Month: November 2006

BENNETT GIVES EYE CARE IN ARMENIA
Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
Nov 22 2006
Thirteen years ago, Rev. Joanne Hartunian consulted with Dr. Linda
Bennett concerning a young girl in the Cambridge Yerevan Sister City
Association youth exchange program from Yerevan, Armenia who needed
eye glasses. Bennett said she’d do what she could.
Since then, she has examined exchange educators and students with
various stages of vision problems. As she treated the Belmont High
School exchange visitors in her Belmont office, Bennett would say,
“Don’t forget to get come and get your eyes checked again.” The
participants would try to explain that they were on a U.S. Department
of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs funded youth
exchange program and that it would be impossible to come to America
again. Bennett always told the students and teachers, “You never know
when I’ll see you again!”
Belmont High School is partnered with School 65 in the Shengavit
region of Yerevan. Year after year, as educators and students arrived
at Belmont High School, Bennett and her staff cleared their office to
accommodate the groups that Cambridge Yerevan Sister City brought to
the Boston area. Bennett’s office visit became a living legend where,
in addition to providing everyone with eye exams, and glasses or
surgery where necessary, she showed the students a children’s video,
treated them to lunch, and let them play games for an afternoon.
Year after year, Bennett would call Rev. Hartunian and inquire, “When
are the Armenian students and teachers coming to Belmont High School?”
Armenian students and educators are unable to come to the United
States with the Secondary School Partnership Program to Promote
Civil Society any longer, due to State Department budget cuts. So
she decided if the children couldn’t come to her, she would go to them.
In 2004, Bennett spoke at an annual Optometric Convention and told
them about the children in Armenia. Her efforts mobilized an 18-person
medical team with Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, where
they conducted six all-day school clinics in Armenia.
Bennett is again organizing efforts to do another clinic in Armenia
in October 2007. Kimberly Balfour, nurse at Belmont Day School,
who was also on the 2004 team, has volunteered to again head the
blood pressure and diabetes screening clinic which will prioritize
patients according to need, as often these conditions are indicative
of eye care issues. Optometric student Rita Cherian, a Belmont High
School graduate, will do a clinic rotation and training in Armenia
under the supervision of Bennett. Dr. Leora Berns and Dr.
Viktoria Davis of Connecticut; and volunteers Elizabeth Gallaher of
Belmont and Roswita Fragomeni of New York have joined the team.
Rev. Hartunian is project manager for this vision clinic, assisted
by logistics coordinator Peggy Hovanessian of Lexington, and site
coordinator Anna Karakhanyan in Armenia. AMARAS Arts Alliance of
Watertown, and its President Arax Badalian, is the United States
sponsoring organization. On route to clinics and throughout their
visit in Armenia, the team will be shown historic and cultural sights
throughout the country. While in Armenia they will be hosted in a
government guest house and they will have dinner in the homes of the
many people Bennett has treated. Each optometrist or nurse will be
assisted by an American volunteer and a Yerevan translator.
In order to serve the greatest number of people, there are a limited
number of spaces available for additional ODs and volunteers on a
first inquiry basis.
For more information please contact Dr. Linda Bennett, 617-484-1414;
or Rev. Joanne Hartunian, [email protected].

PRIZEWINNER BRINGS JAZZ MOVES TO TRIBECA: TIGRAN HAMASYAN
New York Times, NY
Nov 22 2006
Two months ago, when Tigran Hamasyan won first place at the Thelonious
Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, he confirmed several things
about the current state of jazz. First off, it’s in great shape, in
terms of global influence and youthful vigor: Mr. Hamasyan, who is
not yet 20, enjoys a comfortably casual relationship with the folk
music of his native Armenia. Second, it’s in not-so-great shape, in
terms of infrastructure: there’s little chance that Mr. Hamasyan’s
distinction could lead to a major-label contract, as it has for
winners of the Monk competition in the (ever receding) past.
Finally and most important, the music itself maintains a healthy remove
from these and other speculative concerns. Mr. Hamasyan unfurls no
banners with his playing, though it can often convey the jubilant
power of an anthem. His main interests are exploratory, especially
when it comes to rhythm. He situates his piano not at the forefront
of an ensemble but deep within it, so that the momentum he generates
is centrifugal.
Mr. Hamasyan, a student at the University of Southern California,
applied his powers of concentration to two distinct settings on Monday
night. He began the evening as the featured artist at a concert
affiliated with the Monk Institute at the TriBeCa Performing Arts
Center, with Francois Moutin on bass and Ari Hoenig on drums. A few
hours later, he turned up at Smalls, as a sideman in a quintet led
by Mr. Hoenig.
Naturally the concert, with its mix of traditional and original
material, provided the broadest view of Mr. Hamasyan’s potential. He
approached nearly every tune as an arc, beginning in contemplation
and building to a crashing fury. This was an intuitive style for Mr.
Moutin and Mr. Hoenig, who dove headlong into action, responding
instantly to Mr. Hamasyan’s turns of phrase.
On “These Houses,” adapted from an Armenian folk song, and “World
Passion,” the title track of Mr. Hamasyan’s new debut album (issued
by Nocturne, a Paris-based label), the trio worked expressively with
fluttering polyrhythm. Their sound evoked the recent acoustic efforts
of Chick Corea, whose percussive pianism Mr. Hamasyan intermittently
deployed in his improvisations, along with emphatic chordal stabs
and two-handed octave filigree.
The concert was bookended by standards – “Just Friends” and “What
Is This Thing Called Love?” – that Mr. Hamasyan had revised with
shuddering syncopations. The arrangements were essentially cubist,
disconcertingly fragmentary but still representative of their
sources. Less clever but equally engaging was a version of Monk’s “In
Walked Bud,” set in a waltzlike 5/4 meter that elicited Mr. Hamasyan’s
most agile solo turn.
Perhaps by coincidence, Mr. Hoenig later applied the same floating
pulse to a ballad, “Tenderly,” during his first set at Smalls. There
too, Mr. Hamasyan was fluid and self- assured. He convincingly
sight-read a couple of Mr. Hoenig’s tunes and generally settled into
the pace of the ensemble, which was less insistent than his own.
Then Mr. Hoenig ended the set by calling up Mr. Moutin (to replace his
regular bassist, Matt Penman), and lending Mr. Hamasyan the reins. And
together they played “The Rain Is Coming,” another Armenian song,
with a bright and surging exuberance.
s/music/22tigr.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RELATIONS BETWEEN FRANCE AND ALGERIA REMAIN STRAINED DUE TO THE ALGERIAN GENOCIDE
Mukremin TASCI (JTW)
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Nov 22 2006
Relations between France and Algeria remain strained due to the
Algerian Genocide committed by France during the colonial period.
French President Jacques Chirac has rebuffed Algerian President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s demand that France apologize for its “long,
brutal and genocidal” rule. Bouteflika officially named the French
period as “cultural and political genocide of the Algerian identity”.
During a visit to Algiers last week, French Interior Minister Nicolas
Sarkozy, the leading ruling party candidate in the 2007 presidential
vote, said he couldn’t “ask children to apologize for the faults
of their fathers.” Sarkozy and his party accuses Turkey for the
Ottoman past and Sarkozy strongly support a bill which makes crime
to reject the Armenian genocide crimes in Turkey. Algerians argue
that France should first face with its own crimes before judging the
other countries.
Algerian historians estimate that more than 1,5 million Algerians
were massacred by the French Army.
The Algerian war for independence began in 1954, and the French army
largely crushed the rebels by 1958. Civilian massacres and the use of
torture undercut support for the war in France, resulting in General
Charles de Gaulle’s decision to quit Algeria.

AIR ARABIA’S SERVICE TO ARMENIA IS FOURTH NEW ROUTE THIS MONTH
Gulf News, United Arab Emirates
Nov 22 2006
Dubai: Air Arabia, the first low-fare airline in the Middle East and
North Africa, launched its fourth new route this month to Armenia,
having made its inaugural flight to Yerevan last week.
Air Arabia’s chairman, Shaikh Abdullah bin Mohammad Al Thani, led a
delegation on the eve of the inaugural flight.
He said: “Air Arabia is delighted to fly to Yerevan. Known as the
pink city of Armenia, and being 2,788 years old it is recognised as
one of the most ancient eastern cities in the world.
“Our young airline has a history of creating new destinations and we
hope to do the same with our most recent destinations in India and
the GCC.
“We are committed to offering affordable travel to more people
across the region and are excited about extending our reach into this
extraordinary region.
“This is yet another budget-friendly destination that will appeal
to the many types of travellers with Air Arabia. Given the diversity
of activities the city has to offer, and convenient flight timings,
this destination is ideal for weekend breaks by giving our passengers
the opportunity to enjoy a taste of the Caucasus country just less
than three hours from the UAE,” said Shaikh Abdullah.
Air Arabia will fly two times a week to Yerevan, every Wednesday and
Saturday, departing from Sharjah at 9:15am, arriving in Yerevan at
12:20pm and departing Yerevan at 1:05pm to arrive back in Sharjah
at 3:55pm.
Starting with a single flight to Bahrain in October 2003, Air Arabia
today flies to over 30 destinations in 20 countries, including recent
additions like Chennai and Thiruvanthapuram in India, Latakia in
Syria and Kathmandu in Nepal, and now carries more than two million
passengers annually.

ARMENIAN DRAM TURNS 13
By Shake Avoyan
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 22 2006
The 13th anniversary of the introduction of the Armenian national
currency will be marked in Armenia tomorrow, November 22.
The troika of specialists who led the process in 1993, including
current Central Bank Chairman Tigran Sarkisian, former Central Bank
chairman Isahak Isahakian and ex-finance minister Levon Barkhudarian,
gathered at the Friday club in Yerevan on Tuesday to congratulate
everyone on the anniversary and reflect on the history of the dram.
“The introduction of the Armenian dram 13 years ago was one of the most
important attributes of statehood after Armenia gained independence,”
Sarkisian said.
The speakers admitted that it was a difficult process, as Armenia was
totally unprepared to have its own currency at that stage. According
to Sarkisian, the introduction of the dram was a little belated,
which, according to him, resulted in hyperinflation.
Levon Barkhudarian shared this opinion and said: “I can say frankly
that it was not the best time for introducing national currency because
we had no currency reserves, there was no assistance from international
financial organizations, but as time showed that step was correct.”
Meanwhile, Hrant Bagratian, the prime minister back then, finds that
as long as there was hope to remain in the ruble zone, they should
have taken their time. He said that ‘we needed Russia at that time
more than we do now’.
“Of course, the troika committed essential errors,” Bagratian told
RFE/RL, adding that it was the wrong initial exchange rate of 14.5
drams per U.S. dollar that caused hyperinflation.
The dram introduction was entrusted to the parliament in 1993 and
the government at that time effectively did not participate in the
process, Bagratian added.
Within ten days after introduction the dram exchange rate was already
350 per dollar.
On the whole, Bagratian said that the troika did a good job in the end,
but said that the terrible inflation could be avoided.
He reminded that eventually the government stabilized the situation
taking over the powers from the troika.
Bagratian joined in the congratulations on the anniversary.
“I hope that the dram will not suffer the fate of large economic
complexes in Armenia and will remain governed by the state,” the
ex-premier concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CO-CHAIRS TIGHTLIPPED ON POSSIBLE KOCHARIAN-ALIEV MEETING AFTER YEREVAN VISIT
By Astghik Bedevian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 22 2006
No announcement has been made about a possible meeting of the
presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan after Tuesday’s visit of the
OSCE Minsk Group cochairmen to Yerevan.
The cochairmen of the group from Russia and France, Yuri Merzlyakov and
Bernard Fassier, today met with Armenian President Robert Kocharian
and Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian. The U.S. cochairman of the
group Matthew Bryza did not arrive in Yerevan.
In a recent interview with RFE/RL Vartan Oskanian said that during
their visit to the region the cochairmen would propose a meeting of
the two presidents on the sidelines of the November 28 summit of the
Commonwealth of Independent States.
The cochairmen left Yerevan for Baku. In analysts’ opinion, a
possible meeting may be announced after the cochairmen’s meeting with
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliev.
