NKR: Institute Of CIS Countries Comments

INSTITUTE OF CIS COUNTRIES COMMENTS

The member of the Russian State Duma, the director of the Institute of
the CIS Countries Constantine Zatulin’s visit to Nagorno Karabakh on
May 18 gave rise to a storm of emotions in the Azerbaijani press. The
newspaper “Echo” was especially fast, interviewing K. Zatulin on the
very next day of his visit by cell phone. Why, Constantine Zatulin is
pleased with the attention of the mass media of Azerbaijan, Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh toward his visit. He hopes that in the future, too,
he will provide the press with topics. Pointing out the perseverance
of the correspondents of “Echo”, the director of the Institute of
the CIS Countries added that his interview had been published without
major changes. However, there is need for editing, for small things
may often change a lot. The interview published in “Echo” contains a
lot of quotation marks. K. Zatulin did not mean to teach the grammar
of Russian to the Azerbaijani journalists. What the Russian member of
parliament says is that the editors of the newspaper took the majority
of his answers in inverted commas wherever they wished, following the
fashionable political trend in Azerbaijan. Thereby the “specialists”
of Russian of the newspaper “Echo” made an attempt to rank K. Zatulin
beside those who doubt the fact of independence and self-determination
of Nagorno Karabakh, the existence of a president, parliament and
political parties there. Whereas, Zatulin does not have doubts in
this reference. He is also sure that during his telephone talk with
the Azerbaijani correspondent he did not ask him to take his words in
quotation marks and make them doubtful. In the text of the interview it
is said, as if casually, that the areas of Nagorno Karabakh adjacent to
Azerbaijan are “occupied” by the troops of Armenia. In fact, K. Zatulin
spoke about the Defence Army of Nagorno Karabakh. The staff of the
newspaper “Echo” is hardly so naive not to realize the difference
between the two. And the director of the Institute does not want to
be taken as a naive person in the Azerbaijani press either. Part of
the answers of K. Zatulin were omitted or distorted. In particular,
speaking about the genuinely democratic elections in Nagorno Karabakh
as distinct from false democracy in a number of CIS countries, he
brought interesting examples of “democracy” when the political order
is based on the succession from father to son. Unfortunately, in
this case the readers of “Echo” were not given a chance to assess the
delicacy of the arguments of Zatulin. In another case, in reference
to granting independence to Nagorno Karabakh as expansion of the
territory of Armenia Zatulin gave the example of Cyprus and Greece.
Although it seemed that the conflict of Cyprus and the division
of Cyprus into Turkish and Greek parts would result in its rapid
unification with Greece, Cyprus and Greece continue existing as
separate recognized states represented in the UN and the European
Union. The Russian member of parliament regretted that this part of
the interview had been incidentally omitted.

AA. 01-06-2005

Khanjian ditches dark characters for Sabah

Khanjian ditches dark characters for Sabah
By ken eisner

Georgia Straight, Canada
June 2 2005

Long-time fans of Canadian film know Arsinee Khanjian as the
dark-browed muse in most films by Atom Egoyan, to whom she happens
to be married. The obsessive fan in Speaking Parts might be the most
memorable turn, or maybe the pregnant strip-club manager in Exotica.
Or perhaps they caught her as the world’s worst mother in Catherine
Breillat’s ornery Fat Girl. But Khanjian lightens up considerably in
Sabah, a new cross-cultural romantic comedy from Toronto filmmaker
Ruba Nadda.

Playing the title character, a never-married Muslim who has just
turned 40, Khanjian is on-screen for virtually every moment of the
film, which allows her, and us, to explore the warm and fuzzy side
of her nature as never before.

Actually in her mid-40s, the veteran actor drew on her own childhood
experiences, as an Armenian born in the Middle East, to round out the
character drawn by Nadda, whose parents are Syrian, although she was
born in this country.

“I was 17 when I left Lebanon,” Khanjian says in a call from her
home in Toronto. “Until my later years, I was very much in the heart
of the Armenian community, its social and cultural life. It wasn’t
until I was attending university in Canada, in Montreal, that I was
exposed to more, to the greater world.”

Although studying English and French-her language skills have been a
notable asset, especially in recent forays into European filmmaking-she
got an MA in political science as per her parents’ wishes.

“I delivered that,” she adds conclusively. At the same time, she
participated in amateur and collegiate dramatics. That’s how she met
Egoyan, a neophyte filmmaker looking for Armenians to play the main
family in his first feature, Next of Kin.

“I broke away in a very drastic way. Leaving Montreal to move to
Toronto, when I met Atom, was more than physical. The Armenian
community was much smaller and harder to find. And I knew I had to
reevaluate what I was raised with, in which everything was very much
based on that community, on those values.

“I broke a few taboos: I got a divorce-because I was married at
the time-and then by choosing this profession, which was somewhat
permissible as a hobby but not something for a serious person.”

The script for Sabah twigged the memory of all that, as the Gershwin
brothers put it. And it didn’t hurt that it would give Khanjian a
shot at her first bonafide lead.

“I loved the part when I first read it three years ago,” she recalls.
“I don’t belong to that specific culture, but I have a sense of
intimacy with the issues. And the specifics are very similar. In
fact, I have lived it more than Ruba has, since she was born in
Canada. We tried to make each other understand that we were on the
same wavelength.”

In some ways, taking the role meant shaking off a head scarf of
another sort.

“People are used to me playing darker characters in complex pursuit
of some idea. This is much more basic. I put a tremendous effort
into staying at the direct level of what I was communicating. We
were all playing a moment for itself, instead of serving the story. I
took the chance to make her as real as I could, and it wasn’t easy;
I had to learn four things at the same time!”

She’s referring to the fact that she needed to pick up a Syrian dialect
of Arabic, dive convincingly for the many pool scenes, make basketball
look fun in heavy clothes and a head scarf, and, most difficult of all,
groove on some serious belly dancing like she meant it.

“That was the toughest thing I’ve ever done. It threw out my back,
the first time I did it.”

The character-who is the only genuinely religious person in her family,
we should add-also undertakes some other small diversions, like
drinking alcohol and kissing a man not her husband and a non-Muslim,
too boot, when she falls in love with an amiable Anglo-Canadian
(as played by Shawn Doyle).

“These things are big no-nos, and some people are not going to like
that. But, hopefully, the audience is going to understand that these
are not suggestions for living. Sabah knows where her commitment lies,
and that’s where the freedom comes into play. It’s only by trying that
you can know where your values lie. Any code or ritual is ultimately
nothing on its own. We can pick and choose what is necessary to keep.

“You know, the reason all immigrants come here is for a better
opportunity for their children, but they often don’t understand that
there will be many changes for them, personally. The immigration
questionnaire doesn’t ask you if you are emotionally prepared to deal
with the changes. But maybe it should.”

Khanjian’s view of the film was challenged when the film debuted
earlier this year at the Rotterdam Film Festival in a 1,000-seat
theatre packed mostly with immigrant women wearing the hejab, most
of whom stuck around for a post-screening Q?&?A session.

“I was already nervous being a non-Muslim playing a Muslim woman. As
much as I was familiar with the codes, I was worried that it wouldn’t
read as authentic enough. But the reaction of the women was very
uplifting, and our answers were very respectfully listened to. What
we were saying was that whatever change Sabah goes through, it has
to come from within. And that was warmly received.”

Currently, Khanjian is also appearing in Egoyan’s latest, Where the
Truth Lies, which stars Colin Firth and Kevin Bacon as a variation on
the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis team. The movie just premiered at Cannes,
and this has been the first time she chose between promoting her own
film over his. She stayed in Toronto while her husband flew to France.

Apparently, the movie tested some of her own family taboos. The love
scenes made Egoyan “uncomfortable”, she admits. And as executive
producer of the low-budget project, he saw far more of that footage
than she did.

“That’s what Ruba told me, anyway. He [Egoyan] sat through the rushes,
but I heard that he did a lot of fast-forwarding. At the same time,
he was fascinated by the emotional immediacy of those scenes, since
that’s something people tend to say his films lack.”

If Sabah represents a challenge on a couple of levels, it’s a signal
to filmgoers, and makers, that Khanjian is capable of far more than
they have previously seen.

“It’s true, you know, that for a long time I was only in Atom’s
movies, and that’s what directors saw. In their mind, I belonged to
Atom Egoyan. But then people like Catherine Breillat, Michael Haneke,
and Ken Finkleman gave me a chance to do different things. And now,
I have to say, comedy is what I’d love to be doing. Yes, I can smile.
And perhaps make other people smile.”

Council Of Europe Will Apply Sanctions Against Armenia If Parliament

COUNCIL OF EUROPE WILL APPLY SANCTIONS AGAINST ARMENIA IF PARLIAMENT
DOES NOT ACCEPT REMARKS OF VENICE COMMISSION, THINKS VARDAN POGHOSIAN

YEREVAN, JUNE 1. ARMINFO. The Council of Europe will apply sanctions
against Armenia, if all the remarks of the Venice Commission of the
Council of Europe regarding constitutional reforms are not accepted.

According to him, Armenia’s continuing the democratic way of
development much depends on conducting of constitutional reforms,
otherwise the country will imitate its presence. In Poghosian’s
opinion, the draft constitutional amendments proposed by the United
Labour party is the most successful one of the three projects. In spite
of that MPs gave preference to the draft amendments proposed by the
coalition. “Now we became witnesses of sharp statement and negative
estimation by the Venice Commission concerning the draft amendments of
the coalition”, Poghosian said. He expressed an opinion that such a
reaction expresses the clear policy of the Venice Commission, general
dissatisfaction with the political processes taken place in Armenia
since 2000.

Statement by Justice faction

STATEMENT BY JUSTICE FACTION

A1plus

| 18:42:39 | 31-05-2005 | Politics |

Today all the parties serving on the Justice faction with the exception of
Republic party held a sitting, the agenda of which contained one item only –
to issue a statement on the draft constitutional amendments. The statement
adopted by the faction is presented below.

STATEMENT

Armenia is not a democratic and rule of law country. Falsified elections,
union of authorities with criminal elements, shadow economy and corruption,
extreme social polarization, human defenselessness, restrictions of
expression, media and assemblies are conditioned by that.

Decrease of our country’s international reputation, isolation from regional
projects and imitation of Euro-integration are continuing.

Constitutional reforms have crucial role in overcoming these dangerous
tendencies and paving a way of development. On 19 January, 2005 we publicly
stated our three fundamental approaches on separation and balance of powers,
judicial system independent from executive and real local self-government.
In case of their adoption we are ready to cooperation in the whole process
of constitutional reforms.

The Draft Constitutional Amendments presented by NGO “Democracy” is drafted
according to our approaches and is mainly supported by the “Justice” and
“National Unity” factions.

The Draft Constitutional Amendments adopted by the National Assembly in the
first reading on 11 May, 2005 rejects necessary reforms for the country’s
democratization and is directed to the preservation of authoritarian system
in the country.

The “Justice” and “National Unity” factions state:

1.In case the submitted Draft is put to Referendum, we’ll call of saying
“No” to that Draft.

2.Real democratic Constitutional Reforms have no alternative and will be
realized after legal authorities are established

Spanish Ambassador to Armenia presented credentials ….

SPANISH AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA PRESENTED CREDENTIALS TO ARMENIAN FM

Pan Armenian News
31.05.2005 08:29

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom
of Spain to Armenia Francisco Javier Elorza Cavengt (residence in
Moscow) presented credential to Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian, reported
the Press Service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry. In the course of
the meeting the Armenian FM positively assessed the Armenian-Spanish
political relations, noted the unused potential in commercial, economic
and cultural cooperation. Within that context the parties noted the
importance of forming the treaty and legal framework between the two
countries. Besides, the interlocutors exchanged opinions over the EU
developments, EU-Turkey prospects, dynamics of the Armenian-Turkish
relations, as well as the EU New Neighborhood Policy and Program of
Actions within Armenia’s participation in that initiative.

Armenian President Meets Armenian Ambassadors To Foreign Countries

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MEETS ARMENIAN AMBASSADORS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES

YEREVAN, May 31. /ARKA/. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan met
Tuesday Armenian Ambassadors to foreign countries. According to
Armenian Presidential Press Service, Armenia’s foreign policy
problems and ways for solution were discussed at the meeting among
other issues. The President thinks systematization of works being
carried out in foreign policy area should be improved for securing
the state’s interests in foreign policy area. Armenian diplomats are
now in Yerevan to attend annual session of ambassadors. M.V. -0–

Armenian Mil. To Take Part in NATO Cooperative Best Effort 2005

ARMENIAN MILITARY MEN TO TAKE PART IN NATO COOPERATIVE BEST EFFORT
2005

YEREVAN, MAY 27. ARMINFO. Armenian military men will take part in NATO
Cooperative Best Effort 2005 in Lviv, Ukraine, June 19-30, says
Spokesman of Armenia’s DM Seyran Shahsuvaryan.

He says that Armenia will just observe Gintarine Viltis 2005 exercises
in Lithuania June 6-18.

The key objective of Cooperative Best Effort is to promote cooperation
between NATO member countries and to improve the general command over
multinational forces during peacekeeping operations.

Attending the exercises will be Azerbaijan, Germany, Denmark, Estonia,
Latvia, Poland, Lithuania, Canada, UK, Georgia and Finland.

EU criticizing Turkey

Pan Armenian News

EU CRITICIZING TURKEY

26.05.2005 09:34

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Union subjected the Turkish parliament to
sharp criticism for preventing the conduction of unprecedented historical
conference on the Armenian Genocide entitled `Ottoman Armenians during the
Decline of the Empire: Issues of Scientific Responsibility and Democracy,’
AFP news agency reported. `The conference was meant to become an important
step in the reform process in Turkey’, EU representative stated adding that
the Turkish parliament should reverse its decision. In his words, Turkish
leadership is likely to remain passive; however Turkey will not benefit from
such behavior. To remind, under pressure from the Turkish government,
organizers of an unprecedented Armenian Genocide conference were forced to
cancel the event set to open in Istanbul May 25. Turkish Justice Minister
Cemil Cicek accused Conference organizers of committing treason.

BAKU: DM meets with OSCE MG French co-chair

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
May 26 2005

DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS WITH OSCE MINSK GROUP FRENCH CO-CHAIR
[May 26, 2005, 22:41:41]

Defense Minister of Azerbaijan Colonel-General Safar Abiyev has met
with visiting OSCE Minsk Group French Co-Chair Bernard Fasier to
discuss the situation around the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. Azerbaijan wants peaceful solution to the conflict, but
unless the talks bring positive results, we will resort to any means
to liberate out territories,’ Minister Abiyev said.

Speaking for his part of the role of the French government as one of
the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Ambassador Fasier said: `The
international community supports the conflict resolution on the base
of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. This is how it should be
done.’

Colonel-General Safar Abiyev and Ambassador Bernard Fasier have also
exchanged views on the current military and political situation in
the South Caucasus.

Present at the meeting was Ambassador of France to Azerbaijan Roland
Blatman.

Azeri press gripped by oil boom

Thursday, 26 May, 2005, 13:29 GMT 14:29 UK

Azeri press gripped by oil boom

Azerbaijan’s press considers the implications of Wednesday’s opening of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (BTC), which will export oil from the Caspian Sea
to the Mediterranean.

Pro-government and opposition newspapers are divided on the legacy of late
President Heydar Aliyev and his predecessor Abulfaz Elcibay. Some commentators
hope the pipeline will spur political change in Azerbaijan and a settlement of
the long-running Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia.
————————————————————————

Oil is being pumped into the pipeline. This is a triumph for Azerbaijan’s oil
strategy, which was prepared by the great leader Heydar Aliyev and started
with the signing of the Contract of the Century on 20 September 1994.

Yeni Azarbaycan – pro-government
————————————————————————

Everybody understands that HE DID IT. Heydar Aliyev resembles a wise gardener
who plants a garden for people without being sure that he will reap its
fruits. Yesterday’s event was one of those fruits.

Markaz – pro-government
————————————————————————

Azerbaijani oil, which has become a handicap for all Azerbaijanis, will
finally reach world markets. But the project’s original ideologist, the late
Abulfaz Elcibay, and the late Heydar Aliyev, who manipulated the project to build
his own empire, did not live to witness the event.

Bizim Yol – opposition
————————————————————————

The Aliyevs’ fond illusions about this project were linked to the expectation
that the pipeline would force the USA to turn a blind eye to despotism. But
the USA’s strong support for democratic processes worldwide and explicit signs
that it does not plan to “sacrifice democracy for oil” have undermined this
theory. Bush destroyed the Aliyevs’ illusion with his congratulatory letter, in
which he did not forget to mention that he considers the BTC a means of
strengthening democratic norms in the region.

Azadliq – opposition
————————————————————————

It is time to draw several conclusions. First, the region’s move to Western –
and especially US – control is now virtually irreversible. Second, it is not
worth considering a military solution to the Karabakh conflict. The US will
never accept a resumption of hostilities, which could endanger the operation of
the BTC pipeline. Third, it is important to realise that the launch of the BTC
means that Baku can no longer use oil to bargain with the West, especially
the US, particularly where the country’s democratisation is concerned.

Zerkalo – independent
————————————————————————

This project is also very important for resolving the deadlocked Karabakh
conflict. This is the most important factor that the BTC will bring for
Azerbaijan. Since the resolution of regional conflicts is crucial for the pipeline’s
security and sustainability, the major player in the project, the US, will be
more active in dealing with the Karabakh conflict. This is likely to expedite a
solution to the conflict.

Yeni Qafqaz – pro-government