Author: Zakarian Garnik

THE ARMENIAN APPEAL
By Nadine El Sayed

Egypt Today, Egypt
June 8 2007

Building on centuries of solid bilateral ties,Armenian President Robert
Kocharian visitsEgypt to ink new economic, political, educationaland
cultural cooperation protocols

Although the Armenian community has for years meshed seamlessly
with Egyptian society, with Armenian jewelers, businesses, schools
and clubs found throughout the nation, very few people actually know
that Egypt’s history with Armenia goes all the way back to the days
of the Pharaohs, and that some of the most influential figures in
Egypt’s history were in fact Armenian.

With such a strong history of friendly relations between the two
countries and their peoples, Armenian President Robert Kocharian’s
first visit to Egypt last month was expected to further enhance the
cooperation between the two countries, in areas economic, political,
educational and cultural.

"The visit of the president is the best proof of the existing
cooperation between Armenia and Egypt," Armenian Ambassador to
Egypt Dr. Rouben Karapetian tells Egypt Today. "This is the current
president’s first visit to Egypt and it is an official visit for
negotiations and talks starting with President Mubarak and then
Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, the speakers of the Parliament and Sheikh
Al-Azhar. It’s a dialogue of civilizations."

Karapetian adds that the president’s meeting with Arab League
Secretary Amr Moussa and the Arab ambassadors "reflects the level
[of cooperation] between [Armenia and] not only Egypt, but also the
Arab world."

The visit also saw the signing of eight agreements in different
fields including tourism, economy and education, with an agreement
inked between Cairo University and a medical university in Armenia,
according to Karapetian. The two nations also agreed to increase
cooperation between their respective ministries of interior in terms
of exchange of criminal suspects and other matters of justice.

The agreements signed are only a few of many pacts and treaties between
the two countries since the beginning of diplomatic relations in 1992,
a year after Armenia was declared a free state. Egypt was one of the
first countries to recognize its independence and since then the two
countries have been initiating mutual cooperation in several fields.

"During these 15 years, we succeeded in establishing excellent levels
of political relationships and close cooperation in practically
all fields," notes Karapetian. And when it comes to "assisting each
other in international organizations, we can claim to be exemplary
for others."

A Marriage of Civilizations

But the history between the two countries goes back significantly
further than 1991, with the Armenian heyday in Egypt peaking during
the Byzantine and Fatimid times, when Armenian politicians reached
prominent positions during the reign of Mohammed Ali.

Armenians have thus always been part of the Egyptian community,
influencing it as much as being influenced by it. "There is a [long]
history between Armenians and Egyptians and as citizens of Egypt, [we
contributed to the history and society of Egypt]," notes Karapetian.

Ahmed Ibn Tulun, who built the Ibn Tulun Mosque, and the three
architect brothers who erected Bab El-Nasr, Bab El-Fath and Bab
Zuwayla, all important historical Egyptian monuments, are examples
of Armenians who came to Egypt and left imprints on its culture
and history.

But Armenian influence goes far beyond building monuments. Armenians
have had a particular impact on Egypt’s educational system, with Ya’cub
Artin Pasha Cherakian, known as El-Ustaz El-Kabir (the Great Teacher),
developing education and establishing the first school for girls in
Egypt as well as the first kindergarten.

The first school in Egypt was established with the help of an
Armenian called Boghos Bey Yusufian. Under the rule of Armenians
including Badr Al-Gamali, a prominent military leader commanding an
all-Armenian army, and his son Al-Afdal, Egypt saw the creation of
the Dar El-Wizarra Palace as well as two public parks boasting exotic
gardens. Armenian-born Shagaret Al-Durr also became the first woman
to sit on Egypt’s throne in the Islamic era.

And what few people know is that Armenian Nubar Pasha, Egypt’s first
prime minister, had a vision of creating Heliopolis. He managed Cairo’s
Water Company, which introduced piped water – this led to the creation
of Heliopolis later on by his son, who invited Baron Empain to build
the district. Nubar Pasha also designed an irrigation plan and is the
only Armenian to have both a lake and a type of long-staple cotton
named after him. Despite his valuable contributions to agriculture,
it was Nubar Pasha’s shrewd legal reforms and his decision to establish
mixed courts that were considered his greatest achievements in Egypt.

With such deep historical roots, it’s no surprise that the relationship
between the countries only grew stronger after Armenia declared its
independence. "When Armenia became independent, we had a good base
for developing relations and it was much easier because for years
Armenia was a part of the Middle East region," says Karapetian.

"Although in 301 AD, Armenia became the first country in the world to
officially adopt Christianity and [while] it is a European country,
it is also part of the Middle East. Thus it has a historical mission
of [interpreting], of creating the link in different areas with its
knowledge of the East and European background. Our relationship with
Egypt and the Arab world is based on other historical experiences too."

A Stronger Future

Today the Armenian community in Egypt remains one of the oldest in
the world, comprising some 8,000 nationals living mainly in Cairo
and Alexandria. Although the number was much higher in 1915 when a
forced migration followed the Armenian genocide in Turkey and Egypt
opened its arms to Armenian refugees, it drastically decreased with
the Nasserite movement and the nationalization of their businesses.

"Armenians have been welcomed in Egypt and were given an opportunity
to contribute while in other countries they were forced to leave,"
notes Karapetian.

At present the community has consolidated ties with the social and
religious organizations nationwide. The Diocese of the Armenian
Apostolic Church serves to guard the community’s assets, and many
other organizations provide support to the Armenian community in
Egypt. There are several Armenian schools still functioning and
although once restricted to just Armenians, they have, for financial
reasons, been forced to accept students from other nationalities.

There are also four cultural clubs in Cairo and two in Alexandria,
providing activities for youth, such as dancing and choirs, three
sporting clubs in Cairo and two in Alexandria. The ambassador notes
that over the years, Armenians have smoothly integrated into the
Egyptian culture and there has been a noticeable harmony between the
two cultures.

"I always say if you want to give an example of exact and real dialogue
between Christians and Muslims, you can give the example of Armenia
and Egypt." et

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ARMENIAN PREMIER SAYS NEW CABINET TO BE FORMED BY 7 JUNE

Mediamax news agency
4 Jun 07

Yerevan, 4 June: Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan said in Yerevan
today that the composition of the new government will be defined by
7 June, but it will be made public only when the proposals on Cabinet
members are officially submitted to the parliament.

The Armenian prime minister did not rule out that the new government
may have new directions of activities; however, basically it will
keep to the policy held by the president and the present Cabinet
of Ministers.

Serzh Sargsyan said that the composition of the government will
undergo considerable changes. At the same time, the prime minister
said that "personnel changes are not the main guarantee of success,
everything depends on the presence of will".

The prime minister did not rule out that members of the political
forces that have no representation in parliament may be included in
the government.

In Another Light

ARKA Ballet
American Dance Institute
Rockville, Maryland, USA
June 2, 2007

by George Jackson

The 13 dancers on ARKA’s program were familiar from their performances
under a different banner, that of the Washington Ballet. All regularly
appear with WB’s first company or studio group. Undoubtedly their
presence on this bill of 12 shorts was because ARKA’s artistic director,
Roudolf Kharatian, is prominent on the faculty of WB’s school and his
teaching draws not just students but the professionals too. Certain
traits – a gracious modesty, a concentration on style and technical
consistency – were brought out in the dancers appearing under
Kharatian’s eye.

Mikhail Fokine’s choreography fared particularly well. Fokine perfuses
movement with imagination. Even seemingly simple step combinations are
nuanced and caught up in a dynamic impulse. The result is theater that
yet remains pure dance. Although the two examples on this program had
been made for the ultimate legendary dancers – Pavlova, Nijinsky and
Karsavina – the ARKA cast made "The Dying Swan" (1905) and "Le Spectre
de la Rose" (1911) meaningful. Foremost was Elizabeth Gaither’s
after-her-first-ball Girl in "Spectre". Gaither wore charm and modesty
lightly, like her cloak which just slips off. When, having sunk into
chair, she first rises to waltz with the airborne boy conjured from a
rose she had held to her breast, her eyes are closed. We see her asleep.
As her dream intensifies, she opens her eyes so that we too enter the
dream, ultimately waking from it with her.

As the Rose, even the best dancers doing the steps brilliantly fail when
they forget to suggest that this boy is like a breeze that blows thru
the dreamer’s room. Marcelo Martinez remembered: he flowed commendably
and his arms remained buoyant without mannerism. Martinez’s leg work
more than sufficed but his torso should have had more plasticity. Rui
Huang, with a build contrary to Pavlova’s and a movement quality that’s
not soft as down but clear and bold, was cast against type in "The Dying
Swan". Yet she gave the solo a good showing by maintaining its dynamic
and never bleeding it for pathos.

Two divertissements were attributed to Arthur St. Leon, the 19th Century
French choreographer. "La Vivandiere" (1848), this program’s closer, has
survived because St. Leon notated it. ARKA, like most other companies,
danced it in a romantic-classical, somewhat bucolic style not unrelated
to that of Bournonville. It is joyfully intricate, step rich, pure
dancing for five lasses and a single lad. Brianne Bland, as the first
among the lasses, particularly sparkled. Tyler Savoie was promising as
the lad. The culminating "sunray" pose, with the ladies leaning on the
gentleman and extending their arabesques at different but precisely
spaced angles, always delights audiences and surprises those who thought
that Balanchine had invented it in 1928 for his "Apollo". Likely,
though, the configuration also predates St. Leon. The other St. Leon
selection, "Ocean and Pearls" (1864) opened the program. It has survived
by being passed on from ballet master to ballet master. Sometimes it is
attributed to one of them, Alexander Gorsky, and then it looks art deco
in its linearity. ARKA, however, dances this trio in an academic
classical manner with Bland and Gaither as the Pearls and Corey Landolt
a respectably expansive Ocean.

Kharatian’s choreography concerned itself mostly with aspects of the
music he had chosen. It was fascinating to watch how he used weight,
slowing down and drawing out movement and angling body planes to match
sonorities in the sound for the "Bach’s Passion" duo in which weight
predominated, and "Narayama" (to Japanese popular music) and "A Room"
(to a John Cage score) in which he modeled body surfaces. The musically
responsive Sona Kharatian and Luis Torres delivered the first two,
adagios both, and Martinez (this time with a suppler torso) the brief
"Room" solo.

Both of the program’s premieres were for a set of paired/opposed males –
Jonathan Jordan and Jared Nelson. Jordan is compact and short, Nelson
linear and medium long. Both have strong techniques and "leading man"
looks. Their first duo, "Two Houses", keeps one at the edge of one’s
seat. Something is about to happen, perhaps several things, yet it isn’t
necessary to know precisely what. The work’s choreographer, Jason
Hartley (himself a lead dancer and bravura gymnast) uses Albeniz guitar
music and a balletically-based athleticism to set the two men into orbit
around each other. The title’s disparate houses may refer to
nationality, temperament, sexuality or all of the above. This is the
best Hartley I’ve seen to date. He has to be taken seriously as a
choreographer.

The second duo for Nelson and Jordan, "Within," is less dramatic, more a
theme and variations. It is uneven, not surprisingly so since there are
three choreographers – Kharatian, Hartley and Jordan. Kharatian pays
closest attention to the accompanying Bach clavier music. Some people
thought that the two duets would gain a cumulative effect had they been
next to each other on the program, never mind what this would have done
to Jordan and Nelson.

Individual variations don’t inevitably look like school recital numbers
on a small company’s program. "Dying Swan" and "Room" didn’t. The
variations from Petipa’s "Raymonda" and "Sleeping Beauty" and Liz
Gahl’s Rachmaninoff "Rhapsody" did, despite Jade Payette’s panache as
the Act 3 "Beauty".

Volume 5, No. 22
June 4, 2007
copyright C2007 by George Jackson

Armenian opposition holds another rally, vows to continue protests

Aravot, Yerevan
2 Jun 07

The following is an excerpt from Naira Mamikonyan’s report in Armenian
newspaper Aravot published on 2 June and headlined "The opposition’s struggle is
humanitarian, Impeachment bloc representative Norayr Norikyan said at a rally
yesterday"
The Impeachment bloc, the New Times and Republic parties staged a rally
yesterday [1 June] near Matenadaran [an institute and museum of manuscripts in
Yerevan], as the Liberty Square was occupied by children, who were marking their
day.
Only 1,000-1,500 people came to listen to the opposition, but speakers said
that they did not care how many people participated in rallies. "We will hold
rallies even if 10, fifty or a hundred people attend, as this is an absolute
necessity," said Aram Sargsyan, leader of the Republic Party, and Norayr
Norikyan of the Impeachment bloc.
Commenting on allegations by the authorities that the opposition fails to
unite, Norikyan said that the same was happening in the "united" camp of the
authorities.
[Passage omitted: Norikyan says many members of pro-government parties move
from one party to another and adhere to no ideological or political
principles.]
Speaking about a shoot-out and the disappearance of a 12-year-old boy in [the
second town of] Gyumri after the [12 May parliamentary] election, as well as
on the death of Levon Gulyan at a police station, Norikyan said: "If there
were legal authorities in Armenia, the Security Council would have met and an
extraordinary session of the National Assembly [parliament] would have been
held immediately after those events in order to give an explanation to public
before trials. But as we don’t have a legal government in Armenia,
[President] Robert Kocharyan and [Prime Minister] Serzh Sargsyan continue to establish
a feudal system in Armenia."
Norikyan called on the Armenian public not to get disappointed. "Trust
yourself and your strength, and the beautiful future of Armenia. Remember that our
struggle is humanitarian in the first place and we are responsible for the
future. Our slogan of 1+1+ will lead us to victory."
[Passage omitted: Democratic Motherland party leader Petros Makeyan said
about 400,000 votes were rigged in the past two elections.]
Speaking about the need for appealing to the Constitution Court, Aram
Sargsyan, the leader of the Republic party, said that the opposition had many facts
proving that the election results were falsified.
[Passage omitted: Sargsyan said the opposition should unite ahead of the 2008
presidential election.]
New Times party leader Aram Karapetyan said that the most serious political
developments had always happened during presidential elections. He expressed
the hope that the people would stand firm during the presidential election and
say good-bye to the incumbent authorities.
[Passage omitted: Karapetyan says no real changes will happen Armenia as long
as the current government remains in office]
Participants in the rally applauded the Impeachment bloc representative,
Nikol Pahinyan, who turned 32 yesterday. He spent his birthday in the
Constitutional Court and the rally.
Asked when the rallies are going to end, Vigen Khachatryan said: "They will
end when we will make sure that a government is formed by people in Armenia."

WHEN WILL THE HOUSE ON TUMANYAN STREET HAVE RESIDENTS?

KarabakhOpen
01-06-2007 12:22:46

The block of 45 apartments on Tumanyan Street for the families of
killed azatamartiks and disabled of war was to be dedicated on May
9. On May 9 the house was not dedicated. We inquired from the NKR
deputy minister of urban planning Karen Shahramanyan if the building
is not over yet. He said the construction is over, and the apartments
are ready to accommodate people. As to when it will happen, the deputy
minister could not mention a definite date.

Construction had started a few years ago. On the instruction of the
NKR president, the funds from sale of apartments and office space at
16 and 18 Azatamartikneri Street were directed at the construction
of the block of apartments in Stepanakert. Karen Shahramanyan said
the basement of the block includes 12 shops, which will be sold by
auction. 9 out of 45 apartments have one room, 18 have two rooms
and 18 have three rooms. Karen Shahramanyan said the fixtures and
redecoration are ready.

RA PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE: ACCORDING TO CONCLUSION OF FORENSIC EXAMINATION, INJURIES OF LEVON GULIAN WHO DIED IN POLICE BUILDING ARE TYPICAL OF INJURIES CAUSED BY FALL FROM A HEIGHT

Noyan Tapan
Jun 01 2007

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, NOYAN TAPAN. According to a press release
submitted to the press by the spokeswoman for the RA Prosecutor
General Sona Truzian, the conclusion of the forensic examination
of the body of Levon Gulian, who died on May 12 in the building of
the Main Department of Criminal Investigation of the RA Police, is
ready. According to the conclusion, the death of Levon Gulian was due
to bodily injuries incompatible with life – open brain injuries and
closed injuries of the chest and spine. "The injuries detected by the
forensic examination of the body of Levon Gulian are characteristic,
by their nature and disposition, of injuries caused by a fall from
a height (about 7 meters), by collision with other obstacles during
the fall, then also with a blunt hard surface, including asphalt,"
is said in the conclusion. It is noted no postmortem injuries were
detected by the forensic examination. The investigation of the
fact of L. Gulian’s death is continuing. Reminding that through
the mediation of L. Gulian’s legal successors and the head of the
OSCE Yerevan Office, experts were invited from Germany and Denmark,
and the forensic examination of L. Gulian’s body was made with their
participation on May 19, 2007, the RA prosecutor general’s office
notes that "the conclusions of other expert examinations have not
yet been received."

To recap, L. Gulian was invited as a witness to the Main Department
of Criminal Investigation of the RA Police in connection with the
murder of Stepan Vardanian on May 9. According to the May 12 press
release of the police, when trying to escape, L. Gulian jumped from
the second floor of the police building, as a result of which he died.

MOSCOW TEEN CONFESSES TO MULTIPLE KILLINGS

Catholic World News
May 30 2007

Moscow, May. 30, 2007 (CWNews.com) – A teenage skinhead has confessed
to a string of murders in Russia, police there report.

Artur Ryno, an 18-year-old student at Kisielowa Icon Writing School in
Moscow, told police that he and another 18-year-old, Pavel Skachevski,
have killed 37 people in a crime spree since last August.

Ryno was arrested in April for the murder of Armenian businessman
Karen Abramian. During interrogation he admitted to the 36 other
killings as well.

DISCUSSION: INSECURITY DE JURE IN RETURN FOR SECURITY DE FACTO
Vahan Arzumanyan

KarabakhOpen
31-05-2007 13:37:55

Immediately after the dissolution of the USSR the pan-Turkists stood
a chance to start expansion towards the West via Armenia which had
always been a hindrance to this policy. The result of the war in
Karabakh had to be the emergence of a corridor in the region of
Meghri of Armenia, which would connect Azerbaijan and Nakhidjevan,
not necessarily under the control of the Azerbaijani force. As the
best variant control over this corridor by the international force had
been foreseen. The goal was to settle the corridor with Azerbaijanis,
change the demographic pattern and actually sever this territory
from Armenia. Unfortunately, it should be noted that this variant
had supporters in the Armenian government.

The military failed, and the apologists of pan-Turkism launched
projects directed at isolation of Armenia, namely the Baku-Ceyhan
pipeline, the Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars railroad. It is planned to
station Turkish force along the pipeline under the aegis of NATO. It
will allow Azerbaijanis to settle in these territories to create a
Turkish corridor via Georgia and get control of the Armenian-Georgian
border.

Turkey refuses to set up diplomatic relations with Armenia, and the
reason is not only the Genocide and the Karabakh conflict. Armenia
with its present border does not favor Turkey. Therefore, all
the controversies are used to kindle the confrontation, which may
eventually lead to an armed conflict. And this is not raving. After
the capture of Lachin the Turkish army did not attack Armenia thanks
to the Russian force. What if Russia were not there?

The second direction is to scare the international community. The
international community (as well as part of the Armenians) is
worried about the militaristic statements by Azerbaijani officials,
who threaten to wage a new war.

Hence, pressure is put on Armenia to accept the conditions of
Azerbaijan. In additions, Karabakh is completely isolated (more exactly
self-isolated) from deciding its fate, although the people of Karabakh
had determined the outcome of the war. But is this the only reason
why Karabakh is not participating in the talks? Instead of adequate
actions in response to Azerbaijan’s attacks most Armenian politicians
call for peace and declare their readiness to make a compromise,
thereby demoralizing their people.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s stance is becoming harder and harder, and in
every project of settlement the return of refugees is included with a
possible referendum in 10 or 15 years. Independence is not mentioned
at all. The purpose is the same – settlement of key border areas with
Azerbaijanis to displace Armenians gradually.

In this context, any compromise involving the return of territories
brings us closer to another war. Therefore, the return of territories
as well as the withdrawal of the Karabakh army should not be viewed
theoretically, for the current location of the Karabakh army is
the only factor which holds Azerbaijan back, and is the only real
guarantee of security of Karabakh.

As to international recognition, it is a mere declaration of
independence but not a guarantee against a new war. Unrecognized
but strong Karabakh has more chance to survive than recognized but
weak Karabakh.

ARMENIAN-AZERBAIJANI JOINT PRODUCT

A1+
[06:16 pm] 29 May, 2007

You may get acquainted with Armenian and Azerbaijani contemporary
writers and their works on regional conciliatory
literary internet website jointly launched by Yerevan and Baku press
clubs. This website has been launched since the parties do not have
comprehensive ideas of each other and approach through literature
was the best version.

"Such link could mainly be the contemporary literature, that expresses
the current situation of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and their motives",
said Boris Navasardyan, president of YPC. "At present moment 5 works
of Armenian and Azerbaijani writers are uploaded on the website
in their mother languages and in Russian language. By the time
the materials will be translated into English. All the works are
agreed by the parties and if any of the parties have objections,
he may express them on the site’s forum. The present topic of the
forum is how productive the implementation of such projects is. The
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution plays a great role in the
contemporary Azerbaijani literature, and as said Boris Navasardyan,
works on the conflict will also be uploaded on the site. They are also
discussing uploading the works of Karabakh writers as well. Boris
Navasardyan notes that examples of other conflicting countries will
also find their places on the website.

Among Armenian writers is Vazgen Sargsyan and Azerbaijani part has
not expressed any objection on it.

MORE THAN 100 YOUNG SCIENTISTS TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL NATURE PROTECTION CONFERENCE BEING HELD IN YEREVAN

Noyan Tapan
May 29 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. More than 100 young scientists from 32
scientific-research and scientific-educational institutions of CIS and
foreign countries take part in the international youth conference under
the title "Mountainous Areas: Ecological Problems of Towns" being held
on May 29-30 in Yerevan. The conference was organized by the Center
for Ecological-Noosphere Researches of RA National Academy of Sciences
with the support of OSCE Yerevan Office and UNESCO Moscow Office.

As Center Director Armen Saghatelian reported, 47 reports presented at
the conference have both theoretical and practical significance. In
his words, the works can be a scientific basis for solving a number
of ecological problems of towns.

In A. Saghatelian’s words, preservation of ecological stability of
mountainous areas and towns is one of the first and foremost tasks
at present, for solving which complex and scientifically grounded
approaches are needed. In his words, in towns of mountainous
areas, including Yerevan, the situation is tense in the respect of
ecology. "Today irregular construction is carried out in Yerevan,
green zones are destroyed, the environment is polluted with dangerous
elements, especially heavy metals," A. Saghatelian said. Besides,
in his words, in the recent years, due to seismic activity of the
region, accumulations of poisonous gas, radon, have increased on
Yerevan buildings’ ground and first floors.