Author: Dabaghian Diana

“BELLA DARBINIAN SYMBOLIZES WHOLE EPOCH BY HER LIFE AND WORK”

YEREVAN, AUGUST 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The art lover society took the last
leave of Bella Darbinian, the USSR People’s Artist, Movses Khorenatsi
medalist. The singer graduated from the R.Melikian College, Komitas
Conservatory and courses of a studio attached to the Moscow Bolshoy
Theater. In 1966, she entered as soloist the Symphonic Orchestra of
the TV and Radio State Committee of Armenia where she worked for about
30 years. B.Darbinian captivated the Armenian music lover society with
her performances, gained native and foreing numerous stages. It is not
accidental that many famous composers, Arno Babajanian, Alexander
Achemian, Konstantin Orbelian, Aleksey Hekimian and others, assigned
to her first performances of their songs. The Armenian art of singing
lost one of its eminent individuals, as, the art lovers who came to
pay the last tribute of respect to their colleague, said: “Bella
Darbinian was a great figure, a strong individuality with her activity
and the life she lived.” According to composer Martin Vardazarian,
the singer can express herself perfectly in all genres: “She was one
of singers the specific timbre of whose voice and whose mastery
captivate everybody.” The composer mentioned with sorrow that today’s
generation is not acquainted with B.Darbinian’s art, while she was the
idol of lovers of the art of singing in 60-70s. “B.Darbinian was one
of those artists who symbolize a whole epoch with their life and
works,” M.Vardazarian mentioned. “I was present at Bella Darbinian’s
almost all concerts. She had great successes not only in the countries
of the former Soviet Union but abroad as well. She was loved, she was
respected as she was single in her type,” singer Raisa Mkrtchian
mentioned. According to her, Armenian national, popular songs, Russian
romances in B.Darbinian’s performance were different from others’
performances owing to her wonderful voice and specific
performance. “The Armenian people had a great lose. We fell pain and
sorrow for losing her as B.Darbianian was one of the eminent figures
of the Armenian popular music. Let’s bend down before all she did and
realize that people like Bella pass away but leave a rich tradition of
the art of acting,” People’s Artist Ruben Matevosian
emphasized. B.Darbinian’s funeral was held at the City Pantheon.

Krasnodar Skinheads Kill One Of The Their Own

Union Of Councils For Jews In The Former Soviet Union, DC
Aug 24 2005

Two neo-Nazi students at the Krasnodar Agro-University have been
charged with murdering one of their comrades for insufficient zeal,
according to an August 16, 2005 article in the local newspaper
“Krasnodarskie Izvestiya” and an August 17, 2005 article in the local
paper “Kuban Segodnya.” The 19 year old student was accused by his
comrades of losing interest in the local neo-Nazi movement because he
stopped attending neo-Nazi concerts and meetings of the local chapter
of Russian National Unity. When he dismissed these accusations with a
laugh, the two neo-Nazis beat him severely. The victim, identified in
the reports only as Andrey, then went home to his village outside the
city, where he began to feel ill and later died of internal injuries.

One of the attackers reportedly has a criminal record-he received a
two year suspended sentence for his participation in an act of mass
vandalism directed at Armenian tombstones in 2002.

Xinhua, China
Aug 24 2005

No plans to allow US military base in Azerbaijan: president

MOSCOW, Aug. 24 (Xinhuanet) — Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
said on Wednesday that his government has no plans to allow the
United States to establish military bases in his country.

Reports that foreign military bases will be set up on
Azerbaijan’s territory are groundless, Aliyev told the media.

Azerbaijan and the United states have not held any talks on the
establishment of a US military presence in the Caucasus country,
Interfax news agency quoted Aliyev as saying.

No countries will be allowed to set up military bases in
Azerbaijan, as the presence of foreign military bases will do no good
for the stability of the country,” Aliyev said.

Aliyev also said his government’s top priority now is to resolve
the territorial dispute with neighboring Armenia.

In late July, Uzbekistan announced that it was giving the United
States 180 days to close an air base in the southwest of the Central
Asian country.

After that, unconfirmed media reports have said the United States
might redeploy part of its forces in the air base to Azerbaijan.
Enditem

AZG Armenian Daily #149, 24/08/2005

Diaspora

‘ISSUE OF NATIONAL MINORITIES IS AN INNER ISSUE’

Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople States

Mesrop II Mutafian, Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, participated in
the 20th celebration of Youth International Day in Cologne, Germany, Turkish
Hurriyet newspaper informed in its August 21 issue.

He said that some people trouble them by touching upon the issue of national
minorities every time. “We are Turkish citizens. If we have any problems, we
will turn to the Turkish authorities. Those issues should be settled in
Turkey. The Turkish community of Germany also has problems. The Turks living
in Germany have problems with carrying out their religious ceremonies; they
have no clergymen and teachers to pass their native language and the culture
to the next generations. The Armenians dwelling in Turkey have the same
problems. The EU is a certain means, in this respect. But the most important
issues for Turkey are its Education and economy and not the national
minorities,” he added.

By Hakob Chakrian

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Aug 23 2005

Azerbaijani, Armenian FMs to meet over Nagorno-Karabakh in Moscow

MOSCOW, August 23 (Itar-Tass) – Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign
ministers will discuss the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh settlement in
Moscow.

`At first, an informal meeting with the Armenian counterpart, Vardan
Oskanian will be held,’ Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov
said on Tuesday. `On Wednesday, an official meeting will take place.
It is necessary to work actively,’ he said. `At present, we see light
at the end of the tunnel and we have an opportunity to find a common
denominator in dealing with this problem.’

Asked whether Azerbaijan was satisfied with the role of the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement, Mamedyarov said that he could
not be satisfied, as the conflict was still smoldering. He pointed
out that `at present, the talks became very active and it is
necessary to continue to make steps in this direction.’

The two ministers took part in the meeting of CIS foreign ministers
in the Russian capital on Tuesday.

`In contrast to previous meetings, this one was more active and more
interesting,’ Mamedyarov said. He pointed out Azerbaijan `refrained
from signing several documents.’

`We cannot accept the documents bearing `supra-national elements,’
because they affect the country’s sovereignty,’ he said.

As for the CIS future, Mamedyarov pointed out that `the CIS is rather
alive, than dead.’

Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, H.E. Artur Baghdasaryan, to
Discuss Armenia’s Political Future
at CSIS in Washington, DC on Wednesday, August 31, 2005

BISNIS
August 22, 2005

Events included in this broadcast:

Armenia’s Political Future — Artur Baghdasaryan, Speaker of the
National Assembly of Armenia
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Washington, DC
Organized by: Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Please join the CSIS Russia and Eurasia Program’s Caucasus Initiative
for a seminar with the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Artur
Baghdasaryan.

The Speaker will discuss regional trends of importance to the South
Caucasus today and the current political situation in Armenia.

In 1999, Artur Baghdasaryan founded the Orinats Yerkir (Country of Law)
centrist-right party, which is now one of the most active political
establishments in Armenia, sharing power with two other major Armenian
parties: the Republican Party and the Dashnaktsutyun. Baghdasaryan has
been proactive in his efforts to make parliament a more efficient and
transparent institution, with greater citizen participation.

The National Assembly plays an increasingly important role in Armenian
politics and Armenia’s foreign policy. Since volatile elections in 2003,
the National Assembly has asserted itself as one of the most viable
forces for democratic change in Armenia.

We hope you will be able to join us for this unique opportunity.

For further information on this event, please visit the BISNIS website at:

Note: This notice is provided solely as a courtesy and does not
constitute a U.S. Department of Commerce endorsement of the event or of
the organizer(s)/sponsor(s). For a complete trade events listing, visit
BISNIS Online at

All information provided by BISNIS regarding trade events is subject to
change without notice by the organizers of those events.

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U.S. Department of Commerce
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NUMBER OF FIRES DECREASES, OF VICTIMS INCREASES

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, NOYAN TAPAN. During the first half of 2005, 552
cases of fire were fixed in Armenia, as a result of which 15 people
died, 11 had injuries (during the same period of 2004, 5 and 14). As
Noyan Tapan was informed by the Department on Emergency Situations
attached to Government, compared with the same period of 2004, fires
on territories covered with grass have decreased this year what is
conditioned with heavy rains in May and June. 248 cases of fires were
fixed in Yerevan what is less by 76 compared with the same period
of 2004.

1889 CASES OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS FIXED IN ARMENIA DURING FIRST HALF OF 2005

YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, NOYAN TAPAN. 1889 cases of emergency situations
were fixed on the territory of Armenia during the first half of 2005.
1147 ones from them are of technical character, 163 of natural and 579
ones of social-domestic character. As the Noyan Tapan correspondent
was informed by the RA Department for Emergency Situations attached
to Government, as it was during last years, this year as well the most
part of victims are because of traffic accidents: 110 ones. 129 people
were victims of technical character, 44 ones of emergency situations of
social-domestic character, and 3 people of natural character. Compared
with the same period of 2004, the number of deaths increased by 32,
and the number of injured by 125. This year, the number of emergency
situations of technical character increased by 22, of natural character
by 24, and of social-domestic character by 128. Fires (29.2%), traffic
accidents (28.4%) and poinsonings (28.7%) made the most part of the
emergency cases fixed for the first half of the year.

TURK CHARGED WITH CONTRABAND OF ARMENIAN BOOKS OF CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL VALUE RELEASED

YEREVAN, AUGUST 17. ARMINFO. Minor Court of Yerevan Malatia-Sebastia
communities sentences the Turkish scientist Ektan Turklmaz to two years
of conditional imprisonement without further control and confiscation
of property for export of books of cultural and historical value
from Armenia.

The Turkish scientist was released directly from the court hall. The
confiscated computer, CD, mobile phone will be returned to him and
88 Armenian books purchased by the scientist will be transferred to
the country.

AZG Armenian Daily #146, 19/08/2005

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CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF
EUROPE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

On August 18, His Holiness Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians
received president of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Rene
van Der Linden in company with deputy speaker of Armenian Parliament,
chairman of the temporary commission on integration into European
structures, Tigran Torosian.

Greeting the honored guest in Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, His
Holiness spoke of the role of the Armenian Church in the life of
Armenian people. The Patriarch expressed his gratitude to the PACE
president for the support of the Assembly in instilling democratic
values in Armenia as it integrates into European Union and in the
issue of peaceful regulation of Nagorno Karabakh issue.

Mr. Linden, on his part, spoke of the PACE’s contribution in
establishing democratic state and in human rights protection,
emphasizing the role of churches and religions in these processes as
they start interdenominational dialogues.

The challenges that the Armenian Church and people face today as
well as peaceful regulation of Karabakh conflict and Armenian-Turkish
relations were also discussed at the meeting.