ANDRE’S NEW SHOW
A1+
| 21:39:05 | 04-10-2005 | Culture |
September 11 well known singer Andre will appear before the audience
in a completely new image. The concert will be staged with circus
and dance items, director of the State Philharmonic society Laert
Movsesyan said during today’s press conference.
October 13 the signer will perform in Vanadzor and October 18 –
in Gyumri.
U.S. INTERVENES TO RESCUE STALLED EU TURKEY TALKS
Reuters
10/03/05 09:53 ET
LUXEMBOURG, Oct 3 (Reuters) – The United States intervened on Monday
to try to rescue membership talks between the European Union and
Turkey as a diplomatic deadlock deepened hours before the historic
negotiations were due to open.
EU president Britain said the 25-nation bloc was “on the edge of
a precipice” after Turkish objections to a clause it fears could
affect NATO membership piled on top of Austrian demands that the
Muslim nation be offered an alternative short of full membership.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Turkish Prime
Minister Tayyip Erdogan to assure him that the proposed EU negotiating
framework would not impinge on NATO, diplomats said.
A presidency spokesman said Britain still hoped to hold the opening
ceremony on Monday but it would clearly be later than the planned 5
p.m. (1500 GMT) start.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was waiting nervously in Ankara
for the EU to adopt a negotiating mandate before he could set off
for Luxembourg.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw telephoned Austrian Chancellor
Wolfgang Schuessel to try to clinch agreement on a formula to satisfy
Austrian concerns that the EU may not be able to absorb the vast,
poor, Muslim country, diplomats said.
The United States had also contacted Vienna to try to overcome
objections fuelled by overwhelming public hostility to Turkish
membership, they said.
Turkish financial markets yo-yoed amid the uncertainty. Stocks fell
some 2.3 percent from Friday’s close and the lira was down nearly 2
percent against the dollar, but both recovered in mid-afternoon amid
hopes the problems would be resolved.
Rice’s involvement was potentially embarrassing for the EU,
highlighting its inability to solve its problems alone.
“CATASTROPHIC”
Straw told the 24 other EU foreign ministers upon resuming talks
after only a couple of hours’ sleep: “Yes, we are near (to a deal)
but we are also on the edge of a precipice.
“If we go the right way we reach the sunny uplands. If we go the
wrong way, it could be catastrophic for the European Union.”
In Ankara, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told a meeting of the ruling
AK party that Turkey was not prepared to compromise further on the
conditions for opening the long-awaited talks.
“Those in the EU who cannot digest Turkey being in the EU are against
the alliance of civilisations. What I declare is this: the costs
resulting from all this will be paid by them.”
Turkey has frequently portrayed its entry to the EU as a way of
bridging a gap between the Christian and Islamic worlds and easing
tensions that may have fostered islamic militancy.
Diplomats said Ankara had objected to a clause in the EU negotiating
mandate that stipulates it may not block accession of EU states to
international organisations and treaties.
Turkish nationalists and the powerful military argued that might
prevent Turkey blocking a divided Cyprus from joining NATO. Cyprus
refused to let the EU change the wording.
But diplomats said Straw and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana
hoped to assuage Ankara with a letter clarifying that the clause did
not impinge on sovereign defence arrangements.
TIME RUNNING OUT
As the clock ticked down, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer
told ministers: “Time is running out. We have got to get this right.
We seem so close. We cannot let this opportunity slip away.”
Failure to start the talks could deal a blow to political reform and
foreign investment in Turkey, a strategic country of 72 million people
straddling Europe and the Middle East.
It would also deepen a sense of crisis in Europe, after referendum
defeats for the draft EU constitution in France and the Netherlands,
and an acrimonious failure in June to agree on a long-term budget
for the enlarged bloc.
“If there is no deal, my personal judgement is that we are increasingly
starting to look like a Union of failing states because we cannot make
any decisions,” Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks told Reuters.
Ratcheting up pressure on Austria, Straw postponed a planned review
of Austrian ally Croatia’s progress towards EU entry talks until the
Turkey issue was sorted out.
A Turkish official said nerves in Ankara were “extremely stretched
… Every minute that passes is making things more bitter and it
won’t be nice starting negotiations with all these bruises.”
The European Parliament compounded Turkish irritation last week by
saying Turkey must recognise the 1915 killings of Armenians under
Ottoman rule as an act of genocide before it can join the wealthy
European family.
Several hundred Armenians staged a noisy demonstration outside the
EU meeting, demanding that Turkey be forced to make amends for what
they called the Armenian genocide.
ARMENIA MUST PROVE ITS ADHERENCE TO EUROPEAN VALUES THROUGH CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
ArmInfo News Agency
Oct 1 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1. ARMINFO. ‘Europe does not force European
integration upon Armenia. It was Armenia that has proclaimed itself
a follower of western values. Thus, Armenia must prove its adherence
to these values through Constitutional reforms,’ said Head of the
Parliamentary Commission for Defense, National Security and Internal
Affairs, Vice Chairman of Orinats Yerkir party, Mher Shahgeldyan at
today’s seminar on constitutional reforms.
He noted the recent interest of Europe in the South Caucasus,
especially the inclusion of South Caucasian states in the
EU-implemented program “Wider Europe: new Neighborhood.” Despite its
traditions and culture, the Armenian people has a European mentality,
Shahgeldyan thinks. Constitutional reforms will be the first step
to bring the political structure of the country in harmony with the
people’s mentality. Each political forces must bear responsibility
for a possible failure of the draft constitutional reforms at
the referendum, Shahgeldyan said. To overcome corruption, social
polarization and other negative phenomena, it is necessary to display
a political will and consistency, Shahgeldyan thinks.
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2005
ARMENIAN IS AMONG THE LEADERS IN THE WORLD BY THE NUMBER OF CASES OF
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
YEREVAN, September 30. /ARKA/. Armenian is among the leaders in the
world by the number of cases of cardiovascular diseases, as the Head
of the Therapeutic Department of the RA ministry of Health Vahan
Poghosyan stated. “The number of cardiovascular diseases increases in
Armenia and this acquires threatening trends”, he said. According to
him, in the first half a year of 2005, 11 thsd 300 calls (or 15,7%)
for emergency out of 72 thsd calls. were because of cordial diseases.
For the first 6 months of 2005, 1400 people were hospitalize in
Yerevan with the diagnoses of cardiovascular diseases, versus 1300
people in 2004. “Prophylaxis and treatment of such diseases require
professionalism and latest clinical technologies”, he said. Poghosyan
added that the healthcare system of Armenia has this potential, with
the consideration of increasing the amount of funds spent on
healthcare. A.H.-0-
Armenpress
KOCHARIAN RECEIVES CIS INTERIOR MINISTERS
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: President Robert Kocharian received
today CIS member countries interior minister, who arrived in Yerevan
yesterday for a regular conference of the Council of CIS Interior Ministers
that has brought together the ministers from Armenia, Belarus, Georgia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan
and even a deputy interior minister of Azerbaijan.
Kocharian’s press office quoted him as saying that the Council of CIS
Interior Ministers is one of the most effective CIS structures. He also said
interior ministers in all CIS countries face the same problems which he said
is a good basis for cooperation. The agenda of the conference was dominated
by fighting corruption and illegal migration.
A1+
| 17:25:03 | 28-09-2005 | Official |
RUSHAYLO WORKING IN ARMENIA
Today RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan received the CIS Executive
Committee head, executive secretary Vladimir Rushaylo who is in Yerevan on a
working visit.
The sides spoke about the results of the CIS Summit in Kazan, underlining
the interest of the member countries in the future development of CIS.
During the conversation the sides also referred to the course of the CIS
reforms, events organized in the margins of the CIS and the participation of
Armenia in them. The executive secretary represented the present state of
the organization and the issues about the formation of the budget and the
system.
Finding the humanitarian cooperation in the margins of the CIS extremely
important, the sides also referred to the upcoming plans in that respect.
Hurriyetim, Turkey
11:05 CET, 29.09.2005
European Parliament puts Armenian genocide resolution in front of
Turkey
With just a short while to go before the start of the October 3 EU
accession talks for Turkey, the European Parliament has voted on two
decisions which may bring Ankara-Brussels relations to the point of
crisis. Following a vote to postpone Customs Union protocol between
Turkey and the EU, the European Parliament put forth a non-binding
measure proposing that Turkish recognition of the Armenian genocide be
made a requirement before EU membership.
Discussions yesterday in the European Parliament also brought forth a
call for Turkey to recognize the Greek Cypriot authority as soon as
possible.
Following votes cast by 356, with 181 voting against, the European
Parliament confirmed resolutions that Turkey should get on the fast
track to normalizing relations with southern Cyprus, including the
withdrawal of its soldiers from the area. The vote also recommended an
immediate change in the Turkish legal system as it relates to “freedom
of expression,” with a pointed reference to the recent case opened up
against Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk.
As for the resolution on the Armenian genocide, it was the fifth
resolution in favor of the Armenians taken by the European Parliament
since 1987.
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:
HIS HOLINESS VISITS THE CANADIAN CENTER FOR ECUMENISM
His Holiness Aram I visited the Canadian Center for Ecumenism on September
27. Prelate of Canada, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, V Rev Fr Krikor
Chiftjian, Rev Fr Housig Mardirosian and Rev Karnig Koyuonian accompanied
His Holiness.
Dr. Stuart E. Brown, director of the Canadian Center for Ecumenism greeted
His Holiness Aram I. A meeting was held between His Holiness and the
Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican and Evangelical members of the council as well
as the employees of the Center.
Dr. Brown welcomed His Holiness Aram I as an international leader in the
ecumenical sphere. The director spoke about the Center’s activities on a
regional level.
His Holiness Aram I spoke about ecumenical life today and particularly the
future projects and the work carried out by the World Council of Churches
(WCC) and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).
The participants in the meeting talked about the importance of ecumenical
movements for churches, pointing out that ecumenism paved the way to a
mutual recognition of one another and tolerance, which in turn brought
various Christian Churches together.
Inter-faith dialogues and possibilities of cooperation between various
existing religions featured high on the agenda. His Holiness Aram I
emphasized the importance of improving the quality of Christian-Muslim
dialogue conferences taking place in various countries through the efforts
of WCC. He stressed that these conferences need to become more than
occasional meetings.
“Churches and religions can not isolate themselves in today’s borderless
society. Religions and particularly Christian churches should recognize one
another, tolerate their differences and look for means of cooperation,” said
His Holiness.
Upon the request of the center’s director, His Holiness also talked about
his theological views. The attendants seemed to be familiar with these views
through the Catholicos’ published works and articles, and they asked several
questions to His Holiness.
Discussions continued over the lunch organized by the Center in honor of
His Holiness Aram I. Future plans for cooperation with the Armenian Church
were also discussed.
##
View pictures here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the dioceses 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.
Film screening and Q&A with writer/director Atom Egoyan at Arclight
Hollywood
On Screen Upcoming Events
American Film Institute
26 September 2005
AFI at Arclight Hollywood
MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2005 @ 8:00 PM SOLD OUT
“WHERE THE TRUTH LIES”
2005 107 MIN 35MM
DIR/SCR: Atom Egoyan
CAST: Kevin Bacon, Colin Firth, Alison Lohman, Rachel Blanchard
Q&A to follow the screening with writer/director Atom Egoyan, producer
Robert Lantos and cast members Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth.
In 50s, Lanny Morris (Kevin Bacon) and Vince Collins (Colin Firth) are
the most beloved entertainers in America. A duothe classicLanny is the
manic comedian, while Vince is his cool and collected straight
man. They are at the top of game theirwealthy, powerful and popular
enormouslywhen, inexplicably, a dead beauty turns up in their hotel
suite. Their reputations are sullied, but with solid alibis neither is
charged with the crime. Their partnership, however, is destroyed.
Lanny and Vince manage to salvage separate careers, but years pass
with neither speaking to the other, or to anyone else, about the
girl’s death. Fifteen years later, up-and-coming writer Karen
O’Connor (Alison Lohman), decides to turn this cold case into a hot
story. Beginning with her discovery of a kinky rendezvous that may
have led to a murder, Karen unravels a shocking tale of talent and
treachery, love and lust, buried secrets and betrayed trust.
AFI at ArcLight: For further information, visit
, or call 323.464.4226.
Visit for the latest updates.
IN WASHINGTON WITH SPECIAL MISSION
A1+
| 11:39:09 | 28-09-2005 | Official |
On September 24-28 the RA Governmental delegation was in Washington to
participate in the RA-USA inter governmental working group session,
as well as in the annual meeting of the World Bank and Currency
International Fund.
During the visit the members of the Armenian delegation met the deputy
executive director of the “Millennium Challenges” corporation Charles
Setness. The course of the investigation phase of the Millennium
Challenges Armenian program was discussed.
In the margins of the session of the RA-USA inter governmental
economics working group the parties have discussed a wide circle of
issues about the economic cooperation between RA and USA.