Author: Karagyozian Lena

MUSIC: LUTE WHO’S COMING TO COLLABORATE WITH HENRIKSEN
by Peter Bacon’s Jazz Diary

Birmingham Post, UK
July 9, 2007, Monday
1ST Edition

Jazz has always been a meeting place between cultures – that was how
it was born. So it’s the musical area where a Tunisian singer and
oud-player (it’s like a lute) who is steeped in the Sufi tradition
can get together with a Norwegian trumpeter and singer who takes his
sound inspiration from the Japanese wooden flute.

The magical results will be heard late on Wednesday evening when
Dhafer Youssef and Arve Henriksen play in the intimate and beautiful
setting of Lichfield Cathedral’s Lady Chapel.

They will be joined for this concert, part of the Lichfield Festival,
by the Armenian duduk-player (it’s like an oboe), Djivan Gasparyan.

Other Lichfield Festival contributions to the jazz diary this week
are the Kyle Eastwood Band on Thursday evening and Anita Wardell with
the Laurence Cottle Big Band on Friday. Both these gigs are in the
Lichfield Garrick Theatre.

Eastwood has stepped out of his father’s shadow to become a respected
jazz bassist and film composer. His current band includes the excellent
Andrew McCormack on piano.

Wardell is something of a secret treasure among British-based jazz
singers. She is an immensely talented vocalist whose latest disc
featured her singing her own lyrics to famous Blue Note recorded solos.

The art of scat and vocalese demands fearsome technique and great
understanding of the jazz tradition – Wardell has both.

Cottle is also a bass player and has done session work for both Black
Sabbath and Cher. Given his head, he arranges punchy charts for his
big band and should provide all the fireworks needed by the big band
fans as well as sensitive support for Wardell.

For all these gigs, go to lichfieldfestival.org or call 01543 412121
to book tickets.

No tickets needed for the many Birmingham International Jazz Festival
gigs going on around the city this week.

And the festival’s influence extends even further this year, all the
way to the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley.

Jazz at the Museum is on Thursday from 7.30pm and performers include
Val Wiseman, the Miskolc Dixieland Band from Hungary, the New Orleans
Jump Band from Sotogrande, Spain and local group Dennis Mowatt’s
Dixie Syncopators.

There will be bands everywhere from the reception area to the
fairground and, of course, the Bottle and Glass Inn.

Jazz on the decks at the Yardbird on Sunday from mid-afternoon to
late, as the Sidewinder session features celebrated producer Mark de
Clive-Lowe. He has worked with Bugz In The Attic and 4Hero and is a
bit of a hero himself in the nu-jazz world. The Sidewinder house band
includes Sugarbeats bassist Chris Mapp and Summary alto saxophonist
Mary Wakelam, so there are two more good reasons to go. Get there
about 3pm and you won’t have to go home till 10. You only have to
pay for your drinks.

FIRES IN KARABAKH COME EVIDENTLY FROM THE AZERI SIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.07.2007 14:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Since the end of May of 2007, there have been
periodical fires along the line of contact of the NKR and Azerbaijani
armed forces. The NKR Rescue Service is engaged in localization and
fire extinguishing. In case of necessity the servicemen of the NKR
Defense Army, as well as the civilians come to assist the Rescue
Service, the NKR MFA press office reports.

According to head of the NKR Rescue Service’s operative department
Ashot Verdyan, 24-hour duty has been established in the corresponding
zones in all the districts, the number of field fire-rescue points
(with a fire-machine and a fire fighters brigade ) increases 5 times
compared with last year (there were 18 points in 2006, and 23 –
in 2007).

"We react operatively to the alarms of fires and undertake
corresponding measures immediately. Under the conditions of techniques
lack the fire brigade makes heroism. Last year’s experience of
fire-fighting now helps the successful localization and prevention
of fires. In case of large-scale fires several cars are enabled
simultaneously, servicemen and civilians come to assist. Besides
the regular points, there are movable posts – by driving around on
"UAZes" we control the corresponding territories," Ashot Verdyan noted.

According to head of the NKR Rescue Service fire- rescue department
Samvel Hayrumyan, due to the preventive measures the number of fires
has been significantly reduced in comparison with last year.

According to the data of July 4, 13 hectares of planted areas were
burnt in the Hadrut district, 6 hectares in Martouni and 10 hectares
in Martakert.

Head of the NKR Rescue Service’s Hadrut fire station Roman Mayilyan
informed that most frequently fires occur in the districts of Horadiz
station, between the posts of Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijani
armed forces.

"We don’t have any access there, that’s why we can’t surely speak on
the reasons of inflammation. When the fire spreads to our side, we
undertake every effort for localization and fire extinguishing. Our
fire brigade is on an intensified duty. Servicemen and civilians give
help as well," Mayilyan noted.

According to head of the NKR Rescue Service’s Martakert fire station
Karen Grigoryan, 4 cases of fire were fixed on the territory over the
reporting period and the fire came out from the Azerbaijani side. Fire
fighters and rescuers located in the region undertook corresponding
measures on localization and fire extinguishing. Prophylactic measures
on their prevention have also been taken.

Head of the NKR Rescue Service’s Askeran fire station Artur Daniyelian
told that according to the data of July 4, planted areas did not
catch fire, however, there was a fire which occurred on the territory,
controlled by the Azerbaijani troops, and spread to the front lines
of the NKR Defense Army, then under the influence of wind changed
its direction and did not achieve the posts. On the whole, the fire
enveloped 15 km of areas. The fire fighters and rescuers managed to
put out the fire.

"Evidently the fire came out from the Azerbaijani side. Most probably
having gathered their harvest, in the lowlands it ripens earlier,
the Azerbaijanis burnt down the field. We are ready just now to hold
a joint monitoring with the Azerbaijanis to become convinced of the
real state of affairs", – Artur Daniyelian noted.

In addition, a Republican headquarters, headed by the NKR Minister
of Agriculture Vahram Baghdassaryan, was formed. It aims to ensure
cropping without losses.

Representatives of interested structures including the NKR Rescue
Service are the members of the headquarters.

Earlier the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note to the
Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office
expressing concern over numerous cases of fires from Azerbaijani
side across the Line of Contact between armed forces of NKR and
Azerbaijan and urged to conduct a crisis monitoring of the borderline
area. The NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed hope that the
timely interference of the Office of Personal Representative of the
OSCE Chairman-in-Office would allow avoiding a repeat of the summer
2006 situation, which had been used by Azerbaijani authorities,
in particular, for propaganda and became an additional factor
destabilizing the peace process.

In the other note, the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs called upon the
Office of Coordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities
to take a principled and consistent stand in realization of the
OSCE Mission’s recommendations, which, as it was noted in the note,
"will allow achieving the goals set in the report and creating an
efficient mechanism for fire prevention along the line of contact,
which may become one of the elements of confidence building measures."

GOVERNMENT AGREES TO REDUCE STATE DUTY DEFINED FOR BROADCAST OF
PROGRAMS OF OTHER LAUNCHING COMPANIES BY PUBLIC RADIO AND TELEVISION
COMPANY BY 10 THOUSAND DRAMS

YEREVAN, JULY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The package of bills of the government,
which envisages to make amendments and addenda in the RA valid Laws on
"Television and Radio," and "State Duty," was discussed by the second
reading of the RA National Assembly in the July 2 special sitting. The
ballot, to all appearances, will be held on July 3.

On the above-mentioned legislative initiative the activities of other
launching organizations are prohibited on the frequencies used by the
Public Radio and Television company. In addition to this, a state duty
of 60 thousand drams (about 176 U.S. dollars) is defined for each
broadcast of radio and television programs of other launching
organizations on the frequencies used by the patent radio and
television company in the Republic of Armenia, in difference to the 70
thousand drams defined by the first reading. In comparison with the
package of the bills adopted by the first reading, it is additionally
set in the law on "Radio and Television" that the launching
organization is entitled to broadcast television and radio programs.

It should also be mentioned that the positions of opponents and those
who were for the adoption of the bills remained the same. The political
coalition gave assurance that the suggested amendments are directed at
the regulation of the public radio and television sphere and cannot
concern the Armenian service of the Azatutiun (Liberty) radio station,
which is broadcasting its programs on the frequencies of the Public
Radio company, as the latter is not a patent launching organization.
The opponents, that is to say Zharangutiun (Heritage) and Orinats
Yerkir (Country of Law) factions, are convinced that the legislative
initiative of the government is, evidently, threatening the further
activities of the Azatutiun radio station in Armenia.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Armenian Constitution predetermines development of
country and solution of vital problems
05.07.2007 14:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Speaker of the Armenian Parliament
Tigran Torosyan sent a congratulatory message upon the
Constitution Day of the Republic of Armenia, the RA NA
Press Office reports. Tigran Torosyan’s message, in
particular, reads as follows, `Dear compatriots! I
congratulate you on the Constitution Day. This is one
of the most important holidays of our country, since
the Organic Law predetermines both the development of
the country and solution of vital problems of our
every citizen. The most authoritative corresponding
special structures acknowledged our Constitution,
which was amended two years ago, as fully meeting
international criteria. It created qualitative new
opportunities for deepening democracy, protecting
human rights, rule of law and providing adequate and
prosperous life for our citizens. I congratulate you
once again on the Constitution Day wishing success and
full realization of constitutional guarantees for the
power of our state and welfare of our nation.’

L’ECOLE ARMENIENNE INAUGUREE

Le Parisien
Dimanche 1 Juillet 2007

HIER APRÈS-MIDI, la communaute armenienne etait reunie, a
Arnouville-lès-Gonesse, pour inaugurer son ecole bilingue, qui porte
le nom de Hrant Dink, le journaliste armenien, assassine le 19 janvier
dernier, a Istanbul. Avec, pour l’instant, trois classes de maternelle
programmees pour la rentree prochaine, elle a deja recu l’inscription
de seize enfants. " Quand mon mari a decouvert l’interieur, il en
a ete emu aux larmes ", confiait une invitee. Pour cette occasion,
jugee symbolique, Edward Nalbandian, ambassadeur d’Armenie en France,
a fait le deplacement. La ville d’Arnouville abrite l’une des plus
fortes communautes armenienne d’Ile-de-France.

–Boundary_(ID_o5mbRAw1Oeq2F9pZr p3xyg)–

LEADER OF NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE SAYS OPPOSITION MUST UNITE

ARMENPRESS
Jul 03 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 3, ARMENPRESS: The leader of the "National Democratic
Alliance" party Arshak Sadoyan said today at a press conference
that "At presidential elections the opposition must fight jointly. A
leader-candidate must be the one who will head the process. We believe
that such candidate may be leader of National Democratic Union Vazgen
Manukian."

According to him, in the coming presidential elections Levon
Ter-Petrosian will not forward his candidacy as he "has been keeping
silence for a long time. Certain forces which speak about his
nomination just want to be notable in the political field."

He said National Democratic Alliance offers all the oppositional
forces to unite and call a session of political forces during which
the issues will be discussed.

THREE RIFLEMEN FROM ARMENIA TO PREPARE FOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP IN LVOV

Noyan Tapan
Jul 2, 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 2, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian riflemen Norair Bakhtamian,
Romik Vardumian, and Andranik Pilosian will leave for the Ukraine for
a ten-day teaching and training gathering where they will prepare for
the European Championship to be held in Spain on July 8-18 together
with Ukrainian sportsmen in Lvov.

AZERBAIJAN DOES NOT NEED NAGORNO-KARABAKH: EXPERT

arminfo
2007-06-29 20:23:00

Azerbaijan does not need Nagorno-Karabakh, the director of the Center
for Analysis of Theater of Terrorism and Conflicts of Low Intensity
Ramil Latypov says in an interview to Yerkramas daily.

He says that the Azeris have never needed Nagorno-Karabakh – there
were no historical prerequisites for that.

But for some unknown reason the Azeri authorities have taken up an
unyielding stance: war till victory. Latypov is sure that no victory
is possible. He says that this stance is a synthesized catalyst of
an artificial process and it will result in long-term instability,
economic stagnation, declining living standard, atmopshere of
fear and distrust, growing hysteria in Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Nagorno-Karabakh. This all is good for those who are planning to
gain control over the global energy resources. It is time to stop and
solve this problem on one’s own on the basis of historical justice,
good sense and interests of ordinary people.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WELCOMES AZERI ENVOY’S VISIT TO KARABAKH

Mediamax news agency
29 Jun 07

Yerevan, 29 June: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan today
welcomed the joint trip of representatives of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani intelligentsia to Stepanakert ,Yerevan and Baku, which
took place on 28 June.

Vardan Oskanyan described the initiative as "an encouraging step"
and expressed the hope that it will "have its continuation".

The Armenian foreign minister stressed that "without re-establishing
contacts and the atmosphere of confidence, it will be extremely
difficult to settle the Karabakh conflict".

Answering Mediamax’s question, Vardan Oskanyan said that the initiators
of the meeting were the Armenian and Azerbaijani ambassadors to Russia
and that the presidents of the two countries had approved the idea
during their recent meeting in St Petersburg.

VARTAN OSKANIAN: THE VISIT OF THE AZERI AMBASSADOR TO KARABAKH AND ARMENIA WAS "EXTREMELY POSITIVE"

armradio.am
29.06.2007 15:15

Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian assessed as "extremely
positive" the visit of the Azerbaijani Ambassador Polad Bulbuloghlu
to Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia. The Foreign Minister declared this
at a press conference today.

"One of the obstacles of the talks is the lack of trust between the
two peoples. It must be restored by all means. Without restoration
of trust it will even more difficult to reach concessions. I view
the Ambassador’s visit in this context and positively assess the
delegation’s visit to Stepanakert, Yerevan and Baku, the Minister
noted. In his words, the Armenian delegation returned from Baku early
morning. The Minister said Armenian Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatyan
also highly appreciates the joint visit. "I hope that this initiative
will be continues," the Minister added.