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Highlights |
Duo Accosphere Release New CD – Poland
2020 Cotati Accordion Virtual Festival and Virtual "Lady of Spain-a-Ring", California – USA
Mingyuan Ruan Performs for "Royal Academy of Music 200 Pieces Project" – England
Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Egyptian Sensation Youssra El Hawari 's Experience at the CNIMA - France
Phileas Rogue Video “Tales from the Loop”
Canterbury Accordion Association Variety Concert – New Zealand
Fernando Ávila Performs Online “Accordion Café” in Santa Maria - Brazil
Scythian Play in Fairfax County Virtual Summer Entertainment Series – USA
Future events |
“My Way” Concerts at Drostdy Theatre, Stellenbosch – South Africa
Christchurch Accordion Orchestra Performs Concert with Stedfast Brass Band – New Zealand
Milwaukee Accordion Club Picnic – USA
“Manran” Performs in Aschaffenburg - Germany
New and Updated Sites |
2020 Coupe Mondiale Entry System Online - Portugal
New Accordion Gift Website Launched – USA
Online 2020 Australian International Championships and Festival - Australia
CD Reviews |
Help Desk, Information needed, Readers CommentsSubmit Your Question, CommentSUBMIT NOW |
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Highlights |
Paris Moscou Duo Concert - Franceby Rob Howard |
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| Video Paris Moscou Duo Performs extracts of Franck Angelis Music 1. Impasse 2. Hommage a Paco 3. Commeastor 4. Paris-Moscou All the music is available online at: Franck Angelis Duo Paris Moscou which includes Roman Jbanov and Domi Emorine will perform a concert at Eglise de Vichel (Vichel Church) in Vichel, Auvergne, France on August 15th at 9pm organised by the Le Petit Theatre de Vichel. The duo enjoy playing works by Angelis, Bach, Piazzolla, Mozart, Besov, Rizol and others. See poster for details. |
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Duo Accosphere Release New CD – Polandby Christine Johnstone |
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 Duo Accosphere which includes Alena Budzináková (Slovakia) and Grzegorz Palus (Poland) have released their new CD “Accordion Anatomy: Mogens Ellegaard in Memoriam”.“The album reflects the effects of the aesthetic revolution of accordion music, which took place in Scandinavia in the second half of the 20th century thanks to the work of a prominent Danish accordionist, educator and promoter of accordion art – Mogens Ellegaard (1935–1995). The repertoire includes music performed by Grzegorz Palus solo, accompanied by tape, in an accordion duet (duoAccosphere) and accompanied by a string quartet (Airis String Quartet).” For details email: info@duoaccosphere.com |
2020 Cotati Accordion Virtual Festival and Virtual "Lady of Spain-a-Ring", California – USAby Christine Johnstone |
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| The 2020 World Premiere of the Cotati Accordion Virtual Festival in Cotati, California will take place this year on August 22nd and 23rd from 11am to 3pm each day. There will be no fee to attend, but donations will be accepted. Accordionists from 8 different countries will perform live including: Pietro Adragna (Italy), Gary Blair (Scotland), Tiia Karttunan (Finland), Julia Kultina (Russia), Matthias Matzke (Germany) Alex Meixner (USA), Cory Pesaturo (USA) and along with streaming chats, interviews, The Lady-of-Spain-a-Ring, The Grand Finale, raffles and more. Organisers are calling all accordionists who wish to take part in the “Lady of Spain-a-Ring”. All are invited to video themselves playing “Lady of Spain” along with Big Lou the Accordion Princess. For further details email: info@cotatifest.com Below: program of performances |
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Mingyuan Ruan Performs for "Royal Academy of Music 200 Pieces Project" – Englandby Christine Johnstone |
 Royal Academy of Music in London, England student, Mingyuan Ruan (picture left), performed “29 Rue d'Astorg” by composer Cheryl Frances Hoad last month. See video above.The piece is one of the academy’s “200 Pieces Project” which sees new works written and performed to mark 200 years since the Academy’s foundation in 1822. For the last few months they have been bringing some of their 200 Pieces online as virtual performances. Once premiered, each of the pieces commissioned for the project will be recorded by the Academy’s audio visual department and put onto the new website which was launched in July. Alongside the 200 pieces, the Academy’s Learning and Participation programme "Open Academy", will engage in work with secondary school students to support them in creating 200 of their own compositions. These will also be performed, with a selection recorded. |
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Reports for Concerts, Masterclasses, Competitions, Festivals, etc. |
Gene Pritsker’s New Composition “Memories Are Not Enough” Miloš Katanić, Accordionistby Rita Davidson Barnea, Editor USA Accordion News |
