Author: admin

Kyrgyz president hails cooperation within CIS security body

Interfax news agency, Moscow
5 Aug 04

Cholpon Ata, 5 August: Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev is satisfied with the
level of military cooperation within the CIS Collective Security Treaty
Organization (CSTO).

“Servicemen implement adopted decisions very quickly in contrast to us,
civilians,” Akayev said during a meeting with the defence ministers of CSTO member
states in Cholpon Ata today.

“The Collective Rapid Deployment Forces were set up in the region within a
short time. It became possible to create a powerful bastion such as Kant (the
Russian air base in Kyrgyzstan -Interfax-Kazakhstan) within a short period of
time,” the president said.

Commenting on the Rubezh-2004 coalition exercises taking place in Kyrgyzstan,
Akayev emphasized that these manoeuvres were of a large-scale nature. “These
are large-scale exercises, involving aircraft,” he said.

The president said: “The participation of the assault helicopter Black Shark
in them is adding special colour to the manoeuvres.”

He expressed his confidence that “the exercises will be successful since all
problems connected with their preparation have been settled”.

An Interfax-AVN news agency correspondent reports that Akayev met the defence
ministers of Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan and the
chief of staff of the Armenian armed forces.

The final phase of the Rubezh-2004 exercises will be held at the Kyrgyz
firing range Edelveys Edelweiss on 6 August.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia’s ethnic minorities facing difficulties in preserving culture

Noyan Tapan news agency
2 Aug 04

YEREVAN

The Armenian government is currently elaborating a number of concepts
to preserve the cultural originality of the country’s ethnic
minorities. However, the chief of the Armenian government’s department
for ethnic minorities and religion, Granush Kharatyan, has said that
it is difficult for the ethnic minorities of Armenia to preserve their
originality simply because there are no areas predominantly populated
by them. In addition, she said, international experience testifies to
the fact that the preservation of ethnic peculiarities is possible
only if the ethnic minorities comprise at least 15-20 per cent of the
country’s population. Meanwhile, all 11 ethnic minorities living in
Armenia comprise only 2.2 per cent of the country’s population.

However, Kharatyan said, Armenia allocates 3m drams (about 5,500
dollars) every year for the publishing needs of the ethnic minorities,
as well as 20m drams about 35,650 dollars for their educational and
cultural needs.

The chairwoman of Armenia’s Jewish community, Rimma Varzhapetyan, told
our Noyan Tapan correspondent that there is a major need for the
aforesaid funds. She spoke highly about the government’s decision to
allocate premises to the House of Culture of the ethnic minorities. An
exhibition hall, a library, a concert hall, a language laboratory and
a gym will operate on these 800 sq.m.

However, she said, “there is a desire to achieve more”. She
particularly said that it is necessary to set up a joint web site and
a joint almanac of Armenia’s ethnic minorities with the help of the
state. She added that the ethnic minorities need a weekly programme on
Armenian Public TV, which is envisaged by the Council of Europe’s
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities which
was also signed by Armenia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian war veterans continue sit-in outside government building

Noyan Tapan news agency
5 Aug 04

YEREVAN

A sit-in of 20 azatamartiks freedom fighters – members of nine units
of the Artsakh Armenian name of Nagornyy Karabakh liberation movement,
which started on 3 August at Yerablur monument to martyrs in Yerevan ,
continued outside the Armenian government building at 0900 0400 gmt on
4 August. We should recall that the government is the addressee of
the protesters’ main demand: to allocate funds to provide their
families with flats.

A Noyan Tapan correspondent has learnt from the leader of the Armenian
Aryan Union, Armen Avetisyan, that representatives of the Defence
Ministry visited the protesters on the first day of their action.

Passage omitted: Background details

WINNERS OF ARMENIAN TENDER OF QUALITY HENCEFORTH TO PARTICIPATE IN
ANALOGOUS TENDERS OF CIS

YEREVAN, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). From 2004 the enterprises that won at
the annual tender on provision of quality of production and services
will participate in analogous tenders of the CIS countries. To recap,
upon the decision of the government prizes on provision of quality of
production and services have been handed since 1998 for the purpose of
encouraging the native producers.

Melkon Gasparian, the Head of the Department on Standardization and
Metrology of RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, told Noyan
Tapan that this year the conditions of the Armenian tender were
specified and at the same time strengthened. According to the changes,
the criteria of handing prizes at the Armenian tender are brought into
a line with the criteria of handing prizes in the CIS
countries. According to M.Gasparian, reception of bids for
participation in the tender has already begun. The names of the
organizations submitting bids will be published in late October. The
Ministries of different branches, Health, Agriculture, are proposed to
represent their opinions regarding the claimant organizations. The
organizations that won at the tender of quality will become known in
November.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR CASES OF CRIMES INCREASE BY 4.5% IN ARMENIA
IN COMPARISON WITH SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR

YEREVAN, August 5 (Noyan Tapan). In the first half of this year the RA
Police fulfilled the problems put before it: stable public order and
rule was preserved, the operative situation was completely controlled
in the republic owing to the arrangements undertaken within the
framework of the authorities reserved by the law. It is reported in
the document on the results of the operative and official activities
of the RA Police Services and Territorial Bodies during the first half
of 2004. According to the document, 5,351 cases of crimes were
registered in the republic in the first half of 2004 as against 5,120
cases of the same period of last year, growth made 4.5%, or 231
cases. The number of crimes fallen on 10,000 residents made 16.7% in
the republic. It should be mentioned for comparison that this index
made 148% in Moldova, 98% in Russia, 80% in Belorussia, 57% in
Ukraine, 48% in Kazakhstan. In the general structure of crimes the
number of crimes committed against the people considerably increased
(13.8%-14%), as well as crimes committed against the public order and
security, health of people (14.2%-16%), property (39.1%-40.7%), crimes
committed against the economic activities (1.4%-2.8%). The share of
crimes committed against the state power, service and government order
decreased (26.2%-25.6%). According to the document, the process of
the disclosure of weapon and armament illegally kept by the population
and the process of voluntary yield became more active: 160 cases of
preparation of weapon and armament and illegal circulation were
disclosed during the period under review, which exceeds by 11.9%, or
17 cases, the index of the same period of last year. The indices of
struggle against illegal circulation of drugs also considerably
improved: 229 cases of crimes connected with drugs were disclosed in
the first half of 2004 as against 137 cases of the same period of last
year. As of the end of the first half of 2004, 2,585 transport means
imported to Armenia were checked-up in the issue of struggle against
the illegal circulation of transport means illegally obtained and
stolen in the foreign countries. 24 cars which are under international
investigation and seven cars (with re-pasted numbers of separate
aggregates) were disclosed as a result of these check-ups. 513
motor-transport accidents were registered in the territory of the
republic during the period under review, 97 people died and 672 people
received bodily injuries as a result of these accidents. The number of
cases increased by 151, or 41.7%, in comparison with the same period
of last year, and the number of victims increased by 9, the number of
casualties increased by 210 people. In the first half of 2004 the
number of people called to criminal account increased by 1.9% as
against 3,098 of the same period of last year and made 3,158. 665, or
21.1%, of people called to criminal account had previous
convictions. Stable share fell on women (6.8%, or 216) among the
people who were called to criminal account. In the first half of 2004
the number of minors among the people called to criminal account made
6.1% as against 6.3% of the same period of last year. The number of
crimes committed by minors also decreased by 15.9% and made 296 cases
as against 352 of the same period of last year. According to the
document of the RA Police, a 83.5% and 82.6% growth of the indices of
the disclosing of crimes registered on the line of general, as well as
criminal investigation was considered, respectively, during the period
under review (as against 83% and 80.8% of the same period of last
year). In the first half of 2004, 80.4% of especially grave crimes and
79.6% of grave crimes registered in the republic was dislosed. During
the indicated period material damage of 520.3 mln drams (about 946,000
dollars) was caused to the state by the completed criminal cases in
the staff of the police, as well as public organizations. 76.8% of
this sum was restored as against 51% of the same period of last year.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

POLYCLINIC OF WRITERS’ UNION OF ARMENIA TO BE LEFT TO WRITERS,
MINISTER OF CULTURE ASSURES

YEREVAN, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). “I can distinctly say that the
polyclinic of the Writers’ Union of Armenia will be left to the
writers, a no one has the right of taking back the polyclinic that has
belonged to the writers years running.” Hovik Hoveyan, the Minister of
Culture and Youth Affairs, declared this at the August 3 press
conference touching upon the July 16 decision of the Appeal Court. To
recap, upon this decision the Appeal Court invalidated the decision of
the court of first instance of the Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun Yerevan
communities. The latter invalidated the decision of the Council of
Elders of the Arabkir community about alienating the territory in
Kasian 3 address where the polyclinic of the Writers’ Union of Armenia
was situated to citizen Sergey Meliksetian. H.Hoveyan as a member and
the former secretary of the Writers’ Union of Armenia mentioned that
they won’t give their polyclinic to anybody. According to the
Minister, “our judicial system hasn’t been formed and, naturally, they
can’t make a right decision.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN WEIGHT-KIFTERS RETURN FROM EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP WITH MEDALS

YEREVAN, August 4 (Noyan Tapan). Armenian representative Tigran
Martirosian from Gyumri participated in the European Junior
Championship on Weight-Lifting, which was held in the Norwegian city
of Stavanger. Tigran Martirosian placed first in his weigh class of 62
kilograms and won the title of the European champion. Besides the
European big gold medal the Armenian weight-kifter was awarded with
two small gold medals in “dash” and clean and jerk exercises. Artak
Ghazarian won three silver medals (over 94 kilograms), he won in the
double-event.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/04/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Montana’s Burns Becomes 40th Senate Supporter of Human Rights Measure
2) Press Undermined in Azerbaijan, Reports Human Rights Watch
3) Russian Lawmaker under Fire in Conflict Zone
4) Azeri Official Declares Armenia Will be Azerbaijan’s in Coming Decades

1) Montana’s Burns Becomes 40th Senate Supporter of Human Rights Measure

WASHINGTON, DC–Montana Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) agreed this week to
cosponsor the Genocide Resolution, S.Res.164, bringing the number of US
Senators supporting this human rights measure to forty, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).
“I am proud to join with 39 of my Senate colleagues in support of S.Res.164,”
said Senator Burns in a statement to the ANCA. “This legislation stresses the
importance of remembering and learning the lessons of past crimes against
humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, and the Cambodian
and
Rwandan genocides, in an effort to stop future atrocities. Silence in the face
of genocide only encourages those who would commit such atrocities in the
future–a legacy which we cannot afford to pass on to our children.”
“Armenian Americans, in Montana and across the United States, join in
thanking
Senator Burns for his principled stand in defense of the fundamental right of
all people to live free from the terrors of genocide,” said ANCA-Western
Region
Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian, who traveled to Montana in late
July to
meet with members of the state’s Congressional delegation, along with local
community activist Yedvart Tchakerian. “We have been very encouraged, in
recent
months, by the increasing effectiveness of our grassroots outreach in the
Northern Plain states, with Senators from Montana and both North and South
Dakota supporting the Genocide Resolution, and the governors of Idaho,
Nebraska, and Montana issuing proclamations commemorating the Armenian
Genocide.”
The Genocide Resolution marks the 15th anniversary of the US
implementation of
the Genocide Convention and reaffirms the commitment of the American people to
this landmark treaty. It specifically cites the importance of applying the
lessons of past genocides in order to make the world safe from future
genocides. Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ) introduced this
measure in June of last year. Its companion measure in the US House,
H.Res.193,
led by Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI), was adopted unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee
last May and currently has 111 cosponsors. On July 15th, the US House
passed an
amendment, authored by Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), which prohibited the
government of Turkey from using US foreign aid dollars to lobby against the
Genocide Resolution.
Support for the Genocide Resolution has been widespread outside of
Congress as
well, with a diverse coalition of over 100 ethnic, religious, civil and human
rights organizations calling for its passage, including American Values,
National Organization of Women, Sons of Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox
Rabbis,
and the National Council of La Raza.
For information about Senator Burns, who serves on the powerful Senate
Appropriations Committee, visit:
<;

2) Press Undermined in Azerbaijan, Reports Human Rights Watch

NEW YORK (HRW)-Azerbaijan’s government should act now to stop the
deterioration
of press freedom underway since the October presidential elections, Human
Rights Watch said in a briefing paper released today. Azeri authorities have
failed to prosecute police responsible for attacks on journalists, imposed
crippling damages in civil defamation suits, and manipulated resources to
pressure independent or opposition media outlets.
“The political crackdown that followed last year’s election has had a
lasting,
harmful effect on press freedom in Azerbaijan, said Rachel Denber, acting
executive director of Human Rights Watch’s Europe and Central Asia division.
“The government can reverse this by finally acknowledging that police have
used
excessive force against journalists covering demonstrations, and also by
capping the crippling damages often levied in defamation suits.”
Azerbaijan’s October presidential election, which the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe called “fraudulent,” led to massive street
demonstrations and excessive police violence to quell them. In the
aftermath of
the violence, the government then unleashed a crackdown against the political
opposition and the independent and opposition media.
Rapporteurs from the Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe’s
Parliamentary Assembly are scheduled to arrive in Azerbaijan today to examine
Azerbaijan’s compliance with its commitments and obligations to the Council of
Europe.
The 18-page briefing paper, based on interviews in Azerbaijan with
journalists, editors, government officials and media rights groups, details
how
the security forces attacked journalists during the demonstrations. While
not a
single security agent was held responsible, the authorities filed charges
against an opposition activist who allegedly assaulted a pro-government
reporter during a demonstration. A journalist for an independent wire service
who was beaten by police at one of the demonstrations was subpoenaed to
testify
in court, but as a witness for the prosecution against opposition members
accused of the post-election violence. His testimony about police severely
beating him did not lead to any action against those responsible.
“Impunity for police violence against journalists gives police a green light
to use violence again,” said Denber.
Among those currently on trial for organizing the street demonstrations is
Rauf Arifoglu, editor-in-chief of a leading opposition newspaper, Yeni
Musavat.
Human Rights Watch is calling for his immediate release pending the outcome of
his trial.
The Azeri government abolished pre-publication censorship in 1998, but has
since then imposed considerable informal restrictions on the media, which have
sharpened since last year’s election. Government officials or those closely
connected to the government are invariably the plaintiffs in civil defamation
suits against independent or opposition media. Prohibitive fines imposed on
these outlets have forced them to suspend publication, suggesting that the
courts aimed primarily to cripple or close them.
Television media is overwhelmingly pro-government. The Human Rights Watch
briefing paper describes how the government informally manipulates private
broadcast media, newspaper-distribution networks and printing presses, and
blocks access to information for journalists working for the independent
press.
“Taken together, these are methods of control and intimidation, aimed at
setting unreasonable restrictions on media content without resorting to formal
censorship,” said Denber.
Since the election, the Azeri government has taken some measures to rectify
abuses against journalists. On a joint initiative with the Press Council, a
nongovernmental umbrella group, it established a permanent commission to
prevent and resolve conflict between media representatives and the
authorities.
“The establishment of the permanent council is a welcome step, but it falls
far
short of what’s needed to promote a free and independent media in Azerbaijan,”
said Denber.
Human Rights Watch called on the Azerbaijan’s government to ensure the
founding of a genuinely independent public television station, abolish
criminal
libel, introduce caps on civil libel suits and prosecute those responsible for
attacks on journalists.
The briefing paper, Azerbaijan: Media, the Presidential Elections and the
Aftermath, can be found at

3) Russian Lawmaker under Fire in Conflict Zone

(Civil Georgia/Itar Tass)–Georgian Deputy Security Minister Gigi Ugulava
refuted on August 4, reports that Georgian troops fired on Andrei Kokoshin,
who
chairs the Russian Duma’s Committee for CIS affairs.
According to the spokesman for South Ossetia Special Functions Ministry, the
incident took place in the South Ossetian conflict area, near the village of
Sarabuk. Pliyev said the car was attacked by Georgia.
“According to the information available to us, the passengers in the
car–Andrei Kokoshin and the co-chairmen of the Joint Control Commissions are
alive,” he stated.
After the car came under fire, Georgian interior troops stationed in conflict
zone heavily shelled Sarabuk. The village was fired on from a detour road.
There have been no reports of civilian casualties, the spokesman said.
Georgia refuted the accounts saying that the Ossetian side opened fire “in
the
direction of the Georgian peacekeepers, and the Georgian side responded to
it,”
Ugulava told a press briefing. “This will always happen in case of an attack.”
“I declare with full responsibility, this was a provocation masterminded by
the Ossetian side,” Ugulava said, adding that had Georgia been notified of
Kokoshin’s visit to the breakaway region, it would have ensured his security.
Meanwhile Interfax reported that the Georgian navy is ready to obey President
Mikheil Saakashvili’s order to prevent any vessel–except those on
humanitarian
missions–from entering territorial waters near the self- proclaimed republic
of Abkhazia, Koba Bochorishvili, commander of the Poti marine division of the
Georgian coast guard service, said on Wednesday.
“We did receive the president’s order that vessels that have violated the
border should be stopped in territorial waters near the Abkhaz coasts and that
fire should be opened on them if they disobey orders,” Bochorishvili said.
This
warning also applies to passenger boats that could travel from Sochi to
Sukhumi, he said.
“Fire should be opened on all vessels that enter the Sukhumi port without the
Georgian authorities’ agreement. They should be sunk,” the Georgian president
said at a news conference on Tuesday.
The Russian Foreign Minister reacted sharply on Wednesday in a statement that
said any attempts to inflict damage or infringe the lives of Russian citizens
“will be adequately rebuffed.”
“Official Tbilisi has taken an unprecedented step,” the ministry stated.
“This
warning is addressed also to Russian tourists who make excursion trips by sea
from Sochi to Novy Afon and Sukhumi.”

4) Azeri Official Declares Armenia Will be Azerbaijan’s in Coming Decades

BAKU (RFE/RL)–Armenia will cease to exist as an independent state and its
territory will be incorporated into Azerbaijan over the next three decades, a
senior Azerbaijani military official was quoted as saying, taking
anti-Armenian
rhetoric in Baku to new heights.
“Within the next 25-years there will exist no state of Armenia in the South
Caucasus,” Colonel Ramiz Melikov, the chief spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Defense
Ministry, said, according to the Baku daily “Zerkalo.” “Those people have done
so many nasty things to their neighbors that they have no right to live in
this
region.”
“Modern Armenia is built on historical Azerbaijani lands,” he added. “I think
that in 25-30 years’ times its territory will again come under Azerbaijan’s
jurisdiction.”
Melikov was quoted in an extensive “Zerkalo” article that called on the
Azerbaijani government to promptly restart the war with the Armenians and win
back Mountainous Karabagh. The Azeri leadership regularly threatens to do just
that, complaining about the international community’s reluctance to end
Armenian control of the disputed region. The most recent such threat came from
President Ilham Aliyev last week.
“Zerkalo” said Azeri military officials believe that their troops are
prepared
for renewed hostilities and that “the upcoming war will not be long-lasting.”
“Today the personnel of the Azerbaijani armed forces is not the one that
existed ten years ago,” Melikov said. “We substantially exceed Armenia with
the
size of the population and the number of soldiers. Soon the entire world will
recognize Armenia as an aggressor country. That is why Armenia is now on the
brink of defeat.”
Armenia has repeatedly dismissed such statements from Baku, saying that
Azerbaijan would have long resumed the war without a warning had it been
confident of victory. But its reaction to Aliyev’s latest threats was
unusually
sharp, with the Armenian Foreign Ministry warning Azerbaijan of “disastrous
consequences.”
The armed forces of Mountainous Karabagh Republic, on Tuesday, began a
ten-day
military exercise which officials say will test their combat-readiness during
“defensive and counter-offensive operations.” The war games followed a call-up
of army reservists and will involve the use of live ammunition.
Just last week “Zerkalo” quoted an unnamed Western diplomat in Baku as saying
that the Azeri society and army are not prepared for war and that the West
does
not take its government’s threats seriously.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Associated Press Worldstream
August 4, 2004 Wednesday 4:47 PM Eastern Time

Azerbaijan lashes out at Armenian enclave over military exercises

BAKU, Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan sharply criticized authorities in the ethnic Armenian
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh on Wednesday for holding military
exercises, calling the maneuvers a provocation that would hurt
efforts to reach a settlement over the disputed region.

The Foreign Ministry expressed “deep concern” about the exercises and
said the international community would not be fooled by the portrayal
of “these actions by illegal armed formations of the separatist
regime” as “exercises of the so-called armed forces of
Nagorno-Karabakh.”

It said the exercises would hamper preparations for the next meeting
between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia, which backs
the internationally unrecognized ethnic Armenian government of
Nagorno-Karabakh.

A spokesman for the military in Nagorno-Karabakh, which has been de
facto independent since Azerbaijan’s forces were driven out in 1994,
said Tuesday that it had begun a 10-day exercise meant to test
combat-readiness and improve coordination in “defensive battles and
counterattacks.”

With no settlement in sight a decade after a cease-fire ended a war
that killed some 30,000 people and drove about a million from their
homes, there are fears a new armed conflict could erupt.

Forces of Nagorno-Karabakh’s government also hold several sectors of
Azerbaijan outside of the enclave itself, and sporadic firing takes
place across the demilitarized zone that separates the forces.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Le Figaro
03 août 2004

Promotion de deux danseurs;
DANSE Mathilde Froustey et Josua Hoffalt couronnés

René SIRVIN

Deux jeunes coryphées du corps de ballet de l’Opéra de Paris ont
triomphé jeudi soir au concours international de Varna (Bulgarie),
l’un des plus importants du monde. Mathilde Froustey, 19 ans, la plus
jeune des 126 concurrents, a remporté la médaille d’or catégorie
senior, et son partenaire Josua Hoffalt, 20 ans, la médaille d’argent
(la médaille d’or a été décernée au jeune Arménien Arman Grigoryan,
19 ans).

Bien que se produisant ensemble dans des pas de deux, Mathilde et
Josua concouraient séparément. Après avoir passé les premières
épreuves dans le « Grand Pas classique d’Auber », le deuxième acte de
« Giselle », et « Yondering » de Neumeier, ils l’ont remporté grce à
« Delibes Suite », une chorégraphie du danseur étoile José Martinez
et « Le Rire de la lyre » de José Montalvo.

Le jury, qui comprenait la première danseuse de l’Opéra Karin Averty
(grand prix junior du concours de Varna 1980), était présidé par
Youri Grigorovitch, ancien directeur du Ballet du Bolchoï.

Née le 8 juin 1985 à Bordeaux, Mathilde Froustey était aussi douée
pour le tennis, l’équitation, le violon et la danse. C’est sa mère
qui décida de lui faire prendre ses premières leçons de danse à neuf
ans. A douze ans, refusée à l’Ecole de l’Opéra de Paris, elle entre à
celle de Marseille que dirige Pietragalla, et un an plus tard se
présente de nouveau à Paris où elle entre en troisième division. Au
spectacle 2002 de l’Ecole, Claude Bessy la choisit pour danser le
rôle titre de « La Fille mal gardée » et Mathilde est engagée à 17
ans dans le corps de ballet de l’Opéra. Le 23 décembre dernier, elle
était promue coryphée au concours de fin d’année, après ses
brillantes interprétations de « Giselle » et de « Paquita ».

Mathilde a eu la chance d’être remarquée par Youri Grigorovitch, venu
remonter son ballet « Ivan le Terrible » à l’Opéra Bastille. Avec
Brigitte Lefèvre, il décida de confier pour une représentation (le 6
janvier 2004) les trois rôles vedettes à trois jeunes artistes, dont
Mathilde. Son charme, son jeu spontané, son aisance en scène et sa
confiance en ses partenaires en firent immédiatement un des grands
espoirs de l’Opéra, plébiscitée par le public. Le 30 mars, au gala
d’adieu de Claude Bessy au Palais Garnier, elle a dansé le pas de
deux de « La Fille mal gardée » avec Josua Hoffalt et en mai dernier
à l’Opéra Bastille elle était le délicieux Cupidon du « Don Quichotte
» de Noureev.

Josua Hoffalt, né au Pertuis le 19 mai 1984, a commencé la danse à
huit ans. A dix il travaillait à Marseille sous la direction de
Colette Armand et en 1998 était admis à l’Ecole de danse de l’Opéra
de Paris. Lui aussi était choisi par Claude Bessy pour danser « La
Fille mal gardée » à l’Ecole en 2002 et engagé en septembre dans le
corps de Ballet de l’Opéra. Grand et beau prince d’un mètre
quatre-vingts, il a été promu coryphée au concours de fin d’année
2003. Il a également participé aux soirées Jeunes Danseurs en mai
2003 où on a admiré la perfection de son style classique.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress