Author: Nanijanian Alex

NOBEL WEEK UNDER WAY

11:05 05/10/2009
Panorama.am

The winners of the 2009 Nobel Prizes will be announced in the next two
weeks, starting with the medicine prize on Monday.

The prize-awarding institutions are scientific and literary bodies in
Sweden, and a committee elected by the Norwegian Parliament to choose
the peace laureate.

The medicine prize will be announced on Monday, followed by physics
Tuesday, chemistry Wednesday, literature on Thursday and peace on
Friday. The economics award will be announced Oct. 12. All awards are
always presented Dec. 10, the anniversary of the death in 1896 of
Alfred Nobel, the Swedish industrialist who founded the
prizes. Occasionally no winner is announced.

Aysor.am
03.10.2009, 14:01

Shevchenko: Armenia’ll restore its status of mediator

`Armenian-Turkish negotiations create new opportunities and add new
factors in the South Caucasus,’ said member of the Public Chamber of
Russia, speaker on Russia’s `1′ TV-channel Maxim Shevchenko in
interview with Aysor’s correspondent.

Noting that today’s Turkey is a powerful country with dynamically
developing economy against Turkey of 1990’s the analyst stressed the
importance of negotiations between the two countries for the two
nations and the region.

`It’s visibly that the relations are getting warmer, and it’s
important not only to Armenian or Turkish nations but Russia as well,’
he said noting that peaceful relations and their development creates
platform for more promising future trends.

On his opinion, if negotiations success and Armenian-Turkish border is
opened, Armenia will gradually restore its historic status of region’s
mediator.

`I remember the role that Armenian community of Lebanon played during
the civil war.’

He pointed that one shouldn’t hurry in process of negotiations. `It’s
important to prepare the society explaining positive and negative
factors and never go against nation’s will.’

Nevertheless, Mr. Shevchenko thinks that the border will not be opened
soon since Ankara will again nominate the precondition on Karabakh. It
should be mentioned the link between Turkey and Azerbaijan, he says.

Speaking about issue of Karabakh Maxim Shevchenlo pointed that it
cannot be understood as bilateral.

`It is a conflict of interests, likes, and dislikes of a great number
of forces never directly linked with this conflict. Nevertheless,
everything depends on the Armenians and Azerbaijanis despite `Madrid’
principles or any other principles,’ said the analyst stressing that
resolving this complex issue it must be considered first and foremost
the will of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, not of Armenia or
Azerbaijan.

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Broadway World
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Ravina Festival’s 2009-2010 Rising Stars Series Opens With Ian Howell
& More

Friday, October 2, 2009; Posted: 05:10 PM – by BWW News Desk

Ravinia’s 2009-2010 Rising Stars series opens with countertenor Ian
Howell, first-prize-winner of the American Bach Soloists’s
International Solo Competition, at 8 p.m. on Oct. 9 in Bennett ¢
Gordon Hall in the John D. Harza building on the Ravinia grounds. His
program entitled "With a Beginner’s Ear" will include works by
Purcell, Falla, Handel, Strauss and others and will feature pianist
Douglas Dickson and guitarist Karl Wohlwend. As a member of the
all-male chamber choir Chanticleer, Howell has recorded seven CDs,
including the Grammy-Award winning Lamentations and Praises and has
recently sung the alto solos in Handel’s Messiah at Carnegie Hall, the
title role of Handel’s Solomon, Endimion in Cavalli’s La Calisto and
Lichas in Handel’s Hercules.

First-prize-winner of the 2008 Young Concert Artists International
Auditions, 20-year-old Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan performs at
8 p.m. on Oct. 23 in a program featuring works by Schumann, Beethoven,
Shostakovich, Scriabin/Piatigorsky, Tchaikovsky and
Rostropovich. Hakhnazaryan has appeared as soloist with the
Westmoreland Symphony and in recitals at Saint Vincent College,
Lincoln County Concert Association, Patrons for Young Artists, the
Paramount Theatre and the Colonial Theatre. He is joined by pianist
Noreen Polera.

