AZERBAIJAN ACCUSED ARMENIA OF VIOLATING THE ARMISTICE IN KARABAKH
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
August 17, 2005, Wednesday
Day.AAz reports that Armenian servicemen stationed in the Khodzhavend
district in Nagorny Karabakh broke the armistice between Azerbaijan
and Armenia.
The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan stated that Armenian servicemen
opened fire near the village of Kuropatkino last weekend. There are
no casualties among Azerbaijanian servicemen. Armenia refuses to
comment on the accusation. A similar incident happened in early May.
Baku states that Armenian servicemen opened fire near the villages of
Kuropatkino and Ashagy. There were no casualties. Many Azerbaijanian
politicians accuse Yerevan of seeking to solve the Karabakh problem
using force in connection with relocation of part of Russian military
hardware from Georgia to Armenia. (…)
Source: Lenta, August 15, 2005
Translated by Alexander Dubovoi
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT MEETS WITH OUTGOING INDIAN AMBASSADOR
ARKA News Agency
Aug 16 2005
YEREVAN, August 16. /ARKA/. Speaker of the RA Parliament Artur
Baghdasaryan and Indian Ambassador to Armenia Dipak Vokhra discussed
the development of Armenian-Indian parliamentary relations. The sides
pointed out the importance of interparliamentary cooperation. The sides
also active development of bilateral trade and economic relations:
three large Indian companies are implementing large-scale investment
projects in Armenia’s jewelry, diamond-cutting and, in the near future,
tourist spheres. Speaker Baghdasaryan and Ambassador Vokhra discussed
issues of the Indian Vice-President’s forthcoming visit to Armenia. The
Indian Ambassador reported that the Indian delegation will include
businessmen engaged in information technologies, agriculture, food
processing, car sale. The sides also pointed out the importance
of cooperation in high technologies and the telecommunication
sphere. P.T. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PACE CHAIRMAN TO VISIT ARMENIA ON AUGUST18-20, 2005
ARKA News Agency
Aug 17 2005
YEREVAN, August 17. /ARKA/. The Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly
of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rene van der Linden will visit
Armenia on August18-20, 2005 at the invitation of the RA National
Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdassaryan, press-service of the RA NA
reports. Mr. Linden is expected to meet with the Ambassadors of
the member countries of the Council of Europe, as well as with the
representatives of Armenian NGOs on August 18, 2005. He also will
visit the Armenian Genocide Memorial. The Catholicos of All Armenians
Garegin II will receive him the same day.
The meetings with the members of Armenian delegation to PACE,
members of Committee of Foreign Relations, as well as meetings with
representatives of political forces of Armenian parliament will be
held on August 19, 2005. PACE Chairman will have tete-a-tete meeting
with RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdassaryan. He will also meet with RA
President Robert Kocharyan, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan,
and RA Minister of Justice David Harutyunyan. A.A. -0–

The Rhythms of the World Festival Announces its Program for the 2nd Annual Montreal Edition
CCNMatthews (press release), Canada
Aug 17 2005
MONTREAL, QUEBEC–(CCNMatthews – Aug. 17, 2005) – The Rhythms of
the World Festival announces the program of its 2nd Montreal Edition
which will take place in downtown Montreal and its surroundings from
September 7th to the 11th, 2005. The Rhythms of the World Festival
is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote ‘Cultural
Harmony’ which is also its theme for the 2005 edition.
The program, in three parts – performing arts, visual arts and culinary
arts – will comprise 5 days of events corresponding to 4 continents
– Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas – plus a closing Family Day
which honors cultural harmony.
Beginning with Asia on September 7th, the Alex Bellegarde Invitation
Series will present an asian jazz trio inspired by tablas rhythms and
an Indian flute, in the food court of Square Victoria beginning at
noon. An opening cocktail will begin at 5 pm at Le Quartier Restaurant,
featuring DJ Mahesh and his Buddha lounge beats as well as asian
appetizers and an art exhibits showcasing artists Jean-Sebastien
Robert, Nick Brown and Raymond Fong. In the evening, the House of
Jazz presents Sara Franco and her world music followed by Beat in
Fractions with its unique modern sounds.
It’s Europe’s turn on September 8th when the Alex Bellegarde Invitation
Series presents an ensemble of European Jazz in the food court at Place
Victoria as of noon. In the evening, the House of Jazz features Rude
Beats and their funky greek groove music as well as the Arden Arapyan
Trio who brings forth jazz music with an Armenian flavour. The Rhythms
of the World Festival’s Gala of Flavours takes place at 6 pm at the
Centre Mont-Royal during which guests will taste a variety of foods
and wines from all corners of the world, witness the presentation of
the Velan Foundation award and admire the lively colourful dancers
from the Arthur Murray Dance School who perform traditional Latin
dances. There will also be art exhibitions from such renowned artists
as Marc Seguin, Heidi Hollinger, Dana Velan and Michel Vermeulen.
Africa Day takes place on September 9th and opens with the Alex
Bellegarde Invitation series this time showcasing an energetic,
percussive African trio in the food court of the Place Victoria at
noon. This is followed by a very festive Happy Hour from 5 to 7 pm at
Le Quartier Restaurant. Here, Tranzit and its mix of musical genres
– jazz, compa, gospel, African and West Indian – will entertain the
crowd as they munch on African appetizers and admire the art works of
“Tigus” Ralph Maingrette, Cheryl Daniel and Marie-Josee Primeau. In
the evening, the House of Jazz presents Wesley and the African
Project as well as the Harold Faustin Quintet and special guest,
the very talented Samina.
>>From September 7th to 9th, restaurants Fourquet Fourchette, Les
Continents and Le Quartier will offer tables d’hote and special
thematic menus highlighting different flavours of the world.
Throughout the same 3 days, an Art Fair & Exhibition will be held
at the TELUS Tower, from 11 am to 6 pm, permitting young artists
of ethnic origins to promote and sell their paintings, drawings,
sculptures and photographs.
>>From September 7th to 10th, Gallery Week features interesting
exhibitions at some of the greatest galleries in the city including
“Montreal – La Cosmopolite” at Studio 261 featuring artists such
as Jean-Francois Andre, Marc J, Fortier, Stephanie Gervey, Jacques
Leveille, Georges Maman, Andre Schirmer, Nicole Taillon, and Nicole
Teuliere-Ratti. The Simon Blais Gallery will present works by Serge
Clement and Denis Juneau. Art en Majuscule showcases artists Michael
Kudish, Daniel Kudish and Esther Hageman. The Hollinger Collins
Gallery presents works by Kyle Beal, Bill Brandt, Steven James Brown,
David Burdeny, Katyuska Doleatto, Roy Hartling, Thaddeu Holownia,
Amy Huestis, Colin McNair, D Bradley Muir, Rosemary Scanlon, Verona
Sorensen and Patrice Stanley. Galerie 1225 also presents works by
Tristan Tondino, Joseane Brulelle, Galen Cheney, Richard Roblin,
Jean-Louis Emond, Helene Fleury and Remigio Valdes de Hoyos.
On the evening of the Americas Day on September 10th, the House of
Jazz presents the Joe Armando Latin Jazz Ensemble as well as Los
Tumbadores and their lively Cuban rhythms sure to get you on your feet.
Cultural Harmony Day, being held from 10 am to 6 pm at Place du Canada
on Sunday, September 11th is the Festival’s closing day. Parents and
children from all over the island are invited to celebrate a day full
of surprises involving cultural activities, musical entertainment,
art workshops as well as cooking seminars. The date of September 11th
is very appropriate for this event as it commemorates a historic day
during which people from all over the world unite to fight terrorism
and to promote global peace. The Afro-Brazilian percussion group Zuruba
will entertain the crowd as of noon and at 3 pm the final show begins
and introduces S.H.A.R.O.N. with 3 Shades of Soul featuring Tamara
Brown and their hybrid rhythms of soul, hip hop, funk and Caribbean
as well as Isangano, a very talented dance troupe from Rwanda.
On the evening of September 11th, the House of Jazz will celebrate
cultural harmony and close the Festival with a Fusion Jazz Session
presented by Alex Bellegarde and special guests.
The mission of the Rhythms of the World Festival is to foster
understanding and harmony between cultures through socio-cultural
activities permitting the development, promotion and diffusion of
performing arts, visual arts and culinary arts.
Complete information on website at
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INDIAN VICE-PRESIDENT TO VISIT ARMENIA EARLY IN OCT, 2005
ARKA News Agency
Aug 16 2005
YEREVAN, August 16. /ARKA/. Indian Vice-President Bhairon Singkh is
to pay a visit to Armenia early in October 2005, Indian Ambassador to
Armenia Dipak Vohra stated at his meeting with RA President Robert
Kocharyan. According to him, the visit will give an impetus to
Armenian-Indian partnership. The outgoing Indian Ambassador thanked
Armenia’s authorities for their help in his diplomatic mission in
Armenia. Vokhra added that that working in Armenia has been great
honor for him and he has made many friends and is leaving the country
with impressions and good memories. Ambassador Vokhra will continue
his diplomatic mission in Sudan.
In his turn, the RA President pointed out a high level of
Armenian-Indian relations and thanked the Indian Ambassador for his
active and effective work. P. T. -0–

System of a Down carves a distinct path with prog-thrash sound
BY EVELYN MCDONNELL
The Miami Herald, FL
Aug 17 2005
The Miami Herald
Among the myriad norm-deviations that make System of a Down one of the
millennium’s strangest musical acts is the fact a holocaust indirectly
spawned the group.
>>From 1915-23, an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the
Turkish government in a horrific campaign of massacres, deportation,
starvation and torture. For System, this brutal history is something
more than prime heavy metal song fodder: It’s personal.
“Because of the genocide, Armenians scattered,” System bassist Shavo
Odadjian explains over the phone from his Los Angeles home. A number of
the displaced, including 4-year-old Odadjian and his future bandmates,
eventually made their way to America’s 20th-century promised land:
Hollywood. While many rock groups have their genesis in high school,
System of a Down is probably the first whose members all attended an
Armenian-American academy (albeit during different years).
Odadjian, guitarist/singer Daron Malakian, singer Serj Tankian and
drummer John Dolmayan all speak Armenian. And while their music
isn’t filled with Armenian instruments, their shared ethnic history
undoubtedly unites them – and shapes their distinct world view and
musical vision.
“We’ve all grown up not the same, but with very similar morals and
values,” says Odadjian. “We know how it is. We know not to talk about
anyone’s mother and sister.”
That cohesion has allowed System to carve a distinctive path through
the contemporary soundscape. They’re a thrash band that throws in
operatic trills. Progressive in their musical tastes and politics,
they’ve shot a video with Michael Moore. On “Mesmerize,” their recently
released fourth album, they mostly seem to be channeling the goofy,
artsy ghost of Frank Zappa, if he were in Metallica.
The band members’ experiences as progeny of the Armenian diaspora
provided the fuel for “Mesmerize” and “Hypnotize,” its companion CD
to be released in late fall. Malakian’s family fled from Armenia to
Iraq before winding up in California. (Malakian was born in Hollywood,
Odadjian in Armenia, Tankian and Dolmayan in Lebanon.) His personal
and politicized fear, anger and sorrow drive “Mesmerize,” from the
opening “Soldier Side,” through the fierce anti-war “B.Y.O.B.” to the
melancholy “Sad Statue,” in which the Statue of Liberty – the beacon
of immigrants – weeps over her torn domicile.
“He sees it totally differently,” says Odadjian of Malakian’s view
of the war in Iraq. “It’s not because he’s from there, but because
it’s family. He doesn’t know when he’s going to get that call saying
something’s happened to somebody.”
Malakian’s need to express his feelings on global politics changed
the very dynamic of the band. For the first time, on “Mesmerize,” the
guitarist wrote the majority of lyrics and sings leads, while Tankian,
the traditional front man, plays such instruments as acoustic guitars,
piano and synthesizers (and cowrites and sings). It’s as if Keith
Richards and Mick Jagger traded roles in the Rolling Stones. And
unlike the famously rancorous Glitter Twins, System’s songwriting
partnership apparently made the transition smoothly.
“He’s always been a singer,” Odadjian says of Malakian. “I was not
surprised; we’re really good friends. I was surprised how Serj took
it so well and felt just like me: If you do something well, why would
I hold you back? We don’t let ego get in the way.”
Odadjian is also Zen about the way Malakian’s increased auteurship ate
into his presence on “Mesmerize.” The guitarist recorded many of the
bass parts himself, although Odadjian says the media has overplayed
this change.
“The way we did this album was a little different. The others we
wrote songs, played them for a while and then recorded. This time
around Daron had a vision. He wanted the bass playing to be similar
to guitar. The way I play bass is different. I did my stuff, and he
went in with my permission, with no ego, and redid some of the tracks
the way he wanted. Some songs are me, some are not.”
Odadjian does admit that he did, for the first time in his life,
take bass lessons while recording “Mesmerize”/”Hypnotize.”
The fact System’s members can so beatifically absorb one member’s
power move/creative burst is a testament to their strong roots. The
group formed in `95, when Odadjian met Malakian and Tankian at a
shared rehearsal area. At first Odadjian was the group’s manager,
but eventually he passed those duties on to professionals.
“That was the hardest thing to give up,” he says. “We’ve always been
forewarned that the industry will take you and make you into something
you’re not. Luckily that hasn’t hit us. We’ve totally made our own
path and not strayed.”
Dolmayan joined in `96. System built a reputation by gigging before
releasing their self-titled debut, on Rick Rubin’s American label.
Rubin, the legendary rock and rap producer, produced the band’s
four records to date, including `01’s “Toxicity,” which became an
unlikely multiplatinum global hit with such singles as “Aerials” and
“Chop Suey!”
Of course System’s intensely dramatic, sometimes grandiose music
has also earned the group its share of detractors. For the haters,
the best thing about “Mesmerize” is the fact it’s mercifully short,
just 36 minutes. Odadjian says the group chose to release the two
CDs separately, rather than as a double album, because they thought
songs would get lost to modern listeners’ short attention spans.
“The youth of today has ADD, or at least they like to say they do.
The school we came from, albums were 11, 12, 13 songs, and every song
meant something. With 20 songs, people are going to skip songs they
can’t relate to.”
Odadjian designs System’s stage shows, has directed several of their
videos, including the current Question, and is in charge of their
album art. “We look at the group as a team. Whoever’s good at what
they do, they do it. I have a visual thing.”
For the “Mesmerize” tour, Odadjian uses a lot of mirrors and stainless
steel. He says he was inspired by being in a small bar that seemed
twice as spacious because of a mirror on one wall. “I want to touch
every sense. It’s crazy, but not overdone.”
With his videos and the CD art, Odadjian says he tries to supplement
the songs, not duplicate or explicate them. Like the band’s odd name,
or such lyrics as “Gorgonzola gonorrhea,” some things are better
left unprobed.
“We don’t like to explain what we mean. It takes away the mystery.
It’s good to leave it to the person that’s seeing it or experiencing
it. I think our band is like an abstract painting.”

New screen version of Bellini’s “Norma” to premiere at Vyborg festival
RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 17 2005
VYBORG, August 17 (RIA Novosti) – A new screen version of Vincenzo
Bellini’s opera “Norma” is expected to be among the highlights of
the 13th Window onto Europe film festival, now under way in the
northwestern Russian town of Vyborg.
The film’s director, Boris Airapetyan, said the opera-film genre,
highly popular in Europe these days, had almost sunk into oblivion
in Russia and that the most recent Russian production made in this
genre dated back to 1984.
Airapetyan said quite a few film distributors in the West had already
asked him for permission to screen the picture. He said that this
autumn, it would be simultaneously shown at open-air movie theaters
in five European cities (Salzburg, Vienna, Geneva, Stuttgart,
and Berlin). In Russia, however, the interest has been quite low.
Airapetyan said most of the national television broadcasters had
expressed doubt the film would fit in with their formats and only
executives of the arts channel Kultura had signaled they were willing
to run it.
“Norma,” which premiered in Milan in 1831, is believed to be one of
the most challenging operas. Out of its twenty stage productions,
only four were a success.
“But I decided to take the risk; I sought to find a clue to the
mystery behind this opera, benefiting from the brilliant vocalists
I had at my disposal, especially for the lead parts,” the director
said. “Asmik Papyan, a soloist with the Vienna Opera and [New York’s]
Metropolitan, sings the part of Norma, and Gegam Grigoryan, a soloist
of St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theater [also known in the West as the
Kirov], sings Pollion.”
In 2002, Airapetyan staged “Norma” for Armenia’s National Opera in
the capital of Yerevan. This production was shown at Moscow’s Bolshoi
Theater in 2003 and nominated for the national Golden Mask award in
five categories.
The screen version, too, was made in Airapetyan’s native country,
Armenia. Much of it was filmed in a temple erected by ancient Romans
to celebrate their conquest of Armenian lands.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Unit to help Azerbaijan clear mines
Navy Times, VA
Aug 17 2005
Times staff
About 70 members from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit Eight and
other supporting units will help train de-mining teams in Azerbaijan
over the next 15 months, according to a Sixth Fleet press release.
The Humanitarian Mine Action training is focused on improving the
capabilities of multiple Azerbaijan National Agency Mine Action
teams, with a six-phase training process devoted to the detection,
identification and disposal of munitions, the release stated.
Along with training, the effort will further military-to-military
cooperation between the two countries.
The U.S. has been assisting Azerbaijan clear ordnance since the early
1990s, most recently clearing mines hampering the construction of a
national oil pipeline, which began production earlier this year.
The current training, which started Aug. 8, will focus on returning
arable land to the people of Azerbaijan, with the goal of helping
them increase their standard of living, the release said.
Many of the mines are leftover from the conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which broke
out in 1988, killing more than 30,000 people before a 1994 cease-fire.

PACE President to visit Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to discuss political reforms
Baku Today, Azerbaijan
Aug 17 2005
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE), Rene van der Linden, is to visit Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia from 18 to 23 August 2005.
These will be his first visits to the three countries of the southern
Caucasus since being elected to office last January.
In Armenia, which he will visit from 18 to 20 August, he will
meet, inter alia, President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, President
of Parliament Arthur Baghdasaryan, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vardan Oskanyan, Minister of Justice David Haroutiunyan, as well
as NGOs representatives and leaders of opposition factions. He
is also scheduled to meet His Holiness Garegin II, Catholicos of
All Armenians. Among the matters which should be discussed are the
process of constitutional reform, Nagorno-Karabakh and democratic
reforms and pluralism.
While in Georgia, on 20 and 21 August, he will hold talks with Prime
Minister Zurab Noghaideli, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mikheil
Machavariani as well as representatives of parliamentary opposition
and civil society. A meeting is also scheduled with His Holiness
and Beatitude Ilia II, Patriarch of All Georgia. The constitutional
situation, the independence of the judiciary, freedom of expression
and association and media pluralism should be the focal points of
discussion.
During his visit to Azerbaijan, from 21 to 23 August, he will meet
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Chairman of Parliament Murtuz
Aleskerov, Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Elmar Mammadyarov as well as representatives of the opposition, the
media and NGOs. He is also scheduled to meet Sheikh ul-Islam Haji
Allahshukur Pashazade, spiritual leader of the Muslim community of
the Caucasus. Among the matters to be raised will be the November
parliamentary elections, political prisoners and Nagorno-Karabakh.