U.S. Amb to inform his fellow OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
about tour of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict region
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Aug 1, 2006
Author: A.Mammadova
US Ambassador Matthew Bryza, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, intends to
inform in Paris his fellow co-chairs about the results of the visit to
the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Bryza briefed
about it in Baku on 1 August as a result of consultations held at
the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.
The diplomat said that the talks with Azerbaijani authorities did
not concern the Azerbaijani-U.S. cooperation. “As a co-chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group I want to hear the opinions by President and Foreign
minister on the peaceable resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,”
Bryza stressed.
Bryza informed that on 2 August he intends to hold an exchange of
opinion in Paris with the OSCE insk Group co-chairs on the results
of the visit.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Author: Emil Lazarian
In 2050 Population of Armenia Will Count 2.334 Million
IN 2050 POPULATION OF ARMENIA WILL COUNT 2.334 MILLION
Lragir.am
01 Aug 06
Hranush Kharatyan, the head of the agency of ethnic minorities and
religion of the government of Armenia, made important comments in an
interview with the official website of the Republican Party.
For instance, Ms. Kharatyan announced with regard to the demographic
pattern of Armenia and its possible changes that “Armenia is presently
unfavorable for the population of our country”. According to
Hranush Kharatyan, this unfavorable state is the reason why “the
young, the educated, workers, specialists” leave Armenia, and in
a country, which sheltered refugees, “there is no growth of the
population. Armenia remains a labor-exporting country and will remain
for a long time.” Hence, it is at least a surprise to hear from Hranush
Kharatyan that “Armenia is becoming a real Republic with the dominant
ideology of Republicanism. A citizen is protected and safe, citizens
have genuinely equal and protected possibilities, a law-abiding and
hard-working person is a respectable citizen of our country and the
key guarantees of his protection are the same qualities. The Armenians
not only stay in Armenia but also give birth to children.” Hence, it
appears that non-Armenians leave Armenia. However, Hranush Kharatyan
declines to say who the non-Armenian “the young, the educated,
workers, specialists” are who leave Armenia and are an attractive
resource for the countries which encourage immigration.
Hranush Kharatyan presents figures as well. In 2050 the population of
Armenia will count 2.334 million. If presently 63.1 percent are not
able to work, in 2050 it will be 48.9 percent, “which is the lowest
rate in the OSCE countries”. In Turkey 58 percent of the population,
57.3 percent in Azerbaijan will not work. In the upcoming 45-50 years
the population aged 15 to 59 will grow by 37.9 percent in Turkey, 37.9
percent in Azerbaijan, and will go down by 41.9 percent in Armenia.
There is one more thing that Hranush Kharatyan unfortunately and
consciously keeps silent about, namely “the influence of qualitative
and quantitative changes in the demographic patterns of the countries
in the region”. Whereas, Hranush Kharatyan should not keep silent, for
due to a demographic change no Armenians were not left in Nakhidjevan
where the Azerbaijanis demolish Armenian khachkars.
After cracking down on the sustainable two-digit economic growth of
the Armenian government for the upcoming 50 years Hranush Kharatyan
takes up Robert Kocharyan’s principle of the genetic incompatibility
of Armenians and Turks. According to Hranush Kharatyan, “peaceful
coexistence of the Armenian and Turkish ethnicities was possible
and will be possible in the future too. Ethnicities do not bring
about conflicts. Conflicts are sparked by planners and implementers
of politics.”
ARAM ZAKARYAN
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Karabakh denies Azeri report on crease-fire breach – agency
Karabakh denies Azeri report on crease-fire breach – agency
Mediamax news agency
1 Aug 06
Yerevan, 1 August: The press secretary of the defence ministry of the
Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR], Lt-Col Senor Asratyan, has denied
a report of the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry that “a soldier of the
Azerbaijani army was killed in another breach of the cease-fire by
the Armenians on 29 July”.
Asratyan told Mediamax that “Azerbaijan’s military leadership
normally attributes any fatal emergency in the Azerbaijani army to
the Karabakh side”.
He said that “by putting the blame on the Armenian side, the
Azerbaijani command always adds more fire to anti-Armenian feelings
in Azerbaijan and tries to salvage its reputation in the eyes of its
own nation”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
BAKU: Azerbaijan-Tatarstan intergovernmental commission holds first
AZERBAIJAN-TATARSTAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION HOLDS FIRST MEETING
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug 1 2006
Prime Ministers Artur Rasizade of Azerbaijan and visiting Rustam
Minnikhanov of Tatarstan (Russia) today in Baku presided over the first
meeting of the Azerbaijan-Tatarstan Intergovernmental Commission on
trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation.
In his opening remarks the Azeri Premier said Azerbaijan attaches
great importance to development of relations with Russian federation
not only at federal level but also at the level of its subjects.
He pointed out that trade between Azerbaijan and Tatarstan which
totaled $35.5 million last year, reached the volume of $25.7 million
over the first six months of the current year that 3.4 times more
than for the corresponding period of 2005.
Speaking of the global energy projects being implemented in Azerbaijan,
Prime Minister Rasizade stressed the country’s intention to develop
its non-oil sector, as well. He said Tatarstan’s experience in this
field would be very useful for Azerbaijan.
Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
the Premier said Armenia takes a non-constructive stance as for the
issue of peaceful resolution of the problem.
Prime Minister of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov said his republic is
ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in both trade and economic and
humanitarian field. He also expressed Tatarstan’s interest in creation
of petrochemical and oil refinery joint ventures with Azerbaijan.
The meeting ended with signing a protocol reflecting prospects of
bilateral cooperation in trade, economic, scientific, technical and
cultural cooperation.
After the meeting, the two premiers answered questions from
journalists. They said, in particular, at this first meeting members
of the intergovernmental commission had agreed on opening in Baku of
the service center of the truck production plan KamAZ, implementation
of joint projects in the field of petrochemistry, machine-building,
and oil-field equipment.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Why Did Yervand Zakharyan Become So Kind?
WHY DID YERVAND ZAKHARYAN BECOME SO KIND?
Lragir.am
01 Aug 06
The mayor of Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan announced July 31 that the
problem of property of the residents of the neighborhood of Kozern
will be solved in the upcoming two months. The Office of the Defender
of Human Rights reports that Ombudsman Armen Harutiunyan sent the
second official letter July 28 to the mayor of Yerevan.
“I am worried that the recognition of rights of the citizens for
property throughout the expropriation for the development of Yerevan
is often rejected on false grounds,” stated Armen Harutiunyan in
the letter.
Armen Harutiunyan informed Yervand Zakharyan that according to the
citizens, the commission set up to settle this problem says it only
deals with measurement and would not raise the issue of “viewing the
expropriated property as the property of the owner”. We again propose
solving the problem of recognition of the right for property before
expropriation. Probably this became the last chord of “kindness”
of the mayor.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Illegal Buildings Will Become State Property
ILLEGAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME STATE PROPERTY
Lragir.am
01 Aug 06
The illegal buildings in Yerevan will become state property, announced
the mayor of Yerevan Yervand Zakharyan. He said there are about
112 thousand illegal buildings in Yerevan. The mayor mentioned that
inventory of these buildings is already underway. He also mentioned
that the buildings which comply with architectural standards will be
sold by auction.
“Every illegal building built on state land is built for the state,”
announced Yervand Zakharyan.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
In Karabakh They Are Eager to Know Why Armenia Foundation Does Not H
IN KARABAKH THEY ARE EAGER TO KNOW WHY ARMENIA FOUNDATION DOES NOT HURRY
Lragir.am
01 Aug 06
The society in Nagorno Karabakh is worried why Armenia Foundation
does not hurry to start the reconstruction of Martakert, for which 7
million dollars were raised during the November 2005 telethon. The
Lragir has wrote about this for several times, pointing to the
controversies between the NKR government and the leadership of Armenia
Foundation. We have written that the Karabakh government does not
want Naira Melkumyan to continue to be the chief executive of the
foundation. The prime minister of Karabakh announced two months
ago that the foundation is to blame for postponing the project
of reconstruction of Martakert. Afterwards the foundation made an
official release on the reconstruction of the project of Martakert.
The Karabakhopen.com published an article by Murad Petrosyan, the
editor of the Chto Delat Newspaper in Stepanakert where the author
says the reason of the slow pace of the foundation is that in the
Armenian reality moral reputation, sense of duty and organizational
abilities are overlooked in appointing key officials.
“If Ms. Melkumyan, the executive director of Armenia Foundation
possessed the abovementioned traits, would she sit on 5 million
dollars, which have a definite addressee, for 8 months?” asks Murad
Petrosyan.
He says the later construction of infrastructure in Martakert is
put out to tender and the longer the money for construction remains
in the bank, the more income the money will bring. “And if now Ms.
Melkumyan pays herself a salary of 2000 U.S. dollars, soon she will
be able to increase this sum up to 3-4 thousand. If presently she
has three managers and three assistants, soon she will be able to
increase their number up to 6,” writes Murad Petrosyan. However, he
says, it would be wrong to blame only Naira Melkumyan for the slow
reconstruction of Martakert.
“First of all, the one who appointed her is to blame. Second, the NKR
government and NKR President Ghukasyan are to blame for this situation,
as well as the government of Armenia, and especially Robert Kocharyan,
who is the president of the board of trustees of Armenia Foundation,”
thinks Murad Petrosyan.
According to him, the laziness of the president of the board of
trustees would be explicable if only Artsakh were dissatisfied with
the activities of the foundation. Murad Petrosyan says, however,
that complaints were heard on the airwaves of Radio Liberty, which
is broadcast in the large Armenian Diasporan communities. Murad
Petrosyan writes that this is the reason why he cannot understand
the calm attitude of Robert Kocharyan towards all this, especially
that soon there will be another telethon for Shushi and Hadrut.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
ASBAREZ Online [08-01-2006]
ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/01/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM
1. Sen. Biden Delays Senate Foreign Relations Committee Vote On Hoagland
Nomination
2. Aram I Says Israel Must Stop Massacre of Lebanese People
3. Minsk Group Co-Chairs to Discuss Peace Process in Paris
1. Sen. Biden Delays Senate Foreign Relations Committee Vote On Hoagland
Nomination
WASHINGTON--Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), the Ranking Democrat on the Foreign
Relations Committee, was joined today by Senator John Kerry (D-MA) in
forcing a
month-long delay in the Committee's vote on the controversial nomination of
Richard Hoagland to replace the current US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America.
The controversy within the Foreign Relations Committee over the Hoagland
nomination began with Senator Biden's June 23rd letter asking Secretary of
State Rice Condoleezza Rice to respond to a series of questions, including
specific inquiries about reports that the current Ambassador had been recalled
due to his having "accurately described the Armenian Genocide as genocide."
The
debate over the merits of the nomination heated up during the June 28
confirmation hearing due to the nominee's evasive and unresponsive answers to
straightforward questions posed by panel members about US policy on the
Armenian Genocide. Following the hearing, Ambassador-designate Hoagland, in a
sharp departure from established Administration practice, responded to a
written Senate inquiry by questioning the genocidal intent of the perpetrators
of the Armenian Genocide, a denial tactic frequently used by the Turkish
government.
As a result of the intervention of Senators Biden and Kerry,
Ambassador-designate Hoagland's nomination will not be considered by the
Committee until the Committee's next business meeting in September.
"The ANCA welcomes the leadership of Senators Biden and Kerry in ensuring
that
the Foreign Relations Committee has the time to more carefully consider the
implications--for both our foreign policy and our values as a nation--of
confirming a US Ambassador to Armenia who is on record denying the Armenian
Genocide," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "We appreciate, as well, the
principled efforts of Senators Allen, Boxer, Chafee, Coleman, Dodd, Feingold,
Kennedy, Reed, Sarbanes, and others to seek an honest explanation of the
firing
of Ambassador Evans, to explore the role of the Turkish government in his
recall, and to insist that the Administration clearly articulate its stand on
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide."
The panel's decision comes in the wake of a nationwide campaign by the
ANCA--in Washington, DC and in grassroots communities across the country--to
demand answers concerning the recall of Amb. Evans and to educate Senators
about the adverse impact of sending an envoy to Armenia that has called into
question the genocidal character of Ottoman Turkey's systematic destruction of
its Armenian population. The ANCA has mobilized thousands of activists to
share
their views with their Senators and Representatives about the need for an
honest explanation of Ambassador Evans' recall and, more broadly, the exact
outlines of the State Department's policy on the Armenian Genocide.
As early as this February, Members of Congress, at the urging of the ANCA,
began pressing the State Department for a full, open, and official explanation
of the firing of the current US Ambassador to Armenia, over his truthful
comment last year on the Armenian Genocide. Despite a series of Congressional
letters and questions posed during Congressional testimony by Secretary of
State Rice and other senior officials, the Administration failed to provide a
meaningful explanation of its decision to recall Ambassador Evans.
In the shadow of this controversy, Ambassador-designate Hoagland came before
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 28 for a confirmation hearing,
alongside the President's nominees to represent the US in Ireland and
Switzerland. During this hearing, Senators George Allen (R-VA) and Norm
Coleman
(R-MN) pressed Ambassador-designate Hoagland for answers about US policy on
the
Armenian Genocide. Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) expressed serious reservations
concerning the circumstances of the nomination and the Administration's policy
on the Armenian Genocide.
Ambassador-designate Hoagland's responses during the hearing, and later to
written questions submitted by panel members, were largely evasive,
characterized by repeated--often strained--efforts to avoid using the term
genocide, even while refusing to acknowledge that he had been instructed
not to
use this term. The following day, on June 29, the panel, and then the full
Senate, voted to confirm nominees for the ambassadors to Ireland and
Switzerland, but chose to not take any action on Hoagland's nomination.
In the days that followed his confirmation hearing, Ambassador-designate
Hoagland responded to several dozen written questions concerning US policy on
the Armenian Genocide, the recall of Ambassador Evans, and the instructions he
had received regarding how to address this matter if confirmed by the Senate.
Among his written responses to a series of questions posed by Senator Barbara
Boxer (D-CA), was a deeply troubling, morally objectionable and historically
inaccurate indication that the Armenian Genocide did not meet the US
definition
of genocide because of the absence of a "specific intent" on the part of the
perpetrator. This denial of the Armenian Genocide--which went far beyond the
bounds of the Administration's traditional policy--prompted the ANCA to
announce its formal opposition to Richard Hoagland's nomination on July 18.
Soon after, the ANCA determined that, according to Department of Justice
records, the State Department had misled the US Senate about its
communications
with the Turkish government concerning the February 2005 public affirmation of
the Armenian Genocide by Ambassador Evans. In a letter, dated June 28th,
written on behalf of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Senator Biden, the
State Department denied that the Turkish government had even approached the
Administration on this issue. However, official Foreign Agent Registration Act
filings by the Turkish government's registered foreign agent, the Livingston
Group, document that, in the days following Ambassador Evans' February 19,
2005
remarks, one of Turkey's agents communicated on at least four different
occasions with State Department officials concerning the envoy's statement and
his subsequent retraction.
To date, half of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including Senators
George Allen (R-VA), Joseph Biden (D-DE), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Lincoln Chafee
(R-RI), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Russell Feingold (D-WI),
John Kerry (D-MA) and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), have contacted Secretary Rice or
questioned Ambassador Designate Hoagland directly regarding the Armenian
Genocide. Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Jack Reed (D-RI), along with over
sixty members of the House have also expressed serious concerns to the State
Department on this matter.
For a comprehensive overview of documents regarding the firing of Ambassador
Evans and the Hoagland controversy, please visit anca.org
2. Aram I Says Israel Must Stop Massacre of Lebanese People
ANTELLIAS, LebanonHis Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of
Cilicia
tersely condemned the bombing of a building in the southern Lebanese city of
Qana, calling it a massacre.
"What has happened in Qana, South Lebanon by Israel, is outrageous, inhumane
and against all international laws and conventions," the Catholicos said in a
statement to the international press.
"I simply do not understand how Israel describes as 'a technical error' the
shelling with his advanced and sophisticated war machine a building where
children, women, sick and disabled people have taken refuge. All sorts of
justifications or clarifications provided by Israel are unacceptable in the
face of this human tragedy," said Aram I.
Speaking about the continuing attacks, Aram I said: "Was the shelling by
Israel of a UN observer post in South Lebanon, which took the lives of four UN
observers a `technical error'? Was the pounding of civilian cars, ambulances
and trucks carrying humanitarian aid to the refugees 'a technical error'? Was
the destruction of roads, bridges, electricity supplying centers and
infrastructures it 'a technical error'? Was the bombing of building housing
hundreds of families 'a technical error'?"
Aram I emphatically added that "This war must end. It must stop immediately
and without any condition. Innocent people are being killed, families are
being
destroyed; Lebanon is on the brink of collapse and people are still dealing
with diplomacy. One cannot remain indifferent before human slaughter... We
must
protect human life by all means. The UN and the powers of this world must act
firmly on this basis. This is the realistic way of dealing responsibly with
this complex and critical situation. First protection of life and only then
creation of proper conditions for diplomacy and for the settlement of the
conflict. Therefore, I add my voice to the Spiritual Leaders, both Muslem and
Christian, of Lebanon, to appeal to the international community, for an
immediate cease-fire."
3. Minsk Group Co-Chairs to Discuss Peace Process in Paris
BAKU (Armenpress, RFE/RL)--The OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will assess the
recent visit by US Co-chairman Matthew Bryza to the region during a two-day
meeting, which was scheduled to begin to day in Paris, reported Armenpress.
Bryza is going to present the results of his regional visit to his French and
Russian counterparts, Trend news agency reported
Meanwhile, President Ilham Aliyev again rejected any resolution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that would not put Karabakh under Azeri control
ahead
of talks with a visiting top US negotiator on Tuesday, reported Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty
"Azerbaijan will never--neither today, nor tomorrow and under no
circumstances
-- agree to Nagorno-Karabakh's secession from Azerbaijan," Aliyev told his
cabinet in remarks reported by Azeri newspapers on Tuesday. "The issue of
Azerbaijan's territorial integrity can not be a subject of negotiations."
Aliyev and his Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov were meeting later in the
day with Bryza. "I do not have much to tell you at the moment," the Azeri ANS
television quoted Bryza as telling reporters in Baku. "Actually, there is
nothing [new] to speak about."
Aliyev has repeatedly demanded restoration of Azeri control over Karabakh in
recent months amid fading hopes for an Armenian-Azeri agreement which
international mediators hoped will be signed this year. However, a framework
peace accord proposed by a team of American, French and Russian mediators
seems
to allow for the possibility of Karabakh's independence or reunification with
Armenia. The three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group favor a gradual
resolution
of the dispute that would culminate in a referendum of self-determination in
Karabakh.
Bryza confirmed over the weekend that under the terms of the proposed deal,
the disputed region's status would be decided by the "people of Karabakh." He
indicated that this includes the region's former Azeri residents that were
forced to flee their homes during the 1991-94 war.
Bryza spoke with RFE/RL in Yerevan after holding talks with President Robert
Kocharian and before proceeding to Stepanakert where he met with the
leadership
of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic president Arkady Ghoukassian told reporters after
the meeting that he briefed Bryza on the Stepanakert government's position on
the conflict which he said is "somewhat different from the approaches favored
by the co-chairs." "I think Mr. Bryza understands that it is impossible to
settle the conflict without Karabakh's participation," he said. "Not only he
but all the co-chairs realize that."
However, Bryza made it clear in his RFE/RL interview that it is the
presidents
of Armenia and Azerbaijan that must have the final say in the peace
process. He
downplayed in that regard the fact that he is apparently the most high-ranking
US government official to ever visit Karabakh.
"There is no statement of any sort that should be read from my visit to
Stepanakert other than that I am going there in my sole capacity as a co-chair
so I can understand better what the situation and what the views are of the
people that are living in Karabakh," Bryza said.
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) 2006 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
Activists, Reporters Also Called a Threat
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
In Wake of Hate Murder, Students Speak Out About Racism
In Wake of Hate Murder, Students Speak Out About Racism
St Petersburg Times, Russia,
Aug 1, 2006
By Ben Judah
Special to St. Petersburg Times
Jacques, is a 19-year old medical student from Senagal who studies
at St. Petersburg State University. He is not somebody who makes
enemies easily. Friendly and easy talk to, Jacques, who like other
foreign students interviewed in the wake of the acquital last week
of suspects in the race-hate murder of a Congolese student, asked
for his full name to not to be published.
Jacques will never forget his first few days in St. Petersburg.
Traveling home late on the metro, a group of skinheads began shouting
racial slurs as he mounted the escalator. Then they physically
assaulted him. Jacques ran for his life. He says this is not the only
time this has happened to him.
Amnesty International has described racism in Russia “as out of
control.” Nineteen people have been killed in racially motivated
attacks this year, according to the Sova Center, a group that
monitors extremist activity, and another 166 people have suffered
serious injuries.
The news that a St. Petersburg jury last week cleared four suspects
of the murder of Congolese student Roland Epassak, the second time in
four months that a court has acquitted suspects of hate crimes, came as
no surprise to Jacques or many other foreign students from Africa and
Asia contacted to this article. For him, “the verdict just shows what
we experience every day. That this is an inherently racist country.”
“Back in [the Senegalese capital] Dakar,” he recalls, “I was thrilled
when I knew I was coming to St. Petersburg. Russia had been a great
friend to Africa in the past and the chance to study in a European
university seemed fantastic. I had no idea that racist feeling was
so strong here.”
Now he wishes he’d never come.
“No black man should come to this country,” he said. “They’d have
to be crazy. I am scared to walk the streets alone, especially after
the recent murders.”
African students at the university dormitory on Korableistratelny
Ulitsa said that they had experienced violent aggression in St.
Petersburg more than once.
Samba, 20, who studies environmental management and is from also from
Senegal puts it bluntly: “Russians look at me like dirt. They talk
to me like a child. The police treat me as if I’m a drug dealer. And
everyone will stab you in the back if you’re black.”
Chatting to Samba in the dormitory lift, it immediately became clear
that discrimination is a a daily occurance for balck people in St.
Petersburg. As the doors opened on the fourth floor, and a group of
young Russian women refused to get in, with one saying loudly “I’m
not getting in a lift with a nigger!”
On the sixth floor two, visibly drunk young men, got in. Turning to
Samba, they spat on the floor before walking straight out again. “You
see? Racism is a fact of life for us,” Samba said.
It is not only black Africans who relate such experiences of life
in St. Petersburg. Jee Rao, 21, a South Korean exchange student and
fluent Russian speaker, has had similar experiences.
“They treat people who look like us differently,” he said. “I have
found it very hard to make Russian friends, though many are very
kind. Still even some young people, look at me with disdain as
an Asian.”
According to Hu Lee from Beijing racist feelings lurk only just below
the surface here.
“Russians do not like people from China. They may be polite, but they
do not treat us with the respect and friendliness they would give us
if we were white,” he said.
Even some Jewish and Armenian students here for a semester from North
America have reported difficulties. Yitzhak, 20, from San Francisco
feels nervous.
“I don’t tell people I’m Jewish. I just don’t feel comfortable. The
atmosphere here is one of intolerance and open xenophobia,” Yitzhak
said.
Pointing at the anti-Semitic graffiti that abounds around
Petrogradskaya metro station, Yitzhak just shrugs.
Talking about the issue with Russian students, reveals a great deal
of antipathy to the issues raised by xenophobia – and denial. Katya,
18, said “racism does not exist here.”
As attacks have becoming increasingly vicious in character according
to the Sova Center, foreign students from Asia and Africa in St.
Petersburg are living on edge.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress