Author: Kanayan Tamar

PanArmenian News
Feb 3 2005
ARMENTEL TRIES TO FULFILL OBLIGATIONS
03.02.2005 13:33
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armentel Company has put in commission a new
digital automatic telephone exchange – number 66, which will serve
subscribers of Yerevan Nork district and Jrvezh settlement. Armentel
Commercial Director Zacharias Kotsimpos assured that by the end of
February the recurrent lot of mobile communication Easy Cards will
come into market. He also reported that the company intends to offer
qualitative and available IP-telephone communication to the
consumers.

OSCE chairman in Moscow amid tension over future
.c The Associated Press
MOSCOW (AP) – The chairman of the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe was in Moscow on Tuesday for potentially tense
talks with Russia, which has accused Europe’s largest security body of
double standards in monitoring rights and democracy.
Dimitrij Rupel, who is also Slovenia’s foreign minister, was slated to
meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Lavrov has led
Russian calls for reform of the 55-member organization, which Moscow
says unfairly criticizes governments in some countries and allows its
appraisals of elections to be colored by political interests.
Rupel said before his visit that he and Lavrov would discuss OSCE
reform issues, as well as the organization’s budget and the election
of its secretary general, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.
“Russia’s voice is highly important within the organization,” the
agency quoted Rupel as saying.
Russia, together with former Soviet republics Armenia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine,
last summer accused the OSCE of double standards. They said it spends
too much money on field missions to promote human rights and
democratic institutions in certain countries while overlooking others.
OSCE representatives were among the observers who said Russia’s
parliamentary elections last December and the campaign that led to
President Vladimir Putin’s March re-election fell short of democratic
standards.
The organization has also criticized elections in other ex-Soviet
republics – including Ukraine, where the victory of the
Russian-supported candidate in a November presidential vote was
overturned by the Supreme Court after observers reported fraud.
In an interview published Tuesday in the Russian daily Izvestia, Rupel
said that the OSCE’s election monitoring missions are neutral and
objective, but that he welcomes any suggestions on improving their
work, and urged Russia to send more observers to participate in the
missions.
Shortly after taking office last month, Rupel said the OSCE must
intensify its work to promote democracy and human rights even as it
faces “a difficult time” because of the internal rift over its
future. He called the tone of the dispute “reminiscent of an era that
we thought we had put behind us” – alluding to the Cold War – but
added: “That will not discourage us from going forward.”
02/01/05 04:55 EST

RELATIONS BETWEEN ARMENIA AND GREECE ARE GOOD, AMBASSADOR SAYS
YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS: In an interview to Armenpress
Greece’s ambassador to Armenia, Antonios Vlavianos, said relations
between the two nations are very friendly and are on a very high
level. He said his government wants Armenian president to pay an
official visit to Greece after next president of Greece is elected by
its parliament in March. He said Karolos Papulias is likely to be
elected as his candidacy was agreed on by two major political forces
of the country. “We shall work to organize Armenian president’s visit
to Athens after Papulias is elected,” he said.
Referring to economic cooperation between the two countries, he
stressed that Greece is the second largest investor in Armenia after
the Russian Federation. “Greece is eager to be actively involved in
all sectors of the Armenian economy. We have already successful
examples of such participation,” the ambassador said, mentioning the
presence of Greek Emporiki Bank, Coca-Cola Bottlers, Karelia cigarette
manufacturing company in Armenia.
The biggest obstacle to stepping up economic contacts with Armenia,
according to the ambassador, are the closed borders with Turkey. This,
he said, makes Greek companies to seek cooperation with the Balkan
nations. “We hopethat after borders are opened Greece will have a much
more stronger economic presence in Armenia. Goods from and to Armenia
have to go a long way to reach Greece and other European countries,
affecting trade turnover and prices,” he said. According to
Mr. Vlavianos, Turkey’s desire to join the European Union would
promote the opening of borders.
Mentioning tourism as another area of effective cooperation, the
ambassador said his government wants to open a tourism academy in
Armenia and waist for the Armenian government to allocate premises.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

La Padania, Italia
venerdì 28 gennaio 2005
Ballaman a colloquio con il presidente Kocharian: pensiamo ai popoli
e non al mercato
«Lobby turca contro la causa armena»

FRANCESCA MORANDI
«Cancellare il genocidio degli armeni. Questo è lo scopo di alcuni
gruppi di pressione favorevoli all’ingresso della Turchia nell’Unione
Europea per ragioni economiche». Di questo hanno parlato l’onorevole
Edouard Ballaman e il presidente armeno Robert Kocharian ieri in
visita ufficiale in Italia. È lo stesso Ballaman a raccontare dei
colloqui avuti con la massima carica politica armena in un clima di
perfetta intesa.
«Abbiamo discusso delle responsabilità di Ankara sullo sterminio che
nel 1915 portò al massacro di un milione e mezzo di armeni residenti
in territorio turco – spiega il deputato leghista – Proprio in questi
giorni si parla della shoah ed ho l’impressione che per alcuni
esistano dei genocidi di serie A ed altri di serie B».
«Il presidente Kocharian mi ha parlato di come negli ultimi anni
abbia osservato uno stallo nell’apertura di alcuni Paesi europei
verso l’Armenia – prosegue l’esponente del Carroccio – Questo a causa
di una lobby economica favorevole all’ingresso di Ankara in Ue che
mira a cancellare ogni traccia della `questione armena’. Ricordiamo,
tra l’altro, che la Turchia continua a negare le proprie
responsabilità sul genocidio. La storia armena è la storia di un
popolo che ha comunità in tutto il mondo ma ciononostante ha
mantenuto una propria identità culturale ed una profonda memoria
storica che non deve essere dimenticata, anzi, nel caso del
genocidio, deve essere riconosciuta e resa conoscibile a tutti».
«È stato come parlare con uno dei nostri – ha sottolineato Ballaman –
Il presidente Kocharian ha espresso grande apprezzamento per le
posizioni della Lega circa le legittime rivendicazioni degli armeni
sul genocidio e relativamente alle differenze culturali, religiose,
geografiche e storiche tra la Turchia e l’Europa. Proprio come
sostiene la Lega, il presidente armeno ha puntato il dito contro
coloro che caldeggiano l’ingresso di Ankara in Ue per interessi
economici e non per vantaggi ai cittadini».
«Abbiamo poi affrontato lo spinoso tema del Nagorno-Karabakh, una
enclave armena, e quindi cristiana, formalmente controllata dal
musulmano Azerbaigian – continua Ballaman – Un’altra situazione
questa, dove le differenze religiose e culturali provocano una grave
crisi tuttora irrisolta».
«Durante la visita alla Camera dei deputati – dice ancora Ballaman –
ho mostrato al capo di Stato armeno un dipinto che raffigura la
battaglia di Lepanto tra cristiani e ottomani e con stupore ho
osservato che, di fronte al quadro, i suoi occhi sono diventati
lucidi. Questo a testimonianza di una sensibilità verso la Storia che
credo si avvicini molto alla percezione e al valore che la Lega dà
alle sofferenze dei popoli e alle loro legittime esigenze
identitarie».

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
January 28, 2005, Friday
HUMAN RESOURCES
SOURCE: Rossiiskie Vesti, NN 1 – 2, January 20 – 26, 2005, p. 8
by Sergei Pikhtov
President of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili, dashed to Kiev for a
meeting with his new counterpart as soon as Viktor Yuschenko’s
victory in the presidential race was unofficially proclaimed. The two
presidents enjoyed some skiing and signed the so called Carpathian
Declaration, a document calling the latest developments in Ukraine
“the third wave of liberation in Europe.”
The trip to Ukraine was preceded by a visit to Estonia where
Saakashvili discussed new forms of co-operation with this Baltic
state. The Georgian leader proposed Political Initiative 3 3 several
days later, an idea of co-operation between Lithuania, Latvia, and
Estonia on the one hand and Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan on the
other. The Baltic states are supposed to help the republics of the
Caucasus in rapprochement with Europe within the framework of the so
called “politics of neighborhood”. What the idea is essentially about
is establishment of a new regional organization where presence of the
seventh member, the United States, can be seen with an unaided eye.
Anti-Russian bias of the future organization is undeniable too.
Washington’s political games in the region can only be applauded.
Using EU money and giving its puppets of ally’s specific tasks to
perform, the White House expects to reach its objectives with minimum
effort and resources expended. Where promotion of geopolitical
interests is concerned, American diplomats could teach their Russian
opposite numbers a thing or two.
What does Washington need it for? Primarily, it is a continuation of
its policy of finding political vassals on the borders of Russia and
simultaneous promotion of America’s “vital interests”. Proclaiming
co-operation with post-Soviet countries as a priority of its foreign
policy, the Kremlin made it plain that the Commonwealth was the last
realm it still had the stamina for.
Reaction of the US Department of State was prompt. Madame Rice’s
structure saw its chance to effectively and cheaply bind Moscow’s
hands and dampen activeness of Russian diplomacy in other spheres.
Cold War methods gave way to political technologists who already
proved their effectiveness in the struggle for power in the
pot-Soviet zone. Among other things, the matter concerns formation of
twin parties by the Americans, New Time in Latvia and Republic in
Estonia. They ousted the right-nationalist movements that had played
their role already. Financed and assisted by the Americans, actively
making use of the administrative resources, these parties easily won
the majority of seats in national parliaments. Approximately the same
scenario was used in the elections of president of Latvia and
Lithuania who had returned to their native countries after years of
life in the United States. Georgia’s turn came then where the Velvet
Revolution scenario was tried on orders from the same
decision-makers.
Russia is losing this contest of political technologies. It lacks the
necessary resources and a coordinated policy. Russian businesses do
not understand the necessity to take interests of the state into
account. As far as they are concerned, profits right here and now are
more important than interests of the state or long-term stability of
their own operations.
Moreover, what role are the Baltic states supposed to play here? They
are expected to show something in return for their membership in the
European Union and NATO. They make a fine Trojan horse in the EU,
criticizing the countries that try to emphasize their independence
from Washington in dealing with purely European problems. At the same
time, the Baltic states as Russia’s antagonists impede the EU-Russia
rapprochement which also plays into Washington’s hands.
Establishment of the anti-Russian alliance of the Baltic states and
republics of the Caucasus answers the same interests. No other
economic or political reason can explain this conspicuous and even
obsessive intention to develop bilateral contacts between countries
that are so different in commerce as such only the sale of Georgian
wine and Armenian cognac may be profitable, only in theory and only
marginally. According to the Estonia Foreign Ministry, Georgia is
108th on the list of Tallinn’s trade partners. Export from Georgia to
Estonia amounted to less than 100,000 euros in 2003. That is a laugh
even by the standards of a single company.
In fact, “friendship” between Estonia and Georgia does not begin
right away. Estonia with its Western partners’ money already trained
Georgian officials and military in answering NATO and EU requirements
to enable official Tbilisi to talk to Brussels so that it would be
understood. The whole training took the form of seminars and
consultations because the Estonians themselves cannot offer anything
more productive.
These contacts were bilateral until now. An attempt is being made now
to elevate them to a regional level and set up something like GUUAM.
It stands to reason that GUUAM must have some weak link that worries
the Americans. The matter clearly concerns Armenia and its President
Robert Kocharjan. Armenia’s reaction to the 3 3 initiative was
branded as “hesitant” in the very first comments. “The policy was
proclaimed but what exactly is meant has not been formulated yet.
Contents of the policy are being formulated at this point,” Kocharjan
said.
Kocharjan said as well that his country is prepared for closer
co-operation with the Baltic states within the framework of the
policy of “new neighbors”. He said that he would continue
consultations with Saakashvili of Georgia but he himself “is not sure
that the Baltic states themselves have a consensus on the matter
yet.”
Kocharjan’s stand on the matter is understandable. A veteran
politician, he immediately saw the initiative for what it really was
an attempt to drag him into a confrontation with Russia. He does not
want to turn it down out of hand, however, because Moscow is unlikely
to offer his country more than the Americans can. It does not
therefore take a genius to guess that President of Estonia Ruutel
discussed precisely this initiative with the Armenian leadership on
his visit to Yerevan last fall, offering the experience of his own
country in becoming a NATO member. Following the talks, Prime
Minister of Armenia A. Margarjan announced that Armenia was prepared
to develop bilateral co-operation with Estonia in the sphere of
security and defense and did not object to discussion of an
appropriate accord between defense ministries. Speaking of
development of relations, Margarjan also mentioned the importance of
the 3 3 co-operation initiative. Time will show if he really meant
something by that.
Analysis of the matter will be incomplete without consideration of
the problem of the Baltic consensus. After all, it certainly seems
that they perceive the new form of co-operation differently. In the
Caucasus, the rapprochement initiative belongs to Georgia. In the
Baltic states, the idea is promoted by Estonia. These are the two
countries whose relations with Moscow leave particularly much to be
desired.
Neither Lithuania nor Latvia displayed any particularly vivid foreign
political interest in the Caucasus until now. Bearing in mind certain
discord in the relations between the Baltic states which is bound to
worsen now that their objective (membership in the EU and NATO has
been reached); it makes sense to expect this consensus to be formal.
The situation being what it is Russia should exploit the weaknesses
of the construction instead of relying solely on its relations with
Armenia to thwart the initiative as such.
As for the weaknesses in question, it will not hurt to mention the
growing anti-Americanism in Estonia the local authorities are finding
it more and more difficult to counter and keep in check. Political
scientist Paul Goble who settled in Estonia was shocked last autumn
to be told of results of an opinion poll indicating that the locals
dislike the Russians and the Americans equally. There is nothing odd
about this attitude with regard to the Russians, but when it applies
to representatives of the Empire of Virtue, it is certainly worth
some serious contemplation.
Goble believes that it is happening because the Estonians are sick of
showing their gratitude, because they have finally seen that this
doggy devotion annuls their own accomplishments. It means that the
Kremlin may tentatively count on appearance of an other weak link in
the chain, the people of Estonia that may find these political games
with construction of the Baltic-Caucasus bridge under supervision of
the American foreman oddly familiar, remembered from its own not very
distant past.
ORIGINAL-LANGUAGE: RUSSIAN

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Reading Between the Lines in Strasbourg: PACE issues report on Nagorno Karabakh
By Aris Ghazinyan
ArmenianNow Reporter
British parliamentarian David Atkinson’s report on the Nagorno
Karabakh issue was heard in Strasbourg Tuesday (January 25) within the
framework of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
(PACE) winter session. The report was written still in 2004 by the then rapporteur on Nagorno
Karabakh, now Council of Europe Secretary General, Terry Davis. Unlike
his predecessor, Atkinson had not visited Nagorno Karabakh and didn’t
make any basic changes in the text of Davis’ document. As a result of
the discussions of the report, the PACE winter session adopted a
resolution on Nagorno Karabakh. In particular, the Assembly states that `significant parts of
Azerbaijan’s territory continue to remain occupied by Armenian forces,
and separatist forces still control the Nagorno-Karabakh region.’ At
the same time, it is pointed out that `the separation of a region from
the state and its sovereignty can be achieved only as a result of a
peaceful and legal process based on the democratic support of the
inhabitants of the given territory, but not by way of an armed
conflict leading to ethnic evictions and de-facto annexation of this
territory by another state.’ The PACE also states that `the
occupation of a foreign territory by a CE-member state is a gross
infringement of the obligations of this state as a member of the
СЕ and confirms the right of persons displaced from the
conflict zone to return to their homes safely and with dignity.’ The
Assembly reminds also about the resolutions on this conflict adopted
by the UN Security Council and calls for their enforcement, including
the abstention from any armed clashes and withdrawal of armed forces
from any occupied territories. If the OSCE Minsk Group-sponsored negotiations fail to end in a
success, the Assembly urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to consider the
possibility of using the International Court for solving this
`international legal dispute’. The resolution calls on the Azeri
authorities `to develop contacts with political representatives of
both communities of Nagorno Karabakh regarding the future status of
the region.’ Characterizing the events in `the Nagorno-Karabakh
region’ as something very reminiscent of `ethnic cleansings’, the
Assembly mentions the continuation of regular control carried out by
it over a peaceful settlement of the conflict and sets the PACE winter
session of next year for discussion of the issue. During discussion of the report the Armenian delegation initiated
three amendments to the draft resolution, however only one of them was
accepted. In particular the Assembly refused to add in an appeal to
the government of Azerbaijan `to develop contacts with political
representatives of both communities of Nagorno Karabakh regarding the
future status of the region’. The report refers to the Armenian presence in Nagorno Karabakh as
`separatist forces’, a term that rankled Armenian authorities,
including Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torosyan. As the REGNUM news agency reports, the definition `separatist forces’
regarding the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh also remained unchanged
in the report. The efforts of the Armenian delegation led to the
acceptance of only one change consisting in the necessity of using the
influence of Armenia in the matter of achieving a peaceful settlement
of the conflict. The Armenian `Yerkir-Media’ TV Channel quoted the
head of the Armenian delegation to the PACE Torosyan who said that the
definition `separatist forces’ not only fails to reflect the essence
of the conflict, but also is offensive to the Armenians of Nagorno
Karabakh, who made more than 90% of the area’s population during
Soviet times. `In 1991, more than 83% of the total population took part in a
referendum,’ said Tigran Torosyan. `The word calling Karabakh people
`separatists’ was used only during the Soviet times.’ Another member
of the Armenian delegation to the PACE, member of the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun fraction Armen Rustamyan said that `all those dangerous
points that could be used by Azeris in the future remained in the
report.’ Still on the eve of the adoption of the resolution, a third
member of the Armenian delegation to the PACE Shavarsh Kocharyan was
not optimistic about making any changes in the report. `Of course, we have prepared several variants, but in conditions of
the atmosphere reigning in the Council of Europe today, it will be
practically impossible to get our proposals accepted,’ said Kocharyan. The former OSCE Minsk Group cochairman from Russia Vladimir Kazimirov
also described the report as `pro-Azeri’. In his letter addressed to
David Atkinson still on December 3, 2004, the diplomat, in particular,
writes: `Your respectful attitude towards your predecessor, Mr. Terry
Davis, and also the short term of your work over the report are quite
understandable. But the maximal closeness to the true, objective
estimation of the conflict should still be the main guidelines. The
major international documents on Nagorno Karabakh have always been
prepared on a balanced basis so as to help the sides reach
compromises. None of them has been so one-sided, with a bias in favor
of Azerbaijan, as your drafts are.’ Earlier, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanian called the report `subjective’. Commenting on the contents of the resolution itself, Torosyan, head of
the Armenian delegation to the PACE put a different spin on the report
and even defined some `very positive’ points for the Armenian side. In
his interview to the Public TV of Armenia he said that Nagorno
Karabakh appears in the resolution as a separate unit, and in point 2
there is a very important provision `on which the Armenian delegation
deliberately hadn’t accentuated attention since September 2004, for
fear the Azeri side would unfold serious struggle in this direction.’
`The matter concerns the fact that `the Assembly confirms that the
separation of a region from the state and its sovereignty can be
achieved only as a result of a peaceful and legal process based on the
democratic support of the inhabitants of the given territory’,’ said
Torosyan. `And this fully applies to the pre-war Nagorno Karabakh.’
Thus, the resolution objectively does not exclude the possibility of
the recognition of the right of Nagorno Karabakh’s people to political
self-determination, but excludes the possibility of resolving the
issue militarily. The latter circumstance, in Torosyan’s opinion, is
the third positive piece of the document adopted in Strasbourg. Patriot or Provacateur? Arian Order leader jailed for statements against Jews
By Julia Hakobyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
The Armenian nationalistic party whose leader was arrested early this
week for anti-Jewish propaganda announced that the arrest was nothing
but a trumped-up charge and said their leader is a political prisoner. Armen Avetisyan, head of Armenian Arian Order (AAO) was arrested on
Monday after numerous protests of a Jewish community in Armenia. In a
series of publications and interviews Avetisyan has blamed Jews for
Armenia’s social and economic hardship. He claims that the republic is
ruled by Masonic forces who are conspiring with similar forces
outside. Avetisyan has appealed to patriots of Armenia to `cleanse’ the country
of Jews. Now in detention, Avetisyan is charged according to Article
226 of the Armenian Criminal Code that prohibits incitement of ethnic,
racial and religious hatred. He faces from three to six years in
prison, if found guilty. `The Armenian Arian Order officially denies the accusation,’ said Mar
Martirosyan, representing AAO at a press conference Wednesday. `We are
going to appeal the court decision and have established a committee in
defense of Avetisyan.’ The members of AAO though confirm that
Avetisyan was calling Judaic-Masons Armenia’s enemy saying that he did
not mean the Jewish nation but those who are united in Judaic-Masonic
Organization and lead the country to collapse. (Masons is believed to
be an international secret powerful organization, which interfere in
the global political processes) To prove their claim, AAO referred to
copies of interviews with Avetisyan in which he said he had nothing
against Jewish or any other nationality living in Armenia, so long as
they don’t harm the country. The Jewish community in Armenia registered a Non Governmental
Organization in Armenia in 1991 with around 900 members. The leader of the Jewish community in Armenia, Rimma Varzhapetyan told
ArmeniaNow that despite the community being indignant over Avetisyan’s
statements, they never applied to prosecutors to arrest him. `Instead we wrote several letters to the country’s President and
Prime-Minister. The fact that Avetisyan is arrested proves that
Armenia is a civil country,’ she said. `We are glad he is arrested. He
might think about what he was saying.’
Union Recognition: Armenia looks to Europe to press Turkey on the Genocide
By Aris Ghazinyan
ArmenianNow Reporter
After waiting 41 years for the invitation, Turkey will begin formal
membership negotiations with the European Union in October. No other state, especially a member of NATO, has had to stand in the
Brussels queue for so long. During this period the European Union,
originally the European Economic Community, has extended across most
of the continent. `The idea that the EU may soon have a direct land border with
countries like Syria, Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia
probably does not give comfort to the European community,’ says Armen
Poghosyan, a political analyst and lecturer in social-political
geography at the Armenian State University. `Neither are they inspired by the prospect of introducing a
100-million-strong Muslim population into Europe: this is the
predicted demographic that Turkey may have in 15-20 years.’ Although
Turkey’s membership could take 15 years to conclude, and is by no
means guaranteed, Armenian political and public thought is already
focused on two elements of the question: recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by official Ankara and removal of Turkey’s blockade of its
border with Armenia. `This has an immediate relation to the interests of Armenians as it
gives an opportunity for a more frequent and louder voicing of
Armenian positions. By their importance, the two `Armenian points’
stand practically immediately after the first condition of membership
– the recognition of Cyprus’s integrity by Ankara,’ says Poghosyan. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 15 December, two days
before the Brussels summit that confirmed the decision to open
negotiations with Turkey. Among the list of issues raised in the
resolution, which is not binding on the negotiators, were points
relating to the recognition of the Genocide and the lifting of
blockade. Vartan Oskanian and some political analysts consider that in
time the two points could become factors to be reckoned with in the
talks. The issue of Turkey’s possible membership in the European Union
aroused strong public reaction among Armenians. ARF Dashnaktsutyun
offices organized protest demonstrations, including one in Brussels
last month. The World Armenian Congress said in a statement: `The World Armenian
Congress thinks that Turkey’s refusal to condemn the crime of the
Genocide of Armenians, refusal to apply international legal norms in
solving disputes with Greece, refusal to submit to numerous UN
decisions condemning the intervention of Turkish occupational forces
into Cyprus and the arbitrary division of this state, and Turkey’s
negation of the rights of the Kurdish national minority, make Turkey’s
admission to the European Union impossible today.’ Representatives of
the Armenian clergy also spoke on this issue. Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, expressed his
bewilderment over the hastiness of a number of European countries in
the matter of Turkey’s membership in the EU. `The European community
is not a community based exclusively on economic interests and
political cooperation. There are values that ensure the identity,
integrity and unity of Europe. Where is Turkey today in terms of these
values and observance of human rights Turkey still negates its past,
the Armenian Genocide and Europe should raise this question before
this country in all seriousness.’ The Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople, Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian, expressed a somewhat
different opinion. He said: `The 1915 disaster is a very suitable
subject for speculation. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan stated that
this subject should be left for historians and I agree with
him. Turkey’s accession to the European Union will promote peace in
our region.’ Jacques Chirac, the President of France, said in
Brussels on December 17 that if Ankara fails to recognize the Genocide
of Armenians and the Republic of Cyprus `Paris will boycott
negotiations on Turkey’s joining the EU’. The government of Slovakia,
which earlier had recognized the Genocide of Armenians, also urged
Ankara to reconsider its position on the issue. Many political organizations in Armenia attach certain hopes for the
country in connection with Turkey’s EU membership. A common border
with the EU, in their opinion, would promote Armenia’s case for
integration into the European space. Only the ARF Dashnaktsutyun among
the influential parties unequivocally opposes Turkish membership. `The optimistic position of some representatives of the Armenian
political establishment concerning Ankara’s possible accession to the
EU is not justified by modern history,’ Poghosyan says `They
completely ignore the fact that Turkey’s membership in the Council of
Europe does not prevent it from blockading 268 kilometers of the
Council of Europe’s political space along its border with Armenia. `The same can be said also about the World Trade Organization. Turkey
openly declares that it is impossible for it to respect the WTO’s
principles of open trade in relations with Armenia, even though both
are members. It is absolutely unclear why Turkey should respect EU
values if it becomes a member of the Union.’ Official Yerevan has
welcomed the resolution of the European Parliament adopted on December
15, on the eve of the EU summit, calling on the leaders of Europe to
begin negotiations with Turkey. This was prompted by the presence of
the two Armenian points as conditions for Ankara in the text of the
resolution. `These two provisions – the Genocide of Armenians and the lifting of
the blockade from the border, are certain to find a place in the
process of further development of the issue,’ Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan stated on December 15. `I cannot say how they
will be voiced at the summit, but they will be demanded in a long term
in one way or another.’ On December 17, the Armenian points were not
voiced, and negotiations were conducted basically around of the
problem of Turkey’s recognition of Cyprus. Nevertheless, political
analysts believe that they will find reflection in the debates sooner
or later, especially as the EU’s negotiations with Turkey are opening
in the year of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Kiev-Yerevan Connections: Armenia-Ukraine relations and Yuschenko’s
`third time’ success
By Suren Musayelyan and Suren Deheryan
ArmeniaNow reporters
Viktor Yuschenko was sworn in as President of Ukraine last Sunday
after winning in the `third round’ of presidential elections. During the hotly disputed election process in Ukraine that took more
than two months, Armenia expressed its position twice. First official
Yerevan, following Russia, responded very quickly congratulating
pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovich when he was pronounced winner by the
Central Election Commission of Ukraine. Russia and Armenia became the
only members of the Council of Europe to have accepted Yanukovich’s
victory. But the second time around it congratulated Yuschenko, with some
delay, and again only after Russia. According to a number of Armenian analysts, similar political changes
may reflect on Ukraine’s ties with Armenia. Armenian Center for National and International Studies political
analyst Stepan Safaryan thinks that the hasty congratulations of
Armenian authorities to Yanukovich and then to Yuschenko will not be
reflected in any actions on the diplomatic level. But he adds:
`Ukraine’s attitude towards our administration will change in a
certain way, especially as it concerns GUAM (Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan, Moldova). In any case, there will arise a division between
Armenia and Ukraine because of different geopolitical approaches.’ As
for the economic component of relations between the two countries,
Safaryan believes they will develop quite successfully in the
foreseeable future. `At present Ukrainian products are not competitive
on the European market and until Ukraine enters the European Union,
Ukrainian goods will be marketed in the territories of CIS countries.’
According to the data of the National Statistical Service of Armenia,
among CIS countries Ukraine is the second largest exporter of goods to
Armenia after Russia and by the volume of trade is Armenia’s third
largest partner after Russia and Georgia. According to the State Customs Department of Armenia, in 2003 Armenia
exported goods worth about $7 million to Ukraine, while in 2004 the
export increased to more than $10 millions. And according to the data of the State Committee of Statistics of
Ukraine, since 2000 the commodity circulation between Ukraine and
Armenia has increased fivefold, reaching about $75 million in 2004 –
up by $15.3 million over 2003. Ukraine mainly exports building materials, chemical products,
foodstuffs, and recently the structure of trade improved with the
delivery of Ukrainian buses for the Yerevan transport system. According to Samvel Hovakimyan, executive director of the RA Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, despite the increased commodity circulation
between the two countries, Armenia’s share still remains insignificant
in Ukrainian foreign trade. `Armenia should be interested in developing closer economic ties with
Ukraine. However, our political vector has not yet been formed and
remains on the level of `wishes’,’ Hovakimyan said. According to him, one of the reasons is that Armenia’s resources are
extremely limited. `From that point of view we cannot be compared and therefore depend on
the situation,’ he said. `We have problems of blockade that directly
impact our economic development.’ Hovakimyan says the Chamber is
working in the direction of integrating small and medium-sized
enterprises of Armenia into the Ukrainian economic system, such as
textile industry and leather production. According to Ukraine Ambassador to Armenia, Vladimir Tyaglo,
Armenian-Ukrainian economic ties are based on the Agreement on
Economic Cooperation for 2001-2010 signed by the presidents of the two
countries. He says that the contractual-legal base between the two
states consists of 64 agreements, of which 54 are currently in effect. Unsure of Security: Controversy continues as Social Security card goes
into effect
By Mariam Badalyan
Editorial Assistant
A month after Armenia’s first Social Security cards have gone into
use, many citizens continue to resist them. Starting January 1, no government-involved transactions were to take
place with citizens who do not have a card, including old-age,
disability and unemployment wages. The card is now necessary for payment of wages, opening a bank
account, licensing, etc. The government assures the new system will help to handle an effective
and efficient social protection system by eliminating possible fraud
and improving the record keeping of social data. It will also help to
conduct an effective reform of the pension system. Hasmik Khachatryan, public relations officer of the Ministry of Labor
and Social Issues, assures that more people started to realize the
importance of the new system. Currently, 2.420 million people have
applied for the cards, and 1.650 million have been issued. Khachatryan says every detail has been considered in order to minimize
the complications of the application process. Citizens may apply for their social security cards in any social
services unit throughout the republic irrespective of his or her
registration place or whether he has a registration or not. But while a majority of citizens have accepted the Social Security
card as a fact of life, others continue to maintain that it is an
intrusion of their privacy, a means of government control. Some even
say it is the `mark of the beast’ of biblical apocalyptic prophesy. Hranush Kharatyan, head of the Governmental Department for National
Minorities and Religious Issues, joins the protest of hundreds of
people who believe that imposition of the cards is a violation of
religious rights. `On the other hand, if a person refuses to take a passport for the
same reasons, can we say that his or her constitutional rights have
been breached?’ Kharatyan says. Nevertheless, she thinks there are a few ambiguous statements and
inconsistencies in the law that should be eliminated. In particular,
she recalls that Article 5 of the law states the aim of a Social
Security card, amongst others, to be insurance of personal data
confidentiality, which she believes to be illogical. Besides, she
points out that it is not clear from the law whether the same personal
data are referred to in Articles 5 and 7. A well know Armenian bard says no one will make him and his wife have
cards. `I will be forced to temporarily leave my country for a place where
there are no such cards. They demean my dignity and religious
feelings,’ says folk musician Ruben Hakhverdyan. Protecting Preservation: Youth groups concerned about capital construction
By Marianna Grigoryan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
A group of young people is concerned that modern construction is
detrimental to old landmarks, and are taking action against the
destruction. Non-governmental youth organizations, unions and other structures, as
well as students and individuals have united around an
initiative. United they hope to struggle against the last years
large-scale construction works in the capital, as a result of which
old cultural monuments, residential buildings and streets of public
value are being destroyed. `The bloom of reconstruction in the center of Yerevan during the last
years is accompanied with the process of destroying national
historical-cultural heritage, buildings of outstanding Armenians,
urban complexes and the historical environment,’ reads the open letter
the young people have planned to address to the President, the Prime-
Minister, NA Speaker and the Mayor of Yerevan. `The young Armenians
express their strong concern and ask for your direct and immediate
mediation for preventing the situation and sustaining all-human values
of our capital.’ `We have collected signatures; all those people
under 30 who are not indifferent of the fate of our capital and
history have taken part in it,’ says Lilit Vardanyan, a young
architect participating in the initiative. `There are some people who
agree with our initiative, but don’t sign the letter because they work
in state bodies and are afraid of having problems in their workplace.’
The initiators say, although they had decided to collect 1000
signatures before, taken into account the number of those willing to
support them, they have decided to wait for a while to send the letter
to the mentioned addresses. Teaching Teachers: Junior Achievement initiative strengthens knowledge
of legal rights. By Arpi Harutyunyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
If one tries to ask passers-by whether they are aware of their rights
of citizens, the answer will be almost the same: `What rights are you
talking about? We are not aware of anything.’ Moreover they will
wonder if, for instance, they are told they have the right to demand
any information from any state structure regarding their security. `In civilized countries awareness of human rights is an utmost
priority. But our people are unaware of the laws, we do not know our
rights, or the responsibilities as well. Even we – the specialists –
are unaware of many rights because of the lack of minimal legal
knowledge,’ says Vanadzor Pedagogical Institute professor Anna
Grigoryan. According to the plan affirmed by the RA Ministry of Education and
Science since September 2001 `Human Rights’, `Civic Education’, `State
and Law’ have become compulsory subjects in the school program. The initiator was Junior Achievement which, since October 2000 had
undertaken a responsible task: to achieve the inclusion of `Civic
Education’ into the school program. `As far as Armenia is a newly independent state, there was a need for
legal training. To create a democratic state a legal consciousness is
necessary that the teachers should spread. And the teachers need
education first of all’, says Gayane Vardanyan, program coordinator of
JA. As a result, achievements exceeded expectations. Three subjects on law
formed a part of the school program. Junior Achievement international organization was founded in the USA
in the beginning of the 20th century. It was established in Armenia 12
years ago. Initially the organization aimed at helping teachers learn applied
economics. But throughout time the programs grew and reached to law. In cooperation with the Academy for Educational Development the
Armenia-based JA organized the first courses of `Civic Education’ for
Armenian teachers’ re-qualification in January 1998. Up to now more than 3000 teachers of civic education have been trained
in the USA. In 2004 Junior Achievement initiated also re-qualification courses for
professors in Yerevan. The Art of Tax: New law makes movement of artifacts easier
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow Reporter
Visitors to Armenia who have endured stringent `art’ export
regulations should be relieved to know that, since late December, the
law has been changed in favor of more liberal movement. Until now, practically anything leaving the country that had been hand
crafted – whether a vernisage amateur’s work, or the masterpiece of an
honored artist – was subject to being certified (and taxed) before it
could be taken outside Armenia. Whether a silver spoon or, sometimes, even a musician’s own instrument
had to be presented for inspection, with documents and photographs. `The previous law adopted in 1994 restricted rights even in terms of
private property with some of its provisions,’ says, Shoghik Asoyan,
director of the Agency for Preserving Cultural Values under the
Ministry of Culture and Youth Issues. But according to the new law, works of fine art not older than 50
years can be freely exported except for 12 great Armenian artists
Martiros Saryan, Sergey Parajanov, Minas, Yervand Kochar, Garzou,
Hakob Kojoyan, Vahram Gayfejyan, Harutiun Kalents, Aleksandr
Bajbeuk-Melikyan, Vahan Hatsagortsyan, Artsrun Berberyan, Nazaret
Kuyumjyan. Previously, mass-produced souvenirs and artifacts were allowed to
export without certificates, if they were not older than 50
years. Now, the term has been extended to 75. `For us, of course it is a big thing to have escaped from waiting for
hours in the Agency for Preserving Cultural Values to get permission
for exporting;’ says one of the artists affected by the law, Robert
Elibekyan. `People of arts should be free. If he does not take out his
works how will he show his art to the world?’ But President of the
Union of Artists Karen Aghamyan believes the law is both good and bad. `Definitely, artists will be free of wasting of time, but smugglers
will get big opportunities to take out values of big importance for
Armenian art. If the market is liberalized, it is uncontrollable.’
Aghamyan says it now becomes easier to pass off an old artwork as a
new one. `There is threat that anything can get into the stream. We are going
to address to the government to send some of the experts group to work
in turn in the airport customs,’ says Asoyan. `Officers cannot
identify common works, for, instance, from an unsigned work by
Saryan.’
High Marks for HyeSanta: Donations ($9,270) lead to establishment of year-round foundation
By Suren Musayelyan
ArmenianNow Reporter
Nearly doubling the total of its 2003 campaign, ArmeniaNow’s HyeSanta
charity project has concluded its holiday drive with $9,270 to
distribute to needy families featured in its December 24 and December
31 issues. (In 2003, the first HyeSanta, readers contributed about
$5,000.) Last week, ArmeniaNow journalists began the careful but
happy task of distributing items – ranging from medicines to blankets
and mattresses, to livestock, to computers – to 13 families. HyeSanta Project Coordinator Armine Petrosyan says each case was
evaluated on its own circumstances and the families were assisted in
the best possible way. But she emphasized that the goal of the action
is to provide people with lasting help rather than give them cash. `Assistance given to these people has made a difference in their
lives. This would be impossible without the generosity of our
readers,’ Petrosyan said. According to Petrosyan, the aid given to people solves their most
vital problems, and is received with gratitude. `But the idea of the project is to provide aid that will have a
continuous nature. For example, buying a cow that will give milk and
offsprings,’ she said. The purchase of sheep, cows and chickens is being voluntarily assisted
by the Tufenkian Foundation, which itself maintains a program that
encourages villagers to become self-sustained through livestock
production. Tufenkian Foundation veterinary specialist Zorik Pambukhchyan says he
helps the project with great enthusiasm. `I support any project that supports villagers and rural communities,
especially this one that targets vulnerable families in villages,’ he
said. `I am happy to be part of this project to help with advice.’
Readers from North America, from England, from Ukraine and,
significantly, from within Armenia responded to HyeSanta
2004. Locally, many were brought in by video documentaries of the
project, produced and shown by Shoghakat Television. (Armenian Public Television H1 had promised to show the programs, but
withdrew an hour before airtime, saying it didn’t want to upset its
viewers with stories about needy people during holidays.) `The
results are satisfying, but they could be incomparably better had H1
kept its promise,’ Petrosyan said. According to Petrosyan, from the outset the project met with a very
friendly attitude from everyone. She says that the project would have
been impossible without the support of various organizations and
individuals, including: The Karabakh Representation in Armenia, the
Emergency Situations Department of Karabakh, the Armenia office of
World Council of Churches and its head Karen Nazaryan, Shoghakat TV,
`Orran’ benevolent NGO, the Club, Shoghakat’s Tigran Paskevichyan and
his friends, and musicians Vahan Artsruni, Hasmik Harutyunyan, Lilit
Pipoyan, Lusine Azaryan, Armen Movsisyan, who held a concert in
support of the project.

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Deacon Vagarsag Seropyan
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
T: +90 (212) 517-0970
F: +90 (212) 516-4833
[email protected]
Monitorial Group on the Melkonian Trust Meets With Patriarch in Support of
Legal Action
ISTANBUL (26/01/2004) – His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of
Istanbul & All Turkey, received the members of the Monitorial Group on the
Melkonian Trust (MGMT) on 24 January 2005, at 18:00 hours, at the Armenian
Patriarchal headquarters in Istanbul.
Chaired by Mr Ardashes Cavusyan, the MGMT members thanked the Patriarch for
his willingness to act concerning the Melkonian Trust, in order to secure
that the historic school continues to function.
Patriarch Mesrob had received in his office in Istanbul, on 28 December
2004, Mr. Raffi Zinzalian (Chairman of the Melkonian Alumni Association,
LA), Mr. Mgo Godjamanian (Vice-Chairman of the same) and Mark MacCarley
(attorney-in-law) who furnished the Patriarch with a copy of the Melkonian
Trust as amended on December 15, 1926.
In 1921, Garabed Melkonian, a wealthy Armenian businessman, conveyed a gift
of real and personal property to Patriarch Zaven of Istanbul, with which the
hierarch established a school and orphanage in Nicosia, Cyprus, in 1924, and
named it Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI).
On December 25, 1925, Patriarch Zaven conveyed the entire Melkonian gift and
the proceeds thereof, to include the newly founded MEI in Nicosia, Cyprus to
the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), in trust due to the AGBU’s
expressed ability to better manage the trust assets and execute the original
deed. The Melkonian Trust was then amended in writing on December 15, 1926,
between the AGBU, Patriarch Zaven and Garabed Melkonian.
According to the Deed of Amendment to the Garabed Melkonian Trust, dated
December 15, 1926, the AGBU is responsible for maintaining the MEI in
Nicosia, Cyprus; paying an annual subsidy of one thousand Egyptian pounds to
the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem; paying an annual subsidy of one
thousand Egyptian pounds to the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul; building
a kindergarten for Armenian children in the vicinity of the Armenian
Orthodox Church of Alexandria; paying the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul
an additional perpetual annuity of five hundred Egyptian pounds per year.
For more than 75 years the relationship between the Armenian Patriarchal See
of Istanbul and the AGBU has been cordial, as the AGBU has fulfilled its
minimum obligation to support the MEI in Nicosia, Cyprus. However, in
violation of the Melkonian Trust, the AGBU announced formally in March 2004
that it would absolutely be closing the MEI in Cyprus, and transferring the
students elsewhere, at the end of the 2005 schoolyear in June. The AGBU has
taken this decision without informing or consulting with Patriarch Mesrob of
Istanbul who is the lawful successor of Patriarch Zaven.
Patriarch Mesrob informed the members of the MGMT that he first became aware
of the existence and contents of the 1926 Deed of Amendment to the Melkonian
Trust only on December 28, 2004, through the MEI Alumni in Los Angeles. The
Patriarch emphasized that he is now cognizant of the multiple obligations
the AGBU accepted from his predecessor, Patriarch Zaven, in 1926.
The Patriarch informed the MGMT members that, represented by Attorney Mark
MacCarley, Esq., of Los Angeles, he has filed a petition to the Los Angeles
Superior Court, in his fiduciary capacity as Patriarch of the Armenian
Patriarchal See of Istanbul and All Turkey. The Patriarch explained that he
has petitioned for 1) instructions with regards to the obligations of the
AGBU; 2) compelling the AGBU to perform the Trustee’s duties; 3) compelling
an exhaustive accounting on Melkonian Trust transactions since 1926; and 4)
compelling the AGBU to redress any breach of trust.
Endorsing the Patriarchate’s legal action in order to compel the AGBU to
perform the Trustee’s duties, the MGMT members thanked Patriarch Mesrob for
acting to prevent the closure of the MEI.
The Monitorial Group on the Melkonian Trust was formed out of necessity
following Armenian Christmas on January 6, 2005, in order to monitor the
worldwide press and the AGBU actions with regards to the MEI. The members of
the MGMT are Mr. Ardashes Cavusyan (Chairman), Mr. Hagop Mamigonyan
(Vice-Chairman), Mrs. Silva Kuyumcuoglu (Secretary), Yervant Asa, Artin
Kilerci, Dork Miricanyan and Aram Ozhalacyan – all educated at the MEI and
residing presently in Istanbul, Turkey.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THE OSCE DEMAND WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CONDITION OF
ARMENIANS IN GEORGIA
A1+
25-01-2005
On January 24, 2005, the Council of Europe Parliament Congress adopted
a resolution about the responsibilities of Georgia and their carrying
out.
In the resolution the steps of Georgia taken for carrying out their
responsibilities are appreciated and in a number of cases new dates
are made clear. According to Agency A-info, in Georgia’s
responsibilities reconsidered by OSCE there are those which have
direct connection to the problems of Armenians in Javaxk and Georgia
on the whole. These responsibilities are: a)
Before September 2005 to sign and ratify the European Charter of the
Local Languages and those of Minorities and the European Circle
Convention on Transboundary Cooperation. b)
Before September 2005 to ratify the Circle Convention about the
Defense of National Minorities. c)
As for self-government, to make a whole of the administrative reforms
before the next elections of local authorities and to guarantee that
they will take place according to the European Charter of Local
Authorities. d)
In the context of the Georgian Administrative reforms to reconsider
the recently adopted model of Agarian self-government according to the
point ofview of the Venice Committee. e)
As for Mesxet population, to create immediately juridical,
administrative and political conditions to start the process of their
return, with the aim of fulfilling it in 2011. f)
This resolution adopted by OSCE comes from the December 2004 report of
the OSCE Monitoring group. Let us remind you that in October 2004 a
session was carried out by the above mentioned group which had
received a memorandum from the Council of Armenian Social Organization
of Samtsxe-Javaxk, mentioning, that the carrying out of the
responsibilities mentioned in the first 3 points by Georgia `will
contribute greatly to the improvement of the grave situation in
Samtsxe-Javaxk `.

Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Support builds for Armenian teens
Church official joins cause to halt deportation
By LISA KIM BACH
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Rouben Sarkisian holds his three U.S.-born children, Michele, 13, Elizabeth,
12, and Patricia, 10, in front of the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse on
Monday. Sarkisian’s two oldest daughters are jailed in Los Angeles, facing
deportation to Armenia.
Photo by Jeff Scheid.
At a rally protesting the deportation of his daughters, Rouben Sarkisian
displays childhood photos of Emma, now 18, and Mariam, now 17. The two girls
emigrated with their father from the former Soviet Union in 1991, before its
collapse.
Photo by Jeff Scheid.
Emma and Mariam Sarkisian might be teenagers without a country, but the
public response generated by U.S. government attempts to deport them proved
on Monday that they’re not without supporters.
Retired Archbishop Vatché Housepian of the Western Diocese of the Armenian
Church in North America flew in from Los Angeles to meet with attorneys
representing the Las Vegas sisters. He offered to use his influence and the
resources of his church to help keep the family together.
Although immigration officials say the two sisters are in the country
illegally, their father, Rouben Sarkisian, is a legal resident of the United
States. Their three younger sisters are citizens. The two oldest sisters are
now jailed in Los Angeles and face deportation to Armenia, a country that
didn’t even exist when they emigrated as small children with their father
from the Soviet Union in 1991. The girls do not speak Armenian and have no
family there.
“The lives of two young girls are at stake,” Housepian said of his reasons
for volunteering aid. “America is all they know. This is not a simple legal
matter. It’s a moral matter, an ethical matter. This would destroy their
entire family.”
Housepian had to return to Los Angeles before a group of friends and
sympathizers rallied on behalf of the girls in front of the steps to the
federal courthouse Monday afternoon. Until July, both girls were unaware of
their illegal status. Letters sent from the U.S. Department of Justice in
1997 showed acceptance of their applications of residency, which later were
nullified when Rouben Sarkisian divorced his U.S. wife. Sarkisian said he
received no notice from immigration officials of the change in status.
The girls were taken into custody by Homeland Security officers on Jan. 13
and are detained in Los Angeles. The family only recently learned that Emma,
18, a 2004 graduate of Palo Verde High School, and Mariam, 17, a senior at
Palo Verde, are jailed in a detention center next to the Los Angeles county
jail.
Housepian said he plans to try and see them this week. So does Gary
Nikogosyan, a Glendale, Calif., businessman who closed his auto-body repair
shop on Monday and drove four hours to Las Vegas to support the Sarkisians.
“It’s ridiculous and so, so sad,” said Nikogosyan, a friend of the family,
who added that the situation has drawn the attention of the sizable Armenian
community in Los Angeles. “If they are deported, they will have no one
there. How will they get by?”
Palo Verde parent and Summerlin resident Tracey Kreiling is a stranger to
the Sarkisian family, but she decided to show her support by coming to the
rally. Kreiling said she is shocked that government officials can take
minors into custody without disclosing to parents where they’re being held.
Kreiling, who’s also distressed by the conditions of the girls’
incarceration, said she’s already e-mailed 70 people about the plight of the
Sarkisian children, from U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., to Gov. Kenny Guinn.
“My concern is for the family,” Kreiling said. “They should have been fully
informed about the status of their children and they should have access to
them day and night.”
Reid will also be hearing from Sarkisian family friend Elena Protopopova,
who has started a petition asking for the lawmaker’s help in bringing the
girls home. She was able to get her first 30 signatures at the rally. Tessa
Hafen, a spokeswoman for Reid, said he is paying close attention to the
developing situation.
“He is very sympathetic with the children and wants to make sure they’re
treated fairly,” Hafen said.
Defense attorneys for the Sarkisians are seeking an order of release in
federal court. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Johnston is hearing the case.

The Guardian, UK
Jan 22 2005
Philharmonia/Segerstam
Royal Festival Hall, London
Tim Ashley
The jury, it would seem, is out on the Armenian composer Aram
Khachaturian. He’s best known for a series of vast, socialist-realist
ballet scores such as Gayaneh and Spartacus. Massive, impressive
works, they were the mainstay of the Soviet repertoire and hugely
popular in the west, where they were regularly plundered by film and
TV companies for incidental music – the BBC’s Onedin Line is the most
famous example. Since the collapse of the former Eastern bloc,
however, his work has been less frequently heard. Even though he fell
foul of Stalin in 1948, a whiff of Soviet orthodoxy still clings to
him, and we can’t read signs of dissidence into his music as we can
with his contemporary Shostakovich.
The Piano Concerto – performed here by the Philharmonia under Leif
Segerstam, with Boris Berezovsky as soloist – was the piece that shot
Khachaturian to fame in 1936. Rooted, like much of his music, in the
asymmetrical rhythms and exotic modalities of Caucasian folk music,
it’s a work of exuberance and charm, flanking an exquisite central
andante with outer movements at once playful and ferocious. Two
murderous cadenzas make the piece tricky for the pianist, though
Berezovsky played it with ease and almost shocking dexterity.
Segerstam’s conducting, however, arouses mixed feelings. He often
generates excitement and emotion at the expense of finesse. His
thrilling if unsubtle approach, telling in Khachaturian’s concerto,
was perhaps less suited to the rest of the concert. Glinka’s overture
to Russlan and Ludmila was unyielding and brass heavy. His
interpretation of Dvorak’s New World Symphony was epic and intense,
aspiring to tragedy in the famous largo rather than nostalgia. In
many respects this was preferable to the sentimental view of the work
favoured by some, but it could have been better played and its power
was offset by some moments of ragged ensemble.