Author: Antonian Lara

Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian, In Fine Form
by Tim Page, Washington Post Staff Writer
The Washington Post
March 7, 2005 Monday
Final Edition
Isabel Bayrakdarian has a high, bright soprano voice that she employs
with a lithe and winning energy; her Friday night recital at the
Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, sponsored by the Vocal Arts Society,
had much to commend it.
The Armenian Canadian’s program began with Manuel de Falla’s
“Seven Popular Spanish Songs” — a favorite offering of the late
Spanish soprano Victoria de los Angeles, who died earlier this year.
Bayrakdarian brought a nice variety of mood to these simple, sturdy
pieces: “Jota” stole the show, as it usually does, with its exciting
reiterations that ebb and flow in volume and intensity as the song
progresses.
Samuel Barber assembled his “Hermit Songs” from poems, diary entries
and marginalia dating from the 8th through the 13th centuries.
Bayrakdarian sang with a minimum of vibrato (indeed, at times her voice
sounded almost boyish, befitting the monastic origin of the texts)
and a keen attention to emotional nuance. Barber was not necessarily
a great composer, but he was, most likely, the most immaculate of
American musical craftsmen. Every note in his work is there for a
reason, and some of the “Hermit Songs” have the concentrated intensity
of haiku. Bayrakdarian managed to give each song its individual due,
while working it into a larger totality.
A selection of songs by Rossini (including the familiar “La Danza”)
followed intermission and — for this listener, at least — provided
the evening’s greatest pleasures. The music is wonderful — warm,
inventive, full of humor and pathos — and Bayrakdarian gave it her
all, with teasing wit and expansive lyricism.
Thereafter, the evening’s uncommonly sensitive pianist, Warren Jones,
played a selection from Liszt’s “Annees de Pelerinage.” Jones has
exactly the right approach for Liszt, who can so easily sound windy,
rhetorical and pretentious. Instead, Jones simply sat down and let
the music happen, as if he were relaying an anecdote in the most
direct and straightforward language. Rarely has this composer seemed
so friendly and confidential.
Bayrakdarian then took the stage to close the evening with a selection
of four songs by Tchaikovsky — beautiful music, sung with abundant
feeling. My only general complaint about her work on Friday would be
that she seemed to overcompensate for a voice that is not naturally
very large by singing quite loudly — too loudly, on occasion, for
the intimacy of the Terrace Theater. Still, she is an artist and
deserves her following.

