Author: Tatoyan Vazgen

REVIEW: SERJ TANKIAN AND THE APO
By Chris Schulz

Stuff.co.nz
ew-Serj-Tankian-and-the-APO/
March 17 2009
New Zealand

OPINION There were nothing but highlights as Serj Tankian teamed up
with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Serj Tankian and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Where: Auckland
Town Hall When: Monday, March 17

It wouldn’t be often that a tuxedo-clad member of the Auckland
Philharmonia Orchestra gets the opportunity to "throw up the goat"
– the international hand gesture for metal fans – to a crowd.

But when the APO teamed up with Serj Tankian – the big-voiced System of
a Down singer who is now performing solo – it wasn’t just appropriate,
it was almost compulsory.

That’s how the night began as the APO took to the stage at Auckland’s
majestic Town Hall, and the grinning member of the APO’s horn
section received plenty of cheers – and returned "goats" – from the
surprisingly large, and varied, crowd.

It was an odd beginning for a wonderfully odd performance.

It might seem a strange mix on paper, but – over five System of a
Down albums and one of his own, 2007’s Elect the Dead – Tankian’s
booming voice has become an instrument of its own.

His operative howls give focus to the frenetic metal riffs that
usually accompany his voice.

But, when paired with the intricate melodies and stunning musicianship
of the APO, Tankian’s vocal range stood out even more.

That was evident from the opening track, his first solo single Empty
Walls, as Tankian’s recognisable Armenian-tinged hollering was given
extra melodrama and poignancy from the soaring strings.

If you were getting chills from the orchestra and their perfectly
executed, and frequent, instrumentals, that’s because they know
exactly what they’re doing.

As a result, there were plenty of highlights, like the thrilling
cresendo at the end of Feed Us, and the dramatic elements that
punctuated Sky Is Over.

Then there was Blue, a non-album track that saw Tankian impressively
matching the APO’s sonic delivery with a pinpoint falsetto.

The combo didn’t mesh quite as well when the rave lights were brought
out for the overly frenetic Money, as the intricate flourishes of
the orchestra got lost in a sea of noise.

And Baby was a little too wacky, but it was a good opportunity for
Tankian to unveil some comical facial expressions and a piercing
metal scream like the days of old.

It was a nod to Tankian’s rock fans in attendance, but if they wanted
a Monday night moshpit fix they would have left disappointed.

For those wanting to be pushed out of their comfort zone, by a
performer willing to do just that to himself, there were nothing
but highlights.

When Tankian and the APO received a standing ovation, they deserved
every second of it.

Iran Visual News Corps
March 13 2009

Iran says ready to resolve Armenian-Azeri dispute

Updated: Friday, March 13, 2009
19:30GMT’3:30PM/EST

Washington, 13 March (IranVNC)’Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr
Mottaki said today that his country was prepared to help resolve a
longstanding dispute between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Armenia remains formally at war with Azerbaijan over the
Nagorno-Karabakh territorial dispute. In the 1990s, ethnic Armenian
separatists, backed by Armenia, fought to throw off Azerbaijan’s
control over the mountainous region in southwestern Azerbaijan. The
conflict left an estimated 30,000 people dead, reports Reuters.

No peace accord has ever been signed, although a Russian-mediated
ceasefire has been in place since May 1994. Peace talks have been held
since.

Mottaki, who arrived in Yerevan on Thursday for a two-day official
visit, said during a joint press conference with Armenia’s Foreign
Minister Edward Nalbandian, that the conflict was brought up during
this week’s Economic Cooperation Organization [ECO] summit in Tehran,
where regional leaders stressed the need for a peaceful solution.

`I announce Iran’s readiness to help resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh
dispute,’ Mottaki was quoted by the state-run broadcaster, IRIB News,
as saying.

Nagorno-Karabakh, which became a de facto independent republic, is
officially recognized as part of Azerbaijan, although Armenia backs
sovereignty for the territory, something Baku says it can never have.

Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov on Friday accused
Russia of supplying arms to Armenia, telling Reuters that he believed
Yerevan was planning to take back the territory. There was `no
miracle’ in sight to resolve the dispute, he added.

Sources: Reuters, IRIB News
lang=en&t=1&id=8499

PanARMENIAN.Net

Ulli Wegner: Abraham-Simon fight won’t be easy
12.03.2009 19:12 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The city of Kiel is preparing for a spectacular
Sauerland Event fight night on Saturday. In the main event, undefeated
IBF middleweight champion King Arthur Abraham is looking to make a
successful ninth defense of his title. `Even though it is my ninth
defense, I am still hungry and highly-motivated,’ the 29-year-old
(28-0, 23 KOs) said at today´s press conference. `Lajuan Simon
has no chance to win.’ Naturally, the American challenger (21-0, 12
KOs) holds a different view. `I have worked and trained very hard for
this fight,’ Simon said. `I will beat Abraham to win the title.’

He lost the first duel, though, leaving the face-to-face photo shoot
after just a few seconds.

Nevertheless, Abraham coach Ulli Wegner has warned his star fighter
not to underestimate his opponent. `Everybody considers Arthur the
favorite, but it will not be easy. Everything can be over really
quick,’ fightnews.com cited the coaching legend as saying. `I will
make sure Arthur will be mentally and physically prepared.’

Manager Wilfried Sauerland added: `It was not easy to find an opponent
for Arthur. A lot of people are avoiding him. We were left with four
opponents and we picked the strongest one.’ Asked about a potential
unification against Kelly Pavlik, Sauerland stated: `First Arthur
needs to get past Simon. Everybody wants to see him fighting Pavlik `
the fans, the TV stations and of course everybody at Sauerland
Event. Now it´s time for Pavlik’s promoter Top Rank to move.’

States News Service, USA
March 11, 2009 Wednesday

SCHIFF, RADANOVICH, PALLONE, AND KIRK COMMEND PRESIDENT FOR HIS
PRINCIPLED RECORD OF RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

WASHINGTON

The following information was released by the office of California
Rep. Adam Schiff:

Urge Strong Statement of Recognition on the Upcoming 94th Anniversary

Washington, D.C. – In advance of the upcoming 94th Anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), George
Radanovich (R-CA), Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) wrote a
letter to President Barack Obama commending him on his record of
supporting the truth about the Armenian Genocide and urging the
President to make a strong statement of recognition on April 24th.

"Throughout his career, President Obama has always demonstrated a
profound understanding of history and the moral courage to speak
plainly about the horrors of genocide," said Schiff. "We applaud his
strong recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a Senator, and look to
him for continued strong leadership on this issue as President."

"Over the years, the President of the United States, regardless of
political party, has done a great disservice by refusing to properly
recognize the Armenian Genocide," said Radanovich. "As a proud
representative of the Armenian American community, and co-author of
the Armenian Genocide Resolution, I commend President Obama for his
previous commitment to the truth and I eagerly await the fulfillment
of his promises to recognize the Genocide as President."

"As a senator and as a candidate, President Obama demonstrated a clear
record of supporting recognition of the Armenian Genocide," said
Pallone. "As Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues,
I am hopeful that both the President and Congress will not waiver in
their efforts to discuss the past openly and honestly."

"As a U.S. Senator and as a presidential candidate, President Obama
made unprecedented commitments to recognize the Armenian Genocide,"
Kirk said. "Knowing his personal commitment to ending genocide and
promoting human rights, we are hopeful President Obama will keep his
promise."

The full text of the letter is below.

March 10, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

As we approach the upcoming 94th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
on April 24, we want to thank you for the courage you have always
shown in characterizing properly the slaughter of 1.5 million
Armenians from 1915-1923 as genocide. No president in the postwar era
has come into office with a stronger understanding of the historic
facts of the genocide, or with a greater track record of speaking
plainly on this terrible chapter in the past.

As a United States Senator, your record on the Armenian Genocide was
clear and unequivocal. In 2005 and 2006 you joined many of your
colleagues in asking President Bush to refer to the slaughter of
Armenians as genocide, noting that "[i]t is in the best interests of
our nation and the entire global community to remember the past and
learn from these crimes against humanity to ensure that they are never
repeated."

In 2006 you wrote to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the wake
of the recall from Yerevan of Ambassador John Evans for using the term
"genocide" to describe the events of 1915-23. In your letter you
described the official U.S. position on the genocide as "untenable"
and reminded the Secretary that "the occurrence of the Armenian
genocide in 1915 is not an ‘allegation,’ a ‘personal opinion,’ or a
‘point of view.’ Supported by overwhelming evidence, it is a widely
documented fact."

In questions submitted to Ambassador-designate Marie Yovanovich last
year, you pressed her on the issue of genocide recognition,
specifically asking her what steps she would take to recognize the
genocide and what actions the Department of State was undertaking to
press for Turkish recognition of the crimes committed by their Ottoman
forebears. Last April, in a statement printed in the Congressional
Record, you pledged to "continue to push for the acknowledgement of
the Armenian genocide."

As a presidential candidate, you were also forthright in discussing
your support for genocide recognition, saying that "America deserves a
leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds
forcefully to all genocides." We agree with you completely.

During your upcoming trip to Turkey and in discussions with your
advisors over how to commemorate the events of 1915-23, you will
doubtless be counseled by some to continue the practice of avoiding
the truth in favor of short-term political expediency. We do not
minimize Ankara’s threats of adverse action when you recognize the
genocide, or when Congress takes action to formally recognize the
genocide, but we believe that our alliance is strong enough to
withstand the truth.

Elie Wiesel has described the denial of genocide as the final stage of
genocide – a double killing. Sadly, our nation’s foreign policy has,
for too long, abetted this denial. As you told Secretary Rice in your
letter about the sacking of Ambassador Evans, "when State Department
instructions are such that an ambassador must engage in strained
reasoning – or even outright falsehood – that defies a common sense
interpretation of events in order to follow orders, then it is time to
revisit the State Department’s policy guidance on that issue."

Mr. President, you have demonstrated time and again your understanding
of the importance to Armenian-Americans of formal American recognition
of the crime that was committed against their parents, grandparents
and great-grandparents. Their pain is not unlike that of American
Jews, who live each day with the memory of the Holocaust, and
African-Americans, whose view of themselves has been colored by the
legacy of slavery and Jim Crow. But, of course, the importance of
speaking unequivocally about a matter as grave as genocide is a human
rights imperative affecting us all. Whether it is today’s Sudanese
government or yesterday’s Ottoman Empire, the perpetrators of
genocide, as well as the victims, must know that the United States
will not shrink from confronting the truth.

Sincerely,

ADAM B. SCHIFF

Member of Congress

GEORGE RADANOVICH
Member of Congress

FRANK PALLONE, JR.
Member of Congress

MARK STEVEN KIRK
Member of Congress

RIA Oreanda, Russia
March 11 2009

Alexander Lukashenko Goes to Armenia on Working Visit

Minsk. OREANDA-NEWS . March 11, 2009. President of Belarus Alexander
Lukashenko went to the Republic of Armenia on a working visit. The
agreement on the visit was reached during a recent telephone talk
between the presidents of the two countries.

During the visit, the President of Belarus is set to meet with the
Armenia President, representatives of the business community. The
talks will focus on the important issues of bilateral relations, above
all, trade and economic cooperation amid the global financial and
economic crisis and the interaction in the integration organisations
set up by former Soviet Union republics.

Special attention will be given to the strengthening of interregional
links, energy cooperation, participation of Belarus in Armenias
governmental economy promotion programmes, facilitating industrial
cooperation, development of tourism and cultural links between the two
nations.

Last year Belarus-Armenia trade was up 18.9% from 2007 to USD 28.2
million, which is below the economic potential of the two countries.

Federal News Service, USA
March 12, 2009 Thursday

WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE WITH HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA);

LOCATION: H-210, THE CAPITOL, WASHINGTON, D.C.
SECTION: PRESS CONFERENCE OR SPEECH

[parts omitted]

Q Madame Speaker — (off mike) — Armenian genocide resolution to the
House. Would the House vote on it this year after withdrawing it last
year?

SPEAKER PELOSI: Well, last year was a big victory for those who are
concerned about history recording that there was an Armenian
genocide. And the full committee of the Foreign Affairs Committee
voted that resolution out. It was a source of comfort, I think, to
people who are still survivors of that genocide, and certainly to
their families as well.

I think not had a communication with Mr. Schiff on this
introduction. When they have what I would consider a critical mass of
votes to — I’m sure they will come talk to me. But I’ll look forward
to having that conversation with him.

But my position is clear about the Armenian genocide. Whether the
House votes on it or not, that doesn’t make it so or not so.

Thank you all very much.

Q Thank you.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Sanatruk Sahakyan relieved of post of advisor to Emergency Situations
Minister long ago
14.03.2009 11:58 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Sanatruk Sahakyan, who was arrested for bribe
taking, was relieved of the post of advisor to Emergency Situations
Minister long ago.

`The incident with Sahakyan doesn’t have any connection with the
Ministry’s activity,’ said a statement issued by the RA Ministry of
Emergency Situations.

Sanatruk Sahakyan was detained on March 13, 2009 on suspicion of
taking bribe to `assist’ accession of Tigran Aghbekyan to police
academy.

Sanatruk Sahakyan stopped his membership of the Communist Party of
Armenia and joined Orinats Yerkir party some time ago.

Armenia can mitigate growing prices for electric power and gas through
cut in prices for bread and petrol

2009-03-12 14:34:00

ArmInfo. Armenia can mitigate the growing prices for electric power
and gas through cut in prices for bread and petrol, ex-Chairman of the
Central Bank of Armenia, member of the oppositional Armenian Congress
Bagrat Asatryan told journalists today.

According to him, the state is enabled to bring the real prices for
wheat and flour, purchased in Russia, in line with the retail trade
prices in Armenia. ‘The price for wheat in Russia in 2008 reduced
almost twice. If we succeed to achieve a proportional cut in prices in
Armenia, it will essentially facilitate the citizens’ budget. The same
concerns the petrol and all the kinds of goods the prime cost of which
it is included in’, B. Asatryan said. To recall, the prices for
electric power and gas in Armenia will expectedly grow by 10- 15%
started April1, 2009.

Fines of 1.2 million drams imposed on organizers of prize games in
February

884

YEREVAN, MARCH 11, NOYAN TAPAN. In February 2009, the RA ministry of
finance warned organizers of 10 prize games and one casino. The
ministry also recorded a violation forming a basis for suspension of
the licence for organization of one prize game.

Fines of a total of 1.2 million drams were imposed on organizers of
prize games in the same period.

State duties of 85 million drams were collected in the order envisaged
by law from this sector in January-February 2009, including duties of
60 million drams for prize games and duties of 25 million drams for
casinos.

According to a press release of the Information and PR Unit of RA
Ministry of Finance, as of March 1, there were valid licences for
organization of 119 prize games, 14 casinos and 4 lotteries in Armenia.

PanARMENIAN.Net

US State Department preparing for Obama’s Visit to Turkey
10.03.2009 18:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ `US president Barack Obama’s scheduled visit to
Turkey is very important,’ Robert Wood, US State Department spokesman
reported.

As he says, at present the State Department is working out the details
for the visit. Turkey is an important ally, and we attach great
importance to president’s decision to visit Turkey.

He also added that Turkey might consider the mediating talks between
US and Iran, but it is still early to speak about it and I don’t want
to speculate as to what we might do. `A lot of it is going to depend
on Iran and its willingness to engage in the cooperation and to change
its attitude in a number of areas where we have certain concerns.’

Responding to a question on Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton’s
visit to Turkey, Wood said, "the Secretary had very good discussions
with officials of the Turkish Government.’