Author: Chmshkian Vicken

GREEK AMERICANS AND THE 2006 CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS
By Gene Rossides
Hellenic News of America
May 10 2006
The 2006 congressional elections in the House of Representatives
and the U.S. Senate are well under way. They offer Greek Americans
an excellent opportunity: (1) to voice their views on foreign policy
issues of concern to them and (2) to seek to influence the views of
those running for elective office.
Because of President George W. Bush’s low ratings in the opinion polls
on job performance, the Democratic Party believes it has a chance to
capture either the House or Senate or both. As a result there will
be a much greater interest in these elections than would normally be
the case.
Most observers believe that the Democrats are likely to gain seats
both in the House and in the Senate for the first time since 2000.
The question is whether the Democrats can gain sufficient seats to
achieve a majority in either chamber.
The Republicans hold 231 House seats out of 435 seats and the Democrats
201 seats with one Democrat- leaning independent and 2 vacancies which
are split between the parties. The Democrats need to have a net gain
of 15 seats to become the majority party in the House.
In the Senate the Republicans hold a majority of 55 seats to the
Democrats 44 plus one Democrat- leaning independent. The Democrats
need to gain six seats to achieve a majority in the Senate.
The news for the next six months to election day on November 7, 2006
will feature politics 24/7. This applies also in the overwhelming
majority of safe seats in the House and Senate because of President
Bush?s low- poll ratings- in the 30?s. Republicans and Democrats well
remember the anti-incumbent mood in 1994 which led to an unforeseen
Republican landslide and a majority in the House and Senate and Newt
Gingrich becoming Speaker of the House. The Republicans picked up
54 House seats and 10 Senate seats. The Democrats had controlled the
House for 40 years.
Following the 2000 census, redistricting increased the number of
“safe” districts in the House which means “safely” in the hands of
one party or the other. Only 32 congressional districts were close
in 2004. By close I mean the winner won with less than 55% of the vote.
This means that incumbents have a strong hold on retaining power.
Michael Barone, a leading political analyst and nationally syndicated
columnist, writes that the Democrats? chances of capturing a net gain
of 15 seats “are not very good,” although they do “have a chance to
win the House, but it?s far from a sure thing.” (Washington Times,
3-14-06, A19, col.3).
In the Senate there are 33 races this year (one-third of the Senate
is up for election every two years). The Democrats are defending 18
seats while the Republicans are defending 15 seats. The Democrats,
who need a net gain of 6 seats to control the Senate, will concentrate
on Rhode Island and Pennsylvania in the East, on Ohio and Missouri
in the Midwest and on Montana and Arizona.
To counter the Democrats possibilities of picking up Republican seats,
the Republicans are targeting two of the Democrats three open seats,
one in Maryland where Senator Paul Sarbanes is retiring and the other
in Minnesota. Republicans also are saying they have chances against
three Democratic incumbents, namely Senators Robert C. Byrd (W.Va.),
Robert Menendez (N.J.) and Ben Nelson (Neb.).
This year’s key Senate race is in Pennsylvania, where Republican
Senator Rick Santorum in a bid for third term is running behind the
state Treasurer Bob Case Jr. (D).
In Rhode Island, a Democratic-leaning state, Republican Senator
Lincoln D. Chafee is in trouble and also faces a primary opponent
in the September 12 GOP primary. If successful, he will face either
former state attorney general Sheldon Whitehouse or Secretary of State
Matt Brown. Whitehouse is currently out-in-front for the Democratic
nomination.
In Ohio, Senator Mike DeWine (R) is in trouble in his race for
re-election, in substantial part because of GOP scandals in Ohio,
of which he is not a part. His Democratic opponent will be decided
in a primary this month.
In Montana, Senator Conrad Burns (R) is in trouble because of media
reports which detailed his financial ties to indicted lobbyist Jack
Abramoff. The two Democrats who are trying to unseat him are state
Auditor John Morrison and state Senator Jon Testor.
The Democrats need to win all 4 of these races and 2 more, one in
Arizona and one in Missouri. The incumbent Republican Senators in
Arizona, Jon Kyl, and in Missouri, James M. Talent, are less vulnerable
than the 4 discussed above.
I will discuss the relevant House races in a future article.
Because of the intense interest in the 2006 House and Senate races,
Greek Americans have a much better opportunity to be heard to advance
their views on foreign policy issues than previously. Incumbents and
challengers will listen more closely to their constituent?s views.
The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) once again is making a special
effort this year to solicit the foreign policy views of both incumbents
and challengers and will publish the results in October prior to the
November 7 election date. AHI is a non-political and is not authorized
to endorse candidates. It is authorized to inform the public as to
the positions and voting records of candidates.
AHI?s aim is to have both incumbents and challengers support our
positions in the best interest of the U.S.
It is of great importance for Greek Americans to get involved in the
political process. I urge each reader to get active. You can make a
difference. Contact the candidates and tell them your views on our
issues-Cyprus, the Aegean, FYROM, religious freedom and protection
in Turkey for the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the reopening of Halki
Patriarchal School of Theology, compensation for victims of Turkish
genocide, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing, the need for
a critical review of U.S. policy towards Turkey, human rights for
the Greek minority in Albania, recognition of the Armenian Genocide
by Turkey and support for AHI?s legislative initiatives.
If you want to be part of AHI?s Congressional Contact Leadership Team
in your state and in your congressional district please contact AHI-
telephone: (202) 785-8430, e-mail: [email protected].
To reach your Representative and your two Senators call and write
as follows:
U.S. House of Representatives:
The Honorable____________ U.S. House of Representatives Washington,
D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-224-3121 (general number)
U.S. Senate The Honorable___________ U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3121 (general number)
Get active. You can make a difference.
Gene Rossides is President of the American Hellenic Institute and
former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury

Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union, DC
May 5 2006
State Duma Deputies Make Antisemitic Speeches, Come Close to Calling
for Overthrow of Government
(May 5, 2006)
Two members of the Russian national parliament have again made
antisemitic speeches, according to a May 3, 2006 report by the Sova
Information Analytical Center. Former Defense Minister Igor Rodionov
and Oleg Mashchenko-both members of the extremist nationalist
Motherland Party-reportedly spoke at an April 29, 2006 gathering in
St. Petersburg organized by the Union of Russian People. This
organization is named for a pre-Revolutionary group which
participated in mass killings (pogroms) of Jews with the
semi-official approval of Tsarist officials.
Speaking to this group, Mr. Rodionov reportedly stated that, “today
our country is ruled by a Jewish mafia” and called for a struggle
“against this diabolical plot to destroy our country and people.” Mr.
Mashchenko took it a step further, coming close to calling for an
armed uprising against the “anti-Russian government.” “We can’t be
victorious through elections,” Mr. Mashchenko stated. “All the
legislative activity of the Duma serves the interests of a small clan
of rich people, the majority of whom are aliens who are hostile to
the Russian people. At the same time, the kike media deliberately
misinforms and fools tens of millions of people.” Mr. Mashchenko also
reportedly complained about Armenians having too much power in
Russia, a possible reference to vocal protests by the Armenian
community in Moscow following the murder of a young Armenian on the
Moscow metro that many attribute to Russian neo-Nazis.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
May 6 2006
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV, CHAIRMAN OF THE 9TH ECO SUMMIT
[May 05, 2006, 22:00:59]
Dear friends, I express my deep gratitude for electing me as chairman
of the 9th Economic Cooperation Organization summit.
Dear presidents, dear heads of delegations, dear prime ministers.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
First of all, I avail myself of the opportunity to greet all of you
in Azerbaijan Republic and wish success and achieving concrete
results at today’s summit. I am grateful to President of the
Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmonov who presided at the 8th
Economic Cooperation Organization Summit. Moreover, I thank Mr.
Askhat Orazbay, who is completing his mission as ECO secretary
general, for his efforts towards development of the organization. I
offer my hearty congratulations to its new Secretary General Khurshid
Anwar on his election to the high office and best wishes for success
in his future activity.
At today’s summit, the work of the organization will be analyzed
and we shall share our views on the accomplishments achieved. I am
sure that at the same time there will be an effective dialogue on the
further prospects of the organization.
After Azerbaijan regained its independence we joined various
international organizations and initiatives. We became a member of
the Economic Cooperation Organization as well and attribute a great
importance to our activity in this organization. The member states of
the organization are bound together by historic and cultural ties.
Our shared history, customs and traditions make us even closer and
provide a good basis for successful activities. The role of the
Economic Cooperation Organization, at the same time, is also
increasing In terms of regional cooperation. As you know, economic
potential of the member countries is increasing and as a whole, it
comes as our region has possibly achieved the highest economic growth
rate. Economic capabilities of the member countries are widening and,
of course, open up new opportunities for both bilateral and
multilateral successful cooperation.
Azerbaijan attaches an extremely great importance to the issues of
regional cooperation. We are a participant as well as an organizer of
some international regional projects and would like to have more
concrete projects within the Economic Cooperation Organization too.
We have to discuss specific issues and take all necessary practical
steps.
The economic development of Azerbaijan is going on rapidly. Last
year, Azerbaijan posted economic growth of 26 percent. It is our
history’s highest figures, which, first of all, allows us to
realize all our plans associated with socio-economic issues. GDP
growth in Azerbaijan increased up to 40 percent in the fist quarter
of this year and in general, it is likely to remain around the same
level until the end of the year. On the one hand, opening of 380
thousand new jobs over the past two years and a half helps to
eradicate unemployment, on the other hand, it drastically reduces the
number of people living in poverty.
The increase in economic indices naturally boosts the country’s
capabilities. Favorable conditions are being created to strengthen
bilateral and multilateral relations. I am confident economic
projects connecting us will bring fruits in the future. Azerbaijan
and neighboring countries are doing much work to deliver Caspian oil
and gas resources to the world markets. After commissioning of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline linking the Caspian and
Mediterranean Seas, economic situation in the region as well as
security measures should be strengthened more. We consider regional
cooperation projects should serve all the objectives. They will have
a positive impact on strengthening economic ties, increasing economic
potential as well as on establishing peace and tranquility in the
region.
Besides, construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline to deliver
Azeri gas from to Turkey and then to European countries, which is of
great importance for both Azerbaijan and neighboring nations, is to
finish in a few of months.
Oil and gas pipelines connecting Azerbaijan with Turkey as well as
our successful cooperation with neighboring Islamic Republic of Iran
in the energy sector, implementation of gas and electricity projects
through exchange are of vital importance for ensuring the
cooperation. I can say that we maintain very good bilateral relations
with all the member states and highly appreciate this.
Strengthening transport infrastructure is extremely important for our
region and all our states. Azerbaijan plays and will continue playing
its role in opening transport corridors East-West and North-South.
These projects will make us closer as existence of the transport
infrastructure heightens our economic capabilities and provide new
wonderful conditions for economic cooperation. As all you know,
Azerbaijan is keen on the operation of the Europe-Caucasus-Asia
transport corridor and is a participant of the TRACECA program.
Besides, the railway linking Europe and Asia arouse a great interest
as well. Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is important not only for our
countries but also for the whole region. Should we manage to realize
this – I don’t doubt we will – there will be the shortest route to
connecting Europe and Asia. Undoubtedly, as a transit country
Azerbaijan should settle the issues of providing transport
infrastructure for friendly countries.
In short, there are all conditions for overall economic cooperation.
No doubt, peace and security in the region should be strengthened for
its further deepening. In its turn, Azerbaijan is actively involved
in such matters and will continue its activity in the future too. At
the same time, there are many issues that arouse concerns. First of
all, all the countries should take common approach to the issues of
fighting terrorism. The world should combine its efforts, as it will
be extremely difficult to achieve serious success on one’s own. We
should look at all terrorist organizations from the same viewpoint,
without any discrimination because we will be able to combat against
this evil only through combining our efforts.
Azerbaijan is the country, which also suffered from terrorism.
Armenian terrorist organizations committed over 30 acts of terrorism
against Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis killing over 2000 innocent
people. Today, the continuing Armenia’s aggression against
Azerbaijan, policy of ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijanis resulted
in displacing over a million of Azerbaijanis from their native lands
are the biggest drawback, and huge obstacle on the way of regional
cooperation development. We are striving for the peaceful resolution
of the matter, considering that the possibilities for this still
exist. Therefore, we need to realize all possibilities. At the same
time, patience of the people of Azerbaijan is not unlimited. We
believe that this issue – Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, can be settled
only in line with international law principles. Armenian occupation
forces should leave Azerbaijani lands, Azerbaijanis should return to
their lands. Justice must be restored this way. Territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan is recognized by all but Armenia. It is recognized by
the United Nations and of course, cannot be the subject of
negotiations. I want to avail myself of the opportunity to express my
deep gratitude to all the member countries for supporting
Azerbaijani’s stance.
Reduction of risks, successful economic cooperation, energy security
are the issues that will ensure the development of peace. We are
located in the extremely important but very sensitive region. There
are conflicts, menace and risks in it. I do not doubt that the
Economic Cooperation Organization will honorably fulfill the goal
facing it and our cooperation will be strengthened, our successful
interaction both in bilateral and multilateral format will have a
very positive impact on the whole region.
Dear friends and guests, I once more greet all of you here in
Azerbaijan and wish every success in the your work. Thank you.

ARKADY GHUKASYAN IS DISSATISFIED WITH ARMENIA FUND
Lragir.am
05 May 06
NKR President is dissatisfied and satisfied with the Armenia Fund.
Simultaneously. Arkady Ghukasyan told his opinion to news reporters
on May 5 during the break of the meeting of the board of trustees of
the Armenia Fund in Yerevan. The president of Karabakh announced he
had greater expectations than the present indices. “Our expectations
are much greater. I think the Diaspora is a very powerful structure
and the Diaspora can offer greater assistance to Karabakh. Second,
we have problems with quality of work, and we find that the fund
should enhance control,” said Arkady Ghukasyan.
This is an unexpected, even a sensational statement, for it is an
unprecedented attempt of expressing dissatisfaction publicly.
However, what happened is quite normal in the context of recently
circulated information about the intention of the government of
Karabakh to gain direct control on the money of the fund. In this
context, reliable sources even report that Arkady Ghukasyan proposed
to change the executive director of the fund but the president of
Armenia refused.
“You see, if there was such a proposal, I would not be standing here
because we work. I think it is clear libel,” said Executive Director
Naira Melkumyan May 5 to the reporter, before the meeting of the
board of trustees of the fund. The executive director is appointed
by the board of trustees. This question was not found on the agenda
of the annual meeting of the board, which means that it will not
be taken up for another year. Although, an extraordinary meeting is
possible. Especially that there are such moods. The evidence to it
is the dissatisfaction of the NKR president with the activity of the
fund. The president of NKR would hardly oppose to the entire fund. He
might know that there are others who share his attitude. The evidence
to this is his approach of changing the executive director. The
NKR president does not think that the questions he raised would be
settled by the change of the executive director, but he thinks that the
question can be discussed. “It is a question to be decided by the board
of trustees, I cannot decide alone. I think that we must solve the
problem. There are several ways of solving the problem. At any rate,
this is a question that must be discussed,” stated Arkady Ghukasyan.

BULGARIAN NATIONAL UNITY PARTY URGES PARLIAMENT TO RECOGNIZE “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 4 2006
Bulgarian National Unity Party called on parliament to recognize bogus
“Armenian Genocide”.
APA Europe Bureau reports that this party has prepared a declaration
which urges the government to recognize Armenians’ counterfeited
ideas. Party chief Boyko Vatev claims that his country is one of the
modern countries not recognizing killing of Armenians by Turks.
In reality Armenians killed Turks and the genocide invented by
Armenians is therefore called “false Armenian Genocide”.

ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY AND ARMENIAN DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIONS OPEN BOOKS OF CONDOLENCES
AZG Armenian Daily
04/05/2006
On occasion of yesterday’s tragic crash of Armenian jet that claimed
lives of 113 people, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and
Armenia’s diplomatic representations worldwide will open books of
condolences and will lower the Armenian tricolor.
For foreign embassies in Armenia the book of condolences will be open
on May 5 and 6 from 12.00 to 3.00 pm.

SOCHI MAYOR: “WE MOURN IRREPLACEABLE LOSS WITH YOU”
PanARMENIAN.Net
04.05.2006 01:43 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Sochi Mayor Victor Kolodyazhnyj on behalf of all
Sochi residents condoled with relatives and friends of the victims
of A-320 airplane crash.
“In this sorrowful hour I want to frankly condole with relatives and
friends of the victims! Many Armenians live in our town. Something more
than mere friendly relations always tied Armenia and Sochi. We were
tied and still are by kinship. We were united in our common happiness,
we remain together in our common grief. Our hearts are full of sorrow
and we mourn irreplaceable loss with you,” Kolodyazhnyj’s official
message says, reports Yuga.ru.

HEAD OF RA PRESIDENT’S ADMINISTRATION RECOGNIZED “ENEMY OF PRESS”
Noyan Tapan
May 03 2006
YEREVAN, MAY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the results of the
traditional survey of the members of RA National Press Club, by
the majority of votes, Head of RA President’s Administration Armen
Gevorgian was recognized the “enemy of press” for the period from May
3 2005 to May 3 2006. According to Narine Mkrtchian, Chairwoman of the
National Press Club board, the certificate of the “enemy of press”
will be sent to him “for fulfilling the role of the chief censor of
Armenian media”. None of the pretenders got a sufficient number of
votes in the nomination “friend of press”. To recap, the title of the
“enemy of press” was earlier received by RA President Robert Kocharian
(three times), RA MP Hranush Hakobian and the Armenian State System.

PRESS RELEASE
American University of Armenia
40 Marshal Baghramian
Yerevan 375019 ARMENIA
Tel: (37410) 512-522
Fax: (37410) 512-523
Contact: Diana Manukyan
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
The American University of Armenia (AUA) will be hosting Prof. Donald E. Knuth,
one of the most prominent computer scientists in the world.
In June 2006, the Computer & Information Science Program and the
College of Engineering of AUA, with co-hosts the National Academy of
Sciences of Armenia, the Faculty of Informatics & Applied Mathematics
of Yerevan State University, and the Faculty of Computer Systems and
Informatics of the State Engineering University of Armenia, will
host Dr. Donald Knuth, Professor Emeritus of the Art of Computer
Programming at Stanford University.
Donald E. Knuth (B.S. and M.S., Case Institute of Technology
1960; Ph.D., California Institute of Technology 1963) is the
author of numerous books, including three volumes of The Art of
Computer Programming, five volumes of Computers & Typesetting, and a
non-technical book entitled 3:16 Bible Texts Illuminated. His software
systems TEX and METAFONT are extensively used for book publishing
throughout the world.
Donald E. Knuth is a member of the American Academy of Arts and
Sciences, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the U.S. National
Academy of Engineering. He is also a foreign associate of the French,
Norwegian, and Bavarian Science Academies and the Royal Society
of London.
Dr. Knuth received the Turing Award from the Association for Computing
Machinery in 1974; the National Medal of Science from President Carter
in 1979; the Steele Prize from the American Mathematical Society in
1986; the Adelskold Medal from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
in 1994; the Harvey Prize from the Technion of Israel in 1995; the
John von Neumann Medal from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic
Engineers in 1995; and the Kyoto Prize from the Inamori Foundation
in 1996.
Donald E. Knuth holds honorary doctorates from Oxford University, the
University of Paris, the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm,
the University of St. Petersburg, the University of Marnela-Vallee,
Masaryk University, St. Andrews University, Athens University of
Economics and Business, the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki,
the University of Tubingen, the University of Oslo, and eighteen
colleges and universities in America.
During his visit to Yerevan, Professor Knuth will receive an Honorary
Doctorate from the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic
of Armenia.
Dr. Knuth’s research papers have been instrumental in establishing
several subareas of computer science and software engineering, such
as LR(k) parsing; attribute grammars; the Knuth-Bendix algorithm for
axiomatic reasoning; empirical studies of user programs and profiles;
and analysis of algorithms. In general, his works have been directed
towards the search for a proper balance between theory and practice.
Professor Knuth will give two public lectures at the American
University of Armenia, one on June 12 on “The Joy of Technical
Illustration” and one on June 13 on “Literate Programming.” Both
lectures will be held in the Large Auditorium of the University and
will start at 5:00 PM. He will also hold meetings with students and
faculty in computer science at Yerevan State University, the State
Engineering University of Armenia and at AUA. Dr.
Knuth will be accompanied on this visit by his wife, Jill Carter Knuth.
“Dr. Knuth’s visit will help put Armenia one notch higher in the IT
map of the world,” states Armen Der Kiureghian, Taisei Professor of
Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, and Dean of
the College of Engineering, American University of Armenia (affiliate
of Univ. of Calif.)
—————————————-

The American University of Armenia Corporation (AUAC) is registered
as a non-profit organization in the United States and as the Armenian
University of Armenia Fund (AUAF) in Armenia. The American University
of Armenia (AUA) is affiliated through AUAC with the Regents of the
University of California.
Receiving major support from the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading
to the Masters Degree in eight graduate programs. For more information
about AUA, visit .

HEAD OF CBA: ACCORDING TO INDEX OF ECONOMIC FREEDOM ARMENIA IS IN THE LEAD AGAINST GEORGIA AND AZERBAIJAN AS WELL AS AGAINST OTHER CIS COUNTRIES
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
May 2 2006
YEREVAN, May 2. /ARKA/. According to the index of economic freedom
Armenia is in the lead against Georgia and Azerbaijan as well as
against other CIS countries, as the Head of CBA Tigran Sargsyan stated
during the “Caucasus 2005” international conference.
He emphasized that Armenia has taken the lead over Georgia and
Azerbaijan according to the index of structure and institutional
reforms as well.
“However due to the index of competitive capacity growth Azerbaijan is
in more favorable condition, after it comes Armenia and then Georgia”,
he added.
In his words, another specific advantage of Armenia is the quality of
energy supply. “Taking into consideration the fact that the quality of
energy system is one of the main problems of Georgia at the moment
and energy could have become one of the main points of region’s
integration into the unified geo-economic area together with ecology”,
Sargsyan stated.
He emphasized that, according to the estimates of the EBRD, among CIS
countries Armenia took first place due to conduction of structure and
institutional reforms, after improvement of three indexes, reflecting
privatization of large enterprises, antimonopoly policy and reformation
of banking system.
“Armenia still is in the lead in accordance with the index of economic
freedom”, Sargsyan went on emphasizing that among 157 countries Armenia
takes 27th place, Georgia takes 68th place and Azerbaijan – 123th.
However in his words, according to the estimates of the World
Economic Forum, Armenia yields leading positions to Azerbaijan in
the region. “Such estimate was affected by monopolization of the
telecommunication market, low level of cooperation between science
and business, absence of credit rating of the country, as well as
low level of independence of the RA justice system.