Author: admin

SERJ TANKIAN LAMENTS THE END OF CIVILIZATION
by Jennn Fusion

Crawdaddy
id=4024
Nov 14 2007

Serj Tankian is best known as the frontman for System of a Down-a band
that shocked many American music fans with intensity, weirdness, and
honest social commentary. These days Tankian works solo, approaching
his material with an even bigger sense of urgency, yet pulling all
the same vocal stunts that impressed audiences before.

His debut album, Elect the Dead, is a dark, atmospheric journey
through the decay of our political system and the subsequent decline
of civilization. Needless to say, I was interested to hear Tankian’s
perspective regarding current affairs. Being of Armenian descent and
having lived in Lebanon, he brings a unique global perspective to
the table. Not only has he written volumes on the subject, but he’s
also established Axis of Justice-a grassroots activist organization
that gives off the impression Tankian is an intelligent guy that
perpetually has a lot on his mind.

Crawdaddy!: Most of your music centers around political themes. When
and how did you first become adamantly interested in getting your
message out?

Serj Tankian: The hypocrisy behind the denial of the Armenian Genocide
in so-called democracies made me more empathetic of other forms of
injustice, from genocide to human rights, labor rights to social
issues, environmental injustice, etc.

Crawdaddy!: There’s a particular sense of urgency and meaningfulness
inherent in Elect the Dead. What was your mindset while writing
this album?

Tankian: Each song is its own animal. The themes are varied from
personal to global, pain to transcendence, political to humor,
Dada-esque art explorations, etc. But one theme that has haunted the
record is the meaning of civilization and the realization that it’s
already over.

Crawdaddy!: I read that you wrote "The Unthinking Majority" to make
a statement about "the current catastrophe of our failing democracy."

Can you expand on that?

Tankian: Borders are the gallows of our collective national egos.

Subjective lines in the sand, water, and air are separating plants,
animals, and atmosphere. Fear! Fear is the cause of separation for
this imposed illusion, this cordoned off space from pre-birth. When
we run out of borders, we reach infinity and unity. As for flags,
they’re much less useful than toilet paper. No one has been caused
distress by running out of flags. They become useful in times of
crisis and unjust, manipulative coercions pitting the victim against
the victor or vice-versa. Neoliberal globalism is failing due to its
underlying imperial ambitions and the discoveries of those sinister
ulterior motives. So the ambitions have reawakened for "democracy
promotion," in the past few years.

In real terms, that means promoting democracy if and only if it
serves imperial ambitions. How about we create a real democracy
right here and now! Let’s allow the people to vote for or against a
pre-emptive war, universal healthcare, expansion of social security,
the Kyoto Protocol, the International Criminal and World Courts, and
the role of the United Nations in interventions and reconstruction
of devastated lands. Let’s vote for how we want our taxes to be
spent, directly. Major referendums discussed and debated thoroughly
representing all sides of each issue on television. All empires
represent the aristocracy in their imperial ambitions, not the general
populace! Also in dire need is a true democracy of nations.

The UN Security Council should be dissolved and the General Assembly
should rule all international affairs, allowing all nations equal
access to the international forum and law. Given the truth, all human
beings will collectively choose the direction of this lost, possibly
last civilization.

Crawdaddy!: You mentioned creating a "real" democracy where the people
vote directly on the issues. In your travels and observations, have
you encountered a nation that acts upon these principals and falls
close to where you feel the US should be?

Tankian: There are certain nations which observe more democratic
principles than we do in certain parts of Europe and even in the
South East. However, no nation that I know of yet has allowed their
populace to vote for where they individually want their taxes to go.

I think that’s a true democracy.

Crawdaddy!: I’ve read various reports about the Jena Six case and I
know one of Axis of Justice pillars is anti-racism. Explain why this
particular case should matter to more Americans.

Tankian: I think it’s important because most of us live our lives
like racism does not exist anymore, yet these things happen that
occasionally remind us that they indeed do. Racism will exist until
we all realize that everything is connected and one.

Crawdaddy!: Committee chairman Tom Lantos argues that H.R 106 (The
Armenian Genocide Resolution) would be a "huge step in restoring
America’s moral authority." Others, like the president, fear that
openly acknowledging the Ottoman Turk’s genocide would lose vital
support in the war, including the use of an airbase. In fact, they
have already withdrawn their ambassador to the US and issued some
pretty hefty threats. How would you tackle this issue?

Tankian: The truth is where I always start and end. We should
never deny or encourage the denial of a well-known genocide for
geo-political, economic, or strategic expediency. What’s next?

Getting Germany to join our troops in Iraq if we forget about the
Holocaust? It’s ridiculous to allow another nation to vote in our
Congress.

Crawdaddy!: I once asked an old relative whom he felt was the best
US president… and believe it or not, he said Ronald Reagan. Who
do you feel has been the best president and what could the current
president learn from him?

Tankian: Not sure who the best one was, because even the better ones
did some shitty things as Presidents. JFK comes to mind for example.

In the beginning of his administration he was taken for a ride by
the military and the political bosses in power; then he woke up and
started to change things and got assassinated.

Crawdaddy!: What are your thoughts on the current presidential race?

Tankian: 1) Abolish the electorate. We’re not kids: we should be able
to not have our vote reversed by anyone (Al Gore would be president
if that was in 2000).

2) Take money out of politics altogether. No campaign financing by
private donors or public. Anyone who gets say 100,000 signatures
can run and get certain equal public funds and equal TV time to
other candidates.

3) Let’s vote for people that best represent our values and issues,
not ones who "we think will win." Injecting capitalistic principles
into elections could be very dangerous.

We’d need a very extreme candidate to even start to reverse some of
the damage the Bushes have caused along with everything else happening
in the world.

Crawdaddy!: There is a lot of public debate about reforming
immigration. Having immigrated yourself, what do you think would be
a fair policy?

Tankian: You can’t be dependent on unskilled labor on one hand and
complain about immigration on the other as a country. I think people
that are here should be given the respect of any human being in terms
of medical care, schooling, etc. and should be allowed to join the
citizenry in a structured manner.

Crawdaddy!: In a Revolver interview, you talk a little about our
"disconnectedness with nature." Can you expand on that?

Tankian: Yes, civilization itself has been disconnected from nature
from its inception. We are addicted to the city of civilization and
don’t know of any other way to survive and therefore are vulnerable
to the trouble ahead. Indigenous cultures never had that problem.

They were a part of nature, not its taker.

Crawdaddy!: What was your initial response to the 9/11 attacks?

Tankian: I was at home in Los Angeles, saw the events on TV, felt
helpless like most Americans and tried to make sense out of it all
by writing "Understanding Oil", got a lot of shit for it due to the
emotional reactionary state prevailing at the time coupled by a lack
of a historical perspective on the Middle East by the public. In
retrospect now, 9/11 had been used as the scapegoat for all foreign
policy manipulations in the Middle East, both just and unjust.

Crawdaddy!: What do you feel are our biggest failures in Iraq?

Tankian: Invading it. Not knowing how to set up a civil society
after. Not having the right intentions… but primarily going there
in the first place.

Crawdaddy!: Given the complexity of globalization, is there a happy
medium between laissez-faire and imperialism?

Tankian: Yes, countries should trade non-exclusively with those
that they desire, without the WTO and other organizations having
laws that could be held over governments and people-like the old
way of trading. If we need to protect our farmers, we have tariffs,
etc.-whatever works for everyone. If trade is not good for both,
it shouldn’t occur. Global dependence on food, water, and energy are
dangerous to the survival of beings on this planet.

Crawdaddy!: What are you reading right now?

Tankian: Many things: an Eckhart Tolle book, a James Lovelock book
that I bought a few days ago called The Revenge of Gaia, and The
Tipping Point.

CONSOLIDATION OF DRAM REMAINS WITHIN "REASONABLE LIMITS", ARMENIAN PRESIDENT STATED, REFERRING TO THE INTERNATIONAL ASSESSMENT

Mediamax News Agency
Nov 14 2007
Armenia

Yerevan, November 14 /Mediamax/. Armenian President Robert Kocharian
participated today in the launch of the 7th international exhibition
"Armprodexpo-2007".

Mediamax reports that during the talk with the journalists, Robert
Kocharian stated that "each year I visit the exhibition with great
pleasure, since here the results of the work in the spheres of
agriculture and processing industry are obvious".

Armenian President noted that he has "brilliant impressions" of what
he has seen at the exhibition. According to him, this year the Armenian
producers demonstrated new approaches and new quality.

Robert Kocharian noted that the participants of the exhibition, with
whom he talked, noted that they do not face difficulties while selling
their production. "Our companies secure quality and successfully
compete with foreign producers", Armenian President stated.

Commenting on the issue of the national currency consolidation,
Robert Kocharian stated that the government turned to international
financial organizations with a request to assess the consolidation
of dram, and the received assessments evidence that "the situation
in Armenia remains within reasonable limits".

"This process is concordant with the world trends: there is no such
country, where the national currency consolidation would not take place
in the process of continuous economic growth", the President stated.

VITALY NAUMKIN: STEPANAKERT PARTICIPATION IN TALKS NECESSARY

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.11.2007 14:15 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Stepanakert participation in the negotiation process
is necessary, said Valery Naumkin, Dartmouth Conference Co-chair on
Nagorno Karabakh, Director of the Russian Center of Strategic and
Political Studies.

"I would not like to criticize the Minsk Group. Our format doesn’t
replace the processes going on within the MG. These two formats are
mutually complementary: if the Minsk group functions at the level of
state diplomacy, the Dartmouth Conference organizes a dialogue at the
level of civil publics. One more thing, Nagorno Karabakh is a party to
Dartmouth conference and we suppose that there will be no progress in
the talks without Stepanakert’s participation. Actually, the opposition
is going on between Azerbaijan and Karabakh," the Russian expert
said. "Any agreement signed by the state leaders is put into practice
by people living in those states and if the diplomats’ groundwork
doesn’t justify people’s expectations, it will never be successful."

"History knows many cases when agreements remained on
paper. Presidential talks are insufficient. Our format aims at a public
dialogue," Naumkin said in an interview with Argumenty i Fakty Armenia.

ICG: STATUS QUO CAN PROVOKE WAR IN KARABAKH

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.11.2007 15:36 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azerbaijan and Armenia should halt their dangerous
arms race and restrain their belligerent rhetoric and instead renew
efforts to find a negotiated settlement for the Nagorno Karabakh
region, says a report issued by the International Crisis Group.

Nagorno Karabakh: Risking War, the latest report from the International
Crisis Group, examines the dangers of ignoring the conflict both for
the region and for the wider international community.

"Armenia and Azerbaijan have failed to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, even though the framework for a fair settlement has been
on the table since 2005. A comprehensive peace agreement before
presidential elections in both countries in 2008 is now unlikely but
the two sides still can and should agree before the polls to a document
on basic principles, which if necessary clearly indicates the points
that are still in dispute. Without at least such an agreement and while
they engage in a dangerous arms race and belligerent rhetoric, there
is a risk of increasing ceasefire violations in the next few years.

By about 2012, after which its oil revenue is expected to begin to
decline, Azerbaijan may be tempted to seek a military solution. The
international community needs to lose its complacency and do more to
encourage the leaderships to prepare their societies for compromise
and peace," he report says.

"Azeri and Armenian leaders have failed to engage their constituents
in discussion of the merits of peace. The European Union (EU), the
U.S. and Russia have not effectively employed political and economic
pressure for a settlement. The anticipated focus on domestic politics
in Yerevan and Baku as well as several of the Minsk Group countries
in 2008 means that even the incremental diplomatic progress that has
been made could well be lost."

"Oil money has given Azerbaijan new self-confidence and the
means to upgrade its armed forces. It seems to want to postpone
any peace deal until the military balance has shifted decisively
in its favor. Yerevan, which itself has done surprisingly well
economically, has also become more intransigent and increased its
own military expenditures. It believes that time is on its side,
that Nagorno Karabakh’s de facto independence will become a reality
increasingly difficult to ignore. Playing for time is dangerous for
all concerned, however. The riskiest period could be around 2012, when
Azerbaijan’s oil money is likely to begin to dwindle, and a military
adventure might seem a tempting way to distract citizens from economic
crisis. Important oil and gas pipelines near Nagorno Karabakh would
likely be among the first casualties of a new war, something Europe
and the U.S. in particular have an interest in avoiding."

"The wider international community, not just Minsk Group co-chairs,
should coordinate efforts to impress on Baku and Yerevan the need
for progress, specifically early agreement on a basic principles
document. Nagorno-Karabakh needs to be put at the centre of relations
with both countries. The EU special representative in the region should
become more active on the issue, and the EU should use the first
reviews of its action plans with both countries to promote conflict
resolution and the development of transparent, credible institutions
which can underpin peace efforts. Engagement is needed now to avoid
the danger of war in a few years," it reads.

"The international community needs to take the threat of war
seriously," says Magdalena Frichova, Crisis Group Caucasus Project
Director. "The risk of armed conflict is growing, and the dangers of
complacency enormous."

"The international community needs to pressure hard for peace," says
Sabine Freizer, Crisis Group’s Europe Program Director. "Conditionality
should be used with financial aid instruments, and active diplomacy
should focus both sides on the costs of continued stalemate and
confrontation, which far outweigh those of an early compromise."

MONTH OF DISABLED TO BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW

Panorama.am
15:46 14/11/2007

The ministry of employment and social affairs, "Right protection of
disabled people" NGO and Mission East will announced a one month for
the protection of right of people with disability from November 15 to
December 15. In the words of the organizers, the one month aims to
raise the awareness of the disabled among the public and contribute
to equal rights of people with disabilities.

Posters are planned titled "Your attitude hurts more than my
disability." There will be round tables, discussions and film shows in
Yerevan and the regions of the republic. There will also be lectures
at the universities and game-discussions at schools.

During the month, the annual competition for best publication on the
topic of disability will be summed up. There will be a mini football
tournament among mass media titled "Football for equal rights."

The organizers appeal to all state institutions, public organization
and the whole society to join the initiative. The program is supported
by Danish Agency for International Development.

REAL VALUE OF ARMENIAN DRAM IS BALANCED, CHIRMAN OF BASEL COMMITTEE SAYS

Noyan Tapan
Nov 13, 2007

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 13, NOYAN TAPAN. The real value of the Armenian dram,
as compared with other foreign currencies, has come back to the level
of the 1990s. The President of the Netherlands Bank and the Chairman
of the Basel Committee Dr. Nout Wellink said at the November 13 press
conference that by calculations of the International Monetary Fund,
the real value of the Armenian dram is balanced.

According to him, the exchange rate of the euro against the US dollar
has hit an unprecedented high, even though the real and weighted
exchange rates of the euro are much lower. N. Wellink said that the
annual export and import indices of EU countries are equal and make
1.4 trillion euros. "We – in Europe, especially in the Netherlands
are not afraid of appreciation because it has both positive and
negtaive aspects," he said, adding that in order to mitigate the
negative consequences of the appreciation, it is necessary to conduct
a correct macroeconomic policy and a flexible export policy. In his
words. the impact of the international rise in prices of imported
fuel would have been greater if the euro had not appreciated.

The Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia (CBA) Tigran Sargsian
in his turn said that the rise in international fuel and food prices
has created inflation expectations, which existed throughout 2007 in
Armenia as well.

With the aim of neutralizing the impact of the rise in international
prices and these expectations, the CBA raises the refinancing interest
rates stage by stage.

In the opinion of N. Wellink, the pressure of the rise in international
prices of power-bearing substances is greater in Armenia than in
other countries. As a possible consequence of this, he indicated an
increase of salaries and prices of other goods. According to him,
a restraining monetary and credit policy in Armenia may help return
the inflation expectations and inflation to their normal level.

ARMENIA MAY BECOME A FINANCIAL CENTER IN THE REGION

AZG Armenian Daily #209
14/11/2007

Economy

Chairman of the Central Bank Tigran Sargsian and Chairman of the Bank
of Holland Nut Veling held a joint press conference.

They discussed the issue of turning Armenia into a regional financial
and banking center. According to Veling, we have many things to do
in this sphere, but we hold the right way.

BAKU TO ACCUSE YEREVAN IN SPREAD OF SECTARIANISM AND VAHABISM

demaz.org, Azerbaijan
Nov 13 2007

Baku accuses Yerevan in spread of sectarianism and vahabism in our
country. Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan made statement which
reads that "some missionary organizations and foreign intelligence
structures commit religious terror against Azerbaijan with financial
and moral support of Armenian church", DayAz. informs.

Following Information Section of Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan
"near and far plans of Armenian special services include intention
to cause religious discrimination, extremism and intolerance between
citizens of Azerbaijan". "Moreover, their plans include fight with
Muslim religious and ethnic idea via increase of the role of missionary
organizations, discrediting of Islam, turning Azerbaijan to the area
of religious operations".

"Activity of Armenian terrorists, – following to Baku officials,
– is to realize informational and sabotage activity with regard to
Azerbaijan, causing religiously motivated artificial confrontation,
systematic appearance provocative themes, attempt of inside split
of national and moral values, work, directed to renew sects’ forces
against secular system of Azerbaijan".

This statement was made against background of numerous information
on increase of activity of extremist vahabist groups in Azerbaijan.

Information on confrontation between police and radicals was leaked
out.

KARABAKH CONFLICT CANNOT BE SETTLED BY MILITARY MEANS – SAAKIAN

Russia & CIS General Newswire
November 6, 2007 Tuesday 11:42 AM MSK

Statements by the Azeri leadership that the Karabakh problem could
be settled by military means have been denounced by President of the
breakaway republic of Nagorno-Karabakh Bako Saakian, who described
such comments as counterproductive.

"We qualify the statements by the leaders of Azerbaijan as
counterproductive, and think they are putting a brake on the
comprehensive settlement of the conflict and on the efforts to
establish a dialogue between the two conflicting parties, between
the two peoples," Saakian told Interfax in Moscow.

"The beginning of a new armed conflict in the region would throw back
the settlement of the Karabakh conflict," he said.

"Plans to settle this problem by military means are illusory. In our
opinion, this scenario is unrealistic," Saakian said.

"A new war would only lead to further loss of life – even greater
than previously," he said.

De-facto, Nagorno Karabakh seceded from Azerbaijan in the 1990s,
following a bloody conflict. Baku is trying to regain control of
the area.

TURKISH PRESIDENT HOPES FOR MORE "STRATEGIC PROJECTS" WITH AZERBAIJAN

Anatolia News Agency
Nov 6 2007
Turkey

Baku, 6 November: Turkish President Abdullah Gul said [on] Tuesday
[6 November] Turkey and Azerbaijan have implemented great commercial
and strategic projects.

"I hope that great and strategic projects between Turkey and Azerbaijan
increase," told Gul.

Gul and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held a press conference
after their tete-a-tete meeting in Baku on Tuesday.

Gul stressed that Turkey wishes to see a peaceful solution to the
Upper Karabakh problem within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan
and a solution based on international laws.

Gul indicated that Turkey’s reform process and entry negotiations
with the European Union would continue. No-one should doubt Turkey’s
reforms and determination to continue entry negotiations with the EU,
noted Gul.

President Gul stressed that projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipelines have been realized. "We hope to
complete soon the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway," underlined Gul.

Meanwhile, Aliyev indicated that Azerbaijan supports all decisions
Turkey has taken in the fight against terrorism.

Aliyev added that all baseless Armenian allegations against Turkey
must be ended.