ARF DASHNAKTSUTIUN ATTENDANT UNIONS PRESENT THEIR ACTIVITIES AND OBSTACLES
BEIRUT, November 25 (Noyan Tapan). The Unprecedented Congress Of The
Attendant Organizations And Unions Of The ARF Dashnaktsutiun Party
(Hamazgayin, The Armenian General Physical Training Society, The
Union Of Armenian Relief), Which Was Opened In Beirut On November 18,
Officially Started Their Working Sittings At The “Aghbalian” Sport
and Cultural Complex.
According to the report of the Union of Armenian Relief, the
successfull implementation of such programs as, for example, the
provision of social services for the Armenians of Javakhk, support
to the Armenians of Iraq, the publication of the book dedicated to
the 100th anniversary of the Union of Armenian Relief, as well as
fundraising are of great importance.
The report of the Central Board of Hamazgayin, was on the three-year
activities of the current central board of Hamazgayin, i. e. the funds,
the “Vahe Setian” printing-house, the “Bagin” monthly newspaper, the
“Arevik” festival.
Levon Mkrtchian touched upon the issue of the coordination of
Armenia-Diaspora relations, stressing that the assessment of
the possibilities of Armenia and the Diaspora is necessary for
the effectiveness of the process. He presented the spheres of the
activities and the ways of the establishment of relations with the
national structures of the Diaspora.

ARF STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES OPPRESSED
A1 Plus | 14:24:48 | 26-11-2004 | Social |
Today’s press conference of ARF “Nikol Aghbalyan” Student Union has
been over the seminar on “Corruption in State Colleges of Armenia”
they held on November 16, 2004.
Let’s remind that during September-October, 2004, they conducted
experimental surveys among 1100 students of state colleges in Armenia
to find the ideas of students on corruption in institutes of higher
education. The survey results were published on November 16, which
caused discontent of chairmen of student boards for some IHE.
Ishkhan Saghatelyan, Head of ARF “Nikol Aghbalyan” Student Union
considered as baseless the statement made by representatives of
S-boards who said that no polls had been held and even if they were,
in a non-professional way only.
Members of ARF “Nikol Aghbalyan” Student Union stated that after
their statement some heads of IHE exert pressure on some students,
especially in Physical Training Institute. Representatives of “Nikol
Aghbalyan” SU didn’t indicate in which faculties exactly.
Despite the pressure, ARF “Nikol Aghbalyan” Student Union announces
that it will be more resolute and will keep unveiling corruption
in IHE.

POLICY OF HINDERING TALKS
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
26 Nov 04
“And if Azerbaijan, nevertheless, does not give up its undertaking in
the UN, it will have to continue negotiations with Karabakh,” said the
foreign minister of Armenia during the joint press conference with
the Italian vice foreign minister Margaret Boniver in Yerevan. On
November 24 the undertaking of Azerbaijan on the situation in
the so-called “occupied territories” was to be discussed by the UN
General Assembly. Making the territories adjacent to Artsakh a topic
of discussion at the UN Azerbaijan practically created a foreign
political crisis for itself. Just remember that the OSCE, EU, United
States have criticized the non-constructive position of Azerbaijan. The
foreign minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanian touched upon the official
position of Armenia at the press conference. “Our position in the UN
is clear. We find that Azerbaijan commits a mistake by taking such
a step, and if the resolution is passed, some time later they will
recognize that they were mistaken,” said Vardan Oskanian. The vice
foreign minister of Italy, touching upon the same question, said that
hopefully the delegation of her country will abstain, and will vote
in accordance with the common standpoint of the EU. Nevertheless,
if the resolution set forth by Azerbaijan is passed, it is not known
who will profit and how. Nevertheless, Mr. Oskanian asked not to
worry regarding it as a mere political process. According to him,
there would be reason for anxiety if the document tried to determine
the fate of Karabakh. Moreover, the Parliamentary Assembly of NATO
assumed that there are three conflict sides – Azerbaijan which tries
to maintain its territorial integrity, Karabakh which tries to maintain
its right for self-determination, and Armenia which backs Karabakh. The
minister of foreign affairs of Armenia assured that if, nevertheless,
the resolution is passed, “we will continue to take part in the talks
but the main talks will be with NK.” Thus Azerbaijan will have to
recognize Nagorni Karabakh as a conflict side. According to the article
7 of the resolution the UN will suggest the OSCE Minsk Group sending a
multinational mission to the “occupied territories” of Azerbaijan. In
this reference Mr. Oskanian mentioned, “We have always appealed to
international organizations to visit and give their evaluation to
those territories. The Minsk Group has this mandate but the UN does
not have such an experience to come and fulfil a mission.” Touching
upon the settlement of people in those territories, Oskanian said,
“There are people who went to live there as they anticipate the
liberation of their homes in Shahumian and Getashen.” In answer to
the question whether it is possible that the UN or NATO documents on
NK are later used against Armenia, Vardan Oskanian said, “If decisions
are made on the future status of NK, it will be dangerous, of course,
but there is no report or resolution containing decisions. There are
evaluations of the present situation. There is a point in the NATO
resolution, which is favourable for us – the conflict has three sides,
NK, RA and Azerbaijan.” Nevertheless, if suddenly Azerbaijan gives up
the undertaking of discussion the problem of Nagorni Karabakh at the
UN, the foreign minister of Armenia assured that Armenia will be ready
to resume the process of Prague during which the foreign minister of
Azerbaijan Eldar Mamediarov and he achieved certain arrangements.
CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.
26-11-2004

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION CALLS UPON EU PRESIDENCY AND ALL COUNTRIES
MEMBERS TO BLOCK AZERBAIJANI-SPONSORED UN RESOLUTION
BRUSSELS, November 25 (Noyan Tapan). The European Armenian
Federation for Justice and Democracy calls upon the European Union
Presidency and all countries members of the European Union to block
the Azerbaijani-sponsored UN resolution in the name of peace and
stability in this sensitive region.
Azerbaijan introduced a resolution asking the United Nations General
Assembly to condemn the so-called Armenian colony created in the
territories under Armenian control.
“The UN resolution submitted by Azerbaijan and Turkey, coupled with
another current initiative being taken up at the Council of Europe,
are both deadly blows to the negociation process initiated by the
Minsk Group” declared Hilda Tchoboian, Chairperson of the European
Armenian Federation.
Over the past several years, Azerbaijan has rejected a number of
proposals put forward by the OSCE Minsk group including the “Common
State” option in 1998. Former President Heider Aliyev walked away
from commitments made in Paris and the Key West summits during talks
with Armenian President Robert Kocharian.
The European Armenian Federation notes that since assuming power,
the current Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliev, has continuously
discredited the OSCE process, threatening to resolve the Karabagh
issue militarily.
The European Armenian Federation remains concerned that the
disintegration of the Minsk peace process will exclude Europe of any
active role in the South Caucasus, at a time when the European Union
has just included this region in its new neighborhood policy. It
affirms that the end of the process could introduce a new period of
instability in the region.
The European Armenian Federation notes that France joined the
Presidency of the Minsk Group in 1997 to establish peace, but also
with the intention of representing Europe, which did not have great
influence in the region until that time. “It balanced the Russian
and American interests in the region,” explained Tchoboian.

HRANT MARGARIAN: “WE NEED ORGANIZATION FOR THE STRENGTHENING OF OUR MIGHT”
BEIRUT, November 25 (Noyan Tapan). The congress of the attendant
organizations and unions of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun Party (Hamazgayin,
the Armenian General Physical Training Society, the Union of
Armenian Relief) was opened at the “La Ruayal” hotel on November
18. Representatives of these organizations from the countries of the
five continents participated in the congress. The forum organized by
the ARF Bureau lasted two days.
Touching upon the problems of the Armenian Diaspora in the whole
world, representative of the ARF Bureau Hrant Margarian said:
“Today the purpose of our organization is to make the Independent
Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people an influential force in
the region and even in the world. The force, which is able to provide
existence and security of Armenia and the Armenian people. The force,
which is able to guarantee the prosperity of Armenia and the Armenian
people. We should use all our national potential for the realization
of this purpose. And our organization should contribute to it.”
Speaking about the work carried out in connection with the problems of
Hay Dat and Western Armenia “consigned to oblivion”, H. Margarian said:
“Isn’t it high time to fasten our eyes to Yerkir – Western Armenia,
as the Armenian youth did in the late 19th century.”
“The existence of our independent statehood is the realization of our
centuries-old dream. We are the ideological movement responsible for
today and tomorrow of the Armenian statehood. We should constantly
care of Independent Armenia in our agenda,” said the representative
of the ARF Bureau.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Titillating Turkey Trivia
Brox International Press – Features & Discoveries of the World
11-24-2004
The American turkey was accidentally named after the country. After
the Spanish first found the bird in America more than 400 years ago
and brought it back to Europe, the English mistakenly thought it was
an African bird they had named for the country it was shipped through;
Turkey. The name stuck even after they realized the birds weren’t
the same.
The highest point in Turkey is Mount Ararat which is 5,166 meters
tall. The remains of Noah’s Ark are thought to be buried on this
mountain.
Turkey produces 65% of the world’s hazelnuts.
The national drink of Turkey is called ‘çay’ and is a type of tea
drunk black without milk.
Popular sports in Turkey include oil wrestling and camel
wrestling. Camel wrestling consists of two camels pushing against
each other until one is knocked over or runs away. Weightlifting and
wrestling are the sports that Turkey usually wins at the Olympics.
Turkish Bath Houses have operated for hundreds of years. They are a
cross between swimming pools, health clubs and communal baths, and
often have very plain exteriors with beautiful, ornately designed
interiors.
Nearly 99% of people are Muslims, and any Turkish city skyline will
include the many brightly colored domes of many mosques, which can
have diameters up to 30 m.
Turkey still has many unresolved issue with neighboring Christian
Armenia, including well-documented massacres and deportations that
Armenians refer to as the First Genocide of the 20th century.
Ingenious population of Kurdish minority is not recognize by Turkey
as a distinct nation group, even though they comprise about 30 percent
of the south-eastern provincial population.
The ancient city of Troy was made famous in Homer’s The Odyssey
and The Iliad, written between 1500 and 1200 B.C. Though initially
believed to be mere legend, a German explorer discovered what some
think to be the ruins of Troy on the west coast of Turkey in 1871.
–Boundary_(ID_xx12IgLWey/t3/EWDoptfA)–

Thanksgiving Events Support The Less Fortunate
Nonprofit Groups, Concerned Citizens Serve Turkey Dinners
NBC 4
POSTED: 10:55 AM PST November 25, 2004
UPDATED: 2:16 PM PST November 25, 2004
LOS ANGELES — It’s Thanksgiving, and groups around the Southland
are making sure that the less fortunate have some holiday cheer.
In Long Beach, the “Long Beach 5K/10K Turkey Trot & Chicken Chucking
Championship” is holding a walk to benefit the nonprofit Community
Action Team, followed by participants hurling rubber chickens to
raise money for local food bank charities.
Thanks for taking our survey and Happy Thanksgiving!Favorite
Thanksgiving Dish?What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?Turkey with
cranberry sauce. Stuffing and more stuffing. Mashed potatoes. Green
beans with those fried onions on top. Leftovers.
Pasadena’s Union Station Foundation is holding its annual Thanksgiving
Dinner-in-the-Park, billed as the “biggest potluck in the nation. ”
Volunteers are expected to serve more than 5,000 meals to the poor,
homeless and elderly. The Los Angeles Police Department, West Valley
Pals and Woodland Hills Optimist Club are hosting a free Thanksgiving
dinner at the Guadalupe Community Center.
In Valley Village, more than 500 men, women and children will enjoy a
traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Needy residents of
the East Valley will receive vouchers provided by Temple Beth Hillel
and distributed by numerous outreach organizations, including Jewish
War Veterans, the East Valley Multi-Purpose Center, Loaves and Fishes
and The Salvation Army, among others.
In Hollywood, Food on Foot will feed and distribute backpacks to the
homeless and poor. For every two 64-pound bags of trash collected from
the streets of Hollywood, Food on Foot will reward individuals with a
$5 food gift certificate from a fast-food restaurant or grocery store.
In Orange County, the 27th annual Dana Point Turkey Trot will feature
5K, 10K and children’s races; the Orange County Rescue Mission will
serve Thanksgiving dinner in Santa Ana; and Rep. Loretta Sanchez,
D-Garden Grove, Hon. Bishop Jaime Soto and others will join in serving
Thanksgiving dinner to the needy during the 19th annual Casa Garcia
Thanksgiving dinner that owner Frank Garcia serves in the parking
lot of his eatery in Anaheim.
And in Glendale, Armenia Fund Inc. is holding its annual Thanksgiving
telethon, “Make It Happen,” to raise funds to complete the remaining
56 miles of the North-South “Backbone” Highway in Karabakh, Armenia.
Proceeds will also benefit continued assistance in the areas of
health care, education and infrastructure development in the Republic
of Armenia. The 12-hour event will be televised live from Glendale
throughout the United States, South America, the Middle East, Canada
and Armenia.
Copyright 2004 by _NBC4. tv_ (mailto:webstaff@nbc4. tv) .

ARF MEMBER ARGUES IN FAVOR BOYCOTTING PACE SESSION
ArmenPress
Nov 25 2004
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: A senior member of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation/Dashnaktsutyun party, questioned today the
wisdom of placing a report on Nagorno Karabagh conflict on the agenda
of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe session, saying
that organization does not have a voting mechanism that would allow
it to enter the conflict regulation process as an unbiased body,
“as each of the conflicting sides would be looking to enlist the
support of delegates from 15-20 countries.”
Levon Mkrtchian of the ARF claimed that that simplified approach to
the conflict regulation places the entire responsibility of its future
fate on a European organization. Mkrtchian praised the wisdom of both
nations for “being reasonable to end the bloody war and replace it
with a ten-year long truce.”
Mkrtchian argued that the Armenian delegation should boycott the PACE
that is expected to discuss the report next year. “There is the OSCE
Minsk group who has been tackling the issue for years and I do not
see any reason behind taking the conflict to PACE,” Mkrtchian said,
adding, however, that these were his own personal viewpoints.
He went on to say that the report prepared by a former PACE rapporteur,
Terry Davis and taken up by his successor David Atkinson, has revealed
that both men do not master the problem on a professional level.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS REFRAIN FROM FLYING TO AZERBAIJAN
ArmenPress
Nov 25 2004
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: Two members of the Armenian
parliament refused to fly to the capital of the rival Azerbaijan to
participate in a NATO-sponsored seminar. The chairman of an Armenian
parliament committee on defense and national security issues, Mher
Shahgeldian, one of the two, told reporters today that Azerbaijani
parliament leadership ignored a letter by the chairman of Armenian
parliament who requested a tight safety measures for the two Armenian
parliamentarians.
Shahgeldian said the letter had been sent because of a serious incident
that occurred when three Armenian top officers had been in Baku earlier
this year also attending a NATO seminar and a recent extradition of
a Bulgarian journalist of Armenian origin.
“The Armenian delegation was prepared to fly to Baku, a hotel was
reserved and tickets booked,” he said, adding that the decision to
refrain from flying to Baku was made by the parliament forces.

WORLD VISION RENOVATES FOUR HEALTH POSTS IN LORI PROVINCE
ArmenPress
Nov 25 2004
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: On Wednesday, November 24, World
Vision Armenia celebrated the opening of the renovated health posts
in four rural communities in Lori Marz. The ceremony took place at
12:00 PM at the health post in Norashen village and was followed by
a visit to Sarchapet, Artsni and Saratovka communities where World
Vision and Support to Communities (STC) has completed the renovation
of the local health posts.
Renovation of the health posts was done in the framework of the Support
to Mobile Medical Teams program, a five year project funded by US
Agency for International Development and World Vision and targeting
57 rural communities in Gegharkunik, Lori Tavush and Syunik marzes.
The program aims to provide medical services to the population
of remote communities (serving 32,000 people), increase access of
vulnerable children and their families to a healthy and balanced diet,
conduct health education and promotion among population, establish
revolving drug funds, conduct primary health care trainings and work
closely with policlinics, hospitals and health posts to increase
levels of care. World Vision Armenia works closely with its local
partners including STC and the Scientific Association of Medical
Students of Armenia.
Since May 2004 over 12,600 people in 25 villages of Lori and
Gegharkunik regions have benefited from this program. Four Mobile
Medical Teams regularly visited remote communities, providing qualified
health care services to the residents.
As a part of the program activities focused on strengthening
community-based health structures in villages, World Vision Armenia
together with STC started the renovation of the health posts in 11
villages of Gegharkunik and 5 villages of Lori from which renovation
of four Lori health posts has been completed.
Next year the program will start to deliver primary health care to
vulnerable children and families in Syunik and Tavush regions.
“By the end of the program, villages will have benefited from
five years of MMT visits, and will also have primary health care
structures and community knowledge strengthened in a sustainable
manner.” says Julian Srodecki, WV Armenia Operations Director.