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  • ASBAREZ Online [09-02-2005]

    ASBAREZ ONLINE
    TOP STORIES
    09/02/2005
    TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
    WEBSITE AT <http://www.asbarez.com/>HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ.COM

    1. Anger and Unrest Mount
    2. Gul Calls on European States to Not Exploit Its 'Honest' Behavior
    3. Cyprus Threatens to Block Turkey's EU Entry Talks
    4. Vazgen Sargsian Military Scool Gets New Building
    5. SKEPTIK SINIKIAN: WHO LET VICTORIA'S SECRET OUT OF THE MAILBAG?
    6. William Saroyan The Man
    7. Turkey Under EU Pressure Over Cyprus
    8. Congressman Ed Royce ANCA's 'Human Rights Champion'
    9. Cyprus Member of Parliament Bedros Kalaydjian Dies
    10. Parliament Approves Constitutional Reform Draft in Second Reading
    11. Armenian President Congratulates Karabagh Independence
    12. Genocide Script among Finalists for Elly Award
    13. Zareh at Harvest Gallery
    14. Hamazkayin Seeks Actors, Actresses for October 2 Performance at Alex
    Theatre

    OUR NEXT POSTING: Due to the Labor Day holiday, our next issue will be posted
    on Tuesday, September 6.

    1. Anger and Unrest Mount

    (Combined Sources)--As the horrors wrought by Hurricane Katrina continue to
    mount--the devastation, the evacuation, the looting, the deaths and
    destruction--the sheer scale of it begins to defy imagination
    Three days after Katrina struck the the US Gulf Coast, more than 2.3 million
    people in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama ,and Florida still have no
    electricity.
    Officials have so far refused to give a casualty count, but say it could
    be in
    thousands.
    At least 80,000 people are trapped in New Orleans alone as flood waters
    surged
    into the low lying city from breached embankments. To rescue the huge
    number of
    displaced people is the biggest challenge for authorities.
    Katrina's effect on oil supplies and gas prices has spread nationwide forcing
    the government to tap its Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
    Anger is rising against the authorities who did not assess the strength of
    the
    hurricane. Thousands who did not leave the city could not afford it, but worse
    than the devastation is the lawlessness. Heavily armed gangs are roaming the
    streets looting whatever is in sight.
    Martial law has been imposed and troops deployed in rescue operations have
    been recalled to maintain law and order. The military is increasing the
    National Guard force in the area to 30,000; 3,000 regular Army soldiers may be
    sent to help end lawlessness in New Orleans.
    Health experts warned that the human violence that emerged after Katrina, as
    survivors sought food and water, will worsen the psychological debris left by
    the natural disaster itself.
    After surveying the damage, President Bush said it will take years for the
    area to recover. He also warned that there would be zero tolerance of people
    breaking the law during the emergency, "whether it be looting, or
    price-gouging
    at the gasoline pump or taking advantage of charitable giving, or insurance
    fraud."
    Addressing the possible death toll, US Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana
    said
    that there are no numbers, "it could be in the hundreds, or the thousands. I
    think it's going to be shocking"
    Congress has planned a special session Thursday night to approve emergency
    aid.


    2. Gul Calls on European States to Not Exploit Its 'Honest' Behavior

    Turkey defies European Union by refusing to accept Cypriot boats and planes

    ANKARA (Reuters)--Turkey defied on Thursday mounting European Union pressure
    to open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and planes, saying they would
    remain closed despite the imminent start of Ankara's EU entry talks.
    Turkey, which is due to start EU entry talks on October 3, does not accept
    the
    internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government and instead backs
    breakaway
    Turkish Cypriots.
    But Ankara's stance, including its refusal to admit Cypriot ships and planes,
    now threatens to harm its EU bid by providing ammunition to countries such as
    France and Austria that are skeptical about Turkish membership of the bloc.

    "Ports and airports are in the services sector, this [opening] is expected
    only
    of full EU members," Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told reporters at Ankara
    airport before flying to Britain to attend a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
    "This is different from what is expected of those negotiating [membership]...
    Let nobody play politics with Turkey."
    Turkey recently signed a key protocol extending its customs union with the EU
    to new member states including Cyprus. But Ankara argues that the customs
    union
    covers only goods, not services such as shipping.
    Turkey also infuriated Cyprus, France and some other EU member states by
    issuing a declaration explicitly stating that the extension of the customs
    union did not signal political recognition of the Greek Cypriot
    administration.

    The EU is now expected to issue a counter-declaration and Cyprus has
    threatened to block the start of Turkey's EU talks if the document is not
    tough
    enough.
    Turkey says it has done all that is needed to start its accession talks and
    accuses some EU member states of exploiting the long-running Cyprus problem to
    block the negotiations.
    "Turkey behaves honestly and expects honest behavior [from others]... If
    Turkey's honest behavior is exploited on various issues then we can never
    accept this," Gul said.
    The Cyprus issue is expected to dominate the two-day meeting of EU foreign
    ministers in the Welsh town of Newport.
    Even if its talks begin on schedule next month, Turkey is not expected to
    join
    the EU before 2015 at the earliest.


    3. Cyprus Threatens to Block Turkey's EU Entry Talks

    NICOSIA (Xinhua) Cyprus threatened on Wednesday to block Turkey's accession
    talks to the European Union if it is not satisfied with an EU response to
    Turkey's refusal to recognize Nicosia.
    Cypriot government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides made the remarks after
    Turkey said it will only establish ties with the island after a comprehensive
    settlement is found and a new partnership state is formed.
    Cyprus, which became an EU member state on May 1, 2004, together with nine
    other countries, wants an EU reply which underlines that the Turkish
    non-recognition stance has no legal significance.
    Otherwise, Cyprus said it will block the negotiating mandate. " If there
    is no
    debate and agreement on the negotiating framework, the negotiations will not
    start," the spokesman said.
    Turkey will open entry talks with the 25-member bloc on Oct. 3, but if the
    negotiating mandate is not unanimously adopted, the talks will not open.
    EU foreign ministers will meet on Thursday in Newport, Wales, to discuss the
    issue, and a declaration is expected soon.
    Turkey signed a protocol in July, extending its customs union to 10 new EU
    members, including Cyprus, which cleared a last hurdle on its way to opening
    entry talks with the EU.
    However, Turkey claimed at the same time that its signature to the protocol
    doesn't mean recognition of the Cypriot government.
    Cyprus was divided into the Greek Cypriot south and the Turkish Cypriot north
    in 1974, when Turkey sent troops invade Northern Cpyrus.
    The internationally-recognized south entered the EU representing the whole
    island although it rejected a UN reunification plan in April 2004. The
    north is
    only recognized only by Turkey.


    4. Vazgen Sargsian Military Scool Gets New Building

    YEREVAN (Yerkir)President Robert Kocharian on Thursday attended the opening of
    a new building at Yerevan's Vazgen Sargsian Military Institute. The President,
    along with the Defense Minister, Deputy Defense Minister, and Commanders of
    the
    Institute, toured the new building that will house the Institute's infantry
    department.
    More than 1,000 cadets currently study in the Institute's Infantry and
    Artillery departments; 300 new cadets have enrolled for the coming year.


    5. SKEPTIK SINIKIAN: WHO LET VICTORIA'S SECRET OUT OF THE MAILBAG?

    I guess I touched a nerve with my last few columns. For the last month and a
    half my virtual mail bag has been bursting at the seams with messages ranging
    form irate criticisms to uh... well... not so irate criticism.
    OK. Fine. I'm prone to exaggeration sometimes.
    I did receive a few complimentary letters. One of them was from Uzbekistan
    and
    the other one was from New JerseyAmerica's very own Uzbekistan. I was also
    excited to get a few from the mother shipArmenia. Not as excited as I was to
    get the note from Uzbekistan, but still, it's good to know that my rants are
    being read all the way in Yerevan.
    But with things extremely morose in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the
    devastation along the Gulf of Mexico, I made a promise to myself not to
    harp on
    any annoying issues in the Armenian news or criticize trends in our community.
    In fact, if anything, the scope of the disaster and suffering in New Orleans
    made me reflect on how precious life can be.
    After all, without the gift of life, how would we ever be able to cruise at
    breakneck speeds in our parent's German luxury sedan on Glenoaks Boulevard in
    Glendale while attempting to "pick up" some "kooroh" (noun, Armenian street
    slang for "chick;" also see akhchee)? Oops. Almost slipped there. I have to
    keep my promise. I'll lay off of the diaspora hooligans and their ilk.
    Instead, I'm going to tear open the ol' mail bag and dig up some of the more
    entertaining messages and share them with you.
    So without further delay, let's get to the Skeptik e-mails. Let's start with
    the responses to my piece on my grandmother and her amazingly frugal, hard
    working, survivor generation.

    Note: These first few aren't questions but are all responses to my column
    that
    ran in Asbarez on August 5 ("A Recycled Rant from an Angry Armenian
    Bourgeois").

    Comment: I like your last article in Asbarez. It reminded me of my mother's
    "ikrah." Wonderful thing
    Ikrah lover Armen unknown location

    Comment: Refering to your last column on the recycled rant, I must say that I
    can't agree with you more. My entire image of "The Armenians" has been
    shattered ever since I moved to Los Angeles 6 years ago. I believe the basic
    problem is a chronic lack of education amongst our population. It's not only
    the youth and their ignorant parents that are to blame, but the so-called
    religious/social/political leadership groups in our community. They have
    done a
    lousy job of providing opportunity for the youth to cultivate the more
    productive aspects of themselves and to learn how they can selflessly and
    effectively give towards building a better future for the Armenian nation.
    Serge Los Angeles

    Comment: I am from Uzbekistan (I am not sure that you have heard about this
    country, but I can assure you that Armenians are living here as well). Every
    time I look through ASBAREZ ONLINE I read your articles. They are really cute
    and I appreciate you for such a precise description of Armenians' conduct and
    mentality. Although I have been tracing your writings in this newspaper for
    about a year, it is the August 5, 2005 edition that made me write to you. You
    are writing about aimlessly wandering young guys spending their parents'
    money.
    I can make you sure that here in Tashkent, we have the same stuff with young
    Armenians. Our organizations are separated and constantly criticizing each
    other but commitment to the Armenian Cause is seen as listening to Armenian
    music like gangster sort of songs and the heavily courting of blond girls. I
    have the same concerns about the future of our community when the elder pass
    away.
    OK, I just wanted to share with you my comments. Hope they were interesting
    for you.
    In brief about myself, I am 25, married, have a degree in Law but am working
    as freelance translator (English). I was born and live in Uzbekistan
    Artur Tashkent, Uzbekistan

    It's too bad our friend is married. I was going to start an online singles
    auction for a date with my new friend, Artur.
    First of all, I love the fact that there's an Armenian in Uzbekistan who
    "traces" my columns. Secondly, I can't seem to get the image of the comedic
    character of Borat out my head every time I read Artur's letter. Finally,
    isn't
    it strange that Tashkent, Uzbekistan sounds just like Glendale, California
    (cue
    creepy Uzbeki music).
    I love Ikrah lover Armen's letter. It reminds us that brevity is a beautiful
    thing.
    I have to agree with Armen that "ikrah" is indeed wonderful. It's one of
    those
    dishes that if served it in those fancy Italian restaurants with the crappy
    bread basket they bring outeveryone would jump on the bandwagon. You'd see
    blogs on the internet about which restaurants on Melrose had the best
    "eggplant
    dip," followed by a section in Whole Foods for homemade Ikra from Vermont.
    But we are Armenian and that means with out luck; Turks would end up somehow
    stealing/getting credit like they did with yoghurt, lokhum, and baklava.
    As for the community organizations contributing to the declining state of our
    youth, all I want to say is that we can either sit here talking and continue
    the problem, or we can roll up our sleeves and try to make differences in our
    communities, each in our own way. But as Mark Geragos's most famous one-gloved
    client/pop star Neverland Ranch resident once said "If you wanna make the
    world
    a better place~ETake a look at yourself, and then make a change"

    Q: I'm sure Dole, Gregorian, and Hovanissian know that taking antiques out of
    the country is illegal. I think they were more concerned about the length of
    time Turkyilmaz was kept in jail without any action. How come you single out
    Dole in your criticism but not the other two?
    Raffi from New Jersey

    A: I guess I jumped on Senator Dole because he is such a good friend of the
    Armenian community and should not be so easily swayed by the folks around him.
    He shouldn't jump head first into an issue before studying all the details.
    He's a former US Senator and Majority Leader. He knows better to study all
    sides of an issue before making a rash decision.
    I admit that Armenia's such an easy target to pick on. Its government may not
    be perfect but that doesn't mean this Turkyilmaz guy is innocent.
    But neither are the guys who sell him these books or who aid him in taking
    these treasures out of the country. I think the biggest crime that took place
    is that the people who have been providing these rare books to him were not
    arrested as well.

    Q: Have you heard anything about a Victoria's Secret opening up in Yerevan?
    Koko from Philadelphia

    A: I did a little bit of research on the internet and sure enough, there's a
    store called "Victoria's Secret" opening up in Yerevan, Armenia. Here's the
    link to the picture for those who are greater (do I dare to use a pun)
    skeptics
    than I am: www.cilicia.com/uploaded_images/victorias-739751.jpg
    Lord only knows where the "T" is in the sign. Someone should double check
    Turkyilmaz's luggage. Someone suggested that the "T" is actually stuck in
    customs at Zvartnots International Airport.
    But what frightens me more than the missing letter T is the whole idea of
    having a Victoria's Secret in Yerevan, Armenia. How do you even begin to
    explain to an older Armenian woman what a g-string is or a cleavage-enhancing
    bra? How would the bra sizes even work? Would it be by the traditional
    Armenian alphabetAyp, Pen, Keem, Tah? Would a double "D" cup bra be called Tah
    Tah in Armenia? Would this be considered sacrilegious since 2005 is the 1600th
    anniversary of St. Mesrop Mashdots inventing the Armenian alphabet? What
    impression will this store leave on tourists who will walk by, look at the
    lace
    underwearbra ensembles in the window and then look straight up at the
    apartment
    complexes to find clotheslines festooned with the oversized trootseegs and
    vardeegs of gold-toothed Armenian grandmothers waving in the wind to dry like
    ceremonial flags for some sort of May Day parade? Is there also going to be a
    Frederick's of Little Armenia, Hollywood opening up next? Depending on the
    success of this store, will Victoria's Secret launch a whole new line of
    muumuus and have mannequins in its windows wearing slippers and nylons rolled
    down to the knees? Inquiring minds need to know!
    I guess we'll all just have to wait and see.


    Skeptik Sinikian is a part time Professor at the Yereven Polytechnic
    Institute
    for Advanced Lingerie Design. He will be teaching a course on the physics of
    under wire support and gravity. If you wish to enroll or audit his course,
    email him at [email protected] or visit his blog at
    www.Sinikian.blogspot.com.


    6. William Saroyan The Man

    Photographer Harry Koundakjian remembers William Saroyan on the anniversary of
    the writer's birthday

    William Saroyan was born in Fresno on August 31, 1908 and left us in 1981. He
    was an internationally renowned Armenian-American writer, playwright, and
    humanitarian. His fame and his most enduring achievements as a writer date
    back
    to the 1930's.
    His talent was first projected onto the world through the medium of an
    Armenian-English newspaper, Hairenik of Boston. With the publication of his
    first book, The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze, written at the age of
    26, he became an overnight literary sensation.
    In 1939, the play "Time of Your Life" was given the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
    But Saroyan declined the prize, saying that art should not be awarded with
    prizes, especially by the rich who had no understanding of such things. He
    did,
    however, accept the Drama Critic's Circle Award in that same year.
    His novels, "My Name Is Aram" and "The Human Comedy," were books-of-the-month
    in the 1940s. "The Human Comedy," was turned into a movie in 1940, and the
    Academy Award for best picture and original story for the play.
    During his lifetime, Saroyan published over sixty books that have been
    translated into more than two dozen languages, selling millions.
    In the last book published during his lifetime, Saroyan wrote: "My work is
    writing, but my real work is being."
    He spoke to and for Armenians, and gave international recognition to his
    people at a time when they were met with prejudice and outright hatred. By
    international standards, he is very likely the most famous literary figure
    produced by his ancient people.
    In May 1981, William Stonehill Saroyan died of prostate cancer at the age of
    72. "Everybody has got to die," he said, "but I have always believed an
    exception would be made in my case; now what?" He loved America but he did not
    forget Armenia. One year after he died, half of Saroyan's cremated remains
    were
    permanently placed in the Pantheon of Greats in Yerevan, Armenia, while the
    other half remained in Fresno, California.
    In 1991, William Saroyan was the first and only individual to be jointly
    honored by the USA, as part of its Literary Arts Series, and the USSR Postal
    Services on their Commemorative Postal Stamps.

    Harry Koundakjian is the Associated Press's chief photographer in charge of
    all
    13 Arab countries in the Middle East, North and East Africa, Turkey, and Iran.
    Koundakjian has been everywhere imaginable and covered everyone from
    royalty to
    revolutionary. He has had entrée into public and private events, has recorded
    death and destruction, and captured life at it highest and lowest moments. His
    photographs tell innumerable stories.

    7. Turkey Under EU Pressure Over Cyprus

    By Daniel Dombey in Newport and Vincent Boland in Ankara

    European Union foreign ministers pressed Turkey on Thursday to move towards
    full diplomatic and commercial relations with Cyprus and remove a stumbling
    block to Turkey's EU membership talks.
    At a meeting in Newport, Wales, the ministers worked on an EU declaration
    that
    would increase pressure on Turkey to establish normal relations with Cyprus
    but
    not put in question the planned start of the talks with Ankara on October 3.
    Britain, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, hopes the declaration
    will defuse the issue of Cyprus, which has overshadowed Turkey's prospects in
    recent weeks.
    But the UK still faces a race against the clock to win unanimous agreement
    among the EU's 25 governments on the goals and principles of the membership
    negotiations themselves.
    "We have not yet had the detailed discussion on the negotiating mandate,"
    said
    an EU official. "But if the negotiations start, the EU will have real leverage
    in making sure that Turkey implements its commitments."
    France, and Cyprus itself, had previously argued that it was "inconceivable"
    to begin negotiations while Turkey did not diplomatically recognise Cyprus,
    the
    divided island it invaded in 1974.
    Cyprus has also complained vociferously that Turkey still bans its ships from
    docking at Turkish ports, despite Ankara's customs union with the EU.
    Nevertheless, both Paris and Nicosia have taken more conciliatory
    positions in
    recent behind-the-scenes talks.
    The UK hopes it has found a satisfactory compromise with a call for the EU to
    review Turkey's implementation of the customs union next year, and a statement
    emphasising the need to normalise Turkish-Cypriot relations.
    However, Abdullah Gul, Turkey's foreign minister, adopted a hard line on
    Thursday, saying the opening of Turkish ports and airports to traffic from
    Cyprus was not covered by the customs union agreement between Ankara and
    Brussels as Turkey was not a full member of the EU.
    "Expectations from full members and expectations from candidate countries are
    quite different," he said. "Everybody knows what the customs union means."
    At the Newport meeting, the foreign ministers also sought to build support
    for
    the EU position to censure Iran at the United Nations Security Council unless
    Tehran stopped all suspect nuclear activities.


    8. Congressman Ed Royce ANCA's 'Human Rights Champion'

    Organization will honor Orange County Representative for his long history of
    championing rights of all victims of genocide

    LOS ANGELESUnited States Congressman Ed Royce (R-40) has been selected to
    receive the Armenian National Committee - Western Region's coveted Human
    Rights
    Champion award for his principal role in human rights issues, including his
    forthright stance on the Armenian Genocide. The announcement came on Thursday
    that Royce, who serves on the House International Relations Committee as well
    as the Financial Services Committee, would be receiving the honor at the
    organization's Annual Banquet that will be held on September 18. The
    Banquet is
    the ANCA-WR's gala event, and will be held at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
    in Los Angeles this year.
    Royce, who is a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, has
    been a strong supporter of issues of concern to the Armenian American
    community
    throughout his seven terms in Congress. Most recently, Congressman Royce
    cosponsored the Armenian Genocide resolution with Rep. George Radanovich
    (R-19).
    During his tenure in Congress, the Congressman hosted the ANCA Armenian
    Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill, an annually event that draws hundreds of
    Armenian Americans from across the country.
    He has persistently written the President of the United States urging him to
    use the term "genocide" in his annual April 24 addresses, and to help in end
    Turkey's blockade of Armenia. Congressman Royce was honored by the ANC-Orange
    County Chapter in 2004.
    "Congressman Royce is a strong human rights defender," says ANCA-WR Chairman
    Steven Dadaian. "He not only supports a just resolution for the Armenian
    Genocide, but also understands that without the re-affirmation of the facts of
    this tragedy, atrocities will continue to occur around the world."
    Royce has a strong history of public service. In 1982, he was elected to the
    California State Senate where he began his fight for victims' rights and has
    continued this fight in the Halls of Congress since his election in 1992.
    As a member of the International Relations Committee, the Congressman Chairs
    the Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation, and is the
    Vice-Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and
    International Operations; he is also a member of the Subcommittee on Oversight
    and Investigations.
    During his tenure as the Chairman of the Africa Subcommittee (1998-2004),
    Royce held some 70 hearings examining a wide range of issues of importance to
    Africa and the US, and shepherded several legislative initiatives and numerous
    resolutions affecting relations between the US and Africa. Hearings in 2004
    included confronting war crimes in Africa, reflecting on the Rwandan genocide,
    the current genocide in Darfur, and peace prospects in Sudan, the Ivory Coast,
    and the Congo. Rep. Royce has led several Congressional delegations to
    numerous
    African countries, including his most recent trip to observe the genocide in
    Darfur, Sudan.
    The ANCA-WR Annual Banquet regularly draws over 700 individuals, including a
    long list of dignitaries, such as prominent Members of Congress and state
    legislators, as well as a vast number of Armenian American community leaders
    and political activists. The annual event is the largest of its kind and helps
    raise funds to operate the nation's largest and most influential Armenian
    American grassroots and political advocacy organization. More honorees are to
    be announced in the coming weeks before the annual banquet.
    For more information on this year's ANCA-WR Annual Banquet, or to reserve a
    table, call the ANCA-WR office at (818) 500­1918.


    9. Cyprus Member of Parliament Bedros Kalaydjian Dies

    NICOSIA (Financial Mirror)--Bedros Kalaydjian, the Representative of the
    Armenian minority in the Cyprus parliament, died Thursday after a long
    illness.

    Kalaydjian, who turned 71 a week ago, served in the House of Representatives
    for two terms.
    He was first elected in the by-election of October 22, 1995 and at the
    parliamentary elections of May 26, 1996 and May 27, 2001.
    Through his parliamentary duties, he often rallied support for Armenia and
    Mountainous Karabagh and, like his predecessors, also raised the issue of
    Turkey's denial of the 1915 Genocide of Armenians.
    At home, Kalaydjian's main priorities were educational reform and improvement
    of the Nareg elementary schools in Nicosia, Larnaca and Limassol.
    He played a decisive role in the ratification and adoption by Cyprus in 2002
    of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, one of the first
    European countries to do so. The Charter anticipated the continuation of the
    Melkonian Educational Institute school in Nicosia, which the AGBU Central
    Board
    in New York decided to close citing financial reasons.
    Kalaydjian fervently opposed the decision to close the school and sell off
    the
    land, but was unable to persuade the organization's leadership of the
    importance of maintaining the only Armenian secondary school in the European
    Union, with its unique boarding facility attracting students from around the
    world. He assisted in securing a preservation order and declaring most of the
    school grounds a 'national historic site.'
    He was a founding member of the Cyprus - Armenia Friendship Association and
    convinced the Cyprus government to sponsor dance, orchestral and art groups
    from Armenia to visit the island.
    Kalaydjian supported government decisions to maintain Armenian monuments,
    including the 19th century historic cemetery near Paphos Gate that was
    recently
    destroyed, but was expected to be restored. However, he did not live to see
    his
    dream project materialize, the establishment of a 'monument of gratitude' that
    is expected to be built on the Larnaca seafront to mark the arrival of
    Armenian
    refugees and survivors of the massacres in Turkey and the subsequent welcome
    offered by the people of Cyprus.


    10. Parliament Approves Constitutional Reform Draft in Second Reading

    YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Armenia's parliament on Thursday approved by a 98 to 0
    vote, and one abstention, a package of proposed constitutional amendments, in
    their second reading. Armenian President Robert Kocharian's spokesman said
    that, unlike the acting Constitution that gives the president sweeping powers,
    the amendments reserve that role for parliament. "The parliament will have the
    leading role--given that political forces are able to organize themselves and
    consolidate, but if they fail to do so, the president of the country
    should be
    able to ensure the country remain immune from crisis," he said. The third and
    final reading of the proposed constitutional amendments is expected in late
    September, after which the reform package will be put to a national
    referendum,
    within 40 days.


    11. Armenian President Congratulates Karabagh Independence

    President Kocharian congratulated leaders and people of Mountainous Karabagh
    Republic on the 14th anniversary of declaring independence.
    In his message, President Kocharian stressed the "historical and irreversible
    choice" made in declaring independence, and pointed to Karabagh's army,
    government institutions, and economic progress, as confirmation of their
    commitment to developing the country.
    The President's message also stressed Armenia's commitment to establishing
    peace in Karabagh. "We shall do everything possible to approximate the fair,
    peaceful, and just solution to the conflict."
    Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR) declared its independence on September 2,
    1991 in compliance with international and domestic law, through the
    adoption of
    the "Declaration of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh" by the local legislative
    councils of Mountainous Karabagh and the bordering Armenian-populated
    Shahumian
    district.
    But Karabagh declared independence not from the Soviet Union, but from Soviet
    Azerbaijanan act that fully complied with the existing 1990 Soviet law "On the
    Procedures for a Union Republic to Leave the USSR," that said the secession of
    a Soviet republic from the body of the USSR allowed an autonomous district in
    the same republic's territory to also trigger its own process of independence.
    Thus, Mountainous Karabagh has never been a part of the independent Azerbaijan
    Republic.


    12. Genocide Script among Finalists for Elly Award

    SACRAMENTO Aram Kouyoumdjian's "The Delicate Lines" was named among the
    nominees for Best Original Script as the Sacramento Area Regional Theater
    Alliance recently announced the nominations of its annual Elly Awards.
    "Protest," a shorter solo performance work by Kouyoumdjian, won a Best Actor
    nomination for J.D. Rudometkin.
    "The Delicate Lines" follows the story of an Armenian woman in the aftermath
    of the Genocide as she struggles with her poet brother's descent into madness
    and with her conflicted love for his best friend. Its companion piece,
    "Protest," is a partly-autobiographical work constructed around a
    demonstration
    against Turkish denials of the Genocide.
    "It is immensely satisfying to see plays about the Genocide win such
    recognition within the theater community," Kouyoumdjian said.
    "The Delicate Lines" received its world premiere this April at California
    Stage in Sacramento, where it played to capacity crowds before moving to
    similar sold-out performances in San Francisco and Los Angeles. "Protest" is
    currently under consideration for production by the Finborough Theatre in
    London this fall.
    The nomination is Kouyoumdjian's second consecutive citation in the
    playwriting category. He won the Best Original Script award last year for
    "The
    Farewells." He has an additional Elly for directing ("Three Hotels").
    Rudometkin is a repeat nominee as well, having previously been
    short-listed as
    Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Caryl Churchill's "Far Away,"
    also
    directed by Kouyoumdjian.
    Kouyoumdjian, an associate member of the Dramatists Guild, is currently
    collaborating on the script of "Little Armenia," which has been
    commissioned by
    the Fountain Theatre and is slated for production early next year.


    13. Zareh at Harvest Gallery

    Harvest Gallery will be exhibiting paintings and drawings by Zareh, an artist
    who has displayed his art in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the Los
    Angeles metropolitan area. He has also staged live, public exhibits including
    "The Red Trees of the Armenian Genocide" (2001) and most recently a traveling
    series titled "Marry the Priest" (2002). His art has been featured in numerous
    mainstream and ethnic publications including the Los Angeles Times, La
    Opinion,
    Panorama (Russian), Armenian Observer, Armenian Reporter International,
    Asbarez
    Daily and the Beirut Times.
    Born in 1956, in Syria, Zareh moved to civil war-torn Lebanon, where he grew
    up. His art represents endless transformation and evolution. "Reality is not
    absolute, it is relative. Art is an expression relative to environment and
    period," says Zareh. Immigrating to the United States in 1983, he attended
    classes at both UCLA and the Barnsdall Art Center.

    Artist Opening Reception: Friday, September 9, 7:00PM to 10:00PM
    Exhibition runs September 9 through September 27

    Harvest Gallery: 938 North Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA
    Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00AM to 7:00PM.

    For general information about the exhibit, call Harvest Gallery at
    818.546.1000 or visit <http://www.harvestgallery.com/>www.harvestgallery.com;
    visit <http://www.artistzareh.com/>www.artistzareh .com for details and
    images of
    the Artist's work.


    14. Hamazkayin Seeks Actors, Actresses for October 2 Performance at Alex
    Theatre

    Four Armenian-speaking actors and actresses in their 20s or early 30s are
    being
    sought for a theatrical performance in front of a massive audience at the Alex
    Theatre on October 2.
    More than 1,200 people are expected at the event, organized by the Hamazkayin
    Cultural Society, in commemoration of the Armenian alphabet's 1600th
    anniversary.
    The 10-minute performance piece, developed specifically for the event,
    will be
    a movement-driven dramatization of a choral poem by Siamanto. It will be
    collaboratively staged by Elly Award-winning director Aram Kouyoumdjian and
    original music composer Sebu Simonian of the band Aviatic. All members of the
    ensemble will have a substantial line load.
    The auditions, which will consist of cold readings from the script, will be
    held on Tuesday, September 6, at 8:00 pm, at 407 E. Colorado Street in
    Glendale
    (near Jackson; entrance to the building is from the rear).
    Aside from the age and language requirements mentioned above, auditioners
    must
    be physically fit, have strong voices, and be able to make rehearsals during
    the last two weeks in September.
    For further information, please call (213) 280-9859 or e-mail
    [email protected].


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