FIRE NEAR THE REPUBLIC SQUARE
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| 18:10:24 | 19-09-2005 | Social |
Today at about 03:00 – 03:30 p.m. there was a fire on the roof of the
fifth house on Nalbandyan street, just in front of the Underground
station “Republic Square”.
At 03:27 the fire brigade had located the fire and at 04:21 it was
put down completely. The reasons of the fire are not yet known, and
the fire fighting department said that further investigation would
find everything out.
The roof of the house has not been damaged much as the fire brigade
arrived at the initial stage of the fire.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN DIG DEEP FOR INSPIRATION: BAND ROCKS AGAINST ADVERSITY
by Heath McCoy, Calgary Herald
The Calgary Herald (Alberta)
September 19, 2005 Monday
Final Edition
Preview
System of a Down performs Sept. 19 at Pengrowth Saddledome. Tickets,
ranging from $39.50 to $55.50, on sale at all TicketMaster outlets.
Phone (403)-777-0000 or order online at ticketmaster.ca
– – –
Black Sabbath were spawned on the gloomy streets of Birmingham. Guns
‘N’ Roses clawed their way up from a Hollywood gutter. Metallica’s
James Hetfield rebelled against a restrictive Christian Science
upbringing.
Most metal bands are raging against something or other.
But a band forged in the fires of genocide? Now there’s a formula
for intensity. It’s that intensity that a million-and-counting fans
tapped into this summer as they flocked to buy System of a Down’s
fourth album, Mezmerize, rocketing the disc to No. 1 on Billboard
charts the week of its May 17 release.
In an interview in advance of the Armenian-American band’s Sept. 19
concert at Pengrowth Saddledome, System of a Down’s bassist Shavo
Odadjian, 31, talked about how the Armenian genocide that occurred
between 1915 and 1923 has shaped the group. In that time an estimated
1.5 million Armenians were expelled from the Ottoman Empire by the
Turkish government in a campaign of murder, deportation and torture.
“When the genocide occurred, our families had nowhere to go,” says
Odadjian. “A bunch of countries helped the Armenians out. We were a
Christian nation and even the Muslims were like ‘Dude, this shouldn’t
be happening,’ and they saved us. They took us into their countries.
That’s why there’s Armenians all over the world today.”
Odadjian was born in Armenia. His bandmates, singer/keyboardist Serj
Tankian and drummer John Dolmayan were born in Lebanon.
Singer/guitarist Daron Malakian was born in Hollywood, but his
grandparents are currently living in Iraq.
“I feel for Daron,” says Odadjian. “Every time he hears something
about Iraq (and its conflict with the United States) he trips out,
because his family members are still there. It drives him nuts. It
really does inspire his songwriting.”
Odadjian, Malakian and Tankian attended an Armenian private school in
Hollywood together, and when they became musicians on the Los Angeles
rock scene in the ’90s, this unique background drew them together. “I
don’t have a family tree,” says Odadjian. “No one knows about my
family’s roots before my grandpa. No one knows his birthdate even.
(In System of a Down) we all share this common bond.”
That consciousness often creeps into the band’s funky, thrash-metal
stew. This has led critics to dub System of a Down the most political
metal band since Rage Against the Machine. Fierce protests against the
Iraq war and portraits of a disgraced Statue of Liberty on Mezmerize
contribute to that notion.
But Odadjian insists System of a Down is not a political band. “We
are a life band,” he says. “We are a social band. We are a band that
raises awareness about issues we confront every day. But we don’t wake
up every morning trying to write songs about how Bush screwed up our
country. . . . It’s just that right now, politics plays such a major
role in all of our lives that we can’t help but speak about it.”
On Mezmerize, Malakian has stepped up as the band’s primary
songwriter. Still, Tankian remains a strong creative force, with
the two balancing each other out perfectly. “Serj will write a song
and it will be all metaphors. I won’t understand it. He won’t even
understand it,” Odadjian says. “While Daron is more straightforward.
. . Serj is more political, but if you sit down and listen to.
Daron, he’s got some crazy views on life.”
Another unique aspect of System of a Down is the way the band
incorporates the music of its native Armenia into its attack.
“Nothing is contrived,” Odadjian stresses. “We never say ‘This part
needs an Armenian beat.’ Actually, we’re big Iron Maiden fans and
they used a lot of Middle Eastern sounds. That’s our main influence.
Mix that up with ABBA, Led Zeppelin and Frank Zappa and you get System
of a Down.”
It’s that sort of adventurous spirit that led the band, along with
producer Rick Rubin, to create Mezmerize. The original concept was
to release a double album. Ultimately, System decided against that,
convinced that today’s MTV-weaned rock fans don’t have the attention
spans to appreciate a double album anymore. “You can’t release (an
album like Pink Floyd’s) The Wall right now,” he says.
To remedy the situation, the band divided the album into two.
Mezmerize was released last May, and the second half, Hypnotize,
is expected to hit stores in November. “Individually, each one is a
piece of art, but together, they complete one another,” he says.
Were it not for the warped, hyper-wacky sensibility that comes through
in much of their music, one could definitely conclude that System of
a Down is a band that takes itself very seriously. It’s been called
on that too.
Odadjian defends System’s stance. “We’re not politicians and we’re
not heroes,” he says. “Serj wrote in one of his lyrics ‘You must
enter a room to destroy it.’
“We’ve entered the corporate room of Sony-BMG and Columbia.
“And for songs like Cigaro and B.Y.O.B to hit the radio or get played
on MTV — no way would that have happened 10 years ago even — we’ve
pretty much destroyed the room.”

ONE IN THREE IRISH AGAINST TURKEY JOINING EU
By Martin Wall Irish Times
AZG Armenian Daily #168
20/09/2005
World press
About one-third of Irish people would oppose Turkish membership of
the EU, a new opinion poll has found.
The poll on Irish attitudes to the EU also indicates that half the
population is undecided about the proposed EU constitution.
The latest Eurobarometer poll, published yesterday by the EU Commission
representation in Ireland, suggests that the overwhelming majority
of people believe the country has benefited from EU membership.
The poll also reveals that just over half of Irish respondents are
“for” developments towards political union. However, it suggests that
there are significant reservations about future EU enlargement.
Just under 40 per cent of those surveyed support limiting enlargement
to only some of the countries that wish to join the EU. Some 13 per
cent of respondents believe no additional countries should be allowed
into the EU.
A total of 29 per cent of respondents favour an enlargement of the
EU to include all countries that wished to join.
When asked about specific countries seeking to join, 34 per cent said
they would oppose the membership of Turkey. One-third said that they
would support Turkey joining the EU, and 29 per cent had no opinion.
The poll found Irish people opposed to Turkish membership were likely
to agree with the view that cultural differences were “too significant
to allow for this accession”.
Those in favour of Turkish membership were likely to agree with the
view that it is part of Europe because of its geography (90 per cent);
its history (80 per cent); that Turkey’s membership would enhance
understanding between European and Muslim values (81 per cent); and
strengthen security and help rejuvenate an ageing European population
(70 per cent).
The poll indicates that Irish people would favour the accession of
countries such as Norway, Switzerland and Iceland. It found 50 per
cent of respondents said that they did not have an opinion on the
proposed EU constitution.
A total of 37 per cent were in favour of the constitution, while 13
per cent were against.
The poll also suggests that while most people had heard of the
constitution, the majority is unaware of its provisions.
Some 15 per cent of respondents had heard of the constitution and
knew of its contents, while 62 per cent had heard of it but knew
little about what it contained.
The most common reason Irish people had for supporting the constitution
(38 per cent) was that they saw it as essential for the smooth running
of EU institutions.
Some 29 per cent supported the document because it strengthened the
feeling of European identity.
The most common reason (41 per cent) people gave for opposing the
constitution was that they associated it with a loss of national
sovereignty. Almost the same percentage cited a lack of information
as a reason for their opposition.
The poll of 1,006 people in Ireland was carried out by TNS MRBI
last May and June, partly before the referendums in France and the
Netherlands on the constitution.

RADIO PROGRAMS FOR NATIONAL MINORITIES
By Marlena Hovsepian
AZG Armenian Daily #168
20/09/2005
TV and radio
At the yesterday’s sitting of the National Committee of TV and Radio
the committee members discussed the license application of AR Radio
Intercontinental to broadcast at 106 MHz frequency for the town
of Tsakhkahovit.
The radio station has a history of 10 years and knows what the
listeners want. The range of the radio’s programs extends from
cultural, patriotic, musical programs to news broadcast. Besides
Yerevan, AR Radio Intercontinental is aired in towns of Berd,
Noyemberian, Stepanavan, Meghri, Vanadzor, Gyumri and others.
Ruzanna Babloyan, lawyer of the radio company, pointed out at the
session that the radio will go on with its policy but will add new
programs about and for national minorities inhabiting Tsakhkahovit
and neighboring settlements.
The National Committee of TV and Radio will make its decision public
on November 7.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BEST IT STUDENTS GET FIRST AWARDS OF RA PRESIDENT
By Anush Babayan
AZG Armenian Daily #168
20/09/2005
Education
In April of the current year “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund and Synopsis
Armenia signed an agreement to help in awarding the best students
and pupils in the sphere of informational technologies the Prize of
RA President.
Informational technologies have always been in the spotlight of
President Robert Kocharian. In recent years, Armenia has already
advanced in the IT sphere; this fact was pointed out by founder
of Synopsis Aart de Jees after having gotten to know Armenian
specialists. By making investments in Armenia this influential
organization reveals its interest in the country’s IT sphere.
Establishment of President’s Prize will give momentum to further
development of the sphere and will spur young specialists to new
projects.
The presentation of first awards will take place at the reception
compound of the Armenian government on September 20. The jury will
pick up the top 18 out of 87 students and 58 pupils. The number
of participants (despite the presentation being first of its kind)
speaks well for the students’ and pupils’ interest and vigor. The
prizes will be awarded in five nominations: “The Best Bachelor”,
“The Best Master”, “The Best Postgraduate Student”, “The Best Female
Student” and “The Best Pupil”. The contest is held for the students
of Yerevan State University and Yerevan State Polytechnic University
as well as YSU-affiliated physico-mathematical school, YSPU-affiliated
gymnasium and Kvant gymnasium.

ELECTRICITY NETWORK AGAIN
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| 20:23:09 | 19-09-2005 | Social |
Robert Kocharyan who presided over the latest Government session
had given three days to the Power Ministry to clear up all the
misunderstandings in the sale contract of the Armenian electricity
network to the Russian company “RAO EES”.
The three days are gone, and no one knows what the Power Ministry
workers have spent them on, but today till late in the evening they
assured us that they are still working on the problem.
If the sale of the electricity network is realized, the production
and sale of electricity in Armenia will become the monopoly of
Russian companies.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

R. KOCHARIAN HANDED ST. MESROP MASHTOTS ORDER TO RULER OF SHARJAH
Pan Armenian News
19.09.2005 08:04
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today Armenian President Robert Kocharian met with
His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the
Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, RA President’s press center
reported. During the meeting R. Kocharian handed St. Mesrop Mashtots
order to the Ruler of Sharjah for the contribution to the consolidation
of friendly ties between the Arabian and Armenian people and good
attitude towards the Armenian community of Sharjah. The parties
welcomed the activation of cultural cooperation and discussed the
possibility of importing Armenian agricultural products to the UAE. His
Holiness expressed readiness to organize a visit of Arabian businessmen
to Armenia for the establishment of mutually beneficial ties.

ARMENIA PARTICIPATING IN MILITARY EXERCISE IN GEORGIA
Pan Armenian News
19.09.2005 07:38
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The exercise with the participation of military
from 18 countries started in Georgia today on the military ground
of Vaziani.
Servicemen from Armenia, Albania, Bulgaria, Germany, Ukraine,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Latvia, Macedonia and the U.S. are
taking part in the maneuvers headed by Commander of the U.S. European
Command, Colonel Russell Richardson. Rescuer-medcuer-05 exercise is
held under the patronage of U.S.
within the NATO Partnership for Peace program framework. The exercise
will last till September 22, RIA Novosti reports.

BUSINESS ATMOSPHERE FAVORABLE IN ARMENIA, RUSSIA AND MOLDOVA
Pan Armenian News
19.09.2005 07:12
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today in Kishinev the World Bank has issued
the outcomes of the research held in 155 countries to assess the
conditions for business created there, Transdnestrian MFA reported. The
research showed that Armenia, Russia and Moldova are leading in
the CIS, though they occupy the 46-th, 79-th and 83-rd positions in
the general list. They are followed by Kyrgyzstan (84), Kazakhstan
(86), Azerbaijan (98), Georgia (100), Belarus (106), Ukraine (124)
and Uzbekistan (138), reported IA Regnum.

RALLY AGAINST TURKEY’S ACCESSION TO EU
By Jean Eckian in France
AZG Armenian Daily #168
20/09/200
Armenian Genocide
3 October, the Armenian sharp forces of Marseilles (France) to
demonstrate to Luxembourg (10:00 am) will require the Recognition
of Genocide before Turkey begins the negotiations with European
Union. With the support of F.R.A. Daschnagtutyun, A.D.L. Ramgavar of
C.R.A.A.M. & C.D.C.A, they invite the Armenians of Europe to come to
join this movement of protest.