Author: Hambardsumian Paul

ARMENIA SELECTED ONE OF NINE PILOT COUNTRIES FOR UNIDO-WTO ENHANCED COOPERATION
ArmenPress
Oct 14 2004
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 14, ARMENPRESS: The UN Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO), UN Development Program (UNDP), World Trade
Organization (WTO) and the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development
of Armenia held a joint seminar today to begin implementation of the
Doha Development Agenda. Seminar participants included senior officials
from the Government, donor community, international organizations,
business associations, as well as experts.
A press release from UNDP said the main aims of the Doha Development
Agenda, which was agreed in December 2001 by WTO members, are
to ensure that trade and industrial development enhance economic
development and to assist the integration of the developing countries
and transition economies into the global economy and the multilateral
trading system. In order to facilitate implementation of the Doha
Agenda, UNIDO and WTO will implement pilot activities in an initial
group of nine countries, including Armenia. The initial group also
includes Bolivia, Cambodia, Cuba, Egypt, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya and
Mauritania. The aim of these pilot activities is to identify priority
sectors and products with high and strategic export potential;
address trade capacity weaknesses including supply-side constraints,
lack of conformity to market requirements and standards; and support
the implementation of multilateral trade agreements.
Mr. Alexander Avanessov, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, noted:
“The fact that Armenia has become a member of the WTO indicates the
great progress made by the country since independence. The pilot
activities that are being launched by UNIDO and WTO at this seminar,
in combination with initiatives from UNDP and other donors, will
assist countries like Armenia to integrate further into the global
economy and multilateral trading systems.”
Armenia officially became the 145th member of the WTO on February
5, 2003. The country’s main trading partners include the European
Union (EU), Russia, USA, Iran and Georgia. A recent survey within
the business community on external trade and which was presented at
the seminar indicates that certification and standardization have
had a serious impact on external trade. Local companies involved
in the survey identified a number of obstacles to trade, including:
corruption in customs and taxes; complicated and fragmented tax and
customs legislation; and lack of cooperation between the customs and
tax administration bodies. Sixty-three percent of the respondents said
that they had lost export orders due to technical barriers to trade.

Le Figaro
13 octobre 2004
Turquie : des objections qui ne tiennent pas;
UNION EUROPÉENNE Les controverses sur la candidature d’Ankara
par Alexandre ADLER
Un vieux psychanalyste de mes amis avait l’habitude de distinguer son
travail de celui du psychothérapeute en racontant : « Si vous allez
voir un psychothérapeute et que vous lui dites que vous vous sentez
mal, celui-ci vous répondra : « Mais non, vous vous trompez, vous
allez mieux que vous ne le croyez et cela va s’arranger. » Un
psychanalyste au contraire vous déclarera : « Vous avez tout à fait
raison, cela va très mal et cela risque d’aller plus mal encore ; il
faut vous allonger et commencer une cure analytique. »
S’agissant de l’affaire turque, je serais tenté d’utiliser la méthode
du psychanalyste de préférence à celle du psychothérapeute. Il ne
faut pas dire à l’opinion française que l’entrée de la Turquie n’est
qu’une petite affaire, qu’elle ne présente pas grand risque, et
qu’elle interviendra de toute façon à la saint-glinglin. Car, par
cette méthode, on ne fait qu’augmenter l’angoisse légitime d’un
peuple fort intelligent, s’il n’est pas toujours généreux. La méthode
psychanalytique que je prône consiste à l’inverse à dire que la
décision de faire entrer la Turquie en Europe est en réalité
capitale, qu’elle est lourde à assumer, mais qu’elle comporte, à côté
de risques certains qui peuvent d’ailleurs être conjurés, des
avantages à long terme tout à fait considérables.
Il y a quatre grandes objections à l’entrée de la Turquie. Aucune ne
tient.
La première tient à l’ampleur de la démographie turque. Celle-ci est
constamment surestimée parce que l’on extrapole l’actuel taux de
fécondité, qui est déjà inférieur à celui de l’Espagne en 1977, sur
une durée indéterminée. Or tout indique que ce taux de fécondité
plafonnera assez vite, et de plus en plus vite, à mesure que
l’enrichissement du pays, déjà perceptible, s’emballera. On risque
donc de ne jamais voir la Turquie de 100 millions d’habitants qui
fait frémir les campagnes. Ajoutons qu’une période probatoire assez
longue limitera les mouvements migratoires essentiellement kurdes et
qu’une immigration sélective par quotas professionnels est dès
maintenant la bienvenue. Bref, la peur du géant turc est un
épouvantail à moineaux. Jamais on n’a invoqué les 150 millions
d’Européens de l’Est pauvres que l’on intègre à l’Union en ce moment
même.
La deuxième objection évoque avec insistance le risque géopolitique.
Elle est sans aucun doute plus sérieuse. On ne peut nier que les
frontières orientales de la Turquie sont toutes des frontières
instables et belliqueuses : la Turquie orientale est très fortement
peuplée de Kurdes iranophones ; la Syrie, qui n’est qu’une mosaïque
de communautés, est au bord de l’implosion ; l’Irak abrite dans ses
frontières une minorité de plus d’un million de Turcs sunnites et
chiites qui entendent reconquérir leur autonomie culturelle et leur
accès à leur capitale traditionnelle, Kirkouk, qui est convoitée tout
autant par les Kurdes d’Irak, notamment parce qu’elle est aussi le
centre de l’activité pétrolière du pays ; l’Iran abrite plus de 30
millions de turcophones divers dont 20 millions d’Azéris ; enfin,
l’Arménie continue sa guerre froide qui l’oppose à l’Azerbaïdjan
indépendant, lui-même de plus en plus lié à la Turquie et à l’actuel
gouvernement géorgien allié à Washington, Ankara et Bakou,
essentiellement contre Moscou.
On oublie tout simplement de signaler dans cette sombre évocation que
la Turquie est membre depuis le début des années 50 du Pacte
atlantique et que par conséquent des traités tout à fait
contraignants nous lient déjà à elle sur le plan juridique. Sur le
plan moral, c’est une autre affaire. La Turquie a été constamment
trahie dans ses aspirations de sécurité par ses partenaires
européens, ne trouvant de réconfort que dans son alliance autrefois
étroite avec les États-Unis. Mais aujourd’hui, l’équation devient
sensiblement différente : la Turquie s’est arrangée pour lâcher les
États-Unis au pire moment de la campagne d’Irak, Washington lui
répond en soutenant les revendications kurdes en Irak et en ignorant
superbement le fait turkmène dans ce même pays. A présent, pour le
meilleur comme pour le pire, la Turquie cherche à se concerter
davantage avec l’axe Paris-Berlin-Madrid qu’avec les États-Unis et
Israël. Ceci devrait apaiser nos anti-atlantistes vétilleux.
La troisième objection porte sur la pauvreté relative du pays, dont
la convergence avec l’économie de l’Europe occidentale sera longue et
complexe. Cet argument n’ayant pas été retenu pour la Pologne, ni
pour la Lituanie, ni même à brève échéance pour la Roumanie et la
Bulgarie, il n’a évidemment aucune valeur s’agissant de la Turquie.
Mais il est une raison plus sérieuse encore de l’écarter : comme pour
la Chine, les données macroéconomiques générales ne rendent pas bien
compte des importantes différences régionales. De même que le PIB
moyen par habitant de la Chine, qui demeure voisin de celui d’un pays
africain, ne rend compte de la richesse de Shanghaï et de Hongkong,
de même le PIB global turc ne permet en rien de comprendre le rapide
développement d’Istanbul et de la façade égéenne du pays. La vérité
toute simple est que les 20 millions environ de Turcs regroupés sur
la façade ouest (dont 12 millions dans le seul grand Istanbul)
produisent presque 80 % du PIB et atteignent un niveau de vie proche
de celui de la Grèce de 1990. Le reste est en effet une zone encore
sous-développée qui est peu à peu ravivée par le moteur occidental.
Mais de tels contrastes existent aussi encore entre l’Italie du Nord
et l’Italie du Sud, l’Allemagne de l’Ouest et l’Allemagne de l’Est,
toutes choses étant égales. Or on sait que nos mécanismes européens
assurent une convergence économique beaucoup plus rapide que les purs
mécanismes de marché en usage en Amérique du Nord. On ne voit pas
pourquoi la Turquie ferait exception en la matière.
Argument ultime, l’islam turc. A cela, il n’y a rien à objecter. En
intégrant 80 ou 90 millions de Turcs, on intégrera presque cent pour
cent de musulmans et seulement une soixantaine de milliers de juifs
et de cryptojuifs sabbatéens ainsi que peut-être quelque 80 000
chrétiens assyriens des provinces de l’Est, une vingtaine de milliers
d’Arméniens et de Grecs d’Istanbul. C’est évidemment là la raison
principale de tant d’appréhension.
Mais ici, regardons les choses en face. Tout se passe comme si on
faisait payer à la Turquie les violences des petits marlous des
banlieues à la casquette retournée, les prêches des pires imams
misogynes soldés par l’Arabie saoudite, la propagande de Tarik
Ramadan, le sécessionnisme culturel organisé par des intégristes
pakistanais, maghrébins et parfois aussi turcs.
Or il faut observer que la plupart des contempteurs de la Turquie
n’ont jamais élevé la voix face au défi représenté par le nouvel
islam prolétaire et sous-prolétaire de nos grandes villes
européennes. Ni dénoncé les attentats suicides palestiniens ou
irakiens, les indignités que subissent intellectuels égyptiens ou
pakistanais, et la barbarie saoudienne tout simplement. Mais avec la
Turquie, qui a des élections libres, une presse libre, des
intellectuels qui n’ont rien à envier aux nôtres, des universités
admirables ouvertes sur le monde et des femmes émancipées bien plus
nombreuses que celles qui affectent en ce moment de s’enfoularder,
alors là il ne faut pas se gêner.
Il s’agit là d’un paradoxe éthologique bien connu : le méchant est
aimé, et le modéré méprisé pour justifier la démission morale qu’est
l’amour du méchant. C’est pourquoi il existe un climat de bassesse
tout à fait particulier dans la turcophobie actuelle. Les tartufes,
qui en ce domaine sont très nombreux, nous disent encore qu’ils sont
d’accord pour des rapports privilégiés avec la Turquie. Première
nouvelle : il aura fallu la demande de candidature turque pour que
cette proposition apparaisse tout d’un coup, quand on sait
l’hostilité viscérale que toute une gauche européenne n’a cessé de
manifester à ce grand pays, notamment dans le règlement de la
question kurde, alors que la vision d’homme d’État d’un Jacques
Chirac dont la prédication démocratique ressemble chaque jour
davantage à celle du général de Gaulle reste souvent incomprise.
Parlons peu, mais parlons bien : nous avons un grand problème avec
l’islam. Et nous avons, au coeur de cette tempête, une chance
inespérée, qui s’appelle la Turquie. En intégrant cette nation, qui
abrita naguère le califat, en se tournant résolument et de manière
volontariste vers l’Europe, tout en maintenant scrupuleusement le
pluralisme tolérant de l’Empire ottoman (toutes les mosquées
d’Istanbul portent sur deux de leurs piliers les noms chiites d’Ali
et de Hussein), la Turquie a réussi la mutation démocratique que
voulait Mustafa Kemal, dès l’origine ; elle est le frère fort auquel
demain s’identifieront tous les partisans des lumières dans l’islam.
Al-Aqsa, la mosquée lointaine que l’islam doit atteindre, c’est sans
aucun doute Jérusalem, mais c’est aussi un autre lieu, peut-être la
Mosquée bleue du Sinan, chef-d’oeuvre de synthèse entre la basilique
romaine et l’appel du prophète. Sachons déchiffrer aujourd’hui ce
signe pour assurer la liberté de notre continent demain.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +3741. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +3741. .562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
11 October 2004
Exhibition of sculptor Levon Tokmajian’s works in Calcutta
On 9 October an exhibition of sculptor, Levon Tokmajian’s works was
opened in the exhibition hall of the Humanitarian Seminary, which is
on the grounds of St. Nazareth Armenian Church in Calcutta, India.
The exhibition was opened by the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia
in India, Armen Baiburdian. Representatives of Calcutta’s world of
art and the Armenian community were present.
The sculptor, Tokmajian, is also visiting India for the erection
of the bust of Armenian priest, Harutiun Shmavonian, and for the
210th anniversary of publication of the first Armenian magazine
“Azdarar”. The programme has been initiated by the Minister of
Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia, Sergo Eritsian.
The grand opening of the bust of Harutiun Shmavonian will take place
at the end of the year.

Armenia’s only elephant to get an Indian companion
Mail & Guardian Online , South Africa
Oct 13 2004
The only male elephant in Armenia’s zoo will get an Indian female
companion this week, a news report said on Wednesday.
Armenian officials had asked the Indian government for a female
pachyderm in 1999, for its sole male elephant originally from Moscow.
Indian premier Atal Behari Vajpayee promised them an elephant during
a visit to Armenia last year.
Acknowledging that their gift was late, Indian officials were quoted
as saying in the Hindu newspaper that the elephant would help “cement”
India-Armenia ties.
Eight-year-old Komala weighs 1 500kg and lives in a zoo in the southern
Indian city of Mysore. She will travel in a specially-made container
to Bangalore on Thursday from where the Armenian government will fly
her, mildly sedated in a cargo plane, the report said.
Mysore zoo veterinarian SM Khadri described Komala as “exceptionally
well behaved, obedient and in good health”.
She is an “F2” elephant, or one that is bred in captivity. India only
sends “F2” elephants abroad, Khadri said.
Accompanying her through the acclimatisation process will be a “mahout”
or handler and a team of veterinarians. – Sapa

State acts as guarantor of industrial exports to 40 countries
11.10.2004
MOSCOW, October 11 (Itar-Tass) – The Russian state became in 2004
the guarantor of industrial exports to 40 countries. The value of the
deliveries ranges from 10 to 500 million dollars. The government has
approved the list of the countries, to which industrial exports are
guaranteed by the state, a representative of the government’s press
service told Itar-Tass on Monday.
The state grants the greatest guarantees (500 million dollars)
to the enterprises, which export their products to the People’s
Republic of China. 300-million-dollar guarantees are granted to the
enterprises doing business in Vietnam and India. Other countries,
to which industrial products are exported under the state guarantees,
include Brazil, Hungary, Egypt, Israel, Poland, the Czech Republic etc.
The list sets the “risk categories” for those countries. From the
point of view of government experts, export is the safest (with
a minimal risk) to Israel, China, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and
the Czech Republic. The greatest risk is connected with the exports
to Armenia, Venezuela, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Mongolia,
Pakistan and Turkey.
The state will grant guarantees up to 700 million dollars in 2005
for supporting the exports of Russian industrial products. The sums
are envisaged already in the draft budget for 2005.

IN THIS ISSUE:
*** NGO INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ISSUES
*** LAND AND CULTURE NGOs’ 2004 SUMMER ACTIVITIES
*** ARMENIAN NGO SECTOR ASSESSMENT
*** NEW PUBLICATION: DEMOCRATIZATION OF ARMENIAN SOCIETY
*** INTEGRATION OF DEAF CHILDREN
*** SUPPORTING VULNERABLE GROUPS OF THE COMMUNITY
*** NEW DRAFT LAW ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY DEVELOPED
*** NGO INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ISSUES
On September 29, the Armenian Assembly of America’s NGO Training and
Resource Center hosted its regular Thematic NGO/Media encounter. Similar
events, initiated by the AAA NGOC, are aimed at introducing and discussing
problems of vulnerable groups to the public-at-large, NGO activities
directed at solving those problems, and obstacles encountered. This
particular event, devoted to the involvement of NGOs in community
development issues, was the sixth among a series of Thematic NGO/Media
encounters. The goal was to direct public attention to NGO activities
carried out in communities throughout Armenia. During the discussions,
representatives of the Support to Communities, Armenian Committee of
Helsinki Citizens Assembly, All Armenian Women’s Union and Community Support
Center NGOs made presentations on Health Issues in Communities. Poverty
Reduction, Working Together – Building Community Connections, Women
Participation in Water Resources Management and Pilot Community Projects in
Charentsavan projects, respectively. Community development NGOs and
representatives of media, foundations, international organizations and state
structures attended the roundtable.
Contact: Anahit Lazarian
AAA NGO Center
39 Y. Koghbatsi St.
Tel.: (374-1) 54-40-12, 54-40-13
E-mail: [email protected]
*** LAND AND CULTURE NGOs’ 2004 SUMMER ACTIVITIES
Following its mission of restoring and preserving Armenian historical
monuments, this year, the Land and Culture NGO united more than 80
volunteers from Armenia, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, France, Georgia,
India, Iran, Lebanon and the USA. Program activities took place in the
village of Shatvan, on the shore of Lake Sevan (Armenia), in Shushi (Nagorno
Karabakh) and the Armenian village of Kessab (Syria.) In July and August,
volunteers renovated the Shatvan community school, which had been left
neglected. The roof and windows were replaced and the foundation was
reinforced. As a result, on September 1, the school welcomed 126 students of
Shatvan. Volunteers renovated the surgical department of Shushi hospital:
they painted the walls, covered the floor with new ceramic tiles and
renovated the doors and windows. In Kessab, volunteers helped restore old
Armenian houses to encourage Armenian families to remain on their ancestral
land.
Contact: Gevorg Yaghjyan
Land and Culture Organization
5 Vardanants St.
Tel.: (374-1) 52-91-71
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
*** ARMENIAN NGO SECTOR ASSESSMENT
On September 7, the World Learning NGO Strengthening Program released the
results of its Armenian NGO Sector Assessment (2004), illustrating changes
since and comparing with 2001 data. The survey included 347 NGOs in the
republic and 61 experts from Yerevan and six regions. Progress is displayed
with reference to the formal organizational development dimension: formerly
1%, the number of advanced NGOs now is 10%; intermediate-level NGOs jumped
from 22% to 49%. Compared with 2001, considerable changes are noted
regarding organizational effectiveness, protection of interests,
co-operation, trust and financial viability dimensions. The report also
contains conclusions and suggestions aimed at eliminating obstacles
hindering further advancement of NGOs. Representatives of NGOs working
throughout Armenia, international organizations operating in the country and
mass media, as well as Members of Parliament, state officials, academia and
business people were invited to the presentation.
Contact: World Learning for International Development NGO Strengthening
Program, Armenia
Tel: (374-1) 54-35-76, 52-08-51, 58-26-20
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
*** NEW PUBLICATION: DEMOCRATIZATION OF ARMENIAN SOCIETY
The Association of Women with University Education NGO has published
Democratization of the Armenian Society: Realities and Tendencies
collection, the presentation of which was held on September 9. Leaders of
the Association, other NGOs and political parties, representatives of
scientific institutions, international organizations and media, ROA National
Assembly deputies, and state authority system officials attended the
presentation. In the collection, the NGO’s Democracy and Peace Center
experts present research carried out in the republic at the end of 2003 and
early 2004. The authors discuss issues of civic and political rights,
legitimacy of basic democratic institutions and trust towards them in
conditions of social transition, dynamics of gender relations, economic
bases of democratic changes, obstacles in the democratization processes of
the Armenian society in post-election period. The publication is intended
for NGOs, political parties, state structures and local self-governing
bodies, as well as for all those interested in the democratization process
of Armenian society.
Contact: Jemma Hasratyan
Association of Women with University Education NGO
Tel.: (374-1) 58-15-83
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
*** INTEGRATION OF DEAF CHILDREN
On September 7, the Public Organization of Hard Hearing Children’s Mothers
Havat convened a roundtable with the participation of interested NGOs, state
structures, international organizations and mass media to present its
Creating An Integration Center For Deaf Children project. In the center,
deaf-and-dumb pedagogues worked on developing the oral speech of 24
pre-school aged children. Rhythm classes, accompanied by music, were
conducted. As a result, five children were able to begin attending secondary
school and two were able to go on to a special school in this new school
year. Twelve hard of hearing children attending secondary school, have
completed computer classes in the center and will have the opportunity to
advance their knowledge in the academic system. Within the framework of the
project, speech therapists from various regions of Armenia underwent
vocational training and will work as deaf-and-dumb pedagogues on sites. As
stated by the Project Coordinator S. Zhamkochyan, “Ensuring relevant
assistance in response to the needs of deaf children is one of the
achievements of the center, that raised their education on a qualitatively
new level.” The project was implemented with funding support received from
the Eurasia Foundation Armenia office.
Contact: Tamara Manukyan
Public Organization of Hard Hearing Children’s Mothers Havat
17 Shirvanzade St.
Tel.: (374-1) 23-19-53; 25-78-26
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:
*** SUPPORTING VULNERABLE GROUPS OF THE COMMUNITY
The Gyumri based Ozone Young Men’s Christian Association NGO’s Supporting
The Community project is currently underway. The project is aimed at raising
the quality of life of families living in Yerevanian Highway district and
Voghji village. Leisure time of lonely aged refugees is filled with various
events. Five days a week they are provided with quality food. Computer and
Armenian language classes are also organized for refugees aged 25-50.
Another group of project beneficiaries are children of vulnerable and
refugee families. Project staff helps them prepare homework, organizes games
and cultural events, and provides foods rich with vitamins. As stated by the
Project Coordinator, “The activity ensures considerable assistance to the
refugee and vulnerable families in Yerevanian Khchughi district and Voghji
village both from social and educational perspectives.” The Voghji Mayority
and the Gyumri Municipality are the NGO’s partners within the framework of
the project. The latter is implemented within the framework of the AAA NGO
Center’s Social Partnership Grants Program to Meet the Needs of the Needy.
Contact: Martin Petrossyan
Ozone Young Men’s Christian Association NGO
Gyumri, 11 Paruir Sevak St.
Tel.: (374-41) 3-29-94
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
*** NEW DRAFT LAW ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY DEVELOPED
On September 30, Armenia’s draft law on Environmental Expertise was
unveiled. This was developed by the Center for Regional
Development/Transparency International Armenia within the framework of the
Developing Legislation on Environmental Impact Assessment project, funded by
government of Great Britain. Representatives of the ROA Ministry of
Environment, other ministries and NGOs participated in the development of
the draft law. Several open discussions among interested parties were held
and their opinions considered in creating the documents.
Contact: Sona Ayvazyan
Center for Regional Development/Transparency International Armenia
Tel.: (374-1) 58-55-78; 52-69-14
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
__________________________________________________________________________
Armenian NGO News in Brief is a publication of the NGO Training and Resource
Center (NGOC) issued in the Armenian, English and Russian languages for
electronic dissemination inside and outside Armenia. Primary funding for the
NGOC, which is a project of the Armenian Assembly of America, is provided by
the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Individual
NGOs are welcome to submit information for publication to the NGOC. The NGO
Center is not responsible for the clarity of information provided by
individual NGOs.
Dear Readers,
The not-for-profit, non-governmental sector of Armenia is rich with diverse
civic initiatives and activities. This electronic publication, though far
from covering all activities of the sector per any given period of time, is
intended to contribute to raising awareness, both inside and outside
Armenia, of the activities of Armenian not-for-profit, non-governmental
organizations.
Your comments and feedback about this electronic publication are greatly
appreciated.
Thank you.
NGOC staff.
Contact Information:
In Armenia:
Armenian Assembly of America
NGO Training and Resource Center
39 Yeznik Koghbatsi St., Yerevan 375010
Tel.: (3-741) 54-40-12; 54-40-13; 53-92-04
Fax: (3-741) 54-40-15
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
In the United States:
Armenian Assembly of America
NGO Training and Resource Center
122 C Street NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001 USA
Tel: (202) 393-3434
Fax: (202) 638-4904
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

Armenian archbishop quizzed over spat with yeshiva student
By Amiram Barkat
Haaretz
Mon., October 11, 2004 Tishrei 26, 5765 Israel Time: 01:20 (GMT+2)
The Armenian archbishop in Israel, Nourhan Manougian, was questioned
under warning by police yesterday after he slapped a yeshiva student
during a procession marking the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in
Jerusalem’s Old City. The archbishop slapped the student after the
latter spat at the cross the Armenians were carrying and at Manougian
himself.
The incident developed into a brawl during which Manougian’s ceremonial
medallion, which has been used by Armenian archbishops since the 17th
century, broke.
The yeshiva student was also detained for questioning.
Police are now considering whether to initiate criminal
proceedings against the Armenian archbishop and to charge him with
assault. Meanwhile, the incident has sparked much anger among the
clergy of the small Armenian community in Jerusalem.
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.
Manougian says he and his colleagues have already learned to live with
it. “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 notes.
A policeman is customarily posted to guard the Armenians’ religious
processions, but doesn’t generally 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
till now.
“The Israeli government is anti-Christian,” Manougian charges. “It
cries out in the face of any harm done to Jews all over the world,
but is simply not interested at all when we are humiliated on an
almost daily basis.”
Lawmaker Rabbi Michael Melchior (Labor Party) says the phenomenon
should be tackled through educational means. “I would expect prominent
figures among the religious and ultra-Orthodox sectors, such as the
chief rabbis, to denounce this phenomenon,” he says.

Reading Advocate, MA
Oct 8 2004
Armenian fashion graces Mass.
AIWA New England Affiliate is sponsoring an Armenian fashion show on
Oct. 10 at the Heritage Museum in Lexington.

According to Eva Medzorian, chairwoman of AIWA New England
Affiliate, the group’s goal for undertaking the presentation is to
introduce Americans to Armenian culture through the arts which have
played an important role in Armenia over the centuries.

“Their indomitable spirit, intelligence and whit has helped them
survive many conflicts, wars, earthquakes, and genocides endangering
their very existence on earth,” Medzorian said. “I had the
opportunity to become acquainted with the Design Department of the
Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts last year while I was in Armenia.
I was horrified at their lack of material resources. Their building
needs renovation: the many talented students lack graphic design
computers or even more basic sewing machines to use for their fashion
designs. How wonderful, I thought to myself, if we can supply them
with some of these essentials, while exposing their creativity to an
American audience.”

Medzorian said a fashion show is a wonderful way for people to
see with their own eyes the creative Armenian spirit blossoming in
Armenia today, alive and well. She brought her ideas to AIWA’s New
England affiliate and received immediate and full-hearted support.
The project is in keeping with the goals of AIWA to encourage
entrepreneurship and to promote young talent, she said.

“We are thrilled to be able to present an exciting evening of
bountiful surprises and beautiful contemporary fashions designed and
made by students of the Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts and their
instructors,” Medzorian said. “The fashions from Armenia will debut
in New England Sunday, Oct. 10, 5 p.m. at National Heritage Museum in
Lexington. This event, the first of its kind to be held in the USA,
has peaked public interest. I strongly encourage you to order your
tickets early in order not to be left out.”

Helping to coordinate the program will be four accomplished
designers from Armenia who will present their unique fashions. Nune
Aghbalyan and Anna Panosyan, instructors at the Academy’s Textile
Department, will dazzle people with their recent creations. Their
resumes include degrees and design coursework in Berlin, Paris and
Barcelona. Kevork Chadoian, 30-year-old, brilliant designer and 2004
graduate from the Academy will present an elegantly designed Armenian
Wedding Suite that will bring sheer joy to the heart. ATEX Fashion
Salon proprietor, Karine Hakobyan will show her beautiful collection
which will include unique fashions embellished with Marash and Aintab
embroideries.

The Fashion and Textile Design Chair was joined to the Design
Department of the Academy in 1999 after overcoming great hardships.
The department aims to give students a sound education, emphasizing
theory and practice a free way of thinking about composition, and
insight on how to find correct functional solutions.

“I was with the graduating class students of the Academy on May
31 when they took their final exams to earn their diploma after five
years of study,” Medzorian said. “I was overwhelmed by their artistic
skills.”

Diligently working with Medzorian on the committee are Makrouhi
Terzian, Seta Sullivan, Olga Proudian, Gina Hablanian, Maro Adourian
and Lianna Sarkisova.

“We look forward to seeing you at this memorable event. Come
share an evening of love and beauty,” Medzorian said.

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say. Part A (Russia)
October 5, 2004, Tuesday
SIMMONS: WE ARE PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION IN THE CAUCASUS AND
CENTRAL ASIA WITH RUSSIA[]
SOURCE: Izvestia, October 5, 2004, p. 1
by Andrei Lebedev
NATO’s attention is glued to the Caucasus and Central Asia. Brussels
appointed Robert Simmons its representative in these regions, not
long ago. Simmons is an assistant to NATO general secretary for
cooperation and partnership in security sphere. Will the Alliance try
a more active role on Russia’s southern borders?
Question: Mr. Simmons, why would NATO institute a new position?
Robert Simmons: Our partners may be divided into three groups:
Western Europe (Sweden, Austria, Finland), the Balkan States, and
countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia.
These countries are our partners of old. The focus of relations of
partnership shifted eastward with NATO expansion. General secretary
offered the new position to me soon after the NATO summit in Istanbul
where the decision to establish the post was made.
Question: But Brussels did not institute a similar post for West
European partners…
Robert Simmons: This is not where a great deal of assistance is
needed. These countries have extensive defense programs of their own.
Moreover, they themselves may contribute greatly to the Alliance’s
operations – say, in the Balkans. As for countries of the Caucasus
and Central Asia, we want them to be able to appeal to NATO for
consultations in security matters. Moreover, we are prepared to share
our knowledge and experience in military reforms. We also hope that
given time, these countries will up tactical compatibility of their
armies with NATO armies. It is necessary, for example, for successful
participation in international peacekeeping operations.
The NATO summit in Istanbul agreed that close relations with
countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia would benefit the Alliance
as such, and that a special instrument was needed for that because of
the distance to these countries. So, I was given the task of
explaining to these partners of ours – and particularly their defense
ministries – the potential benefits and rewards of cooperation with
the Alliance.
Question: These countries are participants of NATO’s Partnership for
Peace Program, and you still have to explain something to them?
Robert Simmons: Cooperation between the Alliance and various
countries is at different stages for a number of reasons. Individual
plans that are expected to help our partners with the military
reforms are a relatively new instrument of this cooperation. All
three republics of the Caucasus and Uzbekistan have expressed their
willingness to sign these individual plans so far. I’d say that
Kazakhstan is quite interested too. Other countries do not turn the
idea down either, but they have to be explained benefits of the new
form of cooperation over and over again.
Question: Does the Alliance intend to play the role of mediator in
the conflicts in the regions in question?
Robert Simmons: No, we see our role elsewhere. Let the OSCE handle
conflict settlement. Sure, we have our opinion on the conflicts, and
we will make it known in the dialogue – including that within the
framework of the Russia – NATO Council. All the same, we intend to
concentrate on individual work with our partners.
Question: All the same, NATO does not abandon international functions
either. One of them failed not long ago. I’m talking about the
international exercise that was to be run on the territory of
Azerbaijan…
Robert Simmons: We hope that international exercises will continue.
In fact, the Council of Euroatlantic Partnership has an inviolable
principle – all its participants are entitled to participation in
joint functions. In this particular case, the authorities of
Azerbaijan did not display readiness to have Armenia participate in
the international exercise that had already taken so much by way of
preparations. Well, we made our stand on the matter known to the
authorities of Azerbaijan.
Question: Does it mean that you will no longer plan any new exercise
involving the military of these two countries?
Robert Simmons: Why? I’d say that Azerbaijan was not prepared to have
the Armenian military on its territory. It is not as though it was
not ready for participation in an international function as such. Had
the exercise been planned on the territory of some third countries,
they would not have been any problem. Other exercise are being
planned and will be planned yet.
Question: You mentioned the readiness to discuss your activities in
the region within the framework of the Russia – NATO Council…
Robert Simmons: We are not going to discuss matters of our
“individual” cooperation with our partners. After all, that is a
subject of bilateral relations. At the same time, we are prepared to
discuss the situation in the regions the way we already discussed the
situation in Georgia and South – Izvestia Ossetia.
Question: Is it possible for the Russia – NATO Council to discuss
some specific recommendations or plans of joint actions aimed at
settlement of local conflicts?
Robert Simmons: Had NATO or Russia found it expedient, and had
Georgia which is not a member of the Council agreed… Neither Russia
nor the Alliance have put forth a suggestion like that. Brussels does
not intend to – at least at this point – because this is not
something truly pressing for the time being.
Question: NATO is not the only military-political organization with
its own interests in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Do you plan any
contacts or cooperation with the Organization of the CIS Collective
Security Treaty?
Robert Simmons: I do not – as NATO representative. In this capacity,
I mean. But Kazakhstan, chairman of the Organization of the CIS
Collective Security Treaty, presented the structure to the latest
meeting of the Council of Euro-Atlantic Partnership and the idea of
close interaction was put forth. We have not discussed it thoroughly
yet.

A1 Plus | 18:02:44 | 08-10-2004 | Politics |
VAZGEN MANOUKYAN SPECULATING OVER INDEPENDENCE
Armenian Democratic Union leader Vazgen Manoukyan, speaking Friday at a
seminar held in Armenian Center for National and International Studies,
shared his ideas about Armenia’s 13-year independence with the seminar
participants.
In his opinion, Armenians got independence without special efforts from
their side. He thinks Armenian people didn’t want to be independent for the
past century.
In his words, in 1988, a part of nation, predominantly intellectuals, was
opposed to independence fearing aggression from Turkey. They thought Armenia
could get back its lost territories by remaining a part of the Soviet Union.
Manoukyan said he considered national army creation an achievement of a
13-year independent republic.
The seminar participants agreed that Armenia had accomplished a great deal
in forming national army and winning Karabakh back from Azerbaijan.
Poverty, migration and unemployment were mentioned among negative phenomena.