Author: Maghakian Mike

Le Monde, France
15 novembre 2004
La police néerlandaise annonce le démantèlement d’un camp
d’entraînement de guérilla kurde
Le coup de filet dans le sud-est des Pays-Bas a abouti à
l’arrestation de trente-huit personnes impliquées dans la formation
de groupes armés destinés à être envoyés en Arménie
par Jean-Pierre Stroobants
Les opérations antiterroristes se succèdent à un rythme accéléré aux
Pays-Bas depuis l’assassinat, le 2 novembre, du cinéaste Theo Van
Gogh. Vendredi 12 novembre, la police a lancé de nouvelles
investigations qui ont abouti, à Liempde, dans le sud-est du pays, au
démantèlement de ce qui serait un camp d’entraînement du Congrès du
peuple du Kurdistan (Kongra-Gel), une émanation de l’ex-PKK, le parti
illégal des Kurdes de Turquie. Vingt-neuf personnes ont été
appréhendées dans le cadre d’une enquête qui aurait démarré il y a un
an et ne serait pas, selon le porte-parole du parquet national,
directement liée aux opérations de démantèlement de réseaux
islamistes. D’autres perquisitions ont conduit à neuf arrestations.
Divers équipements et des armes ont été saisis. Selon un membre du
parquet, les militants kurdes s’entraînaient avant d’être envoyés en
Arménie.
Divisé en plusieurs factions, Kongra-Gel – que Washington, Istanbul
et l’Union européenne assimilent à une organisation terroriste – a
officiellement renoncé au séparatisme, mais certaines de ses branches
ont ranimé le conflit dans le sud-est de l’Anatolie. La Turquie a
reproché aux Pays-Bas leur indulgence à l’égard de l’ex-PKK dont une
dirigeante présumée, Nuriye Kesbir, réclamée par Ankara, n’a pas été
extradée, un tribunal de La Haye jugeant que la Turquie violait les
droits de l’homme. Selon la justice, Mme Kesbir risquait d’être
torturée si elle était remise à la justice turque.
Jusqu’ici, les services néerlandais considéraient quant à eux que les
groupes kurdes ne se livraient qu’à des actions pacifiques aux
Pays-Bas. Vendredi, les autorités affirmaient que ce sont des
techniques de guérilla et des entraînements au combat physique qui
étaient enseignés à Liempde.
LACUNES POLICIÈRES
Cet épisode renforce un climat d’inquiétude, et souvent
d’incompréhension, qui règne dans un pays où les rapports entre les
différentes communautés se sont fortement détériorés depuis
l’assassinat de Theo Van Gogh par le militant islamiste Mohammed
Bouyeri. Quelque 40 % des Néerlandais estiment, selon un sondage,
qu’il sera impossible d’intégrer les musulmans.
C’est sans doute pour tenter de donner un signe d’apaisement que la
reine Beatrix s’est rendue, vendredi 12 novembre, dans un centre où
vivent de jeunes Marocains, à Amsterdam. Pressée par des responsables
politiques de lancer un appel au calme, la reine a préféré participer
à une discussion au cours de laquelle ont été évoqués le risque de
confusion entre islam, islamisme et terrorisme, et la nécessité de
s’attaquer aux causes de la radicalisation de certains immigrés.
Sur le plan politique, pour ne pas ajouter à la confusion, les
députés n’ont pas mis en cause le ministre de l’intérieur à l’issue
d’un débat consacré à l’affaire Van Gogh. De l’avis unanime, y
compris dans son parti – le VVD, libéral – Johan Remkes n’a pourtant
fourni aucune explication convaincante quant aux lacunes des services
de police et, surtout, de renseignement. Il se confirme, en effet,
que depuis l’été 2004, des informations permettaient de conclure
qu’une cellule islamiste préparait un attentat. D’autre part, des
menaces avaient été adressées à Theo Van Gogh, à Ayaan Hirsi Ali, la
députée d’origine somalienne qui avait, avec lui, dénoncé les
mariages forcés et l’islam fondamentaliste, ou encore à Geert
Wilders, un dissident du parti libéral qui a fondé une nouvelle
formation de droite. A aucun moment, les responsables de la lutte
antiterroriste ne sont apparemment parvenus à établir un lien entre
ces diverses informations.
M. Remkes, vivement critiqué par le président de son propre groupe
parlementaire, n’a pu expliquer pourquoi il n’avait été tenu compte
ni des menaces pesant sur Theo Van Gogh ni des éléments apparemment
accablants sur son meurtrier, Mohammed Bouyeri. Ce dernier avait été
dénoncé par certains informateurs mais les services de renseignement
ont décidé d’arrêter les écoutes de son téléphone. Connu de la
justice, Bouyeri donnait aussi asile à différents islamistes, ce qui
était connu des services. L’un de ses complices avait déjà été arrêté
en 2003.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Globe and Mail, Canada
Nov 15 2004
Cymbal company drums up A-list clientele

Craftsmanship, epic family history keep musicians flocking to N.B.
factory
By GORDON PITTS

MEDUCTIC, N.B. — Neil Peart, iconic drummer for the Canadian rock
group Rush, set out on a pilgrimage last fall.
He flew from Los Angeles to Montreal, where he picked up his
motorcycle and headed east. Hours later, he roared up to a red metal
building on the Saint John River in rural New Brunswick.
Mr. Peart spent a day touring cymbal-maker Sabian Ltd., and the
result has been a design and marketing collaboration. Sabian now
manufactures Mr. Peart’s line of Paragon cymbals, priced from about
$300 to $500 a unit.
“It’s selling very well,” said Sabian owner Robert Zildjian,
81-year-old heir to a family craft tradition that has journeyed from
17th-century Turkey to modern New Brunswick.
Mr. Peart is among the legions of percussionists who have, over four
decades, made the trek to the sleepy village of Meductic, N.B. They
come to see Sabian’s metal-working process and thrill to its epic
history of warring brothers, family dislocation, and a cast of
characters that range from the sultan of Turkey to the sultans of
swing, jazz drummers Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich.
Sabian’s day-to-day operations are handled by Dan Barker, the
company’s 55-year-old president, but Mr. Zildjian happily admits that
he interferes. “I’m a pain in the neck at times. I like to see what
is going on because Sabian is my child.” (Mr. Zildjian and his wife,
Willie, also have three flesh-and-blood offspring, Sally, Bill and
Andy– thus the name Sa-bi-an.)
The company is bouncing back from a downbeat year in 2003, when the
SARS epidemic and U.S. nervousness over war and terrorism toned down
sales of musical instruments, leading to level revenues at Sabian
after years of double-digit growth. This year, Sabian says it is
beating out a growth rhythm again.
After the death of his father, Avedis, in 1979, Mr. Zildjian split
bitterly with his older brother, Armand, who controlled the family’s
cymbal company in Norwell, Mass.
In the split, Robert was able to take some assets from Avedis
Zildjian Co., including its small Canadian plant in Meductic, which
became Sabian. Twenty-two years later, the Sabian and Zildjian
companies are battling for the loyalty of the world’s percussionists,
with a combined 60 to 70 per cent of the quality cymbal market.
The Sabian people say they make more units, more than 900,000 a year,
but the Zildjian company generates more revenue.
“Sabian and Zildjian compete vigorously,” said former Sabian
executive David McAllister, who now runs Latin Percussion, a U.S.
distributor of musical instruments. Because the overall market has
grown, both companies have been able to prosper, he said.
Robert Zildjian, still hurt by the split with his now-deceased
brother, says his 140-employee company is more profitable than its
rival, based on annual sales of $30-million to $35-million. He has no
contact with Craigie Zildjian, Armand’s daughter, who now runs the
family firm, although he did speak to Armand before his death two
years ago.
That feud seems far removed from the peaceful village of frame houses
that Sabian now calls home.
The plant buildings are a percussionist’s paradise as the cymbals
pass through the metal-working process, based on the secret Zildjian
method for combining copper and tin.
Cymbals are hammered, often by hand, into subtle hills and valleys of
sound. For a drummer, the relationship can be intensely personal,
said Mr. Barker, himself a former bubble-gum-rock drummer from
Weymouth, Mass.
The final production area involves testing and packaging, where a
couple of workers bang away on performance sets, creating jazzy riffs
that sound more fitting for a smoky basement in Greenwich Village
than a modern factory.
The Sabian website lists an all-star lineup of professional users,
including Phil Collins, Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and
musicians who support country crooner Lyle Lovett, cellist Yo-Yo Ma,
and an army of marching bands.
The Zildjian saga contains obvious parallels to the breakup of the
McCain brothers, founders of the McCain Foods Ltd. French fry empire
in nearby Florenceville, N.B. Mr. Zildjian jokes that if only
brothers Harrison and Wallace McCain had come down to see him, he
might have saved them some lawyers’ bills.
The Zildjian clash had its origins in Constantinople in 1623 when
Robert Zildjian’s Armenian ancestor, an alchemist named Avedis, was
appointed cymbal-maker to the Turkish sultan. In the early 20th
century, a later Avedis Zildjian, fleeing Turkish oppression of
Armenians and linked to a plot against the Turkish ruler, escaped to
the United States.
He brought the old family business to Massachusetts in the late
1920s, only to be greeted by the Depression. He was saved by jazz,
and relationships with drummers such as Mr. Krupa and Mr. Rich. Then,
in 1964, Beatlemania hit and cymbal crashes became part of a rock ‘n’
rollers’ repertoire.
Avedis’s death left sons Armand and Robert at odds. But Robert knew
New Brunswick, having fished and hunted in the Miramichi.
In the 1960s, he had opened the family’s Meductic plant to get around
British Commonwealth duties. The plant made money, he liked the
people, and he took it in the settlement.
Along the way, he found Mr. Barker, a former manager with the Avedis
Zildjian Co., who had been a casualty of the family split.
Mr. Barker was running a music store and import company, with limited
financial success, when Sabian took him in and moved him to Meductic
in 1985.
Today, 90 per cent of Sabian’s output is exported with 40 per cent
going to the United States. The rising value of the Canadian dollar
has hit profits and sales, at a time of big price hikes in copper and
tin.
Mr. Zildjian, now a Canadian citizen, said the first response will be
to raise U.S. prices. “It’s just a thing that has to be done,” he
said.
He does not foresee a large shift of production to the United States,
although Sabian has a distribution centre in Maine. “The only thing
we’d ever shift there is cheap beginner stuff to compete with the
Chinese and Taiwanese. That means nothing to Canada or even nothing
to Sabian.”
Mr. Zildjian has recently experienced some medical problems, and even
landed in hospital after a bad reaction to heart medication while at
his Bermuda home. (He also has residences in Meductic and Maine.)
Having gone through a harsh sibling battle, he has plotted his own
succession. Ownership will be split equally among his children, but
Andy, who runs the company’s U.S. operations, will ultimately call
the shots. “If it all boils down to a mess, Andy has the final say.”
He says Andy has the people skills, and older brother Bill, who
handles artist relations, goes along with that. Sally does not work
in the company day-to-day.
Although he regularly gets feelers to sell, Mr. Zildjian said Sabian
has a strong future going solo in the growing percussion market. Not
that he’s satisfied with his market position against the old family
company. “In five years, we have to be the No. 1 cymbal of choice,
not just with pros, but beginners.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

An Amaras Art Alliance program
Hovanness Badalian Music Fund
P.O.Box 733,
Watertown, MA 02471
Phone: 617-331-0426
Email: [email protected]
For immediate release
November 11, 2004
Contact person:
Tatoul Badalian, Program Director
The first annual banquet of the Hovanness Badalian Music Fund (HBMF)
will be held on December 4, 2004 at the Hellenic Cultural Center,
Watertown, MA. H. E. Arman Kirakossian, Armeniaâ~@~Ys ambassador to US,
will be in attendance and composer Konstantin Petrosian of Providence,
RI will be the MC. Among the highlights of the evening: first US
appearance of young and talented folk singer Artur Anushavanian;
soprano Nune Karapetian performing with pianist Nune Hakopian and
recognizing Bostonâ~@~Ys own Arev Armenian Folk Ensemble with an
Appreciation Award.
HBMF was established in early 2004 to celebrate the life of the
singer who made songs such as Hayastani Karmir Ginin, Yes Im Anoosh
Hayastani and Mayres Mahes Chimana famous. The goal of the Fund is
to provide merit-based scholarships, worldwide, to children enrolled
in Armenian music education programs. The Fund will also provide
assistance to individuals and organizations that create material and
training programs for children.
Beloved singer Hovanness Badalian played a significant role in
educating Armenian children and young adults. Through his songs he
spread the spirit of the Armenian culture around the world, helping
bond the Diaspora and Armenia. Upon his passing in 2001 composer
Vardan Ajemian said, â~@~We lost a great artist. He was the father
of Armenian folk songs. We lost a very honest man. I am shocked.â~@~]
In October of this year Armenia celebrated Badalianâ~@~Ys 80th birthday
at the National Opera in Yerevan with the participation of prominent
artists including his daughter, opera singer Nuneh Badalian. Fifty
of his students led by pedagogue Arsen Grigorian came on stage
singing together and watching the great Maestro sing â~@~Yes Im
Anoush Hayastaniâ~@~] on the screen, representing not only the past,
but inspiring hope for the future. â~@~Badalianâ~@~Ys dedication and
unrelenting work will always be an enduring reminder to his devotion
to his art and ultimately to his people,â~@~] said Aram Gharabegian,
Artistic director and conductor of the National Chamber Orchestra of
Armenia, and a key organizer of the event.
HBMF is organized under the charter of Amaras Art Alliance, a not for
profit organization. For the past ten years Amaras has been an active
member of the Boston, MA cultural scene, presenting jazz concerts,
solo performances, art exhibits and organizing student trips to
Armenia. Amaras has co-organized major events such as the multi-venue
celebration of composer Aram Khachaturianâ~@~Ys Centennial in 2003.
The December 4th banquet promises to be a memorable event for all those
who love Hovanness. For information and to make a contribution to the
Fund please call 617 331-0426, send an email to [email protected]_
(mailto:[email protected]) or write to HBMF, P O Box 733,
Watertown, MA 02471. HBMF programs will be available on the Fundâ~@~Ys
website to be launched in early 2005.
–Boundary_(ID_0f+Wsd1XCyaVDN6WKMjxhA)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russian envoy advises Armenia to prioritize national interests
Mediamax news agency
10 Nov 04
Yerevan, 10 November: The ambassador of the Russian Federation to
Armenia, Anatoliy Dryukov, considers that “the level of relations
reached between Armenia and Russia can be described as very high”.
Anatoliy Dryukov voiced this opinion today at a meeting with professors
and teachers of Yerevan’s Grachya Acharyan University.
Commenting on the presence of pro-Western and pro-Russian moods in
Armenia, the Russian ambassador said that “if Armenia prioritizes its
national interests, then the vector of relations will remain correct”.
At present, Armenia and Russia are facing the task of maintaining
and expanding relations that have shaped between the countries for
centuries, Dryukov said. He said that several negative points in
bilateral relations “are of no significance” and “are temporary
in nature”.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Toronto Star
November 6, 2004 Saturday
Eastern Turkey is the focus of a spring itinerary
by Catherine George, Toronto Star
There is a well-trodden tourist path through the ancient towns and
cities of western Turkey, but eastern Turkey is relatively
undeveloped as far as tourism goes, obviously because the eastern
region of the country is closer to the conflicts of the Middle East.
Also, eastern Turkey isn’t developed enough to handle mass tourism –
hotels and restaurants are small and unable to accommodate the larger
groups that many tour operators cater to.
However, it is possible to join a group of 10 people on a 24-day
spring tour from Ankara, themed “Ancient Kingdoms.” Departure is May
26 and land cost is $6,000 per person, double, including 23 nights
accommodation, most meals, transportation by coach and ferry,
entrance fees and tolls. Airfare to Ankara costs extra. An extension
in Istanbul can be arranged.
Sightseeing in Ankara includes a visit to the mausoleum of Ataturk,
founder of modern Turkey and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
plus an optional tour to Gordion (700 BCE), the city of Midas. Next,
the Hittite capital of Hattusas and the old Ottoman town of Amasya on
the Yesilirmak River.
Day five includes a drive along the Black Sea coast to the legendary
city of Trabzon and village of Macka for an overnight stop.
Excursions take in Sumela Monastery, a major religious centre of the
Byzantines; the frescoes of Aya Sofia; Rize, tea capital of Turkey;
Aydir, famous for its hot springs.
Then it’s south through the mountains to Erzurum with its mosques and
monuments of the Selcuk Turks; the frontier town of Kars; the ruins
of Ani, ancient capital of Armenia, destroyed by the Mongols. The
tour continues along the eastern border of Turkey and Iran, around
Mount Ararat, site of Noah’s Ark.
Mid-journey, you arrive at the city of Van for a two-night stay where
you explore the Castle of Van, with its Urarturian tombs, and the
ancient city of Cavustepe (1000 BCE); the medieval Kurdish Castle of
Hosap with free time to explore the markets and bazaars of the major
carpet centre.
The next portion of the tour takes in the holy island of Akdamar, a
major Armenian religious centre; the valley of the Tigris River and
the ancient city of Diyarbakir, its walls built by Constantine; the
desert city of Mardin with its 5th-century monastery; the town of
Sanli Urfa in Mesopotamia, birthplace of Abraham; the Biblical city
of Harran near the Syrian border, one of the oldest settlements in
the world.
The final part of the tour takes you north to the Euphrates River and
the monuments at Nemut Dag, the modern city of Gaziantep, and Antioch
(Antakya), with its museum and the cave church of St. Peter, the
place where the term “Christian” was first coined. Participants then
continue to Adana, via the Hittite ruin of Karatepe, to catch a
flight to Istanbul with a day to explore the city known as “Gateway
to the East.”
The tour is being run by The Ald Partnership, 805 – 188 Spadina Ave.,
Toronto, Ont. M5T 3A4. Call 416-703-8800, e-mail aldpar @
sympatico.ca. You can also book with Toronto-based Clarke-Way Travel
at 416-364-0903, extension 299, or toll-free 1-800-282-1905. E-mail
Gloria @ cwtclarkeway.com.
GALAPAGOS 2005: The wildlife in the Galapagos islands off Ecuador,
the islands that Charles Darwin made famous, are the focus of a tour
May 5-22 next year. It also includes visits to the Ecuadorian
capital, Quito, the Andes region and the Ecuadorian Amazon. Cost is
$4,980 per person, double, including return airfare.
Another tour is being arranged to Machu Picchu June 8-23. It costs
$4,890 for each of two and includes sightseeing in Lima and Cuzco.
Information: 905-887-5055 or e-mail alohah @ idirect.com. Bookings:
Main Street Travel & Cruises, 43 Main St. N., Markham, Ont., phone
905-471-0056.
HOGWART’S EXPRESS: Alnwick Castle and Gardens, the magical castle of
Harry Potter fame and filming sites from both The Sorcerer’s Stone
and The Chamber of Secrets are among the highlights of a new Rail
Europe one-day unescorted tour.
The rail trip, from King’s Cross Station in London, to Alnmouth takes
just over an hour.
Alnwick Castle, the setting for the films based on J.K. Rowling’s
novels is a rebuilt Norman castle set in a rose and ornamental
garden. Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves and Mary Queen of Scots were
also filmed at the site.
Tours are offered at 8: 30 a.m. daily, except Sundays, now through
Dec. 31. It includes roundtrip rail fare, bus transfer from Alnmouth
rail station to Alnwick Castle and the film site.
Prices are for first and standard class and start at $206 for adults,
$103 for children aged 5-15, under 5 go free. Reservations are
required at least 24 hours prior to departure.
Contact travel agents or Rail Europe at 1-800-361-7245 or log on to
Catherine George is the Star’s associate travel editor. cgeorge @
thestar.ca
Travel
GRAPHIC: Catherine George photo The mausoleum of Ataturk, founder of
modern Turkey, in Ankara, is among the first monuments visited on a
tour that includes the seldom-visited region of eastern Turkey.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Nov. 1, 2004
SOUTH CAUCASUS PARLIAMENT SPEAKERS TO MEET IN VERSAILLES
[November 01, 2004, 17:27:41]
A meeting of Heads of the South Caucasus parliaments initiated by
Chairman of the French Senate Christian Poncelet will be held in
Versailles, France on 4 November to discuss current situation in the
region, national heritage, prospects of tourism development and other
issues, press service of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan
told AzerTAj.
Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov accompanied by deputies of the Milli Majlis
Nizami Jafarov and Musa Gouliyev will participate in the meeting.
The Head of the Azerbaijan’s parliament will deliver a report on
maintenance of peace and stability in the region, and finding solution
to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and express the country’s position with
respect to the issue in hand. The Speaker is also expected to meet with
representatives of the Paris public to enlighten them on the issues of
their interest.
The visit ends on 6 November.

VISIT TO NKR
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
29 Oct 04
The public organization “Project on Transitional Democracies” and
the German Foundation of Marshal implement a joint program aiming,
according to the chairman of organization Bruce Jackson, to convey
the importance of the South Caucasian countries and urgency for
a rapid settlement of the conflicts to the leaders of the Atlantic
countries. On October 26 the delegation formed of influential statesmen
and diplomats of a number of European countries, the chairman of
NATO Parliamentary Assembly, a member of the French parliament,
the former foreign minister of Spain, the former advisor to the
president of Greece, representatives of the newspapers “Financial
Times”, “Figaro” and “Frankfurter Algemeine Zeitung” arrived in
Stepanakert. The delegation was headed by Bruce Jackson who is the
representative of the USA Committee on NATO. Speaking about the aims
of the project, Bruce Jackson mentioned that each delegate has his
goals, and they will present their impression from the visit and
their suggestions to the leaders of their countries. Bruce Jackson
said all of them share the opinion that promotion of democracy
in the South Caucasus is becoming increasingly important for the
security of Europe. He mentioned that it is especially important in
the context of involvement of the South Caucasian countries in the
program “Wider Europe: New Neighbourhood” and recognition of the
South Caucasus as the chief factor for stability in Europe by NATO
at the summit in Istanbul. This speaks for the necessity of a rapid
settlement of the Karabakh and other South Caucasian conflicts. Bruce
Jackson also mentioned that this necessity is dictated by the changes
(related to the elections) which may take place in the government of
the USA, as well as the European structures in the near future. The
visit of the delegation began at Baku, continued in Yerevan and
Stepanakert and will end in Tbilisi, South Osia and Abkhazia. The
members of the delegation meet with the top officials, presidents and
defence ministers of these countries, as well as representatives of
public organizations. In Karabakh the delegation visited the border
area and witnessed the ravage there. The head of the delegation
mentioned that their impression from the visit to the borderline
will be another argument for the rapid settlement of the issue,
which they will convey to their governments. Bruce Jackson refused to
answer the questions referring to his personal attitude towards the
settlement of the Karabakh conflict saying that it is not within the
competence of the delegation. He pointed out that they will try to
cut the red tape on the problem of the Karabakh conflict among other
South Caucasian issues, and have it included among the priorities of
the American and European leaders. Besides, the aim of the program is
to prepare the international community for the possible settlement of
the conflict. In reference to the question of participation of Nagorni
Karabakh in talks Bruce Jackson said he could not see why Karabakh was
left out of the talks and pointed out that the settlement will be more
effective if the opinion of the people is taken into account. The visit
of this delegation to the South Caucasian region means much. Obviously
the USA and Europe have decided to attend to the issues of the region
seriously and expedite the peacemaking processes there. It is not known
yet whether the Karabakh conflict sides will have to make compromises,
they will be offered to create a South Caucasian federation after the
example of the European Union or there will be other solutions. One
thing is clear that the imposed settlement is not too far. And God
forbid that the settlement be like that in Kosovo or Cyprus.
AA. 29-10-2004

PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Information Desk
Tel: (374-1) 52-35-31
Email: [email protected]
Web:
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hamlet Gasparian responds to a Question by the
Armenian Daily, Hayastani Hanrapetutyun, on Azerbaijan¹s UN Initiative
Question: Today, the UN General Assembly voted on Azerbaijan¹s initiative
to include a resolution on ³The Status of Occupied Territories in
Azerbaijan² during the UN General Assembly 59th session. The initiative did
in fact enter the agenda. What is your comment?
Answer: Yes, there was a vote today on whether to include the issue on the
agenda and of the UN¹s 191 member countries, only 43 countries voted in
favor of Azerbaijan¹s initiative. The remainder abstained. The Netherlands,
on behalf of the European Union, spoke against Azerbaijan¹s initiative, and
France did as well, on behalf of the OSCE Minsk Group. The vote showed that
this initiative does not enjoy the broad support of the international
community.
The overwhelming majority of those who voted with Azerbaijan are members of
the Organization of Islamic Countries, which is currently chaired by Turkey.
This means that, unfortunately, Azerbaijan is attempting to give the
conflict a different color by recruiting the Islamic countries and
exploiting the prevailing solidarity within that organization. We believe
such actions will definitely have a negative effect on the peace process.
Nevertheless, I want to also stress that exactly 40% of the OIC membership
did not succumb to Turkey¹s and Azerbaijan¹s pressure and did not support
the Azerbaijani initiative.
I¹d like to point out a few other important facts. No permanent members of
the UN Security Council voted in favor of Azerbaijan¹s initiative. Nor did
any non-permanent members of the Security Council either, except for
Pakistan. No European Union member country supported the initiative nor did
any OSCE Minsk Group country with the exception of Turkey.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia states one more
time that through such steps Azerbaijan is attempting to divert the
international community from the actual core of the NK conflict, which is
the status of Nagorno Karabakh.
We have said and will repeat again that if Azerbaijan removes individual
issues from the comprehensive discussion of Nagorno Karabakh¹s status to
attract or divert international attention, then they must negotiate those
issues directly with Nagorno Karabakh.
–Boundary_(ID_O2z8nmO/i7UjMBSVWn13dg)–

Political analysis and ideology
Editorial
Yerkir/am
October 22, 2004
Political, geopolitical and ideological considerations come to
dominate social sciences today. Should political analysis be based
on ideological considerations?
At first sight, it might seem that it should not because analysis
requires neutrality, objectivity and reasoning independent of
any ideological and especially party affiliation. However, such
objectivity very often serves as a cover for absence of political
will and a specific political line, and pure reasoning often hides
the absence of a political ideal and political idealism.
The mask of objectivity often hides individuals, organizations,
elites or systems deprived of any goals of their own. The powerful
states and the political research institutes at their service do
not shun subjectivity presenting their interests and their positions
as universal.
Meanwhile, the intellectual elites suffering from provincial
inferiority complex feel ashamed for the conservatism of their national
ideals and resort to â~@~ objectivismâ~@~] and determinism. In
reality, they find themselves servicing the interests of some powerful
actors.
Assessment and analysis of domestic and internal political processes
and realities is subconsciously ideologized in Armenia. However, this
ideologization is dangerous because it derives from the pro-Russian
or pro-Western position of certain individuals thus imitating the
assessment of political realities presented by Russian or Western
sources respectively. The analysis of domestic, regional or global
issues is thus based on concepts and scenarios developed by others.
You can research thousands of sources, be very well aware of various
facts. But if you do not have your own analytical mind, your own ideal
you will not be able to analyze the situation from a perspective that
specifically suits your interests. Before any analysis is possible in
Armenia, we first of all need to develop our own position on things
and situations to be analyzed; we have to develop the ability to have
our own perspective on different things.
This can happen if we have our own vision of the future, a vision that
will be Armenian and not Russian, European or American. The vision
of the future must be based not on objective calculations but on our
will to pursue the future we want to have. Facts are objective only
for those who lack will. The future must be shaped in a way favorable
for Armenia. Facts must be analyzed only from the perspective of
Armeniaâ~@~Ys interests.
Armeniaâ~@~Ys interests cannot be completely identical with the
interests of any strategic partners or allies. The ideological factor
must be analyzed consciously. Today, the ideological factor does exist,
but is either a product of subconscious imitation or is a conscious
service paid to some external forces.
–Boundary_(ID_UXN5A62ve3moD3WV9swF9w)–

seattletimes.com
Thursday, October 21, 2004, 12:00 A.M.
Jerry Large / Times staff columnist
U.S. takes on new sensible approach to tackle poverty
We’re still trying to figure out how best to relate to the rest of the
world. For most of my life, our foreign relations were all about countering
the communists.
In the aftermath of 9/11 we’ve been fighting mad, striking out with our
military power and offending much of the world community in the process.
But something else has been going on in the background that makes more sense
for us and for the world. It’s a new approach, embodied in a new federal
agency, the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Specifically it is about reducing poverty, but more generally it is about
bringing the best of ourselves to our relationships with other countries.
Inside and outside of government, influential people are talking about
development aid as a way to make a safer world for ourselves while we help
the world’s poorest people move up. This is not about foreign aid as it
existed during the Cold War, which often meant writing checks to any
dictator who’d promise to be anti-communist.
And it isn’t the kind of aid in which the donor country decides what is best
for the recipient without understanding local needs. Or at least it isn’t
supposed to be.
Paul Applegarth, the chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge
Corporation, was in Seattle last week speaking to local business and
political leaders who are championing some of the same ideas MCC represents.
He told me the idea for MCC grew out of the Monterrey International
Conference on Financing for Development in 2002. The Bush administration
proposed a Millennium Challenge Account to help developing countries, and
Congress created the MCC to administer it.
The MCC opened for business in January. Business is the key word. The
expectation is that business is what will change the status of poor
countries, and toward that end the MCC seeks to reward countries that create
the right climate for economic growth.
“Our mission is poverty reduction in the poorest countries. Our technique is
growth,” Applegarth said.
Here’s how it works.
Seventy-five of the poorest countries were eligible for the first step, in
which they are graded based on report cards from several international
organizations. MCC uses 16 indicators to measure how each country is doing
in three areas, “ruling justly, investing in their people, and encouraging
economic freedom.”
Countries aren’t expected to be perfect, but better than most.
Sixteen countries made the cut this first time: Honduras, Nicaragua,
Bolivia, Mongolia, Georgia, Armenia, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu, Mozambique,
Madagascar, Lesotho, Mali, Benin, Senegal, Ghana and Cape Verde.
They don’t get money yet. There’s a second phase in which the countries tell
MCC their priorities. They present MCC with proposals that are judged on
whether they will work, how success will be measured, how the priorities
were picked (who all had a say), and what additional improvements will be
made in governance, education and so on.
The successful ones will enter a three- to five-year development partnership
with MCC.
In this arrangement, Applegarth said, “the country has to take
responsibility for its own growth, policies matter, and the focus is on
results.”
If the program is ever fully funded – Bush called for $5 billion a year
beginning in 2006 – it would be huge for a foreign-aid program.
It would be money well spent.
The Seattle group that invited Applegarth to speak here last week, the
Initiative for Global Development (founded by William H. Gates Sr., Dan
Evans, Bill Ruckelshaus and Bill Clapp) came together to push the idea that
eliminating extreme poverty is in America’s best interest, “a safer, more
humane and more prosperous world for all.”
Applegarth says no one imagined the United States would take the lead on
something like this, but he says the administration and people in both
parties in Congress recognized something was missing from our national
security strategy, which was based on two D’s: defense and diplomacy. There
needed to be a third D: development.
“Fundamentally, this is the way people want America to be in the world,” he
said, “This is the U.S. going out and trying to do something good for the
world, reduce poverty, but do it in a way that is very American.”
Jerry Large: 206-464-3346 or [email protected].