Author: admin

The vanishing lies

L’express.mu, Mauritius
Dec 17 2004

Two months ago, the glistening guillotine blade above the earthly
paradise that is Ferney forest dangled virtually unnoticed. Today, most
of the Mauritian population is aware of and able to berate the great
perils that the sanctuary faces as a result of administrative bungles,
greed, lack of political will and an insidious quest for expediency.

A bit later today, Cabinet will be presented with the Seebaluck report
that outlines the nefarious ecological toll that will be paid by the
country if government decides to go ahead with the Road Development
Authority’s (RDA) planned route through the Ferney valley. Next
Tuesday, the prime minister will be holding a meeting with all the
stakeholders to decide of the fate of the forest. A critical time
indeed.

Admissions of mistakes are, as you will see, all the rage nowadays.
Maybe our role models would care to indulge in an exercise of
humility. After all, error is only human.

On Monday, French Foreign minister, Michel Barnier, demanded of Turkey
that it acknowledges the massacre of over one million Armenians in
1915 during talks for its accession to the European Union. Although it
is undoubtedly a stalling device – the EU can’t remain an exclusively
Christian club infiniment because of Turkey’s human rights record – a
“mea culpa” from Istanbul would be cause for reflection on past crimes
against humanity.

If government chooses to go ahead with the RDA’s plan, who amongst
the decision-makers will volunteer to apologize to future generations
for having annihilated 76 000 m2 of endemic forest having known that
the country has less than 2% of such vegetation left?

Moreover, it would be more than fitting for a Small Island Developing
State (SIDS) to enquire, during the UN conference that will be held
here in January, on how Mauritius dares to host a conference on
sustainable development when it so lackadaisically threatens myriad
endangered species of flora and fauna with an administrative sword
of Damocles .

Or, at the very least, the delegate could ask that the document that
will come out of the conference be entitled the “Mauritius Plan of
Action That Will Have No Impact Whatsoever on National Policy”. I’m
sure that’s one treatise on sustainable development that even the
United States would ratify.

In a period of less than a month, a group of citizens concerned by
the environmental implications of the south-east highway project
called Nature Watch have come up with an alternate route that will
not only spare the forest, but will also be safer and a lot cheaper
than the RDA’s.

If there’s one thing that’s better than having to do a “mea culpa”,
it’s not making the mistake in the first place…

–Boundary_(ID_nx3PlH1F9JaDrHrKQWfw+g)–

Police ask for public’s help finding Armenian national
By Jason Kandel, Staff Writer

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Dec 17 2004

Slaying suspect still at large

NORTH HOLLYWOOD — Police sought the public’s help Thursday in
finding an Armenian national suspected in the Oct. 9 slaying of a
former professional boxer in a dispute over a credit-card scheme.
Hovik “John” Mankyan, 42, is suspected in the shooting death of Arsen
Aivazian, 30, of North Hollywood.

Mankyan, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for an armed assault
in 1991, is suspected of shooting Aivazian at Valley Plaza Park after
a dispute involving an organized-crime operation, police said.

Aivazian — a former welterweight boxer — punched Mankyan, who
pulled a gun and shot Aivazian three times in the chest, officials
said. He then fled with a man, identified as Alfred Gazaryan, 49,
in a light-color Toyota Camry.

Aivazian was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

“We’ve used every resource we can think of, and have not been able to
track him down,” said Detective Mike Coffey of the Los Angeles Police
Department’s North Hollywood Division. “We’d like to see closure in
this case.”

Mankyan is described as 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, with black hair and
brown eyes, and a tattoo on his upper left arm. He has ties to North
Hollywood and Glendale.

Gazaryan, who is wanted for questioning, is described as 5-foot-10
and 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Mankyan and Gazaryan, who was convicted in 1995 of corporal punishment
on a child, met in state prison, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call North Hollywood homicide
detectives at (818) 623-4075. Or, after hours, call the watch commander
at (818) 623-4016.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
 
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2004
CONTACT: Alex Karapetian
Email: [email protected]

AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WITH A DIFFERENCE: A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN WASHINGTON AND YEREVAN

Washington, DC – Since its founding in 1977, the Armenian Assembly’s
Summer Internship Program has provided an opportunity to over 800
talented college-aged students to gain valuable experience in the
nation’s capital.

Following the success of the Washington program, the Assembly launched
a similar program in Armenia in 1999 to give students an opportunity
to work in Armenian government agencies, meet with Armenian and Nagorno
Karabakh officials and tour historical sites throughout the region.

This past summer, Christine Heath of West Bloomfield, Michigan and
Alex Vartan of Fresno, California gained a better understanding of the
inner workings of Washington, while California-native Eliz Agopian,
a Columbia University graduate in Public Health, gained hands-on
experience in Yerevan.

“Prior to coming to Armenia, I felt removed from Armenia and my
Armenian culture. I had heard many stories that made me fearful that
I might be disappointed from my visit. Instead, Armenians amazed me
with their hospitality, cheerfulness and intelligence. I realized that
Armenia faces some substantial challenges, but also shows incredible
potential,” she said upon her return from her internship at the
Armenian Ministry of Health in Yerevan.

Heath is currently a junior at the University of Michigan studying
English and Communications. This past summer, she was placed as an
Assembly intern at United Press International (UPI) headquarters in
Washington, where her news reports were published on several occasions.

“I was given the chance to write and publish news stories for
an internationally recognized news wire service,” Heath said. “In
addition to this great work experience, I was given the chance to fully
explore my cultural background by spending three months living with
Armenian-American students who taught me so much about my heritage.”

Heath’s internship experience has not only expanded her knowledge of
Armenian history and culture, but has helped her reach her goal for
a career in media.

“I plan to continue my education in media studies and hope to someday
find my way back to Washington, DC,” she added.

Like Heath, Stanford University graduate and 2004 intern Alex Vartan
gained valuable work experience while interning at the Senate Banking
Committee.

“The internship program gave me an unparalleled view into the workings
of our government, and I was especially impressed that the Assembly was
able to place me in an internship that so closely matched my interests,
having a BS and MS in Management Science and Engineering,” Vartan said.

Not only did he gain valuable work experience, he, like all prior
interns, met with dozens of Congressional members, policy-makers and
academicians. “The wide variety of speakers and other outside events
rounded out a summer which exceeded my expectations in every way.”

The Assembly is accepting applications for the 2005 Terjenian-Thomas
Assembly Internship Program in Washington, DC and the continuing
program in Yerevan. The internship programs provide college students
of Armenian descent an opportunity to work in the nation’s capital
and Yerevan while taking part in a full schedule of educational,
cultural and social activities.

Students who are accepted to the program will be placed in internships
– typically in congressional offices, government agencies, think-thanks
and media outlets – based on their educational backgrounds and
work experiences. Interns also have the opportunity to meet with
Members of Congress, policy makers and noted academicians through the
popular Capitol Ideas and Lecture Series. Partial and full housing
scholarships are available to qualified applicants on a competitive
basis.

To learn more about both programs, download application
forms or apply online, go to the Assembly Web site at
The deadline for
completed application for the Washington program is January 15, 2005,
and Feb. 15, 2005 for the Yerevan program. For additional information
or assistance with the application process, please contact Alex
Karapetian, Intern Program Manager, at 202-393-3434 ext. 245 or via
e-mail [email protected].

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

NR#2004-110A

Photographs are available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following
links:

Caption: L to R: Assembly 2004 summer intern Alex Vartan with Intern
Program Manager Alex Karapetian in Washington, DC.

Caption: 2004 Intern Alum Christine Heath, far right, during a meeting
with Senator Carl Levin (D-MI). Also pictured is Assembly interns
Kristen Stamboulian, far left, and Laurie Sagherian.

Caption: L to R: Armenian Assembly 2004 Yerevan interns Eliz Agopian,
Marina Nazarbekian and Alexandra Kazarian.

–Boundary_(ID_ZiWCS8g56DsBY8vfHQhe1Q)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Chirac under fire over stance on Turkey’s bid
By John Thornhill in Paris

FT
December 16 2004 20:16

Jacques Chirac, France’s president, was fiercely criticised by his
own supporters on Thursday after he reiterated his strong support
for Turkey’s entry to the European Union.

Several politicians also warned that the domestic row over Turkey
could jeopardise the chances of France approving the EU’s constitution
in next year’s referendum. Each EU member state must approve the
constitution before it can come into force.

On Wednesday night, Mr Chirac gave a rare television interview
explaining why he supported Turkey’s bid. He said it was vital to pull
Turkey towards democracy, stability and prosperity in Europe. The EU
should encourage Turkey to join the 25-member organisation so long
as it fulfilled the necessary conditions and promised a referendum
on Turkey’s membership when it is on the verge of joining, probably
in 10 to 20 years’ time.

The French president also rejected the idea of offering Turkey a
“privileged partnership” with the EU, suggesting it would be demeaning
for such an important country.

Members of Mr Chirac’s UMP party, who have supported the idea of just
such a “privileged partnership”, yesterday reacted with dismay to
the president’s stance. Some observers suggested his position could
also cloud any plans he still had of seeking a third presidential
term in 2007.

Alain Madelin, a former government minister and UMP deputy, said he
deplored the president’s failure to take account of “any democratic
debate, or any vote”. He said it was incredible for the president
to take such a momentous decision on his own personal initiative and
only allow voters to have a say in a refe rendum in many years’ time.

Nicolas Sarkozy, UMP party president and potential rival for the
French presidency in 2007, said Mr Chirac created an “incontestable
difficulty” given that 72 per cent of party members were opposed
to Turkey’s entry. Mr Sarkozy, speaking in Israel just before Mr
Chirac’s interview, said Turkey’s accession would dilute the EU’s
effectiveness. “The more numerous we are, the less integrated we
become. Mr The less integrated we are, the weaker we become.”

But Mr Chirac did receive some support on Thursday from an unlikely
quarter: the leadership of the opposition socialists. “Jacques Chirac
has had the merit of being clear, that’s to say that he has come
round to the position of the European Commission and the position
of the Socialist party as well,” said Ségolène Royal, a prominent
Socialist leader.

But even the Socialist party has its divisions on the Turkey
issue. Robert Badinter, a Socialist senator, denounced Mr Chirac’s
“capitulation” to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish prime minister, over
Cyprus and the recognition of the Armenian genocide. “Everything
that displeased Mr Erdogan has been withdrawn at the start of the
negotiation. That is called a capitulation before even embarking on
a negotiation,” he told French TV.

–Boundary_(ID_ydx5JxmCjdDrtPjT7FSU5w)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REALISTIC BUDGET

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
17 Dec 04

According to the schedule confirmed by the speaker of the National Assembly
of NKR, on December 13 the permanent committee on finance, budget and economic
management discussed the budget bill and the bills suggested by the executive
to support the budget. The preliminary discussions are over. On the next two
days the independent members of parliament, the permanent committees and
factions will extend their suggestions to the government. During the meeting of the
permanent committee on finance, budget and economy 15 questions were discussed
including questions referring to taxes, necessity of legislative changes in
transferring the function of accounting and recording of social insurance fund
(former retirement fund) revenues to the tax agencies. The budget bill was
discussed with the participation of the NKR minister of finance and economy
Spartak Tevossian, the minister of development of industrial infrastructures and
building Boris Alaverdian. During the discussion of the bills supporting the
budget the chairman of the NKR state fund of social insurance Vasili Avetissian
and the head of the Tax Agency Hakob Ghahramanian were also present. According
to the regulations, in this stage of discussions the committees do not make
conclusions.

NIKOLAY BAGHDASSARIAN.
17-12-2004

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TALKS WITHOUT KARABAKH

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
17 Dec 04

The foreign minister of Armenia returned from the 12th meeting of
the OSCE Ministerial Council in Bulgaria. On December 14 the foreign
minister met with journalists and commented on his visits to Sofia
and Brussels. In Sofia the meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council
and in Brussels the meeting of foreign minister of Euro-Atlantic
Partnership took place. Vardan Oskanian said four main topics were
discussed during the meetings: the question of the OSCE reforms,
EU â~@~S Armenia relationships within the framework of the program
â~@~New Neighboursâ~@~] , initiation of the negotiations for
Turkeyâ~@~Ys membership to the EU and the problems connected
with Armenia, and finally the regulation of the Nagorni Karabakh
conflict. During the press conference Vardan Oskanian dwelled on the
latter two. In reference to the process of regulation of the Karabakh
conflict the minister of foreign affairs of Armenia emphasized that
the decision of the OSCE ministers on the regulation of the Nagorni
Karabakh conflict was the only one in reference to which a consensus
was reached. Assessing the current situation with â~@~careful
optimismâ~@~] Vardan Oskanian said, â~@~Owing to the effective
intervention of the Minsk Group and cooperation with Azerbaijan
we managed to eliminate the obstacles for negotiations resulting
from the Prague process.â~@~] After the meetings of the foreign
ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Sofia and Brussels actually
it was decided to resume the meetings in Prague but the minister
could not answer when exactly the next meeting would take place.
â~@~It is difficult to mention a definite time but probably at
the beginning of the upcoming year we will start a new round of
negotiations in Prague on the level of foreign ministers.â~@~] Vardan
Oskanian did not give a definite answer whether the negotiations will
be resumed at the point where they were stopped. He mentioned that
the standpoint of Armenia did not change. â~@~What we have today in
the common framework is enough to continue the talks.â~@~] According
to him, the talks will continue without the participation of Nagorni
Karabakh. One of the journalists asked whether Vardan Oskanian denied
the news circulated by the Azerbaijani press that the Nagorni Karabakh
issue will be settled stage by stage and the foreign minister again
gave an evasive answer. According to him, the negotiations are held
in two directions: the one is what goes on in fact and the other is
what is presented to public. â~@~I do not want to pay attention to
what the Azerbaijani side offers to public. All that is discussed
creates a common framework for continuing the negotiations. Today
there are two processes going on: the real negotiations and what
public is told about them. I prefer focusing on the content of the
talks,â~@~] said the foreign minister of Armenia. During the press
conference Vardan Oskanian mentioned the important role of press in
the regulation process and particularly complained of the Armenian
press. According to him, today it is difficult to guess whether the
Armenian society supports the gradual, package or even a third type
of solution. Therefore the minister suggests looking for the golden
middle from the point of view of the question settlement. Presently,
according to the foreign minister, â~@~all of us are seeking for a
settlement which will not damage our national interests, weaken Armenia
and waste the achievements of NKR. We must see which settlement is
in accordance with our interests, which is possible and what is not,
what we lose or win, which the golden middle is.â~@~] He especially
pointed out that correct, balanced approaches may be born only in the
result of healthy debates, which will be of help for our government.

CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.

17-12-2004

–Boundary_(ID_IpqdalDmq0DAw7nUb9XPQQ)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri leader criticizes Armenia for being Russia’s outpost in Caucasus

ANS TV, Baku
17 Dec 04

[Presenter] President Ilham Aliyev voted together with his family
today in the local government elections at polling station No 6
of Sabayil electoral constituency No 29. After casting his vote,
President Ilham Aliyev made important statements concerning the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

[Aliyev speaking to journalists] If we take a look at the history of
these talks, we will see that a certain new framework has appeared
in the past year. In particular, there is already a process called
the Prague process, and OSCE documents also mention the Prague process.

[Passage omitted: details]

But I also want to draw your attention to one issue. As you know,
the chairman of the Russian State Duma visited Armenia recently. He
said that Armenia is Russia’s outpost in the South Caucasus. For this
reason, we do not know now – we have always thought that Armenia was
a state. It turns out now that it is an outpost. Now should we hold
talks with the outpost or the master of the outpost? If this issue
becomes clear in Armenia, there will be a better situation for the
successful conduct of the talks.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia urges EU summit to consider Turkey accession demands

Mediamax news agency
17 Dec 04

Yerevan, 17 December: Armenia “welcomes the decision of the European
Parliament calling on the European Commission and the European Union
(EU) to demand that the Turkish authorities recognize the historical
fact of the genocide of Armenians and immediately open its border
with Armenia,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry said in a statement
circulated in the evening of 16 December in Yerevan.

“Turkey’s EU membership can be beneficial for Armenia and have a
positive impact on the region, if Ankara entirely complies with all
EU demands,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry statement says.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry recalled that Turkey was unilaterally
keeping its border with Armenia closed, had introduced criminal
responsibility for the use of the term “genocide” and was also putting
forward unacceptable preliminary conditions for the normalization of
relations with Armenia.

“Judging by the European Parliament’s decision, the European community
shares Armenia’s concern over the current unacceptable state of
Armenian-Turkish relations,” the statement says. “With all of its
uncertainty this situation is a serious danger for the development
of the South Caucasus as well as European prospects,” the Armenian
Foreign Ministry statement says.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry also said it wished for “the EU summit
to take into account with all seriousness and responsibility the call
of the European Parliament”. Yerevan “is convinced that if Turkey
listens to the calls of the European community, this will make it
easier to overcome all obstacles and ensure lasting stability and
the development of the region”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Ian Hill: Man about Town
Printers launch their seasonal workshops

Belfast Telegraph , UK
Dec 16 2004

Maybe you’d remember making prints from a cut potato in primary
school? Or from a square of gouged lino? But the craft of making
original prints gets a little more complicated – and a brave bit more
artistic – than that when you get to the work of the skilled
professionals from the Belfast Print Workshop.

Their Christmas exhibitions are now showing in the Waterfront Hall
and the Workshop’s atmospheric base in Cotton Court. That’s at No 30
Waring Street, opposite the onetime Ulster Bank.

At the Waterfront launch, BPW’s new chairman, architect Colin Maxwell
revealed that he’ll be working both sides of the street. For he’s
restoration specialists Consarc’s man charged with fashioning a
boutique hotel out of James Hamilton’s 1860 Italiante banking hall
for pub entrepreneur Bill Wolsley.

BPW manager Struan Hamilton, who was present with his spouse Lisa,
deftly explained the different techniques of printmaking: reliefs
from linocuts; lines scratched into metal etched with acids; the
greased limestones of lithography. Trustee James ‘Jim’ Allen, there
with his accomplished printmaking wife Sophie Aghajanian and fellow
artist-trustee Raymond Henshaw, recalled the 17 years since he and
Sophie first moved to live at the gatehouse of the Arts Council’s
Riddell Hall when he set up the whole operation as Printmaker in
Residence in the Big House up the drive.

James Millar, whose sensuous black and white mythical nudes form the
basis of many a collection, made a number of points.

Firstly, that each print is an original, that none are
photo-mechanical reproductions and many cost under £200. That’s a
fraction of what an oil painting by the same artist would sell for.
He was hinting, obviously, that here are the perfect Christmas or New
Year presents.

Another seasonal gift, added BPW director Paula Gallagher, would be a
voucher for the artistically minded love of your life to sign up to
one of the organisation’s printmaking courses. They run during
weekday evenings or weekend mornings in both January and February
2005, for just £75.

Then a scan of the gallery revealed a veritable United Nations of
printmakers. Sophie, a general’s daughter, is of Armenian descent.
Anushiya Sundaralingam comes from Sri Lanka – Ceylon to older
readers. Talking to complementary therapist Amanda Brady,
photographer Bill Smyth and I learnt that her printmaking
psychotherapist friend Kristine Hanish is a Latvian and that etcher
Kinga Pers is Polish. Artist Valerie Giannandrea’s genes are Italian
and Homeria Kiani Rad’s Iranian.

Amongst the hacks present several looked in vain for a print showing
No 30 Waring Street as they remember it, when it was Benny Conlon’s
A1 Bar. A stranger, who didn’t want to be identified, would have
liked something harking back to even earlier. His search was for a
portrait of a woman who lived on that same spot in the late 17th
century. She was Jane Waring, also known as ‘Varina’, daughter to the
merchant tanner who lent the street his name, and the girl who
refused Dean Swift’s offer of marriage when the esteemed author of
Gulliver’s Travels was but Vicar of Kilroot in Co Antrim.

• till December 31,

–Boundary_(ID_i6lsr6eYUMfMVEhSoMW9Jg)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FIRST EVER SCHOOL OF PEACEKEEPERS TO BE OPENED IN YEREVAN

MOSCOW, DECEMBER 16. ARMINFO. The first ever international school
of peacekeepers will be opened at Yerevan’s Mkhitar Gosh University,
says Gen Karen Zadoyan.

The school will train young servicemen from Germany, Greece, the
US, Serbia. The project has been initiated by International Peace
Organization (Russia) whose office will soon be opened in Yerevan.

The school will teach its trainees what is international security,
how to effectively fight terrorism, drugs trafficking and other social
vices. The school will also cultivate tolerance to other religions
and ethnic traditions.