CONCERTS OF STATE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA OF ARMENIA IN GERMANY, SLOVAKIA AND CZECH REPUBLIC ARE BRILLIANT:
TOURS OF KOMITAS STRING QUARTET FOLLOW THEM
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The State
Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia (SPOA) as well for the first time
participated in the annual authoritative festivals of classic music
held in September and October in Germany, Slovakia and the Czech
Republic. As SPOA Director Ruzan Sirunian stated at the November 7
press conference, the orchestra concerts were held brilliantly and
enjoyed the spectators’ warm reception. During the festivals the
orchestra performed Aram Khachaturian’s Concert for Violin, pieces
from the Spartak ballet, Tchaikovsky’s “Pathetic” Symphony No6,
Shostakovich’s Symphony No6 and other works.
R.Sirunian mentioned that after the successes having had in Germany,
the SPOA was involved in the Meistersingerhallen concert season
of Nuremberg, and the Bratislava and Prague festivals organizations
proposed the SPOA to cooperate in future as well and to be continuously
involved in their festival programs. “We have high-quality orchestra,
but it is very difficult to perform with orchestras like the BBC,
Czech philharmonic orchestras. But, performances of our orchestra were
received with “bravos” and “encores.” We again proved the world that
the SPOA has high professional readiness and may perform in any country
where they like and estimate classic music” R.Sirunian mentioned.
As Ashot Grigorian, the head of the Armenian community of Slovakia,
the main organizer of the Armenian Culture Days in Slovakia, informed
Noyan Tapan, they got a great number of phone calls from the concert
spectators who expressed words of admiration concerning the exclusive
high professional performance of the Philharmonic Orchestra of
Armenia and especially concerning chief conductor Eduard Topchian’s
skillfulness. And now, in A.Grigorian’s words, lovers of the classic
music in Bratislava wait impatiently for the next concert: performance
of their favourite quartet after Komitas. The quartet will go on
tours to Slovakia and the Czech Republic on November 13.
As the Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Eduard Tadevosian,
the artistic head of the quartet, the quartet received the invitation
to perform concerts from Ashot Grigorian, the Chairman of the Armenian
community of Slovakia. The concerts being organized in Slovakia will
be held within the framework of the Days of Armenian Culture. Works
of Tchaikovksy, Shostakovich as well as Arno Babajanian’s quartet
dedicated to the memory of Shostakovich will be performed at the
concerts.
Ashot Grigorian mentioned in his turn that the quartet’s concerts
in Prague will give special brilliance to the music festival, and in
this issue, he is too grateful to Aleksan Sargsian, the Chairman of
the Armenian Union of the city of Jihlava, the Czech Republic, who
undertook organization of the quartet’s concerts in Prague (November
16) and Jihlava (November 17).
It also became known that after the concerts in the Czech Republic
and Slovakia, the quartet will leave for Moscow to take part in the
jubilee concert dedicated to Arno Babajanian’s 85th anniversary.
Conductor Konstantin Orbelian will head the concert to take place at
the Music House hall of Moscow on November 28. Armenian and Russian
pop singers will also participate in the concert.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR PRESIDENT CALLS FOR TAKING ACTIVE PART IN NOVEMBER 23 TELETHON AT NEW YORK MEETINGS
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 8, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On November 7,
NKR President Arkady Ghoukassian visited the central office of the
Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) where he met with organization
Chairman Perch Sedrakian.
As NT was informed from the General Information Department under NKR
President, the interlocutors touched upon a number of issues relating
to programs implemented by AGBU in Artsakh and cooperation prospects.
In his speech P.Sedrakian assured NKR President that henceforth the
Union will continue and will extend programs of restoration of Artsakh
villages and financing of various educational and cultural programs
in the country.
Congratulating AGBU on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its
foundation, A.Ghoukassian expressed gratitude to the organization’s
whole staff in the person of P.Sedrakian for all-round assistance to
Artsakh and wished success in its activity carried out for the sake
of the nation.
In the evening of the same day NKR President met with the leading
staff and members of the U.S. Eestern Coast’s Association of
Armenian Jewellers. At the request of the meeting participants
Arkady Ghoukassian touched upon the situation in NKR, emphasizing
country’s economic progress registered in the issue of restoration
and development in the post-war period. In his speech the President
especially stressed the important contribution of the Armenian Diaspora
in the above mentioned process.
During the meetings NKR President called for taking an active part
in the coming telethon.
During his visit to New York Arkady Ghoukassian was accompanied by
RA Ambassador to UN Armen Martirosian, NKR Resident Representative
to U.S. Vardan Barseghian, as well as Chairman of Board of Directors
of New York Branch of the Hayastan All Armenian Fund Gevorg Toroyan.
To recap, NKR President had left for U.S. to take part in the
organization activities of annual charity telethon of the Hayastan
All Armenian Fund dedicated to restoration of NKR Hadrut region’s
infrastructures to be held on November 23 within the framework of
the Artsakh Revival program.

ARMAVIA PROSPERS AND IS NOT FOR SALE
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
The owner of Armavia Airlines Mikhail Baghdasarov refuted the news
about the sale of Armavia on November 7. He said that the company has
overcome the crisis and will not be sold. Mikhail Baghdasarov even
suggests who could have spread these rumors. According to the owner,
these are the workers of the company who get a salary but instead
of working they spread rumors. Baghdasarov stated that these workers
will be fired soon. He says that the disaster of May 3 taught him a
lesson, and now he is likely to make major technical and structural
changes in Armavia. The owner is likely to lay off 90 out of the
490 emloyees of the company, and he thinks that a staff of 400 is
sufficient and optimal.
Instead, Mikhail Baghdasarov confirms that he has sold his 30 percent
of stocks of the former Armsavingsbank, presently VTB Armenia. He
is negotiating the sale of his share with the leadership of VTB,
and he says if VTB refuses to buy his share, he will sell it to
another buyer. He is sure to sell because Baghdasarov says he is
dissatisfied with the management of VTB. Particularly, Baghdasarov
disliked the decision of the VTB leadership to close down 40 branches
of VTB Armenia in the regions of Armenia.

VAHAN HOVHANNISYAN MET WITH THE DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE GREEK PARLIAMENT
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
Yetsreday in the Greek Parliament Deputy Speaker of RA National
Assembly Vahan Hovhannisyan met with the Deputy Chairman of the Greek
Parliament Georgios Surlas.
Vahan Hovhannisyan briefly presented the current situatuion in
Armenia. He expressed gratitude to the Parliament of Greece for
recognizing the Armenian Genocide in 1996.
For his part, Georgios Surlas referred to the policy of annihilation
of Armenians and Greeks in the Ottoman Empire.
The parties discussed also the activity of the Armenian-Greek
Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Vahan Hovhannisyan and NKR Foreign Minister Georgy Petrosyan are in
Greece to participate in the events dedicated to the 10th anniversary
of recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Greek Parliament.

RA GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE THE FREEDOM HOUSE REMARKS SERIOUSLY
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
The Armenian Government should take the remarks of the Freedom House
advocacy organization seriously, representative of the Millennium
Challenge Corporation in Armenia Alex Rusin told the journalists. He
reminded that the means provided in the framework of the Millennium
Challenge Program are meant for poor countries and take as a basis
the indices of independent organizations like the Freedom House.
“Despite the fact that Armenia has been fit for the program ever
since 2004, it should keep the proper characteristics during the
whole course of the grant program, Mr. Rusin noted. Besides, the
indices are expected to improve. Every year the Directorate of the
Millennium Challenge Corporation, chaired by the Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice, gives new evaluation to the fitness indices.
“Currently Armenia is fit for receiving financing in 2007. However,
some indices, particularly the political ones that tend to fall, are
worrisome,” the representative of the Corporation noted. He noted
that conduct of free and fair elections in 2007 will considerably
improve the political indices. If the elections are held improperly,
it will have a negative impact on the indices, which will in its turn
result in the disqualification of the country.

SERGE SARGSYAN RECEIVED UK SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SOUTH CAUCASUS
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
November 8 Secretary of the Presidnetial Counil on National Security,
RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan received the delegation headed
by Sir Brian Fall, Speacial Envoy of the United Kingtom to the South
Caucasus. The meering was attended by the Ambassador Extraordianary
and Plenipotentiiary of Great Britain to Armenia Anthony Cantor.
After mutual greetings Brian Fall turned to the Wilton Park conference
and emphasized the fact that Armenia was the first among the countries
of the South Caucasus to host the conference.
Welcoming Armenia’s policy of resolving the Karabakh conflict in a
peaceful way, Brian Fall stressed the readiness of the United Kingdom
to assist the OSCE Minsk Group.
Emphasizing the importance of mutual meetings for the maintenance
of the cease-fire regime, the parties turned to the recent meeting
of the Defense Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan at Ijevan-Ghazakh
part of the contact line.
Turning to the current state of Armenian-British military cooperation,
the parties stressed he importance of continuity of English courses
for Armenian servicemen.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAGHDASAROV IS LOYAL TO SERGE SARGSYAN
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
In almost every country in the world rich businessmen back one
government official or another, and Armenia, which is building
capitalism, cannot be an exception. Mikhail Baghdasarov, one of the
big businessmen of Armenia stated this idea on November 7, the day
of the Bolshevist revolution.
“Capitalism supposes that big businessmen, as well as all the
ordinary voters have their opinion and support someone. For instance,
from America to Angola, there are big companies which support the
government, the president. This is widely known,” says Baghdasarov.
Also it is known that Mikhail Baghdasarov’s name is directly related
to Serge Sargsyan’s name. Therefore, the society wants to know what
Mikhail Baghdasarov and generally all the businessmen surrounding
the defense minister would be doing if Serge Sargsyan suddenly has
to quit power.
“You should ask those people. You are asking me instead of everyone.
I can say that there were cases when Serge Sargsyan was having hard
times, and we stayed as we were. There is a certain group who first
support one, then they support the other. Everyone has their policy,
some people are loyal to someone, others go to the one who is standing
in the sun,” says Mikhail Baghdasarov. In this case it is interesting
why this businessman, who is so close to Serge Sargsyan, did not
enter the Republican Party with the defense minister in July 2006.
“First of all, every businessman has their opinion. Some people want
to become engaged in politics, I have stated for a number of times
that I do not want to be in politics,” says Mikhail Baghdasarov. He
says he is a citizen of Russia and could not join the Republican
Party. Besides, Mikhail Baghdasarov has another reason not to become
engaged in politics. The reason is that in 2003 he became engaged in
politics. Mikhail Baghdasarov, who is a citizen of Russia, supported
the Union of Women of Armenia. This union got 2.5 percent votes
in the election of 2003. Baghdasarov was disappointed. Not about
2.5 percent but that an unknown party, the unknown members of this
political party, the Women of Armenia, got so many votes. This helped
Baghdasarov understand the political sphere of Armenia and made him
decide not to take part in the processes of this sphere where unknown
women can get a rating equal to that of well-known male figures.
“In the previous election I understood what Armenian politics is.
With a weak team we got 2.7 percent and I understood what it is. At
the same time, I saw what our women are like, and I decided that
our women will hardly enter the Armenian parliament and therefore I
disagree with them, those men,” says Mikhail Baghdasarov.
Baghdasarov says in the previous election they supported a political
force, understood the situation and now they think that no force
needs their support.

RUSSIANS BUY EVERYTHING THEY NEED AND THEY DON’T NEED
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
The Russian companies buy everything they can buy in the CIS, even if
they do not need to buy, says Mikhail Baghdasarov, citizen of Russia
running businesses in Armenia. He explains this tendency by the fact
that the CIS space is closer to the Russians in cultural and social
terms, and it is easier and more attractive to buy property in this
territory. And they buy because Russia is the richest country in the
CIS. Even despite the tensions with Georgia the Russian companies
buy property there. Gagik Abrahamyan, who owns a diamond company,
agrees with him. He says recently the Russian capital has especially
been interested in Armenia.
“Especially after the recent statement of the Russian president that
Russia is the third by its investments in Armenia, I think soon we’ll
see how many companies will make investments in Armenia,” says Gagik
Abrahamyan. According to him, the Russian capital is mainly involved in
building, but presently they are negotiating over Russian investments
in diamond processing.
“I think, in the upcoming meeting with the Russian prime minister, I
think I will participate in it as well, we will discuss this with the
Russian Alrosa Corporation,” Gagik Abrahamyan says. He mentions that
the circumstance of the Russian investments certainly has a political
motivation, and the evidence to this is Putin’s statement that it is
a shame to be the third by the amount of investments in Armenia.

TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP IS USEFUL
Lragir, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
Speaker Tigran Torosyan thinks Turkey’s membership to the EU may be
useful for Armenia because “every country which becomes member of
this organization should honor the principles that exist within the
EU. And these principles are favorable for Armenia.” In particular,
Tigran Torosyan mentioned the problem of opening the borders, and
said it would be strange if the question were not solved but Turkey
became member of the EU.
On the other hand, Tigran Torosyan is not optimistic about Turkey’s
moves because “in meetings with their representatives over the past
years he noticed that they have a fossilized approach and do not feel
free with regard to questions related to Armenia.” In addition, the
prime minister of Turkey has announced today that Turkey is ready to
revise Article 301 of their Crime Code. This article bars expressing
an opinion on the Armenian Genocide, which differs from the official
standpoint.

FORUM 18 NEWS SERVICE, Oslo, Norway
The right to believe, to worship and witness
The right to change one’s belief or religion
The right to join together and express one’s belief
========================================== ======
Thursday 9 November 2006
NAGORNO-KARABAKH: NO GUARANTEES FOR RELIGIOUS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS
The proposed Nagorno-Karabakh Constitution may have little practical
impact. However, human rights activists and religious believers are
concerned, they have told Forum 18 News Service, about the absence of any
guarantee of alternative non-military service. “If alternative service is
not there in the constitution, it doesn’t make it impossible for it to be
introduced later – the Constitution is not dogma. But it does make it more
difficult,” Albert Voskanyan of the Centre for Civilian Initiatives told
Forum 18. “It is bad that such a provision is not there, just as it is bad
it is not there in the Armenian Constitution,” Jehovah’s Witness lawyer
Lyova Markaryan told Forum 18. Two Jehovah’s Witnesses and one Baptist
have been jailed in recent years for refusing military service on grounds
of conscience. Some have also expressed concern about the draft
Constitution’s recognition of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s “exclusive
mission” as the “national church.”
NAGORNO-KARABAKH: NO GUARANTEES FOR RELIGIOUS CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS
By Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service <; Human rights activists and religious believers have told Forum 18 News Service of their concern about the absence of a guarantee of alternative non-military service in the draft Constitution. This was approved almost unanimously by the Nagorno-Karabakh parliament on 1 November and is due to be voted on in a referendum on 10 December. If approved, the Constitution will be the first for the unrecognised entity of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus. As with constitutions in other parts of the region, this constitution is unlikely to be more than a decorative document. Despite this, it may still cause problems. The proposed article 57 requires all to take part in the entity's defence and makes no mention of any alternative service. "Society and the authorities here are not ready for this," Albert Voskanyan of the Centre for Civilian Initiatives told Forum 18 from the capital Stepanakert on 2 November. "If alternative service is not there in the constitution, it doesn't make it impossible for it to be introduced later - the Constitution is not dogma. But it does make it more difficult." Hoping for the introduction of alternative service were the Jehovah's Witnesses, two of whom have been sentenced in Nagorno-Karabakh in recent years for refusing military service on grounds of conscience. One, Areg Hovhanesyan, is still serving his four-year sentence in the prison in Shusha (see F18News 22 February 2005 < e_id=517>). “It is bad that such
a provision is not there, just as it is bad it is not there in the Armenian
Constitution,” Jehovah’s Witness lawyer Lyova Markaryan told Forum 18 from
the Armenian capital Yerevan on 6 November. “It would be better if it were
there. This would enhance the rights of individuals to confess their
religion.”
A Baptist conscript, Gagik Mirzoyan, has also been jailed in
Nagorno-Karabakh for refusing to swear the military oath and bear arms on
grounds of conscience. Although now out of prison and back in a military
unit, it is unclear whether the authorities will take further action
against him (see F18News 18 September 2006
< e_id=841>). Fellow Baptist
Garnik Abreyan told Forum 18, from Stepanakert on 6 November, that
Mirzoyan is “well” and “has no complaints” in his unit.
Voskanyan of the Centre for Civilian Initiatives told Forum 18 that
Mirzoyan was visited twice in his unit by the military prosecutor’s office
since being freed from prison, but is now being left to serve without
swearing the military oath and without weapons. “The authorities don’t
want any fuss about his case right now, but we don’t know what will happen
to Gagik in future.”
Voskanyan said his group wrote to the entity’s parliament on 30 October,
calling for the provision of an alternative non-military service to be
introduced in the draft constitution. “Fully realising the complexity of
the situation of ‘neither war, nor peace’,” his group told parliament, “we
are sure that the given measure would not pose a threat to national
security, as international practice shows that those who take up
alternative civilian service comprise an insignificant percentage of the
total number of those called up.”
However, Ashot Gulyan, the speaker of the Nagorno-Karabakh parliament,
told Forum 18 from Stepanakert on 6 November that, given the absence of a
final peace agreement, “we can’t allow other forms of service”. He
dismissed suggestions that only a handful of people would opt for
alternative service were it to be introduced, even if such service were
for example in medical facilities along the frontline. But he claimed the
Nagorno-Karabakh authorities would consider such alternative service “in
the future”.
Nagorno-Karabakh has adopted Armenia’s Criminal Code, which also punishes
conscientious objection – see eg. F18News 23 February 2006
< e_id=733>. With backing from
Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh fought a bitter war with Azerbaijan in the late
1980s and early 1990s. One Armenian citizen, Jehovah’s Witness
conscientious objector Armen Grigoryan, who was illegally deported from
Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh, was given a two-year prison term in Karabakh
and sent back to Armenia to serve the sentence (see F18News 7 July 2005
< e_id=600> and 17 May 2005
< e_id=563>).
Voskanyan of the Centre for Civilian Initiatives – who has campaigned for
the release of imprisoned conscientious objectors – stressed to Forum 18
that his group will continue to lobby for alternative service to be
included both in the constitution and in other laws and practice.
Some human rights activists and religious minorities have also expressed
concern about a provision in the draft Constitution recognising the
Armenian Apostolic Church’s “exclusive mission” as the “national church in
the spiritual life of the people of Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] and in the
cause of the development of its national culture and preservation of
national identity”. Markaryan of the Jehovah’s Witnesses described the
provision to Forum 18 as “a sign of no tolerance”.
But parliamentary speaker Gulyan dismissed any concerns. “The word
‘exclusive’ does not exclude anything,” he told Forum 18. “This will have
no negative impact on other faiths.”
Asked why, if the provision will have no impact, it was included in the
draft, Gulyan responded: “It is to show we come from a long Christian
tradition over many centuries and that we respect the role of the Armenian
Apostolic Church.” Asked whether this provision referred solely to the
past, he replied: “It applies to the past, to today and to the future.”
The controversial provision – which is lifted almost word-for-word from
the 2005 constitution of neighbouring Armenia – comes in Article 10 part 2
of the draft constitution.
Parliamentary speaker Gulyan stressed to Forum 18 that part 1 of Article
10 guarantees that religion is separate from the state. “For us, part 1 is
more important. The state doesn’t interfere in religious issues.” He also
pointed out that Article 26 guarantees freedom of thought, religion and
belief and the free functioning of religious communities “functioning in
the order prescribed by law”. Asked to explain this phrase, Gulyan said
that this refers to religious communities which have state registration.
Asked what this means for religious communities that do not have or do not
want legal status he gave contradictory replies. “Religious communities
can’t function without registration,” he declared first. He then mentioned
Baptists and others who function without legal status. “They meet, don’t
they? That’s OK.”
The Jehovah’s Witnesses – who claim more than 200 adherents in
Nagorno-Karabakh, mostly in Stepanakert – are one of the more visible
religious minorities. Markaryan said they are not obstructed in holding
meetings in private homes. He said the community has not sought legal
status in Karabakh as no religion law exists setting out such rights to
such status. He said partly for that reason the community has not tried to
build a Kingdom Hall for meetings in Stepanakert.
Abreyan, a leader of the Council of Churches Baptist congregation in
Stepanakert, who refuse on principle to register with the authorities,
said he had not studied the draft of the constitution. “Maybe this
provision would be a minus,” he told Forum 18, “but I don’t have time to
devote to politics.” He said his church can currently meet for worship. In
the past, his and other small Protestant congregations have been obstructed
in trying to meet for worship (see F18News 27 September 2004
< e_id=420>).
Members of other Protestant denominations with small groups in
Nagorno-Karabakh declined to comment on the draft constitution or on the
life of their communities.
Voskanyan of the Centre for Civilian Initiatives rejected the idea of
giving the Armenian Church any exclusive mission in the new constitution.
“I believe this is not right,” he told Forum 18. “There should be no
monopoly for any one Church. Our people have just copied this from the
Armenian Constitution.” (END)
A printer-friendly map of the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh is
available at
< s/atlas/index.html?Parent=asia&Rootmap=azerba& gt; within the map titled 'Azerbaijan'. (END) © Forum 18 News Service. All rights reserved. ISSN 1504-2855 You may reproduce or quote this article provided that credit is given to F18News Past and current Forum 18 information can be found at From: Baghdasarian