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08/16/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1. Armenian Caucus Established in California State Assembly 2. ARF Delegation Visits Southern Lebanon After Cease-Fire 3. Azerbaijan Calls on UN to Reaffirm its 'Territorial Integrity' 4. Eurasian Scouting Jamboree Kicks Off in Armenia 5. Armenian Soccer Team Gets New Foreign Coach 1. Armenian Caucus Established in California State Assembly A bipartisan group of legislators Monday formed the Assembly Armenian-American Legislative Caucus, which is modeled after a similar grouping that has been addressing Armenian-American issues in Congress, the Glendale News Press reported. Co-founded by Assembly majority leader Dario Frommer, a Democrat who represents Burbank and Glendale, and Stockton Republican Greg Aghazarian, the caucus aims to address issues of concern to the more than 700,000-strong California-Armenian community. "Our intent is for it to be a working caucus and a group of folks who reach out and educate others," Frommer told the Glendale News Press. "Here in California we have a large and vibrant Armenian community, not just in my district, but in Fresno and other places, and we want to bring those folks together." Frommer and Aghazarian expressed hope that the California State Senate will follow suit. Such a caucus is long overdue, Burbank Unified School Board member and Democratic candidate for the 43rd Assembly District, Paul Krekorian told the News Press. "I've been a little surprised that legislators who consider themselves friends of the Armenian community did not create one like this years ago," he told the News Press, adding, "But what matters to most to Armenians is the same that matters to all Americans: Excellent public schools, good jobs, health care for seniors and the opportunity to send their kids to college." Frommer, who currently represents the 43rd District, will vacate his seat this year because of term limits 2. ARF Delegation Visits Southern Lebanon After Cease-Fire BEIRUT (Aztag)--A delegation of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Lebanon Central Committee visited southern Lebanon Tuesday to assess the damage following the 30-day old Israeli attack on the country. Accompanying the delegation were members of parliament Hagop Pakradouni and Sebouh Hovnanian, who was a former Lebanese minister, as well as members of the local Armenian media. The delegation was greeted by the local leadership who led a tour of the devastated areas. Also touring the region was Lebanese minister Mohamad Fenaysh, who joined the delegation in assessing the devastating conditions. Local leaders expressed their gratitude to the Lebanese-Armenian community--especially the ARF--for its efforts in assisting the refugees displaced from the attacks. The Armenian community also was praised by leaders. Following a press conference with the Armenian, Lebanese and international media representatives, the delegation continued to meet with the displaced who were returning to their homes following the cease-fire. 3. Azerbaijan Calls on UN to Reaffirm its 'Territorial Integrity' YEREVAN (Yerkir)--The Azeri government, on August 4, submitted an appeal to the United Nations urging the international body to reaffirm that country's territorial integrity as it relates to the liberated territories that border the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Armenia's representative in the UN Armen Martirosyan told Radio Free Europe that the document also categorizes Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan and calls on the international community to condemn recent forest fires on the bordering regions of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Asbarez has reported that several weeks that, after conducting a full investigation of allegations that Armenians from Karabakh were setting the forest fires, the OSCE determined that, in fact, the fires were being set by Azeris. Martirosyan announced that Armenia has already submitted its position on the Azeri appeal and is working with UN-member states. He added that during the last session of the UN, an agreement was reached that status of Nagorno-Karabakh would not be addressed with the UN, since OSCE Minsk Group is continuing its conflict resolution process. "If Azerbaijan continues to pursue discussions and the matter is placed for a vote [in the UN] then Armenia has the right to pull itself out of the peace process," stressed Martirosyan. The UN representative added that Azerbaijan's strategy will play a great role in determining the outcome of this appeal. "If Azerbaijan chooses to push forward with this matter, it signals that it has reservations about the conflict resolution process." In 2004, Azerbaijan attempted--but failed--to address this issue in the UN, by alleging that Armenia had adopted a policy to resettle the liberated territories. In a November 2004 interview with RFE/RL, Martirosyan said the territories are serving as a security belt around Nagorno-Karabakh as a response to what he called the "war-mongering rhetoric" of the Azeri leadership. "The issue of those territories cannot be resolved unless there is a resolution on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh and security guarantees are provided," Martirosyan said. The then US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Susan Moore said the Minsk process is the best forum for resolving the dispute. She said efforts should be focused on building confidence between the two sides and avoiding divisions in the General Assembly. "Azerbaijan is raising specific concerns linked to the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh," Moore said at the time. "We believe these concerns can be fully addressed in the existing format. As a first step an OSCE fact-finding mission could be considered as a means to address this issue." 4. Eurasian Scouting Jamboree Kicks Off in Armenia YEREVAN--Immediately following the closing ceremonies of the 8th Homenetmen pan-Armenian Scouting Jamboree in Biurakan, the Homenetmen Regional Executive of Armenia played host Monday at the opening ceremonies of the Eurasian Scouting Jamboree, in which 120 scouts from nine countries are represented. This is the first such jamboree and it is of great significance that it is being held, for the first time in Armenia. Represented at the jamboree are scouts from Armenia, Georgia, Russian, Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Tajikstan, Japan and the United States. Garbis Kabasakalian, Harout Haroutunian and Vahram Danielian of the Homenetmen Central Executive and Manoug Keoshkerian from Syria represented the Homenetmen at the opening ceremonies. At the close of the event, Kabasakalian presented Dr. Alexander Bondar, the CIS Representative and a member of the International Scouting Federation, a memento from the Homenetmen pan-Armenian Jamboree. In his remarks, Bondar emphasized the important role the Homenetmen Central Executive and the Homenetmen play in strengthening Armenia and bolstering the scouting movement there. He added that he always cites Homenetmen as an example during his speeches and presentations. Kabasakalian thanked Bonard and pledged the Homenetmen's continued cooperation with the CIS and International Scouting federations. 5. Armenian Soccer Team Gets New Foreign Coach YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--The Football Federation of Armenia named the new foreign coach of the national soccer team on Wednesday less than a month before the start of its qualifying campaign for the 2008 European Championship. Ian Porterfield, a veteran British tactician, pledged to bring a "good spirit" to the team as he was presented to the media after signing an 18-month contract with the FFA. "I am looking forward to working here over the next few months," he said. Ruben Hayrapetian, the federation chairman, said Porterfield was chosen from a pool of about two dozen foreign specialists that showed interest in the job. Hayrapetian said the 60-year-old Scot's experience and track record was decisive in the selection process. He refused to disclose any financial details of the deal. Porterfield managed the Scottish side Aberdeen in the late 1980s and England's reigning champions Chelsea in the early 1990s before continuing his coaching career abroad. He has coached the national teams of Zambia, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Trinidad and Tobago. His last job was with one of South Korea's leading football clubs. Porterfield, who replaces Dutchman Henk Wisman, is the fifth foreigner to take the helm of the Armenian team in the last four years. He faces a daunting task of ending its protracted run of poor results in the European qualifying competitions. He admitted having little knowledge of the squad, saying that he last watched its games in 2003. Armenia is presently only 104th in the worldwide rankings of national teams that are issued by the game's governing body, FIFA. It faces Serbia, Belgium, Finland, Poland, Portugal, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan in Group A of 2008 European Championship qualifying. The Armenians will open their qualifying campaign against Belgium, one of the group favorites, in Yerevan on September 6. Few believe that they stand a chance of qualification. The competition will see the first-ever games between Armenia and Azerbaijan that are certain to arouse nationalistic passions in the two countries The FFA wants the matches, tentatively scheduled for September 2007, to be played in Baku and Yerevan. The Azeri side, however, is pushing for a neutral venue, saying that it can not guarantee the security of Armenian players. A final decision on the issue rests with UEFA, European football's governing body. It is expected to be announced later this year or early next. 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) 2006 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. 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