Khatamiterms universities as centers of thoughts

IRNA, Iran
Sept 9 2004

Yerevan, Sept 9, IRNA — President Mohammad Khatami here Thursday said
universities are the centers of thoughts and champions of dialogue
among civilizations.

“I am happy (the initiative of) dialogue among civilizations has been
welcomed by university professors and students,” Khatami said after
delivering a speech at Yerevan State University.

Human beings faced war, grudge, terror and two world wars over the
past century and terrorism also was expanded in the world, he added.
He noted that dialogue among civilizations seeks the rule of justice
in the world and direct human life towards peace.

The UN General Assembly accepted the initiative in 2001 without
opposition, he said, adding reputable centers have been established
in this regard.

“Although the idea of dialogue among civilizations was put forward in
2001, the anti-peace forces showed reactions including the September
11 events which warmongers filled the world with war and occupation
under the pretext of campaign against terrorism. “But human conscience
is against such actions,” Khatami said. He stressed that Armenia is
among suitable countries to promote dialogue among civilizations.

Khatamistresses scientific exchanges with Armenia

IRNA, Iran
Sept 9 2004

Tehran, Sept 9, IRNA — President Mohammad Khatami here Thursday
stressed the importance of expanding scientific and cultural exchanges
with Armenia.

In a meeting with President of Yerevan State University Radick
Martirossian, Khatami underlined Iran`s status in various fields of
science and technology as well as existence of reputable universities
in the country.

Martirossian, for his part, said Iran is among the scientifically
advanced countries, adding Armenia can make use of scientific and
technical experiences of Iran in an appropriate way.

He called for establishing ties between the two countries`
universities.

Before delivering a speech at Yerevan State University, President
Khatami met the university`s board of directors.

President Aliyev holds private meeting with OSCE MG French co-chair

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 9 2004

Baku, September 8, AssA-Irada — President Ilham Aliyev visiting
France held a private meeting with Henry Jacolin, the French co-chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group on Wednesday.

Following the meeting Aliyev had a 45-minute talk with Foreign Minister
Elmar Mammadyarov.

Declining to elaborate on the meeting, Mammadyarov said the fact
that whether there is progress in talks will be determined after
the meeting of the Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents to be held in
Astana shortly.

The same day, President Aliyev met with Christian Poncelet, Chairman
of the French Senate, on Wednesday. The parties focused on the Upper
Garabagh conflict and discussed economic and political relations
between the two countries.

Later in the day, President Aliyev attended the opening of an
exhibition of works by Azerbaijani artists organized for the first
time at the museum of the French Senate.*

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iranian president meets Armenian nationalist party leaders

Noyan Tapan news agency
9 Sep 04

Yerevan, 9 September: Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, who is
paying an official visit to Armenia, met representatives of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation – Dashnaktsutyun [ARFD] in the
reception hall of the National Security Service on 9 September. These
are representatives of the party bureau, Grant Markaryan and Armen
Rustamyan, and the chairman of the ARFD faction in parliament,
Levon Lazarian.

Having welcomed the visit of the Iranian president to Armenia,
Markaryan stressed the importance of the visit for the development of
Armenian-Iranian relations and regional policy. Noting the significance
of the agreements and practical programmes signed during the visit,
Markaryan expressed his confidence that the visit would mark a new
stage in the history of centuries-old Armenian-Iranian friendship. He
expressed his hope that the agreements would help expand relations
between the states in the political, economic and cultural spheres.

The information service of the ARFD Supreme Council told Noyan Tapan
that Khatami noted the importance of the role that Armenia and the
Armenian people have been playing in the region and in the dialogue
of civilisations for thousands of years.

Speaking about the ARFD, which is an all-Armenian body, the Iranian
president also stressed its role in uniting the Armenian people living
all over the world, and its role in processes intended to strengthen
national conciliation.

Los Angeles Times
September 8, 2004 Wednesday
Home Edition

‘Komitas’ reawakened;
Anna Djanbazian brings back to life her ballet about the revered
Armenian, inspired by ‘the idea of survival … and not giving up.’

by Victoria Looseleaf, Special to The Times

Do a Google search for Komitas and more than 9,000 entries pop up.
The revered Armenian historical figure, who was born in Asia Minor in
1869 as Soghomon Soghomonian, assumed the name Komitas a quarter of a
century later, when he was ordained as a monk in the Armenian church.
But his work as a composer — more than 4,000 songs in Armenian,
Kurdish, Arabic and Persian, as well as numerous instrumental works
— is what made his reputation.

Add to this the facts that Komitas went insane after Turkey began
carrying out the Armenian genocide in 1915 and that he spent two
decades in mental hospitals before dying in Paris, and it’s easy to
see why a performing artist would be drawn to his story. Indeed,
Iranian-born dancer-choreographer Anna Djanbazian has been fascinated
with him for many years. In 1982, she created a two-act ballet,
“Komitas, Kroong Bnaver (Komitas, Banished but Not Forgotten),” in
Iran. The production featured 45 dancers, with Djanbazian as the
female lead opposite her husband in the title role.

Now, her locally based Djanbazian Dance Company is about to breathe
new life into this contemporary dance drama when it receives its U.S.
premiere this weekend at the Glendale Community College Theatre. But
its creator, 52, no longer performs, and she says her original vision
has been affected by time and by her own life struggles.

The new production was inspired by “the idea of survival and being
here and working, and not giving up,” explains Djanbazian, who
received a master’s in choreography from UCLA in 1990 and founded her
troupe in 1992. She also says that the more than 20 years she had to
think about the ballet nurtured its evolution. “The world has
changed, and the way people look at things. Also, my life and tastes
changed. The steps are not exactly the same, but Komitas’ story is,
which I wanted to introduce through his spiritual fragility and
struggle, through my eyes.”

Djanbazian’s eyes have taken in a lot. Her father, Sarkis Djanbazian,
was a renowned dancer-choreographer who in 1942 founded the first
classical ballet school in Iran. Born in Russia, he had studied dance
in St. Petersburg, but after the government arbitrarily expelled him
in 1937, he resettled his family in Tehran. Anna began dancing at 3;
her father died of a heart attack eight years later, in 1963. Her
mother, however, maintained the Djanbazian Dance Academy while
sending the teenage Anna to Russia for five years to continue her
training.

Djanbazian mounted “Komitas” in Tehran in 1982 in part to celebrate
the academy’s 40th anniversary.

“I loved Komitas’ ideology and his approach toward life. His music
was mesmerizing,” she says. But in her experience, that music “was
usually presented by scholars through lecture demonstrations and
recitals. Very rarely was dance set to it.”

She says Armenians have long considered Komitas’ music “a song of the
people,” and so she chose various tunes and instrumental works —
from religious and children’s songs to lively peasant and wedding
airs — as much for their emotional content as for their melodies.

There was one problem: Iran was in chaos under the reign of Ayatollah
Ruhollah Khomeini. “We were in the disaster of revolution,” she
recalls, “and I was working underground, with the fear of the
government interrupting. We had several incidents when they barged in
and were looking for things — going over my costumes, pictures,
books. It was terrible.”

The show did go on, but within two years Djanbazian had closed the
school and moved to Los Angeles with her mother. In 1988, she honored
her heritage by opening a Djanbazian Dance Academy in Glendale. Now
located in La Crescenta, the school has 100 students, 22 of whom are
in Djanbazian’s company and will perform in “Komitas.” She hopes
eventually to take the evening-length work to Armenia, where her
troupe toured for three weeks last year.

Her father’s dances continue to figure prominently in her life. Two
years ago, she earned a local Lester Horton Dance Award for restaging
his “Memento (An Uzbek Dance),” and last year she received a Horton
for costume design for “What Is Inside Every Woman.”

“God gave me a good memory,” says Djanbazian, whose own dance
creations, she says, number about 80. “Since I was watching his class
when I was very little, all the students came to me to know their
next steps. That became a habit — to learn everything.”
Unfortunately, routine of a sadder stripe has also followed
Djanbazian. In 1996, her husband died, and four years later she fell
ill with cancer, which was what forced her to stop dancing.

“It gave me a chance to look at life differently,” she says. “And if
I can get back my energy, I’m going to perform. Not like before, but
differently.” Until then, Djanbazian’s creativity infuses “Komitas,”
featuring 25-year-old Arsen Serobian in the title role. A guest
artist with Djanbazian’s troupe, he was born in Armenia and has
danced with companies including the Moscow Ballet Theatre and the
Moiseyev Dance Company.

“I knew about Komitas from school,” Serobian says. “I love his
music.” Portraying first a monk, then a musician and finally an exile
in the throes of a breakdown (in a haunting solo) is “like going back
to that time and experiencing his pain and his love.”

Iranian-born Ani Grigorian, 21, a student of Djanbazian’s since she
was 7, will dance the role the choreographer made for herself. “We go
through a lot of emotions when we dance our people’s history,”
Grigorian says. “We lived through hard times and tragedy, but we
survive with a sense of pride.”

“Komitas” depicts Turkish forces’ 1915 slaughter of Armenians from
eastern Turkey as a tableau of chest-pounding angst, with
backward-bending dancers ending as crumpled heaps. Like Djanbazian’s
own saga, though, the drama concludes on a hopeful note.

“I show how people get stronger because of Komitas,” says Djanbazian.
“The libretto ends with this resurrection, with all of the people on
their feet.”

*

Djanbazian Dance Company

Where: Glendale Community College Theatre, 1500 N. Verdugo Road,
Glendale

When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday (pre-show lecture by Arto
Tchakmakchian at 7:15 p.m.); 5 p.m. Sunday (pre-show lecture at 4:15
p.m.)

Price: $20 to $40

Contact: (818) 580-2170

GRAPHIC: PHOTO: PREPARATION: A reflection of Ani Grigorian, left,
Narinea Ghazarians, Arsineh Ananian and Arsen Serobian rehearsing.
PHOTO: IN SYNC: “Komitas,” at the Glendale Community College Theatre,
says Arsen Serobian, right, with Narinea Ghazarians, is “like going
back to that time and experiencing his pain and his love.”
PHOTOGRAPHER: Photographs by Genaro Molina Los Angeles Times

Iranian, Armenian cultures, civilizations enjoy strong bonds: Khatami

IRNA, Iran
Sept 9 2004

Yerevan, Sept 9, IRNA — Visiting Iranian President Mohammad Khatami
here Thursday said that the Iranian and Armenians cultures and
civilizations have had strong bonds from the dawn of history.
Addressing Armenian scientists, intellectuals, scholars, and
university professors at the State University of Yerevan, he said
Iranians and Armenians have always acted as pillars of civilization
in the Iranian plateau.

“One of the very interesting facts about our common past is that
even the differences in religious creeds, that usually cause serious
cleavage among the people of the same regions, have not been able
to break the bonds of friendship between the peoples of ancient Iran
and Armenia.”

Even during the modern period of nation-state formation, when border
disputes between the old empires and the new states lead to various
forms of territorial and non-territorial disputes, not only there
were no discords between Iran and Armenia, but also the ties between
the two countries grew much stronger than ever before, the Iranian
president noted.

As to Iran-Armenia scientific, industrial, political and cultural
cooperation, he said Armenia and Armenians played a great part in
the constitutional revolution of Iran and profoundly supported that
national cause of the Iranians.

The Armenians played an important part in the development and victory
of the Islamic Revolution and in the establishment of the Islamic
Republic by engaging in an epic and memorable struggle in its support,
he added.

The establishment and further development of many new educational,
scientific, and industrial institutions in Iran is indebted to the
worthy measures taken by the people of Armenia, he said adding that
the share of the Armenians in opening up the prospects of modern
development and progress to Iran is of very great significance.
Among Iranians, Armenians are well-known for their honesty, gentleness,
integrity, and love of freedom, he said adding, “Our Armenian
compatriots have always been a party to all our joys and sorrows.”

These have been the root cause of the positive attitude that the
Iranians have towards Armenians, the president said noting, “This
great asset can be utilized by our thinkers and scholars to develop
our better and greater common future.”

Elsewhere in his speech President Khatami underlined the need to
establish a constructive pattern and to create a greater conceptual
understanding between the two nations.

In the process of carrying out Dialogue among Civilizations,
reaching a mutual understanding is of far greater significance
than coming to a common decision and a common viewpoint, he added.
The prerequisite for achieving a mutual understanding of course is
nothing but expanding mutual contacts, the president said adding that
contact is the prerequisite for the materialization of dialogues.
President Khatami further expressed his pleasure for witnessing that
the scientific and cultural relations between Armenia and Iran have
taken the form of a very orderly dialogue, and that certain aspects
of each civilization and culture have become subject of discussion and
the means of establishing further cooperation. The special attention
paid by Armenian universities to the teaching of the Persian language,
and the outstanding participation of Iranian professors and students
in the educational environments in Armenia is a manifestation of
the determination of both nations to expand bilateral relations,
he reiterated.

“We should have no doubt whatsoever that this expansion of relations
will lead to the establishment of a deeper mutual understanding and to
the safeguarding of the historical assets which the two civilizations
have inherited,” the president concluded.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri embassy in Georgia denies Armenian servicemen entry visas

Bilik Dunyasi news agency
8 Sep 04

Baku, 8 September: The Azerbaijani embassy in Georgia has refused to
issue entry visas to Baku to the Armenian servicemen who are planning
to take part in NATO exercises [on 13-26 September].

“The Armenians have already appealed to the embassy, but we are not
going to accept their request,” the Azerbaijani ambassador to Georgia,
Ramiz Hasanov, has said.

Iranian president visits Armenian genocide complex

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
9 Sep 04

[Presenter] The second day of the Iranian president’s official visit to
Armenia started with a visit to Tsitsernakaberd, the Armenian genocide
memorial complex. The Iranian president paid tribute to the genocide
victims and laid flowers on the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex.

[Correspondent over video of the ceremony of laying flowers on
the genocide memorial] Iranian President Mohammad Khatami visited
Tsitsernakaberd this morning and paid tribute to the victims of
the 1915 genocide. The director of the genocide museum said that
the Iranian president’s visit to Tsitsernakaberd is a historical
event. The director presented the Iranian president with books on
the history of the Armenian genocide.

[Passage omitted: The report lists the leaders of Muslim countries
who visited the genocide complex in the past and the countries that
have recognized the genocide]

In violation of the established rule, the Iranian president was allowed
to travel around the complex by car due to his poor health. A similar
exception was made only for Pope John Paul II.

Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II will receive the Iranian
president at the Holy See of Echmiadzin today.

Tatevik Nalbandyan, “Aylur”.

Iranian president’s speech brings boycotting Armenian opposition to parliament

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
8 Sep 04

[Presenter] Speaking in the Armenian National Assembly today,
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami expressed his opinions on
democracy. Opposition MPs were also present at the meeting despite
their continued boycott of parliamentary sessions.

[Correspondent, over video of meeting in the National Assembly]
Extending a warm welcome to the Iranian president, the speaker of
the Armenian parliament, Artur Bagdasaryan, expressed hope that his
visit will give a new impetus to the development of Armenian-Iranian
relations.

[Artur Bagdasaryan, captioned] The achievements that our two countries
have made in the political and economic sphere, in education, science,
culture and in the spheres of economy and energy contain a great
potential for development. We are sure that after your visit these
relations in all the fields will be developed.

[Correspondent, over video of Khatami in parliament] The Iranian
president’s speech in the Armenian National Assembly was devoted to
globalization processes and development of democracy. The president
stressed that for the development of democracy it is necessary to
study and analyse the moral aspects of democracy. Those new world
processes which are the result of globalization have created a need
to once again define and explain the concept of democracy which
will prevent a collapse of democracy and restrict the development of
inhumane approaches, the Iranian president said.

He noted that Iran and Armenia have a potential as well as a rich
historical past and a basis for regional cooperation and cooperation
on the international arena. The Iranian president went on to add
that his country is ready and intends to expand bilateral relations
with Armenia, promote the settlement of the regional conflicts and
achievement of peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

Mohammad Khatami’s speech in the National Assembly brought members
of all political parties to the session hall.

[Stepan Demirchyan, leader of the Justice opposition bloc, captioned]
We did not declare a boycott against the Iranian Republic. This is a
tribute of respect and we attach great importance to Armenian-Iranian
relations and hope that this visit will promote a further development
of these relations.

[Correspondent] All the members of the parties of the National Assembly
outlined the importance of strengthening Armenian-Iranian relations.

[Galust Saakyan, the chairman of the Republican Party faction,
captioned] Our policies are complementary. We have to note that
during these 14 years the first friendly visits and cooperation which
were important for Armenia have all been connected with Iran. This
cooperation is mutually beneficial not only for Armenia and Iran but
for the whole region.

[Armen Rustamyan, Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly’s standing
commission for foreign relations, captioned] This is an important
and at the same time a historic visit because since the establishment
[of independence] we have had very good relations with Iran. We have
never serious problems with Iran. We always try to develop relations
and cooperation with Iran and of course there is a great potential
which we did not yet use. In particular, Iran’s role in regional
issues is very important.

Iran, Armeniapresidents stress consolidation of ties

IRNA, Iran
Sept 9 2004

Yerevan, Sept 9, IRNA — Iran and Armenia here Thursday issued a joint
communique expressing strong readiness to consolidate friendly ties
and fruitful bilateral cooperation in all fields.

In a meeting between visiting President Mohammad Khatami and his
Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian on the final day of Khatami`s
two-day visit to Armenia, the sides stressed the need for high level
of Tehran-Yerevan ties which are based on deep-rooted friendship
between the two nations.

The sides called for continuation of regular consultation between
the two countries` state bodies.

During President Khatami`s visit to Armenia, which took place at
the invitation of Kocharian, the two presidents discussed various
aspects of mutual relations as well as prospects of cooperation in
an atmosphere of understanding and mutual respect.

The two sides also exchanged views on key regional and international
developments.

Khatami and Kocharian assessed as very good the outcomes of 5th
meeting of Iran-Armenia joint economic commission and expressed hope
implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed between the
two countries and effective activities of the commission would boost
bilateral cooperation between economic sectors and transportation as
well as trade volume.

They cited construction of Iran-Armenia gas pipeline, Kajaran tunnel,
hydroelectric power plant on Aras river and a number of other
joint ventures as among fruitful factors for expansion of regional
cooperation.

The presidents termed the current regional and international
situation as sensitive and welcomed restoration of peace, stability
and sustainable security in the region.

They assessed President Khatami`s initiative of dialogue among
civilizations and consensus among all countries as an effective factor
for consolidation of friendship and understanding between nations.
Iran and Armenia stressed the important role of the United Nations and
other international organizations in strengthening peace and security.

The sides also exchanged views on campaign against terrorism,
organized crimes and narcotics and hallucinogenic drugs and expressed
determination to adopt measures to counter them.

President Mohammad Khatami arrived here Wednesday on the first leg of
his regional tour which will also take him to Belarus and Tajikistan.

Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, Energy Minister Habibollah Bitaraf,
Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance Safdar Hosseini and Commerce
Minister Mohammad Shariatmadari are accompanying President Khatami
in his regional tour.

Iranian and Armenian economic delegations, in the presence of Mohammad
Khatami and Robert Kocharian here Wednesday signed seven agreements
on energy cooperation.

The contracts envisages mutual cooperation in field of energy,
constructing a wind farm in Armenia, procedure for customs agreement,
financing the laying of a 40 kilometer gas pipeline in Armenia.