Author: Boshkezenian Garik

Armenian leader’s would-be killer to stand trial on 25 July

Noyan Tapan news agency
14 Jul 05

YEREVAN

Court hearings into an attempt to kill the Armenian president [Robert
Kocharyan] and the defence minister [Serzh Sarkisyan] will start on 25
July, Noyan Tapan learnt today from the office of Pargev Oganyan, a
judge of the first instance court of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork Marash
communities who will preside over the case.

Gagik Grigoryan, the only defendant in the case, faces charges under
Articles 38, 35, 305 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, i.e. complicity
in masterminding the assassination of state, political and public
figures.

ARKA News Agency
July 13 2005

OSCE MINSK GROUP’S CO-CHAIRS TO ARRIVE IN NAGORNO KARABAKH

STEPANAKERT, July 13. /ARKA/. OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chairs Yuri
Merzlyakov, Russia, Bernard Fassier (France) and Steven Mann (the
U.S.A.) are expected to arrive in Nagorno Karabakh on Wednesday.
ARKA News Agency’s correspondent reports from Stepanakert that
International mediators intend to meet with Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic’s President Arkady Ghukasyan.
The OSCE Minsk Group’s Co-Chairs will return back to Yerevan on June
14. M.V. -0–

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
July 13, 2005
CONTACT: Peter Abajian
Email: [email protected]

Assembly Youth Commemorate Genocide Through Clean Up at
Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Monument

Yerevan, Armenia – While Americans were celebrating Independence Day
last week, young people participating in the Armenian Assembly’s Young
Leadership Mission were busy clearing brush near the Tsitsernakaberd
Genocide Monument to honor the victims and survivors of the Armenian
Genocide during this 90th commemorative year.

Three teams of children ranging in age from 5 to 17, including six who
live in Armenia, picked up trash, pruned trees and cleared brush at a
park adjacent to the Genocide Monument to prepare for the planting of
additional trees. The cleanup effort, which lasted two hours, was
held in cooperation with the Armenia Tree Project, the Armenian
Assembly and the Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Monument.

“I am so thankful that the Armenian Assembly helped arrange this
effort,” said Ani Boghosian, 16, who lives in Etchmiadzin. “We need
to keep our country clean every day, not just on special days like
this.”

Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian, who is also in
Armenia, said the cleanup proved to be a success. “This project gave
youngsters a chance to reconnect with their roots, remember their
ancestors, and best of all, appreciate their homeland.”

“It was fun!” said five-year-old Vanna Kizirian of Redondo Beach,
California.

“I am so pleased that the children who participated in this cleanup
effort, both residents of Armenia and the United States, value the
efforts they made to improve a historically significant and
emotionally charged place,” added Gayane Tatoulian, whose children
Ariana, 14, and Jenna, 11, took part in the effort. “Whenever these
kids think about the Genocide Monument, they are going to remember
their hard work today.”

The Armenian Assembly’s Young Leadership Mission brought together the
Assembly’s intern alumni, young professionals and families with
children for a unique opportunity to experience their ancestral
homeland with an eye to the future.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

NR#2005-078

Photograph available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:

Caption: Children participating in the Armenian Assembly’s Young
Leadership Group Mission to Armenia took part in a community cleanup
project aimed at honoring the victims and survivors of the Armenian
Genocide.

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NEWSDIGEST July 01-08, 2005
By Ruzanna Amiraghyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

JULY 4 – JULY 8: NEWS FROM ARMENIA’S NEIGHBORHOOD

An accident on July 4 at a power substation in Georgia cut off
electricity supplies to the country’s eastern regions.

Hospitals and the subway in Tbilisi lost power.

On July 4, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in
Azerbaijan Afshar Sulaymani held a press conference on his
country’s presidential elections result. Commenting on relations
between Armenia and Iran, he stated that the foreign policy of his
country is based on good-neighbor relations. The ambassador condemned
all those who raise the question of the so-called South Azerbaijan and
underlined that the issue does not bring benefit to Azerbaijan.

Parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan will be held on November 6th
according to a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on July
4. Elections to the 125-seat parliament will be held according to
party lists for the first time.

On July 5 Armenia marked Constitution Day. President Robert Kocharyan
congratulated citizens, saying: `Within the past decade our
Constitution has demonstrated its viability and has pointed the way to
overcome the hardest situations. The Basic Law of our country is the
major guarantor of civil accord, rule of law and stability.’

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Gegham Gharibjanyan met with
the Governor of Iran’s Hormozgan Province, Ebrahim Derazmisu, on
July 5. They discussed the establishment of economic cooperation
between the Iranian province and the Ararat region of Armenia in the
fields of commerce, tourism and the export of fruit and fish products.

`My optimism on settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict is
based on the intentions of state leaders. They perceive that finding
ways of settlement fitting both parties is in the interests of
Azerbaijan and Armenia,’ Goran Lennmarker, the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly (PA) rapporteur on Nagorno Karabakh, said on July 5. `I
will also say that at present all international organizations –
NATO, OSCE and the Council of Europe – support the search for a
lasting settlement of the conflict. This is an exclusive chance that
should not be lost.

`You can use Europe’s experience. Do not forget we had conflicts
and wars – more durable and bloody than this one – in our
history, too. Hundreds of million people died in conflicts in Western
Europe. Despite it we learned to coexist…Why cannot Azeris and
Armenians live as Europeans do? You are part of Europe. Like other
Europeans you deserve high life standards, all freedoms. I believe it
will be possible if the conflict is settled.’

On July 5 the OSCE Mission held a recurrent monitoring visit at the
contact line between Karabakh and Azeri armed forces. The monitoring
was conducted near the village of Kuropatkino in Martakert region of
NKR.

Gas supplies through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan gas pipeline were the
subject of discussions between the Georgian Minister of Fuel and
Energy, Nika Gilauri, and officials in Azerbaijan on July 6. According
to their agreement, Georgia will be able to get 800 million cubic
meters of gas annually in return for fuel transit rights through its
territory. At present, Georgia is dependent on Russia for gas
supplies.

On July 6, Larisa Alaverdyan, the Ombudsperson of the Republic of
Armenia, presented the statistical data of the activities of her
office for the first 6 months of the current year. More than 1,450
complaints were addressed to Alaverdyan: 110 concerned the police, 103
the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, 95 the courts, and 73 the
Municipality of Yerevan.

ARTS DIGEST: A ROUND-UP OF EVENTS IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT IN ARMENIA
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow arts reporter

FRENCH CONNECTION: About 50 Armenian organizations in France took part
in a public meeting in Marseilles on July 2 to make preparations for
the Year of Armenia in France, Arminfo reported on July
6. Armenia’s ambassador to France, Eduard Nalbandyan, informed the
participants about the preliminary programs for the celebration and
stressed that the festival showed the high level of relations between
the two countries.

RUSSIA REMEMBERS KHACHATURYAN: A monument to the Armenian composer
Aram Khachaturyan will be erected in Moscow following a decision on
Tuesday by a city council commission. The memorial will be erected in
a public park in central Moscow near the house in which the composer
lived.

BOOK DAY: The 86th anniversary of the National Library was marked on
July 6 and 7. The male gymnasium of Yerevan, built in 1832, became the
National Library of Armenia in 1919. Cultural staff taking part in the
celebration included the chairmen of the Theatre Workers’ and Writers’
unions, the president of the Armenian Encyclopedia, and the chairman
of the Fridtjof Nansen Fund, Azg reported.

Henry Cuny, the French Ambassador to Armenia, congratulated the
Library and said that when an old man dies in Africa people say a
library died. He added: “They say so to emphasize the importance of
memory.’

A TRUE STORY: Director Atom Egoyan presented his new film Where the
Truth Lies at the 40th international film festival in the Czech health
resort of Karlovi Vari, Azg reported.

The film is based on the novel by Nero Wolfe and tells the story of
Lanny Morris (Kevin Bacon) and Vincent Collins (Colin Firth), the
hottest showbiz duo in America in the 1950s. It is built on the
contrast between private and public lives and explores the dark,
beguiling, and inevitably destructive side of fame and fortune.

WORLD OF COLORS: The “Canvas, Oil Paints 2005” exhibition runs at the
Academy picture gallery in Yerevan from July 1 to 15. Works by 23
modern Armenian artists are exhibited. Gor Vardanian, director of the
Academy gallery, said that the exhibition would be held annually each
July. Narek Avetisian, Ararat Sargsian, Arthur Sargsian, Teni
Vardanian, Grigor Mikaelian are among artists represented.

LIVING CULTURE: The One Nation, One Culture Foundation opens a
festival entitled `Maintain Our Culture’ on July 8 in all
regions of Armenia and in Artsakh. Events involving musicians, actors
and other artists will be held, as well as exhibitions. The opening
ceremony is taking place in Metsamor in Armavir region.

KILIKIA SAILS ON: The Armenian vessel Kilikia, journeying through the
Mediterranean, was welcomed at Marseilles in France on July 3, Arminfo
said. Armenia’s Ambassador to France Eduard Nalbandyan, head of the
municipality, senators, deputies and more than 1,000 members of the
Armenian Diaspora were present at a reception. Kilikia will visit
Barcelona, Cadiz, Lisbon, La Corunya, San Sebastian, La Rochelle,
Brest, Cork, Dublin, Portsmouth and Amsterdam over the next four
months. The crew plans to berth in Amsterdam for the winter.

SPORTS DIGEST: NATION’S TEENAGERS GO FOR EUROPEAN FOOTBALL GLORY

By Suren Musayelyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

FOOTBALL
Armenia’s U-19 national team has flown to France for training
sessions in preparation for the crucial European Championship finals.

The squad will gather at the newly constructed sports center in Aubon,
20 kilometers from Paris, for 10 days ahead of the championships in
Northern Ireland later this month.

Before leaving for France on Monday, head coach Samvel Petrosyan said
that the team had the goal of finishing first or second in its group
and to qualify for the semifinals.

Ashot Manukyan, technical director of the Football Federation of
Armenia, said that the team felt optimistic about their chances. He
was sure that `the lads would do everything to accomplish the task
set for them and reach the semifinals’.

Manukyan added: `The FFA and its president spare no effort or means
for our juniors to make serious preparations for the European
championship finals, and I think that we will return home
victoriously.’

The squad that left for France includes Zhora Hovhannisyan, Gurgen
Meliksetyan, Artur Stepanyan, Armen Fishyan, Hayk Chilingaryan, Khoren
Veranyan, Mkhitar Grigoryan, Artak Oseyan, Rafael Safaryan, Alexander
Petrosyan, Gevorg Nranyan, Artak Hovhannisyan, Vahe Mehrabyan, Mikhel
Simonyan, Narek Manukyan and Armen Hovhannisyan. Edgar Manucharyan,
Edel Apula Edima Bete and Karl Lombe will join the U19s in Northern
Ireland.

Manukyan said only two players in the squad were carrying minor
injuries and they were recovering well . The team is scheduled to play
two friendlies with local clubs during its stay in France.

Armenia will play their first match of the championships against
Norway in Lurgan on July 18. The second match will take place against
England in Ballymena on July 20 and the final group game will be
against France in Lurgan on July 23.

(Based on a Football Federation of Armenia report)

PREMIER LEAGUE LOSES TEAM: Lernayin Artsakh has withdrawn from the
Armenian Football Premiership because it has decided to join the
Karabakh football league. To add confusion to the story, the current
Ararat II team that was playing in the First Division this year has
reclaimed its original name – Lernayin Artsakh.

Meanwhile, players from the Lernayin-Artsakh squad have claimed the
Ararat II name and will play in the First League. The new Ararat II
has appointed Samvel Ghasaboghlyan head coach after Arkadi Andreasyan
announced his resignation last week. ().

CHESS
LOSING DRAW: Liviu Nisipeanu from Romania won the title at the
Men’s Individual Championship in Poland, gaining 10 out of a
possible 13 points. Armenia’s Karen Asryan and Levon Aronyan, who
had a good chance to finish second, played each other in the final
round and ended their match with a draw after only the 11th move. A
victory for either would have guaranteed a bronze medal.

Aronyan and Asryan earned 9 points and placed 5th and 9th
respectively. Ukraine’s Sergey Karyakin, who finished 3rd, also had
9 points, but the Armenian players were ranked lower in results. The
other six Armenian competitors did not achieve a finish in the top 34
that gives the right to participate in the world championships. (A1
Plus)

WRESTLING
MEDALS GALORE: Armenian wrestlers gained six medals in an
international junior tournament in the Iranian town of Kazvin. About
300 wrestlers from eight countries participated in the tournament.

Artyom Simonyan (42 kg) and Gegham Melkonyan (69 kg) won in the
freestyle section. Gor Geghamyan took the silver in the 46 kg event.

Gold in the Greco-Roman wrestling went to Hovhannes Hakobyan (50 kg),
while Harutyun Hovhannisyan (46 kg) and Aram Julfalakyan (58 kg) won
bronze medals. The head coach of Armenia’s freestyle wrestling team
is Vache Arakelyan, the coaches of the Greco-Roman style wrestling
team are Gagik Yeghiazaryan and Andranik Arzumanyan. (Armenpress)

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th Street, NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
Email [email protected]
Internet

PRESS RELEASE
July 7, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

REP. BOBBY JINDAL DISCUSSES ARMENIAN AMERICAN
CONCERNS WITH LOCAL CONSTITUENT

ANCA Intern Tamar Meguerditchian Outlines Local Community Agenda

Washington, DC – ANCA Leo Sarkisian Summer intern Tamar
Meguerditchian from New Orleans, LA was invited to speak with Rep.
Bobby Jindal (R-LA) Tuesday, June 28th at his office on the Hill. A
local community activist in Rep. Jindal’s district, Meguerditchian
helped lay the foundation upon which Louisiana’s Armenian Americans
can create an open relationship with their representative.

“I was grateful for the opportunity to solidify a relationship and
friendship with Rep. Jindal – one which could then foster a
stronger bond between the Congressman and Louisiana Armenians,
giving us a stronger voice in government,” stated Meguerditchian.
“As an active member of his Indian American community, Rep. Jindal
understands the importance of ongoing activism and our mission to
increase community involvement in the legislative process.”

ANCA Government Affairs Director Kate Nahapetian accompanied
Meguerditchian at the meeting, where the two discussed various
legislative issues with the Congressman, including the Armenian
Genocide Resolution (H. Res. 316), the Turkish blockade of Armenia,
and the Darfur Genocide Accountability Act (H. R. 1424).
Meguerditchian expressed her community’s ongoing efforts to expand
trade and improve relations between Armenia and the U.S

Rep. Jindal is the first Indian American to be elected to Congress
in the last 50 years. A Congressman with an “Open Door” policy, his
constituents include residents of Metairie, Kenner, New Orleans and
Slidell, Louisiana. First elected in 2004, Rep. Jindal serves on
the Education & Workforce, Homeland Security and Resources
committees.

-30-

Photo Caption: ANCA intern Tamar Meguerditchian with
Louisiana Congressman Bobby Jindal.

Dar Al-Hayat, Saudi Arabia
June 30 2005

When Will Turkey Admit the Armenian Holocaust?
Turki Ali Alrabi’u Al-Hayat – 30/06/05//

I was too young when I learned about the Holocaust that happened
against the Armenians, when I realized the existence of the “Armenian
other” living among us. Our neighbor Mubarak – that was his name- was
Armenian. He was really “mubarak” (= blessed, in Arabic), since he
had the chance to have relations with four women. He was one of ours
in the tribe. Miriam, our generous aunt used to feed us with fresh
bread strait from the bakery. Her four offsprings used to share with
us the same normal life. I never heard a single remark of
discrimination against them based on the fact that their mother is
Armenian. I was really surprised later when I read the auto
biography of Yassine El Hafez that he wrote in his book entitled
“Defeat and the defeated Ideology” published back in 1978. The author
was called ‘the son of the Armenian’ in Deir El Zoor City, despite
the fact that this Armenian was known always known as “the aunt” in
that city. The most important is that my concern about the Armenian
Holocaust started growing later when I began to become acquainted
with more Armenians, who live among us in the tribe or in nearby
zones inhibited by Armenians who settle in their own villages. I
recall that I ran barefoot all the way in order to say good bye to
Armenians in the “Abu Jalal” village before they went back to
Armenia. This was back in 1963. The Armenians still feel these strong
ties with the Arabs, especially with members of the Arab tribes who
received and hosted them in dire moments of their life to protect
them from the intolerant bigotry.

I accompanied my friend Abu Zuba’, who became an Engineer, to listen
to uncle Mubarak, who used to tell us about his dilemma. We were
circumspect to keep in mind what he has to tell us. We were even
determined to tape his memoirs before it may be too late since the
man was elderly. Nothing happened because we lost sight of each other
in the course of time.

The Holocaust was vivid in the collective memory in cities like “Al
Qamishli”. Victims recognize their tyrants or, specifically, those
who participated in the Holocaust. Some books like “the Utmost in the
Catastrophes Against Christians” mention the names of families that
participated in the massacres against the Armenians. The will to
coexist was given high priority, which allowed the Armenians to
succeed in the various disciplines they worked in. Some went in
Diaspora over the hemisphere. They were adept and innovative after
their new settlement. It is as if they are the salt of the globe as
said. Other nations seem to have forgotten what happened to the
Armenians despite the continuous reminders of the Holocaust. It
appeared to some that the Jewish Holocaust is paramount. We Arabs
have no interest in denying the Jewish Holocaust; we followed Roger
Garaudy to adopt his opinion mentioned in his book “The Founding
Myths of Israeli Politics”. As a matter of fact, the Jewish efforts
to monopolize the use of the term Holocaust is vain, both
intellectually and ethically. One wonders about Norman Fenkelstein’s
claim in his book “The Holocaust Industry” that promotes the
exclusivity of the Jewish Holocaust model. What makes the monopoly?
Fenkelstein opines that the exclusive suffering yields an exclusive
privilege. The exclusivity of the Holocaust make it an “ethical
asset”. The Jews must claim the right to this “Sacred Property”.
Claiming exclusivity for the Holocaust is tantamount to claim
exclusivity for the Jews. This claim led to minimize other Holocausts
and genocide. Fenkelstein scorns, “one cannot compare the loss of
the life of a Gypsy as compared to the life of a Jew.” Moreover,
admitting the mass murder of the gypsies means losing the Jewish
privilege. The Armenian case follows the same rationale. Later, the
eminent British Orientalist Bernard Lewis came to deny the
perpetuation of the Armenian Holocaust by Turks, the matter that led
him to be condemned by a French court of justice.

The Armenian Holocaust remained a taboo. At the end of the Second
Millennium and as the Third Millennium started its day break the
Holocaust industry is undermined by pressures and new lobbies. These
new factors forced the United States to build a museum for the Red
Indians next to the Congress. The Museum was inaugurated on
21/9/2004. It is located on the last green field, gathering several
museums. It is called the “Potomac”, which means that good people may
enter.

I believe that denying the Armenian Holocaust has been subject to
political and ideological factors. Since Turkey is still a NATO
member and has established friendly ties with Israel, the U.S. does
not exert any pressure. The question that may be raised is: What if
the Justice and Development party of (AKP), led by Turkish PM Recep
Tayyib Erdogan goes to admit the Holocaust against the Armenians,
regardless of its size. The Turks say that only three hundred
thousand Armenians were killed and not one and a half Million. Still,
this does not justify the Genocide. The question that comes to mind
is: Why Turkish PM Recep Tayyib Erdogan, who is currently visiting
Lebanon, does not admit the Armenian Holocaust? Why modern Turkey
does not admit the Armenian Holocaust?

*Mr. Ali Alrabi’u is a Syrian writer.

AZG Armenian Daily #119, 29/06/2005

Culture

HASMIK PAPIAN GIVES CONCERTS IN PARIS

Famous soprano Hasmik Papian sang in eight performances of
Tchaykovsky’s “The Queen of Spades” at Opera Bastille on May 28-June
19.

Parisian Le Monde informed that the version performed at the Opera
Bastille was the repetition of the one staged by Leo Dodin in 1999. A
number of famous Russian singers participated in the concerts in Paris,
including Vladimir Galuzin, marvelous tenor. Genady Rozhdenstvensky,
famous conductor, led the orchestra.

“The Queen of Spades ” was staged in St. Petersburg in 1890 for the
first time. It is one of the most complete pieces by Tchaykovsky. The
libretto was written by Modest Tchaykovsky. There are great changes
made in the opera based on the piece with the same name written by
Aleksander Pushkin.

By Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily #119, 29/06/2005

Culture

SUPERB PERFORMANCE OF MARINE ABRAHAMIAN AT RUDOLFINUM

Warm Welcome of Prague Spectators 31 Years Ago

Soloist of Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, professor of Yerevan
Conservatoire, Marine Abrahamian, performed at Josef Suk Hall of
Rudolfinum Concert Hall in Prague on June 15. Wild applause made
her return 3 times for a new performance. Czech spectators were
delighted. “Original performance, superb technique and high performing
art”, the most influential Czech newspaper MF Dnes wrote the next
day. Art critic of Prazhski Noveni, Robert Bland, gave his appraisal,
“All maturity of Abrahamian’s technique came about as a humble
instrument called to express the original musical content… Total
command of the theme and the skill of revealing it are perhaps the
real mastery of her performance”. The author also praises Abrahamian’s
repertoire, which included Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy and Ravel.

Laureate of Smetana Award back in 1974, student of Jacob Flier of
Moscow Conservatoire, Marine Abrahamian reminded the Czech spectators
once again of the art and culture that remote Armenia has.

While talking to Marine at a cafe in downtown Prague, an old woman
approached us and learning that we understand Czech thanked Marine. It
turned out that she attended her concert at Rudolfinum.

The pianist confessed to us that the concert repertoire was rather
complicated and that the works she chose are considered to be a
touchstone for professional musicians. Marine Abrahamian thanked the
organizers of the concert, particularly the Prague Philharmonic that
invited her to Czech Republic. “I feel that my concert at Rudolfinum
opens a new period for me and gives new momentum to work”, she says.

By Hakob Asatrian in Prague

INTERVIEW WITH NKR NA PRESS SERVICE HEAD

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
28 June 05

As we have already informed, on the eve of the parliamentary election
the press centre of the NKR Central Election Committee was set up to
provide overall and objective information on the poll. Our interview
with the head of the press service of the NKR National Assembly Michael
Hajian who temporarily assumed the responsibility for organizing the
press centre is on the functions, logistics, role and importance of
the press centre. NVARD OHANJANIAN: “Mr. Hajian, both the Karabakh and
foreign monitoring missions and the mass media stated that the centre
did a considerable work of providing information. Our readers already
have some idea of the work done by the centre. Would you please give
more details about it” MICHAEL HAJIAN: “The press centre was to cover
both the poll and the CEC activities. However, the main focus was on
the coverage of the election mainly. We were to provide objective and
overall information on the poll not only to the journalists but also
the observers. I cannot give an absolute evaluation of how successfully
we did our work. There may have been shortcomings but, on the whole,
the problem seems to have been solved. The work was done on the
spot. In the morning of June 14 the computers were brought. Technical
support was provided by the specialists of Karabakh Telecom, who were
busy at the centre for three days. The NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs
aided considerably with information. It should be noted that the team
of the centre was divided into technical, information and service
departments. Although the group too was set up on the spot but it
was a team, and I am thankful to the young specialists, particularly
the translators, who were not experienced enough in this kind of
work but did their best. I also want to point out the work of the
administration of the government, the foreign ministry and the staff of
the House of Officers.” N.O.: “It is interesting to know the reaction
of the international observers and mass media to the creation of the
centre.” M.H.: “From the very first moment we sought to provide overall
information to foreign and local mass media equally. As we have already
stated there is a prevalent form of providing information – Media Kit –
a selection of various documents, which contains overall information
on the organizations related to the conduct of elections. Besides,
we compiled a lot of information from the Internet on the reaction of
the world to the poll in Nagorno Karabakh. The opinion was sounded by
both the observers and the mass media that the press centre managed
to duly arrange a considerable number of things. Someone said he had
monitored the election in Kazakhstan and had not seen such a level,
or another person said when Tbilisi was receiving Bush, there was not
such a level of provision of information. Imagine that the reporter
of an opposition paper of Armenia said to me, “Mr. Hajian, you put
us out of our business”, that is to say, they cannot find faults
to write about.” N.O.: “What is the response of the world to this
event of utmost legal and political importance for Karabakh?” M.H.:
“It may sound exaggerated but the world seemed to have left aside all
their concerns and focused on Karabakh. Except for the Azerbaijani
newspapers, all the international news agencies commended the event,
and it aroused particular interest among both the observers and
the mass media.” N.O.: “Besides, interviews, press briefings, press
conferences were held at the press centre. How about this?” M.H.:
“The briefings were mainly given by CEC Chairman Sergey Nassibian. At
the press briefings given once every three hours we gave information
to the visitors of the press centre and the international community
on the results of the poll, particularly, the turnout of voters. In
fact, it was the press release of the CEC via the press centre. All
the information was available in three languages, starting from
the documents to the briefings and press conferences. There were, of
course, shortcomings. We lacked quality interpreters. As to the press
conferences, about a dozen were held by the monitoring delegations
of Armenia, Russia, USA, UK, Czech and Croatia.” N.O.: “Mr. Hajian,
never have this many journalists been invited to the elections in
Karabakh…” M.H.: “Yes, more than 70 journalists arrived on the poll,
the majority represented various international mass media. It should
also be emphasized that the Azerbaijanis learned about the important
event in Karabakh through BBC; it was pointed out that the election
corresponded to the standards of democracy. There may have been
shortcomings but the thing that mattered was the level of democracy
that Karabakh displayed to the world.” N.O.: “In your opinion, how
important is the creation of a press centre to our country?” M.H.:
“I think that the CEC which is the final authority in the conduct
of elections should have a press centre but there is no need for
such a volume. There needs to be a nucleus where the work with
information could be done. Generally, I think, Karabakh should have
a centre for information. It could be organized after the centre of
the kind in Yerevan, which, independent from its status, whether it
is governmental or non-governmental, will fulfill the functions of
accumulating, analyzing and spreading information, organizing press
conferences and briefings, conferences, seminars and other events.”

NVARD OHANJANIAN.
28-06-2005

SYNOPSYS DEVELOPING ACTIVITIES IN ARMENIA

Pan Armenian News
27.06.2005 05:24

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian President Robert Kocharian met today in
Yerevan with President of Synopsys Armenia CJSC SG Aart de Geus,
RA President~Rs press center reported. During the meeting the
Armenian President welcomed the company and wished the activities
were enlarged. ~SArmenia has chosen high technologies as a priority
direction and rates the development of the field to be very
important~T, Robert Kocharian stressed. In his words, the field is
gradually developing and serious business is being formed. He also
informed that the e-service system is being applied to the various
fields of public administration, what is an important step towards
the transparent government. In his turn Aart de Geus presented the
principal directions of their activities in Armenia. He noted that
efficient cooperation with the Armenian institutes of higher education
will be continued.