Author: Kalantarian Kevo

THERE IS NOT EVEN A FREEDOM OF INTERNET IN AZERBAIJAN. INDEPENDENT

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Having a freedom to use the internet,
Azerbaijani people are overpaying for their free activity in it. As
reports Armenpress, former prisoner charged for the free speech Emin
Milli issued a public letter to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
titled “The internet is not free in Azerbaijan” which was published
in British Independent. Referring to the fact that Azerbaijan is
hosting the Internet Governance Forum, where the freedom of speech is
one of the crucial points, Milli stated, that Aliyev should not take
the opportunity to make false declaration on the freedom of speech
in Azerbaijan. He has noted that in a result of the current policy
of the government the majority of Azerbaijani people are afraid to
voice their opinion on the policy and the activity of the officials.

“You once suggested in a speech that the internet is free in
Azerbaijan. I am sure you will repeat this message at this global
forum. It is true that people in Azerbaijan are free to use the
internet, but it is also a fact that they can be severely punished
afterwards for doing so. We have reports indicating that the government
monitors all our internet communication carried through Azerbaijani
providers without acquiring a warrant or notifying the individual
or provider. Today many of our fellow citizens do not dare to speak
out against your policies, online or offline. You have successfully
managed to silence them. People in Azerbaijan live in fear. We
fear for our lives, we fear for our jobs, we fear for the lives and
jobs of our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, we fear for
our friends. We fear every time when someone close to us dares to
disagree with you. We also pay a high price when we dare not to fear”
Milli wrote in the letter.

He also reminded the circumstances of his detention “Before 2009 I
had criticized you mostly online. Then I was attacked in the center
of Baku. I was arrested and later sentenced in a show trial on fake
charges of hooliganism. My father died while I was in jail, his health
was deteriorating since the day of my arrest. I could not be there
when he was placed in hospital and I was not there the day I lost him.

Some of my relatives and friends lost their jobs. They were told that
they are too close to “the enemy of the state”~T.

Milli has noted that he is sparing no efforts to bring the real image
of Azerbaijani society to the surface. “I believe that our country
will become a better place to live once we all accept the truth of
our situation and act together for change. Only then will we be able
to hope for a free internet, perhaps it will herald a free country”.

Today there are more than 80 political prisoners in Azerbaijan,
according to a report by the Council of Europe’s rapporteur on
political prisoners. The murder of journalists such as Elmar Huseynov,
who was killed in 2005, has never been properly investigated say
commentators and observers.

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR TO BAGDAD DISCUSSED WITH IRAQI PARLIAMENTARIAN THE ISSUE OF FORMING INTERPARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS

18:25, 6 November, 2012

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Ambassador to Bagdad Mourad
Mouradian had a meeting with the Chairman of Iraqi Parliament’s
Foreign Relations Committee Humam Hamudi on November 5. As reports
Armenpress, interlocutors have discussed the issues on shaping and
developing interparliamentary relation among the two states, and
highlighted that the formation of the interparliamentary friendly
group will promote the development of the cooperation in cultural,
political, economic and other spheres.

Sides discussed some regional issues, referring to Syrian conflict;
in his turn Iraqi parliamentarian presented the position and policy of
Iraq concerning the peaceful settlement of the conflict. The meeting
was concluded with the invitation of Humam Hamudi for Armenian
Ambassador to visit Holy cities of Karbala and Najaf.

ARMENIAN EX-PREMIER: 2013 BUDGET ALLOCATIONS FOR TOURISM NOT TO HAVE EFFECT

YEREVAN, November 6. /ARKA/. Former Prime-Minister of Armenia,
opposition deputy from Armenian National Congress Hrant Bagratyan
suggests not allocating 50 million of government budget funds for
development of tourism in 2013, as they “won’t have any effect”.

If the funds are too little to change something in a field, why to
waste them; it is better to spend them in another field where they
could be of more use, Bagratyan said at a parliament hearing on budget.

But the Minister of Economy Tigran Davtyan opposed the opposition
deputy. Budget constraints give no way to allocate more for tourism,
but 50 million can still be spent in an efficient manner, he said.

“I don’t believe these funds will be spent senselessly. Growth is
recorded in the field every year and new infrastructures are formed,”
the Minister said pointing to 6% growth in tourism by the end of the
first half of the year. -0–

ARMENIA & CHINA: 20 YEARS OF COOPERATION
Sona Hakobyan

“Radiolur”
15:10 06.11.2012

A two-day conference titled “Armenia and China: 20 years of political,
economic, linguistic and cultural cooperation” kicked off at the State
Linguistic University after Valery Bryusov today. The event aims to
reinforce the cooperation between Armenian and Chinese linguists,
explore ways for Armenian-Chinese cooperation in the political,
economic, linguistic and cultural spheres. In attendance were China’s
Ambassador to Armenia Tien Changchun, Chairman of the State Linguistic
University Board Vigen Sargsyan, Minister of Culture Hasmik Poghosyan,
other officials.

Although Armenians and Chinese are very different, historians and art
critics say the two countries have a number of similarities. Although
the diplomatic, political, economic and cultural ties between Armenia
and China have a history of 20 years, the friendship between the two
comes from the depth of centuries, when the Silk Road was linking
the Armenian and Chinese cultures.

Speaking at the forum, Rector of the State linguistic University Gayane
Gasparyan said Chinese had been taught at the University since 2007.

The political relations between the two countries are strengthening
day by day, Ambassador Tien Changchun said, in turn. He added that
“the two countries are closely cooperating and supporting each
other’s interests.”

“FOR US, ANY SEWN MOUTH, ANY SEWN EYE CAUSES GREAT ALARM,” THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER SAYS

November 5, 2012 15:04

>From the human rights perspective, when arrestees sew their mouths,
can it be considered as ordinary a phenomenon, as wearing earrings
for women? In response to this question of , Karen
Andreasyan, the Human Rights Defender, said, “Any self-mutilation
cannot be considered as normal or acceptable. I am convinced that the
Minister of Justice cannot believe either that it is a healthy or
acceptable or positive phenomenon. I don’t try to criticize him. I
know one thing – for us, any sewn mouth, any sewn eye causes great
alarm and our quick responses rush first of all to those very cases.

And if we respond so quickly, it means that we think it is abnormal, we
think it is an illegal, inhuman phenomenon. For us, any self-mutilation
is so significant that our whole office is ready to go and meet
with that man. It is almost what happens. There has been no case of
self-mutilation that our workers were not aware of and didn’t rush
to the correctional facility.”

We inquired what their workers said, whether it was correct that
the holes in mouths were already there, they just get a thread
through it and it was normal, Karen Andreasyan said, “We wouldn’t
allow ourselves to comment on that, because we haven’t carried out a
medical examination of those people whether it hurts or doesn’t hurt,
how much they are physically harmed or spiritually humiliated during
that process, because the phenomenon itself is important for us. If
there is self-mutilation, it means there is a problem and this problem
should be solved. Unfortunately, we are not always able to solve that
problem, because it is beyond our competencies. But it is obvious
that we see the problem and want to solve it.”

Hripsime JEBEJYAN

NALBANDYAN WON’T BE LAVROV’S DEPUTY
Haik Aramyan

Tuesday, 06 November 2012, 11:53

The activities of the foreign minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan
arouse controversial opinions. On the one hand, he leaves on too
many business trips, and unlike the former foreign ministers,
participated in international forums. On the other hand, dangerous
political initiatives were made during his tenure, in particular,
the Armenian-Turkish protocols, the Russian bases, Medvedev’s efforts
to return Karabakh to Azerbaijan, the Budapest case etc.

However, all the above mentioned initiatives failed not due to
Armenia’s efforts but other favorable international political
circumstances.

In general, many note that the current stage of international policies
is quite beneficial for Armenia, while the Armenian government,
particularly the ministry of foreign affairs, is not consistent with
it. The reasons are different. Ineffective public administration, an
imperfect domestic policy, the anti-state nature of the oligarchic
system and other reasons have brought about the country’s foreign
dependence. It is difficult to conduct an independent policy stemming
from the interests of the country.

On the other hand, Russia’s policy to foil Armenia’s foreign political
initiatives and ignore the Armenian interests is evident.

In particular, Moscow is hindering the process of international
recognition of Karabakh and Armenia’s attempts to integrate with
Western organizations, limiting Armenia’s sovereignty with the
agreement on the deployment of its bases.

Russia’s circumstance is very important for Nalbandyan. The issue
is that he is considered to be on the Russian “orbit”, he got a
higher education and acquired diplomatic competences in Moscow and
worked in Russian diplomatic representations. When he was appointed
as foreign minister of Armenia, many people said the geopolitical
balance was changed.

The issue is that there seems to be an unwritten agreement that
the Armenian army is under the influence of Russia, and the foreign
policy is under the Western influence. Nalbandyan’s predecessors,
Raffi Hovannisian, Zhirayr Liparityan (though he was not the foreign
minister, he played an important role in the foreign policy of
Armenia), Alik Arzumanyan, Vartan Oskanian are considered pro-Western
figures. This “rule” was violated after Nalbandyan’s appointment
and the role and influence of Russia on the Armenian foreign policy
increased regarding the key issues of vital interest to Armenia.

Anyway, interesting transformations have happened. For instance, the
Armenian army which has been traditionally considered to be under the
Russian influence is having closer ties with Western structures now, in
particular NATO. Apparently, the tough steps of Russia for expansion,
specifically deployment of its bases, supply of weapon to Azerbaijan,
make the authorities review some privileges not only at the level of
public opinion but also actions by the political leadership.

As to foreign policy, Nalbandyan has a lot to think about. Although
he belongs to the Russian diplomatic school, he has faced a serious
psychological or “orientation” issue. The point is that he knows
better Moscow’s steps in regard to Armenia, for example, Medvedev’s
mediation for Karabakh when Armenia was forced to sign the resolution
on surrendering Karabakh and the Budapest case facilitated by Moscow.

And many other events will surely make Nalbandyan review his
approaches.

Armenia has been able to avoid the consequences of Moscow’s initiatives
only thanks to the favorable foreign situation. But this cannot always
be helpful. It is necessary to carry out a bold foreign policy. During
the Soviet years, the member republics had foreign ministers who were
the deputies of the Russian foreign minister.

Nalbandyan will hardly wish to become Lavrov’s deputy.

THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OF CONSTANTINOPLE CLAIMS ON THE RETURNING OF THE ARMENIAN CHURCHES FROM THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Patriarchate of
Constantinople has sent many claims to the Turkish Government to return
the Armenian churches to their true owner. The Armenian Patriarchate
of Constantinople informed “Armenpress” about this adding that the
active churches in the territory of Turkey belong to the Armenian
Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Armenian community.

The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople stated: “Notwithstanding,
Turkey is afraid to return the churches, as it cannot support even
those churches under the jurisdiction of the community. One should
note the circumstance that the Armenian community sacrifices a lot
for the restoration and putting in good order the churches under
the jurisdiction of the community. One of the brilliant examples of
this is the church of St. Kirakos of Tigranakert, which belongs to
the community and has been capitally restored, although it was not
possible to find enough support for this and now the parish council
has many debts.”

The mass celebration and anointment of the entire monastic complex
of the Armenian church of St. Kirakos took place in the city of
Diyarbekir in the South-Eastern part of Turkey. St. Kirakos Church
had been forsaken since 1980, but the Armenians from Diyarbekir
living in Istanbul established the “St. Kirakos” foundation for the
restoration of the church. 70 % (USD 2, 5 million) of the costs laid
on the Armenian foundation, as to the Diyarbekir Municipality it paid
the remaining 30 %.

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LA TURQUIE SE REGARDE DANS LE MIROIR OTTOMAN

Publie le : 06-11-2012

Info Collectif VAN – – Le New York Times
consacre un article au film turc La Conquete, 1453 qui a amplifie
le triomphalisme culturel en Turquie. Films, series-teles, musees,
feuilletons, la mode est, en Turquie, a la glorification de l’Empire
ottoman : ” La rehabilitation de l’empire a inspire des sentiments
mitiges parmi les critiques culturels. Le renouveau ottoman est bon
pour l’ego national et il a capture le psychisme du pays au moment
où la Turquie veut etre une grande puissance “, a declare Melis
Behlil, une professeure en cinema de l’Universite Kadir. Mais, elle
a prevenu : ” Cela me terrifie, parce que trop d’ego national n’est
pas une bonne chose. Les films comme La Conquete, 1453 s’engagent
dans le revisionnisme culturel et glorifient le passe sans regarder
l’histoire sous un angle critique. ” ” D’autres mettent en garde
contre un chauvinisme culturel dangereux a l’~uvre. Burak Bekdil,
un chroniqueur pour le Hurriyet Daily News, reflechissait dans un
article recent au fait que le temps etait venu de faire un film
appele La Conquete 1974, celebrant l’invasion turque de Chypre, ou
L’Extinction 1915, commemorant le genocide de 1,5 million d’Armeniens
pendant la Première Guerre mondiale. Des menaces de mort ont suivi. ”
Le Collectif VAN vous propose la traduction d’un article en anglais
de Dan Bilefsky, paru sur le site du New York Times le 29 octobre 2012.

Legende : L’affiche d’un eventuel film “L’Extinction 1915″, commemorant
le genocide de 1,5 million d’Armeniens pendant la Première Guerre
mondiale, pourrait s’inspirer des Unes des nombreux journaux francais
et internationaux qui illustraient, au debut du XXe siècle, les
massacres des Armeniens. Ici, les massacres d’Adana en 1909…

The New York Times

Comme si la periode ottomane n’avait jamais pris fin

De DAN BILEFSKY

Publie le 29 octobre 2012

ISTANBUL – Depuis que s’est tenue cette annee la première du film La
Conquete, 1453, somptueuse epopee turque pleine de bons sentiments,
le recit de la prise de Constantinople par le jeune sultan de 21ans,
Mehmet II, est devenu le film ayant realise le plus gros chiffre
d’affaires dans l’histoire de la Turquie; il a ete distribue dans 12
pays du Moyen-Orient, ainsi qu’en Allemagne et aux Etats-Unis. Mais
son impact le plus grand est sans doute le triomphalisme culturel
qu’il a amplifie en Turquie.

La Conquete, 1453 (connu sous le nom de Fetih 1453 en turc) a engendre
une emission de television portant le meme titre et a encourage les
clubs de fiers Turcs a rejouer les batailles des jours de gloire
de l’empire, vetus comme les sultans et la noblesse ottomane. Les
producteurs de Il etait une fois les Ottomans ” Le Soulèvement
“, une serie televisee relatant l’insurrection contre le Sultan
Ahmet Khan III au 18ème siècle, ont declare qu’ils avaient prevu de
construire un parc a thème où les visiteurs pourront se promener
dans une reproduction d’Istanbul a l’epoque ottomane et regarder
des combats a l’epee realises par des cascadeurs. Au moins quatre
nouveaux films depeignent la bataille de Gallipoli, la confrontation
sanglante pendant la Première Guerre mondiale entre les Ottomans et
les forces Alliees sur le detroit des Dardanelles et l’une des plus
grandes victoires de la Turquie moderne. Le prochain In Gallipoli
inclut meme Mel Gibson, qui jouera le rôle d’un commandant britannique.

La periode ottomane – en particulier au cours des 16ème et 17ème
siècles – pendant laquelle les sultans ont revendique le leadership
spirituel du monde musulman, a ete marquee par la domination
geopolitique et la prouesse culturelle, avant que le lent declin de
l’empire ne culmine au moment de la Première Guerre mondiale. Des
annees durant, la periode a ete minimisee dans l’histoire enseignee
aux ecoliers, alors que la nouvelle Republique turque creee par Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk en 1923 cherchait a rompre avec un passe decadent.

Aujourd’hui, alors que la Turquie apparaît comme un leader au
Moyen-Orient, soutenue par une croissance economique forte, une
nouvelle fascination pour l’histoire se reflète dans tous les
domaines, de la politique etrangère au poil du visage. Dans les
arts, des exemples encadres de papiers marbres de l’epoque ottomane,
connu sous le nom de l’art de l’Ebru, associes aux motifs islamiques
geometriques ornant les mosquees, ont gagne en popularite parmi la
bourgeoisie islamique croissante du pays, ornant les murs des maisons
et des bureaux, les bijoux et meme les cartes de visite.

Le Musee Panorama ouvert il y a trois ans, qui presente un tableau
imposant d’un peu plus de 13 mètres de haut, a 360 degres, du siège
de Constantinople, avec des explosions de canon assourdissantes et
des agents de securite du musee vetus comme des janissaires, attire
des foules enormes.

Et au cours de ces dernières annees, il y a eu une proliferation de
feuilletons melo-ottomans, aucun n’ayant ete plus populaire que Le
siècle magnifique, une sorte de Sex in the City, dont l’histoire se
deroule pendant le règne de 46 ans du sultan Soliman le Magnifique. Le
spectacle turc fait la chronique des intrigues du foyer imperial et du
harem, y compris l’ascension de l’esclave de Soliman devenue reine,
Hurrem. L’annee dernière, la serie a ete diffusee dans 32 pays,
y compris au Maroc et au Kosovo. (NdT. en France aussi)

La rehabilitation de l’empire a inspire des sentiments mitiges
parmi les critiques culturels. ” Le renouveau ottoman est bon pour
l’ego national et il a capture le psychisme du pays au moment où la
Turquie veut etre une grande puissance “, a declare Melis Behlil, une
professeure en cinema de l’Universite Kadir. Mais, elle a prevenu :
” Cela me terrifie, parce que trop d’ego national n’est pas une
bonne chose. Les films comme La Conquete, 1453 s’engagent dans le
revisionnisme culturel et glorifient le passe sans regarder l’histoire
sous un angle critique. ”

Faruk Aksoy, âge de 48 ans, realisateur de La Conquete 1453, a dit que,
depuis qu’il etait arrive a l’âge de 10 ans en provenance d’Urfa, dans
le sud-est accidente de la Turquie, et qu’il avait ete hypnotise par
la splendeur imperiale d’Istanbul, il revait de faire un film sur le
conquerant d’Istanbul (NdT. de Constantinople). Mais il a dû attendre
10 ans pour realiser un film a gros budget, car le financement et la
technologie n’etaient pas disponibles.

Le budget du film de 18,2 millions de dollars a ete un record en
Turquie, mais il l’a largement amorti, en realisant un chiffre
d’affaires brut de 40 millions de dollars en Turquie et en Europe,
a declare M. Aksoy. La foule etait tellement excitee lors d’une
recente diffusion, qu’elle a hurle ” Dieu est grand ” alors que les
Ottomans maniant l’epee escaladaient les murs interdits d’Istanbul
(Ndt de Constantinople). M. Aksoy a raconte qu’un directeur de cinema
se demandait s’il devait appeler la police, craignant un combat reel.

” Nous les Turcs, nous sommes un peuple au sang chaud “, a-t-il dit. ”
Les Turcs sont fiers de la conquete, car elle a non seulement change
notre histoire, mais elle a aussi change le monde. ”

Mais d’autres mettent en garde contre un chauvinisme culturel dangereux
a l’~uvre. Burak Bekdil, un chroniqueur pour le Hurriyet Daily News,
reflechissait dans un article recent au fait que le temps etait venu de
faire un film appele La Conquete 1974, celebrant l’invasion turque de
Chypre, ou L’Extinction 1915, commemorant le genocide de 1,5 million
d’Armeniens pendant la Première Guerre mondiale. Des menaces de mort
ont suivi.

Les critiques ont aussi trouve des defauts au film en raison des
inexactitudes et des hyperboles, bien que M. Aksoy ait souligne qu’il
avait employe des specialistes ottomans. Les membres de la Cour du
dernier empereur Byzantin, Constantin XI, sont depeints comme des
soûlards hedonistes entoures de danseuses nubiles – parlant le turc
plutôt que le grec ou le latin. Meme Mehmet II, le Sultan conquerant
celèbre pour son nez prodigieux, a ete relooke en beau garcon heroïque.

Alper Turgut, un important critique de film, a deplore cet univers
unidimensionnel, meme s’il il a loue les ambitions epiques du film. ”
S’ils avaient exagere juste un peu plus, ce serait une comedie absurde
“, a-t-il dit dans un entretien.

M. Aksoy s’est declare irrite qu’un film cense distraire soit
politise. ” Demanderiez-vous a Ridley Scott s’il a ete politiquement
influence ? “, a-t-il demande.

Les critiques culturels ont note que le soutien religieux du film
– il y a meme une brève apparition du prophète Mohammed predisant
que Constantinople serait conquis par les croyants – l’avait rendu
populaire auprès de la bourgeoisie islamique croissante dans un pays
qui tourne de plus en plus le dos a l’Europe en crise et regarde
de plus en plus vers l’est. (Le film a aussi ete loue par quelques
membres du parti islamique au pouvoir comme une alternative a ”
la mentalite de croises ” d’Hollywood.)

Les conservateurs religieux avaient ete marginalises pendant la
revolution culturelle laïque entreprise par Ataturk. ” Pour la
première fois, nous voyons cette nouvelle bourgeoisie islamique, ses
goût et ses m~urs, se refleter sur les petits et les grands ecrans
“, a dit M. Turgut.

Mme Behlil a note que l’apparition d’emissions de television a gros
budgets et de films depeignant l’ère ottomane doit quelque chose a
la popularite du pays dans le monde arabe*, introduisant ainsi de
nouveaux revenus pour les societes de production. L’an dernier, la
Turquie a ete le plus grand exportateur de feuilletons melo en Europe,
empochant 70 millions de dollars de revenus.

Mais c’est dans le pays meme que les series et les films ont un impact
profond, instruisant une nouvelle generation de Turcs.

Burak Temir, 24 ans, un acteur germano-turc qui a joue le rôle d’un
prince dans Il etait une fois les Ottomans ” Le Soulèvement “, a
dit qu’il avait ete intimide au debut par ce rôle, car il ne savait
pratiquement rien sur cette epoque.

Afin de le preparer a son rôle, la production lui a fait suivre
un crash-course sur les manières ottomanes, y compris apprendre a
monter a cheval, se battre a l’epee, utiliser un arc et des flèches
et gonfler sa poitrine. Meme lorsqu’il ne tourne pas, il porte la
barbe comme le sultan et des pantalons serres de style ottoman. ”
Cela me rend fier d’etre turc “, a-t-il dit.

©Traduction de l’anglais C.Gardon pour le Collectif VAN – 5 novembre
2012 – 06:30 –

*Nota CVAN : le monde arabe a beaucoup souffert du joug turc-ottoman
et n’est pas aussi enthousiaste que le laisse entendre l’article.

L’OrientLeJour nous apprend que le film Fetih 1453 a provoque au
Liban la colère de jeunes Chretiens orthodoxes qui ont lance une
violente campagne contre le film sous pretexte qu’il ” inciterait aux
dissensions sectaires et diffuserait un climat general favorable a la
discorde confessionnelle “, attisant ainsi le conflit islamo-chretien.

De fait, pour ne pas alimenter la polemique dans un pays deja trouble,
le distributeur a renonce a diffuser le film.

Lire aussi:

Un film turc bloque par la censure

“La conquete, 1453”, galvanise les Turcs… pas les historiens

Les Turcs debarquent en Egypte

Retour a la rubrique

Source/Lien : The New York Times

DIYARBAKIR. UN CAMPANILE, UN SECOLO DOPO.

La Stampa
5 nov 2012
Italia

Il campanile della chiesa armena di Diyarbakir, nell’Anatolia
sud-orientale, distrutto durante il genocidio del 1915, è tornato a
suonare oggi.

Marco Tosatti

Quasi un secolo dopo essere stato abbattuto perche faceva ombra ai
minareti delle moschee della citta il campanile della chiesa armena
di Diyarbakir nel Kurdistan turco è stato ricostruito e la campana
dopo 97 anni di silenzio oggi ha suonato di nuovo, riferisce Hurriyet
online. La chiesa di Surp Giragos era stata pesantemente danneggiata
nel 1915, l’anno in cui ebbe inizio il genocidio degli armeni in
Turchia, tuttora non riconosciuto da Ankara. Il campanile era stato
demolito perche più alto dei minareti delle moschee vicine. Oggi
il primo rito armeno in un secolo stato celebrato dal vicepatriarca
per la Turchia, Aram Atesay nella chiesa restaurata davanti a fedeli
giunti anche da Usa, Armenia e Canada, scrive Hurriyet. Il restauro
è stato finanziato da una fondazione armena con contributi del comune
di Diyarbakir, ora guidato da un sindaco del partito pro-curdo Bdp

“AZERBAIJANI MUGHAM” CONCERT HELD IN LOS ANGELES – PHOTOSESSION

APA
Nov 5 2012
Azerbaijan

Baku – APA. The Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles
organized a Mugham concert at Schoenberg hall of the University of
California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

The Consulate General told APA that the concert was organized as a
part of “The Month of Azerbaijani Mugham in California” declared on
the initiative of the Consulate General.

The concert was dedicated the 35th anniversary of space travel of
Azerbaijani Mugham included into the Voyager Golden Record sent by
NASA in 1977.

Consul General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles Nasimi Agayev made a
keynote speech at the jubilee concert and spoke about the features
and universal importance of space travel of Mugham into the Voyager
Golden Record. Speaking about the our people’s attention to protect
and transmit Mugham’s traditions to future generations, the diplomat
noted that the first Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev
Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva has carried out many significant activities
towards the promotion of Mugham both in our country and abroad.

Director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Charles Elachi, the
NASA Scientific centre located nearby Los Angeles and became popular by
sending rover to Mars, made a speech. Elachi gave detailed information
about the Voyager spacecraft and noted that inclusion of Azerbaijani
Mugham into the Voyager Golden Ring was a significant event.

Following the speeches, the concert program has started. The
performances of young Mugham singers Aytan Maharramova, Vusala
Musayeva and Ilkin Ahmedov, as well as instrumentalists Imamyar
Hasanov (kamancha), Elshan Gasimov (drum) and Rufat Hasanov (tar)
amazed the audience.

According to information, some local Armenians organizations estimated
Mugham concert at the famous UCLA University as a “political statement”
of Azerbaijan and called on Armenians to protest against it. A group
of Armenians held a protest actions outside the Schoenberg Hall and
but they faced the participants’ indifference and protest.