Barbaric act committed in Sochi
15.08.2005 13:07
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Ten tombs were found vandalized on August 13 at
the cemetery of the Razdolnoye village near the south Russian city
of Sochi.
Unidentified vandals have inscribed the word “schizophrenia” by chalk
or on a piece of paper attached to the strained tombs — 7 of belonged
to Russians and 3 to Armenians.
Local police speculate that the incident is a replication of a similar
act committed at a cemetery of a nearby village where 29 graves were
vandalized on July 29. A criminal investigation has been launched
into the case.

Armenian students of foreign universities hold their forum in Armenia
Yerkir/arm
August 01, 2005
Fifty ethnic Armenian students of universities from US, United Kingdon,
France, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Georgia and Artsakh gathered in
Armenia for their 11th forum kicked off on July 21.
Lilit Galstian, director of the Hamazgayin Armenian Educational and
Cultural Union Yerevan office, says this is a new project of meeting
the homeland. “During 14 days, Armenian young people, who were born
and raised in the Diaspora, will have an opportunity to better know
their homeland, their roots and their identity.”
The young Diasporans were hosted at the Yerevan State University,
visited St. Echmiadzin, Garni, Geghard, Khor Virap and Noravank;
they paid a visit to the Paronian Theater, listened to the “Anush”
opera, were lectured on the Armenian arts, culture and history.
Doctor Hrant Margarian of the California University lectured on the
Armenian Genocide and the lost cultural monuments he had photographed
during his trips to the Western Armenia, where many of the Armenian
monuments have been either destroyed or turned into mosques.
Many of those young Armenians were in Armenia for the first time,
and while most of them have graduated from Armenian schools and spoke
Armenian, this was the first time they actually touched the soil of
the homeland.
Garin Yepremian and Talin Durian, both from California, say they
were thrilled by the mysterious service at the St. Echmiadzin, the
Armenian kids and schools. Victoria Barsumian from France says the
Armenian kochari (dance) electrified her; Seruzh Baghdasarian from
Lebanon said he loved Armenian lavash (bread) and cheese.
All of them say they are sure they would return, since they are
already missing Armenia though they have not left it yet.

New vector
Yerkir/arm
August 01, 2005
Armenia’s foreign policy principle of “complementarism” is somewhat
limited to the West-East axle and ignores largely the North-West line
which is gradually acquiring importance.
As a result, ignored are the possibilities that countries like Brazil
or Venezuela could pose for Armenia’s development and international
relations. A planned and sustainable work should be done to include
this line into Armenia’s foreign policy principle and opening of
embassies in those countries should be mulled.
Venezuela’s resolution regarding the Armenian Genocide in addition
to the existence of an Armenian community and proper usage of its
potential indicate that in the case of the Armenian Genocide and
reparation, for example, international efforts are greater than the
Armenian foreign policy of opening the Turkish border.
On the level of the society, it is crucial to coordinate efforts of
the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide that political
parties, organizations, individuals and prominent figures have been
carrying out. It is not enough to limit Armenian initiatives to solely
working on the European stage when Turkey’s bid to join the European
Union is considered.
Venezuela parliament’s resolution goes in coherence with the petition
to recognize the Armenian Genocide internationally that hundreds of
thousands have signed. Naturally, the Armenian government is the first
place where the initiatives should stem from. But the horizontal ties
should multiply also among those acting on the society level.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Youth jamboree in homeland
Yerkir/arm
August 01, 2005
Sixty boys and girls from the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s
Christapor Youth Union of Iran have joined together in a jamboree
opened on July 21 in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia.
Two years ago, a similar jamboree was held in Artsakh organized by
the ARF’s youth union of Artsakh, and the successful results and
excitement prompted that the next one be held in Armenia.
During this jamboree that is dedicated to the martyrdom of Christapor
Mikaelian, one of the ARF founders, the participants were lectured
on the Armenian history as well as the history of the ARF.
Following four-day lectures, they toured the historical and cultural
sites of the homeland. They made trips to the National Assembly,
Yerblur and Tsitsernakaberd.

PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Center for National and International Studies
75 Yerznkian Street
Yerevan 375033, Armenia
Tel: (+374 – 10) 52.87.80 or 27.48.18
Fax: (+374 – 10) 52.48.46
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website:
August 15, 2005
Professor Richard Hovannisian with Teachers and Deniers in Houston
Yerevan — Professor Richard Hovannisian, AEF Chair in Modern Armenian
History at UCLA, is continuing his worldwide activities on the occasion
of the ninetieth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. In June he was
the keynote speaker at the biennial conference of the International
Association of Genocide Scholars in Boca Raton Florida, during which
he placed the Armenian Genocide in perspective and focused on the
current challenges facing scholars engaged in genocide studies and
human rights programs. He then traveled to Montpelier, France, to
participate in an international symposium organized by the “Centre
de Juifs, Armeniens et Chretiens d’Orient” (Gerard Dedeyan and Carol
Iancu) on the theme of typologies of mass killing in the twentieth
century. Hovannisian discussed recent revelations about the planning
and organization, as well as evolving interpretations, of the genocide.
Dr. Hovannisian’s summer activities included lectures to Yerevan and
Houston, Texas. In Yerevan he gave the opening lecture on July 22
to Armenian youth from several countries who had come together for
the annual Hamazkayin Forum. As a member of the organizing committee
of the forthcoming international congress on the 1600th anniversary
of the creation of the Armenian alphabet, to be held in Yerevan in
September, he also helped to finalize arrangements for the gathering.
At the invitation of the Holocaust Museum of Houston, Richard
Hovannisian traveled to Houston on July 25-26 to speak at a summer
institute for teachers and to give an evening public lecture. For the
first time, the Max Kaplan Summer Institute for Educators was given
a formal presentation on the Armenian Genocide, which emphasized the
importance of inclusion of the Armenian experience as a prototype
of mass killings in the modern age. On July 26 teachers from
five states as well as from Chile, Uruguay, and Romania learned
of the preconditions and warning signals of genocide, the role of
ideology, the use of technology, and the similarities and differences
between the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust. In the words of the
Museum’s Director of Education, Christina Vasquez, the teachers became
intensely engaged with the subject and “raved” about Dr. Hovannisian’s
presentation. She added: “The lecture about the Armenian genocide and
its relation to the Holocaust was framed in a very skillful way so that
our participants could use the information in their classrooms. What
was particularly striking was the twelve points in the patterns of
genocide, as well as how the situation in Turkey in regard to the
Armenian genocide sadly differs from Germany’s confrontation of
its past.”
A turn-away capacity audience was present for Richard Hovannisian’s
public lecture in the auditorium of the Holocaust Museum on the evening
of July 26. In his reflective discourse, Hovannisian considered
the historical, ethical, and humanitarian aspects of the genocide
which remain immediate and relevant in contemporary times. He began
by taking note of the presence of a significant number of members
of the American Turkish Association of Houston, who had come with
denial literature and materials to challenge the reality of the
Armenian Genocide. Apparently, officials from the very highest levels
of the Turkish government and supportive committees in the United
States had attempted to have the lecture cancelled, but the Holocaust
Museum stood firm in its decision to include the presentation in its
summer series. Hovannisian suggested that the ATA members and all
other doubters should become better acquainted with the facts and
the consensus of world scholarship and join the growing number of
Turkish scholars who now reject the state’s untenable narrative of
events. He noted that one of the sad consequences of denial is that it
has prevented proper acknowledgement and respect to the thousands of
good Turks and other Muslims who intervened to rescue Armenians during
the deportations and massacres. Hovannisian’s adept handling of the
situation was roundly applauded by the audience but apparently did not
satisfy all of those who had come to detract. During the discussion
period, many of the familiar denial arguments were repeated, but they
were met with calm, factually-based responses and a new appeal for
all sides to face their history honestly as a necessary precondition
to some form of eventual conciliation. He hoped that his reflections
on the legacy of the Armenian Genocide might further the on-going
quest for truth.
For further information on the Center call (37410) 52-87-80 or
27-48-18; fax (37410) 52-48-46; e-mail [email protected] or [email protected];
or visit

Azeri-US military ties seen as response to Russian deployment in Armenia
Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Moscow
12 Aug 05
The upcoming transfer of some of Russia’s military hardware from
Georgia to Armenia is creating serious problems for Azerbaijan’s
security, the republic’s military department believes. As Nezavisimaya
Gazeta was told by a source in the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry,
according to reports being received, “plots of land in Armenia’s
Tavush, Berdsk, and Idzhevan provinces, which border on Azerbaijan,
have been set aside for the stationing of Russian military
hardware”. According to the newspaper’s source, Russia’s 102nd
Military Base in Gyumri is currently incapable of receiving all the
military hardware being withdrawn from Georgia. In order to resolve
this problem the Armenian authorities have rented out new plots of
land near the border with Azerbaijan.
Baku is undoubtedly concerned about this prospect and is taking
appropriate measures. First of all, the budget item for the military
department’s funding has been reviewed. According to official
information, spending on strengthening the country’s defence capability
has been increased by almost 50m dollars and now amounts to 300m
dollars. Together with this, links are being strengthened with the
military department of Turkey, whose senior military officials have
become frequent visitors to Baku. Certain steps are also being taken
to establish military cooperation with the United States. The Baku
press maintains that the topic of the stationing of Russian military
hardware in Armenia was discussed in Washington at a recent closed
meeting between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and the
Pentagon leadership. True, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry prefers
not to talk about this, but it confirms that the military-political
situation in the South Caucasus was among the matters discussed during
the minister’s Transatlantic trip.
Many Baku experts believe that cooperation with the United States will
not be restricted to technical and financial aid. Many US experts
believe the same. For example, Michael Baranick, a representative
of the US National Defence University’s Centre for Technology and
National Security Policy, is sure that “Azerbaijan is becoming a
very significant country for the United States”. In his analysis,
Baranick points out: “If we have to leave Uzbekistan, someone has to
kick-start talks on stationing bases in Azerbaijan.”
This statement was made against the backdrop of reports leaked to
the media claiming that Pentagon boss Donald Rumsfeld is to visit
Baku again in August. Local analysts predict that following this visit
official Baku may review its position and will consent to a US military
presence on its territory. Experts believe that the Azerbaijani
authorities will thereby achieve at least two objectives: they will
create a counterweight to Russian military might in Armenia and will
secure Washington’s endorsement of the results of the parliamentary
elections due in November.

Kars-Akhalkalaki railway gains added diplomatic symbolism
By M. Alkhazashvili
The Messenger, Georgia
Aug 15 2005
The possible construction of the Karsi-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway
is only on the drawing board but is still a major diplomatic issue
for the countries with the most to gain – and lose – as a result of
the project.
Azeri news agencies have highlighted that Foreign Minister of
Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov has touted the project to both U.S. and
German officials this month and included it together with Azerbaijan’s
other energy and transport projects like the BTC pipeline and the
SCP natural gas pipeline.
The 90 km long railway which is estimated to cost anywhere from USD 400
million to USD 800 million would connect the Turkish city of Kars and
the Georgian city of Akhalkalaki. From there freight would be able to
be shipped onto Baku and beyond. The senior transportation officials
of the three partner countries – Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan –
are scheduled to meet in Turkey later this month to further discuss
the project.
While Azerbaijan has praised the project, Armenia has expressed concern
that the railway would basically cut off Armenia from the lucrative
east-west transit rout. According to the paper Rezonansi, Prime
Minister of Armenia Andranik Markaryan is lobbying against the project.
“We are trying with all efforts to prove to all sides interested in
the construction that building this railway is wrong, unprofitable
and very expensive. In addition to this, in case [it is built]
Armenia will be isolated,” Markaryan is quoted as saying.
A major argument for the Armenian side is the existence of railway
from Kars to the Armenian city of Gyumri. This once was the artery
connecting Turkey to the rest of the South Caucasus rail network,
but had not been in operation for nearly 15 years because of the
Karabakh conflict. The revival of this line is still not discussed
and mainly depends on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
in a way that satisfies both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In addition to Armenia, Russia also is not very happy about the
project and in fact the Armenian position represents Russian vision
of the issue as well; besides, Russia is far more interested in the
revival of the Abkhaz railway which would give it direct rail access
to the South Caucasus. But so far the most active detractor to the
project is the Armenian lobby in the U.S. Congress.
U.S. Congressmen Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI), Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
and George Radanovich (R-CA), argue that no U.S. aid should be given
to the rail project precisely because it excludes Armenia from the
East-West corridor. To this end they have submitted the bill titled
South Caucasus Integration and Open Railroads Act of 2005.
The stated goal of the bill (H.R. 3361) is “To prohibit United
States assistance to develop or promote any rail connections or
railway-related connections that traverse or connect Baku, Azerbaijan;
Tbilisi, Georgia; and Kars, Turkey, and that specifically exclude
cities in Armenia.”
In a press release on his website, the lead sponsor of the bill Rep.
Knollenberg slams the project saying, “The construction of the
proposed railroad would be equivalent to the people of Ohio building
a new bridge to Canada just to avoid traveling through Michigan. The
United States government would never condone this action, and we
should not be in the practice of condoning the actions that would
serve to further isolate Armenia.”
If successful, the bill would be a major blow to the financing of
the railway as neither Georgia or Azerbaijan could afford it on
their own. Meanwhile, the project is gaining a growing diplomatic
symbolism. The Turkish paper The New Anatolian reports Turkish support
for the railway is “thanks for the Azeri government’s support for
ending the embargo against the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC).” Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov stressed the
importance of the railway in talks on August 2 with U.S. Secretary of
State Condeleezza Rice.
It will be difficult for either Georgia or Azerbaijan to allot
money for the project and it is believed that Ankara would take on
the bulk of responsibility for financing. But it is very difficult
to predict the U.S. position, whether it will be against or support
an initiative that can be seen as cooperative, economic integration
or unfriendly isolation depending on who is judging. Making matters
more difficult, all four countries involved are strategic partners
for the United States.

Ukrainian admiral criticizes “biased” media coverage of international drill
UNIAN news agency, Kiev
12 Aug 05
Sevastopol, 12 August: The commander of the Peace Shield-2005 naval
exercise, Read-Adm Illya Chalyy, has criticized the biased coverage
of the peacekeeping exercise by some media outlets. The press service
of the exercise quoted Chalyy as saying that one of the objectives
of the exercises is to improve cooperation and deepen trust between
servicemen from different states, who learn to work together in
peacekeeping operations. “We are keen to help the public learn as
much as possible about international cooperation on the part of
the Ukrainian armed forces,” Chalyy said. “For this reason, we have
created appropriate conditions for journalists who report about Peace
Shield-2005,” Chalyy said.
“We are very sorry to see media reports that distort the peacekeeping
nature of the exercise. Reports about the landing of US special
operation troops on the Russian training ground in Crimea or about
the setting up of a NATO training ground misinform the public and
foster a negative public opinion,” Chalyy said.
He said that almost all servicemen of the US marine company that takes
part in the exercise are reservists who have nothing to do with special
operation forces. Chalyy added that the naval training ground near the
Opuk mount is rented by the Russian Black Sea Fleet. It was agreed with
Russia that the exercise would use this training ground, he said. The
stage of the exercise involving the Opuk training ground will be
monitored by Azeri, Armenian, Georgian, Kyrgyz and Russian observers.
Asked to specify which media outlets ran biased reports about Peace
Shield-2005, the head of the press service said that it was the
[Crimean pro-Communist] Krymskaya Pravda newspaper, the [Ukrainian
opposition] Inter TV channel and some Russian media outlets. The press
service of the Russian Black Sea Fleet said that their own monitoring
of the media had revealed nothing of this sort.
[Passage omitted: profile of the Peace Shield-2005]

Azeri electoral body offers “electronic voting” to Karabakh Armenians
ANS TV, Baku 13 Aug 05
[Presenter] The Central Electoral Commission [CEC] is going to offer
electronic voting to Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin. So
the Karabakh Armenians will be able to make use of the technical
capabilities of the Elections Information Centre and cast their votes
in a safer way. The CEC also said a member of the electoral commission
in Xankandi constituency No 122 is Armenian.
[Correspondent] According to preliminary estimates, there are over
40,000 voters in the newly-founded Xankandi constituency No 122.
Seven of the nine members of the district electoral commission in
this constituency, which started operating today, are already known.
Three of them are from the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, one from the
Musavat Party and one from the Communist Party. Two members of the
commission are nonpartisan, one of whom, Svetlana Grantovna Gorchiyeva,
is of Armenian origin.
By and large, it is clear where the Armenian and Azerbaijani voters
in Xankandi constituency No 122 are going to vote, CEC secretary
Vidadi Mahmudlu has said. The Azerbaijani voters, who are living in
different districts of the country as internally displaced persons,
will vote at polling stations in areas where they currently live.
[Mahmudlu] As for Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin, there is
a preliminary suggestion that polling stations should be set up in
areas close to the occupied territories of Nagornyy Karabakh. It is
also planned to set up polling stations in neighbouring countries.
You know that many Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin have fled
the separatist regime [in Nagornyy Karabakh].
[Correspondent] The CEC will also offer electronic voting to
Azerbaijani citizens of Armenian origin. So the Karabakh Armenians
will be able to make use of the technical capabilities of the Elections
Information Centre and vote in a safer way.
Mahmudlu said the newly-formed constituency will operate with the help
of international organizations. Azerbaijani Armenians are expected
to receive their voter’s cards through these organizations.
The CEC is also going to appeal to the Azerbaijani government soon.
It will ask the government to help organize the voting.
Mahmudlu believes that the Azerbaijani government will be able to
hold the polls in Xankandi constituency No 122 with the help of
international organizations. Above all, many Azerbaijani citizens’
right to vote, which have been violated for years, will be restored,
he said.
[Passage omitted: Mahmudlu says Azerbaijani Armenians will also be
able to be elected to parliament; Azerbaijan’s leading political
parties and election blocs say they are planning to participate in
the voting in Xankandi constituency No 122]

Miami Herald, FL
Aug 15 2005
System of a Down carves a distinct path
Bandmates draw on their roots and shared cultural history for their
singular prog-thrash sound.
BY EVELYN McDONNELL
[email protected]
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 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 Mesmerize
tour brings System to the Office Depot Center on Wednesday.)
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.”
DIFFERENT DYNAMIC
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 frontman, 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, 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 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.”
TEAM PLAYERS
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.”