Author: Kanayan Tamar

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Nov 10 2006

Armenians see advantage in US Congress shakeup

The New Anatolian / Washington

After the U.S. House of Representatives returned to Democratic
control after Tuesday’s blowout elections, American-Armenians saw
advantages in the Congressional shakeup, which is likely to
strengthen their hand in pressuring for recognition of genocide
claims by the U.S.

The Armenian Assembly of America (ANCA), in a statement yesterday,
cited the likely elevation of Representative Nancy Pelosi, a member
of the Armenian Caucus, to become the first female speaker of the
House.

The statement said that with these elections, the anticipated
leadership of the next Congress will offer new opportunities to pass
an Armenian genocide claims resolution.

Pelosi has regularly called on the administration to acknowledge the
Armenian genocide claims. In a statement to a newspaper, Pelosi had
this to say: "It is imperative that the U.S. recognize this atrocity
and move to renew our commitment to eliminate genocide whenever and
wherever it exists. This effort enjoys strong bipartisan support in
the House, and I will continue to support these efforts in the 110th
Congress."

The man Pelosi is likely to succeed, Republican Dennis Hastert, on
more than one occasion used his power as speaker to block so-called
Armenian genocide resolutions from reaching the House floor,
sometimes under presidential pressure. However, Pelosi and President
George W. Bush have conflicting and sometimes bitter party
affiliations, and this may blunt the impact of such pressure in the
future.

Tan declines comment on Pelosi

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Namik Tan said on Thursday that the
Congressional elections in the U.S. reflects the American people’s
will but avoided commenting on Pelosi’s stance on the Armenian
genocide claims.

Tan, in a weekly press briefing, asked about the impact of the
Democrats’ victory on Turkish-U.S. relations, stated, "Relations
between the two countries will continue within the framework of
friendship and alliance. We don’t have anything to say about the
elections other than respecting them. The American people chose who
they wanted to see in their Congress."

Asked about Pelosi as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives,
Tan stated that it is not a good time to talk on a personal basis. He
underlined the importance of relations between Ankara and Washington,
stressing that developments on specific issues were not foreseeable.
He added that Turkey will continue to have warm relations with the
U.S. in terms of friendship and strategic agreements.

PARIS COURT REJECTS LAWSUIT AGAINST TURKISH CONSUL GENERAL
By Cihan News Agency

Zaman Online, Turkey
Nov 9 2006

The Paris Court of Appeals has rejected a lawsuit filed against Aydin
Sezgin, Turkish Consul General to Paris, by an Armenian group for
openly denying the alleged Armenian genocide on the embassy’s website.

The court of appeals upheld on Wednesday the decision previously taken
by a Paris court. The Paris 17th District Court, where the case was
first seen, ruled in 2004 that Sezgin could not be tried due to his
diplomatic immunity. Armenians later took the case to the Supreme
Court of Appeals.

The court’s decision was welcomed by Michel Jeol, lawyer for Consul
General Sezgin.

The lawsuit against Sezgin was delayed twice last month because of
problems with the court’s computer system.

Sources say that the case is merely a ploy by Armenians to keep
pressure in favor of the bill that calls for penalizing those who
deny the so-called Armenian Genocide on the agenda.

Aydin Sezgin’s lawyer had demanded the dismissal of the case on the
grounds of Sezgin’s diplomatic immunity based on the Vienna Convention.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S REPORT ON TURKEY’S PROGRESS FAILS TO FAIRLY AND HONESTLY ADDRESS ARMENIAN ISSUES

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 9 2006

In the report on Turkey’s progress on its way to membership to the
European Union, the European Commission failed to denounce the campaign
of denial of the Armenian Genocide, both in Turkey and throughout
the Union.

According to Financial Mirror, in the Commission’s previous reports
mentions of the Armenian Genocide were characterized euphemistically as
"tragic events", but they were not reflected in this new document at
all. On freedom of speech, only Article 301 of the Turkish penal code
was mentioned. The Commission failed to denounce the other provisions
of Turkish law aimed at freedom of speech, especially Article 305,
which penalizes the affirmation of the Armenian Genocide. Besides,
in the chapters related to technical issues, the illegal blockade
of Armenia is described using the dismissive terminology, "closed
border." According to the source, the European Armenian Federation
is troubled by the Commission’s failure to fairly and meaningfully
address Armenian issues.

"The Commission’s report, most notably it failure to challenge
Turkey’s many restrictions of freedom of speech, represents a true
setback in terms of the credibility of this European institution,
particularly in light of its eagerness to criticize France for its
law penalizing the denial of the Armenian genocide," stated Hilda
Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation. The
Federation announced that the European citizens it represents expect
the Commission to fairly and honestly perform its task of accurately
assessing Turkey’s progress, without bowing to political pressures.

"Otherwise, European public opinion will turn against the Commission’s
double standards," added Tchoboian. The Federation also denounces
the arrogance of the Turkish leaders who attempt to force Europe to
abandon its values. "The talks over Turkey’s candidacy have devolved
from a negotiation into a race to see which side can walk away from
European values," she concluded.

MOSCOW REPORTEDLY AGAINST ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER BECOMING PRESIDENT

Iravunk, Armenia
Nov 7 2006

"Will Robert Kocharyan become the CIS secretary?"

According to our Russian source, during [Armenian President Robert]
Kocharyan’s visit to Moscow [on 30-31 October], [Russian President]
Vladimir Putin suggested that Kocharyan occupy the post of CIS
secretary until "the level of control is sufficient in the country".

The source did not specify what Kocharyan replied but said that
Kocharyan’s visit to Moscow could not be considered as successful
since his suggestion that [Armenian Defence Minister] Serzh Sarkisyan
take over from him as president was turned down.

According to the same source, in Moscow Robert Kocharyan attended
the wedding party of the Armenian ambassador to Russia, Armen Smbatyan.

SECOND CHANCE FOR ARMENIA ABSENTEES
by Khachik Chakhoyan

uefa.com, Switzerland
Nov 9 2006

Roman Berezovsky and Robert Zebelyan have returned to an extended
Armenia squad for the UEFA EURO 2008~Y qualifier against Finland.

Second chance
Goalkeeper Berezovsky and striker Zebelyan refused call-ups for last
month’s home game against Finland due to club commitments, but have
been given another chance for the trip to Helsinki on 15 November.

Ecuador-based Khose Bilibio has been left out by coach Ian Porterfield
for disciplinary reasons however, while centre-half Robert Arzumanyan
misses out through suspension. Brothers Arman and Artavazd Karamyan
are doubtful as visa problems may affect their travel.

Armenia squad Goalkeepers: Roman Berezovsky (FC Khimki), Gevorg
Kasparov (FC Pyunik), Feliks Hakobyan (FC MIKA), Armando Hambartsumyan
(PFC Slavia Sofia), Edel Bete (AFC Rapid Bucuresti).

Defenders: Karen Dokhoyan (FC Krylya Sovetov Samara), Sargis Hovsepyan
(FC Pyunik), Valery Aleksanyan (FC Pyunik), Aleksandr Tadevosyan
(FC Pyunik), Armen Tigranyan (FC Pyunik), Egishe Melikyan (FC Stal
Alchevsk).

Midfielders: Karen Aleksanyan (CSF Zimbru Chisinau), Agvan Lazarian
(FC Pyunik), Artavazd Karamyan (AFC Rapid Bucuresti), Artur Minasyan
(FC Ararat), Samvel Melkonyan (FC Banants), Romik Khachatryan
(Anorthosis Famagusta FC), Hamlet Mkhitaryan (without a club).

Forwards: Armen Shahgeldyan (FC MIKA), Edgar Manucharyan (AFC Ajax),
Aram Hakobyan (FC Banants), Ara Hakobyan (FC Stal Alchevsk), Nshan
Erzrumyan (FC Ararat Yerevan), Robert Zebelyan (FC Kuban Krasnodar),
Arman Karamyan (FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt).

ARAM KARAPETYAN ANSWERS SERGE SARGSYAN

Lragir, Armenia
Nov 7 2006

In answer to Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan’s hints in his interviews
addressed to me I state that recently Mr. Sargsyan breaks down rather
often. Every time he answers an important question, he either calls
people wretched or says that criticizing him makes some people feel
more important. I should mention at once that unlike Mr. Sargsyan,
who became minister of defense by chance, with only philological
education, I became established in the sphere of science getting my
first academic title at the age of 26.

It is evident that though Mr. Sargsyan and I function in the Russian
geopolitical sphere, he has lost in this sphere by his short-sighted
and illogical moves, which is the cause of Serge Sargsyan’s nervous
breakdown.

Although we beieve that the minister of defense is real danger for
the society of our country, we agree that the reality has changed,
or as Mr. Sargsyan says, "it is not like 5, 7 or 10 years ago",
and we will not hit a minister or another government official on the
head for expressing opinion. After the imminent change of power we
will quiely and in a civilized way lead the present government to
the nearest court of law.

ILHAM ALIEV’S POLICY CONCERNING THE QUESTION OF ARMENIA IS FULLY IN DEADLOCK

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.11.2006 GMT+04:00

Matthew Braisa: "The President of Azerbaijan can say whatever he wants;
we are not going to comment on any of his statements"

The only obstacle for the continuation of the negotiations and for the
achievement of the success in the settlement is the absence of trust
between the nations. Absolutely everybody speaks about it, including
EU, OSCE, and the co-chairmen countries of MG OSCE in the adjustment
of the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. And exactly in that question the
whole world is powerless. The reason is not the unwillingness of
the Armenian side to carry on a normal dialogue as it is the way of
putting up the things in Azerbaijan but in the idea carried on by
Ilham Aliev about the total isolation of Armenia.

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Sometimes it even seems that the president of
Azerbaijan has lost his sense of reality and proportion and he thinks
that if Azerbaijan still lives in the feudal Middle Ages then the rest
of the world has the same idea as he has -to annihilate the Armenia
that dares to stand on the way of the "Great Azerbaijan". We can
only guess what the reactions of the political figures and world-wide
mass media towards these statements are, since the Azerbaijan press
comes breathless with delight from their president’s openness at
the time when the other countries keep absolute silence. We can
suppose that this silence is not a mark of consent but just an
unwillingness to comment on this absurdity. Matthew Braisa from the
USA in the framework of MG OSCE reacted best of all to junior Aliev:
"The president of Azerbaijan can say whatever he wants; we are not
going to comment on his statements".

Ilham Aliev will fail to drive Armenia at a deadlock and to become
"the second national leader’ by the example of his father for a
variety of reasons. The main cause that he, being just the image of
his father, makes statements that match only for a tribal princeling
with excessively developed ambitions. By the way, Haydar Aliev will
never let himself to make such statements. He treated the question
more seriously; the unfounded statements were not enough for him,
but he paid the mass media for reports in the favor of Azerbaijan. It
was the way during the war of Karabagh. And later in Moscow and not
only there the matter was quickly taken under control and they began
writing and showing what was really going on. Making the impact of
the Armenian lobby greater, roughlyspeaking Azerbaijan doubts the
common sense of the whole world.

The fact that Ilham Aliev’s policy in the matter of Armenia is driven
at a deadlock is clearly known in Baku. They also know that not the
Azerbaijanis can become impatient, as by the highest standards nothing
matters to them but the world community can lose the patience. Ilham
Aliev’s hopes concerning the political dividends from the oil-pipe line
can not become the very truncheon with the help of which the Armenians
of Karabagh can be "pacified". To put it mildly, these dividends are
more like soap bubbles, as judging by the words of American expert
Richarg Giragosyan, the value of the oil-pipe line Baku-Tbilisi-Ghehyan
turns to be in the direct dependence on Kazakhstan. That is to say
if tomorrow Nursultan Nazarbaev decides that there is no point to
support Azerbaijan than he will just turn off the tap. And it will
mean the end of Aliev’s flow of the oil dollars. And if we add onto
all this the steady slump in oil prices then Azerbaijan will appear
in difficult straits. The oil in Caspian Sea makes 3% of the world
wide explored reserves; in the Middle East it makes 63%. It is a
simple arithmetic-Azerbaijan can not be seriously perceived by the
USA and Europe as one of the leading suppliers of hydrocarbons. And
it means that the political influence of that country is in the direct
dependence on that very 3%.

"PanARMENIAN.Net" analytical department

Borat and his producer Ken Davitian:

Equal-opportunity offensiveness Unbridled `Borat’ might have you
laughing and cringing at the same time

Friday, November 3, 2006 By James Sanford
[email protected] 388-8553

Some fans have said that Sacha Baron Cohen’s Borat character — an
overeager, uncouth TV personality from Kazakhstan who originally
surfaced on Cohen’s series "Da Ali G Show" — was a takeoff on
Internet semi-star Mahir Cagri, the Turkish man whose fractured
English and child-like messages made his Web page a major attraction
in 1999. But Cohen’s "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make
Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" seems to draw inspiration from
another, much older source: "Candid Camera," the series created by
Allen Funt more than 50 years ago.

Most of "Borat" features apparently improvised footage in which Borat
mingles with "average Americans" during a cross-country journey to find
"Baywatch" and "Stacked" star Pamela Anderson (or, as Borat calls her,
"Pommulla Undrazan"). There’s not much evidence to suggest the people
Borat encounters were aware they were being set up. But were they ever.

Whether it’s a New York hotel employee who’s dismayed to find Borat
unpacking his suitcase in an elevator car (Borat insists he thought
it must be his room), or the members of the Magnolia Mansion Dining
Society being startled by Borat’s inappropriate "date" for the evening,
the reactions don’t look rehearsed. Nor is there any indication that
the Manhattan subway riders had been clued in about what Borat brought
aboard the train, or that the ultra-conservative cowboys and cowgirls
at a rodeo knew what to expect when Borat expressed Kazakhstan’s
support for America’s "War of Terror."

The biggest laughs (and many of the most uncomfortable moments) in
the film stem from watching ordinary people react to Borat’s curious
customs and clumsy attempts to merge into the American mainstream.

Cohen and director Larry Charles spare no one — even children, in
a memorably mean episode involving an ice cream truck — although
they seem to take particular delight in skewering Southerners,
who are generally portrayed in the film as being small-minded,
Bible-clutching, homophobic racists with a dread of anything that’s
not wrapped in a Confederate flag. "Shave that dadgum mustache off
(and) you’ll be less conspicuous," a rodeo manager advises Borat.

"You’ll look like an Italian!"

"Borat" is a great litmus test for determining exactly how far a joke
can go before you stop laughing. In many of the scenes Cohen has set
up, the humor goes so far out on the edge it’s too ridiculous to be
truly insulting; other segments, such as a disastrous visit to an
antique shop, will make many viewers uneasy because they’re likely
to identify with the victims of Borat’s shenanigans.

Still, part of the movie’s appeal is its willingness to push the
envelope to the breaking point, in order to search for that elusive
line between the outrageously funny and the exasperating. In the eyes
of Cohen and David, if you take offense, the joke’s on you.

Although "Borat" has already drawn criticism from some critics who were
shocked by its dialogue and attitudes, the movie isn’t about promoting
ignorance and intolerance but about exposing it through humor. The
crude content and sometimes alarming talk serve a purpose, although
it takes a while to realize exactly what the filmmakers are doing.

"Borat" is reminiscent of the segments Canadian comedian Rick Mercer
created on the CBC show "This Hour Has 22 Minutes," in which Mercer
interviewed Americans about supposed "news" from Canada.

Mercer would throw out absurd ideas, telling people that the leader
of Canada had announced he was moving into a gigantic igloo or that
Canada had just recently decided to allow women to vote, then present
the reactions. Like much of "Borat," the results were often hilarious
and sort of painful to witness as well.

The movie wouldn’t work if Cohen ever allowed himself to smirk at
his victims or back away from the strange situations in which Borat
inevitably finds himself. To his credit, Cohen never lets his mask
slip, even when Borat is being roughed up by security guards or,
in one of the movie’s most astonishing sequences, hitching a ride
with a trio of plastered fraternity brothers who manage to live up to
(or down to, as the case may be) every ugly cliche about frat life. As
for the wrestling scene between Borat and his producer (Ken Davitian,
who also deserves points for comic bravado), let’s just say you’ve
never seen anything quite like it before and you may find yourself
wishing you’d continued living in blissful ignorance.

This may not be the kind of performance that gets Cohen Oscar
recognition, but it’s definitely an impressive piece of acting — and
"Borat" is a movie that will certainly make some sort of an impression
on everyone who sees it.

©2006 Kalamazoo © 2006 Michigan Live.

–Boundary_(ID_6zfo8TptNAhH1+sav5wUUA)–

RUSSIA AND GEORGIA DEMAND POLICY RADICAL CHANGES OF EACH OTHER

PanARMENIAN.Net
02.11.2006 16:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgian FM Gela Bezhuashvili has held talks with his
Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and Secretary of Security Council
Igor Ivanov in Moscow. These are the first talks at that high level
between Russia and Georgia after the latest differences poured into
an open diplomatic conflict in September. In an interview with the
BBC Bezhuashvili said, "We are interested in Russia’s stance over
the provinces that seceded from Georgia. We want Moscow to be our
partner in that issue and help Georgia reunite.

This is the essence of the issue in the Russian-Georgian relations. And
the blockade and economic sanctions against Georgia will do no
good and should be canceled." However, Ivanov accuses Georgia in
escalation of the crisis and believes the relations will change when
the Georgian leadership change their policy. Georgian MP, European
Integration Committee Chair David Bakradze said, "It should be noted
that Mr. Bezhuashvili arrived in Moscow from Baku, not from Tbilisi
owing to Russia’s sanctions. And the Minister going that way shows
his readiness to dialogue."

Moscow Institute of World Economy expert Alexander Krylov says Russia
is not afraid to damage relations with Georgia: "It is important not
only to gain new allies, but not to lose old ones. Moscow will first
of all be guided towards countries, which showed themselves as our
reliable allies. These are Armenia and the unrecognized republics,"
reports Golos Rossii.

COMMANDER CONFIRMS ALL RUSSIAN TROOPS TO LEAVE TBILISI BY YEAR END

NTV Mir, Moscow,
2 Nov 2006

[Presenter] By the end of the year the Russian military will leave
the capital of Georgia. This was announced today in Rostov-na-Donu by
the commander the troops of the North Caucasian Military District,
Gen Aleksandr Baranov. Six military settlements of the Tbilisi
garrison will be handed over to the Georgian Defence Ministry. All
Russian hardware and property will be sent by train to Russia and
Armenia. Baranov noted that it is not difficult to complete this task
as long as the Georgian authorities do not interfere.

[Baranov] This withdrawal has been planned as an additional one, based
on what was voiced, you recall, by the president, who is the supreme
commander, and by the defence minister, about the impossibility of
continuing service in the conditions when it is not service but hard
labour in Tbilisi garrison. Therefore, the troops will be withdrawn
from there and, as I said, there will not be a single [Russian]
serviceman in Tbilisi by the end of the year.