CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS RECEIVES CO-CHAIRMEN OF DARTMOUTH
CONFERENCE WORKING GROUP ON NAGORNO KARABAKH
ECHMIADZIN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin
II received the Co-chairmen of Dartmouth Conference Working Group on
Nagorno Karabakh Issue, Vitaly Naumkin, Russian political scientist,
representative of the Center for Strategic Studies, and Harold
Sanders, Chairman of the International Institute of Continual Dialogue,
on March 30, in the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin. According to the
report provided to Noyan Tapan from the Information Services of the
Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, at the meeting the two Co-chairmen
presented their viewpoints on peaceful settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict mentioning that involvement of the public and
different public structures into the process of settlement, public
discussions and dialogues can greatly contribute to reestablishment of
peace. Karekin II touched upon the mission of the Armenian Apostolic
Church in the issue of conflict settlement and meetings of pastors
of the Armenian Church with the Azerbaijani spiritual leader.

PRESS RELEASE
The National Citizens’ Initiative
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel.: (+374 – 10) 27.16.00, 27.00.03
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
Email: [email protected]
Website:
March 31, 2006
NCI Focuses on Armenia’s Informational Predicament
Yerevan–The National Citizens’ Initiative (NCI) today convened a
roundtable on “Ways to Surmount Armenia’s Information Crisis.” The
meeting brought together social and political activists, human rights
advocates, analysts, experts, and media representatives.
NCI coordinator Hovsep Khurshudian welcomed the audience with
opening remarks: “Today, when some politicians of the opposition
and independent analysts are hopeful that a real opportunity
has emerged for the upcoming parliamentary elections to be held
freely and in compliance with the standards of democracy, even
without the restoration of the right of the A1+ and Noyan Tapan
independent television companies to broadcast, reminds me of the year
2002. Following the closing down of these stations, a number of people
were then confident that the rule of law would be established in the
country as the result of the upcoming presidential elections and that
the violated rights would be restored. We recall all too well what
occurred then, and it appears that every condition now exists for a
repetition of the whole scenario.”
In his intervention on “The Effects of Shutting Down A1+ and Noyan
Tapan on the Right of Armenia’s Citizens to Receive Information
and the Means for Overcoming These Effects,” president of the A1+
Television Company Mesrop Movsisian briefly presented the history
of this matter. In his words, the 19 media organizations which after
the notorious contest in 2002 signed a joint declaration deeming the
contest as legitimate in fact signed the verdict not only against
their own freedom of speech but on that of the entire country.
Movsisian finds that the shutting down of A1+ and Noyan Tapan is a
concern not for television stations alone but for the entire population
of Armenia.
He stated that his television company’s petition submitted to
the European Court of Human Rights was now in the process of
examination. According to Movsisian, liberal competition among
electronic media has come to an end in Armenia and as a result there is
a setback not only in terms of unimpeded dissemination of information
but also in the appraisal of journalistic professionalism. And all
of this in its turn has brought forth a severe limitation on Armenian
citizens’ right to receive information.
During his talk concerning “The Impact of the Informational Emergency
on Armenia’s Political Establishment,” Noyan Tapan News Agency’s
analyst Davit Petrosian began his intervention with the words of
the prominent human rights advocate, Academician Andrei Sakharov,
who said that the ruling power ‘s “making a fool” of the people
with the help of the media is no less perilous than terrorism and
dictatorship. He criticized the policy of Armenia’s rulers in making a
“fool” of their own people, adding that the opposition likewise was
not presenting any specific program toward taking the country out of
this informational blockade. Petrosian called attention to the need
to prepare mechanisms for safeguarding the financial independence
of the press. He at the same time accepted Hovsep Khurshudian’s
assertion that in a free market competition television companies
that are professional would make more profitable use of commercials,
whereas the latter should be prohibited in public television, which
receives nearly the same amount from the state budget as the country’s
entire scientific domain, and even under such privileged conditions
and in line with all surveys its rating does not surpass the No 6 spot.
The remainder of the session was devoted to exchanges of views
and policy recommendations among the public figures and policy
specialists in attendance. Also noteworthy were interventions by
Armenia’s first Ombudswoman Larisa Alaverdian; chairman of the “Hetk”
Union of Investigative Journalists Edik Baghdasarian; attorney Vahe
Grigorian; research director of the Armenian Center for National and
International Studies Stiopa Safarian; chairman of Armenian Helsinki
Association Mikael Danielian; Aravot daily’s correspondent Anna
Israelian; Zhamanak daily’s special correspondent Carmen Davtian; A1+
journalist Diana Markosian; Noyan Tapan analyst Susanna Petrosian;
Artak Zeinalian of the Republic Party; Ruzan Khachaturian from the
People’s Party of Armenia; Zoya Tadevosian and Gevorg Kalenchian of
the Heritage Party; Catholic Relief Services Program Director Aida
Arutiunova; chairman Karen Hakobian of the “Huis” NGO; members of
other social organizations; university lecturers; and many others.
The National Citizens’ Initiative is a public non-profit association
founded in December 2001 by Raffi K. Hovannisian, his colleagues,
and fellow citizens with the purpose of realizing the rule of law
and overall improvements in the state of the state, society, and
public institutions.
The National Citizens’ Initiative is guided by a Coordinating
Council, which includes individual citizens and representatives of
various public, scientific, and educational establishments. Five
commissions on Law and State Administration, Socioeconomic Issues,
Foreign Policy, Spiritual and Cultural Challenges, and the Youth
constitute the vehicles for the Initiative’s work and outreach.
