TODAY YOUTH PREFERS TO LISTEN TO TASTELESS MUSIC, OPERA SINGER CONSIDERS
Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. “Today the youth prefers to listen to
light music, therefore not only in Armenia, but also in Russia, in
Europe and in U.S. tasteless music is propagandized at every turn,”
opera singer Hasmik Hatsagortsian mentioned at the press conference
held on April 26 at the Hayeli (Mirror) club. Singer Nune Yesayan
considers that everyone decides himself what music to listen to and
the classical music is listened by them who understand it. According to
her, formerly all performances of songs were heard beforehand, whereas
nothing of the kind takes place today. Thus, the TV air is full of
tasteless performances. “Everybody sings today but most of them are
far from professionalism. One of the reasons is that by transmitting
them the television receives huge sums,” N.Yesayan said. According
to H.Hatsagortsian, she does not pay to the television, therefore her
performances are not broadcast by TV. “My solo concert was held some
months ago in Yerevan, which was viodeoed by the Public Television
but this concert has not been broadcast by now,” she mentioned.

7th COMPETITION OF YOUNG PIANISTS AFTER ARNO BABAJANIAN TO START IN YEREVAN ON APRIL 26
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The 7th competition
of young pianists after the distinguished Armenian composer and pianist
Arno Babajanian will be held in Yerevan on April 26 – May 20. NT
correspondent was informed from the press service of the RA Ministry
of Culture and Youth Issues that the purpose of this competition held
every three years since 1986 is to discover young talented pupils of
musical schools, improve their performance art, encourage teachers’s
work and promote the works of the Armenian composers. According to
the same source, pupils of the piano departments of various musical,
art and other schools of Armenia, Javakhk and Artsakh will take part
in the competition. There are two age groups: junior (children under
12) and seniour (those under 15). The young pianists to win first,
second and third places will be given diplomas and money awards, while
those who have not taken a prize-winning place – encouragement letters
of acknowledgement and souvenirs Besides these three awards, the jury
has established three special awards – for the best performance of an
Arno Babajanian’s musical composition, for the best young participant
and for the best performance of an Armenian composer’s work. The
main requirement of this competition is that each participant has to
perform one of Arno Babajanian’s works.

ARMENIANS OF STAVROPOL RESPECT MEMORY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
STAVROPOL, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Armenians
of the region of Stavropol paid tribute of respect to the
memory of compatriots become victims of the Genocide committed
in Turkey in 1915-1923. According to the “Yerkramas” (country)
newspaper of Armenians of Russia, a special divine service on the
occasion of that day was celebrated in the Armenian communities of
Budyonovsk, Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk, Georgievski and the village of
Edissia. A gathering dedicated to memory of the Armenian Genocide
victims took place in the Armenian Cultural Center of the city of
Zelenokumsk. Priest Arsen Budaghian, the primate of the Surb Khach
(Saint Cross) church of the city of Budyonovsk appealed in the Armenian
Genocide victims’ memory. “I Accuse” documentary film was shown for
those gathered. The film was prepared by the “Yerkir-Media” (Armenia)
TV company, memories of witnesses of the Genocide, local authors’
poems about the Armenian people’s tragedy, etc. were read. The active
members of the “Bardzunk” Armenian Youth Organization of Zelenokumsk
organized the gathering. The film “I Accuse” was shown on April 24
by the city TV as well.

EVENTS DEDICATED TO 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HELD IN ARGENTINA
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
BUENOS AIRES, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The April 22
ceremony of ecumenic prayer and memory of the Armenian Genocide martyrs
held in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral by Cardinal Jorje
Bergoglio, the Buenos Aires Archbishop, the spiritual primate of the
Roman Catholic Church of Argentina became a particular start of events
dedicated to the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Hundreds
of Argentinians, representatives of community structures, the RA
Embassy’s staff were present at the event. In the spiritism prayer
to the memory of innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide, Cardinal
Bergoglio called on Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide as
the most serious crime committed by the Ottaman Empire towards the
Armenian nation and mankind. Primates of three Armenian confessions
of Argentina also prayed at the event. As Noyan Tapan was informed
by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information Department, on the
next day, early April 23, the Surb liturgy dedicated to the Genocide
martyrs was celebrated in Armenian churches, ceremonies of laying
wreaths were organized near the Armenian monuments. After the midday,
youth organizations of community structures held political events:
the car column going round streets of the capital was turned into a
crowded march which finished by an action of protest in front of the
Turkish Embassy. Late the same day, Baroness Caroline Cox, the former
Vice-Speaker of the House of Lords of Great Britain delivered a lecture
dedicated to the Armenian Genocide in the hall of the greatest annual
international exhibition of book of Buenos Aires. Touching upon the
first crime committed against the mankind in early the 20th century,
he expressed sorrow that for political reasons, the Genocide has
not been properly recognized yet by some countries, including Great
Britain. However, Baroness was optimistic in the issue of international
recognition of the Genocide as well as expressed a hope that
Turkey will finally understand “how important it is just for the
Turk people to get rid of that weight on its conscience.” Events
dedicated to memory of the Armenian Genocide victims continued on
April 24: community representatives laid wreaths to the monument to
General San Martin, the national hero of Argentina, then a march to
the Armenian square of Buenos Aires took place where opening of a
monument dedicated to the anniversary of the Genocide took place. The
central event dedicated to the anniversary took place in the evening at
the Armenian Center of Buenos Aires the specially invited speaker of
which Baroness Caloline Cox was. RA Ambassador to Argentina Vladimir
Karmirshalian made a speech as well. The Argentinian press published
materials dedicated to the Armenian Genocide few days continuously. A
special program dedicated to the anniversary of the Genocide was
broadcast by the Argentinian Central “7th channel” on April 23.

PARTICIPANTS OF “ROUND TABLE” OF SOUTH OSSETIAN “CIVIL SOCIETY” CLUB CALL ON PARLIAMENT OF REPUBLIC OF SOUTH OSSETIA TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
TSKHINVALI, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. They respected the
memory of the Armenian Genocide victims at the South Ossetian “Civil
Society” club. Representatives of non-governmental organizations
as well as of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of South
Ossetia participated in the “round table” held in the “civil society”
club. The club employees told those present about the history of
the 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide, about the history of struggle
for recognition of the Genocide as well as informed how the day of
memory of the Armenian Genocide victims was celebrated this year
in the world and in Armenia. Medea Kabuyeva who had participated in
Tsaghkadzor in the human rights training held by the Vanadzor branch
of the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, told about the processes taking
place in Armenia today. As a result of the meeting the participants
made a decision to turn to the Parliament of the Republic of South
Ossetia with a request to recognize the Armenian Genocide Besides,
participants of the meeting spoke about the necessity of building
a monument to the victims of those years. “It’s necessary for us,
representatives of the South Ossetian society to support those who
struggle against displays of the national intolerance, xenophobia and
Nazism in the whole world. The phenomenon of the xenophobia looks like
an epidemic: one may not win it if it is done in a separately taken
place,” club coordinator Alan Parasteyav stated. It is envisaged to
dedicate one of the coming “round tables” of the club to the memory
of the Holocaust victims.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATED IN BRUSSELS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
BRUSSELS, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The events to
commemorate the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide started with
a candle lighting ceremony at the Khachkar to the Armenian Genocide
Victims in Brussels on April 23. Following a liturgy in the Armenian
church of Brussels on April 24, a mourning meeting took place with
the participation of the Armenian Ambassador to Belgium V. Chitechian,
Head of the Armenian mission in NATO S. Mkrtchian, Belgian deputies,
representatives of the local authorities of Brussels, and members of
the Armenian, Jewish and Tutsi communities of the country. According
to the RA MFA Press and Information Deparment, the meeting was followed
by a procession to the Monument to the Victims of the Armenian Genocide
and a demonstration outside the Turkish embassy in Brussels.

HEARINGS ON THEME OF “RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE” TAKE PLACE AT SITTING OF LOS ANGELES CITY COUNCIL
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
LOS ANGELES, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Hearings on
the theme “Recognition of the Armenian Genocide” were organized
at the April 21 sitting of the Los Angeles City Council within
the framework of events dedicated to the 91st anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide. Members of the City Council, Gagik Kirakosian,
the RA Consul General in Los Angeles, the Hay Dat (Armenian cause)
representatives and other guests were present at the event which was
organized on the initiative of the Los Angeles City Council and the
Hay Dat Committee of America. Eric Garcetti, the Los Angeles City
Coucil Chairman who was the main speaker of the day, touching upon
the issues of condemning the Armenian Genocide and recognition of the
Armenian Genocide by the California State Senate and Los Angeles City
Council, mentioned that the work in that direction may be considered
finished only after recognition of the Genocide by Washington. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, a number of members of the City Council as well as RA
Consul General to Los Angeles Gagik Kirakosian, who thanked the Los
Angeles City Council for organizing Armenian Genocide condemning and
memory events, made speeches.

CZECHS SUPPORT TEACHING ABOUT HOLOCAUST
Prague Daily Monitor, Czech Republic
April 26 2006
Prague, April 25 (CTK) – The Czech Education Ministry supports
teaching about the Holocaust, although schools in the Czech Republic
are autonomous and it is impossible to dictate to them how to teach
about genocide, Education Minister Petra Buzkova said at a discussion
about the issue today.
However, the Ministry finances the educational seminars “How to teach
about the Holocaust,” attended by roughly 1700 teachers since 2001,
Buzkova said.
The Ministry has also sponsored some publications and brochures dealing
with the problem of genocide of Jews and Romanies during World War II,
Buzkova said.
Representatives of roughly 30 countries of the Council of Europe and
the European Cultural Convention today discussed the education of
the young generation about Holocaust problems in Prague.
Teaching about the Holocaust faces problems in a number of countries,
including poor proficiency of teachers, lack of teaching aids and
political problems, Gunnar Mandt from the Steering Committee for
Education of the Council of Europe told journalists.
There is the political obstacle that, in some countries, teaching
about genocide is not part of the curricula, Mandt said.
Individual schools and teachers must include it in the teaching process
themselves, Mandt said, adding that the problem was also on the side
of the teachers who do not have enough knowledge about how to teach
about the Holocaust.
Due to this, the Council of Europe stages seminars both for the
teachers and instructors who prepare the former, Mandt said.
In many places, there is also the problem with teaching aids.
Former President Vaclav Havel told the seminar that it was not enough
to evoke the memories of the Holocaust, as it was also necessary to
keep thinking of it.
“Society is losing its external ethical order understood by everyone.
As it is, the Holocausts that afflicted Armenians and Jews and the
Gulag, these tremendous disasters are in a way an understandable
product of the modern ambiguous civilisation,” Havel said.
Responsibility for genocide is a joint problem of all people, not
only of certain nations, Havel said.
Signs of intolerance and latent fascism are more dangerous than
sympathisers of neo-Nazi movements, Havel said.
“This can be seen by someone distinguishing better concentration camps
from the worse, which indicates that some concentration camps were
not of this type. One can also see it in the reserved relationship to
minorities or people with a different sexual orientation,” Havel said.

ARMENIANS OF GEORGIA CALL ON TO RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE CONDUCTED AGAINST ARMENIANS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
TBILISI, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Events dedicated to
the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims continued in Georgia on
April 24. About 150 representatives of Armenian public organizations
of Georgia organized a peaceful mass meeting and lighting of candles
in front of the Embassy of Turkey to Georgia. The demontsrators read
a letter addressed to the Government of Turkey by which they called
the latter to recognize the crime committed againt Armenians. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, the liturgy and divine service were celebrated at the
Surb Gevorg Armenian church of Tbilisi. Then a mourning event took
place at the State Armenian Dramatic Theater of Tbilisi where RA
Ambassador to Georgia Hrach Silvanian made the opening speech for
the participants. An ecumenic evening of spiritual songs took place
at the Surb Gevorg Church in the evening, with the participation
of the Georgian Christian sister churches choirs The events in
Tbilisi finished with lighting candles round the Surb Etchmiadzin
church. Events dedicated to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims
took place in other regions of Georgia as well. Liturgies and divine
services were celebrated at the Armenian churches of Akhaltskha,
Akhalkalak, Ninotsminda amd Batumi, mourning mass meetings took
place. The mass meeting in Akhalkalak finished by laying a wreath
at the khachkar (cross stone) to the memory of the Genocide victims
placed on one of the hills near the city two years ago. Atom Egoyan’s
“Ararat” film was shown by the Republican TV of Ajaria.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEMORY CEREMONY TAKES PLACE IN SURB KATARINE ARMENIAN CHURCH OF SAINT PETERSBURG
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 26 2006
SAINT PETERSBURG, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Memory
ceremony of the Armenian Genocide took place in the Surb Katarine
(Saint Katarine) Armenian church of Saint Petersburg on April 24. The
RA Consulate General to Saint Petersburg, the RA Armed Forces soldiers’
guard of honour, Armenians of Saint Petersburg and local Russian
inhabitation laid wreaths to the khachkar (cross stone) placed at the
entrance of the church. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign
Ministry’s Press and Information Department, after the midday the
Saint Petersburg “Nor Serund” (New Generation) youth organization of
the Armenian Apostolic Church organized an event where young people
made speeches for compatriots, a film was shown.