Author: Tvankchian Parkev

ARTFUL ARMENIAN WON WINNIE OVER
By Tom Rosenthal

Daily Mail
s/books/authors.html?in_article_id=534008&in_p age_id=1826
March 14 2008
UK

PORTRAIT IN LIGHT AND SHADOW: THE LIFE OF YOUSUF KARSH by Maria Tippett
(Yale University Press, £25)

Portrait of a war-winner: Winston Churchill photographed by Yousuf
Karsh

Long before computers were invented and computer-generated, or at
least enhanced, imagery became commonplace in the gutter Press,
Hollywood and even BBC television, skilled photographers could cheat
away with impunity.

One of the first – and foremost – to do this on a quite spectacular
scale was the Armenian-born Canadian Yousuf Karsh who, for several
decades, was the world’s leading portrait photographer.

Karsh was born 100 years ago. Unfortunately, 1908 was the year that the
Young Turks came to power in Constantinople (today’s Istanbul) and,
though the Turkish government has always denied it, there was over
the next few years a systematic massacre of the Christian Armenians
who lived in Turkey.

Karsh’s family managed to escape to Syria and young Yousuf (Joseph)
left as a 14-year-old for Canada where he worked as the assistant to
his photographer uncle, George Nakash.

Always a quick learner, he was soon apprenticed to another Armenian,
John Garo, the leading portrait photographer in Boston.

There, he learned not only his craft but also from Garo his prodigious
social gifts, a sure-footed knowledge of painting and portraiture
of the pre-photography years and above all, great charm to make even
the prickliest of sitters feel comfortable.

ONLY recently , the American writer Michael Greenberg reported on his
experience of having a publicity image made by a distinguished woman
photographer: ‘She was putting me at my ease, encouraging an intimacy
with no future that is the nature of the pact between portraitist
and subject.’

Karsh would never have put it so frankly and, ironically, his most
famous portrait, that of Winston Churchill, was most definitely not
at ease.

Britain’s war leader had reluctantly agreed to give Karsh a brief
sitting, not in Karsh’s studio where the photographer could control
everything, but in the Speaker’s Chamber at the Parliament building
in Ottowa, where Churchill had just given a rousing speech to the
Canadian people at the height of the war. Churchill was puffing away
at his ubiquitous cigar; Karsh proffered an ashtray since his sitters
were not allowed to smoke while he photographed them.

The great man ignored Karsh and went on smoking, so the diminutive
photographer snatched the cigar from the Prime Minister’s mouth
and snapped the image of Churchill as Roaring Lion, the very
personification of belligerent leadership.

The photograph became an international icon and Karsh of Ottawa as he
called himself, and his company, became world famous. Churchill got
over Karsh’s impudence and let him take another picture, this time
smiling, but steadfastly refused for the rest of his life to grant
Karsh a further sitting despite the photographer’s many visits to
London. This was perhaps the one major disappointment of his career,
although he was also turned down by General de Gaulle and Chairman Mao.

But having struggled to make a living in his early years in Ottawa, he
gradually became wealthy as to be photographed by Karsh was a status
symbol in its own right. Popes, presidents, film stars, writers,
King George VI and the present Queen all sat for him.

Business tycoons demanded to be immortalised by Karsh’s lens, rather
than by dull, academic portrait painters.

Slightly built, only 5ft 6in tall, prematurely bald, his assiduous
charm supported by two wives of formidable organisational skills,
with an ego as described by Maria Tippett as gigantic as that of many
of his subjects, he dominated international portrait photography for
four decades.

And, if his camera did not lie, his skills in the darkroom, in which
he would re-touch and alter his photographs at will, were if anything
even greater than his original exposures with their artful lighting
that would emphasise a sitter’s good points (after his first wife or
an assistant had applied make-up).

Thus, he became the court photo-grapher for the second half of the
last century, more or less until his death aged 94 in July 2002.

Having had his second marriage conducted by Bishop Sheen in St
Patrick’s Cathedral in New York, his funeral in Ottawa’s Notre Dame
Cathedral was conducted by the Archbishop.

When British Customs made difficulties over the vast amount of
photographic equipment he was bringing to London, he threatened to
curtail his sitting with the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir
Stafford Cripps.

Yet, for all his vanities, Karsh has left us many of the defining
images of some extraordinary 20th-century heroes from Sibelius to
Hemingway, from Sophia Loren to Albert Einstein, from Khrushchev to
Humphrey Bogart.

After President Kennedy’s assassination, Karsh’s picture of John and
Jackie became North America’s fastest-selling photo-graphic portrait,
perhaps because, as so often, he made the famous look just as an
adoring public wanted them to look.

–Boundary_(ID_ECtH552/qgZGqPopQp11DQ)–

ARMENIA AMONG THE STABLE COUNTRIES

AZG Armenian Daily
14/03/2008

Rating

141 countries are involved in Brookings institution’s "List of the
weak countries". Four main indexes are taken into consideration –
economy, policy, security and social sphere.

While assessing the economic state, economic growth rate, GDP on
one person, inflation, difference of incomes and quality of state
government were taken into consideration.

The economic state is assessed according to the levels of effectiveness
of authorities’ activity, control over corruption and personal freedom.

Security is assessed based on the level of political stability,
existence or absence of domestic conflicts and frequency of violation
of the law.

In the social sphere were taken into consideration the level of
child death rate, availability of education, duration of life and
availability of water-pipe and sewerage.

Data of UN and well-known research organizations were assumed as
a basis.

The first ten weakest countries are Somali, Afghanistan, Congo,
Iraq, Burundi, Sudan, Central African Republic, Zimbabwe, Liberia
and Ivory Coast.

Turkmenistan is the 35th in the list, Uzbekistan – 36th, Tajikistan –
42nd, Russia – 65th, Kirkistan – 73rd, Azerbaijan – 80th, Belarus –
81st, Moldova – 88th, Kazakhstan – 89th and Georgia – 90th.

Armenia is the 105th in the list of strong and stable countries,
Ukraine – 107th, Latvia – 136th and Litvania – 138th.

Iran is the 66th, India – 67th, China – 74th, Turkey – 98th, Argentina
– 115th and Poland – 135th.

Slovakia, Hungary and Chili are considered as the most stable countries
according to their ratings.

AZERI SOLDIER DEFECTS TO ARMENIA – ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY

Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS
March 12 2008
Russia

Private Yagub Alaverdy-ogly Mukhtarov, an Azeri citizen, has
intentionally defected to the Armenian side, and explained his
decision because of hazing in his army unit, the Armenian Defense
Ministry said in a press statement on Wednesday.

The defection took place on March 9 on the border stretch near the
village of Kollagir in Armenia’s Tavush region, the press service said.

"According to Mukhtarov’s statements, on March 9 he once again asked
the platoon commander to send him to a medical unit because of his
illness. After being refused he tried to ask the brigade commander
but was beaten up. Then he left his weapon in the trench and fled,"
the statement said.

"Multiple bruises and healed scars were found on Mukhtarov’s body,"
the Armenian Defense Ministry said.

There have already been cases where Azeri soldiers flee to Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh because of hazing. All of them were returned to
Azerbaijan. There was only one case when a soldier, who refused to
go back to Azerbaijan, was sent by the International Red Cross from
Armenia to a third country in late 2007.

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ARMENIAN PRESIDENT-ELECT SERJ SARKISJAN.
by Daria Yurieva

What the Papers Say
March 11, 2008 Tuesday
Russia

Question: A few words on the Armenian-Russian relations, please?

Serj Sarkisjan: I’m glad that our trade turnover has been steadily
increasing for the last 5-7 years. Russia is the principal investor
in Armenian economy. Russian capitals account for a dollar out of
every three invested in Armenia. Moreover, I have reasons to believe
that Russian businesses are quite comfortable in Armenia.

Where political relations between our countries are concerned,
I can only compliment them. They constitute strategic partnership,
and this state of affairs is quite beneficial for our countries.

As for their shortcomings, I’d say that there is a certain potential
in development of the Armenian-Russian relations in the spheres of
education and culture, for example, that has remained largely untapped
so far.

Question: Your opinion of the prospects of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement?

Serj Sarkisjan: I have always believed that the problem of
Nagorno-Karabakh may have only one solution, a peaceful solution based
on mutual compromises. Reasonable compromises, actually. As a matter
of fact, my views on the matter were first formulated fifteen years
ago and they have remained unchanged ever since. I elaborated on this
issue in the course of the presidential campaign, and the outcome of
the vote plainly shows that Armenian society shares these views.

Paradoxical as it may sound, I’m convinced that Azerbaijan should
recognize the Nagorno-Karabakh people’s right to self-determination
and Armenia should recognize Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. One
might say that these are mutually exclusive approaches, but that’s
only at first sight. I’m sure that a mutually acceptable compromise
will only be found on this basis.

Question: Do you view recognition of Kosovo as a sovereign state as
a precedent for Nagorno-Karabakh?

Serj Sarkisjan: No, we do not think that Kosovo may serve as a
precedent for Nagorno-Karabakh. We are convinced that every conflict
has its own roots, its own development, and its own solutions. All
the same, we applaud every episode whenever a people anywhere in the
world exercises its right to self-determination.

Question: There have been no diplomatic relations between Armenia
and Turkey for years. What does it take to establish them?

Serj Sarkisjan: We are ready for it. We do not put forth any demands
for their establishment. Turkey does. It’s up to Ankara therefore.

Question: Why is recognition of genocide of the Armenians in the
Ottoman Empire so important for Yerevan?

Serj Sarkisjan: Because tragedies or traumas like that are never
forgotten. And by the way, it is not Armenia that brings the matter
up again and again for discussion in foreign countries. It is the
Armenians living there, citizens of these countries.

Question: Do you accept the premise that the disturbances in Yerevan
not long ago were essentially another try at a color revolution,
this one in Armenia?

Serj Sarkisjan: It is not impossible. On the other hand, this effort
was doomed to failure in any event. Color revolutions succeeded
in some other countries, but their organizers failed to take into
account certain factors that exist in Armenia. First, the Armenian
authorities have society’s trust. Second, most Armenians stand for
evolutionary development and do not want the erstwhile elite in the
corridors of power again.

Question: Political scientists call you a "pro-Armenian" politician?

Do you accept this definition?

Serj Sarkisjan: Sure. My whole career in politics plainly shows that
Armenian statehood, economic development, and national security are
all I care about. As president, I intend to do everything it takes
to make Armenia a strong democracy with free enterprise and human
rights and civil freedoms observed.

DECLARATION OF RA MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON OCCASION OF OSCE/ODIHR INTERIM REPORT

Noyan Tapan
March 10, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, NOYAN TAPAN. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Armenia, has made a declaration on the occasion of
the OSCE/ODIHR Interim Report, which we present completely:

"The OSCE/ODIHR Interim Report reaffirms that Armenia’s presidential
elections were Basically in line with Armenia’s international
commitments

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that OSCE/ODIHR Election
Observation Mission has released its third interim report on Armenia’s
Presidential elections. The report reaffirms the ODIHR Election
Observation Mission’s assessment that the February 19 Presidential
election "was administered mostly in line with OSCE and Council of
Europe commitments and standards."

The government of Armenia notes that some of the problems cited in
this post-election interim report have already been at the center of
attention by certain law enforcement bodies, and that appropriate
steps are taken to respond, including to criminally charge some of
those responsible for certain electoral irregularities.

At the same time, Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that in
spite of the government’s repeated inquiries, the government has not
been provided with the identifying numbers of 13 of the 17 precincts
where, according to the report, the counting process was "bad" or
"very bad", and therefore, without such information, the government
is unable to conduct the appropriate investigation.

The interim report also includes interpretative statements based on
unverified data. Thus, the report expresses doubt about the high
turnout in precincts 37/18, 37/29, 37/38 and 37/39. Prior to the
issuance of the report, the authorities had explained that there are
military posts in those precincts which naturally raises the numbers
of those voting, and thus the percentage of voter turnout in those
precincts can be not just near 100, but also in excess of 100 percent.

The Armenian government will closely examine each problem, as well
as inconsistency and error cited in the report, and will provide
comprehensive information about each both to the Armenian public and
to OSCE/ODIHR in order to assure that the final report is even more
objective and complete."

AS OF MARCH 1, THERE ARE 7 665 HOMELESS FAMILIES IN LORI AND SHIRAK REGIONS

Noyan Tapan
March 10, 2008

YEREVAN, MARCH 10, NOYAN TAPAN. As of March 1, there are 7 665 homeless
families in the Lori and Shirak regions. 4 666 out of them are in
the RA Shirak region (including Gyumri, 4018 homeless families, 648
homeless families in the region’s 41 rural communities). According
to the report provided by the Public Relations Department of the RA
Territorial Administration Ministry, this was stated at the March 10
working consultation at the office of Hovik Abrahamian, the RA Deputy
Prime Minister, the Territorial Administration Minister.

19 265 homeless families were provided with apartments in the urban
and rural communities of the Shirak region in 1988-2008, 17 779 out
of them in Gyumri. Besides, under the Apartment Purchase Certificate
program, 520 beneficiary families received apartments in 2005-2007
in Gyumri, 112 residential houses were built in the region’s rural
populated areas.

Apartment purchase programs are also implemented by public
structures. In particular, 4 838 families purchased apartments in
2000-2004 with the funds of the Urban fund.

2 999 homeless families were registered in the Lori region as of
2008 March 1, 114 out of them in the town of Vanadzor, 923 in Spitak,
59 in Stepanavan.

There are 1 903 homeless families in the 33 villages of the region. 14
601 homeless families were provided with apartments in the region
in 1988-2008, 11083 out of which in the towns of Vanadzor, Spitak,
Stepanavan, 3 518 in the villages. Like the Shirak region, apartment
provision programs were also implemented in Lori: in 2005-2007, 179
families received apartments in the Lori region under the Apartment
Purchase Certificate program, and residential houses were built for
432 families in the villages.

UN Secretary-General issues a congratulatory message on International
Women’s Day

armradio.am
08.03.2008 11:48

At the 2005 World Summit, Governments of all nations agreed that
`progress for women is progress for all’. Yet the 10-year review of the
implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action revealed a serious
gap between policy and practice in many countries. A lack of political
will is reflected in the most telling way of all: lack of resources and
insufficient budgetary allocations. That is why the theme of this
International Women’s Day is `Investing in Women and Girls’.

This failure of funding undermines not only our endeavors for gender
equality and women’s empowerment as such; it also holds back our
efforts to reach all the Millennium Development Goals. As we know from
long and indisputable experience, investing in women and girls has a
multiplier effect on productivity and sustained economic growth. No
measure is more important in advancing education and health, including
the prevention of HIV/AIDS. No other policy is as likely to improve
nutrition, or reduce infant and maternal mortality.

We do have some progress to build on. Financial resources have been
mobilized in increasing women’s employment, enhancing the role of
microfinance, advancing credit for enterprises for women, and driving
public finance reforms. More than 50 countries have launched
gender-responsive budgeting initiatives. The private sector is scaling
up efforts to finance women’s economic empowerment, and women’s funds
and foundations are emerging as innovative sources of financing.

But we must do more. All of us in the international community —
Governments, multilateral Organizations, bilateral institutions and the
private sector — need to calculate the economic costs of persistent
gender inequality, and the resources required to remedy it. We need to
create mechanisms for tracking investments in gender equality. We need
to monitor and report resource allocations on a regular basis. We need
to adjust domestic budgets as well as international aid flows to real
needs, and ensure that they are sustained.

In the United Nations family too, we need to better match demands with
resources. The resources available for gender mainstreaming must be
made more sustainable and predictable — particularly at the regional
and country levels. And to make a real difference, our gender-specific
machinery needs funding that is commensurate with the challenges. I
firmly believe that one dynamic and strengthened gender entity,
consolidating resources currently scattered among several structures,
would attract better funding from the donor community. By mobilizing
forces of change at the global level, and inspiring enhanced results at
the country level, such an entity would better advance our cause to
empower women and realize gender equality worldwide. I urge Member
States to muster the political will to bring the consultations on this
issue to a successful conclusion.

This year we find ourselves at the mid-point in the race to reach the
Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015. Only by
investing in the world’s women and girls can we expect to reach our
destination. On this International Women’s Day, let us resolve to unite
in this mission.

Les Echos, France
3 mars 2008 lundi

L’Arménie en proie à des violences

La capitale arménienne, Erevan, était placée, hier, sous la
surveillance de l’armée après une soirée de violences entre
manifestants d’opposition et policiers qui ont fait huit morts et
conduit à l’instauration de l’état d’urgence. L’opposition a appelé
au petit matin à la fin des manifestations, après onze jours de
protestations contre la victoire à la présidentielle du 19 février du
Premier ministre, Serge Sarkissian, face à l’opposant et ancien
président Levon Ter-Petrossian. Cette décision a fait suite à
l’instauration samedi soir de l’état d’urgence à Erevan, jusqu’au 20
mars. Sept civils et un policier sont morts tandis qu’un policier a
été très grièvement blessé lors des affrontements de samedi, selon le
ministère des Affaires étrangères. Au total, 131 personnes ont été
blessées (59 civils et 72 policiers). La présidence finlandaise de
l’Organisation pour la sécurité et la coopération en Europe a envoyé,
hier, un médiateur pour tenter de résoudre la crise politique.

Azerbaijani side once more violated the ceasefire regime

Azat Artsakh Daily
07-03-2008
Republic of Nagorno Karabakh [NKR]

On the night of 6-7 March, the Azeri armed units once more violated the
ceasefire regime on Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces
contact-line in the direction of Hadrut. According to the NKR Defense
Ministry’s on-line data, NKR Defense Army’s positions were heavily
fired on using different kinds of weapon – submachine guns and sniper
rifles. Being adherent to the ceasefire regime, the NKR Defense Army
subunits did not open a return fire.

Serzh Sarkisian intends to do everything necessary for `Armenia to
become a strong democratic state, where rights and basic liberties are
observed’

March 7, 2008

Yerevan /Mediamax/. Armenian President-Elect Serzh Sarkisian stated
that in the course of the nearest years at the President’s position he
intends `to do everything necessary for Armenia to become a strong
democratic state with liberal economy, where the rights and basic
liberties of a person are observed’.

Mediamax reports that Serzh Sarkisian said this in an interview,
published in `Rossiyskaya Gazeta’ today.

The present Prime Minister noted that `the effort to organize a `color
revolution’ in Armenia was doomed to failure from the very beginning’.

`As opposed to the states, where `color revolution’ was successful, in
Armenia there are factors, which were not taken into account by the
organizers of the given unrest. Firstly, authorities of Armenia enjoys
a very strong confidence of the society. The result of presidential
elections proved that. Secondly, the majority of Armenian society
desires evolutional path and does not agree, unlike certain radical
oppositionists, to a revenge of the previous elite’, Serzh Sarkisian
stated.