Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

NATIONAL CHOREOGRAPHY DEGRADES TODAY, SPECIALISTS EMPHASIZE

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The March 10 discussion at the
“Hayeli” (Mirror) club was dedicated to the current problems and
further fate of the Armenian choreography. The discussion was held
with participation of Zemfira Yeritsian, professor of Choreography
Chair of Yerevan State Institute of Theater and Cinema, and Albert
Kizirian, Head of Choreography Chair of Yereven Pedagogical University
Culture Faculty.

The discussion participants touched upon the current condition of
national choreography stating that it is gradually degrading giving up
its place to the choreography of oriental peoples. They are convinced
that the Ministry of Culture has no exact state policy for the
regulation of this issue, as a result of which “we have the current
situation”.

Albert Kizirian said that the folklore of each people is the basis of
its choreography. Meanwhile, he is convinced that having folklore in
the basis of choreography, nevertheless, today we should also take
into consideration the requirements and dictates of time in this
sphere of art.

According to Zemfira Yeritsian, the current choreography figures,
performers and producers have lost not only the Armenian traditional
dancing elements but also a very important thing – the fire of the
soul. “They dance without any fire, without feelings, without a
dialogue with the spectators, which has made the national dance simple
and non-attractive,” the former solo dancer considers.
From: Baghdasarian

The World’s Billionaires

Billionaire Bacchanalia
Edited by Luisa Kroll and Allison Fass 03.27.06
Nearly two-thirds of the planet’s very richest people are self-made.

Canadian playboy Calvin Ayre went down to Costa Rica a decade ago and began
taking illegal bets over the Internet. Now he’s worth $1 billion. Making a
billion just isn’t what it used to be. In its inaugural ranking ofthe world’s
richest people 20 years ago FORBES uncovered some 140 billionaires. Just
three years ago we found 476. This year the list is a record 793, up 102 from
last year. They’re worth a combined $2.6 trillion, up 18% since last March.
Their average net worth: $3.3 billion.

Strong stock markets around the world (the U.S. being the notable exception)
contributed to this surge in wealth. India, whose BSE SENSEX market was up
54% in the past 12 months, is home to 10 new billionaires, more than any other
country besides the U.S.

Notable newcomers include Tulsi Tanti, a former textile trader whose
alternative energy company owns Asia’s largest windfarm; Vijay Mallya, the liquor
tycoon behind Kingfisher beer; Kushal Pal Singh, India’s biggest real estate
developer; and Anurag Dikshit (pronounced `dix-sit’), another online gaming
mogul, who made his fortune when he and two Americans took their PartyGaming
poker company public in London last June.
Russia, whose RTS stock exchange was up 108%, benefited from strong gains in
commodities prices. The surge swelled the fortunes of its 33 billionaires,
including 7 newcomers who join the list. China now has 8 billionaires, four
times as many as last year. The U.S. is home to 44 new billionaires and
commands nearly half of the fortunes on the roster.

Bill Gates retains his title as the world’s richest person for the
twelfth
straight year, proving that while it’s getting easier to make a billion, the
same can’t be said for making $50 billion.
Twelve people return to the list. Thirty-nine people depart from it. Seven
fortunes were broken up among family members, usually siblings, adding 15
individuals to the ranks. Seventy-eight women make the list, 10 more than last
year, though only 6 are self-made. Hind Hariri, daughter of slain Lebanese
prime minister Rafik Hariri, who is eight months younger than Germany=80=99s Prince
Albert von Thurn und Taxis, is, at 22, the list’s youngest member.

#53 Kirk Kerkorian
Age: 88
Fortune: self made
Source: Investments, casinos

Net Worth: 8.7

Country Of Citizenship: United States
Residence: Los Angeles, California, United States, North America
Industry: Investments
Marital Status: divorced, 2 children

High School, Diploma

Low-key investor with eighth-grade education scored big with $7.9 billion
takeover of Mandalay Bay Resorts in 2004. MGM Mirage now owns more than half
the hotel rooms on the Las Vegas Strip, but stock down 14% since July. Born in
Fresno to Armenian immigrants, flew planes across Atlantic during World War
II. First fortune: selling Trans International Airlines for $104 million
profit in the 1960s. Invested proceeds in Sin City: acquired Flamingo hotel 1967,
built International hotel 1969. Sold both properties to Hilton Hotels in
1970. Built first MGM Grand (now Bally’s), opened second incarnation 1993.

Took over Steve Wynn’s (see) Mirage Resorts in $6.4 billion buyout 2000.
Longtime romance with MGM movie studio now over: 3-time studio owner closed$5
billion deal with Sony, 3 private-equity firms and cable giant Comcast last
April; netted $1.8 billion. Former DaimlerChrysler shareholder now buying up
General Motors stock; owns 10% stake, value down $650 million since September.
Tennis junkie, said to play every day.

REPORTED BY Cristina von Zeppelin, Tatiana Serafin, Suzanne Hoppough, Kiyoe
Minami, Helen Coster, Kerry A. Dolan, Russell Flannery, Evan Hessel, Megan
Johnston, Matthew Miller, Matthew Swibel.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY Kiri Blakeley, Justin Doebele, Chandrani Ghosh, Lea
Goldman, Naazneen Karmali, Maxim Kashulinsky,
Josephine Lee, Forbes Russia, Nathan Vardi, Kirill Vishnepolsky, Chaniga
Vorasarun.
RESEARCH BY Phyllis Berman, Heidi Brown, Tomas Kellner, Ritu Kalra, Susan
Kitchens, Deborah Orr, Forbes Poland, Forbes Turkey.
PHOTO EDITOR Gail Toivanen.
DATABASE Mitchel Rand.

Forbes.com Inc.=84¢
From: Baghdasarian

3/10/06
What Really Happed to the Shah of Iran
By _Ernst Schroeder_ (mailto:[email protected])

My name is Ernst Schroeder, and since I have some Iranian friends from
school and review your online magazine occasionally, I thought I’d
pass onthe following three page quote from a book I read a few months
ago entitled, “_A Century Of War : Anglo-American Oil Politics and the
New World Order_
( 532309X/netnative) “, which
was written by William Engdahl, a German historianm . This is a book
about how oil and politics have been intertwined for the past 100
years.

I submit the below passage for direct publishing on your website, as I
think the quote will prove to be significant for anyone of Persian
descent.

“In November 1978, President Carter named the Bilderberg group’s
George Ball, another member of the Trilateral Commission, to head a
special WhiteHouse Iran task force under the National Security
Council’s Brzezinski. Ball recommended that Washington drop support
for the Shah of Iran and support the fundamentalistic Islamic
opposition of Ayatollah Khomeini. Robert Bowie from the CIA was one
of the lead ‘case officers’ in the new CIA-led coup against the man
their covert actions had placed into power 25 years earlier.

Their scheme was based on a detailed study of the phenomenon of
Islamic fundamentalism, as presented by British Islamic expert,
Dr. Bernard Lewis,then on assignment at Princeton University in the
United States. Lewis’s scheme, which was unveiled at the May 1979
Bilderberg meeting in Austria, endorsed the radical Muslim Brotherhood
movement behind Khomeini, in order to promote balkanization of the
entire Muslim Near East along tribal and religious lines.

Lewis argued that the West should encourage autonomous groups such as
the Kurds, Armenians, Lebanese Maronites, Ethiopian Copts, Azerbaijani
Turks, and so forth. The chaos would spread in what he termed an ‘Arc
of Crisis,’ which would spill over into Muslim regions of the Soviet
Union.

The coup against the Shah, like that against Mossadegh in 1953, was
run by British and American intelligence, with the bombastic American,
Brzezinski, taking public ‘credit’ for getting rid of the ‘corrupt’
Shah, while the British characteristically remained safely in the
background.

During 1978, negotiations were under way between the Shah’s government
and British Petroleum for renewal of the 25-year old extraction
agreement. By October 1978, the talks had collapsed over a British
‘offer’ which demanded exclusive rights to Iran’s future oil output,
while refusing to guarantee purchase of the oil. With their
dependence on British-controlled export apparently at an end, Iran
appeared on the verge of independence in its oil sales policy for the
first time since 1953, with eager prospective buyers in Germany,
France, Japan and elsewhere. In its lead editorial that September,
Iran’s Kayhan International stated:

In retrospect, the 25-year partnership with the [British Petroleum]
consortium and the 50-year relationship with British Petroleum which
preceded it, have not been satisfactory ones for Iran =80¦ Looking to
the future, NIOC [National Iranian Oil Company] should plan to handle
all operations by itself.

