Staunton News Leader, VA
March 17 2005

Royals take hilarious romp across stage

By Charles Culbertson

If You Go:
what: ‘A King and No King’
when: Intermittently through March 27. Call for times.
where: Blackfriars Playhouse
tickets and more info: 851-1733 or box office, 35 S. New Street.

If you’ve never heard of “A King and No King,” now playing at the
Blackfriars Playhouse, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Written in
1611 by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, it hasn’t enjoyed the
unremitting publicity or in-depth assessment lavished upon even the
most obscure of William Shakespeare’s works.
On the other hand, if you’ve not yet seen “A King and No King,”
you’ve got plenty to be ashamed of — particularly for denying
yourself an amusing evening in the company of a good story, top-notch
staging and 11 of Shenandoah Shakespeare’s most talented actors.

“A King and No King” is the third and final entry in S2’s Actor’s
Renaissance Season, in which the actors, according to the cast list,
“produce exciting, unhinged, flying-by-the-seat-of-their-pants
entertainment.” How they manage to do this without central direction
escapes me, but they do, and “A King and No King” is a fine example
of such stage magic.

The story in a nutshell: The king of Iberia (Abrades) defeats and
captures the king of Armenia (Tigranes) after many years of war.
Abrades tells Tigranes that his ransom is “to take my only sister to
thy wife,” not knowing that his only sister — Panthea — has, in his
long absence, grown into a beautiful young woman.

When the kings see Panthea, they fall in love with her. Arbaces, her
brother, is torn with guilt over his incestuous feelings, and is
ready to resign himself to breaking one of society’s strongest taboos
when all is made right.

Eric Schoen is earnest and compelling as Arbaces, although he
sometimes speaks his lines a little too quickly for the ear to catch.
He and Thadd McQuade, who portrays Tigranes, play well off each
other, and each seems to have an excellent grasp of his character and
the moral dilemmas into which he is thrust.

Someone at Shenandoah Shakespeare obviously thinks that slapping the
most outlandish costume imaginable on John Harrell is funny, because
they do it in play after play after play. And they’re right. The
get-up Harrell wears as the cowardly braggart, Bessus, elicits
guffaws nearly every time he walks on stage, and what makes it even
more funny is that he wears the costume with a certain haughty pride
— sort of like a 6-year-old who thinks he looks good in cowboy
boots, underwear and a towel for a cape.

But as far as hilarity is concerned, the costume takes a distant back
seat to Harrell’s actual portrayal of the army captain whose greatest
military feat is using his feet to get away from threatening
situations. At one point he has received so many duel challenges that
he boasts he makes a profit by selling the paper they are written on
to grocers. Harrell steals the show in this over-the-top,
Falstaff-like role.

Sarah Fallon is elegant and sexy as Panthea, and Miriam Donald as
Spaconia convinces you that Tigranes is an idiot for ever having
looked at another woman in the first place. David Loar, James Keegan,
Jessica Dunton, Doreen Bechtol, Jason Guy and Rene Thornton Jr. flesh
out the cast of “A King and No King.”

In addition, the musical interludes that lace “A King and No King”
are as creative and entertaining as the play, and highlight the
cast’s wide range of talent and knack for comedy. It appears everyone
is having fun and — as a consequence — so will you.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
March 17, 2005
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
Email: [email protected]

CONGRESSMAN RADANOVICH PLEDGES TO SUPPORT GENOCIDE REAFFIRMATION EFFORTS

Washington, DC – The Armenian Assembly’s campaign for reaffirmation of
the Armenian Genocide gained strength today as Representative George
Radanovich (R-CA), a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues, vowed to sponsor and support initiatives leading to
U.S. recognition of the attempted annihilation of the Armenian people.

In a speech before Congress today, Radanovich thanked current and
former U.S. Ambassadors to Armenia John Evans and Harry Gilmore for
publicly using the term to characterize this crime against humanity.

“I thank the Ambassadors for their statements and pledge to continue
my ongoing efforts to sponsor initiatives that would build on the
U.S. record towards an inevitable, full and irrevocable
U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide,” Radanovich said.

Evans, who has studied Russian and Ottoman History at Yale and
Columbia Universities, as well as the Kennan Institute, publicly
affirmed the Armenian Genocide during meetings with major
Armenian-American communities last month. During those exchanges,
Evans declared, “the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the
twentieth century.”

Gilmore, who has also studied the subject extensively, recently told
Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) that, “There is no doubt
that the Armenian events were genocide.”

The former diplomat told the news agency that the United Nations
Genocide Convention, which was adopted following World War II, “sets
up a standard and the massacres and deportations of the Ottoman
Armenians meet that standard fully.”

On the heels of these and other pubic declarations, the Armenian
Assembly launched a national campaign to urge President Bush to
properly recognize the Armenian Genocide in his statement of
remembrance next month. To that end, the Assembly mobilized its
nationwide network of activists to join this effort, and those of
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), who are rallying Members of
Congress to urge the President to formally recognize the Genocide.

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness
of Armenian issues. It is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt membership
organization.

###

NR#2005-028

A photograph of Congressman Radanovich is available at the following
link:

Editor’s Note: Attached is the full text of Congressman Radanovich
comments as delivered today on the floor of the House of
Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Harry Gilmore, the first American
Ambassador to Armenia, who is the latest U.S. official to publicly
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and to call for international
recognition.

In an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the retired
diplomat recently said, “There is no doubt that the Armenian events
were genocide.”

Gilmore’s comments followed those of current U.S. Ambassador to
Armenia, John Evans, who recently evoked the Armenian Genocide during
his first stateside visit to Armenian communities across the country.
During a series of public exchanges with Armenians late last month,
Evans stated, “the Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the
twentieth century.”

As a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues and
an ardent supporter of Fresno’s Armenian-American community, I thank
the Ambassadors for their statements and pledge to continue my ongoing
efforts to sponsor initiatives that would build on the U.S. record
towards an inevitable, full and irrevocable U.S. affirmation of the
Armenian Genocide.

-30-

Council of Europe/European Union backing for steps to improve mutual
co-operation

Strasbourg, 17.03.2005 – High-level representatives from the Council
of Europe and the European Union have expressed their support for a
number of concrete measures aimed at boosting co-operation between the
two organisations.

The participants at the 21st Council of Europe/EU Quadripartite
meeting in Brussels yesterday(*) underlined the key role of
multilateral organisations in tackling modern-day problems, and
expressed their hope that the forthcoming Council of Europe Summit of
Heads of State and Government (Warsaw, 16-17 May 2005) should lay the
foundations for a new institutional set-up in Europe.

In particular, the participants:

– agreed to begin work, as soon as possible, on the arrangements for
the EU’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights;
– stated their willingness to strengthen coherence between the Council
of Europe’s conventions and the EU’s legal acquis;
– backed an EU proposal for a review of consultation and co-operation
mechanisms at all levels;
– expressed their support for a memorandum of understanding setting
out arrangements for enhanced co-operation and politicaldialogue in
concrete terms;
– welcomed the recent appointment of a European Commission
representative to the Council of Europe.

New joint projects in the South Caucasus, Ukraine and South-East
Europe were also discussed, as were a number of topical issues
including the recent elections in Moldova and forthcoming votes in
Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The full text of the concluding statement can be found at

—————–
(*) The Council of Europe representatives at the Quadripartite meeting
were Secretary General Terry Davis and Jan Truszczynski, Secretary of
State at the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representing the
Chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The EU
was represented by Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn,
representing the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the
High Representative for the CFSP and Secretary General of the Council,
Javier Solana, and External Relations Commissioner Benita
Ferrero-Waldner.

