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AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 1 2005

ISSUES OF COOPERATION IN EDUCATION FIELD DISCUSSED
[March 01, 2005, 15:36:22]

Minister of Education Misir Mardanov has met the head of the Council
of Europe Directorate on Education Mr. Gabriel Mazzo and the
coordinator of this organization on cooperation Gennady Kosiak.

Minister Misir Mardanov has told about the meetings of Ministers of
Education of the countries of the Southern Caucasus which has been
lead carried out on the initiative of the Council of Europe, highly
has estimated preparation as a result of these meetings of the manual
titled “History of the Caucasus”, having informed, that in June
current year the book would be prepared and issued in the Azerbaijan,
Russian and English languages.

Having informed about the problems, which have arisen as a result of
the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, about the
classrooms organized in tents and cars, The Minister has noted, that
now the government of Azerbaijan carries out measures directed on
settlement of the mentioned problem.

M. Mardanov also has dwelt on the work done together with the
international organizations in the field of reforms of education, and
the measures, which are carried out for integration of Azerbaijan’s
education system to Europe, connections of the Country to Bolon
process.

Mr. Gabriel Mazza stressed necessity of carrying out of discussions
on the stipulated projects, has expressed readiness to assist to
application and expansion of the Bolon process in the Country, and
also has touched the question of value of regional cooperation.

At the meeting, also were exchanged views connected to projects,
providing realization and expansion of bilateral cooperation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #019, 04/02/2005

Cinematography

HOLLYWOOD’S SPIRIT IN ARMENIA

New Birth of Hayfilm

Hayfilm, the first and the biggest cinema studio of the Soviet Armenia,
was founded in1923. In 1957 it was called Hayfilm, while in 1966,
it was named after Hamo Beknazarian. Since the very first years it
became clear that the cinema studio will have a long and fruitful
creative life. But, as a result of the changes in the course of the
last 15 years, Hayfilm suffered hardship. Today the studio works in
unbearable conditions, it has only one camera. It is obvious that
the studio can’t work in such conditions for a long time, one should
make huge investments to enter the international cinema market and
should be well-equipped technically. So, it was decided to privatize
the cinema studio.

“About a year and a half ago, we began discussions in that direction,
but we didn’t agree on some points and demands with the investors
(Ara Abrahamian, Gerard Gafestchian) and we stopped the process,”
Gevorg Gevorgian, head of Hayfilm cinema studio, said. At present,
Khachik Khachikian, American-Armenian businessman, chairman of Vision
Quest Pictures company, wants to privatize the studio. He will allocate
$1,5 million for the privatization of the studio, while the further
investments will surpass $100 million. According to Mr. Gevorgian,
by the instruction of RA prime minister, the possession of the studio
is being calculated. As for the concern that the deal may turn to be
an unreal one, Mr. Gevorgian assured that “one of the key points of
the agreement is that all the possession should remain to the state
until the investments are made.” The name and the emblem of the studio
(the statue of David of Sassoon) will be preserved.

Representing the plan of the future building of Hayfilm, made by
an American-Armenian Architect, Mr. Gevorgian described the main
constructions of the studio. Mr. Gevorgian denied the information that
the current building of the studio will be totally ruined. “The studio
will be preserved with its main edifices. The small and unimportant
constructions may be destroyed,” he said.

The construction of the cine-city will have two stages. The first
one includes the total renovation of the whole studio, construction
of squares, creation of artificial lakes and fountains, construction
of 12 gigantic pavilions (each of them is a double one, i.e. there
will be 24 pavilions in total), the establishment of a cinema-school,
where the students of our cinema and art institutes will study. The
investor will secure equipment that keeps in line with the European
criteria. The cinema production section, as well as the artificial
city will be constructed in the territory of Hayfilm. Investments
amounting to $112 million are envisaged for this stage. The films of
the studio will be rerecorded in the digital format. An international
film festival is envisaged to be held in Hayfilm.

They envisage building a hotel complex in the second stage. This
hotel complex will be no entertainment center but will receive the
cinema figures from foreign countries. $100 million is envisaged for
this stage. In fact, the investments will surpass the expectations.

In one word, a real miracle is going to take place in the course of
the coming five years.

The new Hayfilm will have 2500-3000 employees instead of the 300 that
are currently working at the studio. This will solve the issue of
the unemployment and the minimal salary of the employees will amount
to $100.

Simultaneously with the reconstruction works, many films will be shot
at Hayfilm. The studio envisages to shoot 5-6 début films, 4 feature
films and 4 cartoons will be produced by Hayfilm in 2005. The studio
will represent Edgar Baghdasarian’s “Mariam” and Vigen Chaldranian’s
“Agatangeghos” films in at Cannes Film Festival. In case they manage,
they will send a film to the US Film Academy to be nominated, as well.

Mr. Gevorgian stated that AMD 250 million are allocated for the studio
from the state budget annually.

Let’s wish success to the authors of this great initiative and let’s
hope that one day we will again be proud of the miracle the Armenian
cinema creates.

By Gohar Gevorgian

–Boundary_(ID_egX9SHSgHgOpyCN4jj92qQ)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

>>From Europe to U.S.: Can Djorkaeff help end stigma?

South Florida Sun-Sentinel
February 27, 2005

By Jeff Rusnak, Soccer Columnist

Youri Djorkaeff is not a name that rolls easily off the tongue, but
in international-soccer circles it’s a name most fans recognize. Many
can even pronounce it.

Upon joining the MetroStars two weeks ago, the former France midfielder
became the biggest name to sign with Major League Soccer in five
seasons, and it’s an addition that has stirred an age-old American
soccer debate.

Djorkaeff is a week shy of 37 and he’s come stateside to finish a
career that began at FC Grenoble in 1984. In the 20 seasons since the
slender Frenchman has scored nearly 200 goals for eight top-flight
clubs in France, Italy, Germany and most recently England, where he
last played for the Blackburn Rovers.

He scored 28 goals in 82 internationals for France, and was a member
of the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship winners. His club
titles include the French Cup with AS Monaco, the UEFA Cup Winners
Cup with Paris Saint-Germain, and the UEFA Cup with Inter Milan.

It’s a resume most players could only hope for. Yet, because of
Djorkaeff’s age, there’s some debate about the merits of bringing him
to MLS. It’s a debate that’s fueled in part by the dismal showing of
the last World Cup winner to sign with the MetroStars, former Germany
captain Lothar Matthaus.

Matthaus joined the underachieving franchise in 2000 and did nothing
to improve matters. He also did nothing to erase the stigma of
thirtysomething European imports that come here for what amounts to
a soccer holiday. It’s a stigma with roots that trace back to all
those pricey imports who played in the North American Soccer League,
and it grows deeper every time someone like Matthaus disappoints.

There hasn’t been a player of Matthaus’s pedigree to sign with
MLS until Djorkaeff, and the league has suffered from the vacuum of
cultured talent. While the average American player has gotten better,
the style of play has become more predictable as teams failed to
replace Carlos Valderrama, Peter Nowak, Marco Etcheverry and the like.

Djorkaeff’s signing is a good first step in replenishing the playmaking
drain. Despite his years, he was fit enough to score nine goals in 28
goals last season for Bolton. He moved to Blackburn on a free transfer
last summer, but played just three games before injuring a hamstring.

He was released in December, but left an impression before
departing. Blackburn coach Mark Hughes described Djorkaeff as
“a fantastic professional” with the ability to play a support role
behind the two forwards. Just want MLS needs more of.

,0,7031915.column?coll=sfla-sports-headlines

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Analysis: Syria at Forefront of Recent Mideast
Politics

World

National Public Radio (Washington, DC)
Morning Edition
February 28, 2005

by Renee Montagne

The assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister last week
brought Syria to the forefront of international politics. Meanwhile,
over the weekend, the Syrian government arrested Saddam Hussein’s
half-brother. Former U.S. ambassador to Syria, Edward Djerejian,
discusses the latest out of the Middle East.

;sourceCode=RSS

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Glendale News Press
28 Feb2005

Helping the disabled in Armenia

Nearly $10,000 was raised during event for Pyunic, an organization that
promotes rights of disabled in Armenia.

By Robert Chacon, News-Press and Leader

GLENDALE — The Armenian earthquake of 1988 destroyed the use of
Greta Khndzrtsyan’s legs, but it did not destroy her desire to achieve.

The double amputee was two years old when the earthquake struck —
rescue workers found her in the arms of her deceased mother under
piles of rubble — and is one of the disabled athletes from Armenia
competing in the upcoming Los Angeles Marathon wheelchair race that
was honored Sunday at a luncheon fundraiser by Pyunic, an association
that promotes the rights of the disabled in Armenia.

Close to $10,000 was raised during the event at Brandview Collection
through ticket sales, donations and a silent auction. The money will
fund a variety of programs to help disabled people in Armenia.

“In Armenia, it’s not like in the U.S.,” Pyunic board member Lori
Sivazlian said. “The country does not have critical ways of assisting
them. Disabled babies in Armenia are usually placed in orphanages.”
Disabled-person access to things such as public transportation,
high-rise buildings, homes and sidewalks is virtually nonexistent,
she said, though her group is working to change that.

Pyunic was formed after the earthquake that killed 25,000 people,
and left hundreds of thousands homeless, injured or disabled. It
helps raise funds for equipments and advocacy work.

“Every time I see a person in a wheelchair enter a bus here in the
U.S., it reminds me of what we want to achieve,” Pyunic President
Sarkis Ghazarian said.

There are 130,000 disabled people in Armenia, Ghazarian said, adding
that the country is years behind in assistance for disabled people.

For Khndzrtsyan, representing Armenia in the Los Angeles Marathon on
March 6 is a source of pride, she said. This is the second time she
has traveled from Armenia to compete in the marathon.

“The last time, my arms and hands were all bloody from the competition,
but I still completed the race,” she said about the race two years ago.

Marine Hakobyan also made the trip from Armenia and is competing for
the first time in the wheelchair race. She was left paralyzed from
the waste down after the earthquake.

“I have never done this, but I have trained enough and feel good,”
she said.

Some of the roughly 200 people who attended the luncheon walked away
with paintings, jewelry, rugs and arts and crafts made in Armenia.

“I came her to support Pyunic in their efforts,” said Glendale
resident Angele Eskandari, who acquired a silver necklace during the
auction. “People are not as aware in Armenia about disabled issues
as they are here in the U.S.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZG Armenian Daily #036, 01/03/2005

Karabakh diary
17TH ANNIVERSARY OF SUMGAIT POGROMS COMMEMORATED IN STEPANAKERT
A human string headed for the Monument to Sumgait Victims in Stepanakert
from early morning to lay wreaths and flowers. Archbishop Pargev
Martirosian, head of Artsakh diocese of the Armenian Church, served a
liturgy commemorating the victims of Sumgait.
The President of NKR Arkady Ghukasian, chairman of the National Assembly
Oleg Yesayan, PM Anushavan Danielian and members of the government and
parliament visited the monument to pay their tribute and lay wreaths.
Being asked to comment on Khojalu events and Azerbaijan’s strivings to liken
two events, President Arkady Ghukasian said: “I feel pain that a country
where Sumgait tragedy took place speaks of Khojalu. Especially in this case
when the facts of Sumgait massacres are well-known to everyone”. The
president reminded that the Karabakh side opened a corridor for the
civilians in Khojalu and said that they were killed nearby Aghdam and by the
Azeris. He cited the words of former Azerbaijani president Ayaz Mutalibov
noting that this confession leaves no room for doubt that Azerbaijan’s
People’s Front killed people of Khojalu trying to compromise authorities of
the day in order to come to power.
Ghukasian also noted that Azerbaijan’s yearning to turn Khojalu events into
political weapon will do no good for the mutual trust of the sides in the
negotiation process.
A concert by the Artsakh’s State Chamber Orchestra closed the day.
By Kim Gabrielian in Stepanakert

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE

ARMENIAN INSURANCE SETTLEMENT FUND BOARD

Post Office Box 5053
Portland, OR 97208-5053
U.S.A.
1-866-422-0124
_www.ArmenianInsuranceSettlement.com_
(http://www.ArmenianIn suranceSsettlement.com)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — March 1, 2005
DEADLINE NEARS FOR ARMENIAN INSURANCE
SETTLEMENT FUND CLAIMS

Paul Krekorian, a member of the Armenian Insurance Settlement Fund
Board, announced that March 16 is the absolute deadline to submit
a claim for payment under the class action settlement in Marootian
v. New York Life Insurance Co.

The Marootian case was a class action suit filed in United States
District Court by the heirs of Armenians who had purchased life
insurance from New York Life in the Ottoman Empire between 1875 and
1915. The heirs contend that upon the deaths of the policyholders,
many of whom were murdered by Turks during the Armenian Genocide, New
York Life did not pay the benefits on these policies. Last year, New
York Life agreed to settle the class action suit by paying a total
of $20 million, including up to $11 million for the heirs of the
policyholders and at least $3 million for specified Armenian charities.

“The beneficiaries of these policies have waited 90 years
for justice,” said Settlement Fund Board member Krekorian,
an attorney who also serves as Vice President of the Board of
Education of Burbank, California. “It would be a great tragedy if
their efforts were frustrated now because they missed a simple
deadline and waived their legitimate legal rights,” Krekorian
said. The heirs of policyholders may be considered for a share
of benefits under this settlement only if they submit a Notice
of Claim form by March 16. The form may be obtained by calling
the toll free information line at 1-866-422-0124 or visiting the
settlement fund website at _www.armenianinsurancesettlement.com_
() . Claims may come
from anywhere in the world, and it is not necessary that complete
documentation be included with the Notice of Claim form. After the
Settlement Fund Board receives the Notice of Claim form, the claimant
will be informed about other steps that are required in the process.

The settlement fund website includes a partial list of New York Life
policyholders from the relevant era, and those who believe they may be
heirs can search for their ancestors on this list. However, it is not
necessary that their ancestor appear on the list in order to submit
a claim. A claim might still be approved if the heir has some other
evidence that their ancestor was a policyholder and payment was not
made, even if the ancestor does not appear on the list.

The Settlement Fund Board is an independent panel of three Armenian
community leaders appointed by California State Insurance Commissioner
John Garamendi. The Settlement Fund Board is not affiliated in
any way with the lawyers who handled the class action suit, and
the Board members were not involved in negotiating the terms of the
settlement. The Settlement Fund Board is an entirely independent panel
that will evaluate all of the claims of individual heirs and award the
funds to those who meet the qualifications of the agreement. The three
members of the Board are Paul Krekorian; attorney and law professor
Berj Boyajian; and physician and health care activist Viken Manjikian.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, $3 million has already
been distributed in equal shares to the AGBU, the Armenian Relief
Society, the Armenian Education Foundation, the Armenian Missionary
Association, the Armenian Catholic Church, both the Eastern and
Western Dioceses of the Armenian Church of North America, and both
the Eastern and Western Prelacies of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TRUTHFUL EVALUATION OF EVENTS

Azg/arm
01 March 05

The pogroms of Sumgait and the so-called “Khojalu tragedy” both fall
on the end of February. Those two events differ though not only with
their dates but also with political assessment each gets.

Sumgait was the first genocide perpetrated in the Soviet period
against the Armenians and again with the hands of the Turks. But
can we really call the Sumgait events a genocide? Component of the
tragedy allow to speak of genocidal character of the events. Having
rebuffed honest accusations, Azerbaijan assails back claiming that
the events in Khojalu were also a genocide. These two events are
incomparable. The Armenians of Sumgait were a national minority within
Azerbaijan together with other minorities. More importantly, there
was no wide-range confrontation between the two peoples in February
of 1988. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan that slaughtered its Armenian citizens
and forced them out of the country was still a unit of the soviet
empire. Khojalu case is different as the village was a vantage point
for Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys heavy artillery to rocket surrounding Armenian
settlements. Itâ~@~Ys obviously illogical to compare the elimination
of such a bridgehead with genocide.

If the Sumgait tragedy were rightly assessed in its due time,
Azerbaijan would not certainly knock the doors of international
organizations attempting to find associates in equating Khojalu to
Sumgait. The Sumgait tragedy enters the wider context of Karabakh
conflict, it is one of its dark pages and it seems impossible to
find an impartial solution to the conflict leaving out the fact of
genocide in this Azeri town.

One more moment in this regard: if we accept that genocide is a kind
of state terror committed against another nationâ~@~Ys representatives
of the country, then, following Azerisâ~@~Y logic, the fact of Nagorno
Karabakh Republicâ~@~Ys existence should also be recognized. Otherwise,
what should be the perception of genocide in a state formation which
is responsible for “Khojalu tragedy”? And if Azerbaijan wants to label
the Khojalu events of February 26 of 1992 as genocide, though without
any ground, then such approach can be defined as indirect recognition
of Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

Regardless Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys foul play, each tragic event, be it Sumgait
or Khojalu, should receive truthful assessment. The Khojalu events
used to be called tragedy till lately by Azeris themselves (“Khojalu
fajiyasi” â~@~S Khojalu tragedy, was their own wording). Itâ~@~Ys
impossible to turn a tragedy into genocide by a single stroke of pen
years later.

By Kim Gabrielian in Stepanakert

–Boundary_(ID_nIs30thnaRkCYV1dJWzM+Q)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

17TH ANNIVERSARY OF SUMGAIT POGROMS COMMEMORATED IN STEPANAKERT

Azg/arm
01 March 05

A human string headed for the Monument to Sumgait Victims in
Stepanakert from early morning to lay wreaths and flowers. Archbishop
Pargev Martirosian, head of Artsakh diocese of the Armenian Church,
served a liturgy commemorating the victims of Sumgait.

The President of NKR Arkady Ghukasian, chairman of the National
Assembly Oleg Yesayan, PM Anushavan Danielian and members of the
government and parliament visited the monument to pay their tribute
and lay wreaths.

Being asked to comment on Khojalu events and Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys
strivings to liken two events, President Arkady Ghukasian said: “I
feel pain that a country where Sumgait tragedy took place speaks of
Khojalu. Especially in this case when the facts of Sumgait massacres
are well-known to everyone”. The president reminded that the Karabakh
side opened a corridor for the civilians in Khojalu and said that they
were killed nearby Aghdam and by the Azeris. He cited the words of
former Azerbaijani president Ayaz Mutalibov noting that this confession
leaves no room for doubt that Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys Peopleâ~@~Ys Front
killed people of Khojalu trying to compromise authorities of the day
in order to come to power.

Ghukasian also noted that Azerbaijanâ~@~Ys yearning to turn Khojalu
events into political weapon will do no good for the mutual trust of
the sides in the negotiation process.

A concert by the Artsakhâ~@~Ys State Chamber Orchestra closed the day.

By Kim Gabrielian in Stepanakert

–Boundary_(ID_wq5R5dSufdJqYm5MXOVixg)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Morning Call (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
February 24, 2005 Thursday
FIFTH EDITION

Call Specter, Santorum to put Darfur “on radar screen’

By Karen Norvig Berry Special to The Morning Call – Freelance

There is no easy way to talk about genocide. It’s even more difficult
to listen to people asking you to stop genocide. That’s what our
Amnesty International group learned recently when we talked to staff
in the offices of Pennsylvania’s Republican U.S. Sens. Rick Santorum
and Arlen Specter about the Darfur region of the Sudan.

Author Samantha Power, who studied American reaction to genocides
from Armenia to Rwanda in her book, “Problems from Hell,” says, “The
fear with genocide is the minute you engage, you are going to get
dragged in to do the real deal, to send in troops and to be taking
serious political and military risks.” She calls it a “system shut
down” because the political costs are high to act and zero to do
nothing. That’s the inertia that human rights activists must
overcome.

At the end of one interview, a senatorial staffer told us the Darfur
issue has fallen off the U.S. radar screen. That was a sudden plummet
to those of us who were hoping for action. Last summer, Congress
called it genocide and asked for sanctions. But since then, the news
has been full of the war in Iraq, the constant upset in the Middle
East, the tsunami and Social Security. We are a society that craves
novelty in our news. So although the massacres in the western part of
Sudan, known as Darfur, continue in the form of village strafing by
government planes and attacks by militia and mounted Janjaweed
(private militia), incredibly, we just don’t hear much about it.

The UN report in late January was more than disappointing with its
conclusion that it had no proof of “genocidal intent” on the part of
the Khartoum government of Sudan. This was in direct opposition to
the judgments of former Secretary of State Colin Powell and the
Congress who called it genocide last July.

Last summer, both Sen. Santorum and Sen. Specter sent statements
about their commitments to ending the violence in Darfur for public
reading at a Bethlehem vigil jointly sponsored by Amnesty
International and an arm of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh
Valley. Also speaking out against the violence were academics,
religious people (Muslims, Jews and Episcopalians) and an
international charity–CARE.

Sen. Santorum said he was working “to negotiate an international
response to the emerging famine and extreme crisis in Darfur.” He
said he had sponsored the May Senate resolution condemning the
government of Sudan “for its attacks, and for its failure to stop
militia attacks on the innocent civilians in Darfur.” He had urged
Secretary Powell to commit emergency assistance and to “publicly
identify those responsible for the atrocities and impose targeted
sanctions against them.”

Sen. Specter was equally clear: “Today the situation in Sudan
represents the worst humanitarian crisis facing the world and has
left in its wake more than 30,000 dead and over one million
displaced.” He noted that he had been an original co-sponsor of S.
2705, the Comprehensive Peace for Sudan Act which authorized $1
billion “for food, shelter, health services, infrastructure
rehabilitation and disarmament and demobilization assistance for
Sudan.”

So we went to Washington expecting to find some resonance with this
issue. Having just observed the 60th anniversary of the freeing of
Auschwitz, we talked about the similarities to the Holocaust and
genocides in Cambodia, the Balkans and Rwanda and how we Americans
keep saying “never again.” Therefore, shouldn’t the United States,
for humanitarian and moral reasons, take leadership in this crisis,
as President Bush implied, in commenting on earlier atrocities, “Not
on my watch”?

We asked our senators to put this issue on their front burners, to
speak on the Senate floor about Darfur, to urge President Bush and
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to go to Sudan (as Powell did
last July). We extended invitations to both senators to speak here in
the Lehigh Valley on this issue. We asked both to look at the
uncontrolled trade in small arms that makes guns and rockets
accessible to guerrilla groups not only in Sudan, but in many other
African countries where society is in chaos. We supplied them with
two Amnesty International reports on Sudan.

But we fear the issue is “off the radar screen” unless constituents
say they want America to pressure the Sudanese government. The local
phone number for Sen. Specter is 610-434-1444 and for Sen. Santorum,
610-770-0142. Tell them that the people of Darfur certainly is “on
our watch.”

Karen Norvig Berry of Bethlehem is a local coordinator for Amnesty
International USA.

***

“At the end of one

interview, a senatorial staffer told us the

Darfur

issue has fallen off the U.S. radar screen.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress