ARMENIAN PHOTOSITE CELEBRATES ITS 3RD ANNIVERSARY

AZG Armenian Daily
12/12/2006

The opening of photo exhibition on the occasion of the 3 years’
anniversary of the Armenian Photosite () took place at the
Yerevan State Puppet Theatre, on December 11, 5:00pm. The ceremony
of awarding the winners of "Panorama" photo-competition will be
held during the exhibition. The mentioned competition was organized
thanks to the joint efforts of the Armenian Photosite, Yerevan.ru
and AG Print Company. Armenian Photo-site is a virtual space for
participation of professional and armature photographers. Participants
of the site are being provided an opportunity to solve their issues
of self-identification and self-recognition effectively.

The site provides a virtual space for searching and finding new rules
and expressions of photography. The main criterion of the site is a
high artistic level of the works presented there. In spite of the
fact that the site functions for only 3 years there are about 300
participants.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT BUSH REAFFIRMS HIS SUPPORT FOR TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Dec 12 2006

U.S. President George Bush reaffirmed his support for territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan while receiving credentials from newly
appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of Azerbaijan
Yashar Aliyev, at the White House, on December 8, AzerTAc’s Washington
D.C.-based correspondent reports.

Presenting credentials to President Bush, Ambassador Y. Aliyev said
Azerbaijan has always felt U.S. support of its efforts to build and
strengthen a sovereign state.

He added that Azerbaijan will continue to follow the path of political,
economic and social reforms. The Ambassador expressed confidence that
as a super power and co-chair of the OSCE Minsk group, the United
State will continue its efforts to achieve fair and long-lasting
solution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

President Bush said that with establishment of the national Oil Fund to
ensure transparency of the revenues from the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil
pipeline, Azerbaijan can be serve as an example for other countries
with rich natural resources.

He said he believes that Azerbaijan’s role as an energy supplier to
Europe and a transit country, will keep growing, and welcomed ongoing
political and economic reforms here.

The U.S. President called for continuation of democratic reforms to
promote the rule of law, civil society, independent media, market
economy and effective democratic institutions.

On the role of Azerbaijan in fighting terrorism, he named the country
U.S. strong ally. The President said Azerbaijan’s future lies within
the EuroAtlantic community, and promised to help the country strengthen
its ties with NATO and the European Union.

President Bush said the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan
continues to hinder stability in the South Caucasus. He called on
the sides to resolve the conflict peacefully and find the ways of
building confidence between the people of Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The President said the United States supports territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan, and as the OSCE Minsk group co-chair, together with
Russia and France, will continue its efforts towards urgent and
peaceful resolution of the conflict.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IYAD BIN AMEEN MADANI: UNLIKE LEBANON WE DO NOT SUPPORT ARMENIANS

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 12 2006

"Saudi Arabia is aware of the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict and ruinous
cultural monuments in the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Azerbaijani ambassador to Saudi Arabia gives information about it in
his meetings with officials," Minister of Culture and Information
of Saudi Arabia Iyad bin Ameen Madani visiting Azerbaijan told
journalists, APA reports.

The minister said that the steps taken in the direction of settlement
of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia are reflected in the
Saudi Arabia’s mass media.

"Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Azerbaijan also closely observes the
problem and takes corresponding steps. Our country supports Azerbaijan
in all international organizations and forums. Unlike Lebanon we do
not support Armenians," the minister said.

GEORGE BUSH: "THE USA SUPPORTS THE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF AZERBAIJAN"

Today, Azerbaijan
Dec 12 2006

Azerbaijan Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to U.S
Yashar Aliyev presented his credentials to the President of the USA
George Bush.

Yashar Aliyev said that the U.S. cooperation is highly appreciated in
Azerbaijan in the ceremony where President George Bush, the officials
of protocol department and nine newly appointed ambassadors attended.

"We have always felt the U.S. support in the establishment and
strengthening of sovereign country. Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev
during his visit to White House in April stressed that our countries
share the same values," he said.

The Ambassador Yashar Aliyev stressed that he believes that the U.S.,
the co-chair country of OSCE Minsk Group and one of leading countries
of the world will try to settle Armenia-Azerbaijani problems and
Nagorno Karabakh Conflict. President Bush noted, that he’s glad to
meet new ambassador in Washington and highly estimates the friendship
with Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan that established State Oil Fund for distributing the
oil incomes of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan can be example for some other
countries. We support economic and political reforms in Azerbaijan,"
he said.

George Bush emphasized the important role of Azerbaijan in fighting
against terrorism and pointed out that Azerbaijan is strong partner
of the U.S.

US will support Azerbaijan’s cooperation with NATO and EU.

The American President stressed that Azerbaijan and Armenian conflict
continues to break the stability in South Caucasus and called for
the sides to settle the problem peacefully and to look for the ways
of building confidence between these countries.

"The USA supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Being the
three co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group we will try to continue our work
with leaders for regulating the conflict soon."

URL:

"ENDLESS VISION" TO CONTEND FOR GRAMMY

Mehr News Agency, Iran
Dec 12 2006

TEHRAN, Dec. 12 (MNA) — "Endless Vision", a live recording of
world-renowned musicians Hossein Alizadeh of Iran and Djivan Gasparyan
of Armenia, has been nominated in the category of Best Traditional
World Music Album at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.

The album was recorded at open-air concerts in Tehran from September
4 to 6, 2003 before a total audience of 12,000 people, with Vazgen
Markaryan, Afsaneh Rasaii, Hurshid Biabani, Armen Ghazaryan, Ali
Bustan, Mohammadreza Ebrahimi, Ali Samadpur, and Behzad Mirzaii
accompanying the two musicians in the shows.

Alizadeh, 56, is one of Iran’s leading traditional music composers
and musicians. He is a virtuoso on the six-stringed Persian tar but
also possesses great mastery of the four-stringed setar.

Along with Kayhan Kalhor, he recently left the band of Iran’s living
legend of traditional music, vocalist Mohammadreza Shajarian, to seek
new opportunities, but all acknowledged the breakup was on good terms.

Alizadeh is also the inventor of a stringed instrument, sallaneh,
which is a sort of bass tar.

He performed tar on Shajarian’s album "Faryad", which was nominated
for a Grammy Award in 2006.

"Ghazal", an album that resulted from a collaboration between Kalhor
and Indian sitar virtuoso Shujaat Hussein Khan, was nominated for a
Grammy in 2004.

The world’s most prestigious prizes for excellence in the recording
industry, the Grammy Awards are given in the United States by the
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).

The awards honor recordings in musical fields including pop, rock,
jazz, blues, rap, classical, and folk.

The 49th Annual Grammy Awards will be held at the Staples Center in
Los Angeles on February 11, 2007.

PACE COMMITTEE CONDEMNED ARMENIAN PROVOCATION

Democratic Azerbaijan
Dec 12 2006

December 8, in Paris regular meeting of PACE Committee on culture,
science and education was held dedicated to "Dialogue between Religions
and Cultures".

Then, 5 reports were made related to this subject, broad discussion
was held and it was decided to hold special colloquium, February 27,
in Strasburg, as to continue this discussion.

Rafael Huseinov, representative of Azerbaijani delegation to PACE,
who joined the said event said: Today, when we are stressing necessity
of further development of dialogue between cultures, quite different
event is taking place in Strasburg, the city, where central office
is situated. December 6, due to Armenian efforts, exhibition has
been opened there, being another provocation against Azerbaijan and
manifesting new territorial claims of Armenia against Azerbaijan.

Leading texts of the exhibition say particularly that Nakhchivan
Autonomous Republic, integral part of Azerbaijan, allegedly is ancient
Armenian territory, monuments belonging to Azerbaijan are presented as
Armenian heritage. Not only participation of the Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Armenia, but also official from Strasburg municipality in
the event and his making speech cause necessity for serious evaluation
of this event.

Armenia is the only member-state of Council of Europe being
country-aggressor. With such steps it shows that it not only
doesn’t wish to stop occupation but intends to expand it. Today,
when talks within the frames of Minsk Group with France as co-chair
have intensified, such provocative steps are inadmissible. Council
of Europe should express its strict attitude to this issue.

Committee members who took floor on this issue supported Azerbaijani
deputy and condemned provocative actions of Armenians.

Asked by AzerTaj correspondent on what steps Azerbaijan should take
connected with this exhibition, R. Huseinov, said: Armenian Society of
Friendship Alzas in Strasburg organized this exhibition. Outwardly it
seems such, but actually Armenia organized it. The main organizer is
Armenian woman, Aida Rozenshtil. With the use of authoritative last
name of old Jew, her husband, in Strasburg and Alzas she managed to
realize provocative actions of such kind, and she is able to do it in
future. Our compatriots have good community in Strasburg they organized
"Azerbaijani Home". I think for more fruitful work it is necessary
to increase assistance from Azerbaijan for them. Recently I met with
well-known representatives of Azerbaijani community in Strasburg, and
Azerbaijani students studying there. I asked them to express protest
in different ways in connection with provocative exhibition. Official
protest of Azerbaijan is also necessary otherwise more serious
complications will follow. In February 2006, when Armenians achieved
adoption of statement by European Parliament that khachkers – stone
crosses in Nakhchivan belong to Armenia and that allegedly they were
destroyed by Azerbaijanis, it was the time for us to start working
hard. One protest is nothing. Truth is on our side, at the same time we
possess facts proving falsehood of Armenian sayings, we have numerous
arguments connected with outrages committed by Armenians against our
nation, our country, culture and slowness would cost very dear for
us. We should drive provocative Armenia into corner all the time.

We should organize photo exhibition showing acts of vandalism committed
by Armenians against our culture, heritage, Azerbaijani cemeteries. We
should demonstrate it in Europe, in USA in different large cities
of the world, launching propaganda and revelatory campaign against
Armenia.

Reports connected with meeting of sub-committee attached to the said
committee held in Baku November 29-30 dedicated to issues of press and
workshops dedicated to European criterion of education and training
for professional journalism were made.UK representative A. Mackintosh
and Azerbaijani representative, R. Huseinov, underlined that Baku forum
with participation of politicians and mass media representatives from
10 countries was very useful and presented significant recommendations
on further development of press and journalist education.

LEADING IRANIAN MUSICIAN NOMINATED FOR GRAMMY AWARD

Cultural Heritage News, Iran
Dec 12 2006

Grammy Award-nominated Iranian instrumentalist, Hossein Alizadeh
Hossein Alizadeh, famous Iranian music composer and instrumentalist,
is nominated for the Grammy Award 2007 for his album "Endless Vision."

Tehran, 12 December 2006 (CHN Foreign Desk) — Iran’s leading composer
and musician, Hossein Alizadeh, has been nominated for 2007 Grammy
Award in the traditional music category for his album "Endless Vision."

In this album, Grammy Award-nominated Iranian instrumentalist Alizadeh
has teamed up with Armenian Djivan Gasparyan who plays duduk (a
double-reed woodwind that sounds like a mournful oboe) to celebrate
the bonds of their art. Along with their fine ensembles, Alizadeh and
Gasparyan turn in sublime performances that beautifully illustrate
the historical and cultural bonds between their two countries.

Born in 1951 in Tehran, Hossein Alizadeh is one of the most important
figures in contemporary Iranian music. He has invented a new musical
instrument which he has named Shurangiz, a six-stringed lute.

Alizadeh has performed extensively throughout the United States,
Europe, and Asia and has appeared on many radio and television
programs including Radio France, RIAS in Berlin, WDR in Cologne,
the BBC, KCRW in Los Angeles, and KPFA in Berkeley.

Some of Alizadeh’s most noted compositions are: The Nava Improvisations
(1976), Riders of the Plains of Hope (1977), Hesar (1977), Revolt
(1983) for harp, string orchestra, and percussion, NeyNava (1983),
Dream (1986) for harp and flute, Torkaman (1986), Raz-O-Niaz (1986),
and Song of Compassion (1991), etc. "Endless Vision" is the latest
album release by Alizadeh and his Armenian companion.

Many consider Alizadeh one of the most important figures in
contemporary Persian music. He has taught at the University of Tehran
and the Tehran Music Conservatory and has written and published a
number of etudes for tar, a Persian string folk instrument which
looks like a Lute.

Alizadeh’s album, "Endless Vision" for which he has been nominated for
the prestigious Grammy Award, has been described by world musicians as
"a rare and sheer beauty [that] combines spirituality and emotion with
musical mastery …" (Dr. Maria Vanderloo & Dr. Henk Longbeard’Boot)

The 49th annual Grammy Awards will be presented to the winners on
February 11, 2007 in Los Angeles.

SENATE RETURNED TO THE PRESIDENT HOAGLAND’S CANDIDATURE AS US AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA

Regnum, Russia
Dec 12 2006

US Senate returned to the president Richard Hoagland’s candidature
as ambassador to Armenia. According to the charter, the Senate has
no right to consider candidatures, which were neither confirmed nor
turned down at sessions, until the president re-introduces them again
at next sessions.

As Washington office of Hay Dat, in January, when office of the
110th US Congress starts, the president can either introduce a
new candidature or insist upon Hoagland’s candidature or using the
interruption in functioning of the parliament appoint Richard Hoagland
without being appointed by the Senate. Otherwise, the post of the US
ambassador to Armenia will be vacant.

Armenian public was extremely negative on Richard Hoagland’s
candidature after the diplomat presumed to make statements denying
the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. But despite
protests of the Armenian public, particularly, some NGOs in Armenia,
Richard Hoagland’s candidacy proposed by President George Bush was
considered and approved. New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez spoke on the
issue saying that many, including the US president avoid assessing the
evil done in the beginning of the last century in Turkey as genocide,
and appointment of Hoagland can become a setback, which is not either
in interests of Armenia or interests of the Diaspora.

It is worth mentioning, that US embassy charge d’affaires in Armenia,
Vice Ambassador Anthony Godfrey announced at a news conference on
November 8 that "despite the fact that Armenian community is negative
on candidature of Richard Hoagland appointed as US Ambassador to
Armenia, the US government considers no other candidatures to the
post."

TOP ARCHITECTS UP IN ARMS OVER YEREVAN ‘DESTRUCTION’
By Gayane Danielian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 12 2006

A group of renowned Armenian architects are ringing alarm bells over
the few remaining old buildings in central Yerevan that seem to be
disappearing in a construction boom which is rapidly changing the
city center.

In a joint appeal to Prime Minister Andranik Markarian, they called
for the Armenian government’s "immediate intervention" in what they
see as an illegal destruction of the country’s historical and cultural
heritage.

They listed in particular a dozen buildings dating back to the
pre-Soviet period that were supposed to be protected by the state
but have been torn down by private developers over the past two years.

All of those buildings were included in December 2004 on a government
list of over a hundred properties that are not subject to demolition.

The list was meant to regulate a massive redevelopment in central
Yerevan that began in 2002 and is now in full swing. Hundreds of mainly
small and decrepit houses have since been controversially torn down to
give way to modern high-rises offering luxury housing and office space.

The letter’s signatories led by Varazdat Harutiunian, a veteran
member of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences, believe that the
process is threatening to wipe out what remains of old Yerevan. They
are particularly concerned about the fate of a famous building that
was constructed in 1905 to serve as the headquarters of the regional
governor of what then was the Russian Empire. It later housed the
government of an independent Armenian republic that existed from
1918-1921.

Karo Ayvazian, a Culture Ministry official in charge of protection of
historic monuments, confirmed reports that the government has sold
the building to Hirair Hovnanian, an U.S. businessman of Armenian
descent. Hovannisian plans to radically remodel the three-story
building by adding two more stories and preserving only its ornate
facade, he said.

The remodeled building will house the Yerevan office of the Armenian
Assembly of America, an advocacy group sponsored by Hovnanian,
and private firms. "The historical value of the building will be
preserved," the office director, Arpi Vartanian, told RFE/RL.

But Artsvin Grigorian, another prominent architect who signed the
letter to the Armenian premier, disagreed. "They say the building won’t
be damaged because they have no idea of what a historical monument is,"
he said,. "A monument can not be redesigned or reshaped."

Mkrtich Minasian, chairman of the Armenian Union of Architects,
took a similar view: "Surely, a monument loses its significance when
it is torn down or moved. It ceases to be a monument and becomes a
mere decoration."

Minasian also shared widespread criticism of the government’s handling
of the ongoing redevelopment. "As a result of these policies, we have
been all but deprived of buildings constructed in the late 19th and
early 20th centuries," he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EX-KARABAKH COMMANDER ‘FACING EVICTION FROM ARMENIA’
By Astghik Bedevian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Dec 12 2006

A prominent Lebanese-Armenian participant of the Nagorno-Karabakh
war who has campaigned against major concessions to Azerbaijan was
reportedly facing deportation from Armenia late Monday after being
arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government.

Zhirayr Sefilian, who leads a hardline pressure group that considers
the Armenian government’s Karabakh policy "defeatist," and a large
group of his supporters were detained by law-enforcement bodies late
Saturday and early Sunday. All but one of the three dozen men making
up the newly formed Armenian Volunteer League (HKH) were released
shortly afterwards, following searches conducted in their apartments
by officers of the National Security Service (NSS).

The NSS said it has "irrefutable evidence" to assert that Sefilian set
up the group for mounting an armed uprising against the government
during next spring’s parliamentary elections. A written statement
released by the Armenian successor to the Soviet KGB said he also
sought to prod the country’s mainstream opposition into staging
violent anti-government protests.

The NSS also claimed that Sefilian and the other man held in custody,
opposition activist Vartan Malkhasian, presented HKH members with
a "plan of concrete actions" aimed at toppling President Robert
Kocharian during a December 2 confidential meeting in Yerevan. It was
conducting a criminal investigation under an article of the Armenian
Criminal Code dealing with public calls for a "violent change of
constitutional order."

Sefilian’s friends and associates told RFE/RL that the Lebanese
national, who commanded a battalion during the war with Azerbaijan
and has the lieutenant-colonel’s rank, will likely avoid trial and
be deported from Armenia. They expected him to be forcibly put on
a late-night flight to Aleppo, Syria. The NSS, spokesman, Artsvi
Baghramian, declined to confirm or deny this.

Meanwhile, leaders of a dozen opposition parties gathered for an
emergency meeting to condemn the decorated war veteran’s arrest. "The
authorities have committed yet another blunder," said Smbat Ayvazian
of the radical Hanrapetutyun party. "They want to create a society
of fear but they will get a society of hatred directed at themselves."

Aram Karapetian, the leader of the Nor Zhamanakner party, accused
the authorities of trying to forestall street protests against fresh
vote rigging and unpopular concessions to Azerbaijan such as the
return of Armenian-occupied lands surrounding Karabakh. He admitted
that Sefilian, a vocal opponent of any Armenian troop withdrawal,
was prepared for "radical actions."