Author: Jalatian Sonya

Economic ties top agenda of CIS chief’s talks in Armenia
Arminfo
4 Mar 05
YEREVAN
“We are on the whole satisfied with the work carried out in Armenia
during our visit,” the CIS executive secretary, Vladimir Rushaylo,
said at a news conference in Yerevan today.
[Passage omitted: meetings held during visit]
He said that economic integration was a priority issue. “We can say
that we have achieved serious progress in this regard, although there
are instances when effectiveness should be boosted,” Rushaylo said.
[Passage omitted: praising Armenia’s participation in trade
exhibition]
Trading houses have been opened in a number of CIS countries – Russia,
Belarus and Tajikistan. Work is under way to open such houses in
Uzbekistan and Armenia. “Those will be effective levers to boost
economic integration,” Rushaylo said, adding that business structures
should be actively involved in this.
He also mentioned fighting terrorism, crime and drugs among the
cooperation priorities. Rushaylo said that this topic had also been
discussed during his meeting with the Armenian president.
Humanitarian cooperation is one of the major fields, which also
involves sending observers to elections in the CIS countries. “In our
opinion, this work demands more quality approaches, improved methods,
more close cooperation with other international organizations. We are
looking into this,” the CIS executive secretary said.
Finally, Rushaylo thanked the Armenian leadership for the
well-organized visit and constructive position on the issues
discussed.

Bangor Daily News, ME
March 3 2005
Andrea Martin
Thursday, March 03, 2005 – Bangor Daily News

You’ve probably seen Andrea Martin play Edith Prickley in the 1970s
TV comedy show “Second City TV.” Maybe you’ve seen her portray Aunt
Voula in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” And you may have heard her as
the voice of Miss Winifred Fowl in the animated film “Jimmy Neutron:
Boy Genius.”
But let’s be very clear about where you will not see Martin. She will
not star in the touring production of “Fiddler on the Roof” being
performed at 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 12, at the Maine Center for
the Arts in Orono.
If you do want to see Martin, a Maine native, in the hit musical
about Jewish life in a small village in Czarist Russia, you can go to
the Minskoff Theatre on West 45th Street near Times Square in
Manhattan.
In other words, Broadway.
Martin, who grew up in Portland, joined the New York cast in January
to play Golde, the lead female role opposite Harvey Fierstein as the
milkman and narrator Tevye. Think “If I Were a Rich Man” and
“Tradition” and “Sunrise, Sunset.” Then think: the Mama, the Mama!
And you’ll have Martin.
At the announcement last November that Martin and Fierstein, both
Tony Award winners, were taking over the roles, daily ticket sales
went up nearly 40 percent, according to a recent report in the New
York Post. At a performance last week, the theater was packed, and
the audience showed special affection for Martin, who won long, loud
applause for her portrayal of the witty, worried matriarch.
Ninety minutes before the show, Martin arrived at the theater bundled
up against the raw chill of the city in winter. In front of the door
to her private dressing room, she had draped a long orange scarf in
homage to the outdoor sculpture “The Gates” in Central Park. She has
a star dressing room, which is ample, awash in ambient light and
quiet despite the traffic beyond the window. On a small coffee table
are magazines, inspirational books, a tin of chocolates. On the wall
next to her mirror hangs the headscarf she wears as Golde.
“Everything I did in Maine prepared me for what I am doing now,” said
Martin, who kicked off her boots and folded her legs beneath her on
the couch before pulling a pillow close to her chest. At 58, she is
limber, fit, glowing.
Many of her fellow actors and fans popularly believe Martin is
Canadian because of her association with “SCTV,” but she’s Maine born
and bred, with a strong work ethic and an unjaded sense of the world.
She was even wearing a thermal shirt from L.L. Bean.
In Portland, Martin’s family ran grocery stores – her brother still
runs a restaurant in Waterville – and even though she was expected to
work at a young age, her parents supported her interest in theater.
She started acting on Maine stages at 9, eventually attended Emerson
College in Boston and then made her way to Toronto to work on the
Canadian show “SCTV” in the 1970s. It was also broadcast in the
United States, and was a hit in both places, launching the careers of
John Candy, Rick Moranis and Martin Short, Martin’s brother-in-law.
“Because I grew up in an Armenian community in Portland, I wasn’t so
aware of being isolated or remote,” said Martin, who recently sold
her home in Los Angeles and moved to New York City. “When you have
nothing to compare it to, the world around you is everything. But I
think acting was in my blood. It was like breathing for me. There was
no time when I was thinking: I want to be an actress. It was more: I
am an actress.”
In addition to her acting, however, Martin has received praise for
her writing, including two Emmy Awards for “SCTV.” (She has another
Emmy for her work on “Sesame Street.”) She also wrote her own
one-woman show “Nude Nude Totally Nude,” which played in New York
City and Los Angeles in 1996 – propelled by the Tony she won in 1992
for her performance in the short-lived musical “My Favorite Year.”
The work in live theater, she said, marked a turning point for her.
She began to think of herself more as a dramatic actor than as only a
comedian.
To make that transition, she hired L.A. acting coach Larry Moss, who
led Hilary Swank and Leonardo DiCaprio to roles in award-winning
films. He told her: turn down work, face rejection, work hard.
Against the advice of her agent, she returned to general casting
calls. She had to, she said.
“I’ve never thought of myself as a star, but I think it’s important
to think of yourself as a star, believe in yourself, own the talent
you have and have humility about it,” said Martin. “I knew no one was
going to believe in me until I believed in myself. I did my one-woman
show to be myself onstage instead of someone else. But then I
couldn’t get any dramatic roles. I could get broad comedy, sketch
comedy or sitcoms.”
But an important role did come along: Aunt Eller in the 2002 Broadway
revival of “Oklahoma!”
“It wasn’t glamorous or show stopping, but I knew I had to do it,”
said Martin, who won rave reviews in the part.
It also led to an offer to play the Cat in the Hat in the Broadway
musical “Seussical,” which Martin eventually turned down to stay at
home with her youngest son during his last year of high school. (She
was a single parent to her two sons, now in their early 20s.)
When the call came to play Golde in “Fiddler,” the role wasn’t any
more glamorous than Aunt Eller, but Martin jumped at the chance to
return to Broadway.
“I know I can do the other type of performing – the comedy,” she
said. “That’s in my bones. But you can only be a great actress if you
have great parts. It was important to me to be great at a great part.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a career of great roles. Plenty of
actors make great careers without any great roles. But this is what I
needed. I’m grateful. I’m energized. I’m curious every day about how
I can make it more alive. I’m enormously appreciative and have great
respect for the role.”
And it shows onstage, where her humor and her depth work together to
create a character who keeps her husband and five daughters, as well
as their village friends, within her maternal reach. Coincidentally,
one of her stage daughters marries the character Motel, played by the
Tony-nominated John Cariani, a native of Presque Isle.
Martin is scheduled to be in the Broadway “Fiddler” through the
beginning of August. In the meantime, she’s considering buying a
house in Maine.
“You can’t take Maine out of the person. You just can’t do that,” she
said.
Outside of Martin’s dressing room, Harvey Fierstein was arriving for
the night’s performance. He hugged a couple of backstage crew members
before retreating to his own dressing room to get into costume. What
did he have to say about his cast mate Martin: “She’s from Canada,
you know.”
For ticket information for “Fiddler on the Roof,” starring Andrea
Martin through August, at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City, call
(212) 307-4100 or visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian historians not to attend genocide issue meeting with Turks
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
28 Feb 05
Vienna, 28 February: Armenian historians will not attend the meeting
to be held in Austrian capital of Vienna in May in which they will
exchange documents with Turkish historians regarding the so-called
Armenian genocide, the Vienna Armenian-Turkish Platform (VAT) said
on Monday [28 February].
VAT, acting as a mediator between Turkish and Armenian historians
who are willing to exchange documents, stated that Prof Dr Lavrentiy
Barseghian, the director of Yerevan genocide museum, and Prof Dr Ashot
Melkonian, the director of the History Department of the Armenian
Academy of Sciences, notified them in writing that they would not
attend the second meeting planned to be held in May.
Pointing out that the main target of the Armenian diaspora in 2005
is to make several countries “accept the 1915 incidents as genocide”,
VAT-member historians stress that Turkey has proved that it is ready
for dialogue and will take action for a possible solution.
VAT historians added: “As VAT, we expect the international community,
particularly Armenia and Turkey, to deal with this matter more
seriously and systematically. And, we believe that both parties
will establish dialogue with each other under equal circumstances,
and take VAT concept as a model.” [Passage omitted]

Awaiting new revolution, political forces define goals and formats
By Karine Mangasarian
Yerkir/arm
25 Feb 05
Today, revolutionary rumors have re-activated in Armenia. And
now everybody knows that Aram Karapetian of â~@~New Timesâ~@~]
is taking the lead over the April revolution. Who believes in this
revolution? Can it take place in Armenia? And eventually why is Aram
Karapetian appropriating all the opposition functions?
Chairman of the â~@~Republicâ~@~] party political council Albert
Bazeyan says that those who are preparing for a revolution must
say whether there are pre-conditions for it or not. As to the
â~@~Republicâ~@~] party, Bazeyan says it has not received any
invitation fro Aram Karapetian, but if it does, it will consider
possible collaboration and format.
Leader of Constitutional Right Union Hrant Khachatrian believes
that the nation will only support a revolution, if it feels that
it is not guided by an external force. Khachatrian believes that
Karapetianâ~@~Ys term â~@~S revolution – describes the speed
of changing the situation. Khachatrian does not exclude possible
participation in the revolution, if a serious project and suggestion
be offered.
Non-parliamentary forces are not so inspired by Karapetianâ~@~Ys
revolutionary initiative. Leader of the New Communist Party Yura
Manukian says that â~@~ revolution is not a childâ~@~Ys play. It is
a serious programmatic approach to changing the social system. And
relevant ideology today have only Communists and Dashnaks. Other calls
for revolution can only destabilize the situation in our country.â~@~]
He believes that revolution is not about replacing personalities but
about offering new programs. The communist leader advises against
relying on the â~@~ semi-determinedâ~@~] external forces.
And the leader of the National Accord party Aram Harutiunian compares
the revolutionary initiative with learning to play chess for the
first time. He says: â~@~Today, some of the Armenian politicians
are like some of the chess figures, who want to get quickly to the
place of a king. I cannot understand Aram Karapetian.
Of course, we have a number of social, economic and political problems
like illegitimate authorities today, but one should not go for sport
euphoria on the political stage. There are issue, but they need
projects to improve the situation.â~@~]
And leader of Republican faction Galust Sahakian seems to be
unserious about the revolutionary moods. He said: â~@~In regards to
the timelines, I trust Vladimir Ilyich Lenin who did not expose any
dates until the very revolution.â~@~]
–Boundary_(ID_Ny0ubVevK9sX+vO67jou1w)–

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW, Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
February 25, 2005
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
HOUSE MEMBERS HONOR 17TH ANNIVERSARY OF KARABAGH LIBERATION MOVEMENT
— Special Order Speeches Organized by Congressional Armenian Caucus
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) were joined by
Representatives Rush Holt (D-NJ), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), and
Michael McNulty (D-NY), last week, in speaking out in honor of the
17th anniversary of the Nagorno Karabagh liberation movement,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA.) The
House Members stressed their commitment in ensuring a lasting and
peaceful resolution to the Karabagh conflict.
“We join with the people of Nagorno Karabagh, Armenians around the
world, and throughout the United States in thanking Representatives
Frank Pallone, Joe Knollenberg, Rush Holt, Carolyn Maloney, and
Michael McNulty for helping to mark the 17th anniversary of the
Nagorno Karabagh liberation movement,” said ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian. “In 1988, the people of Nagorno Karabagh – at
great sacrifice – were the first to rise up against Soviet misrule,
sparking powerful pro-democracy movements that would bring an end
to the Cold War and ultimately make the United States and the
entire world safer.”
In Special Order speeches organized by the Congressional Armenian
Caucus, the Representatives called attention to Nagorno Karabagh’s
commitment to self-determination and regional peace. In his
remarks, Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone
reviewed the history of Karabagh’s efforts to end Soviet-era
oppression of its citizenry. “During the seven decades of Soviet
rule, the Armenians of NK repeatedly stated to each successive
Soviet regime their desire to be joined against with Armenia.
These peaceful and legal maneuvers were met with violent repression
and forced settlement of ethnic Azeris into NK,” explained Rep.
Pallone. He noted that upon the fall of the Soviet Union, the “NK
population overwhelmingly voted to establish an independent Nagorno
Karabakh Republic, currently known as NKR.” Noting his
participation in an election-monitoring group for the Karabagh
presidential elections, he praised the strengthening of democracy
in the state. “This process is astounding considering that NKR is
not recognized internationally; that they still must deal every day
with Azeri aggression, and that their economy is still devastated
from the war,” stated Pallone.
New York Democrat Carolyn Maloney remarked that “The people of
Nagorno Karabakh courageously defended their right to live freely
on their ancestral lands.” She went on to cite the importance of
ongoing U.S. assistance to Nagorno Karabakh, “which has a vital
role in achieving a peaceful and stable South Caucasus region.”
Rep. McNulty noted that “Nagorno Karabakh continues to strengthen
its statehood with a democratically elected government, a capable
armed forces and independent foreign policy. I stand with the
people of Nagorno Karabakh in celebrating their continuing freedom
and democracy.”
Rep. Holt cited the importance of finding a peaceful and lasting
resolution to the Karabagh conflict. “Just as the people of
Nagorno Karabakh saw the necessity of a peaceful secession from
Azerbaijan seventeen years ago, so too must a peaceful resolution
be achieved with this current conflict. . .The United States will
continue to promote the cause of our democratic friends in Nagorno
Karabakh, not yielding until the goals set forth on February 20,
1988, have been fully realized.”
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone and Joe
Knollenberg sent a congratulatory letter to Karabagh President
Arkady Ghoukasian, commending the Karabagh people on the 17th
anniversary of the liberation movement and pledging support for
continued efforts to find a lasting peace in the region.
The complete texts of the Congressional statements may be found on
the ANCA website at the following link:
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT CAREFULLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT TURKEY’S RECOGNIZING
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 26. ARMINFO. Armenia’s President is carefully
optimistic about Turkey’s recognizing Armenian Genocide.
In Golos Armenii he says that for many years Turkish society has been
taught to deny the Armenian Genocide and now it is very difficult to
overcome this inertia. But Turkey’s aspiration to join EU implies more
open society, more accessible information and more discussions of
complicated issues. These are the very instruments forming objectivity
in evaluating one’s own history.
As to the possibility of Turkey’s launching active anti-Genocide
counter-propaganda Kocharyan says that such propaganda is existent now
too but the results will be quite opposite to what Turkey is
expecting.

AGBU Press Office
55 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022-1112
Phone 212.319.6383 x.118
Fax 212.319.6507
Email [email protected]
Website
Friday, February 25, 2005
US AMBASSADOR JOHN EVANS JOINS ARMENIAN CHURCH AND ORGANIZATION
REPRESENTATIVES AT SPECIAL EVENT AT AGBU CENTRAL OFFICE IN NEW YORK
New York, NY – On February 11th, 2005, a special dinner reception in
honor of United States Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, was hosted
by AGBU President Berge Setrakian along with representatives of major
New York-area Armenian organizations at AGBU Central Office in
Manhattan. Over 40 people attended the Friday night event, which
allowed the newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to familiarize himself
with the tri-state’s Armenian institutions, and the important role
they play within the Armenian Diaspora.
After welcoming the audience, Mr. Setrakian thanked the Ambassador for
all his efforts to strengthen the bridges between the United States
and Armenia. He further pledged AGBU’s commitment to continue working
through the various U.S. agencies such as the USAID, for the benefit
of Armenia. He then introduced the representatives of the various
organizations present and participating in the dinner reception.
Ambassador Evans thanked AGBU for the opportunity created for him to
be present at the dinner and briefly outlined the three goals that
compose current U.S. policy in Armenia, “…For economic growth they
[people in the south Caucasus] need stability, that is why we are
working very hard with the foreign ministries of Armenia and
Azerbaijan to bring about a lasting solution [to Karabakh]…that’s
our first goal. Our second big goal is to build the economy of
Armenia, and to build it in a broad-based and sustainable way so that
not only the very wealthy oligarchs in Armenia are profiting but so
there is a good economic life for the bulk of the people. A third
important goal of our policy, is to foster genuine democratic
institutions. Now I’ve only been in Armenia for six months, but I want
to report to you that I think the country is headed in the right
direction in many, many ways.”
Ambassador Evans also thanked AGBU for its continuing leadership role
in the Diaspora and Armenia, “I think you should be very proud of what
you have done as AGBU, we see the signs of that, they are visible
everywhere, in Yerevan and outside Yerevan. You have done wonderful
things and you continue to do wonderful things and we are very proud
of you also, and we’re proud of our association with you.”
Honored guests for the evening, included the Ambassador’s wife and
daughter, USAID’s Armenia Director, Robin Phillips, U.S. State
Department representatives, Aaron Sherinian and Eugenia Sidereas,
Ambassador Arman Kirakossian of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
in Washington, D.C., Ambassador Armen Martirosyan of the Permanent
Mission of Armenia to the United Nations, Moses Abelian, Secretary of
the Administrative and Budgetary committee of the United Nations, AGBU
Vice-President Nazar Nazarian, AGBU Secretary Joseph Basralian, AGBU
Board Member Carol Aslanian, AGBU Board Member Michael Ansour, Van
Krikorian, Board Member of the Armenian Assembly of America, and
Kenneth V. Hachikian, Chairman of the Armenian National Committee.
Church representatives in attendance were, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan
of the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America (East),
Most Reverend Manuel Batakian of the Apostolic Exarchate for Armenian
Catholics, and Andy Torigian, Executive Director of the Armenian
Missionary Association of America. Archbishop Khajag Barsamian of the
Armenian Apostolic Church (Eastern Diocese) being out of town was not
able to attend.
Representatives from the following Armenian organizations were also
present: Armenia Fund USA, Birthright Armenia, Constantinople Armenian
Relief Society, Fund for Armenian Relief, Near East Foundation, and
Tekeyan Cultural Association and AGBU Young Professionals of Greater
New York.
AGBU is the largest non-profit Armenian organization in the world and
serves over 400,000 Armenians annually. For more information on AGBU
and its programs in Armenia and elsewhere, please visit

Armenian Finance Ministry official charged with embezzlement
Noyan Tapan news agency
23 Feb 05
YEREVAN
The chief of a department of the Armenian Ministry of Finance and
Economy, Leva Shainyan, is being charged under Part 3 of Article 179
(Misappropriation and embezzlement) and Part 3 of Article 325 (Forgery
of documents) of the Armenian Criminal Code. An arrest warrant has
been issued for him.
Shainyan is being charged in connection with the case on grand theft
from the Audit Khorurdatu [Audit Advise] and Audit Khorurd Service
[Audit Advise Service] companies by means of forgery, which is being
investigated by the investigations department of the
Prosecutor-General’s Office, the press service of the
Prosecutor-General’s Office reports.

Armenian president offers condolences to Iranian leader over quake
A1+ web site
23 Feb 05
Today President Robert Kocharyan sent his condolences to the Iranian
president, Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, in connection with the devastating
earthquake in Iran.
The message said: “I received with great pain the news about the
earthquake in the province of Kerman in Iran Islamic Republic which
caused the deaths of so many people.
On behalf of the Armenian people and myself I would like to offer my
deep condolences to you and to the friendly Iranian people and
especially to the relatives of the victims”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The American Turkish Council-US Association helps create new world order
PRAVDA
02/16/2005 15:14
Operating tax-free and out of the media or watchdog spotlight is
the most powerful “non-profit” association in the United States,
the American Turkish Council (ATC- americanturkishcouncil.org).
Like the thousands of Associations operating inside the Washington,
DC Beltway, the ATC is chartered to provide “legal and ethical”
venues for American-Turkish government and business interests to meet
face-to-face to improve business, security and cultural relations
between the two countries. The ATC, and other Associations, has a
dues structure and committee structure that includes a government
relations or “educational” committee that lobbies the public and US
government representatives on behalf of its members. But that’s where
the similarity ends.
While the ATC is an Association in name and in charter, the reality is
that it and other affiliated Associations are the US government. Theirs
is the voice that matters and is the one that is heard on television
and radio networks through the mouths of news-readers, senators,
congressmen, presidents and military leaders. It is in and through such
Associations that US political, economic and military policy is made
and the American public subsequently “educated” to support policies
that are not, and could not, be debated in public because of their
illegality, audacity, complexity and, arguably, necessity. Instead,
the creation of policy and action–or even reaction to events-is
hammered out in corporate board rooms, foreign governments, research
institutes, and think tanks. It all comes together in Associations
like the ATC. If you want to know what’s really going on or about to
come down, take a visit via the Net to the world of Associations.
Six Degrees of ATC Leaders/Members
The game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is based on the premise that the
famed actor Kevin Bacon is the center of the entertainment universe
and that any actor or actress can be linked back to him within six
degrees. Replace Kevin Bacon with ATC leaders and/or members, and you
are sure to find that any corporation, military leader, government
official, former politician, and even actor can be linked back to the
ATC within six degrees. The ATC is an extraordinary group of elite and
interconnected group of Republicans, Democrats and corporate/military
heavyweights who are spearheading one of the most ambitious strategic
gambits in US history.
In 2004 the ATC was led by Bush family insider LTG Brent Scowcroft,
USAF (Ret.) who served as Chairman of the Board. George Perlman of
Lockheed Martin was the Executive Vice President and Marise Stewart of
Textron the Vice President. Executives from every major US and Turkish
corporation are members. Among them are Mars (candy), Coca Cola,
Atlantic Records, Shell Oil, ExxonMobil, Pfizer, General Dynamics,
Northrop Grumman, Hyatt and Phillip Morris. Dozens of retired US Flag
officers, ex-ambassadors and representatives sit on the ATC Board
of Directors.
Counted amongst ATC”s hundreds of members are think tanks like the
Eisenhower Institute, CSIS, Brookings, and AEI. Georgetown University,
the University of Washington and the University of Chicago are
also members of note. If the grand brains with their studies,
executive reports, and statistics were not enough to overwhelm
the uninitiated, there are members like the Livingston Group (Bob
Livingston, ex-Congressman), the Cohen Group (William Cohen ex-SECDEF)
and ex-Congressman Stephen Solarz. All three are paid big-bucks by
the Turkish interests to work on their behalf in the halls of the US
Congress and the Pentagon.
America Gives Birth to New EuroAsia
Now, before you yell Conspiracy! you might want to think Necessity
and Stability, particularly in light of the opening to Central Asia,
the Caucasus and the new Europe provided by 9-11. Pull up Net maps
of Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Europe. Once you’ve done that,
consider what political, economic and military activities (defined
as US national interests) the United States has underway in those
regions. It is no less than the development of a US-dominated New
EuroAsia that includes the “Stans”, Ukraine, Chechnya, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Belarus, Romania, Bulgaria, Czech, Croatia, and Poland.
Crazy? Hardly, it is a brilliant gamble. There are many compelling
reasons to create a New EuroAsia with the US with a controlling
interest.
First, there’s the little matter of energy resources. The fact is
that the both regions possess an abundance of resources and those
countries there that don”t are key transit points for the movement of
energy. With the US becoming more reliant on a stable world market for
energy it”s imperative to stabilize and exploit available resources.
Second, Americans have all the candy and weapons systems they
need. New markets for American products are critical for American
economic survival.
Third, with WWII having ended a mere 60 years ago, US foreign policy
is still very much in the hands of America”s anti-Soviet/Chinese
Cold Warriors. Hence, Russia-China encirclement remains part and
parcel of US policy. US military outposts close to the Russia and
China”s borders dot the landscape in the New EuroAsia. As Space Daily
reported, US mobile missile defense batteries are likely to appear
at these bases since CONUS based systems are doomed to failure. US
military outposts will also allow quick jump off points for covert
operations into Russia and China, interdiction of black market WMD
and their components, and drug interdiction.
Fourth, to compete against the combined economic forces of
the European Union (EU), it is necessary to have a leveraging
position in the New EuroAsia. For example, the EU”s Inogate Program
(inogate.org/html/maps/mapsoil.htm) is a source of concern for the
US as Europe has been busy for years laying the groundwork for new
energy sources and transit points. The US was late to that game and
is still playing catch-up.
Fifth, isolating and destabilization Iran remains paramount. Such has
been the policy since the 1980″s. As recently reported, US Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles have been launched from bases in Iraq to spy on Iran”s
military infrastructure and nuclear reactor sites. In all likelihood
such activity has been underway at least since the beginning of the
21st Century”s US invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.
The Guiding Light
ATC’s is joined in the creation of the New EuroAsia by the American
Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce (AACC). AACC’s Honorary Council of
Advisors just happens to have Scowcroft and the following persons of
significance: Henry Kissinger, Zibigniew Brezinski, Lloyd Benston,
John Sununu and James Baker III. Former Council members include Dick
Cheney and Richard Armitage, former Undersecretary of State. Board of
Trustee members include media-overkill subject Richard Perle of AEI,
Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, and Frank Verrastro of CSIS.
The US Kazakhstan Business Association (UKBA) features, among others,
benefactors and members ChevronTexaco, ConocoPhillips, Lockheed
Martin, and Halliburton. Richard Armitage was honored last year
by the UKBA and indicated in his remarks that stable economies and
representative government were essential for the future of Central
Asia. No argument there. He opined that “many of the nations in the
region still have a long way to go toward that destination [democracy],
and Kazakhstan can and should, in my view, serve as a guiding light
in that journey.” Yet according to Human Rights Watch, the US State
Department, Armitage”s former employer, indicated in February 2004
that “The [Kazak] Government”s human rights record remained poor,
and it continued to commit numerous abuses.” In its annual report
on the Kazakh government’s rights record, the State Department noted
that the government of Kazakhstan “severely limited citizens” right to
change their government and democratic institutions remained weak.[and
that it] .restricted freedom of assembly and association and limited
democratic expression by imposing restrictions on the registration of
political parties.” It further stated that, “Corruption was evident
at every stage and level of the judicial process.”
Friends in Odd and High Places
“It is a place of total lawlessness, where men with guns rule and human
life carries little value. There are no human rights, one resident told
me. “We don’t know if we’ll be alive tomorrow or even five minutes
from now.” It is inconceivable that a fair election can take place
in this climate of fear, where shooting and forced disappearances
happen on a daily basis. Civilians continue to be the main victims
of this conflict. It is possible that as many as 200,000 people have
been killed in the two wars combined. Many I speak with say they see
the election as little more than window dressing for the West. All
the while, military operations continue. “Not a single night goes
by without someone disappearing. Masked men come into homes and take
people away.” A handful of buildings associated with oil companies
are undergoing renovation. The only building in good shape is the
presidential palace.
There is no running water for residents. People must buy water
daily. They depend on generator power for electricity. I walked
around the market, which was full of shoppers buying fruits and
vegetables. This same market was attacked by missiles at the beginning
of the current war, killing more than 100 people. For the first
time in my life I felt what it is like to be utterly without rights,
at the mercy of men with guns.”
Baghdad Burning (riverbendblog.blogspot.com) writing from Iraq,
you say? Nope, it’s a former American Committee for Peace in
Chechnya Committee (ACPC) staffer writing about her trip to
Chechnya. Chechnya? But not to worry, our men and women of the ACPC,
separated by only six degrees from their cohorts at ATC and AACC
have things under control. ACPC was founded in 1999 and is chaired by
former National Security Advisor Zibigniew Brezinski, former Secretary
of State Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and former Congressman Stephen
J. Solarz. ACPC, according to its website, is composed of more than
one hundred distinguished Americans representing both major political
parties and nearly every walk of life. And who are those 100 Americans?
Well, to name a few, there”s Geraldine Ferraro, former Democratic
candidate for vice president; Frank Gaffney, CEO of the Center
for Security Policy whose Board members include Doug Feith, Gordon
Sullivan, CEO of the Army Association of the USA and Bob Livingston of
the Livingston Group; Elliot Abrams and Mike Leeden; and, who would
have guessed that Richard Gere and PJ O”Rourke would be members of
the ACPC.
And the story gets routine and boring as it moves on. The Honorary
Chair of the American Georgia Business Council (AGBC) is James Baker
III. Its members include ExxonMobil, Northrop Grumman and Ernst and
Young. President of the AGBC is S. Enders Wimbush, a Senior Fellow
at the Hudson Institute and former SAIC and Booz Allen Hamilton
employee. A trustee of note on the Hudson Institute is Al Haig. The
same connections, whether through individuals or organizations, can
be found for Ukraine and Belarus, as well as Turkmenistan, Tajikistan
and Uzbekistan.
Six Degrees of Zibigniew Brezinski
No one argued and schemed more forcibly or convincingly for a New
EuroAsia than Zibigniew Brezinski, Jimmy Carter’s National Security
Advisor, and a candidate for the role of Waldo in Where’s Waldo,
The Movie (tough competition coming from James Baker III).
As Wikipedia puts it of Brezinski, “In the 1990’s he formulated the
strategic case for buttressing the independent statehood of Ukraine,
partially as a means to ending a resurgence of the Russian Empire,
and to drive Russia toward integration with the West, promoting
instead “geopolitical pluralism” in the space of the former Soviet
Union. He developed “a plan for Europe” urging the expansion of NATO,
making the case for the expansion of NATO to the Baltic Republics. He
also served as U.S. Presidential emissary to Azerbaijan in order to
promote the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline. Further, he led the effort
to increase the endowment for the U.S.-sponsored Polish-American
Freedom Foundation from the proposed $112 million to an eventual
total of well over $200 million.”
All that accomplished through the power of Associations. Association
ideas rubber stamped by the US Congress and backed by US military
force. It”s no surprise that it was in the decade of the 1990″s,
long out of the US government and working through private sector
Associations, that Brezinski”s and corporate America’s EuroAsia
creation would be formalized and ultimately be realized. It all
happened far sooner than expected thanks to an opportune breakdown in
US security on September 11, 2001. Nonetheless, the center of gravity
for it all has been the ATC and its affiliates in the Association
world.
The individuals and organizations in the ATC, AGBC, ACPC, UKBA, and
similarly populated groups, are in control of the design and action
plans to secure America”s national interests in the New EuroAsia. It’s
the same story for other regions of the world-Africa, Indonesia,
etc.-and even here on America”s domestic front. Does a Congressman or
woman have a bright idea? Does the President have a special agenda? If
they do, you can be sure it came from an Association.
Perhaps this is part of the American Republic’s maturation process:
more intelligent and visionary governance by Association rather
than through the messy process of millions voting by the ballot box
or e-voting. In such a scheme, the US Congress and the Presidency
would be relegated to a symbolic role, sort of like that played by
the King and Queen of England. The US security establishment would
be called into action based on the voting results of a Congress of
Associations. Then again, when you cast your vote, you are in essence
voting the Association platform. Sound bizarre? Such is today”s world.
When Richard Armitage can say with a straight face that Kazakhstan
should be the guiding light of democracy in Central Asia, it”s time
to swallow the bitter pill of reality and recognize that how America
governs itself, and designs and implements policy, is changing. Whether
the US and the world will be better off remains to be seen.
Teddy Roosevelt once said that “Behind the ostensible government sits
enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging
no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government,
to befoul the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt
politics is the first task of the statesmanship of the day.”
That was a smart thing to say in 1906 when business and politics were
still trying to figure each other out. In 2005, he”d be dismissed as
an opponent of America”s national interests as there is no difference
between the two.
John Stanton
John Stanton is a Virginia based writer specializing in political and
security matters. His most recent book is America 2004: A Power But
Not Super. He is working on an article discussing Sibel Edmonds and the
ATC, along with a book on America”s Defense Related Non-Profits. Reach
him at [email protected]
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