NEWS ON ARMENIATV

2007-10-05 High Fest

Head of “High fest” Arthur Ghukasian said they choose the most talented performers and the most interesting performance for the audience in Armenia. Amongst “High fest” VIP guests is president of “Fira Tarega” festival Mike Ribalda, who said that he is very proud to be in Armenia and support the festival. Around 350 participants from 33 countries will come out with 100 performances in 14 theaters during the festival. High Fest is organized with the support of the Armenian Prime minister and the ministry of Culture. The Armenian government allocated 39 million drams ($171.200). The festival will be concluded on October 14.

2007-10-05 Armenian International Women Association against Smoking

Chairwoman of a parliament committee on health, sports, education and science issues Hranush Hakobian said that about 65 percent of Armenian men and 35 percent of women smoke. According to her doctors are concerned with the increasing number of female in particular teenage smokers. Hakobian noted that although Armenia\'s first ever restrictions on smoking in public places came into force on March 2, 2005, prohibiting smoking in hospitals, cultural and education institutions and public transportation, the restriction is constantly violated. Warning labels on cigarette packs, covering some 30% of the pack will become mandatory in 2008 and in 2010, cigarette advertising will be outlawed.

2007-10-05 Ezdi Diaspora of Iraq

Chairman of World National Union of Ezids Aziz Tamoyan said that they applied to the US government with a request to help them create an independent Ezdi republic in north Iraq. He expressed hope that the talks on the issue will have a positive result. Tamoian also added that a "National Movement of Iraqi Ezdis" party has already been set up, which will support the creation of Ezdistan. Tamoyan expressed anxiety about the destiny of more than 1 million Ezids living in the north of Iraq. He said that as it became clear to them, the governments of Turkey and Iraq arranged to start punitive actions against Kurdish radicals. “We are afraid that Turkish troop’s might aimlessly harm Ezdis” said Tamoyan. On April22, 2007, 24 Ezdis were killed in Iraq, after which mass murders of peaceful Ezdi residents of Iraq continued.

2007-10-05 Press Conference on the Armenian Genocide in the US House of Representatives

The 106 Armenian Genocide resolution introduced in January 2007 by Congressman Adam Schiff will be discussed by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives on Wednesday, October 10th. According Hakob Chakryan there is great possibility that the US House of Representatives will adopt the Armenian Genocide Resolution though there will surely be objections. Chakryan said that prior to criticizing the US policy for not recognizing the Armenian Genocide; Armenians must always remember that the US is the only country, the President of which addresses the Armenian community on every April 24. Director of the Ararat strategic research centre, well-known historian Armen Ayvazyan said that the 106 resolution is unprecedented in its kind, as unlike many other documents on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the resolution embraces the whole period in-between 1915 till 1923. however Ayvazian notes that the fact that the genocide was carried out on the historic land of Armenians and not the Ottoman Empire, is also noted in the document.