetings with the Deputy
Foreign Minister of Russia G. Karasin and S. Kislyan. He described
the consultations between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries
as very useful and important from the point of view of understanding
each other and assessing the regional security and interest of the
two countries. "During the visit, we were able to establish a full
and comprehensive agenda for our talks on the issues of security and
military-political co-operation. The consultations continued in a
congenial atmosphere," he said.

"They particularly highlighted that Azerbaijan is a very significant
partner for Russia and relations are established on the basis of
mutual confidence and respect and I added that these relations are
possible to be developed further. We have created favorable grounds to
continue the consultations which may influence practical co-operation,"
Deputy Foreign Minister said.

"The issues of co-operation of Russia and Azerbaijan within
international organizations that were broadly discussed during
Moscow consultations testified that we may do much with regards
to inter-civilization talks, fighting against terrorism, organized
criminality and narcotics, as well as co-operation in UNO," Azimov
said adding that debates were also organized on Euro-Atlantic topic,
control on arms, disarmament, non-proliferation and security in
Caspian Sea, placement of anti-missile defense system in Europe,
co-operation with NATO, general situation around the world,
trans-regional and transnational projects. He stressed that the issue
of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was the focus of
the discussions. "The Azerbaijani side has demonstrated to its fullest
the possibility of compromising. In addition, the conflict settlement
supported by Azerbaijan is based on the principles of international
law. Azerbaijan’s position was again presented to the Russians and
we are satisfied with the exchange of views," Azerbaijan’s Deputy
Foreign Minister concluded.

icle=4051

March 2006 Issue –> Movie Review Article

The Movie Mystic – Illusion

By: Stephen Simon

ILLUSION is one of the most entertaining, moving, fascinating, and
life-affirming spiritual films in many years. I hope and trust that the film
will become an instant classic that will be loved for as long as films have
a life somewhere in people’s hearts. In the film, Kirk Douglas gives the
most touching and indelible performance of his career and co-star/director
Michael Goorjian emerges as one of the most sensitive and visionary
directors of his generation.

In ILLUSION, legendary film director Donald Baines (Douglas) is shown three
visions of the life of the son he never knew. As he lies dying alone in his
private screening room, watching the films he has devoted his life to
creating, he is given one last chance to affect his son’s life. Having
isolated himself from family and friends, he now regrets many personal
decisions. The rejection of his illegitimate child, CHRISTOPHER, brings him
the most pain, having seen him only once 30 years ago.

Late one night, Donald is awakened by the ghostly image of STAN, a favorite
editor who has been dead more than 35 years. Suddenly Donald finds his
deathbed transported to an old movie house. Stan informs Donald that he has
come to help and that he will show him three films – three visions – each
vision representing a different period of Christopher’s life.

The first vision brings Donald into the teenage life of Christopher who is
in the throes of his first blush with love. A rebel and a romantic,
Christopher proclaims his love for a girl he has only seen from afar and
chances it all for an opportunity to spend some time with her. A nagging
voice, which sounds like the father he never knew, echoes in his head
telling him he is not worthy.

A wild romp marks the second vision of the 20s-something life of Christopher
as he tries to escape an artistic maelstrom and finds himself face to face
with the love he had for a brief moment and lost from the first vision. His
life takes a brutal twist as he finds and yet again is torn from his love.

The last vision Donald sees is the return of Christopher now as a mature
man, wearied from the difficult curveballs life has thrown him. Again
looking for love, this is his last and perhaps only chance to rid himself of
what he imagines to be his father’s haunting disapproval.

Ultimately, Donald Baines is given an opportunity to make a difference… but
after such a long time, can he take the leap or was it all just an illusion?

ILLUSION grabs you by the heart in the very first frame and never lets go.
Michael Goorjian’s direction of the film is so sensitive, visually arresting
and well paced that I felt more like a participant in the film than a
viewer. Someone once said to me that our most crucial goal in raising our
children is to make certain that they love themselves. If they love us in
the bargain, that’s a bonus for which we all hope, but it is always
secondary to our children’s own self-esteem. The several stories within the
film–and the progression of Goorjian’s character–are heartbreaking in
their illumination of the deep and lifelong effect that a negligent and
disparaging parent can have on the psyche of a child. Douglas’ act of
rejecting his son at such an early age sets in place a sense of
self-loathing that literally stops his son from ever achieving any of his
heart’s desires.

As Douglas watches the Akashic records of his son play out in front of him
on the big screen, he becomes more and more anguished and aware of the
devastating effect he has had on this boy he never knew. Douglas is
absolutely amazing in his performance, both in its nuance and also in its
bravery. He performed in this film well after his stroke had severely
altered his speech patterns but obviously his heart and soul are still
afire! Goorjian’s direction of Douglas and all the other actors, including
himself, is also utterly brilliant. One can only hope that Academy voters
will be reminded of this film at the end of 2006. Douglas should not only be
nominated for an Academy Award, but for a Lifetime Achievement Award and
both the film and Goorjian’s direction deserve major consideration as well.

I can already sense that ILLUSION will be one of my 5 Favorite films of
2006. For more information on where ILLUSION is playing near you, please go
to (the source of the synopsis of the film in this
column.) Please go see it soon and OFTEN and bring all of your friends and
family. Films like this and directors like Michael Goorjian need and deserve
our full-hearted support so that more movies like ILLUSION can be made in
the future.

(Stephen Simon produced such films as Somewhere in Time and What Dreams May
Come and has just directed and produced the film version of Neale Donald
Walsch’s Conversations with God. . He also
co-founded The Spiritual Cinema Circle (
) Stephen welcomes your comments by email: Stephen
@spiritualcinemacircle.com)

DATE OF OSCE CHAIRMAN-IN-OFFICE’S VISIT TO AZERBAIJAN

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
May 7 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend E.Huseynov, A.Gasimova / The OSCE
Chairman-in-Office, Spanish Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos,
will visit Azerbaijan and Armenia on 4-5 June, a source at the Foreign
Ministry of Spain informed Trend.

Moratinos will arrive in Baku on the evening of 4 June and will hold
negotiations with top-ranking officials of Azerbaijan. The program
of the visit has not yet been devised, but it is expected that the
meetings will be held with the Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev
and Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov.

On the morning of 5 June, Moratinos will depart for Yerevan and return
to Madrid on the same day. The process of peaceful regulations of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is expected to be the
focus of attention during Moratinos’ meetings in Baku and Yerevan.

The conflict between the two countries of South Caucasus appeared in
1988 due to the territorial claims of Armenia against Azerbaijan.

Armenia has occupied 20% of the Azerbaijani land including
Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding Districts. Since 1992
to the present time, these territories have been under the occupation
of the Armenian Forces. In 1994, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a
cease-fire agreement at which time the active hostilities ended. The
Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group ( Russia, France and USA) is holding
peaceful negotiations.

Armenian opposition leader predicts win in parliamentary poll

Golos Armenii website
4 May 07

Yerevan, 4 May: The National Unity Party [NUP] will get 101 per cent
[as given] of the votes at the forthcoming [parliamentary] election
[on 12 May], Artashes Geghamyan, the leader of the party, has told a
news conference.

Geghamyan predicted that the opposition Impeachment bloc, the New
Times Party, the People’s Party of Armenia, the Democratic Way Party
and the National Democratic Party of Armenia will also get into the
National Assembly of the fourth convocation along with the National
Unity Party.

The NUP leader maintains that votes of the 85-per-cent opposition
voters will be shared precisely between these parties, and the
remaining 15 per cent of the votes will be cast to the ruling
parties. Geghamyan said that he is ready to cooperate with all the
opposition forces on 13 May if the authorities try to rig the vote.