ASBAREZ Online [02-04-2005]

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02/04/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Armenian American Republicans Participate in Presidential Inauguration Week Celebration 2) Rep. Costa Joins Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus 3) Karabagh Drafts Law on Dual Citizenship 4) Armenian Monument Desecrated in Krasnodar 5) ANCA Releases Cutting-edge Capital Gateway Program DVD 6) Horizon to Mark 15th Anniversary with Celebratory Events 7) United Human Rights Council Conducts Fact Strip Distribution 8) Early Gorky Works Break New Ground 9) ARS AIDS Project Receives Grant Extension 10) Ambassador John Evans to Speak at UCLA 11) Second Pan Armenian Film Festival in Armenia 12) Chamlian Student Participates in Presidential Inauguration 13) Who's the Qualified Candidate? 1) Armenian American Republicans Participate in Presidential Inauguration Week Celebration --Kick-off Era of Closer ties with the Administration during New Term WASHINGTON, DC--Armenian American Republicans from around the country came to the Nation's Capital on Presidential Inauguration week in January to celebrate President George W. Bush's re-election and to step up activities with the Republican Party, reported the National Organization of Republican Armenians (NORA). From the main Inauguration Balls to the State sponsored functions throughout the week, Republican Armenians participated in a wide array of functions. For many, the trip to Washington was a family affair. NORA Board Member Ara Bedrosian and wife, Sandy, traveled to the Capital with parents and long-time Republican issues supporters John and Asdghig Bedrosian to join in the festivities. They were joined by their daughter, Ani Bedrosian, who is currently participating in the ANCA Capital Gateway Program and interning with Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism, Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ). "It was indeed a pleasure to participate in inaugural activities this week and celebrate George Bush's re-election," noted Ara Bedrosian. "The Armenian American participation at this and other Republican functions continues to grow each time. The next four years will be a terrific opportunity to build on existing relationships with the Republican leadership in an effort to promote closer US-Armenia economic ties and address the key concerns of our community," concluded Bedrosian, who also serves on the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region Board. Michigan activists Charles and Tulie Yessaian joined their son Chuck Yessaian Jr. in attending functions throughout the week. Chuck Yessaian was recently hired as legislative director for Michigan Freshman Congressman Joe Schwarz after serving as legislative assistant with Michigan House colleague Fred Upton. Massachusetts Republican State Committeeman Bob Semonian spoke with a number of key officials at the inaugural functions including close friend, Bush Administration Chief of Staff Andrew Card, and several Senate and House Republicans including House Freshman Republican Class Leader Michael McCaul (R-TX), South Carolina Congressman Bob Inglis, and Ohio Senators George Voinovich and Mike DeWine. Semonian was recently appointed Chairman of Ethnic Outreach for the State of Massachusetts. He has been a delegate to last seven Republican National Conventions. Semonian was joined on the trip by Bob Avakian, outgoing Chairman of the Planning Board of Bedford, MA. Florida Republicans Jim and Martha Batmasian participated in the week's activities, including the Florida Ball. In the past, Martha Batmasian was a Republican Candidate for State Senate in Massachusetts. Among others seen at the Republican galas include US Department of Transportation Maritime Administration Deputy Administrator John Jamian, former Connecticut State Representative Brian Flaherty, and a host of Armenian American Congressional staff members including Steve Karapetian, legislative assistant with Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA); Elise Aronson, Chief of Staff for Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ); Keith Nahigian, on staff with Sen. John McCain. 2) Rep. Costa Joins Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus Newly Elected Congressman from Fresno to Continue His Strong Support of Constituent Issues FRESNO--Central California Democrat Jim Costa (20th Dist.) became the most recent in a line of Representatives who have become members of the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus. He joins Representatives Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Ben Chandler (R-KY), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), and Joe Schwarz (R-MI), all of whom have added their names to the Caucus in the 109th Session of Congress. Rep. Costa, who was elected to Congress by a 53-47 margin last November, was endorsed by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) based on his long record of support as a State Legislator on issues of concern to Armenian Americans in the Central Valley. The ANCA's endorsement, coupled with the ANC-Fresno's dissemination of this news to Armenian American voters in Fresno, rallied the Armenian community to support Costa for Congress. "Rep. Costa has been a staunch supporter of our issues for a long time," stated Hygo Ohanessian, who chairs ANC-Fresno. "Really, this is a person who should be on the Caucus given his history with the Armenian American community that he represents. His constituents will be as glad as I am to learn the news," concluded Ohanessian. Rep. Costa grew up in the Valley with Armenian farmers such as the Koligian family. Congressman Costa has carried the bond that tied his family to the Fresno Armenian community throughout his 24-year legislative career. As early as February 2004, then candidate Costa committed to joining the Armenian Issues Caucus if elected to Congress when he met with representatives of the local ANC at the Armenian Center in Fresno. Established in 1995 and co-chaired by Representatives Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), the Congressional Armenian Issues Caucus is a bipartisan forum for the discussion of policies to foster increased cooperation between the United States and Armenian governments and to strengthen the enduring bonds between the American and Armenian peoples. 3) Karabagh Drafts Law on Dual Citizenship STEPANAKERT (Armenpress)--Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR) has drafted a law that would allow citizens to carry dual citizenship. The republic's Foreign Affairs Minister Arman Melikian said that draft laws on MKR's diplomatic service and consulate services have also been developed, so as to coordinate the Ministry's foreign policy and its mission to protect the right of MKR citizens in foreign countries. He also revealed the laws were drafted based on the international conventions and legislation. 4) Armenian Monument Desecrated in Krasnodar KRASNODAR (Combined Sources)--Vandals desecrated a monument dedicated to Armenians who founded the town of Budenovsk in Russia's southern province of Stavropol. The monument is housed in a complex dedicated the Founding Fathers of the City of Soorp Khach (Holy Cross). Officially dedicated in October 2004, the complex houses an 8 meter-high arch, a khachkar (cross-stone), and a stone composition. Krasnodar's Yerkramas newspaper reported that the vandalism may be the result of recent anti-Caucasus sentiments in the area, or is an act by a cult. Sanctioned by Russian Emperor Paul I, The city of Soorp Khach (Holy Cross, now Budennovsk) was founded in 1799 by Armenians and others who believed in the Armenian faith. 5) ANCA Releases Cutting-edge Capital Gateway Program DVD --New "Hovig Apo Saghdejian" fellows start work in Washington, DC --"Youth of a Nation" interactive DVD gives an insider look at innovative job placement program WASHINGTON, DC--With the release this week of a interactive DVD, recent Armenian university graduates have a new way to learn about the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Capital Gateway Program and its groundbreaking efforts to help open doors to political and media related job opportunities in the nation's Capital. The "Youth of a Nation" 10-minute video highlighting the benefits and successes of the program, features interviews with Members of Congress and program graduates, as well as a host of resources for future applicants. Prepared by the ANCA Western Region office and unveiled at its annual gala in Los Angeles, "Youth of a Nation" gives potential applicants and supporters a chance to meet Capital Gateway fellows, hear first hand about how the program works, and benefit from their experiences looking for jobs in Washington, DC. Young film-maker and MTV "Rock-the-Vote" veteran Ara Soudjian and ANCA Western Region Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian traveled to the Capital to speak to Capital Gateway staff, participants as well as Members of Congress to give a complete picture of the unique program. The DVD Capital Gateway Education project was made possible through a charitable contribution by Mr. and Mrs. John and Asdghig Bedrosian. In addition to the documentary, the Capital Gateway DVD includes an extensive photo gallery featuring Capital Gateway participants, past and present, as well as necessary application forms, additional information about the program and its successes and an on-line method to support the program. "Youth of a Nation" has already been shown at meetings with the UCLA Armenian Students Association as well as several Southern California College Campuses. Launched in August 2003, through a generous donation from the Cafesjian Family Foundation, the ANCA Capital Gateway Program assists Armenian Americans across the US in finding job opportunities on Capitol Hill or other government offices, the media, and think tanks in Washington, DC The program builds on the successful 20-year old ANCA "Leo Sarkisian" summer internship program, which has brought hundreds of youth leaders to Washington, DC to learn about the American political process and the growing role Armenian Americans play in advancing a broad range of advocacy issues. Qualified Capital Gateway Program Fellows are provided free housing and full use of ANCA facilities and staff support in their quest for the right job or internship in the Nation's Capital. More than 20 participants in the program have secured positions in a myriad of locations including with Members of Congress, US Chamber of Commerce, Export-Import Bank, Congressional Quarterly, Center for the Prevention of Genocide, and the American Civil Liberties Union. "Hovig Apo Saghdejian" Fellows Arrive in Washington, DC The Winter 2004 Capital Gateway Program Fellows include two "Hovig Apo Saghdejian" fellows from Southern California--Ani Bedrossian and Andrew Gregorian. Bedrosian, a recent graduate from Loyola Marymount University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, is currently interning with House Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism Chairman Jim Saxton (R-NJ). Gregorian, a UCLA graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, who arrived in the program just last week, is currently interviewing for several positions on Capitol Hill. A third "Hovig Apo Saghdejian" fellow, Serouj Aprahamian of Orange County, California, recently completed a three-month tenure as a volunteer in the ANCA office, and has returned to contribute to the advocacy efforts of his local Armenian Youth Federation chapter. The Hovig Apo Saghdejian Fellowship of the Capital Gateway Program was created and named in memory of the young man, who perished in an automobile accident in June 2004. The Fellowship fund has collected nearly $60,000 to date through the loving efforts of Hovig's parents, Apo and Rosine Saghedejian, and sister Nayiri. This fund will, on an ongoing basis, sponsor fellows, by covering their housing and providing a full range of support services - from improving the design of their resumes and sharpening their interview skills, to making the right introductions and integrating them into the growing network of Armenian American public policy professionals in the nation's capital. "These fine young Armenians, Serouj, Ani, and Andrew - and all those that will follow - honor Hovig's legacy of respect for our Armenian heritage and commitment to community service," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "Even at an early age, in the very best tradition of our long history, Hovig understood the critical importance of each generation contributing to the future of the Armenian nation. He rebuilt homes in Armenia, strengthened our community here in the United States, and got involved in local political campaigns. His young life was cut short by tragedy - and we were all deprived of a lifetime of service, love and friendship. Hovig's loss remains a painful tragedy for our community, in Fresno and around the country. He remains in our prayers, and, although the pain will never pass, we draw a measure of comfort, knowing that, in his memory, scores of young Armenians will make great contributions to our future as a nation." Hovig Apo Saghdejian was born on December 31, 1980 in Fresno, California. An active member of a number of community organizations, including the Armenian National Committee of America, Homenetmen Armenian General Athletic Union and Scouts, the Armenian Youth Federation and the Land and Culture Organization, he contributed to the welfare of the Armenian American community and reinforced his commitment to his Homeland. He visited Armenia with the Land and Culture Organization, and traveled to Beirut, Lebanon with the Hamazkayin Cultural Society to broaden his cultural understanding. At an early age, Hovig was already politically active, volunteering with the office of Congressman George Radanovich and State Assemblymember Steve Samuelian on campaign and public policy projects. In addition to the Hovig Apo Saghdejian Fellowship, the Capital Gateway program has received substantial support from longtime ANCA benefactors Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Barbara Hekimian and the Armenian American Veterans Post of Milford, Massachusetts (AAVO). Founded in 1946 by returning veterans of World War II and later expanded to include veterans of the Korean War, the AAVO has been a devoted contributor to community organizations and projects. They have been recognized for their generosity in newspapers, official proclamations, and through the appreciation of the many recipients of their humanitarian gifts. Members of Congress Encourage Graduates to Come to Washington The Capital Gateway Program continues to receive praise from Members of Congress, who have urged graduates to take advantage of all the program has to offer. Speaking on camera in "Youth of a Nation," Rep. Anna Eshoo, an outspoken activist on Armenian American concerns who is of Armenian and Assyrian ancestry, urged young politically minded individuals to apply. "If there were an offer on the table to come to Washington, DC, the power center of the world, work in the Congress--not outside by inside the tent--in an office internship. If you have that offer--with housing taken care of--with the internship being created--why wouldn't you take advantage of it? . . . The Capital Gateway means that the gates will swing open, they have already been prepared for you, come here, learn, grow and have it be a substantive part of your life." Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) pointed the benefits of the Program. "It's just a great experience because you see the actual workings of Congress. You learn how bills are put together, how they respond to constituents. You certainly, as an Armenian American, would learn to what extent people have knowledge of Armenian issues." Rep. Pallone also noted the importance increasing the number of Armenian Americans active on Capital Hill. "It's a great learning experience obviously for the individual, for the young person, but I also think it helps the Members of Congress and other staff because the whole idea is that there is an Armenian American face so that people can see some of the areas of concern are and interact with people of all ethnic groups." Southern California Representatives Adam Schiff and Diane Watson were equally enthusiastic about the program. "This is a gateway to the Capital. It's just a great way for young people to come out and test the waters and see if this is the right challenge for them," explained Rep. Schiff in speaking to the "Youth of a Nation" team. "If you are just out of college and you are looking towards the future in terms of a career, come to the nation's capital. If you are not decided yet as to what you want to do, but you have that education, come and take a look. And maybe you can come back and take my seat, or a seat in the Senate, or--who knows--you could be President. That opportunity is there for you. So I invite you to come," said Rep. Watson. 6) Horizon to Mark 15th Anniversary with Celebratory Events GLENDALE--In celebration of Horizon 24 Hour Armenian TV's 15th anniversary, a number of festive events have been planned to mark the momentous occasion. After an initial kick off party, the festivities will continue with a Gala Concert on February 27, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The extraordinary lineup includes special guests from Armenia Ara Gevorkian, popular Armenian musician and composer Nune Badalian, well-known soprano Arsen Grigorian, as well as Armen Movsesyan, Hovhannes Shahbazian, Armen Hayorti, and Rima Carapetyan. The Annual Banquet will take place at the Renaissance Banquet Hall on March 11, followed by a Night of Cultural Festivities at the Alex Theater on March 22. An invitation only event, this night will provide an opportunity for Horizon to express its gratitude to all those who have supported the station in all its endeavors. Horizon 24 Hour Armenian TV, the largest and most diversified media corporation in the United States and throughout the Armenian world, began as a half hour weekly program and grew to become a 24 hour station with national and international programming. Broadcast primarily in Armenian, Horizon offers Armenian-Americans across North America an exciting lineup of diverse programming from the diaspora and Armenia. With its concentration on providing comprehensive news, the channel produces nearly 80% of its programs, as well as a variety of documentaries. Horizon offers the best assortment of news, movies, music, talk shows, and children's shows that are uniquely Armenian. Designed to reflect the needs and interests of the Armenian-American community, Horizon is committed to delivering superior programming. With an unrivaled supply of news footage from around the world through correspondents in Armenia, Artsakh, and the diaspora, as well as television news agencies such as APTN, Reuters TV, and local news agencies, Horizon is the leading news source covering world and domestic affairs from the Armenian perspective. 7) United Human Rights Council Conducts Fact Strip Distribution GLENDALE--In its first large-scale fact strip distribution of 2005, the United Human Rights Council (UHRC) members visited Armenian grocery stores in both Glendale and Pasadena on January 29, providing them with informative flyers about human rights abuses committed by the Turkish government. Store clerks and managers were urged to place the flyers on their check-out counters for customers to pick up. According to Ani Garibyan, one of the organizers of Saturday's action, the UHRC regularly carries out such fact strip distributions in order to raise the awareness of Armenian consumers' susceptible to buying Turkish products. `We figure that if we want to stop Armenians from buying Turkish products, the best thing to do is to directly go to the stores where they shop,' stated Garibyan. Several store owners received the fact strips enthusiastically, with some even insisting on putting them in the grocery bags of customers. In addition, the UHRC members conducted a survey of Armenian shoppers at the stores they visited, asking them a series of questions regarding Turkish products being sold in Armenian stores, including whether or not they realized that the Turkish government receives tax revenue from companies exporting such products to the US. The results will be used to help structure future campaigns aimed towards ridding Turkish products from Southern California stores. The United Human Rights Council (UHRC), by means of action on a grassroots level, works toward correcting the human rights violations of those governments who distort, deny, and delude their own history to disguise past and present genocides, massacres, and human rights violations. The UHRC is a collective of concerned citizens, including a diverse spectrum of members and supporters from various community-based organizations and student associations of universities and colleges. 8) Early Gorky Works Break New Ground Los Angeles Exhibit Extended Through Feb. 2005 LOS ANGELES--Arshile Gorky, widely regarded as one of the most pivotal and significant artists in the development of 20th century American art, became a lightning rod for other artists in the late 1920s and early 30s, sparking the genesis of what was to become the "New York School" and setting the course of modern art in America. Now, in a ground-breaking exhibition "Arshile Gorky--The Early Years," Jack Rutberg Fine Arts in Los Angeles is showing 66 rare works by Gorky from a private collection, most of which have never been exhibited before. This exhibition, one of the largest exhibits of Gorky's works ever presented outside of a museum, breaks new ground in addressing Gorky's earliest stylistic development. "Arshile Gorky--The Early Years" offers new references and insights into this legendary artist during his seminal period as he explored the avant garde sensibilities of the time. As Melvin P. Lader (widely regarded as the eminent scholar on the work of Arshile Gorky and author of numerous books on Gorky and abstract expressionism) notes in this exhibition catalogue's text: "As a group, the drawings and paintings mirror Gorky's stylistic evolution, up to the point in the late 1930s when he began to truly digest and synthesize so many of his early influences on the verge of finding his own unique language and style. Examples of his absorption of Analytic Cubism, Synthetic Cubism, and aspects of Surrealism are plentiful among these works...and they offer us the rare opportunity to view a good number...from a very fertile period of his artistic career." The exhibition has been made possible due to the long-standing friendship between Gorky and the Swiss-born American artist Hans Burkhardt, who shared a studio with Gorky in New York for many years, and acquired a formidable collection of Gorky's early works. Lader notes that the "Burkhardt collection Gorky drawings provides a rather unique opportunity to see the artist's art and ideas evolve within an important period of his artistic transformation. Drawings, by their very nature, register the artist's first impulses in creating a work. As such, they can often be of enormous value in understanding how an artist thinks and in tracing the various stages through which his art has progressed." "Arshile Gorky: The Early Years" is currently exhibited at Jack Rutberg Fine Arts gallery, 357 North La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, through February, 2005. The exhibition is accompanied by a 96-page text with 103 color illustrations, and an essay by Dr. Lader, who co-curated the recent major retrospective of Gorky drawings at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York, and the Menil Collection in Houston. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 to 5:00 pm or by appointment. A portfolio sampling of Arshile Gorky's exhibition may be viewed at the gallery's web site: 9) ARS AIDS Project Receives Grant Extension WATERTOWN, MAThe Central Executive Board of the Armenian Relief Society, Inc. (ARS) recently announced that the HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention Project at the ARS Mother and Child Clinic in Akhurian, Armenia has been granted an extension. The project, funded by a grant from the World AIDS Foundation, is a collaborative effort between the ARS and the University of Massachusetts (UM) at Worcester. The purpose of the project is to develop a decentralized model of HIV/AIDS education and prevention that can be replicated throughout Armenia and possibly in other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. In addition, it begins to establish a climate that will support HIV health care delivery in the near future. Project team members include UM Medical School assistant professor Dr. Carol Bova, ARS Mother and Child Clinic director Dr. Sevak Avagyan, UM Memorial Healthcare HIV Clinic Nurse Manager/Nurse Practitioner Carol Jaffarian who is also a member of the ARS; and ARS Mother and Child Clinic executive director Dr. Mkhitar Mkhitaryan. Built in the region of Armenia devastated by the 1988 earthquake, the ARS Mother and Child Clinic, the first licensed and registered privately owned medical facility in Armenia, became operational in May 1997. Providing the 22,000 strong population of Akhurian and six adjacent villages with free medical care and treatment, more than 40,000 women and children have received care at the clinic since its inception, and more than 450 children have been born to mothers followed in this clinic. In September 2003, the ARS celebrated the groundbreaking of a Birthing Center at the clinic, which will officially become operational in April, the date on which Armenians throughout the world will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Genocide. Thus, the new ARS Birthing Center will be affirming the joy and final triumph of new life over violence, death, and despair. 10) Ambassador John Evans to Speak at UCLA LOS ANGELES--US Ambassador to Armenia John M. Evans, will speak at UCLA on Thursday afternoon, February 17, at 2 p.m., in the Viewpoint Conference Room of Ackerman Union (level A). The Ambassador's visit to UCLA is being arranged by Professor Richard Hovannisian, AEF Chair in Armenian History, with the cooperation of the Armenian Students Association. Evans stated that he looks forward to a free and open exchange with students, faculty, and members of the public who wish to attend the afternoon forum. He will begin the hour with a brief overview titled "Report from Armenia--2005." Evans was confirmed by the Senate in June, took his oath of office in August, and presented his credentials in Yerevan in September 2004. A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, he studied Russian history at Yale University and Columbia University. Since entering the Foreign Service, he has served in a number of posts, including Tehran, Prague, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Washington DC, as well as on special commissions and peace-keeping missions in Europe. His role in coordinating the American response to the Armenian earthquake of 1988 earned him a medal and statement of appreciation from the Armenian government. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to Armenia, Evans directed the State Department's Office of Russian Affairs. Ambassador Evans will be accompanied by Donna Evans, former President of the World Affairs Council of Washington, DC, Robin Phillips, Mission Director for the US Agency for International Development, Eugenia Sidereas, the State Department's Desk Officer for Armenia, and Aaron Sherinian, the Embassy's Political Officer and Assistance Coordinator in Yerevan The gathering is free and open to the public. The UCLA campus map is available at <; Contact Professor Richard Hovannisian, at [email protected], or call 310-825-3375, MWF (9 a.m.-12 noon). 11) Second Pan Armenian Film Festival in Armenia --Organizers invite entries for July 2005 festival YEREVAN--The second international "Golden Apricot" film festival will take place in Yerevan, Armenia July 12-17, under the theme of "crossroads." Striving to promote cross-cultural understanding, festival organizers have invite entries from throughout the world--from a variety of cultures--to convene in Yerevan, on the crossroads of yesterday's and today's cultures. Entries should depict human experience: the daily lives of ordinary people, their troubles and joys, their hopes and heartbreaks. There are two categories for the festival competition: full-length feature films and documentaries (full length and short). One Grand Prix (Golden Apricot) and one Special Mention will be presented in each category. The Special Award will be presented for significant contribution to the cinema world. The festival will have a special competition for feature, animation, and documentary films made by filmmakers of Armenian decent. Two Awards will be presented for films in this section. This year's Golden Apricot again presents two non-competitive categories. Under "Yerevan Premiers" the best art-house films of the past season will be screened, whereas the "Retrospective" category will present films by famous film directors. The application submission deadline is March 31, 2005. Accepted screening formats are film (35 mm), and video (DV, DVCAM, Beta-SP/PAL). The organizing committee will accept submissions on BETA NTSC or DigiBeta. Accepted preview formats are VHS (PAL or NTSC). The date of production has to be after July 1, 2003. For detailed inquiries and application forms, contact Susanna Harutyunyan and Mikayel Stamboltsyan of the Golden Apricot International Film Festival, Byron Street, #5, Yerevan, 375009, Armenia, Tel. (?1) 564484, email: [email protected]. The festival website is <; 12) Chamlian Student Participates in Presidential Inauguration LA CRESCENTA--Areni Shahinian, an 8th grade student at Chamlian Armenian School, was invited to participate in the Presidential Inauguration from January 19-23, in Washington, DC. Personally extending the invitation as the Chief Executive Officer of `People to People' program, Mary Eisenhower (granddaughter of President Dwight Eisenhower) had written, `Areni is one of a selected few individuals asked to participate in this exclusive Washington program.' Areni, who returned to Los Angeles last Sunday, said, `It was an extraordinary experience that I will never forget. I wish every student had such an opportunity.' Assistant to the Principal Rita Kaprielian expressed, `The administration is very proud that Areni was present at this significant event not only as a Chamlian student, but also as a young Armenian-American delegate.' 13) Who's the Qualified Candidate? By Garen Yegparian Yes, more on elections. Someone should really do a PhD thesis or other study on what drives people to run for office, especially local, under conditions that exist in places like Glendale today. Some of these poor, addled candidates are in for the shocks of their lives. Sadly they'll also play the role of spoilers (in ways that make unjustly-accused-Nader-in-Florida-2004 look like an angel). The title of this piece begs the questions of who's making the assessment of qualification and in what context before getting into the actual list of qualifications. Clearly, the context is the Armenian community's interest. If for no other reason, then simply because many of the candidates in Glendale's races-- City Council, School Board, Community College Board of Trustees, City Clerk, and City Treasurer--pin high hopes on the Armenian vote, which has been energized in recent years and is a force to be reckoned with. As to who's doing the judging? Well, it's me. Deal with it! It's worth noting that, while much of this discussion is rooted in municipal elections, it is broadly applicable to higher, legislative-representative, state and federal level offices as well. The most obvious qualification for office is experience, training, or some background in a field applicable to the post sought, e.g. having been a local government employee--if running for city council, being a trained teacher--if running for school board, or coming from the world of finance--if running for treasurer. But this is obviously insufficient. Many candidates eventually become very good members of the bodies to which they're elected through on-the-job-training. What gets them in is support in the community they serve because they've been active in it. Maybe they're single-issue advocates, and that issue resonates powerfully with the constituency in question. Maybe they speak for an under--or un-represented minority or one that is energized by real and/or perceived injustices. Maybe they have many years of service in community organizations and/or the given municipality's boards and commissions. Maybe they're gadflies who get lucky because the remaining field of candidates is just plain lousy. Maybe they collect, or use of their own money--enough to be heard more loudly than the competition. Maybe the incumbents have become so reprehensible to the voters that an "anybody but..." attitude prevails. It also helps if candidates for office know whereof they speak. People do listen and appreciate it when someone is well versed in the relevant issues and conveys plausible solutions to perceived problems. Now why is all this relevant to the Armenian community? Simple. There is a very large number of Armenian candidates in Glendale's election this year. To be fair, it is in rough proportion to the percentage of the city's population our community constitutes, approximately 40%. Six of 18 city council candidates (with two other "ian"s not qualifying), four of nine city clerk candidates, one of two city treasurer candidates, four of nine school board candidates, and two (one an Armenian "hars") of four community college board candidates are Armenian. You'd really have to have just fallen off the turnip truck, plus severely banged and bumped your head in the process, to believe these candidates don't expect Armenians to vote for them, just because they ARE Armenian. And this is exactly why we as a community, through our organizations, families, and special interest sub-groupings, have the right to a say in pre-selecting these candidates. It's only fair and reasonable that if someone wants my vote through a guilt-by-association rationalization, then he/she ought to be open to and subject to my/our say-so in the matter. Of course this runs smack-dab into the "anyone can become president of the US" mythology that prevails in the country. And of course everyone has a right to run for any office as long as they can overcome the required hurdles. But when Armenians run for office in a jurisdiction where the Armenian vote is defining; when they implicitly, tacitly (if not explicitly and overtly) expect our community's vote; when they convey the sense of being "natural" representatives of our issues; then, we as a community have a right to speak based on our interests. These interests dictate having electable candidates run and not too many of them, otherwise the Armenian vote is diluted through scattering across the 'Armenian' candidates, and they all lose, along with the best interests of our community. In this very fashion, the same individual likely caused the loss of two different, far more electable, Armenian candidates in the State Assembly primaries of 1997 and 2001. Some of the Armenian candidates in Glendale are qualified and credible. They have community service behind them, but not to our community. They are standing for election as the candidate of some other, equally legitimate, grouping with the city. They just expect to piggyback off the large Armenian bloc and parlay the two constituencies' votes into a victory. While this is smart politics and a tactic that's been used successfully before, it is not necessarily in the Armenian community's best interest. Such candidates, and those who have no base--therefore no hope of election, will siphon off enough votes from those truly representing our community to cause the latter's non-election, all to our detriment. Sometimes so much of this goes on, that one is tempted to toy with conspiratorial explanations for these phenomena. Is it just possible that we have become enough of a force in politics in certain jurisdictions that those who have their own (again, equally legitimate agenda) are trying to play divide-and-conquer with our community? So be smart, whether in Glendale or elsewhere with Armenians running for office, and support those candidates who will best serve our community, even if they happen not to be Armenian. 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.