Month: June 2005

CONCERT OF AMERICAN MUSICIANS TO TAKE PLACE AT YEREVAN “ARAM
KHACHATRIAN” CONCERT HALL
YEREVAN, JUNE 9, NOYAN TAPAN. A concert of Alex Russell, Duane
Funderburk and Jane Thorngren, American musicians to the accompaniment
of the State Philharmonic Orchestra of Armenia (SPOA) will take place
at the Yerevan “Aram Khachatrian” Concert Hall on June 10. As pianist
Duane Funderburk informed at the June 9 press-conference, Felix
Mendelssohn’s, Alan Hovhanness’s, George and Ayra Gershvins’ works, as
well as German and American chamber anthems, Ukrainian folk songs will
be performed at the concert. The pianist visiting Armenia for the
forth time mentioned that they cooperate with the SPOA for the first
time but they are aware that the orchestra musicians perform works of
the world-great artists at the high level. According to Donovan Gray,
a violinist and conductor, Armenians, in spite of Americans, love
classic music. “One must sow love towards classic music from small age
but Americans prefer to listen to light music and thier children
follow parents’ example,” he mentioned. American musicians are
acquainted with Aram Khachatrian’s and Alan Hovhanness’s works as well
as with the Armenian chamber music. They informed that some of Stepan
Shakarian’s as well as other Armenian composers’ works will be
included in thier concert program. And soprano Jane Thorngren
mentioned that she loves Armenian duduk (Armenian national pipe) and
dreams to learn Armenian national dances. The National Guidance
Institute and the SPOA organized the Yerevan concerts of the American
musicians. The musicians informed that the concert’s whole profit will
be passed to the UN World Food Program.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EVERY EFFORT IS STRAINED FOR IRANIAN STUDENTS TO CONTINUE THEIR
STUDIES IN ARMENIA IN COMFORTABLE CONDITIONS, IRANIAN EMBASSY DECLARES
YEREVAN, JUNE 9, NOYAN TAPAN. “Development and extension of bilateral
contacts in all spheres are constantly in the center of attention of
Armenian and Iranian leadership and are assisted by them recording
progress,” the report spread by the Iranian Embassy in Armenia
read. In answer to the information that appeared in press recently,
according to which Ambassador Haghighian called on his compatriots to
give up their willingness to study in Armenia as this country has no
sufficient socio-economic conditions for this, the Iranian Embassy
declared that the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding signed by the
Ministers of Education and Science of the 2 countries mutually
recognizing the leaving certificates of the 2 countries created a
favorable ground for involvement and study of Iranian students in
Armenian higher schools. “We should also estimate the process of
increase in the number of Iranian students within this framework,” the
statement read. At the same time, the statement mentioned, officials
of RA Ministry of Education and Science, as well as the Iranian
Embassy in Armenia “strain every effort for the students to continue
their studies in comfortable conditions.” According to the statement
of the Iranian Embassy in Armenia, cooperation in
scientific-educational sphere is one of the important axes of
Armenian-Iranian interrelations, the evidence of which are the mutual
visits, negotiations and meetings of the Ministers of Education and
Science of the 2 countries, as well as signing of documents, creation
of a legal contractual field aimed at development of cooperation in
this sphere.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SEMINAR ON ELECTION
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
07 June 05
On June 3rd a seminar-consultancy was held for the members of the
regional and local election committees and the mayors of villages. The
aim of the seminar was to prepare for and hold elections on a high
level. The chairman of the Central Election Committee Sergey Nassibian
said the members of the committees and the mayors of the villages
should advocate the rule of law better than others. Although the
committees had been already acquainted with the order of holding
elections, the innovations in the Electoral Code were presented once
again. S. Nassibian pointed out the importance of solving the problem
of faults in electoral registers. In spite of the efforts of the CEC,
there always occur problems because of mistakes in the electoral
registers. The mayors of villages must enter the names of people who
are registered in their communities in the electoral registers from
which they had been left out by their fault. It was announced that the
Central Election Committee is taking measures to prevent breakdown in
electricity supply, telephone network and transport during the
election. The government adopted a decision by which the executive
bodies will assist to the central and local election committees in
holding the election.
AA.
07-06-2005
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Youth Federation-YOARF Eastern US
80 Bigelow Ave
Watertown, MA 02472
Tel. (617) 923-1933
Fax (617) 924-1933

PRESS RELEASE
June 08, 2005
Contact: Sossi Essajanian
(617) 923-1933

Over 350 Gather at Annual AYF-YOARF Junior Seminar

[Sub Headline] Guest lecturers include ARF Eastern Region chairman
Hayg Oshagan and Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan

WATERTOWN, MA–From May 27-30, over 350 junior and senior members of
the Armenian Youth Federation-Youth Organization of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (AYF-YOARF) Eastern Region gathered in
Prospect, Penn. to attend the 34th annual National Junior Seminar.

The theme for this year’s event was ?Stepping in to the Future: A
Journey through Armenia’s Past,? aimed at bridging Armenia’s history
and today’s efforts of cultural preservation, Genocide recognition and
reparations, and a deeper understanding of Western Armenian lands.

On the first night, welcoming remarks were given by the 2005 Junior
Seminar committee, and members of the AYF-YOARF Central Executive and
Central Junior Council were introduced. A slide show was presented by
Greater Boston AYF chapter member Sossi Essajanian on the AYF
Pan-American Seminar and the contributions of the eight AYF-YOARF
delegates to the seminar. Finally, Central Executive member Aram
Hovagimian offered a PowerPoint of his recent trip to Turkey, with
comparative photographs from the region of sites before the Genocide
and today.

During the event, members attended lectures on such topics as activism
and Hai Tahd issues, genocide denial, and Armenia’s independence and
progress. Lecturers included Armenian National Committee of America
(ANCA) Western Region board of directors member Raffi Hamparian, who
discussed the activities of the organization and what each individual
can do to help the cause; Dr. Lucy Der Manuelian, who presented a
slide show of Armenian monuments and manuscripts; and Dr. Dikran
Kaligian, who discussed the modern history of Artsakh.

This year, the seminar also featured four lectures by Archbishop
Oshagan Choloyan and Rev. Father Anoushavan Tanielian, who discussed
the challenges facing the Armenian Church and Christianity as part of
Armenia’s history. According to the Prelacy Crossroads E-Newsletter,
the Archbishop noted that he was particularly impressed with the
questions that were posed by the young participants, showing maturity
and knowledge, he said.

Also addressing attendees this year was ARF Eastern Region Central
Committee chairman Hayg Oshagan, who spoke to the older juniors and
senior members about the ARF, its goals and work in the Eastern
U.S. and abroad. Oshagan fielded many questions from the large group,
ranging from his work as chairman and the structure of the
organization.

Evening entertainment was provided by singer Avo Ashjian from
California as well as Antranig Kzirian on oud, Aram Hovagimian on
keyboard, Jimmy Kzirian on dumbeg and vocals, and on the final night,
Armen Sevag on violin and vocals. The group energized junior and
senior members alike by leading AYFers in singing patriotic songs, as
well as popular Armenian songs.

Various chapters also presented skits during a talent show with
performances commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
genocide, and remembering the founding of Armenia’s first independent
republic in 1918. Acts included a solemn skit depicting the many
fedayees that fought in the battle of Sardarabad, as well as a moving
presentation of Western Armenian villages and the total number of
people lost in each.

The following evening, the Central Junior Council announced the
winners of its annual programs and contests. The first award given was
for the Junior Page contest, where chapters submit articles for the
Armenian Weekly newspaper’s AYF Page. Taking first place was the
Greater Boston chapter, followed by the Chicago and Providence
chapters. The honor of Best Article was awarded to Sahag Zakarian,
while a Camp Haiastan Campership was gifted to Araxi Karafian of the
Greater Boston chapter. Finally, Outstanding Junior Member awards were
given out to one person from each of the region’s 18 chapters.

Also during the weekend, and in an attempt to link the past, present
and future, members also filled a time capsules with letters and
keepsakes from the weekend, to be opened by the committee in five
years.

“As a parent and as a lecturer, I was very impressed by how well
Junior Seminar was run. Any event that can gather 60 percent of an
organization’s membership is astounding. In this age of video games
and youth sports, it is to the great credit of the AYF that so many of
its members are dedicated enough to travel hundreds of miles for an
educational, as well as social, weekend,” said lecturer George
Aghjayan.

“The whole weekend is energizing. I only wish the entire Armenian
community could witness junior seminar, where our kids shine;
intellectually, athletically and socially,” he said.

Junior members were also enthusiastic about the event. “I thought this
year’s seminar was a great success. The lectures covered a lot of
topics including the AYF history, Armenian dynasties, and Armenian
architecture. I especially liked the way the lecturers presented the
information; by using PowerPoint, maps, videos, slide shows, and
through group activities. It was also fun reuniting with of all of my
Armenian friends. Nothing makes me happier than seeing over 300 people
Armenian line-dancing; this is a way of keeping our Armenian culture
alive,” said Providence junior member Ani Anto Megerdichian.

Since 1971, Junior Seminar has grown to become the largest AYF junior
event with more than 350 junior participants from throughout the
United States and Canada each Memorial Day weekend. The event is an
opportunity for juniors to meet and take part in a thorough
educational program, which consists of a set of eight lectures geared
to the participants? age groups to relay information and to encourage
discussion and independent thinking. The seminar is supervised by a
staff of more than 50 AYF senior members from various local chapters
who accompany the junior participants to activities and supervise them
throughout the weekend.

PHOTO CREDIT: Arsineh Khachikian

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

JrSem01.jpg: Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan (far right) and Rev. Father
Anoushavan Tanielian (second from right) discussed the Armenian church
with AYF Junior Seminar participants

JrSem07.jpg: Over 300 junior and senior members of the AYF-YOARF
Eastern Region gathered in Prospect, Penn. to attend the 34th annual
National Junior Seminar

JrSem08.jpg: ARF Eastern Region Central Committee chairman Hayg
Oshagan

JrSem10.jpg: AYF junior and senior members attended a set of eight
lectures about topics such as Genocide recognition and reparations,
and Western Armenian lands

The Daily Star, Lebanon
June 10 2005
Maalouf refuses to be confined by the past
By Adnan El-Ghoul
Daily Star staff
Friday, June 10, 2005

BEIRUT: Philip Maalouf, a young candidate for the Catholic seat in
Metn, believes in the traditional Christian leadership of his
constituency and leans toward the Lahoud and Gemayel families’
historic alliance, dating back to the early 1950s.
But Maalouf acknowledges that the trend in Lebanon is tilting in
favor of the new faces that come from ordinary people who have made
it to the top professionally and socially.
“Up until yesterday, I thought General Michel Aoun’s call to
encourage fresh flawless candidates not corrupted by “power and
wealth was sincere and serious.
However, when I heard Aoun announcing his alliance with such a
corrupted figure as the deputy Speaker Michel Murr I changed my
mind,” he said.
To Maalouf, new blood means relying on the younger generation who
understand the needs of the country with an open-minded outlook of
the modern world.
He added that angry citizens had shut down three of Aoun’s electoral
offices in Dora, Sad-Bousharieh and Jal al-Dib following the
announcement of the Aoun-Murr alliance.
“Aoun and Murr encourage the Armenian community to stay disintegrated
in Lebanese society to deepen splits and ethnic divisions,” Maalouf
said.
“It is about time we stop scaring the different communities away from
each other; Christians against Muslims and each sect against the
other.”
Voters in Metn, he said, are well educated and quite capable of
making their own choices.
“Next Sunday, they will show that they know who is corrupt and who is
still betting on the police apparatus to return to power and tighten
their grip over the people.”

