Month: June 2005

NKR PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF STATE TAXATION SERVICE OF ARMENIA MEET
STEPANAKERT, JUNE 6. ARMINFO. NKR President Arkady Ghoukassyan and
head of the State Taxation Service of Armenia Felix Tsolakyan
discussed issues of expansion of cooperation of NKR and Armenian
taxation services.
The NKR Presidential Information Department informs ARMINFO that NKR
PM Anushavan Danielyan also participated in the meeting. The parties
discussed the exchange of professional information, technical and
methodical knowledge. Arkady Ghoukassyan expressed hope for future
constructive nature of the cooperation of taxation services of
Armenia and NKR.

IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA: COMMODITY TURNOVER OF IRAN
AND ARMENIA INCREASES 30% ANNUALLY
YEREVAN, JUNE 6. ARMINFO. Every year the commodity turnover of Iran
and Armenia increases 30%. Last year it was 180 mln USD, Iranian
Ambassador to Armenia Alireza Khakikyan informs IRNA.
He said that the trade and economic relations of Iran and Armenia are
at a high level and have good prospects. The most important economic
project is construction of an export gas pipeline from Iran to
Armenia. The length of the gas pipeline is 140 km, including 10 km
via Iranian and 40 km via Armenian territory. The construction of the
pipeline is to be completed by 2007. At present the first stage of
construction works is in process. Khakikyan said that Armenia refused
from construction of the project of Kajaran tunnel. Instead, active
works have been carried out on construction of a highway in another
region for already two months. The new road is supposed to facilitate
transit transportation between Iran and Armenia. At the same time,
the Ambassador stated that the major problem in the relations of
Armenia and Iran are still unsettled frontier problems. To solve
them, an Iranian-Armenian Commission for Frontier issues has been
established, which could play an important role in solution to this
major problem in case o more active work.

PART OF ARMAMENT OF RUSSIAN MILITARY BASES IN GEORGIA TO BE
TRANSFERRED TO ARMENIA: RUSSIAN DM
ST.PETERSBURG. JUNE 6. ARMINFO. Part of the armament of the Russian
bases in Georgia will be transferred to the Russian base in Armenia,
Interfax reports Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov as saying at
a press-conference Monday.
There is no question of giving the armament to Armenia. It will
simply be redeployed to another Russian base, says Ivanov noting that
Russia will comply with the CAFE Treaty arms quotas over one or
another territory.
To remind, the withdrawal of the Russian bases from Georgia will
start this year and end in 2008.

CONSTRUCTION OF IRAN-ARMENIA-GEORGIA TRANSIT GAS PIPELINE
CAN BE GOOD REHABILITATION PROJECT FOR ARMENIA: EBRD EXPERT
YEREVAN, JUNE 6. ARMINFO. The construction of Iran-Armenia-Georgia
transit gas pipeline can be a good rehabilitation project for
Armenia, EBRD Director for Caucasus, Moldova and Belarus, Michael
Davey said during today’s BSTDB business forum in Yerevan.
He says that this project is economically very important and
profitable for Armenia and Georgia. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project is
also very important for the South Caucasus in terms of investment
inflow. Such projects form investment rating, one thing all the three
South Caucasian countries are lacking at present, says Davey
qualifying as weak the general investment climate in the South
Caucasus.

PARTICIPANTS IN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN STEPANAKERT
SEND REQUEST TO UNESCO SECRETARY GENERAL
STEPANAKERT, JUNE 6. ARMINFO. The participants in the international
scientific conference held in Stepanakert, NKR, on the occasion of
the 1,600 anniversary of the creation of Armenian alphabet and the
foundation of the first school in Karabakh have sent a request to
UNESCO Secretary General.
The conferees are asking UNESCO to take under protection Amarasa
educational complex in Karabakh founded as early as 405 AD with a
view to create a regional scientific-education center there. This
will promote not only education but also peace and stability in the
region. An international conference “Education in 21st Century” can
be held for this purpose with UNESCO representatives attending the
event.

Scoop.co.nz (press release), New Zealand
June 7 2005
Kamala Sarup: Winning A Peace
Opinion: Kamala Sarup
Winning A Peace From Global Perspectives
By Kamala SarupI see the many recent wars in many countries around
the globe as the inevitable clash between the different political
cultures and ideologies. Radical terrorists are attempting to
preserve their culture from contamination by the non-radical
cultures, but the pervasiveness of worldwide media make this
objective impossible, in my opinion.
It is a case of the rich, irreverent, profane, and materialistic
versus the poor, devotional, fervent, ascetic, and theocratic.
Ultimately, it must be resolved, as are all past wars, but it will
likely take many years because of the large populations involved.
But the majority people in favor on Peace, and they want technology.
I believe the technology will prevail, ultimately, to preserve the
economic interests too. In my opinion, the U.S. and its coalition
partners temporarily will quiet Iraq and then leave, but I have
little confidence that there will be continued peace there and in
Afghanistan because of the many internal ethnic, religious, and clan
differences.
Suffering of civilians in war is increases substantially during any
kind of war. Because of the bloody war, many countries are strewn
with landmines, which kill thousands of people every year. Most of
the abuses against children, including sexual assaults on girls, take
place. Children often suffer alone, afraid of speaking out or being
punished.
The cold war ended with the collapse of communism, but on the other
hand, radical forces bent on spreading fundamentalist ideologies have
arisen. In the past several years, the fighting for power has
continued not only in Nepal but in Sierra Leone, Burundi, Angola,
Nigeria, Sudan, Liberia, Guinea, Zimbabwe, Congo. Several years after
mass killings in Bosnia, Somalia, and Rwanda, there are at least six
major cases of genocide. The mass killings of Armenians by Turks,
Jews by Hitler, Cambodians by the Khamer Rouge, Kurds of the northern
Iraq by Saddam Hussein, Tutsi of Rwanda by the Hutu and of Croats,
Muslims and the Albanians of Kosovo by the Serbs.
Recently, UN Secretary-General Annan has also said a number of
countries underscored proliferation as a grave danger, while others
argued that existing nuclear arsenals imperil us. He also points out
that since the review conference last met in 2000, North Korea has
announced its withdrawal from the treaty and declared itself in
possession of nuclear weapons. Libya has admitted that it worked for
years on a clandestine nuclear weapons program. And the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found undeclared uranium enrichment
activity in Iran.
The 1972 BTWC prohibits the development, production; stockpiling,
retention or acquisition of biological weapons is a unique class of
weapons. Today, 143 States are parties to the Convention. Security
Council Resolution 1325, adopted in October 2000, specifically
mentions the need to consider the different needs of ex-combatants
and their dependents in DDR (disarmament, demobilization and
rehabilitation).
Even this year had been a significant year in disarmament and arms
control. The Moscow Treaty was a major bilateral achievement. A group
of countries, the G-8, also took an important initiative to prevent
the proliferation of sensitive technology and material related to
weapons of mass destruction and reduction of conventional weapons.
Recently, the secretary-general issued the report of his Policy
Working Group on the United Nations, which contained 31
recommendations for action against this global threat, including
several relating to disarmament. Recommendation 18, for example,
urges the consideration of the establishment of a mechanism in the
Department for Disarmament.
As a general principle, all disarmament obligations should indeed be
rigorously enforced – compliance is an absolutely vital issue for the
effectiveness and credibility of disarmament activities.
non-governmental organizations, media organizations and peace and
human rights organizations could play in promoting and implementing
missile control and disarmament.
So, there are plenty of problems and plenty of reasons why any
governments, and International organizations, have an enormous role
to play. Any International organizations and governments of the war
torn countries must help to bringing peace. So toward eliminating the
condition that sustain terrorism and violence, International
organizations should work between the government and rebels and
support a negotiated settlement.
It is not easy to bring peace in the conflict areas. International
organizations and governments must expand its role and program in the
troubled countries including Nepal.
It is Universal truth, People want peace. “Having to fight, having to
pay the costs of wars from their own resources, having painfully to
repair the devastation war leaves behind, and, to fill up the measure
of evils, load themselves with a heavy national debt that would
embitter peace itself and that can never be liquidated on account of
constant wars in the future”. Immanuel Kant said. To promote peace
promotes a deeper and more durable peace because it promotes a social
field, cross-pressures, and political responsibility; it promotes
pluralism, diversity, and groups that have a stake in peace.
*************
(Kamala Sarup is editor of )

The Moscow Times, Russia
June 7 2005
A Social Explosion in the Pipeline
By Tim Wall
The opening of the new oil pipeline from Azerbaijan, through Georgia,
to Ceyhan in Turkey represents a triumph for U.S. imperial policy
over Russian ambitions in the southern Caucasus — and the
culmination of a 13-year campaign to open up the Caspian region to
Western oil multinationals.
It allows Anglo-American oil giant BP to pump as much as 1 million
barrels of oil per day — roughly 1 percent of global output —
direct to the United States and Western Europe without having to
cross one kilometer of Russian soil or use any pipeline controlled by
Moscow. It would also allow significant amounts of oil from
Kazakhstan to travel the same route, after being shipped across the
Caspian to Baku, giving the United States geopolitical leverage in
Kazakhstan, a key country in the battle for Central Asian energy
reserves.
Speaking at the May 25 ceremony to open the Azeri section of the
pipeline, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili — U.S. President
George W. Bush’s poster boy for neo-liberalism in Eurasia — said the
pipeline would “make the whole region, including Georgia, fully
energy independent.” What he meant but did not say, of course, was
independent of Russia — and dependent on a largely American-run oil
industry, backed by a growing U.S. military presence in the region.

Perhaps even more clearly than Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan
represents the fundamental contradiction in U.S. policy in the
region. On the one hand, Bush’s administration ostensibly claims to
be supporting “democratic” change, while on the other, it is allied
to a corrupt regime that owes its fortunes to oil.
In October 2003, one month before Georgia’s Rose Revolution, Ilham
Aliyev succeeded his seriously ill father, Heydar Aliyev, in an
election that was hardly free or fair.
But unlike in Georgia or Ukraine, the United States did not ride to
the rescue of Azeri democracy. A range of observers pointed out the
election’s unfair conditions: blanket pro-government media coverage,
restrictions on opposition rallies, and ballot-rigging by
Aliyev-dominated election commissions, not to mention the systematic,
decade-long persecution of the opposition. And even as thousands of
frustrated opposition protesters were clubbed by riot police on
Baku’s Freedom Square, the White House was phoning in its
congratulations to Ilham Aliyev within hours of the polls closing.
Since then, Aliyev has been careful to follow his father’s policy of
wooing Washington and the Western oil majors and promising to keep
the oil flowing in return for support of his clan’s hold on power.
But this support, which even a few months ago looked rock solid, may
be starting to erode as protests by an emboldened opposition grow
against the regime.
The White House and the oil companies likely fear that a real
revolution is brewing, one that may not be to their liking. If Aliyev
cannot deliver oil and stability, they may try their hand at a
“watermelon” revolution and replace him with someone equally
pro-Western but less likely to provoke the social upheaval that could
threaten their oil interests.
Four days before the pipeline ceremony, Azerbaijan’s main nationalist
opposition parties and youth groups — all professing pro-pipeline
and pro-American sentiments, as they auditioned for the part of the
West’s “democratic” model opposition — held a rally in Baku calling
for free and fair elections to parliament this November. The protest
was banned and police waded in, beating and arresting hundreds of
protesters.
The regime’s brutal response even worried BP’s top manager in the
country, who described the violence as “unfortunate.” Aliyev’s chief
of staff Ramiz Mekhtiyev was quick to reprimand him: “Foreign
companies should get on with their business and not interfere in
politics,” he said.
Yet under Western pressure, the regime caved in last Saturday and
refrained from smashing up the next opposition demonstration. It was
the first to be allowed to go ahead peacefully since Aliyev came to
power.
To get an idea of how dependent Aliyev’s regime is on the oil
industry, it is sufficient to look at the figures: Oil revenues are
set to grow rapidly over the next five to seven years, bringing in $5
billion to $6 billion per year — up to three times the state budget.
GDP in Azerbaijan is expected to grow at a rate of 13 percent this
year and 14 percent next year, the highest growth rates in the CIS.
But the boom will be completely fueled by oil, and starting next year
by gas, when a parallel gas pipeline is due to open from Baku to
Turkey.
Thus, Azerbaijan has all its eggs in one basket. As long as oil
prices remain high, the country stands to gain an estimated $50
billion over the next 20 years. The big multinationals working in the
country — BP, which has some 40 percent of its assets in the United
States, together with U.S. oil services giants Halliburton,
McDermott’s and Schlumberger — stand to make many billions of
dollars, too.
Yet a chronic lack of investment outside the oil sector, combined
with all-pervasive corruption, means the country is likely headed for
a future closer to that of Nigeria than Norway. The country’s
agricultural and industrial potential has been utterly stymied by
corruption and an obsessive focus on oil.
Aliyev’s government has been unable to translate its oil wealth into
higher living standards for the vast majority of Azeris, who subsist
on an average of about $50 per month. The worst-off section of the
population is the hundreds of thousands of refugees uprooted by the
1988-94 war with Armenia over Nagorny Karabakh.
As oil money rolls into state coffers, the danger arises of
large-scale theft and misuse, whether Aliyev stays or the opposition
comes to power. Even developed industrialized countries with publicly
accountable oil funds have experienced difficulties in avoiding the
“Dutch disease,” when the dominance of natural resources leads to
inflation and the atrophying of other sectors.
In the case of Azerbaijan, where investment outside the oil sector is
already negligible and democratic control of the State Oil Fund is
zero, the prospects for this wealth to be stolen, frittered away on
prestige projects or put into defense spending are frightening. And
when Azeris see few tangible benefits from the expected oil bonanza,
a social explosion cannot be long in coming. It may take the form of
a nationalist uprising, demanding that Azerbaijan restart the war
with Armenia to recover Karabakh, or an upsurge of Islamic
fundamentalism akin to the Iranian revolution. Or the revolt could be
more class-based, calling for the expropriation of the
Western-dominated oil industry.
Those who now back Aliyev’s government could still switch sides in an
effort to protect their oil interests. Yet whichever horse Washington
backs, it should be ready for a bumpy ride ahead.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/06/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Pontifical Visit of Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians to Western Diocese Continues 2) ANC-GW Urges US Corporate Leaders to End Complicity in Genocide Denial Efforts 3) Opposition Rally Calls for Regime Change in Azerbaijan 4) Equatorial Guinea Leader Pardons Armenians 5) DO THE RIGHT THING! 1) Pontifical Visit of Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians to Western Diocese Continues BEVERLY HILLS--A banquet honoring the Pontifical visit of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, to the Western Diocese, was held on June 4 at the Beverly Hills Century Plaza Hotel--where the faithful, along with government officials, benefactors, official delegates, and clergy gathered to greet the spiritual leader. Following dinner, LA Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich welcomed and congratulated the Catholicos for his diligent efforts. A video presentation about the Holy See of Etchmiadzin outlined the recent increase in the number of ordained clergy, the numerous construction projects throughout Armenia spearheaded by the Catholicos, as well as the assistance provided to the people of Armenia through the sponsorship of the Mother See. Primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian officially welcomed the Catholicos of All Armenians. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate of the Western Diocese extended heartfelt greetings to His Holiness Karekin II on behalf of the Diocesan Council, the clergy and the faithful. He conveyed to the Catholicos his filial love and appreciation for his vigor and enthusiasm, which have been responsible for the revitalization and strengthening of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin during the past several years. His Eminence stressed the extent of expansion of the Mother See and affirmed his full support to Vehapar, for the prosperity of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and the Western Diocese. His Eminence then invited to the podium His Holiness Karekin II to address the guests. His Holiness began by expressing his sincere love towards the faithful of the Western Diocese. He continued by conveying his appreciation for the capable leadership, devotion and service of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian in the Western Diocese. Catholicos Karekin II urged the faithful to stay firm in their commitment to the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Armenian Apostolic Church and Motherland Armenia. The Pontiff also expressed his joy in being present in the Western Diocese and extended his gratitude for the work and dedication put forth by the Diocese. The following morning, His Holiness celebrated Pontifical Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Led by a vast procession of Archbishops, Bishops, diocesan clergy, deacons and ecumenical guests, His Holiness made his official entry into the Cathedral under the "Amphovani," the traditional umbrella of the Catholicos. As he proceeded to the Altar, His Holiness blessed the faithful who had filled the Cathedral to capacity. Assisting His Holiness during the Divine Liturgy, were His Eminences Archbishop Hovnan Derderian and Archbishop Khajag Barsamian. Archpriest Fr. Manoug Markarian, Pastor of St. John Garabed Armenian Church in Hollywood. The United Armenian Central Choir of the Western Diocese sang the Liturgy, directed by Deacon Stepan Gozumian and accompanied by Dr. Ronald Sinanian on the organ. His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian welcomed the Catholicos. "His Holiness Karekin II is the spiritual leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the nation. Since his election to the throne of St. Gregory the illuminator in 1999 the Armenian Church has become a dominant presence in the life of the Armenians both in Armenia and the Diaspora. It is time for the Church of Armenia to recuperate from the loss of the dark era of the Soviet Union and to radiate the Light of God from the hearts of Armenians in Armenian and in our communities," he said during the liturgy. Some of the guests in attendance were Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; Fr. Alexei Smith, Director of the Ecumenical & Interreligious Office, Archdiocese of LA; Rt. Rev. Bishop Oscar Solis, representing the Cardinal; Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles; Fr. John Bakas, Dean of St. Sophia Cathedral; Rabbi Mark Diamond, Board of Rabbis; Rev. Paul Lance and Dr. Rod Parrott, Southern California Ecumenical Council; Rev. Dr. Lloyd Saatjian, Representing Bishop Swenson of the United Methodist Church; Fr. Sabu Thomas, St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church; Rev. Sally Welch, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Rev. Protopresbyter Efstathios V. Mylonas, Ph.D., Saint Anthony Greek Orthodox Church; Minister Joe Matossian; Fr. Andon Noradoungian, representing the Armenian Catholic community; Rev. Dagmar Grefe, Chaplain of the Children's Hospital LA; Fr. Athanasius, Coptic Orthodox Church, Governor George Deukmejian, Supervisor Michael Antonovich, Glendale City Mayor Rafi Manoukian, and Consul General of Armenia Gagik Kirakossian. In his Pontifical Sermon the Catholicos urged the faithful to renew and reawaken within them the Christian faith and the love towards the Armenian Apostolic Church, as Armenians celebrate together the 1600th anniversary of the creation of the Armenian alphabet. He continued, "The ills and difficulties of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Church will disappear when we are connected in Christ." On this auspicious occasion, in appreciation of the hard work, unrelenting devotion, and dedication of His Eminence Archbishop Derderian, His Holiness presented him a "Banagia," the official symbol of the rank of Archbishop. In celebration of the 1600th anniversary of the alphabet, the "Banagia" is adorned with the original 36 Armenian letters. His Holiness also gave a cross to Cardinal Roger Mahony expressing his gratitude for allowing the Western Diocese the use of the Cathedral. Following the Sermon His Holiness Karekin II, as well as the high-raking clergy participating in the Liturgy and over 25 clergy, administered Holy Communion to the faithful. 2) ANC-GW Urges US Corporate Leaders to End Complicity in Genocide Denial Efforts Protest vigil at Turkish embassy coincides with welcoming reception for leaders of American Turkish Council WASHINGTON, DC (ANC-GW)--Armenian Americans held a protest vigil in front of the Turkish Embassy on Monday calling attention to that government's ongoing denial of the Armenian genocide, as Turkish and American government officials and industry leaders attended a kick-off reception for the American Turkish Council (ATC) annual conference. Organized by the Armenian National Committee of Greater Washington (ANC-GW), over 50 Armenian Americans held signs calling for recognition and a just resolution of the Armenian genocide, as well as the end of Turkey's twelve-year blockade of Armenia and the implementation of human rights reforms. ANC-GW representatives passed out flyers to reception attendees informing them that the ATC "has used your good name to deny genocide--a misguided act that embarrasses you, disgraces the Council, and calls into question the core values of the company you represent." The flyer called on ATC members to "perform a true service for US-Turkey relations: Urge the ATC and Turkey to stop denying the Armenian Genocide." "It is morally reprehensible that Turkey continues to coerce US companies to become complicit in the Armenian Genocide through their misguided participation in anti-genocide recognition efforts," stated ANC-Greater Washington representative Arsineh Khachikian. "Our protest vigil today was aimed to urge our US corporate leaders to disassociate themselves from this destructive campaign and create a US-Turkey relationship based on truth and justice." Reaction from the attendees was mixed, with most accepting and reading the flyers as they entered or left the function. One Turkish attendee refused the flyer, proudly stating "my father had killed many of your families." Embassy staff and organizers were clearly disturbed with the protest, which garnered extensive media coverage from Turkish television and print journalists representing a broad range of news agencies. The protest coincided with the opening reception of the American Turkish Council three day annual conference bringing together top US and Turkish government and industry leaders, focusing on expanding US Turkey relations and commercial ties. Speakers at the conference include Prime Minister Erdogan, Foreign Minister Gul and other top Turkish Ministers. US officials slated to speak include the Honorable Stephen Hadley, Assistant to the President on National Security; Matt Bryza, NSC director for the Aegean, Caucasus and Central Asia; Eric Edelman, US Ambassador to Turkey; and Elizabeth Jones, former Assistant Secretary of State. The Council has consistently lobbied against successive Genocide resolutions, using the names of top US companies including Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, and others in their advocacy efforts. For more information about the ATC and their member companies, visit: <; 3) Opposition Rally Calls for Regime Change in Azerbaijan BAKU (AFP)--Some 10,000 anti-government protestors rallied in the capital of Azerbaijan calling for regime change in the former Soviet republic on Saturday. In the first opposition rally not to have been crushed by police since 2003 presidential polls ended in violence, protestors carried signs with the phrase "we want freedom" superimposed onto portraits of President George W. Bush. Police officials, who mobilized hundreds of riot police to encircle the rally, told state-owned media that less than 3,000 people attended the protest, but an AFP correspondent estimated the turnout at 10,000. In a flashback to the peaceful revolt that ousted an entrenched regime in Ukraine last year, members of the Yeni Fikir youth movement wore orange shirts and headbands and directed shouts of "step down" at the country's leadership. "We want a normal government, we want this regime to give up power," said Ruslan Bashirli, the leader of Yeni Fikir, one of the youth protest groups that have mushroomed in Azerbaijan ahead of a parliamentary election scheduled for November. Bashirli said the group would push for a "peaceful, velvet revolution" during the elections. The government of President Ilham Aliyev, who inherited the top post from his father Heydar Aliyev in contested 2003 elections, has cracked down on the opposition with police routinely beating and imprisoning protestors. "If the elections are not free, prepare to see every village and every street demand Aliyev's ouster," Ali Kerimli, leader of the opposition Popular Front of Azerbaijan party, told the rally. A block of opposition parties participating in the protest issued a resolution demanding fair treatment for their candidates in the coming elections and called for the authorities to release the relative of a prominent exiled politician allegedly taken into custody on Friday. The opposition said Almaz Guliyeva, a British citizen and the niece of Azerbaijan's ex-parliamentary speaker Rasul Guliyev, had to be hospitalized with heart trouble after a pistol was planted on her when she arrived in Baku on a flight from London. No official comment regarding Guliyeva was available on Saturday. In May, the government launched a sweeping crackdown ahead of the opening of a major US-backed oil pipeline, arresting some 75 people and beating scores at a banned anti government rally, including one journalist. The crackdown continued into this week when two activists from the youth protest movement Yokh were arrested and allegedly dragged by their hair to a police station after handing out leaflets to high school graduates. The authorities allowed Saturday's rally to take place after last month's crackdown provoked Western outcry with the United States and the European Union saying it violated citizens' rights to freely assemble. Hundreds of people were arrested in protests that turned into riots during the presidential elections in 2003 in which two people died. Many were only amnestied after Europe's top human rights body, the Council of Europe, stepped up pressure on the government. The organization has described the coming elections as a crossroads where "we may become witnesses either to fair and free elections or a bloody confrontation between thousands." 4) Equatorial Guinea Leader Pardons Armenians MALABO (Combined Sources)--Equatorial Guinea's president has issued an amnesty to six Armenians convicted of taking part in a coup. The six flight crew was found guilty last year of trying to topple President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. Armenian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamlet Gasparian confirmed the news reports on Monday about the release of six Armenian pilots jailed on the controversial coup charges. The news reported from the western African country by Agence France-Presse was met with celebration at the office of Armenian aviation veteran Dmitri Atbashian. `This news was a great joy for us,' Atbashian said, adding that the Armenian pilots should abstain from dubious job offers abroad in the future. `One day there will be work for them in Armenia,' he added. The families of the pilots do not yet know whether their loved ones have actually been freed and when they will arrive in Yerevan. They have not seen them for over a year after the six-member aircrew of an Armenian transport plane hired by a German airfreight company were arrested in Equatorial Guinea last March and later sentenced to between 14 and 24 years' imprisonment on charges of involvement in a reported plot to topple the local autocratic president. Captain Ashot Karapetian's wife, Naira Harutyunyan, has not yet decided what her first words will be to greet her husband. `My daughter asked me not to faint when I see him,' she said. Asked whether she wanted to say anything to the president of Equatorial Guinea, Harutyunyan said: `Our president wrote to him twice and there was no response. I don't think there will be any response this time. God be with him.' A Foreign Ministry official has left for the Equatorial Guinean capital of Malabo to organize the return of Armenian pilots on the spot. All the six Armenian pilots pleaded not guilty to the accusations throughout their trial. Seven South Africans remain in a Malabo prison after being convicted for their role in the coup. Three more alleged mercenaries are in prison in Zimbabwe. Obiang, who has ruled oil-rich Equatorial Guinea for 25 years, cited "humanitarian reasons" for the pardon. The Armenian Foreign Ministry has thanked the authorities of Equatorial Guinea and personally President Teodoro Obiang Nguema for "showing humanity and understanding." In April, the human rights group Amnesty International condemned conditions at the Black Beach prison in Malabo and said inmates could starve to death there. South African Nick du Toit--the alleged leader of the mercenaries--remains in Black Beach, after being sentenced to 34 years in prison. 5) DO THE RIGHT THING! BY SKEPTIK SINIKIAN I know that amidst all the absurd news or non-news that is circulating within the Armenian community, there haven't been many people who have ventured outside the confines of our intellectual Armenian ghetto to see what's going on in the outside world. How CAN someone even if they wanted to? Who cares about the war in Iraq when over 180,000 Armenians in Armenia are trying to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for performing the world's longest line-dance. That's right--a line dance. Last week, hundreds of thousands of Armenians stood in line in Armenia and for once, it wasn't outside the US embassy to apply for visas to leave the country. Instead, they attempted to dance in a line and set a world record. What is even more amazing is that over 100,000 Armenians actually coordinated and organized a synchronized event--a first for our community! The last time this many Armenians were seen in any type of coordinated activity, was in Las Vegas when over 1000 Armenians (unbeknownst to one another) were all playing black jack on April 24. The runner up was the other similar sized group of Armenians who were actually commemorating the Genocide in Montebello. Do I sound bitter or cynical? No. Not me. I admit that I was fascinated by the Guinness record line dance for about three seconds and then another article on CNN's financial news caught my eye. The headline read something like `Wachovia Apologized for Ties to Slavery.' At first I thought Wachovia was a former Soviet Eastern Bloc nation or maybe another German company that was being sued victims of slave labor during World War II. But this was something even better. Apparently, Wachovia Corp is the largest bank in Philadelphia`the city of brotherly love.' The bank recently issued a report revealing that five local predecessor companies profited indirectly from slavery. A formal apology was issues and the bank vowed to help increase awareness of African-American history. I read the article and kept thinking the same thing over and over again! Why have we let New York Life and other companies off the hook so easily? Ok, so I'm not a lawyer and I didn't understand the nuances of the New York Life Case. And I guess a 20 million dollar settlement is better than nothing. But still, so many times when I'd bring the case up to my lawyer friends--mostly Armenians--I'd hear similar defeatist statements. I'd hear comments about how hard it is to bring a case to court that's nearly a century old. I'd hear about how authentic documents of the period were hard to come by. Well, at the end of the day, New York Life settled. And you know why? Because they were afraid of the bad publicity they'd receive if people knew how a life insurance company profiteered from the deaths of thousands of innocent Christian Armenians. Here's how the whole thing went down. Apparently Walchovia filed a disclosure document while applying for a city loan or contract. The disclosure document is required for city contractors under a 2003 ordinance by Alderman Dorothy Tillman. Legislation passed by politicians (mostly democrats and mostly African-American) requires companies who have profited from slavery to disclose the fact that they have in their documents filed with cities. Companies found lying about their past end up losing their contracts. That's the basic story. Imagine being held accountable for a crime that was widely accepted by most Americans and occurred 200 years ago. Just imagine! And here we are as a community, doing back flips in the air like trained dolphins at Sea World any time KCET runs a documentary that mentions Armenia or shish kebab. Almost six years ago (if my memory serves me correctly), California State Treasurer Phil Angelides reprimanded a company doing research for the California Employees Retirement funds for downplaying what happened to the Armenians and Greeks by the Turkish Government during the last century. Angelides, my big fat Greek Treasurer, was the one who took notice of this. Not the Armenian-American elected officials who we entrust to look into these types of issues but an American of Greek background. It makes me wonder what our elected officials are up to the whole time in Sacramento. My question is the following. Are we supposed to support folks for simply being Armenian? Here's another one. Are we supposed to support elected officials for simply coming to a Genocide commemoration event or for shaking hands with the members of the Armenian Jedi Council (Archbishops, Prelates, Primates) for a simple photo-op? My answer is no! The bar has been raised. I, for one, am no longer satisfied with simple resolutions and speeches that futilely call on Turkey to acknowledge the Genocide. We need real leaders with guts who will take Turkey to the bank and hurt them where it counts. We need a real Armenian Bar Association that is able to fund attorneys to do research into these topics and then take the New York Lifes of this world to court. We need Armenians who have a vision of where to take the Genocide recognition issue. Because, believe me, if we don't take the fight to them, they will bring it to us. Organizations like the Armenian Assembly of America, AGBU, even our own churches are slowly moving away from demanding any real reparations, restitution, or compensation for lost property from the Republic of Turkey. This is evidenced in the ongoing clandestine activities of the AAA in the affairs of the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Committee (TARC), the silent cooperation by association of the latter two bodies. I'm writing this article and I'm still amazed. An apology for owning slaves at a time when it wasn't even illegal to own slaves. Wow. Wow--an apology and a pledge to raise awareness about African-American history. And while Wachovia is apologizing for something that happened over 200 years ago and which was sanctioned by US law, we will run back home with our pitiful 20 million dollars, without an apology, without any significant step bringing us closer to official recognition of the Genocide. Makes one wonder what an apology is worth nowadays. Here's a math equation that might help. Life Insurance policies sold to Armenians in the Ottoman Empire: Thousands of dollars. Profit from unclaimed policies after the Armenian genocide: Millions of dollars. Same profits adjusted by inflation: Billions of dollars. Attorneys' fees by both New York Life and plaintiffs in the 20 million dollar settlement: Millions of dollars. Donations made to `community organizations' through settlement: A little over a million dollars. Never having to say you're sorry to the people you screwed over, and still retaining your stock value: PRICELESS! There are some things money can't buy: a decent, heartfelt apology isn't one of them. Skeptik Sinikian is a professional solo line dancer. He was trained in Paris at the Academy of Mimes and Jugglers. His solo-line-dances will soon be world famous when he enters the Guinness Book of World Records for world's smallest line dance. He can be reached at [email protected] or visit his blog 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) 2005 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.

Pop: System of a Down: Brixton Academy, London + + + – –
CAROLINE SULLIVAN
The Guardian – United Kingdom
Jun 07, 2005

It has taken 10 years, but the Armenian-American four-piece, System of
a Down, finally entered the metal super-league a couple of weeks ago,
when their new album, Mezmerize, sold 800,000 copies in its first
seven days. On the first of three nights at Brixton, old-school
metallistas rubbed tattoos in the crowd with the new breed of teenage
fans who welcome diversity in metal as long as it’s loud.
System of a Down are right on the money, underpinning the horrendous
volume with a hybrid sound that incorporates hip-hop’s focus on social
issues along with the usual caterwauling guitars. But dozens of others
do the same thing these days – what sets them apart from other
rap/metal outfits are the Middle-Eastern overtones that flavour the
racket.
Despite being American-born, the Down are mournfully Armenian in their
rock hearts, and this adds a redeeming frisson to an otherwise stolid
show. Serj, Daron, Shavo and, uh, John see nothing contradictory about
slamming together an ululating devotional chant and a head-drilling
guitar solo – and that’s just the first song. (The first, BYOB, also
turns out to be the best, but that doesn’t dawn until about 15 tracks
of much-the-same have rumbled past.)
Singer Serj Tankian, nu-metal’s best Billy Connolly lookalike, is
certainly the right man for the job. There are other metal frontmen
who would look equally ridiculous in a frock coat, but few who could
match Tankian’s ability to veer between the hysteria of heavy rock and
the passion of Armenian folk music. His biggest challenge is Aerials,
which demands perfect pitch on guttural choruses that sound like a
madrigal. Tankian’s resonant voice and a preponderance of minor chords
produce a sense of gloomy foreboding.
Nudging the mood even further down, some of the band chip in sombre
harmonies on Lost in Hollywood, a ballad whose advantage is that you
can hear the words. “Weird” is too strong a word, but System of a
Down’s unusual mix does create an impression – mostly positive.
Caroline Sullivan
At the Download Festival, Donington Park, on June 12. Details: 0870
154 4040.

Persian Journal, Iran
June 6 2005
Armenia to Launch Iran-Built Windmill
Jun 6, 2005
Armenia will soon put into operation a windmill Iran has cooperated
in its construction, its ambassador to Tehran said.
Garen Nazarian told PIN Armenia can take advantage of clean energies
due to its geographical position.
“Natural geography is of help in bilateral ties between Iran and
Armenia,” he said.
The envoy said the 2.6-megawatt power plant underwent construction in
2003 and has so far made good progress.