ACCORDING TO BRITISH MUSICIANS’ OBSERVATIONS, JAZZ IS DEVELOPING RAPIDLY IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. “I am very glad to be in Armenia. I am
also glad to work with such talented and developed Armenian youths,”
Garry Crosby, bassist of the “Jazz Warriors” band, founder of the
“Soldiers of the Future” educational-cultural organization, declared at
the March 29 press conference in Yerevan. According to Garry Crosby,
the three-day jazz courses held with the Armenian young musicians
will be concluded by two joint interesting concert programs on March
30 and 31. Garry Crosby mentioned that in the 80s of the previous
century pop music prevailed in England and there was a tendency that
the other musical genres, including the Afro-American jazz, can be
ousted from the sphere. It was just at that time that the “Soldiers
of the Future” organization was founded in defence of jazz music. Its
goal is to preserve and develop this music everywhere, at the same
time to reveal new names in this sphere and to support them. Besides,
according to him, the organization cooperates with jazz communities
of different countries and simultaneously establishes contacts among
them both in the educational and creative respect. This cooperation
is the first one in the south-eastern region and they hope that it
will extend its circles. Well-known British musicians Garry Crosby
and Abram Wilson are in Armenia for the first time and have never
associated with Armenian jazzmen before, they don’t know the history
of Armenian jazz, either.
“Over these days we got acquainted with numerous bands and their
performers and are convinced that jazz is developing rapidly in
Armenia. We especially liked the synthesis of ethnic music and jazz
performed by Armenian musicians,” the British musicians mentioned. The
musicians of the “Art Voices” jazz band mentioned that these courses
are very cognitive not only from point of view of their contents but
also from point of view of stage skills and culture.

ALEXANDER SPENDIARIAN’S 135th AND A.SPENDIARIAN MUSIC SCHOOL’S 75th ANNIVERSARIES TO BE MARKED IN EARLY APRIL
Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. A number of jubilee events will be
organized in coming days on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of
great composer Alexander Spendiarian and 75th anniversary of Yerevan
music school named after him. As school Director Samvel Sahakian
informed at the March 29 press conference, the events will start on
March 31 and will be completed on April 13.
The music school pupils together with the Armenian State Chamber
Orchestra will have concerts at the Aram Khachatrian concert hall and
A.Spendiarian National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet. It was
mentioned that Yerevan Mayor’s Office has allocated 2 mln drams (4.4
thousand USD) for the purpose of holding these events. Currently more
than 500 pupils attend A.Spendiarian music school that formerly had
more than 5000 leavers. Arno Babajanian, Edvard Mirzoyan, Alexander
Haroutiunian, Edgar Hovhannisian, Ghazaros Sarian and others are
among the leavers of this school. According to S.Sahakian, today the
country’s music schools are in a sad condition. As he mentioned,
they received a sufficient amount of financing from the state in
the Soviet years, while today these sums are miserable. Therefore,
the number of both the teachers and the pupils has reduced. It
was also mentioned that these schools haven’t been repaired and
heated for more than 30 years, as a result of which the musical
instruments spoil. “The amounts of dotations given by the state to
the comprehensive schools are gradually increasing but they almost
don’t involve music schools. Therefore, we should either raise the
payment for studies or make reductions. However, in both cases we
will have great losses,” S.Sahakian mentioned.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AAA WELCOMES SENATE LEGISLATION OPPOSING RAILROAD THAT BYPASSES ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 29 2006
WASHINGTON, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Senators Rick
Santorum (R-PA) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced on March 28 a
major bill (S. 2461) in the U.S. Senate that would bar assistance for
a proposed $800 million railway that would connect Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Turkey while bypassing Armenia. The legislation, known as the South
Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act, was introduced shortly
after participants of the Armenian Assembly of America’s National
Conference met with senior staff representing Senators Santorum
and Menendez – both longtime supporters of Armenian issues. The
three-day National Conference was co-hosted by the AGBU and Eastern
and Western Dioceses of the Armenian Church. “United States policy in
the South Caucasus seeks to foster regional stability and enhanced
cooperation, and includes open borders and transport corridors,”
Santorum told the Assembly. “The proposed rail link would not only
undermine U.S. long-term goals for the region, but serves to isolate
Armenia. Efforts to foster economic integration and reduce the risk
of further tensions are in the best interests of the United States
and the South Caucasus.” Menendez, echoing Santorum, added that
“the sole aim of this costly project is to further isolate Armenia
by enhancing the ongoing Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades. I look
forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and members of
the Armenian-American community to block U.S. financial support of
this rail project.” “We commend the leadership of Senators Santorum
and Menendez for this Senate initiative to prohibit funding for
this ill-conceived route, which not only thwarts U.S. policy goals,
but is also a continuation of Azerbaijan’s blockade plus strategy
to marginalize Armenia, which we cannot allow,” said Assembly
Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian. “The realization
of this legislation is a testament to the grassroots activism
exemplified throughout this National Conference.” Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev told an Azeri news agency last summer that,
“We are currently working on a new project – a new rail road
Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku..If we succeed with this project,
the Armenians will end in complete isolation, which would create
an additional problem for their future, their already bleak
future…” Armenian government officials have repeatedly said that
a new costly railway is unnecessary given that a railroad linking
Armenia, Georgia and Turkey already exists. The existing Kars-Gyumri
route is in working condition and could be operational within
weeks. Senator Santorum has consistently supported Armenian issues. He
is a strong proponent of U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide
and a cosponsor of S. Res. 320, the Armenian Genocide resolution. In
2000, he also urged the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign
Operations to direct economic aid to Armenia, to provide the timely
delivery of humanitarian assistance to Nagorno Karabakh and maintain
Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Santorum currently serves on
the powerful Senate Finance Committee and is Chairman of the Senate
Republican Conference where he directs the communications operations
of the Senate Republicans and is the third-ranking member of the
leadership. His colleague, Senator Menendez, is a longstanding advocate
of the Armenian-American community and a widely respected voice on
foreign policy. During his tenure in the House of Representatives,
Menendez helped secure robust U.S. humanitarian, technical and
developmental assistance for Armenia, while continuing to push for
sustained humanitarian aid to Nagorno Karabakh. Menendez has
also repeatedly fought for U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian
Genocide, by publicly commemorating this crime against humanity,
co-sponsoring legislation that would properly recognize the events
and urging President Bush, as well as his predecessors, to accurately
characterize the crimes as genocide. The Senate bill is modeled after
House Resolution 3361, which was introduced by Congressional Caucus
on Armenian Issues Co-Chair Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), along with Caucus
Co-Chair Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA),
last year. The resolution currently has 77 cosponsors to date, and
is expected to garner additional supporters.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN AND FAMOUS PUBLIC FIGURE HARRY ORBELIAN PASSES AWAY IN SAN FRANCISCO
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 29 2006
SAN FRANCISCO, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Prominent
businessman and famous public figure Harry Orbelian, composer
Constantine Orbelian’s brother, passed away after serious illness at
the age of 86, in San Francisco (U.S., California), on March 26.
Noyan Tapan was informed about this by the RA Foreign Ministry’s
Press and Information Department. Harry Orbelian was born in 1920
in Armenia. In 1948 he moved to the United States. He always worked
actively in the direction of establishing business ties between the
U.S. and the former Soviet Union, numerous international conferences
and seminars were held under his direct presiding. Harry Orbelian
was the President of the Global Trade Council of San Francisco and
the Vice-President of the Chamber of Commerce. He was also actively
connected with implementation of humanitarian programs directed to
Armenia. Orbelian always supported the Embassy of Armenia to the
United States and the Consulate General of Armenia in Los Angeles.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia expresses condolence on
behalf of the Government on the occasion of Harry Orbelian’s death.
RF Security Council Secretary Igor Ivanov, RF Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov, former USSR President Mikhail Gorbachov and other high-ranking
people sent telegrams of condolence.

FIRST ISSUE OF MONTHLY “ARCHITECTURE-CONSTRUCTION” PUBLISHED
Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The first issue of the illustrated
monthly “Archtecture-Construction” has been published. The periodical
is published by the Union of Architects and Builders of Armenia. The
monthly’s editor-in-chief is Volodya Kirakosian, former editor of
the montlies “Carat” and “Economy”.
The first 64-page issue of the monthly “Architecture-Construction”
came out in 500 copies, and contains information about the 50-year
path passed by the Armproject Institute and its achievements, the new
solutions proposed by the Armenian architects, the modern approaches
in design, some construction organizations and new technologies,
and the benefactors the architecture and construction spheres.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION OFFICES SHOULD CHANGE CURRENT POLICY OF CHOOSING A CONTRACTOR, HONORARY CHAIRMAN OF UNION OF BUILDERS SAYS
Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The program implementation offices
(PIO) of the international organizations – customers of construction
work on a tender basis, particularly the Lincy Foundation, should
get rid of the current policy of choosing a contractor based on the
offer of the lowest price, Vazgen Poghosian, Honorary Chairman of the
Union of Builders of Armenia, Chairman of Yerevanshin OJSC, told NT
correspondent. According to him, during tenders it is not taken into
consideration whether the organization that has offered the lowest
price has the proper financial and human resources and the necessary
technical and transport base. He noted that in many cases the last
remaining resources of some Armenian construction organizations were
used for the fulfilement of the obligations assumed under the Lincy
program. In the opinion of V.
Poghosian, such a situation was caused by the PIOs rather than by
the strict requirements set by the US office of the Lincy Foundation
programs management. He said that the PIOs did not inform the Lincy
Foundation that the tender terms cannot be fulfiled in case of approval
of a low price offer: if the price offered for the construction work is
lower then the real market one, the implementation of construction work
is possible in this case with the use, for example, out-of-date steel
frameworks or unuseful cement. It was noted that taking into account
the real market prices during construction contract tenders becomes an
urgent problem, since as a result of a possible increase in the prices
of gas and electricity, the prices of building materials, particularly
stone (which is considered a monopoly product), road-metal, framework
and cement may rise as well.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH RUSSIAN SIDE ON GAS PRICE CONTINUE
Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Issues concerning the mechanisms
of mitigating the consequences of growth in price for gas and
construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline were discussed at the
March 29 working meeting of RA President Robert Kocharian and RA
Minister of Energy Armen Movsisian. According to the report provided
to Noyan Tapan from RA President’s Press Service, 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 them with the President. A.Movsisian
informed that the welding works of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
have already started and the construction will be completely over
in autumn. Issues connected with renewable energy resources, in
particular, with increase of the number of small HPPs, were also
discussed at the meeting. The Minister presented R.Kocharian the
process of construction of 38 small HPPs.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

WORLD BANK TO ALLOCATE 8 MLN USD FOR DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Late March 29 the World Bank Board
of Directors is expected to approve a 8 mln-dollar program aimed
at the development of renewable energy in Armenia. NT correspondent
was indformed at the World Bank Yerevan Office that 5 mln USD will be
provided as a credit, while the remaining sum – as a grant. It was also
noted that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
envisages to provide 7 mln dollars, and the Cafesjian Foundation –
3 mln dollars for the purpose of developing Armenia’s renewable energy.

NO VICTIMS AS RESULT OF ARMENIAN PLANE ACCIDENT NEAR TEHRAN: FOUR CREW MEMBERS RECEIVE SLIGHT INJURIES
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 29 2006
TEHRAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. According to the
information provided by the Armenian embassy in Tehran, at 16:50 hours
local time the AN-12 cargo aircraft, owned to the Armenia-based Fenix
company and used to operate Sharzha-Karaj charter flight, collided
with a flock of birds when taking off the Karaj airport, as a result
of which three of the aircraft’s four engines were damaged. The crew
of 12 members (11 are Armenian citizens, one is an Ukrainian citizen)
managed to make an emergency landing near Karaj. Four crew members
received slight injuries as a result of the accident and were admitted
to hospital where they were kept under medical control. Their health
condition was evaluated as satisfactory and they were taken to a
hotel. According to the RA MFA Press and Information Department,
immediately after the accident some representtaives of the RA embassy
in Tehran went to Karaj and took joint steps with the local authorities
to provide aid to the crew members and regulate the issues related to
the aircraft. In connection with the accident, the RA MFA is keeping
touch with the Armenian embassy in Tehran.

CNN INTENDS TO AIR COMMERCIALS ADVERTISING ARMENIA IN 2006
Noyan Tapan
Mar 29 2006
YEREVAN, MARCH 29, NOYAN TAPAN. 318 thousand tourists visited Armenia
in 2005 against 45 thousand in 2000, that is, over the last 5 years
this index has increased about sevenfold. Quite dynamic developments
have also been registered in the internal tourism sector as well. RA
Deputy Minister of Trade and Economic Development Ara Petrosian
stated this at the March 29 hearings in the RA National Assembly. At
the same time he noted that there are still many problems in the
tourism sector. The subject of the hearings, which were organized by
the NA Standing Committee on Financial, Credit, Budget and Economic
Issues, was “Tourism in Armenia: Problems and Prospects”. The problems
preventing the development of tourism were discussed by represenatives
of the departments and organizations concerned, in the almost complete
absence of NA deputies. The high price of tourist packages was pointed
out. In the words of A. Petrosian, 10 years ago the starting conditions
of tourism in Armenia were quite poor: the ruined infrastructures,
lack of experience of organizing tourism in line with international
standards and the appropriate staff, only one or two hotels, etc. Over
the last 6-7 years, 35-40 hotels have been constructed or repaired,
which allowed to form a flexible competitive system. Most of the
museums of interest for tourists, as well as many roads have undergone
major repairs. Yet some community roads leading from motorways to
historical and cultural monuments are in need of repair. It is also
necessary to modernize Zvartnots Airport. According to the deputy
minister, it is planned to put the new arrival hall into operation in
2006, and the new terminal – in 2007. The 2006 state budget envisages
215 mln drams (about 478 thousand USD) for tourism advertising in
order to present Armenia in other countries. A. Petrosian noted
that the airing of commercials on CNN is already possible this
year. Besides, a draft law on making amendments to the law on the
status of foreign citizens will soon be subitted to the government
for consideration. It envisages the opportunity to conduct a flexible
policy of visa granting, particularly the unilateral granting of
the right to visit Armenia without a visa to the citizens of some
countries in case of expediency.