Maalouf said he filed a complaint with the Election Monitoring Team
that state officials were intimidating voters, claiming he knows them
by name.
“The Defense Minster Elias Murr, is blackmailing local families by
telling them the state is still strong and that they should not bet
on losers,” Maalouf said.
Having worked with the Red Cross Organization during the Civil War,
Maalouf said he detested the sectarian killings and it was about time
to call for a national reconciliation and a renunciation of the use
of violence to solve internal disputes between the various factions
of the Lebanese people.
Maalouf is a member of the National Liberal Party that “believes now
more than ever that we should stop being fanatics while negotiating
with other Lebanese communities.’
“Such fanatic stubbornness had forced Christians into isolation
causing them to miss valuable opportunities to reconcile and unite
with their fellow citizens,” he said.
Agreeing with Hizbullah’s call to put the past behind and begin a new
page in Lebanese political life, Maalouf said, “we refuse to stay
confined to our past as we should aim for the future of our country
and the future of our children.
Change is pending and true change requires inclusiveness, to give
everyone a chance to build a brighter future for all of us.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/09/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Trial of Armenian Citizen Charged with Spying for Azerbaijan Underway 2) Association Withdraws Award to US Envoy 3) Ex-Minsk Group Official Takes Verbal Beating in Baku 1) Trial of Armenian Citizen Charged with Spying for Azerbaijan Underway YEREVAN (Arminfo)--The trial of an Armenian citizen charged with spying for Azerbaijan has begun in Yerevan. Andrey Maziyev is charged with high treason through espionage, plotting a terrorist act, and plotting the murder of a state political figure. Maziyev worked as en engineer at Zvartnots airport at the time of his arrest. He is Russian by nationality. In October 1999, Maziyev was enlisted by Azeri special services while in that country. On the whole, he met with representatives of Azerbaijan's special services 17 times and received approximately $2.5 thousand for his services. He allegedly collected and disseminated information about domestic political and economic developments in Armenia, information on Armenia's military, defense, and armed forces, as well as Mountainous Karabagh Republic. In the autumn of 2000, Maziyev was instructed to photograph President Kocharian's plane landing at the airport, helicopters protecting the territory of the airport, and the president and bodyguards passing by the building where Maziyev lives. He also took photos of the president in the hangar and building of the airport. He handed over the photos to the special services and recommended locations for snipers. The special services were also interested in whether Maziyev had contacts with relatives of Nairi Hunanyan who spearheaded the 1999 shooting in the Armenian Parliament, killing the prime minister, parliamentary speaker, and six other officials. Maziyev pleaded guilty to the charges at Thursday's trial that included the interrogation of seven witnesses. The trial is chaired by the judge Tigran Petrosyan. The prosecution is represented by Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan and Prosecutor Aram Amirzadyan. The trial will continue on June 13. He has two previous convictions for hooliganism (1994 and 1999). 2) Association Withdraws Award to US Envoy Ambassador Was to Be Honored for Dissent By Glenn Kessler (Washington Post)--The American Foreign Service Association recently announced that John M. Evans, the US ambassador to Armenia, was to receive a prestigious award for "constructive dissent" for characterizing as genocide the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians in the waning days of the Ottoman Empire in 1915. His comments stirred such a diplomatic tempest that Evans not only had to retract his remarks, but also had to later clarify his retraction. Earlier this week, however, the selection committee met again and decided to withdraw the honor, known as the Christian A. Herter Award. They decided not to offer any award in the category, reserved for a senior foreign service officer. Other awards are issued for officers at lower levels. The timing of the association's decision appeared curious, given it came just before Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Washington for a meeting with President Bush to bolster strained US-Turkish relations. John W. Limbert, president of the association, said that no one at the organization can remember an award being withdrawn after it had been announced. "It is not something we do easily," he said. The award is intended to foster creative thinking and intellectual courage within the State Department bureaucracy, and the secretary of state usually attends the award ceremony. One of last year's awards, for instance, went to a mid-level foreign service officer who sent a cable challenging the administration's policy in Iraq. "Dissent is supposed to be controversial," Limbert said. Speaking to an Armenian group in California, Evans referred to the "Armenian genocide" and said that the US government owes "you, our fellow citizens, a more frank and honest way of discussing the problem." He added that "there is no doubt in my mind what happened" and it was "unbecoming of us, as Americans, to play word games here." Armenian groups hailed his comment, noting Evans was the first US official since President Ronald Reagan in 1981 to refer to the Armenian deaths as genocide. But the comments infuriated Turkey. Evans issued a statement saying US policy, in which the United States "acknowledges the tragedy" and encourages "scholarly, civil society and diplomatic discussion" of the event, had not changed. Evans said he used the term "genocide" in "my personal capacity" during "informal meetings" and "this was inappropriate." After more complaints from Turkey, Evans corrected the statement a day later and removed a reference to genocide, instead calling it "the Armenian tragedy." Limbert said the committee, made up of current and former State Department officials, concluded that the award to Evans did not meet the selection criteria. He declined to comment further, saying State Department officials would have to explain their concerns. L. Bruce Laingen, who chaired the selection committee, said "very serious people from the State Department in particular" expressed concern about the award to Evans. But he said they did not raise political issues. Instead, he said, they focused on the fact that the award criteria specifically says the actions must be taken while "working in the system"; Evans made his comments in speeches. "Dissent has to be within the system," Laingen said. He said the committee did not focus on that fact until it was reminded by the State Department. But when the committee decided to withdraw the award, it was faced with a dilemma. The committee had received only two nominations, and it had already concluded the other nominee did not meet the criteria. So no award could be offered. Laingen said the committee generally receives few examples of dissent at senior levels of the agency. "That is regrettable," he said. "It does not reflect well on the foreign service broadly at that level for dissent within the system." 3) Ex-Minsk Group Official Takes Verbal Beating in Baku BAKU (PanARMENIAN.Net)--The former Russian Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Vladimir Kazimirov, was verbally accosted by the chairman and members of the Azeri Karabagh Liberation Organization (KLO), who told Kazimirov to either recognize the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan or get out of the country. Kazimirov was attending a seminar on the "Strategic Importance of Azerbaijan." The event, organized the British LINKS Organization and the Yesterday Civilization NGO, was being held at the International Press Center in Baku. In his address on the Mountainous Karabagh settlement, Kazimirov recommended strengthening the cease fire agreement in the region and promoted reconciliation as opposed to the "self-deception," practiced by both the Armenians and Azeris. Though organizers tried to quell the KLO members, they shouted that he leave Azerbaijan instead of supporting Armenians. Azeri President Aliyev's Chief of Staff Novruz Mamedov's words to Kazimirov were equally harsh. "All those who were Co-chairs, [of the OSCE Minsk Group] along with you, have forgotten the issue and have personal interests. You, again have departed from the issue--either due to too much love for Armenia or some other reason. Every time, I just get the feeling you are very close to Armenians morally and politically because of personal interests." All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

The Daily Star, Lebanon
June 10 2005
Zahle campaign gets up close and personal
By Adnan El-Ghoul
Daily Star staff
Friday, June 10, 2005
On the campaign trail
BEIRUT: The electoral race in the Zahle district has not attracted as
much attention as other areas, despite the presence of influential
figures such as the area’s MP Elias Skaff, who had been courted –
indirectly – by Saad Hariri through Bekaa MP Mohsen Dalloul and Zahle
MP Nicolas Fattoush.
But Skaff has ended the negotiations suddenly, without explanation,
and announced an incomplete electoral list in alliance with the
Armenian Tashnag Party and Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement.
Despite his last-minute divorce from the two MPs, who since have
formed a separate list, Dalloul and Fattoush maintained positive
relations with Skaff in the hope he would reconsider his stance.
However, their cordial behavior did not last long.
In contrast to the nationwide electoral race, where serious and
controversial issues are (somewhat) being addressed, the battle in
Zahle seems to be focused more on minor disputes and personal
accusations and counteraccusations over schemes, corruption and
financial scandals.
The three MPs had divided amongst themselves the spoils from many
local and international ventures over the past 15 years. They appear
to be proving true an old Arabic proverb that says, “The thieves got
away with scheming only to be caught while fighting over the shares.”
In a statement allegedly published by one of Skaff’s campaigning
staff, embarrassing accusations were leveled against Dalloul and
Fattoush, claiming the pair had made their fortunes on illicit
activities involving the mishandling of private and public funds.

Skaff’s denial of who published the statement in local newspapers was
dismissed
by Fattoush, who said he was well aware of who was behind the
accusations.
“I worked closely with Skaff’s campaigning team and I know their
dirty tactics very well,” Fattoush said.
He continued by claiming to know the true reasons behind Skaff’s
reluctance to join Hariri’s list.
He said: “Skaff said in front of everyone that he was broke and under
heavy personal debts.”
One can’t help but wonder why Fattoush would raise the issue of
personal debts if it were not an indication Hariri had refused to
relieve Skaff of his financial burdens?
While candidates in Zahle continue to argue publicly, the rest of the
country is engaged in fierce battles over decisive issues concerning
the country’s future, state institutions and the regional role.
One can only speculate as to why key figures such as Hariri or
high-ranking Hizbullah officials have kept their distance from Zahle.
Winning Akkar would represent a major breakthrough for Hariri, just
as his risking a visit to the border towns in the South injected
additional confidence in the resistance and Aoun going to the
southern suburbs for the first time has been a large boost to his
campaign.
What can Zahle offer the national campaign when its leaders continue
to bicker over their deceitful deals that seem to have been the only
grounds for their “national unity, sovereignty and independence?”

RA PRESIDENT VISITS RF EMBASSY IN ARMENIA ON OCCASION OF NATIONAL
HOLIDAY OF RUSSIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 9, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of the national holiday
of Russia, the day of the State Sovereignty Declaration’s adoption, RA
Robert Kocharian visited the RF Embassy in Armenia on June 9. As Noyan
Tapan was informed from the RA President’s Press Office, in his
congratulating address, Robert Kocharian expressed a confidence that
the strong ties having been formed between the two countries and the
two peoples for centuries will more strenghten.
From: Baghdasarian

Houston Chronicle, TX
June 9 2005
Texas Music Festival’s opening concert has it both ways
By CHARLES WARD
CLASSICAL/NEOCLASSICAL, the opening concert of the 2005 Texas Music
Festival, was an engaging illustration of a basic instinct in art:
having cake and eating it, too.
Arts aficionados love to appear up-to-date without sacrificing
tradition. In classical music, that’s been played out in such
20th-century styles as neoclassicism and neoromanticism. Composers
used essential musical traits of those historic periods to make
(conservative) sense out of the riot-like expansion of melody,
harmony and form in the last century.
Two “classic” works for strings framed Tuesday’s concert at the
University of Houston Moores Opera House: Michael Haydn’s Quintet in
C Major, P. 108, and Mozart’s Quintet in C Major, K. 515. Both
expanded the string quartet with an extra viola.
In the program’s opening work, Haydn, the young brother of Franz
Joseph Haydn, set out the parameters efficiently. The forms were
clear-cut but developed via some very entrancing music.
In the Mozart quintet, the forms and style were expressed in suave
and sophisticated terms. Charm was never far away – the last movement
was toe-tapping good – but the music had a depth of feeling and
intelligence that Haydn’s lacked.
Both performances featured violinists Kenneth Goldsmith and Lucie
Robert, violists Rita Porfiris and Karen Ritscher, and cellist Kevin
Dvorak. Their ensemble playing wasn’t always tidy, but they conveyed
the spirit of the music very well.
Paul Hindemith was a proponent of practicality and conservatism in
20th-century composition. Though key works have an elegant beauty,
others can be thornier. The Quartet (1938) for violin, clarinet,
cello and piano was one of those, at least on Tuesday.
British clarinetist David Palmer played gorgeously in terms of tone
and expression, but he was way too timid and deferential to the other
players (Goldsmith, Dvorak and pianist Timothy Hester). His
reluctance to lead when the clarinet had key melodies threw balance
out of kilter. The piano ended up dominating too much.
Armenian-born and Russian-trained cellist Vagram Saradjian offered
the American premiere of the Suite for Solo Cello by Armenian
composer Levon Chaoushian. Stylistically, the work was faintly rooted
in tonality but generally strayed further from the ideals of
neoclassicism than Hindemith’s.
Saradjian is always an intensely involved performer and he dug into
the music with his customary exuberance. The music exploded from his
strings, though the physicality of his playing produced too many
extraneous sounds.

Los Angeles Daily News
June 8 2005
House panel will debate genocide
By Lisa Friedman
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON – Rep. Adam Schiff, D- Pasadena, announced late Wednesday
that the House International Relations Committee has agreed to take
up the contentious debate over whether Congress should officially
call the massacre of Armenians during World War I a “genocide.”
Schiff, who has written a resolution supporting recognition of the
genocide, said he secured an agreement from committee Chairman Henry
Hyde to hear the matter. Hyde promised that the committee would
debate and vote on his resolution “in a timely fashion,” Schiff said.
In exchange, Schiff said he agreed to withdraw two amendments to a
foreign policy bill under debate. One of them would have asked for an
accounting of U.S. responses to Armenian, Cambodian and Rwandan
genocides as well as the Holocaust; the other would have condemned
Turkey’s blockade of Armenia.
The deal came as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in
Washington with President George W. Bush, where both declared a
strong alliance.
Schiff said he believed he was able to strike the deal because House
Republican leaders who have opposed the genocide resolution fearing
it could endanger U.S./Turkish relations, “weren’t sure that they
could defeat my amendments and they were also concerned about the
timing of the amendments during the prime minister’s visit.”
Attempts to reach both Armenian and Turkish officials for comment
late Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Armenian-Americans say 1.5 million Armenians were killed in a
genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923.
Turkish officials say far fewer people died amid a multiparty
conflict.
The last time the International Relations Committee held a hearing on
the issue was in 2000 as a political favor to then-Rep. James Rogan,
who was facing a tough re-election battle against Schiff.
Officials estimate there are more than 300,000 Armenian-Americans in
Southern California, about a third of them in the Glendale area.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress