Author: Jagharian Tania

Interfax
April 15 2005
Former Armenian prime minister to head opposition party
YEREVAN. April 15 (Interfax) – Former Armenian prime minister Aram
Sarkisian was elected leader of one of Armenia’s major opposition
parties at the party’s Friday session, an Interfax correspondent
reported.
According to experts, the change of authorities in the party occurred
due to arguments among its leaders. Sarkisian, known as a pro-
Western politician, replaced former Yerevan mayor Albert Bazayan, who
is known as a supporter of building up relations with Russia.
In his speech at the party’s session, Sarkisian strongly criticized
the current authorities’ domestic and foreign policies and noted that
“currently, there is a need for not just a replacement of the top
Armenian officials, but for a revolution that would change the base
of the country’s authorities.”

STEPAN DEMIRCHIAN: “STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY REQUIRES UNITING OF
EFFORTS”
YEREVAN, APRIL 14, NOYAN TAPAN. “Just a year passed from the day when
the illegal administration resorted to violations to prolong its
inglorious power. We want to remind, that it is impossible to keep
power with bayonets for a long time,” Stepan Demirchian, the leader of
the “Ardarutiun” (Justice) faction stated during his speech at the
April 13 forum. “The past period showed the absolute failure of this
administration,” the speaker mentioned, expressing confidence that
both foreign and internal policy of Armenia had failed. According to
Demirchian, violations must be convicted by everybody regardless of
political veiwpoints and party membership. Meanwhile, some political
forces which made a blind eye to violations conducted against the
people, today speak about future fair elections, public solidarity and
cooperation. “These conversations are false because if we want to hold
fair elections in future then falsifiers and persons conducted acts of
violation must certainly be called to account,” he emphasized. Stating
that removing of the current authorities is “a fatal necessity”,
Demirchian emphasized that this is the problem of the whole community
and a result can be reached with the means of constant struggle which
must be led by responsible political forces. “We are sure that finally
our society will win the struggle for the future, and Armenia will
develop in democratic way, rule of law will be established. A
pre-condition for this is removing of the present administration, and
this must be reached with joint efforts,” the speaker stated.
Emphasizing the necessity of consolidation, Demirchian stated that it
must be “not around lie and false but around justice”. Demirchian
mentioned in his interview to journalists that new proposals, which
must be still discussed, were represented at the forum. According to
him, the forum showed that different political forces are ready to
cooperate. “It is clear that struggle for democracy requires uniting
of efforts, which we have seen today: other issues will be discussed
by working order,” Stepan Demirchian stated.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA PRESIDENT SIGNS DECREE ON HOLDING 2005 SPRING CALL TO MILITARY
SERVICE AND DEMOBILIZATION
YEREVAN, APRIL 13, NOYAN TAPAN. On April 12, RA President Robert
Kocharian signed a decree on holding of 2005 spring call to military
service and demobilization. Noyan Tapan was informed about this from
the President’s Press Service.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Stanford Daily
April 13 2005
ASSU ready for new era
By Sal Umberto Bonaccorso
Staff Writer
Many senator-elects attended last night’s ASSU Undergraduate Senate
meeting to watch current ASSU Executive President Chioke
Borgelt-Mose, a junior, deliver her State of the Association speech,
during which she highlighted the accomplishments of the student
government over the past year. The meeting also focused on budget
modification and the allocation of general funding to student groups.
While Borgelt-Mose focused her remarks on past achievement, she also
offered suggestions for what next year’s administration.
`It goes without saying that the administration and rules committee
hs worked continuously through this year,’ Borgelt-Mose said. `I am
very impressed by the committee’s determination.’
She also commended the appropriations committee for its work with
student groups and funding requests, as well as the communications
committee.
`Improving communications is one of the hardest things for the ASSU
to do,’ Borgelt-Mose said. `Communication with the student body will
continue to be a lot stronger in the future.’
She also touched on the need to restructure and improve the
Nominations Commission, and encouraged the new Senate to continue the
dialogue on student housing and space with University administrators.
`You owe it to your fellow students and to the University as a whole
to continue to work for the betterment of the University,’
Borgelt-Mose said.
Elections Commissioner Troy Steinmetz, a sophomore, presented the
2005 ASSU election results to the Senate and voiced his satisfaction
with the absence of post-election problems.
`Thank you to everyone who voted,’ he said. `As of right now, I’m not
aware of any crises or impending controversies, which is great.’
Several bills concerning budget appropriations and modifications were
then brought before the Senate.
A representative from the Stanford Canoe and Kayak Team explained the
complications and costs of obtaining new equipment in response to the
appropriation committee’s recommendation that no money be allocated
to the team for new beginner boats.
The Senate decided to recommend $1,850 in funding to the team, and
all other bills were approved.
Several wording changes were made to the Senate’s by-laws to
accommodate the recently passed Measure A – which combined the
programming and community funds into a single general fees fund – and
the new election invalidation procedure.
The Senate also passed a bill to make April 24 the official
commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in
1915. Before the vote, several senators said they were worried that
the issue was too political to be voted upon by the Senate.

AZG Armenian Daily #065, 13/04/2005
Poll
ARTSAKH ISSUE: 17-YEAR-OLD UNFINISHED STORY
7% of Respondents Will Leave Armenia if War Bursts Out
Around 25% of Armenian citizens is ready to join the army if the Nagorno
Karabakh war resumes, 42% is ready to support the front by doing other jobs,
more than 25% is ready to help with material and financial means. A public
opinion poll conducted among 1900 respondents in Yerevan and in all regions
of Armenia showed that 8% of Armenian citizens will by no means lend
support, around 7% will leave the country and 17% was hard to answer.
The results of the polls conducted by the Armenian Center for National and
International Studies among 60 experts of the Center and the population of
Armenia were presented by Stepan Safarian, expert of the Center, yesterday.
People were asked 23 questions and in some cases picked 2 answers because of
which the sum indices exceeded 100 percent.
Interestingly, the experts turned to be more patriotic than common citizens.
So, 39% of experts will go to war, 98% will help from the home front, 38%
will support materially and financially. None of the 60 “chosen” refused to
help the state in case of war. (Below we present the results of public poll
only – ed.).
21% of respondents thinks that Azerbaijan will resume war against Armenia
and Karabakh, 35% is of contrary view, 45% was hard to answer. Being asked
“Whether it is possible to settle the issue through negotiation in 5 years’
time?”, 25% said “yes”, 29% answered negatively and 46% was hard to answer.
Answering the question “What stymies the settlement of Karabakh issue?”, 37%
said, “the weakness of Armenian diplomacy and lobbying”, 26%, “complexity of
the issue”, 24%, “Azerbaijan’s uncomplying stance”, 19%, “US policy”, 15%,
“Russian policy”. It’s interesting that 5% of respondents named “Armenian
side’s uncomplying stance” as a barrier for the conflict settlement.
To question “What will be the final status of Nagorno Karabakh?”, 46% said,
“independent and sovereign state”, 38%, “part of Armenia”, 3%, “an autonomy
in the structure of Azerbaijan”. Half of respondents considered acceptable
to make concessions to Azerbaijan at the expense of the buffer zone:
Qashatakh (Lachin), Qarvatchar (Qelbajar), Aghdam, Fizuli, Zangelan,
Khubatli and Jebrail whereas 38% is against ceding these territories to
Azerbaijan.
36% labeled the Karabakh issue as a “component of the Armenian cause”, 33%
— an issue of Artsakhi people’s self-determination and 8% thinks that the
Karabakh issue is the result of “outer forces'” provocation.
As to the most valid argument for disjointing Nagorno Karabakh from
Azerbaijan, 44% noted that “it never was in the structure of Azerbaijan and
was forcefully united with it the Soviet period”, 26% said, “Armenians lived
in that territory for centuries”, 13%, “Armenians won the war”. 72% thinks
that Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan should participate in the
negotiations, 15% named Karabakh and Azerbaijan and 7% see Armenia and
Azerbaijan at a negotiation table.
“Who among the world powers and international organizations plays the key
role in the settlement process?” 60% indicated to Russia, 40% — USA, 19% —
EU, 19% — OSCE, 14% — UN.
By Tatoul Hakobian

A1plus
| 19:27:11 | 11-04-2005 | Politics |
KYRGYZ CHAOS?
«When did they implement force? They do so when people violate the order.
But I have not been an immediate participant of the incident and I wish it
did not happen», this was the answer of the Armenian Republican Party
delegate Hamlet Haroutyunyan to our question about April 12.
This was not the case for the President to resign from his post. «If the
authorities do not do anything, they do not have the right to be called
authorities. They must defend their rights; otherwise we will appear in
Kyrgyzstan’s shoes. What happened in Ukraine and Georgia? In both countries
imported revolution took place with imported money».
According to Hamlet Haroutyunyan, especially the Kyrgyzstan cases came to
prove the way the change of authorities take place in post Soviet Republics.
He is convinced that if the authorities implemented force, the Kyrgyz chaos
would rule here too.

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
April 11, 2005, Monday
ARMENIANS ATTACKED AZERBAIJAN’S POSITIONS IN THE AGDAM AND TERTER
DISTRICTS
The Armenian Armed Forces opened fire at Azerbaijan’s positions near
the villages of Bashgervand and Chyragly in the Agdam district. The
fire was opened from Armenia’s positions located south-east from this
village. Armenians attacked Azerbaijan’s positions near the village
of Gapanly in the Terter district on April 7 02:20 a.m. The attackers
were located north-west from the village of Seisulan. Azerbaijan’s
positions located near the villages of Akhmedagly and Ortagervand,
the Agdam district, were attacked on April 8 at 03:30 a.m. The
attackers used assault rifles and machine guns. Azerbaijanian
servicemen had to open fire. There are no casualties. The report
comes from the press service of the Defense Ministry.
Source: TUran information agency (Baku), April 8, 2005
Translated by Alexander Dubovoi
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenia to fulfil commitments to Council of Europe by end of 2005 – minister
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
8 Apr 05
[Presenter] Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today held a meeting
with members of the commission coordinating the process of fulfilment
of Armenia’s commitments to the Council of Europe [CE].
The meeting discussed the process of fulfilment of Armenia’s
commitments to the CE and changes to the laws on elections, political
parties, local governments, human rights, media and others.
[Correspondent] Members of the commission informed the president that
the drafts of amended laws have been sent to the Venice Commission of
the Council of Europe. A positive answer is expected and the process
will be completed then.
[Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan] The meeting assessed the
results of the fulfilment of Armenia’s commitments to the CE. I want
to say that the processes under way today were positively rated by the
participants. We can divide these processes into two categories. The
first are the processes related to constitutional reforms and the
second are other issues, for example, the electoral code, the law on
political parties and so on.
[Correspondent] The Armenian president said that constitutional reforms
should not be slowed down and noted that a final option should be
agreed upon.
[Oskanyan] If everything is okay, Armenia will fulfil its commitments
to the CE by late 2005. I think this will be a positive achievement
for Armenia both in the CE and in the region.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
04/08/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Compromise Not Sign of Weakness, Says Defense Minister 2) Reporters without Borders Calls on Turkey to Stop Legal Hounding Of Journalists 3) Turks Reject EU Pressure on Armenia 4) Pope Laid to Rest 5) Ardashes Kassakhian Wins Glendale City Clerk Election 6) Krikorian Wins Second Term in Landslide Victory 7) ...End Note from ANC Glendale 8) Armenian Moms & Daughters to Join Revlon Walk for Cancer 9) Reunite. Reminisce. Celebrate. 10) David Phillips and the Holy Grail 11) On the Eve of the 90th, Anti-Turkism Should Not Equal Patriotic Armenianism 1) Compromise Not Sign of Weakness, Says Defense Minister YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Defense Minister Serge Sarksian provided a briefing on the state of the country's army and military hardware, which he said would be getting upgraded soon. Sarksian shrugged off Azerbaijan's repeated war rhetoric, saying "we have been hearing Baku threaten to resolve the conflict by force for ten years now, and will be likely hearing for another ten. The fact is that the combat readiness of the Armenian army is higher than that of its neighbors in the South Caucasus." He stressed, however, that a compromise solution is not a sign of weakness. "It is easy to boast. The phrase 'no compromises' sounds good, but not serious. We have to be clear whether we want to prolong war, which is also an option. But we have had enough of victims. As defense minister, I will act as the people ask, and will never be led by two-three people who cannot see beyond their noses," Sarksian said. Sarksian also spoke in favor of normalized relations with Turkey, but said they should be improved without preconditions, but stressed that this does not mean Turkey must not recognize the 1915 genocide. "Repentance is the only way to reach friendly relations," he said. 2) Reporters without Borders Calls on Turkey to Stop Legal Hounding Of Journalists ANKARA (AFP)--Reporters without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontieres), a public interest group, called on Turkey to stop legal hounding of journalists satirizing state officials. Releasing a statement after journalist-writer Fikret Otyam, 79, was sentenced to pay a fine on April 5 in a defamation case filed by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Reporters without Borders said that it was at least the fourth case the prime minister has brought against a journalist since December 2004. Calling on Turkey to pay respect freedom of expression and of the press, and fundamental principles of European judicial standards, the organization said, ~STurkish journalists, like their European colleagues, should be allowed make satirical comments about the official figures without fear of being systematically dragged before the courts. Otherwise they will be in danger of operating self-censorship which is very damaging to press freedom.~T Earlier, Prime Minister Erdogan launched several cases against a satirical weekly, Penguen, for a cartoon it carried on February 24 captioned, ~SThe world of Tayyip.~T Reporters Without Borders is an association officially recognized as serving the public interest. More than a third of the world's people live in countries where there is no press freedom. Reporters Without Borders works constantly to restore their right to be informed. Today, more than 130 journalists around the world are in prison simply for doing their job. Reporters Without Borders believes imprisoning or killing a journalist is like eliminating a key witness and threatens everyone's right to be informed. It has been fighting such practices for more than 18 years. 3) Turks Reject EU Pressure on Armenia ANKARA (AFP)--Turkey will not bow to European Union pressure to recognize the World War I killings of Armenians as genocide as a condition for joining the EU, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said. "We are witnessing efforts to bring many issues not directly related to our (EU) membership process before us as covert conditions," among them allegations that more than a million Armenians were the victims of genocide under Ottoman rule, Sezer told a press conference at the military academy. "It is wrong and unjust for our European friends to press Turkey on these issues," he said. "They should know that it is not possible for demands imposed on us and devoid of just foundations to be accepted." Turkey has recently faced mounting calls from within the EU, which it hopes to join, to acknowledge the massacres as genocide, something it systematically rejects. Some EU politicians have said that the genocide claims will be one of the issues Turkey must address as it prepares to launch lengthy membership talks with the EU on October 3. "These claims (of genocide) upset and hurt the feelings of the Turkish nation," Sezer said. "What needs to be done is research, investigate and discuss history, based on documents and without prejudice. "The basis of such discussions should be scientific and not political," he said. The Armenian massacres in World War I are one of the most controversial episodes in Turkish history. 4) Pope Laid to Rest VATICAN CITY (MSNBC)--Presidents, prime ministers, and kings joined pilgrims and prelates in St. Peter~Rs Square on Friday to bid an emotional farewell to Pope John Paul II at a funeral that drew millions to Rome. Applause rang out in the wind-whipped square as John Paul~Rs plain cypress coffin, adorned with a cross and an ~SM~T for the Virgin Mary, was brought out from St. Peter~Rs Basilica and placed on a carpet in front of the altar. The book of the Gospel was placed on the coffin and the breeze fluttered its pages. After the Mass ended, bells tolled and 12 pallbearers with white gloves, white ties and tails presented the coffin to the crowd one last time, and then carried it on their shoulders back inside the basilica for burial. Chants of ~SSanto! Santo!~T--urging John Paul to be elevated to sainthood immediately--echoed in the square. The first non-Italian pope in 455 years was buried at 2:20 p.m. in the grotto under the basilica, attended by prelates and members of the papal household, the Vatican said. 5) Ardashes Kassakhian Wins Glendale City Clerk Election Campaign Scores Decisive Victory by an Overwhelming 2-1 Margin GLENDALE--Ardashes "Ardy" Kassakhian was elected this week as the next Glendale City Clerk with 6,244 votes, a decisive 2-1 margin in a field of nine candidates. Kassakhian is the first city clerk to obtain the office by election since 1929. For the previous 75 years, the position has been filled by City Council appointments because clerks would resign mid-term. The resignation of the previous city clerk, Doris Twedt, triggered an election for the position which attracted nine candidates, including four Armenian Americans. While several of the Armenian candidates were very visible during the campaign process, in the end Kassakhian's closest challengers were George McCullough with 3,739 votes and Kathryn Van Houten with 3,517 votes. Paulette Mardikian, who had raised $90,000, more than any of the other candidates, came in a distant fourth place with 3,115 votes. In the final analysis, Kassakhian was able to attract Armenian and non-Armenian votes which propelled him to victory. "Through their votes, the citizens of Glendale have spoken and I am honored by the confidence they have shown in me," said Ardashes Kassakhian. "As a public servant and the new Glendale City Clerk, my pledge to all citizens is that I will be a fair, impartial and proactive clerk, upholding the integrity of the office through the highest professional standards and conduct that people expect from their city government. I consider the clerk's office the gateway for the public to their city government and that is a serious responsibility that I am eager to take on." Kassakhian ran on a three-pronged platform including creating accessibility and accountability by ensuring that city information is readily available in a timely manner and bringing a positive customer service philosophy to the office. He also promised to improve voter outreach and education with an eye toward increasing voter participation. Kassakhian was the first candidate to offer the idea of recruiting high school and college students to work at polls and to create a community voter outreach committee, comprised of community groups, to raise voter awareness and participation in all segments of the Glendale community. His third campaign issue was to look for ways to incorporate new technologies to make the clerk's office more effective by improving the Clerk's website; utilizing electronic forms; disseminating electronic newsletters and bulletins; and adopting digital document management technologies. "Ardashes was clearly the most qualified Armenian American candidate in the field and in the end also demonstrated that he had the best ideas and skills amongst all the candidates," said Zanku Armenian, senior campaign advisor. "Ardy is very talented and ran the best campaign which allowed him to reach more people and all parts of the Glendale community with his innovative ideas and messages. He is going to make an excellent clerk for all Glendale citizens." Kassakhian was endorsed by many other public officials, which helped confirm his qualifications among voters. Endorsements included Congressman Adam Schiff, Glendale City Councilmember Rafi Manoukian, LA County Sheriff Lee Baca, LA City Councilmember and Mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa, LA City Councilmember Eric Garcetti, California State Senator Jack Scott, California State Board of Equalization Chair John Chiang, Glendale Community College Board member Victor King, Glendale Chapter of the California School Employees Association, Teamsters Joint Council 42 and many others. Kassakhian will be sworn into office on Monday, April 11 at 8:00 p.m. at Glendale City Hall. 6) Krikorian Wins Second Term in Landslide Victory GLENDALE--For the second consecutive time, Greg Krikorian finished in first place, well ahead of all challengers, to earn a second term on the Glendale Unified School District's Board of Education. With 12,619 votes, Krikorian received more votes than any candidate for School Board, City Council or City Clerk in the recent Glendale Municipal Elections. "The success of this campaign is due to Greg's character, his resolve, and his commitment to all segments of our community," stated Campaign Chairman, Armen Derian. "This was a pure, grassroots campaign that reached out and appealed to all members of the Glendale and La Crescenta communities." The City Clerk~Rs office has completed the task of counting all regular and absentee ballots. Approximately 1,000 provisional ballots are currently with the County of Los Angeles for review. Once those ballots are counted, Krikorian anticipates breaking a record with over 13,000 votes. With significantly less money to spend than some of his competitors, Krikorian relied on his stellar record of service to the community and an army of energized friends, students, parents, and community leaders, who spread his message and got the vote out. "It~Rs hard to believe that the campaign is over. We~Rre going to miss coming to help Greg everyday. Mr. Krikorian has done so much for us and our Armenian Clubs at our High Schools," stated Tanya Terzian, a Senior at Glendale High School. "The support from the students at our schools and local colleges was humbling. We had an army of support for Greg," added Argished Parsekian, GCC student and Campaign Volunteer Chairman. ~SGreg, has united the entire Armenian community and I couldn~Rt be more proud of what he has done for the students and our parents,~T stated GCC student and volunteer, Linet Amirichanyan. Krikorian's support came not only from local students, but from community leaders as well. "I~Rm truly honored to help Greg~Ehe is a man of honor and integrity and most importantly he won on his own accord," stated Shelly Harrison, a Glendale resident. ~SI knew Greg would set record amount of votes from the beginning, his dedication to our community and most importantly his sincerity is priceless," said Glendale Community Leader, Tony Tartaglia. From Glendale to La Crescenta, the support for Krikorian was clear. ~SThe entire district is honored to have Krikorian leading our school-district for next four years. We couldn~Rt be more blessed than to have him serving our community. We love him in Crescenta Valley,~T stated Krista Smiley of the Crescenta Valley Town Council. ~SSeeing Greg provide leadership to our community and to our Jewel City Little League for the past four years, I'm confident he will continue to do an outstanding job on the school board." ~SI'd hate for the school district to loose him, but I'm hoping he decides to bring his energy and commitment to service at the County or State level," stated Tony Iezza II. "Greg is a true leader and a man of integrity which is what our city & country needs in its elected officials," stated Michael Cooney. Krikorian himself is humbled, but confident and energized by the overwhelming support. ~SI~Rm extremely overjoyed. It just shows the confidence that the entire community has in me," said a justifiably proud Krikorian. "We~Rve accomplished so much over the past four years and I~Rm looking forward to the next term.~T Key endorsements came from the Glendale News Press and Crescenta Valley Sun, who noted,~TKrikorian has been the only school board member to consistently appear at events in the Crescenta Valley and not let the school board rest and forget the importance of CV schools.~T Additional endorsements came from LA County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, Congressman Adam Schiff, Senator Jack Scott, Assemblyman Dario Frommer, Glendale Teachers Association, CA School Employees Association, Glendale Association of Realtors and numerous community leaders and neighborhood residents at all levels. Krikorian received endorsements from each of the Armenian community organization groups. With the election over, Krikorian looks forward to his future service to the district and strengthening the Armenian cause with neighboring school districts. This past year, the Glendale school district was closed for Armenian Christmas. With the growing number of Armenian American students in Burbank & Pasadena, he would like to assist those districts in support the concerns of our Armenian Youth. In closing, Krikorian stated: "Once again, Christine, my wife, and I are truly thankful for all of love & support from friends and the entire community. I promise to continue to support Hai Tahd, and my devotion to our schools, our kids, and the community will never waiver.~T 7) ...End Note from ANC Glendale The Armenian National Committee of Glendale would like to congratulate all of our newly elected officials. We are confident that the incumbents to office, along with the new members of our city government, will be strong leaders in our community. We hope that all officials will work hard to represent all members of our wonderfully diverse city. Additionally, we would like to extend our gratitude to all candidates who participated in Glendale's Municipal Elections. Although there were only a total of 12 seats open, 43 candidates participated in hopes of bringing fresh ideas and improvements to our already wonderful city. Among these 43 candidates 18 were Armenian-Americans who committed 3 months of their lives to running for public office. This unprecedented number of Armenian-Americans running demonstrated our desire as a community to work towards the betterment of our city and participate in the American civic process. We thank these individuals for the numerous sacrifices they made throughout the last three months. Their dedication to our city is commendable and admirable. As citizens, we are grateful for the minimal amount of negative campaigning that occurred in these elections. Although certain individuals did stoop to the level of finger pointing and name calling, most candidates remained focused on running a productive, positive campaign. Negative campaigning injures our community, creates unnecessary divides and, most unfortunately, discourages people from voting. Finally, we would like to thank the 30,000 citizens who exercised their right to vote in the 2005 Glendale Municipal Elections, as well as the countless residents who volunteered their time and participated in our city's civic process. The voice of the citizens is the essential foundation for a democracy and without voter participation, we would not be able to guide and influence the development of our growing city. We hope that in the future we will be able to/there will be an increase civic participation and see a day when voter turnout in city elections exceeds 50,000. With a unified commitment to our jewel city, we will be able to ensure that our children have a wonderful community to grow up in. 8) Armenian Moms & Daughters to Join Revlon Walk for Cancer --Women, Men, and Kids urged to Register for May 7 Event in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES--Alice Chakrian is walking in memory of her mother-in-law, who died last year of breast cancer. Lucy Gulvartian for her aunt, another breast cancer casualty. Tamar Mahshigian for her close friend, Elaine, a breast cancer survivor. Armenian women are being called on to register in large numbers for this year's Revlon Run/Walk for Women, on Saturday, May 7, just before Mother's Day, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Participation cost is a $25 donation. Individuals can register online at ;eid=293631 "We all have our community work--helping our school, church, organizations. But this walk to raise money for cancer research is such an important cause, one that touches every woman, regardless of ethnicity or religious affiliation. So we thought that it would be a fantastic idea to join our strength as Armenian women and walk together for this very emotional cause," says Eileen Keusseyan, co-captain of Team 813, Armenian Moms & Daughters. "Ultimately, we would like to see this become an annual event for Armenian women, growing larger and stronger." This year alone, more than 211,000 women in the US will be diagnosed with breast cancer, more than 22,200 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than 57,200 will be diagnosed with other women's cancers. More than 69,300 will lose their lives to these deadly diseases. The Revlon Run/Walk for Women was launched by the Entertainment Industry Foundation in 1993 and since then has raised an impressive $32 million to help fund innovative cancer research, counseling, and outreach programs. Last year, more than 50,000 women, men and children participated in the 3.1-mile run/walk. "The first time I joined I felt the power of unity among people with the same inner pain that I felt when my mother-in-law, Arshalouse Chakrian, was diagnosed with breast cancer," says co-captain Alice Chakrian, who has registered to walk with her 10-year-old daughter, Rita. "The Revlon Walk became the beginning of the healing of my pain because I felt I was making a difference by contributing to help find a cure." "Each year I participate in the Revlon Run/Walk for Cancer research, I am filled with greater hope and faith that we can make a difference for future generations," says Lucy Gulvartian, who will walk with her 10-year-old daughter, Lar. One person who lives with hope and faith is Lucy Hagopian. "Congratulations dear Eileen and Alice. You have created a venue for the Armenian woman and our community to merge forces in a vision for a cancer free society. As a woman who has survived a first encounter with breast cancer almost 20 years ago, and a second threat in 1999, I want to speak about hope," says Hagopian. "When I was given the statistics, I did not know where I would end up. I felt that it was no use thinking about all that so I focused on health and thoughts of well being. I found comfort, a source of strength and hope in The Scriptures, especially in the healings of Christ and in the Psalms. I asked the Lord for healing. Medicine and doctors would do their part, I had to do mine, and Nature, which is sacred, would take its course. And here I am today." Hagopian provides a few tips on staying healthy: 1. Start your mammograms early; don't wait until you're 35. "I was only 31 when I was first diagnosed," says Hagopian. "I have a mammogram once a year." 2. Make sure to include an array of naturally colorful foods in your diet: greens, reds, orange, purple, yellow, and everything in between. Remember to have your greens and grains regularly. 3. Find a form of exercise that you can live with, even if it's walking around your neighborhood three times a week and going somewhere in nature on weekends. 4. Find a source of spiritual strength. "Reading inspirational material has been a great help to me," Hagopian recommends. For those who would like to join the Armenian Moms & Daughters team, registration can be done online at ;eid=293631 (click on the blue box in the upper right corner that says "Register Now!). Donations can be made by clicking on a registrant's name. For registration forms that can be printed and mailed in, go to For further information about Team 813 Armenian Moms & Daughters, please contact Eileen Keusseyan at 818-404-5686 and Alice Chakrian at 818-388-6734. 9) Reunite. Reminisce. Celebrate. Children have a number of influences that shape their thoughts and actions. For a fortunate group of Armenians in Glendale, one such influence has been ARF Badanegan. Nearly a quarter of a century after their establishment, the Shant and Simon Zavarian Badanegan chapters of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation continue to educate, motivate, and engage kids in all matters Armenian. Representing the largest Armenian community in America, the chapters provide a venue for today~Rs youth to exchange ideas on current affairs and learn about historical issues and figures--both essential in preserving our political and cultural philosophies. The Shant and Simon Zavarian Badanegan chapters also provide badanees the opportunity to express their creative side by performing in plays such as Menk Hayeres, Yes Yerkelov Goozem Mernil, and Sev-Jermag. They have worked together in local elections, protests, feeding the homeless, and fundraising for humanitarian causes. Through it all, they have built life-long friendships. As they grow into professionals, they are equipped with the wisdom and tools to make a marked difference in Armenian affairs. In an effort to rekindle the friendships and sentiments instilled in its members through the years, the Shant and Zavarian chapters will be hosting a reunion on June 12. To learn more about the reunion, call (818) 516-2013 or e-mail: [email protected] 10) David Phillips and the Holy Grail By Doug Geogerian Is it a coincidence that David Phillips issued his book on TARC only two months before the worldwide commemorations of the Armenian genocide? Was it merely happenstance that Ambassador Evans described the Armenian genocide as a crime without legal consequences, seven weeks before April 24? Frankly, I have my doubts. With the continuing success of Armenian efforts to gain genocide recognition from European states, and with the urgency created by negotiations over Turkey's ascension to the Euroepan Union, Turkey can no longer rely on stonewalling. Apparently, it is relying on its friends in the US government to find a way to foster a weak acknowledgment of the genocide and then quickly shove it under the rug. The aim is to make sure that Armenia and some elements in the Armenian Diaspora first disavow any claims for reparations or return of territories, in other words truth without justice. Then Turkey can tell the Europeans to open the doors to the EU without any pesky genocide issue hanging over their heads and without fear of paying a price for having murdered a nation. David Phillips and his long-time boss, Marc Grossman, a top State Department official, need a pliant Armenian government if they are to push through such political concessions. In his book, Unsilencing the Past, Phillips frowns upon Robert Kocharian and Vartan Oskanian for representing the interests of the Armenian people instead of those of Turkey and the US. For example, both the State Department and Phillips went out of their way to criticize the presidential elections in Armenia while largely ignoring the corrupt elections in Azerbaijan that has resulted in a hereditary ruler being installed. The hope is obviously to weaken the Armenian government's standing internationally. Specialists of the Caucasus will need to evaluate the book, which does not seem to arise from a critical assessment of accurate sources. Rather, Unsilencing the Past sounds more like a tale, which centers around its hero, David Phillips, and his pursuit of the "holy grail," which for Phillips is opening up Armenia to US geopolitical interests. Using the genre of historical fantasy, Phillips attributes extraordinary powers to himself, and then claims that the Armenian government acknowledges these powers. TARC was an example of Phillip's Track Two method of conflict mediation. In the book, he "solves" problems with Track Two much as King Arthur swung Excalibur in countless battles. Phillips writes, "Though it is hard to quantify the effect of Track Two, Oskanian acknowledged its important role promoting rapprochement between the governments of Turkey and Armenia. For example, Track Two helped create a climate making possible a change in Turkey's stance on Armenia's membership in the World Trade Organization, which paved the way for Armenia's accession in 2003." David Phillips doesn't mention that the World Trade Organization (WTO) forbids any member nation from blockading another. The reader lacking the requisite amount of naiveté may ask, "On what grounds could Turkey prevent Armenia, which the IMF and the World Bank credit with having rapidly liberalized its economy, from joining the WTO?" Whatever Turkey's reasons were, Phillips must have vanquished them. Somewhere in his back pocket, he has a thank you note from Vartan Oskanian to prove it. The Armenian people don't play a big role in this tale. David Phillips prefers to write about single individuals, with whom he endows with incredible powers. Take another monumental figure in the book, Van Krikorian. "Under the chairmanship of Van Kirkorian, The Armenian Assembly of America made sure that Armenia benefited handsomely from resources made available to NIS countries through the Freedom Support Act," explains the narrator. A million Armenian-Americans and the US government's interests are not the reasons for over a billion dollars of foreign assistance. One vastly powerful lobbyist is. Such analysis gives Unsilencing the Past a certain comic book quality. David Phillips' tale offers not only adventure, but moral lessons as well. When asked by an Armenian if he believed there was a genocide, Phillips responds by sticking to his principles, "I could not possibly serve as an objective facilitator if I was partial to one side or the other. My only interest was enabling Turks and Armenians to discuss their differences, acknowledge the past, and move on." The hero of our story will not let genocide prevention become an obstacle to breaking down an inconvenient trade barrier. In European literature of the Middle Ages, noble figures like Parsifal and King Arthur searched for the holy grail, which represented the embodiment of truth and justice, the ultimate spiritual resource for restoring society to goodness. Those obstructing the pursuit of the holy grail represented the epitome of evil. In the story of Unsilencing the Past, David Phillips sees "the Dashnaks" as his greatest nemesis to a penetrated Armenian border. Phillips depicts "the vocal-and vicious" nature of his enemy. He says, "First and foremost, Dashnaks use genocide recognition to solicit money from the Armenian Diaspora. They believe that Turkey must pay for its crimes by returning land and confiscated property. . . They also use their campaign to acquire political and economic power. To Dashnaks, TARC was an insidious device undermining their reason for being. If reconciliation occurs, they have no reason to exist." Phillips has the monstrous Dashnaks bringing down TARC. He tries to convince the reader that his only enemy is one political party, when in reality he's up against a politically aware Armenian people. TARC's unpopularity was rivaled perhaps by Levon Ter Petrosian's, who, according to Phillips, "broke ground by favoring normal relations with Turkey." "Normal" in this context means acceding to Azerbaijan's control over Karabagh and Armenia not raising the Genocide issue. "Normal" means accommodating the priorities of the US elite and its proxies by dismantling Armenia's best chances for freedom. Through his tale, Mr. Phillips offers two important lessons: Don't let history get in the way of telling your side of the story and don't let morality get in the way of doing what's right. It will surely become a classic in Turkish governmental literature. 11) On the Eve of the 90th, Anti-Turkism Should Not Equal Patriotic Armenianism By Raffi Arzouhaldjian Recently a concert by Russian pop singer Filip Kirkorov has been cancelled in Yerevan after protests by student groups charging that the entertainer is "pro-Turkish" because he sings Turkish songs, denies his Armenian descent, wears clothes with the Turkish flag, etc. This Turkophobic phenomenon exhibited by Armenian youth in Yerevan today is very similar to the worrisome anti-Armenian intolerance that is being practiced in both Turkey and Azerbaijan. These trends cast a dark shadow over regional integration, peace & security, and play into the hands of regional powers. Additionally, they play a disservice to Armenia's fragile democracy, as true democracies need not only to have free and fair elections, but also represent the rule of law and the protection of basic liberties of speech, assembly, religion, and property. Over the last century, the Armenian political agenda has been hijacked at several milestones by ethnic hatred and hollow nationalism. While remaining a strong advocate of Armenian rights, I would like to invite Armenian youth today to contemplate on their actions of intolerance towards Turkish culture. Having a 93+ % homogeneous Armenian population within the borders of ones country does not negate the fact that we are condemned as a nation to live next to 68+ million Turks on the West and 7 million Azeris on the East. Additionally, it is very natural--that even in the absence of diplomatic relations--goods, services and culture (the new US embassy construction project, for example, is partly using Turkish contractors) to flow between Turkey and Armenia. Ignoring these basic facts of geography is purely myopic. And being intolerant of a neighbor's culture is borderline racist, and an unacceptable projection of values on the future of freedom that we struggled so hard to get in Armenia. After all, what would have happened if Filip Kirkorov's--one third previously sold out- concert--was allowed to go on for his Armenian fans in Yerevan? How threatening would it have really been and why? Projecting cultural tolerance by Armenian youths would have sent a strong message to the artist and others across the borders that "cosmopolitan" Armenian patriotism is radically different from its neighbor's Kemalist narrow brand of intolerant nationalism that continues to suppress minorities like Kurds and Alevis, and is attempting to join the EU without changing. Armenian youth movements in Armenia and around the world can pursue a struggle for justice, while distinguishing it from "demonizing" an entire nation and its culture. We should be able to be tolerant, without feeling diminished. Ethnic hatred has no place in critical, modern Armenian political thinking. The civilized platform to resolve our political differences is not to pick on an artist that has decided to hold a concert in Yerevan and perform some songs in Turkish: The political arena for the struggle for justice is in world tribunals, global parliaments and, most importantly, in the court of public opinion. On the eve of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, more than ever, Armenians need to differentiate between the Turkish state policies on one hand and Turks and their culture on the other. In this context, an important paradigm shift for Armenian youth organizations, like the Nigol Aghbalian youth Union that boycotted the concert, is to become more aware of the old paradigm of seeing "Turks and their culture" as an identity threat and move into a new cultural space in which cultural diversity is accepted, without necessarily labeling it with ethnic phobic adjectives. Today, the issue of the Armenian genocide has erupted again in Turkey, as one of the Republic's key challenges on its road to further democratization. Unlike our grandparents~R generation, who could not help but view Turkey from the perspective of individual & communal losses after the Genocide, our generation needs a wider and more sophisticated view of Armenian-Turkish relations. Given the climate of public discourse that is coming out of Istanbul's small but emerging civil society, Armenian youth movements cannot imitate the monolithic positions of the establishment in Ankara and its Armenophobic policies. Being anti-Turkish on the eve of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide should not necessarily be equated with being a patriotic Armenian. We have too much to do for Armenia, and no energy to waste on being anti-Turkish. Raffi Arzouhaldjian is a Graduate candidate, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets. --Boundary_(ID_va03kJegPelhgLTa8KGnBA)--

Former resident has a new cookbook of Armenian recipes
BY LYNDA REGO
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
[email protected]
If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to eat healthier, you might
want to check out “Simply Armenian,” a cookbook by Barbara Ghazarian,
formerly of Barrington. Inspired by her mother and grandmother,
Barbara learned to cook. But, after years in this country, the menu
had become decidedly mixed. “My family’s Armenian identity was melting
into the American pot,” she said.
Then, because her Armenian husband enjoyed the classic dishes, she
began to cook Armenian.
The Ghazarians lived in Barrington for a year and a half, before
husband Vatche’s job took them to Monterey, Calif., in December of
2003. But, they divide their time between California and Middletown,
where they have a condo, and they still subscribe to the Barrington
Times.
Barbara, who is half Armenian, credits her Barrington neighbors for
providing a sounding board as she chose recipes for the book. She
wanted dishes that would appeal to the American family and that would
be easy to understand and prepare.
“During the final stages … my neighbors were my primary
taste-testers,” she said, and three former Primrose neighbors, Lisa
Fucile, Betsy Gould and Diane Kelly, are mentioned in the book’s
acknowledgments.
Barbara said sharing is an important part of enjoying cooking and
food. She recommends inviting a friend over to cook and doubling the
recipe, so you each have a dish to enjoy or serve your family.
“Sharing cuisine on Deerfield Drive was not a one-way street,”
Barbara said. “My daughter, who was weaned on hummus, enjoyed her
first peanut butter and jelly sandwich at a neighbor’s house.”
Lisa Fucile, who has 10-year-old twins, a boy and girl, Samantha and
Cameron, turned Barbara’s daughter on to peanut butter; actually,
“Peanut butter and rocks (peanut butter and mini-mini-chocolate
chips). It’s the healthy version of a peanut butter cup,” Lisa said,
laughing.
“Barbara makes it pretty easy,” Lisa said of the cookbook. “She really
does cook like a regular person. It’s not like gourmet cooking where
you have to be afraid. Even her daughter eats all of it.
“I was a taste-tester. My whole family was. She would have us over to
taste recipes and ask our opinion.” Barbara would prepare the recipe
with different seasoning amounts and keep perfecting it.
This is Barbara’s second cookbook. The first was “The Kindred
Kitchen,” published in 1995. An experienced cook with a laboratory
science background, she also wrote a weekly culinary column for a
Los Angeles newspaper and taught culinary writing in Boston. She
lectures from coast to coast on Armenian-related topics and also is
the author of “Descendants of Noah: Stories of Armenian Apostolic
Faith and Heritage.”
Her attempt to make Armenian cooking more accessible is a hit. The
book has garnered good reviews and sales. It’s popular with dieters
because the recipes utilize lots of vegetables and olive oil instead
of butter. Plus, bulgur (pre-cooked cracked wheat) is a whole grain
that has fewer carbohydrates than rice or potatoes.
“I have taken the intimidation factor out of Armenian fare, but not
the taste, smells and exotic look of the food,” Barbara said. “It’s
time to learn the magic of creating a feast out of a basket of fresh
vegetables and a handful of bulgur.”
‘Simply Armenian: Naturally Healthy Ethnic Cooking Made Easy”
Barbara Ghazarian’s cookbook is easy to read and simple to follow. All
of the recipes are easily prepared by someone familiar with a kitchen,
and they range from quick and easy to a two-day process to make
spiced jerky.
* The 7×9-inch soft-cover book contains 296 pages and more than 150
recipes, including appetizers and spreads, salads, soups, stuffed
pastries, main dishes, breads, pizzas, drinks, desserts, and fruits
and candies.
* Because Armenian cuisine relies heavily on vegetables and grains,
more than half of the recipes are meat-free. And, the Armenian Orthodox
calendar has 180 fasting days a year, so Lenten dishes are marked.
* Included are classics from stuffed grape leaves, hummus and baba
ghanoush to dishes familiar to most Americans, such as rice pilaf,
shish kebab, lentil soup, roast lamb, paklava (baklava is the Greek
name) and other sweets.
* Recipes include not only a list of ingredients, but also if any
“special equipment” is needed; although, this includes items most
modern kitchens have (or can easily buy), such as a food processor,
blender, wooden skewers, cake pans of various sizes and a candy
thermometer. The least-owned item is probably a mortar and pestle. And,
there are mail-order sources listed in back if you can’t find some of
the herbs and spices locally. And, for the more exotic ingredients,
substitutions are usually suggested.
* Lamb is the preferred meat, but beef can be substituted
everywhere. Other staples are chicken, eggplant, nuts and fruits.
* For the gardener, the cookbook is an inspiration to plant purslane,
mint, Swiss chard and flat-leaf parsley.
* To order a copy of the book, visit Barrington Books on County Road
or send a check for $17.95 plus $4 for shipping to Enfield Books,
P.O. Box 699, Enfield, NH 03748; 603/632-7377.
______________________________________________________________________________
Feta Cheese Topped Eggplant Rounds
Makes 12
Here’s a totally vegetarian, pizza-style dish that many proclaim to
be one of the best original recipes in the collection.
* Non-stick cooking spray
* 1 large eggplant, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
* Salt
* 1/2 pound feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 1/2 cups)
* 2 large eggs
* 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
* 1/2 green bell pepper, minced
* 1 tbsp. olive oil, plus 1/4 cup for brushing
* 1/2 onion, minced
* 2 tomatoes, minced
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
* 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray two baking sheets evenly with
cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Soak the eggplant rounds in a large bowl of generously salted
cold water for at least 15 minutes. Soaking the rounds eliminates any
bitterness, inhibits oil absorption, and firms the rounds to better
support the topping.
3. While the eggplant is soaking, mix together the feta, eggs, and
black pepper in a large bowl and set aside.
4. Cook the green pepper in a skillet with 1 tbsp. olive oil
over low heat until the pepper softens, about 10 minutes. Add the
onion. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are
tender, another 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and combine with the
feta mixture. Add the tomatoes, parsley and lemon juice. Toss until
the topping ingredients are mixed well.
5. Now it’s time to remove the eggplant rounds from the water. Pat
them dry with paper towels, brush the top and bottom of each slice
with olive oil and arrange the oiled rounds on the prepared baking
sheets. Spread a spoonful of feta mixture on top of each round until
covered.
6. Bake for 25 minutes.
7. Serve warm as an appetizer or as a side, complementing any of the
grilled lamb dishes.
Grilled Lemon Chicken
Serves 8
n 2 pounds skinless chicken thighs (small breasts or legs are fine,
too)
The Marinade:
* Juice of 3 lemons
* 3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
* 1 tbsp. dried mint
* 1 tsp. ground cumin
* 1 tsp. salt
* 1/2 tsp. oregano
* 1/2 tsp. thyme
* 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
* 1/4 tsp. cayenne
1. Place the chicken in a large baking dish or plastic container.
2. Combine the marinade ingredients in a separate bowl, mixing
well. Pour over the chicken, cover and refrigerate for at least 2
hours. Turn the chicken pieces over halfway through the marinating
time.
3. Prepare a charcoal or gas grill and grill the chicken over
a medium-hot fire, turning as needed, until done, about 12 to 15
minutes a side.
4. For a fabulous summer meal, serve this snappy chicken with a side
of pilaf, grilled eggplant and a salad.
______________________________________________________________________________
Barbara Ghazarian, author of “Simply Armenian: Naturally Healthy
Ethnic Cooking Made Easy,” will visit Barrington Books on County Road
on Thursday, March 31, from 7 to 9 p.m. for a “Taste of Armenia”
book signing. Mrs. Ghazarian will talk about cooking Armenian food
and explore the culture a little. Armenians love sweets. Delicious,
easy to make apricot squares and traditional sugar syrup-drenched
phyllo triangles stuffed with ground nuts and a hint of cinnamon will
be served at the event, along with Mrs. Ghazarian’s signature quince
preserves. Starbucks will provide the coffee. The event is free and
open to the public.
–Boundary_(ID_OKMFW0p7FAo9vsNrKEtKxg)–