Author: Taslakhchian Andranik

BAYRAKDARIAN MAKES HER S.F. PERFORMANCES RECITAL DEBUT
By Sue Gilmore

Contra Costa Times
10/03/2008 12:01:00 AM PDT
CA

She won’t be coming with an orchestra from the land of her heritage
as originally planned, but the beautiful Armenian-Canadian soprano
Isabel Bayrakdarian will make her San Francisco Performances debut
Saturday night at the Herbst Theatre in good company nonetheless.

The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble from the province
the 34-year-old singer now calls home, has replaced the Armenian
Philharmonic, which had to withdraw due to funding difficulties. But
the center of the program still revolves around the songs of composer
Gomidas Vartabed (1869-1935), a monk and lifelong champion of the
Armenian cause who is considered the founder of Armenian classical
music.

Bayrakdarian, who first captured attention by winning the 2000
Operalia competition founded by Placido Domingo, may strike a chord
in some music lovers’ memories here. She appeared here as Cleopatra
with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in March, singing excerpts
from four operas based on the Egyptian queen; two years earlier, she
sang in the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s mini-opera "To Hell and
Back" with the same ensemble. And that’s her voice you hear floating
ethereally in the "Evenstar" portion of "The Lord of the Rings:
The Two Towers" soundtrack.

In addition to performing some of Gomidas’ haunting music, Bayrakdarian
has shaped the rest of her program to complement the Armenian theme. It
includes Bartok’s "Romanian Folk Dances," Ravel’s "Deux

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Advert isement
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Melodies Hebraiques," Skalottas’ "Greek Dances" and Klein’s "Variations
on a Moravian Folksong." Piano accompaniment will be provided
by Bayrakdarian’s husband, Serouj Kradjian, who arranged several
works on the program and also accompanied her on "Gomidas Songs," a
just-released Nonesuch CD recorded with the Armenian Philharmonic. The
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra will be conducted by Anne Manson.

Details: 8 p.m. Oct. 4, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F.; $40-$65; 415-392-2545
or

Online: To see and hear Bayrakdarian perform Gomidas’ "Andouni"
("Homeless"), go to ContraCostaTimes.com. or InsideBayArea.com.

TUNE IN ALSO TO: Cal Performances has the Goode stuff on tap Sunday
afternoon with preeminent pianist Richard Goode scheduled to play music
by Bach, Chopin and Schubert in a recital in Zellerbach Hall. Details:
3 p.m. Sunday, Bancroft at Telegraph, Berkeley; $34-$62; 510-642-9988
or

Organizers of the Jewish Music Festival (March 21-29) have gathered
quite an assortment of musicians for a preview concert Sunday night
at the Jewish Community Center of the East Bay. Members of the San
Francisco Opera, the Ballet Orchestra and Symphony ensembles join
musicians from Earplay, Philharmonia Baroque and other groups to
collaborate on the music of Kurt Weill, Arnold Schoenberg and Hanns
Eisler. They’re labeling it the "Degenerate Music of Weimar Berlin"
because that’s what Hitler, who didn’t much cotton to it, called
it. Details: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, 1414 Walnut St., Berkeley; $15-$20;
800-838-3006 or

Berkeley’s Crowden Music Center launches its new season of the
Sundays@Four Chamber series this weekend with a concert featuring the
Afiara String Quartet, the in-residence ensemble at San Francisco
State’s International Center for the Arts. On their program are
Schubert’s "Quartetsatz," Berg’s "Lyric Suite" and Beethoven’s
String Quartet No. 8 in E-minor, one of the famous "Rasumovsky"
quartets. Details: 4 p.m. Sunday, 1475 Rose St., Berkeley; $12 (free
for 18 and younger); 510-559-2941 or

SOMETHING TO CROW ABOUT: Our multiple Grammy-grabbing local vocal
heroes, the a cappella male singers of Chanticleer, are putting another
feather in their, um, crowns. Last week came the announcement that
the 12-member ensemble will be inducted into the American Classical
Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Cincinnati’s Memorial Hall on
Thursday. They’ll perform a program at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in
Chains there the next day, but you can catch them at 5 p.m. Oct. 19
in San Francisco’s St. Francis Church, 1112 26th St., with their
first season program, "Wondrous Free." Tickets are $25-$44. Contact
415-252-8589 or

The guys have also just released a new Warner Classics CD-DVD,
"Mission Road," which explores the Mexican- and Spanish-influenced
music of the California Mission period. I’ve heard it, and I won’t be
a bit surprised if it lands among the Grammy nominees early next year.

