Author: Emil Lazarian

BUSH IS DANGEROUS FOR THE WORLD, BBC PRESUMES
Azg/arm
20 Jan 05
The public poll carried out by BBC, testifies to the fact that the
majority of the world’s population is against the re-election of
George Bush, the US President.
According to the poll carried out in 21 countries, only the residents
of India, Poland and the Philippines believe that during Bush’s
secondtenure the world will become a safer place to live.
The residents of all the 21 countries protest against sending their
compatriots for joining the troops in Iraq. “The negative attitude
towards Bush is widely spread and includes the American electorate, as
well,” Steven Cool, head of International Policy Programs, said.
In Russia, 39% of the population is against the re-election of Bush,
while 16% are for it. 64% of the Russians think that the American have
negative impact of the world’s developments, while 16% of them
estimate the actionsof the American positively.
In all 21 countries 58% of the population are against the American
President’ s re-election. The Western European, Latin American and
Muslim countries are among the ones that evaluate negatively the
America’s influence on the world. The Great Britain, France, Germany,
the US allies, as well as Canada and Mexico, its neighbors, are among
these countries.
Poland is the only exception in Europe. The majority of its residents
evaluate positively the actions of Bush and the American, in general.
82% of the Turkish citizens are against the re-election of Bush, as
they think that it may endanger the safety of the world. Taking into
account that fact that turkey is the only Muslim NATO member, such an
attitude is a serious political blow directed against the US.
Indonesia and Lebanon are not content with the US foreign policy. In
Argentina 79% of the country’s citizens are against Bush, while in
Brazil the number of such people amount to 78%.
On the contrary, 62% of the Indian citizens evaluate the re-election
of Bush positively.
By Petros Keshishian

Toronto Star, Canada
Jan 19 2004
The Arab Quarter
Tour a strip of Lawrence Ave. E. in Scarborough and discover `a mecca
of Middle Eastern delights’
HABEEB SALLOUM
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
The aroma flowing out from the freshly baked fatyir bi za’tar is
mouthwatering as my daughter and I sit down to have our breakfast at
Arz Fine Foods on Lawrence Ave. E. on a strip called “the Arab
Quarter” by Toronto residents who originate from the Middle East.
There’s no question about what our breakfast will be – these tasty
thyme pies, along with the famous Middle Eastern breakfast dish
called ful (cooked fava beans). As we eat, I wonder why the Arab
immigrants have transformed a few blocks of Lawrence in Scarborough
into Arab town.
I put this question to Jack Boyadjian, vice-president of Arz Bakery &
Fine Foods, who sits down to chat with us. He relates the story of
how his family opened a bakery on the Arab strip 16 years ago. It has
done so well, they moved into a larger space.
“When we were looking for a spot in Toronto to open a Middle Eastern
business, we found that the two Arab grocery businesses on the strip,
the Green Valley, now long gone, and Nasr Foods, were prospering,”
recalls Boyadjian, a Lebanese of Armenian origin. “We had also found
that a large Middle Eastern community lived in the area, so we moved
in.”
Labelled by its fans as “a mecca of Middle Eastern delights,” Arz is
a popular shopping centre that keeps expanding. Like many other Arab
Middle Eastern shops on the strip, some 60 per cent of the customers
are of Mediterranean background, while the balance are other
Canadians.
Besides Arz, at least 40 outlets on Lawrence between Victoria Park
Ave. and Warden Ave. cater mainly to Middle Eastern clientele. More
than 30 are food establishments, including Middle Eastern grocery
stores, cafés and restaurants. (Some 95 per cent are concentrated
from just before Pharmacy Ave. to just past Warden Ave.)
The strip’s businesspeople refer to it by various names – including
Toronto’s Arab Section, Scarborough Arab Section and Lawrence Ave.
Arab Stores. The most popular is the Arab Section, or Mantaqat
al-Arabiya. Shoppers tend to identify it by the major grocery stores:
Arz or Nasr Foods.
Nasr is the pioneer Arab business on the strip. It is owned by the
Palestinian Nasr family. Nasr’s early success, beginning in 1975,
drew other businesses to the area. They opened shops next to each
other, forming the largest Arab Quarter in Ontario – the Chinatown or
Little India of Toronto’s Arabs.
Sated from our fine Middle Eastern breakfast, we decide to stroll the
strip, window-shopping for Arab food utensils and artisan products.
We find that only Arz and Nasr carry a good supply of these products.
However, in searching for these goods, we make a thorough exploration
for future purchases of these and Arab food items.
Feeling hungry again, we walk to Nasib’s Shawarma and Falafel, noted
for its shawarma and falafel sandwiches.
We order falafel sandwiches and, true to what we had heard, the
sandwich is huge and the falafel patties are light, crispy and tasty.
The owner, Emad Bahloul, of Palestinian origin, says his food has
become so popular with Canadians that his customers are now equally
split between Middle Eastern and others.
“I use a secret ingredient in my falafel,” he says. “This is what
draws my customers.”
With the succulent taste of the falafel in our mouths, we shop for
Arab foods for a party we’re hosting the next day. From the Babil
Middle East Market, owned by Abu Riyad, an Iraqi, we purchase Iraqi
date syrup and dates. From the Lebanese Bakery, we collect cheese and
meat pies, as well as kubbah (meat and bulgur patties).
Walking back on the north side of Lawrence, we stop at the Lotus
Catering & Fine Foods, a busy establishment owned by an Egyptian
family. The always jolly Mabrouka Saleh, the owner’s mother,
explains: “We are very busy because not only do we serve
Arab-Canadians, but all other Canadians as well. Also, our tasty
dishes bring us repeat customers. Just try these!” The hospitable
Saleh offers us tidbits of some of her fascinating speciality
Egyptian appetizers.
Next door, we stop at Basse Golden Nuts, owned by a Syrian, to
purchase roasted and candied nuts, as well as dried fruits.
Struggling with our bags, now somewhat heavy, we walk to Samara to
buy freshly ground Arab coffee, before walking to Hassan & Bros. Meat
Market to buy a leg of lamb, which we intend to barbecue for our
party. As is usual when buying meat in all Arab stores, the Lebanese
owner cuts the leg in perfect chunks for the barbecue.
(Other meat markets on the strip include Ghadir Meat Market, Ibrahim
Hallal Meat, El Rida Hallal Meat, Alzahraa Halal Meat and Liban Food
Market.)
When passing Challal Pastries earlier, we neglected to buy Arab
pastries, so we walk for a few minutes more, then cross Pharmacy Ave.
to Patisserie Royale. Here, we purchase baklava, the king of Arab
sweets, before returning home to deposit our purchases and rest.
Revived, we decide to dine at the Ameer Family Restaurant at the
eastern tip of the strip.
In the midst of cozy decor and served by friendly staff, we enjoy
grilled fish and juicy, tender boneless marinated chicken with garlic
sauce. When we compliment Hassan Sbeity, the Lebanese owner, he
smiles. “Everyone loves our garlic sauce which we usually serve with
our grilled chicken.”
Happy after our fine meal, we cross the street and walk to the Oasis
Restaurant. Here, as customers in the next room puff on their
arghilles (water pipes), we sip on Arab coffee and talk to Lebanese
owner Hussein Ayoub.
“I opened on this strip because of the concentration of Arabs in this
area, but today, only 50 per cent of my customers are Arabs,” Ayoub
says.
The Oasis is an enjoyable climax to our day of exploring the Arab
Quarter. Well-known to the vast majority of people of Middle Eastern
origin who live in the eastern part of Toronto, the strip is a
well-established Middle Eastern shopping destination.
No matter what differences people from that part of the world might
have, there is no preference where they shop. The best prices draw
the customers. The potpourri of businesspeople from the Middle
Eastern, Mediterranean and the Asian regions generally works together
advising and buying from each other.
However, for the Arabs who form the core of this burgeoning area, it
is a neighbourhood reflecting the Arab world. The strip is like an
Arab mall created mostly by immigrants who became successful
entrepreneurs while catering to the taste of fellow immigrants and at
the same time introducing their foods to other Canadians.
The future looks bright for the strip.
The Wexford Heights Business Improvement group, an association of
businesspeople and a municipal councillor representing the area, has
great plans for the Arab Quarter in the coming years. Wexford began
its activities in early July with a three-day street festival, which
included rides, music, folkloric dancing and much more. It will
become an annual event.
According to Anthony Kiriakou, president of Wexford Business, which
has a representative of Nasr Foods as one of its members, hopes more
of the businesses will get involved. The association aims to inject
the area with a community spirit, which would include Arab and
non-Arab Canadians.
The group has plans to make the strip more attractive – as inviting
as the Greek strip along Danforth.
In Kiriakou’s words: “We are open for business.”
Garlic Sauce (Thoum)
This Ameer Family Restaurant recipe is served cold with all kinds of
grilled meats. Although Canadian raw eggs are generally considered
safe, dietitians don’t recommend them for the very young or old, or
those with compromised immune systems. As an alternative, pasteurized
eggs are sold in refrigerated cartons in supermarkets.
Peeled cloves from 1 head garlic
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
In blender, purée garlic, egg and salt 2 minutes. Slowly drizzle in
oil; blend 1 minute. Add lemon juice. Blend 5 minutes or until sauce
reaches whipped cream texture.
Serve cold.
Makes about 1-1/2 cups.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
January 19, 2005, Wednesday
THE COLLEGIUM OF THE ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTRY HELD A MEETING IN
YEREVAN
The Armenian Defense Ministry held the final collegium in Yerevan.
Colonel Seiran Shakhsuvaryan, press secretary of the Armenian defense
ministry, stated that the collegium concerned the army’s mobilization
and combat readiness in 2004, and the results of combat training. The
Armenian defense minister set up prior tasks for 2005. He noted that
every commander and officer is responsible for strengthening combat
readiness and establishing law and order in the Army.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
mercoledì il 19 gennaio 2005
PAPA: INAUGURA STATUA S.GREGORIO ARMENO A SAN PIETRO
CITTA’ DEL VATICANO
(ANSA) – CITTA’ DEL VATICANO, 19 GEN – Giovanni Paolo II ha
inaugurato questa mattina la statua di San Gregorio Armeno,
l’Illuminatore, sulla fiancata destra della basilica vaticana,
nella strada interna alla Citta’ del Vaticano, che prende il
nome di via delle Fondamenta. Il papa ha benedetto la statua di
marmo bianco di Carrara, commissionata dal collegio Armeno di
Roma, ed opera dello sculture armeno Kazan Khatechik. (ANSA).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

La Croix , France
18 janvier 2005
Turquie. Arménie.
En France, les Turcs et les Arméniens veulent cohabiter en paix. Les
Arméniens – ou Français d’origine arménienne – craignent que le débat
sur l’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Europe ne suscite des tensions.
par ROYER Solenn de
Le 27 novembre dernier, à Valence, en plein centre-ville. Derrière
une table de fortune montée à côté de la mairie, une dizaine de
membres d’associations arméniennes distribuent des tracts aux
passants pour dénoncer l’éventuelle adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union
européenne. Les manifestants font également signer une pétition.
Indignés par les propos retranscrits sur les tracts, une dizaine de
jeunes Valentinois d’origine turque s’approchent du stand. La tension
monte. Ce sont d’abord des insultes. Puis des coups. La rixe fait
quatre blessés côté arménien, dont deux avec une interruption
temporaire de travail (ITT) de deux jours. Les victimes ont déposé
plainte. Aucun des jeunes agresseurs n’était connu des services de
police. “Il s’agit d’un incident ennuyeux mais isolé”, veut
relativiser un responsable policier.
Dans la capitale de la Drôme, qui a toujours vu les communautés
arménienne et turque vivre en bonne intelligence, l’incident a marqué
les esprits. Dans les jours qui ont suivi la rixe, le préfet du
département, Christian Decharière – qui vient de quitter ses
fonctions – a organisé une rencontre entre des responsables
associatifs arméniens et turcs, ainsi que des élus. “Nous avons
expliqué aux Turcs que les Arméniens avaient le droit d’exprimer
librement leur ressentiment concernant l’histoire dramatique qu’ont
vécue leurs familles dans le passé, explique le préfet. C’est la
première fois que de tels faits se produisent ici.”
Selon le maire de Valence, Lena Balsan, la communauté arménienne
compte pour 10% de la population valentinoise. Il s’agit de la
diaspora la plus importante en France, après Paris et Marseille. Les
premiers migrants, rescapés du génocide orchestré par l’État Turc en
1915, sont arrivés par le sud de la France, ont longé le Rhône, et se
sont arrêtés là où ils trouvaient du travail, notamment dans les
industries textiles de la Drôme ou les soieries d’Ardèche. “Il s’agit
d’une communauté exemplaire en matière d’intégration, observe Lena
Balsan. Qui a toujours respecté les lois de la République.” Même
chose côté turc, renchérit le préfet de la Drôme, en ajoutant que
“l’éducation est une notion très forte dans les familles turques”.
Une multiplication de petits incidents
Pour le président de la Coordination des organisations arméniennes de
Drôme-Ardèche, Robert Tafankejian, l’incident de novembre ne serait
pas lié à des difficultés entre les deux communautés. Mais “le fait
d’une minorité de jeunes issus de l’immigration turque qui ont grandi
dans l’ignorance” et “perpétuent le négationnisme du génocide,
véhiculé depuis toujours par l’État turc”. “Ceux qui sont nés en
France sont très radicaux, explique ce responsable associatif
d’origine arménienne. Ils restent entre eux, collent le drapeau turc
à l’arrière de leurs voitures et cultivent un ultranationalisme.”
Pour le président de l’association culturelle et sportive
franco-turque de Valance, Selami Aslantas, “si les première et
deuxième générations de l’immigration turque en France n’ont pas
réagi, la troisième en a assez de se faire traiter d’assassins.”
C’est ainsi que Selami explique “le dérapage” du 27 novembre.
Pour le vice-président de l’association culturelle des jeunes
Français d’origine turque de Valence, Herkan Erben, ce sont au
contraire les jeunes Français d’origine arménienne qui auraient
tendance à “se replier sur leur identité”. “Certains d’entre eux ne
cessent de répéter à nos enfants: “ Ton grand-père a tué le mien! ”
Ce n’est pas ainsi que l’on btira le monde ensemble!” Avant la rixe
de Valence, les associations arméniennes ont recensé d’autres
incidents, de moindre importance, visant la communauté. Le 14
novembre à Marseille, alors que Jacques Chirac inaugurait la nouvelle
bibliothèque, des manifestants arméniens – venus rappeler au chef de
l’État que les négociations sur l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Europe
devaient être conditionnées à la reconnaissance du génocide arménien
par l’État turc – se seraient fait “violemment insulter par un Turc”,
raconte le président du Conseil de coordination des organisations
arméniennes de France (CCAF) pour la région PACA, Michel Guéviguian.
Le CCAF avait alors aussitôt demandé au préfet de police de Marseille
de “sécuriser” les lieux de culte arméniens, en prévision du “Noël
arménien”, le 6 janvier.
Depuis 2003, le Comité de défense de la cause arménienne, basé à
Paris, a également recensé plusieurs profanations de monuments dédiés
aux victimes du génocide arménien: à Vienne, Paris, Grenoble, ou
encore Alforville. Des actes souvent perpétrés autour du 24 avril,
date de la commémoration du génocide. “Ce sont des actes isolés,
oeuvre d’une minorité radicale”, veut relativiser le Comité, qui se
refuse à voir dans ces incidents le signe d’une “montée en puissance
du sentiment anti-arménien en France”. Toutefois, le débat sur
l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union européenne fait craindre à
beaucoup une recrudescence des tensions entre les Arméniens et les
Turcs. “C’est évidemment le débat sur l’élargissement qui a provoqué
les incidents de Valence”, note de fait le maire de la ville. “Nous
ne voulons pas être exagérément alarmistes, renchérit le président du
CCAF, Ara Toranian. Mais nous sommes inquiets. Pas tant des menaces
physiques que de l’entrée d’une Turquie négationniste dans l’Europe.
Et des conséquences que cela pourrait avoir sur la mémoire d’une
part, et sur notre liberté d’expression en France, d’autre part.”
Pour Ara Toranian, “il faut pénaliser le négationnisme du génocide
arménien. C’est le seul moyen de couper court aux risques de
dérapage.”
Les agresseurs “regrettent ce qu’ils ont fait”
Coordinateur de l’association citoyenne des originaires de Turquie
(ACORT, basée à Paris), Umit Metin estime que le débat sur l’adhésion
de la Turquie et l’expression d’une opposition, parfois virulente, à
cette adhésion suscitent “un repli identitaire” chez les Turcs de
France. “Nous nous sentons attaqués par certains propos, alors que
nous sommes pour la plupart citoyens français et européens.”
En attendant, les Arméniens de Valence assurent qu’ils ont pris leurs
“dispositions” pour que l’incident de novembre dernier ne se
reproduise pas. “Dorénavant, nous aurons notre propre service
d’ordre”, prévient Robert Tafankejian. De son côté, Selami Aslantas
veut croire que tout s’est “arrangé”. “Nous ne voulons pas que cet
incident se reproduise, assure-t-il. Nous sommes ici pour travailler
et nourrir une famille, pas pour nous taper dessus.” Le responsable
associatif explique que les jeunes agresseurs ont été “punis par
leurs parents”, et qu’ils devront “retaper le local associatif du
quartier”. “Croyez-moi, dit Selami, ils regrettent ce qu’ils ont
fait.”
SOLENN DE ROYER

Armenian leader appoints new envoy to Bulgaria
Mediamax news agency
18 Jan 05
YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has relieved Sevda Sevan of the
position of Armenian ambassador to Bulgaria and appointed Sergey
Manaseryan to this post, the presidential press service reported
today.
Until recently Sergey Manaseryan has been the Armenian ambassador to
Egypt.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Baku Sun, Azerbaijan
Jan 18 2005
PACE notes violations
by Zulfugar Agayev

BAKU – Andreas Gross, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe’s (PACE) rapporteur on Azerbaijan, said at the meeting of the
high European body’s Monitoring Committee on Wednesday that the
Azerbaijani authorities have failed to check up on the election
violations fixed during the country’s last presidential vote, ANS
reported.
Bakhtiyar Aliyev, an MP and a member of the Azerbaijani delegation at
the PACE, told the local TV Company that the rapporteur mentioned
violations noted by observers in 600 polling stations.
Gross reportedly said that it was mandatory for the Azerbaijani
government to check up on the election irregularities so that no
citizens remain skeptical about the legitimacy of the new President
Ilham Aliyev.
The PACE Monitoring Committee also heard from the other
co-rapporteurs regarding Azerbaijan, such as from Martinez Casan,
Daniel Goulet and Malcolm Bruce.
MP Aliyev said that as the reports were prepared before 19 December
2003, they didn’t consider the recent laws adopted by the Azerbaijani
parliament, ratified conventions and the latest presidential decree
of pardon.
A total of 160 prisoners, including former interior minister Iskender
Hamidov, former head of Interpol’s Baku office Ilgar Safikhanov, and
also former members of the Special Police Force (OPON), were freed
from jail in President Aliyev’s amnesty decree signed on 30 December.
The decree also reduced the sentence terms of four other prisoners.
MP Aliyev noted that the Monitoring Group’s meeting didn’t criticise
the results of Azerbaijan’s 15 October presidential vote and that
Gross stressed Aliyev’s absolute victory in the election.
The rapporteurs also stressed the country’s failure to meet all the
commitments it took before joining the Council of Europe (CE) in
2001, Aliyev said.
However, Murtuz Aleskerov, speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament,
said the country has fulfilled `99 percent’ of all its obligations.
Aleskerov added the other commitments would be fulfilled soon.
Debates on Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia’s honouring of the CE
obligations are planned for the winter session of the Assembly on 26
January.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Jan 18 2005
Powell states support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity

US Secretary of State Colin Powell, in a reciprocal letter to
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, stated US support for
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
`The United States supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and
believes the Upper Garabagh conflict must be fully resolved through
peace talks being held by the two sides, considering their
positions.’
Powell expressed his gratitude for the letter sent by Azerbaijan,
which lays out the country’s initiative to discuss the situation in
the occupied Azeri land at the UN General Assembly. Powell said
Washington remains committed to a peace conflict resolution and
welcomed the talks between Azeri and Armenian foreign ministers in
the Prague format and those held by the two countries’ Presidents in
Warsaw and Astana.
With regard to the draft resolution submitted by Baku to the UN
General Assembly, Powell said the OSCE Minsk Group, while keeping the
talks in the same format, will outline actual ways of eliminating the
concerns indicated by Azerbaijan.
Powell also said he was satisfied with the fact that the fact-finding
mission to visit occupied Azerbaijani territories will include
experts and is looking forward to getting the results.*

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Jan 18 2005
The Armenian contingent of peacekeepers to leave for Iraq today
Armenia takes 5th place on inflation level among CIS countries in
Jan-Nov 2004
Sitting of the commission on celebration of 1600th anniversary of
creation of Armenian written language takes place today
Appointed new Ambassador of Armenia to Bulgaria
Activity dedicated to 15th anniversary of Armenian massacre in Baku
takes place in Yerevan
An exhibition `Discover Armenia’ of the Armenian art is opened in the
art center of Ganshoren Brussels community
*********************************************************************
THE ARMENIAN CONTINGENT OF PEACEKEEPERS TO LEAVE FOR IRAQ TODAY
YEREVAN, January 18. /ARKA/. The Armenian contingent of peacekeepers
consisting of 46 people will leave for Iraq. Hercules C130 American
military airplane landed in Armenia to take Armenian servicemen to
Iraq. According to the commander of the group Garush Avetisyan, the
Armenian contingent will leave for Kuwait first and then for Iraq.
The contingent as a part of the Polish division will participate in
the process of maintaining stability in Iraq. Armenian peacekeepers
include a commander, signal officer adjunct to the headquarter of the
Polish division, a commander of the platoon, 3 doctors (a
cardiologist, a therapeutist and a psychiatrist), 10 combat engineers
and 30 drivers. The Division will be divided into two parts – drivers
and combat engineers will be located in the city of El-Hilla in the
South of Baghdad, and doctors will be located in the South-West of
the capital of Iraq. According to Avetisyan, two-week training will
be organized before the peacekeeping mission begins.
As RA Minister of Defense Serge Sargsyan stated before, since the
authorities approved of the contingent’s staying in Iraq for a year,
6 months later the staff will be replaced.
On December 24, 2004, RA NA ratified the memorandum about sending
Armenians to Iraq, where they will be under the command of Polish
division. 91 deputies voted for sending the contingent to Iraq, 23
deputies-against, and 1 abstained. The decision was taken after the
discussions lasting for 7 hours behind the closed doors. Two
opposition factions boycotting the parliament, namely Justice bloc
and National Unity, participated in the discussions. Dashnaktrsutyun
party, which is a part of the ruling coalition, and Justice
opposition bloc were against sending Armenian servicemen to Iraq.
A.H.-0 –
*********************************************************************
ARMENIA TAKES 5TH PLACE ON INFLATION LEVEL AMONG CIS COUNTRIES IN
JAN-NOV 2004
YEREVAN, January 18. /ARKA/. Armenia takes 5th place on inflation
level among CIS countries in Jan-Nov 2004, with inflation level of
7.4%, CIS Statistic Committee reports. At this maximal growth of
prices was registered in Belarus – 18.4% and minimal – in Kyrgystan –
4.2%. In the rest countries it goes as follows Azerbaijan – 6.4%,
Georgia – 5.5%, Kazakhstan – 6.9%, Moldova – 12.4%, Russia – 10.8%,
Tajikistan – 6.8%.
At the same time the biggest growth of consumer prices was registered
in Azerbaijan – 2.3% and deflation in Tajikistan made 0.3%. In
Armenia the prices grew by 0.8%, in Russia – 1.1%. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
SITTING OF THE COMMISSION ON CELEBRATION OF 1600TH ANNIVERSARY OF
CREATION OF ARMENIAN WRITTEN LANGUAGE TAKES PLACE TODAY
YEREVAN, January 18. /ARKA/. Sitting of the commission on celebration
of 1600th anniversary of creation of Armenian written language took
place today in Yerevan under the chair of RA PM Andranik Margarian.
The Commission specified places and terms of conduction of more than
two dozens of activities envisaged by the program and determining the
figures responsible for their realization. The activities will start
in May-June 2005 with republican festival of declamation, the
activities will also be conducted in Nagorno Karabakh and Armenian
regions. L.D. –0–
*********************************************************************
APPOINTED NEW AMBASSADOR OF ARMENIA TO BULGARIA
YEREVAN, January 18. /ARKA/. The decree of RA President Robert
Kocharian appointed Sergey Manaserian Armenian Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Bulgaria, President’s press
service told ARKA. L.D. –0 –
*********************************************************************
ACTIVITY DEDICATED TO 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF ARMENIAN MASSACRE IN BAKU
TAKES PLACE IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, January 18. /ARKA/. Activity dedicated to 15th anniversary
of Armenian massacre in Baku took place in Yerevan. According to the
organizer of the activity, the Chairman of Public Organization Center
of Civil Society Svetlana Aslanian `similar crime should not be
forgotten’.
RA Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdian refugees from Baku and representatives
of public organizations took part in the activity.
Aggression against Armenians of Baku in the form of murders, violence
and robbery became more frequent in December 1989. By January 12-13,
1990, massacres of Armenians in Baku acquired an organized and
ubiquitous character. On January 13, 1990, 60 thou activists lead by
the National Azeri Front in a mass meeting, started the methodical
`cleanup’ of the city from Armenians. There are numerous facts of
brutal carnages of the peaceful Armenian population in the Azeri
capital. The exact number of killed is still unknown. Only when the
Soviet forces entered Baku on January 20, the survived Armenians
managed to leave the country. L.D. -0 –
*********************************************************************
AN EXHIBITION `DISCOVER ARMENIA’ OF THE ARMENIAN ART IS OPENED IN THE
ART CENTER OF GANSHOREN BRUSSELS COMMUNITY
YEREVAN, January 18. /ARKA/. An exhibition `Discover Armenia’ of the
Armenian art is opened in the art center of Ganshoren Brussels
community. According to RA MFA Press Service Department, work by
artists Levon Aghayan, Avetis Balayan, Samo, and sculptors Mariam
Grigoryan and Suren Oganyan are exhibited. The exhibition will last
till January 23. A.H. –0–

Armenian peacekeepers leave for Iraq
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
18 Jan 05
[Presenter] A 46-strong group of specialists of the Armenian armed
forces today left for Iraq on a six-month humanitarian and
peacekeeping mission.
As it was planned, a commander, a representative under the Polish
command [as heard], a platoon commander, 30 drivers, 10 sappers and
three doctors – a therapist, a cardiologist and a psychiatrist left
for Iraq.
The Armenian peacekeepers will serve in Iraq as part of a
multinational division under the US and Polish commands. The Armenian
side will pay them a monthly salary worth 1,000 dollars.
The Armenian peacekeepers will stay in Kuwait for two weeks and then
leave for Iraq’s town of Karbala.
Armenian Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan and US ambassador to Armenia
John Evans attended a solemn ceremony of dispatching the peacekeepers.
[Sarkisyan, captioned, shown addressing the ceremony] The Republic of
Armenia is taking part in a humanitarian mission in Iraq. The
international community has repeatedly rendered assistance to Armenia,
and today is Armenia’s turn to take part in the international
peacekeeping mission.
This is not only a routine mission, but a mission of high
responsibility helping Armenia’s integration into the international
community. We cannot be outside the international efforts for
establishing peace and stability in our region and mostly in Iraq.
[Video showed the ceremony at airport]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress