Author: Virabian Jhanna

CASE TURNED DOWN

A1+
| 20:41:30 | 12-09-2005 | Social |

Today the Court of Appeal turned down the case of the residents of
Buzand 10 against the Government considering it groundless.

The residents of the Buzand street find that they Government was not
authorized to made decisions against the Constitution and the clauses
of the Human Rights convention. “As far as in 2002 RA became member
of the CoE, the European conventions are more important than our
Constitution. Taking all this into account, with the aim to protect
our rights we turned to court, said Sedrak Baghdasaryan.

By the way, the dwellers of the street are not hopeless: they are
going to send the case to the Euro Court.

BOOK OF WAY, THE WAY OF THE BOOK
By Armine Ghazarian

Yerkir/arm
September 09, 2005

Within the framework of the European Heritage Days a series of events
were launched in Matenadaran on September 3. The series titled “Book
of way, the way of the book” will continue till September 18.

September 3-7 have been declared Days of Science and Culture. An
event devoted to the Armenian-German science was held on September 6
devoted to the 85th anniversary of expert of Armenian Studies, devoted
promoter of Armenian-German relations Gevorg Abgarian (1920-1998).

The event started in Matenadaran and continued in the National Library.

Minister of Culture Hovik Hoveyan, Minister of Culture and Science
of Saxonia-Anhalt Land in Germany Jan-Hendrik Olberz, director of
Mesrop Center and Lepsius’ Archives Hermann Goltz and other guests
attended the event.

Director of the National Library David Sargsian greeted the guests
and opened the exhibitions of the Library’s German archives and Gevorg
Abgarian’s works. The exhibition includes fiction, historic literature,
as well as books on music, arts and archaeology.

Armenian translations of German writers’ works as well as German
translations of Armenian writers’ works were presented at the
exhibition. Some books with Johannes Lepsius’ autographs, books
published by Martin Luther, books of classical and modern German
authors were also exhibited.

Director of the National Library David Sargsian noted in his
opening remarks, “We hope that these meetings will results in
arrangements to foster inter-library relations with such an important
scientific-cultural region as Saxonia-Anhalt.”

Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs Hovik Hoveyan and Minister of
Culture and Science of Saxonia-Anhalt Land in Germany Jan-Hendrik
Olberz extended their greetings to the participants of the event.

The latter presented to the National Library a publication of three
volumes of Johannes Lepsius’ documentary archives (Germany, Armenia
and Turkey in 1895-1925). Director of Lepsius’ Archives and Mesrop
Center Hermann Goltz and Armenuhi Drost-Abgarian from Halle University
and Mesrop Center presented their reports. Gevorg Abrahamian’s works
were presented at the event.

The Times, UK
Sept 9 2005

Joyous postscript to tales of goal famine and lost luggage
By David McVay

IT WAS rumours of a devastating flood that inspired Noah, so the
story goes, to build his Ark on top of Mount Ararat, which borders
Armenia and gazes down upon its capital, Yerevan. Below, in the
country’s national stadium one Saturday in late March two years ago,
the topic of conversation was also of a drought, a goal drought to be
precise. Rumours of it raining goals proved unfounded.
In the press box that day, the blood appeared to be draining from
Malcolm Brodie, the highly respected Irish journalist who has covered
Northern Ireland for more than half a century. The great man’s
thermals could not prevent the cold of an Armenian spring afternoon
creeping into every joint.

To suggest that this was one of the more enjoyable occasions for a
Northern Ireland correspondent might be a trifle misleading. But only
a trifle. Reporting on Northern Ireland requires a specialist
survival kit. A thick skin, for climate and criticism; fortitude and
a strong constitution for the compulsory drowning of sorrows in Irish
bars from Crete to Copenhagen; fake contact lenses with active
centres to conceal the glazed look that engulfs the senses during
extended periods of boredom, ie, 1,298 minutes without scoring a
goal, and, of course, an optimism that might attract a visit from the
men in white coats after four years without a victory in meaningful
competition.

In Yerevan in 2003, Sammy McIlroy’s European Championship venture had
already disintegrated when Artur Petrosyan scored a late winner to
claim a rare win for the home team. However, it is far better to lose
on a foreign field, bereft of a goal once more, than to surrender
meekly at Windsor Park.

One-nil to ten-man Canada; 2-0 to Greece and several nondescript
goalless draws with Ukraine, Cyprus and the Magaluf Waiters XI
gathering for an annual bash in Belfast.

While many have suffered for the cause, so have the players. When
McIlroy began the Euro 2004 campaign with a game away to Spain in
October 2002, the squad, the fans and the press corps went to
Valencia. Sadly, the training kit and some football boots headed for
Madrid. Then Barcelona, before being reunited with their owners two
days later.

Even a victory over Malta in October 2001, the last occasion that the
side had completed back-to-back wins was disrupted by turbulence,
literally, on the return trip.

So is it any wonder the green wig mops jigged and drank in the
streets of Belfast into the small hours on Wednesday night after
their team beat England at Windsor Park for the first time in 78
years? Can you blame the likes of David Healy, the match-winner, for
celebrating as if they had won the World Cup rather than secured
fourth place in group six? Or the journalists who have witnessed the
bad in Baku and the ugly in Ukraine for punching the air when Healy
scored? `As a practising Christian I believe in David and Goliath and
I was praying to God that that would happen and it did,’ Stuart
Elliott, the Hull City forward, said. The mouse roared indeed. The
three lions trembled.

A1+

| 18:58:28 | 09-09-2005 | Politics |

THE OPPOSITION WILL NOT BE DEPRIVED OF MANDATES

The issue of depriving the oppositional deputies of mandates because of
absentees will not be included in the in the agenda of the RA NA fall
session which will start on September 12. This decision was made today by
the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs.

There is a possibility that the Parliamentary majority has been careful in
this respect in order not to provoke tension in the Parliament. Information
has been received from the opposition field that the opposition deputies
discuss the possibility of stopping the boycott and returning t the
Parliament.

the decision of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs is
accounted for by the fact that the issue was included in the agenda of the
previous NA session but it was not discussed.

ARMENIA AGAINST NOMINATING AZERI OMBUDSWOMAN FOR CE COMMISSIONER

Pan Armenian News
08.09.2005 02:51

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “The organization for defense of interests of Gurgen
Margaryan has issued a statement, which specifically notes, “Reports
have appeared in the Azeri press that Human Rights Commissioner
(Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan Elmira Suleymanova has been nominated
for the office of Council of Europe (CE) Human Rights Commissioner
among other 7 candidates. The Azeri party calls this “a brilliant
diplomatic move.” Leaving aside the personal record of E. Suleymanova
and the evaluation of her work in Azerbaijan, we would like to draw
the CE attention to some aspects of her activities in Armenian-Azeri
conflict and the settlement process. Analysis of Suleymanova’s
individual actions and statements leave no doubt that the Ombudsperson
institute and the Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan have become a
mouthpiece of Azeri authorities’ official policy, supporting in every
way possible the anti-Armenian, xenophobic and racist rhetoric both
within the countries and beyond its limits. There are many examples
of that policy in today’s Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, until now we
do not know any cases of the institution protecting the rights of
a few hundred Armenians, who are still in Baku and are subject to
persecution and violence. Moreover, the institution in the person of
Suleymanova has many times criticizes authoritative international
human rights organizations, who included Azerbaijan in the list of
not free countries, while Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh were found
among partially free ones. This stand is not surprising at all,
taking into account the unaccountable statement of Suleymanova,
made after the brutal murder of Armenian officer G. Margaryan in
Budapest in February 2004 by Azeri officer R. Safarov, who were
both taking English language courses within NATO Partnership for
Peace Program. The Azeri Ombudswoman called the barbaric crime
“an example of genuine patriotism for the Azeri youth.” The NGO for
protection of G. Margaryan’s interests considers its duty to state
that the inclusion of Elmira Suleymanova into list of candidates for
the office of Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner does not
do the CE credit. Thus CE attachment to high human rights ideals,
their observation and protection irrespective of ethnic, national
and religious identity are questioned. The politicization of the
election process and insufficient demands to candidates for the high
and important office are able to discredit the European institution
itself and cause serious doubts that the CE in the person of the
Human Rights Commissioner really considers human rights and basic
freedoms a priority value of the European civilization scale, which
is not subject to undeserving political conjuncture and withstands
all challenges of our hard times with dignity,” reported IA Regnum.

33 CHILDREN ADOPTED IN ARMENIA IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2005

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8. ARMINFO. In the first half of 2005, 33 children
were adopted in Armenia, testify the data of a report of relevant state
structures submitted to today’s sitting of the Armenian government.

The press-service of the Armenian government informs ARMINFO that in
the period under review, 145 minors were put under ward, trusteeship
was put on the property of 17 minors and 31 died, absent, disabled
persons. Guardianship put on 43 minors and 10 disabled.

The government has approved a project of a program of social protection
of invalids for 2006 to be submitted to the parliament together
with the RA Law on state budget for 2006. According to the project,
pensions of invalids and pensioners as well as payments for services
to veterans are to be increased starting from Jan 1 2006.

ONE SHOULD EXPECT SERIOUS INTERNAL POLITICAL PROCESSES IN ARMENIA WITHIN NEXT TWO MONTHS, ARSHAK SADOYAN THINKS

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8. ARMINFO. Serious processes of home policy
will take place in Armenia within the next two months. leader of the
party Bloc of National Democrats, deputy of the parliament from the
opposition Arshak Sadoyan stated during the news conference, Thursday.

According to him, from 1998, i.e. since the day of his coming to power
Robert Kocharian promised to carry out constitutional reforms, but he
delayed conducting them, as the acting Constitution suits him much
more, which provides super-authorities to the president. Now under
the pressure of the European structures Robert Kocharian has to make
amendments to the Constitution, for which he has to falsify the results
of the referendum. In any case the opposition turns out to be in safe
situation – if the referendum fails Robert Kocharian must resign,
and if the results of the referendum are successfully falsified (the
success is impossible without its falsifications, Sadoyan is sure),
the people and international community will brindle at that and all
will end with “flower” revolution, the opposition deputy stressed.

He declared that in this situation the opposition must be 100% cable of
functioning, to provide each polling station with a group of observers
(10 people), who will hinder the falsifications.

ARMENIAN CONDUCTORS WINS GRAND PRIX OF INTERNATIONAL CONTEST

Armenpress
Sept 7, 2005

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 7, ARMENPRESS: A jury of prominent musicians from
the USA, Russia, South Korea, Great Britain and Ukraine awarded the
Grand Prix of the 5-th international contest of conductors dedicated to
Vakhtang Zhvania in Ukrainian Kharkiv to Armenian conductor Harutyun
Arzumanian.

Harutyun Arzumanian who conducts the orchestra of the Armenian
Ballet and Opera Theater was also awarded the prize established for
best conductor of orchestra and won also a prize called ‘Audience
Sympathy’. As the winner of the contest that ran from September 1
to September 6, Harutyun Arzumanian will conduct orchestras of USA,
Korea, Russia, Ukraine and some other countries.

In an interview with Armenpress Harutyun Arzumanian said his victory
came also as a surprise for contest organizers as it was the first
participation of an Armenian conductor in this contest held once in
two years. As part of the contest he had to conduct the orchestra
that performed new work by a modern composer Alkneev for saxophone,
percussions, choir and a soloist.

The contest was organized by James Art American company in an effort to
select best conductors who later will perform on different stages. Out
of 150 contenders only 33 from 21 countries managed to overcome the
first round and 5 qualified for the final round.

New York Times, NY
Sept 4 2005

A Memorable Cab Ride and Other Journeys Into the Heart of the City

[parts omitted]

THE PROPHET OF ZONGO STREET
By Mohammed Naseehu Ali
Amistad
($22.95, hardcover)

As we crossed the bridge, and drove onto Flatbush Avenue, the cabbie
finally came to the end of a winding statement about one or another
virtue of the Armenians. I looked at him and nodded, to give him the
impression that I had been listening all along.

“I’m telling you, my frien’;” he continued. “The people of Turkey
have a culture today because of us Armenians. They eat all the food
we eat, they cook like us, they even look like us, but they don’t
like to hear that deep in their souls they ar’ all Armenians. They
want to kill that soul and remove it from their bodies. But how can
you do that, my frien’?” he asked, with pompous laughter.

“Impossible,” I said, shaking my head.

“You’re right, my frien’. Impossible,” he roared, absentmindedly
veering out of his lane. The horns of cars riding alongside us
screamed all at once, and were followed by curse words in Urdu,
Creole-, Arabic-, Jamaican- and African-accented broken English by
fellow cabbies and other motorists. The Armenian collected himself
and continued.

“Greece used to be Armenia. The people of ancient Greece and the
whole area around it, all of them were Armenians.”

“Hmn,” I said.

“Incredible, right?”

I nodded.

WASTED BEAUTY
By Eric Bogosian
Simon & Schuster
($24, hardcover)

Within the hour Rena is signed to a three-year personal services
contract. The agency takes care of all her needs. Marissa finds her a
place to live on the Upper East Side with two other girls who model
for the agency. She’s issued a small expense allowance and instructed
where to buy clothes, buy makeup, where to go for dry cleaning.
Appointments are made for facials, waxings, hair conditioning,
manicures and teeth bleaching.

Finally, she’s handed a miniature TV set as a “welcome aboard”
present, an empty portfolio for all the clippings she’ll soon have
and a Dolce & Gabbana knapsack for her “go sees.” She can use Paul’s
pictures for the time being. It’s almost overwhelming.

Before the week is over Rena is so busy, she doesn’t have time to go
on “go sees.” A friend of Paul’s gets her into an editorial shoot
about head scarves for Teen Vogue. Marissa finds her a job down on
Grand Street doing a flyer for a New Jersey department store. For
that she has to wear a nightie and a cotton jersey. Marissa forbids
underwear ads, says Rena is too special for that.

On the following Thursday Rena gets a paycheck for $750 minus taxes
and her allowance, almost double what she and Billy ever made at the
farmstand.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN CALLS FANS TO PROMOTE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION ADOPTION

Pan Armenian News
02.09.2005 05:48

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ System of a Down continues to deliver its message
of justice for the Armenian Genocide, educating fans at its Summer
2005 concert series about this crime against humanity, and urging
them to work for the adoption of the Armenian Genocide Resolution,
the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) reports. The ANCA, at
the invitation of the band, has worked alongside Amnesty International
and Axis of Justice at activist tables at concerts to distribute
educational materials, secure signatures on petitions, field questions,
and promote discussion about the Turkish government’s ongoing denial
of the Armenian Genocide. The ANCA, in coordination with its regional
offices and with the help of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF),
has already worked shows in San Diego, Miami, Atlanta, Houston and
Philadelphia. In May of this year, Mezmerize, the first half of the
band’s two-part album Mezmerize/Hypnotize, debuted as the number-one
selling CD in the United States. On April 24th of this year, System
held a sold-out “Souls” benefit concert for the ANCA and other groups
working to prevent genocide and counter genocide denial. The band has
sold nearly 10 million CDs worldwide. A Google search for “System of a
Down” returns over 1.6 million hits. “We are tremendously encouraged by
the overwhelming response to System’s creative and powerful outreach
to their growing fan-base,” ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian
said. “The band has educated literally millions about the Armenian
Genocide, increasing awareness of this crime and helping generate
the political will we will need to defeat Turkey’s campaign to deny
justice to the Armenian people.”