Pan Armenian News

SYSTEM OF A DOWN READY TO PERFORM IN TURKEY IN CASE FREEDOM OF SPEECH ON
STAGE GUARANTEED

24.05.2005 06:10

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ «It is beyond all understanding when a country aspires to
accession to the EU and does not wish to address its own history,» stated
vocalist of System Of A Down (SOAD) famous American rock band Serj Tankian
in an interview with Laut German Internet newspaper. In his words, many
countries today acknowledge the crime against Armenians, however not
considering it a genocide. By now the SOAD has not performed a single
concert in Turkey in spite of having fans in that country. «We had the
opportunity to play in Turkey, however were there along with Slayer band. At
that time we wanted to play only having stipulated that we will have full
freedom of speech on the stage,» Tankian stated. «No one wished to guarantee
it to us, thus we did not play. However, we would gladly perform in Turkey
for the sake of the principle,» he noted. SOAD members come for not allowing
oblivion of the Armenian Genocide in 1915. The rule of Young Turks that came
to power in 1908 started with arrests, exiles and murder of Armenians. Up to
today the Turkish Government refuses to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
On April 24, the day of commemoration the Armenian Genocide victims, the
SOAD performs a concert each year. Today more and more people speak of the
Armenian Genocide again, to all appearance also due to the System Of A Down.