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| Video 1: "Memories Are Not Enough" performed by Miloš Katanic Video 2: “Maggots and Other Chamber Music of Gene Pritsker” Composer Gene Pritsker has created a new composition for accordion, “Memories Are Not Enough” (video 1) which is included in his new album "Maggots and & Other Chamber Music of Gene Pritsker" (Video 2), released on July 3rd, 2020 on Composers Concordance Records/Naxos. Gene Pritsker explains his accordion composition,” ’Memories Are Not Enough’ develops a simple melancholy chord progression that I found very sentimental when I was writing it. Searching for a title for this composition, my thoughts turned to think about my son as a young child and how he has grown, and that I have these memories of this child, who does not exist in that way anymore, and I had a feeling that my memories were not enough. That phrase appeared, and I decided that this should be the title of the piece. The music develops two melodies, in a simple form, with hints of bitonality and the blues. The accordion, I feel, is the perfect instrument for such a pensive piece of music. Accordionist Miloš Katanic made a cool video with a score for my solo accordion piece when he performs 'Memories Are Not Enough'." I really identified with the expressive and thought provoking emotions expressed in "Memories Are Not Enough" having 26 and 30 year old sons. The music evoked memories of them when they were small and how quickly time passes, precious moments never to be recaptured. I highly recommend your listening to it along with the other compositions on "Maggots". ‘Maggots’ consists of a collection of various recordings, from an array of diverse ensembles, of composer Gene Pritsker’s very eclectic chamber music. From larger chamber music like the baritone concertino ‘Maggots’, ‘Berlin Suite’ and ‘Kostabi-isms’ to the sitar and string quartet piece ’The Most Incorrigible Vice’ and the duet ‘Bitter Suite’ as well as two solo compositions ‘Memories Are Not Enough’ & ‘Figar-OH!’. The album spans a wide timbre range and the eclectic nature of these compositions takes you on a journey through genre-bending music and a unique musical style. “mischief-maker” and “cultural blender-in-chief.” Pritsker is a serious artist, yet much of his work is witty and irreverent.” …“Anyone can draw a mustache on the Mona Lisa, but few musicians draw it as artistically and creatively as Gene Pritsker.” - Fanfare Magazine “American contemporary composer Gene Pritsker keeps on exploring new paths.”. - United Mutations |
Egyptian Sensation Youssra El Hawari 's Experience at the CNIMA - Franceby Christine Johnstone |
 Video by Egyptian singer/accordionist Youssra El Hawari from her 2 years studying at the CNIMA from 2015 - 2017Youssra El Hawari is a young singer/accordionist from Cairo, Egypt who gained tremendous overnight popularity during the Arab spring in 2011. Since then, her witty songs that bridge Arabic music to Western music, have kept her prominent in the Egypt music scene. From 2015 to 2017, she studied full time at the CNIMA (International Accordion School), to improve her skills on the accordion. The video above was shot and edited by her, and gives a fun taste of her experience at the school. It includes short excerpts of accordion classes (including a master class by well known French Gypsy jazz accordionist Ludovic Beier) as well as music theory classes. It also shows impromptu live music moments including a performance by CNIMA Director, teacher, and world champion accordionist, Nathalie Boucheix. The full year program at the CNIMA is catered for want-to-be professionals, in-the-making international virtuosos as well as students from all levels and ages. The 20 hours a week program, is divided between individual accordion classes (2 to 3 per week) and group classes in harmony, music theory, accordion technique, chamber music etc Jacques Mornet's teaching approach uses the accordion as a wind instrument: the right use of the air column and key touch, enables students to reach musicality and technical ease. This approach proved itself through time, with 104 first international prizes in accordion competitions around the globe. The school prepares students to achieve French national music conservatory diplomas (Certificat d'Etudes Musicales - CEM end Diplome d'Etudes Musicales - DEM), enabling them, through the intense studying, to accomplish in one year, what they would usually do in 4 years. The full year program will open on September 21st, 2020. For further details email: cnima@orange.fr |
Phileas Rogue Video “Tales from the Loop”by Christine Johnstone |
 Phileas Rogue has released a video of “Tales from the Loop”. The music was written by Philip Glass and arranged for accordion by Phileas Rogue.“Tales from the Loop” is an American science fiction drama web television series based on the eponymous art book by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag. The series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on April 3rd, 2020. "Inspired by the wondrous paintings of Simon Stålenhag, “Tales from the Loop” explores the mind-bending adventures of the people who live above the Loop, a machine built to unlock and explore the mysteries of the universe - making things previously relegated to science fiction, possible." |
Canterbury Accordion Association Variety Concert – New Zealandby Jeanette Perry |
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  On August 2nd, the Canterbury Accordion Association (CAA) held its first Variety Concert for 2020 in Christchurch, New Zealand after having earlier events cancelled due to the country being in Covid-19 lockdown.These very popular Variety Concerts, are usually held 3 times a year, and feature the Christchurch Accordion Orchestra with conductor David Thorne (President of CAA), with accordion players and guest artists from the community. Welcome music was provided by Raelene Turner who bravely played her accordion alone without her life-long friend Joffree Marshall (who passed away suddenly on July 15th) beside her. The Christchurch Accordion Orchestra started the concert with a tribute to Joffree by playing ‘Old Comrades March’ by C Tieke, a piece he had learned to play after being given the music by David. The Orchestra finished their first segment with ‘Camptown Twist’ and ‘Fine and Dandy Polka’. Soloists included young players Sven Balvan (picture above left) who played an own composition and a Greek piece, and Theodore Redepenning who played 2 solos – a Frosini Tango and ‘Czardas’ , then later in the programme Sven and Theodore joined together for duets – ‘Suomalinen Polka’ and ‘Primeli Waltz’. ‘The Rustic Reeds’ quartet (picture above right) played 3 pieces – ‘Vienna Forever’, ‘Der Harmonika’ and ‘Amazing Grace’. Next was Merle Kershaw and ‘The Southern Celtic Fiddle Orchestra’ (picture above) to add a different ethnic flavour to the afternoon’s entertainment. Some well-known songs from the ‘Christchurch Theatre Workshop Sing Group’ had the audience singing along, and a ukulele and guitar group “Rhythm Method” played and sang with beautiful harmonies to help add variety to the programme. The Christchurch Accordion Orchestra concluded the concert with ‘Tanzande Finger’, ‘Alexanders Ragtime Band’, and lastly another tribute to Joffree the ‘Colonel Bogey March’. It was a joy to see the happy smiles and hear the positive comments from the more than 60 strong audience as they left the hall, so pleased to once again be free to come along to enjoy the music! |
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Fernando Ávila Performs Online “Accordion Café” in Santa Maria - Brazilby Christine Johnstone |
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| Fernando Ávila performed at an online concert on July 22nd at the Centro de Convenções UFSM in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil as part of the CC Stage Online project. The concert was entitled “Accordion Café” and was the second show in the series. The program aimed to bring the music culture of a café, “a place of aromas and flavours, where, as history teaches us, many artists sought leisure and rendezvous with their fellows, as well as the inspiration for their artwork.” The performance was recorded without the presence of the audience, only with the artist and the technical team. |
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Scythian Play in Fairfax County Virtual Summer Entertainment Series – USAby Christine Johnstone |
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| “Scythian” (which includes accordionist Dan Fedoryka) performed on August 2nd as part of the Fairfax County Park Authority Virtual Concert Summer Entertainment Series. The concert was live streamed and included the group’s new guest drummer, Alex Kuldell. This weekend the band will live stream their Scythian Quaranstream Ep.X – Tenth Anniversary Holiday Special hosted by the Pittsburgh Irish Festival and Appaloosa Festival. For details email: scythianmail@gmail.com |
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Future events |
Accordion Music at Maclean Park, Vancouver - Canadaby Rob Howard |
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 MacLean Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada has hosted a variety of outdoor concerts recently including the Vancouver Squeezebox Circle's monthly get-together! The park offers wide-open spaces, lots of fresh air, and as much distance as you like – in the face of Covid-19.Upcoming performances include “Rusty Creek” (accordionist Sue Baines) on August 9th from 2pm to 4pm. The group (pictured above) play a mix of Folkrock, Bluegrass, Country Blues and old Memories. On August 12th Balkan Shmalkan (picture below) will entertain from 7.30pm to 9pm. This group is a dance party orchestra that enjoys playing music with local attitude, funky brass dance beats blended with a mixture of pop and jazz. Members of the group sing in 5 languages including Serbian, Romani, and Italian. On August 19th, accordionist Geoff Berner (picture left) will entertain from 7pm to 9pm. For details email: macleanparkmusic@gmail.com |
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“My Way” Concerts at Drostdy Theatre, Stellenbosch – South Africaby Christine Johnstone |
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| Niel Rademan (accordion - picture above right) and Lucas Heinen (piano - picture above left) will perform a concert series entitled "My Way" at the Drostdy Theatre in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The event will take place from August 14th to 17th and focuses on a mix of classical music, cabaret, tango and folk music. For details email: ane@drostdyteater.co.za |
Christchurch Accordion Orchestra Performs Concert with Stedfast Brass Band – New Zealandby Christine Johnstone |
  The Christchurch Accordion Orchestra (conducted by David Thorne) will perform a concert in conjunction with the Stedfast Brass Band at the Hoon Hay Presbyterian Church in Christchurch, New Zealand on August 16th at 1.30pm. The concert is a post lockdown concert for the Church.Their program will include A La James Last, Triumph March, Cactus Polka, Hallelujah, Fine and Dandy Polka, Dixieland Rag and many other favourites. For details email: thornd@xtra.co.nz |
Milwaukee Accordion Club Picnic – USAby Christine Johnstone |
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 The Milwaukee Accordion Club will hold their annual picnic on August 22nd from noon to 7pm at the Thiensville Village Park, Thiensville, WI.If you have been confined too long and are ready to get out and hear some live music, good conversation and soak up the outdoors, then this event could be for you. Guests are also welcome, but reservations are required. For details phone: 414-546-3370 |
“Manran” Performs in Aschaffenburg - Germanyby Christine Johnstone |
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| Scottish folk rock band “Manran” (picture above - which features accordionist Gary Innes) will perform at the Colos-Saal Aschaffenburg in Aschaffenburg, Germany on November 2nd, 2020 from 8pm to 10pm. This concert is the replacement date for the event originally planned for April 27th, 2020 but was postponed due to Covid-19 restrictions. Tickets that have already been purchased remain valid. The event is hosted by the Colos-Saal Aschaffenburg and Irish Cultural Events. The band play a mix of Celtic rock pieces with Gaelic and English vocalists. They have a unique sound with instruments such as Irish Uillean and Scottish bagpipes, accordion, drums, fiddle, guitar and bass. For details email: info@colos-saal.de |
New and Updated Sites |
Norbert Seidel New Book, "Tango Waltz Jazz" - Germanyby Ulrich Schmülling |
  Norbert Seidel new music book and tutorial "Tango Waltz Jazz" for only Euro 19.50 or US$ equivalent. Catalog: 1066 This is the supplementary book to the author’s bestseller instruction book "Accordion Jazz Chords" Catalog: seidelTango Waltz Jazz features new compositions in modern rhythms and with stylish accompanying harmonies. - 12 imaginative compositions – tangos, waltzes and jazz pieces – for accordion solo for beginners as well as advanced players, button and piano keyboard players. - With detailed text descriptions and instructive explanations for playing the compositions musically and realizing them technically. Catalog: 1066 "Tango Waltz Jazz" 56 Pages · Format: 23 x 30.5 cm · ISBN 978-3-925572-18-0 · |
2020 Coupe Mondiale Entry System Online - Portugalby Kevin Friedrich, CIA Ambassador |
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  CIA Secretary General Kimmo Mattila announces that the 2020 Coupe Mondiale online entry system is now open for entries to the 73rd Coupe Mondiale from the 2020 General Competition Rules page: 2020CM-RulesSecretary General Kimmo Mattila invites all (44) CIA members to register delegates to the 144th International Congress of Delegates which meets twice in Castro Marim. The 73rd Coupe Mondiale will be hosted by the CIA member Mito Algarvio - Associação de Acordeonistas do Algarve led by President João Pereira from 6-10 October, 2020. CIA President Mirco Patarini invites competitors from all nations to please lodge their entries and highly praised the officials of Castro Marim and President João Pereira of Mito Algarvio for all their assistance. The festival will feature competitions as follows: • 73rd Coupe Mondiale • Masters Coupe Mondiale • Junior Coupe Mondiale • International Competition for Virtuoso Entertainment Music • Junior International Competition for Virtuoso Entertainment Music Due to Covid-19 safety regulations, no ensemble categories or World Accordion Orchestra will be held. Pictured below is the Biblioteca Castro Marim, a small venue with excellent accoustics, where the competition categories will be held. Entry closing date is 5th September 2020 and all entry and hotel information is online at: Coupe Mondiale |
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New Accordion Gift Website Launched – USAby Dan Grauman |
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 Dan Grauman (picture left) proudly announces the new website, AccordionGifts at www.accordiongifts.com has been launched. Accordion-themed items, including clothing, jewelry, stationery, and novelties have traditionally been much more difficult to find than similar items with images of other instruments, such as violins, clarinets, drums, etc. AccordionGifts hopes to change that. Some gift items on this website include original art by accordionist and artist, Joan Geller Grauman. Many thanks go to accordionist and artist Cody McSherry for creating our beautiful logo. A new item in limited stock is the beautiful accordion-shaped purse with zippered compartment inside as well as on the backside. The purse includes a shoulder strap. |
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Online 2020 Australian International Championships and Festival - Australiaby Lionel Reekie |
  Despite Covid-19 the music continues! Because of the continued impact of Covid-19 around the world, the Australian Accordion Teachers Association (AATA) will be running this year’s competition categories online by video submission. The competition organiser is AATA President, Tatjana Marx pictured above right.The competitions will be adjudicated by an international jury and the rules and categories are on the AATA website. Entry closing date is Friday 13th August 2020. |
CD Reviews |
Article: Heinrich Band: Namesake, but Not Inventor of the Bandoneon - Germanyby Ulrich Schmülling |
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  The cradle (beginnings) of the bandoneon or those German Concertinas that were later called bandonions is situated in the town of Carlsfeld (Saxony) in the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge).After Carl Friedrich Uhlig (1790–1874) developed the first German Concertina in Chemnitz in 1834, it was Carl Friedrich Zimmermann (1817–1898) who started producing German Concertinas in the attic of his parents’ house in Carlsfeld around 1840, further developed them and some few years later invented an instrument that later became known and sold worldwide under the name “Bandonion.” This is a fact about which there is no doubt in the general public as well as among experts and which has been historically proven. Until recently! A specialist book, which has been available on the German market since May 15, 2020, states with remarkable explicitness that Krefeld merchant Heinrich Band (1821–1860) invented the bandonion and subsequently makes the city of Krefeld the instrument’s birthplace. Under the title “Heinrich Band. Bandoneon” (subtitle: “Die Reise eines Instruments aus dem niederrheinischen Krefeld in die Welt” [The journey of an instrument from Krefeld, Lower Rhine, into the world]), it is both the “Förderverein für das Kulturbüro der Stadt Krefeld e.V.” [Sponsoring Society for the Cultural Office of the Krefeld] as editor and Janine Krüger as author who propagate this in a colorful and lavishly produced book. The book was published by Klartext Verlag, Essen, and financially opulently supported by “Sparkassen Kulturstiftung Krefeld,” [the savings bank cultural foundation] “Stadt Krefeld,” [City of Krefeld] the “Kunst Stiftung NRW” [Art Foundation North Rhine-Westphalia] and the “Kulturbüro Krefeld” [Cultural Office of Krefeld] as well as the “Förderverein für das Kulturbüro der Stadt Krefeld e.V.” (the association is at the same time the editor and financial supporter itself); further backed by Klaus Kokol (Krefeld city council member, deputy Social Democratic Party of Germany parliamentary group leader, director of the legal department) and Jürgen Sauerland-Freer (former head of Krefeld’s culture department and predecessor of Dr. Gabriele König). According to the masthead (title information), besides the editor and author is an editorial staff, which includes Prof. Gerhard Hahn (an engineer, sculptor and designer based in Krefeld), Dr. Gabriele König (head of Krefeld’s Culture Department as well as head of the city’s Culture Office) and Burkhard Ostrowski (Krefeld culture office employee). Thus, there is a concentrated municipal energy in the background. The fact that local patriotism and cultural enthusiasm for the city go so far that music history is “bent” in order to attract even more public attention and publicity, is not only outlandish but also reprehensible. But above all, it is completely unnecessary. To be sure, the name “bandonion” actually derives from the Krefeld family name of Heinrich Band. But apart from the fact that this instrument name did not originate from Band himself, but from a third party, Band has demonstrably never been an instrument manufacturer, but no more and no less was one of several music dealers who bought various instruments from different manufacturers and sold them to their customers. The relevant professional music circles stood on their heads by this snubbing presumption, especially inasmuch as the editors and local politicians not only leave it misrepresented in their book, but use all available types of media exploitation (advertising videos, launched newspaper releases, internet articles, radio reports, etc.) to pursue their historical fact suppression bluntly and widely. It is to be hoped that this does not result in what is widespread in today’s society, namely that untruth becomes truth if it is repeated only loudly and often enough. Heinrich Band. Bandoneon (“Förderverein für das Kulturbüro der Stadt Krefeld e.V.” as editor and Janine Krüger as author), in German language only. ISBN 978-3-8375-1970-9 - format 23 x 23 cm - 368 pages - four-color throughout with numerous photos and illustrations - hardcover, thread stitching - price 29.95 euros - circulation: 700 copies. Ulrich Schmülling, July 15th 2020 (picture above) Translation: Willoughby Ann Walshe (picture above) Excerpt from Research by Norbert Seidel about Invention of Bandoneon in German Article about: Willoughby Ann Walshe 80th Birthday, Kamen - Germany http://www.accordions.com/news.aspx?d=21-Apr-2017&lang=en#art12985 |
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