‘BESAME MUCHO’ AND ‘CRANES’ IN ONE CD
By Susanna Margarian
AZG Armenian Daily
06/09/2006
Singer Sarine Balian is first time in Armenia. Urged by Narek
Harutyunian, founder of Narekatsi Art Center, she arrived in to
see her fatherland about which she only heard. “I have been here
for a week and I learn new things and meet new faces every day. I
have never been to a place where everything is written in Armenian,
everyone speaks Armenian and all these is very exciting. Diasporans
Armenians here do and feel the same things and we have the same nature
and character but we seldom talk of that,” she says.
Sarine did not come empty-handed; she brought her first album titled
“Juxtaposed” that saw the light lately. Her live performance will
take place at Narekatsi Center on September 12.
Born in Lebanon, she lived in America and performs jazz. She was
captured by the freedom of jazz music when still a student at San
Francisco University.
“Jazz for me was a door of revelations that grants possibility of
advancement and reincarnation. For instance, jazz versions of Armenian
songs are very close to my heart,” Sarine says.
She also teaches and thinks that contact with her students helps to
even more crystallize her art.
“Children prefer joyous and rhythmic songs. Regardless a song’s or
a dance’s ethnic background people prefer the one that creates good
mood,” she says.
With regard to “Juxtaposed”, it must be noted that it’s a wonderful
collection of diverse ethnic songs by which Sarine once again confirms
that love, human sadness and emotions are the same for all people
despite ethnic, linguistic and cultural differences.

SHALL WE HAVE A NEW HYMN ON SEPTEMBER 21?
A1+
[06:06 pm] 05 September, 2006
The haste about the adoption of RA hymn is determined by the desire to
have a new hymn on the eve of the 15th anniversary of the republic. Out
of five proposed variants only one will be chosen as the state hymn
lest the parliament comes up with legislative initiative about the
former hymn “Our Country” and reaffirms it.
Poet David Hovhannes referred to the possible legislative
initiative. He wrote an application and left the Competition Board
on August 28.
“I am not the last man in the sphere of art. Why shouldn’t I be
included in the Board?” this rhetorical question was aroused by Henrik
Hovhannesyan, renowned scientist and professor. “You haven’t suffered a
great loss, you merely saved your nerves from extra stress,” comforted
David Hovhannes. The latter also confessed that half members of the
22-person Board were unknown to him whereas he considered Henrik
Hovhannesyan’s presence in the Competition Board necessary.
THE ANTHEM IS A SPIRITUAL VALUE AND NOT A STATE ONE
David Hovhannes defined the words hymn, anthem and emblem. In his
words, the anthem may be accepted by the Diaspora representatives who
are deprived of their country and who have got spiritual power. Our
anthem “is derived from the heart of each Armenian” whereas the hymn
must be a national epos. The emblem in his opinion is a military term,
the symbol of army.
Both David Hovhannes and Henrik Hovhannesyan don’t want Aram
Khachatryan’s work to be chosen for the second time though they have
nothing against Aram Khachatryan. They both think that the test must
go in line with the music.
KOMITAS IS MORE THAN KHACHATRYAN
David Hovhannes and Henrik Hovhannesyan think that Aram Khachatryan’s
work is connected with political past and is inadmissible in this
respect. Henrik Hovhannesyan claims that the same is true with “Our
Country.” They deem the song “Armenia, country of paradise” written
by Komitas the best work which unfortunately didn’t pass the first
stage. Among the five songs in question Henrik Hovhannesyan prefers
Tigran Mansouryan’s work as he is greatly impressed by Charents’
words. But this work is difficult to perform.
David Hovhannes prefers the current hymn which hasn’t passed the
first stage either. By the way, he voices hope that the legislative
initiative of the parliament will be supported, and the current hymn
will be preserved for some time.
ARE PEOPLE INDIFFERENT OR DO THEY PREFER KHACHATRYAN?
Khachatryan’s work has gained the most points as a result of
Internet polling initiated by A1+(). David Hovhannes
and Henrik Hovhannesyan think this fact is conditioned by nostalgia
and indifference. “There are people who still live with illusions
of the past in their hearts and soles. Others say that they are fed
up with social problems and haven’t got time to think of the hymn,”
adds David Hovhannes.

THE INTELLIGENTSIA GETS AQCUAINTED WITH THE VLLAGE PROGRAM
A1+
[08:03 pm] 05 September, 2006
Vartan Oskanian claims that the third Armenian-Diaspora conference
which is to be held on September 18 will be based on the
intelligentsia.
“I do think that there is ideology in it. The moment will be
historical, and we shall have a chance to look behind and share our
opinions on our past, to analyze whatever we have done and to plan
our further actions together with joint efforts,” Vartan Oskanian
told the representatives of the Armenian intelligentsia during his
meeting in the Writers’ House.
Though the preliminary agenda of the 3rd Armenian-Diaspora conference
is already ready, The Minister assured that the opinions of the
intelligentsia will be taken into account as well.
The Foreign Minister claims that the number of the Diaspora
participants will outnumber 2000 by the start of the conference.
The conference will focus on the development program of the rural
areas. In comparison with the previous two conferences a number
of practical issues will be discussed this time. “There has been
significant growth in Armenia in the previous years. But unfortunately
it is not obvious in rural areas. Each visitor immediately notices
that there is a huge gap between the capital and the rural regions. We
must attach great importance to these regions if we want to have a
developed country as the migration mainly generates from frontier
regions, ” noted Vartan Oskanian.
The initiators of the conference have chosen 50 frontier villages,
made survey. They will work out a program on the bases of their results
and implement it. “This will have a continual character.” Asked how
they intend to gain the confidence of the public Mr.
Oskanian answered that the program is initiated by the Diaspora and
they will gain the confidence through this program..
By the way, a final document will be made at the end of the conference
which will be presented to the Armenian authorities and Diaspora
representatives.

EVANS SAYS GOOD-BYE
A1+
[08:15 pm] 05 September, 2006
Today RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan met with John Evans,
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia in connection
with the cease of his work and activity in Armenia.
While expressing his gratitude to Mr. Evans for his work The Defense
Minister stated that the Armenian-American relations have become
firmer and closer in the recent two years. He also voiced hope that
these relations will become still closer and continual during the
office of the next ambassador.
John Evans thanked the Armenian Defense Minsiter and the personnel
of the Ministry for their efficient and high-level work in the sphere
of defense.
While referring to the Karabakh conflict, Serge Srargsyan expressed
his high opinion of the Minsk group co-chairs’ role and voiced hope
that the conflict is likely to be regulated by peaceful means.
The two parties also touched upon the regional security issues.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT REPORT NOT OBJECTIVE, SAYS TURKEY
NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Aug 5 2006
The report said there had been a slowing of the pace of enacting
reforms required as part of Turkey’s EU membership bid.
Guncelleme: 21:36 TSÝ 05 Eylul 2006 SalýANKARA – The report handed
down by the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on Turkey’s
progress in meeting the membership criteria of the European Union was
not objective and did not deal with the relevant issues, a Turkish
Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tuesday.
However, Turkey expected some of the more controversial and
questionable statements in the report, which was approved by the
EP’s Foreign Affairs Committee late Monday, to be removed from the
final document to be voted on by the parliament on September 28,
Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said.
“It is obvious that the report focused on issues which has nothing to
do with common sense and objectivity,” Tan told a press conference
in Ankara. “We hope that those points will be addressed before the
vote in the General Assembly at the end of this month.”
Tan said that a number of issues raised in the report, such as the
so-called Armenian genocide, were included due to political impulses
and did not reflect reality.
“We hope members of the European Parliament will demonstrate common
sense to fix this situation during general assembly meeting,” he said.
–Boundary_(ID_fi5yM0LV+IATflFH+Na0WQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHAYAN ON A WORKING VISIT TO ARAGATSOTN MARZ
ArmRadio.am
05.09.2006 12:39
RA President Robert Kocharyan left for Aragatsotn marz on a working
visit today.
The President is accompanied by RA Minister of Education and Science
Levon Makrtchyan and Minister of Agriculture David Lockyan.
Robert Kocharyan participated in the opening ceremony of the new school
in Aragats village built on financing from the state budget. Later
the President visited Saghmosavank complex, where he was welcomed by
Head of the Aragatsotn Diocese Torgom Tonikyan.
Mr. Kocharyan is expected to visit also regional center Ashtarak to
hold working consultations.

CHAIRMAN OF THE EUROPEAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA
ArmRadio.am
05.09.2006 13:13
At the invitation of the Chairman of the Olympic Committee, MP Gagik
Tsarukyan President of the European Olympic Committee Patrick Hickey
will arrive in Armenia on a two-day official visit. Mr. Hickey will
have meetings with Armenian officials and sports leadership. He will
learn about the state of sport in Armenia and will hold corresponding
negotiations.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DEFENSE ARMY IS ON OF THE MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OF NKR
ArmRadio.am
05.09.2006 13:25
“One of the major achievements of NKR is the Defense Army. Created
along with the military actions, in a short period of time the
Karabakh Army developed into a combatant organization equipped
with modern military tools and armaments,” NKR Defense Minister,
Lieutenant-General Seyran Ohanyan stated during the festive events
dedicated to the 15th anniversary of declaration of the Nagorno
Karabakh Republic. According to NKR Defense Minister, today the
Defense Army is providing for the security of NKR borders without
the intervention of a second force. The Army is ready to show proper
resistance to any infringement of the rival.

FESTIVAL OF ARMENIAN SILENT FILMS TO BE HELD IN FRANCE
ArmRadio.am
05.09.2006 15:00
In the framework of the Year of Armenia festival of Armenian silent
films will be organized October in France.
Director of RA National Archive Amatuni Virabyan told the journalists
today that the festival will be accompanied by jazz music.
The festival is currently in the stage of preparation.

ANDRANIK NOREKYAN APPOINTED CBA BOARD MEMBER
ArmRadio.am
05.09.2006 14:36
September 1 President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree on appointing
Andranik Norekyan Board Member of the Central Bank of the Republic of
Armenia for the period of five years, President’s Press Office informs.