Lebanese President Vows to Find Killers
By PAUL GARWOOD, Associated Press Writer
Associated Press
Feb 18 2005
February 18, 2005
President Emile Lahoud’s commitment came during a condolence visit
to his slain rival’s home and amid Lebanese government efforts to
keep control of the murder investigation, despite calls by Hariri’s
family and the United States and France for a foreign-led inquiry.
No credible claims of responsibility have emerged since Monday’s
bombing, which killed Hariri and 16 others. Lebanese have little
confidence in an investigation led by their own government in light
of its history of being unable to track down those responsible for
past political assassinations.
Thousands of Lebanese have signed a 30-yard-long banner with the word
“Resign” written in French and Arabic, which has been unfurled at
Hariri’s grave outside the towering downtown Beirut mosque he built.
The popular calls for Prime Minister Omar Karami’s government to
resign are the first since 1992, when riots forced Karami, who led
the government then, to step down.
They also increase pressure on the government, which many accuse of
involvement in Hariri’s killing, and its main power-broker Syria,
which also has been linked to the attack and is facing renewed U.S.
and French calls to withdraw its 15,000 soldiers from Lebanon –
a source of resentment for many Lebanese.
Both Syrian and Lebanese governments have denied involvement and
have instead condemned the killing of Hariri, a popular, self-made
billionaire who many here credit with rebuilding the country following
the devastating 1975-90 civil war.
“The president of the republic stressed to the family of the martyr
(Hariri) that the investigation is ongoing to uncover the circumstances
of the ugly crime,” according to a statement released by Lahoud’s
office following the meeting with Hariri’s two eldest sons, Bahaa
and Saadeddine.
The statement added that all clues are being followed that “might
lead to identifying those quarters that planned and executed the
crime against the martyr of Lebanon and his companions.”
Video of the condolence call that was broadcast on television showed
Lahoud talking with Hariri’s sons: Bahaa listening intently to the
president while his visibly upset younger brother, Saadeddine, sat
not facing toward Lahoud with his eyes tightly shut.
Lahoud has been locked in a power struggle with Hariri for more than
six years. At the Hariri family’s insistence, he stayed away from the
Wednesday’s funeral, which attracted more than 200,000 people from
across Lebanon’s divided communities and turned into an anti-government
and anti-Syrian rally.
Thousands of mourners, including those from Lebanon’s Christian
Armenian community, prayed at Hariri’s grave Friday as Muslims gathered
across Beirut for the main mosque prayer service of the week.
Lebanon reopened for business following three days of national
mourning, with shops and cafes doing a brisk trade and bustling
traffic returning to the streets. The Lebanese pound was steady at
around 1,500 to the dollar despite fears Hariri’s death might harm
the local currency.
Different opposition groups are meeting Friday to decide their next
steps. Until his death, Hariri had been tilting toward the opposition’s
anti-Syrian camp, without publicly joining them.
On Thursday, the Hariri family demanded an international-led
investigation into the killing, but Karami’s government has rejected
such calls and instead requested foreign investigators, including
Swiss forensic and explosives experts, to assist.
Justice Minister Adnan Addoum said authorities contacted Interpol
in Sydney over the departure from Beirut to Australia of 12 men with
Australian citizenship on the day of the bombing.
Jane O’Brien of the Australian Federal Police said federal officers
interviewed the men but did not believe any were linked to the attack.
No credible claims of responsibility have emerged, but the interior
minister has said a suicide bomber backed by “international parties”
may have killed Hariri. Even that theory had still not been confirmed.
Suspicion has also fallen on the possibility the bomb was placed
below the street where Hariri’s motorcade was driving, blowing it up.
The chief military investigator demanded police investigate recent
road works in the seafront area, which has since been named for Hariri.
Hariri was expected to run in parliamentary elections in April or
May. He stepped down as prime minister last year amid opposition
to a Syrian-backed constitutional amendment that extended Lahoud’s
presidency. He had held office for 10 of 14 years since the war ended.
—
Associated Press correspondent Bassem Mroue contributed to this report
in Beirut.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Feb 18 2005
REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ CALLS ON CONGRESSMEN TO SUPPORT PEACEFUL
RESOLUTION OF ARMENIA-AZERBAIJAN CONFLICT
[February 18, 2005, 16:41:08]
Co-chair of the US Congress working group for Azerbaijan,
representative Solomon Ortiz calls on his House colleagues to support
peaceful resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh.
The congressman stressed that occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and 7
adjacent regions of Azerbaijan by Armenian armed forces had created
one million Azerbaijani refugees and internally displaced people.
He noted referring to US Department of State that the United States
does not recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent state.
According to Solomon Ortiz, despite no progress in finding solution
to the problem has been achieved within the OSCE Minsk group, the
U.S. is continuing its effort in this framework.
Mr. Ortiz let his colleagues know that the latest resolution on the
issue adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
confirms that a greater part of the Azerbaijani territories are under
occupation of the Armenian armed forces, and the Nagorno-Karabakh
region is under control of separatist forces. The document urges the
OSCE Minsk group co-chairs to continue their effort, and the
conflicting parties to fulfill relevant resolutions of the United
Nations, including renunciation of military operations, and
withdrawal of armed forces from all the occupied territories.
Congressman Ortiz noted that located between Russia and Iran,
Azerbaijan is the U.S. important ally in fighting terror. He reminded
in this connection that though US-Azerbaijan anti-terror cooperation
began even before September 11 events, it was intensified due to
Azerbaijan’s unconditional support of the coalition by becoming the
first Moslem state to send its soldiers to Iraq.

France and Turkey’s EU Bid
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Feb 18 2005
Many French are sceptical about Turkey’s EU bid according to a poll
by CSA published in Valeurs Actuelles.
57 per cent of respondents are opposed to the country’s entry into
the continental alliance, a seven per cent increase since December.
In December, the EU agreed to begin accession talks with Turkey on
Oct. 3, 2005. The EU with this decison confirmed that Turkey has
fulfiiled all the requirements for full-membership including
democratization, human rights contions and economy.
French President Jacques Chirac publicly supported the start of
accession talks between the EU and Turkey. However there is a strong
Armenian lobby group in France and the French Armenians strongly
oppose Turkey’s EU entry. Similarly the racist and anti-Muslim French
groups claim that Turkey is a Muslim country and there is no place in
the EU for the Muslims. Religionist groups in many European countries
defend that the EU is a civilasation project and Christianity is one
of the most important columns.
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose Turkey’s accession into the European Union
(EU)?
Feb. 2005 Dec. 2004
Support 28% 37%
Oppose 57% 50%
No reply 15% 13%
Voting intention of respondents who intend to participate in the
European Constitution referendum
Yes No
Those who support
Turkey’s accession 72% 28%
Those against
Turkey’s accession 50% 50%
Source: CSA / Valeurs Actuelles
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 798 French adults, conducted on
Feb. 2 and Feb. 3, 2005.

Time is money (or why the world is queueing up to buy a £36,000 watch)
They adorn the wrists of pop stars and presidents, a footballer risked his
life for one and Silvio Berlusconi gives them away as gifts. Rose George reveals
what makes Franck Muller timepieces tick
Independent/UK
19 February 2005
It happened, as the best dramas do, in a men’s toilet. Precisely,
near the urinals of Funky Buddah, a Mayfair nightclub frequented by
celebrities and footballers, and where, in the early hours of 30 June
last year, minder Godfrey Kessie threatened Dwight Yorke and asked
for his watch. Not just any watch. A Conquistador King, as seen on
David Beckham’s wrist, complete with diamond-encrusted face, triaxial
tourbillon and carefully crafted complications and movements. And a
£36,000 price tag.
Yorke gave Kessie the watch, he told Southwark Crown Court in London
this week, then something got the better of him. Despite Kessie’s
greater bulk and height, and going against all personal safety rules,
he tackled the minder, despite being concerned for his life. He got
the watch back. Kessie, 25, from Wood Green in north London, is in
custody awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to robbery.
The question is, why did Yorke bother? The price tag is a couple of
kicks around the pitch, in footballer-salary terms. The Conquistador
had diamonds, but Yorke probably has a dozen more that do, too. He
risked his life because he was not just saving a watch. He was saving
a Franck Muller.
“Please don’t call it a watch,” says a Franck Muller watchmaker in
Switzerland, when I ask him about the watches he makes. “Please call
it a work of art.” These works of art, then, made by the Swiss watch
firm Franck Muller, wrap the wrists of David and Victoria Beckham. Sir
Elton John collects them; the entire Arsenal squad wears them. Colleen
McLoughlin bought a £15,000 one for Wayne Rooney, perhaps to make up
for the engagement ring flung at the squirrels. The Italian Prime
Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in a non-patriotic moment, gave one
worth £9,800 to President George Bush. And in an unusual display
of international unity, even the Russian President Vladimir Putin
has been spotted with a Franck Muller on his wrist. Politicians and
paparazzi fodder alike are prey to the exploding Art Deco numerals,
the mixed-up numbers of the Crazy Hours, the colours and stitching,
the sapphire-blue glass and diamonds.
That is just the bling. But beyond the glitter lies the story of
a revolution. The rise of Franck Muller, in the slow and slowly
maturing world of Swiss watch-making, has been spectacular. Most of
the venerable watchmaker houses – Patek Philippe, Jaeger-Le Coultre,
Zenith – have existed for decades, or centuries. Muller started his
company only 13 years ago, with five employees. He produced 12 watches
in his first year. Today, Franck Muller’s Watchland, an estate based
around a chateau and two additional buildings, is housed in the sweet
Swiss village of Genthod.
The setting is serene enough – Lake Geneva to one side, Mont Blanc
to the other – but it hides a busy business, including a team of 60
watchmakers, 12 jewellers and a fair amount of diamonds. Franck Muller
employs 550 people worldwide. The company produced 47,000 watches last
year, and 20 new models. Next month, to celebrate the 10th anniversary
of Muller’s famed Casablanca watch, the London celebrity jeweller
Theo Fennell will launch his latest Franck Muller collaboration,
the limited-edition, pale-green Nile. The most expensive Niles –
white gold with white diamond-set case, automatic movements – will
sell for £24,950, and the top numbers of the limited editions have
already been reserved by celebrities, even before the previews.
Fashion-driven covetousness aside, that is still not bad going for a
company that does not spend much on publicity or marketing (there are
no glossy pages in the right magazines; there is not even a dedicated
website). It is not bad, either, for a watch-maker who did not intend
to be one. Franck Muller – he’s a real man (unlike Patek Philippe),
with heavy eyebrows and plentiful hair – was born in 1958 and grew
up in Geneva. He did not know what he wanted to be, until, hanging
out at a local flea market, a watch expert noticed his interest in
timepieces. He suggested Franck went to Geneva’s watchmaking school,
L’École d’horlogerie, because there were not enough people to repair
antique watches, and it could be a good career. Franck took his
advice and found he was good at it. He had the manual dexterity
required to work with tiny, interlocking mechanisms. He had the
patience. By 1990 or so, he had backing, in the shape of Armenian
investors and his Armenian-Turkish-Swiss partner, Vartan Sirmakes.
Unlike most watchmakers working with the venerable Swiss houses,
conservative by nature and design, he also had flair.
“People don’t remember now,” says celebrity jeweller Theo Fennell,
who introduced Sir Elton and other big clients to Franck Muller. “But
14 years ago, the watch world was really boring. There were no big
watches, apart from divers’ watches. Everything was soulless and
really plain, a rehash of what had gone before. Franck Muller watches
were elegant, with a retro look. I immediately loved them. They
were different.”
They were also a salvation. By the 1980s, the Swiss mechanical watch
industry was in serious trouble. Cheap, easy to produce and more
accurate than the most complicated of mechanical mechanisms, the quartz
watch was destroying the Swiss mechanical watch industry. Watch houses
were reducing production. Muller began making watches at exactly the
right time. The climate began to change when in 1989, a Patek Philippe
Calibre 89, containing 1,728 parts and 33 functions, was sold at
auction for $3.7m (£1.9m). Vintage and unmodern was back, along with
as many complications as possible. A complication, in watch terms, is
one of three categories of mechanisms that add to the basic mechanism.
It can be additional hands with a timing function (second hands that
jump back, for example), or minute repeaters, or the astonishing
intricacy of a perpetual calendar, a device that fully rotates only
once every four years, and can calculate months with 28, 30 or 31
days, entirely mechanically. A “grand complication” encompasses all
three categories. Franck Muller, starting small in Geneva, found he
could do grand, and more.
In 1986, he produced his first watch. It had a tourbillon, a mechanism
patented in 1801 that was designed, via complicated balances and
springs, to correct inaccuracy caused by gravity. So tricky was the
tourbillon, only a few hundred had been made since the original patent,
but Muller mastered it. To the tourbillon, he added “jumping hours”,
where the hand jumps to the next hour after 60 seconds, and separate
dials for hour and minute hands. He pioneered his signature “exploding
numbers”, oversized, Art Deco numerals that are now copied worldwide.
They were not new; there had been other watch designs with similar
numerals, and other watch cases that were curved, like his. But the
combination became the Franck Muller signature, as did “Master of
Complications”, which he began to engrave on every watch case. This
was high self-praise indeed. It is a measure of his talent that in
the esoteric and fanatic world of watch-lovers, hardly anyone disputes
that he deserves it.
A watchmaker in Muller’s own Watchland certainly does not disagree. He
does not want to be named, he says, for reasons that are not clear,
but he is a watchmaker with 35 years’ experience, including nine
years at Franck Muller, and he does not show signs of wanting to
work anywhere else. He talks about how one tourbillon design requires
576 pieces in its movements. He points to the Master Banker, a watch
with several time zones, and says only the Franck Muller has hour and
minute hands on all the dials. “We make all our movements in-house,”
he says proudly, because for a watchmaker, this is important.
Most watchmakers buy the movements – the wheels and balances, the
mechanics that make the watch work – from outside firms, and modify
them in-house. Muller claims not to. As proof of how good he is,
Franck Muller Technowatch SPA has won 40 patents in 13 years.
But behind the complications of the watch, there was also proper
marketing talent. What sets Franck Muller apart, his anonymous
watchmaker says, “is that we are so dynamic. I’ve worked in watch
houses where it takes months for a decision to be made, because there’s
such a hierarchy. Here, we can get a prototype produced in a year,
from initial decision to the production.”
Nadine Broden, Muller’s marketing manager, says; “If customers or
agents make a suggestion about a trend or desire in the market, we
can respond much more quickly than other companies. We don’t waste
a long time on market research.”
They know, for instance, that south Asians love the pastel colours
of the Crazy Hours, and Arabs prefer diamonds. High-end business men
and bankers like the complications and the chronographs.
Everyone likes the prices. Not because they are cheap, but because
they’re not. Rich men – of which there were many, in those boom
days, and of which there are still enough – have a limited choice
of accessories. As portable status symbols, a watch worth several
hundred thousand dollars, encrusted or just complicated, became
unbeatable. Muller seized the zeitgeist and controlled it perfectly.
Muller is a young man, for a watchmaker, and his team, on average,
are in their thirties. This explains the risk-taking dynamism –
the exclusive Swiss watchmaker is not above making a £70,000 watch
in Crystal Palace colours for Palace owner Simon Jordan – and also
the odd tendency to cheesiness. Last year’s Color Dreams, all pastel
colours and crazy numbers, Nadine Broden says, “was designed to inject
some joie de vivre into the gloom of the post 9/11, war-in-Iraq world”.
But if it is just the flashiness that sells, the Muller delight
will not last. “There are other watches that are as complicated,”
says a London watch expert, who prefers to remain anonymous. “There
are better, more interesting ones for the same price. He’s a very
good watchmaker, and he was very clever to realise there was room for
more excitement in the industry. But if you ask me, Franck Muller is
a busted flush.”
The company has certainly had problems, with Muller and partner Vartan
Sirmakes feuding, and resolving the dispute only late last year. The
dispute was bitter – with Muller saying publicly that Sirmakes had
been employing illegal Armenians – and last year the company was
nearly split up. But for now, things in the serene surroundings of
the castle in Genthod are back to normal.
Theo Fennell, for one, is not worried. “I really don’t think it’s
just a fad. There are enough models that each can be a limited
edition. You’re not likely to see the same watch on someone else’s
wrist, unless you bought it for them. Franck Muller watches are
beautifully made and produced.” If they’re on showbiz wrists, he says:
“It’s not because they’re a gimmick. It’s because they can afford to
buy the best.”
–Boundary_(ID_bMRYUO4DX2uufZZ1UT4V3g)–

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
02/18/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) ANC Glendale Announces Endorsements for City Elections 2) Ambassador Evans Discusses Vital Issues with ANCA, FED 3) Armenian Singers Refuse 'Cultural Cooperation' with Turkey 4) A 'Cigaro' Is Just A 'Cigaro' 5) AESA to Hold 4th Annual Science Olympiad 6) AMAA Orphan Care Committee's Luncheon and Fashion Show 7) Ambassador John Evans Visits Western Prelacy 8) Fresno Native Appointed Judgeship by Gov. Schwarzenegger 9) Annual Brunch & Silent Auction to Benefit Disabled 10) UCLA Armenian Students to Express Culture through Comedy with Vahe Berberian 11) Armenian-Greek Guitarist Iakovos Kolanian to Perform in San Francisco, Fresno 12) SKEPTIK'S RANDOMN THOUGHTS AND RAMBLINGS 13) 'Tis Upon Us In observance of President's Day, our next issue will appear on Tuesday, February 22. 1) ANC Glendale Announces Endorsements for City Elections GLENDALE--The Armenian National Committee of Glendale (ANCG) announced Thursday its list of endorsed candidates for the Glendale City Municipal Elections. The endorsements include candidates for Glendale Unified School District Board of Education, Glendale Community College Board of Trustees, City Clerk, and City Treasurer. "With 19 candidates in the City Council race, the endorsement process is inevitably taking a few weeks," stated board member Armond Gorgorian. "We really want to make sure we take the time to meet with candidates, as well as community members in order to make a well informed endorsement decision." In the highly publicized City Clerk race, the Armenian National Committee of Glendale endorsed Ardashes "Ardy" Kassakhian. The committee endorsed incumbent Ronald Borucki for City Treasurer, along with all three incumbents for the College Board of Trustees: Armineh Hacopian, Anita Quinonez Gabrielian, and Victor I. King. Finally, for GUSD Board, the ANCG endorsed incumbents Greg Krikorian and Chuck Sambar as well as Nayiri Nahebedian for the remaining seat. "The Armenian National Committee of Glendale believes that these 8 candidates are the best candidates for their respective races. We are confident that these candidates bring with them the experience and leadership skills necessary to improve our city and serve our community," announced Alina Azizian, Executive Director of the ANCG. The endorsements come less than 2 months before the April 5 elections. The ANCG will spend the next 6 weeks encouraging people to register to vote and get active on campaigns, Azizian stated. The ANCG will also be launching a voter education campaign to inform voters about the candidates, the issues, and the voting process. The ANCG has not finalized its endorsements for Glendale City Council at this time but expects to do so within the next two weeks. For more information regarding the candidates or ways to get involved, please contact the Armenian National Committee of Glendale at (818) 243-3444 or [email protected]. City Clerk: Ardashes "Ardy" Kassakhian Glendale Unified School District Board of Education: Greg Krikorian, Nayiri Nahabedian and Chakib "Chuck" Sambar Glendale Community College Board of Trustees: Armine G. Hacopian, Victor I. King, Anita Q. Gabrielian City Treasurer: Ronald T. Borucki 2) Ambassador Evans Discusses Vital Issues with ANCA, FED GLENDALE--Members of the Armenian National Committee of AmericaWestern Region (ANCA-WR) and the Foundation for Economic Development (FED) met with US Ambassador John Marshall Evans and his delegation of US officials, including Robin Phillips, Director of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in Armenia, Eugenia Sidereas, Desk Officer for Armenia at the US Department of State, and Aaron Shirinian, who serves as the Political Officer, assistance coordinator at the US Embassy in Armenia. Berdj Karapetian, a member of the FED Board of Directors, introduced Ambassador Evans to the FED's mission and its ongoing efforts to launch the California Regional Trade Office in Armenia. Karapetian explained that the trade office contract that was awarded to the FED by the State of California would serve California's small to medium enterprises that were interested in investing or selling products in Armenia. Like his predecessor Ambassador John Ordway, Ambassador Evans expressed support for the initiative. While the Trade Office is an official State of California representative, due to budgetary issues, the funds necessary to begin operations are being raised privately. ANCA-WR Board of Directors member Zanku Armenian led the discussion on the ANCA-WR's concerns over the recent statement made by Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones, which mischaracterized the Karabagh Republic's leaders as "criminal secessionists." The issue was of high concern to the Ambassador, who explained that while he understood how many misconstrue Jones's comments, the Assistant Secretary had not intended the term "criminal secessionists" to reflect on the leaders of Karabagh. The Ambassador hoped that the incident was resolved as he and the Assistant Secretary had reached out to the Armenian public. Several of the meeting participants, including members of the ANCA-WR Board of Directors Leonard Manoukian and Armen Martin, pointed out the recklessness of Azerbaijan's recent efforts to jeopardize the peace negotiations by seeking any forum that may result in a more favorable outcome for Azerbaijan. The group also discussed the aggressive rhetoric that continues to come from Baku. "The Minsk group is an honest broker in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict," commented Ambassador Evans, adding that "the US is a friend to Armenia." Armenian commended President Bush for establishing military aid parity in his Budget proposal for 2006. Such parity helps maintain a balance in the fragile ceasefire that has existed between Karabagh and Azerbaijan for over ten years. Continuing on the topic of aid, Armenian stated that the ANCA would persist in securing high levels of aid to Armenia given Turkey's blockade of the fledgling democracy. An overarching issue that the group brought up with the Ambassador was the matter of the Armenian genocide. Representatives of the ANCA-WR asked that the US State Department include the history of the Armenian genocide on its website under Armenia's country profile given the overwhelming number of documents held in the US Archives. "It is important for groups like the ANCA-WR to regularly meet with US government officials who administer US policy firsthand in Armenia. Ambassador Evans is certainly a competent diplomat and well read on the Genocide and Armenia's modern history. We are hopeful that he will continue to play an effective role in helping Armenia face the challenges that lay ahead in guaranteeing Armenia's right to self determination and security and insuring continued development to her democratic institutions. A strong and prosperous Armenia is good for Armenia and America," commented Steven Dadaian, Chairman of the ANCA-WR Board of Directors, who met the Ambassador's delegation at an event later in the day hosted by His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian. The breakfast meeting with the ANCA-WR and FED kicked off a day of scheduled visits for the Ambassador's delegation. The delegation went on to meet with Professor Richard Hovannisian of UCLA, followed by a talk with UCLA students. He also met with Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian of the Western Prelacy Armenian Apostolic Church and leaders of community organization. A reception was held by the Western Diocese Armenian Apostolic Church later that evening. 3) Armenian Singers Refuse 'Cultural Cooperation' with Turkey YEREVAN (Yerkir)--A group of Armenian singers and musicians rejected a proposal for cultural cooperation put forth by a Turkish production company, calling it a "dangerous" offer. Speaking at the news conference on Friday, singer Arsen Grigorian, who received the offer, called on his colleagues to also reject participation in the Armenian-Turkish cultural project. "It is not by an accident that the Turks are attempting to engage Armenians in a pro-Turkish project, to be funded by the US, in the same year we are marking the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide," he said. According to Grigorian, the Turkish production company TDI is planning to produce a CD of performances by Armenian and Turkish musicians. "They are trying to convince the world that Armenians and Turks can be friends. As long as they deny the Genocide, I cannot accept any cultural or economic cooperation," he concluded. 4) A 'Cigaro' Is Just A 'Cigaro' Though leaked track is a hit, they're not making it an official single. Blabbermouth.net reports System Of A Down have confirmed an April 26 release date for "Mezmerize," the first half of their new double album set. The second CD, titled "Hypnotize," will be out sometime this fall. Meanwhile, the first single from "Mezmerize," called "B.Y.O.B." is poised to arrive at rock radio on or around March 1, according to Launch Radio Networks. The quartet has just wrapped up its headlining stint on Australia and New Zealand's Big Day Out festival and is heading home to Los Angeles to finish work on the new album. The band is also one of many acts that have donated items to a second eBay auction sponsored by Waxploitation Records to raise money for genocide victims in the African nation of Sudan. Other artists that have contributed signed or rare items include Dave Matthews, Dashboard Confessional, and Bad Religion. System contributed to Waxploitation's first such auction last month, along with Limp Bizkit, Korn, 311, Rob Zombie and others. BURBANK--"You know how when you meet someone as a little boy and he turns into a man, you will always remember the little boy?" System of a Down guitarist Daron Malakian asked recently. "Well, we've got that," he continued. "You remember what our roots are. As we grow up as men, you can see that we are evolving, but you remember us as little boys." So explains what to expect from System's upcoming ambitious double album, Mezmerize/Hypnotize. "You will hear a difference, you will hear a growth, but you will always hear us," Malakian said. "All my favorite bands tend to have those kinds of careers. They kind of re-create themselves, but they re-create themselves, they don't re-create into somebody else." System of a Down's first new music since 2002's Steal This Album!, which was mostly leftovers from 2001's Toxicity, will blend familiar elements (skittery riffs, Middle Eastern-influenced rhythms, harmonized vocals) with new, mostly sonic, touches. "I personally came in very focused with how I wanted everything to sound on this record opposed to our other records," said Malakian, who wrote the music and most of the lyrics and also sings more than ever on the albums. "I think our guitars were a little muddy on our other records. On this record I think it's a lot more crisp. We've got the best drum tone that we've ever had on any of our records. And the performances, each individual musician, everybody is performing much better than we used to. We've all stepped up and grown up with what we do, so that's definitely reflected in the songs." One of those songs, "Cigaro," was recently leaked online and became an instant hit on KROQ-FM in Los Angeles as well as other stations. Another song, "B.Y.O.B.," will actually be the first single. System will shoot the video later this month before the track hits the airwaves in March. "I don't know if I'll direct it by myself, but I would love to have some kind of influence on it," bassist Shavo Odadjian, who co-directed the "Toxicity" and "Aerials" videos, said. "I would love to collaborate with someone else. I love doing that." Choosing a single proved especially challenging after the band recorded more than 40 tracks and decided to release them as a double album (see "System Of A Down To Release Two-Album Set In 2005"). "We had a lot of songs last time, too, but this time I think they join together," Malakian said. "You feel like you want to show people what you're doing right now." System are calling Mezmerize/Hypnotize a double album, although unlike Smashing Pumpkins' Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, for example, the first half (Mezmerize) is due in April, followed by Hypnotize six months later. "[Mezmerize] is going to have plenty of material, and we want people to sit with it before we give them the second one," frontman Serj Tankian said. "Songs tend to lose character if you bunch them all together," Malakian added. "Some people throw [together] as much music as you can throw on a CD and it doesn't really do each individual song justice. They end up getting lost in the shuffle." System recorded the tracks in the fall but worked on them throughout most of 2004. "We're a live band, so what we do in terms of recording is we work out the songs for a long time and let them live with us, and if we want to change something over time, if we are uncomfortable about something or think something could be better, we would know it before anyone else steps in," Tankian explained. "When we go into recording, we don't ever walk in and say, 'Oh, let's write a new song in the studio.' It's always like we've got all these songs that we've been living with as a band for at least six months to a year. And that makes it so much easier recording it. If everyone is much more fluent, more comfortable, there is no hesitation. Sure, we change things here and there in the studio, but a lot of it is well-digested." Track titles other than "B.Y.O.B." and "Cigaro" include "Hypnotize," "Lost in Hollywood," "Violent Pornography," and "Kill Rock 'n' Roll," which revolves around the line "I killed the rock 'n' roll in you." "We have a really tough time explaining songs because we would like everyone to take something else aside from what we think of the song," Malakian said. "But ['Kill Rock 'n' Roll'] is about being a murderer and enjoying it at the moment, but actually having a conscience about it after you are done." Well, OK then. Corey Moss 5) AESA to Hold 4th Annual Science Olympiad LOS ANGELES--The Armenian Engineers and Scientists of America (AESA) will hold its 4th annual Science Olympiad on Sunday March 13, at Ribet Academy in Los Angeles. Last year, 120 participants from 9 schools throughout Los Angeles County met in competition and 24 winners were recognized for their outstanding achievement. The Science Olympiad is open to all Armenian students at the middle and high school levels from Armenian and non-Armenian schools, and organized into three categories: Biological Science, Physical Science, and Engineering. Each category and level includes first, second and third place and honorable mention for monetary awards of $500, $250, $100, and $50 respectively. This year, all participants who win the first and second place of the California State Science fair in May 2005 will be eligible for an additional $500 and $200 special awards. Distinguished scientists and engineers, as well as veterans of California State and Los Angeles Country Science Fairs will be returning this year to judge the AESA Science Olympiad. Qualified personnel who are interested in becoming a judge for the first time are welcome to apply. Applications for both students and judges can be requested by calling (818) 662-0264 or downloaded from the AESA website at <; 6) AMAA Orphan Care Committee's Luncheon and Fashion Show LOS ANGELES--Armenian children from around the city will participate in Armenian Missionary Association of America's (AMAA) Orphan Care Children's Fashion Show and Luncheon on April 9 in an effort to bring Armenians together to raise money for the AMAA. Directing the fashion show this year is designer Pol'Atteau, who will exhibit his collection, some of the hottest items for next season. Pol' Atteu Haute Couture specializes in custom designed couture gowns, dresses, and suits for cocktails, debutant balls, bridal parties, engagement parties, television/studio, academy awards and Emmy awards. The AMAA Orphan Care Committee provides food, clothing, summer camps, and Christmas programs, including Christmas packages, to the children in Armenia. In the last ten years, the AMAA has significantly improved the lives of thousands of children in Armenia. The co-chairs for this year's Orphan Care Committee are Eileen Keusseyan, Lucy Gulvartian, and Alice Chakrian. The public is invited to enjoy Pol'Atteu's fashions, a luncheon, and silent auction on April 9 at the Beverly Hills hotel. The donation is $65 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under. For more information and tickets call Savey Tufenkian (818) 956-8455 or Eileen Keusseyan (818) 404-5686. 7) Ambassador John Evans Visits Western Prelacy ENCINO--US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans visited the Western Prelacy on February 17, to meet with Prelate Moushegh Mardirossian at the Prelacy's temporary offices in Encino. Present at the meeting were Consul General of the Republic of Armenia Gagik Kirakossian, representative of the Central Executive Committee of the Holy See of Cilicia Khajag Dikijian, representative of the ARF Bureau Viken Hovsepian, as well as representatives of the Prelacy Councils and Armenian organizations. The Prelate welcomed the Ambassador as "a true friend of the Armenian people and Armenia," highlighting his experience in the field of diplomacy and as a historian. His Eminence also acknowledged the bondage that bridges the diaspora Armenians with Armenia. Welcoming remarks were also made by the Chairman of the Prelacy Executive Council Chairman, Hrair Balian. Ambassador Evans thanked the Prelate for his sincere words and presented a briefing about his mission in Armenia. He also answered questions regarding his mission and Armenia's economic prospects. At the end of the two-hour long meeting, Prelate Archbishop Mardirossian bade farewell to the honorable guest and presented him a souvenir--a book of the Treasures of the Holy See of Cilicia. 8) Fresno Native Appointed Judgeship by Gov. Schwarzenegger FRESNO--David C. Kalemkarian was recently appointed to the judgeship in the Fresno County Superior Court by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Kalemkarian, 42, of Fresno, has served for the last seven years as Fresno Superior Court Commissioner. He previously worked as an attorney for Morrison and Foerster , LLP, and later for Stephan A. Kalemkarian, Inc. where he practiced primarily family law. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Boalt Hall Law School at the University of California, Berkley and a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Fresno. He is a member of the Fresno County Bar Association and the California State Bar Association. He fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Ralph Nunez. 9) Annual Brunch & Silent Auction to Benefit Disabled GLENDALE--The Pyunic Annual Winter Brunch & Silent Auction benefiting programs for the disabled in Armenia, will take place on Sunday, February 27, 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Brandview Collection in Glendale, California. Featuring brunch, live entertainment, and a silent auction, the event will raise funds to help programs for the disabled in Armenia, including the Early Intervention Program--a summer camp at Lake Sevan, computer workshops, and to train athletes for international competitions. "There are over 100,000 disabled individuals in Armenia. This event will help us provided much needed services, training and equipment as well as create more public awareness," says Sarkis Ghazarian, president of Pyunic. The silent auction will offer unique paintings, rugs, arts and crafts and jewelry made in Armenia, as well as art donated from Southern California artists Vahe Berberian, Anahid Boghosian, and Shahe Boyadjian. "I'm more than happy to be part of an event that empowers the disabled," said Boghosian, whose own father has been an amputee since the age of nine. Pyunic will also be honoring two of its disabled athletes, Mariné Hakobyan (paraplegic) and Greta Khndzrtsyan (double amputee), competing in the 20th running of the Los Angeles City Marathon on Sunday, March 6, 2005. Both athletes suffered injuries in the devastating 1988 earthquake in Armenia that left over 25,000 dead and hundreds of thousands injured and homeless. Founded in 1989 to help the disabled children of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia, Pyunic is the leading non-governmental organization shaping public awareness for the disabled. Pyunic provides humanitarian aid, social services, career training and summer/winter teaching camps. Pyunic athletes have competed in numerous worldwide athletic competitions, including the Los Angeles Marathon and both summer and winter Paralympics since 1994. Winter Brunch & Silent Auction will be held at the Brandview Collection--109 East Harvard Street, Glendale, California 91204. Tickets are $40.00. For reservations, please call Lorig Sivazlian at 818 517-1208. 10) UCLA Armenian Students to Express Culture through Comedy with Vahe Berberian LOS ANGELES--The UCLA Armenian Student Association (ASA) continues its tradition of Open Mic Night by hosting an Armenian cultural comedy night with famous Armenian artist and comedian Vahe Berberian. The event's purpose is to entertain, as well as educate Armenian students and ASA members about Armenian culture and assimilation in the diaspora. "The UCLA ASA is honored to have Vahe Berberian express his creativity on stage with our members. Comedy is a unique medium through which one's culture can be expressed with a humorous slant," proclaimed ASA cultural director Lucy Tagessian. The event will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 23, on UCLA's campus at 7:30 pm in the Cooperage (inside the Ackerman Union Building). The event is free and open to the general public. For more information you can contact or Raffi Kassabian at (626) 372-4630. The UCLA ASA is one of the oldest Armenian-American student groups in the United States. This year marks the 60th anniversary of its existence. The UCLA ASA seeks to cultivate a true understanding and appreciation of Armenian history, heritage, and culture through cultural, social, and recreational activities. 11) Armenian-Greek Guitarist Iakovos Kolanian to Perform in San Francisco, Fresno US Debut Concerts feature Armenian Folk Music Arranged for Classical Guitar Armenian-Greek classical guitarist Iakovos Kolanian will be performing in San Francisco on Friday, March 4, and in Fresno on Saturday, March 5--highlighting a 16 year journey to arrange and transcribe Armenian folk songs for the classical guitar The concerts will support the new groundbreaking Pomegranate Music CD release titled Shoror: Armenian Folk Music for Guitar by Kolanian. As Kolanian explains, "I managed to collect a considerable number of traditional dances and songs, deciding in the process that I would transcribe or recompose part of this material for the guitar. However, such was the emotional impact of this music on me that, I sometimes found it difficult to hold back my tears as I worked through a particular piece. It was during this stimulating process that I came to the realization that this pursuit was not simply a professional step, but, without a doubt, a journey into the depths of my soul in search of my Armenian roots." The program for each concert will consist of one half being devoted to the selected works of JS Bach (Lute Suite in A Minor BWV), Agustin Barrios-Mangore (La Catedral), and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (Capriccio Diabolico). The entire second half of the concert will be devoted to Kolanian's arrangement of 13 Armenian folk and traditional songs, including the famous Komitas Dances. San Francisco: Friday March 4, 8pm at the Florence Gould Theater, Legion of Honor. Lincoln Park, 100 34th Ave, San Francisco, CA USA. A Pomegranate Music Event. Tickets are $35 Adults, $20 Students. No children under the age of 6 please. For ticket information, please visit Fresno: Saturday March 5, 7:30 pm at The Concert Hall at California State University, Fresno- Music Building. 5241 N. Maple Ave, Fresno, CA. A Pomegranate Music Event. All net proceeds of this concert are being donated to the Armenian Community School of Fresno and the Armenian Studies Program at California State University, Fresno. Tickets are $15 Adults, $8 Students. No children under the age of 6, please. For ticket information, please visit <; Iakovos Kolanian was born in Greece in 1960, to an Armenian father and a Greek mother. At the age of 13, influenced by the musical currents of the time (pop, rock, as well as classical) he started his musical journey that eventually led him to the National Conservatory of Athens. There, he studied classical guitar with noted professors Evangelos Assimakopoulos and Lisa Zoe, and graduated in 1985 with the top award and a special honor for exceptional performance. Since that time, he has attended various special seminars and master classes in Greece and abroad, broadening his knowledge of the instrument from distinguished teachers such as Oscar Ghilia and Leo Brouwer. Throughout the years he has toured in Europe, Asia and Latin America, where he has presented to audiences a large part of the classical guitar repertoire. He also regularly takes part in important international festivals (Vienna, Milan, Athens, Israel, Cyprus and Yerevan) by giving individual recitals or acting as soloist with symphonic orchestras and ensembles of chamber music. He has performed as a soloist with Athens State Orchestra, Thessalonica State Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra of Greek Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), The Camerata Orchestra of Athens, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as with numerous ensembles of chamber music. He has been regularly featured in well-known television and radio programs such as BBC, ORF, Radio France, ERT, RIK. One of these collaborations, in 1991, resulted in the recording and release of a CD of Loris Tjeknavorian's Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra with the composer himself as the conductor in a production of the Austrian Television (ORF). Most recently, in 2003, Kolanian's recording of the Lute Suites of J.S.Bach was released on the Eros label to critical acclaim. In addition to his career as a soloist and recording artist, Iakovos Kolanian has been the head of the Classical Guitar Department at the Contemporary Athens Conservatory since 1992, and is an honorary professor at the Armenian Academy in Yerevan. Shoror Shoror: Armenian Folk Music for Guitar was produced by Kevork Imirzian and is on sale at e-tailers such as <; and <; Apple's iTunes will also be carrying Shoror for digital download in 2005. Pomegranate Music Founder/CEO Raffi Meneshian recently commented, "Being able to present Armenian folk music though the medium of guitar is a unique project for any record label. To have one of Europe's best classical guitarists be the proponent of this material is even more special. We are thrilled to be starting our North American tour in two of America's most historic and important Armenian communities- Fresno, CA and San Francisco, CA. In December of 2004, the influential All Music Guide critic Rick Anderson gave Shoror: Armenian Folk Music for Guitar a 4 star review, "…what Kolanian has created here is an admirably lyrical, complex, and insightful fusion of folk and classical music, the kind of thing that rarely works well at all. In this case it works beautifully, mainly because of the combination of Kolanian's deep feeling for this music and his equally deep mastery of both his instrument and the principles of classical guitar style. Note in particular the delicately woven counterpoint he creates in his arrangement of 'Yaman Yar,' and the gently dancing grace he brings to 'Zankezouri.' Very highly recommended." 12) SKEPTIK'S RANDOMN THOUGHTS AND RAMBLINGS These last few weeks have been a doozie. I'll be honest with you. When I was told last Friday that there was no room left in the paper to run my column, I didn't shed a tear. After all, getting the news in the hands of the public is more important than people reading personal rants on topics that most people consider esoteric. Nevertheless, I thank Asbarez for giving me space to have my own forum to share my views and thoughts. This week, I decided to unload a number of thoughts that have been swimming around aimlessly in my head. First of all, why is it that whenever it rains in California, people forget how to drive? On the east coast you can have hail, snow, torrential downpours, but people manage to get to where they're getting to, with little or no problem. In Southern California, you get a little bit of mist and all of a sudden the 134 looks like the DMV's driveway. Why does every Armenian teenager driving down Glenoaks feel like they have to give you the evil eye if you stare in their general direction at a stop light. The other day I was at a red light and turned over to find a 16 year old driving one of those fixed up sports cars looking at me like I was Adolph Hitler's twin. If anyone has an answer to this one, I'd love to find out. When did it become fashionable for Armenian high school students to wear athletic warm-ups everywhere they go. I was at church and saw a kid walk out looking like he was a member of the Iranian Olympic weightlifting team. He was decked out in warm ups from head to toe with matching sneakers. Let me see if I understand. You can take the time to find sneakers to match your velvet jump suit but can't go to Marshall's or Ross and buy a dress shirt and tie? I read this week that the Armenian Diocese Church in Canada is planning on banning gay marriages. I also read that the Armenian Parliament was considering a similar law. Two thoughts came to mind here. First of all, does the Armenian Church think that by banning a specific activity they will prevent people from doing it? And secondly, is there such a mad rush by gay Armenians to get married that the Church and Government see this as a priority? How about dealing with the whole poverty issue first? Or maybe that little thing about getting rid of corruption would be nice too. And no, that wasn't directed at only the Armenian parliament. Speaking of banning things in Church, Lent started last week. This is when our church bans the consumption of meat. No. This is a new thought. The other meat. The animal kind. Do Armenian banquet halls have an agreement with Etchmiadzin or God that I don't know about? Every Armenian restaurant and event I've been to has served such massive quantities of meat that it makes me wonder if we're single handedly contributing to an eventual beef, pork, or lamb shortage. Continuing on the topic of flesh, the other day I made the unfortunate mistake of going to the Glendale Galleria to buy a watch. I walked in and within a span of five minutes saw at least 20 young Armenian girls walking around in less clothing than the cocktail waitresses at a Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. I'm not a fashion fascist but if your pants make me want to reach over and pull them up for you, then you should buy a pair that fits. I can't imagine that having half of one's rear end sticking out of a pair of pants or showing any butt cleavage is comfortable. And parents, please remind your children that crack--of ANY kind--is dangerous! Last but not least, I read that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice went to Turkey and praised the Turkish people for being such close friends and allies to the US. Now I'm not going to say that what she did is right or wrong. But if there are ANY delusional Armenians out there who thought that President Bush will recognize the Armenian genocide during his second term when there's less pressure and he's establishing a legacy…then I've got beach front property in Armenia that I'd like to sell to you. Anyway, that's all that I've had on my chest this week. If you can think of answers, explanations, or have questions of your own…email me at [email protected]. Skeptik Sinikian would like to remind everyone that with all its hopes, dreams, promises, and urban renewal, the world still manages to continue deteriorating. Have a nice day and email him at [email protected]. 13) 'Tis Upon Us By Garen Yegparian Yup, the Burbank election is here. Tuesday, February 22 is the primary election in my fair city. Hot on its tail are the LA City, LA Unified School District, and LA Community College District (the latter two impacting numerous cities) primaries--March 8, Pasadena primary--also March 8, Glendale--April 5, then possible runoffs in Burbank--April 12 and Pasadena--April 19, and finally LA general--May 17. And come Autumn, other cities where Armenians pack some punch, such as San Francisco and Montebello, have their municipal elections scheduled. Then there're exciting-issue-based elections such as the one in Rosemead with an anti-Walmart slate running. Let's hope they win and put a crimp in the style of that bane of human existence! As I've discussed in recent articles, it seems Armenians are running for office en masse, qualified or not, willy-nilly, wise or whacked, disruptive/divisive or constructive. But enough pounding on those losers, now, it's time for the other side of the formula--the voters and voting. Now's the time that voters have to think. What do we want? Do we just want someone who has no appropriate preparation for office? Do we want someone who's just in it for the money? Burbank elected officials get nominal pay, but LA councilmembers get paid handsomely, and Glendale's pay is not too shabby either, though probably not enough to live on. Do we want someone who's demonstrated community service? Do we want someone who represents us? Who springs from the same concerns as we have? Do we want someone whose motives for running are questionable? What if one candidacy's a put-up job to sow discord among a certain constituency? Have the candidates been challenged on these issues? Do they sound believable when they respond? The nice thing about local elections is that you can actually get close enough to enough of the candidates to get these or other questions answered. You can really smell 'em! Go to candidate forums. Go to the coffees people hold in their home for favored candidates- for that matter, host one of these yourself. Listen to people's commentary. Follow the local newspaper's letters and op-ed sections. Track who's giving how much money to who which candidate- it's all public information usually housed in the city clerk's office (or other whoever is that jurisdiction's election official). Watch for endorsements by the ANCA or some of the smaller Armenian political groupings. Look for who the Sierra Club, National Rifle Association, Americans for Democratic action, the political parties, local interest groups (e.g. homeowner associations), chambers of commerce. Always remember too, sometimes you can tell more about a candidate by observing what forces oppose him/her that those in support! Have fun with this stuff. It can truly be a joy. In Burbank, with an all-mail-ballot, time is running out--remember Monday is a holiday with no mail service. But you can walk in your ballot on election day or even Saturday, February 19--special 10-2 office hours at city hall. The holiday also impacts LA and Pasadena elections in that the voter registration deadline falls on that day--so it's probably already too late unless the Registrar of Voters makes a special accommodation. There's only one week left for absentee ballot requests for LA. In Glendale, that process is just about to commence, so if you plan to vote by mail, get your request in soon. The ANC is always willing to help. For Burbank call (818) 562-1918 or [email protected]. For Glendale it's (818) 243-3444. Or call the Western Region's offices for other references (818) 500-1918. Remember, who gets into local office impacts your life on the most immediate level. Make sure the right people get in. Which means VOTE. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. --Boundary_(ID_av8dS4+Hr2lu2X8aR98j7A)--

MUSIC WILL TELL ABOUT THE GENOCIDE
A1+
18-02-2005
Since February 21 the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra is
organizing concert-actions in 12 schools of Yerevan and also in the
regions devoted to the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with
the heading “Open Lesson”.
More than 300 artists will take part in the action free of
charge. Among them are actors, singers, and reciters. As for the
question why the action is organized in schools, Laert Movsisyan, head
of the Armenian National Philharmonic, said, “What is most important
is that we must tell the younger generation about the Genocide,
raise their awareness about the historical events and enhance their
patriotic spirit”.
Actor and reciter Volodya Abajyan said about the action, “I am most
happy to be invited”.

Azeri aide justifies Christian minority’s protest at “fake” Armenian inscription
ANS TV, Baku
17 Feb 05
[Presenter] The Baku government has confirmed that there is an influx
of people from various parts of Russia. To recap, reports regularly
emerge of people from Russia, particularly Dagestan, applying
for residence in Azerbaijan’s northern districts. Hidayat Orucov,
[Azerbaijani] state adviser for ethnic affairs, has commented on this
and other issues in an interview.
He also was calm while commenting on the views of the Udi community,
residing in the village of Nij in Qabala District [northern
Azerbaijan], on the Armenian inscriptions on Udi monuments.
[Correspondent over video of Orucov speaking in his office, a church]
Relevant state agencies are investigating whether registration in the
northern districts is taking place within the legal framework, Orucov
told journalists while commenting on reports in several media outlets
that Russia seeks to shift the demographic situation in the northern
districts of Azerbaijan. The state adviser said that should the reports
on illegal registration be confirmed, specific measures will be taken.
Incidentally, those who seek residence in Azerbaijan cite stability
in the country as the main argument for their wish. Orucov shares
this view.
[Orucov] The social and economic situation in Azerbaijan is better than
that in many regions of Russia. This has a certain impact. Therefore,
[people from] various parts of Russia try to work in Azerbaijan,
settle here, if temporarily. There are some people who will try,
if conditions allow, seeking Azerbaijani citizenship.
[Correspondent] Sounds exactly like the logic of those who go from
Azerbaijan to Russia to earn money.
The Udi community in the village of Nij in Qabala District protests
at the efforts of the Norwegian Humanitarian Enterprise, which is
funding the restoration of the village’s church, to preserve the
Armenian inscriptions in it. The protest has even led to a letter of
the village’s residents to the Norwegian embassy in Baku.
Orucov said that historically Armenians did not live there, and
the fact that several Armenian families moved to the districts in
Soviet times does not prove that Armenians have historical roots in
the village.
[Orucov] There is no need for a foreign humanitarian organization or
a foreign ambassador to intervene in this issue because this is the
memory of the people. The Udis and the Udi intellectuals, those people
who stage these protests, they undoubtedly sense and know their history
better than I do, and better than international organizations do.
[Correspondent] Hence, the demographic situation, one of the
most sensitive issues for statehood, is under complete control, in
Orucov’s view, and this control is based on the principle of equality
of peoples.

Ukraine to Ease Visas for Eurovision
by Greg Walters
Moscow Times
February 18, 2005
KIEV — EU citizens will soon be able to forget about invitations, long
lines and hefty processing fees when applying for Ukrainian visas. As
part of its effort to bring Ukraine closer to Europe — and attract
more fans to the Eurovision Song Contest — the government intends
to roll out the welcome mat as early as April, said Oleg Rybachuk,
the deputy prime minister in charge of European integration.
The new visa policy for EU citizens was being hastily thrown
together at the personal request of President Viktor Yushchenko,
officials said. It was a subject of high-level talks Thursday with
a visiting senior EU official, Commissioner for External Relations
Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
“We are talking about substantial simplifications,” Rybachuk said
in an interview Wednesday night. “We will not be having those lines,
those procedures. You will be able to get on board the plane and get
your visa upon arrival in Ukraine.” Citizens from other countries
might also enjoy eased rules, but officials said it was too early to
give a possible timetable.
The new rules for EU citizens should be in place in time for the
Eurovision Song Contest, which kicks off May 19, said Rybachuk,
who heads the committee organizing Eurovision.
Thousands of tourists are expected for the annual music festival,
which will feature contestants from 40 European countries this year.
Kiev is hosting the event after Ukrainian pop star and Yushchenko
ally Ruslana won the top award in 2004.
“There will be so many tourists here, and by that time we will make
sure that there will not be any visa problems we will be ashamed of,”
Rybachuk said.
Visas will probably not be free of charge for EU citizens, but the
price will be considerably reduced, Rybachuk said.
Visa prices for Europeans, Americans, Canadians and Australians
currently start at about $ 100, and an application must be submitted
days in advance. The maximum stay for EU citizens is one year, and
obtaining a new visa means leaving the country and reapplying at a
Ukrainian embassy.
The current policy is widely regarded by Europeans living and working
in Kiev as a major headache.
“It’s a serious issue right now,” said Jorge Intriago, a partner at
PricewaterhouseCoopers in Kiev and vice president of the European
Business Association in Ukraine.
“From the very beginning there’s a barrier placed by the requirement
to have an invitation letter and by the costs of the visa,” he said.
“The new policy sends a very strong message: ‘We’re open for
visitors.'” Guenther Nieschlag, the Ukraine country manager for
Austrian Airlines, called the current visa regime discouraging.
“To get a Ukrainian visa in Vienna, you have to queue outside
the embassy, even in the cold,” he said. “The consular section is
very small, so there are maybe 50 or 60 people on the street. It’s
disgusting, plus it’s expensive.” The new policy will encourage
foreign investors to give the country a closer look, Intriago said.
“It will make a big difference,” he said. “The signal is the country’s
open.” By simplifying its visa rules, Ukraine would be following in the
steps of a handful of other former Soviet republics in welcoming guests
from EU member states, the United States, Canada and Australia. The
Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — lifted all short-term
visa requirements for citizens of those countries in the early 1990s.
Georgia allows Western visitors to buy visas at the border for $
10, while Azerbaijan offers visas at Baku Airport for $ 40. Some
countries, such as Armenia and Uzbekistan, still require visas but
no longer require tourists to obtain invitation letters.
Russia moved to simplify its visa regime a couple of years ago, but
foreigners complain that the process remains expensive, unpredictable
and time-consuming.
Russia does not require Ukrainian citizens to obtain Russian visas,
and Ukraine offers Russians the same courtesy.

ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736 E-mail: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
George Shirinian
DATE: February 18, 2005 Tel:
416-250-9807
Holocaust Scholars to Honor Prof. Vahakn Dadrian. His Book on History of the
Armenian Genocide is Breaking Records in Sales
Philadelphia.- The participants of the Annual Scholars’ Conference on the
Holocaust and the Churches will honor Prof. Dadrian during the scholars’
annual convention that will take place in Philadelphia, March 5-8, 2005. The
ceremony will be carried out during the Conference Banquet on Monday, March
7, 6:30-8:15 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel. Under the theme, “Remembrance of the
Armenian Genocide 90 Years Later,” Dr. Dadrian will be celebrated “for his
lifetime of distinguished work” dealing with studies on genocide in general
and Armenian Genocide in particular. Renowned author and poet Peter
Balakian, Donald M. and Constance H. Rebar Professor of Humanities at
Colgate University and a recent Guggenheim Fellow, will present Dadrian
while outlining his accomplishments. The banquet ceremony will be chaired by
Dr. Gregory Dell’Omo, Vice President of Saint Joseph’s University. The
Annual Scholars Conference is a gathering for hundreds of Holocaust scholars
from all over the world, who explore the manifold aspects of the Holocaust
and its connections to Christianity and the Churches.
As an interesting historical note, it was at this conference in 2000, while
celebrating their 30th anniversary, that the organizers invited Prof.
Dadrian to deliver one of the three keynote speeches. The other keynote
speakers were Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel and distinguished Holocaust scholar
Yehuda Bauer from Hebrew University and Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. On that
occasion, 126 of the conference participants, practically all of them
Holocaust scholars, signed a now famous proclamation. That proclamation
declared that “The Armenian Genocide is an incontestable historical fact”
and that “Turkey for her own sake should come to terms with it.” It further
encouraged Western Democracies “to urge the Government and Parliament of
Turkey to finally come to terms with a dark chapter of Ottoman-Turkish
history and to recognize the Armenian Genocide. This would provide an
invaluable impetus to the process of the democratization of Turkey.” The
proclamation was published in the New York Times, the Jerusalem Post, and
several other periodicals.
Brisk Sales of the New Revised Edition of “History of the Armenian Genocide”
New York- Berghahn Books has announced that the new revised and expanded
version of Prof. Vahakn N. Dadrian’s massive volume, The History of the
Armenian Genocide, is now entering its third printing in paperback format.
The hardcover editions went through six printings from 1995 to 2000,
totaling over 6,000 copies, a remarkable achievement for a serious academic
work.
This ground-breaking book has been translated and published in French (two
editions), Greek, and Italian. There are plans to publish it in Russian and
in Hebrew, as well.
Prof. Vahakn Dadrian is Director of Genocide Research at Zoryan Institute.
The Zoryan Institute is the first non-profit, international center devoted
to the research and documentation of contemporary issues related to Armenian
social, political and cultural life. To this end, the Institute conducts
multidisciplinary research, publication, and educational programs dealing
with Armenia, the Armenian Genocide, and Diaspora, within a universal
context.

New audit finds near-total compliance with policies on sex abuse
By Agostino Bono, Catholic News Service
Catholic News Service
Feb 18 2005
WASHINGTON (CNS) — An independent audit released Feb. 18 in
Washington reported that 96 percent of the 195 U.S. dioceses and
Eastern-rite eparchies were implementing every applicable article of
the U.S. bishops’ policies to prevent clergy sex abuse of minors as
of Dec. 31.
Despite the almost-total compliance, “continued external oversight and
evaluation (are) essential” since compliance “may improve or diminish
over time,” said the audit report for 2004 prepared by the bishops’
Office of Child and Youth Protection.
An audit “does not ensure that all offenders or potential offenders
have been appropriately removed from ministry,” it added.
The 50-page report said that in 2004 there were 1,092 new allegations
of child sex abuse made against 756 diocesan and religious priests
and deacons, with most of the alleged abuse taking place in 1965-74.
It said 73 percent of the accused, prior to the allegation, had been
removed from ministry or were dead or missing. No breakdown of priests
and deacons was given.
Half of the new allegations were against clergy who had been previously
accused. Males accounted for 78 percent of the 1,083 accusers.
During 2004, the U.S. church spent $158 million for sex abuse
related activities, with more than $106 million paid in settlements
to victims, the report said. The figures include money spent by
religious orders. When added to other published figures, the U.S.
church has now spent about $1 billion in child sex abuse related
costs since the beginning of 1950.
The statistics are contained in the 2004 annual report on the
implementation of the “Charter for the Protection of Children and
Young People”; the report was released at a press conference at
the National Press Club. The child protection office prepared the
report for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National
Review Board, appointed by the bishops to monitor compliance with
the charter. The all-lay review board approved the report before it
was sent to the USCCB.
The charter was approved by the bishops in 2002 and calls for an
annual compliance report.
“There is undoubtedly progress still to be made,” said Bishop William
S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., USCCB president, in a cover letter to
the report.
“Much of what dioceses face today is the result of past abusive
behavior — often long past — and procedures are in place to deal
with and put a stop to new instances of abuse that may be reported,”
he said.
The data on new allegations and spending came from a separately
commissioned study done by the Center for Applied Research in the
Apostolate, known as CARA and based at Georgetown University in
Washington, and incorporated into the final report by the bishops’
child protection office.
The report also includes recommendations for improving policies.
These include developing a mediation system for the resolution of
allegations and an annual report by each diocese and eparchy with
information about new allegations and costs.
This was the second year in a row that on-site audits were done in
dioceses, with much of the data based on self-reporting by church
officials. While the charter requires the child protection office to
issue annual compliance reports, it does not stipulate how to gather
the data for the report.
Other figures from the 2004 report include:
— 3,277 victims and some of their relatives received outreach services
from dioceses.
— 43 priests were laicized.
— 66 priests and two deacons were directed to lead a life of prayer
and penance.
— 56 allegations received before 2004 were judged false in 2004.
— 57 of the allegations made in 2004 were judged false.
The audit also reported major inroads in conducting background
checks of clergy, lay employees and lay volunteers coming into
regular contact with children. Important strides were also made in
implementing “safe environment” education programs to prevent abuse.
The background checks and education programs are considered crucial
to long-term efforts to prevent child sex abuse.
Some of the safe environment findings include:
— Almost 84 percent of the 34,514 diocesan priests received safe
environment education.
— More than 82 percent of the church’s 13,663 deacons took safe
environment courses.
— More than 1.4 million adults and more than 3.1 million children,
over half the minors in Catholic schools and religious education
classes, have taken safe environment courses.
— 97 percent of the 203,393 Catholic educators have taken safe
environment courses.
— 82.5 percent of the 203,343 other church employees required to
take safe environment courses have had the training.
— 73 percent of 1 million church volunteers received safe environment
training.
Background checks have been conducted on 92 percent of the 34,874
diocesan priests needing them. All 13,559 deacons subject to background
checks have been screened.
More than 97 percent of the 185,924 Catholic school educators have
had background checks. More than 85 percent of the 207,817 other
church lay employees have been screened. And almost 79 percent of
the 978,172 church volunteers have had background checks.
The report said that background screenings and evaluations also take
place for priesthood candidates in the 112 seminaries run by the
dioceses and eparchies audited.
The report is based on audits of 194 of the 195 U.S. dioceses and
eparchies conducted by the Gavin Group Inc. of Boston and on data
collected by CARA from dioceses, eparchies and religious orders.
Only the Diocese of Lincoln, Neb., did not participate in the
compliance audits. No reason was given in the report. It noted that
participation in an on-site audit was voluntary. The Lincoln Diocese
was judged noncompliant with article 8 of the charter, which calls
for participation in an audit process.
Of the 194 dioceses and eparchies audited, only seven were not
compliant with one or more of the charter’s 17 articles on Dec. 31.
This is a significant advance from the 2003 report, when 19 of the
191 dioceses and eparchies audited were not compliant with aspects
of the charter.
Compliance was judged in two steps. First was the on-site audit,
which judged the situation since the 2003 audit. Dioceses not in
compliance with aspects of the charter were given “required actions”
to remedy the situation and had until the end of the year to take
the actions. Initially, 50 dioceses received “required actions”
with 43 taking the necessary actions by the end of 2004.
The report warned, however, that compliance audits do not measure
the quality or effectiveness of the programs.
Regarding allegations and spending, CARA received responses from
181 dioceses and eparchies, representing 93 percent of the total,
and from 158 religious communities representing 71 percent of the
total U.S. male religious population.
Spending figures showed that 32 percent of the $140 million spent
by dioceses and eparchies was covered by insurance and 12 percent of
the $18 million spent by religious orders was covered by insurance.
The report said that the new allegations generally parallel the
patterns of gender and age reported in the massive “nature and scope”
study of clergy child sex abuse from 1950 to 2002 released last year
by the National Review Board.
The “nature and scope” study conducted by the John Jay College of
Criminal Justice in New York reported that 81 percent of the accusers
were males while the 2004 audit showed that 78 percent were males.
The John Jay study reported that 59 percent of the accusers were
between 10 and 14 years old when the abuse began while the 2004
figures reported that 55 percent were in the same age group.
Recommendations in the 2004 report for improving sex abuse prevention
programs include:
— Informing people if a lawyer is being used by the diocese or
eparchy to receive allegations and providing an alternative person
for people uncomfortable talking to a lawyer.
— Special outreach to clergy and religious who have been victims of
sexual abuse.
— Developing practices for monitoring priests and deacons at risk
as offenders.
The report notes that the church needs to continually develop new
prevention initiatives because full implementation of current policies
“will not ensure that no child will ever be abused again in a church
environment.”
It asks Catholics to be “unwavering in our commitment to ensuring
the accountability of all Catholic bishops of the United States to
their people in the future and to the safety of all our children.”
The seven dioceses and eparchies not in compliance on Dec. 31 all
failed to implement safe environment programs. Some also were cited
for other failures. The seven are: Armenian Catholic Exarchate of the
U.S.A. and Canada, headquartered in New York; Diocese of Burlington,
Vt.; Chaldean Eparchy of St. Peter the Apostle, headquartered in
El Cajon, Calif.; Diocese of Fresno, Calif.; Melkite Eparchy of
Newton, Mass.; Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, W. Va.; and Diocese
of Youngstown, Ohio.