Author: nina hovnanian

Gulf Times, Qatar
Sept 28 2012

Armenian kanun virtuoso to play solo at Katara today

Armenian kanun virtuoso Karine Hovhannisyan will be the guest soloist
in Khachatur Avetisyan’s Second Kanun Concerto at the Qatar
Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert today, in the Katara Opera House.

Music director Michalis Economou will conduct the programme, which
also includes Ludwig van Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and Antonin
Dvorak’s Eighth Symphony.

An ancient instrument of Middle Eastern origin, the kanun may be
described as a lap-harp that sits across the player’s knees or on a
small table. It has four sides and is trapezoid in shape.

Most instruments have approximately 72 strings, arranged in groups of
three, and tuned by raising or lowering levers that control the
tension of each string.

The levers create subtle changes in pitch that accommodate the tuning
practices in various regions of the Middle East. The strings are
fitted into a wooden frame with a flat sound box that is usually made
of rosewood.

The strings of the kanun are plucked with fingerpicks made of tortoise
shell or horn plectra which extend from each index finger and are held
in place by circular metal bands. The tone of the instrument is
reminiscent of that of the harpsichord, and is characterised by an
unmistakable incisive quality.

A student of Avetisyan, Hovhannisyan has been a tireless advocate for
his music, performing and recording his most important works for
kanun.

Most recently, she has performed with the Glendale Symphony and
Philharmonia New York and at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall,
New York Symphony Space, Skirball Center Los Angeles, Museum of Art in
Cleveland, Philadelphia Kimmel Center, Smithsonian and Kennedy Center
in Washington DC. She has conducted master classes at Dartmouth,
Harvard and Cornell Universities.

QPO executive director Kurt Meister said the distinctive sound of the
kanun fits well with a symphony orchestra. `Indeed, we’re continually
bringing Middle Eastern and western musical culture together in line
with our mission to bridge the world’s traditions.’

The Philharmonic’s next public concert is a chamber music programme on
October 17 which includes Arnold Schoenberg’s Transfigured Night.

Tickets for today’s concert are available at Virgin Megastore, and
full information is available at qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org

Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 28 2012

Armenia builds diplomatic ties with Bhutan

The Armenian Foreign Minister, Edward Nalbandian, and his counterpart
from Bhutan, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, have signed a protocol on
establishment of diplomatic relations at the UN, NEWS.am reports.

Wangchuk informed Nalbandian about the democratic reforms of Bhutan.

Targeted News Service
September 27, 2012 Thursday 6:54 AM EST

Armenians Participate In U.S. Demining Training Program

YEREVAN, Armenia

The U.S. Embassy issued the following news release:

September 27, Major General Lee Tafanelli of the Kansas National Guard
and Deputy Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan observed 22 Armenian
military and civilian members of the Armenian Center for Humanitarian
Demining and Expertise, who are participating in a U.S.-funded
Demining Training Program. This program, funded by the U.S. Embassy’s
Office of Defense Cooperation and the U.S. European Command, provides
training and equipment to Armenia’s Demining Center in Etchmiadzin.

The demining training runs from September 17-28 and focuses on proper
mine marking and clearance techniques. In addition, the U.S.
Government provided 20 mine detectors, protective equipment, and
demining toolsets to Armenia’s newly established Center for
Humanitarian Demining and Expertise. Members of the Kansas National
Guard and one civilian member of the U.S. Humanitarian Demining and
Training Center are conducting the training.

UN News Centre
Sept 28 2012

Nagorno-Karabakh and Syria among issues Azerbaijan minister discusses
at UN debate

28 September 2012 – Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of the
Nagorno-Karabakh region will `one day live shoulder-to-shoulder,’
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, told the
United Nations General Assembly Debate today.

`We sincerely believe there is no alternative to peace, stability and
mutually beneficial regional cooperation,’ the Foreign Affairs
Minister told the 67th Assembly’s General Debate, taking place at UN
Headquarters in New York. `Azerbaijan is the most interested party in
the earliest negotiated settlement of the dispute.’

In his statement, Mr. Mammadyarov also addressed his country’s
participation in the Security Council in the 2012-2013 term,
highlighting how his country, which served as President of the
15-member body in May, organizing a meeting under the so-called Arria
Formula – a mechanism that allows Member States greater flexibility in
the way they are briefed on a particular issue – to `encourage a frank
exchange of views… on the role of mediation, judicial settlement and
justice in promoting durable and international law-based peace and
reconciliation.’

The Foreign Affairs Minister expressed Azerbaijan’s concern over the
Middle East peace process, which he said has `been at a standstill,’
and called on the parties to create the necessary conditions conducive
to the resumption of negotiations.

In addition, he said Azerbaijan remained `deeply concerned’ over both
the violence and the `socio-economic and humanitarian situation’ in
Syria, and expressed deep concern over the `recent escalation provoked
by blasphemy against Islam’ – indirectly referring to a recent
anti-Islam video made in the US which led to violent reactions in
various cities around the world.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Affairs Minister is one of scores of world
leaders and other high-level officials presenting their views and
comments on issues of individual, national and international relevance
at the Assembly’s General Debate, which ends Oct. 1.

Zhirayr Reyisyan: After the night of bloody battles situation in
Aleppo has become quieter

11:28, 28 September, 2012

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: During September 27 and the entire
night battles occurred and bombs were exploded in Aleppo, though it
has been already for an hour that the situation in the city became
quieter. It was reported to Armenpress by the Press Secretary of the
National Primacy of Aleppo Zhirayr Reyisyan, adding that in the
evening of September 27 in different districts of Aleppo, as well as
Suleimania and nearby districts, bombs were exploded, spreading fear
and horror among the population. The battles continued during the
entire night and by the morning the army had been bombarding the
gathering places of the opposition.

According to Zhirayr Reyisyan, in the result of the explosions there
are victims and wounded, the number of which has not yet been
clarified. “By now the Armenian ambulance body has tried to clarify
the information about the possible Armenian victims and the wounded in
different ways, fortunately we have no information by now”, – said the
Press Secretary of the National Primacy. In the Armenian New Village
district there were shots as well and the Armenian retirement home
located in Bustan Basha, which was damaged several times, fortunately
this time as well did not have any human losses in the result of the
bombings.

Earlier the opposition of Syria announced that on September 27 they
began large-scale attacks in Aleppo, adding that decisive struggle was
waged to proscribe the forces of the President of Syria Bashar al
Assad. The members of different opposition groupings stated that
bloody collisions occurred in 14 districts. In a video material placed
in YouTube one of the heads of the opposition Kadir Saleh announced
about the launch of the decisive battle. According to him, the attack
against the forces of Assad had now begun with all fronts.

On this occasion the Press Secretary of the National Primacy of Aleppo
stated that the governing forces announced in their turn that they
would not allow anybody to disturb the peace of the peaceful
population, adding that the people should not be concerned about such
announcements.

In Syria more than 30,000 people, including more than 20 Armenians,
died in the collisions between the opposition and government forces,
which have lasted about 18 months.

Armenian President has instructed to build two major oncologic centers

13:24, 28 September, 2012

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: Two major oncologic centers, unique
in the region, are being built in Armenia by the instruction of
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. Armenian Minister of Health Derenik
Dumanyan came forth in the course of the joint session of National
Assembly health care, maternity and childhood Issues, financial and
budgetary affairs permanent commissions.

”All aspects of diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation medicine are
taken into consideration in this centers” Minister noted. Oncological
and oncohematological children’s centers are equipped by all the
modern methods, techniques. Oncological center is scheduled to have
all the methods of Radiation Research, the latest achievements in
chemotherapy. ”There will be stem cell and bone marrow department in
Oncohematological children’s center, the lack of which often makes us
turn to foreign medical centers” Minister noted.

Professionals will be invited from Germany for design and construction
of Oncohematological center: there are no relevant specialists in
post-Soviet countries. Dumanyan assured the design works of
oncohematological center have already started and will be completed
in December.

Armenian children spend 3-4 hours watching TV

TERT.AM
13:20 – 28.09.12

Children in Armenia spend daily 3-4 hours on watching television,
recent findings suggest.

The studies conducted by a criminology research center of the National
Bureau of Expertise have revealed that brainstorming game for
school-children, a soap opera and an entertainment show are the most
popular broadcasts among the younger generation, a psychologist of the
center, Astghik Mehrabyan told reporters on Wednesday.

`Most of the parents said those broadcasts positively affect their
children, making them happier. At the same time, they stressed that
they do not raise the level of the children’s cognitive abilities,’
she said, when introducing their findings at a Yerevan State
University-hosted round-table discussion.

The specialist noted that television’s influence is great,
particularly on children, whose parents claim that they often imitate
the heroes of their favorite soap operas.

IMF predicts a 6.2 percent economic growth in Armenia in 2012

12:52 28.09.2012

0An IMF mission led by Mark Horton visited Yerevan during September
5-18 to conduct discussions for the Fifth Review of the Extended Fund
Facility/Extended Credit Facility arrangements and the 2012 Article IV
consultations. After return to IMF headquarters, Mr. Horton made the
following statement:

`Macroeconomic conditions have continued to improve over the past
year. With a positive harvest and dynamic mining and services sectors,
growth is expected to reach 6.2 percent in 2012 and to moderate to 4.3
percent in 2013, as the economy returns to trend and given conditions
in Europe and Russia. Inflation remains moderate, driven by the
agricultural rebound and a sound policy framework, and is expected to
remain within the target band (4±1.5 percent) of the Central Bank of
Armenia (CBA) during the rest of 2012 and in 2013.

`Program performance remains broadly satisfactory. The fiscal balance
has continued to improve, with the deficit expected to decline to
about 2 percent of GDP in 2012, and to increase moderately to 2.6
percent next year as large capital projects are implemented.

`The CBA has shown strengthened commitment to a flexible exchange rate
and the inflation-targeting regime. The CBA continues to improve its
monetary policy tools and its monitoring of risks, particularly those
associated with foreign currency lending. An external shock beginning
in the second quarter of 2012 led to sizeable intervention in the
foreign exchange market to prevent excessive volatility, and the
end-June performance criterion on reserves was missed. A waiver and
corrective actions will be needed to complete the Fifth Review.

`Structural reforms are progressing, although at a
slower-than-desirable pace. A level playing field for all
businesses – including in the key area of tax administration – would be an
important breakthrough for the business environment. The mission looks
forward to the first results of the `Regulatory Guillotine’ project,
which aims at substantially streamlining regulation and red-tape, and
to ongoing enforcement actions by the Competition Committee.

`The mission reached preliminary agreement on a policy framework for
the rest of 2012 and 2013 that could form the basis for completion of
the review. The IMF Board is tentatively scheduled to consider the
review in early December. Upon approval, the IMF would disburse US$52
million, bringing total disbursements under the EFF/ECF to about
US$327 million.

`The authorities expressed strong interest in a follow-up IMF
arrangement, after the current program concludes in mid-2013, and
possibly covering the next 3 years. They noted that a new program
would provide policy support for continued external and fiscal
adjustment, strengthened policy buffers and fiscal space, and
growth-enhancing structural reforms during a period of elevated
repayment of crisis-related assistance. Before discussions on a new
Fund program can begin, the IMF Board should consider the findings of
an Ex Post Assessment (EPA) of Fund programs since 2005, when the last
EPA was completed. The findings of the EPA, now under preparation,
will also help guide design of the new program.

`The mission met with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Minister of
Finance Vache Gabrielyan, Central Bank Governor Arthur Javadyan,
Minister of Economy Tigran Davtyan, Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources Armen Movsisyan, Minister of Transport Gagik Beglaryan, as
well as senior government officials, representatives of the
international community, the banking and business sectors, and civil
society. The mission would like to thank the authorities and other
Armenian representatives for their warmth and hospitality.’

Armenia selects drama as foreign language Oscar entry

11:01 28.09.2012

0Armenia, If Only Everyone, OscarArmenia has selected Natalya
Belyauskene’s If Only Everyoneas foreign language Oscar entry. The
film will fly the flag for Armenia and its North American premiere
screening will close the Arpa International Film Festival in Los
Angeles on Dec 2, the Screen Daily informs.

The film takes place 20 years after Armenian independence and centres
on a young Russian woman’s efforts to plant a tree on her father’s
grave only to discover the burial site lies on the other side of the
border in Armenia.

The North American premiere of Gor Kirakosian’s comedy Lost And Found
In Armenia is set to open the festival on Nov 29.

The festival will present more than 40 films that will include feature
narratives, short films, documentaries, music videos and animated
films from more than 25 countries.

`Our committee of board members and devoted volunteers are working
hard to stage yet another dazzling festival,’ Arpa Foundation For Film
Music And Art A founder Sylvia Minassian said. `Our goal is to launch
the careers of emerging filmmakers and celebrate the independent film
work of our festival’s most gifted filmmakers.’

Armenia establishes diplomatic relations with Bhutan

12:33 pm | Today | Official

Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia to the United
Nations hosted the signing of a protocol for establishment of
diplomatic ties between Armenia and Bhutan. The ceremony was preceded
by a meeting between Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and
his Bhutanese counterpart Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk.

The diplomats stressed the importance of establishing diplomatic ties
between the two countries, saying it would contribute to the expansion
of international cooperation and development of friendly cooperation.

The Bhutanese foreign minister briefed his Armenian counterpart on the
process of democratic reform in his country, RA MFA Press Service
reports.

Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in
South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas, between India
and China.