Author: Kalantarian Kevo

Tchaikovsky Competition Laureate Wows Vancouver Rectial Society Audience

The Vancouver Sun
February 11, 2013

by David Gordon Duke

Vancouver Playhouse
February 10

Cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan didn’t so much break the rules of the
conventional debut recital as rewrite them entirely in his Sunday
afternoon appearance for the Vancouver Recital Society.

Winner of the 2011 Tchaikovsky Competition, Haknazaryan made his
Canadian recital debut as part of the VRS `Next Generation’ series, an
enterprise that’s been bringing the best and the brightest of young
performers to the Playhouse over the course of many seasons.

Haknazaryan’s program of romantic and modern works started out with
that redoubtable and oh-so-reliable concert-ender, César Franck’s
Violin Sonata (obviously in its cello/piano guise) and concluded with
two Tchaikovsky charmers.

Along the way the Armenian cello phenomenon seemed unafraid of
challenging his SRO audience. Ligeti’s solo Cello Sonata was replaced
by a fine work by the late Armenian composer Adam Khudoyan, which
Haknazaryan explained was in part a commemoration of the infamous
Armenian massacres of the early twentieth century. Then came the first
Vancouver performance I can recall of a work by Mikhail Bronner
(b. 1952), his The Jew: Life and Death. In two shortish movements,
Bronner starts out in a off-kilter folk mode-a bit like a 21st century
Shostakovich trio-before turning extra dark. Cellist and pianist both
push the limits of extended techniques, but these au courant devices
are used in the service of ideas, not just as trendy effects without
causes.

These two works demanded attention and made no compromises; each alone
was worth the price of admission.
In the lighter Tchaikovsky and Chopin (not to mention some
ultra-flashy Paganini as an encore), Haknazaryan showed himself an
aristocrat of the cello: all the superlative technical skills you’d
expect, but with a sensitive, beguiling feeling for both style and
content.

Perhaps most telling was his work with co-recitalist Noreen Polera in
Franck’s Sonata. Thickly conceived and ultra-lush in the post-Wagner
mode, it is all too often rendered as flat-out melodrama. Here the duo
maintained a touching measure of elegant French restraint; rigorously
logical pacing made this old warhorse sound fresh and compelling. It
was a performance to treasure.

Will Haknazaryan be the 21st century heir of the great Mstislav
Rostropovich? Given playing this impressive, I wouldn’t be surprised.

PRESS RELEASE
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian
Contact: Dan Savage
Tel: 916.319.2046

February 15, 2013

Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian Hosts
Armenian Consul General at State Capitol

(SACRAMENTO) On February 14, 2013 Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (along
with Assemblymember Khatcho Achadjian) was honored to welcome the
Honorable Consul General Grigor Hovhannissian in his State Capitol
office for a meet and greet with members of the Assembly including the
Hon. Richard Bloom, Majority Whip Chris Holden, Majority Floor Leader
Toni Atkins, Majority Caucus Leader Phil Ting, Assistant Majority
Leader Anthony Rendon, Democratic Whip Jimmy Gomez, Assemblymember
Mike Gatto and Hon. Scott Wilk.

Assemblymember Nazarian later stated, ” I was proud to welcome the
Honorable Counsel General as the first official guest to my Capitol
office to meet with many of the new leaders of the California
Assembly. It is only through these types of meetings that we can
better understand our constituents and their needs. I was delighted
that so many members made it a point to stop by meet the Counsel
General and learn about some of the issues that confront the Armenian
community. This says a lot about the growing awareness that lawmakers
have of the Armenian community.”

###

HATE CAMPAIGN WAGED BY THE COUNTRY’S AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT ATTEMPT TO DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM INTERNAL ISSUES: THE INDEPENDENT

11:32, 13 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS: Events took an more alarming turn
when Hafiz Haciyev, the head of a pro-government political party, said
his party would pay 10,000 manat (£8,000) for the ear of the author.

The Independent dwelled on the issue and its consequences currently so
topical in Azerbaijan and records hate campaign waged by the country’s
authoritarian government attempt to distract attention from internal
issues, Armenpress reports.

The campaign comes after a period of unusual civil unrest in the
country, as Mr Aliyev prepares to stand for re-election later in the
year. Last month, thousands of people attended an unsanctioned rally
in Baku over conditions in the military, and later there were violent
protests in a provincial town after a minister’s son crashed his luxury
car into a local’s more modest vehicle. Although the President still
retains the support of the majority of Azeris, analysts say discontent
over Mr Aliyev’s authoritarian methods and the rampant corruption of
the ruling elite is eroding the regime’s popularity.

“The book was meant to be about conciliation between Azeris and
Armenians,” Mr Aylisli toldThe Independent from Baku. “I realised when
I wrote it that it could be controversial, but I didn’t for a minute
think that there would be this giant campaign, on a state level.”

“If a person has no national spirit, he cannot have a sense of
humanity,”said Ali Hasanov, an aide to Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham
Aliyev, commenting on Mr Aylisli’s novel. “The Azerbaijani people
must express public hatred towards these people.”

The author, Akram Aylisli, is in trouble for his novel Stone Dreams,
in which he portrayed scenes of violence carried out by Azerbaijanis
against their Armenian foes during the riots that accompanied
the break-up of the Soviet Union. What appears to be a coordinated
campaign has been unleashed against him, with television programmes
and official pronouncements railing against the writer.

ISSUE OF ATTACKS ON ARMENIANS RAISED IN TURKISH PARLIAMENT

12:40, 13 February, 2013

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 13, ARMENPRESS. Member of the Turkish opposition
Republican People’s Party of the Turkish Parliament Levent Gok applied
to the parliament’s Human Rights Committee demanding to create a
special committee for the investigation of murders and attacks
on Armenian elderly women in Samatya district of Istanbul. The
Turkish parliamentarian stated in his application: “There is a
great possibility that the assaults have been initiated on ethnic or
religious grounds.”

As reports “Armenpress” citing Turkish T24 TV channel, among other
things Levent Gok stated that two out of five ethnic Armenian citizens
died in the attacks in Sisli and Samatya districts, three were injured
and these attacks endanger the peaceful coexistence of Armenians and
Turks in Turkey.

LA PLUPART DES CANDIDATS A LA PRESIDENTIELLE DESAPPROUVENT LA DECISION DE M. HAYRIKIAN DE NE PAS SOLLICITER LE REPORT DES ELECTIONS

Les quotidiens commentent la decision de M. Hayrikian de ne pas
saisir la Cour constitutionnelle afin que celle-ci reporte le scrutin
presidentiel de 15 jours, comme le prevoit la Constitution armenienne
en cas d'” obstacles insurmontables ” pour l’un des candidats. Alors
que M. Hayrikian a explique sa decision par son souhait de ne pas
speculer sur l’attentat contre lui, ni donner satisfaction aux
auteurs de cette tentative de meurtre, les autres candidats ont
dit regretter cette decision. Arman Melikian, ancien ” Ministre
des AE ” du HK l’a qualifiee de ” bizarre “, suggerant qu’elle est
le resultat de la pression du gouvernement. ” Il aurait ete tout a
fait naturel qu’il exige un delai de deux semaines afin de recuperer
et de participer a la campagne electorale dans son integralite “,
a-t-il dit. Andreas Ghukasian, politologue, qui est en grève de la
faim depuis le lancement de la campagne electorale, le 21 janvier, a
dit etre en desaccord avec M. Hayrikian. Le specialiste des chansons
epiques, Vardan Sedrakian, a accuse M. Hayrikian d’avoir marchande
avec les autorites. Les reactions des deux principaux candidats
de l’opposition, Hrant Bagratian et Raffi Hovannisian, ont ete plus
discrètes, M. Bagratian ayant toutefois ajoute qu’il a renonce a toute
solidarite avec P. Hayrikian. Hraparak estime dans son editorial que
le report des elections n’etait point dans l’interet des autorites,
mais plutôt dans celui des candidats d’opposition, qui auraient pu
disposer de davantage de temps pour presenter leur programme. De ce
point de vue, l’editorialiste estime que M. Hayrikian aurait fait le
jeu des autorites.

Extrait de la revue de presse de l’Ambassade de France en Armenie en
date du 6 fevrier 2013

mercredi 13 fevrier 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

LA DEPUTEE AZERIE GOULYAR AHMEDOVA COUPABLE D’AVOIR DU SANG ARMENIEN EST L’OBJET D’ATTAQUES DES NATIONALISTES-RACISTES AZERIS

La chasse aux intellectuels pro-Armeniens continue de plus belle
en Azerbaïdjan. Après l’ecrivain Akram Aylisli, c’est au tour de
la deputee Goulyar Ahmedova de faire les frais de l’hysterie des
nationalistes-racistes azeris encourages par le clan du president
Aliev. A Bakou des rumeurs affirment que la deputee azerie Goulyar
Ahmedova est d’origine armenienne par son grand-père. Selon le site
olaylar.az, c’est le responsable religieux Taki Ahmedov qui l’aurait
revele. Ce dernier a affirme que ” malgre son origine armenienne ”
en ” peuple evolue ” les azeris ont laisse Goulyar Ahmadov devenir
deputee au Parlement azeri. D’autres personnalites azeries ” au sang
mele ” seraient selon Taki Ahmedov sur la liste…A qui le tour ?

Krikor Amirzayan

mercredi 13 fevrier 2013, Krikor Amirzayan ©armenews.com

AZERI PARTY OFFERS BOUNTY FOR EAR OF AUTHOR

Kyiv Post
Feb 13 2013
Ukraine

Feb. 13, 2013, 8:12 a.m. | Russia and former Soviet Union ~W by Reuters

BAKU – A pro-government party in Azerbaijan has offered a bounty to
anyone who slices off the ear of a celebrated writer it says insulted
the nation with his depiction of friendship and violence between
Azeris and Armenians.

Azerbaijan and Armenia have had no diplomatic ties since a war over
the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh in the early 1990s, as
the Soviet Union fell apart, killed 30,000 people.

Human Rights Watch condemned the threat against Akram Aylisli, who held
the title of “People’s Author” in Azerbaijan before being stripped
the honour by the president last week after the story “Stone Dreams”
enraged Azeris.

The work, which was published in a Russian magazine, in part tells the
story of how some Azeris tried to protect their Armenian neighbours
when Armenians were being tortured and beaten in Baku in 1990.

With nearly 1 million displaced people from the territory of
Nagorno-Karabakh living in Azerbaijan and both states suffering the
economic and social effects of the war, the topic of ethnic relations
is a hornet’s nest.

The leader of Azeri pro-government party Muasir Musavat (Modern
Equality) told Reuters on Tuesday the party was offering 10,000 manats,
nearly $13,000, for anyone who cut off Aylisli’s ear.

“(Aylisli) insulted the entire Azeri nation,” party leader Hafiz
Haciyev said in his party office in Baku. “As he has insulted us we
wanted to respond, and that is why we have decided … that his ear
must be chopped off.”

Even before Haciyev’s threat, officials from the ruling Yeni Azerbaijan
Party called on Aylisli to withdraw the novel from sale and ask for
the nation’s forgiveness. There have been protests outside his home
in Baku.

Azeri President Ilham Aliyev last week signed a decree stripping
Aylisli of his title of “People’s Writer”, one of the country’s
highest cultural honours, which he had held since 1998.

New York-based Human Rights Watch urged Azerbaijan on Tuesday to stop
the campaign of intimidation against him.

“The government of Azerbaijan has an obligation to protect safety
and security and investigate any threats against the writer, whose
only fault is that he expressed his mind,” said Georgy Gogia, South
Caucasus researcher for the group.

“In fact, the government is often spearheading this smear campaign,”
he said.

A truce between Azerbaijan and Armenia was signed in 1994, but there
was no peace treaty. Violence still flares sporadically along the
ceasefire line and Azerbaijan’s border with Armenia – underlining
the risk of a conflict in the South Caucasus, where Turkey, Russia
and Iran have interests.

The enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh has about 160,000 people and runs
its own affairs with heavy Armenian military and financial backing
since the war. Oil-producing Azerbaijan often threatens to take it
back by force, though it says it favours diplomacy.

TURKEY SHOULD LOOK TO AN ANCIENT KING FOR TIPS ON ENERGY
Robin Mills

Feb 12, 2013

The giant stone heads scattered around Mount Nemrut in south-eastern
Turkey combine several cultures. Raised in 62 BC, these statues of
Greek, Armenian and Iranian gods have Hellenic faces but wear Persian
hats, testament to their builder, King Antiochus.

Today, as the sun sets behind the Ataturk dam to the south, their
blind eyes look out over a key pipeline – part of Turkey’s energy
policy, which also must balance East and West.

Turkey receives less energy attention than it should. The European
Union tends to consider it primarily as a transit country for oil
and gas from the Caspian and Middle East.

But Turkey is the fourth-largest gas market in Europe (outside the
former Soviet Union), and the only one that is growing strongly –
more than 11 per cent a year over the past decade. By 2020, it could
well be the continent’s largest gas consumer.

With Europe mired in recession, Turkey grew 8.5 per cent in 2011, even
if a slowdown last year raised concerns. Inflation has been mostly
brought under control, its young population is the second-largest in
Europe (just behind Germany) and public debt is modest.

With little domestic petroleum, the country relies heavily on gas
imports. Expensive energy purchases comprise two thirds of a worryingly
high current account deficit. More than half of Turkey’s gas comes from
Russia, known to use energy as a geopolitical tool; a further 18 per
cent from Iran, often cut off in winter. Iranian supplies are coming
under pressure from United States-inspired sanctions and restrictions.

Ankara-Tehran relations have suffered further over the conflict in
Syria. Increased use of coal, nuclear and renewable energy can slow,
but not reverse the growth in gas requirements.

In principle, Turkey’s geography presents it with ideal solutions. The
EU long sought to encourage it to become the “fourth corridor”
of gas imports (the other three running from Russia, North Africa
and Norway), via the Nabucco Pipeline. But Turkey’s own energy needs
are more important for its policy than any desire to assist the EU –
especially after being cold-shouldered for membership.

To the east, Turkish policymakers look out over the gas-rich Caspian
– Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan – speaking languages closely related
to Turkish. To the south-east, Iraq and its Kurdish region, Ottoman
provinces less than a century ago. To the south-west, massive new
gas finds in the deep waters of the eastern Mediterranean.

But all of these regions are politically problematic. The Caspian is
the most straightforward – Turkey already buys Azeri gas. The new
Trans-Anatolian pipeline will expand imports, and run westwards to
connect to EU markets – either Italy or, via a scaled-down version
of Nabucco, into central Europe.

But eccentric, isolationist Turkmenistan has not reached agreement
with Azerbaijan on laying a pipeline under the Caspian Sea, where
the two countries dispute a border – nor is there much reason for
the Azeris to facilitate a rival.

Baghdad seems in no hurry to expedite its own gas exports, and
relations with Ankara are poor – over Syria, where the two capitals
back opposite sides, and over Turkish support for oil exports from
the Kurdish region of Iraq. But it would be a dramatic move for the
Turks to permit an independent gas pipeline from the Kurdish region-
condoning effective Kurdish independence and breaking relations
with Baghdad.

And in the Mediterranean, Turkish relations with Israel are cold,
Syria is in chaos, and the continuing dispute over the divided island
of Cyprus blocks pipeline routes.

Ankara’s policy of “zero problems with neighbours” has rapidly
transformed into “many problems”.

To meet its needs, Turkey needs to emulate King Antiochus and
rebuild constructive relations with at least some of its energy-rich
neighbours.

Robin Mills is the head of consulting at Manaar Energy, and the author
of The Myth of the Oil Crisis and Capturing Carbon

CENTRAL BANK OF ARMENIA HOLDS ITS BENCHMARK REFINANCING RATE STEADY AT 8.0 PERCENT

YEREVAN, February 12. / ARKA /. The Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) said
today it held its benchmark refinancing rate steady at 8.0 percent.

In a statement it said inflation rose by 2.9 percent in January 2013
resulting in a 12-month 2.6% inflation, which was close to the lowest
level of its confidence band of 4 ± 1.5%. The Central Bank said also
the inflation will rise in the first half to stabilize around its
confidence band.

It said amid the ongoing uncertainties concerning political solutions
to the debt problems of the developed countries, the global economy
is expected to slowly recover in the forecast horizon. Under the
influence of a low external demand, formed under these conditions,
international prices of major commodities and food products will be
relatively stable, remaining at the current high level.

The Board said amid increasing economic potential and a rise in
agricultural production in a low inflation environment an excess
growth of real consumption has formed, which in the forecast horizon
will be stabilizing around balanced level. In these circumstances,
some economic slowdown is expected.

As a result of anticipated weakening of private demand and weaker
deterrent effect of fiscal policy the inflation in Armenia is not going
to have a strong impact on domestic prices. Last time CBA changed its
refinancing rate on September 6, 2011, reducing it from 8.5% to 8%. -0-

REP. GARRETT MEETS WITH ANC-NJ AT ARMENIAN HOME FOR THE AGED

February 12, 2013

EMERSON, N.J.-On Jan. 29, Congressman Scott Garrett (R-N.J.-5) met
with leaders of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of New Jersey
at a meeting hosted by the Armenian Home for the Aged.

(L-R) Facility administrator Matthew Russo, ANC of NJ co-chair Karine
Shnorhokian, Congressman Garrett, Armenian Home board member Andy
Torigian and ANC of NJ co-chair James Sahagian.

Andy Torigian, board member of the Armenian Home, and Matthew Russo,
administrator of the facility, also attended and participated in an
engaging discussion on items of concern to Garrett’s Armenian-American
constituents.

ANC of New Jersey co-chairs James Sahagian and Karine Shnorhokian
expressed appreciation to Garrett for his continued support for
recognition of the Armenian Genocide, his support on the “Return of
Churches” resolution in the last Congress, and other items of concern
to the Armenian community.

Also discussed with the Congressman were the ongoing challenges being
faced by the large Armenian community in war-torn Syria and the many
thousands who have been displaced.

Garrett expressed his best wishes to the Armenian Home as he viewed
the drawings of the new and expanded home to be constructed on the
same property, beginning later in 2013.

Congressman Garret has been a strong supporter of Armenian issues
since being elected to Congress in New Jersey’s 5th District in 2003.

The ANC of New Jersey has consistently given him a rating of “A”
on his Congressional report cards.