Author: Navasardian Karapet

SYSTEM OF A DOWN’S TANKIAN: TRACK LISTING, RELEASE DATE FOR SOLO DEBUT ANNOUNCED

Blabbermouth.net, NY
July 20 2007

Serj Tankian, the visionary frontman for multi-platinum rock band
SYSTEM OF A DOWN, will release his debut solo album, entitled "Elect
the Dead", on October 23 via Serjical Strike/Reprise Records this
fall. The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Empty Walls
02. The Unthinking Majority
03. Money
04. Feed Us
05. Saving Us
06. Sky Is Over
07. Baby
08. Honking Antelope
09. Lie Lie Lie
10. Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition
11. Beethoven’s C*nt
12. Elect the Dead

Known for his work with hard-rock agitators SOAD, Tankian says he
had no clue he was about to make a rock record when he began to
record at his home studio in Los Angeles last summer. "I was writing
more traditional type songs on my piano and acoustic guitar, with a
classical, almost operatic flavor; and lo and behold, it ended up being
a rock record. Funny what happens when you add distorted guitars and
drums," he says. "There are political songs, funny songs, love songs,
songs about painful experiences, vanity, and the environment. It has
a deep melancholy that runs from the personal to the global, with a
glimmer of hope in the solidarity of spirit."

Tankian produced "Elect the Dead" himself and played most of the
instruments, though the album does feature guest drummers John Dolmayan
(SOAD) and Brian "Brain" Mantia (GUNS N’ ROSES, PRIMUS).

"The singularity of vision is strong when you work alone," he says.

"I was a bit skeptical about producing it myself, but I knew how I
wanted it to sound. And as I kept going, I realized it was coming
together really well so I just finished it on my own. But I had to be
careful to push myself like an outside producer would until it was
great. I had the same energy and enthusiasm making this album as I
did making the first SYSTEM record."

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, to Armenian parents, Tankian is known as an
outspoken political activist who puts his money where his mouth is.

In 2006, he and Dolmayan met with members of Congress in Washington,
D.C., to campaign for support for the Armenian Genocide Recognition
Bill. Tankian is also the co-founder, along with RAGE AGAINST THE
MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello, of Axis Of Justice, a non-profit
dedicated to uniting musicians, music fans, and grassroots political
organizations to fight for social justice.

With SYSTEM OF A DOWN, which has released five best-selling
albums, including two Number Ones in 2005 – the critically acclaimed
"Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize" – Tankian helped the band earn a reputation
for musically innovative, politically uncompromising rock.

Through it all, Tankian, who has also published a collection of his
poetry, has written his own songs, amassing an archive of material
from many different genres. "I write all the time for no reason but to
write," he says. "I’m just doing what I’m told to do by my heart and
nothing more. I just follow my vision and end up where it takes me."

GYUMRI MAYOR’S INDICTED SON ARRESTED
By Hovannes Shoghikian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
July 20 2007

A fugitive son of Gyumri Mayor Vartan Ghukasian was arrested on Friday
nearly two months after being charged with instigating a high-profile
shootout in Armenia’s second largest city.

Armenia’s Office of the Prosecutor-General said Spartak Ghukasian
surrendered to the police and was immediately taken to a prison in
Artik, a small town near Gyumri.

Ghukasian reportedly led one of the two groups of young men who
exchanged gunfire in broad daylight on May 20. The other group is
thought to have been led by Rustam Sargsian, a son of a prominent
local businessman and former government official. Sargsian and one
of his associates remain on the run.

"Measures are being taken to track down two other individuals charged
within the framework of this criminal case," a spokeswoman for the
prosecutors, Sona Truzian, told RFE/RL.

Ghukasian Jr. turned himself in the day after his controversial father
was summoned to a meeting in Yerevan with Prosecutor-General Aghvan
Hovsepian. A newspaper report on Friday said the Gyumri mayor, who has
claimed to be unaware of his son’s whereabouts, was "offered" to hand
over the suspect to law-enforcement authorities within 24 hours. He was
reportedly received by President Robert Kocharian earlier this week.

In an earlier televised interview, Ghukasian vehemently denied
Spartak’s involvement in the gunfight that left at least two people
wounded. He accused the media and his rivals of discrediting his family
by implicating it in other instances of violence reported in Gyumri
in recent years. He also rejected mounting calls for his resignation.

The flamboyant mayor, who is a senior member of the governing
Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), was seriously wounded in a
mysterious drive-by shooting that killed three of his bodyguards
about last April.

The shootout coincided with the May 20 disappearance of a 12-year-old
boy whose decomposed body was found in an abandoned Gyumri shack a
week ago. Many local residents suspect that Robert Simonian may have
been hit by a stray bullet or run over by one of the cars involved
in the shootout.

Investigators have effectively dismissed this theory, saying that
Simonian most probably died as a result of playing with a hand grenade
or another explosive device.

Residents of neighboring houses did not report hearing any explosions
on May 20, however. Many also wonder how the police failed to stumble
on Simonian’s corpse when they scoured the entire shanty town with
sniffer dogs in the days that followed his disappearance.

The prosecutors have said the precise cause of the boy’s death will
be established by a more meticulous forensic examination. According
to Truzian, the examination is still not complete.

TURKISH LOBBYING GROUPS IN USA AGAIN FAILED IN THEIR ANTI-GENOCIDE CAMPAIGN

PanARMENIAN.Net
19.07.2007 14:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ On July 18 Turkey’s multi-million dollar lobbyist
Bob Livingston posted an eight-minute diatribe on the Capitol Hill
Broadcasting Network website, which denies the Armenian Genocide. This
video is an effort to block congressional adoption of the H.Res.106
/ S.Res.106, the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
reports. Less than twelve hours after Bob Livingston’s genocide denial
video was posted, the ANCA issued a point by point video rebuttal,
which was distributed widely to congressional offices and policy
makers throughout Washington, DC. Also in response to the Livingston
attack, Armenian Genocide Resolution lead advocates, Representatives
Adam Schiff, George Radanovich, Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg
cosigned a July 18th letter to congressional colleagues discrediting
Livingston’s denialist claims. The letter reads as follows, "For the
past seven years Mr. Livingston has been a paid lobbyist for Turkey,
which has spent millions of dollars denying what the world knows to
be true – that in the first decades of the last century a horrible
genocide was committed against the Armenian people. The factual
evidence supporting the Armenian Genocide is vast, and no effort to
deny these facts – no matter the source of the denial – will ever
change history." The letter went on to urge House members to join
over 220 of their colleagues in cosponsoring H.Res.106.

HAYRIKYAN WITH A PRE-ELECTION PROGRAM BUT NOT ALONE FOR THE ELECTIONS

Panorama.am
17:41 16/07/2007

The parliament will be dissolved , amendments will be done in the
Constitution, people will elect the vice president ,but all this in
case the National Self-Determination Union Chairman Paruyr Hayrikyan’s
pre-election program is put in force. Today he expresses his conviction
about the opposition victory in case they unite. But still they won’t
be speaking of a candidate for the presidential elections.

As regards to P.Hayrkikyan’s words they fiorst need to unite and
propose a program together, then they will speak of a presidential
candidate. The chairman mentioned he would agree supplements
from other opposition parties to his proposed program. "All those
oppositional parties understand and speak of democracy should unite
for the coming presidential elections", he mentioned adding that in
case they do not unite he won’t alone propose his candidature for
the presidential elections.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE OUTCOME OF ELECTION

Lragir, Armenia
July 16 2007

Although different international organizations state the resolution
of Kosovo will not be a model of resolution of frozen conflicts,
Stepan Grigoryan, a political scientist, said in a news conference
on July 16 that both the issue of Kosovo and the issue of Karabakh
are within the domain of the right for self-determination, only the
scales are different: more people live in Kosovo than in Karabakh.

Stepan Grigoryan also mentioned that the West and Russia do not have
a common approach towards the issue of Kosovo, and Russia threatens
to recognize the unrecognized states of Abkhazia and South Osetia.

In this context, we need to hold a compliant election in Karabakh
because we do need the election, Stepan Grigoryan thinks. According to
him, there are preconditions. The acting president Arkady Ghukasyan
will not run a third term, more than one candidates are running in
the election. "We only need to hold a normal election."

However, Stepan Grigoryan also voiced concern. A pollster stated that
one of the presidential candidates of Karabakh will lose because he is
an educated and practical person. It worries that the administrative
resource is viewed as an important factor, Stepan Grigoryan stated.

Stepan Grigoryan said regarding the international recognition of
the upcoming election in Karabakh that the outcome of the national
election of Karabakh will be recognized if it is held under the
auspices of some international organization.

BOOK "ARMENIAN MYTH. ARMENIAN EXTREMISM: ITS CAUSES AND HISTORICAL CONTENT" PUBLISHED IN ROMANIA

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
July 17 2007

The book "Armenian myth. Armenian extremism: its causes and historical
content" written by outstanding Austrian historian, professor Erik
Figle was translated into Romanian and published on the initiative of
Azerbaijani embassy in Romania, chief of Romania-Azerbaijan Friendship
Society Mahir Garayev told APA.

The book exposing Armenians’ aggressive policy is a valuable source
for informing the entire world of Karabakh realities.

European scientist evidences Armenians’ atrocity by facts.

The book has been distributed to Romania’s libraries, educational
establishments.

Le Monde, France
13 juillet 2007 vendredi

ASSURANCE;
Génocide arménien : Axa indemnisera des descendants

Les héritiers des victimes des massacres d’Arméniens sous l’Empire
ottoman peuvent prétendre à des prestations d’assurance auprès du
groupe Axa jusqu’en octobre. L’assureur est parvenu à un accord de
17,5 millions de dollars (12,7 millions d’euros) avec les héritiers
de porteurs de polices d’assurance auprès de filiales de cette
compagnie dans l’Empire ottoman. – (AFP.)

Laval News, Canada
July 14 2007

Annual Armenian Festival is going stronger than ever
Gathering draws an estimated 7,000 revelers for cultural renewal

By Martin C. Barry – TLN

PHOTO: Martin C. Barry – TLN
Armenian ladies enjoy a good
laugh while preparing a batch
of traditional Armenian
flatbread.

For three days this past Canada Day weekend, Armenians from all over
Laval, Montreal and the surrounding region got together for one of
Quebec’s biggest annual celebrations of their culture – the Armenian
Festival. From June 29 to July 1 in the lot of the former Centre 2000
shopping centre, thousands of local Armenians were joined by others
from cities as far as Cornwall, Ottawa and Toronto, to enjoy
traditional foods, midway games, dancing and live music – all to
remind them of their Armenian roots, culture and experience.
`Good for the whole family’
Organized as a fundraiser by members of Laval’s Sourp Kevork Armenian
Apostolic Church, it was one of the largest festivals local Armenians
have ever staged. The congregation hopes to acquire new land and
build a new church with help from the proceeds. `We do this every
year and we have had about 3,000 to 4,000 people since yesterday,’
Hagop Lakhoyan, one of the organizers, said on Saturday. With the
festival continuing for another day, he expected that as many as
7,000 people would pass through the gates by closing late Sunday.
`The kids come in and they play, There’s good food, dancing and it’s
good for the whole family,’ he added.
A major social event
Rev. Father Hrair Nicolian, pastor of the church, said the festival
serves as an annual gathering point for Armenians, whether or not
they are members of the congregation. As many as 9,000 Laval
residents are of Armenian descent. Sourp Kevork Armenian Apostolic
Church has about 600 members. In Laval there are two other Armenian
churches. `Armenians love to be together and this is a big
opportunity – the main opportunity during the summertime,’ he said.
Music important
It was the third year the festival, which was launched nearly a
decade ago, was held on the Centre 2000 site. `It’s getting bigger
and bigger year by year,’ said Father Nicolian. He acknowledged that
part of the festival’s formula for success has been keeping up with
the times – especially in terms of the music, which is rooted in
folk-tradition and focuses on love, hope and friendship. `We have a
lot of people coming here who have settled from Armenia. So they love
to come here to listen to the music they love.’
Armenian values strengthened
Kevin Amyotte, a Cornwall, Ont. resident, decided to drive in to
attend the festival, at the insistence of his fiancee, who lived in
Laval after arriving in Canada from Armenia about eight years ago.
She hopes to encourage Armenian values in her three children. `She
wanted to make sure that the culture is kept,’ he said. `She wants to
make sure they have their Armenian heritage kept, and I believe that
it’s a Canadian tradition to keep your heritage, whether it’s French,
English or any other culture.’

MEMORENDUM OF COOPERATION SIGNED BETWEEN GEORGIAN MASS MEDIA

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jul 12 2007

AKHALKALAK, JULY 12, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The issue
concerning creation of mutual cooperation between the Georgian mass
media was discussed during the round table held the other day in
the office of the "European Center on Cases of National Minorities"
in Akhalkalak, "Javakh-info" reports.

A memorandum of cooperation was introduced by the "Javakhk Civil
Forum", according to which the representatives of the mass media
should support each other in getting reliable and exact information
during their mutual cooperation, so as the population is not provided
with misrepresented information, journalistic ethics are followed,
and the journalists are led by the "Codex of Honour" principle.

Most of the participants of the round table, as advisors, signed
the memorandum.

It should also be mentioned that the television companies of
"Ihmedi" and "Rustavi-2" of Georgia, "ATV-12" of Akhalkalak,
and "Pharvana" of Ninotsminda, as well as the representatives of
the Weeklies "Youth Radio", "Southern Gate" of Javakhk, and the
"Javakhk-info" information-analytical center, as well as members of
the non-governmental organizations operating in Javakhk took part in
the round table.

UNO TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS DIRECTED AT DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Jul 12 2007

YEREVAN, JULY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The departments envisaged by the program
of the forthcoming five years of the government of the Republic of
Armenia are in full harmony with the primary points mentioned by
the United Nations’ Organization, which opens wide opportunities for
further cooperation between the RA Government and the UN agencies,
which operate in the Republic of Armenia. This statement was made
by Consuelo Vidal, the permanent coordinator of the United Nations’
Organization and a permanent representative of the UN Development
Program in Armenia, during the meeting with Serge Sargsian, the RA
Prime Minister, which took place on July 11.

Serge Sargsian appreciated the activities of the UN agencies and
the Development Program, in particular, as well as the productive
interactivities of the Armenian office of this organization with
the RA government. The Prime Minister mentioned that the Armenian
government is going to reconsider the Poverty Reduction Strategic
Paper, within the framework of which he expects a deeper and more
active cooperation with the United Nations’ Organization, taking into
consideration the fact that the problem of poverty reduction has
been and still is one of the most important goals of the Millenium
Development proclaimed by the UNO. Serge Sargsian attached importance
to the implementation of wide discussions during the reconsideration
process of the Poverty Reduction Strategic Paper and stressed that
the paper should be so definite and grounded that its implementation
becomes quite realistic. According to the Prime Minister, this will
increase the confidence of society towards this paper.

The RA Prime Minister stressed the necessity to unite efforts with
regard to the implementation of the provisions of the most important
and principle documents for the Republic of Armenia, that is to say,
the Program of the RA Government, the RA Strategic Program of National
Security, and the Poverty Reduction Strategic Paper, and added that
any document to be adopted by the government should be in harmony
with the goals of the above-mentioned programs.

According to the information provided to Noyan Tapan by the Information
and Public Relations’ Department of the RA government, Consuelo Vidal
made assertions that the United Nations’ Organization, as an associate
of the RA government, will be happy to continue the cooperation within
the frameworks of the above-mentioned documents and the assistance
for the implementation of the programs directed at the development
of the country.