Author: Chmshkian Vicken

Lraper.org
July 19, 2007

DON’T LOOK BACK, MR. GHUKASYAN

NKR President Arkady Ghukasyan believes that the political forces
must honor the choice of people. In speaking about the complaints
regarding the voting, Arkady Ghukasyan agreed there are complaints but
he does not think they all are grounded. These must be checked, there is
an authorized body which will attend to it but it will not influence the
democratic image of the country, Ghukasyan thinks. He regrets to say
that black PR has penetrated from Armenia to Karabakh. According to
Arkady Ghukasyan, the statements that there was pressure from the
security agencies are not true either. "When people see they will be
defeated, they start inventing tales."

The reporters asked the president to comment on the opinion of the
Armenian pollster Aaron Adibekyan who said Bako Sahakyan is "daddy",
Masis Mayilyan is "glamour", and that in Karabakh they prefer a "daddy".
Personally I am not acquainted with Mr. Adibekyan, and for me it is
difficult to comment. I think it is an insult for the people of
Karabakh. As to Igor Muradyan, he is a sick person. Certainly, he has
made a great contribution to the nation. But such statements regarding
this country are immoral," Arkady Ghukasyan said.

Arkady Ghukasyan thinks his statement on endorsing Bako Sahakyan
will influence the people for whom Arkady Ghukasyan is an authority. The
others will not. At the same time, Arkady Ghukasyan said if usually the
political forces are first elected then form a coalition, in Karabakh it
is the contrary, the political forces have united before the election.
"I think it is determined by the personality of Bako Sahakyan. As well
as the peculiarities of Karabakh. We are at war, and we must mobilize
people for the solution of these problems." According to Arkady
Ghukasyan, the union of forces endorsing Bako Sahakyan is not
artificial. Arkady Ghukasyan said opposition forces also united for Bako
Sahakyan. "The opposition is perceived to be resentful. The opposition
are the people whom we dismissed at one time because they do not deserve
these posts. This is called opposition. But I think the opposition must
have an idea, and in that case the classic formula will work," Ghukasyan
said.

Arkady Ghukasyan said he leaves with the feeling that he fulfilled
his duty, and is hopeful that the new president will rule the country
better than him.

19-07-2007 16:34:41

BAKO SAHAKYAN CONSIDERS REPORTS ON BREACHES AS BLACK PR

The presidential candidate Bako Sahakyan and his wife voted at
polling station 4/1 in Stepanakert. After the vote Bako Sahakyan held a
briefing. First, however, he congratulated everyone on the election day.
"Our people once again proved their commitment to democratic values. For
us, the elections are a means of establishing the civil society," he
said. With regard to the pre-election period, he said: "I think it
passed on a high level." In answer to the question of Masis Mayilyan’s
headquarters’ reports on breaches, Bako Sahakyan said it is black PR
which is witnessed for the first time in Karabakh. One of the reporters
asked if his opponents will remain at their posts in case he is elected
president. "The political culture demands that first of all the people
who were in the team were appointed. But it does not mean that the
opponents will be persecuted. My slogan was "Together for Artsakh" and I
will continue to uphold it," he said.

19-07-2007 14:56:28

NKR CEC CHAIR: TURNOUT IS HIGH

The chair of the NKR Central Electoral Commission Sergey Nasibyan
released the data of turnout. According to him, 25 percent of voters
have already voted.

As of 11 o’clock, turnout totaled 24.5 percent. 22 273 out of 91
180 have voted already. The highest turnout was reported in the region
of Shahumyan, 44.5 percent, Martakert follows with 37.41 percent. The
lowest was in Stepanakert 15.6 percent, then Martuni 22.3 percent. On
the whole, however, the turnout is high.

According to Sergey Nasibyan, the CEC got 6 complaints which are
now being studied.

MASIS MAYILYAN: BLACK PR WAS LAUNCHED BY PEOPLE WHO BREAK THE LAW

"I think the people launched black PR who break the law," Masis
Mayilyan said in commenting on Arkady Ghukasyan’s and Bako Sahakyan’s
statements that reports on irregularities are black PR. Masis Mayilyan
believes that he will win if there are only separate cases of fraud.

Arkady Ghukasyan has stated earlier today that he addressed
reports on wrongdoing and concluded that the people who feel they will
lose the election are making such statements. The reporter asked to
comment on this statement. Masis Mayilyan said: "The CEC is entitled to
addressing irregularities." "I do not know why people attend to their
duties," he added.

The president endorsed the common candidate. Will it affect the
outcome? In answer to this question Masis Mayilyan said: "I think if he
supports the common candidate, I will get more votes."

In commenting on Adibekyan’s notorious statement on "daddy" and
"glamour", he said: "Our people will evaluate Adibekyan. If there is
mass wrongdoing, people will give their answer."

"If you do not win, will you remain deputy minister or will you
wait until they dismiss you?" In answer to this question he said he
thinks about victory only. "Will you work with Bako Sahakyan if he is
elected?" In answer to this question he said: "First I will congratulate
him. It depends on the team he will be working with. If he is going to
work with the team that is beside him now, I must think well before I
make a decision."

"If we love our country, we must admit our faults. We must not
cheat anyone, neither ourselves nor the international community. We must
be a democratic country and not be considered as such if we want to get
our place in the world. Everyone must acknowledge this, including the
wrongdoers. The law is important of all. Only a legitimate president can
represent our country and establish law and order in the country," the
presidential candidate told reporters. He added that if we hold an
election marred by fraud, in the future they will not recognize our
elections. "The problem is that we are not holding an election for them,
we hold it for people first of all, and everything should be in
compliance with the law, for us to be able in the future to insist on
the election and claim recognition of our republic. Because they will
recognize us if we are like them. And we want the civilized world to
recognize us, therefore we must simply be civilized."

19-07-2007 17:19:40

MASIS MAYILYAN’S HEADQUARTERS GOT NO RESPONSE FROM CEC

Today the election headquarters of Masis Mayilyan submitted 14
complaints to the CEC, each contained several breaches of the electoral
legislation. So far we have received no response, said Yuri Zakharyan,
deputy head of the election headquarters of Masis Mayilyan, in an
interview with KarabakhOpen.com. They received response to the complaint
of July 18. By the way, the chair of the CEC said they had responded to
6 complaints but did not specify what kind of response they had given.

19-07-2007 17:52:28

INHABITANTS OF YEREVAN’S 33rd DISTRICT SEND APPLICATION-COMPLAINT TO RA PRESIDENT

Noyan Tapan
Jul 18 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. An application-complaint was passed to
the RA President’s administration on July 18 with the signatures of 241
inhabitants of Yerevan’s 33rd district (with Khanjian-Tigran Mets-Melik
Adamian-Main Avenue borders). Similar application-complaints were
also sent to the RA NA Speaker, Tigran Torosian, RA Prime Minister,
Serge Sargsian, RA Ombudsperson, Armen Haroutiunian.

Angela Aghajanian, a resident of the above mentioned district,
said to Noyan Tapan correspondent that the basis of all problems,
which have emerged in the district announced as a development zone
is the imperfection of the law "On Property Alienation for Public
and State Needs," and their application also includes a proposal to
amend that law.

She said that only 30 out of 300 apartment owners have signed an
alienation agreement with the City Center Development company carrying
out development in that district. Many inhabitants do not sign the
agreement, as they consider that "they will exchange the house for a
paper, as we should wait for two or three years for that house." While,
in A. Aghajanian’s words, those carrying out development should provide
an apartment to development zone inhabitants at the moment of signing
the agreement, giving them 2-3 months for vacating the houses. It
was mentioned that the inhabitants of the 33rd district are not sure
that on the basis of the alienation agreement they will not be forced
to leave the apartment ahead of the schedule and will not be offered
money in the amount mentioned in the property valuation protocol and
not corresponding to the market value.

A. Aghajanian also said that 71 apartment owners have not signed
protocols of valuation of real estate used by them and challenge them
at the court.

It should be mentioned that a fair operates in the Firdousi street
sector of 33rd district, where the local residents are engaged in
small business. In A. Aghajanian’s words, it will be right that they
receive a compensation for their lost business by those carrying
out development.

PROBLEM OF GOAL-KEEPER SOLVED

A1+
[01:49 pm] 17 July, 2007

The Armenian champion team "Pyunik" is in Ireland and is getting
prepared for the meeting with "Derry City" within the frames of
Championship League. Vahan Danielyan, press secretary of "Pyunik"
informed the "A1+" that 19 footballers headed by Armen Gjulbudaghjants
left for Ireland. Among them are 4 footballers from Argentina and
Hzejna Felix from Cameron. Hamlet Mkhitaryan will not take part in
the meeting since he is injured. Goal-keeper Gevorg Kasparyan will
also participate in the game. Bogodar Lopes from Argentina will be
the second goal-keeper of the team.

The Championship League will be launched today. The first meeting
is due in Georgia, where the local "Olympy" will meet with "Astana"
team from Kazakhstan.

MELIK JANOYAN, A JAVELINE THROWER FROM GYUMRI, TAKES EIGHTH PLACE IN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Noyan Tapan
Jul 16, 2007

DEBRETSEN, JULY 16, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Athletics Championship
of those under 23 finished in the city of Debretsen, in Hungary on
July 15.

Melik Janoyan (Gyumri) took the eighth place with a record of 72m
and 80sm in the struggle of javelin throwers.

Los Angeles Times, CA
Calendar Live
July 15 2007

Tankian works outside the System

Band, orchestra or artist:

Music venue name:

By August Brown; Geoff Boucher, Times Staff Writer

SYSTEM OF A DOWN’S Serj Tankian is one of modern metal’s most popular
singers. He’s fond of wry political laments howled over demented
guitar thrash tempered with Armenian folk. He is also a gentle
protector of insects.

When an errant moth flew into the living room of his Calabasas home
while Tankian served rosewater tea, he rushed to cup his hands around
it and set it free out the back door. It was a sweet gesture from a
vocalist whose most well-known chorus lyric is "I don’t think you
trust in my self-righteous suicide." But it gave a hint of where
Tankian’s head is at as he prepares to release "Elect the Dead," his
debut solo album, due Oct. 23.

ADVERTISEMENT

Recorded in his rural home studio, with Tankian handling most of the
non-percussion instruments and engineer duties, "Elect the Dead" is
more tender and songwriterly than "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize," the
two recent chart-topping System records. It’s still a brutally
engaging guitar-rock album, to be sure, but it seems to come from a
longing for small, more personal changes than System’s sonic assault
suggests.

"Civilization is already over," Tankian said. "What I felt with this
record is that micro leads to macro. The other day I was trying to
make a left turn on the freeway and a lady slowed to let me in, and
that’s the same thing as kindness between nations."

Likewise, "Elect the Dead" is full of tiny deviances from System’s
sound that add up to a distinctly different record. "Feed Us" is rife
with jazzy breakdowns and nervous catcalls, and "Lie Lie Lie" is a
daffy cabaret number with campy girlish shrieks. "Unthinking
Majority" and "Empty Walls" are more traditionally pummeling rockers.
But it seems Tankian isn’t burdened by the expectations placed on him
as a vanguard representative of modern heavy music and as an activist
for the Armenian diaspora.

Last year, Tankian lobbied Congress to pass an amendment recognizing
the Armenian genocide in Turkey. While the album does have oblique
references to "the East where you killed her," "Elect the Dead" isn’t
a policy paper, nor a way to distance himself from System. Because
even with its steely lyricism and throttling textures, "Elect the
Dead," as in his band’s best moments, is also really, really funny.

"Even politics can’t be completely serious," Tankian said. "We’re
silly creatures. If we could record the thoughts of animals, they’d
think we’re ridiculous."

PRSIDENT OF ETHIOPIA RECEIVES HIS HOLINESS TER TER CATHOLICOS ARAM I

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jul 12 2007

ADIS ABEBA, JULY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The meeting of
Catholicos Aram I of the Great Cilician House with Girma Wolde-Giorgis,
the President of Ethiopia in the presidential residence of Ethiopia in
Adis Abeba on July 11. His Holiness Aram I and President Wolde-Giorgis
touched upon the relations between Armenian and Ethiopian churches,
the situation in Lebanon, the role of religion in the modern world, the
Christian-Islamic dialogue, and the role of Aram I in the conciliation
of the churches of Ghput and Habesh, in particular, during the warm
meeting, which lasted about an hour.

According to the information provided by Antilias, His Holiness Aram
I answered the questions of correspondents at the moment when he was
leaving the presidential residence. And late in the evening television
channels thoroughly highlighted the meeting of Catholicos Aram I and
the President of the Republic of Ethiopia.

VIOLINIST VARTAN MANOOGIAN DIES
Jacob Stockinger

ies/201218
7/13/2007 10:05 am

Virtuoso violinist and longtime University of Wisconsin-Madison
Professor Vartan Manoogian died Thursday in Spain. He was 71.

Manoogian was also the director of the annual Madeleine Island Chamber
Music Festival, held each summer on the Apostle Islands in northern
Wisconsin on Lake Superior. He also returned each summer to a festival
in Spain where he taught and performed, and frequently performed at
festivals in Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

"We are shocked and devastated. This was such a surprise," said John
Schaffer, director of the UW School of Music, who has worked with
Manoogian for 20 years. "Yesterday there was a pall over the whole
school. Vartan was so alive and vibrant. He was such a elegant and
kind man."

According to Schaffer, the cause of death is still not known exactly,
although cardiac problems are suspected.

"Vartan was one of the most valuable members of the music faculty,"
Schaffer said. "He is going to be seriously missed. I think that’s the
sentiment all my colleagues feel. It’s a sudden loss, and he left such
a legacy. To replace him and move on just won’t be possible. Whatever
happens will have to be different."

At the time of his death, Manoogian was working on a multiple-CD
recording project of violin trios for students. He wrote a four-volume
series of books on violin technique and created a video guide to
orchestral bowing. He also recorded the complete solo sonatas and
partitas of J.S. Bach, which he performed together for the first time
in 2000 in Madison.

Manoogian was known for his devotion to both the classical repertoire
and new music, and he enjoyed unusual crossover performances, such
as playing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with the UW Marching Band
and doing improvisational performances with UW jazz saxophonist
Roscoe Mitchell.

Manoogian was born in 1936 in Baghdad to Armenian parents, who had
sought political asylum there. At age 16, he went to France to study
at the National Conservatory in Paris where he won top prizes and
took master classes from composer and violinist George Enescu. He
then came to America and studied under master violin teacher Ivan
Galamian at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City.

He returned to Europe, where he took a post with the Lausanne Chamber
Orchestra in Switzerland and then became the concertmaster of the
renowned Orchestre de la Suisse Romande under famed conductor Ernest
Ansermet.

Back in the U.S., Manoogian taught at the prestigious North Carolina
School of the Arts, where he also played in the Claremont String
Quartet, and at Indiana University. In 1976, he won an Emmy for a
performance of a Mozart violin concerto on educational television. Many
prominent composers dedicated new works to him.

He came to the UW-Madison in 1980, where he performed solo and often
with other faculty members. He quickly established a reputation
for teaching top-ranking students who went on to major professional
music careers.

Manoogian is survived by his wife of 40 years, artist Brigitte
Manoogian, and their son, Avedis, a pianist in Minneapolis who often
performed with his father.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN AND SERGE SARGSYAN ARE INCOMPATIBLE

A1+
[05:35 pm] 10 July, 2007

President’s National Security Advisor Garnik Isagulyan does not
believe that Levon Ter-Petrosyan may run for presidency.

"Of course, he has the right to be nominated, but I do not think that
he may win", said Garnik Isagulyan.

According to him, Levon Ter-Petrosyan has very littlie opportunity
since "the period of each president is remembered very well".

Mr Isagulyan reminded that in 1994 they achieved success "and Levon
Ter-Petrosyan also contributed to it, but at the end when we had
everything". According to him, Ter-Pertosyan was not on the right
path. The nation saw what progress was accomplished during the last
10 years and what outcomes gave Karabakh talks.

"The nation does not want to go back", confirmed Mr Isagulyan.

Garnik Isagulyan released the polling results of the institute of
political research. According to it, 25 percent of Yerevan citizens
want to see Robert Kocharyan in the post of the president for the
third time.

According to the survey, Robert Kocharyan has the greatest reputation
among the political actors in Armenia. To our question whether the
reputation of Robert Kocharyan is higher that Serge Sargrsyan’s
reputation, Garnik Isagulyan answered: "But why do you compare
them?" Then he insisted on what he said. He noted that Kocharyan had
put the policy on the right way and after him it would be lead just
the same way.

Mr Isagulyan also mentioned that Kocharyan’s best descendant was Serge
Sargsyan. As to his relations with Robert Kochrayan and Serge Sargsyan,
Mr Isagulyan stated that they were "splendid".

FISH, NUTS AND JOBS: ELECTIONS IN TRABZON

Turkish Daily News, Turkey
July 9, 2007 Monday

Trabzon is in the center of Turkey’s Black Sea region, surrounded by
mountains and it influences the economy and politics in the region.

On one side, one sees the sea that provides a livelihood for the
fishermen and on the other there is a steep slope full of hazelnut
trees. The problem here is that neither fish nor hazelnuts are enough
to make ends meet for Trabzon’s people.

Just like many places around the country, coffee houses are full of
unemployed youth. The region is the country’s and the world’s hazelnut
center but as a result of the crash in hazelnut prices and the total
lack of industry, the people of Trabzon are far from happy.

A recent spate of crimes has also dramatically affected the mood of the
people. The murder of a priest of the Santa Maria Italian Catholic
church in Trabzon by a teenager, the murder of Armenian-Turkish
journalist Hrant Dink by another teenager from the city and several
efforts by mobs to lynch rights groups trying to protest against the
conditions in prisons.

The people blame unemployment for their restless youth. "The people
here face serious economic difficulties. There is high unemployment.

Consequently, some are exploiting these teenagers," said Kemal Karan,
a shopkeeper in the Carsibasi district.

Unemployment is one of the main factors in children and teenagers
being used in illegal activities, says Trabzon Chamber of Commerce
President Sadan Eren. "Trabzon receives a large number of migrants
from all over Turkey. That’s one of the main reasons why the rate of
unemployment is rising," he said.

Eren also said that the issue of hazelnuts was very important to the
region, noting that the lack of industry necessitated serious amounts
of assistance.

According to a study prepared by Professor Ahmet Ulusoy from Karadeniz
Technical University, 26,000 businesses shut their doors from 2000
to 2006, reflecting the state of affairs in Trabzon.

Rise in nationalism:

The escalation of terrorist violence and several funerals of
fallen soldiers have demoralized the people and provided a boost
for nationalist sentiments to creep in and this is reflected in the
projections made for the province in the parliamentary elections on
July 22. A recent funeral of a soldier killed in the southeast was
attended by 30,000 people.

In 2002, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) won six seats and
the Republican People’s Party (CHP) won two.

Locals believe this time around the far-right Nationalist Movement
Party (MHP) will join the two. Out of the eight seats the province has,
the AKP will win four, the CHP two and the MHP two, locals say.

When asked how the AKP could still be the leading party despite
being criticized so often for its hazelnut policy, locals say the
government’s refusal to pay more for hazelnuts is more than made up
for by its coal and education assistance.

The growth of the national economy has also helped the AKP.

"I am actually a CHP supporter," said businessmen Ismet Buluk. "But
I will vote for the AKP because during its term, I was able to buy
a taxi license by taking out a bank loan."

Promises focus on fish and nuts:

The competition among political parties raising the promise stakes
is heating up in Trabzon too. The promises are mainly on hazelnut
prices and fish. There is also some talk about transportation.

Hazelnut prices in 2005 were YTL 7 per kilogram and dropped to YTL
2 in 2006, sparking protests in the region. This year, it is around
YTL 3.5. The price being half of what it was in 2005 is a serious
problem for growers.

The Young Party’s (GP) parliamentary candidate from Trabzon Ayhan
Cagilci does not hold back any punches on the issue and promised to
pay the growers YTL 8 per kilogram of hazelnuts and sell it overseas
for $13. Another project he envisages is to bring the railroad to
the western Black Sea province of Samsun, four-and-a-half hours
from Trabzon.

The AKP’s provincial leader Erdogan Beder admits hazelnut prices are
a serious problem for them, but dismisses suggestions that it will
cost them a lot of votes.

"We will win at least seven of the eight seats here," he claims,
adding, "The Agricultural Products Office (TMO) purchased YTL 600
million worth of hazelnuts. If it had not been for that, the price
would have fallen to YTL 1."

Beder promises to center their tourism strategy on the Sumela Monastery
and launch a regional campaign to boost revenues. He also says the
Camurlu shipyards will be built, creating 5,000 jobs.

The CHP’s deputy from Trabzon Sevket Arz claims support for the AKP
has fallen significantly, noting that the AKP received 163,000 votes
in the 2002 general elections and 146,000 in the 2004 local elections.

"The CHP will be the top party here in the upcoming elections. The
government ruined hazelnut and tobacco growers. Unemployment is at
record highs. The Trabzon municipality wanted to employ a few people
the other day. There were 10,000 applications," he said.

Another CHP deputy from Trabzon, Akif Hamzacelebi, said the government
had lost support due to its stance on terrorism, hazelnuts and the
presidential elections, claiming that the CHP expected to win at
least half of the eight seats in Trabzon.

The MHP is expected to be the principal beneficiary of the rise
in nationalism.

MHP leader Devlet Bahceli held a rally in Trabzon a week ago, attended
by a crowd of around 15,000 people. At the rally, Bahceli severely
criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the government
for failing the nation on terrorism. Locals says this is the biggest
ever crowd the MHP attracted in Trabzon. If it manages to pass the
10 percent election threshold, the MHP is expected to win at least
two parliamentary seats in Trabzon.

The Democrat Party (DP) candidate is Eyup Asik, a former Motherland
Party (ANAVATAN) deputy and minister, but almost no one gives them any
chance because many believe they will fail to clear the threshold. The
Saadet (Happiness or Contentment) Party (SP) candidate is Seref Malkoc,
former Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan’s lawyer, is seen as unlikely
to stand any chance against the AKP.

Lack of momentum in CHP:

Trabzon is further proof that election cooperation by the CHP with
the other main leftist party, Democratic Left Party (DSP) has failed
to catch the imagination of the people. The DSP withdrew from the
elections to support the CHP but the initial momentum it generated
has failed to transform into rise in support.

The CHP won two seats in 2002 and most expect it to do the same this
time around. Only if two parties manage to pass the election threshold,
the CHP may win three seats in Trabzon.

New fad in Trabzon: Beard

As one walks in the Kunduracilar Shopping Center, one clearly sees
the election mood sweeping the province. The people of the Black Sea
are passionate, even about politics.

Barber Senol Bayram in the shopping center says, "Unemployment has
destroyed us. No one comes to my shop any more. The unemployed don’t
come here to shave. Beards are the new fad in Trabzon."

The unemployment problem seems to estrange even those closest to it.

Kemal ol, who sells lemons in front of the AKP headquarters in Trabzon,
says, "There is an economic crisis. We cannot earn any money. I will
vote for a party other than the AKP."

Women of Trabzon:

There are many women in Trabzon who grow vegetables in their gardens
and sell them in markets. Ayse speaks of a customer in the market
who believes YTL 0.75 is too expensive for a kilogram of cucumbers.

"Should I give it for free?"

She turns and says, "Just look at it. It is very hard to earn a
living here."

Speaking to several women with headscarves at a teahouse, one realizes
that day-to-day problems are more important to the people of Trabzon
than the problems debated in Ankara. One person says, "I will not
vote for the AKP because they failed to solve this problem," showing
her headscarf. Others intend to vote for the AKP.

The AKP’s top candidate in Trabzon Faruk Nafiz Ozak, the infrastructure
minister, is much respected in the city and women say they will vote
for the party because of him.

Everywhere you turn you see shopkeepers complaining about lack of
customers. Selcuk Yurdakul, a shopkeeper at the Kunduracilar Shopping
Center, says, "I am going to vote for the MHP."

Pensioner Coskun Aksay said economic problems had destroyed him. He
is not happy with the candidates of political parties and says he
is undecided even though he has been a loyal True Path Party (DYP)
supporter.

Youth disillusioned:

Rampant unemployment is especially devastating for the youth, most
of whom spend their time at coffeehouses.

Speaking to a group of young people at a coffee shop, one gets a sense
of their disillusionment. Cem Tosun says he is unemployed and jokingly
adds, "When I go to the ballot box, I will vote for the party with
the prettiest logo." He says he doesn’t expect anything from any of
the parties. He asks, "What have they solved until now?

What did they do in the past that would fill me with hope about
the future?"

Dilek Erdem works part-time as a waitress. "I will not vote, because
the current political structure does not produce solutions."

Okan Baykan is more political. "I will vote for the Freedom and
Cooperation Party (ODP). The main parties cannot solve anything.

Trabzon was a leftist stronghold 20 years ago. Now it is all mixed."

His cousin Mutlu Bayran says he will choose between the CHP or the MHP,
noting that for him the important thing was nationalism.

Politics fine up to a point:

The people of Trabzon love talking about politics but what they truly
adore is Trabzonspor, their football team. Every street, shop, window
has its compulsory Trabzonspor flags.

Mutlu Baykan says he doesn’t care which party wins the election as
long as Trabzon becomes the champion.

Unfortunately, Trabzonspor, considered one of the top four teams in
the Turkish league, have been underachieving for the past few decades
and have lagged behind their Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce, Galatasaray
and Besiktas for years.

This year it finished fourth, disappointing Trabzon and its many
supporters yet again.

Salih Kurt who works at the industrial zone in the city says every
party has its own problems. "If one puts a single spoon of yogurt
into a barrel-full of milk, the taste turns sour. The people of the
Black Sea like upfront people and only honest and upfront politicians
understand them. "While there is a lot of uncertainty in the minds
of the people of Trabzon, one can be certain that parties’ policies
on economic problems, unemployment and the prices of hazelnuts will
be the main determinants of the elections here.

ISLAMIC EXTREMISM IS THE MAJOR PROBLEM FOR EUROPE

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.07.2007 15:24 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Europeans
to defend their values, reminding them about the necessity to adhere
to Christian principles and indicating where the security threat for
Europe and the whole world comes from.

Angela Merkel urged Europeans to strongly defend basic values from
the threat of Islamic extremism. Human’s image in his Christian
interpretation must become a universal principle, actions of which do
not end near the borders of Europe. Islamic extremism is the major
threat. As an example of enemy to democracy the German Chancellor
called Iran, underlining that Tehran’s efforts to slander Holocaust
and Ahmadinejad’s threats to wipe out Israel must meet a strong
resistance by Europeans.

Angela Merkel stated that the European Union is not only an economic
union. " We need the European Union as a commonality of values. For
me personally, tolerance is the soul of Europe. And exactly tolerance
demands defense from extremism," she said, Deutsche Welle reports.