Author: Maghakian Mike

Allston-Brighton TAB, MA
June 30 2006

Brazil fever grips Allston-Brighton

By Meghann Ackerman/ Staff Writer
Friday, June 30, 2006 – Updated: 02:02 PM EST

Although America was knocked out of World Cup play, plenty of fans
are still packing bars and restaurants to catch broadcasts of the
games. In Allston, home to a large population of Brazilians, yellow
and green jerseys and flags have been decorating the street and
businesses since the tournament began on June 9.

The sentiment among fans, Brazilian or not, is that watching the
soccer matches has brought people together and provided a link for
recent immigrants to each other and established citizens.

By 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 23, fans had already headed to Café
Brazil and Café Belo, two of Allston’s Brazilian restaurants and bars
that have been showing World Cup games. The mood was celebratory as
Brazil trounced Ghana, 3-0.

"I didn’t think people would come this morning," said Otavio
Canargo, the manager of Café Belo. By game time, the restaurant was
packed.

"We’re so confident they’ll win we skipped work on Tuesday
morning," said Pedro Dosreis, a rabid Brazil fan.

Rachel Franca came to Boston from Brazil about a month ago to
study at Boston University. Although she admitted that she doesn’t
follow soccer as much as she used to, she said coming to the games
makes her less homesick.

"This is where I come home to," she said. "I come and get to be
here with all the Brazilians and hear people speaking Portuguese."

Canargo, said that he’s noticed Brazilians and Americans coming
together while enjoying a drink or some food and watching the game.

"I’m here to support Brazil all the way," said Harout Semerdjian,
an Armenian by way of Los Angeles who has many Brazilian friends.

Support of Brazil has stayed strong, despite some obstacles.
Several people, who requested not to be named, watching the game on
Tuesday said that at some games officials came in to check
identification. The fear, they said, was that the officials were from
immigration and looking to deport people here illegally.

Dosreis, however, said even immigration checks won’t deter
Brazil’s fans.

"They’re still going to party, even if immigration comes," he
said.

Because Boston sports fans are notorious for destructive behavior
after big wins, District 14 Police Captain William Evans said he’s
had officers checking on crowds at the World Cup games.

"It seems like we haven’t been getting the crowds," he said.
"We’re going to put extra people out to monitor Saturday’s game.
Misbehavior won’t be tolerated."

Canargo said he has not had any problems with security at Café
Belo.

"People are pretty calm. They get excited about the game, but
they don’t cause any trouble," he said.

Brazil will be playing their next game tomorrow, July 1, against
France. The game begins at 3 p.m., and the tournament is at the
single-elimination point, meaning the loser of this game will not
continue.

Today, Azerbaijan
June 30 2006

US Ambassador to Armenia refuses to say "Armenian genocide"

30 June 2006 [11:00] – Today.Az

New US Ambassador to Armenia Richard Hoagland has taken up his
duties. Former US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans was discharged
after he claimed his recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide.

According to APA, the Senate confirmed Richard Hoagland as
Ambassador. Prior to this post, Hoagland was US extraordinary and
plenipotentiary Ambassador to Tajikistan.

Before the voting in the Senate, pan-Armenian senators George Allen,
Norm Coleman and Paul Sarbanes said the earlier recall of the
previous Ambassador John Evans caused dissatisfaction in Armenia.

Claiming that the United States should recognize the "Armenian
genocide", these senators demanded the new Ambassador Hoagland to
make assessment of the 1915 events. Despite insistence of the
senators, Hoagland did not use the expression "Armenian genocide" in
his speech.

"President Bush assessed the 1915 events as unforgettable tragic
events. I represent the President and share his opinions," Richard
Hoagland said.

Hoagland also said he will try to implement projects on regional
cooperation among Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia during his
new mission.

The previous US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans was recalled on
March 7 this year. The newspaper "California Courier" writes it was
due to his statement on the policy of genocide against Armenians by
the Ottoman Empire.

In his meeting with Armenian community in San Francisco a year ago,
John Evans pointed out possibility of recognizing the so-called
Armenian genocide. Seeing this statement sparked serious
dissatisfaction, Evans told a news conference in US Embassy that his
statement was unofficially made and does not represent his country’s
official position.

"At the meeting with Armenian community, I told that US position
regarding the Armenian tragedy remains the same. I used the word
"genocide" that time but this word belongs to me-John Evans only, not
a politician. But I must admit my statements were out of place," the
Ambassador said.

URL:

VISIT OF CE SUB-COMMITTEE ON KARABAKH TO REGION TO TAKE PLACE IN LATE OCTOBER

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 28 2006

STRASBOURG, JUNE 28, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The terms of visit
to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh of the ad hoc committee on
the issue of application of resolution N 1416 on Nagorno Karabakh
settlement within the framework of OSCE Minsk Group were discussed at
the June 28 meeting of RA NA Speaker, head of the Armenian delegation
in PACE Tigran Torosian, head of the Azerbaijani delegation in PACE
Samad Seidov and reporter of CE Sub-committee on Nagorno Karabakh
issue Russel Jonston in Strasbourg.

PACE Bureau approved the committee’s new structure proposed by Tigran
Torosian in spring and now it consists of heads of Armenian and
Azerbaijani delegations, one opposition MP from each delegation,
reporters of the Monitoring Committee on the two countries,
Sub-committee Chairman Lord Russel Jonston, author of the regional
report on missing people Leo Platvoet. Taking into consideration
the fact that a sitting of PACE Monitoring Committee will be held
in Yerevan in the second decade of October and a sitting of the
Committee on Political Issues in the second decade of November
in Baku, a preliminary agreement was reached about organizing the
Sub-committee’s visit during the last week of October.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA NA Public Relations Department,
the Sub-committee’s visit will have a cognitive character and the
meetings in Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan will serve for
this purpose.

Sub-committee Chairman Russel Jonston proposed discussing the
idea of holding a joint seminar with participation of parliament
representatives during the visit.

G8 FOREIGN MINISTERS CALL FOR ACCORD ON NAGORNO-KARABAKH

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
June 29, 2006 Thursday 03:12 PM EST

Foreign ministers of Group of Eight countries have called on Azerbaijan
and Armenia to reach an accord on Nagorno-Karabakh in 2006.

They said in a final statement of their meeting in Moscow that the
G8 supports the mediating efforts of the co-chairmen of the OSCE
Minsk Group.

The G8 foreign ministers stressed the need for agreeing as soon a
possible upon principles of a peaceful settlement of this conflict.

They called on Azerbaijan and Armenia to show political will and
reach agreement on this issue as early as in this year and prepare
their people for peace, and not for war.

KARABAKH WILL DECIDE FUTURE WITH REFERENDUM…EVENTUALLY
By Christina Tashkevich

The Messenger, Georgia
June 29 2006

Military parade in the de facto republic’s capital Stepanakert

The Armenian Foreign Ministry says the OSCE Minsk Group, which
moderates negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the Karabakh
conflict, for the first time confirmed that the people of Karabakh
should determine their future status through a referendum.

The Armenian side says the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed
on the referendum issue, and the only disagreement left concerns the
sequence of how the military conflict should be settled.

Armenia says Azerbaijan is deliberately stalling in this regard.

The Azeri minister of Foreign Affairs, Elmar Mammadyarov, denied
Azerbaijan artificially delays the negotiating process, calling the
claims groundless.

"We need to consider the form of autonomy to be given to
Nagorno-Karabakh. This autonomy could follow the example of
Nakhichivan, Tatarstan, Bashkiria or other models. The issue of
status should be considered together with communities of Karabakh,
and relations should be established between these communities,"
Mammadyarov said.

The Azeri ministry says the Minsk Group co-chairs and the US co-chair
of the group, Matthew Bryza, have indicated only the general outline
of stage-by-stage peaceful settlement, currently under discussion.

"The Azeri side once again re-affirms being prepared to grant
Karabakh the highest status of self-rule within the framework of
the internationally-recognized territorial integrity of the Republic
of Azerbaijan and based on the current Constitution of Azerbaijan,"
says the statement.

The meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan on June 4-5
did not bring any results towards conflict settlement, despite the
intention of international observers to finalize a framework agreement
at the meeting.

Both Armenian and Azeri authorities agreed that no major movements
forward have been achieved at the meeting.

The co-chairs of the Minsk Group, however, say the sides can sign
the peace agreement this year. Observers back in Baku and Yerevan
note that, in case of an internationally recognized referendum,
the enclave’s reunification with Armenia or independence will be
legitimized.

Matthew Bryza, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for
European and Eurasian affairs, who has recently replaced Steven Mann
as the U.S. co-chair of the Minsk Group, told RFE/RL the framework
agreement would call for the removal of Armenian troops from Karabakh
as well as economic assistance to the region. After these issues
are resolved, the future status of Karabakh can be decided at the
referendum.

However, Bryza indicates the Minsk Group would not try to arrange
another round of presidential meetings or "broker an agreement."

"We just don’t know where the presidents are right now. We’re
encouraging them, we’re nudging them by taking a step back. Nudging
them to show that they have this political will," he told RFE/RL.

The US diplomat notes the cooperation of the OSCE with Russia on
the Karabakh issue is more fruitful than the cooperation to resolve
conflicts in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Transdnistria.

"I would also say the United States has worked hard to keep the
Georgians as constructive and moderate as possible, and I hope
our Russians colleagues and friends will do the same in terms of
encouraging the Abkhaz to be constructive and moderate," he said.

Bryza, as well as other US officials, hope to put the issue of frozen
conflicts in the region on the agenda of G8 summit in St Petersburg
in July, while Russian authorities does not approve of the idea.

While Karabakh, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transdnistria are all
striving to be recognized, experts agree that there is a clear reason
why Karabakh did not join the union of the rest de facto republics,
which was recently formalized at a meeting in the de facto Abkhaz
capital of Sokhumi. There is an opinion that while Abkhazia, South
Ossetia and Transdnistria are oriented to Russia, Karabakh stays
oriented to Yerevan, which in turn not only turns for advice to Russia,
but also is waiting for the resolution of the conflict with the help
of Europe and the United States.

SECOND PAN-ARMENIAN CONGRESS OF YOUNG WRITERS KICK OFF

AZG Armenian Daily
29/06/2006

The second pan-Armenian jamboree of young writers kicked off yesterday
in Tsakhkadzor. 45 participants from Armenia, Artsakh, Georgia,
Iran and Syria gathered for the event that will last till June 30.

Presentations of a new newspaper of young writers, "Gretert", and
"Mutq" book of reviews took place yesterday as well as 3 writers were
awarded "Iren Gyulnazarian" prize.

DEFENSE MINISTER THINKS BRYZA WAS WRONG

Lragir.am
29 June 06

The publication of details of the talks for the Karabakh conflict
settlement will not lead to another war, stated Defense Minister
Serge Sargsyan June 29 with regard to the statement of the OSCE
Minsk Group Co-Chair Mathew Bryza, reports ARKA News Agency. "I do
not think there happened something that would lead to a war. There
are no preconditions for military actions," stated Serge Sargsyan.

According to the minister, "It would be better if instead of his own
comment Bryza had published the documents adopted in Key West and
afterwards." "It is somehow wrong that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs
urge confidentiality to prevent emotional perceptions, and then they
do the contrary," said Serge Sargsyan. He stated that the settlement
of the conflict is the problem of the presidents of two countries,
and the co-chairs will accept what the two presidents will decide.

"THE POET’S RETURN" FILM BY HAROUTIUN KHACHATRIAN TO PARTICIPATE AT KARLOVY VARY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Yerevan, July 28. ArmInfo. "The Poet’s Return" film by Haroutiun
Khachatrian will participate in the competition program of the Karlovy
Vary International Film Festival. Haroutiun Khachatrian, said this
at today’s press conference. He said that the film festival will take
place on July 8.

He said that about 16 films from Brazil, Russia, Denmark, Germany,
Spain and Sweden participate in the Karlovy Vary film festival.

"The Poet’s Return" have already participated in the Rotterdam Film
Festival and, according to the regulation of the Karlovy Vary Film
Festival, it couldn’t be included in its competition program. But,
according to Sousana Haroutiunian, film critic, the organization
committee of Karlovy Vary Film Festival made an exception for
Khachatrian’s film. The film attracted the attention of the foreign
film makers by its sincerity and professional technical solutions.

She added that thanks to the participation in the Rotterdam Film
Festival, the film can be represented also in 20 other festivals. The
film was shown in Tehran and Getteborge.

NKR NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEAKER, FOREIGN MINISTER TO DISCUSS KARABAKH IN WASHINGTON

Yerkir
28.06.2006 17:24

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – "Karabakh Conflict: Peace Prospects" conference
will be held on June 28 at the United States Peace Institute in
Washington. Nagorno Karabakh Republic National Assembly Speaker Ashot
Ghulian and Foreign Minister Georgi Petrosian will be the keynote
speakers at the conference.

As reported by the Radio Liberty, the conference is to discuss issues
as whether there still is time for signing a peace accord, what is
needed to bring the peace talks to a conclusion, how can the US help
the process as well as issues related to refugees.

"The visit was planned long before the recent events," Ghulian was
quoted by the radio station as saying. "We arrived in Washington
yesterday and only hours later met with OSCE Minsk Group’s US co-chair
Mathew Bryza. The meeting was informative to us, we had a lot to say
to each other. I believe we succeeded to make the initial exchange
of information."

When asked to comment on Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian’s statement
that the Armenian and Azeri presidents have reached an agreement on
the Karabakh status referendum, Ghulian said, "I believe the Armenian
foreign minister’s statement is more than explicit and there is no
need for further comments."

SOAD CALGARY BOUND
By MIKE BELL — Calgary Sun

Jam! Showbiz, Canada
June 25 2006

For System Of A Down, the vacation is over.

Now, it’s time to roll up the sleeves and get back to work.

Well, in order to get ready for summer vacation.

Which, um, will precede an extended vacation.

Don’t question it, or even attempt to make sense of it, just be
thankful the Armenian-American metal band is returning to our fair
city for a ‘Dome show Monday.

And for those who were lucky enough to catch the band nine months
ago in the same venue, drummer John Dolmayan says that first break
in SOAD’s schedule bodes well for their return visit.

"We haven’t toured for over seven months and we have a lot of desire
to get out there and play onstage again," Dolmayan says from his home
during a break in his World Cup-viewing.

"So we’ll probably have a little bit more energy than we had last time.

"Last time we came out it was after about five months of touring,
and you know how it is, you just burnout after awhile, you get tired.

"Although you may not have noticed it, we feel like near the end
of the tour we get a little tired — now you’re catching us on the
beginning of the tour.

"Nice and fresh.

"Although," he says jokingly, "you’ll have to deal with whatever
cobwebs are there …"

Of course, those who caught the quartet’s incredible show last
September will take them however they can get them, especially because,
since that show the band released its second album of 2005 Hypnotize,
the companion piece to the earlier dropped Mezmerize.

With the pair of albums and a year of touring, burnout was
understandable.

That’s also the reason after the brief tour they’re embarking on,
SOAD will follow it up with a stint on this year’s Ozzfest, something
Dolmayan likens to summer camp for bands, because of its easy pace
and enjoyable atmosphere.

And then, once those shows wrap up, the band will take an extended
hiatus, which the Lebanese-born drummer estimates will last more than
two years.

While there have been rumours the break will be permanent, fuelled
further by confirmation guitarist Daron Malakian is starting a new band
Scars On Broadway — with bassist Shavo Odadjian a likely member —
Dolmayan says the temporary cessation of SOAD business will likely
further the band’s career.

"It’s hard to maintain focus after so many years of doing the same
thing over and over again," he says. "We need a break from each other
as well as the whole scene and the pressures of being in a band that’s
at the level were at."

As to how he’ll spend the next couple of years, Dolmayan says he
won’t pursue a musical project of his own, noting he has no wish to
be a songwriter, even admitting he’s not that good at it.

"Everyone’s got a position, and I’m happy with mine."

Instead, he’ll spend the time doing something else he loves.

"I’m starting a comic book company based on the Internet …," he says.

"That’s what I’ll be pretty much diverting most of my attention to.

It’s my other passion — I love music and comics are what I’ve also
been into since I was a kid.

"I’m a nerd, man. I’m staying true to my nerd roots.