Author: Jirair Kafian

Huntsman Family to Undertake Separate Relief Initiative
PRNewswire
January 7, 2005
HOUSTON, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ — Peter R. Huntsman, President and CEO of
the Huntsman companies, today announced an initial donation of $1
million to aid in the relief of victims of the tsunami disaster. Mr.
Huntsman said $500,000 will be in cash from the company and its
employees, and the company will make an additional $500,000 donation in
material, supplies and similar in-kind contributions.
“We all have been horribly saddened and deeply impacted by this
tragedy,” said Mr. Huntsman. “Pictures of the aftermath defy
description, and our hearts go out to those who have lost so much.”
“The world will be dealing with the results of this catastrophe for many
years to come, and our initial efforts will be just the first of many
the company will make to help alleviate the suffering of those
affected,” he said.
Mr. Huntsman said the company also will work with its customers to
develop and institute joint relief initiatives.
Independent of the company, the Huntsman family will initiate a
long-term tsunami relief effort similar to what it did in Armenia
following the earthquake that devastated that country in 1988. The
family has had humanitarian initiatives underway in Armenia for more
than 15 years, expending in excess of $50 million.
Jon M. Huntsman, founder and chairman of the Huntsman companies, who
directs the family’s philanthropic activities, commented, “We believe in
taking a long-term, stepped approach to providing aid to disaster
victims. We applaud those who make one-time contributions but believe we
can positively impact more people by working closely with governments
and local relief agencies over a long period of time to rebuild
businesses, homes and lives.”
As he did with Armenia, Mr. Huntsman said, he will conduct a detailed
needs assessment and determine the most effective way to proceed before
announcing specific relief steps.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Centre for Public Opinion and Democracy, Canada
Jan 4 2005
Armenians Look Forward To European Union

(Angus Reid – CPOD Global Scan) – Many adults in Armenia want their
country to join the European Union (EU), according to a poll by the
Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS). 64
per cent of respondents support Armenia’s accession into the
continental alliance.
Since 2001, Armenia has been a member of the Council of Europe. The
country has officially set a goal of “progressive integration into EU
models and standards.” There is currently no timetable for the start
of accession talks.
As far as the benefits the EU could bring to Armenia, 29.4 per cent
of respondents expect an improvement to the economic situation, while
16.7 per cent look forward to a just resolution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh dispute.
The Nagorno-Karabakh region is controlled by ethnic Armenians – who
consider the area an independent republic – but is claimed by
Azerbaijan as part of its territory. A war broke out in the early
1990s between both nations, ending in an unofficial truce negotiated
by Russia in 1994.
Polling Data
Are you in favour of Armenia’s accession to the European Union (EU)?
Yes
64.0%

No
11.8%

Difficult to answer
24.2%

What are your expectations from Armenia’s accession to the EU for
state and society as a whole?
Improvement in economic situation
29.4%

Just resolution of the Karabagh issue
16.7%

Development of education and science
in accordance with European standards
9.7%

Decrease of corruption
8.7%

Establishment of irreversible democracy
8.1%

Raising the level of national security
7.3%

None
11.9%

Difficult to answer
8.0%

Other
0.2%

Source: Armenian Center for National and International Studies
(ACNIS)
Methodology: Interviews with 2,002 Armenian adults, conducted in
December 2004. No margin of error was provided.
Other poll highlights: Armenia-Diaspora Agenda, Foreign Policy
Agenda, Minorities, Youth Matters, Education.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

St Petersburg Times, Russia
Dec 29 2004
China Wins 1st Internet Chess International
THE ST. PETERSBURG TIMES
The world’s first international chess tournament played over the
Internet ended Thursday with China clinching an unexpected victory
ahead of France, Russia and Armenia.
The Tigran Petrosian Internet Memorial tournament was held in
commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the birth of the late world
chess champion Tigran Petrosian, an Armenian. Each four-player team
played six rounds.
China was the lowest-ranked team, but finished with 14 points to
Russia’s and France’s 13, but France beat Russia on tiebreaks to take
second place. Armenia finished with 8 points.
The St. Petersburg Chess Federation with the support of the city
government and the Armenian community in St. Petersburg were among
the organizers of the competition, which took place Dec. 18 to 23.
The teams of the four competing countries fought it out for $55,000
in prize money without leaving their home countries.
The Russian team of Pyotr Shvidler, Alexander Khalifman, Alexei
Dreyev and Vadim Zvyagintsev played in St. Petersburg under
supervision of French referee Jean-Claude Templeur.
“Apart from the handshake, the playing conditions resembled the
conditions of any high-level tournament,” Templeur said. “Whether you
are playing on the Internet under official supervision or meeting
your opponent face-to-face seems not to matter much.”
“This tournament has shown that from now on it will be possible to
play chess under realistic sporting conditions from any part of the
planet, where you live,” he said. “Why don’t we dream of huge opens
played at 50 or 100 sites around the world. After my experience here
in St. Petersburg, I know that this is already possible.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“NEW TIMES” PARTY AGAIN EXPRESSES PROTEST ON OCCASION OF DISPATCH OF ARMENIAN
PEACEKEEPERS TO IRAQ
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17. ARMINFO. “New Times” party again expresses its
protest on the occasion of the dispatch of Armenian peacekeepers to
Iraq. It is said in the statement of the party sent to ARMINFO.
According to the statement, the decision of Armenian government on
dispatch of peacekeepers to Iraq should be considered nothing else as
myopic. The authors of the statement remind that after the genocide
of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey at the beginning of the 20th century
hundred thousands of Armenians found shelter in Arab countries
including in Iraq. They mention that the dispatch of the Armenian
peacekeepers to Iraq will imperil the safety of Armenian communities
of Arab countries. The party “New times” understands the aspiration of
the authorities of Armenia to involve the republic in the international
programs on fight against terrorism, but the participation in these
programs must not contradict the interests of the state”, said in
the statement. The party “New Times” proposes to find alternative
variants of Armenia’s participation in international programs on
fight against terrorism. In particular, the party proposes to take
part in anti-terrorist programs being implemented under the aegis of
UN, in other hot spots where the interests of Arab countries and the
Armenian community collide. The party insists on holding a voting
concerning the issue on the dispatch of Armenian peacekeepers to Iraq.

Agence France Presse
14 décembre 2004 mardi 12:51 PM GMT
Ayrault (PS) souhaite que Chirac explique le “problème de la Turquie”
Le président du groupe PS à l’Assemblée nationale Jean-Marc Ayrault,
a souhaité mardi que le président Jacques Chirac “explique”, lors de
son entretien mercredi sur TF1, “pourquoi le problème de la Turquie
se pose”.
“Il faut en parler sans jouer sur les peurs”, a déclaré M. Ayrault
lors de son point de presse hebdomadaire à l’issue de la réunion du
groupe.
Evoquant ce que “la Turquie peut apporter à l’Europe”, M. Ayrault a
également jugé que ce pays avait “des progrès à faire notamment en
matière de droits de l’Homme, de gestion de l’économie et de
transparence”.
“Il faut que la Turquie fasse la clarté sur sa propre histoire,
a-t-il dit, “la reconnaissance du génocide arménien est pour nous une
condition préalable”, a-t-il affirmé.
Il a estimé que “le président de la République aurait intérêt à
parler avec l’ensemble des formations politiques” et souhaité que la
proposition faite en ce sens par François Hollande “soit entendue”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
Venerdì Il 10 Dicembre 2004
UE: TURCHIA, GIOVANI PADANI A STRASBURGO PER NO
BRUXELLES
(ANSA) – BRUXELLES, 10 DIC – Una delegazione dei Giovani
Padani sara’ presente a Strasburgo in occasione della sessione
plenaria del Parlamento Europeo per manifestare contro
l’ingresso della Turchia nell’Unione Europea. Lo rende noto un
comunicato della componente giovanile del Carroccio, nel quale
si afferma che con lo slogan “Per un Europa dei diritti
umani”, i giovani leghisti organizzeranno una protesta
“assolutamente pacifica” per dire il “loro secco ‘no'”
all’ingresso di Ankare nell’Ue.

“La Turchia – ha spiegato Paolo Grimoldi, coordinatore
federale dei Giovani Padani – non puo’ entrare in Europa non
solo per motivi religiosi, culturali, storici e geografici, ma
perche non rispetta i diritti umani”.

“Non dimentichiamoci – ha sottolineato – che il governo
turco non ha ancora riconosciuto il genocidio degli armeni e dei
curdi. Mi chiedo proprio dove siano finiti tutti quei finti
pacifisti con la bandiera arcobaleno, che non perdono occasione
di manifestare contro il governo. Forse non sanno che Cipro e
occupata dalla Turchia da alcuni decenni?”.

“Per questo – ha concluso Grimoldi – la prossima settimana
saremo in piazza a Strasburgo per dire il nostro ‘no’
all’ingresso della Turchia nell’Unione, in attesa della grande
manifestazione federale della Lega Nord, in programma domenica
19 a Milano”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITALY’S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER ARRIVES IN YEREVAN
ArmenPress
Nov 23 2004
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: A high-ranking Italian diplomat
promised today a stronger boost to cooperation with Armenia, saying
her government will continue to support implementation of a number
of joint programs with Yerevan.
Margerita Boniver, Italy’s deputy foreign affairs minister, who
arrived today in Yerevan, was received by parliament chairman Arthur
Baghdasarian, who emphasized Italy’s assistance to Armenia in its
drive to closer integration with Europe.
The parties stated that both countries could develop effective
cooperation in small businesses, tourism and stressed the opening of
Casa Italiana in Yerevan, which is supposed to give a fresh muscle
to bilateral cooperation.
Boniver and Baghdasarian discussed also regional issues. Baghdasarian
suggested that Italy should organize a youth forum for young people
from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, which he said would help the
region’s nations to build an atmosphere of confidence.
Margerita Boniver was also received today by foreign minister Vartan
Oskanian and president Robert Kocharian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NorthJersey.com, NJ
Nov 23 2004
Armenian center to open new sub-acute care unit
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
By DEENA YELLIN
STAFF WRITER
EMERSON – The Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center will celebrate
the opening of its new Sub-Acute Care Unit today at an open-house
party for the public.
The state-of-the-art unit will provide short-term rehabilitation
services for seniors who are well enough to leave a hospital but need
extra support before returning home. The unit contains 10 private
rooms in a designated area that is separate from the nursing home.
Most of the unit’s patients will pay for their care through Medicare
or private insurance.
The new unit is designed for intermediate care, said Tom Miller, the
center’s administrator. “It would be ideal for someone who just had
hip replacement surgery or knee replacement and the hospital would
kick them out after about three days. Here, they could stay for a
few weeks.”
Miller said the unit is opening at an opportune time. “There is a
real need in the health-care community for this type of service.
Nobody else around here is offering this, because Pascack Valley
[Hospital] recently closed their unit that provided this level of
care,” he said.
The Armenian Center is opening the Sub-Acute Care Unit in the same
facility where its Comprehensive Personal Care Home for assisted
living was located until it closed about six months ago. Renovating
that facility to create the new unit cost approximately $100,000,
Miller said.
The assisted-living facility closed because there was a lot of
competition from other, similar facilities in the area. “We felt that
this was a better use of our resources,” Miller said. “We’ve already
had a lot of inquiries about the new unit.”
The Armenian Center has provided a home and care to senior citizens
for more than 60 years. The original building that housed the center
was purchased in 1943 by three Armenian founders for $8,900 in cash.
Although it initially served the Armenian community, it later became a
nursing home serving seniors of all backgrounds. The center, which has
undergone several expansions, is now at its capacity with 78 clients.
The new unit will open officially today, but the first patients won’t
be allowed to move in until December.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agence France Presse
17 novembre 2004 mercredi 8:29 PM GMT
Adhésion de la Turquie à l’UE: plus de 250 députés “votent” contre
PARIS 17 nov 2004
Plus de 250 députés ont pris part mercredi soir à un vote symbolique
sur l’entrée de la Turquie dans l’UE, se prononçant contre
l’ouverture immédiate des négociations d’adhésion le 17 décembre,
tant que “le génocide arménien n’aura pas été reconnu par Ankara”.
Ils étaient représentés par une trentaine de députés de gauche comme
de droite, parmi lesquels les vice-présidents de l’Assemblée Eric
Raoult (UMP) et Rudy Salles (UDF). Ce “scrutin” était organisé à
l’initiative de plusieurs organisations arméniennes, lors d’un
rassemblement près du palais Bourbon.
“Nous invitons les députés à se prononcer ici ce soir parce qu’ils
n’ont pas pu le faire dans l’hémicycle de l’Assemblée”, a déclaré
l’un des organisateurs, Mourad Papazian, qui a invité
“solennellement” le président Jacques Chirac à faire de la
reconnaissance du génocide arménien “un préalable” à toutes
discussions avec la Turquie.
Une urne en carton, portant les couleurs européennes, avait été
installée sur une table, de même que des bulletins “oui” et “non” à
la question: “Le 17 décembre 2004, la France doit-elle dire oui à
l’ouverture immédiate des négociations d’ahésion de la Turquie à
l’Union Européenne?”.
Premier à s’adresser à quelque 400 manifestants, Philippe Pemezec a
apporté “le non de 78 députés UMP”. “Ce pays n’est pas en Europe, les
cultures sont profondément différentes, et il y a encore de
nombreuses atteintes aux droits de l’Homme, notamment aux droits des
Kurdes et Arméniens”, a déclaré le député UMP.
Le socialiste René Rouquet, venu apporter “le non des 144 députés
PS”, a souligné que “la reconnaissance du génocide arménien par la
Turquie est la première des conditions de son adhésion à l’UE”.
Les élus UDF – le président du groupe Hervé Morin, entouré de Maurice
Leroy, François Rochebloine et Rudy Salles – ont glissé le bulletin
“non” pour les 31 députés centristes, tout en affirmant que l’UDF
“poursuivra sa mobilisation tant en France qu’au Parlement européen”
pour contrer l’adhésion d’Ankara.
La députée Verts Martine Billard, présente, a refusé de se joindre à
ce vote symbolique, arguant que “les Verts ont toujours plaidé pour
la reconnaissance du génocide arménien”. “Cette question doit être un
sujet de discussion avec la Turquie mais pas un préalable”, a déclaré
l’élue de Paris.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Jerusalem Post
November 4, 2004, Thursday
The Local Scene
Lionel Gaffen, Jerusalem Post Sports Staff
Shooters 4th in World Cup Finals
Israeli Olympic shooters Alex Danilov and Guy Starik each narrowly
missed medals last week at the International Shooting Sport Federation
year-end event, the World Cup Final, held this year in Bangkok.
The pair were each invited to take part in the prestigious 12-man
competitions due to their performances this year on the World Cup
circuit.
Starik, whose specialty is the 50-meter Men’s Prone Rifle, finished
with a combined score of 699.4, leaving him 0.5 short of a medal,
behind Sergei Martynov of Belarus. Germany’s Christian Lusch took gold
with 702.1, while silver went to another Belarusian, Yury
Scherbatsevich, with 700.6. Starik, who was ranked second in the world
prior to the Olympics, placed a disappointing 16th of 47 riflemen in
Athens.
Danilov came even closer in the Men’s 50-meter pistol, finishing with a
combined 660.5 total, just 0.1 behind the bronze medalist Zonglian Tan
of China. Martin Tenk of the Czech Republic took top honors with 664.1,
followed by China’s Xinglong Shi in second with 661.6. Danilov placed
15th of 47 shooters in Athens.* Lionel Gaffen
Friedman gets NIS 285,000 from OCI
The Olympic Committee of Israel financially rewarded the county’s top
athletes and their coaches for their 2004 performances at a ceremony in
Caesarea on Wednesday night.
Olympic gold medalist Gal Friedman leads the list of recipients with
NIS 285,000 – NIS 240,000 for the gold plus NIS 45,000 as the inaugural
winner of the Yoram Oberkovich Athlete of the Year award.
Sailing coach Gur Steinberg, who guided Friedman and Lee Korzits in
Athens, was presented with NIS 150,000. Israel’s other Olympic
medalist, judoka Arik Ze’evi, received NIS 110,000 – NIS 80,000 for his
Olympic bronze and NIS 30,000 for his European championship title.
Tigers 1-hit Eilat before showdown
Ilan Spira and Elyaeed Moore combined to strike out nine batters as the
Tigers geared up for next week’s matchup with fellow unbeatens Penticon
by one-hitting Otsma Eilat for a 10-6 win in the Israel Softball
Association fall tournament. Eilat’s only hit was a double by Yoni
Weiss.
Eilat also lost to Tri United 8-3. Ari Shapiro broke a 3-3 tie with a
single and then made a beautiful catch in the outfield as the Tri-U
defense came up big on several occasions. Stu Schrader homered and Mark
Chass had three hits for the winners. Guy Liyani had three hits
including a triple, and Yoni Weiss had three hits and a home run for
Otsma.
Triple T rode a nine-run second inning to a 17-9 defeat of Elmhurst
Dairy. Roni Bossin scored four runs and David Rubinstein drove in four
with a pair of homers to lead the Triple T offense. Yosi Ajzenwaser
pitched two fine innings in his return to the mound. Binyamin Kamilar
had two hits and two runs for Elmhurst.
Magic Homes forfeited to Penticon.
The fall tournament comes to a close this week as Penticon and the
Tigers meet to decide first place and Triple T and Tri United will lock
horns over third place.
Fifth place finish for chess masters
An Israel draw with Cuba combined with Armenian and American 3.5-0.5
wins over Georgia and Norway, respectively, saw Israeli fall to fifth
place on the final day of the Chess Olympics that came to a close on
Sunday in Majorca, Spain.
Israel’s team, consisting of Boris Gelfand, Emil Sutovsky, Ilia Smirin,
Boris Avrukh, Alexander Huzman, and Michael Roiz, won seven, drew five,
and lost just two matches at the three-week tourney, while totaling
34.5 points. Third place Armenia (8-4-2) tallied 36.5 points, while the
Americans (7-4-3) finished with 35.
Ukraine, the only team to go undefeated of the 129 in the competition,
earned 39.5 points with its 10-4-0 mark. Russia (11-0-3), which also
had 36.5 points, edged Armenia for second based on its better record.
Israel was among the teams that managed a draw against the Ukrainians,
but a draw against Moldova, which placed 36th, and defeats against
Russia and Armenia proved costly in the end.
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress