Author: Kamalian Hagop

MUSIC REVIEW: DILIJAN GROUP IS ON A MISSION
By Josef Woodard

Los Angeles Times
Calendar Live
April 1 2008
CA

Concert at Zipper Hall is a tapestry of Armenian works.

A stated goal of the impressive Dilijan Chamber Music Series, now in
its third season, has been to celebrate the riches of Armenian music
and give a forum to Armenian musicians based in Los Angeles and beyond.

By blending Armenian music with that of other cultures, Dilijan (named
after an Armenian resort city) weaves a tapestry of a larger culture.

That mission reached a high point Sunday afternoon at Zipper Hall
with the U.S. premieres of three fascinating Armenian pieces, by
Artur Avanesov, Eduard Hayrapetian and Tigran Mansurian (who was
in the hall). Armenian strengths aside, the program was also neatly
divided between Armenian and Hungarian music, and it was a Hungarian
composer whose voice rose above the others.

Gyorgy Ligeti’s trio for horn, violin and piano, "Hommage a Brahms,"
has an unfair advantage in that it is, as violinist and series
director Movses Pogossian rightly told the crowd, a "crown jewel"
of chamber music literature. Wisely, Pogossian programmed a seamless
segue into the Ligeti out of Gyorgy Kurtag’s short, coolly evocative
"Tre Pezzi." That 1979 piece demonstrates Kurtag’s keen ability to
suggest a dream state through music — neither a pleasant nor a harsh
dream but a place dislodged from rational reality.

Ligeti’s horn trio, played with mesmerizing aplomb by horn player
Richard Todd, pianist Vicki Ray and Pogossian, was a stunner, surely
one of the chamber music highlights of the season in the Southland.

The Brahms connection is oblique, hinted at in phrasing and structural
elements, but the harmonic language is Ligeti’s seductive tough talk,
expressed in complex, surprising and cathartic sweeps of energy.

Avanesov, the youngest composer on the bill (born in 1980), projects
a strong and sensitive assurance in " . . . leise . . . ", a short
piece for piano and clarinet played solidly by Armen Guzelimian
and Phil O’Connor, respectively. A subtle and airy thing, it wafts
on romantic and impressionistic influences, though clearly from a
contemporary starting point, and it whetted one’s appetite for more
from this promising composer.

Hayrapetian’s "Sonata for Two Violins and Piano," circa 1988,
craftily mixes a neo-Romantic spirit with tonalities and melodic
synchronizations that move beguilingly in and out of focus.

Violinists Pogossian and Endre Granat were the suitably dizzying
conversationalists.

Mansurian has gained increasing attention in recent years, partly
through his expanding international exposure via ECM recordings. What
we heard, though, was a pocket-sized 1965 piece written when the
composer was in his 20s. Mansurian’s "Little Suite," played by
Guzelimian, is an admixture of gnarly dissonance, folkish asides and
otherwise Bartok-ish manners. It led naturally into the concert’s
closer, Bartok’s "Contrasts."

The most familiar piece of the afternoon, "Contrasts" is a melange
of the composer’s classic modernism and jazzy flavorings, written for
clarinetist Benny Goodman and violinist Josef Szigeti in 1938. Here,
the exacting performing parties were O’Connor, Granat and Guzelimian.

To have a Bartok work as the closest thing to a war horse on a concert
program says a lot about the courage and exploratory spirit of the
Dilijan project. Keep an ear out.

MIND YOUR STEPS!
by Kerim Balci

Today’s Zaman
April 1 2008
Turkey

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been asking the same question
for some time now: What step backward do the nongovernmental
organizations want me to take? What do they want me to step back
from? And why?

There is no clear answer to these questions. In fact, the only
possible addressee of this call to step back is the government. Can
the judicial system listen to the NGOs and step back from its duty to
receive a filed case? Or will the Ergenekon junta lend an ear to the
NGOs’ call for the good of the country and step back from their coup
plans and psychological warfare? Can the media group that belongs to
one person who is not-understandably anti-Justice and Development
Party (AK Party) change its attitudes about colonial secularism in
one night and step back from humiliating publications? No! The only
actor in Turkish politics that has been stepping back for the past
six years is the governing AK Party.

Lo! This is not praise. On the contrary, it is because of the AK
Party’s previous backward steps that the NGOs are not giving their
full support to the democratization process but asking for one further
step backward. A selective list of the AK Party’s backward steps
explains this. When the Þemdinli events exploded, Erdogan promised
the nation that his government would shed light on the dark and
dirty relations between the soldiers and the terrorists. "Until the
end!" he said. "Until the end we will go!" The end came even before
the beginning. The "good boy" of the provocative attack is now on
duty and the prosecutor who filed the case against the "good boys
in uniform" should be writing his memoirs somewhere in the middle
of nowhere, probably to be published posthumously. And this was
done to the backdrop of the Susurluk scandal, which was covered up
by the AK Party’s predecessor, the Welfare Party (RP), amid similar
promises of "Until the end!" Through their unwillingness to cope with
the undemocratic forces, disclosed in their lack of determination
to investigate the dirty relations of the state organs and mafia,
they brought about their own ends. Between idleness in the face of
Susurluk and the Feb. 28 postmodern coup, there was an invisible but
indivisible link!

When Hrant Dink was murdered and the masses vulgarized the murder
through "We are all Armenians" slogans, my newspaper said that the
attack was a bullet fired at democracy. When the Council of State was
attacked, certain mass media outlets "deciphered" the event as a return
of "Turco-Islamist terrorism." We warned on that day that the barrel
was pointing at our tranquility. In all these events, the AK Party was
given the greatest support of all time by the democratic forces of this
country to fight non-democratic forces — and they lost that chance.

The government’s latest willingness to dig into the depths of the
Ergenekon junta is first of all late. It is not only late, but its
incentives are ill-perceivable. The prime minister is rightfully
claiming that the media and to some extent the legal assault on his
party is motivated by the government’s fight with the Ergenekon junta,
but it can also be claimed that the government’s willingness to fight
the junta was motivated by the secularist assault on the party. Of
course the questioning can come to the point of "Which came first,
the chicken or the egg?" But it was the government’s duty to keep
the issue from coming to that point.

Though the government was late, this doesn’t mean that it deserves
to be abandoned. We are in the same boat as the prime minister and
those who want to drown him are actually preparing the end of our
democratization process. It is our duty to support the government in
stepping forward in the face of the Ergenekon junta, but it is the
duty of the prime minister to make us believe (and keep his word)
that he will step further steps on other freedom-related issues as
well. It is not only the prime minister who needs to mind his step,
all of us need to…

–Boundary_(ID_/TmkGzab1DWUiaclgs6iCw)–

AZERI POLITICAL PARTIES, NGO CHASTISE MEDIATORS IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT

Interfax News Agency
March 31 2008
Russia

A number of Azeri political parties and nongovernmental organizations
have called on the Minsk OSCE Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement
to "show a sense of responsibility in its mediation of the conflict,"
the ruling Eni-Azerbaijan party told Interfax.

"The co-chairmen [Russia, the U.S., and France] of the Minsk OSCE
Group are not impartial in their dealings with the sides to the
conflict [the Azeri-Armenian conflict]. In some cases they have made
statements that cover the aggressive acts of Armenia and have undertook
steps that have not contributed to a resolution of the conflict,"
said a statement adopted by some parties and the National Forum of
nongovernmental organizations at a roundtable on Monday.

This attitude was on display during voting at the 62nd session of the
UN General Assembly on a resolution introduced by Azerbaijan calling
for the withdrawal of all Armenian troops in the conflict area.

"The parties and the National NGO Forum that signed the call
resolutely condemned the Minsk OSCE Group chairmen’s stance regarding
the aforementioned UN General Assembly resolution and called on them
to act based on the standards and principles of international law,"
the document says.

The statement, adopted at the initiative of the ruling Eni Azerbaijan
party, has been forwarded to the embassies of the cochairmen of the
Minsk OSCE Group for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

REGULATIONS SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO NKR PEOPLE FREEDOM RIGHT

Panorama.am
18:30 31/03/2008

Today the Foreign Affairs Minister Vardan Oskanyan met with the
journalists and said that Azerbaijan refused the possible meeting
with the president of Armenia in the forthcoming NATO summit held
in Bucharest in 2-4 April. He said that Azerbaijan falsifies the
plans and data as the initiative of the meeting was not done by the
Armenian authorities.

"Armenia has never been asking for that meeting, the proposal was made
by the co-chairmen," stated the minister. He said that "Azerbaijan
started to play a dirty game the measures of which are taken by the
official Baku toward the regulation of the NKR issue started the
point when they broke the regime of armistice and shoot the border
line of the NKR and Azerbaijan".

According to V. Oskanyan Azerbaijan is misled as the regulation of
the NKR problem should be conducted only through negotiations and
"in the base of those negotiations should be pointed the freedom
right of the NKR people".

As for the inner political evaluation given by the president of
Azerbaijan Ilhaam Aliev after March 30, that if Armenia is in political
chaos, the minister mentioned that "It would be better Azerbaijan to
solve its political questions, as Azerbaijan is the last country in
the world to evaluate to inner political life of Armenia".

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version: nian.htm

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I HOSTS ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION BETWEEN UNITED NATIONS
DELEGATION AND LEBANESE-ARMENIAN COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES
The Pontiff Endorses the UN’s "Global Armenia" Initiative

His Holiness Aram I hosted an unprecedented roundtable discussion on March
27. The event was attended by a United Nations delegation headed by Ms.
Consuelo Vidal, UN Resident Coordinator and UN Development Programme
Resident Representative in Armenia, and some 50 representatives of
Lebanese-Armenian community organizations.

The purpose of the roundtable was to share information and exchange ideas
regarding the UN’s development and reform activities in Armenia, and to
unveil and discuss the UNDP’s "Global Armenia" initiative. "Global Armenia"
seeks to establish a multi-faceted partnership between the UNDP and the
Diaspora, in the goal to foster democracy and prosperity in the homeland.

In his opening remarks, as he introduced Ms. Vidal to the guests, the
Pontiff praised the far-reaching work of the UN in Armenia and conveyed his
deep concern in connection with the recent events in Yerevan following the
presidential elections. His Holiness went on to express his trust in the UN
as a positive force advancing democratic institutions and economic
development, and endorsed the world agency’s "Global Armenia" concept.

Ms. Vidal thanked the Catholicos for his national leadership and explained
why the UN has chosen Lebanon as the first stop in a series of planned
roundtable discussions across the Diaspora. "Throughout the years, the
Catholicosate of Cilicia has had an instrumental role in shaping the
Lebanese-Armenian community as the cultural, literary, and moral bastion of
the worldwide Diaspora," Ms. Vidal said. "And throughout the years, this
Catholicosate and its flock have never forgotten about their homeland."

Ms. Vidal added, "Your Holiness, I now invite you, as I invite the
leadership of the Lebanese-Armenian community, to join forces with the
United Nations. Together, we can put our collective resources in the service
of lifting the people of Armenia out of poverty, hopelessness, and the
alarming trend of migration."

Following these remarks, Ms. Vidal made a PowerPoint presentation of UNDP
activities in Armenia. She indicated that the UNDP, which has worked in the
republic since 1993, is committed to helping address its economic, social,
educational, and environmental challenges. UNDP projects, she said, are
based on national objectives embodied in Armenia’s Poverty Reduction
Strategy, as well as the UN Millennium Development Goals.

At the end of her address, Ms. Vidal presented His Holiness Aram I with a
plaque, in recognition of his wise leadership and uncompromising dedication
to educational and cultural excellence, diakonia and social equality,
ecumenical harmony, the Armenian Cause, and international cooperation. The
plaque was inscribed with the words "In reverence and gratitude."

The last portion of the event consisted of a question-and-answer session and
an informative discussion of a broad range of issues, including various UN
programs in Armenia and the prospects of cooperation between the agency and
the Diaspora, the Lebanese-Armenian community in particular.

##
View the photos here:
c/Photos/Photos228.htm
http://www.armenianorthodox church.org/v04/doc/Photos/Photos229.htm
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

RUSSIA INTERFERED IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF ARMENIA, SDHP CHAIRWOMAN SAYS

Noyan Tapan
March 26, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The chairwoman of the Social-Democratic
Hunchak Party (SDHP) Lyudmila Sargsian believes that during the recent
official meeting with the Russian president Valdimir Putin in Moscow,
the Armenian president elect Serge Sargsian in fact established
that "throughout the election and postelection processes, Russia
unconditionally and one-sidedly supported the authorities’ candidate"
and thus "permitted itself to interfere in the internal affairs of
a friendly sovereign state".

According to L. Sargsian, the 121-year-old Social-Democratic Hunchak
Party with its traditionally pro-Russian position considers as
unacceptable such interference of Russia in the internal political
processes of Armenia.

"The SDHP expresses a hope that Vladimir Putin will officially deny
the accusations made against him and will make an adequate statement,
giving an objective assessmemt of the presidential election in
Armenia. Otherwise, the SDHP will have to reconsider its approach to
the strategic partner of Armenia – Russia. We can say with confidence
that the Armenian people wants to see Russia as a friend and partner
and not as an instigator and a punitive force," is said in the March
26 statement of the SDHP chairwoman.

KOCHARIAN PLEASED WITH ARMENIAN-VIETNAMESE POLITICAL COOPERATION

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.03.2008 15:02 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Vietnam’s newly appointed Ambassador to Armenia
Bui Dinh Dinh (residence in Moscow) handed his credentials to RA
President Robert Kocharian, the RA MFA press office reported.

Welcoming the Ambassador, Mr Kocharian made special mention of the
warm Armenian-Vietnamese relations and efficient cooperation within
international structures.

The parties also attached importance to organization of mutual visits,
development of economic ties and information exchange.

XINJIANG UYGUR AUTONOMOUS REGION OF CHINA INTENDS TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN ARMENIAN ECONOMY

Noyan Tapan
March 24, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA president elect, prime minister
Serge Sargsian on March 22 received the delegation of businessmen
representing the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.

Speaking about the purpose of the visit, the head of China’s foreign
trade and economic cooperation department Jiang Ye said that the
Xinjiang Yugur Autonomous Region intends to develop and strengthen
elonomic links with Armenia and make investments in Armenian economy.

S. Sargsian pointed out that Armenia’s political relations, as
well as its cooperation with China in the economy and other spheres
are strengthening year by year. In his words, the visit of such an
impressive delegation to Armenia bears evidence of growing interest
in the Armenian market. He underlined the importance of a favorable
investment environment and competitiveness for any country, adding that
the Armenian government is taking sersious steps in this direction.

According to a press release submitted to NT by the RA Government
Information and PR Department, during the meeting the members of the
Chinese delegation and the Armenian prime minister discussed issues
of mutually beneficial cooperation in mining industry, metallurgy
and some other sectors.

22 MILLION OUT OF NEEDED 25 MILLION DOLLARS RAISED DUING MARATHON FOR PROTECTION OF GALA COMPANY: A FEW HOURS REMAIN UNTIL DEADLINE

Noyan Tapan
March 24, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. By information at 1 p.m. March 24, a
total of 22 mln 200 thousand drams was collected during the fund-rasing
TV marathon for protection of Gala television company, NT correspondent
was informed by Levon Barseghian, coordinator of the headquarters on
protection of Gala TV company, chairman of the council of "Asparez"
club of journalists. Under the decision of the RA administrative court,
Gala has to pay 25 mln 166 thousand 700 drams, and a 5% additional
sum because the side to have lost the court dispute, namely CHAP LLC,
did not pay the required sum to the state budget immediately, and the
tax service applied to the body on compulsory execution of court acts
(CECA) with the request to intevene.

Besides, the court imposed court expenditures of 500 thousand drams
to be paid by CHAP.

The CECA took 15,021,500 drams of the above mentioned sum on March 21.

According to L. Barseghian, it is envisaged that CECA emloyees will
go to the television company on March 24, at 4 p.m. in order to get
the remaining money.

Contributions for protection of Gala television compamy were made by
"Shrjapat" and "Hingshabti" dailies (Gyumri), "Lori" television company
(Vanadzor), another TV company from Lori marz, "Aravot" daily, "Hetq"
electronic magazine, "168 hours" newspaper, ALM television company,
as well as "Demo" newspaper and Karabakh-open.com webiste from the
NKR. More than 30 reporters from Gyumri, Yerevan, Vanadzor and the
NKR participated in fund raising.

On the initiative of Gala company and the headquarters on protection
of speech freedom and Gala television company, a television marathon
was launched on March 10 at 9 a.m. in order to collect "the sum "drawn"
by the tax body, pay it to the state budget, in this way to retain the
broadcasting licence and continue disputing this decision in Armenian
and European courts, including the demand for full compensation of
the damage done to the television company and the fund".

SUMMIT DEVOTED TO ARTSAKH 20 ANNIVERSARY

Panorama.am
16:34 24/03/2008

Today a summit was organized by the ARF Armenia youth unity devoted to
"Artsakh struggle 20 anniversary".

According to the participants the mission of the summit is to
reevaluate the most fabulous page of our history, and to give Armenian
youth evaluation to the attempt of disrupting NK independence.

"Taking into account the threat hanging over the NK independence
we should stop looking for the enemies within the country, and
separate the nation between Armenians and Artsakh people," said the
representative of the ARF.

The summit started in the morning will last till 17:00. Professors and
experts on the NK study and question will make reports and commemorate
the significance of the day. In the end of the meeting the participants
will sign an announcement referred to the Armenians youth.

"We-youth are responsible to keep and protect our gainings and treat
it as the fairest responsibility.

Now it is time for is to provide Artsakh independence based on the
legal aspects, to protect the borders of Artsakh from being vulnerable,
" says the announcement.