Author: Karagyozian Lena

Seattle Times,WA
May 12 2006
“Absurdistan”: Players in the fields of oil
By Tim McNulty
Special to The Seattle Times
“Absurdistan”
by Gary Shteyngart
Random House, 333 pp., $24.95
Russian émigré Gary Shteyngart burst upon the literary scene in 2002
with his rollicking and bitingly satirical debut novel, “The Russian
Debutante’s Handbook.” Its hero, like its author, was born in
Communist Leningrad, raised in Reagan ’80s America and flounders
about wildly in the turgid cultural gulf between them.
Misha Vainberg, the self-absorbed hero of Shteyngart’s hilarious new
novel, “Absurdistan,” is also a misplaced Russian. His comic
misadventures on two continents bring post-Soviet Russia and
corporate America into the crosshairs of the author’s outlandish wit.
“Absurdistan” is a brilliant, fast-paced and idiosyncratic novel that
swerves frighteningly close to dead-on political reporting. It is
black humor at its darkest.
Vainberg (aka “Snack Daddy” for his vast appetites) is the 325-pound,
melancholic son of a Russian mobster and oligarch (the 1,238th
richest man in Russia). Misha was educated at “Accidental College” in
the American Midwest but finds his true home in a Wall Street loft in
slacker Manhattan with his voluptuous South Bronx girlfriend,
Rouenna.
There is no reason for Misha to return to St. Petersburg, with its
“bizarre peasant huts fashioned out of corrugated metal and plywood
colonizing the broad avenues.” But his “Beloved Papa” misses him, so
he goes. When Papa assassinates an Oklahoma businessman over a
percentage stake in a nutria farm, and then gets whacked himself (for
other, unrelated business dealings), Misha’s world constricts.
Author appearance
Gary Shteyngart will read from “Absurdistan” at 7 p.m. Thursday at
Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park (206-366-3333;
).
Denied a visa to re-enter the U.S., he is forced by circumstance to
travel to Absurdistan, a small, desperately poor but oil-rich fiefdom
wedged against the Caspian Sea. His singular mission there is to
purchase a phony European passport from a crooked Belgian consular
official (price: $240,000).
Life in Absurdistan takes an unfortunate turn for Misha shortly after
he checks in to his penthouse suite at the Hyatt. He finds himself
surrounded by Texas oilmen, Halliburton contractors and the busy
minions of Kellogg, Brown & Root. Svelte Absurdi hookers ply the
hallways, their faces “as powdered as an American doughnut.” The view
from his suite, however, is over rusted oil derricks and the brown,
alkaline shore that hems the capital city. A rock headland across the
bay is honeycombed with drab, concrete Soviet-era apartment complexes
that warehouse Absurdistan’s abundant poorer classes.
When civil war erupts between the ethnic Sevo and Svanï minorities (a
centuries-old religious dispute over the angle of Christ’s footrest
on the cross), Misha is trapped in the city. The inconvenience is
sufferable. He has a good supply of Atavan and the bar is kept
stocked with Johnnie Walker Black. American Express still rules,
after all. But when the governing elites hire Armenian mercenaries to
begin shelling the ethnic neighborhoods from the hotel roof, all hell
breaks loose.
Misha is embraced by a garrulous warlord with former KGB ties and
appointed minister of multicultural affairs. Misha’s innocence
throughout all this is rather charming. Oblivious to the political
treachery swirling around him, his only goal is to return to his
darling Rouenna in New York.
It may seem unlikely, but Shteyngart is able to create endearing
characters who draw the reader in despite their shabby pursuits. He
also paints a vivid and brutal picture of the kind of strife that
rakes Third-World oil countries, and he spares no reproach for the
American interests that bleed them, supply the weaponry and profit
from reconstruction.
In fact, there is something disturbingly familiar about Absurdistan.
Shteyngart’s wacky vision of a post-Cold War world sinking beneath
the weight of the American Century is not far from the mark.
Tim McNulty’s most recent book of poetry, “Through High Still Air,”
was published last fall. He lives on the Olympic Peninsula.

PRESS RELEASE/News Bulletin
Armenian Forests NGO
38 Moskovian St., apt. 10
Yerevan 02, Republic of Armenia
Phone: (374 10) 54-15-29
Fax: (374 10) 58-20-39
E-mail: [email protected]
12 May, 2006
News Bulletin #2
This is the second news bulletin of the activities carried out in
ten communities throughout Armenia under the Community Environmental
Action Groups project. The first news bulletin was posted in
December 2005.
Mher Sharoyan
Media Coordinator
Armenian Forests NGO
This bulletin is an update of the actions carried out in the period of
January-April 2006 by the Environmental Action Groups of the communities
selected within the USAID-funded “Community Environmental Action Groups”
project that is implemented by Armenian Forests NGO.
Given the fact that spring is one of the two windows for doing forest
and park establishment and restoration most of the activities of these
groups have been focusing on that during this period. In the summer they
will concentrate on lobbying and other activities including focus on
solid waste and other environmental issues.
1. Tavush marz, Sarigyugh community
Local group had consultations with the director of Ijevan’s Dendropark
Mekhak Sayadyan for sowing yew seeds nearby Sarigyugh village. The
sowing took place on 10-15th April.
The Sarigyugh activists also participated in the cleaning works of
surroundings of Ijevan town’s main waste disposal site, collecting
mainly polyethylene bags. The action was organized by “Young Tavush”
youth NGO, members of which are part of action groups in Ijevan and
Sarigyugh. The action was supported by Tavush governor Mr. Ghularian,
Ijevan mayor Mr. Ghalumian, Director of local stone producing
enterprise Mr. Grigoryan.
Local Environmental Action Group coordinator has met with the head of
local community Mr. Elarian and discussed the possibilities of involving
funds for fencing the planned Plane tree park to be established near the
village. The local group has also applied to the local World Vision
branch for getting funds for the above-mentioned goal, as well as met
with the Environmental department head of the Tavush marz. No funds have
been allocated yet.
Due to bad weather – non-stop rains and dampness – the care works of the
yews growing in nearby forests have been postponed till May.
2. Tavush marz, Ijevan community
In January 2006 local coordinator met with local
agricultural-environmental “Bardi” CJSC director and discussed the plans
of Ijevan’s greening and restoration. Local activists also agreed with
local “Ijevan” TV to broadcast cartoons on environmental issues.
Meetings have been held with the representatives of local forest
economy, Nature Protection Ministry’s agencies, Ijevan branch of Yerevan
State University as well as local TV, as a result of which a round
table-discussion was held January 29 on the topic “Why are forests
logged?”. The roundtable was broadcast on the local TV channel.
As a result of cooperation with the mayor’s office it was agreed to
restore local Azatamartikneri Park. Armenian Forests NGO (hereinafter
AFNGO) specialists advised upon the types of trees and bushes that
should be planted there. After that the projected number of trees and
bushes (mainly pine trees and rose and arbor-vitae (lat. Thuja) have
been obtained for planting.
March 29 restoration works of the Azatamartikneri Park launched with
participation of the municipality’s staff, local YSU branch students, as
well as AFNGO employees. Some 80 pine trees and 1500 rose bushes and
arbor-vitae were planted during three days, and the care works are
organized by the local group. The event was covered by national and
local media.
3. Tavush marz, Gosh community
The planting and terracing of the first section of the hill slopes
behind the Gosh Monastery continued and was accomplished, and the
planting on the second section started. The planted trees will have wind
and water protective importance for the Monastery and nearby households.
The activists have carried out care and treatment of the trees planted
in fall 2005. They also cleaned a territory at nearby forest from thick
branches, cut stubs and spunk.
A subbotnik (cleaning of area) was organized in the village, the streets
of the community were cleaned by the local youth group. Similar works
have been carried out on the shore of Gosh lake – during an eco-tour
organized for the activists.
Currently the environmental group carries out treatment and protection
of the yew trees in nearby forest (Note: Due to the fact that yew trees
are quite rare in Armenia, any forested territory that has yew tree
cover near Sarigyugh and Gosh communities is under special attention of
Armenian Forests NGO and community groups.)
4. Lori marz, Lejan community
This is the last of the ten communities selected. The environmental
action group members were gathered and local coordinator was appointed.
The most pressing environmental issues of the community have been
identified; and based on their needs, targeted trainings have been
conducted for the active group and a working plan has been drafted.
As an initial action they decided to begin coppicing works of the nearby
forest in the beginning of May. It is also planned to green the
surroundings of the local school and post office, and plant poplar trees
alongside the road entering the village. For this purpose AFNGO plans to
purchase 200 trees (150 poplar, 50 pine trees) and 2500 bushes for
planting.
As another issue that will be addressed is the contamination of the
village river with solid waste; discussions with the village
administration and AFNGO specialists are being carried out regarding its
cleaning and restoration.
5. Lori marz, Stepanavan community
January 31-February 2 trainings have been held for the action group.
February 2 the AFNGO specialists and the local coordinator met with the
mayor of Stepanavan Mr. Gharakeshishyan, during which an agreement was
reached to allocate 1.1 ha of land at Ajapnyak district of town for
establishing a new park. Afterwards meetings with experts of
municipality’s architecture department were held to discuss issues
related to the establishing the park and land leveling works.
Following the mayor’s pledge to assist in every possible means, land
works of the area allocated for park started early April and the area
was made ready for planting. Seedlings were obtained from Vanadzor
forest economy, because the prices at Stepanavan’s forest entity were
high. The group planted a total of 200 trees and 1500 bushes on April 15
and16th. The local action group manages the park including the watering
of seedlings and other care work.
The local activists also met with the director of the local forest
entity, who has promised to provide free seedlings for planting on the
slopes of the Dzoraget river gorge.
6. Lori marz, Vanadzor community
There is an idle water-purifying station situated at the Pambak river
shore within the town, which the municipality planned to allocate to
“Asad” LLC for producing chemical substances. The local environmental
group found out that the company doesn’t have a comprehensive strategy
of waste management, which would definitely lead to contamination of the
river. The group undertook relevant measures in working with members of
city elders’ council, in result of which the territory was not allocated
to the mentioned company.
The activists have also inquired about the place and prices of
submitting certain types of wastes (like polyethylene bottles and bags),
which gave the consumers an opportunity to separate their waste disposal
and compensate certain expenditures. The local coordinator has regular
meetings with the local media and comments and gives interviews on the
community’s environmental problems, as well as recommends necessary
actions to improve the situation.
Throughout April 2006 large-scale coppicing works have been undertaken
on one of the hill slopes surrounding Vanadzor, where they plan to
rehabilitate a total of 30 hectares of forest. Particularly on April 7th
and 14th an overall of 40 students and volunteers from Yerevan and
Vanadzor participated in coppicing works, a technique of regenerating
trees from stumps. Two exchange students from Lithuania and Slovenia,
who are in Armenia for cultural exchange program, also participated in
coppicing works. Coppicing works are initially guided and supervised by
AFNGO specialists, and after relevant instructions the action groups
carry out the works on their own.
7. Gegharkunik marz, Sevan community
Major issues in this settlement include town greening, waste management
and having clean lakeshore of Sevan. Following extensive trainings held
for the local group by AFNGO specialists February 22-24, schoolchildren
eco-teams were set up in the town and special courses were held for
women activists. For involving all interested parties the activists had
meetings with the mayor of Sevan and other municipality officials,
school teachers, students, community members, NGOs, as well as local
media. As a result of cooperation, together with local STV-1 TV the
action group has prepared and aired a TV discussion on the topic of
“Public’s role in environmental process”.
On April 21 the rehabilitation works of two city parks began, which will
continue in early May as well. A similar number of trees and bushes as
in other community parks have been planted in both areas, and the nearby
residents take care of the seedlings. In another area, due to
social-cultural issues, guarding of the territory is carried out. The
planting and all other activities are being covered by the local TV
channel.
8. Gegharkunik marz, Martuni community
Two action groups are set up in Martuni – a youth group (9 people) and a
school group (10 pupils). The “Martuni Women’s Community Council” NGO,
which comprises the core of the local environmental group, has allocated
a room with relevant equipment for the activists.
The local Peace Corps volunteers, among them an environmental
specialist, expressed a will to assist the group in every possible way.
In February the local coordinator met with the municipality officials to
discuss the possibilities of rehabilitating the city park. An agreement
was reached on maintenance and shared investment for restoring the park.
Following three-day trainings of the youth groups of the town,
preparatory works were extensively organized and seedlings have been
obtained upon the guidance of AFNGO specialists. April 21 the
restoration works started, as a result of which 125 trees and 1700
bushes were planted with joint efforts of AFNGO staff and local
activists. Mayor of Martuni and marz authorities also participated in
the works.
