Author: Kanayan Tamar

AFTER NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS ANTI-CRIMINAL MOVEMENT TO TURN TO ACTIVE ACTIONS, ARAM KARAPETIAN PROMISES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 21 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. "Armenia becomes like Romania of
Chaushesku’s times or countries of Latin America of 50-s of previous
century when big sums of money were offered for the head of each
oppositionist." Aram Karapetian, Chairman of the Nor Zhamanakner
(New Times) Party, said this at the December 21 regular sitting of
anti-criminal movement, commenting upon the ceremony of awarding
of National Security Service employees held on December 21. He
expressed bewilderment in connection with the fact that for the
present, none of law enforcement bodies has reacted to the recent
publication of Armenian version of Forbes journal, in which the list
of country’s richest people was published, among which there are many
officials. A.Karapetian said that he is going to give the Prosecutor
General a package of documents connected with Justice Minister David
Haroutiunian’s activity. "Why no one inquired from where the Justice
Minister has got a fortune of 75-80 mln dollars?" he mentioned.

According to A.Karapetian’s information, the Minister has a large
apartment worth 3.5 mln dollars in New York and his apartment in
Yerevan costs 200 thousand dollars. "I wonder whether it is right
that Justice Minister’s brother Vahan Haroutiunian together with
representative of Diaspora Vahe Yaghubian is engaged in construction
of buildings in Northern Avenue, whether it is right that some people
apply to the very V.Haroutiunian for receiving a Schengen visa,"
A.Karapetian said. Data on corruption at country’s universities were
also publicized at the sitting. A.Karapetian promised to publish facts
of corruption in law enforcement bodies soon. At the same time, he
stated that under such state of affairs one must not "hope for power
shift through elections."

He reported that the anti-criminal movement is turning to active
actions, the discussion of which will start after New Year holidays. In
his words, the forthcoming parliamentary elections are an important
occasion for changing the situation. "We should use the very important
circumstance," A.Karapetian said.

ENTREPRENEUR AND LEADER: EUGENIE SHAMLIAN-AROYAN IS THE NEW IWC PRESIDENT

Bangkok Post, Thailand
Dec 19 2006

True to its name of being an "international club", an Armenian-American
born in Lebanon takes the helm of the International Women’s Club
(IWC) of Thailand for 2007. Eugenie Shamlian-Aroyan will head some
400 members from 70 countries.

Shamlian-Aroyan is well-prepared for this position, having served
on the IWC board, in different capacities, since 1998. She has the
advantage of being a linguist, fluent in English, Arabic, Armenian,
French, Turkish and Thai. Prior to her stint in Thailand with
husband Mardiros Aroyan, Shamlian-Aroyan was vice-president of a
large construction company in Lebanon.

While in Thailand, she hones her culinary skills as well as creative
talent by designing jewellery made from semi-precious stones and
freshwater pearls.

As president, her thrust will be to draw "international flavour from
diverse nationalities". She is recruiting younger members, who will
bring fresh perspectives and dynamism to IWC functions. President
Shamlian-Aroyan invites all expatriate women to join IWC’s luncheons
and programmes. Contact her on 08-1914-2231.

Hellrider Suki

Kamolsukosol "Suki" Sukosol Clapp will greet the new year with a
project very different from what he has being doing for the last
15 years.

Having been one of the founders of Bakery Music and Love Is _ music
labels that promote musicians on the merit of their talent rather
than their looks _ and a key member of Pru, a highly successful band,
which includes younger brother, Krissada "Noi", Suki has decided to
call it a day. He will take a break from the music world to embark
on a new direction in life.

His son Dino’s interest in motorbikes sparked an idea and in true
entrepreneurial spirit, Suki decided to combine the thrill of riding
a motorbike and travelling with a television production crew to start
a new reality show called Dream Chaser.

Astride his BMW Chopper, he will be joined by various well-known
personalities, like elephant activist Soraida Salwala, and actor
and model Ananda Everingham, who will trace his mother’s _ Keosiri _
roots in Laos.

His partner on the journey will be an old friend from New York,
Tim LaMountain. The two are counting down the start of the two-month
trip, which is expected to begin on January 10. Suki has been getting
himself in shape for the past few months and has lost 17kg of the
excess weight gained as a music label executive behind a desk.

No broadcast date has been set for the show, but we can look forward
to an announcement pretty soon.

6_out53.php

California Courier Online, December 21, 2006

1 – Commentary
Ahmet Ertegun Knew What’s Good
For Turkey: Genocide Recognition

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

2 – Application Deadlines Near for 2007 AGBU
New York and Paris Summer Intern Programs
3 – 36th Annual Debutante Ball to be
Held February 18 in Beverly Hills
4 – 1,700-Year-Old St. Thaddeus
Church Renovation Completed
5 – ARPA, UCLA AEF Chair Host
Dec. 21 Lecture on Lost City
6 – Khosrovian/Mathew Company
Leads Flavored Vodka Industry
7 – Dr. Akcam Will Lecture on His
New Book at CSUF on Jan. 21
*********************************************** *******************
1 – Commentary
Ahmet Ertegun Knew What’s Good
For Turkey: Genocide Recognition

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Ahmet Ertegun, the Founder and CEO of Atlantic Records passed away on
Dec. 14, 2006 at the age of 83. He was the most famous Turkish
American. His death was announced in newspapers and TV networks
throughout the world. He was the son of Mehmet Ertegun, the former
Turkish Ambassador to the United States who had played a key role in
pressuring the State Department in the 1930’s to prevent MGM from
making into a movie Franz Werfel’s classic novel, "The Forty Days of
Musa Dagh."
Ahmet Ertegun was a music magnate who launched the careers of many
great singers and groups, such as Ray Charles, Led Zeppelin and the
Rolling Stones.
A couple of years ago, I received a surprising phone call from this
prominent Turk. Ertegun said he was calling from New York to see if
he could meet with me in Los Angeles to discuss Armenian-Turkish
issues. I told him that I usually decline to meet with Turkish
individuals unless they acknowledged the Armenian Genocide. He said
he did acknowledge the Armenian Genocide.
Ertegun arrived in Los Angeles with his wife a couple of days later.
He invited me to have lunch with him at the Peninsula Hotel in
Beverly Hills. For more than two hours, we discussed various
Armenian-Turkish issues. It was a fascinating conversation. He was a
gracious man who spoke with great charm, self-confidence and
sincerity. He surprised me by saying that he could not understand why
Turkish officials denied the Armenian Genocide — a fact known to the
entire world. He made it clear that he was not acknowledging the
Genocide in order to appease the Armenians. He believed that it was,
first of all, in Turkey’s interest to acknowledge the Genocide,
because doing so would help Ankara’s application for membership in
the European Union and get rid of the stigma that had haunted his
native land for so many years.
Ertegun said he had read about the Armenian Genocide in many Western
books, but had not seen a single reputable book that denied its
occurrence. He referred to Turkish officials who denied the Genocide
as being "Turk ghafali," implying that they had a stubborn Turkish
mentality. We explored various ideas on how to encourage the Turkish
government to acknowledge the Genocide. He suggested that he and I
fly to Ankara on a private jet and meet with high-ranking Turkish
government officials. I declined by saying that Turkish officials
were not yet ready to acknowledge the Genocide. Instead, I proposed a
number of steps that would prepare the ground for its acknowledgment
by the Turkish government in the future. I told him that if prominent
Turks such as himself, who enjoyed the confidence of the highest
echelons of the Turkish state, would speak out on the Genocide, that
would pave the way for its eventual recognition. He agreed to
consider the possibility of issuing a public statement recognizing
the Genocide.
Before leaving, he asked me again to fly to Ankara with him. I
declined again his invitation and promised to stay in touch with him.
He said he would return to California in a few months and expressed
the hope that we could go Turkey together at a later date. We parted
very amicably. Due to his advanced age and ill health, we could not
meet again, although we spoke several times by phone.
It is a shame that the public statement we had discussed regarding
the Armenian Genocide never materialized. I was aware that he was a
very influential man both in the United States and Turkey. He had
contributed funds to many Turkish causes and had invited influential
U.S. officials to attend Turkish events in New York and Washington,
D.C. I knew that Ertegun was not contacting me because he was
pro-Armenian, but because he sincerely wanted to help erase the
stigma of the Genocide from Turkey’s name. He firmly believed that
once Ankara put the issue of the Genocide behind it, the country
would attain the respect of the international community and would not
waste its efforts and resources to counter Armenian efforts for
Genocide recognition.
I could not write this column while he was alive since I did not want
to make him the target of hate mails and threats from Turkish
extremists by alerting them that he was considering the possibility
of issuing a public statement on the Armenian Genocide. Alas, he
passed away without being able to do so which is a loss for both
Armenians and Turks. I hasten to add that it was a greater loss for
Turkey. Ahmet Ertegun believed that by acknowledging the Genocide,
Turkey would earn many political dividends and lose practically
nothing!
***************************** *********************************************
2 – Application Deadlines Near for 2007 AGBU
New York and Paris Summer Intern Programs
NEW YORK – The AGBU New York and Paris Summer Intern Programs (NYSIP
and PSIP) are currently accepting applications for the 2007 summer
sessions, having concluded another successful year in 2006 with 34
interns from seven countries.
Now in their 20th and 4th seasons respectively, NYSIP and PSIP
provide interns with unique and valuable opportunities to work with
some of the most prestigious institutions in the world. Past
internship placements in New York have included the United Nations,
Columbia University Medical Center, Merrill Lynch and Sports
Illustrated. Internships in Paris have included the Louvre Museum,
Saint Ann Hospital, and Universal Music Mobile.
The Summer Intern Programs consist not only of professional
experience in the workplace, but also cultural and life lessons for
the up-and-coming Armenian youth. Participants take part in seminars
on résumé-writing, interviewing, and job networking tips, as well as
tourist activities in order to take advantage of all that each city
has to offer. The internship programs simultaneously include
community service and other activities that emphasize the importance
of giving back to the Armenian community.
NYSIP was launched in 1987, and was conceptualized by Vartkess and
Rita Balian out of the AGBU Central Office in New York. The Paris
Summer Intern Program was initiated in 2003 by the AGBU France
District Committee. The programs strive to give interns a solid
foundation for returning to their local communities with both
enhanced strength in their Armenian identity and increased direction
for their future careers. NYSIP and PSIP hope participants will
benefit from a closer connection to their cultural identity and
become successful professionals and future leaders in their
communities
Application deadlines are fast approaching; submissions are due
December 14, 2006 for NYSIP and January 12, 2007 for PSIP. Students
interested in receiving information or downloading applications can
contact NYSIP at [email protected] and PSIP at [email protected].
For more information about AGBU and its worldwide programs, please
visit
************************************* ************************************
3 – 36th Annual Debutante Ball to be
Held February 18 in Beverly Hills
LOS ANGELES – Preparations are underway for the 2007 Debutante Ball
to be held February 18, 2007 at the Regent Wilshire Hotel in Beverly
Hills, Calif.
The Ball, which was founded 36 years ago by Diocese Primate
Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, is organized by the Ladies Auxiliary of
the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America under the
leadership of Chairlady, Cindy Norian.
Mrs. Norian noted, "The Debutante Ball is one of the liveliest
traditions in the Armenian community. We are looking forward to an
especially festive event this year. With an unusually large group of
young ladies and their escorts participating we anticipate a huge
crowd and urge people to purchase their tickets early."
The Ball is one of the highlights of the year in the Armenian
community. This year, more than 20 young ladies are being presented.
The evening begins with a cocktail reception, followed by the
presentation. A gourmet dinner is served, after which there is
dancing to both Armenian and American music. Prospective Debutantes
and their mothers attended an informational meeting and luncheon in
the fall in which information was given out about the ball, including
an informal fashion show where past debutantes modeled their gowns.
In December, the Debutantes and their families were guests at the
home of Rose Ketchoyan for a Christmas luncheon.
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian stated, "The organization of the
Debutante Ball should be seen as a mission of the Diocese to present
our young Debutantes and escorts to the Armenian Community. We give
our youth the chance to meet one another in a warm Church setting and
then we assure in their hearts the vision to serve the Lord and the
Armenian Church and become faithful advocates of the Holy Family."
Tickets are $150 each ($100 for students). For reservations, call
Rose Ketchoyan (818) 788-5138. For information about personal
announcements and best wishes in the memory booklet, call Margaret
Lulejian at 818-886-3481.
************************************ **************************************
4 – 1,700-Year-Old St. Thaddeus
Church Renovation Completed
TEHRAN – (CHN Foreign Desk) — Renovation experts ended their
emergency restorations on the 1,700-year old Armenian Church of Saint
Thaddeus, locally known as Qara Kelisa (The Black Church), in
northwestern Iran, in an attempt to inscribe this ancient monument in
UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 2008.
Qara Kelisa had previously been put up by Iran for UNESCO world
registration in 2007, but the international organization turned down
the application due to lack of substantial documents including those
pertaining to the value of the building and maps of its precincts.
Experts of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO)
are now working on the Church’s dossier to be forwarded to UNESCO for
a final review in 2008.
According to Qara Kelisa project manager, Mehdi Shoja-del, an
equivalent of $60,000 had been allocated to the Church’s initial
restorations which recently came to an end.
Heavy rains had washed away the mortar gluing the stones on the dome
of the St. Thaddeus Church, causing cracks on the dome and its
columns which, according to Shoja-del, were restored by experts
during the initial phase of this project. He also said that the
Church’s surrounding site was reorganized, the northern fortified
tower was restored and the southwestern one was strengthened during
the recent restoration works by experts.
This expert further added that the next phase of the project will
begin once its plan is approved by the Council for the Management of
Churches in Iran and will include restoration of stones on the
Church’s facade, renovation of its museum, and construction of a
center for archiving documents close to the Church.
Northwest Iran is home to the oldest churches in the country among
which Qara Kelisa, St. Stepanos, and Zoorzoor stand out because of
their antiquity.
The St. Thaddeus Church is considered one of the oldest churches in
the world, whose construction began 1700 years ago. Historians
believe that the Church is the tomb of Thaddeus who is said to have
been one of Christ’s disciples who traveled to Armenia, then part of
the Persian Empire, for preaching the teachings of Christ.
Armenians followed Thaddeus’ teachings and converted to Christianity
in 301 AD. Thaddeus was later martyred and buried in the present-day
West Azarbaijan province. A tomb was erected on his burial place by
his followers who turned it into a small prayer house. The building
was later changed into a cathedral in the seventh century AD.
According to the inscriptions remained there, the Church was ruined
in by a devastating earthquake but was later restored in its current
form by a Christian religious figure.
Today the church belongs to the Armenian community of Iran. It has an
international reputation and hosts annual meetings of world Armenians
each year in July-August.
Special features, antiquity, architectural style, decorations, its
religious importance among the world Armenians, and the celebrations
held annually in Qara Kelisa make the Church worthy of inscription in
UNESCO’s list.
Experts from Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization are
also intending to have other famous churches in the province such as
St. Stepanos Cathedral in Khoy and Zoorzoor Church in Chaldoran
included as annexes to St. Thaddeus Cathedral after its registration.
********’*************************** **************************************
5 – ARPA, UCLA AEF Chair Host
Dec. 21 Lecture on Lost City
SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. – The ARPA Institute and the Armenian
Educational Foundation of Modern Armenian History, UCLA are hosting a
lectures/seminar "Tigranakert in Artsakh: Discovery and Initial
Excavations of a Lost Armenian City," on Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m., at the
Merdinian Auditorium, 13330 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks, Calif.
The lecturer is Dr. Hamlet Petrosyan, a senior researcher and
professor at the Institute of Archaeology, National Academy of
Armenia. He is the chief of the Tigranakert excavations in Artsakh
and has extensive background in excavations and archeological
research and analytical studies on ancient sites in the Middle East.
Archaeological excavations of Tigranakert by a team of archeologists
from the Institute of Archaeology & Ethnography, National Academy of
Sciences of Armenia, pinpointed in 2005 what it believes to be the
exact location of Tigranakert in Artsakh and carried out short-term
excavations in the city and surrounding areas in 2006.
The discovery of Tigranakert has utmost significance, a city that
unveils the ethnic-cultural homogeneity of Artsakh and Armenia from
the early centuries B.C. to the 13th-14th centuries A.D. The Dec. 21
lecture will present the most recent findings.
For more information, call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818)586-9660 or
e-mail Prof. Richard Hovannisian at [email protected]
************************ **************************************************
6 – Khosrovian/Mathew Company
Leads Flavored Vodka Industry
By Greg Gillooly
MONROVIA – San Gabriel Valley husband-and-wife team Melkon Khosrovian
and Litty Mathew are unlikely leaders of a modern revolution in
distilled spirits. Their small Monrovia-based company Modern Spirits
has achieved dazzling results in the mega-brand world of flavored
vodkas.
Vodka is the most basic of the distilled spirits. Made from either
grain or potatoes, it is colorless, odorless and virtually tasteless.
It is usually offered at a throat-searing 80 proof (40 percent
alcohol).
Mathew, a self-described cooking school dropout with an aversion to
the alcoholic burn of high-octane vodka, had to endure lengthy Sunday
dinner with her husband’s Armenian family, who enjoyed vodka.
Khosrovian, eager to preserve both familial harmony and marital
bliss, began concocting batches of infused vodkas in hopes of finding
combinations that his wife and family could enjoy. His experiments
were a huge success. Soon, Khosrovian and Mathew together were
creating custom infusions for friends and private clients, and in
2004 they formed the company Modern Spirits.
What sets Modern Spirits infusions apart from others is their use of
only natural fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices. Khosrovian and
Mathew make all of the vodkas themselves, sourcing fruits and
vegetables from local farmers. They even hired their own "forager" to
find truffles for their most exotic offering: Black Truffle Vodka.
They refuse to use "droplets," the chemical flavorings used in most
flavored vodkas. By avoiding distillation after infusion, their
vodkas have a full[bodied flavor. They also reduce the alcohol level
to a more comfortable 70 proof.
This kind of natural goodness does not come cheap, however. All but
the Black Truffle sell for about $24 per 375-ml bottle. The Black
Truffle, if you can find it, will set you back $39. Look for them in
wine and spirits shops throughout the Southland.
*************************************** *************************************
**
7 – Dr. Akcam Will Lecture on His
New Book at CSUF on Jan. 21
FRESNO – Dr. Taner Akçam, Visiting Professor at the University of
Minnesota, will be speaking about his new book, A Shameful Act: The
Armenian Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility, at 3
p.m. on January 21. The lecture will be held in the Peters
Educational Center Auditorium, Student Recreation Center (corner of
Shaw and Woodrow Aves.) at Fresno State and is free and open to the
public.
The lecture is sponsored by the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno
State, in cooperation with the Zoryan Institute. The Armenian
National Committee, Armenian General Benevolent Union, and Knights
and Daughters of Vartan are so-sponsors for the event.
Dr. Akçam makes a unique, groundbreaking use of Turkish, European,
and American records to finally tell the full story of what the
Ottoman Turks actually planned, intended, and did to their Armenian
population.
Dr. Akçam is one of the very few Turkish historians to acknowledge
the genocide. He follows the chain of events, which lead to the
killings and reconstructs their systematic orchestration by
government officials, civil servants, party hacks, state-run
militias, and the army.
Sociologist and historian Taner Akçam was born in the province of
Ardahan, Turkey in 1953. He became interested in Turkish politics at
an early age. As the editor in chief of a student political journal,
he was arrested in 1976 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Amnesty
International adopted him as one of their first prisoners of
conscience, and a year later he escaped to Germany, where he received
political asylum.
In 1988 Akçam began work as a research scientist at the Hamburg
Institute for Social Research. While researching the late Ottoman
Empire and early Republic, especially the history of political
violence and torture in Turkey, he became interested in the Armenian
Genocide. In 1996 he received his doctorate from the University of
Hanover with a dissertation entitle "The Turkish National Movement
and the Armenian Genocide Against the Background of the Military
Tribunals between 1919 and 1922." Since 2002 he has been a visiting
associate professor of history at the University of Minnesota.
Akçam is the author of ten books and numerous articles in Turkish,
German, English and other languages. A Shameful Act: The Armenian
Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility will also be
translated into Italian, Polish, and French.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Copies of A Shameful Act
will be on sale at the lecture. Free parking is available in Lot V.
For more information on the lecture, contact the Armenian Studies
Program at (559) 278-2669.
**************************************** **********************************
*************** ************************************************** *********
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************************************** ************************************

–Boundary_ (ID_5H/VC0O+p+jJaR8MhV/Fyw)–

Mehr News Agency, Iran
Dec 16 2006

Iran to start exporting gas to Armenia in Jan.

TEHRAN, Dec. 16 (MNA) – Iran will start piping gas to Armenia
starting January 2007 according to a contract previously signed
between the two states, the project commissioner of Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline said here on Saturday.
Based on the contract signed, Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project
should have been finished by September 2007, however, based on a
later protocol inked by Iranian and Armenian high-ranking officials,
the time was reduced to 650 days from 930 days, Mohammad-Reza
Lorzadeh elaborated.

Under the protocol, Iran will start transferring gas to Armenia in
January, he added.

He noted that the pipeline passes both through land and river (Aras
River). In land part, pipe-laying has been implemented at 113 km from
Tabriz, northwestern Iran, to Nurduz region just before Iran-Armenia
border line. Some part of the pipeline passes through mountainous
areas.

Furthermore, preliminary work for pipe-laying under the river has
been carried out, he stated, putting total progress at 96 percent.

`The pilot transfer is underway and any probable fault will be
reformed,’ he noted, adding, Iran-Armenia gas pipeline is to be fed
by gas fields in Assaluyeh, Bidboland, and Kangan.

Also, Mohammad-Reza Akbari, the managing director of Payandan Company
said that the contract on Iranian gas export to Armenia is on the
EPCM (engineering, procurement, construction, and maintenance) basis.

For the first time, Iran has installed gas pipe at 2800 meters height
in the hard-to-pass areas, he explained.

He added that nearly 26,500 tons of pipes have been used for the
pipeline, which have been purchased from Turkey and conveyed to
operation site.

Based on the agreement, Iran will transfer one million cubic meters
of natural gas per day to Armenia at the beginning. This will
increase to 3 million cu. m per day later on, he added.

Payandan is the contractor assigned for Iran-Armenia gas pipeline
project.

AZG Armenian Daily #240, 15/12/2006

Karabakh diary

CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM IN NAGORNO KARABAKH STILL IN CENTER OF
EVERYBODY’S ATTENTION

US Congressmen Congratulate NKR People, While State Department
Expresses Regret

The results of the Constitutional Referendum in Nagorno Karabakh were
officially published. Thus, the total number of electors was 90
thousand 77 people. 78 thousand 389 people received ballots. 77
thousand 279 people voted "for," while 554 voted "against."

Though few days passed after the referendum, number of various
organizations continue making statements or giving evaluations to the
referendum. In particular, Peter Semneby, EU representative in the
South Caucasus, expressed regret in connection with the constitutional
referendum, emphasizing that the issue of NKR’s status should be
settled through negotiations. The matter concerns the basic principle
existing in each referendum, which announces the state object that
hold the referendum as an independent democratic legal state.

According to "The Voice of America," Edgar Waskes, representative of
the US State Department, explained the reasons for the regret
concerning the constitutional referendum. He said that Armenia and
Azerbaijan discuss the very future status of Nagorno Karabakh in the
negotiations, and the referendum doom that process, proceeding from
this the referendum can’t be acknowledged. At the same time, he agreed
with the OSCE Minsk group co-chairs who said that the referendum
doesn’t hinder the negotiations.

In his turn, US President George Bush stated that the US, Russia and
France will spare no efforts to conduct effective negotiations with
the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan directed to the brief and
peaceful settlement of the conflict. Bush called for Armenia and
Azerbaijan to find ways for mutual trust.

It’s worth mentioning that at the same time, Fred Pallong and Joe
Knollenberg, co chairs of the Congress Committee for Armenian Issues,
as well as congressmen Adam Schiff and George Rodanovic congratulated
the NKR people with the adoption of their own constitution.

By Aghavni Harutyunian

ANDRZEJ KASPRZYK PREPARES ANNUAL REPORT ON NAGORNO KARABAKH CONFLICT

PanARMENIAN.Net
14.12.2006 13:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The special representative of OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Andrzej Kasprzyk will have a visit to the South Caucasus
region. Currently Kasprzyk prepares an annual report on his work
aimed at the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, reports APA.

PALLONE, KNOLLENBERG, SCHIFF, AND RADANOVICH CONGRATULATE NKR ON ADOPTION OF CONSTITUTION

ArmRadio.am
13.12.2006 10:37

The Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, Frank
Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), were joined today by
Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA) and George Radanovich (R-CA)
in congratulating the citizens of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
(Artsakh) on overwhelmingly approving a pro- independence constitution
in a popular referendum held on December 10th, reported the Armenian
National Committee of America (ANCA).

In a December 11th letter to Artsakh President Arkady Ghukasyan,
the two Caucus leaders welcomed the adoption of the first-ever
constitution as a key milestone in Nagorno Karabakh’s political and
democratic progress. They stressed that, "Artsakh’s Constitution
embodies your nation’s values to live in a free and fair society,
where human rights and economic opportunities are enjoyed by all,"
adding that "societies that are fundamentally free and fair are most
successful, contributing to international security and progress along
the way." They closed their letter to the President by reaffirming
that they "will remain by your side, as Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh,
continues to pursue its freedom, security and development."

Commenting on the referendum, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) stated,
"I congratulate the people of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
for reaffirming their commitment to freedom, peace, economic
development, and regional stability by democratically adopting a new
constitution. By establishing a market economy, holding free and
fair elections, and promoting human rights, the people of Nagorno
Karabakh have shown that they deserve an independent state free from
the oppressive Azerbaijani regime."

Rep. Radanovich noted that "The adoption of Nagorno Karabakh’s first
ever democratic Constitution is a landmark achievement; advancing
democracy breeds a free and open society, while promoting human
rights. The adoption of the Constitution proves the desire of the
people of Nagorno Karabakh to live in such a free society. I commend
this great achievement and pledge my continuing support for the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic."

In letters sent to every member of Congress, the ANCA underscored
that "the approval of the Nagorno Karabakh constitution reaffirms
its citizens’ collective commitment to freedom and marks a major
milestone in this new democracy’s contribution to peace, economic
development, and regional stability." Each ANCA letter was accompanied
by a three-page briefing document (attached) addressing key points
concerning Nagorno Karabakh, Azerbaijan, the peace process, and
prospects for regional stability.

The Nagorno Karabakh Republic Central Electoral Commission has
reported, based on preliminary results, that the people of Nagorno
Karabakh overwhelmingly approved their first-ever constitution by a
majority in excess of 98% of those casting ballots. Early estimates
point to a voter turnout of over 87% of eligible voters.

The new constitution affirms that the Nagorno Karabakh Republic is
a sovereign state based upon democracy and the rule of law, as well
as the protection of human rights and civil liberties. The state’s
authority is derived from popular consent, as expressed through
elections and referendums, and the governmental system is based
on the principle of separation of the executive, legislative and
judiciary branches.

VIVA CANADA

Ottawa Citizen, Canada
Dec 10 2006

Internet radio service gives immigrants the lowdown on what it’s like
to move here

It’s called Viva but Canada 101 might be a better description.

Radio Canada International’s newly launched Internet radio service
for new and prospective immigrants has already produced revelations
like a Viva street survey in Senegal last week when a reporter asked
people what they knew about Canada.

The most popular answers? Cold weather, nice people, Celine Dion.

VIVA is an interactive complement to Radio Canada International’s
conventional international radio service, which has been telling
the world of all things Canadian since 1945, and its multilingual
satellite radio service launched last December on SIRIUS.

RCI broadcasts in French, English, Arabic, Mandarin, Spanish,
Portuguese, Russian and Ukrainian. The SIRIUS channel provides the
first venue for RCI to reach a domestic audience.

"We needed to be more relevant," said RCI program director Roger
Tetrault. "Forty per cent of immigrants to this country speak neither
French nor English and we felt these people need a place where they
can find out about Canada and reach out to other communities. Because
we already broadcast in eight languages, it was a natural thing for
us to do."

New immigrants are more Internet savvy than many established Canadians,
added Mr. Tetrault.

"About 85 per cent of them are connected with high-speed Internet,"
he said. "They use the web to keep in touch with their families in
other countries. Viva is a way of supporting them."

Recent critics of Canada’s domestic multiculturalism policy have
complained that little is being done to educate prospective immigrants
in the ways of Canada and some of the money spent on multiculturalism
would be better spent on orientation programs before immigrants leave
their home countries to come here.

"Dancing and singing is OK, but it doesn’t fill my stomach and feed
my family," former Liberal MP Sarkis Assadorian told the Citizen last
year during an interview for a series of articles about citizenship.

Mr. Assadorian, born in Syria to an Armenian family, said the
multiculturalism program was valuable during the flood of immigration
in the 1960s and 1970s, but more pressing today is the integration
of immigrants into Canadian society.

"Our offices overseas don’t do a good job of telling people what
they’re getting into. There should be programs before immigrants
leave telling people what to expect and offering language training.

We should have a department in government to help integrate people
so they will be productive."

Through streaming audio, podcasts and — by early next year — video,
Viva is providing some of that orientation.

Programming, presented by eight hosts broadcasting in Viva’s eight
languages, includes tips on what to expect in Canada and how to
fit into Canadian society, as well as myriad shows about arts and
entertainment.

Listeners can also contribute to discussion boards where they are
encouraged to share their experiences as new immigrants — discussions
that can be read by anyone in the world with access to a computer.

It’s early days yet but Mr. Tetrault said questions to the website from
prospective immigrants or the merely curious have already started,
with people typically asking about the weather, religions, laws,
customs, social issues, sports and politics.

"They ask questions about everything," he said.

Early indications suggest that Viva may also become a two-way street.

Mayors of two small towns — Gladstone, Man., and Williams Lake
("Stampede Capital of B.C.") — have already been on shows extolling
the virtues of their communities in an effort to attract prospective
newcomers.

Montreal-based RCI has 80 employees and operates on a $15-million
annual budget within the CBC. It has co-production partnerships with
400 stations across the world — the bulk in Latin America and China
— along with its own 24/7 service. Its audience, while impossible to
measure accurately, is certainly in the tens of millions, according
to RCI.

Audience size, relatively easy to measure on websites, will be
available for Viva before the end of the year. Mr. Tetrault is
optimistic.

Viva prides itself on broadcasting the unvarnished truth about
Canada but, as yet, there is apparently no decision on whether to
risk deterring prospective immigrants by revealing that Celine Dion
has moved to Las Vegas.

A Sampling of Shows

Here are some program summaries of Viva’s shows at

Ask Nick: "Nick" Naeem Noorani answers typical immigration-related
questions, including queries to help prospective immigrants prepare
for their arrival to Canada.

Model School: We’ll visit a school in Calgary that is taking a
different approach to teaching immigrant children English.

On the Job: When it comes to getting a job, it’s all down to the
interview. Advice on how to find work.

Health: Dr. Nayeema Siddiq of Toronto discusses health issues as
they relate to new immigrants. We’re beginning to feel the chill of
winter and that means the flu season is on its way. "Should I get a
flu shot? Should I immunize my children?"

Friday Food Discovery: Every week a different restaurant or ethnic
food outlet brings stories and recipes from around the world.

Discussion Panel: Canada’s big cities draw most immigrants. Now towns
and rural communities are trying to compete. But how do you attract
people to these often remote and underdeveloped areas?

Credential Assessment: These days, the more educated you are,
the better your chance of getting into Canada as an immigrant. But
whether that education will help you get a job when you get here
depends on whether an employer can understand in Canadian terms what
your education is worth. For that, very often a Canadian assessment
of credentials is necessary.

Photographing Immigration: Indefinite detention, secret evidence and
deportation to countries that routinely use torture. An exploration
of the darker side of Canadian immigration system.

Regional Column: Life in the Maritimes is often a world apart from
what newcomers have experienced in their home country. Still, an
increasing number of people are choosing Canada’s Atlantic coast to
start afresh, away from refugee camps and in search of better economic
opportunities. The adventure — if mostly rewarding in the long run —
is often emotionally draining for these new immigrants.

Hockey Atlas: There are two things that really define us as
Canadians. First, we spend endless amounts of time discussing what
a Canadian is. And second is hockey. We love to play hockey and we
love to talk about it. Hockey historian Stephen Cole gives a primer.

KARABAKH VOTERS BACK SOVEREIGNTY

BBC News
Dec 11 2006

The people of Nagorno-Karabakh have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a
constitution declaring a sovereign state, election officials have said.

A preliminary count showed more than 98% of those voting in the
disputed former Soviet territory backed the declaration, officials
announced.

The people are mainly ethnic-Armenian and want independence from
Azerbaijan.

Ethnic clashes after the collapse of the USSR led to armed conflict
in the 1990s which killed up to 30,000 people.

Officials in Nagorno-Karabakh hope the vote will take the small
mountainous region a step closer to becoming an independent state,
says the BBC’s correspondent in the region, Matthew Collin.

The area, while completely surrounded by the rest of Azerbaijan,
has been under ethnic Armenian control since the war.

Armenia is the only country that recognises Nagorno-Karabakh’s
government.

The territory’s election commission said turnout was more than 80%
– more than enough to make the referendum valid.

"According to preliminary results, the constitution is adopted and
10 December from now can be declared as a Constitution Day," election
commission chief Sergey Nasibyan told Reuters.

Autonomy rejected

The separatist president of Nagorno-Karabakh, Arkady Gukasyan, said
this was a historic chance to establish a democratic state.

But he admitted it did not mean the international community would
immediately recognise Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence.

The Azeri government insists it must not be allowed to break away.

It said the referendum was illegal, and could damage the peace process.

Azerbaijan has offered Nagorno-Karabakh widespread autonomy as part
of a peace deal.

But that has been rejected by the separatist authorities.

The conflicting opinions about the referendum simply demonstrate
that even after years of peace talks, a solution to this long-running
dispute remains hard to find, our correspondent says.

With many of the one million people displaced by the war still unable
to return to their homes, the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh still provokes
bitter resentments in the region.

.stm

‘SCREAMERS’ A LOUD AND CARNAGE-FILLED HISTORY LESSON
By Evan Henerson, Staff Writer

Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Dec 8 2006

There’s no masking filmmaker Carla Garapedian’s outrage. It comes
barreling across the screen with every note thrashed out by political
rockers System of a Down, with every bit of politicspeak from past
U.S. presidents, and with all those corpses lying wide-eyed and
decaying along dusty roads and in makeshift graves.

The end credits of Garapedian’s documentary "Screamers" – which
examines the world’s history of genocides in the 20th and 21st
centuries – contains a huge body count of casualties: 1.5 million
Armenians dead, 2 million Cambodians, 400,000 and counting in Darfur.

And you get the sense that, had she the resources and screen time,
the director might have thrown every last corpse up on screen. The
effect, alas, quickly becomes numbing.

Cutting between the carnage and the commentators who acknowledge
that, yes, the United States has a rather shoddy history of genocide
intervention, Garapedian takes us on the road with System of a Down.

The Grammy-winning rock band whose members – like Garapedian – have
Armenian lineage, deliver music with a message.

They take action off stage as well, lobbying House Speaker Dennis
Hastert to bring an Armenian genocide recognition bill to the floor.

(During his one on-camera moment in the Capitol, the speaker meets
System lead singer Serj Tankian and politely blows him off).

Tankian’s direct link to the carnage of 1915 is his 96-year-old
grandfather, Stepan Haytayan, whose memories of the death march from
Efkere are partially recounted in "Screamers." The late scenes between
the rocker activist and the wizened old man whose very being fuels
the band’s quest, are quietly touching.

Less so, the rest of the film. Garapedian has lined up an assortment of
erudite and well-spoken contributors (most notably Harvard University
genocide expert Samantha Power) to drive home our nation’s culpability
in the global carnage. By trying to bring the Holocaust, Pol Pot’s
Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur onto the same 91-minute canvas,
the director has perhaps cast her net too wide, leaving her outrage
over Armenia less sharply drawn.

That said, through "Screamers," Garapedian and producer Peter McAlevey
offer much to ponder, not to mention a group with more than fame on
its mind.

SCREAMERS Our rating: (R: disturbing images, language) Starring:
System of a Down.

Director: Carla Garapedian.

Running time: 1 hr. 31 min.

Playing: Mann Chinese 6, Glendale Marketplace 4, Mann Criterion
Santa Monica.

In a nutshell: The unending cycle of genocide told through System of
a Down’s music, social commentators and footage of enough corpses to
fill up a dozen cemeteries.