Author: Vardapetian Ophelia

HENRIK HOVHANNISIAN AND DAVIT HOVHANNES HOLD SAME OPINION THAT CHOOSING OF NEW NATIONAL ANTHEM WAS NOT URGENT AT THIS MOMENT

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Sept 05 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Art critic Henrik
Hovhannisian and poet Davit Hovhannes presented their viewpoints
and comments on the new Armenian national anthem at the September 5
dispute at the Hayeli (Mirror) club.

>From the very start the dispute participants emphasized that they
should not have kicked up a racket over the national anthem, on the
contrary, the commission and the people in a quiet situation should
have selected the song that was more close to their hearts. Both of
the guests gave assurance that choosing of the national anthem was
not urgent at this moment. In Henrik Hovhannisian’s words, among 5
variants that have passed to the second stage, the anthems with music
composed by Tigran Mansurian on the basis of the "Armenia-Heavenly
Country’s" Komitas version and "I Love the Sun Sweet Taste of Armenia"
poem by Charents are most acceptable for him.

In the words of Davit Hovhannes who left the contest commission on
selection of national anthem lyrics and music on August 28, two out of
five variants having passed to the second stage are "criminal." The
authors of these two variants introduced themselves by nicknames and
it was unknown for a long time who they are. After long searches it
was found out that the author of one of them is Arsen Soghomonian,
Head of the Board of RA Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs, and
another one, Ararat B., is member of the above mentioned commission,
poet Razmik Davoyan. In the last circumstance, as Davit Hovhannes
declared, the working order of the contest commission was grossly
violated, as none of the persons included in the same commission has
the right to submit a bid. In D.Hovhannes’ words, this circumstance
casts doubt on the commission’s future activities.

In Henrik Hovhannisian’s words, the anthem’s Aram Khachatrian and
"Our Homeland" variants have a political past: both of them contain
the logic and necessity of the time. The art critic emphasized that
the national anthem is not merely lyrics and music but history and
politics.

OSKANYAN DOES NOT GUARANTEE MEETING IN PARIS

Lragir.am
04 Sept 06

Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan announced September 2 that he
cannot state for sure if he will meet with Elmar Mammedyarov, the
Azerbaijani foreign minister. Earlier Mammedyarov had announced that
the French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Fassier suggested that
the foreign ministers meet September 12-13 in Paris, or September
14-15 in London. Mammedyarov announced that he agreed to meet.

Later Vardan Oskanyan announced on the Public Channel of Armenia
that he could not state for sure whether the meeting of the ministers
would take place, since certain processes are now underway in the UN.

Vardan Oskanyan hinted that this process may lead the Armenia to
refuse to take part in the meeting of ministers.

The Armenian foreign minister apparently meant the letter of GUAN to
the UN General Assembly proposing that the conflicts in the space of
GUAM, including the Nagorno-Karabakh issue be discussed at the 61st
session of the General Assembly. This is not desirable for Armenia,
and Vardan Oskanyan indirectly threatened that Armenia will boycott
the meeting of ministers over the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict in case the proposal is accepted.

ANDRANIK MARGARIAN: OVER PAST 15 YEARS ARMENIANS OF ARTSAKH PROVED
THAT THEIR CHOICE OF INDEPENDENCE IS IRREVERSIBLE

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. "The Artsakh
people made its historical choice by the Independence Declaration of
September 2 1991 once and for all maintaining its right to freely and
independently live on its native land," RA Prime Minister Andranik
Margarian’s congratulatory message on the occasion of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic Day reads. "Over the past 15 years, step by step
laying the bases of the independent statehood, strengthening the army
and the economy, passing the way of state and public reforms and
democratization, the Armenians of Artsakh proved that their choice of
independence is irreversible," the Prime Minister’s message
read. Noyan Tapan was also informed from RA Government Information and
Public Relations Department that Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
will leave for Artsakh on September 1 for the purpose of taking part
in the festive events dedicated to the 15th anniversary of NKR
independence.

OFFICIAL VISIT INVITATION TO BEIJING

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Aug. 31, 2006

On August 30 Mr. Tigran Torosyan, the President of the National
Assembly of the Republic of Armenia received Mr. Zuo Xueliang,
Ambassador of People’s Republic of China to Armenia.

The issues of deepening the inter-parliamentary relations between the
two countries were discussed during the meeting. Mr. Zuo Xueliang,
Ambassador of People’s Republic of China handed the invitation of
the Chinese National Assembly President U. Bango of the official
visit to the NA President Mr. T. Torosyan, noting that the visit will
promote the development of inter-parliamentary and inter-governmental
relations.

Mr. Tigran Torosyan, the RA NA President, accepting the invitation,
noted that good friendly relations have been established between the
Parliaments of two countries, to the development of which the mutual
visits contribute. The Chinese Parliamentary Delegation also will
visit Armenia soon.

The issues of development of relations between the Republican Party of
Armenia and the Chinese Communist Party were also discussed during
the meeting. They also touched upon the opportunity of China’s
participation in the construction of Kars-Akhlkalak-Tbilisi-Baku
railroad. Mr. T. Torosyan, the RA NA President, highly evaluated
China’s interest in the issues of regional economic development and
expressed a hope that such version of railroad, connecting Europe with
the Eastern Asia and partially passing through the Southern Caucasus
would be chosen, which will indeed promote the strengthening of peace
and good-neighbourly relations. Mr. Xueliang promised to pass the
concern of the Armenian side to Beijing.

Other issues of mutual importance were also discussed during the
meeting.

PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN TO VISIT GERMANY, BELARUS AND KAZAKHSTAN BY THE END OF THE YEAR
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily
01/09/2006

Viktor Soghomonian, spokesman for president Robert Kocharian, met
journalists on August 30 to present president’s scheduled foreign
visit for this year. In his words, by the end of this year president
Kocharian will visit Germany, will take part in CIS Summit in Minsk
as well as will pay an official visit to Kazakhstan. Almost as many
presidential visit are expected to take place in Armenia. "Diplomatic
circles discuss French president Jacques Chirac’s official visit as
well as the visits of presidents of Slovenia and Romania," Soghomonian
said. Concerning Chirac’s visit, the spokesman suggested to view his
visit as manifestation of traditionally friendly relations between
the two states and not to look for political contexts. Journalists
availed themselves of the opportunity to ask Viktor Soghomonian
their questions.

There is no conflict between Robert Kocharian and Serge
Sargsian. Soghomonian turned down rumors about the argument between
Kocharian and Sargsian concerning Prosperous Armenia and Republican
parties. As to the struggle between the parties, Soghomonian thinks
there is no such thing. "There may be discords and contradictions; if
they are absent then there are no different forces." The spokesman said
that he did not discuss with the president the publication according
to which the president does not want to see Serge Sargsian as his
successor. The spokesman made no forecast about Robert Kocharian’s
political future advising to ask president himself. He only said
that so far there is no consideration about Kocharian joining any
political party. Viktor Soghomonian stated that neither he is going
to join any party citing the principle that Kocharian’s staff should
not belong to any party.

As to Kocharian-Aliyev meeting, Soghomonian said it untimely to speak
about it. "A few days ago the foreign ministers agreed to meet. They
will try to prepare the presidents’ meeting," he said.

Asked why Armenia does not send peacekeepers to Lebanon, the
spokesperson said that now Armenia is not going to send its forces
as there are several reasons.

"Firstly, the mandate of peacekeeping forces is not finalized
yet, i.e. it is not clear where are the limits of their
activities. Secondly, participation of Armenian peacekeepers in
diverse clashes can be harmful for Lebanon’s big Armenian community."

INDIA EXPORTS GOLD ITEMS TO ARMENIA

Panorama.am
14:21 31/08/06

Armenia exported diamond and gold items costing $303,000 to India
during 2003-2004 and India exported similar items costing $1,6 million
during the same period. In the course of 2004-2005, India doubled
its export to Armenia and Armenia exported gold and diamond items
costing $348,000.

A delegation of an Indian council, which promotes diamond and gold
item export, paid a visit to Armenia.

The members of the delegation told a presentation today that this
branch makes up 3% of the Indian GDP.

Rina Pandey, Indian ambassador to Armenia, also present at the
presentation, said Armenia and India are developing links in economy.

The 14-member delegation visited the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan
and Georgia prior to the visit to Armenia. The delegation aims to
step up export of Indian diamond and gold items in the markets of
Newly Independent States.

Being under the jurisdiction of the Indian ministry of trade and
industry, the council functions since 1966 and represents 6500
goldsmiths. This is a promising branch in India and has reported $17
billion export only last year.

ITALIAN CHEESES MOZZARELLA AND MOZZARELLA-PIZZA TO BE PRODUCED FOR FIRST TIME IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Aug 30 2006

YEREVAN, AUGUST 30, NOYAN TAPAN. Starting September, the newly
established farm Dili (Dilijan) will become the first one to
produce Mozzarella and Mozzarella-Pizza cheeses in Armenia. Ashot
Tamrazian, founder and head of the farm, said during the August 30
press conference that initially these products will be sold on the
domestic market, while later they will be exported to Russia and Arab
countries. Cheeses of this type are mainly used to make pizza.

According to A. Tamrazian, about 2 mln USD was invested in Dili,
thanks to which it became possible to create 50 jobs and import 120
head of cows of Schviz and Simmental breed. These cows are artificially
inseminated, which allows to produce the same amount of milk throughout
the year. The farm plans to produce 3 thousand litres of milk daily
in about two years. Besides, according to A. Tamrazian, they also
purchased pigs of Landras type.

TWO PLUS TWO

San Francisco Bay Guardian, CA
Aug. 30, 2006

Erin Gilley’s Picks

1. "365 Days/365 Plays" Suzan-Lori Parks wrote a play for each day
of the year. They’ll be performed all year by artists nationwide, and
San Francisco will be a huge part of the largest theater collaboration
in history. A stunt, but a really cool one. Begins Nov.

13. SF venues TBA.

2. Big Love Not the HBO show – living, breathing theater, with a big
prize for the ugliest bridesmaid’s dress in the audience. Sept.

28-Oct. 21. Traveling Jewish Theatre, 470 Florida, SF. $15-$30.

1-800-838-3006,

Erin Gilley is general manager of Crowded Fire Theater.

JOHN WILKINS’S PICKS

1. Hamlet: Blood on the Brain In a nifty display of relocation,
Campo Santo transports the classic play from Denmark to our own
drug-ravaged Oakland in the 1980s. If any theater group can make
concept Shakespeare soar, this is the one – simply the best acting
core in the Bay Area. Oct. 26-Nov. 20. Intersection for the Arts,
446 Valencia, SF. $9-$20. (415) 626-2787,

2. DEFIXONES: Orders From the Dead If you’ve heard Diamanda Galas
sing, you’ve been amazed or shocked in the depths of your soul. Here,
her three-and-a-half octave voice takes on the Armenian genocide in
what promises to be a theatrical assault you won’t soon forget. Oct.

19 and 21. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 701 Mission, SF.

$15-$35. (415) 978-2787,

SFBG

John Wilkins is artistic director of Last Planet Theatre.

ARMENIAN AND AZERI FMs ARE NOT EXPECTED TO MEET IN SLOVENIA

ARMENPRESS
Aug 28 2006

YEREVAN, AUGUST 28, ARMENPRESS: Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign
ministers are not planning to meet today in Slovenia, spokesperson
for the Armenian Foreign Ministry Vladimir Karapetian said.

Earlier today the Azerbaijani ANS TV channel reported that Vartan
Oskanian and Elmar Mamedyarov are going to meet today in Slovenia. The
spokesperson said that Armenian foreign minister delivered today
a speech at the "Caspian prospects 2008" international conference,
conducted a number of bilateral meetings but did not meet with his
Azerbaijani counterpart.

Within the framework of the Karabakh regulation process Armenian and
Azerbaijani foreign ministers are expected to meet but the place and
the date of the meeting are not yet specified.

DANGEROUS PRODUCTION UNITS INVITED TO REGISTER

Panorama.am
15:37 28/08/06

The state is going to fine Mika Armenia Company in the amount of
1 million Armenian drams for failing to register within Technical
Security National Center.

Ashot Petrosyan, the head of the center, sarcastically welcomed the
management of Mika Armenia to register.

This requirement is stipulated by law, which says that dangerous
production units have to register within the abovementioned center by
September 1. In case they fail to do so, a fine of 1 million Armenian
drams will be imposed on them, which will turn into 2 million Armenian
drams at a later date. After it, the production unit will be closed.

Petrol feeling stations, carrousels, swimming pools, cranes, elevators
and some others are considered as dangerous production units. The
center does not have information on the number of such productions.

Therefore, it is hard to control the registration requirements. The
center says they have forwarded requests to communities to inform
about such productions but the communities say they do not have any,
the center head claims.

Twelve fatalities were reported in the course of one month due to
unsafe operations.