TODAY IS CHARLES AZNAVOUR’S BIRTHDAY
A1+
[06:30 pm] 22 May, 2006
Robert Kocharyan has sent a congratulating message to renowned singer
Charles Aznavour on his birthday.
“I congratulate you on your birthday. Your image of an excellent
artist and a Great Armenian supported many people. You are the pride
of our nation. Many generations have admired your songs and your
patriotic spirit.
I wish you, my great friend, good health and long creative life”.
LESSONS OF EUROVISION, OR INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL IS THE BEST
Hakob Badalyan
Lragir.am
22 May 06
On May 20 almost the entire Armenia watched the final of Eurovision
Song Contest 2006, where Armenia was participating for the first time,
and Armenia was represented by Andre. The Greeks had really organized a
great show, pleasant to watch. I am sure that besides being enjoyable
and arousing joy and pride in Armenians for Andre’s performance and
points, Eurovision also taught lessons to many Armenians; for instance,
many people learned names of new European countries which they might
not have known before.
Generally, even the most delightful moments of life carry cognitive
elements along with pleasure, which are surely more important than
pleasure. Pleasure is transient, whereas a lesson is for all our life
and may even prove useful before and maybe also during other moments of
joy. In this sense, Eurovision 2006 is the first lesson to Armenia. The
point is not just participation. However, in this sense we also have
much to learn. The song that won would not be competitive even on
ALM TV. It is surprising that quite good songs, potential hits, took
lower positions, and many did not even appear in the first ten, maybe
because they do not have a Diaspora. But the victory of the Finnish
song also teaches much to those nations which are too sensitive on
their origin and tend to believe in archaeological sentiments on a
thousands of years old civilization more than the others. The Finnish
song was not exactly rock, and the band was not exactly a rock band,
it was imitation and irony rather.
And by voting for this song, the European youth displayed that songs
and the contest are simply entertainment. The victory of Finns is
the victory of the European youth rather than theirs, who voted for
lightness (though the title of the song is “Hard Rock”). The other
countries, which presented undoubtedly better songs, may say that
the Europeans are tasteless, and the victory of the Finnish band
was the defeat of taste. This argument may have an element of truth
but not more. The point is that musical taste is a relative notion,
and it cannot be put out for a contest, and whenever it is put out
for a contest, only for maximum enjoyment. The European youth decided
to entertain themselves at full this time, and in this case musical
imitation does not matter much.
Indeed it was high time that a country or a song win on Eurovision,
which is not going to become a tool for propaganda of patriotism;
it was high time that a country speak up which would not make its
victory a tool for internal and external goals.
There has been a lot of consideration that the winners of Eurovision
are determined by the current geopolitical situation or economic and
political tendencies. In fact, such a large-scale event cannot be
free from influence. However, it should not be denied either that
the voting youth simply decided to increase their influence, and
Eurovision 2006 could even be considered as the continuation of riots
of French young people protesting against political decisions, which
ignore public opinion. In this context, the public debates on Andre’s
song in Armenia were simply ingenuous and funny. Only the president
and the patriarch did not express their opinion on the song. Whereas
they should take it easy and not make a national matter out of a song,
although it is represented under the Armenian flag.
After all, the Lithuanian flag did not suffer when the band
representing this country sang a humorous song and received more
votes than Andre.
Yet the song contest in Athens taught another important lesson
to Armenia. Many in Armenia have probably noticed that the former
Yugoslavian countries, which had been slaughtering one another several
years ago, gave their votes to one another. It was interesting that
the Russian singer got the highest points from the Baltic States,
which have an extremely negative attitude to this country. And Turkey
gave a surprise to the Armenians in Armenia and all over the world,
giving 12 points to Armenia. Even in many countries with large Armenian
communities Andre did not get such high points. This can be considered
as the victory of the Turkish youth.
They simply let everyone know that they can be members of the friendly
and tolerant European family. Though outwardly, they showed that they
can use human values in treating people, notwithstanding historical
and political problems. Moreover, it should be noted that the Turks
did the same during Eurovision 2005 when they gave 12 points to the
Greek singer despite the historical and political problems between
Turkey and Greece, like between Turkey and Armenia.
One may say that there is politics behind all this, and the voting
results are simply coined to preach friendliness, to instill tolerance
in societies. Everything can be said, and everything can be explained
somehow. After all nothing else is left to do, when the Turks give
10 points to our singer, and the Turkish singer does not get a single
point in Armenia. Maybe we are fairer and we have a better taste.
In the fact, the problem is really political, and addresses the
outlook of countries and governments. In Turkey they surely dislike
Armenians like the Armenians dislike Turks. However, our neighbors
seek to teach their youth to live without hatred. Moreover, their
motive is purely national rather than moral or universal. They teach
that it is possible to achieve much more through love and diplomacy,
for such is the system of values of the 21st century, when love is
a political necessity rather than a compulsion. Probably, however,
it is pointless to go in for formalities, and perhaps it is more
reasonable to go to an international tribunal, as the president of
the Union of Armenians of Russia proposed. Especially that besides the
recognition of the Genocide we can claim to recognition of Formality,
accusing the Turks of a Formal vote for the Armenian singer.
BAKU TODAY, Azerbaijan
May 20 2006
Vardan Oskanian Gives Positive Assessment of Meeting with Elmar
Mamedyarov
Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian is happy with the results
of his meeting with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov in
Strasbourg where they discussed ways to settle the Karabakh conflict,
the press office of Armenia’s Foreign Ministry reports.
“Armenia positively assesses the results of this meeting, though some
questions remain unsolved,” the press-office reports.
On May 18 in Strasbourg the two ministers discussed “main principles
and perspectives” of the problem’s settlement, Armenia’s Foreign
Ministry reports.
The ministers also discussed questions connected with the May 25- 26
visit of the OSCE Minsk Group’s three cochairmen from France, Russia
and USA to the Karabakh conflict region. Previously, the cochairmen
stated that they had new ideas for settlement of the conflict, and
they would inform the countries about these ideas.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry did not comment on the results of
Strasbourg meeting.
HOBBINS: I BELIEVE COOPERATION BETWEEN US AND AZERBAIJANI AIR FORCES WILL EXPAND
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 19 2006
Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister, Colonel-General Safar Abiyev today
received the delegation led by General Tom Hobbins, US Air Forces in
Europe commander.
The Ministry told APA that Mr.Abiyev said at the meeting that
Azerbaijan is cooperating with both Azerbaijan and NATO. The
cooperation with NATO is held in accordance with the Individual
Partnership Action Plan (IPAP). Touching on the military and
political situation in the South Caucasus, the Minister noted that
the Armenia-Azerbaijani conflict is main obstacle to the restoration
of peace and stability in the region.
“Armenia is pursuing a destructive policy by avoiding the peace talks
and keeping 20% of Azerbaijan’s territories under occupation,” the
Defence Minister stressed.
Mr.Hobbins satisfied with Azerbaijan’s achievement in partnership
with NATO stressing that successful implementation of the IPAP will
make Azerbaijan much closer to NATO.
“The objective of my visit is to closely familiarize with Azerbaijan’s
Air Forces. I believe the cooperation between US and Azerbaijani Air
Forces will expand,” Mr.Hobbins stressed.
US charge d’affairs ad interim in Azerbaijan Jason Hyland also
participated at the meeting.
PACE TO EXAMINE MONUMENTS IN ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN
By Aghavni Hovhannisian
AZG Armenian Daily
20/05/2006
On May 28, Edward O’Hara, reporter of the PACE’s sub-committee on
cultural heritage, will arrive in Baku. According to Baku office of
the Council of Europe, the British parliamentarian will examine the
state of monuments in Azerbaijan and will head for Yerevan May 31.
The initiative of sending PACE representatives to Armenia and
Azerbaijan came from CE secretary general Terry Davis after the
destruction of Armenian monuments in Nakhijevan late last year. The
aim of the delegation is to examine historic and cultural monuments
in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
Karabakh issue
Representatives of mediating states visit region to discuss
Kocharian-Aliyev meeting
High-ranking diplomats representing the three countries mediating
in Nagorno Karabakh issue will visit Baku and Yerevan next week to
discuss prospect of Nagorno Karabakh regulation, day.az quoted Pyotr
Burdikin, Russian charge’ d’affaires in Azerbaijan, as saying.
In Russian diplomat’s words, currently the OSCE Minsk Group is
working on the soonest regulation of Karabakh issue. As to the visit
of European delegation Burdikin thinks that “often involvement of
new people helps reveal new approaches.” Pyotr Burdikin thinks that
progress in the issue is well possible but no one can be sure about
the future owing to conflict’s complex nature.
According to Russian Foreign Ministry, the delegation will include
Russia’s deputy foreign minister Grigori Karasin, assistant secretary
for European and Eurasian affairs Daniel Fried and French Foreign
Ministry political director Stanislas de Laboulaye. Besides discussing
general issues, delegation members will talk about possible meeting
between Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents.
SCANDAL AT THE FRENCH PARLIAMENT
Jean Eckian
Paris, May 18, 2006
French members of Parliament prevented of vote
The heavy economic threats that Turkey put forward in France if the
French National Assembly voted the bill penalizing the negation of
the Armenian Genocide, were of all their weight this 18 May in Paris.
With the initiative of the French socialist deputy of the 8st district
of Marseilles, Mr. Christophe MASSE, a bill aiming at sanctioning
the negation of the Armenian Genocide purely and was simply evacuated
for a technical question of timing.
Actually this is subtle. The time assigned with the socialist party
which presented the proposal, could not exceed it time of 1:00 pm.
The debate started to 11:30 am, but in this time, two other questions
of French domestic policy were also to be mentioned. The mission,
consequently, became impossible, when the Foreign Minister, Philippe
Douste-Blazy spoke. He will leave it only 25 minutes later, after
having taken position against this law by asserting links which link
France and Turkey. When the deputies who support the law spoke, the
president of the Parliament, Jean-Louis Debre, will authorize only
5 minutes per anybody. Thus, with 1:03 pm, it announced: “assigned
time is past, the meeting is raised.”
This noxious operation, orchestrated on the most level of State,
did not allow the deputies present in the chamber of being able to
decide by a final vote, whereas, a vast majority for this adoption
was joined together between the various tendencies of the French
political parties.
In the street being next to the Parliament, 2000 French of Armenian
origin, listened to the retransmission of the debates by expressing
their distress, the French flag in the hand, while in the enclosure,
others stressed “the vote, the vote, the vote!”. They will be expelled
by the police force.
At the end of the meeting, the deputies have join the Armenian
public in the street to explain this incredible situation. All were
dissatisfied and in anger to denounce this scandal of the French
Republic.
Patrick Devedjian, council of the Minister of Interior Department,
Nicolas Sarkozy, known as her indignation, qualifying the Parliament
of “Shadow theatre”, while Alexis Govciyan (CCAF) noted “a broken
down democracy”.
If this text had been approved by the Parliament, the Senate should
also to him have decided at the time of a forthcoming transfer to
be ratified and added to the law of January 29, 2001 recognizing the
Armenian Genocide.
To support the French members of Parliament, several Armenian Community
delegations of France had joined Paris by the train, of Marseilles,
Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Valence and Lyon, with the call of the
Council of Coordination of Armenian Associations of France (CCAF),
with the support of Licra (International League against racism &
anti-semitism ), “S.O.S racism” and “Girls and sons of Jewish
deportees”, chaired by Serge Klarsfeld, celebrates it “hunter of
Nazis”.
Against Turkish demonstration was held not far from the enclosure from
the French National Assembly, to protest against the legalization of
this bill. No incident was announced.
It will be necessary to wait the year 2007 for a new bill.
KARABAKH CONFLICT PARTIES MADE TO COME TO ANY AGREEMENT
PanARMENIAN.Net
18.05.2006 14:51 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 2006 is more favorable for progress in settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and it is obvious, Russian Co-Chair
of the OSCE MG for settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in
1992-1996, Ambassador Vladimir Kazimirov stated in an interview with
a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, this year is not burdened
with electoral campaigns, that both parties will have next year.
“This does not mean at all that an abrupt break is possible. It is
merely necessary to maximally use the opportunities provided this
year at least to form preconditions for a peace treaty, which may be
reached by 2009-2010,” Kazimirov said. The Russian diplomat remarked
pressure is put on both parties at present.
“They are just made to come to any agreement. However, I do not doubt
it is a matter of the future. I would call signing a peace accord in
2010 forced, imposed peace,” he emphasized.
PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
Watch the recorded video here:
tepriests.wmv
ORDINATION OF CELIBATE PRIESTS IN ANTELIAS
Three graduates of the Catholicosate of Cilicia’s Seminary joined the ranks
of Cilician Brotherhood on May 14 in Antelias, as they were ordained before
God and believers to serve the Armenian Church as celibate priests.
Formed and educated in the Seminary for the last nine years, former students
Deacon Razmig Yemishian, Deacon Ourardou Sarkissian and Deacon Trasdamad
Donoyan took up their priest uniforms in the St. Gregory the Illuminator
Cathedral, with the conscious aim of serving the Armenian Church and nation
through the Holy See of Cilicia.
During a special service held in the Cathedral on the evening of May 13, the
candidates publicly pledged loyalty to the Armenian Church, its rituals,
rites, traditions and laws and condemned all those throughout history who
have tried to prosecute God’s Church or confuse its believers with other
teachings. They knelt down on their knees and read their oath to join the
ranks of the Cilician Brotherhood.
His Holiness Aram I presided over the ordination service on Sunday.
Archbishop Varoujan Hergelian, the Catholicosal Vicar for the Diocese of
Cyprus, celebrated the Holy Mass, ordained the priests and delivered the
sermon.
During the service, the candidates were invited to the altar, where they
abandoned the world of man and took on the heavy but sweet responsibility of
being Christ’s servants.
Archbishop Hergelian then blessed the left and right hands of each candidate
with Holy Chrism. He gave the candidates new names, ordaining them as the
servants of God. Deacon Razmig became Rev. Fr. Sahag, Deacon Ourardou was
ordained as Rev. Fr. Mesrob and Deacon Trasdamad took on the name of Rev.
Fr. Torkom.
The Archbishop highlighted the mission of the Catholicosate of Cilicia in
the sermon he delivered on this occasion, stressing that three new servants
pledge their loyalty and dedication to it.
The members of the Cilician Brotherhood then came up to the altar, to
congratulate the three new priests for their entry into the service of God
and in the ranks of the Brotherhood.
Following their ordination, the hands of the new priests were washed by
their godfathers, Yervant Khanamirian,Varoujan Sarkissian and Hratch
Tchilingirian. The godfathers expressed their happiness for the young
newcomers into the Cilician Brotherhood.
The uniforms of the priests were blessed after the service. The priests then
knelt down in the Veharan in front of the Pontiff to receive his blessings.
The three new celibate priests will be fasting and praying in the St.
Asdvadzadzine Monastery in Bikfaya in order to prepare for their journey in
the footsteps of God.
##
View photos here:
es66.htm
ctures67.htm
s/Pictures68.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of the
Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.
VARTAN OSKANIAN APPRECIATES ACTIVITY OF WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
May 16 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Creation of the World
Armenian Congress is the imperative of time. Active participation
of this organization in solution of the most important issues only
proves actuality of its creation. Minister of Foreign Affair of Armenia
Vartan Oskanian stated about it at the sitting of the World Armenian
Congress which took place on May 16 in Yerevan. He appreciated work
of the organization directed to strengthening of ties between Armenia
and Diaspora, recognition of the Armenian Genocide, establishment of
economic ties, etc. According to the Minister, the organization has
not used yet its potential completely. Vartan Oskanian expressed a
hope that the World Armenian Congress will continue cooperating with
the RA Foreign Ministry and other structures in the affair of solving
all-Armenian problems.
WORKS BY STUDENTS OF PAINTING ACADEMY GYUMRI BRANCH DISPLAYED AT VIENNA SERAFIN PICTURE GALLERY
Noyan Tapan
May 15 2006
GYUMRI, MAY 15, NOYAN TAPAN. The students of painting department
of Gyumri branch of Painting Academy presented their works at the
exhibition held in the Austrian city of Vienna in April within the
framework of Mozart’s 250th anniversary. On those days the works were
also being displayed at the Museum of Aslamazian sisters of Gyumri. In
the pictures the students tried to depict different episodes from
Mozart’s life, as well as the period of his lifetime.
For instance, the main subject of pictures by one of the young painters
are Mozart’s music books: “I had his handwritten notes and noticed that
there are drawing elements in them,” he said. According to Hambartsum
Ghukasian, Director of Gyumri branch of Painting Academy, the whole
tour lasted 12 days and the students visited all important picture
galleries and museums of Austria. The exhibition dedicated to Mozart’s
anniversary was organized on the initiative of the Culture Department
of Vienna Mayor’s Office and UNESCO at the Serafin picture gallery of
Vienna. As Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed by Robert Mirzoyan,
representative of the Culture Department of Vienna Mayor’s Office,
the department has a long history of cooperation with Gyumri branch
of Painting Academy and of closer cooperation with the Painting
Academy itself.
Mutual visits of students and lecturers of Gyumri branch of Painting
Academy and Vienna painting academies are also planned in the future.