Author: Kafian Jirair

REMEMBERING STEPHEN FEINSTEIN

MinnPost.com
ories/2008/05/16/1868/remembering_stephen_feinstei n
May 16 2008
MN

Stephen Feinstein, founder and director of the Center for Holocaust
and Genocide Studies at the University of Minnesota, died suddenly at
age 64 in March. On May 12, at an event at the Humphrey Institute,
friends and colleagues remembered him as a scholar, an activist and
a man who used humor as a "survival technique." Here is a video by
David Feinberg, associate professor of art, that was shown at the
event, and excerpts from three speeches.

By Steve Hunegs, Executive Director Jewish Community Relations Council
of Minnesota & the Dakotas

This past Shabbat was the Minnesota fishing opener. I note it
because it was a rare – if not unique – event for which Steve in his
distinguished career of academics and activism did not:

This next Shabbat, the Torah portion is Behar which discusses – among
other topics – the Sabbath year of rest. This is completely inversely
appropriate to Steve, since he was in perpetual motion and never,
seemingly, at rest.

* * * * *

All of this energy and Steve’s Russian and beaver skin hat were
brought to bear on the Soviet Jewry movement of the Upper Midwest.

Contextually, 50 years after "Red October," the Six Day War sparked a
revolution of a sort among Soviet Jewry by rekindling their national,
religious and cultural identities as Jews. In the years after 1967,
huge numbers of Soviet Jews sought to escape intellectual and spiritual
suffocation through aliyah or emigration to the West. This was a blow
to the Soviet solar plexus and immigration was held hostage to the
trajectory of American-Soviet relations.

Into this moment stepped the American Jewish community, determined
not to repeat its quiescence during the Holocaust. The Minnesota
community, aligned with its tradition, organized activism in size
disproportionate to its numbers.

* * * * *

At the center was Steve Feinstein…

â~@¢ Lobbying for passage of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment tying
trade with the USSR to immigration; â~@¢ Meeting with Refuseniks in
the USSR when attending the Moscow Book Fair; â~@¢ Organizing the
Minnesota delegation to the December 1987 March on Washington during
a visit by Mikhail Gorbachov; â~@¢ Recording telephone messages,
with a new action item each week; â~@¢ Demonstrating at hockey games
or cultural events involving Russians – as Mort Ryweck pointed out,
"no demonstration was too small for his participation"; â~@¢ Leading
Freedom Seders with freedom hagadot; â~@¢ Leading the charge for the
Vladamir Feltsman concert – a former refusenik pianist – which sold
out Orchestra Hall in the late 1980’s.

As chair of the JCRC’s Minnesota-Dakota Action Committee on Soviet
Jews (1985 to 1992), Steve worked with a great cross-section of the
community… . Poignantly, Steve was working — always working. My
last meeting with him, Susan Yana Glikin and Mark Glotter – not
long before he died — was planning a community 30th anniversary
commemoration of the Soviet Jewry movement.

As a friend, student and colleague of Prof. Feinstein, I can say
his work was characterized by the fact that he was equally at home
in the flat of a Leningrad refusenik, the galleries of the Louvre,
the archives of Yad Vashem, among his vintage model trains, and in
the classrooms and lecture halls from the University of Minnesota
to Moscow. He was among the few who both wrote and shaped history —
as only a person of his experience, interests and travels could. He
was and will be remembered as the quintessential community person–who
"respected" no boundaries of the University–and will inspire us for
decades to come.

By Taner Akcam Department of History and Center for Holocaust and
Genocide Studies University of Minnesota

I am here to say publicly what Steve already knew – how thankful I
was to him as a friend and colleague.

In 2001 I was a visiting professor at the University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, looking for a position where I could stay in academia in
the USA. Mutual friends put me in touch with him; his support for my
invitation to teach here was crucial.

Over the next six years, Steve proved to be more than a colleague:
he was my "problem solver." Through every challenge, large or small,
he was always there with a solution.

My office in the Social Science Building was not a permanent
space. "Why don’t you come over to the Center," asked Stephen one
day. "We’ll give you a room; you will have fun here." He was right –
to work beside him every day was a real pleasure.

"You are the real Talat Pahsa," he would say, showing me the fez he
had received from the Minnesota Armenian Community. "Now, we have to
organize a ceremony to turn this over to you."

