Author: Jagharian Tania

PlayBill
May 31 2009

Couples Test Limits in Ayvazian’s Make Me, Opening in NYC May 31

By Kenneth Jones
31 May 2009

Atlantic Theater Company’s world-premiere production of Leslie
Ayvazian’s relationships play, Make Me, with Anthony Arkin, Candy
Buckley, Jessica Hecht, J.R. Horne, Richard Masur and Ellen Parker,
opens May 31 after previews from May 20.

The production, directed by Atlantic associate artistic director
Christian Parker, plays to June 14 at Atlantic Stage 2 at 330 West
16th Street.

According to ATC, "In Make Me, six pent-up Americans in three
different relationships have reached the end of their ropes. In this
naughty comic fugue, Leslie Ayvazian explores what happens when the
rules are changed just at the moment when people think they are
perfectly comfortable and the lengths to which some will go to be
seen, heard and obeyed."

*

With this play, Ayvazian makes her Atlantic Theater Company debut. Her
acclaimed Off-Broadway play, Nine Armenians, won the John Gassner
Outer Critics Award, The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize and the Kennedy
Center’s Roger L. Stevens Award. Her film credits include Showtime’s
"Every Three Minutes" starring Olympia Dukakis.

Parker most recently staged the New York premiere of Tina Howe’s play
Birth And After Birth. Other Atlantic credits include Jeff Whitty’s
The Hiding Place and 10X20, a festival of newly commissioned
ten-minute plays by writers previously produced at Atlantic for which
he directed plays by Tina Howe, Keith Reddin and Rolin Jones.

Make Me features scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by
Theresa Squire, lighting design by Josh Bradford and sound design by
Jill BC DuBoff.

Arkin appeared in Broadway’s I’m Not Rappaport and Off-Broadway’s The
Waverly Gallery; Buckley appeared in Broadway’s After the Fall,
Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cabaret and Ring Round the Moon and
Off-Broadway’s Shockheaded Peter, Valhalla and Communicating Doors;
Hecht most recently appeared in Julius Caesar on Broadway and in
Howard Katz; Horne returns to Atlantic following starring in the world
premiere of Ethan Coen’s Almost an Evening at Atlantic Stage 2 and The
Theatres at 45 Bleecker Street; Masur appeared in Broadway’s Democracy
and The Changing Room and Off-Broadway’s Dust, A Feminine Ending, The
Ruby Sunrise and Sarah, Sarah; and Parker’s New York City work
includes House/Garden, Plenty, Entertaining Mr. Sloane, Fen, The Heidi
Chronicles and more.

Ayvazian’s other plays include High Dive, her one-woman show about
turning 50; Rosemary and I, which was named a Susan Smith Blackburn
Prize finalist; Lovely Day, which premiered at City Theatre in
Pittsburgh; Footlights, a one-woman show about shoes; and one-act
plays Practice; Hi There, Mr. Machine; Twenty Four Years; Deaf Day and
Plan Day.

Make Me received workshop productions by the Cape Cod Theatre Festival
and the Adirondack Theatre Festival, both directed by Martha Banta.

Make Me will play Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 PM and Saturday and
Sunday matinees at 2:30 PM. All tickets are $45 and are available by
calling Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or by visiting

Visit

news/article/129698-Couples_Test_Limits_in_Ayvazia n’s_Make_Me_Opening_in_NYC_May_31

MG OSCE Co-Chairs met RA President
30.05.2009 13:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Yerevan hosted a meeting of MG OSCE Co-Chairs for
NKR conflict settlement with RA President Serzh Sargsyan. After the
meeting with RA Government Leader, MG OSCE Co-Chairs, Matthew Bryza
(US), Bernard Fassier (France) and Yuri Merzlyakov (Russia) will meet
RA FM Edward Nalbandian for the second time.
MG OSCE Co-Chairs have arrived in Yerevan to prepare the oncoming
meeting between RA and Azeri Presidents in St. Petersburg on June 4.

Assyria Times
May 30 2009

Assyrian Universal Alliance Congress Declaration

5/30/2009 0:39:00

The 26th World Congress of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) was
held in Sydney Australia from 20 to 24th of May, 2009. About 50
delegates gathered from Iraq, Iran, USA, Armenia, Russia, Holand,
Japan, and Australia. The AUA delegates declared:

Assyrian Universal Alliance 26th World Congress
20-24th May 2009
Resolution

On Iraq

1. CALLS UPON AND DEMANDS that the Federal Republic of Iraq amend the
Iraqi Constitution and add the statement in its preamble `The
Assyrians are the Indigenous people of Iraq’.

2. COMMENDS the Federal Republic of Iraq for its efforts in improving
country security.

3. DEMANDS that the Federal Republic of Iraq implements and executes
further measures to prevent attacks against Assyrian people.

4. DEMANDS that the Federal Republic of Iraq publicly release the
results of its investigation into the Mosul Massacre of October
2008.

5. DEMANDS the Federal Republic of Iraq acknowledge and declare that
the Assyrians are the indigenous and original people of Iraq, and
as promulgated under article 110 of the Iraqi constitution, the
Assyrian people of Iraq are therefore entitled to an Assyrian
autonomous region encompassing the Assyrian ancestral lands,
located between the Greater Zab and Tigris rivers with
international borders to the north and west, as part of the Federal
Republic of Iraq.

6. COMMENDS the Federal Republic of Iraq for the assistance provided
for the displaced Assyrian Refugees and further demands that such
programs are adequately implemented.

7. DEMANDS that the constitution of Iraq contain a minimum guaranteed
quota for Assyrian representation, consisting of Assyrian
ethnicity, at all levels of government, based on the Iraqi census
of 1957, which on current official population count, amount to
2,500,000 or approximately 10 percent of the total population.

8. Pending the fulfillment of the amendment to the Iraqi constitution
as demanded in Resolution 7 herein, IN THE INTERIM DEMANDS that the
Federal Republic of Iraq reinstates article 50 of the provisional
election law as it was without reducing the number of originally
allocated seats.

9. DEMANDS that the Federal Republic of Iraq support, establish, train
and arm an Assyrian security force as part of Iraq’s national
security and police force to adequately and sufficiently maintain
the security of all Assyrian towns and villages, thereby protecting
them from all attacks and harassment.

10. DEMANDS that the Federal Republic of Iraq ensures the equitable
and/or proportionate distribution of all aid including any
reconstruction aid to Assyrians via the then current appointed
Assyrian representative in the local government.

11. DEMANDS that the Kurdish Regional Government of Iraq returns
and/or implements the return of all Assyrian lands and villages to
date occupied by non Assyrians to the Assyrians.

12. IS HOPEFUL and prays that Iraq will ultimately secure its full
independence as a democratic state without any foreign forces.

On Iran 13. COMMENDS the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran
for its efforts in strengthening ties between the Assyrians and the
wider Iranian community.

14. CALLS UPON the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to
formally recognize that the Assyrians are the indigenous people of
Iraq.

15. CALLS UPON the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to
support the demands set out in this Resolution in respect of the
Assyrian political rights of Iraq.

On Turkey 16. COMMENDS the government of Turkey in assisting in the
resolution of the dispute in respect of the Mor Gabriel Monastery in
Turkey.

17. CALLS UPON and DEMANDS that the government of Turkey provides
security to the Assyrians living in Turkey.

18. CALLS UPON the government of Turkey to adequately protect
Assyrians in Turkey from all persecution arising as a result of
the Assyrian practice of their religious and human rights.

19. DEMANDS that the Turkish government formally and officially
recognize the genocide of the Assyrian, Armenian and Greek People
during World War I.

20. CALLS UPON the government of Turkey to support the demands set out
in this Resolution in respect of the Assyrian political rights of
Iraq.

On Syria 21. COMMENDS the Syrian Arab Republic in its treatment of
Assyrian refugees of Iraq in Syria.

22. REQUESTS that the Syrian Arab Republic encourages and support all
cultural rights of the Assyrian People and Assyrian institutions
and organizations in Syria.

23. CALLS UPON the Arab Republic of Syria to support the demands set
out in this Resolution of in respect of the Assyrian political
rights of Iraq.

On Jordan
24. COMMENDS the government of Jordan in its treatment of Assyrian
refugees of Iraq in Jordan.

25. CALLS UPON the government of Jordan to support the demands set out
in this Resolution in respect of the Assyrian political rights of
Iraq.

On Lebanon
26. COMMENDS the government of Lebanon in its treatment of Assyrian
refugees of Iraq in Lebanon.

27. CALLS UPON the government of Lebanon to support the demands set
out in this Resolution in respect of the Assyrian political rights
of Iraq.

On Australia 28. EXTENDS its deep appreciation and gratitude to the
Australian government for supporting and assisting the Assyrian
Universal Alliance- Australia Chapter to successfully host the 26th
World congress of the Assyrian Universal Alliance.

29. CALLS UPON Australia, to support and support implement the terms
of this resolution to the extent that it pertains to the Assyrian
situation of Iraq.

30. As an interim measure, REQUESTS that the government of Australia
provide economic, educational and medical assistance to the
Assyrian refugees of Iraq currently living in impoverished and
disadvantaged circumstances in various countries outside Iraq.

31. CALLS UPON the government of Australia to support the demands set
out in this Resolution in respect of the Assyrian political rights
of Iraq.

ON USA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION
32. CALLS UPON the governments of the United States of America and the
European Union to support and support implement the terms of this
resolution to the extent that it pertains to the Assyrian
situation of Iraq.

33. As an interim measure, REQUESTS that the governments of the United
States of America and the European Union provide economic,
educational and medical assistance to the Assyrian refugees of
Iraq currently living in impoverished and disadvantaged
circumstances in various countries outside Iraq.

34. CALLS UPON the governments of the United States of America and the
European Union to support the demands set out in this Resolution
in respect of the Assyrian political rights of Iraq.

United Nations and International Communities
35. APPEALS AND CALLS UPON the United Nations and the international
communities to recognize that the Assyrian are the indigenous
people of Iraq.

36. APPEALS AND CALLS UPON the United Nations and the international
communities to treat the displaced Assyrians of Iraq within Iraq
in a fair and equitable manner and comparable to other displaced
people of Iraq.

37. APPEALS AND CALLS UPON the United Nations and the international
communities to treat the Assyrian refugees of Iraq outside of Iraq
in a fair and equitable manner comparable to other refugees from
Iraq.

38. CALLS UPON the United Nations and the international communities to
support the demands set out in this Resolution of the Assyrian
Universal Alliance in respect of the Assyrian political rights of
Iraq.

Yonathan Betkolia MP
Secretary General
Assyrian Universal Alliance

es/news/article.php?storyid=3378

ACCORDING TO ZHARANGUTIUN REPRESENTATIVE’S PREDICTION, POSITIVE CHANGES WILL BE MADE IN ARMENIA AFTER MAY 31 ELECTIONS

Noyan Tapan
May 29, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. Positive changes will be made in Armenia
after the May 31 Yerevan Council of Elders elections, at that, in case
of any election outcome. RA NA Zharangutiun (Heritage) faction head
Armen Martirosian predicted at the May 27 meeting with journalists.

According to him, the opposition has won all elections in Armenia
since 1996, but it was not recorded officially. This time, if free
and fair elections are held, which is improbable, opposition’s
inevitable victory will bring positive results. If the elections are
held as always, under the circumstance of no elections in the near
future, President Serzh Sargsyan will have enough time to make real
changes. A. Martirosian is sure that the March 1 events will not recur,
as neither the authorities nor the people have sufficient resource
for it.

According to the deputy, talks that an amnesty will be announced
soon are circulated at NA, at that, among pro-governmental sector
representatives.

And though the recent statement of NA Speaker about it was presented
as a good wish, the process is becoming mature. He expressed the hope
that an amnesty will be announced one of these days, which will also
have a positive influence.

A. Martirosian considers that it will be politically more beneficial
if the amnesty is announced before Yerevan Council of Elders
elections. Though in that case the political prisoners on the March
1 case will not have been released yet and cannot go to ballot,
nevertheless, the fact of amnesty itself can discharge the strained
atmosphere in society.

Granting an amnesty will be also right in consideration of the expected
discussion of the issue of Armenia in PACE. A. Martirosian reminded
that the Monitoring Committee meeting will take place on June 5 and
the PACE plenary sitting on June 24. He said that this structure
attaches importance to the May 31 elections, and the Congress of
Council of Europe Local and Territorial Authorities will also observe
the elections.

A. Martirosian stated that Zharangutiun is going to control elections’
legality with all possible means. According to him, this time party’s
task is not supporting this or that political force, but protecting
fairness and legality.

"THREE CENTURIES OF ARMENIAN HERITAGE IN INDIA" TO BE PRESENTED IN NAASR

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
29.05.2009 16:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Dr. Omar Khalidi of the Aga Khan Program for
Islamic Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT) will give an illustrated lecture entitled "Three Centuries of
Armenian Heritage in India" on June 4, at the National Association
for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) Center in Belmont, Mass,
The Armenian Weekly reports.

Though Armenians were in India from early times, their presence in
India is well-documented from the 16th century, after the establishment
of the important mercantile community in New Julfa in Persia. The
community grew in size and importance in the 17th and 18th centuries,
with many Armenians rising to positions of prominence.

Khalidi’s lecture will give an overview of India’s Armenian
Diaspora-its churches, cemeteries, and related art-in such locations
as Kolkata (Calcutta), Bombay, Delhi, Agra, Surat, Hyderabad, Madras,
Dhaka (in modern Bangladesh), and elsewhere.

Dr. Omar Khalidi has a Ph.D. in Islamic studies from the University
of Wales.

This lecture is the second talk given in memory of Arshag Merguerian
(1926-2005), an architect and active member and friend of NAASR for
nearly 50 years. The expenses for the lecture will be covered by
funds contributed to NAASR in Merguerian’s memory.

NO ACTIVE WORK WAS YET OBSERVED AT ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
27.05.2009 14:43 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "As of today, no active actions were observed at
Armenian-Turkish border by RF FSS Border Administration," Head of RF
FSS Border Administration in RA, Lieutenant General Sergey Bondarev
told at May 27’s news conference.

"Repair works over railway line from Gyumri to State border were
conducted last year by SCRW," he noted. Speaking of the possibility
of opening Armenian-Turkish border, Sergey Bondarev noted that
Armenian-Turkish relations is an internal business of the two
states. "We, the borders guards, are ready to fulfill any task
assigned to us. We’re ready to fulfill them in case of opening of
Armenian-Turkish border as well".

ISTANBUL HOSTS INT’L MEETINGS

Hurriyet
May 26 2009
Turkey

ISTANBUL – Turkey’s recent regional activities and its efforts to
improve ties with its neighbors continue in Istanbul this week,
with efforts to improve relations with Armenia and others for its
relations in the Arab world.

A workshop in Istanbul’s Conrad Hotel will question Turkey-Armenia
relations from all aspects. Organized by the Foundation for Political,
Economic and Social Research, or SETA, the workshop will take place
May 26 to 27.

The Turkish-Arab Relations Symposium starts Tuesday at the Marmara
University Sultan Ahmet Campus. More than 60 people will participate
in the three-day symposium, with 40 participants coming from the
Arab world. State Minister Mehmet Aydın and secretary-general of
the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Ekmeleddin Ä°hsanoglu,
will attend the opening.

RPA PLANS TO CREATE NEW JOBS AND ARFD TO PROVIDE DISABLED WITH JOBS BY THEIR PREELECTION PROGRAMS

Noyan Tapan
May 25, 2009

YEREVAN, MAY 25, NOYAN TAPAN. The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
preelection program’s part Yerevan a City of Work mentions that if
the party wins the elections it will keep the problem of population’s
employment in the focus of its attention. "City development programs
will contribute to creation of new jobs for Yerevan residents,
ensuring civilized working conditions," the RPA program mentioned.

In order to make Yerevan a city of work RPA plans to work out and
implement programs with government’s assistance that will be aimed
at creation of new jobs, ensuring work of enterprises under communal
jurisdiction in the whole capacity. Besides, the party plans to create
favorable conditions for development of small and medium-sized business
and for making Yerevan a more attractive city for investments.

ARFD electoral program’s provisions also mention the necessity of
implementing active employment programs. "Programs of making disabled
people full members of community will be paid special attention," the
ARFD program mentioned. ARFD promises through privileges and financial
assistance to encourage employers that will provide disabled people
with a job.

NORWAY SUPPORTS OSCE MG FORMAT

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
26.05.2009 14:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ambassador Hougue (residence – Moscow) submitted
his credentials to President Serzh Sargsyan. During the meeting,
Mr. Sargsyan reiterated Armenia’s interest in strengthening and
developing Armenian-Norwegian ties in both bilateral and multi-lateral
formats. The President said that Norway’s name for Armenians
is mainly associated with Great philanthropist Fridtjof Nansen’s
mission. "Armenia always remembers and highly appreciates Norwegian
people’s support after the earthquake in 1988," RA President stressed.

The Norwegian diplomat noted in his turn that his country attached
great importance to bilateral ties in different spheres and was ready
to undertake concrete steps in that direction. Parties stressed the
importance of further cooperation in economic-cultural and legal
spheres.

The newly-appointed Ambassador promised to do his utmost for the
development of bilateral cooperation. Parties exchanged views on
regional problems. Ambassador Hougue reiterated his country’s support
to Kharabakh settlement process within OSCE MG format, stressing
that negotiations are the only way to conflict settlement. President
Sargsyan highly appreciated Norway’s position on regional problems,
RA President’s Press Service reports.

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER DOES NOT HEAR ANY NOTES OF CONSTRUCTIVISM FROM THE SIDE OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-05-25 11:58:00

ArmInfo. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov thinks that
Armenia began to have a negative pressure on the Karabakh settlement
peace process.

As Azerbaijani mass media reported, Mammadyarov said that in
St. Petersburg, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will continue
to discuss those issues that continue to remain being on the agenda of
the peace settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. ‘I would very
much wish to hear the notes of constructivism by Armenia. Despite the
development of the new situation in the region, Armenia, unfortunately,
began to have a negative pressure on the peace process’, – he said.

He also added: ‘We have reached everything in the peace process with
the former administration of Armenia with the current administration
in Armenia, we have not achieved anything…. However, we have not
advanced even in the slightest from the date of coming into power a
new president in Armenia’.