Author: Kajoyan Gevork

SERJ TANKIAN DEBUTS ‘TOTAL PARANOIA’ FROM ‘BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY – THE ALBUM’

Banana 101.5
Sept 30 2011

System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian has contributed the song
‘Total Paranoia’ to the upcoming video game soundtrack for ‘Batman:
Arkham City’, check out the brand new track right here.

System fans have been clamoring for a new album from the Armenian hard
rockers ever since their indefinite hiatus took effect in 2006. The
band has satisfied some fans by re-forming for a tour this past summer,
but there are still no known plans for a System of a Down Album.

Vocalist Serj Tankian has kept busy with his solo career that has
already spawned two albums -2007â~@²s ‘Elect the Dead’ and 2010â~@²s
‘Imperfect Harmonies’ (as well as a subsequent remix version of the
latter). In past interviews Serj has claimed to have penned over 400
songs already, so it probably wasn’t too difficult for him to find
one that could be applied to the plight of Gotham City.

His latest track is called ‘Total Paranoia’ and you will find it among
new tracks from The Damned Things, Coheed and Cambria, and Daughtry on
‘Batman: Arkham City – The Album’. The multiplatform video game hits
stores October 18th, with the album being released two weeks ahead
on October 4th.

CONTROVERSIAL HOLLYWOOD TURKISH PARADE CANCELED

ArmeniaDiaspora.com
Sept 30 2011

SCPR.ORG — A controversial Hollywood parade featuring the Ottoman
Military Marching Band was canceled Wednesday after objections from
the Armenian community, but event organizers said the cancellation
was purely practical.

“We had some logistical issues with the band members trying to make it
here on time,” said Hafsa Rai, spokeswoman for the Pacifica Institute,
which canceled the event.

Rai cites paperwork, plane tickets, insurance and other issues as the
real reason the parade was canceled. The entire 35-person marching
band had to be flown out together from Turkey to the U.S., and the
necessary paperwork would not be completed in time, Rai said. She
said that there was a visa issue, as they’d tried to have the visa
approved with expedited processing, but the visa office asked for
more information.

The Armenian Youth Federation and Armenian National Committee called
Monday’s planned Hollywood Boulevard parade by an Ottoman military
marching bank an affront to victims of Turkey’s 1915-1918 genocide
of Armenians.

“They’re obviously not aware of these sensitivities and facts so we
are stuck in this position where we have to voice our opposition,”
said Serouj Aprahamian, the executive director of the Armenian Youth
Federation.

The parade was scheduled to take place at Hollywood Boulevard and
Highland Avenue in Hollywood. Rai said organizers chose this location
because of the large amount of tourists it attracts, but Aprahamian
thinks the location choice was insensitive.

“The Ottoman Military Marching band that was scheduled to march is
just a stone’s throw away from little Armenia,” said Aprahamian.

Organizers said the marching band was meant to draw attention to the
upcoming Anatolian Cultures Festival in Costa Mesa that begins Oct. 6.

The four-day festival celebrates all cultures that have at one time
lived in what is now Turkey, including Armenians.

But Aprahamian said the band is a military organization, not a cultural
event, and if the goal was to promote a festival in Orange County it
doesn’t make sense for the parade to be held in Los Angeles.

The event organizers said no one from the Armenian community had
contacted them directly to protest the event, and that Pacifica was
unaware of the controversy until there was talk of public protests
and Facebook groups forming online.

“We were surprised by the reaction of the Armenian community and we
did not intend to offend anyone,” Rai said.

Since the parade was canceled, so was the potential protest.

“We’d prefer this issue not to come up at all,” said Aprahamian. “To
us, it’s mindblowing that someone would even organize something
like this.”

Los Angeles is home to the largest Armenian community outside of
Armenia, said Aprahamian, and he said that the community is still
dealing with serious issues stemming from the Armenian genocide of
almost 100 years ago.

This story has been updated. It also incorporates information from
the Associated Press.

Original Link:

ARAM I TO ERDOGAN: YOU WILL BE CREDIBLE ONLY IF YOU RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

iloubnan.info, Lebanon
Sept 30 2011

Armenian Catholicos of the Greek Romanian, Aram I Kechichian, asked
Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a letter he sent to him on Friday, to
respect human rights and justice, and to recognize Armenian genocide,

“You will be credible only if you recognize the genocide,” he said
herein.

The letter came days after Prime Minister Erdogan signed a decree
that supposedly will return hundreds of buildings that belonged to
Christian and Jewish community foundations or charitable trusts,
confiscated since 1936, when the Turkish government demanded that
all non-Muslim foundations declare their property holdings.

There are currently 162 such trusts registered in the Republic
of Turkey.

“Decisions adopted in the name of justice are not complete as long
as you (Erdogan) refuse to recognize History and democratic values
and principles,” the letter read.

During World War I, large numbers of Armenians were methodically
massacred throughout the Ottoman Empire. In 1915, thirty-three years
before UN Genocide Convention was adopted, the Armenian Genocide was
condemned by the international community as a crime against humanity.

NEW HEARINGS ON SECRET ARMS DEAL TO ARMENIA HELD IN MOLDOVAN PARLIAMENT

APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 30 2011

During the hearings it was reveled that the agreement on arms deal
was contrary to the international legislation

Baku. Habil Suleymanzadeh – APA. New hearings on secret arms deal
of Moldova to Armenia were held in Moldovan parliament. APA reports
quoting “Novosti Moldovi” information agency that the MPs asked many
question to Defense Minister Vitalie Marinuta on scandalous arms deal.

Though the Defense Minister confirmed the arms deal, he tried to
assure the MPs that the arms deal was legal and corresponded to
all international. But during the dialogue, it was revealed that no
international observer participated during arms transfer. Minister
said that “tender has a secret character” and hadn’t announced the
buyer. Minister also said that the working life of weapon has expired.

Moldovan Minister avoided responding the question on who had passed
a final decision on arms deal.

Acting President of Moldova Marian Lupu has dismissed Chief of the
General Staff of the National Army of Moldova, General Jurie Dominic
with a view to enhance the military discipline and to avoid further
violations of the military regulations. The reason of General Dominic’s
dismissal is a disclosure of secret arms deal with Armenia.

According to Moldavian press, the dismissal has followed a big
scandal. On Wednesday the Moldova Parliament held closed-door hearings
concerning the Libyan plane arriving in Chisinau from Benghazi on Sept
12 and departing later with 60 tons of arms onboard. Moldovan Defense
Minister Vitalie Marinuta reportedly admitted that the arms were sold
to Armenia. His spokesman said that the cargo consisted of outdated
artillery and antitank systems. The Moldovan Government claims that
it was unaware of the deal, while the military authorities say that
they acted on the Government’s instruction.

The investigation had been launched on the issue.

Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said that the
countries, which sold offensive weapon to Armenia, made a great
mistake.

ROBERT KOCHARYAN: “I DON’T RULE OUT MY RETURN TO BIG POLITICS”

Mediamax, Armenia
Sept 30 2011

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said
in the exclusive interview to Mediamax that he doesn’t rule out the
possibility of his return to big politics.

Robert Kocharyan said this commenting by Mediamax’s request on the
fact that the topic of his return to big politics became one of
the main themes on the internal political agenda, and the fact that
Vladimir Putin is going to run for the post of Russian President in
2012 aroused a stream of discussions about the impact of this step
on political processes in Armenia and on political perspectives of
the second President in particular.

“I am amazed that my possible return is linked to political processes
in Russia. And this happens immediately after the celebration of
the 21st anniversary of Armenia’s independence? I am sure political
processes should ripen here in Armenia, and not be directly projected
from outside.

I don’t rule out the possibility of my return to big politics.

However, only three major factors may force me to return and not the
events going on in other country which is very close and important
for Armenia. These three factors are:

1. the absence of a tangible and stable improvement of the situation
in country’s economy and people’s welfare, and consequently the growth
of hopeless moods and migration;

2. the demand for my return to big politics by various layers of
the society;

3. my inner belief that I can radically improve the situation.

The ways of return to active politics may vary given these three
factors.

Other circumstances only add a political resource but are not
fundamental,” Robert Kocharyan said in the exclusive interview to
Mediamax.

E. SHARMAZANOV: THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION – MISSION, NOT PRINCIPLE

Panorama, Armenia
Sept 30 2011

“I hail the co-chairs efforts aimed at the peaceful resolution of
the conflict, which are to detain Azerbaijan’s destructive statements.

Additional measures are needed improving the atmosphere on the ground,”
said Edward Sharmazanov, the Republican spokesman, to Panorama.am
making remarks on the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs statement.

The Co-Chairs reaffirmed in the statement the commitment made by
Presidents Medvedev, Obama, and Sarkozy in their May 26 Deauville
statement to assist the sides to achieve such a settlement.

The Republican MP reminded Armenia has expressed commitment to the
basic document prior to the tripartite meeting of Presidents Serzh
Sargsyan, Dmitry Medvedev and Ilham Aliyev.

“But the Azerbaijani party has appeared with a new package of
proposals,” said the MP.

The Republican MP recalled President Sargsyan’s speech delivered
in the UN General Assembly saying despite the expectations and the
high-level advice from the international community, Azerbaijan took
yet another step back during the last meeting in Kazan by rejecting
the previously elaborated arrangement and trying, in fact, to break
down the negotiation process.

Edward Sharmazanov stated that the right to self-determination is a
mission, unlike the principle of territorial integrity which is just
a principle.

TURKISH CYPRIOT COMMUNITY TO OBTAIN GROUND PASSES FOR UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION

Panorama, Armenia
Sept 30 2011

“UN protocol, in the context of negotiations with the two communities
in Cyprus, issued ground passes for the representatives of the
Turkish Cypriot community,” said Maria Zoupaniotis, the spokeswoman
of the permanent representation of Cyprus to the UN, in response
to Panorama.am request on the status of Turkish Cypriot delegation
taking part in the 66th session of the UN General Assembly.

“Their status, as indicated on the ground pass is “representative of
the Turkish Cypriot community”. The Turkish Cypriot representatives
in NY as well as members of their leadership took advantage of this
accreditation and they used it during the High-level week of the UN
General Assembly to advance their secessionist goals. I would like to
note that indeed the so called “TRNC” is an illegal entity condemned
by the Security Council in SC resolution 541 (1984),” is written in
M. Zoupaniotis’ answer.

The continental shelf delimitation agreement was signed by Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis
Eroglu on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

D. Eroglu also met with the Prime Minister of Albania Sali Berisha
at the UN headquarters.

SERZH SARGSYAN: THE PEOPLE OF NAGORNO KARABAKH ARE AS EUROPEAN AS ANY OF US

armradio.am
01.10.2011 18:42

President Serzh Sargsyan participated in the Eastern Partnership
Summit in Warsaw today.

“The birth of the Eastern Partnership was the demand of time. It gave
new spirit and opened new perspectives for the development of relations
between the European Union and the Eastern partners. Today, more than
two years after the launch of the program, it’s necessary to sum up the
progress and determine the future steps. The discussion of these issues
on the level of a summit reflects the attitude towards the Eastern
Partnership and reconfirms the political will to move it forward,”
President Sargsyan said, addressing the Eastern Partnership Summit.

“Having established lasting peace and prosperity over its territory,
the European Union appears to the world a unique example of political
and economic integration. I’m assured that this experience can be
applied in the South Caucasus,” the President said.

“The unsolved conflicts should get a fair and stable solution. We are
committed to the process of peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue
with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. For Armenia
and Nagorno Karabakh the key to the resolution of the issue is the
guaranteeing of the physical security of the people and provide them
with an opportunity to determine their own fate,” Serzh Sargsyan
stated.

“The people of Nagorno Karabakh are as European as any of us. They
make great efforts to develop their institutions in compliance with
universal values, and this deserves attention and support. Moreover,
Nagorno Karabakh’s staying out of the field of that interest does
not contribute to the fair settlement of the conflict.”

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Oct 2 2011

Turkish emerges as candidate for official UN language

02 October 2011, Sunday / TODAY’S ZAMAN , Ä°STANBUL

Turkish has once again emerged as a candidate language for recognition
as the seventh official language of the UN, a costly and lengthy
process if Turkic speaking countries decide to push for their language
to be added to the organization’s six official languages.

The issue was brought up during a meeting between Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on
the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York two weeks ago,
the Anatolia news agency reported on Sunday.

`Recognition of official languages is an issue UN member countries can
decide on,’ Ban was quoted by Anatolia as saying in response to
ErdoÄ?an’s request to the UN to recognize Turkish as an official UN
language.

The UN currently has six official languages, namely Arabic, Chinese,
English, French, Russian and Spanish. It is, however, very costly and
difficult to add a new language to the list. When Arabic became an
official language, Anatolia noted, Arabic-speaking countries had to
pay three years’ worth of translation costs in order to use Arabic as
a working and official language at the UN.

So far, Bengali, Indian and Portuguese have been discussed as
candidates for the seventh language, but no solid development has
surfaced regarding the process. Turkish is also noted to be at a
disadvantage since the language is spoken only in Turkey.

On the other hand, Turkish is a part of the Turkic language family,
the members of which are spoken in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan among the member countries. The
UN receives constant criticism for using mainly English, while other
languages usually end up being ignored in the translation process.

While DUI, Mom Flips Car & Abandons 4-Year-Old at Scene

LAist

By Lauren Lloyd in News on September 28, 2011

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA

We may have found our Father of the Year’s female counterpart – Lisette
Avakian. The 35-year-old mother allegedly transported her 4-year-old
daughter while drunk driving and crashed the vehicle around 2am Wednesday
morning. The accident occurred in the 5900 block of Whitnall Highway in
North Hollywood and ended in her car flipping onto its roof.

Mother of the Year fled from the scene of the crash, leaving her daughter in
the car, who was not strapped into a car seat. Mom was arrested near the
scene of the crash, treated at a hospital for her injuries, booked on
suspicion of driving under the influence and/or drugs then held on $100K
bail. The 4-year-old was also treated for non life-threatening injuries.

But wait, Mother of the Year just keeps getting better. Officers placed the
child in protective custody then visited mom’s home. Two other young
children, a 2-month-old boy and a 1-year-old girl, were found unattended and
soon joined their sibling in protective custody. Children’s Services is
investigating the case before pressing additional charges against mom.