ArmenPress
Sept 21 2004
HOVHANESIAN WINS EUROPEAN BOXING CHAMPION TITLE
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 21, ARMENPRESS: Azat Hovhanesian from Yerevan
in 52 kg weight category has won the Europe youth champion title in
the Russian Saratov on September 19 beating his German rival in the
finals.
Two other boxers from Armenia, Samvel Barseghian , 46 kg weight
category and Vagharshak Aslanian, 86 kg weight category, have
snatched bronze medals.
Armenia was represented by 9 boxers in Saratov.
HHS Announces $2.3 Million to Help Refugees Settle in U.S.
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 20 /U.S. Newswire/ — HHS Secretary Tommy G.
Thompson today awarded a $3.2 million grant to the Catholic Charities
of Louisville to provide medical care, job training and other services
to 2,000 recent refugees to the United States.
The Catholic Charities of Louisville’s Kentucky Wilson-Fish Program
will use the grant to help refugees integrate into American society by
offering cash and medical assistance, helping them learn English, and
providing social services such as job training.
“Kentucky compassionately opens its arms to refugees from around the
world,” Secretary Thompson said. “This grant is another example of
President Bush working with our nation’s faith-based communities to
ensure that new refugees’ arrival in the United States is as smooth as
possible.”
Administered by HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, the
$3.2 million grant will allow the Kentucky Wilson-Fish Program to
serve 2,000 refugees, asylum seekers, or victims of human
trafficking. More than 1,300 of the refugees who will be served
recently arrived in the United States, while 640 of the refugees have
been in the United States for a longer period of time but will be
served by the programs.
“As a faith-based community, Catholic Charities has had a long history
of collaborating with the federal government to provide social
services to the greater community,” said Steve Bogus, executive
director of Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Louisville. “Catholic
Charities is honored to accept this award which will allow us to
practice the precepts of our faith on a daily basis, Catholic social
teaching, and to fulfill our commitment to faithful citizenship.”
The Kentucky Wilson-Fish Program, one of the largest of its kind in
the nation, provides day-to-day assistance to refugees to help them
better integrate into American society and sets a goal of finding jobs
for refugees within four months of their arrival in the United
States. The program assists refugees from such countries as Ethiopia,
Sudan, Congo, Liberia, Togo, Rwanda, Somalia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan,
Kosovo, Bosnia, Azerbaijan, the former Soviet Union, Armenia, Vietnam
and Columbia.
The grant is part of President Bush’s Faith-Based and Community
Initiative, which enables some of the most effective social service
providers in American to compete for federal funding to make a
difference in the lives of our most vulnerable citizens — without
compromising the provider’s religious character and independence.
As part of this initiative, HHS’ Compassion Capital Fund was created
three years ago and has awarded more than $150 million to support
efforts in local communities provide services to our neediest
neighbors. President Bush’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2005 would
increase support for the Compassion Capital Fund to $161 million.
—
Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials
are available at
Contact: ACF Press Office, 202-401-9215
09/20 18:51
CENN – SEPTEMBER 21, 2004 DAILY DIGEST
Table of Contents:
1. Seismologists Predict No Major Tremors
2. National Geographic Travel Column: Armenia’s Lesson in Street Life
3. Armenia To Ask For $900M In Extra U.S. Aid
4. Measuring Landcover Change and its Impact on Endangered Species
1. SEISMOLOGISTS PREDICT NO MAJOR TREMORS
Source: ArmenPress, September 17, 2004
Armenian seismological stations have registered 29 earthquakes since the
start of the year, the strongest of which measured 3.4 points on Richter
scale and was reported 70 km north-east of the town of Ararat on January
4 and the lowest was 1.3 points on Richter scale, reported on July 19
near the town of Spitak, the site of the destructive 1988 earthquake.
Judging by a set of indications, observed in the last 10 years, Armenian
seismologists predict that the possible strongest earthquake that may
hit Armenia will be no higher than 5-6 points on Richter scale, saying
its possible location may be in the southern-eastern province of Syunik.
The national seismic service has already started a series of measures
aimed to raise the level of local population’s awareness concerning
earthquake risks. The Armenian government adopted in the last two years
two comprehensive programs on seismic risks, one encloses the Law on
Seismic Protection and the second lists the strategically important
facilities that need reinforced seismic protection.
Armenian national seismic service, included in the world seismic
networks, is considered one of the best services in Europe. The service
is cooperating closely with a German GFZ and US NASA and UNAVCO
organizations in identifying and registration of seismic risks.
2. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVEL COLUMN: ARMENIA’S LESSON IN STREET LIFE
September 17 2004
TravelWatch
Jonathan B. Tourtellot
National Geographic Traveler
Updated September 17, 2004
A small experiment in Gyumri, Armenia has shown how easy it is to turn
an urban dead zone into an appealing, living place. Gyumri boasts two
Soviet-era monumental, lifeless city squares. You know the type: asphalt
deserts walled by concrete office facades, beloved by urban planners and
hated by travelers on foot. In a remote corner of one square, a Gyumri
company recently installed just three things: a park bench, a street
lamp, and a seesaw.
Men sit on a bench in Dilizhan, Armenia. In another town, just such a
streetscape is sprouting in a once barren plaza.
According to the New York-based Project for Public Spaces, magic
resulted. Kids flocked to the seesaw, parents in tow. Parents began to
chat with each other. Soon street vendors set up stands next to the
bench, drawing more people. Three tiny seeds had bloomed into a garden
of street life. Any visitor entering that square would automatically
gravitate toward the lively corner.
Modern cities abound in dead zones; some are even handsome. But it’s
people that make a town worth visiting. Nothing makes a town or city
more appealing for tourists than lively, pedestrian-friendly streets and
squares.
It’s a lesson Europe seems to be learning, as city after city there has
created car-free zones. In the ultra-motorized U.S. – despite success
stories like San Antonio’s riverwalk–cities have been slower to embrace
the idea of streets that are more populated by people than by traffic.
Yet all you need to do is set aside a few blocks and provide ways for
people to do what people like to do–eat, drink, talk, play. Tourists
show up. Businesses thrive.
As the Gyumri experiment shows, it doesn’t take much to turn a square
with nothing into a square with something. Bring on the seesaws.
3. ARMENIA TO ASK FOR $900M IN EXTRA U.S. AID
Source: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc., September 17, 2004
Armenia is seeking as much as $900 million in additional U.S. government
assistance for the next three years and would like to spend most of the
money on getting its battered irrigation and drinking water
infrastructure into shape, officials said Friday.
The requested extra aid would come as part of the U.S. government’s
Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), a scheme designed to promote
political and market reforms around the world. Armenia as well as
neighboring Georgia was included last spring in the first group of 16
countries eligible for it. Each of them has to present and substantiate
specific aid proposals that will be considered by the Millennium
Challenge Corporation, a government body in charge of the MCA.
According to Aram Andreasian, head of the State Committee on Water
Resources, the Armenian government has already finalized its package of
proposals and will submit them to Washington by the end of this month.
He said two thirds of the requested sum is proposed to be used for
improving patchy water supplies to Armenian households and farmers.
`As far as our [MCA] package is concerned, the water sector is in
greatest need of investments,’ Andreasian told a news conference after a
weekly cabinet meeting.
Armenia’s notoriously inefficient drinking water network has undergone
sweeping structural reforms over the past two years. The authorities
promised in late 2002 that the situation with water supplies will
improve radically after introduction of water consumption meters. Most
Armenians have already bought and installed them at their own expense.
However, change has been very slow so far.
Andreasian reiterated a government pledge to extend round-the-clock
water supplies to 80 percent of the Yerevan households by the end of
this year. But with less than half of them having running water for 24
hours a day at the moment, this seems highly problematic.
Even more difficult is access to irrigation water in the country’s rural
areas. The problem is high on the list of grievances routinely cited by
impoverished villagers.
Andreasian’s controversial predecessor, Gagik Martirosian, estimated
that at least $300 million worth of capital investments will be needed
for ensuring normal functioning of the sector. The government has
already received some $150 million in low-interest loans from the World
Bank for that purpose.
Earlier this year, an ad hoc commission of the Armenian parliament
accused the government of misusing one such loan worth $30 million. The
allegations were rejected by the government and the World Bank’s office
in Yerevan.
Andreasian revealed that the government wants the Americans to set aside
$137 million for road construction and repair in Armenia. The Armenian
government would spend the rest of the requested sum on education and
agriculture, he said.
The U.S. government has already allocated some $1.5 billion in regular
assistance to Armenia since 1992. It remains to be seen whether it will
agree to the drastic increase in aid levels sought by Yerevan.
The total amount of MCA funds made available by the administration of
President George W. Bush for this year is $1 billion. The figure is
expected to soar to $5 billion in 2006.
4. MEASURING LANDCOVER CHANGE AND ITS IMPACT ON ENDANGERED SPECIES
The Smithsonian Conservation and Research Center is offering the
following advanced GIS and remote sensing course:
Measuring Landcover Change and its Impact on Endangered Species
October 4-8, 2004 and November 15-19, 2004
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
This one-week advanced GIS and remote sensing course provides
conservationists with an opportunity to learn how GIS and remote sensing
can be used to assess the conservation status of endangered species.
Participants will be provided with their own desktop computer for all
lab exercises. During the hands-on exercises participants will use the
Internet, ArcView, ArcView Spatial Analyst, ERDAS Imagine, Fragstats,
and other spatial analysis programs. Instructors will lead participants
step-by-step through the process of:
o conducting a regional conservation assessment using GIS to determine
critical conservation areas for an endangered species
o acquiring multi-date satellite imagery to quantify land cover change
and to map the extent of the remaining habitat
o using landscape analysis to determine optimal landscape configurations
for conserving the endangered species.
Visit the following web address for more details and registration
information.
Contact:
Lily Paniagua
[email protected]
1500 Remount Road
Front Royal, VA 22630
540-635-6535 (GIS Lab)
540-635-6506 (FAX)
—
*******************************************
CENN INFO
Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN)
Tel: ++995 32 92 39 46
Fax: ++995 32 92 39 47
E-mail: [email protected]
URL:
A1 Plus | 16:52:08 | 20-09-2004 | Social |
FREEDOM OF CULTURE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ECONOMIC GROWTH
Armenia has improved its ranking in the UN annual World Humanitarian
Report for 2004 by five points. The republic is placed 82nd in the
list of 177 countries.
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative Lise Grande
said Monday Freedom of Culture is chosen as topic of the 2004 report.
The report stresses the idea of people’s right to preserve their
ethnic, linguistic and religious originality.
Lise Grande thinks humanitarian development is more important than
economic growth. Humanitarian development levels have been determined
by taking into account three factors: per capita income, literacy and
human life length.
The inferences were based on figures presented by international not
national sources.
Lise Grande views Armenia as a good example of ethnic minorities’
rights protection.
Armenian foreign minister Vardan Oscanyan shares her view saying there
is no ethnic-minorities-related problem in Armenia.
In his opinion, freedom of culture promotes democracy and development.
Al-Jazeera, Qatar
Sept 15 2004
Beirut to host Arab film festival
By Nurah Tape
The festival addresses several issues affecting Middle-East
More than 100 films and documentaries showcasing the work of young
and independent filmmakers from across the Middle-East are to be
screened at the third bi-annual Ayyam Beirut al-Cinemaiya Arab film
festival.
Providing an overview of Arab film production in the past two years,
the festival, which begins on Wednesday, will run from 15 to 26
September in the Lebanese capital.
“We tried to select quality films that were representative of what’s
happening in the region’s cinema,” Elaine Rahib, co-director of the
festival, which is organised by Beirut Development and Cinema (BDC),
is quoted as saying.
BDC is a cultural cooperative association, established in 1999, which
promotes and defends independent Arab cinema.
Rahib said more than 300 films were viewed before the final 130 were
selected for screening.
Thirteen features, 40 documentaries, 45 short films, video art as
well as experimental and student films will be showcased.
Rahib said the documentary is “the genre that’s shaping the identity
of Arabic cinema right now”.
‘Crisis’
“Filmmakers in this region are in a crisis now …They see the
Western media representing the people of the Middle East as heroes,
victims or terrorists and it is impossible to ignore”
Elaine Rahib,
Co-director of the festival
Egyptian director Yusri Nasr Allah’s film, Bab al-Shams (Door of the
Sun), which focuses upon the experiences of a group of refugees
fleeing from Palestine to Lebanon, will be screened on the opening
night of the festival. The film, an adaptation of the novel by Ilyas
Khury, was screened at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.
“Filmmakers in this region are in a crisis now”, Rahib is quoted as
saying.
“They see the Western media representing the people of the Middle
East as heroes, victims or terrorists and it is impossible to ignore.
If they take up these topics themselves it’s because they’re trying
to position themselves relative to these issues. They’re in a crisis,
but trying to find a solution.”
Palestine
As in the past, Palestine is a recurring feature of the festival.
More than 20 films on the subject, directed by Palestinian, Arab and
foreign filmmakers will be screened. These include Suraida – A Woman
>>From Palestine, by Tahani Rashid, Writers on the Borders by Samir Abd
Allah, Ijtia by Nizar Hasan, Like Twenty Impossibilities by
Anne-Marie Jacir, In the Ninth Month by Ali Nasar and Private
Investigation by Ula Tabari.
The Sabra and Shatila massacres
are highlighted in one of the films
Bab al-Shams, in memory of the Sabra and Shatila massacres, will also
be showcased in the Shatila refugee camp in an open-air screening on
the opening night.
Another director of the festival, Hania Mroue said the independent
films that have been chosen are “films that have been made relatively
free of the constraints of distributors and producers”.
One of the highlights of this year’s festival is a special section of
foreign films, which take a look at the Arab world.
An example is a film called 2000 Terrorists, about four of the
plaintiffs living in Sabra and Shatila, who filed a lawsuit against
Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon in a Belgium.
Alternating images of their daily lives in the refugee camps and the
tribunal in Brussels on the other, the film is a story about the
never ending struggle for justice.
Vodka Lemon, a film set in Armenia by Iraqi Kurd Hinner Selim, is
another.
Discussions
Apart from discussions taking place after each film, several
roundtables and debates are scheduled for the festival. One
discussion will focus on identity as shown in the Arab cinema today.
Some films focus on women as well, such as Women beyond borders, by
Lebanese documentary veteran Jean Chamun and When Women Sing by
Mustafa Hasnawi and Hala Galal’s Women Chat.
While not being competitive, the festival will award a prize to the
best Lebanese film (short or documentary) based on audience votes, to
enourage the winning director to produce a second film.
For further information, email: [email protected]
ARKA News Agency
Sept 14 2004
Presentation of notebooks of Armenian Unicomp Company takes place in
Yerevan
NATO PA representatives conduct meeting with public organizations of
Armenia
Catholicos of All Armenians meets with the newly appointed US
Ambassador to Armenia
Newly appointed Ambassador of South-African Republic hands
credentials to RA President
RA President to leave for Astana on September 15 to participate in
Council of Heads of CIS member countries session
Meeting of RA and Azeri presidents to take place on September 15 in
Astana
Control of illegal construction in Armenia should be tightened
Conversebank (Armenia) announces contest on best economic development
project for RA communities
*********************************************************************
PRESENTATION OF NOTEBOOKS OF ARMENIAN UNICOMP COMPANY TAKES PLACE IN
YEREVAN
YEREVAN, September 14. /ARKA/. Presentation of notebooks of Armenian
Unicomp Company took place in Yerevan. The presentation represented 6
types of notebooks with historic names Argishti and Nairi. According
to Director of CJSC Unicomp Armen Baldrian, several other models are
being developed. “New Intel technologies allowed assembling of
notebooks in Armenia”, he said.
Repetition works of Armenian notebooks based on Intel Centrino
technology that envisages wirelss technology of Internet connection –
WiFi, started in July 2004. According to Baldrian, at the primary
stage production volume will amount to 100 notebooks a month, during
six month period this number will be increased to 200, while capacity
of the company is 1000 notebooks a month. “Prices on Armenian
notebooks will be 30% less than foreign ones, however we are
constantly working on price policy and in six month we expect
decrease of prices by another 10%”, he said. Baldrian added that
prices on computers range between $1300-2200, including VAT. He
explained low prices with “correctly chosen components and optimal
production”, when basic accent is made on quality of notebooks,
without spending extra assets on “small design applications”.
Baldrian did not say which percent of the products will be exported
and noted that export is among the plans of the company. He said that
the experts will conduct researches to conclude future agreements
abroad and the company expects Intel support.
Unicomp Company was created in 1996 on the base of famous in Armenia
computer firm Nairi-91 that dealt with development of software for
banks and realized its products in USSR republics. Assortment of the
products is wide, starting from small computer accessories – cables,
connectors, ending with computer systems. In 2002 annual turnover of
the company made $1.2 million and in result of 2003 the growth made
30%. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
NATO PA REPRESENTATIVES CONDUCT MEETING WITH PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS OF
ARMENIA
YEREVAN, September 14. /ARKA/. NATO PA representatives conduct
meeting with public organizations of Armenia, RA Government press
office told ARKA. The parties discussed financing of organizations,
activity of mass media and opportunity of decrease of migration and
volumes of black economy in Armenia.
Tomorrow these meetings will continue. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS MEETS WITH THE NEWLY APPOINTED US
AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA
YEREVAN, September, 14. /ARKA/. Garegin II, the Catholicos of All
Armenians, met today with John Marshall Evans, the newly appointed
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the USA to Armenia.
According to the Press Service Department of the Mother See of
Echmiadzin, during the meeting the Catholicos mentioned with
satisfaction the support and assistance rendered by the US to Armenia
in course of all independence period, as well as careful attitude
towards American Armenians.
In his turn, Mr. Evans assured Garegin II, that he will do everything
in his power for the success of his mission and assistance to
strengthening of friendship and bilateral cooperation between the two
countries.
According to the press release, the sides also touched upon the
significant mission of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the life of
Armenian people and establishment of Armenian State system. L.V.–0–
*********************************************************************
NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF SOUTH-AFRICAN REPUBLIC HANDS
CREDENTIALS TO RA PRESIDENT
YEREVAN, September 14. /ARKA/. Newly appointed Ambassador of
South-African Republic to Armenia Ashraf Sentso (residence in Kiev)
handed credentials to RA President Robert Kocharian, President’s
press office told ARKA. During the meeting Kocharian stressed the
necessity of development of cooperation between Armenia and African
countries and stressed the important role of SAR in this context.
The parties noted that both countries productively cooperate in the
frames of different international structures. As the most perspective
directions of cooperation they noted diamond processing and tourism.
L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT TO LEAVE FOR ASTANA ON SEPTEMBER 15 TO PARTICIPATE IN
COUNCIL OF HEADS OF CIS MEMBER COUNTRIES SESSION
YEREVAN, September, 14. /ARKA/. The RA President Robert Kocharian
will leave for Astana on September 15 to participate in the session
of Council of Heads of CIS States. According to the Press Service
department of RA President, during the session it is planned to
discuss issues of further development of CIS security cooperation in
frames of UN and OSCE adopted documents. The leaders will also
exchange views on certain issues having a negative impact on trade
and economic cooperation of CIS countries. During the session, the
elections of the President of Economic Court of CIS and his Deputy
will be carried out as well as the elections of Head of the
headquarters on military cooperation coordination, the President of
the Council of Heads of CIS States. It is also planned to sign a
number of documents.
On the eve of the Summit, sessions of Councils of Heads of
Governments and Councils of Foreign Ministers of CIS will take place.
L.V.–0–
*********************************************************************
MEETING OF RA AND AZERI PRESIDENTS TO TAKE PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 15 IN
ASTANA
YEREVAN, September 14. /ARKA/. Meeting of RA and Azeri presidents
will take place on September 15 in Astana, RA President’s press
office told ARKA. The meeting will take place in the frames of the
sitting of CIS States Presidents’ Council.
It will be the third meeting of the presidents of the two countries.
First meeting took place in the frames of World Summit of Information
Society in Geneva on Dec 11, 2003 and second – in Warsaw on April 28,
2004. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
CONTROL OF ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION IN ARMENIA SHOULD BE TIGHTENED
YEREVAN, September 14. /ARKA/. The control of illegal constructions
should be tightened in Armenia. According to the Press Service
Department of RA President, this was stated by Robert Kocharian
during his meeting with Manuk Vardanyan, the Head of State Committee
of the Real Property Cadastre at RA Government. The President gave
instructions to quickly solve the question of illegal construction
and in particular, to include them in the tax field or liquidate, if
necessary. This order of the RA President resulted from the
presentation of the real estate market situation by Manuk Vardanyan,
in particular when he mentioned that a number of constructions need
to be granted a right of property and are not included in real estate
tax database.
Kocharian also instructed Vardanyan to regulate the process of
registration of real estate alienation operations and lease of state
lands, which are carried out on community level. In particular, the
President mentioned the need for legislative regulation of auction
publicity, starting price of the object in order to control the
operations and ensure the equitable participation of all citizens.
L.V.–0–
*********************************************************************
CONVERSEBANK (ARMENIA) ANNOUNCES CONTEST ON BEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT FOR RA COMMUNITIES
YEREVAN, September 14. /ARKA/. Conversebank (Armenia) announced a
contest on best economic development project for communities of
Armenia. According to the press service of the bank, both RA citizens
and legal entities can take part in the contest. The applicants
should submit a proposal consisting of 25 lists at minimum with a
corresponding review, as well as submit an application and fill in a
form. The deadline for submission of the proposals is November 12,
2004. The best project will be awarded $2000.
CJSC Conversebank was registered on December 20, 1993. According to
the published financial reports, the assets of the bank as of June
30, 2004 amounted to AMD 30,7 bln, total capital – about AMD 4 bln
and the net profit in the first half of 2004 made AMD 852,9 mln. ($1
– AMD 514,65). L.V. –0–
*********************************************************************
Caucasus clerical leader opposes Armenian officers’ planned visit
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Sept 13 2004
Caucasus clerical leader Sheikh Allahshukur Pashazada told journalists
on Friday that he opposes the planned visit by Armenian officers to
attend NATO exercises in Baku.
“I do not support their arrival”, he said.
With regard to the protest actions to be conducted by various layers
of the Azerbaijani public in this connection, Pashazada said that
“every citizen has rights and is entitled to using them”.*
NEWLY APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF FINLAND HANDS HER CREDENTIALS OVER TO PRESIDENT
KOCHARIAN
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: The newly appointed ambassador of
Finland to Armenia Ms. Terry Hakkalan, with residence in Helsinki, handed over
her
credentials to president Robert Kocharian today.
According to president press services, congratulating the diplomat on
taking up the new post, Robert Kocharian said that Armenian underscores
developing
relations with Finland.
The ambassador said that Finland is interested in stimulating cooperation
with South Caucasian countries, and Armenia in particular, and is watchfully
following the developments in the region. She underscored Armenia’s involvement
in European Union New Neighborhood Project which opens up significant
opportunities for cooperation.
The president of the republic and the ambassador exchanged ideas on
stimulating bilateral relations. Ms. Terri Hakalla said that Finish business
community is largely interested in Armenia. The sides underscored development
of a
proper legal field and holding a business forum in order to make business links
more active.
Anoushka:
A perfectionist and a Piscean
Sixth sense
Profile by Gamal Nkrumah
—————————————————————- ——–
“Blind children love to touch and feel me when I sing. I dance for the deaf,”
Anoushka says with a sparkle in her eyes. A moment later a frown crosses her
forehead when I ask whether her concern for children with sight and hearing
impairments, orphans, the disadvantaged and the physically and mentally disabled
is inspired by any particular spiritual or emotional needs.
“I’ve been working for the last eight years with the United Nations,” she
explains. “We take the children on a Nile boat tour. The children love the river.
The Nile is so beautiful.”
Her eyelashes flutter furiously.
“The children need you and you know that you can give of yourself. Everyone
is having fun,” Anoushka continues. “The outing is a very special day for these
kids with special needs. It is very important for them. We sing, we play, we
have fun. I take my hat off to Abdel-Salam Ragab for organising the annual
event,” she says referring to the director of the Pharaonic Village, Giza. “It
has become something of a tradition.”
The interior of her Heliopolis apartment is unrelentingly cheerful — the
sitting room, overlooking a lovely terrace, especially so. Everything is in
white, yellow and black. In one corner is a table on which lies a laptop computer
and a mobile phone, in the other a divan — canary yellow, gold and black — on
which the pop star reclines. It was a hot July afternoon and Anoushka has
just returned from a grueling game of squash. She is wearing a summery,
sleeveless blouse and no make-up.
Anoushka spends hours working out at the gym and dancing. She took up squash
a year ago and plays almost daily. She eats healthily and heartily too.
Moloukhiya is her favourite dish. She avoids butter and ghee, preferring olive oil
instead.
“I love Chinese food, but I don’t cook Chinese. I try to eat healthily, I
have my figure to keep,” she chuckles. “I love French fries, but I stay away from
them these days. I cook fish and chicken and I don’t touch red meat.”
Cooking is a favourite pastime. When not recording, rehearsing or working out
in the gym, she sneaks into her kitchen. “I love to cook for my friends,” she
says, and often cooks for her parents. But it is Misha — her three-year-old
papillion who at the mention of food pricks up its ears — that is the daily
recipient of Anoushka’s culinary endeavours. Misha is especially partial to the
chicken dishes.
We have been introduced by a mutual friend, a colleague of mine who, like
Anoushka, is an Egyptian-born ethnic Armenian. At first Anoushka addresses her
and they chat away in Armenian. I soon realise, though, that she is taking me
in.
“I normally cook her food without salt. That is why Misha has not stopped
licking your toes,” she tells my horrified colleague. “She loves to have friends
around. Misha is my baby. ”
“Yegour.” She summons Misha in Armenian.
It is soon established that both Anoushka and I are Pisceans, at which point
our Virgo friend excuses herself and leaves. We were both born on the third
month of the year — March — Anoushka on the 9th, myself on the 18th. What to
most people is an embarrassingly insignificant aside appears to break the ice.
Anoushka’s career took off on 6 October 1988, she recalls, the day she
received her first international prize for her song Habeytak ( I Loved You).
Ironically, for an ethnic Armenian, the award ceremony took place in Turkey.
“Certain dates are important for me,” Anoushka says. The 9th of July, 1999
was another important milestone in her career for it was then that she won an
international song contest. Yet inspite of her popularity Anoushka remains in
the peculiar position of never having had a really huge hit. Her video clips
appear regularly on a wide range of Arab satellite television channels and she is
in demand as a performer at Cairene high society weddings. She also
participates in many Arab and international music and song festivals.
Anoushka’s songs are catchy. Her latest hit Lamahouni (They Had a Glimpse of
Me), exemplifies her use of melody and improvisation to highlight the meaning
and mood of her lyrics. Some of her songs, like Ya Leil (Oh Night), have
received critical and popular acclaim. She has not, though, managed to effect a
successful crossover to television and the cinema, and her outings on the big
screen have been rare. She remains essentially a festival singer.
Anoushka’s vocal range runs from the breathy whisper to the banshee scream.
She sings simple love lyrics. Hers is infectious, feel-good, danceable music.
She dismisses charges that she does not have a particularly strong voice,
insisting that “the vigour of the voice depends to a great extent on the
intensity of the passion.”
When she sings in Arabic it sometimes seems as if the musicians are overly
conscious of swamping her voice.
Is she more comfortable, then, singing in English or French?
On the contrary, she counters, the performances that established her
international reputation were mostly in the Arabic language.
Many musicians cross genres, and Anoushka is no exception. A solo artist,
quietly testing musical boundaries, Anoushka is as comfortable singing in French
or English as she is in Arabic. But perhaps she is happiest mixing all three
languages on stage.
By her own admission she is suspicious by nature. “We Pisceans are
suspicious. It is difficult for us to trust others.”
She shrugs her shoulders and pulls a face.
She is not in the habit of confiding in strangers, especially not
journalists. She’ll make an exception of me, she says, on account of our mutual friend.
And, the stars. True to character, though, she will reveal little, though she
appears far more relaxed during my first visit than when, a week later, I
return with Al-Ahram Weekly’s photographer. The photo session obviously adds to the
day’s stress and Anoushka is far too forthright not to say so.
“I am not in the mood, please forgive me. But, I shall try. What do I wear,”
she asks nervously. Her discomfort is palpable.
“I can slip into an evening dress,” she offers.
An hour later and Anoushka is more relaxed. She must have Misha in the
picture.
The rumour mill has it that Anoushka is something of a court musician,
featuring prominently at state and national functions.
“Who told you that? I can guess who did,” she winces at me. “Some
journalists,” I stutter in alarm, trying to evade her question.
“No, it can’t be journalists. No really, you must tell me,” she says,
refusing to accept my demural as an answer.
Anoushka doesn’t suffer fools gladly. She has little patience with human
weaknesses. But with animals it is different.
She has always had a special place in her heart for dogs and other animals —
“dogs are such faithful creatures. Far more faithful than humans,” she tells
me.
Is that why she has never married, I venture. Such a beautiful woman must
surely have had many suitors.
“Thank God I am not married. I do not feel the need to. Look around you. How
many happily married couples can you find? There is deception everywhere.
Lies, and no ethics whatsoever in dealing with people,” she says, adopting a
mockingly supercilious tone.
Anoushka doesn’t see the point of marriage for a woman who stays up late,
lives practically on the stage and doesn’t want to be bossed around by a man. And
what she doesn’t actually see she senses.
“I have a sixth sense. In my line of business, marriage is out of the
question. A conventional marriage would be detrimental to my career.”
Anoushka will not be dragged into conversation about the men in her life. The
frequent rumours in the Arab press that she is married or engaged are given
short shift. “I have never been married and I am happy without a man in my
life,” she insists. “I neither need a man who brags about himself all day, nor one
who incessantly nags.”
And what about romance?
“The flame is usually gone after the first six months,” she complains.
“Nowadays girls can read men very easily.”
Anoushka, however, has a host of “platonic and very rewarding relationships
with men”. She values her friendships with men.
“My father is my good friend. I have got a few good male friends, ones I can
depend on in times of distress. Men who can advise me as friends and as
brothers. Friends like these last for a lifetime. Some are musicians I work with. We
are very close. They give me an honest opinion when I ask them about
something.”
Anoushka is careful to make time for her family. She is forever running
errands for her parents. “My father wanted to name me Vartanoush, Sweet Flower. My
mother insisted on Anoushka.”
“My father is an extremely emotional man. He is my idol,” Anoushka says. “As
I grow older I understand my father and identify with him more.”
It was her father who encouraged her to sing professionally. Her mother would
have much preferred her daughter to be a lawyer or doctor.
“My mother is very practical and down-to-earth. She does not like to show her
emotions. I’m more like my father. I express my emotions.”
Her mother, she says, is her most scathing critic.
“Mother is blunt. If she doesn’t like a song of mine she will say so, and it
hurts sometimes.”
Her mother, however, always attends Anoushka’s performances.
“And she sews the dresses I appear on stage in,” she chuckles.
Anoushka is very close to her sister, Christine, who lives in France.
Anoushka’s apartment is dotted with striking paintings.
“They are my sister’s,” she says, and I dutifully admire her paintings.
Anoushka is especially fond of her niece, another Piscean. “Small wonder. My
sister says that she takes after me. She is a free spirit.”
Anoushka refuses to be fenced in. She sometimes escapes Cairo in search of
peace and quite.
“My crazy friends and I hire a boat and take to the Nile. We sail, we have
fun, we leave modern civilisation behind. We drift back in time catching
glimpses of the peasants living along the Nile in so-called primitive conditions. We
contemplate. Perhaps because I am a Piscean I love water: shores, coastlines,
river banks, beaches.”
At times Anoushka yearns to get away from it all.
“A safari trip to East Africa perhaps, India, the Caribbean or Hawaii. But
I’d take my medicine chest, my mobile phone and my laptop computer. I cannot
leave those three behind.” She would also take Misha along.
Anoushka enjoys listening to different kinds of music though her all time
favourite is fellow Armenian Charles Aznavour — “the king of emotions” she calls
him. She also adores the music of Armenia’s duduk-king Djivan Gasparyan. She
is fond, too, of artists as varied as Pavarotti, Whitney Houston, Janet
Jackson and Barbara Streisand.
Among Arab singers Anoushka has a special regard for the voice and style of
Sabah Fakhri, the Syrian singer. “I love the old traditional styles, even if I
can’t imitate them myself. The artistic style of the older generation of
singers was far stronger than what we do today.”
Anoushka professes to be a workaholic. Her professional career has spanned 14
years though she first started to perform at the tender age of six when she
was pronounced a gifted child by her parents and teachers at the Kalousdian
Armenian School. Fluent in French and English, Anoushka is also proud of her
native Armenian and Arabic. “We had a good education at Kalousdian,” she explains.
After graduating from the American University in Cairo, where she studied
Business Administration, Anoushka embarked on her singing career and since has
devoted her life to song and dance.
No husband, no children, no regrets: in the morning she is invariably at the
gym, in the evenings she heads for the sound studio. Afternoons are reserved
for a game of squash, more workouts at the gym or cooking.
She abhors the gold-rush mentality of the contemporary Cairene music and
cinema scene. Anoushka is fastidious, and clearly cannot bear muddling her way
through matters she does not understand. She must know everything that concerns
her work.
“I’m interested in the details. I perform on stage, but I must know how the
backstage is organised.”
Having made a name for herself in the Arab world, Anoushka now wants to have
a go at wowing Western audiences. She teamed up with Kiko Motos, of the
Gypsieland Group. “He’s BIG in France,” she assures.
Although the idea of east meets west appeals to Anoushka she instinctively
felt that there was something wrong with her recordings with Kiko Motos. He had
asked her to repeat the refrain “Salam Aleikum! Inshallah!” and she refused
point blank, explaining to him over lunch that she would prefer a duet.
“I would rather sing along with you. I would like to take this opportunity to
tell the world that we are not terrorists in our part of the world. Peace is
the universal greeting in our part of the world. I was interested in peace as
a means of communication. Of communicating loving sentiments.”
Motos agreed and Anoushka rushed back to her hotel room and scratched out
some lyrics. “Mahlaha al-haya lamma tesoudha as-salam (Life is beautiful when
peace prevails).
“Kiko invited me to sing along with him. I sang in Arabic. He sang in
Spanish. He sang about love and life.”
The key to the album, released in France last month, is juxtaposition. The
sense of opposite extremes — east and west — finding common ground delighted
Anoushka. The music, definitely more energetic than her previous hits, fuses
elements of flamenco and Arabic music.
“I had an inkling it would be an instant success.”
Piscean sixth sense, she insists.
C a p t i o n : ‘Thank God I am not married. I do not feel the need to. Look
around you. How many happily married couples can you find? There is deception
everywhere. Lies, and no ethics whatsoever in dealing with people’
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved
Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 17 – 23 July 2003 (Issue No. 647)
Located at:
Capital News 9, NY
Sept 8 2004
Local man gets new lease on life
9/8/2004 6:48 PM
By: Capital News 9 web staff
Just as a Troy man was about to lose hope on his life, persistence
paid off.
Setrak Nalbandian, 41, was initially denied a crucial multi-organ
transplant by his health insurance provider, MVP. But now, after many
calls from Capital News 9 and his family, MVP is giving the go-ahead.
Setrak’s family and parish community at Saint Peter Armenian Church
have been working for years to try to get him the help he needs. Now,
hope is around the corner.
Fr. Stepanos Doudoukjain said, “There’s no greater joy in the world
than having children that you love and having them love you back. I
can only imagine that that’s his greatest motivating factor is to
live for those kids and his wife.”
According to family friends, Setrak could get his transplant in the
next 34 days now that MVP has given the clearance.