‘ART OF ISFAHAN’ EXHIBITION LAUNCHES IN YEREVAN
By Melania Badalian

AZG Armenian Daily
30/11/2006

The cooperation of Armenia and Iran in the cultural sphere testifies
to friendly relations between two ancient religions – Christianity
and Islam, Advisor for Cultural Affairs of the Iranian Embassy in
Armenia Reza Atufi stated at the opening ceremony of the "Art of
Isfahan" exhibition in the Yerevan State Museum of Folk Art. R. Atufi
emphasized that that any piece of art which has reached us from the
ancient times can tell us about a nation’s feelings, thoughts and
ambitions, its past history. He was happy to note that thanks to this
exhibition, Armenians will be able to gain better knowledge of works
by Iranian world-famous masters.

It’s worth mentioning that on January 1, 2006, Isfahan was recognized
the cultural capital of the Islamic world in compliance with the
decree of culture ministers of 57 Islamic countries and members of
the Islamic Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization.

"WE SPEAK ABOUT EACH OTHER, BUT NOT WITH EACH OTHER"

A1+
[03:57 pm] 29 November, 2006

"Do you know where you are going? Are you sure where you are
going? Have you thought it over well enough?"

– these were the questions the confused Georgian frontier guard asked
the Azeri journalists who were coming to Armenia. The journalists
themselves told about it today in Armenia who explained half-jokingly
what results the mutual visits can have.

The representatives of Azerbaijan and Turkey have been in Armenia
since November 27. The visit has been organized by civic movement
"Alternative Start" according to which it is the fourth power that
forms the society, thus it is necessary to organize a dialogue between
Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan on the level of the journalists.

Representative of the Embassy of Great Britain who supported the
organization of the visit, mentioned that today the following principle
is applied, "We speak about each other, but not with each other"
which is supposed to change the philosophy of the meetings.

The guests are to meet students and journalists.

The Azeri journalists agreed that until now suchlike meetings
and visits have been organized in Armenia only. "Before 2001-2002
Armenians used to visit Baku where meetings were organized. During
the last meeting over 30 Armenians came. I don’t know what happened,
but after Heidar Aliev there were changes for the worse", mentioned
writer Alekper Aliev. He also added that "the image of an enemy has
not yet been eliminated".

Correspondent of newspaper "Anatolia" and radio TRT Nursul Erel
represented a report about the situation of the press and answered
the questions of the journalists.

First she tried to prove via a historical flashback that press has a
long history in Turkey, and then by the example of the covering of the
Armenian Genocide she tried to prove that there are no restrictions
on freedom of speech in the Turkish press.

The representative of Turkey has her own opinion on that historical
fact. "I personally think that there has been such a tragedy, but it
should not become a mania". According to Mrs. Erel, she was glad to
hear about the letter of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan to the RA
Prime Minister asking to create a joint committee of historians in
order to investigate the documentation concerning the Genocide. "Don’t
you think it would be nice for historians to investigate the issue?",
the representative of Turkey asked the Armenian journalists with a
naivete not peculiar to journalists.

She also mentioned that she visited Armenia in 2001 and paid a visit
to the Museum of Armenian Genocide, and if there were a chance,
she would like to go there again.

ARMED ATTACK

A1+
[12:19 pm] 29 November, 2006

On November 25, 2006, at about 00:30 a.m. near the cemetery of
Silikyan district two people attacked driver of taxi service "Golf"
Varazdat Hovhannisyan with knives and demanded money. The criminals
stabbed the driver and escaped with his car.

The car was found near house N27 on Estonian street. A criminal case
has been initiated. The police revealed the identity of one of the
criminals – M. Hovsepyan (b. 1984) living in Silikyan district.

M. Hovsepyan has been arrested. Measures are taken to find the other
criminal.

Preliminary investigation is under way.

SON KILLED HIS MOTHER

A1+
[03:04 pm] 29 November, 2006

On November 28 the central department of the police found the dead
body of Maria Galstyan (b. 1935) in her house in Norq 7/105, with
head and face injuries.

The police revealed that the injuries have been inflicted by Galstyan’s
son, Nikolay Galstyan (b. 1958), during a quarrel that very day.

N. Galstyan has been arrested. The case is being investigated by the
Prosecutor’s office of Kentron and Norq-Marash communities.

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE PRESIDENT KENNETH WOLLACK VISITS ARMENIA

A1+
[03:45 pm] 29 November, 2006

Kenneth Wollack, President of the National Democratic Institute (NDI),
visited Armenia on November 29. In Yerevan, Mr. Wollack met with senior
Armenian government officials to review NDI activities and outline
its nonpartisan programs to help strengthen democracy in Armenia.

Mr. Wollack emphasized that NDI is working with a broad range
of Armenian political parties and civic groups in support of the
U.S. government’s Election Related Assistance Strategy, which can be
found on the U.S. Embassy Yerevan website at

This strategy, which was developed with the Government of Armenia,
seeks to help develop institutions in advance of parliamentary and
presidential elections in Armenia.

NDI, chaired by former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, is
a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that seeks to strengthen
and expand democracy worldwide. NDI has received grant funding from
the U.S. Government to promote its democratic development efforts in
Armenia. The Institute also works cooperatively with other governments
and intergovernmental groups, such as UNDP and OSCE. NDI provides
practical assistance to civic and political leaders with the goal of
advancing democratic values, practices and institutions. NDI works in
every region of the world to build political and civic organizations,
safeguard elections, and to promote citizen participation, openness
and accountability in government.

Kenneth Wollack has been President of NDI since March 1993. He joined
the Institute in 1986 as executive vice president, and has traveled
extensively in Eastern and Central Europe, the former Soviet Union,
Latin America, the Middle East, Asia and Africa on behalf of the
Institute’s political development programs. Before joining NDI,
Mr. Wollack co-edited the Middle East Policy Survey, a Washington-based
newsletter. He also wrote regularly on foreign affairs for the Los
Angeles Times. In addition to heading NDI, Mr. Wollack also serves
as chairman of the U.S. Committee of the UNDP.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NO SWORD FIGHTING AGAINST VIOLENCE

A1+
[05:55 pm] 29 November, 2006

more images "Where there is fight against violence, my sword is
there", said Commander Andranik. Today his sword fighting against
violence turned into a museum exhibit by the hand of Defense Minister
Serge Sargsyan.

The Defense Minister, accompanied by the majority of the Republican
party, the NA deputy speaker and the heads of factions, handed the
Commander’s sword and his awards to the Museum of History today. He
mentioned that he bought them this year, "An Armenian citizen of
France turned to me and said that an Englishman wants to sell these
items. Naturally, I was quick to react. I reported the President and
received his approval bought the items immediately".

"If we didn’t do it, there would be at least 50 people who would
do it", the Defense Minister said. He added that the relics of our
great ancestors must be gathered in Armenia, AS for the question if
the sword has been examined or not, Serge Sargsyan said it is up to
the scientists to carry out an investigation.

Manager of the museum Anechka Grigoryan thanked the Defense Ministers
saying that these items made the museum even richer.

HOUSE BURNT TO ASHES

A1+
[06:03 pm] 29 November, 2006

On November 29 at 01:32 a.m. a fire broke out in houses N10 and 13
in Sari Tagh. A fire brigade left for the site. House N10 burned to
ashes. As for the other, only the roof was damaged.

It turned out that the fire fighters did not receive the alarm
immediately; the residents of Sari Tagh tried to put out the fire
themselves but failed. The fire fighters arrived at the site when
the fire threatened other houses too.

The fire was put out at 03:23 a.m.

THE RETURN OF TERRITORIES IS NOT VERY LIKELY

A1+
[06:47 pm] 29 November, 2006

Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan does not consider it very likely
that an agreement is being reached to return territories. As for the
probability of giving Qelbajar, he said, "I have never spoken about
a concrete territory. I have spoken about compromise only and about
dignified. This is what is most important to me".

Asked by "A1+" why they do not discuss the issues of Shahoumyan and
Getashen during the negotiations if in the Dortmund conference an
agreement has been signed about equivalent compromise, like territory
in return for territory, Serge Sargsyan tried to refer to the second
part of the question, "I don’t know what conference you are talking
about, I mainly engage in security issues and not in conferences".

ENTRANCE EXAMS OF ARMENIAN WILL BE TAKEN AT SCHOOLS

A1+
[07:15 pm] 29 November, 2006

Today RA Minister of Education Levon Lazarian has signed a
decree about the new way of organizing school-leaving and entrance
examinations in 2007.

"This system has been experimented three times. The results of the
experiments showed that despite the presence of shortcomings, they
are possible to overcome. We did not expect it to be flawless, but
as far as the system is new, there were technical and organizational
problems", said deputy minister of education Bagrat Yesayan.

The new system will be implemented gradually: first the exams of
Armenian and literature will be conducted according to it. As years
pass by, the exams of all the school subjects will be conducted the
same way.

Those pupils, who want to enter a higher educational institution,
will take difficult exams, and those who don’t want to – easier ones.

The Ministry also intends to publish a book titled "Guide to joint
state and school-leaving exams of Armenian language and literature"
which will include a number of test examples. It will be distributed
to the pupils free of charge.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BUDGET ADOPTED

A1+
[07:34 pm] 29 November, 2006

The National Assembly has adopted the 2007 state budget with 77 votes
for and three against. Six deputies abstained from voting. The 2007
state income will be 490.2 billion AMD, whereas the expenses will be
558.7 AMD. The Deficit is 68.47 million AMD.

The exchange rate of AMD and USD is 357 AMD for one US dollar.