ANTI-PLAN WORKING WELL FOR SYSTEM OF A DOWN
By Ross Raihala Knight Ridder Newspapers
Wilkes Barre Times-Leader, PA
Oct 13 2005
“We’ve really never approached anything from the typical angle. We
came into the music scene in L.A. from left field. We always did our
own thing, taking everyone’s career advice and then not following it.”
Vocalist Serj Tankian of System of a Down
With its innovative, complex music and surreal lyrics, System of a Down
isn’t just the most unusual band in metal (that’s the closest genre
that fits the virtually unclassifiable band). It’s quite possibly
the weirdest million-seller on the charts.
“I love that,” vocalist Serj Tankian said during a phone interview
from Manhattan. “We’ve really never approached anything from the
typical angle. We came into the music scene in L.A. from left field.
“We always did our own thing, taking everyone’s career advice and
then not following it.”
So far, the anti-plan has worked.
The Armenian-American quartet is having its most successful year to
date. The band launched “Mezmerize” in the spring with an instantly
sold-out guerrilla club tour. Follow-up disc “Hypnotize” hits stores
in November and is already one of the fall’s most hotly anticipated
releases.
“‘Mezmerize’ and ‘Hypnotize’ are really one record divided into two,”
Tankian said. “It’s not a concept album in terms of completing a story,
but it is kind of like completing a circle.”
Critics have long praised System of a Down’s unbridled creativity,
which brings a Frank Zappa-esque sense of the surreal to pounding,
operatic and politically charged metal.
But it’s the kids who fill the mosh pits at SOAD shows and have
snatched up more than 10 million copies of the band’s albums worldwide.
Does Tankian ever worry his young fans might be missing some of System
of a Down’s more subtle commentary in favor of merely rocking out?
“No, no – rocking out is the reason why we’re doing this,” he said.
“I think as long as people instinctively feel our music, they don’t
have to psychologically analyze it.
“A lot of people do come up with all sorts of theories and
understandings from the lyrics. A lot of people don’t, too, and that’s
OK. We just want people to connect to our music in some way.”
Tankian points to the song “B.Y.O.B.”
As far as SOAD goes, it’s a fairly straightforward protest song with
pointed lyrics: “Why don’t presidents fight the war? Why do they
always send the poor?”
“You may not be anti-war yourself,” he said, “but you will definitely
feel the power of the sarcasm in that song. You don’t have to theorize
about it – you just feel it.”
But there’s also a satirical side to System of a Down that often gets
overlooked amid all the anger.
“There has been such a focus on the political aspect of the band or
the heritage aspect of the band,” Tankian said.
“But I think people are starting to get now that humor is a huge part
of what we do, too.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EVENT TO BENEFIT EVACUEES
By Alyssa Fry The Shorthorn staff
The Shorthorn, TX
Oct 14 2005
The Music Department will hold free concert, but donations will be
taken for Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity.
In an effort to raise more money for hurricane evacuees, the Music
Department will present a benefit concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in
Irons Recital Hall.
The event is free, but donations will be accepted. Half the proceeds
will be given to the Red Cross and half will go to Habitat for
Humanity.
Jeffrey Howard, visiting violin assistant professor, initiated the idea
of the performance to the department. He said he wanted to do something
to help because the impact of the recent hurricanes was so great.
“It’s important for the Music Department to have a response and to
do our best to support the people who have lost everything,” he said.
Another reason for wanting to help evacuees was his wife, he said.
Anna Soukiassian, who will perform at the benefit, survived a severe
earthquake in 1998 in her hometown of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
The earthquake hit while she was practicing the piano in the apartment
where she lived with her mother. After seeing the reflection of her
closet door open up behind her, she stood up, but fell to the floor.
“I sat in the window, and people were running out [of the apartment
building],” she said. “It lasted a good two minutes.”
The town of Spitlak, about two hours from where she lived, was where
the earthquake’s epicenter was located.
“The whole town was underground,” Soukiassian said. “There was nobody
to rescue. It was very tragic, I’m sure thousands died.”
This experience is the driving force behind her participation in this
concert, aside from supporting her husband, she said.
“I’ve been through and seen a lot of damages from natural disasters,”
she said. “And I know hurricanes are another kind of natural disaster,
but I have heard stories that remind me of the earthquake.
I am doing this without hesitation.”
Associate professor Elizabeth Morrow will also perform in the
concert. The last part of the performance, the “Adagio for Strings,”
was chosen because it’s very expressive, she said.
“We had to look for a piece that looked at the contemplative side
when we’re confronted with things that humble us,” she said.
Music, she said, is something the department can share with the public
while helping evacuees.
“It’s an opportunity to share our relationship with music which is
a personal thing,” she said. “And with this concert we share this
relationship on a public level.”

STUDENTS DO NOT WANT TO BE SUBORDINATED TO PARTIES
A1+
| 20:43:21 | 13-10-2005 | Politics |
Today the students of the Yerevan State University and the
State University of Economy gathered in front of the government
building. They urge to declare invalid the decision of June 23 on the
order of formation of the administration council of higher education
institutions.
“According to the order, the council may include people, who are not
engaged in the educational field”, a four-year student said.
It is hard to say how the government will react to the protest. It is
known that the order came into force 13 days ago. Some students also
informed that tutors are afraid to take part in the protest actions,
however the students are encouraged by scientists. Chairman of the
Armenian Association of political scientists Arman Vardanyan said
that the protest action will bear a lasting character.

NSDU’S “YES” WILL BECOME “NO” IF…
A1+
| 20:20:03 | 13-10-2005 | Politics |
The National Self-Determination Union, who spoke out for the
constitutional amendments is not going to join any other party with
analogous position.
“They should join us, since we are the initiators” NSDU leader Paruyr
Hayrikyan considers.
Till the end of the next week is going to hold talks with all the
political forces, which we treat seriously. “If we reach consent with
those who adopted the NSDU idea on formation of alternative national
power with enthusiasm and they will vote against the amendments we
will support them.
If it does not happen will give ok to the amendments”
To note, P. Hayrikyan said that he and Stepan Demirchyan agree on
creation a state with strong presidential system. “Strong presidential
system implies strong parliament and the U.S. is a bright example of
it”, he stated.

PRE-ELECTION VIOLATIONS IN STEPANAVAN
A1+
| 17:44:00 | 13-10-2005 | Politics |
October 16 the election of the Mayor of Stepanavan will be held. Two
candidates – the incumbent Mayor Sargis Karakeshishyan and 29-year-old
Artak Alexanyan. Several days are left before the election but the
situation is becoming more and more tensed.
October 3 election posters of Artak Alexanyan were stuck to the walls
of the town buildings. The nest morning the posters were found torn.
8 members of the election commissions took part in Sargis
Karakeshishyan’s election campaign. Artak Alexanyan’s staff produced
a complaint to the Stepanavan central commission, then to the Couth
of First Instance on Vanadzor. Violations by the passport departments
were as well fixed.
October 11 Artak Alexanyan’s made some video shots, which show how
the potential voters receive bribe on the form of wheat. There are
also rumors that on the initiative of Karakeshishyan money is being
delivered (10 000 AMD for each vote).
This information was provided by the election headquarters of Artak
Alexanyan. A1+ did not succeed in finding out the originality of the
material. However we possess some data that the incumbent Mayor not
only gives bribes but also exerts pressure upon the voters saying
that he is supported by Robert Kocharian and Serge Sargsyan.

HAYRIKYAN SAYS “YES” TO SPITE OPPOSITION
A1+
| 17:40:06 | 13-10-2005 | Politics |
The National Self-Determination Union will declare its finite position
on the constitutional amendments on October 15, NSDU leader Paruyr
Hayrikyan stated during today’s press conference.
“As you see we are not adherents to fanatic approach towards
the issue. We prefer practical approach”, P. Hayrikyan said. The
NSDU leader supposes that the constitutional amendments provide
for progress. In his opinion, the draft gives the parliament the
possibility to discuss and make decisions.
“Dual citizenship is a strategically important for Armenia. Some
politicians say they will vote against the amendments over this
clause. I think that they did not come to understand the core of the
issue”, he noted.
In his opinion, dual citizenship first of all refers to those2-3
million people and their descendants who left Armenia during recent
15 years and now being Russian citizens are forced to relinquish from
Armenia “thanks” to our constitution. “There are over 100 million
people of Armenian origin throughout the globe. And we wish to reduce
this number”, he said.
The NSDU named all the positive sides of the constitutional amendments
including the dual citizenship, parliament formation, availability of
the Constitutional Court, formation of the Justice Council. Paruyr
Hayrikyan does not share the opinion that the President’s immunity
is a negative clause. “A President should be immune not only during
the office but after it as well”, Hayrikyan considers.

PRESIDENT PRESS SECRETARY SAYS R. KOCHARIAN ASSIGNED TO ELIMINATE FLAWS IN VOTERS’ LISTS
Armenpress
Oct 13 2005
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 13, ARMENPRESS: Responding to the question of the
Armenpress correspondent on the attitude of the Armenian President
Robert Kocharian towards the flaws in the voters’ lists, the President
Press Secretary Victor Soghomonian said “Armenian President instructed
the chief of the police who is responsible for the voters’ lists to
undertake necessary steps for the elimination of the existing flaws.”
According to the press secretary, Robert Kocharian assigned the chief
of the police to improve the works connected with the voters’ lists.

YOUNG WOMAN THREATENS TO SET FIRE TO COURT OFFICERS
A1+
| 21:49:34 | 13-10-2005 | Politics |
Today resident of Buzand Street Hovik Hovhannisyan was summoned to
the central police station.
The policemen and court officers surrounded Hovhanissyan’s house and
threatened to pull it down. The sister of the accused in her turn,
demanded to return her brother and threatened to pour petrol upon
the court officers.
To remind, Hovhannisyans’ case is presently in the Court of Appeals.
To note, the court officers and policemen also tries to pull down the
half-ruined house belonging to the Muradyans, who showed resistance.

AMERICAN SIDE INTERESTED IN IRAN-ARMENIA GAS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION
AZG Armenian Daily #185
14/10/2005
Samuel Bodman, US energy secretary, stated during the meeting with
Armen Movsisian, RA energy minister, that the American side is
interested in the construction of Armenia-Iran gas pipeline. Press
office of RA Foreign Ministry informed that in the course of
the meeting in Washington Armen Movsisian said that the official
Yerevan expects the assistance of the United States in securing the
safe exploitation of the Armenian NPP, as well as in the issues of
developing alternative energy sources in Armenia.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN POLICY – TEMPORIZING OR PASSIVE
A1+
| 21:23:39 | 13-10-2005 | Politics |
“The constitutional referendum will by no means impact upon the RA
foreign policy”, the is the opinion of Armenian political scientists,
who today took part in the discussions dedicated to the Armenian
foreign policy. The meeting was held in Congress Hotel with the
participation of RA MFA representative. The political scientists
concluded that Armenia’s foreign line is reactive, temporizing and
passive.
Head of the department of political programming of the RA MFA Sarmen
Baghdasaryan noted, however, the international processes including the
NATO and EU enlargement, anti-terror struggle in Iraq and Afghanistan,
in which Armenia is taking part. Unlike opposition political scientists
David Shahnazaryan, Vahan Papazyan, Stepan Safaryan and others,
the MFA representative voiced assurance that the positive outcome
of the referendum will have a positive impact at the development of
the country. In his words, “yes” implies democratic changes targeted
at reconciliation of opposite principles of self-determination of
nations and territorial integrity.
All the participants agreed on one fact: the report of the
International Crisis Group is a positive step and testifies that the
mood of the international political community changes in favor of
Nagorno Karabakh.