Author: Virabian Jhanna

LONG EXPECTED HEARINGS IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Yerkir, Armenia
Nov 6 2006

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defense, National
Security and Internal Affairs held a working discussion aimed at
informing the parliament on the measures taken by the law enforcement
agencies in fighting crime.

The discussion was proposed by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Party. Chairman of the Committee Aramayis Grigorian noted that the
reason for having the discussion are the recent cases of murder
that were viewed as an expression of intensification of the criminal
situation that has caused concerns among the society.

Representatives from the police, the national security service,
Ministry of Justice as well as NGOs participated in the discussion.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Ararat Mahtessian noted that some
political leaders and media outlets are increasingly using the terms
‘criminal’ and ‘criminalization’ referring to the existing situation
in Armenia.

"These statements have nothing to do with the criminal statistics
and the efficiency of the fight against crime. The law enforcement
bodies will welcome any initiatives coming from the government or the
society aimed at fighting crime but we cannot accept any approaches
that are trying to devalue the work of thousands of people committed
to their job," Mahtessian stated adding that the dynamics of crime
indicators have remained stable in the past 6 years and in the past
3 years it has decreased.

Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Vahan Hovhannissian noted
in his statement that the government’s efforts yield no results in
a country where the law enforcement bodies cannot work efficiently
because no matter how many socially oriented programs the government
implements the level of the population’s vulnerability starts at the
point where the population should be protected by the police.

Other security systems are not that visible for the population,
Hovhannissian stated noting that merely listening to the report
presented by the police is not sufficient since the police is only one
circle in the longer chain. Institutions responsible for preventive
measures are a part of that chain too, Hovhannissian believes.

Meanwhile, these institutions are either non-existent or are
in a miserable condition. "It is surprising that there are no
representatives of the Prosecutor’s Office here because the work the
police does sometimes loses its meaning because of the Prosecutor’s
Office. Then comes the court, the penitentiary system which is also
in a very poor condition.

We will find ourselves in a very awkward position if we fail to
ensure the smooth cooperation between the circles of this chain,"
Hovhannissian noted pointing out that it is strange that a judge
receives a high salary while a police officer receives a salary that
is several times lower. "A high salary is one of the anti-corruption
measures but we also have to think about the police officers and
those working in the security sector. We, as the parliament, should
be more active in these spheres," Hovhannissian said.

Head of ARF’s parliamentary faction Hrayr Karapetian noted that there
was public demand for such a discussion. "Today the opposition has
started an anti-criminal movement. We do not think it is a movement
as such. Movements should not start right before the elections and
end right after them.

Fighting crime is a perpetual process and today’s discussion is one of
such processes. The relations between the NA Standing Committee and the
law enforcement bodies should be reviewed. This cooperation should not
be limited only to adopting laws, presenting drafts, defending them and
voting. There are many problems today and the Committee is ready to do
its best during the discussions of the draft budget," Karapetian said.

NA deputies Hrant Khachatrian and Gagik Kostanian also presented their
positions on the issue. Mahtessian concluded the discussion noting
that a number of positive changes are expected after the upcoming
legislative reform that would help the law enforcement bodies
better fight crime. Chairman of the Committee Aramayis Grigorian
noted that the Committee should not limit its activities to working
discussions. Once the results of the discussion are analyzed practical
measures will be taken and broader discussions will be held with
participation of representatives of all public and judicial structures.

TURKEY AND THE EU DRIFT APART OVER MEMBERSHIP BID
By Benjamin Harvey, Associated Press Writer

The Associated Press
November 5, 2006 Sunday 9:19 PM GMT

The cautious courtship between Turkey and the European Union looks
like it might be headed for a messy and acrimonious breakup.

They were a mismatched couple from the beginning: one wealthy, mostly
Christian and liberal, the other far poorer, overwhelmingly Muslim and
largely conservative. Perhaps it’s no surprise the initial optimism
over Turkey’s bid to join the bloc has deteriorated into mutual
recriminations and a seemingly hopeless inability to communicate.

The mood is likely to worsen after Wednesday when the EU releases
a progress report on Turkey’s bid which says Ankara is dragging its
feet on reform and failing to meet minimum human rights standards,
according to a draft copy viewed by The Associated Press.

The consequences of worsening relations between Turkey and the EU
could be dramatic and far-reaching: At stake is an ambitious vision
of bringing a Muslim nation into European society, proving that a
clash of civilizations between the West and Islam is not inevitable.

Many analysts say that is why negotiations are likely to continue
for the foreseeable future, with neither side committing to a clean
split that would send the message to Muslims everywhere that the West
is not prepared to deal with them on equal footing.

"Of course I support the EU (bid)," said Bayram Kapici, a 38-year-old
security guard in Istanbul. "But the question is, what will our place
in the EU be? I mean, we’re Muslims. Are we barbarians? How will they
see us?"

For the moment, enthusiasm toward Turkey’s bid has cooled dramatically
on both sides, and Turkish leaders’ passionate claims it could
bridge the gap between Europe and the Muslim world are starting to
ring hollow.

Turkish public support for membership has fallen below 50 percent,
and many believe that perceived insults from the EU in the form of
frequent criticism and seemingly endless demands for reform play
directly into the hands of nationalists and Islamists who are largely
opposed to the bid.

Europeans, meanwhile, have a litany of complaints about Turkey,
including its poor record on human rights, intolerance to free speech
and hardline attitudes toward adultery and homosexuality.

Many Europeans also say Turkey has refused to look objectively at its
past, notably the massacre of Armenians after World War I that many
historians call a genocide. Turkey acknowledges that large numbers
of Armenians died, but says the overall figure is inflated and that
the deaths occurred in the civil unrest during the collapse of the
Ottoman Empire.

Many Turks fault the country’s old rivals Greece and Cyprus for the
growing acrimony, claiming they are lobbying the EU to take a hard
line over Turkey’s refusal to open its ports to planes and ships
from the Greek-speaking part of Cyprus. Turkey does not recognize
the Cypriot government and props up the internationally unrecognized
administration in the north of the island.

A last-ditch meeting last week to settle the Cyprus issue was canceled,
leaving the Turks with very little time to negotiate before the EU’s
year-end deadline to concede or see talks suspended.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in remarks released Sunday that
the standoff over Cyprus was "very serious." Asked if the talks
would be frozen, she said: "The EU cannot simply carry on. Turkey
must understand that there will be no simple ‘carry on’ if there is
no movement" on Cyprus.

If talks collapse, the symbolic value of having an overwhelmingly
Muslim, democratic nation firmly integrated into the West would be
lost. Turkey’s 71 million citizens, taught to look to Europe for
inspiration since the secular Turkish state was founded in the 1920s,
might look elsewhere for positive reinforcement.

The Islamic countries of the Middle East, Central Asia and North
Africa, with which Turkey’s Islamic-rooted government has been forging
increasingly close ties, could be natural surrogates.

"Nationalists are benefiting from this, there’s no question about it,"
said pollster and political science professor Hakan Yilmaz.

But many Turks feel that a complete breakup with the EU is out of
the question.

Yilmaz said many EU leaders were just playing to the crowd by publicly
belittling Turkey.

"Some in the European Union public love this humiliation particularly
in France," he said, alluding to a proposed French law that would
make it a crime to deny the Turkish genocide of Armenians.

Meanwhile, some leading politicians on both sides are trying to
make the relationship so miserable that Turkey will just walk away
on its own, said Ilter Turan, a political analyst at Istanbul Bilgi
University.

Turan said, however, the government would be excoriated by the Turkish
public if it walked away from the EU, despite the current anti-EU
mood in the country.

The key question appears to be how to persuade Turkey to reform
without damaging national pride.

"There is one thing where the Turkish public seems to be rather
adamant," Turan said. "If there is to be a union, it is to be on
equal grounds."

Associated Press Writer Stephen Graham contributed to this report
from Berlin.

CYPRUS PROBLEM CANNOT BE SOLVED UNDER AUSPICES OF E.U., ERDOGAN

Turkish Press
Nov 5 2006

ISTANBUL – "Cyprus problem cannot be solved under the auspices of the
EU. It has to be solved under the umbrella of the UN," said Turkish
PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Making a keynote speech in the "News Xchange" meeting at Istanbul`s
Conrad Hotel, Erdogan indicated that Turkey has taken the steps it
has to (on the road to EU membership).

"And the EU should assume an honest and sincere approach," he stated.

Noting that some artificial problems and obstacles are put before
Turkey, Erdogan said, "Turkey`s full membership path should not
be obstructed by artificial problems. This (membership) is for the
best interests of both Turkey and the EU, and is important for global
peace and stability. I hope that the EU will see it too, and will not
permit a deadlock in (our) negotiations due to some political issues,
which should be solved in some other grounds."

-GLOBAL PEACE-

"Our differences should bring us closer to each other, not to exclude
each other," stressed PM Erdogan.

Erdogan noted that everybody should avoid remarks and behaviors that
incite prejudices.

"It is not possible to talk about an open society and a good democracy
without a free media. But, it is our right to expect the media to
behave responsibly," he added.

-POPE`S VISIT-

"As the Prime Minister of Turkey, I am not arranging my schedule
according to the Pope. I will participate in the NATO summit in
Poland in the same days. I am going (abroad) on an earlier scheduled
formal visit. I am not going abroad just because the Pope is coming
to Turkey. This is out of question," said Erdogan when commenting on
Pope Benedict XVI`s visit to Turkey at the end of this month.

Erdogan stated that the pontiff will discuss political matters with
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, and religious matters with head of
Religious Affairs DG.

-IRAQ & IRAN-

PM Erdogan said that Turkey backs a democratic solution in Iraq and
underlines its territorial integrity, while pointed out that he will
visit Iran soon and wished that the nuclear program controversy will
be solved through diplomatic means.

On criticisms about freedom of expression in Turkey, Erdogan said
that those who are talking about this freedom in Turkey are remaining
silent to the French resolution criminalizing denial of so-called
Armenian genocide allegations. "France was a country of freedoms,
wasn`t it? We have to be more objective about these issues," he added.

Broken bridges in Turkey’s southeast
By Kirsty Hughes in Van

Aljazeera.net, Qatar
Nov 4 2006

Saturday 04 November 2006, 16:04 Makka Time, 13:04 GMT

On a sparkling autumn day, a few tourists and locals are visiting
the half-restored, 2nd-century Armenian church on Akdamar island in
eastern Turkey’s Lake Van. But there are no Armenians here.

And tourists are a rare breed in this conflict-ridden region too. It
was in this region of Turkey that Armenians say they were massacred
by Turkish forces 90 years ago.

While the best lakeside houses and flats are occupied by military and
police families, the run-down streets of Van are now thronged with
mostly unemployed Kurdish men and boys (women in this conservative
town mostly stay at home). It is a region steeped in poverty.

Van’s population has more than doubled since the early 1990s due
to displaced villagers fleeing the conflict between the Kurdistan
Worker’s Party (PKK) and the Turkish military – and not least due
to the destruction by the military of thousands of Kurdish villages
especially in 1993-94.

For Turkey, the EU and US the PKK is a terrorist organisation.

But local Kurds reject that label. They say few families have been
untouched by the Turkish military’s retribution in the past 22 years
of conflict.

Many have a son, daughter, cousin, uncle or brother either in the
mountains with the PKK, in jail, or dead from the conflict.

Limits on freedoms

Cuneyit Canis, head of the Van Human Rights Association, explains
that neither they, nor other human rights NGO, will use the label:
"Of course, we are against violence wherever it comes from, but we
never say terrorist – if we use the same language as the state or
government, then how do we differ from them?"

Limits on freedom of speech worry Cunis: "If you say Turks and Kurds
don’t have equal rights in society, even if you are talking in a
political party, you could be accused of being a separatist. The DTP
[the Kurdish Democratic Society Party] is a legal political party …

but they often get mixed up [by the police] with the PKK, so it’s
easy to charge DTP members to be PKK."

Ibrahim Sunkur, the head of the Van branch of the DTP, agrees: "To
be a political party, you need to have meetings, to express ideas,
to have freedom of speech, but we are not completely free as all our
activities are followed by the police and they are going to open a
court case even if we say simple and basic things."

Sunkur has been president of the local DTP for less than a year –
all previous presidents have been arrested sooner or later. After he
took part in a local TV debate two weeks ago, the military came to the
TV station and demanded copies of the tapes to analyse what he said.

EU impact

Turkey’s membership talks with the EU have had some positive but
limited impact on Kurdish rights in recent years. As one retired
intellectual in Van puts it: "There were very good steps during the
EU process but not enough. If it wasn’t scared of the EU and US,
Turkey would take back all the rights it has given very easily."

For Ayhan Cabuk, head of the Van Bar Association, these steps
are the merest tokens: "Many people here are living and speaking
Kurdish and under pressure of the EU you give them half an hour a
week broadcasting but not by yourself. That’s nothing. How can that
be an answer to the problem? The limit of half an hour shows their
mentality and their hearts."

And this month, the military found a way to jam the frequency through
which Kurdish TV is beamed into homes from abroad.

Speak their language

Yet today the central demand of many Kurds is not for the separate
state that the Turks so fear, and not even for a federation (publicly
calling for a federation itself could lead to separatist and so
terrorist charges) but for the use of their mother tongue in education
and in the media.

Even though there are between 15 to 20 million Kurds in Turkey, and
many in the southeast speak Kurdish as their first or only language,
children start primary school understanding only Kurdish, but are
spoken to and taught in Turkish.

One teacher quotes a now-dead Kurdish writer from Diyarbakir who
described this as: "cats barking like dogs".

Sunkur insists cultural rights are now their main demand: "We aren’t
looking for an independent state, and we’ve taken back a step on the
federal goal – even though big countries like the US, Germany and
Russia have federations and it’s normal and they are thinking of it
in Iraq now.

"But we do not want to damage the unity of the state. We want to
use our language freely and to have education in their mother tongue
for all our children at all levels… We’ve a right to broadcast our
language in radio and TV too."

Unilateral ceasefire

At the start of October, the PKK declared a unilateral ceasefire
raising hopes in the southeast that a new breakthrough may be possible,
including a general amnesty for PKK fighters.

But General Buyukanit, the new military chief of staff, ignoring more
subtle and positive responses from various politicians, responded
aggressively saying the army would fight till every last PKK fighter
was dead.

Abdulbasit Bildirici, the head of the local branch of an Islamic
human rights NGO Mazlumder, is pessimistic: "There was a group in
government and in the military supporting this ceasefire but then the
‘deep state’ won and shut up the others, and there have been four
or five big military operations in and around the region recently so
they are not responding to the ceasefire."

Army lorries and police checks can be seen in and around Van.

Bildirici thinks this ceasefire is a "last chance for Turkey" since
if the government doesn’t respond: "It makes ceasefires meaningless
to people’s minds… this feeling is very strong."

He worries that divisions between Turks and Kurds have become deepened:
"There is a broken bridge between the state and people here."

A local businessman puts it even more strongly: "You [the Turkish
state] accuse people of not loving you, but you broke all their lives
and stole their windows, took their property, and took everything,
and now they are in an indescribable, inhuman situation and you ask
them to love you and be grateful."

Solution sought

The ending of the last PKK ceasefire two years ago, accompanied by
renewed violence, and the Iraq conflict, has not made the Turkish
public, government or military more open to a peaceful solution. "Of
course," says Bildirici "the northern Iraq and Kurdish situation
increased the nationalist movement in Turkey."

He adds that for Kurds in Turkey, seeing Kurds in northern Iraq run
their own affairs is a boost to self-confidence after the "humiliation"
of being second-class citizens in Turkey. But he insists that "apart
from a few small radical groups, most Kurds in Turkey have no idea
of having an independent state here".

But though many Kurds here are clear on their two main aims of a
general amnesty and full cultural rights, there is an absence of
a political strategy for persuading their Turkish counterparts to
accept those goals.

Instead, a sense of political as much as geographic isolation and
impasse hangs over Van.

Turkey is now in the run-up to presidential and parliamentary elections
next year – and parties of all colours are turning up their nationalist
rhetoric. Whether the glimmer of hope provided by the new PKK ceasefire
can take the two sides past the elections and into a constructive
new political dynamic remains to be seen.

CE86-9BBA-42EC-87AF-C91ED11F3A7B.htm

"INTERFOOD 2006" EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN TBILISI

ArmRadio.am
02.11.2006 16:31

November 16-18 the third international "InterFood 2006" exhibition
of food production will be held in Tbilisi, Black Sea Press reports,
referring to " ITECA Kavkasia" Company – organizer of the event.

Companies like "Arkolad CJSC" (Armenia), "Akvatekhavtomatika"
(Armenia), " Animex Sp.zo.o" (Poland), "Ashtarak-Kat CJSC" (Armenia),
"JCS Bagrationi 1882" (Georgia), "Castel-Sakartvelo LTD" (Georgia),
"DGS S.A." (Poland), " Dustr Marianna LLC" (Armenia), "Elita LLC"
(Armenia), "Elola CJSC" (Armeniaa), "Glass World Company" (Armenia),
"Trading Company HA LLC" (Georgia-Azerbaijan), "Brewery Natakhtary"
(Georgia), "SIS Natural LLC" (Armenia), "UCS" (Georgia-Azerbaijan),
"Zanetti SPA" (Italy) and others will participate in the exhibition.

AZERBAIJANI FM: NEW IDEAS OF OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIRS TO BE DISCUSSED IN BRUSSELS

Regnum, Russia
Nov 2 2006

Regular meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers Vardan
Oskanyan and Elmar Mamedyarov on Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement
will be held on November 14 in Brussels shortly before Action plan in
frames of New Neighborhood Policy will be signed by Armenia, Georgia,
and Azerbaijan with the European Union.

As Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mamedyarov stressed to the press in Baku,
new proposals and ideas submitted by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
in Moscow are planned to be discussed during the meeting, emphasizing,
however, that it is too early to disclose these proposals’ essence.

"We have mentioned one-two moments among existing 8-9 elements; we have
really found difficulty in determining question whether there is any
movement forward," the minister stressed. The co-chairs shared some
new thoughts in Moscow "and we, and Armenian side, in its turn, have
thought that good opportunity may appear for work in the direction,"
Mamedyarov said. "At present, we consider them, weight them from
different aspects; we have come to conclusion that it is possible to
work at them in principle," he added.

"Both Azerbaijani side’s position and opinion of the opposite camp are
taken into consideration; as a result, direction should be determined,
in which work should be continued," the minister stressed. Responding
to question about outcomes of meeting in Paris, Elmar Mamedyrov
stressed: "Paris meeting is already history," Day.Az reports.

HONESTY MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE OF CANDIDATE FOR PARLIAMENT MEMBER, POLL RESULTS

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 31 2006

YEREVAN, October 30. /ARKA/. A third of participants in a poll
conducted in Armenia believe that honesty is the most important feature
of a candidate for a Parliament member. The poll was conducted by
the Gallup institute with the assistance of the Armenian Sociological
Association.

31% of the respondents believe honesty and impartiality to be the most
important features of candidates, 30% prefer democratic world outlook,
28% education, 19% care of people, 8% keeping promises AMD patriotism,
6% morality and professionalism, 2% inflexible will. Five per cent of
the respondents pointed out other qualities, and 7% avoided answering
questions.

Among the most desirable features are radicalism and consistency (15%),
reliability and impartiality (8%), democratic orientation and justice
(6% each), education (5%), loyalty (3%), other features (5%).

34% of the respondents did not call any feature, 19% did not answer
the question.

Among the most undesirable features are mendacity (33%), corruptibility
(12%), arrogance (9%), difference between words and deeds (11%),
indifference (6%), uncompromising disposition and lack of education
(3% each), careerism (1%), other negative features (2%).

Six per cent did not point out any quality, and 13% avoided answering
the question.

The poll conducted on July 31-August 10, 2006, involved 1,200 people
over 18.

The poll was conducted by an order of the International Republican
Institute, with the sponsorship of USAID.

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 26 2006

SERGE SARGSYAN: `’IF HOSTILITIES ARE RESUMED ARMENIA WILL SCORE
ADVANTAGE AGAIN”

`’The Karabakh conflict should be settled in an amicable way via
mutual compromises”, stated RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan in an
interview with Janes Research Center.
However, according to RA Defense Minister, Azerbaijan’s policy does
not contribute to the issue’s settlement. `’Today the Azeri officials
again speak of the war’s resumption. Current year they have increased
military expenditure”, Serge Sargsyan noted having added that
according to the independent experts Azerbaijan is still unable to
resolve the problem by force of arms. `’If hostilities are resumed,
Armenia will again score advantage. However, irrespective of the
outcomes, the war will inflict a blow on both parties”, RA Defense
Minister stated.
Speaking about Azerbaijan’s oil profits, which official Baku is
attempting to use to solve the Karabakh issue in its favor, Serge
Sargsyan reminded in early nineties Azerbaijan had also been superior
in numbers and armaments to the Armenian party.
`’In 1992 they encircled the Karabakh Armenians, and one could hardly
believe we will manage to climb to success”, Serge Sargsyan said. He
expressed hope that Azerbaijan’s leadership would abandon the
military option of the Karabakh issue’s settlement sooner or later,
Freedom Radio Station reports.

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Oct 27 2006

VTB BANK ARMENIA TO DEVELOP AS UNIVERSAL BANK

YEREVAN, October 27. /ARKA/. The "VBT Armenia Bank" will develop as a
universal bank, Senior Vice-President, VTB Board member Vasily Titov
told a press conference.
"This development of the Armenian bank of extreme importance, and we
hope it will be successful," he said. Titov added that to encourage
this process the VTB intends to increase the capital basis.
He stressed that the VTB attaches paramount importance to the
establishment of banks similar to the VTB Armenia in the post-Soviet
area and is consistently working in this direction.
Titov also reported that before the end of 2006 the VTB plans to make
decisions on the opening of banks in Kazakhstan, Belarus, Moldova,
Kyrghyztstan and Uzbekistan.
"The banks will form a network, which will enhance the efficiency of
all operations," he said.
In his turn, Alexander Vardanov, Board Chairman, VTB Armenia, pointed
out that the bank has its worthy place on Armenia’s market of banking
services and services almost all Armenian-Russian operations.
Vardanov reported that the bank is actively working with both
individual and corporate clients, including companies working in the
energy, gas-supply and mining sectors.
"The bank is actively working with individuals, issuing mortgage and
car credits, and intends to expand its activities," Vardanov said.
On September 8, 2001, the RA Government made a decision on the
privatization of the Armsavingsbank by means of a direct sale to the
ARCH Limited consortium (Bahamas) and ÌIKA Armenia Trading.
Early in 2003, the stock was transferred to the ÌIKA Armenia Trading,
and in March 2004, in Yerevan, a contract was signed for the purchase
of 70% of the "Armsavingsbank" shares by the Russian VTB.
The authorized capital of the "VTB Bank Armenia" CJSC is currently
7,526.2mln, assets AMD 14.7bln or $109.4mln (on September 30, 2006),
total capital AMD 9.1bln ($23.9mln). In January-September 2006, the
bank’s profit amounted to AMD 493.4mln ($1.3mln), and the balance
profit AMD 1.2bln ($3.1mln).
The VTB Bank Armenia is among the leaders as to the main indicators.
Specifically, it has the 4th largest assets, 5th largest volume of
individual crediting, 2nd largest volume of crediting legal entities,
3rd largest volume of funds attracted from clients and the amount of
individual fixed deposits, 2nd largest amount of individual call
deposits. As regards the total capital, the bank has the 4th largest
capital, and the 2nd largest authorized capital.($1 – AMD 379.84).
P.T. –0–

Charente Libre
26 octobre 2006

PIANO EN VALOIS; Simonian père et fille, duo arménien génétique

Ce duo-là n’est pas tout à fait comme les autres. Au violoncelle,
Félix Simonian, 60 ans, disciple de Rostropovitch, considéré comme le
plus éminent représentant de l’école musicale russe et arménienne. Au
piano, sa fille, Luciné, 36 ans, issue du Conservatoire de
St-Pétersbourg. A l’occasion de leur concert dimanche, dans le cadre
de Piano en Valois, la pianiste raconte ses passions.

Jouer avec un père qui a une telle renommée, c’est valorisant ou
pesant?

Luciné Simonian. Il est vrai que mon père a un charisme
impressionnant. On a beau jouer ensemble depuis dix ans, aujourd’hui
encore, j’apprends à ses côtés. Mais je crois que je lui apporte
également des choses, un regard différent, plus jeune, sur la
musique. Ensemble, on s’équilibre. On dit de nous que nous sommes un
duo génétique. Lorsqu’on joue, pas besoin de se regarder. On sait
toujours comment l’autre va réagir, comment il va interpréter une
note.

Sans lui, parvenez-vous à exister d’un point de vue artistique?

L.S: J’ai une deuxième vie professionnelle au-delà de la musique. Je
suis artiste-peintre. Ça me permet d’avoir ma propre identité. Mais,
dans le milieu artistique, cette double vie passe encore mal, même si
les mentalités évoluent. Souvent, on ne comprend pas, comment, on
peut avoir, comme moi, deux métiers à plein-temps.

Y a-t-il une spécificité de la musique arménienne?

L.S.: La musique telle qu’on la conçoit en Arménie révèle une émotion
très intense, dramatique. En France, c’est totalement différent. Il y
a une légèreté dans le jeu, un regard un peu plus esthétique. Le duo
avec mon père, présente, ces deux facettes.

A l’heure où l’on célèbre l’année de l’Arménie, vous sentez-vous
toujours de cette famille, vous qui vivez en France depuis quatorze
ans ?

L.S.: L’année de l’Arménie est une initiative valorisante pour nous,
originaires du pays, mais personnellement, je n’ai pas envie d’être
étiquetée artiste arménienne. Je suis venue en France parce que
j’avais besoin d’une plus grande diversité culturelle. Je ne conçois
plus ma vie ailleurs qu’ici. J’appartiens aussi à la culture
française.

Félix et Luciné Simonian ce dimanche 29 octobre à 17h,

à l’église du Sacré-Coeur à Angoulême.