Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

Avanesov to Present Works by Contemporary Armenian Composers

Armenian Weekly
Sat, Apr 17 2010

The Friends of Armenian Culture Society will host an afternoon
lecture/concert on Sun., May 16 at 4 p.m. at the Armenian Cultural
Foundation (ACF) in Arlington, Mass. Renowned composer and pianist
Artur Avanesov will discuss and present works by some of the most
promising, young Armenian composers, including Vache Sharafyan, Artur
Akshelyan, Aram Hovhannisyan, Vardan Harutyunyan, and Artur Avanesov.

Artur Avanesov
Artur Avanesov was born in Moscow. He began his formal music studies
in composition and piano at the Yerevan State Conservatory, graduating
with a doctorate degree in 2005, and later joined the faculty of the
conservatory as an assistant professor of composition. He is the
composer of numerous chamber, piano, and vocal works, and has
participated in several contemporary festivals, including the ISCM
World Music Days in Switzerland.

Avanesov’s list of awards include the 1st Prize at the Britten Chamber
Composition in 2003 and the Sarian Vocal Composition Competition in
2004, both held in Armenia. As a pianist, he possesses a repertory
spanning from the late Renaissance to the contemporary. He has
performed some 70 world premieres of piano works by composers from
Armenia, Georgia, Germany, Finland, and Portugal. In 2003 and 2004,
Avanesov participated in the famed Lucerne Summer Music Festival and
performed with an ensemble led by Pierre Boulez. Avanesov is also the
co-founder of the AUS Contemporary Music Ensemble (formed in 2001),
which performs works of emerging as well as established composers from
Armenia and abroad.

As a musicologist, Avanesov is the co-editor of the `Musical Armenia’
journal where he has published articles on the music of Stockhausen
and several fellow Armenian composers of today.

The May 16 event is free and open to the public. However, due to
limited space, reservations are encouraged. To make a reservation,
email [email protected]. For more information on the Friends of
Armenian Culture Society, visit

Azerbaijan may review policy towards the US, top official says

armradio.am
17.04.2010 14:51

Head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration socio-political
department Ali Hasanov said `Azerbaijan may review its policy towards
the United States.’

"The United States does not implement policy towards Azerbaijan as a
strategic partner, and that’s why we might reconsider our policy
towards the United States," Hasanov told Reuters.

Hasanov said as a co-mediator in talks on Nagorno-Karabakh, Washington
"should first of all promote a solution to the Karabakh conflict."

"We believe the Americans should not only think of how to help Armenia
overcome the economic crisis," he said.

Hasanov did dot specified what steps Azerbaijan may take, but added
that the country participates in several joint projects with
Washington, including "major multinational energy projects."

ARMENIAN NUCLEAR POWER STATION MAIN THREAT IN SOUTH CAUCASUS, EXPERT

news.az
April 16 2010
Azerbaijan

Telman Zeynalov The rivers flowing to Azerbaijan from Armenia are
polluted with toxic wastes of the Armenian industrial and agricultural
facilities expert said.

The threat to security in the South Caucasus is posed by Armenian
Metsamor nuclear power station, the seismic activity in the region,
existence of Russian tectonic and climatic weapon, according to chief
of the National Center of Ecological Forecast Telman Zeynalov.

Speaking at the round table held at the Center of Strategic Studies
under the Azerbaijani president he said if the humankind is facing
the global challenges, the South Caucasus risks to become a victim
of the indicated regional threats.

‘The rivers flowing to Azerbaijan from Armenia are polluted with toxic
wastes of the Armenian industrial and agricultural facilities. Despite
numerous appeals of the Azerbaijani side, Armenians continue polluting
Araz and its flows, therefore, our country was obliged to install
mobile cleaning facilities in the settlements along the Kur river’,
he said.

Zeynalov said the Metsamor nuclear power station which uses morally
and technically outdated Russian equipment is the main ecological
threat to regional security. He drew attention to the still unsettled
implications of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

‘The South Caucasus region may fall victim of the same man-caused
and humanitarian disaster’, he said.

Director of the Center of Strategic Research Elkhan Nuriyev, general
secretary of International Alert Dan Smith, political scientists
Fikret Sadikhov, Vafa Guluzade and others spoke at the round table on
‘South Caucasus: global trends and challenges’.

TURKEY WANTS TO STRENGTHEN POSITIONS IN CAUCASUS, RUSSIAN EXPERT

news.az
April 16 2010
Azerbaijan

Valeri Tursunov News.Az interviews Valeri Tursunov, president of the
Institute of Eurasian Studies.

What do you think about the prospects of normalizing ties between
Turkey and Armenia and how can this process change the situation in
the region?

I think any cooperation is useful if it is based on principles of
equal rights. Any cooling can result in the development of negative
tendencies. Therefore, when Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan
proposed the Caucasus platform initiative, it was clear that Russia,
Turkey and Iran are key players for achievement of stability in the
region. Therefore, certainly, any contacts are useful for the region
and mutual relations between the countries.

Why is Erdogan’s initiative recalled so rarely today?

In period of the August events in Georgia in 2008, I took part in one
of the conferences in Ankara. The initiative of Turkish Premier Recep
Tayyip Erdogan about the Caucasus platform envisioning normalization
of relations and elimination of conflicts in the region dated to that
period. Certainly, at that period the Caucasus platform was needed
to calm down the explosive situation after the armed conflict. As we
were not heard in the West and it was necessary to reduce tensions,
Erdogan understood this and put forward this initiative to calm down
the situation as the third power. The platform nominated by Erdogan
must have future. Merely, in period of its nomination it was immature
and now it is necessary to complete this idea through joint efforts. It
was necessary to continue developing this issue and raise the number
of its participants. It seems to me that Turkey tried to play an
important role, if exactly, to take the first place in the region.

Do you agree that the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border will
raise Russian investments in Armenia?

Certainly, the opening of borders will facilitate the transport
corridors and promote construction of highways and railroads, pipelines
and so on. But, probably, the Armenian side has its own opinion on
this issue, it is trying to find the access to the foreign market,
as it is stuck in isolation. Meanwhile, it has such a neighbor as
Georgia which is also unstable because in case of problems there
start delays with the supplies and failures. Therefore, Armenia can
be understood as a state; they are searching ways out of the situation.

But there are hindrances connected with recognition of the "Armenian
genocide" in this issue. No one will give up. Therefore, this process
will continue not as quickly as one would like it to be though it is
encouraging that all parties have started attempts to find the ways
out of the problem.

Meanwhile, along with the indicated facts, the relations between Turkey
and Russia are also developing in a separate space. In particular,
the planned visit of President Dmitri Medvedev to Ankara in May of
this year and the agreement to eliminate visa regime between the two
countries will promote further development of relations between the
two countries. This agreement will promote the increase in the number
of people travelling to Turkey.

How can the normalization of the Turkish-Armenian relations affect
the resolution of the Karabakh conflict?

Russia’s position in the Karabakh issue is clear. We must settle the
Karabakh conflict peacefully. Meanwhile, there are some achievements
in negotiations after the long misunderstanding between the conflict
parties.

Countries as Turkey, Iran, Russia and the OSCE Minsk Group are also
interested in this issue. Meanwhile, this problem should be settled
so that it could become mutually acceptable both for Azerbaijan
and Armenia.

Which sphere in the Azerbaijani-Russian relations do you consider to
be incomplete?

The sphere which is covered too low in the Azerbaijani-Russian
relations is the work with the young people of our countries. By
means of the organization I lead, we managed to help five journalists
from Azerbaijan to continue education at the Moscow State University
for the first time. In other word, our organization finances their
education. All of them study well and one of them has been invited to
work by the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper. And following negotiations
with the Azerbaijani leadership, in particular, with chief of the
public police department of Azerbaijan’s presidential administration
Ali Hasanov, it was decided to finance education of tens of journalists
from Azerbaijan to study at the Moscow State University.

In addition, for the first time we have opened the Russian Book House
in Azerbaijan which is currently the only one in the post-Soviet area.

Today, we consider the opening of the branch of the Russian Book
House in Ganja.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Assembly
April 16, 2010
Contact: Press Department
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434

SENATORS LAUTENBERG AND KLOBUCHAR COSPONSOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Assembly Welcomes Cosponsors and Urges Support for Senate Letter to
President Obama

Washington, DC – Support for S.Res. 316, the Armenian Genocide
resolution in the United States Senate continues to grow with Senators
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) joining as the newest
cosponsors, reported the Armenian Assembly of America.

"As we approach the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the
Assembly welcomes the support of Senators Lautenberg and Klobuchar,"
stated the Assembly’s Congressional Relations Associate Bianka Kadian
Dodov.

S.Res. 316 was introduced by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and calls
upon the President of the United States to properly characterize the
Armenian Genocide in the President’s annual April 24th statement.
S.Res. 316 is currently pending before the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations. On March 4, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, led by
Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA), adopted an identical measure, H.Res.
252, which was introduced by Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA).

In addition to the legislation, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), also a
cosponsor of S.Res. 316, is circulating a letter
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for her colleagues to send to President Barack Obama urging him to
affirm the Armenian Genocide on April 24th.

This April, President Obama has an opportunity to further the cause of
genocide prevention by squarely affirming the Armenian Genocide.
Currently, the Boxer-initiated letter includes Senators Carl Levin
(D-MI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Dianne
Feinstein (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Ensign (R-NV), Jack Reed
(D-RI), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Debbie Stabenow
(D-MI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

"We urge our activists to contact their Senators to support this
letter, and also urge community activists and supporters to join us on
April 21st for the Assembly’s National Fly-in Day, which coincides
with the Armenian Genocide Commemoration on Capitol Hill," stated the
Assembly’s Grassroots Director Taniel Koushakjian. For more
information or to participate in meetings with your elected officials,
please contact Taniel at (202) 393-3434, ext. 335.

Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public
understanding and awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a
501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT DELEGATION TO ATTEND THE STATE FUNERAL OF PRESIDENT LECH KACZYNSKI, HIS WIFE MARIA KACZYNSKA AND MEMBERS OF THE POLISH DELEGATION

ArmInfo
2010-04-15 11:20:00

ArmInfo. Today, the government of Armenia started its regular session
with a minute of silence in memory of the Polish delegation, headed
by President of Poland Lech Kaczynski, who died in the air crash on
April 10.

As Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan said, the governmental
delegation of Armenian will attend the state funeral of the Polish
president, his wife and members of the Polish delegation. "The Armenian
people shares the grief of the Polish people", T. Sarkisyan said.

To recall, the Polish president’s plane crashed under Smolensk on
April 10, 2010.

US EMBASSY REFUSES TO COMMENT ON CRITICAL STATEMENTS BY REPRESENTATIVE OF AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION

ArmInfo
2010-04-15 16:36:00

ArmInfo. US Embassy in Armenia refuses to comment on the statements
by Chief of Socio-Political Department of the Azerbaijani presidential
administration Ali Hasanov.

As the Embassy told ArmInfo, US Embassy in Yerevan does not comment
on the statements made by officials of other countries.

As the Azerbaijani media reported, A. Hasanov sharply criticized
the US position as a mediator on the Karabakh settlement. According
to Hasanov, the Azerbaijani party is dissatisfied with the activity
of the United States as OSCE MG co-chair. "The U.S. policy aims to
lead Armenia out of the economic difficulty, exerts pressure on the
neighboring states, Turkey and others and demands them to assist
Armenia, establish socio-economic relations with it", he said.

NO ONE DARED CUTTING STRINGS, THE BALL STAYED WITH OBAMA
MEHMET ALI BIRAND

Hurriyet
April 13 2010
Turkey

If you meet a journalist who pretends to know details about this summit
traffic don’t believe him. No one except a handful of delegates of
both countries knows anything for sure.

The following article consists of a bit of fortune telling, a bit of
guessing and a bit of summing up news leaking from here and there.

Please read it accordingly. You probably won’t read any other article
more sincere than this one.

If you’d witnessed the scene in which Erdogan and Sarkisyan entered
the hall to pose for a picture you’d be scared. Both leaders put
on such a long face and their body language was so negative that I
said to myself, "There won’t be any positive outcome resulting out of
this room." The delegation rushed out of this 90-minute meeting as if
escaping something bad. No explanation and no hopeful word or glance.

It is hard to understand what happened, for, both are more interested
in their internal politics.

We may easily say the following:

Neither Armenia nor Turkey can afford to throw the protocols into
the garbage can.

Turkey: Efforts will continue

You probably heard this formula a lot.

"We will continue efforts…" means that there is an important
misunderstanding and no solution has been found.

Turkish officials remind of the prime minister’s words, "We won’t give
up on our signature" and say that they are not considering canceling
the protocols.

Ankara of course wouldn’t want to cancel. For, these protocols are
Turkey’s lifesavers nowadays. As long as these protocols are alive
the vote in the U.S. Congress is postponed. And more importantly,
these protocols make it difficult for President Obama to pronounce
the word genocide in his speech on April 24.

Turkey walks a fine line.

On one side, it obeys Azerbaijan and in order to satisfy Baku it says
the borders remain closed until the Karabakh issue is resolved.

Meaning it attaches a precondition to the protocols according to
Armenia and the United States. On the other side, in order to manage
Obama it wants to get by with its approach of "these protocols are
our virtue."

It’s a little complicated.

To tell the truth, Tarzan is in a difficult position.

Armenia: We won’t accept preconditions

Armenians are also in a difficult position.

They did not obtain what they hoped for.

Prime Minister Erdogan has not changed his attitude.

Sarkisian also cannot come forth saying, "If that’s so, then I am
retrieving the protocols from parliament in order to cancel them."

Yerevan, just like Ankara, is waiting for April 24. It certainly
expects President Obama to use the word genocide. We heard here that
President Sarkisian insisted on this issue during his meeting with
President Obama. Armenian resources say that Obama in his speech on
April 24 needs to punish Turkey.

I wonder if Obama will satisfy the Armenians by punishing Turkey.

The question that everybody seeks an answer to nowadays is: What will
Obama do?

It is not a secret that Washington sympathizes with the Armenians
and perceives Turkey as spoiling the game. But thinking that way is
one thing and taking a step is another.

If we were to summarize, we’d say Washington holds all strings in
its hands.

Neither Ankara nor Yerevan can move.

Both countries are waiting for the statement on April 24th.

They will take action accordingly.

Now the ball is at Obama’s feet.

The United States is playing the game.

Washington has a great influence on both countries. But yet it cannot
get them to do anything it wants. So then, in exchange it makes both
capitals stand on one foot.

That’s the core of it…

Iran was not present but its spirit was

There was a record that took place during the establishment of the
United Nations but since then there has never been such carnival
of leaders.

It was worthwhile seeing leaders of 47 countries come together.

And of course, there was one other country that despite its absence
here was much talked about so much so that it was very interesting.

Turkey did not change its attitude.

It opposes the announcement of a brisk embargo against Iran.

The prime minister often repeats, "Give me one example. Which embargo
resulted in success? Was it the one against northern Iraq? Or the
one against Saddam?" and says that this issue won’t be solved with
an embargo full of brisk sanctions.

Turkey’s approach does of course not stir from its affection to Iran.

Ankara does not believe that the country’s benefits are hidden in a
formula that would force Iran into a corner. It suggests a compromise
with Teheran.

But Washington won’t listen.

Members of the nuclear club don’t want a new member joining them.

It is obvious that a double standard exists.

What people are most curious about is how long Ankara will continue
with its attitude.

ARF BUREAU MEETS WITH PRESIDENT SARKISIAN

Asbarez
Apr 13th, 2010

WASHINGTON-On the sidelines of President Obama’s international nuclear
summit, Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian met with a delegation of
the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Bureau on Monday evening.

ARF Bureau members Dr. Viken Hovsepian, Hagop Der-Khachadourian and
Haig Oshagan, accompanied by ARF Eastern US Central Committee chairman
Antranig Kasbarian met with Sarkisian.

During the meeting the two sides discussed Armenia-Diaspora relations,
Armenia’s foreign policy, specifically Armenia-Turkey relations and
the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, Diaspora efforts on behalf of
Armenia and Karabakh, as well as efforts to garner international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Earlier Monday, after a commemoration event at President Woodrow
Wilson’s tomb, where Sarkisian laid a wreath and later made a
statement, in an interview with the Armenian Weekly, the Bureau’s
Hovsepian urged Sarkisian to rescind Armenia’s signature from the
protocols.

During the face-to-face meeting with Sarkisian, the Bureau said that
the party’s concerns completely would dissipate if Sarkisian rescinded
Armenia’s signature from the documents.

FOREIGN MINISTER OF TURKEY: IF ALL SIDES WE AND THEY – TAKE A RESPONSIBILITY AND TRY TO CONTRIBUTE IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE PEACE IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS, THEN THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT WILL RATIFY THE PROTOCOLS IN THE NEAREST FUTURE.

ArmInfo
2010-04-13 16:31:00

Arminfo. We have been always aware that only Turkish-Armenian
reconciliation is not enough to create peace and stability in the
South Caucasus, Foreign Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu said in
an interview with APA.

He also added that only with a comprehensive solution, we can maintain
the atmosphere of reconciliation and remove the remaining barriers
to dialogue, cooperation and peace in the region. This, of course,
will require political will and courage.

We all want to forget previous hostility and instigate in future
positive aspects of common history. This is very important that we
have common aspiration to build bright future in the South Caucasus.

One of them is signing the Turkish-Armenian protocols in Zurich Oct.
10. However, the decision of the Constitution Court of Armenia in
connection with injecting changes to protocols has been a sudden
obstacle on the way of ratification of protocols.

If all sides we and they – take a responsibility and try to contribute
in the achievement of comprehensive peace in the South Caucasus,
then the Turkish parliament will ratify the protocols in the nearest
future. This will not only facilitate the rapprochement between
the two nations, but also continue the way to the new future and
establishment of peace, prosperity and cooperation. In this respect,
the urgent need is not to put impediments in the way of establishment
of peace and stability under the veil of fictional juridical problems.

‘However, as our PM said, we’ll explain to the U.S. administration
that we cannot achieve lasting peace in the region without resolving
the Nagorno-Karabakh issue’, – he said and added that recognition of
the Armenian genocide will have a very strong negative impact on the
further establishment of peace in the Caucasus.