Author: Badalian Vardan

MUSIC REVIEW: THE GURDJIEFF FOLK INSTRUMENTS ENSEMBLE – MUSIC OF GEORGES I. GURDJIEFF
Greg Barbrick

Published: Oct 04, 2011 at 9:40 am

George Ivanovich Gurdjieff (1866-1949) was born in Armenia, and set
out to explore the mystery of human existence at a young age. His
search took him from Armenia, to the Middle East, Central Asia,
India, and North Africa. The folk music, sacreds, rituals, and dance
he absorbed on these travels would come to serve him well. Settling
down in the 1920s, Gurdjieff dictated some 300 melodies to his pupil
Thomas de Hartmann.

Gurdjieff’s most prolific writing period coincided during the biggest
upheavals of modern times, World Wars I and II. Drawing from a variety
of world religions, his constant quest was to find a way for man to
coexist in a peaceful manner. But maybe all of his writings were for
naught, because what he achieved musically seemed to render this goal
plausible by itself.

Nowhere can this be better heard than on The Gurdjieff Folk Instruments
Ensemble’s Music of Georges I. Gurdjieff. The thirteen-piece
ensemble is led by director Levon Eskenian, and play a wide variety
of non-traditional instruments. Although Gurdjieff’s music has been
recorded by various artists over the years, including Keith Jarrett’s
Sacred Hymns in 1980, most have been piano recitations.

The Music Of Georges I. Gurdjieff is much more “authentic” sounding
with the use of such traditional instruments as the duduk, blul, oud
canon, kamancha and others. All 17 tracks on this album are relatively
short, and work in a variety of capacities. For one, there is just
the pure enjoyment of hearing many of these ancient, soothing hymns,
chants, and songs played as they were meant to be played. There is
a “world music” element to this, but not in the pretentious manner
that term often connotes. Rather, the pieces are heard in a much more
organic way. You see, when Gurdjieff was traveling, he was memorizing
these tunes, then having them transcribed later. So none of these
ever feel like field recordings.

The second manner in which this Music can be heard is as a wonderful
accompaniment to the writings of Gurdjieff. While he loved music and
travel, the true quest for him was a spiritual one. It seems his hope
was to find either the “one true answer” or construct it out of the
various religions he studied.

In any case, he music he returned with, and has been recorded by
the Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble is fascinating, and a great
introduction to one of the true Renaissance men of the early twentieth
century.

Read more:

PACE, AZERI DELEGATION’S RIDICULOUS STATEMENTS UNWORTHY OF NOTICE – DAVID HARUTYUNYAN

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 4, 2011 – 20:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The head of Armenian delegation to PACE believes PACE
President and Azeri delegation to be ill founded in accusing Armenian
delegation of non -constructive approach. “Armenian Delegation to PACE
takes a constructive approach to the activities of PACE subcommittee
on Nagorno Karabakh and solution of current problems with Azerbaijani
delegation. Which renders accusations of Mevlut Cavusoglu and Azeri
delegation unfounded. Constructive approach is proved through actions,
rather than words,” David Harutyunyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

“Armenian delegation has no issues whatsoever with either Azeris or
PACE President,” Hautyunyan said, agreeing to opinions of confidential
agreement between Cavusoglu and Azeri delegation members as to Karabakh
subcommittee activities.

Commenting on Azeri delegation’s endless allegations of drug
trafficking on Artsakh territory, Hatutyunyan noted, “ridiculous
statements of the sort are not worthy of Armenian delegation’s
attention.”

OPPOSITION BLOC SAYS DIALOGUE WITH AUTHORITIES IS SENSELESS NOW

Tert.am
04.10.11

Coordinator of the opposition bloc Armenian National Congress (HAK)
has said the HAK considers resumption of the political dialogue with
representatives of the ruling coalition senseless.

Addressing supporters on Liberty Square, Levon Zurabyan said that the
alliance will resume the dialogue when the authorities will ask for it.

“Currently the HAK considers any dialogue with the authorities
senseless,” said Zurabyan.

“For the HAK the solution of the problems is people’s mobilization. As
for the dialogue, we will resume it, if are asked to do so, and then
we will decide whether or not to meet them halfway,” he added.

It comes after the HAK started a week of round-the-clock rallies on
Liberty Square in an attempt to make the ruling authorities satisfy
their demands of which the first is holding snap presidential and
parliamentary elections.

“We started this rally on September 30, and to tell you the truth,
this series of rallies has created a tense situation in Armenia.

Bearing this in mind, we offered a dialogue on the very first day …,”
said Zurabyan.

Zurabyan also criticized the proposal of the representatives of the
ruling coalition, who called on the HAK to end their “illegal action”
and then to sit down for dialogue.

“It is hard to imagine any larger absurd than this. With such
responsibility they are attempting to show that they are strong,”
said Zurabyan.

TVEL TO BE AWARDED LICENSE TO EXPORT NUCLEAR FUEL TO EUROPE AND ARMENIA

/ARKA/
October 4, 2011
Yerevan

YEREVAN, October 4. / ARKA /. The Russian Federal Service for Technical
and Export Control will award TVEL nuclear fuel producer (it is part
of Rosatom) the general licenses valid until 11 April 2016 for export
of nuclear fuel to Armenia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine,
Finland and Czech Republic, the government of the Russian Federation
said in a statement, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

Under the agreement, the license will be issued for exports of uranium
enriched with isotope uranium-235 (no more than 5%) in the form of
fresh reactor fuel.

TVEL produces nuclear fuel for pressurized water reactors (PWR-1000,
VVER-440, PWR, BWR), uranium-graphite (RBMK-1000, RBMK-1500, EGP-6,
CEFR), fast neutron reactors (BN-600), as well as for research and
vessel-mounted reactors.

VVER reactors are a series of pressurised water reactors originally
developed by the Soviet Union, and now Russia. Power output ranges
from 440 MWe to 1200 MWe with the latest Russian development of the
design. VVER power stations are used by Armenia, Bulgaria, China,
Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, India, Iran, Slovakia, Ukraine,
and the Russian Federation.

RPA MEMBER SUGGESTS SETTING UP MOBILE TOILETS FOR ANC SUPPORTERS

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 4, 2011 – 16:07 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
parliamentary group leader suggested Armenian National Congress (ANC)
opposition bloc to provide its supporters with chamber pots or set
up mobile toilets.

Galust Sahakyan called ANC complaints over the authorities’ closing
the nearby cafes and pay toilets ridiculous, noting, “one can’t the
people for own political gains, demanding them to live in tents without
providing proper sanitary conditions. It’s a clear sign of disrespect.”

During the September 30 rally, Ter-Petrossian announced 7-day-long
round-the-clock protest actions, with ANC supporters putting up tents
at Liberty Square.

HSBC BANK ARMENIA TO ANNOUNCE BEST TRADE CUSTOMERS

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 4, 2011 – 18:41 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – On October 6, HSBC Bank Armenia cjsc will hold
its second Trade Award official ceremony and announce its Best Trade
Customers of 2010.

Five customers will each receive Trade Award Certificates and
symbolic promotional gifts from Astrid Clifford, HSBC Bank Armenia
Chief Executive Officer. Awards will be granted in the following
categories: Best Trade Customer – International Trade Award; Best
Trade Customer – Innovation Trade Award; Best Trade Customer – Best
Newcomer Trade Award; Best Trade Customer – CEO’s Special Award;
Best Trade Customer – Grand Prix.

The bank continuously puts special emphasis on development and
introduction of innovative Trade Finance solutions to enable local
companies make a shift from traditional financing instruments to more
comprehensive and beneficial solutions. For Armenia it is vital to
encourage and support country’s import and export businesses.

“The key objectives for HSBC Trade Finance are providing high quality
services with lesser expenses. Trade and Supply Chain remains at
the core of HSBC Business across the globe, and Armenia is very well
positioned to contribute in further success of the Group. We assess
the Bank’s 40% trade finance market share as a high result, but we
will not stop there. In fact, we are interested in every business that
crosses the borders of Armenia,” HSBC Bank Armenia Chief Executive
Officer Astrid Clifford said.

In line with the strategy of positioning HSBC as the best bank for
international business, this year due to HSBC’s presence in Armenia,
40 of the bank’s customers were provided with the opportunity
to participate in the European Business Awards and 3 have been
recognized as winners and awarded with a ‘Ruban d’Honneur’ prize
under the category “The Chairman’s Selection”.

HSBC Armenia clients also had the chance to participate in a pan
European “Trade Connection” event in Shanghai in June with one
customer, and in the “Trade Summit” event to be held next week in
Hamburg with 2 customers, HSBC press service reported.

NABIH BERRI: THE ARMENIAN COMMUNITY OF LEBANON IS A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES
Lusine Vasilyan

“Radiolur”
04.10.2011 17:02

Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri addressed the Armenian
National Assembly today. In his speech he dwelt on regional issues
and Armenian-Lebanese relations.

“There is a human bridge between the two countries in the face of
the Armenian community of Lebanon,” Nabih Berri said in his address
to Armenian MPs. According to him, the trade and economic relations
between the two countries yield to the level of political relations.

Touching upon regional issues, the Lebanese Parliament Speaker said
“Turkey’s policy of “zero problem with neighbors” demands concessions
from everyone” and added that he would like Turkey to hurry up to
ratify the protocols. According to him, “it’s in the interest of the
Arab World to see the pages of all kinds of disagreement closed.”

Speaking about the problems of the Middle East, the Speaker warned
against inciting sectarian strife in Syria as this would have a
negative impact on the region. “All sides should have an interest
in making Syria a model country for the Middle East through the
establishment of a modern democratic system there that can confront
Israel and provide the necessary balance to achieve fair and
comprehensive peace in the region,” he stressed.

Berri said his country has a great historical experience, which
allows to resist any international provocation and not to return to
imperialism and colonial rule. “This experience allows us to withstand
the programs of NATO and Israel aimed at establishing supremacy in
the region,” he said.

TURKEY TO HOLD MILITARY EXERCISE NEAR SYRIAN BORDER

PanARMENIAN.Net
October 4, 2011 – 17:48 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – Turkey’s military will conduct an exercise in the
southern province of Hatay, where more than 7,000 Syrians have taken
refuge from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s security forces.

The October 5-13 “mobilization” exercise, announced on the military’s
website on Tuesday, October 4, may coincide with a visit that Prime
Minister Tayyip Erdogan is expected to make to refugee camps in Hatay
after he returns from South Africa this week.

The army said the exercise would involve the 39th mechanized infantry
brigade and 730 reserve soldiers, Reuters reported.

Turkey’s once-close relations with Syria have soured as Erdogan has
fiercely criticized Assad’s crackdown on protesters, urging him to
end the bloodshed and enact reforms.

Syria has a longstanding territorial claim to Hatay province, but had
put this on the back burner in recent years, when Erdogan and Assad
cultivated close ties.

Erdogan said last month that Assad would be ousted by his people
“sooner or later” and warned that Syria could slide into a sectarian
civil war between Alawites and Sunnis.

Most Syrians, like most Turks, are Sunni Muslims, while Assad is from
the minority Alawite Muslim sect.

Ankara, which has already imposed an arms embargo, has said it is
preparing further sanctions against the Syrian government.

The Hatay exercise may revive speculation, denied by officials, that
Turkey plans to create a buffer zone in Syria to protect civilians
and prevent a flood of refugees to Turkey.

UCOM AND ICON UNITE

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 4, 2011
YEREVAN

Ucom and iCON Communications companies will unite in the sphere of
providing wire and wireless internet services. It was stated today by
the directors of Ucom and iCON Hayk Yesayan and Raffi Kasarjyan. They
refused to disclose the cost of the deal.

Ucom is known for providing services via fiber-optic cable and iCON
Communications is among the leaders in Armenia in the WIMAX – wireless
internet sphere.

The directors explained that they do not publicize the cost of the deal
because of the wish of “shareholders from outside”. Raffi Kasarjyan
pointed out that the chief shareholder of iCON Communications is a
company registered in the United Arab Emirates. As a result of the
deal director of iCON leaves his post because the 100% of the shares
of the company will pass to Ucom.

Earlier, at another joint news conference it was declared that Ucom
has acquired Netsys company.

CZECH FM: OPENING OF THE ARMENIAN EMBASSY IN CZECHIA TO SERVE AS IMPORTANT IMPETUS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BILATERAL TIES

ARMENPRESS
OCTOBER 4, 2011
YEREVAN

Armenian Ambassador to the Czech Republic Tigran Seyranyan met with
First Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic
Karel Schwarzenberg. The latter congratulated Ambassador Seyranyan
on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence,
voicing hope that the opening of the Armenian Embassy in Czechia would
serve as an important impetus for the development of bilateral ties.

MFA Press office reported that a wide range of issues related to
the political, economic and cultural relations was discussed. Karel
Schwarzenberg specially emphasized the perspectives of development
of ties in the fields of culture and nuclear energy.

With the request of the Czech Foreign Minister, Ambassador Seyranyan
presented Armenia’s position on the recent developments in the region.

Reference was made to the negotiations on the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict, particularly the Kazan meeting, which failed to make
a breakthrough because Azerbaijan was not ready to accept the final
version of the basic principles proposed by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Tigran Seyranyan said Armenia remains committed to the settlement of
the conflict exceptionally in a peaceful way, but at the same time
it is ready to impose peace on Azerbaijan in case the latter launches
a new military adventurism.