THE MEETING OF PRESIDENTS WILL ALLOW TO BRING POSITIONS CLOSER, THE MEDIATORS CONSIDER
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Yuri Merzlyakov declared
in Yerevan today that the mediators’ meetings with RA President and
Foreign Minister were “productive,” Mediamax agency reports.
Before leaving for Baku, Yurin Merzlyakov informed that “the Armenian
side has confirmed its agreement to the meeting of the Presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan to be held November 28 in Minsk in the
framework of the CIS summit.
According to the Russian Co-Chair, “we should receive confirmation
from the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, although earlier the
Azeri Foreign Minister came forth with a corresponding statement on
the question.”
Yuri Merzlyakov said the American Co-Chair Matthew Bryza’s absence
was associated with the fact that “the mediators have agreed to share
the responsibilities, and Matthew Bryza should meet with NKR President
Arkady Ghukasyan in the US.”
“In general, we are closing the year on a very optimistic point,
and if we manage to maintain such disposition of the parties, we’ll
step into 2007 with rather good perspectives. Despite the fact that
the elections somehow restrict the negotiation process, we think that
the work carried out this year will allow overcoming the pre-election
period easily” the Russian Co-Chair declared.
French Co-Chair Bernard Fassier declared that “resolving this conflict
is the same as building a peace wall.” He noted that “at this point
this wall is not that stable to allow the parties sign a final treaty.”
“We hope that the meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and
Azerbaijan will allow to bring the positions of the parties on some
complex issues closer,” the French diplomat noted.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TELETHON 2006 – A THANKSGIVING TRADITION SINCE INDEPENDENCE
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
Armenia Fund United States Western Region announces the domestic and
international broadcast coverage lineup of its upcoming 9th Annual
International Telethon. The telethon will be aired on Thanksgiving
Day, November 23, 2006 in all Armenian communities around the United
States and the world.
As part of the Rebirth of Artsakh project, proceeds from the live
12-hour program will benefit the regional development of Hadrut,
Nagorno Karabakh. The funds will go towards building new drinking
water pipelines as well as reconstructing healthcare facilities and
schools that fell victim to the war and years of neglect. In an effort
to eradicate poverty in this war ravaged border region, Armenia Fund
will also implement a comprehensive agricultural development project
to impact 1,000 farmers in 8 Hadrut villages. A similar regional
development program is currently underway in the northern Martakert
region using the funds raised during last year’s Telethon 2005.
His Excellency Arkady Ghukasyanan, President of the Nagorno Karabakh
Republic and Mrs. Naira Melkoumian, Chief Executive Officer of
Armenia Fund International will be present during the telethon. The
live program is set to air internationally from Glendale Studios,
California. Below is the listing of the domestic broadcast stations
in the United States and their times in respective local time zones.
H1-Armenian Public Television will also air the live program in
Armenia, as well as on satellite in Europe, the Middle East, Asia,
and the United States. Viewers with a Globecast World TV satellite
may tune in to H1-Armenian Public Television and view the live 12-hour
program. In addition, Horizon Armenian Television, the largest Diaspora
based Armenian cable and satellite network outside of Armenia will
air the telethon on its channel as well. Viewers in North America
may watch the Telethon on Horizon’s satellite channels.
The Telethon will also be webcasted live for 12 hours on

ICG CONCERNED ABOUT THE FATE OF ARMENIAN AND AZERI MINORITIES IN GEORGIA
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
“The Georgian government must take significant steps to avoid conflict
in the country’s ethnic Armenian and Azeri areas,” says the last
report of the International Crisis Group titled “Georgia’s Armenian
and Azeri Minorities. The report examines the grievances of these two
communities. While there is no risk of the situation becoming Ossetian
or Abkhaz-like threats to Georgia’s territorial integrity, tensions
are evident in the regions of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo-Kartli,
where the two predominantly live. There have been demonstrations,
alleged police brutality and killings during the past two years.
Georgia has made little progress towards integrating these minorities,
who constitute over 12 per cent of the population.
Armenians and Azeris are underrepresented in all spheres of public
life, especially government, and a lack of dialogue between them and
Tbilisi adds to perceptions of discrimination and alienation. This
is aggravated by economic problems, including high unemployment l
and decaying infrastructure.
“Tbilisi needs to do much more to build confidence and to encourage
minorities to address their problems through state structures rather
then in the street”, says Sabine Freizer, Crisis Group’s Caucasus
Project Director.
While the government denies there is any inequality, many minorities
claim they are treated as second-class citizens. Feeling betrayed by
the Abkhaz and Ossetians, who declared independent states on Georgian
territory, Tbilisi has a deeply rooted, if unfounded, fear that others
may do the same. More sensitive and effective minority policies would
dampen such demands and might even help build trust with the Abkhaz
and Ossetians.
Some steps have been taken to improve the lives of minorities. With
donor support, Georgia has invested in road and infrastructure
rehabilitation in minority regions and created a ministry for civic
integration, established a public administration institute to train
minorities and ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection
of National Minorities.
None of this is likely to appease minorities’ political grievances
without policies that increase inclusion and participation.
Implementation of local government reform after the 2006 elections
provides a new platform for minorities to affect decision-making
through municipal bodies. More consultation by Tbilisi when drafting
legislation can also help.
The government needs to establish a comprehensive education system
to teach Georgian as a second language to minorities, but while a
new generation is educated, minorities should not be discriminated
against, especially in hiring for state jobs. The state should also
implement its international commitments, particularly allowing use
of minority languages for state affairs in municipalities with large
numbers of minority citizens, as is standard throughout Europe.
“Only by acting on both tracks will Georgia succeed in reducing
tensions and increasing minority integration”, says Nicholas Whyte,
Crisis Group’s Europe Program Director.

PEACE CORPS ARMENIA HOLDS 8TH ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT FAIR
Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 22 2006
The 8h Annual Peace Corps Armenia Development Fair was held on November
22, 2006 at the AUA Business Center. Peace Corps Volunteers and their
Armenian counterparts were invited to meet representatives of 80
Armenian and international development organizations. The goal of the
event was to promote cooperation and collaboration between Peace Corps
Volunteers and development organizations, particularly in the areas
of English language education, business and community development,
health education and environmental education. Anthony Godfrey, United
States Charge d’Affaires ad interim to the Republic of Armenia,
addressed the participants at the opening of the Development Fair.
Peace Corps Armenia was established in 1992 at the invitation of
the Government of Armenia. Currently, 77 Volunteers work in schools,
universities, NGOs, and health facilities throughout Armenia. During
the last fourteen years, 529 Peace Corps Volunteers have served
in Armenia.
The U S Peace Corps was founded in 1961 by United States President John
F. Kennedy and has three goals: to provide trained assistance to people
of other countries as requested, to promote a better understanding
of Americans by the people of the countries in which they serve,
and to promote a better understanding of other cultures by Americans.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA DM CALMLY PERCEIVES CRITICS, PUBLISHED ABOUT HIM IN SOME HOME MEDIA
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
The Secretary of the National Security Council under RA President,
RA DM, Serzh Sarkissyan, calmly perceives the critics, published
about him in some home Media.
In a interview to the Public Radio of Armenia he noted that there
are one or two newspapers in the country which consider it necessary
to excoriate him in each issue. “I have already said that I consider
them beggarly since they do it for different reasons, however, it is
striking where the order comes from”, the Minister said.
To note, the regular meeting of RA DM with the parents of soldiers,
who pass service for a fixed period, gave cause for the critics about
him. Some Mass Media have perceived this meeting as a beginning of the
Minister’s election campaign. “It is astonishing that these newspapers
publish an apparent lie, but look here, those who participated in
the meeting with me, also read them and they will notice at once that
the published is a nonsense”, S. Sarkissyan said.

SERZH SARKISSYAN: CONDITION OF ARMENIAN PEACEMAKER, WOUNDED IN IRAQ, IS SATISFACTORY
ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 21 2006
The condition of the Armenian peacemaker, wounded in Iraq, is assessed
satisfactory, RA DM, Serzh Sarkissyan, said in an interview to the
Public Radio of Armenia.
To remind, a senior lieutenant, Georgy Nalbandyan, born in 1981, was
seriously wounded In Iraq, November 11, as a result of undermining
during execution of the regular task. His companions, peacemakers
from Poland and Slovakia, have died. The Armenian officer’s leg was
amputated and he will be further treated in Germany. This is the
first incident with participation of the Armenian servicemen within
the two years, during which the Armenian peacemakers carry out their
mission in Iraq. The Minister reminded that the wounded is in Germany
and undergoes rehabilitation after the leg amputation. After one or
two operations he will return to Armenia.

LECTURES, FILMS ON EARLY ARMENIAN HISTORY
Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
Nov 22 2006
The Boston Chapter of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and
Cultural Society, the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA),
the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR)
and the Harvard Armenian Society will present a lecture and film
series on early Armenian history by Professor Artak Movsisyan.
Movsisyan is an associate professor of history at Yerevan State
University and a scholar at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the
National Academy of Sciences (Republic of Armenia). He has published
numerous monographs and articles on a wide range of topics in ancient
Armenian history, culture and spirituality.
The schedule of the lecture and film series is as follows:
Lecture: “The Pre-Christian Written Culture of Armenia,” Wednesday,
Nov. 29, 7:45 p.m. at Harvard University, Sever Hall, Room 113.
Lecture: “The Origins of the Armenian Nation: From Earliest References
to Now,” Thursday, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m. at NAASR, 395 Concord Ave.,
Belmont.
Film Screening: “Tigran the Great – A Patriotic Sovereign,” Saturday,
Dec. 2, 1:30 p.m. at ACEC, 47 Nichols Ave., Watertown.
Lecture: “Pre-Christian Armenian Belief System and Transition
to Christianity,” Sunday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. at ALMA, 65 Main St.,
Watertown.
Admission to all events is free, and lectures will be delivered in
English. To find out more about the series please contact NAASR at
[email protected], or 617-489-1610.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BENNETT GIVES EYE CARE IN ARMENIA
Belmont Citizen-Herald, MA
Nov 22 2006
Thirteen years ago, Rev. Joanne Hartunian consulted with Dr. Linda
Bennett concerning a young girl in the Cambridge Yerevan Sister City
Association youth exchange program from Yerevan, Armenia who needed
eye glasses. Bennett said she’d do what she could.
Since then, she has examined exchange educators and students with
various stages of vision problems. As she treated the Belmont High
School exchange visitors in her Belmont office, Bennett would say,
“Don’t forget to get come and get your eyes checked again.” The
participants would try to explain that they were on a U.S. Department
of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs funded youth
exchange program and that it would be impossible to come to America
again. Bennett always told the students and teachers, “You never know
when I’ll see you again!”
Belmont High School is partnered with School 65 in the Shengavit
region of Yerevan. Year after year, as educators and students arrived
at Belmont High School, Bennett and her staff cleared their office to
accommodate the groups that Cambridge Yerevan Sister City brought to
the Boston area. Bennett’s office visit became a living legend where,
in addition to providing everyone with eye exams, and glasses or
surgery where necessary, she showed the students a children’s video,
treated them to lunch, and let them play games for an afternoon.
Year after year, Bennett would call Rev. Hartunian and inquire, “When
are the Armenian students and teachers coming to Belmont High School?”
Armenian students and educators are unable to come to the United
States with the Secondary School Partnership Program to Promote
Civil Society any longer, due to State Department budget cuts. So
she decided if the children couldn’t come to her, she would go to them.
In 2004, Bennett spoke at an annual Optometric Convention and told
them about the children in Armenia. Her efforts mobilized an 18-person
medical team with Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity, where
they conducted six all-day school clinics in Armenia.
Bennett is again organizing efforts to do another clinic in Armenia
in October 2007. Kimberly Balfour, nurse at Belmont Day School,
who was also on the 2004 team, has volunteered to again head the
blood pressure and diabetes screening clinic which will prioritize
patients according to need, as often these conditions are indicative
of eye care issues. Optometric student Rita Cherian, a Belmont High
School graduate, will do a clinic rotation and training in Armenia
under the supervision of Bennett. Dr. Leora Berns and Dr.
Viktoria Davis of Connecticut; and volunteers Elizabeth Gallaher of
Belmont and Roswita Fragomeni of New York have joined the team.
Rev. Hartunian is project manager for this vision clinic, assisted
by logistics coordinator Peggy Hovanessian of Lexington, and site
coordinator Anna Karakhanyan in Armenia. AMARAS Arts Alliance of
Watertown, and its President Arax Badalian, is the United States
sponsoring organization. On route to clinics and throughout their
visit in Armenia, the team will be shown historic and cultural sights
throughout the country. While in Armenia they will be hosted in a
government guest house and they will have dinner in the homes of the
many people Bennett has treated. Each optometrist or nurse will be
assisted by an American volunteer and a Yerevan translator.
In order to serve the greatest number of people, there are a limited
number of spaces available for additional ODs and volunteers on a
first inquiry basis.
For more information please contact Dr. Linda Bennett, 617-484-1414;
or Rev. Joanne Hartunian, [email protected].

PRIZEWINNER BRINGS JAZZ MOVES TO TRIBECA: TIGRAN HAMASYAN
New York Times, NY
Nov 22 2006
Two months ago, when Tigran Hamasyan won first place at the Thelonious
Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, he confirmed several things
about the current state of jazz. First off, it’s in great shape, in
terms of global influence and youthful vigor: Mr. Hamasyan, who is
not yet 20, enjoys a comfortably casual relationship with the folk
music of his native Armenia. Second, it’s in not-so-great shape, in
terms of infrastructure: there’s little chance that Mr. Hamasyan’s
distinction could lead to a major-label contract, as it has for
winners of the Monk competition in the (ever receding) past.
Finally and most important, the music itself maintains a healthy remove
from these and other speculative concerns. Mr. Hamasyan unfurls no
banners with his playing, though it can often convey the jubilant
power of an anthem. His main interests are exploratory, especially
when it comes to rhythm. He situates his piano not at the forefront
of an ensemble but deep within it, so that the momentum he generates
is centrifugal.
Mr. Hamasyan, a student at the University of Southern California,
applied his powers of concentration to two distinct settings on Monday
night. He began the evening as the featured artist at a concert
affiliated with the Monk Institute at the TriBeCa Performing Arts
Center, with Francois Moutin on bass and Ari Hoenig on drums. A few
hours later, he turned up at Smalls, as a sideman in a quintet led
by Mr. Hoenig.
Naturally the concert, with its mix of traditional and original
material, provided the broadest view of Mr. Hamasyan’s potential. He
approached nearly every tune as an arc, beginning in contemplation
and building to a crashing fury. This was an intuitive style for Mr.
Moutin and Mr. Hoenig, who dove headlong into action, responding
instantly to Mr. Hamasyan’s turns of phrase.
On “These Houses,” adapted from an Armenian folk song, and “World
Passion,” the title track of Mr. Hamasyan’s new debut album (issued
by Nocturne, a Paris-based label), the trio worked expressively with
fluttering polyrhythm. Their sound evoked the recent acoustic efforts
of Chick Corea, whose percussive pianism Mr. Hamasyan intermittently
deployed in his improvisations, along with emphatic chordal stabs
and two-handed octave filigree.
The concert was bookended by standards – “Just Friends” and “What
Is This Thing Called Love?” – that Mr. Hamasyan had revised with
shuddering syncopations. The arrangements were essentially cubist,
disconcertingly fragmentary but still representative of their
sources. Less clever but equally engaging was a version of Monk’s “In
Walked Bud,” set in a waltzlike 5/4 meter that elicited Mr. Hamasyan’s
most agile solo turn.
Perhaps by coincidence, Mr. Hoenig later applied the same floating
pulse to a ballad, “Tenderly,” during his first set at Smalls. There
too, Mr. Hamasyan was fluid and self- assured. He convincingly
sight-read a couple of Mr. Hoenig’s tunes and generally settled into
the pace of the ensemble, which was less insistent than his own.
Then Mr. Hoenig ended the set by calling up Mr. Moutin (to replace his
regular bassist, Matt Penman), and lending Mr. Hamasyan the reins. And
together they played “The Rain Is Coming,” another Armenian song,
with a bright and surging exuberance.
s/music/22tigr.html
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RELATIONS BETWEEN FRANCE AND ALGERIA REMAIN STRAINED DUE TO THE ALGERIAN GENOCIDE
Mukremin TASCI (JTW)
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Nov 22 2006
Relations between France and Algeria remain strained due to the
Algerian Genocide committed by France during the colonial period.
French President Jacques Chirac has rebuffed Algerian President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s demand that France apologize for its “long,
brutal and genocidal” rule. Bouteflika officially named the French
period as “cultural and political genocide of the Algerian identity”.
During a visit to Algiers last week, French Interior Minister Nicolas
Sarkozy, the leading ruling party candidate in the 2007 presidential
vote, said he couldn’t “ask children to apologize for the faults
of their fathers.” Sarkozy and his party accuses Turkey for the
Ottoman past and Sarkozy strongly support a bill which makes crime
to reject the Armenian genocide crimes in Turkey. Algerians argue
that France should first face with its own crimes before judging the
other countries.
Algerian historians estimate that more than 1,5 million Algerians
were massacred by the French Army.
The Algerian war for independence began in 1954, and the French army
largely crushed the rebels by 1958. Civilian massacres and the use of
torture undercut support for the war in France, resulting in General
Charles de Gaulle’s decision to quit Algeria.