Author: Tamamian Anna

WEBSITE DEDICATED TO DUDUK LAUNCHED

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.03.2009 19:28 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On Mar. 31 Armenian Duduk Melody website presentation
was be held in RA State Museum of National Art. The website is
dedicated to UNESCO’s proclamation of Armenian duduk as a Masterpiece
of the Oral and Intangible Heritages of Humanity.

Website creation was made possible by UNESCO and Japanese "Preservation
of Intangible Heritages of Humanity" Fund.

Extensive information about duduk, folk instrument made of apricot
tree, as well as players and composers of duduk music is provided on
the website.

Duduk music recordings and a wide list of publications dedicated to
duduk are also included here.

A law on Intangible Cultural Heritage was passed by RA NA on Mar 30
in accordance with UNESCO, Vice Minister of Culture Gagik Gyurgyan
reported.

Gevorg Dabaghyan, Anna Mailyan and Karine Hovyannesyan were performing
at website presentation.

ABOUT CLICHES AND THEIR COMPREHENSION
Nano Arghutyan

LRAGIR.AM
16:32:18 – 30/03/2009

The world politics, and not only the world one, is leaded by means of
different types of cliches. The letter is banal and at first sight
fair truth, the aim of which is yet to limit strictly the citizens’
world view. These are such kind of frames within which the freedom
is situated, but God forbid you to pass the limits.

The most classic example of such cliches is the idea of national
unity. "The nation must be united," the government says. The idea seems
to be nice, but it contains a number of surprises. First, the unity,
as a rule, is needed in case of general danger on the way of general
development. In the other cases the unity limits people’s activities:
who disagrees with the majority, immediately appears overboard and
becomes a "stranger". Thus, a good cliche at first sight becomes a
mechanism of society’s manipulation.

There were very good cliches in the Soviet times – "Join the Komsomol
(Young Communist League)", "Fly with Aeroflot planes". As if people
had another choice.

Another cliche applicable to the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
issue is "The conflict must be settled quickly possible", the worried
mediators repeat it all around. One, two, five times and this phrase is
used in Armenia and in Karabakh as well. Actually, it is impossible to
live in conflict for ever, the Armenian political and public figures
say. But, as soon as, the cliche became the property of the Armenian
society, Armenia was proposed a way of settlement of the conflict
which was totally inappropriate with the Armenian interests. And, the
Armenian public managed to realize that the cliche was just imposed
to it and the conflict was almost settled when a new psychological
repression was made by imposing a new cliche: "the conflict is
impossible to be settled without compromises". Instead of thinking
about its proper interests, expediency in the present situation,
the Armenian government started thinking about compromises under
the influence of imposed cliches. It proposes something, rejects,
marks the limits for the compromises without realizing that these
limits are designated differently for it. A bright example for this
was the Armenian and Azerbaijani meeting in Vienna, during of which
the OSCE Minsk group French co-chair Bernard Fassier told about the
principals of Madrid, noting that only the question of Lachin is
still uncoordinated. As to the rest, the Armenian government agreed,
the co-chair said.

Politics is lead with the help of cliches. But the Armenian authorities
not only do not think out their own cliches but also demonstrate
their inability to understand the sense of the imposed cliches. They
become the hostages of the cliches, in other words just an instrument
in somebody other’s hands. The worst is that these instruments are
used against Armenia, because here operate the cliches and not the
proper interests.

YEREVAN TO HOST CONFERENCE ‘PROMOTION OF REGIONAL COOPERATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES’ ON APRIL 2- 3 AS PART OF OBSEC MEETING

ArmInfo
2009-03-30 14:13:00

ArmInfo. Yerevan will host a conference ‘Promotion of Regional
Cooperation in Information Technologies’ on April 2-3 as part of the
OBSEC meeting, Enterprise Incubator Foundation (EIF) told ArmInfo.

Representatives of OBSEC member-states governmental departments will
participate in the conference including representatives of the Armenian
Economy Ministry. Invitations have been sent also to the regional
representations of the international companies such as Microsoft, HP,
Citronics and others. Citronics, part of AFK Systema, has submitted the
Armenian government a concept of venture fund creation in Armenia on
the basis of RAO Mars CJSC instrument making plant. The fund capacity
will total nearly 40 million dollars. Investments will be made from
Russia, Europe, and the USA.

Discussions on the following topics will be held: ‘Global financial
and economic crisis and outsourcing, sale-force’, ‘State policy in
IT-sector and IT integration into public’, ‘Development of educational
processes and upgrading qualification of specialists’.

RaiNews24, Italia
26 Marzo 2009

ARMENIA, IL GENOCIDIO NEGATO

Journeyman Pictures

Il documentario realizzato dalla Journeyman Pictures affronta la
controversa vicenda del primo genocidio del XX secolo. Nel 1915 circa
un milione e mezzo di Armeni furono massacrati per mano dei Turchi
Ottomani.

Torture, omicidi, bugie e dimenticanze. A quasi un secolo dai fatti,
la ricostruzione storica di quella drammatica vicenda è per molti
ancora un taboo. In Turchia lo scrittore premio Nobel Orhan Pamuk, ha
subìto il carcere per aver parlato delle responsabilità della Turchia
nel genocidio. Il giornalista armeno Hrant Dink è stato di recente
assassinato in seguito ai suoi sforzi per riconciliare la spaccatura
tra i due popoli.

Nel giornale in lingua armena di cui era direttore, il quotidiano
"Agos", aveva pubblicato un articolo nel quale aveva osato definire
l’uccisione di più di un milione di Armeni "genocidio". Questo gli
valse una condanna sei mesi di carcere. Un anno dopo è rimasto vittima
di un’imboscata. In Turchia ogni menzione del genocidio è considerata
offensiva verso l’autorità. Ma la controversia sul genocidio armeno
valica i confini turchi, essendo la Turchia un alleato chiave per i
rapporti con il Medio Oriente, gli Stati Uniti hanno fino ad ora
evitato di prendere una posizione chiara su questo tema.

_2007/inchieste/26032009_armenia/

European qualifying: Finland still hopeful for 2010
Russia keeps pace with Germany by besting Azerbaijan
Last Updated: Saturday, March 28, 2009 |
_CBC Sports_ ()

Finland gave itself a fighting chance of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup
by beating Wales 2-0 on Saturday.
Jonatan Johansson put the Finns ahead in the 42nd minute after Wales failed
to create any opportunities in a first half they dominated. The win was
secured with substitute Shefki Kuqi’s goal in injury time.
The result puts the Finns one point ahead of Wales for third place in Group
4, two points behind the Russians who sit in the wild card spot. Germany leads
the group.
Toronto FC midfielder Carl Robinson saw international action, coming on as
substitute in the 65th minute for Wales.
Armenia 2, Estonia 2
Substitute Artur Yedigaryan scored late to salvage a 2-2 draw at home as
Armenia came back on Estonia in Group 5 action.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan opened the scoring for Armenia in the 31st minute, but
goals by Konstantin Vassiljev had the visitors in the lead into the final
stages.
Yedigaryan, who came in at 84 minutes, headed in a cross four minutes later.
Estonia has two points in Group 5 while Armenia has one.
Russia 2, Azerbaijan 0
Russia’s win over Azerbaijan on Saturday puts that club just one point behind
Group 4 leaders Germany.
Goals from Roman Pavlyuchenko and Konstantin Zyryanov came after a goal-less
opening 30 minutes as a result of fierce Azeri defending.
Pavlyuchenko’s 25-yard free kick at 32 minutes beat goalkeeper Farkhad
Veliyev and Russia went into halftime in the lead.
The Russians dominated from the start of the second half and in the 71st
minute Pavlyuchenko’s cross found Zyryanov who fired it into the net to seal
the win.
Azerbaijan’s Vagif Javadov almost reduced the deficit but his shot hit the
woodwork to deny them a consolation goal.
The result leaves Azerbaijan with just one point in four games and trailing
second from the bottom of Group 4.With files from the Associated Press

PHILIP GORDON MAY BE APPOINTED ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EUROPEAN AND EURASIAN AFFAIRS

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.03.2009 14:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly) commends
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) for his tough questioning of Philip
Gordon, President Barack Obama’s nominee to replace Daniel Fried as
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs in
the U.S. Department of State, during today’s Senate Foreign Relations
Committee confirmation hearing, the Assembly told PanARMENIAN.Net.

Senator Menendez, an ardent supporter of Armenian-American issues,
when questioning Gordon expressed reservations about his record on
the Armenian Genocide by referencing a November 2007 article wherein
Gordon wrote: "As if tensions with Turkey were not already strained
enough by the Iraq war and the Kurdish issue, moves in the US House
of Representatives to recognise a Turkish ‘genocide’ against Armenians
in 1915 have stoked the sense of crisis."

Menendez added that he has "concern when there is a veto by a foreign
government over domestic policies and policies of the United States
including the Congress of the United States. And [has] a real concern
that those who would be in a position of authority would actually seek
to fashion that… I’m concerned that at the end of the day there
will not be an appropriate balance here if you were to be confirmed
by the Senate. Can you speak to that for me?"

Gordon responded with an acknowledgement that Menendez had "raised
a number of issues that I know are very important to you, to this
committee and to the administration. You quoted comments of mine on
Armenia and the suggestion that these Congressional measures would
provoke a nationalistic backlash in Turkey which analytically I think
is accurate which is what I was writing. I have been at a think tank
for a number of years and that’s what we do, we analyze. And I was
making the analytical statement that such a resolution would provoke
a nationalistic backlash in Turkey.

"You suggested the need for balance and I absolutely agree, and I
absolutely agree that the United States and Congress and citizens,
including in Turkey, need to recognize that a terrible tragedy took
place, that more than a million and a half people were driven from
their homes and massacred. People need to recognize that and honor
the victims of that tragedy. And that sort of balance is necessary,
as I say, not only here but in Turkey. You mentioned the debate within
Turkey and I think that if you’ve looked at my writings you’ve seen
that I’ve personally long encouraged that. The United States government
has encouraged it and if confirmed I would also do so. I think there
has been some progress in that regard, including on this issue, but not
enough and if confirmed I would make it a priority of pushing for it."

Philip H. Gordon, a Senior Fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy at the
Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, has written extensively about
the importance of Turkey, as well as expressed doubts about the need
to reaffirm the Armenian Genocide.

"With President Obama, Vice President Biden and Secretary of State
Clinton’s clear and consistent record with respect to U.S. affirmation
of the Armenian Genocide, the Assembly expects that, if confirmed,
Philip Gordon will fully embrace this important human rights policy
position," stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, adding
that "It is long past time for State Department officials to be
fully aware of the historical reality of the Armenian Genocide and
be allowed to speak the truth freely."

AUTHORITIES TO FORM NEW COALITION?

A1+
06:43 pm | March 26, 2009

Politics

Former NA Chairman Tigran Torosyan is rest assured that leaving the
Republican Party was the right thing to do.

Mr. Torosyan refused to comment on the questions related to the
Republican Party during a press conference today. He simply said:

"If everything remained the way it was, I wouldn’t have left the
party. I don’t want to talk about it."

Instead, Mr. Torosyan talked more about the opposition. According
to him, the opposition would have reached greater success if it had
teamed up with "Heritage".

"They would have been able to overcome the 40% mark. The current list
of the opposition favors the coalition parties. If the authorities
can win the 7% with separate candidates, there is a high chance that
they will create a new coalition within the framework of the Yerevan
city council. Then they will have higher hopes to form a majority to
nominate and elect a mayor."

Mr. Torosyan refused to draw comparisons between the candidates leading
the list of the Republican Party and the Armenian National Congress.

"They differ as political figures with their positions. It is evident
and undisputable, but there are many factors that may have an impact
on the outcome of the elections."

Tigran Torosyan doesn’t share the opinion that Levon Ter-Petrosyan
will leave the political field after the defeat of the Armenian
National Congress in the elections for Yerevan city council.

As for the chances of the opposition on May 31, Tigran Torosyan said
that there is no party that can reach the 40% mark and the ANC doesn’t
have that chance.

In any case, Tigran Torosyan believes that the return of Levon
Ter-Petrosyan served as an alternative for the people. As far as
the Public Council created by Serzh Sargsyan is concerned, Torosyan
said that he respects many of the people engaged in the council,
but doesn’t think that they will reach great heights

CIS MEETING TO DEFINE POSITION FOR "G-20" SUMMIT

Panorama.am
14:24 26/03/2009

The ministerial meeting of the CIS member countries, in Moscow, on 31
March, is aimed to hold common negotiations on the organization’s
position to be presented in "G-20" member countries’ leaders’
summit. "G-20" summit will take place in London and is scheduled on
2 April.

According to the press release spread by the Executive Committee of
the CIS social-economic issues, measures to overcome world financial
crisis will be discussed during the ministerial meeting.

Note that the Finance Ministers’ Council of the CIS was established
in 10 October, 2008.

ARMENIA TO BE GRANTED RUSSIAN "STABILIZATION" LOAN LATE MAY OR EARLY JUNE

PanARMENIAN.Net
27.03.2009 11:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia will be granted a $500 million
"stabilization" loan from the Kremlin in late May or early June,
said a spokesperson for the RA Ministry of Finance.

The final agreement on terms of transfer will be signed in late April,
Irina Aivazyan said.

The preliminary agreement supposes a state loan with a 15 year
maturity, including 4 years of grace period and Libor+3 interest rate.

The loan is granted to alleviate consequences of the global crisis
in the republic.

10:11 25/03/2009
PRESIDENT RECEIVED EUROPEAN COMMISSION DELEGATION
Source: Panorama.am

The President of Armenia received today the head of European
Commission Delegation to Armenia Ambassador Raul De Lucenberger, and
the members of parliamentary group of the European Union, reports the
press service of the President’s Administration.

According to the source it was defined to send a parliamentary mission
group to Armenia during the President’s visit to Brussels in November
of 2008. The mission of the group is to provide consultation to the
local authorities to have the reforms program best implemented.

The head of the European delegation greeted the efforts of the
President of Armenia to create active communication with the European
Union.