Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) No Longer Understands Vartan Oskanian

Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) Razmik Zohrabyan does not share ex Foreign Minister vartan Oskanian’s opinion that we witness the repetition of 1998 in the talks over Karabakh and the situation can be recovered only through a power change.

“Mr. Oskanian has always surprised me. If he is not a foreign minister today, it does not mean he can criticize the present authorities. He was in our camp for ten years. Robert Kocharian, Vartan Oskanian and many others were in our ranks. Today we follow their policy though they criticize us as they are no longer in power. Why should we resign today?” wondered Mr. Zohrabyan.
The HHK deputy chairman is surprised that Vartan Oskanian speaks of power change more impertinently than the opposition. “I cannot understand what Mr. Oskanian is displeased with. Why should our teammate raise the issue of power change?”  Read more... (394 words)

Francophonie Days To Kick off in Armenia

The Francophonie Days officially kick off in Armenia today. The event has been initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the International Organization of the Francophone. The launch of the Francophone Days was given by Christian Ter-Stepanyan ambassador and the adviser to the Foreign Minister of Armenia on Issues of Francophonie and French ambassador to Armenia Serzh Smesov.

Armenia has become a member of international organization of Francophonie since 2008. Christian Ter-Stepanyan told in the frameworks of the Francophonie the Secretary General of the International Organization of the Francophonie, Abdou Diouf will arrive in Armenia.  Read more... (247 words)

Jivan Gasparyan May Participate in Eurovision 2010 with Eva Rivas

Famous Armenian duduk player Jivan Gasparyan may take part in the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest together with Eva Rivas, representing Armenia, said Gasparyan himself to Tert.am at a press conference launching his newly released album today.

Gasparyan mentioned that he had received the invitation from Valeri Saharyan, the singer’s producer and head of the “Armenia Production” producing centre.

Gasparyan also said he had promised to participate then, but now has to listen to the song first and then decide whether he will perform the duduk portion in the song during Rivas’s performance.

Referring to Eurovision 2010, Gasparyan said it is not a serious contest as it is SMS voting and not professionals that decide who the winners are.  Read more... (151 words)

Vahan Hovannisian Urges Armenians To Leave Turkey

A leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) on Friday urged Armenian citizens living in Turkey to promptly return home, claiming that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s latest controversial statement has put their security at risk.

“As regards our fellow Armenians who have found themselves in Turkey for one or another economic reason, I am advising them to immediately leave that country because it’s obvious with whom we are dealing,” he told a news conference. “A threat voiced from such a high level can be deemed by some elements a signal for anti-Armenian actions.”  Read more... (496 words)

Armenian Parliament Speaker Had a Telephone Talk with European Parliament Chairman

On March 17 the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan had a telephone talk with the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek on the initiative of the latter.

The sides discussed issues concerning the cooperation within the framework of Euronest, parliamentary format of the Eastern Partnership programme.

The President of RA National Assembly highlighted the necessity of political association and further economic integration between the European Union and Eastern partners, noting that the parliamentary can essentially boost those processes. Hovik Abrahamyan highly assessed the role of Euronest in the implementation of the goals of the Eastern Partnership programme.

Jerzy Buzek highly assessed the democratic processes in Armenia, noting that they support them.  Read more... (165 words)

US State Department Responds to Erdogan’s Statement on Deporting Armenians

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement on deporting Armenians living illegally in Turkey is not a threat, said US Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon.

“In my opinion, Prime Minister Erdogan only wanted to highlight that there are 100,000 Armenians living in Turkey illegally. I don’t believe he threatened to deport them from the country. Those are separate issues. Every country has an issue with illegal immigrants and approaches it according to its laws. That has no relation whatsover with any vote in the United States or the House or Representatives. Let’s not search for a connection between the Congress’ activities and that issue,” said Gordon, adding that the US administration would very much like that Turkey’s PM not turn down its invitation to attend the nuclear security summit in Washington in April.  Read more... (310 words)

Los Angeles to host an event in commemoration of Shahan Natalie’s 125th anniversary

In commemoration of the 125th anniversary of Shahan Natalie’s birth, the Shahan Natalie Family Foundation invites the public to attend a tribute to the living memory of the internationally known intrepid Armenian thinker, writer, orator, and activist.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 10, 2010, in the Los Angeles Public Library’s Mark Taper Auditorium. Preceding the afternoon program, Sylva Natalie Manoogian will lead a Hye (Armenian) Treasures tour of the Central Library’s resources, Asbarez.com reported.

Born in the village of Husenik, province of Kharberd, Historic Armenia, Shahan Natalie (born Hagop Der Hagopian) was orphaned at the age of 11, during the 1895 Hamidian massacres of the Armenians. He was sent to Istanbul and was accepted by the famed Berberian Academy, where his literary career and community activism were launched.  Read more... (311 words)