Author: Edgar Tavakalian

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2004
Contact: Linda Yepoyan
Phone: 610-642-6633
[email protected]
BIRTH RIGHT ARMENIA SPONSORS STRING OF OPPORTUNITY FAIRS
Young diasporans interested in learning more about the wealth of
volunteer programs being offered in Armenia, will want to take advantage
of the Opportunity Fairs being sponsored by Birthright Armenia this
coming January. Birthright Armenia is organizing these unified
promotional and recruitment events for all sponsored organizations that
offer youth programs to Armenia, with the goal of providing young
diasporan adults with a one-stop shop of information pertaining to
volunteer and study abroad opportunities in the Homeland under one roof.
Birthright Armenia will be pilot testing the Opportunity Fair idea in
Montreal and Toronto prior to conducting larger outreach events in
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. The key objectives
of the Opportunity Fairs are three-fold: to promote the idea and
importance of volunteerism in Armenia to large groups of youth; to
support the organizations implementing youth programs in Armenia in
getting a jump-start on their recruitment with captive audiences of
youth; and to simplify the research process of all available volunteer
opportunities for the youth in attendance. Opportunity Fairs of this
kind are unprecedented, so if these six pilot events prove to be
successful, Birthright Armenia vows to move forward with the idea of
sponsoring them annually on a national level.
Attendees of the Opportunity Fairs along the east coast can expect
presentations from more than half a dozen of the various diasporan
organizations implementing volunteer and internship programs in Armenia.
The organizations already scheduled to present at one or more of the
fairs include: ACYOA, Armenian Assembly of America, ASA-NY, Armenian
Tree Project, Armenian Volunteer Corps, AYF, Fund for Armenian Relief,
Habitat for Humanity, and Land and Culture Organization. It is
Birthright Armenia’s goal to get all of the diasporan organizations to
mobilize their staff, program alumni and volunteers to participate in as
many fairs as possible to speak to interested youth, to share first hand
experiences with fair attendees, and to encourage early submission of
applications. In addition, Birthright Armenia staff will inform the
audience about the availability of newly created local Armenian NGO
internship programs designed specifically for diasporan youth in the
areas of arts, education, environment, health, human rights, public
policy, social welfare, and youth affairs.
The Opportunity Fairs are currently scheduled for the following days,
cities, venues and times:
January 14: MONTREAL – McGill University, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
January 15: TORONTO – location to be finalized
January 20: BOSTON – Armenian Library and Museum of America in
Watertown, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
January 21: NEW YORK – NYU, Kimmel Center 803, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
January 23: PHILADELPHIA – St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Armenian Church in
Wynnewood, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
January 24: WASHINGTON, DC – Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, 6:00 –
9:00 p.m.
For those interested in learning more about Birthright Armenia and the
Opportunity Fairs listed above, please visit
for more detailed, up-to-date information on exact venues and event
times as they become available or email: [email protected].
Birthright Armenia’s mission is to strengthen ties between the homeland
and diasporan youth by affording them an opportunity to be a part of
Armenia’s daily life and to contribute to Armenia’s development through
work, study and volunteer experiences, while developing a renewed sense
of Armenian identity. This is accomplished by supporting and
complementing the initiatives of existing diasporan organizations that
offer youth programs in Armenia, and encouraging them to expand their
offerings in depth and breath. Birthright Armenia assists with travel
fellowships, language instruction, in-country seminars, orientation and
excursions in exchange for community service in Armenia.
# # #
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Gas leak from homemade heater kills family in Armenia
Associated Press Worldstream
December 16, 2004 Thursday 10:15 AM Eastern Time
YEREVAN, Armenia — A natural-gas leak from a homemade heater killed
a family of five in Armenia, officials said Thursday.
The accident Wednesday in the city of Echmiadzin killed a married
couple and their three small children, the Prosecutor General’s
Office in the former Soviet republic said. It said the heater was
set up without regard for safety standards.
The family was among a growing number of victims of accidents resulting
from the improper use of homemade heaters and from insufficient
oversight by officials charged with enforcing safety standards.
Many people in the poor ex-Soviet republic use homemade gas heaters,
sometimes tapping illegally into gas lines, because their homes lack
heating due to the prohibitive expense.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA’S ANTI-SMOKING LAW: PUFF OR PROGRESS?
By Karine Ter-Saakian in Yerevan
Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Dec 8 2004
In this country, even the doctors and politicians who warn of the
evils of nicotine are smokers themselves.
Armenia is the smoking capital of Europe.
The World Health Organisation, WHO, estimates that 63.7 per cent of
Armenian men are smokers, which makes them the heaviest puffers in
Europe. While there are no reliable statistics for the smaller number
of women smokers, their number is growing every year.
In Yerevan, billboards every ten metres display cigarette
advertisements for both Armenian and well-known international brands.
“It’s a national disgrace,” Grant Vardanian told IWPR. That’s a
surprising comment, coming from a business tycoon with a monopoly on
Armenia’s tobacco industry. “That’s what I say, even me, and those are
my advertising billboards hanging there! Until now, our legislators
have failed to pass a law prohibiting cigarette advertisements in
public places.”
Nonetheless, it was Vardanian and a group of other businessmen directly
involved in the production and distribution of cigarettes who earlier
this year led opposition to an anti-smoking bill in parliament.
Another legislative attempt to fight Armenia’s smoking habit is
currently being considered by the National Assembly, and could become
law by the end of the year.
The problem is chronic. In the cafes and restaurants of Armenia you can
hardly make out people’s faces in the dense tobacco smoke. “How can you
drink a cup of coffee without a cigarette?” is the sort of remark that
regulars in Yerevan’s countless cafes make to a curious journalist.
True, smoking has recently been banned in some large offices, but
this has little effect on the general public.
“All my friends smoke, so am I any worse than they are?” asked Narine,
a regular visitor to the Poplavok café in central Yerevan. “I know it’s
bad for you, but so what? What difference does it make if you live five
years more or less. I could give up if I wanted to. There is a saying,
you know: someone who doesn’t smoke or drink is damaging his health.”
According to the WHO, 2,000 people between the ages of 35 and 70
die every year in Armenia from smoking-related diseases such as lung
cancer and heart attacks.
“They are not dying from smoking,” said cardiologist Tigran Haianian,
“but from stress. Smoking only aggravates and attacks the weak parts
of the body. But they should give up, of course.”
Somewhat undercutting his fine words, Haianian admits he has been
smoking since his student years and is not about to give up.
Alexander Bazarjian, co-ordinator of the public health ministry’s
anti-tobacco programme, argues that if Armenia were to sign up to the
WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control it could save millions
of lives, “The convention obliges everyone to fight against smoking,
and if we do not subscribe to it, then we are pronouncing an ultimatum
on our health.”
But this message does not seem to be getting through. After all,
health minister Norair Davidian is a smoker himself.
After doctors, it is of course journalists who smoke more than anyone
else. “Well, how can you write without a cigarette? Your head just
doesn’t work,” is a remark that typifies the attitude of three quarters
of Armenian journalists, regardless of gender.
On the days a newspaper goes to press, the smoke in editorial offices
is suffocating. “You may as well smoke yourself, at least fewer people
will hassle you about it,” said journalist Yelena Galoyan.
Legislation limiting the sale and consumption of tobacco products,
proposed by the permanent parliamentary commission for science,
education, culture and sport was adopted in a first hearing by
parliament in mid-November.
The campaign is already having some effect. Rumour has it that the
entire Armenian government gave up smoking simultaneously, but how long
they can keep it up is another matter. President Robert Kocharian does
not smoke, but the same cannot be said of his subordinates. True,
in the new Yerevan mayor’s office there is not a single ashtray and
no area for smokers.
Artur Bagdasarian, speaker of the National Assembly, laid down
something of a challenge when he declared triumphantly that he had
given up, prompting journalists to begin stalking him and other
deputies to see whether they could catch them out.
But there is another side to the coin. Cigarette production accounts
for 3.3 per cent of Armenia’s industrial output, and in 2001-03,
profits from both imported cigarettes and the sale of locally
manufactured product amounted to 42 million US dollars.
Last May, anti-smoking legislation failed in parliament because many
deputies had vested interests in the cigarette business.
The watered-down version reviewed by parliament last month now protects
the interests of cigarette manufacturers. As it stands now, smoking
will still be permitted in cafes and restaurants, and taxes and excise
duties on Armenian-made brands will remain low. Prices of cigarettes –
currently between 50 cents and a dollar for a packet – are set to rise.
If it is passed, the new law will impose restrictions on advertising,
the sale of cigarettes to minors, and smoking in public places.
Ordinary Armenians wonder how much difference it will make.
“Cigarette advertising is very attractive, with its courageous young
men and elegant models inviting you to take up smoking,” market trader
Grigor Khachatrian told IWPR. “Our young people are attracted by
beauty, they hardly think about the dangers. But banning it won’t work.
Smokers will smoke. The advertisements don’t work on me, though –
I’ve never smoked in my life.”
Economics expert Eduard Agajanov argues that “a ban on advertising
local products leads to buyers preferring attractive foreign goods”.
“If this law becomes government policy, then of course I will obey it,”
said parliamentary deputy Shavarsh Kocharian.
“And if we ban advertising, well so what? People will smoke all
the same.”
Kocharian should know – he’s not planning to give up.
Karine Ter-Saakian is a freelance journalist based in Yerevan.
–Boundary_(ID_Pzv9Uh7xYuhPmCodYdu0qQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction launched
Mediamax news agency
30 Nov 04
YEREVAN
The construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline started today in the
village of Agarak in Armenia’s Syunik Region [southern Armenia].
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan attended the ceremony to
start the construction as well. The first 40 km of the gas pipeline
will be built on a 30m-dollar credit allocated by Iran.
[Passage omitted: background of project]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Conflict creates obstacles for economic development – President
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Nov 25 2004
President Ilham Aliyev, receiving a delegation led by Turkish State
Minister Gursad Tuzmen on Thursday, said he was satisfied with the
activity of the Azeri-Turkish inter-governmental commission.
Aliyev said that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the existing
efficient cooperation between the two countries’ business people
and that meetings between Turkish and Azeri entrepreneurs positively
affect strengthening of economic ties.
The President also pointed out the existing economic potential for
expanding these relations, which are further promoted by the friendship
between the two states.
Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh,
Aliyev said the conflict is a serious obstacle for Azerbaijan’s
economic development.
“We demand the international community, in particular, the
organizations directly involved in the conflict resolution to approach
the issue fairly and put an end to double standards.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Joint operation yields over 600 kg of drugs in Tajikistan
Asia-Plus news agency
23 Nov 04
Dushanbe, 23 November: The second stage of the complex preventive
operation Kanal-2004 ended in all the member states of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) on 22 November. The operation,
which was aimed at combating drug trafficking, involved the special
services of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan.
Over 621 kg of drugs were seized by the joint efforts of all power
wielding structures and Russian border guards in Tajikistan between
15 and 22 November, the head of the press centre of the Drug Control
Agency at the Tajik president, Avaz Yuldoshev, told Asia-Plus this
morning.
“Over this period, 100 kg of heroin and 232 kg of raw opium were
seized, and the remaining drugs were concentrated hashish and
marihuana,” Yuldoshev said. He said that seven fire-arms and 56
cartridges for them had also been found and seized from drug dealers
during the operation.
An interdepartmental meeting will sum up the final results of the
Kanal-2004 special operation this evening.
The first stage of the annual operation, the aim of which was to
block the routes of trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances
and precursors on the territory of the CSTO member-states, was held
in September this year. The operation seized 92 kg of drugs, half of
which was heroin.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
18 Nov 04
Greek telecom company signs “reconciliation agreement” with Armenian
government
YEREVAN
The management of the Greek company OTE Greece’s Telecommunications
Organization signed a reconciliation agreement with the Armenian
government on disputable points in the activities of the ArmenTel
company on 17 November.
Justice Minister David Arutyunyan, who represents the interests of
the government in the negotiations on this issue, said this in
Yerevan today, a Mediamax parliamentary correspondent reports.
Arutyunyan signed this document on 13 November. He said that the
ArmenTel management would sign the agreement today. It will come into
force immediately after that.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Diario Armenia
November 4, 2004
Turquía celebra su independencia construida con el genocidio y la
usurpación de nuestros territorios
Miembros de Unión Juventud Armenia repudiaron la impunidad del
Estado turco en la celebración del aniversario de la creación de
esa republica.
`Ante una fuerte tormenta, el pesimista se queja del viento, el
optimista espera que cambie, el realista ajusta las velas’. En
Unión Juventud Armenia, hace tiempo que elegimos nuestro camino, el
camino de la protesta pacífica y efectiva, como vienen siendo los
pasados 24 de abril, y como lo serán también los próximos.
Esto se vio reflejado una vez mas el pasado viernes 29 de octubre,
fecha en que el estado turco, celebra el aniversario de la
fundación de la república de Turquía, supuestamente
occidental, moderna, y democrática.
A las 12:30 del mediod?ía, del día en cuestión, unos 30
jóvenes nos dirigimos a la residencia del embajador turco, donde
sorpresivamente desarrollamos una inteligente y efectiva actividad de
difusión de nuestra causa, y donde también manifestamos nuestro
rechazo ante la celebración de este acontecimiento de la negra
historia de Turquía.
Nuestras voces y los volantes que entregábamos, mostraban las
fuerza de nuestro reclamo en el siguiente slogan: `estado
turco… ¿y los derechos humanos? Un estado fundado sobre sangre
armenia.’
Muchos diplomáticos y representantes de distintas naciones del
mundo quedaron impactados con nuestra presencia en el lugar y todos
ahí miraban asombrados ante el incansable sonar de nuestro móvil
parlante, que repetía una y otra vez lo que nosotros queríamos
transmitir: `Nosotros jóvenes argentinos descendientes de armenios,
repudiamos hoy….’.
Algunas cosas de las ocurridas el pasado viernes, nos demuestran el
éxito de esta actividad. En primer lugar, la cobertura
periodística de la manifestación por parte de medios del
ámbito grafico, radial y televisivo, este ultimo repitiendo las
imágenes de nuestra manifestación durante el fin de semana
haciendo de público conocimiento las imágenes obtenidas por las
cámaras. En segundo lugar, la enorme cantidad de gente que
recibió nuestros folletos, tanto diplomáticos que ingresaban al
agasajo, como gente en la calle, o en sus automóviles, y que
también visualizaron nuestros carteles, o los llamativos
trípodes.
Por último en tercer lugar, el embajador de Turquía, nos
envío un comunicado, desde el interior de la residencia, por medio
del encargado de relaciones publicas de la embajada, en el cual nos
pedía que cesáramos con nuestra pacifica manifestación, ya
que entorpecíamos la normal ejecución del acto que puertas
adentro intentaban realizar. Por supuesto nuestra respuesta ante ese
pedido fue negativa.
Se demuestra una vez mas que ya no son válidos esos argumentos que
algunos en forma ridícula aun utilizan contra nosotros, alegando
que las manifestaciones de la juventud siempre terminan en violencia,
y que estas carecen de contenido.
Ponemos fin a esta carta esperando que cada vez mas gente apoye esta
causa justa, y deseando que nunca mas en estas tierras, ni en ninguna
otra, un armenio festeje al lado de un turco la fundación de la
republica genocida, hasta que Turquía no reconozca su crimen.
Unión Juventud Armenia de la Federación Revolucionaria Armenia
E-mail: [email protected]
(Diario Armenia 11/04/04)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Karabakh separatist leader visiting USA to raise charity funds
Mediamax news agency
11 Nov 04
Yerevan, 11 November: The president of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic
[NKR], Arkadiy Gukasyan, left for the USA today.
NKR President Arkadiy Gukasyan will take part in a telethon scheduled
for 25 November to raise money for the continuation of construction
work on the strategically important North-South highway.
Within the framework of the visit, the NKR president will meet
representatives of the business, political, public and religious
circles of the Armenian diaspora in the USA.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Manoyan: Any shift in the US policy toward Armenia would be a positive one
Yerkir/arm
November 05, 2004
“Concerns that the US would adopt a negative policy toward Armenia
because the Armenian National Committee of America and the Armenian
political parties of the United States supported Sen. Kerry in the
presidential election, are baseless,” Kiro Manoyan, ARF Bureau’s Hay
Dat and Political Office director said, according to an Armenpress
report.
Manoyan added that in the United States supporting one of the
candidates does not result in hostilities. “I believe any shift in
the US policy toward Armenia would be a positive one because the sides
saw the activism of the ANCA and the Armenian community and will try
to please them.”
Meanwhile, in US Congress election, held along with the presidential
election, ANCA supported 202 candidates â~@~S both Republican and
Democrat â~@~S and 158 of them were elected.
As for the ANCA’s plans with the new administration, Manoyan said that
the goals are defined based on the organization’s mission. “The issues
have not changed: to enhance Armenian-American relations, ensure US
support for strengthening Armenia, ensure a positive stance of the US
toward the Artsakh issue, recognition of the Armenian Genocide. This
is our agenda regardless who is in office.”
When asked doesn’t Bush’s victory indicate that he was not going
to recognize the Armenian Genocide in the next four years, Manoyan
noted that before the previous election, Bush promised to recognize
the Armenian Genocide but he didn’t.
So, Manoyan said, it made no sense to give such a promise again; all
the Armenian community has to do now is to pursue that the Genocide
issue, as well as other Armenia-related issues be considered by the
Bush administration more seriously.
–Boundary_(ID_b37f54b03Pn5HsNF6z6zXQ)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress