Author: Chakhmakhchian Vatche

AZG Armenian Daily #086, 07/05/2008

Culture

CONCERTS IN FRESNO DEDICATED TO SAROYAN’S ANNIVERSARY

Two concerts will be held on May 10 in Fresno
dedicated to well-known writer William Saroyan’s 100th
anniversary of birth.

In the afternoon, a concert will be held in the Fresno
Art Museum with participation of musician Richard
Hakobian and his grandchildren

Fresno Community Choir will perform the same evening
in the concert hall of California State University,
"Noyan Tapan" agency reported.

Translated by L.H.

Panorama.am

16:20 06/05/2008

PRESIDENT IN `KAROT’ FESTIVAL

In 13-19 May `Festival’ will take place in Moscow,
which is devoted to the people living far from their
motherlands. The festival is organized within Armenian
Culture Days in Moscow.

High ranking officials from Armenia and Moscow are
invited to be present at the festival. It is supposed
that the president of Armenia and Russia Serzh
Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin, president-elect Dmitry
Medvedev, the mayors of Yerevan and Moscow Ervand
Zakharyan and Yuri Luzhkov, the ministers of culture
of the RA and RF Hasmik Petrosyan and Alexander
Sokolov will be present in the festival. A.
Djigarkhanyan, L. Durov, A. Bitov, Dj, Guatyan, T.
Gvarcetelin are also invited to the festival. Guests
from Armenia, France, USA, Canada, Bulgaria, Iran,
Georgia and Ukraine are expected.

The organizer of the festival Development Agency of
Armenian Culture planned the festival to differ in its
genre and character. Hence plays, concerts, book
presentation are to be presented in the festival.

Source: Panorama.am

MONUMENTAL STONE CROSS, THE FIRST ON DISPLAY IN A U.S. MUSEUM, ON SPECIAL LOAN TO METROPOLITAN MUSEUM

Art Daily
;i nt_new=24072
May 4 2008

NEW YORK.- A monumental 12th-century Khatchkar – a 2,000-pound, nearly
8-foot-tall block of basalt, carved on its surface with symbols of
the four evangelists, a massive cross, small birds at fountains, and
surrounding patterns of interlacing – is now on display in the Mary
and Michael Jaharis Galleries for Byzantine art at The Metropolitan
Museum of Art in New York. It is on special long-term loan from the
State History Museum of Armenia in Yerevan.

This is the first display of a Khatchkar – a commemorative object whose
name means cross (khatch) of stone (kar) in Armenian – in any museum
in the United States. The Khatchkar now on view originated in Lori,
the Republic of Armenia’s northernmost province, which is known for its
spectacular forested landscapes. The Hagop Kevorkian Fund generously
supported the transportation and installation of the Khatchkar.

"This Khatchkar is an exceptional example of the importance of the
Gospels to the Armenian people," said Helen C. Evans, the Mary and
Michael Jaharis Curator of Byzantine Art at the Metropolitan, "in that
it depicts of the cross of salvation rising from the symbols of the
four evangelists who wrote the Gospels – the angel of Matthew, the
lion of Mark, the ox of Luke, and the eagle of John. We are extremely
grateful to the many members of the Armenian community, both in Armenia
and here in the U.S., who made possible this loan, which represents
the great medieval artistic tradition of the Armenian people."

The Armenians, who recognized Christianity as their state religion
at the beginning of the fourth century, have long maintained an
independent Christian tradition. Located on the eastern border of
Byzantium during medieval times, they frequently installed imposing
Khatchkars as memorials to the dead and to mark local events of
significance. The Khatchkar now on view at the Metropolitan Museum
comes from the northern region that fell to the Mongols in 1238,
not long after it was carved. It features designs typical of the
decoration of Armenian Gospel manuscripts, particularly pages from
canon tables, and is thought never to have had an inscription. The
exquisitely carved interlaces form a ‘frame’ around the monumental
cross, which rests above the symbols of the evangelists. The large
head of Saint Matthew’s angel presides over the smaller heads of
Saint Mark’s lion, Saint Luke’s ox (on its side), and Saint John’s
eagle (in profile). The presence of evangelist symbols is rare in
Khatchkars of the medieval period.

The installation was organized and overseen by Helen Evans. She
traveled to Armenia with Jack Soultanian Jr., Conservator in the
Department of Objects Conservation at the Metropolitan, to select
the Khatchkar under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and
the State History Museum, and in consultation with the Office of the
President of Armenia.

This fall, additional works of Armenian art will be installed in a case
adjacent to the Khatchkar, including manuscripts from the collection
of the Metropolitan Museum and works on loan from other institutions.

NO PREPAYMENT FOR GAS METER INSTALLATION IN ARMENIA MAY 1 TO AUG 1

ARKA
May 4, 2008

YEREVAN, May 4. /ARKA/. The Armenian Russian Company "ArmRosgasprom"
has announced an action – installation of gas meters without a 40,000
AMD prepayment from May 1 to August 1, 2008.

The ArmRosgasprom press service reports that the reason for the action
is citizens’ numerous requests.

The company reports a 5.1% increase in the supply of natural gas to
Armenia in January-March 2008 as compared with the corresponding period
last year. A total of 704.3mln cubic meters out of the 785.5mln cubic
meters supplied to Armenia were sold – 10.l4% increase. Armenia’s
population consumed a total of 295.84mln cubic meters of gas –
a 25.4% increase.

The ArmRosgasprom Company holds a monopoly of the supply of Russian
gas to Armenia.

The company was founded in 1997. The stockholders of the company are
Gasprom (57.59%), RA Ministry of Energy (34.7%) and the ITERA oil
and gas company (7.71%).

EUbusiness (press release), UK
April 30 2008

Turkish parliament passes free speech reform

30 April 2008, 10:21 CET

(ANKARA) – The Turkish parliament Wednesday passed a long-awaited
amendment to a law penalising insults to "Turkishness" that has drawn
strong EU criticism as a threat to free speech in the country.

The amendment, softening Article 301 of the penal code, was adopted
with the support of 250 MPs in the 550-member house at the end of an
eight-hour debate that started Tuesday afternoon and continued
throughout the night amid fierce opposition from nationalist deputies.

Under the amendment, "Turkishness" — a term criticised as too broad
and vague — was replaced with the "Turkish nation" and the envisaged
jail term decreased from three to two years, allowing the sentence to
be suspended or converted to a fine.

In a bid to make trials under the law more difficult, the provision
now requires the justice minister’s approval before prosecutors can
launch cases.

Also, a section that called for increased sanctions for such crimes
committed abroad was removed from the law.

Dozens of intellectuals, including 2006 Nobel literature laureate
Orhan Pamuk, have been tried under Article 301 and although some have
been convicted, — including slain ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink — their sentences were suspended and no one has been jailed so
far.

The article has mainly targeted people contesting the official line on
the World War I massacres of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire,
which, much to Turkey’s ire, many countries have recognised as
genocide.

The European Union, which Turkey is seeking to join, has long
criticised the law as a threat to freedom of speech.

European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said during a visit to
Ankara earlier this month that the amendment plan was "a step in the
right direction."

The many critics of the article argue that the revision is inadequate
and the provision should be scrapped altogether from the penal code.

The EU has repeatedly warned Turkey that respect for free speech will
be a test of its commitment to align with the bloc’s democracy norms.

Turkey has so far opened accession talks in only six of the 35 policy
areas that candidates are required to complete amid a row over the
Mediterranean island of Cyprus and strong opposition to its membership
in some EU countries.

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
April 30, 2008
Contact: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

CONGRESSMAN PERLMUTTER JOINS ARMENIAN CAUCUS

Washington, DC – At the urging of the Armenian Assembly of America,
Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) has officially joined the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, bringing the total Caucus Membership to 156
lawmakers to date.

"I am proud to join the Armenian Caucus along with so many of my
colleagues in Congress," Representative Perlmutter told the Assembly.
"This Caucus will help me to better represent Armenian-Americans in the
seventh congressional district and Colorado, while strengthening
U.S.-Armenian relations."

Following Perlmutter’s election to Congress in 2006, ARAMAC Colorado
State Chair Pamela Barsam Brown contacted his office regularly to
discuss issues facing the Armenian-American community and to encourage
him to join the Armenian Caucus, a bipartisan coalition working to
strengthen the U.S.-Armenia/U.S.-Karabakh relationship and advance
Armenian concerns in Washington.

"We are pleased that first term District 7 Colorado Congressman, Ed
Perlmutter, has become the newest member of the Armenian Caucus," said
Barsam Brown. "It is a reflection of his positive broad-based record of
support for issues of conscience. I am delighted Congressman Perlmutter
has expanded his previous involvement, confirming he recognizes U.S.
policy relating to Armenia is a matter of deep concern to Colorado
American-Armenians."

"The Assembly welcomes Congressman Perlmutter’s membership to this
important body and looks forward to working with him and his staff to
advance Armenian-American issues in Congress," said Executive Director
Bryan Ardouny. "We also commend Pamela Barsam Brown for her dedicated
activism in the State of Colorado throughout the years, which has
positively impacted our advocacy efforts here in Washington."

Perlmutter also supports U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide and
is a cosponsor of House Resolution 106. He serves on the House Financial
Services and Homeland Security Committees.

In other local news, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr. signed a
proclamation designating April 24 as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.
The proclamation states in part, "the State of Colorado joins the
Armenian-American community in its annual observance of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-1923, to raise awareness of this unconscionable tragedy
so that we may better understand the importance of eliminating hatred in
our own communities."

Similarly, the Colorado General Assembly adopted a resolution, again
designating April 24 as "Colorado Day of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide." Colorado State Senator Lois Tochtrop (D-24) has championed
this resolution annually.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly 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#2008-047
Photograph can be viewed on the Assembly’s Website at the following
link:

aainc/images/PR_-_2008/May_-_June/Perlm
utter.jpg

Caption: Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) is the newest Member of the
Armenian Caucus.

OSCE MONITORING ON CONTACT FRONT LINE BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA HELD WITHOUT INCIDENTS

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
April 29 2008

The monitoring held today at the contact front line between the armed
forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia recorded no incidents.

The due announcement was made by the press service for the Defense
Ministry of Azerbaijan.

The monitoring in line with the mandate of the personal representative
of the OSCE chairman-in-office was held near Alibeyli village of
Tovuz, Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan was represented by Anzhey Kaspshik, personal representative
of the OSCE chairman-in-office and his field assistants Peter Ki and
Antal Gerdich.

The Armenian side was represented by field assistants of the personal
representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office Imre Palatinus, Irji
Aberle and Zhaslan Nurtazin.

VALLEY MARKS 93RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Astrid Seipelt

Valley Star , CA
April 28 2008

Read the story then watch an audio slideshow of the Armenian Genocide
demostration at the Turkish Consulate.

A DAY TO REMEMBER – One of the many signs that were carried by marchers
at the Turkish Consulate April 24. The date marked the 93rd anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide that occured in the Ottoman Empire – the
forerunner of modern Turkey.

Thursday night was a night of remembrance and recognition for the
Armenian community of Valley College, as more than 80 people gathered
in Monarch Hall to honor the 93rd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Organized by Valley’s Armenian Student Association with the support
of the college and the Associated Student Union, the genocide was
remembered through music, dance, poetry and film.

"The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the 20th century
and because it was not recognized by the world, other genocides
happened," said Amy Eritsian, president of the Armenian Student
Association. "When we get the Armenian Genocide recognized, these
things will stop happening,"

Monarch hall was filled with candles, flowers and a replica of the
Tsitsernakaberd memorial, which overlooks the Armenian capital of
Yerevan. The 140-feet-high stele represented the rebirth of Armenia,
and the 12 slabs arranged in a circle represent the twelve lost
provinces in modern-day Turkey.

Students who organized the event wanted to send a message of hope
and to keep the memory of the Armenian Genocide alive. Ani Yeremyan,
a speech communication major, attended the event and was proud of
the different groups of Armenians coming together to remember.

"Lebanese Armenians, Persian Armenians, Armenian Armenians came
together on this day not only for Armenians in particular, but for
everybody that has experienced some kind of atrocity in their culture,
whether is be Latinos, African Americans….," she said. "Our Armenian
Student president and ASU president do a great job bringing the
community together, especially the older members,"

Yeremyan also performed at the event, her dance telling the story of
the pain of the genocide.

"The meaning of my dance, it’s a very sad and emotional dance, it’s
a mothers cry, going back to home, going back to where the heart
belongs…Ninety three years, it’s a very long time," she said.

ASU President Mari Kiridjian said that recognition and participation
are the most important aspects of the genocide anniversary, which is
remembered on campus each year.

"Students need to learn outside what is in their history books; they
should know what has occurred to other people," Kiridjian said. "You
go to class with these people, don’t you want to know where they come
from, their history?"

The country of Turkey was known as the Ottoman Empire during World
War 1. It was in the Ottoman Empire where Armenians were subjected
to a genocide in 1915.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATION HELD IN PARIS

PanARMENIAN.Net
24.04.2008 18:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian
participated in a ceremony of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide
victims held at Eternal Flame under Arch of Triumph in Paris.

The Minister laid a wreath to Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and made
a note in golden book of condolence.

The Genocide martyrs were commemorated with a minute of silence. The
event was attended by political and military figures, the Mayor of
Paris and hundreds of French, the RA MFA press office reported

ARMENIA’S STRIVE FOR RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE WILL YIELD NOTHING – EXPERTS

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
April 25 2008

Azerbaijan, Baku, 24 April /Trend News corr E. Tariverdiyeva,
R. Hafizoglu, N. Kirtskhalia / Armenia’s strive for getting ‘Armenian
genocide’ recognized may yield nothing, as striving for Turkey’s
recognition of the fact Armenia forgets of economic interests and
welfare of the country. "As soon as Armenia puts aside the genocide
issue, the country will make huge success in the economic field,"
Turkish political scientist Akif Emre said.

Each year on 24 April, Armenia marks the memory day of the victims of
the genocide that took place in the Ottoman Empire in 1915. Official
Yerevan and countless Armenian diaspora try to pursue countries in
the world to pass a resolutions confirming ‘Armenian genocide’ and
urging Turkey to admit massacre of 1.5mln ethnic Armenians. Turkey
denies these accusations and in 1993 the country broke diplomatic
relations and blocked the frontiers with Armenia, which was an
important transport route for Yerevan.

"This utopian idea prevents Armenia from its economic development,"
Akif Emre, Director of Dunyabulteni news agency said to Trend News
via e-mail on 24 April. According to the expert, there is no ground
to demand recognition of the Armenian genocide. "Armenian genocide is
a notion which the West uses for blackmailing Turkey to manipulate it
in the political aspect. Armenians’ striving for universal recognition
of the genocide leads it to an economic and political deadlock".

"The idea of genocide is a ‘national’ idea of the Armenian nation
as in case of Holocaust for Jews", said Vladimir Pribilovski, the
Russian expert. "I believe that, the genocide was committed, but one
hundred years ago, it should be forgotten as it has bad impact on
Armenians themselves, and also on the social and economic situation
in the country,’ Pribilovski, the President of Panorama Analytical
Center said to TrendNews on a telephone from Moscow on 24 April.

According to expert, the recognition of genocide fact, which Armenians
demand from Turkey, is not possible. "But if we draw analogy with
Jewish Holocaust, there is a notion of ‘historical responsibility
of generations’ in world practice, which Armenians are most likely
relying on," said political expert.

"There are detractor of Armenia in the region and Armenia should make
concessions both to Turkey and Islamic world," Ramaz Sakvaralidze, the
Georgian political expert said. " Armenia is a country with inherent
self-torture and the country which provokes aggression of others. In
case of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia swallowed the bait of Russia which
caused further confrontations between Armenia and Islamic world,"
Sakravalidze said to TrendNews on a telephone on 24 April.

According to expert, Armenia’s demands to recognize the genocide
will further deteriorate the situation as different interests will be
mixed up though this issue is not an urgent one at the moment. "Though
the so-called Armenian lobby in U.S. actively demanded to recognize
the genocide earlier, this demand has lost its importance now,"
he said. The expert stated that the interests of U.S., Turkey and
Azerbaijan are running contrary to each-other because of the impact
of Armenian lobby.

"The recognition and non-recognition of genocide is nothing else than
political fact, as the recognition of the genocide will not change
anything in reality throughout the world," Sakvarelidze said.

Not Armenians, but Europe is in need of ‘Armenian genocide’ notion,
Muhammad Fatih, a Turkish political scientist said. "There is no fact
confirming the violence over Armenians during the Ottoman Empire. The
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan offered to research the issue with
the help of historical achieves of both countries, whilst Armenia did
not favour it," Fatih told Trend News via e-mail on 24 April. Instead
of the idle efforts to achieve recognition of the genocide, Armenia
should think over improvement of its own economic status.

Efforts for international recognition of the genocide were announced
as one of the priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy. So far, the
relevant resolutions have been adopted by over 20 countries.

Turkey rebuffs accusations by Armenia and confirms that during the
inter-ethnic conflict, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at
the beginning of the last century, many Muslim Turks were killed
along with Christian Armenians. Ankara’s principle position on the
issue states that in 1915 Armenians were internally displaced due to
political interests of Ottoman Empire and that cannot be considered
as genocide against the nation.

In order to establish bilateral relations, Ankara calls on Armenia to
refuse from policy pursuing international ‘recognition of Armenian
genocide’, territorial claims specified in the Constitution of the
country, as well as leave the occupied territory of Azerbaijan.