Author: Nargizian David

Azat Artsakh, NKR
Sept 15 2006

FOREIGN MINISTER GEORGY PETROSYAN COMMENTS ON FIRES

Considering the outcome, namely the intention to send an OSCE mission
assisted by UN experts to study the short-term and long-term impact
of fires on the environment, the resolution is acceptable for NKR.
Moreover, it should be emphasized that this is the logical
continuation of the initiative of the Nagorno-Karabakh government.

The NKR government is worried by fires, which inflicted considerable
damage on the agriculture and threatened to grow into an ecological
disaster. In this connection, on June 15 the NKR foreign ministry
addressed a note to the office of the Personal Representative of the
OSCE CiO calling to conduct a crisis monitoring at the border with
Azerbaijan. The OSCE mission conducted a series of monitoring two
weeks late, and the findings underlay the report of the Personal
Representative of the OSCE CiO, which rebutted the accusations of the
Azerbaijani side on arson in the settlements of the security area of
NKR. Hence, the NKR government was the first to invite the OSCE to
send a monitoring mission to the region, which was ignored in the
statement of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in the meeting of the
General Assembly. Generally, if the report of the OSCE senior officer
needs additional confirmation, we are ready to accept a new OSCE
mission to dispel the Azerbaijani myths once again. The reporting of
the question to the UN and the wording in the OSCE resolution is
unacceptable. The attempts to report the questions that are attended
to by the OSCE to the UN do not favor progress in the settlement, but
impede the prospect of settlement of the Karabakh conflict. It should
be noted that the resolution, namely its content is the result of
agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is a rare thing,
considering the absence of means of confidence between the parties
over the recent years and is, therefore, commendable. We think that
similar projects should be discussed by all the three parties of the
conflict to prevent problems that may occur in applying decisions,
especially that these decisions basically refer to the territories
controlled by NKR. The stance of NKR is the same: we are likely to
continue cooperation with the international organizations and will
assist the OSCE task force consisting of experts of only neutral
countries. September 11, 2006, NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

AA.
15-09-2006

ARMINFO News Agency
September 12, 2006 Tuesday

OFFICIAL OPENING OF ARMENIA’s YEAR IN FRANCE TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE
FRAMEWORK OF JACQUES CHIRAC’S VISIT

The official opening of the Armenian Year in France will take place
at the end of September, Foreign Minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanyan
said at the joint press-conference with Foreign Minister of France
Philippe Douste-Blazy, Tuesday.

V.Oskanyan mentioned that the official opening of the Year is timed
to French President Jacques Chirac’s visit to Armenia. The Minister
emphasized that the French delegation will be very imposing. "Around
100 people will arrive in Armenia, including entrepreneurs and
journalists", V.Oskanyan said. The programme of the forthcoming
activities was promulgated at the press-conference. The official
closing of the Armenian Year in France will also take place in
Yerevan, July 2007, and non-officially in September in France.

Critics’ Forum
Theater
Critics’ Forum Article, 9.16.06
A Triumphant "Love’s Labor’s Lost"
By Aram Kouyoumdjian

In some quarters of the literary world, "Love’s Labor’s Lost" is
considered one of Shakespeare’s "lesser" comedies. After seeing its
recent incarnation by the Actors’ Gang, you’d never believe it. In
director Simon Abkarian’s hands, "Love’s Labor’s Lost" (playing
through September 30 at the Ivy Substation), is a visual feast of
choreography and color that achieves a delicate balance between
levity and profundity.

Perhaps better known in the United States for his film acting – he
portrayed Arshile Gorky in Atom Egoyan’s "Ararat," starred with Joan
Allen in Sally Potter’s "Yes," and plays a villain in the latest
James Bond installment, "Casino Royale" – Abkarian, who is based in
France, boasts impressive theater credentials (including a Moliere
Award) and experience in the commedia dell’arte style, which he puts
to great use in "Love’s Labor’s Lost."

The premise of the play itself is somewhat weak, even silly.
Essentially, the King of Navarre and his lords join in an oath to
give up the temptations of their physical world – including the lure
of women – and devote themselves to three years of scholarship.
This being Shakespeare, however, no sooner have they committed to
this oath than the Princess of France appears on the scene, with her
ladies in tow. Temptations are re-awakened, love letters dispatched
and accidentally switched, and identities mistaken. Romantic
upheaval ensues.

Perhaps "Love’s Labor’s Lost" does have the makings of a "lesser"
comedy. Abkarian, however, makes it bloom into a masterwork of
imagination, awash in surreal images and gorgeous stylized movement,
all bathed in luminous light. To be sure, Abkarian mines the play’s
humor and lends to it an absurdist sensibility. Yet, the boldness
of his tableaux (among them, striking variations on the crucifixion
theme) and his keen sense of the play’s shifting moods ensure
that "Love’s Labor’s Lost" is elevated from a "lesser" comedy to an
emotionally complex and sexually charged piece of theater.

A sequence in which the King and his lords disguise themselves as
Russians to secretly mingle with the Princess and her ladies, for
instance, serves as an exemplar of farcical chaos, featuring masks,
confetti, and vigorous dancing in a brilliant bit of pandemonium.

Still, the comedy, while integral to the production’s lively spirit,
never compromises the play’s emotional heft and its treatment of
deeper questions of love and coupling. When the King and his lords
finally realize the extent of their loneliness in the absence of the
women they’ve come to love, their clingy embrace of one another,
while funny, is even more heartbreaking. In the course of
comprehending love, these characters undergo an awakening and
maturation that Abkarian’s actors capture and communicate with
poignancy.

Indeed, a young, energetic cast executes Abkarian’s ambitious
staging with poise. Brian Kimmet and Ethan Kogan are well suited as
lords to Matt Huffman’s King. Huffman brings to the role a
vulnerability that proves quite moving, while Nancy Stone, as the
Princess, offers a perfect blend of strength and grace. Among the
characters populating the play’s less-successful subplots, Mary
Eileen O’Donnell crafts a memorable turn as Holofernes, proving that
sometimes the best man for the part may well be a woman.

The production greatly benefits from the talents of its design team,
including Francois-Pierre Couture, who does double duty with sets
and lighting, both to stellar effect. Sarah Le Feber’s modern
costumes (at times, lingerie-inspired) manage to be smart and
sensual in their elegant simplicity. And Ara Dabandjian’s musical
score, much of which he plays live on stage, sublimely accentuates
the action.

As breathtaking in its interpretation as Eric Tucker’s industrial
take on "Macbeth" was last year, Abkarian’s production proves, once
again, that Shakespeare’s words, as lauded as they may be, are only
a starting point to an unforgettable theatrical experience.

All Rights Reserved: Critics’ Forum, 2006

Aram Kouyoumdjian is the winner of Elly Awards for both playwriting
("The Farewells") and directing ("Three Hotels"). His collaborative
script for "Little Armenia" recently had its world premiere at the
Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles.

You can reach him or any of the other contributors to Critics’ Forum
at [email protected]. This and all other articles published
in this series are available online at To
sign up for a weekly electronic version of new articles, go to
Critics’ Forum is a group created to
discuss issues relating to Armenian art and culture in the Diaspora.

ArmeniaNow.com

Sport Roundup: Pyunik showing championship form
(again)

By Suren Musayelyan
ArmeniaNow reporter

Football
FC Pyunik (Yerevan) with 50 points remain a clear leader and top title
contender after round 19 of Armenia’s national football
championship. The defending champions are followed by the capital’s FC
Banants and Ashtarak’s FC Mika.

FC Ararat also has real chances to contest a medal this season. Under
the new coach Varuzhan Sukiasyan the Yerevan footballers have not lost
a single point yet.

Meanwhile, footballers playing in Armenia’s top league continue to
sign for foreign clubs. Artashes Baghdasaryan has left Yerevan’s FC
Kilikia to join Austrian Superfund, and Banants striker Vahe
Tadevosyan will play for Switzerland’s FC Arau.

FC Pyunik midfielder (and of the National and youth teams), Levon
Pachajian has been given on loan to Israel’s FC Hapoel (Petah Tikva)
until spring 2007.

(Source: based on Armenian Football Federation reports and information
from A1 Plus’ website)

Judo

At the European youth championships in the Estonian capital of
Tallinn, Armenia’s Anush Hakobyan (52 kg) won the silver
medal. Another Armenian athlete participating in the event Paylak
Vardazaryan became a bronze medalist.

(Source: Armenpress news agency)

Wrestling

Armenian wrestlers will take part in the Greco-Roman and freestyle
wrestling world championships due to be held in China from September
22 to October 1.

Armenia’s team of Greco-Roman wrestlers includes: Roman Amoyan (55
kg), Karen Mnatsakanyan (60 kg), Artak Harutyunyan (66 kg), Movses
Karapetyan (74 kg), Tigran Sahakyan (84 kg), and Yuri Patrikeev (120
kg).

The freestyle wrestling team includes eight wrestlers, including one
woman: Vahan Simonyan (55 kg), Armen Karapetyan (60 kg), Zhirair
Hovhannisyan (66 kg), Ruslan Kokaev (74 kg), Vadim Laliev (84 kg),
Shamil Gitiev (96 kg), Ruslan Basiev (120 kg), and Karine Shadoyan (63
kg).

(Source: Armenpress news agency)

INDIA AIMS TO BOOST BILATERAL TRADE WITH CIS

IDEX Online
(September 14, ’06, 3:42 A Jewelbiz India Report)

Using a two-pronged strategy of boosting direct exports of loose
diamonds and colored gemstones, and entering into partnerships with
local companies for different joint ventures, the Indian gem and
jewelry industry hopes to supply nearly 10 percent of the estimated
Rs 6-7 billion ($130 – 151 million) CIS jewelry market within the
next two to three years.

This projection is based on the interaction that an eight member
delegation of The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC)
had with representatives of the local trade and governments during
a 16 day visit to the region from August 20 to September 4, 2006.

The delegation of loose diamond, jewelry, colored gemstone, and
silver traders is the first such Indian delegation to visit Ukraine,
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia. These countries are
viewed as having a good potential to emerge as important consumer
markets with strong increases in GDP, besides being possible sources
of raw materials and potential manufacturing partners.

The GJEPC believes that there are many opportunities for interaction
between the gems and jewelry industries of the CIS countries and
India. "Due to its strategic location and relatively free economy,
Georgia can be ideal as a transit manufacturing hub for our jewelry
manufacturers to market Indian goods in CIS countries," says Sanjay
Kothari, Convener-PMBD, GJEPC, and head of the delegation.

Kothari pointed out that the current tariffs for direct imports of
finished jewelry are very high, between 8-20 percent, but these
are waived in case of imports from within the region. Therefore,
he says, there is a potential for assembly plants that finish partly
manufactured jewelry items from India, and distributes them in the
local markets.

Another opportunity exists in Armenia with its developed diamond
polishing plants. Due to changes in marketing arrangements
with Russia, these plants are suffering from a shortage of rough
diamonds. This shortage is opening up opportunities for Indian diamond
traders. Similarly, Indian companies can enter into partnerships with
existing jewelry manufacturing plants in countries like Ukraine. While
other opportunities exist in modernizing and developing gold, silver,
and colored gemstones mining in countries such as Kazakhstan.

While the GJEPC says it will work towards strengthening ties at the
industry association level, and facilitate steps for a reduction in
duties through interaction at government levels, it is leaving it up
to individual companies to explore joint venture and take advantage
of these opportunities.

Some of the key initiatives that the GJEPC has already decided on
include setting up a CIS desk at its Mumbai headquarters , appointing
trade coordinators or marketing representatives in different countries,
showcasing Indian jewelry at two key exhibitions – ‘Jeweller Expo
Ukraine 2007’ to be held November 22-25, 2007 and ‘ARU-2007’ to be
held April 19-21, 2007 in Almaty City, Kazakhstan, sending teams of
designers to learn the trends in these markets and holding an India
show in Georgia early next year.

The recent visit is part of the long term measures being explored by
the Indian industry to enter newer markets. Currently the U.S., which
accounts for nearly 35 percent of India’s gem and jewelry exports, is
India’s single most important market. However, the current slowdown in
U.S. demand and expected changes in the preferential tariff structure
could impact volumes.

Besides the CIS, the GJEPC and the government have also identified
Latin America and Africa as other potential new markets.

September 14, 2006

PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Website: <;

PRELATE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE THIRD ARMENIA-DIASPORA CONFERENCE

Upon official invitations extended to him, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh
Mardirossian, Prelate, will depart for Armenia on Sunday, September 17,
2006, to join the entourage of His Holiness Aram I Catholicos of the Holy
See of Cilicia at the third Armenia-Diaspora Conference.
The main topics of discussion at this year’s conference will be
the development of cooperation between Armenia and the Diaspora and rural
development in Armenia.
Alongside the three-day forum, the Prelate will accompany His
Holiness on his travels and meetings at Etchmiadzin and elsewhere. His
Eminence will also participate in celebrations and events dedicated to the
15th anniversary of the declaration of independent Armenia.

DIVAN WESTERN PRELACY

USA INTENDS TO DECREASE FINANCING OF UN
By Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/09/2006

USA intends to decrease financing UN, if this organization fails to
make effective inner reforms.

John Bolton, US Ambassador to UN, made such a statement at UN, the
day before yesterday.

He said that USA has grounds to be dissatisfied with the activities
of UN from the viewpoint of the organization’s management and
reports. Bolton said that it is normal to demand annihilation of
corruption and effective management.

According to Reuters, Bolton said that "UN should totally focus on
making inner reforms by the end of the year." He warned that, if it
turns out by the end of the year that no inner improvement process
was on in UN, the American will reconsider the sizes of the financial
allocations paid to the budget of the organization.

"I believe that the rest of UN member states will realize what we
attain and our determination to achieve our goals. Thus, they may
figure out how much that will cost to refuse making reforms," the
Ambassador stated.

At present, the payments of USA make about 1/4% of the annual budget
of UN.

ZVARTNOTS TERMINAL’S ARRIVAL HALL TO FUNCTION STARTING SEPTEMBER 14

Noyan Tapan
Sept 11 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 11, NOYAN TAPAN. Starting September 14, the
arrival hall of Zvartnots Airport’s terminal will function, NT
correspondent was informed from the airport’s press service. To recap,
the construction started in 2004 and was implemented with financing
of the Argentinian Armenian businessman Eduardo Ernekian’s company
American International Airports. It is envisaged that the terminal
will fully operate starting from May 2007.

TURKEY FOREWARNED EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels

Zaman Online, Turkey
Sept 11 2006

Turkey communicated its views to the European Parliament before open
discussions over the report adopted by the European Parliament (EP)
Foreign Affairs Committee last week.

In the 22-page document, Turkish foreign ministry officials provided
a detailed response to criticisms set out in the report prepared by
Dutch Christian Democrat Camiel Eurlings.

The document, sent to EP members who supported Turkey in the Foreign
Affairs Committee’s session held on Sept. 4 as well as the Turkey
coordinators of political groups represented in the Parliament,
informs the parliamentarians about a number of issues.

Underlining that Turkey will not accept any alternative to full
membership, and that thorny political issues should not be brought
to the table during the membership negotiations between Turkey and
the E.U., the document stresses that in the case of any interruption
to negotiations, the E.U. too will suffer.

It further urges that such an unfavorable situation would be
unacceptable in terms of the global expectations from the E.U.

Referring to the 2006 and 2007 reform programs; it also states that
Turkey has been working on a number of unresolved and unreformed
political and economic issues.

The document also notes that Turkey will await the formation of a
case regarding Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code rather than
amending it.

Noting that the E.U. stance vis-a-vis the Cyprus issue is
"incomprehensible," the document extensively covers the Cyprus and
Armenian issues as well as the Diyarbakir incidents.

The document underlines: Turkey is the second country that recognized
the independence of Armenia, and its trade volume with Armenia has
increased to $120 million.

Forty thousand Armenian citizens live and work in Turkey. Despite
those positive indicators, Armenia’s attitude is disappointing.

It has not yet responded to Turkey’s proposal to form a joint
commission of historians; the EP could encourage it to accept that
proposal. Turkey keeps its borders with Armenia closed because of the
Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh, and its failure to recognize
its border with Turkey.

The ongoing terror in Southeastern Turkey is a clear attempt by the
PKK to halt the reform process. The E.U. should immediately call on
the PKK to disarm, abandon terrorism, and dissolve itself.

Diyarbakir Gun TV, Diyarbakir Soz TV, and Urfa Medya FM have been
broadcasting in Kurdish since March 26. The time limitation on movies
and music shows was set for June 12.

The ninth reform package addressing the Law of Endowed Charities will
be discussed at the parliament soon after its inauguration.

The Turkish government is seeking ways consistent with the Constitution
and the secular educational system to resume education at Heybeliada
Priests School.

The relevant court has ruled on the Semdinli incident; because the
judiciary is dealing with it, no further comment should be made on
this matter.

Restrictions contained in articles 216, 277, 285, 288, 301, 305 and
318 of Turkish Penal Code are within the limits of the derogations
recognized under international law. The prosecutions made in connection
with those articles do not violate freedom of expression.

Similar provisions could be found in the penal codes of some E.U.

members. It should also be noted that most lawsuits filed based on
those articles have been dismissed by the relevant courts.

Any further compromise by Turkey regarding the Cyprus issue would
equal a reward for those who declined a viable resolution.

THEY IN AZERBAIJAN DEMAND TO EXPATRIATE HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE VISITED ARMENIA

Regnum, Russia
Sept 12 2006

In Azerbaijan, youth organization of the Civil Solidarity Party demands
depriving of citizenship the 10 people who have visited Armenia in
the framework of the Camp of Mutual Understanding project.

Among them are the chairperson of the Azeri National Committee of the
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Arzu Abdullayeva, human rights activists
Nigyar Abdullayeva and Rena Yuzbasheva. Particularly, those people
visited the Gugark children and youth camp in Armenia.

A REGNUM correspondent reports them in the Civil Solidarity youth
organization to say that in the camp the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly
organized a meeting of Armenian and Azeri youths, and young people
from Nagorno-Karabakh were also present at the meeting. They say that
the visit was "treason" and demand that those people be deprived of
citizenship and passports. They also demand expelling from Azerbaijan
the international organizations organizing such projects.

In its turn, the Azeri National Committee of the Helsinki Citizens’
Assembly denies the charges and says that they are aimed at casting
slur upon the activities of the Assembly.