Author: Emil Lazarian

ARMAVIR MARZ TO BE PROVIDED WITH 25 UNITS OF NEW AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY NEXT MONTH
ARMAVIR, AUGUST 3, NOYAN TAPAN. “Armavir marz is one of the best
Armenian regions and a leading one in the agricultural sector,”
RA Minister of Agriculture Davit Lokian stated during his visit to
Armavir marz on August 2. In his words, this year the harvest is good
in the marz, which has always been noted for agricultural foodstuffs
production. During the minister’s meetings with residents of the
villages Arax, Hoktember, Lenughi, Talvorik, Hushakert and Sovetakan
of Armavit marz, issues of interest to peasants, particularly the
issue of an increase in prices of agricultural foodstuffs, were
discussed. The local peasants highlighted the problem of lack of
agricultural machinery: in their opinion, the machinery available
is not enough to carry out agricultural work, whereas that at their
disposal is too old. The minister promised that the problem will be
solved within a month. According to him, 25 units of new agricultural
machinery will be allocated to the Armavir regional administration,
which will distribute the equipment to local communities. The regional
governor Albert Heroyan expressed confidence that the peasant is
the best producer. According to him, in recent years the peasants
managed to overcome all the difficulties and today they are able to
organize agricultural activities efficiently. He said the prices of
agricultural foodstuffs will grow year after year. Last year purchasing
organizations bought 1 kg of tomato for 22 drams, whereas this year
they purchase it for 28 drams.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FAMOUS PAINTER ZHANSEM’S NEW WORKS EXHIBITED AT PARIS “MATIGNON” GALLERY
PARIS, AUGUST 3, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Prominent French
Armenian painter Zhansem’s (Hovhannes Semerjian) 40 canvases
were exhibited in June-July at the famous “Matignon” gallery of
Paris. According to the Istanbul “Marmara” daily, the canvases are
mainly new works. On the occasion of opening of the new exhibition
the Paris “World” newspaper wrote that the time goes, but the charm of
Zhansem’s art does not fade away. Dance and nature of Armenia became
a source for the painter’s inspiration. Three landscape paintings
on the Armenian theme were a pleasant surprise for visitors of the
exhibition. Those are a tribute of respect by the painter to his
native country, its nature. The “Walls” series of paintings also
took some place at the exhibition. During the exhibition days the
visitors were also able to watch an interesting video film dedicated
to Zhansem’s life and art. This last exhibition of Zhansem’s works
finished on July 29.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN DEFENCE MINISTER MAKES A MOVE
Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
Aug 3, 2006
Serzh Sarkisian’s elevation to a leading post in the governing party
seen as the first shot in the election campaign.
By Diana Markosian in Yerevan
The recent congress of the Republican Party, the leading member of
Armenia’s governing coalition, saw the second most powerful man in
the country, defence minister Serzh Sarkisian, elected chairman of
the party’s board.
On one level the move meant very little, as Sarkisian has been
working closely with the party for years. But he formally joined the
Republicans only a week before the meeting, and his elevation is widely
being seen as the party’s first move to win next year’s parliamentary
elections – and perhaps also an opening bid by Sarkisian to run for
the presidency in 2008.
The congress also re-elected Prime Minister Andranik Margarian as
party chairman.
Sarkisian has been a close associate of President Robert Kocharian for
more than 20 years, since the days when they both worked in Communist
youth league or Komsomol in Nagorny Karabakh in Soviet times. He
has served as Armenian defence minister twice, most recently since
May 2000.
The Armenian constitution prohibits Kocharian from running for a
third term when his term expires in 2008, leaving Sarkisian a leading
contender to replace him.
However, many opposition politicians and analysts say it is
inappropriate for the country’s defence minister to be associated with
one political party. Several observers pointed out that the previous
defence minister, career officer General Vagharshak Harutyunian, was
dismissed in 2000 on the grounds that he was too engaged in politics.
“Of course, Serzh Sarkisian has a right to engage in politics actively,
it’s his civil right under the constitution,” said political analyst
Stepan Grigorian. “But if that happens, he should leave his defence
post.”
Asked by IWPR whether he was contravening the constitutional
requirement that “the army should have no party allegiances and
be neutral”, Sarkisian said, “It’s true the law says that the army
belongs to no party and is neutral, but my being chairman of the
board does not introduce any new element.
“What’s the difference, when I’ve been collaborating with the
Republican Party for some time and was second on the party’s list
in the last parliamentary election? Nothing has changed, the only
difference being that this entire process has now been officially
registered.”
On the possibility that he might be positioning himself to replace
Kocharian, Sarkisian insisted, “My friends can testify that I have
never had the ambition to be president.”
Sarkisian has never admitted an interest in becoming Armenia’s next
president, although his name is frequently mentioned as a contender.
The Republican Party congress also saw many businessman, government
officials, regional governors and the mayor of Yerevan join the party,
strengthening its reputation as the party of power. Several deputies
from the People’s Party group in parliament, who are for the most
part businessmen, also joined up.
Tigran Torosian, the speaker of parliament and deputy chairman of
the party’s ruling board, said the strengthening of his party was
a positive development. “Political life in Armenia is becoming more
mature, though not as quickly as one would like,” he said.
Torosian was happy to agree that joining the Republican Party was
now seen as a route to high office in Armenia.
Critics say this trend as a setback for democracy.
“The Republican Party has concentrated its security resources in
the person of the defence minister, its financial resources are
represented by oligarchs and its administrative resources [allowing
it to influence elections] are held by leaders of local government
and ministers,” said Grigorian.
“These people are uniting not around some idea, but around an
aspiration to keep power, which is a very dangerous scenario,”
opposition leader and former defence minister Vazgen Manukian told
IWPR.
Political analyst Aghasi Yenokian warned, “After the special congress
of the Republican Party, Armenia is moving towards a one-party
system. A strong party has been created – so strong that no other
pro-government party will want to oppose or rival it.
“The opposition has its own particular characteristics – it’s quite
malleable and associates itself with certain figures in power –
so it won’t want to pit itself against [the Republican Party] either.”
The Republican Party is not, however, the only pro-government political
force. A new party, Bargavach Haiastan (Prosperous Armenia), set up
by top businessman Gagik Tsarukian, has widely been seen as a support
base for President Kocharian for his last two years in office.
There is some tension between the two parties. Bargavach Haiastan
has been registered for three years, but has not yet held a founding
congress. This drew some denigrating comments from Sarkisian and
other Republican leaders, to the effect that their rivals could not
yet consider themselves a proper party.
Tsarukian was among a handful of outsiders asked to attend the
Republican congress, but he did not take up the invitation.
Manukian said the activation of these two pro-government parties
should serve as a wake-up call for the opposition. He predicted that
the two could expect to win 30 to 40 per cent of the vote, and said
the opposition needed to consolidate in order to maximise its appeal
in next year’s parliamentary election.
Diana Markosian is a correspondent for À1+ television in Yerevan.
–Boundary_(ID_kvCQXTvHF5sp3t5mtRsjNA)–

RUSSIAN AND FRENCH CO-CHAIRS OF OSCE MINSK GROUP
CAN BE REPLACED – AZERI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER
TREND, Azerbaijan
Aug 3, 2006
Azerbaijan passed its position to US co-chairman of OSCE Mink Group
Mathew Bryza regarding the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
said Araz Azimov, President’s special representative o Nagorno-Karabakh
and deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Trend reports with reference
to ATV channel.
Azimov said following the replacement of US co-chair Russian and
French co-chairs may get replaced as well. “From this point of view
Bryza’s visit to the region opens some prospects”, Azeri official said.
Commenting Mr Bryza’s statement saying ‘status of Nagorno-Karabakh
shall be determined by its people, including those left homes in 1988’,
Azimov said people living in there shall be treated as ‘population’,
not ‘nation’. “We think Azeri and Armenian community alike shall
be accounted for in this process”, said Azimov. The question of
Nagorno-Karabakh status, he added, shall be considered just in a view
of returning occupied grounds to Azerbaijan.

ARMENIAN FEST SLATED IN GLENVIEW AUG. 12 AND 13
Pioneer Press Online, IL
Aug 3, 2006
On Aug. 12 and 13, the Armenian All Saints Church, 1701 N. Greenwood
Road, Glenview will host its 3rd Annual Armenian Fest. Hours are noon
to 10 p.m. Aug. 12 and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 13.
One special festival feature is the ancient ritual of the Blessing
of the Grapes, slated for 4 p.m. Aug. 13. A service performed by
priests and deacons across the world in August, the gestures welcome
autumn and prayers are for a bountiful harvest. For centuries, farming
Armenians in the small region depended on prosperous crops to survive.
Food featured will include shish kebobs, hummos, flaky spinach pies,
Armenian meat “pizza”, pilaf and desserts ranging from paklava to
flat breads made of sweet tahin. Carry-outs will be available.
Free Armenian dancing shows by the local cultural organization and
live Armenian music by the Chicago-based The Mideast Beat are slated
from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 12. The Beat, all self-taught from
age 13, have been playing Armenian music together for 30 years.
A kids’ tent will feature a moonwalk, ethnic crafts, carnival games,
face painting and clowns throughout the weekend. Uncle Raffi’s Petting
Zoo Sat at 6:30 pp.m. Aug. 12 and 2:30 p.m. Aug. 13, will feature
animals typical in the Armenian region — goats, lambs and donkeys —
along with other animals kids can pose with and pet.
Ethnic novelties and mementos, arts and crafts will be sold at the
Armenian bazaar. Visitors also can sign up for daily Armenian card
or backgammon tournaments.
Admission and street parking will be free. In case of rain, the event
will be held indoors in spacious hall. For more information, call
(847) 437-4937 or e-mail [email protected].
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“AZERBAIJAN IS FORCED TO SIGN PEACE AGREEMENT ACCEPTABLE FOR
DEFEATED COUNTRY BY THE AGENCY OF MINSK GROUP”
Democratic Azerbaijan
Aug 3, 2006
Organization of Garabagh Liberation holds that there are clear
attempts to state that Azerbaijan should compromise in the latest
statement of co-chairmen
Accordingly to news, recently group of Azerbaijani politician
scientists and human right activists informed about their support for
“Frame Agreements” prepared by OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen aiming at
regulation of Nagorno Garabagh conflict. Among persons who signed the
said agreement there are member of leaders’ staff of “Soros” Fund in
Azerbaijan, Rasim Musabekov, chairman of “Fund in the name of
Azerbaijan”, Eldar Namazov, Zardusht Alizade, Arzu Abdullayeva, head
of “Turan” agency, Mehman Aliyev etc. Representatives of Organization
of Garabagh Liberation expressing their attitude to this issue
manifested their surprise regarding the fact that above persons
support such unacceptable proposal.
Organization of Garabagh Liberation states that Azerbaijan is forced
to sign peace agreement acceptable for defeated country by the agency
of OSCE Minsk Group. Leadership of the mentioned structure is against
the above “frame agreements”, underlining that co-chairmen of Minsk
Group don’t take into consideration the fact of occupation of
Azerbaijani territories by Armenia: “Discussion of the status of the
regime of “Nagorni Garabagh Republic” is proposed as the principal
issue, instead of regulation of the conflict itself”. At the same
time, there is no mention of international sanctions which should be
applied to Armenia”.
Accordingly to Organization of Garabagh Liberation, “Frame
agreements” contain ambiguous attitude towards occupied territories.
“Thus, for some time Lachin and Kelbejer will be peculiar buffer zone
between Armenia and Nagorni Garabagh, on the territories of which
Armenia will place armed forces. Document also points that
co-chairmen would be able to coordinate issues on legal status and
referendum within proposals concerning referendum. However, it
contradicts to the interests of Azerbaijan”.
Moreover, Organization of Garabagh Liberation considers it
unacceptable for Azerbaijan including proposal of OSCE Minsk Group on
peacemaking forces location on conflict territory: “This proposal
helps to maintain so-called regime, created by Armenians in Nagarno
Garabagh. Peacemaking forces will not serve for Azerbaijanis’
interests, those who would return to their own lands, contrariwise
they will provide security for Armenian occupants, and Armenians will
commit outrages on the given territories. Peacemaking forces
shouldn’t be located on conflict zone, but on Azerbaijan-Armenia
frontiers. However, it will be possible after relative conflict
regulation”.
As Organization of Garabagh Liberation underlines co-chairmen
advocate non-use of force either by Armenia or Azerbaijan: “Given
position of co-chairmen contradicts to UN charter, which ensures the
right of every state which suffers aggression for military defense.
In case Azerbaijan agrees with such proposals, it will be deprived of
chance to use this right provided by UN”. Organization of Garabagh
Liberation holds that in case Azerbaijan starts negotiating on the
basis of principles put forward by co-chairmen, it will strike
through decisions adopted by UN and other international organizations
regarding Garabagh: “Decrees 822, 853, 874, 884 adopted by UN
Security Council, envisage withdrawal of Armenian military forces
from Azerbaijani territories. One of the false positions of
co-chairmen is that they are not guided by decrees adopted by UN
Security Council, but by Armenians’ demand”.
Organization of Garabagh Liberation also touches upon the visit of
American co-chairman Mathew Brayza: “Methew Brayza started his visit
to Nagorni Garabagh from Armenian territory, thus expressing his
“positive” attitude to territorial integrity of Azerbaijan”.

ARKA NEWS AGENCY ISSUES “CREDIT ORGANIZATIONS OF ARMENIA” BULLETIN
FOR 2ND QUARTER 2006
ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 3, 2006
YEREVAN, August 3. /ARKA/. ARKA News Agency issued “Credit Organization
of Armenia” financial and economic bulletin for the 2nd quarter
2006. This product is issued every quarter and is compiled on the
basis of official reports of credit organizations of the country.
“Credit Organizations of Armenia” bulletin contains about 25 pages
of table materials regarding different indicators of the credit
organizations’ activity, and is divided into 12 principal sections:
Overview of Credit Organizations
Assets Liabilities Capital Profit/Losses Information on Funds Turnover
Normative Indicators of Credit Organizations’ Activity Capitalization
indicators Profitability and Yield Indicators Summary Indicators of
Credit Organizations’ Activity.
The information in the bulletin gives an opportunity to present the
overall picture of the financial state of Armenian credit organizations
and conduct a comparative analysis of their activity. The product also
contains technical and methodological comments to the tables. R.O. -0–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ROW OVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PUTS US ENVOY’S APPROVAL ON HOLD
Agence France Presse — English
August 3, 2006 Thursday 6:46 AM GMT
by Maxim Kniazkov
WASHINGTON, Aug 3 2006
Efforts by the White House to win quick approval for its new ambassador
to Armenia have hit a snag after a bipartisan group of senators moved
to force the US government’s formal recognition that Turkey committed
genocide during World War I.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday quietly decided
to postpone for at least a month a vote on the nomination of career
diplomat Richard Hoagland as the next US Ambassador to Armenia,
congressional officials said Wednesday.
The move came as key committee members expressed open consternation
over the mysterious “resignation” of the current US Ambassador to
Armenia, John Evans — after less than two years on the job.
The senators are also frustrated with the administration’s persistent
refusal to use the word “genocide” to describe events in Turkey between
1915 and 1917, in which an estimated 1.5 million Armenians are said to
have been killed or died after being forcibly driven from their homes.
Armenians all over the world push for official recognition of those
killings as genocide.
However, Turkey argues that 300,000 Armenians and at least as many
Turks died in an internal conflict sparked by attempts by Armenians
to win independence for eastern Anatolia and secure assistance for
their bid from Russia, Turkey’s age-old nemesis.
While acknowledging that mass killings have taken place, US government
officials have so far sidestepped the touchy dispute by referring to
them as a “tragedy.”
The old row flared on Capitol Hill earlier this summer when Senator
Joseph Biden, the ranking Democrat on the committee, sent a letter
to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, questioning what he called an
“unexpected” decision to replace Evans with Hoagland.
Evans was posted to Yerevan in August 2004 for what was supposed to
be a three-year term.
“In this case, I am particularly troubled by reports that the decision
to recall Ambassador Evans may have been motivated by statements
he made to American citizens in which he accurately described the
Armenian genocide as genocide,” Biden wrote.
In a carefully-crafted response, Assistant Secretary of State
for Legislative Affairs Jeffrey Bergner assured the senator that
allegations the envoy had been forced to quit under pressure from
Turkey were “simply untrue.”
As for Armenian genocide, Bergner insisted that the characterization
of “this tragedy” should be determined “through heartfelt dialogue,
not through diplomatic or political proclamations.”
The arguments did not sit well with both Republican and Democratic
committee members.
Republican Senator Norm Coleman, who is Jewish, said he took issues
related to genocide very seriously and wanted the government to take
a clear-cut position on the subject.
“I am not sure how we can continue to have ambassadors to Armenia
who can be effective, unless they give recognition to the genocide,”
Coleman said.
Another Republican, George Allen, noted that he personally referred
to the events of 1915 as genocide “and have strongly encouraged the
president to do so as well.”
In his letter, Biden directly asked Rice to “please explain why these
events do not meet any of the five definitions in the Convention on
the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.”
Overall, half of the 18-member committee are now said to have
reservations about endorsing Hoagland as the new Armenia envoy.
The imbroglio, however, may result in additional strains for US
relations with Turkey, the only Muslim NATO ally whose cooperation
is key to US success in the war on terror, experts said.
Turkey is already upset over cross-border raids by Kurdish separatist
rebels based in US-occupied Iraq, and is demanding resolute action
by the United States to halt the incursions.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE LOVES OF LEBANON: COUPLE BUILDS NEW LIFE, CUISINE BUSINESS HERE
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA
Aug 3, 2006
By Virginia Phillips
For Henry and Najat Nazarian, who run a Lebanese food business here,
the recent air strikes that have erupted in the past three weeks in
their home country have brought back harsh memories. The Mt. Lebanon
couple immigrated to the United States during the 1975-1991 civil
war that laid their country in ruins.
“This war is worse,” Henry says. “That was civil war. You could get
in touch with the other side. No one can do that now.
“We hear there have been almost no air strikes north of Beirut. But
there is no safe place south of Beirut. Our cousins have gone at
least for a couple of months to Egypt and to Armenia. They left
businesses behind. For two weeks we haven’t been able to reach an
aunt and uncle in Bint Jbeil, the place talked about so much on CNN,
close to the border with Israel. They are 80 and 87. They have no
car. We just hope someone gave them a ride out. Everyone is calling
the Red Cross and the Red Crescent to find out.
“Najat’s sister says in a 25-mile swath north of the border people
have lost homes and are living in the schools.
“Frankly, Najat and I have been avoiding the whole subject. Maybe
talking about it this way will make it easier for us to face the
realities.”
Meantime, there is the discipline of cooking every day.
“It tastes like they made it half an hour ago.”
Amy Rosenfield, proprietor of Mon Aimee Chocolat in the Strip, has
slipped away from her shop this Saturday morning and down the street
to the Farmers@TheFirehouse farm market to the Najat’s Cuisine stand.
She is scoping out Lebanese food for a party.
“It’s lighter.”
Lebanese-born Henry Nazarian, 48, and his wife Najat, 42, affirm that
their country’s approach is lighter. For one thing, Lebanese tradition
calls for less olive oil than in neighboring nations’ food ways. This
restraint is reflected in the recipes that Henry and Najat have
translated — literally — from their own mothers and grandmothers.
Not that the oil itself is lightweight.
“Would you like to taste this olive oil?” Henry hails the Mediterra
Bread table next door for a baguette to dip. “Be careful,” he says,
pointing to his gullet. This organic Lebanese olive oil, green-gold
in color, has a tiny peppery catch in the throat.
Full-flavored Lebanese oil figures across the board in the Najat’s
Cuisine repertoire. It is a qualifying element in Najat’s strictly
traditional hummus, made with long-simmered dried chickpeas and
Lebanese tahini. Henry unscrews a jar of the sesame nut paste and
offers a sniff. The flavor and fragrance are startlingly fresh and
powerful — another reason the hummus you make at home may not be as
distinctive. But both the tahini and oil are for sale (see “Where to
find Najat’s Cuisine” above).
Hummus is the top seller, followed by baba ghannouj, a roasted eggplant
dip. Third is plaki, a spicy white-bean spread, flavored with tomato
and onions. Gathering fans is muhammara, a peppy spread of sweet
and hot red peppers, walnuts and pomegranate syrup. Other staples
are spinach pies (three versions), sleek (an earthy dish of bulgur,
black-eyed peas and browned onions), tabbouleh (a lemony parsley salad
with bulgur) and grape leaves (you may be surprised that the only
‘meat’ in the filling, Henry’s mother’s recipe, is roasted hazelnuts).
Henry touts a bracing citrus cilantro/mint pesto for roast or grilled
chicken. The green sauce does double duty as a dip for pita chips
and carrots.
Jewels to cuisine
An ad in the national edition of The New York Times read: “Pittsburgh
jewelry designer wants platinum smith with extreme knowledge of all
specialized facets of traditional/contemporary platinum work, must
pass test.”
The jeweler reading the ad in New Jersey three years ago — who then
picked up the phone and said, “We should talk” — was Henry Nazarian.
He and Najat had wearied of East Coast commutes; Najat longed for the
fresh air she’d known growing up in a little mountain town outside
Beirut. When Henry successfully completed the “test,” a set of diamond
and pearl earrings, the couple drove to Pittsburgh.
They did a whirlwind tour of the city, found an apartment in Mt.
Lebanon in an hour on a Sunday (“God’s will”) and left a rental
deposit with Henry’s new employer, Bob Levine of Mt. Lebanon, the
owner of Robert T. Levine and Co., Downtown.
“Henry was trained by masters in Paris and New York,” Mr. Levine
says. “He was adept at so many aspects of jewelry making. He could
fabricate from scratch and could set pave, tiny close-set diamonds,
better than anyone — skills unusual in Pittsburgh. He also had such
refinement of language and disposition.”
Like most Lebanese, Henry and Najat speak flawless French.
Henry and Mr. Levine did eventually agree to disagree — “on
respectful, affectionate terms” — over the fact that the design work
had to be done to punctilious specs and Henry preferred a “Tell me
where we are going, not how to get there” approach.
So the Nazarians launched Najat’s Cuisine two years ago — an idea they
had been incubating for years. Mr. Levine believes he “was probably
fed better by Henry and Najat than by his own mother.” The Levines
received the couple’s first sample food basket.
Mr. Levine takes pleasure in being the force that brought Henry,
“who has an extremely worldly palate and the most determined,
perfectionist ways, and Najat, an unbelievably capable and organized
chef,” to Pittsburgh.
Business ties, marriage
A Eurasian goldfinch, weighing 20 grams, the equivalent of five
teaspoons of sugar, sings and bounces around a cage near the windows
of Najat’s Cuisine’s bright storefront kitchen in North Braddock. An
employee patiently trims a case of parsley that will be hand-chopped
for tabbouleh.
Lebanese hospitality demands a tiny cup of cardamom-scented Lebanese
coffee, which Najat prepares, and serves with her feathery baklava.
There is much to taste, and the backward progression from pastry to
appetizers works fine.
A map of Lebanon spread out on the table shows Najat’s hometown,
Bhrsaf, half an hour from the northern Christian suburb of Beirut where
Henry’s family lived. Business brought the two families together when
Najat was a toddler. Warm ties evolved that weathered Lebanon’s years
of civil war. Henry, 15, and his sister were sent to Paris in 1975,
months after the war began. The Nazarian parents followed.
“Citizen ID cards indicated your religion,” Henry says. “It had become
too risky to show them. Thousands of people were disappearing.” Najat’s
family managed to visit Paris twice.
Henry immigrated to New Jersey in 1981 and sent for his parents. He
went back to Lebanon as a U.S. citizen, and asked Najat’s father
“if she had anybody.” They were married with the parents’ blessing
in 1992 in Najat’s Maronite church, a sixth-century branch of
Christianity. Henry is Armenian Orthodox.
At the time, the United States had no embassy in Lebanon, so Najat’s
visa required arduous overnight trips to the American embassy in
Damascus, Syria, waiting in long outdoor lines that formed at 2 a.m.
Henry refolds the map to make room for a demo of Najat’s father’s
favorite summer refresher. In Lebanon it would be made with a
high-shouldered tomato with a concave top that we don’t have here.
Najat is using a supermarket tomato, just to show how it works. She
scoops out the stem, makes slashes all around the interior, drizzles
in a mix of salt, allspice and olive oil, and replaces the top. After
a while she cuts the tomato into wedges. We sprinkle on more salt
and lime juice. Henry’s habit of spritzing lime on everything is
contagious. This treatment makes something edible of a denatured
winter tomato. Henry anticipates using his own Cherokee tomatoes,
warm from his Pinewood Drive garden. If Henry’s mother can take
credit for most of Najat’s Cuisine’s savory recipes, Najat’s mom is
the guiding spirit for a line of sweets that only begins with baklava.
New to Pittsburgh are mamool, pale semolina dough cookies, formed
in hand-carved wooden molds. “I learned from my mother,” says Najat,
the oldest of four siblings who started helping at age 8.
In fact, the rosewater-scented, nut-filled confections, as
labor-intensive as Christmas cookies, are a high point of Easter.
They are served and given as hostess gifts in Middle Eastern countries,
where each family takes pride in its own refinements to the recipe. The
wooden molds are handed down for generations. Najat’s hand-me-downs,
placed next to her new molds, are visibly darkened by years of
buttery hands.
“The deep, round mold is walnut. The shallow round one is for dates.
The oval is pistachio — always. But for kids, my mom would make the
big round ones with no dates.”
How has Pittsburgh taken to the rosewater?
Najat: “One man was excited, ‘These are cookies with rosewater? I
want them, I want them!'”
Henry: “But we find people don’t like too much of it!”
Word of mouth
One artisan knows another in Pittsburgh. The Nazarians wanted to take
a trunkful of Mediterra’s five-pound loaves of Mt. Athos bread to
New Jersey. They went to the bakery, taking along samples from their
newly launched Najat’s Cuisine. Baker Nick Ambeliotis liked the food
and invited them to do a tasting for a cafe he was planning.
The Nazarians’ next sales call happened to be to the East End Food
Co-op. The Co-op’s prepared foods buyer Fran Bertonaschi said, “I
know you, and I know your food. I tasted it last week at Mediterra.”
He signed them on and recommended them to Today’s Market, a health
food store in Verona.
Another vote of confidence came at the Forest Hills farm market when
they arrived in a downpour for opening day of their second season
there. “People were waiting under umbrellas,” Najat says. They said,
“We are glad to see you.'”
Frozen entrees in the Najat’s Cuisine line do not go to market. Items
including baked kibbeh, several versions using chicken or beef, and
Henry’s mother’s sublimely simple pasta and cheese — egg noodles,
mozzarella and milk, topped with an unusual flat pastry crust —
are available frozen at the store and for catered events.
Three pots of grapevines tagged Cabernet Sauvignon have pride of place
on the file cabinet. They are not for sale. They are for Henry’s mom
in New Jersey. He has already planted his own and built an arbor for
them at home. The couple will soon have fresh grape leaves to stuff
and shade to eat them under.
NAJAT’S TRADITIONAL HUMMUS
PG TESTED
If you use dried chickpeas, Lebanese olive oil and particularly the
Lebanese tahini, your hummus will taste like Najat’s. “You must taste,”
she cautions. “It comes out differently each time.”
1 cup dried chickpeas, soaked overnight (in a pinch, use one 15-ounce
can chickpeas)
Lebanese olive oil
2 tablespoons Lebanese tahini
Salt
Juice of one lemon
2 small cloves of garlic, crushed To soak, put 1 cup chickpeas in
a bowl, cover generously with cold water and soak overnight. Drain
before cooking. Put beans with pinch of salt in a heavy saucepan,
and add 2 cups water, or enough to generously cover.
Bring to a boil and add salt.
Cover and simmer over low heat until tender, about 2 hours, adding
hot water as needed to keep them covered. If cooking chickpeas ahead,
refrigerate them in their cooking liquid. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking
liquid. Makes about 2 cups cooked chickpeas.
Place cooked chickpeas and 2 or 3 tablespoons of the cooking liquid
into food processor. Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil, the tahini, 1/2
teaspoon salt, lemon juice and garlic. Process for 2 minutes, taste.
Correct for salt, lemon juice and tahini. You may prefer a bit more
of any of these. Drizzle more oil on top and serve with pita chips.
CILANTRO/MINT PESTO
PG TESTED
This lively green pesto is recommended for roast chicken. It may also
be used as a dip with raw vegetables and will brighten a vinaigrette
salad dressing or a white bean chili.
1 large clove garlic, chopped
1 cup olive oil, divided
1 large bunch cilantro, rinsed and trimmed; discard roots
1 sprig parsley
1 sprig fresh mint
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 teaspoon salt In heavy saucepan, saute garlic in 1/4 cup olive oil
until light golden. Add 3/4 cup olive oil, cilantro, sprig of parsley,
two or three leaves of mint and lime juice. Cook at low heat a few
minutes until cilantro begins to turn a grayish color. Remove from
heat and allow to cool. Add salt.
Place in processor and whirl until smooth. Keeps two weeks
refrigerated.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AUGUST 4 VARTAN OSKANIAN GOING ON 2-WEEK LEAVE
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.08.2006 16:33 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ August 4 Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
will go on a 2-week leave, RA MFA Acting Spokesman Vladimir Karapetian
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, the Minister will resume
work August 17-18. “Till August 11 the Armenian Foreign Minister will
be in Armenia,” Karapetian said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress