Author: Maghakian Mike

NATIONALIST FROM MOSCOW SUBURB ALL BUT WINS LOCAL ELECTION
by Anna Rudnitskaya
Moscow News (Russia)
June 9, 2004
While old democrats argue with new liberals, young elements have moved
into politics under “Russia for Russians” slogans and, confusingly,
to incantations that “fascism in Russia will not come to pass”
Vladimir Yermolaev is young, well educated, and well pleased with
himself. He has good reason for this: At 27, this past May he ran
in municipal elections for the first time, garnering 34% of the vote
outright -without any “administrative resources” either, or any other
resources for that matter. His resources are his slogans. “Russia
for Russians, Moscow for Muscovites” just about sums them up.
Candidate
“I’ve been reading Izvestia since seven,” Yermolaev told me. “My
parents were avowed anti-Communists and I was brought up in a dissident
spirit, thinking: The Communists will be driven out, and everything
will be just fine. In 1995, I voted for Gaidar and in 1999 for the
Union of Right Forces (SPS). But then I began to have my doubts. Not
surprisingly, I particularly resented the appearance of hundreds of
thousands of people from other states, above all from former Union
republics, in Moscow and in Russia in general. So when I saw leaflets
of the Movement Against Illegal Immigrants on the metro, I realized
that I had found ideological soul-mates. I remember that day: I was
simply happy to hear something that was in harmony with my own mood,
and I very much liked the people – all of them my age or younger. So
I joined.”
For the benefit of those who do not know, it was the Movement Against
Illegal Immigrants that, in the wake of the bomb attack on the Moscow
metro, organized a sanctioned rally under the slogan: “How much longer
must we tolerate Chechen crime against Russian citizens?!” It was
the Movement Against Illegal Immigrants that, two years ago, after
an Armenian pogrom in the town of Krasnoarmeisk, outside Moscow,
demanded the release of its organizers.
For all that, when I cited Yermev’s election campaign leaflet,
mentioning “black occupants,” he was hurt:
“It didn’t say ‘black’. After all, we are civilized people.”
Are you not worried by the presence of skinheads at your civilized
rally?
“Quite the contrary, I find these people far more likable than the
indifferent slaves of the consumer society. People such as skinhead
leaders will eventually constitute the elite of this country.”
You are similarly complacent about the fact that it was under your
slogans that ethnic Armenian houses were raided, and men and women
beaten?
“Well, you can say that ethnic Armenian houses were raided, or you can
say that there was a conflict between the indigenous population and
Armenian immigrants. There are thousands of inva-ders in the country,
and it is increasingly difficult to drive them out.”
What was written in the leaflet you saw in the metro?
“Let me see… Something to the effect that there are 1.5 million
Azeris living in Moscow and that Moscow is the capital of Azerbaijan.”
What does it take for an advocate of liberal values from an
intellectual family to become an activist of a Nazilike movement? It
is enough to tell him that 1.5 million Azeris are to blame for his
country’s woes and that to make life better, they must be kicked out.
Voters
The district of Orekhovo-Borisovo Yuzhnoye is a typical Moscow bedroom
suburb. It was its residents that, in a municipal election this past
May, gave Yermolaev, a candidate sponsored by the Movement Against
Illegal Immigrants, 34% of the vote.
They say that United Russia candidate Irina Dmitrieva, a school
principal (in the end, she won by a narrow margin, with just a few
hundred votes more than Yermolaev), campaigned with food parcels that
were handed to war veterans purportedly on the occasion of V-Day. Her
rival gave as good as he got, distributing door to door leaflets
with quotations from Mayor Luzhkov: “Moscow is a Rus-sian city!”
(Moskovsky Komsomolets daily, Sept. 22, 2003) and President Putin:
“The problem of illegal migration is becoming a serious threat to
national security” (from a statement at an RF Security Council session,
Nov. 29, 2000), thus probably utterly baffling the voters who until
recently have traditionally been voting for Putin and Luzhkov.
On the whole, even though he lost, Vladimir Yermolaev is satisfied
with the election:
“I was greatly excited; I constantly felt the support of the people.
We had a meeting at a housing maintenance and repair administration
office, attended by some 25 senior citizens, whereupon a woman from
the veterans’ council came up to me and said: ‘Well done, Vladimir,
we are with you!’ We are still in touch and we’ve agreed to work
together. Generally speaking, the result was very good.”
A week later, the only indication of the past election at School #986
where Vladimir Yermolaev had been a student and that served as one
of the two polling stations where he got the most votes, is scraps
of leaflets on the doors. The school principal’s secretary could
not remember a student named Yermolaev, but his platform raised no
objections with her.
“So what? What he is saying is absolutely right. There are so many of
these Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Azeris that we just don’t hear any Russian
spoken here.”
True, she voted for Dmitrieva all the same: “After all, she is a
school principal.”
A Common Future
Incidentally, this is an idee fixe with all new right and old
left elements: As long as they are kept off the air and have the
formidable administrative resource brought against them, they can
for a time forget about the federal parliament, focusing instead on
local, municipal elections – on the assumption that people on the
ground are more concerned with heating or local amenities than with
abstract discussions about the destiny of Motherland. Yet while the
new right and old left are only pondering action, Vladimir Yermolaev
has already all but won. What is especially important is that his
voters were swayed by his pledge to drive all “invaders” from the
neighborhood far more than by his promise to landscape the area.
Inspired by his first success, Yermolaev is determined to pursue a
political career.
“See, Anna,” the young sociologist smiles almost condescendingly.
“All parties are phantoms really, while we are a real movement of
people who are working to uphold their idea, and that’s our strength.”
At parting he said: “We have a great future.”
There is no reason to doubt this. MN

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
ORDINATION OF FIVE DEACONS
IN ANTELIAS
Antelias, Lebanon – On Sunday, June 6, five deacons were ordained and
consecrated as a celibate priest in the Mother Cathedral of the Holy
See of Cilicia, Antelias, Lebanon. The ceremony was officiated by
His Holiness Aram I. In accordance with the canons of the Armenian
Apostolic Church, the Service of Calling to the Priesthood began
Saturday evening immediately after Vespers service. The candidates’
life, faith and readiness to enter the ministry of priesthood have been
examined. The ordination and consecration were performed by Archbishop
Sebouh Sarkissian, the Primate of the Armenian diocese of Tehran, Iran.
##
View printable pictures here:
top
**************
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

U.S. Karabakh Envoy Again Visits Yerevan
By Hrach Melkumian and Gevorg Stamboltsian 04/06/2004 00:36
Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
June 3 2004
Steven Mann, the new U.S. chief negotiator on Nagorno-Karabakh,
paid an unexpected and low-key visit to Yerevan on Thursday which
officials said focused on international efforts to resolve the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.
Mann had separate meetings with President Robert Kocharian and
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian for the second time in six weeks. No
details of the talks were made public, with the U.S. envoy declining
to comment on the purpose of his trip and the current status of the
peace process. “I am just having talks with the Armenian government,”
he told RFE/RL without elaborating. A brief statement by Kocharian’s
office said Mann discussed with the Armenian leader the Karabakh
conflict and informed him about his talks held with Azerbaijani
leaders in Baku on Wednesday. Earlier in the day officials in the
presidential administration could not confirm the precise time of
the meeting, suggesting that it was arranged at a short notice.
Mann’s previous trip to Yerevan was followed by a meeting in Poland
between Kocharian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev. Foreign
Minister Vartan Oskanian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar
Mamedyarov met in Strasbourg two weeks later, emerging from it with
cautiously optimistic statements. The Armenian Foreign Ministry said
the two ministers will meet again in Prague on June 21, adding that
Oskanian and the U.S. mediator spoke about details of that meeting.
Speaking at Yerevan State University earlier on Thursday, Oskanian
said that the negotiation process is “not on a bad track” at the
moment and is “following in the footsteps of previous talks.” “I
think that in the next two months we will have more clarity as to
whether we can build on the base that has been created during all
these years…or Azerbaijan wants to divert that process to another
direction,” he said, reiterating Yerevan’s hopes of reviving peace
accords reportedly reached by the parties three years ago.
Mamedyarov similarly stated last week that the peace talks are
“intensifying” after a period of stagnation. Azerbaijan seems
to be pushing for a new strategy of conflict resolution whereby
agreement on Karabakh’s status would be preceded by the return of
Armenian-controlled Azerbaijani lands around the disputed region in
exchange for the restoration of economic links between the two nations.
Oskanian repeated the Armenian side’s insistence on a single “package”
accord that would resolve all contentious issues. He added that it
will agree to a phased settlement only if the majority of Armenians
want so. “If there is really a public consensus that we should go
for a phased solution, then we will have no problem,” he said. “But
to be honest, I don’t see popular demand for a phased solution.”

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
06/01/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Armenian Military Plans to Set Up 'Dro' Think-Tank 2) ANC Central California Demonstration Delivers Message to Speaker Hastert 3) US Officials Discuss MCA 4) Georgia's Carrot-and-stick Approach with South Ossetia 5) Iraqis, US Cut Deal on President, Car Bomb at PUK Headquarters 1) Armenian Military Plans to Set Up 'Dro' Think-Tank YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--The Armenian Defense Ministry unveiled on Monday plans to set up a special think-tank that will advise it on defense and national security issues. Defense Minister Serge Sarkisian and the leadership of Armenia's Armed Forces attended an official ceremony marking the start of work on a building that will house the ministry's National Strategic Research Center. Officials said its construction will cost $600,000 and will be complete within a year. The center will be named after the late General Drastamat (Dro) Kanayan, one of the most prominent military commanders of the first Armenian Republic that existed from 1918-1920. Kanayan's US-based descendants have donated $350,000 for the project and were also present at the ceremony. The rest of the money will be raised by the Diaspora-financed All-Armenian Fund Hayastan. Sarkisian said that the center, the first of its kind in Armenia, is expected to provide the Armenian military and other security agencies with "quality advice" on security challenges facing the country. The think-tank will be headed by Colonel Hayk Kotanjian, who until recently served as military attaché at the Armenian embassy in Washington. It is not yet clear whether its personnel will be dominated by army officers or civilian 2) ANC Central California Demonstration Delivers Message to Speaker Hastert FRESNO (ANCA-Fresno/Fresno Bee)--Local Fresno community members mobilized on very short notice for a demonstration in support of a coordinated national effort to urge Speaker Hastert and Majority leader Frist to bring House Resolution 193 (H.Res.193) to a floor vote. Speaker Hastert was in town to support Republican state Sen. Roy Ashburn's bid for Congress. Area Armenian Youth Federation and Homenetmen youth, along with community members were present at the gathering organized by the Armenian National Committee Central California, Fresno. Extensive coverage was provided by media outlets, with news crews there from local ABC and CBS affiliates, KMJ Radio; a feature article also appeared in the local newspaper, The Fresno Bee. After the fundraising event, Ashburn said he told Hastert he supports the resolution that recognizes the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923. If elected to Congress, Ashburn said, "I would ask Hastert to bring it to a vote." Demonstrators handed out information flyers, while enlarged poster size replicas of the ANCA postcards from its postcard campaign served as protest signs, along with others reading, "Hastert Hear the Cry From History" and "Hastert Holds the Genocide Vote Hostage." The House Judiciary Committee unanimously approved the resolution more than a year ago, but Hastert has not brought it to the House floor for a vote. "It has international consequences to it, and it's something that we have to work with the State Department on and the White House" Hastert commented to local radio reporter Ron Statler about the issue. Statler said the Speaker "declined to say what changes are needed or what the international implications are." ANC spokesman Richard Sanikian informed listeners on air about the nationwide phone, WebFax, and 100,000-postcard campaign calling on Speaker Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Frist to take action on the measure. "After a year, he's not gotten back to us," noted Sanikian. Sanikian said local leaders who support the resolution include Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa; Fresno Mayor Alan Autry; and Ashburn's political rival, former state Sen. Jim Costa. Costa, a Fresno Democrat, and Ashburn are battling for the open 20th Congressional District seat. Incumbent Cal Dooley, D-Fresno, is not running for reelection. The Central Valley is home to more than 60,000 Armenians, one of the oldest ethnic groups in the area. H.Res.193 marks the 15th anniversary of the US implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. If Speaker Hastert does not bring the legislation to a vote in the next six months, it will die at the end of this congressional session. For more information log on to , or anca.org. 3) US Officials Discuss MCA YEREVAN (Armenpress/RFE/RL)--Senior US government officials opened talks with Armenian leaders in Yerevan on Monday to discuss expectations of economic assistance under Washington's Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). Armenia is among 16 nations eligible for the multimillion-dollar plan to promote economic and political reforms in developing countries around the world. Aid allocations are to be decided by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US government agency handling the scheme. The corporation's chief executive Paul Applegarth, and three of his top advisers began their three-day visit to Armenia with a meeting with Prime Minister Andranik Markarian. Applegarth also met with Armenian President Robert Kocharian to review terms for assistance. Kocharian commented that the program can serve as a tool to assess work already carried out, but said there remains much to do. "This is a good opportunity for the country to improve conditions and create a good basis for further development," the president said. Parliament speaker Arthur Baghdasarian, who also met with the delegation, said the parliament will take part in formulating the program proposal which will target as priorities, development of sub-structures, promotion of small and medium business in the provinces, housing construction, and implementation of a poverty reduction and anti-corruption programs. Senior State Department official Carlos Pascual who co-chairs a US-Armenian intergovernmental "task force" cautioned earlier this month that the aid allocation is not a forgone conclusion, but will depend not only on the quality of the proposals but also on the improvement of the Armenian authorities' human and civil rights record . "The expectation, in order to be able to move forward with the program, is that there would be progress on these issues and not movement backwards," he told a news conference in Yerevan. A statement issued by the US embassy in Yerevan on Monday cited Applegarth as saying that it is also essential for the aid proposals to be the result of "wide discussions" and consensus among various strata of Armenian society. 4) Georgia's Carrot-and-stick Approach with South Ossetia (Eurasianet.org/Interfax)--Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is wielding a stick and extending a carrot to the separatist region of South Ossetia. Georgian leaders say their actions are driven by a determination to eradicate smuggling and corruption. Government critics, meanwhile, charge that Saakashvili seeks a repeat of the "Ajarian" scenario, in which Tbilisi brings a break-away region back under central control by fomenting popular unrest in the region. In late May, Tbilisi stepped up pressure on South Ossetia--an autonomous republic of Georgia that secured quasi-independence during a separatist struggle in the early 1990s--by establishing checkpoints at Georgian-Ossetian administrative border crossings. Those checkpoints are designed to cut off the flow of contraband between the region and Georgia proper. South Ossetia has long had a reputation as a smuggler's haven. Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania asserted during a May 31 broadcast by Imedi TV that the checkpoints reduced smuggling "to nil," adding that the government's success in curbing the illicit trade "has made people who have been making a lot of money through these channels nervous." South Ossetia's armed forces "have been ordered to destroy any aircraft or regiments that cross the border," Interfax cited Eduard Kokoity, the region's president as yesterday. Georgia is trying to accumulate as many Georgian forces as possible on the border "and to use them if an incident occurs." Tension escalated May 31 when Tbilisi dispatched Interior Ministry forces in to reinforce the checkpoints. The Russian commander of a joint peacekeeping force in South Ossetia, Maj. Gen. Svyatoslav Nabzdorov, called the Georgian move "a dangerous provocation that could have unpredictable consequences," the Interfax-AVN news agency reported. Georgian officials countered that they deployed reinforcements after Russian peacekeepers threatened to use force to remove the checkpoints, the Civil Georgia web site reported. South Ossetia, a region of about 100,000 people, set up a pro-Russian autonomous government in the 1990s and Russia maintains troops in the region. Georgia, which last month built police posts near the border, late yesterday withdrew the new units sent to the area, Interfax cited Lieutenant General Valery Yevnevich, a commander with Russian peacekeeping forces, as saying. Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili said last week, while his government won't accept the disintegration of Georgia, it is willing to consider models for a state that take into account the interests of regions such as South Ossetia. Georgia last month ousted Aslan Abashidze, the leader of the region of Ajaria, which also set up an autonomous government in the 1990s. 5) Iraqis, US Cut Deal on President, Car Bomb at PUK Headquarters BAGHDAD (Reuters)--Iraqi leaders cut a face-saving deal Tuesday with the United States and United Nations on a president and government to lead the country out of occupation. An 11th-hour compromise saw Washington's choice of president make way for tribal chief Ghazi Yawar. He was then sworn in with an interim cabinet of technocrats in a televised ceremony rich in symbolism at a palace complex built by Saddam Hussein. A car bomb that tore through the nearby offices of a Kurdish political party, killing and wounding several people, underlined the scale of the challenge the interim administration faces in organizing first free elections in the New Year. Several rockets also landed around the US compound as officials were meeting, wounding one Iraqi. And a suicide car bomber killed 11 Iraqis outside a US base north of Baghdad. CAR BOMB The death toll was unclear in the bombing of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's Baghdad headquarters. A US officer said three people were confirmed dead and 20 wounded, but police at the scene said the toll was considerably higher. A huge crater was blown into the ground at the entrance to the PUK building, close to the "Green Zone" compound where officials were announcing the deal on the new government. In a face-saving maneuver, the 22-member Governing Council initially dropped its objection to Pachachi. Then, within minutes, the 81-year-old former foreign minister renounced the post and Brahimi declared that Yawar would become head of state. Officials then announced that the Council, whose members US officials had accused of trying to cling to power by claiming positions in the new government, was being wound up. 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.

ARKA News Agency
May 28 2004
RA President awards two Russian frontier guards with “Military
Meritorious” medal
Kirk Kirkorian and Charles Aznavour awarded title of National Hero of
Armenia
RA PM congratulates Armenian citizens on Day of First Republic
RA Government approves the order of organization and aviation
security control in the airports of the republic
RA President Kocharian congratulates citizens of Armenia on the
occasion of the Republic Festival
RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan congratulates citizens of Armenia
on the occasion of the Republic Festival
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT AWARDS TWO RUSSIAN FRONTIER GUARDS WITH “MILITARY
MERITORIOUS” MEDAL
YEREVAN, May 28. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian awarded two
Russian frontier guards with “Military Meritorious” medal. As RA
President Press Service told ARKA on occasion of the Republic
Festivity Commanders of two military units of frontier Department of
Federal Security Service of Russia (FSS) in Armenia Colonel Vladimir
Molkov and Yuri Rusov also received awards. Similarly, the Head of
the Armenian State awarded Chief Therapeutist of Forntier Department
of FSS of Lieutenant Colonel Siranush Kharmandaryan with Mkhitar
Heratsi medal.
As it is mentioned in the press release, President also awarded a
number of policemen, Prosecution General and National Security
Service of Armenia by medals “For Courage”, “Military Meritorious”,
“Mkhitar Gosh”, as well as orders “Military Cross” of 2nd Degree.
T.M. –0–
*********************************************************************
KIRK KIRKORIAN AND CHARLES AZNAVOUR AWARDED TITLE OF NATIONAL HERO OF
ARMENIA
YEREVAN, May 28. /ARKA/. Famous Armenian philanthropist Kirk
Kirkorian and famous French singer of Armenian descent Charles
Aznavour are warded title National Hero of Armenia with handing over
Motherland order. As RA President Press Service told ARKA, Kirkorian
is awarded the highest title for patriotic activity aimed at
prosperity and wellbeing of Armenia and Charles Aznavour for
exceptional services rendered to Armenian people and on occasion of
80th anniversary. T.M. –0–
*********************************************************************
RA PM CONGRATULATES ARMENIAN CITIZENS ON DAY OF FIRST REPUBLIC
YEREVAN, May 28. /ARKA/. RA PM Andranik Margarian congratulated the
Armenian citizens on Day of First Republic. As RA Government Public
and Press Relations Department told ARKA PM mentioned in his message
that “on 28 May 1918 due to collective will and unbending spirit of
our people
The centuries old aspirations f the Armenian people related to
restoration of the statehood became reality.” In his opinion, despite
the First Republic was short-lived, its lessons of freedom,
independence, creation and the most important retaining strong
statehood were transferring from generation to generation and had new
and remarkable manifestations in the end of 1980s” “The heroic
Artsakh struggle proved our determination to keep historic
achievements”, said the Head of the Government, adding that “13th
years old the Third Armenian Republic confidently marches ahead,
gradually developing its economy and strengthening independent
statehood and its place in the global processes” “Free and
independent Armenia, based on democratic values has no alternatives
and I am confident that no force, no difficulties are not able to
withstanding our movement”, PM’s congratulation message says. T.M.
–0–
*********************************************************************
RA GOVERNMENT APPROVES THE ORDER OF ORGANIZATION AND AVIATION
SECURITY CONTROL IN THE AIRPORTS OF THE REPUBLIC
YEREVAN, May, 28. /ARKA/. RA Government approved the order of
organization and aviation security control in the airports of the
republic. According to the RA President’s Press Service Department,
the decision was made issuing from commitments taken by Armenia the
frames of an International Agreement on Aviation Security, and the
necessity of preserving life and good health of passengers and the
crew. The corresponding ministries and departments are to submit
within a week their notes and suggestions on making decisions and
their further discussion. A.H. —0–
*********************************************************************
RA PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN CONGRATULATES CITIZENS OF ARMENIA ON THE
OCCASION OF THE REPUBLIC FESTIVAL
YEREVAN, May, 28. /ARKA/. RA President Kocharian congratulated
citizens of Armenia on the occasion of the Republic Festival.
According to the RA President’s Press Service Department, the
greeting of RA President states that the Republic of Armenia is fruit
of century lasting expectations of the Armenian nation and the heroic
battles in 1918. According to him, after an interval for a century,
Armenian nation again returned to the international political arena.
The greeting states that notwithstanding serious challenges and short
period of existence as a republic, the First Republic managed to
create preconditions for the development of its nation and the
country. “It could pass to the generations new system of values of a
nation-carrier of a republic and the realization of having own
country by its citizens”, as stated in Ra President’s greeting. He
also noted that May 28 is a an example of a national unity, “which we
should be guided with today and in future”. A.H.—0–
*********************************************************************
RA NA SPEAKER ARTHUR BAGHDASARYAN CONGRATULATES CITIZENS OF ARMENIA
ON THE OCCASION OF THE REPUBLIC FESTIVAL
YEREVAN, May, 28. /ARKA/. RA NA Speaker Arthur Baghdasaryan
congratulated citizens of Armenia on the occasion of the Republic
Festival. According to RA NA Press Service Department, the greeting
states that each country has its special days and festivals that
symbolize important historical events, victories of a nation and a
state. According to Speaker, for Armenian deprived of republic for so
many years, Republic Festival is especially important as it “crowns
century lasting struggle and final victory”. “The history of the last
century teaches us that in order to have a Republic, it ‘s necessary
to struggle for it, and the struggle should be not only political ,
but also economical and cultural”, according to the statement.
On May 26, 1918 after the collapse of Transecaucasian Seym and
declaration of independence by Georgia, the regional assembly of the
Armenia revolutionary federation Dashnaktsutyun entitled the Armenian
National Council (ANC) in Tbilisi with the authorities of Government
with the right to dictatorship in all areas of life. On May 28, ANC
declared Armenia’s independence, and on May 29, the assembly of ARF
Dashnaktsutyun West and East Bureau appointed the architect Hovhannes
Kadjaznuni the first Prime Minister of independent Armenia and chose
Yerevan as the capital of the new state. The independent Armenian
state maintained its independence till December 2, 1920, when under
the pressure of Bolshivik Russia Armenia had to sign Yerevan
agreement with it which crowned the beginning of making the republic
soviet. A.H—0–
*********************************************************************

Visalia Times-Delta, CA
Tulare Advance Register, CA
May 22 2004
100 years of community
Armenian congregation marks anniversary of first church service in
Yettem
By Mike Hazelwood
Staff writer
Ron Holman/Staff photographer
>>From left, Sark Yahnian, Sylvia Yahnian, Araxie Menendian, Lucinne
Bennett, Rosie Baramian, Carolyn Mikaelian and Hartune Neffian are
members of the St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church of Yettem. The
congregation will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first church
service on May 30.
Ron Holman/Staff photographer
Lucinne Benett, 86, stands in front of a map depicting Armenian
family homes in 1915 Yettem. Although an artist finished the map,
Bennett and her sister designed it from memories of growing up in the
area.
How to attend
What: Celebration of first Yettem church service 100 years ago
When: 9:45 a.m. May 30
Where: St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church of Yettem, 14395 Avenue 384
Cost: Services are free and open to public, but banquet to follow is
sold out
YETTEM — As much as life changes in 100 years, much can also stay
the same.
Take the tiny town of Yettem, for example. A century ago it was a
mere speck on Tulare County maps. But it was an area rich on
religious faith.
Today it’s still a speck. And it’s still a spiritual
diamond-in-the-rough.
“The church holds us together,” says Araxie Menendian, 78, a member
of St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church of Yettem.
Next weekend church members will celebrate the 100th anniversary of
the first church services in Yettem, the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it
town north of Visalia.
There was no church or clergymen, just a community of Armenian
settlers embracing a new land.
According to written records, the families met outside Tateos
Davidian’s home. Under a tree, the families of different
denominations — and non-Armenians as well — read scripture, prayed
and sang a hymn translated to “Morning of Light.”
It will all be relived May 30.
“They did what they could,” the church’s Father Vartan Kasparian
says.
The anniversary banquet — which follows a morning full of indoor and
outdoor services — is already sold out, though only a handful of
Armenians still live in the Yettem area. Things change, as the
settling families have branched out across the United States.
But things stay the same, because many Armenians still consider
Yettem a slice of home.
“When you’re in Yettem,” Kasparian says, “especially when you’re
looking up at the Sierras, it feels like you’re back in Armenia.”
He says many locals have grown and moved to bigger Armenian churches
in places like Chicago or Los Angeles.
But they still have love for the church in Yettem, an Armenian word
for “Eden.”
Yettem certainly was a paradise in comparison to the homeland 100
years ago, when the seeds of hate were being planted to become 1915’s
Armenian Genocide, which took 1.5 million lives. Armenians sought
refuge around the world.
“Those who stayed went through hell,” Kasparian says.
They sought religious and cultural freedom. And though they left
their homeland, they found solace with each other in places like
Yettem.
“Everybody knew each other’s sorrows,” says Lucinne Bennett, 86.
And it all started 100 years ago, under a tree, fueled by faith. And
it will continue with next Sunday’s services, under a tree, fueled by
faith.
Life changes, yet stays the same.
“There are generations that will come after us,” Kasparian says. “God
willing.”

Azeri paper reports Armenian truce violation
Zerkalo, Baku
20 May 04
Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Zerkalo on 20 May
headlined “Truce violated”, subheaded “Positions of the Azerbaijani
army were fired in Qazax District”
The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry press service has reported that
positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the village of Bala
Cafarli in Qazax District were fired on by assault-rifles and machine
guns between 1630 – 1650 [1230 gmt – 1250 gmt] on 18 May.
The fire came from the village of Vazashen of Armenia’s Idzhevan
District.
The Azerbaijani side silenced the enemy with retaliatory fire. There
were no casualties.

ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY INITIATIVE LAUNCHED IN SOUTHERN CAUCASUS
[May 19, 2004, 14:35:03]
Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 19 2004
Workshops held May 10-18 in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.
Eliminating environmental problems helps to ease political tensions:
that is the basic idea behind a new initiative launched in the
Southern Caucasus region by the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the U.N. Environmental Program (UNEP)
and the U.N. Development Program (UNDP).
An initiative focusing on the links between environmental problems
and security was launched this week with national events in Georgia
and Azerbaijan.
Through the Environmental Security Initiative, the OSCE, the United
Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) and the UN Development Program
(UNDP) aim to identify cases in which environmental degradation
may pose threats to human security and contribute to instability,
and suggest action to deal with them.
The initiative began on 10 May in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, with
two days of consultations among government officials, non-governmental
organizations and local and international experts. They discussed
key environmental risk factors that have the potential to hamper
security in Armenia.
The workshops continued on 14 and 15 May in Tbilisi, Georgia. They
focused on the role of environmental security in economic growth and
poverty reduction in Georgia, both greatly dependent on the quality
and quantity of existing natural resources in the country.
Concluding the series, a workshop in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 17 and 18 May
focused on principal environmental concerns with security implications
in the country, including trans-boundary water pollution and freshwater
quality as well as contamination of the Caspian Sea and deforestation.
The main idea behind the Environment and Security Initiative, launched
in 2002, is that eliminating environmental problems helps to ease
political tensions. In order to achieve this, the Initiative seeks to:
Raise awareness of environmental risks and their impact on security;
Engage with government and non-government groups to identify both risks
posed by environmental change and opportunities for trans-boundary
co-operation to promote sustainable development, peace and stability;
Map risks, as well as needs and opportunities, for environmental
co-operation to improve sustainable resource management, crisis
prevention and peace promotion;
Develop and implement projects to reduce risks identified.
National consultations are considered to be a key element of the
Initiative as they generate information on specific problems that
can then be addressed through individual projects.

HOW TO PREVENT DEFORESTATION?
A1 Plus | 19:44:56 | 17-05-2004 | Social |
A five-day practical seminar for 12 journalists started Monday
in Caucasus Media Institute. The seminar is focused on covering
environmental problems.
Karine Danelyan, the chair of For the Sake of Stable Development
association, finds Armenian laws not so bad saying it would be very
well if we can observe the existing laws.
Armenia’s top environmental concern is Sevan Lake and the country’s
second biggest worry is deforestation. Armenian Environment Ministry
says areas covered with forests make 11,2 percent of the republic’s
territory. Environmentalists say only 7-8 percent. It means 0,1
hectare of green area per capo.
Armenia’s Forests organisation chair Nazeli Vardanyan says it is 2,7
times less comparing with other countries.
A decade ago deforestation was due to energetic crisis and used as
fuel to heat homes, now forests are being cut for woodworking needs
and other purposes and even exported.
Customs Service says 80,000 cubic meters woods were exported to Turkey,
France, Germany, Italy and Iran last year.
Besides, illegal cutting is widespread in Armenia. Environment Ministry
says 700,000 cubic meters has been illegally cut last year.
Nazeli Vardanyan thinks woods should be imported in the republic
instead of exporting.

FREEDOM TO POLITICAL PRISONERS!
A1 Plus | 15:27:27 | 17-05-2004 | Politics |
Civil Will For and Against organization staged a series of protest
actions last week. This week as well started with the organization-held
protest action outside the General Prosecutor’s Office in Yerevan.
The demands remain the same – to release political prisoners. The
action participants say they are determined to continue their
struggle until all political prisoners are released. The protesters
told journalists they found National Assembly Vice-Speaker Tigran
Torossyan’s recent statement that there are no political prisoners
in Armenia ridiculous and showed a list of 14 people.
Gemma Galstyan, mother of Republic party member and political prisoner
Suren Surenyants, took part in the action. She said her son has
health problems.
“I am being denied meeting with my son, because of, as they say,
a special order given by Prosecutor General”, she said.
By the end of the action, protesters sent a paper with the demand
signed by 1,700 citizens.