On September 5, the RoA National Assembly will debate a resolution on the recognition of the NKR by Armenia. Hetq caught up with MP Hakob Hakobyan, a member of the ruling Republican Party faction and Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs.

Try as we might, we couldn’t get MP Hakobyan to state categorically whether he would vote for recognising the NKR or not. What follows is the give and take that occurred. »»»»»

During a working visit to the NKR on August 29, RoA President Serzh Sargsyan visited the new Public School 11 in the capital of Stepanakert. There he fielded questions from the teachers. One asked about the Azerbaijani resolution to be presented to the United Nations about Karabakh.

Q – Today, the NKR is developing daily. We are building the country with our own hands. But Azerbaijan today constantly strives to present resolutions in the United Nations and other world bodies that distort the truth about the NKR. How long will Baku continue on this course and don’t they understand that this is another republic that is no longer tied to Azerbaijan?

A – You should ask this of Aliyev. All I can speak about is what Armenia is doing and what the policy is of a large segment of the Armenian people. »»»»»

Ruben Hakhverdyan’s recent “controversial” interview with the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet has been a topic of debate and discussion in the Armenian press.

In an interview with Hurriyet reporter Vercihan Ziflioglu, dated August 3, the popular Armenian singer-songwriter is alleged to have said, “What we call unique Armenian culture has been created by Istanbul-based western Armenians and Anatolian Armenians. »»»»»

An interview with Ric Gazarian, an American-Armenian participant in the 7,000 kilometer race staring from Hungary and ending in Yerevan

Ric, this idea of a charity car, the Caucasian Challenge, rally starting in Hungary and ending up in Armenia is novel to say the least. Who came up with it and why? »»»»»

A conversation with writer Levon Khechoyan

Levon Khechoyan, a novelist and short story writer, was born in 1955 in the village of Baralet in the Akhalkalak. His forefathers came from Erzurum, Western Armenia. Since 1987 has lived in the town of Hrazdan in the Kotayk province of Armenia. His first short story collection, The Frankincense Trees, was published in 1991.  »»»»»

An interview with Child Psychologist Diana Danielian

On July 12, the Narekatsi Art Union organized the 6th Aram Manukyan Camp in the center of Shushi. Over 100 children, mostly from Shushi, attended the two week camp.

Diana Danielian, a psychologist from the U.S. who has worked with the children last year and this year, was kind enough to answer the following questions posed by Hetq. »»»»»

An interview with Allen Hughes, director of “The Book of Eli”

The Hughes, Allen and Albert, are brother American film directors, producers and screenwriters. They are twins, born to an African-American father and an Armenian mother, from an Iranian-Armenian family originally from Tehran.

Their mother moved to the US when she was 12. After high school, Albert began classes at LACC Film School. Allen didn’t receive a professional education. The brothers began making movies at the age of 12 when their mother supported her sons’ ambitions as filmmakers and gave them a video camera. The boys spent their free time making short films. »»»»»

Let me ask you something more related to the summertime, about your vacation. I remember you stating last year at this time that government officials shouldn’t be considering a 30 day vacation since the crisis was in full swing. What about this year, if it isn’t a secret. Where will you and the family be spending your summer vacation?

This year, we have placed no restrictions on vacation time for officials. But, essentially civil servants will be taking just two weeks and in Armenia, like last year. Most likely I will be away during August 10-14. I plan to travel to Europe to get a full medical check-up at one of the hospitals, on the advice of my physician here. I want to devote my full energies to finalizing the work of the government in 2010. »»»»»

RoA President Serzh Sargsyan spoke to young people from the “Miasin” (United) Movement on the shores of Sevan. Questions were raised regarding Artsakh and Armenian-Turkish relations.

Mr. President, how would you describe the current stage of the Karabakh conflict settlement, especially in light of the last meeting of the presidents of Armenian and Azerbaijan in St. Petersburg and the statement issued by the Minsk Group co-chair nations in Alma-Ata?

So, the issue of Karabakh even is raised on the shores of Sevan. I mean to say it’s a good thing that you are interested in the issue even in this resort zone. As you know, the Karabakh conflict is being settled within the rubric of the OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by Russia, the U.S. and France. »»»»»

Narineh Hovhannisyan, Director of the Department of Public Education at the Ministry of Education and Science, and Nurijan Manukyan, Director of the Division of Special Education, respond to questions posed by Hetq. »»»»»

Excerpts from an interview with the Minister of Education and Science

The National Assembly held discussions on proposed changes to the laws on language and school education.  When Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan emerged from the session, protesters against the proposed changes greeted him with whistles and catcalls.  »»»»»

Below is the official translated text of an interview given by RoA Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian to the Austrian journal “Profile”.

Mr. Foreign Minister, the region here has been facing major changes during the last years: Iran is exerting more and more influence, Turkey is trying to establish itself as regional powerbroker, Armenia as a small country is caught in the middle: Do you worry for the future?

Armenia is not a small country. There is not only this small piece of land here in the region, but a hundred other Armenias all over the world – everywhere, Armenians live, their communities have created small Armenias which create a unity all over the world. »»»»»

On May 20 the European Parliament adopted Resolution 2216 on the need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus. The rapporteur on the Resolution, Member of European Parliament Evgeni Kirilov answers to the questions of “Hetq.”

On May 21, when asked to comment on the resolution on the South Caucasus adopted by the European Parliament, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated, “The points on the Karabakh issue do not go in line with the Madrid Principles, »»»»»

An interview with ethnographer Mkhitar Gabrielyan

What are the primary symbols in today’s Armenian society?

If we approach this in general terms, the dominant pan-national symbols of significance continue to be Ararat, western Armenia, the national culture, our participation to the global cultural legacy. »»»»»

An interview with the popular Armenian song writer and performer

Why hasn’t a “spiritual” Armenia taken shape?

We must not forget that not much time has past from the battle of Sardarabad in 1918 till today. I believe that we have recently come to realize that “Sardarabad” continues. Let me start at the core of the matter. »»»»»