RUSSIAN TV PROBES RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AT MOSCOW NIGHT CLUBS
Ren TV, Moscow
10 May 06
[Presenter Vitaliy Buzuyev] Russia declares freedom for all
nationalities, but in reality it is turning back to the past
and, to some extent, it recalls the USA in the 1960s. A private
rule is implemented in many night clubs in Moscow to allow only
European-looking people in. Yelena Karpukhina reports on discrimination
Russian style.
[Correspondent] Metal detectors, document checks and handbag searches
are a common occurrence for night club visitors. Even a body search
does not embarrass anyone. But a visitor finds it is offending all the
same to be turned away because of their face, but not their passport.
Although there is a face control sign at the entrance, in some cases
this sign can be translated more precisely: Whites only.
David is 22 and he likes to have fun. But despite having higher
education, a prestigious job, registration in Moscow and money he
cannot have access to the night life. We went [to a night club]
together with him to prove this.
We have switched a secret camera on. This is a Friday evening. David,
with his girlfriend and a friend, who is also an Armenian, are going
to dance.
[Unidentified male voice, presumably belongs to a security man] Guys,
we will not let you in without a club card today.
[David] Today?
[Male voice] Today, for sure. I don’t know what the administration’s
orders will be next time.
[David] Why? Don’t you like how we look?
[Male voice] No, just because we are having a birthday party today
and there are a lot of people here.
[Correspondent] At the same time, European-looking visitors are getting
in freely and no one is asking for their club cards. The next club
is located 20 metres away from the first one. The story is repeated.
[Security man] We do not explain reasons for a refusal.
[David Davtyan, captioned as economist] When we arrive [at a club]
we are given a fairly logical explanation. This is either a club
card or a birthday party or something of this sort. Of course,
this is explicable, but when this happens each day and each time,
this becomes not a coincidence, but a regularity.
[Correspondent] Pasha Face Control [nickname] knows everything about
such regularities. He is the most famous club security guy in Moscow.
Pasha’s task is to detect unwanted guests at the first glance. The
criterion of unsuitability is determined by the owner. The rejection
formulae are prearranged.
[Pasha Face Control, captioned as club security] Some owners require
us to give less access to people from the Caucasus. They explain that
these people cause many problems. The standard answer is a birthday
or a corporate party.
[Correspondent] The question of nationality is a sensitive topic
for people from the Caucasus, Latin America, Africa and Asia, or
just for dark-skinned citizens. Cuban nationals Enrique, Alfredo and
(?Caridad) are professional dancers. They take part in shows and give
Latino dance classes for beginners.
Regular customers love them, but they are immediately reminded that
they are foreigners when they go out to have fun anywhere else.
[Enrique, captioned as dancer, speaking Spanish with simultaneous
Russian translation] Once we went to a club with my Russian friends.
The friends were allowed in, but I was not. They said that I was a
foreigner. We had to find another place.
[Carlos, captioned as student] When that happened to me the first
time, honestly, I regretted having come to Russia. We like hanging
out and we never intend to do anything terrible at a discotheque.
This is real discrimination.
[Correspondent] While other clubs harshly turn down people having
dark skin and hair, this club always welcomes them. The owners of
this club understand that southerners, with their body language and
temperament, turn on all the people on the dance floor. Many women
come here only for the sake of them.
Most people present here have heard that blacks cause problems. But
there have not been any conflicts on nationalist grounds on this
dance floor, although it is coloured in all senses.
[Armen Grigoryan, captioned as club promoter] You can see people of
all nationalities there: a Hindu, a Jewish person or a Chinese.
Everyone has equal fun when they get drunk.
[Angelina, captioned as student] I have many dark-skinned friends
from various countries. They dance very well, especially the guys
from Latin America.
[Correspondent] Those whom some white people refer to as coloured
are not seeking any additional trouble. They just will not return to
a club where they have once been turned away. But Moscow is losing
its attractiveness for foreigners each year. They say that it would
be fairer to put up real signs on club’s doors. For example: “Whites
only” or “No entry to blacks and dogs”.

SPEAKER * PARTY * RESIGNATION
Mediamax
Armenian Independent News Agency
May 11 2006
ALERT! Armenian parliamentary speaker Artur Baghdassarian decided
to resign and his Orinats Yerkir Party will leave the ruling
coalition-11.05.06
Yerevan, May 11. /Mediamax/. Armenian National Assembly speaker Artur
Baghdassarian decided to resign and his Orinats Yerkir Party will
leave the ruling coalition.
Member of Orinats Yerkir parliamentary faction Hovhannes Margarian
said this a few minutes ago on the air of the Shant TV channel,
Mediamax reports. The MP said that the decision on the speaker’s
resignation and leaving the ruling coalition was taken this evening
at the enlarged session of the Orinats Yerkir Political Board.
Hovhannes Margarian said that Artur Baghdassarian will officially
announce about his resignation at a news conference tomorrow at 14:00.
Orinats Yerkir, Republican Party of Armenia and Dashnaktsutyun
Party signed a memorandum on creating a coalition after the 2003
parliamentary elections.

SITTING OF COMMISSION COORDINATING WORKING OUT OF RA NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY TO TAKE PLACE ON MAY 17
Noyan Tapan
May 11 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The 5th sitting of the interdepartment
commission coordinating works of working out the draft to the RA
National Security Strategy will take place on May 17, instead of May
12 stated beforehand. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by Colonel
Seyran Shahsuvarian, the RA Defence Ministry’s Press Secretary.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

5RD SHIFT PLATOON OF ARMENIAN PEACE-KEEPERS LEAVES FOR KOSOVO
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 11 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The 5th shift platoon
of Armenian peace-keepers left for Kosovo on peace-keeping mission
on May 11. Noyan Tapan was informed about it by Colonel seyran
Shahsuvarian, the Ra Defence Minister’s Press Secrtetary.

RA PRESIDENT AND AMBASSADOR OF UNITED ARAB EMIRATES DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES OF WIDENING TWO COUNTRIES’ COOPERATION
Noyan Tapan
May 11 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian received
on May 11 Khalifa Shahin Al-Mrrin, the Ambassador of the United
Arab Emirates (residence in Tehran). The President of the republic
expressed satisfaction relating to dinamically developing relations
between the two countries and mentioned that mutual visits and contacts
of different level have activized during the recent years. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the President’s Press Office, possibilities
of widening bilateral programs and mutual cooperation being already
in process were touched upon. Robert Kocharian attached importance
to implementation of investment programs in parallel to development
of commercial ties. The President of the republic estimated those
successes that the United Arab Emirates have reached during a rather
short period of time, as very impressing ones.

ARKADY GHOUKASSIAN: IMPOSED WAR PROVED THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SOLVE NAGORNO KARABAKH PROBLEM BY FORCE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 11 2006
STEPANAKERT, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On May 9, a
triple holiday – the Day of Victory in the Great Patriotic War,
liberation of Shoushi and the creation of the NKR Defense Army,
was celebrated in the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. In the morning,
the Stepanakert Memorial Complex was visited by NKR President
Arkady Ghoukassian, National Assembly Chairman Ashot Ghoulian,
Prime-Minister Anoushavan Daniyelian, head of the Artsakh Eparchy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Archbishop Pargev Martirossian,
as well as head of the Government of Armenia Andranik Markarian
and RA Defense Minister Serge Sarkssian who had arrived in the NKR
for participation in the events. They laid flowers to the graves of
heroes of the Great Patriotic and Karabakh Wars. A visit to the town
of Shoushi also took place. Columns of the NKR Defense Army subunits
passed in a solemn march in the Stepanakert streets. Meetings with
veterans of the Great Patriotic and Artsakh Wars, concerts and sport
events, expositions of works of art and photos took place all over
the republic. The events ended with a festive firework in the central
republican square of Revival.
On the eve, there took place a solemn sitting dedicated to the 61st
anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, the 14th
anniversary of the liberation of Shoushi and the Day of the NKR
Defense Army. As Noyan Tapan was informed from NKR Foreign Ministry
Information and Analytical Department, in connection with the May 9
holiday, by decrees of the NKR President, the highest title of Nagorno
Karabakh, the “Hero of Artsakh”- is granted to Zhora Gasparian, Vahagn
Vardevanian (posthumously) and Arshavir Garamian together with handing
the order of “Gold Eagle”. 1 man is awarded with the “Battle Cross”
Order of the 1st level, 2 men – with the “Battle Cross” Order of the
2nd level, 346 people – with “For Battle Service” Medal (4 of them
posthumously), 150 people are awarded with “For Courage” Medal (38 of
them posthumously) and 24 people – with “For Liberation of Shoushi”
Medal (1 man posthumously). For active state and social-political
activity 5 people are awarded with “Mkhitar Gosh” Medal, 2 – with
“Vachagan Barepasht” Medal, and one man – with “Gratitude” Medal. First
Deputy of the Director of the NKR National Security Service Victor
Kocharian is awarded the title of General-Mayor. RA Prime-Minister
Andranik Markarian and RA Defense Minister Serge Sarkssian are
awarded with the Medal of the NKR Azatamartiks Union. “The imposed
war proved that it is impossible to solve the Nagorno Karabakh problem
by force. Surely, we defended our land, we won the war, but still we
can’t say that the Armenian and Azerbaijani peoples are happy today. It
means that the issue must be solved in the political plane and it
has no other alternative. Our overall goal is the inadmissibility
of the resumption of military activities. At the same time, for
preventing the war we must be ready for it”, NKR President Arkady
Ghoukassian stated in the course of the festive events. “Speaking
on the problem of reconstruction of the town of Shoushi, Arkady
Ghoukassian stressed: “We have to reconstruct Shoushi, and if the
city was liberated mainly by Karabakh people, its reconstruction
is the goal of the whole nation. I am sure that we’ll solve that
issue”. “The liberation of Shoushi was not only the liberation of
the city itself, but a victory of the whole Armenian people as we
demonstrated that we depend on nobody. Our main weapon is our land,
our ancestors, our national education. I want to express my gratitude
to the Artsakh people- through you we managed to demonstrate to the
whole world that the Armenian soul is alive and that in spite of every
difficulty we achieved our aims”, Prime-Minister of the Republic of
Armenia Andranik Markarian stated. According to him, the whole people
of Artsakh, young and old, took part in the victory and Armenia and
the Dispaora only contributed to it assisting to solve not only the
Karabakh issue but the issues of the whole people, whole nation.

NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF NIGERIA TO ARMENIA HANDS COPY OF HIS CREDENTIALS TO RA FOREIGN MINISTER
Noyan Tapan
May 11 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. On May 11, newly appointed Ambassador of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Armenia Ibrahim Ganyama Abubakar
(residence Tehran) handed the copy of his credentials to RA Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian. The Armenian Foreign Minister congratulated
the Ambassador of Nigeria on the occasion of his appointment and
wished him success in his high mission.
Expressing satisfaction with the fact that it is the first time the
Ambassador of Nigeria is accredited in Armenia, Minister Oskanian gave
assurance that this initiative will contribute to the development
of Armenian-Nigerian relations. The interlocutors touched upon the
possibilities of cooperation at the international organizations,
discussed regional problems. Below are the biographical data of the
Ambassador of Nigeria provided to Noyan Tapan by RA Foreign Ministry
Press and Information Department: Ibrahim Ganyama Abubakar was born in
1948 in Biaua, Nigeria. In 1963 he graduated from the Federal Training
Center, in 1989 graduated from the Syracuse University of New York,
in 1989-90 from the State University of Courtland. In 1971-72 he worked
in London, at the office of the High Commissioner, in 1999-2003 he was
a honorary member to the House of Representatives. Since 2004 he has
been the Ambassador of Nigeria to Iran. He was given an authoritarian
award for many years of service at the Nigerian Television and the
certificate of the National Assembly and USAID for his services.

ORINATS ERKIR PARTY IN FAVOR OF ARTUR BAGHDASARIAN’S RESIGNING FROM POST OF RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER
Noyan Tapan
May 11 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The whole Orinats Erkir party is in favor
of the party chairman Artur Baghdasarian’s resigning from the post of
the Speaker of the RA National Assembly and the party’s leaving the
coalition. Secretary of the NA Orinats Erkir faction Heghine Bisharian
made this statement during a press conference on May 11. The deputy
noted that personally, she takes this view and thinks that Artur
Baghdasarian also shares her opinion. “Some political forces exceed
the time permitted for a move that the NA Speaker has clear positions
and views, that he is an honest and straightforward man and really
wants to change something in the country,” H. Bisharian noted. In
her words, “large-scale attacks” have recently been made against the
Orinats Erkir Party”: “Just like in the world of the French fashion,
it has become a fashion to make attacks against Artur Baghdasarian and
the OEP.” Nevertheless, according to her, the mood of the party is a
bellicose one. As regards the fact that some deputies – businessmen
withdrew from the party, the faction secretary said that it was
an unexpected thing to her, because their relations with the party
chairman and the other deputies of the faction were very close and
recently became even closer. Stating that these deputies are carrying
out someone’s will, Hegine Beshirian noted she could not say whose
will it is and she advised to ask this question to the deputies who
left the party. In her words, such things would not have happened,
if businessmen had not been dependent on politics: “I don’t think
that we are the first and last ones – such a thing can happen to
any political force and businessman.” She did not give the exact
number of the deputies leaving the party and their names, adding
that the party will issue a statement soon. The OEP secretary said
that the fact that these deputies have left the party is not a great
misfortune for the OEP, and regrdless of the number of deputies who
will remain in the faction, it will continue functioning effectively
and will maintain its political role: “We are on the right path and
we state clearly what we have to say, regardless of whether we are
in the faction or outside it. We will continue doing so: if someone
likes or dislikes the policy of the Orinats Erkir Party, it is their
business.” Heghine Bisharian also assured that “the deputies who
left were not those solving the party’s financial problems, so the
party will not suffer financially.” As for the upcoming elections,
according to her, the OEP has set itself the task to prepare seriously
and make every effort so that these elections will be transparent.

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMER’S COMPETITION-FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN SYUNIK FOR FIRST TIME
Noyan Tapan
May 11 2006
KAPAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. The goal of the individual performers’
first competition-festival after composer Garnik Khachatrian is
keeping and spreading of people’s musical instruments and people’s
song in Syunik. The Kapan Art college holds the competition-festival
in April-June. Pupils of music, art, secondary schools of the marz,
students of vocational institutions, individual singers participate
in the festival. The festival is held among 9-25 years old individuals
in professions of people’s musical instruments and people’s song.
Professors-lecturers of the State Conservatory after Komitas are
involved in the commission staff of the competition-festival. Winners
will be given prizes, diplomas.

CD OF KOMITAS’ “PATARAG” BY PERFORMANCE OF “HOVER” CHAMBER CHOIR RELEASED IN GERMANY
Noyan Tapan
May 11 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 11, NOYAN TAPAN. On the initiative of professor
Hrant Khachatrian, by the order of the Flora Family Foundation of
U.S. Stanford University, a disk of Komitas’ “Patarag” (“Liturgy”)
by the performance of the male staff of the “Hover” chamber choir
was recorded and released. The recording was done in Armenia, at
the “Vem” studio and the album consisting of 2 CDs each lasting 54
minutes was released in Germany. As Arman Padarian, Director of the
“Hover” choir, informed at the May 11 press conference, about 600 out
of 3000 disks have been already free of charge delivered to the most
important cultural centers and universities of the world. In several
months 1000 disks will be sold through web-site and
1000 disks will be given to the choir. According to Vahe Begoyan,
soloist of the choir, this work by Komitas was first prepared for
release by Komitas’ pupil Vardan Sargsian in 1933. In 1997 musical
critic Robert Atayan prepared and released another variant of “Patarag”
taking into consideration Komitas’ notes preserved at the depository
of manuscripts on Venice Surb Ghazar island. The choir used the very
release of R.Atayan as it was envisaged for a small male choir.