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07/06/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Documentary on Impact of Turkish Blockade on Armenia Selected for Film Festivals 2) Genocide Denial Has No Place in European Parliament, Says Member Howitt 3) OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Concludes Session 4) Aronian Third at European Chess Championship 5) All Aboard from Marseille 1) Documentary on Impact of Turkish Blockade on Armenia Selected for Film Festivals System Of A Down lead vocalist provides narration for documentary that tells of decade-long blockade of Armenia WASHINGTON, DC (ANCA)- - "Armenia, a Country under Blockade," a powerful documentary film on the impact of Turkey's blockade of Armenia was featured at the recently concluded Myrtle Beach International Film Festival, and has officially been selected for the upcoming "Golden Apricots," Yerevan's International film festival, which will take place between July 12-17. Narrated by System of a Down lead vocalist, Serj Tankian and directed by Diran Noubar, the 52-minute documentary film describes, in compelling images and through first-hand accounts, the human impact of Turkey's decade-long, illegal blockade of Armenia. It has earned critical acclaim, including a standing ovation at the Cannes Festival's film market held earlier this year. Academy Award nominee Atom Egoyan (1997-The Sweet Hereafter) has called "Armenia, a Country under Blockade" a "very worthy and important document." The timing of the film's release--on the eve of the European Union's membership negotiations with Turkey--sparked a sharp reaction from Ankara, and interest for Europeans troubled by the prospect of accepting a member state that so flagrantly violates international law. The film was shot entirely in Armenia. "Diran Noubar's powerful work is bringing the story of Armenia--and the brutal impact of Turkey's illegal blockade--to the attention of vast new international audiences," said Aram Hamparian, Executive Director of the ANCA. "We encourage Armenian Americans to watch this documentary--and just as importantly--to share it with their local elected officials, to arrange screenings for civic groups, and to encourage its broadcast by local television stations." The film will be shown twice at the Golden Apricots, on July 12 at 5:00 PM and again on July 13 at 11:00 AM at the Cinema House at Moskva Movie Theater in Yerevan. To purchase copies of the documentary, arrange a local community or university screening, or to encourage your local television station to broadcast this powerful message, contact: Diran Noubar, Kayane Productions, Inc.; 1901 Dorset Drive, Tarrytown, NY 10591; (917)459-4109 2) Genocide Denial Has No Place in European Parliament, Says Member Howitt BRUSSELS--The chair of conference that was held in the European Parliament on June 15, stressed he was unaware that conference participant Justin McCarthy is an adamant denier of the Armenian genocide. European Parliament Member Richard Howitt, said he accepted the chairmanship believing a balanced debate--aimed at building reconciliation and mutual understanding between Turks and Armenians--was the goal of organizers. Howitt responded to the European Armenian Federation's (EAFJD) objection to not only McCarthy's participation, but also the conference, which was organized by the Turkish think-tank Ari Movement. Howitt contacted the Armenian organization to make it clear that he was not responsible for the organization of the meeting. Chairman Howitt also made it understood that he specifically opened the meeting by confirming successive European Parliament resolutions supporting unequivocal recognition of the Armenian genocide. The European Parliamentary Labour Party sits as part of the multi-national Socialist Group in the European Parliament, but it has its own leadership and spokespeople representing Britain in Brussels and Strasbourg. Labour has 19 Euro-MPs in the European Parliament. A longtime anti-racist activist in the UK, Howitt emphasized that neither he, the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, nor the European Parliament as a whole, would in any way accept genocide denial, or any denial of ethnic or racist violence. Howitt is a substitute member on the Employment & Social Affairs Committee, President of the European Parliament's all-party group on disability, and worked in the voluntary sector before becoming an MEP. He is also a member of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee and is first Vice Chair of the Sub Committee on Human Rights. Howitt and the Socialist Group of MEPs pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian genocide and their relatives today, in the year of its 90th anniversary. 3) OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Concludes Session YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA) session in Washington, DC, continued on July 5 with Swedish Member of Parliament and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Rapporteur on the Karabagh conflict Goran Lennmarker remaining optimistic about finding a peaceful resolution satisfactory to both sides. "There is no alternative to a peaceful solution; in fact, there is an urgent need to solve the conflict in order to end the personal, economic, and social suffering on both sides," said Lennmarker, who has served since June of 2002 as the OSCE PA special representative on this issue. An Azeri news agency quoted Lennmarker as saying, "By appointing a special representative, the OSCE intended to engage the parliamentarians of Armenia and Azerbaijan in the efforts for resolution of their dispute." Meanwhile, Sattar Safarov of the Azeri delegation told Baku-based daily Zerkalo that during the closed session, Lennmarker said, "The recognition of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic by Europe is unacceptable and would lead to many negative consequences." Zerkalo also reported that Lennmarker added, however, that "the best way to ensure Armenians' security is to unify Karabagh with Armenia." The OSCE PA meeting on July 5 in Washington, DC, voted overwhelmingly to defeat a controversial measure on Karabagh authored by Safarov. The Safarov resolution, which was widely viewed as a biased and divisive measure, received only token support, with nearly all the Heads of Delegation voting to keep the measure off of the OSCE PA agenda. The defeat of the Safarov resolution set the stage for the standard consideration by the Assembly of the Mountainous Karabagh conflict. 4) Aronian Third at European Chess Championship WARSAW--Armenia's Levon Aronian came in third at the sixth European Individual Chess Championship, behind Romanian Grandmaster Liviu Diter Nisipeanu, who clinched first place with 10 points, and Teimur Radjabov of Azerbaijan who finished second. Twenty-three year-old Aronian, who is ranked 10th in the world, is ranked number one in Armenia. Aronian, along with fellow team member Levon Asrian, went into a tie-breaker round for third place. Asrian placed seventh. 5) All Aboard from Marseille YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--The Armenian "Cilicia" sailing ship, named and modeled after the 13th century vessels used in and around the Armenian kingdom of Cilicia, dropped its anchor in the French port city of Marseille on July 3. The crew was greeted by the warm welcomes of Armenian ambassador to France Edward Nalbandian, Marseille mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin, local senate and parliament members, and the community's Armenians. Ambassador Nalbandian spoke of Marseille's history as "a friendly destination for Armenians." The vessel will continue its voyage on July 6. Cilicia's Seven Seas Navigation expedition began in June 2004, as it sailed through the Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean, and Adriatic seas to arrive in Venice in September of 2004, where it stayed for the winter. The crew returned to Venice to start the second leg of the expedition, taking the ship from the historic Italian city to circle Europe and arrive in Amsterdam by September 2005. The ship is constructed in accordance with medieval shipbuilding technologies. Carpenters and designers avoided using modern methods and conveniences. To complete the authenticity, the crew wears period uniforms, while even the ship's menu corresponds to the times. Participants of the historical experiment are of different professions: musician, engineer, doctor, signaler, film director, and cameraman. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.