5 BEST SONGS TO BE ASSESSED BY PEOPLE
AZG Armenian Daily
31/08/2006
Discussion over options for the new national anthem keep going,
and the lyrics of 5 best songs that have entered the second stage
will be presented to the public via mass media. A press release
from the Ministry of Culture and Sport informs that the majority
of 85 applications for the anthem were written to accompany Aram
Khachaturian’s music. Daily Azg’s Armenian section will also post
the best five songs.
DILI FARM DIRECTOR: ARMENIAN DAIRY MARKET UNDERDEVELOPED
Arka News Agency, Armenia
Aug. 30, 2006
YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA/. Armenian dairy market is underdeveloped,
Ashot Tamrazyan, Dili farm director, said Wednesday at a press
conference in Yerevan.
In his words, import makes 45% of the products consumed in the country.
He views it necessary to develop local dairy industry.
Tamrazyan thinks proper equipment and conditions are needed for
producing high-quality dairy.
He said the farm intended to start producing Mozzarella and
Mozzarella-pizza Italian cheese and some kind of Armenian cheese in
mid-September.
VARDAN OSKANIAN: THE TALKS TODAY ARE AT A CRUCIAL POINT
Tatul Hakobyan
"Radiolur"
29.08.2006 16:25
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian delivered a speech at the
"Caspian Prospects 2008" forum organized jointly by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Slovenia and the Lyublyana Center for Strategic
Studies.
During the discussions on the EU New Neighbors Policy, the Foreign
Minister particularly emphasized the importance of implementation
of the European Neighborhood Policy for the establishment of peace,
stability and development in the region.
Officials from a number of countries gathered in Lyublyana, Neighboring
Azerbaijan was represented by President Ilham Aliev.
In a press conference after the meeting between the Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Slovenia, Azeri President Ilham Aliev declared that
"Currently the negotiation process proceeds in the framework of the
Prague format, which generally envisages phasic settlement of the
question. We consider that it is the most acceptable way, and we hope
that at last Armenia will demonstrate constructive position and will
apply efforts to resolve the issue."
Certainly RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian also turned to the
Karabakh settlement, to be more precise, to the current state
of negotiations. The Minister underlined that the settlement is
hindered by Azerbaijani policy of resolving the question in a military
way. Oskanian said that the talks today are at a crucial point, and
the international community should do its best to have Azerbaijan
return to a realistic and constructive field in order to discuss the
principles put on the bargaining table today.
Let’s remind once again that June 22 OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
actually disclosed the last package of suggestions, the so-called
framework agreement discussed by Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents
in Ramboulliet and Bucharest.
To remind, the basic points of the agreement envisage that Armenian
forces should be gradually withdrawn from the Azeri territories
bordering Nagorno Karabakh, special approach should be demonstrated
towards Kelbajar and Lachin regions, the final legal status of
Nagorno Karabakh should be determined via referendum or a general
vote. International peacekeeping forces should be deployed in the
conflict zone.
The Armenian side has been repeatedly stating that the suggestions
are not ideal. Nevertheless, Yerevan accepts these as a basis for
negotiations.
However, two months after the publication of the document Baku has
not said a decisive "yes" or "no" to the mediators. It is obvious,
though, that this time also Azerbaijan does not consider the suggested
principles acceptable and tries to get a better document or to freeze
the settlement of the issue and anticipates to reinforce its positions
through oil dollars.
RAILWAY IN CIS: CHINA TO JOIN BAKU-TBILISI-AKHALKALAKI RAILWAY PROJECT
Railway Market Magazine, Poland
Aug. 28, 2006
China joined the Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki railway project, Turkish
Transport Minister Binali Yildirim told in his interview with "Zaman"
Newspaper, Trend reports.
The Minister noted that Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki Railway Project
had been drawn up at the beginning of 1960, adding that together
with China, Kazakhstan also participates in the project. "In case
of realization of the project, each person moving from Kars with
railway may reach Shanghai," the Minister emphasized, saying that on
completion of the Marmaray Project, each Chinese citizen may travel
to Great Britain.
"The Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki railway will be ready within two years,
and approximately 20 million tons of cargo will be transported through
the railway annually," the Minister stressed, spelling out that today
the cargo transportation through all rail links of Turkey forms less
than 18 million tons annually.
"The Project will change the face of all regions and help its
prosperity," Turkish Minister pointed out.
In addition, the Turkish Transport Minister stressed that in relation
to the problems with Armenia, the Eastern regions of the Country have
shared closeness for many years. "Because of this, Caucasus and Asian
countries were united for the railway transportations to Europe,"
Yildirim said, mentioning that from a strategic point of view, the
Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki railway is very optimistic. The Minister
once again mentioned the figure of $250 million that is needed for
the completion of the project. "The stretch of 79 km up to the border
with Georgia will be constructed at the expense of Turkey, but the 25
km stretch in the territory of Georgia at the expense of allocations
by the Georgian Government. At the same time, works will be carried
out for the modernization of all stretches from Tbilisi to Baku,"
Yildirim stated.
It was further stated that the engineering works within the project
started in 2001, and in the first stage, it was announced of the
necessity of spending $463 million on the construction of the rail
link. "Even China offered low rate credits for the commencement of
works. Peking Government particularly voiced its readiness to allocate
credit for 13 years, with 5.5% annual rate. However, Turkish government
refused to receive the credit, as it did not wish to provide State
guarantee for the credit," Turkish Transport Minister concluded.
FORCED COLLECTION OF MONEY PROHIBITED
Panorama.am
13:57 28/08/06
It is a well-known fact that schoolchildren are often asked to
bring money to schools for different reasons, let’s say for buying
stamps. Kamo AREYAN, Yerevan deputy mayor, is well aware of the fact
and raised his anger against such incidents at schools, saying "it
is a forced collection of money."
The deputy mayor also said that it is not forbidden by law to collect
money at school but he said it should be made on the principle of
voluntarism. "If we learn about such facts, the principal of the school
will be dismissed not only from the school but from the educational
system," Kamo Areyan warned.
CERTAINLY GOD WILL NOT DO BECAUSE GOD SAW THEIR ACTS
Lragir.am
25 Aug 06
Most Israeli soldiers are dissatisfied with the government, accusing
it of insufficient conditions during the war. After the fighting
the Israeli soldiers got back home and demanded the resignation
of the prime minister and the defense minister. All through the
confrontation of Israel and Hezbollah the propaganda machine of
the Armenian television, which had joined the defense of Lebanon,
seized the moment and informed the society what an uncomfortable and
disgraceful situation had occurred in the Israeli army during the
military actions, and how the Jews are settling accounts with one
another after settling accounts with Hezbollah. What a disgraceful
example of a disorganized state!
It is quite different in organized countries. Therefore, Tigran
Torosyan, the speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, one of
such countries, said on one of the channels, "God forbid the Armenian
state was like Israel." Surely God forbid. God forbid the soldiers
demand the resignation of the prime minister and the defense minister
because they will hardly manage to set them back with truncheons or
fire engines. In countries like Israel they listen to the soldiers and
admit there were drawbacks in the actions of the military command. And
of course, God forbid to be like a country where the government,
at least formally, admits its mistake before the rank and file. God
forbid to be a state like Israel where they are not used to returning
land to keep power. God forbid that Armenia is a state like Israel,
where Tigran Torosyan’s most fellow party members would be at the wheel
of tanks at the front line rather than Jeeps and Hummers. Certainly,
God forbid. Otherwise, what would the country do if God allowed?
Otherwise, who would sow wheat in the liberated areas, who would make
the soldiers harvest the wheat if Armenia were a state like Israel? I
do not want to say that Armenia should be like Israel, or Israel is
the best model of what a state should be like. Of course, not.
