Author: Emil Lazarian

California Courier Online, October 21, 2004
1 – Commentary
When Clergy Come Under Attack,
Why Church and State Remain Silent?
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
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2 – Karabagh Prime Minister Visits
Montebello, Holy Cross Church
3 – Levon Chaloukian Receives Special Award
From Television Academy of Arts & Sciences
4 – Sup. Antonovich
Dedicates Park
To Fallen Deputy
5 – Armenian Allied Arts Celebrates
70th Anniversary, Nov. 7 in L.A.
6 – Burbank Public Library Gets
700 Armenian-Language Books
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1 – Commentary
When Clergy Come Under Attack,
Why Church and State Remain Silent?
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
A 21-year-old yeshiva (Jewish seminary) student spat at the cross being
carried by Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, the Grand Sacristan of the
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem, during an outdoor religious procession
on Sunday, October 10. The Archbishop reacted by slapping the offending
young man. During the ensuing scuffle, the chain of the Armenian
clergyman’s 17th century medallion broke. The Israeli police arrested the
Jewish student who said that he spat at the cross “in order to protest
idolatry.” Pending a trial, the Jerusalem District Court banned the student
from entering the Old City for 75 days.
The spitting incident was covered extensively by the international media.
Armenian communities throughout the world were quite incensed. Armenian
passions were further inflamed when the Israeli police questioned Abp.
Manougian and considered charging him with assault.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported, “religious Jews, among them yeshiva
students, customarily spit on the ground as a sign of disgust on seeing the
cross. The Armenians who live adjacent to the Jewish Quarter of the Old
City suffer from this phenomenon more than any of the other Christian sects
in the Old City.”
Abp. Manougian told Haaretz that Armenian clergymen have already learned to
live with these insults. “I no longer get worked up by people who turn
around and spit when I pass them by in the street; but to approach in the
middle of a religious procession and to spit on the cross in front of all
the priests of the sect is humiliation that we are not prepared to accept,”
he said.
Using unusually blunt language, the Archbishop told Haaretz: “The Israeli
government is anti-Christian.” He also said: “When there is an attack
against Jews anywhere in the world, the Israeli government is incensed, so
why when our religion and pride are hurt, don’t they take harsher
measures?” According to Haaretz, “a policeman is customarily posted to
guard the Armenians’ procession, but he doesn’t do anything to prevent the
spitting. The Armenians took the matter up with Interior Minister Avraham
Poraz some seven months ago, but nothing has been done about it till now.”
Greek Orthodox clergymen reported last week that they too have been victims
of similar spitting attacks in Jerusalem.
Abp. Manougian’s bold words indicate that such ugly incidents are more than
just a common occurrence. Catholicos Aram I issued a statement last week
linking the spitting incident to the Israeli government’s unstated policy
of accelerating the exodus of Christians from the Holy Land. He pointed to
“the existence of a well planned Israeli policy of Judiazation of
Jerusalem. In fact, different manifestations of this policy are forcing the
Christians to migration. It is a fact that the numerical size of Christian
communities is very much reduced…. We cannot remain silent and indifferent
in view of these attempts aimed at de-Christianization of Jerusalem.”
Both Palestinians and Israelis quickly condemned the spitting incident.
Yasser Arafat, the Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee and the
President of the Palestinian National Authority described the attack on the
Armenian Archbishop as “a serious infringement upon the freedom of
worship.”
Daniel Rossing, a former advisor to Israel’s Religious Affairs Ministry on
Christian Affairs, told Haaretz that there has been an increase in the
number of such incidents recently, “as part of a general atmosphere of lack
of tolerance in the country.”
In an editorial titled, “Jerusalem’s disgrace,” Haaretz condemned “the
disgraceful phenomenon of spitting at priests.” The Jewish scholar Aviad
Hacohen wrote in the Jerusalem Post: “The latest spitting incident is a
mark of shame on Israeli society in the 21st century. A mark of moral and,
no less, religious shame. That Jerusalem hooligan really did spit in
someone’s face. But not in the face of the Archbishop alone. Rather, he
spit in the face of the Jewish people of Israel.” Given the widespread
outcry, Israel’s Interior Minister Poraz expressed his “revulsion at
repeated incidents of harassment by Jews against Christian clergy in
Jerusalem.”
On October 14, the police chief of the Old City organized a meeting of the
representatives of the Armenian Patriarchate, the Jewish youth, his father,
and the leaders of the seminary. The young man apologized for his offensive
action. The Armenian clergy graciously accepted the apology. A committee of
the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) held a hearing on this incident with the
participation of Armenian clergymen.
This incident has been rather satisfactorily resolved for now. However, it
is not clear why, aside from Catholicos Aram I, no Armenian clergyman
condemned the attack on Abp. Manougian? Furthermore, not a single Armenian
government official issued a statement in defense of this high-ranking
official of the Armenian Church. Why not?
Officials in Yerevan do not seem to realize that they have a moral
obligation to defend the rights of fellow Armenians around the world. Even
with their limited resources, they could have at least issued a statement
on this incident. It is very disappointing to see Israelis, Palestinians
and others come to the defense of the Armenian clergyman, while Armenian
leaders themselves remain silent!
The clergymen of the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem themselves have
been too timid in the past to speak out when their rights have been
violated. This time, in addition to speaking out, the courageous Archbishop
dared to slap the offending young man.
Armenian clergy of the St. James Brotherhood, who have kept watch over
Christianity’s holiest shrines in Jerusalem for almost two millennia, need
to be reassured that they would not be left alone when they come under
attack either from fanatical individuals or government officials.
Meanwhile, Armenians should work with Israeli and Palestinian officials to
promote peace and harmony in the city that is holy to Christians, Muslims
and Jews alike.
**************************************************************************
2 – Karabagh Prime Minister Visits
Montebello, Holy Cross Church
By Tracy Garcia
Pasadena Star-News
MONTEBELLO — Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielian of the Nagorno Karabagh
Republic visited with Montebello city leaders Tuesday as part of a West
Coast campaign to raise money to complete a badly needed north-south
roadway in his home country. Montebello has long been known to have one of
the oldest Armenian populations in the United States, as many Armenians
relocated here immediately after
World War II, officials said.
As a result, Danielian chose to make Montebello one of about a half-dozen
stops on his California tour this week, also taking the opportunity to
place a brightly colored wreath at the city’s nearly 40-year-old Armenian
Martyr’s Memorial Monument at Bicknell Park.
“I’m very impressed about how ethnically diverse Montebello is,” Danielian
said through a translator during a reception held for him at the Holy Cross
Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Montebello.
“The city houses many different communities — Armenians, Latinos — and as
an outsider, it’s good to see that they are all able to live together for
so many years, learning and helping and working with each other,” he added.
But the main purpose of Danielian’s visit, officials said, was to kick off
a campaign for a Thanksgiving Day telethon that hopes to raise $12.5
million to complete the North-South Backbone Highway in Nagorno Karabagh.
“The road connects the north and south regions of the country, and it’s a
very important infrastructure that needs to happen for economic development
of the country,” said Maria Mehranian , chairwoman of the Armenian Fund, a
humanitarian group that has given more than $100 million in assistance to
Armenia in the past decade.
The 12-year-old telethon is aired in 30 U.S. cities, including Los Angeles,
and in Canada, Europe and the Middle East to about 20 million viewers.
Mehranian said the Thanksgiving Day telethon will be aired on KSCI-TV
Channel 18 in Los Angeles.
Although telethon funds have gone to aid orphanages, hospitals and schools,
it has raised money for the past four years for the Backbone Highway and
hopes to raise the rest of the $12.5 million needed to complete it this
year.
Since last Friday, Danielian has visited Fresno, San Francisco, Los Angeles
and will stop in Anaheim, Irvine and San Diego before heading home Friday,
Mehranian said.
“We are always honored to have Armenian dignitaries visit this city,
particularly because we have such a large number of Armenians in our
boundaries,” said Montebello Mayor Norma Lopez-Reid . “For us, it’s very
important to maintain those positive relationships.”
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3 – Levon Chaloukian Receives Special Award
From Television Academy of Arts & Sciences
LOS ANGELES – Levon Chaloukian, senior VP of Todd-AO/Soundelux Studios, was
presented with the prestigious Syd Cassyd Award at the Creative Arts Emmy
Awards in Sept. 12.
This special award, named after the founder of the Television Academy of
Arts & Sciences, is presented only when the Executive Committee deems that
there is an appropriate and worthy recipient. The vote must be unanimous.
The award Chaloukian received is only the seventh such award presented
since its inception 15 years ago.
Chaloukian was largely responsible for the Academy locating at the present
North Hollywood headquarters and for the construction and design of the
Leonard Goldenson Theater.
He has been an activist member of the Academy for over 20 years, first as a
member of the Board of Governors representing the Sound Category, then as a
two-term President. Unlike most Academy presidents who, after serving their
term, have faded into the background, Chaloukian returned as a Governor,
and now serves as the elected Treasurer of the Academy.
“Despite the latter position,” the award presenter quipped, “the Academy
finds itself in pretty good shape.”
Chaloukian is also a member of the Academy Foundation’s Board of Directors.
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4 – Sup. Antonovich
Dedicates Park
To Fallen Deputy
STEVENSON RANCH, CA – Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich
was joined by several hundred residents and local dignitaries as he
officially dedicated the Kuredjian Park, adjacent to Pico Canyon Elementary
in Stevenson Ranch, on Oct. 6.
The park was named in honor of fallen L.A. County Deputy Sheriff Hagop
“Jake” Kuredjian, who was shot and killed in 2001 while assisting Federal
ATF agents who were attempting to serve a warrant on a Santa Clarita
resident.
“It is appropriate to honor and remember Deputy Kuredjian by dedicating
this family park in his name,” Antonovich said. “Jake was a hero and role
model to this community. This park is a perfect setting to gather and
remember Deputy Kuredjian’s contributions to the Santa Clarita Valley.”
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5 – Armenian Allied Arts Celebrates
70th Anniversary, Nov. 7 in L.A.
LOS ANGELES – The Armenian Allied Arts Association 70th Anniversary
Celebration Gala will be held on November 7, at 2 PM, in the historically
reputed Culver Hotel, 9400 Culver Blvd, Culver City.
The Association is recognized as the first Armenian International Arts
organization to foster the talents of aspiring artists with annual
competitions in a broad array of arts categories. Winners receive cash
awards and trophies in each department.
A special program featuring past competition winners in the Vocal, Music
and Literature departments will entertain guests. Highly acclaimed
pianist, Sarkis Baltaian, the Grand Prize winner of the Armenian Allied
Association’s 1999 Competition will be featured, displaying his keyboard
skills with compositions by Armenian and internationally recognized
composers. Originally from Rumania, Baltaian was awarded a merit
scholarship from USC, where he received the Bachelor and Masters of Music
Degrees and became the Outstanding Graduate of the Keyboard Department.
Baltaian has received international acclaim with performances at festivals
and competitions in numerous European cities. He is currently a Teaching
Assistant to Professor John Perry in the Music Department at USC. He has
served as adjudicator for numerous music organizations and associations,
and in January 2005, Sarkis will be joining the faculty of the prestigious
Pan Pacific Piano Festival in Sydney, Australia.
An Art Exhibit featuring winning Art entries will be on display for all to
view. Guests will enjoy a bountiful array of hors d’oeuvres at the
reception, in the halls where Hollywood greats have tread and aspiring
artists have just begun.
Further details may be obtained by calling (626) 303-2023, (323)654-7988 or
(714)773-0611.
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6 – Burbank Public Library Gets
700 Armenian-Language Books
By Alex Dobuzinskis
Los Angeles Daily News
BURBANK — About 700 Armenian-language books from the estate of a local
teacher have been donated to the Burbank Public Library, nearly doubling
its collection of works related to that culture. The books were donated by
the family of Khatchik Araradian of Hollywood, who died last year at age
90. They should appear on library shelves within three months.
“There’s a lot of older people in Burbank, older Armenians, who don’t
necessarily have the money to buy these books brand-new, so they could go
in and check it out and read it,” said Bedig Araradian, 45, of Burbank, a
nephew of the teacher.
The volumes include a translation of P.L. Travers’ “Mary Poppins” and a
translation of plays by William Saroyan. There are also books by famous
Armenian authors, such as Avetik Isahakyan, Silva Kaputikyan and Hagop
Oshagan.
There are also textbooks and other nonfiction in the donation.
Librarian Isabelle Kotikian said she expects nearly all the books to be
added to the library’s collection.
The Burbank library has about 400,000 books — about 8,663 of them in
non-English languages including Spanish, French and Japanese.
Araradian taught children about plays and theater at local Armenian
schools, including Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary in Encino. His interest
in theater shows up in the donated collection, which has many plays and
books about the dramatic arts.
“He loved reading. Every time he went out, he saw a book that he liked
(and) bought it,” said Alec Araradian, 40, of Burbank, another nephew.
Khatchik Araradian bought the books in local Armenian bookstores after he
settled in the United States in 1977 from Lebanon.
The books are among 1,000 donated books in Armenian or about Armenia or
Armenians that the library has received this year. The library system had
about 500 Armenian books before the donations.
In March the library received about 150 books about the Armenian Genocide
and Armenian history and put those books into circulation. An additional
100 books for children in Armenian were donated over the summer and put
into circulation.
A group called Books for Burbank organized the donations with involvement
by the local chapter of the Armenian National Committee.
“The reason we reached out to the community was we realized we weren’t
meeting the needs of the Armenian community, and our book budget didn’t
really give us a lot of money to go out and purchase what we needed,” said
Sharon Cohen, director of library services.
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Turquie : les deputes opposent un << partenariat privilegie >> a l’adhesion
Les Echos , France
15 octobre 2004
C. CO. ET F. F.
Le débat est resté maîtrisé. Après avoir exigé et obtenu, à défaut de
vote, un débat à l’Assemblée sur la question très sensible de
l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union européenne, François Bayrou a
choisi l’apaisement. Alors que les deux grandes formations politiques
(l’UMP et le PS) sont toutes d’eux très divisées, le président de
l’UDF, qui a toujours été hostile à l’entrée de la Turquie, a
esquissé une solution de compromis : pourquoi Jacques Chirac ne
demanderait-il pas à ses partenaires européens le 17 décembre que les
négociations avec la Turquie débouchent sur deux options, « une
adhésion ou un partenariat privilégié » ?
Sur le fond, l’UMP comme le PS sont d’accord : l’idée d’un
partenariat privilégié serait la meilleure façon de se tirer du
guêpier. Dénonçant une sorte de « fuite en avant » sur la question
turque, Edouard Balladur, le président UMP de la commission des
Affaires étrangères, a plaidé en ce sens, en demandant que les
Français aient effectivement le choix lorsqu’ils auront à se
prononcer, dans quelques années, par référendum. Bernard Accoyer, le
président du groupe UMP à l’Assemblée, a été encore plus explicite :
« Oui à l’ouverture de négociations avec Ankara pour aboutir à un
partenariat privilégié », a-t-il lancé hier. Il faut dire que l’UMP a
été gagnée ces derniers jours par un vent de panique, la position
officielle de l’exécutif – non à l’entrée de la Turquie, mais oui à
l’ouverture de négociations – paraissant illisible à bon nombre
d’élus, de plus en plus intéressés par les positions de François
Bayrou. Dominique Paillé et Nicolas Dupont-Aignan ont rappelé hier
combien la position chiraquienne leur paraissait intenable. Face à
cette fronde, la porte-parole de l’UMP, Valérie Pécresse, a été
jusqu’à proposer hier sur Europe 1 un report des négociations avec
Ankara en 2006. Une façon de déminer le terrain avant le référendum
sur la Constitution européenne prévu l’année prochaine.
Noël Mamère se démarque
A gauche, l’idée d’un partenariat privilégié a le mérite de
rapprocher les points de vue de ceux qui, comme Laurent Fabius,
refusent catégoriquement l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union et ceux
qui, comme Jean-Marc Ayrault, estiment que « claquer la porte devant
la Turquie serait interprété comme un manquement de la parole de
notre nation ». Hier, le président du groupe socialiste a convenu que
la meilleure solution serait de laisser ouvertes, pendant les
négociations, les deux options possibles (l’adhésion ou le
partenariat privilégié). Il a également reconnu que, pour l’heure, la
Turquie ne pouvait pas entrer dans l’Union non seulement parce
qu’elle ne satisfaisait pas aux critères d’adhésion, mais parce que
l’Europe avait besoin au préalable de digérer ses élargissements
successifs : « L’urgence est de retrouver la confiance des peuples »,
a-t-il lancé.
Plus radical, Laurent Fabius a énuméré dans les couloirs toutes les
raisons qui lui font refuser l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’Union : «
Elle ne remplit pas tous les critères démocratiques ; elle n’a pas
reconnu le génocide arménien ; elle traite mal un certain nombre de
minorités et, pour une part, elle n’est pas géographiquement en
Europe. » En outre, « son poids de population représenterait 20 % de
droits de vote de plus que la France ».
Dans ce choeur de sceptiques, seul le Vert Noël Mamère s’est démarqué
: il a vigoureusement défendu l’adhésion de la Turquie, en estimant
que les réticences de la classe politique étaient « l’expression des
peurs de notre pays » et traduisaient « la tendance des politiques à
surfer sur l’opinion ».
Jean-Pierre Raffarin a écouté attentivement tous les débats, mais
sachant que sur ce sujet c’est le président de la République qui
décide souverainement, il a préféré laisser ouvertes toutes les
options : « L’avenir n’est pas écrit » entre une adhésion de la
Turquie, un partenariat renforcé ou le statu quo actuel, a-t-il
indiqué en rappelant qu’il appartiendrait en tout état de cause aux
Français de trancher. Michel Barnier, le ministre des Affaires
étrangères, a lui précisé que le Parlement serait consulté à chaque
étape de la négociation, et notamment après le 17 décembre.Les
déclarations du chef de l’Etat22 novembre 2002. Au sommet de l’Otan à
Prague, Jacques Chirac affirme que « la Turquie a toute sa place dans
l’Europe ».
30 avril 2004. Il nuance : « La Turquie a une vocation européenne »
mais « les conditions de son entrée ne sont pas aujourd’hui
réunies… »
4 octobre. A l’occasion d’une rencontre franco-allemande, il annonce
qu’une disposition sera prochainement introduite dans la Constitution
pour qu’à partir d’une certaine date (non encore précisée) les
Français soient systématiquement consultés par référendum sur les
nouveaux élargissements. La Turquie est évidemment visée.
11 octobre. Jacques Chirac s’emploie une nouvelle fois à rassurer les
Français en assurant que la France pourra opposer un veto à l’entrée
de la Turquie dans l’UE « à tout moment ».
17 décembre. Les chefs d’Etat européens doivent décider de
l’ouverture ou non des négociations d’adhésion avec la Turquie.

Games: Chess
The Independent – United Kingdom
Oct 16, 2004
Jon Speelman
The biennial chess Olympiad got underway yesterday at the Gran Casino in
Calvia Majorca and continues until 29 October. With generous sponsorship from the
professional services firm Deloitte and Touche, England has the excellent team
of Michael Adams, Nigel Short, Luke McShane, myself, Mark Hebden and Peter
Wells and we are one of the top seeds.
However, while we hope to fight for medals, the Olympiads got much tougher
after the break up of the old Soviet Union fractured one immense giant into
separate countries, including the superpowers Russia itself, the Ukraine and
Armenia. Moreover, a huge number of strong ex-Soviets have moved abroad. Indeed, I
believe (though I’m writing before it’s confirmed) that both the USA and
Israel may consist entirely of ex-Soviets!
The annual Israeli Championship took place in Ramat from 19 to 29 September.
Inevitably it was dominated by those of Russian origin though the winner,
21-year-old Sergei Erenburg is relatively unknown as compared to those who came
behind.
Erenburg scored 6.5/9 which put him first on tie-break ahead of Vitaly Golod;
while Konstantin Lerner and Boris Avrukh made 6 and there were eight players
on 5.5. The winner has a nice calm positional style with a drop of poison as
in this efficient victory.
After 8…Ba6!, White always had some problems on the white squares. The
early middlegame was close to equal but the f4 pawn was a weakness. Even after
dissolving it, Deutsch was still under some pressure and the raid with 28.Nd4?
proved disastrous. At the end, .34.Rf4 Qe1+ 35.Kh2 Qg3+ 36.Kh1 Nf3! is equally
fatal.
Eyal Deutsch vs Sergei Erenburg
Israeli Championship 2004 (round 1)
Queen’s Pawn Opening
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia’s defense minister meets top U.S. diplomat
Associated Press Worldstream
October 16, 2004 Saturday 11:45 AM Eastern Time
YEREVAN, Armenia — Armenia’s defense minister met with a visiting
U.S. diplomat Saturday to discuss prospects for military cooperation.
Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian told U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State Laura Kennedy that Armenia values military ties with the
United States and hopes to develop them. Kennedy, in turn, thanked
the Armenian government for its readiness to send peacekeepers to Iraq.
Armenian President Robert Kocharian pledged the troops during a visit
to Poland last month, but the nation’s prime minister said Friday
that it was up to the Constitutional Court and parliament to make
the final decision on sending some 50 troops.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian religious leader opposed to registration of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Mediamax news agency
15 Oct 04
Yerevan, October 15: The leader of the Armenian Apostolic Church,
Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II expressed concern today in
connection with the official registration of the Jehovah’s Witnesses
religious sect in Armenia.
The Mediamax news agency reports that at a meeting with the monastery
clergymen and community of the Holy See at Echmiadzin, the Catholicos
described as “wrong and unfair” accusations that the Armenian Apostolic
Church clergymen do not entirely fulfil their spiritual mission.
“Garegin II also described as inadmissible the arguments made in
support of the decision to register the totalitarian sect,” the press
service at Saint Echmiadzin told Mediamax news agency.

Over 32,000 candidates registered in Azeri municipal election campaign
Azadliq, Baku
15 Oct 04
A total of 32,270 people have been registered as candidates to
municipalities, Azar Sariyev, press secretary of the Central Electoral
Commission, has said.
He said that 40,794 people had taken signature forms in order to
nominate their candidacies in the municipal elections. A total of
37,398 of them collected signatures from voters and returned the
lists to territorial electoral commissions.
We should remind you that the registration of candidates will
last until 17 October. The municipal elections will be held on 17
December this year. The elections will be held in 118 of the 125
constituencies. Since seven of the constituencies are situated
on Armenian-occupied territory, it proved impossible to set up
municipalities there.
At present, there are 2,735 municipalities in Azerbaijan and 21,647
municipal members are to be elected (Turan news agency).
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

la version francaise suit l’anglais:
ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF CANADA
3401 Olivar-Asselin
Montréal, Québec
H4J 1L5
Tél. (514) 334-1299 Fax (514) 334-6853
——————————————————————————–
PRESS RELEASE
15 October 2004
Contacts: Shant Karabajak 514-334-1299
Roupen Kouyoumdjian 514-336-7095
Aris Babikian 416-497-8972
For immediate release:
ARMENIANS CONCERNED OVER AZERBAIJAN’S CONTINUING WAR RHETORIC
The Armenian National Committee of Canada as well as other Canadian Armenian
organizations have voiced their concern over the ever increasing war rhetoric
uttered by the leaders of Azerbaijan.
The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has repeatedly declared that
Azerbaijan could launch a new war in Karabagh. Just two months ago, he stated,
“At any moment we must be able to liberate our territories by military means.
To achieve this we have everything.” Aliyev has directly linked Azerbaijan’s
economic progress to its military “superiority”. “Under these circumstances we
cannot react positively to those calling us to compromise,” Aliyev stated.
Last year, as reported by BBC Monitoring, Azerbaijani Defense Minister General
Safar Abiyev said that occasional violations of the cease-fire were “natural”
since “Azerbaijan is still at war”. Such statements not only undermine the
peace process, but also serve to encourage attacks against Armenia.
On September 11, 2004, while meeting with the population of the town of Barda,
regarding budget increases in defense spending Aliyev stated: “It will
strengthen our Armed Forces and will make the army one of the guarantors of
settling the Karabakh conflict”. “The people of Azerbaijan must be prepared to
liberate its occupied lands by force.” he added.
Dr. Girair Basmadjian, president of the Armenian National Committee of Canada
was quoted as saying: “It deeply worries me that such rhetoric may result in
the resumption of military activity in the region. I would really like to see
the International Community in general and the Canadian government in
particular publicly denounce such warmongering and prevent resumption of
hostilities.”
-30-
Comité National Arménien du Canada
3401 Olivar-Asselin
Montréal, Québec
H4J 1L5
Tél. (514) 334-1299 Fax (514) 334-6853
——————————————————————————–
Communiqué de Presse
15 Octobre, 2004
Contacts: Shant Karabajak 514-334-1299
Roupen Kouyoumdjian 514-336-7095
Aris Babikian 416-497-8972
Pour diffusion immédiate:
Les Arméniens sont inquiétés par la rhétorique de guerre invoquée par
l’Azerbaidjan
Le Comité National Arménien du Canada ainsi que plusieurs autres organizations
arméniennes sont inquiets de la rhétorique guerrière invoquée de plus en plus
par les dirigeants de l’Azerbaidjan.
Le Président de l’Azerbaidjan, Ilham Aliyev, a declaré à plusieurs reprises la
possibilité que la guerre au Karabagh reprenne. Il y a deux mois, il annonca;
“à tout moment nous devons être capable de liberer nos territoires par biais de
l’action militaire. Pour réussir nous avons tous ce qu’il nous faut.” Aliyev
continua en affirmant que “sous les présentes circonstances, nous ne pouvons
réagir de façon positive à ceux qui nous demandent de faire des compromis.”
L’année passée, tel que rapporté par BBC Monitoring, le Ministre de la Défense
de l’Azerbaidjan, Général Safar Abiyev, a dit que les violations du
cessez-le-feu occasionnelles sont “naturelles, puisque l’Azerbaidjan est
toujours en état de guerre.” De telles affirmations ne peuvent que nuire au
processus de paix et qu’encourager de l’action militaire contre l’Arménie.
Le 11 septembre, 2004, lors d’un entretien avec la population du village de
Barda, citant une augmentation dans les dépenses militaires, Aliyev affirma:
“Cela renforcera nos Forces Armées et leur fera l’une des assureurs de la
résolution du conflit du Haut Karabagh”. “Le peuple azeri doit être prêt à
liberer ses territoires par la force” ajouta-t-il.
Le Dr. Girair Basmadjian, Président du Comité National Arménien du Canada a
dit; “Ca m’inquiète énormemment d’entendre de tels propos qui peuvent
éventuellement mener à la résomption du conflit armé dans la région. Je
voudrais voir la Communauté Internationale en général et le Gouvernement
Canadien en particulier condamner publiquement les déclarations militaristes du
Président azeri et d’empêcher la reprise des hostilités.”
-30-

Azerbaijan: World Food Program Slashes Food Rations To Refugees Due To Funding Woes
By Jean-Christophe Peuch
Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Oct 15 2004
The United Nations World Food Program says it has been forced to cut
its aid to displaced Azerbaijanis due to scarce funding. The agency’s
decision is likely to make life much harder for the tens of thousands
of civilians in the country who depend heavily on such foreign aid.
But the WFP’s assistance to displaced persons in the country is just
one aspect of the problem. Thousands of others — refugees from recent
wars in the Caucasus and elsewhere — are also living in Azerbaijan,
and in even worse conditions.
Prague, 15 October 2004 (RFE/RL) — The United Nations World Food
Program (WFP) has decided to reduce food rations for tens of thousands
of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Azerbaijan.
The agency says it is still looking for almost half of the money it
needs to finance a three-year operation that started in January 2003.
Donations collected so far from the United States, Japan, Luxembourg,
Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland amount to
only $11 million.
Rahman Chowdhury, who is the WFP’s country director in Azerbaijan, told
RFE/RL that both financial constraints and a shortage of food supplies
are responsible for the decision to cut assistance to Azerbaijan’s
IDPs. “We have not received enough food during the last couple of
months, and our in-country stocks of food commodities are such that
we cannot provide rations to all the IDPs that we are assisting now,”
he said. “So we decided that we would halve the rations of wheat flour
and that rations for other commodities — such as sugar and oil —
would remain as [they are].”
WFP food rations will be decreased to only 3 kilograms per person
per month.
There has been no official reaction from Baku. In private, however,
government officials lament the WFP’s decision, saying the UN program
should continue running in full until all IDPs are able to return home.
Azerbaijan witnessed the largest forced migrations that accompanied
the breakup of the Soviet Union.
First came thousands of Azeri refugees from Armenia, as tensions
between Yerevan and Baku flared up in the late 1980s. Later, after
Armenian separatists took control of Azerbaijan’s Nagorno-Karabakh
enclave, tens of thousands of Azeris were forced to move into areas
controlled by Baku.
Joined by tens of thousands more Azeris, Kurds, and others, they
were later forced farther into exile as Armenian troops pushed east,
progressively occupying Azerbaijani territories bordering Karabakh.
As the Russian Army gradually broadened its operations to reassert
Moscow’s control over Chechnya, thousands more civilians fled the
breakaway republic through Daghestan and sought refuge in Azerbaijan.
Baku-based nongovernmental organizations believe the Karabakh war has
driven an estimated 800,000 people into exile — roughly one-10th of
Azerbaijan’s current population. In addition, they say some 70,000
refugees from Chechnya, Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq
have found shelter in the country in recent years.
The Karabakh conflict was suspended in 1994. Yet Azerbaijan’s IDPs
cannot return to Armenian-occupied territories and have been living in
the same wretched conditions for the past 10 years. The $10 monthly
stipend they receive from the government does little to improve
their situation.
In the makeshift camps that surround the central towns of Saatli
and Sabirabad, families are crammed into one-room, mud-brick huts.
Elsewhere, people live in abandoned railway wagons and dugouts. About
one-third of children of IDPs reportedly suffer from malnutrition.
Chowdhury said the WFP’s decision to halve food rations may have
serious implications. “The consequences are quite tough because
the winter is coming and that will aggravate their hardships in
the coming months,” he said. “We are aware of this, but because we
don’t have enough food commodities and because we didn’t get enough
contributions from our donor countries in the last three months,
we had to resort to this [measure].”
The UN food agency is only assisting 145,000 IDPs it considers most
in need, and is not dealing with Azerbaijan’s refugees.
Vusal Rajabli is president of Hayat (Life), a Baku-based NGO that
provides humanitarian aid to refugees and IDPs across Azerbaijan. He
said refugees are much more vulnerable than IDPs because, unlike the
latter, they depend almost exclusively on foreign aid.
“Unfortunately, the assistance the government offers refugees is
scarce — I would even say it is extremely small. It covers only 5
to 10 percent of their needs. The government says it has just enough
resources to take care of its internal refugees. Therefore, all
the government can afford goes to IDPs. This makes the situation of
refugees much, much worse. Refugees are taken care of by the Office
of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and our organization in
partnership. The UNHCR offers them financial support, giving each
family that meets its criteria between $60 and $80 per month. But
[those families] represent only 30 percent of all refugees,”
Rajabli said.
Most refugees live in appalling conditions, squatting in deserted
buildings or — for those who get financial help from the UNHCR —
spending their meager subsidies on rooms or small apartments that
have neither heat nor running water.
To add to their hardship, Rajabli said most immigrants live in
administrative limbo and are scarcely protected by the temporary
refugee status offered by the UNHCR. “Most refugees live how they can
and where they can because the government does not help them find a
roof,” he said. “It must be said in its defense, though, that there
is not a single free public building, not a single free dormitory
left because the IDPs have occupied all of them. Yet the government
does not allocate any funds to build temporary refugee camps.”
Another problem facing refugees who arrived after the breakup of the
Soviet Union is the reluctance of Azerbaijani officials to consider
their applications for citizenship. “I haven’t heard of many cases
when those refugees managed to obtain citizenship,” Rajabli said. “I
would say they are 10 or 15 at most. But even these estimates are
questionable.”

THE RELATIVES OF THE AMERICAN MURDERED IN ARMENIA ARE IN PANIC
A1 Plus | 21:25:46 | 15-10-2004 | Social |
American specialist Joshua Haglund has been teaching in the Foreign
Languages University after Valeri Bryusov within language program
of USA Secretary of State since last September. On May 17 Haglund
was murdered in his apartment in Yerevan. His corpse was found in
the courtyard of the building where he appeared while pursuing those
having stabbed him.
Joshua’s mother and two brothers have held a press conference in
“Armenia Now” Information Centre. Together with other sons Joshua’s
mother arrived in Armenia since they are alarmed for neglect over
disclosure of the murder. USA Embassy and Police keep silence.
According to the rumours spread, Joshua’s office period in Armenia
was expiring and on the eve of returning to the homeland he was
killed since he had been an agent of Central Investigation Agency of
USA. There are other versions regarding murder because of jealousy
or personal relations. The relatives of the murdered man announce
that he was of untraditional sexual orientation.
They also informed they had met Armenian General Prosecutor and
USA Ambassador to Armenia who had assured that disclosure of murder
was prior. We asked if the relatives of the murdered person didn’t
trust USA Embassy to Armenia. They said they did but they had arrived
in Armenia in person to support disclosing of the crime, to study at
the scene what in fact could have happened with their relative.
Joshua’s relatives have met his friends, students and intimate
persons. But the relatives didn’t wish to release any information to
journalists what they had learnt after various meetings.
At the press conference the relatives asked journalists to provide
them any kind of information.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Georgia to block traffic from Russia through uncontrolled tunnel
By Eka Mekhuzla
ITAR-TASS News Agency
October 14, 2004 Thursday
TBILISI, October 14 — Georgian authorities will not allow passenger
buses and cargoes to enter the country through the Roksky tunnel, said
Mikhail Kareli, governor of a region bordering Georgia’s breakaway
province of South Ossetia.
“It is impermissible that cargoes and passengers enter Georgia
through this tunnel, a territory not controlled by authorities of
the country. There are official customs posts for this,” Kareli said,
commenting on the situation near the village of Ergneti in the area
of the South Ossetian conflict, where two passenger buses en route
from Russia to Armenia were stopped a few days ago.
The buses were blocked on the grounds that passengers had papers
showing that they had passed customs and border control at the Georgian
check post Kazbegi.
According to the Georgian side, the buses entered Georgia through
the Roksky tunnel controlled by South Ossetian authorities, although
Tbilisi declared this stretch of the Georgian-Russian border closed.
All cars, passenger buses and cargoes coming from Russia to Georgia
must be checked at Russia’s post Verkny Lars and then at Kazbegi.
Both checkposts are located near the Georgian border with North
Ossetia, Russia’s republic bordering South Ossetia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress