Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

Going in search of a family history
By Georgia Rowe, TIMES CORRESPONDENT
Contra Costa Times, CA
June 20 2004
MICHELINE AHARONIAN MARCOM isn’t old enough to remember the horrors
of the Armenian genocide. But she remembers her grandparents, who
were survivors.
“They were melancholy,” recalls the Berkeley-based author of “The
Daydreaming Boy.” “There was tremendous sadness. There was anger at
the Turks, and a lot of that anger came from the fact that Turkey to
this day has never acknowledged the genocide. Not only have they not
acknowledged it, they spend a lot of time and resources denying it
ever happened. And that makes the Armenians crazy.”
Marcom says she inherited a legacy of depression and bitterness from
the Armenian side of her family, which was shattered in the campaign
waged against Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish government from 1915
to 1923.
It’s a legacy she explored in her first novel, “Three Apples Fell
>>From Heaven.” She intends to write three books on the subject, and
“The Daydreaming Boy” is the second novel of the trilogy.
Set in Beirut, the new book has a central character in Vahé Tcheubjian,
an adult survivor of the genocide. On the surface, Vahé is a successful
businessman. But his internal life is in constant turmoil. Paralyzed
by memories of a traumatic childhood in a Lebanese orphanage, he spends
his days in a haze of guilt, loneliness, despair and violent fantasy.
A refugee’s view
While “Three Apples” told the stories of multiple Armenian characters,
“The Daydreaming Boy” focuses almost exclusively on Vahé. Marcom,
who teaches creative writing at Mills College in Oakland, says she
wanted this book to take a radically different approach.
In a recent interview in the Berkeley hills home she shares with her
husband, a software engineer, and their 3-year-old son, the author
explained that she was particularly interested in the effects of the
genocide on Armenian children.
“I wanted to write a book that was spoken through one person,” says
Marcom. “A war orphan, a refugee. Someone who is an extreme creation
of war.”
The book begins with one of Vahé’s earliest childhood memories: the
day he arrives in Lebanon, one of thousands of orphans shipped into
exile in cattle cars. The scene was based on a historical account
Marcom uncovered a few years back.
“It was written by an American missionary who was at the orphanage in
Lebanon,” she recalls. “He described the trains coming from Turkey,
how they stopped at the sea and how the boys who had been on the trains
for weeks — they were thirsty, tired, hungry — ran to the sea and
drank the water. They’d always lived in the interior of the country,
so they’d never known salt water.”
That scene marks the first of many memories for Vahé. As he relives
his days in the orphanage — scenes of hunger, confusion and brutality
at the hands of his fellow orphans — the character assumes tragic
proportions. For Marcom, Vahé represents a generation of survivors.
“He comes to consciousness in the orphanage,” she says, “so he’s
someone who can never really know who his family is. He is a man
without history, a man adrift.”
War stories
Marcom was born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, and spent her early childhood
in the Middle East. Her businessman father was American, her mother
was Armenian-Lebanese. When Marcom was 5, the family moved to Los
Angeles, but in the years before the Lebanese civil war, she spent
summers in Beirut with her mother’s family.
Growing up, she heard dozens of war stories — many of them concerning
members of her own family. Her grandmother, who saved her brothers
and sisters from the Turks, was a heroine, but her father — Marcom’s
great-grandfather — wasn’t so lucky. “They came and took him in the
middle of the night,” says the author. “No one ever saw him again.”
Her grandfather’s family survived intact, which was unusual. “But
my grandfather’s father could only save his wife and children,”
says Marcom. “He couldn’t save anyone in the extended family. My
great-grandmother never forgave him. She lived to be 96, and she had
that bitterness toward her husband to the end.”
For Marcom, growing up with these stories was a heavy burden. “It’s
a lot to live with,” she says.
Her maternal grandmother remains a particularly vivid presence in her
memory. “She talked about it all the time,” says Marcom. “There seem
to be a couple of responses to genocide — one is to talk about it all
the time, like my grandmother. The other is to be completely silent.”
Marcom notes that the family continued to sustain losses throughout her
own childhood. She mentions her “Uncle” Vahé — actually her mother’s
first cousin — who was killed in Beirut during a particularly fierce
period of ethnic cleansing in the mid-1980s. “The Daydreaming Boy”
is dedicated to his memory, although Marcom says the character of
Vahé is not based on him.
Similar stories
Marcom did extensive research to prepare for the new book, reading
about Armenian history, Lebanese culture, the genocide and the orphans
it produced. The scope of her reading expanded as she went, finally
including books on Rwanda, Bosnia and other sites of ethnic cleansing.
“The parallels are horribly similar,” she says. “Vahé could be a kid
now living in Iraq. In war, the details are all different, but some
things are always the same.
“I’m now reading about the genocide in Guatemala. It’s eerie and
horrifying. Even the language is the same, the way people everywhere
call their enemies ‘dogs.’ The debasement, the sexual humiliation;
the photos we’re seeing from Iraq are probably mild compared to a
lot of what goes on. It always happens in war.”
Even more upsetting to Marcom is the degree to which the history of
the Armenian genocide has been erased. Growing up in Los Angeles, she
studied World War I with no mention of the Armenian experience. Today,
she continues to be surprised by students, friends and acquaintances
who know little or nothing about the events of 1915-23, which resulted
in as many as a million Armenian deaths.
“We are so un-historied,” she says with a sigh. “This is why we’re
so easy to manipulate and so lonely.
“We don’t know our ancestors, we don’t know our history. It doesn’t
matter who you are here. You come here as an immigrant, and within
a generation you become the same way.”
For Marcom, writing “The Daydreaming Boy” was an educational as well
as an artistic experience. She says she learned a great deal about
her ancestors from writing the book. But it’s clear that the climate
of her own childhood memories contributed to the story’s emotional
charge. Those memories and the history that inspired them remain
inextricably linked to her heart.
“I was very interested in trying to get inside the mind of someone
like Vahé, who has experienced extreme trauma,” she says. “I think
every day for someone like him is a struggle. Every day you survive
is an achievement. I’ve met people who have survived war and genocide,
and they have said that to me. It’s a lifelong inheritance. It never
goes away.
“I’m still trying to understand it,” she adds. “That’s why I’m writing
these books. I myself knew nothing about being Armenian, nothing about
the genocide, except that I’d inherited a hell of a lot of depression
and melancholy.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SOCIETY MUST BE ATTENTIVE TO THEM
Azat Artsakh – Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (NKR)
18 June 2004
In all countries there are orphanages which operate through the support
of the government and benefactors. The boarding school in Kashatagh has
been operating since 1996 and accommodates 30 children. In Kashatagh
there is one child from Stepanakert, two children were admitted to
the orphanages of Armenia. At the department of problems of family
and children under the Ministry of Social Security we learned that
there are 64 parentless children in the republic presently who are
mainly taken care of by their relatives and guardians. They receive
monthly state benefit of 3 thousand drams. According to the head of
the department Samvel Dadassian, parentless children also receive aid
from sponsors one of which is the German charity organization “Image
of Hope”. The organization provides food and clothes to parentless
children and single pensioners. The aid is given twice or three times
a year. Touching upon the aid provided by benefactors, S. Dadassian
also stated that for improving the material state and quality of life
of the parentless children in the republic the NKR Ministry of Social
security and “Karabakh Telecom” have worked out a joint program of
providing financial to children under 18 in 2004. “The program is
financed by Karabakh Telecom and once in three months these children
receive 10 thousand drams on the bank accounts in “Artsakhbank” opened
in the name of their guardians,” said S. Dadassian. The program will
be implemented up to January 1 of 2005. At the department of problems
of family and children we were informed that all the 64 children have
received their sum for the first trimester of 2004 and the payments
for the second trimester are currently made. Recently the government
of Armenia adopted a decision according to which the children who have
left the orphanage will be provided with flats. Speaking about the
housing conditions of parentless children living in our republic the
head of the department noticed that mainly living with their guardians
the children do not have the need for flats except for a family
(three children) who are homeless. Presently a survey is conducted
and in the future this problem will also possibly be solved. The
birth of a child is the beginning of a fairy tale. Unfortunately,
there are children for whom the fairy tale ends as soon as it starts.
Sometimes by fate and sometimes because of the careless attitude of
their parents a group of children today are parentless. The duty of
our state and the society is to do so that these children believe in
the existence of happy childhood.
ANAHIT DANIELIAN. 18-06-2004

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part B (Russia)
June 17, 2004, Thursday
$1 BILLION FOR ISLAM KARIMOV
SOURCE: Vremya Novostei, June 17, 2004, p. 2
by Arkady Dubnov
President Vladimir Putin began his four-day Central Asian tour with a
working visit to Tashkent yesterday. Putin’s itinerary includes three
summits in a row. Today a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO) will take place in the capital of Uzbekistan,
attended by the leaders of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Hamid Karzai, head of the interim
administration of Afghanistan, is invited to the summit as well.
The summit will adopt the Provision on Observer Status for the SCO,
and experts believe that Afghanistan will be given this status in the
near future. “We will discuss how we can help Afghanistan organize
elections, suppress anti-government actions, and restore its national
economy,” Putin said.
It is apparently too early yet to talk about what the SCO can do to
help the Afghanistan administration “suppress anti-government
actions.” Karzai is highly unlikely to appeal to members of the SCO
to send armed contingents. It is clear that this is the duty of the
US-led Western coalition. Karzai was in Washington the other day and
asked the coalition to boost its military presence in Afghanistan.
Astana will come after Tashkent. Summits of the Euro-Asian Economic
Community (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan)
and the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization will take place
in the capital of Kazakhstan on June 17 and 18. President Robert
Kocharjan of Armenia will join other national leaders on June 18.
June 16 was Russian-Uzbek day in Tashkent. Two documents were signed:
a strategic partnership treaty between Russia and Uzbekistan, and a
production sharing agreement between the Russian-Uzbek consortium
headed by LUKoil and the government of Uzbekistan (the
Kandym-Khauzak-Shady gas project in Uzbekistan).
Sources in the Russian delegation say that the “strategic” treaty was
President Islam Karimov’s initiative. In other words, official Moscow
insists that it did not force itself on Tashkent as a partner, that
it was Tashkent that aspired for partnership.
Putin was extremely tactful yesterday. “President Karimov himself
participated in work on the treaty,” he said. “I never thought it
would be ready in so short a time.” It appears that this is a
framework treaty stipulating “facilitation of equal strategic
partnership” in political, military technology, economic, and
humanitarian spheres carried out on the basis of “appropriate
accords.”
One article of the treaty is particularly interesting. It states that
“signatories enable each other to use military facilities on their
territories on the basis of special accords.” It is hard to imagine
Uzbekistan in need of military bases on the territory of Russia.
Which means that it was Tashkent that pledged to enable Moscow to
make use of military facilities on the territory of Uzbekistan. This
alone may justify strategic nature of the Russian-Uzbek partnership
proclaimed in Tashkent yesterday. The remaining articles of the
treaty merely give definitions of close cooperation between the two
countries.
The agreement LUKoil President Vagit Alekperov signed in Tashkent
appears much more interesting. It means that the Russian oil company
is coming to Uzbekistan to stay – and handle natural gas there.
LUKoil will operate Uzbek gas deposits for the next 35 years,
investing up to $1 billion in them. Known gas resources on the
territory in question amount to almost 3,000 billion cubic meters,
and top annual production should reach 8.8 billion cubic meters. Gas
production is to begin in 2007.
LUKoil will sell its part of the gas to Gazprom. To accomplish that,
the company intends to build a part of a pipeline connecting the area
with the Central Asia – Center pipe running across Uzbekistan. The
Russian oil company views the Uzbek project as strategic because “it
stands for transformation of LUKoil into an oil and gas company,” to
quote Alekperov.
