Author: Karakhanian Suren

YOUTH ACTIVITIES ASSUME GREATER SIGNIFICANCE FOR FUTURE OF OIC COUNTRIES – AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT
Author: M.Tagiyev
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2006
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated to the opening ceremony
of headquarters of the Youth Forum of the Organization for Islamic
Conference (OIC) in Istanbul on last weekend that “We should explain
to the world that Islam is religion of peace. In this context the
youth organizations, particularly, the Youth Forum of the OIC Youth
Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation assume special importance, Trend
report citing the Turkish media.
“Even 1.5 months ago we participated in the opening of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export oil pipeline and today we are opening
the youth forum of the OIC. I am glad to be in the Turkic land again,”
the President stressed.
The forum is carrying active work today. “The activities of the Islam
youth is great importance for our future,” Aliyev underscored.
The Azerbaijani President also noted the Armenian aggression against
Azerbaijan. “Azerbaijan has become a victim of terror. As a result
of ethnic cleansing policy conducted by Armenia over 1 million people
have become refugees and IDPs, 20% of Azerbaijani territory is under
the Armenian occupation,” the head of state underlined.
“We should be more active in order to make the forum of practical
importance,” Aliyev underlined.

VARDAN OSKANIAN: IF NOT THE 1991 REFERENDUM, NKR WOULD NOT EXIST TODAY
ArmRadio.am
04.09.2006 11:45
If not the referendum on independence, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
would not exist today, RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said during
the Yerevan-Stepanakert spacebridge broadcast by the Public Television
of Armenia.
In the Minister’s words, the people of Nagorno Karabakh had no
alternative to the declaration of independence, without which
Armenians could not have mobilized their forces. The legality of
NKR independence reinforces the positions of the Armenian side in
the negotiation process, notwithstanding the fact that today the
international community considers the question exceptional from the
political perspective, not a legal one. Just In the political field
the Armenian side should apply every effort to reach the desirable
result in the negotiations, taking into consideration the legitimacy
of the decision the people of Karabakh took on September 2, 1991.

KARABAKH LEADER SEES NO GROUNDS FOR WAR
Arminfo, Yerevan
4 Sep 06
Stepanakert, 4 September: I am absolutely confident that at this
stage the world community would not want to see the resumption of war
between Karabakh and Azerbaijan and the aggressive statements that we
are hearing from Baku make us wonder as to “why they are doing this”,
President Arkadiy Gukasyan has said in reply to a question from an
Arminfo correspondent.
The president noted that he does not see any grounds for the
resumption of the war – neither political, nor economic nor moral
nor geographic. He said that the most important thing is that we have
achieved the task we set, won the war which was imposed on us, have
built a developed society and the fact that the people of Nagornyy
Karabakh have been living a free and independent life over the past
15 years is a sign of that.
The leader of Karabakh noted that the declaration of independence was
the only way for the people of Nagornyy Karabakh. Life shows that we
were right. Otherwise, we would have repeated the plight of Naxcivan
[Azerbaijani exclave], Gukasyan noted.
The president of Nagornyy Karabakh noted that the main task for the
republic is to maintain peace and within that framework to sign a
treaty with Azerbaijan and to achieve the international recognition
of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic. “I believe that we will be able
to solve these two main issues,” Gukasyan noted.

PanARMENIAN.Net
European Parliament Concerned over Dink Sentence
02.09.2006 13:47 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The European Parliament is concerned over the
conviction of Hrank Dink, the editor of the Armenian Istanbul-based
newspaper `Akos’. A corresponding report will be published next
Monday. To remind, Hrant Dink was sentenced to six months’ suspended
imprisonment for `outraging Turkish identity.’ The report also remarks
that the bill on religious minorities worked out in Turkey is
incomplete. It should be noted that in several weeks the European
Commission will consider the reform process in Turkey, reported
RFE/RL.

PRESIDENT OF SOUTH OSSETIA PRESENTS CONGRATULATIONS TO ARTSAKH PEOPLE
ON OCCASION OF 15th ANNIVERSARY OF NKR PROCLAMATION

STEPANAKERT, SEPTEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. A delegation
of the Republic of South Ossetia is in Stepanakert for the purpose of
taking part in the festive events dedicated to the 15th anniversary of
proclamation of Nagorno Karabakh Republic. On September 1, NKR
President Arkady Ghoukassian received members of the delegation,
Deputy Foreign Minister Alan Pliyev and Deputy Minister of Defence and
Emergency Situations Ibrahim Gassiyev. The guests conveyed NKR
President South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity’s congratulations
and wishes addressed to Artsakh authorities and people on the occasion
of the 15th anniversary of proclamation of NKR. As Noyan Tapan was
informed from NKR President’s Acting Spokesperson, the meeting
participants touched upon peaceful settlement to conflicts in the
South Caucasian region, processes of building of statehood in
non-recognized republics, as well as post-war rehabilitation and a
number of issues relating to socio-economic development.

GERALD PAPASIAN IS BACK FROM OPEN-AIR TOURS OF SHAKESPEARE/BROOK ‘MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM’
Translated from the French by Irma Tyler
AZG Armenian Daily
31/08/2006
What happens when you want to bring theatre to places where it
is least expected, such as the gardens of Hermitage in Lausanne,
the Château le Bailly in Montigny/Canne, the Neiderstinzel Castle
or the Gallo Roman ruins of Bliesbruck in Alsace? What happens when
you want to perform an entire Shakespeare play with only six [male]
actors? What happens when it is summer and France and Switzerland
are swinging with festival fever?
What happens is Irina Brook (daughter of the illustrious Peter Brook,
well known to all for her award-winning production of Beast on the
Moon) and six of her loyal company members, who bring Shakespeare’s
Midsummer Night’s Dream to your backyard.
Spurning big budget glamorous productions to which she had accustomed
us, Irina Brook draws upon the complicity and confidence of her
trustworthy actors, to create a joyful and sparkling show with a
minimum of costumes and props, where improvisation lurks at every
corner. The actors excel themselves in this free style where pure
pleasure replaces conceit and pretentiousness.
“Irina Brook explores a different way to summon a spirit of festivity
that accompanied theatrical productions of the past.” Official Festival
Journal – Lausanne
The talented actors (Vincent Berger, Jerry Di Giacomo, Cyril Guei,
Gerald Papasian, Christian Pelissier and Augustin Ruhabura) interpret
21 roles, involving quick changes of cross-gender dressing, miles of
crossing uneven ground, braving wind and rain, scorching temperatures,
poison ivy, mosquitoes and even a hornet’s nest!
The brilliant company, which includes a child actor played
enthusiastically by Irina’s own son Prosper, entertains and enchants
thousands of French and Swiss theatregoers over the summer months of
June and July 2006. Created in 2005 the production is scheduled for
a third season of tours in Europe and, if we are good boys and girls,
may even come to the States!
Gerald Papasian plays the demanding role of Bottom as well as the
‘young lover’ Demetrius in this third collaboration with Irina
Brook. His interpretation of the roles, a highly energetic Demetrius
and a wonderfully ‘ham’ but lovable Bottom, are acclaimed both by
critics and boisterous audiences from 7 to 77 years old. “It is the
best interpretation of Bottom I have seen,” says Bruce Meyers, long
time member of Peter Brook’s company.
Next month, Gerald Papasian embarks on his fourth collaboration with
Irina in her production of Haendel’s Julius Caesar at the Theatre
des Champs Elysees in Paris where he had rehearsed the first of their
collaborations, Brecht’s The Good Person of Schezuan playing opposite
French stage and film star Romane Bohringer.
“…All this is nothing but a Dream! If we [the actors] have
offended…we will make amends!” says Puck, one of the characters in
the play. Isabelle Viong of the Courrier (Switzerland) rightfully adds,
“No need to make amends, they are already excellent!”
–Boundary_(ID_dhzE44vwjduNk+6pg SO8NQ)–

