Author: Kalashian Nyrie

METAL STARS WORK D.C. SYSTEM FOR ANCESTRAL CAUSE
By Matthew Chayes
Chicago Tribune
May 3 2006
Some rockers’ activism transcends music
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — You could tell something was strange on Capitol Hill
by looking at haircuts. In a sea of coiffure conservatism–graying
and balding politicians with their perfectly styled aides–two men
here just didn’t seem as though they belonged.
It was like “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” That is, if Mr. Smith’s
day job involved sporting a mohawk or long, Howard Stern-like hair
and spitting out obscenities.
Last week’s Mr. Smiths were lead singer Serj Tankian and drummer John
Dolmayan of System of a Down, a top-selling alternative-metal band.
They flew to Washington to plead with members of Congress to support
a resolution condemning the deaths of almost 1.5 million Armenians
during World War I as genocide by the Ottoman Turks. Turkey denies
there was any systematic attempt to kill Armenians.
Versions of the resolution have been languishing since 2000, when
House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) pulled it from the floor minutes
before a scheduled vote after the Clinton administration said it would
hurt diplomatic relations with Turkey. Two new resolutions passed the
House International Relations Committee last fall, but there haven’t
been floor votes.
Don’t dabble
Many musicians churn out salty lyrics and sport crazy haircuts, and
members of Congress sometimes view their efforts with a degree of
suspicion. That’s why people who advise politically eager celebrities
warn dilettante advocates to stay away from inside-the-Beltway
political issues unless they are highly devoted to their cause. Being
a dabbler is “about the easiest way to derail” a cause, said Robin
Bronk, executive director of the Creative Coalition, which calls
itself the entertainment industry’s public-policy homeroom.
“Having guest stars is not a good strategy for getting your issue
heard,” she said. “It’s got to affect them or be something that they
hold dear.”
Bronk’s approach is intended to avoid the kind of hostile reception
that greeted Kevin Richardson, a member of the Backstreet Boys, when
he appeared before a Senate subcommittee in 2002 to testify about
mountaintop mining. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) boycotted that
hearing and sent out a scathing news release, saying the heartthrob’s
appearance was “a joke” that “trivialized” important issues.
When Tankian and Dolmayan visited last week, however, they got a
warm reception from almost a dozen lawmakers, including Sen. Wayne
Allard (R-Colo.). In turn, the duo was markedly more respectful of
legislators–even those they disagreed with–than Frank Zappa, who
mocked Tipper Gore and others in 1985 for favoring warning labels on
offensive music. At a hearing, Zappa mocked “legislation . . .
whipped up like an instant pudding by the wives of Big Brother.”
A broader list of causes
In the past, musicians like Zappa lobbied lawmakers on issues
affecting the music business, but a growing number are taking on
broader causes. Arguably the most famous rocker to use his fame as
political capital is U2’s Bono, who has rubbed elbows with Sen. Orrin
Hatch (R-Utah) and former Secretary of State Colin Powell, among many
other top pols.
Rep. George Radanovich (R-Calif.), one of the politicians Tankian
and Dolmayan lobbied last week, conceded that he’s wary of famous
people who travel to Capitol Hill for the latest cause celebre. But
the two rockers came across as genuine, he said, because they are of
Armenian ancestry and Tankian discussed how his grandfather survived
the atrocities.
“These guys, to me, are more legit,” Radanovich said.
The genocide issue is no flavor of the week for System of a Down.
Their song “P.L.U.C.K.,” (“Politically Lying, Unholy, Cowardly
Killers”) deals squarely with it. The band has been publicizing the
issue for years.
Before their formal meetings with lawmakers, Tankian and Dolmayan
thanked supporters at a protest at the Turkish Embassy near Dupont
Circle here and the next day hosted highlights of “Screamers,”
a documentary about the issue, at a Capitol Hill screening.
In meetings in the Capitol, the duo weren’t as slick as the
prototypical K Street lobbyist. Still, Tankian in particular seemed to
know the legislative lingo, juggling jargon about subcommittees and the
House floor and other concepts you’d never expect to come out of a guy
who used variations of one profanity seven times in one of his songs.
Tankian stuck to his talking points–his nonagenarian survivor
grandfather, the fact that the U.S. ambassador at the time cabled back
to the State Department to detail the mass slaughters–no matter whom
he met.
While touring the Capitol between meetings, the duo bumped into
a man they’d been seeking, unsuccessfully, to arrange a meeting
with–Hastert, who had stopped the genocide resolution from reaching
a floor vote and whose district offices in Batavia, Ill., the band
protested last year.
“I said hello, and I introduced myself, and I told him that I am
with the band System of a Down, and I had dropped by his office
and dropped a letter about my grandfather who’s a survivor of the
Armenian genocide.”
He added: “I asked him if he got it, he said, `I don’t remember.’ . .
. He said, `I’ll look at the letter and get back to you,'” Tankian
said.
As of Tuesday evening, the speaker’s office hadn’t gotten back
to Tankian, a spokeswoman said. Hastert’s office did not return a
reporter’s calls seeking comment.
Maybe even rock stars can get stonewalled.
– – –
Pop star diplomacy
Politically active musicians often bring their issues to Washington,
where their reception by political figures is mixed.
Artist: Jessica Simpson
Issue: Plastic surgery for children with facial deformities
Political action: Met with members of congress in March to gain support
for Operation Smile, a group that seeks to provide the surgery for
poor children abroad.
Artist; U2’s Bono
Issue: Debt relief for Africa
Political action: Traveled to Africa with then-Treasury Secretary
paul O’Neill in 2002; lobbied Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice and her predecessor, Colin Powell.
Artist: The Backstreet Boys’ Kevin Richardson
Issue: The effect of mountian-top mining
Political action: Testified before a Senate subcommittee in 2002,
prompting Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) to boycott the hearing and
say the heartthrob’s appearance was “a joke” and “trivializing issues.”
Artist: Metallica’s Lars Ulrich
Issue: Illegal music files on the Internet
Political action: Testified before the Senate in 2000 that music
file-trading sites such as Napstar, which at the time was free,
should be shut down.
Artist: Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard
Issue: Ticketmaster’s monopoly on concert tickets
Political action: Appeared before a House subcommittee in antitrust
complaint filed with the Justice Department against the ticket seller.

KOCHARIAN: COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIA AND KYRGYZSTAN SHOULD BE DEVELOPED
PanARMENIAN.Net
03.05.2006 00:00 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today newly appointed Kyrgyz Ambassador to Armenia
Apas Jumangulov (residence in Moscow) presented credentials to Armenian
President Robert Kocharian, reports the Press Service of the Armenian
leader. During the meeting Kocharian indicated the need to renew ties
between the two countries and enhance the level of information about
each other. At that he added that thus all cooperation opportunities
will be used to the full. In his turn the Kyrgyz Ambassador underscored
the availability of good preconditions for strengthening ties,
noting active involvement of the Armenian community of Kyrgyzstan
in the state system and industries among them. Besides, the parties
discussed the process of political and economic reforms in Kyrgyzstan.

EVENTS DEDICATED TO 91ST ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE HELD IN
BERLIN AND OTHER GERMAN CITIES

BERLIN, ARIL 28, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Events dedicated to
the 91st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide took place in a number
of cities of Germany on April 23 and 24. The liturgy dedicated to the
memory of the martyrs was celebrated in one of churches of Berlin on
April 23. Ambassador of Armenia to Germany Karine Ghazinian and
representatives of the Armenian communities were present at the
liturgy. A scientifici-cultural event was held in Berlin on April 24
which was organized by the German Armenian Central Council and the
Embassy of Armenia. About 1200 people were present at the event, among
them deputies of the FRG Bundestag as well as parliaments of states,
German prominent historians, cultural figures, representatives of
churches, the Armenian community, embassies accredited in Germany. The
head of the Armenian community of Berlin and the Ambassador of Armenia
made opening speeches at the evening. Doctor Christoph Bergner, a
Bundestag deputy, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, State Secretary
made a speech. He stated the principles involved in the resolution
adopted by the Bundestag in June, 2005, then also mentioned that the
authorities of Germany must be successive in the affair of developing
points mentioned in that resolution and bringing it to a logical
end. Jena University Professor, prominent historian Doctor Norbert
Frei introduced those gathered with the historic facts of the
Genocide, presenting some parallels between the Holocaust and the
Armenian Genocide. As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign
Ministry’s Press and Information Department, Armenian young musicians
performed during the cultural part of the evening.

ARMENIA TREE PROJECT
65 Main Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Toll-free: (866) 965-TREE
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
May 1, 2006
Bilezikian Family Foundation Supports Expansion of Backyard Nursery Program
— $50,000 Grant Jumpstarts ATP’s Spring Reforestation Program in Getik
River Valley
WATERTOWN, MA–With the support of the Bilezikian Family Foundation of
Massachusetts, Armenia Tree Project (ATP) was able to continue the expansion
of its Backyard Nursery Program in the Getik River Valley this spring. The
project was initiated in Aygut village with 20 families in 2004, and now has
330 families in four villages growing seedlings.
This spring, ATP was able to purchase 95,000 seedlings from 118 families,
and hire 45 workers to plant them into the forest. This was made possible
largely as a result of a $50,000 grant from the Bilezikian Family
Foundation.
Families are able to significantly increase their annual income by growing
seedlings.
`When we began our Backyard Nursery Program we looked for an area that would
benefit most from our reforestation efforts,’ stated ATP Executive Director
Jeff Masarjian. `We started with the knowledge that deforestation was linked
to poverty. We knew that in addition to planting trees, we had to provide
people with a steady income, so they could meet their basic needs.’
`In two years we have grown from helping 20 families learn how to start
their own tree nurseries to now providing a stable income for 330 families
who are also creating a successful and renewable source of tree seedlings
for the degraded hillsides around their villages,’ noted ATP founder Carolyn
Mugar. `ATP has found a way to create reliable `micro-enterprise’
partnerships with these families, and we are grateful to the Bilezikian
Family Foundation for providing the support to bring their work to
fruition.’
The Bilezikian Family Foundation was established by Charles and Doreen
Bilezikian of Hyannis, MA. The foundation assists programs on Cape Cod and
other parts of Massachusetts such as the Home for Little Wanderers, and is a
major supporter of hospitals and schools in Armenia and Artsakh, primarily
through the Armenian Missionary Association of America.
ATP was founded in 1994 with the vision of securing Armenia’s future by
protecting its environment and restoring its degraded forests. ATP advances
Armenia’s socio-economic development by mobilizing resources for large-scale
reforestation, community-based tree planting, environmental education and
advocacy, and rural development through job creation. With the establishment
of the Mirak Family reforestation nursery and expansion of the Backyard
Nursery Program, ATP is working toward the goal of planting over one million
trees in 2006.
PHOTO CAPTION: Anoush Gezoughyan participated in ATP’s Backyard Nursery
Program by growing 600 maple seedlings that were purchased and planted in
the forests around her village in the Getik River Valley of northeastern
Armenia

Interfax, Russia
April 28 2006
Baku criticizes Yerevan statement on Karabakh
BAKU. April 28 (Interfax) – Yerevan’s statement that Nagorno-
Karabakh’s re-inclusion in Azerbaijan is impossible was designed “for
domestic consumption,” an Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman said
Friday.
“You can only suggest that that statement was made for domestic
political reasons,” Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tair
Tagizade told Interfax.
The diplomat also criticized the fact that the statement was made
“while the negotiating process on settling the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is continuing.”

GENOCIDE ARMENIEN: UN MILLIER DE MANIFESTANTS DEVANT LE CONSULAT DE TURQUIE
Agence France Presse
24 avril 2006 lundi 5:43 PM GMT
MARSEILLE 24 avr 2006
Un millier de personnes ont manifeste lundi a Marseille et depose au
consulat de Turquie une motion demandant la reconnaissance du genocide
des Armeniens perpetre en 1915, a constate une journaliste de l’AFP.
Le cortège, parti du bord de mer, etait ouvert par une ligne de
femmes en noir portant chacune une lettre formant la phrase “nier,
c’est tuer une seconde fois”, un oeillet blanc symbole de deuil et
de purete a la main.
Les manifestants se sont arretes devant le consulat de Turquie,
isole par des barrières, pour les prises de parole de representants
de la communaute armenienne mais aussi juive, avant de se rendre a
la cathedrale armenienne situee a une trentaine de mètres du consulat.
La marche s’est deroulee dans le calme, contrairement a 2003 où un
manifestant d’origine armenienne avait brûle le drapeau turc devant
le bâtiment officiel.
–Boundary_(ID_pFuZXQNf7yVYIEBpmWl2VA)- –

TODAY YOUTH PREFERS TO LISTEN TO TASTELESS MUSIC, OPERA SINGER CONSIDERS
Noyan Tapan
Apr 26 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. “Today the youth prefers to listen to
light music, therefore not only in Armenia, but also in Russia, in
Europe and in U.S. tasteless music is propagandized at every turn,”
opera singer Hasmik Hatsagortsian mentioned at the press conference
held on April 26 at the Hayeli (Mirror) club. Singer Nune Yesayan
considers that everyone decides himself what music to listen to and
the classical music is listened by them who understand it. According to
her, formerly all performances of songs were heard beforehand, whereas
nothing of the kind takes place today. Thus, the TV air is full of
tasteless performances. “Everybody sings today but most of them are
far from professionalism. One of the reasons is that by transmitting
them the television receives huge sums,” N.Yesayan said. According
to H.Hatsagortsian, she does not pay to the television, therefore her
performances are not broadcast by TV. “My solo concert was held some
months ago in Yerevan, which was viodeoed by the Public Television
but this concert has not been broadcast by now,” she mentioned.

FILM DIRECTOR MIKAEL DOVLATIAN FEELS BETTER
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily
27/04/2006
Film director Mikael Dovlatian, secretary of RA Union of
Cinematographers, feels better. It’s noteworthy that he was attacked
on Monday evening, in Moscow. A group of unknown young men attacked
Dovlatian in front of Akademicheskaya hotel, where he was staying.
Mr. Dovlatian was participating in the annual Forum of Cinematographers
currently held in Moscow. The leadership of the forum and its
participants expressed their indignation and concern to the
administration of Moscow in a letter of protest. “We are stating
that such incidents can become destructive for the development of
humanitarian cooperation,” the letter stretched. The chairmen of
the cinematographers’ unions from Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine signed the letter.
Ruben Gevorgiants, chairman of the RA Union of Cinematographers,
stated that the incident aroused the indignation of the Armenian
cinematographers. “That was a disgraceful incident that may happen
in Moscow to everyone each five seconds,” Gevorgiants said.

EVENTS TO COMMEMORATE VICTIMS OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ARE BEING HELD THROUGHOUT RUSSIA
Regnum, Russia
April 24 2006
On April 24, Armenians of the whole world commemorate the tragic date –
Memorial Day of Genocide of Victims in the Ottoman Turkey in 1915.
Mourning events take place both in Armenia and abroad, where there
are Armenian Diasporas, including Russia.
According to schedule of the Armenian Consulate General in South
Federal District, civil actions in memory of victims of tragic events
in 1915 take place; wreaths and flowers were placed to monuments to
victims, innocently killed during the tragedy. Officials in Novosibirsk
will lay flowers on Armenian Khachkar grave in Pervomaysky Park
erected at the expense of the Armenian community in Novosibirsk in
memory of victims. Members of the State Duma, Novosibirsk regional
and city Councils will take part in the event.
About 100 representatives of Armenian Diaspora in Transbaikalia placed
wreaths to Glory Memorial in Chita, and lighted funeral candles at
Church of Kazan Icon of the Blessed Virgin. Funeral meeting will
finish the mourning events. At Stroitel Palace of National Cultures
in Tyumen, evening, devoted to Memorial Day of Genocide Victims,
will take place, as well as exhibition, devoted to national heroes;
patriotic songs will be sang, poems of Armenian poets will be read,
and historical events of 1915 will be described.
Also, mourning meeting took place in Izhevsk (Udmurtia) near Peoples
Friendship Monument.

OUR YOUTH PUBLIC UNION HOLDS CONFERENCE ON “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”
Today, Azerbaijan
April 24, 2006
Our Youth Public Union organized conference-“The so-called Armenian
genocide-historic truths and facts” in the Ataturk Center.
As APA reports, the conference brought together representatives of
youth organizations and parliament members. Head of the Union Shamsi
Akhundov addressing the meeting said that youths need to be informed
about alleged facts such as “Armenian genocide” in order to arouse
patriotism spirit in them.
“All Turk world should protest against Armenians claims on the
so-called “genocide of Armenians,” Akhundov stressed.
Historians talked about the troubles Armenians caused for Turk. Film
on genocide of Azerbaijanis committed by Armenians was displayed in
the end of the conference.
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