Author: Madatian Greg

Classical: PROM 18: BOURNEMOUTH SO / ALSOP PROM 19: BBC PO / SINAISKY
Royal Albert Hall LONDON HH/HHH

The Independent – United Kingdom; Aug 02, 2005

Edward Seckerson

If Madame Mao had played the violin, John Corigliano’s Violin
Concerto ‘The Red Violin’ would have been to her taste. The former
Shanghai film actress liked steamy melodrama. Still, she could be
found in more familiar surroundings at the start of Prom 18. John
Adams’ ‘foxtrot for orchestra’, The Chairman Dances, chugged its way
into the hall, dragging with it memories of his operatic masterpiece
Nixon in China.

Alas, ‘dragging’ might best describe the effect of Marin Alsop’s
effortful reading of this glitzy curtain-raiser. This is a sleeker,
far more audacious piece than he had us believe. This is Madame Mao
on Madison Avenue, all shantung silk and vampish impudence. It’s her
cultural revolution.

But Alsop was way too circumspect. The band sounded ungainly, the
shimmying string departures carried little insouciance, the rhythms
didn’t tantalise. Even those itchy final moments in the percussion
failed to raise a smile.

But, as the warm-up for Corigliano’s overheated concerto, it was a
nice idea. Corigliano deserved his Oscar for Franois Girard’s The Red
Violin. He wields a mean orchestra, and delights in colouristic drama
” emotive contrasts, freakish exclamations, grandiloquent climaxes.
The storyboard is there in the music.

Joshua Bell carried the work’s spirit through the time and space of
three centuries, indulging its flights of fancy, weathering its
pyrotechnical storms. He was amazing. Corigliano acted out every
measure from his seat in the stalls. But, for all that, the result
struck me more forcefully than ever as all surface and no soul.

Unfortunate, perhaps, that the great Shostakovich First Violin
Concerto ” given the next night by the BBC Philharmonic under Vassily
Sinaisky ” is everything the Corigliano aspired to be, and more. The
soloist ” the hugely promising 20-year-old Armenian, Sergey
Khachatryan ” impressed with his modesty and emotional restraint. His
soulful fragility was as beautiful as it was moving. The sound is as
yet small, and he may in time take the work’s wilder extremes closer
to the wire. The great transitional cadenza from slow movement to
finale, from resignation to defiance, must at least convey a sense of
the individual overwhelmed by inexorable force. Khachatryan really
can play this concerto. One day it will play him.

The Proms can be heard at

‘SHUSHI’ ENSEMBLE FROM NEW YORK CONTRIBUTES TO PRESERVING ARMENIAN
CULTURAL VALUES IN USA

AZG Armenian Daily #141, 30/07/2005

Culture

Last week, “Shushi” dance ensemble from New York performed concerts
both in Stepanakert and in Yerevan. Seda Paskalian, prominent dancing
star, founded this dancing group at St. Vartan Armenian church in new
York in 1993. At present, the dance ensemble includes 80 young
dancers. The overwhelming majority of the ensemble are the US-born
Armenians living in New Jersey.

“Shushi” visited Armenia for the first time in 2001. The ensemble gave
two concerts during its second visit to motherland. The first one was
held at Gabriel Sundukian Academic Theatre in Yerevan, on July 18. And
the second concert of “Shushi” took place in Stepanakert, on July
18. The second concert was dedicated to the participants of Karabakh
liberation war.

The ensemble performed Armenian folk dances both in Yerevan and in
Stepanakert. Vanoush Khanamirian, great master of Armenian folk dance,
and other prominent representatives of Armenian publicity, as well as
many art lovers were present at the concert in Yerevan. While in
Stepanakert, many high-ranking officials, including Ashot Ghulian,
chairman of NKR Parliament, Kamo Atian, NKR culture and education
minister, as well as Baroness Caroline Cox, deputy chairwoman of the
House of Lords of Great Britain, were present at the concert. 600
soldiers of NKR Army also highly estimated the art of the dancers.

Baroness Caroline Cox ascended the stage and presented a bunch of
flowers to Seda Paskalian, congratulating her for the concert. It’s
noteworthy that the leading dances of the concert were performed by
Gayane Hambardzumian, 16-year-old young talented dancer. She graduated
from the school founded by St. Gregory the Illuminator church of New
York.

In response to the question put by Azg, Seda Paskalian said that she
is satisfied with the concerts held in Yerevan and Stepanakert. We
also emphasized the importance of having such dance ensemble in
Diaspora.

By Hakob Chakrian

PanArmenian News Network
July 28 2005

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT APPROVED OF PROPOSAL TO SIGN A RANGE OF
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

28.07.2005 08:15

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ In the course of its recurrent session the Armenian
Government approved of the proposal to sign agreements on financial
cooperation in 2005-2006between the Governments of Armenia and
Germany, on labor and employment cooperation between the Governments
of Armenia and Bulgaria. The proposal on signing agreements on
cooperation and legal assistance between the Offices of Prosecutors
General of Armenia and the Czech Republic, on mutual administrative
assistance in tax issues between the State Tax Service at the
Armenian Government and the State Tax Department at the Ministry of
Finance of Lithuania were also approved. By another resolution the
proposal to sign an agreement on program financial assistance between
the Armenian Government and the UK International Development Ministry
is also approved, reported IA Regnum.

WFAA Channel 8, Dallas, TX
July 22 2005

C’mon get happy
03:29 PM CDT on Friday, July 22, 2005

There’s a new Web site that provides all the good news that’s fit to
post. At other news outlets on Thursday, the top story was the second
round of bombings in London. On HappyNews.com , the top international
news story was “Volunteers help to build Armenia homes.”

With a smiley face as a mascot and “Always Positive” as its credo,
HappyNews.com is dedicated to delivering news “geared to lift spirits
and inspire lives.” The site invites people to volunteer as “citizen
journalists” and write stories that fulfill this mission. The results
bridge blogging and journalism. Like blogs, content is driven by what
“citizen journalists” think is important; like journalism, stories
are edited by the HappyNews team and contributors must follow a code
of conduct posted on the site.

Now happy news is just a click away. Just pick the category in which
you wish to be cheered up. In national news, you can pick from
headlines such as “Girl reunited with pet tortoise” and “Woman wins
lottery twice in five months.” Of course, what makes news happy (or
not) is in the eye (or ear) of the consumer, as a headline such as
“U.S. barbershop quartets thriving” reminds us.

Tom Maurstad

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LEGISLATION SET
FOR COMMITTEE-LEVEL CONSIDERATION

— Members of the International Relations Committee
Coming Under Pressure from Turkey’s Lobbyists

— Cosponsor List for H.Res.316 Reaches 102

WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
is working in Washington, DC and in communities around the nation to
generate support for Armenian Genocide legislation that is slated to
come before the House International Relations Committee. It appears
likely at this time that the Armenian Genocide measures (H.Res.316
and H.Con.Res.195) currently before Congress will be considered and
acted upon by the influential panel.

“We welcome the willingness of Chairman Hyde and the International
Relations Committee to formally consider and act upon Armenian Genocide
legislation,” said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. “We especially would
like to express our gratitude to George Radanovich for leading the
effort and building on his decade-long record of principled and
energetic leadership on this issue, to voice our gratitude to the
Co-Chairs of the Armenian Caucus – Joe Knollenberg and Frank Pallone
– for generating a powerful, bipartisan constituency, and to share
our special appreciation for Adam Schiff’s vital role in ensuring
Committee level action on Armenian Genocide legislation.”

“We look forward to working with our friends in focusing our collective
energies on defeating Turkey’s genocide denial machine, to ensuring
favorable consideration of these measures by the International
Relations Committee, and to securing final passage of legislation
reaffirming the Armenian Genocide by the House of Representatives,”
added Hachikian.

H.Res.316, which was introduced by Representatives George Radanovich
(R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), calls
upon the President to ensure U.S. foreign policy reflects appropriate
understanding of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution includes thirty
detailed findings from past U.S. hearings, resolutions and Presidential
statements, as well as references to statements by international bodies
and organizations. As of today, a bipartisan group of over ninety-eight
Representatives have already agreed to cosponsor this measure.

H.Con.Res.195, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff, was offered following
direct negotiations with House International Relations Committee
Chairman Henry Hyde (R-IL). The Chairman agreed to Committee-level
consideration of Armenian Genocide legislation in return for
Rep. Schiff tabling a planned June 8th Armenian Genocide amendment to
the House Foreign Relations Authorization bill. The agreement addressed
serious concerns on the part of the Administration and Congressional
leaders that the Schiff Amendment – which had strong prospects of
passing – would overshadow the White House meeting, held that same
day, between President Bush and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan. This
measure, which is in the process of being amended, reaffirms the
Armenian Genocide within the broader context of regional relationships
and addresses Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union.

According to Capitol Hill sources, the Turkish Ambassador and his
lobbyists – including the Livingston Group – are actively making the
rounds to members of the International Relations Committee, seeking to
block any action on U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide. As
part of this effort, the Livingston Group has been distributing a
four-page genocide-denial document to Congressional offices.

A third, non-Genocide related resolution that may also be considered
by the International Relations Committee deals with Turkey’s
illegal blockade of Armenia. This measure, H.R.3103, introduced by
Rep. Schiff, calls on Turkey to “comply with the long-standing position
of the United States that in order to restore economic, political,
and cultural links with Armenia, Turkey should immediately lift its
ongoing blockade with Armenia.” In addition, it would require that,
“Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate Congressional
committees a report that outlines the steps taken and plans made by
the United States to end Turkey’s blockade of Armenia.” The ANCA
supports the adoption of this measure by the U.S. House at the
earliest opportunity.

In addition to Reps. Radanovich, Schiff, Pallone and Knollenberg,
those who have agreed to cosponsor H.Res.316 are: Gary Ackerman (D-
NY), Tom Allen (D-ME), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI),
Charles Bass (R-NH), Howard Berman (D-CA), Michael Bilirakis (R-
FL), Tim Bishop (D-NY), Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH),
Ken Calvert (R-CA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA),
William Clay (D-MO), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jerry
Costello (D-IL), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), William Delahunt (D-MA),
John Dingell (D-MI), Mike Doyle (D-PA), David Dreier (R-CA), Eliot
Engel (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Mark Foley (R-
FL), Barney Frank (D-MA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Mark Green (R-WI),
Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Rush Holt (D-NJ),
Michael Honda (D-CA), Steve Israel (D-NY), Darrell Issa (R-CA),
Jesse Jackson (D-IL), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI),
Dale Kildee (D-MI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), James Langevin (D-RI), Sander
Levin (D-MI), John Lewis (D-GA), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Zoe Lofgren
(D-CA), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney
(D-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Carolyn McCarthy
(D-NY), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Jim McDermott
(D-WA), James McGovern (D-MA), John McHugh (R-NY), Buck McKeon (R-CA),
Cathy McMorris (R-WA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Martin Meehan (D-MA),
Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Candice Miller (R- MI), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY),
Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Richard Neal (D-MA), Eleanor Holmes Norton
(D-DC), Devin Nunes (R-CA), John Olver (D-MA), Donald Payne (D-NJ),
Collin Peterson (D-MN), Richard Pombo (R-CA), Mike Rogers (R-MI),
Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Edward Royce
(R-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Paul Ryan (R-WI), H. James Saxton (R-NJ),
Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), E. Clay Shaw (R-FL),
Christopher Shays (R-CT), Brad Sherman (D-CA), John Shimkus (R-IL),
Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Mark Souder (R-IN), Pete Stark (D-CA),
Ted Strickland (D-OH), John Sweeney (R-NY), John Tierney (D-MA),
Mark Udall (D-CO), Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Visclosky
(D-IN), Diane Watson (D-CA), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner
(D-NY), Frank Wolf (R-VA), and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).

#####

Northern Cyprus Greek community threatens flights to Garabagh

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
July 19 2005

Baku, July 18, AssA-Irada — The Greek community of Northern Cyprus
has threatened Baku with starting direct flights to Upper Garabagh.

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Mehmet Ali
Talat did not take the statement seriously. “I am confident that
these threats will not materialize”, he said.

Turkish media quoted Talat as saying that Azerbaijan’s steps at forging
ties with the Northern Cyprus will help extricate the Turkish community
of the republic from isolation.

A group of Azeri parliament members are currently visiting the capital
of Northern Cyprus Lefkosha. Along with cooperation prospects, they
have discussed with President Talat opening a direct flight between
Baku and Lefkosha.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a news briefing prior
to leaving for Russia on Sunday that Azerbaijan’s plan to forge ties
with Northern Cyprus ‘de facto implies recognition of the Republic’. “I
hope Azerbaijan will continue its steps in this direction”, he added.*

Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR] leader notes “positive changes” in
Karabakh talks – Armenian agency

Mediamax news agency
15 Jul 05

Yerevan, 15 July: “If the Azerbaijani leadership does not want to see
Nagornyy Karabakh as a party to the conflict, this means it does not
want a settlement,” the president of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic
[NKR], Arkadiy Gukasyan, said in Stepanakert today.

Speaking at a news conference in Stepanakert today, Arkadiy Gukasyan
recalled that the status of Nagornyy Karabakh as a party to the
conflict was determined in the documents of the OSCE Budapest Summit
[in 1994] and has already been recognized as such by the Minsk Group
co-chairs on Nagornyy Karabakh, as well as by Azerbaijan itself.

Arkadiy Gukasyan described as a “show” the current behaviour of the
Azerbaijani leadership which is refusing to accept this fact, and
stressed once again that it was impossible to resolve the problem
without Nagornyy Karabakh’s participation.

Commenting on the issue of the Lacin humanitarian corridor raised
by the Azerbaijani side recently, Arkadiy Gukasyan noted that Lacin
cannot be a subject of compromise since this road connects Nagornyy
Karabakh with the rest of the world. “We did not and will not retreat
from our positions,” the NKR president stressed.

Arkadiy Gukasyan noted positive changes in the settlement process,
which in particular include the softening of the Baku government’s
position as it has been speaking more frequently about a peaceful
settlement and need for dialogue with Nagornyy Karabakh. The president
did not rule out that this position could change under serious pressure
on Azerbaijan by the international community.

Arkadiy Gukasyan has positively assessed Baku’s readiness to discuss
the key issue in the settlement process, i.e. the status of Nagornyy
Karabakh. The NKR president described as useful any contacts between
the sides, but at the same time, he described as “meaningless”
the attempts of Azerbaijani politicians to give equal rights and
obligations to the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of Nagornyy
Karabakh.

Lokomotivi Tbilisi take control
Thursday, 14 July 2005
By Khachik Chakhoyan

Three goals in eleven minutes either side of half-time
helped FC Lokomotiv Tbilisi take the initiative in
their UEFA Cup first qualifying round tie at FC
Banants, although strikes from Aram Hakobyan and
Tigran Gharabaghtsyan brought the home team back into
contention.

Three-goal burst
Much of the pre-match hype surrounded Lokomotivi
Tbilisi’s midfield prodigy George Alaverdashvili and
the 17-year-old did not disappoint, breaking the
deadlock on 42 minutes. Lasha Kebadze and George
Oniani made it 3-0 early in the second period as the
visitors seized control, but Banants dragged
themselves back into the tie in the closing stages.

Alaverdashvili strike
The late goals will be a blow to Lokomotivi Tbilisi,
who looked at ease for much of the encounter in
Yerevan, not least Alaverdashvili. The teenager caused
his Armenian hosts problems from the kick-off and it
was little surprise that he struck first just before
the interval, springing the offside trap before
sliding the ball past Manuchari Ivardava.

Attacking intent
The Banants goalkeeper was beaten again three minutes
after the restart when Kebadze, who had earlier seen a
long-range effort hit the post, lashed the ball in
from an acute angle. By now the Georgian Cup winners
were pouring forward, with wing-backs Roin Oniani and
Mikheil Makhviladze playing as auxiliary wingers.

Banants recovery
But it was another Oniani, centre-back George, who
secured a three-goal cushion on 53 minutes, converting
from the penalty spot. However, with the tie seemingly
in their hands, the away team eased off. Samvel
Melkonyan soon took advantage, testing Beka
Shekriladze with a fine shot, but Lokomotivi Tbilisi
did not heed the warning and were made to pay.

Tbilisi date
With eight minutes remaining Hakobyan revived the home
crowd’s hopes by pulling a goal back and that optimism
grew when substitute Gharabaghtsyan further reduced
the deficit in the final minute. The stage is set for
an intriguing second leg in Georgia on 28 July

KOCHARYAN CONGRATULATED

14-07-2005

Today Armenian President Robert Kochayan and his wife visited the
French Embassy in Armenia on the occasion of the French national
holiday – the Bastille Day.

Robert Kocharyan congratulated the diplomatic staff and expressed
assurance that the friendly ties established between the two states
will be dynamically developing in future.

Interfax
July 13 2005

Abkhazia, S. Ossetia, Transdniestria leaders to meet

SUKHUMI. July 13 (Interfax) – A meeting of heads of the self-
proclaimed republics of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Transdniestria
will take place in Sukhumi in late July, Abkhaz President Sergei
Bagapsh said in a televised statement on Wednesday.

“If there are no unforeseen escalations in South Ossetia and
Transdniestria, the meeting will definitely take place in our
republic,” Bagapsh said.

It is understandable that the leader of Nagorno-Karabakh might not
take part in the meeting, he said. “The Nagorno-Karabakh authorities
are forced to take this position, and we understand it,” Bagapsh
said.