"WE ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO THE RELATIONS WITH OUR MOTHERLAND"
By Tamar Hovhannisian, Beirut

AZG Armenian Daily
17/05/2007

Each year in May international communities celebrate Radio Day. On
this occasion we conduct an interview with the director of Beirut’s
"Vana dzain" radio-station Armen Aptalian.

– It’s already 20 years that Lebanon’s "Vana dzain" radio-station
exists. What do you want to tell us about the way you have passed?

– First of all I want to welcome and thank "Azg" daily for this
interview.

"Vana dzain" radio-station was founded in 1986, by efforts of Harut
Hagimanukian. At first we recorded and broadcasted only Armenian
songs. In 1989 Lebanon’s Central Committee of ARF took the management
of the radio-station. Thanks to this, the radio-station became the
official organ of Lebanon’s Central Committee of ARF.

– What kind of reaction had the foundation of "Vana dzain" in the
official circles of Lebanon?

– I should mention with gratification that in 1999 "Vana dzain" gained
a state recognition of Lebanon’s government. It was, of course, one of
the greatest achievements of Armenians in Lebanon. The recognition of
the government gave us "First class license", which, in its turn,
afforded an opportunity of broadcasting not only cultural, but
also political news and programmes. So, our radio-station is one
of the seven primary radio-stations in the world. It has 24-hour
broadcasting. "Vana dzain" station’s adopted ideological, social
and cultural path and also modern techniques contributed to our
success. New equipments were gained, 2 stations were constructed,
and new employees completed the editorial staff.

– What is the guarantee of having the auditorium not only in Lebanon,
but also in the whole Diaspora?

– First of all the variety of the programmes, which is consonant
with the condition and time demands of Lebanon and Diaspora
Armenians. Literary, cultural, children’s, women’s and other programmes
satisfy the demands of the listeners to a considerable extent.

– Mr. Aptalian, you have been the director of "Vana dzain" since
2003. You are a politician by profession, how do you evaluate the
freedom of speech endowed to you by the government of Lebanon?

– Our policy is clear – we must not propagandize against the adopted
national security ideas of the government of Lebanon. In the rest we
are free.

– How practicable is the freedom of speech and press in Lebanon?

– I must confirm that in comparison with other states’ media, Lebanon
is one of the states in the world that has the most independent media.

– Which are nowadays problems of "Vana Dzain" in your opinion?

– We have 3 problems: to present properly Armenian song and music to
the Armenians of the world, to make audible East Armenian language
and third, to present the political outline of ARF of Lebanon, also
to give proper information to our listeners (now also in Internet)
about the political, economic, social events in Lebanon.

– Are your broadcastings only in Armenian?

– No, we have also 2-hours programme in Arabic every day. The guests
of this programme are intellectuals, delegates, and well-known
political figures.

– In the last 2 years artists from our motherland has been the guests
of "Vana dzain" in particular, i.e.

reciter Silva Yuzbashian in 2005, singers Sirusho and Syuzan Margarian
in 2006, this year pianist, musician Tamar Hovhannisian, etc. It is
noticeable that all the artists that are on tour in Lebanon become
the guests of "Vana dzain" and you conduct interesting interviews
with them.

– That is the truth. It’s our unbreakable principle.

We invite all the artists, who come from our motherland, no matter
who invite them to Lebanon. We run the same policy in Lebanon also
keeping in touch with cultural circles of Ramkavars and Hnchakians.

– "Vana dzain" opened new and valuable pages in its history making
connections with all Armenians in the world by live broadcasting. It’s
a peculiar "radio bridge" of a great importance.

– Sure. I can’t forget, for example, one of our live broadcastings,
when we could make a connection with an Armenian nurse Hakinta
Muradian, from Heshtia village, Ninotsminda, who told us very
interesting things about Gavakhk.

About 30 Armenians had a talk with us in our live broadcastings.

– Have "Vana dzain" an archive, and if yes, what does it contain?

– Of course we have an archive. We keep the voices of many well-known
Armenian intellectuals, i. e. Silva Kaputikian, Mher Mkrtchian, Sos
Sargsian, Khoren Abrahamian, etc. Sound recording library is also very
rich. Fortunately, we could gain the performances of gusan Shahen,
gusan Ashot, Vache Hovsepian and others, also Aram Merangulian’s
National Instruments Ensemble and Tatul Altunian’s Song and Dance
Ensemble.

– You have established an active connection with the Armenian Public
Radio. Do you anticipate further developments of this connection?

– Every week, 30 minutes Armenian Public Radio has a live broadcasting
with "Vana dzain". This kind of connection is very important for
us. It’s the beginning of a "radio bridge". We must try to have a
real and wide "radio-bridge" with our motherland.

Today Armenian Diaspora has various radio programmes in different
state and private radio-stations of different countries all over the
world, i.e. Cyprus, France, Australia, Argentina, etc. The Armenian
radio-stations are rare in Diaspora, and "Vana dzain" is the only
24-hour radio-station. We want to wish "Vana dzain" longevity.

My best wishes and thanks to "Azg" daily and its readership.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress