Author: Emil Lazarian

Russian and Armenian leaders discuss Caucuses problems
RosBusinessConsulting, Russia
May 14 2004
RBC, 14.05.2004, Moscow 14:53:31.In the course of their meeting,
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Armenian President Robert
Kocharian focused on the situation in the Caucuses and the settlement
of the Nagorny Karabakh (Azerbaijan) conflict between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. In addition, the sides considered cooperation in fighting
international terrorism and ensuring stability in the Caucuses
region. Putin and Kocharian also discussed measures to develop trade
and economic relations between the two states, Rossiya (Russia)
television reported.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MARDIN HOSTS ABRAHAMIC RELIGION AND PEACE SYMPOSIUM
Cumhuriyet, Turkey
May 14 2004
Mardin yesterday hosted a seminar on “Religion and Peace in Light
of the Prophet Abraham” organized by the Intercultural Dialogue
Platform. Among those attending were Interior Minister Abdulkadir
Aksu, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos, Istanbul Chief Rabbi Ishak
(Yitzhak) Haleva, Eastern Orthodox Cardinal Ignace Moussa Daoud,
Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II and Religious Affairs Directorate
deputy head Muhammed Sevki Aydin. The symposium started with the Muslim
call to prayer and continued with hymns sung by a chorus with Muslim,
Jewish and Christian members. /Cumhuriyet/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
May 14 2004
SPEECH OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV AT SUPREME MAJLIS OF
NAKHCHIVAN AR
[May 14, 2004, 20:30:39]
Dear meeting participants!
Today is the second day of my staying in Nakhchivan. This is my first
visit to Nakhchivan after being elected as President, and what I have
seen today gives me a great pleasure. Great constructive work in
being carried out in Nakhchivan.
Nakhchivan is the land, which is living under very hard conditions.
The indivisible part of Azerbaijan is under blockade. Nakhchivan has
no communication with the greater part of Azerbaijan but airway.
Considering the situation, under the instruction of our esteemed
president, people’s nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev, the
international airport has been built and put into operation here in
Nakhchivan.
The basis for the work done in Nakhchivan within the past years was
laid in early 90s. That was the time when Heydar Aliyev came to
Nakhchivan. The people of the Republic elected him as their leader,
and intensive activity began here. Today, Nakhchivan is experiencing
the period of his revival.
Social and economic showings are very high in Nakhchivan. The
Republic’s GDP is growing from year to year, industrial potential and
local production are also increasing, important social problems are
being solved.
Azerbaijan as a whole is now the rapidly developing country, which
are realizing world-scale economic projects, and whose international
prestige has considerably increased. In other words, Azerbaijan has
strengthened its positions in the region.
A special decree has been issued recently to intensify social and
economic development in Azerbaijan, At the same time, the state
program on development of Azerbaijan’s provinces has been adopted.
However, opening of several works here during these two days shows
that the program has been launched in the Autonomous republic much
earlier.
One of the main problems of Nakhchivan is electricity supply. In this
connection, we are going to realize new projects to fully satisfy the
Republic’s needs in electric power. Gas supply is also on the agenda.
If Nakhchivan and the rest of Azerbaijan had communicated, there
would not be a problem to supply gas to the Republic. So, we are
searching for other ways to solve the problem. I hope we will achieve
the goal.
Although our economy is built on market base, the greater part of our
budget is spent on solving social problems. It indicates that solving
these problems, in other words, showing concern about people, is a
focus of attention. However, there are still a lot of people in
Azerbaijan whose living conditions are very hard: refugees and
displaced people. Measures for improvement the situation are in
progress. You know that on the initiative of our nationwide leader
Heydar Aliyev, $70 mln were allotted from the state Oil Fund for
construction of modern houses, apartment buildings and settlements
for them. And they have already been constructed in several regions,
and this course will be continued.
However, this is not a resolution of the problem. It may be
considered as solved when Armenian armed forces are withdrawn from
our lands and the refugees and IDPs return to their native places.
Huge efforts have been taken in this sphere, and I hope it will
manage to reach fair peace treaty based on the international legal
norms.
We support peaceful settlement of the conflict, but at the same time
we must be ready to solve the problem at any moment resorting to
other methods. Economic potential of Azerbaijan is increasing from
year to year, and the country is getting stronger. I am sure the
Azerbaijani lands will be released, and its territorial integrity
restored.
Dear friends!
I know and you know how much Heydar Aliyev wanted to see the results
of the projects he once initiated here, and to attend their openings.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be impossible for him to see that.
I also know that sometimes people need consolation. He saw that his
work was continued, that his creation – independent Azerbaijan – was
living following his path. He saw his people supported his policy.
The duty of ours is to continue Heydar Aliyev’s policy, and move the
country ahead.
Accept again my greetings and best wishes for your new successes, new
victories, good health and happiness.
Thank you,
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OSKANIAN RECEIVES MEMBERS OF GERMAN BUNDESTAG PARLIAMENTARY GROUP
ArmenPress
May 14 2004
YEREVAN, MAY 14, ARMENPRESS: Armenian foreign minister Vartan Oskanian
received today members of the German Bundestag multi-party South
Caucasus parliamentary group- Kristoff Bergner, Jorg Tauss, Lidia
Westrich and Ulla Heller.
Foreign ministry press services reported, that Oskanian underlined
that the delegation’s visit followed a successful visit by German
foreign minister to Armenia Joschka Fischer. He voiced his hope that
German -Armenian relations will continue developing.
The sides emphasized a decision by the European Commission whereby
Armenia and South Caucasus are included in the EU Wider Europe –
New Neighborhood project.
During the talk, the Bundestag delegation members noted that their
group has contributed to the passing of this decision because they
attach importance to South Caucasus’s integration to the EU.
During the meeting, the sides referred to the present phase of Nagorno
Karabagh conflict regulation. Armenian foreign minister has presented
his impressions from his recent talks with his Azeri counterpart
Mamedyarov in Strasburg.

Avalanche tragedy on Ararat adventure
By Richard Cowper in Erzerum, Turkey
FT.com site;
May 14, 2004
“Avalanche!” The cry every mountaineer dreads and coming from right
behind my left shoulder.
No time to think. No time to waste. Just ski as fast as I can away from
the wall of wet snow sliding down the side of the mountain towards me.
We were in the wilds of eastern Turkey preparing to make one of the
first British ski ascents of Mt Ararat – at 5,137m the country’s
highest mountain and famous in legend as the place where Noah landed
with his ark after the flood.
After less than a minute, near silence.
Even the gale-force wind seemed to have stopped. Then the dawning
realisation, that even though my friend Robert Mulder and I had seen
no-one go under, any one of our three companions might have been buried
under the thousands of tonnes of heavy wet snow that had filled up
the bottom of the steep gulley along which we had been skiing.
We looked for tell-tale signs like skis, bits of clothing or abandoned
rucksacks, but nothing was visible on the surface of the great mass
of avalanche debris.
On our expedition there were 14 people, all of whom were in the
Palandoken area that day, just outside the garrison town of Erzerum,
700 miles east of Istanbul. But only five had been skiing in our
close-knit group: myself and Robert and expedition leader David
Hamilton, along with ex-soldier Alun Davies and Alpine Ski Club
secretary Alasdair Ross. We could not see any of them.
With wind speeds increasing to over 70mph, the spindrift snow blowing
in the air meant visibility was extremely poor. The only sensible
course of action was to assume that all three had been buried.
Robert and I jettisoned our skis and pulled out our avalanche
transceivers, putting them into search mode as we criss-crossed the
avalanche fallout area, the size of a football field, hunting for an
electronic signal that would indicate the position of a body.
Within two minutes Robert heard a series of bleeps and at that
point just under the surface of the snow we could see someone buried
vertically, head up, feet down. I pulled out my shovel and after a
short period of ferocious digging Alun Davies’s head was freed and
to my immense relief I could hear him breathing in fast, short gasps
“Breathe more slowly, if you can,” I suggested as David arrived from
out of the storm to help get rid of the massive weight of snow still
compressing Alun’s chest. By some miracle David had ridden the surface
of the avalanche and managed to cast off both his rucksack and skis,
preventing the snow from dragging him under.
David reckoned that a group of four other members of our expedition,
led by Dr Rodney Franklin, had successfully skied through the very
gulley which had avalanched about five minutes before we had entered
it. This meant that the only person known to be missing was our
companion Alasdair Ross.
I started a new electronic search with a sinking feeling and about
12 minutes after the avalanche had occurred I found a second signal,
coming from agonisingly deep below the surface.
Overcome by a feeling of the need for urgency I shouted: “I need
help. Time is vital. We must get him out as soon as possible”.
I knew from experience that the first 20 minutes in an avalanche
rescue often makes the difference between life and death. But the
hard-set snow was so unbelievably heavy and the angle so difficult
that it took several of us many minutes to complete the strenuous,
and heartrending task of digging Alasdair out.
When at last we managed to free his head and chest, it seemed to both
me and Dr Franklin, who had arrived from below, that Alasdair must
have died from asphyxiation almost the moment the avalanche struck.
I will never forget Alasdair’s face when at last we got him out. He
looked so tranquil and, at the same time, like a waxwork. Only the
night before I had sat next to him at dinner and we had chatted with
animation of past ski trips and adventures the evening through.
An army team arrived and took over the rescue, placing Alasdair on
a stretcher. The avalanche had occurred just over 100metres from the
safety of a military post.
At last I was able to gather my thoughts and I remember thinking:
“Pride comes before a fall!” Only the day before I had been cock-a-hoop
after a personal success on my very first mountain adventure in
Turkey. Robert Mulder and I had arrived late in the Palandoken range
and from the top of the main ski station we cast our eyes to the
horizon at the steepest and seemingly most unclimbable of mountains
and then to each other’s surprise set off at speed towards it with
unreasoned optimism.
Six hours later we were taking off our skis and the skins attached
to them, to climb the final steep summit pyramid of what the lone
Kurdish family living in its shadow had called Yavkaz Kayuz (the
Impossible Peak).
The achievement had been made doubly satisfying because of our firm
belief we would never get to the mountain at all in the time available,
let alone manage to climb the precipitous rocks to the top.
In the gathering dusk we had a sensational ski down into the main
valley. Six and a half hours to the summit. Less than twenty minutes
down.
On the way back we visited our Kurdish friends in their snug
underground farmhouse for tea, before heading back to meet our
companions in Erzerum.
The next day, the day of the avalanche, all fourteen members of the
expedition, led by the Scottish ski mountaineer David Hamilton, were
back among the peaks of Palandoken continuing the programme to get
fit for our main objective, the ascent of Mt Ararat, a giant volcano
close to the Iranian and Armenian borders.
For much of the last 35 years it has been out of bounds due to a
series of wars in the area and the claim by the Armenians that it
belonged to them and not to Turkey.
As we set off the wind was, if anything, stronger than the evening
before, constantly blowing us over on our skis. It was surprisingly
warm with worrying patches of orange in the snow, sand blown by the
hot wind all the way from the Sahara. We could see the occasional
tell-tale sloughs of snow on slopes of 30 degrees and above. Perfect
avalanche conditions.
Just before we got to the bridge close to our Kurdish friends’
farmhouse, some of us wondered aloud whether any sane ski mountaineer
would be out in such conditions. Looking back, the weather was so
wild and so warm that we should have all stayed at home. But we were
here on the trip of a lifetime, trying to cram in as much adventure
as possible and we were all so keen to get ready for the big mountain.
Now Alasdair was dead.
At 59, unmarried and with no children, he was a fanatical
skier who loved indulging his passion in the wilder parts of the
world. Unfortunately, when we got him out he had stopped breathing
and all attempts to resuscitate him failed.
By the time darkness fell and Alasdair was on his way to the mortuary
in Erzerum the wind on the mountain was gusting over 100mph, ripping
the roofs off several local buildings in one of the worst storms of
the winter.
Those of us closely involved in the rescue then made a lengthy report
to the nearby army post and it was only when showing his passport
to a friendly intelligence officer that David Hamilton realised that
the greatest tragedy ever to take place on an expedition run by him
had occurred on his own birthday.
That evening we all gathered in our hotel to decide whether to abandon
the expedition altogether or whether to continue. It was the stoic
and, perhaps wise, ex-soldier Alun Davies, who so narrowly escaped
death himself, who carried the day.
“After I was buried somehow I accepted the inevitability of death. It’s
the second time I have been avalanched in three years. But there was
still a feint hope and by some miracle I was rescued.
“Alasdair was not so lucky. But he lived for the mountains. It’s a risk
we all take. I am a soldier and I have seen death. There is nothing
to be gained by being maudlin, giving up and going home. He would not
have wanted that. Let’s all go and get drunk and tell stories about
him. Tomorrow we continue!”
The next day half of the expedition members decided their heart was
no longer in it and made arrangements to return home immediately. The
others, including myself, decided to carry on.
Everyone’s reasons for staying or going were very personal and not
easy to define.
As president of the Alpine ski club Rupert Hoare decided he had to
attend Alasdair’s funeral. Others felt there would be no joy left in
the struggle against the elements when a friend had died. Some had
felt they had to talk to Alasdair’s relations to try and ease their
grief. Some simply felt fear in the patently dangerous conditions in
the Turkish mountains.
All I can say is I would not want anyone to stop an expedition for me
and would much prefer my companions to drink large amounts of local
spirits and tell stories of my most outrageous or defining moments.
Two weeks later four of the six who continued made it to the top of
Mt Ararat after a storm had cast a blanket of snow over the great
dormant volcano, though nobody was able to ski the final 1,000metres.
No-one pretended it had been a successful expedition.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RIA OREANDA
Economic News
May 14, 2004 Friday
Vladimir Putin Met His Armenian Counterpart Friday
Moscow. Today the RF President, Vladimir Putin, held meeting with his
Armenian counterpart, Robert Kocharyan. The Head of the Russian state
expressed confidence that the summit talks would permit to
efficiently develop Russia-Armenia cooperation, the Kremlin
press-service informed. Apart from that, the Russian President
pointed out the fact that his meetings with Robert Kocharyan for
discussion of bilateral cooperation, coordination of activity in
post-Soviet territories and international arena were rather regular
and productive.

Los Angeles Times
May 14, 2004 Friday
Home Edition
MOVIE REVIEW;
Deeply personal in Glendale
by Kevin Thomas, Times Staff Writer
Vahe Babaian’s “After Freedom” (Monday at 7 p.m. and Wednesday at 2
p.m.) is a “Mean Streets” set in the prosperous boulevards of
Glendale, which has become home to a large Armenian community.
Michael Abcarian (Mic Tomasi) is the conflicted central figure in
this taut, well-wrought drama set in a tradition-minded ethnic
community in which loyalties can be as negative as they are positive.
At 30ish, he feels increasingly obligated to care for his widowed
father, Leon (Greg Satamian), who years ago gave up a good job with
British Airways in Soviet Armenia so his children could grow up in a
free country.
Unfortunately, Leon has managed only to go from one menial job to
another, and Michael is getting nowhere as an assistant supermarket
manager because one of his pals, Mato (Ioannis Bogris), keeps
pilfering. Worse, Michael and Mato are in the thrall of Avo (Shant
Benjamin), a cynically manipulative older guy whose criminal impulses
are escalating.
Shot in a beautifully modulated black and white by Gary Meek, “After
Freedom” is a deeply personal film that is also a mature, assured
work rich in telling details and shot through with humor to offset
its serious concerns. Tomasi’s Michael is a handsome, personable man
in a longtime relationship with Sophie Chahinian’s lovely, confident
Ana. But his deep bonding with his pals and above all his overweening
sense of responsibility to his uncomplaining and kindly father could
cost him Ana, who recognizes his need to grow up and become
independent.
The give and take between all the people in this film is essentially
well-meaning, and Babaian has clear affection for everyone, even the
hot-headed Avo, who only wants to help his pals get ahead even if it
means increasingly involving them in shady deals. As Avo, a man who
has missed his big chance and knows it, Benjamin energizes the entire
film, which is especially crucial because Michael’s predicament,
although made sympathetic by Tomasi, is his passivity.
Visually, “After Freedom” offers an unexpectedly lyrical view of
Glendale, and Babaian creates a sense of an ethnic community and its
tensions between tradition and change without making it seem exotic.
Indeed, “After Freedom” is an inviting film in which any audience
would be likely to recognize itself.
*
‘After Freedom’
MPAA rating: Unrated
Times guidelines: Adult themes, some violence, language, sensuality
and brief nudity
Mic Tomasi…Michael Abcarian
Sophie Chahinian…Ana
Greg Satamian…Leon Abcarian
Shant Benjamin…Avo
Ioannis Bogris…Mato
A Vitagraph Films release of an After Freedom, L. P. presentation.
Writer-director Vahe Babaian. Producers Eric Sherman, Babaian.
Executive producers Sophie Chahinian, Berj Benjamin, Ken Craig.
Cinematographer Gary Meek. Editors Howard Heard, Tom Ohanian. Music
Alan Derian. Art director Amanda Rounsaville. Costumes Elaine
Montalvo. Running time: 1 hour, 28 minutes.
Exclusively at the Music Hall, 9036 Wilshire Blvd,. Beverly Hills,
(310) 274-6869; and the Glendale Cinemas, 501 N. Orange St.,
Glendale, (818) 549-9950.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia and Iran agree to build US$220 million gas pipeline
Associated Press Worldstream
May 13, 2004 Thursday
YEREVAN, Armenia — Armenia and Iran on Thursday signed an agreement
to build a $220 pipeline that would bring Iranian gas to Armenia in
exchange for electrical power supplies to Iran.
The pipeline, expected to be launched by 2007, will cost Iran up to
US$120 million and Armenia around US$100 million.
The long-awaited signing of the agreement comes after 12 years of
negotiations between the two neighbors.
The project had met resistance on the part of Russia and the United
States. As the world’s leading gas exporter, Russia wanted to preserve
its influence in the region. The United States was uncomfortable with
Armenia’s contacts with Iran.
The building of the Iranian side of the pipeline will by financed by
the country’s national gas company, while companies have yet to bid
for the construction of the Armenian side.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkey should get rid of the Genocide burden
Yerkir
12.05.2004 14:32
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – Speaking at a roundtable discussion Wednesday in
Yerevan, European Parliament member Per Garton said Turkey should
admit the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
“Turkey should get rid of that burden. The European Union has
reinstated this year its decision recognizing the Genocide and calling
on Turkey to do so too,” Garton said at the discussion titled “Wider
Europe. New Neighborhood.”
It makes no sense for Turkey to deny the Genocide, according to
Garton, since immediately after the Genocide was perpetrated, the
Istanbul courts sentences to death the Turkish officials accountable
for it. Where would Germany be now hadn’t it admitted the Holocaust
against the Jews, the European diplomat asked?
Meanwhile, he mentioned he supported Turkey’s accession to the EU,
saying it would contribute to settling regional issues, including
the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian National Committee of Albany
7 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12205
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
May 14, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Antranig Karageozian
[email protected]
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE COMMEMORATED IN UPSTATE NEW YORK
TROY, NY–On April 23, over 100 individuals from around upstate New
York gathered at Troy City Hall to commemorate the Armenian Genocide,
reported the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Albany. Among the
dignitaries who participated in the remembrance were Congressman
Michael McNulty (D-NY), Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian, and Watervliet
Mayor Robert Carlson.
During the commemoration, Congressman McNulty spoke about the
devastating impact of the Armenian Genocide, which is still felt by
Armenians worldwide–89 years after the fact–and commended Armenian
Americans for being able to establish prosperous communities across the
US. The Congressman, a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues, also touched upon his record of support on issues of concern
to Armenian Americans, noting that he is a current cosponsor of the
House Genocide Resolution (H.Res.193). Congressman McNulty closed his
remarks by informing the gathering that he would continue to support
Armenian Genocide recognition efforts.
Mayor Harry Tutunjian, the first-term mayor of the City of Troy,
described the recent progress on the international recognition of
the Armenian Genocide–the recognition of this great crime against
humanity by the Canadian Parliament, Switzerland, New York Times,
and several states across the United States. He continued by stating
that Armenians are a proud people who work hard and do not give up.
The Mayor further remarked that Armenians are looking for a better
future but refuse to forget the past.
Following Mayor Tutunjian, Watervliet Mayor Robert Carlson presented
a proclamation recalling the 1.5 million Armenians who perished during
the first genocide of the 20th Century.
Community leaders also spoke during the ceremony at Troy City Hall.
Among those speaking were: Co-Chairman of the ANC of Albany Antranig
Karageozian, Chairman of the Albany Homenetmen Leo Ohanian, and
Chairman of the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) “Shoushi” Albany
Chapter Aramig Barkamian. Following the commemoration, the Albany
Homenetmen Chapter hosted a memorial dinner. During the dinner,
Raffi Mahserdjian of the ANC of Albany presented a slide show on the
Armenian Genocide.
The ANC Albany also hosted several other events, including a movie
night on April 24. Apo Torosyan’s “Discovering My Fathers Village”
and J. Michael Hagopian’s “Germany and the Secret Genocide,” were
shown at Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church. Over 75 community
members attended the screening. Following the movies, Stepan and His
Band performed a concert of revolutionary songs.
On April 25, after the annual Requiem Service, in memory of the
victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide, at Holy Cross,
the Albany AYF held a memoriam where each AYF member read brief
descriptions of specific events, which occurred during 1915 and 1923.
Finally, on April 26, Congressman John Sweeney (R-NY), several State
Assembly members, and the Armenian American community of upstate New
York attended a rally at the State Capitol building steps.
“Unfortunately, and sadly, the Armenian Genocide was a precursor to
some of the worst horrific treatments of human beings in mankind’s
history: the Holocaust, Cambodia, and Rwanda are all the unwanted
stepchildren of the Turkish massacre of the Armenians” stated
Congressman Sweeney, one of two Congressional Members who is of
Armenian descent.
A member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Congressman
Sweeney has and continues to support numerous Armenian American
concerns. A cosponsor of H.Res.193, he most recently cosigned a
Congressional letter urging President George W. Bush to keep his
campaign pledge to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as
“genocide” in his annual April 24 statement.
Closing the rally was Assemblymember Ronald Canestrari (D-Albany)
who presented the Armenian American community with a resolution,
passed by the New York State Senate and Assembly, in recognition of
the Armenian Genocide.
“All our events could not have been successful if it wasn’t for the
support of the community,” said ANC of Albany Co-Chairman Antranig
Karageozian. “Although we are a small community, we remain active. All
the Armenian American organizations work well together which makes
us a strong
community.”
“We thank Congressmen Michael McNulty and John Sweeney, Mayor Tutunjian
and Carlson, along with all the State Assembly members, who took the
time out of their busy schedules and attended the various commemoration
events. We also thank these officials for their continued support of
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide,” continued Karageozian.
“As Mayor Tutunjian commented, we look towards the future but we
do not forget the past. Hitler once said ‘Who now remembers the
Armenians?’ Each year, the community in upstate New York can answer
him unequivocally that we do and we will not forget,” concluded ANC
of Albany Co-Chairman Leo Ohanian.
The Armenian National Committee is the largest Armenian American
grassroots political organization in New York and nationwide. The ANC
actively advances a broad range of issues of concern to the Armenian
American community.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress