Author: Antranik Varosian

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Feb 9 2005
‘Iran does not and will never assist Armenia’ – Iranian Ambassador
Baku, February 8, AssA-Irada
Chairman of the Armenian Security Council, Serzh Sarkisian, told the
local media prior to leaving for Iran on Tuesday that he would ask
the Iranian government to assist in developing Armenia’s economy.
Commenting on Sarkisian’s statement, the Iranian Ambassador to
Azerbaijan, Afshar Suleymani, stressed that “Iran does not and will
never assist Armenia”.
Suleymani stated that Iran attaches great importance to relations
with Azerbaijan, underlining that his country is co-operating with
the Armenian private sector in the area of commerce alone.*
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

REPRESENTATIVES OF ARMENIAN DELEGATION TO PACE TRY TO ENLIST SUPPORT
OF EUROPEAN COUNTERPARTS IN KARABAKH PROBLEM, CONTACTING WITH THEM
THROUGH E-MAIL, SHAVARSH KOCHARIAN STATES
YEREVAN, JANUARY 13. ARMINFO. Representatives of Armenian delegation
to Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe try to enlist the
support of their European counterparts when discussion of the draft
report of David Atkinson on Nagorny Karabakh in PACE by electronic
correspondence. Member of Armenian delegation to PACE, representative
of the opposition Justice bloc Shavarsh Kocharian stated talking to
ARMINFO.
“It is difficult to enlist the support of European parliament members
in the Karabakh problem sitting here in Armenia, that’s why the
members of the Armenian delegation are trying to use personal contacts
with representatives of European delegations, contacting with them
through e-mail”, Shavarsh Kocharian thinks. A certain work is carried
out with European colleagues during the sittings of the PACE
commissions as well. The deputy also assured that when discussion of
the draft report for Nagorny Karabakh in PACE the representatives of
the opposition and pro-power forces in the Armenian delegation will
come out with common positions. At the same time Shavarsh Kocharian
stressed that the draft report of David Atkinson regarding Nagorny
Karabakh is the failure of not the Armenian parliamentary delegation
to PACE, but the foreign policy of Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
01/03/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) President Congratulates Armenians Worldwide, Emphasizes Karabagh's Independence 2) US, Turkey Review Touchy Iraq, Mideast Issues 3) WCC, His Holiness Aram I Forward Condolences, Encouragement to Tsunami Victims 4) Primate's Christmas Message 5) ARS Contributes to Worldwide Relief Efforts for Tsunami Victims 6) Armenian American Veterans Open Doors for Young Armenians 7) Armenian Genocide Monument Council of Glendale Announces Competition for Design 1) President Congratulates Armenians Worldwide, Emphasizes Karabagh's Independence YEREVAN (Armenpress)--In his annual congratulatory New Year's address, President Robert Kocharian bid farewell to a peaceful and stable year for Armenia and welcomed a more productive and successful one in 2005. The president noted the advancement of Armenia-diaspora relations, referring specifically to the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund telethon that yielded a considerable amount of funds from the diaspora, for the completion of Karabagh's North-South highway. He called it an important step in strengthening the factual independence of Karabagh, an independence which he called "nonnegotiable." On the foreign affairs front, Kocharian said he was pleased with Armenia's involvement in the European Union "New Neighborhood" program as it shows the Union's readiness to build special relations with Armenia. He also underscored cooperation with partner-foreign states and Armenia's continual active participation in international developments. Referring to the country's deep social polarization, Kocharian said reforms must continue in an effort to raise living standards and fight poverty. The work carried out in 2004 will be noticeable in the coming year, he stressed, with the state budget's qualitatively new structure allocating more to health care and education. He also commended Armenia's Armed Forces, which have kept the country peaceful and safe, while paying respect to the memory of Armenia's fallen heroes. 2) US, Turkey Review Touchy Iraq, Mideast Issues ANKARA (AFX)--US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul reviewed touchy regional issues, including Iraq and the Middle East, which have led to coolness between the two countries. The presence in northern Iraq of an estimated 5,000 armed militants of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party, which is also known as KONGRA-GEL), held responsible by Ankara for a 15-year civil conflict that claimed more than 30,000 lives in southeast Turkey between 1984 and 1999, is one of several reasons for recent coolness in ties between Ankara and Washington. Armitage reiterated that US, Turkish, and Iraqi officials will hold three-way talks to discuss the PKK, whose activities Ankara wants US forces in Iraq to curb. Another bone of contention is Ankara's unhappiness with the expulsion from oil-rich Kirkuk of Turkish-speaking Iraqi Turkmens by the Kurds, who in turn were expelled from the area by Arabs under Saddam Hussein. "There have been many segments of Iraqi society who have had their situation changed by force," Armitage told reporters. "The Turkmens are, of course, in this category and the Kurds themselves have been forced out, of particularly Kirkuk, to some degree. "These are things that have to be corrected in the transitional administrational law...to redress these wrongs for all those who are dispossessed," he said. "We stressed our concern over Kirkuk," said the Turkish diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We explained that we had serious concerns over efforts to change the demographic structure and said that this could lead to serious problems." He said Armitage assured Gul that he was discussing the matter with Massud Barzani and Jalal Talabani, allies of the US and leaders of the two mainstream Kurdish parties in northern Iraq, which borders Turkey. 3) WCC, His Holiness Aram I Forward Condolences, Words of Encouragement to Tsunami Victims --His Holiness Aram I, Moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) together with Dr. Samuel Kobia, the General Secretary of the WCC, forwarded the following message to churches in South-East Asia, after the massive devastation and tragic loss of human life caused by the tsunamis there. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, On behalf of the entire fellowship of the World Council of Churches we send you sincere condolences and express our sorrow at the loss of more than 125,000 thousand lives in one of the deadliest natural catastrophes that has faced the people of South East Asia and regions surrounding the Indian Ocean. We are also aware that the devastating earthquake followed by the tsunami has left more than five million people homeless who are in dire need of immediate humanitarian aid as well as psychological and spiritual accompaniment. With our deepest sympathy we pray and think of those who have lost their loved ones. We are greatly encouraged by the exemplary efforts of our member Churches in responding even with meager resources to bandage the wounded and bond with the sorrowful. In prayer, we yearn to God that we may all overcome this cosmic anguish together with all peoples of faith in the region. The WCC together with our partners in ecumenical disaster and emergency management will continue to reach out with the resources available at our disposal to prevent more human suffering and bring about relief to those in this great affliction. Please let us know in what other ways you would wish the global ecumenical community to be in solidarity with you as you try to come to terms with this unprecedented catastrophe. During this holy season we have witnessed through liturgy and the sacred narratives of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ that even in the face of so many contradictions in life God is still part of our broken world. The miracle of the incarnation reminds us in the most profound way of the dwelling presence of God that transforms even probabilities of annihilation into new possibilities of life in history. And now we must reach out to one another, and not only weep with those in anguish but also make a new place for those seeking shelter as we struggle to find lasting solutions to future tragedies in this world. One lesson to learn from this tsunami tragedy is the need for the international community and the religious communities to unite in one spirit and reinvent the capacity for preparedness to face such tragedies together. It is also a moment to be re-awakened to our God given responsibility to care not only for one another but for the health of the creation as well. On the eve of the new year may God's grace be with you, comfort you, and give you peace in 2005 and beyond. Yours in Christ, HH Catholicos Aram I Rev Dr. Samuel Kobia December 31, 2004 4) Primate's Christmas Message "God is an interactive God. The Incarnation is God's interaction with human life. Therefore, the man who does not live an interactive life with others is fundamentally emptied of the Christian faith, i.e. of the interaction of love." Catholicos Karekin I The Incarnation symbolizes God's interaction in human life. Therefore, the man who does not live an interactive life is deeply emptied of the life of the Christian faith. In other words, the person who withdraws from the interactive life withdraws also from the conscious awareness that his life could serve as a means of distributing love. The Nativity of Jesus is the greatest miracle recorded in the history of the world, a miracle the impact of which can be measured only by the depth of faith. The Nativity of Jesus reveals God's penetration into human life, the revelation of God's infinite love. The truth that emanates from the Gospels enlightens our entire being, and in the rays of the same light the Christian person re-baptizes himself, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." (John 3:16) The Nativity of Jesus is the presence of light. The person whose life is enriched with prayer, in view of the Birth of Jesus rejects the dark and its works, and allows the vision of the interactive life to dawn in him. Today mankind is living in two, essentially opposing, worlds. In one world are people who live their lives dedicated to God, and in the second world are those who reject God. Those who live with God have chosen the path that leads to holiness, and those who live without God grope in the dark and are deprived of their ability to spread light. The Birth of Jesus inspires the power to transform one's life into a presence equal to a miracle. In the Birth of Jesus individuals and society as a whole live a spiritual rebirth. In today's world we can relive the Birth of Jesus when, with the power of one's spirit and the awareness of faith, we see in the Incarnation of Jesus the visitation of God to mankind. It is this inner life in the depth of our essence that will change the old man and give birth to the New Man. The Nativity of Jesus becomes a real and true feast when one is transfigured and with the transformation of his inner world he becomes a new man. The importance of the transformation of the inner world of the individual is beautifully described in the thoughts of Karekin I, the late Catholicos of All Armenians: "The world changes. This phenomenon of change is not new. The world has always known change and it has always witnessed change and has always been subjected to change. As human beings we live in this cycle of change. We are not the objects but the subjects, not the victims but the witnesses of change." We send our heartfelt greetings to all the faithful of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Mother Church that they may stay in communion with the mystery of the Incarnation of Christ, that through the Nativity of Jesus we may lead our God-given lives into new births. The lives of each of us necessarily needs spiritual rebirth, which is leavened in our inner self through the power of prayer and faith. Spiritual rebirth must be evident in our Christian and national lives. The spiritual rebirth becomes meaningful with service to our Holy Church, our Motherland, our national heritage, and particularly to our blessed land of America where we enjoy every blessing that opens before us the path of life as a mission. On the threshold of a New Year and the Feast of the Nativity, let us make a new covenant with God. Let us transform our lives into new covenants at the altar of Holy Etchmiadzin, the Bethlehem of Armenians, which penetrates into the hearts of our children scattered throughout the world with the rays of the light that emanates from its lantern. It is in that light that the Infant Jesus, the Lord and Savior of the world, is born. We lift up our good wishes and prayers to God to bless our Holy Church and her faithful children, headed by His Holiness Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, whose fatherly love and blessing we in the Western Diocese will enjoy in June 2005 when His Holiness graces us with his pastoral visit. It is our heartfelt prayer that God will move the hearts of the people of the world so that they may transform their lives into instruments of love and peace, that nations will live in peace and productive life. In anticipation of the Birth of Jesus let us transform our lives into living miracles. In prayer and with warm greetings of love, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian 5) ARS Contributes to Worldwide Relief Efforts for Tsunami Victims The Central Executive Board of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS-CE) conveyed sympathy and support to the diplomatic representatives of countries devastated by the recent Tsunami in South-East Asia, and made a donation to the International Red Cross's relief funds set up to assist the countless victims of the unprecedented disaster. The ARS has also instructed its entities throughout 24 countries to contact the local embassies of those countries stricken to pledge their support and assistance, as needed. The ARS, in addition, announced the establishment of the following email addresses, based on various projects: Central Executive Board: [email protected]; Office Manager: [email protected]; Executive Secretary: [email protected]; ARS Orphans Program: [email protected]; ARS Publications: [email protected]. 6) Armenian American Veterans Open Doors for Young Armenians $10,000 Contribution to assist ANCA Capital Gateway Program WASHINGTON, DC--The Armenian American Veterans Post of Milford Massachusetts (AAVO) has added to their legacy of charitable giving with a generous $10,000 donation to the ANCA Capital Gateway Program--a pioneering initiative to open the door for recent Armenian American college graduates to political, government, media, and foreign policy jobs in the nation's capital. "The AAVO have long represented the proudest tradition of the Armenian American community," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "The children of Genocide survivors who themselves went to war to protect our freedoms, today continue to give back, opening doors for a new generation of Armenian Americans dedicated to public service." Launched in August 2003, through a generous donation from the Cafesjian Family Foundation, the ANCA Capital Gateway Program assists Armenian Americans across the US to find 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 issues of concern to our community. 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. The over 20 participants in the program have secured positions in a myriad 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. AAVO was founded in 1946 in Milford, MA by returning veterans of World War II. Over the years, it has counted over three hundred members, including veterans of both the Second World War and the Korean War, who have called Milford home. During the 1950's, the group completed work on an attractive building and grounds, a Veteran's and community center, which was a vibrant home to area Armenian American veterans for many years. With the passing of so many veterans in the decades following the War, the group sold the building in 1989, and has used the proceeds from this sale to contribute to a number of worthwhile causes. The AAVO have been recognized for their generosity in newspapers, official proclamations, and through the appreciation of the many recipients of their humanitarian gifts. Among those that the Veterans have assisted over the years include: The Armenian Library and Museum of America, the national repository for collecting, conserving and documenting Armenian artifacts, books, textiles, archives and works of art; Project Save, the pioneering program that collects and archives visual information about Armenian people and their history; The Milford Senior Center, the town's gathering place for members of the "Greatest Generation;" Milford Whitinsville Regional Hospital, allowing this community hospital to expand its facilities and services; St. Jude's Children's Hospital, which provides free of charge medical care to the most vulnerable children, suffering from cancer and other catastrophic diseases; and the Armenian Children's Milk Fund, a life-saving charity that has been sending soy-based infant formula and dry powdered milk to Armenia since 1989. In addition, the Veterans have contributed to the Armenian Tree Project, Armenian Eye Care Project, Armenian General Benevolent Union, several Armenian churches, and individual families in need. The Veterans group is also working closely with local attorney Gregory Arabian, an Armenian American community leader, who is preparing oral histories of the lives of Armenian American World War II and Korean War veterans. 7) Armenian Genocide Monument Council of Glendale Announces Competition for Design --Council Launches Website for Monument Design Competition GLENDALE--The Armenian Genocide Monument Council of Glendale (AGMCG) launched their new website on December 22--<;www.armeniangenocidemonument. com--and announced the beginning of their Monument design competition. The AGMCG will oversee the design and construction of a commemorative monument in the City of Glendale dedicated to the victims of the Armenian genocide. The monument will serve as a befitting venue to begin the educational process of honoring the memory of those who perished and acknowledging the memories of the heroic deeds and acts of the Americans whose actions helped save thousands of helpless Armenian men, women and children from the rage of the genocide. In August of 2001, the City Council of Glendale adopted a motion to accept the gift of a monument to honor the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian genocide and the memory of Americans whose actions helped save thousands of Armenian men, women, and children from perishing in the genocide between 1915 and 1918. On April 8, 2003, the Glendale City Council approved the final location/site for the genocide monument. The AGMCG has been working very closely with City staff to oversee the monument selection process and has established a Selection Committee comprised of community leaders, architecture and design experts, and public officials. The announcement of the winner will take place in April, as this year marks the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. All parties interested in submitting a design may do so by following the guidelines and rules for submission made available on the AGMCG website. The AGMCG is a newly established organization dedicated to enhancing cross cultural understanding among the different cultural and ethnic groups in the City of Glendale by promoting respect for past historical events and the recognition thereof through continuous education, specifically that of the Armenian genocide. For more information, visit 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. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri minister says crude oil allowed to Georgia without limits
ANS TV, Baku
12 Dec 04
Presenter Some freight railway cars detained on the Azerbaijani border
were allowed to enter Georgia overnight. The Boyuk Kasik railway
station has said that 370 railway cars carrying crude oil were allowed
through. Now, 320 cars with other goods are being held at the station.
Correspondent over video of the Boyuk Kasik station It is already two
days that the transit railway cars carrying crude oil via Azerbaijan
have been allowed to enter Georgia without any restrictions, Ziya
Mammadov, Azerbaijan’s minister of communication, has said. He said
that on receiving appropriate instructions from the State Customs
Committee, the railway cars carrying crude oil were allowed to enter
Georgia and from there on to go to Europe via the Black Sea without
any problems. But Mammadov said that some goods, especially the oil
products, are being checked carefully.
Mammadov Mainly oil products and other goods, flour, are being
inspected. In general, the inspection of all goods transported through
Azerbaijan has been stepped up to prevent them from being delivered to
Armenia via Georgia in future.
Correspondent Mammadov said that strict measures should be taken on
the borders so that goods are not redirected to Armenia from
Georgia. This process will continue until the Karabakh problem is
resolved in line with official Baku’s interests, end of quote.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HOLY LAND CHRISTMAS: Jerusalem and Bethlehem seek visitors
By LAURIE COPANS, Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
December 6, 2004, Monday, BC cycle
JERUSALEM — For the first Christmas season in five years, Israel
and the Palestinians are cooperating to boost tourism to encourage
Christian pilgrims to visit the Holy Land during the holiday.
The Israeli and Palestinian tourism ministers announced in a meeting
last month – their first since fighting broke out in 2000 – that
they intended to guarantee easy access for visitors traveling between
Jerusalem and nearby Bethlehem, simplifying security checks.
Christmas celebrations in the land Jesus walked once attracted tens
of thousands of tourists. But in the last few years, violence has
kept pilgrims away.
Tourism has recently begun to rise again due to a marketing push and
a renewed effort to maintain relative calm after Palestinian leader
Yasser Arafat’s death on Nov. 11.
“We are telling everyone that they can come more freely to the Holy
Land,” Palestinian Tourism Minister Mitri Abu Aitah said in the
meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Ezra.
Ezra said he expected the new procedures to help. “I think this meeting
between us will lead to a lot of people to come visit the Holy Land,”
he said.
If you make the trip this season, here are some recommendations.
One of my favorite things to do in Jerusalem – where I have lived
for 10 years – is to walk the ramparts of the Old City, where you
can view the minarets and steeples from every angle. You may even see
a relative of the peregrine falcon, the lesser kestrel, who prefers
the stone holy places when it nests in the area from February to July.
After visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built in the fourth
century by Emporer Constantine to mark the traditional site of Jesus’
crucifixion and burial, enter the small door to the left as you come
out the main entrance.
Climb the stairs through three tiny Ethiopian chapels to the roof.
Passing through the archway, you can enter the Coptic Patriarchate.
Find the stairs leading down into a dark cistern whose acoustics are
wonderful for singing your favorite Bible hymn.
For a spectacular view in every direction, climb the tower at the
Lutheran Church a few steps away from the Holy Sepulcher.
One of the most difficult challenges for tourists in Jerusalem is
finding out when it’s possible to visit the walled Al Aqsa Mosque
compound (known to Jews as the Temple Mount). The compound, home to the
Dome of the Rock mosque, is closed twice daily, during prayers, but it
is worth the effort to get inside and view the rock from which Muslims
believe the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven on his white stallion.
To the left of the plaza of the Western Wall, a retaining wall of
the Second Jewish Temple and the holiest site for Jews, you will see
the entrance to an archaeological tunnel. Here you can see stones,
cisterns and a Hasmonean water channel used 2,000 years ago.
The Old City’s Arab market shops are a must. You can buy vests
decorated with traditional Palestinian embroidery, hand-painted
Armenian pottery and fresh sesame and pistachio brittle. Haggling
is an art you must master quickly. In most cases it’s best to offer
half the price you are first quoted and work your way up to about
two-thirds of what the seller asks. Try not to show you really want
the item or the shop owners won’t budge much.
Traveling from Jerusalem just a few miles away to the West Bank town
of Bethlehem can seem somewhat daunting since tourists must pass
through an Israeli military checkpoint.
But don’t mind the M-16 guns held by the Israeli soldiers. This area
has not seen clashes in more than a year and they are unlikely here
since both Israelis and Palestinians are eager to facilitate the
travel of pilgrims.
Manger Square is not the quaint, calm scene depicted in the Christmas
carol “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” Although it has been transformed
in recent years, it is often still full of tour buses.
The stone Church of the Nativity is dank and cold, but filled with
fragrant incense and a wonderful sight when full of worshippers at
the midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Bring warm clothes if you come
for the holiday season; temperatures around Christmas in Bethlehem
average in the 40s.
If you’re lucky, it might even snow.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 4 2004
Italian Military Center to Study Nagorno Karabakh Conflict

Resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh,
one of the most serious problems in South Caucasus, is an important
challenge, Director of Italy’s Defense Sciences Center Pietro Ercole
Ago said in a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev on Friday.
Ago is visiting Azerbaijan to hold seminars and discussions dedicated
to local conflicts.
The Italian official said the entity he is leading intends to conduct
research related to the conflict settlement and aspires to provide
assistance in this area. He said that as head of the Council of
Europe Committee of Ministers Ago monitoring group, he is closely
following the peace talks and wants to see a speedy and peaceful
conflict resolution.
President Aliyev said that he continues his efforts at resolving the
conflict based on international legal norms, within Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and through peace talks. He pointed out that
there is no other alternative and that the conflict settlement is
being hampered only by the non-constructive stance of the Armenian
government.
The mentioned center, a higher educational institution of the Italian
armed forces, is engaged in training local personnel in the area of
military policies. The entity conducts joint conferences and seminars
in various countries throughout the world to discuss ways of settling
local conflicts.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
Nov 16 2004
ITALIAN COMMERCIAL OFFICE IN YEREVAN SET TO OPEN LATER THIS MONTH
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS: Italy’s ambassador to Armenia,
Marco Clemente, told Armenpress the Italian Commercial Office will be
fully functional in a few week time, possibly during the November
20-23 visit to Armenia of deputy foreign minister Margherit Boniver.
The main function of the Office will be to provide information
about the Armenian economy and business opportunities to the Italian
entrepreneurs as well as to support those Armenian businessmen who
want to expand their activities in Italy in cooperation with and
under the coordination of the Italian Embassy in Yerevan, with the
headquarter of the Italian Trade Commission in Moscow.
“I am confident that with this extra tool the Italian Embassy will
be able to provide extra help to the business community in Armenia in
its strive to strengthen commercial bilateral ties between our two
countries and our two peoples,” the ambassador said, adding the Trade
Commission is planning to organize in Italy, at the beginning of next
year, a “Country Presentation” on Armenia that will most certainly
attract much attention by the Italian businessmen on Armenian
economic and trade opportunities.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Moscow Times
Nov 10 2004
News in Brief
Aliyev on Nagorny
BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said Tuesday
that ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorny Karabakh must withdraw before
a peace deal can be signed.
“We demand with justification that the seized territory be freed and
the occupation forces withdraw,” Aliyev said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Police panel formed to increase dialogue
By Naush Boghossian, Staff Writer
LA Daily News
27 Oct. 2004
GLENDALE — Glendale Police Chief Randy Adams announced Tuesday that
he has assembled a 25-member advisory panel that will work to keep
him better in touch with the community. Organizations including
the Kiwanis Club, Homeowners Coordinating Council, Latino Unidos
Parents Association and the Glendale Chamber of Commerce were asked
to nominate a member to serve on the panel _ the Community-Police
Partnership Advisory Committee _ that meets every two months.
“I’m a big believer that the police department is an extension of
the community, so the greater networking we have with the community,
the better the partnerships and the more effective we will be,”
Adams said. “My hope is that it will enhance communication so if
there are any issues or concerns, they’ll bring them forward while
they’re minor rather than having them become major problems.”
Panelist Louisa Gourjian, who represents the Armenian Relief Society,
said the panel will improve communication between the community and
the police department.
“The people we serve know us, and they’ll come and tell us their
problems. We’ll be able to take that to the police department,”
she said. “Also, there are a lot of cultural issues that the police
department may not be familiar with, and we can help with that.”
Any local organizations interested in joining the panel are asked
to contact Sgt. Tom Lorenz at (818) 548-4818 Naush Boghossian, (818)
546-3306 [email protected]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
10/20/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Armenian Political Parties Issue Joint Statement on Presidential Elections 2) Unprecedented European Armenian Convention Ends, Issues Declaration 3) European Greens Support Turkish EU Bid 4) Western Prelacy Board of Regents for Prelacy Armenian School Appointed 5) Armenian, Georgian Presidents to Meet in Georgia 6) Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian in Italy 1) Armenian Political Parties Issue Joint Statement on Presidential Elections On October 19, The Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Armenian Democratic-Liberal Party, and the Social-Democratic Hunchak Party issued the following appeal to the Armenian community in the United States to cast their vote for Presidential candidate John Kerry: An Appeal to American-Armenians The US presidential elections will take place on November 2. The two main candidates, President George W. Bush and US Senator John Kerry, are waging a vigorous campaign for the people's votes. So far, according to observers, the ratings of the two candidates are extremely close; each vote will, therefore, carry significance. On November 2, the American people will have their decisive say--including American-Armenians, who will go to the polls conscious of their civic duty. Accordingly, we appeal to our people to vote for Senator John Kerry, because he has espoused pro-Armenian positions on issues that American-Armenians consider vital. As a Senator, John Kerry has been constant in adopting positions in favor of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, increases in US aid to Armenia, and a just resolution to the Mountainous Karabagh problem. Moreover, he has always had an open-door policy toward American-Armenians and has been responsive to our needs and requests. John Kerry's efforts within the Senate are proof positive of his pro-Armenian and pro-Armenia policies. Under the current circumstances, American-Armenians will play a crucial role in the upcoming presidential elections, because every vote counts. On November 2, let us go to the polls, en masse, to cast our votes in favor of Senator John Kerry. Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central Committees of the Western and Eastern United States Armenian Democratic-Liberal Party Regional Executives of the Western and Eastern United States Social-Democratic Hunchak Party 2) Unprecedented European Armenian Convention Ends, Issues Declaration BRUSSELS--The first Convention of European Armenians closed on Tuesday with the adoption of a final declaration affirming its support for fundamental European values, the need for the increased promotion of Armenian identity within Europe, further integration of Armenia into the European family of nations, and strong opposition to Turkey's candidacy for membership in the European Union. The more than two hundred and fifty delegates to the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) Convention unanimously affirmed these points. The declaration will be sent to the twenty-five member states of the European Union. Tuesday's program opened with a panel on The challenges of the enlargement process, moderated by Phillipe Kalfayan, the Deputy Secretary General of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH). In a sweeping introduction to this topic, Kalfayan touched on the security, religious, and cultural dimensions to Turkey's candidacy, as well as the impact of internal Turkish policy on its relations with European institutions. The first speaker, noted historian and the Rector of the Catholic University of Louvain, Prof. Bernard Coulie, alluding to the reservoir of historical understanding of Armenia's longstanding relations with Europe, discussed the prospects for Armenia and Armenian diaspora drawing closer to the European Union. He noted with certainty that Armenia--as a member or close neighbor, will either be in or on the border with the European Union. The Armenian community of Europe, he explained, will become a vital catalyst in bringing Armenia and Europe closer together. The second speaker, Chairman of the Armenian Liberal Democratic (Ramgavar) Party Jean Varoujan Sirapian, point by point spelled out why Turkey's acceptance into the European Union would contradict the spirit of the Union's founding, and would ultimately undermine the interests and values of the vital institution. He sharply criticized recent reports pointing out Turkey's many failures, nonetheless still recommending opening talks on membership. He announced the publication of a report by the Chobanian Institute that makes the case against Turkey's acceptance into the EU. The next speaker, the Vice-President of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament Harlem Desir, stressed the that though Turkey must be held accountable for meeting EU criteria, once these have been met, Turkey could, nevertheless, rightfully be considered for membership. He stressed his efforts and the work of his Party in pressing Turkey to recognize the Armenian genocide and noted his regret that the EU did not formally set Armenian genocide recognition as a precondition for membership. Turkey must do what Germany and France have done, Desir stressed, and come to terms with their history. The EU, he noted, should use Turkey's interest in membership as leverage to secure continued reforms. In a spirited and compelling presentation, the next speaker, Frank Biancheri, analyzed the practical prospects for Turkey's acceptance into the EU. Biancheri, the Chairman of the think tank TIESweb, argued that for a myriad of domestic and international reasons, Turkey's membership is highly unrealistic during the next twenty years. "The fact is," he said, "that the forces against Turkey's membership have set forth arguments that have resonance across Europe, while pro-Turkey elements have been limited to parts of ruling European elite. Given the likelihood of referendums on Turkey's acceptance, the chances for approval are very low." He argued, instead, for a Privileged Partnership relationship as a realistic alternative. The final speaker on the panel, Charles Papazian, representing the Western Europe branch of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, argued that acceptance into the EU would run counter to European values and public opinion across the continent. He outlined the basis for this opposition, on issues ranging from genocide denial, blockades, human rights, treatment of minorities, the continued occupation of Cyprus, and the role of religion in Turkish society. He stressed the growing gap on this issue between governing European elites and the broad cross section of popular opinion. In closing, he discussed ARF's advocacy and grassroots efforts in Brussels and throughout Europe in opposing Turkey's membership to culminate in a demonstration outside of the European Commission building on December 17. The especially spirited question and answer period, which lasted nearly two hours, raised issues on the lowering of EU standards for Turkey, the role of public opinion on Turkey's candidacy, and the sincerity of pronouncements by elements of Turkey's governing elite concerning the EU. Charles Tannock, MEP, (Christian Democrat, UK), criticized the moral double standard being applied to Turkey, and warned of the large costs of taking Turkey into the Union and stressed that serious attention should be devoted to the issues of fundamental cultural differences, and the role of Islam in Turkey. He predicted that the top-driven agenda of getting Turkey into the EU will come to a halt as national referendums are held on this issue. Following the question and answer session, Hilda Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the EAFJD, read the Declaration of the Convention, which was approved unanimously by acclamation. In his closing remarks, ARF Bureau member and the Chairman of the Armenian National Committee international coordinating body Garo Armenian, praised this historic beginning and noted the progress made by Europe's Armenian community in emerging as a political force on the European stage. He stressed the success of the EAFJD in developing a Europe-wide consensus, and organizing focused and effective advocacy in the key European capitals. He closed his comments by noting for all in attendance that the real work for Europe's increasingly vibrant Armenian community lies ahead. Following the formal program, Hilda Tchoboian and EAFJD Executive Director Laurent Leylekian held a press conference for the several dozen print and broadcast journalists at the Convention. 3) European Greens Support Turkish EU Bid (AFP/DW)--During a three-day parliamentary group meeting in Istanbul, Europe's Greens have come out in support for Turkey's EU bid and criticized proposed national referendums on its membership. Europe's Greens, once Turkey's most vocal critics and now the staunchest supporters of its EU membership, began a three-day parliamentary group meeting in Istanbul on Tuesday by airing strong criticism against any plans to hold national referendums on whether Ankara should join the bloc. "We are against holding referendums in one country about another country," Greens group president Daniel Cohn-Bendit said. "There are seven million Turks living in Europe, so the real question in the referendum will be, 'Do you like Turks--do you like Muslims?'" He singled out President Jacques Chirac, criticizing his proposal to amend the French constitution to allow referendums on future EU members as "foolish" and "ridiculous." "How can a democratic president, even Chirac, say what will happen 'in 10 years' time?" Cohn-Bendit asked at a press conference at the opening of the meeting. "Are they going to have referendums on the memberships of Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia? The French will go crazy," he said. "This is ridiculous. Don't waste our time with what will happen in 10 years." Cohn-Bendit was flanked at the press conference by co-chair Monica Frassoni of Italy, Dutchman Joost Logendijk, and Germany's Cem Özdemir, both of the EU-Turkey joint parliamentary committee. SPECIAL NEGOTIATIONS Cohn-Bendit urged Turkey to accept the fact that it is different from other candidate countries and that a special negotiating process is needed to allow it into the EU. A generally favorable European Commission report on Oct. 6 advises EU leaders to agree at a Dec. 17 summit in Brussels to launch membership talks with Turkey. "When you say, 'We want equal treatment,' you do not mean it," Cohn-Bendit said. "Turkey is not Malta, it is not Romania, it is not Bulgaria. It is a big country, it is a proud country, and its entry into the EU will be an important event." 'CRITICAL FRIENDS' He said the Greens had arrived in Turkey as "critical friends" in hopes that many issues that remain to be ironed out--the situation of the Kurds and other minorities, women's rights, the Armenian massacres--could be "openly discussed among friends." "We must have uncomfortable discussions on, for example, Cyprus and the role of the army," Frassoni said, adding: "The process of building a European democracy is not finished." The Greens support Turkey's EU membership, the Italian MEP said, but so does Italy's conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi--"his reasons are not the same as ours," she added. "What is the Greens' message to Turkey?" asked Özdemir, who is of Turkish origin. "The message is that we are here and not somewhere else. If Turkey is today at another point than where it was several years ago, it is also because of civil society, not only because of politicians," he said. ISSUES ON CONTENTION Another message from the Greens to Turkey's politicians is "don't panic," Logendijk said. He added the Commission report contained elements Turkey and the Greens both disagree with, such as the open-ended nature of the talks and mention of permanent derogations concerning this country, such as barring its citizens from free circulation in Europe. "But," he said, "don't lose your focus; don't lose sight of the main point: [membership] negotiations should begin next year." The meeting of the joint Greens/European Free Alliance group next goes into a series of panel conferences covering aspects of Turkey-EU ties. Panelists include German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gül, Kurdish activist Leyla Zana, and Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk. 4) Western Prelacy Board of Regents for Prelacy Armenian School Appointed His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian and the Executive Council announced on October 18, appointments to the Board of Regents of Western Prelacy Armenian Schools. The Prelate and the Executive Council met with newly appointed members Dr. Roubina Peroomian, Dr. Armine Hacopian, Dr. Ida Karayan, Dr. Vartkes Tomassian, Avo Keshishian, Mher Der Ohanessian, Vahe Hovaguimian and Chris Keossian, JD, to discuss the affairs and plans for Prelacy schools. At the end of discussions, the Board of Regents held its first working session and formed its executive body: Dr. Roubina Peroomian, Chairperson; Dr. Armine Hacopian, Vice-chairperson; Vahe Hovaguimian, Secretary; Avo Keshishian, Treasurer. 5) Armenian, Georgian Presidents to Meet in Georgia YEREVAN (Armenpress)--President Robert Kocharian will visit Georgia on October 22 for an official three-day visit. The welcoming ceremony will be held at Bagratashen village on the Armenian-Georgian border, after which Kocharian will meet with his counterpart Mikhail Saakashvili in the capital city Tbilisi. Kocharian's visit also includes meetings with parliament chairwoman Nino Burjanadze, prime minister Zurab Zhvania, as well as the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II. He will conclude his trip by meeting with members of the local Armenian community. 6) Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian in Italy ROME (Armenpress)--Foreign Minister Oskanian arrived in Italy on October 18, to mark the third official visit of an Armenian Foreign Minister to Italy since 1998. In a meeting with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini, the ministers discussed a wide range of bilateral and international issues, taking into consideration the prospects of developing relations. They specifically addressed Armenia's economic development, and Italy's knowledge of small and medium enterprises, as well as the tourism industry. They also spoke of expanding cultural relations as well as those concerning health care, and education. In the course of their political discussions, they addressed Armenia's integration into Europe within the framework of EU's New Neighborhood Policy, as well as Armenia's and Italy's cooperation within international organizations. They also thoroughly covered urgent international policy issues, developments in the South Caucasus, the Mountainous Karabagh conflict, and Armenian-Turkish relations. Oskanian also visited The Vatican and met with Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, the Vatican secretary for relations with states. In 1998, the two countries signed documents to encourage mutual protection of capital investments, and consultation between their foreign services. During his second visit to Italy in June 2002, Oskanian signed an inter-governmental treaty on taxation. 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) 2004 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. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress