Author: Baghdasarian Karlen

Film’s threesome proves troublesome
By Ben Widdicombe, Jo Piazza and Chris Rovzar
New York Daily News
August 14, 2005
Kevin Bacon, Colin Firth and Rachel Blanchard have a wild menage
a trois in their new film, “Where the Truth Lies.” But how much of
their three-way will you get to see?
Director Atom Egoyan and ThinkFilm execs are wrestling with the
MPAA ratings board over whether the film should get an NC-17 or the
preferable R.
Word is the ratings sheriffs have gotten hung up on four scenes in
the movie, based on Rupert Holmes’ novel about a journalist trying to
find the truth behind the breakup of a famed comedy team years before.
A lesbian sex scene – featuring a woman dressed as Alice in Wonderland
– was less troubling than Blanchard’s trifecta romp with Bacon and
Firth, who play the comic duo loosely based on Jerry Lewis and Dean
Martin. The next morning, Blanchard is found dead in the hotel room.
The “Sweet Hereafter” director writes in SLM magazine that the
MPAA is concerned with “the actual number of thrusts seen.” Before
shooting his actors, he recalls, “I resorted to playing with dolls,
trying to figure out angles and configurations.” But in the end,
he couldn’t disguise the sexual mechanics.
“I needed these scenes to feel lurid and unbridled,” says the
Oscar-nominee and four-time Cannes Film Festival prize winner.
Having promised producer Robert Lantos an R, Egoyan has continued
whacking away at the offending scenes.
But one insider tells us, “The mystery of the girl’s death hinges
on that scene. If he cuts any more, the audience won’t know what
happened.”
ThinkFilm is due to get a verdict on the latest edit this week. If the
NC-17 sticks, the company could appeal, or it could release “Where
the Truth Lies” without a rating, as it did with its raunchy comedy
“The Aristocrats.”
It’s safe to say the movie is a departure for Blanchard, that sweet
girl from TV’s “7th Heaven.” She admits her boyfriend “cringed” when
he saw her triple-header – partly because “he would suffer endless
taunts of ‘One degree of Kevin Bacon!'”
PHOTO CAPTION: Kevin Bacon (l.), Rachel Blanchard and Colin Firth
figure in a steamy scene director Atom Egoyan is fighting to retain in
‘Where the Truth Lies.’
From: Baghdasarian

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug 13 2005
MINISTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY MEETS WITH DELEGATION OF GERMAN
INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
[August 13, 2005, 19:45:41]
At the invitation of the Minister of National Security of Azerbaijan
Eldar Mahmudov, a delegation of the Federal Intelligence Service of
Germany led by its Chief August Hanning stayed in Baku from August
11 to 13.
On August 12, the members of the delegation accompanied by
Lieutenant-General Eldar Mahmudov and other Ministry’s officials
visited the Alley of Honor in Baku to pay a tribute to the national
leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, and the Martyrs Alley to
commemorate those who gave their lives for independence and territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan.
Later on the same, Chief of the Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service
August Hanning and his delegation met with Minister of National
Security of Azerbaijan Lieutenant-General Eldar Mahmudov.
The Minister informed the delegation members on the legal and
democratic reforms implemented in Azerbaijan under the leadership
of President Ilham Aliyev, and the work done to maintain political
stability and security in the country, which, according to him, are
the most important factors to ensure its socio-economic development
as well as realization of the large-scale international projects.
Lieutenant-General Eldar Mahmudov also told of the concrete steps
taken in fight against organized crime and international terrorism,
illegal migration and drug trafficking and touched upon criminogenic
situation in the region and the factors influencing on it, as well
as the aftermath of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.
In turn, Chief of the Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service August
Hanning shared his impressions of staying in Baku, expressing
satisfaction with the existing cooperation between corresponding
structures of Azerbaijan and Germany. He also expressed confidence
this visit would be very useful for strengthening of the relationship
between the two countries in general.
The parties exchanged views on a number of other issues of mutual
interest including prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation
between the two countries’ special services.
From: Baghdasarian

SWEDEN WILLING TO ASSIST IN KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
YEREVAN, AUGUST 12, NOYAN TAPAN. At the August 12 meeting between the
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and the delegation headed by
the Swedish Prime Minister Staff’s State Secretary Lars Danielsson
Gunnar, the sides underlined the necessity for further development of
the Armenian-Swedish relations and the importance of paying mutual
visits. According to the RA MFA Press and Information Department, the
delegation is in Armenia within the framework of a regional visit.t
V. Oskanian appreciated Sweden’s assistance to Armenia with the aim of
ensuring the maximum involvement of Armenia in the EU Program
“European Neighborhood Policy”. He also pointed out the successful
process of the technical programs implemented in Armenia since 1995
with funds of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). At
the request of the guest, the Armenian Foreign Minister presented the
current programs on Armenia’s cooperation with the EU and the NATO, as
well as issues related to the relations between Armenia and Turkey.
Speaking about the process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement,
Lars Danielsson Gunnar noted that his country is interested in seeing
the region conflict-free in the shortest possible time. He also
stressed his country’s willingness to provide both political and
economic assistance in order to help reach agreements aimed at the
conflict settlement.
From: Baghdasarian

ARMENIAN “MACBETH” ON POLISH STAGE
PanArmenian News Network
Aug 5 2005
05.08.2005 04:17
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Yerevan Drama Theater after Hrachya Kaplanian
will take part in the Shakespeare International Theater Festival to
be held in Gdansk and Gdynia (Poland) August 6-13, Gazeta Wyborcza
reports. The festival will open with the performance “Comedy of
Mistakes” staged by the New Theater from Lodz. Polish theater-lovers
can appreciate the art of Armenian actors on August 8 and 9. The
Yerevan Drama Theater will perform Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”
directed by Armen Khandikian. To note, theaters form Germany and
Ukraine will present the same play. Theaters from Israel, Ukraine,
Hungary, Italy, Belarus and other states will take part in the
festival.
From: Baghdasarian

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug 5 2005
RADICAL OPPOSITION WILL COLLABORATE WITH DEVIL FOR THE SAKE OF COMING
TO THE POWER ALI KARIMLI, TALKING PROFUSELY ABOUT THE NATIVE LAND
AND NATION, DRAWS YOUTH INTO TREASON THROUGH MOVEMENT “YENI FIKIR”
[August 05, 2005, 22:00:39]
As was reported the General Prosecutor Office has disseminated special
report on the visit on July 28-29 of chairman of the “Yeni Fikir” youth
movement Ruslan Bashirli and the movement’s member Osman Alimuradov to
Tbilisi on the order of chairman of the Azerbaijan People Front Party
Ali Karimli where they have meeting with a certain Merabi Jibutia,
and being indeed as officers of the Armenian special services Georgi
Ispiryan and some person called as Vardan.
AzerTAj presents text of conversation between the above mentioned
persons in Tbilisi, on July 29.
X X X
GEORGI ISPIRYAN: Now we should be helping you, and after the coming
to the power you should help us.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: You (addressed to Osman Alimuradov) are told him we’ll
like to hold a meeting with some governmental parties in the country.
MERABI JIBUTIA: That’s good.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: Do you saw our office?
MERABÝ JÝBUTÝA: Yes, I do.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: It’s at the city center, but there is Azadliq
newspaper. The same time they’re occupied by the People Front Party
and the largest news agency of the Caucasus and the Central Asia –
‘Turan’. There also located ‘Bizim Yol’ newspaper too. It’s a bit
closer for us. We have a small room for our organization, that only
one youth organization in the country possessing a separate office.
We are got it from Ali Karimli.
MERABÝ JÝBUTÝA: That’s good. Because on the eve of every deal it’s
necessary to have a separate office. There you will receive people,
hold meetings and discuss relevant questions.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: For example, Azerbaijan is a large country and
there are enormous natural recourses. The country is located in very
favorable strategic place, and how shall I put it, Azerbaijan, perhaps,
will be as Belgium or Poland. But, Azerbaijan remains behind even
Georgia. There are issues in regards which Azerbaijan falls behind
even the more weak state in Caucasus – Armenia.
MERABI JUBUTIA: We are not nationalist. Somebody says we are
nationalists. It’s not truth. A man who is far from nationalism
will move forward everywhere. The war between Armenia and Azerbaijan
is initiated by Russia. Georgi will speak of that. I would like to
drink the honor of Caucasus and Azerbaijan. I wish happiness to all
nations. I would like that all be aware. All will best in Azerbaijan.
GEORGI ISPIRYAN: Good luck, on the honor all Caucasus. Now are what
happening in your country and Armenia? There is business in progress,
people are making a money. Your or I needn’t in war. We are don’t fight
but their will. It’s not necessary for us. What the cause that you are
Azerbaijanis or I’m Armenian. We all the people. Our close relations
are not advantageous for Russia. Just a first approximation… There
are faults from your and our sides too. It’s only Russia will to blame.
MERABI JIBUTIA: If all organizations will cooperate as ours. We are
like peace and democracy.
GEORGI ISPIRYAN: We are like to derive out the regime in Azerbaijan
and will do all necessary for it. After ten or twelve days we would
help you in a round sum.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: In Azerbaijan is more profitable places. The country
had oil industry, strongest oil industry. There is also tourism. But
the oil most important for us.
GEORGI ISPIRYAN: Yes, the oil is first.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: In a meetings that we attended to date together with
Said, Osman, Ahmad and others, we are not hear any concrete issues,
but three days ago representative of the Institution of National
Democracy has concretely said that should be preparations for the
revolution. Therefore, Said will leave tomorrow for Poland where
will get training during a week. Will also leave the deputy chairman
for political affairs of the People Front Party Fuad Mustafayev.
Representative of the Institution of National Democracy has already
told me what to do. Because of hot weather in our country are not
expected a serious rallies. We will suspend it till September and I
will reopen our plans and all must be remained secretly.
In September we must organize rally of 100 thousands people. I tell
you these because you are our friends. In other words, all these
plans are from America. The public in Georgia shouldn’t aware of these
excepting the two man. All conversation should be remained secretly.
MERABI JIBUTIA: Really? Thanks.
GEORGI ISPIRYAN: If you will need some aid from the Armenian side,
there are some friends. I will take something completely against
Aliyev. We are able to organize uprising in Armenia too.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: What, in Armenia?
GEORGI ISPIRYAN: Yes, there.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: I see. You (Osman Alimuradov) tell him it will in
benefit of Aliyevs. They are not aware on the Azerbaijani society.
GEORGI ISPIRYAN: Armenians are always ready for democracy.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: Azerbaijan is open for You forever. We will change
this country and afterwards you will make business there as citizens
of our country. As friends of our citizens and ourselves you will
have a good chances in Azerbaijan.
As regards the problem which is seriously stand before us, the
conflict over Karabakh, we have recognizes occupation of our land.
But we consider that democrats will always collaborate. If we like
to be as part of Europe and the global world then we should simply
find solution to all these problems.
MERABI JIBUTIA: Yes, it’s a global problem.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: Today’s problems in the world not settled through
war. They will find its solution behind the table, drinking cognac
and eating chocolate. We are friends. I said it about Armenians.
MERABI JIBUTIA: Thank you. Sat down.
GEORGI ISPIRYAN: Thanks, I’m satisfied. We like to Your coming to
the power. Therefore youth must hold fighting. I think, we will agree
and all will be best. We will render a financial assistance to your
organization. Maybe after 8-10-12 days you will get these aids. We
like that you come to the power and help to us.
MERABI JIBUTIA: We must unify as fist.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: I will disclose for You one more issue. On the eve
of the elections is planning a meeting of our candidate, as well as
the candidate of all opposition Ali Karimli with Georgian President
Mikheil Saakashvili.
GEORGI ISPIRYAN: All rights.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: He had a men there and they prepare a meeting. If
Ali Karimli will recognized in Europe and by Europeans then…
GEORGI ISPIRYAN: I will help from my side. Now will give 2 thousands
dollars and we will meet after 15 days. Then I will give you 20
thousands dollars. We are helping as we can. When you will come to
the power we will get aid from you.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: It will be a big aid.
MERABI JIBUTIA: You must know that we are given this money for
developing of democracy.
GEORGÝ ISPIRYAN: Yes, only for the sake of democracy.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: I must sign here?
MERABI JIBUTIA: Yes. All rights.
(Ruslan Bashirli signing the check and getting 2 thousands dollars)
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: We will take a street on November 6 and get the
power on November 7.
GEORGÝ ISPIRYAN: Good luck.
(Ruslan Bashirli and Osman Alimuradov talking confidentially)
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: Osman, I will spend 500 from these to my wedding and
1000 we must return to themselves that in any circumstances they will
deny all these. As it is we will remain without anything.
GEORGÝ ISPIRYAN: When will happen your meeting I will make a good
shoot.
I will dring 30 glass of beer.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: Our editor-in-chief Ganimat Zahidov will drink 50
glass. GEORGÝ ISPIRYAN: Really?
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: Yes. For the weekend he drink and not anything
happening. Tell him I will show this money to Ali Karimli and if
he will arrive in Baku I will organize his meeting with Ali Karimli
who is help me on the political issues. Around Ali Karimli are 5-10
non-governmental organizations and businessmen. The later have living
today abroad and will help as they can.
MERABI JIBUTIA: You will convey our greetings to our friends in Baku.
But nobody shouldn’t hear it. We have a friends everywhere where
Azerbaijanis in war. If it necessary we will use the Armenian military
forces against your government.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: They’re like to break the cease-fire?
MERABI JIBUTIA: It’s for uprising against your government.
RUSLAN BASHIRLI: We are friends with Georgians. Allah grant, thank
goodness that we will together with Armenians soon.
If they have courage, they will come tomorrow and we will give to him
oil, all things. Let their economy will develop. Then, they will not
suffering. Now they haven’t anything.
X X X
In conclusion, Ruslan Bashirli, Georgi Ispiryan and Merabi Jibutia
have been taking photograph.
–Boundary_(ID_zyWi0bNNL5wLK5cgI7uloQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Ankara postpones Deiss visit to Turkey
Swissinfo, Switzerland
Aug 5 2005
The Turkish authorities have postponed a visit to Turkey next month
by Swiss Economics Minister Joseph Deiss.
They have cited agenda problems of his Turkish counterpart, although
it is widely considered in Switzerland that the real cause for the
postponement is the Armenian genocide issue.
It is the second time that Ankara has made such a delaying move. In
September 2003, Turkish authorities cancelled a visit by the Swiss
foreign minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey. She eventually visited the
country in March.
The Swiss authorities confirmed reports in Friday~Rs edition of
the Zurich newspaper Tages Anzeiger and Geneva~Rs Le Temps that
Switzerland~Rs ambassador to Turkey had received an official note
cancelling Deiss~Rs trip.
It said that the Turkish economics minister, Kürsad Tüzmen, was
unavailable on the dates that had been pencilled in. As a result the
planned trip could not take place in September.
However the Turkish embassy in Bern said the visit had only been
postponed and denied any link to a criminal investigation into a
Turkish party leader in Switzerland.
“Mr Deiss’s visit is to be worked out through mutual contacts on both
sides in the period ahead,” Sibel Gal, press attaché at the Turkish
embassy, told swissinfo.
Snub
The snub is the latest episode in tensions between Ankara and Bern,
provoked indirectly by the commemoration two weeks ago of the 1923
Treaty of Lausanne, which defined the borders of modern Turkey.
Ankara has criticised Swiss authorities for opening an investigation
into Doðu Perinçek, head of the Turkish Workers~R Party who denied
the Armenian genocide at a news conference in canton Zurich.
Under Swiss law, any act of denying, belittling or justifying genocide
is a violation of the country~Rs anti-racism laws.
Perinçek, who appeared before the public prosecutor of Winterhur, is
also the subject of investigation for the same reason in canton Vaud.
A similar investigation in Winterthur has been opened in the case of
Turkish historian Yusuf Halaçoðlu.
The Turkish government, which has strongly condemned the Swiss action,
considers that the investigations are contrary to international law
and has demanded they be stopped.
Diplomatic spat
In a diplomatic spat, the ambassador of Switzerland in Turkey was
last week summoned to explain Switzerland~Rs position, while Turkey~Rs
envoy in Bern visited the Swiss foreign ministry a day later.
The Swiss economics ministry has expressed regret at Ankara~Rs
decision, hoping that the visit could take place at a later date.
The trip was a working visit with a delegation of Swiss business
leaders. Such trips take place about once every four years with
countries that represent an important market for Switzerland.
The ministry commented that if the real reason for the postponement
were due to the investigations it would regret that because Switzerland
practised “the separation of powers which is an essential value of
its democracy”.
The House of Representatives is the only federal institution that
has officially recognised genocide against the Armenians.
–Boundary_(ID_jNAs7v+PoMXWhEFeaiRvbA)–
From: Baghdasarian

Pressure group accuses Minister of ‘diminishing patriotism’
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Aug 2 2005
Baku, August 1, AssA-Irada — The radical Garabagh Liberation
Organization (GLO) has condemned the Education Ministry’s decision
to cancel military training classes in the country’s secondary
schools. This step by the Ministry is unacceptable for a country,
the lands of which are under occupation, it said in a statement.
“The Ministry has dealt a serious blow on patriotism and military
preparedness activities by canceling military departments first and
then the classes.”
The GLO statement decisively condemned Minister Misir Mardanov’s
earlier visit to Armenia and even claimed that he allegedly ‘serves
Armenians’. The GLO thereby demanded to resume military training
classes and called for the dismissal of Minister Mardanov.*
From: Baghdasarian

The Moscow Times, Russia
July 29 2005
Golden Oldies
No longer a giant in recorded music, Melodiya is trying to make a
comeback by unearthing gems in its archive, such as forgotten Soviet
rock songs from the 1960s.
By Anna Malpas
Published: July 29, 2005
Janos Koos sounds a bit uncertain as he sings the words of Chuck
Berry: “My baby does the hanky panky, yeah.” The Hungarian vocalist
recorded the song at Melodiya in 1970, a year when the authorities
were cracking down on music that didn’t fit the official format.
After all, the country was about to celebrate Lenin’s 100th birthday.
Nevertheless, the song, recently re-released by Melodiya, is
definitive proof that rock ‘n’ roll existed in the Soviet Union. To
get this message across, Andrei Troshin, the record label’s chief
editor, has issued a series of compilation discs called “The True
History of Russian Light Music.”
Packaged in brightly colored sleeves, the albums are aimed at a young
audience. “We don’t want to do retro,” Troshin said during a recent
interview. He defined his ideal listener as someone who wouldn’t be
seen dead buying an album by current Russian pop acts, but who wants
to discover something to be proud of in the country’s musical past.

“It’s light music for intellectually developed people,” the editor
said. “That segment of the market is free at the moment.”
The albums are a chance to branch out for Melodiya, a label that is
world-famous for its classical output, but which also preserves a
unique archive of light, or estrada music. After losing almost all of
its premises and staff after the breakup of the Soviet Union, the
state-owned enterprise has experienced something of a renaissance
under new management.
Troshin gave the interview in the columned hall of Melodiya’s
headquarters on Tverskoi Bulvar, a building whose oldest part dates
back to before Napoleon’s invasion of Russia. The label’s most
valuable possession is housed elsewhere: an archive of around 60,000
items — no one knows the exact figure — including the master tapes
of popular music that was taken off the airwaves for ideological
reasons.
The golden age of Russian rock ‘n’ roll began in 1957, the editor
said. That was the year of the Moscow International Festival of Youth
and Students, when American bands arrived and played real rock ‘n’
roll — although for decency’s sake, it was called jazz. When they
left, it was usually without their instruments, which were snapped up
by Russian musicians.
“The professional level [of Russian bands] went up very rapidly,
because they had professional equipment for the first time,” Troshin
said. When compiling the latest disc in the Real History series,
titled “Love by Post,” he chose songs from the 1960s that were
“clearly pro-Western.” Along with the Chuck Berry track, there are
songs in Italian and French, and a Russian translation of The
Coasters’ 1959 hit “Charlie Brown.”
Only one of the songs on the album would be familiar to most Russian
listeners: “Black Cat” by Tamara Miansarova, a 1964 hit that still
gets a lot of airplay. In other cases, the artists might be famous,
but the material is not. On one track, the smooth-voiced crooner
Muslim Magomayev sings an Italian dance tune with Elektron — a band
that played electric instruments, which has been called Russia’s
answer to Britain’s Shadows.
“Magomayev used to do things that had nothing to do with his image,”
Troshin said. “He once sang [the Animals’ 1964 chart-topper] ‘House
of the Rising Sun’ with a rock group.”
Many of the tracks date back to the late 1960s. At the time, Melodiya
was in a rush to release material, as its staff sensed a change in
the political climate, with clubs being shut down and jazz bands
being evicted from restaurants. Sure enough, a 1969 resolution by the
Council of Ministers called for certain estrada groups to be broken
up and for some of Melodiya’s master tapes to be erased.
One of the victims of the freeze was an album called “From Palanga to
Gurzuf,” which was recently re-released by Melodiya in association
with the hip record label Lyogkiye. The feel-good, largely
instrumental numbers include tracks by Elektron and Rokoko, a band
founded by the composer Anatoly Bykanov, who now teaches at the
Moscow Conservatory.
Named after beach resorts in Lithuania and the Crimea, the album was
recorded in two versions: a lower-quality mono version for Russian
audiences and a high-quality stereo version for export, meant to be
released abroad in association with Intourist. But the summery tracks
were out of step with preparations for the 100th anniversary of
Lenin’s birth in April 1970, and the order went out to destroy the
master tape.
The album survived, however, thanks to quick-witted Melodiya staff
members. It was hidden in a box labeled “A concert by the
participants of the All-Russian Show of Rural Amateur Talents,” where
it lay undisturbed until last winter, when restorers transferring the
label’s archive onto digital tape listened to the album and realized
they had found something unique.
In a bid to increase awareness of the album, Melodiya teamed up with
Snegiri Muzyka, a small independent record company, to release the
album on Lyogkiye, a label that specializes in lounge and
electronica. The reason was simple: Melodiya is seen as “sovok,” or
Soviet in all the worst senses of the word, Troshin admitted.
The CD markets at a higher price than those in the “Real History”
series, and it has more sophisticated packaging and liner notes. It
was presented last month with a party at the Moscow club Keks.
“Of course we are trying to hook young people and, in a sense, those
with patriotic views,” Troshin said. “Because you can put this on,
listen to it and realize that there’s nothing embarrassing about it.
You don’t have to feel ashamed by these musicians.”
The media reaction to the releases has been largely favorable. “I
just can’t believe that in the mid-1960s people played and recorded
this kind of music in our country,” a critic wrote in Izvestia
earlier this month, referring to the “Real History” series. A music
journalist in Vremya Novostei was more circumspect about “From
Palanga.” It made him feel “childlike pleasure” the first time he
listened to it, but “maybe a single injection of nostalgia is
enough,” he wrote.
Founded in 1964, Melodiya held a monopoly on recorded music in the
Soviet Union, employing tens of thousands. It even had a
representative office in Samoa, Troshin commented, although “that was
connected with spying.” Now the factories and shops are gone, and the
label only has about 60 employees.
Yet Melodiya has undergone something of a revival in recent years,
the chief editor said, describing it as a “former corpse.” Still
owned by the state, the enterprise makes a small “kopek profit,” he
said, and last year it won an award in Belgium for a recording of
symphonic and vocal music by the 20th-century composer Boris Arapov.
Its main tasks now are to digitize the archive, which badly needs new
premises — it is currently housed in an apartment building — and to
find a replacement for the label’s recording studio, a church
building on Voznesensky Pereulok, which has been handed back to the
Anglican community, although Melodiya still intermittently records
there.
Troshin joined Melodiya two years ago. Previously, he edited a
magazine on Orthodox art and worked in the art business. He joined
the company along with a new general director, Kirill Bashirov. As a
non-classical music specialist, he is in charge of the estrada
releases, and it’s a job that fits his own tastes.
Among his personal favorites are the Armenian singer Lola Khomyants
and the Georgian Gyuli Chokheli. “I like women with low, sultry
voices,” he said. Khomyants died last December, just a week before
the first “Real History” album came out with one of her songs as the
first track.
“It was very sad and frustrating,” he recalled.
From: Baghdasarian

Azerbaijan’s president vows tougher fight against poverty, corruption
AP Worldstream; Jul 25, 2005
AIDA SULTANOVA

Azerbaijan’s president vowed Monday to intensify a fight against
poverty and corruption in this oil-rich Caspian Sea nation, promoting
his government’s course in a speech ahead of crucial parliamentary
elections later this year.
Ilham Aliev told several hundred people gathered in a city park in
Guba, 160 kilometers (100 miles) north of the capital, Baku, that his
government would earmark more than US$1 billion (Aâ=82¬830 million) in
the coming years for electric power plants and other infrastructure
projects.
“My goal is eliminate poverty, so that there are no people living in
horrible conditions; to eliminate the problems that worry people; to
put an end to the bribery and corruption that is shaking our society,
in order to create a free society,” Aliev said.
With tensions mounting ahead of parliamentary elections four months
away, Aliev has been traveling around the country, giving speeches,
meeting local officials and promoting development plans in outlying
regions, where poverty is more endemic than in Baku.
Opposition political parties fear the government could rig the
November balloting. The October 2003 presidential vote, in which Aliev
succeeded hislate father, was widely alleged to have been fraudulent,
and it triggered clashes between police and demonstrators.
“I don’t doubt that the parliamentary elections will be conducted
completely transparently and fairly and the Azerbaijani people will
express their will, just as they did in 2003,” Aliev said.
However, in a sign of the government’s nervousness at potential
protests, Deputy Interior Minister Vilayat Eyvazov on Monday accused
unnamed opposition forces of planning acts of unrest and claimed some
radical elements aimed to acquire weapons.
“We warn them that we will not tolerate this,” said the deputy
interior minister.
Separately, the Azerbaijani leader said efforts to resolve the dispute
with neighboring Armenia over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh were
yielding positive results.
But at the same time, he appeared to give Armenia a warning, saying
military expenditures would increase by more than 75 percent this
year.
“We don’t have our eye on someone’s land, but we will also not give up
our own land,” Aliev said. “We will build a strong army and we will
free our land at any time, by any means.”
Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region inside Azerbaijan, has been
under the control of ethnic Armenians since the early 1990s, following
fighting that killed an estimated 30,000 people.
A cease-fire was signed in 1994, but the enclave’s final political
status has not been determined and shooting breaks out frequently
between the two sides, which face off across a demilitarized buffer
zone.
Thousands of Azerbaijanis displaced by the fighting continue to live
in often squalid conditions scattered around the country.
From: Baghdasarian

Azerbaijan never allows independence for Karabakh – Aliyev
By Sevindzh Abdullayeva and Viktor Shulman
ITAR-TASS News Agency
July 21, 2005 Thursday 2:03 PM Eastern Time
BAKU, July 21 — Azerbaijan will never allow independence for
Nagorno-Karabakh or being an integral part of Armenia, Azerbaijani
President Ilkham Aliyev said.
Speaking at Thursday’s meeting devoted to the results of the social
and economic development of the country in the first six months of
the year, Aliyev said Azerbaijan “will never allow independence for
Nagorno-Karabakh or being an integral part of Armenia.”
“Our position remains unchanged: either today, tomorrow, in 10 years
or in 100 years the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh’s separation from
Azerbaijan cannot be a subject for discussion,” the Azerbaijani
president said.
The occupation of Azerbaijani territories will not be eternal. “The
end is near and we’d like to solve the problem by peaceful means –
by talks,” he stressed. Aliyev named the principles, which are only
possible for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict – to liberate
Azerbaijan’s occupied territories and return refugees to their
places, i.e. to Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent districts. “Then
Nagorno-Karabakh’s status may be determined. It may be given the
highest degree of autonomy part of Azerbaijan,” Aliyev noted.
He said it is necessary to use all political and diplomatic methods
in order to settle the conflict. It is important to strengthen
Azerbaijan’s economic and military potential. “I can note certain
progress in Nagorno-Karabakh settlement” in the last six months,
Aliyev pointed out.
From: Baghdasarian