Month: February 2012

Fusion of Middle Eastern music and Odissi dance

The Sri Lanka Times
Sunday, 26 February 2012 10:37

‘Harmony’, an exhilarating concert of dance and music featuring lead
artiste Guy Manoukian, the award winning Lebanese Armenian musician
and his Middle Eastern orchestra and Sharmila Gunasingham,
accomplished exponent of classical Odissi dance, and Ramli Ibrahim,
leading male Odissi expert, dancing together as Radha & Krishna will
give local audiences something new and exciting.

Manoukian, known as the maestro of Arabic music, creates a unique
sound with his talented orchestra, fusing together Arabic with
Armenian, Kurdish Assyrian, Chaldean and Greek music.

This concert originally produced and premiered in Singapore will be
performed in Colombo for one night only on February 28 at the Nelum
Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre. Guy and his orchestra will be joined
on stage by musicians and performers from Singapore, Malaysia, India,
and Sri Lanka. GR Visions Singapore is proud to present this cultural
fusion.

Manoukian, musician, composer and producer has collaborated with
international stars like Wyclef Jean, 50 Cent, and Raul DiBlasio from
The Gypsy Kings.

At the prestigious Middle Eastern Beiteddine festival, which draws
famous performers from across the world including the likes of Elton
John, Ricky Martin and UB40, he performed to high acclaim and was
accompanied by the internationally renowned Armenian Philharmonic
Orchestra with guest performer Mario Reyes from the Gypsy Kings.

Guy has won multiple awards across the globe from Lebanon and Dubai to
the USA. His albums, released by EMI, have topped the charts and won
him fans across the world.

A Singapore corporate lawyer, Sharmila is an accomplished exponent of
classical Indian dance.

Daughter of a distinguished Sri Lankan diplomat the late Mr. C
Gunasingham, Sharmila, though coming from a Tamil community that
traditionally performs the South Indian Bharata Natyam dance, has
mastered Odissi Indian dance as well.

Sharmila has selected to essay roles as diverse as the goddess of love
in an Indian classical dance version of Shakespeare’s ‘Midsummer
Night’s Dream’ and the famous courtesan Ambapali in ‘Enlightenment’ a
musical English dance drama based on the 6th Century BC Indian epic
story portraying the life of the famous courtesan Ambapali during the
Buddha’s era.

For further information, please contact the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda
Rajapaksa Theatre Box Office at (9411) 266 9024.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

What does the government want from the draft law on the emergency situations?

15:37 . 25/02

The amended version of the Draft law on the legal regime of emergency
situations will be urgently put to discussion at the National Assembly
on Monday.

The government managed to call the law back between the four-day
sessions, to amend it and again to send it to the National Assembly.
It will become known during the discussions on Monday what changes has
the draft undergone. This time the executive has decided that the
discussion of the draft law is undelayable.

It is not the first time that the Government has sent a draft law back
for amendment, but usually this happens when the parliamentary
majority is not able to ensure the necessary number of votes, when the
draft is overthrown not still adopted.

This happened in the past four-day session, for example, in the case
of the Draft law on limitations of cash operations. Whereas, the Draft
law on emergency situations was passed by 64 votes for and 7
abstentions in the first reading, and the ruling RPA did their best in
order for the draft to pass.

Some clauses of the draft were of course criticized during the
discussion of the draft. Particularly, it referred to the involvement
of the army in emergency situations, but the justice minister assured,
and it means, he was naturally sure himself that the criticism was
unnecessary, especially when the Venice Commission had also approved
the draft. Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan considered unjustified
also those concerns that by passing the law the authorities foresee a
necessity of emergency situation during the coming elections. The
minister explained that there should be the issue of the time
irrespective of the fact when the draft was set forth, now or later.
Whereas it is known already today that the executive really needs the
adoption of the law before the coming elections and it is the reason
that the discussion of the draft has been considered undelayable.

It is not very much clear what else the executive needs. For example,
why had the government harried and sent the draft to the National
Assembly without having it drawn up properly? Or wasn’t it possible to
make the amendments in the period between the first and second
readings without sending it back to the government. It is supposed
that the MPs will give these and numerous other questions to the
justice minister during the coming session, and the minister,
hopefully, will answer them more openly and frankly than last time.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Women threatened and demanded money by a prisoner through the site

16:40 . 25/02

The coworkers of the General department for fighting against organized
crime of RA Police uncovered a group of criminals recently, who have
tried to steal money from women threatening from “Sevan” penitentiary
through the site “ïÄÎÏËÌÁÓÓÎÉËÉ”.

They informed panorama.am from the police one of the women who was
targeted by the criminals turned to the mentioned department and
informed that a person got in touch with her through her page on the
site and threatened that if she doesn’t give him 250, 000 AMD , he
will spread photos of sexual character with her face on the site.

By the help of the coworkers of the operative service of the
department, the woman promises the money through the site to the
threatening man. They arrange beforehand that she will give the money
to a taxi driver who was to pass it to the author of the plan. The
coworkers of the operative service follow the taxi driver and it turns
out the criminal is in “Sevan” penitentiary.

The suspects were two- 36 years old Artak Abrahamyan and 42 years old
Samvel Simonyan.

As informed by the same source, the materials prepared were sent to
the general investigation department of the police. A criminal action
was started under Article 182 (Part 2, Point2) of RA Criminal Code.

France24 refutes misinformation of Azerbaijani propaganda about Khojaly

16:17 25/02/2012 » Society

Azerbaijani mass media outlets reported that France24 broadcast a
reporting, prepared by a correspondent who visited Azerbaijan a week
ago, which covers the story of Khojaly events reflecting the version
of Azerbaijani side.

Panorama.am asked Philip de Nasser, deputy director of France 24,
responsible for French-language content, to comment after he
familiarized himself with the information in French, spread in
particular by news agency APA.

`I confirm we don’t have any kind of project,’ Philip de Nasser stated
having completely refuting misinformation of Azerbaijani propaganda.

Source: Panorama.am

Person dies at Akhtala mine

05:40 pm | February 25, 2012 | Social

A person died as a result of an accident that took place at the ore
mining factory in Akhtala.

Former Head of the Guard Service of the Ore Mining Factory in Akhtala
Ivan Jaghinyan told “A1+” that 22-year old Garik Aghtchyan, who was in
a truck during the shaking of the ore, tried to fix the problem, stuck
his head out, and at that point, the rock struck him to the wall. The
Director for Foreign Relations of the ore mining factory confirmed the
news.

According to Director for Foreign Relations of the ore mining factory
Mr. Shahnazaryan, the case was a result of the violation of security
rules.

He mentioned that employees of the Technical Security Center would
visit the site on Monday and would give a concrete clarification after
examination. Garik Aghtchyan moved to Akhtala nearly two months ago
from Spitak city to settle and work in Akhtala.

We remind that recently “A1+” received a letter signed by Ivan
Jaghinyan and Arkadi Arushanyan in which it was particularly stated:
“We, a group of employees of the ore mining factory in Akhtala, on 20
February sent an open letter to the RA President, presenting the
intolerable working, social, labor security and nature protection
issues of the employees and issues related to the bad situation at the
structures belonging to the ore mining factory of Akhtala in the
Akhtala and Shamlugh cities.”

Israel to sell USD 1.4bn worth weapons to Azerbaijan

Sun 26 February 2012 13:27 GMT | 13:27 Local Time

Israeli experts will come to Azerbaijan to teach Azerbaijani counterparts
to work with new military systems.

Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI) Corporation has signed an agreement with
Azerbaijan to supple UAVs and advanced air defense systems worth $ 1.4
billion (about 5bn shekels), `Maariv’ newspaper reported referring to
Intelligence Online website, according to IzRus.

This is a supply of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and advanced air
defense systems. And, therefore, Israeli experts will come to Azerbaijan to
teach Azerbaijani counterparts to work with new military systems.

News.Az

Chief of General Staff of Pakistani Army starts Central Asia, Azerbaijan tour
Sun 26 February 2012 12:45 GMT | 12:45 Local Time

Khalid Shameem Wynne

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Pakistani Armed Forces
Khalid Shameem Wynne started Central Asia and Azerbaijan tour today.
APA reports quoting the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) of
Pakistani Armed Forces that during the tour Wynne will visit
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and then will arrive in Azerbaijan.

The purpose of the visit is to discuss the prospects of military
cooperation between Pakistan and the above-mentioned countries.

Pakistani delegation will visit Baku on February 29.

News.Az

Azerbaijan would be highly vulnerable to an Iranian military counterattack

Sat 25 February 2012 09:16 GMT | 9:16 Local Time

Donald N.Jensen
News.Az interviews Donald N. Jensen, resident fellow at the Center for
Transatlantic Relations at the USA’s Johns Hopkins University.

Azerbaijani and NATO leadership recently confirmed the intention to
broaden interaction including on the line of Afghanistan at the recent
talks in Brussels. What are the prospects for this cooperation?

The meeting between the two leaders demonstrated the constructive
relationship between Azerbaijan and NATO and outlined the prospects for
further work in the short to medium term. After the NATO withdrawal from
Afghanistan in 2014, however, Azerbaijan’s relative strategic importance to
the alliance may decline, with the political momentum for cooperation
slowing.

What do you think about Azerbaijan’s intention to finance strengthening
of the Afghani security forces?

I welcome Baku’s offer of cooperation, as does, I believe, the US and
NATO. The ability of the Afghan army to effectively provide security for
that country after the NATO withdrawal, however, is in doubt. Any
contribution Azerbaijan can make, therefore, will be invaluable, even as
the financial commitment needed to achieve are goals nay well be
prohibitive.

What can be attractive in NATO’s Chicago’s summit for such countries as
Azerbaijan?

The agenda will largely focus on Missile Defense, the NATO operation in
Afghanistan, Iran, and perhaps relations with Moscow. Azerbaijan’s
interests are thus likely to be indirect at best. Further expansion of the
alliance will not be on the table for the foreseeable future.

What do you think about Azerbaijan’s possible role in anti-Iranian
operation?

If there is Western military action against Iran I expect Azerbaijan, as a
friend of Israel, to be quietly supportive (even as it continues to crack
down on Iranian influence inside the country). However, Azerbaijan would
be highly vulnerable to an Iranian military counterattack (indeed, any
retaliatory moves Tehran may make are likely to be targeted in part against
US regional allies). Baku will also have to worry that its domestic public
reaction could favor Iran. This could be a potential factor in
destabilizing the Aliyev regime.

Car the war in Iran provoke new military actions in Karabakh?

Far right Russian politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky earlier this week
predicted an Azeri invasion of Nagorno Karabakh if war broke out between
Iran and the West, with Turkey supporting Baku. I think this is highly
unlikely, Azerbaijan will have enough to worry about elsewhere. Russia,
however, could take advantage of a conflict to expand its influence in the
region, including in the South Caucasus

News.Az

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: PRESERVING PEACE IMPORTANT FOR REGION

PanARMENIAN.Net
February 24, 2012 – 15:43 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Iran’s ambasasdor to Armenia Seyed Ali Sagayan said
he believes his country’s position was the most neutral and balanced
one in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Speaking at a meeting with students of Yerevan State University,
the ambassador noted: “The most important thing is preserving the
peace, in particular, in our region which has the potential to flare
up quickly, as was the case with the Russian-Georgian war.”

Georgian troops attacked the South Ossetia on August 8, 2008 and
ruined part of its capital city Tskhinvali. In an attempt to protect
the population of South Ossetia, most of them being Russian citizens,
Russia’s military entered the republic and forced the Georgian forces
out of the region following five-day hostilities.

In late August 2008 Russia recognized independence of South Ossetia
and another former Georgian autonomy Abkhazia. Tbilisi reacted to
this by breaking off diplomatic relations with Moscow and declaring
the two Transcaucasian republics occupied territories.

UNICEF, ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DISCUSS INTEGRATED SOCIAL SERVICES TO REDUCE POVERTY

ARMRADIO.AM
24.02.2012 16:40

UNICEF and the Government of Armenia convened today a high-level
conference to discuss integrated social services model as a way to
reduce poverty and ensure full access of the most vulnerable families
to social support and protection services.

“This conference represents a major milestone in the progress of a
strategic reform which we all consider determinant for the improvement
of lives of the most vulnerable families and children in Armenia,”
UNICEF Representative in Armenia, Henriette Ahrens said, addressing
high-level participants, including Prime Minister, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Labour and Social Issues of Armenia.

“Our objective is to put in place a system where individuals can come
to one place and receive all possible information and services they
need. We need a system where social protection offices and social
workers will have comprehensive information about the needs of each
vulnerable family,” Armenia’s Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said,
addressing the conference participants.

The Prime Minister noted that the Government of Armenia has shifted
its policy of provision of income for vulnerable families onto a
policy of strengthening resilience of vulnerable families through
building up their human capacity. Social inequity stems from two
main reasons that are unemployment and inaccessibility of education,
the Prime Minister stressed.

“Budgetary resources will be channeled to provide socially and
economically vulnerable families with employment and quality
education,” the Prime Minister said.