Described as "prodigiously gifted" by Arte.tv, pianist Sodi Braide
performs at Ravinia Oct. 30. His program includes Mozart’s Fantasy in
D minor, K. 397; Schubert’s Sonata in C minor, D. 958; and Liszt’s
Années de Pélerinage II: L’Italie, No. 5, Venezia e
Napoli, Der Müller und der Bach and Erlkönig. A
cosmopolitan artist influenced by numerous cultures, Braide explores a
large repertoire of different styles and periods. A prize-winner in
the 2003 Leeds Competition and recipient of the Jury Discretional
Prize at the 2005 Van Cliburn Competition, he performs recitals and
chamber con
ughout Europe and the United States. In 1994 Braide was invited to
perform in South Africa, becoming one of the first black African
pianists to perform there after the end of apartheid.

Designed to provide gifted young musicians with the opportunity to
refine their performing skills, the Rising Stars series encourages
audiences to experience and support new talent while presenting
musicians with the chance to perform before discerning audiences in an
intimate setting. Back by popular demand, seven concert/dining
packages will be offered at a speciAl Price of $45 on Oct. 30, Nov. 6,
March 5, March 26, April 9, April 30 and May 7. Dinners will begin at
6 p.m. in Ravinia’s Park View ® restaurant in the festival’s dining
pavilion. Patrons will also receive a $10 gift certificate redeemable
at Ravinia Gifts if they purchase all seven concert/dining packages.

The festival is dedicated to developing the full potential of emerging
artists, beginning with their performances on the Rising Stars series
and, ultimately, their Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut on the
pavilion stage during the festival’s summer season. Rising Stars
concerts have introduced Ravinia patrons to such major artists as
pianists Jonathan Biss and Lang Lang and violinist Pamela Frank. Held
in Ravinia’s acoustically splendid Bennett ¢ Gordon Hall, Ravinia’s
Rising Stars series gives audiences an intimate introduction to the
superstars of tomorrow.

In addition to their Rising Stars performances, each artist will also
perform in free concerts for students through Ravinia’s Education and
Community Partnerships Programs throughout Chicagoland. These
performing opportunities give students a chance to make an intimate
connection not only to the young artist, but also to classical
music. Ravinia’s

education programs make music accessible to thousands of children,
K-12 in Chicago and the north suburbs teaming working musicians with
teachers to put music back into the public schools.

Following the October concerts are bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni, who
has
ally at the Metropolitian Opera in New York, Teatro Real in Madrid,
Carnegie Hall in New York and Théâtre des
Champs-Elysées in Paris, on Nov. 6; and violinist Elena
Urioste, featured in the Emmy Award-winning documentary Breaking the
Sound Barrier, on Nov. 13.

The spring series continues with pianist Tanya Bannister, winner of
awards at the Concert Artists Guild International Competition, New
Orleans International Piano Competition and one of Symphony magazine’s
2007 "Artists to Watch," on

March 5; pianist Ilya Yakushev, student of Vladimir Feltsman and
gold-medal-winner of the 2005 World Piano Competition, on March 12;
Curtis on Tour, a touring group of artists who have studied at the
Curtis Institute of Music alongside celebrated alumni and faculty, on
March 26; Artists from Ravinia’s Steans Institute, a touring group of
musicians who have attended the festival’s prestigious institute with
the finest teachers, on April 9; Evgeni Bozhanov, finalist at the 2009
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, on April 16; violinist
Dan Zhu, praised by Strad magazine for being "an artist of affecting
humility and beautiful tone production," on April 23; the Lincoln
Trio, the ensemble-in-residence at the Music Institute of Chicago that
toured Illinois as part of Ravinia’s celebration of the Abraham
Lincoln Bicentennial this past spring, on April 30; and cabaret artist
Claudia Hommel, known for her concerts celebrating Paris through
French and
American song, on May 7.

Ravinia Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of The Albert
Pick, Jr. Fund and The Bruning Foundation for their generous
participation as sponsors of the Rising Stars series.

All but one of the Rising Stars concerts are held on Fridays and begin
at 8 p.m. in Bennett ¢ Gordon Hall, Ravinia’s acoustically perfect
indoor 450-seat recitAl Hall. The May 7 concert will take place in the
National City Bank Private Dining located on the second floor of
Ravinia’s dining pavilion at 8 p.m.

Bennett ¢ Gordon Hall is located in the John D. Harza building on
the Ravinia Festival grounds at 201 St. Johns Ave. in Highland
Park. Tickets for Rising Stars concerts are $20, with a 20 percent
discount on orders for tickets to four or more concerts. For
information or to order tickets with a major credit card, please call
the Ravinia box office at (847) 266-5100 or visit
Ravinia welcomes all festival fans to follow, connect
and interact online at backstage.ravinia.org,
twitter.com/raviniafestival , myspace.com/raviniafestival and
facebook.com (search Ravinia Festival). Ravinia Gifts will also be
open on select Rising Stars concert nights. Ravinia Festival is a
not-for-profit organization.

Friday, October 9, 8 p.m. – Bennett ¢ Gordon Hall

"With a Beginner’s Ear"

Ian Howell, Countertenor

Douglas Dickson, Piano

Karl Wohlwend, Guitar

Purcell: An Evening Hymn

Kodály: Tantum ergo sacramentum V & I

Dowland: Flow My Tears

Cavalli: "Lucisissima Face" from La Calisto

Traditional: Soon One Morning

Honegger: Mimaamaquim

De Falla: Nana

Barnson: Snow

Conte: Levit exurgit zephirus

Handel: Sü�e stille, sanfte Quelle

Parry: Crossing the Bar

Handel: "Fammi combattere" from Orlando

Matamoros: Juramento

Strauss: Lob des Leidens

Johnson: Have You Seen the Bright Lilly Grow?

Tickets: $20

Friday, October 23, 8 p.m. – Bennett ¢ Gordon Hall

Narek Hakhnazaryan, Cello

Noreen Polera, Piano

Schumann: Phantasiestücke, Op. 73

Beethoven: Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69

S
40

Scriabin/Piatigorsky: Romance

Tchaikovsky: Nocturne in C-sharp Minor, Op. 19, No. 4

Rostropovich: Humoresque Op. 5

Tickets: $20

The Joseph M. Fabbioli Rising Stars Concert

Friday, October 30, 8 p.m. – Bennett ¢ Gordon Hall

Sodi Braide, Piano

Mozart: Fantasy in D minor, K. 397

Schubert: Sonata in C minor, D. 958

Liszt: Années de Pélerinage II: L’Italie, No. 5: Sonetto
104 del Petrarca
Venezia e Napoli
Der Müller und der Bach

Erlkönig
Tickets: $20

Special dining package: $45 for reserved seat and dinner at the Park
View® restaurant

Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Faith leaders urge White House to work toward peace in Sudan.

By Eric Fingerhut · October 2, 2009

American Jewish World Service president Ruth Messinger was among 14
faith community leaders who met with White House Office of Faith-Based
and Neighborhood Partnerships director Joshua DuBois on Friday to urge
the Obama administration to continue to work hard for peace in
Sudan. They presented a letter, which can be read here, which asks the
White House to ask the administration to work with multilateral
coalitions "to help bring a sustainable peace agreement that will
restore security and allow the Darfuri people to freely return to
their homes and rebuild their lives" and urges the White House to
ensure that "all aspects" of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement
"are fully implemented to help achieve a just and lasting peace." It
also urges the administration to play a role in making sure that the
2006 agreement in Eastern Sudan is upheld.

There has been some controversy over the administration’s Sudan policy
— envoy J. Scott Gration had indicated he would support a policy of
engagement and possibly even normalized relations with the Sudanese
government, while Darfur advocates have called him naive and the White
House has said Gration’s remarks are being misinterpreted — but on a
conference call, Messinger said the meeting Friday focused on the
overall goal of achieving comprehensive peace in Sudan and did not
deal with specific strategies. The White House is scheduled to reveal
more details on their policy in the region in the coming days.

Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism director Rabbi David
Saperstein was originally scheduled to be part of the group but could
not attend.

After the jump, the press release from the Interfaith Sudan Working
Group and Save Darfur Coaltion:

Today, representatives from faith communities nationwide met with
Reverend Joshua DuBois, Director of the White House Office of Faith
Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, to discuss the ongoing vi
e leaders are members of the Interfaith Sudan Working Group, a
coalition of faith-based organizations working for lasting peace in
Sudan. During the meeting, Rev. DuBois expressed that Sudan is a
critical issue for President Obama and that faith groups play an
important role in drawing attention to the ongoing tragedy there.

At the meeting, Dr. Stephen Colecchi, director of the Office of
International Justice and Peace for the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops delivered the Interfaith Sudan Working Group letter signed by
1,410 Christian, Jewish and Muslim Clergy. The letter asks the Obama
administration to work with multilateral coalitions to ensure that the
Darfuri people can return safely to their homes and begin to rebuild
their lives. It also asks the United States to continue to lead for
justice and lasting peace in Sudan and work toward full implementation
of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Furthermore, the letter asks for
a resolution in the lesser-known conflict in Eastern Sudan.

The faith leaders asked Rev. DuBois to convey their message to
President Obama that Sudan should be a priority for his
administration. Ruth Messinger, president of the American Jewish World
Service stressed that, `Full engagement and leadership now is critical
as we move toward elections and the referendum.’ Bishop David Jones
from the Episcopal Church in Virginia added, `When the U.S. pays
attention, the government of Sudan responds. We need the U.S. to take
an interest.’

The group also asked administration officials to incorporate important
policy recommendations from the Interfaith Sudan Working Group when
they convene regular meetings prior to the 2010 Sudanese elections and
2011 referendum. Imam Mohamed Magid, the vice president for the
Islamic Society of North America and director of the VA-based ADAMS
Center noted that it is important to `reach out to religious leaders
on the ground in Sudan to bring peace.’ He added that we must `work to
empower civil society and advocacy groups in Sudan.
the National Association of Evangelicals said, `The Comprehensive
Peace Agreement was a major achievement, but it is an asset that is
being wasted. The next few months are critical to moving things
forward.’

Violence against women, which has been reported in staggering numbers
recently, was also an area of concern for the faith
leaders. Rev. DuBois stated that addressing gender-based violence was
a priority for the President. AME Pastor and Co-Founder of My Sister’s
Keeper Reverend Gloria White-Hammond articulated that `the impact of
gender-based violence lasts long after the assault and effects the
entire fabric of the society.’

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian for the Armenian Church of America conveyed
a broader message regarding genocide prevention and history. `If
justice is not found in Sudan, there will be more genocide. We would
like to find ways to end genocide in the 21st century.’

David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center, who was not
able to attend the meeting said, "Activists around the world,
including many within the North American Jewish community, have
committed to continuously raising awareness of and being a voice for
Darfur. But this critical issue is not just a call to the Jewish
conscience – rather, it is a call to the conscience of all humanity,
as genocide knows no religious or ethnic borders. For this reason, we
are pleased that a number of prominent faith leaders across the
religious spectrum met today with Joshua DuBois to underscore the
importance of an interfaith alliance advocating for peace and security
in Darfur and Sudan."

HEARINGS ON ARMENIAN-TURKISH RELATIONS IN PARLIAMENT OF ARMENIA

ArmInfo
2009-10-01 13:01:00

ArmInfo. Hearings on a topic "Initialed Armenian-Turkish Protocols
and Settlement of Armenian-Turkish Relations" have started in the
Parliament of Armenia.

Representatives of parliamentary factions and non-parliamentary
political forces, as well as historians, political experts and
representatives of diplomatic missions take part in hearings.

As Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandyan said in his
speech, since gaining of independence, Armenia has always claimed
of its readiness to establish relations with Turkey without
preconditions. According to him, today Armenia carries out its
aspiration: ‘Armenian- Turkish relations are outside the framework
of bilateral interstate relations and include moral, psychological,
historical and other aspects’. The minister recalled that Turkey has
always shown a pro-Azerbaijani stance, however, there is no mention
of the Karabakh settlement as a precondition in the Protocols. Along
with it, E. Nalbandyan specially emphasized that no preconditions exist
in the process of settlement of the Armenian-Turkish relations. ‘The
fact of the Armenian Genocide is not prejudiced in this process, and
the Karabakh conflict is in no way connected with the Armenian-Turkish
process’, Armenian FM emphasized. The minister added that the president
of Armenia has multiply officially claimed that Armenia does not
discuss the fact of the Armenian Genocide and does not endanger its
international recognition.

According to E. Nalbandyan, the Genocide issue is considered not in
the context of the Armenian-Turkish relations but from the viewpoint
of universal values. Nalbandyan also said that the viewpoint, saying
the Genocide becomes just an issue of bilateral relations and looses
its panhuman meaning, is artificial.

In his turn, parliament Chairman Hovik Abrahamyan said the current
stage of the Armenian- Turkish relations is a critical. He hailed the
active foreign policy of Armenia. ‘This is important for both parties
and requires a political will both by Armenia and Turkey. We must
understand the tricks of the Turkish party for the Armenian-Turkish
relations issue not to be discussed in the context of the Armenian
Genocide and Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement’, H. Abrahamyan said.

CBA CHAIRMAN TO VISIT ISTANBUL

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
01.10.2009 14:56 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ CBA chairman Arthur Javadyan and financial department
head Arthur Nakhshikyan will attend the annual meeting and plenary
sessions of WB and IMF boards due in Istanbul from October 2 to 7,
the CBA press office said.

They will also take part in the session of IMF "Dutch Group".

Meetings with WB and IMF officials are also scheduled.

THOUGH IT’S SNOWING SHORT SUMMER WILL BE BACK

Panorama.am
17:57 28/09/2009

The first snowflakes made people of Gyumri, Stepanavan and Amasia
surprised and 6cm snow has been recorded in Ashotsq yesterday at
night. Currently it is slightly snowing in Shirak, Lori and Aragatsotn
region, Zaruhi Petrosyan of central weather forecast service told
Panorama.am.

Weather forecast is not as much enjoying for the coming few days as
people used to have summer moods still. According to the official
source today and tomorrow weather is going to be cold 13C warm during
the day and 5C at night.

It is supposed that from 30 September to 3 October the temperature
will grow by 10-14C reaching 25C during the day time.

"Hence there is no need to be concerned with the soonest cold and
prepare coats as summer time will be back yet," she said.

President Sargsyan signs a decree on fall call up and demobilization

armradio.am
26.09.2009 14:14

On September 25 the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, signed a
decree on 2009 fall draft and demobilization, President’s Press Office
reported.

According to the decree, during October-December 2009 those male
citizens who turn 18 before the draft day, as well as those who lost
the draft deferment right will be called up for compulsory military and
alternative service.

During October-December 2009 those who completed the compulsory
military service, will be demobilized.

`I DON’T IMAGINE ARMENIAN ANIMATION WITHOUT ROBERT SAHAKYANTS’

17:15 25/09/2009
Panorama.am

The death of Armenian animation founder is a great mourning for
Sahakyants’ friends, colleagues and fans. During the Soviet Times
Robert Sahakyants was famous not only in Armenia but in the countries
of Soviet Union and even more, the Soviet Union was more popular with
Robert Sahakyants.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union Robert Sahakyants ruled solely
Armenian animation for so many years, he has become the leader of it.

`In those years, when the animation failed in many SU states, it has
not been ruined in Armenia. We did animation. After the collapse of
the union, Robert Sahakyants received invitations from many countries
to live and to create there. When I became the director of `ArmenFilm’
I told him that I could not imagine Armenian animation without Robert
Sahakyants, I said, I could not imagine that Robert Sahakyants would
leave Armenia,’ Gevorg Gevorgyan says.

The talented animator rejected all the invitations and stayed in
Armenia to work and to create here. `Then he had a chance to go and to
have a better life. But he stayed, he did not go. He did animation
during those dark and cold years,’ animator’s friend says.

After Sahakyants’ death Armenian animation will continue living,
Gevorgyan says, but it will have quite different mood, it won’t be
Sahakyants’.

Four cars collided
06:46 pm | September 24, 2009 | society

ash

A huge car accident took place at the Rubinyants and Tsarav Aghbyur
intersection on September 24 at around 9 a.m. in Yerevan.

According to the police press release, the "MAZ 504" car belonging to
Rubik P. collided with the "Mercedes Benz", after which the
"GAZ-322132-220" car hit the #38 microbus, which hit the "Opel Astra"
car.

As a result of the accident, "Opel Astra" driver Aram A and six
passengers in the "GAZ-322132-220" microbus received physical injuries
and were transferred to the "St. Grigor the Illuminator" clinic.

The microbus driver and one passenger were sent home after receiving
first aid.

As doctors told "A1+", the injured are in normal condition. The
investigation is underway at the investigative department of the
Yerevan city police division.