Author: Kanayan Tamar

Iran to develop ties with Armenia after presidential polls – envoy
Arminfo, Yerevan
1 Jul 05
YEREVAN
The results of the recent presidential elections in Iran will have
absolutely no effect on Armenian-Iranian relations, the Iranian
ambassador to Armenia, Ali Reza Haqiqian, has told Arminfo, while
commenting on Mahmud Ahmadinezhad’s election as president of Iran.
“No matter who becomes Iranian president, Armenian-Iranian relations
will continue to develop steadily in all directions,” the ambassador
said. He said that relations have been developing intensively since
the first days of Armenia’s independence, regardless of who was
Iranian president. This will continue, he said.

ARMENTEL BIGGEST TAX PAYER IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, JUNE 30. ARMINFO. THe ArmenTel telecom company is the biggest
tax payer in Armenia – 11.204 bln AMD paid in taxes in 2004 -0.5%
more than in 2003, says AEPLAC survey.
The second biggest tax payer is Flash – 8.643 bln AMD (+32%), the
third one ArmRosgazprom 6.873 bln AMD (-36.5%). Electrical Networks
of Armenia paid 3.305 bln AMD (-67.6%).
At the same time the company leads in the number of employees –
8,344. ArmenTel and ArmRosgazprom employ 5,388 and 5,274 people (-6.4%
and +77.2%) respectively.

ARMENIA WANTS TURKEY TO BECOME EU MEMBER
Armenpress
YEREVAN, JUNE 28, ARMENPRESS: A senior Armenian diplomat rebuked
today the government of neighboring Turkey for keeping its border
with Armenia closed for more than a decade saying the closed border
is a major obstacle to promoting regional integration.
Addressing a round table discussion on what Armenia could expect from
Turkey in a new geo-political situation, deputy foreign minister
Gegham Gharibjanian said the Armenian-Turkish border is not only a
border separating two nations, but a border with a NATO member country
and possibly may become a border with a European Union member nation.
Gharibjanian said Turkey’s borders with Georgia and Azerbaijan are not
enough for adequate response to ongoing geo-political developments. He
said Armenia expects Turkey to open the border and establish diplomatic
relations without any precondition.” A nation that has been striving
for decades to join the European Union must open its border with
all neighboring countries,” he said, emphasizing Armenia’s policy of
“open doors” for all and its willingness to build friendly relations
with all its neighbors.
Gharibjanian also welcomed indications of positive shifts within the
Turkish society, particularly, the removal of a taboo on Armenian
genocide, the intensified contacts between representatives of the
two countries, exchange of journalists, cultural events and so on,
which he said should become a precondition for normalization of
Turkish-Armenian relationships.
Gharibjanian said Armenia wants Turkey to become an EU member, but
” a Turkey that deserves it, a Turkey which respects the European
system of values.”

PRESS RELEASE
June 28, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:
Scholarships Available to Diaspora Armenians to Attend Armenian Universities
The Government of Armenia has established 70 full scholarships to
allow Diaspora Armenians to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies
in the Armenian public universities and colleges for the academic
year 2005/2006.
Applications for scholarship and enrollment will be considered
by a special commission of the Armenian Ministry of Education and
Science. Priority is given to applicants pursuing studies in Teacher’s
Training, Armenian Studies, and Fine Arts. The applicants are expected
to have sufficient command of Armenian in order to enroll.
In addition to tuition-free positions, Diaspora Armenian applicants
will also have an opportunity to apply for and be enrolled in public
universities on paid basis, following the procedure outlined above.
The deadline for submitting applications is August 20, 2005. The
application forms, list of universities and departments, as well as
tuition are available upon request from the Embassy of Armenia,
via email: [email protected] or telephone: 202-319-1976,
ext. 348. Further inquiries can be directed to the Diaspora Department
of the Ministry of Education and Science in Yerevan, at +374-10-581391.

KARABAKH IS A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
26 June 05
Nvard Ohanjanian: “Mr. Avanessov, you must have visited different
polling stations in Karabakh, observed the polls. How did the polls
pass from the logistical aspect?” Avanessov: “The polls
passed on a due level. Especially I was impressed by the work going
on at the press centre of the Central Election Committee. Free of
charge telephones were available there to communicate objective
information on the course and results of the election to different
countries of the world. Telephone communication with Yerevan was
available too. Of course, it would be good if the polling stations
were equipped with air conditioning, especially in summer weather. I
must say that I have also visited the polling stations of Stepanakert
and saw the degree of activity of the voters. This is surprising and
commendable.” N.O.: “What would you say about the political
significance of this event?” A.A.: “I think elections in
Karabakh must be organized better than in the US or any other
civilized country. In his interview NKR Prime Minister Anoushavan
Danielian said it is not the results of the election that matter but
the reputation of the state. Karabakh must prove to the world that it
is a democratic country. If you do not believe, come and see
yourselves.” N.O.: “In your opinion, will the interest of the
world in Karabakh, which has not been recognized by the international
community yet, grow?” A.A.: “I believe that the parliamentary
election will greatly promote the international recognition of
Karabakh. In the press conference Constantine Zatulin stated that he
had officially requested the government of the Russian Federation to
provide sums from the State Budget 2006 funds for fostering democracy
outside of Russian Federation. And this is normal because similar
measures are taken in any developed country. That is to say, if the
USA takes such measures in reference to Nagorno Karabakh, officially
or non-officially, why cannot the Russian Federation do the same? The
fact that a large delegation arrived from the USA the majority of the
members of which are former officers of the US State Department means
something.” A.A.: “What is your opinion about the failure of
the Alliance ARF-Movement 88 in the election? What will the new
parliament be like? Will it have an opposition in the course of
time?” A.A.: “Yes, I am aware of the defeat of the
oppositionist party, the alliance but I do not know the reasons. In
fact, the picture is the following. There are 33 seats in the
parliament and only three have been taken by the opposition. I cannot
predict what position the representatives of the Azat Hayrenik Party
will take, whether they will adhere to the oppositions or not. The
same can be said about the candidates elected under the majority
system.” N.O.: “Let us pass to another topic. Mr. Avanessov,
what is your opinion about the protracted talks for the Karabakh
issue? Do you think the key to its resolution will ever be
found?” A.A.: “The delay is favourable for the Armenians.
Eleven years have passed since the ceasefire. And today I come to
understand the position of the Republic of Armenia on this subject,
which is to delay the time; another ten years and the issue will stop
existing. Whatever Azerbaijan does will befall the next generation. I
want to emphasize another fact as well. The soldiers of the Defence
Army are conscious of why they defend the borders of their
motherland. They have families, children in the rear. Yet the
soldiers of the Azerbaijani army, in case war is resumed, do not know
what they are going to fight for. This is the difference. This is one
thing. On the other hand, the propaganda machine of Azerbaijan
carries out tremendous work to slander the Armenian side. What we
need is that our diplomacy starts working more intensively in this
direction and conveys the truth to people.” N.O.: “Mr.
Avanessov, if the talks come to a deadlock in a certain stage, do you
think one of the parties, particularly the Armenian party will be
pressed to accept an unacceptable solution?” A.A.: “The
threat of compelling has persisted and will persist. There will,
probably, be proposals, but the Armenian side must realize whether
these are acceptable or not. Besides, no trade on the status of
Nagorno Karabakh is acceptable, which is the pivotal principle. Of
course, deadlock in the talks is not excluded. It may occur in 10 or
15 years. Generally, it is difficult to predict but Azerbaijan may
start military actions in this period. Most probably, there will be
no war in the near future, as long as the oil factor, the factor of
the oil pipeline Baku – Geyhan exists.” N.O.: “What about
the statements on returning territories, manipulated by
Azerbaijan?” A.A.: “I consider the issue of returning
territories to be an unserious topic, unserious talk, and it goes
without saying that the winner side cannot take such a step and will
never do.”
NVARD OHANJANIAN.
26-06-2005

Pan Armenian News
CRIMEA PARLIAMENT NOT GOING TO REVOKE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION
24.06.2005 04:19
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The adoption of the resolution recognizing the Armenian
Genocide aroused indignation not only in Azerbaijan and Turkey but in
Ukraine as well, APA Azeri news agency reported. Yesterday’s sitting of the
Crimean Supreme Rada was rich will calls to revoke the Armenian Genocide
resolution. Parliament Speaker Boris Deich mentioned of expediency of
revocation, however the deputies rejected the proposal. Deputy Vladimir
Kazanin said the demand on revocation of the Armenian Genocide resolution
was caused by pressure exerted by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. In his
words the Azeri leader, who arrived in Kiev to participate in Mini Davos
Forum on June 17-19, during the meeting with Supreme Rada Chairman Vladimir
Litvin that adoption of such a resolution in inadmissible. The deputy also
informed that Ilham Aliyev urged V. Litvin to exert pressure on the
parliament to revoke the resolution. He also added that the Crimean
parliament did not define the event of 1915 as `genocide’ and the delicacy
manifested by Kiev at present is groundless. V. Kazanin stated that
Armenians have lived in Crimea for over 1500 years and play an important
role in its history. Leader of the Crimean branch of the Republican party of
Ukraine Alexander Gress stated of impossibility of revoking the resolution.
`In the course 90 years no parliament in the world has ever cancelled any
decision referring to the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide victims.
So why should we do it?’ he said. To note, only 13 deputies voted in favor
of including the issue of revocation the resolution in the agenda.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/23/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) ARF Artsakh Demands Investigation into Manukian Beating Incident 2) New Jersey Recognizes Armenian Genocide 3) Homenetmen Establishes New Chapter in Hungary 4) ARF Youth Delegates Discuss Genocide at IUSY Conference in Turkey 1) ARF Artsakh Demands Investigation into Manukian Beating Incident STEPANAKERT--The Central Committee of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Artsakh released additional details about the beating of Pavel Manukian by Mountainous Karabagh Republic authorities, and demanded that those guilty of the crime be punished according to the law. "Pavel Manukian, a candidate running for MKR National Assembly, remains in stable condition, after being beaten on June 21 in MKR's Defense Ministry offices." The ARF press release states that Manukian has been transferred from the critical care unit to the regular section of the hospital, though he suffers severe headaches. Manukian's wife has asked that he be transferred to a hospital in Yerevan, but the request has been denied by a military judge, who cited the unstable condition of the patient. Mrs. Manukian on Wednesday filed a plea in MKR Superior Court, for a criminal investigation into the beating incident, directly implicating MKR Defense Minister Seyran Ohanian and his deputy Samuel Garabedian in the beating. She also named generals A. Haroutunian, V. Balayan, and M. Hagopian as participants. Manukian's fiery speeches during election campaigning evidently prompted the beating. Manukian, a prominent participant of the war with Azerbaijan, bashed the meddling of the commanders of MKR's army in the electoral process, accusing them of voter intimidation and coercion. In a declaration to various political parties in Karabagh, the ARF and Movement 88 parties stated on Wednesday, "We view the severe beating of the candidate for National Assembly in the offices of the Defense Ministry, as a grave crime--one that landed him in the military hospital with life threatening injuries. The fact that this act--organized by the country's military sector--has been overlooked by the legal entities, and that no criminal investigation has been launched, allows us to question the authority of the country's legal sector, as well as the public's faith in it. `We view the freedom of expression as one of the most valuable of democratic principles. Political forces reject coercion, as well as the insolent trampling of the human honor and dignity, acts which can lead to civil unrest, and ultimately cause instability in the country. `We find that the only correct direction for the president of our country to take, is to strive to implement all means to maintain lawfulness, in order to ensure internal accord, to have a handle political `excesses,' and to not compromise our unrecognized country's international standing." With plans to release their own statement, the Artsakh Democratic Party and Free Homeland party refused to sign the declaration. 2) New Jersey Recognizes Armenian Genocide Commission on Holocaust Education Approves Armenian Genocide Curriculum TRENTON--New Jersey's General Assembly voted 79 to 0 on June 22 approving of a joint resolution commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, while the state-appointed Commission on Holocaust Education announced a comprehensive curriculum on the Armenian genocide. The resolution, which was sponsored by State Assembly members Joan Voss (D-38) and Robert Gordon (D-38), honors the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who were killed by the Ottoman Turks. "This joint resolution recognizes the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and acknowledges the criminal mistreatment of the Armenians by the governments of the Ottoman Empire as an issue of international and historic significance," it says, in part. "Man's inhumanity to man knows no bounds," said Voss, whose comments were echoed by Gordon, and Assemblymen William Payne (D-29), Bill Baroni (R-14), and former Assembly Speaker Chuck Haytaian. New Jersey officials have played a strong role in spearheading human rights education since 1982, which has led to the inclusion of Armenian genocide studies as part of the statewide curriculum. The action, announced by the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education (NJCHE), marks the first time that a stand-alone curriculum on the Armenian genocide will be incorporated in US public and private schools. The new curriculum consists of the resource book on the Armenian genocide developed by the Facing History and Ourselves Foundation (FHAO) titled "Crimes Against Humanity and Civilization: the Genocide of the Armenians," which will be distributed to middle and high schools throughout New Jersey, along with a guide to teachers prepared by the NJCHE. 3) Homenetmen Establishes New Chapter in Hungary BUDAPEST--As the Armenian community of Budapest was celebrating the 87th anniversary of Armenia's First Independence Day on May 28, they had cause for another momentous celebration as a new chapter was added to the Homenetmen family. More than 120 youth, alongside 32 members from Homenetmen Vienna chapter, assembled in Budapest's City Hall to mark the occasion while Adam Sarksian emceed and Homenetmen Vienna chapter's Chairperson Rima Paroyan gave the keynote address. Homenetmen Western Region Central Committee member Manuel Marselian was present to convey the organization's message. Speaking about the importance of passing on Homenetmen's legacy to the youth of tomorrow, Marselian said, "Though it might be easy to create a new chapter, the real challenge comes when the youth work together, through self-sacrifice, to strengthen and preserve our Armenian identity." Praising the determination of the Hungary chapter, Marselian then introduced the chapter's first elected executive, presenting them with the organization's by-laws and constitution, as well as the Homenetmen flag. The 2005 executive members are Nigoghos Hagopian, Hayastan Aghegian, Gagik Jotian, Adam Sarksian, Haroutioun Papzapanian, Ermani Mardaian, and Lilit Outamian. The chapter will begin its activities by developing the athletics division, while a scouting division will be formed in the future. 4) ARF Youth Delegates Discuss Genocide at IUSY Conference in Turkey YEREVAN (Yerkir)--Armenian youth who recently attended a youth conference in Turkey, told a news conference in Yerevan on Thursday that they spoke openly about the Armenian genocide and even distributed booklets to participants. The two Armenian Youth Federation of Armenia participants, Zinavor Meghrian and Karen Mnatsakanian, along with AYF delegates Talline Tachdjian (France), and Khatchik Mouradian (Lebanon) attended the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) meeting June 16-19, and were interviewed by the Turkish newspaper, Milliyet. "We discussed the Armenian genocide from different angles during the interview," Meghrian told the news conference. "We also spoke of the closed borders and formation of a group of [Turkish] historians, to review Genocide "allegations;" we told the paper we reject this idea, since we have no doubt about facts concerning the Genocide." Mnatsakanian revealed that Turkish youth wrongly assumed that the Armenian government is not concerned about the Genocide issue, but that only diaspora Armenians pursue it. "It is because some young Armenian politicians make such statements," he said. Asked to name those politicians, Mnatsakanian said he was referring to Sargis Asatrian, the chairman of the Armenian Youth Party. Participants of the IUSY conference, "We all are Minorities," included delegations from Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia, Sweden, and other countries. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

Transitions Online, Czech Republic
June 23 2005
The Revolution Business

by Emil Danielyan
23 June 2005
The United States adopts a cautious stance on Armenia’s
democratization. From EurasiaNet.
The United States has stepped up efforts to promote democratization
in former Soviet states in recent years. Accordingly, opposition
leaders in Armenia are hopeful of receiving Washington’s support for
a renewed push to force President Robert Kocharian’s administration
from power in Yerevan. But U.S. officials seem anxious to squelch
such expectations, insisting that they harbor no regime-change
ambitions for Armenia.
During a visit to Georgia in mid-May, US President George W. Bush
offered effusive praise for the Rose Revolution led by Georgian
President Mikheil Saakashvili. Some politicians and pundits in
neighboring Armenia interpreted Bush’s statements as a thinly veiled
call for democratically oriented regime change throughout the
Caucasus. Media outlets in Yerevan have since speculated on who might
be Washington’s preferred successor to Kocharian.
Members of the Bush administration now adamantly deny they want
political turnover in Yerevan. `We are not in the revolution
business,” a senior Bush administration official said in an
interview. The official went on to downplay Washington’s role in the
recent revolutionary trend, saying the United States was `not
responsible’ for the successful popular uprisings in Georgia,
Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan. The official noted that the United States
had maintained good relations with the toppled leaders of the three
ex-Soviet states, Georgia’s Eduard Shevardnadze, Ukraine’s Leonid
Kuchma and Kyrgyzstan’s Askar Akaev. “We didn’t do anything to
trigger those events,” he said.
The senior administration official indicated that recent statements
made by President Bush should not be interpreted as a call for street
protests, or other anti-government action that undermines stability
in the region. `The [Armenian] opposition should not launch a
dangerous revolution or seek to humiliate the [Kocharian] regime,”
the senior administration official said, adding that Washington now
favors an `evolutionary process’ of democratization.
Officials at the State Department made a similar point, saying that
the United States supports only the use of `legal means’ in any
effort to bring about political change. U.S. enthusiasm for regime
change seems to have cooled markedly since the 13 May violence in
Andijan, Uzbekistan.
Armenia’s leading opposition parties have never recognized the
legitimacy of Kocharian’s disputed re-election in 2003, and they have
maintained a boycott of the country’s parliament. Apparently
encouraged by the rhetoric of the Bush administration, opposition
leaders have sent signals that they may organize another round of
mass rallies aimed at forcing Kocharian to step down. The
opposition’s first protest effort stalled in 2004 in the face of
stiff governmental resistance.
Of late, the opposition’s rhetoric has taken on a more aggressive
tone. Embracing a pro-Western foreign policy agenda, some opposition
politicians have gone as far as to call for Armenia’s withdrawal from
the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty, and the country’s
accession to NATO. Russia and Armenia have traditionally enjoyed a
special strategic relationship.
Aram Sarkisian, the outspoken leader of Armenia’s most radical
opposition party called Hanrapetutiun (Republic), traveled to
Washington in early June for meetings with White House and State
Department officials. He said the trip reinforced his resolve to
carry out a “revolution.” Sarkisian and other top opposition leaders
feel that they can count on Washington’s support in their
revolutionary endeavors.
“That is a dangerous and false assumption,” countered a State
Department official. He and other American officials indicated that
the U.S. government does not regard regime change as a necessary
condition for Armenia’s democratization.
According to Cory Welt, a Caucasus and Central Asia analyst at the
Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, such
statements can be taken at face value. `From all indications that I
have seen, Armenia is definitely not a target [for the Bush
administration],’ he said. `They tolerate the current regime in
Yerevan.’
Kocharian’s government drew praise from two U.S. senators who visited
Yerevan recently. Senator Charles Hagel, a Nebraska Republican,
professed to be `very impressed with the democratic reforms and
economic development that have taken place in Armenia.’ Earlier,
Senator Norm Coleman, a Minnesota Republican, downplayed Armenia’s
troubled history of tainted elections.
Coleman’s remarks seemed at odds with the strong U.S. criticism of
the last Armenian presidential election in 2003. The State Department
said at the time that Armenian authorities `missed an important
opportunity to advance democratization.’
The apparent contradiction between Bush’s pro-democracy rhetoric and
statements by other U.S. officials makes it difficult to predict how
Washington might react if the next round of Armenian national
elections, due to occur in 2007, are plagued by irregularities. `I
don’t think the United States knows exactly what it wants right now,
and that’s part of the problem,” said Welt, the political analyst.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI
June 20 2005
Apostolic church to host Armenian Picnic Sunday
Racine – St. Hagop Armenian Apostolic Church will hold its annual
Armenian Picnic or “Madagh” on Sunday at Johnson Park.
St. Hagop has held its traditional picnic since 1938.
The word madagh means offering, and Armenians have designated places
of pilgrimage where they go to worship and offer a meal to the
community.
The blessing of St. Hagop’s meal will begin at 11 a.m., with
Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, who is prelate of the Armenian Apostolic
Church of the Eastern United States, officiating.
>From noon to 7 p.m., the public is invited to attend the picnic
featuring marinated shish kebab and chicken, sarma (stuffed grape
leaves), penelee (cheese puffs), khurabia (butter cookies) and other
Armenian delicacies and pastries.
Live Armenian music will be provided by the Mideast Beat throughout
the afternoon, and children’s entertainment will include a magician
and face painter.
A cash raffle drawing will be held at 6 p.m.
The event is free. For more information on the picnic, contact Mary
C. Buchaklian at (262) 639-1567 or e-mail at m [email protected].

Buffalo News (New York)
June 17, 2005 Friday
FINAL EDITION
FATHER’S COMPASSION LEAVES LASTING IMPRESSION
By Bedros “Pete” Odian
Role models come in many forms: sports figures, political leaders,
war heroes, policemen and firefighters, to name just a few. My
father, Paul, was not any of these. He grew up helping his family in
rural Armenia. He came to America as a young man in 1906 for a better
life, and worked in a factory in Providence, R.I., where I was born
in 1921.
Dad never attended school. He was semi-literate both in his native
tongue and in English. There was nothing sophisticated about him. He
seldom gave me instructions. Guidance and discipline were my mother’s
domain.
Our family moved in 1922 to Manhattan, where my father operated a
one-man grocery store in a working-class neighborhood. When the
Depression came along, it became necessary to extend credit to the
customers whose families he came to know intimately.
>From time to time, someone would come in and beg for money. Dad
usually refused, suspecting that the individual accumulated nickels
and dimes to purchase liquor. Prohibition was still in effect.
One day, a fellow came in and asked for money. When my father
refused, the man said he needed the money to buy something to eat.
When my father asked him if he was hungry, he replied, “Yes.”
The man was taken to the rear room of the store and seated at the
table. Dad brought in food and beverage fit for a king.
I was 10 or 12 at the time. I will always remember the kindness shown
to that unfortunate soul. As my mind goes back seven decades, I
realize that here was a lesson by example. I saw compassion.
The store was located on the West Side, 35th Street, between 9th and
10th avenues. In the late ’30s the New York & New Jersey Port
Authority began constructing the Lincoln Tunnel across the Hudson
River between New York and New Jersey. It was necessary to demolish
the tenements midway between 9th and 10th avenues from 34th Street to
42nd Street for an approach road to the tunnel.
It already was difficult to keep the store profitable. Many customers
failed to pay their bills for groceries. Indeed, my father fell
behind in his payables to his suppliers. To demolish buildings
housing the bulk of customers was the last straw. He surrendered the
store.
After a time, dad operated a small store on the East Side. He resumed
buying from an egg merchant from his days on the West Side, Max Blum.
Blum said to my father, “Paul, we have done business together for
many years. Some of the bills from the West Side were not paid. Let’s
forget about it and continue our friendly relationship. Times were
bad for everybody.” I witnessed the conversation. There is room for
heart in business.
My father retired in the 1950s because of failing health. He visited
grocer friends in various neighborhoods in Manhattan. During one
visit, one of my father’s customers from the ’20s and ’30s spotted
him. They had lost touch for 25 years.
The man told my father to stay put while he went to his home to get
something. Upon return, he handed my father $100, saying, “You
trusted me when times were bad. I lost track of you. I am happy to
satisfy my debt.”
I am reminded of Etienne de Grellet’s poem: “. . . any kindness that
I can show . . . let me do it now. . . . For I shall not pass this
way again.”
Bedros “Pete” Odian lives in Amherst