Author: Karakhanian Suren

FREE-FLOWING ‘SWAN’: KIROV BALLET BRINGS CLASSIC TO AUDITORIUM
By Betty Mohr Daily Southtown theater critic

Chicago Daily Southtown, IL
Nov 1 2006

When rehearsals for "Swan Lake" were first performed in 1876 in Moscow,
the ballet wasn’t received with much fanfare.

It was considered a dismal failure.

" Click to enlarge image

Diana Vishneva portrays Odette in the Kirov Ballet version of "Swan
Lake," at the Auditorium Theatre through Sunday.

The structure of composer Peter Tchaikovsky’s music was so different
and so revolutionary that the conductor thought it was too complex
and too difficult for anyone to dance to it. For years, the ballet
was considered unworthy of production.

It wasn’t until 1895, when the choreography was changed, that
"Swan Lake" became a success. Choreographer Lev Ivanov made changes
to include the corps de ballet into the drama of the dance, and
Tchaikovsky’s lyrical symphonic music was interwoven with a new ballet
style to create an exalted union with the music. That integration
became central to all versions of the ballet that followed.

There have been many re-stagings and revisions to "Swan Lake" since,
including Matthew Bourne’s contemporary take on the classic ballet
— which revolves around the British Royal family and centers on an
insecure prince whose fascination with a male swan leads to his early
death — that was seen in Chicago last year.

But the Kirov Ballet will bring a classical version of "Swan Lake"
to Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre tonight to Sunday with a full 66-piece
orchestra.

"It is the traditional ‘Swan Lake’ with which most people are
familiar," said Sergei Danilian, the Armenian-born (which at the time
was part of the Soviet Union) tour manager who is bringing the ballet
to Chicago.

It’s been 16 years since the Kirov performed in Chicago, Danilian said,
because of the difficulty of getting a venue for "Swan Lake."

"Chicago is one of the most important cities in any tour we consider,
but up until now, we couldn’t come together to present it at the
Auditorium, which is the best venue for ballet."

The Auditorium had been closed during previous years of Kirov tours
because of problems over the landmark theater’s ownership and its
extensive renovation.

"We’re thrilled to finally bring the Kirov to Chicago," Danilian
said. "We’re bringing the traditional version of ‘Swan Lake’ staged
at the end of the 19th century, though most don’t know that it was
changed in the 1950s.

"The original 1895 production had a tragic ending in which the two
lovers are not reunited. This ‘Swan Lake,’ which we are presenting,
is the one recognized the world over for its romantic lyricism and
its grand perfection."

The classical "Swan Lake," which is the most popular of Russian
ballets, tells the story of young prince Siegfried, who falls in love
with princess Odette. She is human at night, but is turned into a
white swan by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart by day. The evil spell
can be broken only if the prince pledges eternal love to her.

That becomes difficult, though, when the sorcerer creates an evil
mirror image of Odette.

Danilian said "Swan Lake" not only has overcome many changes to its
original production, but the Kirov Ballet also has survived many
political changes in Russia.

"The most difficult time was during the Russian Revolution of 1917,
but the ballet troupe survived. During the Cold War, the company
once again had problems because it’s best dancers — Rudolf Nureyev,
Natalia Makarova and Mikhail Baryshnikov — defected to the West. But
since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Kirov has been experiencing
a strong resurgence.

"The Kirov is the oldest and best ballet company in the world. That’s
because of its very high standards," Danilian said. "The company
keeps its traditions from generation to generation because the retired
dancers train the new dancers to keep their dance in perfect harmony
with the music."

If you go …

What: "Swan Lake"

When: 7:30 p.m. today, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and
2 p.m. Sunday

Where: The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress
Parkway, Chicago

Tickets: $30 to $125

Information: Call (312) 902-1500 or visit

ALIYEV: BAKU MAY REVIEW ITS POLICY IN KARABAKH ISSUE

PanARMENIAN.Net
31.10.2006 12:52 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In case the talks over settlement of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict are futile, Azerbaijan will review its policy, Azeri
President Ilham Aliyev said. "It is difficult to say what will happen
in case the talks fail. In any case, if the current round of talks is
futile, Azerbaijan will review its strategy, tactics and attitude,"
the Azeri President told journalists.

The Azeri President noted that Baku insists on conflict settlement
"on the basis of international legal norms, providing for withdrawal
of Armenian occupation forces from the Azeri territory and conferring
high degree of autonomy to NK within Azerbaijan."

"There is a positive practice of autonomy in the world. There are
especially many national minorities and autonomies in Europe. Being
a national minority does not mean having the right to secede part of
the state and form a new one," I. Aliyev said, reports Interfax.

AZG Armenian Daily #205, 27/10/2006

Home

HENRY CUNY COMPLETES DIPLOMATIC MISSION IN ARMENIA AND WISHES
PROSPERITY TO ARMENIA AND ITS PEOPLE

On October 25, RA President Robert Kocharian received Ambassador
France to Yerevan, Henry Cuny, who completes his diplomatic mission to
the Republic of Armenia. RA President’s press-service informed that
Mr. Henry Cuny was awarded the medal of "Mkhitar Gosh", by the
President’s October 25 decree, for his considerable contribution to
the strengthening and development of the Armenian-French friendly
relations.

In the beginning of the meeting, Kocharian thanked the Ambassador for
his fruitful cooperation and stated that that a sufficient progress is
achieved in the Armenian-French relations during the Ambassadors’
diplomatic mission in Armenia. Henry Cuny expressed gratitude for the
high honor done and assured that he highly estimated that. He has
highly appreciated a warm attitude of Armenia to France. At the end of
the meeting, the diplomat wished prosperity to Armenia, welfare to the
Armenian people and success in work to the President of the Republic
of Armenia

MINISTER OF TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT GIVE EXACT DATE OF COMPLETION OF KOMITAS STREET REPAIRS

Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Repairs of Komitas Street (Yerevan)
with the Lincy Foundation’s funds have been delayed "in connection
with one-two problems". The RA Minister of Territorial Administration
Hovik Abrahamian stated this in the RA National Assembly on October
25. Not giving the details of these problems, the minister said that
the issue of replacing the water pipeline is also under discussion,
for which 85 mln drams (about 223.5 thousand USD) will be allocated
from the State Water Industry Committee. Assuring that the repair
work will resume, H. Abrahamian did not give the exact date of
the work’s completion. "We all realize that winter is approaching,
so we do our best to complete the work as soon as possible," the
minister said. According to some information, the repair of the Arabkir
community’s main street was stoped due to discontinuation of financing
from the Lincy Foundation. The foundation took this decision because
cheaper and low-quality building material was purchased instead of
the Russian one.

FINED FOR NOT GIVING INFORMATION

A1+
[02:31 pm] 25 October, 2006

The sitting of the RA Economic Competition Protection State Committee
took place today. During the sitting issues about ways of punishment
of several companies were discussed.

By the decision of the Committee companies importing furniture
"I. Haroutyunyan", "Isarme" and "Arspi" were fined for 500 000 AMD
each for not giving information about their activity. In case they
hide information a second time, the punishment will be more severe –
2 million AMD.

BELARUS PM THANKS ARMENIA FOR SUPPORT
By Shakeh Avoyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 23 2006

Belarus’s visiting Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky thanked Armenia
on Monday for supporting his country, increasingly ostracized by
the West for its poor democracy and human rights records, in the
international arena.

"Belarus supports Armenia in international affairs and we thanked
Armenia for supporting Belarus in international affairs," Sidorsky
said after holding talks with Armenian leaders on the first day of
his official visit to Yerevan.

Although Sidorsky did not elaborate, he seemed to be alluding to
Armenia’s refusal to join the United States and the European Union
in condemning the authoritarian regime of Belarusian President
Aleksandr Lukashenko. Official Yerevan has repeatedly sided with
Russia in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and
other international bodies to vote against resolutions criticizing
Lukashenko’s intolerance of dissent and reported human rights abuses.

Lukashenko, known for his tough anti-Western rhetoric, faced renewed
international criticism as recently as last March over his handling of
a controversial presidential election which OSCE observers denounced
as undemocratic. President Robert Kocharian reportedly congratulated
him on his hotly disputed reelection.

Meeting with his Belarusian counterpart, Prime Minister Andranik
Markarian said Armenian-Belarusian ties have been cemented by what
he described as a "warm personal rapport" existing between the two
presidents. "Cooperation between the two states and the two governments
is proceeding very well," Markarian told an ensuing news conference. "I
am very satisfied with our negotiations."

The talks appeared to have focused on bilateral economic ties, with
the two premiers praising a steep increase in Armenian-Belarusian
trade reported by them in the last few years. But they both admitted
that its volume remains modest in absolute terms.

Markarian and Sidorsky said nothing about ongoing military cooperation
between the two ex-Soviet states aligned in the Russian-led Collective
Security Treaty Organization. Armenia and Belarus are bound by
bilateral agreements that allow for mutual arms supplies.

Belarusian Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev reaffirmed his country’s
interest in the developing "mutually beneficial" military ties with
Armenia as he visited Yerevan in December last year. According to
Kocharian’s office, Maltsev and Armenian leaders discussed "prospects
for deepening" those ties.

FAKE COMPASSION OF EUROPE’S RIGHT-WING: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
James Cooke

PEJ News, Canada
Peace, Earth & Justice News
Socialist Perspectives
Oct 21 2006

On the surface, this appears to be a Left cause – Turkey seems guilty
of holocaust-denial. Rewriting history is always a dangerous route to
take, especially when those doing it are heads of state; the result
is traditionally scapegoating and repression. Anyone who stands for
justice and equality takes a firm stance against such behavior. With
that said, one has to wonder why this particular event, which took
place over a hundred years ago, is suddenly making headlines. To view
this emerging topic as a simple case of holocaust-denial is to align
oneself with the anti-Islamic wing of Europe who are using the topic
to inflame ethnic and religious tensions, consolidate their racist
constituency, and shift national issues away from the ever-worsening
social reality- much like what is happening in the U.S., not to
mention Australia.

The spark that united the current debate occurred in France, where
Jacques Chirac, the right-wing President, and Nicolas Sarkozy,
Chirac’s ultra-right Interior Minister, co-supported a law making
denial of the Armenian genocide a crime; earlier in the year France
officially recognized the event as genocide. Now Chirac has publicly
stated that Turkey, who does not recognize the WWI happenings as
genocide, should do so if it wants entrance into the European Union.

Once again, taking this move on its face, the usually-callous French
leaders appear to be putting humanity ahead of politics. Just the
opposite is the case, as it always is.

Before an opinion is formed on this issue, some preliminary details
should be pondered. One should first reflect on the fact that the
Armenian genocide was the work of Ottoman Turks (Muslims), responsible
for killing Armenian Christians. This particular detail should raise
an eyebrow, considering the current climate of religious tension in
the world.

Additional suspicion is required when one considers the credibility
of these suddenly-virtuous French leaders, whose past actions have
made them the object of contempt from much of French society. Chirac
is the French equivalent of George Bush- he is widely unpopular and
considered by many to be a lame duck. The massive protests that
took place in response to the First Employment Contract proposed
by Chirac had revolutionary potential, and forced the President
to make a substantial, albeit temporary retreat in his right-wing
policy-making. The sad state of France has forced its leaders into
the cellars of society to find political support; religion, racism,
and demagoguery are the tactics now relied on to divert attention
from the pressing issues of the country. Suddenly, the most prized
constituents are the most backward, content with easy answers to
complex questions. Immigrants and Muslims have been hardest hit by
this shift of strategy.

The subtle anti-Islamic rhetoric that both politicians and the media
had been using evolved into the most racist and reactionary state
policies. French schools are now under a country-wide ban of Muslim
headscarves and other "conspicuous’ religious symbols, a blatant
violation of a founding principle of the French republic- freedom of
religion. Chirac’s national address concerning the issue was greeted by
the media with fanfare and hysteria as he tried to twist the issue into
one of great historical importance. The social problems of France were
now blamed on a ‘clash of cultures’- the method used by every despotic
regime in history facing desperation and crisis. The Muslims of France
were painted as foreign entities, unable to acclimate themselves to
French society, something that is now blamed for their devastating
poverty and consequently, overt rebelliousness.

In October 2005, the culmination of the ‘Muslim question’ took place in
riot form, spreading quickly across France and eventually throughout
much of Europe, reflecting the continent-wide significance of the
issue. Those rioting were mainly Islamic youth of African heritage,
unhappy with unemployment, poverty, and state-sponsored racism. The
French government responded with ruthless repression, implanting
curfews and a three-month long state of emergency. Little was mentioned
about the social conditions responsible for the uprising. Nicholas
Sarkozy, always in the vanguard of anti-Islamic rhetoric, referred to
the rioters as ‘rubble’ and ‘scum’, using the event as a pretext for
even harsher laws and a ‘monitoring program’ aimed at the extremely
early detection of troublemakers; Muslims will be the overwhelming
target in this case.

With the above taken into consideration, the new genocide-denial
law cannot be supported. It is an insult to the memories of those
Armenians actually persecuted during WWI; their deaths are being
shamelessly exploited by a regime in crisis, looking for any reason
to shift the country’s problems away from those responsible for
decision-making. Chirac and his cohorts are literally incapable
of such empathy, responding with genuine emotion only when their
corporate masters are threatened.

Fortunately, many Armenians of the region understand the racist
intentions of the new law, and have vowed to travel to France to
become criminals for breaking a law that is allegedly meant to protect
them. This level of political consciousness is severely lacking by
many of those interested in the subject.

It is enough to know that most governments in the world today
are mirrored reflections of an internationally unhealthy business
environment; the corporations that have long controlled the mainstream
political parties are expressing their desperation through their
electoral voice boxes. The ever-deepening conflict of interests between
the needs of corporations and that of average people has created
an environment of hostility towards governments across the globe,
resulting in the low-brow political maneuvers so familiar to those
living in the U.S. At this stage, EVERY policy implemented by every 1st
world government should be looked upon with deep suspicion. Scratching
the surface will usually reveal the most sickening of intentions.

Comments on this article can be read at
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R. KOCHARIAN: ARMENIA IS INTERESTED IN HAVING MORE DINAMIC TIES WITH CHINA

Noyan Tapan
Oct 23 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 23, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian
received on October 21 Syu Stzialu, the Deputy Chairman of the Standing
Committee of the All-China Assembly of People’s Representatives of the
People’s Republic of China, and the delegation headed by him. S.Stzialu
passed warm greetings of the President of the People’s Republic of
China to the RA President. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA
President’s Press Office, R.Kocharian mentioned with satisfaction
the high level of the Armenian-Chinese political dialogue and said:
"Armenia successively stands for strengthening relations with China and
is interested in having much more dinamic and regulated bilateral ties.

Emphasizing China’s weighty role on the international scene, Robert
Kocharian appreciated that country’s balanced position towards delicate
problems of the South Caucasian region. In S.Stzialu’s words, the
Armenian-Chinese cooperation is successfully being developed, including
new and new spheres. He considered President Robert Kocharian’s
state visit paid to China in 2004 as pivotal for widening bilateral
mutual cooperation. The interlocuters emphasized also the effective
cooperation of Armenia and China on the international scene, mentioning
that the two countries have almost similar positions in many issues.

They exchanghed opinions also concerning the state creating around
North Korea.

Reference to frozen conflicts on GUAM territory

ArmRadio.am
21.10.2006 15:30

During UN General Assembly sitting dedicated to cooperation of regional
organizations Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Khandogiy
spoke on behalf of GUAM. "Trend" agency reports that he suggested to
undertake measures in the direction of resoling the "frozen conflicts"
on the territories of Georgia, Moldova, Aerbaijan and Ukraine. "It
is important for international organizations, particularly the UN
and OSCE, to continue undertaking practical steps for resolving the
conflicts, which comprise a serious obstacle for stability, as well
as democratic and economic development in the region," said the
representative of Ukraine.

He called on the interested parties to accomplish the UN Security
Council and OSCE resolutions on Nagorno Karabakh and Georgian-Abkhazian
conflicts.

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

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

THE DELEGATE OF HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONGRATULATES REVEREND
DR. SEHYOUNI’S RE-ELECTION

Bishop Nareg Alemezian, Ecumenical Officer of the Catholicosate of
Cilicia, conveyed His Holiness Aram I’s congratulations to Reverend
Dr. Selim Sehyouni for his re-election as president of the Supreme
Council of Evangelical Churches in Syria and Lebanon during a special
visit to the Council’s headquarters in Rabiyeh on October 19.

Reverend Sehyouni spoke with high regard of his long-standing
friendship with the His Holiness Aram I and praised the role of the
Armenian Church in Lebanon’s internal life.

The Reverend and his guest talked about a various range of issues
including the socio-economic situation in Lebanon following the
recent Israeli aggression, the imperative of religious education,
the importance of cooperation between theological institutes and the
increasing weight of Christian witness in the Middle East.

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates
of the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the
Ecumenical activities 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.