Author: Harutyunian Christine

ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI LEADERS FACE EXCESSIVE DEMAND

AZG Armenian Daily
08/03/2006

Energetic Diversification Is Not Confined To Gas

“It’s amazing how Yerevan has changed. The city has always been
beautiful but now it’s is more lively. I see economic activity,
dynamism and vigor. This reflects steadfast economic growth and also,
I hope, reforms in market in advancement to democracy,” Matthew J.

Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs, said to a press conference yesterday.

Mr. Bryza said that one of the aims of his visit is to deepen
cooperation with Armenia to strengthen democracy. “I am
here also to back our common goal in the issue of Armenia’s
energetic independence.” Expressing satisfaction over progress
Armenia-Euro-Atlantic partnership, Mr. Bryza stated that he
discussed these issues with senior Armenian officials, had a
“very constructive” meeting with Armenian President and discussed
energy-related issues with the minister of energetics and experts of
this sphere. Besides, Mr. Bryza had meetings with Armenian defense
and foreign ministers. Today he will meet the parliament speaker.

PACE PRESIDENT URGED COE MEMBER STATES TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING

PanARMENIAN.Net
08.03.2006 20:44 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ With a view to the International Women’s Day,
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President Rene van der Linden
today urged the organization’s member states as well as the European
Community to adhere to the Convention on action against trafficking
in human beings. “Whilst fully supporting all current initiatives
for a ‘red card to forced prostitution’, I hope we can avoid yellow
cards for our member states for not having taken the necessary legal
action to prevent trafficking in general, and forced prostitution in
particular,” he said. Mr. van der Linden stressed that after drugs and
arms, trafficking in human beings represents the third most lucrative
criminal business. Estimates of the number of victims vary from 120
000 to 500 000. “In Europe, trafficking in human beings is above
all synonymous with forced prostitution. This form of modern-day
slavery replaces chains by rape, psychological terror and complete
dependence through the deprivation of the women’s personal and civil
identity. These are unbearable facts.

Forced prostitution is a crime and a blatant violation of human
rights,” Mr van der Linden said. “On the occasion of this year’s
World Cup in Germany, a strong temporary rise in the demand for
sexual services is expected. This represents a considerable risk of
an increase in forced prostitution,” he added. “The Council of Europe
Convention on action against trafficking in human beings offers the
necessary legal means to prosecute traffickers, to better protect
victims, safeguard their rights and to fight trafficking. It was opened
for signature on 16 May 2005, but has so far been signed by only 25
out of the 46 member states and not ratified by any member state. It
is high time to take resolute action. As the organizer of the World
Cup, Germany could take the lead and set an example by ratifying the
Convention,” Rene van der Linden concluded.

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 11 2006

EC draws up 10m euros plan on Azerbaijan for 2006-2007 – Samad
Seyidov

Source: Trend
Author: J.Shahverdiyev

11.03.2006

EC drew up 10m euros plan on Azerbaijan for 2006-2007, Trend reports
referring to Samad Seyidov, the head of the Azerbaijani delegation to
PACE.

He noted that EC prepared concrete plans and issues on elimination of
some problems in Azerbaijan. Seyidov stressed that every measure
related to the working plan would be transparent. `Besides the
working plan of EC for 2006-2007, Azerbaijan also started intensive
activities on approval of the working plan with EU. It means that
Azerbaijan does not step aside from the chosen way, will continue the
cooperation with EU, CE and other international organizations,
regarding it as priority,’ Seyidov underlined.

Touching upon baseless accusations in regard to Azerbaijan by
international organizations, Seyidov noted that it was related to
positive moments existing in the foreign policy of the country.
Therefore, Armenians try to infringe the Azerbaijan’s image.

Azad Hye, United Arab Emirates
March 12 2006

UAE Armenians > 25th anniversary celebration in Abu Dhabi

Azad-Hye, Dubai, 13 March 2006: The Armenian Community School of Abu
Dhabi celebrated its 25th Anniversary on Friday, March 10, 2006. The
function took place at `The Club’ in Abu Dhabi and the hall was
packed to capacity with students, teachers, former students, parents
and friends – some of them from Sharjah and Dubai – who had come to
participate in this memorable event (about 180 attendants
altogether).

The function was held under the auspices of the Catholicosal Vicar of
Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf Countries, His Eminence Archbishop Gorun
Babian, who had come from Kuwait especially for this occasion.
Present also were His Excellency Dr. Arshak Poladian, Ambassador of
the Republic of Armenia, Mr. Marat Melikian, 3rd Secretary and Head
of the Consular Office, members of the Armenian Community Council of
Abu Dhabi, the Executive Council, members of the Community Council of
the Northern Emirates, the principal of the Ohannessian School of
Sharjah.

The first part of the program consisted of an exhibition of pictures,
posters and handicraft prepared by the students of the school
especially for this occasion. There was a 25th Anniversary
commemorative book which was a compilation of two and half decades of
school activities and achievements (you can download a complete copy
or selected parts of the book from the links provided below). Mugs
and caps displaying the 25th anniversary logo, designed by Mr. Raffi
Simonian, were on sale for a nominal fee.

Upon the arrival of the guests of honor, Archbishop Babian and
Ambassador Poladian, the program got under way. After the Hymn of the
Republic of Armenia, sung by the audience, the principal of 23 years,
Mrs. Tamar Der-Ohannessian delivered the opening speech, highlighting
the major role the weekly school plays in the Armenian Community of
Abu Dhabi. There was a slide show prepared by Mr. Berge Ohannessian,
one of the former students of the school, which delighted all those
present, at the same time conveying a feeling of nostalgia, as
everyone recognized themselves and their children throughout the past
years. Copy of the slide show was distributed with the commemorative
book.

The school children sang and recited in a very well rehearsed manner.

Ambassador Poladian took the podium to express his heartfelt
appreciation and delight on this occasion, praising the devotion and
hard work of both teachers and students. Then, he invited Archbishop
Babian to present him with the passport of the Republic of Armenia,
as a token of recognition of his services in Iran and GCC countries
(Babian has been the Prelate of Isfahan for more than two decades
before moving to Kuwait).

The keynote speaker of the day was Archbishop Babian himself, who
first addressed the children delighting them with his easygoing
manner, encouraging them to answer his questions regarding how much
they loved the Armenian school, the Armenian language and their
fatherland, Armenia. Then, on a more serious note, he expressed his
appreciation and gratitude to the teachers for their devotion,
perseverance and patience in the great effort of teaching the mother
tongue and history, culture and religion to the new generation.

The names of all the teachers who had taught and still did at the
school were read, and all those present came forward to receive a red
rose from the Armenian Community Council.

Two teachers, Mrs. Arous Ohannessian and Mrs. Tamar Der-Ohannessian
(the principal of the school), were presented with beautiful framed
plates etched with the school 25th Anniversary logo for their work of
over 23 years at the school.

The ceremony was concluded with a large celebration cake brought to
the front to loud cheers and singing from the audience. This was
followed with the ceremonial cutting. Souvenir pictures were taken.

A sumptuous reception followed the ceremony where everyone had the
chance to sample great food and conversation.

It was indeed an appropriate tribute to 25 years of achievement.

The event as announced in our Events Calendar:

sp?evid=48

Website of the School:

(You are invited to post your comment in the Guestbook and read the
comments of graduates and friends of the School)

The 25th anniversary commemorative book – online version:

Complete version (7.51 MB):
sary-book.pdf

We have divided the book into four sections to help you to download
each section separately, if you wish to do so:

Preface (1.23 MB)

Phot o gallery – Part I (2.31 MB)
-1.pdf

Photo gallery – Part II (2.22 MB)
-2.pdf)

Index (2.45 MB):

The contents of the above commemorative book:

Page 1: Logo.

Pages 3-5: Brief history of the school (Armenian and English).

Pages 6-8: Messages of Archbishops Gorun Babian and Oshagan Choloyan.

Page 9: Message of Mrs. Tamar Der-Ohannessian, Principal of the
School.

Page 10: Message of the founding Principal Sona Badalian.

Page 11: Co-founder Mrs. Ashkhen Arzoumanian tells the story of
opening the School.

Page 12: Alice Ohannessian a graduate of the School interviews
another graduate Alenoush Shahmirzayan-Seraidarian, on the occasion
of having the later’s daughter registered as second generation
student in the school.

Page 13: `My Story’, Lena Derohannessian, daughter of the Principal
of the School and a graduate herself, remembers what school meant and
continues to mean for her.

Page 14: `I am an Armenian’, by Shaghig Toukhmanian Festekjian.

Page 15: `My first little Armenia’, by Sareen Sanossian.

Page 16: List of locations where the Armenian school held its classes
since 1981.

Page 17: Meeting of the graduates in Abu Dhabi, on 3rd February 2006.

Pages 19-45: About 130 photos covering school years 1981-2006.

Pages 46-49: Visitors of the school such as Historian Nikolai
Hovhannissian (1986), Catholicos Aram I (1988), Poet Razmig Tavoyan
(1992), Poetess Silva Gaboudigian (1996), Poet Kevork Emin (1998),
Professor Architect Varaztad Haroutounian, Minister Vartan Oskanian
(1999) and Bishop Nareg Alaemezian (2001).

Pages 50-58: Complete list of students and teachers during the last
25 years.

Page 59: Gratitude page for those who contributed to the success of
the Armenian Community School of Abu Dhabi during the past 25 years.

Pages 60-62: Press clips.

Pages 63-64: Pamphlets of graduation ceremonies.

The publication of the book has been made possible by Leon and Tamar
Der-Ohannessian

St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Missouri)
March 5, 2006 Sunday
FOURTH EDITION

Gorky proves worthy as abstract expressionist

By David Bonetti POST-DISPATCH VISUAL ARTS CRITIC

It was Jackson Pollock who, in Willem de Kooning’s words, “broke the
ice,” creating in an amazing act of inspiration the so-called “drip”
paintings that have since defined abstract expression. But it was
Arshile Gorky, the dark, gloom-enshrouded refugee from Armenia, who
first found his mature voice as a painter among the artists of that
haunted generation that helped make New York the world’s art capital.

Gorky (1904-48) was the great apprentice of his time. One after
another, he tried on the styles of the painters of the near past,
only to throw them off when a new avatar appeared to him. What Gorky
did that was original and remains impressive was to combine Picasso’s
cubist space with Miro’s biomorphic surrealist imagery as if they
were one thing.

Gorky is seldom seen hereabouts, so this exhibition MOCRA is
presenting is greatly welcomed.

The show, which comes from Jack Rutberg Fine Arts in Los Angeles,
features 43 drawings from Gorky’s apprenticeship years. From his
start, Gorky was a superb draftsman, so it offers many small
pleasures to those who appreciate fine drawing.

What’s more, it allows the forensically inclined viewer to watch a
particular form transmute from representational to abstract to
representational again. And for those who know them, the payoff is to
see the genesis of the sexually charged forms that dominate Gorky’s
mature works.

In the current show, the form to follow is kidney-shaped, which
appears as a breast, a gourd, a peanut, a compote, a cartoon-like
head.

In two graphite drawings of female nudes from the mid-’30s, hung side
by side, you can see how Gorky was pushing himself out of the
familiar into the undiscovered. In one, a finely delineated portrait
of a woman with a stylish ’30s hairdo has been cut off from the rest
of his drawing by a crudely scrawled rectangular frame. Below the
cut-off point hangs a pair of large breasts turning into soft
geometric forms. In the adjacent drawing, the entire nude is composed
of interlocking kidney or peanut forms — the arm and shoulder, the
knee, the thigh/rump, the torso, the head. What Gorky had repressed
returns to dominate.

Despite a number of nude studies here, the still life, cubism’s
primary medium of experimentation, predominates. In these studies,
some quite beautiful, Gorky explores the possibilities of
representing three-dimensional form on a two-dimensional surface that
Picasso and Braque, taking off from Cézanne, had explored earlier.

This exhibition is as much about Hans Burkhardt as it is about Gorky.
The Swiss-born Burkhardt (1904-94) was a student and studio mate of
Gorky who saved a cache of works that the impulsive Gorky was
throwing out when he was evicted. Burkhardt moved to Los Angeles in
1937 and became one of the major abstract painters of that emergent
cultural center.

There are four paintings in the show. One is a portrait by Gorky of
the young, stiff Burkhardt holding his palette. Two others are
collaborations between student and pupil, showing various allegiances
to Picasso and Miro. The fourth, a Cézannesque landscape of Staten
Island by Gorky, demonstrates that Gorky was a very good apprentice.

Brooks did better

James Brooks (1906-1992) was born in St. Louis, but by the time he
was 5 he moved with his family to Oklahoma and Texas. By 1926, he
liberated himself by moving to New York, where he became a minor
member of the abstract expressionist fraternity.

The Greenberg Van Doren Gallery represents his estate, and in this,
his centennial year, the gallery is showing his work. One doesn’t
know if it is intentionally a centennial show or not, because the
gallery’s promotional materials make no mention of it.

Unfortunately, the show confirms Brooks’ second-rate status. Only a
handful of the dozen and a half works on view suggest a major talent.
In most of the dreary abstractions, Brooks’ inept drawing, jejune
sense of composition and disregard for surface dominate the viewing
experience. Color is Brooks’ strong point, but these works fail to
exploit even that virtue.

“Maruga” a 1962 vibrant composition of red, white, black and gray,
hints at what Brooks could do. I’ve seen better Brooks. This show
does him no honor.

—

‘Gorky: The Early Years, Paintings and Drawings, 1929-1937’

Where: The Museum of Contemporary Religious Art, 3700 West Pine Mall,
St. Louis University

When: Through March 12. Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through
Sunday.

How much: free

More info: 314-977-7170 or

—

‘James Brooks: Small Paintings and Works on Paper’

Where: Greenberg Van Doren Gallery, 3540 Washington Avenue

When: Through March 25. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday

How much: free

More info: 314-361-7600 or

Georgian governor dismisses ethnic Armenian rioters as “common criminals”

Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
12 Mar 06

[Presenter] In Akhalkalaki [town in southern Georgia populated mainly
by ethnic Armenians], where the Russian military base is still
stationed, a court and university building have been ransacked. The
alleged pretext was the killing of an Armenian youth in Tsalka
[another town in southern Georgia with a large ethnic Armenian
population]. However, new demands were heard in Akhalkalaki, from
where our correspondent reports.

[Correspondent] Members of the Armenian public council staged a rally
in the centre of Akhalkalaki at about noon [on 11 March]. The
organizers cited a murder in Tsalka several days earlier as the
reason. Akhalkalaki’s Armenian population is convinced that their
kinsman in Tsalka was killed precisely because he was Armenian.

[Azat Mipaktsyan, captioned as chairman of the Javakheti
intelligentsia organization, in Russian] Gevork Gevorkyan was killed
in Tsalka in what we are told was a common street fight. The people
rose in order to prevent such incidents in future.

[Correspondent] Members of the Armenian public organization say that
the resettlement of people from other parts of Georgia is behind the
frequent conflicts in Tsalka. They want the authorities to ensure the
safety of ethnic Armenian residents.

[Vardan Akopyan, captioned as chairman of Akhalkalaki youth
organization, in Russian] People are outraged by the fact that the
Georgians studying there [at the university in Akhalkalaki] are not
local.

[Correspondent to Akopyan] Where are they from?

[Akopyan] For example, from Kutaisi or Zugdidi. They have been
provided with accommodation. We have a very hard climate here, but all
the necessary conditions are being created for them and they are also
being paid scholarships.

There are already hundreds of such people here.

[Correspondent] After the rally, people broke into the Akhalkalaki
District court in protest at the dismissal of ethnic Armenian
judges. The next object of public anger was the Akhalkalaki branch of
the [Tbilisi] state university.

Protesters broke down the main door and ransacked the building. They
said that Armenians, unlike Georgians, could not study there because
tuition was in Georgian.

[Akopyan] The Armenian language should be declared a state language in
places where Armenians live in compact communities. There are a total
of almost 200,000 ethnic Armenians in Samtskhe-Javakheti [province
which includes Akhalkalaki] and in the 13 Armenian villages in Tsalka
District. We see this as our right, especially as the right of the
local people, people who were born here. This would lift most of the
tension.

[Correspondent] According eyewitnesses, angry people also broke into
the local office of the [Georgian] Orthodox Church. Nuns say that they
were looking for arms. [Passage omitted]

The governor [of Samtskhe-Javakheti, Giorgi Khachidze] has arrived in
Akhalkalaki to look into the situation.

[Khachidze] These are common criminals. Criminals have no nationality.
Some little men organized this. They brought uneducated children here
who committed these acts of vandalism. These are common criminals who
are no better than those who killed an ethnic Armenian youth in Tsalka
several days ago.

[Correspondent] Criminal proceedings have been launched in connection
with these incidents [riots], but Samtskhe-Javakheti police have not
yet arrested anyone.

ARMENIA JOINS CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF EUROPEAN WILDLIFE AND NATURAL HABITATS

Noyan Tapan
Mar 14 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The official ceremony of the RA signing
the 1979 Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife
and Natural Habitats of the Council of Europe took place on March
13. Ambassador Christian Ter-Stepanian, the RA Permanent Representative
to the Council of Europe signed the convention from the Armenian side,
and Gianni Buquicchio, the Deputy Secretary General of the Council
of Europe singed it from the side of the Council of Europe. As Noyan
Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and Information
Department, so Armenia has become the 46th member state of the Bern
Convention. The convention is called to control the protection of
the wild nature and the nature environment, especially in the cases
of danger of liquidation. Besides the member states of the Council
of Europe, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia and Burkina Faso as well as the
European community are the members of the Convention.

FIRST POPULATION CENSUS IN NKR HISTORY STARTS TODAY

Pan Armenian
18.10.2005 21:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghukasyan has
addressed a message to NKR society over the population census in
2005. The statement specifically says, “October 18 the first population
census starts in our Republic to be held till October 27. As it is
known, according to international standards, the census is held once
every 10 years. The latest census was held in NK during the Soviet
regime in 1989. Unfortunately, the war imposed upon us by Azerbaijan
and the following complex military and political situation, social,
economic, and democratic situation, as well as the need to restore the
undermined economy, provide at least minimal living conditions for
the population and absence of means conditioned by all this did not
allow conducting the recurrent population census in time. We clearly
understand the importance of the census in securing further social and
economic growth. This will provide an opportunity to realistically
plan our actions aimed at strengthening independent statehood of
Artsakh, enhancement of the development and the defensive potential
of the country.

Satisfying legal and normative basis is formed for the holding of the
census. The NKR Law on Population Census had been passed in 2002. Based
on it the terms of preparation and holding of a population census
was determined. To conduct the census the NKR National Statistical
Service, a state plenipotentiary body, is appointed. All personnel,
technical, methodical problems are solved, specialists are trained
(there are some 600). Besides, the state and self-government bodies are
commissioned to assist holding the census. In short, all preconditions
are available for holding a population census.

Addressing you I consider it my duty to remind you the population
census is compulsory for everyone. Thus, I urge everybody – NKR
citizens, temporary or permanent residents – to respect the census
officers, assist them in fulfilling their duties and provide full
and true answers to their questions. I expect our population to
display understanding and responsibility towards the successful
holding of the census, realizing that it should mark another real
step to self-government and international recognition of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic.”

RosBusinessConsulting Database
October 12, 2005 Wednesday

Russian transportation minister on cooperation with Armenia

Russia may soon become a major trade partner with Armenia, Russian
transportation minister and co-chairman of the Armenian-Russian
economic commission, Igor Levitin, reported. Moscow is still
considering possibilities for oil, fuel and petrochemical supplies to
Armenia, Levitin said. It is necessary to develop the legal basis for
cooperation and to organize a railway ferry service for the direction
the Port of Caucasus – the Port of Poti. “The transportation link has
not existed for 15 years, so we should not assume it would be easy to
reestablish it,” Levitin stressed. The transportation minister also
pointed out that businesses should take part in the restoration of
the ferry service, because it would enable them to supply goods to
Caucasus and Iran. It is important for Armenia to develop relations
with Moscow further and Russia has always considered Armenia a
reliable partner and friend, Levitin concluded.

A1+

| 18:51:40 | 14-10-2005 | Official |

CoE TO COORDINATE THE INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE

During the Ministers’ Committee session on October 13 the Ministers’
delegates have decided that during the CoE Ministers’ Conference titled
`Intercultural Dialogue’ dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the European
Cultural Convention which is to take place on October 27-28 in Faro
(Portugal) the CoE Ministers’ Committee will be represented by the permanent
representative of Armenia to CoE Ambassador Christian Ter-Stepanyan.

This is the first time the CoE makes attempts to process clear-cut
mechanisms to hold intercultural dialogues. With this aim a number of
documents will be signed during the conference.