Author: Tambiyan Samvel

PRESS RELEASE
Nor Serount Cultural Association & Armenia Solidarity
c/o The Temple of Peace,
King Edward viii Ave.
Cathays Park, Cardiff, Wales
Tel: 07718982732
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]

Andrew Dismore MP presents an Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day Bill

We are pleased to announce that Andrew Dismore, the hard-working Labour
MP for Hendon, who sponsored our commemmoration of Hrant Dink in the
House of Commons last week, has tabled a Presentation Bill (a Private
Memnbers Bill) in the UK Parliament on the Genocide He is one of the
most helpful MPs in the House of Commons and is Chairman of the Joint
Human Rights Committee. This position shows that he is held in high
regard by the government

He has developed a reputation as a private members’ Bill expert.. His
first, Holocaust Memorial Day, was taken up by the Government, and is
now part of the national calendar. He introduced a Corporate
Manslaughter Bill, which helped push the Government into promoting their
own Bill, now law. His third, the Divorce (Religious Marriages) Bill
became law, helping resolve problems concerning Jewish divorce.
We are proud of our continuing co-operation with Mr Dismore.This is
the first such bill on the Genocide to be presented in the UK
parliamemt. We appeal to all UK Armenians for their support to persuade
the House of Commons to grant a second reading of the bill.

HANSARD 26 Jan 2009 :
Bills Presented

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day Bill
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)

Mr. Andrew Dismore, supported by John Austin, Mr. Virendra Sharma, Clive
Efford, Ms Karen Buck and Rob Marris, presented a Bill to introduce a
national day to learn about and remember the Armenian genocide.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 16 October,
and to be printed (Bill 43).

Dallas Morning News, TX
Jan 24 2009

Opera Review: ‘Roberto Devereux’ has fabulous singing but falls short
of perfection

09:40 AM CST on Saturday, January 24, 2009
By SCOTT CANTRELL / The Dallas Morning News classical music critic

The Dallas Opera has been all over international opera news lately,
with George Steel’s departure after less than four months as general
director to run New York City Opera. Steel was nowhere to be seen
Friday night at Fair Park Music Hall, but Roberto Devereux opened just
fine without him.

Well, it did and it didn’t.

Donizetti’s 1837 musical depiction of Queen Elizabeth I and her
imagined infatuation with Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, was served
up with some fabulous singing. Music director Graeme Jenkins got taut
and lovingly detailed playing from the orchestra. The chorus, prepared
by Alexander Rom, sounded fabulous from pianissimo to fortissimo.

But, musically, opening night often seemed just under full
voltage. And Stephen Lawless’ staging kept accumulating annoyances. If
it doubt, the dramatis personae ‘ nobles, mind you, even the queen ‘
kept sitting down, or sliding or crawling, on the floor. And they
seemed in doubt a lot of the time.

The opera may be called Roberto Devereux, but the queen holds court,
and commands the drama. Armenian soprano Hasmik Papian plays her to
the hilt: a proud woman, but prey to fiery passions. And she sings
thrillingly, her big voice alternately blazing, smoldering and licking
around the edges. Only a dry chest voice and occasional loosening of
vibrato compromise the effect.

Given the wiry sound that too often passes for a bel canto tenor,
Stephen Costello’s depth of tone and expressive delivery make him an
especially welcome Devereux. And he looks the part of a young courtier
who could turn a queen’s head.

Elizabeth Batton sings powerfully, and richly, as Sara, Duchess of
Nottingham, and Devereux’ s true love. It’s too bad her otherwise
glorious vocalism goes papery on top. David Kempster has the heft of
tone and presence for Sara’s husband, but he just misses a certain
nobility. Rounding out the cast are Scott Quinn as Lord Cecil and
Andrew Oakden as Sir Walter Raleigh.

This production recycles designer Benoit Dugardyn’s Globe Theater set
used two years ago for another of Donizetti’s Tudor operas, Maria
Stuarda. At least those awful creaky drawbridges are gone, but now
rather much is made of stairs.

Setting the Nottinghams’ pivotal confrontation on a long stairway is
more distracting than enhancing. And surely chez Nottingham could be
accessorized with something a little more upmarket than a powder-blue
canopied bed and curtain.

Costumes, by Ingeborg Bernerth, are a bit plain-Jane, too, for one of
Europe’s greatest courts. Lighting is by Mark McCullough.

Repeats at 2 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Jan. 31 at Fair
Park Music Hall. $15 to $199. 214-443-1000,

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Jan 24 2009

US congressman: "Except for the occupied lands, there is no military
force in the remaining Azerbaijani lands"

24 January 2009 [10:11] – Today.Az

US Congressman Steve Coen, who is also member of the work group of the
House of representatives of the Congress on Azerbaijan, made a
statement regarding the 19th anniversary of events on January 20 in
Baku, said the press service for the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan.

In his statement, the congressman informed in details about the
history of the tragedy of January 20 of 1990.

At the same time, the congressman announced: "20% of Azerbaijani lands
are occupied by Armenia. The President and the parliament of
Azerbaijan were elected in a free and democratic condition, the
country along with the development of the energy sector is flourishing
in the result of reforms in the sphere of free market.

Expect for the occupied lands, there is no military force in the
remaining lands of Azerbaijan", stated the congressman.

Notably, the statement of Congressman Coen is included into the
official documents of the US congress.

/Day.Az/

URL:

SALES OF YEREVAN BRANDY COMPANY UP 8% IN FIST HALF YEAR OF FY 2008-2009

ArmInfo
2009-01-22 16:14:00

ArmInfo. In the first half year (1 July – 31 December) of FY 2008-2009,
the sales of the Yerevan Brandy Company (YBC) increased by 8% as
compared with the same period of the previous year and totalled 2,6
mln liters of brandy, Pernod Ricard Eastern Europe Executive Officer
Eric Labord said at a press-conference in Yerevan, Thursday.

He said the sales growth was achieved in conditions of the global
economic crisis, and this result satisfies the leadership of Pernod
Ricard. The sales growth is connected with the successful promotion
of Ararat brand in traditional markets, Labord said. Thus, in the
year under review sales in Russia grew by 14% to 1.9 mln liters, in
Armenia – by 4% to 218 thsd liters, in Baltic countries – by 16%. He
added that sales are also increasing in comparatively new markets;
the matter concerns Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Czech Republic.

Eric Labord said YBC annually invests about $5 mln in improvement of
production and technology processes, therefore the Ararat brand is
considered one of the leading brands in the world brandy market. In the
first half year of FY 2008-2009 investment in production and technology
amounted to $2 mln. In addition, YBC annually invests about $15 mln
in purchase of grapes and replenishment of spirit reserves.

The newly-appointed Director General of YBC Ara Grigoryan expressed
hope that the global crisis will not affect the volumes of brandy
consumption.

"Some people may prefer cheaper brands of brandy, however, I don’t
think the fans of this drink will prefer beer to brandy",- he said.

To recall, the YBC sales in FY 2007-2008 (1 July – 30 June) grew by 24%
to 4,2 mln liters as compared with the previous fiscal year. YBC was
privatized in May 1998 by the French group Pernod Ricard for $30 mln.

MILCH COWS TO ARRIVE IN ARMENIA IN MAY

A1+
[12:00 pm] 23 January, 2009

Over 415 milch cows will be brought from Austria to Armenia in May,
2009. The Armenian government has earmarked 500 billion drams to
provide the transportation of Simental cows. Yet, ordinary peasants
cannot afford such a luxury, besides, the cows need special care.

Today, "Caucasian Grey" cows are largely spread in Shirak marz. To
provide stock-raising, new species are generally imported to the
country. They are either crossbred with local species to increase
their milk yield or are bred separately as noble animals.

As soon as new species are imported to Armenia, they are put on
sale in different marzes. Nowadays interbreeding is only available
to cattle farmers. Undoubtedly, an ordinary peasant cannot afford
to pay â~B¬3500 for a cow. Simental cows should be kept inside the
cattle shed all day round. Our cows lose great energy when walking
in the field, therefore they have low milk yield.

The partnership between Armenian and Australia in the sphere of
agriculture started in 2007. Experts say the milk capacity of our
cows will better in the nearest future.

–Boundary_(ID_ZW8+CUWlFGlGqBP5Bodglg)–

RA MFA ANNUAL REPORT: YEREVAN TOOK INITIAL STEP TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH ANKARA

PanARMENIAN.Net
21.01.2009 18:14 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ After the February presidential election and
subsequent formation of the Armenian government, President Serzh
Sargsyan invited his Turkish counterpart to Yerevan as an attempt to
thaw the ice in bilateral relations, says 2008 annual report issued
by the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

President Sargsyan’s invitation was welcomed by the international
community and the dialogue was continued by Ministers of Foreign
Affairs, Edward Nalbandian and Ali Babacan, the report says.

POLICE TO TAKE CRIMINAL PROCEEDING AGAINST ATTACK ON BABADJANYAN

Panorama.am
13:42 22/01/2009

The Police Office of Kotayk region has taken a criminal proceeding
against the attack on the officer of the Binding Service of Judicial
Acts Hayk Babadjanyan while he was implementing his professional
duties, said Ruben Grdzelyan, the head of press service of the BSJA
to Panorama.am. According to the law the 5-10 years of jail is defined
for those who has conducted the crime.

Panorama.am has been informed that H. Babadjanyan is cured in
"Armenia" medical center. Today he will be taken to hospital room
from the resuscitation.

Panorama.am reporter who is currently in the hospital has been
informed by the doctor that Babadjanyan got four injuries in the
result of knife attack.

Remind that Babadjanyan was the responsible body to hold "Bjni" case.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT SERZH SARGSYAN AWARDS A TITLE OF HONORED ECONOMIST TO HEAD OF GRAND HOLDING HRANT VARDANYAN

ArmInfo
2009-01-21 15:52:00

ArmInfo. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has awarded a title of
honored economist to Hrant Vardanyan, the head of one of the largest
companies of Armenia – Grand Holding, the Armenian presidential
press-service told ArmInfo. Such title has been awarded in Armenia
for the first time.

When handing the order certifying the honored title, Serzh Sargsyan
highly estimated Hrant Vardanyan’s contribution to the economy of
Armenia, including stimulation of export. The president also stressed
Vardanyan’s contribution to creation of new job sites. The head of
Grand Holding thanked Serzh Sargsyan for the high title and qualified
it as assessment determining to new active work. Vardanyan also told
the president about his business initiatives and forthcoming programs.

STILL NO JUSTICE FOR MURDERED TURKISH JOURNALIST HRANT DINK

Targeted News Service
January 19, 2009 Monday 3:11 AM EST

Amnesty International issued the following news release:

On the second anniversary of the murder of journalist and human rights
defender Hrant Dink, the Turkish authorities are still nowhere near
bringing to justice those responsible.

Hrant Dink, a Turkish citizen of Armenian decent, was killed on 19
January 2007. The editor of the Agos newspaper and contributor to
the influential daily Zaman, he was shot outside the Agos offices
in Istanbul.

He was best known for his willingness to debate openly and critically
issues of Armenian identity and official versions of history in Turkey
relating to the massacres of Armenians in 1915. A passionate defender
of human rights, he appeared on different platforms with activists,
journalists and intellectuals across the political spectrum. Prior to
his death, he was repeatedly prosecuted for expressing his non-violent
opinions.

"Hrant Dink was murdered for the expression of his non-violent
opinions, apparently with the tacit agreement of elements within the
Turkish law enforcement agencies," said Nicola Duckworth, Europe and
Central Asia Programme Director at Amnesty International.

Twenty suspects accused of planning and carrying out the murder have
been brought to trial. One of those on trial in connection with his
death had also acted as a police informer and had repeatedly told
police of the plan to assassinate Hrant Dink in the months leading
up to his death.

In a separate investigation, eight members of the Gendarmerie face
charges of "dereliction of duty" after failing to act on warnings
that Hrant Dink was being targeted for assassination.

One of the eight, Trabzon District Gendarmerie Commander, Ali Az, is
accused of failing to pass on information of the plot against Hrant
Dink and of preventing evidence being revealed after the murder. Hrant
Dink had been receiving death threats for several months prior to
his death. However, no police officers have yet been prosecuted.

Reporting in July 2008, the Turkish Parliamentary Human Rights
Commission found that there was negligence and lack of coordination
on the part of the security services in failing to prevent the murder.

Leaked details of the Inspectorate of the Prime Ministry’s report
into the role of the security forces in the murder of Hrant Dink is
reportedly to have revealed that police officers at both the Trabzon
and Istanbul Security Directorates failed in their duty to protect
Hrant Dink although they had information about the planned murder.

"The authorities should make public the report by the Inspectorate
of the Prime Ministry," Nicola Duckworth said.

"There is now a wealth of evidence upon which the judicial authorities
must act. An investigation should be re-opened so that all implicated
members of the police forces and gendarmerie are brought to justice."

SERGEY MARKEDONOV: "IN ALL CASES RUSSIA WILL HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON AZERBAIJAN. ALONG WITH NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT, THERE ARE OTHER TOOLS OF INFLUENCE"

Today.Az
/politics/50170.html
Jan 19 2009
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with Sergey Markedonov, famous Russian political
scientist and chief of department of problems of international
relations under the Institute of Political and Military Analysis.

– What can you say about the free supply of armament of a total of
$800,000,000 by Russia to Armenia? Why did the Kremlin take the step,
which will undoubtedly cause escalation of tensions in the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict?

– I think it is incorrect to state this fact this way. The Defense
Ministry has rebutted the fact of supply of armament to Armenia. It
is too early to make final conclusions. Anyway, Azerbaijan’s external
policy is focused on Armenia. Therefore, any information about support
or assistance to Armenia either by Russia or any other country causes
a painful reaction of Azerbaijan. This is quite clear. I think that
it would have been expedient not to conceal this information and to
provide explanation to public. The Defense Ministry has stated that
it has nothing to do with the armament supply. The Defense Ministry
could have made a more serious statement.

– The response of the Russian Defense Ministry did not satisfy the
Azerbaijani side. On the one hand Moscow after Georgian events tends
to position itself as a peacekeeper, initiating the adoption of the
Moscow declaration and on the other hand it supplies arms to one of
the conflict parties. How can it be explained?

– It is necessary to learn the details and moments of the fact of the
free armament supply, as the scandal becomes an object of speculations
by different sides. Public explanation is needed. The position of
the Russian Defense Ministry satisfied someone and does not satisfy
others. The resolution of the Karabakh conflict does not depend on
the free delivery of arms to Armenia. There are deeper factors.

– Is it possible in this case to establish a special commission to
investigate this fact?

– It is difficult to comment on the Kremlin’s position as Moscow does
not like to justify itself in anything.

– Is the free supply of armament to Armenia possible in the CSTO
framework?

– It is difficult to say this as I am a political scientist not a
military expert. I can only give a political assessment to this fact.

– Answering the questions of the Day.Az agency during the previous
interviews you noted that the resolution of the Karabakh conflict does
not depend on the Kremlin, saying that only Azerbaijan and Armenia can
settle this issue. Yet the transfer of the Russian armament to Armenia
proves once again that Russia has never taken so modest positions in
this issue and only it can settle this conflict…

– Let’s imagine that the fact of armament supply is confirmed. If
there have not been the supply, do you seriously believe that there
is any political formula which contains the future of the conflict
solution? If the armament supply is real, Baku will state that
"you see, we have been ready for the conflict resolution but Moscow
hindered it". We can also ask why Baku creates the military-industrial
complex, why the head of the Azerbaijani state in his interview to
Italian mass medias does not rule out armed solution of the conflict,
though the Moscow declaration fixes the political resolution of this
conflict. Here, arguments can be used in different ways. In the reality
the parties are unable to get a compromised solution and if Armenia
does not get military support from Moscow, it will search it from
other countries, like Azerbaijan will. The matter is that the conflict
parties are not ready for compromise. Washington, Moscow and NATO are
complex things. Russia have definite Azerbaijani lobby groups, mostly
connected with the fuel and energy complex and it has an influential
Armenian lobby. The Kremlin’s position on Armenia and Azerbaijan is
hesitatory. However, it is inclined to support the Armenian side. The
Russian factor, despite its presence, is secondary, not key one. Most
things are defined by the unreadiness of the parties for a compromise.

– It becomes clear that today Russia is not interested in the
resolution of the Kaabakh conflict, as the frozen conflict allows it
to put pressure on Armenia and Azerbaijan. If the conflict is settled,
in this case Russia will lose the whole South Caucasus, without the
levers of influence it has created…

– Armenia and Azerbaijan are not Germany or EU. These are small
countries, which can not be self-sufficient and they will be imposed
to pressure in the framework or beyond the Karabakh conflict. This is
a myth, like if there is Nabucco, Ukraine will become a democratic and
a self-sufficient country. Russia will have an influence on Azerbaijan
in all cases, at least in the issue of split people in Dagestan. It
is latent, but still it exists. The problem is now settled in the
Baku-Makhachkala framework. There always are tools of influence along
with the Karabakh conflict.

– Do you think Moscow is on Armenian or Azerbaijani side in the
Karabakh issue?

– Moscow adheres to pro-Russian position which implies the preservation
of the quo status. Russia is against the military resolution of the
Karabakh conflict by Azerbaijan.

– In this case, why does the quo status and existence of the frozen
conflict meet the Kremlin’s interests?

– Because there are no other figures, which could replace the quo
status. For example, you throw out an old sofa to get a new one. Well,
it is clear that old one is bad but you can sleep on. It is unclear
whether the new one will also be good. It can even break as masters
are not too qualified and can not agree which sofa to produce. There
is no stable and reliable construction which could be legitimate both
in Yerevan and Baku. If not, why should we defreeze a conflict. If
we change a situation, we must benefit from it and not just to change
for changing it.