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  • ASBAREZ Online [03-11-2004]

    ASBAREZ ONLINE
    TOP STORIES
    03/11/2004
    TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
    WEBSITE AT <http://www.asbarez.com/>HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ.COM

    1) Uruguay Parliament Recognizes Armenian Genocide
    2) Tuncboyaciyan's Armenian Navy Band Performs in Yerevan
    3) Iraq Interim Constitution Guarantees Armenian Instruction
    4) Rwanda Invites Aram I to Commemorate 10th Anniversary of its Genocide
    5) MKR Parliament Turns Down State Property Privatization Program
    6) Sako, Joseph Krikorian to Perform at Hye Hopes Event for Ghapan
    7) Assemblymember Carol Liu and ANC Pasadena Chapter Announce Human Rights
    Teacher Training Workshop for Pasadena Public Schools

    1) Uruguay Parliament Recognizes Armenian Genocide

    YEREVAN (Yerkir)--The lower chamber of Uruguay's parliament approved a bill on
    March 10, which indirectly recognizes the Armenian Genocide. The bill calls
    for
    April 24 to be "the commemoration day of Armenians martyred in 1915," and
    obligates the state owned media to "cover those events" on that day.
    There is no reference to "genocide" in the wording of the bill, though
    parliament speeches in favor of the bill did not avoid calling the
    genocide, a
    "genocide." The resolution will become a law with the president's signature.
    In 2000, Uruguay's Senate unanimously passed a resolution marking "April 24 a
    national day of remembrance for the Armenian Genocide."
    In 1965, the Armenian National Committee of Uruguay advanced the passage
    of an
    Armenian Genocide resolution in Uruguay's parliament--to mark the first time a
    country officially recognized the genocide of Armenians.
    At the time, the author of that resolution Senator Dr. Alberto Sid, said that
    the bill aimed to register Uruguay's official position on the Armenian
    Genocide
    as a crime against humanity.
    Interestingly, the world's first April 24 demonstration also took place in
    Uruguay, in 1964.


    2) Tuncboyaciyan's Armenian Navy Band Performs in Yerevan

    YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--The Armenian Navy Band, founded by the
    percussionist and vocalist Arto Tuncboyaciyan, is in Armenia to perform at the
    March 13 opening of Avant-garde Folk Music Club, and to present their latest
    CD, The Voice of Our Life.
    The Armenian Navy Band's compositions are all original and written by
    Tuncboyaciyan, who insists the pieces "have the sound of my life." This music
    is founded on Armenian and Anatolian musical traditions and infused with jazz
    and contemporary culture. Arto's compositions embrace sounds from generations
    past as well as present; he calls it "avant-garde folk." As such, the Armenian
    Navy Band represents the synthesis of Arto's musical journey and life
    experiences. "When people accept me as who I am, I feel like the World is my
    country," says Tuncboyaciyan.
    Born to an Armenian family, Arto's life began in Turkey, where at a very
    early
    age he became a well-known studio musician. He was the youngest in his family
    which lived near Istanbul, and was exposed to diverse cultures from an early
    age. Growing up as a member of Turkey's beleaguered Armenian community meant
    that Arto and others like him were unable to explore their own cultural
    heritage. Although Arto's father was a shoemaker, his brother, Onno, became a
    bass player and composer, and Arto soon followed in his footsteps.
    He immigrated to the United States in 1981, and has since performed and
    recorded with an array of outstanding jazz and world music artists, including
    popular Greek artists such as Eleftheria Arvanitaki, as well as the Spanish
    guitarist Gerardo Nuñez, and Joe Zawinul, Al Di Meola, Oregon, Joe Lovano,
    Wayne Shorter, Don Cherry, Arthur Blythe, Omar Faruk Tekbliek, Naná
    Vasconcelos
    and many others. The sudden loss of Arto's brother Onno in a plane accident in
    1996 gave birth to two albums created by Arto with Ara Dinkjian, recorded in
    Greece. Arto has also recorded with Dinkjian as a member of Night Ark.
    The Armenian Navy Band is composed of twelve of Armenia's finest contemporary
    musicians, ranging in age from 20 to 45. The instruments include the
    traditionalduduk, zurna, kemanche, kanunand the contemporarytrombone, alto
    sax,
    tenor, soprano sax, trumpet, bass, drums, keyboard, and piano. Together with
    the unique vocals and percussion and sazabo of Arto, the band's sound is a
    sort
    of aural journey from the past to the future. Arto himself says: "The project
    was born in 1998 after the meeting in Yerevan with young Armenian musicians
    coming from different music experiences (ethnic and contemporary Armenian
    music)."
    The band's first European tour in February/March 2000 was successfully
    received in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Spain. Their next tour, later that
    year, included Sardinia, France, Brussels, and Holland, ending with a stop in
    Istanbul for the recording of the album "New Apricot" under the Turkish label
    "Imaj Muzik," followed by another brief tour in March 2001 and an extended
    European Summer/Fall tour through to November 2001.


    3) Iraq Interim Constitution Guarantees Armenian Instruction

    ARTICLE 9 OF THE RECENTLY SIGNED IRAQI INTERIM CONSTITUTION, RECOGNIZING
    ARABIC
    AND KURDISH AS THE TWO OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF IRAQ, NEVERTHELESS GUARANTEES THE
    RIGHT TO IRAQI CITIZENS OF ETHNIC ORIGINS, INCLUDING ARMENIANS, TO TEACH
    CHILDREN THEIR ANCESTRAL LANGUAGES IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS. THE FULL TEXT OF
    ARTICLE 9:

    Article 9
    Official Languages

    The Arabic language and the Kurdish language are the two official
    languages of
    Iraq. The right of Iraqis to educate their children in their mother tongue,
    such as Turcoman, Syriac, or Armenian, in government educational institutions
    in accordance with educational guidelines, or in any other language in private
    educational institutions, shall be guaranteed. The scope of the term "official
    language" and the means of applying the provisions of this Article shall be
    defined by law and shall include:
    1. Publication of the official gazette, in the two languages;
    2. Speech and expression in official settings, such as the National Assembly,
    the Council of Ministers, courts, and official conferences, in either of the
    two languages;
    3. Recognition and publication of official documents and correspondence in
    the
    two languages;
    4. Opening schools that teach in the two languages, in accordance with
    educational guidelines;
    5. Use of both languages in any other settings enjoined by the principle of
    equality (such as bank notes, passports, and stamps);
    6. Use of both languages in the federal institutions and agencies in the
    Kurdistan region.


    4) Rwanda Invites Aram I to Commemorate 10th Anniversary of its Genocide

    ANTELIAS--The government of Rwanda has invited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I
    to participate in the 10th anniversary commemoration of the Rwandan genocide.
    The event, which will take place in the capital city Kigali, will be held
    April18-2.
    In a letter inviting Catholicos Aram I, foreign minister of Rwanda Dr.
    Charles
    Murigande writes, "You stood by the people of Rwanda as they struggled to deal
    with the terrible consequences of genocide. Join us to reflect on how to
    prevent and banish genocide for ever through active universal solidarity."
    Catholicos Aram I will address an international conference on "Genocides in
    the 20th century and lessons to humanity," as well as an ecumenical worship to
    be held at the Kigali stadium, and will meet the president of Rwanda and
    church
    leaders.
    According to the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia, His Holiness will
    present the issue of genocide, referring to the Armenian Genocide as the first
    Genocide of the 20th century, and the Rwandan genocide as the last.
    A high ranking delegation will accompany the Armenian Catholicos, including
    the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Dr. Sam Kobia,
    the
    director of the Department on Africa affairs Dr. Andre Karamagali, the General
    Secretary of All Africa Council of Churches Bishop Dandala, WCC Church
    Relations Director Teny Pirri-Simoniana, and the Director of the
    Catholicosate's Information and communication Department Rev. Krikor
    Chiftjian.
    His Holiness will also travel to Nairobi, Kenya to present a public
    lecture on
    "The challenges facing the ecumenical movement and Africa," and to meet with
    the president and church leaders, visit the headquarters of all Africa Council
    of Churches, and present an ecumenical workshop.

    5) MKR Parliament Turns Down State Property Privatization Program

    YEREVAN (Yerkir)--The parliament of Mountainous Karabagh Republic rejected a
    proposed national privatization program, despite the backing of parliament's
    majority Democratic Liberal Party.
    It was stricken down when parliament's Armenian Revolutionary Federation
    (ARF)
    faction member Artur Mosiyan demanded a detailed report be submitted on the
    implementation of the current privatization program during the past years,
    including data on the number of new jobs created as a result of the
    program, as
    well as information on reprimands of officials not fulfilling their
    obligations. Another ARF faction member Levon Hayriyan, said that Stepanakert
    residents--unlike all others from former Soviet countries--have not received
    any benefits from the privatization.
    Since the proposed program was rejected, the law already in place adopted a
    few years ago, will continue to be in force.


    6) Sako, Joseph Krikorian to Perform at Hye Hopes Event for Ghapan

    GLENDALEGlendale public high schools' Armenian students have organized an
    evening of music and dance to support Glendale's sister city of Ghapan in
    Armenia. The event, "Hye Hopes," will take place on Friday evening, March 12,
    at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, and will feature entertainment by popular
    artists Sako, Joseph Krikorian, and DJ Alfred Nazarian. Appetizers and
    refreshments will be served.
    Becoming aware of the dire needs of the schools in Ghapan, and because
    Glendale and Ghapan recently became sister cities, the Glendale students
    decided to host a fundraising event to provide much needed funds to fellow
    Armenians.
    When members of an official Glendale city delegation returned from Ghapan in
    October 2003, the students heard first hand accounts about the difficulties of
    Ghapan students, and the debilitated state of their learning environments.
    Following the event, the students will work with the Glendale Ghapan Sister
    City Association (GGSCA), a "Hye Hopes" sponsor, to determine a specific
    school
    improvement project to fund.
    The Glendale Ghapan Sister City Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit
    organization, was created to foster a mutually beneficial sister city
    relationship between Glendale and Ghapan. GGSCA works closely with the city of
    Glendale to collect equipment and resources that would benefit the city of
    Ghapan and to create opportunities that would benefit the city of Glendale.
    The
    organization also raises money from private contributors in order to fund
    improvement projects in Ghapan's k-12 schools, post-graduate schools, parks,
    hospitals, community centers, and other public infrastructure.
    "Hye Hopes" will be held from 7 pm to 11 pm at 1401 North Verdugo Road in
    Glendale. Tickets ($10) may be purchased at Paradise Pastry, Pizza Man, and at
    the door. For further information about "Hye Hopes," visit
    <http://www.hyehopes.com/>www.hyehopes.com. For further information about the
    Glendale Ghapan Sister City Association, email [email protected].


    7) Assemblymember Carol Liu and ANC Pasadena Chapter Announce Human Rights
    Teacher Training Workshop for Pasadena Public Schools

    Pasadena--The first Teacher Training Workshop on the State's approved Human
    Rights and Genocide Curriculum will be held Friday, March 12, at the Pasadena
    Tournament of Roses House. Sponsored by Assemblymember Carol Liu (D-La Cañada
    Flintridge), and the Pasadena Armenian National Committee (ANC), the workshop
    will provide history teachers with lesson plans and materials concerning human
    and civil rights violations. Teachers will also receive training on how to
    incorporate these lessons into the classroom curricula.
    "In this era of increasing violence and intolerance, young people need to
    understand what atrocities arise from hate and prejudice," Liu said.
    Participants will be invited to join an informal seminar to discuss and
    analyze the California State Department of Education's model curriculum for
    teaching about human rights and genocide, including the Armenian Genocide.
    State law requires schools to provide a learning framework that includes
    material concerning civil rights, human rights violations, genocide, slavery,
    and the Holocaust.
    "Despite the severe budget cuts our schools are facing, this project is
    evidence that we can provide our students with quality education through a
    collaborative effort between the community and Pasadena Unified School
    District", said Shahan Stepanian, Chairman of the Pasadena Chapter of the
    ANC.
    "We appreciate Assemblymember Liu's leadership and support in this joint
    effort."
    The workshop will cover topics including the histories of the Native
    Americans, European Jews, Cambodians, Rwandan Tutsis, and Bosnian Muslims. In
    addition, participants will hear about the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the
    Great
    Famine of the Ukraine, the Rape of Nanking, and the Chinese agricultural
    disaster that occurred under Mao Tse-Tung's "Cultural Revolution."
    Keynote speaker Dr. Richard Hovannisian, Armenian Education Foundation
    Chairholder in Modern Armenian History at UCLA, will provide the historical
    context of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Other participants include Facing
    History and Ourselves, a non-profit organization that works with teachers and
    students to understand the past and recognize the need for participation and
    responsible decision making. Samuel Kadorian, a Genocide survivor born in
    1907,
    will share his experience and thoughts. In addition, the workshop will include
    the Exhibit of Armenian Genocide Survivor Portraits and their Stories by The
    Genocide Project. Portraits will be placed throughout the room for
    participants
    to view.
    "I would also like to recognize The Southern California Gas Company, and
    Southern Bell Communications, who has graciously agreed to serve as the main
    corporate sponsor for the workshop," said Assemblymember Liu.
    The workshop begins at 8:30 am and will run until 3:30 pm. People interested
    in learning more about the Teacher Training Workshop or in supporting the
    event
    should contact Diana Mangioglu at Assemblymember Liu's District
    Office--(626)577-9944.


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