Author: Antonian Lara

Band of Brothers
Talent: Slava and Leonard Grigoryan and Joseph and James Tawadros
Date of release: Until July 28
Date of Review: Saturday, 28 July 2007
Venue: Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse
What a wonderful experience, being transported to the imaginary lands of the
Northern African Continent through the virtuosic performance of two pairs of
bothers – Slava and Leonard Grigoryan and Joseph and James Tawadros.

The night began with James and Joseph Tawadros performing a piece of
Egyptian music. James performed rhythmic wonders the entire evening on thetightly
skinned Egyptian tamborine – the Req’. Joseph was relaxed on the Oud and never
once tried to upstage his brother. The brothers were entirely symbiotic!

Joseph invited the classical guitar virtuosos, the Grigoryan brothers, to
stage and they joined forces in a display of improvised and organised genius.
What followed was a beautiful mix of improvised and formulated classical,
traditional and jazz flavoured pieces that showcased each members particular
gifts. Slava even played solid bodied classical through a device that lowered its
pitch to sound like a fretless bass. This added a lovely warmth to the
ensemble’s sound and texture.

I particularly appreciated the band’s arrangement of the Beatles classic
Blackbird. This was a non-traditional approach that drew upon the European
heritage of the Band of Brothers.

Although there was no interval, the length of the show was adequate in my
opinion. If the performance was any longer, I believe it would have been too
much of the same sound for the audience. Although their interesting rhythms and
amazing adherence to complex time signatures was awe-inspiring, it left mea
little dazed towards the end. As a guitarist, I can appreciate the skill and
musicianship of each member of the band, but a little more variety in tempo
and style would have added that extra dimension I was looking for.

Having said that, it was refreshing to be ‘invited’ into the brothers’
space. Joseph was endearing and spoke in a way that ‘Broke the Sound Barriers’ in
the sense that he, and the Grigoryan brothers didn’t seem to take themselves
too seriously. They could laugh and add just enough humour to the performance
to allow the audience to relax. I felt as though I was in their living room
being privileged to experience a family jam-session!
– Wes Taylor

Last Updated: 30/07/2007 8:33:00 AM AEST

© 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE FUNERAL
OF PATRIARCH TEOCTIST

The funeral of the spiritual head of the Romanian Church, Patriarch
Teoctist, was held in the Romanian capital Bucharest on August 3. Archbishop
Gomidas Ohanian and Bishop Khoren Doghmadjian (Primate of the Diocese of
Greece) attended the service on behalf of the Catholicosate of Cilicia and
His Holiness Aram I.

On this sad occasion, the Armenian Catholicos sent a condolence letter to
the Patriarchal Vicar and the Sinod of the Romanian Church. Archbishop
Gomidas read the letter in which the Pontiff, friend of Patriarch Teoctist,
highlights the Romanian spiritual leader’s human and spiritual values,
considering his death a loss to the Romanian church and the ecumenical
movement in general. The Catholicosate of Cilicia’s delegates then expressed
condolences on behalf of His Holiness Aram I to the Patriarchal Vicar of the
Romanian Church and the members of its Sinod.

##
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.

RAFFI HOVANNISIAN MET WITH AMBASSADOR SMESSOW

armradio.am
03.08.2007 16:45

Heritage Party chairman Raffi K. Hovannisian met today with French
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia Serge Smessow.

During the meeting the interlocutors exchanged views on Armenia’s
international affairs and domestic challenges, Nagorno Karabakh’s
quest for freedom, and French-Armenian relations.

FOUR VILLAGES GET FREE MILK COOLING EQUIPMENT

ARMENPRESS
Aug 2, 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 2, ARMENPRESS: Four Armenian villages, selected by the
ministry of agriculture, received free milk cooling equipment These
villages are in Shirak (Akhurian), Lori (Vahagn), Armavir (Talvorik)
and Gegharkunik (Vardenik) provinces. The capacity of each equipment
is 4 tons.

The equipment was brought from the USA by the Armenian Technology Group
(ATG) organization.

The choice of these villages was made based on their remoteness from
regional highways.

Liparit Tigranian, deputy community head of Akhurian village in Shirak,
said the equipment is of key significance for the villagers, because
milk procuring companies come to buy milk irregularly and in summer
it is hard to keep milk unspoiled.

Out of 2000 residents of the village 1,000 breed cattle.

Karen Hakobian, deputy head of the ATG, said each of the equipment
costs $10,000.

The Armenian Technology Group (ATG) is a California -based group,
dedicated to helping guide Armenia toward food and agricultural
self-sufficiency. It is a private, non-profit organization that has
brought together the expertise of farmers, agronomists, veterinarians,
and other professionals to enable Armenia to meet the challenges
of independence.

In cooperation with Armenia’s ministry of agriculture, ATG has
focused on providing Armenian farmers with the benefits of American
agricultural techniques and innovations.

Since its foundation in 1989, ATG has sought to address both Armenia’s
immediate needs and lay the groundwork for long-term progress. ATG
has delivered more than $33.6 million in goods and services to the
people of Armenia. The sum includes $6.6 million in contributions
from U.S. government agencies, as well as wide-ranging support from
private groups and individuals.

SCIENTISTS URGE GOVERNMENT TO KEEP BOOSTING VITAL ARMENIAN LAKE
By Ruzanna Stepanian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Aug 2 2007

Armenian scientists have expressed serious concern about a government
proposal to stop raising the water level of Lake Sevan, warning of a
"irreversible" negative consequences for Armenia’s ecosystem.

The Armenian government was due to discuss a relevant decision
drafted by the Ministry of Urban Development at its weekly meeting on
Thursday. However, the government removed it from the agenda at the
last minute, in an apparent response to an outcry made by the National
Academy of Sciences. A spokeswoman said Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian
told ministers that the matter must undergo a more thorough examination
by experts and scientists before being decided by his cabinet.

Sevan occupies much of the northeastern Gegharkunik province, serving
as the landlocked country’s main water reservoir. It had shrunk
substantially throughout the 1960s and 1970s due to heavy use of
its waters for irrigation and power generation. The process resumed
during the severe energy crisis of the early 1990s when Armenia had
to increase its reliance on a cascade of hydro-electric power plants
on the river Hrazdan flowing out of the mountainous lake.

It was not until 2002 that the government unveiled and embarked on
the implementation of a Sevan rescue plan which was enshrined in a
special law adopted by parliament. The government committed itself
to gradually increasing Sevan’s level by several meters by reducing
power generation at the Hrazdan cascade and building a second mountain
tunnel supplying water to the lake from another river.

The tunnel went into service in summer 2002. According to the Armenian
Ministry of Environment, Sevan’s level has since increased by about two
meters. It was supposed to rise by another three meters in the coming
years to put Sevan’s surface at 1,908 meters above the sea level.

Some top government officials now seem keen to stop the process
on the grounds that the swelling lake is threatening to submerge
houses and other structures along its slanting coastline. Many of
them are expensive villas, hotels and entertainment spots built in
recent years despite a government ban on any construction below the
1,908-meter mark.

A special commission of the National Academy of Sciences dealing with
Sevan-related ecological issues is strongly opposed to any halt in
the lake’s enlargement. Its chairman, Fadey Sargsian, wrote to the
Armenian premier on Wednesday, warning that failure to raise the
lake to the planned level planned could result in its "irreversible
degradation." He pointed to a government decision whereby everything
built along the lake’s perimeter below the 1,908-meter mark is subject
to demolition.

Sargsian’s deputy, Rafael Hovannisian, said the government is
seriously considering the controversial proposal because of personal
interests. "It is obvious that that is being done to preserve
restaurants and villas," he told RFE/RL. "It is a disgrace. The
state ignores the problem of a whole lake for the sake of several
[wealthy] individuals."

The Environment Ministry’s position on the issue remains unclear. The
ministry declined a comment on Thursday, referring all inquiries to
the Ministry of Urban Development.

