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07/07/2004
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1. 28th Annual Navasartian Games End With Festivities
2. No Truth to Withdrawal from Karabagh Territory Says Oskanian
3. Chief Prosecutor Cracks Down on Tax Evasion
4. NEWS BRIEFS
1. 28th Annual Navasartian Games End With Festivities
20,000 attend 29th Annual Homenetmen Navasartian Closing Ceremonies
By Jenny Kiljian
LOS ANGELES–The 29th Annual Homenetmen Navasartian Games came to a
triumphant
close on July 4, with a special ceremony at the Grant High School football
field, marking the culmination of all activities, as well as the Honorary
Presidency of Mr. and Mrs. Charly and Julie Ghailian.
Thousands began to enter the field shortly before 6 o’clock in the
evening, to
secure seats in order to cheer for their chapters during the parade. They were
entertained by the Aline dance troupe, who performed the renowned Vagharshabad
Armenian dance. The Homenetmen marching band, under the direction of Harout
Kilijian, delighted the crowd with its renditions of Armenian national
melodies.
The closing ceremonies officially began with the arrival of Honorary
Presidents Charles and Julie Ghailian, Prelate Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Homenetmen Central Executive chairman Karnig Megerdichian, ARF
Bureau member Viken Hovsepian, ARF Central Committee representative Hovig
Saliba, Armenia’s Consul General to the US Gagik Kirakosian, and 2004
Exemplary
Homenetmen members Kapriel and Asdghig Panossian.
Homenetmen Television (HTV) personalities Nora Tchaparian and Patil
Aposhian-Kassabian served as announcers during the closing ceremonies.
Immediately at 6 PM, as they directed the audience to turn attention to the
sky, skydivers carrying the American and Armenian flags landed on the field,
marking the beginning of the yearly parade.
Taking permission from the Honorary Presidents, Regional Scoutmaster Hrair
Boyadjian invited the Homenetmen flag guards to enter the stadium, carrying
with them 28 Armenian flags, while the Homenetmen marching band roused the
patriotism of the crowd by playing the national anthems of Armenia and the
United States, and the Homenetmen anthem.
Master of Ceremonies Stepan Boyajian asked the audience to stand for a moment
of silence in remembrance of recently deceased Homenetmen members, noting
especially Haig Hovsepian, in whose honor the year’s Overall Event trophies
were given.
Boyajian also welcomed several special guests, including Glendale City Mayor
Bob Yousefian; Glendale City Councilmembers Rafi Manoukian and Frank Quintero;
State Senator Jack Scott; Boghos Patatian, Field Representative to State
Assemblymember Steve Samuelian; Maria Armoudian, Legislative Analyst for State
Senator Richard Alarcon; Glendale Unified School District Board of Education
President Greg Krikorian, and Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member
Jon Lauritzen.
In his address, Homenetmen Regional chairman Viggen Davidian congratulated
all
the teams who had participated in this year’s tournament, and also to all the
chapter executives, coaches, and parents who volunteered their time and
supported their athletes and scouts throughout the year. Davidian charged the
more than 7,000 members of the Homenetmen Western Region with the task of not
only keeping the Homenetmen athletic and scouting alive, but also with passing
the torch of Armenian culture and heritage to the next generation of Armenian
youth.
Homenetmen Central Executive chairman Karnig Megerdichian came from
Lebanon to
enjoy the Navasartian festivities with his Armenian-American counterparts.
According to Megerdichian, the Western Regional Navasartian Games are a source
of pride not only for the chapters who participate each year, but also for the
entire Homenetmen family–91 chapters in 10 regions throughout the world.
Megerdichian praised the Homenetmen Western Region for its 29 years of hard
work and commitment to the Navasartian Games, also thanking the athletes and
parents who have kept the fire of the Armenian heritage alive through their
participation in Homenetmen.
Prelate Moushegh Mardirossian addressed the crowd, reminding the spectators
and Homenetmen members alike of their strong connection to the homeland,
Armenia. Homenetmen, he said, has not only instilled its motto “Elevate
Yourself and Others With You” in the hearts and minds of young Armenians, but
has also allowed the Diaspora to maintain ties to the homeland.
The 2004 Exemplary Homenetmen Members, Mr. and Mrs. Kapriel and Asdghig
Panossian of the San Francisco chapter, were then invited to the stage to
receive the award for their unparalleled devotion to the organization. The
Panossians thanked Homenetmen for this recognition, and reminded the audience
of the important role Homenetmen plays in keeping the Armenian language and
spirit alive throughout the world.
Then began the much awaited parade, heralded by the Armenian patriotic songs
of the Homenetmen marching band. The region’s 19 chapters each took their turn
around the field, waving to the cheering spectators. Once the chapters had
arrived on the football field, the Western Regional chairman Viggen Davidian,
Western Regional Athletic Committee Representative Vicken Apelian, Honorary
Presidents Mr. and Mrs. Charly Ghailian, and Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
took the stage to award this year’s Overall Event trophies.
After the trophies were presented, the crowd of thousands left the stadium
and
headed to the festival area, to be entertained by well-loved singers Joseph
Krikorian and Harout Pamboukjian. They patronized the booths, ate delicious
Armenian food, and danced until midnight, when the Navasartian Games and
festival came to its official close.
2. No Truth to Withdrawal from Karabagh Territory Says Oskanian
YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–Armenia’s foreign minister Vartan Oskanian
dismissed reports by the Azeri press that he had agreed to the Armenian side’s
withdrawal from all territories, except Karabagh.
Baku Today wrote that Turkey’s Zaman newspaper reported on Wednesday, that
Oskanian’s Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul told a meeting of Turkey’s ruling
Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Friday that an important step had been
taken in resolving the 16-year-long Mountainous Karabagh conflict.
Gul alleged that Oskanian said, “We can withdraw from all territories except
Karabagh,” during their meeting on the sidelines of NATO summit in Istanbul
just last week.
When asked about the statement, Oskanian told a Noyan Tapan reporter that no
such thing happened, and that Gul’s assertion does “not correspond to the
facts.”
3. Chief Prosecutor Cracks Down on Tax Evasion
YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Prosecutor-General Aghvan Hovsepian called for a drastic
toughening of punishment for widespread tax evasion in Armenia, saying
existing
sanctions are “absurdly soft.”
“Based on Armenia’s criminal code, there is a maximum two year prison
sentence
for tax evasion,” he told reporters. “I would say that this is an absurd
punishment, a very soft one.”
Hovsepian said his agency will petition the Armenian government to push
parliament to set the maximum jail term for such offenses at 10 years. The
existing criminal legislation creates a “serious problem” for the prosecutors
investigating fiscal fraud, he added.
The current cabinet’s tax revenues equaled less than 15 percent of the
country’s Gross Domestic Product last year.
Even the most lucrative of Armenian businesses routinely post suspicious
financial losses in what many analysts see as an easy way to evade the 20
percent taxation on profits. Armenia’s enterprises have claimed as much as 200
billion drams ($376 million) in aggregate losses in 2003, despite a
record-high
rate of economic growth.
Hovsepian revealed that an unidentified person was recently prosecuted for
and
convicted by a court of tax fraud totaling 7 billion drams. He complained that
the man got off with a short sentence and was freed in the courtroom
because of
the time he had spent in pre-trial detention.
Many businesspeople, he said, prefer spending several months in jail to
paying
up.
4. NEWS BRIEFS
Russian Foreign Minister Reports about His Armenian Origin
MOSCOW (ARMENPRESS)During a joint press conference held with Armenian Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who had
served as Kremlin’s longtime representative to the United Nations, revealed
his
ethnic Armenian roots. Prompted by a reporter’s remark about Lavrov’s
“Armenian-looking” face, the Russian Foreign Minister stated, “I have Armenian
blood. My father is an Armenian from Tbilisi.”
Metropolitan Opera Soloist Isabel Bayrakdarian to Visit Armenia
YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)In mid-July Metropolitan Opera singer, Canadian Armenian
world famous soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian will visit Armenia. She is
expected to
also visit Stepanakert, where she will perform on July 24 at the city’s
cultural house. According to Pan-Armenian Educational and Cultural Union
Armenian office head Lilit Galstian, the singer will perform the songs of
Komitas, and will be accompanied on the piano by Meruj Krajian.
After receiving the Metropolitan opera prize in 1997, Bayrakdarian moved
on to
place first in the 2000 Operalia contest of Placido Domingo. During the same
year, she received a special golden medal from Queen Elizabeth II.
Bayrakdarian’s voice was recently used for the feature films Ararat and
Lord of
the Rings.
Egoyan’s Ararat Wins Top Prize at Yerevan Film Festival
YEREVAN (ARMENPRESS)Atom Egoyan’s two-year-old movie “Ararat” won the top
prize at the Golden Apricot International Film Festival. The festival included
57 movies by directors from 20 countries. Toronto-based Egoyan is a
Canadian of
Armenian heritage. In 2003, the film won five Genie Awards in Toronto,
including one for best picture.
Armenia, Cyprus Sign Health Cooperation Agreement
NICOSIA (ARMENPRESS)On Monday, Armenia and Cyprus signed a cooperation
agreement in the field of health and medicine. Cyprus Minister of Health
Constantia Akkelidou, told reporters after the signing ceremony that numerous
exchange visits and other forms of cooperation between the two countries will
result from the agreement.
“Cyprus has fulfilled an old pledge it gave to Armenia by sending medicine
and
medical equipments to the country,” Akkelidou said. Armenian Ambassador to
Cyprus Vahram Kazhoyan who represented his country said the two countries have
a long history of cooperation in the field of medical sciences and healthcare.
“I am glad that we were finally able to sign the agreement which puts all this
cooperation in a legal framework,” he said. The ambassador added that as a
gesture of good will, Cyprus will ship a container of medicine to Armenia in
the near future.
Imitation Armenian Brandy Operation Uncovered in Russia
MOSCOW (ARMINFO)Russian and Armenian investigators recently uncovered an
imitation Armenian brandy operation based in the village of Khripan,
Russia. It
was revealed that the workshop had been producing thousands of bottles of
brandy bearing counterfeit stamps of the Yerevan Brandy Company. Fraudulent
bottles of brands such as Ararat, Akhtamar and Nairi were being sold through
wholesale firms. Operation heads are now facing criminal charges.
Khatami Underscores Regional Stability and Peace
TEHRAN (ARMENPRESS)At a joint press conference on Wednesday, Iranian
president
Mohammad Khatami and his Georgian counterpart Mikhail Saakashvili, announced
the further expansion of bilateral relations. In his remarks, Khatami noted
that although steps towards closer relations have been taken by both
countries,
they have generally been insufficient. He emphasized the need to expand
cooperation in the area of trade and commerce. For his part, the Georgian
president referred to Iran as an important and influential country in the
world, and said that Tehran is one of Tbilisi’s major economic partners.
Saakashvili’s two-day official visit will end on July 8.
Kocharian Delivers ‘Constitution Day’ Address
YEREVAN (ARMINFO)On July 5 the Armenian public celebrated the 9th Anniversary
of the Armenian Constitution. In his message, President Robert Kocharian noted
that the “adoption of the Constitution encompasses a historic significance for
any nation and state. The Constitution has become a strong impetus for
fundamental reforms in the Armenian legislation, as well as for reinforcement
of the people’s power and establishment of the supremacy of law. Celebrating
the Constitution Day we, as citizens, celebrate the Day of our rights and
liberties.”
Pakistani President to Visit Azerbaijan
BAKU (ARMENPRESS)Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will arrive in Baku on
an official visit on Thursday. According to news reports, Pakistani and Azeri
experts have been working to draft five documents that are expected to be
signed during the visit. The documents outline future cooperation in the
fields
of commerce, agriculture and finance.
Group of Armenian Journalists Visit Armenian-Azeri Contact Line
YEREVAN (ARMINFO)On Tuesday, a group of over 70 Armenian journalists visited
the Armenian-Azeri armed forces contact line. The group visited the
north-eastern grouping of the Armenian army near the villages of Berkaber
(Armenia) and Mizamlu (Azerbaijan). It was there that two Armenian servicemen
were killed by Azeri snipers early last month. Azeri media reported that 7
Azeri servicemen were also killed. According to Armenian Defense Ministry
reports, the skirmish began after Azeri soldiers attempted to capture a
reservoir that supplies water to four Armenian villages.
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