Author: admin

New Europe supports Turkey’s EU bid with greater expansion in mind

Agence France Presse
October 4, 2004 Monday

BY: Jean-Luc Testault

PRAGUE

The European Union’s newest members are giving their backing to
Turkey’s EU bid as a way of achieving their aim of a greatly enlarged
Europe that would include the Balkans, Ukraine and Belarus, and even
Georgia.

Most leaders in the new EU member countries consider it reasonable to
give Turkey what they themselves obtained, especially since the Muslim
country has been a candidate since 1987, well before the fall of
communism in eastern Europe.

“The current Turkish government has achieved much in reforming the
country and it would be fair that these efforts are recognised with
the opening of EU membership talks,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister
Antanas Valionis told AFP.

Even the government of Cyprus is not deeply hostile to Turkey’s
admission, despite the presence of 35,000 Turkish soldiers in the
north of the island, which has been divided for 30 years.

The Greek Cypriot side, which joined the EU on May 1, hopes to benefit
from Turkey’s bid to bring about reunification of the island.

In former communist Europe too, support for Turkey’s entry is seen as
a way of paving the way for the admission of Ukraine.

“The debate on Turkey’s European integration is a good opportunity
also to discuss Ukraine’s accession,” said Maciej Grabowski, spokesman
for the liberal PO, the main opposition party in Poland.

“Some European countries oppose the accession of Turkey, Ukraine’s
accession also has its opponents and it would be good to engage in a
debate on this theme,” he added.

“If you look at a map, you can see that Belarus and Ukraine make up
part of Europe and I don’t see why we would refuse others that what we
were generously given,” said Estonian Foreign Minister Kriistina
Ojuland.

Polish leaders avoid talking openly of bringing Belarus into the EU
because of the current dictatorial regime of Alexander Lukashenko. But
in several months ago former Czech president Vaclav Havel called on
the EU to offer a perspective to democrats in Belarus.

“I think that the future of Belarus is solidly bound to that of
Europe, the door has to stay open,” he wrote in a newspaper column.

A tireless advocate of Ukraine, Polish President Aleksander
Kwasniewski dreams openly of a Europe which also encompasses Moldova
and the Caucasus.

These ambitions however will meet strong opposition within the
European Union, already digesting its historic enlargement to 25
members.

The current commission planned fixing the borders after the eventual
integration of Turkey and the Balkans.

And if in the new EU countries the Turkish question is not generating
huge debate at the moment, voices are beginning to be heard.

“The situation (of Turkey) is not comparable with that of the new
members since they are, without discussion, European countries with
standard democratic systems,” said Pavol Hrusovsky, the Christian
Democrat president of the Slovak Parliament.

In the Czech Republic one of the most pro-European personalities is
campaigning against Turkey’s admission.

“The EU will have borders with Syria, Iraq, Iran, Armenia and Georgia,
these are infinitely explosive regions,” Josef Zieleniec, European
member of parliament and former foreign minister said last week in his
article “The cradle of a new threatening crisis”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
10/04/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
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1) Senator Jackie Speier One of Many Guests to be Honored at October Annual
Banquet
2) Catholicos Aram I Honored by Swedish Church
3) Kocharian, Mironov Talk of Increasing Cooperation
4) EC May Take up Destruction of Armenian Cultural Monuments
5) Dynamite Threatens Ancient City of Ani

1) Senator Jackie Speier One of Many Guests to be Honored at October Annual
Banquet

–ANCA-WR Meets with State’s Highest Ranking Armenian Democratic Public
Official

GLENDALE–California State Senator Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco, San Mateo)
visited the offices of the Armenian National Committee of America-Western
Region (ANCA-WR) on September 28 to discuss issues of concern to
Armenian-Americans in California with community leaders.
Members of the ANCA-WR Board of Directors and the Armenian Relief Society
(ARS) greeted the Senator and were briefed on the issues that the Senator has
been working on in the State Capitol.
Senator Speier will be among the many public officials in attendance at this
year’s Annual Banquet which will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel
in Pasadena, California on October 24.
ANCA-WR Chairman Raffi Hamparian welcomed Senator Speier to the ANCA-WR
headquarters and thanked her for steadfast support of legislation and issues
that affect Armenian-Americans in the state. The Senator is the state’s
highest
ranking Democratic elected official of Armenian descent and the only
Armenian-American woman currently serving in the State Legislature.
ANCA-WR Board Member Steven Dadaian briefed the Senator on economic
developments in the Republic of Armenia and highlighted the necessity for the
State of California to remain committed to its promise of establishing the
California Regional Trade Office in Armenia.
Angela Savoian, Chairwoman of the ARS Western United States, also briefed the
Senator on the history of the ARS and described the essential social services
that the organization continues to provide to immigrants. During the meeting,
Senator Speier reiterated the importance of her Armenian ancestry in shaping
her commitment to being a public servant and fighting for justice.
Senator Speier’s career-long commitment to public service was nearly cut
short
in 1978 when she traveled as legal counsel to California Congressman Leo J.
Ryan to Jonestown, Guyana as part of a US fact-finding mission that was to
investigate rumors that people, including many Bay Area families, were being
held hostage by cult leader Rev. Jim Jones. On November 18, 1978, at the
end of
a two-day investigation, gunmen from the Peoples Temple cult ambushed, shot,
and killed Congressman Ryan and four others in his traveling group. Speier,
then 28 years old, was struck by five bullets and was “left for dead” on a
jungle airstrip for 22 hours. The day she was shot, 911 cult members committed
mass suicide or were murdered at the Peoples Temple compound. Senator Speier
has stated that “the Jonestown tragedy is a daily reminder that no one is
guaranteed tomorrow . . . this has absolutely molded my philosophy and my zest
for work and for life.” To this day, she carries two bullets in her body from
the incident.
Two years after the Jonestown shootings, Speier became the youngest member
ever to serve on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors when she won her
first election by defeating a 20-year incumbent. Senator Speier served in the
State Assembly from 1986 to 1996 before being elected to the State Senate,
where she is completing her second term.
Senator Speier has announced her intent to run for Lieutenant Governor of the
State of California. If elected, Senator Jackie Speier would become only the
second Armenian-American to serve in statewide office since Governor George
Deukmejian (1983-1991).
“Senator Speier’s dedication to public service and to the people of
California
is truly admirable and an excellent example for other young aspiring
Armenian-Americans to follow,” commented Ardashes Kassakhian, ANCA-WR
Executive
Director. “We’re looking forward to having her attend our Annual Banquet on
October 24th and joining us in honoring other Armenian-American public
officials who have paved the way for future leaders,” added Kassakhian,
referring to the ANCA-WR Annual Banquet which will honor Congresswoman Anna
Eshoo (D-CA) with the ANCA-WR Legacy Award and State Senator Chuck Poochigian
(R-Fresno) with the Person of the Year Award.
Individuals or organizations interested in attending the ANCA-WR Annual
Banquet may call the ANCA-WR Offices at (818) 500-1918 to reserve their table
or individual tickets.

2) Catholicos Aram I Honored by Swedish Church

ANTELIAS–During an evening reception on Saturday, October 2, held in honor of
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, Sweden’s Primate,
Archbishop Karl Hammer of Uppsala, bestowed His Holiness with the highest
honor
of the Swedish Church. “Only three individuals have received this honor–you
are now the fourth,” noted Archbishop Hammer. “We decided to extend this medal
as a token of appreciation for your leading role in advancing interfaith
cooperation during these fateful times.”
After thanking the Archbishop and the Swedish Church, the Catholicos spoke
about the Armenian people and highlighted their will to overcome the various
difficulties that resulted from the genocide of 1915, and the church’s role in
assisting the survivors. His Holiness then moved on to address the
international efforts in promoting cooperation amongst churches, and commend
the role played by the Swedish Church within the ecumenical movement.
A guest of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, His Holiness, who arrived in Sweden
on the morning of Thursday, October 5, met with a host of international
organization representatives, participated in the Swedish ecumenical meetings,
lectured at universities in Uppsala and Helsinki, and delivered a Sunday
sermon
at the Cathedral of Uppsala.

3) Kocharian, Mironov Talk of Increasing Cooperation

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–President Robert Kocharian pledged to continue
relations with Russia as political allies and strategic partners when meeting
with Russian Federation Council Chairman Sergey Mironov on Saturday, before
the
Russian delegation wrapped up its official visit to Yerevan.
Sources in the Russian delegation told Itar-Tass that the visit began a new
phase in Russian-Armenian relations.
Mironov remarked that the talks had a candid atmosphere, as the two discussed
a range of issues related to Russian-Armenian relations. “We are ready for
cooperation not only on a bilateral basis, not only within the CIS, but
also in
other international organizations,” Mironov said, adding that Russia and
Armenia still have potential to cooperate that is not yet fully realized.
Cargo transit via Georgia to Armenia was also discussed, as the
Russian-Georgian border is closed, impacting the Armenian economy negatively.
“We discussed possible solutions to the problem, bearing in mind our
partnership with Armenia,” Mironov said.
A joint declaration was signed by Mironov and Armenian Parliament Speaker
Artur Bagdasarian, which provides legislative steps in the anti-terrorist
fight.
“Not only Russia, but also all countries of this unique land need
stability in
the Caucasus and Transcaucasia,” Mironov told servicemen of a Russian regiment
stationed in Yerevan. “You are one of the outposts of security on Russian
southern boundaries,” he said.

4) EC May Take up Destruction of Armenian Cultural Monuments

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–The issue of preserving Armenian monuments in
Azerbaijan is currently on the European Commission’s (EC) agenda, following
calls–by the Armenian delegation to the EC–for an inquiry on their
destruction.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry’s Interim Head of Council of Europe Division
Ara
Margarian, noted that the destruction of cross stones in the Jugha cemetery in
Nakhichevan has specifically garnered attention, and that an EC fact-finding
mission may be dispatched there.
“The destruction of Jugha’s cross stones is a premeditated act of vandalism,
so as to erase all remnants of Armenian culture in the area–and is proven by
the footage and photos shot from the Iranian side,” said Margarian.
He revealed that while Armenia has consistently welcomed monitoring groups,
Azerbaijan has resisted. But because of its recent aspiration to integrate
into
Europe, Azerbaijan has agreed to allow monitors in the country to review the
current state of Armenia’s historical monuments.
According to the European Convention for The Protection of Architectural
Heritage, all member countries inherit the responsibility to preserve cultural
and historical monuments found on the territory of member states.
According to the same convention, if a country is found guilty of destroying
cultural, historical monuments, they must be punished accordingly.

5) Dynamite Threatens Ancient City of Ani

ISTANBUL (Armenpress)–The Turkish newspaper Zaman reported that
detonations at
Armenian stone quarries across the border damaged some of the ruins located in
the 6000-year-old city of Ani on the Turkish-Armenian border.
Sabit Osman Avci, President of the Protection of Historical Heritage
Foundation and a former Speaker of the Turkish Parliament (TBMM), conducted
studies in the region and said that up until two years ago, there was only one
stone quarry in the region; presently, the number is eight. He warned that the
dynamite being detonated at these quarries is damaging the ancient city of
Ani.
The ancient ruins of Ani are among the 100 historical works in the world that
are in need of protection. The ancient city was a great center of trade and is
mentioned in records of the Silk Road from the Middle Ages.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijani Delegate Appeals PACE Dismiss Armenia Form Membership

ANS
05/10/2004

Member of Azerbaijani staff at Parliamentary Assembly of Council of
Europe MP Rafael Huseynov made appeal to Committee of Ministers to
dismiss Armenia from membership.

In his appeal Mr. Huseynov states that every organization must protect
its reputation, not to give way statements contradicting its
principles and not allow those standing on its lines that ignore
standards and regulations.

For instance in the spring session of PACE Armenian President Robert
Kocharian delivered speech and answered questions. His speech
contradicted democracy and human rights. There are many concrete facts
on pressure on free media in Armenia. PACE also prepared documents on
the issue and held discussion. But Robert Kocharian denied all these
and accused PACE of interfering its internal affairs. On June of 2004
President of Armenia said he was proud of occupation of Shusha city of
Azerbaijan and his direct participation in massacre of Azerbaijanis in
Khojaly city. Besides the statement points to Armenia’s drug
trafficking in occupied lands of Azerbaijan, conducting nuclear
researches and contamination of nuclear wastes in occupied lands may
create second Chernobl in the region. Council of Europe adopted
documents several times on suspending Metsamor atomic station. Rafael
Huseynov’s appeal has been distributed among participants of the PACE
and will be brought to discussion at Committee of Ministers.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AFTEREFFECTS OF OPEN BORDER WITH TURKEY DISCUSSED

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: A roundtable discussion convened by the
Political Dialogue and Development Center together with the US embassy in
Yerevan on September 29 to explore consequences of a possible opening of the land
border between Armenia and Turkey brought together local politicians and
economists, whose opinions differed significantly.
A parliament member Tatul Manaserian argued in favor of using the full
potential of Armenia’s relations with Georgia and Iran and only then try to
extend the expected experience to its relations with Turkey.
Seyran Avagian, a presidential adviser, put the blame for the sealed
border on Turkey, saying open borders would benefit both nations, as “Armenian
businessmen are familiar with Turkey’s market and Turkish consumers have
discovered the quality of Armenian goods.”
A senior transport and communication ministry official Vahagn Badalian
voiced concern over Turkish-Georgian plans to build a railway connecting Turkish
Kars with Akhalkalaki saying it would further aggravate the blockade imposed
on Armenia.
According to Ashot Yeghiazarian, a senior member of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation, fears that the Armenian market would be flooded with cheap
Turkish goods in the event of an open border must be thrown off. He added that
open borders would first of all benefit underdeveloped eastern regions of
Turkey, while Armenia would get a transit route across Turkey to Middle East
markets.
Gagik Melikian from the ruling Republican Party said open borders would
result in more exports and consequently more budget revenues.
According to official figures, Turkish-Armenian trade is estimated
annually between $40 – $60 million and is mainly carried out through neighboring
Georgia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkey in facts and figures
EUbusiness
03 October 2004

Turkey, which hopes to get the nod Wednesday from the European
Commission to obtain a date in December to launch membership talks
with the European Union, stands at the center of a strategic zone
between the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Balkans.

Following is a factsheet on Turkey, comparing some figures with those
of the European Union:

GEOGRAPHY: Covering an area of 779,452 square kilometres (311,781
square miles), Turkey borders Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran,
Iraq, Syria, Greece and Bulgaria, and is washed by the Mediterranean
to the south, the Aegean to the west and the Black Sea to the north,
and surrounds the Sea of Marmara. It is divided between two
continents, Europe and Asia. The area west of the Dardanelles and the
Bosphorus (the straits between Europe and Asia) accounts for five
percent of the total.

Comparatively, the total area of the EU countries is 3,691,214 sq km
(1,476,486 sq miles).

POPULATION: 70.7 million inhabitants (2003), including 13 to 19
million Kurds.

With Turkey joining, the EU’s population, which stood at 455 million
in January 2004, would pass the half-billion mark.

CAPITAL: Ankara, population 3.5 million.

Istanbul is the country’s largest city and industrial and commercial
hub with a population in excess of 10 million (Turkish State
Statistics Institute, 2000 – latest figures available).

OFFICAL LANGUAGE: Turkish.

The EU currently has 20 official, but only three working languages:
English, French and German.

RELIGION: Muslim (99 percent): 80 percent Sunni, 20 percent
Alevi. Armenians form the largest religious minority, with about
45,000 people, followed by some 35,000 Jews.

Turkey’s entry into the EU would bring the number of Muslims in the
European bloc to around 80 million.

RECENT HISTORY: Founded in 1923, the Republic of Turkey was created
after the collapse of the Ottoman empire at the end of World War
I. The republic became a modern secular state under its founder,
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (“father of the Turks”), until his death in
1938. His successor, Ismet Inonu, ran the counry as a single-party
dictatorship until 1946, when he introduced a multi-party
system. Turkey was the scene of military coups, followed by periods of
repression, in 1960, 1971 and 1980.

>From 1984 to 1999, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) led an armed
rebellion in southeastern Turkey, which claimed more than 37,000
lives. The PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey
and many other countries and international organisations, called a
unilateral truce after the capture in Kenya in 1999 of its founder and
leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who was tried and sentenced to death; his
sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.

The PKK has changed names several times since, and its latest
incarnation, the Kurdistan People’s Congress (KONGRA-GEL), in June
announced the end of their truce, which the Turkish army had never
recognized.

POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS: Ahmet Necdet Sezer has been president since
May 5,

Necmettin Erbakan, leader of the Welfare Party, became Turkey’s first
Islamic prime minister on June 28, 1996, in a coalition with his
predecessor, Tansu Ciller, the country’s first woman premier.

He was pressured into resigning by the army in June 1997 and was
replaced by Mesut Yilmaz, leader of the Motherland Party, who headed a
left-right coalition.

The Yilmaz coalition fell from power in November 1998 amid allegations
of corruption and links to organised crime. It was replaced by another
left-right coalition led by Bulent Ecevit.

In general elections in November 2002, the Justice and Devlopment
Party (AKP), which has its roots in radical Islam but describes itself
as simply “conservative”, swept to power and obtained the absolute
majority of seats in Parliament. Its leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
became prime minister in March

ECONOMY: The economy, which is based mainly on textiles, light
industry, tourism and agriculture, saw considerable growth until it
was hit by a severe crisis in the aftermath of the first Gulf War in
1991.

With 14 million foreign visitors generating 13.2 billion dollars of
income, tourism in 2003 was the country’s biggest earner. Long hit by
PKK terror attacks and the effects of the Gulf War, the sector boomed
in 2003 and 2004, with incoming tourist figures increasing by 43.5%
for the first six months of this year compared with the first six
months of 2003.

Turkey has been linked with the EU with an association accord signed
in 1963 and a customs agreement signed in 1996.

Turkey’s candidacy for EU membership was rejected in 1989, largely due
to its human rights record, but was accepted on December 10, 1999.

GNP PER CAPITA: 2.790 dollars.

By comparison, the highest per capita GNP in the EU belongs to
Luxembourg, with 38,830 dollars; the lowest, Latvia’s, is 3,480
dollars. The average per capita GNP of the EU is 19,775 dollars (World
Bank, 2003).

FOREIGN DEBT: 147.035 billion dollars (Turkish State Statistics
Institute,

ARMED FORCES: 514,850 men, of whom 402,000 are land forces, 52,750
naval forces and 60,100 air forces (IISS 2003/2004).

Turkey has been a NATO member since 1952.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

State interests more valued than people’s security, Armenian paper

Aravot, Yerevan
2 Oct 04

Text of an unattributed report by Armenian newspaper Aravot on 2
October headlined “State interests and security of community”

Very soon the Armenian National Assembly will put a full stop to the
question of whether it is worth sending Armenian servicemen to Iraq or
not. Today the problem is being discussed by political scientists, who
are arguing for and against the dispatch. Those who do not approve
this plan worry about the fate of the large Armenian diaspora in Iraq.

Incidentally, not waiting for the Armenian parliament to take a
decision to this end, the Iraqi Armenians have already asked the
Armenian government not to take such a step. It is clear that they do
not want to become hostages in the hands of terrorists.

We do not know what our government’s reply to their request was, but
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan has already questioned
whether it was expedient for the Armenian diaspora in Iraq to
influence Armenia to tackle its problems with other countries.
Following his logic, given that the [Iraqi] diaspora is not as
influential to lobby the interests of Armenia as the diasporas of the
USA and France, and also is not so rich to construct roads or
airports, then it should understand that the Armenian authorities
cannot take into consideration a possible danger to the Iraqi
Armenians, after our servicemen enter Iraq.

It is clear that those who approve the plan of sending our servicemen
to Iraq, including the Armenian prime minister, have their own
reasons. Recently Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan admitted some of
them in a televised interview. According to him, Armenia cannot stay
away because: a) Georgia and Azerbaijan are not staying away; b) given
that we support the fight against world terrorism, we cannot approach
it only as consumers; c) Iraq is very close to our borders and this
fact does not allow us to remain observers.

It is very likely that the Armenian parliament will adopt a decision
to send our servicemen to Iraq. But to declare that our state
interests are more important than the security of any Armenian
diaspora is little bit cynical.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Barring Armenians from NATO event to isolate Azerbaijan – aide

ANS TV, Baku
2 Oct 04

[Presenter Leyla Hasanova] Hampering Armenian MPs’ presence at the
Baku-hosted Rose-Roth seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in
November is tantamount to isolating Azerbaijan from cooperation with
international organizations, the head of the Azerbaijani Presidential
Executive Staff, Ramiz Mehdiyev, has said.

[Mehdiyev, speaking to journalists] We should recall that several
Armenian officers had planned to attend a NATO event in Azerbaijan
[Cooperative Best Effort-2004 exercises in September]. As for our
[changing tack], frankly speaking, Mr President’s attitude to this was
negative from the very beginning because their visit here would not be
the right move. Why? Because even if these officers are not involved
in Azerbaijan’s troubles, others are.

On the other hand, Azerbaijan cannot be isolated from the world. We
have to participate in events conducted by international organizations.
It would also be incorrect to hamper the activities of international
organizations in Azerbaijan because this would willy-nilly form a
negative image for Azerbaijan. For this reason, we regard the
activities of international organizations in Azerbaijan as normal. It
is possible that representatives of Armenia might attend these
events. But they attend these events in Azerbaijan as members of
international organizations.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CHIEF OF PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERS WRONG TO PREVENT ARMENIAN
DEPUTIES COMING BAKU

ANS
2004-10-02

It would not be right to prevent visit of Armenian deputies to
Bakusays chief of Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev regarding
participation of Armenians at NATO seminar on November 26-28 in
Baku. Ramiz Mehdiyev said ahead of this all national protest against
visit of Armenian military men here within NATO Partnership for Peace
Program should not like that non-military Armenians also to be banned
coming here. Azerbaijan can not isolate itself form the world. We must
take part in the events of international organizations. It is not
right to prevent activity of such organizations in Azerbaijan. It may
form negative image of Azerbaijan. Armenian deputies may come to Baku
but their visit is being realized within international organizations.

Touching reforms in internal policy Ramiz Mehdiyev said government
carries on struggling against corruption. But we don’t want to make
turmoil around such measures.However dismissal of some of executive
powers as well as recent replacements is notconnected with
anti-corruption struggle. Chief of Presidential Administration said
personnel reforms had no any serious reasons. I have told that there
are many people whose potential exhausted or sick. We are very
grateful for their merits. We have replaced them. In other cases an
executive power does much in one region and we want other regions also
enjoy his experience and dedication. As to reforms in cabinet of
ministers Mr. Mehdiyev said it was authority of President and he would
determine number of posts for vice-premier. Regarding recent law
breaks and arrests at state commission on students admission Ramiz
Mehdiyev said government was not going to change test exam
system. Testing system has given much to education field of
Azerbaijan. Maybe some people dislike thissystem but tit doesn’t mean
we should abandon it. Mahir Mammadli

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BELARUS, RUSSIA TO BUTTRESS JOINT ARMED FORCE: LUKASHENKO

October 3
RIA Novosti

BORISOV, BELARUS, October 3 (RIA Novosti) – Belarus and Russia are
determined to strengthen their joint armed contingent, President
Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus said to the media, yesterday, during a
Motherland Shield 2004 military exercise, underway in his country.

“Not only Belarus but Russia-at last-has come up with very impressive
initiatives to build up the Belarussian-Russian joint contingent,” he
said. That will concern all aspects of the effort-from building up all
arms and services to updating arsenals. “Blueprints are already
available.”

The Belarussian Army will make the contingent kernel, to be reinforced
by Russians in case of a conflict. The Belarussian Army is
battle-ready and “at an extremely high level”, reassured the
President.

As for his country’s contribution to the Collective Security Treaty
Organisation, which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia and Tajikistan, Mr. Lukashenko had the following to say:

“First, some people are out to make a good thing out of Belarus or
Russia. We are showing them all that we are not all on our own.” Then,
Belarus has it for top priority to preserve its unity with Russia,
that is to base on the joint contingent.

“We have been invited to join the Collective Security Treaty
Organisation, and we are honestly coping with our duties on it. We are
Organisation members. That’s what matters. We have an organisation
which other countries, presently outside it, may join if necessary.”

President Lukashenko deems it necessary for Belarus and Russia to
revive the military-industrial complex of the Soviet years.

“That will be a much easier job if Russia consents to it. If not, we
shall have to update many things singlehanded,” he remarked.

“Belarus is to finish modernising the arsenals of all its military
units, big and small, within the next five years,” added the
President.

With that aim in view, Belarus has established a Military-Industrial
Committee, which subordinates all military-oriented industrial
companies. “We have by now learned to update everything, be it
helicopters, planes or armoured vehicles, and it costs us less than
buying new arsenals.”

As for a structural Belarussian army reform, it is as good as finished
now, said the President.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Film festival set to open on Tuesday

By Naush Boghossian
Staff Writer

Daily news.com
Saturday, October 02, 2004

GLENDALE — Less than a decade after it was launched to promote only
Armenian filmmakers, the Arpa International Film Festival has evolved
into a prestigious showcase for filmmakers from around the world.

The six-day film festival, celebrating its seventh year, starts
Tuesday and will feature 60 films by artists from 19 countries
including Botswana, the Czech Republic, Russia, Mexico, Pakistan and
Iran, all with one central theme: human struggles.

“Every year, we get more countries in our festival and people calling
from all around the globe to submit their films,” said festival
committee member Alex Kalognomos.

“While we still have a core of Armenian filmmakers submitting films
from the diaspora, every year it’s more representative of the world at
large.”

The nonprofit Arpa Foundation for Film, Music and Art, or AFFMA, was
founded in Los Angeles — home to the largest population of Armenians
outside Armenia — with the purpose of supporting filmmakers who
explore subjects of social and cultural importance including diaspora,
exile and multiculturalism.

“It’s about people who have turned great misfortune into stories of
human resilience. That’s what this film festival is about,” Kalognomos
said.

“It’s about global empathy and the love of humanity, especially at a
time when we are at war, and that we can do it if only through the
love of cinema.”

The festival — named for the Armenian word for a life-giving water
source — draws about 2,500 people a year to its screenings and
parties.

Next Sunday’s awards banquet, to be held at the Sheraton Universal
Hotel, will honor producers Robert Papazian and James Hirsch.

This year’s films tell stories including a Japanese-American baseball
pitcher’s plight in a U.S. internment camp in World War II in “Day of
Independence”; modernism clashing with tradition for a teacher in
post-revolutionary Iran in “The Fifth Reaction”; and a young woman’s
humanity being cruelly rejected as she is placed on the auction block
in pre-Civil War America in “Bid’em In.”

Stories that revolve around life in America include “Compton Cowboy,”
about a young African-American boy living in Compton who grew up
dreaming about becoming a country music singer, and “Poster Boy,”
about a senator’s son coming out to his father about being gay during
his campaign.

The festival, which was once restricted to Armenian filmmakers, began
accepting submissions from non-Armenians within two years of the
organization’s inception.

“In the beginning, AFFMA as a small organization catered to young,
aspiring filmmakers and other artists,” said screenwriter Paul
Peterson, who serves on the group’s board of directors. “Over the
years, with its success becoming greater each year, AFFMA has opened
up to artists of all caliber, from neophyte to veteran filmmaker.”

What helped propel the festival to a more prestigious level was
getting ArcLight Cinemas on board, a coup for the foundation.

Even though the organization had shown films at local studios,
ArcLight allowed its movies to be seen by the general public.

“ArcLight made Arpa visible to the public at large, and it wasn’t by
invitation only, and in that sense, ArcLight has been fantastic,”
Peterson said.

Though relatively small compared with the Hollywood Film Festival and
the AFI Film Festival — also hosted by the theater — Arpa has always
been well-received and well-attended by the public, said Tracy
Hawkins, director of strategic alliances for ArcLight Cinemas.

“I think they have done a really good job choosing films to be in the
festival that can cross over to people other than Armenians,” Hawkins
said. Arpa is one of about 10 festivals they hold each year. “Through
all their films, they have a way of touching all cultures.”

As the organization gets more involved in the industry, its leaders
say, it will only grow in its role as an international festival.

“I think there are no limits to how big and how prestigious it could
become. Am I saying it will ever be as big as the Cannes Film
Festival? No. But that’s not its purpose,” Peterson said.

“For what started out as a small community festival, it has now
blossomed into a legitimate international festival, which in time will
only get bigger and better.”

Naush Boghossian, (818) 546-3306 [email protected]