BAGAPSH: INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA SURE TO FOLLOW KOSOVO PRECEDENT
By Nino Mumladze

The Messenger, Georgia
Aug 1 2007

The frequently referenced "uniqueness" of the Kosovo case is "unsound,"
but an impending recognition of Kosovo independence will accelerate the
same process for Abkhazia and South Ossetia, claims Sergey Bagapsh,
secessionist leader of Abkhazia, in a July 31 interview with the
Russian daily Kommersant.

"The fate of Kosovo has been ordained, thus our fate will also be
determined in the nearest future…And if such a decision [recognition]
is taken towards the end of the year, it will untie the hands of other
countries for recognizing Abkhazia, Transdniester, Nagorno Karabakh,
and South Ossetia," said Bagapsh, adding that his region has "even
more historical and legal grounds for independence than Kosovo."

Presuming recognition of an independent Kosovo just around the corner,
the de facto president of breakaway Abkhazia spelled out what he
imagines to be Russia’s game plan for supporting Abkhaz independence.

"Of course the double standards in big politics influence our case as
well, but Russia’s position was constructive from the very beginning,"
Bagapsh said.

He added that while many in Abkhazia were upset that Russia
favored Serbia’s territorial integrity and opposed recognition of
an independent Kosovo, this position of a "great country" towards a
geo-strategic partner, Serbia, "is understandable."

And now, Bagapsh said, if the international community flies past
Russia’s objections, Moscow will say, "we didn’t want this precedent,
but now having your decision on Kosovo recognition in violation of
all international norms-what hinders us in recognizing Abkhazia?"

The interviewing Kommersant journalist then posited a hypothetical
for Bagapsh: what if Tbilisi tried to use a repeat of its ‘South
Ossetia project’ in the Abkhazia conflict?

That is, if Tbilisi countered the upcoming de facto elections in
Abkhazia, two years ahead, with alternative elections among IDPs
from Abkhazia. The international community could then talk with
that elected government-in-exile, the journalist suggests, entirely
sidelining Bagapsh’s administration.

"Let [Europe] talk with them. I’ve already warned those mediators
[the Group of Friends of the UN Secretary-General]: we do respect you,
but the sides in the negotiation process are Georgia and Abkhazia and
if you violate these agreements, we won’t end up with a dialogue,"
Bagapsh said to Kommersant.

Commenting on international insistence on renewing dialogue, Bagapsh
reiterated his preconditions for resuming talks with Tbilisi. His
government would only negotiate with Tbilisi after they pull out
their forces from upper Kodori Gorge, the only Georgian-controlled
territory in Abkhazia.

"They fail to understand that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are not just
little boys in shorts, but full-fledged partners in negotiations,"
Bagapsh declared, reproaching President Mikheil Saakashvili for
sending Georgian forces to upper Kodori, which served to break off
talks with secessionist Sokhumi. He also expressed doubts about
Georgia’s sincerity in proposing high-level dialogue.

"I know why [Tbilisi] needs face-to-face talks between the presidents
[meaning Saakashvili and Bagapsh]; it’s so that they’ll be able to
say that Bagapsh and Saakashvili are meeting for talks and they would
have had normal relations if not for Russia’s interference. We won’t
give them the opportunity," he said.

Bagapsh predicted that the ‘South Ossetia project,’ with Tbilisi-backed
Dmitry Sanakoyev establishing a government kilometers away from
secessionist Tskhinvali, will only lead to war in the region. And it
couldn’t happen in Abkhazia, Bagapsh said.

"We have by definition a different situation than that of South
Ossetia. It’s impossible to find another Sanakoyev in Abkhazia,"
Bagapsh stated, going on to label Sanakoyev a "traitor."

And why has a "traitor" been invited to speak in front of European
parliament members, while the de facto leaders of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia are shunted aside? It reflects poorly on the West,
says Bagapsh.

"Neither Kokoity, nor I, nor our foreign minister have ever appeared
in the European parliament…And here everything is so simple:
Georgia requested and Sanakoyev was offered a tribune [to speak
to]. And after that, how should we treat Europe and the US, if they
are always listening to only one side of the conflict?" he asked.

TURKEY AND USA WORKING OUT SECRET PLAN AGAINST KURDISTAN WORKERS’ PARTY

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.07.2007 14:57 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Representatives of US administration together with
representatives from Turkish government are secretly working out a
secret military operation aimed at suppressing the movement of Kurdish
separatists and capturing their leaders, Washington Post reports.

"Last week US Undersecretary for Policy at the Pentagon Eric
Edelman held a confidential briefing on this issue for a number
of congressmen. According to US legislation the presidential
administration must inform members of Congress about such initiatives.

Edelman told them that the US Special Forces will assist Turkish
servicemen to neutralize the leadership of the separatist Kurdistan
Workers’ Party (PKK).

The Pentagon’s representative assured congressmen that he is sure
in success, and in case of necessity it will be possible to hide the
realization of a special operation against Kurds and even to deny it,"
the newspaper reports.

Turkish authorities have repeatedly assured on their readiness to
carry out a cross-border operation into northern Iraq if the Iraqi
government and US armed forces don’t take effective actions against
PKK fighters who are hiding in the north of the country.

At the same time official Ankara states that Turkey does not have
any claims on territories of other countries.

ARMENIA FOR FIRST TIME TO TAKE PART IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FAIR OF VIENNA

Noyan Tapan
Jul 25, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia for the first time will
take part in the annual fair of information technologies and
telecommunication sphere of Vienna (ITnT-";),
which in 2008 will be held on February 5-7.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the Information Technologies Development
Department of the RA Ministry of Trade and Economic Development
organizing the participation of Armenian enterprises in ITnT 2008,
Armenia’s participation in the fair will be coordinated by the Armenian
Embassy in Austria.

ITnT has been organized since 2005. 389 companies took part in the
last fair held from January 30 to February 1, 2007, who presented
their goods and services to over 16.8 thousand visitors.

"STRIVINGS OF AZERBAIJAN WITH REGARD TO BRINGING DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT OUT OF CURRENT NEGOTIATION FRAMEWORK INFLUENCE THIS PROCESS IN NEGATIVE WAY," REPRESENTATIVE OF RA MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DECLARES

Noyan Tapan
Jul 25, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. "The inclusion of the Nagorno
Karabakh question on the agenda of the General Assembly of the United
Nations’ Organization does not mean that the issue of the Karabakh
conflict settlement is a subject for discussion for the UN," Vladimir
Karapetian, the acting Head of the Press and Information Department
of the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs, declared, in response to the
questions of the "Armenpress" agency.

Vladimir Karapetian commented on the fact of what consequences the
moving of this question into the UN may have for the negotiation
process and said: "The strivings of the Azeri side with regard to
bringing the discussions concerning the Karabakh conflict settlement
out of the current negotiation framework influence this process only
in a negative way and speak about the absence of a political will
for reaching a lasting solution of the problem by them."

SERGE SARGSIAN: RA GOVERNMENT IS READY TO DEVELOP COOPERATION WITH EURASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Noyan Tapan
Jul 24, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 24, NOYAN TAPAN. RA Prime Minister Serge Sargsian,
at the July 24 meeting with Igor Finogenov, the Board Chairman of
the Eurasian Development Bank, welcomed the bank’s willingness to
implement mutually beneficial and long-term programs in Armenia. He
said that Armenia has some experience of cooperation with big banks,
and the RA government is ready to develop cooperation also with the
Eurasian Development Bank.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA government Information and Public
Relations Department, I. Finogenov presented the Prime Minister with
the goal of the fully fledged Eurasian Development Bank implementing
investment programs in a number of CIS countries and the results of
its activity of nearly one year. Emphasizing that the bank’s goal is to
promote economic development of CIS member-countries and also solution
of social problems as a result of this, strengthening of the national
banking system and creation of modern infrastructures in transport,
energy and a number of other spheres, the Chairman of bank’s Board
asked the Prime Minister about Armenia’s economic priorities and
perspective spheres, which can become a basis for cooperation.

Besides transport, energy spheres, S. Sargsian mentioned mining
industry, agriculture, assistance to development of state-private
sector cooperation.

He agreed to the proposal to form a joint working group consisting
of representatives of interested ministries, departments, and the
bank. The working group is supposed to discuss these and other
possibilities of cooperation in a more detailed way and to present
practical proposals.