Author: Chatinian Lara

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Feb 21 2005
Azeri, Armenian foreign ministers to continue `Prague talks’ in March

Baku, February 18, AssA-Irada
The next meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers
Elmar Mammadyarov and Vardan Oskanian will be held in Prague on March
2, Oskanian said in a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey
Lavrov on Thursday.
The Armenian diplomat noted that the Prague talks have raised
optimism of the conflicting sides for solving the Upper Garabagh
problem.
Lavrov, in turn, expressed a hope that the Prague meetings of the
Armenian and Azerbaijani ministers would help both sides reach common
agreement. The Russian official called the OSCE Minsk Group `the most
optimal and continuous format’ in the conflict settlement.*

Turkish Daily News
Feb 20 2005
Phenomenon of violinist Markov
>From My Notebook
YÜKSEL SÖYLEMEZ
Despite his relative youth, Alexander Markov already has a
noteworthy international reputation as a remarkable violin virtuoso,
and there is no doubt he will leave his musical mark on the 21st
century. In two words, he is “phenomenal and sensational,” with a
complete mastery of his instrument. In fact, it is much more than
mere violin playing when a violin and his fingers become one with his
body and mind.
I was told that he has played in Ankara before, but this was the
first time I had heard him, and his rendition of Aram Katchaturian’s
“Violin Concerto” with the Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO)
conducted by Alexander Rahbari left me and the whole audience
spellbound.
Markov, the son of a concert violinist father, was born in the
Moscow of the old U.S.S.R. He received an invitation at the age of 14
to train under the legendary Jasha Heifetz and immigrated to the
United States with his family in 1982, becoming a U.S. citizen in the
process. He has played with all the great orchestras and conductors
of our time in venues such as New York’s Avery Fisher and Carnegie
halls, to name just two. Not only is he an extraordinary virtuoso but
alos a most congenial and modest person, thanking the audience in
Turkish with “Teºekkür ederim” followed by an unexpected “Eyvallah”
that was received with much appreciation.
Katchaturian’s “Violin Concerto,” to my mind, is one of the most
brilliant compositions in romantic music literature, and its moving
rendition roused the audience to its feet with a full house on the
evening of Feb. 11. Katchaturian (1903-1978) started writing his
concerto in 1938, completed it during the war in 1940 and dedicated
it to the great David Oistrakh. The concerto is based on Armenian and
Caucasian folk melodies and is lyrical and melodic, to say nothing of
sentimental. There is deep sadness in the repetition of the touching
themes, with the violin omnipresent throughout the three movements
and in the whirlwind finale.
The concert had started with Michael Ivanovich Glinka’s (1804-1857)
overture to his ballet, `Ruslan and Ludmilla,’ which is based on a
poem by Pushkin and is one of the most frequently produced popular
works in Russian ballet tradition. It was a rousing beginning to the
evening under Rahbari, a welcome conductor who frequently visits
Ankara.
The final work was Igor Stravinsky’s(1882-1971) “Petrushka,” again
under Rahbari’s baton and played with tremendous sonority in all its
colorful contrasting details. The subject of the ballet is simple:
Two men fall in love with the same woman. Petrushka symbolizes the
ordinary and poor people and is killed at the end of the ballet. It
is most difficult to do justice to this modern work, and it was
played with tremendous zest and great gusto by the CSO with the
adroit interpretation of Alexander Rahbari.
To relate a story about Stravinsky, it was during the mid-’50s
that, to my utter amazement, I saw Stravinsky in the lobby of the
Istanbul Hilton reading a newspaper. I subsequently found out that he
was traveling under a false name to escape the attention of the
Turkish media. Then a few years later, in 1960, he came to London to
conduct his “Oedipus Rex” at an unusual late-evening concert at the
Festival Hall with Jean Cocteau reading the text. As well as being a
music lover, I was also an ardent autograph collector in those days
and, as such. I rushed with my late friend Ömer Umar to the Green
Room at the end of his historic concert at around 1:00 a.m. A
sizeable crowd of other music enthusiasts was also waiting for him to
appear. When he finally did, he was hurriedly bundled into a spacious
elevator. As it happened, I was the only one of the crowd who managed
to muscle his way in. His tall, well-built wife Vera pushed me
against the wall of the elevator and with her index finger pressed
into my chest she protected her husband from my intrusive presence.
It was rather needless, since my hands were full with a copy of the
record of “Oedipus Rex,” the concert program and his autobiography.
Stravinsky, meanwhile, was beating the other wall of the lift with
his hands shouting, “This autograph business is a dangerous disease.”
When a minute or two later the elevator doors opened, the crowd had
collectively rushed upstairs and were enviously shouting, `He got it,
he got it!’ Actually, I hadn’t got his autograph but am rewarded
instead with a real-life Stravinsky anecdote, which I shall always
remember.

February: justice
Yerkir/arm
February 18, 2005
February has a really special symbolism for the Armenian reality. The
dispersing of the February revolt of 1921 is followed by the wakening
of the Karabagh movement in 1988. In both cases Armenians revolted
against injustice. The hope for and belief in justice is the last
harbor that cannot be neglected.
Armenians, being deprived of statehood for centuries on, dreamed of
having a native authority, picturing in it the guarantee for their
rights and freedom. They have been ready for any hardship on this
way. However, the self-restraint and the ability to stand up to
hardships acquires meaning only when the state and authorities turn
this national attitude into a political route, raising the overall
state-nation potential, turning it into a will, aimed at general
well-being.
Today, like never before, we need social tolerance and unity. The
world is changing every day. We face new issues and challenges every
day, which we can solve only in case we preserve the ability to
maintain our statehood and mast our destiny. Today’s challenges
concern everyone, starting with authorities to regular citizens. Thus,
each of us should try to contribute to their solution.
The meaning and content of statehood are measured by the criteria of
raising the people’s level of living and security. And each of us,
people should account for his/her contribution to this cause before
giving characteristics to the current situation. All this becomes
meaningful only by social justice. This justice must prevail in
political, economic, legal and social fields.

Armenian premier wants Hungary to pass fair sentence on Azeri officer
Arminfo
19 Feb 05
Yerevan, 19 February: “We hope that the Budapest city court will pass
a fair sentence on the murder of Armenian officer Gurgen Markaryan,”
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan has said.
We should remind you that during an English language course under the
aegis of NATO in February 2004, the senior lieutenant of the Armenian
armed forces, Gurgen Markaryan, was hacked to death by Azerbaijani
officer Ramil Safarov on 19 February last year. The trial on this
case is being held at the Budapest court.
The Armenian prime minister today expressed his confidence that the
results of the forensic examination clearly show that Ramil Safarov
had committed the murder deliberately, in cold blood and in a mentally
healthy condition. All the attempts of the Azerbaijani side to spin
out the trial on various pretexts, transfer it into the political
sphere and declare Safarov a hero in Azerbaijan will fail, the prime
minister said.
“Of course, we cannot resuscitate Gurgen Markaryan, but we should
continue making every effort at all levels to achieve a fair sentence,”
Markaryan said.

Fresno State News, CA
Feb 18 2005
Ambassador to Armenia to Visit Fresno State
Friday, Feb. 18
When: Friday, Feb. 18, 1 p.m. reception and media availability
Where: Viticulture and Enology Center conference room, 2360 E.
Barstow
Who: Ambassador John Evans, U.S. State Department and USAID
officials
Backgrnd: Background Links
Fresno State Armenian Studies Program
Official site: Embassy of the United States, Yerevan, Armenia
Armenian Agribusiness Education Fund
John Evans, who named U.S. Ambassador to Armenia in August 2004, is
making a 10-day trip throughout the country to visit
Armenian-American communities. He requested a visit with Fresno State
faculty and staff who have participated in the university’s various
programs and exchanges in Armenia.
Fresno State’s connection with Armenia goes back more than 20 years
and includes:
Dr. Dickran Kouymjian, director of Armenian Studies Program at Fresno
State, served as Fulbright scholar in Armenian in 1987. Fresno State
has one of the most active Armenian Studies Programs in the United
States.
A variety of student/faculty exchanges with Yerevan State University
over the years.
Fresno State will coordinate first summer study program in Armenia in
fall 2005 and a full semester study course in spring 2006.
President John Welty visited Yerevan in May 2004 and signed a
memorandum of agreement with both Yerevan State University and
Armenian Agricultural Academy to promote further student and scholar
exchange, develop cooperative research initiatives and additional
teacher training programs.
Fresno State just completed 5-year federal grant: “NIS College and
University Partnership Program” – between faculty of business
programs at Fresno State and Yerevan State Universities.
Fresno State was primary university contractor to USDA MAP from
1996-97, providing leadership in curriculum reform at Agricultural
Academy, faculty training
and creating initial concept for the Agribusiness Teaching Center.
Fresno State serves as headquarters for the Armenian Agribusiness
Education Fund, designed to provide sustainability to agricultural
education initiatives currently under way in Armenia. This summer,
Fresno State winemaster Ken Fugelsang will travel to Armenia to
present viticulture and enology workshops for farmers and educators.
Fresno State has one of the most active Armenian Studies programs in
the United States.
Informtn: Shirley Armbruster at 278-5292 or Bill Erysian at 278-
0317.

Portland Press Herald (Maine)
February 10, 2005 Thursday, Final Edition
TASTE OF FOOD AND HISTORY;
A local author’s cookbook preserves the stories and recipes of
Maine’s Armenian immigrants.
by GISELLE GOODMAN Staff Writer
Anthony P. Mezoian is not a chef. He is a historian.
It stands to reason, then, that his new book, “Armenian Baking and
Cooking: From Middle East to Down East, Since 1896,” is more than a
cookbook. It also chronicles the Armenian people of early 1900s
Portland.
“I felt most ethnic groups, most nationalities who settled and
established themselves in Portland, left something, a cultural
center, a church,” he said. “The Armenians have nothing, which is a
shame. If I didn’t write it, nobody is going to remember the
Armenians of Maine. These foods were cooked and created in Armenian
homes in Armenia and along with them are interesting stories.”
Mezoian, of South Portland, is no stranger to Armenian history. This
is his third book on the subject, which is close to his heart.
A first-generation Armenian, Mezoian’s father came to Portland around
1909, fleeing from the 1896 massacres at home (which at the time was
a part of Turkey). Here he found work in a bakery, and Anthony
Mezoian, known as Andy to his friends, was taught how to bake
Armenian breads at a young age.
Perhaps the cookbook stands as a tribute to his father, who had his
special way of making bread, described in detail on Page 19. There
are other recipes, like the one for Armenian cheese bread, for
example, that are coupled with stories of Mezoian’s dad.
But many of the recipes in the 112-page book go beyond dough. There
are meat and grain and vegetable dishes as well as drinks, desserts
and soups. Those, too, are coupled with stories about Mezoian’s
Armenian neighbors, family members and history of their home country.
Mezoian began working on the book nearly 10 years ago. He knew he
wanted to get his father’s bread recipes in print before they were
lost. He also kept a running collection of other recipes from his
mother or grandmother.
There was another drive to put the book together, too. For years
Mezoian searched for an Armenian cookbook that included a recipe for
pagharch, an old-country, slow-cooked bread. He knew how his father
made it, but wondered how other Armenians mixed up the traditional
favorite.
He couldn’t find any recipes.
He researched the origin of the bread, and learned that it probably
came from a particular district in Turkish Armenia called Keghi. But
he wasn’t sure if the pagharch bread was an Armenian or Turkish food.
“Combining academic research with ancestry, my intuitive gut feeling
is that this unique food is surely Armenian,” he writes. “If nothing
else, the recipe for pagharch is now officially recorded and
published as an Armenian food in this cookbook.”
It is one of his favorite Armenian foods. The other is khama. The
recipe is in the book, but probably won’t be the most popular item,
since it is essentially a raw hamburger.
It was this dish, though, that made Mezoian realize that many
cultures make the same sorts of foods, just with different names. In
America, this khama is called steak tartare. The baklava of his
ancestors is similar to the baklava made by Greeks. He also has
recipes for stuffed cabbage, which can also be found on Polish
tables, and stuffed grape leaves.
Mezoian has made everything that is in his cookbook. They are foods
he enjoys eating.
He hopes other people, not just those of Armenian descent, will find
them tasty, too.
“I wrote this for anyone who is interested in sitting down at night,
maybe not deciding to cook, but reading it and saying, ‘Oh, I know
what this is,’ and maybe make it someday,” he said. “Even
non-Armenians are interested in the foods, as they would be in foods
from other nationalities.”
Staff Writer Giselle Goodman can be contacted at 791-6330 or at:
[email protected]
GRAPHIC:
Mezoian’s cookbook includes a recipe for pagharch, a food that
Armenians eat when having a family celebration such as a christening
or reunion.
Staff photo by Gordon Chibroski
Anthony P. Mezoian, author of a new cookbook about Armenian cooking
in Maine, at his home on the Cape Elizabeth-South Portland line.

Le Télégramme , France
11 février 2005
COUPE GAMBARDELLA (32 e s DE FINALE). CPB RENNES BRÉQUIGNY – STADE
BRESTOIS Eric Assadourian : le sprinter-éducateur
par Yvon Joncour
Quand on a longtemps sprinté sous le faisceau des projecteurs,
peut-on ensuite travailler dans l’ombre ? La question ne se pose
guère pour Eric Assadourian, auteur d’une solide carrière en D1 et
aujourd’hui en charge au Stade Brestois de l’équipe
« Yann Daniélou recherchait un joueur pro qui avait fait une longue
carrière pour l’encadrement de ces joueurs à qui il devait
transmettre sa connaissance du milieu pro et de ses pièges. Il avait
eu vent de mon travail à Valence », indique Eric Assadourian.
Voir Naples et courir
C’est dans le club de la Drôme, où il a eu la responsabilité des 16
ans nationaux ces trois dernières saisons, que cet ailier
ultra-rapide mit fin, un an avant l’achèvement de son dernier
contrat, à une carrière bien remplie. « Le changement des mentalités,
l’attachement moins grand des jeunes joueurs au maillot m’avaient
conduit à une certaine lassitude ».
Il y a, c’est vrai, bien plus de trémolos dans la voix d’Eric
Assadourian, quand il évoque ses débuts dans le métier, son premier
contrat pro à 19 ans à Toulouse.
Et « ces matchs énormes en Coupe d’Europe vécus (sur le banc des
remplaçants) contre le Naples de Maradona qu’on avait éliminé aux
tirs au but, puis (sur le terrain) contre le Spartak de Moscou contre
qui on avait gagné 3-0 puis… encaissé un 5-1 par – 10ºc à Moscou ».
Ce démarrage plein gaz pour un passionné de moto et à l’occasion de
sports extrêmes (saut à l’élastique, parachutisme, etc…) allait
déboucher sur une enfilade de 278 matchs et de 38 buts en D1 au
Téfécé, à Lille, Lyon et à Guingamp, avant qu’il ne visite sur le
tard la D2 à Louhans, Beauvais, Valence et un peu le National.
Sélectionné plusieurs fois en espoirs et une seule fois en A’ par
Aimé Jacquet (face à la Tunisie), Eric Assadourian a-t-il été
international A ? En France, non. En Arménie, oui, à treize reprises.
Cette incongruité fut le résultat d’une dérogation spéciale accordée
aux descendants d’Arméniens, s’ils avaient été sélectionnés dans les
équipes tricolores avant mars 1993.
Avec le Nantais Michel Der Zakarian, Eric intégra donc sa nouvelle
sélection pour les éliminatoires du Mondial 98.
L’aventure arménienne
« Le but était qu’on aide les autres joueurs à progresser, pour
qu’ils aillent à l’étranger et qu’ils en reviennent plus fort. Ca
s’était pas mal passé puisqu’on avait fini 4 e de notre groupe. Mais
ça s’est gâté lors des éliminatoires de l’Euro, où les choix du
sélectionneur et du président de la Fédération ont provoqué une
complète régression ».
Les deux joueurs décidèrent alors de mettre fin à ce qu’Eric
Assadourian considère « davantage une aventure humaine que sportive,
qui a toutefois permis à mon père et à mon grand-père de venir pour
la première fois sur la terre de leurs ancêtres ».
Sa fondation par des Arméniens n’a pas justifié, à l’entendre, sa
venue à l’ASOA Valence, où il a abandonné, il y a trois ans, son jeu
électrique pour la bonne parole de l’éducateur au centre de
formation. « Depuis ma formation à l’INF Vichy, j’ai toujours eu en
moi ce désir de favoriser la progression des jeunes joueurs et de
leur transmettre un certain esprit de club ». A moyen ou à long
terme, le Stade Brestois espère toucher les dividendes de cette
profession de foi.
Assadourian en bref
38 ans. Il est né le 24 juin 1966 à Saint-Maurice. Il a été formé à
l’INF Vichy de 1983 à 1986.
– Ses différents clubs : Toulouse FC (de 1986 à 1990, D1); Lille OSC
(de 1990 à 1995, D1); Lyon (1995-96, D1); Guingamp (96-97, D1);
Louhans-Cuiseaux (1997-98, D2); Beauvais (1998-99, D2); Valence
(1999-2000 en D2 et 2000-2001 en National).
– Il a disputé 278 matchs en D1 et inscrit 38 buts. En D2, il a joué
une centaine de matcches et inscrit 25 buts. En National, il a marqué
5 buts.
– International espoirs (13 sélections) et A’ (une sélection), il a
porté treize fois les couleurs de l’équipe d’Arménie.
–Boundary_(ID_wIPwu+qEWroc04wSDMcWnw)–

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Feb 12 2005
COUNCIL OF EUROPE SHOULD IMPOSE SANCTIONS AGAINST ARMENIA
[February 12, 2005, 21:38:56]
On February 12, Chairman of Milli Majlis Murtuz Alaskarov has met with
co-rapporteurs of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on
Azerbaijan Andreas Gross and Andres Herkel.
In detail having informed the co-rapporteurs about legal and
democratic reforms in Azerbaijan, Mr. Alaskarov has noted, that
our country integrates into Europe, carries out the obligations
taken before the Council of Europe, he has told: “Milli Majlis has
ratified more than 40 CE conventions. Under recommendations of the
Venetian Commission, OSCE and other international organizations,
a new Election Code has been adopted, on the basis of the given
document presidential and municipal elections were carried out and
now there is a preparation for parliamentary elections. If necessary,
said Code can be amended. Also the public TV in the near future will
start to work. WE take measures connected to persons, which the Council
of Europe, according to data of the non-governmental organizations,
counts political prisoners. More than thousand people were pardoned
on Decree signed by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
Having emphasized, that Azerbaijan has received the greater economic,
political and democratic development in comparison with republics
of Southern Caucasus, the Speaker has told: “The questions causing
our concern, remain. Though Armenia has undertaken to assist peace
settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, nevertheless, it does
not fulfill the given promise. Speaking on human rights, it is
impossible to remain indifferent to destiny of more than one million
citizens of Azerbaijan. The Security Council of the United Nations,
the Council of Europe and other organizations adopted relevant
resolutions connected to this conflict. But it is impossible to be
content only with adoption of documents; it is necessary to impose
serious sanctions against the aggressor.
Having expressed gratitude for the detailed information, Andreas Gross
has noted, that is pleased with democratic reforms carried out in
Azerbaijan. He has told: “It is necessary to improve clauses of the
Election Code connected to formation of constituencies. Having made
it, the Parliament can achieve much. Expedient will be also prompt
beginning of work of the public TV.
At the meeting, also were given answers to questions interesting
visitors and carried out exchange of views on other questions
representing mutual interest.

FOREIGN MINISTER OF AZERBAIJAN MEETS WITH TURKISH PRESIDENT IN ANKARA
Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Feb 10 2005
[February 10, 2005, 21:30:16]
Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov, who arrived February
10 in Ankara at the invitation of his Turkish counterpart Abdullah
Gul, was received on the same day by President of the country Ahmet
Necdet Sezer.
Minister E. Mammadyarov conveyed to the Turkish President greetings
and invitation to visit Baku from President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev,
and updated him on his official visit to Ankara.
For his part, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer asked the Minister pass
on his greetings to President Ilham Aliyev, and noted that social
and political processes taking place in Azerbaijan are in the focus
of his constant attention.
The meeting was also focused on a number of political, economic and
cultural issues including those related to the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
oil and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway,
as well as some regional and international problems.

Russian foreign minister to visit Armenia
RosBusinessConsulting Database
February 10, 2005 Thursday 2:04 am, EST
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov will discuss the duration of
President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Armenia in the course of his visit
to this republic. According to the ARKA news agency, Armenian foreign
minister Vartan Oskanian said Putin had accepted Armenian leader Robert
Kocharian’s invitation and would visit the republic in the near future.
As reported earlier, Lavrov’s visit to Armenia is scheduled for
February 17.