Steve sought to incorporate not only the Armenian Genocide but
also other 20th century genocides into the comparative scope of the
Center. "The Holocaust can be adequately understood only in perspective
with other Genocides," he used to say.

Let others speak of Stephen Feinstein’s philosophy of comparative
genocide or his one-week summer seminar for teachers on Genocide and
Human Rights. I would rather speak of the Steve who after teaching
all day, went home and slept on the floor, too exhausted even to take
off his shoes.

Now, when it comes to solving practical issues, I am a person with
two left feet – my only talent is reading books. But, when I came to
the Center, I had no book shelves. PEHH – no problem! Steve knew what
to do. "Are you going to build them?" I asked, astonished. There he
was with the lumber, nails and tools.

"Steve, this shared printer in my office is driving me crazy." No
problem, there was Steve drilling a hole in the wall to reroute
the cable connection out of my office. "How can you be so talented,
Steve; we scholars are supposed to be clumsy." Well, "this is what
we learned from the Nazis," he would say. "This is how you survive
in a concentration camp."

He walked in every morning with a joke, tossing a sheet of paper on my
desk, or starting a new story, "have you heard the one about…." He
would come to my office saying, "check your email, I just sent you
something" or he would call me over to his office to watch a video
clip or to read a joke. Steve was hilarious, laughing with full
mouth…. "The jokes are my survival technique," he used to say. But
they were a social pressure for [me]: Oh my god! What should I tell
him today?

He loved to see me in the office everyday from 8 to 5. "I am sorry,
Steve, I had to take my daughter to the doctor." "Steve, I am leaving,
Helin missed the bus, I had to pick her up." "You need a wife,"
he would say. "Tell your Armenian friends they have to find you an
Armenian wife. This cannot go on. You cannot work. They should know
that they are hindering genocide research; this will be their way to
contribute to it."

He used to tell visitors, anyone who walked in the door, "I am looking
for a Jewish wife for Taner. The Armenians cannot find one. So, even
though having a Jewish wife and dealing with Armenian Genocide is very
suspect, we don’t have any other choice." That was embarrassing…..

Steve saw life as a joke and lived it as a joke. His leaving us was
also a joke but one of his worst ones. Steve…my dear friend…you are
always with me, wherever I go. And I am hoping to see you there…to
listen to one more joke from you.

By Henry Oertelt Holocaust Survivor

My association with Steve with goes back at least 25 years, when he
invited me to speak at his class at [the University of Wisconsin],
River Falls. I can say it was "love at first sight." I was taken in
by his easy-going casualness and his wonderful sense of humor. It
was there that I had my first experience with his quick humor.

During my lecturing I had explained that, during my incarceration in
the concentration camps, I was able to utilize my trained profession
of designing and building fine furniture. I had explained that on two
of those occasions I was transported to other camps, without being
able to finish the projects I was working on. During the following
question and answer session, one student wanted to know if I was still
working in that profession. Before I was able to answer, Steve jumped
in and quipped, "What do you think, with that kind of a work record?"

For more information, go to the Center for Holocaust and Genocide
Studies website.

–Boundary_(ID_9ZI9l6wAswww4aPl9l1BxA)–

COALITION MEMBERS SHOULDN’T STEP ASIDE
Gevorg Harutyunyan

Hayots Ashkhar Daily
Published on May 14, 2008
Armenia

Interview with RPA deputy leader, MP Razmik Zohrabyan.

"Responding to Ter-Petrosyan’s accusations in his address, in his
interview given to "MEDIAMAX" agency Robert Kocharyan called them
"bizarre statements" and hoped that the Committee to be established
by the demand of the Council of Europe as well, will reveal the
whole truth.

Don’t you think that, had this truth been already revealed the main
organizer of the coup wouldn’t dare to be carried off too far?"

"Before touching upon the question I would like to express my own
opinion regarding Robert Kocharyan’s activity and his personality. This
is the right time to do so, because his term of office is over.

Robert Kocharyan is a real Armenian and a good citizen. During the
ten years of his presidency he pursued a very efficient and right
policy. Especially during the last days of his term of office, when the
pre-election and post-election developments created social tension,
Robert Kocharyan confirmed, that he is a state-oriented political
figure and a champion of the maintenance of Armenian civilization.

In response to your question I would like firstly to confirm that Levon
Ter-Petrosyan is the main author of the tension during the pre-election
campaign, and the collision with the law enforcers, on March 1,
after the summary of the election returns. Today he still continues
his ruining and provocative actions. He even used the anniversary of
the Genocide of Armenians for his own political purposes, whereas,
those who had "little role" in instigating it, are under detention.

No matter how much Levon Ter-Petrosyan will try to justify himself,
beyond a shadow of a doubt he is the only blameworthy for what
happened. He is the one who initiated and organized the movement to
dismantle the state. He misled many honest and naïve people, but
he doesn’t even want to shoulder the responsibility of what happened
with these people."

"In your opinion can we consider the version of the "house arrests"
as a justification of a coward to evade responsibility?"

"The acting law and my own information, testify to the fact that
Levon Ter-Petrosyan has not been under "home arrest" and he had all
the chances to go to the street and lead the people gathered in front
of the Municipality. He was well aware that lots of people were armed
there, and that the scuffle and collision was unavoidable. He thought
only about his personal security, that’s why he didn’t appear there.

In this regard it is senseless to accuse Robert Kocharyan. If Levon
Ter-Petrosyan really had certain ideas and principles, if he was guided
by the interests of the people and the country, nothing could prevent
him from being with the people. But he didn’t, because he was feeling
that his security was in danger."

"How would you explain the fact that only the President, the ruling
power and the Republican Party and not the coalition parties are the
target of the movement headed by LTP and the latter himself?"

"In my opinion it is a strategic step. They have chosen one
political figure and one political power not to become a target for
others. Meanwhile, in terms of political activity, of course we have
formed a coalition with "Bargavach Hayastan", "Orinats Yerkir", and
ARFD, taking into account the political stances of these parties. But
in the created situation in my view our coalition partners shouldn’t
step aside and they must publish their political estimations.

I don’t think the accusations made in the address of the Republican
Party and the government, are not related to our coalition partners
as well.

In the coalition agreement all the parties committed themselves to
certain obligations. If they don’t respond to their criticism they
can create an impression that they want to avoid this criticism by
their passive posture.

According to the latest announcements the process of the combination of
powers have started in the pro-oppositional domain. The combination of
powers is very important in the government camp, not only to confront
the political pressure of the opposition, but also to implement
our program.

In my view their purpose to establish a congress or a new party is a
psychological nuance. Thus they intend to get rid of the image of the
Armenian Pan National Movement. But we shouldn’t overlook one fact,
until this congress or the new party is headed by Levon Ter-Petrosyan;
this means Armenian Pan National Movement is in the center of this
power. They will never manage to cheat our people."

–Boundary_(ID_3Eiushxn7HZcYecn+kvI ng)–

SOFTWARE PIRACY INCREASES IN ASIA-PACIFIC: INDUSTRY GROUP

France24
May 14 2008
France

The Asia-Pacific’s average PC software piracy rate in 2007 increased
to 59 percent of the software in use in the region from 55 percent
the previous year, said the Business Software Alliance (BSA), which
works to fight piracy.

The increase was largely because of China’s growing share of the
region’s overall PC market, it said.

Losses from software piracy in the region rose to more than 14 billion
US dollars in 2007 from almost 12 billion dollars in 2006, BSA said
as it released a global study of the problem.

BSA’s members include Microsoft, Apple, McAfee and other major
industry players.

It says piracy includes illegal manufacture, the retail sale of
pirated software, unauthorised downloading or uploading, and use of
unlicensed software by businesses.

Jeffrey Hardee, BSA’s vice president and regional director, said the
Asia-Pacific market for PC software is growing rapidly as incomes
rise in emerging economies.

The high growth rate for PC sales in countries such as China, India,
Indonesia and Vietnam, which have large populations, is resulting in
a higher loss from piracy compared with mature markets, he said.

China’s software piracy rate had fallen in three previous years but
held steady at 82 percent from 2006 to 2007 as PC shipments to homes
and small businesses grew rapidly, BSA said.

Excluding Australia, Japan and New Zealand, the Asia-Pacific piracy
rate would be higher than 70 percent, it said.

Expanding usage of the Internet in the region could also worsen piracy
through illegal downloading of software and unauthorised sharing of
files, Hardee said.

Bangladesh had the highest Asian piracy rate in 2007, at 92 percent,
followed by Sri Lanka’s 90 percent, BSA said. Vietnam was third-highest
with 88 percent.

Armenia’s 93 percent piracy rate was the highest in the world and
the United States had the lowest rate at 20 percent, BSA said.

Global research group IDC conducted the study of 108 countries,
BSA added.

CITIZENS’ VISITS TO YEREVAN POLYCLINICS INCREASE BY 10% IN JANUARY-APRIL 2008

Noyan Tapan

Ma y 12, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 12, NOYAN TAPAN. The number of citizens’ visits to Yerevan
polyclinics made 650935 in January-April 2008, which exceeds the index
of the same period of the previous year by 10%. As Armen Soghoyan,
the Head of the Health and Social Security Department of Yerevan
Mayor’s Office, said at the May 12 press conference, in the above
mentioned period the number of people’s visits to narrow specialists
increased by 38% and the number of laboratory instrumental researches
by 37.4%. 12013 patients received free treatment in 6 clinics under
the subordination of Mayor’s Office in the above mentioned months,
which exceeds previous year’s index by 19.9%. At the same time it was
mentioned that the number of births also increased by 5.8% in these
months in Yerevan.

According to A. Soghoyan, the number of people receiving free
medicines also increased by 18.2% in January-April. According to
him, it means that citizens consider important primary medical aid,
as a result of which the number of citizens using free dispensary
polyclinical services grows year by year. At the same time it was
mentioned that as of May 1, 86% Yerevan population was registered at
district therapeutists in the primary health protection link. It was
also mentioned that 344 doctors and 205 nurses had retraining within
the framework of the World Bank (WB) credit program. 42 doctors and
43 nurses have retraining at present.

A. Soghoyan said that the repairs implemented at the St Mother of God
and St Gregory the Illuminator medical centers within the framework
of the WB credit program will also finish soon.

KARABAKH CONFLICT WILL BE RESOLVED THROUGH WAR, BUT NOT DURING NEXT 10-15 YEARS

PanARMENIAN.Net
12.05.2008 18:09 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Bishkek protocol on ceasefire between Nagorno
Karabakh and Azerbaijan is the first document which officially
mentions of Karabakh as party to conflict, political scientist Levon
Melik-Shahnazaryan told a news conference in Yerevan.

"The protocol was signed by Defense Ministers of NKR, Azerbaijan
and Armenia as the guarantor of Karabakh’s security. Thus, any
future peaceful agreement should be concluded by Nagorno Karabakh
and Azerbaijan.

Nevertheless, I suppose that the conflict will be finally resolved
through war but not during next 10-15 years. Everything depends
on Azerbaijan’s policy, its energy sources and the world powers’
interest in war," the Armenian expert said.

RA State Commission for Protection of Economic Competition starts
considering ‘Web’ and ‘Arminco’ internet providers’ statements

2008-05-07 22:03:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian State Commission for the Protection of Economic
Competition started considering "Web" and "Arminco" internet providers’
statements.

To recall, on April 30 the "Web" and "Arminco" companies applied to the
Commission stating that the terms of provision of internet
communication services offered by Beeline company contain phenomena of
artificial restraint of competition. According to the statements,
Beeline provides internet communication in the Hi-Line Unlimited format
"using the phone lines’ infrastructure belonging to it the monopoly
order, while other companies engaged in provision of internet
communication are deprived of the opportunity to use this
infrastructure". The "Web" company thinks that "these steps of Beeline
are evidently aimed at acquisition of monopoly in the sphere of
internet communication provision as well". The two providers think that
Beeline deny them the opportunity to provide channels of distinguished
communication, i.e. potentially competitive type of services on
internet communication. The applicants expressed a request to consider
the issue and take relevant measures, as well as to discuss the issue
of Beeline’s status as the dominating company in the sphere of
provision of relevant services.

Gas bills go up from June 4

07-05-2008 12:58:18 – KarabakhOpen

Last week the government media reported that the gas bills will go up
from May 1 for those users who use up to 10 thousand cu m a month.

The taxi services of Stepanakert immediately raised the fare from 500
to 600 for short distances, and from 100 to 120 drams per km.
Meanwhile, the taxis use gas from gas stations which use more than 10
thousand cu m a month, which means the price for gas will not change
for them. Besides, 600 drams is too much for such a tiny city as
Stepanakert. What is more, the drivers of fixed-route buses also
`threaten’ to raise the fare which is 50 drams now.

At the recent meeting the Regulatory Commission for Public Services and
Economic Competition criticized Artsakh Gas which had announced about
rise of price before the decision of the commission. Nevertheless, the
commission decided to raise the tariffs from June 4 instead of May 1.

HULIQ (press release), NC
May 5 2008

Azerbaijan Asks The West To Help With Karabakh Settlement

The foreign minister of Azerbaijan has asked the West to convince
Armenia with Nagorno Karabakh settlement while Azerbaijan is the side
that constantly refuses the proposals of OSCE and and tries to get rid
of the Minsk group mediators while attempting to bring the issue to
UN.

On May 4 Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mamedyarov once again
explained the stall in the peace process on Karabakh with the
aggressive stance of Armenia. According to the Public Television of
Turkey, he accused Armenia for prolonging the settlement of the
conflict. He said that Armenia should be interested in settling the
Karabakh conflict as soon as possible and called upon the Western
states to convince Armenia to be more constructive.

The inconsistence of the Azerbaijani foreign policy is well known. Now
and then official Baku demands the Minsk Group to be disbanded and
threatens to restart the war in Karabakh. Although this time
Mamedyarov avoided warlike statements, his anxiety about Armenia’s
interests sounded rather challenging.

However challenging Mamedyarov’s statements be, the Western statements
are not likely to swallow the bait. In case Azerbaijan fulfills its
warlike threats and unleashes a new war against Armenia and Karabakh,
the West shall consider it not only as an attempt to ruin the fragile
stability of the region, but also as an attempt to take over the
initiative in Karabakh process.

It is obvious that in case of a new war in South Caucasus the
prospects of the greater states of the world shall be ruined, and
Azerbaijan shall be punished for that. If the West leaves unattended
the warlike statements of Azerbaijani officials, it means they prefer
to neglect them and not to emphasize them, preserving the stability in
South Caucasus, where each of the greater states pursues vital
interests.

By the way, the foreign minister of Azerbaijan Mamedyarov with his
accusations against Armenia tried to answer the April 30statement of
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, which read as follows, "I think we
made a long way in the settlement process of the Karabakh
conflict. There is a project and there are the proposals suggested by
the OSCE Minsk Group. They are the result of a long work and we are
ready to continue the process basing upon the suggestions. But our
readiness is not enough, we still need the willingness of the
Azerbaijani side".

By h. Chaqrian of Azg, translated by A.M.

NEWS OF RELIGION: ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY

Providence Journal-Bulletin (Rhode Island)
May 3, 2008 Saturday

The 106th Diocesan Assembly of the Armenian Church of America
(Eastern) is being hosted by Saints Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church
in Providence this weekend, the first time in more than 30 years.

The gala banquet will be held tonight at 7 at the Providence Marriott
hotel ballroom. Oscar Tatosian, chairman of the Diocesan Council,
will make presentations. Honored as Friend of the Armenians will be
Sen. Jack Reed. Honored as Armenians of the Year are brothers, Kevork
Atinizian of Belmont, Mass., and Nishan Atinizian of Winchester, Mass.

Tomorrow at 9:30 a.m., a celebration of the Divine Liturgy will be
officiated by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, primate of
the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern). This service
will be conducted at the Marriott and will be followed with a farewell
brunch served at the church s Egavian Cultural Center. For information,
call (401) 272-7712 or visit

WHAT WILL BE WITH ARMENIA FOUNDATION?
Naira Hayrumyan

KarabakhOpen
01-05-2008 10:36:04

Since 1992 the name of Armenia Foundation featured in news about
the construction of schools, roads, water pipelines in Karabakh. The
foundation built houses, schools, hospitals, laid out water pipes. The
construction of two major highways – Goris-Stepanakert and North-South
– were also related to Armenia Foundation. Perhaps it is even difficult
to count the value of all projects implemented by the foundation in
Karabakh over the past years.

Over the past ten years Armenia Foundation has held telethons in Los
Angeles raising money for the rebirth of Artsakh. Either times have
changed or the Diaspora is tired of helping Karabakh, or yet there
are other reasons but recently some things regarding the foundation
are not quite easy to understand.

On February 7 the president of Nagorno-Karabakh Bako Sahakyan
met with the executive director of Armenia Foundation Vahe
Aghabekyans. Agreement was reached to set up an office of the
foundation in Stepanakert. A lot of time has passed but the issue of
the office has not been brought up again. The manager of the programs
for Artsakh Michel Tancrez continues to work in Karabakh who apparently
not empowered to represent the foundation to NKR.

Besides, the annual meeting of the board of trustees which is
still headed by the ex-president Robert Kocharyan has not been held
yet. Apparently, inside the foundation they have not decided yet
where to head and what to do. Especially that serious problems have
occurred relating to the dropping rate of the dollar, and the value
of the money raised during the telethon in autumn has halved.

Judging by private talks, it is not a mere replacement of the
head of the board of trustees but a reform of the structure of the
foundation. Since consultations are not open, it is difficult to tell
what options are offered. However, it is self-evident that reforms
and a more distinct distribution of powers are necessary.

Armenia Foundation was set up in the very beginning of the independence
of Armenia in 1992 by a decision of the first president Levon
Ter-Petrosyan.

The process of establishment of the foundation was complicated due to
its unique structure: an effort was made to include both the government
and the society in its structure, in addition, not only the society of
Armenia but also the Armenian Diaspora. Here is the structure which
has not changed so far: the head of the foundation is the president
of Armenia, the board of trustees includes the prime minister and the
speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, the minister of foreign
affairs, the minister of finance, the president of the Central Bank,
the president and prime minister of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Catholicos
of all Armenians Garegin II, the head of the Great House of Cilicia
Aram I, the representatives of the protestant and catholic churches.

The leaders of the three traditional parties – the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun, the Ramkavar Party and the Henchak Party – are
permanent representatives to the foundation. The three major charity
organizations of the Diaspora – the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(Perdj Sedrakian), the Armenian Assembly of America (Hrair Hovnanian)
and the Armenian Relief Society (Maro Minassian) have representatives
to the board. Outstanding Diaspora Armenians are members of the board,
such as Charles Aznavour, Eduardo Eurnekian, Louise Simon Manougian,
Vardan Grigorian, Tigran Izmirlian, Albert Boyadjian, and others.

Armenia Foundation is not just a benevolent organization but a
structure which aims to help the government to solve problems which
it cannot solve alone. During the military actions in Nagorno-Karabakh
and the economic crisis in Armenia the Winter program was implemented,
and 21 million dollars was raised to solve the problem of energy. In
all these years the Foundation has provided assistance for the
reconstruction of the area of the earthquake, it has built a
residential area in Gyumri and in Spitak, as well as schools.

One of the main goals of the Foundation is assistance in the
development of the economy of Nagorno-Karabakh. In 2005 the program
of reconstruction of Martuni was assessed 17 million dollars, during
the telethon in 2005 7 million dollars of donations were pledged and
5 million was raised. The program was curtailed. The telethon of 2005
raised 13.7 million dollars for the region of Hadrut, while the value
of the program was 7 million dollars.

As part of the program of reconstruction of Hadrut, Armenia Foundation
started to lay out water pipelines for the villages of Mets Tagher,
Drakhtik and Azokh, as well as the regional center Hadrut. It is
also foreseen to lay out 18 km of gas pipes between the village of
Togh and Hadrut, repair the regional hospital, build schools, repair
roads and irrigation pipelines.

During the telethon 2007 a record 15 million dollar sum was
raised which should be spent on the reconstruction of the region
of Martakert. The program included drinking and irrigation water
pipelines, health and education. However, no tenders have been
announced yet. Moreover, the fund was said to suspend the programs
of the hospital of Martakert and the water pipelines in the region
of Hadrut.

"No matter what complex programs Armenia Foundation will implement,
it will always work in Artsakh, increase investments, which matches
the stance of the board of trustees of the foundation," runs the
message of the department of public relations of the Foundation.