NEW CONNECTIONS IN LITERATURE
By Hovhannes Yeranian
Yerkir.am
June 16, 2006
In Yerkir’s previous issue we published an interview the chairman of
the Writers’ Union of Armenia Levon Ananian. He spoke about restoration
of cooperation in literature with the former Soviet countries. In
this issue, we continue the interview which this time deals with
foreign countries (not the former USSR). Several weeks ago Levon
Ananian complained that Yerkir does not cover numerous meetings and
events held at the Writers’ Union. This complain is justified and we
present to our readers’ attention this interview.
Q: Mr. Ananian, Diaspora should be taken into consideration when
literary establishing relations in the sphere of literature with
foreign countries. From this perspective, the Beirut convention was
rather interesting since it provided an opportunity to establish
connections not only with Diaspora Armenian literary circles.
A: Yes, I think it was important that the third convention of Armenian
writers was held in Beirut. I met with the Lebanese Minister of
Culture and we made a number of arrangements. First, a statue of
Avetik Isahakian will be set up in the center of Beirut, and we will
set a statue of Jubran Khalil Jubran in Yerevan. We have already sent
the sketches for Isahakian’s statue to Beirut. This statue is very
important in terms of presenting the Armenian culture.
Thousands of tourists from different countries visit Beirut every year.
Secondly, we made arrangements for several events. Days of Lebanese
literature will be held in Armenia. After that days of Armenian
literature will be organized in Lebanon. A number of Arab writers
will visit Armenian in 2007.Beirut is the non-official ‘capital’
of the Armenian Diaspora. Through cultural connections we will try
to preserve it like that because experience has shown that Armenians
remain more Armenian in the Middle East preserving their language
and culture than in Europe, USA and other countries.
During the Soviet period Beirut was our second capital in terms of
literature and culture. Unfortunately, the Armenian community in Beirut
is gradually weakening. Globalization does its job. However, we must
support this community that has active literary and cultural life.
Q: Conventions of Armenian writers writing in other languages are
a great opportunity to explore the literary trends in different
countries. Such information and analysis can be useful for the future
of Armenian literature.
A: The second convention of Armenian writers writing in other languages
will be held in 2007 in Armenia. At this convention we are ready to
establish qualitatively new connections and relations will Armenian
writers living and working in different countries and in different
languages. Each of them is a carrier of two literary traditions,
and we can use this reality that has emerged as a result of our
nation’s history.
Q: As far as I know a delegation of writers was supposed to visit
Iran. Why was this visit cancelled?
A: We have very good relations with Iran. We implement a number of
projects in cooperation with the Iranian Cultural Center. The visit
was postponed for some reasons. Last year we hosted several Iranian
writers in cooperation with the Armenian Organization for Cultural
Relations. The response visit was postponed and will be organized in
September instead of June.
We are thinking of organizing a friendship celebration at the bridge
in Meghri. An international conference was planned to be held in
Spahan, it was postponed till autumn as well. Ahmad Nurizade plays
an important role in promoting the Armenian literature. He is the
only foreigner who writes in Armenian.
A journal titled “Mihr” is published by the Iranian Embassy in Armenia.
This journal always pays much attention to the Armenian culture
and literature.
Eduard Hakhverdian has contributed greatly to the translation
of Iranian literature into Armenian. He has translated about 15
authors. We have made significant progress in literary and cultural
relations between Armenian and Iran.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to the
Cultural Center at the Iranian Embassy in Armenia. The Center is very
interested in promoting Iranian literature in Armenia and visa versa.
What I said earlier about the importance of preserving the Armenian
community in Beirut is equally true for the Armenians in Iran. The
Armenians in Iran do not get assimilated, they preserve their national
identity. The Armenian community is very important in maintaining
friendly relations with Iran.
Both sides acknowledge the importance of cultural relations in addition
to economic and political relations, and this is very important.

ARMENIAN LOBBY BOYCOTTS REGIONAL TRANSPORT PROJECTS
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Posted June 19 2006
Baku, June 16, AssA-Irada
The Armenian lobby continues its efforts to boycott large-scale
transport projects being implemented in the region.
The Armenian organizations operating in the United States have
achieved the adoption of legislation that prevents US companies from
participating in the Gars-Tbilisi-Baku railway project.
The decision passed by the committee on financial allocations of the
US House of Representatives bans US companies’ involvement in the
project. US financial support to the project is also ruled out.
Commenting on the issue, executive director of the Armenian National
Committee of America, Aram Gamparian, alleged that the Congress’s
decision is of great importance and makes it impossible to render US
financial aid under the plans aiming to leave Armenia out of major
regional projects.
Georgian State Minister Kakha Bendukidze, for his part, called
the decision inappropriate, saying it shows US Congressmen’s
misunderstanding of economic estimations.
“The Gars-Tbilisi-Baku railway is a very interesting and efficient
project that may bring considerable dividends to its parties in the
future. As for the US Congressmen’s decision, I believe they were not
comprehensively informed about the economic benefits of the project,”
he said.

NATO SEMINAR TO MULL GARABAGH
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Posted June 19 2006
Baku, June 16, AssA-Irada
The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh will be
discussed at a Rose Roth seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
(PA) due in the Russian resort city of Sochi on June 22-24.
Discussions on “Security issues in South Caucasus” will be held at the
event as well. An Azerbaijani parliamentarian to attend the seminar
is not known at this point.
The NATO assembly mulled security issues in the region during its
previous session held in Paris late in May.

US INVESTOR CONDEMNS ILLEGAL TAPPING OF AZERI GOLD
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Posted June 19 2006
Baku, June 16, AssA-Irada
A foreign company has carried out exploration work on gold fields in
Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia, says president of US RV
Investment Group in charge of operating the deposits.
Rza Vaziri said the fact was ascertained through satellite footage
and work is underway to curtail the illegal activities.
He said that tapping the fields in the occupied land is against
international law and his company would take the matter to
international court.
“The documents, prepared based on the materials, have been forwarded to
lawyers, who will submit them through international court to Armenia’s
Foreign Ministry, its embassies in the USA, Canada and Great Britain
as well as the foreign company carrying out the exploration. The
documents will also be passed to relevant international institutions,”
the company official told journalists on Thursday.
Vaziri said the documents have also been submitted to the Azerbaijani
government and it is expected to issue its official response on the
matter in the coming days.
The company president said the territories rich in gold reserves
are Azerbaijan’s land and RV Investment Group reserves the right to
operate them, under the agreement it signed with the state. He said
the companies illegally working in these territories must suspend
their operation there. After the occupied areas are liberated, the
company will tackle work in these territories, Vaziri said.
He said the first gold will be produced from the Gadabay field late
in 2006-early 2007. The deposit located 350 km west of Baku possesses
an estimated 800,000 ounces of gold.
The Azerbaijani government signed a contract with RV Investment Group
on tapping gold deposits. The 25-year agreement, concluded earlier
by Azergyzyl state company, abolished in 1997, and RV Investment
Group (with Azerbaijan holding 51% stake and the US company 49%),
envisions developing 9 fields containing 400 tons of gold, 2,500
tons of silver and 1.5 million tons of copper. The fields are mainly
located in the Kalbajar, Zangilan, Gadabay, Dashkasan and Ordubad
western and southwestern regions. Three of the deposits are located
in Azerbaijani territories occupied by the Armenian armed forces.
$28m has been spent on exploration operations since April 2005.
Another $23m will be spent in the future, says Gerald Philips, general
director on operations at the Azerbaijan International Mining Operating
Company set up by RV Investment to operate the gold fields.

CONFERENCE OF ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION WITH ARMENIA HELD IN MOSCOW
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.06.2006 13:38 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A conference of the Association of Friendship and
Cooperation with Armenia was held in Moscow. The participants decided
to transform the organization from a regional into an inter-regional
and to change the name. From now on this association of people’s
diplomacy will be called the Association of Russian-Armenian Friendship
and Cooperation.
Outstanding Russian political figure, writer and political scientist
Victor Krivopuskov was re-elected the President for a 5-year term.
As Victor Krivopuskov told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, the conference
participants appealed to the Russian leadership and Russian nation
to condemn the vandalism committed by Azerbaijan on December 25, 2005
when 4 000 khachkars at the medieval Armenian cemetery in Old Djulfa
(Nakhichevan) protected by UNESCO, were severely demolished.
The delegates called on the Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani President
to demonstrate political will and adherence to century-old traditions
of peoples while settling the Nagorno Karabakh problem, to live in
peace, friendship and consent. “Only peaceful and just negotiations
can lead Armenia and Azerbaijan to mutual consent,” he said.
In a special statement the conference participants condemned the
murders of Russian citizens of Armenian origin committed through
national hatred in Moscow and other regions. They also expressed
concern over the inactivity of the law enforcers. “We appealed to
the Armenian Diaspora in Russia, the Armenian people and media not
to dramatize the situation and to avoid judging the whole nation by
the deeds of some malefactors. The Year of Armenia in Russia should
be used for strengthening and developing the ties between the Russian
and Armenian people,” Victor Krivopuskov said.

MATTHEW BRYZA TO PAY VISIT TO KARABAKH CONFLICT REGION
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.06.2006 13:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Newly appointed U.S. Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group will pay a visit to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict region,
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stated. In his words,
June 22 in Vienna the Co-chairs will report to the OSCE Permanent
Council on the current stage of the settlement. “The Co-chairs
have already proposed to hold a new meeting at the level of FMs and
received my consent. In Vienna Matthew Bryza will officially assume
his duties. After this he will alone visit Baku and Yerevan,” the Azeri
FM said. “The U.S. government has not lost hope for progress. Matthew
Bryza is aware of the region and being well informed of the Karabakh
conflict he won’t need time to get familiarized with the problem,”
Elmar Mammadyarov said, reported Day.az.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NETHERLANDS ATTACHES HIGH IMPORTANCE TO ARMENIA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.06.2006 13:25 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In 2006 the Dutch government will assign a grant
totaling in 5 million euros to Armenia, Dutch Minister of Development
and Cooperation Agnes Van Arden said upon completion of the meeting of
the Dutch Group, International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. In
her words, the aid will be rendered in Armenia follows the economic
path it has chosen. She remarked that Netherlands has been cooperating
with Armenia since the time the republic became independent. “We have
rendered budget assistance and implemented programs targeted at the
development of small and middle business in Armenia,” Agnes van Arden
underscored adding that high importance is attached to the economic
growth of the republic. The Dutch leadership prefers the cooperation
between the state be exercised on only at governmental level but at
the level of businessmen as well. “We would like Armenian and Dutch
entrepreneurs establish joint ventures, develop the small and middle
business and create work places,” she said, reported IA Regnum.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A-320 PARAMETRIC FLIGHT RECORDER DECODING OVER
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.06.2006 14:49 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Chairman of the International Aviation Committee’s
technical commission on the investigation of Armavia-owned A-320 crash
informed that June 17, 2006 the IAC completed the decoding of the
parametric flight recorder and the synchronization of the airborne
and landline facilities. Earlier the decoding of the sound flight
recorder was completed, reported the Russian Transport Ministry’s
press service. The parametric flight recorder registered information
on 8 flight, including the last one, during the period of April 30-
May 3, 2006. The general duration of the record made some 26 hours
and 20 minutes, including the record of the last flight (1 hour and
26 minutes).
It was ascertained that the plane did not go to ruin in the air;
the engines worked till the plane crashed into the water; the fuel
was sufficient to accomplish the flight; during the last minute the
flight proceeded in a directory regime with the robot pilot turned off.
Upon completion of a complex analysis a conclusion on the cause of
the aircraft incident will be made and recommendations on safety of
flights will be given.
To remind, on May 3 night Airbus-320 owned by Armavia national carrier
crashed in the Black Sea 6 km away from Adler airport killing all of
113 people aboard, including 6 children and 8 crewmembers. Among them
were 26 Russian citizens, one Ukrainian and one Georgian citizen,
while the rest were Armenian citizens.

UKRAINE TO PARTICIPATE IN RECONSTRUCTION OF ARMENIAN HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.06.2006 14:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ukraine will participate in the reconstruction
of the Armenian hydroelectric power plants, Ukrainian Ambassador
to Armenia Alexander Bozhko said. The issue was discussed today
during the visit of Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian to
Kyiv. According to the Ambassador, the equipment for the Armenian
hydroelectric power plants was produced by Kharkov-based “Turboatom”
plant and now Armenia is interested in participation of specialists
of the plant in tenders for reconstruction of the energy sector. “We
have already sent the essential documents to the Ukrainian Ministry
of Economy,” Bozhko said, reported RBC-Ukraine.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

UKRAINE PROPOSED ARMENIAN AND AZERI PRESIDENTS TO MEET ON ITS TERRITORY
PanARMENIAN.Net
19.06.2006 15:41 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ukraine proposed the Armenian and Azerbaijani
Presidents to meet on its territory to continue the talks on the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Boris
Tarasyuk said after the meeting with Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian. He
also underscored that the commodity turnover between Ukraine and
Armenia on 2005 made $118 million, thus increasing 40% against
the index of 2004. Our trade relations are dynamically developing
and we are expecting a growth in the commodity turnover in 2006,”
Tarasyuk said.