VANCE ADVANCES: And while we’re in a congratulatory mood, here’s a
convivial pat on the back to former San Francisco Symphony Chorus
conductor Vance George, who stepped down from that post last year
after 23 years. Last week, it was announced that George will join
the San Francisco State University faculty to lead the S.F. State
Chamber Singers, the top choir in the School of Music and Dance. And
he’ll be an honored guest at the school’s Opera Gala at 7:30
p.m. Oct. 17. For program and ticket information, call 415-405-2849
or visit creativearts.sfsu.edu.

Tuned In appears every other Friday in Weekend Preview. Reach Sue
Gilmore at [email protected].

LA ASIAN TV STATION AIMS TO SMOOTH THE DTV TRANSITION SEMINAR TO REACH OUT TO LOCAL COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS

MarketWatch
6:23 p.m. EDT Oct. 1, 2008

LOS ANGELES, Oct 01, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — In a joint effort
with various government agencies, Southern California’s #1 Asian TV
station, LA 18 KSCI-TV, is holding an unprecedented Digital Television
Transition Seminar to reach out to the underserved communities
most likely to be impacted. It is estimated that over 24% of Asian
American households in the Los Angeles television market depend on
free over-the-air signals to receive their television programming,
as opposed to 16% of non-Asian households (Nielsen Universe Estimates,
11/07).

The event on October 7th at the Japanese American National Museum seeks
to educate the hundreds of community-based organizations (CBOs) around
Los Angeles about the digital transition. The focus of the seminar
will be to "train the trainers," enabling community organizers to
directly convey the information to the numerous individuals they
interact with on a daily basis. Many of the CBOs serve largely
immigrant populations with language barriers, including seniors that
require extra technical assistance, all of whom are less exposed to
the general English media campaign.

After the seminar, LA 18 plans to enlist and promote participating
CBOs as additional community resources that consumers can get help on
preparing for the DTV transition on its multi-language DTV Transition
website ( ) and Public Service Announcement
TV spots.

Notable guests from various government offices at the center of the
national transition education effort will be on hand at the seminar
to present, answer questions and address concerns. Speakers scheduled
include: EVENT DETAILS:

Invitation Only – Contact [email protected] for invitation

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008, 10am-Noon

Japanese American National Museum

National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (Democracy Forum)
111 N. Central Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012

About LA 18 / KSCI-TV Founded in 1976, LA 18 is Southern California’s
#1 Asian-language TV station bringing news and entertainment, in
12 languages, to the largest U.S. Asian market — composed of over
2.5 million Asian consumers. LA 18 airs daily local news in Mandarin,
Korean, and Vietnamese and produces daily variety shows in Mandarin and
Tagalog. LA 18’s over-the-air signal covers 6.3 million TV households
in the Los Angeles and San Diego television markets. LA 18 is also
a must-carry station on cable systems, DirecTV and DISH Network
in the Los Angeles television market. In 2008, LA 18 launched the
Suite of Asian Digital Channels, providing 24/7, free over-the-air
Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese and Armenian Channels to the
community. For more information, please visit

Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel. (202) 775-1918
Fax. (202) 775-5648
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
September 29, 2008
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

NEW McCAIN OUTREACH TO ARMENIAN AMERICAN VOTERS FAILS TO OUTLINE
POLICY POSITIONS

Senate Record Reflects Opposition and Indifference to Armenian
American Priorities

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John McCain today issued an open letter to
Armenian American voters, seeking their support for his
presidential campaign, but failing to outline his stands on core
Armenian American issues, reported the Armenian National Committee
of America (ANCA).

Today’s letter, released by the McCain-Palin campaign, echoed the
same themes as Senator McCain’s correspondence this February to the
ANCA. Using nearly identical language, the Arizona Senator praised
the Armenian American contribution to American society, and
Armenia’s contribution to Coalition operations in Iraq and NATO
peacekeeping in Kosovo. While remaining silent on Nagorno Karabagh,
the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, U.S. aid to Armenia, and the
broader issue of U.S.-Armenia relations, he did, in euphemistic
language typically employed by the Administration, mention the
"terrible tragedy" suffered by the Armenians, although, notably,
without using the proper term genocide or even mentioning the
Ottoman Empire or the Republic of Turkey.

"We had hoped that, during the course of the campaign, Senator
McCain’s outreach to Armenian American voters would have evolved
beyond the respectful but substantially non-policy oriented letter
he sent to us earlier this year, by outlining his positions on our
community’s core issues," said ANCA Executive Director Aram
Hamparian. "Armenian Americans are issue voters, and look to the
candidates seeking their support to be clear about their views and
values – particularly on issues related to the Armenian Genocide,
Nagorno Karabagh, the strengthening of Armenia, and the growth of
U.S.-Armenia relations."

Senator McCain has, throughout his tenure in the Congress, largely
opposed or was passively indifferent to a broad array of Armenian
American issues. As recently as October of last year, Senator
McCain publicly opposed Congressional recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. In 1999, he voted against restricting U.S. aid to
Azerbaijan over its blockades and other offensive uses of force
against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. He voted against Senator Bob
Dole’s Armenian Genocide Resolution in 1990.

In a related matter, Forbes magazine published a prominent article
about opposition within Turkey to the Obama campaign due to the
support of both Senators Obama and Biden for U.S. recognition of
the Armenian Genocide.

The article, entitled, "Armenia, Turkey and the G-Resolution," can
be found on the Forbes.com website

The ANCA invites community comments about the Presidential
election. Share your thoughts by writing to [email protected].

The texts of both McCain letters are provided below.

#####

Text of September 29, 2008 McCain campaign open letter

To the Armenian-American Community of the United States

Dear Friends,

The Armenian-American community has contributed richly to the
American fabric and has been instrumental in ensuring that a
terrible tragedy is never forgotten.

It is fair to say that one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th
century, the brutal murder of as many as one and a half million
Armenians under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, has also been one
of the most neglected. The suffering endured by the Armenian people
during that period represented the prologue to what has come to be
known as humanity’s bloodiest century. It is our responsibility to
recognize those tragic events and to ensure that our world never
experiences the impact of the bloody conflicts that so filled the
20th century.

In light of that history, the rise of the independent Republic of
Armenia from such painful experiences is inspirational, as is the
vibrancy of the Armenian diaspora. In particular, I deeply admire
both Armenia’s support of coalition operations in Iraq and NATO
peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo. In my visits to Armenia, I have
been deeply impressed by the resilient and hard working Armenian
people who have made tremendous progress in very difficult
circumstances.

Our country is greatly enriched by the descendents of the victims
and survivors of the horrific tragedy that befell the Armenian
people. Today Armenian-Americans represent that indestructible
spirit of a people and embody the principles of freedom and
democracy that all Americans prize above all else. I am grateful
for all of the contributions that Armenian-Americans have made to
our wonderful country and I greatly value the opportunity to stand
with the Armenian-American community in my campaign and as the next
President of the United States.

Sincerely,
[signed]
John McCain

—————————————– ————————–
————-

Text of February 1, 2008 McCain letter to the ANCA

February 1, 2008

Aram Hamparian
Executive Director
Armenian National Committee of America
1711 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Thank you for contacting me regarding my views on issues of special
concern to the Armenian-American community – a community which has
contributed richly to the American fabric and has been instrumental
in ensuring that one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century
is never forgotten.

It is fair to say that this tragedy, the brutal murder of as many
as one and a half million Armenians under the rule of the Ottoman
Empire, has also been one of the most neglected. The suffering
endured by the Armenian people during that period represented the
prologue to what has come to be known as humanity’s bloodiest
century.

Therefore, the rise of independent Armenia from such painful
experiences is extremely inspirational, as is the vibrancy of the
Armenian diaspora. In particular, I deeply admire both Armenia’s
support of coalition operations in Iraq and NATO peacekeeping
efforts in Kosovo, as well as the Armenian-American community’s
great contributions to our nation. In my visits to Armenia, I have
been deeply impressed by the tremendous progress made in very
difficult circumstances.

I greatly appreciate this opportunity and look forward to working
with the Armenian-American community in my campaign and as the next
President of the United States.

Sincerely,

[signed]
John McCain

NEW MCCAIN OUTREACH TO ARMENIAN AMERICAN VOTERS FAILS TO OUTLINE POLICY POSITIONS

armradio.am
30.09.2008 11:24

Senator John McCain issued an open letter to Armenian American voters,
seeking their support for his presidential campaign, but failing to
outline his stands on core Armenian American issues, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

The letter, released by the McCain-Palin campaign, echoed the
same themes as Senator McCain’s correspondence this February to
the ANCA. Using nearly identical language, the Arizona Senator
praised the Armenian American contribution to American society,
and Armenia’s contribution to Coalition operations in Iraq and NATO
peacekeeping in Kosovo. While remaining silent on Nagorno Karabakh,
the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades, U.S. aid to Armenia, and the
broader issue of U.S.-Armenia relations, he did, in euphemistic
language typically employed by the Administration, mention the
"terrible tragedy" suffered by the Armenians, although, notably,
without using the proper term genocide or even mentioning the Ottoman
Empire or the Republic of Turkey.

"We had hoped that, during the course of the campaign, Senator McCain’s
outreach to Armenian American voters would have evolved beyond the
respectful but substantially non-policy oriented letter he sent to
us earlier this year, by outlining his positions on our community’s
core issues," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Armenian
Americans are issue voters, and look to the candidates seeking their
support to be clear about their views and values – particularly
on issues related to the Armenian Genocide, Nagorno Karabakh, the
strengthening of Armenia, and the growth of U.S.-Armenia relations."

NATO CONDUCTS TRAINING DRILL IN ARMENIA

PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung)
2008-09-29 17:04:01
Austria

YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) – Hundreds of military personnel from NATO and
ex-Soviet bloc nations are in Armenia for a NATO-organized training
exercise.

U.S. Lieutenant General John Gardner says the drill is focusing a
theoretical humanitarian crisis and is designed to help NATO members
better work with non-alliance countries.

The three-week drill involving 17 countries comes weeks after
neighboring Georgia fought a brief war with Russia over the status
of two Georgian breakaway regions.

The war rattled the entire South Caucasus region, which straddles
East-West trading corridors.

Neither Russia nor Georgia sent representatives to the drill, which
began Monday.

Nor did Turkey or Azerbaijan, against whom Armenia fought a war in
the 1990s over Nagorno-Karabakh.

MATTHEW BRYZA: AFTER THE GEORGIAN EVENTS THE OSCE MINSK GROUP CAN’T CONTINUE ITS ACTIVITY IN PREVIOUS ORDER

ArmInfo
2008-09-19 11:57:00

ArmInfo. "After the Georgian events the OSCE Minsk Group can’t continue
its activity in previous order", said OSCE Minsk Group US Co-Chair
Matthew Bryza, APA reports.

Bryza considers the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group as important. "We
hope that, as Russia fulfills its ceasefire commitments in Georgia, we
will be able to restore fully our cooperation within the Minsk Group"

Bryza said that Russia violated the Georgia’s territorial integrity
and invaded into Georgia in August. "It shows that the Minsk Group
can’t provide previous activity, but I think we are on the way return
to restoration of the Minsk Group’s activity. Russia understands that
its actions damage its international image".

"Every time while visiting Azerbaijan the government officials tell me
that they want US to join the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict
at higher level", said Bryza and added that he hoped more active
negotiations within the session of UN General Assembly in New York.

ARMENIAN GDP GROWS BY 10.3% IN JANUARY-AUGUST 2008 ON SAME PERIOD OF 2007

Noyan Tapan

Se p 19, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenian GDP grew by 10.3% in
January-August 2008 on the same period of 2007 and made 2 trillion
164 billion 567.8 million drams (about 7 bln 68.44 mln USD). The GDP
index-deflator made 109.6%.

According to the RA National Statistical Service, industrial production
grew by 2.2% in Armenia in January-August 2008 on the same months of
last year and made 496 bln 157 mln drams.

The gross agricultural output increased by 7.8% to 347 bln 380.2 mln
drams, construction – by 12.8% to 465 bln 849.6 mln drams, retail
trade – by 6.3% to 593 bln 639.2 mln drams, and services grew by 15.1%
to 453 bln 999.3 mln drams.

The foreign trade of Armenia increased by 24.8% in the indicated
period as compared with January-August 2007 and amounted to 3 billion
308.9 million USD, with exports declining by 4.8% to 696.8 mln USD,
while imports growing by 36% to 2 bln 612.1 mln USD.

Consumer prices rose by 9.5%, industrial production prices by 6%
in January-August 2008 on January-August 2007.

The number of officially registered unemployed persons declined by 7.8%
in late Augsut 2008 as compared with late August 2007 and made 75,600.

The average monthly nominal salary made 88,983 drams in the first
eight months of 2008 (21.2% growth on the same period of last year),
including salary of employees of budgetary institutions – 62,721 drams
(17.8% growth) and that of employees of nonbudgetary institutions –
110,154 drams (20.1% growth). The average exchange rate of the US
dollar made 306.23 drams in January-August of this year (in 2007 this
index made 342.08 drams).

RECOGNITION OF ABKHAZIA AND SOUTH OSSETIA NOT PRECEDENT FOR KARABAKH, MOSCOW SAYS

PanARMENIAN.Net
18.09.2008 15:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The recognition by Russia of Georgia’s Abkhazia and
South Ossetia as independent states does not set a precedent for other
post-Soviet breakaway regions, the foreign minister said on Thursday.

Sergei Lavrov said that unlike Georgia, other ex-Soviet states involved
in territorial disputes do not plan to use military force to resolve
them. "There can be no parallels here," he said.

Moscow said its counterattack following Georgia’s offensive to retake
South Ossetia in early August and the subsequent recognition of the
two breakaway regions’ independence were its moral duty and necessary
to protect them from possible new acts of aggression. The majority of
Western states have sided with Tbilisi in the dispute, and strongly
criticized Russia.

"Russia will actively promote a peaceful solution to all the
conflicts in the CIS [Commonwealth of Independent States] in line
with international law and UN Charter principles," he said. "We will
pursue our mediation in peace talks, including over Transnistria and
Nagorno Karabakh."

"None of the sides engaged in the Nagorno Karabakh and Transnistria
talks have nurtured plans to violate international law, existing
agreements, the settlement format and to bomb civilians and
peacekeepers," Lavrov said, RIA Novosti reports.

GREEK DELEGATION VISITED GEORGIA AND ARMENIA IN VIEW OF THE UPCOMING GREEK OSCE CHAIRMANSHIP

Foriegn Ministry of Greece
/160908_alp_1509.htm
Sept 16 2008

In view of the upcoming Greek OSCE Chairmanship, a Greek delegation
under the Head of the Greek OSCE Task Force, Ambassador N. Kalantzianos
and Greece’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Ambassador
Ms. M. Marinakis visited Tbilisi to be briefed on site on the recent
developments in the region, following relevant instructions by Foreign
Minister Ms. Bakoyannis.

This visit was carried out between 8-10 September and included
meetings with Georgia’s Prime Minister, Mr. Vladimir Gurgenidze,
Foreign Minister Ms. Eka Tkeshelasvhili, Parliament Deputy Chairman
Mr. Mikhael Machavariani and Minister for Reintegration Mr. Temur
Yakobashvili.

Apart from the abovementioned Georgian government officials, the
Greek delegation also had talks with all of the country’s opposition
party leaders.

There was also an extensive briefing by the Head of the OSCE
Observation Mission to Georgia, Ambassador Ms. Hakkala and her
associates regarding the Mission’s work.

The Greek delegation then traveled to Yerevan for talks with Armenia’s
political leadership and a briefing by the OSCE mission to the country.

The visit was carried out between 10 and 11 September. There were
meetings with President of the Armenian Republic Mr.Serzh Sargsyan,
National Assembly Speaker Mr. Tigran Torosyan, Foreign Minister
Mr. Edward Nalbandian, Defense Minister Mr. Seyron Ohanyan Deputy
Foreign Minister Mr. Arman Kirakossian.

PRESS RELEASE
September 18, 2008
Armenian National Committee of America
Eastern Region
122 W. 27th St. Floor 12, New York, NY 10001
Contact: Karine Birazian
Tel: 917-428-1918

ANCA EASTERN REGION HOSTS SUCCESSFUL BANQUET IN NEW YORK
–Martha Aramian and Samantha Power receive respected awards

NEW YORK–An enthusiastic crowd of over 350 gathered at the Grand
Hyatt Hotel on Saturday, September 13th in support of the Armenian
National Committee of America, Eastern Region second annual
banquet.

Hailing from as far as California, Las Vegas, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Michigan, and neighboring states, those in attendance
heard a wide variety of speakers and presentations focusing on the
ANCA’s advocacy work and the advances it has made over the last
year.

The evening also included a silent auction, raising over $20,000,
as well as live entertainment performed by Mr. Ara Dinkjian and Mr.
Harold Hagopian. Ms. Stephanie Mesrobian, ANC of Rhode Island
activist, served as the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies, inviting
dignitaries and community leaders to join her in covering the vast
agenda the organization encompasses. Attendees also had an
opportunity to view a highlight video of the ANCA Eastern Region’s
activities over the last 12 months, along with a special clip of
ANCA activities at the recent Democratic and Republican National
Conventions.

Each year, the ANCA Banquet culminates with an awards presentation
honoring those whose activism has touched the Armenian Cause. This
year’s honorees were Ms. Martha Aramian of Providence, Rhode Island
` recipient of the Vahan Cardashian Award for longstanding activism
and support of the ANCA’s mission, and Harvard professor and human
rights activist Dr. Samantha Power ` recipient of the ANCA Freedom
Award for championing human rights as they pertain to the Armenian
Cause. This dynamic female duo engaged the crowd through their
passionate and driven speeches: Drawing on her own family history,
Aramian discussed Armenian-Americans’ path from genocide and exile
to rebirth, remembrance, and the drive for restitution. Power,
meanwhile, emphasized the positive aspects of Armenian activism,
noting that while the battle for genocide recognition is far from
over, great strides have been made in recent years, to the point
where Turkey and its US allies have become isolated from mainstream
opinion on the matter.

"We were thrilled with the support and turnout from communities
near and far," commented ANCA Eastern Region Executive Director
Karine Birazian. "It was a wonderful evening, and truly an
inspiration to see two fabulous women to receive their respective
awards."

All in all, the evening raised approximately $100,000 which will go
toward the ANCA Endowment Fund. The fund sponsors various
educational and community outreach projects initiated by the ANCA.

Further details will appear in forthcoming releases.
####

Photo Caption #1: Dr. Samantha Power and Ms. Martha Aramian,
recipients of the 2008 Freedom and Vahan Cardashian Award

Photo Caption #2: Mistress of Ceremonies, Ms. Stephanie Mesrobian

Note to editor, pictures are numbered in order of importance