Author: Torgomian Varazdat

FAMILIAR STANCE: BAKU CONDEMNS KARABAKH ELECTIONS

4/azerbaijan_condemns_karabakh_election
17.05.10 | 12:49
Karabakh

Azerbaijan has condemned the planned parliamentary elections in
Nagorno-Karabakh, which it still considers to be its territory despite
the fact that the internationally unrecognized Armenian republic has
enjoyed de-facto independence since the early 1990s.

In a statement issued late last week Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs said the conduct of such elections, which are planned by
Stepanakert for May 23, will be "a gross violation of relevant
provisions of Azerbaijan’s Constitution and norms and principles of
international law."

"Elections conducted in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan
can be considered free and fair only if the expelled Azerbaijani
population returns to the region and takes a direct part in the vote
on equal terms with the Armenian population," the Azeri Ministry said.

Azerbaijan has regularly issued statements condemning the holding of
elections in Nagorno-Karabakh, a mostly Armenian-populated region
of former Soviet Azerbaijan that broke free of Baku’s control
simultaneously with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

A ceasefire in 1994 put an end to nearly three years of fighting
between Karabakh Armenians and Azerbaijan’s regular army and militia
in which an estimated 30,000 people were killed. By the time the
Russia-brokered ceasefire was signed, Armenia-backed Karabakh’s forces
had managed to establish control over seven districts of Azerbaijan
proper. They continue to control them as a security zone today.

The return of Azerbaijanis to the places of their former residence
in or near Karabakh is a key element of the peace plan proposed by
international mediators that leaders in Baku and Yerevan are currently
negotiating. The peace plan also provides for an Armenian withdrawal
from the territories currently controlled as the buffer zone and an
interim status for Karabakh providing guarantees for its security and
self-governance and a future determination of the region’s ultimate
legal status.

Aysor, Armenia
May 15 2010

Premiere: "Sumgait, February of 1988. Ordinary genocide"

This Saturday evening, on May 15, at 10:30 pm, the First Public
Channel of Armenia will premiere the documentary `Sumgait. February of
1988′ by Marina Grigorian to be screened within the framework of the
`Ordinary Genocide’ series.

The film crew found out numerous video and photos, casting light on
unknown details of the massacres and crimes committed against Armenian
population of Azerbaijan’s city of Sumgait in February 27-29 of 1988.
It puts together the documents to be presented first ever, showing up
the truth about those crimes and proving that the crimes were planned,
organised and implemented by the authorities of Azerbaijan, criminally
condoned by the Soviet authorities.

The film-makers consider the documentary as a film-charge of the
crimes against humanity, committed in Azerbaijan in February 27-29 of
1988, and describe it as a mourning for victims of the massacre, and
as a call for an international community to condemn the organizers,
supporters, killings and killers, who stages the Sumgait Massacre of
1988.

The documentary’s goal is to cast light on the widespread
falsifications of the recent past, using unique and somewhere
sensational archive documents about the Sumgait Massacre.

On the current stage, the film is available in Armenian and Russian
languages, while the French, English and Arabic versions are nearing
completion. The film is being distributed on DVD and via Internet.

The `Sumgait. February of 1988′ is Part Two of the `Ordinary Genocide’
series, which Part One was broadcast in January 2010. The project is
supported by the Center for Public Relations and Communications of
Armenia’s State Administration.

The RA Ministry of Diaspora will hold a workshop on "State of
Instruction of Western Armenian in the Diaspora" in Tsakhkadzor on
July 3-5

YEREVAN, 15 MAY, NOYAN TAPAN: The RA Ministry of Diaspora will hold a
workshop called "State of Instruction of Western Armenian in the
Diaspora" in Tsakhkadzor on July 3-5. The purpose of the workshop is
to identify key issues related to instruction of Western Armenian in
the Diaspora, find solutions to issues through constructive
discussions and analyses, develop projects and discuss the
opportunities for creating a unified textbook in Western Armenian. The
following key issues will be discussed during the workshop: 1.
Current state of instruction of Western Armenian in the Diaspora
(according to regions and institutions) 2. Complexities, multiple
forms, rules and regulations of the instruction of spelling in Western
Armenian 3. Western Armenian instructional programs and the need for
revision 4. Issue of creating a unified textbooks and manuals in
Western Armenian. For more information, please write to us at
[email protected]. Head of the working group of the workshop
on "State of Instruction of Western Armenian in the Diaspora" is Head
of the Department of Repatriation and Investigations at the RA
Ministry of Diaspora A. Yeghiazaryan.

International Day of Families marked May 15

14:18 15/05/2010 » Society

The International Day of Families, marked May 15 this year, was
proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993.

As the cornerstone of the society, family has been and still remains
the carrier of human values and culture. Due to family, the state
strengthens and develops, the national welfare grows.
In all times the development of the country was seen in terms of the
rate of development of families and the state’s attitude to it.

Finally, family is a source of love, respect, tolerance and affection.
It is the base of civilized society a man cannot do without. Family’s
welfare is the criterion for state’s development and progress.

Source: Panorama.am

ARMENIA-NATO PARTNERSHIP IN FOCUS AT SESSION IN BRUSSELS

Aysor
May 12 2010
Armenia

Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Defense Minister
Seyran Ohanian will participate in a ministerial session of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation, taking place on Wednesday in Brussels
and aiming at discussion on Armenia-NATO relations.

The Defense Ministry spokesperson said that among highlights is a
report on the Individual Partnership Action Plan for Armenia.

HOLMES IS WHERE THE HEART IS FOR SHERLOCK VIOLIN
Susan Wilson

The Caledonian Mercury
/05/12/holmes-is-where-the-heart-is-for-sherlock-v iolin/00757
May 12 2010

After this Friday’s RSNO season finale performance in Edinburgh,
featuring Elgar’s Cello Concerto with star soloist Natalie Clein,
playing the 1777 "Simpson" Guadagnini (also in Aberdeen and Glasgow),
the next night at the Usher Hall partners another female string
prodigy with another instrument of distinction.

The Sherlock Violin was made last year by Edinburgh luthier Steve
Burnett, using centuries-old Italian methods, from the wood of
a 170-year-old sycamore which grew in the garden of Arthur Conan
Doyle’s childhood home. When the tree was condemned due to root-rot,
the special-needs school which now occupies the Liberton property
commissioned Burnett to craft a commemorative link to the author’s
most famous creation, who often played the violin while pondering
difficult cases.

It will be played this weekend by the acclaimed Armenian violinist Ani
Batikian, the youngest-ever student at her homeland’s Yerevan State
Conservatoire, where she enrolled aged 15, and now a Junior Fellow
at the RSAMD in Glasgow. Elgar, as it happens, is again on the bill,
with three of his shorter pieces featuring alongside works by Vivaldi,
Bartók, Gershwin and Jay Ungar, plus the world premiere of Elsie and
Frances by the Scottish composer James Clapperton – named after the
two girls responsible for the 1920 Cottingley Fairies hoax, in which
Conan Doyle remained a believer until his death. Interspersed with the
music will be short dramatic excerpts adapted from the Holmes stories,
performed by leading Scottish actor and storyteller Mike Maran.

CAVUSOGLU NE VA PAS VISITER TSITSERNAKABERD
Stephane

armenews
12 mai 2010
ARMENIE

Le president de l’Assemblee parlementaire du Conseil de l’Europe Melut
Cavusoglu se rendra en Armenie les 12 et 13 mai et il rencontrera
le President de la Republique Serge Sarkissian, le President de
l’Assemblee nationale Hovik Abrahamyan, le Ministre des Affaires
etrangères Edouard Nalbandyan, les membres des differentes partis
politiques representes dans l’Assemblee nationale et l’opposition
extra-parlementaire.

Aucune visite a Tsitsernakaberd n’est prevue selon la Chef du
Departement des Relations publiques de l’Assemblee nationale armenienne
Gohar Poghosyan.

" Cavusoglu va avoir seulement des reunions de travail, rien
d’autre n’est prevu " a-t-elle ajoute, soulignant que les officiels
visitent d’habitude le Matenadaran, Tsitsernakaberd et d’autres lieux
importants pendant des visites officielles. Selon Gohar Poghosyan,
la FRA Dashnaktsutyun a dit qu’elle boycottera la reunion avec Mevlut
Cavusoglu, si ce dernier ne se rend pas a Tsitsernakaberd.

GRAND MASTER KAREN MOVSISIAN AT SPAIN’S CHESS OPEN

Aysor
May 11 2010
Armenia

Armenia’s Grand Master Karen Movsisian has earned 4 points after seven
rounds of the Chess Open, taking place in Spain’s Salou, Armenian
Chess Federation spokesman said. The tournament’s leader is Ukraine’s
Grand Master Sergei Feodorchuk, who tops the champs at 6 points.

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE ISMAT ABBASOV VISITS YEREVAN

APA
May 10 2010
Azerbaijan

Baku-APA-ECONOMICS. The delegation headed by Azerbaijani Minister
of Agriculture Ismat Abbasov visited Yerevan, APA-ECONOMICS reports
quoting Armenian press.

The purpose of the visit is to attend the 27th regional conference
of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

160 persons from about 40 European and Middle Asian countries will
take part at the conference which will be held on May 13-14.

Note that, Deputy Head of Section for International Relations of the
Ministry of Agriculture Rashad Majidov and chief of Agrolizing Public
Cooperation Ali Bayramov are in the composition of the delegation
headed by Abbasov.

SAN DIEGO COMMEMORATIVE COMMITTEE HOSTED VIGIL REMEMBERING VICTIMS OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
May 7, 2010 – 11:57 AMT 06:57 GMT

The San Diego Commemorative Committee (Committee), in cooperation
with the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Armenian students’
organizations, hosted a commemorative vigil remembering the victims
of the Armenian Genocide. For the past twenty years, the Committee,
alongside Father Datev Tatoulian of St. John Garabed Church, has
spearheaded this annual commemoration.

Yeghig Keshishian, the Armenian Assembly of America’s (Assembly)
Western Region Director served as Master of Ceremonies for the 95th
Anniversary Commemoration, which included several featured speakers.

During his remarks, Keshishian discussed the negative consequences
of Turkish denial and reiterated the Assembly’s resolve in securing
unequivocal U.S. affirmation of the Armenian Genocide.

Representing Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA), Congressional Aide Willie
Blair focused on the importance of U.S. affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide, as well as Turkey, in terms of its own democratic advancement
as a nation. UCSD Professor Gershon Shafir talked about the enormous
impact of the phenomenon of genocides as a whole and the process of
rebuilding while the concluding speaker, Mark Geragos, addressed the
legal aspects of genocide and ongoing work within the Diaspora.

Joining the 200 in attendance was the daughter of Dr. Jacob &
Elizabeth Kunzler, Mrs. Elizabeth Marshall. Marshall’s parents were
Swiss missionaries, who during the Armenian Genocide rescued Armenian
orphans from the tyranny that befell the Armenian people. Dr.

Kunzler’s book Land of Blood & Tears provides an authoritative account
of the Ottoman Turk’s genocidal campaign against the Armenian people.

"On behalf of the Armenian Assembly, I wish to thank the Commemorative
Committee and student body for their initiative," stated Keshishian.

"The ongoing support of the community is a testament to the Armenian
spirit, and our joint efforts to confront denial wherever it may
exist," he added, the Assembly said in a press release.