Author: Basmajian Ani

Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian

January 3, 2005

PRELACY CONCERT IN THE ARMENIAN CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Gilda Buchakjian-Kupelian

NEW YORK, NY-Are they here yet?Can we sing with them?When is Gaghant Baba
coming? Melissa, John, Shoushig, Nayiri, Meredith and Ana, among a myriad
others, couldn’t wait for the show to start.
A capacity audience filled out the Alliance Francaise, French Institute
in New York City on Saturday, December 4th for the sold-out Armenian
Christmas children’s concert featuring Nvair and Taline, sponsored by the
Armenian Prelacy under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan in
celebration of the Year of the Family.
The Vicar General, Very Reverend Father Anoushavan Tanielian was invited
by chairlady Lucie Bandazian following her welcome address. On behalf of
Archbishop Oshagan, Very Rev. Fr. Anoushavan set the tone for the afternoon
by reminding the children that they would grow into the leaders of tomorrow
and asked them to promise to be good.
Over 400 children and parents regaled in the upbeat singing and dancing
performed by Nvair and special guest, Taline who came especially from
California. They clapped, sang and stomped their feet at the prodding of the
performers. Some parents more excitedly so than their offspring.
In addition to Nvair’s traditional Armenian children’s songs, Taline
sang Armenian adaptations of favorite English songs. Obviously, both
performers truly enjoyed their craft and were able to convey it superbly to
the audience thus eliciting their enthusiastic responses. The interactive
show was enhanced by the company of costumed mascots Eshlig Meshlig, Piso,
Nabasdag and Dzaghradzoo (clown) who pranced across the stage
enthusiastically in colorful costumes and invited the children to chime in
the singing. The ethereal snow fairy glided along delicately sprinkling snow
crystals to the all-time favorite song “Tsuyne gouka patil patil”.
Renditions of Donadzar and Loor Kisher were particularly moving.
Complementing the ensemble cast, real burgeoning artists, Trchnig, Shoushig
Hye Aghtchig and Tamar (Nvair’s and Taline’s children) danced the shourtch
bar, acted, sang and recited in Armenian.
Christmas, Year of the Family and national songs were seamlessly
interwoven and artfully synchronized with electronically staged images of
the Nativity scene, ornaments, pine cones, twinkling stars, colorful balls,
animals, jigsaw puzzles and the Armenian Alphabet. Particularly fascinating
was a depiction of Armenia and Church by Haig Sarajian that integrated
nicely with the brandishing of the Tricolor to the tune of Armenian national
songs.
A grand, tastefully decorated tree and enormous poinsettia planters
adorned the stage with a special seat for Gaghant Baba. The anticipation and
excitement created for his arrival catered to the children’s sense of
wonder. Gaghant Baba marched through the auditorium in full regalia and
fanfare, singing and dancing, davool player, singers and dancers in tow. All
the children present received handmade gifts made in Armenia.
A large group of Sunday School children and parents from the Trumbull,
Connecticut Armenian Church, arrived by chartered bus after visiting the
Rockefeller Center Tree and dining at a theme restaurant. Noteworthy was the
presence of Mrs. Rahan Kachian, a Genocide survivor now living in New
Jersey, who enjoyed the show as much as the children. Other guests arrived
from as far as Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and naturally New York.
Dottie Bengoian, who led the Connecticut group, said it quite aptly:
“What Nvair is doing is far bigger than this one concert. She is saving a
legacy, a treasure and giving a gift to all of us. Poet Anoush Krikorian,
her grandfather, and Sosy Kadian her mother, inspired and encouraged me and
now Nvair is influencing new generations in a beautiful and positive way. It
is a joy to watch her perform with talent and grace.”
“This being the ‘Year of the Family’, we tried to put a Christmas
concert together that the whole family could enjoy.” said Chairlady Lucie
Bandazian. “Nvair and Taline exhibit such talent and Armenian spirit that
children and adults can relate to. We just hope the children enjoyed the
concert as much as we loved putting it together.”
The professional, hard working committee comprised mostly of young
professionals and devoted mothers are Lucie Bandazian (chairperson), Silva
Kouyoumdjian (co-chair), Aline Kassabian, Meghanoush Alashaian, Asdghik
Inedjian, Karen Toufayan-Nargizian, Sophie Khatchatryan, and Gilda Kupelian.
Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Prelacy programs.
The committee members express their heartfelt appreciation and gratitude
to the sponsors and the Prelacy staff who contributed to the dazzling
success of the concert.
It was indeed an inspiring, family affair in the spirit of Christmas
celebrated in authentic Armenian style; a memorable event not to be
forgotten any time soon by the wide-eyed Armenian children who experienced
it.

`RECOGNITION OF NKR WILL BE CORNERSTONE OF OUR WORK’

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
30 Dec 04

On December 27 the newly appointed minister of foreign affairs of NKR
met with journalists. During the meeting he touched upon the plans of
the foreign ministry for the next year and focused on its three main
directions. `COur plans are mainly determined by the principles of the
recent speech of NKR president Arkady Ghukassian. But I would like to
highlight several important points. First of all, our main direction
in international policies will be the international recognition of the
Republic of Nagorni Karabakh. This will bethe cornerstone of our work
in the political sphere. At the same time all our relationships within
the country and with the international organizations will be
determined by it. The second direction to which I pay personal
attention, is protection of the rights of the citizens of NKR. From my
three years of work experience as the permanent representative of NKR
in Armenia I know there are many painful phenomena. Our citizens are,
in fact, devoid of state support abroad. The problem is not only the
scarce possibilities of our network of representations abroad. The
problem is internal self-organization, cooperation between different
agencies and ministries within the Republic of Nagorni Karabakh. This
comes to say that we must provide an adequate level of such kind of
cooperation. I can give several examples connected with our citizens
abroad. The main problem is renewal and change of
passports. Unfortunately, this year the passport and visa granting
body was not able to attend to the needs of our citizens quickly
enough. To be more clear, as a result our citizens in Russia may
become illegal. I will keep this direction in the center of my
attention and will personally follow the work done in this sphere. And
the third, the most important problem is the coordination of work of
the ministry and different departments of the ministry, cooperation
between them, setting aims and choosing the right ways of achieving
them. In brief, it is the problem of setting up a system of management
within the ministry corresponding to the international standards. I
think, through taking corresponding measures in all these three
directions we will manage to increase the general effectiveness of the
work of the departments of the ministry.’

AA.
30-12-2004

PHILANTHROPIST FROM USA LUIS-SIMON MANUKIAN VISITS NAGORNY KARABAKH

STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 27. ARMINFO. Famous philanthropist from the USA
Luis-Simon Manukian was in Stepanakert to get acquainted with the
course of construction works being implemented by the funds allocated
by her.

ARMINFO’s own correspondent in Stepanakert informs, with President of
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Arkady Ghoukassian and Prime Minister
Anushavan Danielian she had visited the chess school, the residential
building allotted to the families of the lost in the Karabakh war, old
people’s house and other facilities. The contribution of Luis-Simon
Manukian to the restoration and development of NKR is more significant
among the representatives of Armenian diaspora. During the telethon
in Los Angeles she had allocated $2 mln for continuation of the
construction of the highroad North-South.

Armenian parliament approves troop dispatch to Iraq

Agence France Presse — English
December 24, 2004 Friday 6:58 PM GMT

YEREVAN Dec 24 — The Armenian parliament Friday approved a
controversial government plan to send 43 troops and medics to join
the US-led coalition in Iraq.

Ninety-one deputies voted in favour of the proposal with 23 against
and one abstention, despite fears from opposition groups that the
deployment would endanger the large Armenian diaspora in the Arab
world.

Opposition parties and youth organizations have warned that insurgents
could target the some 20,000 ethnic Armenians in Iraq if the troops
join the US-led campaign.

Under the plan backed by President Robert Kocharian, the non-combatant
troops including doctors, mine-clearers and drivers would serve under
Polish command south of Baghdad for one year.

They are expected to arrive in Iraq in February.

RUSSIA TO ASSIST ARMENIA IN 1988 EARTHQUAKE ZONE HEATING SYSTEM REVIVAL

RIA Novosti, Russia
Dec 24 2004

YEREVAN, December 24 (RIA Novosti) – The Armenian government has given
consent for the Armenian Urban Planning Ministry and the Russian
Federal Agency for Construction, Housing and Utilities to sign an
agreement on cooperation in reconstruction work in Armenia’s Shirak
region, the Armenian governmental PR service reported.

In 2005-2006 Russia will assign about $4 million for Armenia to
reconstruct the heating systems of a number of facilities of the
country’s second largest city, Gyumri (former Leninakan), the center
of the Shirak region, Minister of Urban Planning Aram Arutyunyan
stated earlier.

According to the official, Russia and Armenia have reached preliminary
agreement, and the issue has been placed on the agenda of the
Russian-Armenian interstate commission for economic cooperation.

Among the facilities included in the program the minister mentioned
the Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute, a hospital, a physical culture
school, four churches and blocks of flats.

Gyumri is one of the cities most damaged in the devastating earthquake
which happened in December 1988 in Armenia.

Le Monde
15 décembre 2004

L’Europe est prête à ouvrir ses portes à la Turquie ;

Plus aucun obstacle ne s’oppose à l’ouverture des négociations
d’adhésion avec Ankara que devront décider, lors d’un sommet à
Bruxelles, jeudi et vendredi, les dirigeants des 25 pays membres de
l’Union. La France, qui a prévu un référendum, réclame toutefois que
l’issue ne soit pas garantie

Arnaud Leparmentier

BRUXELLES de notre bureau européen

Le SOMMET de l’Union européenne, convoqué jeudi et vendredi à
Bruxelles, devrait décider l’ouverture de négociations d’adhésion
avec la Turquie en 2005. L’intégration de la Turquie n’est pas
envisagée avant la fin de la prochaine PROGRAMMATION financière
2007-2013. Les négociations se dérouleront selon un processus destiné
à garantir à chaque étape que les règles de l’Union soient
effectivement mises en oeuvre, ce qui n’a pas été le cas dans les
élargissements antérieurs. A la demande principalement de la FRANCE
et de l’ AUTRICHE, une formulation de compromis doit encore être
trouvée afin que l’issue du processus reste ouverte. Lundi, à
Bruxelles, MICHEL BARNIER a également demandé à Ankara, sans en faire
un préalable à l’ouverture des négociations, de reconnaître le
génocide arménien.

Sauf coup de thétre, les chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement européens,
réunis jeudi et vendredi 17 décembre à Bruxelles, décideront d’ouvrir
des négociations d’adhésion avec la Turquie. A deux jours de leur
conseil, le dossier est largement décanté. La bataille ne devrait
porter que sur des détails, certes importants ou affectifs, mais
mineurs au regard de l’enjeu.

« Les Turcs nous ennuient en prétendant qu’ils n’auront pas ce qu’ils
demandent. Ils auront l’ouverture des négociations et une date »,
rappelle un ambassadeur. En dépit des réticences de certaines
populations européennes, en particulier des Français, tous les
dirigeants veulent aller de l’avant. Le plus réticent, le chancelier
autrichien Wolfgang Schüssel, défenseur du « partenariat privilégié »
plutôt que d’une adhésion pleine et entière, ne brandit aucune menace
de veto.

Suivant les recommandations de la Commission, qui a considéré fin
octobre que la Turquie respectait « suffisamment » les critères
démocratiques dits de Copenhague, les « 25 » vont fixer jeudi soir au
cours d’un dîner la date d’ouverture des négociations. L’idée d’avoir
un nouveau rendez-vous courant 2005, pour vérifier une dernière fois
que la Turquie reste sur la voie des réformes, a été abandonnée. Elle
aurait contribué à éterniser le débat sur une adhésion peu populaire
et créé une crise avec Ankara.

Les Européens avaient précisé en 2002 à Copenhague que les
négociations s’ouvriraient « sans délai » après le sommet du 17
décembre. Mais Jacques Chirac veut gagner du temps, pour que ce début
de négociations intervienne le plus tard possible après le référendum
français sur la Constitution, histoire d’éviter que les deux débats
ne se télescopent. Le contretemps devrait être bref. Après avoir
réclamé une ouverture fin 2005-début 2006, Michel Barnier ne parlait
plus, lundi à Bruxelles, où avait lieu une réunion préparatoire des
ministres des affaires étrangères, que d’une ouverture « au plus tôt
au deuxième semestre 2005 ». Les pourparlers s’ouvriraient donc sous
la présidence du Royaume-Uni, grand partisan de l’adhésion turque, ce
qui est aussi le voeu du chancelier allemand Gerhard Schröder.

Le deuxième sujet litigieux porte sur le caractère des négociations,
dont il est précisé que leur issue est « ouverte ». Il s’agit là de
sauver la face des Turcs, qui ne veulent rien envisager d’autre que
l’adhésion, mais aussi des Français et des Autrichiens, favorables à
l’évocation d’une troisième voie en cas d’échec des négociations. Les
diplomates sont à la recherche d’une formule de compromis,
volontairement vague, stipulant que la Turquie restera quoi qu’il
arrive ancrée à l’Europe. Mais il n’est pas question d’expliciter un
quelconque statut spécial, partenariat privilégié ou scénario
alternatif. Ce serait humilier le gouvernement turc, qui a averti
qu’il le refuserait ; et c’est inacceptable pour le chancelier
Schröder, parce que cela ferait le jeu de son opposition
chrétienne-démocrate.

Malgré une mobilisation intense de la diaspora arménienne, la
dernière réticence française, le génocide arménien, ne devrait pas
non plus être une pierre d’achoppement. Certes, Michel Barnier a
demandé sa reconnaissance par Ankara : « Je pense qu’un grand pays
comme la Turquie doit faire son devoir de mémoire », a déclaré à
Bruxelles le ministre français qui, en invoquant la réconciliation
franco-allemande, a estimé que la Turquie, qui nie le génocide
arménien, devait également faire la paix avec ses voisins. Mais
Michel Barnier n’en a nullement fait une condition préalable à
l’ouverture des négociations d’adhésion.

Reste Chypre, dont le Nord est occupé par les Turcs et dont le
gouvernement chypriote grec n’est pas reconnu par Ankara. Mais nul ne
croit à un veto des Chypriotes grecs. A Bruxelles, leur ministre des
affaires étrangères, George Iacovou, a déclaré souhaiter que la
Turquie manifeste sa volonté de normaliser ses relations avec Nicosie
avant le sommet européen de mars 2005, ce qui équivaut, selon les
exégètes, à renoncer à en faire un préalable à l’ouverture des
négociations le 17 décembre.

Les Chypriotes grecs sont isolés en Europe, depuis que, contrairement
aux Chypriotes turcs, ils ont rejeté par référendum au printemps le
plan de réunification de l’île sous l’égide des Nations unies et
qu’ils bloquent un projet visant à aider économiquement le nord de
l’île. Le soutien de la Grèce va faiblissant, ce pays ayant obtenu
dans le projet de conclusions finales les garanties nécessaires pour
le règlement de ses conflits frontaliers avec la Turquie et ayant
fait de son rapprochement avec Ankara un axe stratégique de sa
politique.

D’autres réticences ont, elles aussi, été levées. Les Danois, qui
craignent une arrivée massive d’immigrés turcs en vertu de la libre
circulation des personnes, ont obtenu que l’on évoque de possibles
clauses de sauvegarde permanentes. Les Britanniques, qui tentaient de
s’opposer à ces clauses, disant qu’elles empêchaient une pleine
adhésion turque, ont eu droit aux sourires narquois de leurs
collègues continentaux, qui leur ont rappelé le nombre de clauses
d’exemption dont bénéficie l’Albion. Dans ce contexte, les diplomates
tablent sur un accord au Conseil européen de Bruxelles.

Russia backed neither side in Ukraine poll – Duma speaker

RIA news agency, Moscow
15 Dec 04

YEREVAN

In the presidential elections in Ukraine Russia supported none of the
candidates for the post of head of state, State Duma speaker Boris
Gryzlov, who is on a visit to Armenia, told journalists on Wednesday
[15 December].

“Russia did not champion any of the candidates in the presidential
elections in Ukraine. I am stating that officially,” Gryzlov said.

He said that the Ukrainian Supreme Court had exceeded its powers when
it passed an unprecedented ruling that the results of the second round
of the presidential elections should be deemed void. In his view,
under existing legislation this decision could only have been taken by
the Ukrainian Central Electoral Commission.

Gryzlov believes that there was obvious strong-arm pressure by one
side against the other after the second round of the presidential
elections.

He also noted that only talks between Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor
Yanukovych helped to avoid bloodshed in Ukraine.

According to the State Duma speaker, events in Ukraine are influencing
the situation in the CIS as a whole.

Gryzlov also said that Russia would work with the elected president of
Ukraine.

The Age, Australia
Dec 15 2004

Familiar carol may go silently into the night

By Allan Hall
Age Correspondent
Berlin
December 15, 2004

Purists want to change the tune and verses of the world’s most
recognised Christmas carol.

Silent Night, the world’s most famous Christmas carol, is set to get
three extra verses and a change of tune after purists in the land
where it was created demanded a return to its original form.

Silent Night is sung in hundreds of languages and, according to the
Christmas Carol Archive in Graz, Austria, it is recognised by more
than 3 billion people worldwide. It was the carol that wafted from
the German trenches to the Allied lines during the famous 1914
Christmas truce in World War I.

It was composed in the church of St Nikolai in Oberndorf, near
Salzburg, Austria, by schoolmaster and organist Franz Xaver Gruber
who discovered, on Christmas Eve, that mice had eaten through the
bellows of the church organ.

None of the available music was suitable without an organ
accompaniment. So Gruber took his guitar and came up with the tune
using the words to a poem written a few years earlier by local curate
Joseph Mohr.

Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht was sung by Mohr and Gruber for the first
time to parishioners at the Mass in 1818. Since then it has been
revised, edited and translated into 320 languages.

The original manuscript was lost, but Austrian organ maker Karl
Mauracher, who repaired the organ at St Nikolai, is credited with
spreading the carol after he heard it. He had the D-major tune in 6/8
time written down, then handed it out to travelling choral groups.

In 1831 his friends the Strasser family took Stille Nacht, Heilige
Nacht to the Leipzig trade fair, where its popularity spread even
further.

In 1838 an incorrect and simplified version of the already
well-established carol was printed. Mr Gruber tried to correct this
by publishing the accurate version in 1854, but despite his efforts,
the simplified version – which uses only three of the original six
verses – is the one still sung today.

The song, with its message of peace, has been made into a film and
also has its own fan clubs, of which the largest by far is the Silent
Night Association, based in Austria. There are thousands of members
who have pledged to “further the research into all aspects of the
history surrounding Silent Night, Holy Night” and to “promote the
awareness and use of authentic versions of the song”.

Silent Night Association president Bertl Emberger said: “We want to
correct the many distortions that have appeared by providing a source
of information for individuals and media alike.”

This year the association has stepped up its campaign by producing a
CD with the original six verses and original tune. It is offering the
carol in 15 languages.

The man who produced the CD, Gerhard Eder, grew up in Oberndorf. He
said he had been singing the carol for more than 40 years and that
the original was by far superior to later versions.

“It was just much easier to sing three verses and over the years it
was forgotten that there had ever been more,” Mr Eder said.

“We have a Chinese version, sung as a duet by a Chinese and Taiwanese
couple, as well as a Georgian, Korean, India and Italian version.

“The woman who sings in Armenian said her grandmother sang it to her
in Armenia many, many years ago, but then when communism came she was
forbidden to sing it because of its religious link.

“Silent Night was written during six dark years after bad weather
caused successive poor harvests. The song was born out of this time
of hardship. I see the heart that beats in this song now, and the
more I sing it the more I like it,” he said.

“The song is so popular because it has its own soul and it speaks
directly to the soul of others. It is little wonder it has such
universal appeal, and if we can reintroduce the original version I
feel the message will be even better understood.”

PanArmenian News
Dec 13 2004

ARMENIAN CITIZENS PREFER EXPENSIVE WHISKY

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During the recent years the rate of realization of
whisky in Armenia has increased. “First of all Armenian citizens
prefer expensive whisky”, Anahit Sargsian, the manager, of Agena –
the official distributor of British strong beverages (whisky, rum,
vodka) in Armenia says. According to her, the amount of whisky
consumed in Armenia increases with 3-5% each year.

Karabakh’s parliament passes new electoral code

Mediamax news agency
9 Dec 04

YEREVAN

The parliament of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic (NKR) has passed the
Electoral Code in its second and final reading.

In accordance with the new Electoral Code, a third of the MPs will be
elected on party lists, Mediamax news agency’s correspondent reports
from Stepanakert. The Democratic Artsakh Union faction which has a
majority of seats in the NKR’s parliament tabled the motion.

The National Assembly of the NKR also passed the law “On ombudsman”.