AZERBAIJANI MUSICIAN REFUSES TO TAKE PART IN CONCERT OF CAUCASIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA HELD AT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HEADQUARTERS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 22 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. The first concert of Caucasian
Chamber Orchestra was held on September 19 at the European Parliament
headquarters. Works by Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian composers
were performed at the concert. The orchestra was founded and is headed
by German conductor and pianist Uwe Berkemer.

According to RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department,
the initiative was supported by the EU-South Caucasus delegation of
the European Parliament headed by Marie Anne Isler Beguin. It was
planned that the orchestra should consist of Armenian, Georgian,
Azerbaijani musicians and musicians of North Caucasian peoples who
will present music as symbol of peace in the Caucasus.

The concert participants were surprised at the absence of the
Azerbaijani musician who refused to take part in the concert.

Speaking at the end of the concert, Uwe Berkmer pointing to the vacant
chair on the stage noted that it symbolizes Azerbaijan’s absence from
this peaceful initiative and attempt to unite peoples with the help
of culture.