Author: Tadevosian Garnik

A1+

ARONYAN BEAT HIS RIVAL
[01:02 pm] 23 February, 2007

Armenian grand master Levon Aronyan in the 5th tour of chess super
tournament ‘Morelia-Linares’ beat Indian Vishvanatan Anand, heading
this rate.

This victory allowed him to be in the 2nd rating by 3 point.Whereas
the tournament rating heads the young Norwegian chess player Magnus
Carlsen who beat Vesely Topalov. It has been Carlsen’s 3rd victory in
the tournament.

As to the experts, Aronyan’s chances to win in this tournment are
possible.After several draws Aronyan beat Anand who has had 2
victiories and 2 draws before.

Panorama.am

18:43 24/02/2007

CHIEF ARCHITECT PERFORMS FUNCTIONS OF SECURITY GUARD

Yesterday Armenian News broadcast the visit of Yerevan mayor to
Glendale municipality. It was shown in detail how Samvel Danielyan,
chief architect of Yerevan, went out of the front door of the car,
opened the doorof Mayor Zakharyan and guided him to the entrance of
Glendale municipality.

Normally, these functions are performed by security guards or
personnel provided by the inviting party.

In fact, the functions are totally confused in our case. Or, it may be
concluded, that the inviting party did not attach much importance to
the visit of Yervand Zakharyan and did not meet him according to
accepted standards.

Source: Panorama.am

LE PRESIDENT ARMENIEN A DEJEUNE A MATIGNON AVEC DOMINIQUE DE VILLEPIN

Agence France Presse
20 fevrier 2007 mardi 1:53 PM GMT

Dominique de Villepin a recu mardi le president armenien, Robert
Kotcharian, pour un dejeuner a Matignon, a constate un journaliste
de l’AFP.

M. Kotcharian est arrive samedi après-midi en France pour une visite
de quatre jours.

La communaute armenienne en France revendique plus de 400.000 membres.

–Boundary_(ID_FOU65t5QbiRkobhdE0jLeA)–

OPINION: PLAYING THE TURKISH CARD

Warsaw Business Journal , Poland
Feb 19 2007

During his recent visit to Ankara, President Lech Kaczyñski expressed
unequivocal support for Turkey’s accession to the European Union.

The President’s unambiguous and uncritical declaration astounded not
only Europe, but was also a surprise in Poland. Turkey’s President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer had rarely heard such praise for his country’s
efforts to join the Union as that which came from the mouth of the
Polish President.

Courage or gaffe?

For several years Polish foreign policy has supported Turkish
aspirations for membership of the European Union. However, it had never
been articulated so clearly. Was Kaczyñski taking a courageous stand,
or was it a gaffe? The Polish press did not comment positively on the
President’s declaration. "In my opinion, Turkey does not deserve to be
courted and invited with a bow to a community of more-so or less-so,
but after all, civilized states," retorted Eliza Michalik, a right-wing
press commentator, usually sympathetic to the Kaczyñski brothers.

The left-wing press, which is especially sensitive to human rights
issues, the status of women and the observance of minority rights,
wrote that Turkey cannot be accepted into the Union before it starts
to observe the democratic principles which apply in the European
family. Left-wing commentators pointed out that the Turkish government
has not settled the Cypriot question, has made little progress in
legal reforms and has failed to issue a clear-cut condemnation of
the genocide of the Armenians.

Change of view

Polish public opinion is rather confused by this expression of
unambiguous support for Turkey. In contrast to many Western states,
where for a long time there has been constructive public debate about
Turkey’s accession to the EU, in Poland this subject has been raised
only sporadically, and then only in narrow academic and intellectual
circles. Moreover, Polish society – quite nationally homogeneous – has
yet to come into contact with the question of a Muslim minority. To
all intents and purposes, Poles are unfamiliar with the benefits as
well as the problems of a multicultural society.

Polish diplomacy has long advocated expanding the Union first and
foremost through the accession of other countries of the former Soviet
Union, in particular Ukraine and Georgia. For the government in Warsaw,
Turkey was too exotic and far away, and Poland has no economic,
social or strategic interests in Turkey’s accession.

Talking turkey

So whence the sudden support from President Kaczyñski? I fear that
the reason is not substantive but rather banal. Playing the Turkish
card was intended to achieve a definite propaganda effect.

Above all, Lech Kaczyñski thumbed his nose at German Chancellor
Angela Merkel. At the very beginning of Germany’s assumption of the
EU presidency, Merkel indicated that the matter of Turkish accession
would be shelved for the time being. It may be shelved for a lot
longer than that.

Since democratization in 1989, Poland’s relations with Germany have
never been as tense as they have become since the Kaczyñski brothers
came to power. It is therefore difficult to resist the idea that Lech
Kaczyñski’s declaration of will in Ankara was a move to emphasize that
Poland has a totally different stance to Germany regarding Europe’s
most strategic issues.

Inept diplomacy

The crisis in Polish diplomacy is not just limited to relations between
Warsaw and Berlin. During the last year Polish relations with our other
large neighbor – Russia – have significantly worsened, and the warm
and fruitful relations with Ukraine, which were carefully cultivated by
previous governments, have also stagnated. Good relations with distant
Turkey may somewhat obscure people’s view of the ineptitude of Polish
diplomacy in other areas of crucial importance for our country. The
populist and nationalist part of the Kaczyñskis’ electorate, unaware
of the real context of Turkey’s membership in the Union, may proudly
imagine the Polish locomotive pulling the Turkish train into the
European station with lots of steam and whistles.

Joanna Woycicka has been a commentator on international relations
and Polish foreign policy since 1991. She is the former head of the
foreign section of the ¯ycie Warszawy and ¯ycie newspapers and the
former head of the Foreign Department at the Polish Press Agency (PAP).

–Boundary_(ID_SZ8iLmP1fsSDwTcB1WCGTw)–

PPA IS READY TO ALONE PARTICIPATE IN ELECTIONS BUT CONSIDERS COOPERATION OF OPPOSING FORCES NECESSARY

Noyan Tapan
Feb 19 2007

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Being ready to alone participate in
the coming NA elections, the People’s Party of Armenia (PPA) considers
necessary to promote a wide cooperation of opposing forces in the name
of democratic elections. The party Chairman Stepan Demirchian stated
about it in his speech at the PPA regular 6th congress on February
17. He assured that if results of the elections are falsified, the
party, "as always, will be in the first row of the struggle." In the
PPA Chairman’s words, the party has always been a joining force and the
"Miasnutiun" (Unity) and "Ardaroutiun" (Justice) blocs prove it. "We
were modest towards our partners and did our best for strengthening
the alliance. And if anybody broke the principles of the alliance,
it does not mean that the the way of uniting was not correct,"
he mentioned. In Demirchian’s words, the PPA will take part in the
parliamentary elections to win.

In his words, the acting administration consistently attempts to
breathe in the society as if the result of the coming elections is
predeterminated and the struggle is meaningless. "We think that it
is meaningless and inadmissible to be depressed and retreat. We
are able and must take the country out of this situation,"
he stated. The PPA Chairman mentioned that as a result of the
constitutional amendments the NA role has considerably increased,
and those expected parliamentary elections have an important meaning
for future development of the state. He called on to make this
reality competent for the people, which, connecting greater hopes
with the president’s elections, more actively participate in those
elections. In S.Demirchian’s words, the authorities of Armenia did
not take steps in the direction of reinstating people’s confidence
towards the electoral process: "no falsifier was held to answer,
"A1+" was not given broadcast." As for "improvement" of the electoral
code, in his words, the previous code also gave the possibility of
holding democratic elections what the Council of Europe observers also
fixed. "The clan-oligarchic system established in the country attempts
at any price to secure its reproduction," the PPA Chairman stated. In
his words, the power levers are utmost used for that purpose,
"obligatory-voluntary jointing party" is implemented, everything is
done to make non-political methods decisive in the political struggle.

An attempt is also made to push the real opposition out of the
political field, replacing it by "puppets" being controlled by the
authorities.

THREE YEARS AFTER THE MURDER OF GURGEN MARGARYAN

ArmRadio.am
19.02.2007 12:30

This night representatives of Armenia left for Budapest to participate
in the first court hearing of the appeal submitted by Ramil Safarov,
who was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Armenian Officer
Gurgen Margaryan.

Three years have passed after the Gurgen Margaryan’s cruel
assassination in Budapest. Let us remind, that in 2004 Officer of
the Armed Forces of Armenia Gurgen Margaryan had left for Budapest to
participate in NATO’s "Partnership for peace program." Azeri Officer
Ramil Safarov axed Gurgen Margaryan when he was asleep. On April 13,
2006 the Hungarian Court sentenced the criminal to life imprisonment
without the right of amnesty for 30 years.

Thereafter the Azeri side has been trying to soften the verdict of the
First Instance Court. On February 22 the appeal against the verdict
will be discussed at the Court of Appeal of Hungary. The Armenian
side will be represented by attorney Nazeli Vardanyan and Director
of the Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan.

Attorney Nazeli Vardanyan told "Radiolur" that the chances of the
Azeri side are small.

"T Armenian delegation should show both the Azeri and Hungarian sides
that it will ensure that the criminal gets a maximum punishment,"
she said.

Armenian National Committee of Canada
130 Albert St., Suite 1007
Ottawa, ON
KIP 5G4
Tel. (613) 235-2622 Fax (613) 238-2622
E-mail:[email protected]
www .anccanada.org

For Immediate Release

February 14, 2007

Contact: Kevork Manguelian
Tel. (613) 235-2622

ANCC Participates in a Symposium on National Security Issues

Ottawa–The Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC) participated in a
round-table discussion on February 11 in a long-term dialogue on Canadian
national security issues in a diverse and pluralistic society.

The symposium, which was the last of four such meetings, was initiated by
the federal department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada.
Aris Babikian, the executive director of ANCC, represented the
Canadian-Armenian community at the discussions held in Toronto.

After presentations by officials from the Department of Justice, Canadian
Heritage, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canadian Security
Intelligence Agency (CSIS), and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA),
the meeting opened to questions and discussions between the various
department representatives and the approximately 50 ethno-cultural community
leaders.
The opinions expressed were frank and sometimes critical. The participants
did not shy away from expressing their views on national security matters.

The ANCC executive director said that considered such a dialogue between the
government and Canadian civil society representatives an important first
step to comprehend the function and the role of each government agency, to
lift the shroud of secrecy, to facilitate understanding, and most
importantly, to eliminate misconception and misunderstanding.

`We commend the minister for taking the initiative to launch such a forum
for dialogue and outreach, so that we can learn from our mistakes and help
each other make our country a better place to live, where all are welcome
regardless of their race, religion or colour.’

###

The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a network of
offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances the concerns of
the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of issues.

Regional Chapters
Montréal – Laval – Ottawa – Toronto – Hamilton – Cambridge – St. Catharines
– Windsor – Vancouver

LYRIC OPERA HITS RIGHT NOTE WITH ‘CARMELITES’
By Bill Gowen

Chicago Daily Herald, IL
Feb 18 2007

Lyric Opera of Chicago opened its 2006-07 season with Giacomo Puccini’s
"Turandot," in which the Chinese ice princess orders the execution
of any would-be suitor who fails to answer her three riddles.

Now, the Lyric wraps up the season with another opera with executions
at its core: Francis Poulenc’s "Dialogues of the Carmelites," which
opened its nine-performance run Saturday.

But how different they are!

Premiered 50 years ago at La Scala in Milan, Italy, "Carmelites"
is one of the true masterworks of 20th century opera. It transports
us back to the 1790s, the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution,
and tells the mostly-true story of the martyrdom of 16 nuns at the
monastery of Compiegne, France. While at first glance the subject seems
unremittingly grim, this is a tale of faith in God and a redemption
of the spirit.

The story centers around Blanche, daughter of the Marquis de la Force,
whose escape from a revolutionary panic in the streets makes her
fear for her safety. This leads to Blanche eventually seeking what
she feels is protection of Sisterhood. But once she recites her vows
and joins the order, she soon finds that the safety of the cloister
from the revolution is but a rumor. Eventually, the sisters secretly
vote for martyrdom.

Canadian-Armenian soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian portrays Blanche as a
fragile daughter of the revolution who grows in spiritual stature
as the opera progresses. As Bayrakdarian describes in her program
biography: "This character is in all of us. I’m talking about her
humanity, not only her fear."

In the opera’s final scene, when the nuns are led to the guillotine
(collapsing, one by one, as they sing the strains of the Latin hymn
Salve Regina), Bayrakdarian describes Blanche as "… the only one
who’s glorifying God, as if she’s going to a wedding instead of
her death."

By the way, as traditional with stagings of this opera, the executions
are implied rather than shown, although the repeating scythe-like
"swish" of the falling guillotine blade (as heard from the orchestra)
is a chilling sound effect.

In Robert Carsen’s minimalist production from Netherlands Opera, staged
here by Didier Kersten (Lyric Opera debut), Blanche remains standing
at the final curtain, bathed in a warm glow, arms outstretched
cruciform-style, as the bodies of the other sisters lie strewn
about. Instead of the Salve Regina, she intones the ancient Latin
hymn Veni, creator spiritus ("Come, creator spirit"), although the
words are cut off in mid-sentence, symbolizing her own execution.

Bayrakdarian heads an all-star cast that excels in every role,
large and small. Meriting particular praise is English mezzo-soprano
Felicity Palmer as Madame de Croissy (the first Prioress), whose
agonizing Act 1 death scene (from natural causes) is a tour de force.

Palmer is regarded as the finest living interpreter of this role,
having performed it at the Metropolitan Opera, along with Geneva and
Zurich in Switzerland, the English National Opera and at La Scala,
where "Carmelites" first saw the light of day a half century ago.

Sister Constance, a key moral center of the opera, is portrayed
with great sensitivity by American soprano Anna Christy, while the
challenging role of Madame Lidoine (the second Prioress) is taken
by American soprano Patricia Racette who, incidentally, portrayed
Blanche in the most recent Metropolitan Opera production.

One of the opera’s great scenes takes place in Act 2, when Madame
Lidoine is joined by Mother Marie (English mezzo-soprano Jane Irwin)
in leading the sisters in Poulenc’s plaintive version of the Latin
Ave Maria.

In Saturday’s opening performance, American mezzo-soprano Elizabeth
DeShong took over for the ill Meredith Arwady in the role of Mother
Jeanne.

Sir Andrew Davis, conducting this opera concurrently with Mozart’s
"Cosi fan tutte," shows complete mastery of Poulenc’s score (12 scenes
in three acts), and the solid contribution by the chorus is a fitting
tribute to the Lyric’s longtime chorus master, Donald Palumbo, who
is moving on to the Metropolitan Opera following this season.

Poulenc’s music is firmly rooted in mid-20th century romanticism,
with hints of Prokofiev, Debussy and other familiar composers.

However, this gorgeous score is by no means derivative.

One hour prior to each performance, Lyric Opera dramaturg Roger
Pines offers a 25-minute lecture on "Dialogues of the Carmelites,"
including the opera’s relationship to actual historic events, along
with a critical analysis of Poulenc’s landmark work. The lecture is
free to all ticket-holders, with seating on the main floor of the
Ardis Krainik Theatre.

Also, Tuesday night’s performance will be broadcast live by WFMT
98.7-FM.

"Dialogues of the Carmelites"Where: Ardis Krainik Theatre, Civic
Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive.When: Additional performances at 7:30
p.m. Tuesday, Friday, Feb. 26; March 2, 5, 9, 14 and 17.Tickets: Call
(312) 332-2244, Ext. 5600, or visit lyricopera.org, for availability
and reservations; major credit cards accepted.At a glance:Opera
in three acts by Francis Poulenc. With libretto by the composer,
adapted >>From drama of the same title by George Bernardos. Original
production by Robert Carsen; stage director, Didier Kersten. Lyric
Opera of Chicago Orchestra and chorus, conducted by Sir. Andrew
Davis.Starring:Isabel Bayrakdarian as Blanche de la ForceFelicity
Palmer as Madame de CroissyDale Travis as Marquis de la ForceJoseph
Kaiser as Chevalier de la ForcePatricia Racette as Madame LidoineAnna
Christy as Sister ConstanceJane Irwin as Mother MarieDennis Petersen
as ChaplainWith Kenneth Nichols, Brandon Mayberry, Eugenie Grunewald,
Bryan Griffin, Phillip Dothard, Elizabeth DeShong, Darren Stokes,
Martha Kasten and Jordan Shanahan.

REJECTION PRESENTED TO JUDGE OF FIRST INSTANCE BY FORMER HEAD OF NA
LEGAL SERVICE SATISFIED

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The examination of the civil case of
Suren Mamikonian, the former head of the RA National Assembly Legal
Service, a member of the "Orinats Yerkir" party against NA staff head
Hayk Kotanian stopped for uncertain time on February 16, at the Court
of First Instance of the Yerevan communities of Kentron and Nork
Marash. Court Chairman Zhora Vardanian satisfied the 3rd in number
rejection presented to judge Samvel Tadevosian. It was particularly
mentioned in the decision that though the rejection does not arise of
corresponding demands of the RA Code on Civil Procedure, but it is
satisfied "taking into consideration that the claimant presents
rejection to the judge examining the case for the third time, and to
disperse the claimant’s doubts concerning impartiality of the judge
presiding the session and arising of interests of the action." To
recap, S.Mamikonian debutes by the court order H.Kotanian’s
notification concerning discharging him and about 40 employees of the
NA, demanding to recognize it invalid. At the February 12 court
session, the claimant also presented an additional demand to recognize
invalid NA Speaker Tigran Torosian’s 31.07.06 decree about making
amendments in the structure of the staff what became a basis for the
mentioned notification.

Sabah, Turkey
Feb 15 2007

Israeli PM sends warm messages to Turkey prior to his visit

Hosted by a television show in Israel, PM Ehud Olmert has given warm
messages to Turkey. Israeli PM said they will not oppose to Turkey’s
possible cross border operation to Northern Iraq and that it is
Turkey’s right to do such operation.
Stating that they expect Turkish investors in Israel soon, Olmert
said pending Armenian genocide bill in the U.S Congress can be solved
peacefully with necessary talks between the U.S and Turkish
governments.
Indicating that his country will never support terrorist actions in
the Eastern border of Turkey, Olmert emphasized that Israel is also
one of the target countries of the PKK terrorist organization.
Olmert said: ‘We have common strategic benefits. Israel can never let
any terrorist actions targeting Turkey. I have always been a
supporter of peace in military operations. However, a country has the
right to defend it self if it is being attacked by outside forces. It
would not be a surprise for us if Turkey decides to defend itself.’