Chinese police delegation watches Russian Interior Ministry drills
RIA Novosti
28 Apr 06
Moscow, 28 April: The forces of the special subunits from the Russian
Interior Ministry carry out over 230 operations of various kinds every
day, the Russian deputy interior minister, Police Maj-Gen Mikhail
Sukhodolskiy, has told representatives from the antiterrorist
department of China’s Public Security Ministry at a meeting.
The Chinese delegation, which arrived in Russia at the invitation of
Russian Interior Minister Army-Gen Rashid Nurgaliyev, attended a
number of events. In particular, they participated as observers in an
antiterrorist command-staff exercise held in the Southern Federal
District by the forces of the Russian Interior Ministry.
Afterwards the observers from China took part in tactical exercises at
which officers practised the use of forces and assets of the federal
executive authorities to free hostages and prevent the hijacking of an
airliner seized by a bandit group.
Then the Chinese delegation went to the Daryal range in the Republic
of North Ossetia – Alania, where a tactical specialist exercise was
held to deal with bandit formations that had broken through the state
border. The forces and assets of the group of operational command,
according to the scenario, searched an area near the border, found
terrorists and destroyed them, thus foiling a terrorist act involving
sabotage at a water infrastructure facility.
According to Sukhodolskiy, the participation of foreign specialists in
antiterrorist exercises by Russian law-enforcement agencies is not
uncommon. “Last year we met specialists from Austria, Armenia and
Belarus,” Sukhodolskiy stressed.
He noted that experience is constantly being exchanged with foreign
special subunits. During these meetings, all forms and methods of
foreign colleagues’ work are studied and their positive aspects are
introduced into the daily activities of the groups of special forces
of the police.

Azeri, US presidents note importance of expanding partnership
Turan news agency, Baku
28 Apr 06
Washington, 28 April: Energy and regional security, the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict and problems of democratization were in
the centre of attention at today’s meeting between the US and
Azerbaijani presidents in Washington, the two heads of state said at a
news conference in the courtyard of the White House after the
negotiations.
[Azerbaijani President] Ilham Aliyev said that he and George Bush
discussed “all important issues”, a special correspondent of Turan
reports. The sides expressed a mutual opinion about the need to expand
and strengthen strategic partnership between the two countries, he
pointed out.
For his part, George Bush confirmed that they also touched on the
Iranian issue, but he did not disclose details. He stressed that the
two heads of state think it important to expand and strengthen
democracy in the region.

Critics’ Forum
Theater
Bogosia n Double-Play
By Aram Kouyoumdjian
To describe a play as “talky” seems rather silly; dialogue, after
all, serves as a foundation for drama. Eric Bogosian’s plays,
however, are “talky.” They don’t unfold as intricate narratives.
They don’t have much plot. Bogosian is far less interested in what
his characters have to do than in what they have to say. In fact,
the need to talk, to rant, to spew words with ferocity often defines
the figures who populate Bogosian’s solo performance works.
The preoccupation with talk spills over into Bogosian’s full-cast
plays, two of which were revived in recent Los Angeles productions.
The teens and twenty-somethings of “subUrbia” have little to do but
talk, as they loiter outside a convenience store. And words are
tantamount to currency in the aptly-named “Talk Radio.”
By all indications, the brief incarnation of “subUrbia” at the
Hollywood Fight Club should have been a disaster. The venue itself,
located in a strip mall, boasts a playing area for which “stage” is
too strong a word. At the matinee I attended, the sun shining
through the storefront windows asserted its own “lighting design” on
a set that could not have cost more than a latte.
Unexpectedly enough, the show worked. Sort of. Well, it worked as
much as it could have in the face of such impediments. It worked
mostly because of a committed cast that generated honest and
energetic performances to offset some of this middling production’s
shortcomings.
The play’s minimal plot finds its young suburbanites in front of a 7-
Eleven, their usual hangout, when a former friend from high school,
who has found fame as a rock star, returns for a visit. This
auspicious reunion offers potentially life-altering choices for the
locals. After all, dreams are still alive for some of them, like
the aspiring artist Sooze (Stacy Michelle Gold), even if they’ve
proven paralyzing for the idealistic Jeff (Beau Hirshfield) or
disillusioning for the jaded Tim (Jeremy Rodriguez).
For the most part, Bogosian’s script sounds authentic in recreating
the language of youth (although its slips are all-too-painful to the
ear). The language of youth, however, is fickle and ever-changing,
so a number of references in “subUrbia” had been updated for this
production in order to keep the text, now a dozen years old,
relevant.
Fortunately, the script had an ally in director Frank Krueger, who
achieved a sense of urgency whenever necessary (the “roughhousing”
among the characters turned quite physical) but knew to allow
quieter sequences to unfold at the appropriate pace. Still, he
never missed the play’s funnier elements (drawing a hilarious,
albeit over-the-top, performance from Brad Robinson). One only
wished he were better equipped with the resources to have production
values consistent with his vision.
Crisp production values were on full display in the Gangbusters
Theatre Company’s staging of “Talk Radio,” which had a limited run
at Theatre 68 in Hollywood. This early play from Bogosian’s canon,
virtually devoid of plot, dramatizes an hour from the talk show of
controversial (and fictional) shock jock Barry Champlain the night
before his show is to go national. Scenic designer Danny Cistone’s
meticulous replica of a broadcast studio provided the perfect
setting in which Champlain, winningly portrayed by Christian
Levatino, would expose his callers’ demons while struggling with his
own.
In a strong ensemble, Jonathan Burbridge stood out as Champlain’s
call screener, perfectly balancing Levatino’s intensity with a
casual portrayal punctuated by both laughs and poignancy. Equally
worthy of mention was Matt Mann, riotous in his scene-stealing turn
as a drugged-out fan who finagles his way onto Champlain’s show.
The play, however, belonged to Levatino, who constructed a complex
character in Champlain, even as he unleashed Bogosian’s words with
all their intended fury. In Levatino’s hands, Champlain’s rage was
explosive and profane, his introspection solemn and quiet. One
could not help being struck by the depth of his performance, which
revolved, for significant stretches of time, around a microphone.
But Levatino practically gave life to this inanimate object in
developing an organic, even visceral, interaction with “callers” who
never appeared onstage.
Director Leon Shanglebee confidently helmed the edgy work, managing
to keep focus where the script meandered. Even in its deviations,
however, Bogosian’s raw, intense, and kinetic writing always
maintained tension and commanded attention.
All Rights Reserved: Critics Forum, 2006
Aram Kouyoumdjian is the winner of Elly Awards for both playwriting
(“The Farewells”) and directing (“Three Hotels”). His performance
piece, “Protest,” was recently staged at the Finborough Theatre in
London.
You can reach him or any of the other contributors to Critics’ Forum
at [email protected]. This and all other articles published
in this series are available online at To
sign up for a weekly electronic version of new articles, go to
Critics’ Forum is a group created to
discuss issues relating to Armenian art and culture in the Diaspora.

US Congressmen call on Ankara to recognize the Armenian Genocide
ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 11:38
The Turkish `Hurriet’ wrote that a group of US Congressmen called on
Ankara to recogmize the Armenian Genocide and to apologize to
Armenians. According to the newspaper, the Congressmen declared that
the European Union should consider the issue of Turkey’s
acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide a precondition for accession
to the EU. The newspaper wrote that Senator Robert Menendes declared
that the US must officially recognize the Armenian Genocide, saying
that those who consider Turkey an ally of the United States should
know that no ally can counter the US with its policy. Noting that 18
countries of the world have already recognized the Armenian Genocide,
Senator Paul Sarbanes urged the Department of Sate to acknowledge it.
Member of the House of Representatives Sue Kelly said that the EU
should demand recognition of the Armenian Genocide on the part of
Turkey before its joining the Union.
`After resolving this issue, Turkey and Armenia may even become
friend; this is, however, impossible without an apology,’ he said.
Member of the House of Representatives Caroline Meloni declared that a
collection of signatures has been launched to address the European
Union to make Turkey recognize the Genocide before joining the EU.

Armenian Catholicosate and Canadian Prelacy Thank Prime Minister for
Genocide Recognition
ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 12:18
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Catholicosate of
Cilicia and His Eminence, Archbishop Khajag Hagopian, Prelate of the
Armenian Prelacy of Canada, issued separate thank you letters to the
Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Canada’s prime minister, for
acknowledging the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
In a statement made to the Armenian National Committee of Canada
(ANCC), the Prime Minister acknowledged the motion adopted by the
House of Commons recognizing the Armenian Genocide as the first
genocide of the 20th century and condemning it as a crime against
humanity.
`My party and I supported those resolutions and continue to recognize
them today¦ I join with you today in remembering the past and I
encourage you to continue honouring your forefathers by building a
bright future for all Canadians.’
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos, along with His Eminence, Prelate
Hagopian, and ANCC representatives, met with the Prime Minister, at
his request, in October 2005. During this meeting, His Holiness
discussed with Harper the issue of the Armenian Genocide and its
recognition by the Canadian government, as well as the possibility of
establishing a Canadian Embassy in Armenia, and expressed hope that
the Catholicosate and the Prelacy will continue to work together with
the Canadian Government on matters of concern for Canadians and
Armenians on multiple levels.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Vardan Oskanyan: After the Ramboulliet the negotiations are in a
semi-deadlock
ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 13:05
`After the Ramboulliet the negotiations on settlement of the Karabakh
conflict have found themselves in a semi-deadlock. Some progress was
registered before Ramboulliet, and today attempts are made to restart
the process,’ RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan declared during the
meeting with the faculty and students of Artsakh State University.
The Foreign Minister noted that in reality the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict and the official recognition of the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic are the major issues in Armenia’s foreign policy. In the
sphere of interior policy the Minister emphasized the democratization
of the society and the stable economic development.
Turning to the current situation of settlement of the Karabakh
conflict, Vardan Oskanyan noted,’ Azerbaijan should understand that
that the wheel of history cannot be turned back. Baku should refuse
from the idea of military resolution of the conflict.’
Turning to the regional issues, the Foreign Minister noted the bad
influence of Russian-Georgian relations on the overall situation in
the region.

NKR President and RA Foreign Minister attach importance to the
deepening of interagency ties
ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 14:00
April 28 NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan received the Armenian
delegation headed by Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan. NKR
President’s Office informs that the interlocutors turned to
prospects of development of interagency cooperation between Foreign
Ministries of the two countries. Attaching importance to the programs
of deepening the existing ties, Arkadi Ghukasyan confirmed that this
will promote the reinforcement of the positions of the Armenian side
in the negotiations process.
Arkadi Ghukasayn had a separate meeting with RA Foreign Minister
Vardan Oskanyan. The parties discussed the current situation of the
talks on settlement of the Karabakh conflict and exchanged views on
the recent suggestions of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Armenia continues reinforcing its capacity to resist terrorist threats
ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 14:32
`With the considerable assistance of the US Armenia continues
reinforcing its capacity to resist terrorist threats,’ says the annual
report of the US Department of State on fight against terrorism.
`Despite the fact that there are no terrorist groups in Armenia, the
geopolitical location of the country, its `leaky’ borders and the free
visa regime provide growing opportunities for illegal trafficking of
prohibited matters, people and finances. The deepening political and
economic ties of the Armenian government with neighboring Iran have
restricted the criticism of Iranian radicals in Armenia. Armenia has
normal diplomatic and economic relations with Syria. There are large
Armenian communities in Iran and Syria,’ the document notes.
The report mentions that Armenia continues to take efforts in the
direction of raising the level of protection of important documents
and has started implementation of special facilities for checking
passports.
The annual report of the Department of State notes that in August 2005
Armenia adopted the national control list, which includes those goods,
which cannot be exported or require a special export license.

PACE Presidnet: In case Azerbaijan applies force, it will end its
membership to the Coucil of Europe
ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 14:52
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
René Van der Linden said in his exclusive interview to MEDIAMAX
Agency that in case of resumption of the war between Armenia and
Azerbaijan `the membership of the countries tying to resolve the
conflict in a military way to the Council of Europe will become
impossible.’
Commenting upon the militant statements of the Azerbaijani leader,
PACE President said, `They should know that if they decide to use
force, it will put an end to their membership to the Council of
Europe. However, I am sure no one will demonstrate such behavior.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Manuk Gasparyan surprised with the rapid political developments in the
country
ArmRadio.am
29.04.2006 15:31
`Preceding the coming parliamentary elections, the developments in
Armenia change rapidly, which is just unexpected,’ considers Manuk
Gasparyan, NA Deputy, Head of the `Democratic Way’ political party.
If months ago he was making predictions which political parties would
be represented in the next Parliament, then today he considers that
making such predictions is a thankless thing.
The Deputy is confident that it is natural that the events should
develop rapidly, adding, however, `I did not expect that the
politicians would start using black PR against each other as early as
a year and two months before elections.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress