Author: Chalian Meline

GEORGIA WOULD WANT ARMENIAN COMPANIES TO PRIVATIZE ITS PORTS

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16. ARMINFO. Georgia would be glad if Armenian
companies took part in the privatization of its ports, says deputy
minister of economic development of Georgia Gena Muradyan.

Georgia has already given Armenia the list of 372 on-sale facilities
but has not received any applications yet. Instead it received offers
from Russia, the US, Turkey and some other countries.

Armenia’s transport and communication minister Andranik Manukyan says
that the involvement of Armenian companies in the privatization of the
Georgian ports is storngly desirable but hardly possible as few of
them have the necessary money. “If I had it I would apply for the
ports myself,” says Manukyan noting that Pres.Kocharyan has urged rich
diaspora Armenians to take part in the privatization of the Georgian
ports.

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
November 16, 2004 Tuesday 9:57 AM Eastern Time

Railways of CIS states boost volumes of haulage

By Andrei Fomin

MINSK

The volume of rail freight turnover in CIS countries as well as in
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia increased by 8.3 percent over the past
nine months as against the corresponding period last year. This
figure was quoted at the 39th meeting of the Council on Railway
Transport of CIS countries, which opened in Minsk on Tuesday.

It was pointed out that the growth in haulage was achieved mostly
thanks to railways of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus as well as railways
with high rate of growth in freight traffic – Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and
Lithuania. The meeting also called attention to such an important
figure as turnover of rolling stock, which was speeded up by 10.6
hours. As a result, railways could operate without increasing the
rolling stock.

Speaking in an interview with reporters, chairman of the Council on
Railway Transport of Commonwealth states and president of the Russian
Railways Company Gennady Fadeyev noted that this year witnesses “a
very good dynamics in haulage all over CIS countries, a very
impressive increment”.

He specially singled out Belarus where an increase in shipping
cargoes climbed up by 38.7 percent as against the corresponding
period last year. “This is a very high increment,” he added.

Executives of railway administrations from former Soviet republics,
as well as representatives from Bulgaria, Finland and the
International Confederation of Railwaymen and Transport Builders
Trade Union. The meeting agenda includes around 15 items whose
solution will help to consolidate interaction and cooperation between
railways.

The Economist
November 13, 2004
U.S. Edition

Haunted by the past; Human rights in Turkey

Trouble over Turkish history

A human-rights commission embarrasses the government

“HAPPY is he who calls himself a Turk!” That breezy slogan, emblazoned
on mountainsides and offices from the Aegean to the Euphrates, was
devised by Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, as he set
about forging a fresh identity for his people. The idea was that former
subjects of the Ottoman empire—whose native language might be Arabic,
Albanian or Kurdish—would find a new togetherness as citizens of a
unitary republic. And in case people hesitated to embrace the joys
of Turkishness, there were harsh penalties for those who asserted
any other sort of identity.

For most of the past 80 years, these principles have been sacrosanct.
But if Turkey is to have any hope of joining the European Union,
some taboo topics of history, identity and language must be discussed
openly, without fear of prosecution. In a burst of zeal three years
ago, the government—led by former Islamists—set up a panel to take a
broad look at questions of human rights and identity, and to suggest
how things could be improved. But Turkey’s masters got more than they
expected. The board’s report, released this month, said things that
were almost unsayable, triggering a sharp backlash.

For example, the report implies that if the Lausanne treaty of
1923—the basis of the Turkish state and its foreign relations—had
been fully implemented, bloodshed between Turks and Kurds might have
been avoided. To justify this argument, which is explosive in Turkey,
however mild it might seem elsewhere, the report cites article 39
of the treaty, which allows Turkish nationals to use “any language
they wish in commerce, in public and private meetings and all types
of press and publication.”

It also says that articles which supposedly protect non-Muslim
minorities have been read too narrowly: as well as covering Jews,
Armenians and Greeks, these articles should have been applied, for
example, to Syrian Orthodox Christians. More controversially still,
it suggests replacing the term “Turk” with a more inclusive word to
cover all ethnicities and faiths, such as “Turkiyeli”—”of Turkey”.

It was more than some Turks could bear. Even as Ibrahim Kaboglu,
the jurist who heads the board, was reading the report at a press
conference, a fellow member snatched it and tore it into shreds. Both
Mr Kaboglu and Baskin Oran, a political scientist who wrote the
report, have been bombarded with threatening phone calls and mail.
“Fraternal blood will be spilled,” warned one. Another called for a
military coup. Prosecutors in Ankara are investigating claims that both
academics may have committed treason. Ilker Basbug, a top general,
has joined the fray, saying Turkey’s unity should not be tampered
with. The government, frightened by the reaction, has washed its
hands of the report and denied commissioning it.

It is possible, though unlikely, says Husnu Ondul, a human-rights
lawyer, that the two authors may be prosecuted under an article of
the new penal code approved in September, which provides for up to ten
years’ jail for those who engage in unspecified “activities” against
the “national interest”. What might such activities be? In a footnote,
the law deems “anti-national” anyone who advocates withdrawing Turkish
troops from Cyprus, or terming “genocide” the killing of hundreds of
thousands of Armenians in 1915. If the aim was to stifle discussion
of this second issue, it failed: at a conference in Venice last month,
historians from all countries involved took a broader, more cool-headed
look at the 1915 tragedy than would be possible in Turkey—now or,
it seems, any time soon. And what about the 100,000 Turkish-Cypriots
who voted (vainly) in April for a UN plan that would have removed
most Turkish troops from Cyprus: was that a crime?

–Boundary_(ID_VZwkJpQa7vSvPZqSzdaJYA)–

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
11/12/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Oskanian Minsk Co-chair Meet in Moscow Pre CSTO Meeting
2) ARF, Armenian Delegation Bid Yasser Arafat Farewell
3) Armenian Genocide in Argentine Curriculum
4) Opposition Supporters Seize Abkhazian President’s Offices
5) Conversation with Mark Geragos
6) ARS “Erepouni” Chapter Celebrates 70 Years of Service
7) Latest Chapter in Mt. Davidson Cross Saga
8) VODKA LEMON
9) Axis Of Justice Releases CD/DVD
10) Early ‘Intervention’
11) LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES?

1) Oskanian Minsk Co-chair Meet in Moscow Pre CSTO Meeting

ASTANA(Combined Sources)–Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian received Yuri
Merzlyakov and Henri Jacolin, the Russian and French Co-chairs of OSCE Minsk
Group, at the Armenian Embassy in Moscow on Friday to discuss the Mountainous
Karabagh conflict resolution process.
Oskanian, who is in Moscow for a meeting of foreign affairs ministers of
member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), condemned
the support of certain CSTO member-states for Azerbaijan’s initiative to take
the Karabagh issue to the United Nations, calling it “incomprehensible.”
He stressed that their vote of support in the UN for the Azeri move is
clearly
counters the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, tasked to find a resolution to
that conflict.
Oskanian also met with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov to discuss bilateral
ties and international developments, as well the CSTO gathering that will
primarily focus on international terrorism.
CSTO signatories Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and
Tajikistan have stepped-up concerns lately about the threat of terrorism,
illicit drug trafficking, irregular migration, and organized crime.

2) ARF, Armenian Delegation Bid Yasser Arafat Farewell

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) conveyed its condolences to the
Palestinian Fatah Movement on the death of one of its founders Yasser Arafat,
who until his death, was the head of the Palestinian Authority. In its letter,
the ARF Bureau expresses profound sympathy to the Palestinian people and
leadership, and hopes that they achieve victory by building an independent
Palestinian state.
Palestinians closed a chapter of their history on Friday by burying Yasser
Arafat, their leader for three and a half decades.
Arafat’s Friday burial took place at Arafat’s headquarters in the West Bank
city of Ramallah, where Israel had kept him under siege for nearly three
years.
It came just hours after an orderly funeral ceremony in Cairo.
Headed by National Assembly Speaker Arthur Baghdasarian, an Armenian
delegation joined other foreign dignitaries in Cairo for the military funeral.

3) Armenian Genocide in Argentine Curriculum

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–Following exhaustive efforts by the Armenian National
Committee (ANC) of Argentina, the government of Buenos Aires has released a
44-page book on the Armenian genocide. Jointly prepared by the ANC and the
Buenos Aires Department of Human Rights, the book was published in 5,000
copies
and delivered to libraries and teachers in the city’s 600 public schools.
The book introduces the Armenian Genocide, as well as accounts by famous
international and local scholars. It includes newspaper articles, maps,
pictures, and a teaching curriculum.
Presenting the book at the Buenos Aires state school, the renowned writer and
author of the preface to the new Spanish translation of “The 40 Days of Musa
Dagh,” Osvaldo Bayer, denounced the Turkish government and its people for
denying the genocide of Armenians. He praised the ANC and welcomed the
Argentine government’s courage to publish the book.

4) Opposition Supporters Seize Abkhazian President’s Offices

TBILISI (AP/Interfax)–Thousands of supporters of Abkhazia’s opposition
presidential candidate seized the office of the outgoing president Friday,
raising tensions in the breakaway Georgian region nearly six weeks after a
disputed–and unresolved–election.
Demonstrators supporting Sergei Bagapsh and his contention that he won the
Oct. 3 election stormed the headquarters of outgoing President Vladislav
Ardzinba in the region’s main city, Sukhumi.
Election officials ruled that Bagapsh won, defeating former Prime Minister
Raul Khajimba, and the region’s highest court confirmed his victory.
However, the court overturned the verdict hours later after hundreds of
Khajimba’s supporters broke into the court building and allegedly threatened
the court’s chief judge.
Amid the turmoil, Ardzinba ordered a new election, a decision Bagapsh has
refused to recognize.
Earlier Friday, Bagapsh again claimed victory in a telephone interview with
AP.
“We were victorious in the election,” he said. “That means that my
inauguration as president will take place on Dec. 6.”
Footage on Russian television showed people waving Abkhazian flags from the
windows and armed men celebrating with champagne and vodka in Ardzinba’s
office. Scattered fist fights were seen in the hallways, and several people
were reported injured.
A Bagapsh supporter, Robert Taniya, answered the phone in the presidential
headquarters and said Bagapsh already occupied Ardzinba’s office.
But Bagapsh denied that in a telephone conversation with The Associated
Press.
The Interfax news agency reported that Bagapsh appealed to his supporters to
disperse and promised to assume the presidency by legal means.
Khajimba and Bagapsh held talks in an attempt to defuse tensions.
Bagapsh told supporters that he has offered to Khajimba to form a coalition
government. He said that all the presidential candidates, who were running in
disputed October 3 elections, should be represented in the government.
Khajimba
made no comments after talks.
Abkhazia, which has had de facto independence since Georgian troops were
driven from the region in 1993, has been in turmoil since the Oct. 3 vote.
Georgia has ignored the election turmoil. Since being elected in January,
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has vowed repeatedly to reign in
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, another breakaway region.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said if the situation
in Abkhazia takes an illegal turn, “the Russian side will have to take
measures
necessary for protecting its interests.”
“Everyone in Abkhazia must know that the entire responsibility for possible
negative consequences rests with Bagapsh and his supporters, who are trying to
seize power by force,” he said.
“We should remain calm and do maximum we can to preserve peace in
Abkhazia… We
will take over power with the peaceful means,” Bagapsh said.

5) Conversation with Mark Geragos

–San Francisco APS Hosts Famed Attorney

By Teni Issakhanian Avanessian

SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Armenian community gathered at Vasbouragan
Hall for the Armenian Professional Society’s “A Conversation with Mark
Geragos.” The November 6 event, which kicked off APS’s 23rd year of service to
the Bay Area Armenian community, featured an interview and question-and-answer
session with prominent attorney Mark Geragos.
“Mr. Geragos is always breaking ground in the criminal defense arena and
consistently setting precedent,” stated APS President and moderator for the
evening, Dr. John Missirian. A graduate of Loyola Law School and Haverford
College, Geragos serves as the managing partner of the twelve-year-old Los
Angeles-based law firm Geragos and Geragos–founded by his father and former
Los Angeles APS President Paul Geragos. Known for his high-profile cases and
representation of prominent figures in politics, entertainment, and business,
Mark Geragos’s client roster boasts the likes of actress Wynona Ryder, hip hop
star Nate Dogg, superstar Michael Jackson, US. Congressman Gary Condit, the
Clinton Whitewater scandal’s Susan McDougal, and currently, Scott Peterson.
In addition, Geragos is a self-proclaimed “stealth Armenian” who has
successfully defended many young Armenians involved in shootings and gang
activity in recent years. He has tackled the very real problem of racial
profiling among Armenian youth in Glendale. He even served as one young
Armenian man’s criminal defense attorney in the first California decision on
Proposition 21, which made juveniles eligible for the death penalty in
California based on gang affiliation. His successful defense not only
invalidated Prop. 21, but also saved his client’s life, reducing the sentence
from the death penalty to a brief incarceration followed by 2000 hours of
community service. This young man has since turned his life around and
become a
trustworthy and upstanding citizen.
With such stories, the APS event exposed a side of the lawyer that the public
normally does not see when observing him in court, on TV, or on his recently
launched Internet-based television broadcasting network. Besides criminal
defense, the outspoken Geragos also candidly shared his views on the recent
Presidential elections, the state of Armenians in Glendale, and his Armenian
heritage.
Of particular concern to him, however, was the intersection of law and
politics as it affects the diaspora Armenian community. “The Armenian Bar
Association is not as effective or as active as it should be. We should carry
more weight with the Governor when he makes judicial appointments,” Geragos
expressed. He went on to criticize Armenians in positions of power as one of
the primary reasons why Armenians have not made as much a name for themselves
as they should have by now. He stressed that by this point in time, we should
have taken greater strides to establish our reputation, our name, and our
presence in business, politics, media, and public affairs. He traced this
failure back to the days of George Deukmejian, former governor of California,
who did not fully maximize his golden opportunity and power to help Armenians,
open doors for them, and place more of them in visible, prestigious positions
of clout and influence. In addition, Geragos blamed Armenians themselves for
always being dissatisfied: “We have too many chiefs and not enough Indians.”
For this reason, Geragos believes we continue to envy Jews who–in contrast to
Armenians–not only unite, but upon doing so, pull one another up by their
bootstraps more loyally and in a more widespread manner.
Geragos did not confine laying blame to Deukmejian, however. He went on to
incite strong emotions among audience members when he reminded them about
Hampig Sassounian’s trial before the California Supreme Court. Of the
seven-person panel, the two California Supreme Court Justices of Armenian
descent–Justices Marvin Baxter and Armand Arabian–recused themselves when
Sassounian’s case was heard before the highest Court of the State of
California. Sassounian’s case may have turned out differently had Baxter and
Arabian stayed on for that trial. It is worth mentioning, however, that the
now-retired Arabian did sponsor many Armenian law students and young
lawyers as
clerks in his chambers, and he continues to remain involved in the Armenian
community.
No other Armenian in the legal profession has earned more of Geragos’s praise
than Federal District Court Judge Dikran Tevrizian who, according to Geragos,
is unwaveringly committed to mentoring and helping up-and-coming Armenian law
students and lawyers to excel in the profession. “He’s tremendous. He is
one of
my heroes,” Geragos pronounced with fervor.
As the evening progressed, it became abundantly clear that Geragos is
passionate about many things: his Aintabtsi wife and two children, his liberal
political views, Armenian food (his favorites are kufteh and dolma/sarma), and
his career as a criminal defense attorney. He does not apologize for his
professional choice; in fact, in true criminal-defense-attorney fashion, he
protects it wholeheartedly. “As a criminal defense attorney, you can’t care
about being liked…you must like fighting against the odds, and you must like
being in the courtroom…It’s not my job to determine guilt. My job is to
take my
client’s position and argue it zealously. I’m proud of what I do. I personally
think that criminal law defense is the noblest profession there is.”
Driving his point home, Geragos spoke of his uncles who were dragged into the
desert and murdered during the genocide. He also spoke of his mother who
landed
in Fresno two generations ago and lived in a community where signs were posted
that read: NO BLACKS, NO DOGS, NO ARMENIANS. As an Armenian who grew up
hearing
such tales from his mother, his Grandmother Rose and other genocide survivors,
Geragos certainly understands and appreciates the plight of the underdog. This
appreciation has evolved into a career devoted to challenging the Government
(particularly the District Attorney’s office) and defending each and every
client with equal dedication and conviction.”
Regardless of people’s views on Geragos’s philosophy on politics, prominent
Armenians, and his profession, his blunt and unapologetic beliefs are a
refreshing change in this otherwise politically correct and tactful society.
Furthermore, despite what one’s opinion is about Scott Peterson’s guilt or
Geragos’s values and priorities for choosing to represent him, most would
agree
that if the day ever came that they were placed in a position to need it, they
would want Geragos on their side. As Dr. John Missirian summed it up at the
end
of the evening, “If I am ever in trouble, I know who I would like to represent
me!”

6) ARS “Erepouni” Chapter Celebrates 70 Years of Service

By Vickie Markarian

SAN FRANCISCO–The Oakland Erepouni Chapter of the Armenian Relief Society
celebrated its 70th anniversary on Sunday, October 17, with an afternoon
program at the Saroyan Hall in San Francisco. Special guests from the
community
included Rev. Fr. Avedis Torossian of St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church,
Serpouhi Messerlian from the ARS Western Region Executive Board, Maida
Bezdjian
from the San Francisco ARS Garin Chapter, among others.
The program’s emcee Araxie Boghossian, invited Rev. Fr. Torossian to open the
evening with a prayer, followed by the Erepouni Chapter’s chairlady Annie
Tatarian, who spoke briefly of the chapter’s various activities over the past
years.
ARS Western US Regional Executive Board Member Serpouhi Messerlian, praised
the good works of the Erepouni Chapter, especially their weekly Armenian
school
and adopted school in Armenia. She also presented the chapter with a plaque on
behalf of the Western Region, which read: “It is with great pleasure that we
congratulate you on your 70th anniversary and wish you success in your future
endeavors. Erepouni Chapter is one of the Western Region’s most industrious
and
energetic chapters and has supported the Regional Committee every year in its
helpful work to our nation.”
Keynote speaker Dr. Margit Hazarabedian, an auxiliary member of the Erepouni
Chapter, offered a stirring and nostalgic account of the beginnings of the ARS
in the Bay Area and of their wonderful work following World War II, when both
the San Francisco and Oakland chapters strived to help displaced Armenians in
camps overseas, and then brought them to this country through ANCHA (American
National Committee for Homeless Armenians). Weaving her own family’s hardships
during that time, she recalled the names of the dedicated founders and early
members of the Erepouni Chapter who gave so much of their time and effort. She
stressed that these selfless women saved many Armenian families.
One of the highlights of the program came when Vickie Markarian introduced
eight former exceptional students of the Erepouni Chapter’s Friday Armenian
School who have either gone on to university or to the work force. The
students
honored were Armine Avanessians, Alex Bunch, Tamar Kozanian, Arpy Mikaelian,
Kohar Shirikian, Vrej Tajirian, Hovig Tatarian, and Ani Tejirian. Markarian
called each student to stage and presented them with a Certificate of
Appreciation. The audience truly appreciated seeing these young people
recognized in this way and gave each heartfelt applause. The program came to a
lively end as The Mazmanians played a rousing version of “Ghapama.”
Rev. Fr. Torossian also felt compelled to offer his own words of
gratitude. He
stated that the ladies of the ARS deserve the thanks of all our people. In
addition to caring for their own families and often working outside the home,
they have taken on the task of helping their fellow Armenians, both within the
community and in Armenia. The memorable evening ended with a moving
candle-lighting ceremony.

7) Latest Chapter in Mt. Davidson Cross Saga

–Turks agree not to appeal Armenian genocide plaque decision

SAN FRANCISCO–Two Turkish-American organizations, and the Turkish Consul
General, have withdrawn their lawsuit against the Council of Armenian American
Organizations of Northern California rather than face the claim of the
Council’s attorneys for fees.
The lawsuit attacked the plaque commemorating the Armenian genocide, which
the
Council had placed near the 103 foot cross on San Francisco’s Mt. Davidson.
The
Council had purchased the Cross and adjacent land in 1997 from the City of San
Francisco, which sold it to settle a challenge to its ownership on
church-state
grounds.
In their lawsuit, the Turks claimed that the plaque violates the terms of the
deed under which the Council acquired the Cross and land from the City. The
Council’s attorneys denied any violation and also urged that the Turks lacked
legal standing to challenge the plaque. The lawsuit, they said, was an
impermissible attempt to suppress the Council’s free speech rights.
The court agreed and dismissed the case. This entitled the lawyers, who were
representing the Council without charge, to recover their attorneys’ fees from
the Turks. Faced with a claim for $100,000 in fees, the Turks agreed to
abandon
their appeal of the court’s ruling, and submitted to an injunction against any
repetition of it. They also agreed to indemnify the Council if any such
lawsuit
is brought by any of their members. In return, the Council’s lawyers, at its
request, dropped their claim for fees.
Speaking for the Council, a coalition of 35 Armenian American
organizations in
Northern California, its Chairman, Dr. Krikor Soghikian, stated that the
Turkish challenge to the memorial plaque is part of a broad campaign to oppose
any public acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide, which is officially denied
by the Turkish government. The 1915 event is considered by historians as the
first genocide of the 20th century, and the most significant human rights
crisis of World War I. The leaders of the Ottoman empire systematically
carried
out the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians, more than half of the Armenian
population living in its historic homeland. The overwhelming majority of
Armenians living in San Francisco and the United States are descendants of
Armenian Genocide survivors.
Armenian Americans wished to purchase the Mt. Davidson Cross to avoid the
destruction of a San Francisco landmark. As the first nation to have accepted
Christianity in 301 AD, they believed that the Cross site would be an ideal
gathering place to remember their forefathers. Turkish groups actively opposed
the purchase, conducting a protest campaign urging city officials,
neighborhood
and political groups, to vote against the enabling proposition, but 68% of San
Francisco voters cast their ballots in favor of the proposition.
The plaque was unveiled in 1988 by Mayor Willie Brown, in the presence of
several Genocide survivors. It reads:
“The Mt. Davidson Cross was designed and built by George Kelham and
inaugurated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1934. In 1997, the citizens
of San Francisco voted to approve the sale of the monument to the Council of
Armenian American Organizations of Northern California., to preserve it as a
historic landmark. This revered site is cared for in memory of the 1,500,000
victims of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Turkish government from
1915 to 1918. Over half the Armenian population on its ancient homeland was
killed, and no Armenian community remained in historical Western Armenia. By
honoring those lost, we honor all victims of injustice and cruelty. In their
name, we dedicate ourselves to the protection of human rights and the dignity
of all
peoples.

If evil of this magnitude can be ignored,
If our children forget,
Then we deserve oblivion,
And earn the world’s scorn.
Avedis Aharonian
(writer and educator, 1866-1948)
Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day
April 24, 1998.”

The Council was represented in the lawsuit by David Balabanian, Geoffrey
Holtz, and Matthew Gray of Bingham McCutchen, an 850 lawyer firm with offices
in 12 cities.

8) VODKA LEMON

A bittersweet concoction with a kick

“Vodka Lemon is the only thing the Russians have left them is the one thing
they didn’t have before-their freedom,” explains one of the characters in the
film Vodka Lemon, by Iraqi Kurd director Hiner Saleem.
The third feature by the exiled director portrays an abandoned community
that’s magically upbeat. With its blinding-white vistas, graceful Armenian
score, the film celebrates its quirky characters while it mourns their plight.
“A blessed wonder…Saleem displays the visual confidence and subtle screwball
rhythms of a master,” writes the Village Voice.

Synopsis

In the snowy badlands of post soviet Armenia, village life is nearing
subsistence level. The Russians have long departed, and almost all of the
village’s young men have gone abroad for work. In the heart of
sixty-something-year-old Hamo, a handsome widower, hope rests through his
youngest son, who has recently immigrated to France in search of work. Hamo’s
sole possessions on earth are barely enough to sustain him. But Hamo finds
contentment through his daily bus trips to the local cemetery where his wife
has been laid to rest. During one of these visits Hamo notices Nina, a
beautiful fifty-year old widow. Although an initial attraction between the two
is clear, Hamo’s loyalty to his dead wife and Nina’s shyness forestalls the
two
from allowing the sparks to fly. Nina retreats to her job at the desolate
village bar, Vodka Lemon, and Hamo hustles home with hope waning that his son
in Paris has mailed him. Retreating back to the cemetery, Hamo once again runs
into Nina–and with a few kind gestures, the two begin a September-December
romance that leads to the film’s indelible conclusion of love among the ruins.
The winner of the San Marco prize at the Venice Film Festival, Vodka Lemon’s
exclusive Los Angeles engagements begin at Laemmle’s Fairfax Cinemas in the
Fairfax District and One Colorado Cinemas in Old Town Pasadena on Friday,
November 19.
The Fairfax is located at 7095 Beverly Boulevard in the Fairfax District and
the One Colorado in Old Town Pasadena.
Call 310-274-6869 or 626-744-1224 for show-time information. See
<;

9) Axis Of Justice Releases CD/DVD

The revolution may not be televised, but it is available on your CD player
this
fall.
The Axis of Justice: Concert Series Volume I was recorded at the Avalon in
Los
Angeles as one in a series of benefits for Axis of Justice, the non-profit
organization founded by Serj Tankian of System Of A Down and Tom Morello of
Audioslave/Rage Against The Machine, in an effort to bring concerned
musicians,
fans of music, and grassroots political organizations together to fight for
social justice.
The unique night of music featured performances and surprises by a number of
special guests, including Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Tool/A Perfect
Circle’s Maynard James Keenan and Pete Yorn. The album includes the donated
track from Chris Cornell and Keenan of their cover of Nick Lowe’s “(What’s So
Funny ’bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding,” recorded at last year’s
Lollapalooza. Other highlights include all-star jams of U2’s “Where the
Streets
Have No Name,” Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up,” “Alice in My Fantasies” by
Funkadelic, and the Bob Dylan classic “Chimes Of Freedom.”
The companion Bonus DVD contains live footage of the Avalon show as well as
some excerpts from past Axis shows, which include appearances by artists such
as Boots Riley of The Coup and Wayne Kramer. It also includes Tankian’s
performance of “Speak on It,” a spoken piece about Armenian genocide with the
rapper Knowledge. Plus as an added bonus, the DVD features audio excerpts from
the Axis of Justice radio show.

10) Early ‘Intervention’

Armenia’s Moushegh Baghdasaryan’s short film “Intervention” won the the
Kenneth
F. and Harle G. Montgomery Prize for Excellence for Best Child-Produced
Film or
Video at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival (CICFF).
Fourteen-year-old Moushegh’s 2 minute film transforms a symbol of war into a
thing of peace, with a message that silence speaks louder than words.
The one-minute short “Waltz” by another 14-year-old, Elen Gyulnazarian of
Armenia, competed in the same category of Children for Children nominations.
The Director of Armenia’s Manana Children’s-Youth Educational-Cultural
Center,
Ruzan Baghdasarian, revealed that only 24 films were nominated in the specific
category.
Baghdasaryan’s award marks 15 victories for Manana in international
competitions.
Thirty other films shot at Manana’s small studio have registered victories in
various film festivals in England, Greece, Spain, Serbia, and the United
States.
Founded in 1983, the CICFF is the largest festival of films for children in
North America and features over 200 animated and live action films from 40
countries. The Festival welcomes over 24,000 Chicago area children, adults,
and
educators to the screenings, and over 100 filmmakers, media professionals, and
celebrities attend the festival to lead interactive workshops with kids.
It is also the first competitive festival of films for children in the US.
The
impetus for the festival came from a need to introduce new, culturally diverse
films for children to American children’s audiences, and to recognize
excellence in children’s filmmaking. From its inception, the festival has had
independent juries of children and adult media professionals awarding
prizes in
multiple categories.
The festival provides screenings both for schools and the general public.
Educators bring their classes to school screenings during the fall festival to
view international films. Films are used as a springboard to class-work in a
wide number of subject areas, including geography, math, music, social
studies,
art, health and language studies. After screenings, children are engaged in
discussions with filmmakers and festival personnel. These discussions are
designed to lead children and teachers toward powerful dialogue about the role
of television and film in their lives. The impact of violent films, and
alternatives to them, are frequently explored.
Children attending the Festival are also instructed to view each film
carefully and critically, so that they may cast an informed ballot for
“Best of
the Fest.” These interactive experiences enrich festival audiences with a wide
range of cultural perspectives and give them a “behind-the-scenes”
understanding of the art and craft of filmmaking.

11) LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES?

Resident Skeptik delves into the deep, dark world of Armenian online dating

BY SKEPTIK SINIKIAN

I’m not a smart man but I think I know what love is. I know that there are
more kinds of love than a woman has pairs of black shoes. There’s love of
country, the love of a spouse, or the love of a sibling or family member. For
instance, the way you love your parents is not the way you love your favorite
dish at your favorite restaurant. You’d take a bullet for your parents. You
(hopefully) wouldn’t take a bullet for a plate of chee kufta. But whether
you’re a rich man or poor man, educated or uneducated, almost everyone (I said
ALMOST) falls in love at one point or another in their lifetime.
I’m bringing this issue up because lately, and I don’t know why, everyone
around me is either getting engaged, married or falling in…dare I say
it…love. I thought springtime was when love blossomed but I guess we
Armenians are always late anyway. I think love is a beautiful concept but I
think people should learn to love themselves and be comfortable with who they
are before seeking validation from another human being. This is particularly
important for Armenians. Of all the people in the world, you would be hard
pressed to find a group that are bigger xenophiles (lovers of all things
foreign) than Armenians. On top of everything else, they are also
uncomfortable
with themselves. I’m not a Buddhist but I believe in Buddha’s advice: “You,
yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and
affection.” Armenians just can’t seem to love themselves unless it’s a
dysfunctional type of love. When it comes to music at a banquet or dance,
we’re
ready to run and jump in the arms of that Arabic, Persian, or
even…yes…Turkish seductress. When it comes to jewelry, clothes, food,
whatever the case may be…Armenians place such high regard on all things
foreign.
But when it comes down to it–to bringing someone home to mom and dad–90
% of
Armenians are adamant that it is important to marry someone who is also
Armenian. This makes perfect sense (sarcastic tone starts in 3…2…1) if you
think about it. After all, you have to marry an Armenian, so your children can
grow up Armenian, learn how to speak, read, and write Armenian and then only
speak English to their friends and family and shake their “voreegs” to
non-Armenian music every weekend! If anyone out there thinks that by marrying
someone Armenian, you are able to ensure that your children or grandchildren
will grow up Armenian, than I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I will sell you
for only $20,000.
There are exceptions to every rule. There are Armenians who will marry other
Armenians and find happiness but marrying a fellow Armenian isn’t the key to
that happiness. The real key to happiness is finding someone who shares your
beliefs and values. And if you value being Armenian and your spouse respects
and cherishes your values, then you will have children who will learn about
their cultural identity and grow up to be good people.
“What if she doesn’t want your children to learn Armenian?” countered my
friend emphatically during one of our hypothetical scenario debates recently.
“What about it? I don’t even know any Armenian girls that can read or write
Armenian fluently. Most of them think Hovhannes Toumanian is a car mechanic in
Hollywood and wouldn’t be able to make pilaf and dolma if their lives depended
on it,” I responded sardonically.
A week after this exchange, I discovered that my friend had registered online
with an Internet dating service. I hope it works for him and he finds “the
one,” that one girl out there who will be able to raise his children to be as
materialistic as they can be and not know the difference between 301 AD and
450
AD but be able to spot the difference between an S-Class and C-Class Benzos
from a mile away. But kudos to whoever came up with the idea to gather up all
the insecure Armenians out there and bring them together on one website. I
have
to admit, my curiosity had been aroused. I had to find out more about this
so-called “singles” website. I did a search on Google on “Armenian Singles”
and
came up with not just one, not two, but a whole group of websites all aimed at
bringing Armenians together and helping them fall in love.
The first one I visited was “HyeSingles” (HS henceforth.) HS claims to be
“Your Compatible Armenian Singles Community.” Before I delved any further
into
the world of Armenian singles, I decided to look up their “success
stories.” My
favorite was a comment by Armen with no last name. (We’ll try to use different
names to protect the innocent). Armen wrote, “Thank you for being out there
for
me. I am not lonely anymore!” This made me wonder if this was some kind of
joke. Can these really be Armenians posting success stories online? One person
from Iran met her “hubbie” in the US and they are now married. I thought maybe
these were fabricated stories until I came across a posting by
“ArmenianCutie.”
It read as follows (I’ve inserted my own opinions in bold and in brackets
where
appropriate):
Hey, so like I was not sure [ten bucks says she’s from the San Fernando
Valley, maybe even a Ferrahian grad] about this Internet dating thing and
given
the small size and talkatitive [who is this girl? Is she related to George W.
Bush?] nature of the Armenian community [talkative? A blind date is talkative!
The Armenian community makes the CIA look like a kindergarten game of
telephone] I was apprehensive posting my profile, much less my picture but
after some convincing from my younger sister (who coincidentally met her
hubbie
online) [like I care] I got up the nerve to go through with it. Well let me
tell you, I not only was amazed at the number of emails I received, but at the
quality of your members. [Nowhere else in the world will you find such a large
collection of aging, balding men with German luxury cars who still live at
home
and wear more jewelry than their mother] Long story short I went on several
dates before meeting my Armenian match so to speak.[“so to speak”
–translation: he didn’t drool, or drag his knuckles on the ground and didn’t
think that it was okay to sleep with women who aren’t Armenian because its
only
practice for when you do marry a pure as the snow virgin] We’ve been dating
for 4 months now and knock on wood [wow, I guess this is an actual Armenian
testimonial, unless “knock on wood” means something else in non-Armenian
circles, like “PLEASE SAVE ME FROM THIS ABOOSH. Oops, did I say aboosh? I
hope
no one cancels a subscription], we are both extremely happy and
appreciative to
have found each other.
So I’ve decided to conduct an experiment. After all, Ralph Waldo Emerson said
that “All life is an experiment.” It starts with this issue and will last as
long as it has to. Like Jacques Cousteau, I shall venture into the
unknown–this Armenian online singles soiree, and see if it is indeed possible
to meet normal people. The experiment will be the following. I will create
anonymous profiles loosely based on actual single friends that I have (with
their consent) and go fishing for a mate.
See you next week when we report from the world of the single, lonely, and
looking.

Skeptik Sinikian is over 5 feet tall, enjoys TV sitcom theme songs, reading
billboards, and brief sprints on the beach (he’s allergic to sand and sea
salt). Anyone interested can contact him at [email protected] or visit
his blog at

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.

–Boundary_(ID_RYgg0kn2k27HDpEDtJjvmQ)–

Azeri young people ready to liberate lands from occupation

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 11 2004

Young people of Azerbaijan must show solidarity in order to liberate
the occupied lands. This was stated at forum of young Azerbaijanis
held on Wednesday.

Vugar Gadimov, chairman of the organization committee of the Azerbaijan
Congress for Garabagh, the event organizer, stated that the Upper
Garabagh forum of young Azerbaijanis has not been held thus far. He
said that the Azeri people, who prevented Armenian officers from
visiting the country, must show solidarity in preventing the intended
visit by Armenian parliament members to Baku.

Representatives of youth organizations attending the event said
that young people should be criticized for the current state of the
Garabagh war.

The forum participants adopted an appeal to President Ilham Aliyev
that reads:

“Azerbaijan’s young people are always ready to liberate the occupied
lands from the enemy. For this, just one order of yours will suffice”.*

The Hindu, India
November 9, 2004

CONFLICTING REPORTS ABOUT CAUSE OF ELEPHANT’S DEATH

Our Staff Correspondent

There have been conflicting reports over the death of the
eight-year-old elephant Komala that was to fly out to Armenia as a
Gift of Goodwill.’ The animal died on October 22 barely a few days
before it was to be gifted to Yerevan Zoo in Armenia.

It is learnt that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report
received by the Police Department rules out poisoning, while the
member-secretary of the Karnataka Zoo Authority, R.S. Suresh, today
claimed that the report that they received from Institute of Animal
Health and Biologicals suggested poisoning as the cause of death.

In the light of conflicting reports, the governing council of the zoo
decided to meet the Police Commissioner, Praveen Sood, to find out
the contents of the report submitted by the FSL.

Even as the reports were received by these two agencies, the
governing council of the zoo met here. The meeting was attended by
the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, R.M. Ray; the executive
director the zoo; Manoj Kumar; the Mayor, Dakshinamurthy; and the zoo
authority chairperson, Susheela Keshavamurthy. While taking stock of
the situation, the meeting took the versions of the employees, who
all along have been demanding action against veterinary doctors for
alleged dereliction of duty. The closed-door meeting discussed steps
to be initiated to protect the animals and other measures to be taken
to improve the situation in the zoo.

<subheadline> Complaints

</subheadline>

Mr. Suresh told presspersons after the meeting that they had received
complaints from the employees against the veterinarians, and that
some had complained even against the zoo Deputy Director,
Chandrashekar. Measures, both administrative and security, had been
taken to strengthen the security at the zoo, and the security officer
of the zoo, Govindaraju’s services had been discontinued already, he
said.

Mr. Suresh said that of the three doctors, one had been transferred
already, and measures were being taken to appoint another
veterinarian on contract. Meanwhile, the employees of Sri
Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens demanded action against the doctors
in the light of the FSL report.

–Boundary_(ID_1fIq+CaOusbHNfS8CSUF7w)
Content-typ e: message/rfc822

From: [email protected]
Subject: Gibrahayer. 3 November 2004 Nicosia

GIBRAHAYER
e-newsletter
[email protected]
http://gibrahayer.cyprusnew sletter.com

The largest circulation Armenian online e-newsletter on the WWW

PAREKORDZAKAN RELEASE DETAILS OF MELKONIAN CLOSURE
Gibrahayer. 3 November 2004: During the week The Melkonian Cyprus Alumni
is organising a fund-raiser to fight the closure of Melkonian, the AGBU
– through its representative in Cyprus Gordon Anderson – announced the
details of the closure of the school in June 2005.
In a two page circular released this week the following was
announced:
1.- AGBU has signed an agreement with the American Academy in Nicosia to
accept all students currently enrolled in Melkonian beginning in the
Fall of 2005.
2.- During the 2005-06 and 2006-2007 school years AGBU will provide
boarding facilities on the MEI campus for the students currently living
in the MEI dormitories who enroll in the American Academy free of charge
and who do not have parents residing in Nicosia. Bussing from the MEI to
the AA will also be provided.
3.- Beginning in the Fall of 2006 AGBU will be offering an afternoon
Saturday program that will include Armenian language classes, as well as
history and culture. These classes will be open to all Armenian students
regardless of the school they attend.
On the opposite side of the camp, The Melkonian Cyprus Alumni is
organising a Banquet this coming Sunday, November 7, 2004 at 1 p.m. at
“Christiana” Reception Hall in Alambra. Guest of Honour will be Jack R.
Melkonian, grand-nephew of Garabed Melkonian.

TURKISH CONFERENCE ON MINORITY RIGHTS’ REPORT ENDS IN CHAOS
November 1, 2004 Monday 11:04 AM Eastern Time ANKARA. A
debate over a report criticising breaches of minority rights in aspiring
European Union member Turkey collapsed when members of a
government-sponsored human rights group, which authored the document,
clashed in public.
The incident is the latest in a series of rows within the Human
Rights Advisory Board — a body attached to the office of Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan — which highlighted widespread hostility in Turkey
to advanced cultural freedoms for the country’s Kurdish and non-Muslim
communities.
Nationalist members of the board, which is comprised of
government officials, academics and civic groups, sabotaged a news
conference called to formally release the report, which makes some
controversial recommendations to the government and excerpts of which
were last week leaked to the media.
Shortly after the head of the board, Ibrahim Kaboglu, began
speaking a nationalist unionist grabbed the papers from his hands and
tore them to pieces, yelling: “This report is a fabrication and should
be torn apart.”
Kaboglu was forced to leave the hall, stating: “We cannot even
hold a news conference. This is the state of freedom of thought in
Turkey.”
The EU, which Turkey is seeking to join, has long pressed Ankara
to grant equal cultural freedoms to its sizable Kurdish minority as well
as smaller, non-Muslim communities such as Greeks, Armenians and Jews.

ARF DASHNAKTSOUTIUN ARMENIA CONVENTION, ELECTS BODY
YEREVAN (Yerkir)–The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) of Armenia
elected its Supreme Body (SB) at its 8th Convention held October 29-31
in Jermuk, Armenia.
The new body includes Armen Rustamian, Mikael Manukian, Levon
Mkrtchian, Hrach Tedevosian, Spartak Seyranian, Hamlet Abrahamian,
Bagrat Sargsian, Ashot Papazian, and Vlad Kochunts. Rustamian will serve
as SB representative.

KEVORKIAN LOSES SUPREME COURT APPEAL
Monday November 1, 2004 3:31 PM WASHINGTON (AP) – Assisted suicide
advocate Jack Kevorkian lost a Supreme Court appeal on Monday in his bid
to win freedom after five years in prison.
Justices, without comment, turned back an appeal in which
Kevorkian claimed he had an ineffective attorney when he was convicted
of second-degree murder in the 1998 poisoning of Thomas Youk. Youk had
Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Kevorkian called it a mercy killing. The death
was videotaped and shown on national television.
The Supreme Court had also turned back an appeal from Kevorkian
two years ago that claimed his prosecution was unconstitutional.
Kevorkian has said he assisted in at least 130 deaths, but has
promised in affidavits that he will not aid in more suicides if he is
released. He could be eligible for parole in 2007.

ARMENIAN CHURCH PASTORATE OF ETHIOPIA
ATTENTION TO ALL OUR READERS!
from
-`PYUNIG’ Armenian Review from Ethiopia
-Armenian Youth of Ethiopia

We firstly would like to apologies to all our readers who for the past
two months have not heard from us. The past months have been very heavy
on us due to the serious illness of our Pastor Rev. Fr. Myron Sarkissian
(Der Miron) who was hospitalized for more then a month.
Fortunately he is well now and was released from hospital last days. We,
therefore kindly ask you to resend us your mails and opinions.
We will be waiting to hear from you soon,
Yours Truly,
ARMENIAN YOUTH OF ETHIOPIA

Dear Friends,
One new document is added in website.
It is Yergel Tiroch voghormutyune, Masn 01 (35 pp.)
Mashtoz Vahe Lazaryan [email protected]

Sireli Unger,
Thank you for adding me to your email list. If your publication ever
does a feature article on Armenian children’s music or on Armenian
Americans struggling to keep Armenian culture alive in the US, it would
be an honor to be considered. For more information about what I do
please visit
Sincerely,
Nvair [email protected]

TATIANA’S CORNER
The above space will be reserved for local artist Tatiana Ferahian’s
comic strips which are amalgamations of Armenian-Cypriot social
commentaries, painted with her usual wry and ironic humour, to stimulate
and encourage awareness and interest toward our community’s everyday
happenings.

NEWS IN BRIEF
Boxer Alexander Abraham from Armenia – currently residing in Germany –
scored his eight successive win in the light middle weight category
against Zoran Didonovic from Yugoslavia.

* David Nalbandian was a finalist at the Swiss Open in Basel. On Sunday
he lost a five setter against Czech Jiri Novak, 7-5, 3-6, 3-6, 6-2, 3-6,
and collected a “consolation” prize of 80,000 euro and 35 ATP points.
* Cyprus Futsal Champions Ararat drew with Parnasos 1-1 on Friday
October 29. Ararat went ahead by Igor Dassaev in the 11th minute while
Parnasos equalised in the 34th.
* The trade volume between Armenia and Russia dropped 15.5% in the first
nine months of 2004 compared to the corresponding period last year and
reached $186.6m. Armenian exports to Russia decreased 10.3% while
imports lost 17.6 percent in the reported period. The negative trade
balance was $71.5m.
* An Akhaltsikha court in Georgia has issued an arrest warrant for Gigla
Baramidze, the former representative of the Georgian president in the
Samtskhe-Javakhk region.
* Armenian industrial production gained 1.6 percent to $692.8m in
January to September 2004 in comparison to the same period in 2003.
Industrial products totaling $683.8m were sold in the reported period
including $63.3m in the CIS and $185.8m in other countries.

SUPPORT HAY TAD ACTIVITIES IN CYPRUS
To support its political activities, The Armenian National Committee of
Cyprus has organised a raffle, participants of which will have the
opportunity to win Armenian Commemorative Coins depicting themes from
ancient Armenian history.
A block costs £50.00 ($100 for our international readers).
Your support will enable the local chapter of our enthusiastic political
action group to materialise its multidimensional political agenda, in
promoting Hay Tad activities both in Cyprus and in Europe.
You can make your contribution to the following account:
Armenian National Committee of Cyprus – P.O.Box 21171 – Nicosia 1503 –
Cyprus
Hellenic Bank:a/c No.122-01-039699-01, IBAN:CY88 0050 0122 0001 2201
0396 901

g i b r a h a y c a l e n d a r

*AYMA Food Bazaar on Sunday November 7, 2004. Traditional Armenian food
and home-made delicacies just like our grandparents used to prepare
them! The Food Gates open at 12:00 noon and nothing will be served
before that time.

*Pre-Championship Friendly Football match between AYMA and ESOBGA on
November 6, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. at the Grounds of the English School,
Strovolos – Nicosia

*Lecture at The Nareg Armenian School Hall of Larnaca, organised by The
Larnaca Armenian Club on Friday 12 November at 7:00 p.m. “Acupuncture”
by Razmig Azezian (specialised in China) from Beirut – Lebanon

*Lecture at The Armenian Prelature – Nicosia. Organised by A.Y.M.A. on
Saturday 13 November at 7:00 p.m. “Acupuncture” by Razmig Azezian
(specialised in China) from Beirut – Lebanon.

*Jashgerouyt / Khraghjank at AYMA Saturday November 13, 2004, at 8:30
p.m. Sign up with the members of the committee. Limited seats.

*Armenian Relief Society “Sosse” Chapter Fund Raising Tea for the ARS
Armenia Projects on Sunday 28 November, 2004 at The Holiday Inn Hotel at
4:00 p.m. Handicraft, Lebanese cookies and home-made delicacies on sale.
Proceeds to the “Sosse” Kindergarten of Stepanakert – Republic of
Karabagh.

*Melkonian Cyprus Alumni Banquet.Sunday, November 7, 2004 – 1pm
“Christiana” Reception Hall, Alambra. Guest of Honour: Jack R.
Melkonian, grand-nephew of Garabed Melkonian. CYP 15.00 adults / CYP
5.00 students and children. Prizes included on entrance ticket and
raffle tickets. Contact names for reservations to be announced.
Directions to “Christiana” and convoys will be arranged. All are
welcome.

*Annual General Meeting of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) on
Saturday 13 November 2004 at 6:00 p.m. at AYMA.

*AYF Badanegan Miaoutian get-togethers have begun and will continue
every Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at AYMA. Contact Vartoog Karageulian on
24-659245.

*AYMA Chicco Football practices have begun and are taking place every
Friday from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. for children starting from the age of 7.
Contact Krikor Mahdessian on 99650897.

*AYMA Table Tennis practices have also begun and will continue every
Saturday from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m under the expert guidance of ex-Cyprus
Champion Sirvart Costanian. Classes and practice session for all ages.

*AYMA Football team practices are taking place every Tuesday and
Thursday at 9:00 p.m. A.Y.M.A. will be participating in the Second
Division Amateur Football League and will be bidding for the
Championship Title and subsequent promotion to Division One. The
Championship begins on Saturday November 20, 2004.

*A.G.B.U Women’s Auxiliary Body. Armenian Food Bazaar. Sunday 14
November, 2004 starting from 12:00 lunch time at AGBU club premises.

*Marie Louise Kouyoumdjian sings @ Champs every Friday at at 9:30 p.m.
For reservations call 22873888.

*Bible Study Group Organised by The Armenian Prelature of Cyprus. The
Group meets at the Sourp Asdvadzadzin Church on Armenia street, Nicosia.
To receive further details please call Elise at the Prelature office on
22 493560 or email [email protected]

*AYMA Annual Ball at Hilton Park on January 8, 2004 featuring ANDRE.
Reservations a MUST! Book early.

*If you happen to be in London on Friday, 12th November don’t miss this
Back to Hye Skool Party. Time: 8pm-1am.
Venue: The ultra-hip & funky Babushka 41 Tavistock Crescent, Notting
Hill, W11 1AD. Tix:£5 before 10:30pm, £7 after, Age: Strictly 18+ (No
ID? No HYE party) Tube:Westbourne Park (Hammersmith & City) – 1 min walk
Notting Hill Gate (Central, District & Circle) – 5 min ride (#27, 28 &
328 buses on Pembridge Road opposite WHSmith outside station). Music:DJ
Josey Kray & FBI Squad playing old skool tunes, as well as the freshest
tracks, Armenian and more. Xtra: Quality prizes for the best dressed
skool boy and skool girl. New surprises in store for all. Contact: Raffi
07958 137 702, John 07961 166 969 [email protected]

*Armenian Radio Hour on The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation can be heard
via real audio on . Broadcast times 17:00-18:00 local
Cyprus time (14:00-15:00 GMT) News bulletins at 17:15 local time on
Sundays, Tuesdays, Fridays. Armenian Cypriots can also tune in on the
following radio frequencies 91.1 FM (Mount Olympus – for Nicosia
listeners) 94.2 FM (Paralimni/Protaras/Agia Napa) 92.4 FM (Larnaca) 96.5
FM (Paphos).

*The Armenian Prelature announces that the next permit for the Armenian
Cemetery visitation at Ayios Dhometios on the Green line, is scheduled
for Sunday 7 November, 2004.
*Every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. (Cyprus time +2 GMT) on CyBC’s Trito,
Puzant Nadjarian presents the “History of the Blues”. You can also hear
it on Real Audio from the Internet edition of CyBC on A
repeat program can also be heard seven hours later at 2:00 a.m. local
time.

*Listen to Hairenik Association’s online Armenian Radio Station.A
variety of Armenian music online, 24 hours a day, combined with news and
other interesting information about the Armenian community in the US,
Armenia, Artsakh, Javakhk and the Armenian Diaspora.
24 Hours of non-stop armenian music and programs on the internet
. . . . . News . . . . . ANC hour . . . . . Song dedications . . . . .
Youth discussions . . . . . Game Shows . . . . . Interviews . . . . .
Religious programs . . . . . Cultural programs . . . . . History . . . .
.

Le Monde
04 novembre 2004

Randonnée sur la piste du Mont Ararat

VOYAGES;
A l’extrême orient de l’Anatolie, de caravansérails en églises à
l’abandon, les vestiges byzantins, ottomans, arméniens et kurdes
s’entremêlent

Catherine Bédarida

TRABZON de notre envoyée spéciale

Prairies immenses, troupeaux de brebis, yourtes d’été pour les
bergers, ces hauts pturages murmurent un monde pauvre.

A l’est de la Turquie, l’histoire est un précipité de langues, de
frontières, de montagnes méridionales et de steppes d’Asie centrale,
de souvenirs ottomans et de blessures arméniennes ou kurdes. Des
bords de la mer Noire, au nord, aux confins de l’Irak, au sud, toute
une région encore peu touristique de la Turquie porte la mémoire des
conflits passés et présents, s’enorgueillit des caravansérails
fastueux sur la Route de la soie et des sommets splendides du mont
Ararat, ou passe sous silence les souvenirs du génocide arménien et
la répression récente à l’encontre des Kurdes.

Dans cette zone d’altitude qui a été tour à tour dominée par les
Perses, les Ottomans, les Russes, les mémoires et les légendes des
différentes traditions se mêlent à l’occidentalisation voulue par la
Turquie moderne. Le thé est fait dans des samovars à Erzurum ou Kars,
deux villes importantes du nord-est de cette région. L’ascension du
mont Ararat (5 165 m) s’effectue en appelant toutes les heures le
poste de sécurité à l’aide d’un téléphone portable. Dans chaque bourg
de ces régions fort musulmanes, on trouve des magasins d’alcool. Et
les importants sites patrimoniaux géorgiens ou arméniens se visitent
sur les conseils d’offices du tourisme qui se gardent d’expliquer
pourquoi ces églises magnifiques sont aujourd’hui à l’abandon.

Plusieurs chaînes de montagne dessinent la géographie et partagent
les zones de cette Turquie orientale. Au nord, c’est une montagne
verte, boisée, lumineuse qui borde la mer Noire, entre la frontière
de la Géorgie et la chaîne des monts Kaçkar. Les pluies, arrêtées par
ces sommets, donnent une végétation à la fois alpine et méridionale.
La ville de Trabzon (Trébizonde, dans l’Antiquité) est le point de
départ pour découvrir les environs.

Ce port de la mer Noire (500 000 habitants), largement fréquenté par
les touristes et les commerçants de l’ex-URSS, est une cité moderne,
sans cachet particulier, malgré une vieille ville agréable. A
cinquante kilomètres au sud, en revanche, le monastère grec orthodoxe
de la Vierge Marie, à Sumela, offre un site et un btiment
exceptionnels.

Après une rude montée à pied d’une demi-heure le long du torrent,
dans les forêts de pins et de sapins, le monastère se dévoile,
accroché à une falaise rocheuse d’une hauteur vertigineuse, petit
point émouvant dans l’immensité de la nature sauvage, témoignant de
la mégalomanie admirable ou dérisoire des mystiques. Fondé en 385,
détruit puis reconstruit en 644, le monastère a été protégé par les
sultans ottomans après la chute de l’Empire byzantin. Les moines
durent quitter définitivement les lieux à la suite de la guerre
gréco-turque de 1920-1922. En partie construite sous une voûte
naturelle rocheuse, l’église est ornée de fresques représentant la
vie de la Vierge et de Jésus, ainsi que des scènes de la Genèse, au
milieu d’une profusion d’anges et de motifs végétaux.

Plus à l’est, aux confins de la frontière arménienne, officiellement
fermée, commence un monde de plateaux et de steppes, à 2 000 m
d’altitude, cernés de hautes montagnes qui culminent avec l’Ararat.
Prairies immenses, troupeaux de brebis blanches et noires, yourtes
d’été pour les bergers, ces hauts pturages murmurent un monde
pauvre, tenu à l’écart du développement moderne turc. Devant les
maisons basses en pisé s’empilent les tas de briquettes de bouse et
de paille mêlées, unique combustible de ces régions où de rares
peupliers sont les seuls arbres à tenir tête aux vents.

A 35 km de l’Iran et à 60 km de l’Arménie, Dogubayazit est la ville
la plus orientale de la Turquie, à 1 960 m d’altitude. Ce gros bourg
poussiéreux de 35 000 habitants, traversé par les camions iraniens,
est surtout une ville de garnison. Dans les rues, au restaurant, à la
poste, les soldats turcs sont omniprésents. Les boutiques s’adaptent
en vendant vêtements kaki, cassettes des musiques en vogue à
Istanbul, cartes postales kitsch montrant des soldats en action…

Tout autour, chaque village est flanqué d’un poste militaire. Ces
hameaux kurdes sont souvent desservis par une piste à peine
carrossable, inutilisable pendant les longs hivers. L’électricité y
arrive, mais la plupart des maisons ne disposent, pour l’eau, que
d’un robinet dans la cour. Grce aux antennes paraboliques, les
habitants peuvent capter les émissions en langue kurde diffusées
depuis juin, alors que l’usage de cette langue – qui appartient à la
famille iranienne – demeure réprimé. Le lancement de ces émissions
fait partie des mesures d’assouplissement de la politique antikurde,
adoptées par le gouvernement pour satisfaire aux critères de l’Union
européenne, en vue d’une éventuelle adhésion.

Dans ce fin fond extrême-oriental, terre de trafics, de contrebande
et de passages d’immigrants clandestins, Dogubayazit est l’étape
obligée pour découvrir les deux merveilles de la région. A six
kilomètres, le palais d’Isak Pasa (Isak Pasa Saray) est l’un des
caravansérails les mieux conservés qui jalonnaient la Route de la
soie tous les trente à quarante kilomètres, pour offrir un abri sûr
aux marchands et à leurs caravanes. Construit par un gouverneur kurde
à la fin du XVIIIe siècle, il s’inspire de l’architecture perse,
seldjoukide et ottomane. Plus de 300 pièces, une mosquée, une
bibliothèque et un hammam forment un ensemble raffiné et confortable
– l’architecte avait doté les btiments du chauffage central et du
tout-à-l’égout. Adossé à une colline, le palais s’ouvre sur les
steppes et les montagnes voisines, dont les sommets masquent
cependant l’Ararat.

Mont de légende, l’Ararat, situé à 50 kilomètres au nord de
Dogubayazit, est un cône volcanique parfait, qui surgit de ces
horizons de hauts plateaux, spectaculaire masse de lave violette
coiffée de neige tout au long de l’année. Ce sommet isolé attire
facilement les nuages et il est rare, au-delà du petit matin,
d’apercevoir la silhouette du volcan dans toute sa pureté.

Les agences de voyages françaises promettent aux randonneurs
l’ascension en trois jours. Les guides locaux, plus réalistes,
comptent cinq jours pour l’aller et le retour depuis le point de
départ à 2 200 m jusqu’au sommet. Encore faut-il entreprendre
l’ascension en été, quand la neige ne recouvre pas le parcours. Mais,
que le voyageur atteigne ou non le sommet, le silence, la profusion
des fleurs et, le soir, les chants des guides kurdes sous les étoiles
lui apporteront l’offrande intime de la montagne.

Situé à l’intérieur du territoire turc depuis 1923, l’Ararat reste un
symbole arménien pour toute la diaspora du peuple victime du génocide
en 1915. Au musée de Van, une section consacrée au génocide en
propose une lecture négationniste, à l’aide de livres sur la
prétendue « falsification arménienne ».

Sur le lac de Van, une région où les massacres commis à l’encontre
des Arméniens par les Turcs ont été sanglants, demeure un témoignage
de la présence arménienne : la petite île d’Akdamar conserve presque
intacte l’église de la Sainte-Croix, datant du Xe siècle. Ses pierres
orangées, ses bas-reliefs représentant des scènes de l’Ancien et du
Nouveau Testament, ses fresques et son plan en croix en font un joyau
poignant de l’art arménien.

NOTES: CARNET DE ROUTE ACCÈS. Paris-Istanbul, avec Air France, à
partir de 332 EUR. Turkish Airlines, qui dessert les villes
orientales de Trabzon, Erzurum, Kars et Van, propose des tarifs
depuis Paris, Lyon, Nice et Strasbourg vers ces villes, à partir de
247 EUR jusqu’au 30 novembre, de 414 EUR tout au long de l’hiver
(tél. : 01-56-69-33-50, site : ). D’une ville
à l’autre, les transports se font en bus ou avec une voiture de
location. VISITES. Monastère de la Vierge Marie, à Sumela (en turc,
Meryemana Manastiri). Visite tous les jours, de 9 heures à 18 heures,
en juin, juillet, août, et de 9 heures à 16 heures le reste de
l’année. Dans les monts Kaçkar, le village d’Ayder, à 1 250 m
d’altitude, est un bon point de départ pour les randonnées. A Kars,
voir l’église des Saints-Apôtres, une église arménienne du Xe siècle
transformée en mosquée puis en église orthodoxe par les Russes, et
aujourd’hui désaffectée. A Dogubayazit, le palais d’Isak Pasa (Isak
Pasa Sarayi) se visite tous les jours sauf le lundi, de 8 h 30 à 17
heures. L’île d’Akdamar, près de Van, est desservie par des bateaux à
moteur. SAISON. Les villes et les sites patrimoniaux peuvent se
visiter toute l’année. Les Hauts Plateaux de l’extrémité orientale,
situés à 2 000 m, sont sous la neige de Noël à mai. En montagne,
préférer juillet, août et septembre, quand les sentiers ne sont plus
recouverts de neige. RANDONNER. Plusieurs voyagistes proposent des
itinéraires de randonnée en montagne. Allibert (tél. : 0825-090-190,
site : ) organise un circuit de quinze jours
qui inclut l’ascension de l’Ararat, à partir de 1 475 EUR. D’autres
formules chez Terres d’Aventure (tél. : 0825-847-800, site :
ww.terdav.com). L’ascension de l’Ararat, bien qu’autorisée depuis
2000, est étroitement surveillée. La demande doit être déposée trois
mois à l’avance. Des agences locales peuvent se charger d’obtenir le
permis et de fournir des guides (prévoir environ 250 EUR par
personne). LANGUE. Le turc (langue de la famille altaïque) est parlé
par près de 90 % de la population. Le kurde (langue de la famille
iranienne) est parlé par dix millions de Kurdes. LECTURES. Salman le
Solitaire, La Grotte, La Voix du sang, l’une des trilogies de Yachar
Kemal (Gallimard, de 17 à 23 EUR). Mon nom est Rouge, d’Orhan Pamuk
(Gallimard, 27 EUR). Contes de la montagne d’ordures, de Latife Tekin
(Stock, 16 EUR). Comme une blessure de sabre, d’Ahmet Altan (Actes
Sud, 22 EUR). Le Guide bleu Turquie, dans son édition de mars 2004,
pour l’histoire et la culture. Turquie, Lonely Planet (janvier 2004),
pour les informations pratiques. CINÉMA. Ararat, le film d’Atom
Egoyan (2002) sur la mémoire arménienne. INFORMATIONS. Office de
tourisme de Turquie, 102 av. des Champs-Elysées, 75008 Paris. Tél. :
01-45-62-78-68, site : www.turquie. infotourisme. com Bonne
documentation sur le site Internet de l’Institut kurde (106, rue La
Fayette, 75010 Paris) :

A1 Plus | 17:57:19 | 04-11-2004 | Official |

PRE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN STARTING ON NOVEMBER 8

Soon Armenian Parliament will get the 131st MP whose candidacy will be
registered on November 5 in District Electoral Commission. It is to
remind that the elections for the vacant seat will be held in N 27
election district since Mushegh Movsisyan, MP from N 27 election
district died of the injuries he had received in a car accident.

It is known that only one MP candidate – non-party man Araqel Movsisyan,
brother of Mushegh Movsisyan will partake in the elections. Under the
order, Araqel Movsisyan has produced the necessary documents to the
Commission, which were checked and approved.

[02-11-2004 ‘Azerbaijan-Turkey’]
————————————————- ———————
THERE IS A COUNTRY NEARBY
Source : “Yeni Safak” newspaper (Turkey)
Author: M. Karaalioglu

The power of the country is determined not only by the values within
the country. There is an enormous world beyond its borders. Finally,
it is difficult and even inappropriate to be confident in one’s
security and welfare unless you are unable to show your worth beyond
your country. In this sense, Turkey is not a superpower and cannot
reach superiority in the region because of its economic potential.
However, from the angle of political and economic possibilities around
the region, it is evident that historically Turkey is endowed by the
higher powers with the influence no less than the opportunities of
superpowers. The countries whose population speaks the same language
and professes Islam, is a most favorable action ground for Turkey.

Naturally, these countries have similar opportunities.

Thus, for Turkey Azerbaijan is an important political and economic
territory, and the possibilities of Turkey are a gate to a larger
world for Azerbaijan to be used for no return. In the streets,
restaurants and houses – everywhere the Turkish influence is
evident. The singers listened, TV channels watched, the goods in the
shops are all from Turkey… Being in Baku it is easier to understand
the reason of Azerbaijani sympathy for Turkey.

By the end of the last week, on the occasion of the first anniversary
of Ilham Aliev presidency, we participated in several events in
Baku. Among the participants were experts from various countries, from
Bulgaria to Russia: from Turkey – a lecturer of Istanbul University
Irfan Chiftchi, Avni Ozgurel from `Radical’ newspaper, Ibrahim Kiras
from `Gerchek Hayat’. In the course of the meetings, the results of a
large-scale social survey on the first year of Aliev’s presidency were
presented and discussed.

The significance of this research is not so much in the results as in
the fact that such work is implemented in Azerbaijan for the first
time – the state pays attention to the demands, complaints and
political views of the people for the first time ever. This is a
promising start for Azerbaijan.

The research shows that Azerbaijani people aspires to stability,
welfare and freedom and therefore, the trust for President,
Parliament, press and other main institutions is very high, which may
be compared with the indicators of Western democracies.

This step testifies to the possibility of serious achievements on the
way to democracy. The demand for it is also present…

Democracy, meeting international standards, is the most suitable
regime for Azerbaijan, whose population is distinguished by a high
level of development, possessing vast cultural legacy, especially in
the sphere of music and art. It is easier to develop democratic
institutions in the country populated by democratic and peaceful
people.

Doubtlessly, the fact that a part of the territory is still under
Armenian control makes the conditions of this country specific,
however all democratic initiatives give Baku advantage in regional
politics. In particular, on the background of Armenia, closed and
isolated, democratization will open more opportunities for Azerbaijan.

We should not forget that Turkey gained power and influence in the
region not due to the population and economy but democracy. Azerbaijan
also has this potential; it may become an example for democracy in the
region. If the new president Aliev adequately uses this potential, it
will stand the country in good stead. For this breakthrough, achieved
by non-Turkic republics as well, Azerbaijan has a favorable ground.

In essence, we understand that Aliev understood it. The atmosphere in
the country testifies to the fact that Ilham Aliev prepares ground for
such a breakthrough, creating a model of a more democratic
country. The democratic breakthrough of Azerbaijan in its significance
may be equivalent to the liberation from the Soviet captivity.

[29-10-2004 ‘Azerbaijan-Turkey’]
———————————————————————-
AGREED!
Source : “Echo” newspaper (Azerbaijan)
Author: F. Rizaeva

Turkish Saka-Korkmaz company and Azerbaijani government finally come
to an agreement

The joint memorandum between the Azerbaijani government and Turkish
private Saka-Korkmaz Pazarlama company, concerning payment by the
Azerbaijani company of the debt in 1992-1993 on investments of the
Turkish company in Gyanja spinning factory, was signed in Istanbul
yesterday. President of Saka-Korkmaz Pazarlama, Firudin Korkmaz
informed `Echo’ yesterday.

“By the end of this week the Azerbaijani side will pay the Turkish
company 5 million dollars in several transfers”, F. Korkmaz said. He
stated that from the Azerbaijani side, plenipotentiary representatives
of Azerbaijani Ministry of Agriculture and AZAL state company signed
the joint memorandum. Consul General of Azerbaijan in Istanbul,
Ibrahim Nabioglu also signed the document. From the Turkish side, the
document was signed by F. Korkmaz himself. “Immediately after the
payment of the debt by the Azerbaijani side, the Azerbaijani
transportation means detained in Turkish ports will be set free’,
F. Korkmaz stated.

As Azerbaijani government reported, the money will be paid from the
Azerbaijani reserve fund in compliance with the special decision of
the Cabinet of Ministers. “The Turkish side demanded payment of over 9
million dollars, although the Ministry of Agriculture had a debt of
about 3 million dollars. In the course of negotiations, it was agreed
to pay 5 million dollars. We hold that the document fully meets the
interests of the Azerbaijani side. This agreement resolves the debt
problem; neither of the sides will ever refer to this incident”,
according to a source in the government of the Republic.

We will note that earlier the Azerbaijani side already paid the
Turkish company 871 thousand dollars to cover the debt, therefore
4,129 million dollars need to be transferred for the present. As ANS
reported, the payment will be made through International Bank of
Azerbaijan.

In its turn, the government source emphasized that the suits of state
companies KASPAR and AZAL versus Saka-Korkmaz will be withdrawn. As a
reminder, Azal and KASPAR estimated the moral damage at 10 million
dollars (5 million dollars per each) and property damage – at 578000
and 3424680 dollars respectively. The suits of the state companies are
considered by the Commercial Court of Azerbaijan. `The companies are
state-owned, and if the government of the country makes a decision on
withdrawal of the suits, it will be implemented”, the government
representative stated.

[29-10-2004 ‘Karabagh Conflict’]
———————————————————————-
BAKU MADE CERTAIN ACHIEVEMENTS ON KARABAGH ISSUE IN UN
Source : “Azg” newspaper (Armenia)
Author: Tatul Hakobian

OSCE Minsk Group does not welcome the initiative of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan makes consecutive attempts to distract the attention of
international community from the essence of Karabagh conflict
settlement – MKR status. This time, Azerbaijan used a new tribune for
this purpose -UN.

On October 27, General Commission of UN General Assembly made a
recommendation: to include the issue of the `situation on the occupied
territories of Azerbaijan’ in the agenda of 59th session. On
Azerbaijani initiative, 9 out of 28 countries voted `for’ the issue
included in the agenda of the Commission, 14 abstained, none of them
voted `against’ and 5 more countries did not take part in voting. In
particular, `pros’ were Turkey, Ukraine, Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia. The
issue of the `situation on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan’
entered the agenda of the General Commission of UN General Assembly
based on the letter previously disseminated by the permanent
representative of Azerbaijan in UN. The letter reads, in particular,
that despite the fact that Karabagh problem settlement is the
competence of OSCE Minsk Group, the Co-chairmen did not succeed. At
the same time, Azerbaijani Ambassador to UN thought it necessary to
remind that strange things happen on the occupied territories around
Mountainous Karabagh, in particular illegal resettlement is underway
for artificial changing of the demographic situation in these regions.

Prior to the approval of the Azerbaijani initiative, RA MFA press
secretary Hamlet Gasparian said that Azerbaijan always insists on
alleged resettlements and brings similar accusations. `Armenian side
has always refuted these statements and invited the representatives of
international community to make sure the statements are groundless
right on the spot. As a rule, Azerbaijan itself blocks our proposals
in the international organizations. We state once again that there is
no state policy of resettlement’. Mr. Gasparian also noted that `on
these territories there are occasional migrants – refugees from
Shahumian and Getashen districts’. `We repeatedly stated and once
again assert that separate issues, raised by Azerbaijan from the
entire package of debates concerning the Mountainous Karabagh status
and submitted to the attention of international community, should be
considered directly with Mountainous Karabagh. We hold that the recent
initiative of Azerbaijan in UN does not concern us’, Mr. Gasparian
noted. Yesterday, after it became clear that Azerbaijani initiative
in UN was a success, RA MFA disseminated another statement, `Indeed,
on the initiative of Azerbaijan, the General Commission of UN General
Assembly passed a resolution – to include the issue of the `situation
on the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in the agenda of 59th
session. This step by Azerbaijan is viewed by us as another attempt to
distract the attention of the international community from the main
issue of Karabagh settlement – Mountainous Karabagh status’.

Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs thought it necessary to state
that representative of France in his speech on behalf of the OSCE
Minsk Group stated that UN General Assembly session is not a forum for
raising such issues.

The representative of France on behalf of Russia and USA noted in his
speech that putting the issue on the agenda of UN General Assembly
session may have negative consequences, particularly hampering the
peaceful settlement of Karabagh problem. Representative of France
noted also that UN General Assembly 59th session is not a suitable
tribune for debates.

Ambassador of Armenia to UN, Armen Martirosian reminded in his speech
that former autonomous region of Mountainous Karabagh was populated
and now is also populated by Armenians. Martirosian stated that the
territory around MKR passed under the control of Karabagh Armenians as
a result of war waged by Azerbaijan. Martirosian noted that on the
territories under the control of Karabagh forces there are no
settlements beyond Karabagh territory, and Armenia does not conduct
policy of resettlement on these territories.

Irrespective of the explanation given by official Yerevan, it is
evident that Azerbaijan succeeds in separating certain details from
the Karabagh issue and organizing discussions in reputable
international organizations around these issues. The resolutions of
UN general Assembly are not binding but are important from the
political and propaganda aspects. We will also add that UN Security
Council adopted 4 resolutions on Karabagh issue in 1993 and after
Ilham Aliev’s coming to power, Baku makes regular attempts to put
these resolutions in force.

—
Yerevan Press Club of Armenia, ‘Yeni Nesil’ Journalists’ Union of
Azerbaijan and Association of Diplomacy Correspondents of Turkey
present ‘Armenia-Azerbaijan-Turkey: Journalist Initiative-2002’
Project. As a part of the project web site has
been designed, featuring the most interesting publications from the
press of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey on issues of mutual
concern. The latest updates on the site are weekly delivered to the
subscribers.