Author: Dabaghian Diana

Press Release
FEDERATION OF ARMENIAN ORGANISATIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS (FAON)
24 April Committee
Weesperstraat 91
NL – 2574 VS The Hague
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
Tel. 070 4490209
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
The Netherlands recognises Armenian Genocide
The Hague, 21 December 2004 – The Armenian Federation announces with
satisfaction that today the Dutch Parliament has adopted unanimously
a motion concerning the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
Armenian community of The Netherlands has been insisting at the
Dutch Parliament and the government on recognition of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915 for many years. Especially last year, in the run-up
to and during the Dutch presidency of EU, the 24 April Committee
of the Armenian Federation has persistently campaigned to bring the
Armenian question under the attention of the Members of Parliament
and the Dutch public.
The motion was introduced during the debate on the outcome of
the European Summit of last Friday in connection with the start of
accession negotiations with Turkey. In that debate nearly all fractions
asked the government about the absence of the Armenian Genocide issue
in the Presidency conclusions. This in spite of commitment by among
others France and the European Parliament and also by Dutch Foreign
Minister Bot himself, who ensured the Dutch Parliament that the
Armenian question has always been brought up at the meetings with
the Turkish colleagues. The majority of the Parliament Members had
asked to pay attention to this point.
In the motion adopted by the Parliament the government is asked “to
bring up the recognition of the Armenian Genocide continuously and
expressly in the dialogue with Turkey”.
This motion has been introduced by the Chairman of Christian Union
fraction Mr. Rouvoet and supported by all other political parties in
the Parliament.

Investment Opportunities in the Republics of Armenia and Georgia
BISNIS Search for Partners
20 December 2004
BISNIS publishes Search for Partners leads to help U.S. companies find
partner and investment opportunities in the expanding markets of the
former Soviet Union. To receive Search for Partner leads regularly,
email BISNIS at [email protected] or call (202) 482-4655. To
search previously published Search for Partner leads online, visit
This issue of BISNIS Search for Partners includes opportunities in:
– Automotive
– Chemicals
– Construction and Engineering Services
– Construction and Transportation
************************************************************************************
Automotive
Country: Armenia
Industry: Automotive
Company: Radiotechnika LLC
Radiotechnika LLC specializes in the importation and distribution of
construction materials. It also owns and operates two machine-tool
plants in Yerevan.
The company seeks a U.S. partner to establish production of container
trailers for hauling 40′ and 20′ containers.
LeadLink,
************************************************************************************
Chemicals
Country: Georgia
Industry: Mining (mirabilite) / Chemicals production
Company: Merabiliti Ltd.
The company is looking for a U.S. investor who is interested in
production of sodium sulphate and cooperation with Georgian company.
LeadLink,
***********************************************************************************
Construction and Engineering Services
Country: Georgia
Industry: Construction and Engineering Services
Company: GeoEngineering Ltd.
GeoEngineering Ltd, a private company in Tbilisi, is the only local
engineering and construction company in the South Caucasus that has
successfully completed certification process and was awarded the ISO
9001:2000 Certificate in Engineering Surveys, Design, Construction,
Project Management, Research and Planning within the fields of Civil
Engineering, Energy and Transport Systems. The company is looking for a
strategic investor who can bring investment, new equipment/technology,
and jointly promote the company to international markets.
LeadLink,
***********************************************************************************
Construction and Transportation
Country: Georgia
Industry: Construction and Transportation (Cargo Terminal)
Company: Tbilisi International Cargo Handling (TICH)
TICH is seeking a partner for construction of a multi-modal cargo
terminal at Tbilisi International Airport.
LeadLink,
*******************Note************************************************************
These opportunities are provided solely as an informational service and
do not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Verification of these leads is the responsibility of the reader.

MEETING OF WESTERN DIOCESAN CLERGY OF LOS ANGELES AREA
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA, December 17 (Noyan Tapan). Upon the invitation
and under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian,
Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America,
on Wednesday, December 12, the clergy of the Los Angeles area had their
last meeting of the year, also attended by his Eminence Archbishop
Vatche Hovsepian, His Eminence Archbishop Dirayr Mardigian, Primate
of Bulgaria and Rumania, and His Eminence Archbishop Arsen Berberyan.
The meeting began with the Morning Service, after which the Primate
greeted and addressed the clergy.
According to the Press Office of the Diocese, the Primate referred to
his schedule of 2005, his Pastoral visits, the dates and locations
where he will celebrate Divine Liturgy, as well as conferences and
other events. The schedule will be completed in the near future.
The Primate also mentioned the Pontifical visit of His Holiness Karekin
II, Catholicos of All Armenians, which is to take place on June 1-20,
2005, stating that for the past several months a committee has already
been planning the details of the Pontiffâ~@~Ys visit.
The Primate’s address focused on the construction of the Mother
Cathedral, and the fact that new donations are pledged constantly. The
Construction Committee is dedicated to this vital mission, and the
legal paperwork is almost completed. His Eminence made a plea to the
clergy to increase their efforts in securing Godfathers and donors
for the Cathedral.
On June 4th the Catholicos of All Armenians will officiate over the
Ground-breaking ceremony of the Mother Cathedral. To provide first
hand information regarding the progress of the Mother Cathedral
project, the Primate has sent an official invitation to Los Angeles
based organizations, Armenian media and press, clergy, parish council
chairmen and Diocesan standing committee representatives to be present
at a reception to be held at the Diocese on January 12.
His Eminence also reminded the attendees that on Christmas Day,
January 6, 2005 the traditional reception will take place at the
Diocese. The reception is open to all faithful. Following the
traditional House Blessing ceremony with the participation of
the clergy, the Primate will officiate the blessing of Khachkars
commisioned on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. Youth representing each parish of the Diocese will take
part in this special ceremony. Following, Archbishop Derderian will
visit each parish and consecrate their Khachkar, which will then be
situated in an appropriate place in the church.
The publication of books and booklets is an important part of the
Primate’s mission. The last booklet published is entitled “Key
Elements of the Christian Faith”, with a publication volume of 5000
copies. Dr. and Mrs. Bedros and Garine Taghlyan from St. John Garabed
Armenian Church in Hollywood became the sponsors of this publication,
in the memory of their beloved father, Hagop Taghlyan.
The Diocese of Gougark, Armenia, is the Sister Diocese of the Western
Diocese. The Western Diocese has adopted around ten Sister Parishes
in Armenia, Artsakh and Georgia, which it supports every year.
In the upcoming year five churches of the Diocese will adopt parishes
in Artsakh. The ACYO will adopt the ACYO of the Artsakh Diocese,
to financially assist their projects. It is the Diocese’s goal to
have 30 Sister Parishes by the end of next year. The faithful can
also participate in this mission by making their own donations.
The Primate also announced that the Western Diocese will support
the St. Nersess Hospital in Yerevan, which functions under the
auspices of the Mother See. For the implementation of this project
the Primate is currently meeting with doctors who have shown the
interest to participate in this beneficial project.
Another item on the agenda was a reminder of two pilgrimages to Armenia
and Jerusalem in the upcoming year. Archpriest Fr. Moushegh Tashjian,
Pastor of St. Mary Armenian Church in Costa Mesa, is in charge of
the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
To spread the Word of God and at the same time make the faithful aware
of the activities of the Diocese, parishes and auxiliary bodies,
a television program will soon begin under the leadership of Very
Rev. Fr. Dajad Dz. V. Yardemian.
After a dialogue with the Clergy around certain issues, the Primate
invited Archbishop Dirayr Mardigian who informed the participants
of the spiritual life and mission of the Dioceses of Rumania and
Bulgaria. He congratulated wholeheartedly the various projects of
the Primate and expressed his appreciation that under the guidance
of the Primate, the Western Diocese is able to financially assist
the Mother See, her Sister Parishes, the Motherland and Artsakh.
The Primate expressed his gratitude to the clergy who serve the
Armenian Church and their parishes with devotion. He wished them all
a successful year, filled with new accomplishments.
The meeting closed with the Lord’s Prayer.
–Boundary_(ID_0rutSnpINdJjAqZxDu6q1g)–

Turkey remains at odds with U.S. over Iraq war
By Amberin Zaman, Special to the Los Angeles Times
post-gazette.com
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
ANKARA, Turkey — When a U.S. ambassador to Turkey asks to see the
country’s leader, an appointment is usually made within days. But
recently, it took the current envoy six weeks to get an audience with
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The delay was a another sign, many analysts and policymakers in the
Turkish capital say, of the deepening rift between Turkey and its
most powerful ally. The split reflects anger among Turks over the
war in Iraq and their growing pressure on their government to stand
up to the United States.
Using exceptionally harsh language, Turkish officials and politicians
in recent weeks have attacked the Bush administration, with much of
their invective reserved for U.S. policy in Iraq.
The opening salvo came from Erdogan, who last month referred to Iraqi
insurgents killed in a U.S.-led assault on the city of Fallujah as
“martyrs” and exhorted the Muslim world to unite behind Turkey
“against powers that are seeking to assert their hegemony.”
Tensions shot up when Mehmet Elkatmis, a lawmaker from Erdogan’s
conservative Justice and Development Party, which has Islamist roots,
likened the U.S. occupation of Iraq to “genocide” and said the
U.S. military might have used atomic weapons against Turkey’s neighbor.
“Never in human history have such genocide and cruelty been witnessed,”
Elkatmis declared. “Such a genocide was never seen in the time of
the pharaoh, nor of Hitler nor of Mussolini.”
Angered by the Turkish government’s halfhearted rebuttal of Elkatmis’
remarks, several U.S. officials have warned that the next time Congress
considers legislation labeling the mass killings of Armenians by
Turkish forces during World War I as genocide, the Bush administration
might not quash the bill.
The latest spat comes before a summit Friday of European Union leaders,
who will decide whether to open talks aimed at admitting Turkey to
the union. The United States has long lobbied for Turkey’s membership,
and Washington’s influence over seven former Soviet bloc nations that
joined the EU last year so far has bolstered the Turks’ case.
Emerging from a 90-minute meeting with Erdogan yesterday,
U.S. Ambassador Eric S. Edelman sought to downplay the chill,
describing the talks as “constructive, thorough and frank.” Turkish
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul called the tensions a misunderstanding.
“Why would we want to weaken ties with a superpower?” he said in an
interview with the daily newspaper Hurriyet.
But for all the upbeat talk, analysts predict further turbulence.
“Despite 50 years [of partnership], it is clear that Turkish-American
relations will remain fragile and replete with mini-crises,” said
Asli Aydintasbas, a longtime observer of ties between the two nations.
Turkey, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s sole majority-Muslim
member, served as a bulwark against communism during the Cold
War. During the 1990s, the Turks allowed U.S. warplanes to use bases
in their nation to patrol a “no-fly” zone over northern Iraq after
the defeat of Iraq’s Saddam Hussein in the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Tehran Times
Dec 16 2004
Armenia, a good market for Iran gas
TEHRAN (IRIB News) — Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar
Hashemi Rafsanjani here on Tuesday called for further expansion of
Tehran-Yerevan relations in all fields.
In a meeting with Armenian Ambassador to Tehran Gegham Garibjanian he
called for implementation of the agreements reached between the two
sides.
Stressing the importance of the project to transfer the Iranian gas
to Armenia, Rafsanjani said that by putting into operation the
project Iran will gain access to an appropriate market.
Calling for settlement of the existing dispute between Azerbaijan and
Armenia, he expressed the hope that peace and durable stability will
be established in the entire region through all-out cooperation among
all regional states.
Iran and Armenia share various historical and cultural common points,
the EC chairman said urging the two states to make use of the
existing potentials in both countries.
Appreciating Iran’s efforts in settlement of the regional crises, he
said a powerful and developed Iran is to benefit the entire region.
He further lauded Iran’s economic achievements after the victory of
the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The Armenian ambassador to Tehran further called for promotion of
Tehran-Yerevan bilateral relations.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone 212.319.6383 x.118
Fax 212.319.6507
Email [email protected]
Website
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
AGBU YPGNY IN MIDST OF FIFTH BUSY SEASON
FUNDRAISES FOR AGBU HYE GREEN PREGNANT WOMEN’S CENTER IN GYUMRI &
ANTRANIG DANCE ENSEMBLE
In step with its continuing dedication to the local community, the
AGBU Young Professionals of Greater New York (YPGNY) has stirred up
yet another season full of diverse and exciting activities. Over the
past few months, YPGNY has gathered hundreds in various venues to
perpetuate its mission of providing young Armenian professionals with
an outlet to volunteer for worthwhile causes, interact and socialize
with their peers, and stay close to their heritage – all under the
AGBU umbrella. Recent YPGNY-sponsored events included two evenings at
Manhattan lounges, one of which benefited a fellow AGBU auxiliary –
the AGBU Antranig Dance Ensemble. The YP group organized this event as
an expression of gratitude to the Ensemble for providing three decades
worth of fond memories to the Armenian community.
Additionally, YPGNY held a fundraising brunch event for AGBU Hye Geen,
another group within the global organization. Established in 1994 and
based in Southern California, Hye Geen is committed to empowering
women, making them more aware of their changing roles and shedding
light on women’s issues. Recognizing the high infant mortality and
complicated pregnancy rate in Armenia, Hye Geen also operates a
Pregnant Women’s Center in Gyumri, which provides vital pre-natal care
to almost thirty women on a daily basis. Participants of the program
receive daily counseling and medical exams from visiting doctors, in
addition to building unique bonds with fellow mothers-to-be. To date,
over seventy-five healthy babies have been born as a result of this
project.
Guests at the November 14 brunch enjoyed a Provençale-style atmosphere
and learned more about the importance of pre-natal care through a
presentation by Dr. Carol Dersarkissian. Through the generosity of
attendees and other donors, tiered gifts covering the cost of one
trimester or an entire pregnancy for one woman brought in over $2,200
for the Hye Geen Pregnant Women’s Center in Gyumri. Those interested
in YPGNY’s “Sponsor a Mom” project should contact: [email protected] or
212.319.6383 ext. 128. Donations of $35 or $70 will cover one or two
trimesters of a pregnancy respectively; gifts at the $100 level will
cover the costs incurred during one full-term pregnancy.
As always, never content to rest on its laurels, AGBU YPGNY has two
more events on the way this winter to bring together young Armenian
professionals and raise awareness about AGBU’s many endeavors. The
group is planning its third annual New Year’s Eve party at the Union
Square Ballroom. The December 31st evening includes six hours of
premium host bar, dinner buffet, midnight champagne toast and dancing
to the international beats of DJ Fares. Tickets, priced at $175, must
be purchased in advance, please call 917.882.4999 to make
reservations.
YPGNY’s second “must-attend” evening, its Armenian Christmas
Reception, is slated to take place in January 2005. The event, which
has become a staple of the group’s annual activity roster, supports
AGBU’s three Children’s Centers in Armenia. Providing after-school
curriculums in a variety of fields, including the arts, athletics,
computers and religion, the program has become an invaluable
institution for Armenia’s youth. Event proceeds will be added to the
AGBU Young Professionals Endowment Fund for AGBU’s Children’s Centers,
which to date totals over $18,000, thanks to fundraising efforts by
YPGNY and YP committees in Los Angeles and Northern California. The
highlight of the evening this year will be a silent auction featuring
artworks created by the students at the Centers.
For more information on AGBU YPGNY, please visit: ,
email [email protected] or call the AGBU Central Office: 212.319.6383.

ARMENIA: A successful new Armenia is emerging from a long Soviet shadow
Highlight
DiplomaticTraffic.com
December 14, 2004
By Thomas Cromwell ([email protected])
With a hostile Azerbaijan to the east and Turkey to the west, and an
often chaotic Georgia to the north, Armenia has had to struggle to
establish itself as a modern state after suffering 70 years under
Soviet rule. It has been a fairly slow process as both the minds of
people raised in the Soviet system and an economy built to serve it
have had to undergo radical change. But Armenia’s ambassador to
Washington, Dr. Arman Kirakossian, sees a good bit to be hopeful about
when discussing recent developments in his country. For one,
conversion to a market economy has started to take hold, as
investments begin to pay off, exports rise, and incomes increase. Last
year, Armenia registered GDP growth of 13.9 percent and this year it
should come in at 9.7 percent. This year its exports to the United
States stood at $33 million (40 percent above the level for 2003),
while imports from the US were $74 million. The main export is
jewelry, with apparel in second place (including 40,000 uniforms for
the NYPD).
This despite the unresolved conflict with Azerbaijan over the disputed
region of Nagorno Karabakh, where, after the fall of the Soviet Union,
fighting broke out between Azeris and the Armenian community there,
supported by Armenia, Karabakh Armenians accounted for 80 percent of
the population in the enclave at independence, but today there are no
Azeris living in the territory (there are small groups of Russians,
Greeks and Yazidis resident there).
It is 10 years since a ceasefire was put in place between Armenia and
Azerbaijan, but to date a political settlement has eluded the parties.
Nevertheless, an OSCE committee, called the Minsk Group, co-chaired by
the US, Russia and France, has made progress through several rounds of
meetings that have supported a series of bilateral talks between the
two sides. A series of meetings among foreign ministers of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and the Minsk Group this past summer led to the
announcement of a new round of peace talks, called the Prague
process. Talks proceeded yet further at a follow-up meeting on
December 6 and 9.
What’s more, the ambassador says, the new president of Azerbaijan,
Ilham Aliyev, while initially talking tough, threatening to restart
military action and rallying Muslim nations to press for United
Nations intervention, has moderated his position and has met three
times with Armenian President Robert Kocharian. He has shown himself
willing to find a compromise, and, the ambassador says, Armenia hopes
he will become more pragmatic.
Armenia has made a number of proposals for a solution in the past but
to date they have not been accepted. Now, the ambassador says,
Yerevan’s position is simply that the Karabakh Armenians must be
allowed to exercise self-determination and not be responsible to
Baku. What it won’t accept is a return to the Soviet-era status quo,
created by Stalin’s 1933 decision to add the Nagorno Karabakh region
to Azerbaijan, of course without asking the people living there if
they agreed!
Armenia is a country of long-suffering, and its people are scattered
around many parts of the world. There are some three million living in
Armenia, but five million living elsewhere, with concentrations in
North America, Russia, and the Middle East. The United States has some
1.5 million ethnic Armenians, concentrated primarily in California.
American Armenians include some very successful individuals who have
been active in helping Armenia get on its feet. The best-known is Kirk
Krikorian, the owner of MGM. Last year he added to an earlier $200
million grant to build a major highway by funding a project to
renovate central Yerevan and another to renew the country’s museums.
James Tufenkian has organized carpet weaving among the villages and is
beginning to export the rugs to the United States. He has also started
to invest in B&B properties. Vahakn Hovnanian of New Jersey’s
Hovnanian Brothers (one of the top ten construction companies in the
United States) is building an American-style town near Yerevan, and
other projects.
Other investors have arrived by different routes. The devastating
earthquake that in 1988 destroyed the town of Spitak and killed 25,000
Armenians, brought Utah’s Jon Huntsman to help with the
reconstruction. He stayed on to build homes and to carry out other
construction projects.
But there are also other Diaspora communities that are returning to
help build the new state. There have been Armenian communities
throughout much of the Middle East since the Ottoman Empire and the
dispersion of Armenians from eastern Asia Minor in 1915. Some of these
Armenians have been returning to their homeland, especially of
late. Another group of importance is Armenians who went to Russia
after the collapse of the Soviet Union led to the idling of most of
the Soviet factories in Armenia, including many secret Soviet
plants. Many of the Armenians in Russia are now prospering there and
investing back home, at least to the extent of building homes.
The American Armenian communities were created by three major waves of
immigration. The first was in the late 19th Century and continued to
World War I and the 1915 murders and deportation of Armenians by the
Ottomans, persecution that the Armenians and most of the world say was
genocide. (Turkey continues to dispute this and refuses to open its
border with Armenia until Yerevan stops using the term. Ankara says it
also wants to see the Nagorno Karabakh dispute resolved before it will
negotiate with Armenia over a border agreement. Armenia has not placed
conditions on normalizing relations. Washington sees the normalization
of ties with Turkey and a resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
as critical for stability in the region.) The second wave occurred in
the 1960s and was comprised primarily of Armenians from the Middle
East, where conflicts made life increasingly difficult. The third wave
followed the breakup of the Soviet Union at the end of the 80s.
The economic recovery of Armenia is giving the country strength, and
the momentum is there for a solution to the Nagorno Karabakh
standoff. The Minsk Group seems an effective negotiating structure and
it is clearly making some headway. The real sticking point is for the
leaders of both nations to be able to find a workable solution based
on mutual compromises and to sell that solution to their respective
populations. The result would be welcome for both sides, ending an era
of tension, with positive repercussions for the domestic politics and
economies in both countries.
Ambassador Kirakossian says that while relations between his country
and the United States have been “generally good,” the terror attacks
on 9/11 brought the two sides closer in security cooperation. Armenia
quickly agreed to allow use of its air space for US Air Force planes
headed to Afghanistan, and it has contributed intelligence and other
tangible assistance to the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan and
elsewhere, a peacekeeping unit to Kosovo, and has pledged doctors,
de-miners and convoy drivers to Iraq.
>From its side, Washington initiated two years ago a program of
military aid and cooperation after President Bush waived Section 907
of the 1992 Freedom Support Act which prohibited the sale of US
weapons to Azerbaijan so long as it was engaged in hostile acts
against Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh. In the name of parity, this had
resulted in an arms embargo for Armenia as well. Now both countries
get $8 million a year in assistance from Washington to boost their
militaries and their ability to work with the United States Armed
Forces.
In the broader picture, a special US-Armenian Task Force meets twice a
year to improve bilateral relations across the board. It has focused
on reform programs, trade, energy and other key areas of mutual
concern. Recently the US Congress passed a measure establishing
Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with Armenia, which is one of
the first CIS countries to join the World Trade Organization (Georgia,
Moldova and Kyrgystan are the others).
*****************************************************************
Biography of Ambassador Arman Kirakossian
Dr. Arman Kirakossian was appointed Armenian Ambassador to the United
States on October 22, 1999 and presented his credentials to President
Bill Clinton on February 3, 2000. He holds the diplomatic rank of
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
Prior to assuming this position, Dr. Kirakossian served as Armenia’s
Ambassador to Greece from July 1994 to October 1999. In March 1999, he
also assumed the duties of the Dean of Diplomatic Corps in Athens,
Greece. Dr. Kirakossian was also accredited to Cyprus, Slovenia,
Croatia, Albania and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. From 1991 to
1994, he served as First Deputy Foreign Minister, and, from October
1992 to February 1993, he held the post of Acting Minister of Foreign
Affairs.
Before embarking on a diplomatic career at the Foreign Ministry of
Armenia, Ambassador Kirakossian held several high-level academic
positions at the Armenian National Academy of Sciences. He was
Associate Director of the Armenian Diaspora Studies Department from
1990 to 1991 and served on Advisory Panel on Science and International
Relations at the Armenian Government from 1986 to 1990. He was Senior
Fellow, then Project Director at the Center of Scientific Information
for Social Sciences at the Armenian National Academy of Sciences from
1980 to 1986.
Dr. Kirakossian was born on September 10, 1956 in Yerevan, Armenia. He
received a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Geography in 1977 and a
Master’s degree in History of the Armenian and International Diplomacy
in 1980 from the Armenian State Pedagogical University. In November
1999, he earned the degree of Doctor of Sciences in History.
Dr. Kirakossian is the author of books and more than 100 scientific
publications. Two of his books were published in the United States
recently: British Diplomacy and the Armenian Question, by the Gomidas
Institute, Princeton and London, 2003, and The Armenian Massacres
1894-1896: U.S. Media Testimony, by Wayne State University Press,
Detroit, 2004. He has been awarded the Certificate of Merit for
Scientific Research by the National Academy of Sciences in 1983, and
Honorary Citizenship of Athens, presented by the Mayor of Athens in
1999.
In addition to his native Armenian, Ambassador Kirakossian is fluent
in English and Russian. He is married and has one son.
`

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
12/13/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) France Wants Turkey to Acknowledge Armenian Genocide 2) IUSY Resolution Commemorates 90th Anniversary of Genocide 3) Turkish Leader Warns of Terror Wave if EU Rejects Membership 4) Javakhk Armenians Discuss Region's Fate 5) ANCC Speaks out on Escalating Violence against Armenians in Iraq 6) President Lahoud Honors Dr. Haroutune Armenian 7) BRIEFS 1) France Wants Turkey to Acknowledge Armenian Genocide BRUSSELS (AFP/Reuters)--France wants Turkey to acknowledge the World War I massacre of Armenians during negotiations on its membership of the European Union, Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said Monday. French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said Turkey had "a duty to remember." Barnier said France did not consider Turkish acknowledgment a condition of EU entry, but insisted his country would raise the issue once talks opened. Speaking to reporters after a meeting of EU foreign ministers to discuss plans to invite Turkey for accession talks, Barnier said, "It is a request that France will make, to recognize the tragedy from the start of the century...Turkey must carry out this task as a memorial." In addition, France believes that accession talks should not begin before the second half of 2005, Barnier said. Turkey has pushed for immediate negotiations. "I believe that when the time comes, Turkey should come to terms with its past, be reconciled with its own history, and recognize this tragedy," Barnier said. His comments drew no immediate official response from Turkey, which has consistently denied orchestrating genocide and the Armenian figures. A foreign ministry spokesman in the Turkish capital, Ankara, told Reuters that Turkey has never and will never recognize "any so-called genocide." France's Armenian community of about 300,000--more than in any other European country--has vowed to press President Jacques Chirac to prevent negotiations on Turkish membership of the European Union until Turkey acknowledged responsibility for the genocide. EU leaders are expected to give Turkey a conditional green light at a summit this week to start membership talks with the bloc, while setting a series of strict conditions and warning the whole process could take at least a decade. The Armenian genocide has been a bone of contention for nearly nine decades, with Turkey consistently refusing to acknowledge that genocide in 1915-1917, when up to 1.5 million Armenians died. The French parliament passed legislation in 2001, officially recognizing the Armenian genocide; relations with Turkey subsequently cooled significantly. Another 14 nations, including Switzerland, Russia and Argentina, also classify the killings as genocide. 2) IUSY Resolution Commemorates 90th Anniversary of Genocide YEREVAN (Yerkir)Prompted by the efforts of the Armenian Youth Federation, the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) adopted a resolution recognizing the 1915 genocide of the Armenian people during its two-day world congress, which convened on December 3 in the Chilean capital of Santiago. The resolution states that the "IUSY and its [member] organizations decide to pay their respect to the victims of the Armenian Genocide, which is to have its 90th anniversary on April 24, 2005; IUSY recognizes and condemns the described acts in order to obtain international recognition of the genocide committed against the Armenian people; and IUSY calls the European Union to recognize the Armenian Genocide." The delegates also resolved to discuss the issue of genocide recognition during its next world congress, to be held in South Africa next year. The youth organization of the Socialist International, the IUSY consists of 143 member socialist, social democratic, labor, and student organizations, representing over 100 countries. The AYF is a full member of the IUSY and was represented at the congress by a delegate from Argentina. 3) Turkish Leader Warns of Terror Wave if EU Rejects Membership ANKARA (Times Online)--Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told European Union leaders that they will pay a heavy price in continued and escalating violence from Islamic extremists if the EU rejects Turkey as a member and confirms itself as a Christian club. "Accepting a country that has brought together Islam and democracy will bring about harmony between civilizations. If, on the other hand, it is not welcomed, the world will have to put up with the present situation," he said, referring to terrorism by such groups as al-Qaeda--whose local affiliates hit Turkey last year, bombing the British consulate and three other targets in Istanbul. "That is the very clear and present danger and it is all around us today. There is nothing we can do if the EU feels that it can live with being simply a Christian club...but if these countries burn their bridges with the rest of the world, history will not forgive them." Erdogan's powerful warning came just days before the EU summit that will decide whether to start formal accession talks with Turkey and against a furious European debate about the effects of incorporating Turkey's 70 million, mainly Muslim, population into the Union. He was speaking before opening Istanbul's first modern art museum--an event he had ordered to be brought forward from early next year to help to project a modern image of his country ahead of the summit. After knocking on the EU's doors for four decades, Turkey is painfully aware that it is viewed abroad as a poor and backward country and that, despite its secular constitution, much of the West is currently afraid of its Muslim tradition. Erdogan is a declared "conservative democrat," but his background as an Islamic firebrand has led to so many questions that his face broke into a "not again" smile at the mere mention of the problem. "We are Muslim, we are Turkish, we are democratic, and our country is secular," he said, emphasizing every phrase. "Nothing else need be said." Nevertheless, he believed that the EU, in trying to add safeguards and get-out clauses in the draft for the talks, was discriminating against Ankara. "I am of the opinion that Turkey is being faced with tougher criteria compared to other candidate countries," he said. "No other country had to wait for 41 years at Europe's door. We have fulfilled all the criteria, but despite this, Europeans are hesitating." Although loath to say so, he feels upset, maybe even betrayed, by suggestions from some, including France, that Turkey might be offered an alternative form of association with the EU if talks fail. "There are 400,000 Turks already living in France...what have we done to make them so afraid? We find it hard to understand what it is the French do not understand about us that makes them so wary. There is no such thing in the EU as privileged partnership. No other country has been offered this and there is no way that we will accept such an option for Turkey," he said. He also rejected suggestions that talks could be open-ended. "At the end of membership negotiations either there is full membership or there is nothing. Full membership is not automatic anyway--it may be that we don't manage to fulfill our side of the bargain and it all ends in failure. So why hobble the process from the start?" Conditions other than the existing political and economic criteria would be unacceptable, he said, especially any permanent brake on the freedom of movement of Turks, millions of whom were already economic migrants in Europe. Turkey's economy has been transformed after a crisis in 2001, while numerous reforms, including the abolition of the death penalty, have improved the human rights situation and reduced the power of the military--an institution that staged three coups between 1960 and 1980 and effectively wrote the present constitution. Erdogan acknowledged that the more difficult phase of implementing all these reforms lay ahead, but he was adamant that Turkey had done enough so far to begin negotiations. A former semi-professional football player, he resorted to sporting terms to describe the situation: "We are not bringing any conditions to this ourselves. But we are seeing here that new rules are being introduced while the game is being played. As this is unacceptable in a game of football, it is equally wrong in a process like this." Despite his criticism, he remains optimistic, saying that he expected to be offered a start date within the next year for talks with the goal of full membership. "In the last days of the Ottoman Empire, we were then called the sick man of Europe. Note, of Europe, never the sick man of Asia. You said so yourself," he said. 4) Javakhk Armenians Discuss Region's Fate AKHALKALAK (Armenpress)Ethnic Armenian non-government organizations in Georgia's southern region of Samtskhe Javakheti held their first joint conference last Saturday to discuss the numerous social, economic, and cultural problems that plague the region's mostly Armenian population. Although interested in working with the Georgian government to help alleviate some of the community's problems, conference participants expressed concern over the central authorities' desire to forcefully integrate the region with the rest of the population, stripping it of its Armenian character. The conference outlined the nature of the crisis, its possible solutions, and moved to create a task force, which will seek to design development plans together with Georgian officials. Of those invitedGeorgian parliamentarians, foreign diplomats stationed in Georgia's capital city, Armenian government officials, and representatives of the UN, OSCE, and European Commissiononly the OSCE Tbilisi office representative joined conference participants. Ethnic Armenian parliamentarians who represent the region's population also failed to attend the meeting. 5) ANCC Speaks out on Escalating Violence against Armenians in Iraq MONTRÉALIn a statement released on Monday, the Armenian National Committee of Canada expressed outrage over the December 7 bombings of Kabul's Armenian and Chaldean churches. "The Armenian National Committee of Canada is deeply concerned over an increasing climate of anarchism in Iraqi cities. From the beginning of the contested occupation of Iraq, Christians in generalincluding Armenianshave been targeted by terrorist groups, and a considerable number have fallen victim. As reported by various news agencies, the spiritual sanctity of over six Armenian churches have been violated, and a number of parishioners have fallen victim to these aggressions," read the statement and concluded by calling on the country's authorities "to take measures for the security of the centuries old Armenian minority of Iraq." Echoing the language of the statement, ANC-Canada Chairman Dr. Girair Basmadjian, said, "Some of the oldest Christian monuments of the Middle-East have been attacked and damaged, if not destroyed. These acts remind us of a not so distant past, filled with unspeakable horrors that we most certainly would not like to see repeated. I call upon all concerned authorities to stop this disaster from escalating to outright religious conflict." 6) President Lahoud Honors Dr. Haroutune Armenian BEIRUT--On the decision of President Emile Lahoud, Dr. Haroutune Armenian was awarded Lebanon's Cedar Medal last week during a ceremony that marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the American University of Beirut (AUB). In speaking of Dr. Armenian's accomplishments, the Dean of AUB's Faculty of Health Sciences Huda Zurayk, said that his achievements and input in the medical field internationally, regionally, and locally have brought honor not only to the school, but to all of Lebanon. "For this reason, President Lahoud wanted to pay tribute to him." Dr. Armenian, a graduate of the Hamazkayin Nshan Palandjian Jemaran, studied medicine at AUB, specializing in internal medicine. He received his PhD in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, and went on to head the School of Public Health there, as well as at AUB. He is currently the President and Dean of the American University of Armenia and a Professor of Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health. In detailing Armenian's accomplishments, associate Dean Iman Nuwayhid said, "He is truly a bridge between the east and west," never missing an opportunity to academically link Armenia, Lebanon, and the United Sates. In bestowing the honor to Dr. Armenian on behalf of President Lahoud, Health Minister Karam Karam said, "Dr. Armenian embodies the highest level of cultural cooperation." After accepting the award, Dr. Armenian shared the honor with his colleagues at the AUB Faculty of Health Sciences. He thanked President Lahoud and Health Minister Karam for the privilege, adding that the public health sector requires collective efforts, and he has been fortunate to have worked with excellent coworkers, professors, and students. As the first independent school of public health in the region, AUB's Faculty of Health Sciences has educated over 1700 public health and health sciences professionals, many of whom have made important contributions to the promotion of public health in Lebanon, the Arab region, and the world. 7) BRIEFS Armenia Has Plans for Rail Link with Iran YEREVAN (AP)--Armenia's transport minister announced plans for a railroad linking Armenia with its southern neighbor Iran. The government has drafted two alternate plans for the railroad's route inside Armenia, both leading to the border town of Meghri, said Andranik Manukian, adding that one would cost $760 million, the other $900 million. Although he did not specify the source of the funds, a government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said some financing could come from Iran and Europe. Construction began last month on a pipeline that is to bring Iranian natural gas to Armenia, easing its reliance on supplies from Russia via Georgia. Georgia Not to Impose Economic Sanctions against Armenia YEREVAN (Armenpress)--In an interview with Agence France Press agency, Georgia's foreign minister Salome Zurabishvili said her government enjoys good relations with both Azerbaijan and Armenia. On the recent decision by Azerbaijan to shut down its cargo rail traffic to other Caucasus republics because it feared that some of the goods were being delivered via Georgia to Armenia, Zurabishvili said Tbilisi had agreed to prevent transit through its territory of military goods, but added, "We refuse to take any economic sanctions against Armenia." Commenting on Georgia's role in the Karabagh conflict, she said that if Georgia was anything other than neutral in the dispute, "we would enter into a logic of escalation which would be not only damaging for us and for our neighbors, but for the whole region." US Citizen Wins Court Case against Armenian Prosecutors YEREVAN (RFE-RL)--A US citizen of Armenian descent won a court case against Armenian prosecutors whom he accuses of covering up an alleged wholesale embezzlement of his business assets in Yerevan, his lawyer said on Friday. George Najarian, who has engaged in extensive charitable work in Armenia and Karabagh for the last 15 years, sued the Office of Prosecutor-General for its refusal to press fraud charges against his former local business representative. The man, Grigor Igitian, is the legal owner of a photo shop and two buildings currently constructed in downtown Yerevan. According to Najarian's attorney, the court recognized his client as a "victim" and ordered the Prosecutor-General's Office to resume the fraud inquiry. Pope John Paul II Might Help Armenian Pilots in E. Guinea YEREVAN (RIA Novosti)--Armenian Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan appealed to Pope John Paul II to help the Armenian pilots convicted in Equatorial Guinea for involvement in an alleged attempted coup d'etat. The court in Malabo delivered its guilty verdict on November 26, sentencing the captain of the Armenian crew to 24 years in prison and the rest to 14 years each. According to Alaverdian, the president of Equatorial Guinea will meet with Pope John Paul II in the near future. Lights Down in Majority of Georgian Districts TBILISI (Itar-Tass)--Lights went down in the majority of Georgian districts on Sunday because of an emergency shutdown of several power lines and a unit of the Inguri hydropower plant. Electricity imports from Armenia stopped late Saturday night because of the emergency shutdown of the Alaverdi power line, which supplies 100 megawatts of electricity to Tbilisi and another 60 megawatts to Georgian areas bordering on Armenia. One of the two units of the Inguri hydropower plant stopped functioning for several hours Sunday night due to technical reasons. Armenian Parliament Tightens Laws on Smoking YEREVAN (AP)--Armenia's parliament voted to tighten restrictions on smoking Friday, approving legislation that will hike fines and outlaw lighting up in schools and in other public places. The legislation, passed by the National Assembly, calls for fines of up to 100,000 drams ($200) for violators and also bans smoking by teenagers under 16. The legislation, which goes into effect in January, will also prohibit smoking in cultural institutions and at sporting events. Packs of cigarettes and other tobacco products that do not have medical warnings on them about the dangers of smoking will be destroyed. The World Health Organization estimates that 63.7 percent of Armenian men are smokers--the highest rate in Europe. Classical European Film Festival Starts in Yerevan YEREVAN (Arminfo)--The European Film Festival kicked off on December 13 in Yerevan's Moscow theater with a showing of the German film "Good Bye Lenin." The festival is organized by EU Mission Offices in Armenia and Georgia, in cooperation with French, German, Italian, Greek, and Polish embassies, as well as British Council Office in Armenia. The proceeds from ticket sales will be used for charitable purposes. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Grand Junction Sentinel, CO
Dec 12 2004
Armenians out of state custody
By DANIE HARRELSON
The Daily Sentinel
Ouray County residents on Saturday welcomed home the family it lost
last month and still could lose to deportation. Armenian transplants
Ruben Sargsyan and his children, Meri, Gevorg and Hayk, spent the
last five weeks locked up in a Denver immigration detention center.
They were unexpectedly released Thursday.
`They community is elated to see them back,’ said family friend and
Ouray resident Kelvin Kent.
The small western Colorado communities of Ouray and Ridgway, home to
the Sargsyans for six years, cheered and embraced their newly-freed
friends and neighbors Saturday afternoon at the town park in Ridgway.
The two towns have rallied to make sure the family stays put. Only
800 and 500 strong, residents raised $16,000 at a dinner last month
to cover exploding legal bills. They’ve been working the phones to
let everyone from Denver to Washington, D.C., know of the Sargsyans’
plight.
Immigration agents took the family into custody in early November
while their attorney was trying to obtain visas for them. The
Sargsyans contend they fell victim to an American con man who duped
others into paying him to obtain fraudulent visas to the United
States.
Ruben Sargsyan and his children may no longer be locked up, but they
are not home free.
`The government’s position is still exactly the same,’ said Lloyd
`Max’ Noland, who married Ruben’s eldest daughter, Nvart Indinyan,
about five years ago. `The government’s contention is that these
people were a flight risk, so what they are saying is they want to
keep them in jail so they won’t leave the country so they can deport
them.’
Immigrations agents did not take Nvart, and her mother, Susan, into
custody because their cases were heard separately.
Noland said the family is trying to determine who ordered their
release.
`We’re curious to see who finally saw the light,’ he said.
Hayk, a star soccer player and senior honor student, attends Ridgway
High School. Gevorg studies chemical engineering at the University of
Colorado and was on the dean’s list.
Noland said school district officials assured him Saturday they would
work with Hayk to ensure his five-week absence does not delay his
high school graduation in the spring. CU administrators offered
Noland similar assurances that Gevorg’s absence would not count
against his academic record and he could return to campus when he was
ready.
`The most amazing thing is that this small mountain community in
southern Colorado is making the government listen,’ Noland said. `I
haven’t seen anything like this. We would have been nothing without
the community behind us.’
The Sargsyans remain cautious about their release because it does not
affect their ongoing case.
Each of the four family members must check in with immigration
officials in Denver twice a week by phone and once a month in person.
`There is extreme elation now, but we’re going to continue the
fight,’ Kent said. `They’re just good, clean wholesome people.
`They’re the type of people America wants and needs.’

Two CIS air defence exercises planned in 2005
Interfax-AVN military news agency web site
9 Dec 04
MOSCOW
The CIS Unified Air Defence System will hold two exercises in spring
and summer 2005, the Russian air force deputy commander-in-chief for
air defence, Lt-Gen Aytech Bizhev, said on Wednesday [9 December].
There will be exercises involving Russia, Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the middle of August at the
Ashuluk range in [Russia’s] Astrakhan Region, he said. Ukraine,
Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan may attend as observers, he said.
Bizhev said that in April Tajikistan will host exercises in which the
destruction of terrorists in the air and on the ground will be
rehearsed and Russian bases in Kant, Kyrgyzstan, and Dushanbe,
Tajikistan, used.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress