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05/07/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Armenia Eligible for Millennium Challenge Account Funding 2) New Hampshire Senators Cosponsor Genocide Resolution 3) Kocharian Leaves for Lebanon Monday 4) Karabagh DM Questions Azerbaijan's Readiness to Start New War 5) Georgia Strengthens Grip on Ajaria 6) President Bush Appoints New Ambassador to Armenia 7) Conference on Armenian Communities of Iran 1) Armenia Eligible for Millennium Challenge Account Funding Secretary Powell Announces List of 16 Countries Invited to Submit Proposals for Multi-Billion Dollar Aid Program WASHINGTON, DC--The State Department announced that Armenia has been chosen to be among a select group of 16 countries eligible for Millennium Challenge Account funding, a new multi-billion dollar US program designed to provide assistance to low-income countries that demonstrate a strong commitment toward good governance and economic growth and reform, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA.) "We welcome the State Department's decision to include Armenia in the first tier of countries to participate in the MCA," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "The funds will create important opportunities for strengthening the Armenian economy and helping the Armenian people overcome the ongoing, multi-billion dollar impact of the dual Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades. We look forward to working with Armenian Government officials and the Millennium Challenge Corporation to assist in the funding process ahead." The complete list of 16 countries eligible to apply for MCA funds includes: Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Georgia, Ghana, Honduras, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Senegal, Sri Lanka, and Vanuatu. President Bush first announced his intent to create the MCA in March, 2002. The program is based on the premise that economic development succeeds best where it is linked to free market economic and democratic principles and policies. Eligibility under this program, which is only open to selected low-income countries, is conditioned on sound policy performance and accountability by recipient nations. This performance in measured by sixteen quantifiable criteria in the areas of ruling justly, investing in people, and economic freedom. Overall funding for MCA will be $1 billion for Fiscal Year 2004, and is expected to increase to $5 billion by Fiscal Year 2006. Although there are no guaranties that its grant proposals will be funded, Armenia's annual share from this new foreign aid program could be as much as $75 million a year. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who serves as chairman of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), developed to oversee the implementation of the Millenium Challenge Account funds, stated, "This is a historic day for the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The President's vision has come to pass, and today's decision by the Board of Directors is a major step in implementing the vision of the MCC." An ANCA study prepared in September of 2003 showed that Armenia was well-positioned to receive MCA funding based on the 16 criteria set out by the MCC. The study was distributed widely to Members of Congress and the Administration as well as to representatives of the Armenian Government. In the months that followed, the ANCA tracked Congressional hearings dealing with MCA, where Members of Congress including Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Joseph Crowley (D-NY), spoke in support of Armenia's participation in the program and questioned early assertions that Armenia may not receive first tier funding. Upon learning of the MCC announcement, Rep. Schiff stated, "I am delighted to see that Armenia is included in the first group of nations eligible to receive funding under the Millennium Challenge Account. As a struggling democracy that is economically isolated by an injurious blockade, Armenia is a prime candidate for MCA assistance. This is welcome news for Armenia and a good judgment by the MCA Board and State Department." MCA eligibility was among a series of topics brought up in high level meetings between Armenian Government officials and an ANCA delegation including Chairman Ken Hachikian, held in conjunction with an Armenian Foreign Ministry Armenian Advocacy conference, held in Yerevan on May 3 and 4. The ANCA provided specific recommendations about the development of grant submissions to the MCA to ensure that Armenia, if selected, would receive a significant share of the first year MCA awards. According to the MCA Website (<;), eligible countries will work with the MCC to develop a compact proposal for "achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction." Successful proposals would be designed to: --Engage a broad array of its society in coming up with its development priorities; --Identify the measurable objectives that it wants to achieve; --Include a plan for achieving those objectives with targets to assess progress; --Develop transparent mechanisms to measure and evaluate whether targets are being met and to ensure financial accountability; and --Provide a plan for sustaining progress after the MCA compact ends. The extent to which a country's proposal meets the above requirements will help determine whether and how much the MCC will invest in the country. 2) New Hampshire Senators Cosponsor Genocide Resolution -- Support for S.Res.164 Reaches 39 in the Senate WASHINGTON, DC--New Hampshire Senators Judd Gregg and John Sununu agreed to cosponsor the Genocide Resolution, S.Res.164, bringing the total number of cosponsors to thirty-nine, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). Both senators heard regularly from their New Hampshire constituents on this matter over the past several months, reflecting the growing activism of the Armenian American community in northern New England. Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee is the only New England area Senator yet to cosponsor the legislation. Most recently, a New Hampshire delegation of activists including Mike Manoian, Harry Alexanian, and Jeannette John spoke with representatives of both Senators, at meetings coinciding with the ANCA Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill, held on April 28. Dr. Peter Balakian, whose recently published book, "The Burning Tigris" extensively documents US humanitarian response to the Armenian Genocide, detailed the importance of supporting Genocide prevention legislation during the meeting with Sen. Gregg's office. "We join with the Armenian community of New Hampshire in welcoming the support of Senators Gregg and Sununu for the Genocide Resolution" said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "With the 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide commemorated just a few weeks ago, and the prospect of yet another genocide developing in the Sudan as we speak, support for legislation like S.Res.164 has never been more vital. We must, as a nation, reaffirm our commitment to the aims of the Genocide Convention and ensure that the lessons of past genocides are applied in the prevention of future crimes against humanity." A two-term Member of the Senate, Sen. Gregg is Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and serves on the Appropriations and Budget Committees. Sen. John Sununu, now in his first term, serves on the Foreign Relations, Banking, Governmental Affairs and Joint Economic committees. The Genocide resolution was introduced in the Senate in June, 2003 by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ). Its companion House measure, H.Res.193, led by Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), was adopted unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee last May and has 111 cosponsors. The resolution cites the importance of remembering past crimes against humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides, in an effort to stop future atrocities. Support for the measure has been widespread, with a diverse coalition of over 100 ethnic, religious, civil and human rights organizations calling for its passage, including American Values, National Organization of Women, Sons of Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, and the National Council of La Raza. 3) Kocharian Leaves for Lebanon Monday YEREVAN (Armenpress)--President Robert Kocharian will visit Lebanon on May 10 at the invitation of Lebanese president Emile Lahoud. Kocharian is set to meet with Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, parliament Chairman Nabi Berri, and deputy Prime Minister Issam Fares as well. He will hold meetings with head of the Great See of Cilicia Catholicos Aram I, Armenian Catholic Church Catholicos-Patriarch Nerses Tarmuni, leader of the Armenian Evangelical Church in the Middle East Mkrtich Karagyozian, along with representatives of the local Armenian community. Aside from official business, Kocharian will visit local historical sights and monuments. 4) Karabagh DM Questions Azerbaijan's Readiness to Start New War STEPANAKERT (Combined Sources)--Karabagh's defense minister Major General Seiran Ohanian, said Thursday that there have not been considerable changes on the Armenian-Azeri border in the last ten years since the establishment of the 1994 cease-fire. During a meeting with reporters, the minister noted that reports disseminated by Azeri mass media claiming Azeri forces have penetrated Karabagh's positions are explicit lies. "Such propaganda naturally aims to make psychological attacks and terrorize the peaceful population to create a feeling of fright and hopelessness, but they are doomed to fail," he said. Answering questions on the possibility of war resuming again, Ohanian said that technically, the war could restart any time, and stressed the need to always be prepared. "Generally, resumption of war is possible at any time and we should be ready for that. But I don't think Azerbaijan is ready today to resume military actions especially since a successful balance of power has been maintained." Commenting on the status of Karabagh's army, the defense minister said the army is not only ready defensively, but also to ready to counterattack. "In recent years we have worked hard to strengthen ties between the people and the army; when society and the army are united, they are undefeatable." 5) Georgia Strengthens Grip on Ajaria BATUMI (AP)--The legislature in Georgia's Ajaria province has abolished the post held by the former leader of the region, strengthening the central government's control, officials said Friday. The unanimous decision late Thursday came after Aslan Abashidze bowed to pressure to step down and flew to Moscow, ending a struggle with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili for control over Ajaria that sparked fears of a new war in Georgia. Abashidze, who led Ajaria for 13 years, had been the speaker of its parliament but later became its executive leader, a post created for him by the legislature in the Black Sea region. "There was a regime here that had far more rights than an autonomous region should have," Saakashvili said late Thursday, referring to Ajaria's autonomous status within Georgia. "Ajaria was separate from Georgia. It had ... its own armed forces, its own police structure. But those times are over." After Abashidze left following two days of public protests, Saakashvili flew triumphantly to the Ajarian capital of Batumi and called it a step toward restoring Georgia's unity. "While I am the president of Georgia, I will not allow the existence of several armed forces and ministries of security and internal affairs on the country's territory," he said. The comment was more provocative than a statement he had made earlier in the day, when he pledged to try to bring the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia back into the fold through negotiations. The two regions broke away from central government control in wars in the early 1990s. Saakashvili has moved quickly to assert authority over Ajaria and pledged that legislative elections would be held around mid-June. He said he would remain in Batumi for five days, helping to set up and lead a temporary Council to govern the region until the elections. He said a Batumi native, high-level Georgian railroad official Levan Vashalomidze, would lead the council. Despite the efforts to maintain order, fights broke out outside Abashidze's former residence Friday when former guards of the regional strongman came to demand two months' salary and they were confronted by anti-Abashidze protesters. Georgian Interior Ministry troops fired into the air to break up the scuffles, and Deputy Security Minister Gigi Ugulava said authorities would pay "those who deserve it." Saakashvili has made restoring Georgia's unity a major goal since his landslide election in January, which came after he led protests that prompted the resignation of his predecessor, Eduard Shevardnadze, in November. Unlike Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Ajaria did not espouse separatism. But Abashidze had defied the central government for years, withholding revenues from Tbilisi's coffers and firmly suppressing opposition political groups. Ajaria had its own heavily armed Interior Ministry forces and Kalashnikov-toting men in civilian dress prowled Batumi's streets. 6) President Bush Appoints New Ambassador to Armenia WASHINGTON (Armenpress)--President George W. Bush announced Thursday his nomination of John Marshall Evans of Virginia as the new US Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service and a Yale University graduate, Evans currently serves as Director of the State Department's Office of Russian Affairs. He previously served as Director of the Office of Analysis for Russia and Eurasia in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research. 7) Conference on Armenian Communities of Iran UCLA--The fourteenth in the UCLA International Conference series on Historic Armenian Cities and Provinces will feature the colorful history and culture of the Armenian communities of Iran from ancient to modern times. The conference, to be held in Glendale and on the UCLA campus from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, May 14-16, will bring together scholars from Armenia, Cyprus, Germany, Great Britain, Iran, Italy, and various parts of the United States. The conference is organized by Professor Richard G. Hovannisian, holder of the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern Armenian History at UCLA, and is co-sponsored by the Armenian Society (Iranahay Miutiun) of Los Angeles and the UCLA International Institute, GE von Grunebaum Center for Near Eastern Studies, and the Center for European and Russian Studies. The opening session in Armenian will be held on Friday evening, May 14, from 7:30 to 10:00, in the Glendale Presbyterian Church at the corner of Louise and Harvard Streets in Glendale and will include illustrated lectures by Armen Hakhnazarian (Germany and Armenia) on Saint Stepanos and Dzordzor monasteries; Onnik Hairapetian (Glendale and Mashdotz Colleges) on the Armenians of the Salmast region; and Gohar Avagian (Historical Archives, Armenia), on the life and works of Archbishop Melik-Tangian of Tabriz. The Saturday sessions on May 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. will be held on the UCLA campus, in Court of Sciences 50 (Young Hall), and will be conducted in English. The presentations will focus on the political, cultural and literary, economic, and social history of the Armenians of Iran or Persia. Speakers include Richard Hovannisian on the Iranian Armenian community; A.E. Redgate (Newcastle, England), on Iran and Vaspurakan; Peter Cowe (UCLA) on Tabriz under the Il-Khans; Hovann Simonian (USC) on Maku in the 15th century; Thomas Sinclair University of Cyprus) on the silk trade; Gabriella Uluhogian (Bologna University, Italy), on socio-political life in the 17th-19th centuries; Vazken Ghougassian (Eastern Prelacy, New York), on Armenian rural settlements in Iran, 17th-19th centuries; Rubina Peroomian (UCLA), on Iran and the Armenian Liberation Movement; Houri Berberian (California State University, Long Beach), on Armenian Identity during the Persian Constitutional Revolution; Rose Marie Cohen (Los Angeles), on the Massacres of Khoi during World War I; Gayane Hagopian (UCLA) on Raffi's Stories about Iranian Armenians; Anahid Keshishian (UCLA), on Hakob Karapents; Bert Vaux (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), on the Iranian Armenian Dialect. The Sunday afternoon sessions on May 16 from 1:30 to 5:30 will be in Armenian and in English with presentations by Armen Ter Stepanyan (Matenadaran, Armenia), on Bibliogrpahic Sources on the Persian Armenians; Armen Hakhnazarian (Germany and Armenia), on the Gharadagh Armenian communities; Artsvi Bskhchinyan (Armenia), on Armenians in Iranian Theater and Cinema; Samvel Stepanian (Glendale), on Economic Life in 19th-20th centuries; Aida Avanessian (Tehran, Iran), on the Armenian Community of Tehran; and Claudia Mardirossian (UCLA), and Anny Bakalian (New York University), on Integration of Armenian Iranians in California. As in all previous conferences, a photographic exhibit will be mounted by Richard and Anne Elizabeth Elbrecht of Davis, California. All proceedings are open to the public at no charge. Parking on the UCLA campus is in Parking Structure 2, entrance from Hilgard Avenue at Westholme. The conference program may be viewed at and Professor Hovannisian may be contacted by e-mail at Hovannis@history.ucla.edu. 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.