Month: May 2008

7DAYS, United Arab Emirates
May 5 2008

Beaten prisoner testifies

Last Updated : Monday 05 May, 2008 –
By Ali Al-Shouk

A prisoner at Dubai Central Jail has testified in court that he was
viciously beaten by masked prison guards and police officers during a
search of his cell. Another prisoner was attacked so brutally during
the searches that he was left with a permanent disability, the court
heard. Twenty five guards and officers are on trial accused of beating
prisoners and using excessive force during a routine search of the Al
Aweer jail last August.

The Egyptian prisoner at first refused to testify in court yesterday
against the prison wardens and police officers – only doing so after a
judge warned him he could face further punishment if he didn’t speak
up. Visibly shaken, he then looked around the packed court and pointed
to two of his alleged attackers.

`Those are the men who beat me,’ he told the judge, pointing at the
defendants. The victim went on to claim that the prison wardens had
severely beaten him before forcing him to lie face down on the floor,
and then while standing on his back ordering him to crawl. `I couldn’t
move and they kept yelling at me and beat me badly,’ the prisoner
said. `I also heard that they had thrown a man down the stairs,
causing him many bad and serious injuries.’

According to court records, an Armenian prisoner, who was left
permanently disabled by the attack, said he was woken up by loud
voices and saw masked men dragging prisoners around. `We were beaten
by men in black masks as we ran through the alleyway to the outside
prison yard. Some of the wardens assaulted us violently,’ he said.

A Dubai police major who investigated the allegations said that
digital recordings showed wardens and anti-riot police taking the
prisoners out of their cells and beating them. The trial is
continuing.

beaten-prisoner-testifies.html

All About Jazz, PA
May 5 2008

Gene Ess and Tigran Hamasyan – Recording and Dates
Posted: 2008-05-05

Guitarist Gene Ess and his quartet will be recording a new album in
June, 2008. This new work will feature the 2006 Thelonious Monk Piano
Competition 1st place winner Tigran Hamasyan on piano. Along with the
recording dates, the quartet will perform the new material on June 12
at Cachaca and on June 17 at Drom NYC.

At twenty-one, pianist Tigran Hamasyan has already done much to launch
his name into the world of emergent young lions. He has toured
throughout Europe, moving beyond his native Armenia to take prizes in
jazz competitions from Moscow to Monaco. And, after winning the
prestigious Thelonious Monk Jazz Piano Competition in 2006, he studied
in the United States before returning to Paris, where he recorded his
first album, New Era. Tigran will be joining Gene Ess, Harvie S, and
Tyshawn Sorey for these New York dates.

Gene Ess brings his award-winning musicianship from a very diverse
background. He grew up playing the classical piano, due to his mother
being a classical pianist and a well-known piano instructor. His early
years were filled with the classical sounds of Beethoven and
Chopin. Simultaneously, Gene was receiving a mix of influences: he was
exposed to the indigenous music of Okinawa, and – growing up on a US
Air Force Base- to the pop and jazz music of the day.

Cindy McLeod of Jazz Review writes `With the release of Sandbox and
Sanctum, Gene Ess has firmly cemented his place as a major jazz artist
of the new millennium. His post-bop work is delivered with adventurous
spirit and intense ethos, offering a powerful, unique voice to the
idiom. A guitarist of virtuosic proportions, Ess plays fluid chromatic
lines sometimes reminiscent of John Abercrombie. His performance is
simply stated, yet reveals stunning technical fluency, the signature
of all true greats. There’s a delicious sense of tension/release with
his performance riding over the rhythm section, Ess is a master of the
art of creating dynamic interplay. Supple, sanguine, and superb are
the three words that kept popping into my head as I listened, this
recording knocked my socks off and will be in my CD player on a
regular basis for many years to come."

The performances are on June 12, 2008 at 7PM @ Cachaca Jazz Club. 35
West 8th Street, New York, NY 10011 and June 17, 2008 at 8PM @ Drom
NYC Club. 85 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009. Both shows are $15.00
cover. The album will be recorded on June 14 and 15 at Kaleidoscope
Sound. Performances produced by SIMProductions.

STA – Slovenska Tiskovna Agencija, Slovenia
May 5 2008

Rupel: Full-Fledged Membership Only Alternative for Turkey

Ankara, 5 May (STA) – Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel summed
up his talks in Ankara on Tuesday by saying that Slovenia thought
full-fledged EU membership was the only alternative for Turkey, while
it should obey the same rules as other candidate countries.

"The track Turkey is on leads to membership and Slovenia supports
that," Rupel said in a statement for STA following talks in Ankara,
expressing his opposition to what he labelled as "short-cuts".

Turkey’s talks with the EU and reforms required for EU membership
topped the agenda as Rupel held separate meetings with President
Abdullah Guel, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Speaker of
Turkish Parliament Toptan Koeksal.

Rupel was confident about the progress of reforms despite problems. He
said Erdogan briefed him on the items on the parliamentary agenda by
the summer, including changes to the controversial penal code article
301, which the EU has criticised for restricting the freedom of
speech.

Other important bills that Rupel says the Turkish parliament is
expected to pass as early as Friday are those dealing with employment
and commercial code.

The talks also touched on the legal action against the ruling Turkish
AKP party, which is accused of being unconstitutional. According to
Rupel, the Turkish officials were reserved in their comments, while
Erdogan, the party’s leader was critical of certain aspects of the
trial.

Turkey will open two new chapters in accession talks with the EU
before the end of Slovenia’s term as EU president. "There may be more,
but two are settled on," Rupel, the presiding EU foreign minister,
said.

Since launching the talks in 2005, Turkey has opened six out of the
customary 35 negotiating chapters, while negotiations on eight
chapters have been suspended since the end of 2006 because of Turkey’s
failure to open its ports to Cypriot ships.

Rupel said that senior Turkish officials today expressed their wish
for the EU to show more understanding for the Turkish-controlled part
of the divided island. Cyprus was expected to be in focus as Rupel
meets Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan over working dinner.

The Slovenian foreign minister also sought support for the Slovenian
project of the European-Mediterranean University and he said several
Turkish universities had expressed their interest.

Turkey meanwhile requested Slovenia’s support for a historical
commission in charge of examining the genocide which Turkey allegedly
committed against the Armenians at the end of World War I. "We will
provide this support," Rupel said.

Rupel also discussed with the Turkish officials bilateral relations,
which he said were very good. Business cooperation is on the increase,
while there is still room for growth, Rupel said.

He expressed wish for better transport links between the two countries
and presented the advantages of the Slovenian port of Koper for
Turkish companies. He also discussed investment possibilities and
options for visa facilitation.

The minister will continue his visit in Ankara on Tuesday by taking
part in an EU-Turkey ministerial on behalf of the EU together with
European Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn. Turkey will be
represented by Foreign Minister Abdulah Gul.

Ya Libnan, Lebanon
May 5 2008

Tashnag Party: We are not part of the Free Patriotic Movement

Published: Monday, 5 May, 2008 @ 9:46 PM in Beirut (GMT+2)

Beirut- Tashnag Party MP Hagop Pakradonian said the party plays a
"moderate role" within the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, but
is not part of the Free Patriotic Movement

Such a moderate role "helps in having relations with all the Lebanese
parties, especially the sides that wish to have relations with the
Tashnag," Pakradonian ( pictured ) added.

"But we cannot impose ourselves on sides that do not wish to meet us,"
he added, in an apparent reference to Saad Hariri’s Mustaqbal movement
that is allied with a rival Armenian group.

"We are not part of the Free Patriotic Movement. Our membership in the
Change and Reform Bloc and in the opposition reflects a moderate
role," he added.

Pakradonian made the remarks after meeting a delegation from the
Phalange Party which is headed by Lebanon’s former president Amin
Gemayel.

He said the talks with the Phalange party "fall in line with our call
for dialogue and moderation."

The Free Patriotic Movement is headed by former general Michel Aoun,
who also heads up the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc, a key
member in the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah-led opposition.

Aoun today called for overthrowing the government of Prime minister
Fouad Siniora and defended the spying of Hezbollah at the Beirut
International airport

Lebanon has three Armenian parties : Armenian Revolutionary Federation
(Tashnag) and Social Democrat Hunchakian Party (Henshak) and Armenian
Democratic Liberal Party – Ramgavar

5/tashnag_party_w.php

Business News Network, Canada
May 5 2008

Nestle caught in free disc conflict

BNN.ca staff
May 05, 2008

Food giant Nestle has been forced to apologize to Azerbaijan after a
free CD included in breakfast food accused the former Soviet state of
provoking war with its neighbour, Armenia.

Nestle has halted distribution of the CDs, aimed at children and
distributed across Russia, which said Azerbaijan had provoked a war
with Armenia over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh territory.

Despite a 1994 ceasefire, the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh remains
highly sensitive in both countries.

"We have sent an official letter expressing discontent and Nestle
offered apologies and withdrew all the CDs which had been
distributed," said an Azeri Foreign Ministry spokesman. The CDs were
not distributed in Azerbaijan itself.

The CD was being distributed across Russia during April with two
breakfast products and contained data about different
countries. Nestle has now temporarily halted the distribution, but
intends to revise the discs and resume production.

Andrey Bader, Nestle’s corporate affairs director for Russia, said he
could not estimate the cost to the company.

"Every measure which was possible has been taken," said Bader. "Nestle
took time to officially apologize with its consumers, with a recorded
speech on Azeri TV, we brought this in a very loud way to consumers."

Economic Times, India
May 5 2008

Nestle apologies for gift gaffe after Azeri protest
5 May, 2008, 1904 hrs IST, REUTERS

MOSCOW: Swiss-based food company Nestle has apologised to Azerbaijan
after CDs it handed out free with packets of breakfast products
angered the former Soviet state by accusing it of provoking war with
its neighbour.

Azerbaijan made an official protest after discs aimed at children
across Russia stated it had provoked a war with Armenia over the
separatist Nagorno-Karabakh territory. Nestle has halted distribution
of the CDs.

"It’s a complete disaster as a statement, first it is incorrect, there
are many views. It is also absolutely not the right place for it, it
is a catastrophe," said Andrey Bader, Nestle’s corporate affairs
director for Russia.

The conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh between Azeri and Armenian forces
claimed an estimated 35,000 lives and despite a ceasefire in 1994 the
issue remains highly sensitive in both countries. Armenia supports the
separatists.

Azerbaijan wrote to Nestle’s headquarters in Switzerland to complain
about the disc.

"We have sent an official letter expressing discontent and Nestle
offered apologies and withdrew all the CDs which had been
distributed," said a spokesman for the Azeri Foreign Ministry. "Every
measure which was possible has been taken," he said, noting the CDs
were not distributed in Azerbaijan itself.

EMOTIONAL ISSUE

The bonus computer disc was being distributed across Russia from April
10 to April 30 with two breakfast products — Kosmostars and Nesquik
— and contained nuggets of data about different countries. "Now,
regretfully, it has become pretty emotional in Azerbaijan," said
Bader.

The content for the disc was prepared by an outside company and
although the same details had been distributed since 1996, this was
the first time it was noticed, said Bader. Nestle has now temporarily
halted the promotion, but will resume it once revised discs are
despatched.

Bader said he did not know how many discs would have to be destroyed,
but said it was a substantial campaign covering major cities across
Russia, which has a population of 142 million. He could not estimate
the cost to Nestle, but said the decision to halt distribution was
taken after consultation with its Swiss headquarters hours after the
problem came to light.

"Nestle took time to officially apologise with its consumers, with a
recorded speech on Azeri TV, we brought this in a very loud way to
consumers," he said.

Sada Al-Watan (Arab-American News), Michigan
May 5 2008

Christian divisions complicate politics

By Mona Alami
Saturday, 05.03.2008, 09:39am

BEIRUT (IPS) ‘ The political crisis gripping Lebanon has chipped away
at what has been viewed by most since the 2005 parliamentary elections
as an unlikely alignment of two political heavyweights.

The recent falling out between Michel Aoun, head of the Christian Free
Patriotic Movement (FPM) and Michel Murr, the Greek Orthodox former
vice-president of parliament, heralds a change that will undoubtedly
affect the 2009 electoral landscape in the Lebanese Christian region
of the Metn in the north.

Inexplicable alliances have long been a tradition of Lebanese
politics, defined by short-sighted tactical partnerships rooted in the
intense rivalry of opposing parties, communities and political
families. Such alliances have played a key role in the struggle for
power among the various Christian factions.

To strengthen their positions, the Christian Kataeb party
(Phalangists) and the Lebanese Forces ‘ led by Amin Gemayel and Samir
Geagea respectively ‘ joined forces in the 2005 elections with the
largely Sunni Future Movement (headed by Saad Hariri, son of slain
former prime minister Rafik Hariri) and the Progressive Socialist
Party (PSP) headed by Druze leader Walid Jumblatt. Comprising the
March 14 Movement and holding a total of 67 seats out 128 in
parliament, the alliance is considered the majority.

At the other end of the spectrum is the opposition, consisting of the
surprising "memorandum of understanding" between the FPM and
Hizbullah, the Shia "Party of God," which is led by Hassan
Nasrallah. Also part of the alliance is the Shi’a Amal party, headed
by current speaker of the parliament, Nabih Berri.

Since the assassination of Rafik Hariri in 2005, the two sides have
failed to reach a compromise on the balance of power in government,
which has resulted in an ongoing sit-in protest by the opposition in
Beirut since December 2006 and an empty presidential seat since the
position was vacated by former president Emile Lahoud in November
2007.

It is, in fact, the postponement of presidential elections 19 times
thus far that has incited Murr to warn Christian MPs who abstained
from voting that they might not be re-elected. "Christians should not
be lied to; under the false pretense of defending the rights of their
community, presidential elections are being blocked," he said.

"Murr believes presidential elections should take place as soon as
possible, while the FPM links elections to a basket of measures, such
as agreement on the future cabinet composition and the replacement of
the inequitable 2001 parliamentary law," says Armenian MP Hagop
Pakradounian.

So, what does the growing rift between Murr and Aoun over the
appointment of a president mean for the 2009 elections?

The battle for power in the Metn pits the Kataeb party and LF against
the FPM, which is joined by a few independents, including Murr. The
impact of Murr’s defection from the opposition can be measured by his
political weight in the area, which affects the outcome of eight
parliamentary seats: four Maronite positions, two Greek Orthodox, one
Catholic and one Armenian.

Research shows that participation of voters has been customarily low
in the area, as is the case with the rest of the country. According to
statistician Kamal Feghali, 51.2 percent of registered voters
participated in the 2005 elections, in which Murr represented 20,000
votes. In the 2007 partial elections (prompted by the assassination of
Kataeb MP Pierre Gemayel), 47.2 percent of voters participated, with
15,600 votes influenced by Murr. During both elections, total votes
amounted to about 80,000.

"There are currently four independent members of parliament, of which
three are allied with the FPM ‘ Hagop Pakradounion, Selim Salhab and
Ghassan Moukheiber ‘ while the fourth is Michel Murr. Four other seats
are occupied by FPM deputies," explains Alain Aoun from the FPM.

According to Aoun, Murr’s new position will be restricted to the Metn
and will not affect national elections. "It is too early to measure
the exact repercussions of this new realignment on the political
landscape. The disagreement between Mr. Murr and the FPM might
dissipate before the 2009 elections, as long as the political
discourse remains toned down," he points out, adding that the
political context in 2009 will ultimately define the outcome of the
next parliamentary elections.

Another factor that could disrupt the balance of power in the Metn is
the Armenian sway. "Armenian voters represent some 12,000 votes in the
Metn, of which our party, Tachnag, traditionally garners 80 percent,"
explains Pakradounian. Some 10,000 people voted for the Tachnag party
in the 2005 elections, while this figure came down in 2005 by 1,150
votes, according to statistics provided by Feghali.

"Murr’s recent change of heart does guarantee his realignment with the
majority," says Pakradounian. "I think his main objective is to exert
enough pressure to resolve the deadlock and accelerate presidential
elections. My belief is that he is still trying to find a common
denominator between the opposition and majority.

"We maintain excellent relations with both Gen. Aoun and President
Murr, who are our allies, and their disagreement may be short-lived,"
continues Pakradounian. While Tachnag’s alliance with Michel Murr is
more than 44 years old, Pakradounian states that General Aoun has also
frequently proven his loyalty to the Armenian party by refusing to
participate in the cabinet in the absence of the Tachnag.

With the power to sway votes in one direction or the other, the
Tachnag is certainly proving a force to be reckoned with. Their
influence could even reach the elections of the eastern Bekaa city of
Zahle, where the party holds one of seven seats.

.php?mod=article&cat=Lebanon&article
– 7

New Europe, Belgium
May 5 2008

EU cautious over change in `insulting Turkishness’
5 May 2008 – Issue : 780

The European Union has given a wary reception to amendments approved
by the Turkish parliament on its infamous Article 301 of the criminal
code regulating freedom of speech, which made it a serious crime to
`insult Turkishness,’ and had led to the jailing of dissidents and
those who pushed to recognise the Armenian genocide. In a statement
issued on behalf of all 27 EU member states, the bloc’s presidency
called the change, which replaced `insulting Turkishness,’ with
`insulting the Turkish nation,’ as `a constructive step forward.’ `We
look forward to its effective implementation.

This step is both positive for Turkey and an indication of Turkey’s
continuing commitment to the reform process,’ the statement added. The
European executive, the Commission, said it was now looking forward to
`further moves to change similar articles in the penal codes’ so as to
ensure an end to unwarranted prosecutions. `Now the Turkish
authorities need to focus on the implementation of the reform to
guarantee freedom of expression for all Turkish citizens,’ a
commission spokesman said.

The approved amendments also reduce the maximum prison sentence that
courts may inflict on offenders, from three to two years, and makes
the opening of court cases subject to approval by the justice
minister. The EU and human rights groups have long campaigned for
changes to the law, which have been used to prosecute hundreds of
writers and intellectuals. Of these, the most prominent has been Nobel
laureate Orhan Pamuk and ethnic Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who
was murdered after being found guilty of `insulting Turkishness.’

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Reporters without borders (press release), France
May 5 2008

Freedom of expression still in danger in Turkey despite article 301 reform

Amendments to a law punishing insults to Turkish identity which the
Turkish parliament adopted on 30 April are `cosmetic and
insufficient,’ Reporters Without Borders said today. Dozens of writers
and journalists have been convicted under the law, article 301 of the
criminal code, since its introduction in 2005.

`It is wrong to regard this reform as good news,’ the press freedom
organisation said. `It is true the penalties have been reduced, but
insults to Turkish identity has simply been replaced by insults to the
Turkish nation, leaving judges a lot of leeway to prosecute anyone who
publicly broaches sensitive issues such as the Armenian genocide or
the Kurdish issue.’

Reporters Without Borders added: `Furthermore, this reform concerns
only article 301. Any real improvement in freedom of expression in
Turkey would have to include a thorough overhaul of all the laws and
regulations that restrict it. The limited nature of this reform
highlights the size of the problem that free speech poses to the
Turkish authorities.’

The national assembly approved the amendments to article 301 after a
stormy debate on 30 April by 250 votes to 65. Article 301, which took
effect in May 2005 replacing article 109 of the old criminal code,
made attacks on `Turkish identity’ punishable by up to three years in
prison and it was used to prosecute several thousand people.

According to justice minister Mehmet Ali Sahin, 1,189 people were
taken before a court in the first quarter of 2007 alone for article
301 violations. Nobel prize-winning novelist Orhan Pamuk and
Armenian-Turkish newspaper editor Hrant Dink, who was murdered by
ultranationalists in Istanbul on 19 January 2007, were among those
prosecuted under the article.

The reform replaces attacks on `Turkishness’ by attacks on the
`Turkish nation’ and reduces the maximum prison sentence from three
years to two. And most trials under article 301 will henceforth take
place before magistrate courts instead of criminal courts. Article 301
proceedings currently under way will be dropped, and the cases will be
reexamined in the light of the new provisions.

Article 301 is just one element of the legislative arsenal restricting
free expression in Turkey. Other laws punish attacks on fundamental
national interests (article 305), inciting hatred, hostility or
humiliation (article 216), attacking the memory of the Turkish
republic’s founder, Atatürk (law 5816 of 25 July 1951) and
discouraging the public from doing military service (article 318). In
many cases, the penalties increase by a half when the media are used
to break the law.

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
May 5 2008

ARTHUR BAGHDASARIAN APPOINTED SECRETARY OF NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

YEREVAN, 05.05.08. DE FACTO. According to a decree the RA President
Serge Sargsian signed on May 4 Arthur Baghdasarian has been appointed
Secretary of the RA National Security Council, the RA President’s
Press Office reports.
A biographical note:
Arthur Baghdasarian was born on November 8, 1968, in Yerevan.
In 1992 he graduated from the Law Department of the Yerevan State
University.
In 1988-1989 he served at the army.
In 1989-1993 Baghdasarian was a correspondent, head of section, deputy
editor at the Avangard newspaper’s editorial office. In November,
1993, he was elected Deputy Chair of the Shengavit Community Council,
Executive Committee.
1994-1997 ` Baghdasarian studied and graduated from State Service
Academy under the RF President with honors degree.
In 1995 he maintained candidate thesis receiving a scientific degree
of candidate of juridical science.
In 1995-1999 ` a deputy of the NA (electoral district ¹ 5)
In 1995 he was elected Chair of the RA Union of Lawyers and Political
Scientists.
In 1997 he maintained a Doctor’s thesis in Moscow receiving scientific
degree of Doctor of Juridical Science.
In June, 1998 Baghdasarian was elected Chair of Orinats Yerkir (The
Country of Law) Party.
In 1999-2003 Arthur Baghdasarian was elected a deputy of the NA
(electoral district ¹ 21) and headed Orinats Yerkir faction.
In 2000 he was elected the Chair of Board of Trustees of the RA French
University; in 2002 the Chair of Board of Trustees of the European
Regional Academy in Caucasus.
In 2001-2003 Baghdasarian was a member of the NA Permanent Commission
for External Relations.
In 2003-2007 he was a member of the NA (proportional electoral system,
Orinats Yerkir Party).
June 12, 2003-May 29, 2006 Arthur Baghdasarian was the Chair of the RA
NA.
On May 12, 2007, Baghdasarian was elected a deputy of the NA by the
proportional electoral system from Orinats Yerkir (The Country of Law)
Party.
Arthur Baghdasarian is the author of a number of scientific
monographs, over 100 scientific and journalistic articles.