Author: Kajoyan Gevork

YEREVAN PYUNIK AT TOP OF STAR ARMENIAN FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT TABLE

Noyan Tapan
Oct 28, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, NOYAN TAPAN. The 24th round’s matches of the
Star Armenian Football National Championship took place on October
25-26. The following results were recorded: Mika – Gandzasar 1 to 1,
Kilikia – Ulis 1 to 1, Shirak – Pyunik 1 to 2, Banants – Ararat 2 to 2.

Pyunik is at the top of the tournament table with 53 points, it is
followed by Ararat with 50, Gandzasar, Mika 42, Banants 34, Ulis 21,
Shirak 15, Kilikia 10 points.

The 25th round’s matches are scheduled for October 30.

HEAD OF DELEGATION OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO ARMENIA: ARMENIA REACHED PROGRESS IN FULFILLMENT OF ‘NEW EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY’ PROGRAMME

ArmInfo
2008-10-28 12:20:00

ArmInfo. ‘Despite the fact that the current year was difficult for
Armenia, it reached progress in fulfillment of the ‘New European
Neighbourhood Policy’ programme, Head of the delegation of the European
Commission to Armenia, Ambassador Raul de Luzenberger said during
the International Conference ‘The European Neighbourhood Programme
is two years old: Progress, challenges and the future’.

He said this year was difficult both for Armenia, taking into
account the post-election crisis in the country, and for the whole
South Caucasus region. Moreover, the year was also difficult for the
whole world community in view of the world financial crisis. ‘Despite
all this, I am satisfied with the level of Armenia-EU relations and
implementation of measures specified by the European Neighbourhood
Programme’, Raul de Luzenberger resumed.

UN IMPLEMENTS PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA STEMMING FROM LOCAL PRIORITIES

ARMENPRESS
Oct 24, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 24, ARMENPRESS: Today is the day of United Nations
Organization. UN started functioning in Armenia from 1992 implementing
programs stemming from local priorities. Permanent representative
of UN in Armenia Consuelo Vidal noted today in the Armenian office
of UN that the institution tries to support the prospering of the
country, struggle with the challenges of the time, overcome poverty
and corruption by cooperating with Armenian government and other
organizations functioning in Armenia.

UN focuses on community development ensuring the participation of
citizens in working out "Strategic Program of Poverty Reduction".

"We already have certain successes and the implemented models can serve
as an example for the Government, so that they could be implemented
in other communities," UN permanent representative in Armenia added.

Creation of harmless industry is another program direction of UN
representation. Due to effective work fighting against trafficking
is promoted. UN aims to enhance the institutional abilities of the
Government in the issue of rights and support of refugees as well as
offer final solutions to their problems.

Today the refreshed variant of web page of UN Armenian office
was presented.

Wide range of information about UN and its programs implemented in
Armenia can be found there. The web site is being updated regularly
and is presented in English and Armenian variants.

BUSH’S IRAQ CAMPAIGN HELPED REVIVE PKK THREAT, SAYS OBAMA

Today’s Zaman
24 October 2008, Friday
Turkey

Barack Obama and his candidate for vice president, Joe Biden, meet
supporters in an election rally.

US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has blamed the
administration of Republican President George W. Bush for straining
the country’s ties with Turkey, its NATO ally, and pledged to lead
efforts to bring Turkey and the Iraqi Kurds to find a solution to
the terror threat posed by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

In a blueprint of his plans to create a stronger partnership
with Europe, Obama said he and his candidate for vice president,
Joe Biden, believe a close relationship with "a stable, democratic,
Western-oriented Republic of Turkey" is an important national interest
for the United States. "That relationship has been deeply strained in
recent years, most importantly by the Bush administration’s misguided
and mismanaged intervention in Iraq, which has helped revive the
terrorist threat posed to Turkey by the separatist Kurdish Workers
Party [PKK]," the document, published on his election campaign Web
site, said. "The result is that this strategically important NATO
ally, the most advanced democracy in the Muslim world, is turning
against the West," said Obama and Biden, recalling recent opinion
polls indicating that the number of Turks with a favorable opinion
of the United States had fallen to 12 percent.

"Barack Obama and Joe Biden will lead a diplomatic effort to
bring together Turkish and Iraqi Kurdish leaders and negotiate a
comprehensive agreement that deals with the PKK threat, guarantees
Turkey’s territorial integrity, and facilitates badly needed Turkish
investment in and trade with the Kurds of northern Iraq," said the
document.

Most surveys show Obama ahead of his Republican rival John McCain by
a wide margin. A Gallup poll of world countries showed this week that
the world’s population as a whole supports Obama 4-1 over McCain,
a result reflecting the public mood in Turkey, as well. Although as
many as 70 percent of Turks are indifferent about the outcome of the
Nov. 4 election, 22 percent want Obama to win, as opposed to only 8
percent favoring McCain.

Turkish-US relations have been strained since the US-led invasion of
Iraq in 2003. The Turkish public’s sympathy for the US has dropped
significantly amid US inaction to end the PKK presence in northern
Iraq despite repeated Turkish requests. In November last year, Bush,
after a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White
House, declared the PKK a "common enemy" for Turkey, the United States
and Iraq. The US military also began to supply intelligence about the
PKK to facilitate Turkish cross-border raids on the terrorist group’s
targets in northern Iraq. Turkish officials say intelligence sharing
with the United States has been functioning effectively.

Obama and Biden made no mention of a 2003 vote in Turkish Parliament
rejecting a US request to use Turkish territory to open a northern
front on Iraq, a development that irritated the United States and
is believed to have prompted the Bush administration not to heed
subsequent Turkish demands for action against the PKK.

"Barack Obama and Joe Biden will support the promotion of democracy,
human rights, and freedom of expression in Turkey and support its
efforts to join the European Union," the document said.

In a declaration likely to please the Turkish government, Obama and
Biden also said the United States must work with European partners
to isolate Iran economically and politically if "it continues to
support terrorism and defy the Security Council’s demand that it
suspend uranium enrichment."

Ankara is opposed to nuclear weapons, but calls for a solution through
dialogue to the international row over Iran’s nuclear program. A US
administration led by McCain is expected to push for tough sanctions,
including use of military force, to deter Iran from pursuing its
nuclear program, which Tehran says is aimed at generating energy.

"Unlike the Bush administration, Barack Obama and Joe Biden would
conduct direct talks with Iran, a move that would bolster support
from our allies and demonstrate that any lack of progress from the
Iranians is due to Tehran’s refusal to cooperate, not a lack of
seriousness or leadership from the United States," said the document.

Their blueprint also touched on the division of Cyprus and pledged
that an Obama administration will "show US leadership in seeking to
negotiate a political settlement on Cyprus" and insisted that the
island’s Turkish and Greek communities should unite.

"A negotiated political settlement on Cyprus would not only end the
island’s tragic division but would pave the way to prosperity and
peace throughout the entire region. It would finally give repose to
the people of Cyprus after many years of division and uncertainty. It
would help foster better Greek-Turkish relations, strengthen Turkish
democracy, reduce the risk of military conflict, and remove a major
obstacle to Turkish membership in the EU," the document explained.

They did not refer to the issue of Armenian claims of genocide
at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire, something that Turkish
policy-makers fear would cause problems in relations with an Obama
administration. Obama has repeatedly pledged to Armenian-American
voters that the US will recognize the genocide claims if he is elected.

Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (202) 223-4330
Fax: 202) 223-4332

Email: [email protected]
Web:

You are invited to be among the firsts to see a new documentary on
Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh "The Struggle for Freedom", which
is now posted on our <;
Artsakh Online YouTube Channel.

Produced by director Peter Musurlian of the
<; Globalist Films, the film was first
screened last month at a congressional event on Capitol Hill
(Washington, DC, USA)
< 08_09_19.shtml> "Nagorno
Karabakh Republic/Artsakh: 20 Years of Freedom, Democracy, and
Progress."

ARMENIAN-UKRAINIAN INTER-PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION DISCUSSED

ARMENPRESS
Oct 21, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, ARMENPRESS: NA speaker Hovik Abrahamian received
today Ukrainian ambassador to Armenia Alexander Bozhko.

NA public relations official told Armenpress that during the
meeting the ambassador conveyed to the speaker the greetings and
congratulations of the chairman of the Ukrainian Rada.

Referring to inter-parliamentary ties the ambassador reminded that
many points of the cooperation agreement are still waiting to be
carried out. In this respect Al. Bozhko underscored the necessity
of mutual visits, and with the request of Hovik Abrahamian presented
the inner-political situation in Ukraine.

Armenian NA speaker underscored the inter-parliamentary cooperation
and said that the mutual visits are good opportunities for exchange
of experience.

During the meeting the sides also discussed other issues of mutual
interests.

FORMER YOUTH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SENTENCES TO TWO YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR STEALING MORE THAN $120,000 FROM NON-PROFIT

US States News
October 14, 2008 Tuesday 4:23 AM EST

The Massachusetts Attorney General issued the following news release:

A Burlington man has been sentenced to serve time in State Prison
for stealing money from a youth organization in which he served as
a volunteer. On August 20, 2008, Raffi Donoyan, age 49, pled guilty
to the charge of Larceny over $250 (2 counts). On Friday, Middlesex
Superior Court Judge Hiller Zobel sentenced Donoyan to two years in
State Prison on one count of Larceny over $250. On the remaining
count of Larceny over $250, Judge Zobel sentenced Donoyan to two
years in the House of Correction, with the sentence suspended for
a period of five years, to be served upon completion of his State
Prison sentence. Donoyan was also ordered to undergo mandatory drug
and alcohol testing, and must receive gambling counseling. Donoyan
will begin serving his sentence on October 24, 2008.

>From early 2003 to August 2005, Donoyan was athletic director and
a board member of Homenetmen Eastern Region, Inc. (Homenetmen),
a non-profit organization based in Watertown. Homenetmen is an
international charitable organization dedicated tofostering scouting
and athletic activities among Armenian youth. The Homenetmen Eastern
Region oversees ten chapters in the Eastern part of the United States.

The matter was originally referred to law enforcement authorities by
Homenetmen. An investigation found that from November 2003 through
August 2005, Donoyan stole more than $120,000 from the organization by
making cash withdrawals from the organization’s account and by writing
checks payable to himself. In early 2005, the treasurer and president
confronted Donoyan regarding irregularities in the organization’s
bank account, and Donoyan claimed that the IRS had taken money out
of the account. In February of that year, Donoyan deposited $20,000
into the organization’s bank account but then resumed taking money
from the account in May 2005 and continued until August 2005. Some
of the funds stolen included deposits paid by young athletes and
the chapters they belonged to so that they could attend Homenetmen’s
World Athletic Games, held in Athens, Greece in July 2005.

A Middlesex Grand Jury returned indictments against Donoyan on November
27, 2007. He was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court on December
5, 2007, where he entered a plea of not guilty and was released on
personal recognizance. On August 20, 2008, Donoyan entered a change
of plea from not guilty to guilty. On Friday, Donoyan was sentenced
to serve two years in State Prison.

The case was being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Molly
Parks and Michael Pine of Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Corruption
and Fraud Division, and was investigated by Paul Stewart, Director
of the Attorney General’s Financial Investigations Division.

‘I LOVE MIDDLE EASTERN HARMONIES’
David Light, [email protected]

Khaleej Times
21 October 2008
United Arab Emirates

Taleen Kalbian on her passion for music and being opening act for
Christina Aguilera

AS YOU ARE all well aware Christina Aguilera will be performing
at the Emirates Palace on Friday. What you probably don’t know is
that supporting her will be American born singing sensation Taleen
Kalbian. Hailing from Armenian heritage and having lived in the UAE
for a short while when she was seventeen, twenty-one-year-old Taleen
finds her music appeals to US and international audiences alike. Her
debut single, ‘Gotta let it go,’ was released in Dubai in January 2004
and since then she has moved back to the States to further her career.

City Times caught up with Miss Kalbian to check out what she has been
up to and how she feels about coming back to the UAE to perform with
a global superstar.

You’ve lived in Dubai and released a record here, how does it feel
to be returning to the UAE to support Christina Aguilera. Are you
guys friends?

It really feels amazing. Words can’t ever describe how excited
I am to be back in the UAE. Coming back to Abu Dhabi for such an
occasion and opening for an artist that I have had so much respect
for and have looked up to throughout my career is beyond words. I
love how welcoming and supportive the people in UAE are and have
always been to me. My very first invitation was five years ago from
the Abu Dhabi Music Foundation; Mrs. Huda Kanoo was instrumental in
shaping my impressions of Abu Dhabi. It’s going to be great to be
back with family and friends. Being friends and especially working
with Christina and learning from her would be a dream come true. I
look forward to that moment.

Is this the biggest show you will have done?

This is probably one of my biggest shows. I have sung in front of
large crowds my whole life but this is definitely the most significant
because I’m opening up for such a huge star.

Where did your passion for music come from?

My passion for music came from God. Even before I knew how to talk I
was mesmerised by music, singers and performers. I am forever thankful
that my family has supported my passion and opened up my eyes to so
many different types of music growing up.

When did you embark on a singing career? Has this always been a dream?

I began professionally singing at the age of nine. That’s when
I started to take things seriously and really embarking on my
career. I sang at the Washington Opera and from that moment on it
was my undeniable dream to follow a music career.

What has been your proudest memory to date in your career?

My proudest memory was singing for Pope John Paul II. It was amazing
because I was in Bethlehem in Manger Square and Jerusalem, so just
being there in front of such an amazing man and being able to share
my gift with him and the world was a special moment. This Christina
concert will probably be right up there with a favourite experience
as well!

Who are your inspirations?

My inspirations are my father who works so incredibly hard every day
to achieve his goals for the family. My mother, with her unconditional
love and support, Madonna, who has continuously reinvented herself
and been so smart about her career and of course Aretha Franklin who
sings with so much soul and passion that is very inspiring.

How would you describe your music? Does anyone in the charts now have
a similar sound?

My music is fun, fresh, and soulful with a pop sound and very
relatable. I write songs that come from personal experience that I
know a lot of people my age go through. I would compare it to Beyonce
meets Shakira with a touch of Christina.

Does your cultural heritage influence your music in any way? Would
you consider releasing some songs in Arabic?

Absolutely! I have such a Middle Eastern influence in many of my
songs. I love Middle Eastern harmonies and a lot of the instruments
like the tabla, the tar, and the oud. I would love to sing some songs
in Arabic even though my Arabic is not that great!

What do you listen to on a regular basis and who are the artists
you enjoy?

If you looked at my music library you would think I was a crazy
mad woman because I have so many types of music from Metallica to
Andrea Bocelli! I just love all music. Anything that makes me feel,
moving me emotionally and inspires me, I love. I always try to put
different musical influences in my work from different cultures,
especially when I write.

Having lived in the UAE what is your impression of the place?

The UAE is such an astounding place! The co-existence of the desert
and the sea is so very beautiful and deep to me. That reverence and
respect for the elements and the culture can be felt in the people
and how they interact with each other. You have the old and the new,
the old and the young. It all mixes in harmony creating a beautiful
place and a welcoming environment. It’s so exciting! There is never
a dull moment here!

What can the audience expect from your performance?

The audience can expect a very high-energy performance. I’ll be singing
a number of my original songs that hopefully you have been hearing
on the radio, but I am also singing some covers and a surprise song
that I’m sure everyone will recognise and love but I can’t tell you
what it is yet! You will have to come to the show to hear it! I’m
basically going to be pumping everyone up for the main event.

What does a typical day in the life of Taleen involve?

A typical day is running on the treadmill and singing at the same time
for about 40 minutes in the morning, making my breakfast, going to the
gym and working with my trainer. Then going to my vocal lessons with my
amazing coach Stephanie Spruill, working on songs alone or with other
writers and producers, recording some of these songs in the studio,
then dance or acting and then finally I like to take a hot shower sit
on the couch and watch TV with the love of my life, my dog Mish Mish.

What are your career plans for the immediate future?

My plan is to put out my record and go on a world tour. When I think
of my career I think of it globally because my music has a very global
and international message. I would love to just travel to all different
places in the world and share my message, music and God given talent
with people.

Where would you like to be in 10 years?

In 10 years I would love to have a successful music career and
keep writing songs for myself and for other artists. Also, it would
be another of my dreams to settle down and start a family. I love
family and to be able to get married and have children would be such
a blessing.

What do you think you will take from this performance?

This performance will be such a significant and memorable experience
for me. It’s funny because I have always wanted to go to a Christina
Aguilera concert and for some reason or another never was able to,
but I never thought, I would be going to her concert opening for her
in Abu Dhabi, like this! I’m so appreciative to my team, to Flash,
the people of Abu Dhabi who have made this dream possible for me. I
feel so blessed. Thank you.

MASS FIGHT BETWEEN ARMENIANS AND AZERBAIJANIS AVERTED IN MOSCOW

Today.Az
20 October 2008 [10:43]
Azerbaijan

Moscow militia men averted a mass fight, which was to involve about
50 citizens of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

According to the state department of internal affairs of Moscow,
the incident occurred late Saturday at Vinokurov’s street.

Local residents told militiamen that a large group of Caucasians,
looking aggressive, gathered at an area in front of the house no
19. There were about 50 people there, when militiamen arrived at
the spot.

The fight had already started when militiamen arrived, but they
managed to avert the further developments.

About 20 people were detained, while the rest managed to escape.

REFUGEES NO LONGER – A DANCE IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Magdalena Rahn

Sofia Echo
13:53 Thu 16 Oct 2008
Bulgaria

Like refugees, dance crosses national borders. And it was the Bulgarian
dance performance Bezhantsi that made its way to hall A5G3 of the
European Parliament in Brussels on October 15. The event took place on
the initiative of vice-president of the Party of European Socialists
Kristian Vigenin.

Vigenin’s fellow Bulgarians the Deputy Prime Minister for EU Funds
Management Meglena Plougchieva and the Bulgarian ambassador to the
European Union Boiko Kotsev also attended.

Bezhantsi is a performance in the repertoire of the troupe National
Art, under the direction of Neshka Robeva, former coach of the
Bulgarian national rhythmic gymnastics team. In Brussels, it was
staged as such that the dancers performed in the centre of a circle
created by work desks at which viewers sat. The show drew an audience
of more than 200, including European Parliament members and Bulgarian
professionals living in Belgium invited by Vigenin.

Telling the story of Bulgarians, Jews, Turks, Serbs and Armenians,
each with their national particularities, stories and lives, Bezhantsi
carries a message of hope, with the goal of the performance being to
give the opportunity to see not what divides, but what unites them –
the ongoing struggle for a better life, Robeva said at the event.

"The presentation of Bezhantsi […] perfectly fits into the European
Parliament’s priorities for the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue
and work on immigration legislation," Vigenin said in introducing the
show, as stated in a press release from his local public relations
office. "I am happy to have the opportunity to have co-operated in
bringing here a show that, through music and dance, says more than
all of our resolutions, declarations and garrulous speeches."

Bezhantsi premiered at NDK (National Palace of Culture) on December
12 2007; it is back in Bulgaria at Sofia’s Sulza i Smyah Theatre on
October 27.