Month: October 2005

DEDICATED TO THE TRANSLATION OF HOLY BIBLE

Panorama
15:25 05/10/05

An international conference dedicated to the Armenian translation of
Holy Bible will be opened tomorrow in St. Etchmiadzin . Opening
ceremony will chair All Armenian Katholikos Garegin the II. According
to the information department of St. Etchmiadzin, many famous
scientists from different countries will participate in the
conference. The conference will last two days.It coincides with the
events of 1600 anniversary of Creation of Letters. /Panorama.am/

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OPINION : TURKEY’S EU SKEPTICS ON THE OPENING DAY OF THE NEGOTIATION TALKS
Burcu Sahiner , JTW UK Correspondent [email protected]

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Oct 5 2005

After a long run of the disputes during the EU summit, finally an
agreement was launched on the framework for the membership talks only
after the last minute turn over by the European foreign ministers.

The historic step was taken when Austria withdrew of its demands
which were suggesting another option for Turkey rather than a full
membership statute.

It was stated that the Turkish government was strongly disagree with
the Austrian proposals and the Prime minister has declared at several
times, in his speeches, that if anything different has been made on
the draft document Turkey will reject it immediately. It appears
that Austria’s last minute concession on Turkey was linked to the
EU’s decision of opening the negotiation talks with Croatia at the
same time. However, the Croatian demands of Austria were accepted,
it was elaborating for Turkey that her restrictions almost respected
on the final framework. The talks opened when the compromise has
been launched in the late afternoon both European and Turkish leaders
welcomed the official start of European Union membership talks with
Turkey on the 3 October midnight.

After that particular historical event, it was inevitable not to fall
in disagreement with in the Turkey. The oppositions are coming from
various perspectives, such as, without any surprise the Islamic press,
particularly Vakit, Milligazete and Yenicað. Other basic indignations
about the opening of the talks are basically coming from essential
anti-government presses like Cumhuriyet and conservative Tercuman.

When the parties are concerned the Right- wing party supporters take
the lead in contradictions, especially of those who are the Nationalist
Action Party that was held a meeting yesterday protesting the European
Union membership and the government’s policies against the Union. The
oppositions of the Nationalists are being supported by an essential
anti-European party which is to be known as Labor Party.

What is interesting here is that the Main Opposition Party of the
republic also appears to be one of the main actors who strongly
criticize government policies and the Union attitudes towards Turkey.

The point that has to be taken attention on is that these different
groups are all representing their own perspectives which rarely come
together especially on the live or death matters, however this time
they are standing together. The closer the period gets, the stronger
the critiques of these groups rise.

To illustrate why these different groups are standing against the
recent government attitudes in the EU summits, let’s figure that out
by considering their suggestions instead of a path to Europe.

The Islamic Press, faraway, is considering the Austrian resistance from
the historical perspective. Milligazete, for instance, describes the
Autrian position referring that Austria is playing the same role till
the Europe has given to her during the Crusade wars. They suggest that
there is no significant difference between the role played by Austria
now and the Crusade wars. They believe that the European Union is
rather a Christian Club and this is why it is an indefinite process
for Turkey even the negotiation talks have been opened. There will be
no difference unless the Europeans have changed their discriminated
perceptions.

Milligazete, rather requires another path for Turkey which is
completely towards a different direction. They insist that Turkey
must have returned to the forgotten place where its’ real origin has
been lying. In this respect, Turkey must develop stronger relations
with the Islamic countries immediately or rather she will resume the
unequalized relations with a Club where the membership possibility
is still very low.

Ali Karahasanoðlu who is a writer in the Vakit newspaper, depends his
arguments on the very idea of discrimination, just as the Milligazete
claims but rather he does not offer another path for Turkey to turn
over. Karahasanoðlu suggests that EU’s attitude towards Turkey was
affirmative, as always and it will remain so, in the future. He says,
“in a club such as EU involving 24 member states, it is unbelievable
that persuading such a small member state like Austria is becoming
so impossible, this is exactly what the EU is expected to be in the
session to make pressure over Turkey.”

An even greater indignation is expressed in the conservative
Tercuman. Their main critique is against the governments Cyprus policy
and their weak policies including the case. “If some countries insist
on turning Cyprus into an EU issue, Turkey will get to the point of
telling its public ‘We have had it up to here’,” it says. It goes on
to say that the reason for this will not even be “sensitivity about
Cyprus”, but reaction against “Europe’s unreliability”.

An editorial in Cumhuriyet agrees that the latest statements by Prime
Minister Erdoðan and Foreign Minister Gul are “entirely proper”.

“Turkey can neither consent to a ‘privileged partnership’ nor recognise
the Greek administration on Cyprus as a legitimate state,” it insists.

Cumhuriyet newspaper said the EU was still offering Turkey something
short of full membership, despite rejecting an Austrian bid to say
so openly. They suggest that the real reason of what they fear has,
at heart, little to do with agricultural costs, Turkey’s human rights
record or the tortuous Cyprus negotiations. It is, more crudely,
the atavistic clash of civilizations – the contention that a Europe
based on Christian values and culture has no place in its midst for
a Muslim nation.” And when the time comes Europe will create new
reasons to say no for Turkey’s membership.

The most traumatic opposition has come especially from the Nationalist
Action Party. Yesterday, they have organized a general meeting to
protest the government policies about the EU process. The NAP leader
Devlet Bahceli, in his speech during the meeting, set the reasons
in order why the NAP is so strongly criticizing both the EU and the
Erdoðan government. Here are some of the spectacular points underlined
by Bahceli:

_ The Cyprus issue has been left to its own destiny by the government
which is certainly about to be solved in favor of the Greek Cyprus.

_ The Armenian issue will be set on Turkey during the negotiations.

However, it is a fact that the government couldn’t show its resistance
both inside and outside Turkey. For example, they have given permission
to the intellectuals to discuss the Armenian issue in the Bosphorus
University, recently.

– The government has already given the promise of reopening the
Theological School in Heybeliada in Ýstanbul.

– “The brotherhood of the religions” is something that was unnecessary
in the mean time because there is no hostility between the different
religion members in Turkey

_ The Justice and Development Party government, in order to be a
member state is about to do everything and not only about the issues
related with the European matters but also the ones which are threatens
Turkey’s national interests.

Another indignation about the opening of the negotiation talks came
from the Main Opposition Party, Republican Public Party, especially
regarding the government’s attitudes during the last EU summit. They
suggest that the negotiation framework for Turkey is rather worse than
the 17 December Summit decisions. Conditions for membership have been
made heavier despite the EU leaders’ promises and the government has
accepted whole restrictions which were put forward Turkey without any
delay. The leader of the party Deniz Baykal indicates that the EU is
offering a position for Turkey to resume her candidature eternal and
it is just not possible to accept the framework with the existing
conditions.

These are the reasons on which the separated groups are depending their
claims. Because the process is just started, we do not know what the
future expectations will become or whether these oppositions will
be insisted on. Fortunately, we all know that the process will be
a long and an unpredictable one, not so frustrating as the opposite
wings have supported or either so satisfactory as the supporters have
been defending.

–Boundary_(ID_WMTZGKHXUMYZ9sQqh5/cqw)–

SYSTEM OF A DOWN – HYPNOTIC, SMART
By Jeff Kaliss, CONTRIBUTOR

Inside Bay Area, CA
Oct 5 2005

‘IDON’T THINK I’ve ever really had my hands on the wheel,” says rocker
Serj Tankian, extending a metaphor on his way to a gig in Chicago.

“I’ve been a passenger on a plane going wherever I’m supposed to go,
more than being any type of pilot. And I’m still on the plane.

Sometimes it goes in directions I didn’t anticipate. And sometimes
it goes to where I think I’m going.”

Tankian’s material plane, carrying his rock band System of a Down,
will touch down in Oakland for System’s Saturday show at the Oakland
Arena. The band is touring behind its most recent, chart-topping album
“Mezmerize” (American Music/Columbia Records), the first half of a
protracted two-CD release that will be completed with “Hypnotize”
at the end of next month.

The lyricist and vocalist’s transcendence of his ego is striking,
in view of his vocalized forthrightness and System’s accelerating
success. Since its eponymous recording debut in 1998, the group has
sold more than 10 million discs – no small accomplishment for an act
whose audible theatricality and lyrical intelligence place it way
above attempts at rock categorization. (The unique name was lifted
from its members’ visionary poetry.)

In performance, System magnetizes audiences with visual as well
as aural impact. Tankian’s eccentric bushiness, not to mention his
confrontational agenda, is evocative of one of his idols, the late
Frank Zappa.

Guitarist Daron Malakian, co-creator of most of the band’s repertoire,
wields the wild, wide-eyed magic of a silent-movie comedian. Bassist
Shavo Odadjian sprouts a braided beard under a bald pate. And drummer
John Dolmayan, by effective contrast, exudes the trim drama of a
leading man.

Although all four are of Armenia ethnicity, only Odadjian was born
in Armenia. Tankian and Dolmayan were born in Lebanon, Malkian in
California. Three of the four, including Tankian, attended Pilibos,
a private school operating under the auspices of the Armenian Apostolic
Church in Hollywood.

System’s Pilibos alumni haven’t hesitated to violate the school’s
published disciplinary policy, prohibiting “inappropriate hair style,”
“threatening language and gestures,” “swearing,” and “disrespect for
authority” – all staples of the band’s reputation.

Both the multi-platinum second album “Toxicity” and the
curiously-marketed followup “Steal This Album!” featured some
vocals and ethnic instruments played by Armenian folk artist Arto
Tuncboyaciyan, to whom Tankian attributes “the voice of the Caucasus,
a faraway voice that travels.”

But whether or not you concur in Newsweek’s description of
“prog-rock-metal-politico-pop with an operatic twist,” System’s mode
and appeal are solid rock.

Tankian’s own voice, in the space of less than a minute, can pass
from a doleful whisper to sweet bel canto vibrato to an earthquaking
scream, backed by Malakian’s vocal harmonies and the instruments’
massed molten assault.

“I like the dynamics of life,” Tankian says. “I like it when it rains,
and suddenly the sun comes out, and I like it when it’s really silent
and then a loud booming noise comes through. Or vice-versa.”

What Tankian is singing about also mutates over the course of
“Mezmerize,” sometimes eluding identification.

“B.Y.O.B.” comes off as a condemnation of the war in Iraq. “Violent
Pornography” pinions crude commercial television. “Sad Statue” gives
Lady Liberty a reason to weep about “human suffering.” “Old School
Hollywood” plays off Malakian’s jaded experience at a celebrity
baseball game in Dodger Stadium. As in much rock, there are also
songs about romance and personal angst.

“People think our music’s very aggressive or angry or whatever, and
it’s just the opposite, really,” Tankian says. “I like laughing. And
I like being really calm before a show, and smiley.”

He acknowledges being “moved by music that had social and political
commentary, from the Beatles all the way up to Rage Against the
Machine.”

For Tankian, the most powerful artists have been “those that have
prescribed the solution through the good feeling of the music itself,
like the Beatles and Bob Marley and Bob Dylan.”

Musicians like these are “not just talking about the pain and the
hurt of a mad society or modern entropy or whatever you want to call
it, but more of just kind of touching the human spirit in a way that
makes us feel like we are one.”

NEW PAGE OF ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS TO BE OPENED

Pan Armenian
05.10.2005 11:45

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met
today with OSCE PA Special Representative for Nagorno Karabakh Goran
Lennmarker, who is in Yerevan for the participation of the NATO
PA Rose-Roth seminar, RA MFA press center reported. Mr. Lennmarker
presented the outcomes of the OSCE PA annual sitting, during which his
report was heard. Rating the report as positive Minister Oskanian noted
that it gives a real picture of the peaceful settlement. Thereupon
the parties discussed the current stage of the Karabakh conflict
settlement. When touching upon Armenia’s participation in the EU
Neighborhood policy, the interlocutors voiced opinion that the
elaboration of action plan will open a new page of the Armenia-EU
relations.

The RA FM and PA OSCE Special Representative also considered the
prospects of the establishment of the Armenian-Turkish relations
within the context of the Turkey-EU membership talks.

ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER MET HIS GREEK COUNTERPART

Pa Armenian
05.10.2005 11:32

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Secretary of the Security Council at the
RA President, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan met with his Greek
counterpart Spilios Spiliotopoulos, RA MOD Spokesman, Col. Seyran
Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. “We have the possibility
and wish to strengthen the military and technical cooperation”, the
Greek Defense Minister stated during the meeting. He also expressed
satisfaction with the professionalism of the Armenian peacekeepers
performing their mission within a Greek battalion in Kosovo. In
his turn Serge Sargsyan highly assessing the activities of the
Greek peacekeepers presented the programs to be implemented in the
field. Upon completion of the meeting the parties exchanged views on
military reforms to be carried out in both countries.

US “TIRED OF KOSOVO”

B92, Yugoslavia
Oct 5 2005

BELGRADE, WASHINGTON — Wednesday – The US administration is tired
of dealing with the situation in Kosovo and wants to hand it over
completely to the European Union, US Balkans analyst Nicholas Gvozdev
has said.

Gvozdev told The Voice of America that stumbling block is that the EU,
with its 25 member countries, has problems in making decisions and
already has its hands full with issues such as the further enlargement
of the union.

Even though Kosovo status discussions may begin shortly, Gvozdev said
that they could last years, comparing the situation to the apparently
never-ending Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

“The possibility that the discussions will begin soon does not mean
that momentum for a rapid solution exists. The insistence of some
people in Washington on the independence of Kosovo minimizes the
possibility for upholding the territorial integrity of countries such
as Iraq and Georgia, while calling for decentralization could weaken
the Dayton Agreement for keeping Bosnia-Herzegovina unified.” Gvozdev
said.

Gvozdev compares the situation in Kosovo to Nagorn-Karabagh, over
which Armenia and Azerbaijan have been in status talks for fifteen
years. The situation in this region has come to a stand-still, despite
various talks of independence, decentralization and united countries.

Asked who he thinks will be responsible for having the last say in
Kosovo, Gvozdev said that the EU is more likely than the US to be
the key player in the eventual solution.

“The US is looking to detach itself from participating in finding
peaceful solutions for various global situations. In addition, Kosovo
and the Balkans are a part of Europe, and the European Union should
take care of these problems, because it has more shared interests;
trade, migration, borders, visas, etc.” Gvozdev said.

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CHAIRMAN OF CEC: “IF THERE IS A VIOLATION IN REGISTRATION OF CANDIDATES WITH PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS, SUCH CANDIDATES WILL BE DISQUALIFIED”

Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 5 2005

Interview with the chairman of the Central Elections Commission (CEC),
Mazahir Panahov.

Question: Is the process on clarification of electors’ list held by
the CEC complete. Was the electors’ list on Khankandi constituency
compiled?

Answer: List of electors, who are Azerbaijani by origin, in the
Khankandi constituency has been compiled. However, the list of
citizens, Armenian by origin, is still to be compiled. Even unless the
list of clarified, the results of elections on Khankandi constituency
will be considered as adopted, because there no quorum on number of
electors in the Azerbaijani legislation. So, the participation of
electors, Azerbaijanis by origin, in the elections will be enough
to consider the results of voting as legal. The international
organizations also gave positive estimation to the establishment of
the Khankandi constituency. An interim report by the OSCE Office
for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Election Observation
Mission (EOM) to the Republic of Azerbaijan Parliamentary Elections
in particular stressed the issue.

Question: The document also contains some notes in connection with
the pre-election processes in Azerbaijan. How do you estimate the
interim report by the OSCE/ODIHR and EOM?

Answer: The report is normal and balanced, while there are some
milestones which I can’t agree with. I think they take wrong position
in connection with participation of religious leaders. The precinct
elections commissions did not register the candidacy of the head of
religious Jewish community, Mr. Zelmanovich, as the Constitution of
Azerbaijan bans the election of religious leaders to the parliament.

The OSCE tries to make suspicious that Zelmanovich is a religious
leader. However, he himself indicted his official position in the
document submitted to the precinct elections commission as the
head of the Jewish religious community. The head of the religious
community is a clerical leader, so the precinct elections commission
did not register his candidacy and the CEC maintained the resolution
in force. OSCE makes notes in this respect, while I’m sure there is
no ground for dissatisfaction. Besides, there are notes in connection
with the cancellation of the candidacy of the chairman of the Islamic
Party, Hajiaga Nuri. There is no any restriction in the registration
of the political parties in Azerbaijan in respect to their religious
activities. To my mind, such notes included in the report do not
correspond to reality as well. The rest can be somehow accepted. As
of general estimation, the pre-elections developments go on well. The
international organizations, in particular, their observation missions
do not consider as necessary to mark the satisfactory peculiarities of
the situation. They mainly note and inform about the shortcomings. As
it seems, no serious shortcomings were indicated in the report.

Question: How many international observers will observe the elections?

Answer: Over 100 international observers have been registered thus
far. Their total number attains even 1000 people. Vladimir Rushaylo,
the chairman of the CIS Executive Committee, will pay a visit to Baku
on 5 October with his delegation. The mission of observers plans
to hold meetings with the leadership of the CEC and discuss the
pre-elections processes. I guest the CIS mission will be satisfied
with the current stage of elections and work done by the CEC thus far
for holding elections. Question: How do you estimate the process of
electioneering? Answer: I think this stage develops quite normally.

We should not lose from sight the number of candidates to participate
in the elections is quite high. Over 2,000 candidates ballot for
deputy mandate. So, it would not be real to name everything as
ideal and urge that all candidates will behave correctly. In some
cases they lay accusation on each other. As a chairman of the CEC,
I would like not to see such facts. Some candidates even come out
against the statehood, which is also unacceptable.

Question: Some complaints are made on the heads of the Executive
Powers, state officers, involved in the elections process. Some
candidates, abusing their better financial status, try to attract
the voters. Does the CEC take relevant steps in regard to such people?

Answer: We studied some complaints and revealed that they did not
correspond to reality. Some problems sometimes are exaggerated. In
case the complaints do not correspond to reality, people who commit
law-breaks are warned. The CEC takes steps in accordance with the
law. The candidacy of those who made serious violations can be
disqualified in the end.

Question: When will the results of the investigation into cases of
candidate with previous accusations be publicized?

Answer: the CE secretaries are seriously involved in it. As a result
we will define how legal the registration of the candidates is. In
general, 10 candidates are suspected to have such accusations.

Shortly, the court will provide the reply and the CEC will take a
final resolution. If any law-break is revealed, the candidate will
be immediately disqualified. The results will be publicized late
this week.

Question: The opposition parties and blocs are anew going to appeal
to the CEC with request to combine the free air time allocated them.

Could the proposal be implemented?

Answer: No, the proposal fully contradicts the legislation. Even if
the CEC wants, it cannot do it. So, the CEC did not consider the
appeal. The CEC secretaries explained it with irrelevance of such
proposals with their competency. The CEC Secretary, Vidadi Mahmudov,
held talks with the applicants. As to their dissatisfaction with
the duration of air time, it concerns only the free air time. The
candidates can use the paid air time as much as they want. AzTV and
the Public TV offer better conditions for candidates. I guess, there
is no ground for dissatisfaction.

Question: Were the shortages in covering the elections removed after
the CEC’s appeal to media?

Answer: Yes, the TV channels have fully observed the law and the
process of covering of the elections develops normally. The mistakes
made earlier are also eliminated.

AZERI, ARMENIAN REPRESENTATIVES TO MEET IN STRASBOURG

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 5 2005

Baku, October 4, AssA-Irada
Representatives of Azerbaijan and Armenia are due to meet in Strasbourg
on Wednesday to discuss ways of settling the long-standing Upper
Garabagh conflict.

The meeting of the two delegations will be attended by the chairman
of the PACE subcommittee on Upper Garabagh, former PACE president
Lord Russel Johnston.

Azerbaijan will be represented at the discussions by the head of
the Azerbaijani delegation at PACE Samad Seyidov and its member
Asim Mollazada.*

U.S. DOES NOT RECOGNIZE GARABAGH’S INDEPENDENCE

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 5 2005

Baku, October 4, AssA-Irada
Several pro-Armenian representatives, including the US congressional
taskforce on Armenian affairs, have sent a letter to President Bush
calling for recognition of the self-proclaimed Upper Garabagh Republic.

Commenting on the matter, the US Department of State spokesman Sean
McCormack said the United States does not recognize Upper Garabagh
as an independent state.

“Washington’s policy on Upper Garabagh remains unchanged. We support
the work done by the OSCE Minsk Group and its efforts in settling
the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict”, McCormack told a news briefing.

McCormack added that the international community does not recognize
the authorities of Upper Garabagh.*

DEFENCE MINISTER ON VISIT TO ARMENIA

Athens News Agency
Oct 4 2005

Greece’s national defence minister Spilios Spiliotopoulos on Tuesday
commenced a two-day visit to Armenia, at the invitation of his Armenian
counterpart Serzh Sargsyan.

During his visit, the Greek minister will hold talks with Sargsyan,
and will also meet with Armenian president Robert Kocharyan, prime
minister Andranik Margaryan, and Patriarch Garegin of Armenia.

The agenda of the talks include bilateral military and technical
defence cooperation and reorganisation of the Armenian Armed Forces,
matters relating to NATO and the European Union, as well as the
security situation in SE Europe and the wider region of the northern
Caucasus.

Earlier, Spiliotopoulos attended an inner cabinet meeting in Athens
that ratified four draft bills for deregulating the energy market.