Azeri politicians divided over possible US troop deployment
Ekho, Baku
27 Aug 04

The setting up of US military bases in Azerbaijan has appeared on the
agenda again recently. The unexpected visit of US Defence Secretary
Donald Rumsfeld to Azerbaijan has brought this issue under the media
spotlight.
Moscow hopes that Washington will not set up its bases in the Baltic
countries and the Caucasus, said a statement by the Russian Foreign
Ministry in connection with the US plans to reassign its troops in
Europe (Turan news agency). As for the military bases established in
Central Asia, Moscow hopes that they will be closed as soon as the
antiterror operations in Afghanistan are over.
The deputy chairman of the PFAP [the People’s Front of Azerbaijan
Party (reformists)] on international affairs, [MP] Asim Mollazada,
said that at issue was not the deployment of troops but rather the
development of ties between Azerbaijan and the USA. Mollazada notes
that strategic partnership is being observed between Baku and
Washington in security issues, however, “it is necessary to reach a
strategic alliance”. There are all prerequisites for this, Mollazada
thinks.
The security of the region is a priority for all the South Caucasus
countries. In any case, Mollazada thinks, the USA will do its best to
maintain stability in the region. He said that mobile detachments
could be brought into the region to ensure the security of joint
projects. However, what is more important is the resolution of
political issues – “deployment of mobile units is a purely technical
matter”.
“We want solely Azerbaijani forces on the territory of our country,”
the deputy chairman of the Azarbaycan Milli Istiqlal Party [AMIP],
Maharram Zulfuqarli, told Ekho. He said that the issue of deployment
of US troops in Azerbaijan was being whipped up. They are allegedly to
ensure the security of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. The AMIP
official thinks that this function should be accomplished exclusively
by Azerbaijani troops. “We did not drive the Russian troops out of the
country in 1992 to replace them with any other foreign units.”
“Negotiations to this effect are actually under way. And the USA
wishes to deploy its military contingent in Azerbaijan,” the deputy
chairman of the Musavat Party, Sulhaddin Akbar, said. According to his
information, the authorities have not so far consented to this. At the
same time, Akbar believes that Azerbaijan should soon file for NATO
membership. “This could give us more advantages both in the military
and political spheres.”
The co-chairman of the Azerbaijani Social Democratic Party, Zardust
Alizada, is flatly against the deployment of any foreign troops in
Azerbaijan. He said that our country should adhere to
neutrality. According to Alizada, the “pro-NATO” fight for the
deployment of foreign troops here “is a grave mistake”. Those
soldiers will protect the interests of the USA, and the USA has always
backed Armenia’s interests.
Alizada also pointed at the USA’s desire to “unleash aggression
against Iran”. “This could lead to a fratricidal war as many
Azerbaijanis live in Iran.”
[Passage omitted: another similar opinion by Aydin Quliyev]
Gular Ahmadova, MP from the [ruling] New Azerbaijan Party, said that
Azerbaijan was in the US-led antiterror coalition. Moreover,
Azerbaijan fully backs cooperation with NATO. “The country’s
leadership also fully supports integration into the Euro-Atlantic
structures.” At the same time, the MP believes that the idea of
deployment of US troops is “populist”. “The country’s cooperation with
NATO is a completely different matter,” Ahmadova said.

Armenian foreign minister meets Black Sea bloc rep, discusses projects
Public Television of Armenia
26 Aug 04
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has received Valeriy
Chechelashvili, secretary-general of the standing international
secretariat of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.
The secretary-general told the minister about the activities of his
organization mainly aimed at reinforcing and raising its authority
worldwide. The organization set up a development foundation to invest
in important programmes through it.
At the end, Chechelashvili said that he will be transferred to another
post in the near future. Chechelashvili will be Georgia’s ambassador
plenipotentiary and extraordinary to Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“I HAVE RECEIVED NO PRIZE IN ARMENIA,” SAYS SINGER AWARDED WITH PRIZES
IN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS
YEREVAN, August 27 (Noyan Tapan). Armenian singer Andre was awarded
with the “World Champion – 2004” diploma during the “World Art
Performance” international competition-festival held in the United
Stated on August 7-14. He performed Latin, pop, sacred and gusan songs
at the festival and was awarded with a gold medal for the performance
of the first three and with a silver medal for gusan songs. But Karine
Sukiasian, producer of the singer who participated in eight
international festivals and returned with prizes from these festivals,
said during the August 27 press conference that Andre wasn’t honored
with other attention besides the congratulations of his relatives and
friends. The sum necessary for participation in the last festival was
searched by his relatives. “I have received no prize in Armenia up to
day, meanwhile I represented Armenia on the international scene for
many times,” stressed the singer. According to him, he received a
proposal to represent another country at the international festival,
but he refused from this proposal. It was also mentioned that after
the festival held in the United States Andre received a proposal of
cooperation from world-famed producer Mike Jho, but the program of
further cooperation hasn’t been specified yet.

VARTAN OSKANIAN STATES THAT COUNTRIES-MEMBERS OF NATO AND EUROPEAN
UNION SHOULD ENCOURAGE TURKEY TO NORMALIZE RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
YEREVAN, August 27 (Noyan Tapan). “Every country-member of NATO and
the European Union, including Denmark, should encourage Turkey to
normalize the relations with Armenia.” RA Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vartan Oskanian said about it during a press conference held after the
meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark Per Stig Moller on
August 27. The Minister said that Armenia advances no preconditions in
the establishment of relations with Turkey and expects the same from
the Turkish side. The RA Minister of Foreign Affairs attached
importance to the improvement of the Armenian-Turkish relations that
“Turkey is the only country in the region that has closer prospect in
the issue of the integration into Europe, and it is also the only
country-member of NATO with which the three South Caucasian republics
have the same borders.”

“AVETIS AVETISIAN” NATIONAL HOSPITAL OPENED IN SASUN DISTRICT
POPULATED BY ARMENIANS OF TEHRAN
TEHRAN, August 27 (Noyan Tapan). According to the press divan of the
Armenian Diocese of Tehran, the opening of the new building of the
“Avetis Avetisian” national hospital will be officially held in Sasun
district populated by Armenians in Tehran on August 27. “The location
of the new building is the evidence of the purposes of moving,
i. e. to be more useful for members of the Armenian community, whose
majority is centralized in the indicated district,” writes the
Armenian “Alik” (“Wave”) daily newspaper.

RA PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO CHINA TO BECOME NEW STIMULUS FOR ARMENIAN-
CHINESE COOPERATION
YEREVAN, August 27 (Noyan Tapan). The visit of RA President Robert
Kocharian to China scheduled for September will become a new stimulus
for further cooperation between the two countries. RA Minister of
Defense Serge Sargsian, Secretary of the National Security Council
attached to the RA President, reported about it during the August 26
meeting with Major-General Qian Lihua, Deputy Chief of the Head
Department of Foreign Relations of the Chinese Ministry of Defense,
and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Armenia
Zo Suelian. He thanked the Chinese government and the Army for the aid
rendered to Armenia. Major-General Qian Lihua noticed in his turn that
the government and the Armed Forces of China attach great importance
to cooperation between two countries both in the military and other
spheres. According to the press service of the RA Ministry of Defense,
it was noticed during the meeting that ten Armenian officers have
already graduated from the higher military institutions of China, and
another six places are given to the Armenian Armed Forces in
accordance with the 2004-2005 plan of military education. It was also
mentioned that if the Armenian side wants to increase this number, the
military leadership of China is ready for the discussion of this
issue.

PRESS RELEASE
ARMENIAN RESEARCH CENTER, U. Michigan
Dennis R. Papazian, Ph.D.
Professor of History
Director, Armenian Research Center
The University of Michigan-Dearborn
4901 Evergreen Road
Dearborn, MI 48128-1491
O 1-313-593-5181
O Fax 1-313-593-5219
Home: 201-505-1591
Home Fax 201-746-0217
Center for Armenian Studies, Research and Publication
Associate professor or assistant professor in Armenian or Armenian
diaspora history with a strong competence in Middle Eastern history,
preferably in the history of the Arabs. The candidate must have a Ph.D.
by September 1, 2004, or strong evidence of probable award of degree
shortly thereafter. The successful candidate should demonstrate
potential for, and experience in, teaching, research and administration
as well as an ability to bring multicultural perspectives to the
instructional program. Knowledge of Armenian is necessary, and a working
knowledge of Arabic and Turkish highly desirable. Appointment effective
January 1, 2005 or September 1, 2005. Salary competitive.
The successful candidate should also have administrative experience or
potential and be prepared to assume the Directorship of the Armenian
Research Center when the current incumbent retires. Fund raising
experience is a plus. The successful candidate should provide visionary
leadership in advancing undergraduate education, developing
internationally recognized research and scholarship, develop
collaboration within and among the several academic units of the campus,
provide an advocacy for role of the Center, build productive
relationships with community institutions and residents, lead external
funding efforts, and enhance international programs and linkages.
Candidates must have the academic qualifications and achievements
consistent with an appointment to a tenured or tenure track position in
the College.
Letter of application should be accompanied by a curriculum vitae,
writing sample, an official transcript, and three to five letters of
recommendation. Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2004
and continue until the position is filled. Contact Professor Sidney
Bolkosky, Chair, Search Committee, Department of Social Sciences, the
University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI 48128-1491.
The University of Michigan is dedicated to the goal of building a
culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty, committed to teaching and
working in a multicultural environment, and it strongly encourages
applications from minorities and women. The University of
Michigan-Dearborn is an equal opportunity employer.
********************
The Armenian Research Center is supported by an endowment of $2
million, raised by the current director from the Armenian-American
community, particularly the Knights of Vartan and the Edward Mardigian
family.
It is an integral part of the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-D),
located in Dearborn, Michigan, a southwest suburb of Detroit. The
director is directly supported by the University and the income from
the endowment, some 5% a year, can be used for programs. Heretofore,
a portion of that money has been used for the invaluable research
assistant, Gerald E. Ottenbreit Jr., who will remain with the
Center. The rest of the funds have been used to acquire research
materials, including books, journals, microfilm, and microfiche, which
has made the collection preeminent in America. A list of its holdings
can be had by contacting Gerald Ottenbreit whose e-mail address is
above.
Funds are also used to support publications, a periodic
Scholar-in-Residence, public lectures by invited scholars, academic
research trips, receptions for the public, fundraising expenses, a
newsletter, and other educational activities including periodically
supporting Armenian language classes as needed.
The Center has a community advisory committee, and would benefit from
an academic advisory committee drawn from the campus and from other
educational institutions.
As noted above, the University is seeking a significant scholar at the
assistant- or associate-professor level. Excellent knowledge of
Armenian is a must, and other languages–such as Arabic, Turkish, and
Russian and French–are highly desirable.
The Dearborn campus of the University of Michigan has approximately
12,000 students. It is primarily a commuter campus located on the
fringe of the Detroit metropolitan area. Dearborn has an Arabic
population of some 30,000 persons, hence a person with the knowledge
of Arabic would be highly desirable. The person chosen should also be
able to teach Ottoman and Turkish history, if at all possible.
UM-D is a integral part of the three campus University of Michigan
system. While the history department only offers an undergraduate
degree, tenured professors at UM-D are members of the Horace
H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, the umbrella graduate school of
the University of Michigan, and members of the Rackham faculty are
eligible to serve on dissertation committees on any of the three
campuses.
The nominal teaching load is three courses per semester, but the
present Director is one-half time administrator and one-half time
teacher-scholar. The teaching load is negotiable.
The Center is currently moving into new quarters which are more than
three-times the size of its present quarters, thus providing ample
facilities for its program.
The Campus recently has established a Center for Arab-American
studies, concentrating on understanding and doing research on the Arab
community in America.
This position offers a rare opportunity to a scholar interested in
teaching, research, and publication as well as engaging in educational
activities within and outside the Armenian-American community.
The chosen candidate may begin as early as January 2005 or as late as
September 2005. The current Director, Prof. Dennis R. Papazian, will
serve until September 1, 2005, at which time the selected candidate
serving as Associate Director would become the Director.
For further information, please contact Dennis Papazian at telephone
201-505-1591, fax 201-746-0217, or by e-mail, [email protected]

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/27/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Russia Halts Georgia Talks Over Embassy Protest 2) Pan-Armenian Educational Conference Ends in Yerevan 3) Second Annual Armenian Teachers' Conference Comes to a Successful End 4) Deep Purple Heart Haze 1) Russia Halts Georgia Talks Over Embassy Protest MOSCOW (Reuters)--Russia said on Friday it had pulled out of talks with neighboring Georgia over disputes in separatist Georgian regions that have stirred tension between the two states. The Russian Foreign Minstry cited loud and abusive protests outside its Tbilisi embassy in stopping the talks, held against a backdrop of bloodshed this month in the South Ossetia region. Georgia accuses Moscow of backing separatists in South Ossetia, which seeks union with Russia, and in the Black Sea region of Abkhazia. US-educated president Mikhail Saakashvili aims to end the two rebellions and restore unity to Georgia, ruled from Moscow through seven decades of Soviet power. "While such scenes outside the Russian embassy in Tbilisi continue, it will be impossible to hold any contacts or talks with Georgia, either on military issues or a 'big' agreement," a Russian Foreign Ministry statement said. It said hundreds of people were expected to take part in protests on Friday. "There is no doubt that the disturbance is going on with the knowledge and evident permission of the authorities," it said, adding that the complicity of the Georgian government was a breach of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. It also said the embassy had stopped issuing visas to Georgians who want to visit Russia, where tens of thousands of Georgians despairing of employment at home work or do business. Georgia is a sensitive issue for Russia, bordering as it does on the restive south Russian region of Chechnya. Saakashvili's fiery rhetoric, including a warning to Russian holiday-makers that they risk being shot at if they vacation at Abkhazian coastal resorts, has raised the stakes in the row, which came to a head this month with violence in South Ossetia. Russia has peacekeepers in both regions and, like Georgia, says it wants to resolve the disputes peacefully. 2) Pan-Armenian Educational Conference Ends in Yerevan YEREVAN (Yerkir)--The first-ever Pan-Armenian educational conference came to a successful end in the city of Tsaghgadzor, with the participation of nearly 100 representatives from various countries. After a blessing by the Catholicos of all Armenians Karekin II, the conference was underway with welcome messages sent by President Robert Kocharian, as well as His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia. During the 3-day conference, the participants, which included principals and teachers from diaspora schools, examined the current state of Armenian schools, focusing on the problems it faces and possible solutions. With the goal of helping diaspora teachers, it was announced that re-training courses will be offered in the upcoming year in the Spuirk educatonal center, under the auspices of Echmiadzin. 3) Second Annual Armenian Teachers' Conference Comes to a Successful End ENCINO--The Board of Regents of Armenian Prelacy Schools' second annual five day seminar for Armenian teachers was an exceptional success with 96 participants. The seminar, held at Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian School, was attended by the entire Armenian teaching staff of all the Armenian Prelacy schools and kindergartens. Also invited was relevant staff of other Armenian schools, Armenian Relief Society Saturday Schools, and Davitian Mariamian Educational Foundation. Experts presented on Armenian upbringing, educational methodology and psychology, pedagogy, and Armenian language, literature, and history. The entire program was funded once again by the Armenian Educational Foundation at the request of the Board of Regents. 4) Deep Purple Heart Haze BY SKEPTIK SINIKIAN It's official. As of this week, I am more interested in the results of the Olympic Men's badminton finals than I am in this year's campaigns for President. Unfortunately, the Olympics are going to draw to a close in a few days but the Election isn't until November. This means we have to endure another two months of boring analysis and pointless verbal attacks none of which include the word "shuttlecock." In case you've been engrossed in NBC's mediocre coverage of the Olympics (Watching NBC, you would think that no other country besides the United States had any athletes in the Olympics), then you've missed out on Campaign 2004, the Road to the White House, better known as Purple Heart-gate. Did Kerry really sustain wounds in battle in Vietnam or did he inflict them upon himself? Did he or didn't he have wounds that bled? Are the other swift boat commanders telling the truth or are they part of the Bush campaign machine? My answer to all these questions is a big, fat, resounding "who cares?" Some will say that Kerry brought this upon himself by peddling his wartime resume like a recent college graduate at a job fair. Personally, I never saw it that way. I think others highlighted his service in Vietnam and he played up to it, but it was never his intention to run as a candidate whose sole claim to fame was being wounded three times. The way I see it is like this. If a person falls out of the top story of a ten story building and survives, then it's a miracle. If it happens again, then he's lucky. And if it happens a third time? Then the guy has a bad habit. So Kerry had a bad habit of getting injured in Vietnam. The man was a magnet for shrapnel or maybe he was clumsy and kept tripping over things. Others suggest that Kerry used certain loopholes in the system to earn himself an early ticket home after only four months in Vietnamthus proving that he is a liar and unfit to lead. But the important question here is how capable he is to lead in comparison to the current Commander in Chief. This seems like an appropriate time to remind Kerry's critics and anyone out there whose only source of news is Fox or CNN, that comparing Kerry's military record to Bush's makes absolutely no sense. Kerry actually went to Vietnam while Bush used his family influence to earn a sweet post on the Air National Guard. Kerry suffered either minor or serious injuries which were either self inflicted or initiated in combat with hostile forces. Bush's most serious injury during his inconspicuous and forgettable service during Vietnam was suffering hangovers from partying too hard. All I have learned from these last two weeks is that the Purple Heart is a military medal which recognizes the sacrifices of combat when a soldier or officer has sustained a wound "from an outside force or agent." Just having sat through this absolutely boring and insignificant debate about Kerry's war record I think entitles the entire country to a Purple Heart. And looking at how President Bush is leading in the polls, I've also learned that the general public (or at least those who respond to polls) is comprised of people with the collective IQ of a house plant. (My apologies if I insulted any house plants). By the way, last week I went on a tirade lambasting the Armenian Assembly of America (AAA) and its Executive Director for selling the community short in a recent "Ha'aretz" article. In the article, Nathan Guttman expressed his inaccurate view that the Armenian vote is insignificant in US elections. His assumptions were reinforced by a quote by AAA Exec. Director Ross Vartian, but last week, I screwed up. In copy editing my piece, I missed a tiny quotation mark, which apparently made Vartian's quote look worse than it was. Here's the excerpt from the article again with the proper quotation marks around Vartian's statement. (I know I already printed this but people should read this statement over and over and wonder why this organization still receives donations from anyone). "So far, no Armenian group has voiced support for Bush. But the Armenian community's electoral power is not significant. There an currently an estimate 1-1.5 million Americans of Armenian descent, but most are second, third, or fourth-generation immigrants and therefore, not all of them vote based on the candidates' views on faraway Armenia. 'There are those who base their decision on the Armenian issue, those who vote only based on their political views, and those who vote based on different reasons altogether,' explained Ross Vartian, the executive director of the Armenian Assembly of America." Now Vartian's quote may sound accurate and may seem as though it could have been harmless but when coupled with his statements to the Armenian press (see my column last week), it causes one to question whether the Assembly folks truly believe in the cause for which they are allegedly fighting. That's it for this week folks. Keep writing me angry emails and don't be afraid to say what's on your mind. Skeptik Sinikian received a paper cut while fulfilling his duties as an Asbarez guest columnist. He bled for his people and wants a Purple Heart. He can be reached at [email protected] or at <; 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) 2004 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.

ONE OF FOUNDERS OF FIRST ARMENIAN REPUBLIC ARAM MANUKIAN IS 125
YEREVAN, August 27 (Noyan Tapan). An exhibition dedicated to the
activities of Aram Manukian, one of the founders of the First Armenian
Republic, was opened at the National Library of Armenia on August
27. Candidate of historical sciences Armen Karapetian mentioned during
the arrangement dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the well-known
political figure that to speak about Aram Manukian means to speak
about the 30-year history of the Armenian liberation movement. According
to him, Aram Manukian is one the figures, whose biography has national
importance. “Being born in Kapan, this man could raise over his own
fate, participate in the liberation movement of the Western Armenians
and become one of the central figures of the national liberation
struggle,” said Armen Karapetian. David Sargsian, Director of the
National Library, mentioned that “the contribution of political figure
Aram Manukian, a member of Dashnaktsutyun, to the matter of the
self-defense of Van, as well to the establishment of the first
Armenian Republic is great.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 27 2004
ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN WAR GAME OVER IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, August 27 (RIA Novosti’s Gamlet Matevosian) – On Friday a
joint Armenian-Russian tactical exercise was over on the Marshal
Bagramian Training Range in Armenia.
On the Armenian side, a motorized rifle regiment reinforced by a tank
battalion, two reconnaissance parties, engineer company, artillery
battery, two Su-25 fighters and four Mi-24 helicopters participated
in the exercise. On the Russian side, it was a motorized rifle
regiment of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia (city of
Gyumri) reinforced by artillery, RIA Novosti quotes Colonel Seran
Shakhsuvarian, press secretary of the Armenian Defence Ministry, as
saying.
In all, about 2,000 servicemen took part.
The goal of the four-day exercise was to act our cooperation in
defence.
The 102nd Russian military base, stationed in Gyumri in 1995, is
doing combat duty within the CIS united air defence. The base is
subordinated to the Russian Transcaucasian body of troops of the
North Caucasian military district. Its strength is about 5,000. The
102nd base has an S-300 antiaircraft missile system and MiG-29
fighters.