Author: Emil Lazarian

LEADERS OF “ORINATS YERKIR” AND “NATIONAL UNITY” PARTIES BLAME EACH
OTHER FOR RELATIONS WITH SERGE SARGSIAN

Yerevan, May 25.ArmInfo. In the course of the debates over “Shant” TV,
Artur Baghdasarian, leader of “Orinats Yerkir” party, again blamed
Artashes Geghamian, leader of “National Unity” party, saying that he
is carrying out the political orders of Serge Sargsian.

In response, Geghamian suggested Baghdasarian to apply to the court,
blaming him for taking money from Serge Sargsian. Baghdasarian said
that he won’t do that, as only God can judge. He grounded his
accusation in cooperation of Geghamian with Sargsian by the fact that
in the elections for prefect of Yerevan’s Center community Geghamian
supported the candidate nominated by Sargsian.

Besides, Baghdasarian said that Gagik Kostandian, member of “NU”
party, is the supplier of RA Defense Ministry. He emphasized that, in
the presence of Mher Shahgeldian, Kostandian turned to Mr. Sargsian
with the question whether he has any instructions or not. Baghdasarian
conditioned the behavior of Geghamian and his party members by the
atmosphere of fear ruling in Armenia.

In response, Geghamian said that Kostandian carried out the orders of
RA Defense Ministry, as all the rest of the entrepreneurs refused
to. “Often, he worked with loses, only to secure his employees with
jobs,” he said. At the same time, he said that he can’t help sharing
the critical viewpoint of Baghdasarian addressed against Serge
Sargsian, who created a clan structure. As for the support of “NU”
party to Gagik Beglarian, head of “Kentron” Yerevan community,
Geghamian said that his party appreciates the quality of the work
more, than this or than official or the persons supporting the
candidate. In response, Baghdasarian continued blaming Geghamian,
saying that “NU” party acts according to the public statements of
Sargsian. “I can’t remember any case, when “NU” party supported the
opposition in critical moments,” Baghdasarian said.

In response, Geghamian reminded about the April 12 night, 2004, when
the policemen broke up the opposition rally, while Baghdasarian was
watching them out of the window of his cabinet. Baghdasarian answered
that he protected Geghamian and other opposition figures, when the
authorities tried to arrest them.

Afterwards, Baghdasarian said that anyway, he respects some of
Geghamian’s allies, as they are normal people. “Just fancy what a
normal person I am, if all of my allies merely adore me,” Geghamian
reflected the attack. Baghdasarian said that he didn’t mean that
Geghamian is fully insane. “Sometimes You merely fall into agony,”
Baghdasarian explained. In the end of the debates, both political
figures began convincing the TV viewers that they don’t have any
unofficial relations with Serge Sargsian. “I had only working
relations with Sargsian,” Baghdasarian said. While Geghamian stated
that he had never had any relations with Sargsian. “Though, as
Mr. Baghdasarian said, Sargsian pays me for criticizing him. It’s not
quite a normal behavior for a normal person,” Geghamian said.

Afterwards, Geghamian remembered that his mother celebrates her 85th
anniversary and congratulated her, adding that he kept his promise by
communicating with Mr. Baghdasarian as with his young brother. In the
end, the political figures shacked each others’ hands and bade
farewell to each other.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Identity crisis

Guardian Unlimited; May 25, 2006

The creation of a new country in Europe this week – tiny Montenegro in
the Balkans – has inspired a posse of disputed territories in the
former Soviet Union in their bids for independence.

They believe Montenegro’s vote to secede from Yugoslavia and the
ongoing talks in Vienna over the future of Kosovo, the majority
Albanian province of Serbia under a UN protectorate, could set a vital
benchmark.

European diplomats indicate that Kosovo has a chance to gain a form of
independence and recognition by the international community later this
year.

That suggestion has prompted a wave of hope in self-declared
territories like Abkhazia, and South Ossetia, both disputed regions of
Georgia, the republic of Trans-Dniester in Moldova and the disputed
district of Nagorno Karabakh, an Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan.

These scattered shards of the former Soviet Union have all been in
limbo since its break up in the early 1990s, crying out to be released
from “frozen conflicts” and integrated into the world community.

“Such a civilised road of self-determination can be only welcomed,”
Sergei Bagapsh, the de facto president of breakaway Abkhazia, said
this week of Montenegro’s independence vote last Sunday.

“Now that the process of self-determination of nations has resumed,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia should get independence.”

At first glance, the tiny self-declared republic of Abkhazia on the
eastern coast of the Black Sea is an earthly paradise.

For decades its palm trees, warm scented air and sweeping beaches drew
thousands of holidaymakers from across the USSR, including Joseph
Stalin and Nikita Khrushchev, both of whom relaxed on its shores.

Even today, it is famed for its gentle climate, its mandarin oranges
and its sweeping boughs of yellow mimosa blossom.

But look more closely and there are signs of an uglier past.

Sidestreets in the seaside capital, Sukhum, are dominated by the
gutted remains of smoke-blackened houses, choked with weeds.

In the countryside not far away, whole settlements stand in silent
desolation, abandoned in a furious war that raged here in the Caucasus
more than a decade ago.

The conflict flared up in August 1992 when the armed forces of Georgia
attacked Abkhazia, after it declared its intent to break away from the
country after the Soviet collapse.

After a year of savage fighting, and atrocities on both sides, the
Abkhazians drove out the Georgians – including hundreds of thousands
of civilians – with the help of their Russian neighbours to the north,
and declared independence.

Since then, this scrap of land which is home to about 200,000 people,
has led its own lonely existence, cut off by an embargo and
unrecognised by any country in the world.

“In the last 13 years, Abkhazia has formed a state with its own
institutions, authorities, army and democratic development,” Mr
Bagapsh told Guardian Unlimited at his offices in downtown Sukhum.

“But the world ignores us when we have every right to gain
international recognition.”

He predicts Abkhazia’s independence will be recognised “within three
days” if Kosovo is granted status as a country.

Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, threw his weight behind Abkhazia’s
cause at the end of January, when he said that if Kosovo was granted
independence, “why then should we deny it to Abkhazia and South
Ossetia?”.

“We need universal principles to find a fair solution to these
problems,” Mr Putin added.

Abkhazia’s victory in the 1992 to 1993 war came at a bitter price,
Georgia accused it of ethnic cleansing and severed all trade. Many
buildings were destroyed and the republic is desperately poor.

Sukhum has no functioning airport, receives little direct bilateral
aid and its coast is cut off by Georgian ships while its critics claim
it is a haven for organised crime.

And its only link is with Russia, which buys its oranges and sends a
trickle of tourists to the republic’s crumbling resorts.

UN-led talks between Tbilisi and Sukhum have borne little fruit since
the end of the armed conflict, but Abkhaz foreign minister Sergei
Shamba has renewed hope.

“The international community needs to face up to the fact that
obstacles put in front of people and their aspirations to
self-determination only lead to bloodshed,” he said, in a meeting at
his three-room ministry.

“In that sense, Kosovo could become a kind of marker that determines a
new world attitude towards these issues.”

The issue of Georgian refugees is likely to remain the largest
stumbling block. About 250,000 Georgians fled Abkhazia during the war,
and only 60,000 have been able to return to the south of the region.

“I had to rebuild my life from scratch after they forced us out,”
Zviad Mirgatia, 38, a Georgian from Sukhum who now lives in Tbilisi,
said.

“Now I can’t go back. But I could never accept my home, my soil, being
taken away from Georgia.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian premier pledges aid in developing southern Georgian region

Mediamax news agency
25 May 06

Yerevan, 25 May: Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan and
Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze met in Dushanbe within
the framework of the session of the council of prime ministers of the
CIS states.

Markaryan and Baramidze noted with satisfaction the intensification of
bilateral relations in various spheres, the government’s press service
told Mediamax today.

The sides stressed that the Armenian and Georgian prime ministers will
head the Georgian-Armenian intergovernmental commission on economic
cooperation which will promote resolution of a number of issues as
well as elaboration of the joint programmes in the spheres of energy,
transport and tourism.

Andranik Markaryan and Giorgi Baramidze expressed satisfaction with
the process of demarcation of the Armenian-Georgian border, noting
that a regular joint session of relevant commissions is planned to be
held in Yerevan in August.

While speaking about the problems of the Armenian population in
Samtskhe-Javakheti, Andranik Markaryan expressed Armenia’s readiness
to assist the Georgian authorities in the implementation of a
comprehensive programme on restoring infrastructure of this region.

The Armenian prime minister expressed the view that it would be useful
to involve the local population and entrepreneurs in the construction
work to soften the “noticeable tension in the region”.

Andranik Markaryan said that according to the bilateral agreements, at
this stage Armenia will help restore some educational institutions in
Javakheti, whereas the volumes and the methods of the future
assistance will be specified after Armenia studies the comprehensive
programme.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kuwaiti Armenian School recovers from the latest war in the region

Azad-Hye, Dubai, 26 May 2006: After the formation of the United Arab
Republic in Egypt and Syria (1958), many Armenians emigrated to the United
States, Canada, Australia, Argentina and elsewhere. Some of them arrived in
Kuwait, then a desert Emirate, with limited modern comforts.

In 1961 priest Barouyr Sarkissian settled down in Kuwait City and served the
community for more than thirty years, including 9 years as a Principal of
the Armenian School (1961-1970).

The Kuwaiti Armenian community was originally formed by bachelors who were
employed in light industries, auto repair shops, electronics, services etc.
Eventually they got married and brought to Kuwait their brides from their
countries of origin (Syria, Lebanon, Iran, etc.).

As their children reached schooling age, the need for learning the Armenian
language, history and religion led to the establishment of a school in the
late 1960’s.

The new premises of the school was inaugurated in 1972, during the tenure of
Principal Manuel Charshafian (1972-1978).

Since then the number of the Armenians in Kuwait expanded and reached a peak
of 10000 in the mid 1980’s. The number of students enrolled in the Armenian
School scored a record 700 pupils. High School section (Jemaran) was
introduced, enabling graduates to get enrolled in University studies
worldwide. Today the school covers the whole range from kindergarten to the
12th grade.

Asadour Boghosian has been Principal during two different terms (1978-1983)
and (2000-2004).

The invasion of Kuwait by Iraq caused damage to the State of Kuwait and the
Armenian Community. Fortunately the invasion took place in August (1990),
during which many Armenian families were already outside the country and did
not directly suffer the consequences of the invasion. Only 500 Armenians
remained in Kuwait during the six months of the Iraqi invasion, many fled
the country through the Saudi border.

After the restoration of national authority in Kuwait, many Armenians
returned to their positions in Kuwait, yet a considerable number continued
living in new places. The returned ones were compensated by the Kuwaiti
government (through special arrangement with the United Nations) with
monthly salaries that covered the complete period of invasion.

The present day Principal is Dr. Manoug Manougian, a graduate of Karen Jeppe
Armenian High School (Aleppo, 1983) and Dentistry Faculty (Yerevan, 1990).
Dr. Manougian gave us the latest statistics concerning the school.

The number of the students in the 2005-2006 school-year has been 373. The
breakdown is as follows:

94 students in the Kindergarten
135 students in the Elementary level (1-5 grades)
88 students in the Intermediate level (6-9 grades)
56 students in the Secondary level (10-12 grades)

The number of students just two years ago was 324. Therefore we can say that
there is an increase of about 15%. This figure is very close to the
1999-2000 school-year (before the latest war in the region), when the number
of students was 376.

Dr. Manougian gave us also the overall number of the educational and
auxiliary staff as follows:

Educational staff (teachers): 37 (26 Armenians)
Administrative staff: 4 (all Armenians)
Auxiliary staff (drivers, caretakers, etc.): 10 (3 Armenians)
Total number: 51 (33 Armenians)

The number of the Armenians in Kuwait, according to Dr. Manougian is no more
than 3300. More than 70% are Syrian-Armenians and the rest are from Lebanon
and other countries. Lebanese Armenians are mainly from Ainjar
(Mousalertsi).
Until 1990 (the year of the Iraqi invasion), the percentage of the Iranian
Armenians was 30%, but almost all of them emigrated later to Western
countries. Currently many Syrian-Armenians use the so-called Armenian
passport for Diaspora (special residency status), which is easier for
obtaining Kuwaiti residency visa.

The number of graduates from the Secondary level (Jemaran) is 381, although
thousands of students have attended the school during different periods of
time. The mobile status of the families living in Kuwait has contributed to
the fluctuation of the figures.

Azad-Hye had also the opportunity to meet with the newly appointed Deputy
Principal Peggy Tokmakjian (graduate of Aleppo College and English
Literature Department in the University of Aleppo 1990, former Principal of
“Accad” Computer Science Center in Aleppo, Syria). She briefed us on the
educational aspects of the Armenian School in Kuwait.

See complete set of photos of the Armenian School in Kuwait here:
ure.asp?al=qhsdtrnshy111376a

net/news/viewnews.asp?newsId=734ajg67

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Dr. Nora Arissian lectures on the “Armenians in the Syrian Press”

Azad-Hye, Dubai, 26 May 2006: The Islamic Educational Scientific and
Cultural Organization (ISESCO) has chosen Aleppo as the capital for Islamic
culture for the year 2006 (Damascus is going to be the Islamic culture
capital in 2008).

Activities in this respect include holding various expositions and cultural
seminars in addition to screening of historical and documentary films on the
historical and architectural aspects of Aleppo.

As an integral part of the Syrian population, the Armenians in Aleppo also
are involved in this year-long celebration. One of the recent events was a
lecture delivered by Dr. Nora Arissian, the well-known scholar of oriental
research, on 20th May 2006 in “Aram Manougian” center, organized by the
Armenian Youth Union in Aleppo.

Dr. Arissian dealt with the subject of “The Armenians in the Syrian press”.
A number of University lecturers, several press representatives (local “Al
Jamahir” daily and correspondents of pan-Arab newspapers, public figures and
a large number of people attended the event.

Dr. Arissian highlighted the participation of the Armenians in the Syrian
public life and society in general, a fact that has been obvious in almost
all economic and social fields. She referred to the tolerance of the Arab
majority towards the Armenians, a tradition that stems from the teachings of
the Holy Quran.

Based on her researches she pointed out to the Armenian themes published in
the Syrian press, arguing that they are echoes of the Armenian presence in
this country. She brought examples from known newspapers such as “Al
Shahba”, “Al Mouqtabas” and “Al Asima” (the later was the formal
governmental gazette).

She said that although Syrians for a short period of time had their own
doubts about the wave of the Armenian refugees coming to their country
(especially in terms of employment opportunities and economic
competitiveness and hardships), nevertheless, the humanitarian aspects had
gained precedence and the Press of the time has echoed extensively to the
efforts of the Syrians to alleviate the burden on the Armenians and to host
them in the new environment. Especially the Government of the newly
appointed King Faysal (after the Ottoman withdrawal in 1918) has been very
much sympathetic towards the Armenian orphans and has provided aid to the
Armenian tradesmen to start their financial activity in Syria.

Dr. Arissian highly appreciated the stance of the Syrian Arab journalists
especially in referring to the plight of the Armenian people with boldness
and without any compromise. The bulk of these reports provide nowadays as a
rich resource for documentation on the subject of the Armenian Genocide.

At the end of the lecture Dr. Arissian mentioned the significance of the
decision for choosing Aleppo as a capital of Islamic culture, since it is a
city of tolerance and coexistence between different religions and cultures.
It can serve also as a best example of the harmonization of civilizations.

See Armenian text at:
734ajh67

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman Online, Turkey
May 26 2006

US Recalls Armenian Envoy for Saying ‘Genocide’
By Anadolu News Agency (aa), Washington
Published: Friday, May 26, 2006
zaman.com

United States President George W. Bush recalled the United States
Ambassador to Erivan, John Evans, who termed the incidents that
occurred during World War I as `genocide.’

The White House announced in a statement that it nominated United
States Ambassador to Dushanbe, Richard Hoagland, as replacement
ambassador to the Armenian capital Erivan instead.

State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said Evans will leave his
post in Erivan, but offered no explanation as to why ambassador Evans
was leaving the three- year position after only two years.

More than 60 deputies from the Armenian lobby in the House of
Representatives reacted against the decision in a letter they wrote
to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, which cited they are worried
about the development and asked for a clarification about Evans’
condition.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), an umbrella
organization for radical Armenian institutions in that United States,
announced Evans was unseated because he called the Armenian incidents
`genocide.’

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Georgian leader praises army in Independence Day speech

Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
26 May 06

President Mikheil Saakashvili has praised the Georgian army during a
military parade to mark Independence Day on 26 May. Saakashvili said
that the “ramshackle, miserable” army of two years ago was now
“well-disciplined and battle-ready”. He added that Georgia’s armed
forces “threaten no-one” apart from those who “want chaos in Georgia
and an end to its independence”. “I wish to tell our Abkhaz and
Ossetian brothers and sisters that we want peace,” he added.

The following is the text of Saakashvili’s speech broadcast live by
Georgian TV station Rustavi-2:

[Saakashvili] Today we are giving a military salute to a
well-disciplined and battle-ready Georgian army. We have great
traditions, but two years ago, just over two years ago, we inherited –
the officers remember this well – a ramshackle, miserable Georgian
army. Over these past few years, together with you, we have done
everything possible to create armed forces of which you, your families
and the whole of Georgia can be proud, armed forces which threaten
no-one apart from those people who are prepared to attack freedom and
the security of its citizens, those people who want chaos in Georgia
and an end to its independence.

We salute those soldiers, officers and sergeants who received medals
today, including one of the highest honours awarded by the United
States of America, which is extremely rarely given to foreign officers
and soldiers. That is the fate and tradition of the Georgians, not
just to stand in our own country’s watchtower, but also to fight for
freedom and Georgia’s interests throughout the world. That is how it
has been for centuries and that is how it is today, because we,
Georgians, exist not just for our own sake but for the whole
freedom-loving world.

We are setting an example of successful development amidst freedom, an
example which many people fighting for freedom, independence and
success need.

In saluting our army we are saluting a new Georgia. We are saluting a
Georgia of which every Georgian should be proud, a Georgia which will
never bow down to its enemy, a Georgia which can defend itself and its
national interests.

With our military salute we hail each one of our citizens,
irrespective of ethnic origin, because Georgia belongs to each of
them. People of various nations have lived in Georgia for centuries
and millennia – Jews, Ossetians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Greeks,
Russians, Ukrainians, Kurds and others. All of them are Georgian
patriots in the service of Georgia.

We salute all those who care about Georgia’s fate, whose purpose in
life is to fight for Georgia’s success. Georgia’s citizens have shown
everyone that they are capable of building a state which is developed,
civilized and befits them.

It is thanks to each of you that today Georgia is known throughout the
world as one of the most quickly developing democratic states, which
constantly fights to defend its interests and freedom.

Today we also salute all Georgia’s young people, including members of
the patriot movement, students and school pupils. We salute all of the
patriotic political forces. Naturally, we can argue until we are
hoarse, but we must remember one thing. Regardless of the length of
the argument and the difference of opinion, we are not each other’s
enemies. We are each other’s opponents. We are opponents who should
be capable of uniting in the face of the big challenges which exist
today and which pose a threat to Georgia, its freedom, its
independence and its future.

We should not repeat the same mistake we have been making over the
centuries when petty political infighting, envy and bitterness led us
to hand our opponents our main assets, our country and our future. No
Georgian politician should ever allow this to happen again.

Today we salute all of Georgia’s friends. Georgia is returning to the
European family where it belongs.

We give a military salute to all freedom-loving peoples and
nations. The time will soon come when the Abkhaz and Ossetians will
again be celebrating this day just as all Georgian citizens are
celebrating today. I wish to tell our Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers and
sisters that we want peace and we want us to build our small but
beautiful and strong country together.

The achievements we have made would have been more valuable if the
Abkhaz and Ossetians had all taken part in this process. The time of
destruction and confrontation in Georgia is over. It would be best if
we continued with construction together and, after a certain time, we
all lived in a single state happily, well and safely.

To the people who want to dismember Georgia, I want to say that
Georgia no longer has any land to give away. Georgia is no longer able
to cede even an inch of its territory. It is a small country but it is
beautiful and we proud of it and we are not going to agree to any
compromises that concern our territorial integrity.

I would also like to salute all teachers and scientists. They are
intellectual pool, which is well known in the world. Education is our
main priority.

What we are doing today will produce results in three, five, fifty or
a hundred years later. We should all continue doing this. We cannot
afford to squander talent. We cannot afford to lose scientists or
teachers. They should all be used in the construction of a new
Georgia.

We salute our citizens who live in the countryside. The fact that the
Georgian nation has survived and we have reached where we are today is
thanks to our countryside being Georgia’s backbone. The people who
live in Georgia’s rural areas have provided for our country and saved
it from death by starvation and saved it from destruction. Their work
is particularly valuable and we see this as a special priority.

I wish to greet our wine growers and tell them not to fear
anything. No-one will be able to destroy this industry in Georgia. On
the contrary, it will develop even faster. I wish to salute other
agricultural workers. We are starting a large-scale programme of
irrigation canal restoration and school and out-patient clinic
construction. This is not just a promise. This is reality because
these facilities have already been built in hundreds of villages. In
the future 10 or 15 times as much should be done.

We give a military salute to our soldiers, soldiers who are proud to
serve their motherland, soldiers who have the blood of the heroes of
our history flowing in their veins, our real men who have today
emerged as symbols of Georgia’s future and strength.

We give a military salute to all Georgian heroes who throughout
history have given their lives to Georgia’s independence. We are
indeed a small country but we have many heroes.

We salute all generations of Georgians. We give a military salute to
Georgians living abroad. We salute hundreds of representatives of the
Georgian diaspora abroad who have been visiting Georgia recently. I
would like to say that we are proud of your successes. A Georgian
person or a person of any other ethnic origin who leaves Georgia is
especially talented and especially successful in other countries, but
our task if to bring you back to us, our task is to use your potential
for Georgia’s benefit, to build our common future.

We salute people of every generation, we salute our pensioners,
because an appreciation of kindness, a feeling of justice,
battle-capability, integrity and decency, have been handed to us by
our elders and we should pass them on to our future generations.

Two years ago, during the revolution, we were gathered together on
this spot [in front of parliament] by our hope of building a strong
Georgia. Today the situation has changed. Today we brought together by
the strength that we have already found and those great aims will soon
be achieved, strengthening and uniting the country.

May God product our homeland, Georgia, and each and every one of you.

Congratulations on Georgia’s Independence Day.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MARK GERAGOS ELECTED TO THE ARMENIA FUND INTERNATIONAL BOARD

Valley Sun, CA
May 25 2006

La Cañada Flintridge resident, prominent celebrity attorney and CNN
legal analyst Mark Geragos has been appointed to the International
Board of Trustees of Armenia Fund, the governing body of the worldwide
organization.

The Board of Trustees, which is chaired by President Robert Kocharian,
unanimously approved Geragos’ appointment as a new Trustee to the
Board, it was announced May 12.

“What I like about Armenia Fund is what I call the ‘ecumenical
nature’ of the organization, meaning that it brings together Armenian
political, cultural organizations, and religious institutions around
the world under one mission – to rebuild Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh,”
said Geragos, in a prepared statement.

In the past three years Geragos has participated in Armenia Fund’s
annual Thanksgiving Day Telethons and assisted the organization with
its fundraising efforts.

“Geragos is a great addition to the International Board of Trustees of
Armenia Fund. He brings enormous access and a wide range of resources
to our organization to further our nation-building activities in
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,” stated Maria Mehranian, chairperson
of Armenia Fund, Inc.

During his visit, Geragos had the opportunity to meet with His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All-Armenians. On the sidelines
of the board meeting, Geragos also had a private meeting with Board
President Kocharian.

Recently, along with other Los Angeles based attorneys, Geragos filed
a lawsuit against German banks – Deutsche Bank A.G. and Dresdner Bank
A.G – regarding heirs of Armenian Genocide survivors that the banks
have refused to pay.

Geragos’ clients among others have included Hollywood actress Winona
Ryder and pop icon Michael Jackson. A graduate of Loyola Law School in
Los Angeles, Geragos was recently named as one of the most influential
attorneys in the country. The Los Angeles Times describes him as
“seemingly unbeatable.”

Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and
infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno
Karabakh. Armenia Fund, Inc. is the U.S. Western Region affiliate of
“Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund.

–Boundary_(ID_UjNUJ2QUuqMlcZJrFPGZLw)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AL AHLI AND HOMENETMEN SHINE
By Alaric Gomes, Staff Reporter

Gulf News, United Arab Emirates
May 25 2006

Dubai: Hosts Al Ahli Club, representing the UAE, waltzed their way
past Al Muharraq Bahrain 50-38, while Homenetmen, Leb-anon powered
their way to a 70-55 win against Orthodox Club, Jordan on the opening
day of the 13th Women’s Arab Clubs Basketball Championship last night.

The week-long tournament was officially opened by Mohammad Salim
Suhail, assistant general secretary of the General Authority of Youth
and Sports Welfare (GAYSW).

With several expatriates in their ranks, Al Ahli has come out as the
most promising team at the end of the first day of this competition.

Led by the free-scoring Amelie Pochet and Emilija Poudriag and with
Eve Rose manning a solid defence, the home team looked impregnable
as they led 23-1 at the end of the opening 10 minutes.

Pochet scored seven points and Poudriag had six for the UAE side,
while the lone point for the visitors came from a free throw on the
hooter through Ginbelle Kari-Stutt.

In the second quarter, Al Ahli coach Hala Shahada got a chance to
test her bench strength, and that was the opportunity the Bahrainis
took willingly as they started getting their names on the scoreboard.

Leading the fightback was a gutsy Fatma Abbas as she ended the second
quarter with a personal tally of nine points, including a charity shot.

The home side continued playing with their second-string players,
and continued leading 44-24 at the end of the third quarter. It was
only late in the final quarter that all their main players entered
the court, but by then things were firmly within control of Al Ahli.

“They were too strong for us and they outplayed us in all departments
of the game,” Al Muharraq coach Salman Ramadan Haji said.

Al Ahli coach Shahada was pleased with the opening win. “We hope we
can continue with this winning streak, especially in our second match
against defending champions Intra Nic tomorrow,” Shahada said.

Earlier in the opening match, Homenetmen’s foreign professional Jezabel
Ohanian came up with a personal tally of 29 points to lead the Lebanese
league runners-up to victory. Backing up the German-Armenian player
of the match were Sandra Atiq with 14 points and Caroline Jack with 12.

The Orthodox Club girls tried their best to salvage some pride and
managed to do so through Dina Nasser’s 16 points, while Onua Kabani
and Dana Fuda contributed 11 points each.

“I think our girls will get better with every match. This is the
first time that we are playing with Jezabel, and she sure does have
her say in the way the match proceeds,” remarked Homenetmen coach,
Jack Nalbandian.

The competition, being held under the patronage of Princess Haya
Bint Al Hussain, Wife of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of
Dubai, will conclude on June 1.

Results

Homenetmen, Lebanon, bt Orthodox Club, Jordan 70-55; Al Ahli, UAE,
bt Al Muharraq, Bahrain, 50-38.

Today’s games (from 5 pm): Al Wahda, Syria, vs Sulaimaniya, Iraq;
(7 pm) Sporting Club, Egypt, vs Olympic Club, Algeria; (9 pm) Intra
Nic, Lebanon, vs Al Ahli, UAE.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

EU COULD ASSUME PEACEKEEPING ROLE
By Thomas de Waal in London

Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR), UK
May 25 2006

The European Union’s new special representative for the South Caucasus
sees an enhanced role for the EU in conflict resolution.

The new European Union special representative for the Caucasus, Peter
Semneby, has suggested that the EU could in future lead a peacekeeping
mission if a solution to the Nagorny Karabakh dispute is found.

Semneby, a Swedish diplomat who has just taken up the post, said in
an interview with IWPR in London last week that he wants to use his
mandate to work on the region’s unresolved conflicts.

“It’s no surprise that the main priority of my work is to engage as
far as possible with conflict resolution,” he said.

Semneby emphasised that the European Union has no formal role in the
detailed negotiations over Abkhazia – where the United Nations plays
a mediating role – and in South Ossetia and Nagorny Karabakh, where
that role is played by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation
in Europe, OSCE.

However, the idea of an international peacekeeping force is known to
be under discussion in the current Karabakh talks, and should there
be a breakthrough, an international body will be asked to lead it.

This is where the EU could step in.

“We will be expected to make a major contribution when a solution
is found, and we are looking into the possibilities we have, both in
terms of post-conflict rehabilitation and also – if the parties should
so desire – in terms of contributing peacekeepers. And possibly even
leading a peacekeeping operation,” said Semneby. “I should mention
that this is very hypothetical at this stage. This is only one of
several options, but it’s one that is being considered.”

A recent report by the International Crisis Group entitled “Conflict
Resolution in the South Caucasus: The EU’s Role” was scathing about
the low profile the European Union has adopted on conflict resolution
in the Caucasus until now.

“[The EU] does not participate directly in negotiations on Nagorny
Karabakh, Abkhazia or South Ossetia,” said the report, published in
March. “In and around Nagorny Karabakh, it has done little for conflict
resolution. It has rarely raised the South Caucasus conflicts in its
high-level discussions with partners and has employed few sanctions
or incentives to advance peace.”

A subtle change in language in the mandate assigned to Semneby,
compared with that of his predecessor Heikki Talvitie, means the EU
special representative is no longer asked to “assist the resolution
of conflicts” but to “contribute to the resolution of conflicts”.

Semneby said this linguistic change was small but important, calling it
“a political signal that the conflicts are very high on the agenda”.

The post of special representative was established in 2003 and has
a broad mandate -but a small budget. Acknowledging that it would
be impossible to “engage across the board”, Semneby identified his
major priorities as contributing to peace processes and supporting
state-building in the region, through initiatives such as judicial
reform.

Semneby, 46, has spent most of his career in Eastern Europe. As a
Swedish diplomat he visited the Armenian earthquake zone in 1988,
and he was a member of the first OSCE mission in Georgia in 1992. He
also served as the last OSCE ambassador to Latvia and more recently was
the organisation’s ambassador in Croatia – another post he says gives
him the right experience to engage with the conflict-riven Caucasus.

He confessed to a feeling of “deja vu” in returning to the region
after a long gap, “This is the most disappointing aspect of coming
back to the Caucasus after so many years. Of course there have been
changes for the better as well. But the conflicts are such an obstacle
to the normal development of societies in the Caucasus.”

Semneby will be called upon to tackle the image problem the EU has
in the region, with lower visibility than the United States.

The special representative has to talk on behalf of 25 countries,
many of which have their own individual interests in the region. He
acknowledged that the failure to adopt an EU Union constitution,
which would have led to the development of a more coherent foreign
policy, had made his job harder.

However, with Bulgaria and Romania set to join the EU next year and
Turkey beginning membership talks, the South Caucasus will inevitably
begin to figure larger in Brussels.

Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are all members of the EU’s European
Neighbourhood Policy, a development that Semneby said was deepening
their relationship with Brussels and would also entitle them to
increased aid. “We’re talking about hundreds of millions of euros
for each country. The EU will also step up its representation in the
countries, which will mean there will be a larger degree of visibility
in the South Caucasus.”

“I will also spend some time trying to explain to the public in the
South Caucasus what the EU is about. There is not a whole lot of
knowledge to begin with. To the extent that the EU is known, there
are still a lot of misunderstandings about what [it] is about.”

“I think there is also lack of knowledge in the EU about the south
Caucasus and its particular problems and about the importance of this
region for the EU, and if possible this is something I would like to
engage on.”

Asked about the hopes of many people in the region who dream of
joining the EU one day, the special representative was careful to
reiterate that the European Neighbourhood Policy “does not contain
a membership perspective”.

“It does mean that the countries can achieve a lot of the benefits
of EU membership by working on the implementation of the European
Neighbourhood Policy,” he went on.

“There is a problem – and I am the first to admit that – that since the
membership perspective is not there as a big carrot at the end, this
deprives us of one of the most powerful levers we had in encouraging
the countries of Central Europe to carry out painful reforms.”

Thomas de Waal is IWPR’s Caucasus Editor.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress