Author: Varosian Antranik

The Gazette (Montreal)
May 31, 2008 Saturday
Final Edition

More awards for pianist Arghamanyan

Nareh Arghamanyan, the 19-year-old Armenian pianist who won the grand
prize Tuesday night in the Montreal

International Musical Competition, collected two other awards at the
competition gala concert on Thursday: the $5,000 prize for the best
performance of the imposed piece, Fastforward by Alexina Louie, and
the $2,500 Prix du Public, chosen by public ballot and dedicated to
the late Quebec pedagogue Yvonne Hubert.

Other prizes announced were the $7,500 Joseph Rouleau Award for best
artist from Quebec (Marie-Hélène Trempe) and the $5,000 award for best
Canadian (Vancouver-based Sergei Saratovsky). The annual competition
next year will be dedicated to voice.

Arthur Kaptainis

Boston Globe, MA
May 27 2008

In season finale, BMOP charts the Armenian experience

Centuries of upheaval have made the Armenian diaspora one of the
world’s largest; by some estimates, almost three times as many
Armenians live outside the country as in it. Charting Armenian music
and inspiration, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project’s season finale,
"Armenia Resounding," balanced perspectives from within and without.

Boston Modern Orchestra Project
Gil Rose, artistic director
Performing "Armenia Resounding"
At: Jordan Hall, Friday

The late Alan Hovhaness represented the latter; the Somerville-born
composer embraced his Armenian roots early in a prolific, 67-symphony
career tinged with varieties of exotic influence. His three Armenian
Rhapsodies, dating from 1944, adapt folk melodies without much
exegesis. Hovhaness layers melodies among a string orchestra (leavened
by percussion in the first Rhapsody), musical sentences ending in
drones to undergird the next phrase. It’s an austere evocation,
distilling a constructed essence of the culture.

By contrast, Vache Sharafyan’s "Sinfonia No. 2 un poco concertante," a
BMOP commission and world premiere, takes that essence as its starting
point. Melodies erupt into dense, slow-shifting harmonic clouds; a
repetitive figure builds into crashing waves of multitudinous, Ivesian
dissonance. A solo duduk, the Armenian folk oboe (pre-recorded for
this concert), spins periodic arabesques, the instrument’s microtonal
inflections transmuted in the orchestra. Sharafyan creates complex,
deliberate, ultimately captivating grandeur – artistic director Gil
Rose led a terrific, vivid performance.

The program’s other commission/premiere came from an Armenian icon,
composer Tigran Mansurian, making the outward gaze literal with "Three
Arias: Sung Out the Window Facing Mount Ararat" the sacred mountain
now, via the vagaries of history, just beyond the Armenian border with
Turkey. Kim Kashkashian’s solo viola took eloquent lead, over
delicate, economic orchestral accompaniment. Consistently gentle, even
nostalgic, the music remained content in its poised cinematic
loveliness. Kashkashian was excellent, with not just a ravishing,
singing tone, but a singer’s phrasing, the lines as much breathed as
bowed.

Hovhaness’s Symphony No. 1, "Exile" – subtitled in reference to
Armenians displaced by the 1915 genocide – was, in fact, the concert’s
least Armenian-sounding work. The melodic exoticism seemed more
geographically generic, among evidence of the 25-year-old composer’s
as yet unassimilated models: vigorous, rustling strings from Sibelius,
Mussorgsky-like fanfares and modal chorales that would become
Hollywood-epic cliches. But the incisive reading also revealed virtues
Hovhaness would forever rely on: a sturdy orchestrational scaffold, an
uncanny dramatic pace, a transcendental faith in the power of his
unadorned musical materials.

Rose and company plan more Hovhaness in advance of the composer’s 2011
centenary; Friday’s performance proved them ideal guides for that
magical mystery tour.

Panorama.am

17:29 27/05/2008

-ARMENIA- FOUNDATION – ALL PROJECTS CONDUCTED

-Last year more than 22mln dollars were transferred to
foundation budget and 11mln of it was disposed to
Nagorno Karabakh for the ongoing and new life called
projects. All the projects are ongoing ones and I have
reported that because of the foreign currency and
construction materials price changes we did not have
any other choice but to stop several projects
implementation,- said Vahe Aghabekyans the director of
-Armenia- foundation in the session of board of
trustees.

V. Aghabekyan recommended the board of trustees to
form a labor group which will research the market in
three months period and prepare a package of
proposals. -The foundation is rather skillful and
experienced institution, and it needs to be modernized
in order the new challenges are met,- he said.

Source: Panorama.am

Interfax News Agency, Russia
May 26 2008

AZERBAIJAN HOPES FOR CONSTRUCTIVE STANCE FROM ARMENIA AT UPCOMING …

Azerbaijan hopes that Armenia will be constructive at a meeting of the
two presidents in St. Petersburg on June 6. The meeting is planned on
the sidelines of a CIS informal summit, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
spokesman Khazar Ibrahim told a Monday press briefing.

We said earlier that it was necessary to prepare the meeting. It seems
time has come to hold it, he said.

We expect Armenia to be constructive, to show goodwill, to accept
realities and to take relevant steps, he said.

The spokesman also said that Azerbaijan wished to strengthen relations
with Russia, which recently elected its new president.

Azerbaijan and Russia are neighbors. Azerbaijan will continue to
develop relations with Russia, he said.

Azerbaijan is ready to cooperate with international organizations in
preparations for the presidential election of this October, Ibrahim
said.

We are always ready for free and transparent cooperation with any
international organizations focused on the election process, he said.

Azerbaijan will develop this cooperation before, during and after the
elections, Ibrahim said. There is no other way to do it, he added.

HYE-TERT, Turkey
May 25 2008

300th Anniversary of Holy Nazareth Armenian Church of Kolkata

Armash Nalbandian

During the week of November 8 to the 15 2008 the Armenian community of
Calcutta will celebrate the 300th anniversary of the laying of the
foundation stone of the Holy Church of Nazareth; the Church was
initially built in 1707.

St. Mary’s Armenian Church in Chennai (formerly Madras) was built in
1712. The home of the fist Armenian periodical in the world, Azdarar,
was printed in Chennai in the year 1794. Under the auspices of the
Armenian Church Committee it has recently been fully restored and
renovated, as have some of the other Armenian churches. St. Mary’s
Church will be re-consecrated during this event.

The Pastor, and the Armenian Church Committee members would like to
extend an invitation to everyone who is interested to joining them in
this historical event.

A variety of events have been planned for the week, which will include
a Hrashapar service, Pontifical Liturgy, and Thanksgiving service at
the Holy Nazareth Armenian Church. A cultural seminar, inauguration of
the Community Centre at Tangra and Ground Breaking ceremony of
Armenian College Sports Complex, tours to the Armenian Churches in
Kolkata as well as a visit to the oldest Armenian Churches in West
Bengal, which are St. John the Baptist Armenian Church built in 1695
in Chinsurah and Holy Virgin Mary Armenian Church built in 1758 in
Saidabad.

You will also have the opportunity to visit the 2-Century-old Armenian
College & Philanthropic Academy that has recently undergone some major
upgrades under the direction of Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian and the Davidian
Girls’ School to meet and interact with the students as well as
explore the city and other local historical sites.

Many members of the local community as well as national and
international dignitaries will attend some or all aspects of the
program. An open invitation is extended to everyone who feels that
this would be an event of interest.

A detailed program of events will be available shortly. You may
request it by contacting Fr. Gulgulian at [email protected] or
the Armenian Church Committee [email protected] for all
questions or comments you may contact the same. In order to assist us,
it is necessary for anyone interested in attending, to please contact
Liz Chater at [email protected]. For those in the USA please
contact Helena Cray at [email protected].

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SERGEI MINASYAN: BAKU WITH ALL ITS MIGHT TRIES TO REQUITE FOR DEFEAT IN KARABAKH WAR

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.05.2008 17:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The concept of Azerbaijani national and defense
doctrine is West-oriented. To be more precise, it heads for Turkey,
said Sergei Minasyan, head of the political studies department at
the Caucasus Institute.

"Azerbaijan follows the model of Turkish armed forces with all its
advantages and shortcomings. Defense Minister Safar Abiyev is the only
military man, who occupies a ministerial post throughout the CIS. Army
gains weight in Azerbaijan. However, Baku shouldn’t forget that the
army has numerously led Turkey to political crises since 1960-ies,"
Minasyan said during Caucasus 2007 international conference in Yerevan.

Touching upon lively cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO,
Mr Minasyan said, "NATO stakes on Turkey and Israel. Now, the
Azeri armed forces are re-armed with Israel-made weapons. Besides,
Azerbaijan supposes to spend $66 million on defense industry. It’s
natural that Baku with all its might tries to requite for defeat in
Karabakh war. Anyway, the concept of complete revanche never justifies
itself and armament race can’t prove helpful."

GASPROM AND ARMENIA AGREE TO MAKE MID-TERM CONTRACT FOR GAS SUPPLY AND CHANGEOVER TO EUROPEAN GAS TARIFFS IN 2011

arminfo
2008-05-20 13:46:00

ArmInfo. Chairman of Gazprom OJSC Board Aleksey Miller, President of
the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and Prime Minister of Armenia
Tigran Sargsyan agreed to make a new contract for gas supply. Gazprom
press-service reports the parties agreed that it will be a mid-term
contract with a price formula i.e. a changeover to the European
price level is expected in 2011 (like in Russia). ‘Gas price will be
changed gradually given the high level of strategic cooperation and
strengthening Gazprom’s position in Armenia due to the increase of
its stake in ArmRusgasprom Company’, the source reports.

Before January 2009 Russian gas will be supplied to Armenia for
110 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters. The parties stressed that
ArmRusgasprom JV is extending its activity and preparing to launch
IPO. Earlier Head of ArmRusgasprom Karen Karapetyan said that the
company is working on a preliminary IPO and conducts international
audit. In the spring of 2006 Gazprom and the Government of Armenia
signed a 25- year contract to determine the strategic principles of
cooperation in gas and energy projects in the territory of Armenia. The
contract implies acquisition of the fifth power unit of Hrazdan TPP
(Hrazdan-5) from the Government of Armenia and the country’s gas
facilities. The Russian holding pledged to complete the construction
of the 5th power unit within 2 years and to build a gas turbine with
up to 140 MW capacity hereby increasing the general capacity to 440 MW.

After the investments, Gazprom will have majority stake in
ArmRusgasprom CJSC. The above gas price (110 dollars per 1.000 cubic
meters before January 2009) was established in exchange for the sale
of the assets to Gazprom.

Starting from January 1 2009 up to 2011, the gas price for Armenia will
make up 165 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters. Armenia has no own natural
gas resources. Gazprom resumed gas supply to Armenia in June 2003 and
it is the only gas supplier to Armenia. Gasprom Export LTD (100pct
subsidiary of Gazprom) is engaged in gas supply up to the Armenian
boundary. Gasprom holds 67.94pct stake in ArmRusgasprom at present.

AAC DID ALL IN ITS POWER TO PRESERVE NORASHEN CHURCH

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.05.2008 16:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian Apostolic Church did not convene the
Synod in Holy Echmiadzin to discuss the fate of Norashen Church,
Tbilisi, an informed source told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

"The AAC did all in its power to preserve Norashen Church under the
jurisdiction of the AAC Georgian Diocese. Now, it’s the state’s turn,"
the source said.

The Georgian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church expressed
indignation at the encroachment on Saint Norashen Church and its
surroundings instigated by Father Tariel Sikinchelashvili of the
Georgian Orthodox Church.

Saint Norashen Church was built in the middle of 15th century. In
1930-ies along with other places of worship, it was closed and used
as a book depository.

After restoration of state independence, the Georgian government did
not return the Church to its legal historical owner.

During the recent several days a brigade of workers has been building
an iron fence with depiction of religious elements typical for
the Georgian Orthodox Church. The Armenian Diocese views the act as
violation of the agreement to find a civilized solution to the problem
of belonging of Saint Norashen and four other churches in Tbilisi.

Meanwhile, Father Tariel informed that in the near future he plans
to start "reconstruction works" within the church for holding divine
services by Georgian clergy.

The AAC Georgian Diocese called the Patriarchy of the Georgian Orthodox
Church to take action to prevent infringement of constitutional
rights and to observe the agreement, violation of which can bring to
irreparable injury.

NEW GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION IN THE CAUCASUS: TOWARDS WHERE? – ANALYSIS

Azeri Press Agency

May 20 2008
Azerbaijan

2008 began very actively in view of Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict. Despite that the activeness appears as natural on the back
of presidential elections in both countries the developments are at
odds with the scenario.

In fact the elections shouldn’t be viewed as a reason of the
developments because it is only the part of world and regional
processes. Today, the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and situation in
whole South Caucasus should be evaluated as an impact of new system
of international relations, created after Kosovo’s declaration of
independence in February, on the region. In other words, new view
of super powers and organizations on the traditional confrontation
between the principles of territorial integrity of the countries
and self-determination right of peoples should be considered as an
accelerator of the processes. Undoubtedly local conditions, which
played decisive role in the existing situation and domestic terms,
shouldn’t be out of attention:

– Armenian self-isolation policy for defending of status-quo; – Effect
of Azerbaijan’s huge oil incomes; – Intensified dissatisfaction of
public community in Armenia against the Nagorno Karabakh clan; –
Azerbaijan’s concern over Kosovo experience to be as a precedent;

Russia is not reconciled with the Kosovo’s independence and threatens
to repeat the same scenario in the Caucasus. Last developments,
related to Russian citizens of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, are the
part of this plan. Concerning over this, the West states that Kosovo
is not precedent and tries to strengthen its position in the region
considering such strategic features of the region as a transit
and energy security. Other conditioned aspect it the threatening
of territorial integrity of ally Georgia, the scene of "rose
revolution". The West gave written promises to Georgia in Bucharest
summit to welcome it in NATO and the country is out of the orbit of
Russian influence, which changes the balance of forces in the Caucasus.

Azerbaijan’s recent tactics "the best defense is an attack" also means
the using of new situation in its favor. A weak domestic stability in
Armenia is also in favor of our country. It will be credulity to think
that adoption of UN resolution on situation in the occupied lands of
Azerbaijan and post-election unrests in Armenia coincided only. Baku
tries to create legal basis for a new situation not to threaten its
vital interests. The UN resolution and 43rd article of NATO Bucharest
declaration have been adopted with this goal. In the first case
Azerbaijan won the UN support and in the second case it achieved to
neutralize two of the three superpowers, which voted against the UN
resolution and to reach NATO guarantee for its territorial integrity.

Certainly, there is no need to exaggerate an importance of resolution
of UN General Assembly or resolution of NATO. Adoption of such
decisions and documents is positive. The new power is a continuation
of previous one and therefore Armenia will not change its policy on
Nagorno Karabakh. Domestic tensity, separation of church, Diaspora
and society give broad political chance for Azerbaijan. Such situation
occurred during terrorist act in Armenian parliament in 1999. Matthew
Bryza, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian
Affairs noted in Helsinki Commission that Armenia could be deprived
from Millennium Challenge Cooperation. There is not an analogue of
this situation in Armenia-US relations.

Baku has left Armenia behind within the framework of Prague
process. Using adopted documents, Azerbaijan can influence on
the negotiation process. Here includes the joint usage of Lachin
corridor and fate of Kalbajar, as well as status of Nagorno Karabakh
Autonomous Province. Azerbaijan will use negotiations on UN level
and inactivity of OSCE MG as a way of pressure. Realization of
Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway will be last element of Armenian
blockade and Yerevan bewares of increase of Azerbaijani military
budget and war mood. After Kosovo experiment, unilateral recognition of
Nagorno Karabakh will weaken the position of Yerevan. Former Spokesman
for Armenian foreign ministry Vladimir Karapetian noted that Azerbaijan
could use natural gas as a trump card in Russia-Azerbaijan relations,
as well as Iran issue in US-Azerbaijan relations and exaggerate its
role in European energy security.

"We face common useless condition linking with our weakness,
new regional status of Azerbaijan. Today’s Azerbaijan differs from
Azerbaijan participated in negotiations process late in last century",
he said.

GUAM AS POMPOUS PROJECT WITH LIMITED CAPACITIES
by Sergei Zhiltsov

DEFENSE and SECURITY
May 16, 2008 Friday
Russia

NOT A SINGLE REGIONAL PROBLEM SOLVED, GUAM IS DOOMED TO A QUIET DEMISE;
Proclaiming itself ready to tackle local problems, GUAM aspires to
leadership in the Black Sea region. Bold declarations are all it has
been good for so far.

The Black Sea region attracts more and more attention. Regrettably, it
is the conflicts that usually attract attention and not the successes
of economic or political integration accomplished by the countries of
the region. Tension mounting in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict area,
Tbilisi’s never ending accusations of Russia, dummies presented as
Black Sea Fleet missiles – this is a short list of the latest events
in the region.

It is clear now that regional organizations like the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization and GUAM (an alliance of Georgia, Ukraine,
Moldova, Azerbaijan) are absolutely helpless in dealing with regional
problems, and GUAM doubly so.

Proclaiming itself ready to tackle local problems, GUAM aspires to
leadership in the Black Sea region. Bold declarations are all it has
been good for so far. GUAM miserably failed to solve any problem of
the host the region is facing.

GUAM remains an outfit with a thoroughly amorphous structure with
good intentions and unclear prospects, with bold ambitions but
limited capacities. Not even its expansion will make GUAM any better
in everyone’s opinion. Its activities have done nothing to promote
measures of trust or strengthen regional security. On the contrary,
they have facilitated tension in the relations between GUAM members on
the one hand and countries like Armenia and Turkmenistan on the other.

Kosovo’s precedent in the meantime made GUAM’s standing even more
precarious. Its declaration of independence destabilized most
members of the organization. Georgia (with its runaway Abkhazia and
South Ossetia), Moldova (Trans-Dniester region), and Azerbaijan
(Nagorno-Karabakh) refuse to recognize Kosovo as a sovereign
state. Ukraine chose to remain neutral on the subject, its decision
all but putting GUAM on the brink of collapse. Moldova announced that
it might quit GUAM. In fact, it has not regarded membership in GUAM as
one of the foreign political or economic priorities for some time now.

As an international structure, GUAM lacks a mechanism of conflict
settlement in the Commonwealth. All attempts to set up a regional
security framework without Russia and actually against Russia and
its clout with the countries of the region are doomed. Ukraine’s and
Georgia’s efforts to put together a peacekeeping contingent under the
GUAM aegis are thwarted by the Moldovans and Azerbaijanis who do see
any point in involving themselves in a structure that cannot be used
in the Trans-Dniester region or Nagorno-Karabakh anyway. Moreover,
Kishinev and Baku know better than to create additional problems in
their relations with Moscow. Problems are guaranteed as soon as GUAM
goes military.

Washington’s efforts in the Black Sea region have failed to make it
more secure or advance bilateral and multilateral contacts between
the countries of the region. One might say that GUAM remains in
the periphery of Washington’s foreign policy despite all its recent
initiatives. The structure will probably remain in a stupor, but the
United States will certainly keep it together as an instrument in
its geopolitical wars on Russia.