Press Release
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 139a05
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet:

Armenian Cultural & Educational Center
47 Nichols Avenue
Watertown, MA 02472
617-926-1918

PRESS RELEASE
March 17, 2005

Contact: Hilda Avedissian
617-926-6067
[email protected]

ACEC DONATES $1,200 TO ARMENIAN NURSING & REHABILITATION HOME

WATERTOWN, MA-The Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC)
recently donated $1,200 to the Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation
Home (ANRH) of Jamaica Plain as a gesture of appreciation for the
service that the Home provides to the Armenian elderly.

ACEC Board representative Aram Aslanian and ACEC Bingo Manager Seda
Garabedian presented ANRH a check the annual Bingo Appreciation Dinner
held at Donohue Restaurant, Watertown, MA on Sunday, February 20,
2005.

Receiving the contribution on behalf of ANRH were Joanne Janjigian and
Janet Jeghelian, President and Board member, respectively, of the
Armenian Women’s Welfare Association, which founded the Home.

The donated funds were from revenue generated by the ACEC’s weekly
Bingo, which also assists in funding the day-to-day operation of the
ACEC. Bingo has been successful in recent years due mainly to the
efforts of Bingo Manager Ms. Seda Garabedian, long time Bingo
treasurer Mr. Charles Aslanian –and the tireless work of a dedicated
group of volunteers.

“The Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Home is an important
institution of our community, and deserve the undivided attention and
support of all of us,” stated Aslanian.

“The home has been instrumental in ensuring that our elderly,
including Armenian Genocide survivors, are being properly cared for
during the twilight years of their lives. With this token donation, we
are restating our mission to serve the various needs of our
community,” concluded Aslanian.

Contacted by phone, Ms. Karla Fleming, director of ANRH, said the
donated funds “will be used to fund trips, twice a month, for the
residents to attend local church bazaars, and cultural events.”

Ms. Tana Onanian, President, Board of Directors, Armenian Women’s
Welfare Association, Inc. said that “the Nursing home is in dire need
of rehabilitation, and plans to renovate the facility will be
addressed soon”.

AWWA founded the first Home for the Aged in Jamaica Plain in 1948, 14
years after it had begun the pursuit of that goal. In 1960, AWWA built
the Armenian Nursing Home, a full-care nursing facility, on the same
property. The home began providing rehabilitative care in response to
the needs of the community and was renamed the Armenian Nursing and
Rehabilitation Center in 1996. The home provides services to 83
elderly, including 3 survivors of the Armenian Genocide.

The Armenian Cultural and Educational Center, is a 501(c) (3)
tax-exempt charitable organization, located at 47 Nichols Avenue in
Watertown, and has promoted the Armenian cultural heritage since
1981. ACEC is home to St. Stephen’s Armenian Elementary, Saturday, and
Sunday schools and a host of community-based organizations, including
the Armenian Relief Society’s Cambridge and Watertown chapters, the
Hamazkayin Educational and Cultural Association of Greater Boston,
Armenian Youth Federation, Homenetmen Armenian athletic and scout
organization, and Armenian National Committee of Eastern
Massachusetts. “

Itar Tass, Russia
March 17 2005

Leaders of self-proclaimed republics to meet in Moscow

MOSCOW, March 17 (Itar-Tass) – Leaders of Abkhazia, South Ossetia
Nagorno-Karabalh and the Dniester region are to meet in Moscow.

A spokesperson for Abkhazia’s representative office in Moscow told
Itar-Tass on Thursday that `the beginning of the talks of Sergei
Bagapsh, Eduard Kokoity, Arkady Gukasyan and Igor Smirnov is planned
in the next few days’.

The time of conversations depends on when the Dniester region’s
leader Igor Smirnov comes to Moscow.

`Most likely it will be on March 17 or 18,’ the spokesperson said.

`The sides do not officially inform about topics of the forthcoming
meetings,’ he said.

The `leaders of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh held a
preliminary conversation on March 16′.

South Ossetia’s leader Eduard Kokoity `is now taking part in a
meeting of the Joint Control Commission for settlement of the
conflict in this republic,’ he said.

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 17 2005

US concerned over frequent ceasefire breaches

Baku, March 16, AssA-Irada

`Washington is concerned over the frequent ceasefire violations on
the Armenia-Azerbaijan frontline’, the US ambassador in Azerbaijan
Reno Harnish told reporters on Wednesday. He said that the conflict
is not frozen, and attention should be paid and major efforts taken
to settle it.
The frequent ceasefire breaches necessitate new approaches to the
conflict resolution, Harnish said. He emphasized the importance of
preventing them, highly assessing the activity of the OSCE chairman’s
special envoy Anzhei Kaspshik.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 17 2005

Former minister was informed of criminal group

Baku, March 16, AssA-Irada

The law enforcement bodies had been aware of the criminal group led
by Haji Mammadov for four years, President Ilham Aliyev said in a
meeting with the National Security Ministry representatives on
Wednesday.
The criminal group, involved in kidnappings, murders and other
crimes, has recently been detained by the Ministry.
Aliyev said that in 2001, the Prosecutor General instructed the then
National Security Minister Namig Abbasov to conduct an operation and
investigate the suspicions concerning the criminal group and its
leader. However, no steps were taken in that direction then, the
President said.
`If the National Security Ministry had taken the matter seriously
then, numerous crimes could have been prevented.’
Speaking of the tasks of security agencies, President Aliyev noted
that until recently the Ministry has not carried out much work over
the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh, which is of
great importance.
`I issued relevant instructions to Eldar Mahmudov when appointing him
to the position. He conducted a research and found out that this area
of the Ministry’s activity is on a low level.’*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 17 2005

Deputy FM positively assesses OSCE fact-finding mission’s activity

Baku, March 16, AssA-Irada

The OSCE fact-finding mission has confirmed the fact of illegal
settlement of Armenians in the occupied regions of Azerbaijan, Araz
Azimov, Deputy Foreign Minister, the President’s special envoy on the
Upper Garabagh conflict, has told the ATV channel.
Azimov positively assessed the fact-finding mission’s approving the
evidence on illegal settlement presented by official Baku.
`I have become familiar with the mission’s report, which provides
figures that are close to those presented by the Azerbaijani side,’
he said.
The report on the illegal settlement of Armenians in the occupied
regions of Azerbaijan, forwarded to the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in
Vienna on Wednesday, will be presented to the organization’s
Permanent Council on Thursday.*

Today, Azerbaijan
March 17 2005

Indian embassy denied information about labor activity of Indian
company at the territory of Kalbajar region

17 March 2005 [17:37] – Today.Az

The Indian Embassy in Baku spoke with declaration, that none company
registered in India, deals with any labor activity at the territory
of occupied Kalbajar region of Azerbaijan.

As agency Trend informs, the official press release of the embassy,
distributed 16 March, reads about this. The embassy distributed this
declaration in response to information appeared in press about
activity of one Indian company in Kalbajar region of Azerbaijan
occupied by armed forces of Armenia.

We would like to inform you; recently information about activity of
one Indian company at golden mines of Kalbajar appeared in Azerbaijan
press. As a result of this Azerbaijan MFA commissioned with
Azerbaijan ambassador to India Tamerlan Garayev to apply to foreign
political institution of the state to get clarification.

URL:

Today, Azerbaijan
March 17 2005

US ambassador thinks, continuous ceasefire violation at
Armenian-Azerbaijan front increases attention to conflict settlement
process

17 March 2005 [17:49] – Today.Az

Washington is concerned with continuous ceasefire violation at the
contact line of armed forces of Azerbaijan and Armenia. Such state
causes great concern.

According to Agency Trend US ambassador to Azerbaijan Reno Harnish
informed journalists about this.

“We attentively keeð uð with ceasefire violation regime.
Understanding significance of non admission of such facts, we highly
aððreciate the last activity of OSCE sðecial reðresentative Andjey
Casðzyk”, said ambassador.

At the same time Washington considers, rise of tension on the front
increase attention to settlement ðrocess”. “This witnesses, conflict
is not frozen and it is necessary to work on it and to ðay attention
to it”, – said diðlomat.

URL: