Author: Hakobian Adrine

RECORD TELETHON

Azat Artsakh Daily
28 Nov 08
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

As it’s already known, on November 27th in Los Angeles the yearly
telethon carried out by `Hayastan’ all-Armenian Fund started. Attention
of the Armenians of all the world was concentrated continuously 12
hours on the arrangement. The telethon 2008 was record among the
telethons carrying out since 1996: more than 35 million dollars were
collected. Organization of the 12 hour telethons is not an arrangement
directed just to moneycollection, but a spacious guide consolidating
all the Armenians round one united purpose.

Sportinglife.com, UK
Nov 28 2008

VIC VOWS TO SWAT ‘FLY’

World super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan claims defending his
titles against Jorge Arce early next year will be like "pest control".

The "Raging Bull" is on the crest of a wave right now having recently
become the first man in the history of the 115-pound division to unify
the IBF, WBC and WBA belts and will be looking to add Arce to his list
of Mexican victims on February 7.

Darchinyan (31-1-1, 25 KOs), who knocked out Cristian Mijares in the
ninth round of their bout on November 1 to walk away with all three
titles, is now relishing what he expects to be an easy contest.

The Sydney resident, by way of his native Armenia, said: "I can’t get
enough of Mexican fighters. They bounce real good off the canvas when
I hit them.

"Let’s see, I’ve stopped Cristian Mijares, Victor Burgos and Luis
Maldonado over the past two years.

"Unlike Jorge Arce, those three fighters were very tough
hombres. Defeating Arce won’t take much training. It won’t even be a
fight for me – more like pest control.

"I’m going to swat that Spanish Fly. How do you take a guy like Arce
seriously? He sucks on lollipops and wears a cowboy hat from a toy
store. He looks like ‘Woody’ from the movie ‘Toy Story’.

"I can picture him running around his house on a broom pretending he’s
riding a horse. He’s a regular Schlepalong Cassidy. When I finally
meet him at the press conference do I say "Hola Jorge" or "Howdy,
Doody"?

"Arce is going to be my human pinata. Our fight will be like a
Chihuahua against a bull…a raging bull!"

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO PAY TWO-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO BELARUS

ARKA
Nov 26, 2008

YEREVAN, November 26. /ARKA/. Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edvard
Nalbandyan leaves Thursday for Belarus on a two-day official visit,
the RA Foreign Ministry’s press service reports.

During his visit, the minister plans to meet with President of Belarus
Alexander Lukashenko, his Belarusian colleague Sergey Martinov and
Minister of Economy Nikolai Zaichenko. Nalbandyan will also meet with
representatives of the Armenian community in Belarus.

PLANE WITH ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND ARMENIAN WINNERS OF WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD ON BOARD HAS JUST LANDED IN ZVARTNOTS AIRPORT IN YEREVAN

ArmInfo
2008-11-26 19:36:00

ArmInfo. The plane with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Armenian
chess players, the winners of the World Chess Olympiad in Dresden,
on board has just landed in Zvartnots Airport in Yerevan.

As ArmInfo correspondent reports, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran
Sargsyan, members of the government and parliament, as well as numerous
residents of Yerevan are greeting the team of the winners.

The City Hall of Yerevan is planning to organize some festive events
in honor of the chess players, particularly, their festive drive along
the central streets of Yerevan, a concert with Armenian pop stars at
the Sports and Concert Complex after Karen Demirchyan, as well as a
festive firework.

To note, the national team of Armenia has repeated its 2006
achievement. At the Olympiad-2006 in Turin the Armenian team headed
by Arshak Petrosyan also gained the title of Olympic champions.

FIRST EPIDEMIOLOGICAL, DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY FOR SURVEILLANCE OF PESTICIDES IN FOODSTUFFS OPENED IN YEREVAN

ARKA
Nov 26, 2008

YEREVAN, November 26. /ARKA/. The first epidemiological and diagnostic
laboratory for surveillance of pesticides in imported foodstuffs in
Armenia was opened in the National Veterinary and Diagnostic Center
in Yerevan Tuesday.

The laboratory was set under support of the Greek government that
invested 220,000 Euros in the project.

Armenian Premier Tigran Sargsyan, Minister of Agriculture Aramayis
Grigoryan, Greek Ambassador to Armenia Ioannis Korintios were present
at the opening ceremony.

The laboratory will allow maintaining control over 38 sorts of
pesticides now and over 70 kinds of pesticides as from January 2009,
which is a normal indicator, Director of the National Veterinary and
Diagnostic Center Hovhannes Hakobyan said.

The Premier welcomed the opening of the laboratory and stressed its
importance for agricultural sector of Armenia. The government intends
to raise the share of agriculture in the Gross Domestic Product next
year. He also pointed out that the laboratory will help increase
private investments in agriculture as the population will be aware
of the quality of consumed foodstuffs.

The Minister of Agriculture reported other projects implemented in
cooperation with the Greek government, particularly on construction
of slaughter-houses and purchase of new equipment for the laboratory.

The Ambassador of Greece to Armeni a Ioannis Korintios stressed the
importance of strengthening Armenia-Greece economic ties. Sargsyan,
in his turn, expressed his gratitude to the Greek government for the
financial assistance and pointed out importance of expanding economic
relations between the two friendly countries.

Interfax, Russia
Nov 20 2008

Armenia to put $300 mln into economy as anti-crisis support

YEREVAN Nov 20

The Armenian government presented its anti-crisis program on Thursday,
which foresees the provision of over $300 million in economic support,
Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said at a government session.

He said that the funds would be earmarked for developing small and
medium-sized business, which would, in turn, create new jobs and step
up Armenia’s economic development.

He said that the development of financial opportunities for small and
medium sized business was the best instrument for resisting the
current world economic crisis.

The Armenian government will provide around $50 million while the
World Bank will allocate the remaining $250 million.

He added that a preliminary agreement had been reached for the
allocation of $250 million during a visit of an Armenian government
delegation to Washington. Sarkisian expressed his hope that the first
tranche worth $50 million would be received in the first quarter of
2009.

In addition to financial assistance, the government has worked up a
program for the anti-crisis program’s implementation, as well as
changes in legislation on state debt. In accordance with these
changes, restrictions are being lifting on the provision of state
guarantees to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Sarkisian said that these measures would improve the Armenian
economy’s ability to stave off the negative effects of the world
economic crisis. A special commission formed by the Prime Minister
will examine business projects in the framework of the anti-crisis
program.

THERE ARE SPECIFIC FIELDS WHERE ARMENIA MUST LEAVE NO CHANCES TO AZERBAIJAN

ArmInfo
2008-11-20 10:33:00

ArmInfo Armenia’s actions and counter-actions must be more preventive
and even aggressive as this vacuum is constantly being filled with
Azerbaijan’s aggression. There are specific fields where Armenia must
leave no chances to Azerbaijan and must neutralize all of its threats
and challenges, says Director of Armenian Genocide Museum Hayk Demoyan.

Armenia must develop a plan of action based on the idea of dual
containment as Armenia has two aggressive neighbors. Azerbaijan is
openly hostile: it keeps talking about new war and is taking specific
actions to break the cease-fire regime.

The Moscow Declaration is not an obstacle for Azerbaijan should it
decide to resume war. There are lots of examples when Azerbaijan
broke the agreements it signed.

As regards Turkey, Armenia must toughen its policy with respect
to that country as it has taken the first step but has received no
adequate response.

SMBAT AYVAZIAN SENTENCED TO 2 YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT

Noyan Tapan

Nov 20, 2008

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. The general jurisdiction court of
Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash communities, presided over by judge
Gagik Avetisian, by the November 19 judgement sentenced Smbat Ayvazian,
a Political Board member of the Hanrapetutiun (Republic) party, to
two years’ imprisonment and fine of 300 thousand drams. Noyan Tapan
correspondent was informed about it by the Press Service of the RA
Cassation Court.

It should be mentioned that S. Ayvazian was accused by part 1, Article
316, RA Criminal Code, using violence to a power representative not
dangerous for his life and health, and part 4, Article 235, illegal
carrying of gas, cold or throwing arms.

SAVINA YANNATOU: SONGS OF AN OTHER
by Jennifer Kelly

PopMatters.com
/review/64963-savina-yannatou-songs-of-an-other/
N ov 18 2008

Haunting melancholy, spirited improvisation

Savina Yannatou brings together several worlds that seldom collide. In
fact, if you drew a Venn diagram of where the spheres of Mediterranean
folk, classical music, and free jazz improvisation intersected, you
might find her all alone with the intrepid Primavera En Salonica in
it. It’s a small, eclectic corner, but well worth visiting, as she
and her six-person band explore the interstices of tradition and free
experiment, classical capabilities, and folk simplicity.

Yannatou herself is Greek, born in Athens and trained as a vocalist at
the National Conservatory. Still, the music on this disc is not limited
to any single tradition. The folk source material for these tunes comes
from all over the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

The haunting opener, "Sareri Hovin Mernem", for instance, is based
on an Armenian song, its singer mourning the disappearance of her
beloved. The cut begins with a ringing bell, and then Yannatou
is off, her high, tremulous soprano tracing the melancholy curves
of the song. Her voice shows the discipline and range of classical
training, but none of the flourishes. Instead, she sings in a simple,
straightforward way that keeps the tune at the forefront. The main
embellishment is an occasional flaring and fluting of the notes that
seems to suggest suppressed weeping. Yannatou’s singing is the heart
of this piece, but she is enmeshed in a web of lilting, rhythm, the
non-Western twang of plucked oud, the breathy tones of nay (a kind
of flute), the pound and sway of drums.

Later, on "Smilj Smiljana", based on a Serbian tune, Yannatou’s
arranger Kostas Vomvolos takes a large role, his accordion framing
her clear, emotionally-laden voice. The tone, in this and most other
songs on the CD, is somber, though there are moments of frolic. "Za
lioubih maimo tri momi", a Macedonian folk tune, is a light-footed
reel of violin, winds, and syncopated drums. Yet slipped into this
nearly-Celtic whirl, you’ll hear bits of extended vocal technique
and free improvisation, a wild eruption of modernism out of a very
traditional setting.

That urge to push the boundaries reaches its peak in the new piece
"O Yannis kai o drakos", a free-jazzy meditation on scraps of Greek
folk melody. Here Yannatou incorporates pants and gulps and shrieks
into her vocal style, against an austere backing of double-bass plucks
and slow-building accordion. It is more jazz than folk – and hardly
world music at all. Later on "Perperouna", the band bridges these
two styles, with the free blurts and blasts of nay and bass twisted
around a sinuous melody. It’s the best cut on the disc, and all the
better for coming just after the blah touristiness of "Addio Amore."

These two tracks, the first a dull, literal reworking of an
Italian grape harvest song, the second a brave journey through
alternately-rhythmed realities, show exactly what Yannatou, and her
band, Primavera En Salonico, have to do to succeed. Yes, there are
lovely melodies to be had in the world, and fascinating instruments
to wrap around them. Still that sort of music gets performed at every
cultural center in every mid-sized town on the Mediterranean. Making
the songs new again, exploding their boundaries, infusing them with
later day meaning…that’s more difficult. To its credit, Primavera En
Salonico accomplishes this more often than not, on this fascinating,
unclassifiable disc.

CAMPUS: MCGILL REMEMBERS SURVIVORS OF GENOCIDE
Cara Wilson

McGill Tribune
paper234/news/2008/11/18/News/Campus.Mcgill.Rememb ers.Survivors.Of.Genocide-3549031.shtml
Nov 18 2008
Canada

Remembrance Day event commemorates Holocaust, Rwanda victims

Students, professors, and community members convened in Chancellor
Day Hall on Remembrance Day last week to commemorate the victims of
genocide. "Generations of Genocide" was presented by Students Helping
Others Understand Tolerance, Hillel Montreal, Students Taking Action
Now: Darfur, and the Jewish Law Students’ Association in collaboration
with the McGill Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism.

"Tonight, we will ponder some of the most daunting topics in human
history, and discuss the lessons humanity should have learned decades
ago," said Eloge Butera, a survivor of the Rwandan genocide and current
McGill law student. "If we take this moment to tell the stories of our
past it is not to illicit your pity, but to strengthen your resolve
to fight genocide."

Also on the panel were third generation Armenian genocide survivor
Liz Balian, Holocaust survivor Paul Herczeg, and Founder and President
of Canadian Friends of Sudan Justin Laku. Irwin Cotler, a McGill law
professor, gave a keynote address following the panel discussion.

Balian recounted her grandfather’s story from arguably the first
20th century genocide. Speaking with strong conviction, she touched
on the importance of community.

"I have inherited the need to stand up for my heritage and my ideals,"
Balian said. "We have a moral obligation to ensure a future free
from genocide".

Her closing statement, that "education is the best memorial for victims
of genocide," was particularly pertinent in the university setting.

"I had to survive. I thought, someone has to tell this story," said
Herczeg, a Hungarian survivor of the Holocaust. Although Herczeg lost
family and friends during his struggles in the Dachau and Auschwitz
concentration camps, his story did provide some hope for humanity.

"After being caught hiding in the woods, the punishment for which was
death, a German soldier saved my life by switching me from the task of
manual labour-which would have meant my death­-to the potato peeling
brigade, where I remained until our camp was liberated," Herczeg said.

Perhaps the most moving speaker of the night, Butera told his story
of survival as a 10-year-old boy in Rwanda.

"Genocide," Butera said, "is a vivid symbol of the violence and human
potential for brutality."

During the Rwandan genocide, the equivalent of the student population
of McGill was killed every day.

"I witnessed everyday so many souls of my loved ones disappear­,"
Butera said. "Although the numbers are quantified by history, to me
they are the stories that were and the stories that never were but
should have been."

All of the speakers demonstrated immense strength to stand up and
share their stories. A common thread amongst them was a need to share
their narratives.

"These are not just their stories, this is our story," said McGill
law Professor Rene Provost. "Genocide is in us. … The people who
carry out genocides are normal people and the next genocide is out
there on the horizon."

Laku spoke of the genocide happening right now in the Darfur region
of Sudan.

"We are gathered here to remember the silence of the world," Laku said.

He detailed the horrific conditions of rape and violence committed
by the Janjaweed in western Sudan.

"The refugee camps are the same as the work camps of the Holocaust,"
said Laku, who has visited numerous camps in the Darfur region. "I
commit myself to be a voice of the voiceless, to defend and protect
humanity. Darfur is Rwanda in slow motion."

Laku urged listeners to take a stand against what is currently
happening in Darfur, saying that "your silence never helps the victims,
but helps the oppressors."

Cotler was the last speaker of the night. Taking a scholarly approach,
he wove the stories of the night into five lessons to be learned:
the duty to remember, the danger of state-sanctioned incitement to
genocide, the dangers of silence, the consequences of inaction,
and the complicity of the elite. He called the event "a powerful
convergence of remembrance and reminder."

Cotler later quoted the Talmud and the Qu’ran: "If you save a single
person, it is as if you have saved an entire universe."

–Boundary_(ID_HQ7DG1SuZgjK4lsgBn wanA)–