Month: October 2006

Escambray, Cuba
Oct 13 2006

Charles Aznavour and Chucho Valdes to Record Together in Cuba

Charles Aznavour, a giant of French music, is in Havana recording an
album with the virtuoso Cuban pianist and composer Chucho Valdes. The
disc will have a romantic focus featuring the warm voice of Aznavour,
82, fused with the tropical rhythms of Cuba.

Aznavour arrived to Cuba on Sunday and is practicing 11 songs with
Valdes to prepare for recording, starting next week. The disc is
scheduled for release in February or March of 2007 and features an
instrumental piece, said Valdes in an interview with AFP.

"He [Aznavour] is an idol in Europe and Latin America. I was very
familiar with his music because I have always liked his work," said
the Cuban composer during a break in rehearsal.

Chucho Valdes arranged all the songs on the album that will be
recorded in Havana’s Abdala studio. A monster in his own right,
Valdes, with five Grammies under his belt, turned 65 last Monday.

During the interview, Valdes said the songs are about love and life.
"They are new songs, lovely, beautiful, that carry the hallmark of
Aznavour but with a Latin, Cuban touch.

"Being familiar with his repertoire, with his style, we have been
able to come together in a great way and the practices are turning
out beautifully."

Aznavour, the son of Armenian immigrants and whose real name is
Aznavourian, collaborated with another Cuban musician in 2002, Compay
Segundo (Francisco Repilado, d. July 13, 2003), with whom he recorded
the song Morir de amor (Dying from love) on the album Duets.

Aznavour was born in Paris on May 22, 1924. Edith Piaf, who called
him "the stupid genius," gave him his first big break when he
accompanied her on piano from 1946 to 1954. He has 740 songs in his
repertoire including 350 in French and 150 in English.

The songwriter-composer, who has also been an actor both on
television and the silver screen, is well known for English hits like
She, Dance in the Old Fashioned Way, and the French hits, Apres
l’amour, J’Ai Perdu la Tete, J’en Deduis Que Je t’Aime and Bon
Anniversaire.

"He’s a giant. It has been a great honor to be asked to participate
in this very original project. We have chosen rhythms from the Cuban
romantic genres and adopted them for him," said Chucho Valdes.

Aznavour came up with the idea to record with Valdes when he was in
France this year playing a concert with French composer-pianist
Michel Legrand.

Chucho Valdes said that the record will feature many different
converging rhythms: "The work is so special that it would be hard to
categorize it as a certain genre; there are new elements, rhythms
adopted that give the songs a new sonority."

"We can’t say that there are Cha cha chas, boleros, habaneras,
because the sound we are making has nothing to do with these rhythms;
instead, it is romantic music with a Cuban rhythm."

Chucho brings along his quartet for the musical accompaniment on the
record along with a horn and percussion section. "This is a very
original project […] Aznavour is enjoying it as much as we are."

Jesus (Chucho) Valdes is considered one of the best pianists in the
world and is a renowned orchestra director and composer of such
masterpieces as Mambo Influenciado and Misa Negra.

He is also one of the most transcendental figures in jazz and Cuban
music today and is putting the finishing touches on an album called
Chucho Sinfonico and another that he recorded along with
singer-songwriter Pablo Milanes. Both albums are scheduled for
release this December.

Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 2006

Rovshen Mustafayev: "Patrick Devechian knows Jacque Chirac’s family
secrets"

14 October 2006 [00:22] – Today.Az

Rovshen Mustafayev, the head of National Academy of Science Human
Rights Institute, held press conference on a law would make it a
crime to deny false Armenian genocide.

Mustayev said that this decision has historical background. He also
stated that a contract was signed between France and Armenian ASALA
terror organization in 1982. The contract considers the mutual aid
and cooperation on making false Armenian genocide worldly recognized.
Mustafayev said the author of the draft law is Devechian who has warm
relations with France president.

"Devechian is Jacque Chirac’s family lawyer, and he knows all family
secrets. He has great impact on the president’s decisions. Armenians
consider that Chirac is an Armenian surname and the original form is
Chiracian," he said.

Mustafayev showed the pieces of Washington Post, Armenian reporter,
Le Mantin newspapers and short records of the discussions held in the
US Senate about the relations between ASALA and France.

The deputy chief Araz Gurbanov said it is very interesting that
France supports the organization which sows terror in France after
Turkey. He said Azerbaijan and Turkey should bring to a focus the
genocides committed at Van lakeside where thousands of Turkish people
were killed and Algeria Genocide.

Mustafayev said that France violated Europe Human Rights Convention
item 10 by adopting of this law. "Turkey and Azerbaijan should appeal
to Europe Human Rights Court," he said, APA reports.

URL:

Panorama.am

17:40 12/10/06

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE WITH SPECIAL REP OF
NATO SECRETARY GENERAL

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanyan held a joint press
conference today with Robert Simons, special representative of NATO
Secretary General. Oskanyan mentioned that Armenia is developing
smooth relationships with NATO through individual partnership
programs. The minister said these programs are developed upon mutual
consent based on the preferences of the partner-country. He also
assured that Armenia willingly is not involved in some programs where
Azerbaijan and Georgia are present.

`I want once again to mention that NATO supports Minsk Group,’
Mr. Simons said speaking about Karabakh conflict. He said he had
uttered the same in Baku ten days ago saying NATO is not part of
negotiations and the issue should be solved within OSCE Minsk Group.

Speaking about Russian-Georgian conflict, NATO represerntative was
very careful in words as saying, `The steps that Russia undertakes are
not favourable not only for Georgia but for the whole region.’
/Panorama.am/

PRESS RELEASE
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 588a06
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet:

European Ministers of Justice: Putting victims’ rights on paper and into
practice

Yerevan, 13.10.2006 – The Ministers of Justice of the 46 member states
of the Council of Europe today recommended taking measures to improve
assistance to victims, to reduce the chances of their also being victims
of administrative procedures and red tape, and to facilitate their
rehabilitation and compensation for the damage suffered.

Meeting in Yerevan with the Armenian Minister of Justice Davit
Harutyunyan in the chair, the European Ministers present stressed the
need to identify good practices in terms of civil and administrative
remedies to protect victims’ interests (such as legal aid and advice)
and in terms of public and private insurance schemes.

They also called on the Council of Europe to pursue its work against
domestic violence by looking into the need for and feasibility of a
further legal instrument, specifically on violence against partners.

Welcoming the drafting of a European convention against the sexual
exploitation of children, the Ministers pointed out that it was
important for it to include victims’ rights, as does the European
Convention against trafficking in human beings (2005).

The Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan was present at the
opening of the conference.

The text of the resolution adopted by the conference is available on

Press contact:
Estelle Steiner, Press officer, Council of Europe
Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 33 35, mobile +33 (0)6 08 46 01 57,
[email protected]

To receive our press releases by e-mail, contact :
[email protected]

A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops
common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46
member states.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Father Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

A DELEGATION FROM THE US COUNCIL OF CHURCHES VISITS
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I

A high-ranking delegation from the US Council of Churches visited His
Holiness Aram I in the Antelias headquarters of the Catholicosate of Cilicia
on October 11. The delegation was accompanied by the General Secretary of
the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Dr. Georges Saleh. Other MECC
officials, including Ms. Seta Khedeshian, head of the "Life and Service"
department was also present. On the Catholicosate’s side, Bishop Nareg
Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer, attended the meeting.

During the meeting His Holiness gave a brief overview of the role of
churches in the coexistence of religions, nations, and people.

Speaking about recent regional and international developments and political
upheavals, The Catholicos stressed on the unique circumstances of the Middle
East, expressing his views on the centuries’ long experience of coexistence
between Christians and Muslims in the region. In this context, he also
talked about the necessity to provide impetus to the peace process in the
Middle East.

On the war in Lebanon, the resulting destruction particularly in the South
of the country and decisions of the UN Security Council regarding the
conflict, the Catholicos praised the humanitarian efforts of both local and
regional churches specially in the regions mostly affected by the conflict.

The members of the delegation, exceeding 15 in their number and many of them
personally acquainted with His Holiness, posed a series of questions about
the current situation in Lebanon.

##
View the photo here:
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Paris Ready to Continue Dialogue with Turkey
13.10.2006 13:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ After the French parliament backed a bill that would
punish those who deny the Armenian Genocide, which has caused a deal
of great tension between Turkey and France, Paris stated that it
wanted to continue its dialogue with Turkey. The French Foreign
Ministry has stated that Paris is willing to carry on the dialogue
with Turkey. Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said at a news
conference, `We are willing to carry on our dialogue, strong
cooperation and friendship with Turkey.’ Mattei also remarked that the
bill was `unnecessary and inappropriate.’ Also reiterating that a long
period of time awaited the bill’s passing, he noted he would speak
about the steps the government took at each phase of this long
process. Catherine Colonna, the minister in charge of European
affairs, spoke in the General Assembly hall before the vote on behalf
of the government and opposed the bill. Stating that the bill should
not be voted on, she said, `As the government, we are against the
bill’, reports zaman.com

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net

BBC: Majority Rates Genocide Denial as Crime
13.10.2006 13:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The website of the BBC Russian branch is conducting
a survey on the attitude to genocide as a crime against humanity.
52.2% out of 1500 voters consider the denial of genocide to be a
crime. 18.97% think it’s expression of freedom. 6.5% rate denial as
harmless delusion. 22.28% think it’s dangerous provocation. The BBC
says this survey is not official.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net

Dutch Armenians Thank French Parliamentarians
13.10.2006 13:41 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Federation of Armenian Organizations in the
Netherlands (FAON) is glad that the French National Assembly in large
majority has adopted a bill, which makes denial of the Armenian
Genocide a crime, says the press release received by PanARMENIAN.Net
from the FAON communication unit. Denying the holocaust has been a
crime in France since 1990.

`The Federation believes that with such a provision a dam is raised
against denial propaganda of the Turkish government, which is painful
for the Armenians. Also in the Netherlands such denial material is
spread, on internet sites, in writings and also in the public
debate. For victims and their surviving descendants it is cause for
problems each time. On basis of the discrimination prohibition in the
Criminal Code such remarks are in principle already a crime. It would
be a major improvement if the Dutch legislation would make it
explicitly clear that public expressions, where genocides are
systematically denied with the intention to hurt or discriminate
people, will be impossible in The Netherlands. The Federation hopes,
therefore, that the initiative bill submitted by
Mrs. Huizinga-Heringa, Member of Parliament of Christian Union
faction, which foresees the punishment of the genocide denial, will be
adopted by the House of Representatives. The Federation emphasizes for
sake of completeness that this bill is not directed to the denials in
itself, as it is suggested sometimes in the media, but to the
offending or discriminating aspects of genocide denials,’ the FAON
statement says.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PanARMENIAN.Net

Adoption of French Bill on Genocide Victory of Whole Armenianhood
13.10.2006 13:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The adoption of the bill penalizing the Armenian
Genocide in France is a victory for the whole Armenianhood, The
California Courier editor-in-chief Harut Sasunian told a
PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, the Turkish government by
threats, blackmail and lies attempted to dissuade French deputies from
adoption of the bill. `Turks tried to represent the issue as a taboo
on freedom of speech but owing to inadmissibility of their actions,
the attempts failed,’ Sasunian said.

Sasunian marked out three principal aspects. `First, Turkey is the
single country in the world that lacks the law on freedom of
speech. If anyone on Turkey dares to speak of the Armenian Genocide he
is sent to prison at once. Second, this bill has nothing in common
with freedom of speech. This is a means of political struggle of the
Turkish government and the Armenian people. Third, France like many
other states has a law providing for punishment for Holocaust
denial. So why doesn’t this law infringe freedom of speech but the law
on the Armenian Genocide does? These are double standards which are
inadmissible. I hope that in the near future the French Senate will
ratify the bill and President Chirac will sign it,’ said the
editor-in-chief of The California Courier.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Baku Calls on Turkey to Exile 70 Thousand Armenians
13.10.2006 14:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `Azerbaijan and Turkey should join against France
over the adoption of the Armenian Genocide bill,’ said Azeri
parliamentarian Ganira Pashayeva. `First, Turkey should recognize the
genocide in Algeria perpetrated by France. Then Turkey should
recognize the genocide committed by Armenians against Azeris in
Khojaly. The economic relations with France should be
reconsidered. This move by the French parliament can serve as an
example for the other European states,’ she said. According to
Pashayeva, all this will have a negative impact on Azerbaijan.

`That is why we should at the level of Foreign Ministry and parliament
protest against the adopted bill. Over 70 thousand Armenians illegally
live and work in Turkey. The Turkish government should exile the
illegal Armenian migrants and such decision will not conflict with the
international law. If they speak of Genocide and take such moves
against Turkey, so why have they chosen this country for living? Let
them go to France or any other state that recognizes the Armenian
Genocide,’ she said. As for France’s being the co-chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Pashayeva
said, `I suppose we should think of this question, since France
demonstrated its position having passed such a bill.

The composition of the Minsk Group should be changed or the format be
expanded,’ reports Day.az.