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Fitch revises VTB Bank (Armenia)'s outlook to positive

Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook on VTB Bank (Armenia)'s ("VTBA") Foreign and Local Currency Issuer Default ratings ("IDR") to Positive from Stable. Its ratings are affirmed at Foreign and Local Currency IDR 'BB', Short-term Foreign and Local Currency 'B', Individual 'D/E' and Support '3'.

The revised Outlook reflects the recent change in the Outlooks of Armenia's Foreign and Local Currency IDRs to Positive from Stable. The IDRs were affirmed at 'BB-' (BB minus). Were the sovereign ratings to be upgraded, this would be likely to signal a reduction in Armenian country risks, in particular transfer and convertibility risks, which at present constrain VTBA's ratings.

VTBA is one of the largest banks in Armenia with about 10% of the banking system's loans and retail deposits at end-2006. VTBA (formerly known as Armsberbank) has a long history of operations in Armenia and traces its origin to a branch of Sberbank of the former USSR, established in 1923. The bank services both corporate and retail clients, supported by an extensive branch network consisting of 100 branches located all over the country. The bank is majority-controlled by Russia's VTB (IDR 'BBB+').

Re-disseminated by The Asian Banker

https://www.theasianbanker.com/A556C5/Updat...AF?Opendocument

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  • 1 месяц спустя...

SOURCE: Global Gold Corp.

Jun 20, 2007 12:28 ET

Global Gold Holds Annual Meeting

Provides Update on Operations; Board Approves Additional Good Governance Standards; Announces Personnel Changes

GREENWICH, CT--(Marketwire - June 20, 2007) - Global Gold Corporation (OTCBB: GBGD), an international gold mining, development and exploration company with mining properties in Armenia, Chile and Canada, held its annual shareholders meeting as noticed last Friday. With almost 80% of all outstanding shares represented in the voting process, shareholders re-elected the current Board of Directors by an over 99% favorable vote. Re-elected as directors were Van Z. Krikorian - Chairman and CEO, Drury J. Gallagher - Chairman Emeritus, Treasurer and Secretary, as well as independent directors Nicholas Aynilian of NJA Investments, Ian Hague co-founding principal at Firebird Management, and Retired Ambassador Harry Gilmore. The shareholders also voted to confirm Sherb and Co., LLP (www.sherbcpa.com) as the company's outside auditor.

In addition, there was a review of Global Gold's current and planned operations, especially of its expansion into uranium exploration in Canada. Global Gold Uranium LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Gold Corp., is engaged in the exploration for and development of uranium deposits in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. In southwestern Newfoundland, airborne and prospecting work is planned at the Cochrane Pond property in which Global Gold shares interests with Commander Resources and Bayswater Uranium.

Global Gold Uranium is also commencing an exploration program this season at and around the Grand Lake and Shallow Lake uranium prospects in Labrador. Exploration of the company's uranium projects is being managed by Hrayr Agnerian, Senior Vice President and Ted Urquhart, Vice President, both seasoned uranium experts. This summer, the company will be opening an office in Toronto headed by Mr. Agnerian to focus on Canadian projects.

Global Gold's current production, exploration and development focus in Armenia primarily revolves around the North Central Armenian Belt, where it is integrating the Hankavan molybdenum, copper and gold deposit, Toukhmanuk mine, and at least thirteen other adjacent exploration sites. Global Gold has been conducting a drill program there to confirm the historical data and develop mining plans. Announcement of the results and analysis is now expected in the third quarter of 2007. Issues arising from the outside Laboratory have delayed these announcements, and the company has invested in its own international class laboratory facility at Toukhmanuk with control checks done outside Armenia. In addition, the 2007 drilling and exploration programs are underway at Getik and Marjan properties, with results anticipated by the fourth quarter of 2007. The company also owns royalty and participation rights in the country, and reaffirmed its long-term commitments there. Its royalty and other interests in Iberian Resources projects there have passed to Tamaya Resources (www.Tamayaresources.com) following the successful merger of those two companies and its shareholdings in Iberian have now become twenty million shares of Tamaya's common stock. This year, Global Gold expanded its awards of shares to local employees in Armenia substantially, and has seen positive reactions.

Global Gold has an office in Santiago, Chile, and engages in exploration and development. It currently has a royalty interest in the Santa Candelaria copper/gold property in the Chanaral District III in Chile, recently added a local geologist to its local staff, and is actively engaged in reviewing exploration and production options in Chile.

Van Krikorian, Chairman and CEO stated, "We are pleased with the commodity and sovereign diversification the company has put together, our management, employees, and our short-, medium-, and long-term prospects. The last year has seen us make progress on a number of acquisitions and operations challenges and we have done so by maintaining the highest of standards. We are not satisfied, of course, and we know we need to do more work in partnership with our investors and partners to move to the next level. This year's plans are aggressive, but well underway, and we thank everyone who is helping us improve the company."

Following the annual shareholders meeting, the Board also adopted a nominating and governance charter which emphasizes the role of independent directors, consistent with the company's commitment to best practices in internal operations, environmental responsibility, and social responsibility. The charter can be accessed through the Global Gold website, and includes the following: Communication with Directors. The Board believes that it is important to offer stockholders the opportunity to communicate with the Board about Company issues and developments. Stockholders who wish to communicate with the Board may do so by sending written communications addressed to the Board of Directors, Global Gold Corporation, 45 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 or by email at [email protected].

In personnel changes, Global Gold announces that Mike Mason has stepped down as President for personal reasons and will be a consultant to the company. Mr. Mason's resignation as President is effective as of Monday June 18, 2007, and Senior Vice President Agnerian will be assuming his duties on an interim basis. Mr. Agnerian, with the Board's approval, has substantially increased his commitment to Global Gold, and his employment contract was amended accordingly. The company's Chief Financial Officer and controller have also switched positions. Jan Dulman, the former controller, has become a full time employee and was named CFO. Lester Caesar, the former CFO, will now serve as the company's controller on a part time basis.

Mr. Krikorian concluded, "We all appreciate everything Mike did for us at some very critical times in the company's growth. He is a quality person, we wish him well in the future, and we are glad he will still be available to us. We also thank Les Caesar for his time as CFO and continuing to serve as controller, while Jan Dulman steps up to the CFO position. Jan is familiar with all of our operations, including in Armenia where he spent time last year, and we appreciate his increased commitment to Global."

More information can be found at www.globalgoldcorp.com.

To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, including statements as to revenue projections, business strategy, outlook, objectives, future milestones, plans, intentions, goals, future financial conditions, future collaboration agreements, the success of the Company's development, events conditioned on stockholder or other approval, or otherwise as to future events, such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. Former Soviet country estimations are presented for historical reporting and to provide a basis for assessing Global Gold's choices for its business activities and not to be understood as indicating the existence of reserves or resources.

http://www.marketwirecanada.com/2.0/release.do?id=744366

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New airport terminal opens in Armenia

12 June 2007

Armenia is one of the top emerging economies in the Caucasus. With its strategic geographical location, this country is the historical gateway between Asia and Europe, a bridge between the East and West. In the last few years, Armenian economy has grown spectacularly, along with the number of business opportunities. Moreover, thanks to its rich historical and cultural heritage, the country has become a popular tourist destination with a higher growth potential within the region.

In 2002 Armenia International Airports decided to start the renovation and extension works of Zvartnots International Airport, in Yerevan, the country’s capital. After less than 40 months, the new terminal has just been opened, with the intention of becoming a link for tourism and commerce between Asia and Europe.

Armenia International Airports, the company in charge of the management, aim to turn Zvartnots into an international centre connecting Armenia with the world and opening the country to foreign visitors. Road infrastructure in Armenia is currently being surpassed by the ever-increasing trade traffic within this region of the Caucasus. In spite of the efforts made by the Armenian government to improve their national road network, the country’s short-term business goals will depend mainly on air transport.

Improvements at Zvartnots will involve a total investment of €164 million for the next 30 years. Armenia International Airports has already allocated over 70 million to the first phase, which included a 19,200 sq m extension of the premises and a refurbishment of around 45,000 sq m.

Now, the first phase is complete, the airport boasts a 54,000 sq m runway and 45,000 sq m of building. In addition, a new terminal was created that occupies a 25,000 sq m area.

After completing the project, the company expects that the airport will achieve a passenger-traffic of over 2 million people in its first year. In order to adapt to the forthcoming increase in visitors, new parking has been created, with capacity for 1,000 vehicles. In terms of freight transport, Armenia International Airports has fitted-out a new cargo terminal, which can house a variety of cargo and has capacity for 100,000 tons per year.

34 international airlines will now operate from Zvartnots, connecting Yerevan and Armenia to the world’s most important cities, including London. Altogether around 60 routes will be scheduled to fly from Zvartnots.

High security, technology, and comfort

In order to comply with the international air regulations, Armenia International Airports has made a great effort to improve security at Zvartnots. Among other measures, 150 surveillance cameras have been installed in the premises, both inside the buildings and in open spaces.

The modernisation effort has been significant, including the implementation of an innovative flight information display system (FIDS) as well as new automated and biometric-identification systems for baggage check-in and passenger control. Also all buildings are now equipped with Wi-Fi Internet connection.

In addition, the company has focused attention on improving visitors’ comfort within the premises. Arrivals hall capacity has been doubled to reach a volume over 1,000 passengers per hour, and passenger management will be streamlined between three and four-fold thanks to a substantial extension of the customs points.

Finally, the renovation of the airport’s relax areas and restaurants has been extensive, together with the enhancement of the Duty Free shops’ product offering.

http://www.easier.com/view/Travel/Flights/...cle-121868.html

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Russia: smaller Armenian apricot import

Warsaw - Russia can remain without Armenian apricots due to the bad harvest there. This year crop in Armenia will be reduced 2-3 times in comparison with 2006 (harvest of apricots in Armenia in past year was estimated at about 50 thousand MT.) These days should be the season when green apricots are abundantly for sale on the streets of Yerevan. This year it is not so, and a kilo of the fruits – which usually would cost about 500 drams on the street (about $1.45) – is selling for 3000 drams ($8.65).

According to the Garnik Petrosyan, head of the department for plant cultivation and protection at Armenian Ministry of Agriculture the bad harvest of apricots is caused by pouring rains during the period of flowering. Garnik Petrosyan noted that the bad harvest of apricots will naturally affect the prices, but it is difficult to say how much at the moment - "prices on the internal consumer market are formed taking into account the index of export, volumes of purchases by the processing companies, and it is thus far difficult to say, what will be the price of one kilogram of apricots on the market".

The representative of the Ministry of Agriculture reported also that the processing companies buy about 5 thousand MT of apricots yearly and next 9 thousand MT is exported. However, according to him, the index of export is sufficiently relative, since large amount of apricots is exported to Russia by the passenger cars or by tourists. Russia is the basic export destination for Armenian apricots.

Publication date: 6/19/2007

Author: FreshPlaza Correspondent Poland

Copyright: www.freshplaza.com

http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=3249

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The Armenian Appeal

Building on centuries of solid bilateral ties,Armenian President Robert Kocharian visitsEgypt to ink new economic, political, educationaland cultural cooperation protocols

By Nadine El Sayed

Although the Armenian community has for years meshed seamlessly with Egyptian society, with Armenian jewelers, businesses, schools and clubs found throughout the nation, very few people actually know that Egypt’s history with Armenia goes all the way back to the days of the Pharaohs, and that some of the most influential figures in Egypt’s history were in fact Armenian.

With such a strong history of friendly relations between the two countries and their peoples, Armenian President Robert Kocharian’s first visit to Egypt last month was expected to further enhance the cooperation between the two countries, in areas economic, political, educational and cultural.

“The visit of the president is the best proof of the existing cooperation between Armenia and Egypt,” Armenian Ambassador to Egypt Dr. Rouben Karapetian tells Egypt Today. “This is the current president’s first visit to Egypt and it is an official visit for negotiations and talks starting with President Mubarak and then Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, the speakers of the Parliament and Sheikh Al-Azhar. It’s a dialogue of civilizations.”

Karapetian adds that the president’s meeting with Arab League Secretary Amr Moussa and the Arab ambassadors “reflects the level [of cooperation] between [Armenia and] not only Egypt, but also the Arab world.”

The visit also saw the signing of eight agreements in different fields including tourism, economy and education, with an agreement inked between Cairo University and a medical university in Armenia, according to Karapetian. The two nations also agreed to increase cooperation between their respective ministries of interior in terms of exchange of criminal suspects and other matters of justice.

The agreements signed are only a few of many pacts and treaties between the two countries since the beginning of diplomatic relations in 1992, a year after Armenia was declared a free state. Egypt was one of the first countries to recognize its independence and since then the two countries have been initiating mutual cooperation in several fields.

“During these 15 years, we succeeded in establishing excellent levels of political relationships and close cooperation in practically all fields,” notes Karapetian. And when it comes to “assisting each other in international organizations, we can claim to be exemplary for others.”

A Marriage of Civilizations

But the history between the two countries goes back significantly further than 1991, with the Armenian heyday in Egypt peaking during the Byzantine and Fatimid times, when Armenian politicians reached prominent positions during the reign of Mohammed Ali.

Armenians have thus always been part of the Egyptian community, influencing it as much as being influenced by it. “There is a [long] history between Armenians and Egyptians and as citizens of Egypt, [we contributed to the history and society of Egypt],” notes Karapetian.

Ahmed Ibn Tulun, who built the Ibn Tulun Mosque, and the three architect brothers who erected Bab El-Nasr, Bab El-Fath and Bab Zuwayla, all important historical Egyptian monuments, are examples of Armenians who came to Egypt and left imprints on its culture and history.

But Armenian influence goes far beyond building monuments. Armenians have had a particular impact on Egypt’s educational system, with Ya’cub Artin Pasha Cherakian, known as El-Ustaz El-Kabir (the Great Teacher), developing education and establishing the first school for girls in Egypt as well as the first kindergarten.

The first school in Egypt was established with the help of an Armenian called Boghos Bey Yusufian. Under the rule of Armenians including Badr Al-Gamali, a prominent military leader commanding an all-Armenian army, and his son Al-Afdal, Egypt saw the creation of the Dar El-Wizarra Palace as well as two public parks boasting exotic gardens. Armenian-born Shagaret Al-Durr also became the first woman to sit on Egypt’s throne in the Islamic era.

And what few people know is that Armenian Nubar Pasha, Egypt’s first prime minister, had a vision of creating Heliopolis. He managed Cairo’s Water Company, which introduced piped water — this led to the creation of Heliopolis later on by his son, who invited Baron Empain to build the district. Nubar Pasha also designed an irrigation plan and is the only Armenian to have both a lake and a type of long-staple cotton named after him. Despite his valuable contributions to agriculture, it was Nubar Pasha’s shrewd legal reforms and his decision to establish mixed courts that were considered his greatest achievements in Egypt.

With such deep historical roots, it’s no surprise that the relationship between the countries only grew stronger after Armenia declared its independence. “When Armenia became independent, we had a good base for developing relations and it was much easier because for years Armenia was a part of the Middle East region,” says Karapetian. “Although in 301 AD, Armenia became the first country in the world to officially adopt Christianity and [while] it is a European country, it is also part of the Middle East. Thus it has a historical mission of [interpreting], of creating the link in different areas with its knowledge of the East and European background. Our relationship with Egypt and the Arab world is based on other historical experiences too.”

A Stronger Future

Today the Armenian community in Egypt remains one of the oldest in the world, comprising some 8,000 nationals living mainly in Cairo and Alexandria. Although the number was much higher in 1915 when a forced migration followed the Armenian genocide in Turkey and Egypt opened its arms to Armenian refugees, it drastically decreased with the Nasserite movement and the nationalization of their businesses.

“Armenians have been welcomed in Egypt and were given an opportunity to contribute while in other countries they were forced to leave,” notes Karapetian.

At present the community has consolidated ties with the social and religious organizations nationwide. The Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church serves to guard the community’s assets, and many other organizations provide support to the Armenian community in Egypt. There are several Armenian schools still functioning and although once restricted to just Armenians, they have, for financial reasons, been forced to accept students from other nationalities. There are also four cultural clubs in Cairo and two in Alexandria, providing activities for youth, such as dancing and choirs, three sporting clubs in Cairo and two in Alexandria. The ambassador notes that over the years, Armenians have smoothly integrated into the Egyptian culture and there has been a noticeable harmony between the two cultures.

“I always say if you want to give an example of exact and real dialogue between Christians and Muslims, you can give the example of Armenia and Egypt.” et

http://www.egypttoday.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=7401

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June 26, 2007 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Virage Logic Key Participant in Inaugural Armenian Technology Congress

Semiconductor IP Leader Helps Promote Strength of Country’s Engineering Talent

ArmTech Congress 2007

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Virage Logic Corporation (NASDAQ:VIRL), the semiconductor industry’s trusted IP partner and pioneer in Silicon Aware IP™, today announced its participation in the inaugural Armenia Technology Congress (ArmTech Congress 2007) to be held July 4–7, 2007, at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. The company boasts a significant presence in the Southwest Asian nation and has contributed the time and talents of key executives – including President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dan McCranie, who will deliver a keynote address, and Vice President and Chief Scientist Dr. Yervant Zorian, who serves as Program Chair – to help define and execute the conference program.

“Virage Logic’s extensive participation in ArmTech Congress 2007 reflects our deep commitment to Armenia as a center for world-class engineering talent and a region in which we expect continued expansion,” said Dan McCranie, president, CEO and director of Virage Logic. “We are proud to support this inaugural conference and I trust that anyone who attends will come away with a profound appreciation for the wealth of intellectual resources Armenia has to offer.”

Virage Logic in Armenia

Recognizing a vital source of technology engineering talent, Virage Logic established its research and development center in Armenia in 1999, three years after the company’s founding. Today the company’s more than 100 employees in Armenia account for nearly one-quarter of its worldwide workforce and contribute to several important product development initiatives. The Armenian research and development (R&D) organization is central to the company’s groundbreaking Self-Test and Repair (STAR) Memory System™, the semiconductor industry’s first integrated embedded test and repair memory system and the first of the company’s Silicon Aware IP solutions. In addition to development of the STAR Memory System, the Armenian engineering team is involved in the development of the company’s software, NOVeA® non-volatile embedded memory product, I/O products and overall memory design.

“Our Armenia R&D center was largely responsible for the STAR Memory System, a significant product that has enabled customers to improve their semiconductor yield by up to 250 percent,” said Dr. Zorian. “Based on the consistent innovation and results our Armenian engineers have produced, we see our growing investment in the region as offering substantial dividends for our products and our customers.”

About ArmTech Congress 2007

The inaugural ArmTech Congress 2007 is expected to draw several hundred attendees – from the United States, Armenia and around the world – from various disciplines including technology, investment, government and academia. The conference program will offer tracks on Education, Telecom, Software, Digital Media, Semiconductor Design and Test, Renewable and Alternative Energy, Research and Development, Investment, Bio Tech, and Fine Chemical Technologies to showcase the breadth of opportunities in Armenia. For more information or to register for the conference, please visit http://www.armtechcongress.com.

About Virage Logic

Founded in 1996, Virage Logic Corporation (Nasdaq: VIRL) rapidly established itself as a technology and market leader in providing advanced embedded memory intellectual property (IP) for the design of complex integrated circuits. Today, as the semiconductor industry's trusted IP partner, the company is a leading provider of embedded memories, logic, and I/Os, and is pioneering the development of a new class of IP called Silicon Aware IP™. Silicon Aware IP tightly integrates Physical IP (memory, logic and I/Os) with the embedded test, diagnostic, and repair capabilities of Infrastructure IP to help ensure manufacturability and optimized yield at the advanced process nodes. Virage Logic's highly differentiated product portfolio provides higher performance, lower power, higher density and optimal yield to foundries, integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) and fabless customers who develop products for the consumer, communications and networking, hand-held and portable, and computer and graphics markets. The company uses its FirstPass-Silicon Characterization Lab™ for certain products to help ensure high quality, reliable IP across a wide range of foundries and process technologies. The company also prides itself on providing superior customer support and was named the 2006 Customer Service Leader of the Year in the Semiconductor IP Market by Frost & Sullivan. Headquartered in Fremont, California, Virage Logic has R&D, sales and support offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.viragelogic.com.

...

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http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/g...359&newsLang=en

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“ARARATBANK” and Izmirlian Fund signed an agreement on co-funding of business-credits at the whole sum of $4mln

Yerevan, June 26 /Mediamax/. “ARARATBANK” and Izmirlian Fund signed an agreement in Yerevan today on co-funding of business-credits at the whole sum of $4mln.

Mediamax reports that the Chairman of the Board of “ARARATBANK” Ashot Osipian noted that the volume of co-funding will make $2mln from each side.

The minimal sum of the credit will make $250 thousand, the maximum - $1mln, the credits will be allocated in Armenian drams and U.S. dollars, the term of credit - 5 years, interest rate - up to 14% per year. The credits will be granted to representatives of all branches, basically in the field of production, with the exception of agriculture.

Deputy Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia Artur Dzhavadian stressed that the decision of Izmirlian Fund on realization of a joint program with “ARARATBANK” is justified – the fact that the bank assets grew for 43% from the beginning of the year is a good proof. According to Dzhavadian, due to its potential and inner reserves, “ARARATBANK” will manage to stand the growing competition, related to the expected arrival of new players on the Armenian banking market.

Vice-President of Izmirlian Fund Jacques Sarkisian stressed that the main priority of the credit programs realized in Armenia is the establishment of new workplaces.

Starting from 1999, about 4-5 thousand new workplaces were established in Armenia at the expense of the realization of Izmirlian Fund credit programs.

Jacques Sarkisian also informed that the Fund financed the construction of three buildings, the electric power station and the kitchen complex of the Defense Ministry’s Military Institute after Vazgen Sarkisian, the reconstruction and modernization of the library of Yerevan State University.

http://banks.am/eng/index.php?sub=shownews&newsid=20070626_4

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ALROSA DIAMONDS TO BE MANUFACTURED IN ARMENIAN JOINT VENTURE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

24 June 2007

Armenia’s diamond manufacturing industry will soon benefit from Alrosa's rough diamonds. Russian mining company Alrosa is expecting to establish a diamond manufacturing joint venture in Armenia with local diamond manufacturer DCA. According to Russian media sources, the Russian rough, the first shipment of which is planned for as early as this autumn, will be cut and polished at the Alrosa-DCA joint venture, but other Armenian companies under DCA patronage may also receive some of the diamonds for further processing. The diamonds will then be sold in the Russian market.

Alrosa President Sergey Vybornov is expected to sign the joint venture agreement during his upcoming visit to Yerevan. Sources say that a final agreement concerning the joint venture was already reached in Moscow. In addition to talks of the venture, DCA Chairman and Chair of the International Association of Armenian Jewelers Gagik Abramyan, Armenian Ambassador to Russia Armen Smbatyan and Alrosa delegations also discussed the jewelry industry in Armenia and ways to develop it.

Cooperation between Russia and Armenia will benefit both countries, sources say, as processing of Russia’s diamonds, especially small ones less than one carat, is more profitable in Armenia than in Russia. Moreover, with manufacturing prices increasing in India and China, where Alrosa currently sells its diamonds to and then buys the finished products from, Armenia is a good alternative.

http://www.diamondintelligence.com/magazin...ine.asp?id=5178

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Vera Arutyunyan - Simone Cappa

Armenian-born, Los-Angeles-based artist Vera Arutyunyan combines primary colors and an aggressive brushstroke style toward a decidedly contemporary version of Abstract Expressionism. Although the masters of the 50s like Pollock and de Kooning created a similar aesthetic 40 years prior, Vera’s emotionally charged paintings appear forever in the moment. The artist’s vigorous and defined brushstrokes are charged with the very energy of her technique—the very motions of her wrist. In total, they are primary color-infused visions of action painting forever frozen in time. If every element of the artist’s application process is clearly readable upon her finished canvas, Vera means it that way. Highly conscious of all those masters who have tried their hand at the blank canvas before her, Vera paints on, and with a vengeance that brings the viewer up-to-date. Somewhere between the mist of Turner and the drips and splashes of Rauschenberg, Vera stands tall on today’s contemporary art scene for her reinvigoration and renewal not only of a painting style, but also a frame of mind.

Simone Cappa: Can you name or describe some of your influences as a painter—whether they are other artists, concepts, styles, techniques, etc.?

Vera Arutyunyan: I am influenced by all that is created by God. Aren’t we all? Every leaf on the tree, every cloud in the sky, every insect or animal, every footstep in the sand—aren’t they an inspiration enough to make one’s mind fly so high into the world outside of ours, the world where you have an answer for everything and it feels wonderful?

SC: Are your creations completely abstract or do they stem from reality in some way? In other words, how do your works relate to the visible world as we see it on a daily basis? Could these works also represent the dream world?

VA: My creations stem from comprehension of everything that I envision in my own spiritual and emotional world. My own encounters with the philosophical content of life and the emotional resonance of all that surrounds me led me to incorporate colors that emerge in words sometimes more powerful than those of spoken out loud. Is my art abstract? It is as abstract as my dream world.

SC: How do you see your style of painting as having evolved during the course of your artistic career?

VA: Over the years, my form of expression, through mind and words, melded with the very brushes I used, and became one.

SC: Do you believe this evolution complete?

VA: This evolution is not just one that deals with art but has become part of myself—in essence, as grows my art so does my soul. I plunge into my subconscious world when I paint. If only I can regain the ability to draw upon super-consciousness, this would therein never cease to evolve until I cease as well.

SC: How often do you immerse yourself in the world of painting? Is it a daily process, or do you give yourself a little time in between each canvas?

VA: The world of painting is the primary plane on which I live. Though I may not be physically in front of a canvas, in my mind I am always surrounded by a play of colors.

SC: Can you briefly outline the general process and technique that you employ for each of your vibrant paintings?

VA: The technique I employ is one of blind creativity, beginning with brushes, then using my very hands as the medium. In a whirlwind of empty paint tubes, with the drumming of a familiar symphony in the background embodying the tempest of my own emotions, coming to life.

SC: How does your Armenian background figure into your unique creations?

VA: You can tell a lot about an artist by their painting. As for my own, I feel that my culture does not scream but whispers in the very palette of colors I use. The rich textures unwittingly carry through my ancient culture, with its vibrant history and strong faith. It is not a byproduct of my culture, but an instinct that brings it to life.

SC: In your paintings on display at Broadway Gallery this past spring, I discovered a primarily red-based palette. Is there something to your predominant incorporation of this strong color into your works, or was this choice of color completely arbitrary?

VA: If anything, the predominant incorporation of the red-based palette has chosen me. I have no control over which color the eye of my mind sees. It is the same with a musician who writes a symphony and not once stops to analyze the notes with which he plays, but only hears the melody.

SC: In addition to your use of vivid colors in your works on view in New York recently, your brushstrokes are similarly strong and even aggressive in affect. Where is all this power coming from and what do you hope the viewer will see here?

VA: The trials and tribulations of everyday life have only spurred me to find strength and passion through my faith and my art. I paint to deliver myself quite spontaneously of a spiritual world, which I carry within myself. I am hoping to be understood and for my paintings to obtain identity and significance, for them to become securely existent.

http://www.nyartsmagazine.com/index.php?op...7501&Itemid=246

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Armenia’s Vanishing Udis

Small community is slowly losing its ancient language.

By Tatul Hakopian in Dedebavan (CRS No. 398 28-Jun-07)

Seda Kumsieva, a teacher for 36 years, lives in Armenia although she used to teach Russian language and literature in the village of Vardashen in Azerbaijan.

The crisis of the late Eighties that led to the Armenian-Azerbaijani war over Nagorny Karabakh forced her to flee her home and resettle in Armenia.

Seda is an ethnic Udi – a Christian group with its own unique language – but her husband is Armenian, a fact which sealed her fate. Her family is now scattered across the Caucasus.

“Some of my relatives stayed in Vardashen, others settled in Tbilisi. I am completely Udi by blood, but my husband is Armenian and we and other families who had mixed marriages left Azerbaijan,” she said.

Eleven Udis from Azerbaijan resettled in Dedebavan and many more have found homes in other villages. In conversations with IWPR, the Udis made it clear they feel quite secure in Armenia, but are worried that their unique culture is dying out.

The head of the village community in Dedebavan Georgy Babayan told IWPR, “We don’t make any distinction between Armenians and Udis. During the emigration from Vardashen in 1988, several Udi families came with the Armenians. Later on, many of them emigrated to Russia. We are the same as the Udis – we share our joy and grief with them.”

Hranush Kharatian, an ethnographer who has written extensively about the Udis, says that there are only around 200 of them in Armenia.

“The community does not have the status of a national minority,” he said. “Today there isn’t a single regulatory document on this issue. Only those groups which systematically try to preserve their ethnic identity are recognised as minorities.”

Kharatian said that the Udis had fled Azerbaijan not just because of mixed marriages with Armenians, but because they were a persecuted minority.

“Udis who were persecuted in Nij have resettled in the Georgian village of Oktomberi. Until the recent deportations from Azerbaijan there were not just two but five whole Udi villages. We don’t know much about three of the villages, because although the Udis living there were Christians, they spoke Azeri. These villages were called Jourlu, Mirzabeilu and Sultan Nukhi. Several people from there emigrated to Armenia.”

Seda Kumsieva uses her cousins in Tbilisi – who now go by the surname Kumsiashvili – to get information about relatives who stayed behind in her home village. She still badly misses Vardashen – now renamed Oduz.

“Although our way of life and traditions are Armenian, Udis have their own specific festivals,” she said. “As a child, I remember how in May they used to tie multi-coloured threads round the hands of little children and then hang these little bundles on the branches of trees. Everyone used to make a wish to have their dream come true. The festival was called Dimbaz.”

Forty-five-year-old Zanna Lalayan is married to an Armenian and her family is also scattered. “My brother Oleg and other relatives live in Nij. My other brother and other relatives live in Ukraine – his children don’t know the Udi language. Our generation of Udis based in Russia and other countries doesn’t know our language.

“Our nation is gradually dwindling.”

Seventy-year-old Arshaluis Movsisian, an Udi whose late husband was Armenian, lives in the village of Bagratashen and left behind a large part of her family, a whole troop of nieces and nephews. “My heart is breaking, I want to see their faces,” she said, holding back the tears.

“Like the Armenians, we recognise the cross and the church,” she said. “We didn’t marry our girls off to Azerbaijanis and we didn’t marry theirs, because we are people of the cross. Like the Armenians, our brides come out in white clothes, with uncovered faces , we dance Armenian dances and bury our dead according to Armenian customs. Apart from the language, we are no different to them.”

Armenian historians, like their Azerbaijani counterparts, say that the Udis are the descendants of the Caucasian Albanians. But Armenians say the process of assimilation happened much earlier - that the Albanians converted to the Armenian church in the 5th century and at the same time began to adopt the Armenian language, customs and names.

The Udis alone, the historians say, survived as a tiny remnant of a once much bigger culture. They point out that the Udis’ language has nothing in common with either Indo-European Armenian or Turkic Azeri.

Some unique Udi customs also seem to date back to pre-Christian times.

Arzu Dargiyan recalls how in Azerbaijan they used to pay homage to sacred trees. “We would choose a fruit tree in the garden and performed an act of worship in front of it,” she said. “We lit candles and sacrificed animals. It was forbidden to climb the sacred tree or pick its fruit. You could only eat them if they fell from the tree.”

Oleg Dulgarian is an Udi also from Vardashen, although he left as a small child. He runs a non-governmental organisation for refugees, and is passionate about trying to preserve the culture of this ancient but tiny community.

Dulgarian says that he wants to create an organization called “Aghvank” (the ancient name for Caucasian Albania) that will aim to preserve traditions and engage in academic study of the Udis.

“It’s not a problem to be an Udi in Armenia; no one forces us to renounce our ethnicity. The main problems that Udis who have emigrated from Azerbaijan face are the same as those facing the Armenian refugees.”

Dulgarian wants to get government help for his project but the main element of Udi culture – their language – is now in apparently terminal decline.

“My sons don’t speak Udi at all,” lamented Alexei Kazarov, who also fled from Vardashen. “Our nation is gradually disappearing. There are only eight or ten thousand Udis left in the whole world.”

Tatul Hakopian is a political observer for Public Radio in Armenia.

http://www.iwpr.net/?p=crs&s=f&o=336660&apc_state=henpcrs

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Adventures in Armenian Cooking

Posted by jadams July 04, 2007 19:54PM

I've mentioned once or twice that my husband is half Armenian. A great thing about that is that I have learned a little bit about Armenian food, which is definitely good eats. I've even learned to make decent tabouli, rice pilaf and paklava. But one of my husband's favorite Armenian delicacies is pizza. It's called Lahmajoon, and it is unlike what we normally think of when we think pizza. Lahmajoon has a super thin, soft crust and a flavorful meat topping. The pizzas are small and are often served as appetizers. One person can easily eat two or three (or four or five) of them themselves in one sitting.

Several years ago, I started browsing online for Armenian recipes and I came across Adventures in Armenian Cooking. It has moved around a few times online, but it remains one of the top hits you will find on any search engine if you look for Armenian recipes. The cool thing about it is that this collection of recipes originally came from St. Gregory's Armenian Apostolic Church right in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield. (My husband's family attends St. Mark's Armenian Church in Sixteen Acres. Yes, there are actually two Armenian churches in Springfield!)

I remember browsing the collection the first time and finding the Lamahjoon recipe. It daunted me. It sounded so complicated. At the time, I hadn't had much experience with yeast doughs either. So, up until now the only Lahmajoon we've been eating has been as occasional treats when we've been in the Boston area and have stopped in Watertown at the Armenian bakery.

Recently at a party at his sister's house, she served some Lamahjoon that she had picked up in Watertown and later he asked me how come I have never made it. It was time to look up that recipe again.

Looking at it now, with the eyes of someone who has finally made a decent regular pizza dough from scratch, and even made yummy soft pretzels, it didn't look so complicated. Today, I finally gave it a try.

For the dough, you need:

6 cups flour

5 tbsp. shortening

1½ tsp. salt

1 pkg. yeast

3 tbsp. sugar

2 cups warm water

The first step is to combine the yeast, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1/2 a cup of water and let it stand for a few minutes.

The recipe says to use a dutch oven to knead the dough. This is a serious amount of dough! So, I counted out 6 cups of flour into one of my biggest pots. I like to dump each cup into its own little mound as I go so I don't lose track. (Otherwise, I would. I definitely would. I don't have enough fingers on the hand that's not scooping!)

To the flour, you add 1-1/2 teaspoons of salt, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and 3 tablespoons of the shortening.

I like to use my plunger measuring cup for anything sticky like shortening. After that, things get really sticky with 1-1/2 cups of water and the yeast mixture.

The rest of the shortening goes on your hand to remove the sticky dough from the bottom of the pan, and from your hand while you knead. Neat trick!

The recipe says to knead until the dough is smooth. I thought it looked a little lumpy still, but I did the best I could, and most of the dough came right off the pan as promised.

I put the whole pot in the oven which I warmed for a little more than a minute, because my oven is electric, and really, how warm at all could an electric oven get in one minute? Three hours later...

Expansion has occured! I used a knife to divide the mass up into 24 balls.

While those rested, I focused on the topping.

2 lbs. lamb or beef, ground once

2 cups canned tomatoes

2 tsp. salt

pinch of cayenne

pinch of blk. pepper

2 med. onions, finely chopped

½ cup parsley, finely chopped

½ cup green pepper, finely chopped

I went with hamburg because lamb is icky-ooey. (Okay, maybe sometimes lamb is okay, like the losh kebab at St. Mark's annual festival. But generally, it gives me the heebie-jeebies.) I didn't know what kind of canned tomatoes to use, but since I had pureed canned tomatoes on hand, I went for it.

The meat mixture needs a really big bowl too! The one I used was a little skimpy. Those onions started flying when I mixed it up with my hands. Eventually, it looked like this:

Next, it was time for my favorite part - playing with dough! I was supposed to roll it into 7-inch circles, but I'm not very good at circles. Also, my dough balls weren't very even in size. So, I got things like this:

Slightly too small and slightly too large amorphous blobs. I'll call them rustic. My strange shapes did make it a little easier to fit them on cookie sheets - I managed to fit 3 or 4 on each time. I found it was easier to apply the meat mixture with a metal spoon than with the plastic measuring spoon I originally started with.

And no, there's no cheese on Armenian pizza. And really, it's okay! It's just not like that.

Look at it, all warm and golden from the oven! It mocks your cheese suggestion. The recipe makes 24 pizzas, which you stagger on trays to cool.

Lahmajoon can be served warm or cold, and is usually made up in batches like this and stored for later use. But I couldn't wait that long. I had to try one warm. The flavor was just right - reminded me of the Armenian bakery in Watertown. However, the crust was a lot crispier. Maybe the cooling and refrigeration are necessary steps. I packed them up, meat filling to meat filling, betwen sheets of wax paper and stashed them in the fridge. Late this evening, I took one out to check. Sure enough, the crust was nice and soft. I heated it up in the microwave and it stayed that way. Excellent! (Lahmajoon makes an excellent late night snack, by the way.)

But the true test will be what my husband thinks of them. He's out of town at the moment, so I will have to wait and let you know. I think he's going to love them, and if the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, just call me Venus, baby!

http://blog.masslive.com/valleyvictuals/20...an_cooking.html

and more for armenian cooking :)

http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?titl...rmenian_Cooking

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Meet Arevik from Armenia :)

Armenia prepares for JESC Debut

Aremenia will be represented at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam this year by the group, Averik. The eight members of the group are debating the lyrics and trying to prepare their final version of the first song to represent Armenia at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.

The group is made up of eight members, Alexanyan Christine (11 years old), Sargsyan Anahit (11years old), Barseghyan Mariam (11 years old), Manukyan Rosa (14 years old), Javakhyan Marianna (15 years old), Tarkhanyan-Khoetsyan Lilit (12 years old), Mzikyan Sargis (13 years old) and Amiryan Seda (12 years old). Javakhyan Marianna is also the song-writer and main lyricist.

The group has been busy working on the song, each adding their thoughts and trying to add their own views on the final wording. The song will be about the children fighting for their own place on Earth, free from adults and supervision. The group will soon return from their summer holidays and finalise their entry for Rotterdam.

http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/8963

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Yerevan tourism guide for 2007.

ArmeniaNow.com and TACentral.com have produced a very nice guide to Yerevan for 2007. I would recommend to download the 150 page PDF file for a more streamlined reading. Otherwise, the July 6, 2007 edition of ArmeniaNow has the articles in separate web pages.

They recommend walking around rather than renting a car for sightseeing in Yerevan. That's exactly what I do when I'm there since most of the stuff you want to see is in the center. When the day gets hot, you are never far from a cafe or an ice cream vendor. And if you are too tired to walk just hop in a metro train - it will help you cool down and get some peace; it's much more pleasant than trying to travel in a hot mini bus. If you want to test your endurance, try climbing Kascad to the Victory Park. After the climb, the water from the pulpulaks in the park will be the best tasting water you have ever had. When the water supply became privately managed and the street vendors selling juice and other refreshments popped up everywhere, I was afraid that the pulpulaks would go away but fortunately that did not happen.

If you are lucky enough to be going to Armenia this summer/fall, check out the guide. This is part 1 so I am sure they will have more guides covering the rest of Armenia.

http://hnazarian.blogspot.com/2007/07/yere...e-for-2007.html

http://www.armenianow.com/pdf/yerevan.pdf

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FILM

PRETTY TO LOOK AT, IT'S STILL A LONG, TEDIOUS JOURNEY

josEF BRAUN / [email protected]

Pretty to look at, it’s still a long, tedious Journey

JOSEF BRAUN / [email protected]

Fully compliant with all the dictates of what we might refer to as the know-your-roots genre, French-Armenian writer/director Robert Guédiguian’s Journey to Armenia (Le Voyage en Arménie) offers a protracted but more or less cozy cruise through the titular homeland of French cardiologist Anna (co-writer Ariane Ascaride) as she searches for her ill and aged father Barsam (Marcel Bluwal).

After receiving alarming news about his heart condition from his own daughter, Barsam decides to ditch his established life in Marseilles in favour of autumnal ethnic rediscovery, though he leaves no word of his departure for his worried kinfolk. Anna thus closes shop for a week in order to track him down and ensure that he understands his full diagnosis and, if he has any sense, returns to France for surgery.

Unsurprisingly, it quickly becomes clear that it is the doctor who needs to truly learn something here and not the patient. Alas, while Anna—who inherited both her father’s stubbornness and gruff disposition—may know her aorta from her septum, she doesn’t really get the finer aspects of the heart’s deeper needs. And though she may not be fully cognizant of it from the outset—I guess she doesn’t watch many movies—her journey isn’t really about doctoral responsibility: it’s about love, family, tolerance and the inner peace gained from forming connections with one’s ancestors.

Anna’s adventures in Armenia include getting a sassy new haircut from a foxy young stripper desperate to score work in France; discovering a humble restaurant proprietress who can play Satie like a dream; penetrating the fertile and all-encompassing Armenian black market; holing up in the rural compound of a national military hero; and even blowing the kneecaps off of a hefty Armenian gangster in one of this otherwise naturalistic film’s more incongruous and wildly improbable detours. (Curiously, it seems that when über-macho Armenian thugs get shot they barely utter even a groan of displeasure.)

At nearly every stop, Anna also gets treated to lessons in what it means to be Armenian, with a special emphasis on genocide, earthquakes, religion, music, drinking, political dysfunction, organized crime and the significance of the beloved, majestic Mount Ararat, looming nearly always in the distance yet always out of reach of its rightful people, since Ararat still remains under Turkish control.

Guédiguian, Ascaride and their co-writer Marie Desplechin pour on the didactic dialogue hot and thick at every rest stop, which isn’t so bad if you’re hot for a very basic history lesson, but can be a little wearisome with regards to building a strong, engaging and inventive narrative. Rather than spend two hours with Anna and company, you can probably find out all the same stuff by spending ten-minutes browsing Armenia’s Wikipedia entry—though, admittedly, it wouldn’t be as colourful in its cast of characters or as pretty to look at. V

?Fri, jul 13 & Sun, Jul 15 (9 pm)

Sat, Jul 14 & Mon, Jul 16 (7 pm)

Journey to Armenia

Directed by Robert Guédiguian

Written by Ariane Ascaride, Marie Desplechin, Guédiguian

Starring Ascaride, Gérard Meylan,

Chorik Grigorian, Romen Avinian

http://www.vueweekly.com/articles/default.aspx?i=6799

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