Putin emphasized yesterday that “it is not Russia that is investing
in Uzbekistan, it is Russian companies.” Karimov immediately parried
by saying that he as president guaranteed security of the
investments. It is common knowledge in fact that foreign companies
have a chance in Uzbekistan only with the Uzbek leader’s personal
guarantees.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 17 2004
AZERBAIJAN-CANADIAN RELATIONS ACQUIRE NEW STAGE
[June 17, 2004, 11:16:16]
On June 16, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Republic Elmar
Mammadyarov has met the ambassador of Canada Michael Lire
re-appointed in Turkey and Azerbaijan.
As was informed to AzerTAj from the press center of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, having thanked for warm reception, ambassador
Michael Lire has handed over minister Elmar Mammadyarov a copy of the
accrediting letter and has emphasized, that he would actively work in
the direction of development of relations between the two countries.
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov congratulated the ambassador with new
appointment has wished him successes in activity. Having noted, that
Azerbaijan attaches great importance to all-around development of
links with Canada, he has emphasized, that our countries possess
ample opportunities in many areas. Having informed the visitor that
in the near future in Toronto the embassy of Azerbaijan will be open,
the Minister has expressed a wish about fast opening in Baku
embassies of Canada. He has noted, that opening of embassies will
give a new pulse to communications between our countries.
Then, the head of foreign policy department has in detail told about
political, public and economic situation in Azerbaijan after gaining
independence, democratic reforms spent in the country, integration of
our republic into the European institutes, the obligations taken by
our country before the international organizations, and their
successful performance, has informed the ambassador on the position
of our republic in connection with the work done in the direction of
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict.
Having touched the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, minister Elmar
Mammadyarov has informed the ambassador on participation of the
Azerbaijan peacemakers in the antiterrorist coalition.
At the meeting, also were focused a number of other questions
representing mutual interest.

Azerbaijan waging front-line war of attrition – Armenian paper
Golos Armenii, Yerevan
15 Jun 04
Azerbaijan is waging a localized war on the contact line dividing
Armenian and Azeri troops, according to an Armenian newspaper
article. The war, which takes the form of fire-fights and armed
sorties into Armenian territory, has the aim of wearing down the
morale of Armenian forces, the article said. It advocated pursuing
the enemy “right up to Azerbaijani positions”. The fire-fights and
sorties have noticeably increased since Ilham Aliyev became Azeri
president, according to the newspaper. The following is the text of
Aris Kazinyan’s report in Armenian newspaper Golos Armenii on 15
June headlined “Exhausting tactics: new form of war”; subheadings
inserted editorially:
Cross border fire-fights increasing since Ilham Aliyev became Azeri
president
The situation on the contact line has worsened in full accordance with
the pronouncements of the Azerbaijani authorities about the possibility
and even the expediency of settling the Karabakh issue by war. Two
days after Armenian military units stopped sorties by enemy groups
in the Tavush and Fizuli [Fuzuli] areas, on 10 June the Azerbaijani
side opened fire on the village of Movses in the same Tavush Region
[Armenia]. The firing came from the Kohanabi heights in Tovuz District
of the Azerbaijani Republic. It is interesting that since Ilham Aliyev
came to power the cease-fire regime has been broken more often and,
as a rule, this has coincided with the known dates for regular OSCE
monitoring of the border.
Since May 1994 the cease-fire regime has been broken hundreds of
times, as a result of which not only has agricultural work been
frozen, but many of our compatriots have died. By the way, while
on the Armenian side it is mainly civilians, peasants, who have
died, on the Azerbaijani side servicemen have predominated. It
is not difficult to guess the logic of these official statistics:
Armenian arable farmers and stockbreeders have become the victims
of Azeri diversionary sorties and the fact that the [Armenian]
army stops these sorties has led to such lamentable results for the
rank-and-file soldiers in the enemy’s army. The fact that all these
years Azerbaijan has been the initiator of cross-border exchanges
of fire stems from this statistical material: it is Baku alone, not
Yerevan or Stepanakert, that constantly talks about resuming the war,
as it is Azerbaijan that is displeased with today’s disposition of
forces and the de facto positioning of the borders.
Azerbaijan waging “localized” war
In this regard it should be emphasized that the increasingly frequent
cases of cross-border fire are also the result of the inappropriate
reaction of international structures to what is taking place, their
unwillingness to call a spade a spade and evident aspiration to
“please” all the parties of the conflict simultaneously. The Azeri
authorities have never been “called to order” for their stubborn
and persistent use of military rhetoric in their speeches and for
propagation of the idea of the possible settlement of the Karabakh
issue by means of a new, major war. Judging from the realities of
the last 18 months, there is every reason to say that, unlike the
previous, often disorganized and spontaneous, cross-border exchanges
of fire, Azerbaijan has already begun to carry out a plan to conduct
a localized war.
Special diversionary groups are already operating within the structure
of the enemy army, which is now being reformed. They specialize
in mimicking a partisan war by means of sorties to capture new
heights. The diversion on 8 June not far from the Armenian village
of Berkaber, as well as others, had this objective as well. It is
evident that these violations of the cease-fire are organized and
coordinated directly by official Baku.
Azerbaijan hoping to destroy Armenian troop morale
But we should note that the main objective of the strategy of
“diversionary partisan” war is not to reach new boundaries, but to
damage the spirit, resolve and confidence of the Armenian border
guards. The authors of this strategy think that the “desired result”
will be achieved by similar actions along the whole length of the
contact line. Today, avoiding open battles (by the way, only because
of their weaker level of combat readiness) and starting the tactics
of “exhausting the enemy both physically and morally”, Azerbaijan
hopes soon to demoralize the Armenian soldiers and officers, whose
spirit, organization and principle played a decisive role in the
1989-94 war. In this regard we should seriously think not only
about defending civilians in the border areas from these sorties,
but also about pursuing the transgressor right up to Azerbaijani
positions. This may not only calm the enemy, but also make him back
off from the tactics used today.
It is also necessary to pay attention to the political component of the
“diversionary” war. In spite of the danger inherent in the tactic, it
nevertheless ends up advocating the preservation of the “security line”
which Azerbaijan hates so much. The vast majority of border violations,
accompanied by attempts at diversion, take place in the areas where the
contact line is narrowest: 70 per cent of the sorties and exchanges of
fire take place in Tavush Region, where the main commanding heights,
starting from Barekamavan and Koti, are controlled by the Azerbaijani
army. In the regions with a stronger and wider “security line” the
number and “quality” of such actions is minimal. We think that the
Armenian side should certainly use this condition in its well-founded
explanations of the vital necessity to preserve the “security line”.

Israel Insider, Israel
June 16 2004
Palestinian girls pull out of joint beauty contest with Israel due to
threats
By Ellis Shuman June 16, 2004
A beauty contest organized to show that peaceful neighborly relations
are possible between residents of Jerusalem’s Gilo neighborhood
and the nearby Palestinian town of Beit Jala was marred when
all the Palestinian girls dropped out due to threats on their
lives. “Maybe because the contest was being held on our side, they
felt ‘appropriated,'” said Ortal Balilti, 17, who was crowned Miss
Seam Line last night.
Eight Bethlehem area girls, all of them Christians, were to participate
in the contest, named after the line that separates Israel from the
West Bank. Contest organizer Adi Nagar invited girls from Beit Jala and
Gilo to participate with the hope of fostering understanding between
them. The two communities, now separated by the security barrier,
were the flashpoint of heavy fighting at the offset of the Intifada.
Nagar said the Arab contestants “eventually all renounced the contest
because of political pressures.” Just hours before the pageant, Nagar
asked the last Palestinian girl, Dina Makhriz, to stay home after
her family received threats on their lives from fellow Palestinians.
“I prefer to have a happy, pretty girl than a frightened beauty queen,
not to mention a dead one,” Nagar said.
One of Makhriz’s relatives said it was “ill-advised” for Dina to take
part in a pageant being held in Gilo, a neighborhood annexed by Israel
after the 1967 Six Day War.
“Gilo used to be Palestinian. It would not be politically correct
for her to be there,” the relative told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Arpy Krikorian, a 21-year-old Armenian Christian from east Jerusalem
and the contest’s sole non-Jewish participant, said she understood
Makhriz’s reasons for withdrawing.
“I sat an hour with her yesterday and she was very uncomfortable. The
girls here may not understand but I do. She shouldn’t take any chance,”
Krikorian said. Krikorian said she had heard rumors that Makhriz’s
life had been threatened.
“I think the other girls are relieved because she would have won. She
was by far the prettiest of us all,” she added.
The contest’s sixteen participants wore evening gowns and bathing
suits at the pageant, which was staged in Gilo. Krikorian, who was
described by Maariv as an Audrey Hepburn look-alike, was chosen as
third runner-up.
“If there is anyone who is not guilty for the situation in which
we are living, it is us, the children,” Balilti declared after she
was crowned Miss Seam Line. “I think that the contest can’t change
the situation, but the fact that it was staged proved that [Israelis
and Palestinians] can live together and get along, and that there is
still hope for peace.”
Nagar, who is hopeful that Palestinian girls will participate in next
year’s contest, vowed “never to give up on peace.”
“I hope to organize a summer camp next year with youths from Beit
Jala and Gilo,” he said.

Azeri leader visits military unit in western city
Space TV, Baku
16 Jun 04
[Presenter] President Ilham Aliyev is in Ganca [western
Azerbaijan]. Our correspondent Tural Museyibov reports from Ganca:
[Correspondent, over phone] President Ilham Aliyev is currently
visiting a military unit. The president has delivered a speech here. He
said that the entire Azerbaijani people marked National Salvation
Day yesterday. He celebrated this holiday with Georgian Azeris and
is now celebrating it with local people in Ganca.
President Ilham Aliyev said that anarchy and chaos had used to reign
in Azerbaijan, but now thanks to [ex-President] Heydar Aliyev’s
policy, anarchy had been eliminated. Azerbaijan is advancing towards
a successful future. He said that this policy was being successfully
continued.
He said that Azerbaijan is becoming more and more successful, social
problems are being tackled, the government is taking the necessary
steps to improve living conditions of refugees and displaced persons
who became homeless as a result of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict. Creating new jobs and strengthening the army are
the priorities. It is the duty of the leadership to support the army
and to improve the living conditions of servicemen.
The president went on to say that the liberation of the occupied
territory was the main task but the negotiations had yielded no
results. Azerbaijan is in favour of peace talks, but they will come to
an end. Azerbaijan will not tolerate the occupation of its land which
must be liberated. The propaganda of patriotism and mobilization
should be strengthened. We should all be like Heydar Aliyev and
continue his policy.
He also commented on the work done in Ganca. He said that he
was satisfied with the work that the authorities conducted. He
familiarized himself with the living conditions of soldiers and with
military hardware.
At the moment, the president is leaving the unit and heading for the
office of the executive authorities. He will hold a sitting there
and discuss the construction of an airport in Ganca.

RUSSIA THREATENS GEORGIA WITH GAS CUTOFF OVER DEBTS
ITAR-TASS news agency
15 Jun 04
Moscow, 15 June: “Gazprom” may limit gas supplies to Georgia over
its outstanding debts, Aleksandr Ryazanov, deputy chairman of the
company’s board, said today.
He said that Georgia’s current debt for Russian gas amounted to about
12m dollars. Despite promises to settle the payment in the near future
and submit a schedule for paying off earlier debts, Georgia has failed
to provide appropriate documents.
Ryazanov said that talks with Georgia on the debt are planned for
this week.
“Gazprom” is committed to setting up a joint enterprise in
Georgia. Georgia, however, has not yet accepted this proposal, Ryazanov
said. A joint venture can either be engaged in joint sales of gas in
Georgia or deal with upgrading Georgia’s gas transportation system.
“Gazprom” is interested in upgrading Georgia’s gas transportation
system since gas to Armenia passes through it, PRIME-TASS said.

ROBERT KOCHARIAN RECEIVES PRESIDENT OF VOLGABURMASH COMPANY
ArmenPress
June 15 2004
YEREVAN, JUNE 15, ARMENPRESS: President Robert Kocharian received
today Andrey Ischuk, a member of the upper chamber of the Russian
Federation’s parliament and the president of Russian Volgaburmash
company. Ischuk has arrived in Armenia to accomplish the preparatory
work for the purchase of the controlling stake of the Yerevan-based
Nairit plant.
Volgaburmash is an advanced machine works in Russia and is one of the
leading world enterprises in engineering. It has also experience in
running enterprises outside Russia, particulalry, in Ukraine.
Kocharian’s press office said that Andrey Ischuk briefed the president
on the pace of the preparatory work, as well as on the planned
investments in the plant. He said Volgaburmash is resolute in its
intention to restore the previous fame of Nairit plant and is designing
aggressive plans aimed to increase the volumes of production and sale.
He also said the preparatory work is moving to an end and the deal
will be signed in late June. Kocharian welcomed the entrance of the
company in Armenia, expressing confidence that Armenia will have a
stable and reliable partner in the person of Volgaburmash.

Get over here, now!
Glenwood Springs Post Independent, CO
June 11 2004
Okay, it’s time to take a deep breath, slow down a little and enjoy
the first days of summer. The winter was long, the spring seemed
short and everyone is frazzled. We should not be running around like
maniacs all the time. Everyone I talk to tells me they get home
utterly exhausted, including myself.
A great way to relax is to take a class through the Center for the
Arts.
It’s not too late to register for some fun time in the arts! Pick up
a catalogue at the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts, the Glenwood
Springs Community Center, and at any of the local libraries.
We are offering 84 classes in dance, pottery, fine arts, crafts and
theater arts for all levels and all ages. We are also offering stone
sculpting and silversmithing for adults at all levels.
It’s easy to register. If you can’t come in, we can take your
information over the phone. The Summer 2004 session has started and
even if you’ve missed the first class, we’ll pro-rate it. Get over
here!
•••••
The Glenwood Springs Art Guild Artist Reception is at 6 p.m. Friday,
June 11.
The Center for the Arts is proud to host the Glenwood Springs Art
Guild Exhibit, on display through July 11 at the Glenwood Springs
Center for the Arts. The exhibit is hung and the art is a fabulous
variety. Please join us tonight at 6 p.m.for the Artists Reception
and Opening.
Join us for an Armenian feast
Feast Your Eyes on the life’s work of Ariel Agemian in the private
home gallery of Annig and Howard Raley. Feast on authentic Armenian
food and fine wine from 7-10 p.m. Saturday, June 12. Armenian food,
Armenian art and great music will enchant you as you view the life
work of Ariel Agemian, a gold-medal European artist, and father of
Annig Raley, who has generously opened her home gallery for the
evening.
Over 85 stunning oils, oil washes, and exquisite pastels portray an
artist’s historic journey from beginning to end.
Agemian refused to sell his artwork, believing that they should be
kept to be shared with others. Annig and her husband Howard have
realized her father’s vision and are opening their home gallery at
1211 Bennett Ave. – to benefit the Center for the Arts Renovation
Project. Tickets are available at the Center for the Arts, $35 in
advance and $40 at the door.
Calendar of events- not to be missed!
6 p.m. June 11 – Glenwood Springs Art Guild Opening
7 p.m. June 12 – An Armenian feast! Early Twentieth Century, Secular
to Sacred – the exploration of artist, Ariel Agemian – an evening of
fine art, Armenian foods and fine wines hosted by his daughter, Annig
Raley, and her husband Howard Raley at their home.
July 16 – Aug. 29 – Artopia Exhibit, featuring artists from all over
the region. We hope to fill the Arts Center to the rafters with art.
The Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts is located at 601 E. 6th St.
between the Yampah Vapor Caves and Hot Springs Pool. We’re open 9-5
p.m. weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. weekends. Information:
[email protected], ,
945-2414. The Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts is located at 601
E. 6th St. between the Yampah Vapor Caves and Hot Springs Pool. We’re
open 9-5 p.m. weekdays and noon to 4 p.m. weekends. Information:
[email protected], ,
945-2414.