ARMENIAN AND AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTERS REACH NO AGREEMENT ON MEETING IN SLOVENIA
Yerevan, August 28, ArmInfo. No agreement on the meeting of Armenian
and Azerbaijani foreign ministers have been reached, Vladimir
Karapetyan, Acting Press Secretary of Armenian Foriegn Ministry
told ArmInfo.
Regarding the possibility of such meeting, V. Karapetyan said the
ministry has no data, however, them meeting is not ruled out.
Armenian Foreign Minister participates in the Congress “Caspian
Prospects 2008> in Slovenia on August 27- 28. Participating in the
Congress are the heads of countries, foreign ministers, special
representatives of NATO and EU in the South Caucasus, high-ranking
representatives of international organizations, world-known experts,
political specialists.

INDELIBLE IMAGE: ANDRE AGASSI, PLAYER
Dave Scheiber Times Staff Writer
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
August 28, 2006 Monday
1 Edition
“I look forward to not having to do things – like waking up every
day and saying ‘What do I have to do today?’ because of the schedules.
It’s going to be a bit more on my terms, which is what I want my life
to look like. …
“You know, the last 20 years on the tennis court have all been practice
for me for tomorrow. It’s always been that way. I’ve spent a lifetime
on the tennis court preparing myself for the next battle.
And I feel like I have over 20 years of experience doing this very
thing, which is the challenge of how life now may look for me. I
look forward to embracing that as much as embracing any stage of my
career. I look forward to that general level of pressure to deal with
and holding yourself to the highest standard every day.
“I look forward to not having to rest. There are times (in tennis)
when you just have to rest. But try to explain that to a 3-year-old
and a 5-year-old. …
“Giving back to the sport is going to be very important to me in
any way that I feel I can make a difference. For me, hopefully the
decisions are being made so that I can continue my involvement. I
don’t just want to walk away, because this has been my life. It
hasn’t been about hitting the ball. It’s been about being part of a
great sport with a lot of great people. Family is also my foundation,
it’s my life. So that’s going to be a given. …
“There are difficult parts about (walking away while still
competitive). I anticipated it being more difficult. I wish I could
explain why but I can’t. It’s not just saying goodbye to a sport,
to a business, to hitting tennis balls. It’s saying goodbye, by the
way, to all the people you’ve done this with, from the fans, to the
sport itself, to your peers. …
“I’ve pushed myself through so many physical issues over the last
four years to negotiate doing this as well and as long as possible –
until I realistically felt it’s not something I can do at the highest
level anymore. I didn’t know if it was going to be physical reasons
or mental reasons or emotional reasons or all of the above. There
were so many factors involved. … But this has been great, and I’m
going to take this all in. I’ll also spend the rest of my life trying
to make everybody proud who has helped me along this path. And it’s
just time for me to do that.”
– Excerpts from a recent press conference
BY DAVE SCHEIBER | TIMES STAFF WRITER
THROUGH THE YEARS
1970: Born Andre Kirk Agassi on April29 in Las Vegas. One of four
children (brother Phillip, sisters Rita and Tami). Mother is Elizabeth
and father is Armenian-born Emmanuel “Mike” Agassian, a former boxer
who participated in the 1952 Olympics for Iran.
1975: Practices with pros such as Jimmy Connors and Roscoe Tanner.
1986: The 16-year-old prodigy of Nick Bollettieri, training at
Bollettieri’s academy in Bradenton, turns pro, exuding a long-haired,
earring-clad rebellious image (later underscored with his role as
pitchman for Canon’s Rebel camera, proclaiming “Image is everything.”)
1987: After losing in the first round at Wimbledon, is criticized
for passing up the tournament the next three years. He claims it’s
because he isn’t allowed to wear his colorful shirts on court instead
of the traditional all-white; critics say it’s because he doesn’t
want to risk losing. As a wild card, he beats Luiz Mattar of Brazil
on Nov. 29 in Brazil, for his first ATP title.
1988: Wins six titles in seven finals.
1989: Wins only title of year in Orlando.
1990: First Grand Slam final is French Open.
1991: Finalist for second year at the French Open, losing to fellow
Bollettieri star Jim Courier.
1992: Wins first Grand Slam, at Wimbledon. Later that year at U.S.
Open, Barbra Streisand, romantically linked with Agassi, refers to
him during a TV interview at Open as “Zen master.”
1993: After a poor season, parts ways with Bollettieri in July and
hires a new coach, Brad Gilbert. Has right wrist surgery.
1994: Returns from surgery to win five titles, including U.S. Open.
First unseeded player since 1930 to win the Open, beating five seed
who were seeded. Andre Agassi Charitable Foundation opens doors to
assist at-risk youth in Las Vegas.
1995: Shaves balding head just before winning Australian Open. Wins
career-high seven titles in a personal-best 11 finals, compiling a
personal-best 73-9 match record and reaching No. 1 on April 10, where
he reigned for 27 weeks. His first Grand Slam for Children benefit
is held, with more than $52.3-million taken in through 10 fundraisers.
Named winner of ATP’s Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award for 1995 and
2001 for helping disadvantaged youth in Las Vegas.
1996: First American man to win Olympic gold in singles play since
Vincent Richards in 1924.
1997: Marries actor Brooke Shields after four-year courtship;
plummets to No. 141 in rankings. Andre Agassi Boys & Girls Club in
Las Vegas opens.
1998: Makes biggest one-year jump into top 10 in history of ATP
rankings (since 1973) by climbing to No. 6. Compiles a 68-16 record
and wins five titles.
1999: Marriage to Shields ends in divorce. After losing first two
sets in French Open final, roars back to win the tournament, becoming
only the fifth male to complete a career Grand Slam and the only one
to win all four majors and Olympic gold. Finishes No. 1 for first time.
2000: Captures sixth career Grand Slam title at Australian Open.
2001: Marries Hall of Famer Steffi Graf on Oct. 22 in Las Vegas;
son Jaden Gil is born Oct. 26. Oldest player (31) to finish in top 3
since 32-year-old Jimmy Connors was No. 2 in 1984. Starts season by
winning his seventh career Grand Slam at Australian Open.
2002: Becomes oldest (32 years, 8 months) to finish No. 2 in ATP
rankings.
2003: Captures four titles in first four months of season, including
his eighth and final Grand Slam in Australia. Daughter Jaz Elle is
born Oct. 3.
2004: Sixth in Open era to reach 800 wins.
2005: Finishes in top 10 for 16th time in his 20-year career and
becomes oldest in year-end top 10 since Jimmy Connors (36) was No. 7
in 1988.
2006: Plays only seven ATP matches (4-3) in first five months of
season because of chronic ongoing back problems. Announces June 24
he is retiring after U.S. Open. Highlights include: member of three
winning Davis Cup teams; career singles record of 868-273, including
60 titles; career earnings of $31,110,975.

Bill to aid Israel, Armenia passes U.S. House
r/press/2006/6-8-06.htm
June 8, 2006
WASHINGTON , D.C. – The U.S. House today debated and passed the
Foreign Operations Appropriations Act of 2007. The legislation includes
funding for international aid, programs, and projects to assist in the
development of U.S. priorities abroad. Congressman Joe Knollenberg
(R-MI-09), a senior member of the committee with jurisdiction over
the bill, commended its passage.
“This is an excellent bill that balances the many priorities of
the United States around the world. Our foreign assistance fosters
democratic and transparent governments, promotes human rights, and
helps millions of people in need. While less than one percent of our
entire annual budget, foreign assistance serves as a main pillar of
our foreign policy and is an integral part of our national security.
This bill provides important economic and security assistance to
Israel , including $40 million for refugee resettlement. It also
prohibits direct funding for the Hamas-infected Palestinian Authority,
but allows limited humanitarian assistance under strict guidelines
and checks to ensure absolutely no funding reaches Hamas.
I am also particularly pleased that the bill provides $62 million in
economic assistance to Armenia . This funding is especially important
since Turkey and Azerbaijan continue to obstruct transportation and
infrastructure routes into and out of Armenia with the intention of
forcing Armenia into economic isolation.
This is a responsible bill. It’s the result of significant oversight,
it’s fiscally sound, and it focuses funding on priorities that will
advance democracy and freedom around the globe.”
###

CONGRESSMAN EXPLAINS ‘GETTING INTO POLITICS’
By Jane Pojawa
El Vaquero Editor in Chief
May 12, 2006 (view cover)
El Vaquero, CA
Aug. 27, 2006
In El Vaquero’s May 12 issue, Editor in Chief Jane Pojawa writes about
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff’s advice to students about how to become
involved in politics, even up to becoming an elected official.
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, representing California’s 29th District,
spoke in the J.W. Smith Student Center Monday on “Getting Into
Politics,” giving advice to students about getting their voices heard
as citizens or for actually becoming an elected official.
The 29th district is a sprawling area that encompasses Glendale, as
well as Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, Griffith Park, Monterey Park,
Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Gabriel and Temple City.
More than 100 students and faculty members filled the student center
for this event, sponsored by the Organization of Latinos for Higher
Education [OHLE], which was a short biographical speech followed by
questions from the audience.
Schiff was an adjunct instructor in GCC’s political science department
while serving as a state senator for California’s 21st district,
his position before election to the House of Representatives. He is
a strong proponent of educational and environmental issues.
Schiff recommends student involvement at all levels of politics,
whether that means voting (even for those who usually don’t), working
on campaigns, providing grassroot support for bond measures, which
often pass by only a small number of votes, to ultimately running
for office.
Schiff recommended that students who want to pursue a career in
politics “decide what you have a passion to do and then go after it.”
He said that the typical example of political science major followed
by law school was no longer the operative model for success, and that
his colleagues in the House of Representatives were just as likely
to have been accomplished “teachers, athletes, lawyers, doctors,
engineers, even a rocket scientist.” The common denominator is that
they “are good at what they do.” He added, “There will always be an
opportunity down the road to serve.”
Schiff is an outspoken advocate against genocide denial and believes
that the United States should condemn the 1915 Armenian genocide
regardless of pressure from the Turkish government.
In answer to a question posed during his speech about his proposed
Armenian genocide bill, Schiff described adding an amendment to a
reauthorization of a State Department bill asking the Historian of
the State Department to review the pertinent documents of the United
States to the Armenian genocide.
The state department bill was not directly related to the genocide,
but “it just happened to be my good fortune that the Turkish Prime
Minister was in town…” he recounted, and went on to describe how
the political pressure brought to bear by his amendment allowed the
bill to be reviewed at a separate hearing. The Dedicated Genocide
Resolution passed the committee with a strong bipartisan vote, but
until the Speaker of the House allows it to come before Congress,
it goes no further.
Although the overall tone of the meeting was positive and upbeat,
some of the queries fielded by Schiff questioned his accountability
in the Iraq War [he voted to authorize the use of force based on
the intelligence reports of weapons of mass destruction but has
since changed his position] and on a peculiar note, his feelings
about the 1994 parole of Lyndon LaRouche (Schiff was not associated
with LaRouche’s conviction or parole, and turned the discussion to
globalization and economics).
Schiff is opposed to invading Iran, in favor of increasing funding
to schools and believes in immigration reform.
“I believe that the magnitude of the rallies got everyone’s attention,”
he said.
He favors the Kennedy-McCain Bill, which allows for immigrants living
in the United States to become legal through a six-year application
process the “Essential Worker Visa Program” that includes background
checks and documented gainful employment, among other requirements,
but does not believe that legislation will pass both the senate and
the house this year.
“In the past, the United States has been the beneficiary of the brain
drain of the rest of the world,” the congressman said. He is concerned
that not only is the United States not cultivating scientists and
engineers, but that new immigration policies actively discourage the
best and brightest of other countries from emigrating.
He also spoke of U.S.-Chinese relations and the importance of
cultivating “not only free trade, but fair trade,” citing examples of
how Chinese policies keep the entertainment industry from competing
on an even playing field.
Students looking for a political internship program will be pleased
to hear that there are unpaid positions available at his offices in
Pasadena and in Washington, D.C. It may be the perfect way to “get
into politics.”