Author: Chakrian Hovsep

NOTHING TO HIDE FROM THE WORLD
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
26 Jan 05
`We have nothing to hide from the international community and we are
ready to show to the OSCE monitoring mission both the regions of the
Republic of Nagorni Karabakh and the regions controlled by the
Karabakh forces.’ The NKR vice foreign minister Masis Mayilian
told this to the news agency `Mediamax’ commenting on the upcoming
visit of the OSCE Minsk Group to Nagorni Karabakh on January 30 aiming
to monitor the situation in the regions under the controlof the
Karabakh authorities. Masis Mayilian reminded that earlier the
Karabakh government invited similar missions to Nagorni Karabakh for a
number of times to get acquainted with the real situation and denying
the groundless accusations of Azerbaijan against NKR. `We commend the
visit of the OSCE monitoring group to Nagorni Karabakh and are ready
to assist to the works of the group in anyway,’ said the vice
minister. In reference to the situation in the regions controlled by
the Karabakh side Masis Mayilian said, `In the framework of our state
program re-settlement is implemented within the boundaries of the
NKR.’ At the same time he emphasized that the Azerbaijani side
makes attempts to accuse the NKR authorities of re-settlement in the
territories outside the republic, i.e. the territories forming the
security area around Nagorni Karabakh. Many international
organizations, whose representatives have had the opportunityto visit
these territories, know that here mainly refugees from Azerbaijan
live, whose number is insignificant compared to the former population
of these regions. According to him, after being forced out from
Azerbaijan people settled these regions not having normal living
conditions. The vice foreign minister mentioned that the role of the
government is confined to maintaining control over these territories,
which is successfully implemented. Masis Mayilian endorses the
necessity of forming a similar group and to monitor the territories
occupied by Azerbaijan forming 15 per cent of NKR, which will,
according to him, enable the OSCE mission to have an objective idea of
the situation in the territories controlled by the parties of the
Karabakh conflict. The meetings of the monitoring group, as well as
the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen with NKR president Arkady Ghukassian
are planned in the framework of the visit.
AA.
26-01-2005

RA GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES 100 MILLION DRAMS TO ASSIST LAND USERS
SUFFERED FROM NATURAL DISASTERS IN NKR
YEREVAN, January 21 (Noyan Tapan). At the January 20 session, the RA
government made a decision to allocate in 2005 from its reserve fund
100 million drams (about 2 million US dollars) to the RA Ministry of
Finance and Economy with the aim of providing the NKR government with
resources in order to assist with seeds, fertilizers and fuel the land
users of Nagorno-Karabakh areas that suffered from frostbite, hail and
other natural disasters in 2004. NT was informed about this from the
RA governmemt’s Information and PR Department.

Zenit News Agency, Italy
Jan 20 2005
St. Gregory Finds a Niche at a Vatican
Pope Blesses Statue of Apostle of Armenia
VATICAN CITY, JAN. 19, 2005 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II blessed a
statue of St. Gregory the Illuminator which now stands in one of the
exterior niches of St. Peter’s Basilica.
It is the first time that a statue of an Eastern-rite saint — in
this case, the apostle of Armenia — has been placed among the
founding saints that surround the exterior of St. Peter’s, according
to the basilica’s archpriest, Cardinal Francesco Marchisano.
The ceremony, which took place today as the Pope was on his way to
Paul VI Hall for the general audience, was attended by Patriarch
Nerses Bedros XIX of Cilicia of the Armenians, whose see is in
Lebanon.
Nerses Bedros XIX leads approximately 10% of the Armenian Christians
who live in his homeland and in the diaspora, and who are in
communion with Rome.
Some 90% of Armenian Christians obey the Armenian Apostolic
Patriarchate, which separated from Rome after the Council of
Chalcedon in 451.
A key step was taken in 1996 to overcome this division, when John
Paul II and then Patriarch Karekin I signed a joint declaration that
resolved misunderstandings on the nature of Jesus.
Attending the ceremony were representatives of the Armenian Apostolic
Patriarchate and the Armenian republic.
The statue of Gregory the Illuminator — also known as Gregory the
Armenian — was sculpted by artist Khatchik Kazandjian, of Lebanese
origin. He won a competition convoked by the Vatican and the Catholic
Armenian Patriarchate.
The statue, 5.64 meters (18 feet) high and weighing 18 tons, is in
Carrara marble and cost 250,000 euros ($325,000).
With this gesture, the Pope wished to culminate the celebrations for
the 1,700th anniversary of the Armenian people’s conversion to the
Christian faith.
According to Armenian tradition, Gregory, who was born around
250-252, miraculously cured Armenian King Tiridates III, who
converted to Christianity in 301 together with all his court, making
Armenia the first Christian nation.
The gesture of placing the statue at the basilica, said Cardinal
Marchisano, “expresses marvelously” the “natural variety of the
traditions and rites of the Church, which contribute to her spiritual
enrichment.”

Armenia marks 15th anniversary of Baku pogroms
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
19 Jan 05
[Presenter] A march to mark the 15th anniversary of the Baku pogroms
of 1990 took place at 1200 [0800 gmt] today at the Tsitsernakaberd
memorial of the genocide victims. Our correspondent Gayane Davtyan is
also in Tsitsernakaberd.
[Correspondent from Tsitsernakaberd] Many politicians and people are
here today to commemorate the victims. The prime minister’s advisor
Granush Kharatyan is also here.
Ms Kharatyan, do you think it is high time to remind the international
community about what took place 15 years ago and what is being done in
Armenia today in this direction?
[Granush Kharatyan, captioned] This is our everyday pain and this is a
good opportunity to call on the international community and people all
over the world to be watchful, because this is not only our pain, this
is everybody’s pain. If you keep silent it means that you are joining
the evil, if you keep silent then you do not see what is happening
around you to people, monuments, history, memory, and humanity in
general.
We want to tell the whole world once again that this is not the best
way to remind you. But we, a group of people, wanted to remind you in
this way [as heard]. This cannot be allowed to continue. I am sure
that humanity did not understand what had happened.
[Presenter] Gayane, I would like to ask Ms Kharatyan what does she
think about the mourning ceremony which will take place in Baku
tomorrow [20 January]? Can these two mourning ceremonies be accepted
as equal by the international community?
[Granush Kharatyan] Unfortunately, I think that the forthcoming event
in Azerbaijan is an organized campaign by the government. I regret
that the Armenian and Azerbaijani youth could not and cannot tell the
truth about the reality. I talked to many young people here
today. They did not say that they hate Azeris. They say that they do
not want what happened in the 20th century to be repeated in the 21st
century. Today’s motto is into the 21st century without genocide. They
did not come here today to say that unfortunately, the Azeris ended
the 20th century with genocide. It is very painful that the Armenian
people started and finished their 20th century really with
genocide. We want the world and people not to see what the Armenian
people saw in the 20th century.
[Correspondent] Thank you very much.

Will revolutionary fire go out in 2005?
By Karine Mangasarian
Yerkir/arm
January 14, 2005
The Georgian rose revolution of 2003 impacted Armenia in the way of
encouraging the opposition to overthrow the power. The latter did not
take place. The Ukrainian revolution of 2004 also provoked enthusiasm
with the Armenian opposition. However, why was the authority change
possible in Georgia and Ukraine, but not in Armenia?
The next logical question would be about the possible political
developments in 2005 both in the parliament, and outside. Chairman of
the `Republic’ party council (member of the `Justice’ bloc) Albert
Bazeyan does not link the foreign revolutions with the Armenian
reality. Talking about the prospects for 2005, Bazeyan said: `I find
possible new political developments, including massive events, since
the reasons for a power shift are still there. Peoplemust fight for
the power, which is taken away from people.’ Independent MP Manuk
Gasparian mentions Western and namely US influence, as prevailing over
the revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine.
He also said: `The two sons of Soros, Georgia and Ukraine can be added
by new post-Soviet countries. I do not exclude Armenia, Azerbaijan or
Moldova. I find likely that Armenia may be influenced upon by pressure
through the Karabagh issue.’ He also said that the situation had
better not change rather than be changed by foreigners. However, he
finds that there is a 50-60 per cent chance for a national overthrow
of the power.
Leader of the Modernized Communist Party Yura Manukyan believes there
is not social need for a revolution in Armenia today and people `are
too smart to follow a couple of adventurers who want to revolt.’
ARF faction leader Levon Mkrtchian, as usual, is against forecasting.
However, he expects more active foreign political developments around
Karabagh and Armenian-Turkish border. He said: `We must establish
qualitatively new relationships with foreign organizations and
institutions and this will have a considerable influence.
I believe the internal situation will mainly remain the same, although
foreign developments may tell upon it. I do not think that examples of
foreign countries can be so easily implemented in the Armenian
reality. In this respect, I do not believe the Georgian or Ukrainian
case studies may work out in Armenia.’

Boston Globe, MA
January 18, 2005
Norma Karaian, 100; was Boston real estate attorney
By Glenn E. Yoder, Globe Correspondent |
Norma M. Karaian, considered the first American-born Armenian female
attorney in the United States, died Sunday at her home in Watertown.
She was 100.
Starting her career as a title examiner after graduating from Boston
University Law School in 1925, Mrs. Karaian ignored gender bias while
becoming widely recognized in her field. She spent the bulk of her
career at the Boston-based firm Gaston & Snow and was highly regarded
for her legal work in real estate.
“She was very accomplished and so well-known in the legal arena when
it concerned real estate law,” said her son John, adding that Mrs.
Karaian handled the title for the Prudential Center’s construction.
“I remember her saying that she could call a title company and upon
her name alone being mentioned they would issue a title policy.
That’s how well-respected she was.”
Born Yaghnor Maksoodian in Providence in 1904, she changed her first
name to Norma after the actress Norma Talmadge to “sound American,”
friend and fellow attorney Cerise Jalelian said. She began her
working career at the age of 8, operating the cash register at her
father’s store.
She graduated from Boston University Law School at the age of 20, but
had to wait a year to take the bar exam since she had not yet turned
21. In the interim, she found a job at a law office that paid $15 per
week.
Although she wished to become a litigator, women were banned from the
practice at the time, Jalelian said.
“She didn’t look at being female as an obstacle; she just thought
everyone should be treated the same,” she said. “She was really born
before her time.”
Mrs. Karaian found her calling when she became a real estate attorney
in 1926. She remained at the post until 1941, when she retired and
had three children.
However, in 1951, hard times struck. Her husband, Leo J. Karaian, an
organic chemist, died. Mrs. Karaian began performing contract work
for the firm of Hoag & Sullivan. Even without a high income, she put
her children first, her son said.
“She always made sure if she could buy us one pair of shoes, it would
always be the best,” he said. “She wanted to give her children the
very best because that’s how much she thought of us.”
The family lived in an apartment in Watertown until 1969, when Mrs.
Karaian purchased her first and only house, where she lived with her
son.
She continued contracting before joining the firm Rackemann, Sawyer &
Brewster for one year. In 1972, she moved to Gaston & Snow, where she
remained until the firm folded in 1991.
For the remainder of her life, Mrs. Karaian took on legal projects
and was honored with numerous awards. She was a member of numerous
organizations and in 1954, she served a year as president of the
Massachusetts Association of Women Lawyers.
Her son said that at Boston’s finest restaurants waiters would vie
for the right to serve her.
“People were attracted to my mother like a magnet,” he said. “I’ve
never thought of my mother about being anything but my mother, but
there was this aura about her that would be totally engaging to
people.”
For her centennial in September, a celebration was held at Anthony’s
Pier 4 in Boston. Mrs. Karaian personally greeted each of the more
than 100 guests.
“We ended the evening with my dancing with mom to Nat King Cole’s
‘Unforgettable,’ which I think she is,” her son said.
Besides her son, she leaves two daughters, Lenore of Waltham and
Marilyn Hollisian of Watertown.
A funeral service will be held at noon tomorrow at St. James Armenian
Church in Watertown.

The Herald (Glasgow)
January 14, 2005
FROM THE HERALD ARCHIVES
100 YEARS AGO
SCOTTISH Armenian Association: Women’s Auxiliary – A meeting was held
when the report for 1904 was presented.
During the year, pounds-126 had been forwarded to Marash in support
of 21 Armenian orphans. Industry and selfhelp are fostered among the
boys and girls who take their share in the daily routine of work in
the orphanages. The orphans are, of course, brought up as Christians.

Le Figaro, France
14 janvier 2005
Le musée des étrangers qui ont fait la France
HISTOIRE Un budget de 20 millions d’euros est prévu pour la
réalisation de la Cité nationale de l’immigration qui s’ouvrira à la
Porte Dorée en 2007
par Anne-Marie ROMERO
« Ce n’est pas un musée des immigrants que nous allons faire, mais un
musée de l’Histoire de la France avec toutes ses composantes
ethniques, une cité qui hébergera les multiples facettes d’une
société qui, en deux siècles, a absorbé cinquante-six ethnies
différentes dont chacune a contribué à faire de notre pays ce qu’il
est aujourd’hui. » Jacques Toubon, de nature, est un enthousiaste.
L’ancien ministre de la Culture s’anime particulièrement lorsqu’il
parle de sa nouvelle mission. Le 1er janvier, il vient, en effet,
d’être nommé président du GIP (groupement d’intérêt public) chargé de
la création d’une Cité nationale de l’histoire de l’immigration. Un
défi qu’il relève avec passion et sans perdre une minute, car tout
doit être fini pour avril 2007. Au moment des élections.
« Il est essentiel que la future cité soit un projet culturel,
tranchant avec la vision strictement sociale que nous avons de nos
jours de l’immigration, ajoute Jacques Toubon, un projet qui parte de
la demande des publics plutôt que de l’offre des pouvoirs publics, de
cette réalité extrêmement multiple, confuse, profuse, émotive aussi
et qui ne concerne pas seulement les problèmes de logement ou de
scolarisation des nouveaux immigrants. »
Car c’est bien de deux siècles d’immigration que le musée veut
traiter, de tous les types d’immigration, économique, politique, liée
à la décolonisation, aux guerres. En commençant par les Allemands,
migrants de la faim, touchés par la crise agricole de leur pays dans
les années 1820 jusqu’aux beurs de nos cités de banlieue, la liste
est longue. Ce sera d’abord les Savoyards, avant l’annexion, que
l’imagerie d’Epinal a tous transformés en petits ramoneurs, les
frontaliers venus chercher du travail et qui resteront en France. On
compte 300 000 Belges dans ce cas, tous dans le Nord-Pas-de-Calais.
Puis ce seront des vagues beaucoup plus massives de migrants juifs
d’Europe centrale. Pleins d’illusions, ils inventent même un proverbe
« Vivre comme Dieu en France » résumant toutes leurs espérances. Et
la Grande Guerre qui enrôlera des « indigènes » les célèbres
tirailleurs sénégalais considérés comme français mais sujets et non
citoyens. Cette arrivée massive de gens de cultures, de couleurs et
de religions différentes provoquera une première vague de méfiance
dans l’opinion. « Nous ne sommes que des sidis et des bamboulas »,
écrira, en 1934, un journal afro-antillais édité à Paris.
Entre les deux guerres, la naissance des totalitarismes entraînera de
nouveaux afflux de réfugiés, politiques cette fois, 80 000 Russes
blancs, 63 000 Arméniens échappés du génocide, puis 700 000 Polonais,
800 000 Italiens fuyant devant la misère et le fascisme, une nouvelle
vague de juifs d’Europe centrale tentant d’échapper à la montée du
nazisme, 500 000 républicains espagnols vaincus par Franco…
Seconde Guerre mondiale, deuxième appel aux coloniaux. 500 000
Africains et Maghrébins y répondront et demeureront sur le sol
métropolitain. Avec de Gaulle, la décolonisation, paradoxalement, va
provoquer une énorme vague d’immigration économique cette fois,
main-d’oeuvre désirée et réclamée par les entreprises durant les
Trente Glorieuses, puis devenue incontrôlable à partir des années 70.
Le phénomène de saturation sera encore accru par le rapprochement des
familles, puis, à partir des années 80 par l’arrivée des boat-people
du Sud-Est asiatique. Aujourd’hui, c’est du monde entier qu’affluent
les affamés, les pourchassés, les aspirants à une vie meilleure qui
considèrent l’Europe comme un substitut de l’eldorado américain
désormais verrouillé.
C’est sur la base des 25 années de travail de l’Adri (Association
pour le développement des relations interculturelles), qu’est née la
cellule de préfiguration du musée. De l’Adri, qui fut un temps
producteur de l’émission « Mosaïques » à la télévision et qui fait
travailler des chercheurs et historiens sur tous les domaines
touchant à notre sujet, la cellule de préfiguration a repris les
locaux, les archives et les personnels. L’équipe ainsi créée, « qui
devra s’enrichir de scénographes et de muséographes », deviendra le
comité de pilotage du projet dans les mois qui viennent.
Projet, on le voit, d’une ambition gigantesque puisqu’il s’agit, non
pas de créer un « écomusée de la banlieue », mais bien de montrer le
patrimoine d’une idée, celle d’une histoire de la France enrichie de
tous ses immigrés d’où qu’ils viennent. Pas question non plus de
montrer seulement l’avers de la médaille, avec les communautés bien
intégrées et francisées, en laissant de côté ses revers plus sombres.
On parlera donc des « indésirables » Italiens, Espagnols, Allemands
que l’on n’hésita pas à mettre dans des camps dès la déclaration de
guerre de 1939, on parlera aussi des « rapatriés » et des harkis, pas
toujours bien accueillis, et évidemment des problèmes préoccupants de
l’actualité, ceux des jeunes Maghrébins et Noirs des cités qui
refusent l’intégration et sont attirés par les sirènes des
fondamentalismes religieux. On ne passera pas non plus sous silence
ni la xénophobie dont se réclame haut et fort une partie de la
population française, ni les conditions misérables dans lesquelles
ont vécu ou vivent encore nombre d’immigrés.
Ce type de musée est dans l’air du temps. Il en surgit partout dans
les pays industrialisés, avec lesquels la France travaillera en
réseau. Sans parler du plus célèbre d’entre eux, Ellis Island, à New
York, qui conte l’épopée des premiers arrivants sur la terre promise,
il y a le Musée de l’Europe de Bruxelles, celui de la civilisation du
Québec, celui de Berlin, du musée qui est en train de se monter en
Catalogne et de celui d’Amsterdam. « Mais, poursuit Jacques Toubon, à
l’inverse des Néerlandais qui vont montrer chaque communauté dans ce
qu’elle a de spécifique, car ils ont une conception de développement
séparé, comme tous les pays religieux, nous, nous voulons brosser le
tableau de ce que la France est devenue grce à l’apport des
étrangers ». Le « melting-pot » français en quelque sorte.
La cité sera composée en premier lieu d’une exposition permanente, «
basée sur trois principes : la sensibilité, la cohérence et le
décalage. La sensibilité, à l’aide de photographies, de
reconstitutions, de mises en scène et en musique ; la cohérence en
suivant un fil conducteur qui sera l’histoire de la France et non pas
une série de monographies sur telle ou telle communauté, et enfin le
décalage, en essayant de faire passer une idée à travers des
présentations qui amèneront le visiteur à déduire de lui-même comment
une société a évolué ». Jacques Toubon donne ainsi l’exemple d’une
exposition récente au Québec, intitulée « Deo gracias », et montrant
insensiblement comment la société religieuse s’était laïcisée.
Deux expositions temporaires sont prévues chaque année, la première,
à l’automne 2007 sur « Immigration et décolonisation ». « Il ne faut
pas qu’elle coïncide avec l’ouverture de la cité pour ne pas donner,
d’emblée, l’idée que l’immigration ce n’est que cela. » Les sujets ne
manquent pas, de la gastronomie au raï en passant par le tango
électronique.
Reste tout le travail de collecte d’objets et de témoignages oraux,
de mise à distance de cette mémoire, forcément subjective, et de mise
en scène spectaculaire pour attirer des populations qui ne sont pas
des « pratiquants » habituels et assez souple pour que le musée
puisse se renouveler environ tous les trois ans. Un record pour un
musée à réaliser dans un temps record.
Record aussi dans les coûts. Jacques Toubon évalue à 20 millions
d’euros l’investissement nécessaire et à 7 millions d’euros le
fonctionnement annuel. « Un budget équivalent à celui d’une scène
nationale en Bretagne », dit-il en riant.
La revanche du Palais des colonies
La « Cité », qui comprendra, outre un musée national, un centre de
ressources, une médiathèque, un secteur pédagogique et sera tête de
réseau de multiples manifestations artistiques, sera installée au
Palais de la Porte-Dorée, à Paris, ancien Musée des arts africains et
océaniens. C’est là, du reste qu’on envisageait, depuis plusieurs
années de créer un musée de la décolonisation, jusqu’à ce que le
précédent ministre de la Culture, Jean-Jacques Aillagon, décide d’y
mettre les Arts décoratifs du XXe siècle. Projet qui aura vécu ce que
vivent les roses, l’espace d’une exposition. Ce magnifique btiment,
construit par Albert Laprade pour l’exposition coloniale de 1931,
avait permis aux meilleurs représentants de l’Art déco de s’exprimer,
comme le sculpteur Alfred Janniot, qui réalisa le bas-relief de 1 100
m2 de la façade et les ébénistes Ruhlmann et Printz. Unissant
l’ancien et le moderne, Laprade avait voulu montrer la « grandeur »
de l’empire, une notion qui pourrait aujourd’hui sembler ironique
compte tenu du projet actuel, mais que ses promoteurs veulent, au
contraire, retourner, comme une revanche de l’Histoire.
« Il était indispensable, explique Jacques Toubon, que ce musée soit
dans Paris, dans un lieu d’un certain prestige car la cause est noble
et le rejeter en banlieue aurait donné l’impression inverse du
message que nous voulons faire passer. Vous ne pouvez pas imaginer
combien est forte la demande, combien d’associations d’immigrants, de
collectivités locales, d’universitaires qui travaillaient avec
l’Adri, sont volontaires pour être nos partenaires dans cette
initiative. »

ArmenPress
Jan 13 2005
JUSTICE MINISTER TO HAVE NEW DEPARTMENTS TO DEAL WITH EUROPEAN HUMAN
RIGHTS COURT
YEREVAN, JANUARY 13, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian government has
ordered to establish a special department at the justice ministry
that will be supervising contacts with the European Human Rights
Court in Strasbourg. Gevork Kostanian, the representative of the
Armenian government at the Strasbourg-based court, told Armenpress
that the prime minister has also ordered to create “the institution
of Armenia’s authorized representative at the Court,” which he said
is in line with the requirements of the European Convention on Human
Rights. The new institution is to become a liaison between the
Armenian government and the Court. He said the new department will
represent the interests of Armenia in the Court.
Kostanian said the new department’s main objective will be to
prepare the position of the government regarding cases filed against
the Republic of Armenia and in case of need, to take measures to
correct possible violations. “If the government representative finds
that an official has violated the European Convention on Human
Rights, which has led to filing a lawsuit against Armenia at the
European Court, he or she will have to prepare a report and suggest
proposals to eliminate the violations,” Kostanian said.
Apart of his or her main duties the representative will also be
eligible to make suggestions concerning improvement of legislation.
The new department is already hiring its staff who were selected
through a competition.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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HyeSanta Says Thanks!!!!!
ArmeniaNow readers and viewers of Shoghakat Television’s production of this year’s HyeSanta campaign, have made the
2004 fund drive a great success.
In the coming days, ArmeniaNow journalists who brought you the stories of hardship, and of bravery in the face of
catastrophe, will be revisiting those families, with news that people they’ve never even met care about their
condition. Using the money that you have provided, our staff will be arranging for the purchase of cows, sheep,
chickens, medicines, books and other provisions that will make 2005 start much better than 2004 ended for those you
read about.
Help came in dollars by 5s and 500s from North America; by the $100s from Belgium; pounds were mailed from the UK and,
we are especially pleased to report, by millions of drams from within Armenia.
As soon as all the mail has been received (by the end of this month) we will report a total. Already, however, we can
gladly tell you that every person we wrote about, photographed, filmed, will receive significant aid.
We hope that by next week we can begin distributing the items we suggested that our readers purchase. Upon completion
of the program we will publish a detailed report of how the money was spent – none of which has been used for
administrative purposes, unless specified for that reason.
It is not too late to add your gift to this year’s campaign. See last week’s archive to read about those who are being
helped.
ArmeniaNow and the HyeSanta Foundation thanks you for your generosity and are glad you share our belief that it is
better to help a few than to ignore everyone.
This year’s holiday campaign has successfully concluded, but we invite you to read our HyeSanta issue and continue to
read our site to learn about others who might benefit from your concern. Click here.
John Hughes and Tony Halpin
Editors, ArmeniaNow
Cow Feet Soup for Breakfast: Armenia’s winter-time tradition of khash
By Julia Hakobyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
If you come to Armenia in summer season you may be offered to taste the best Armenian fruits such as grapes, peaches
and apricots.
But if you appear in Armenia in winter times most likely you will be invited to go for khash-a masterpiece of Armenian
cuisine made by cows’ feet, stomach and Armenian ingenuity.
Khash is a unique experience for any foreign visitor, and whether they like it or not (and many don’t), almost all
enjoy the ritual of a khash party.
Khash is a gastronomic ceremony, a combination of ritual and lively heart-to-heart talks in the flavor of garlic and
raddish.
To prepare totikner (this is how Armenians call cows feet) for cooking it should be stripped of hairs and clean until
it turns opaque.
Then, the cow feet are boiled all night until the ingredients give its juice and piquancy to water and the flesh
flakes off the bones.
Usually Armenians go for khash in the morning on weekends, because after a khash party, participants are happy, but
also heavy with sleep. And, typically, not smelling so sociably acceptable. It may not be the cow feet that make a
person sleepy; rather the vodka, which, real khash professionals assures is good for digestion.
Besides vodka, a proper khash must have six components: mineral water, greens, raddishes, yellow chili pepers, lavash
and garlic. Minced garlic and salt – lots of both — is put into khash right before the eating. Dry lavash is soaked
in the soup until it becomes like a sponge. Hardcore khash eaters use only their fingers for consuming the odd meal,
and they recommend that participants abstain from eating, early on the previous evening.
Photogenic: Armenian model among winners in Turkey
By Marianna Grigoryan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
Teenage beauty queen Anush Grigoryan has added another crown to her career, winning one of five places at `World’s
Best Photo Model’ last month in Turkey.
It was the second victory for the 19-year old, who is also a former Miss Armenia (2003). In November Anush was also
crowned `Miss Tourism’ in a competition in Beijing, China.
To be crowned `Best Photo Model’, Anush beat out girls from 92 countries. The contest chooses five winners – of equal
rank – out of the entrants.
A requirement for competing in the contest is that participants must first have won a similar contest in their own
countries. But, as such a pageant has not yet been held in Armenia, organizers invited Anush based on her win in
China.
Anush was selected to the Top Five that included girls from Egypt, Philippines, Azerbaijan and Belgium. (Best male
models were also selected.)
`I Was A Slave’: Victim of human trafficking tells of abduction
By Arpi Harutyunyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
Mariam is 18 months old and can say three words: `Mummy, Pa, Grandma’.
When she says `Mummy’ or `Grandma’ she knows someone will respond. She will never know the identity of `Pa’.
Mariam’s father is one of the many men her mother was forced to have sex with, after she was deceived into traveling
abroad for what was promised as a good job and a good life.
In 2002, when she was 19, Naira (names have been changed to protect privacy) managed to escape a life of forced
prostitution and returned to Armenia after about 3 months as a victim of human trafficking.
She gave birth to twins, but only Mariam survived.
When she was 19 Naira lived in Armenia with her mother and 17-year old sister. She had studied at school for eight
years and went to work as a waitress in one of the cafés in her home town.
`I had to provide for my family,’ she says. `We had neither father nor a brother so I began working to provide for my
mother and my sister. But an acquaintance, a woman whose name was Alla, suggested that I go with her abroad and work
there. Me, a naïve child, I agreed.’
In a neighboring country Alla said a girl could earn much more working as a waitress. (To protect her family identity,
ArmeniaNow agreed to not reveal the exact place to which Naira was taken). Naira trusted the woman. She knew Alla had
children of her own, and Naira could not imagine her being deceitful.
Timeless: Researcher uses ancient manuscripts for modern medicine
By Suren Deheryan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
A doctor who became a priest has devoted himself to the life of a pharmacist to maintain a science that reaches to the
days when Armenia was a land of kings.
In a small laboratory that looks to be picked from the pages of a fantasy book, 43-year old Armen Sahakyan concocts
paints, herbs and ointments, using recipes found in the ancient manuscripts of the Matenadaran.
In 1993, Sahakyan, who is a priest at St. Astvatsatsin Church in Parakar, began collecting the ingredients found in
pharmacological recipes dating to the 10th century and turning them into the same sort of products used in those
times. And, since 2004, he has been selling those products in the gift shop at the Matenadaran. He has produced skin
lotion, ointment, tea – items that sell from $5 to $24.
His role as a senior researcher at the Manuscripts Museum led him on a quest to make paints – in 14 colors – using
Armenian herbs and flora. He developed paints, using barberry roots, apricot pulp and other distinctly Armenian
natural products. The paint is now being used by artists in the Matenadaran to produce paintings and pottery.
Silent Nights?: Bothered residents hope authorities will put a lid on noisy strip joints
By Mariam Badalyan

Opponents of nightclubs in Yerevan residential buildings won a legal victory recently that they hope will set a
precedent for ridding the capital of noisy discos and strip clubs.
In late November, after a drawn-out dispute between residents of 13 Tumanyan Lane and the `Yojik’ strip bar located in
the same building, a court ruled that the bar must turn down its music at midnight. As most clubs of the sort hardly
get much of their business after that hour, the ruling is seen, in effect, to close the club.
In fact, the strip club has not operated since the court ruling was imposed.
The residents’ case was championed by Yerevan intelligentsia whose letter-writing campaign drew the attention of
President Robert Kocharyan. During the week of December 20, the president called a special meeting attended by various
department heads of the Yerevan Municipality, and Mayor Yervand Zakharyan.
According to Karen Gevorgyan, head of the Department of Merchandise and Services of Yerevan Municipality, a working
group has been formed to investigate the noise issue and offer solutions.
It is welcomed news to many residents in the center of Yerevan, where nightclubs have sprung up in the past several
years, bringing thumping music and topless dancers into previously quiet apartment buildings for families.
Larisa Isahakyan, a 79-year old professor says she has been in a conflict with the `Relax’ nightclub since it opened
in her building on Moskovian Street in 1997. `People are afraid to speak out,’ she says. `Out of 94 people who
resisted `Relax’ existence in our building in 1997 only 14 are left today. Others complain each time they meet you,
but will not sign a paper. They know that the bar owners have strong backing.’
The Armenia Court of First Instance ruled in favor of residents in a case against “Omega”, Yerevan’s most popular
strip bar and a favorite of out of towners. But, one resident told ArmeniaNow that although the ruling should bring
peace to the neighborhood, it has in fact had no impact.
The club is believed to be among those that are “well connected” and are seemingly immune to prosecution.
Some annoyed residents, however, may get relief from the Republic of Armenia’s Ombudsman office.
Jora Khachatryan, chief legal advisor to Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan says their office has received four complaints in
the past couple months and that the cases are being investigated and a report prepared for addressing the Government
and National Assembly.
The cases, Khachatryan said, include complaints from residents who say they have been threatened by bar owners if they
complain. Larisa Harutiunyan, a retired eye doctor, claims that she was beaten twice for complaining to police about
the noise coming from `Relax’ and `Marcel’ bars on her street.
Fighting for Breath: MSF plan aims to combat tuberculosis in Armenia
By Suren Musayelyan
ArmenianNow Reporter
The New Year is bringing a new hope for recovery for patients suffering from forms of tuberculosis so far deemed
incurable in Armenia.
Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients in two districts of Yerevan will be diagnosed and treated by local
polyclinics free of charge thanks to a new $3.8 million program of the French arm of the international medical relief
organization, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
The MSF program whose active phase will start in February/March 2005 will be implemented with the assistance of
Armenian health authorities and, in particular, through basic polyclinics N18 and N19 in the Shengavit and Malatia-
Sebastia communities of Yerevan and two TB dispensaries in Yerevan and Abovian.
MSF/France Head of Mission Christian Ferrier expects that up to 200 patients suffering from resistant forms of
tuberculosis might be totally cured of the disease by 2008, when the program is due for completion, and another 100
might pass the first intensive phase and be involved in continuous ambulatory treatment.
`Our possibilities are limited and we cannot involve the whole of Armenia in our program, nor can we involve the whole
of Yerevan. However, our program will respond to specific demands and will be an effective one,’ Ferrier says.
But he acknowledges that the end result will also depend on patients’ cooperation with medical staffs. `Of course, our
primary goal is to cure MDR tuberculosis patients totally. But treating such patients is a difficult process and in
many cases patients leave their treatment half-finished themselves.’
In this regard, Ferrier attaches great importance to psychological assistance and explanatory work among the
population. He also thinks the role of mass media is crucial here. `The media must speak about this problem so that
people know more about tuberculosis, get rid of prejudices towards this disease and understand that tuberculosis is
not incurable,’ says Ferrier. `To be a tuberculosis patient is difficult as it is. And these people should not be
stigmatized because of their disease, but on the contrary should be helped in every possible way.’
According to the Ministry of Health statistics, there are at least 6,000 tuberculosis cases in Armenia, but the actual
figure may be much higher. Over a hundred people are said to have died of tuberculosis in 2003. At least 15 percent of
new TB cases, as believed by the MSF, might be those of MDR, which is a form resistant to at least the two most
powerful tuberculosis drugs – Rifampicin and Isoniazid.
A complete treatment of such forms might cost from $5,000 to $25,000 and the duration of treatment might vary from 12
to 24 months.
The MSF will build, rehabilitate and equip two specialized labs and two medical-social rooms in the Yerevan
polyclinics, two diagnostic departments in TB dispensaries of Yerevan and Abovyan, and a special department for MDR
patients’ treatment in the Republican Tuberculosis Dispensary in Abovyan (jointly with the Armenian Ministry of
Health).
Cutoff: A glimpse of life in Armenia’s coldest region
By Zhanna Alexanyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
On the northwestern border of Armenia in the Shirak province, villages such as Paghakn and Berdashen maintain the
unpleasant reputation of being the coldest point in Armenia and one of the coldest in the Caucasus.
Some 2,000 meters above sea level, temperatures plunge to -46 Celsius. Winters aren’t just severe, but are long,
lasting from November to April. Snow often measures two meters deep, and the only road leading to Gyumri closes,
shutting villagers away from provisions, communications, and from healthcare resources.
`We open the ways by ourselves in case of acute necessity – when someone is ill or when we lack food. All of us gather
winter supplies like bears to stand the 6 months,’ says the head of the village, 41-year old Slavik Chapanyan.
Families plan childbirth for delivery before November or after April.
Nine villages in the region used to be populated by Azerbaijanis until hostilities began between Armenia and
Azerbaijan soon after the USSR dissolved. Most of the population now is made up of families who moved from Armenian
villages in Georgia.
In Berdashen, 57 of 61 households came from Poga, mostly for patriotic reasons.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress