ORINATS YERKIR PARTY WOMEN’S UNION READY TO CONSISTENTLY STRUGGLE IN
KEEPING WITH PARTY’S POLITICAL LINE
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law)
Party’s Women’s Union is ready to consistently struggle in keeping
with the party’s political line for building a country of law,
Armenia’s democratization and strengthening of Armenia’s positions in
the international sphere. This was mentioned in the statement of the
Union’s 5th forum held on June 23. The statement authors also express
readiness to activize the Union’s activity in protection of women’s
rights and basic freedoms, in raising their role and extending their
involvement in socio-economic progress. Over 700 delegates took
part in the forum convened at the government sitting hall. Party
Chairman, former NA Speaker Artur Baghdasarian and the members of the
parliamentary faction were also present. As A.Baghdasarian mentioned
in his speech, no woman official has left the party lately and
parliamentary faction head Samvel Balasanian in his turn mentioned
that in difference to the women making over 70% of party members,
“many mercenary men ran away.” The forum approved the work done by
the Women’s Union in 2005-2006 and reelected Margarita Petrosian as
Chairwoman of the OYP Women’s Union. The latter expressed the hope
that in 2007 OYP will be stronger, firmer and more united. The staff
of the Union’s board was also approved. It consists of the chairwomen
of women’s unions elected from OYP regional boards.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: WORK OF SPRING SESSION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PROCEEDED IN NORMAL WAY
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. 103 laws were adopted at the regular
plenary sittings of the spring session of the RA National Assembly,
other 13 were adopted at the special session. 36 international
agreements are certified. NA Speaker Tigran Torosian informed
about it at the June 22 press conference, summing up results of
the session. According to him, the above-mentioned proves that the
NA work proceeded in a normal way. By the outbalancing part of the
adopted laws, amendments were made in the acting laws, “but it does
not humble the done work.” According to him, the necessity of a
part of changes appeared as a result of using the laws and of the
other part was connected with the constitutional amendments. The NA
Speaker expressed satisfaction on that occasion that during the short
period of time followed adoption of the constitutional amendments,
the Parliament has already adopted 8-9 laws coming out of the latter
ones, what is rather hopefull. During the summer the Government will
aslo go on working in the direction of the drafts arising of the
constitutional amendments, putting them in the official circulation of
the Parliament, according to the schedule affirmed beforehand. By the
way, another special session of the National Assembly will, perhaps,
be convened in early July.
Responding journalists’ questions, the NA newly elected Speaker foresaw
that the re-arrangements at the Parliament may be considered finished,
and new re-arrangements are not expected at the autumn session, so the
Parliament will finish works within the circle of the already formed
correlation of forces. As for the staff, according to Tigran Torosian,
the only goal of the staff must be securing of an effective work of the
Parliament, and a necessity to review the structure of the NA staff
will be soon, as a number of services, boards, departments exists
at the Parliament at present to solve issues of the same field. At
the same time, the NA Speaker mentioned that possible changes may
be observed not in contrast to the previous NA Speaker’s work,
but within the context of increasing the effectivity of work of the
Parliament. According to him, the above-mentioned amendments will
have no relation to the staff representatives’ belonging to this
or that party. The NA Speaker informed on the occasion of coming
visits that many visits were envisaged beforehand, but the visits
to be paid by parliamentary delegations to Armenia and from Armenia
will be defined only in July. According to the speaker, they must
be purposeful, and just protocol ones must be excluded or, at least,
their number must be brought to minimum.

RA NA REPRESENTATIVE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN WORKS OF “ROSE ROTH” SEMINAR
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenia will
participate at the level of the Foreign Ministry’s representative in
the regular, 63rd “Rose Roth” seminar to take place in Sochi in June
22-24, within the framework of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. It was
invasiged beforehand that Mher Shahgeldian, a member of the “Orinats
Yerkir” (Country of Law) faction who has resigned the post of the
head of the Armenian delegation to the NATO PA recently, must also
participte in the seminar, but he refused to go there at the last
moment, returning the tickets. NA Speaker Tigran Torosian informed
about it at the June 22 press conference. He also mentioned that he
found purposeful that M.Shahgeldian participates in the above-mentioned
seminar to be held on the theme “Russia-NATO: Security Issues in South
Caucasus” as it directly relates to Armenia as well. Conflicts in South
Caucasus will be discussed at the seminar and the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict will be a subject of a separate discussion. According to
T.Torosian, M.Shahgeldian expressed a wish to participate in a number
of meetings to be held in Washington almost at the same time, June
19-23, within the framework of the NATO PA, what was not encouraged
by the NA Speaker. By the way, the NA Speaker also informed that he
proposed M.Shahgeldian to head the Armenian delegation at the NATO PA
still in early June coming out of two circumstances: the first, there
is a short period of time left till the end of the acting parliament’s
commissions, and the second, a number of issues must be brought to end.

IN ALL PROBABILITY, SITTING OF PACE MONITORING COMMITTEE SCHEDULED FOR
OCTOBER TO BE CONVENED IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The delegation headed
by the RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian will participate
in works of the PACE summer session to be convened in Strasbourg on
June 26-30. He again re-affirmed at the June 22 press conference that
there is no issue on the agenda directly relating to Armenia, noticing
at the same time, that Armenia, as a CE full member, is interested in
all the issues being discussed. According to the speaker, discussion
of the issue on the delegation’s mandate connected with the elections
of Azerbaijan is envisaged at the session. The head of the Armenian
delegation expressed a confidence that Azeris will again get off the
point and will again touch upon issues connected with Armenia always
speculated by them, for what one must be ready beforehand. In most
probability, the sitting of the Ad-hoc Committee on Nagorno Karabakh
Issues created by the PACE Bureau will also be convened during the
session days. The speaker found it difficult to suppose what kind of
questionings will be. According to T.Torosian, it is scheduled for
the session days, that the Bureau will at last approve the proposal
made beforehand by the Armenian side concerning holding of the October
16-17 sitting of the PACE Monitoring Committee in Yerevan.

THOUGH WE HAVE GOOD POETS AND COMPOSERS, I AM NOT SURE THAT A GOOD
ANTHEM WILL BE WRITTEN, PAINTER HENRIK GALUKIAN SAYS
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. “I am the fan of Aram Khachatrian’s
music and highly appreciate his genius, but the anthem written by
him makes an impression of an army march on me.” Poet Razmik Davoyan
expressed such an opinion at the June 23 press conference. According
to him, “A.Khachatrian’s anthem is written by head, but there is no
heart in it.” Though R.Davoyan is a member of the commission created
for the purpose of selecting lyrics and music for RA national anthem,
he considers that it is senseless to announce a competition and to fix
a term for creating the anthem. “An anthem is not born in one day and
I get surprised how one can sit at a table and create an anthem. I
was also proposed writting lyrics for the anthem but I refused,”
the poet mentioned. “We often say “Mother Armenia” and I think that
the anthem should be a song about mother. And we should have such an
anthem that will be also sung by our children of pre-school age,”
R.Davoyan said. According to the poet, naturally, many creations
will be presented by the end of the competition, but it is possible
that no work will meet the competition’s requirements. Painter
Henrik Galukian also considers that it is senseless to announce a
competition for creating an anthem. He reminded that a competition
was also announced for creating a monument to Komitas in the Soviet
years but none of the works presented at the competition received the
first prize. “Though we have very good poets and composers, I am not
sure that a good anthem will be written,” H.Galukian is convinced.

ARMENIAN PAINTERS’ EXHIBITION “GARDEN OF MY HEART…” TO BE HELD
IN KRASNODAR
KRASNODAR, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian painters’
exhibition “Garden of My Heart” will open at the Krasnodar Regional
Art Musuam after Kovalenko on July 27. According to the “Yerkramas”
(Counrty) newspaper of Armenians of Russia, works from funds of
the Krasnodar Regional Art Museum after Kovalenko, painters’
personal collections, collections will be presented at the
exhibition. Spectators will see works of famous Armenian paiters
Martiros Sarian, Dmitri Nalbandian. Nikoghayos Nikoghosian and
masters whose life and work are connected with art and culture of
the region of Krasnodar. A part of the layout is dedicated to Georgi
Petrosian, an artist from Krasnodar, who marks his 75th birthday
anniversary this year and whose art is connected both with Armenia and
Russia. Landscapes of the region of Krasnodar and of Armenia, sun still
lifes, portraits of famous historic figures of the Armenian culture
will be presented at the layout of the exhibition. The exhibition
will last till August 20. A phrase of Armenian great poet of 10th
century Grigor Narekatsi is used as the title of the exhibition.

HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II VISITS HISTORICAL ISLANDS IN THE SEA OF MARMARA
ISTANBUL, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the morning of
June 22, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians; His All Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of
Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch; and His Beatitude Mesrob
Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, visited Halki Island
in the Sea of Marmara, off the western coast of Turkey. The island
houses the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Monastery and the famous
Theological School of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The metropolitan
abbot of the monastery greeted the three hierarchs as they entered
the grounds and extended his message to His Holiness Karekin II,
noting that it was with great honor, respect and love that the
clergy and population of the island welcomed the Catholicos of All
Armenians to Halki. The abbot stated that the visit of the Pontiff
of All Armenians was a visible manifestation of the brotherly warmth
and love between the Greek and Armenian communities of Istanbul,
and thanked him for honoring them with the visit. His Holiness
expressed his thanks for the warm welcome, noting that he knows
how very important it is to prepare a new generation of young men to
serve the Church and people, and appreciates the wonderful opportunity
given to church leaders to train and educate individuals to dedicate
their lives to God. His Holiness stressed the importance of hope in
the struggle of life and in achieving the mission to which Christ
has called all of us. As the Greek seminary has been closed by the
orders of Turkish authorities since the 1970’s, the Catholicos of
All Armenians specifically noted that he prays for the re-opening of
the Theological Seminary located on the island and that the Armenian
Church stands alongside their sister Church in their difficulties. The
Armenian and Greek delegations then visited the historic library on
the island and toured the grounds of the monastery. According to the
Information Services of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, in the
afternoon, the entourage traveled to Kinali, an island with a high
Armenian population, and visited the Armenian church of St. Gregory
the Illuminator. Many Armenians had gathered in the church to greet
the arrival of His Holiness Karekin II, His All Holiness Bartholomew
I and His Beatitude Mesrob and to participate in the joint prayers
of the hierarchs. The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople offered
his kind words of welcome to both the Catholicos of All Armenians and
the Ecumenical Patriarch and expressed his happiness for this first
Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Karekin II to Turkey. His Holiness
Karekin II noted that his presence in Turkey was through the joint
invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Armenian Patriarch, and
stressed his happiness for this unique opportunity to pray together and
strengthen the relationship between the Armenian and Greek Churches,
which will lead to greater cooperation and collaboration between
sister Churches. His Holiness extended his pontifical blessings
to the assembled Armenians and offered his prayers for peace and
love in the world. The Catholicos also noted his admiration for the
Armenian community of Istanbul, stating that they are well known
throughout Armenian life for their fidelity to the Mother Church,
to Holy Etchmiadzin, and their steadfast faith and love for national,
cultural and spiritual traditions. His Holiness spoke of the countless
contributions made by the Armenians of Istanbul throughout history,
and that today, they are the ones who help keep the Christian presence
of Istanbul alive. He concluded by exhorting them to remain steadfast
in their faith and hope, on the paths of serving our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Church and Armenian community. The Armenian Pontiff then invited
His All Holiness Bartholomew I to join him and Patriarch Mesrob at
the Holy Altar of the Church of St. Gregory, where they gave their
joint blessings to the faithful. Following the service, a reception
was hosted in the garden on the grounds of the church in honor of
the guests.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LILIAN KESHISHIAN APPOINTED DEPUTY MINISTER OF TOURISM AND SPORTS
OF URUGUAY
MONTEVIDEO, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By a decree of
Tabare Vazquez, the President of Uruguay, Lilian Keshishian, a Deputy
of Armenian origin of the country Parliament was appointed in the
executive power. According to Radio Liberty, Keshishian will occupy
from now on the post of the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports of
Uruguay. According to the legislation of the country, Keshishian must
leave the Deputy’s mandate. Lilian Keshishian has visited Armenia,
participated in the events dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the
Armenian Parliament.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EARTHQUAKE TAKES PLACE IN TURKEY-IRAN BORDER ZONE ON JUNE 22
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. An earthquake of 3.5 magnitude took
place at 21:36, on June 22 in the Turkey-Iran border zone, 55 km
west of the city of Khoy. Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Seismic
Protection National Service that its strength made 4 in the seismic
focus zone.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 3-4 TAKES PLACE IN TERRITORY OF ARMENIA ON JUNE 23
MARTUNI, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. At 01:47, June 23, an earthquake
measuring 2.5 took place in the territory of Armenia, 20 km to the
south-west from the town of Martuni. The earthquake measured 3-4 in
the epicenter. Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Seismic Protection
National Service that a tremor measuring 1.8 followed the earthquake.