Author: Chalian Meline

USC News
University of Southern California
May 15 2009

From Russia With Music

By Eddie North-Hager
May 15, 2009 3:24 PM

Photo: Angela Cholakyan
Photo/Dietmar Quistorf

A lifetime of dedication and perseverance finally paid off when Angela
Cholakyan earned her doctorate in musical arts from the USC Thornton
School of Music.

For Cholakyan, her destination had been mapped out ever since she
first experimented with a piano when she was 9 months old.

Yet for nearly two decades her dreams were deferred after escaping
communism in search of the American Dream.

Her course was no longer set.

`It was like being in the middle of an ocean,’ Cholakyan said.

Born in the Soviet Union, Cholakyan’s schooling focused on music from
the time she was 6. She continued her education at the famed Moscow
State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Yet even as she benefited from the
communist system, that very system also created insurmountable
roadblocks.

She couldn’t go far because of discrimination, as her parents were
born in Jerusalem. And the economy was in shambles. In 1988, after
bribing some officials to obtain visas, she left with her parents and
sister to reunite with her uncle in Los Angeles.

`I was ready to leave, but of course it was painful,’ said Cholakyan,
who was fresh out of school at the time. `There was no future. It was
like rats running from a sinking ship.’

Once in the United States, Cholakyan for a time put away her piano to
become a mom and work odd jobs to make ends meet.

`We were happy because for the first time in our lives, we could make
decisions on our own and survive on our own,’ Cholakyan said.

USC Thornton School of Music professor Norman Krieger discovered
Cholakyan in 1993 at the Florida International Competition. It took 10
years, but Krieger eventually inspired her to go back to school `and
get back on track,’ Cholakyan said.

`Better late then never,’ Cholakyan said matter of factly. `There are
so many people who helped me get to where I am.’

In addition to winning piano competitions and becoming a sought-after
instructor while at USC, Cholakyan also had her conducting debut in
November. In February, she was accepted into USC’s artist diploma
program, which emphasizes performance, and she should graduate in
2011.

`After 21 years in America, I can say with confidence that I love this
country and that I am American more than I am anything else,’
Cholakyan said. `However, there is another side to my identity: I am
Armenian born and raised in Russian culture, and I cannot erase or
forge that. I think the best I am playing so far is Russian
music. It’s in my blood.’

Read about other 2009 USC graduates, including father and son Michael
and David Gibson, chemistry student Eric Zuniga and four exceptional
graduates from USC College.

Transportation not reduced in Armenia in contrast to Russia
16.05.2009 16:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ ‘We establish the Center for Transportation services
in Armenia to improve the overall level of services in the industry,’
said director of CJSC South Caucasus Railways Shevket Shaydullin.
Saying that the company receives 80 per cent of revenues from
corporate clients, Mr. Shaydullin mentioned: `we are not for just
selling the infrastructure but the complex transportation services’.
South Caucasus Railway will facilitate integration into Euro Asian
transport system, Mr. Shaydullin said.
According to Mr.Shaydullin, in 2009 Armenia’s import traffic’s share
in the total traffic reached 45 per cent, while export traffic made
20.5 per cent and the local in-country traffic totaled some 34.6 per
cent. As opposed to Russia, transportation volumes have not reduced in
Armenia. As compared to 2008 in-country transportation increased by 75
per cent, export traffic decreased by 23 per cent, while import
traffic reduced by 14 per cent.
Mr. Shaydullin mentioned, that the company has elaborated anti-crisis
program, loss plan has already envisaged by the budget and estimated
at 158 million rubles.

WORLD BANK CONTINUES SUPPORT TO EDUCATION QUALITY AND RELEVANCE IN ARMENIA

ENP Newswire
May 13, 2009 Wednesday

WASHINGTON – The World Bank Board of Directors today approved a US$ 25
million credit for the Armenia Second Education Quality and Relevance
Project (APL II).

The credit by the International Development Association (IDA) will
assist Armenia in its efforts to improve the quality and relevance
of its educational system, to ensure that students graduate with
competitive skills. This is the second phase of the second education
project supported by the World Bank over the past 12 years in Armenia.

The project will enhance the curriculum and teaching methods in
education, the readiness of children entering primary schools, and
the integration of the Armenian tertiary education system into the
European higher education area.

Past projects have accomplished a great deal. The National Curriculum
Framework has been developed, a transparent examination system and
enhanced capacity to assess student performance has been introduced,
along with the creation of the Assessment and Testing Center, the
National Center of Education Technology, and an effective Computer
Revolving scheme which has allowed 85 percent of the schools in the
country to set up computer labs. In addition, a massive in-service
teacher training effort has been carried out through an improved
National Institute of Education and consolidation of a successful
per capita funding system resulted in substantial efficiency gains
and enhanced school autonomy.

‘This new project builds on the achievements of Armenia’s reforms so
far, while extending the agenda to encompass preschool and higher
education,’ said Juan Manuel Moreno, Leader of the World Bank team
for the project. ‘It will comprehensively support the Government’s
efforts to accelerate the implementation of preschool, general and
tertiary education reforms despite the adverse consequences of the
global economic crisis.’

The project will help the Armenian Education system meet critical
challenges. These include reversing the current deterioration – in
enrollments and in quality – of preschool education; supporting the
implementation of the 12-year general education system; improving
teacher quality through pre-service and in-service training; and,
contributing to Armenia’s integration in the European Higher Education
Area.

The Second Education Quality and Relevance project has two main
components:

1. Enhancing the Quality of General Education. Activities will aim to
increase the readiness for general education of approximately 8,750
children, while 140 of the poorest communities will benefit from
targeted grants to enhance the quality of preschool education. The
quality of teaching will be improved through training of 2750
high-school teachers and 150 principals, and by creating a school
improvement network. In addition, investments will ensure that all
schools in Armenia are equipped with up-to-date technologies, that
about 400 of the most remote schools are connected to the Internet,
and that these technologies effectively enhance learning. Further, the
curriculum and assessment of the 12-year general education system will
be improved so that future graduates will be equipped with relevant
and competitive knowledge and skills.

2. Supporting tertiary education reforms to help achieve standards
similar to education systems in Europe. The project will establish
and strengthen the capacity of the National Quality Assurance system
for tertiary education. An integrated Tertiary Education Management
Information System (TEMIS) will be created to support policy planning,
management, monitoring and evaluation of performance of education. The
component will also support the design and piloting of a sustainable
financing system for tertiary education, including student loans and
a Competitive Innovation Fund for the financing of Universities.

The Credit will be provided to Armenia on standard IDA terms, including
20 years maturity and a 10-year grace period.

Since joining the World Bank in 1992 and IDA in 1993, commitments to
Armenia total approximately US$ 1187 million.

For more information on World Bank-sponsored projects in Armenia,

please visit:

Contacts:

In Yerevan: Tatevik Mnatsakanyan, (+374 10) 520-992

[email protected]

In Washington: Vigen Sargsyan, (202) 473-9277

[email protected]

[Editorial queries for this story should be sent to
[email protected] ]

POLITICAL SCIENTIST VAHAN DILANIAN: NO PROGRESS WAS RECORDED AT PRAGUE MEETING

Noyan Tapan
May 14, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 14, NOYAN TAPAN. RA and Azeri Presidents’ meeting held
lately in Prague recorded no progress in the issue of Nagorno Karabakh
settlement.

Vahan Dilanian, the Chairman of the Research Center for Political
Developments, expressed such an opinion at the May 14 press conference.

Touching upon the optimistic statements of OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs
made after Prague meeting, the political scientist said that they are
far from reality. As to American Co-chair Matthew Bryza’s statements,
according to V. Dilanian, they are completely invented. And Bryza’s
statement on returning territories caused such discontent in Armenia
as Turkish Sabah newspaper’s publication on the road-map.

While, in V. Dilanian’s conviction, no issue of territories was
discussed at the last meeting of RA and Azeri Presidents. He also
considers unrealistic M. Bryza’s statement that the two Presidents’
meeting planned in Saint Petersburg can bring a breakthrough.

In V. Dilanian’s opinion, a hardening of Armenia’s positions was
recorded at the last Armenian-Azeri meeting. Foreign Minister of
France Bernard Kouchner also mentioned it. According to the latter,
Armenia’s conduct was too destructive. Besides, the fact that the
Armenian-Azeri relations are not connected with normalization of the
Armenian-Turkish relations was reaffirmed.

According to V. Dilanian, normalization of relations with Turkey will
have rather an economic significance. In particular, restoration
of Gyumri-Kars railway, according to him, is a regional project,
in which Azerbaijan can also participate in the future.

"REASSESSMENT OF THE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT IN SOUTH CAUCASUS: REGIONAL CONFLICTS, STABILITY AND TRANSMISSION" TWO-DAY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE KICKS OFF IN YEREVAN

ARMENPRESS
May 14, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS: The "Reassessment of security environment
in the South Caucasus: regional conflicts, stability and transmission"
two-day international conference kicked off today in Yerevan. Within
its frameworks the participants will refer to the conflicts existing
in the region – Russian-Georgian, Nagorno Karabakh, Armenian-Turkish
as well as the relations of states of the region and prospects of
their development.

Armenian Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan noted that there are
challenges and threats in South Caucasian region as well: particularly
the existence of Karabakh conflict and absence of mutually agreed
political legal bases of regulation between the sides, the policy of
militarization conducted by Azerbaijan, goal for achieving a military
superiority and regulation of Karabakh conflict through use of force as
well as the blockade of Armenia and the policy of Armenia’s isolation
in the region are direct threats for Armenia.

S. Ohanyan noted that like for all other states as well as for
Armenia besides a direct military threat there also exist other
threats including the destabilization of the security environment
in the Armenian neighbor countries and generally in South Caucasus,
unleashing existing or new conflicts, international terrorism, illegal
circulation of weapons of mass destruction and its constitutes,
drugs and psychotropic agents as well as trafficking in human beings.

According to him, to liquidate the mentioned and other threats
Armenia has today chosen two main directions – strengthening the
national defense system by implementation of reforms and obtainment
of international security guarantees through integration.

S. Ohanyan expressed hope that this conference will be a proper arena
for presentation of important proposals and ideas on the process
of giving a new meaning to the security in the South Caucasus as
conduction of suchlike international conferences on the regional
security gives an opportunity to the experts of different states
dealing with security researches to express themselves and exchange
thoughts on the issues of regional security architecture.

French Ambassador to Armenia Serzh Smessow stressed the importance of
ensuring the regional stability. Referring to the regional conflicts
he noted that worsening of the political situation in Georgia is
troubling not only for Georgia but also for all the neighboring states.

Developments in Georgia showed that there is no alternative to the
negotiation process for Karabakh conflict regulation. Referring to the
negotiation process between Armenia and Turkey S. Smessow expressed
hope that the regulation of relations between the two states will
also have a positive impact on the whole region.

The international conference is being held by the RA Ministry of
Defense "Institute of National Strategic Researches" and the "Center
of Defense and International Security Researches" of Lyons Jan Mullen
University.

Nearly 20 authoritative experts and scientists from Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, Turkey, Iran, France, United Kingdom,
Norway, USA and other states take part in the conference.

ARMENIA TO MAKE FIRST STEP TOWARDS POLITICAL REFORMS

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.05.2009 19:59 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The new law "On Local Self-Government in Yerevan"
and the May 31 elections of Aldermen’s Council are the first step
towards political reforms, David Harutyunyan Head of parliament’s
Standing Committee on State-Legal Affairs, said. Mr. Harutyunyan also
stressed the importance of organizing all local-self government
elections simultaneously at the successive stage of political
reforms. "Political reforms are aimed at creating powerful political
parties in Armenia. If, undertaking certain commitments in some
community, a party achieves success, it can propose more ambitious
projects during parliamentary elections. If a party fails to achieve
success in the given community, it is unlikely to receive votes in
subsequent parliamentary elections.

In the meantime, Mr. Harutyunyan stressed that politics cannot
always be unippolar if victory belongs to one party. "At some moment,
poles replace each other. Such local self-government model allows for
periodic changes, especially considering that major part of Armenia’s
population lives in Yerevan," Mr. Harutyunyan said, adding that he
wasn’t optimistic about republicans’ glorious victory in upcoming
elections.

ARMENIA AND USA DISCUSS POSSIBILITY OF SIGNING OF FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

ArmInfo
2009-05-13 13:16:00

ArmInfo. Armenia and USA are discussing a possibility of signing
of a free trade agreement. This issue is one of the prime ones to
be discussed during Wednesday meeting of the working group of the
Armenian-American intergovernmental Commission in Yerevan, Armenian
Co-chairman of the Commission, Economy Minister of Armenia Nerses
Yeritsyan told journalists.

He said a new trade policy is formed between the countries, that will
allow to make the American market available for the Armenian goods
and will stimulate inflow of investments. According to the minister,
a similar free trade agreement was signed between Armenia and EU. He
added that the working group’s meeting agenda includes the programmes
of regional cooperation, discussion of the "Millennium Challenges"
assistance programme, US programme of assistance in creation of a
National Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Armenia, opening
of a representation of the Armenian IT enterprises in Silicon valley.

According to the data of Armenia’s Economy Ministry, the total volume
of the American investments in Armenia in 1991-2008 made up $299,7 mln,
including the direct foreign investments to the sum of $198,7 mln. The
investments in 2008 made up $30,2 mln, including the direct foreign
investments – $17,7 mln. As of January 1, 2009, 536 enterprises
with the share of the American capital have been registered in
Armenia. Export of the Armenian goods to the USA in 2008 grew by 2,7%
to $52,8 mln as compared to 2007, and import from the USA grew by 48,6%
to $219,8 mln. The Armenian export mainly includes mineral and natural
waters, wines, synthetic rubber, jewelry and stones, while grain,
feeding stuff, cloth and sausages prevail in the American export.

ARMENIA TO START RECEIVING IRANIAN GAS WEDNESDAY – MINISTRY

NASDAQ
May 12 2009

YEREVAN, Armenia (AFP)–Armenia will start receiving natural gas from
neighboring Iran this week under a plan to diversify the landlocked
ex-Soviet republic’s energy supplies, the energy ministry said Tuesday.

Ministry spokeswoman Lusine Harutunian said Armenia will start
receiving the gas Wednesday and that it will be used to generate
electricity which will then be exported back to Iran.

There are no plans as yet to use the gas for Armenia’s domestic
consumption, she said.

"The volume of Iranian gas will depend on demand from Iran for electric
power, " she said.

Armenia and Iran signed the "gas for electricity" deal in 2002 and
in 2007 inaugurated a 150-kilometer pipeline for the gas deliveries.

Armenia has been cultivating close energy links with Iran because
of an economic blockade imposed by neighbors Azerbaijan and Turkey
in retaliation for Yerevan’s role in the conflict over the disputed
Nagorno Karabakh region.

The country has also sought to reduce its traditional dependence on
Russian energy, in particular after last year’s war in neighboring
Georgia disrupted Russian gas supplies to Armenia.

A THAW IN RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN RELATIONS WILL LEAD TO UPPER LARS AUTOMOBILE CONTROL POINT OPENING

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.05.2009 18:32 GMT+04:00

RA Transportation Minister Gurgen Sargsyan hopes for Upper Lars
automobile control point opening. "Repair works have been conducted
for 3 years. Currently the opening of control point depends only on
some political issues," he told a news conference in Yerevan.

"All the states it the region, including Armenia, will benefit from a
thaw in Russian-Georgian relations," he added. Upper Lars automobile
control point, closed for reconstruction in July 2006, is the only
one at Russian-Turkish border. Upon completion of repair works,
a festive ceremony was held last Tuesday.

GUL HAPPY ABOUT "COMMON UNDERSTANDING" WITH ARMENIAN LEADER

Anadolu Agency
May 8 2009
Armenia

Prague, 8 May: Turkish President Abdullah Gul said on Friday [8 May]
that he was happy to see a common understanding in Turkish-Armenian
relations.

Speaking to reporters following his meeting with Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan in the Czech capital of Prague, President Gul said that
he also appreciated that there had been positive developments in the
meeting between President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Sargsyan.

"I hope these processes are carried out in an attentive manner and
peace and stability are provided in the Caucasus region," Gul said.