AZG Armenian Daily #112, 18/06/2005

Culture

RAFAL ZAMBZHICKY PANE PERFORMS ARMENIAN MUSIC

The fact that a great number of musicians play Armenian music evidences
that it is the component part of contemporary music. Rafal Zambzhicky
Pane, born in Lodz, is one of them. He studied in England in the class
of Wuen Zhu Lee. He also studied in Vienna in the class of Gerhard
Schultz. After receiving the second prize at the Violin Contest in
Luxemburg in 2005 and being awarded a prize in BBC Young Musician of
the Year in 2000, he began performing as a soloist and an orchestra
musician. Rafal Zambzhicky performs with the London “Dimension”
Piano Trio and the Frankfurt “Ensemble Modern.”

It was the second visit of Rafal to Yerevan. In the May of 2002 he
performed Aram Khachatrian’s Concerto for Violin with the Philharmonic
Orchestra of Armenia. Rafal emphasized the melodic part of Aram
Khachatrian’s music, making the melody an intermission line of the
piece. Performing Khachatrian in Polish way, putting him by the side
of Karol Shimanovsky, his contemporary, Rafal revealed the sad lyrics
of the piece in all of its parts.

Zambzhicky performed as a soloist playing “Hayastan 88” concerto for
violin by Alexander Harutyunian during his second visit. His concert
was organized by Regina Pargev, the manager. Thanks to Regina Pargev,
Rafal played Armenian music in London, including the pieces by Komitas,
Aram Khachatrian and Arno Babajanian. In April of 2004, Zambzhicky
performed Harutyunian’s concerto for violin in Wigmore Hall, in London.

Rafal said in the interview that “the value of the piece is
more important for him, than its national value,” when choosing a
piece. As for the Armenian musical pieces, the violinist emphasized
“the sadness and the feeling of grief” that are peculiar to them. He
sees the same in violin concerto of Harutyunian. “That is a great
music. I played that twice in England and if I have the opportunity,
I will play it again.”

The presence of the music~Rs author and Rafal Zambzhicky Pane imparted
additional festive shades to the concert dedicated to 85th anniversary
of Alexander Harutyunian. Besides the concert for violin and “The
Dance of Sassoon People” by Alexander Harutyunian, “Armenian Songs
and Dances” by Komitas-Aslamazian, and “Holberg~Rs Times” by Edward
Grieg, two suits, were also included in the concert.

The harmony of the concert was secured by the ethnic expressionism of
the music, as well as Aram Gharabekian~Rs talent of a conductor. He
managed to create an orchestra of true international level that lives
and creates by Lege Artis, i.e. by the law of arts. Rich repertoire
and professional stability gained deserved fame to the orchestra,
making it one of “calling cards” for Armenia.

The soloist secured high-level performance of the concert for violin.
Zambzhicky managed to reflect the sadness and the pathetic element of
the piece, that were based on the components of the Armenian monody
and rhetoric elements of baroque taste. Zambzhicky performed his part
with warmth and sincerity peculiar to him.

The lyric talents of the violinist were displayed in a quite
interesting way when performing Scherzo and Adagio recitative.

Alexander Harutyunian’s concert is dedicated to Ruben Aharonian,
prominent violinist. Ilya Grubert and Levon Hambardzumian also
performed this concert. The young Polish musician managed to make a
very interesting interpretation of the piece.

By Svetlana Sargsian, Dr. of Arts

CIS DISCONTENT WITH OSCE STATE OF AFFAIRS

Pan Armenian News
17.06.2005 06:42

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The CIS member-states expressed dissatisfaction with
the state of affairs of the OSCE, participants of the consultations
on interaction of the CIS member-states within the Organization held
today in the CIS Executive Committee in Minsk declared. Representatives
of the Foreign Ministries of Belarus, Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine are taking part
in the talks. As Director of the Department of Political and
Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS Executive Committee Rudolf
Alexeyev said, a number of crisis tendencies have appeared in the
OSCE. “With its present appearance the Organization does not serve
the purpose of establishing equal dialogue and cooperation for 35
member-states. Sometimes the dialogue is replaced by instruction
and equal cooperation yields to political pressure”, he said. Many
member-states spoke out for reformation of the structure. The same
position is expressed in the statement by 8 Presidents of the CIS
states to OSCE partners issued on July 3, 2004, Belarusskie Novosti
reported.

US ASSISTANCE TO ARMENIA TO MAKE $67.6 IN 2006

Pan Armenian News
17.06.2005 06:06

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The House Appropriations Subcommittee has maintained
robust aid levels to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh despite ongoing
overall reductions to former Soviet states, the Armenian Assembly
of America reported. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Foreign Operations
Appropriations Bill, which lawmakers passed by voice vote, calls for
$67.5 million for Armenia, up to $5 million for Nagorno Karabakh and
maintains military assistance parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan
with $5.75 million allocated to each country. The level of funding
for Armenia is $12.5 million above the Bush Administration’s request
submitted to Congress earlier this year. The overall request level is
part of a continued trend that reflects a serious drop in US assistance
to the former Soviet states – specifically from $555 million in FY 2005
to $477 million for FY 2006. Today’s action also allocated $5 million
in Foreign Military Financing and $750,000 for International Military
Education and Training to both Armenia and Azerbaijan, as requested
by the Bush Administration. These funds will improve inter-operability
between Armenia’s military and its Western partners, upgrade Armenia’s
communication systems and better its personnel training. The bill will
next be considered by the full House Appropriations Committee. Once the
full House and Senate complete action on their version of the bill, a
joint House-Senate Conference Committee will reconcile the differences.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GERMAN BUNDESTAG UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Pan Armenian News
17.06.2005 03:14

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The German Bundestag has unanimously adopted the
Resolution on the Armenian Genocide sponsored by the Christian
Democratic Union/ Christian Social Union without discussion. As
reported by the Zaman Turkish newspaper, the document is titled
Commemoration of Victims and Deportation of Armenians in 1915: Germany
has to participate in reconciliation of Armenians and Turks. The
newspaper notes that in spite the document adopted by the Bundestag
does not directly mention recognition of the Armenian Genocide, it
notes that «many independent historians, as well as parliaments of
many countries and international organizations call events of 1915
a genocide.» As reported by RFE/RL, the resolution language uses the
word «genocide» only once. Ashot Manucharyan, a journalist residing
in Germany, called the document «a statement of cravens.» «The German
know well there was a genocide, their archives are full of documents
confirming this fact,» Ashot Manucharyan remarked. In his opinion,
however «it is better than nothing.» The Resolution notes that the
German Government has to urge Turkey «to investigate the Genocide
and stimulate reconciliation with Armenians.» «The Parliament is
sure there is need for a fair historical investigation, which is the
most important basis for reconciliation,» the Resolution notes. The
Resolution recommends forming a commission composed of Turkish,
Armenian and foreign historians to study the events taken place in
early 20th century. Besides, the document notes that the Turkish
authorities «suppress attempts of discussion of the topic in the
country.» It should be noted that the MPs urged the German Foreign
Ministry to open archives referring to the period.

–Boundary_(ID_69i0E/shHe7IROHtIsiVdg)–

BELLIGERENT PROCLAMATION FROM AZERBAIJAN, AGAIN

AZG Armenian Daily #112, 18/06/2005

Karabakh issue

MPA news agency informs from Baku that the Karabakh Liberation
Organization made a statement on the occasion of parliamentary
elections in Nagorno Karabakh expressing concern over the “idleness” of
Azerbaijan and the world community. “It’s not enough sending observers
or not recognizing the ‘elections'”, the statement reads. It appealed
to the government to reconsider relations with the states who send
observers to the “elections”.

“Either Azeri authorities should start the war or they should step
aside allowing the people to wage it”, the belligerent statement ends.

AZG Armenian Daily #112, 18/06/2005

Economy

FARMERS TO GET INVOLVED IN IRRIGATION MANAGING

20.000 More Irrigated Hectares in One Year

200 thousand hectares of Soviet Armenia’s territory used to be
irrigated. But by mid-1990s this number reduced to 100 thousand
hectares. What’s the reason and what should the state do to cut short
this tendency threatening agriculture’s development?

As a result of land privatization, almost 450.000 hectares of
agricultural lots got denationalized and divided into 1.4 million
small areas. Consequently, it became difficult to supervise the
irrigation network built in the Soviet times. They were built to pump
water to huge ground area (up to hundreds of hectares) and now they
had to serve thousand of tiny lots.

On the other hand, the irrigation system underwent almost no
repair. These two factors had their impact on water supplying. The
peasants constantly complained of water supply being late, of
insufficient water or high fees, and the water supplying organization
complained of the farmers failing to pay which resulted in money
scarcity for the system’s normal functioning.

Not only did the network’s repair on World Bank’s finances help the
sphere but also implementation of reforms in the management of the
sphere. The Office of Development and Reforms in the Water Industry,
which carries out credit projects financed by the WB, arrived at a
conclusion that the best way of managing irrigation system in Armenia
is by the farmers’ involvement.

This policy of water management is well accepted by states on different
levels of development. Along with such countries as the USA, Italy,
Spain and other EU states, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Egypt, Saudi
Arabia have also adopted this system of water managing.

The first precedent of handing the irrigation water managing over
to consumers took place in 1996. The organization that spring up at
that time proved this principle to be functional but the loopholes in
the legislation and the absence of state support turned the attempts
futile. Additional examination and specialists’ discussions lasted
a few years before the law was drafted. Afterwards, in 2004, 54 such
organizations were created.

The purpose of these organizations is to provide the farmers as much
water as they need and whenever they need. For that, the farmers are
suggested to take up the management of the irrigation system. This
is the mechanism that will guarantee fairness and productiveness of
water supply. But the farmers are still to get acquainted with their
new rights to make them more active in protecting their rights. The
Office of Development and Reforms expressed readiness to support the
farmers and their organizations in this issue.

By Ara Martirosian

EVENT DEDICATED TO 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE TAKES PLACE AT SURB SARGIS CHURCH OF DAMASCUS

DAMASCUS, JUNE 16, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A joint commission
created by the Armenian community of Damascus on the occasion of the
90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the 1600th anniversary of
the invention of the Armenian letters organized an event dedicated to
the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at Surb Sargis church of
Damascus on June 8. Foreign ambassadors and diplomatic representatives
accredited in Syria, including ones from the Russian Federation,
Belarusia, the Ukraine, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Greece, Italy,
the USA, Norway, Vatican, Iran, Poland, Romania, were invited. Yuri
Babakhanian, Charge d’Affaires of the RA in Syria, the RA Embassy
staff, primates of Damascus sister churches, three Armenian community
heads, priests, the Chairman of the Social Democrat Hunchak Party
Central Borad, members of national authorities of the Armenian
deocese of Damascus, responsibles for cultural unions were invited
as well. In the opening address, Archimandrite Armash Nalbandian,
the Primate of the Damascus deocese thanked those present for having
accepted the invitation. Then bishop Hovsep Arnautian, the Primate of
the Armenian Catholic community of Damascus briefly touched upon the
Armenian Genocide and the events followed it. Haroutiun Selimian, the
head of the Armenian Gospel community was invited as the rapporteur of
the day. He mentioned that the policy of annihilating Armenians planned
by young Turks was conducted in every detail, and as the first genocide
of the 20th century, to which 1.5 ml innocent Armenians fell sacrife,
went unpunished, during the World War II, Hitler dared to state:
“who remebers Armenian massacres now.” Then a documentary film about
the Armenian Genocide was showed for those present. Armenian music,
“Krunk,” “Dle Yaman,” was performed in parallel to the show of the
film, what made the moment more symbolic and impressive. At the end,
the Tsitsernakabert memorial complex to the Armenian Genocide appeared
on the screen. All foreign ambassadors and church primates were gifted
souvenirs with a picture of the Tsitsernakabert memorial complex
on them and English brochures telling about the Genocide. Then the
ambassadors and guests were led to the hall of Surb Sargis church
where photos testifing Armenian massacres and Turkish ferosities
were displayed.

FOREIGN MINISTERS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA TO MEET IN PARIS
2005-06-17 09:30

Azerbaijan News Service
June 17 2005

Ministers of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan and Armenia Elmar
Mammadyarov and Vardan Oscanian is expected to meet June 17 in
Paris, deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov informed ANS. ~SAt any
case Azerbaijani side is ready for the meeting~T says Mr. Azimov not
excluding the possibility of the meeting. OSCE Minsk group co-chairs
Yuriy Merzlyakov, Bernard Fassier and Steven Mann has already arrived
in Paris and will hold meeting separately with foreign ministers.
Later foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia will meet with
co-chairs. According to Araz Azimov the issues determined within the
so-called Prague process will be negotiated during the meeting.

Azerbaijan News Service
June 17 2005

MILLI MAJLIS ADDRESSED TO PACE
2005-06-17 15:19

Milli Majlis began its session with address to Parliamentary Assembly
of Council of Europe. Deputies stated international community and
Council of Europe should be indifferent to Daqliq Qarabaq’s being
controlled by separatist powers and to attempts of the separatists
to hold parliamentary elections in Daqliq Qarabaq on June 19.
Parliamentarians proposed to address such appeals to parliaments
of states that are going to send election observation missions to
Azerbaijan. There appeared differences among the parliamentarians
during discussion of Electoral Code. While deputies from opposition
demanded to make changes in staffs of election commissions, others
didn’t consider it reasonable.

TURKISH CITIZEN TRIED TO REMOVE ANCIENT LITERATURE FROM ARMENIA

Pan Armenian News
17.06.2005 07:35

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An attempt to remove ancient Armenian literature
was suppressed June 17 by Armenian law enforcers in the international
airport of Zvartnots. Ektan Turkimlaz, one of the passengers of the
Yerevan-Istanbul flight was conveying Armenian literature of XVII-XX
centuries, IA Regnum reported. The passenger was going to remove
the books passing over the customs supervision. Ektan Turkimlaz is
the resident of Istanbul and student of the Duke University in South
Carolina. His interest towards the Armenian culture is multifaceted. He
tried to remove medical and religious literature as well as history
and geography manuals and books about formation of traditional parties
in Armenia. According to a report of the Armenian National Security
Service’s press center, a criminal case has been initiated.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress