Author: Tashjian Arbi

FORMER POW TO SHARE HIS STORY
By Emanuel Parker Staff Writer

Pasadena Star-News (California)
November 8, 2006 Wednesday

PASADENA – Shant Kenderian will be in Pasadena next week to discuss
the harrowing experience of being drafted into the Iraqi army and
forced to fight in the Iran-Iraq War and in Operation Desert Storm.

Kenderian has written a book about his experiences, "1001 Nights in
the Iraqi Army: The True Story of a Chicago Student held as a POW by
the Americans During Desert Storm."

He will speak at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Gregory, the Illuminator
Apostolic Church, 2215 Colorado Blvd. Tickets to the event will be
$15 and include a noon luncheon.

Kenderian was in Iraq visiting his father in 1980 when Saddam Hussein
issued an order to all men between the ages of 18 and 55, "Register
for the army within 72 hours or be shot!"

The high school senior was born in Iraq and discovered Iraqi officials
considered him an Iraqi citizen, despite his American Green Card.

He served in the front lines of the army during the Iran-Iraq war
and was transferred to the Iraqi navy during Operation Desert Storm.

The boat he was assigned to hit an Iraqi mine, and he was captured
by U.S. Naval forces and held at various POW camps in Kuwait before
re-establishing his Green Card status.

"I served in both wars," he said, "but never had a gun. You can’t
fight when you don’t have a gun."

Kenderian earned an undergraduate degree in engineering in Baghdad.

He earned his Ph.D. from the Materials Science and Engineering
Department at Johns Hopkins University in 2002, and in September 2002
became an American citizen. He joined a NASA team in the aftermath
of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, and helped investigate the
cause of the disaster. He is currently vice president of the Armenian
Engineers and Scientists of America, based in Glendale.

COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SERVICES APPROVES OF THE SALE

A1+
[05:18 pm] 14 November, 2006

The Commission on Public Service Control has approved the deal for
OTE’s selling its 90% stake in ArmenTel to VympelCom (Russia).

The representative of VympelCom, the candidate for ArmenTel general
director Oleg Bliznuk says that the deal will be finalized this week.

Bliznuk notes that VympelCom is negotiating with the Armenian
Government over the latter’s 10% stake in ArmenTel.

Reminder: Andranik Manoukyan, Minister of Transportation and
Communication, announced that RA Government is ready to sell the
10percent stake provided they refuse the right to monopoly.

By the way, VympelCom paid 341 million 888 thousand EUR to OTE for
the deal.

ARMENIAN HISTORIAN REJECTS "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE"

Democratic Azerbaijan
Nov 15 2006

Levon Panos Dabagian: "Turkish history has never had genocide
against Armenians" While protest actions against the adoption of a
draft bill concerning the punishment for denial "Armenian genocide"
adopted by the Lower Chamber of the French Parliament are ongoing, the
Armenians living in Turkey decided to join to the process. According
to the Armenians, distinguishing with their more moderate approach
to the 1915 events rather than the Armenian diaspora, political
speculations developing around the so called "Armenian genocide"
complicates the process of improvement of the relations between Turks
and Armenians. Turkish Armenians informed that they condemn the draft
bill that is expected to be adopted by the Parliament of France and
stated that the document just serve for pre-election interests of
French political circles.

Mesrop Mutafian II, the religious leader of Armenians living in Turkey
also noted that such decision of the French Parliament won’t give
anything to Armenians but just make worsen unfavorable relations
between the two nations. In general, Mutafian’s view to the 1915
events (Patriarch do not call them genocide) are regularly critiqued
by Armenian diaspora and Yerevan political circles. According to
Mutafian, Turks as well as Armenians are directly relevant to the
1915 events. But as the Patriarch thinks, the both nation’s be better
leave behind this date and think over how to rehabilitate friendship
once existed between the nations, rather than to day, several decades
after that event to reveal who is to blame for that to a greater or
lesser extent.

Levon Panos Dabagian, Armenian historian living in Turkey also
thinks so. It is appropriate mention that Dabagian was one of the
first of few representatives of Armenian lobby who openly speaks
against "genocide" campaign. At the same time Dabagian considers
Armenian demands concerning the "genocide" groundless on the basis of
historical facts. The historian studying the history of the Ottoman
Empire’s Armenians for a long time published his own book entitled
"The history of Turkish Armenians" in 2003. It is known that right
away after the decision of French Parliament Dabagian appeared in
Turkish mass media and criticized such action of French MPs.

Dabagian confirms that throughout all Turkish history there were
never events even closed to Armenian genocide, and all statements
relating that are based on the political interests: "During World
War I Turkey deported Armenians living in its territory and it is
generally accepted but Turkey has never had conducted a genocide policy
against Armenians." According to Dabagian, the decision concerning
the mentioned deportation was taken due to the wartime conditions:
"Anyway, the actions cannot be called genocide."

It is appropriate mention that it concerns the "Law on Deportation"
adopted towards Armenians living on front-line in 1915, when in the
Eastern Anatolia the armed hostilities between the Ottoman Empire and
the czarist Russia were in progress. According to the law composed of
3 Articles, the Armenian population living there who excited rebellion
against the Ottoman armed forces had been deported to the territory
of non-armed hostilities, including the Middle East. In addition, the
multitude of Armenian population, not involving in the propaganda and
armed rebellion against Turkey were subjected to the deportation and
Turkey recognizes the fact today. But it was wartime and any state
would act in so way.

As the Armenian historian thinks, the majority of Armenians excited
rebellion in 1915 and living in the areas where armed hostilities
between the Ottoman Empire and Russian Empire progressed were not
indigene, and the Russians instigated them to the rebellion. He
informed that in World War I the western countries as well as Russia
had used the Armenians against the Ottoman Turkey: "Western world
decided to make use of Armenians and undermine the power of Turkey.

Thus, Russia, making use of the factor strived for the commencement
of the majority of armed conflicts by the Armenians removed to Turkey
from Russia."

As the Armenian historian notes, while the event used to be discussed
between Armenia and Turkey, the majority of Western countries are
still trying to make use of it in their own political interests.

According to Dabagian, the use of the "Armenian genocide" in the issue
relating Turkish accession to the European Union has no in common
with the Armenian lobby activity in the United States and with the
majority of Armenians’ demands.

The Armenian historian’s such statement is very noteworthy. But
unfortunately, voices of such scholars as Dabagian are lost among
deceitful speculations of Armenian lobby and their supporters,
ongoing the groundless campaign for a long time. The Armenian false
to date is echoed in different countries worldwide that assume the
historical truth and even make use of it in their purposes as some
Western countries do it. The draft bill adopted by the Lower chamber
of the French Parliament can be exemplified once more.

Of course, it is impossible to say that Turkey makes absolutely no
efforts to counteract to the campaign. It is impossible to deny that
Turkey held just observance position for a long time as it did not
believe in Armenian successes. But for recent two years Turkey began
to undertake purposeful and complex steps, holding symposiums devoted
to "Armenian issue", and organizing international conferences with
participation of the distinguished foreign historians.

One of the foreign scholars exposing Armenian false on international
scene, a British professor Andrew Mango made a report on the occasion
in Turkey. In speech the English scholar informed that one of the
key purposes of the dissemination of false information about Turkish
"deeds" by Armenians is to cover up their own actions committed against
the Azerbaijani nation. Talking of that he cited the Khojaly tragedy
as an example.

By holding such arrangements Turkey is trying to bring the issue to
the notice of international community, guiding by the historical facts
and truth, but not false fantasy. As it is known, last year Rajab
Tayyib Erdogan, a Turkish Prime-Minister offered to Robert Kocharian,
the Armenian President to set up a common commission for studying the
1915 events and following period. But the official Yerevan rejected
the proposal. Thus, the regulation of Armenian-Turkish relations
under such context is very a complex task.

DESPITE DEFEAT, BUSH ADMINISTRATION DETERMINED TO OPPOSE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL
By Ali H. Aslan, Washington

Zaman, Turkey
Nov 13 2006

Matt Bryza, a top-level official from the U.S. State Department,
asserted that the George Bush Administration would strongly oppose
any draft law on the recognition of an Armenian genocide.

However, he added that given the complexity of the new political
environment since the midterm elections, it was hard for them to
precisely foresee any outcome.

Matt Bryza was speaking at the annual convention of the Assembly
of Turkish-American Associations (ATAA) and commented on the
possibility of an Armenian genocide bill introduced to the House of
Representatives, where the Democrats have recently gained control.

He described the new situation as a change in the political reality
and said that it was impossible for the administration to predict
how the new mechanism would operate with regards to the fate of any
proposal for recognition of the Armenian genocide.

Newly ensconced House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, promised the
Armenian lobby to support any bill regarding the genocide.

Asked whether President Bush would call Pelosi to ensure that any such
draft would not be put on the agenda, Bryza said that he would make his
own suggestion but was unable to know how the president would proceed.

The Armenian lobby is expected to submit genocide bills to both wings
of Congress following its inauguration.

Meanwhile, in his address at the meeting, Bryza, drew attention to
Russian attempts at being the sole energy supplier to the region and
underlined the importance of Turkish-American strategic cooperation.

Zaman, Turkey
Nov 11 2006

EU Council Replies to Brussels on Turkey Progress Report
By Emre Demir
Saturday, November 11, 2006
zaman.com

The Council of Europe replied to the EU Turkey progress report’s
recommendation that Turkey should expand the definition of a minority
in line with international and European standards.

Speaking to Zaman, sources from the Council of Europe noted that
Europe has no universal standard on the definition of minority,
contrary to what the report said.

`According to the Turkish authorities, under the Treaty of Lausanne,
minorities in Turkey consist exclusively of non-Muslim religious
communities. The minorities associated in practice by the authorities
with the Treaty of Lausanne are Jews, Armenians and Greeks. However,
there are other communities in Turkey which, in the light of the
relevant international and European standards, could qualify as
minorities,’ according to the progress report released by the
European Commission on Nov. 8.

The report also criticizes Turkey for not having signed the Council
of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National
Minorities, Europe’s only official agreement on national minorities.
However, authorities from the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe
state there is no minority definition agreed on in the convention.

Sources from the Council of Europe told Zaman that Europe has no
common standards on what communities can be defined as minorities.

`Europe has no general definition of minority and no common standards
to determine which communities can be defined as minorities. As a
result, the Council of Europe won’t pressure any state to recognize
new minority groups,’ sources said.

The 45-member Council of Europe, including Turkey, promotes and
protects human rights, minority rights and democracy.

Furthermore, the progress report, in the section dealing with
minority reports, said although Turkish Public Television (TRT) has
continued broadcasting in five languages, including

Kurdish, the duration and scope of these broadcasts is very limited.

Greece, an EU member state, refuses to broadcast in minority
languages and founding members such as Germany and France are
criticized for insufficient broadcasting periods as well.

Germany faced criticism over insufficient programming in minority
languages in a Council of Europe Ministers Committee report in March.

Germany has one hour per week radio broadcast in Frisian and
10-minute TV broadcast in Sorbian.

Several minority groups in France also find the TV broadcasting in
their languages insufficient.

France broadcasts 45-minutes a week in Occitan and just five minutes
a week in the Catalan language.

Weekly broadcasts in Breton, widely spoken in northern France, were
ended in early 2006 for `lack of interest.’

One of the countries that did not sign the convention is Greece.
Though an EU member state, Athens allows no radio or TV broadcasts in
any minority language. Several languages, including Turkish,
Macedonian and Albanian are spoken in the country.

Turkey did not sign the European Charter for Regional or Minority
Languages protecting educational and broadcasting rights in minority
languages.

In addition to Turkey, France, Belgium, Greece and Luxembourg also
refused to sign the convention.

HASTERT’S FALL PAVES WAY FOR PELOSI SPEAKERSHIP

Public Radio. Armenia
Nov 9 2006

The Democratic takeover of the House of Representatives yesterday
ended Speaker Hastert’s Congressional reign, opening the door to the
Speakership of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D- CA), a twenty year supporter of
Armenian American issues, including Armenian Genocide recognition,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Rep. Pelosi issued a statement last week pledging support for
Armenian Genocide legislation during the 110th Congress. With
the Senate majority too close to call, the victory of New Jersey
Senator Bob Menendez (D NJ), returns him to the Senate, where he has
distinguished himself by blocking the appointment of Armenian Genocide
denier Richard Hoagland as US Ambassador to Armenia.

"We are tremendously proud of the vital and energetic role that
Armenian Americans played this election season – a watershed transition
of Congressional power that holds great meaning for our community’s
legislative agenda," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "On
the House side, we certainly welcome the fall from power of Dennis
Hastert – who, as Speaker, prevented a bipartisan majority of his
colleagues from voting for U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide –
and his expected replacement by Nancy Pelosi, who has a strong record
in support of Armenian American issues. On the Senate side, even as
we await the final outcome, we are very gratified by the victory in
New Jersey of Senator Bob Menendez – our top electoral priority this
election season. Inspired by his principled stand against the Hoagland
nomination, Armenian Americans throughout the Garden State – led by
the ANC of New Jersey – truly came through for the Menendez campaign,
delivering volunteers, campaign contributions, and, most importantly,
tens of thousands of votes in support of his electoral victory,"
added Hamparian.

ANCA endorsed candidates won overwhelmingly in the House, with 184 of
198 endorsed candidates securing decisive wins and three races still
too close to call. Of the 159 members of the Congressional Armenian
Caucus, 140 members won re-election, including Congressional Armenian
Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI).

Amongst those who lost their re-election bid was Armenian American
Congressman John Sweeney (R-NY), who, with the support of ANC-NY,
battled in one of the tightest races in the country. Armenian American
Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA) won her reelection bid with 71%
of the vote.

In the Senate, 13 of 15 ANCA endorsed candidates won their election
bids. Winners included Armenian Genocide Resolution lead sponsor
John Ensign (R- NV), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and House members
Ben Cardin and Sherrod Brown who won Senate seats in Maryland and
Ohio, respectively. Pennsylvania Senator, Rick Santorum (R-PA),
lead cosponsor of the Caucasus Railroad Bypass bill, lost his
Senate reelection bid to Democrat Ed Casey. Perennial opponent of
Armenian American concerns, West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd won
his re-election bid as well.

AZERI PRESIDENT HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE OSCE HEAD
Author: E. Huseynov

TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 8 2006

On November 8, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with the
Belgian Foreign Minister, OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Karel De Gucht,
Trend reports with reference to the Azerbaijani Embassy in Belgium.

The sides discussed the co-operation between Azerbaijan and OSCE
and conduct of the democratic reforms in the country. During the
meeting, a special attention was paid to the peaceful settlement of
the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

EU REPORT SHARPLY CRITICIZES TURKEY’S REFORM RECORD
Yigal Schleifer

EurasiaNet, NY
Nov 8 2006

Turkey’s accession negotiations with the European Union are entering
a critical period after an EU report, released November 8, sharply
criticized Ankara’s reform performance.

European Union diplomats have been warning for months that a slowdown
in the Turkish reform process, the large number of free-speech court
cases and the closure of Turkish ports and airports to EU-member Cyprus
were undermining Ankara’s EU accession aspirations. The EU progress
report provided the most definitive evidence yet that EU membership
for Turkey is not a sure thing. [For additional information see the
Eurasia Insight archive].

"There will be a crisis from now until [the upcoming EU summit
in] December, that is clear," says Joost Lagendijk, who heads the
European Parliament delegation to the joint EU-Turkey parliamentary
committee. The November 8 report is likely to form the basis of
discussions when leaders of the 25-member EU ponder whether or not
to freeze accession negotiations with Turkey.

"The report represents a very important point, politically, as the
trains are heading towards a crash," says Kirsty Hughes, a London-based
European affairs analyst. "The [report] will be pointing towards
a crash, but how bad it is depends on how the EU member countries
follow up on it. There’s going to be a big fight between the member
countries after it comes out over what to do."

The European Commission appeared to set a moderate tone on November 8,
recommending against a suspension of accession talks.

Earlier, German Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a stern warning,
telling a German newspaper that if Ankara refuses to open up its
ports to Cypriot trade – something it has promised to do as part of
the deal to begin the negotiations – "the EU accession talks cannot
continue in this fashion."

Diplomats and analysts in Turkey are downbeat about the prospects of
Ankara regaining reform momentum anytime soon. A wave of anti-Western
nationalism has been washing over Turkey, fueled by a perception that
the EU has been one-sided on the Cyprus issue. Recent European moves on
the Armenian issue have also antagonized Ankara, in particular a recent
law passed by the lower house of the French parliament making it a
crime to deny that the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks
constitutes genocide. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive].

Turkey will hold parliamentary elections next November, and observers
in Turkey believe that little progress will happen on the EU front,
as political parties are expected to emphasize their nationalist
credentials and distance themselves from the currently unpopular
accession negotiations.

According to a June poll by the Pew Research Center, Turkish support
for the EU has fallen to 35 percent, down from almost 80 percent three
years ago (support for the United States was a dismal 12 percent,
according to the same poll).

"I don’t think joining the EU would be a good thing for Turkey. They
are pushing us too hard. They always want something more," says Faruk
Yilmaz, who works in a small kiosk that sells snack food in Istanbul’s
historic Beyoglu neighborhood. "Turkey has wanted to be a member for
such a long time. We are always walking towards them and they send
us back to the start.

Suat Kiniklioglu, executive director of the German Marshall Fund’s
Turkey office, says that while EU membership was once supported by
a majority of Turks, today it is a divisive issue. "Certainly the
military and the secularists have turned against the EU and for them
a negative [EU progress] report would be welcomed, since it would
mean a slowdown in the negotiations," he said.

"I am afraid that the people who believe that Turkey belongs in Europe
are becoming a minority," he continued.

But if not in Europe, then where does Turkey belong? There have been
suggestions that the country’s government, run by the Islamic-rooted
Justice and Development Party, might lead Turkey towards a closer
alliance with the Islamic world. But Ioannis Grigoriadis, a professor
of political science at Istanbul’s Isik University, says that rather
than eastward, Turkey’s growing nationalism is looking inward.

"It could end up with a Turkey that is very introverted and
self-reliant," he says.

A distancing from the EU, says Grigoriadis, could ultimately hurt the
process of democratization in Turkey, since "the EU acts as both an
anchor and as a trigger, on the one hand pushing for change from the
outside, but also protecting the steps already made."

Despite the criticism from Brussels, as well as the nationalist mood
in Turkey, there are indications that both sides are working to reach
a compromise before the EU summit in December. Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently expressed a willingness to amend article
301, a controversial law limiting free speech, while there are also
efforts to work out an interim deal on the Cyprus issue.

"I think all parties will try until the last moment way to prevent
this train crash," says Lagendijk, the European parliamentarian.

Some are also suggesting that beyond compromise what may also be needed
is a change in the way the EU approaches Turkey. Kemal Dervis, Turkey’s
former economy minister and the current head of the United Nations
Development Program, recently said that the EU’s constant pressure
for reform will only continue to alienate Turks. Isik University’s
Grigoriadis say that if the EU wants to keep Turkey within its orbit,
it has to reel the country in slowly. "You can’t pull the line too
tight, or it will break," he says.

Editor’s Note: Yigal Schleifer is a freelance journalist based in
Istanbul.

OPPOSITION BLASTS RECENT ECONOMIC DEALS WITH RUSSIA
By Anna Saghabalian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Nov 7 2006

Several opposition members have criticized the Armenian authorities
for continuing to yield the country’s economic potential to Russia
in a bid to secure its favors during the upcoming elections.

Aram Manukian, a senior member of Armenia’s former ruling Armenian
National Movement (HHSh) party, charged that the authorities are
trying to preserve their illegitimate power by selling out the nation’s
economic facilities.

In particular, he criticized the authorities for their recent energy
deals that would give Russia’s state-run Gazprom monopoly a commanding
share in Armenia’s natural gas distribution network and, most probably,
the incoming gas pipeline from Iran.

"These steps are taken ahead of the national elections so that the
Russian scenario works in the country once again," Manukian said.

"There are plenty of actors who would like to play the Russian scenario
in Armenia."

The leader of the Democratic Part of Armenia Aram Sarkisian also
sees political reasons behind the sellout of strategically important
economic facilities to Russia. He reminded the 2003 elections when
unlike their western colleagues the CIS observer mission did not
criticize the authorities for the poor conduct of the elections.

Member of parliament from the ruling Republican Party Armen Ashotian
brushed aside the opposition accusations.

"The harshest criticism of the 2003 elections came from European and
U.S. structures and it would be logical to try to appease them rather
than Russia," he said.

WINNER OF MONK COMPETITION TIGRAN HAMASYAN IN CONCERT AT THE TRIBECA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Tigran Hamasyan

All About Jazz, PA
Nov 7 2006

The Tribeca Performing Arts Center
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Presents: Jazz In Progress-Monk In Motion – The Next Face In Jazz

Presenting, In Concert, The Winner of The Thelonious Monk
International Jazz Piano Competition

Other concerts include finalists: Aaron Parks – November 27
and Gerald Clayton – December 18

The Tribeca Performing Arts Center, in partnership with the Thelonious
Monk Institute, proudly presents Jazz In Progress-Monk In Motion,
featuring in concert, the top three finalists of the prestigious
Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, now celebrating its
20th anniversary. This year the renowned competition was devoted to
jazz piano, and the three finalists, pianists Aaron Parks (Washington),
Gerald Clayton (born in the Netherlands, currently residing in
California), and Tigran Hamasyan (Armenia, currently residing in
California), were singled out from a strong field of twelve semi-
finalist musicians by the competition’s distinguished panel of judges,
including Herbie Hancock, Andrew Hill, Danilo Perez, Renee Rosnes,
Billy Taylor and Randy Weston.

Each of the three concerts of the Jazz In Progress-Monk In
Motion Series will feature one finalist leading their ensemble,
demonstrating the perpetually diverse nature of jazz, and showcasing
three of the plethora of exciting, young musicians making jazz
their life’s work. Tickets are $25 General Admission, $15 Students &
Seniors. To order tickets and for additional information click on
or call the box office at 212 220 1460. The Tribeca
Performing Arts Center is located at 199 Chambers Street, New York,
NY 10007.

Jazz In Progress-Monk In Motion Concert Schedule:

Winner of the 2006 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition:
Tigran Hamasyan, Monday, November 20, 2006 at 7:00 PM: Tigran Hamasyan
was born in Gyumri, Armenia and began playing piano at age 10. He
currently attends the University of Southern California where he is
studying jazz piano. Influenced by Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk,
Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, Miles Davis and Bud Powell, Hamasyan began
writing his first piano compositions at a young age. He recently won
first prize at the Monaco Jazz Soloist Competition and has performed
at concerts, competitions, festivals throughout Europe.

Aaron Parks – Monday, November 27, 2006 at 7:00 PM (3rd place
finalist): Aaron Parks was raised in Seattle, Washington and began
playing piano at age 10, learning mostly by ear. He began is career
in jazz at the age of 16 after leaving the University of Washington
to focus more intently on jazz studies at the Manhattan School of
Music in New York. Parks won first place in the 5th American Jazz
Piano Competition and is a Cole Porter Fellow of the American Pianist
Association. Currently, he tours with Terence Blanchard and is featured
on Blanchard’s CDs Bounce and Flow.

Gerald Clayton – December 18 at 7:00 PM (2nd place finalist):
Gerald Clayton was born in Utrecht, The Netherlands and was raised
in Los Angeles. He began playing piano at the age of five. Currently,
Clayton is pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies at the
University of Southern California. In addition to his studies, Clayton
performs frequently and has played with a host of well-respected
musicians including Benny Green, Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Baron, and
Clark Terry. He recently appeared on Back in the Swing of Things with
the Clayton Brothers.

Since 1987, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz has presented the
Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition, the most prestigious
jazz competition in the world. Each year, more than $60,000 in
scholarships and prizes are awarded to talented young musicians
and composers. The scholarships help pay tuition for college-level
jazz education studies and provide funds for private, specialized
instruction. The competition focuses on a different instrument every
year and features an outstanding all-star judging panel. Branford
Marsalis, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Dave Brubeck,
Marian McPartland, and Diana Krall have all served as judges at
past competitions.

The Institute has presented competitions for piano, bass, drums, hand
drums, saxophone, trumpet, guitar, vocals and trombone. In September
2006, the competition once again showcased piano, in celebration
of the Institute’s 20th Anniversary, with the semifinals taking
place at the Smithsonian Institution’s Baird Auditorium and the
finals at the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. The judging panel
and special guests featured a number of distinguished jazz artists,
including Herbie Hancock, Andrew Hill, Quincy Jones, Danilo Perez,
Renee Rosnes, and Billy Taylor.

This year, Quincy Jones, Phylicia Rashad and Billy Dee Williams hosted
the event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Herbie
Hancock served as chairman with Bill Cosby and Billy Dee Williams as
co-chairs. Honorary co-chairs included Madeleine Albright and Alma
and Colin Powell.

The 20th Anniversary Celebration was sponsored by General Motors
and Northrop Grumman. The Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano
Competition was sponsored by G.M.A.C Financial Services. For more
information visit

Located on the campus of the Borough of Manhattan Community College
(a CUNY school), the mission of Tribeca Performing Arts Center is
to provide a professional season of culturally diverse arts programs
of high quality for the Metropolitan New York area, the residential
communities of Lower Manhattan and the college community in which it
is located.

Tribeca PAC maintains two theatres: a 913-seat theatre and a
262-seat theatre. The company offers an extensive 9-month long
season of programming that includes jazz concerts, dance, theatre
and family performances. The company also offers a year long Artist
in Residence program to 8 different artists (4 choreographers and
4 theatre directors/playwrights) and presents their new, original
work every Spring in the annual "Work and Show Festival". Tribeca
PAC also hosts many critically acclaimed events during the season,
including the Tribeca Film Festival in the Spring and Resfest in the
Fall. Please contact: John Malatesta, Marketing Director, Tribeca
Performing Arts Center, (212) 220-1459

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