Author: Vasilian Manouk

"MOUSSANER" JAZZ PROJECT TO GIVE A CONCERT IN MASSACHUSETTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
28.04.2009 19:24 GMT+04:00

A unique "Moussaner" jazz group, will perform both its own compositions
and folk song arrangements. The music of "Moussaner" is full of
various rhythms and melodies, including both Armenian jazz and works
by post-modernist European composers.

On March 1, ALMA Massachusetts museum-library will organize
"Moussaner" group concert within the frameworks of its traditional jazz
evenings. Other participants of ALMA concerts were Armena Donelyan,
Vardan Hovsepyan, Jerry Bergonzi etc. Half of the musicians of
"Moussaner" group are of Armenian heritage.

EDWARD NALBANDIAN: ARMENIA-TURKEY RELATIONS HAD NEVER GONE THIS FAR

armradio.am
27.04.2009 16:16

The Armenian-Turkish relations had never gone this far, the Foreign
Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, stated in an interview with
Armenpress. According to the Foreign Minister, Turkish President
Abdullah Gul’s visit to Yerevan to watch the Armenia-Turkey qualifier
marked the start of a qualitatively new stage in the process of
normalization of relations.

"A very important meeting took place between the Presidents of Armenia
and Turkey. Another important meeting took place between the Armenian
President and the Turkish Prime Minister in Davos. There have been a
number of meetings on the level of Foreign Ministers. And today we
have arrived at the statement publicized on April 22, which marks
progress in the negotiation process," the Minister said.

According to Edward Nalbandian, this statement came to reconfirm
that we are ready for normalization of ties and opening of the border
without preconditions. Referring to the comments and opinions in Turkey
and Armenia that we are making concessions, Edward Nalbandian stated:
"I have an impression that we do not believe ourselves and we are not
sure of our strength. We do not believe that Armenia can really achieve
progress. We always think that if we have achieved something good,
then something bad should be hidden behind it. Or we think someone will
certa inly deceive us. Who will deceive? If you think it’s Turkey,
then Turkey will thus deceive itself, will deceive the international
community, the United States, Russia and the European Union. Our
aspiration is just and resolute: Armenia is willing to establish
full-fledged relations with Turkey without any preconditions. And
we have an impression that the Turkish authorities also wish to move
forward and normalize the relations between the two countries."

Asked to comment on the fact that the statement was made public
on April 22, on the eve of the Day of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide victims, Minister Nalbandian said: "When we say normalization
of relations without preconditions, we mean that there are no
preconditions connected with the resolution of the Karabakh conflict
and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The normalization of
relations in no way questions the fact of genocide. I do hope that
after we normalize relations, Turkish leaders will join the Armenian
authorities to lay a wreath at the memorial to the Armenian Genocide
victims in Tsitsernakaberd. Why can’t we do the same Charles de Gaulle
and Adenauer once did? I’m sure that the leaders of Armenia and Turkey
will once make take the same step."

Speaking about the road map, Minister Nalbandian said it is a very
simple agreement, a road map, which defines the steps the parties
should take, and this road map does not inclu de any provisions or
principles. The provisions and principles will be included in the
deal to be signed between the two sides.

Asked to comment on US President Barack Obama’s April 24th statement,
Edward Nalabndian said: "First, I should say that President Obama’s
statement was a step forward as compared to the speeches of his
predecessors. The speech includes some very strong points. President
Obama said he had consistently stated his own view of what occurred in
1915, and his view of that history had not changed. President Obama
used the expression "Mets Yeghern," which we often use ourselves as
a synonym of "genocide."

Victims’ Memory Revered

NKR Government Information and
Public Relations Department

April 25, 2009

On April 24, mourning ceremonies in connection with the anniversary of
the Great Armenian Genocide took place in numerous residential areas of
Artsakh. All day long the memorial complex of Stepanakert was populous.
The NKR Supreme Authority, representatives of the Legislative,
Executive, Judicial and Religious authorities together with thousands
of guests and citizens of Stepanakert paid a tribute of respect in
honour of innocent victims of the Genocide. At the memorial complex a
requiem Mass was conducted by the Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan, head
of Artsakh Diocese.

Azerbaijan Business Center
April 25 2009

Armenia and Georgia continued polluting trans-border rivers with
Azerbaijan for second 10-day term of this April

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. The National Environmental Monitoring Department
(Azerbaijan Ministry of Environment & Natural Resources) has conducted
monitoring for the second 10-day period of April 2009 to define level
of pollution in the Kura and Arax trans-border rivers.

The Ministry’s press service informs that the monitoring revealed that
water consumption for the reported period of April increased compared
with the first 10-day term.

`In particular, water consumption reduced by 28 cu m a second and
reached 239 cu m/sec that made 89% of 10-day norm,’ it was reported.

The monitoring also revealed multifold exceeding of the norm of
phenols and copper compounds in the Kura river on the border with
Georgia under trans-border pollutions.

`The cause of that is discharge of water without treatment from
industrial and stock-breeding enterprises on the territory of Armenia
and Georgia,’ it was reported.

The main water contaminants in Shikhli-2 point of Kura River are
phenols and copper compounds, content of which exceeded maximum
allowable coefficient 4-fold, in Agstafachay River 2-fold and
Agstafachay water storage 2-fold (phenols) and 3-fold (copper
compounds).

The monitoring also uncovered that content of phenols and copper
compounds in the Arax River on the border with Armenia exceeded the
accessible norm.

`In Goradiz point of Arax River on the border with Armenia content of
main pollutants ` copper compounds was exceeded 4 fold, in Bahramtepe
3-fold, and Shahsevan 1 two and three-fold,’ it was reported.

Oxygene regime in all points was in sanitary norm and ranged 6.11-7.93
mg/l.

LEBANESE-AMERICAN FOUNDATION/HOUSE OF LEBANON
by Divan of the Western Diocese

n-foundation-house-of-lebanon/
Apr 23 2009

On April 20, 2009, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop
Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian
Church of North America, the Lebanese-American Foundation/House of
Lebanon held a banquet at the Hampar Primate’s Reception Room of the
Arshag and Eleanor Dickranian Diocesan Complex in Burbank, California.

Master of Ceremonies for the evening Raffi Kendirjian offered the
opening remarks wherein he said: "I believe that tonight’s gathering
was long overdue. Thanks to the initiative of His Eminence Archbishop
Hovnan Derderian and the efforts of Dr. Shammas and Mr. Hamzeh from
the Lebanese American Foundation, we have the opportunity tonight
to get to know one another and exchange our experiences." Upon the
conclusion of his remarks Mr. Kendirjian introduced the Chair of
the Diocesan Council Joseph Kanimian, Esq., to address the guests on
the festive occasion. Joseph Kanimian, Esq., greeted the guests and
reflected on the generosity and charity shown by the Lebanese people
to the Armenian refugees fleeing the dreadful Armenian Genocide in
Turkey during the early years of the 20th century.

Several other distinguished guests spoke during the evening, including
His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, His Excellency Husam Diab,
Consul General of Lebanon in Los Angeles, The Honorable Armand Arabian,
Retired California Supreme Court Justice, The Honorable James Kaddo,
Retired Superior Court Judge, and The Honorable Dennis Zine, LA City
Councilmember. There were many other distinguished guests present
during this historic event.

MINISTRIES OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA, THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE SWISS FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS MAKE A JOINT STATEMENT

ArmenPress
April 23 2009
Armenia

YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS: Armenian, Turkish foreign ministries and
Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs made a joint statement. The
Armenian Foreign Ministry press service told Armenpress that the
statement says, "Turkey and Armenia, together with Switzerland as
mediator, have been working intensively with a view to normalizing
their bilateral relations and developing them in a spirit of
good-neighborliness, and mutual respect, and thus to promoting peace,
security and stability in the whole region.

The two parties have achieved tangible progress and mutual
understanding in this process and they have agreed on a comprehensive
framework for the normalization of their bilateral relations in a
mutually satisfactory manner. In this context, a road-map has been
identified.

This agreed basis provides a positive prospect for the on-going
process."

MOSCOW IS CONCERNED OVER ARMENIA’S PARTICIPATION IN NATO MILITARY TRAININGS IN GEORGIA

PanArmenian News
April 22 2009
Armenia

Russia is concerned over Armenia’s participation in NATO military
trainings in Georgia, especially, considering the anti-Russian
nature of trainings planned, RF MP Semen Baghdasarov said at TV space
bridge entitled "Armenia-Turkey: Progress in bilateral relations or
geopolitical games of world powers?". "As CSTO member, and military and
strategic partner of Russia, Armenia has to refuse from participating
in these trainings, like a number of other post soviet countries did,"
RF MP noted.

According to him, Armenia has to remember that the West has never
supported Armenian people’s interests. "A search for new allies
is in process in Armenia, and Russia is upset over the fact. I
believe Moscow has to review its policy towards CIS countries," Semen
Bagdasarov stated. He also added that USA and Turkey will never become
friends to Armenia, and by losing Russia, Armenia may find itself in
a difficult situation.

LA TIMES: Obama won’t use ‘genocide’ in statement on massacre of Armenians

Original Story: na-obama-genocide25-2009apr25,0,2595139.story

Rep orting from Washington — President Barack Obama will not use the
word "genocide" today when he issues a statement remembering the
slaughter of more than a million Armenians during the last days of the
Ottoman Empire.

On the anniversary of the day in 1915 that marked the beginning of the
atrocities in Turkey, the president instead will ask for an
examination of the past "so that it can be better understood,"
according to a senior administration official.

Obama still stands by the views he has expressed on the subject in the
past, the official said today, speaking in advance of the president’s
statement on condition of anonymity. As a U.S. senator and a
presidential candidate, Obama called for Turkey to acknowledge the
genocide — and promised to do so himself if elected president.

But since moving into the Oval office, Obama has backed away from the
pledge out of concern that a furor over it might disrupt delicate
diplomatic discussions now going on between Armenia and Turkey.

"He has his views, and his views are known," the official said. The
president’s goal is to see Turkey "reckon with the events of 1915,"
the aide said. He added Obama thinks the best way to promote that is
with the diplomatically crafted statement being issued today.

The decision over how to handle the April 24 remembrance date is a
politically difficult one for the president. Turkish officials did not
ask Obama to stay away from the question of genocide, the official
said, but the president is acutely aware of and interested in the
state of talks between the two countries.

Today’s commemoration date falls two days after Turkey and Armenia
announced movement in ongoing talks to ease relations between their
two countries. Relations have been strained for decades.

The Turkish foreign ministry said Wednesday that the two sides have
come up with a framework for continued talks but provided few details
on how, exactly, it might work. They have made "tangible progress"
toward mutual understanding and come up with a "road map" for how to
proceed, according to the statement.

Still, the measure is considered the first breakthrough in talks in
more than a decade.

Since Obama took office, Armenian Americans and human rights activists
have been asking him to make good on the campaign promise to declare
the mass killing a genocide. Advocates hoped the declaration would
come today.

But Obama signaled he might take a different route during a trip to
Turkey earlier this month, when he refrained from using the word
"genocide" to describe the killings. In a joint press conference with
Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Obama said he hadn’t changed his mind
about the historical record but still declined to use the word when
asked by a reporter about his position.

"I’m not interested in the U.S. tilting these negotiations one way or
another while they are having a useful discussion," Obama said in
early April.

Obama’s administration has a lot riding on U.S. relations with Turkey,
a key U.S. ally in Iraq and Afghanistan. Turkish leaders have
historically opposed measures such as the Armenian Genocide resolution
now pending before Congress. Offending Turkey could put U.S. supply
routes to Iraq and Afghanistan in danger.

Ankara is also an influential player on a host of other critical
issues on the Obama agenda, including Middle East peace and Iran.

[email protected]

EXHIBITION ONLY ON APRIL 24 AND 25

A1+
01:46 pm | April 23, 2009 | society

The Armenian Genocide museum-institute will showcase 250 exclusive
photos on April 24 and 25 only. Some of the photos discovered recently
show the League of Nations supporting genocide survivors in Syria.

The museum-institute has received hundreds of samples throughout
the past year, yet only a part of them will be displayed during
the exhibition.

The museum has also received large collections through donations,
including hundreds of unique materials on the lifestyles and activities
of Western Armenians, as well as documentaries and publications
shedding light on the effects of the genocide.

Among the collections are the hand-written memoirs of Norwegian
missioner Bodil Biorn who describes the massacres of Armenians
perpetrated by the Turks in the city of Mush.

HAKOB HAKOBYAN: "I HAVE LOST MY ADVOCATE"

A1+
05:20 pm | April 22, 2009 | Politics

The Court of Common Jurisdiction of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash
districts toady adjourned the court hearing on the case of Armenian
MPs Miasnik Malkhasyan and Hakob Hakobyan.

Today’s hearing was the first since partition of the case of seven
leading oppositionists charged with last year’s deadly events in
Yerevan City.

Few people were present at today’s sitting as court bailiffs denied
people’s entry after the start of the sitting.

Miasnik Malkhasyan’s advocate, Hovik Arsenyan didn’t show up for
the trial as he was in Abovyan attending Deputy Sasun Mikayelyan’s
court hearing.

The next hearing is due at 11.00 April 28.

The case of MP Hakob Hakobyan at the same court simultaneously.

Hakobyan’s advocate Melania Arustamyan didn’t attend the sitting
because of poor health. Hakob Hakobyan motioned the court to adjourn
the sitting. "Your Excellency, I have lost my advocate. We had better
wait for her and delay the trial," said Hakob Hakobyan.

The court was adjourned till April 27.