RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, Czech Republic
Sept 23 2005
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 — ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
Emphasis On Infrastructure Could Boost CIS States
By Robert McMahon

The World Bank annual meetings this week are reviving focus on
infrastructure development as a way of lifting countries out of
poverty. The new emphasis has special importance for the poorest of
the Soviet successor states, which inherited major infrastructure
stocks but have been unable to maintain them. This has contributed to
a decline in living standards in states from Moldova to Tajikistan.
Washington, 23 September 2005 (RFE/RL) — Distinct from other regions
in transition, the former communist states of the Soviet bloc do not
lack roads, sanitation systems, or electrical networks.
But the World Bank says the quality of this infrastructure is
substandard and declining in the poorest countries of the region,
particularly in Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Peter Thomson is a top World Bank expert on infrastructure and energy
for the Europe and Central Asia region. He told RFE/RL that many
former Soviet states are still struggling economically, making it
difficult to maintain or adapt the infrastructure they inherited.
Deteriorating Infrastructures
`There has been quite extensive deterioration in the quality of the
infrastructure so what we now face is not an access problem but a
real quality problem,” Thomson said. “We have issues where clean
water supplies are limited, where electricity is supplied only on a
sporadic basis and the risks of a collapse in major utility services
are becoming an increasing concern.’
A World Bank report issued this week noted that Georgia, for example,
averages more than 60 days of electrical outages per year due to a
crumbling electricity grid. Another recent World Bank report found a
sharp deterioration in water quality in Moldova and Kazakhstan.
World Bank spending globally on infrastructure declined through the
1990s, when private business was expected to take the lead in
projects such as transport and energy.
Private Sector Failed To Step Up
But that investment never reached expected levels. The bank report
issued this week calls for increasing funding for projects in
developing countries by $1 billion per year over the next several
years.
Compared to other developing regions, former Soviet states have
generally high access to infrastructure services. But Thomson says
this creates unique problems for some of the poorest countries in the
region, such as Tajikistan.
Tajikistan, he says, clearly has a much less functional
infrastructure network than it had back in 1990 and much fewer means
to repair it.”We have issues where clean water supplies are limited,
where electricity is supplied only on a sporadic basis and the risks
of a collapse in major utility services are becoming an increasing
concern.’ — World Bank analyst Peter Thomson
`Normally what you have in the case of Tajikistan here, with a
country with GDP per capita in the sort of $200 range, you’re talking
about a country you would expect to have very similar to that of
various parts of Africa but it has a much, much more extensive
network than that,” Thomson said.
Thomson says countries such as Armenia and Azerbaijan have progressed
enough to invest in infrastructure improvements. Georgia, he says,
still needs major help in its power and road sectors as it emerges
from years of deep-rooted corruption and a dysfunctional bureaucracy.
Infrastructure problems impede country efforts to meet the so-called
United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which call for
halving poverty and improving areas such as education and water
quality by the year 2015.
Arup Banerji, the bank’s human development manager for the Europe and
Central Asia region, tells RFE/RL just one infrastructure improvement
— in water supplies — could make a significant difference in the
quality of life in the region.
But despite high levels of access to water systems, he says, there is
declining water quality and infrequent availability of water supplies
in a number of states.
`This is what really is significantly affecting the welfare of the
people in this region and especially in the poorest countries of the
region and countries such as Moldova and Tajikistan especially in the
region, it doesn’t look like they are going to achieve the
environmental MDGs by 2015 just because of quality issues,” Banjeri
said.
World Bank studies have also noted a decline in another MDG —
universal primary education — in parts of the former Soviet Union.
Azerbaijan, to cite an extreme example, went from an enrollment rate
of near 100 percent in 1990 to 80 percent in 2002. Some of this can
also be linked to infrastructure, says Banerji, in terms of providing
transport for teachers and students as well as adequate teaching
materials:
`The whole curriculum in these schools was geared to a totally
different system than they are facing in these countries today — the
market economy, the globalized economy,” Banerji said. “And I think
part of the major challenge to improve quality in schools is
therefore first to get the kids there, second once the kids get
there, are there people to teach them? And thirdly, if the teachers
are there, are they teaching the right thing, do they have the right
equipment?’
Infrastructure Lending On The Rise
On the positive side, recent World Bank studies show a steady growth
in infrastructure lending over the next few years for the Eastern
Europe and Central Asia region. Programs such as the U.S. Millennium
Challenge Account, which just announced a $300 million deal to
improve roads and an energy pipeline for Georgia, signal the
recognition for infrastructure improvements among major donor states.
In addition, the World Bank says, countries like Ukraine and
Azerbaijan are showing strong interest in borrowing funds for a wide
range of infrastructure activities.
(The World Bank reports can be found at:
)

haGalil onLine, Germany
Sept 23 2005
Heviya Auerbach:
The Dialogue and Liberties of Civilizations
Contributions to the II. International Conference “EU,Turkey & the
Kurds”, Bruxelles – Kurdish writer Mehmed Uzun presents jewish exiles
Erich Auerbach and Walter Benjamin to the conference participants.
by Mehmed Uzun
Everybody seems to be looking at the topic from their own perspective
when it comes to question of the Turkey, European Union and the
Kurds. I would like to look at this topic in terms of dialogues and
freedoms.
It is possible to provide over thousands of examples corresponding to
liberties and dialogues of civilizations. However I, being a writer
will provide a different example. I am now working an a novel. The
name of this novel, which I am writing in Kurdish, is Heviya Auerbach
in Kurdish. In other words, Auerbachs Hope, in reference to Erich
Auerbach, the writer of one of western literature’s most important
works, Mimesis.
Born in 1892 Berlin, the linguist and literary historian Auerbach, a
German Jew, was forced into exile when the Nazis came into power. In
1935 the Nazis amended a racist law called “Zum Schutz des deutschen
Blutes” in order to ‘protect the German blood’. Consequently,
Auerbach who was teaching at the time as a professor in linguistic
and literacy was sacked forrn his teaching post in Marburg
University. Due to ever vocal and aggressive intent of the Nazis he
fled to Istanbul, Turkey in order to save his life.
During this time in the Republic of Turkey, the founder of the
republic and its absolute guardian, Chief Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was
in the process of westernizing the country. Because of these efforts,
in Istanbul, Dar‑ül Fünun an education centre used during the
Ottoman era was shut down and in its place founded was the Istanbul
University.
Many Jewish academics who fled from Nazis found themselves working
within his newly formed university.
With aid from his close friends who he met in Germany Auerbach and
his family was able to settle in Turkey as a political refugee and
begin working as a professor of East Philology in Istanbul
University. Like other political refugees, Auerbach was obliged to
sign a formal government document; while residing in Turkey, it was
made clear that he was not allowed to involve himself in politics and
was barred from commenting an politics. He could not criticize the
politics of Turkish state. Auerbach stayed in Turkey until 1946, and
then moved to USA where he carried an with his academic work until
his death in 1957.
My novel is principally about Auerbachs life in Istanbul. This is
indeed a highly interesting one; excluded from a political life,
viewing everything from far, like a spectator; a life living in a
tight knit community of fellow emigrants sharing social, cultural and
intellectual relationships of a typical exile life. I also lived in
exile for many years. Therefore I understand that for the life of an
exile, the things that carry importance are anxiety, skepticism,
susceptibility and observations. They compare everything to their
country of exile and always analyze their life as an exile. How can I
carry on with life? How can I free myself from being a forgotten
nobody? Who am I? What do I have? What is the difference between my
life as an exile here and the citizens of this country? Do we have
similar or shared experiences? These sorts of questions are
plentiful, they are questions which never escape from the mind of
intellectual who lives in exile.
We know from his letters to his friends that the recluse Auerbach was
preoccupied with his books and files in his home in Bebek in the
Bosporus. Around him were Ottoman Kings, Sultans, Viziers and
Palaces, mansions, beach homes, Mosques and Minarets which would read
calls to prayers belonging to Sultanahmet and King, differing codes
and practices, struggling to understand discussions, old steel
merchants shouting their trade in Turkish and Ottoman, Turkish baths,
fishermen, the deep loneliness. Auerbach was always reminded of
these. On top of the worries such as anxiety, skepticism,
susceptibility and observations from these learning’s, Auerbach wrote
an indispensable novel in western literature called Mimesis.
Full of sadness, yearning, pain and loneliness in his life as an
exile and although he faced many obstacles with persistence and
patience, Auerbach was able to devote himself and his life to his
writing, which would then build the foundation of East and West
relations.
For those interested in understanding western civilization it is
imperative to read the book Mimesis which was produced in the heart
of the eastern civilizations that is Istanbul.
So why do I refer to Auerbach? My plight is completely opposite to
that of Auerbach’s. I am of Eastern origin from a Muslim family whose
ancestors trace back to Mesopotamia. I am product of Aegean,
Anatolian and Mediterranean cultures. In 1997 I fled from Turkey and
emigrated to West and settled as a political refugee in Sweden. Like
Auerbach I also lived the life of exile, I was intellectual trying to
stay alive and establish a path for myself. I became literacy writer.
Meeting the west, living in the west and writing modern Kurdish
novels enabled me to pursue a life for myself. I would have always
viewed things through an eastern culture and my writing would not
have been as successful as it is if I had not met the west.
The meeting point of all cultures, religions, languages,
civilizations is between the east and west. Don’t we recall dialogues
of languages, religions, civilizations and cultures when we talk
about civilization, history of man and deep root of world literature?
If there was no dialogue between us, would we be able to comment an
civilization, the history of man and world literature? In my opinion,
from the civilization of man until the present day, all the richness
and heritage is a product of the dialogue among us. To get
acquainted, to encounter, to meet, to observe, to compare and to be
together is always productive, efficient and fruitful. If I was to
comment an the history of literacy in world literature, the Gilgamesh
Saga and Homers Epic Poems are examples of the product of this
meeting of civilizations.
Obviously between the west and the east, the Christians, the Muslims
and Hebrew world, there have been great and bloody wars, disasters
and confrontations. However with regards to humanity, universally
everything is accelerating because of the integration of
civilizations and cultures. This is applicable to all religions,
cultures and languages as they recognize, rneet each other and share
sources with each other as has happened in religious texts.
I would prefer looking at European Union, Turkey and the Kurdish
question from this angle. There is no need to deceive ourselves with
regards to Turkey, although there are a number of’ special
similarities. Turkey is not a western country. Turkey’s established
values, its cultural heritage, past, history, societal memory and
other such things are very different from western world. It is
difficult to say that the republic of Turkey has provided any
advancement for civilization, but Turkey as a country belongs to both
the Islamic and Ottoman civilizations. However, in the Islamic world,
Turkey is the closest country to the west.
The establishment of a positive relationship between the European
Union and Turkey and gradual course of becoming a respected member is
the norm of historical human dialogue. The differences between the
civilizations which are coming together should be seen ultimately as
part of the whole.
The union of such different is exciting, as such a dialogue will
create great opportunities that humanity cannot imagine and it will
enrich and strengthen our human heritage. It will rid us of our
mutual prejudices, lessen conflicts that arise from bad customs and
practices and increase the mutual human values.
I feel that the European Union‑Turkey project will be a great
chance for both sides. The European Union however, needs to prove and
show that it is not a wealthy Christian club, but is a modern,
democratic project. Turkey must also prove that it has capacity,
maturity and mentality to join such a civil, modern and democratic
dialogue.
3. However there is serious problem facing such a dialogue, this is
the character of the regime in Turkey. There is a truth, which is
circled around but never declared. This truth is that the Turkish
regime is militarist and ultra nationalistic. All criticism and
compliments aside, those are the fundemental chracters of the state
since the establishment of the Turkish Republic.
On this note, I must refer back to Auerbach. On 3rd January 1937,
Auerbach wrote a long letter from Istanbul talking about his thoughts
and observations of current affairs to his friend Walter Benjamin who
lived in exile in Paris. Within this letter in one section Auerbach
describes the regime as a “fanatical nationalism which is always
turning back an Islamic culture, an imaginary Turkish fundamentalism
observing Europe with abhorrence and admiration and at the same
taking the path of European civilization to shoot them with their own
arm. The result is a nationalism which had breached its limit and
which result in the destruction of its character”.
No other person can provide such an honest analysis of the chaotic
structure of the Turkish regime. The regime was in the past like this
and continues to be so today. Unlike in Europe, there has never been
a powerful aristocracy in Turkey (even during Ottoman Empire)which
would defend the continuity of historical heritage with a European
style Bourgeoisie or liberal social movement or a democratic civil
bureaucracy. There have always been two dominant powers in Turkey;
the Ottoman dynasty and the Armed Forces. Once the Ottoman dynasty
which was removed, there remained only one major power, the Armed
Forces, Pasha’s and the Generals. The Republic was formed by them,
and in all areas the true power remained with them. The leaders of
the Republic were with the Army and their control remains intact to
this day. Whenever someone has tried to loosen the control of the
Army through politics or the society, they were brought back into
line through hardship and violence. Three Army Junta’s have occurred
where as always the army carried out stiff surveillance and
inspection of civilians, Prime Ministers, ministers and
intellectuals, who were sometimes executed. Presidents, Prime
Ministers and dissenters were exiled to other regions, hundreds of
thousands of people were detained and the laws were always amended
according to Army’s will.
The Turkish Armed Force’s missions, position and how it expresses
itself does not compare with other European countries. In the western
world, the Army is always a government instrument, a component of
state bureaucracy, a tool of the democratically elected, parliament,
president or the ministers, which is government controlled. However
the Situation in Turkey differs; an paper it is like any in the
Western world but not in reality. In reality the Army is higher than
any elected institution. In Turkey the Army view itself as the
guardian, the protector and regulator of the state, the people and
the national sovereignty of the state. Under this principle, the
concluding last words always remain with others instead of the
rightly elected people who never regain any political respect. As a
result of this their political ideas and proposals are never carried
out to their wants or wishes. For example the Prime Minister Recep
Tayip Erdogan recently surprised the masses and carried out a very
positive political rise by visiting the biggest Kurdish city of
Diyarbakir. In this visit, like a true statesmen he admitted that a
solution to the Kurdish problem must be found and acknowledged that
the past governments did many wrongs but promised that his
administration would find a solution to this longstanding problem. On
this matter, the first reaction came fron the Army; everyone should
only preach the generally sanctioned politics. Following Erdogan’s
visit to Diyarbakir, violent confrontational fighting erupted all
over Turkey and more so in the Kurdish regions. In conclusion the
excitement generated by the Diyarbakir and the speeches made by the
Prime Minister were suddenly made insignificant.
The Army has its own political doctrine and it is compulsory for
everyone to abide by their chosen politics. The political opinion of
the Armed Forces is militarist in order make the Army the dominant
power. For this reason the political language of regime is not one
that is democratic but rather a militaristic and ultra nationalistic
regime.
The basic rules of governing the lives of people revolve around the
principles of aggression from enemies (internal and external),
defence, the nation and citizens.
The spirit of this Single‑minded system is governed by Ultra
nationalism. Since its beginning an excessively violent nationalism,
official views, thoughts and feelings have taken hold. With
Auerbach’s terms Turkey is not in peace with its history, it has an
unbalanced nationalism that has no roots. For it to exist it is a
necessity to stay alive and active towards the enemy, it should
always resort to violence and national vigilance. If the hazards from
internal and external forces cease to exist the Array will generate a
bogus threat for it to endure. To generate new threats, the roles
given to Kurds, Armenians and Greeks are that of internal enemies and
its neighbor’s external enemies.
As I have mentioned official views of Kurds in Turkey are one of deep
hatred, and their phobia of Kurds is evident; ultra Turkish
nationalism is nurtured by their abhorrence of Kurds.
Europe knows too well the devastation that Ultra nationalism and
militarism causes as it has experienced them the past 100 years.
In spite of everything, it is proven that Turkey’s
mind‑boggling political stance an the Kurds has been a pure
failure. The problem of the Kurds has always remained the Achilles
heel for Turkey. While the Kurdish problem in Turkey remains
unresolved in a civilized and democratic manner, it is evident that
it will remain frail, unequal and anti‑democratic.
It is evident that it is a major problem for Turkey to give the Kurds
unrestricted rights. What must be done is the question. Although it
might seem like a paradox, in my view, the European Union must do two
things:
The European Union must never desert Turkey; should not eliminate its
Support an the democratic powers in Turkey, and the Kurdish
nationals. If the European Union betrays the democratic struggles,
rights and freedoms in Turkey then it would be betraying the basic
core principles of what the European Union exists for. The forefront
of the European Unions agenda with Turkey should be to always be in
dialogue, always promote the path to a more democratic Turkey and to
achieve the position of a civilized partner within the organization.
Therefore its relationship with Turkey should not work in an
opportunist fashion and Linder no circumstances as I have mentioned
turn a blind eye to the two cancers that is militarism and Ultra
nationalism. In my view the European Project is not about the
development of the industries and laicism but combines the progress
of civilization, democracy and free will. If the West stands only for
secularism and technical development, then we could See the face of
colonialism, racism and fascism once again. But my understanding of
Western civilization is its splendid rights, freedoms, equality,
brotherhood and its focus an humanism. You do not achieve
civilization through bombs, blades and tanks, but through equality,
the freedom of the citizen and the mechanisms which provide rights.
With this the European Union should not betray the relationship with
Turkey and should not view the individual, absolute tyrant that is
the Army in a favourable way.
For these reasons the European Union and Turkey should continue to
convene, for the European Union to save Turkey from tumbling into the
murky world beyond its borders, to not accept the current condition
of Turkey, to move hand in hand to help Turkey achieve a country
which is governed by the rule of law, democracy, and humanity through
open dialogue.
Civilization is freedom, democratic dialogue required for future
civilizations.

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Sept 23 2005
Deans to challenge court ruling on conference
The deans said that the ban threatened the autonomy of Turkey’s
universities and harmed scientific freedoms.
Güncelleme: 11:23 TSI 23 Eylül 2005 CumaISTANBUL – The deans of two
of Turkey’s leading universities said they would challenge a court
ruling Thursday banning a conference that was to discuss allegations
that the Ottoman Empire massacred large numbers of its Armenian
community.

Speaking after a meeting of University deans in Istanbul Thursday
evening Bosphorus University Dean Professor Dr Ayse Soysal said that
although they would abide by the court’s ruling forbidding the
conference to take place, they would pursue their legal right to
protect scientific freedoms and the autonomy of the country’s
universities.
The Dean of Sabanci University, Professor Tosun Terzioglu, warned
that Turkey was loosing prestige due to such decisions and also
stressed the threat to the autonomy at universities.
On Thursday, an Istanbul court banned the staging of the conference,
entitled `Ottoman Armenians of an Empire in Decline’ on the grounds
that permission had not been granted for it to be held.
The conference, which was to have started on Friday at Istanbul’s
Bosphorus University, had already been postponed from May due to
public and official pressure.
Delegates at the conference were to discuss claims that the Ottoman
Empire had committed acts of genocide against its Armenian citizens
during the years of the First World War. Turkey denies that there was
any genocide but concedes that as many as 300,000 Ottoman Armenians
died during the war years, a result of civil unrest, famine and
disease.

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Sept 23 2005
EU slams Armenian conference ban
On Thursday an Istanbul court banned the holding of a conference that
would have discussed allegations the Ottoman Empire committed
genocide against its Armenian citizens.
Güncelleme: 11:23 TSI 23 Eylül 2005 CumaBRUSSELS – The banning of a
conference that was to discuss the Ottoman Empire’s Armenian
community in the declining years of the state appeared to be a
provocation, according to a statement issued by the European Union
Commission.

In its written statement issued in Brussels Friday morning, the EU
Commission said it was saddened that this effort to freely discuss
the history of Turkish society could not be held. The statement said
the lack of legal reason d’etre and this news coming just the day
before the conference was to begin looked like a provocation.
The statement added that it was noted that Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan had condemned the ruling but stressed the
importance of having reforms implemented effectively and
comprehensively.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Sept 23 2005
Armenian Chamber Choir to Take Part in Forthcoming Festival in Halle

On September 22, Hranush Hakobyan, Chairwoman of RA NA Standing
Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth met Tomas
Buchholz, Chairman of `Sachsen Anhalt’ Composers’ Union of Germany
and Harutiun Topikyan, Artistic Director of the Armenian State
Chamber Choir.
Mr. Buchholz, who is also the Artistic Director of the annually
organized festival, noted that during the recent years he actively
cooperated with the Armenian musicians, the works of the Armenian
composers sound in Halle with participation of Armenian musical
groups and choirs. The German composer informed that this year at
November 11-19 forthcoming festival Armenian State Chamber Choir will
also take part, and a day of the festival will be dedicated to the
90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
Mrs. Hakobyan highlighted the development of the Armenian-German
cultural ties and expressed readiness to promote those ties to be
more strengthened.

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
Sept 23 2005
Armenian American Trade Ties Strengthened

On September 22 RA NA President Artur Baghdasaryan received Jack
Scott, Senator of California State in the USA, member of the
Republican Party and the members of RUK US Western Regional
Department.
Mr. Scott is in Armenia in order to open the California-Armenia
trade office. In 2001, as he presents, the Californian Senate passed
the resolution of opening trade office in Armenia. The senator is
well known with his activity in favor of the Armenians, the
Californian Senate also recognized the Armenian Genocide with his
assistance. During the meeting the senator expressed a hope for the
USA Congress to recognize the 1915 Armenian Genocide. By his
estimation, the Western Office can promote not only the development
of economic ties of mutual interest, but also the tourism.
NA President Artur Baghdasaryan expressed satisfaction on the
occasion of opening trade office with the California State of the US,
and expressed his assistance for the deepening of trade-economic
ties. Both sides highlighted the establishment of direct ties of
Californian State and the National Assembly. It was noted that the
issue of developing parliamentary ties was also discussed with the US
Congress Speaker Dennis Hastert.
Also other issues of mutual interest were discussed during the
meeting.

AZG Armenian Daily #170, 23/09/2005
Culture
WE COULD HEAR CALL OF ARARAT IN MONTEVIDEO
A press release from Uruguay informed that “Ararat” concert held at “El
Calbon” theater was great success both with Armenian and non-Armenian
spectators. Reporter Karo Hekimian said that the dancers performed masterly,
sparing no efforts to fully reflect the essence and the force of the
Armenian culture. “Shiraz” dancing ensemble, the musicians, the singers and
the artists kindle a flame of the Armenian spirit that warmed the hearts of
the spectators,” Karo Hekimian stated. The arrangement was dedicated to the
90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The artists recited the poems by
Paruyr Sevak and other Armenian poets. The concert testified to the fact
that our culture, our music, songs and poetry should always be in
Montevideo, Melbourne, Moscow and Montreal.
By Gohar Gevorgian

AZG Armenian Daily #170, 23/09/2005
Culture
‘DILIJAN’ CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS IN LOS ANGELES
The series of “Dilijan” chamber music concerts of “Larq” musical association
opened in Los Angeles, at the initiative of Maestro Vache Parsoumian and
violinist Movses Poghosian. The concerts will launch on September 25 at the
Colburn Center of Performing Arts. It is envisaged that pieces of classical
and modern Armenian music, namely those by Tigran Mansourian, Vache
Sharafian and Eduard Mirzoyan, will be performed at the concerts. Martin
Chalifour, Stuart Canin, Harry Grey, John Waltz and other musicians from Los
Angeles will play at the concerts.
It’s worth mentioning that Maestro Vache Parsoumian established “Larq”
musical association about a decade ago. He aimed to preserve and pass to the
generations the traditional Armenian music. Movses Poghosian, who won
Tchaykowsky International Music Awards in 1986, was recently appointed art
director of “Dilijan” chamber music union.
By Hakob Tsulikian

AZG Armenian Daily #170, 23/09/2005
Culture
50 PLAYS IN 9 DAYS
Organizers of ‘High Fest’ Complain of Culture Ministry
“High Fest” international theatre festival will launch in Yerevan on
September 28. 40 troupes from 28 countries of the world will perform their
plays on 14 stages of Yerevan, Vanadzor, Gyumri and Artashat till October 6.
The range of performances include drama, puppet theatre, modern dance
theater, psychological mono drama and others, representatives of the Actors’
Union of Armenia and ALFAEL producer center told a press conference
yesterday. “The ‘High Fest’ of 2004 was labeled the main international
theatre festival of the Caucasian region. This is a sign of trust towards
us”, president of the Actors’ Union and chairman of the festival, Artur
Ghukasian, said. Austrian producer Christian Pronau, who is the chief
producer of arrangements on Mozart’s anniversary, rector of China’s State
Theatre Institute, president of French d’Avignon Festival Bernard d’Atrcie
and many others will take part in “High Fest”.
The organizers say that it’s easier to include western European theatres in
the festival than, say, a Serbian troupe as there are many cultural
organizations in the west that back their theatres.
“The Ministry of Culture does not help us, to say the least of that. Last
year it promised to assign 1 million drams for the festival but failed to
fulfill. We have a promise for this year as well. Who should we turn to?
It’s very difficult to get through to the ministers. Deputy ministers
usually receive us with a gentle smile but do nothing”, Artur Ghukasian
says.
Levon Abrahamian, president of ALFAEL producer center, pointed out that 40
per cent of money for the festival was provided by RA President and Defense
Ministry. Many states partially covered the expenses of their troupes here
in Armenia. “We have to hire the halls as well though the Culture Ministry
could solve this problem. We’ve been questioning the needs of this year’s
festival. There will be no festival next year unless the president or prime
minister show assistance”, Abrahamian says.
A workshop titled “Creation of Theatre Network of the South Caucasus and the
Central Asia” will be held within the frameworks of the festival as well as
the guesting art directors and actors will hold 30 master-classes and more
than 10 seminars thus opening doors for international cooperation.
By Tamar Minasian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Strasbourg, 23.09.2005 – On Sunday 25 September the Congress of Local
and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe will observe local
elections in several municipalities in Armenia, including Yerevan.
The Congress delegation, led by Sean O’Brien (Ireland, SOC), will meet
election candidates, representatives of the government and the media and
NGOs monitoring the election campaign.
The delegation, which also includes Ömür Aybar (Turkey, EPP/CD),
Alain Chenard, former President of the Congress (France), Brian Coleman
(United Kingdom, EPP/CD), David Lloyd-Williams (United Kingdom, ILDG),
Lars Molin (Sweden, EPP/CD) and Christopher Newbury (United Kingdom,
EPP/CD), will work in co-operation with the OSCE-ODIHR observation
mission.
For further information, please contact:
Council of Europe Information Office in Yerevan
Tel : + 374 10 24 38 92 ; E-mail : [email protected]
Le Congrès observera les élections locales en Arménie
Strasbourg, 23.09.2005 – Le Congrès des Pouvoirs Locaux et Régionaux
du Conseil de l’Europe observera, le dimanche 25 septembre, les
élections locales dans plusieurs communes d’Arménie, y compris à
Erevan.
La délégation du Congrès, présidée par Sean O’Brien (Irlande,
SOC), rencontrera des candidats aux élections, des représentants du
gouvernement et des médias, ainsi que des ONG qui suivent le
déroulement de la campagne électorale.
La délégation, qui se compose également d’Ömür Aybar (Turquie,
PPE/DC), Alain Chenard, ancien Président du Congrès (France), Brian
Coleman (Royaume-Uni, PPE/DC), David Lloyd-Williams (Royaume-Uni, GILD),
Lars Molin (Suède, PPE/DC) et Christopher Newbury (Royaume-Uni,
PPE/DC), travaillera en coopération avec la mission d’observation
OSCE-BIDDH.
Pour plus d’information, veuillez contacter :
Bureau d’information du Conseil de l’Europe à Erevan
Tel : + 374 10 24 38 92 ; E-mail : [email protected]
Press Release
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 485b05
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet:
To receive our press releases by e-mail, contact :
[email protected]
A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops
common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46
member states.