THOUGH WE HAVE GOOD POETS AND COMPOSERS, I AM NOT SURE THAT A GOOD
ANTHEM WILL BE WRITTEN, PAINTER HENRIK GALUKIAN SAYS
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. “I am the fan of Aram Khachatrian’s
music and highly appreciate his genius, but the anthem written by
him makes an impression of an army march on me.” Poet Razmik Davoyan
expressed such an opinion at the June 23 press conference. According
to him, “A.Khachatrian’s anthem is written by head, but there is no
heart in it.” Though R.Davoyan is a member of the commission created
for the purpose of selecting lyrics and music for RA national anthem,
he considers that it is senseless to announce a competition and to fix
a term for creating the anthem. “An anthem is not born in one day and
I get surprised how one can sit at a table and create an anthem. I
was also proposed writting lyrics for the anthem but I refused,”
the poet mentioned. “We often say “Mother Armenia” and I think that
the anthem should be a song about mother. And we should have such an
anthem that will be also sung by our children of pre-school age,”
R.Davoyan said. According to the poet, naturally, many creations
will be presented by the end of the competition, but it is possible
that no work will meet the competition’s requirements. Painter
Henrik Galukian also considers that it is senseless to announce a
competition for creating an anthem. He reminded that a competition
was also announced for creating a monument to Komitas in the Soviet
years but none of the works presented at the competition received the
first prize. “Though we have very good poets and composers, I am not
sure that a good anthem will be written,” H.Galukian is convinced.

ARMENIAN PAINTERS’ EXHIBITION “GARDEN OF MY HEART…” TO BE HELD
IN KRASNODAR
KRASNODAR, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenian painters’
exhibition “Garden of My Heart” will open at the Krasnodar Regional
Art Musuam after Kovalenko on July 27. According to the “Yerkramas”
(Counrty) newspaper of Armenians of Russia, works from funds of
the Krasnodar Regional Art Museum after Kovalenko, painters’
personal collections, collections will be presented at the
exhibition. Spectators will see works of famous Armenian paiters
Martiros Sarian, Dmitri Nalbandian. Nikoghayos Nikoghosian and
masters whose life and work are connected with art and culture of
the region of Krasnodar. A part of the layout is dedicated to Georgi
Petrosian, an artist from Krasnodar, who marks his 75th birthday
anniversary this year and whose art is connected both with Armenia and
Russia. Landscapes of the region of Krasnodar and of Armenia, sun still
lifes, portraits of famous historic figures of the Armenian culture
will be presented at the layout of the exhibition. The exhibition
will last till August 20. A phrase of Armenian great poet of 10th
century Grigor Narekatsi is used as the title of the exhibition.

HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II VISITS HISTORICAL ISLANDS IN THE SEA OF MARMARA
ISTANBUL, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On the morning of
June 22, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of All Armenians; His All Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of
Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch; and His Beatitude Mesrob
Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, visited Halki Island
in the Sea of Marmara, off the western coast of Turkey. The island
houses the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Monastery and the famous
Theological School of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The metropolitan
abbot of the monastery greeted the three hierarchs as they entered
the grounds and extended his message to His Holiness Karekin II,
noting that it was with great honor, respect and love that the
clergy and population of the island welcomed the Catholicos of All
Armenians to Halki. The abbot stated that the visit of the Pontiff
of All Armenians was a visible manifestation of the brotherly warmth
and love between the Greek and Armenian communities of Istanbul,
and thanked him for honoring them with the visit. His Holiness
expressed his thanks for the warm welcome, noting that he knows
how very important it is to prepare a new generation of young men to
serve the Church and people, and appreciates the wonderful opportunity
given to church leaders to train and educate individuals to dedicate
their lives to God. His Holiness stressed the importance of hope in
the struggle of life and in achieving the mission to which Christ
has called all of us. As the Greek seminary has been closed by the
orders of Turkish authorities since the 1970’s, the Catholicos of
All Armenians specifically noted that he prays for the re-opening of
the Theological Seminary located on the island and that the Armenian
Church stands alongside their sister Church in their difficulties. The
Armenian and Greek delegations then visited the historic library on
the island and toured the grounds of the monastery. According to the
Information Services of the Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin, in the
afternoon, the entourage traveled to Kinali, an island with a high
Armenian population, and visited the Armenian church of St. Gregory
the Illuminator. Many Armenians had gathered in the church to greet
the arrival of His Holiness Karekin II, His All Holiness Bartholomew
I and His Beatitude Mesrob and to participate in the joint prayers
of the hierarchs. The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople offered
his kind words of welcome to both the Catholicos of All Armenians and
the Ecumenical Patriarch and expressed his happiness for this first
Pontifical Visit of His Holiness Karekin II to Turkey. His Holiness
Karekin II noted that his presence in Turkey was through the joint
invitation of the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Armenian Patriarch, and
stressed his happiness for this unique opportunity to pray together and
strengthen the relationship between the Armenian and Greek Churches,
which will lead to greater cooperation and collaboration between
sister Churches. His Holiness extended his pontifical blessings
to the assembled Armenians and offered his prayers for peace and
love in the world. The Catholicos also noted his admiration for the
Armenian community of Istanbul, stating that they are well known
throughout Armenian life for their fidelity to the Mother Church,
to Holy Etchmiadzin, and their steadfast faith and love for national,
cultural and spiritual traditions. His Holiness spoke of the countless
contributions made by the Armenians of Istanbul throughout history,
and that today, they are the ones who help keep the Christian presence
of Istanbul alive. He concluded by exhorting them to remain steadfast
in their faith and hope, on the paths of serving our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Church and Armenian community. The Armenian Pontiff then invited
His All Holiness Bartholomew I to join him and Patriarch Mesrob at
the Holy Altar of the Church of St. Gregory, where they gave their
joint blessings to the faithful. Following the service, a reception
was hosted in the garden on the grounds of the church in honor of
the guests.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LILIAN KESHISHIAN APPOINTED DEPUTY MINISTER OF TOURISM AND SPORTS
OF URUGUAY
MONTEVIDEO, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. By a decree of
Tabare Vazquez, the President of Uruguay, Lilian Keshishian, a Deputy
of Armenian origin of the country Parliament was appointed in the
executive power. According to Radio Liberty, Keshishian will occupy
from now on the post of the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports of
Uruguay. According to the legislation of the country, Keshishian must
leave the Deputy’s mandate. Lilian Keshishian has visited Armenia,
participated in the events dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the
Armenian Parliament.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EARTHQUAKE TAKES PLACE IN TURKEY-IRAN BORDER ZONE ON JUNE 22
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. An earthquake of 3.5 magnitude took
place at 21:36, on June 22 in the Turkey-Iran border zone, 55 km
west of the city of Khoy. Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Seismic
Protection National Service that its strength made 4 in the seismic
focus zone.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 3-4 TAKES PLACE IN TERRITORY OF ARMENIA ON JUNE 23
MARTUNI, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. At 01:47, June 23, an earthquake
measuring 2.5 took place in the territory of Armenia, 20 km to the
south-west from the town of Martuni. The earthquake measured 3-4 in
the epicenter. Noyan Tapan was informed from RA Seismic Protection
National Service that a tremor measuring 1.8 followed the earthquake.

TURKS’ DISRESPECTFUL ATTITUDE TOWARDS CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS IS
INTOLERABLE, RAZMIK DAVOYAN SAYS
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “The visit paid by
Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians to Turkey was favoured with
the Turkish people’s barbarian attitude. I consider that attitude
towards His Holiness inadmissible and I am suprised how Turks may
speak about democracy, European integration after that,” poet Razmik
Davoyan stated at the June 23 press conference. According to him,
anything like that has never happened in Armenia and will never happen,
either, as “our ubringing is put on quite other bases, and it is time
that the Turk authorities think about unbringing of their generations
as well.” According to R.Davoyan, His Holiness seemed to be ready
for such an attitide, and it is not occasional that the Catholicos
did not take the car given for him, but took the car of Archbishop
Mesrop Mutafian, the Constantinople Armenian Patriarch. Painter Henrik
Galukian thinks that one may not accuse all the Turkish people of the
happened. “There is a group of people who continue acting in that
way for some reasons. I think that such people will be among Turks
as well who will feel ashamed of such attitude of their compatriots,”
the painter mentioned.

PRESENT ORDER OF GIVING RA CITIZENSHIP TO REFUGEES TO FUNCTION TILL LATE THIS YEAR
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The present order of giving RA
citizenship to refugees displaced from Azerbaijan, according to
which a refugee gets RA citizen’s passport and is taken out of the
registration as a refugee, addressing to the passport department,
will function till the end of the year. As Ara Haroutiunian, the Chief
of the Department on Refugees Issues of the Migration Agency of the
RA Ministry of Territorial Administration informed the Noyan Tapan
correspondent, refugees will be given RA citizenship from 2007 on a
universal basis. Thus, they must address to the passport department,
after what their documents will be presented to the President’s staff,
and the President will make the final decision. A.Haroutiunian informed
that more than 75 thousand refugees from 311 thousand ones have been
given RA citizenship by now, among them 2513 people in 2005, about
400 during 4 months of the current year.
According to him, most part of refugees is of the false opinion
that adopting citizenship they will lose a number of privileges,
including the one of getting a flat.” Whereas, according to the RA law
“On Refugees’ Social-Economic and Legal Guarantees,” they do not lose
those privileges.

TURK PARLIAMENTARIAN VISITED ARMENIA ADDRESSES TWO DOZENS OF LETTERS OF
COMPLAINT AGAINST RA AUTHORITIES
ISTANBUL, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Vahid Erdem, a
representative of Turkey arrived in Yerevan in the staff of the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly’s delegation the last week addressed letters
of complaint against the authorities of Armenia to representatives
of the European Union and other two dozens of ones. The Istanbul
“Marmara” daily informs about it. Erdem stated after returning from
Armenia that RA National Assembly Speaker Tigran Torosian “seriously
interfered in the Armenian Genocide issue,” and then favoured him
with a tactless attitude, particularly, did not accept him to the
VIP hall of the airport, he had to take a taxi, etc. To recap, the
Parliament Speaker of Armenia disproved Vahid Erdem’s accusations and
assured that no tactless step was taken against the latter, and he was
accompanied to the VIP hall with other NATO parliamentarians. To recap,
at the June 13 meeting with the NATO PA delegation, Tigran Torosian,
speaking about the regional report being prepared by the delegation,
mentioned a number of principles which needs improvement: it was
particularly mentioned in the report that “international co-thinkers”
of Armenia consider that a genocide took place, when it is proper to
mention EU member countries and the European Parliament which have
recognized the Genocide. In response, representative of Turkey Vahid
Erdem attempted to disprove the fact of genocide: according to his
insistence, neither an Armenian Genocide took place in 1915 nor there
was a state command to kill Armenians, and one may speak only about
400-500 thousand people who themselves attacked Turks by the Russians’
excitation. Tigran Torosian interrupted the Turk Deputy’s “lecture
on history” and calling him to properness, considered incompatible
such a behaviour with the post occupied within the framework of the
international organization. Tirgran Torosian reminded Vahid Erdem
that he had no right to give estimations either to Genocide or to
European Parliament or to countries recognized the Genocide.

RA BORDER ELECTRONIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO BE CREATED
YEREVAN, JUNE 23, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA Government made a decision at
the June 22 sitting to create an information system of the RA border
electronic management based on the information system of calculating
transport means of people entering (leaving) the RA, introduced
and being put in operation at present by the RA National Security
Service attached to Government. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA
Government’s Information and Public Relations Department, the order
of operation of the RA border electronic management information system
as well as the list of the system users were affirmed at the sitting.
It was defined that the RA National Security Service attached to
Government is a body regulating the activity of the RA Ministries
and other state government bodies connected with operation of the
above-mentioned system. According to the decision, the latter will
implement teaching of users of the given system as well, allocating
them rights of entrance, analyzing of that work, putting the system
into operation and its service. The decision was made to assist
protection of the RA state border, to increase effeciency of activity
of legal bodies in the struggle against terrorism, organized crime
and illegal migration.