The action group also met with the Martuni branch representatives of
“Sevan” National Park and discussed issues of Sevan lakeshore
restoration. In result it was decided to rehabilitate the protective
forest cover near the shore through coppicing.
9. Kotayk marz, Tsakhkadzor community
Local activists and AFNGO staff have together stopped a case of illegal
logging in the nearby forest of the resort town, and have come to an
agreement with the company that caused the damage to compensate the
loss. The company is to allocate certain amount of funds to plant a
corresponding number of trees (as many as have been cut) and even go
further to assist in restoring another area of forest. For correct
rehabilitation of the damaged forest, AFNGO specialists have examined
the territory, did the relevant planning, and scheduled the works for
May 2006.
Activists lobbied local authorities for allocation of several areas
around the town for additional reforestation. After cooperation with
forest economy and municipality, it was agreed to plant trees on
treeless areas of nearby forest land to expand forest cover. Restoration
works, as well as coppicing of certain areas will start in early May.
The activists are to obtain seedlings in cooperation with the
pan-Armenian tree planting project led by Nig-Aparan Union, which
promised to provide a necessary amount of seedlings free of charge.
Local youth and school environmental groups have been trained by AFNGO
forest specialists for appropriate work during tree planting. Tree
planting and coppicing works in the community and nearby forests will be
implemented by the forces of local action group.
The local coordinator also worked closely with municipality to obtain a
territory for establishing a forest nursery.
The AFNGO specialists have supported local “Forests for future
generations” NGO, members of which are also part of the environmental
group, to apply to Open Society Institute for financial assistance to
conduct research on civil society issues.
10. Vayots Dzor marz, Jermuk community
Local activists have tracked illegal logging of pine trees in nearby
forests, and reported about the case to local authorities and forest
economy. The group members have also witnessed cutting of ash trees in
city parks, after which the municipality undertook relevant measures.
The local coordinator led a group of local schoolchildren to conduct a
subbotnik (cleaning of area) nearby their school on April 22, after
which a tree planting in the backyard and surrounding territory was
organized.
The coordinator has also met with municipality officials and agreed upon
establishing a new park on 1 hectare. The territory was allocated for
the purpose, yet the planting works have been postponed till May due to
cold weather.
For additional information or any question feel free to contact Mher
Sharoyan, Assistant Project Coordinator, at [email protected] or
call (+374 10) 54-15-29.

THERE NOTHING EXTRAORDINARY IN ORINATS YERKIR’S WITHDRAWAL FROM RULING
COALITION: ARMENIAN DM
Yerevan, May 12. ArmInfo. There is nothing extraordinary in the
Orinats Yerkir party’s withdrawal from the ruling coalition and one
should not look for any implication, says Armenia’s DM Serzh Sargsyan.
He says that the coalition was set up in 2003 and now one party has
decided to withdraw because of differences with the other two
ones. Sargsyan refutes the reports that he took part in the formation
of Orinats Yerkir and that the authorities are pressuring the
businessmen leaving the party. They joined the party for their
personal purposes and now they are leaving it because of differences
with the authorities, says Sargsyan.
Asked if he considers Artur Bagdassaryan’s resignation and OY’s
withdrawal as his victory over Bagdassaryan, Sargsyan says that one
better ask this question to Bagdassaryan. “I didn’t fight with him,”
says Sargsyan.

RESIDENTS VS. GOVERNMENT – WHO WILL BE MORE PERSISTENT?
Panorama.am
18:23 11/05/06
The residents of Northern Alley and other areas seem to be no less
persistent than the government officials. The residents of those
areas are dislocated because the land is sold to other owners. They
continuously rebel however their applications remain without solution
at the government tables.
Today the residents organized a demonstration right on the day of
government session near the government building. Vachagan Hakobyan,
the chairman of Northern Alley protection committee said that
they are only protecting their rights and are persistent in their
demands. According to him, their case was one of the reasons why
Armenia was not included in UN Human Rights Council. They have met
UN representative and told him everything about the case. However,
UN said that they are not entitled to do anything.
The residents claim they they have suffered both material and
psychological damage. 8th person among the residents is suffering from
some kind of illness because of the psychological attack.

AUTHORS OF TURKISH GOVERNMENT REPORT ON MINORITIES ACQUITTED OF “INCITING HATRED”
Benjamin Harvey
AP Worldstream
May 10, 2006
A Turkish court ruled on Wednesday that the authors of a
government-ordered report on minorities were not guilty of “inciting
hatred and enmity” when they said Turkey should grant more rights to
Kurds and other minorities.
Professors Ibrahim Kaboglu and Baskin Orhan faced up to five years in
prison after their report angered nationalists, who feared recognition
of minority rights in Turkey could lead to the country being broken
up along ethnic lines.
A state prosecutor had demanded that the professors, who both worked
for the state Human Rights Advisory Council, be punished for their
remarks deemed “inflammatory.”
The professors’ 2004 report urged the government to change its policy
and recognize Kurds as a distinct minority. Turkey says that all
Muslims in the country are Turks.
Until 1991, the Kurdish language was banned and even now broadcasting
in Kurdish is strictly limited by the government.
The European Union, which Turkey hopes to join, has demanded that
Turkey improve its treatment of minorities. The push for enhanced
rights, especially for Kurds, has faced opposition in a country still
battling autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels in its southeast.
The fight with the rebels, who would like to establish an autonomous
region in a chunk of Turkey’s east, has claimed more than 37,000
lives in the past two decades.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged to improve the
situation with government investment in the largely poor Kurdish
southeast.
But the prime minister angered many Turks earlier this year when he
traveled to the Kurdish-majority city of Diyarbakir and acknowledged
that Turkey had made mistakes in the past in dealing with what he
called its “Kurdish problem.”
There are an estimated 14 million Kurds _ about 20 percent of Turkey’s
population of 71 million _ in Turkey, though exact numbers are
difficult to come by because the government does not keep statistics
that classify Kurds as a separate minority.
Kaboglu and Oran’s rights report had also suggested that Turkey give
equal rights to non-Muslims, who are barred from jobs in the police
and Foreign Ministry, and from becoming military officers.
Unlike Kurds, Christians and Jews are recognized as minorities in
Turkey, but nationalists question the loyalty of non-Muslim Turks,
particularly those of Greek or Armenian descent.
Kaboglu, one of the authors of the report, called the case against him,
“a shame for Turkey.”
The court on Wednesday also dropped charges against the two professors
for allegedly insulting the judiciary when they criticized the charges
brought against them. The Anatolia news agency reported that the
Justice Ministry, already under criticism for prominent freedom of
expression cases like the one against novelist Orhan Pamuk, refused
to approve those charges.

‘ASSASSIN’ SAYS GREEN TOO MEAN FOR MUNDINE
By Grantlee Kieza
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
May 10, 2006 Wednesday
State Edition
VIC Darchinyan and Danny Green shared a house just after the Sydney
Olympics, iron sharpening iron as the two out-of-towners eyed pro
careers.
Each day the Armenian assassin and the Perth puncher would run an 8km
circuit near their bachelor pad in Bankstown and the way Darchinyan
tells it, even in the last kilometre Green would chase down other
joggers the way he ran over his first 16 pro opponents by KO.
“Danny never gives up,” said Darchinyan, who leaves for Las Vegas
today to defend his world flyweight title against an undefeated
Mexican before 20,000 fans in Las Vegas on June 4.
“This is why he will beat Anthony Mundine. Anthony is a good fighter,
strong, very fast, good movement, but Danny is mentally stronger
and tougher. He is a real fighter who will do anything to win. [If]
you hit him, it only makes him fight harder.”
The Man faces The Machine next Wednesday at Aussie Stadium in a
WBA super-middleweight title eliminator and Darchinyan and trainer
Jeff Fenech will be keeping tabs on the fight from their training
bases in Phoenix and Los Angeles, where Darchinyan will spar world
super-bantamweight champ Israel Vasquez.
Fenech says he has no ill feelings toward Green despite their
bitter split last year and believes his former protege’s tenacity
and toughness will keep Mundine on the back foot and out of the
victory equation.
Darchinyan, a 30-year-old southpaw slugger, defends his IBF flyweight
title against undefeated 28-year-old Mexican Luis Maldonado, who has
33 wins and a draw, 25 wins by knockout.
* NEVADA boxing regulators yesterday revoked Zab Judah’s licence and
fined him $326,000, the harshest penalty yet for a melee which broke
out at last month’s welterweight title fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Judah was punished for landing a punch to the back of Mayweather’s
head in the April 8 IBF title bout and for joining the fracas that
ensued when Mayweather’s trainer and uncle, Roger Mayweather, burst
into the ring.
The Nevada Athletic Commission also revoked the licence of Judah’s
father and trainer, Yoel Judah, and fined him $130,000 for being the
second person to rush into the ring and for punching Roger Mayweather.

TURKISH PREMIER MEETS FRENCH COMPANY EXECUTIVES ON ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS
Anatolia news agency
9 May 06
Ankara, 9 May: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received
on Tuesday [9 May] executives of French companies investing in Turkey.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Erdogan said that the draft
law which was submitted to the French parliament by the Socialist
Party with the aim of punishing those who deny the so-called Armenian
genocide, would play havoc with the bilateral relations between Turkey
and France.
Stressing that historians should deal with events of the past, Prime
Minister Erdogan reacted to efforts to turn such events into a matter
of political decision.
Recalling that Turkey had opened its archives to use of researches,
Prime Minister Erdogan called on Armenia to display the same positive
attitude.
“We expect executives of French firms to react to the draft law
which will seriously hamper freedom of thought and expression. It
also contradicts fundamental freedoms,” Erdogan added. Meanwhile,
executives of French firms expressed their regret over the draft.
Noting that they sent a letter to President Jacques Chirac of France,
they pledged to do everything in their power to prevent enactment of
the draft.

The community is trying to survive

Yerkir.am
May 05, 2006
During our visit to Lebanon with the delegation of the Armenian
Writer’s Union we were looking for someone who could tell us about the
history and present situation of the Armenian community in this
country.
Seda Khtshian turned out to be the right person for this. For many
years she has worked with the Armenian Relief Society, she was a
member of the judicial council. At present, Khtshian chairs the board
of trustees of Trchnots Buyn (Bird’s Nest) orphanage. In addition to
this she works at the Ecumenical Council of Middle East Churches as
the director of `Women and Service’ department.
Seda Khtshian: The Armenian Apostolic Church is one of the most
important among the Christian churches in the Middle East. I am
representing this church and this is a job and a mission for me.
Q: What does the Council do?
A: I would like to speak about our national institutions and the
social service work that we have under the patronage of the Cilicia
Catholicos. When Armenians immigrated to Lebanon in 1920-1930’s, this
was a period of physical survival. Foreign institutions hosted us. The
Organization for Middle East Assistance was established as an
organization dealing with orphans. Since 1976, this organization
called the Bird’s Nest enjoys the support of the Cilicia
Catholicos. Fortunately, the number of children in this orphanage has
recently decreased. Another organization that enjoys the support of
the Catholicos is the elderly people’s shelter and the blind people’s
shelter. 100-150 elderly people are hosted at the shelter. They either
don’t have children or their children have left Lebanon.
Q: On our way here we were shown another institution called `Azunie’.
A: Azunie is a health resort in the North of Lebanon. It was
established in 1923 by Americans who were assisting people with
pneumonia. Today the resort is supported by the Catholicos. It hosts
Armenians and people of other nationalities.
Q: Does the Catholicos’s office sponsor only institutions or does it
also support some national projects?
A: Of course the Cilicia Catholicos’s office supports a great number
of projects. For instance some 200 Armenians were populated in Burj
Hamud in the framework of one of such projects. A lot of newly formed
families get assistance from Antilias to buy houses.
Q: I was asking about cultural and educational projects.
A: There is a union of people with university education supported by
the Catholicos’s office. The members of this union come to Antilias,
learn about the spiritual heritage of the church and represent
Armenians and the Armenian Church at various international
conferences. The Catholicos’s office supports an educational
institution called `Khacher Galustian’ where teachers for Armenian
schools are educated. We have 15,000 students. However, this number
constantly decreases which means that we will have to close some of
the lyceums.
Q: It’s not a secret that the population of the Armenian community
decreases. This means that a lot of Armenians are leaving
Lebanon. Meanwhile, only a small portion of them come to Armenia.
A: All these institutions that I talked about manage to survive with
many difficulties. The first problem is lack of funding. The second
problem is lack of human resources. For instance, before the civil war
90 out of 100 employees at the Armenian-American hospital were
Armenian while now only 2-3% of the hospital’s staff is Armenian. We
have to turn to foreigners asking for assistance.
They help us but their assistance is conditional. The community is
trying to survive. There is a general mood of despair in the country,
not only among the Armenians. This does not allow us to plan for any
long term projects. For instance, we had planned a series of events to
commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Genocide. But we only managed
to implement half of the events we had planned.
After the September 11 terrorist acts in USA the number of people
emigrating from Lebanon slightly decreased because both USA and the EU
countries made their immigration regulations for people from Arab
countries much stricter. But can this be a consolation for us? Let us
not forget that the Armenians going to Europe or USA from the Middle
East face the threat of being assimilated and losing their national
identity.
By Hovhannes Yeranian

WHO SPOILT VAZGEN AND VANO
Lragir.am
09 May 06
Robert Kocharyan should rule the country, for when the All-Armenian
Movement was plundering the country, Robert was sitting in the trench
with Serge, said art critic Henrik Igityan May 8 at the Hayeli
Club. He also made a political statement; all the parties should be
disbanded, and only one should be left, which would be led by a
patriotic devotee, someone like Garegin Nejdeh.
There is an obstacle for Igityan’s idea, maybe a small but a very
significant one. There are no nejdehs. `Neither within the
government, nor within the opposition,’ says Henrik Igityan. Even
within the government, whoseyears passed in the trench, according to
Igityan, gives the right to govern a country.
Igityan can see nejdehs in the trench, but all of them are dead.
`I can see there. Leonid, for example, Monte, for instance, Vazgenin
the beginning, when he gathered 300 people and went there, who was
later spoilt by Levon Ter-Petrosyan and his gang. He spoilt both
Vazgen and Vano. Both were good guys,’ says Henrik Igityan.

Turkish press
8 May 06
Quotes package from BBC Monitoring, in Turkish 8 May 06
Kurdish issue
Hurriyet (centre-right) “The PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party] is
torpedoing the steps being taken for the integration of Turkey just as
much as it is torpedoing the struggle of Kurds living in Turkey to
gain a political identity. It is preventing internal peace. Actually
it is trying to keep up pressure not only on Turkey but also on the
northern Iraq administration. The PKK’s presence in Iraq is seriously
threatening Iraq’s stability.” (Commentary by Ferai Tinc)
EU
Milliyet (centrist) “As the Erdogan government plucks up courage, pays
attention and continues to be decisive about the EU, the support
Washington gives Turkey in the EU capitals will become stronger too
In the eyes of the Bush administration, a government that takes Turkey
ahead on the path to the EU is contributes directly to the USA’s
ideological fight that was determined by 11 September.” (Commentary by
Yasemin Congar)
“In recent days, looking at the performance of the AKP [ruling Justice
and Development Party], the Europeans are frequently saying that
‘Turkey has turned its back on the EU and begun going in the wrong
direction’ However I do not think the issue is just about the ‘the
AKP turning its back on the EU’.
There is an increasing antagonism in Turkey against the West. I see
this even in my own environment. Of course in the West, there are
those who do their best to incite that because they have learned how
to provoke the Turks, who easily get into a rage.” (Commentary by
Semih Idiz)
Zaman (moderate, pro-Islamic) “‘Deep’ Europe wishes both to block
Turkey’s path to membership as soon as possible and prevent people of
Turkish origin [in the European countries] getting strong positions in
politics. Turks who came as workers must stay workers! A formula must
be found that it will both stop these two developments and at the same
time appear to be acting with good intentions The Armenian ‘genocide’
formula comes out of this confused of mind of the Europeans.”
(Commentary by Selcuk Gultasli)
Cumhuriyet (secular, Kemalist) “Both the West and some Islamist
politicians who want to bring an Islamic order [to Turkey] are uniting
on common ground (and with a common target): that there be no
Ataturkist republican, the Kemalist philosophy be removed and the
Turkish Armed Forces be prevented from acting as the guardian of the
Ataturkist idea and secularism However in Turkey, an Islamic order
spreading out everywhere, from villages to suburbs, is gradually
creating a big danger for the West, which it was unable to predict in
advance. The Islamist social and political groupings are inwardly
producing an anti-Western, even an anti-imperialist formation.”
(Commentary by Erol Manisali)