Month: June 2005

PRESS RELEASE
June 28, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:
Scholarships Available to Diaspora Armenians to Attend Armenian Universities
The Government of Armenia has established 70 full scholarships to
allow Diaspora Armenians to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies
in the Armenian public universities and colleges for the academic
year 2005/2006.
Applications for scholarship and enrollment will be considered
by a special commission of the Armenian Ministry of Education and
Science. Priority is given to applicants pursuing studies in Teacher’s
Training, Armenian Studies, and Fine Arts. The applicants are expected
to have sufficient command of Armenian in order to enroll.
In addition to tuition-free positions, Diaspora Armenian applicants
will also have an opportunity to apply for and be enrolled in public
universities on paid basis, following the procedure outlined above.
The deadline for submitting applications is August 20, 2005. The
application forms, list of universities and departments, as well as
tuition are available upon request from the Embassy of Armenia,
via email: [email protected] or telephone: 202-319-1976,
ext. 348. Further inquiries can be directed to the Diaspora Department
of the Ministry of Education and Science in Yerevan, at +374-10-581391.

EurasiaNet Organization
June 28 2005
ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN DIFFER OVER RUSSIAN BASE PULL-OUT
Samvel Matirosyan and Alman Mir Ismail 6/28/05
Armenia and Azerbaijan are reacting differently to the Russian
withdrawal from bases in Georgia. Politicians and pundits in Azerbaijan
view the move as a potential security threat due in large part to
Moscow’s decision to transfer to Armenia a portion of the military
hardware now in Georgia. Armenian experts, meanwhile, downplay the
significance of the transfer, contending that it does not alter the
existing strategic balance. After years of wrangling, Russian and Georgian officials announced
May 30 that the withdrawal of Russian troops and materiel from the
Caucasus country would be completed by 2008. [For background see the
Eurasia Insight archive]. Russia’s pull-out from its two remaining
bases on Georgian territory – in Batumi and Akhalkalaki — began
June 1 with the dispatch of a 15-car train from Batumi to Armenia,
loaded with ammunition, various equipment and anti-aircraft
weapons. [For additional information see the Eurasia Insight
archive]. Political analysts have spent the weeks since the
announcement of the base-withdrawal deal speculating about its
geopolitical ramifications. In particular, many have wondered
whether the Russian move could influence negotiations to end the
Armenian-Azerbaijani struggle over Nagorno-Karabakh. [For background
see the Eurasia Insight archive]. Moscow has mounted diplomatic offensive to dispel the notion that its
actions could rearrange the geopolitical order in the Caucasus. [For
additional information see the Eurasia Insight archive]. “The
withdrawal of part of Russian arms from Georgia to Armenia will not
change the balance of forces in the Transcaucasus,” Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov told journalists on June 14. Russian defense officials insist that transferred arms and equipment
will be kept in storage at Russia’s 102nd base in Gyumri, in northern
Armenia, stressing that the Armenian military will not have access
to the weaponry. “We are going to closely keep the limits set up
by the [amended 1999] treaty on conventional armaments in Europe,”
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said during a June 6 news
conference, Rosbalt news agency reported. According to Ivanov, most
of the military equipment and cargo now in Georgia will be shipped
back to Russia from Black Sea port city of Batumi. News of the withdrawal from Georgia initially was applauded in
Azerbaijan, where official at first interpreted the move as a sign
of declining Russian influence in the Caucasus. But approval quickly
transformed into doubt following the announcement that a portion of
the Russian arms and equipment would be shifted to Armenia. On May
23, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry sent a protest note to Moscow,
demanding an explanation for the transfer. “From the point of view
of the law, the transfer of arms from one base to the other is quite
normal. It concerns Armenia and Russia. However, the South Caucasus
requires demilitarization. Therefore, there is no need to keep in the
region tanks and other heavy military equipment. We do not consider
it necessary,” Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told journalists,
Turan News Agency reported. Speaking at a June 25 military academy graduation ceremony, President
Ilham Aliyev indicated that the Russian move could help spur a regional
arms race. He said that Azerbaijani defense spending would increase
to $300 million in 2005, up from last year’s level of $175 million,
ANS television reported. “We had to take appropriate measures,” Aliyev
said, referring to the Russian transfer of materiel to Armenia. “We
did so immediately and increased our military spending. Military
spending will continue to increase in the future.”
“Our army should be strong to solve the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over [the breakaway region of] Nagorno-Karabakh,” Aliyev added. Moscow’s statements concerning the transfer do not appear to have
fully reassured the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Alliance members have expressed carefully worded concern about the
pull-out’s impact on the regional balance. “We welcome the withdrawal
of troops. However this step should not affect regional stability
in the South Caucasus,” NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Defense
and Policy Planning John Colton said in Baku on June 27. The defense
alliance plans to raise the issue with Moscow “in the near future,”
the Regnum news service reported Colton as saying. Many Azerbaijani observers now believe that, in deciding to shift
weaponry from Georgia to Armenia, Russia’s primary intention was to
strengthen Moscow’s own geopolitical position in the region, and not
to bolster Yerevan’s strategic situation vis-a-vis Baku. A June 1
commentary published by the independent daily Zerkalo complained that
“Russia demonstrates its unwillingness to significantly reduce its
military presence in the South Caucasus region, including [along]
the borders with Iran and Turkey.” Nasib Nasibli, a political expert
at the Foundation for Azerbaijan Studies, agreed. “This act by Russia
is aimed at preserving their influence in the Caucasus.”
According to the Russian-Georgian withdrawal agreement, at least 40
units of armored equipment, including 20 tanks, are to be removed
from Georgia by September 1. The Azerbaijan-based Turan news agency
published a report stating that up to 40 Russian tanks could be
moved to Gyumri from Akhalkalaki. If such a report proves accurate,
the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry announced that Baku would consider
implementing “corresponding measures.” Earlier, Azerbaijani officials
stated that they might reconsider the country’s $7 million-per-year
lease of the Gabala radar facility to Russia. [For background see
the Eurasia Insight archive]. Analysts in Yerevan argue that Baku’s concerns are misplaced. “[I]f
we look at the Russian military presence in the South Caucasus. . .the bases in Armenia practically decide nothing, while the radar. station in Gabala, located on the territory of Аzerbaijan,
appears to be of great strategic importance,” said Hayk Demoyan,
an regional political expert at the Caucasus Media Institute. Rather than dwelling on the Russian equipment transfer, Armenia has
tried to concentrate international attention on its expanding ties with
NATO. On June 16, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan presented Armenia’s
Individual Action Partnership Plan (IPAP) to the NATO Council. The
country has since received assurances from US Ambassador to Armenia
Robert Evans that the Russian transfer of arms and equipment will
not preclude further cooperation between Yerevan and NATO. The press service of the Defense Ministry in Yerevan has denied the
existence of any agreement that would give Armenian military forces
access to the arms and equipment at Russia’s base in Gyumri. The
Defense Ministry also insists that no plans or intentions exist
concerning the potential transfer Russian military personnel to
Armenia from Georgia. Despite such assurances, the debate continues in Baku over what
constitutes an appropriate response. Azerbaijani analysts suggest
the most likely counter-move would be a strengthening of Baku’s
relationship with NATO. Some point out that on June 6, Turkey — an
Atlantic alliance member and Baku’s closest ally — announced plans
to allocate $2.1 million to help the Azerbaijani military adopt NATO
military standards. In recent weeks, President Ilham Aliyev’s administration has toned
down its angry rhetoric concerning the equipment-transfer issue. Some
observers suggest that Baku has come to the realization that it
can not stop the transfer. Others say that, with potentially pivotal
parliamentary elections scheduled for November, Aliyev is reluctant to
risk a full-blown dispute with Russia. [For additional information see
the Eurasia Insight archive]. Bilateral ties have been strengthening
since 2000, and Aliyev clearly wants to keep them cordial. “We are
very satisfied with the standard of our relationship, one of strategic
partnership that meets the interests of both Russia and Azerbaijan,”
Aliyev said at an economic conference in St. Petersburg on June 14. Editor’s Note: Samvel Martirosyan is a Yerevan-based journalist and
political analyst. Alman Mir-Ismail is a freelance political analyst
from Baku.

New Road to Iran from Armenia
Persian Journal, Iran
June 28 2005
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has approved project of
construction of a new road to Iran passing by Shikahogh forest
preserve, Minister of Transport and Communication of Armenia Andranik
Manukyan told journalists today.
He says the length of the road will total 96 km. Which is by 7 km
longer, with the maximum height to be 2,160 meters as against 2,005
meters of the project via the reserve. However, comparing the new
project with the operative road to Iran, the minister pointed out
the preferential differences of the new one.
In particular, the slope of the new road will be an average of 5.8%
against 8% of the operative road with the maximum tilt being 8%
against present 14%. The smaller tilting will save $1.6 mln on fuel
and $70,000 on exploitation. The new road will have no serpentines
and its width will be 6.6 meters. Its maximum load will be 80 tons
against present 36 tons.
Manukyan says that the construction has already been started
and the second road connecting Iran and Armenia – Kapan-
Tsap-Shvanidzor-Shishkert-Meghri will be put into exploitation in
2006. The cost of the project is 9.3 bln AMD will not be changed
seriously.

Council of Europe opens new Political School in Armenia
Council of Europe

June 28 2005
Strasbourg. 28.06.2005 – The Yerevan School of Political Studies (YSPS)
is to be inaugurated on 29 June 2005. It is the twelfth School to be
set up as part of a Council of Europe programme and aims to promote
the strengthening of European values in democratic political culture,
human rights, democracy, and rule of law and the preparation of
young leaders.
Klaus Schumann, Director General of the Council of Europe’s Political
Affairs Directorate, will be at the opening and give a lecture on
“Stability and security through an effective multilateralism: the
Council of Europe example”. Yerevan Constitutional Court President
Gagik Harutyunyan will address the School.
The theme of the first YSPS seminar will focus on the Euro-integration
processes, and perspectives and challenges both in Armenia and
the region.

ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN REPORT MORE PROGRESS TOWARD KARABAKH PEACE
By Emil Danielyan
Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
Jamestown Foundation
June 28 2005
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Armenia and Azerbaijan have reported further progress in their
decade-long negotiations on the Karabakh enclave following the June
17 meeting of their foreign ministers in Paris. International
mediators are now cautiously upbeat about prospects for resolving the
most intractable ethnic dispute in the former Soviet Union. But they
caution that the conflicting parties have failed to use similar
windows of opportunity in the past.
Foreign Ministers Vartan Oskanian of Armenia and Elmar Mammadyarov of
Azerbaijan met in the presence of the U.S., Russian, and French
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to try to flesh out verbal
understandings reportedly reached by the presidents of the two
countries. Ilham Aliev and Robert Kocharian talked for nearly three
hours in Warsaw on May 15-16.
Oskanian described the Paris talks as “positive” and “constructive.”
“We have not yet managed to bring discussions on any particular issue
to a successful conclusion,” he told reporters on June 20. “Having
said that, some common ground is in sight.”
Oskanian also guarded against excessive expectations from the
Karabakh peace process. “Significantly, the presidents took a step
forward, no matter how small, on that issue and instructed us to
build upon that and find some solution,” he said in an apparent
reference to Karabakh’s future status. “We failed to do that in
Paris.”
The Azerbaijani side also appeared largely satisfied with the latest
round of peace talks. “The pace of meetings and the essence of the
discussions, in my opinion, are promising,” Deputy Foreign Minister
Araz Azimov told the Azerbaijani ANS television on June 18. Azimov
announced at a news conference two days later that Aliev and
Kocharian are scheduled to hold another meeting in Kazan, Russia, on
August 26.
Prior to the Armenian-Azerbaijani summit, there will likely be
another face-to-face encounter between Mammadyarov and Oskanian and a
visit to the conflict zone by the Minsk Group co-chairs. The troika
reportedly plans to travel to Baku, Yerevan, and Stepanakert in
mid-July.
The Yerevan daily Hayots Ashkhar quoted Arkady Ghukasian, the
president of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as saying
that the mediators are unlikely to bring any “complete schemes or
final solutions” to the region. “I don’t think that the co-chairs’
visit will be fateful,” he said.
Still, U.S. officials now do not rule out the possibility of some
sort of peace agreement being signed in the course of this year. A
senior official in President George W. Bush’s administration
described recent progress in the protracted peace process as “pretty
significant.” But the official was quick to add that the mediators
will not “rush agreement” at this juncture.
The current phase of Karabakh peace talks is part of the so-called
“Prague process” that began a year ago and raised fresh hopes for
long-awaited peace. Sketchy details of the talks made public so far
suggest that the parties and the mediators are trying to combine two
fundamentally different strategies of conflict resolution.
Azerbaijan stands for a “step-by-step” resolution of the dispute that
would delay agreement on Karabakh’s status, the main sticking point,
until after the liberation of surrounding Azerbaijani lands that were
occupied by Armenian forces during the 1991-94 war. The Armenians, by
contrast, until recently insisted on a “package” accord that would
resolve all contentious issues at once. But they are now ready to
embrace a phased settlement, provided that they get other
international guarantees of continued Armenian control over Karabakh.
Accordingly, each side emphasizes elements of the discussed peace
deal that it finds more beneficial for itself. Azimov, for example,
said the Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers discussed the
return of the occupied districts in Azerbaijan proper. For his part,
Oskanian was anxious to stress that none of those districts would be
given back to Baku without some agreement on Karabakh’s status. He
said it remains the number one issue for the Armenian side and is
high on the agenda of the Prague process.
The parties have already been close to hammering out a peace accord
in the past, most recently at a conference held in Key West, Florida,
in April 2001. But last-minute disagreements and other obstacles
always scuttled a deal that would have far-reaching political and
economic implications for the entire South Caucasus. U.S. officials
are mindful of the possibility of another fiasco. They say that is
the reason why renewed hopes for Karabakh peace will not ease U.S.
pressure on Aliev’s regime to ensure the freedom and fairness of
Azerbaijan’s upcoming parliamentary elections. They also rule out
more leniency toward Armenia’s leadership, whose democratic
credentials are likewise questionable.
Some Armenian and Azerbaijani pundits have long argued that neither
regime is interested in mutual compromise on Karabakh, as it would
run the risk of losing power. The next few months should put this
theory to the test.
(Hayots Ashkhar, Haykakan Zhamanak, June 21; BBC Monitoring, June 18,
June 20; Interviews with Bush administration and State Department
officials, June 6-9)

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (E.)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
June 28, 2005
______________________
A MOSAIC OF MUSIC, DANCE & PERFORMANCE AS VIBRANT AS ARMENIA
Coming to a City Near You in October: The North American Debut of an
Award-Winning Performing Arts Youth Troupe From Armenia
* * *
In commemoration of the 1600th Anniversary of the Armenian alphabet, the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and the Armenian
General Benevolent Union (AGBU) have teamed up to jointly sponsor the
debut tour of a one-of-a-kind performing arts troupe coming straight
from Armenia October 9 through 30, 2005, with stops currently scheduled
in New York (premiere), Washington, Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee,
Richmond, Montreal and Toronto.
The troupe of more than 60 young performers, from the ages of ten to
nineteen, will bring to life a variety of traditional Armenian art forms
– song, dance, instrumental music, and dramatic recitation, along with
artful gymnastics and acrobatics in what has been coined an “Armenian
Cirque du Soleil.”
Most astonishing of all are the artists themselves – gifted youth from
AGBU-sponsored Holy Etchmiadzin Nork Children’s Center, an educational
center where young Armenians are encouraged to nurture their talents and
broaden their knowledge in courses unavailable to them at overcrowded
public schools.
AN OPTIMISTIC GLIMPSE INTO ARMENIA’S FUTURE
The young performers are well known in Armenia, where they play to
enthusiastic capacity crowds, and have won awards in European festivals.
“Seeing these young people perform, you are filled with optimism for the
future of the Republic of Armenia,” says Archbishop Khajag Barsamian,
Primate of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). “We
are proud to share this sense of optimism with our own community, and
with American society at large, by bringing the young performers to this
country.”
“Everyone who has seen them feels that this tour will be an inspiring
event in the Armenian American community,” says Berge Setrakian, AGBU
President. “And we’re especially hopeful that our fellow American
citizens will get a glimpse into the promise of Armenia’s up-and-coming
generation.”
Gearing up for such a tour is a complex undertaking, involving tight
coordination at local and national levels. Co-chairing the organizing
committee are Hrant Gulian (Eastern Diocese) and Anita Anserian (AGBU).
Several cities have already confirmed their performance dates and
venues; the tour will premier in New York City at Broadway’s Town Hall
theatre on Sunday, October 9 with the Boston performance scheduled for
Friday, October 21 (location to be announced). Performances dates for
Washington, Chicago, Milwaukee, Richmond, Montreal and Toronto will be
announced shortly (itineraries are subject to change).
For ticketing and general information, please contact the Eastern
Diocese at (212) 686-0710 or AGBU at (212) 319-6383.
–6/27/05
E-mail picture available on request.
PHOTO CAPTION: The jointly-sponsored tour by the Eastern Diocese
and AGBU of the performance troupe of more than 60 young artists
from Armenia’s Nork Children’s Center, coined an “Armenian Cirque du
Soleil,” will tour major cities in the U.S. and Canada from October
9 to 30, 2005 with scheduled stops in New York, Washington, Boston,
Chicago, Milwaukee, Richmond, Montreal and Toronto.
# # #

RUSSIA PUSHING NATO, CSTO COOPERATION
RIA Novosti
28.06.2005
MOSCOW (RIA Novosti military commentator Viktor Litovkin). Few people
noted the unusually optimistic conclusion to NATO General Secretary
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer’s recent official visit to Moscow.
Why the optimism if, as the Moscow media wrote, Scheffer got nothing
good from Moscow? But the NATO head was satisfied with the positive
development of relations with Russia, which he described as mature
partnership.
The only justification for this optimism can be the assistance that
the Kremlin offered to NATO in Central Asia. This will be a genuine
partnership that calls for mature relations between NATO and the
Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), comprising Russia,
Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
In Moscow Scheffer was briefed on terrorist bases and increased
production of narcotics in Afghanistan, problems of concern to both
NATO and the CSTO. Coordinated efforts could make NATO’s operations
in the region much easier.
In addition, President Vladimir Putin offered Scheffer a pilot
project to train narcotics specialists for Afghanistan and Central
Asia. Russia and its partners have more experience and capabilities
in the area than NATO. In short, this is about a real contribution
to the war on terror and drugs in the region.
Scheffer promised to relay the Russian offer to NATO headquarters in
Brussels. If other partners agree, the bloc would join in this effort,
he said. Does this mean that the Russia-NATO partnership in the joint
war against terrorism has exceeded all expectations?
Some achievements have been made. Moscow has granted NATO transport
corridors to deliver troops and cargoes to bases in Central Asia
and Afghanistan for operations to stabilize the region, and has also
shared vital intelligence information on the situation in Afghanistan’s
provinces and paramilitary groups there.
This intelligence information continues to grow, in particular about
terrorist-training bases in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan and
secret terrorist channels into Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
The terrorists’ aims are to destabilize both the region and other
areas. The Kremlin also provided information about the production
and delivery of drugs from Afghanistan, although we have yet to see
any produced positive results.
“Terrorists are trained in Afghanistan and adjacent Pakistan by the
Taliban and teachers who train them for terrorist acts in Russia,”
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a meeting with Scheffer. “Our
information shows that these people are periodically infiltrated into
the Ferghana Valley.”
But the leaders of NATO’s anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan
appear not to notice this. Is it because they focused their attention
on democratic elections in the provinces, thus neglecting the main
goal of the operation?
Russia-NATO cooperation includes regular meetings and political
consultations within the Russia-NATO Council, practical work of
joint anti-terrorism groups and combat compatibility, and even joint
command post exercises (CPX) on land and sea. The sides have also held
CPXs to check the effectiveness of air defense and theater missile
defense systems. Russian warships participated in NATO exercises in
the Mediterranean on combatting illegal migration and movement of
terrorists, drugs and weapons of mass destruction.
But careful analysis of these achievements shows that the situation is
not as positive as the NATO leadership tries to make out. Cooperation
programs alone cannot remove Moscow’s concerns on several key issues.
For example, Moscow is seriously worried over the presence of U.S.
tactical nuclear weapons at NATO bases in Europe. Robin Cook,
the former foreign secretary of Britain, and the former Pentagon
chief Robert McNamara wrote about this in the Financial Times the
other day. The U.S. has some 150 to 500 B61 nuclear free-fall bombs
in Europe.
“Against what terrorists can these weapons be used?” I asked Scheffer,
who at first said he did not know what weapons I meant. But then he
described them as political deterrents that would not be used against
anyone. Why then keep this relic of the Cold War in Europe, which
NATO prefers not to notice, as the answer of its general secretary
demonstrated?

PRESS RELEASE
June 28, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Contact: Haik Gugarats
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:
Training Courses for Armenian Teachers in the Diaspora
The Armenian Education and Science Ministry is organizing the 2005 annual
Diaspora Armenian Teacher Training Courses in Yerevan, Armenia, on July 25 –
August 27, 2005. The Training Courses are open to faculty of functioning
Armenian-language schools, kindergartens, day schools, and other educational
institutions in the Diaspora.
The 2005 curriculum for the Diaspora Armenian Teacher Training Courses has
been updated, with particular emphasis on teaching methodology. The Training
Courses staff includes educational specialists from Armenia and Diaspora.
Upon completion of the courses, the participants will receive a certificate,
literature, and other educational materials.
The 2005 Training Courses are held under the auspices of His Holiness
Garegin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians. The Holy Etchmiadzin will cover
the room and board expenses of the participants for the duration of the
program. The participants are expected to pay for transportation expenses to
and from Armenia.
The participants of the Diaspora Armenian Teacher Training Courses will have
an opportunity to take part in tours and events, and will be exposed to
cultural life in Yerevan. Those participants who will be in Yerevan during
the first week of September will have an opportunity to observe the classes
in session at the Armenian Schools in Yerevan.
The deadline for submitting applications is July 15, 2005. The application
forms, list of universities and departments, as well as tuition are
available upon request from the Embassy of Armenia, via email:
[email protected] or telephone: 202-319-1976, ext. 348. For further
inquiries about the program, please contact the Armenian Ministry of
Education and Science at +374-10-581391.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone: 212.319.6383, x137
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
Website:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
AGBU INTERNS TAKE NEW YORK BY STORM
New York, NY – Leaving the familiar behind, 32 talented Armenian
students from across the globe packed their bags four weeks ago and
set off for the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple, ready to carve
out their niche and realize their professional dreams. What they may
not have known was that while taking New York by storm, they would
become an integral part of a collective Armenian experience that
will not only shape their futures professionally but personally,
creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Established in 1987 by Vartkess and Rita Balian and still currently
under their supervision in its 18th season, AGBU New York Summer
Intern Program () is sponsored by AGBU’s President’s
Club placing young, aspiring Armenians in eight-week internships for
prestigious, world-class organizations, while providing a well-rounded
program of Armenian cultural, community service and social activities.
Four weeks later…how are the AGBU interns faring? Do they miss
home? Are they making friends? What have they learned? Two young
aspiring journalists, Alexis Halejian and Christine Heath, share their
mixed emotions of excitement and apprehension as they discover that
even in one of the largest cities in the world, you are never too
far from your Armenian roots.
ALEXIS HALEJIAN, AGBU INTERN FOR WEIGHT WATCHERS MAGAZINE & SPORTS
ILLUSTRATED I felt like a college freshman again. Nervous. Scared. Not
knowing what to expect. Who’s my roommate? Will we get along? What’s
the dorm like? Will I make new friends? I’m halfway done with my
college career, but for some reason all these old feelings returned
just before NYSIP began. With four weeks of the Program now done,
I look back at my initial timidness and laugh; I love my roommate,
NYC is more than fabulous and yes, I have 31 new Armenian friends.
“I want to master the subway system this summer…really know it inside
out,” I said to one of the girls (Lara Golznazarians) standing next to
me in a weak attempt to make conversation as we waited for the subway
to take us to our first welcome dinner. As this was being said, the
train doors began to close with us standing on the other side…so
much for mastering the subway system. Today, Lara is one of my best
friends in the Program.
The next morning, Lara and I made sure to be the first ones of the
group to get onto the subway. As I entered AGBU’s Central Office
for Orientation, I felt a bit confused. It was a real office…so
professional…so New York. During orientation, I was highly impressed
by AGBU…how it established orphanages, schools and shelters for
Armenian refugees, and how it today supports a wide range of projects
and programs. Before, I was naive about AGBU, but now four weeks
into the program, AGBU has provided me with real world connections to
the workplace, Armenians from all over the world, NYC, our language,
our culture and community service opportunities.
We’ve already established that I am not a college freshman anymore,
but I can’t help but notice how much my eyes have been opened to
a whole world of new experiences. Without this fabulous internship
program, none of this would be possible. Alexis Halejian is entering
her junior year at Syracuse University majoring in Magazine Journalism.
CHRISTINE HEATH, AGBU INTERN FOR NY1 NEWS Giving back is a pillar
of the Armenian community. Already, four short weeks after arriving
in New York for the Program, I have witnessed and realized the
importance of volunteerism. We, as AGBU interns, were able to express
our commitment to the community by volunteering with Thirteen/WNET’s
Cyberchase Central at the annual Target Children’s Day at South Street
Seaport. It was a rewarding day full of laughs and warmth enjoyed by
both the children and AGBU interns.
Give and you shall receive. We were, soon after, the fortunate
recipients of the generosity of Mrs. Zarmine Boghosian, who kindly
volunteered her time in order to educate our group on the origins and
use of the Armenian language. Her lecture stimulated our collective
Armenian spirit and challenged us to perpetuate our heritage through
every imaginable avenue.
And that we did. It was a quintessentially Armenian night, even though
it began rather awkwardly as we filed into the restaurant nervously
attempting to find a seat with the two or three people we felt most
comfortable with. However, within the walls of Byblos restaurant
squarely planted in the heart of New York, our transcendence from
individual students into one culturally connected body illustrates
my most vivid account of what AGBU has provided me in four weeks.
As mezza after mezza piled on top of the long banquet tables, the
chatter picked up as we found a common bond that began with our shared
love for our mothers’, grandmothers’, and great grandmothers’ food,
and ended with historical accounts and stories of family origin. As
we ate and talked, a man in the background began singing a familiar
Armenian song, “Karoon, Karoon.” Suddenly, before I knew what was
happening, all three tables began clapping, singing and dancing. It
was a truly unique moment and original expression of love for our
Armenian heritage.
It was here, in this moment of dance, I knew the transformation was
complete. We had produced an Armenian spirit, something which will
continue to grow and evolve into a permanent feeling of connectedness
to the Armenian community long after the summer ends.
Christine Heath is entering her senior year at University of Michigan
majoring in English and Communication Studies.
From: Baghdasarian

French senator calls Armenian genocide vote “historic mistake”
Ekspress, Baku
24 Jun 05
French Senator Ambroise Dupont has said that the French Senate made an
historic mistake by recognizing the alleged genocide of Armenians in
the Ottoman Empire in 1915. In an exclusive interview with Azerbaijani
daily Ekspress, the French parliamentarian denied the allegations that
his country is pro-Armenian. ” Our country is pro-Caucasus in the worst
case scenario,” he noted. The following is the excerpt from a report
by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekspress on 24 June entitled “The French
Senate made a mistake” and subheaded “Senator Ambroise Dupont said
in an interview with Ekspress yesterday that the recognition of the
‘genocide of the Armenians’ by the upper house of the French Senate
was an ‘historic mistake'”; Subheadings have been inserted editorially
Unfortunately, politics sometimes work in such a way that historic
mistakes emerge. The French Senate debate of the Armenian genocide
was one of these mistakes. Personally, I have never voted for this,
Ambroise Dupont, French senator, deputy chairman of the Senate’s
France-Caucasus friendship group and chairman of the France-Azerbaijan
parliament group, said in an exclusive interview with Ekspress
yesterday. Senator Dupont is from France’s Calvados region and is
currently visiting Baku to open the Azerbaijani-French business
forum. Dupont does not agree that his country holds a pro-Armenian
position and explains Paris’s passivity in a Karabakh solution in
this way: “We are not judges, but advisors, while Azerbaijan and
Armenia are players.”
Judges and players
[Dupont] A solution to the Karabakh conflict actually depends on the
desire and role of the peoples of Azerbaijan and Armenia, while France
may simple hope that this problem will be resolved peaceably. We are
not judges, simply advisors. There are two players in the conflict
– Azerbaijan and Armenia. A judge may be needed in making certain
decisions. However, the players themselves need to define rules.
[Interviewer] They tend to think in Azerbaijan that France’s sympathy
with the Armenians prevents it from adopting a fair position on the
Karabakh issue… [ellipses as published]
[Dupont] I would not say that France is pro-Armenian. Our country
is pro-Caucasus in the worst case scenario. However, it is true that
I hear more about Armenia in France. In any case, Azerbaijan should
also try to be known better in France.
As for the conflict, the French president and Senate are exerting
more efforts to have the conflict resolved in a peaceful manner.
Granted that several years ago we were living as if nothing had
happened. But now I see that certain efforts are being made. I
understand your emotion. France itself used to be in a conflict with
Germany. It was difficult for us. My mother and all of my brothers
died in that war. However, later France, together with Germany laid
the foundation of the European Union.
I think that is really lacking toward a Karabakh solution is wisdom.
If there is wisdom, the parties can come to a certain agreement. In
any case, I have more hopes now than I had before. France itself is
not different from the other two co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group.
[Passage omitted: on Karabakh debates in French Senate]
Mistake
[Interviewer] Azerbaijan has appealed many times to the parliament
of foreign countries, including France, with the necessary evidence
for an international assessment of the Xocali genocide. What is the
needed to take this matter through the Senate?
[Dupont] We want to see peace throughout in the world. The French
parliament does not discuss such issues.
[Interviewer] But the French Senate tabled the fabricated “genocide of
the Armenians” many times and recognized it… [ellipses as published]
[Dupont] In any case, I never voted for the genocide of the
Armenians. There have been many massacres and acts of genocide
throughout history. We cannot deal with recognizing acts of genocide
all the time. The Senate has different things to do. Unfortunately,
however politics sometimes works in a such a way that historic mistakes
emerge. The French Senate’s debate of the Armenian genocide was one
of these mistakes and this issue is already closed. You need to visit
France and see things there with your own eyes.
[Passage omitted: France’s stand on Turkey admission to EU]
Azeri parliament “the way it is”
[Interviewer] How can France contribute towards Azerbaijan’s
integration into Europe?
[Dupont] All the aspects of Azerbaijani culture need to be known
in France. We are working towards this end. On the other hand, your
embassy in Paris also has a big role to play.
[Interviewer] How does the French government view the democratic
changes in the post-Soviet republics?
[Dupont] Of course, we do not meddle in the internal affairs of
foreign countries. However, the Caucasus has slightly mysterious and
characteristic features for Europe and France in particular. Georgia
saw a revolution, Armenia has a strong diaspora and Azerbaijan has
oil. On the other hand, different cultures are also a symbol of
the region.
[Interviewer] How does the French Senate want to see a future
parliament in Azerbaijan?
[Dupont] I can only express my own opinion here. I want to see
the Azerbaijani parliament the way it is. However, to my mind the
bicameral parliament in France also paves the way for democracy as a
system and it would be better to apply it elsewhere. That is because
a bicameral parliament never depends on the government and MPs are
more independent here.
[Passage omitted: on South Caucasus integration into Europe]