KurdistanObserver.com
The Most Distinguish Characteristic of Modern Turkish Nationalism:
Denial of Reality, Xenophobia, Racism, and Anti-Semitism
By: Amed Demirhan
Mar 7, 2005
The people in Turkey from elementary school and on are indoctrinated with
denial of historical realities and socio-ethnographical and cultural
diversity in their country. All form of mass media daily reinforces this
abnormality, and any one that questions this, will become subject of the
witch-hunt. When, one listens to mainstream Turkish politician and `educated
class’ one wonders if they are from the plant of Earth or somewhere else?
The recent debate in Turkey is a typical example of this abnormalities: the
government foreign policy; the mass medias which hunts against writer Orhan
Pamuk statement in regards to Armenian genocide and crime against Kurds, and
the Ministry of environment and forest changing name of wild animals just to
exclude words Kurdistan and Armenian, and the increase in Anti-Semitism are
typical characteristics of modern Turkish nationalism. This type of
nationalism as evidenced in many historical examples is harmful to every one
including the nation it advocate for, therefore, standing against current
Turkish nationalism is as important as standing against Nazism, Stalinism,
Saddams’ Regime and Bathism. It is in the best interest of Turkish people to
be liberated from this illness.
The government of Turkey still refuses to call Bath’sist (Sunni-Hanafi) and
Islamic Fascist in central Iraq terrorist. In the past many time Turkey had
strongly protested United States lead freedom forces victory in the city of
Falluga and Tell Afar, in Iraq, but until now it never protested terrorist
attacks against civilian in Iraq. At the same time it had characterized
Israel’s shelve defense acts against terrorist Islam-I Jihad organization as
state terrorism. Recently a Turkish news portal `Haber X (3/2/050) reported
that about 400 Turks are fighting against the USA lead freedom forces in
Iraq with terrorist leader Al-Zarkavi. It noted that these fighters are
veterans from Bosnian war against Serbia. This indicates that Turkish
government knows who are these `Turkish – Islamic’ fighters because almost
all of those fighters that went to Bosnia, Chechnya, and in the past to
Afghanistan went via Turkish intelligence services. In addition, in March
first of this year 200 Turkish `intellectuals’: journalists, professors,
writers, and some `civic’ organization representative visited Syria to show
their solidarity with Syrian dictatorship against Western pressure and the
United Nation request for Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon. Most of these 200
people are closely related to the state (its hard to call them civilian).
March 1, is significant, it is the day Turkish Parliament under Turkish
military pressure refused to let the USA lead forces go through Turkey and
open a second front against Saddams regime. This indicate that Turkish
regime is the most anti-Westernization and democratization of the Middle
East because it sees freedom as a treat to its regime.
One may expect a Turkey that had received a negotiation date from European
Union (EU) may act little better internally but looking in a recent debate
it is doubtful and domestic policy like its foreign policy is
anti-democratic. Last week one of the most famous Turkish writers Orhan
Pamuk in an interview stated, that One million Armenian and 30,000 Kurds had
been victim of the state (Turkish state). About 90% of media commentators
started a lynching company against the author and political organization
like infamous `Gray Wolfe’ movement send death treat to the author. In fact
Mr. Pamuk’s statement could have been subject of a serious debate and his
statement is very questionable because more than one million Armenian and
Assurian/Keldan have been killed and the number of Kurds have been killed
since foundation of the Turkish republic is very high and millions were
deported from their homes. This shows how much free debate is possible in
Turkey that prepares to join to EU?
The republic of Turkey prohibited every thing that wasn’t Turkish in
historic multinational and cultural diverse geography and named them in
Turkish from beginning. Apparently they have forgotten few wild animals name
like: “Vulpes Vulpes Kürdistanicum’ (A fox in Kurdistan area) and `Ovis
Armeniana’ (wild sheep in old Armenia) in their scientific classification.
The ministry of environment and forest acted right away on this discovery
and changed their name to Turkish. ( 3/5/05). I wonder
if any one knows or heard this kind of xenophobia, racism and hatred
anywhere? Even Sheep and Foxes cannot be Armenian or Kurdistani? The modern
Turkish nationalism is founded of the denial of reality and has been
indoctrinating its population in this denial and hatred on any thing that is
not Turkish. This is fundamental problem for every one who has to deal with
Turkish regime. Despite every thing the official doctrine is totally
bankrupted and regime is very weak. Change of regime is unavoidable in
Turkey and its necessary.
Amed Demirhan
e-mail: [email protected]
Florida, USA

OSCE mission submits its Armenian resettlement report to Azeri minister
ANS Radio, Baku
2 Mar 05
The OSCE fact-finding mission which looked into whether Armenians were
illegally settling in Azerbaijani occupied territories has submitted
its final report to Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov at
a meeting with the fact-finding mission and the OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairmen in Prague.
Foreign Minister Mammadyarov said that he familiarized himself with
the report fully. But it was decided not to disclose the details until
16 March. To recap, the report by the OSCE’s fact-finding mission will
be submitted to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen and the OSCE standing
council in Vienna on that day.
Mammadyarov was to hold the next round of consultations with his
Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanyan today. But the meeting was put
off due to the Armenian minister’s problems with health. The meeting
will take place in France tomorrow [4 March].

`THE BLOOD-THIRSTY NATURE OF THE AZERBAIJANIS HAS NOT CHANGED’
A1+
25-02-2005
A number of Armenian youth-student organizations have today called the
world society with a letter to give a proper evaluation to the
Sumgayit genocide, massacre acts against Armenians in other
territories of Azerbaijan and to respect the right of sovereignty of
the Artsakh people.
`The first expression of the hateful character of the Azerbaijanis was
the genocide in the city of Sumgayit, which caused tens of victim,
while thousands became invalid or refugee. The only guilt of the
victims was that they were Armenians.
Supported by the inactivity of the Soviet totalitarian regime and the
atmosphere of unpanishability, the Azerbaijanis continued their
massacre-organization actions in Baku and Gandzak, unleashing a real
war against the Arstakh people. Unable to suppress the combat for
independence of the Artsakh people, today the criminal tries to wear
the mask of a victim, violating the historic facts, and speaking about
anti-Azerbaijani violations which have never taken place.
in 2004 in Budapest the Azerbaijani officer Ramil Safarov killed the
Armenian officer Gourgen Margaryan, which testifies to the fact that
the blood-thirsty nature of the Azerbaijanis has not changed’.
This document has been adopted in the round table and exhibition of
photos organized in connection with the anniversary of the 1988
Sumgayit massacres. It was organized by the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation `Nikol Ahgbalyan’ student union, Analytic center `Sense’
and the Nork House of Armenians

