Author: Arpi Talalian

Neighbors fated for cooperation
The Messenger
Monday, April 4, 2005, #060 (0834)
Despite divergent foreign policy directions, Georgia and Armenia remain
close friends. Armenian President Robert Kocharian’s unofficial visit
to Gudauri, where he met with President Mikheil Saakashvili on April
1, can be seen as an urgent need for consultation between the two
countries’ leadership, however.
Saakashvili’s press service, which learned of the unannounced visit
first from reporters, states the two presidents discussed issues
of strategic cooperation and regional security among neighboring
countries. Saakashvili himself underscored the close relationship
between the countries, explaining that state formalities were not
always necessary. “We do not need ceremonies and political limitations
with our neighbors. Without any prior preparations we can always
visit and hold talks with each other,” he said.
Georgia’s relations with Armenia have necessarily been affected by
the fact that Armenia was and still is Russia’s principal ally in the
South Caucasus. Armenia has benefited significantly from this alliance,
first of all during the war with Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh and
afterwards as the conflict froze in Armenia’s advantage. At the end
of the last decade, Georgia and Azerbaijan found themselves looking
to the west in order to balance Russia’s domineering role in the
South Caucasus; by contrast Armenia was openly pro-Russian oriented.
The new century, however, has ushered in new realities, with the west
and particularly the United States strengthened its position in the
South Caucasus Georgia’s categorical demand that Russia withdraw
its military bases from the country has created a situation that
could eventually lead to Russia losing its domineering role in the
region. Once oil begins flowing through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan
pipeline this fall, the west will take an even greater interest in
the region.
Russia, however does not want to give up so easily, especially
regarding the military bases. Only after great resistance have Russian
negotiators reduced their timeline for base withdrawal from a laughable
11 years to 3-4 years. Still, in recent months Moscow officials have
repeated demands for USD 300 million in order to finance the withdrawal
and construct new bases on Russian soil.
For Georgia, the issue is also connected to domestic ethnic issues.
Over the weekend two rallies in Akhalkalaki and Batumi demanded
that the cities’ Russian bases remain in place. In Akhalkalaki in
particular, Russia’s base is of major economic importance for the
community. The ethnic Armenians living in the remote city are cut
off from most of Georgia’s political and economic life; only through
protests were they able to get a national passport office in their
town last month. Despite its large population, Akhalkalaki’s residents
were forced to go to distant, and smaller, towns like Akhaltsikhe for
this purpose. Moreover, with dwindling infrastructure and no major
transport routes to the center, residents find themselves dependent
on the Russian base for survival.
Tbilisi’s relationship with Yerevan becomes all the more important
as Saakashvili makes his latest gambit against Russian influence in
the area. Not only is Yerevan in a position to intervene positively
in talks between Akhalkalaki and Tbilisi, it is also a reliable
supplier of electricity. Armenian support is of great importance,
and Saakashvili seems to have won this, President Kocharian stating
that the withdrawal of Russian military base from Akhalkalaki was
Georgia’s decision and Yerevan would never support any anti Georgian
force, as quoted by Khvalindeli Dghe.
Although neither president has commented in detail on the talks,
it seems likely that as well as the withdrawal of Russian bases,
the tough economic and social condition faced by the predominantly
ethnic Armenian population of the region and transportation of cargo
to Armenia would have been the main issues discussed.
Georgian experts think that while the Armenian president could defuse
the situation in the Akhlakalaki region, Saakashvili could for his
part help Yerevan develop stronger ties with the west and also help
the country avoid a velvet revolution predicted by several regional
analysts.

The Scotsman, UK
March 29 2005
Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Azerbaijan
“PA”
1. Azerbaijan had a hand in England’s most famous triumph when
`Russian linesman’ Tofi Bakhramov allowed Geoff Hurst’s goal to stand
in the World Cup Final win over West Germany in 1966. In fact
Bakhramov was not Russian but an Azeri – Azerbaijan was then part of
the Soviet Union. The national stadium in the capital, Baku, is named
after him – with a statue of Bakhramov outside.
2. The country regained its independence in 1991, after the collapse
of the Soviet Union.
3. Former world chess champion Gary Kasparov, who has just retired,
hails from Azerbaijan and is known as the `Beast of Baku’. In his new
political career he has vowed to campaign against Russian president
Vladimir Putin. Probably not an omen for Wednesday but Kasparov once
beat English challenger Nigel Short in a World Championship final.
4. Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest lake. As
well as its oil resources, the sea also provides another source of
income – caviar. You can take caviar tours if you visit the country,
which was also on the silk route between Europe and Asia.
5. The world’s first oil well was drilled near Baku, at the end of
the 19th century.
6. Azerbaijan was one of the settings for 1999 Bond film `The World
is Not Enough’.
7. The population is 93.4% Muslim with Russian Orthodox and Armenian
Orthodox Christian minorities. In 2002 it was visited by Pope John
Paul II even though there are only 120 Catholics in the country – one
of the smallest Catholic communities.
8. It has borders with Russia, Georgia, Turkey, Armenia and Iran.
9. The country’s population is around eight million – similar to
London.
10. The Azeri unit of currency is the manat.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HAMLET GASPARIAN: “OSCE FACT-FINDING MISSION’S REPORT SHOWS THAT
AZERBAIJAN BECAME THE VICTIM OF ITS OWN ILLUSIONS”
YEREVAN, MARCH 24, NOYAN TAPAN. The OSCE fact-finding mission’s
report, as well as the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmen’s letter are the
bright evidence of the fact that Azerbaijan became the victim of its
own illusions and propaganda as the facts represented in the report
completely refute Azerbaijan’s “anxiety” and the represented “data.”
Hamlet Gasparian, Spokesman of RA Foreign Ministry, reported this while
commenting upon the March 23 statement of Azeri Foreign Minister that
“the OSCE fact-finding mission confirmed Azerbaijan’s information and
anxiety about the settlement.” “It’s obvious from the statement that
the Azeri propaganda machine tangled in the figures drawn by it. Thus,
instead of the former 23 thousand represented by them they put forward
the figure of 17 thousand “revealed” by the mission and persist that
these figures are close to each other. But simple addition of numbers
in the report shows that the maximum number of residents makes only
13 thousand people,” RA Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman emphasized. He
mentioned that the problem isn’t in the quantity but in Azerbaijan’s
tactics, i.e to do its best to hamper the serious discussion of the
issue as they aren’t ready for serious obligations: “And a serious
obligation means political responsibility before the international
community and your own people.” In Hamlet Gasparian’s affirmation,
the militant threats that became more frequent lately are one of the
manifestations of Azerbaijan’s above-mentioned tactics. “They behave
as if little blood was shed by now and now they instigate to a new
bloodshed.” As for Azerbaijan’s another affirmation that the report
indirectly affirms that the settlement is carried out by the Republic
of Armenia, according to Hamlet Gasparian, this was also turned upside
down: “The report’s text and the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmen’s letter
are an exhaustive answer to the very question. Only one quotation from
the letter addressed to the Permanent Council of Co-chairmen: “… the
Mission revealed (some) settlement in the studied territories. The
mission didn’t reveal that such a settlement is the result of Armenian
government’s purposeful policy.” In connection with the possibility
of Azerbaijan’s pursuing the issue of settlement in the UN General
Assembly, RA Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman emphasized that “as it was
mentioned in the Co-chairmen’s letter, the general condition of OSCE
mission’s reception in Nagorno Karabakh was that Azerbaijan is to
stop the speculation of this issue in the UN General Assembly.” If
the Azeri party continues raising the issue in the UN, according to
Hamlet Gasparian, “it will be revealed how much Azerbaijan’s government
respects its own promise given to the international community, in
particular, to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairmen.” “If nevertheless
Azerbaijan continues its initiative in the UN General Assembly it
will exhaust its authority as a partner in the negotiations,” the
Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman declared.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

LIBERATED TERRITORIES SHOULD BE PLACED TO NAGORNO KARABAKH’S CONTROL:
NEW TIMES LEADER
YEREVAN, MARCH 18. ARMINFO. The Karabakh peace process should place
the liberated territories under Karabakh’s control and should discuss
both their and Karabakhs status, the leader of the New Times party
Aram Karapetyan at a conference held by the Justice opposition bloc
today.
The present Armenian authorities have no resources to settle the
Karabakh conflict favorably for the Armenian side. There has been
nothing but empty talk and fruitless meeting since the conclusion of
the truce 10 years ago, says Karapetyan.
The chairman of the political council of the Republic party Albert
Bazeyan said that the Karabakh conflict can be settled only by peace
talks. Military settlement has no prospects. The conflicting parties
should realize that the conflict can be settled through compromises
only. It is for the Karabakh people to decide what compromise the
Armenia party should make. Armenia’s development is a guarantee to any
agreements and compromises by Karabakh – and so Armenia needs restored
constitutional order and democracy.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THREE EARTHQUAKES RECORDED IN SOUTH CAUCASUS DURING LAST 2 DAYS
YEREVAN, MARCH 14. ARMINFO. During the last two days, 3 earthquakes
were registered in the South Caucasus region.
The National Seismic Protection Service of the Armenian Government
Emergency Situations Department informs ARMINFO that on March 13 at
07:02 local time, on the Armenian border with Azerbaijan 25 km South
of the Armenian town of Vardenis an earthquake measuring 4 of 12-scale
bar was reorded, and 6 in the epicenter. The earthquake was felt in
the populated areas of Armenia Sotk, Tretak, Azat, Norabak, where
houses and economic buildings were insignificantly damaged.
According to the source, today at 05:55 local time in 65 km North-East
of the town of Bingyol in the territory of Turkey an earthquake
measuring 5.5 and 8 in the epicenter was recorded. Besides, today at
08.55 local time another earthquake measuring 4.2 and 5 in the
epicenter was recorded in 63 North-East of the town of Bingyol. No
information on casualties and destructions has been reported yet.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Creative Loafing Charlotte
CUISINE | CUISINE 03.02.05
Getting Real About EthniCity
Charlotte cuisine covers the globe, but do the locals care?
TRICIA CHILDRESS
Next Generation Consulting, that now-notorious outfit that hired focus
groups of “young professionals” to determine Charlotte’s hipness factor,
noted that one element that would make the Queen City “cool” is to have
“authentic” ethnic restaurants, especially “authentic” ethnic restaurants in
the city core. I’m going to assume for the moment that these “young
professionals” did not mean putting in an Epnic (Disney’s Epcot + ethnic)
restaurant along the lines of a P.F. Chang’s on the Square. I’ll go with the
hopeful premise that what they want are locally grown ethnic restaurants
operating in the downtown environment. The study folk call this a “cultural
amenity,” since eating ethnic is a popular fad for grads.
But just how many ethnic restaurants does Charlotte actually have now? I
asked Bill Hardister of the Mecklenburg County Health Department this
question, since his department inspects all the food operations in the
county. Unfortunately, his office does not stratify restaurants by type or
size. On the MCHD list are 1,758 active food operators. This number takes in
all the fast food franchises, including the 31 McDonald’s and the 46 area
Subways, the deli counters at the Harris Teeters, even the jail.
So although there is no official document with the precise number of ethnic
restaurants, I culled through the list and arrived at approximately 300-plus
locally owned and operated ethnic restaurants. I did not include the
hundreds of Italian restaurants and pizzerias, local burrito-type chains
such as Salsaritas, regional burrito chains such as Southwest Moe’s, or
locally grown gyro shops such as Showmars. Nor does this list include the
growing number of ethnic bakeries or food markets. I tried to keep the list
to actual ethnic eateries. In many cases, I made the distinction of ethnic
from non-ethnic by calling the establishment and asking the owner if he, or
she, considered the restaurant to be ethnic. Some non-ethnic eateries are
owned by folks who have very ethnic sounding names.
I went further to break these 300-plus eateries into ethnic groups. The
largest turned out to be the 110 area Chinese food vendors. Not all of these
spots are restaurants. Some are take-out-only places while others are large,
full-scale restaurants such as Wan Fu, Dragon Court, Shun Lee Palace and
Baoding.
The next largest ethnic eatery group was Latino. In this category were about
90 Latino spots: 70 from Mexico, three from South America, four from El
Salvador, and about 10 from the Caribbean islands of Jamaica, the Dominican
Republic, Granada and Cuba.
Next are the “other” (non-Chinese) Asian spots. This list includes over 30
Japanese eateries, a few sushi-only places; 12 Vietnamese restaurants (one
is a soup shop); 12 Thai restaurants; 11 Indian (two of these are south
Indian vegetarian); two Korean (one of these is a small Japanese/Korean take
out, while the other, Koryo, has been operating in Charlotte for 15 years);
one Malaysian; and one Laotian.
Charlotte has four Middle Eastern eateries and one Persian restaurant (in
addition to the Kabob House, Ali Baba take-out says it serves Persian, too).
Two spots serve New Zealand cuisine and two serve African (non-Middle
Eastern) cuisine. Of these, one serves Ethiopian exclusively, while the
other serves Ethiopian and Eritrean. Regrettably, the West Africa
restaurant, Katchikally, closed last year.
In addition to the plethora of Italian places ~W and Italian-American places
~W Charlotte is host to a handful of eateries from Europe, including France,
Spain, England, Ireland and Germany. (If I’ve left out your restaurant,
please call me: 704-522-8334, ext 136.)
Surprising, though, is the lack of a Russian or Eastern European style
restaurant, given the burgeoning number of ex-pats from the former USSR and
Yugoslavia who now call Charlotte home. There are a few ethnic markets: two
Russian, one Russian/Armenian/Eastern European, and one Bosnian market.
But are these ethnic restaurants genuinely authentic? In a brief Spanish
survey given to a random sampling of Latino eateries, I asked if the owner
considered his restaurant’s dishes authentic. The answer was unanimously
yes. All but one owner came from the same country as the food served, and
all agreed that the specialties of the house could be ordered at a
restaurant in their native country.
More interesting was the answer to the percentage of clients who were US
citizens. Not one of these restaurateurs indicated that the “Charlottean”
customers amounted to more than 40 percent. In fact, at a majority of
places, the number was closer to five to 10 percent.
When asked why Charlotteans have the perception that there’s a dearth of
authentic restaurants in town, the owners looked perplexed. Here I was
speaking Spanish on a street with dozens of similar establishments. Most
owners just burst out laughing. Some tried to help by indicating that
Charlotteans might not know these restaurants exist (after all, the focus
group didn’t). Others said that Charlotteans may be uninformed about the
various Latino cuisines. One Caribbean restaurateur, visibly annoyed, noted
non-Latinos thought all Latino food was the same: Tex-Mex. “I do not serve
burritos here,” she said, shaking her head.
But then these Latino restaurateurs were quick to tell me that their
restaurants had specialties not found elsewhere in the city: the cut of
meat, or imported ingredients.
Toi (Sukanya) B. Rogers, a native of Bangkok, owns Thai Marlai in Cornelius.
She moved to Charlotte with her American husband in 1972. In the 1980s, she
opened the phenomenally popular Thai Cuisine. Then in the 1990s, she opened
Thai Orchid. Does Rogers consider her Thai Marlai an authentic Thai
restaurant? She responded wryly, “I am 100 percent Thai. My sister who is
cooking in the kitchen is 100 percent Thai. We get our seasonings, our
chilies and many other ingredients from Thailand, and the recipes are my
family’s. And they are 100 percent Thai, too. If someone does not think this
place is an authentic Thai restaurant, they should come talk to me.”
Many restaurateurs agree with Rogers. Nader Behrouzjou opened North
Carolina’s only Iranian (Persian) restaurant seven years ago. He said, “My
dishes at the Kabob House are all Iranian dishes. People tell me I should
convert some of the recipes, to Americanize them. But my culture is 2,500
years old. I serve the authentic kebob marinated with different spices.”
Alex Ayalew, a native of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, opened Meskerem Ethiopian
Cuisine last year. He reports, “Our food is authentic. It is exactly the
same as the food in Ethiopia. We get all the spices from back home. The
taste is the same.” He said it is just as important for him to educate his
customers about his culture as to serve them delicious food, and he hopes
that more Charlotteans will visit his restaurant, which is less than one
mile from Trade and Tryon. “We try to market to everyone. Once they try it,
they come back.”
In Pineville, Gitta and Tom Maier opened the Waldhorn Restaurant six years
ago. The restaurant is named for her parents’ restaurant in Stuttgart and
her husband is a Culinary Institute of America graduate whose father is a
German baker. Gitta Maier said, “We are definitely authentic. Our customers
rave about the food and say it reminds them of Germany. Two-thirds of our
customers are American, the rest are Germans who live here.”
But the truth is that although some restaurants such as those mentioned
above remain true to their heritage, others do not. As the clientele grows
to include more Americans, a funny thing happens to the menu. It is a common
practice, for example, for Chinese restaurants to have two menus. One is for
Asians and the other for non-Asians. On the latter are such Americanized
Chinese dishes as Chicken Chow Mein, Chop Suey and, more recently, Crab
Rangoon. And no, there isn’t cream cheese in traditional Chinese cuisine.
Why two menus? Tony Koos, owner of Dragon Court Chinese Restaurant in the
Asian Corners Marketplace, puts both of his menus in the same folder ~W that
way Asians and Americans alike can choose. He stated, “We have the two
menus, the regular Chinese and authentic Chinese. Both types use the real
Chinese vegetables. What is different is the cooking style. The authentic
style is totally different.”
But serving authentic can be challenging for the restaurateur who wants to
hear that cash register ring. Would an American choose black chicken feet
stir fry at a Chinese restaurant?
The change in dishes may be subtle. Kevin Cheng, who serves extraordinary
Taiwanese cuisine at Tomi, related, “We have one dish that we had to change.
The dish called for a chicken leg cut up with the bone and the skin. First,
Americans don’t like dark meat. Next, they don’t like the bones, and third,
they don’t eat skin, so we use boneless chicken breast as the meat for this
dish. But all the other ingredients and the sauce are the same.”
Some restaurateurs opt out of the whole authentic arena altogether. At
Salsas, Sergio Gomes said their restaurant’s concept is “American Mexican.”
“We considered both directions and went with this concept. While we have
authentic Mexican choices on the menu, we primarily have Tex-Mex. But
everything is made fresh in house. We try to reach as many people as we can,
so the dishes are not too spicy. About 70 percent of our clients are
Americans; the rest is Latino, but that segment is increasing.”
But what happens to the other ethnic restaurants if one within a category
acquiesces to American taste buds? Bhupen Engineer, owner of Bombay Cuisine,
noted that having high quality Indian restaurants is important to him. He
opined, “Many people will judge all Indian restaurants from one Indian
restaurant. If they do not have a good experience at my competitor’s place,
then I will lose a future customer.”
So if ethnic restaurants have only one menu for all patrons and the food is
“authentic,” do the non-ethnic customers take advantage of the experience?
Most restaurateurs told me that Americans typically order the same dish
repeatedly. Cheng said some customers come into Tomi, realize he doesn’t
serve Americanized Chinese food like chow mein, and leave.
Cuong Duong, owner of Bên Thành Vietnamese Restaurant, reported, “Americans
eat the same thing again and again. I have one customer for the past 10
years and only sometimes does he order something new. It’s always the same.”
Duong also noted that what the Vietnamese come for at lunch is not the same
that non-Vietnamese come for at dinner. “The Vietnamese come in for our Bun
Bo Hue, a spicy lemongrass and rice noodle soup; banh canh, a shrimp and
rice noodle soup; pho soup with meatballs; and a seafood soup. Americans
order the curry, spring rolls, charbroiled meats with sweet sour sauce, and
stir fried tofu and pan fried rice noodle.”
How many is the right number of ethnic restaurants? Out of Charlotte’s
300-plus ethnic restaurants, there are 17 ~W from upscale fine dining to take
out ~W in the center city (within 277): Bistro 100 (French), ARPA (Spanish),
Latorre’s (Latino), Blue (Mediterranean), Luce, Coco Osteria (Italian), SoHo
Bistro, China Inn, China King, China Queen, The Wok, Curry House, Open
Kitchen (Southern Italian), Sushi, Tin Tin, Fuse Box and Fujos. Notably,
this group does not include a number of ethnic restaurants within one mile
from Trade and Tryon, including the exceptional Cuisine Malaya.
While ethnic restaurants may be the culture that the “young professional”
study group yearns for, the fact is I am unaware of any of our current
ethnic restaurants having a lengthy wait at dinner. Not downtown, not on
South Boulevard, North Tryon nor Central. So why come downtown?
Mao Lin, who owns SoHo Bistro in the Hearst building, came downtown because
his family desired to offer more “cosmopolitan” food. Lin had had
restaurants in Fayetteville and a small takeout Chinese restaurant in
Harrisburg.
Other area entrepreneurs have looked into going downtown. Engineer said when
the Indian population grows to about 10,000, a “fine dining” Indian
restaurant could make it downtown. However, a vegetarian South Indian
restaurant could never survive the high rent, reported Narayan Mogera, the
owner of the Woodlands South Indian Vegetarian Restaurant. “I do not serve
meat, nor do I serve alcohol. With the cost of the lease, we could not make
money downtown without selling meat or alcohol. Typically Southern Indian
restaurants, such as Woodlands, are vegetarian. Entrée dishes do not cost
that much.”
Mark Shen, owner of the Emperor Chinese Restaurant that’s within a mile of
Trade and Tryon but outside the 277 loop ~W and, thus, the study group’s
knowledge ~W noted that he has looked into going downtown, but the
ventilation requirements have dissuaded him. “Typically, the hood costs
about $15,000 to $25,000. That’s the common type you would put in here (in a
strip shopping center). Downtown, there are many environmental concerns,
especially if you are operating on the street level of a condominium
complex.” He continues, “Those hoods are very expensive. They muffle the
sound and change the grease output. They cost $75,000 to $100,000.” That
additional $75,000 for just the hood system means the entrepreneur needs to
have ever deeper pockets.
Another factor which is discouraging to entrepreneurs is the high cost of
downtown space. Rogers, who has looked into opening there, said, “Most
places cost about $10,000 a month for rent, plus a percentage.” That’s
$120,000 up a year ~W or, in a restaurateur’s language, the typical
restaurant would have to have sales of over $1.2 million just to break even.
That’s a lot of Pad Thai.
Would Charlotteans fork out $25 for a Pad Thai or Chicken Tikki Masala
entree? The owners I spoke with thought Charlotteans are not ready to spend
that kind of money at an ethnic restaurant. Besides, Charlotte needs to
welcome a larger ethnic community in order to support these additional
restaurants, and Charlotte is not known for that kind of inclusive
hospitality.
How far are the other 300 ethnic restaurants from center city? Ironically, a
large percentage of these restaurants are within 10 minutes from Trade and
Tryon. The 4900 Block of Central Avenue, which is 5.1 miles (or nine
minutes) from the Square, has the following to offer: one Thai restaurant,
two Vietnamese, one Mexican/Honduran, one Caribbean, one Salvadorean, one
Middle Eastern, one Salvadorean bakery, two Middle Eastern markets, and a
Vietnamese billiards/bar.
For now, most of Charlotte’s authentic ethnic restaurants are located in
ethnic neighborhoods, since their main customer base is ethnic. But what
about the brave souls who have staked out an ethnic position in the
netherworld of restaurants, places like Ballantyne? A few years back, Be
Pham and Axel Dikkers opened the remarkable Saigon Café. She had been the
owner of many successful Vietnamese restaurants in town; he had once owned
the French Pastis in SouthEnd. Not only was the rent high in Ballantyne, but
the folks who went to Saigon Café didn’t like the interactiveness of the
food. Dikkers told me, “I think the people didn’t want to do things with
their hands. They wanted me ~W the chef ~W to do it all for them.”
And ethnic owners are no different from Charlotte’s other independent
operators who are besieged by the increasing invasion of chain restaurants.
But the ethnic owners’ true competitor is the Epnic restaurant, since many
Americans find it so much easier to eat in a “kinda authentic” ethnic place.
While today’s customer is much savvier about food and is interested in
ethnic cuisines, will this same customer support the ethnic restaurants if
they move into non-ethnic neighborhoods, or if they move downtown? Remember
Tango Argentino? Siboney Cuban? Inka Grille? Pastis? Closed. Closed. Closed.
Closed.
The very cool aspect to getting our groove back, or getting it for the first
time, is that Charlotte can actually buy its way to being cool. Charlotteans
are very good at spending money. Instead of buying the McMansion, perhaps a
few dollars could be spared to try all the ethnic eateries in the city. In
fact, if you visited one of the 300-plus ethnic restaurants currently open
each week, it would take six years to visit all of them. Plus, during that
time, more independent restaurants would open ~W maybe even a Dutch
Indonesian place. In any case, the ultimate benefit is not “coolness.” The
ultimate benefit is that Charlotte might develop a culinary soul.
–Boundary_(ID_W/d6BdATJCb/VM46zx5xfw)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
March 4 2005
Civil court irking arson victims
Family is concerned that judge in alleged arsonist’s case is delaying
a freeze of Gary Gene Glazier’s assets.
By Robert Chacon, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE — On the night of May 13, 2004, an arsonist took everything
Anahit Makhmuryan and her husband, Albert Artsvelyan, owned by
burning down their La Crescenta home.
Now, they say, the civil court system is trying to do the same.
The man accused of the crime is their neighbor, Gary Gene Glazier,
who prosecutors allege torched the couple’s home using an industrial
paint sprayer filled with gasoline, and a long pole, on the end of
which burned a small flame.
Glazier is awaiting trial for attempted murder and arson, but he is
also embroiled in a civil lawsuit in Glendale Superior Court in which
the plaintiffs are seeking $1.5 million in reparation and punitive
damages. He is being held at North County Correctional Facility in
Saugus.
“We lost everything in the fire,” Makhmuryan said. “Everything that
was in the home: our furnishings, our sense of security and safety.”
The family’s civil attorney, Anahid Agemian, filed an injunction
against Glazier in June, ordering him to disclose his assets and
prohibiting him from liquidating them. But Agemian says Glendale
Superior Court Judge Charles Stoll, who is presiding over the civil
case, has “indulged” in a long line of obstructions by Glazier’s
civil attorney, Howard Slavin, thus delaying a ruling on the matter.
“I cannot comment on a case that is pending before me,” Stoll said.
Slavin also declined to comment, saying that he is reserving comment
until the trial is over.
In the meantime, Glazier has been transferring assets to family
members, Agemian said. She does not know exactly what Glazier owns
because he never disclosed his assets.
Glazier married his longtime girlfriend, Linda Darlene Rae, on June
7, a few weeks after his arrest, Agemian said, adding that it was a
move that would make it easier to transfer assets to someone he
trusts.
His criminal defense attorney, Robert Shapiro, has filed a motion to
allow some of Glazier’s properties to be transferred to him as
payment for his work in the criminal trial. The matter is set for a
hearing March 11 in Stoll’s courtroom.
Agemian and her clients fear that the court will allow the transfer
to proceed, leaving nothing for them to collect if they are
victorious in the civil trial.
“The court is placing importance on the criminal trial at the expense
of my clients,” Agemian said. “Court orders have continuously been
violated by Slavin, and the court continues to allow them. It seems
to me that there is a concerted effort going on to not let the
[couple] get paid.”
Since the original injunction in June, Agemian has filed six motions
ordering Glazier to comply, and the court has made three orders
requiring Glazier to provide information regarding his assets,
according to court documents.
Each time, she said, these orders have been violated.
“He took everything from us,” Makhmuryan said of Glazier. “We have
this injunction, and now Shapiro might get everything he has.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
02/22/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Karabagh National Assembly Reaffirms Commitment to Peaceful Resolution of Conflict 2) Aram I Discusses 90th Anniversary of Genocide; WCC Calls for Genocide Recognition 3) Website on Armenian Genocide to be Launched 4) Armenian Platoon Begins Duties in Iraq 1) Karabagh National Assembly Reaffirms Commitment to Peaceful Resolution of Conflict STEPANAKERT (Combines Sources)--In a February 20 statement, the National Assembly of the Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR) reaffirmed its readiness to construct an independent democratic state based on the right to self-determination. The statement came on the 17th anniversary of the February 20, 1988 decision of the mainly ethnic Armenian Mountainous Karabagh's Supreme Soviet that called for the transfer of authority over the region, from Azerbaijan to Armenia. In its newly released statement, the MKR National Assembly of reaffirms not only the determination of the people of Mountainous Karabagh people to build an independent and democratic state based on the right to self-determination, but also reiterates the authorities' allegiance to settle the conflict through peace negotiations under the OSCE Minsk Group. They also call on the Azeri authorities to renounce their unreasonable policy of confrontation, and direct their efforts to the establishment of peace and stability in the region. The statement also appeals to members of foreign parliaments to support efforts for MKR's international recognition. Vigen Hayrapetyan, chairman of the recent session of the National Assembly, said that the convening of the extraordinary session on February 20, 1988 was a historical necessity. "Any delay would have threatened Armenians with annihilation...it was the decision of the session, along with the support of progressive political forces, and the international community that prevented mass violence against the local population [of Mountainous Karabagh]. 2) Aram I Discusses 90th Anniversary of Genocide; WCC Calls for Genocide Recognition In his report to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches, which meets once a year, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, stated, "This year my church and people will commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. During the First World War in 1915, one-and-a-half million Armenians were massacred by the Ottoman-Turkish government according to a well-devised and systematically executed plan. Although my generation did not directly experience the tragic past, the Armenian Genocide has had a strong impact on our spiritual and intellectual formation. The past haunts the victims; we cannot free ourselves from the past unless that past is duly recognized." The Cathlicos's reference was made in the context of his analysis of the question of forgiveness and reconciliation. He said: "The acceptance of truth is the sine qua non condition for forgiveness. The past must be confronted boldly and be challenged responsibly. Neglecting the past with its wounds will not help to build a new future. When the memories are not healed, they hold us hostage to the past; when they are healed, through confession and forgiveness, they empower us to rebuild relationships, promote mutual trust and acceptance, and engage in a process of transformation. Unhealed memories cause violence, hate and fragmentation. Forgiveness, as a response to confession, is a determining factor in the healing and reconciliation process. Through forgiveness, we accept each other in truth and justice. Forgiveness is costly; only confession must lead to forgiveness, which is a pre-condition for real healing and reconciliation." During its meeting, the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches drafted a statement calling for the recognition of the genocide against the Armenian people. "Sunday April 24, 2005 will be the 90 years Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, the tragic massacre of one-and-a-half million Armenians in Turkey and the deportation of another million from their homeland. "The World Council of Churches has on different occasions addressed the need for public recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the necessity of Turkey to deal with this dark part of its history," read the statement. "The importance of Turkey evaluating its history has recently also been addressed by the Conference of European Churches relating to Turkey's relation to the European Union. "From the Christian perspective, the path towards justice and reconciliation requires the recognition of the crime committed as a sine qua non condition for the healing of memories and the possibility of forgiveness. Forgiveness does not mean forgetting but to look back with the intention to restore justice, the respect for Human Rights and relationships between perpetrators and victims. "The Public Committee recommends to the General Secretary and the staff, to propose to all member churches to make Sunday April 24 a day of memorial of the Armenian Genocide and to consider further appropriate actions related to the 90 years Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide." In a separate statement concerning the International Criminal Court, the Central Committee noted: "Human History is filled with examples of horrendous cruelties, aggressions and inhumanities. In just 20th Century there are four recognized genocides--90 years ago the Armenian genocide, 60 years ago the Holocaust, nearly 30 years ago the Khmer Rouge and the most recent genocide in Rwanda, a little more than 10 years ago. There were very different ways of addressing these horrific crimes: there was no consequence for the Armenian genocide, the victors justice in the Nuremberg trail for the Nazi war criminals, a failed local response with UN support to the Khmer Rouge and the ad-hoc International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda." 164 voting members, together with over 100 advisors, consultants, and representatives of the Vatican and various international organizations, are participating in this year's meeting in Geneva. His Holiness Aram I has served as the moderator of the Central Committee since 1991. 3) Website on Armenian Genocide to be Launched YEREVAN (Yerkir)--Over 50 Armenian genocide experts will participate in the events commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Genocide. A new website will be launched, in addition to a photo exhibition to be on display at the Charents Literature Institute, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Yerevan State University. A film, as well as an audio cassette, containing documents from the British, German, Russian and French archives, photos, and narrated accounts of genocide survivors will also be released. 4) Armenian Platoon Begins Duties in Iraq YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Armenia's 46-member member non-combat platoon, which left for its peacekeeping mission in Iraq on January 18, has begun the implementation of its duties in Iraq. Artak Tonoyan, the Commander of the 12th peacekeeping platoon of the Armenian armed forces, said the Armenian military servicemen finished the training classes and exercises. According to Tonoyan, no incidents have taken place with the Armenian servicemen in Iraq. 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

Civil Georgia, Georgia
Feb 22 2005
State Minister: No Threat in Privatizing Gas Pipelines
State Minister for Economic Reform Issues Kakha Bendukidze said on
February 22 that privatization of the gas pipeline system poses no
threat to Georgia’s energy security. He said that along with Russian
energy giant Gazprom, which is eyeing Georgia’s gas pipeline system,
the consortium that is heading-up the construction of the U.S.-backed
Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline can also participate in the
privatization process.
`I can not understand why it should pose a threat if those gas
pipelines, through which Georgia receives gas from Russia, will be
sold to Russia and if they will take care of [the gas pipeline
system],’ Kakha Bendukidze told reporters.
In an interview to the Italian newspaper La Stampa published on
February 20, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said that talks
are underway with the Russian energy giant Gazprom over privatization
of Georgia’s gas pipeline system. `Negotiations are in progress… I
prefer not to say more,’ Saakashvili answered when asked whether
Georgia intends to sell its gas pipelines to Russia.
In 2003, when the Georgian government and Gazprom signed a memorandum
on strategic cooperation for 25 years, ex-Georgian President
Shevardnadze’s administration came under fierce criticism from the
opposition for signing this deal, as the agreement was considered a
threat to the implementation of the U.S.-backed Baku-Tbilisi-Eresrum
gas pipeline project.
`I think the fact that Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline is so
sensitive to this issues means that the Georgian gas pipeline system
might have two potential buyers, which is, of course, a positive
moment,’ State Minister Kakha Bendukidze said on February 22.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline is a part of much broader,
BP-led oil and gas development project in the region, which also
includes the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Main Export Oil Pipeline
Project.
The agreement between the state-owned Gazprom and Georgia signed in
2003, which is still enforced, envisages the supply of natural gas to
Georgian customers and the rehabilitation of gas pipelines, including
two trunk-line gas pipelines, one of which will be used for
transporting gas to Armenia and the other to Turkey, via the Adjara
Autonomous Republic.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian minister dubious about Azerbaijan’s security guarantees for Karabakh
Yerkir web site, Yerevan
15 Feb 05
Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan doubts that Azerbaijan can
give solid security guarantees to Nagornyy Karabakh if Yerevan agrees
to cede some of the territories. In a question and answer session
on Armenian daily Yerkir’s web site, Sarkisyan accused Azerbaijan of
attempts to put pressure on Armenia in the peace talks. The minister
also warned against a possible US attack on Iran, saying that it might
cause “an explosion” in the region. The following is an excerpt from
the transcript of the session as published by Armenian newspaper
Yerkir web site on 15 February and headlined “Armenia: Challenges
and Responses”; subheadings have been inserted editorially:
Dear readers,
You had an opportunity to put questions to the secretary of the
security council under the Armenian president and defence minister,
Serzh Sarkisyan, on the web site of the daily Yerkir between 31
January and 5 February 2005. Below is the full text of the interview.
The editor-in-chief of Yerkir newspaper, Spartak Seyranyan, thanks
you for your active participation.
Truth about Karabakh distorted
[Question] Mr Minister, could you please comment on the report on
Karabakh by the rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the
Council of Europe, David Atkinson?
[Sarkisyan] I do not support those who think the report meets Armenia’s
interests. Actually, the report is unfavourable to us. Nevertheless,
there is no tragedy. This once again indicates that up to now we have
not convinced Europe’s international organizations that the truth
has been distorted though common principles are fair. The truth is
that Karabakh gained its independence under the Soviet constitution,
i.e. in conformity with laws and international norms, and Karabakh was
subjected to aggression after that. From the outset of the Karabakh
movement, we have demonstrated to the world that our movement is
democratic and just.
A new generation of politicians and diplomats has emerged in
Europe. Either they have forgotten the causes and the history of
the Karabakh conflict or they know nothing about it at all. Our
aim is to explain the genuine essence of the matter to the new
generation. [Passage omitted]
Azerbaijan’s security guarantees for Karabakh in question
[Question] How does Armenia view the resolution of the conflict
within the framework of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity? What are
Yerevan’s terms for the resolution of the conflict in accordance with
the said principle?
[Sarkisyan] Official Yerevan has never hidden its conditions. They
are the following: First, Karabakh should never be under Azerbaijan
since it is obvious that in this case not a single Armenian will
remain in Karabakh. Second, Karabakh and Armenia should have a common
land border, for the simplest reason that Karabakh cannot exist as an
enclave. Third, there should be solid security guarantees for Karabakh
or for the non-resumption of the war, since if the security belt is
lost or conceded, both Karabakh and Armenia will become vincible from
a purely military point of view. [Passage omitted]
[Question] Azerbaijan is offering highest security guarantees for
the coexistence of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities. What
are your country’s guarantees in this regard?
[Sarkisyan] Unfortunately, throughout history we have witnessed what
guarantees Azerbaijan can give. [Passage omitted]
The matter should be resolved on the principles of justice, and
equal and normal relations should be established then between our
peoples. [Passage omitted]
[Question] How much do you rely on sincerity of Azerbaijan’s intentions
and position in the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan?
[Sarkisyan] Frankly speaking, I want to believe very much that
Azerbaijanis, at least those who are participating in the talks,
are sincere. But unfortunately, I have doubts when in the process of
the negotiations Azerbaijan makes efforts to put pressure on Armenia
through the media and other structures.
As a rule, hostilities are stopped for the period of negotiations.
Negotiations aim to demonstrate a desire to find ways out of
the existing situation, in our case, on the basis of mutual
compromises. However, when pressure is exerted, the opposite side’s
sincerity is in question. If the Azerbaijani leadership thinks that
pressure is more effective than talks, I think they are engaged in
self-deception and are mistaken. They only encourage us to toughen
our position. [Passage omitted]
[Question] Can the issue of the liberated territories be resolved
unfavourably to the Artsakh [Karabakh] people under foreign pressure?
[Sarkisyan] No doubt, the Karabakh problem will be resolved exclusively
on the basis of mutual compromises. It is a fact that by creating a
security zone in 1992-94, we did not pursue the aim of expanding the
territory of Karabakh or Armenia. If by conceding this security belt,
we shall be able to achieve more security for the Karabakh people, then
this issue could be debated. However, if this is simply a voluntary
handover of the territories without enhancing security guarantees for
Karabakh, simply the handover of something, then I think that there
are no such intentions. [Passage omitted]
[Question] Mr Minister, could the hostilities in Karabakh resume?
[Sarkisyan] On the whole, the defence minister has no right to rule out
the possibility of the war resuming. I think should the Azerbaijani
army’s combat readiness be higher than that of the Armenian army and
should the international community approve of this step, then the
threat of war would be real.
US attack on Iran may cause “explosion”
[Question] What are the specific aspects of Armenian-Iranian military
cooperation?
[Sarkisyan] We have no military cooperation with Iran. The defence
ministers of the two countries have paid mutual visits which were
limited to consultations on security issues.
[Question] Does the Armenian leadership believe that force could
be used to settle disagreements between the USA and Iran? Will a US
attack on Iran have a negative impact on Armenia and Karabakh?
[Sarkisyan] We have high hopes that no military action will be taken
against Iran and no new hotbeds of tension will emerge in the region
in the immediate vicinity of the Armenian border. Military actions
in Iran are dangerous since any tension, especially hostilities,
might cause an explosion. We hope that US-Iranian relations will
improve and the existing problems will be resolved peacefully.
[Question] What would be Armenia’s official position if the USA wants
to hit Iran from Armenian territory?
[Sarkisyan] This is a hypothesis. Actually, we hope this will not
happen and problems will be resolved peacefully.
Armenia cannot use Russian military hardware
[Question] Does Armenia have the right to use the Russian military
hardware deployed in Armenia?
[Sarkisyan] In general, Russia has not deployed military hardware on
Armenian territory. Russian troops are deployed at Russian military
bases, and we have agreed that military hardware cannot be stationed
without a solid reason and Armenia’s consent. We cannot use the
Russian military hardware because Russia owns it.
However, we should bear in mind that the two countries’ security
system is regulated by agreements, and both the Russian military bases
and military hardware are integral parts of Armenia’s security, and
part of the military equipment, for example the air defence system,
is used jointly by the Collective Security Treaty Organization member
countries.
[Passage omitted]