Author: Hunanian Jack

The Republican, MA
March 30 2005
Using words and pictures to market products, ideas
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Gil’s opinion is that the Israeli advertising industry tends to rely
more on encouraging slogans – words – while in the United States,
ideas are spread and products are sold through images.
“What you basically see over there, in Israel, is an ad that claims
that that hamburger is the one that everybody buys … Here, in
America, (the) first thing that matters is said hamburger’s picture.
A huge one.”
Gil Duzanski, the 26-year-old manager of MGI, Media Group
International, came to America from Israel five years ago. He
believes in a good mix of words and pictures.
MGI has been around for about a year, offering “creative enterprise
solutions,” which include graphic design, Web development, and TV and
radio commercials, “basically, everything you can think of in terms
of an advertising agency.”
Duzanski studied Web design and communication in Israel, where he had
emigrated with his mother from Baku in 1990.
He was 9 at the time and Baku was still a provincial Soviet capital –
the city where the world’s first commercial oil well was drilled in
the 19th century and where Alfred Nobel’s brothers set up an oil
production company that competed with another local business, the
Caspian-Black Sea Oil Industry Association of Baron Alphonse de
Rothschild.
Today, Baku is the capital of the republic of Azerbaijan. The city
annually commemorates the events of January 1990 when ethnic tensions
between Azerbaijanis and Armenians prompted violence that led
then-Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to send tanks and troops to
end the unrest.
“We lived then on (the ninth) floor. There was a roof above us where
they put their machine guns. During those several days it was
impossible to sleep or leave the apartment. There was a tank in our
neighborhood playground.”
More than 100 people were killed and Gorbachev is still heavily
criticized for his decision. Later, after the collapse of the Soviet
Union, Azerbaijani-Armenian ethnic tensions developed into full-scale
war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region; the conflict claimed the lives
of tens of thousands on both sides.
In Israel, Duzanski finished school, went to college and then served
3½ years in an anti-terrorist unit of the Israeli army. Besides
Russian, English and Hebrew, he speaks some Arabic acquired during
his military service, although he is a bit reluctant to talk about
that part of his experience.
Arriving in the United States, Duzanski said, “It was like with
everybody else who comes, having left, basically, everything behind:
careers, homes, friends and family … struggling with the need to
learn English and find a job.”
Some time ago, Duzanski, who now lives in Easthampton, met Vadim
Vatnikov, another emigrant, who came to America from Moscow 11 years
ago. Vatnikov, 38, formerly a self-employed interpreter, retailer and
community-care worker, recently began running the Russian-language
monthly publication Russian World and the English-language Friendly
Advertiser Magazine.
So, he says, the advertising agency was just the next logical step.
Their goal is to “stand out from the crowd” by employing “strategic
thinking, fresh ideas and high standards to transform your mere
concepts into a great reality.”
Alex Peshkov, a staff writer for The Republican, emigrated from
Arkhangelsk in 2002. His column focuses on the Russian-American
community. He can be reached at [email protected]

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 29 2005
GEORGIAN POLITICIANS BLAME ARMENIANS FOR FALSEHOOD
[March 29, 2005, 14:08:41]
Suggestions of members of the Georgian president’s council of
advisers, renowned politicians Georgi Gachechiladze and Igor
Kveselava on the so-called `Armenian genocide’ in Turkey and the
current situation in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia mostly
settled by the Armenians have deeply enraged the Armenians in
Dashnaksutun Party.
To this end, Georgi Gachechiladze and Igor Kveselava have briefed for
media representatives, whereby Georgi Gachechiladze says: `One cannot
believe in this `genocide’. Russia has been also involved in this
tragedy. If the Dashnaksutun members don’t understand that they
mislead the world community, this is their problem. And the ancient
land of Georgia is called `Javahketi’ but not `Javakhk’.
Igor Kveselava: `I am convinced that another country is also involved
in this tragedy. It is not connected only to Turkey. There is no
difference between the anti-Georgian ideas of a group of dashnaks and
Migranian. They should understand that there is no such notion as
`Javakhk”, it is Javakheti and I do not understand the Armenian
claims against Georgia’.

Zaman Online, Turkey
March 26 2005
Putin: Let’s Protect CIS
By Mirza Cetinkaya
Published: Saturday 26, 2005
zaman.com
Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that the incidents that
occurred following the revolution in Kyrgyzstan, one of the former
Soviet Republics, did not surprise him.
During his meeting with Robert Kocharyan, the Armenian President who
appears on the “Velvet Revolution” list, the Russian president, Putin
highlighted that the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) must be
protected. Linking the developments in Kyrgyzstan to the poor
administration and socio-economic problems, the Russian Leader said
that “This was not surprising for us,” Putin urged the new Kyrgyz
administration to be careful to avoid any humanitarian disasters and
revealed that if the former president Askar Akayev wishes, he can
come to Russia.
Putin pointed out that the Russian administration wishes to develop
good relations with the new (Kyrgyz) administration and said, “It is
sad to see that a problem in a former Soviet Union country has been
overcome by illegal human rights violations and collective
protestations. We hope the opposition leaders have the situation
under control and can soon improve it.” The “soft” revolutions, which
occurred in the former Soviet Republics following, it is said were
indirectly caused by Moscow’s shortcomings. Also it was said that the
military operation named Rubej 2005, planned to for March 29 by the
CIS Common Security Agreement countries is likely to be postponed.
Putin and his partner in the Southern Caucasus Kocharyan are
discussing an expansion of military technical cooperation, energy
projects, and the improvement of commercial relations. Russia’s
102-numbered military base is in Armenia, one of the poorest
countries in the Caucasus region, to which Russia energy resources.
It is rumored that soldiers and equipment from two Russian military
bases, in neighboring Georgia, in which an evacuation is on the
agenda, will partly be brought to Armenia.

NKR AUTHORITIES ADMIT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR FATE OF
ARMENIAN REFUGEES AND INTEND TO EXERT EFFORTS TO MAKE THEIR LIFE MORE
COMFORTABLE
STEPANAKERT, MARCH 24. ARMINFO. NKR authorities admit their
responsibility for the fate of Armenian refugees and intend to exert
efforts to make their life more comfortable, says a statement delivered
today by NKR Foreign Ministry.
According to the document, a report of the OSCE MG fact-finding mission
was presented at the OSCE Permanent Council’s sitting in Vienna on
March 17, and the MG Co-Chairmen proposed their recommendations to
both the parties and the international community.
NKR FM made an official inquiry to the OSCE and received appropriate
documents presented at the OSCE PC sitting. On the base of received
documents, Ministry ascertain the high objectivity of the OSCE MG
mission’s report, says the statement.
The statement also noted that the mission covered only the territories
controlled by NKR authorities and does not reflect the entire picture
of humanitarian catastrophe happened as a result of a war unleashed
by Azerbaijan when about 500.000 Armenians became refugees and lost
their property, fatherland and believe in future.
NKR FM appeal to the international community to follow the example of
Armenian and American governments providing humanitarian, financial
and other aid to NKR people. Ministry confirms devotion of NKR people
and authorities to the peaceful settlement of all the moot points
and highly appreciated peacemaking efforts exerting by the OSCE MG
Co-Chairmanship and international community, says the statement. -r-

THE STATEMENT OF NKR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
25 March 05
Eighty-five years ago on March 23 a tragic event took place:
massacres were perpetrated in the administrative center of Nagorno
Karabakh Shushi and the adjacent villages. This monstrous crime to
which 30 thousand peaceful citizens fell victims, was instigated
and committed by the authorities of the predecessor of the present
Republic of Azerbaijan, the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan with
the direct support and aid of the Turkish troops deployed in the
country. The massacres were perpetrated violating the provisional
arrangement between the Armenian National Council of Karabakh which
was an independent administrative and political unit then, and the
Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan according to which the legal status
of the region of Karabakh was to be decided at the peace conference
in Paris. As a matter of fact, the March massacres of the Armenians
of Shushi in 1920 continued in different ways and forms of ethnic
cleansing throughout the imposed existence of Nagorno Karabakh
within Azerbaijan and were concluded by the mass displacement of
the last inhabitants of the city in 1988. Condemning the March 23,
1920 massacre of the Armenian population of the town of Shushi and
the adjacent areas, the National Assembly of the Republic of Nagorno
Karabakh calls the international community to define these bloody
events of ethnic extermination as a crime committed by Azerbaijan
against the humanity – genocide.
AA. 25-03-2005

STEPAN DEMIRTCHIAN IN IRAN
Azg/arm
25 March 05
– Mr. Demirtchian, is this your first visit to Iran?
– This is my first visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. The
visit was postponed several times due to different reasons. I
consider this an important visit. We met a number of responsible
people. The visit was of introductory character; we discussed issues
concerning Armenian-Iranian relations that we see as significant. The
Armenian-Iranian relations are indeed of great importance, and we
should do everything to foster them.
– Will you share a bit with the negotiations?
– There is no secrete. We discussed Armenian-Iranian relations and
noticed that the Iranian officials highlight these relations and are
ready to promote them. We have the positive results of cooperation
before us but of course there is still a lot that we could do.
– Do you mean the Armenian-Iranian relations strengthened after
President Khatami’s Armenian visit?
– Yes I do, we evaluate our relations with Iran as normal but we are
sure that we can do much more especially in the economical sphere.
– What’s your view on US invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan as well
as its growing influence in the CIS countries?
– Every state has certainly its interests. There are a lot of
problems piled in the region today but we are hopeful that they will
find a peaceful solution.
– The US labels its attacks, say, on Iraq an installation of
democracy. What do you think, what kind of democracy this is?
– Coming to the Iraqi issue, I should say that though boycotting the
parliamentary sessions because of rigged presidential and
parliamentary elections and the fact that the Constitutional
Court’s decision to hold referendum was neglected, we took part
at the discussions over Iraq and voted against sending troops to Iraq
considering the Diaspora factor. Many Iraqi Armenians appealed to our
government not to send Armenian detachment to Iraq. Armenia should be
in good relations with the US but it should maintain friendly ties
with its neighbors as well. In this respect our relations with Iran
are extremely important. Armenian-Iranian relations are vital for
establishing peace in the region. We should do everything to bring
our relations up to a higher level. Armenia should move in direction
of European integration and meanwhile should maintain good relations
with the US. We should never forget America’s help to Armenia and
we appreciate that.
– As a representative of the opposition and a deputy, how do you
evaluate developments around Nagorno Karabakh issue?
– There are many anti-Armenian resolutions that pass today. We
continuously point out that there is no perspective in establishing
peace in the region without Karabakh’s participation in the talks. I
mean Karabakh has to opt in the negotiation process, and Karabakh
people’s self-determination cannot be neglected. Unfortunately,
the world community sees the issue today as a territorial argument
between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Armenian authorities are clear today
over Karabakh’s participation in the talks.
– As we round off, what else do you have to add?
– I want to greet our compatriots. I saw that the Iranian authorities
are not indifferent as to preserving Armenian cultural values.
Hopefully this is not my last visit. We know about Armenian communities
contribution to Iran and to Armenian-Iranian relations.
By Karine Davtian from Iranian Radio

Ankara warms to the US request for Incirlik airbase
NTV MSNBC, Turkey
March 24 2005
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to announce a
visit to Israel in May as anti-Jewish sentiment among Turks is growing.
March 24 – Ankara expected to give an affirmative response to the
US request to make use of the Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey as
a logistics centre.
The government is said to be planning to respond to Washington’s
request before 24 April, a time when wide protests are expected to
be held on the 90th anniversary of the alleged Armenian genocide on.
Ankara also stated that there was no serious opposition to the American
request from the army.

Willamette Week online, OR
March 23 2005
Filming Portland
Four emerging local filmmakers-and one zany group-are producing
must-see cinema.
BY DAVID WALKER, BECKY OHLSEN, BRIAN LIBBY, NANCY ROMMELMANN & BYRON
BECK
The digital revolution leveled the playing field of filmmaking,
making it possible for anyone with a video camera and editing
software to create movies. Unfortunately, the bar of excellence has
also been lowered. It’s the same all over the country: Wannabe
auteurs who don’t know what an auteur is, but really want to direct.
Now we seem to live in an age when few people want to write the great
American novel, even fewer want to be president, but everyone wants
to make movies. Thanks to cheap technology, everybody can-it’s just
that not all of them will do it well.
Making movies is a privilege to be earned through an understanding of
filmmaking craft and style, not a right that comes with the purchase
of a Canon GL-1. Fortunately, our city boasts quite a few filmmakers
worthy of the term.
To celebrate the kickoff of the Longbaugh Film Festival, Willamette
Week’s third annual tribute to independent movies (see our complete
program guide in this issue), we’ve profiled a select group of
Portland’s emerging filmmakers. There’s James Westby, who has
attracted attention by drawing upon his own self-proclaimed film
geekiness, Beth Harrington, a guitar player who uses her own passion
in filming
stories about musicians, and Nick Peterson, whose quiet work reveals
his love of silent films. Then there’s Vance Malone, a fast-moving ad
guy by day who turns out intimate documentaries after hours, and
Cinema Queso, a group of 13 madcap movie types who have given
themselves the assignment of claiming artistic freedom, one short
film at a time.
Not all of these artists have work showcased in the Longbaugh
festival this year. But all of these Portlanders, along with their
Longbaugh peers, show the breadth and depth of what film can be. They
have earned their cameras-and they deserve an audience.
-David Walker
James Westby | Geeking out
BY BECKY OHLSEN
Everything ever written about James Westby quotes Roger Ebert calling
the director’s 1996 film Bloody Mary “a diabolical thriller in the
tradition of Blood Simple.” That’s high praise for any filmmaker, but
it’s about to become irrelevant-or at least drowned out by a massive
new wave of buzz.
This spring, Westby is earning attention for Film Geek, his fourth
film, a labor of love made on the cheap with a digital video camera
and a script he cranked out in just three weeks. It’s the strange
story of Scotty Pelk, played by former Portlander Melik Malkasian, a
socially inept video-store clerk with an encyclopedic knowledge
of-and reverence for-movies.
To the surprise of Westby and producer Byrd McDonald, Film Geek won
the Independent Visions award at last month’s Sarasota Film Festival,
and the $2,500 prize was just about enough to cover the movie’s cost.
The movie was picked up by First Run Features, a Brooklyn company
known for distributing indie films and documentaries, and there’s
talk of a late-summer theater release.
Before Film Geek, Westby had made three features: Subculture, which
he dismisses as a “student film”; the noirish Bloody Mary; and the
million-dollar Anoosh of the Airwaves, which wasn’t ever released.
None brought him the success he’d hoped for.
After all, Westby has been chasing his moviemaking dreams for years,
including a three-year stint in Los Angeles, where he did everything:
script writing, freelance editing, subtitling. To make a living,
Westby worked as an apartment manager, and in retrospect, he says, “I
probably learned more dealing with tenants every day.”
In November 2001, Westby returned to Portland when he was offered a
job editing the documentary Haunters. That’s when he met McDonald, an
NYU film grad who had worked in Jonathan Demme’s production company.
Their common love of movies-and the fact that McDonald had experience
and connections-led them to form the Portland Narrative Project. Film
Geek is the company’s first release.
Three seconds into a conversation, listening to Westby rattle off
fully formed mini-homages to semi-obscure directors, you realize he
pretty much is Scotty Pelk, at least in terms of film obsession. Film
Geek, he admits, was “kind of an exorcism.”
Like all his movies, though, this one is shaped by his star and muse,
Malkasian. The two met when Malkasian, then attending Portland State
University, responded to an ad to act in Westby’s Subculture. Since
then, Malkasian has portrayed the short-fused, twitchy centerpiece of
Bloody Mary, the naive Armenian exchange student in Anoosh and, most
memorably, the awesome Latino porn director Arturo Domingo in
Westby’s well-known short The Auteur.
Now that a distributor has picked up Film Geek,”it’s so much easier
to move on,” Westby says. Next up for his film company is an Arturo
Domingo vehicle, “a sweet comedy about a sordid character.” After
that comes a crime thriller set in Lake Oswego-an idea Westby had
while working as a dental-equipment delivery driver there.
“I’m almost glad I didn’t succeed with those other projects,” says
Westby, who with his wife, Stephanie, is expecting their second
child. “Because it would’ve been for the wrong reasons.”
AGE: 32.
NEIGHBORHOOD: Southwest.
DAY JOB: Freelance film editing and subtitling; part-time video-store
clerk.
MUSE: Actor Melik Malkasian.
FAVORITE FILMS: Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye and his whole streak
from McCabe & Mrs. Miller through 3 Women.
FAVORITE DIRECTORS: Luis Buñuel and Jean-Luc Godard. Woody Allen from
Annie Hall through Bullets Over Broadway.
WHY PORTLAND? Moved back to work on Haunters.
PORTLAND BACKDROP: Videorama (2940 NE Alberta St., 288-4067).
“GIVING IT UP” MOMENT: “[Before] I discovered digital moviemaking.
Not worrying about funding saved me, or inspired me to try things a
new way.”
[rest omitted]
–Boundary_(ID_GQQxQtOi1wAv5stGybgOZg)–

PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN RECEIVES EDUARD ROSSEL
YEREVAN, MARCH 22, NOYAN TAPAN. On March 22, the RA President
Robert Kocharian received the delagation headed by Governor of the
Sverdlovsk region Eduard Rossel. According to official information,
the main subject of the meeting was the problem of developing the
economic cooperation. The governor in particular suggested setting up
a working group to develop a concrete program on cooperation between
Armenia and the Sverdlovsk region in a short period of time, as well
as founding a chamber of commerce to ensure export of the Armenian
goods. The sides also discussed the issue of possible cooperation in
engineering industry and machine-tool construction, noting that finding
mutual interests with the well-known Sverdlovsk enterprises will open
new development prospects for the similar Armenian enterprises.

Azerbaijan News Service
March 22 2005
QARABAQ CONFLICT DISCUSSED ON OSCE PA LEVEL BUT ARMENIANS STILL
REFUSE TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE SAYS MP
2005-03-22 10:40
Another meeting of parliamentarians from Azerbaijan and Armenia will
take place on initiative of Goran Lenmarker, special representative
of OSCE on Daqliq Qarabaq conflict, as Eldar Ibrahimov, member of
Azerbaijani delegation to OSCE Parliament Assembly, told ANS.
According to him, disagreements between the parties make the meeting
necessary. Eldar Ibrahimov, said the report was proving the
importance of ensuring territorial integrity of Azerbaijan first and
then sit to settle status of the Daqliq Qarabaq and economical ties.
However Armenian side put the case of status issue to top that shows
the non-constructive position of Armenia. It~Rs still regretting that
Armenians don~Rt agree any proposals. In future Lenmarker will make
report after which he will send it to us and we will make comments on
it, MP has said. The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is expected to
gather win Washington to hear Goran Lenmarker~Rs report on Daqliq
Qarabaq conflict as well. Lenmarker has promised to make objective
report but giving no detail of it, Eldar Ibrahimov added.