Author: Kharatian Ani

Italian military center to study Upper Garabagh conflict
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Dec 6 2004
Resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh,
one of the most serious problems in South Caucasus, is an important
challenge, Director of Italy’s Defense Sciences Center Pietro Ercole
Ago said in a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev on Friday.
Ago is visiting Azerbaijan to hold seminars and discussions dedicated
to local conflicts.
The Italian official said the entity he is leading intends to conduct
research related to the conflict settlement and aspires to provide
assistance in this area. He said that as head of the Council of
Europe Committee of Ministers Ago monitoring group, he is closely
following the peace talks and wants to see a speedy and peaceful
conflict resolution.
President Aliyev said that he continues his efforts at resolving
the conflict based on international legal norms, within Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity and through peace talks. He pointed out that
there is no other alternative and that the conflict settlement is
being hampered only by the non-constructive stance of the Armenian
government.
The mentioned center, a higher educational institution of the Italian
armed forces, is engaged in training local personnel in the area of
military policies. The entity conducts joint conferences and seminars
in various countries throughout the world to discuss ways of settling
local conflicts.*

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
12/03/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Baku Opposes Minsk Group Approach, Rejects Compromise for Karabagh Settlement 2) Karabagh President Discusses Telethon Results with Cabinet 3) Turkey Condemns Slovak Recognition of Armenian Genocide 4) Ukraine Court Orders New Run-off Election 5) Schiff Criticizes Genocide Remarks of Turkish Official 6) How to Lose a Girl in 40 Days While Sleepless in the Valley 7) Tidbits From The Diner 8) Separatism--No Longer a Dirty Word? 9) Forget The Fat Lady--Let Hasserjian Sing 10) Veteran Photographer Harry Koundakjian Photo Exhibition and Public Program 11) Earth Tones--Works of Two Abstract Expressionists 1) Baku Opposes Minsk Group Approach, Rejects Compromise for Karabagh Settlement BAKU (Armenpress)--Ahead of the scheduled December 6 meeting with Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov announced that his country is ready to continue negotiations on the Mountainous Karabagh conflict, but only if Azerbaijan's proposals serve as a basis for a resolution. The foreign ministers are due to meet in Sofia, Bulgaria, on the sidelines of an annual meeting of foreign ministers of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) member states. The three co-chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group, tasked with mediating a settlement to the Mountainous Karabagh conflict, will also attend the meeting. Mamedyarov revealed that he recently met with the Minsk Group co-chairmen, within the framework of UN General Assembly's 59 session, and has told them that their proposals are unacceptable. Dissatisfied with the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, Azerbaijan recently urged the UN General Assembly to intervene in the long and bitter territorial dispute with neighboring Armenia over Mountainous Karabagh. The OSCE has, meanwhile, asked the assembly to stay on the sidelines and not interfere with their efforts. Talks "can only progress in an atmosphere of confidence between the parties. Anything in the direction of building confidence and of avoiding a division of the General Assembly is helpful," said US envoy Susan Moore, speaking on behalf of the OSCE. 2) Karabagh President Discusses Telethon Results with Cabinet STEPANAKERT (Combined Sources)--Mountainous Karabagh Republic President Arkady Ghukasian held a meeting with cabinet members on December 2, to discuss the results of the November 25 telethon held in the US. Ghukasian gathered National Security Council members, Prime Minister Anushavan Danielian, National Assembly Speaker Oleg Yesayan, cabinet ministers, and other officials to stress the necessity of strict control over the spending procedures of the $11.5 million raised for the construction of the strategic North-South "backbone" highway, which will facilitate communication between northern and southern sections of Karabagh, boost the local economy, and further improve the unrecognized republic's security. Nearly 100 kilometers of it has already been built since the project's launch four years ago. One of the most important issues for the Armenian diaspora, Ghukasian noted, is the future of Karabagh--more specifically the strengthening of its political and economic independence. "The diaspora believes in Karabagh and considers it a duty to contribute to its development," the President emphasized. The next telethon, he said, should be directed towards developing the economy of the Mardakert region, which has suffered most from Azeri aggression. Summarizing his US visit, Ghukasian expressed gratitude to the diaspora, as well as citizens of Armenia and Karabagh for their active participation in the telethon. He also noted that diaspora organizations have expressed their willingness to be more actively involved in lobbying for Karabagh's position in the international arena and stressed that the Armenian people can realize pan-national issues only through the joint efforts of Armenia, Karabagh, and the diaspora. All-Armenian Hayastan Fund executive director, Naira Melkumian, said she expects at least 90 percent of the pledges to materialize into cash in the coming weeks. She said the fund will need only $1.5 million to finish by 2007 work on the 170-kilometer road that will connect the northern and southern sections of Karabagh through the capital Stepanakert. The money promised is about twice the sum collected at the previous Los Angeles telethon in November 2003. Melkumian, who previously served as Karabagh's foreign minister, described the figure as "unprecedented," attributing it to "economic progress" witnessed by diaspora Armenians visiting Armenia and Karabagh. 3) Turkey Condemns Slovak Recognition of Armenian Genocide (AFP, AP)--Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul Thursday denounced as "unacceptable" a resolution by the Slovak parliament recognizing the 1915 massacre under the Ottoman empire of hundreds of thousands of Armenians as genocide. On Tuesday, the Slovak parliament adopted a resolution saying: "The Slovak parliament recognizes the genocide of Armenians in 1915 during which hundreds of thousands of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire were killed and considers this act a crime against humanity." But Gul also sought to downplay the issue, saying the initiative was spearheaded by the Slovak opposition and not the government. The resolution was adopted in the same session as another one giving the green light to opening negotiations on Turkey's accession to the European Union but were voted on separately, Slovak parliament spokesman Michal Dyttert said. "This is unacceptable...We will take the necessary (diplomatic) steps," Gul told reporters, but declined to elaborate. "I think this development is the result of (Slovak) domestic politics. Opposition parties sometimes behave irresponsibly...The Slovak government did not support it," he said. The Turkish foreign ministry issued a strongly worded statement, blaming the Slovak resolution on "a fait accompli by one political party (to) accept as genocide the tragic events of 1915." "Passing judgment on the contested periods of another's history cannot be among the duties and responsibilities of national parliaments," it said. "It is clear that this decision, taken for political profit by distorting events that took place under the conditions of World War I and caused great suffering to Turks and Armenians alike, does not constitute a responsible course of action," the statement said. The massacre of Armenians during World War I is one of the most controversial episodes in Turkish history. In 2001, France triggered a storm in its relations with Turkey when its parliament passed a law acknowledging the massacres as genocide. Ankara retaliated by sidelining French companies from public tenders and canceled several projects awarded to French firms. Meanwhile, Armenia has asked European Union leaders to discuss the policies of Turkey, toward the former Soviet republic at an upcoming EU summit. In a letter, President Robert Kocharian asked EU leaders to discuss what Armenia sees as a Turkish economic blockade during their December 17 meeting, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said in a televised interview late Wednesday. Turkey keeps its border with Armenia closed, aggravating the impoverished country's economic plight. EU leaders are to vote at the forthcoming summit on whether to open membership negotiations with Turkey. 4) Ukraine Court Orders New Run-off Election KIEV (AP)--The Supreme Court declared the results of Ukraine's disputed presidential run-off election invalid on Friday and ruled that the run-off should be repeated on Dec. 26, bringing cheers and fireworks from tens of thousands of opposition supporters massed in Kiev's main square. The ruling, made after five days of hearings by the court's 18 justices, was a major victory for opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, who had rejected the government's demands that an entirely new election be held. The opposition had pinned its hopes on the court's ruling in its bid to overturn the results of the Nov. 21 run-off vote in which Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych was declared the winner. The opposition said the vote was rigged to cheat Yushchenko of victory. The ruling was a stinging blow to outgoing President Leonid Kuchma and powerful ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who a day earlier had sharply derided the idea of holding a new run-off. Kuchma had been pressing for an entirely new election, apparently in hopes of replacing his favorite Yanukovych with a stronger candidate. The spiraling political crisis has undermined his hopes to ensure he is succeeded by a supporter, has paralyzed his government with protests and has raised fears of a split in Ukraine between its east--where support of Kuchma and traditional ties with Russia are strong--and its west--where many want to move closer to the rest of Europe. The ruling is final and cannot be appealed, and both sides have promised to abide by the decision. There was no immediate reaction from Yanukovych or his supporters. Representatives from Yanukovych and the Central Election Commission left the courthouse before the judges announced their decision. The court ruling said a new run-off vote should be held nationwide on Dec. 26. Parliament scheduled a marathon all-weekend session to pass legislation corresponding to the Supreme Court verdict. It will need to pass changes to the membership of the 15-member Central Election Commission and in election law to help prevent fraud. Parliament, filled with opposition supporters while many government delegates stay away, has been chipping away at Kuchma's authority. On Friday, it passed a non-binding resolution calling for the withdrawal of the country's 1,600 peacekeepers out of Iraq--a symbolic snub of Kuchma, who ordered the deployment. Earlier, parliament brought down Yanukovych's government with a no-confidence vote. The crisis has also strained relations between Russia, which has staunchly backed Yanukovych, and the West, which has refused to accept the official results of the vote. Putin immediately congratulated Yanukovyck on victory after the Nov. 21 run-off, and Kuchma made a hastily arranged visit to Moscow on Thursday for support from Putin as the opposition appeared to be gaining momentum. President Bush, asked about Russia's stance on Thursday, said any new election "ought to be free from any foreign influence." Before the court's ruling, Poland's president, who has served as mediator in Ukraine's political crisis, warned that the country should hold a new vote quickly or else violence could break out. 5) Schiff Criticizes Genocide Remarks of Turkish Official Lawmaker Calls for Renewed Effort for US to Recognize Armenian Genocide In Light of Comments by Turkish Parliament Human Rights Commission Leader WASHINGTON, DC--Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) this week condemned recent remarks by Mehmet Elkatmis, head of the Turkish Parliament's Human Rights Commission, in which he accused the United States of committing genocide in Iraq. Elkatmis declared, "Never in human history have such genocide and cruelty been witnessed. Such a genocide was never seen in the time of the pharaohs, nor of Hitler, nor of Mussolini." Congressman Schiff is circulating a letter to his colleagues in the House of Representatives to make them aware of Elkatmis's comments and to urge Congress to pass legislation commemorating the Armenian Genocide. Congressman Schiff also released the following statement: "The Turkish Government's effort to deny the murder of 1.5 million Armenian men, women and children by the Ottoman Turks has reached a new level of hypocrisy. The Government of Turkey spends massive sums on high-priced Washington lobbyists to convince Congress and the Administration that US-Turkish relations will be irreparably harmed by American acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide. At the same time, the Turkish government does nothing to repudiate the scurrilous charges leveled by a senior parliamentarian who is a member of the ruling party. "It is clear to me that since the Turkish government has no compunction about accusing the United States of genocide, we should not be hesitant to recognize those murdered by a government that no longer exists. It is also clear to me, given the relatively mild reaction to Mr. Elkatmis' remarks, that the potential fallout from a Congressional resolution has been greatly exaggerated by the Turkish government's lobbyists." Just recently, an amendment authored by Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA)--and included in the House version of the Foreign Operations spending bill--that would have stopped the Government of Turkey from using US foreign aid to lobby against a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide was dropped from the final FY 2005 Omnibus Appropriations bill (H.R. 4818). In July during consideration of the Foreign Operations spending bill, the House of Representatives voted to adopt the Schiff amendment, prohibiting the Government of Turkey from using US foreign aid to lobby against H.Res. 193, a resolution that officially recognizes the Armenian Genocide and marks the 15th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan signing the 1987 Genocide Convention Implementation Act. (Also known as the Proxmire Act, this put the United States on record as being strongly opposed to the heinous crime of genocide.) H.Res. 193 passed the House Judiciary Committee on May 22, 2003, shortly after its introduction on April 10, 2003. However, because of significant lobbying efforts by those who deny the Genocide, the resolution has been languishing on the House calendar for over a year. The day after the House passed the Foreign Operations bill, Speaker Hastert issued a joint statement with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (TX-22) and Majority Whip Roy Blunt (MO-7) in opposition to the Schiff amendment on the Armenian Genocide. The Speaker's statement expressed the House Majority Leadership's determination to drop the Schiff amendment from the final version of the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill and their intention to block the consideration of H.Res. 193--even though Speaker Hastert made a public pledge in 2000 to the Armenian American community to schedule a floor vote on such a resolution. The Senate passed its version of the Foreign Operations bill (S. 2812) on September 23 without the Schiff amendment. Last week, a conference committee combined nine appropriations bills--including the Foreign Operations spending bill--into the FY 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Act (H.R. 4818). The Conference Committee left the Schiff amendment out of H.R. 4818, which passed the House of Representatives and Senate on November 20. Congressman Schiff is a Member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, a co-founder of the Democratic Study Group on National Security and a member of both the House Judiciary and International Relations committees. He represents California's 29th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Burbank, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City. 6) How to Lose a Girl in 40 Days While Sleepless in the Valley By Skeptik Sinikian Here's a simple breakdown of what life in the Armenian online dating fast lane is like so far. This will serve as a recap of the events that have transpired over the course of the last few months. I decided to pose as a single available Armenian bachelor online on one of the dozens of websites set up to help Armenian singles meet. Here's what I've found out so far. You can register for a profile. That's free. You can post your picture up. That's also free. You can send "flirts" to other users. That is...free as well. So where's the catch? When you actually try to contact someone from the website they try to pick your pocket. It's information highway robbery! Dear friends, there is, indeed, a price to pay for love or companionship and as I discovered in my previous column, the price tag starts at around 60 dollars. So where does this leave my experiment? After all, I'm a man of simple means and not because I'm frugal by nature. It is due in large part to a bad relationship I had in college with a woman named Sallie (Last name Mae). Sallie and I parted ways eventually but not before I had borrowed a lot of money. Well, it turns out Sallie wanted all her money back PLUS interest, so here I am a working stiff, drinking "Two Buck Chuck" ($1.99 a bottle Charles Shaw wine for anyone who has never been to Trader Joe's) and drinking straight coffee instead of them fancy lattes everyone is raving about. I've been driven to such a point of frustration with this experiment that I'd need at least ten issues of Asbarez to get all of my thoughts out in the open. But I've decided to take a hiatus from my own experiment and cover some of the stories that people have emailed me over the course of the last three weeks. Here's one of my favorites. As always, my opinions and comments will follow in brackets where it is appropriate. I apologize for anyone who's going through Skeptik's Political Commentary Withdrawal Syndrome. We'll try to have something more Skeptik-esque next week. A friend of mine recently met a 30 year old, apparently divorced Armenian male who is in the pharmaceutical business. He's from Fresno but has relocated to a city in the Los Angeles area that is closer to the beach. Here is the story [you know you love gossip so keep reading]. They meet online and exchange flirts, emails, etc. [I guess some people have the money to waste on things like this...must be nice]. They meet in person and start dating for about a month. She goes out with him, his brother, and his girlfriend. Everything seems okay, right? [In general, when things seem like they're going great after only a month of dating, you clearly don't know much about dating and should slow the pace down a little]. She thinks that everything is totally "cool" [her words, not mine] because he was "totally into [her]," calling her and text messaging her like an Armenian teeny bopper with a new cellular phone, making plans to hang out, the whole nine yards. Just to make the ending of this story even creepier, he sends her cute notes a hundred times a day, wants to spend all of his free time with her, and even asks her to go to church with him [Church? Is that even considered a date? What do you do to follow up on that brilliant idea? Get "His" and "Hers" matching plots at Forest Lawn? Creep!] He goes from all this to completely stopping the phone calls. [Now, I don't know this person, but my friend who told me the story, assured me she's attractive, smart, and has a good head on her shoulders. Otherwise I'm with you on this one. I thought there was something weird about her too]. He ends up sending her a text message that says he'll call her when he wakes up from his nap and never calls back [this is the all too familiar--the old I'm taking a nap trick]. Our innocent victim texts the creep the following Monday morning and still no response. She calls him that night and leaves a message. No response. Next day, same routine. Still nothing. The day after, she starts worrying and leaves ANOTHER message [hmmm...in my grandmother's village in the old country they had a word for this kind of behavior ...it was called a HINT! But who am I to judge]. Apparently, this was completely out of character. Normally, this guy would text message her literally 2 minutes after seeing her. By the end of the third day, this girl starts freaking out [the Armenian mother personality took over I guess]. Finally, she blocks her number so it comes up private [only in the modern age of cell phones would this be possible? What did people do before blocking their phone number? I guess they just knocked on your door wearing a mask, paper bag or something over their heads]. She calls his cell and he answers, kind of disguising his voice a little bit. After she asks him how he is, our Don Juan responds with silence. Then hangs up. She calls back and it goes straight to voice mail. According to the victim in this story, "this is truly the most bizarre dating experience ever in my entire dating past." Le Fin--The End. Just when you think you've met them all, along comes a slime ball like this guy. As the narrator of this story explains, "He was obsessed with me, then turned on a dime and disappeared." Folks, this is just the tip of the iceberg. You wouldn't believe what both men and women have been writing to me about dating. I feel like Sarah Jessica Parker's character on "Sex in the City" (not that I watch the program or anything) and I'm glad all of this is out there. The best part of this whole experience is that it has opened my eyes to what Armenians go through to find that perfect match. After reading all these emails--each more disturbing, funny, or depressing than the next--the only perfect match I wanted was the one that I'd use to set myself on fire to avoid any similar misery. Here's the question I pose to everyone out there who indulges me by reading my mental dribbling every week. What would you do in this situation? How would you act differently? And finally, what do you think this guy's real story was? My money is on him being married and he was lying about being divorced. Then again, I've been known to be wrong before and when it comes to relationships. I'm about as clueless as a supermodel at a rocket scientist convention. So write to me at [email protected] because I want to hear your answers, theories, horror stories or even success stories. Skeptik Sinikian is not a relationship counselor or a licensed therapist but if you buy him a fancy latte, he may just share his opinions with you free of charge. He can be reached at [email protected] or at 7) Tidbits From The Diner By Tatul The leftovers--and taste--of the Thanksgiving turkey in one's refrigerator and mouth take a while to dissipate. I found out, though, that the strong flavor and aroma of Turkish coffee, the kind served at Costa's Diner, will reset your taste buds and make them ready and rearin' to go for Christmas pudding and eggnog. Speaking of Turkish Coffee, sometime ago, a friend of mine took out a pen and crossing out the "Turkish" printed on the Diner menu, wrote in "Armenian" instead. Costa, who was watching from behind the counter, walked over with a benign smile on his face, took the menu from my friend's hand, looked at it, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Why, for heaven's sake? Your people and mine have accumulated so much culture over so many centuries--the Turks, on the other hand, have next to nothing to speak of. Be generous, let them have the credit for this one..." He walked away, trying to erase the scribbling on his once spotless menu. That, was a long time ago. This morning I was ready for some strong coffee and the company of my friend Marty, who hadn't seem to have arrived yet. I had almost drained my cup, feeling some of the grinds in my teeth, when he walked in, looking like a man in trance. Seeing me he attempted a smile, but since Arty's departure to Canada, Marty's smiles were hard to tell from a sneer. "What's wrong, Marty?" I said, "You look like you have seen a ghost!" "Two ghosts, to be exact," he said, taking the seat across the table with his collection of newspapers. "A double whammy, on the eve of the coming 90th Anniversary of the Metz Yeghern..." "What are you talking about? What double whammy...?" "Don't you read the papers? Didn't you hear that the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation Commission, the same TARC whose unlamented demise was received with a sigh of relief by Armenians everywhere, has been heard, right around Halloween, making cryptic noises with an obvious intent to trick and treat our communities all over again..." "Read it! Read it!" Marty continued, shoving a paper in front of me, "it's bad enough, that the TARCish forces are trying to revive the specter of a cruel hoax, another bunch of aging groupies, after so many years, are trying to re-market the disastrous performances of a fallen star called Levon (l'Etat c'est Moi ) Ter Petrosyan... Well? No comments?" "I don't know what to say," I mumbled, feeling a chill creeping up my spine... "All this talk about the dead rising again makes me very nervous... I need another cup of Turkish coffee!" "You mean Armenian coffee... don't you?" growled Marty with darts shooting out of his eyes... "Here," interrupted Costa, putting two cups of steaming coffee in front of us, "Have a Greek coffee. I hope you don't mind, I was eavesdropping. You know what? Don't let these people discourage you; you have a just cause, and no matter what they say, don't give up. We gave up on the rights of the Pontus Greeks, under foreign pressure, and now it's too late. Don't let that happen to you..." There was profound sadness in his voice; Costa's grandfather was among the thousands of deportees from their native Pontus. We looked at him in silence as he returned to the kitchen. We slowly finished drinking the hot, bitter Greek coffee and left the Diner together. 8) Separatism--No Longer a Dirty Word? By Garen Yegparian The December 13, 2004 Fall Books issue of The Nation seems to have been designed with Armenians in mind. It contains Peter Balakian's letter to the editor replying to a September 20 review of his The Burning Tigris by Meline Toumani. The latter seems to be one of those Armenians who is so conflicted about her identity, yet also motivated by the most noble of urges to stand on principle, that she ends up sounding practically anti-Armenian. The issue also contains analyses of modern Islam and the post-WWII red scare era, both arenas of great impact and importance for Armenians. But most interesting is a signed editorial by Kirkpatrick Sale titled "Blue State Secession" that describes a November 5-7 conference held in Vermont. It seems the US Civil war has not put the issue of secession to rest since 28 separatist organizations already exist in the country. In light of the US election results, much petty chatter has been heard about seceding, most of it a means of venting extreme exasperation. But this conference seems to have been much more earnest and serious. Organized by the Second Vermont Republic a grassroots movement working to make the state a republic as it was from 1777 to 1791, and Fourth World an England based organization supporting separatist movements for independence in the other three "worlds," this conference was three days of speeches, presentations, and debate demonstrating the depth of feelings about this issue in light of the remarkable passions ignited by November 2's lead-up and fallout. This reminded me of an article in the Fall 1999 issue of Foreign Policy, "Too Many Flags?" wherein Juan Enriquez documents the accelerating pace of new state formation over the course of the 20th century. He then proceeds to argue that globalization is simultaneously bringing the world closer while allowing it to break up into its component parts. In addition, he contends that while the Western hemisphere has not experienced this proliferation of states, it is not immune to it. Numerous other essays addressing issues of self determination and the redrawing of international boundaries all point to the cutting-edge nature of our struggle for Artsakh and other occupied Armenian lands. Our efforts can no longer be dismissed as nationalist irredenta. Here, we must remember that nationalism is a dirty word for both the left and right ends of the political spectrum, albeit for different reasons. It seems to me that our political organizations and structures should be developing contacts with groups such as Fourth World. If we are concerned about the ramifications of such activities on existing relationships, then a new entity could easily be established to handle these matters discretely. To pass up an opportunity to become engaged in what is a worldwide process is a crime against our nation. Observe the Caucasus, former Soviet Union, Europe, China, the Arab Middle East, India-Pakistan, Indonesia, the indigenous peoples' movements in the Americas, and even the above US based examples for inspiration, bases of support, and channels of cooperation. Let's make this the millennium of Armenian restoration. 9) Forget The Fat Lady--Let Hasserjian Sing By Vazken Haroutunian AGBU Alex Manoogian Center in Pasadena, California has seen its share of performances, from Armenian folk music, to theatrical presentations, and even the obligatory poetry recital. But the rustic walls of the converted church hall weren't expecting to be shaken as hard as they did on Saturday, November 13 during the performance of operatic tenor Levon Hasserjian. Although a powerful voice in its early stages of maturation, it wasn't Maestro Levon's performances of Verdi or Schubert that caused the shaking, but the thunderous applause and standing ovations from the dual encores. Disco's dead. Rock n' Roll is on life support, but Opera is back with a vengeance. Over 200 packed the portion of the auditorium-church hall to hear the young Hasserjian belt out aria after aria and throw in the occasional Armenian patriotic favorite to bring down the house. Individuals who missed this concert missed a performance by a young tenor who has a bright future and the personality and swagger to match. Levon Hasserjian ("Uncle Leo" to his closest confidants) was born in Antelias, Lebanon, where he began his study of music at the Melkonian Educational Institute, under the guidance of Maestro Sebouh Markarian. He later spent three years at the Lebanese Music Conservatory, where he trained with Professor Garo Jaderian. Having performed in Lebanon and Cyprus as the principal soloist with the AGBU choir and the Holy See of Cilicia's Shnorhali Choir, Hasserjian is currently studying voice with Kathleen Darragh and coaching under Dan Bridston and Robin Reed. That's the background on his musical training and history but there's more to this stout, proud young man. On stage in his tuxedo and hair tied back in a pony tail--reminiscent of the style worn by Italian men in Rome ogling the women on the Spanish steps, Hasserjian commands a presence during performances that is only upstaged by his humility and dedication to his passion off of the stage. It was a long path that Hasserjian took to get to the Manoogian Center in Pasadena--we're not just talking Lebanon to the US. Hasserjian, like many of his generation, has worked and continues to work at a regular 9-5 job that has little to do with his first love--opera. A few years ago, he made a decision to take better care of his health, organize his personal finances, and devote himself to honing his God given talent to sing opera. "He just has a passion for the music," commented Ardashes Kassakhian, a friend and supporter of the young tenor. "His knowledge of opera is remarkable and his dedication to his craft is to be admired." Kassakhian tells of Uncle Leo's Opera circle--an unofficial group of friends of the tenor's who regularly attend the Los Angeles Opera's performances partly for the operas and partly for the pre and post commentary by Hasserjian. "If you want front row tickets to Lakers vs. Phoenix game, right behind Jack Nicholson at the Staples Center, I'm sure there's someone out there and I don't know them," observes Kassakhian. "But say it's the night of a performance of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro with Bayradakian as the lead and tickets have been sold out for weeks. Who are you going to call? I know who I will. Levon is our Opera hook up!" There are a lot of young and talented Armenians out there who talk about their dreams, who dream about their passions, but who rarely follow the path their talent or dreams have laid out for them. Hasserjian's an exception and one from whom we can expect greater things to come. 10) Veteran Photographer Harry Koundakjian Photo Exhibition and Public Program WATERTOWN--Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives and the Armenian Library and Museum of America (ALMA) opened a fifty-photograph exhibition of veteran, award-winning Associated Press (AP) photographer Harry Koundakjian's work on November 14 to run through January 14. The exhibition, divided into five subject areas, covers his entire career as photo journalist. Themes include World Leaders, Defining Moments, Natural Disasters, Hye Armenian Eyes, and Harry the Photographer. As the AP's chief photographer in charge of all 13 Arab countries in the Middle East, North and East Africa, Turkey, and Iran, Harry has been everywhere imaginable and covered everyone from royalty to revolutionary. He has had entrée into public and private events, has recorded death and destruction, and captured life at it highest and lowest moments. His photographs tell innumerable stories. Th exhibition is an extraordinary expression of one man's passion for being in the right spot at the right time with the right equipment to get the newsbreaking photograph, regardless of the danger. He has been shot at--he landed on his Nikon zoom lens when he ducked for cover as bullets zoomed past him. He has witnessed the human misery of earthquake victims and the torturous actions of assassins. He has also captured the kiss of world leaders in a moment of affection. Ruth Thomasian, founder and executive director of Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives, has served as exhibit curator working with Harry to choose images and develop captions. She has caught the human interest focus that permeates all of Harry's work, as well as his boundless energy. The section on Harry the Photographer shows him drying film over a charcoal fire during his coverage of United States First Lady Pat Nixon's tour of West Africa. We see him in Aden, South Yemen accompanied by his British body guard and an information officer, whose job it was to protect Harry as he captured the news, not to restrict or interfere with his work. And Harry loves to tell of being nick-named by those Brits as Harry the Horse, because of his passion for working hard, just like a horse. On Tuesday evening, Dec. 7, at 7:30, ALMA will host a panel discussion accompanying Harry's exhibition. Harry will join colleagues Steve Kurkjian, investigative reporter at The Boston Globe, and Garo Lachinian, photographer, formerly Director of Photography at the Boston Herald, in sharing their points of view on the topic, Image is Everything: Photography and the World's Defining Moments. They are sure to go beyond the basics of news making into social and political issues that color how the news is communicated everyday. The program, which will include a question-and-answer period, will be monitored by Ruth Thomasian. That evening the photograph exhibition, 50 years/50 photographs: Harry L. Koundakjian, AP Photographer, will be open for viewing starting at 7pm at Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives and the Armenian Library and Museum of America. For more information call Project SAVE Archives at 617-923-4542 or email [email protected]. 11) Earth Tones Works of Two Abstract Expressionists LOS ANGELES--Recent works by two Armenian artists living in Los Angeles, Lucy Hagopian and Narine Isajanyan, are currently on exhibition at the Don O'Melveny Gallery. "Earth Tones" showcases the works of two abstract expressionists who were raised on different continents (Narine from Yerevan and Lucy from Caracas), yet their work reflects on the Earth as environment and universe; their images resonate with the dissonances of modern consciousness struggling against the eternity of nature. Both have painted with soil, sand, rock, metal, wood and tar, mixed in acrylics with a bent toward deep terrestrial and oceanic colors. Lucy Hagopian closely relates her work to her concern for the environment, as it motivates her, just as nature inspires her. But her work succeeds on its own apart from any social political reference by virtue of an aesthetic that performs a balancing act between representational and abstract impulses. It is as if she allows an instinct to portray a natural scene to transform into a deeper desire to create instead a landscape of her own inner universe, navigating with the aesthetics of abstract form, color, movement, and space. Perhaps Hagopian's trademark distinction as an artist is her technique of painting with a car: driving wet painted tires over a canvas in repeated and controlled 'brush strokes.' The resulting images are then integrated, if not consumed by an array of other elements painted by hand. Lucy explains her work best herself: "My work begins with a concept, but it doesn't end there. There is a give and take between chance and planning. I begin with an idea, yet allow the process of work to take its own course. Physical involvement and the action of painting is a constant part of the work. I switch from my mind to my heart, and allow my feelings, my instinct to guide me...The process of work takes its own course... and the end result is often a surprise to me...after its done I feel as I have known the work all my life." Interplaying layers of paint creating transparencies versus opaque surfaces are used as poetic expressions. Visual images become symbols. She switches between the machine created images and what the human hand can create. The process becomes a reflection of life in Los Angeles. Historical, social, environmental, and personal meanings can be found in the paintings. Narine Isajanyan returns to Don O'Melveny Gallery for a fourth time with work that is expressionist, minimalist, and conceptual by turns. Whether on canvas, paper, board, wood, or actually made of metal, her pieces become abstract landscapes that are as fluid within as they are consistent and organic as a whole. Her most recent large scale canvases are painted with acrylic mixed with sand, earth, metal shavings (even kitty litter). Reminiscent of Pollock's free use of space, they create bold unified fields energized by swirling movements of muted color under multiple layers of grays and blacks. Like the universe expanding in every direction without a center, her elements are nevertheless so harmonic as to create a single 'minimalist' impression. Many of Narine's very latest pieces almost recreate the feeling of lunar landscapes. Yet without intending to represent the natural world, without 'rational interference' in the spontaneous building of form on form, her images reflect the processes of nature responding within her. She is not imagining scenes from the some parallel world--she is creating that world. Included in "Earth Tones" will be two of Narine's works made exclusively from metal. On one piece, a spiraling steel cylinder crawls across an iron grid like a silver snake. Another shining rectangle of sheer steel, scraped in abstract patterns as if worn down by nature, is focused on a centerpiece of nails, their nail heads projecting out in a rectangle of their own. Thus hard industrial force and its sense of violence are transformed into a still life of beautiful, even serene balance. Located in the heart of the Avenues of Art Design on Melrose Ave in West Hollywood, CA, the Don O'Melveny Gallery features original modern, contemporary work with a lean to the abstract. From cutting edge to blue-chip, emerging to internationally recognized, the Gallery posses a wonderfully eclectic mix of fine art. The Don O'Melveny Gallery 5472 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 323-932-0076 Exhibition Dates:December 3-31 Artist Reception: Saturday, December 11, 6-10 pm All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Dec 2 2004
Italy opposes Turkey’s EU admission

Italy opposes admission of Turkey to the European Union (EU) and the
latter may get the EU membership only in 2014, Italian Deputy Foreign
Minister Margherita Boniver said in a meeting with Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanian last Tuesday. The Italian diplomat wished
Turkey to open its borders with Armenia, which entered the EU New
Neighborhood
program this June, so that the former could be admitted to the EU.
Turkey has repeatedly stated that it will not open its borders with
Armenia unless the latter withdraws its armed forces from the
occupied lands of Azerbaijan.
The New Neighborhood program rejects the territorial claims by the EU
member states against their neighbors.
The Italian official seems not to have taken this into account and
her country intends to create artificial obstacles for the admission
of Turkey to the EU.
With regard to including the issue on the occupied lands of
Azerbaijan into the agenda of the UN General Assembly session,
Boniver said she backs settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict
within the OSCE Minsk Group. The Italian diplomat stressed, however,
that her country will abstain from voting on any decision at the UN.
Former Italian Foreign Minister Mario Rafaelli was the first chairman
of the OSCE Minsk Group in 1992-1993. Several discussions were held
with the separatist regime of the Upper Garabagh in Rome in this
period.
The Italian deputy foreign minister’s “warm attitude” towards Armenia
may be explained by the increasing economic and trade relations
between the two countries.
The trade turnover between Italy and Armenia made up $49 million in
2002 and $59 million in 2003.
Disapproval
Prime Minister Artur Rasizada, in a meeting with Boniver on Thursday,
said he disapproves of her statement made in Yerevan that Italy would
abstain from the mentioned UN vote.
Boniver visited Baku as part of her tour of the South Caucasus
region.
Rasizada stated that Azerbaijan, unlike Armenia, has been subject to
aggression, and that Azeri civilians have been ousted from their
homes and the country’s territories occupied. These facts should be
taken into account when discussing the issue, the Azeri Prime
Minister said.
Touching upon economic relations, Rasizada said prospects exist for
developing such cooperation. Italy is a leading country in terms of
the turnover of goods with Azerbaijan, but most of the trade occurs
on oil, he said. The Prime Minister pointed out that Italy’s
investments in Azerbaijan are insignificant and emphasized that Baku
is interested in drawing Italian investors and this country’s
involvement in global transport projects.
Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Boniver said that the documents
signed during the current visit on establishing the Italy-Azerbaijan
Economic Council and the joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry will
serve strengthening of economic ties. She added that Italy can assist
Azerbaijan in developing small and medium enterprise in the country,
as her country possesses extensive experience in this area.

Times Union, Albany, NY
Dec 2 2004
Underscoring a dark time in history
Night devoted to Armenian music and culture has a reference point in
genocide of 1915

By DAVID FILKINS, Staff writer
First published: Thursday, December 2, 2004

TROY — Ralph Enokian doesn’t make a peep as he conducts the Armenian
Men’s Choral Ensemble, but becomes a chatterbox when lecturing about
the Armenian Genocide at local schools.
The former director of music for the Shenendehowa Central School
District uses entertainment and history to bring his relatively
unknown homeland to light.

Enokian, whose descendants came from the small country in
southwestern Asia, is one of four prominent Armenians bringing their
country’s music and culture to the Capital Region. On Saturday,
Rensselaer Newman Foundation will host “Armenian Arts and Culture
Night.”
Joining Enokian on stage will be award-winning opera and concert
singer Sylvia Kutchukian and Rev. Dr. Mihran Kupeyan, author,
historian, pastor and advocate for the acknowledgment of the Armenian
Genocide.
Kutchukian will be accompanied by pianist Charles Moore and Kupeyan
will give a talk entitled “Armenians, People of Ararat.” Troy Mayor
Harry Tutunjian, himself an Armenian American, will be giving the
opening remarks.
The program is being presented by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s
Chapel and Cultural Center in association with area Armenian
residents.
“Armenia has a rich history and we really wanted to raise awareness
of the country,” said Eric Smith, director of the Chapel and Cultural
Center. “We want to provide a program with interesting points in
arts, culture, religion and music. The local Armenian population is
bigger than people might think.”
That number is roughly 2,000, according to Rafi Topalian, founder of
the Capital District Armenian Genocide Committee. Aside from
celebrating cultural contributions, Armenians want such events to
bring a dark part of their history to light.
More than 1.5 million Armenians were killed by the Turkish Ottoman
Empire in 1915. Topalian said the Armenian Genocide served as the
model for Adolf Hitler’s similar plight 30 years later. Turkey denies
the genocide occurred, attributing the deaths to civil war in the
region. Half of the Armenian population was lost in the bloodshed.
“Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, we want to rise above the
dark part in our history,” Topalian said. “We are willing to forgive
but we will never forget. We really just want what happened to be
acknowledged.”
Topalian, who is also a singer in Enokian’s choir, said the Capital
District Armenian Genocide Committee is planning a commemoration at
the Well of the Capitol on April 25 to commemorate the 90th
anniversary of the genocide.
Enokian retired from Shenendehowa in 1999 after 34 years as the
director of music, but continues to teach, appearing at local schools
during Armenian history lessons. He said he has a responsibility to
raise awareness because his grandparents were victims of the brutal
period.
His eight-man ensemble features various styles of music, almost
entirely in Armenian, but does two songs in English “just to show
that we can.”
“The end product is the re-creation of beautiful Armenian culture,”
Enokian said. “We show our love for Armenian music, culture and being
Armenian Americans.”
The program begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free to the public. Armenian
food will be provided and any donations will be given to the State
Museum’s Armenian Cultural Series and to Armenian orphanages.

New body to make sure no freight gets to Armenia via Azerbaijan – TV
ANS TV, Baku
30 Nov 04
[Presenter Aytan Safarova] The Azerbaijani State Customs Committee’s
delegation is in Tbilisi. The delegation is to verify the documents of
the companies which own the freight in the wagons that have been
stopped at the Boyuk Kasik station [on the Georgian-Azerbaijani
border].
[Correspondent] The damage inflicted on the other side by Azerbaijan’s
stricter control over the railway freight heading for Georgia is
around five to six million dollars, (?Irma Stepnadze), the
spokesperson of Georgia’s Department of Railways, has told ANS TV. She
said that the overall amount of losses is still being calculated. The
temporary detention of freight wagons on the border has also inflicted
some losses on Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani State Railway Department
did not disclose the amount but said that since this has to do with
national interests, the losses are not that important.
The Azerbaijani bodies, especially the State Customs Committee,
started to seriously search the wagons from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan
and Russia which head for Georgia through Azerbaijan a month ago. The
Baku government explains this by the subsequent transit of some of the
commodities, particularly of oil, to Armenia. According to documents
signed by the Georgian and Azerbaijani heads of states, commodities
cannot be transited to a third country if this runs counter to
Azerbaijan’s interests. As for the commodities, they include oil,
liquefied gas, grain and flour.
[Passage omitted: minor details]
Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Georgia, Ramiz Hasanov, has said that the
verification of companies by the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee’s
delegation will take until the end of the week.
[Hasanov over telephone] This process will take some time, about three
or four days. Some proposals will be made after that. They are
investigating, verifying documents and figures. There is no proposal
as yet. On the basis of their investigation we will make some
proposals and will take some measures.
When I say investigation I mean that they are checking what are those
companies, what are the amounts and so on.
[Correspondent] Despite suffering losses, the other side does not
protest at the process.
[Hasanov] There is no discontent at all. They understand and we cite
some bilateral agreements. We have the right to do this.
[Correspondent] During the talks the creation of a special body under
the Azerbaijani embassy in Georgia was also discussed. The body is to
include representatives of the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee,
Azerbaijani State Railway Department and the State Oil Company of the
Azerbaijani Republic and to oversee that freight transited from
Azerbaijan to Georgia reaches its destination. The Tbilisi government
has already agreed to the creation of the body, Hasanov said. The body
is expected to start working soon.
Ayaz Mirzayev, ANS.

SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE OF CALIFORNIAN UNIVERSITY OF LOS ANGELES DEVOTED
TO JERUSALEM OF GREAT SUCCESS LOS ANGELES, November 29 (Noyan
Tapan). Ph. D. Richard Hovhannisian, the Head of the Department of
Contemporary Armenian History of the Californian University of Los
Angeles (UCLA), devoted the 15th scientific conference of the
“Provinces and Towns of Historical Armenia” series organized by him to
Jerusalem. As is well known, the previous scientific conferences of
this series concerned Western Armenia and other areas of today’s
Turkey populated by the great number of the Armenians: from
Van-Vaspurakan till Constantinople and from Izmir till the Black Sea,
as well as Nor Jugha.
The scientific conference, which was presided over by Archbishop
Torgom Manukian, the Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, was also held
under the patronage of other departments of the Californian
University: the Center of Middle East Researches, the Center of
European and Eurasian Researches and the International Institution, as
well as under the patronage of the “Srbots Targmanchats Sanuts” Union
of Jerusalem on November 6-7.
On November 6 morning, when Ph. D. Hovhannisian was opening the
seminar with an opening address, the hall with capacity of 450 places,
was crowded.
John Garsuel (Malaga, Spain) made a report about the Armenian mosaics
of Jerusalem. After 13-year laborious work he described 2,000 samples
of them, publishing the two-volume edition devoted to them (1972).
Former dweller of Jerusalem Abraham Terian (New York) touched upon the
collection of the manuscripts of the St. Hakobiants cloister, their
number made 3.9 thousand. He said that the first written document
concerning the presence of the Armenians in Jerusalem dates to the 6th
century.
Klod Mutafian’s report (Paris-Nord University, Paris) entitled
“Armenian Princes and Jerusalem Kings of the10th-12th Centuries”, as a
matter of fact, was devoted to the Armenian princesses of Cilicia:
Arta, Morpia, Melisant, who became Jerusalem queens after their
marriage. According to Mutafian, Melisant’s possible meeting with
Catholicos Grigor III Pahlavuni (1141) might be a reason for the
reconstruction of the St. Hakobiants cloister.
Sergio Laporta (Jerusalem) spoke about the relations between Mets Haik
and the Jerusalem Patriarchate (the 14th century). The attempts of the
Catholicosate of All Armenians of Cilicia for joining the Romanian
Church were the reason of the opposition of the conservative clergymen
of Eastern Armenia. Jerusalem was part of this opposition. In 1311,
its head Bishop Sargis rose against the decisions of the 1307 Adana
Synod, separated from the Cilician Kingdom and the Catholicosate,
started cooperating with the Mamelukes and founded the
Patriarchate. So, according to the speaker, Jerusalem preserved the
Orthodox nature of the Armenian Church.
Roberta Ervain ( New York) made a report on Patriarch Grigor Paronter,
one of the most interesting persons of Jerusalem (1613-1645). He
enlarged Armenia’s presence in Jerusalem through the purchase of new
territories, fundraising, organization of pilgrimages. By his own
example he restored the spiritual atmosphere at the cloister by
approving a 8-hour prayer. Grigor Paronter also established the
community of celibate women and men.
Emma Kostandian (the National Academy of Sciences, Yerevan) told about
the relations between Khrimian Hayrik and Jerusalem. In particular, in
1852, Khrimian Hayrik visited Jerusalem and wrote the “Invitation to
the Promised Land” poetical work. Being the Patriarch of
Constantinople, Khrimian Hayrik was in correspondence with the
Patriarch of Jerusalem. Khrimian Hayrik was expelled by the Turkish
authorities to Jerusalem in 1890. He left Jerusalem in 1892, when was
elected Catholicos of All Armenians.
Vahram Shemmasian (the Californian State University, Northridge) made
a report, which was full of figures and facts concerning the fate of
4,000 Armenians from the string of death of the Genocide who survived
in Palestine. They were moved to the migration area of the Said harbor
on the eve of the English capture and lived there till 1919 autumn,
when they received an opportunity to come back to their birthplaces.
On November 7, the scientific conference re-opened with the report of
Vardan Matevosian (Der Salvador University, Buenos Aires, and the
Hovhanian Gymnasia, New Jersey) that was devoted to Patriarches
Eghishe Durian and Torgom Gushakian, two progressive figures of
Jerusalem of the 11th century.
Armenian of Jerusalem Petros Ter-Matosian (a person working for
doctor’s degree of the Columbia University, New York) presented the
history of the Armenians of Palestine of 1917-1948, when their number
reached from 3,000 to 15,000 on the eve of the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
Another Armenian of Jerusalem Oshin Keshishian, editor of the
“Armenian Observer” English-language weekly newspaper (Glendale
College, Los Angeles), in his speech spoke about the literary work of
Jerusalem, presenting the creative activities of Duryan, Oshakan,
Berberian, Yeghivard, Shen Mahi, Aneli, Vahram Mavian and others.
Participants of the sitting were informed about the current situation
of the Armenian Community of Jerusalem. Silva-Natali Manukian (the
California University, Los Angeles) presented the project of the
restoration of the “Gyulbenkian” Matenadaran of the Patriarchate,
which started in 1995.
Last rappaurteur Sosi Andezian (the National Center of Scientific
Studies, Paris, and the French Studies Center, Jerusalem) made a
report entitled “The Central Role of Jerusalem for the Armenians of
the World”.
After the report Hindlian several times stressed his viewpoint that it
is high time for the Patriarch, who mentioned that the forces of the
unity are insufficient for the resolution of problems, to turn to the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and other Armenian instances for the
achievement of joint aid.
In his concluding speech Ph. D. Richard Hovhannisian said that this
series will be interrupted next April, because an international
symposium will be organized on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of
the Armenian Genocide at the California University of Los Angeles on
April 2-3.
Participants of the symposium were received by the Srbots Targmanchats
Sanuts Union on November 5 evening, and by members of the Armenian
educational establishment at Alek Baghdasarian’s apartment on November
6 evening.
After the symposium participants with other invitees were present at
the reception dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Society for
Armenian Studies held at the “Charles Young” hall of the
University. The reception was organized in honor of founders of the
Society Tigran Gulumjian, Richard Hovhannisian (the only present),
Nina Garsoyan, Robert Thomson and late Avetis Sanjian.

Opinion – Armenios: un genocidio no reconocido;
La Nacion (Argentina)
Nov 22, 2004
Desde fines de 1890, una larga serie de asesinatos politicos cometidos
en territorio entonces otomano derivo en lo que, entre 1915 y 1923,
se convirtio en una verdadera ola de matanzas colectivas, a las
que hoy algunos se refieren -genericamente- como el “genocidio de
los armenios”, en el que se estima que habrian perecido mas de un
millon y medio de personas. El inicio de este tragico episodio se
suele ubicar en los asesinatos de decenas de armenios prominentes
que ocurrieran en Constantinopla, el 24 de abril de 1915.
Esta es una cuestion de la que curiosamente, salvo los armenios,
pocos parecen querer hablar. Para referirse a ella se suele entonces
recurrir a toda suerte de eufemismos hipocritas. Entre ellos, “la
masacre de los turcos” o “la tragedia de los armenios”. Cuando se
trata, historicamente, de un verdadero genocidio.
No obstante, nadie ha reconocido hasta ahora -oficialmente- este
genocidio. Ni los Estados Unidos, siquiera. Quien fue el candidato
democrata en las recientes elecciones norteamericanas, el senador John
Kerry, habia prometido que -de imponerse- reconoceria expresamente
el genocidio armenio, sin ambiguedades y de manera explicita. Cabe
apuntar, asimismo, que algo similar habia hecho, cuatro anos atras,
el actual presidente, George W. Bush. Pero, en la realidad, nada
ocurrio. El reciente triunfo republicano parece augurar que esta
cuestion quedara, como hasta ahora, relegada eventualmente al plano
de la academia, con algunas pocas discusiones en un reducido ambito
en el mundo de la politica.
La sensacion es que siempre hay intereses economicos o militares que
evitan analizar, en profundidad, lo que efectivamente sucedio y definir
serenamente -ahora que el tiempo ha disminuido significativamente la
intensidad de las pasiones- la naturaleza del crimen perpetrado. Entre
esas razones siempre invocadas esta, claramente, la importancia
estrategica de Turquia en el conflicto de Medio Oriente y su ponderable
conducta de las ultimas decadas.
El resultado es que se sigue silenciando una tragedia, de espaldas a
la humanidad y al pueblo que la sufrio, como si no importara. Esto es
cerrar las puertas a desentranar la verdad. En un mundo que quiere
ser cada vez mas abierto y transparente, esta actitud no pareceria
ser demasiado coherente. Especialmente para aquellos paises como el
nuestro, Israel y los Estados Unidos, que por una razon u otra han
tenido cercania con episodios de naturaleza similar.

Jail terms for plotters
Associated Press
Nov 27 2004
A COURT convicted dozens of South Africans and Armenians yesterday
as mercenaries in a coup plot in the oil-rich African nation of
Equatorial Guinea, but rejected death penalties for two top figures.
The decision on the death penalty could help Equatorial Guinea in
its bid to extradite the most prominent figure in the alleged plot:
Mark Thatcher, son of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.
Twenty-one shackled defendants listened in a courtroom in a converted
conference centre as Judge Salvador Ondo Nkumu read out verdicts and
sentences. He said the court would make no comment on its verdicts.
South African arms dealer Nick du Toit, who earlier this month
repudiated an alleged confession that had provided the bulk of
Equatorial Guinea’s case, received a 34-year prison sentence.
Opposition figure Severo Moto – the only other defendant for whom
prosecutors had requested the death penalty – was sentenced in
absentia to 63 years. Eight other opposition figures also living in
exile received 52 years each.
Equatorial Guinea alleged Thatcher and mainly British financiers
commissioned the bid to overthrow the 25-year-old regime of President
Teodoro Obiang.
Plotters allegedly intended to install an opposition politician as
the figurehead leader of Africa’s No. 3 oil producer.
Thatcher – charged in South Africa in connection with the alleged
conspiracy – and all others deny any involvement.
The court sentenced six other South Africans whom prosecutors said
were mercenaries to 17 years’ jail each.
Three Armenian pilots the Government said were hired to fly in gunmen
and material received 24 years each in prison, and three others 14
years each.
Equatorial Guinea citizens accused in the alleged plot received more
leniency. Two received sentences of one to four months, and two were
acquitted. Three other South Africans were also acquitted.
Defence lawyers said they would appeal against the convictions.
The verdicts brought no reaction in the courtroom, filled with family
members of the defendants. Defendants – in leg irons, handcuffs and
chains since their arrests in March – rattled out of the courtroom
after the verdict was read.
Equatorial Guinea has one of the world’s worst human rights records.
The US State Department and others accuse it of routine torture to
dissuade dissent.
The International Bar Association has questioned the independence of
the court system, accusing Mr Obiang of interfering in trials.
Several mercenaries said earlier in court they had been tortured,
with at least one showing scars.

ARF STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES OPPRESSED
A1 Plus | 14:24:48 | 26-11-2004 | Social |
Today’s press conference of ARF “Nikol Aghbalyan” Student Union has
been over the seminar on “Corruption in State Colleges of Armenia”
they held on November 16, 2004.
Let’s remind that during September-October, 2004, they conducted
experimental surveys among 1100 students of state colleges in Armenia
to find the ideas of students on corruption in institutes of higher
education. The survey results were published on November 16, which
caused discontent of chairmen of student boards for some IHE.
Ishkhan Saghatelyan, Head of ARF “Nikol Aghbalyan” Student Union
considered as baseless the statement made by representatives of
S-boards who said that no polls had been held and even if they were,
in a non-professional way only.
Members of ARF “Nikol Aghbalyan” Student Union stated that after
their statement some heads of IHE exert pressure on some students,
especially in Physical Training Institute. Representatives of “Nikol
Aghbalyan” SU didn’t indicate in which faculties exactly.
Despite the pressure, ARF “Nikol Aghbalyan” Student Union announces
that it will be more resolute and will keep unveiling corruption
in IHE.

Italy to Abstain From UN Vote on Occupied Azerbaijani Lands
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Nov 25 2004
Italy opposes admission of Turkey to the European Union (EU) and the
latter may get the EU membership only in 2014, Italian Deputy Foreign
Minister Margherita Boniver said in a meeting with Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanian on Tuesday.
The Italian diplomat wished Turkey to open its borders with Armenia,
which entered the EU New Neighborhood program this June, so that the
former could be admitted to the EU.
Turkey has repeatedly stated that it will not open its borders with
Armenia unless the latter withdraws its armed forces from the
occupied lands of Azerbaijan.
The New Neighborhood program rejects the territorial claims by the EU
member states against their neighbors. The Italian official seems not
to have taken this into account and intends to create artificial
obstacles for the admission of Turkey to the EU.
With regard to including the issue on the occupied lands of
Azerbaijan into the agenda of the UN General Assembly session,
Boniver said she backs settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
within the OSCE Minsk Group. The Italian diplomat stressed that her
country will abstain from voting on any decision at the UN.
Former Italian Foreign Minister Mario Rafaelli was the first chairman
of the OSCE Minsk Group in 1992-1993 and several discussions were
held with the separatist regime of the Nagorno Karabakh in Rome in
this period.
The Italian deputy foreign minister’s “warm attitude” towards Armenia
may be explained by the increasing economic and trade relations
between the two countries.
The trade turnover between Italy and Armenia made up $49 million in
2002 and $59 million in 2003.