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07/14//2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Armenian Public Support For Karabakh Compromise 'Pointless Now' 2) Armenia Condemns Israeli Attack On Lebanon 3) Glendale's Attarian At Y8 Youth Summit 4) Amenian Relief Society of Western USA Regional Executive's Message On the occassion of the 86th Regional Convention 1) Armenian Public Support For Karabakh Compromise 'Pointless Now' YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--The Armenian government will not to seek domestic popular support for a compromise solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict favored by international mediators until it is accepted by Azerbaijan, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian indicated on Friday. In their recent statements that disclosed the essence of the proposed peace deal, the French, Russian and U.S. co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group urged the presidents of Armenia to display the necessary "political will" and prepare their publics for mutual painful concessions on Karabakh. "We think the parties would be well-served at this point by allowing their publics to engage in a robust discussion of the many viewpoints on those issues," read their statement issued on June 22. "We are confident that neither society wants renewed conflict, and we urge the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to work with their publics and to work with each other to formulate an agreement on core principles that both find acceptable." But according to Oskanian, initiating a public debate in Armenia will be pointless unless Azerbaijan accepts the Minsk Group plan as a basis for further negotiations. "I am not making and will not make any attempts to convince anyone, and especially our people, that the provisions of that document must be accepted, because the Azerbaijani side has yet to accept it," he told reporters. Official Yerevan has said that it finds the framework peace accord, which calls for a referendum of self-determination in Karabakh, largely acceptable to the Armenian side. The Azerbaijani leadership appears to be less supportive of the proposed formula, with President Ilham Aliev repeatedly stating that Baku will never agree to Karabakh's independence or reunification with Armenia. 2) Armenia Condemns Israeli Attack On Lebanon YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Armenia joined Arab nations and the European Union in condemning Israel for its military action against Lebanon that continued for a third consecutive day on Friday, heightening tensions in the Middle East. While denouncing the abduction of two Israeli soldiers and the killing of eight others by the Hezbollah militia, the Armenian Foreign Ministry said Israel should stop its air strikes against civilian targets in Lebanon. "Armenia condemns any violence whether it be abduction or use of force," the ministry said in a statement. "We particularly denounce the use of such disproportionate force intended solely to collectively punish civilians and damage infrastructure. This kind of reaction by Israel is particularly difficult to understand given the fact that the Lebanese government has clearly distanced itself from the abduction incident." "We hope that there will be restraint in the region and also hope there will be an immediate ceasefire so that the issues can be addressed by peaceful means," added the statement. Israel launched a widespread bombing campaign in Lebanon and tightened an air, sea and land blockade of its northern neighbor in response to Hezbollah's deadly cross-border attack on its troops. More than 60 civilians in Lebanon and two in Israel have been killed in the worst bout of fighting since Israel ended its occupation of south Lebanon six years ago Israeli air raids on Beirut international airport have disrupted Lebanon's air communication with the rest of the world, leaving thousands of travelers to and from the country stranded in the region. Among them was Lebanese Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh, who was returning from a visit to Armenia and - like many - was forced to make his way home through Syria. Salloukh's official visit to Yerevan highlighted warm relations existing between Armenia and Lebanon and other Arab states that have large and affluent Armenian communities. Armenians have for decades been represented in the Lebanese government and parliament. The country's President Emile Lahoud is half Armenian. Israel's "disproportionate use of force" was criticized on Friday by Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja of Finland, which now holds the European Union's rotating presidency. French President Jacques Chirac likewise said the Israeli military campaign is "completely disproportionate," while blasting Hezbollah for its "irresponsible" stance. Israel's actions, however, were effectively justified by U.S. President George W. Bush who said the Jewish state "has the right to defend herself." 3) Glendale's Attarian At Y8 Youth Summit ST. PETERSBURG--Glendale resident and Glendale High School student Shant Attarian, 15, is part of a team of students reprenting the US at the "Y8" summit, which convened in the St. Petersburg suburb of Poushkin. Participants of the "Y8" summit represent 13 to 17-year old students from the Group of 8 countries, whose leaders will convene the G8 this weekend. 4) Amenian Relief Society of Western USA Regional Executive's Message On the occassion of the 86th Regional Convention It Was the Best of Times; It Was the Worst of Times As we look back on this year and think of all the events, personalities, civic officials, projects, meetings meetings and more meetings. It seems that this quote from Charles Dickens is very appropriate. The Armenian Relief Society of Western USA, Regional Executive Board, kept up the momentum created last year and grew exponentially in many directions. Delegates from our entire region are meeting in the Whittier Radisson Hotel for the 86th Regional Convention. They brought with them the resolutions and projects from their respective chapters and have listened to the prepared reports and a retrospective look at the year... The Region has been productive. Our website is filled with the events and personalities of our Region and we have now started including the history of ARS and our region. Check it out at HYPERLINK "; www.arswestu sa.org and enjoy it with us. Our ARS Voice program is a reality and as we look back on our first year of programming, we are filled with wonder that with volunteer hours we have been able to enlarge our website and begin a TV program; both vital tools for communicating in this age of technology. A few days ago, I was reminded that the biggest breakthrough in communication was Gutenberg's invention of the printing press in 1453; which took the manually written Bible from the hands of the educated elite few; to the people. Television in the Twentieth Century broadened communication; but the age of the Internet has opened a floodgate of information and communication to every corner of the world. It is a major credit to the ARS of Western USA that we are linked to the world and we are very proud of it. This was also a year of challenges, our Social Services battled with grant renewals and cutbacks in staff. The region grappled with ways to encourage membership so that all the generations who join our treasured organization feel welcome and important. Our desire to expand services to reach out to more of our communities' concerns was hampered by difficulties raising money for local projects. Just when our challenges would feel too difficult, we would be reminded that the challenges of today are miniscule compared to the challenges of our heroines in the deserts of Der Zor who continued to teach the Armenian letters in the sand while they felt hopeless and violated. Or those members in our 96- year history who awe us with their sacrifices and dedication; walking, not driving, cooking not hiring cooks, writing not using computers; but always focusing on the goals and values of our people, our Armenian Relief Society, as Khatchouhies or Homouhis and always Ungerouhis. Our challenges include changing attitudes and perceptions in our membership that new ways of doing things is not a reason to forget the traditional ways, but must be used as an avenue to bring in new ideas, new members and new traditions. As an organization, When we are faced with troubles we wonder why do we have to go through this? We are trying to do good, we are giving with a true heart, and we are appealing for a good cause. Why does God allow these difficulties? We are then reminded of Malachi 3:3 which says: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver"... which speaks of the character of God through the process of refining silver. For those who know the process the silversmith places the silver over the fire and lets it heat up. He needs to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames are the hottest to burn away all the impurities and strengthen the metal. He needs to keep close attention the whole time the silver is in the fire. If the silver is left a moment too long in the flames, it will be destroyed. When the silver shines so that the silversmith can see his image, the silver is ready. So, we can be reminded that when we feel the heat of the fire on ourselves or on our organization we need to remember that God has His eye on us and will keep watching us until He sees His image in us. We need to know He is watching over us so whatever we are going through we will be purified and strengthened by the challenges. And challenges we have... Our delegates are faced with getting ready for the following year. They will face the challenge of our social and counseling services, of the needs of our orphans and kindergartens, the needs of bright young Saturday School students, women and children who are abused, and graduates who need scholarships for higher learning. They strive as members, to work to spread our message of service, to encourage others to join hands with us, to donate to our projects, because they know that we still have projects here and in our homeland needing funding. This is an age of the insidious genocide of our people through apathy, intolerance and indifference to our culture and our brethren in need; busy lives filled with selfish concerns and worshiping of money and status. Our delegates are different. They introduce and mentor new members, to help and serve one another on a continuous basis, they work to strengthen this important sisterhood, they are generous and help fund our projects so that we may be free to serve our communities large and small, locally and in the homeland. And they are striving to do it all with the most professional and excellent means available. Members of the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA know that they can make a difference; and they do. Join us in service and encourage the next generation by your giving importance to the work of the previous generation. Join us and be blessed with the uniqueness of the ARS bonds of sisterhood. 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