Armenian official, NATO envoy discuss Individual Partnership Programme
Arminfo
24 Feb 05
YEREVAN
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Tatul Markaryan and the special
representative of the NATO secretary-general in the South Caucasus and
Central Asia, Robert Simmons, discussed the prospects for the
development of relations between Armenia and NATO in Yerevan today.
Simmons is also NATO’s deputy secretary-general for security
cooperation and partnership, the public relations department of the
Armenian Foreign Ministry has told Arminfo. Simmons’s visit is mainly
factfinding, during which he intends to familiarize himself in more
detail with the current problems, to report on his activities and to
introduce NATO’s newly-appointed communications officer, Romualds
Razuks, to the Armenian leadership.
During the meeting, the Armenian deputy foreign minister and the
special representative of the NATO secretary-general discussed spheres
which are a priority for Armenia in the context of cooperation with
NATO on the Individual Partnership Programme. The sides also discussed
the work that NATO’s communications officer will carry out in Armenia
and a number of organizational issues.
The NATO delegation led by Robert Simmons will leave Armenia tonight.

Broadway.com, NY
Feb 23 2005
Zorich and Metwally to Star in Beast on the Moon at the Century
Center
by Broadway.com Staff
Richard Kalinoski’s Beast on the Moon is coming to New York’s Century
Center for the Performing Arts. The drama, starring Tony-nominated
actors Louis Zorich and Omar Metwally, is set to begin performances
off-Broadway on April 12, according to The New York Times.
In Beast on the Moon, an Armenian mail-order bride comes to Milwaukee
to begin a life with her new husband, Aram (Zorich). However, both
are tormented by the Armenian genocide. He desperately wants a large
family, but she is barren from the years of torture and starvation
she endured. Then a young stranger (Metwally) enters their lives and
changes them forever.
Beast on the Moon, directed by Larry Moss, will officially open on
April 27.

European Report
February 23, 2005
EU/ARMENIA: OFFICIALS MEET FOR EXPLORATORY TALKS ON PARTNERSHIP
For the first time high-ranking Armenian officials met
representatives from EU institutions and civil society in Brussels on
February 21 for a round table discussion of a future European
Neighbourhood Policy for Armenia.
In July 2004, the EU’s Council of Ministers endorsed the inclusion of
Armenia in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), based on a
recommendation of the European Commission. Along with Armenia, two
other Southern Caucasus countries were invited into the ENP:
Azerbaijan and Georgia. This instable region was identified by the
EU’s December 2003 European Security Strategy for close monitoring by
the EU. The ENP objective is to share the benefits of the enlarged EU
with its neighbouring countries but distinct from full EU membership,
thus avoiding hard political and economic divisions across the
continent. Transformations for Armenia involve economic integration,
political cooperation and societal reforms.
Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia all have so-called Partnership and
Cooperation Agreements (PCAs) with the EU. But offering them ENP
status will mean a significantly enhanced partnership with the EU.
The Commission will prepare country reports to be presented to the
European Council in spring 2005. Armenia’s report is being developed
and due by mid-March. The reports will, in turn, eventually lead to
an action plan for each country, tailored to fit its needs and
interests for a three-to-five year period.
How far are the partners willing to go?
The outcome of the round table couldn’t have been clearer about
Armenia’s part. “Entering the ENP is very valuable to us,” said Armen
Baiburdian, deputy foreign minister of Armenia. He added: “The aim is
to bring Armenia to a European-level developed country, with EU
institutions and EU values…to join the EU family.” He stressed the
progress Armenia has made since 1999, when Armenia signed its
European Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). The latter is a
first-stage relationship between the EU and Eastern Europe and
Central Asia.
In Armenia, 24 working groups have been set up to comply to PCA
implementation along with the appointment and training of around 150
government officials with the support the EU-funded project know as
AEPLAC.
Alona Bruce, deputy to the director of the Open Society Institute in
Brussels, emphasised the value of civil society’s contribution to the
EU’s country reports and action plans. Michael Emerson, senior
research fellow at the Brussels-based Centre for European Policy
Studies welcomed Armenia’s future ENP, but said the country still has
a number of standards to reach. These concern conflict resolution
with Azerbaijan; economic, social and judicial transformations; and
better communication with Armenia’s neighbours of Turkey, Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Russia. Regarding Armenia’s economy, for instance, Daniel
Gros, CEPS’ director, said the country’s exports to the EU are still
very low – only 10 % of its gross domestic product.

Daily Bruin – View Point
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Remembering Armenian Genocide admirable, not hateful
Students working to spread awareness provide opportunities for valuable
dialogue
By Paul Von Blum
Like many others in the UCLA community, I was distressed to read Fatma
Asli Velieceoglu’s submission to the Daily Bruin misleadingly titled
“Armenian propaganda against Turkey untrue, divisive” (Feb. 10). Her
allegation that Armenians have engaged in a campaign of hatred against
Turkey utterly contradicts my experience as a teacher at UCLA for the
past 25 years.
During that time, I have had the pleasure of having hundreds of students
of Armenian heritage here. My contact with these intellectually and
morally engaged young men and women has been a highlight of my academic
career.
One major reason is that all of them have been passionately concerned
about Turkey’s shameful denial of the Armenia Genocide almost 90 years
ago. Their focus has properly been on educating their fellow students
about one of the most horrific eras of 20th-century history.
In all of my conversations with Armenian American students and others,
with no exceptions whatever, I have heard no expression of hatred toward
Turks or anyone else. Their sole focus has been on demanding that Turkey
acknowledge its historical accountability for the mass murders of
Armenians.
I join my Armenian brothers and sisters in working against genocide
denial. As the son of a Holocaust survivor, I feel an enduring
solidarity with all people whose lives have been shattered by both
genocide and its progeny, the cynical refusal to acknowledge historical
responsibility.
We live in an era where countless thousands of human beings were
slaughtered in Cambodia and Rwanda and presently in Sudan. Velieceoglu
should take advantage of her educational opportunity at UCLA to learn
about the sorry historical legacy of the 20th and early 21st centuries,
including her own government’s continuing refusal to acknowledge its
past.
Genocide deniers might begin by engaging in thoughtful dialogue with
many of the students Velieceoglu foolishly maligned in her Daily Bruin
submission.
————————————————————————
Von Blum is a professor of African American studies and communication
studies.

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:
WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
CALLS FOR THE RECOGNITION OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Meeting in Geneva, the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches
called for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The statement says:
“Sunday April 24, 2005 will be the 90 years Commemoration of the Armenian
Genocide, the tragic massacre of one-and-a-half million Armenians in Turkey
and the deportation of another million from their homeland.
The world Council of Churches has on different occasions addressed the need
for public recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the necessity of Turkey
to deal with this dark part of its history. The importance of Turkey
evaluating its history has recently also been addressed by the Conference of
European Churches relating to Turkey’s relation to the European Union.
>From the Christian perspective, the path towards justice and reconciliation
requires the recognition of the crime committed as a sine qua non condition
for the healing of memories and the possibility of forgiveness. Forgiveness
does not mean forgetting but to look back with the intention to restore
justice, the respect for Human Rights and relationships between perpetrators
and victims.
The Public Committee recommends to the General Secretary and the staff, to
propose to all member churches to make Sunday April 24 a day of memorial of
the Armenian Genocide and to consider further appropriate actions related to
the 90 years Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
In a different statement on the International Criminal Court, the Central
Committee said:
“Human History is filled with examples of horrendous cruelties, aggressions
and inhumanities. In just 20th Century there are four recognized genocides –
90 years ago the Armenian genocide, 60 years ago the Holocaust, nearly 30
years ago the Khmer Rouge and the most recent genocide in Rwanda, a little
more than 10 years ago. There were very different ways of addressing these
horrific crimes: there was no consequence for the Armenian genocide, the
victors justice in the Nuremberg trail for the Nazi war criminals, a failed
local response with UN support to the Khmer Rouge and the ad-hoc
International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda”.
It also called to “address issues such as impunity and accountability” to
prevent future crimes against humanity.
164 voting members are participating in this meeting of the Central
Committee together with more than 100 advisors, consultants and
representatives from Vatican and International Organisations. His Holiness
Aram I Catholicos of Cilicia is the Moderator of the Central Committee since
1991.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission 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.

JOHN EVANS: ARMENIA MOVING IN CORRECT DIRECTION AND HAS MADE
CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS
PanArmenian News
Feb 19 2005
19.02.2005 14:42
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The US mission in Armenia lies in contributing to
establishment of stability and peace in the South Caucasus, as well
as restoration of economy and strengthening democratic institutions,
stated US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans. In his words, there
were both victories and failure on the way of attaining these goals.
“Armenia is moving in a correct direction and has made considerable
progress already. It is necessary to be patient and stubborn at the
same time,” the Ambassador noted.