Month: October 2008

ASIAN BANK TO PROVIDE 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS FOR DEVELOPING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OF ARMENIA-IRAN RAILWAY

Noyan Tapan
Oct 21, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian government has reached
an agreement with the Asian Bank on allocation of 1.5 million dollars
for the development of construction projects of an Armenia-Iran
railway, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsian announced on
October 21.

In his words, it is envisaged that the business approaches to
invetsments necessary for the railway’s construction and to the
ownership of the railway, as well as feasibility studies will be
approved in mid 2009. The prime minister said that the approved
documents will be presented to representatives of the private sector
so that they could participate in the project. "We propose that our
strategic partners should participate in this project and we hope
that next year we will be able to report on serious progress in this
sphere," T. Sargsian stated.

ICON COMMUNICATIONS PLANS TO COVER ARMENIA WITH ITS WIMAX NETWORK IN 2010

Noyan Tapan
Oct 21, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. iCon Communications company, which
was registered in Armenia in late 2007, plans to start operating in
January 2009 and provide Internet services by WiMAX technology in
Yerevan starting from April of the same year and througout Armenia
starting from 2010. Through its network, the company will offer
broadband wireless Internet services, Internet phone connection
services, as well as services on construction and operation of separate
corporate virtual networks. Aram Kablanian – the CEO of the company,
the founder of Virage Logic company (U.S), which has an Armenian
subsidiary – stated this at the October 20 press conference.

He said that 4 million dollars has already been invested for the
construction of a wireless network in Yerevan with equipment of
Alcatel-Lucent and Siemens, which will also be used for ensuring a
connection with a speed of up to 20 megabits/sec between the network
and ultimate users. The total amount of investments for the network’s
installation will make about 10 million dollars.

In response to questions of NT correspondent, A. Kablanian said iCON
Communications will use international channels of ArmenTel and Fibernet
as an international access communication line. According to him,
the prices of iCON Communications’ services will be announced after
some additional studies necessary for the determination of the speed
of services to be included in various packages. The company envisages
having 10 thousand users at the end of the first year after starting
the provision of Internet access services. It intends to operate for
all groups of users, also rendering Internet access services by a
prepayment/limitless use scheme and for resale.

Studies conducted by iCON Communications show that although the number
of Internet users in Armenia grew in 2007 by 909% as compared with
2003 and made 172.8 thousand users, the index of users per capita
makes 5.8%, whereas the same index makes 9.8% in Azerbaijan, 7.8%
in Georgia and 21.9% worldwide.

According to the studies, 80% of about 700 private users surveyed use
a dial-up connection when receiving Internet services. 50% of them
use the Internet every day, 60% – at home, 16% – at work, another 16%
– at Internet clubs. They would like the speed of Internet access
services to increase, while connection interruptions and prices
to decline. 24% of about 200 corporate users of the Internet said
that the availability of a second (independent) Internet connection
line is preferable for their organization, while 46% considered it
necessary. The share of organizations having a reserve connection line
does not exceed 30%. Corporate users expect positive changes related
to Internet speed, interruptions of the connection, and prices. In
the opinion of 41% of corporate users, today the prices are not in
line with the quality of services provided.

KRIKORIAN TALKS FARMING
By Brett Roller

Georgetown News Democrat
October 24, 2008
OH

Rural Life Conference meets with Congressional candidate

ARNHEIM – Independent Candidate for Congress David Krikorian met
with members of the Rural Life Conference of the St. Martin Deanery
at St. Mary’s Church in Arnheim Monday, Oct. 16 to discuss issues
facing the farmers of Brown County and what Krikorian could do to
help those farmers if elected.

Krikorian is the owner of Parody Productions, in Columbia Township
(Cincinnati), which makes cards and puzzles and other novelty items. He
has great interest in the economy with a bachelor’s degree in economics
and finance and a master’s in business administration. He said he
has chosen to run for Congress because of his fears about the current
economic situation and his frustration with partisan politics.

"I want to see solutions for some of the problems we’re seeing,"
Krikorian said. "Our country should be led by people instead of
political parties. If I am elected it would send a loud and clear
signal to both sides of the aisle that America has had enough."

Pat Hornschemeier, conference chair, asked Krikorian what his stance
on farm bill commodity payments were.

Krikorian said he was not an expert on farming issues and would not
try to make up answers, but he would try to use his experience as
a small business owner to relate to the farmers gathered. He said
the current commodity system was an example of corporate fascism
because it is run in such a way that it only benefits a few people,
specifically larger and corporate farms.

"I’m not suggesting that corporations are evil," Krikorian said. "I
think we should tilt the playing field back towards small and medium
sized farms. I would like to see us return to a balance."

Krikorian said the biggest issue facing small farms is the value
of the dollar. He said that because commodities are priced in
U.S. dollars a decline in the value of the dollar will drive up the
price of commodities. Krikorian pointed to the "trillions of dollars"
of debt the government is incurring as a major cause of inflation.

"That is the single biggest reason oil prices are going up," Krikorian
said. "We can drill all we want and it is not going to effect the
price of oil or gas."

Krikorian said the rise in oil prices was having a huge impact on
farmers who are seeing their fuel, fertilizer, and other petroleum
input costs out-pacing their earnings from crops. He also spoke out
against ethanol subsidies by saying they create an unfair market that
artificially inflates the price of corn and deprives people of food.

"There’s got to be something that’s better (for ethanol production)
than corn and can be grown in the second district," Krikorian said.

Krikorian also addressed the issue of the lack of jobs in the area
and criticized what Congress is now calling the Rescue Package.

"The bailout bill won’t stop the slide in home prices," Krikorian
said. "The number one issue is jobs. How does the bailout bill
create jobs?"

Krikorian proposed that a way to prevent foreclosures and the
subsequent devaluation of homes is to create jobs so that Americans
have the money to pay their mortgage. Krikorian said an investment in
local transportation and energy infrastructure will create those jobs.

"What Congress is not telling you is that this bailout bill is
not just helping American banks," Krikorian said. "We’re taking on
all this debt to bailout overseas banks yet we can’t find money for
infrastructure. If we focus on energy infrastructure we do some very
powerful things. We create jobs, we reduce the need to import energy
from overseas."

One local resident said his son wants to start his own family farm but
cannot get a large enough loan to start the operation. The man said his
son could only get a loan to cover the purchase of a 98 acre farm. He
could not get money to then purchase the cows and feed for the farm.

"Price ceilings and price floors don’t make sense in an open market,"
Krikorian said. "What you’re telling me is you just want a level
playing field. I would like to see more free market with less
government intervention."

Krikorian said in his opening address that he believes the economy
is going to get worse before it gets better.

"We are seeing the start of a lower standard of living," Krikorian
said.

Krikorian said that he could see urban areas struggling with an
economic decline more than farmers because they have the land to put
out large gardens to provide food for their families.

"I see a very real possibility of a disruption of the food supply,"
Krikorian said. "(Local food markets) are absolutely near and dear
to my heart. We have to do things to support their growth."

Krikorian said Congress needs to make it easier for farmers to achieve
organic certification and to sell non-pasteurized milk. He said he
has talked to several people who complained that they practically
have to buy a share of the cow in order to get non-pasteurized milk.

"The government is really over-regulating that industry right now,"
Krikorian said.

Krikorian also addressed several social issues presented by Tony
Stieritz, of the Archdiocese Catholic Social Action Office. Stieritz,
who first met Krikorian while serving the Greater Cincinnati Advocates
for Darfur coalition with him, explained that as Catholics the Rural
Life Conference was very concerned about Krikorian’s views on issues
such as abortion and same sex marriage. Krikorian also explained some
of his personal religious background to the audience.

Krikorian said his wife is an Irish Catholic and all of his children
have been baptized Catholic and are currently enrolled in private
school. He explained that he is of Armenian descent and that Armenia
was the first nation in the world to name Christianity as their
national religion in A.D. 301. He said because of Armenia’s proximity
to several Muslim nations it has been under intense attack over the
years, most recently in the genocide brought on by the Ottoman Empire
during and immediately following World War I.

"I am the grandson of genocide survivors," Krikorian said. "My
grandparents were just the latest victims in many persecutions."

"I am against the practice of abortion," Krikorian said in answer
to Stieritz. "I think it’s the mark of a society that’s in decay. I
am against embryonic stem cell research. I do think there are things
that can be learned from it."

"I believe marriage is a sacrament, a covenant," Krikorian said. "I
don’t see how two homosexuals or lesbians can get married. Marriage
is about children. However, I am not against equal rights. I am glad
I wasn’t born that way."

Krikorian said he was a strict constitutionalist and that he felt Roe
v. Wade was unconstitutional. He said he is in favor of individual
states making their own decisions on these issues.

If elected Krikorian would be the only Independent in the House of
Representatives and several local residents were concerned that he
could have trouble making a difference as just one man.

"I can’t change our country as one person," Krikorian said, "but I
submit to you that we have to start somewhere."

Krikorian said that if he is elected it would send a message across the
country that Americans are disenfranchised with the current government
and he predicted a significant increase in the number of Independents
running in 2010 if that message gets across.

"I do believe both parties will come to me and say ‘caucus with us.’ I
will get competing offers," Krikorian said.

Krikorian said the offers would include committee assignments that he
could use to the advantage of the second district. He said that while
he is currently focused on getting elected and cannot worry about
what he will do once he gets into office, he is in support of several
bills. Two bills in particular would force members of Congress to
write the bills they introduce instead of allowing special interest
groups and others to write them and force them to read every bill
before voting on it.

Krikorian said that the worsening economic situation will bring about
change in Washington.

"I’ll quote Ronald Regan by saying the seven or eight worst words
you can hear are I’m with the government and I’m here to help,"
Krikorian said.

JOE BIDEN ANNOUNCES THAT SINCERE APPROACH ON RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WILL PREVAIL IN THIER GOVERNMENT

Noyan Tapan
Oct 21, 2008

LOS ANGELES, OCTOBER 21, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. Armenians for
Obama Chairman Areen Ibranossian has met with the U.S. Vice-President
candidate Democrat Senator Joe Biden.

As Public Relations Department of ARF Western America’s Central
Committee reports, during the meeting, a number of Armenian-American
core issues, as well as the activities being undertaken by Armenians
for Obama to provide the votes of Armenian-Americans for presidential
hopeful Barack Obama were discussed.

Areen Ibranossian thanked the Senator for his permanent support to
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as well as for the steps
the Senator has undertaken so that military aid is equally allocated
to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Joe Biden, expressing his thanks to Armenians for Obama for the work
carried out, announced that in case of being elected, publicity and
sincere approach in Obama and Biden’s administration will play a
dominating role in recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

NEW ANTI-GENOCIDE CLUB STAND FORMING AT NIU
By Megan Geyer

Northern Star Online

Friday, October 24, 2008
IL

After taking History of Genocide taught by J.D. Bowers, students
Shay Galto, Ryan Beebe, Megan Pitz, Emily Ericson and Brandyn Grove
decided to get involved.

They are starting an NIU chapter of the anti-genocide organization
STAND (Students Taking Action Now Darfur).

"We’re focused on activism, fundraising and educating people about
what they can do to help," STAND President Shay Galto said.

STAND is a national organization run by students in colleges, high
schools and junior highs across the U.S.

"We aren’t pressuring the government enough," Galto said, citing
that increased activism in the U.S. under President Clinton might
have stopped the genocide in Rwanda.

Each meeting will focus on a particular genocide. Vice President Ryan
Beebe presented an informative powerpoint about the Holocaust at the
club’s second meeting.

"I’m against any kind of harm to anybody," said Sandi Yandle, senior
history major, "We should try to help one another not hurt each other."

STAND plans on going to Cantigny Park in Wheaton, IL to hear Dr. John
Barrett of St. John’s University give a presentation of the Nuremburg
trials which dealt with the prosecution of several high ranking Nazi
officials of WWII.

Other events include watching the movie Dancing Through Death: The
Monkey, Magic and Madness of Cambodia and traveling in November to
the national STAND conference in Washington D.C..

"We’re excited about the interest [STAND] has generated," Treasurer
Emily Ericson said.

At the second meeting, there were eighteen people present.

Adam Zapfel, junior journalism major, explained his reason for coming
to the meeting. "My two friends came here before, and it sounded like
a good cause."

STAND’s next meeting will be held on Nov. 11, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in
DuSable room 302. There will be a presentation of the Armenian Genocide
and a viewing of the genocide documentary film Screamers.

Although STAND is not yet acknowledged as an official NIU organization
by the Student Association, they are actively pursuing recognition.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARTUR CHILINGAROV AND IGOR LEVITIN AWARDED ORDERS

Noyan Tapan
Oct 22, 2008

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. Two members of the delegation
of RF President Dmitry Medvedev who was in Armenia on an official
visit received high awards on October 21. Saint Mesrop Mashtots
Order was awarded to prominent Armenian, polar explorer, scientist,
public-political figure Artur Chilingarov on the occasion of the 17th
anniversary of Armenia’s independence and an Order of Honor was given
to Co-chairman of the Armenian-Russian Intergovernmental Commission
on Economic Cooperation, RF Minister of Transport Igor Levitin for
his significant contribution in the issue of strengthening friendly
relations between the peoples of Armenia and Russia. "My father is
Armenian, my mother is Russian, I was born as a result of friendship. I
am proud of being Armenian," Artur Chilingarov said.

The same day the President of Russia made the following note in the
register of guests of honor of the Genocide Museum: "The Genocide
Museum in Yerevan is the witness of the terrible tragedy of the 20th
century, at the same time it reminds that life is the main value
civilized peoples are obliged to keep." He also laid a wreath in
memory of victims of Armenian Genocide, planted a tree in the Memory
Park of the Memorial Complex, next to the tree planted by former RF
President Vladimir Putin.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LATVIA: FOREIGN MINISTERS OF LATVIA AND RUSSIA AGREE TO CONTINUE EFFORTS IN ISSUES OF MUTUAL IMPORTANCE

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
Oct 23, 2008

On 23 October, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins was on a working visit
to the Russian Federation. During the course of his visit, Minister
Riekstins met with the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation,
Sergey Lavrov, with the aim of proceeding with a dialogue regarding
the issues significant for both sides. As part of the meeting, both
Foreign Ministers reviewed the topics of bilateral co-operation and
exchanged opinions on current developments in international politics,
including the situation in Georgia and other frozen conflicts.

At the outset, Ministers Riekstins and Lavrov commended what has
been achieved so far by both countries in the enhancement of the
legal framework and for the strengthening of economic co-operation
following the bilateral meeting in Riga in December 2007.

One of the key issues in Latvia-Russia relations is the launching
of the border demarcation process. During their discussion, Foreign
Minister Riekstins informed his counterpart, that the composition of
the Latvian side of the Demarcation Commission on has been approved
and the commission should set to work at the earliest possible date.

The ministers talked over the work of the Latvia-Russia
Inter-governmental Commission and the enhancement the legal framework
for bilateral agreements, including the alignment process for the
Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of
Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital and the
Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investment. Both parties
were of the same opinion that it is of vital importance to finalise
the co-ordination work on the agreements on fighting organized
crime, for the prevention of the threat of and the elimination of
consequences of emergency situations, as well as on environmental
protection. "The efforts by the Inter-governmental Commission experts
from both countries should be more intensive and dynamic," Minister
Riekstins pointed out. The next meeting of the Inter-governmental
commission has been scheduled for 11 November this year, in Moscow.

During their discussion, Foreign Minister Riekstins highlighted
issues regarding the crossing of the Latvia-Russia border, and stated
that long lines of trucks still remain on the border between both
countries. Mr Riekstins noted that border crossing issues should be
addressed more actively both on a bilateral basis and within the
European Union framework. Referring to the agreements achieved at
the expert level, Minister Riekstins addressed the issue for issuing
additional licenses on international goods transport.

At the same time, Mr Riekstins and Mr Lavrov expressed their
appreciation regarding the meeting and the co-operation initiated
between historians of both countries, agreed upon by the ministers
during Minister Lavrov’s visit to Latvia. During their meeting on 14
May, historians reached an agreement to organize a joint conference
on the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in the middle of next year. "It is
important for historians of both countries to maintain a dialogue on
the complex issues of history and not to politicize these issues,"
Minister Riekstins emphasised.

Foreign Minister Riekstins also drew attention to the co-operation
between the two countries in relation to displaced cultural and
historical values. The Latvian side perceives this as a complex
co-operation for the retrieval of film originals located in Russia,
the return of museum exhibits belonging to Latvia, as well as for
access by Latvian researchers to archives in Russia.

The Foreign Ministers of Latvia and Russia also reviewed current events
in international politics, including the situation in Georgia. "At
present, the key task of the international community, including
Russia, is to achieve a long-term solution for the settlement of the
situation in Georgia," Mr Riekstins noted. At the same time, Minister
Riekstins accentuated that it was also important for conflicts to be
solved through peaceful means and on a dialogue that is based on the
observance of international rights and full adherence to principles
of independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

The ministers also exchanged opinions on the possibilities for
resolving other regional conflicts, for instance, in Transnistria
and Nagorno-Karabakh.

The working visit by Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins, took place in
response to the expressed invitation by Sergey Lavrov, the Minister
for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in December 2007.

During his visit, Minister Riekstins inspected the renovated building
of the Embassy of Latvia in Moscow, met with members of the Latvian
diaspora and with Latvian students in Moscow. He also gave interviews
to the TV channel Russia Today, to the Associated Press and to the
radio Eho Moskvi.

RUSSIA’S PRESIDENT, IN YEREVAN, SEES QUICK ACTION ON KARABAKH
by Tatul Hakobyan

Armenian Reporter
October 25, 2008
Armenia

President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia plants a tree at the Armenian
Genocide Memorial complex in Yerevan on Oct. 22 during his official
visit. Photolure

Yerevan – President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia is looking forward
to a meeting of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Moscow,
he announced during an official visit to Armenia on October 20-21.

"I am hopeful that we are in the stage where progress is being made,"
he said in a joint press conference with President Serge Sargsian. "In
any case, the two sides are prepared to look for solutions. I will not
comment on the details of the negotiations because they are details of
negotiations and that is their value. I hope that in the near future
a meeting of three presidents takes place in the capital of Russia,"
he added.

A large part of the discussions between Mr. Sargsian and Mr. Medvedev
was dedicated to the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

"Armenia is prepared to continue the negotiations on the basis of
the Madrid principles," Mr. Sargsian said, referring to a proposal
presented to Armenia and Azerbaijan by high officials from the United
States, Russia, and France. "These are foundations, which make it
possible to recognize Karabakh’s right to self-determination and some
other issues that are matters of principle for us," Mr. Sargsian added.

Moscow-Baku talks After leaving Armenia, Russia’s president spoke
on October 22 to the president of Azerbaijan. Mr. Medvedev and
President Ilham Aliyev discussed preparations for a meeting of the
three presidents, Interfax reported.

Mr. Medvedev had visited Baku on July 3. During that visit, he
and Mr. Aliyev signed a Declaration on Friendship and Strategic
Partnership. In the declaration, Moscow and Baku emphasized "the
importance of speedily resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the
basis of widely accepted norms and principles of international law,
and first of all, maintaining and guaranteeing those of the sovereignty
of states, their territorial integrity, and the unchangeability of
their borders." The two presidents also pledged to promote military
cooperation (Russia last year sold tanks to Azerbaijan for the first
time since the mid-1990s) and to work against groups undermining the
sovereignty of each of the two countries (with both sides stepping
up attacks on Islamist groups in the border areas).

But when Mr. Aliyev returned Mr. Medvedev’s visit in September –
after the war in Georgia – Mr. Medvedev did not repeat the verbiage
about territorial integrity.

Madrid Principles At a meeting in Madrid in November 2007,
U.S. undersecretary of state Nicholas Burns, Russian foreign minister
Sergei Lavrov, and French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner presented
to the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan a document with
their proposals for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. The
three officials represent the three states that co-chair the OSCE
Minsk Group, which mediates the resolution of the Karabakh conflict.

"It is the same document that has been on the table for about two
years," Vartan Oskanian, Armenia’s foreign minister at the time
said after the Madrid meeting. "In those matters where there was no
agreement, the co-chairs have added their own proposals to the sides,
for consideration. That is the only detail of that document. For that
reason it is important to be careful in one’s assessment, because
the level was high, and the expectations could also be high."

The substance of the earlier document referred to by Mr. Oskanian,
known as the Prague document, was made public in June 2006.

It was U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state Matthew Bryza, the
U.S. co-chair of the Minsk Group, who disclosed the main principles
of a framework peace accord. Under the principles, he said, Armenian
forces would leave those territories of Azerbaijan in which they are
now stationed; Armenia and Azerbaijan would normalize their economic
and diplomatic ties; peace-keepers would be stationed; there would
be international economic aid for Karabakh; and more. In the end, he
said, there would be a vote on the future status of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Mr. Bryza said the proposed vote would take place "at some point"
in the future, after the liberation of Armenian-occupied lands in
Azerbaijan, the deployment of an international peacekeeping force in
the conflict zone, and the restoration of political and economic ties
between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Official Yerevan responded quickly to the June 2006 disclosures,
saying they were partial.

The matter of a referendum and that of handing the Lachin corridor
and Kelbajar to Azerbaijan were the most contentious issues. As the
negotiations continued, the co-chairs offered their own proposals –
the Madrid Principles – for the resolution of the issues on which
Yerevan and Baku could not agree. Since Yerevan had accepted the
earlier document as a basis for negotiations and Baku had rejected
it, the assumption was that the Madrid principles were more favorable
to Azerbaijan.

On October 7, speaking to the Russian daily Rossiiskaya Gazeta,
Mr. Lavrov, the foreign minister, said, "There remain two or three
unresolved issues which need to be agreed upon at the next meetings of
the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan," Mr. Lavrov told the Russian
newspaper. "The first among them is the Lachin corridor," he added.

Working toward a settlement Mr. Bryza lately told the BBC, "The
resolution of the Karabakh conflict must start with the principle of
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. Other complementary principles
can then be incorporated."

He added, "We must say that yes, from a legal perspective, by law,
Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan. But, after all, so that
the negotiations result in an agreement, Armenia too must agree to
it. We know that Armenia has a different position, and we must use
very creative, constructive approaches so that Armenia and Azerbaijan
find a common language."

Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried, in Yerevan on October
18, in response to a question from the Armenian Reporter’s Armen
Hakobyan, clarified current U.S. policy: "Territorial integrity
is a recognized principle of international law. There are other
principles, such as self-determination. Now we all know what we’re
talking about here. Bringing these principles together, reconciling
these principles is extremely difficult and complicated." He added
that the Minsk Group continues to work "to actually find a settlement."

Mr. Fried gave no indication, however, that a settlement is imminent.

4th INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF CHILDREN’S FILMS BEING HELD IN ARTSAKH

Noyan Tapan
Oct 22, 2008

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 22, NOYAN TAPAN. On October 22, NKR President
Bako Sahakian received a group of theatrical figures led by Armen
Medvedev, tbe Chairman of the Rolan Bykov Foundation, who had arrived
in Artsakh from Russia, the Ukraine, and Armenia within the framework
of the 4th International Festival of Children’s Films.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the General Information Department
of NKR President’s Administration, a wide range of issues regarding
development of cinematography in Artsakh was discussed during the
meeting. Both sides mentioned the necessity to expand mutual visits
and cooperation, as well as to shoot films about Artsakh.

The guests welcomed NKR President’s proposal to hold a film festival
in Artsakh, which will greatly contribute to development of that
sphere in the republic.

CHANNELING CONFLICT
By Michael Alexander

Daily Pilot
October 23, 2008 10:42 PM PDT
CA

UCI students of various ethnic and religious backgrounds discuss
their experiences from trip to Israel and Palestine.

Isaac Yerushalmi wasn’t quite sure what he would find on his trip to
Israel and Palestine, but the moment that burned its way into the
president of Anteaters for Israel’s brain was an encounter with a
soldier who went to Lebanon in war and wished it had been in peace.

"His job was to find where Hezbollah was shooting missiles from,"
he said. "He talked about how Lebanon, in those hills, it was such
a beautiful country. He wished he was there not to be fighting this
war but to see the country and appreciate its beauty."

Yerushalmi was just one of 14 Muslims, Jews, Christians, Druze
and otherwise-affiliated students who took part in the Olive Tree
Initiative, a joint trip to the conflict-torn regions in September.

They spent equal amounts of time in Israel and Palestine and met with
people from all persuasions and walks of life.

Thursday night, they shared their experiences to hundreds in a
campus forum titled "Beyond Stereotypes: Faces and Voices of the
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict."

UCI has had a history of tension between Jewish and Islamic groups
on campus, including allegations of anti-Semitism from speakers and
threats to student safety.

But the members of the Muslim Student Union, Anteaters for Israel,
Hillel, Society of Arab Students, Middle Eastern Studies Initiative
and other groups didn’t raise the $60,000 for the trip just to trade
accusations; they were changing their lives together.

>>From sitting in a cab and hearing the driver speak "Ara-Hebrew,"
to going to the city of Hebron and seeing Jews and Muslims praying
separately at the tomb of Abraham across a barred window, students
poured out anecdotes that had shocked and surprised them.

One remembered seeing two roads splitting off in the same spot: one
for Jews, and one for Muslims. Another, however, remembered a famous
restaurant owned by a Jew and a Muslim that had outlasted being bombed
and kept bringing people together.

The students, who on their own asked questions of business leaders
and politicians and other residents, made an impression wherever they
went, professor Manuel Gomez said.

Most memorable to him was the mayor of an Israeli settlement who said:
"I’m impressed with you guys. I invited Condoleeza Rice here and she
was afraid to come here. You guys had the courage to come here and
look with your own eyes."

Several students talked about a moment that crystallized the whole
trip for them. On a rooftop in Jerusalem, the whole group sat down
on a Friday night for Jewish Shabbat dinner.

For Shahrooz Shahandeh, who went unaffiliated with any campus group,
it was his first.

"It was in the old city, in between the Christian and the Armenian and
the Muslim and the Jewish quarters, on a rooftop," Shahandeh said. "Up
on this rooftop you had Muslims and Jews and Druze and Christians,
sitting there and breaking bread and laughing and singing. It was
incredible. I would never have thought that this would have been
possible in a city with this history of turmoil and conflict. I
thought, ‘This is what it could be like.’"

Not every moment was a hopeful one, but even those brought forth
a kind of urgency, students said. Former Society of Arab Students
president Amanda Naoufal got an earful from the group’s own bus driver.

"He tells me in Arabic, ‘You know you guys are just wasting your
time,’" she said. "’I’ve been doing this for 15 years: brought people
from the United States, taken them all over Israel, all over Palestine,
and they’ve cried for Israeli children, cried for Palestinian children,
and then they go home and forget, and nothing changes.’"

But Naoufal said she took it as a challenge, not a reason to give up,
and students had plenty of ideas on things to do back stateside.

One student had ideas about a radio show on KUCI to debate the
issues in a civil setting, while many others called for the Olive
Tree Initiative to happen over and over, bringing as many people as
possible to the experiences they had had.

But in a way, graduate student Daniel Wehrenfennig said, the very
fact they had gone sent a message. He recalled a Palestinian who was
shocked to see that any place in the world could produce a group of
people from so many conflicting backgrounds working on a common goal.

"For us the chance is, the mission is, to maybe be the broken link,"
he said. "A lot of people here have friends and family one side or
another. Some of them, they cannot talk to each other, for physical
reasons or maybe emotional reasons, but maybe they can talk to us."