Author: Kafian Jirair

THE LYRICAL QUALITY OF VIOLIST KIM KASHKASHIAN
By Tom Manoff

NPR – National Public Radio
?storyId=17932346
Jan 8 2008

January 8, 2008 – Although Kim Kashkashian is a world-famous violist,
the first word that comes to my mind when I hear her name is not
"viola," but "lyricism" – that quality of music to be songlike,
and to flow easily with emotion. Kashkashian’s ability to make her
instrument sing is the wellspring of her new CD, Asturiana.

The word "lyricism" also shares some meaning with the word "lyric,"
which hints at how songs tell a story. The words are important to
Kashkashian, and you can hear how they underlie her interpretations by
following each lyric in the liner notes. The title track is a song from
the Spanish province of Asturia. The words, in part, read: "Seeking
consolation / I drew near a green pine tree / Seeing me weep, it wept."

More than most classical traditions, Spain’s is deeply connected to
its folk and popular music. Flamenco is one of these styles, and in
"Asturia" by Manual De Falla, the piano imitates a guitar, and the
viola a gypsy singer.

Kashkashian collaborator Robert Levin, a pianist, always has something
interesting to impart to familiar repertory. As famous as this music
may be, Levin emphasizes bits of melody, harmony and rhythm that
have been hiding inside the piano part, which adds another level
of interest to the performance. But it’s the melodies that matter
most. Striking in their beauty, and captivating in the emotions they
impart, they will leave you singing.

Eurasia Daily Monitor

January 7, 2008 — Volume 5, Issue 1

OPPOSITION REJECTS WESTERN OBSERVERS’ ASSESSMENT OF GEORGIA’S
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

by Vladimir Socor

Mikheil Saakashvili seems set to narrowly win reelection as president
of Georgia in the January 5 balloting. With the votes from 2,780 of the
country ‘s 3,511 precincts counted, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC)
reported at 12 noon GMT on January 7 that Saakashvili has garnered 52.1% of
the votes cast; Levan Gachechiladze, candidate of a nine-party opposition
alliance, 25.2%; billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili, 6.5%; left-wing
populist Shalva Natelashvili, 6.4%; New Right (conservative) Davit
Gamkrelidze, 3.9%; and two other candidates, 1% between them. Voter turnout
was close to 60%. The reporting of final overall returns is being slowed
down by heavy snowfall and electricity outages in parts of the country.

If that balance between Saakashvili and the trailing pack holds until
the end of vote counting, a runoff will be unnecessary. Saakashvili’s lead
is likely to hold because the vote tallies are yet to arrive from some
districts where he enjoys solid popularity. According to CEC chairman Levan
Tarkhnishvili, projections suggest that Saakashvili will likely garner
between 52% and 53% of the vote countrywide.

However, the opposition is set to force the holding of another
election at almost any price. To that end, the opposition is rejecting the
international observers’ validation of the electoral process.

The opposition now rejects not only the returns that presage its
defeat, but goes farther in rejecting the validity of the entire electoral
process, despite its validation by international observers, who had gone out
of their way to register and address opposition complaints. Gachechiladze
claims that he won the election outright. Alleging without proof `mass
violations,’ he and the nine-party opposition alliance demand that the
January 5 voting be annulled and that the election be held again.
Natelashvili and Gamkrelidze have thrown their support behind Gachechiladze,
should it come to a runoff.

On the civil society side, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association
(GYLA), which normally is strongly critical of government and monitored the
election, said, `Despite some procedural violations on election day, the
polls were generally held without any `mass violations.’ So we can say that
elections are valid’ (Civil Georgia, January 7). Other Western-oriented NGOs
have taken a similar position. Several of them joined together to conduct an
exit poll that showed Saakashvili narrowly winning. The Gachechiladze camp
is now pillorying these NGOs.

The opposition has declared all along — before as well as during the
campaign — that it was bound to win the election and that any other outcome
must mean that the election had been rigged. The opposition’s many Western
interlocutors very rarely took issue with this type of logic.

Now, however, the danger for destabilization is mounting. Council of
Europe Secretary-General Terry Davis has called on opposition leaders to
`show responsibility, political maturity, and respect for the democratic
process…. If the opposition has any evidence to back their allegations, they
should give it to the international observers and use the procedures that
are guaranteed by the Georgian constitution’ (CE press release, January 6).
Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt — noting that this was `the most
democratic elections ever held in the country’ — admonished, `Regrettably
it is evident that certain parts of the opposition have a strategy of
questioning and sabotaging an election they were not able to win’ (Swedish
government press release, January 6). U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State Matt Bryza similarly remonstrated, `If the experts determined that the
election was not rigged, then there is absolutely no justification to claim
otherwise, and it would be absolutely undemocratic. How unfortunate that
would be for Georgian society’ (Reuters, Mze TV, January 6).

For its part, Moscow has weighed in promptly on the opposition’s side,
egging it on. A statement by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accuses
Georgia’s authorities of `numerous violations of the electoral
legislation…The entire election campaign can hardly be termed free and fair.
It is quite understandable that supporters of opposition candidates are
indignant. In this context, plans by the opposition to hold protest actions
will attract attention’ (Interfax, January 6). Such statements — along
with similar ones by Russian Duma and Federation Council members — are
designed to encourage disorders in Georgia.

Modest Kolerov’s apparatus (which seems in a process of restructuring
in Moscow) dispatched to Georgia a consulting and polling group, ostensibly
>From Ukraine, that names itself Common European Cause. The group claimed to
conduct a survey that showed Gachechiladze winning the election with an
absolute majority, with Saakashvili a distant second and Patarkatsishvili
closely trailing Saakashvili (Regnum, January 3). This move is also clearly
designed to foment instability in Georgia.

Gachechiladze’s supporters held a 7,000-strong rally in Tbilisi on
January 6, are pausing on January 7 for Christmas Day (old calendar), and
have announced non-stop demonstrations from January 8 onward.

(International Election Observation Mission [OSCE/ODIHR, OSCE/PA,
PACE, European Parliament], `Statement of Preliminary Findings and
Conclusions,’ January 6; Civil Georgia, Messenger, Rustavi-2 TV, January
5-7)

–Vladimir Socor

ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM Yrovsa.emi Ha3 Badriarkov;ivn
PRESS RELEASE – 30 December 2007
DIVAN OF THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM
PO Box 14235
Jerusalem 91141
Contact: Joyce Sulahian
Tel: (9722) 628-2331, Ext. 215
FAX: (9722) 626-4861
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

COMMUNIQUE

NEW INCIDENT BETWEEN THE ARMENIAN AND GREEK ORTHODOX BROTHERHOODS IN
THE CHURCH OF NATIVITY IN BETHLEHEM

AGREEMENT ON THE RESTORATION OF THE LAVATORIES OF THE

HOLY SEPULCHRE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM

On December 27, 2007, on the occasion of the annual cleaning in the
Armenian Chapel of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, an unpleasant
clash took place between the members of the Armenian St. James
Brotherhood and the Greek Orthodox Brotherhood.

According to a 1919 arrangement regarding the Status Quo jurisdiction
of the Armenian, Greek and Latin (Catholic) Communities that has been
in effect, the sweeping of the ceiling of the Armenian Chapel above a
marked line is carried out by the Greek Orthodox using a stationary
tall ladder placed in the centre of the Chapel. Without moving the
ladder from its fixed position, a long-handled broom is used for the
cleaning. This time the Greek Orthodox insisted upon an alleged right
to move the ladder around from its fixed position. The Armenian
Brotherhood refused to accept this intention and insisted that the
ladder remain stationary according to the established
arrangement. When the Greek Orthodox attempted to execute their
viewpoint, they met with the physical resistance of the Armenian
Brotherhood. Both sides clashed briefly, using long-handled brooms
and stones, until Palestinian police arrived to separate the two sides
engaged in the fighting.

The Chief of Police concurred with the Armenian standpoint, and under
police protection, supervised the placing of the high ladder at the
centre of the Armenian Chapel,

instructing a Greek monk to continue the sweeping of the ceiling from
the stationary ladder using an elongated broom. The members of both
the Armenian and Greek clergy as well the Latins (Catholic) resumed
the cleaning of the whole Church of Nativity without further incident.

On December 29, 2007, after the conclusion of many months of
negotiations between the Armenian, Greek Orthodox and Franciscan
Communities in Jerusalem, the Armenian and Greek Orthodox Patriarchs
and the Custos of the Holy Land signed an agreement to restore the
aged lavatories of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The restoration
will begin in the near future.

Jerusalem, 30 December 2007 DIVAN OF THE HOLY SEE

Xinhua General News Service, China
January 1, 2008 Tuesday 9:25 AM EST

Armenian president emphasizes stability in New Year address

MOSCOW

Presidential election scheduled for Feb. 19 will become a guarantee
of stability over the next five years if it is held at a proper
level, Armenian President Robert Kocharian said in a New Year
televised address to the nation.

"There is no sense to speak about successes without stability,"
Kocharian said, adding that he believes in Armenia’s prosperous
future and in the potential of its people.

The past year was one of the "most successful years" in the country’s
recent history, he said.

"The authorities focused on the strengthening of security, the
economy, the social sphere and democracy. Economy continued growing
at a fair rate, too," the president said.

Armenia gained more international prestige and its integration in
international associations increased as well, he said, "The
parliamentary election in May showed maturity of the Armenian society
and its encouraging attitude towards reforms we’re implementing."

"All these achievements provide a guarantee that the year 2008 will
also be a success," Kocharian said.

This was Kocharian’s last New Year address to the nation as a
president. His second five-year term of office comes to an end in
2008 and according to the Armenian Constitution he can’t run for
presidency for another time.

Azat Artsakh Tert, Nagorno Karabakh Republic
Dec 28 2007

Happy tidings on the eve of New Year’s Day

by Laura Grigorian

By means allocated by the NKR GOvernment, the other day the
municipality of Stepanakert has acquired 3 rubbish gathering cars.
These are modern cars, which will work not by petrol, but by gas. By
assurance of vice-mayor Georgy Hayrian, before that, "Sanitary
cleaning and planting of greenery" has only one new car. In passing
year, of course, it’s a pleasant gift for the municipality, as
cleanness of our city depends just on this cars. The vice-mayor
informed, that coming year it’s foreseen to acquire also 3 new cars,
which will differ from the others: salt sower, water sower and etc.
Generally there are various programs. The one of the main directions
of municipality’s activity will be improvement of roads. Hayrian
considered very important the improvement of yards, construction of
playgrounds. At the end of the talk, Hayrian didn’t forget on behalf
of town authorities to send best wishes to population of the
capital,-"First of all I wish peace and unclouded sky all our
citizens. Also with the help of the newspaper I want to call
everybody to keep our town clean: cleanness depends much more upon
everybody"

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Dec 28 2007

Land and property to become subject to universal tax on property in
2010

YEREVAN, December 28. /ARKA/. Land and property will become subject
to universal tax on property in 2010, Armenian State Real state
Cadastre Chairman Manuk Vardanyan said Friday at a press conference.

`In 2010 property tax and land tax will be replaced by the universal
tax on real estate. It means land and real estate on it will be
considered as unified property complex’, he said.

Vardanyan thinks that such unification solves many problems of
citizens and specialists.
He also pointed out that land cost has certain quota in property tax.

`The universal tax introduction in the country won’t take major
professional expenses. Property tax introduction concept has already
worked out and sent to government for approval’, he said.
Vardanyan said that universal base for land and property taxes have
been worked out in 2007 and intended for 2008/2010.

He said this move is very important for financing community budgets,
whose 90% are formed from land and property taxes.

AMD 12.2 billion was paid to state budget in 2007 as land and
property taxes. ($1 = AMD 304.22). M.V. –0–

NET FOREIGN DEBT OF ARMENIA GROWS BY 46.54 MILLION DOLLARS TO 762.76
MILLION DOLLARS IN THIRD QUARTER OF 2007

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The gross foreign debt of the
Republic of Armenia amounted to 2 bln 421.04 mln USD in late September
2007, growing by 159.87 mln USD as compared with late June 2007.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, 46% of the gross
foreign debt formed in the state governance system, 16.4% – in the
private sector, 7.8% – in monetary and credit regulation bodies, 14.7%
– in commercial banks, and 14.2% was formed as direct foreign
investments and interfirm credits received by organizations engaged in
various sectors of the economy.

The gross foreign assets of the RA made 1 bln 658.28 mln USD as of late
September 2007, increasing by 113.32 mln USD in the third quarter of
2007. As a result, the net foreign debt of the RA grew by 46.54 mln USD
to 762.76 mln USD.

IDENTITY OF PERSON WHO COMMITTED ARMED ROBBERY IN CURRENCY EXCHANGE
POINT ON TUMANIAN STREET HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. On December 21, at about 9:15 p.m. a
man entered the currency exchange point at 29 Tumanian Street in
Yerevan. He pointed his revolver with a silencer to the head of the
exchange point’s director and demanded money. According to information
on the official website of the RA police, the director managed to
snatch the revolver out of the robber’s hand, then he chased the man
and caught him. Shots were fired during this "disarmament", the
attacker was wounded and taken to Grigor Lusavorich medical center. His
identity has been established: the robber is Yuri Dadiyan, of the city
of Abovian.

AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER: OUTCOME OF NEGOTIATIONS ON THE SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT WILL BE COORDINATED WITH PEOPLE

Azeri Press Agency
Dec 26 2007
Azerbaijan

New elements were included into document presented to conflict parties
by OSCE Minsk Group’s co-chairs-mediators on the settlement of Nagorno
Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
told the journalists APA reports

It is normal that co-chairs included new elements into the document.

There are proposals in the document that can be adopted by Azerbaijan.

"The others should be worked step by step," he said. Minister stated
that basic principles of settlement have been determined and stressed
that outcome of negotiations will be coordinated with people.

ISRAEL TO RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE?
by Pamela Geller

Atlas Shrugs
December 24, 2007 Monday 9:39 AM EST

Dec. 24, 2007 (Atlas Shrugs delivered by Newstex) — Wouldn’t
be something if if small, vulnerable Israel did so before the
mighty hyperpower US?? Armenia optimistic Israel will recognize
‘genocide’J Post hat tip Andy Bostom The government of Armenia is
"very hopeful" that Israel will soon recognize the World War I-era
massacre of Armenians by Turks as an "act of genocide," a senior
Armenian official told The Jerusalem Post last week. "The Armenian
and Israeli people are united in the suffering that each endured, and
no one but the Jewish people can better understand our situation,"
Sergo Yeritsyan, a former education minister who now serves as a
senior adviser to President Robert Kocharian, said. "The world has
recognized and accepted the Holocaust as an historical event, and the
world is now acknowledging the genocide of Armenians," Yeritsyan said
in an interview in his office in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. "I
am very hopeful that Israel, step by step, will recognize it as
well… We are very hopeful and we are waiting for it," Yeritsyan
said. Contacted by the Post, a spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry
declined to comment. Historians estimate that as many as 1.5 million
Armenian Christians were killed by Ottoman Turks in a massacre that
began in 1915, in what some scholars have declared to be the first
systematic act of genocide in the 20th century. Turkey, however,
denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been
grossly inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war
and unrest. Israel has thus far tried to distance itself from the
issue, not wanting to offend Ankara and souring relations. Yeritsyan
insisted that the killings constituted genocide and stressed that it
was essential for the international community to recognize it as such.