SYSTEM SINGER VISITS CONGRESSMAN’S OFFICE TO PUSH GENOCIDE BILL
By Corey Moss
MTV.com
Sept 29 2005
Band, meanwhile, is about to shoot a video for ‘Hypnotize.’ System of
a Down’s Serj Tankian at the rally in Chicago Photo: Armenian National
Committee of America
Singer Serj Tankian had some personal business to attend to this week
before System of a Down could shoot their next video. Personal and,
well, global.
Before the band left for the second leg of its fall tour with the
Mars Volta (see
Photos, audio and video from this story
System of a Down “B.Y.O.B.”
Mezmerize (American/Columbia)
“System Of A Down/ Mars Volta Tour Dates Announced”), Tankian
promised his 97-year-old grandfather he would do his best to convince
Congressman Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) to bring the Armenian Genocide
Resolution to a vote, an issue long close to System of a Down (see
“System Of A Down Make The Political Personal At Souls 2005”). And
he did just that Tuesday outside the Speaker of the House’s Batavia,
Illinois, office.
Tankian joined members of the Armenian National Committee of America,
the Armenian Youth Federation and his own Axis of Justice organization
in a rally and then read a heartfelt letter he delivered to Hastert’s
office in support of the pending legislation, which would officially
recognize Turkey’s slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915
and 1923.
With the resolution, which overwhelmingly passed the bipartisan
International Relations Committee, Hastert can either bring it to
the House of Representatives for a vote or let it expire.
“It’s all in his hands, he’s the man,” Tankian said of Hastert,
who spoke in support of recognizing the genocide on the House floor
in 1994. “The thing is that a similar resolution was going around in
2000 as well and he was the speaker of the House then, but at the time
[President Bill] Clinton had written a letter asking him not to bring
it up to vote, citing concerns that had to do with Turkey. In 2004
he also had the opportunity to bring another resolution to vote on
… and that didn’t happen either.
“I’m sure that there’s a lot of lobbying going on from the Bush
administration, from the military-industrial complex that sells a lot
of weapons to Turkey, and a whole host of corporate lobbyist firms
that don’t want this thing to pass, but the truth has to come out,
and more so in a democracy than anywhere else,” he continued. “So
we’re fighting the good fight.”
Hastert was not at his office Tuesday and was unavailable for comment
Wednesday (September 28).
As for that System video, for “Hypnotize,” bassist Shavo Odadjian is
returning to the director’s chair for the shoot at Van Andel Arena
in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after having also lensed the band’s
“Question!” (see “System Of A Down Find Answer To ‘Question!’ In
A Dream”).
“This will be our first live video per se,” Tankian said. “We’ve had
videos where we’ve had fans and we played live, but it’s never been
at a venue that we would actually play.”
Of course Odadjian always has something up his sleeve, and Tankian
hinted that it has to do with a helicopter shot. “I’m like, “I’m like,
‘Hey, man, I’m cool with that as long as we’re not hanging from it,’
” the singer joked.
“Hypnotize” is the first single from the second half of the double
album Mezmerize/Hypnotize, due November 22.
“This track’s pretty mellow in comparison to let’s say a ‘B.Y.O.B.’
or something like that,” Tankian said. “But I’m glad we’re going out
with this track. It’s a beautiful song.”
Tankian chose not to elaborate on the song, noting, “It means different
things to different people, even within the band.”
Guitarist Daron Malakian has said he wrote it while waiting in a
car for his girlfriend (see “System Of A Down Kick Out The Jams
On Hypnotize”).
As for the album, fans should expect something just slightly different
from Mezmerize.
“It’s got the whole melodic thing still, but it’s little more
progressive, a little more emotion here and there,” Tankian said.
“But they both come from the same sessions.”
Before Hypnotize hits stores, Tankian will appear on the new album
from Buckethead, Enter the Chicken. Along with lending his vocals,
Tankian produced the album and will release it October 25 on his
Serjical Strike Records.
“It’s a f—ing amazing record,” Tankian said. “It’s a really, really
strong, dynamic rock record, really out there, with like 12 different
singers. I just brought in a whole collection of friends to sing.”
Guests include Saul Williams, Efrem Schulz of Death by Stereo, Bad
Acid Trip and Maura Davis of Denali.
“I think it will be a breakthrough because first of all, Buckethead
mostly does instrumental stuff,” Tankian said. “And he’s never really
done a lot of stuff with pop arrangements, I don’t mean pop like
bubblegum pop, I mean like anything from progressive crazy stuff to
regular beautiful songs. And this album is going to be like that.
It’s got the whole dynamic range of everything Buckethead has ever done
and it totally transpired by accident and just ended up working out.”
Tankian also remixed Notorious B.I.G.’s “Who Shot Ya” for the “Marc
Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure” graffiti video game,
due November 15. “I love the way it came out,” he said (see “P. Diddy
Flips Out, RZA Promotes Graffiti In ‘Getting’ Game”).
For more on System of a Down’s double album, Mezmerize/Hypnotize,
check out the feature “Doubleheader.”

ARMENIANS OF GEORGIA TO SUPPORT CONDITIONING TURKEY EU ACCESSION BY RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Pan Armenian News
29.09.2005 02:58
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today an action will be held next to the European
Commission building in Tbilisi to support the passage of a compulsory
condition for Turkey’s accession to the EU, which lies in Turkey’s
recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in
1915. The action will comprise some 100 participants with gratitude
words written in all state languages of the EU member states, as
well as in Georgian and Armenian, the Press Service of Nor Serund
Association of Armenians of Georgia told PanARMENIAN.Net.

AZERBAIJAN TO WIN ‘IF WAR STARTS IN 10 YEARS’
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Sept 29 2005
Azerbaijan will get victory if military action with Armenia resumes
in ten years, but stands no chance at winning now, says a survey held
among 24 American and European experts by the Assembly of American
Armenians. 40% of respondents said Azerbaijan will be victorious owing
to the increase in its oil revenues if the hostilities are launched
in 2015.
Only 4% predicted that Armenia will gain victory. The experts’
assessment seems plausible considering that by 2015, key economic
projects in the South Caucasus region will enter a full swing,
with Azerbaijan acting as a key player. Armenia, isolated from these
projects, will increasingly lag behind, at least in terms of economic
potential. Besides, amid Azerbaijan’s increasing military budget,
which will reach the entire state budget of Armenia in the coming
years, as mentioned by President Ilham Aliyev, a considerable outflow
of Armenians from their country is observed. Emigration threatens to
turn this country into a low-populated area over the next ten years.
The internal and external political situation in Azerbaijan and Armenia
is also expected to change over the mentioned period. Even if both
countries enter the road of democratic development simultaneously,
Azerbaijan, considering its extensive economic potential, will
be able to withstand possible political turmoil more easily than
poverty-stricken Armenia. The situation with the Armenia-Azerbaijan
Upper Garabagh conflict is likely to be very different than the
current one as well. The United States’ pressures on Russia over
the next ten years threaten to completely drive Moscow out of the
Commonwealth of Independent States in terms of its influence, while
Yerevan will lose military and political support of its powerful
ally. Considering the probability of Iran’s weakening in the face of
possible US military action and the increasing influence of Turkey
in light of its future admission to the European Union, Armenia will
face challenges over the next ten years. Time is therefore playing
more into the hands of Azerbaijan rather than Armenia. Nonetheless,
42% of the survey respondents said Armenia will get the upper hand
if war starts soon. 29% of the poll participants indicated that both
sides will lose in the confrontation, while the rest of them were
unable to give an unequivocal answer. The experts involved in the
survey also believe that it will be impossible to turn Upper Garabagh
into autonomy within Azerbaijan. 5 experts said Garabagh will gain
independence or be annexed to Armenia, while 15 respondents said its
status will remain uncertain for many years to come.

SERGE SARGSYAN AND HEIKKI TALVITIE DISCUSSED KARABAKH SETTLEMENT
Pan Armenian News
29.09.2005 03:54
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Secretary of the National Security Council at the
President of Armenia, Defense Minister Serge Sargsyan yesterday met
with CIS Executive Committee Chairman Vladimir Rushaylo, MOD Spokesman,
colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan told PanARMENIAN.Net. Having noted the
importance of the CIS Executive Committee work and stating 2006 was
announced the year of the CIS, the parties discussed matters referring
to further enhancement of functioning of CIS structures. The same day
S. Sargsyan met with EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus
Heikki Talvitie. British Ambassador to Armenia Thorda Abbott-Watt was
also present at the meeting. The interlocutors discussed the situation
in the South Caucasus, specifically the process of settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IMPORTANT TO ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
Pan Armenian News
29.09.2005 03:35
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Leaders of Nor Serund Association of Armenians
of Georgia have sent a message of gratitude to head of the EU
delegation in Georgia Torben Holtze expressing gratitude to the
European Parliament and all EU citizens for adoption of recognition
of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 as a compulsory
condition for Turkey’s accession to the EU.
“This move reaffirmed the EU is one of the largest bulwarks of
democracy and human rights protection throughout the globe. The
Armenian Genocide is an outrage not only against the Armenian people,
but also the whole of the humanity. We consider recognition of the
Armenian Genocide is important not only to Armenia, Armenians of the
world, but also to the entire international community. Only by means of
censuring of crimes of the type these can be avoided in the future. We
welcome EU stand and hope it will help Turkey put up with its past and
overcome the complex, which being conveyed from generation to another,
poses problems in relations between neighbors. Let us on behalf of
the Armenian community of Georgia express profound gratitude for
your constructive decision, as well as efforts for recognition of
the Armenian Genocide, the message says.

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

COMMODITY TURNOVER BETWEEN ARMENIA AND CIS STATES INCREASED 31% WITHIN FIVE MONTHS OF 2005
Pan Armenian News
29.09.2005 04:43
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Premier Andranik Margaryan yesterday met
with CIS Executive Committee Chairman, Executive Secretary Vladimir
Rushaylo, reported the Press Service of the Armenian Government. In
the course of the meeting the parties discussed the results of the
Kazan summit of the CIS leaders. Armenia is ready to fulfill all
decisions passed by the council CIS leaders, including to make its
contribution to the reform of the CIS, A.
Margaryan remarked. The parties named economic integration, security
and stability, promotion of humanitarian cooperation as one of priority
aspects of cooperation among the CIS states. It was noted that the
commodity turnover between Armenia and the CIS countries in January-May
2005 has increased 31% as compared to the same period last year. This
was considered as evidence of Armenia’s positive participation within
the context of economic and trade cooperation. Besides, matters to
be discussed in the course of the coming session of the Council of
CIS Government Heads, as well as the forming of CIS common budget
were discussed during the meeting.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MET WITH EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS
Pan Armenian News
29.09.2005 04:30
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie,
reported the Press Service of the Armenian leader. In the course
of the meeting the parties discussed issues referring to the
practical program of cooperation within the European Neighborhood
Policy. Besides, the interlocutors discussed the process of settlement
of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as well as regional issues and
development. R. Kocharian and H. Talvitie touched upon constitutional
reforms in Armenia, emphasizing their importance and considering them
a new opportunity to promote and strengthen democracy in Armenia.

MEETING IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF AZERBAIJAN
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Sept 29 2005
As is stated, on September 28, minister of foreign affairs of
Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov has met the delegation headed by the
deputy minister of culture and the information of the United Arab
Emirates Sagr Gubesh.
Having noted, that he is very glad to see visitors in Azerbaijan,
minister E. Mammadyarov has expressed satisfaction with the level
of development of relations between two countries. The Minister has
told, that the embassy of the Azerbaijan Republic in the United Arab
Emirates plays important role in development of bilateral links
between the countries and opening of embassy of the United Arab
Emirates in Azerbaijan also renders significant influence on the
further improvement of relations.
The guest said that he would bring the question to the notice of
corresponding structures of the country.
The Minister stated that the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict impedes to all-around development of the country.
Having expressed gratitude for warm reception, Sagr Gubesh has
emphasized confidence of development and henceforth cooperation
between the United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan.
At the meeting, has been underlined the important role of education
and information-communication technologies in development of society,
carried out wide exchange of opinions on problems of culture,
information and on other questions representing interest.

ARMENIAN FM CALLED EP RESOLUTION POSITIVE AND NATURAL
Pan Armenian News
29.09.2005 05:40
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ If Turkey wishes accession to the EU, it has to
comply with EU standards. To that end it has to establish normal
relations with neighbors, Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian stated at a
joint news conference with EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Heikki Talvitie. He hoped for the question of opening
the border with Armenia to be discussed at the talks over Turkey’s
accession to the EU. V. Oskanian called “positive and natural” the
EP passing a resolution, which conditioned Turkey accession to the EU
with recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Ankara. In the Armenian
FM’s words, the discussion of Armenian issues within the context of the
talks will have a positive impact on the Armenian-Turkish relations. In
his turn Heikki Talvitie noted the EP resolution is an evidence that
“issues of Armenian-Turkish relations will be discussed during the
talks over Turkey’s accession to the EU.”