AUGUST 17 DECLARED A DAY OFF
ARMENPRESS
Aug 13, 2009
YEREVAN, AUGUST 13, ARMENPRESS: Armenian government decided at its
today’s session to declare August 17 – Monday – a day off, instead,
Saturday, August 15 is declared a working day.
August 14 Armenian Apostolic Church is marking Assumption of the Virgin
Mary holiday, the following Monday of which is Day of Commemoration
of the Deñeased.
KAREN NAZARYAN APPOINTED AS RA PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE IN UN
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
12.08.2009 12:09 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On August 10, President Serzh Sargsyan issued a
decree on removing Armen Martisrosyan from the post of RA permanent
representative to United Nations, RA President’s press service reported
to PanARMENIAN.Net. Under another decree issued by President, Karen
Nazarayan was appointed as Armenia’s permanent representative to UN
(residence: New York).
Gayda Istanbul brings warm breeze from Balkans
Today’s Zaman
12 August 2009, Wednesday
"A cold front approaching from the Balkans is likely to bring cold
and wet weather across the country this week."
This is almost a staple of weather forecasts in Turkey during the
winter. For those who wonder why this sentence has made it onto the
culture and arts page of the paper, especially during these scorching
days of August, here’s the answer: Recently a new front has approached
from the Balkans, but this time, instead of bringing cold and wet
weather, it has brought with it a warm and lively musical breeze.
Gayda Ýstanbul, an Ýstanbul-based Balkan music ensemble founded under
the roof of the Boðazici Performing Arts Company (BGST), which also
gave birth to the acclaimed ethnic folk ensemble Kardeþ Turkuler,
is responsible for this warm front that moved into Turkey earlier
this summer with its self-titled debut studio album released in June
through Kalan Music. And their motto is: "It’s not always cold fronts
that come from the Balkans."
Gayda Ýstanbul is a musical journey that stretches from the Balkans
to Thrace and from there to Ýstanbul. The group’s warm sound is the
result of an amalgamation of the traditional instruments of Balkan
(or more accurately, Roma) music — the violin, clarinet, accordion,
trumpet and darbuka — with electric guitar, bass guitar and drums.
Fehmiye Celik, one of the vocalists of Kardeþ Turkuler, is the lead
singer of Gayda Ýstanbul, which aims to create a new style through
innovative experimentation. Apart from traditional folk songs with
new arrangements, the album also includes original music and lyrics
by the group’s members. Celik and Ayhan Akkaya, the two architects
of the project, spoke with Today’s Zaman about Gayda Ýstanbul.
Akkaya says Gayda Ýstanbul is the outcome of BGST’s efforts to serve
as "an alternative music school." Singing "only one or two songs from
each different language spoken on this land with Kardeþ Turkuler did
not suffice," Akkaya explains.
Although their debut album focuses on Balkan and Thracian music,
and more specifically on Roma music, Akkaya says they are planning
on shifting their focus to Turkmen, Kurdish, Azerbaijani, Circassian
and Armenian music in upcoming albums.
Akkaya and Celik have been working on Balkan and Roma music for the
last two years. "We had to conduct very intense research in the area
and [music] resources to be able to grasp what was in the background
of this music," Akkaya explains. During those two years, they met
many Roma musicians, and this was also how they formed the Gayda
Ýstanbul orchestra.
‘Seventy-two-and-a-half nations’ Celik says they set off with an idea
of cultural pluralism in their minds, intently researching the specific
location covered in the CD’s track list. And while working on the
project, the musicians also conducted a number of interviews with Roma
people. Celik says she cannot forget one specific interview conducted
with a Roma lady in Ýstanbul who collects paper for recycling. "They’re
living right next to us; in Kaðýthane, Kuþtepe [districts of Ýstanbul]
… in slums, in isolated places. But we pretend they don’t exist,"
Celik says, voicing her feelings about the Roma people of Ýstanbul.
The Roma are the main inheritors of Balkan music in Turkey, says
Akkaya. "[When playing with large ensembles,] they [Roma] usually
remain in the background; they cannot play their own music too often,
but rather play tunes that people love. With this album, we tried to
bring forth their own music in their own language," he explains.
"You know, there’s a saying that goes, ‘Seventy-two-and-a-half nations
live on this land.’ The ‘half’ in that saying refers to the Roma. This
album is a critical look toward this perception. These people too
have their own concerns, and they have their own lives. By way of
this album, we wanted to put them under the spotlight."
The Balkans as a land evokes a sense of bitterness in general. But
although most of the songs on the album have satirical and meaningful
lyrics, the tunes are predominantly dynamic and cheerful. Before
releasing the recordings as an album, Gayda Ýstanbul played a concert
to see whether their music appeals to the audiences’ appetite. After
seeing that concertgoers reacted most to the lively songs in the
program, they decided to include a selection of those energetic tunes
on the album.
"The Balkans is a land that has gone through many pains, but just
like in Latin [America], it is a land where people react to sorrow
with joy and enthusiasm. You can feel this enthusiasm even in their
most sorrowful songs. [There are] many layers [in their songs], and
you cannot understand these unless you actually go and live among
them. We have indeed shouldered a very heavy task," Akkaya says.
Armenian hopes flounder on European stageTuesday 11 August 2009
by Khachik Chakhoyan from Yereva
It was a case of same old story in Armenia this season. For the second
year running, none of the country’s European representatives managed
to get past the first hurdle of continental competition, with just one
win and two draws to show from their eight games.
Banants fall short
FC Banants were on the receiving end of a 10-0 aggregate defeat by FC
Salzburg last year, but with new coach Armen Gyulbudaghyants at the
helm, the Yerevan-based side have shown steady improvement. However,
they still fell just short in the UEFA Europa League first qualifying
round this term, a 1-0 win at NK Å iroki Brijeg not making up for
their 2-0 loss in the first leg. "The tie was decided in the first
match," Gyulbudaghyants told uefa.com. "We didn’t have enough
information about our opponents and injuries didn’t allow us to play
our best squad."
Strong opponents
Last season, a young FC Pyunik side were eliminated by Anorthosis
Famagusta FC in UEFA Champions League qualifying, the Cypriot side
subsequently going all the way to the group stage. The Armenian
champions again faced strong opponents in the form of NK Dinamo
Zagreb, claiming a commendable goalless draw in their second
qualifying round opener. However, the Croatian side were too strong in
the return, running out 3-0 winners with Pyunik badly missing talisman
Henrik Mkhitaryan, transferred to Ukraine’s FC Metallurh Donetsk this
summer. "We played much better than last year, we were more
confident," coach Vardan Minasyan said. "With Mkhitaryan, we could
possibly have expected a different result."
Good experience
With a new-look squad featuring several Armenian internationals and
foreign talent, FC MIKA had high hopes going into their UEFA Europa
League first qualifying round tie against Helsingborgs IF. They looked
on course for a great result in the opener in Sweden, but conceded two
late goals to lose 3-1 and could not turn it around at home. "We
played well but our opponents were too strong," conceded MIKA coach
Samvel Darbinyan. "They forced us to raise our game and this
experience will help us in the national league." Darbinyan will
certainly hope so, as his side sit joint-top of the Bardzraguyn
khumb alongside perennial champions Pyunik.
Rude awakening
FC Gandzasar Kapan were making their debut in Europe this season but
it was a rude awakening as they were beaten 6-0 by NAC Breda in the
first leg of their second qualifying round tie, succumbing 8-0
overall. "For the first time in our life, we played in a stadium with
13,500 fans," said coach Slava Gabrielyan. "The level of our leagues
is very different; we lost in every aspect of the game." Despite the
disappointment, there was a level of improvement from Armenia’s
representatives this year after eight defeats from as many games last
season, although Minasyan admitted there was still a long way to
go. "I think only Mika had a real chance of qualifying for the next
round. Pyunik and Banants have inexperienced squads and Gandzasar were
just not ready for Europe."
PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr.Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
THE ARMENIAN PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE BECAUSE IT IS
A JUST CAUSE
SAID HIS HOLINESS ARAM I
On Friday 7 August 2009, a delegation representing Palestinians in Lebanon,
accompanied by members of the Council of Muslim Religious Leaders of
Lebanon, visited His Holiness Aram I. The representatives spoke to His
Holiness of their situation in Jerusalem, in the occupied territories, and
in the camps in Lebanon. His holiness assured them of the support of the
Armenians of the just cause of Palestinians, and emphasized the importance
of having a common voice as Palestinians for credible advocacy in the world.
##
View photo here:
tos/Photos391.htm#5
*****
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.
AGARAK COPPER AND MOLYBDENUM COMBINE RESUMED OPERATION ACTIVITY
ArmInfo
2009-08-10 13:04:00
ArmInfo. On June 30 Agarak Copper-Molybdenum Combine resumed operation
activities. Presently the Combine employs 900 employees. GeoProMining
Company monthly payment of wages is regulated. Presently an anti-crisis
program is underway, which aims at reduction of prime cost and increase
of competitive capacity of production.
The program suggests a systematized approach, including capital
investments with the goal to modernize production and raise
qualification of employees, as well as make changes in organizational
structure.
It is important to mention that in relation to economic crisis,
operation of the Combine was temporarily stopped. From the moment
of its stoppage, in February of 2009, 500 employees continued
repair-reconstruction activity, being paid their full wages, 400
people were on involuntary idleness leave, and received two thirds
of the amount of their wages.
GeoProMining Group is specialized in mining and ore-dressing of complex
ore (copper, molybdenum, antimon) and precious metals (gold, silver).
GeoProMining Group has a diversified production structure and
markets. The mines and processing plants of the Company are located
in Armenia, Georgia, Russia.
DUTCH TEAM OF REFEREES CARRY ARMENIA-BOSNIA MATCH
18:06 07/08/2009
Panorama.am
Dutch referees chaired by Eric Bramhar will carry Armenia-Bosnia match
of World Championship 2010 electoral round on 5 September in Vazgen
Sargsyan `Republican’ stadium. The assistants of the chief referee are
Patrick Garitsen and Antonius Lober.
Note that Armenian team is included in the fifth group of World
Championship 2010 electoral round having rivals of Spain, Turkey,
Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Estonia.
SAAKASHVILI NOT INTERESTED IN PEACE BETWEEN GEORGIA AND RUSSIA
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
06.08.2009 17:35 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia needs escalation to be the focus of
attention, according to the Secretary General of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization.
"Saakashvili is not interested in peace between Georgia and Russia,"
Nikolay Bordyuzha said during Yerevan-Moscow TV space bridge.
"Georgia prefers to present Russia as a monster to receive financial
and moral assistance from the other countries," he said.
Mr. Bordyuzha also said he is surprised by the stir over the Russian
military base in Kyrgyzstan.
"The CSTO takes into account the opinion of all member countries. I
am confident that we will find the right decision. There is no need
set up a clamor yet," he said.
WORLD CHAMPION SYUZI KENTIKYAN SUPPORTS HOUSE CONSTRUCTION
Panorama.am
11:39 31/07/2009
World Champion Armenian Syuzi Kentikyan is currently in Armenia;
she is supporting a project of "Fouler Construction Center" to build
house for a vulnerable family.
Union of Armenian Young Women chaired by Lilit Asatryan and WBA and
WIBF champion Syuzi Kentikyan joined "Fouler Construction Center"
to build house for Martirosyans’ family in Armavir region.
"I am happy I can help homeless families. I wish them to finish the
construction as soon as possible, as the family could live there,"
Syuzi said.
YOUNG ARMENIAN SINGER WINS PONTIAN ARENA CONTEST
/PanARMENIAN.Net/
31.07.2009 11:27 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 13-year old singer from Leningrad oblast of Russia,
Berta Puzyan, won Pontian Arena international contest which brought
together young participants from 15 countries.
Berta Puzyan won the hearts of the jury by a cappella performance of
an old Armenian song.
Besides getting the main prize, she was invited to study in Kyiv
conservatoire, Radio and TV Academy and the Institute of Theater Art.
Berta is already a winner of numerous Russian and regional festivals,
Analitika.at.ua reported.