Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

L’âME VIVE DE L’ARMENIE

L’Humanite, France
20 mars 2007

Celebration . Parmi les evenements consacres cette annee au pays des
hauts plateaux, " Armenia sacra " au Louvre est un parcours de seize
siècles d’histoire.

Quelque six cents evenements marquent l’annee de l’Armenie en France,
qu’il s’agisse d’expositions, de concerts, du cinema autour de la
grande figure du realisateur et plasticien Paradjanov, de l’hom-
mage aux Armeniens dans la Resistance en France autour de Missak
Manouchian et de l’Affiche rouge, au musee Jean-Moulin a Paris. Qu’il
s’agisse encore de la peinture avec le peintre de la mer Aïazovski,
au musee de la Marine, a Paris toujours. De l’exposition du grand
peintre Martiros Sarian, a Issy-les-Moulineaux. Il faudrait citer
encore nombre de manifestations (1), telles la tournee en France de
poètes armeniens, les expositions aux musees de Fourvière et des Arts
decoratifs a Lyon de pièces d’art liturgique, de la fete du cinema
armenien a Marseille, etc.

Au Louvre, la grande exposition " Armenia sacra " (1) semble cependant
un parcours oblige avec quelque deux cents oeuvres temoignant de
plus de quinze cents ans d’histoire de l’Armenie dans ses liens
très forts, aujourd’hui encore, avec la chretiente, incarnes dans
l’Eglise d’Armenie, laquelle a son propre pape et son Saint-Siège,
a Echtmiadzine. Parmi les pièces presentees il faut retenir bien sûr
les khatchkars qui sont de grandes dalles de pierre gravees et ornees
de croix que l’on ne trouve nulle part ailleurs.

L’Armenie fut aussi un très important foyer de production de manuscrits
enlumines et cela au-dela de l’invention de l’imprimerie.

Quatre de ceux presentes ici sont de veritables tresors dont le plus
ancien, les Elegies de Gregoire de Narek, date de 1173. Quelques
joyaux parmi bien d’autres d’une expo qui, au travers d’une histoire
tourmentee, temoigne d’une permanence de l’âme armenienne, toujours
actuelle, en Armenie meme comme dans la diaspora.

(1) À consulter sur le site

Jusqu’au 21 mai. Catalogue edite par Somogy et le musee du Louvre.

–Boundary_(ID_8Y3ZgGtw5RA8nCcWXqyNEg)–

MONEY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN INTELLIGENCE

A1+
[07:23 pm] 21 March, 2007

The recurrent polling held by A1+ testify to this fact that there
are few clever deputies in the RA parliament.

We suggested our readers answering the question, "What does a candidate
nominated under the majority ticket need?"

The votes were distributed in the following way;

Intelligence – 8%

The electorate’s vote of confidence – 10%

"Roof" – 30%

Money – 48%

Over 4% of the respondents couldn’t give definite answers.

To note, 560 people participated in the polling.

This week we offer our readers to answer the question.

"What will the inauguration of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline give?"

AHMADINEJAD: IRAN-ARMENIA COOPERATION SERVES INTERESTS OF BOTH NATIONS

Fars News Agency, Iran
March 21 2007

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in
the ceremonies marking inauguration of the pipeline project for the
transfer of Iran’s natural gas to Armenia reiterated that Iran-Armenia
joint projects reinvigorate friendship bonds between the two nations
and cause expansion of mutual cooperation to the interest of the two
nations as well as regional peace and security.

Following the inauguration ceremonies, president Ahmadinejad stated
that in the recent 15 years, relations between Iran and Armenia have
been on the expanding while the Iranian and Armenian nations are
intent on further expanding and deepening mutual relations.

Stressing the point that Iran-Armenia joint projects help to
strengthen friendship between the two nations and that the Iranian
and Armenian nations maintain historical and cultural relations,
president Ahmadinejad added that border bridges, electric power lines,
gas pipeline, and hydroelectric installations consolidate friendly
bonds between the two nations.

Prior to the inauguration of the gas pipeline project, the Iranian and
Armenian ministers of energy signed an agreement for the construction
of a joint hydroelectric power plant.

ARMENIAN LOBBYING ORGANIZATIONS OF EUROPE CALL ON U.S. EMBASSY TO ARMENIA TO DEFINE ITS POSITION IN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 20 2007

SLOVAKIA, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Armenian
Organizations Representation in Europe (AORE) spread a statement
concerning a statement recently made by the U.S. Embassy to Armenia.

The statement submitted to Noyan Tapan by Ashot Grigorian, the Chairman
of the AOER and Armenian Community of Slovakia, particularly, reads
the following:

"The Armenian lobbying organizations of Europe observe with great
attention the dialogue between Aram Hamparian, the Executive Director
of the Armenian National Committee of America Washington and the
U.S. Embassy to Armenia.

I, as the Chairman of the Armenian Organizations Representation in
Europe, lobbyist of the Armenian Genocide resolution at the National
Council of Slovakia, state with most responsibility that it is, mildly
speaking, strange for me and my colleagues acting in our region to hear
similar statements from such an authoritative body as the U.S. Embassy
to the RA is. In our opinion, Armenian lobbyist Aram Hamparian clearly
presented the incomprehensible position of the U.S. administration and
candidate for ambassador Hoagland’s statements which seriously hurt
every Armenian and arisee serious wish of protest, and the U.S. Embassy
displays exclusive unawareness in this issue. To refuse usage of the
"genocide" term means to renounce the crime committed towards 1.5
mln of innocent victims and accept the executioner’s being just.

This reality becomes especially inadmissible after the fact when
after former Ambassador John Evans’ manly step the latter was quiet
inappropriately and unequivalently punished by the U.S. acting
administration.

To add, we have had exclusively close ties and, it is natural,
exchange of opinions on the Armenian Genocide issue as well, with
representatives of the U.S. Embassy to Slovakia during different
periods of time, and no American diplomate was ever found who
would accuse Evans of his statement. More, there were people among
representatives of the U.S. Embassy, occupying high posts who visited
with us the khachkar (cross stone) – memorial dedicated to the Armenian
Genocide which was placed by us in the center of Bratislava and
has never avoided using the "genocide" term. Supporting John Evans,
we all refuse understanding Hoagland and ones like him, demanding
more correctness when touching upon the Armenian nation’s historic
misfortune. We state that if the U.S.

Embassy to the RA does not want to support its former head honourable
Ambassador John Evans’ step, proper for a honest diplomate, then let
it be kind to clearly present its position on the Armenian Genocide,
arising of the fact that this Embassy is placed in Armenia, the
Fatherland of the people survived the first genocide of the 20th
century.

If the Embassy makes an attempt to renounce the fact of the genocide
and turning to diplomatic measures, attempts to avoid establishing the
truth on the Armenian land, we shall start a gathering of signatures in
European countries to support Ambassador Evans and will demand from the
U.S. present administrative heads a clear explanation on their posture
in the Armenian Genocide issue. Everybody knows that after lont-term
discussions and voluminous cognitive works, parliaments of a number
of countries of the European Union adopted resolutions affirming the
Armenian Genocide and are puzzled with the repulsive posture of the
U.S. today’s administration. Of course, there are great hopes that the
U.S. Congress will have courage to establish the truth and will give
the U.S. possibility to occupy its worthy place near other democratic
and developed counties of the world in this issue as well.

We support Aram Hamparian, join his statement and persuade not to be
depressed on the way of reaching the truth. We address to heads of the
U.S. Embassy to the RA, again to touch upon the statement made by it
and persuade to correct its terminology about the Armenian Genocide,
taking into consideration the fact that this Embassy functions in
bosom of the people suffered the first genocide of the 20th century
and presents a country the Ambassador of which, Morgenthau, was once
one among the first people to respond the terrible massacres committed
by the Ottaman Empire, qualifying them with worthy labels.

ARABKIR POLICE WILL BE TAUGHT ETHICS

A1+
[07:04 pm] 20 March, 2007

YEREVAN, 20 March 2007 – Bringing police closer to the public
and increasing citizens’ confidence in police is the goal of an
agreement signed today by the OSCE Office in Yerevan and the Armenian
Police. The agreement, which establishes a partnership between the
Arabkir Police Station in Yerevan and the district’s population,
is part of the OSCE Police Assistance Programme. Using community
policing, the programme aims to improve the exchange of information
between the police and the population, resulting in more efficient
crime prevention and investigation.

"Introducing community policing is a key component of OSCE Police
Assistance because it aims to change the way police think, and the
way the population perceives the police," said Ambassador Vladimir
Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. Colonel-General Hayk
Harutyunyan, Head of the Armenian Police, added: "The signed document
passed all the relevant internal agreement procedures and is approved
by the Government of the Republic of Armenia."

HOSPITAL… WANTED
Erna Sargissian

Azat Artsakh Daily, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]
20 March 07

The village of Karmir Shuka, Martuni Region, used to have a hospital
until 1996 but in 1997 it was reorganized into a medical ambulatory
due to a lay-off and several other problems. The head of the ambulatory
Svetlana Avagian says 937 people of the village and patients from the
adjacent 9 villages get medical care at the ambulatory. The patients
mainly have chronic diseases. The staff of the ambulatory consists
of 10 nurses. "Once a quarter the Red Cross provides medicine to
the ambulatory," she says. It is mainly first aid medicine, the
municipality also helps, and since May 2006 Karabakh Gold winery
provides spirit, said Svetlana Avagian. She said that over the past
five years the government provided medicine and medical instruments
only once. Svetlana Avagian says there are patients who need hospital
care but cannot afford to go to Stepanakert. "If the village had a
hospital with at least 10 beds, we would not have such a problem,"
said the head of the ambulatory. The government will hopefully attend
to this problem.

O. BOZHKO: ARMENIAN CHURCH TO BE BUILT IN KIEV WILL BECOME SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL CENTER FOR LOCAL ARMENIANS

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 20 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The Ukrainian
side is ready to extend cooperation with Armenia in the sphere of
education. Henceforth Armenian students and post-graduate students
will study at Ukrainian universities not only within the framework
of interstate contract, but also as a result of newly established
cooperation between institutions of higher education.

Olexander Bozhko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
Ukraine to Armenia, stated this during the March 20 meeting with
students, professors and lecturers of V. Brusov State Linguistic
University.

Ambassador Bozhko said that there have always been educational contacts
between the two countries. The culminating point of these contacts
was registered in the Soviet years when the Armenian young people for
many years got education at Kiev’s Higher Aviation Institute and youth
from Kiev studied at various Armenian universities. The educational
contacts and the best traditions broken off in the future were to
be restored, to which the Ukrainian side gave an affirmative answer
expressing readiness to receive Armenian students and specialists at
its universities.

Touching upon the problem which emerged over the Armenian church to be
built in Kiev, Bozhko said that the authorities of Kiev have agreed to
provide a territory for building the Armenian church, there is just
a disagreement among the population. "I think this problem will be
solved, just a little patience is needed. The Embassy does its best to
support solution of this problem," the Ambassador said at the same time
adding that all countries, including Armenia, have such problems. "For
instance, for many years our Embassy has applied to Yerevan authorities
and asked them to provide a territory for building Embassy of Ukraine
on mutually beneficial terms. Finally the issue was solved so that
the Ukrainian side bought a house for the Embassy in Yerevan.

Olexander Bozhko gave assurance that "the church to be built will
be not only spiritual, but also cultural center for Armenians living
in Ukraine."

IRAN-ARMENIA: FIRST STRETCH OF GAS PIPELINE OPENED

AKI, Italy
March 19 2007

Tehran, 19 March (AKI) – Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
and his Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian opened on Monday the
first Armenian part of a natural gas pipeline connecting the two
countries.The two presidents inaugurated the first 40 kilometre stretch
of the pipeline in the border town of Meghri. Under the project,
which was launched in 2004 and has so far cost 200 million dollars,
Iran will at first deliver 400 million cubic metres of gas a year
which should rise to 2.5 billion once the project is completed.

Armenia will in exchange reportedly provide electricity to Iran.

During the inauguration, Ahmadinejad said the pipeline is a "symbol of
the deep friendship which ties Iran, an Islamic country, to Armenia,
a Christian country."

Armenia is Iran’s main political and economic partner in the Caucasus.

Business Portal 24 (press release), Germany
March 18 2007

Iran, Armenia pipeline ready
2007/03/18 05:57
AMEInfo

Iran and Armenia are set to inaugurate a new gas pipeline between the
two countries, which will pump 1.1bn cubic metres of gas to the
former Soviet republic this year, according to a statement on Iran’s
Oil Ministry website and cited by Reuters. The volume of gas will
increase to 1.5bn cubic metres by 2015 and 2.3bn by 2026. The
pipeline was first approved over a decade ago.

La Nouvelle République du Centre Ouest
17 mars 2007 samedi
Edition INDRE ET LOIRE

Cinéma arménien aux Studio

La Cinémathèque débute lundi un cycle « Cinéma arménien » en
partenariat avec l’Association des Arméniens du Centre. La soirée
débutera par « Sayat Nova », de Serguei Paradjanov et se poursuivra
avec la projection de« Namous », d’Amo Bek-Nazarov. Patrick Cazals,
critique de cinéma, auteur du livre « Serguei Paradjanov » présentera
cette soirée.
« SAYAT NOVA ».Ce film est une évocation du poète arménien du même
nom. À la sortie du film, les autorités d’URSS refusent de le
diffuser. Paradjanov fait alors appel au cinéaste Sergueï Youtkévitch
afin de remanier l’oeuvre. Après un nouveau montage « Sayat Nova »
est diffusé discrètement. Lorsque Paradjavov sera arrêté en 1974, le
film sera projeté à l’étranger grce à des comités de défense et des
copies clandestines.
« NAMOUS ». C’est le premier film de fiction arménien dans l’histoire
du cinéma. Il raconte l’amour de Sousan, la fille du tailleur
Barkhoudar, et de Seïran, le fils du potier Haïro. La particularité
et la richesse de cette oeuvre se trouvent dans la façon dont
Bek-Nazarov traite cette histoire traditionnelle. Ce film sera
présenté dans une version récemment restaurée.

Cycle « Cinéma arménien » au Studio, « Sayat Nova », à 19 h 30 et «
Namous », à 21 h 15. Tarifs : 4,10 et 7 . Deux films : 6,40 et 8
euros.