Author: Zakarian Garnik

Long Island Children’s Museum Calendar of Events

Armenian Mural Painting
Saturday, June 11 at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

Come and join us on our imaginary trip to Armenia and explore its people,
folk music and landscapes. Learn about the unique mural paintings in
Armenian historical churches carved deep inside mountains. Help us create
a large mural painting in our LICM’s Learning studio. Age: 6 thru 12.
$2.00 material fee with museum admission.

Armenian Folk Dance and Music – Theater Performance
Saturday, June 11 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Nvair Kadian Beylerian, a third-generation Armenian-American shares her
rich heritage and spirit with children and their families through
story-telling, song and dance. Join us as we travel to Historic Armenia
to explore a culture full of joy and celebration. Age: 4 and up. Free
with museum admission.

for directions and information visit

AZNAVOUR CALLS ON TURKISH YOUTH TO FORM PERSONAL IDEA CONCERNING
ISSUES OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS

ISTAMBUL, JUNE 8, NOYAN TAPAN. Young people in Turkey should be left
free in order that they interprete issues concerning the
Armenian-Turkish relations themselves. French Armenian world famous
singer Charles Aznavour stated this in an interview given to the
Turkish “Radical” newspaper which was published in the June 7 issue,
on the occasion of Aznavour’s autobiographical book’s being published
in Turkish (“Aras” publishing house). When the newspaper correspondent
reminded that Aznavour has a wonderful poem “Letter to My Turkish
Friend,” the world famous singer mentioned that he really had a dear
Turkish friend, and the letter was addressed to that friend but, in
reality, it is addressed to the whole Turkish poeple. “When the
Genocide happened Turks fostered Armenian orphans. If 50 thousand
orphans were fostered from a half and a million of Armenians it is not
a small number. It means that irrespective of you or us, there is an
Armenian reality in Turkey. Every time, when Turk young people visit
me I tell them. “Today, listen neither to what Turks say nor to what
Armenians say. Use your mind, form your personal idea. Why were I and
my Turk friend so close with one another. He took my mother to all
those places where she spent her youth. He used to call my mother
“mamy.” Why? Because he has studied and was aware. I propose Turk
youth to study, research. As the burder on the shoulders is very
heavy. We do not have a burder on our shoulders but you do have. The
burder should be picked up in order young people to be free,”
Aznavour, particularly, said. The world famous singer mentioned that
50 years ago he visited Turkey twice and had a concert. He would like
to visit Turkey again, but with a condition, that he will be
officially invited by the Turkish state. He got concert invitations
many times but wants to get a state invitation. The Istambul “Marmara”
daily reminds that assaults against Aznavour first happened in Turkey
when he wrote the song “They Fell” dedicated to the 1915 Armenian
Genocide. And at present. his role in Atom Egoyan’s “Ararat” film
became a reason that he is called “Turk’s enemy.”

Romania beats Armenia 3-0 in Group 1

AP Worldstream
Jun 08, 2005

Gigel Bucur scored two goals and Ovidiu Petre added another Wednesday
to lead Romania over Armenia 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier.

Romania, which lost to the Netherlands on Saturday, started the game
with a revamped squad with many new players, including Bucur.

Romania pushed for an early goal, and defender Cristian Chivu came
close to scoring after only three minutes, but his powerful shot from
inside the box was deflected wide by a defender.

Petre broke the deadlock in the 30th minute with a header from six
meters (yards). It was Petre’s first goal for the national team.

Romania made it 2-0 in the 40th when Bucur broke into the Armenian box
and beat the goalkeeper with a well placed shot to the far corner.

Armenia missed its biggest chance in the dying minutes of the first
half when Ara Hakobian hit the post with a shot from inside the box.

Bucur, who was playing his first match as a starter, scored again in
the 83rd minute with a shot to the top far corner.

“This is a time for reconstruction of the national team,’ Romania
coach Victor Piturca said.

___

Lineups:

Romania: Bogdan Lobont; Cosmin Contra (Flavius Stoican, 67), Gabriel
Tamas, Cristian Chivu, Razvan Rat, Ovidiu Petre, Dorinel Munteanu
(Ionut Mazilu, 87), Gigel Bucur, Mihaita Plesan, Gigel Coman (Nicolae
Mitea, 80), Marius Niculae.

Armenia: Roman Berezovski; Sarkis Hovsepian, Romik Haciatrian, Karen
Dohoian, Alexander Tadevosian, Eghise Melikian, Ara Hakobian, Agvan
Mkrcian (David Grigorian, 85), Armen Sahgeldian, Edgar Manusarian
(Arman Karamian, 54) Aram Voskanian (Robert Arzumanian, 46).

Ultimate-Guitar.Com
June 7 2005

System Of A Down US Tour

Date: 2005-06-07 Artist: System Of A Down Category: Upcoming Tours

Described by the media as “the most wonderfully bombastic band in
modern rock,” “the most wholly unique band making music today,” and
“capable of single-handedly carrying rock into a new era,” System Of
A Down will kick off its first major North American tour in three
years on August 4, headlining the Long Beach Arena just outside of
Los Angeles. The tour, which features The Mars Volta as special
guests and Bad Acid Trip as the tour’s first leg openers, will see
System Of A Down headlining arenas in some forty cities over a
ten-week period.

Tickets for the first five cities on the tour – Long Beach, San
Diego, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas – will go on sale this
weekend (see below for details), and will be priced from $32.50 to
$45.00. System Of A Down’s site – – will host a ticket presale
beginning this Wednesday, June 8 at 10:00AM PDT running through
10:00PM PDT on Thursday, June 9. Log onto the site for the special
password and complete details. General ticket on-sales will begin
this weekend for these initial five dates at the band’s website, at
all Ticketmaster outlets including ticketmaster.com, and at the
venues’ box office.

The tour is in support of System Of A Down’s the brand-new album,
“Mezmerize” (American Recordings/Columbia Records), which was
released May 17 and debuted in the Number One slot on the
Billboard/SoundScan charts. “Mezmerize” also experienced worldwide
first-week success having soared to the top of album charts in more
than a dozen countries – worldwide sales for “Mezmerize” in its first
week topped 800,000 copies. “Mezmerize” is the first disc in a
two-disc set, with disc two, “Hypnotize,” set for a late fall
release. “Mezmerize/Hypnotize” was produced by Rick Rubin and
System’s main songwriter/guitarist Daron Malakian.

Since its self-titled debut in 1998, System Of A Down – Daron
Malakian (guitars, vocals), Serj Tankian (vocals), Shavo Odadjian
(bass), John Dolmayan (drums) – has sold more than 10-million records
world wide, and risen to the level of an arena headliner while
maintaining its musical integrity, its core fan base, and its
position as one of the most unique bands in rock. With the unexpected
commercial radio success of “Chop Suey!,” “Toxicity,” and the Number
One “Aerials,” the three Top 10 radio tracks from 2001’s
multi-platinum album “Toxicity,” System blew the definition of
mainstream rock wide open. System Of A Down’s music is impossible to
pigeonhole, as it runs the gamut from Metallica to Frank Zappa to
Gilbert and Sullivan to Armenian folk tunes. Lyrically, System is
highly opinionated about numerous topics including war, religion,
politics, Hollywood, love, genocide, drugs, sex, injustice, and just
having a good time.

System Of A Down is currently on a 23-date tour of Europe comprised
of appearances at major rock festivals as well as handful of
headlining dates including a three-night stand at London’s Brixton
Academy. This past April, the band took to the road on a nine-city
“guerrilla tour,” headlining small venues in major U.S. markets with
the shows being announced only a day or two ahead of time. Of the
Washington, D.C. show, the Washington Post wrote that System
“delivered a performance as pummeling and cathartic as rock gets.”

Initial confirmed dates for System Of A Down’s North American tour
are as follows:

Initial confirmed dates for System of a Down’s North American tour
are as follows:

08/04 – Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA – On-sale is 12NOON,
Saturday, June 11
08/06 – TBA, San Diego, CA – On-sale is 3:00PM, Friday, June 10
08/11 – American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX – On-sale is 12NOON at
Saturday, June 11
08/12 – SBC Arena, San Antonio, TX – On-sale is 10:00AM, Saturday,
June 11
08/13 – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Houston, TX – On-sale is
10:00AM, Saturday, June 11

More dates to be announced shortly.

IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: COMMODITY TURNOVER OF IRAN
AND ARMENIA INCREASES 30% ANNUALLY

YEREVAN, JUNE 6. ARMINFO. Every year the commodity turnover of Iran
and Armenia increases 30%. Last year it was 180 mln USD, Iranian
Ambassador to Armenia Alireza Khakikyan informs IRNA.

He said that the trade and economic relations of Iran and Armenia are
at a high level and have good prospects. The most important economic
project is construction of an export gas pipeline from Iran to
Armenia. The length of the gas pipeline is 140 km, including 10 km
via Iranian and 40 km via Armenian territory. The construction of the
pipeline is to be completed by 2007. At present the first stage of
construction works is in process. Khakikyan said that Armenia refused
from construction of the project of Kajaran tunnel. Instead, active
works have been carried out on construction of a highway in another
region for already two months. The new road is supposed to facilitate
transit transportation between Iran and Armenia. At the same time,
the Ambassador stated that the major problem in the relations of
Armenia and Iran are still unsettled frontier problems. To solve
them, an Iranian-Armenian Commission for Frontier issues has been
established, which could play an important role in solution to this
major problem in case o more active work.

DISLOCATION OF PART OF ARMAMENT FROM RUSSIAN MILITARY BASES IN
GEORGIA TO ARMENIA CONSTITUTES NO THREAT TO NEIGHBORING STATES:
RF PERMANENT REP.

YEREVAN, JUNE 4. ARMINFO. Dislocation of part of the armament from
the closing Russian military bases in Georgia to Armenia constitutes
no threat to the neighboring states. Alexey Borodavkin, Permanent
Representative of the Russian Federation made this statement at a
siting of OSCE Permanent Council on June 2, the web-site of the RF
Foreign Ministry reports. He said the armament and ammunition to be
dislocated in Armenia would not exceed the Conventional Armed Forces
in Europe treaty quotas and would be under constant supervision of
the Russian party.

He said that May 30 2005 the foreign ministers of RF and Georgia signed
the text of a joint statement regarding the terms and conditions and
basic parameters of withdrawal of Russian military bases and other
military facilities of the Group of Russian Troops in the Transcaucasus
from the Georgian territory. The withdrawal of the military equipment
will start already in 2005 and at least 40 units of armored vehicles
will be dislocated. The process of disbandment and withdrawal of the
military base from Akhalkalaki will continue til October 1 2007. The
military base in Batumi as well as the Department of the GRTT will
be finally withdrawn within 2008.

23 documents signed at the Tbilisi meeting by CIS PMs

Kazinform, Kazakhstan
June 3 2005

TBILISI-ASTANA. June 3. KAZINFORM. /Yernur Akanbay/ – Today in the
Georgian capital a regular session of CIS Prime-Ministers has been
held. The meeting was attended by Azerbaijani PM Artur Rassizade,
PM of Armenia Andranik Markaryan, PM of Byelorussia Sergey Sidorsky,
PM of Kazakhstan Daniyal Akhmetov, Vice-PM of Kyrgyzstan Adakhan
Madumarov, PM of Moldova Vasily Tarlev, Chairman of the Russian
Government Mikhail Fradkov, PM of Tajikistan Akyl Akylov, permanent
plenipotentiary representative of Turkmenistan at CIS authoritative
bodies ~V Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan
to Byelorussia Ilya Velzhanov, PM of Uzbekistan Utkur Sultanov,
PM of Ukraine Yuliya Timoshenko and PM of Georgia Zurab Nogaideli.

In Tbilissi the top officials of the CIS conducted a number of meetings
in private and enlarged negotiations. Upon completion of the session
it was decided to prolong the terms of fulfilling the interstate
programs of creating information-marketing centers network for the
goods and services on the national markets of CIS states.

These programs are aimed at ensuring informational support of
foreign economic and entrepreneurship activity in the Commonwealth
countries and give a new impulse to development of manufacturing and
scientific-technical relations. 23 documents adjusted in the Council
of Foreign Ministers were also signed by the CIS Prime-Ministers
without discussions. The next enlarged session of CIS PMs Council
is known to take place in August this year in Moscow.

SUMMER WITH PLENTY OF WATER

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
01 June 05

In summer the need for water grows twice, and the problem of
water persists in the capital, therefore, the inhabitants of
Stepanakert are worried. We talked to the director of Water and
Sewage CJSC Vladimir Arzumanian. Srbuhi Vanian: “Mr. Arzumanian,
what expectations will the inhabitants of the capital have from
water supply?” Vladimir Arzumanian: “We promise the inhabitants of
Stepanakert plenty of water this summer. There may be cut-offs for
the reason of maintenance but for short periods. In the recent years
we have not had such high rates. Instead of 80-90 litres per second
we receive 3000 cubic metres of clear water. This is, first of all,
determined by plenty of snow this winter. By the way, the lack of
water is often caused by the inhabitants of the capital themselves.
On the outskirts of the city almost every family grows vegetables
in their gardens, and uses the water from the main pipeline. Taking
into account the social state of these families (these are families
of killed soldiers, poor families, sole pensioners), we do not take
strict measures. As a result, the water is not distributed evenly,
and there are people who remain without water. Besides, an enormous
amount of water is lost because of broken taps. I assure that the
daily amount of water flowing into the city is enough to provide
12-16 hour water supply, if not 24 hour.” S.V.: “However, we have to
acknowledge that often water supply is stopped because the pipelines
are out of order.” V.A.: “Damaged pipelines are increasing day by
day. At present, 4 brigades are repairing the pipelines. However,
the pipes are very old and are often damaged. Our first problem is
prevention of breakdowns in the system and repairs of damaged pipes,
which costs 12 million drams.” S.V.: “Maybe it would be better to
replace the damaged pipes with new ones than repair them?” V.A.:
“Maybe yes, but replacing the old pipes requires great expenses. We
are not subsidized by the government and we cannot get such large sums
at a time. This year we will replace 420 metres of pipes in one of the
quarters of the capital, which will cost 2 million drams. Generally,
projects of this scope are implemented by the government.” S.V.:
“Through the winter the quarter did not have drinking water and the
inhabitants had to bring water with buckets from the springs situated
rather far from them. What is the reason, and will this repeat
next year?” V.A.: “The cause of the problem of water supply of the
quarter is that 90 per cent of the pipeline is built above ground,
and weather and other factors immediately impact the pipes. That is
to say, they are less protected. This winter, for instance, we made
great efforts to warm the frozen pipelines but failed. Water supply
was resumed only in March. The problem is grave, for besides the
costs, it is impossible to take machines to those rocks.” S.V.: “You
touched upon 24 hour water supply. The question has been discussed
by the government for a number of times. What steps are taken in
this direction?” V.A.: “This is a separate issue that the government
attends to. As far as I know, next year the programme of 24 hour
water supply will be instituted in one of the large quarters of the
city including Hekimian, Mashtots and Isakov streets.” S.V.: “What
problems is the company facing at present?” V.A.: “Our aim is to supply
people with clear water. There are, of course, a number of problems,
the solution of which depends on our efficiency. We have raised the
question of acquiring sand catcher but have got no answers. This
year we have to try to repair our old sand catcher, operating since
1936. We do not know how and how long it will operate. People should
help to solve our problems by not wasting water, paying for the water
they use and not spoiling the springs and fountains in the city,
which we have to repair several times a month.” S.V.: “Does Water
and Sewage CJSC manage to collect the fees for water in time?” V.A.:
“As compared to the previous years, the rates are reassuring. I think
the problem will be solved only after using hydrometres. Only then
will the inhabitants economize water and pay the fees in time.”

SRBUHI VANIAN. 01-06-2005

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
June 2 2005

AZERBAIJAN’S PRIME MINISTER MEET WITH PARTICIPANTS OF 3RD MEETING OF
COUNCIL OF THE HEADS OF CIS COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY CHAMBERS
[June 02, 2005, 17:57:42]

Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade meet on June 2 with
the participants of 3rd Baku meeting of Council of the heads of CIS
Commerce and Industry Chambers, reports AzerTAj.

The Council’s members have informs the prime minister about the Baku
meeting’s agenda noted at the same time the high organizing level
of the event. They also have emphasized the active European Union –
CIS commerce and industry chambers cooperation necessity. Therefore
is very important to establish a new Center under the Council on
preparation of entrepreneurs.

Prime Minister Artur Rasizade has focused on the economic situation
in the country, and said that every year there are great GDP grow and
developing of the private sector has been noticed. The government keeps
also in the center of attention all social problems of population. The
country’s leadership is successfully implemented the global energy
projects. But unresolved up to now Armenian-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno Karabakh still the republic’s main problem, said Mr. Rasizade.

IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: IRAN CONSIDERS RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA PRIOR

TABRIZ, JUNE 1. ARMINFO. Within the framework of peaceful policy
aiming peaceful coexistence, strengthening of stability and security
in the Caucasus, Iran is interested in extension and strengthening of
versatile relations with the neighboring states. Iranian Ambassador
to Yerevan Ali-Reza Khakikyan made this statement in Tabriz today
where a conference of Iranian and Armenian businessmen is held.

Ambassador Khakikyan says that Iran considers the relations with
Armenia as prior taking into account the cultural and historical
commonness and peaceful coexistence of the two countries’ peoples.
“Economic priorities proceeding from the commonness of interests in
the sphere of trade as well as the effective role of the transit cargo
transportation necessitate development of bilateral cooperation and
use of the existing possibilities of Iran with Armenian businessmen,”
Khakikyan said. He expressed hope for “establishment of the necessary
conditions for development of cooperation by Iranian and Armenian
authorities will contribute to strengthening of ties of the two
countries’ businessmen.”

The iranian Ambassador also expressed the interest of the Iranian ad
Armenian leadership in development and extension of the bilateral
cooperation, adding the “activity of the free economic area Aras ”
as well as joint construction of the Bridge Nurduz on the frontier
River of Araks linking Iranian ostan Eastern Azerbayjan as a transport
infrastructure contribute to implementation of this goal. Khakikyan
pointed out the importance of joint conferences of the two countries’
businessmen and came out for continuation of these contacts calling the
Iranian and Armenian authorities for contribution to this cooperation.

To note, in 2004 the commodity turnover between Armenia and Iran
grew 8.8%, totaling $100 mln, which is 4/9% of the total structure
of foreign trade of Armenia. Export of Armenian goods to Iran made
up $28 mln, import $72 mln.