Author: Toneyan Mark

A1+
| 14:41:23 | 01-10-2005 | Politics |
EUROPE WILL SAVE ARMENIA
Can a state exist without contacts with other states? Such may exist in the
past but in the 21st century it’s impossible. What direction should
independent Armenia orient itself to? We addressed 100 citizens with this
question September 25-28.
`Blessed be the moment when a Russian set foot on the Armenian land.
Khachtur Abovyan was right. Russia have always been a sister nation to
Armenia and will remain such’, a man of 60 said.
27% of the respondents consider that Russia should be our strategic partner.
25% of those surveyed consider that Armenia should choose pro-American line.
`Neither America nor Russia can save Armenia. We must anchor hopes with
Europe only’. This the opinion of 20% of the respondents. They suppose that
Armenia should exert every effort to join the European Union though, in
their words, it can happen no earlier that in 15 years.
18% of those surveyed think that complementation would be the most
profitable line for a small country like Armenia.
The survey outcome prove that the attitude of out people towards Russia has
changed during the recent years.
Karine Asatryan
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Sept 28 2005
VOTERS’ LISTS MUST BE PUT IN ORDER IN ARMENIA: ARTUR BAGHDASARYAN
YEREVAN, September 28. /ARKA/. Voters’ lists must be put in order in
Armenia, Speaker of the RA Parliament Artur Baghdasaryan told
reporters. According to him, local elections showed the voters’ lists
to be in a poor state. “Inaccuracie4s in voters’ lists may be an
extra argument for various comments on the election results,”
Baghdasaryan said. He pointed out the importance of specifying
voters’ lists. Baghdasaryan stated his intention to get in touch with
relevant bodies and draw their attention to putting voters’ lists in
order in conformity with law. P.T. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Rocky Mountain News, CO
Sept 30 2005
System of a Down plays heavy metal and politics
By David Milstead, Rocky Mountain News
September 30, 2005
There was a time – it wasn’t that long ago, was it? – when most
Americans equated heavy metal with Warrant’s Cherry Pie.
Knuckleheaded lyrics by knuckleheaded white guys.
Sure, there were exceptions. But those bands weren’t the era’s
platinum artists.
System of a Down is the band that shows how much metal, and America,
has changed since the 1980s. Four seemingly crazy, leftist Armenian-
Americans released an album called Toxicity just a week before the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The first track wasn’t about cars and girls – it was Prison Song, a
critique of the American criminal-justice system. “All research and
successful drug policy show / That treatment should be increased /
And law enforcement decreased / While abolishing mandatory minimum
sentences!” singer Serj Tankian screamed.
The album seemed poised to stiff, a victim of bad timing and a
political climate in which, in the words of Bush spokesman Ari
Fleischer, people “need to watch what they say.” Instead, it sold 5
million copies.
Was the band heartened that its album was accepted, even embraced, at
that time?
“Well, that’s more of a statement than a question, I think,” said
Tankian, speaking from the road on a tour that stops at the Pepsi
Center on Sunday. “We had some (radio) program directors dropping the
single (Chop Suey) because of our statements. It was just a strange
feeling.”
But the band was emboldened and followed with an outtakes disc called
Steal This Album.
Now, with May’s Mezmerize, to be followed by November’s Hypnotize,
the band is in the midst of releasing a potent two-disc set that
retains its leftist message. It also accomplishes the odd feat of
being more accessible yet even stranger, in some ways, than System of
a Down’s past work.
The first single, B.Y.O.B., asks the time-honored questions “Why
don’t presidents fight the war? Why do they always send the poor?”
The song alternates between juggernaut riffs and a loping, chunky
chorus with sweet-voiced backup singers extolling “coming to the
party” to have a “real good time.”
Other efforts, like Violent Pornography, with its sendup of media
culture, aren’t quotable.
While System of a Down’s lyrics are distinctive, it’s the music that
makes the band truly unusual. Tankian refuses to be pinned down when
asked what specific artists he and his band mates have listened to,
and he instead names virtually every genre in the record store:
metal, rock, punk, Armenian, Arabic, Caribbean. “A very, very large
mix of things.”
Radio/Video, on Mezmerize, illustrates that mix. “It’s kinda got a
polka beat in the middle. It’s an interesting song. I like the fact
there are tempo changes throughout the song, and in the bridge
section it goes faster and faster. It’s kind of operatic, too,”
Tankian said.
The band could probably have fit all of Mezmerize and Hypnotize onto
one CD. At just over 36 minutes, Mezmerize is tiny by modern CD
standards. But both albums in one package probably would have been an
awful lot to swallow, particularly for the first-time listener coming
late to the System of a Down party.
“It would be a bit much,” Tankian said. “It always worked out better
for us to have people digest the first part of the double album.”
Tankian says the band’s current live set list includes only one or
two songs from Hypnotize; the band will wait for the album’s release
before adding the bulk of the disc to the playlist.
The band, in Chicago this week for a concert, took time out to stop
at the Batavia, Ill., office of House Speaker Rep. Dennis Hastert to
ask him to hold a vote on Armenian Genocide legislation that the band
says “will officially recognize Turkey’s destruction of 1.5 million
Armenians between 1915 and 1923.”
When it comes to the band’s Sunday date in Denver, however, System of
a Down welcomes all fans, whether they embrace the political message
or not.
“Certain fans may not be antiwar activists,” Tankian said. “Music has
a stronger impact on our bodies, souls and spirits than on our minds.
When our minds get involved, the experience is even stronger.”

Armenpress
CRIME RATE IN CIS UP 12 PERCENT
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS; CIS Executive Secretary Vladimir
Rushailo said today in Yerevan crime rate in CIS member countries went up 12
percent in the first six months of the year from a year ago, arguing also
that effective fighting against crime was possible only given cooperation of
police forces in these countries with appropriate bodies of the UN.
Rushailo was addressing a regular conference of the Council of CIS
Interior Ministers that has brought together the ministers from Armenia,
Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan and even Azerbaijan. The conference’s agenda is
dominated by issues on fighting corruption and illegal migration. Rushailo
called also for setting up a task force that would develop proposals on how
to best crack down on organized crime and to block roads for export of
heroine manufactured in Afghanistan to reach the CIS.
In early June a UN narcotic and crime agency signed an agreement with CIS
executive committee, calling for reinforcing border check points across the
CIS and equipping police forces with modern labs. Rushailo complained that
out of 16 agreements on fighting crime, terrorism and illicit narcotics
sale, signed by CIS members, only 2 were enacted by September, 2005 and
called on CIS interior ministers to step up the process of their enactment.

REHN: “THE EP DELAY ON THE ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL VOTE WON’T HINDER ANKARA’S EU TALKS”
Turkish Press
Sept 29 2005
Press Review
CUMHURIYET
Appearing on news channel NTV yesterday, European Union Commissioner
for Enlargement Olli Rehn said that European Parliament decisions
postponing approval of the additional protocol and pushing recognition
of the so-called Armenian genocide for Ankara’s EU membership wouldn’t
be obstacles to the beginning of Turkey’s EU accession talks. Rehn
stated that Turkey should fulfill the additional protocol as soon
as possible, adding that not doing so would adversely affect its
talks. He further stated that Ankara should take into consideration
the EU’s counter-declaration. In related news, Turkey-EU Joint
Parliamentary Committee Chairman Joost Lagendijk criticized the EP
decision postponing approval of the protocol, saying that it had sent
the wrong message to Turkey.

EU: EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT POSTPONES VOTE ON PROTOCOL TO ANKARA AGREEMENT
European Parliament

Sept 29 2005
/noticias.info/ – The Parliament postponed voting on approval of the
protocol extending Turkey’s association agreement with the EU to the
ten new member states. MEPs feared that the Turkish declaration that
the protocol does not mean any form of recognition of Cyprus would
form part of the ratification process in the Turkish parliament and
thus gain legal force. Nevertheless, in a political resolution voted
afterwards, Parliament noted that accession negotiations with Turkey
can start on 3 October as foreseen.
At the request of the EPP-ED group, Parliament voted 311 votes
in favour, 285 against and 63 abstentions to postpone the vote on
Parliament’s approval of the protocol extending Turkey’s customs union
with the EU to all its new members, including Cyprus. The vote to
postpone has no legal consequences in terms of the starting date for
accession negotiations. Stumbling blocks were the Turkish declaration
that the signing of the protocol to the Ankara Agreement does not mean
any form of recognition of Cyprus and the Turkish refusal to admit
vessels and airplanes from Cyprus. A majority of MEPs first wanted
guarantees from the Turkish authorities that the declaration was
not going to be part of the ratification in the Turkish parliament,
fearing that it would then have legal implications.
Nevertheless, in a political resolution adopted afterwards by 356
votes in favour, 181 against and 125 abstentions, Parliament noted the
Commission’s and Council’s view that access negotiations with Turkey
can start on 3 October. But by the end of 2006, the Commission must
assess if Turkey has fully implemented the protocol. If not, this could
lead to halting the accession negotiations. During the negotiations,
which are open-ended and will not automatically lead to Turkish EU
membership, Turkey should be kept under permanent scrutiny and pressure
to ensure that it maintains “the pace of the necessary reforms”.
Parliament also said it considered Turkish recognition of “the Armenian
genocide … to be a prerequisite for accession”.
MEPs deplore that the Annan plan for a settlement of the Cyprus
question has been rejected by the Greek Cypriot community and hopes
that Turkey will maintain its constructive attitude in finding an
equitable solution. Meanwhile, the Council should keep its promise
and reach an agreement on the financial aid and trade package for
northern Cyprus.
On other issues, MEPs voiced their concern about the criminal
proceedings against Turkish author Orhan Pamuk, about article 305
of the penal code which criminalises “acts against the fundamental
national interest”, about the restrictions on foreign funding for
associations, and about the “Law on Foundations” concerning religious
communities.
Parliament wants each negotiation session at ministerial level to be
preceded by an assessment of the fulfilment of the political criteria,
both in theory and in practice, “thus exerting permanent pressure
on the Turkish authorities to maintain the pace of the necessary
reforms”. Also, a full programme of clear targets, timeframe and
deadlines should be fixed for the fulfilment of the political
criteria. The Commission and the Council should report annually to
the European Parliament and the national parliaments on the progress
made by Turkey in this respect. MEPs reiterate that the accession
negotiations are an open-ended process and will not automatically
lead to Turkey joining the EU, even if the objective is Turkish EU
membership. Finally, Parliament underlines that the EU’s capacity to
absorb Turkey is an important consideration as well, and needs to be
monitored by the Commission during the negotiations.
Debate on opening of accession negotiations with Turkey
Speaking on behalf of the Council, Britain’s Minister for Europe,
Douglas ALEXANDER said the strategic case for opening negotiations
with Turkey was convincing, but it was necessary to be scrupulous in
ensuring all the requirements were met before Turkey could join.
Turkey had met the two conditions laid down by the Council in December,
and its declaration stating that it had not recognised the government
of Cyprus had no legal effect. The negotiations would be the most
rigorous yet, and Turkey would not accede imminently. The Turkey
which would join would be a different Turkey, and the EU might also
be different by then too. Progress so far had been encouraging,
and the conditions for opening talks had been met, he said.
Enlargement Commissioner Oli REHN agreed that the formal conditions
set out by the Council for opening negotiations had been met. He also
stressed that the talks would be the most rigorous yet undertaken.
There were good signs – such as the Turkish government’s recognition
that there was a Kurdish issue and that the conference on the Armenian
question would finally go ahead – but also bad signs – such as the
uneven implementation of freedom of expression rights. “Both Europeans
and Turks should work to build a relationship based on mutual trust,
” he said, pointing out that the common goal would be accession but
that by their very nature the talks were open as to the result they
would achieve.
Roger KNAPMAN (IND/DEM,UK) said that he opposed political union with
Turkey as much as he opposed it with France, Germany or Italy. “But
what of the euro-fanatics whose ardour suddenly cools when they reach
the Bosphorus? It is not hypocrisy, but fear, fear that public support
for the whole EU project will collapse if Turkish membership were
seriously pursued.” For this reason, he said, he was happy to see the
EU plough ahead with negotiations, destroying itself in the process.
Andrew DUFF (ALDE, UK) said “It is extraordinary that those who
have profited so much from EU integration in terms of prosperity,
security and liberal democracy should not refuse to extend these
prizes to Turkey.” He said the EU’s absorption capacity was a real
issue, with the need for a settlement of the constitution ahead of
Turkish or Croatian entry. He also argued that the Cyprus issue and
instability in the Balkans could not be resolved if the EU refuses
membership to Turkey, and called for a stepping up of trade relations
with northern Cyprus.
Roger HELMER (NI, UK) said there were powerful reasons in favour and
against Turkey’s accession to the EU. The key condition, he said,
should be “democratic accountability”, Mr Helmer felt that Turkey’s
accession would “dilute the influence” of his constituents in terms
of self-determination and he therefore opposed Turkish membership
of the EU. Mr Helmer welcomed the proposal from Angela Merkel on
privileged partnership for Turkey as it would incur fewer costs for
Turkey. Mr Helmer wished the option of privileged partnership could
also be made available to the United Kingdom.
Geoffrey Van ORDEN (EPP-ED, UK) stated that “last Christmas the
Council voted for Turkey”. The conditions laid out at that time had
been met and Turkey was therefore ready to start negotiations. Mr
Van Orden warned against the separatist dissidents still at large
in Turkey that risked undermining Turkish secularism and unity. He
stated that Turkey should be treated in the same way as all other
candidates for accession. Mr Van Orden stated that the Cyprus question
should be treated separately from the accession negotiations. However,
he recalled that the people of Northern Cyprus had voted in favour of
the Annan plan on reunification and that Greek Cyprus had rejected. He
said the EU had done little to support Northern Cyprus. Mr Van Orden
welcomed the imminent opening of negotiations and recognised that
the talks would last many years.
Datos de Contacto : Contact: Marjory VAN DEN BROEKE Press Room
Unit – Press Officer E-mail address : [email protected]
Telephone number in Brussels : (32) 2 28 44304 (BXL) Mobile number :
(32) 0498 98 3586 Telephone number in Strasbourg : (33) 3

TURKEY BROKEN OFF BETWEEN LIBERALS AND CONSERVATORS
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Sept 27 2005
Armenian Genocide conference has revealed contradictions in the
Turkish government.
In spite of all the obstacles a scientific conference devoted to
the Armenian Genocide of early XX century took place in Istanbul on
September 24 – 25.
The conference was conducted against the background of mass protests;
however the conference’s participants wish to understand their own
country’s history. “We cannot allow the discussions to be limited to
mutually contradicting opinions: whether the genocide took place or
not. We should try to realize what happened in 1915”, stated a famous
historian Halil Bektay.
“Turkey’s desire to enter into the European Union requires notable
democratic processes. However, there are certain powers in Turkey,
as well as in any society, that are against democracy”, said a
conference’s organizer Murad Begle. In his words, “some of them are
afraid to lose power and authority”.
According to a lot of politicians, the conference’s conduct is an
unprecedented phenomenon, which can change the situation in Turkey,
as well as influence on Armenian – Turkish relations.
To note, there is some uncertainty both in the relations between
Ankara and Brussels and in the Turkish political field, which is
pregnant with weakening of the position of the powers striving for
Turkey’s amendments and further growth of nationalism. One can affirm
nothing has changed within 40 years, at least Turkey’s attitude towards
Armenia and Armenians. Speaking up for the conduct of the Armenian
Genocide conference Turkish Foreign Minister does not give up the
idea of working out strategy of confrontation to the international
recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
THE CATHOLICOSATE AND THE GULBENKIAN FOUNDATION
TO PUBLISH CHILDREN’S BOOKS
His Holiness Aram I and the director of the Department of Armenian Affairs
of the Gulbenkian Foundation have initiated a project of publishing a series
of books in the field of children’s literature.
The decision comes after recommendations by the educational seminar held in
August 2004 in the Catholicosate of Cilicia. Over 100 teachers, pedagogues
and intellectuals from all over the Diaspora proposed giving a new impetus
to children’s literature during the seminar organized by the Catholicosate
of Cilicia.
A special plan will be drawn out for the execution of the project and a
committee of professionals will oversee the works. Further details will be
provided in the future.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the books
published in the Printing House of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer
to the web page of the Catholicosate, The Cilician
Catholicosate, the administrative center of the church is located in
Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
September 26, 2005
ANEC EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR IN NEW JERSEY
PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS
by Nayiri Balanian
NEW YORK, NY-“She is our community’s answer to Mayr Hayastan in the
manner with which she has nurtured the growth and education of our younger
generation at such an essential time in their lives when language is being
lost and traditions often fall by the wayside in what’s become society’s
melting pot. Teaching is one thing. Implementing is another. Sossy’s
annual hantess celebrations bring out the best in children. She’s not only
taught her students song, dance and recitation, she’s sewn their costumes,
given them poise, stage presence and personality.”
Those were some of the words that Tom Vartabedian wrote when asked about
ANEC’s Principal-of-the-Year, Mrs. Sossy Jeknavorian. Mrs. Jeknavorian is
principal of the St. Gregory School, North Andover, Massachusetts. She was
honored during the Armenian National Education Committee’s National
Educators’ Seminar, which was dedicated to the creation of the Armenian
Alphabet and the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The Seminar
took place on Saturday, August 27, 2005, at Sts. Vartanantz Armenian Church
in Ridgefield, New Jersey.
Mrs. Nayiri Balanian, chairperson of ANEC, introduced and thanked the
ANEC members who were present: Mrs. Sossy Jeknavorian, Mrs. Silva
Kouyoumjian, Mrs. Knar Apkarian and Dr. Asbed Vassilian. She welcomed all
the teachers, principals and board members from the seven schools that were
represented. She emphasized the importance of Armenian teachers. She noted
that Armenians have a beautiful saying, God Became Human, So that a Humans
can become God-like. “This was true for St. Mesrob, an ordinary priest,
born in the village of Hatzyegatz, who through his work became a Saint.
Armenian teachers are the direct followers of St. Mesrob. They have the most
difficult and responsible task of preparing our next generations, to become
good human beings and excellent Armenians.” Mrs. Balanian went on to explain
the necessity for teachers to improve themselves, by reading books,
attending seminars and by keeping in step with modern technology.
Keynote Speaker
The keynote speaker, Dr. Mary Shamshoian- Olson, the current director of
Instruction and School Improvement at the Warren Township High School in
Gurnee, IL, is a multitalented educator with diverse affiliations in civic
and professional organizations. An author, teacher, principal, panelist,
speaker, workshop leader, the Loyola University graduate with a doctorate in
Curriculum and Instruction, is versed in teaching methods and assessment.
Dr. Olson also holds a Master of Science degree in the same discipline with
an emphasis on secondary mathematics education as well as post-graduate work
in educational administration from the University of Wisconsin and Marquette
University.
In addition to being a consultant to the Armenian Religious Education
Council, a board member of the Racine Marzbed School, she also is the
chairperson of ANEC’s Curriculum Committee.
Her presentation focused on “Teaching Armenian as a Second Language.”
She started by separating the audience into groups and asking questions. The
purpose of the project was to develop a curriculum for one-day a week
Armenian schools for students whose first language is not Armenian. Dr.
Olson explained that generally speaking, students in this program range from
ages 5-15. It cannot be assumed that there is an Armenian speaker in the
home, regardless of the level of fluency. Students who attend Armenian
School from age 5 through 15, will have had approximately 500 hours of
instruction. This assessment is based on instruction for two hours per
week, for twenty-five weeks each year. This is comparable to a four-year
high school course in a foreign language as structured in most American
public schools.
Dr. Olson said that given these parameters, it was decided to recommend
the development of a curriculum kit. Given the number of hours, 250 lesson
bundles must be developed in order to have a complete course. In order to
begin the actual writing of the lesson bundles, a scope and sequence has to
be developed. The organization of this scope and sequence has to be
topical, with vocabulary and grammar lessons being driven by the topics.
Dr. Olson’s presentation was described by attendees as interesting,
educational and very motivating. It gave the teachers a good idea of what to
expect from the new ANEC curriculum that is currently being developed.
The second speaker of the day was Mrs. Nayiri Balanian, who spoke about
“How to Teach the Armenian Genocide to Students.”
She started saying, “According to the historian Agathangelos in 301,
St. Gregory baptized half a million Armenians, members of the royal family
and the army, as well as four million people, so there were four and a half
million Armenians in 301, and the world population was 190 million. Today
world population is 6.5 billion and Armenians are 7-9 million. If we
multiplied like other nations, we should have been around 200 million. This
raises a question, “Why are we so few?”
She spoke about how the term “Genocide” was coined in1944 by a lawyer
named Raphael Lemkin. The Greek geno means “race” or “tribe” together with
the Latin derivative cide means “killing.” Genocide has come to mean
deliberate destruction or murder of a particular group of people. She
emphasized the importance of teaching the students to be the pursuers of
justice for the Armenian people. She said students should be encouraged to
become active in all aspects of life, including the Armenian American
community, and American society by taking part in the American government
and political system and serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Each school was given the opportunity to introduce itself and speak
about its achievements and concerns. This exchange resulted in a good
learning experience for all of the schools. At the conclusion of the
seminar each school was given books and a new map of Armenia and each
teacher was given a folder with educational materials.
Forthcoming ANEC activities include a School Festival on November 19,
2005, dedicated to the 1600th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian
alphabet, and to the Armenian Genocide Commemoration. In March 2006, ANEC
will host another popular Armenian Jeopardy tournament.
ANEC is jointly sponsored by the Eastern Prelacy and the Armenian Relief
Society, Eastern Region.

UNE COMMISSION DU CONGRES RECONNAIT LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Le Figaro, France
17 septembre 2005
ETATS-UNIS
La commission des Affaires etrangères de la Chambre des representants
americaine s’est prononcee jeudi en faveur de la reconnaissance du
genocide armenien, en depit de la forte opposition de l’Administration
du president George W. Bush. “Un debat en seance plenière sur
une resolution concernant l’Armenie pourrait nuire aux relations
americano-turques et pourrait saper les progrès accomplis par Ankara et
Erevan alors qu’ils commencent de discrets pourparlers pour traiter
de ce dossier et regarder vers l’avenir”, a fait valoir un haut
responsable du Departement d’Etat.
–Boundary_(ID_P6aUmWnnH8OCaxn9u7enRg)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress