NEW PARLIAMENT GROUP “ENTREPRENEUR ” APPEARED IN ARMENIA’S PARLIAMENT
Yerevan, May 25. ArmInfo. A new Parliament group “Entrepreneur”
appeared today in the RA Parliament, vice Speaker of the RA Parliament
Tigran Torossyan stated today in the Parliament.
It is emphasized in the statement that the group intends to more
actively participate in the processes for the development of the
country, political life, development of free economy and strengthening
of democracy. The Parliament deputy Grigor Margaryan is elected the
group leader, Mekhak Mkhitaryan – a secretary. Nine parliamentarians,
who left the “Orinats Yerkir” party earlier, have signed under the
document.

“IRAVUNK” BRINGS AN ACTION AGAINST SASHIK SARGSYAN
A1+
[07:48 pm] 25 May, 2006
“Iravunk” weekly is going to appeal to the Prosecutor’s Office
demanding to institute proceedings against Sashik Sargsyan who is
accused of violating the right of a journalist in the NA.
Let us remind you that that two days ago Alexander Sargsyan, NA deputy
and brother of RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan cursed and threatened
Taguhi Tovmasyan , reporter of “Iranunk” for the material he “didn’t
like” and made attempts to find out the source of information.
Today Haik Babukhanyan, deputy chairman of Constitutional Rights
Union and secretary of the editorial council of “Iravunk” informed
that he was the main source of information and Sahik Sargsyan can
turn to him in case he has got any question.
I see a group of criminals connected with the act of this deputy
and the editorial staff of the newspaper will bring an action on
this score,
“We can hardly have any expectations from the Prosecutor’s Office and
from Courts but we keep silent,” informed the editor of the newspaper
Hovhannes Galadjyan.
Ashot Abgaryan, lawyer and representative of the newspaper will deal
with the legal issues. He is already preparing material and he will
likely present them to the Prosecutor’s Office.
By the way, the Mass Media are going to submit a joint announcement
condemning the attempts of breaching a journalist’s activity.
Of course we can anticipate how many of them will sign the announcement
and who will be offered to put his signature on the whole, and we
assume that once more the field of journalism will be divided nearly
the same way it was after the announcement on the embattlement of
“A1+.”

CONFLICT INSIDE ARMENIAN OPPOSITION GROWING
Yerevan, May 25. ArmInfo. The secretary of the opposition People’s
Party MP Grigor Haroutyunyan accuses the leader of the opposition
National Unity party Artashes Gegamyan of distorting historical facts.
Haroutyunyan was surprised to hear Gegamyan saying during his
Wednesday TV debates with the leader of the Orinats Yerkir party Artur
Bagdassaryan that during the Sept 2005 elections of Yerevan Center
community prefect his party supported Gagik Beglaryan as in Sept
Gegamyan publicly said that he was going to support the opposition
candidate from Justice bloc Ruzan Khachatryan.
Besides, Haroutyunyan refutes Gegamyan’s statement that the former
speaker of the Armenian parliament karen Demirthyan, killed in Oct 27
1999 terrorist act, sought or was offered the post of prime minister.
In his turn, oppositon MP Arshak Sadoyan says that the debates of
Gegamyan and Bagdassaryan was a squabble rather than polemics.

THE MONTENEGRIAN INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM IS COMMENTED ON IN KARABAKH
A1+
[04:20 pm] 25 May, 2006
“The fact of holding a Montenegrin independence referendum and the
readiness of the international community to recognize its results
is a positive step on the whole. We are convinced that the respect
of national self determination expressed through national spirit
serves as a cornerstone for the regulation of such situations and is
a real means to enhance political stability in any conflict region,”
this is a quotation from the speech of the NKR Foreign Minister.
The Ministry deems it appropriate to remind that the violation of
the rights of the Karabakh residents who voted for the independence
on December 10, 1991 made a ground for the exertion of the Azeri
further military aggression towards the NKR residents which resulted
in a multiple human losses and ruins.
The announcement of the MKR Foreign Minister said, “The
self-determination and political independence of the NKR population,
the further neglect of the right on economic and military guarantees
delay the prospect of mutually admissible solutions and stable peace
in the region.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE PROTECTION OF SEVAN WILL ACTIVIZE THE CIVIC SOCIETY
A1+
[03:21 pm] 25 May, 2006
With the assistance and cooperation of Jinishyan Fund, “Public
Dialogues and Initiatives Centre” NGO, the State University of Gavar
and the Pedagogical Institute of Gyumri the program “Civic dialogue
and practical steps” has initiated in these two establishments since
June of 2005. The program is aimed at raising the level of students’
awareness and engaging them into the development of civic society.
Dialogues were held on 20 themes chosen by the students
beforehand. Experts were invited to participate in the discussions;
they introduced themes and commented on the issues arousing interest
among the students. The meetings were held through using interactive
methods.
The students of the two establishments worked out a joint
environmental-protection action with the slogan, “The environment
will keep its existence without us but we- will not.” The action was
held in Sevan and turned into a real holiday. The students planted
trees on their way to the Hayravank chapel.
The participants also visited the environmental museum of national
park “Sevan,” got acquainted with the problems of the lake and with
the measures which are being taken for recovering the ecological
balance of the lake. As a result of joint discussions a group was
formed which worked out the preliminary version of the protection
message of the lake.
TV Company “Kyavar” of Gavar

THEY DON’T WANT TO SEE THE FILM “THE DA VINCI CODE”
A1+
[02:47 pm] 25 May, 2006
Today a number of organizations released a joint letter to RA Prime
Minister Andranik Margaryan with the request to prohibit the screening
of the film “The Da Vinci Code” in the Armenian cinemas.
The content of the letter was as follows, “Don’t let them scold our
God, the faith of our ancestors for the sake of which Vardanants
saints died in the field of Avarair. Keep our children away from that
guilty temptation.” The letter was signed by the representatives
of the Armenian Constitutional Remedial Centre, Armenian Centre of
Integration and Democracy, “Husaber” Charity Fund and the Organization
“Mission to Armenia.”
“St. Echmiadzin Cathedral clearly announced about the inadmissibility
of the demonstration, but we need your order to prevent that God –
denying act. We beg you to prohibit the screening of the film as
quickly as possible,” said the letter.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIGHT AGAINST XENOPHOBIA SHOULD START AT SCHOOL
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
26/05/2006
The Union of Armenians of Russia held a sitting in Moscow yesterday to
present a report on 5 years of the Union’s activity and to elect a new
chairman and a central supervision commission of the UAR. UNESCO Good
Will Ambassador and Ara Abrahamyan was re-elected chairman of the UAR.
Making the summary report, the Armenian community leader said that
he considers “contribution to strengthening of the Russian state,
international peace and accord in the society” as a major task.
Besides, the largest NGO representing interests of 2.5 million
Armenians intends to “actively participate in the public and political
life of Russia, building of civil society valuable institutions,”
PanARMENIA.net reports.
“We also consider boosting and developing self-organization of our
Diaspora, which is the largest in the world, for the benefit of Russia
and Armenia,” Ara Abrahamyan said. In his words, the UAR also intends
to counteract to demonstrations of ethnic extremism, xenophobia,
racial and national intolerance and terrorism. “Our task is to bring
up the young in an environment of tolerance, as well as to strengthen
centuries-old traditions of friendship and fraternity of the Armenian
and Russian peoples. Meanwhile, if there are extremist organizations
that means they enjoy someone’s support. Many would like to see Russia
burdened with interethnic issues and would like to see instability
here,” Abrahamyan PanARMENIAN.net report referring to Interfax.
Ara Abrahamyan stated that the Armenians have no problems in the
sphere of interethnic relations.
“Armenians live in Russia since the 9th century; this is our home,”
he said.
Russia and Armenia are equally interested in maintaining the power
balance in the South Caucasus, in fostering stability and security
in the region, the UAR chairman stated. “In this regard, Russia is
not indifferent to the situation in the region and Armenia’s role in
it. The Armenians of Russia are also able to foster stability in the
South Caucasus.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAKU “DOESN’T RULE OUT KARABAKH HAVING CONSTITUTION”
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.05.2006 13:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “Azerbaijan adheres to the peaceful settlement of
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, however we should understand that 20%
of territories are seized and sooner or later we will do the utmost
to return them,” Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
told reporters on May 25. He remarked that the OSCE MG Co-chairs
comprehended Azerbaijan’s position and voiced hope that this position
will be spelled out to Yerevan.
“The matter concerns not new proposals but new ideas of the OSCE Minsk
Group. Azerbaijan can agree with some of them and disagree with the
others. However diplomacy implies the method of compromises and we are
awaiting the outcomes of the Yerevan talks,” Elmar Mammadyarov said.
He also noted that Nagorno Karabakh “is a constituent of Azerbaijan
and any variant of the conflict settlement should proceed from the
postulates of the Azeri Constitution. At that he did not rule out that
Karabakh may have its Constitution. “Nakhichevan autonomous republic,
Tatarstan and Bashkortostan have their Constitution, for example,”
he said.
In his words, Montenegro’s secession from Serbia is a not precedent for
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “We understand that Karabakh’s status
should be determined sooner or later, but not Armenians should do it.
First, Azeris should return to their homes and then the issue will
be put on the agenda,” Mammadyarov said. The Azeri FM advised not
to hurry with conclusions on the outcomes of the OSCE Minsk Group’s
visit and wait for a formal statement.

NOT A FOLLOWER OF FASHIONS: PAINTER BAROOSHIAN HAS ALWAYS DEFINED HIS OWN STYLE
By Cate McQuaid, Globe Correspondent
Boston Globe, MA
May 25 2006
WATERTOWN — If you haven’t heard of Martin Barooshian, it’s because
his paintings and prints have always gone against the grain of the
art scene. He’s a Surrealist who arrived late to the table that de
Chirico, Dali, and Magritte set. His images are dreamlike, dense with
oblique meaning, and packed with symbols.
Barooshian, who turns 77 this year, has a small, bracing 50-year
retrospective up at the Armenian Library & Museum of America. In
some ways, this artist comes across as trapped in another era. But
the exhibition also traces the development of a master technician
who has constantly challenged his own aesthetic.
His early forms, fleshy and biomorphic, coalesce into whatever your
eye wants to see. The 1956 painting “Athena Nike” shows a woman whose
flesh seems to fold, curl, and reform itself into design elements;
she’s half woman, half fleur de lis.
Barooshian used intricate compositions to evince strength and
momentum. The intaglio print with engraving “Bronco Rider” (1961)
deploys bold lines to describe the bone, muscle, and contour of the
bronco, building up into a circular sweep of movement.
Twenty years later, his canvases were freighted with odd, dreamlike
images. Many of the women in his paintings from the 1980s are
Amazons, brawny and faceted like diamonds — Pablo Picasso meets Stan
Lee. “Vision 4 — Night Murmurs” (1983) centers on a woman with a hat
in her lap beside a waterfall of design elements that might add up
to another figure, painted in shards of color. Many of the paintings
of this era are absorbing, but so dense they feel cluttered.
Most recently, Barooshian has let loose his passion for design in
bright, flat paintings built up, Pointillist style, out of tiny
dabs of color. These read as a cross between fanciful mosaic and
stained-glass window, dominated by bold forms, such as a Cheshire cat
and a rooster. Occasionally, he introduces text, which can distract
from the power of his imagery and colorful technique.
Barooshian’s been a successful working artist, if not widely known,
for decades. He never hit it big because his imagination wasn’t in
synch with the times. But if he didn’t reinvent painting, he did
reinvent himself, and that’s worth seeing.
Martin Barooshian: A 50 Year Retrospective of Paintings, Prints, and
Drawings At: the Armenian Library & Museum of America, 65 Main St.,
Watertown, through June 1. 617-926-2562,
Ellen Rich: New Work At: Genovese/Sullivan Gallery, 450 Harrison Ave.,
through May 30.
617-426-9738,
Jered Sprecher: New Paintings At: osp gallery, 450 Harrison Ave.,
through June 3. 617-778-5265,

EDWARD O”HARA’S VISIT TO THE REGION POSTPONED DUE TO HIS LACKING NECESSARY INFORMATION TO MONITOR CULTURAL MONUMENTS
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 25 2006
The postponing of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly member
Edward O”Hara’s visit to Baku scheduled for 29 May was due to his
lacking necessary documents and materials to study cultural monuments
in Azerbaijan and Armenia.
APA”s Europe bureau reports quoting the PACE culture and education
department that the latter was not informed about Armenia’s disagreeing
the PACE member’s visit. The date of Edward O”Hara’s visit to the
region has not yet been fixed. The British parliamentarian wanted a
shot period to prepare for the visit. He is due to visit the region
soon.