Author: Kalantarian Kevo

NIGHT OVER ERZINGA DELIVERS TALES OF IMMIGRANT STRUGGLES AT FORT MASON
Albert Goodwyn, SF Performing Arts Examiner

Examiner.com
Sept 19 2011

Golden Thread has produced the world premiere of a deeply moving story
of an American immigrant experience. Night Over Erzinga, just opened
at South Side Theatre, Fort Mason Center, travels from the Armenian
genocide of the early Twentieth Century to JFK’s assassination and
show-biz in Massachusetts. Playwright Adriana Sevahn Nichols weaves in
her own background as an Armenian-Dominican Republic refugee to create
a story both tender and brutal with a texture of warmth, nostalgia,
hope, and horror.

In over two hours – which could have been shorter – she tells of the
flight of a nervous, introverted young woman who escapes the Middle
Eastern state’s brutality to become a stage star in Worcester Mass.

She even gets to perform with Danny Kaye. Music and performance
become her life. In the U. S. she marries and has a baby with a
somewhat talented singer who also immigrated to the U. S. He came
from the Dominican Republic and wants to sing opera but is stuck with
show tunes.

Meanwhile, her father comes to visit from Armenia. The question arises,
what happened to mother? Her ghost appears randomly during the play to
help things along. But that is in Act II, after she has immigrated. In
Act I, mother undergoes extensive, useless electroshock therapy,
no match for what the brutal Armenian hussars did to her sister,
which comes out near the end of Act II.

Alice (Juliet Tanner) seeks a normal life in America, but she cannot
escape her past. It shows up in multiple scenes in a metaphorical
suitcase, whether it is the one she left Armenia with, the one her
father brings when he visits or the one she will not abandon her
daughter to. “I am not going to pack up her life in a little suitcase.”

Act I is a tedious, underdeveloped setup. The long Act II pays off
with gripping family tensions, humor and some very poetic language.

Act I is an icy description of a savage land, almost didactic. But Act
II is worth the wait. It delves deeply into the hearts and minds of
people struggling to make it in a foreign country. For Middle Eastern
insight, very important these days, this evokes heartfelt insight to
the people of another land.

Night Over Erzinga continues through October 9 at South Side Theatre,
Fort Mason Center, Marina and Buchanan Streets. Tickets are available
online at goldenthread.org or by phone at 415.345.7575.

CLASSIC VEGETARIAN COOKERY: ARTO DER HAROUTANIAN
by Nick Harman

Foodepedia
Sept 19 2011
UK

Like many people my flirtation with vegetarianism ended with the waft
of a bacon roll. Working in advertising I was frequently on film sets
at ‘sparrow fart’, as times before dawn were called, and when you’re
hungry, cold and hungover a bacon butty is irresistible.

There was also the dawning realisation that the girlfriend, who was
the real veggie, was frying everything in order to make it tasty and
I was ballooning in weight. This was the 1980s you understand, we
knew more about Rick Astley than we did about eating a wholesome diet.

It was clear though even then that the tastiest vegetarian meals came
from the East or Middle East. Those cultures had long traditions of
eating vegetables as something more than a boring side dish and could
do things to them that made them stars in their own right.

Classic Vegetarian Cookery has been unavailable for almost 20 years,
the author Arto der Haroutanian can now be seen to have been ahead
of his time. An Armenian by birth he was brought up from the age of
12 in the North West of England and was a painter of international
distinction, as well as the owner of a chain of hotels and restaurants
where Armenian cookery featured.

He wrote over 12 cookbooks featuring the cuisine of the east and this,
like them all, is beautifully written in a way most chefs can only
dream of. Vegetables were of course available in the 1980s, but today
we have access to so many more. Because of this Arto’s book is more
useful than ever.

Laced with appropriate quotations from around the world and full
of fascinating asides, the book has recipes from all over but not a
single picture. This is unusual but understandable. Pictures put the
cost up and mean less space for the meat of this vegetarian book, the
recipes. There are over 200 of them making this an almost bottomless
source of inspiration.

The shame is that Arto died in 1987 at the terribly young age of 47.

Had he been around today he would have been delighted to see how
easy it is buy every kind of vegetable and would undoubtedly have
been continuing to write cookbooks that are already classics to
the cognoscenti.

This reissue is timely and should be sought out in case, by some
mischance, it is ever allowed to go out of print again.

ISBN: 190811701X

ARMENIAN CHESS FEDERATION CONFIRMS PLAYERS FOR ARMENIA-RUSSIA MATCH

Panorama
Sept 19 2011
Armenia

Armenian Chess Federation confirmed the Armenian team members to
the Scheveningen system match with the Russian team, “armchess.am”
reported. Armenia vs. Russia match will take place in Yerevan,
Armenia on October 15-20, 2011.

The Armenian team includes GMs Rafael Vaganian, Levon Aronian, Sergei
Movsesian, Vladimir Akopian, Gabriel Sargissian, Robert Hovhannisyan,
Arman Pashikian, Hrant Melkumyan. The latter two achieved this right
by playing successfully in the selection tournament which was held
in Yerevan.

AZERBAIJANI COMMUNITY LEADER ON UNITING ‘ALL KARABAKHIS’

news.az
Sept 19 2011
Azerbaijan

The head of the Azerbaijani community of Nagorno-Karabakh has said
that the people of Karabakh consist of both Armenians and Azerbaijanis.

“Azerbaijanis have lived in Karabakh since ancient times, and I’m sure
that they will live there for many centuries more,” Bayram Safarov
said in an interview with Russian newspaper, Nezavisimaya Gazeta.

“We were forced to flee our homes as a result of Armenia’s military
aggression. Of course, this is a tragedy. Each refugee is a story,
full of pain and emotion. Today the Karabakh people are scattered
across 58 districts of Azerbaijan,” he told the newspaper.

“The UN and international charities helped refugees and displaced
people in the early days along with the Azerbaijani government, but
over time, the financial resources of Azerbaijan allowed it fully to
take care of the people of Karabakh.

“I say ‘people of Karabakh’ since this term should characterize
the people of Karabakh – both Azerbaijanis and Armenians. There is
no such nation – the Armenians of Karabakh – just as there is no
nation the Azerbaijanis of Karabakh. The Azerbaijani community of
Nagorno-Karabakh Region of Azerbaijan unites all Karabakhis and aims
to achieve their return to their homeland.”

Asked whether he was satisfied with the role of international
institutions in settling the Karabakh conflict, Safarov restated
the Azerbaijani concern that some UN Security Council resolutions
are implemented almost immediately, while others, such as the four
resolutions in 1993 calling for the withdrawal of Armenian troops
from Azerbaijan, remain on paper.

“We have the same right to live in Karabakh as the Armenians do,”
Safarov told Nezavisimaya Gazeta.

“We have regular meetings with the chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group,
take part in every possible conference and forum on the conflict. We
bring to the attention of these structures our opinion and we can
see over time that the opinion of these structures is changing as
they have a complete picture of the conflict.”

He repeated Baku’s position that the best way to change the status
quo on the conflict would be the withdrawal of Armenian troops
from Azerbaijani territory, the return home of displaced people
and the confirmation of the status of Karabakh within the borders
of Azerbaijan.

“If anyone thinks that over the years the desire to return home
evaporates or that the new generation is used to living in different
conditions, they are very wrong. Our generation still remembers the
period of co-existence and can master its feelings of alienation and
hatred, while the young people are growing up in conditions of hatred,
as they cannot forget everything that has left them without hearth
and home. The longer the occupation continues, the more the hatred
will grow.”

Asked what he would like to say to his former friends, neighbours and
acquaintances in Karabakh, Safarov said: “We are deeply convinced
that the directly Armenian population of the territory is not
interested in continuation of the conflict – they have become
hostage to circumstance. It will be better for both the Armenians
and Azerbaijanis if the funds going on the purchase of weapons and
maintenance of the army in both countries are spent on improving the
welfare of people and restoring the territory.”

TURKISH PROSECUTOR ASKS FOR LIFE OVER ARMENIAN JOURNALIST MURDER SUSPECTS

Sept 19 2011
Turkey

The prosecutor accused the suspects for attempting to destroy the
democratic regime by use of force and violence.

An Istanbul prosecutor asked for aggravated life imprisonment —
the severe punishment under the Turkish Penal Code — for seven
suspects including Yasin Hayal and Erhan Tuncel in the killing of
Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

The prosecutor accused the suspects for attempting to destroy the
democratic regime by use of force and violence under a provision of
the Turkish Penal Code Article 309, which specifies “crimes against
the constitution.”

The prosecutor also said Tuncel and Hayal masterminded the murder as
part of the Ergenekon, an alleged clandestine network of senior army
officers, academics, businessmen and others who have been on trial
since October 2008 on charges of plotting to use terrorist methods
to overthrow elected government.

Dink was shot dead outside the offices of his weekly Agos in on
January 19, 2007. Last July, a juvenile court in Istanbul sentenced
Ogun Samast, the self-confessed murderer of Dink, to nearly 23 years
in prison.

NKR PRESIDENT: THE UNITY OF THE MOTHERLAND AND DIASPORA IS A “DYNAMIC SYSTEM”

Mediamax
Sept 19 2011
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR),
Bako Sahakyan, said today that the unity of the Motherland and the
Diaspora is a “dynamic system, and in order to preserve its flexibility
and efficiency, changes taking place on the international arena and
in various countries should be taken into consideration.”

Bako Sahakyan said this in Yerevan today addressing the All-Armenian
Conference of leaders and representatives of organizations of Diaspora,
Mediamax reports.

“In this context I think the holding of this conference, organized
by the Ministry of Diaspora of Armenia, is very important. It may
become a platform for discussing issues which are very important for
our people and for two Armenian states. This cooperation framework
is very efficient and is one of the most effective methods to carry
out practical work. Artsakh is interested and ready to work in
this direction, considering it as a mechanism for strengthening the
Armenia-Artsakh-Diaspora trinity,” Bako Sahakyan concluded.

ON THE OCCASION OF THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIA’S INDEPENDENCE A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WERE AWARDED HIGH STATE AWARDS

Office of the President
president.am
Sept 17 2011
Armenia

Today, by the decree of the President of Armenia, on the occasion of
the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence a group of individuals
were awarded high state awards for significant achievements and
accomplishments in their respective areas. Among them well-known
persons, who have made considerable contribution to the preservation
of the Armenian identity and provided services to the Motherland.

Today, during the official award ceremony, which took place at the
Presidential Palace, the President of Armenia handed the orders and
medals as well as honorary titles to the prominent figures from Spyurk,
representatives of science, education, health care and economy, as well
as a group of the Army and law enforcement servicemen and diplomats.

President Sargsyan congratulated the awardees and wished them further
success.

*** Congratulatory remarks by President Serzh Sargsyan at the award
ceremony in the Presidential Palace on the occasion of the 20th
anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia

Ladies and Gentlemen, Generals and Officers, Dear Guests,

I cordially congratulate you on the occasion of the 20th anniversary
of Armenia’s independence and on receiving high state awards.

I am honored to be handing these awards because gathered today are
worthy representatives of our country and our society. It is first
of all thanks to these people that our state is strong and thanks to
these people our nation moves forward.

Armenia twenty years ago and Armenia of today are two different
countries not only for the world but also for us. Our country has
transformed first of all because of the people’s, concrete people’s
dedicated work. Drops of each person’s efforts come together to become
a tremendous force. As the saying goes, “Constant dropping wears away
a stone”. We, as a nation for twenty years have been drop by drop
“wearing away a stone”. Today, for me each of the awardees is one of
these precious and important drops.

Nevertheless, Armenia of twenty years before and Armenia of today
is the same country – with the same language, culture and family
traditions, same national aspirations. We will stay the same but
also different – conservative and modern, national and international,
ancient and always new. This is the road toward eternity, if we want
to be travelers of eternity.

A soldier or an officer, a scientist or an artist, a doctor or a
teacher, a builder or a state employee, a construction worker of a
dignitary – we all eventually are doing the same job – we are elements
of the same structure. Just as the foundation, pillars and the dome
of a temple which have different functions but together represent
one entity. In Vahan Terian’s words, “Our country is a temple, and
sacred is each stone.” And if every one of us perceives himself of
herself as a brick of a temple wall, he or she will see how strong,
beautiful and immortal we are together and how vulnerable when a
block is missing in the temple wall.

Today, Motherland acknowledges those who have that comprehension,
who live and work with that comprehension, who set criteria because
tomorrow’s generation will be guided by that very criteria.

I once again congratulate you and thank you for your work. I remain
confident that you, together with your colleagues will continue and
augment your and our success – success which will allow us in twenty
years to have an entirely different, an entirely new country but also
the same ancient and dearly loved Armenia.

ARMENIAN PM TO HOLD TALKS IN BRUSSELS

RIA Novosti
Sept 19 2011
Russia

An Armenian government delegation led by Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
will start a working visit to Brussels on Monday, the government
press service reported.

During the visit, Sargsyan is expected to meet with European
Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan
Fule, Valery Safaryan, the head of the Belgian-Armenian Chamber of
Commerce, and other officials.

The delegation also comprises Armenian Finance Minister Vache
Gabrielyan, Economy Minister Tigran Davidyan and other officials.

ARMENIA FORMS COUNCIL TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC REFORM EFFICIENCY

Vestnik Kavkaza
Sept 19 2011

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed a decree on formation of a
council for improvement of efficiency of economic reforms and economic
activity, News Armenia reports.

The council will be supervised by the prime minister and will include a
list of spheres for reforms.The Armenian government was ordered to form
a list of members for the council and a concept for reform improvement.

The mayor of Yerevan, the chairman of the Central Bank, the chairman
of the commission for settlement of public services and the head
of the state commission for protection of economic competition were
recommended to cooperate with the council.

Fresno Bee, CA
Sept 17 2011

Armenian pianist kicks off concert series

By Donald Munro / The Fresno Bee
Saturday, Sep. 17, 2011 | 05:41 PM

Leading off the 2011-12 season for the Philip Lorenz Memorial
Keyboard Concerts series is a familiar name: Vardan Mamikonian.

The acclaimed Armenian pianist returns for a fourth visit today to
Keyboard Concerts, which despite its small home at the Fresno State
Concert Hall has an outsized reputation in terms of international
prestige. Mamikonian was last in Fresno in 2006 as part of a
collaboration between the concert series and the Fresno Philharmonic.

A common theme of this season’s series is the composer Franz Liszt,
whose 200th birth anniversary is being celebrated worldwide. Seven of
the eight pianists in the season lineup have confirmed Liszt on their
programs.

And the biggest Liszt piece comes first: the Piano Sonata in B Minor.

“It’s considered one of the most substantial works of the 19th century
with great demands on every aspect of the player: interpretive
insight, personality, stamina,” says series artistic director Andreas
Werz. “I think it’s the dream of every pianist to one day play the
Liszt sonata.”

Mamikonian, whose visit is co-sponsored by Fresno State’s Armenian
Studies Program and underwritten by local Armenian contributors, has
performed in such prestigious venues as the Musikverein in Vienna,
Carnegie Hall in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, and Thétre des
Champs-Elysées in Paris.

Mamikonian, along with such artists in the series as Garrick Ohlsson
and Emanuel Ax, is an example of the big names that Werz is able to
bring to the series each year. He balances that with a mix of younger
upcoming talents. Two of the most promising in this season’s lineup:
Russian player Daniil Trifonov, who earlier this year won both the
International Rubinstein Piano Competition in Tel Aviv and the
International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow; and Argentinian
player Fabio Martino, who won the Rio de Janeiro international piano
competition in 2010.

Performance details: 3 p.m. Sunday, Fresno State Concert Hall.
keyboardconcerts.com, (559) 278-2337.