However, in Israel the soldiers complain of drawbacks in the period
of military actions, unlike Armenia where these drawbacks are there
even at peacetime. Our soldiers do not complain, however. Because
they are patriotic. And if suddenly it occurred to them to complain
of the conditions in the army, sanitation and hygiene, quality
of food, relations denying the army regulations, the treatment of
officers, legal leave in return for bribes, service as pageboys to
the commanders, they would be court-martialed for high treason.
Armenia is not Israel. There is rigid organization who should serve
in the army and who should serve on the paper. And God forbid that
suddenly this organization is distorted, and we become Israel. Some
people are unable to avoid serving the Homeland and obeying the law,
and do not want others who can to do. Yes, Armenians are full of
envy and want to become Israel out of envy. In the meantime, our
public officials have never been jealous of either Israel or their
own people. Instead, day by day, hour by hour, they have done hard
work to organize their own state and organize in a way that God forbid.
But God’s ways are always the best. Man organizes, God directs.
And certainly, God forbid Armenia becomes Israel, for in that case some
people get a chance to hide in the battlefield and become heroes as
they have done once, before God and in the name of God. The battlefield
is not their place and is not their field at all. One day, however,
they will walk in the field, in an organized way.
HAKOB BADALYAN
FAMOUS POETESS SILVA KAPUTIKYAN PASSED AWAY
ArmRadio.am
25.08.2006 13:30
Around 6 o’clock in the morning, August 25, poetess, prose writer and
publisher Silva Kaputikyan passed away at the age of 87. She was an
Academician of RA National Academy of Science and member of the Union
of Writers of Armenia.
RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan sent a telegram of condolence,
in which he expressed compassion to her family and friends on behalf
of RA Government and himself.
NEW PARTIES BECOME RICH AT THE EXPENSE OF PEOPLE
Lragir.am
24 Aug 06
Ruben Tovmasyan, the leader of the Communist Party, thinks that the
ongoing negative processes in Armenia "remind a volcano at the bosom
of which there is a constant stir and an eruption is imminent.
A single jerk is enough."
The leader of the Communist Party stated August 24 at the Pastark
Club that the eruption may be caused by the parliamentary election in
2007. They think the political party which has the biggest experience
and skill in doing revolutions thinks today that speaking about
revolution now is mere words, and "revolutions are not just childish
games". And though during visits to the regions people told Communists
that they would go back to scythes, only "save us from this system
which squeezes people like a lemon, man stopped being man, you are
someone as long as you have money." Therefore the Communists will
tell people: free housing, free education, prevention of migration. If
the people do not listen to the Communists, "it is their problem".
Unlike the parliamentary election in 2003, the Communist Party will
run in the election 2007 alone. "We analyzed our mistakes, drawbacks
seriously. We will not use our potential for others," states the leader
of the Communist Party Ruben Tovmasyan, adding that cooperation with
other forces is possible in case they accept the conditions of the
Communist Party: struggle for social justice and well-fare of common
people, movement for unification with Russia-Belarus and struggle
against corruption. In answer to the remark of a news reporter that
the other opposition forces state the same except for Belarus,
Mr. Tovmasyan said struggle is not words, and did not tell their
methods and means of struggle but hinted that breaking the windows
of the home of president is not an effective way of struggle against
corruption.
Some parliament forces have expressed their willingness to come
together to hold a fair election. The Communist Party, however,
will not join this initiative since it again thinks that words are
not actions. With regard to this the Communist steps for holding fair
elections were not specified, "We do whatever justice requires." The
Communists think that the election 2007 will not be fair, and the
Communists will have seats in the National Assembly and will use
these seats to appeal to people. But a parliament elected in an
unfair election cannot legitimate, are you ready to be part of this
fraud? In answer to this question of the Lragir.am Ruben Tovmasyan
said we will not falsify to become part of the fraud. The Communists
believe that over 50 percent of the Armenian population, including
the youth believe that Communists will return, over 60 percent believe
in the return of Socialism. "Great ideas always retreat temporarily,"
reminds Ruben Tovmasyan and analyzes, "Different political parties are
set up with different pompous names. What are these parties doing? They
became rich at the expense of people. Now they want to give part of
this wealth to people to become even richer over the next 5 years."
GERMAN WW2 ‘VICTIMS’ EXHIBITION ANGERS POLES
Expatica, Netherlands
Aug. 22, 2006
The issue of Germans expelled from Eastern Europe after WW2 is
controversial, and a new exhibition in Berlin has received heated
criticism from Poland. Clive Freeman visits ‘Forced Paths.’
The exhibition documents the fates of German expellees from
Eastern Europe Wilfried Rogasch stands in the foyer of Berlin’s
Kronprinzenpalais shaking his head in disbelief at the hostile
reactions in Poland to the exhibition he has organised.
Entitled "Erzwungene Wege – Flucht und Vertreibung im Europa des 20.
Jahrhunderts" ("Forced Paths – Flight and Expulsion in Europe During
the 20th Century"), the exhibition fills three rooms of the newly
revamped Palais building on Berlin’s landmark street Unten den Linden,
and depicts the plight of millions of European refugees, among them
many Germans, who either fled or were expelled from their homes at
the end of World War II.
In the biggest hall, nine mass expulsion episodes get pin-pointed,
ranging from the Armenian massacres in 1915 to the German persecution
of the Jews between 1933-45, and the ethnic cleansing terror in
Bosnia-Herzegovina in the early 1990s.
Under fire
When it opened on 11 August, the Polish government and a large section
of the Polish media were quick to criticise it.
I am disappointed. I saw myself as a bridge-builder between Germany and
Poland, not as a trouble-maker. – exhibition organiser Wilfried Rogasch
"All expulsions and flights linked to the Second World War and post-war
resettlements are a painful and dramatic consequence of Hitler’s
attack on Poland and Europe. This must be remembered," Archbishop
Jozef Michalik, chairman of the Polish Episcopal Conference, said.
He added that it must be kept in mind that German expellees’ leader
Erika Steinbach herself was born in a town near Gdansk in Nazi-occupied
Poland as the daughter of a soldier who willingly served in Adolf
Hitler’s Nazi army.
Daniel Pawlowicz, an MP for the nationalist League of Polish Families
(LPR), urged Poland’s foreign ministry to "react strongly" to the
exhibition, saying its treatment of ethnic German expellees falsified
history. The LPR is the junior partner in Poland’s governing coalition.
Pawlowicz added that the Polish government must always react in
similar cases and "show the lines" that Germans may not cross.
Warsaw’s mayor Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz even cancelled plans to visit
Berlin, telling Poland’s TVN 24 news channel that his visit to Berlin
could be misinterpreted in Poland and exploited.
Judged too soon
However Rogasch told Deutsche Presse-Agentur he was surprised by the
"hysterical reaction" in Poland. "Even without seeing the contents
of the show the Polish premier, foreign minister and culture minister
had decided it was, anti-Polish," he said.
At the heart of the current dispute is a campaign spearheaded by German
expellee groups aimed at creating a centre in Berlin remembering the
mass expulsions of 12-14 million ethnic Germans from several countries
of Eastern Europe after World War 11.
Rogasch frankly concedes that the Berlin exhibition, which lasts for
three months, is the "first step towards a permanent documentation
centre here in Berlin."
There has been a fiery debate over such plans, with German Nobel
Literature Prize winner Guenter Grass – himself now in the news over
his admission he was a teenage member of the wartime Waffen SS –
warning three years ago that the creation of a centre in Berlin would
open old wounds with Germany’s eastern neighbours.
Returned loans
All expulsions and flights linked to the Second World War and post-war
resettlements are a painful and dramatic consequence of Hitler’s attack
on Poland and Europe. This must be remembered. – Polish archbishop
Jozef Michalik As a result of the controversy caused by the current
exhibition, Rogasch said he had returned several exhibition art loans
back to Poland in order, as he put it, to "avoid curators there any
possible embarrassment."
He added: "It was my decision. They did not ask that l should do so.
So, yes, I am disappointed. I saw myself as a bridge-builder between
Germany and Poland, not as a trouble-maker."
The curator also praised several Polish museums for "standing firm"
during a trying period.
"Pressure has been put on these institutions by the (Polish)
government, and by a large proportion of the Polish press," he claimed.
"I find this quite outrageous in a country which belongs to the
European Union, and in which scientific and cultural institutions
should be independent of the prevailing government.
"We are all members of the International Council of Museums, which
is a part of UNESCO. As such, museums should be able to decide freely
with whom they co-operate and to whom they send loans.
Traumatic experiences
What is your opinion of ‘Forced Paths’? Write to [email protected].
Rogasch says while the Berlin exhibition involves the fate of 12-
14 million German refugees who either fled or were ousted from their
homes in Poland, Czechoslovakia and several other countries in eastern
Europe after World War II, it also clearly defines the traumatic
experiences of millions of other expellees from other countries.
Supporters of the centre, like German Expellees’ leader Erika
Steinbach, who is a CDU deputy, argue that it would serve as a warning
against future expulsions.
To its advocates, the centre is deemed a natural development, an effort
to remember and understand an often forgotten fact: that, in the two
years after Germany’s World War II defeat in 1945, millions of ethnic
Germans were forced to leave countries where they and their ancestors
had lived, in some cases for centuries, and resettle in Germany itself.
Unease
But in Poland, such talk provokes considerable uneasiness. Most
critics in Poland worry the planned Berlin centre could be misused by
historical revisionists to marginalize or cast aside Nazi Germany’s
responsibility for the colossal civilian suffering which occurred
during the Second World War.
Wladslaw Bartoszewski, an Auschwitz survivor and former Polish foreign
minister argues that if a centre is created then it should be located
in Wroclaw, which prior to World War II was for hundreds of years
the German city of Breslau.
Wroclaw was almost entirely destroyed during the war, when it was
bombarded and eventually over-run by Soviet troops after a desperate
14 week German defence that lasted until four days after the fall of
Berlin in the spring of 1945.
Subsequently it became a classic "refugee city." Those who settled in
Wroclaw after the war were Polish refugees from the eastern city of
Lvov, which at the end of World War II became Soviet Ukraine’s Lviv,
where mainly ethnic Ukrainians resettled.
Documenting history
Warsaw mayor cancels Berlin trip over refugee exhibition
Polish archbishop criticises Berlin exhibition
Poland demands return of bell from exhibition
Rogasch, who has made numerous visits to museums in Poland in recent
years for talks with fellow curators, insists that Germany has
since the 1939-45 conflict worked painstakingly at documenting the
"outrageous criminal aspects of Germany’s history."
"Now," he says, "this country has every right to focus on groups
whose German members were also victims 60 years ago. Now they are
in their 70s or 80s. Then, they were children. So they would neither
have voted for Hitler or known anything about the concentration camps."
"We cannot deny such groups their personal right to remember that
they were victims – victims of Nazi dictatorship and also of Stalinist
expansionism."
GRAND MASTER ELINA DANIELYAN THE 2ND IN THE "ACROPOLIS CUP"
ArmRadio.am
23.08.2006 14:20
Grand Master of Armenia Elina Danielyan gained 5.5 points out of 9
possible in the "Acropolis Cup" held in Athens, Greece, thus taking
the second place.
Georgian chess player Salome Melia won the tournament with 6.5 points.
In the men’s contest of the same tournament Grand Master of Armenia
Tigran Kotanjyan gained 6 points out of the 9 possible and ranked 9th
among 68 participants. Georgian Tamaz Gelashvili won the tournament
with 7 points.