Author: Kajoyan Gevork

NO SILENCE ACTIVISTS MAKE SURPRISE VISIT TO MILITARY UNIT

Tert.am
26.10.11

To reveal the existing problems in the army, the Armenian youth
initiative No Silence has started visits to military units in Armenia.

Yesterday, the activists made their first surprise visit to a sergeant
training center situated a short distance from capital Yerevan. They
talked to the servicemen individually. The latter complained of
discriminatory policies in leave-granting procedures and roster. In
all other respects, they said they were satisfied. But the servicemen
preferred to remain anonymous.

In a statement issued after the visit, the members of the initiative
say that the commander of the unit appeared unaware of any cases of
discrimination. He reportedly attempted to lay the blame on inferior
servicemen.

In that connection No Silence has called for raising attention to
the servicemen, emphasizing that the burden of responsibility for
existing problems falls on commanders.

The activists are planning another surprise visit to the military unit
in the near future to ensure that the proposed changes were considered.

EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS RULES IN FAVOR OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE SCHOLAR TANER AKCAM

armradio.am
26.10.2011 11:12

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Turkish government’s
prosecution under Article 301 of its penal code with respect to Dr.
Taner Akcam’s public views on the Armenian Genocide violated Akcam’s
right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European
Convention on Human Rights, reported the Armenian Assembly of America
(Assembly).

Dr. Akcam, the holder of the Kaloosdian/Mugar Chair for the Study of
Modern Armenian History and Armenian Genocide at Clark University in
Worcester, Massachusetts, became the target of threats and harassment
for expressing his views and publishing his findings on the Armenian
Genocide. A close friend to the late Hrant Dink, the Turkish-Armenian
journalist assassinated in January 2007, Dr. Akcam knew all too well
the dangers of speaking about this taboo subject in Turkey. Before
he was gunned down in broad daylight, Hrant Dink was also prosecuted
under Article 301. The Court acknowledges this connection and in
its decision notes “it was widely believed that Hrant Dink had been
targeted by extremists because of the stigma attached to his criminal
conviction for ‘insulting Turkishness.'”

In its verdict today, the Court honors Dink’s legacy in its conclusion
that “the criminal investigation commenced against the applicant
[Taner Akcam] and the standpoint of the Turkish criminal courts on
the Armenian issue in their application of Article 301 of the Criminal
Code, as well as the public campaign against the applicant in respect
of the investigation, confirm that there exists a considerable risk of
prosecution faced by persons who express ‘unfavourable’ opinions on
this matter and indicates that the threat hanging over the applicant
is real.”

The Court further concluded that changes to Article 301 and the
replacement of the term “Turkishness” by the words “the Turkish
Nation” made “no change or major difference in the interpretation of
these concepts because they have been understood in the same manner
by the Court of Cassation…[in other words it] does not introduce
a substantial change or contribute to the widening of protection of
the right to freedom of expression.”

Welcoming the court’s decision, Dr. Akcam commented that “Turkey should
learn that facing history and coming to terms with past human rights
abuses is not a crime but a prerequisite for peace and reconciliation
in the region. I consider myself as a part of Turkish civil society,
which fights for a truly free and democratic Turkey.

This cannot happen if Turkey continues to criminalize discussion of
the Armenian Genocide.” He added: “You cannot achieve reconciliation
and peace with Armenia with the existence of this kind of poisonous
law or continue to deny diplomatic relations.”

The Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble & New CD

THE NEW CD IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON:
HTTP://

ABOUT GURDJIEFF, THE ENSEMBLE & PROJECT

Gurdjieff is known to many in the West as one of the major spiritual
figures of the 20th century. His extraordinary musical repertoire
was based on the music he heard during his journeys in Armenia,
the Caucasus, the Middle East and many parts of Central Asia, India
and North Africa, where he witnessed a myriad of folk and spiritual
music, rituals and dance traditions. Levon Eskenian has chosen and
arranged those pieces that have roots in Armenian, Greek, Arabic,
Kurdish, Assyrian, and Caucasian folk and spiritual music for Eastern
folk instruments.

The Gurdjieff Folk Instruments Ensemble was founded in 2008 by
the Armenian musician Levon Eskenian with the aim of creating
ethnographically authentic arrangements of the G.I. Gurdjieff/Thomas
de Hartmann piano music. The ensemble consists of leading Eastern
folk instrumentalists in Armenia playing duduk, blul/nay, saz,
tar, kiamancha, oud, kanon, santur, dap/daf, tombak and dhol. Its
repertoire mainly consists of G.I.Gurdjieff’s original compositions,
as well as some works by ashoughs’ (troubadours), traditional and
spiritual Armenian pieces chosen to further illustrate Gurdjieff’s
musical influences. Organized by Naregatsi Art Institute, the ensemble
had its first concerts in Gyumri, Armenia-Gurdjieff’s birthplace.

Gurdjieff is known to many in the West as one of the major spiritual
figures of the 20th century. His extraordinary musical repertoire
was based on the music he heard during his journeys in Armenia,
the Caucasus, the Middle East and many parts of Central Asia, India
and North Africa, where he witnessed a myriad of folk and spiritual
music, rituals and dance traditions. This music consists of some 300
pieces and fragments for the piano, composed in the 1920’s in the
manner of dictation from Gurdjieff to his pupil, Thomas de Hartmann,
the Russian composer and pianist.

It is important to note that Eastern musical traditions are strongly
characterized by their own unique instruments and instrumental
combinations and these indigenous Eastern instruments are capable of
producing microtonal intervals, rhythms and other nuances that are
essential parts of Eastern music. Naturally, most of the instrumental
music that Gurdjieff heard during his travels was performed on Eastern
folk instruments.

It is noteworthy to mention that he also amassed a collection of
Eastern instruments (which resided at the Chateau du Prieure at
Fontainebleau) that he had intended to use for authentic performances
of folk music and dances.

Through rigorous study of the instrumentation and performance practices
of the musical traditions of each ethnic group, Levon Eskenian has
chosen and arranged those pieces that have roots in Armenian, Greek,
Arabic, Kurdish, Assyrian, and Caucasian folk and spiritual music for
Eastern folk instruments. From an ethno-musicological perspective,
these pieces are a valuable source of information on Eastern ritual,
folk, and sacred music from an era before audio recordings.

We have learned from de Hartmann’s notes that Gurdjieff gave much
importance to the perception of Eastern music and how it was played on
authentic Eastern folk instruments. In 1919, Gurdjieff sent de Hartmann
and his wife to Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, where de Hartmann
gave concerts of European music and of works by Armenian composer
Komitas (The pillar of Armenian classical music,ethnomusicologist
and decipherer of khaz-the Armenian music notation system). As
de Hartmann describes, “Mount Ararat was wrapped in a shroud of
mist-an unforgettable sight. To accompany this vision there was
authentic Eastern music played on…the tar – a kind of stringed
instrument. Through this trip to Erivan…. Gurdjieff gave us the
opportunity of listening to Eastern music and musicians, so that I
could better understand how he wished his own music to be written
and interpreted.”

LONDON 2011: HERE REVIEW
by Shelagh M. Rowan-Legg

Twitch

Oct 25 2011

Cartography is a strange discipline these days. With the physical
geography of the world long since mapped (though that may change
with global warming,) most cartographers are either concerned with
political lines, or with incredibly detailed satellite imaging made
possible by current technology. What can we learn from a map? What is
the correlation between the lines on a map and the road you take? And
are the maps of our lives, our souls, written on our faces and bodies?

Director Braden King explores these questions in his slow, quiet,
and strangely moving film, Here.

Will (Ben Foster) is an American cartographer hired by the government
of Armenia to take detailed images of the landscape for purposes
that might not be quite above board. Gadarine (Lubna Azabal) is an
Armenian photographer who has been away from home, and now back on a
grant to take pictures of the countryside. Though both are fiercely
independent, they somehow end up travelling together, engaging in
debate and romance.

King’s previous work as a documentary filmmaker can be seen in Stan
Brakhage-inspired moments that punctuate the narrative, moments of
surreality that add to the surreality of the space within which
the narrative exists. The narrative itself is a fairly standard
road-movie-plus-love-story. But a road movie of a different kind: the
country is small, and so the pace is small. At times, this is a bit
frustrating. But the film is meditative as opposed to rushed. In fact,
the film works in best in its more experimental and small moments, ones
where the audience is creating their own map. Allowing the audience to
make those maps, as oppose to mapping the story for the audience, is
when the film works; when it lapses into the standard American-indie
film of two people talking (which it does several times,) it loses
its uniqueness. Working within a country such as Armenia, with its
difficult and largely unknown history and uncertain future, grants
the surreality and evasiveness of the good moments.

King’s strength and past as a documentarian lies in them; when the
moments unfold before us and we put the pieces together.

I am almost hesitant to praise Azabal; I want her to remain an
indie film secret, such is her incredible strength as an actor. And
she is matched by Foster, of whom I know little. They have an
easily believable chemistry, and yet neither panders to typical
Hollywood-style romantic behaviour. On the surface, their characters
seems fairly knowable and predictable; she is the independent girl
still trying to break away from parental control and national identity;
he is the loner, choosing a career that fits this and yet longing
for a connection. But their presentation in this film is unusual,
especially in the road film mode. As Gadarine is Armenian, her map
is revealed as the journey progresses. But Ben is a stranger in a
strange land, and it with great trepidation that he begins to reveal
his map. Gadarine must be patient, and must examine his behaviour
to try and interpret his semiotics. And while no human is completely
knowable, Gadarine and Will begins the process of a new map-making.

While the film falters at points, King’s incorporation of avant-garde
and documentary film techniques pairs well with the road movie.

Filmmaking is similar to cartography, in that each must make detailed
maps of landscape and inhabitants to create a map of humanity. By
drawing attention to the filmmaking process and the texture of film
(did I mention this is a 35mm film? rare these days, and beautiful
to watch,) King asks the audience to examine our inner cartographer
and cartographibility.

AZERBAIJAN REFUTES REPORTS ON ROW WITH ARMENIAN ARCHEOLOGISTS

Trend
Oct 25 2011
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani archeologists are not cooperating with their Armenian
counterparts, the deputy director of the Archaeology and Ethnography
Institute of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS),
Najaf Museyibli, told Trend.

The Armenian news agency Mediamaks earlier reported that Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Armenia are carrying out a two-year joint archaeological
programme.

However Mr Museyibli maintains the media report doesn’t paint the
full picture as mutual co-operation is impossible and Azerbaijan is
not involved in any archaeological programme with Armenia.

PRESIDENT ALIYEV: AZERBAIJAN’S ELECTION TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL IS LARGE DIPLOMATIC VICTORY OVER ARMENIA

Azerbaijan Business Center
Oct 25 2011

Baku, Fineko/abc.az. Yesterday the Azerbaijani government under the
chairmanship of President Ilham Aliyev considered the results of
socio-economic development for the first 9 months of 2011.

At the meeting the President claimed that the country’s diplomacy had
done much in recent months in order to achieve the goal of Azerbaijan’s
election a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council by

“Voting in the UN General Assembly has historical significance as
the first diplomatic victory over Armenia. The Azerbaijani public may
not know, but at the first stage of the nomination Armenia filed its
application together with us, but a few months ago, realizing that
it cannot compete with our diplomats, it withdrew its candidacy very
quiet and silent. In other words, they were forced to admit that were
losing to Azerbaijan and the international community condemns their
aggressive policy against Azerbaijan,” President Aliyev stated.

Having received 155 votes in the UN General Assembly, in 2012-2013
Azerbaijan will be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council
for the first time in its history.

SHAKY LOGIC: AFTER A HORRIFIC EARTHQUAKE, TURKEY MUST ACCEPT AID FROM ITS FRIENDS

The Times
October 25, 2011 Tuesday
London

Every earthquake brings stories of miracles. The child found alive
under a door after two days, the woman pulled from the rubble after a
week. Yet these stories are considered miraculous precisely because
they are so rare. The hours after any earthquake are a race against
time. There are never enough rescuers, and they are never fast enough.

On Sunday, eastern Turkey was struck by a quake of 7.2 magnitude. In
cities made of unsupported concrete and mudbrick, the death toll
is rising by the hour. The Turkish Government’s decision to refuse
outside aid is senseless and cruel.

It was not ever thus. When a devastating earthquake struck in and
around the Turkish city of Izmit in August 1999, killing tens of
thousands, the Greek Government offered aid in a matter of hours.

Reeling from the scale of the disaster, the Turkish authorities
accepted. Greek citizens sent money, clothing and blood, and Turkish
citizens noticed. The Mayor of Athens made a visit. Two countries,
feuding since time immemorial, began to both behave, and feel, like
neighbours. When another huge earthquake struck Athens a month later,
albeit with far lower casualties, the Turks reciprocated in kind.

History offers other examples of disaster diplomacy, but none so
heartwarming as this.

Turkey today has refused aid not only from Greece, but also from
Israel and Armenia; the latter with which it has a traumatic history
and the former with which it has a traumatic present.

Certainly Turkey is a more modern, confident and prosperous place
than it was a decade ago, but no country is so modern and developed
as to comfortably handle an earthquake alone. Greece has experience of
handling earthquakes to rival Turkey’s own, and facilities far better.

Israel excels at complex and technical aspects of disaster management.

Both could, and would, save lives.

The Government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan has its reasons, but they are
not good ones. The cities of Ercis and Van lie in a sensitive part
of the country, close to the borders with Iran and Iraq and with a
population that is predominantly Kurdish. Last Wednesday, Kurdish
militants killed 24 soldiers nearby – the worst attack in 18 years –
prompting a heavy Turkish response on both sides of the border with
Iraq. In normal circumstances, Turkey would not welcome an influx of
outside agencies. These, though, are not normal circumstances.

Since Mr Erdogan came to power in 2003 Turkey has looked less towards
Europe as its natural home, and more towards its region of the Middle
East, occasionally collaborating with Iran and adopting a paternalistic
pose towards the wobbling giant that is Egypt. Its relations with
Israel have deteriorated, markedly. After a decade of prosperity
unrivalled in its history, Turkey has clear and understandable
ambitions towards regional dominance. The refusal of outside aid
contains an implicit boast that Turkey is no longer the sort of
country that requires it.

But it is. After a disaster such as this, any country would be.

Turkish pride must not be built on the blood and crushed bones of the
dead who otherwise would have lived. Regional stability is built on
friendship, and Turkey is surrounded by nations offering just that. It
should accept.

CROSSES ON ARMENIAN CATHEDRAL CONSECRATED IN MOSCOW

ITAR-TASS
Oct 24 2011
Russia

A ceremony of blessing and consecrating the crosses on an Armenian
cathedral, which is under construction in the Russian capital, was held
at 24, Trifonovskya Street, on Sunday. Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos
of the Armenian Apostolic Church Garegin II led the consecration
ceremony in the presence of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, who
arrived in Russia on a state visit, and his wife Rita Sargsyan.

Despite the autumn rain, hundreds of members of the Armenian diaspora
in Moscow and Russia attended the crosses’ consecration ceremony at
the crossroads of Trifonovskaya Street and the Olympiisky Avenue. A
remarkable polar explorer, Hero of the Soviet Union and Hero of Russia
Artur Chilingarov, President of the Union of Armenians in Russia and
the World Armenian Congress Ara Abramyan, Academician of the Russian
Academy of Sciences Samvel Grigoryan, CEO of the MonArch construction
company Sergei Ambartsumyan attended the ceremony. Many creative
intellectuals, people of science and art attended the consecration
ceremony.

“Thanks God, that the Lord presented to us this God-blessing evidence
of fraternity and friendship of our peoples, countries and churches,”
the Armenian catholicos said. “Thanks to the grace of God our peoples
live side by side and create their history, sharing the joys and
troubles,” Garegin said.

“Today we thank the Lord that He develops the relations between
our countries and peoples in the traditional spirit of unshakable
friendship and cooperation, builds up fraternal friendship and love
between our peoples and churches,” the Armenian supreme hierarch said.

The catholicos thanked numerous donators, who made donations for
the construction of the cathedral, which will be the biggest one
outside Armenia.

RUSSIA PLANS TO FURTHER CONTRIBUTE TO KARABAKH SETTLEMENT – MEDVEDEV (ADDS QUOTES)

ITAR-TASS
Oct 24 2011
Russia

Russia plans to further contribute to the negotiations on the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict settlement, President Dmitry Medvedev told a news
conference after the talks with his Armenian counterpart Serzh Sargsian
on Monday.

“The important theme of our talks is stronger stability in the
Caucasus,” the Medvedev said adding he had exchanged opinions on the
situation in Nagorno Karabakh with Sargsian.

“I am personally confident that a fair solution to the conflict can
be found only through political means,” he said noting that much
progress has been achieved in this direction of late.

“Russia plans to further contribute to the negotiating process as a
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group and through direct contacts between
the Armenian and Azerbaijani authorities,” Medvedev said.

Sargsian, in turn, highlighted Russia’s role in the talks on the
conflict settlement.

“I once again thanked Russia’s president and foreign minister for
mediatory efforts they are taking in close cooperation with other
countries-co-chairs of the Minsk Group. Through Dmitry Anatolyevich’s
mediation and personal participation ten meetings between the Armenian
and Azerbaijani presidents took place, three statements that created
opportunities for emerging signs of confidence between the sides were
signed,” he said.

The Armenian president referred to the statement on Nagorno Karabakh
signed by the Russian, French and U.S. leaders.

“During our today’s meeting I once again confirmed Armenia’s adherence
to the soonest possible settlement of the conflict exclusively
through peaceful means and on the basis of integral principles of
the humanitarian law,” Sargsian said.

BEGINNING OF TALKS WITH PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA SERZH SARGSYAN

Office of the President of Russia

Oct 24 2011

The following information was released by the office of the President
of Russia:

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Mr President,

I wish you a warm welcome to the Kremlin. This visit has the status of
state visit and therefore is a special occasion. It also symbolises
of course the strategic partnership that binds Russia and Armenia
and showcases the recent achievements we consider most important.

As this is a state visit, one expects to see all of the ceremony
and fine surroundings that traditionally go with such events, but
at the same time, there is also a purely working side to this visit,
as we will hold wide-ranging talks today, one on one, and in expanded
format, on all of the various aspects of our bilateral cooperation,
interregional cooperation, our economic and military-technical ties,
and our diverse relations in general. We will also examine the
priorities for our work together in regional forums, including the
alliances we take part in, such as the CSTO. We will discuss other
matters too.

I am very pleased that you are making this big, full-fledged visit.

Today, you have already given a lecture, and you will have many other
opportunities to meet and discuss matters with your government and
parliamentary colleagues here.

Once again, I welcome you to Moscow. This is a particularly important
year in the history of our relations because it has been marked by
a number of major decisions for the multifaceted ties and alliance
between our countries.

I welcome you once more and wish you successful work and a good stay
here in Moscow.

PRESIDENT OF ARMENIA SERZH SARGSYAN: First of all, thank you very
much, Mr President, for the invitation to make this state visit to
Russia. I agree with you that it reflects the special nature of our
relations. This is the first such visit in our two countries’ history,
and I am grateful for this opportunity of course.

We are happy with the current level of political dialogue. Whether
at the presidential, government, or ministerial level, we have an
atmosphere in which we can discuss any questions, and I think this
is the most important thing in relations between friends.

Our economic relations are showing quite good development. Our
bilateral trade and investment are growing from year to year despite
the crisis, and I can’t tell you just how important this is for
Armenia, which is still in a semi-blockaded situation.

I am pleased that we are to sign today a major agreement on
humanitarian cooperation, because this is also a very important
sector. We place great importance indeed on this, and so I have come
with a good mood.

Thank you for the warm reception and for all the attention you have
given us.

DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Thank you, Mr President. Let’s begin work.