Author: Chakrian Hovsep

REBORN OPERA HOUSE WILL HIT A HIGH NOTE
By Susan Doolan

Barrie Examiner (Ontario, Canada)
November 11, 2006 Saturday

Opera has arrived in Barrie.

Opera Bel Canto of South Simcoe turns to Barrie next weekend to follow
its inaugural hit performance with another operatic showcase.

The opera company, based out of the Beeton area, has ambitious plans to
resurrect an 350-seat opera house down the road from that community,
but until it is complete has chosen Barrie as its home base to stage
all of its concerts.

The 35-member choir draws from all over the county, south to Toronto
and north to Muskoka. It is opera singer, conductor, and voice
teacher David Varjabed who has attracted these talented singers to
the professional level non-profit opera company.

"The reason we started this company is because there is a lot of
talent in the area and they’ve got no place to go, no prospects,
"Varjabed said, adding that Bel Canto is also a training ground for
singers he maintains are better than the Canadian Opera Company.

"This region should be proud of them," he said. "This opera company
will be the place for people starting their professional career and
to go much broader in the future."

He would know, as Varjabed has sung professionally all over the globe
for three decades.

Born in Armenia, he first appeared in La Traviata in 1971 while still
at school, studying for his masters in opera performance and voice
pedagogy at the Komitas National Conservatory in Yerevan, Armenia,
and came to Canada in 1974, at the age of 20. He was immediately
accepted in to the Canadian opera company with a five- year contract.

Once established here, he brought his wife and baby daughter over.

He started the opera company last year, encouraged by the community,
once members of local arts council and county council discovered
his presence in Cafe Maestro, a coffee shop belonging to his son,
located on the main street in Beeton. "Everybody was asking ‘who,
what and why are you not doing something (musical) for this area’,"
Varjabed said. "So they grabbed me."

Varjabed, a baritone, is trained in the bel canto technique, an Italian
voice-training style of breathing and projection that is unique to
Italy, and the reason so many of that country’s opera singers have
become so famous.

Translated bel canto means beautiful singing.

Operatic Showcase II features the company chorus, nine soloists, a
15-member orchestra and guest pianist Adolfo De Santis. Varjabed has
selected well-known excepts from popular operas such as La Boheme,
Don Carlo, Madama Butterfly, Carmen, Don Giovanni, and the Marriage
of Figaro, among other works, for the program.

The concert takes place Saturday, Nov. 18 at First Christian Reformed
Church, 33 Shirley Ave., Barrie, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Admission is
$30 for adults, $20 for seniors. For tickets, call 435- 3730.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Nov 10 2006

AZERBAIJAN’S AMBASSADOR IN OTTAWA MEETS WITH CANADIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS
[November 10, 2006, 15:09:29]

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Canada Fakhraddin Qurbanov met with
members of the Canadian Parliament Patrick Brown and Borys
Wrzesnewskyj, press service of the Embassy said.

The ambassador informed the parliamentarians about the reforms
conducted in Azerbaijan as well as development of it’s non-oil
sector, and regional energy and transport projects.

Fakhraddin Qurbanov said after regaining its independence Azerbaijan
started pursuing intensive foreign policy and achieved huge success
in establishing democracy.

On the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, the
Ambassador stressed Azerbaijan’s just stance on the dispute, adding
his country wants it to be peacefully solved.

The Canadian parliamentarians wondered about the security situation
in the region as well as Azerbaijan’s political and economic
situation, and development of democracy here.

FITCH RATES VTB BANK (ARMENIA) ‘BB’: OUTLOOK STABLE

Arka News Agency, Armenia
Nov 8 2006

YEREVAN, November 7. /ARKA/. Fitch Ratings has assigned today VTB Bank
(Armenia) ("VTBA") ratings of Issuer Default ‘BB’, Short-term ‘B’,
Individual ‘D/E’ and Support ‘3’. The Outlook is Stable. The bank’s
Issuer Default rating ("IDR") is at Armenia’s Country Ceiling.

The Issuer Default, Short-term and Support ratings reflect the
moderate probability of support being forthcoming, if required, from
VTBA’s majority shareholder, Russia’s Vneshtorgbank. In Fitch’s view,
VTB would have a strong propensity to support VTBA, if required,
although the ability of VTBA to receive and utilise this support may
be constrained by Armenian country risks, in particular transfer and
convertibility risks, as reflected in the Country Ceiling.

In light of VTBA’s large market share, there is also a limited
probability of support being forthcoming from the Armenian authorities
(rated foreign currency and local currency Issuer Default ‘BB-‘(BB
minus)), although in Fitch’s view the authorities would be more likely
to look for VTB to first support the bank, should the need arise.

The Individual rating reflects VTBA’s modest profitability, high
loan concentration, weak loan loss reserves and increased exposure to
structural risk due to maturity mismatches. The rating also takes into
account the bank’s significant domestic franchise, sound capitalisation
and adequate liquidity position. VTBA’s overall competitive profile
has been enhanced following a restructuring by its new shareholder
with stronger emphasis on the rationalisation of its low-efficiency
large branch network and on diversification of the funding base.

VTBA is Armenia’s fourth largest bank, with 10% of the banking
system’s loans and retail deposits at end-H106. VTB acquired a 70%
stake in March 2004. VTBA (formerly known as Armsberbank) has a long
history of operations in Armenia and traces its origin to a branch
of Sberbank of the USSR, established in 1923. The bank services both
corporate and retail clients, supported by an extensive branch network
consisting of 100 branches located all over the country.

The VTBA has the fourth largest amount of assets, the 5th largest
amount of crediting of individuals and the 2nd largest amount of
crediting of legal entities. The bank ranks 3rd as to the volume of
fixed deposits attracted from individuals, 2nd as to call deposits
attracted from individuals.

The bank has the fourth largest total capital and the 2nd largest
authorized capital.

NAIRA MELQOUMYAN WILL LEAVE FOR FRANCE

A1+
[06:32 pm] 08 November, 2006

Executive director of pan-Armenian fund "Armenia" Naira Melqoumyan
will leave for France on November 16 where the annual pan-European
phonethon will be held.

The geography and number of the participants of the pan-European
phonethon held on the eve of the telemarathon grows year by year. Naira
Melqoumyan will be present at the phonethon at the request of the
representatives of the local bodies of the Fund in Europe.

At the end of the phonethon the executive director of the fund will
leave for Los Angeles where on November 23 "Telemarathon-2006" will
be held. The financial means gathered this year will be spent on the
development of the region of Hadrut, NKR, within the framework of
the second phase of the program "Revival of Artsakh".

SERGE SARGSYAN: ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS SHOULD CONTINUE THE MISSION IN IRAQ

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 7 2006

"I think that Armenian peacekeepers should continue carrying out
peacekeeping mission in Iraq," Secretary of the Presidential Council
on National Security, RA Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan told
"Armenpress." The deadline for the memorandum of understanding on
"Commanding the multinational division within the stability forces
of Iraq and regulation of similar questions" is December 2006. The
Minister noted that the decision on prolonging the term of the
memorandum should be taken by the National Assembly.

At the suggestion of RA Defense Minister and with the decision of
the National Assembly the memorandum was once prolonged last year. In
January and June 2006 the Armenian military division comprised of 46
people left for Iraq to carry out peacekeeping mission within the
Polish division. The Armenian military unit will stay in Iraq by
January 2007.

Up to now 354 peacekeepers have already carried out peacekeeping
missions in Iraq and Kosovo.

POLES HAVE FEELING OF SPIRITUAL CONTACT AND HISTORICAL SIMILARITY WITH ARMENIAN PEOPLE, SENATE MARSHAL CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Nov 7 2006

ETCHMIADZIN, NOVEMBER 7, NOYAN TAPAN. Catholicos of All Armenians
Karekin II expressed gratitude to the authorities of the Republic of
Poland for recognition of the Armenian Genocide in 2005 in the Polish
Seimas, as well as for honest and kind attitude constantly shown
towards the Armenian community. Receiving the official delegation
led by Polish Senate Marshal Bodgan Borusevich, accompanied by
representatives of RA NA and the Ambassadors of the two countries on
November 7 in the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, his Holiness the
Patriarch congratulated B.Borusevich on the occasion of Poland’s
Independence Day to be marked November 11 wishing peaceful and
prosperous life to the godly Polish people.

"Such visits come to contribute to deepening of relations between our
two peoples and countries," His Holiness emphasized touching upon
the ancient-old friendship between the two peoples and cooperation
formed between the two peoples.

B.Borusevich speaking about Polish-Armenian centuries-old relations,
mentioned the important contribution of Armenians to Poland’s
history. "True, currently our relations are not so close as in the
past, but sympathy towards Armenia and Armenians preserves… We feel
spiritual contact with the Armenian people, we also have a feeling
of historical similarity," the Senate Marshal said.

During the meeting, the Catholicos of All Armenians touched upon the
issue of organization of the spiritual and church life of the Armenian
community in Poland. B.Borusevich said that soon the Polish authorities
will officially register the Armenian Apostolic Church and community.

They also spoke about the important mission of the church in the life
of the two peoples.

COOPERATION OF NKR MFA AND CONSORTIUM INITIATIVE DISCUSSED IN STEPANAKERT

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 8 2006

The issues referring to the interrelations between the Nagorno-Karabakh
Republic MFA and Consortium Initiative organization were discussed at
a meeting of the NKR MFA Political Department Head Irina Beglarian
and an independent consultant, Consortium Initiative Consultant for
Strategic Issues Catherine Barns.

In the course of the meeting the parties considered the organization’s
current projects and long-term programs. The interlocutors also
touched on the civil society’s role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
settlement, the NKR MFA Press Centre reports.

TURKISH COSMETICS COMPANY CHANGES FRENCH NAME IN PROTEST
By Yasin Kilic, Istanbul

Zaman, Turkey
Nov 7 2006

A Turkish cosmetics company, which has been using a French name for
24 years, has changed its name out of anger over France’s passing a
bill in parliament that would make it a punishable crime to deny an
Armenian genocide.

CEO of the Yildirimlar Group, Hasan Yildirim explained that the
Armenian bill was an attack on the history and values of the Turkish
republic and announced that they would no longer use the "Francois
Patrick" trademark for their cosmetic products.

The group will begin to use the "MW" name for its products from now on.

"We could have established a medium-scale cosmetics company with the
money we spent on changing our name," explained Yildirim.

"We were operating with the brand name ‘Francois Patrick’ in the
Turkish market but we couldn’t remain indifferent to the Armenian
bill passed in the French parliament. So, we decided to change our
name. We will market our new perfumes with the MW name within 10 days,"
clarified Yildirim.

Yildirim claimed that they made a courageous decision and noted that
they exchanged views with all their employees before doing so.

"This was a family decision," said Yildirim.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 3 2006

Armenian General causes scandal in meeting

[ 03 Nov. 2006 14:38 ]

A scandal happened in the meeting of Staff Generals chiefs of
Collective Security Treaty Organisation member countries in Moscow,
APA reports.

The first Deputy Armenia Defense Minister Mikhail Arutunyan accused
Tajikistan of allying with the enemies of its allies. This issue covers
military-technical cooperation treaty signed between Azerbaijan and
Tajikistan. Arutunyan caviled at not only Dushanbe but also Moscow.

"It is evident that Azerbaijan is Armenia’s enemy. But some Collective
Security Treaty Organisation member countries founds the cooperation
with Azerbaijan possible," he said.

Russia also cooperates with Azerbaijan on Military-technical sphere.

Arutunyan said that these kinds of relations are not accepted
positively in Armenia. /APA/

UN NEW SECRETARY GENERAL MET WITH PRESIDENT OF WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 2 2006

The elected Secretary General of UN, Ban Ki-moon, has met with the
President of the World Armenian Congress, Ara Abramyan, who is also a
good will ambassador in UNESCO, the day before in Moscow. As ITAR-TASS
reports, an interested opinion exchange took place about the role of
UN and its organizations in keeping the cultural heritage of peoples,
the development of education and science.