DAYS OF ARMENIAN CULTURE FESTIVAL OFFICIALLY OPENS IN BRATISLAVA

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 3 2006

BRATISLAVA, OCTOBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The concert
of Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Eduard Topchian and
with participation of violinist Sofia Jaffe took place on October 3
at the Reduta well-known philharmony hall of Bratislava. The concert
was organized within the framework of the Days of Armenian Culture
festival dedicated to the 15th anniversary of Armenia’s independence.

The solemn opening of the festival took place two days before near the
Armenian khachkar (cross-stone) placed in the center of Bratislava,
with participation of Slovakian officials and many guests. The
Armenian khachkar was placed with joint efforts of the Nig-Aparan
compatriotic union, the Chairman of which is RA Prosecutor General
Aghvan Hovsepian, and Armenian community of Slovakia, in token of
gratitude for adoption of the resolution recognizing the Armenian
Genocide at the Slovakian Parliament.

As NT correspondent informed from Bratislava, at the opening ceremony
of the Days of Armenian Culture, Ashot Grigorian, Chairman of the
Representation of Armenian Organizations in Europe, emphasized
that Armenian-Slovakian contacts continue to develop and the
Armenian community also has a great contribution to this issue. In
A.Grigorian’s words, A.Hovsepian and First Deputy Prosecutor General
of Slovakia, Martin Lauko, also rendered great services to development
of Armenian-Slovakian contacts.

The speeches were followed by first concert performances, then
the concert continued at the hall of the Ararat club. Soloists
of A.Spendiarian National Theater of Opera and Ballet, soprano
Lusine Ordukhanian, performed some works of Komitas, and tenor Artak
Kirakosian performed arias from Italian operas. Their performances were
highly appreciated by the spectators. Well-known pianist in Slovakia
Hasmik Gabrielian also performed on the first day of the concert.

During the reception organized after the concert, the guests,
especially former Prime Minister Jean Charnagurski, Martin Lauko and
others emphasized that this event is of exclusive importance from
point of view of getting to know the Armenian culture closely and
understanding the Armenian nation better.

Within the framework of the festival concerts will be held both in
Bratislava and in Prague. As NT was informed by festival organizer
Ashot Grigorian, Chairman of the Slovakian Armenian community and
Representation of Armenian Organizations in Europe, unfortunately,
the Armenian Embassy in Vienna not only did nothing to support this
initiative of the Armenian community of Slovakia, but also tried to
do everything possible to hamper holding of this cultural festivity
in this city.