Author: Emil Lazarian

AZERI PRESIDENT ISSUED ORDER REGARDING 125 ANNIVERSARY OF IRAVAN STATE DRAMATIC THEATRE
Author: S.Aliyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 31, 2006
The President of Azerbaijan issued an order on 125th jubilee of Iravan
State Dramatic Theatre of Azerbaijan. As it was stated in the order,
Irevan Theatre that takes an important role in the development of the
national theatre is one of the oldest cultural centers in the Caucasus.
Starting its activity at the beginning of 1882, this cultural center
has written shiny pages in the theatre history if Azerbaijan.
Besides, it was stated in the order that by receiving the state status
in 1928, that takes the name of popular dramatist Jafar Jabarli is
closely related to several masters.
It is stared in the order that Iravan Theatre did its best to
introduce cultural heritage of Azerbaijan to tens of thousand of
Azerbaijani people who leaved in historical Azerbaijani territories
that were included in the territory of Armenia SSR in result of false
determination of borders during the Soviet Union.
Iravan Theatre was forced to fully stop its activity in result of
Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in result of which
Azerbaijani people were drown out from their native lands. Iravan
Theatre that has been locating in Baku since 1988 differs with its
own performances and attracts the people loving theatre with its
creative successes.
Taking into consideration the role of the theatre in the cultural
and political life of Azerbaijan, the president ordered that the
Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Education Ministry,
Azerbaijan National academy of Sciences and Azerbaijan Union of Theatre
Workers should prepare and carry out a plan of measures dedicated to
125 anniversary of Iravan Theatre, and the Cabinet of Ministers of
Azerbaijan should fulfill all issues arising from the order.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PARTIES IN NK CONFLICT WILL COMPROMISE – US CO-CHAIRMAN OF OSCE MG
Author: À.Ismayilova
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 30, 2006
The parties in Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will compromise as this is
the only way to solve the problem. There may be no military solution,
said Matthew Bryza, U.S. Co-Chairman of OSCE Minsk Group, Trend
reports with reference to ANS TV Channel.
Bryza added that the Co-Chairmen delivered the parties new principles
that might be called “road map”. These are the best offers, said
Bryza, and the Co-Chairmen is waiting for proposals from Presidents
and Societies.
The U.S. diplomat informed the journalists of the forthcoming meeting
in Europe between Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia and
suggested both the parties display their constructive opinions he
has seen during his visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia.
–Boundary_(ID_vL3HyXISaTPEEKa6dCP6OQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GERMANY ALWAYS WILLING TO ASSIST IN SETTLING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT
Author: S.Agayeva
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 30, 2006
Germany upholds the peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh problem,
said Peer C. Stanchina, the new German Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
He said Germany’s position that has been maintained for many years
is already known to the Azeri Government.
“We, as well as Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, are committed to peaceful
discussions and we consider it unacceptable to use force to solve
the conflict”, said the German diplomat.
The Ambassador said Germany is always willing to assist in settling
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RAMIL SAFAROV’S FAMILY LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE SUBSTITUTED
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Aug. 30, 2006
Lawyer Adil Ismayilov, legal representative of Azerbaijani Army
officer Ramil Safarov was substituted. Ramil Safarov was sentenced
to life in jail for murdering Armenian Army officer Gurgen Markaryan.
Parliamentarian Zahid Oruj, member of the Coordination Board to Defend
Ramil Safarov’s rights told the APA. The Coordination Board was not
satisfied with his activity. He said the Board came to agreement with
other lawyer to represent Safarov’s family.
“This lawyer is very professional and patriotic. We will not name
him as it might harm the process,” he said.
The Bar said they will sign a contract with the new lawyer soon.
Ikram Shirinov will defend Ramil Safarov in the Court of Appeal, APA
reports. But the lawyer said he has not received an official appeal
for defending Safarov in the Court of Appeal. He was only asked to
analyze Hungarian legislation and to give an expert opinion.
“There is not any official agreement. I am getting acquainted with
Hungarian laws. It is early to give any opinion,” Shirinov said.

SERIOUS OBSTACLES STILL REMAIN IN REGULATION OF NK CONFLICT – OSCE CHAIRMAN
Author: P.Kasamanski
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug. 30, 2006
Belgian representatives of OSCE makes all efforts for the solution
of unsettled conflicts: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan
and Armenia, confrontation in Moldova and South Osetia in Georgia,
the Chairman of OSCE, Belgian Foreign Minister Karl de Guht said in
his interview with Russian newspaper “Novie Izvestiye”, Trend reports.
“I arrived in these Countries, met with their heads and leaders and
offered them all possible services. However, it is impossible to
resolve these conflicts only through efforts of the OSCE Chairman.
The success depends on the determination and efforts of conflicting
areas to make a decision that could ensure peace and security,”
he emphasized.
According to the Chairman of OSCE this year, the sides might appear
as a “window” for the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
However, during the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian Presidents
in Paris and Bucharest, it was not possible to achieve.
“Serious obstacles still remain, and both Presidents should demonstrate
wisdom and boldness. The Belgian representatives, together with the
Co-Chairs of OSCE Minsk Group, will to their best to promote this
process,” he underlined.
Speaking about the Georgian-Osetia conflict, Guht called for all sides
to return to the table of talks and stay away from any one-sided
action that may worsen the situation. “Recently, a conference of
donors was held in Brussels. The countries participating at the
conference promised to allocate more than 10 million Euros for the
restoration of economy in conflict area of Georgian-Osetia. We hope
that the support at the Conference may establish confidence between
sides.” Guht concluded.

THE STATE OF ART
By Morten Perregaard
ScandAsia.com, Thailand
Aug. 30, 2006
Danish born artist Elizabeth Romhild living in Bangkok speaks about her
art, and how she got to it. Furthermore, she reveals the interesting
journey she had before ending up in Bangkok
The black Land Rover rushes through the streets of downtown Bangkok.
The driver handles the never-ending rush hour of the Thailand capital
with a familiar steering hand. The all-wheel vehicle matches the
traffic-jungle and the driver perfect. She is dressed casual and
stylish at the same time. And laughter, smile and mildness are the
agenda behind the classy sunglasses.
The Land Rover comes to a halt in the driveway in a quiet neighborhood,
just a walking distance from the busy Sukhumvit Road.
So the silence is noted. Arco, the German Sheppard greets the driver.
The smell of coffee fills the nose in the kitchen, and the home of
the driver and her husband is filled with experiences and icons from
a life abroad.
The native born Danish artist, Elizabeth Romhild, has been living in
Bangkok with her husband, Peter, for 18 years. And it was in Bangkok
her art developed into the personal style that characterizes her
paintings of today.
The roundtrip Born in Denmark in 1960 by a Danish mother and Armenian
father she got her cosmopolitan background with, so to speak, her
mother¡¦s milk.
In 1965 the family moved to Persia, where she met Peter, a Dane,
who was working with East Asiatic Co. then, in 1978.
They married in 1979 and shortly after the Islamic Revolution, which
turned Persia into the country of Iran. Peter and Elizabeth moved to
Saudi Arabia due to her husbands work.
¡§The first two years in Saudi Arabia were tough. As a woman I was not
allowed even to go to the supermarket without my husband,¡¨ Elizabeth
starts telling after serving biscuits and sweets.
But the last two years in Saudi Arabia, she managed to build up a
small business with the cosmetic company, AVON. She became manager
with 30 employees working under her.
¡§It was my luck that the Saudi princesses used AVON. So I managed
to leave a country, where women are not allowed to work, with money
in my pocket,¡¨ Elizabeth continues with another mild laugh.
Peter and she stayed in Saudi Arabia until 1984. They were then
transferred to New York. They boarded Queen Elizabeth II and left ¡§The
Big Apple¡¨ behind after just one year. Only to be on the European
Continent for a couple of month before they were bound for Jakarta,
Indonesia. Again, because of Peter¡¦s work.
Motherhood In Indonesia, her passion for art started to emerge. She
painted her first real picture in aquarelle.
Elizabeth¡¦s earlier paintings were realistic – almost photographic
in style ¡V of slum and people. She earned the flattered title ¡§The
Slum-Painter.¡¨ In Jakarta she managed to get four exhibitions in an
art gallery. The first three were paintings made of watercolor. Her
works changed in style and materials. The motives went from people
and their surroundings to landscape and seascape. She then moved from
watercolor to oil paintings. The last exhibition in Jakarta consisted
of oil paintings.
¡§It was more an evolution than a revolution in my change of style and
materials. I am very powerful in my expression, so oil as a material
came closer to me,¡¨ Elizabeth explains.
In 1988 they settled down in Bangkok and have been here since.
She gave birth to two children, Wenja and Henrik, today aged 16 and
14. The new role as a mother meant a break in Elizabeth¡¦s work as
an artist.
After four years of artistic asylum, she started to paint again.
Having children made a turning point for the artist.
¡§Motherhood gave me a certain feeling. I wanted to keep that feeling,
and needed to transform that feeling onto the canvas. The feeling was
to be expressed through my art.¡¨ The artist of today The female body
became the main target. It started with an orange and a glass bowl.
¡§The shapes of those two objects are closely connected to the breast
and form of a human body – and specific the female body. On the other
hand, I do not have any specific preferences for the female body.
But, as a woman, I believe I can show ¡¥her¡¦ in another way than
a man. The man usually portrays the woman in some way as a sexual
object,¡¨ she continues.
¡§For me it is to capture the positive, not the sexual object. I
capture the beginning of life, and life starts at the breast. For
all people the breast has meant and still means, not only comfort,
but also security, safety and basic survival. But I was and still am
non-political in my art. I do not want to be political in any way. I
am not a part of the Women¡¦s Liberation Movement,¡¨ another smile
from Elizabeth reveals.
By no means is her non-political work an expression for a
non-involvement in the society.
Twice has she organized a charity event, for the ¡§Queen Srikit Breast
Cancer Center¡¨, where she auctioned one original painting together
with numbered wine bottles with her painting on the label.
At her recent event she auctioned ¡§Queen of Hearts¡¨, which was bid
for 750.000 Bath. Together with the wine sale and silent auction of
the special numbered bottles, she managed to raise a total of 1.3
million Bath, all to benefit the Queen Sirikit Breast Cancer Center
at Chulalongkorn Hospital. For her continued support she was recently
honored personally by HM Queen Sirikit.
Inspiration Even though her bookcase in the studio reveals Picasso
among others, it is more of interest rather than a specific source
of inspiration.
On the other hand music plays a role in Elizabeth Romhild¡¦s work.
That is to inspire.
¡§I do not need to leave the house to get inspiration. But I of
course pick up some ideas and get some input when I go out. But I
need music. People often say they can hear the music in my work.¡¨
Her pictures are strong and filled with passion, nothing abstract
or diffuse.
Today she earned the title, ¡§The Passion Specialist.¡¨ ¡§As a woman
it is satisfactory to earn your own money without being depended on
your husband. But I am lucky that I do not have to ¡¥live¡¦ from my
work, and therefore can express true passion, on my canvases,¡¨ says
the charismatic woman as she walks down the driveway after spending
three hours revealing her art and life. Just to see the Land Rover
parked in the garage, ready for the next trip to the gallery.
~CU She has just had a successful exhibition at Galerie Knud Grothe
Charlottenlund, in Copenhagen, last June, where she will exhibit next
in 2008.
~CU In Bangkok her paintings can be seen at The H Gallery, 201 Sathorn
Soi 12, where she exhibits her work every other year.
~CU In Denmark she currently has some work at Galerie Wolfsen, in
Aalborg ~CU In Singapore the well known Opera Gallery in 391 Orchard
Road, Ngee Ann City, represent her work all the time together with
their other artists.
To be able to follow her future exhibitions you may visit her website
asia.com/viewNews.php?news_id=2665&coun_code=t h
–Boundary_(ID_lj3ruY4ECamCM15+AJ+C/g)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITALIAN MATSARELLA CHEESE TO BE PRODUCED IN ARMENIA
Panorama.am
13:04 30/08/06
Ashot Tamrazyan, founder of Dili Farm Manufactory, is going to produce
Italian Matsarella Cheese in Armenia.
He says the prices will be five times lower than currently sold at
the elite shops. Tamrazyan assures that the cheese will be made from
fresh milk since he says it is not possible to produce Matsarella
from powder milk. Some 120 German cows are imported to Dilijan,
Armenia for the production purposes. In Tamrazyan’s estimates, it
will be possible to receive 3000 liters of milk in two years. Dili
manufactory was founded on $2 million investment.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT’S PRESS SPOKESMAN SAYS EARLY TO MAKE DOCUMENTS PUBLIC
Panorama.am
15:15 30/08/06
Speaking about Matthew Bryza’s statements, President press spokesman
Viktor Soghomonyan told a press conference today that if they make
documents on the talk table public, many things will become clear.
“I, sincerely, do not believe that I will have the honor to make
those documents public. I believe that such documents become public
after all, even if after 100 years,” the spokesperson said.
However, Soghomonyan promised that they are going to unveil all
documents in case they become public in part in future. “Judging
from unrealistic statements of official Baku, I can say this is not
the right time to do so,” He also said it is early to speak about
the next meeting between the presidents of the two countries since
an arrangement is reached for the meeting of foreign ministers only
recently.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CINEMA: LOVE AND DESTINY ON HIGH SEAS
Gerald Chuah
New Straits Times, Malaysia
Aug. 31, 2006
BRIDES
Directed by Pantelis Voulgaris
Starring Damian Lewis, Victoria Haralabidou, Andrea Ferreol, Evi
Saoulidou, Steven Berkoff, Dimitris
NOTHING works as well as a good old-fashioned love story. Brides is
an epic romance story shot on board a ship but this is no Titanic.
Its merits are stark realism and good acting, and the film is devoid
of Hollywood special effects.
The film should have been renamed Mail Order Bride as this is its
main theme.
Set in 1922, the movie depicts the story of 700 mail order brides
from Greece, Turkey, Russia and Armenia travelling on the SS King
Alexander to United States to meet prospective husbands.
Some see it as an opportunity to start a brand new life, while others
are bound by familial duties. Most feel lost, depressed and homesick
as they have to leave the comfort of their homes and family to marry
a stranger.
Although Brides is a new film, it looks as if it was taken from some
archives. The colours are muted and the story is slow-moving and a
bit depressing.
However, the film abounds with great dialogue and acting.
The shots of the brides are almost haunting as their future looms
with excitement and apprehension.
This excellent filmmaking technique brings out the best in this
epic drama.
The main characters are American photographer Norman Harris (Damien
Lewis) and Greek seamstress Niki (Victoria Haralabidou).
Harris is returning home after roaming Asia Minor for several years.
He is frustrated and despondent after his latest wartime photos are
rejected by the American newspaper he’s working for.
He is inspired to photograph the mail order brides in their bridal
attire after observing them from the deck.
He falls in love with demure seamstress Niki, who is bound for Chicago
to marry a tailor named Prodromos.
Their brief relationship culminates with a heart-rending decision
upon their arrival in America.
No movie is complete without the bad guy and here, it is a Russian
(played by Steven Berkoff) who lures some of the young girls away to
be his potential “business partners”.
The movie captures the epic and emotional journey with attention to
detail, including costumes and the ship’s various quarters.
The atmosphere is moody and sensual, reminiscent of the era.
Ultimately, the film is about strong emotions, dilemmas and conscience.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN SIDE SAYS NO MEETING SCHEDULED BETWEEN AZERBAIJANI AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS BY THE END OF 2006
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Aug. 31, 2006
There is no agreement on a meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani
Presidents, but the possibility it will occur has not been completely
ruled out, Viktor Sogomonian, a press officer of the Armenian President
said at today’s press conference.
He said it is too early to say “that all possibilities” for the
peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have been
exhausted, because this year is not over yet. He recalled a statement
made by Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian in Slovenia that
Armenia welcomes constructive dialogue based on the real situation.
“Sooner or later everybody will have to take into account the real
situation, including the Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s independence.”
He added that in June 2006 Matthew Bryza, U.S. co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, made public some points of the conflict settlement
document drafted by the co-chairmen, which gave rise to various
comments. The Armenian side is ready to make public all documents
ever discussed at the negotiations and then everybody will see and
know who and what was offered and who is ready to exchange or cede.
“I believe this will happen sooner or later,” said Sogomonian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress