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.”

Asbury Park Press, NJ
Aug 15 2005
Bonding with their culture
Church picnic helps people keep in touch with Armenian roots
BY DAN KAPLAN, COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU
LONG BRANCH – Virginia Kondakjian and two of her sisters haven’t seen
each other since Christmas, so they decided to reunite at an event
that would signify their family history.
Middletown resident Kondakjian and sisters Mary Bedrosian of Tinton
Falls and Margaret Jeffrey of Lakewood joined an estimated 600 others
Sunday afternoon at St. Stepanos Armenian Church’s 18th Annual Picnic,
a fund-raiser for the house of worship in the Elberon section.
“We came here to keep our roots,” said Kondakjian, a church member
whose parents were born in Armenia. “Too many cultures are losing
their roots. The essence of culture should be deep in family ties.”
The event coincides with two important religious occurrences in
Armenia: The Feast of the Assumption of St. Mary and the Blessing of
the Grapes, said the church’s pastor, the Rev. Mamigon Kiledjian. In
the latter observance, he said, Armenians wait to eat the first
harvest of grapes until they are sanctified by clergy.
Sunday’s feast was indeed that, with dozens of homemade Armenian
dishes on the picnic menu. Popular choices included shish, luleh and
chicken kebabs and pilaf, a rice and egg noodle combination made with
chicken broth and butter.
For dessert, there was pakhlava, a flaky dough filled with nuts and
topped with syrup, and khadayif, a thin pastry layered with nuts and
cheese and also topped with syrup.
Church volunteers began preparing the food weeks ago, organizers said.
“Some philosophers, they think you can teach the culture through the
food,” Kiledjian said. “We are trying to do that.”
For most, the event gave them the chance to eat food they normally
can’t find. Carol Brown of Lake Como and her sister, Janice Werner
of Neptune, grew up eating their mother’s Armenian home cooking.
Now, with their mother having passed away, they anxiously anticipate
the annual picnic. It also gives them a chance to expose their young
adopted children to the culture.
“We got used to the taste of the food,” Brown said.
The event, which included native music and children’s games, drew
Armenian-Americans from all parts of the state.
Silvia Papagian, 46, of Harrington Park, Bergen County, said “it’s
very rare” to find Armenian fare. The only places that serve it are
“just at the picnics and some restaurants.”
Her aunt, Rose Koseyan, 77, of Belmar, said the picnic is a chance
to bond.
“We get together and we have our food and our music,” she said.
The entrees cost $13, and side orders and appetizers mostly cost $2.50
each. Desserts ranged from $1 to $2. Money raised – expected to be
between $5,000 and $10,000 – goes toward the church, organizers said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

London’s Darkest Day
by Edmond Terakopian
The Digital Journalist, August 2005
July 7, 2005. I was looking forward to today. Yesterday had ended on a
high. London had been nominated as the Olympic City for 2012. I had two
excellent assignments today; the first was an 8.30a.m. photo-call at
the Natural History Museum to photograph a new diamond exhibition. The
second was an exclusive look at how the police were monitoring the
security for the G8 summit from their secret control center.
There must have been around 20 photographers waiting to photograph
the world’s largest uncut diamond. I was waiting patiently, macro
lens and lights in hand, for my turn. As I contemplated getting
a coffee, my phone rang; it was the Press Association office, for
whom I was working. “There’s been an explosion at Aldgate East tube
station. Get there. They’re saying it’s a power surge.” I caught
everyone’s attention as I started to pack away my gear. Slowly,
the others began to get calls.
I got in my car with a friend from AP and we started making our way
as quickly as traffic allowed. The phone rang, “There’s been a second
explosion at Edgware Road tube. Go there instead as you’re closer.” My
heart sank. This was no longer an accident as originally thought. How
can there be two explosions on the tube in the same morning? I knew
it must be terrorism. I began to think of 9/11. The first plane could
have been an accident …
We were very lucky. The traffic was a lot better than usual and we got
to Edgware Road quickly. As we got to the scene, we were greeted by
silence. The emergency services were all busy. No screaming of orders,
or the sound of sirens. Unfortunately for photographers, the police had
erected their cordons, and there was no way to get close to the tube
station. I did a quick walk around the roads and decided which would
be the best. Luckily I had picked the correct road. Within 10 minutes,
the first passengers walked out and down the road, closely followed
by the walking wounded. The first sight that drew me was a lady being
helped by a young man. Her face was burnt and she had a protective
white face mask on. She was barefoot, and had blood on her legs.
For the next five minutes, all I saw was through the viewfinder. I was
concentrating on the images that were presenting themselves. My only
thoughts were which camera to use for each image (I had three bodies,
one with a 300mm, one with a 70-200mm and one with a 24-70). It
was a very intense five minutes. So many were injured. The thing
that struck me though, was I saw only one person crying. Everyone
else was composed; there was no screaming, no running. Everyone,
including the lady with the burnt face, and even the crying lady,
were very dignified. I saw a gentleman, bandaged on his neck and
head, blood on his face and shirt, still carrying his newspaper (now
covered in blood) as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. It
was amazing. This embodied the British spirit: the stiff upper lip.
The wounded were taken to the Hilton Metropole Hotel. I decided to
sneak inside and managed to stay for several minutes, taking pictures
of the wounded waiting for treatment. It must have been the world’s
poshest triage area. The hotel’s security soon noticed me, and I was
asked to leave.
After another 10 minutes or so, it was obvious all the pictures to be
had were taken and I made my way to the nearest Starbucks to wire on
their WiFi. Although all the cell phone networks were down, WiFi was
still working. After wiring I returned to the scene. I contacted the
office and they asked me to check out Kings Cross station. By now,
we knew that there were at least four explosions; three on the tube,
and one on a bus.
As I made my way there, a friend contacted me saying that he had heard
that someone had been evacuated from Leicester Square tube following
another explosion. On arrival I encountered no cars, buses, or people.
There hadn’t been another terrorist blast. Later I heard that the
event had been a controlled explosion of a suspect package by the Army.
I got to Kings Cross. Police cordons were up and there was no access.
The explosions were below ground and there was nothing to photograph.
Knowing how long this day was going to be, I grabbed a sandwich and
a coffee.
I was then sent to Tavistock Square, where the bus had been bombed. I
had high hopes of getting an image because this was in plain sight.
Getting there I saw hoards of frustrated media: I knew this wouldn’t
be easy. Again, the police had covered everything within sight with
blue and white cordon tape. I attempted to get into a high-rise hotel,
only to be greeted rather rudely by two security men. I was rather
chuffed as another four joined them. Obviously they thought two goons
weren’t enough!
After another hour or so, I had to admit defeat; there was no way I
could find an angle. I called the office and was told not to worry,
as one of our photographers had managed to get a good shot. “Can you
get to Downing Street for Blair in 20 minutes?” I said that it was
impossible. I was sent anyway! It was for a picture of the prime
minister arriving at Number 10. I missed it. I got another call,
“Can you go to Buckingham Palace? The flag’s at half mast.” Back in
the car, off I went.
This was the last image I took. It was a sad way to end London’s
darkest day. My city had been targeted by terrorists.
— Edmond Terakopian is a freelance photographer with PA
(Press Association), and a committee member of the BPPA (British
Press Photographers’ Association). His Web site can be found at

0303zenobia.htm

Cyprus crash pilot was German – Cyprus govt
15 Aug 2005 10:40:22 GMT
Source: Reuters
(Adds details)
NICOSIA, Aug 15 (Reuters) – The German pilot and a family of four
Armenians were the only non-Greeks or non-Cypriots among 121 people
killed when a Cyprus airliner crashed near Athens on Sunday, the
Cypriot government announced on Monday.
There were 12 Greek dead, the other 104 victims were Cypriots, the
announcement said, releasing the official passenger list from the
crashed Helios Airways Boeing 737 flight from Larnaca in Cyprus to
Prague with a stop in Athens.
Early indications suggest the 115 passengers and six crew were dead or
unconscious when the plane plunged into a mountain north of Athens. A
Greek Defence Ministry source said on Monday autopsies showed most
of the bodies were “frozen solid”.

Movement chair arrested over link to Armenian secret service
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 11 2005
Youth movement leader has been arrested on charges of plotting with
Armenian secret service to stage a coup in Azerbaijan. The apprehension
follows a testimony of another representative of organization, who
appealed to the Prosecutor’s Office last week.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, representative of the Yeni Fikir
(New Thought) movement Osman Alimuradov testified that on July 28-29,
he traveled to Tbilisi together with the movement chairman Ruslan
Bashirli, on an instruction of the major opposition Popular Front
Party (PFPA) chairman Ali Karimli. Yeni Fikir is known to maintain
close ties with the PFPA leader.
While in the Georgian capital, they met with Merabi Jibutia,
who presented himself as a representative of Georgian ‘democratic
forces’, as well as two other individuals, Georgi Ispirian and a man
named Vardan. “However, these individuals actually represent Armenian
secret service”, the Prosecutor’s Office report said. These persons
drew the movement representatives to secret cooperation.
Alimuradov submitted a video tape and a receipt proving that Bashirli
received money from these individuals.
The investigation showed that in late June-early July, Georgian
citizen Jibutia visited Baku and met with the Yeni Fikir chairman
Bashirli. Bashirli then introduced him to the PFPA chairman Karimli,
which was followed by an hour-long face-to-face conversation.
Bashirli and Alimuradov met with Georgi Ispirian and Jibutia at
a private apartment in Tbilisi on July 29. Bashirli said that the
‘forces’ he represents act on the behest of the US National Democratic
Institute and receive ‘specific instructions’ from NDI representatives
to stage a ‘revolution’ in Azerbaijan. He said that NDI representatives
arranged training sessions for PFPA deputy chair Fuad Mustafayev and
the Yeni Fikir movement member Seyid Nuriyev, in Poland.
Ispirian promised that Armenian and Georgian ‘democratic forces’
would provide all kinds of assistance, including sufficient funds,
to the PFPA chair Karimli and Bashirli to stage a change of power
in Azerbaijan.
He said that if necessary, fear and confusion would be provoked among
the population and ceasefire may be breached for a short period of
time to ‘show the incompetence of the authorities’. Ispirian also said
during the meeting that he is capable of staging shooting at one of
the opposition rallies in Azerbaijan in order to breach stability in
the country.
After an agreement was reached to jointly struggle against Azerbaijani
authorities, Ispirian gave $2,000 to Bashirli and received a receipt
for the money. Besides, he promised Bashirli to give him another
$20,000 in a few days. The plotters then agreed that Bashirli will
receive $2,000 every month.
However, Alimuradov turned down the proposal to cooperate. He
said that the afore-mentioned man named Vardan told him that they
represent Armenian secret service and video-taped the meeting with
a hidden camera. Vardan threatened Alimuradov that if collaboration
is declined, the video-tape would be aired on TV channels. He also
gave a copy of the tape to Alimuradov.
Azerbaijani law enforcement started a criminal case against Bashirli
on charges of ‘forceful capture of power’ and ‘forceful overthrow of
the constitutional system’.
‘Provocation’
PFPA chairman Ali Karimli has refuted reports on Bashirli’s cooperation
with Armenian secret service, terming them as a ‘skillfully-concocted
provocation’ of Azeri secret service against the opposition.
“The reports and relevant TV broadcasts are another subversion of
Azerbaijani secret service”, Karimli told a news conference on Friday.
Karimli said that the movement in question has been actively involved
in drawing young people to democratic processes in the country.
Bashirli has been detained on numerous occasions for his activities,
subjected to violence and insults. Nonetheless, he remained committed
to the principles of democracy, the PFPA chairman said.
“The authorities decided to resort to a provocation against Bashirli,
with the aid of the Yeni Fikir movement representative Alimuradov,
who acts as an agent of the Azeri secret service.”
Karimli stated that the authorities are trying to discredit him. “But
even Alimuradov’s letter to the Prosecutor General’s Office says that
they visited Tbilisi through NGOs but not on my instruction”, he said.
Karimli said that the individuals that spoke with Bashirli during
the visit presented themselves as representatives of Georgian
non-government organizations.
The PFPA chair said that a while ago, one of these persons, who are
now known to serve Armenian secret service, visited Baku, presenting
himself as a businessman, and met with him.
“If he works for Armenian secret service, how did he manage to enter
the city? Where were government agencies then?”
Karimli went on to say that after Bashirli returned from Georgia,
he informed him that he met in Tbilisi with a Georgian businessman,
who showed interest in the democratic processes in Azerbaijan. Bashirli
said that he was offered financial aid for democratic development in
the country, but refused to take the money.
“I am not sure now – either Bashirli was not telling the truth or
this part was removed from the TV footage.”
The PFPA chair said that he was disappointed with some statements
made by Bashirli.
“I was frustrated by what he said about the Upper Garabagh conflict
settlement and the US plans to stage a revolution in Azerbaijan….He
was in a drunken state when he made those statements. Psychotropic
substances could have been mixed in the drinks, which explains
Bashirli’s inadequate actions shown in the TV broadcast.”
The PFPA chairman did not rule that Russian secret service agencies
may be involved in the incident. Certain forces may be trying to deal
a blow on the West by such provocations, he said.
“For instance, prisoners were tortured on numerous occasions before
to get false testimony against me and the US ambassador Reno Harnish.”
Bashirli bears not criminal but ‘moral responsibility’ for the
incident, said Karimli.
The PFPA chairman said that during the conversation Bashirli was not
aware that one of the interlocutors was of Armenian nationality. He
believed that these people represented Georgian democratic forces.
Karimli regarded as ‘absurd’ the arguments of his opponents who say
that Bashirli ‘sold Azerbaijan’s interests for $2,000′.
He said that the uproar over the incident serves the authorities’
aspiration to compromise him and his party and voiced confidence that
he will ‘succeed in disclosing it’.
“We will state our position once again. We do not support violence
but intend to struggle till the end by democratic means.”
Karimli said that PFPA will appeal to the Georgian government to
achieve a transparent conduct of investigation into the incident. The
party will make every effort to draw Georgian secret service bodies
to the investigation. “This may help identify those who are said to
be employees of the Armenian secret service,” he said.
The PFPA chairman added that their goal is not to get Bashirli
acquitted but to ‘ascertain the truth’.
‘Egg and tomato attacks’
Pressures on the Popular Front Party have started after the law
enforcement issued reports on the arrest of the Yeni Fikir chair
Bashirli.
Some 500 refugees and displaced persons picketed the PFPA headquarters
on Saturday in protest against Bashirli’s plotting with the Armenian
secret service. The protesters threw eggs at the building demanding
PFPA’s closure. The police thwarted the ensuing clash between the
picketers and the party’s representatives.
The Azadlig newspaper located in the party headquarters was subjected
to a ‘tomato attack’ by unidentified individuals a day earlier. The
PFPA chairman Karimli said the incident was staged by the authorities.
“Our party’s division in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was also
subjected to an ‘attack’ twice over a day. It has become clear that
the actions were staged by the brother of the republic’s interior
ministry crime search department chief.”
Karimli said that his party is concerned over possible attack in PFPA
divisions in other Azeri regions as well.
“The authorities add political coloring to the incident, trying
to degrade PFPA. Their main goal is to divert attention from the
opposition demanding a free and democratic election in November.”
NDI dismisses reports
The statement made by Bashirli in a meeting with his Armenian
and Georgian ‘colleagues’, which says that ‘democratic forces’ in
Azerbaijan are provided with financial support and trained by US
National Democratic Institute (NDI) has drawn criticism from the
organization.
The NDI Baku office has dismissed the allegations, saying that the
Institute is engaged in organizing training for democratic political
organizations, supports them and assists in conducting fair elections
in 50 countries, including Azerbaijan.
In a statement, NDI said that it is cooperating with the political
parties that support the conduct of free and fair elections and all
allegations contradicting this are untrue.
PFPA leader ‘responsible’
Some opposition leaders have condemned the actions by the Yeni Fikir
movement leader.
Chairmen of the Great Establishment and Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front
parties Fazil Gazanfaroghlu and Gudrat Hasanguliyev told journalists
that Bashirli has actually carried out a mediating mission and that
he is supported by the PFPA leadership, which is responsible for
the incident.
Gazanfaroghlu expressed his disappointment with the fact that some
foreign ambassadors, who refuse to meet with his party members,
‘spend several hours talking to such novices as Bashirli’.
Hasanguliyev said that Bashirli is PFPA chairman Karimli’s relative.
“Only a man like Karimli can gather around him such young people as
Bashirli.” Hasanguliyev also advised Karimli to move to a European
country.