London was blackmailing and putting enormous economic pressure on the
Shah’s regime by refusing to buy Iranian oil production, taking only 3
million or so barrels daily of an agreed minimum of 5 million barrels
per day. This imposed dramatic revenue pressures on Iran, which
provided the context inwhich religious discontent against the Shah
could be fanned by trained agitators deployed by British and
U.S. intelligence. In addition, strikes among oil workers at this
critical juncture crippled Iranian oil production.

As Iran’s domestic economic troubles grew, American ‘security’
advisers to the Shah’s Savak secret police implemented a policy of
ever more brutal repression, in a manner calculated to maximize
popular antipathy to the Shah. At the same time, the Carter
administration cynically began protesting abusesof ‘human rights’
under the Shah.

British Petroleum reportedly began to organize capital flight out of
Iran, through its strong influence in Iran’s financial and banking
community. The British Broadcasting Corporation’s Persian-language
broadcasts, with dozens of Persian-speaking BBC ‘correspondents’ sent
into even the smallest village, drummed up hysteria against the Shah.
The BBC gave Ayatollah Khomeini a full propaganda platform inside Iran
during this time. The British government-owned broadcasting
organization refused to give the Shah’s government an equal chance to
reply. Repeated personal appeals from the Shah to the BBC yielded no
result. Anglo-American intelligence was committed to toppling the
Shah.

The Shah fled in January, and by February 1979, Khomeini had been
flown into Tehran to proclaim the establishment of his repressive
theocratic state to replace the Shah’s government.

Reflecting on his downfall months later, shortly before his death, the
Shah noted from exile,

I did not know it then – perhaps I did not want to know – but it is
clear to me now that the Americans wanted me out. Clearly this is
what the human rights advocates in the State Department wanted =80¦
What was I to make of the Administration’s sudden decision to call
former Under Secretary of State George Ball to the White House as an
adviser on Iran? =80¦ Ball was among those Americans who wanted to
abandon me and ultimately my country._[1]_
( 1090.html#_ftn1) [1]

With the fall of the Shah and the coming to power of the fanatical
Khomeini adherents in Iran, chaos was unleashed. By May 1979, the new
Khomeini regime had singled out the country’s nuclear power
development plans and announced cancellation of the entire program for
French and German nuclear reactor construction.

Iran’s oil exports to the world were suddenly cut off, some 3 million
barrels per day. Curiously, Saudi Arabian production in the critical
daysof January 1979 was also cut by some 2 million barrels per day.
To add to the pressures on world oil supply, British Petroleum
declared force majeure and cancelled major contracts for oil supply.
Prices on the Rotterdam spot market, heavily influenced by BP and
Royal Cutch Shell as the largest oil traders, soared in early 1979 as
a result. The second oil shock of the 1970s was fully under way.

Indications are that the actual planners of the Iranian Khomeini coup
in London and within the senior ranks of the U.S. liberal
establishment decided to keep President Carter largely ignorant of the
policy and its ultimate objectives. The ensuing energy crisis in the
United States was a major factor in bringing about Carter’s defeat a
year later.

There was never a real shortage in the world supply of petroleum.
Existing Saudi and Kuwaiti production capacities could at any time
have met the 5-6 million barrels per day temporary shortfall, as a
U.S. congressional investigation by the General Accounting Office
months later confirmed.

Unusually low reserve stocks of oil held by the Seven Sisters oil
multinationals contributed to creating a devastating world oil price
shock, with prices for crude oil soaring from a level of some $14 per
barrel in 1978 towards the astronomical heights of $40 per barrel for
some grades of crude on the spot market. Long gasoline lines across
America contributed to a general sense of panic, and Carter energy
secretary and former CIA director, James R.

Schlesinger, did not help calm matters when he told Congress and the
mediain February 1979 that the Iranian oil shortfall was
‘prospectively more serious’ than the 1973 Arab oil embargo._[2]_
( 1090.html#_ftn2) [2]

The Carter administration’s Trilateral Commission foreign policy
further ensured that any European effort from Germany and France to
develop more cooperative trade, economic and diplomatic relations with
their Soviet neighbor, under the umbrella of détente and various
Soviet-west European energy agreements, was also thrown into disarray.

Carter’s security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, and secretary of
state, Cyrus Vance, implemented their ‘Arc of Crisis’ policy,
spreading the instability of the Iranian revolution throughout the
perimeter around the Soviet Union.

Throughout the Islamic perimeter from Pakistan to Iran,
U.S. initiatives created instability or worse.”

— William Engdahl, A Century of War: Anglo-American Oil Politics and
the New World Order, © 1992, 2004. Pluto Press Ltd. Pages 171-174.

_[1]_ ( ref1) [1] In
1978, the Iranian Ettelaat published an article accusing Khomeini of
being a British agent. The clerics organized violent demonstrations
in response, which led to the flight of the Shah months later. See
U.S. Library of Congress Country Studies, Iran. The Coming of the
Revolution. December 1987. The role of BBC Persian broadcasts in the
ousting of the Shah is detailed in Hossein Shahidi. ‘BBC Persian
Service 60 years on.’ The Iranian. September 24, 2001.

The BBC was so much identified with Khomeini that it won the name
‘Ayatollah BBC.’

_[2]_ ( ref2) [2]
Comptroller General of the United States. ‘Iranian Oil Cutoff:
Reduced Petroleum Supplies and Inadequate U.S. Government Response.’
Report to Congress by General Accounting Office. 1979.
From: Baghdasarian

Regnum, Russia –
March 12 2006

Taleh Ziyadov: What is next in the Karabakh Peace Process?

In Paris last month, another round of negotiations between Armenia
and Azerbaijan attempting to resolve the eighteen years old Karabakh
conflict ended with no results. The OSCE Minsk group mediators from
France, Russia and the United States watched quietly as Armenia’s
President Robert Kocharyan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev
tried and failed to agree on a framework document, which was supposed
to be the foundation for future talks.

The so-called Prague peace progress, which has been going on for more
than two years, has reached its climax in Paris. The talks revealed
that in the view of today’s political realities and the situation on
the ground in the South Caucasus, Armenia and Azerbaijan are not
ready to sign any agreements in 2006. It suddenly became clear when
the two presidents failed to reconcile the issues of security,
self-determination and territorial integrity.

Once again the negotiations collapsed. But this time they also buried
along all hopes for a peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict in
the near future. This has left many western officials, regional
experts and ordinary citizens alike anxiously guessing about what is
next in the Karabakh peace process.

As cynical as it may seem, the Karabakh peace process does not have a
bright future. Out of many possible development scenarios, there are
three main courses of action: a status quo, a new war or a solution
within the framework of territorial integrity. Although the last
option holds the key to a long-term peace in the region, in the
absence of international pressure the first two choices are bound to
overweight the third one.

A status quo option is the most likely alternative between now and
2008 – a year when both countries will have their next presidential
elections. This does not mean, however, that political, economic and
military processes will go smoothly in Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Armenia has already threatened that in case the negotiations fail,
Yerevan may recognize a self-declared and unrecognized
Nagorno-Karabakh republic. Azerbaijan, on the other hand, repeated
that if the peace process is unsuccessful, Baku will use all possible
means, including the military option, to restore the territorial
integrity of the country.

Moreover, during this temporary status quo period, Armenia will be
further isolated from regional energy and transportation projects and
Azerbaijan will triple or quadruple its military budget thanks to
money from the country’s energy exports.

The growing economic and military strength will make Azerbaijan even
more reluctant to consent to solutions that are on the table today.
The increasing self-confidence and loud demands of anxious refugees
and internally displaced will compel the future Azerbaijani
governments to take increasingly drastic actions to settle the
conflict by force. Then it will be not a question of `whether or
not’, but rather `when’ a new war is likely to begin.

Yet, neither a prolonged status quo nor a new war will settle the
Karabakh conflict permanently. Instead, a peace and prosperity for
Armenians and Azerbaijanis will come out of the optimal proposal – a
solution that will guarantee the security and self-governance rights
of Armenian and Azerbaijani ethnic communities of Karabakh without
breaking up the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan.

The security of Armenians in Karabakh has been the major concern of
Yerevan. Armenia wants to make sure that Armenians in the region will
be safe and secure after the pullout of all Armenian troops from
Azerbaijan. This genuine concern, however, becomes hypocritical and
damaging when President Kocharyan continues to reject solutions that
incorporate options that guarantee the security of Karabakh Armenians
within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

If President Kocharyan is sincere in his statements, he should work
constructively to find an optimum, not maximum, solution. President
Aliyev has already stated that he is open to all proposals that do
not jeopardize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

In fact, the resolution model for the Aland Islands – predominantly
Swedish province of Finland – that was recently circulated in the
Armenian and Azerbaijani media, could constitute a good framework for
addressing concerns of both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenia could
obtain exclusive rights for security of Karabakh Armenians and
resolve the issue of the region’s final status without delay, while
Azerbaijan will preserve its territorial integrity and return its
extensive IDP population back to their homes.

This year might be the last time when Armenians and Azerbaijanis will
have a real chance to settle their disputes peacefully. A lack of
international attention and pressure, a rapidly vanishing mutual
trust between two nations, and further delays in the peace process
will inevitable strengthen the hands of those who advocate a military
solution for the conflict. This could lead to unanticipated actions
that would bring more misfortune to both nations and the whole South
Caucasus region.

Taleh Ziyadov holds a Master’s degree from the School of Foreign
Service at Georgetown University. He specializes in energy, security
and geopolitical issues in the Caspian region and Eurasia.
From: Baghdasarian

GERMAN AUTHORITIES PROHIBIT HOLDING OF “TALAAT-PASHA ACTION” IN BERLIN

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Mar 14 2006

BRUSSELS, MARCH 14, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The German
authorities have prohibited a series of rallies the Turkish
organizations planned to hold in mid-March in Berlin. As Noyan Tapan
was informed by the ARF Dashnaktsutiun European Armenian Federation for
Justice and Democracy, the ban is based on the Article 189 of German
Criminal Code, according to which it’s prohibited to show “disrespect
to the deceased”. In their statement the German authorities used the
expression “those who died in 1915” in order to avoid mentioning the
Armenian Genocide.

The rallies that were to be held in Berlin were to be the beginning of
the events under the title “Talaat-Pasha Action” within the framework
of the “Grand Operation – 2006” initiative. The initiative a number of
Turkish figures, led by former President of self-proclaimed Republic of
North Cyprus Rauf Denktash, came up with, pursued the goal to achieve
Bundestag’s withdrawing its resolution on the Armenian Genocide.

Executive Director of European Armenian Federation for Justice
and Democracy Loran Leylekian expressed hope that all the European
politicians will show resoluteness as at present Europe is a witness
of an unprecedented wave of negationism threatening not only the
Armenians but also all Europeans.

According to the “Marmara” newspaper of Istanbul, the German Embassy
in Ankara refused to give visas to all Turks who intended to leave
for Berlin for taking part in the rally.
From: Baghdasarian

Armenian Youth: Ready to Rock?

Hetq Online, October 17, 2005

On September 2, 2005, Yerevan staged its first international rock
festival, Rock ‘n People, in the capital’s central Republic Square. In
a country where most “live” pop music concerts – a music genre much
preferred over rock – are lip-synched, there are many obstacles to
overcome. However, the organizers of the festival were convinced that
audiences in Armenia would prefer to hear music being played live.

Sound checks, a relatively new phenomenon in the country, can prove
problematic. During the middle of a sound check by Empyray, a band
typified by heavy bass and drum rhythms as well as searing guitar
solos, an official from the nearby Ministry of Foreign Affairs
requested that preparations for the concert be put on hold for half
an hour while an important diplomatic meeting took place.

The number of police, including Ministry of Interior troops deployed
as security for the event, also surprised many. Although the festival
would only attract a few thousand people, hundreds of police assembled
in front of the stage. “Perhaps they think we’ll start a riot,” said
one young rock fan, arriving early to watch the main stage being set
up. “Maybe they like rock music,” joked another.

The location, flanked on all sides by government buildings, a luxury
hotel and the National Art Gallery, might not seem the most appropriate
of venues to stage a rock concert, but with sponsors such as Radio
Van and Viva Cell involved, permission was granted. Viva Cell, the
long awaited competitor to ArmenTel, has been consistent in targeting
its advertising and promotional campaigns towards youth.

Yerevan hasn’t seen a rock festival in such a high profile location
since the end of the Communist era. Even today, many consider the last
years of the Soviet Union to be the heyday of Armenian rock. Bands
such as Asbarez had huge followings and others even had a role to
play as ethnic conflict between Armenians and Azerbaijanis erupted
over the predominantly ethnically Armenian populated territory of
Nagorno Karabakh.

In 1989, for instance, Vostan Hayots took their set based on the 1915
Armenian genocide by Ottoman Turkey throughout the country and even
performed in Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno Karabakh. The next
day, Soviet troops confiscated their equipment.

“We soon earned the reputation for arriving somewhere just before
trouble broke out,” remembers Hovhannes Kourghinyan, Vostan Hayot’s
vocalist. “When we went to Agarak [in Southern Armenia] there were
clashes between Armenians and Azerbaijanis and the same happened
in Kapan. We even brought information from Meghri to the Karabakh
Committee. A few people knew what was going to happen and were getting
ready by arming themselves. We were involved in that.”

Gradually, as tensions with Azerbaijan over Karabakh turned into
full-scale war, rock music became less and less popular in Armenia. In
particular, military conscription put an end to the careers of many
young and promising rock musicians. The electricity crisis of the
early nineties also forced many others to find work abroad. “Without
electricity you really can’t play rock music,” says Kourghinyan,
“It’s as simple as that.”

Other musicians were more fortunate, however. Hripsime Jangiryan,
wife of Eduard Abrahamyan, lead singer with Manic Depressive Psychosis
(MDP), remembers how the band assembled a hundred fans in Yerevan’s
Agricultural College in 1993 when the capital was otherwise deprived
of electricity. At the time, Abrahamyan worked as an electrician at
the college, one of the few buildings supplied with power.

A bottle of cognac convinced the college’s elderly security guard to
leave, and the premises became MDP’s to use.

But, even with electricity supplies now constant and Armenia’s
economy well on the mend, there are few people who listen to rock
music in the Republic. Instead, contemporary singers and musicians
are reliant on the support of government-connected businessmen rather
than CD sales to sustain their careers.

Even among those young Armenians that do like rock, however, many say
they instead prefer foreign bands. “In the nineties there were maybe
20 or 30 rock groups in Armenia,” says MDP’s Abrahamyan. “However,
after those difficult years, many left for England, the United States
and Russia. As a result, the market is under-developed and when the
quality of rock music deteriorated, the audience instead turned to
Western groups.”

Attracting listeners is also an ongoing obstacle, especially as rock
music is starved of exposure in the mainstream media. Live concerts
are also out because many young rock fans find it difficult to pay
the 1,000-1,500 drams [$2-$3] entrance fee to Yerevan’s two rock
clubs. Pricing tickets higher – over $15 – can lead to inadequate
sales and cancellations, as one three-day-event planned this August
near Lake Sevan showed.

Armenia’s large Diaspora, a potential market for Armenian music, is
also off-limits to local rock bands because ethnic Armenians living
abroad instead prefer to listen to music that serves a nostalgic or
nationalistic purpose. Even Bambir, a charismatic young band from
Gyumri that is fast earning a reputation with its eccentric live
performances in Yerevan, has so far been unable to find an audience
outside of Armenia.

Narek Barseghyan, Bambir’s 21-year-old guitarist, says that young
Armenians want something different, but a monopoly on the music
industry prevents rock bands from being shown on television or played
on the radio. He also says that when compared to other former Soviet
republics, Armenians are more conservative in their mentality. “In
Georgia, it’s different,” he says. “Here, if you have long hair,
people call you a gypsy.”

Despite the problems, however, Artyom Ayvazyan, president of the
Antennae non-governmental organization (NGO) and the main organizer of
the rock festival, is optimistic. In the past, national rock festivals
in Yerevan have attracted audiences of around 500. The free festival
staged on 2 September, however, attracted at least 2,000 people as
well as rock bands from neighboring Georgia.

“It’s true that rock music doesn’t attract a large audience in
Armenia,” he admits. “However, there are many people who want to listen
to something different, even if they don’t yet know what. Although
very few rock groups are played on the radio, there was almost
nothing before.”

Marieke Kitzen, a Dutch volunteer working with the Bem Youth
Progressive Action Center, a local NGO that considers the development
of youth culture key to involving young Armenians in the country’s
socio-political life, agrees. “I thought the rock concert was a great
success, although at the beginning, when there were more police than
spectators, I had my doubts if rock in Armenia would ever work,”
she says.

Text and Photos by Onnik Krikorian

—
From: Baghdasarian

PanArmenian.net

Mann believes Yerevan and Baku Can Simultaneously Come out Victors at Talks

15.10.2005 19:17 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ There is a lull in the talks on settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict lately, however this is not due to the parliamentary
election in Azerbaijan, US Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Steven Mann
stated. In his words, at present the attention of the Presidents of
Azerbaijan and Armenia is drawn to the coming election in those countries.
«We expect the NK talks to continue after the parliamentary election in
Azerbaijan and referendum in Armenia,» he said. In spite the parties have a
firm stands at the talks, the mediators observe a favorable atmosphere in
the negotiation process, S. Mann remarked. «If both parties display more
creativity, we will advance,» he said. As of the peace proposals made by the
International Crisis Group, «various ideas are considered,» the US Co-Chair
said. Noting confidentiality should be observed at the talks, S. Mann added,
«We consider various options of compromise. I believe both Armenia and
Azerbaijan will be able to simultaneously come out victors at the talks.
This is not an easy thing to do. However I suppose it is still possible.» It
should be noted that October 24-25 the OSCE MG US, Russian and French
Co-Chairs will meet in Washington to discuss future plans. Steven Mann also
noted that the cooperation between the Co-Chairs is rather fruitful,
reported RFE/RL.
From: Baghdasarian

PRESS RELEASE

Western Prelacy
of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Prelate, Western United States
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
Email: [email protected]

For more information:
Zanku Armenian (818) 243-3557
Mercata Group

Los Angeles Pontifical Banquet Draws Over 1,200 People Including Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa

Inspired by His Holiness, Surprise Donation of $1,000,000 Made to Western
Prelacy

(Los Angeles, CA – October 13, 2005) – The Los Angeles Armenian American
community joyously hosted a Pontifical banquet for His Holiness Aram I,
Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, on Sunday, October 9, 2005,
drawing a capacity crowd of over 1,200 people from all segments of the
community. In addition to the many prominent members of the Los Angeles
Armenian American community, also in attendance were Gagik Kirakosian,
Consul General of the Republic of Armenia, Charbel Wehbi, Consul General of
Lebanon and several high-level public officials including Los Angeles Mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa, State Senator Chuck Poochigian, members of Congress
and other city officials.

In addition to honoring His Holiness, the banquet also served as a forum to
thank the many large church benefactors who have recently made large
donations to the Western Prelacy to advance several large-scale projects
underway, especially the construction of the new Western Prelacy
headquarters building in La Crescenta, California.

Charlie Gailian was the banquet’s Master of Ceremonies and one of the first
words of appreciation were for John and Asdghig Bedrosian who generously
underwrote the cost of the entire banquet as well as making other major
contributions to the Western Prelacy. The welcoming remarks were made by
Ara Bedrosian, a member of the Public Relations Committee for the Pontiff’s
visit who was followed by Khajag Dikijian, from the Western Prelacy
Executive Council, who outlined the themes of the visit and the many
important leadership roles His Holiness plays throughout the world. Hrair
Balian, the chairman of the Executive Council offered a toast to His
Holiness stating that this visit will usher in a new era of expanded
activity for the church in the western United States. Eastern Prelate
Oshagan Choloyan gave brief remarks and said that His Holiness, through his
multi-faceted work beyond the Armenian community, has earned our church a
special place on the world stage. California State Senator Chuck Poochigian
took to the podium to welcome His Holiness and thank him for re-energizing
the community with his visit and offered a special proclamation from the
state senate recognizing his visit on the occasion of his 10th anniversary
of being elected Catholicos.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa briefly addressed the banquet and
expressed his deep appreciation for the opportunity to meet His Holiness and
respect for the important role the church plays in the life of the city.
While the Mayor met privately with His Holiness briefly that evening, Mayor
Villaraigosa said he looked forward to the official meeting he will have
with His Holiness at City Hall on October 14 along with the rest of the City
Council.

His Holiness shared many important thoughts during his remarks at the
banquet. He first recognized the Consul General of Lebanon explaining the
important role the country has played for him while growing up there and
noted that Lebanon is not just a country but a living message of how people
of different cultures and religions must learn to live with each other. He
then directed his remarks to the Consul General of Armenia by stating that
“while we in the diaspora were not born in Armenia, however Armenia was born
inside us and lives in each of our souls.” He said that over the course of
the past many decades, the diaspora kept the hopes of freedom alive for
Armenia and has struggled for the Armenian Cause and a free, independent and
united Armenia. The Great House of Cilicia in Antelias has played its part
in this struggle by keeping the Armenian yerakouyn (tri-color) waving and to
this day works hard to help rebuild Armenia stated His Holiness.

The Catholicos then focused on the theme of values and community service.
He said, “people come and go, but values remain” and for that reason it is
important that we live life with high moral values always seeking to unite
together to build our communities and build bridges of understanding and
trust. “Positions don’t elevate people but rather people elevate
positions,” he said. In that context he also noted that the Great House of
Cilicia always seeks close collaboration with the Holy See in Etchmiadzin to
reinforce our national values and faithfulness by serving the people.
“While we are physically in Antelias, we live outside Antelias,” stated His
Holiness. “Antelias is alive in each of us.”

Inspired by His Holiness, one of the highlights of the evening was the
surprise donation of $1,000,000 by Khachik and Elo Mouradian to establish an
endowment fund for the Western Prelacy. This added to the generosity of the
many other major benefactors who were recognized during the evening by the
Catholicos for their major contributions including Mr. and Mrs. John and
Asdghig Bedrosian and Carolan Family for contributing $250,000 each; Mr. and
Mrs. Dikran and Zarouhie Der Ghazarian, Mrs.Ashkhen Pilavjian, Mrs. Rose
Kasimian, Forest Lawn Memorial Parks, Mr. and Mrs. Osko and Yeran
Karghossian and Mr. and Mrs. Krikor and Kohar Sulahian all of whom made
donations in excess of $100,000 each.

To honor some of the benefactors for their exemplary contributions to the
Western Prelacy building fund and to various schools and community centers,
His Holiness presented special medals of honor including the “Cilician
Eeshkhan (Prince)” medal to Mrs. Ashkhen Pilavjian for her sponsorship of
the ARS preschool at Holy Martyrs in addition to recent contribution to the
Western Prelacy building; and “Cilician Asbed (Knight)” medals to Mr. and
Mrs. Sarkis and Susan Kitsinian for their contribution to the Pasadena St.
Sarkis Church, Mr. and Mrs. Krikor and Kohar Sulahian, Mr. and Mrs. Tony and
Eileen Keusseyan, Mr. and Mrs. Osko and Yeran Karaghossian and Mr. and Mrs.
Varant and Houri Melkonian all for their various contributions to the
Western Prelacy building fund and other endeavors. His Holiness also
presented a special cross to Father Nareg Shrikian for his more than 50
years of service to the church and community.

Representatives from many of the major organizations in the Armenian
community of Los Angeles were in attendance including the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation Central Committee and Bureau, the Armenian Relief
Society, the Homenetmen, Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Board of
Regents of Armenian Schools, National Representative Assembly of the Church
and the Executive Council of the Western Prelacy. Also present were clergy
from various churches including a representative of the Diocese. Other
officials in the audience included various Armenian American judges and city
officials including Glendale Mayor Rafi Manoukian and City Councilman Ara
Najarian.
From: Baghdasarian

LITERATURE NOBEL: KEEP GUESSING

The Times, UK
Oct 14 2005

[ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2005 12:24:08 AM ]

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Stockholm: A row over last year’s winner has done nothing to
stifle rampant speculation about who may win the 2005 Nobel Prize
in literature.

On Wednesday, the day before the planned announcement, a bevy of names
– some familiar and others less so – emerged as likely candidates for
the prestigious prize, although trying to guess the secretive 18-member
Swedish Academy’s choice is, at times, an exercise in futility.

Still, Swedish media was buzzing with names like Syrian poet Ali Ahmad
Said, known as Adonis; Korean poet Ko Un; and perennial contenders
Margaret Atwood of Canada and Americans Philip Roth and Joyce Carol
Oates.

Respected daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter said other authors like
Turkey’s Orhan Pamuk, who faces prison after he was charged with
insulting Turkish identity for supporting Armenian claims that they
were the victims of genocide under the Ottoman Turks in 1915, could
be tapped.

“The first names that come to mind are Joyce Carol Oates and (Swedish
poet) Tomas Trans-tromer,” Uppsala University literature professor
Margaretha Fahlgren told Svenska Dagbladet, another Swedish daily.

Online betting Web site, Ladbrokes, also says the Czech Republic’s
Milan Kundera is a choice, with 12-1 odds, while Belgian poet Hugo
Claus, Italian poet Claudio Magris and Indonesian novelist Pramoedya
Ananta Toer each have 14-1 odds of winning.
From: Baghdasarian

THE SINGLE UNSOLVED QUESTION

Panorama
19:28 13/10/05

“You know, that enterprises have been given to us instead of
debts. Russia had to activate the production system there. I think
that Russia haven’t done this. Till now we really do not know what
to produce in the firms, I mean military or civil products. So in
the previous meeting we had an agreement to create a working group
to deal with these problems. The working group had the first meeting
yesterday. They have already decided what to do.

I think that at the beginning of the next year the group members
will report in detail what they are exactly going to produce “, said
the Minister of Transportation, and co-chairmen of Armenian-Russian
intergovernmental committee Igor Levitan. /Panorama.am/
From: Baghdasarian