For further information, please call (37410) 27-16-00 or 27-00-03;
fax (37410) 52-48-46; email [email protected]; or visit

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/31/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) ANCA Launches Nationwide Telethon 2) Karabagh Citizens Have Never Been and Will Never Be Azeri Citizens 3) Ankara May Soon Open Its Borders with Armenia, Says Daniel Fried 4) OSCE Has No Problem with Karabagh's Participation in Talks 5) EU Concerned with Violence in Turkey 6) Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo to Host Armenian Genocide Exhibit, LAUSD Training 7) USC Armenian Graduate Students' Association Donates $5,000 to Glendale-Ghapan Sister City Association 8) Los Angeles Based Architect Redesigns Karabagh Hospital 9) ARF Badanegan Seminar 10) Youth And Our Church: By Pattyl Aposhian 11) Critics' Forum: Film and Music: By Hovig Tchalian 12) Thank You Vecdi: By Garen Yegparian 1) ANCA Launches Nationwide Telethon --Grassroots advocacy organization expanding operations in nation's Capital and across US (WASHINGTON, DC)--The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) will launch its first nationwide telethon on May 21, 2006 with the theme "Securing our roots~E Building for the future." The goal of the telethon, which will air throughout the United States on television stations in major Armenian communities and via satellite TV, is to raise funds to expand ANCA's work and programs in service to the Armenian Cause (Hai Tahd). The ANCA has been stepping up its advocacy efforts over the last decade on many issues important to the Armenian community and the telethon will raise the additional financial resources necessary to meet the growing challenges facing the Armenian people. As a first step in these expansion plans, in early March the ANCA Endowment made a historic announcement regarding a state-of-the-art building it purchased from AOL founder Steve Case, which is located in the heart of the nation's capital, Washington, DC. The building, which is equipped with the latest technology, is located blocks from the White House and near Embassy Row. "Now is the time to build on our successes with a national telethon devoted to 'Hai Tahd'--the Armenian Cause," said Ken Hachikian, Chairman of the ANCA. "We look forward to generating the increased political power, influence, and respect that the Armenian American community deserves--and that the Armenian homeland needs. Purchasing a building in the heart of Washington, DC's political establishment gives the Armenian Cause a permanent home in the US and provides a platform to expand our service to the Armenian nation." The ANCA telethon will be broadcast from 6:00 PM to midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) and 3:00-9:00 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST) on May 21 and will feature a wide array of engaging programming including documentaries, prominent political figures, community representatives, and artistic performances, all with an eye toward raising substantial funds to support the ANCA's advocacy programs throughout the United States. "The launch of the ANCA Telethon represents a historic occasion to both demonstrate the substantial progress and results the ANCA has achieved for the Armenian Cause and to outline our plans for the future," said Zanku Armenian, spokesperson for the ANCA Telethon. "We are at a defining moment for Hai Tahd and need to expand our infrastructure to meet the increasing challenges from the many forces arrayed against our nation, our homeland, and our struggle for justice. The Telethon will provide a unique forum to unify our community's strength, foster greater participation, and generate the resources we need to advance the Armenian Cause." The genesis of the ANCA Telethon theme, "Securing our roots~E Building for the future," reflects the ANCA's respect for our roots and our aspirations for the future. "Securing our roots" represents our enduring historic roots as a people, our grassroots around the country, and our deep roots in Washington, DC. At its core, grassroots advocacy is the very soul of the ANCA. While "Building for the future" represents the ANCA's constant efforts to expand its effectiveness as a world-class organization, recognized internationally as the principled and forceful voice of the Armenian American community. 2) Karabagh Citizens Have Never Been and Will Never Be Azeri Citizens YEREVAN (Yerkir/Armenpress)-- Azerbaijan's Foreign Affairs Minister Elmar Mamedyarov said Friday that Baku was prepared to negotiate a peace agreement directly with Karabagh's authorities if the Armenians of Karabagh acknowledge that they are citizens of Azerbaijan. Mountainous Karabagh Republic's (MKR) Foreign Affairs Ministry responded by saying that MKR authorities responded that they have always supported direct participation in the negotiations without preconditions. "Karabagh citizens have never been and will never be citizens of Azerbaijan. The statements by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry are made for the Azeri public and do not reflect the reality of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict settlement," added MKR's Foreign Ministry. Mamedyarov also said that Armenia must walk out of the negotiation process and recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. "But I am afraid Armenia would not want Azerbaijan to hold direct talks with Nagorno-Karabagh," he was quoted by Trend news agency as saying. Mamedyarov reiterated that Baku would have to resort to force to end the conflict if the talks did not produce progress. 3) Ankara May Soon Open Its Borders with Armenia, Says Daniel Fried WASHINGTON, DC (Armenpress)--Daniel Fried, the US Assistant State Secretary on Eurasian and European affairs, said after his visit to the South Caucasus that "Ankara may open its borders with Armenia in a short period of time." According to Turkish "Aksham," Fried said that during his meetings in Ankara he discussed the issue of opening the Turkish-Armenian border and told the Turkish government that the US demands the border be opened. Fried also mentioned the issue of the Armenian genocide, saying that works is being done to make Turkey come into terms with its history. 4) OSCE Has No Problem with Karabagh's Participation in Talks (Combined Sources)--The American co-chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, Steven Mann, said that the participation of Karabagh in the negotiating process is up to the conflicting sides. "The approach of the OSCE MG co-chairs is as follows: if the parties are for involving the Nagorno Karabagh in the talks, we will support this option," Mann said. The American co-chair also commented on the more frequent ceasefire violations along the line of contact. "The Personal Envoy of the OSCE chairman-in-office, Andrzej Kasprzyk informs us regularly about this issue," he said, adding that the conflicting parties often discuss how to maintain the ceasefire. "The most optimal method should be agreed on in order to avoid war," said Mann. "The United States thinks that 2006 is a promising year for reaching a peace accord. However, it will not be possible to completely solve the conflict in 2006, because it needs many years." "I think the parties will decrease the risk of war. I do not think anyone is interested in resuming the war," the US diplomat said. "However, the ceasefire violation does not sound good." Mann also said that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs might hold their next meeting in April. He said that the Armenian and Azeri Foreign Ministers may also meet soon, "but the exact date of this meeting has not yet been set." "We [the co-chairs] are analyzing the situation and specifying our next steps," Mann said. 5) EU Concerned with Violence in Turkey (Reuters/AP)--The European Union expressed serious concern on Friday over violent clashes which have killed six people, including two children, in southeast Turkey and urged Ankara to improve the rights of Kurds in the region. Stone-throwing Kurds have been clashing with riot police in Diyarbakir since Tuesday, turning the city of one million people on the River Tigris into a battle zone. It is the worse violence in the Muslim nation since it began accession talks with the 25-nation European Union last October. "We are very concerned by the latest tensions in the southeast of Turkey and the violence, which have resulted in casualties," said Krisztina Nagy, spokeswoman for the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. "We are aware of the serious terrorist problem in the region but it is a much wider problem than just a security issue." The EU's view was echoed by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which governs the northern part of Iraq, bordering Turkey's own Kurdish region. "What happened here is an example of a continuing problem of Turkey using force to solve what is a political and economic problem," Burham Jaf, KRG permanent representative to the EU told Reuters. "There needs to be a focus on a political solution and all sides need to start talking to each other," adds the Iraqi Kurd official. More than 30,000 people, most of them Kurds, have been killed since the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) took up arms for a Kurdish homeland in Turkey in 1984. Turkey, the European Union, and the United States all see the PKK as a terrorist organization, but the EU has also repeatedly urged Ankara to grant greater cultural and linguistic rights to its 12 million Kurds. Under pressure, Turkey's government has passed some reforms, but implementation has remained patchy. The European Commission urged the Turkish authorities to address "urgently" the lack of economic development and cultural rights in that region. "The region needs peace, economic development, and real exercise of cultural rights for Kurds," Nagy said, adding that this was not a new problem and was raised constantly by the European Commission in its talks with Turkey. Asked whether the EU executive was critical of Turkish police actions, Nagy said she was worried by the whole situation. The clashes first erupted on Tuesday after funeral ceremonies for 14 PKK rebels killed by troops last weekend. An eight-year-old child died overnight in hospital. A man and a child were shot dead on Wednesday and a second man was crushed under a police armored car. It was not immediately clear when or how the other two people died. Political analysts say the clashes reflect local anger over high unemployment, poverty and Ankara's refusal to grant more autonomy and cultural rights to the mainly Kurdish region. Police spokesman Ismail Caliskan said the PKK was behind the violence. Police are also claiming that Kurds were behind Friday's explosion in Istanbul, which killed one person and injured 13 others. The blast occurred at a bus stop in the Kocamustafapasa district. A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said authorities suspect that autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels may have been behind the blast. Turkey bars civil servants from speaking to journalists without prior authorization. Video footage broadcast on CNN-Turk television showed debris scattered across a residential street, covering the sidewalk and parked cars. Police carrying submachine guns tried to keep crowds of people from the site. A bomb disposal expert wearing protective gear checked nearby garbage cans. 6) Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo to Host Armenian Genocide Exhibit, LAUSD Training LOS ANGELES--City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo will host an exhibit and teacher training workshop for Los Angeles Unified School District teachers about the Armenian genocide at Los Angeles City Hall on April 3. The exhibit, iwitness, features striking portraits and oral histories of Genocide survivors and will be on display through the end of April. The teacher training workshop will be conducted by The Genocide Education Project, a non-profit educational organization, which will ultimately train more than 300 LAUSD world history teachers about the Armenian genocide. The workshop, which incorporates elements of the iwitness exhibit in its lesson plans, will take place at City Hall from 8 AM to 3 PM on April 3, with the opening reception for iwitness at 5 PM. "I am proud to be hosting both iwitness and the training for LAUSD teachers," said Delgadillo. "The photos and personal accounts of these survivors not only humanize the Genocide but also foster awareness through a powerful combination of art and education." Deputy City Attorney Sara Anjargolian, a policy advisor to Delgadillo who also serves as the Office's liaison to the Armenian community, said the program would have a broad impact. "As the City Attorney for one of the most diverse cities in the world, Rocky Delgadillo is keenly aware of the importance of teaching about the Genocide and the crucial historical lessons it provides for all Angelenos," she said. Iwitness, an exhibit by The Genocide Project and photographers Ara Oshagan and Levon Parian, combines portraits of Armenian genocide survivors with their eyewitness accounts. Collected over a nearly 10-year period, iwitness also features historical photos and testimonials from American and other officials stationed in the Ottoman Empire during the Genocide. "Iwitness brings together not only the photos of the survivors and their eyewitness stories but also historical photos of the actual events and accounts by foreigners--American, British, Austrian officials--who saw what was happening and attempted to prevent it," said photographer Levon Parian. "The viewer of the exhibit will not only get a glimpse into the individual personal tragedies of survivors but also an idea of the historical context in which it all took place." The Genocide Education Project is a nonprofit organization that assists educators in teaching about human rights and genocide, particularly the Armenian genocide, by developing and distributing instructional materials, providing access to teaching resources and organizing educational workshops. It has been involved for nearly a decade in providing invaluable materials for teachers and has created one of the most important genocide resources sites on the net at "We are currently in the process of one of our most important projects--a series of one day workshops targeted at training LAUSD world history teachers about the Armenian genocide," says Raffi Momjian, Executive Director of The Genocide Education Project. "The fact the LA City Attorney's office is hosting one of our workshops in association with the iwitness exhibit is critical in raising awareness of the importance of teaching not only the Genocide but all human rights abuses." Iwitness has been featured in the Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine and on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition," and has been exhibited in the California and Texas State Senate rotundas and the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington, DC. It has also been exhibited at the Downey Museum of Art. Iwitness will be on display at the City Attorney's Office through the month of April. For more information, or to schedule a student field trip to the exhibit, please call (213) 978-8100. To RSVP for the April 3 opening reception, please email [email protected] or call (213) 978-1575 by March 31. 7) USC Armenian Graduate Students' Association Donates $5,000 to Glendale-Ghapan Sister City Association GLENDALE--At their 2006 Annual Gala & Live Auction in February, the University of Southern California Armenian Graduate Students' Association (USC AGSA) raised nearly $25,000 for charity projects in Armenia. As a non-profit organization working to enhance the lives of the people in Ghapan and surrounding villages, the Glendale-Ghapan Sister City Association (GGSCA) received $5,000 from the USC AGSA to renovate a youth center in the Village of Dantsaver. "Our collaboration with the Glendale-Ghapan Sister City Association developed naturally since we share the common visionto strategically preserve and fortify our homeland," said Armen Margarian, president of the USC Graduate Students' Association. "The Dantsaver Village Youth Center project was especially near and dear to us as young Armenians living in the US since we feel that an integral part of our duty is to reach out to our fellow siblings in Armenia and develop professional relationships that will aid in their success in the international, academic, and professional arenas," continued Margarian. "We are thrilled and so grateful not only that the USC AGSA students are globally aware, but are actively involved in nation-building by hosting events that assist the not-so-privileged in Armenia prosper and thrive," said Artin Manoukian, president of the Glendale-Ghapan Sister City Association. "We encourage other like-minded organizations to come forward as it is through the collaborative efforts of community members and organizations such as the USC AGSA that our mission of cultivating economic cooperation and cultural exchanges can be realized, all the while enhancing the standard of living for our brethren in Armenia" added Manoukian. Since its inception in 2002, the GGSCA has been actively working to fulfill its mission by concentrating its efforts on improving the conditions in the pre-schools, the healthcare system in Ghapan and the surrounding villages. In 2005, a much-needed ambulance donated by the City of Glendale Fire Department was delivered to Ghapan along with 30 hospital beds donated by Dr. Vartkes and Mrs. Mary Najarian. With proceeds from an event held at Hoover High School in Glendale, the GGSCA delivered bedding for 1200 pre school students including sheets, pillow cases, blankets, and uniforms for the staff. This project served a dual purpose by providing needed goods, and also by contributing to Ghapan's local economy by employing the local Blind and Handicapped Association to sew the items. During Easter last year, the Glendale-Ghapan Sister City Association delivered gifts including backpacks, school supplies, and lunch sets to 1200 Ghapan preschoolers. This Easter, the GGSCA is preparing its shipment of similar items to be sent to 1200 preschoolers in Ghapan and 300 others in surrounding villages. In addition to the renovation of the youth center in Dantsaver village with USC AGSA's generous support, some of GGSCA's upcoming projects include the opening of the completely renovated school in Norashenik village by the Armenian Educational Foundation and a section of Pre-School Number 8 by Mr. and Mrs. Kahren Beniassians. Also scheduled for autumn 2006 is a trip to Ghapan with a medical delegation from Glendale Adventist Medical Center. Through the joint effort of the Armenian National Committee of Glendale, the City of Glendale, and the City of Ghapan, the GGSCA was established to help cultivate economic cooperation and cultural exchanges between the two cities. In December 2002, the Glendale City Council passed a resolution recognizing Ghapan as a Sister City. GGSCA is a non-profit organization that aims to foster goodwill and understanding through cultural, educational, and economic cooperation between the people of Glendale and Ghapan. For more information or to contribute to GGSCA, please contact (818) 828-8882 or email at [email protected]. 8) Los Angeles Based Architect Redesigns Karabagh Hospital LOS ANGELES--In early March, Armenia Fund's Western US Region led a hospital reconstruction team to the war-torn Martakert region of Karabagh. The purpose of the site visit was to formulate architectural and engineering plans for the new regional healthcare facility. The project will be funded by donations collected during the 2005 Telethon as part of the Martakert Regional Development plan. In addition, a number of long time benefactors in the western US region sponsored the reconstruction of specific departments of the hospital. Arturo Fribourg, a Los Angeles based architect specializing in public works and health care facilities, was a part of the team visiting the hospital. Fribourg will provide the conceptual design of the hospital. Karabagh-based architect Mamikon Farsian, will tailor the design to local construction and medical codes and prepare the final drawings in accordance with Fribourg's plan for the hospital. Prior to his departure to Armenia, Fribourg worked with Dr. Alina Dorian, senior program manager at the UCLA Center for Public Health and Disasters, to map out the initial plans. Dorian, who is currently in Karabagh, is part of the team as the public healthcare advisor. She will prepare the region's healthcare program and will oversee the development of a modern healthcare administration. Built in the early 1970's, the Soviet-era hospital has deteriorated due to improper maintenance. The hospital was severely damaged in the war, suffering aerial missile attacks and looting. The renovated hospital will be up to western standards and meet the needs of the region. During the visit to Karabagh, Fribourg met with the president of Mountainous Karabagh Republic, Arkady Ghoukasian and Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielian. Ghoukasian thanked Fribourg for embarking on this challenging project and pledged full support for the proper and timely completion of the project. Led by Armenia Fund's Executive Director, Sarkis Kotanjian, the team also met with Health Minister Dr. Zoya Lazaryan and Chief Administrator of the Hospital Dr. Sergei Ohanian to learn about immediate and long term healthcare needs of the Martakert Region as well as problems facing the hospital. According to the schedule, all architectural designs will be completed by late April, paving the way for a full-scale reconstruction during the late spring months of 2006. The project is expected to be completed within the next 12-18 months with a brief hiatus during the harsh winter months. After construction is complete, Armenia Fund will furnish the new hospital with modern medical supplies and state of the art equipment. Currently, Armenia Fund is working on obtaining special grants and in-kind donations from major healthcare providers throughout the United States. For more information on this project, please visit Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501©(3) tax-exempt corporation established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Karabagh. Armenia Fund, Inc. is the US Western Region affiliate of "Hayastan." All-Armenian Fund. Tax ID# 95-4485698 9) ARF Badanegan Seminar The ARF Badanegan Organization of Western America held its Annual Winter Seminars during the weekends of February 3-5 and February 24-26. Each year, the Badanegan Central Council of the ARF organizes two weekend sessions, during which Badanees from all over Southern California gather at AYF Camp in Big Pines, California. Session one of this year's seminar had over 50 participants between the ages of 9 and 13. More than 120 badanees between the ages of 14 and 17 participated in second session of the seminars. During the weekend seminars, participants were able to meet and interact with different badanees from various chapters, participate in workshops and educationals, take part in a talent show, as well as go on hikes, play games, compete in a quizbowl, discuss current events, and learn about Armenian history. The ARF BCC would like to thank all badanees and advisors for participating in this year's Seminars. If you're interested in obtaining more information about the ARF Badanegan Organization, please contact us at [email protected] or visit our website at 10) Youth And Our Church By Pattyl Aposhian My hand trembles as I open the rusted mailbox outside my house. This tin box contains my future. Quickly, I begin making promises to myself--be it attending Sunday mass, volunteering as a mentor for the local church youth group, or even a task as simple as lighting a candle~E all in return for a letter of admission. At that moment, I think of everything and anything to deepen my faith and truly seek God before I read the letter that will change my life. As I tear open the envelope, a smile lights up my face when I read the official letter of acceptance. Instantaneously, I forget the small promises made seconds ago and go about my life as I had before--without doing anything differently. It's either the best of times or the worst of times. Teenagers today have come to view faith and the church as an escape from reality or a forum for social happiness. We turn to the church during the birth of a child or the marriage of a friend or loved one. We turn to the church when we have scored a 170 on our LSAT's and received an acceptance letter from Harvard Law School. We turn to the church when our lives are moving in the right direction and we know, without question, that our faith and belief in God had something to do with it. On the other hand, we turn to our church and clergymen to ask "why?" Why didn't I get accepted to Business School? Why did the police officer stop me for speeding and slap me with a DUI? Why are my friends allowed to break curfew and I'm not? Why has life thrown me a curve ball? Seem too simple? Today's youth questions faith on different levels. An older individual reading this article may view hardship and its link to faith differently than a teenager. A teenager may turn to faith because of problems such as peer pressure, materialism, beauty, and perhaps even a need for acceptancein other words, subject matters that adults "just don't understand." Times have changed. Generations before us viewed church differently than we do today. Attending church every Sunday was not an option for our parents or grandparents. Going to the wedding reception and "skipping" the church ceremony was unthinkable. Now, it has become a matter of choice. The "cool" way to attend church is to hang out in the quad or parking lot twice a yearEaster and Christmasas you use the opportunity to wear your Sunday best and socialize with friends. Some of us make a small effort and go into the church to light a candle. We spot a place to sit between two elderly women and think otherwise. We stand near the door for two minutes, observing the sea of salt and pepper hair only to realize that the average age of attendees is double ours. We walk away thinking this sermon really isn't for us anyways. Reality is, the younger generation just doesn't understand--seeking faith is not something that takes place on our clock. Attending church should not be associated with social gatherings or harrowing times. Our faith should surround us every day and be blind to time schedules, daily occurrences, and our own personal lives. Armenian youth are an integral part of the Armenian culture and our faith is an important determining factor in our choice of values. The Western Prelacy of Armenian Churches has committed to taking the youth deeper into the Bible, prayer, and mentoring programs so that Generation X and Y will be grounded to our faith. By witnessing the need for special programs for youth, the Church has responded to the needs of the Armenian community by setting up youth groups and youth services. With every passing day, youth programs are growing stronger and developing along practical lines of life. We are more fortunate than our counterparts of the 1960s and 1970s. Our personalities seem much more cheerful. We do not drift along with the current. Our behavior is more practical and reasonable. We survive by adaptation, and we seek development through creativity. In other words, the manifestation of our sense of values regarding faith, knowledge, spirituality, work, modernization, marriage, consumerism, and other areas of life, all have a special personality, and reflect trends in society's development. If we compare the values of today's youth with those of an older tradition, we find these values significantly different. We, Generation X and Y, not only emphasize the life of the spirit, but we also pay greater attention to material life and the quality of life. For example, the traditional Armenian attitude towards life is: be content with what you have, be hardworking and thrifty, study hard, and bear your burdens. But today's youth seek a life of quality and beauty. We have doubts about the traditional value system, and we challenge it. Sometimes, we do not understand why our parents repeatedly emphasize industriousness and hard work. The atmosphere of consumerism prevails, but the Armenian community still emphasizes duty, practicality, steadfastness, and patience. But today's youth seek novel things. We seek success; we want to travel; we want to enjoy gatherings of family and friends. We also seek a variety of social stimuli. However, we still seek faith and spirituality. With the changes and developments in modern society taking place so rapidly, everyone is adapting quickly, especially the Western Prelacy. The Church understands the challenge of youth involvement and the influence of democratic ideas, equality, and modern technology. The church sees the change in family life, schools, and society and reflects on how it can play the role of prophet and speak out for justice in society. Furthermore, the Church has taken its commitment to the youth further by adapting to their needs. Therefore, I ask the Armenian youth? Where are you? Why can't you log off myspace.com a couple of hours early and attend church on Sunday? Why can't you make friends at youth group gatherings rather than flirt with disaster at local bars and coffee houses? In short, why are you not actively involved with the church? The church has done its share. Now, it's our turn to prove that the Armenian youth is willing, dedicated, and faithful. 11) Critics' Forum Film and Music Belated History: Revisiting Atom Egoyan's "Ararat" By Hovig Tchalian It may seem unusual to review a film released almost four years ago. But as we enter the first year of the tenth decade of commemorating the Armenian genocide, Atom Egoyan's "Ararat" (2002) presents an ideal opportunity to do so in the context of the film's central theme, the uncanny act of remembering--again. "Ararat" is a powerful, reverent and unquestionably personal look at the ravages of the Genocide, both immediate and more distant. But the film as a whole is also deeply flawed, precisely because of its personal nature. Like Egoyan's other films, the premise of "Ararat" is complex and multi-layered. It revolves ostensibly around the making of a film about the Genocide by Edward Saroyan (played by Charles Aznavour), a well-known director now well past his prime. In typical Egoyan fashion, the stories of the other characters weave themselves into the central story of the making of Saroyan's film: Raffi, the main character (played credibly by David Alpay), is in love with his step-sister, Celia; she is locked in struggle with his mother, Ani (played by Egoyan's wife, Arsinée Khanjian); Ani is an art historian interested in Arshile Gorky (played movingly by Simon Abkarian) and his representation of himself and his mother, which Celia accuses her of using as a way of coming to terms with the death (or, according to Celia, her murder) of her second husband, Celia's father; the film's producer, Rouben (played by Eric Bogosian), hires Ani as a consultant, in order to help add elements of Gorky's biography as a plotline in the film. The stories converge on Raffi's attempt to bring (or perhaps sneak) several rolls of film into the United States that he claims to have shot in Anatolia (present-day Eastern Turkey, historically Western Armenia) for use in the production. An aging customs officer, David (played ably by Christopher Plummer), is the only person who stands in his way. David is himself close to retirement and having trouble adjusting to his divorced son's relationship with his half-Turkish gay lover (played by Elias Koteas), an actor who winds up playing the part of the main Turkish antagonist in Saroyan's film, Jevdet Bey. As is clear from the extended synopsis above, the various elements of the film make for a complex storyline. Though it can be argued that some of the details are "wasted" here (other, better films, of Egoyan's are far more "efficient" and less heavy-handed), there is still a clear purpose to them. For instance, the twin details of the director's waning talentsa fact mentioned off-handedly by Raffiand the customs officer's impending retirementrevealed slowly throughoutare subtle but significant. Together, they represent the film's central concern, what we might call the "latency" or "belatedness" of historyin other words, the difficulty of proving after the fact an event that took place in the past. We understand that the Genocide narrative in the imaginary film is told too late to change the facts but, equally, struggling even to transmit them meaningfully to posterity. Like its director, the film is tragically past its prime. The same may be said of any attempt to capture the full weight of history, a fact that Egoyan (as a director of the film that tells its own, similar story) recognizes all too well. The two aging characters and the structure of the film-within-a-film repeat themselves across a host of other dualities: we find out that Ani has been married twice, first to Raffi's father, who was killed in an attempt to assassinate a Turkish diplomat, and second to Celia's father, who apparently (and like Gorky) committed suicide; we discover that Raffi is actually sneaking two sets of films across the border, one set of rolls (that may in fact contain Heroin) given to him by the Turkish soldier who helped him get into view of Ararat and a roll of film that he took on his own camcorder that includes a shot of the Madonna and child in Aghtamar that mirrors Gorky's painting; we are also told that Gorky painted that image in 1934, as a way of coming to terms with the killing of his mother in 1915 (an act that Ani is trying to uncover and understand in the present). Such parallels, sometimes subtle and sometimes less so, all build on the idea of belatedness. They do not represent dualities so much as an almost endless string of repetitions and revisions, of strange but hopeful attempts, as I suggested earlier, to remember--again. By the end of the film, the sheer number and dizzying array of motifs in the film come perilously close to overwhelming its subject as well as its viewer. A surprisingly effective repetition in the film is the one that involves Ali, who plays the part of the Turkish official, Jevdet Bey, in Saroyan's film. He is a half-Turkish American citizen who reveals during the course of filming that he has trouble believing that the Genocide was ever more than a civil disturbance and those killed much more than casualties of war. Raffi's futile attempt to convince him otherwise is more than an act of will. His all-too-human response of confronting a Genocide denierin the person of Alibecomes at the same time a heroic attempt to reach back into and reverse history itselfin the person of Jevdet Bey. History and art collide in Raffi's personal encounter with collective memory and the reconstruction of historical experience. The personal nature of Raffi's encounter ensures the emotional and artistic integrity of the film, its heart and soul. But surprisingly, it also represents the film's undoing. The delicate balance between art and tragedy represented in Raffi's experience begins to unravel as we extend it to include Egoyan's own experience of making a quite personal film about the Genocide. From this broader perspective, the film is unable to navigate the fine line between art and historical commentary. In that sense, the complex associations among the film's various elements must be seen as a heroic but doomed attempt to capture the fullness of the Genocide and its implications, both personal and collective. To put it differently, the film puts forward the idea that a historical event is infinitely complex, all the while attempting to shed light on what actually happened. Not surprisingly, reviews of the film have described it either as "slanted" or "committed," a distinction that even a filmmaker of Egoyan's talents would be hard-pressed to overcome. As mentioned earlier, the film's complex plot converges on Raffi's attempt to sneak the rolls of film out of Turkey and into the States, and in the film's rationale, into the light of day. The customs officer, David, suspects that the roll given to Raffi by the soldier contains drugs. David explains that many of those who ingest those drugs to sneak them past the officers, when confronted with the crime, get so nervous that the packets explode in their system, causing an immediate overdose. The conversation parallels the very first scene in the film, in which Aznavour's character, Saroyan, tries to get a pomegranate ("nour") past customs. (It also parallels the imagined story in Saroyan's film, in which Gorky fails in his attempt to get a letter about the Turkish siege on Van to the American authorities and is caught by Jevdet Bey.) When David refuses to allow Saroyan to bring the fruit across the border, Saroyan ingests the seeds instead, explaining that he expects them to bring him luck. (We find out later that his mother, a deportee, had a single pomegranate with her on her journey and survived by ingesting a seed a day and considering it a full meal.) The most obvious parallel in all these cases is to the truth at the heart of the Genocide, which starts as a letter of distress in Saroyan's film and becomes, in Egoyan's, both pomegranate seed and packet of heroin, sustaining to those who would give it life and a potentially explosive issue to those intent on suppressing it. The film's resolution, if there is one, comes in the form of Raffi's liberation. David releases him from customs, accepting the various lies he has told as a way of getting at the truth, of imagining its possibility. This act in turn leads to David's acceptance of his son and sets everything that has come before it awash in the light of hope. It is reminiscent of perhaps the single most affecting moment in the film, in which Gorky, struggling to paint his mother's portrait, gives himself over to the music playing on his phonograph and dances to it, palette and paintbrush in hand. Egoyan has earlier shown us captive Armenian women made to dance by Turkish soldiers, a scene that transforms Gorky's, by contrast, into the ultimate act of imagination and hope, a dance on the grave of history itself. The film's final scene is of Gorky's mother sewing a button back onto her son's jacket. The button is missing in Gorky's famous portrait but hidden from view, covered over by a flower his mother gives him to hold over it just before the photograph is taken. The humble act of sewing it back on stands in for the far more difficult goal of setting history right, after the fact. It presents the film's hopeful answer to the problems posed by history's belatedness. "Ararat" is not Atom Egoyan's finest film. That distinction belongs to "The Sweet Hereafter" (1997), a simple, graceful and ultimately more powerful meditation on the effects of a school bus crash on the residents of a Midwestern town. The earlier film does not try as hard to confront the full impact of its tragedy, though one admittedly smaller in scope. Paradoxically, Egoyan's personal feelings about the events depicted in "Ararat" render it a painfully personal attempt to address an unresolved historical tragedy in all its complexity. But it is worth revisiting, if only to confront the immensity and hope of the enterprise. Hovig Tchalian holds a PhD in English literature from UCLA. He has edited several journals and also published articles of his own. You can reach him or any of the other contributors to Critics' Forum at [email protected]. This and all other articles published in this series are available online at <;www.critics forum.org. To sign up for a weekly electronic version of new articles, go to <;www.cri ticsforum.org/join. Critics' Forum is a group created to discuss issues relating to Armenian art and culture in the Diaspora. 12) Thank You Vecdi By Garen Yegparian We haven't had this much Turkish fun in the LA basin for a while. I suppose the Turkish government had forgotten where the victims of its genocidal policies reside in large numbers. We of course demonstrated outside the Beverly Hills Hilton where Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul was addressing the Los Angeles World Affairs Council. But other than observing that participation seemed low, I can't speak to how well it went since I was inside being amused by the 'turkey-du-jour' Gonul. He is presumably intelligent and competent at what he does, but it was not in evidence that day. His English seemed reasonably solid, but slow in coming forth. His speech was prepared and he read it in a painfully obvious, tedious way, with an occasional live joke thrown in. He wasn't even able to get through the whole of it. Besides omitting portions of his comments about Iraq, he conveniently consumed the allotted time and left Caucasus and Artsakh issues out along with Central Asia. Nothing about Armenia of any substance was part of his presentation. You'd think we didn't exist (in his wishful thinking). So what did he say? Much of it seemed somewhat general, though he did cite statistics about Turkey's expenditures in the realm of defense, with specifics focusing on purchases from the US and Israel. He emphasized Turkey's "even-handedness" in dealing with Israel-Palestine issues. Turkey's role in NATO was trumpeted to such a degree that the casual listener might think it founded the defense pact and single-handedly kept it alive. He took cheap shots at Syria and other neighbors, pointing out that of 18 current conflicts 13 are in Turkey's neighborhood. This brings us to items of greater specific interest to Armenians. If so many conflicts are in its neighborhood, doesn't that suggest that Turkey is a cause of instability? Not according to good ole Vecdi. You see Turkey is a net "exporter" of security since 6149 personnel from 58 countries have participated in programs at the NATO Partnership for Peace Center established 1998 in Ankara. Translation: Turkey gets to wine and dine these folks in an attempt to win itself friends--and much of it at others' expense. Isn't that a great deal? In addition, "peace at home, peace in the world" is paradigmatic in Turkey (and for Gonul personally--sniffle, I am so touched) as stated by Ataturk, the magnificent peacemaker. Terrorism, the catchall word for the Bush regime and its cohort of cronies and fawners, was prominently on display. Turkey (imagine violins playing) really understands what the US is going through after the September 11 attacks since it's been at war with terrorists (sic: Kurds justly seeking statehood) for 20 years at the cost of 32,000 lives. Gonul ended his presentation with inane niceties and remarks clearly intended to kiss-up to American powers that be, an overabundance of the standard, fatuous fluff that attends such presentations by representatives of countries groveling to be in Washington's good graces. It only got more ridiculous during the question and answer session, but more revealing. In the context of a response to a question about Iran, Gonul referred to Iraq as having been "part of our country." The only time that applied was during the Ottoman Empire (OE). So he clearly admits that the OE and Turkey are integral from the perspective of statehood, in this case successively. So much for arguments that the Genocide was committed by a "different" country. Two questions of direct Armenian interest were posed. An elderly woman asked, in the kindest, most non-aggressive way imaginable, why Turkey refused to simply acknowledge the history of 1915. His response, "We are thinking there is nothing to acknowledge." Then he told of being from "Eastern Turkey" and half his father's family being massacred by Armenians. He also tried without ever making a clear point, to play divide-and-conquer by claiming there exist three types of Armenians: "our Armenians, Armenians in Ermenistan, and Armenians living all over the world." He then proceeded to describe how Armenians and Turks lived happily side-by-side until 1878 when part of the OE was lost to the Russian Empire. In this remark, he built on an earlier theme about how Turkey, continuing the policies of the OE, practiced multiculturalism, just as in the US (please hold your laughter 'til later). Then, the Russians trained young Armenians to hate Turks. When WWI commenced, these 'Turk-hating' Armenians returned to the OE and starting killing Turks. In response, the Turkish Army killed Armenians. Again, it's interesting that the Defense Minister confesses it was the army, an organ of the state, which did the killing. I told you it got more ridiculous. Can you picture a bunch of 50-60 year old Armenians running around in Turkish occupied Armenia, during WWI, mass-murdering Turks? This guy and his ilk ought to try their hand at stand-up comedy! Here, a fed-up outburst from the audience pointed out Gonul's lies. The participant was even threatened with removal. The second Armenian question asked the minister what happened, in 1915, to the Armenian part of the mosaic of cultures and religions he'd claimed during his presentation constituted the OE. Here, the dangers of reading a speech prepared by someone else manifested. Gonul was clueless as to what "mosaic" meant. The question was repeated. Then the MC repeated it as he did with all the questions. Yet Gonul continued his fumbling. He asked what a "museum" had to do with the discussion. Finally, a man approached and clarified it for him, presumably in Turkish. He looked like a complete fool. It was pleasing. When he finally did respond, he claimed 152 nationalities and religious groups lived happily together until the West attacked and awoke the Christian population. Not that he claimed there were no killings, you see. Then he described having an Armenian "aunt"--I guess it's all the rage these days in Turkey to claim an Armenian relative, which in straight talk would be known as a Genocide survivor. And many Armenian boys were orphaned, and went to military schools and now live happily in the mosaic. Yup, believe it or not, his response was as disjointed as the last few sentences. Throughout Minister Gonul's presentation, I was taking notes. One of the Turks at my table kept eyeing me nervously, wondering why. It was a great pleasure to observe his uneasiness. Meanwhile, his friend was busy regaling the woman sitting beside him with the glories of Turkish tourism. Isn't it great to usurp others' legacies, use it to make money and cover up your crimes against those very same people? When all is taken into account, we can only say "Thank you Mr. Gonul, thank you Turkey. Please send him to visit us more often." He's one of the best things for Armenians and others with grievances against Turkey, reminiscent of former Ambassador Sukru Elekdag, the boxer turned diplomat and his "masterful" mouthings. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. --Boundary_(ID_Qr39csU/ITSXE6IXjVmfnA)-- From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DARTMOUTH CONFERENCE IS ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO NAGORNO KARABAKH PROBLEM
PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT
STEPANAKERT, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. Though the Dartmouth conference
format can in no way replace the negotiations conducted under the
aegis of OSCE, nevertheless, it is able to have a positive impact on
the atmosphere formed around the conflict and to contribute to the
peaceful settlement of the conflict.
This was mentioned at the March 31 meeting of Karen Baburian, NKR
Security Council Secretary, with Co-chairmen of Dartmouth Conference
Working Group on Nagorno Karabakh Issue, Vitaly Naumkin, Russian
political scientist, representative of the Center for Strategic
Studies, and Harold Sanders, Chairman of the International Institute of
Continual Dialogue. Presenting the approaches of official Stepanakert
on settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem, NKR Security Council
Secretary appreciated the Dartmouth Conference efforts in the issue of
establishing a dialogue and mutual confidence between the neighbor
societies. In its turn, as K.Baburian mentioned, in case of the
consent of the other parties of the conflict, the Karabakh side is
ready the next day to sign under an agreement which will oblige the
sides to put an end to instigation of mutual hatred and to express
their consent to the peaceful settlement of the conflict. As Noyan
Tapan correspondent was informed from NKR President’s Press Service,
the interlocutors mutually confirmed the importance of the process
going on at the level of the societies of the conflict parties.

DELEGATION OF POLISH SENATE TO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The delegation of the Polish Senate
led by marshal Bogdan Borusevich will be on Armenia on an official
visit on April 3-4. Senate members, government representatives,
businessmen are included in the delegation. On April 3, the
delegation of the Polish Senate led by marshal Bogdan Borusevich
will be received by RA President Robert Kocharian, RA Prime Minister
Andranik Margarian, Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II. The
same day the delegation members will lay a wreath at the Memorial
Complex of the Armenian Genocide, will visit the Matenadaran, will
meet with the representatives of the Polish community. On April 4,
the delegation will have meetings with NA Speaker Artur Baghdasarian,
NA Vice-Speakers, commission members, heads of groups and factions
at RA National Assembly. A meeting with business circles is also
planned. According to the report provided to Noyan Tapan from RA NA
Public Relations Department, the official visit of the Polish Senate
delegation led by marshal Bogdan Borusevich will be concluded by a
joint press conference at the parliament.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BULGARIAN PARLIAMENT DECLINES BILL “ON RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
IN OTTOMAN TURKEY”
SOFIA, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The Bulgarian Parliament declined the
bill “On Recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Turkey”,
the Public Television of Armenia informs. “The Armenian cause” will be
hardly included in the agenda of the Bulgarian Parliament once more
as one of the influential parties of the Bulgarian parliament, the
Movement of Rights and Freedoms, has ethnic Turkish roots. Moreover,
this party makes part of the Bulgarian coalition government. According
to the Public Television of Armenia, the Bulgarian Parliament, to
all appearances, does not want to start a confrontation with the
Turkish government.

RICHARD HOVHANNISIAN: ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT
FIRST AND FOREMOST IS INTERESTS OF STATE AND PEOPLE
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The Diaspora sees rather well what
is really taking place in Armenia: everything is falsified, there is
no free press, the authorities have established a strict control over
everything and are exerting pressures. Professor Richard Hovhannisian,
well-known American Armenian historian, Head of the Modern Armenian
History Chair of Los Angeles branch of Californian State University,
said this in his interview to radio “Liberty”.
According to him, if it goes on like this, Armenia can have a status
of a failed state. “Watching from outside, we are sorry to see these
violations, pressures. For instance, we would like to have freedom
of speech, thought and not pressures, not persecutions by the secret
Police, not falsehood, which is seen in the state TV broadcasts,” he
mentioned. According to R.Hovhannisian, they do not allow to speak
those who want to reply to the falsehood voiced by TV and this is
not a democratic system. “Sometimes we condemn Turkey saying that
a military dictatorship rules there and so on. But the fact is that
the newspapers are more free there,” R.Hovhannisian said. According
to the historian, as a result of all this the people has become
indifferent to political processes and does not believe to anybody,
neither to the authorities nor to their opponents. “The Diaspora also,
seeing this, gradually loses its belief in Armenia: personally I know
dozens of people who have decided not to give money to Armenia any
more. They have lost their hope though they avoid criticizing publicly
and maybe this is the consequence of the Genocide: we have suffered
so many losses and do not want to endanger the small territory that
has remained and is called Armenia,” R.Hovhannisian said. On the
other hand, as a historian R.Hovhannisian estimates this situation
as morbid and mentions the necessity to find a solution to it:
“otherwise, we will lose the people’s belief in our state and will
be called a failed state”. “We do not want to be a failed state and
if this state fails as well, we have no future,” he mentioned.
R.Hovhannisian considers the fact of closure of the office of the
Zharangutiun (Heritage) party headed by his son Raffi Hovhannisian
also to be a direct pressure. “If Raffi Hovhannisian said nothing,
he he were a “kind” Diasporan Armenian here, they not only would not
close his office but also could always receive him with pleasure,
would always show him by TV, sometimes he would speak on TV. But
when he enters the political field, he becomes a competitor and as
the main communication means are in the state’s hands, they can do
what they want”. R.Hovhannisian said that the Armenian authorities
should understand that the first and foremost is the interests of
the state and the people and not their personal benefit and glory. He
gave assurance that we will not come out of this situation until we
have such a tender-hearted leadership.

BILL “ON MAKING AMENDMENTS AND ADDITIONS TO NA REGULATIONS” TO BE
DISCUSSED AT NA SOON
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The bill “On Making Amendments
and Additions to NA Regulations” will be discussed at the April 7
sitting of RA NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Issues, for
the purpose of giving a conclusion for including it in the agendas of
the spring session and 4-day session to start from April 10. Noyan
Tapan correspondent was informed about it by Committee Chairman
Rafik Petrosian. The bill consisting of over 8 dozens of articles
has been in official circulation at NA since February 27. Though
as of March 31, the government’s conclusion about the bill had not
been officially received at the NA yet, according to R.Petrosian,
they were informed from the government that the conclusion has been
already sent to the NA. According to preliminary information, the
government has no essential objections regarding the bill content. The
amendments and additions proposed to the NA Regulations are conditioned
by the necessity to bring in correspondence with the constitutional
amendments adopted at the 2005 November 27 referendum, as well as by
solution of the problems that arose in the course of application of the
current Regulations. According to this, in particular, the draft law
stipulates the provisions of the reformed Constitution regarding the
ban on the business activity of MPs and deputy immunity, new powers
of NA groups and factions to apply to the government with questions,
the order of duscussion and making of decisions, as well as the
provisions regarding 12 standing committees of the parliament and
spheres of their activity. The latter will extend to the parliament
of next convocation and before it the current 6 standing committees
of the parliament will continue to function. The bill also clarifies
the order of MPs’ application to the Constitutional Court, where it
is stipulated that after sending a document with signatures to the CC
it is not subject to changing any longer. To recap, there have been
precedents before when after the application’s entering the CC some
MPs denied their signatures cancelling the discussion of the issue.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN BECOMES LAUREATE OF 2006 PRIZE OF FUND OF ORTHODOX
PEOPLES’ UNITY
MOSCOW, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. President of Armenia
Robert Kocharian became laureate of the 2006 prize of the Fund of
the Orthodox Peoples’ Unity. They informed from the Press Center
of the fund that “estimating the efforts of the leader of Armenia,
his striving for satisfying the spiritual demands of Russians living
in Armenia was mentioned in the fund. The President was honoured
with the highest prize just for that.” As Radio Liberty informs,
quoting ITAR-TASS information, the “Gasprom” Russian company was
also honoured with the prize, “for the bright activity addressed to
re-birth of the Orthodox holinesses.” The fund aslo honoured Primate
of the Polish Orthodox Church Savva with the 2006 prize.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH RUSSIAN SIDE ON PRICE FOR GAS IMPORTED TO ARMENIA
STILL CONTINUE
YEREVAN, MARCH 31, NOYAN TAPAN. The negotiations with the Russian
side on the price for natural gas continue and it is not clear
yet when they will be over. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed
about it at about 2:00 pm, on March 31, by RA Ministry of Energy
Press Service. The same source neither refuted nor confirmed the
rumours that for the purpose of avoiding the growth in price for the
supplied gas Armenia gave Russia the 5th block of Hrazdan HPP and the
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. Nevertheless, in response to the question,
if the above-mentioned variants are among the issues to be discussed,
they said at the Press Service: “There are many variants and they
will be made public only after achieving a final result”. To recap,
during the March 29 working meeting of RA President Robert Kocharian
and RA Minister of Energy Armen Movsisian it was decided to continue
the negotiations with the Russian side on gas price and to submit the
package of proposals to be formed at the end of them to the public
after coordinating it with the President. By the March 10 decision
of the Public Services Regulatory Commission a tariff for natural
gas higher than the previous one by 50% has been already set for the
population, 90 thousand drams for 1000 cubic meters of gas (about 200
USD, and a tariff higher by 85%, 146.5 USD, for big consumers). The
new tariffs will come into force on April 10.