Last week Robert Kocharian said that “unfortunately, despite the
ongoing active negotiations, there are few grounds for optimism.”

ASHOT GHULIAN: “BRYZA AND GHUKASIAN WILL MEET ONE OF THESE DAYS”
By Ruzanna Khachatrian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 22 2006
The Nagorno-Karabakh Parliament Speaker announced in Yerevan on Tuesday
that Nagorno-Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasian, who is currently
visiting the United States, will meet with U.S. cochairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza one of these days.
“As far as I am informed, it is planned that one of these days
U.S. cochairman of the OSCE Minsk Group Matthew Bryza will have a
meeting with Arkady Ghukasian, who is currently on a visit to the
United States,” Ashot Ghulian told reporters.
OSCE Minsk Group cochairmen from Russia and France, Yuri Merzlyakov
and Bernard Fassier, met President Robert Kocharian and Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian in Yerevan today. The Armenian president’s
press service reported that the sides discussed “issues connected
with the current stage of the Karabakh settlement process and the
possible meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the
sidelines of the upcoming CIS summit in Minsk.”
Merzlyakov and Fassier left for Baku later today.

RESOLUTION RELATING TO STABILITY PACT IN SOUTH CAUCASUS APPROVED AT PACE STANDING COMMITTEE’S NOVEMBER 17 SITTING
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. “I am sure that CIS in general needs
reforms for corresponding to today’s problems and challenges and,
in particular, the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly,” RA NA Speaker
Tigran Torosian declared at the November 21 press conference.
He presented some details about the plenary session of CIS
Interparliamentary Assembly (CIS IPA) held on November 16 in Saint
Petersburg and about the work of PACE Standing Committee sitting
convened on November 17 in San Marino.
In T.Torosian’s words, about a dozen of model laws were adopted at
the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly session. It was mentioned that a
meeting of the Caucasian Four, parliament chairmen of RF, Armenia,
Georgia and Azerbaijan also took place in Saint Petersburg, during
which a number of issues regarding the region were discussed.
According to the preliminary agreement, the next meeting by the same
format will take place in 2007 in Tbilisi.
The report of Romanian MP Adrian Severin relating to the Stability Pact
in the South Caucasus was discussed at the PACE Standing Committee’s
sitting held on November 17 in San Marino with participation of heads
of the Assembly and the national delegations.
A resolution and a package of proposals addressed to CE Ministers’
Committee were adopted on the basis of the latter. The adopted
resolution, in particular, registers that for the present, the South
Caucasian states have no visible prospects of joining EU and it is
proposed creating “a small EU model,” finding verges of conciliation
among the countries and building the relations proceeding from this
common goal.
However, as T.Torosian said, a serious work should be done for
putting into practice the registered idea, especially as “in fact,
Azerbaijan is categorically against this idea and Georgia has
some reservations.” In T.Torosian’s words, though it was mentioned
during the discussions that it will be difficult to achieve this
goal, nevertheless this is “an important step in the respect that
European structures more and more precisely form the main principles
the South Caucasian countries should provide on the way to European
integration.” As NA Speaker is affirmed, it will be logical if the
European structures present the respective questions to the countries
having deviated from these principles in the future.

RA PRESIDENT TO BE ON STATE VISIT TO CYPRUS ON NOVEMBER 22-25 ATTENTION, MATERIAL ADDED
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian will
be on a state visit in Cyprus on November 22-25 by the invitation of
Tassos Papadopoulos, the President of the Republic of Cyprus.
The main goal of the visit is to strengthen the interstate ties,
plan primary tasks and directions of the Armenian-Cypriot economic
cooperation, exchange opinions concerning political problems
interesting for one another as well as to give new quality and content
to the two peoples’ traditional friendship through stimulating mutual
cooperation.
A private conversation of the Presidents of Armenia and Cyprus will
take place within the framework of the state visit. The two countries’
heads will participate in the Armenian-Cypriot negotiations in
enlarged staff.
According to the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA
President’s Press Office, R.Kocharian will have meetings in Cyprus
with Demetris Christofias, the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
All Cyprus Archbishop Chrisostomos II and Nicosia Mayor.
The RA President will visit the Nicosia Saint Virgin church,
will lay flowers to the monument to Armenian Genocide victims,
will have a meeting with members of the diocesan and administrative
council of the Armenian community of Cyprus. At the “Narek” Armenian
Academy R.Kocharian will be present at a short ceremony with pupils’
participation.
The delegation headed by the RA President will visit Larnaca as well
where it will take part in the ceremony of putting the foundation stone
of the monument dedicated to the Armenian Genocide victims’ memory.
REFERENCE: Cyprus recognized Armenia’s independence in December 1991.
The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established
in March 1992.
Armenia appreciates the current level of the Armenian-Cyprian relations
and intends to deepen the bilateral cooperation.
>>From the viewpoint of ensuring the continuity of the political dialog
between the two countries and encouraging the economic relations,
the current state visit of President Robert Kocharian is of special
significance, as this is the first presidential visit in the mutial
relations of Armenia and Cyprus.
Armenia and Cyprus have not only historical similiarities connected
with the past, but also a similar vision of the future – to integrate
fully into the European family. In this respect the European
Neighborhood Policy opens new prospects of cooperation, and Armenia
expects Cyprus to provide effective assistance during the cooperation
under this program.
Our country is also interested in developing the trade and economic
relations with Cyprus. Cyprus is an international banking and business
center. 30 foreign banks and more than a thousand foreign companies
operate in this country. It has also become an importance center of
navigation and its navy currently ranks sixth in the world.
Over 30 thousand offshore companies operate in Cyprus. The country’s
tourism is developing rapidly, becoming the main source of foreign
currency inflow. Today tourism provides about 76.2% of the country’s
GDP, employing about 69% of the working population of Cyprus. About
2.5 million tourists visit Cyprus every year.
The Cyprian government encourages the creation of the high technologies
industry by establishing research and technological development
centers in the country.
There is favorable legal field for developing the economic cooperation
between Armenia and Cyprus. Given the large experience of Cyprian
companies in tourism and services, as well as the investment
opportunities of the Cyprian side, the Armenian side attaches
importance to development of the cooperation with Cyprus in torism,
services, and the banking sector.
Holding business forums and establishing a mutuallly beneficial
cooperation among chambers of commerce and industry and development
agencies may become an important component in developing the trade
and economic relations and increasing the trade turnover.
Armenia also attaches special importance to the development of
interparliamentary links, which will be of great use for further
strengthening of the relations between the two countries.
As a result of the parliamentary elections in Cyprus on May 21,
2006, two Armenians were elected, one of them – as a full member,
another as representative of the Armenian community. Mario Karoyan
was elected from the Democratic Party: it was for the first time that
an Armenian was elected a full member of the Cyprian parliament.
During a regular congress of Cyprus’ ruling party Diko (Democratic
Party) in October 2006, Mario Karoyan was elected as the new Chairman
of the Diko Party.
Vardges Mahtesian represents the Cyprian Armenian community in the
parliament. He was elected in the community elections.
In 1982 the Cyprian parliament recognized the Armenian Genocide.
Thanks to the mediation of the Cyprus-Armenia Friendship Group, the
Cyprian government made a decision to build a monument to Armenian
emigrants in Larnaca – in the city’s part near the sea where some
Armenian emigrants first appeared in 1915.

LERNAROT VILLAGE SCHOOL TO BE FUNDAMENTALLY RESTORED BY CO-FINANCING OF “HAYASTAN” ALL-ARMENIAN FUND LOCAL BODIES OF GERMANY AND SWITZERLAND
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The program of fundamental
restoration of the Lernarot village school, marz of Aragatsotn, will be
implemented by co-financing of the “Hayastan” (Armenia) All-Armenian
Fund local bodies of Germany and Switzerland. As the Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed by the Public Relations Department of the
fund, the school built in 1972 needs immediate restoration.
70 pupil study at present at the Lernarot school, but 180 pupil can
study there after the fundamental restoration. Besides the fundamental
restoration, it is envisaged to build a boiler-house as well for
the school.
It was also mentioned that the fundamental restoration program of the
school is still at the projecting stage, and the construction works
will start in 2007.