Author: Emma Nadirian

The Honolulu Advertiser
Friday, August 5, 2005
ll/article?AID=/20050805/ENT04/508050317/1131/ENT

Downtown’s Europa dishes up Armenian delights
By Helen Wu
Advertiser Restaurant Critic
Frank and Margarit Lavoie, owners of Kafe Europa, offer
Armenian/Russian style food with homemade pastries baked by
Margarit. Her mother, Kara Mnatsakanyan, right, helps make the daily
specials. Photos by DEBORAH BOOKER | The Honolulu Advertiser
KAFE EUROPA
Rating: 3 1/2 forks
Tardus Financial Plaza
801 Alakea St., No. 101, at Queen Street
230-9941
Summer hours: 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays
Starting in September, also open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays
Clockwise from top left: raspberry-almond tart, Armenian style baklava,
homemade cream puff, okra appetizer and fava-bean salad.
One midsummer evening in Manhattan, a friend and I swooned as our
waiter, Moon, and the rest of the staff at the famed Russian Samovar
restaurant treated us like czarinas. Under the rosy glow of red
lanterns, they covered our table with dishes of basturma (Armenian
dried beef); a royal Baltic fish platter of smoked salmon and sturgeon,
salmon caviar and herring accompanied by plate-sized blini; steaming
cabbage-stuffed pirozhok (savory turnover) and cold borscht.
Vodkas flavored in-house with pear, plum and ginger had us wanting
to try every single one. Russian tea sweetened with cherry preserves
provided a warm and deeply satisfying end to the meal just as the
live music reached a dramatic crescendo.
And thanks to a tip from a reader named Neal suggesting that I check
out a place called Kafe Europa, I’m not going into complete withdrawal
back on home ground. This downtown spot is a grab-n-go coffee stand
unlike the usual sit-down eateries I go to, but it has the basics that
help get me through any hard day – good coffee, sweet pastries and
hearty food. It’s comparable to one of those quality quickie places
that are in most big cities but rare here, and I’m not talking about
okazuyas, lunch wagons or Korean plate-lunch joints.
Kafe Europa has a decidedly unique feel, probably because owners
Margarit and Frank Lavoie aren’t from these parts. Margarit, from
Armenia, and Frank, originally a Bostonian, met when Frank was a
Peace Corps volunteer in Armenia. After visiting Frank’s brother,
who was stationed at Kane’ohe Bay, they traded Boston’s winters for
Hawai’i’s eternal summers. Without any background in the restaurant
business, they are now serving a small selection of homemade Eastern
European foods and tempting desserts to the downtown business crowd.
I asked Margarit how she would describe Armenian food, and she
answered, “It is very close to Greek and Mediterranean food, and
because Armenia was part of the Soviet Union we had an influence
from Russia.”
You’ll find an assortment of seemingly eclectic items on Kafe
Europa’s menu.
On softly warmed pita bread you can get filling sandwiches of beef
kebab ($5.50), vegetarian roasted eggplant with feta ($4.99), or
tender, roasted Australian free range lamb ($6.25). Norwegian smoked
salmon ($5.95 including side salad) on a freshly baked croissant is
another alternative. If this is all too foreign, choose a standard
ham or turkey with melted provolone cheese ($5.25, with side salad)
on a croissant.
But it’s the uncommon dishes that attract me. Daily special plates
include a free can of soda and a salad, and most arrive with basmati
rice – a nice change from the usual sticky kind. Tuesday’s Uzbeki
pilaf ($6.50) comes with hummus and pita bread. This saffron rice
studded with lamb morsels is faintly sweet with carrots. Russian beef
stroganoff ($6.95), moist beef strips baked in a rich sour cream sauce,
is a sell-out favorite on Wednesday for those tired of beef stew.
As for the soup of the day ($4.25; $6.50 with mini-salad and bread
slice), I’ve tried borscht, chicken-mushroom and a pinto bean. None of
them left me hungry, although I wished they were hotter. I usually eye
the deli case for cold appetizers ($3 to $4.50) that come pre-packed
in 8-ounce plastic tubs.
These meze-type snacks such as baba gannouj, lentil salad and
beet salad are almost meals in themselves, and a great option for
vegetarians.
Another treat is cold-pressed, preservative-free Noyan brand
juices from Armenia ($1.99 small, $2.49 medium, $2.99 large,
$4.99 carton; natural pomegranate without added sugar is $2.50,
$3, $3.50, $6.50). Two flavors I’ve never encountered before are
sea-buckthorn that tastes like a zingy, anti-oxidant, power-packed
passion-orange-guava and a refreshingly tart, vitamin C-loaded
Cornelian cherry that resembles a guava concoction.
Kafe Europa’s family recipes extend to its sweets. Although Margarit’s
mother, Kara, assists behind the counter and with some of the cooking,
Margarit does all the baking, which she learned from her grandmother.
Every day, she turns out light-as-a feather pastries that practically
float away as customers come in requesting baklava ($2), napoleons
($2) and tiramisu ($2.50). Occasionally, there are delicate cream
puffs ($2) with a hazelnut glaze that caused me to have a temporary
memory loss about Beard-who and Coco-what. Illy-brand espresso drinks
alone or combined with a pastry can jump-start those suffering from
sluggishness.
Despite not having any tables or parking, Kafe Europa does have
lunchtime lines. Around noon, it’s practically impossible to find a
seat in the Tardus Financial building with the competition from all
the other eateries.
However, Kafe Europa’s reasonably priced, homey food, along with
Frank and Margarit’s genuine, old-world hospitality, work like an
Eastern European charm to keep regulars returning.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Messenger, Georgia
July 27 2005
Tension fluctuating in Samtskhe-Javakheti
Akhali Toba reports that the confrontation between Georgians and
Armenians is fluctuating between becoming more and less intense.
Tension has grown since an agreement was reached between Moscow and
Tbilisi to withdraw the Russian military base at Akhalkalaki as local
ethnic Armenians employed there are worried that they will be unable
to find new jobs.
President Saakashvili has sought to assure the local residents that
the closure of the base will not mean fewer jobs, as the Georgian
army will take the place of the Russian soldiers.
Akhali Taoba reports that both the Georgian and Armenian governments
have been doing all they can to address the situation. The prime
ministers of the two countries Zurab Noghaideli and Andranik
Margaryan visited the region on Sunday together, something the
newspaper sees as symbolizing the good relations and willingness to
cooperate between the two countries.
Noghaideli said afterwards that the visit of the Armenian PM had been
a good idea. “We discussed the economic relations between two
countries, and the need to develop communications links in
Samtskhe-Javakheti. We will do this quite soon,” he said.
Noghaideli was upbeat about the region’s future prospects, enthusing
that “within four years this region will have totally changed,” while
Akhali Taoba reports that Margaryan approved of Georgian efforts to
resolve the problems in the region together with the Armenian
authorities.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia Under-19s 1 England Under-19s 1
Sportinglife.com, UK
July 20 2005
England’s bid to win the UEFA European Under-19 Championship for the
first time suffered a setback when they were held at the Ballymena
Showgrounds.
A semi-final spot may still be within the grasp of Martin Hunter’s
young guns but they have made life a lot more difficult for themselves.
The England coach had predicted that his side’s fitness levels would
improve after the 1-1 stalemate with France on Monday but this result
proved his judgement was not spot on.
With France beating Norway 3-1, England know they must beat Norway
on Saturday to qualify – and even that will probably give them the
runners-up spot in the group.
After controlling the first half, Hunter’s side were left scratching
their heads as to how they had not taken a lead into the half-time
interval.
Dexter Blackstock and Mark Noble both had goals disallowed.
Grant Leadbitter then missed a penalty early in the second half
before England finally got their reward with a goal from Southampton’s
Matthew Mills.
However, Armenia had the final say, scoring a late equaliser which
robbed the Three Lions of a victory.
Europe’s big guns have sent over scouts to the tournament hoping to
sign the ‘next big thing’.
The Irish Football Association has confirmed that representatives
from Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich
and PSV Eindhoven, to name just a few, have requested tickets for
the Under-19 matches.
European champions Liverpool have also sent their men to the province
to view the next generation of superstars while other Premiership
clubs such as Aston Villa, Bolton and Portsmouth are watching.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
Republic of Armenia Ministry of Education and Science
Yerevan State University
Rev. Fr. Ktrij Devejian
Foreign Press Secretary
Catholicosate of All Armenians
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
(374-10) 517-163
July 13, 2005
His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Ajemian Enters Eternal Rest
It is with great sadness that we report that on June 13, 2005, following a
long and debilitating illness, one of the most senior members of the
Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Ajemian
entered his eternal rest. At the time of his death, Abp. Ajemian was the
dean of the Theological Faculty of Yerevan State University. He was 79
years old.
Abp. Shahe was born in Aleppo, Syria in 1926. He received his elementary
education in the Haigazian School of Aleppo; and from 1937 to 1939, he
attended the academy of the Mkhitarist fathers.
In 1939 he enrolled in the Aleppo Friars (Franciscan) School and graduated
with honors in 1943. He was accepted the same year in the seminary of
Antelias and ordained a deacon. Graduating from the seminary in 1947, he is
ordained a celibate priest by His Grace Bishop Terenig Poladian of blessed
memory.
>From 1947 to 1950, he attended classes at the University of Brussels and
graduated with a degree in literature and philosophy. He immediately began
teaching classes at the seminary in Antelias, as well as at the
Hovagimian-Manoogian School in Beirut.
>From 1952 to 1956, he served in the Chancellery of the See of the Great
House of Cilicia.
>From 1960 to 1994 he was a member of the Brotherhood of Saint James of the
Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem. In 1965, His Holiness Vasken I,
Catholicos of All Armenians of blessed memory, consecrated him a bishop.
During his years of service in Jerusalem, he held the positions of
Chancellor and Properties Manager for the Patriarchate.
His Eminence Archbishop Shahe Ajemian contributed numerous works to the
“Sion” official monthly of the Patriarchate, focusing on research dedicated
to religion, history, science and philosophy. In 1982, he established the
Armenian Bible Center on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, with its emphasis
on research on the Armenian translation of the Bible and Armenian Church
canons.
Abp. Ajemian was a member of the Supreme Spiritual Council of the Armenian
Church from 1975 to 1985. He also contributed his worthy participation to
the activities of the Armenian Church and the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
through his involvement in ecclesiastical-organizational matters, the
expansion and strengthening of international ties, preaching and ministry,
as well as his lectures at the Gevorkian and Vaskenian Theological
Seminaries of the Mother See.
In 1994, Abp. Ajemian moved to Armenia and in 1995 he established the
Theological Faculty at Yerevan State University. His Eminence was renowned
for his scientific-pedagogical activities and was the author of numerous
articles and papers. His death is a great loss for the Armenian Church and
for Yerevan State University. “Blessed be the memory of the righteous.”
Details regarding the funeral and burial services for Abp. Ajemian will be
forthcoming.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pan Armenian News
LAYING OF HOUSE OF MOSCOW IN YEREVAN PLANNED AT CLOSE OF 2005
21.06.2005 04:15
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The laying of the House of Moscow in Yerevan is scheduled
for the fourth quarter of 2005, First Deputy Mayor of Moscow Government,
head of the Complex of Architecture, Building, Development and
Reconstruction of the City Vladimir Resin stated at an administrative
meeting in the Complex, reported Russian media. The priority task now
include assessment and design of the ground area, suggested by the
authorities of the Armenian capital for the building of the House of Moscow,
issue the respective administrative document, V. Resin said. As stated by
Deputy head of the Moscow Town-Planning Department Sergey Hambartsumyan, a
Moscow investment and construction company established in Yerevan will
patronize the building of the House. The concept of the House, which is to
become center of comprehensive friendly and business cooperation of the
Russian and Armenian capitals, is being worked out at present.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TURKMEN CAPITAL HOSTS INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR CONFERENCE
Asia Pulse
Jun 08, 2005

ASHGABAT, June 8 Asia Pulse – A three-day international conference on
implementation of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty is under
way in the capital’s President Hotel. As the Ashgabat correspondent of
Turkmenistan.ru reports, the participants of the discuss the
significance, advantages and current state of work on this Treaty in
Central Asia and Caucasus.
The conference was organized by the Turkmen government and the
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization
(CNTBTO). Specialists of this organization along with representatives
from Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan,
Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are participating in the conference.
The Turkmen side is represented by specialists from the Defence
Ministry, Turkmengeologiya state corporation, the Supreme Council on
Science and Technology under the Turkmen president and from the
National Research Institute of Seismology of Turkmenistan.
The conference will also hear the reports on the systems of
seismologic control used in various countries and the activities of
relative national centers. The forum participants will exchange
opinions on achievements and prospects of cooperation in this field.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

3?artikel_id=1917341
Folklore-Trio aus Eriwan Projekttage an der Grundschule mit einem
internationalen Anstrich
Vom 01.06.2005
 
red. GAU-ALGESHEIM Vom 1. bis 4. Juni finden an der
Schloss-Ardeck-Grundschule Projekttage statt. Die Ergebnisse der 30
Projekte, geleitet von Eltern oder Lehrkräften, unter anderem aus den
Bereichen Sport, Kunst, Natur, Technik, Geschichte, Besuch des
Flughafens, Computer, Feuerwehr, Literatur, Theater, Tanz,
Erlebniswelt Sinne, Zeitung, Partnerschaften und Wandern werden am
Samstag, 4. Juni, in der Grundschule präsentiert.
Ein Eroffnungsprogramm in der Sporthalle fuhrt ab 11 Uhr mit einem
Theaterstuck, Tanz und Sportdarbietungen in das Fest ein. Ein
jugendliches Trio aus Armenien wird Folklore- Musik darbieten und
damit die besonderen Beziehungen der Grundschule zum Kinderzentrum
Arche in Eriwan unterstreichen. Anschließend sorgen die Eltern wie
immer reichhaltig fur das leibliche Wohl, während man die
ausgestellten Werke und Präsentationen in den Räumen der Grundschule
besichtigen kann. Dabei geben die Projektteilnehmer gern Auskunft
uber ihre Arbeit. Im Jahr des 650. Stadtjubiläums drehen sich
naturlich auch einige Projekte um das alte und neue Gau-Algesheim.
Das Fest soll von 14.30 bis gegen 15.30 Uhr mit verschiedenen
Sportaktivitäten in der Halle ausklingen.
Eingeladen sind neben den Schulkindern und Angehorigen alle Freunde
der Schloss-Ardeck-Grundschule, besonders auch die zukunftigen
Erstklässler. Zur Mullvermeidung werden wie ublich alle Besucher
gebeten, sich Geschirr selbst mitzubringen.
–Boundary_(ID_DK5yZxdBt0fiYqDaw1m6og)–

RA PRIME MINISTER CONSIDERS DISCUSSIONS AROUND HIS SON’S PARTICIPATION
IN ELECTIONS OF AVAN PREFECT AS RESULT OF POLITICAL ORDER
YEREVAN, MAY 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Andranik Margarian, the RA Prime
Minister considers press publications around his son’s participation
in the elections of the Yerevan Avan community head as “storm in a
teacup”. At the My 25 interview to journalists, the Prime Minister
expressed confidence that discussing that issue from different
viewpoints continuously for a month is a result of a definite
political order. The Prime Minister mentioned that during the last
years he has often beome a target of such orders and expressed hope
that this time as well the client and the maker will not reach thier
aim.” Answering the question of possibility of moving democratic
revolutions to Armenia, Andranik Margarian mentioned: “We must try not
to allow creation of such a situation in Armenia that one from outside
thinks to fulfill a revolution in our country as well, if we are to do
this we shall do ourselves, won’t wait for others to do.” At the same
time, he mentioned that he does not see such a need yet.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

” L’Europe ne peut vivre avec dans sa cave
le cadavre de tout un peuple assassiné “. Jean Jaurès.
COMMUNIQUÉ DE PRESSE
A une semaine du 29 Mai, les Arméniens de France disent NON a
l’intégration de cette Turquie génocidaire et négationniste a
l’Union Européenne.
Les trois partis politiques arméniens, l’ADL Ramgavar (droite
libérale), le PSD Hentchakian (Social démocrate) et la FRA
Dachnaktsoutioun (socialiste), soutenus par le Conseil de
Coordination des Organisations Arméniennes de France (CCAF),
appellent a un rassemblement pour exiger du Président Jacques Chirac
qu’il demande le report de l’ouverture des négociations d’adhésion
de la Turquie a l’Union Européenne.
A la veille du référendum sur le traité constitutionnel Européen, les
Arméniens de France, comme la majorité des électeurs francais, ne
peuvent concevoir l’ouverture de négociations avec un Etat
négationniste qui, bien qu’étant sommé de prendre les mesures minima
pour se mettre en conformité avec l’esprit de cette constitution,
n’aura accompli aucun des gestes significatifs attendus.
Par conséquent, face a la menace de l’ouverture des négociations
avec une Turquie intransigeante, les électeurs francais, parmi
lesquels la très grande majorité des électeurs arméniens de France,
seront tout naturellement enclins, le 29 mai prochain, a sanctionner
le projet de Traité constitutionnel qui leur sera soumis.
Signataire en 2001 de la loi francaise sur la reconnaissance du
génocide des Arméniens, le Président Chirac qui s’est recueilli, le
22 avril dernier, en compagnie du Président Kotcharian devant la
statue du Révérend Père Komitas, symbole des victimes du Génocide des
Arméniens, doit lever cette menace qui pollue lourdement le débat sur
le traité constitutionnel européen.
Les trois partis politiques arméniens qui appellent au rassemblement
du dimanche 22 mai 2005, a 15 h place du Canada, devant la stèle du
Révérend Père Komitas, attendent, qu’au nom de la France, le
Président Chirac prenne ses responsabilités et demande le report de
l’ouverture des négociations d’adhésion avec la Turquie, prévue le
3 octobre prochain.
Pour etre en conformité, tant avec l’esprit qu’avec la lettre de la
constitution soumise au référendum du 29 mai prochain, ces
négociations ne peuvent débuter sans avancées significatives de la
Turquie sur l’évacuation de Chypre, sur la reconnaissance du
Génocide des Arméniens et sur le respect des Droits de l’Homme et
des minorités.
Paris, le 19 mai 2005
ADL Ramgavar FRA Dachnaktsoutioun PSD Hentchakian
Pour tout renseignement ou contact presse, merci de contacter
M. Mardirossian Harout au 06 86 84 80 81
Lieu:
Place du Canada – Paris 8ème – dimanche 22 mai 2005 a 15h
Metro: F.D. Roosevelt
____________________________________________________________________________
Comité de Défense de la Cause Arménienne
17, rue bleue
75009 PARIS
Tél : +33 1 44 83 07 02
Fax : +33 1 42 46 81 59
–Boundary_(ID_6SpjhdRlx7RTdFausvDQrw)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Council of Europe’s new role
Written by Administrator
Euro Reporters/Belgium
Tuesday, 17 May 2005
The European Union may be on everybody’s lips when they think of
Europe. But the Council of Europe, founded in May 1949, is Europe’s
most geographically representative organization with members from 46
of the 47 countries in the continent. “The Council of Europe is one
of the core institutions in the community of European nations. It
is an institution firmly attached to individual liberties, social
responsibility and the peaceful resolution of conflicts,” said Georgian
President Mikhail Saakashvili.
The 56-year-old organization includes all of Western Europe but also
countries like Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and the Ukraine. That’s
everybody apart from Belarus, considered by many as Europe’s last
dictatorship. At the Summit, European leaders stressed the need to
bring Belarus back into the European family.
“One European country, a neighbor of both my own country, Latvia,
and of this host country, Poland, is strikingly absent from our
meeting today. That is, of course, Belarus,” said Latvian president
Vaira Vike Freiberga. “I have no doubt that we all feel a particular
sense of empathy with the Belarus people, who deserve far better than
the authoritarian rule that they are now experiencing under the last
dictator in Europe. I hope that the Council of Europe will increase
the scope of its efforts to strengthen the civil society in Belarus,
and that one day Belarus will join our community of democracies.”
Since 1989, the organization has shifted the emphasis to promoting
democracy and human rights throughout Europe. But with an enlarged
European Union, with 25 members, and NATO now including many former
Soviet republics, the Council of Europe must define its role ever
more clearly. There is also an increasingly dynamic Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the OSCE, which too aims at
promoting democracy and fair elections.
“We welcome the decision of the Council of Europe to cooperate with
other European institutions. We should guarantee that the Council
of Europe’s role within the new European and global environment is
reinforced. Moreover, cooperation and synergy with the EU and OSCE
are inevitable.”
Maintaining relevance for the Council of Europe means taking account
of the enlarged European Union. “The Commission and the Council of
Europe have also a long history of cooperation on education,” said
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European external relations commissioner. “I
attach particular importance to human rights education. The European
Commission and the Council of Europe should increase their cooperation
in this area. In this context let me just remind you that for many
years the European Commission has been calling for accession to the
European Convention on Human Rights,” she said.
As an example of its forward-focus, the Council of Europe’s Committee
of Ministers adopted three conventions against terrorism and human
trafficking. The three treaties are now open for signature by member
states.
This Summit, which ends on Tuesday, has proved the importance of
the Council of Europe, especially in a wider European perspective.
Tuesday sees major speeches by Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the
European Union, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and a range of
other European leaders.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress