Author: Emil Lazarian

Kabardino-Balkaria marks Aznavour’s 80th birthday
By Marina Chernysheva
ITAR-TASS News Agency
June 20, 2004 Sunday 1:27 PM Eastern Time
NALCHIK, June 20 — The Culture Fund of Kabardino-Balkaria had a
party marking the 80th birthday of singer Charles Aznavour on Sunday.
Representatives of 12 cultural and ethnic associations of the republic
were invited to attend the party by the republican organization of
the Russian Armenian Union.
More than 5,000 Armenians live in Kabardino-Balkaria nowadays, head
of the Armenian community of Kabardino-Balkaria Zherar Ioannesyan said.

Armenian trespasser detained on Azeri-Iranian border
ANS TV, Baku
19 Jun 04
The State Border Service said today that on 13 June they detained an
Armenian who tried to secretly cross the Iranian-Azerbaijani border
in the section supervised by a border outpost in Fuzuli District’s
village of Qazaxlar.
The border trespasser was 33 year-old Gerasim Grogoryevich
Lazarian. The Border Service’s investigation department has instituted
criminal proceedings into the case. The trespasser is in custody. An
investigation is under way.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Global Chaos, Just for Fun
terra lycos Network
Wired News
02:00 AM Jun. 17, 2004 PT
It was a sultry evening early last summer when 200 or so New Yorkers
marched into Macy’s department store and loudly informed bewildered
onlookers and one blasé sales clerk that they were looking for a
“love rug” for their communal suburban house.
That was the start of the Mob Project. And this Saturday,
at approximately 2 p.m. local time, people in 76 cities in 32
countries will participate in a global flash mob to celebrate the
first anniversary of what is now a worldwide phenomenon.
Since the first mob gathered in force last year on June 19 (there
was a small mob event in Manhattan a few weeks earlier, but it was a
failure due to police interference), flash mobs have been organized
around the world. People are evidently quite taken by the idea of using
e-mail, blogs and the Internet to gather together a group of people
who suddenly materialize in public places, do something absolutely
inane and then vanish.
Some mobs have joined together to sing Christmas carols. Others have
gathered to support then-Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean,
to attempt to link their laptops to form a supercomputer, to taunt
performance artist David Blaine when he was hanging in a box over
the River Thames in London or to protest local politics.
Mobs can do whatever they want; there is no mob boss, no Tony Soprano
running things. But it is worth pointing out that flash mobs were
supposed to be meaningless, silly, utterly pointless endeavors,
according to “Bill,” who conceived the whole Mob Project idea.
“It’s just a mob, for no reason. That’s it, that’s the whole point,”
said Bill, when Manhattan’s Mob Project ended Sept. 10, 2003.
The current political unrest in many areas of the world sparks a
desire to describe the global mob as a warm and fuzzy international
gathering. But in a return to the random roots of the mob as Bill
dreamed of it, organizers have firmly stated that the gathering will
have absolutely no political or social significance.
“The idea of the East greeting the West and the West greeting the East
and everyone coming together has nothing to do with a real flash mob
script. Mobs should be silly,” said one of the event’s main organizers,
who in the spirit of Bill just goes by the name “Dave.”
Dave, who describes himself as “a 36-year-old communications technician
from Moscow, who was born in Armenia, is Chinese by origin and has
been living in New York and Chicago for the past three years,” seems
to be a perfect person to host a global event.
The idea for the global mob was first posted May 21 on the Flash Mob
Association website run by Dave and his collaborator, “Capricorn.”
Twenty-five people from six countries were soon involved in the
planning.
Mobs follow a script that lets participants, many of whom don’t know
each other, synchronize their actions. In Manhattan, the scripts,
printed on slips of paper, were handed out to participants at
designated meeting places immediately before the beginning of each
event. Since then, many people have relied on e-mail or text messages
sent to mobile phones to deliver the scripts.
Participants in the global flash mob will receive their scripts
by e-mail immediately prior to the event. To participate, a local
organizer just needs to register. Once signed up, they will receive
the e-mail containing the script and will also have access to private
planning forums.
Organizers said they worked hard to come up with a script that
would work well for people in different locations. The various mobs
are encouraged to follow the script as closely as possible, but the
organizers also said that participants should feel free to alter the
script to suit cultural differences if needed.
“Planning this has been a lot of fun,” said “Tempest,” an organizer
from Sydney, Australia. “The script is pretty cool, I think. It should
confound a lot of people.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Ethnic Armenian MPs gather in Yerevan to discuss national problems
Noyan Tapan news agency, Yerevan
18 Jun 04
Seventy deputies of Armenian origin from 25 countries have arrived
in Yerevan to attend the first session of the Armenian Parliamentary
Assembly of Friendship, Noyan Tapan news agency said on 18 June.
The session whose sole aim is to “join the efforts of the Armenian
National Assembly and MPs of Armenian origin from abroad” is discussing
“ways of resolving all-Armenian problems and expanding relations
between parliaments”, the agency said.
Armenian Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan, Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan,
the chairman of the Karabakh parliament, Oleg Yesayan, and Armenian
Prime Minister Vardan Oskanyan addressed the session and noted the
need to “maintain the assembly’s effective work” and regularly to
gather to discuss national issues.

Euro-Est
17 juin 2004
PARTICIPATION DE DIPLOMATES ARMENIENS A UN STAGE EN LITUANIE SUR
L’INTEGRATION EUROPEENNE .
Des diplomates arméniens ont participé an stage au ministère
lituanien des Affaires étrangères, du 31 mai au 11 juin, en vue d’en
apprendre davantage sur l’intégration européenne. Selon le ministre,
ces diplomates ont étudié l’expérience lituanienne en matière de
préparation à l’adhésion, divers aspects de la coordination d’activités
liées à l’UE ainsi que la formation de l’opinion publique quant à
l’intégration à l’Union européenne.
Ils ont également pris part à une série de réunions au sein des
institutions lituaniennes et ont visité l’Institut des Sciences
politiques et des Relations internationales de l’Université de
Vilnius. Le Ministre a expliqué que des représentants des pays du Sud
Caucase (Arménie, Azerbaïdjan et Géorgie) participeront à différentes
activités de formation en matière d’administration publique, en
Lituanie, en 2004-2005, dans le cadre d’un programme de transfert
vers ces pays de l’expérience lituanienne en matière d’intégration
européenne. Un stage similaire a été organisé en janvier à l’attention
de hauts responsables ukrainiens.

PUTIN JOKES AT EURASIAN FORUM
RIA Novosti, Russia
June 18 2004
ASTANA, June 18 (RIA Novosti) – President Vladimir Putin joked that it
was “inhuman” to have the leaders of the Eurasian Economic Community
meet so early because of a three hour time difference between Moscow
and Astana.
The Russian President is participating in the international forum,
“Eurasian Integration: Trends of Modern Development and Challenges of
Globalization,” in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, at Lev Gumilyov
Eurasian University.
“We have come here to discuss humanitarian issues but [Kazakhstan’s
president] Nursultan Abishevich [Nazarbayev] is not treating us
humanely – it is 6 a.m. in Moscow now, and I will hardly be able to
deliver as great of a speech as he has,” Mr. Putin said smiling.
Mr. Putin was to speak after Mr. Nazarbayev who spoke about many
aspects of cooperation between member states of the Eurasian Economic
Community (the member states are Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Russia, and Tajikistan) and CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization
(Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan). The
Russian president was apparently in high moods.
“Gumilyov’s ideas captivate people,” he said, “Some experts argue that
almost all people become relatives as 14 or 15 generations pass. I am
not sure about the entire planet, but within the Eurasian boundaries of
the former USSR we are all relatives, and closer than 14 generations,”
he emphasized.
Also smiling, he added that there was a funny thing on the agenda that
caught his eye. He said that while the first issue on the agenda was
speeches by heads of Eurasian Economic Community and CIS Collective
Security Treaty Organization member states, “the second line is
especially for [Armenian President Robert] Kocharyan’s speech,”
the Russian leader remarked.
Other heads of state followed in Vladimir Putin’s cheerful tone.
Giving the floor to the President of Armenia, Mr. Nazarbayev said that
he “would like to correct the mistake Vladimir Putin has noticed.” He
assured Mr. Kocharyan that he had nothing to do with what was written
on the agenda.
Mr. Kocharyan reciprocated by saying, as he took the floor, that “the
status of [the economic community] observer has some advantages. It
is great to be a separate issue on the agenda of the forum,” he said
and added he was “thinking whether one should lose this advantage by
getting membership.”
The hall applauded and Mr. Putin, jokingly irritated, exclaimed:
“What are you applauding at?”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russian “Kultura” TV channel to be broadcast in Armenia
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
16 Jun 04
[Presenter] The Russian TV channel “Kultura” will be broadcast in
Armenia from September. The head of Russian State Radio and Television
Company Oleg Dobrodeyev, founder of “Kultura” TV, arrived in Armenia
to sign agreement. The Russian “Kultura” promises to show films on
Armenian culture when it is broadcast in Armenia.
[Correspondent over video of meeting] The Russian TV channel “Kultura”
will be soon broadcast in Armenia. This was successful due to the
efforts of the Armenian culture representatives. Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan said this during a meeting with the head of Russian
State Radio and Television Company Oleg Dobrodeyev. Oleg Dobrodeyev
thanked them for the support and attention.
[Oleg Dobrodeyev, captioned, in Russian with Armenian voice over] They
like this channel a lot in Russia. We are assessing your support and
assistance in the broadcast of “Kultura” in Armenia. Thank you. Because
without your assistance this project could not come to fruition.
[Correspondent] Kultura’s programmes would provide Armenians with an
opportunity to be closer to genuine cultural values.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
 
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2004
CONTACT: David Zenian
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY RAISES HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE AT TURKEY-EU SEMINAR
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian Assembly Tuesday raised the question of human
rights in Turkey and specifically issues regarding reported calls for
introducing laws to allow the removal of the Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul
at a panel discussion on Turkey’s EU Prospects and Europe’s Domestic
Policies.
Debating the pros and cons of Turkey’s membership in the European Union were
Turkish and American journalists and policy experts invited by the Western
Policy Center to evaluate where Europe and Turkey stood on the thorny
question of whether Turkey should be allowed to become a full member of the
European family of nations.
Among the panelists, Soner Cagaptay, coordinator of the Turkish Research
Program at The Washington Institute, was the most vocal supporter of full
Turkish membership. Cagaptay was also critical of European nations who, he
said, were using double standards in their approach to Turkey.
“For some European nations the cup is half empty and not half full when it
comes to Turkey. We have fulfilled all their demands, and yet, we are
treated differently. In some and even most cases we are not worse than
several East European countries,” he said.
Repeating often stated remarks by Turkish government officials that Turkey
had introduced and implemented laws to safeguard human rights as underlined
by the “Copenhagen criteria” of the European Union, Cagaptay said:
“We are in full compliance on issues involving respect of minority rights
and separation of church and state and many other key points.”
While several members of the audience raised questions involving economic
integration, demographic changes and cultural issues, Armenian Assembly
Director of Public Affairs David Zenian asked Cagapray for his views on
recent Turkish newspaper reports involving the Armenian Patriarchate of
Istanbul.
“We read in a recent report published by the Turkish newspaper Cumhurriyet
that the Turkish Interior Ministry is pressing for the passage of laws which
will allow more control over the election process of the Armenian Patriarch
including a clause giving the government authority to depose the head of the
Armenian church.
“Imagine the Italian government enacting laws which not only dictates that
the Pope be an Italian citizen – the Turkish government already demands that
the Patriarch be a Turkish citizen – but also giving itself the right to
depose the Pope if it regards the election to be irregular or flawed?”
Zenian asked.
Cagaptay had no comment. Instead he returned to his earlier grievances,
repeating his allegation of European double standards.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2004-054
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Anand draws with Kasparov
Rediff, India
June 16 2004
June 16, 2004 03:12 IST — Former World champion Viswanathan Anand
drew his final round game with world No. 1 Garry Kasparov to ensure
victory for the Rest of the World team against Armenia at the Hyatt
Ararat in Moscow, on Tuesday.
Despite defeat in the sixth and final round, the Rest of World held
on to their lead, winning the match by a narrow 18.5-17.5 score.
Rest of the world began the last round with a two-point cushion at
16-14, while Armenia looked for two extra wins, without defeats.
Playing Kasparov with white pieces, Anand snatched the precious half
point with a comfortable draw.
The Sicilian Pelican game between Anand and Kasparov saw neither
player willing to take risks. A little out of the theoretical waters,
Anand captured the center “d” pawn and offered a draw which Kasparov
accepted. Just into the middle game, Anand held more than an even
position on the quenside, but Kasparov’s double bishop ensured
splitting of the point.
Anand completed the event with two wins, a lone defeat to Leko and
three draws.
The only decsive game of the day came from the Vaganian-Adams game,
wherein the veteran Armenian brought in all his experience in the
Queens Indian game to down the English Grandmaster.
Giving it all, Vaganian went all out for the kingside attack,
marshalling his pieces in quick time. Adams’s decision to hold on
to the bishop against knight backfired as the white knight occupied
vital squares, making inroads into black’s territory.
Holding a vice-like grip in the position, Vaganian found an nice
intermezzo forcing Adam’s resignation by 38 moves.
Short draws occured in Valleo Pons-Leko and Akopian-Svidler, where
peace was signed in 18 and 16 moves respectively.
Dutchman Loek van Wely opened with white pieces against Armenian
Grandmaste Lputian and the game moved in the Queens Gambit Tartakover
variation. The players focussed on the queenside and van Wely was
just pleased to sign a draw, as Lputian forced the repetion of moves,
by repeatedly attacking the white queen.
With the lead narrowing down, it all boiled down to the Gelfand-Bacrot
game. A student of former world champion Tigran Petrosian, in whose
memory this event is held, Gelfand held a minor advantage in the Slav
game after the opening phase.
A big space advantage and the awkward position of the black king
pointed to a defeat for the world team. But the Frenchman, Bacrot,
rose to the occasion, and hung on grimly.
Ensuring a winning rook and bishop endgame, Gelfand had Bacrot in
all knots. Extricating himself from difficulties, Bacrot sacrificed
his bishop, wiping out the dangerous pawns.
A stalemate on the 70th move, gave the Rest of the World team a
crucial half point, ensuring them a match victory over the Armenian
team by a single point, 18.5-17.5.
Results Match 6: Rest of the World (18.5) beat Armenia (17.5).
Viswanathan Anand (ROW) drew Garry Kasparov, Rafael Vaganian (ARM)
beat Michael Adams (ROW), Fransisco Vallejo Pons (ROW) drew Peter Leko
(ARM), Vladimir Akopian (ARM) drew Peter Svidler (ROW), Loek van Wely
(ROW) drew Smbat Lputian (ARM), Boris Glfand (ARM) drew Etienne Bacrot
(ROW).
Viswanathan Anand – Garry Kasparov: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6
10. Nd5 Bg7 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 O-O 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5
16. O-O Ra7 17. a4 Ne7 18. Nxe7+ Rxe7 19. axb5 axb5 20. Ra6 d5 21. Nc2
Bc8 22. Ra8 Qd7 23. Nb4 e4 24. Be2 Bb7 25. Ra5 d4 26. cxd4 Draw Agreed.

Council of Europe should urge Armenian opposition back to parliament – paper
Ayots Ashkar, Yerevan
15 Jun 04
Text of Artak Grigoryan report by Armenian newspaper Ayots Ashkar on
15 June headlined “What do we go to Strasbourg with?”
The upcoming visit [23-24 June] of President Robert Kocharyan to
Strasbourg and his speech at the PACE [Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe] session will be a special conclusion to the
process of the fulfilment of our country’s obligations towards the
Council of Europe and on the whole of Armenia’s integration into
European structures.
What balance of achievements and shortcomings will Armenia submit
to Strasbourg? Are they enough to keep the rating and authority of
our country at a high level and to make integration into European
structures irreversible? Especially now that, thanks to the efforts
of the opposition, the Council of Europe has in fact put forward
new demands.
The calm and balanced steps taken by the authorities recently show that
the opposition is losing. The reason is obvious: Armenia is fulfilling
its new demands point by point. For this reason the opposition’s modus
operandi of avoiding dialogue and banking on a parliamentary fight is
becoming strange. Let us recall that one of the main demands of PACE
was to start dialogue. It turns out that the PACE demands are a compass
for the activity of one sector of the Armenian political field, the
authorities, but for the opposition they are a means to put pressure
on the authorities. It has become obvious that, notwithstanding the
problem of the fulfilment of Armenia’s obligations towards them, the
European structures have become a tool for the radicals in forming
a negative image of our country.
We think that after all this our president may calmly leave for
Strasbourg and present specific information about the fulfilment
of PACE’s demands, as well as the process of fulfilling Armenia’s
long-term obligations towards the Council of Europe. One thing is
evident: in terms of meeting our country’s commitments to European
structures, the authorities are ahead of the opposition in all senses.
During the president’s upcoming visit to Strasbourg, the existence of
such serious pre-conditions will allow the last “European card” to be
snatched from the hands of the radical opposition. The time has come
for Europe to keep parity on the fulfilment of its decisions and to
put pressure not only on the authorities, but also on the opposition,
demanding that it come back to parliament and finish jointly the
process of fulfilling Armenia’s obligations towards the Council of
Europe. Because a successful ending of this process is favourable,
not only to Armenia, but also to Europe.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress