The Daily Star, Lebanon
Oct 28 2006
Novelist with roots in Beirut wins Whiting Award
Daily Star staff
Saturday, October 28, 2006
BEIRUT: Saudi-born novelist Micheline Aharonian Marcom has been
awarded one of 10 annual Whiting Writers’ Awards for emerging
authors, each worth $40,000. The winners of this year’s prizes –
given to two novelists, three short story writers, three poets and
two playwrights in total, all of them in the early stages of their
careers – were announced in New York on Thursday.
Marcom was born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in 1968, of mixed American,
Lebanese and Armenian parentage. She grew up in Los Angeles but spent
her formative summers in Beirut before the Civil War broke out.
Marcom’s first novel, “Three Apples Fell from Heaven,” was published
in 2001. Set in Ottoman Turkey during the tumultuous two-year period
between 1915 and 1917, the novel caught the attention of critics for
its stylistic complexity. Marcom’s book threw up multiple
protagonists in a series of interlocking vignettes. The cast includes
Maritsa, a young woman harboring desires to be a young man; Lucine, a
low-level employee at the US Embassy and the consul’s lover; Sargis,
a poet losing his mind while hiding out in his mother’s attic; and
Rachel, a ghost of sorts who haunts the novel by offering reflections
on all the other characters from the bottom of a well.
If Marcom’s debut dealt directly with the Armenian genocide, then her
follow-up, “The Daydreaming Boy” published in 2004, traces its legacy
– the emotional aftermath haunting survivors of the massacres living
in Beirut in the 1960s. A middle-aged man named Vahe distracts
himself with torrid, adulterous affairs, but they all fail to turn
his mind from his brutal past, which he sees before him day in and
day out.

Again Marcom’s language is impressionistic and rich. Some sentences
go on and on, coiling one vibrant image into another and yet another.
Other sentences are short and rhythmic. One passage describes a
photograph of an unknown boy ripped from an old Armenian journal and
tucked into the protagonist’s wallet.
“His look is the look of sadness – in this photograph I can see it.
It is not the rags that tell of it, his stance with the bared knee
slightly bent, or the invisible hands, I assume he has hands. What
marks the public sadness for this boy?” Marcom writes. “He could very
well have been my uncle, my mother’s youngest cousin; we are kin in
any case, kin made from an event in history. Not one moment, but many
bound together and routed from hearths and bundles up in his raggy
hat-turban – there is of course the moment of the photograph.”
“The Daydreaming Boy” is the second installment in a planned trilogy.
Marcom is currently a writer-in-residence at Mills College in
California. The other winner’s of this year’s Whiting Writers Awards
are novelist Nina Marie Martinez; short story writers Charles
D’Ambrosio, Yiyun Li and Patrick O’Keefe; poets Sherwin Bitsui, Suji
Kwock Kim and Tyehimba Jess; and playwrights Bruce Norris and Stephen
Adly Guirgis. – The Daily Star

Armenia will participate in the elaboration of resolution on

ArmRadio.am
27.10.2006 17:57
The Armenian side will have practical involvement in the elaboration
of the text of the draft resolution on `frozen conflicts’ to be
discussed in the framework of the Un General Assembly session, RA MFA
Press Secretary Vladimir Karapetyan told ArmInfo correspondent.
He underlined that the Armenian side is participating in elaboration
of all the resolutions related to the region, as well as the questions
of large-scale international importance. `It is natural that the
Armenian side will participate in the discussions of the `frozen’
conflicts initiated by GUAM countries,’ Vladimir Karapetyan noted.
To note, Azeri MFA has come forward with a statement, that discussion
of the `frozen conflicts’ in GUAM member states will be held in the
framework of the UN session on December 4.

UNKNOWN PEOPLE RUIN FERIGYUGH COLLEGE FURNITURE AND STEAL COMPUTER

ISTANBUL, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Unknown people
entered the Merametchian college of Ferigyugh and, turning everything
upside down, did much harm to the institution. According to Marmara,
making use of the vacations on the occasion of the Bayram holiday,
unknown people, breaking window pane of one of the college rooms,
entered the college. They ruined the furniture and doors, using axes,
and stole a portable computer. The college heads and members of the
district council immediately informed about the case the police which
holds investigation to reveal criminals.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A GROUP OF PEOPLE PROTESTS AS IF TURKISH FLAG PLACED IN BACK OF CESARIA
CHURCH IS TAKEN OUT

CESARIA, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. About 90 pilgrims
of Yeshilgyugh headed by deacon Vahram Lyulechian went to the Saint
Gregory the Illuminator church of Cesaria to celebrate there liturgy
headed by priest Andreas Hakobian, the spiritual pastor of Yeshilgyugh.
During the saint liturgy, a group people of about 80 gathered at the
church door and made noise as if the flag placed in the back of the
church was taken out. Ones responsible for the church explained that
there is nothing like that, and the Turkish flag has always been
placed only in the front of the church. The local security forces
interfered after a unpleasant argument and prevented straining of the
situation. However, the liturgy was not stopped. At the end, the
group of pilgrims, accompanied by the security employees, was led
towards Talas and neighbouring villages, from where it went to
Istanbul.

MEMORIAL TO ROMANIAN PRISONERS OF WAR WHO DIED IN ARMENIA UNVEILED IN
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. A memorial to Romanian prisoners of
war who were taken prisoners in the 1941-45 World War and died in
Armenia was unveiled in the Kanaker-Zeytun community of Yerevan. The
memorial construction was financed by the Romanian government. As
Romanian Deputy Ambassador to Armenia, Gabriel Grecu said at the
solemn unveiling ceremony, 140 thousand Romanian soldiers were taken
prisoners during the Second World War. They were moved to various
countries. The prisoners of war who moved to Armenia lived in camps
and took part in construction activities. In his words, according to
not precise data, 175 thousand Romanian prisoners of war were buried
in Armenia, but only 90 prisoners of war were mentioned in
documents. Historian Ara Demirkhanian also emphasized that 943 of
prisoners of war brought to Armenia after the Second World War were
buried here.

EUobserver.com
Romanian nominee for EU commission job sparks questions
27.10.2006 – 09:29 CET | By Lucia Kubosova
European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has postponed
confirmation of Romania’s surprise nominee to join his team, with
socialist MEPs warning they would be “tough” in screening the candidate
they say is known for being “on the payroll of big economic tycoons.”
Both candidates for new EU commissioners from the newest member states
met Mr Barroso on Thursday (25 October) but only Bulgaria’s Meglena
Kuneva, currently the country’s Europe minister, received the official
green light.
Ms Kuneva will be responsible for the consumer protection portfolio in
the 27-strong college, an area which Cypriot commissioner Markos
Kyprianou oversees at the moment along with health issues which will now
become his sole task.
“Consumer protection is central to the European citizen’s agenda and
while we have achieved a lot for Europe’s consumers already, there is a
substantial work ahead which I am sure Ms Kuneva can take forward,” Mr
Kyprianou said.
However, after Thursday’s discussions, Mr Barroso said talks with
Bucharest on its nomination of Varujan Vosganian – a liberal senator and
keen free market promoter – were “ongoing.”
The commission was reportedly taken aback by the surprise nomination as
Mr Vosganian did not previously feature among the mooted candidates and
is currently linked to an internal Romanian government row, according to
the Financial Times.
The tension has also risen a notch following a statement by two
prominent socialist MEPs – Hannes Swoboda and Jan Marinus Wiersma – who
argue that the Romanian nominee is “unknown” in European circles and his
background should be closely “explored.”
“What is known is that he has been very much on the right-wing of
politics and on the payroll of big economic tycoons,” said the deputies,
referring to Mr Vosganian’s business contacts and noting that they would
strive to prevent the commission’s push to the right.
But Romanian leader Calin Popescu Tariceanu defended his candidate for
the Brussels job and pointed out that the socialists’ claims were pure
speculation.
“They said they will have a fair attitude towards all candidates for the
position of European commissioner and there is no need to view this
matter from the perspective of political groups within the European
Parliament,” said Mr Tariceanu.
Mr Vosganian’s nomination has also been marred by Romanian media
speculation he collaborated with Soviet-era secret police, the
Securitate, while Turkish press writes the ethnic Armenian’s prominent
role in recent Armenia genocide memorials is causing ripples in Ankara.
The European Parliament will be involved in confirming the two new
commissioners, with the date of the vote on their nomination – before or
after the countries’ January 2007 accession – remaining unclear.
The plenary vote will be preceded by hearings where MEPs will grill the
would-be commissioner on issues both directly connected to their
portfolios and their general opinions and political and economic
thinking.
Tough screening by MEPs in 2004 lead to a couple of nominee changes
before Mr Barroso’s commission was approved, with the most notorious
case being the removal of the Italian candidate, Rocco Buttiglione, for
his controversial statements on the role of women in society and on
gays. a.. Back b.. To the top
© 2006 EUobserver, All rights reserved
Brussels is still in talks over Mr Vosganian’s nomination for the
commission job (Photo: )
From: Baghdasarian

HEAD OF RPA FACTION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IS AGAINST RETURN OF MUSIC OF
ARMENIAN ANTHEM OF SOVIET PERIOD

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Galust Sahakian, the head of the RPA
faction of the RA National Assembly estimates positive the
government’s decision concerning prolonging for one year the activity
of the “Mets Hayrenik” (Great Fatherland) state anthem. The deputy
also foresaw at the October 27 briefing that “the problem will not be
solved during the coming one year, and it must be prolonged till it
becomes a public demand or a new anthem is born.”
G.Sahakian spoke against return of the music of the Armenian anthem of
the Soviet period. “I’m not against Aram Khachatrian’s music, but it
served a system which is inadmissible today.”

ARMENIAN AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENTS TO MEET IN MOSCOW ON OCTOBER 30

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. RA President Robert Kocharian will
leave on working visit for Moscow on October 30. As Noyan Tapan was
informed by the RA President’s Press Office, on the same day the
President of Armenia will have a private conversation in Kremlin with
his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin.
Robert Kocharian will have meetings with RF Government Chairman
Mikhayel Fradkov and Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov as well. The President
of Armenia will participate in the capital of the Russian Federation
in the solemn ceremony of opening of the monument to prominent
composer Aram Khachatrian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TRIBUTE OF RESPECT PAID TO MEMORY OF 1999 TERRORISM VICTIMS IN PARLIAMENT YARD
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. RA National Assembly deputies, staff
representatives and journalists accredited at the Parliament paid
tribute of respect on October 27 to memory of 8 statesmen-politicians
became victims of terrorism committed on the same day 7 years
ago. Wreaths and flowers were laid to the monument erected in the yard
of the Parliament. It perpetuates memory of NA Chairman Karen
Demirchian, Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsian, NA Deputy Speakers Yuri
Bakhshian and Ruben Miroyan, Minister for Operative Issues Leonard
Petrosian, deputies Armenak Armenakian, Henrik Abrahamian and Mikayel
Kotanian died in 1999 in the conference hall of the Parliament.
“Irrespective of the fact that 7 years passed after this tragedy, but
people who knew victims of that terrorism, who worked with them,
especially who was at the Parliament, in the hall on that tragic day,
I’m sure that will bear during their whole life both pain and suffers
that they have had in that hall,” NA Speaker Tigran Torosian said to
journalists. In his words, the most important is to make consequences
for such a tragedy never takes place in the world from now on, in the
basis of which, in his opinion, was spite and hatred. “People who died
on that severe day, did not live end in itself, lived for the sake of
ideas, for the sake of programs, for the sake of principles, and the
greatest tribute for them, I think, will be development of Armenia,
that’s, implementation of those programs, ideas and goals which the
victims of that severe day professed,” the NA Speaker said.

ALVARD PETROSIAN: CONSIDERING RUSSIA OUR ELDER BROTHER IS SERVILITY

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenians should be sober when
estimating other countries’ actions towards Armenia and should not
suffer from unselfishness. Alvard Petrosian, member of RA NA ARFD
faction, expressed such an opinion at the October 27 press
conference. For instance, today Armenians are filled with gratitude
towards France for the French parliament’s establishing punishment for
denial of the Armenian Genocide. But, in A.Petrosian’s words, it
should be taken into consideration that “unless this proceeded from
the interests of the French state, this country would not make such a
decision.”
According to ARFD faction member, she also considers as unacceptable
the approach, according to which Armenia cannot live without
Russia. A.Petrosian said that though she as an intellectual was formed
in the atmosphere of Russian culture, has always admired Russian
literature, she is convinced that even in relations with a friendly
country one should not lose sense of national dignity and should not
forget that Russia has its interests as well. “We are a very important
refuge for Russia, but considering Russia our elder brother is
servility,” A.Petrosian declared. Commenting upon RF State Duma Deputy
Konstantin Zatulin’s statement about clarification of Armenia’s
position on Russian-Georgian conflict, A.Petrosian gave assurance that
“if our people holds its spine straight, no country’s official will
dare to expert pressure upon us.”