Author: Tadevosian Garnik

EU’S REHN PRESSES FOR START OF TURKISH ENTRY TALKS (UPDATE1)

Bloomberg
Sept 13 2005

Sept. 13 (Bloomberg) — European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli
Rehn pressed EU governments to start membership talks with Turkey,
saying skeptical nations such as France would have dozens of chances
to veto entry later on.

The scheduled Oct. 3 start of the decade-long entry process is in
doubt because Turkey refuses to recognize EU member Cyprus. Rehn said
every EU government could block the start or conclusion of talks in
35 negotiating areas as well as Turkey’s ultimate membership, adding
up to 71 chances to wield a veto.

“That’s quite a safeguard,” Rehn told the European Parliament’s
foreign-affairs committee today in Brussels. Talks would end “perhaps
in 10 to 15 years.”

Opposition to enlargement was hardening before the dispute over
Turkey’s diplomatic boycott of Cyprus, one of 10 countries that
joined the bloc last year. Skepticism grew three and half months
ago when French and Dutch voters rejected the European constitution,
meant to help the 25-nation EU function better with more members.

The Turkish government caused a diplomatic stir in July when it said
its signature of a protocol extending a European trade accord to
Cyprus didn’t amount to recognition of the Mediterranean island, whose
northern tier Turkey has occupied since 1974. Signing the protocol was
a condition set by the EU last December for starting membership talks.

Diplomacy

EU governments are working on a declaration that would urge Turkey to
ensure free trade with the Greek-speaking Cypriot republic. Diplomats
in Brussels tomorrow will try to break a deadlock over the wording.

“I can’t speculate at this stage about what precise language will
come out of the ongoing discussions,” Rehn said. Still, he expressed
optimism that the talks will go ahead on time.

Cyprus will block the start of negotiations should the counter
declaration be unsatisfactory, Cypriot government spokesman Kypros
Chrysostomides was quoted by CNBC-e television as saying.

“It is regrettable that a candidate country does not recognize one
of the EU member states,” Rehn said. “At the same time, we need to
be consistent. Formal recognition wasn’t a condition for the start
of negotiations.”

Rehn said the dispute could be resolved with United Nations help on
unifying the island while EU entry talks took place. He also said
Turkey would have to recognize all EU members before joining.

Parliament Vote

Elmar Brok, head of the EU parliament’s foreign-affairs committee,
asked Rehn for a written statement that Turkey’s declaration about
not recognizing Cyprus would have no legal impact on the trade accord,
known as the Ankara protocol. The parliament is due to vote Sept. 28
on ratification of the protocol.

“We need clarity,” said Brok, who belongs to the German Christian
Democratic party opposed to Turkey joining the EU. “Otherwise, we can’t
complete the ratification process of the Ankara protocol by Sept. 28.”

Turkey, a nation of 72 million people, is counting on the accession
talks to attract record foreign investment to its $300 billion
economy. It would be one of the two most populous EU nations along
with Germany, become the bloc’s first mainly Muslim member and widen
the EU’s borders to Iraq.

Human Rights

Membership talks with Turkey would be in the EU’s strategic interest
by bolstering reform-minded politicians in the country, Rehn said.

“The EU needs a stable, democratic and increasingly prosperous Turkey,”
he said.

Rehn faced demands by some EU parliament members to press the
Turkish government for more human-rights protection after an Istanbul
prosecutor filed criminal charges against a Turkish novelist named
Orhan Pamuk. Pamuk faces up to three years in jail for criticizing
the lack of debate on the 1915 massacre of Armenians, his publisher
said Aug. 31.

Turkey, which fulfilled another EU condition for starting entry talks
by enacting upgraded human-rights legislation earlier this year,
is making progress in this area, said Rehn.

“There have been certain negative cases,” he said. “The overall trend
is still positive.”

The Globe and Mail, Canada
Sept 9 2005

True Bollywood story: its posters

By APARITA BHANDARI

A chance encounter with an article in a French magazine two years ago
inspired Rafi Ghanaghounian to curate an exhibition showcasing
Bollywood art.

“I noticed some painters in the article and asked my friend to
translate,” he says. “It was about billboard painters in Bollywood,
about how things were changing, everything was going digital. And
these artists, their grandfathers were painters, and now they are
unemployed. Because of programs like Photoshop and Illustrator we are
witnessing the demise of a trade.”

Ghanaghounian is interested in cultural trends across the world. His
previous two exhibitions explored Japanese dolls and street fashion.
His current exhibition called Tamasha!, from the Hindi word meaning
spectacle or display, runs from Sept. 11 to 25 at the Design
Exchange.

Last Friday, framed colourful Bollywood posters were lined up against
a white wall of the exhibit space, waiting to be hung. Depicting
characters and scenes, some even listing popular songs from the
advertised movie’s soundtrack, the posters are mainly from the
fifties and sixties.

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The poster for the hit film Barsaat (Rain, 1949) is a typical
example. Bollywood legends Raj Kapoor and Nargis are painted in an
embrace against a backdrop of rain falling through the blue and pink
skies, capturing the romantic chemistry between the two leads that
the movie became famous for. Raindrops are also drawn atop the
movie’s title. Realism definitely isn’t the mantra with orange and
pink tints serving as skin tones.

Similarly, the poster for the cult hit Kaagaz Ke Phool (Flowers of
Paper, 1959) illustrates famous Bollywood actor-director Guru Dutt
with his muse Waheeda Rehman. Dutt and Rehman are painted against a
green backdrop with childlike floral drawings, and a vivid red rose
highlights the title of the film.

Classic tunes from both movies are listed at the top of the posters.

Traditionally, the posters were painted and then photographed.
Thereafter, lithographs were made. The original paintings were either
painted over or destroyed.

“It’s insane,” says Ghanaghounian. “It costs a fortune. No one will
do it now. Today you have vinyl printing and digital printing. You
don’t need painters any more.

“Many of these painters are considered labourers. Despite their
talent in graphics, they are not considered artists.”

Yet an original Bollywood billboard painting can today fetch a pretty
price from interested collectors. The 24 posters framed and displayed
at the Design Exchange can also be purchased for $350 each.

Earlier this year, Ghanaghounian travelled to Bombay twice to source
the posters. An Armenian by background, he didn’t know much about
Bollywood movies, so he chose posters based on the graphics. Some
posters of classic movies were suggested to him by his guide.

“We went to Falkland Road, where you have older cinemas,” says
Ghanaghounian. “A theatre manager gave us an address in some
alleyway. We climbed up a rusty staircase. And there was this man
with thousands of posters just piled up. They don’t throw anything
away. A movie may get rereleased and they reuse the posters.”

The exhibition isn’t just for Bollywood aficionados, says
Ghanaghounian. “There are so many cultures growing up with Bollywood
today,” he says. “When I was bringing some posters from the framers,
the cabbie, who was from Africa, recognized they were Bollywood.”

AZERI ARMY COULD LIBERATE KARABAKH – ALIYEV

Interfax, Russia
Aug 8 2005

BAKU. Sept 8 (Interfax) – The armed forces of Azerbaijan are capable
of liberating the territories occupied by Armenia, said Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev.

“The enemy must know that the Azerbaijani army is strong enough to
liberate its land at any moment,” Aliyev said at a ceremony to unveil
a monument to former President Heydar Aliyev in Lenkoran.

Aliyev said that Armenia’s reluctance to make concessions “is seriously
slowing the settlement of the conflict.”

“We hope for a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh problem, but
are doing a great deal to strengthen the defense capability of the
Azerbaijani army,” he said.

ARMENIAN DM VISITS LATVIA

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 5. ARMINFO. A delegation of Armenia’s Defence
Ministry led by DM Serzh Sargsyan has left for Latvia today.

Sargsyan’s press secretary, colonel Seyran Shahsuvaryan says that
the delegates will meet with the Latvian prime minister, DM, chief
of the general staff, parliamentary national security and defence
commissioner. The sides will sign an agreement to develop military
cooperation.

Armenian representative to House dies

Cyprus News Agency
Sept 2 2005

Nicosia, Sep 2 (CNA) — Bedros Kalaydjian, the representative of
Armenians in Cyprus to the House of Representatives, has died at the
age of 71.

He has been ill for some time and died on Thursday, it was officially
announced.The funeral takes place on Saturday at the Armenian church
in Larnaca.

INJURED MAKAAY TO MISS ARMENIA GAME

FoxSports.com
Sept 1 2005

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) – Netherlands forward Roy Makaay will
miss his team’s World Cup qualifier against Armenia with a knee injury.

Makaay, who injured his right knee in practice on Wednesday, has
headed to Munich for treatment.

Netherlands coach Marco van Basten will decide on Sunday evening if
the Bayern Munich striker is fit to play against Andorra in Eindhoven
on Sept 7.

The final 19-player roster for Saturday’s game against Armenia in
Yerevan was to be announced later Thursday.

The Netherlands leads European Group 1 with 22 points from eight games,
one point ahead of the Czech Republic. Armenia and Andorra are bottom
of the group with four points from nine games.

FRANCE ‘NAMES AND SHAMES’ AIRLINES

Irish Times; Aug 30, 2005

FRANCE: Paris has said it hopes its new blacklist of airlines banned
from landing in France will speed up European moves to “name and shame”
airlines who fail to meet international safety standards.

France and neighbour Belgium have listed on the internet 14 companies
banned from using their airports or airspace due to concerns over
their safety or aircraft maintenance record.

International airline safety has become a particularly sensitive issue
following four fatal crashes in August alone in which more than 330
people died.

“This list also has the merit, we hope, of leading the way at a
European level, so that we get a European blacklist as soon as
possible,” said Maxime Coffin, director of France’s DGAC civil
aviation authority.

“We believe publication is a deterrent, a warning to other companies
that have not been sufficiently rigorous, that shows them that if they
don’t take the necessary steps, one day they too could be banned,”
he said.

On the website , France also published “whitelists” of
approved charter airlines used by French tour operators which met
international safety standards.

French transport minister Dominique Perben had vowed to publish the
lists in response to the deaths of 152 French nationals on August 16th,
when a jet from Colombia’s West Caribbean airline crashed in Venezuela.

A Colombian audit found a lack of crew training, incorrect use
of flight logs and maintenance problems. The French ban affects:
Air Koryo (North Korea); Air Saint Thomas (US); International Air
Services (Liberia); Lineas Aer de Mozambique (Mozambique); Transairways
chartered by LAM; and Phuket Airlines (Thailand).

Belgium’s transport ministry said on its website it had suspended
landing permits for: Africa Lines (Central African Republic); Air
Memphis (Egypt); Air Van Airlines (Armenia); Central Air Express
(Democratic Republic of Congo); ICTTPW (Libya); International Air Tours
Ltd (Nigeria); Johnsons Air Ltd (Ghana); Silverback Cargo Freighters
(Rwanda); and South Airlines (Ukraine).

10 DAYS IN USA

A1+

| 20:53:07 | 29-08-2005 | Official |

The RA NA President Arthur Baghdarasyan will be in USA from August
31till September 9 on an official visit to participate in the
Parliament Presidents World Summit and to meet the representatives
of the US legislative and execute powers.

Arthur Baghdasaryan will have many meetings in the US Congress,
in the State Secretariat, and the White House. In the Center for
Strategic International Investigations he will meet American experts.

In Washington the President of the Armenian Parliament will also
have meetings with the US Congress President, the assistants of the
US State Secretary, head of the Democratic Programs, heads of the US
Republican and Democratic parties, senators and other political bodies.

No major progress between Azeri, Armenian leaders – minister

ANS TV, Baku
27 Aug 05

[Presenter] The last meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham
Aliyev and Armenian President Robert Kocharyan on the Nagornyy
Karabakh problem has been held in Kazan. The presidents first had a
tete-a-tete meeting and then were joined by the co-chairmen of the
OSCE Minsk Group.

During the talks which lasted for about an hour, an exchange of
opinions was also held on some issues agreed upon at a meeting between
the Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, Elmar Mammadyarov and
Vardan Oskanyan, in Moscow on 24 August.

Tatarstan’s Kazan-inform news agency says that both Ilham Aliyev and
Robert Kocharyan, as well as the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen,
positively assessed the talks. President Ilham Aliyev’s plane landed
at Heydar Aliyev airport about 30 minutes ago, which marks the end of
his visit to Tatarstan.

In an interview with ANS, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov positively assessed this meeting.

[Mammadyarov] We should now analyse the results. In general, I cannot
say that there has been any major progress or breakthrough. We did not
reach any agreement. But, in general, certainly, talks between the two
presidents are always important and they try to make their positions
correspond each other. I think that we, both Armenia and Azerbaijan,
need a couple of weeks to analyse the thoughts voiced by the two sides
and think what the results may be and whether we are prepared for any
progress or not.

[Passage omitted: Kazan-inform says all official meetings at the CIS
summit have ended]

UP THE SYSTEM: BAND LEAVENS HEAVY METAL SOUND WITH ARMENIAN FOLK MELODIES
By Jay Lustig
Star-Ledger Staff

Newark Star Ledger, NJ
Aug 25 2005

The headliner of an arena rock concert almost always performs
an encore, even if the building is half empty and the audience is
diffident. But System of a Down, playing for a sold-out, enthusiastic
crowd at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, Tuesday
night, left the stage without one.

By this point in the evening, though, members of this Los Angeles-based
quartet had made it clear that they weren’t interested in following
anyone else’s rules.

Their songs often blended the raw power of heavy metal with
melodies borrowed from Armenian folk music (all four members are
Armenian-Americans). Serj Tankian, who sang lead on most songs
(as well as playing keyboards and guitar at times), had a crazed
glint in his eye, and tended to either bark out his lyrics or
soar into quasi-operatic territory. Daron Malakian, who also sang
lead occasionally, created an astonishing array of sounds with his
guitar, while the rhythm section (bassist Shavo Odadjian, drummer
John Dolmayan) cranked out machine-gun rhythms but also made tricky
tempo shifts look easy.

They played hard enough to drive the moshers on the arena floor into
a frenzy, though the lyrics tended to make political points.

“B.Y.O.B.” was an anti-war song with a sarcastic twist: “Everybody’s
going to the party, have a real good time/Dancing in the desert,
blowing up the sunshine.”

“Sad Statue” explored similar terrain, more directly: “You and me,
we’ll all go down in history with a sad Statue of Liberty, and a
generation that didn’t agree.”

In “Prison Song,” Tankian rapped, in a snide tone, “Minor drug
offenders fill your prisons, you don’t even flinch/All our taxes
paying for your wars against the new non-rich.”

System of a Down clearly has no use for show-business nonsense. Band
members wore simple black outfits, and the stage was minimally
adorned. The light show was nothing special. Basically, the only
thing to look at was Malakian twirling around as he played, or Tankian
occasionally breaking into a spastic dance.

This band seems to live in its own musical universe, so it came as a
shock when Malakian demonstrated an interest in classic-rock by singing
a bit of Neil Young’s “My, My, Hey, Hey (Out of the Blue)” before “Kill
Rock’n’ Roll,” a song that will be included on the band’s November
album, “Hypnotized” (the sister album to May’s “Mezmerize”). Even
more surprisingly, he sang some of Dire Straits’ “Sultans of Swing”
— a very mellow tune, by System of a Down’s standards — before
“Aerials,” changing the line, “We are the sultans of swing,” to
“We are the System of a Down.”

Songs from “Mezmerize” and the band’s 2001 breakthrough album
“Toxicity” dominated the set list, with “Toxicity” material like
“Prison Song,” “Aerials” and “Chop Suey!” making the biggest impact.
System of a Down may never top that masterpiece, but 10 years after
its formation, it hasn’t sold out or softened up in any way.

Performing before System of a Down, the Mars Volta was just as
uncompromising, but in a different way. The band, featuring former
members of the garage-punk band At the Drive-In, rocked hard for much
of the set, but sometimes seemed like a psychedelic jam band, intent
on pursuing every possible musical tangent. Most songs had layers
of keyboards and percussion; some took left turns with exploratory
sax and flute solos. Lead singer Cedric Bixler Zavala howled like a
young, thinner-voiced Robert Plant, but tended to be drowned out by
his band’s walls of sound.

Opening act Bad Acid Trip — who happen to be signed to Tankian’s
record label, Serjical Strike — lived up to their name thanks to
Dirk Rogers’ screamed, incomprehensible vocals, though sometimes
Keith Aazami’s snaky guitar lines did add a hint of originality.