Author: Karakhanian Suren

INDIGNANT HUNGARIANS HALF AS BUTCH AS INDIGENT ARMENIANS
Pestiside, Hungary
Nov 6 2006
An Armenian family of six was apprehended late last week by border
control officials near Hungary’s north-east frontier after they and
a Russian “guide” “white-water rafted” in from Ukraine on what state
newswire MTI (offline) calls a “hazardous” section of the Tisza –
all during the cold snap that has left much of Hungary hunkering
down indoors. Meanwhile, Budapest was not torn apart by riots during
this weekend’s commemoration of the beginning of the end of the 1956
uprising, apparently because of the weather. Not sure exactly what
the message is here, other than that the Hungary government should
probably be happy that its opponents are angry Hungarians, rather
than angry Armenians. On the other hand, they should probably be
really happy they are not angry Azerbaijanis. Either way, brrr.
hungarians_half_as_butch_as_indigent_armenians0028 43.php

POVERTY LEVEL DECREASES IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 6 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the preliminary results
of summarized study of living standard of home farms conducted in 2005
by RA National Statistical Service, 29.8% of RA population is poor,
4.6% extremely poor. According to the results of study conducted in
2004, these indices made 34.6% and 6.4%, respectively, and according
to the results of 1998/99 56.1% and 21%.
For the above mentioned periods, the abject (food) poverty line was
calculated in the amount of 13.266 thousand drams (about 30 USD),
12.467 thousand drams and 11.21 thousand drams and the general poverty
line in the amount of 20.289 thousand drams, 19.373 thousand drams
and 17.663 thousand drams.
In 2005, 2004 and 1998/99, the level of poverty and abject poverty in
Armenian towns made 30.7% and 5.3%, 36.4% and 7.5%, 62.1% and 26.2%,
respectively, in Yerevan 32.6% and 4%, 29.2% and 6.1%, 58.4% and 24.8%,
in other towns 37.8% and 7.2%, 43.9% and 9.2%, 65.5% and 27.4%, in
rural populated areas 28.3% and 3.2%, 31.7% and 4.4%, 48.2% and 14.1%.
In 2005, poverty level in RA regions fluctuated from 19.2% (Vayots
Dzor) to 42.5% (Shirak), abject poverty level from 1.8% (Vayots Dzor)
to 8.7% (Kotayk).

Railway in Russia: Russia-Iran Railway Talks
Railway Market Magazine, Poland
Nov 3 2006
A high ranking Russian delegation headed by Vladimir Yakunin will be
in Tehran within 4-6 November to discuss restoring linkage between
the two countries’ railways.
Russian delegation would put forth the issue of re-linking the two
railway systems which has been cut following Azerbaijan-Armenia
conflict over Karabakh region, reports the agency.
The construction of a new Ghazvin-Rasht-Astara railway would be
necessary and Russia is intent on contributing to constructing and
modernizing Iran’s railway infrastructure.
Iranians and Russians are also to exchange views on ways and means
of providing security measures for Russian made locomotives and wagon.

LILIT PIPOYAN’S CONCERT TO BE ACCOMPANIED WITH SHOW CREATED BY MULTIPLIER NAIRA MURADIAN
Noyan Tapan
Nov 01 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Composer and singer Lilit Pipoyan’s
new works will be presented to the spectators during the concert
entitled “Blue Violet” to take place at the Aram Khachaturian concert
hall on November 4. Their performance will be accompanied with a show
created by multiplier Naira Muradian on the theme of those songs. As
the two artists mentioned at the November 1 press conference, they
are joined by the specific way of presenting what they want to say,
paying homage only to sincere phenomena in art and, opposite to it,
avoiding artificial, banal art, feeling of particular obligation
towards the national art and commentary of content, but not a formal
commentary of the national idea. “Creating is an outburst of soul for
me. It is out of any type of conditionalities. My songs are sincere,
free and without preconditions,” L.Pipoyan said. At the same time she
mentioned that it was too difficult for her to organize this concert:
No producer company agreed to organize it, reasoning that it is not
profitable as no spectator will come to similar concerts in sports
ground or big concert halls.” However, in the singer’s words, people
were found who did a favour and assisted organization of the concert,
what is already gratifying: “It means that something gets moving.”

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

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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.