Author: Nahapetian Samvel

EU for Close Energy Cooperation with South Caucasus
09.03.2006 21:31 GMT+04:00

PanARMENIAN.Net

Energy security matters should be more in focus of our latest talks in
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, EU

Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy
(ENP) Benita Ferrero-Waldner said when addressing Swedish Institute of
International Relations. Benita Ferrero-Waldner said «we should attain
close energy cooperation with our partners in Eastern Europe, South
Caucasus and the Mediterranean region.» «Energy was an important ENP
component from the first days. However, occurrences between Russia,
Ukraine and Moldova at the beginning of the year were a peculiar
«alarm», which reminded that energy security issues should be more in
focus of our political agenda,» the EU Commissioner said.

Regnum, Russia
March 10 2006

Armenian ex-Speaker: time works for Azerbaijan

Meeting with journalists at the National Press Club, ex-Speaker of
the Armenian parliament, Director of Armat Democracy and Civil
Society Development Center Babken Ararktsyan stated that process of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement reached a new stage, fraught
with irreversible consequences. Now, time works for Azerbaijan – this
country purposefully acts in different international structures,
introduces new terminology, which little by little goes into
vocabulary of the international community.

He is quoted by a REGNUM correspondent as saying, that last statement
of Armenian side means, that process of conflict settlement reached a
deadlock. `The winning party does not have a right to do such
statements, to use military rhetoric. What does Armenia need war for?
If we want to conquer Baku – it is another matter,’ stressed
Ararktsyan. `We had superiority, achieved by military efforts, it
should have been transformed into political formulations, and
however, it has not been done.’

Mentioning optimistic mood of co-Chairs of OSCE Minsk Group on
Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, Babken Ararktsyan stated:” What
have they to do – to say, that the process reached a deadlock and go
home? They travel around the world, live in good hotels. But the main
matter is here not negotiating format, but willingness of conflicting
parties itself to come to agreement.” At the same time, the
ex-Speaker mentioned, that status quo is favorable for Armenian
authorities – `corrupted country never can demonstrate political will
to solve conflict.’ Additionally, he pointed out necessity for
Nagorno Karabakh to participate in negotiating process – `Nagorno
Karabakh authorities are now more legitimate, then Armenian leaders.
Even Georgia negotiates with South Ossetia and Abkhazia.’

The Washington Times
March 10, 2006 Friday

Q&A: Terrorism and tenure;
Author warns of communists, jihadists and other ‘dangerous’
professors

By Robert Stacy McCain, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

They are Marxists, anti-Semites, terrorists, purveyors of crackpot
conspiracy theories – and they hold positions of lifetime tenure at
some of the nation’s most prestigious universities. These are some of
the campus figures profiled in David Horowitz’s new book, “The
Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America.”

Himself a former radical in the 1960s’ “New Left,” Mr. Horowitz is
the president of the California-based Center for the Study of Popular
Culture and the founder of the Web site The
following are excerpts of an e-mail interview with Mr. Horowitz:

Question: What inspired you to write this book?

Answer: Twenty years in the trenches, speaking at universities and
seeing what the left had done to them. As my book shows, radicals
have colonized whole departments and fields at universities that are
both public and private, large and small, secular and religious and
turned into indoctrination and recruitment centers for the
anti-American left. My book features full professors who are
followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini, members of the Central Committee
of the [U.S.] Communist Party, active and unrepentant terrorists,
anti-white racists and anti-Semites.

Q: Do most parents of college students – or most taxpayers, in the
case of state universities – know what they’re paying for at these
schools?

A: A friend of mine was the chairman of the board of trustees of a
major state university for 15 years. He said to me, “In all those
years I never knew what was going on in the classrooms at my
university.” I think he is typical. Even I didn’t realize quite how
bad it was until I wrote this book. I hope it will open people’s
eyes.

Q: I was surprised to find that Stanford University professor Paul
Ehrlich, author of “The Population Bomb,” was still teaching. Hasn’t
he been thoroughly discredited?

A: In the university in the social sciences and humanities, there is
no bottom line for bad ideas. In the real world, a Marxist would be
regarded as a flat-Earthist, yet in the university they occupy
positions as professors of history, political science and even (at
the University of Massachusetts) economists.

Q: Another mind-boggling example: Bernardine Dohrn, a former leader
of the violent Weather Underground. How can she be a law professor at
Northwestern University?

A: How can her husband and fellow-terrorist [Bill Ayers] be a
“Distinguished Professor of Early Childhood Education” at the
University of Illinois? The answer to both questions: Sympathizers
with their terrorist political agendas control the search and hiring
and tenure committees. There is really no other explanation.

Q: What are some of the other examples from the book that you found
particularly surprising?

A: Nothing surprises me after the research I did on this book. Hamid
Algar is a professor of Islamic studies at the University of
California at Berkeley. He is an ardent follower of the Ayatollah
Khomeini. Before 9/11 he gave a speech in Tehran at a memorial for
Khomeini in which he called for armed jihad against the West and for
the disappearing of Israel from the face of the Earth. He also told
Armenian students they deserved to be massacred. No administrative
action was taken against him.

Many professors profiled in my book express genocidal views towards
Israel, and one professor of ethnic studies at the University of
Texas has expressed the “scholarly” view that “we have got to
eliminate the gringo … we have got to kill him.”

Q: This is bound to be a very controversial book. What are some of
the criticisms you’ve had so far?

A: The academic leftists are really in an indefensible position, as
these quotations should make clear. So they have an incoherent
defense. Their first tack is to accuse the book of being a McCarthy
list, but in the next breath they are proclaiming how proud they are
to be on it. I happen to be the son of communist parents who were
blacklisted in the 1950s. I can tell you that they did not want to be
on any list.

These tenured radicals are in a very secure position and they know
it. Ward Churchill is still a $120,000-a-year professor at the
University of Colorado, while his president was forced to resign over
the scandal he created. What these people fear is not being fired;
it’s being embarrassed. And I hope their fears prove justified.

Q: Does the fact that people like Angela Davis and Ward Churchill can
become tenured professors argue in favor of the academic freedom
legislation you’ve supported in Colorado, Pennsylvania and other
states?

A: My academic freedom legislation is the beginning of a solution to
this problem. We need to take politics out of our classrooms at both
the university and the K-12 level. Before I go, I’d like to let your
readers know that I’ve created a Web site at
where they can follow the fun.

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:

PRESS RELEASE
March 11, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918

REPS. PALLONE AND RADANOVICH RALLY COLLEAGUES IN SUPPORT
OF PRO-ARMENIAN PROVISIONS IN FOREIGN AID BILL

— Call for Maintaining Military Aid Parity to Armenia
and Azerbaijan, Reversing the Administration’s Proposed
Cuts to Armenia, and Continuing Aid to Nagorno Karabagh

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George
Radanovich (R-CA) called on their U.S. House colleagues today to
join them in cosigning a letter calling on the leadership of the
House Foreign Operations Subcommittee to support pro-Armenian
provisions in the fiscal year 2007 foreign aid bill, reported the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

This bipartisan expression of support, addressed to the panel’s
Chairman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY),
strengthens the hand of pro-Armenian members of the Subcommittee,
most notably Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, Steve
Rothman (D-NJ), Mark Kirk (R-IL), and John Sweeney (R-NY). Rep.
Sweeney, who joined the panel last year, is one of only two Members
of Congress of Armenian heritage.

The letter notes that members of Congress are “deeply troubled”
that the Administration’s request for military aid for Azerbaijan
is considerably higher then the request for Armenia. By signing
the letter, legislators will add their voice to the effort to
ensure that the agreement struck in 2001 between the White House
and Congress to keep aid levels to these two countries equal is
fully respected. In addition, the letter calls for a hard earmark
of at least $75 million for Armenia, a one-year $5 million
allocation for Nagorno Karabagh, and the preservation of Section
907 of the Freedom Support Act.

“We want to thank Congressmen Radanovich and Pallone in urging the
Foreign Operations Subcommittee to support provisions in the fiscal
year 2007 foreign aid bill of special importance to Armenian
Americans,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We also
value the advocacy for pro-Armenian issues from within this panel
by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, the leadership of
Chairman Jim Kolbe and Ranking Democrat Nita Lowey, and the support
of Representatives Steve Rothman, John Sweeney, Mark Kirk, Jesse
Jackson, Jr., Carolyn Kilpatrick, Chaka Fattah, and our other
friends.”

The text of the Congressional letter is provided below.

#####

March 17, 2006

The Honorable Jim Kolbe
Chairman
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations Appropriations
H-150, The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Nita Lowey
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Foreign Operations Appropriations
1016 Longworth
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Kolbe and Ranking Member Lowey:

Thank you for your leadership on the Appropriations Subcommittee on
Foreign Operations. As you prepare the FY2007 Foreign Operations
Appropriations bill, we write in support of Armenia and US-Armenia
relations and we respectfully request that you consider the items
described below in your bill.

Maintain Military Parity

We are deeply troubled that the Administration’s request for
Foreign Military Financing (FMF), Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism,
De-mining and Related Assistance (NADR), and International Military
Education and Training (IMET) funding for Azerbaijan is
considerably higher then the request for Armenia. We believe that
this imbalance simply cannot be allowed to occur.

Congress must ensure that Armenia’s level of FMF assistance is
raised to $4.5 million, NADR assistance is raised to $4.8 million,
and IMET assistance is raised to $855,000. U.S. policy toward the
south Caucasus has been to maintain parity between Armenia and
Azerbaijan. This policy was reached in agreement in Congress and
was maintained by President Bush in last year’s budget proposal. A
lack of military parity would undo this policy and weaken ongoing
peace negotiations regarding Nagorno-Karabakh. Furthermore, we
believe that any imbalance will contribute to further instability
in the region if Congress does not ensure military parity.
Therefore, we strongly urge you to include $4.5 million in FMF,
$4.8 million in NADR, and $885,000 in IMET funding for Armenia in
the FY2007 bill, equal to Azerbaijan.

Economic Assistance to Armenia

The dual blockades of Armenia by Azerbaijan and Turkey continue to
impede Armenia’s economic well-being. Despite these blockades,
Armenia continues to successfully implement economic and democratic
reforms. As long as Armenia suffers from blockades on its east and
west borders, continued and robust U.S. assistance to Armenia will
be needed to help minimize their impact. Our assistance has
provided an important positive effect and will continue to do so
when provided at appropriate levels. For fiscal year 2006, $75
million was provided for Armenia. Maintaining this level of
support is critical. Therefore, we request you include language
ensuring that not less than $75 million in Economic Support Funds
is appropriated for Armenia in Fiscal Year 2007.

Assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh

We thank you for your continued support for assistance to Nagorno-
Karabakh. This support is in our country’s interests and helps
alleviate the conditions of the Nagorno-Karabakh people. It is
important for Congress to maintain a strong position on this
funding to ensure that these programs continue. Therefore, we
request you include language directing USAID to spend $5 million in
Fiscal Year 2007 for programs in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Section 907

We request that you join us in opposing any changes to Section 907
in the fiscal year 2007 bill. Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support
Act remains a fundamental element of U.S. policy toward the south
Caucasus. Because Azerbaijan continues its blockade of Armenia,
Section 907 is necessary. As you know, the FY2002 Foreign
Operations Appropriations Act provided a limited and conditional
waiver to Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act in order for the
U.S. to effectively combat terrorism. Specifically, at the time,
former Secretary of State Colin Powell asked for flexibility to
counter terrorist elements and organizations operating within
Azerbaijan. We strongly support Section 907 and request that you
not make any further changes to this law.

We appreciate your consideration of these requests.

Sincerely,

Azerbaijan, Germany sign agreement on military cooperation

AP Worldstream; Mar 10, 2006

Defense officials from Azerbaijan and Germany signed an agreement on
military cooperation, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said Friday.

The agreement, signed by Azerbaijani Gen. Chingiz Mamedov and German
Brig.-Gen. Karl Muellner, foresees joint work in defense policy and
security, military education, legislation, history and medicine as
well as exchanges. It also notes the two countries’ cooperation under
NATO’s Partnership for Peace program.

Students learn about least publicized genocide
06:44 PM PST on Thursday, March 9, 2006
By GARY CHITTIM / KING 5 News
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian <[email protected]>
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 — ListProcessor(tm) by CREN

Not many people even know what or where Darfur is, let alone what is
happening there. But human rights groups are trying to change that.

A group of Ballard High School students had their eyes opened Thursday
to Darfur, a section of the African nation of Sudan where entire
villages have been wiped out and burned to the ground.

They learned about tens of thousands of innocent people killed by
alleged government-sponsored death squads.

“They will basically ride into a town, a village in Darfur, on
horseback, on camel, sometimes maybe in airplanes or helicopters and
basically shoot everybody that they can,” explained Aaron Bandler, UW
Save Darfur Coalition.

Those who survive and flee face a slower death in overcrowded and
undersupplied refugee camps.

President Bush and other world leaders call it an unacceptable case of
modern genocide. But so far, the world’s governments have not
intervened and the people of Darfur continue to die at an alarming
rate.

“Now that I found out what’s going on, it’s pretty messed up and we
should be sending troops over there to take it out,” said student Zach
Stump.

Organizers of Thursday’s event hope the Ballard High School students
who suddenly know a lot more about Darfur will help them spread the
word.

The Save Darfur Washington State group, Save Darfur Coalition at UW
and the American Jewish Committee are putting on these presentations.

Armenian Police official faults US human rights report

Arminfo
10 Mar 06

Yerevan, 10 March: The Armenian Police disagrees with the criticism
expressed in the report on human rights in 196 countries of the world
published by the US Department of State.

The chief of the main criminal investigation department of the
Armenian Police, Col Ayk Militonyan, said at a press conference today
that he does not know of a case when a detainee was denied medical
aid. “If there are such specific facts, I would like to them to be
submitted to me,” he noted.

At the same time, the department chief assumed that the authors of the
report might have also confused different departments belonging to
different organizations. It is worth noting that the Department of
State also listed as violations registered in the republic death cases
in the army in unclear circumstances, the beating of citizens by
representatives of the law-enforcement agencies, detentions carried
out without court sanction, the impunity of officers of the National
Security Service and the Police, and conditions in prisons that do not
meet medical standards.

ARMENIAN OFFICIAL UNRUFFLED BY AZERI DEFENSE BUDGET

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
posted on March 13 2006

Baku, March 10, AssA-Irada
Armenia is not afraid of war and is not particularly concerned at
the fact that Azerbaijan’s military budget is expanding, its Defense
Minister Serzh Sarkisian has said. He said Armenia was prepared for
any scenario.

“As for Azerbaijan’s growing military capability, this does not
exactly mean that Baku will draw any benefit from that,” Sarkisian
said. The defense minister said the Armenian armed forces were
currently in a very good position and regarded this as one of the
key factors behind what he called “Armenia’s military supremacy”
over Azerbaijan. He indicated that the millions of dollars expected
to start flowing into the Azerbaijani state budget [oil revenues]
would not make a big difference on the military front.

“If combat-readiness was measured by the size of military budgets,
the world’s key oil exporters would have the strongest armies. This
is not the case.”

Sarkisian also said the deployment of international peacekeepers in
the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict zone was unlikely in the near
future because the parties to the conflict have to reach agreement
before that can happen.

ARMENIAN EMBASSY IN LEBANON TO DO WHATEVER NECESSARY TO MAKE BILATERAL TIES CLOSER

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
March 13 2006

YEREVAN, March 13. /ARKA/. Armenian Embassy in Lebanon will make
every effort for making bilateral ties closer, Armenian Ambassador
to Lebanon Ter-Ghevondyan said Friday at the ceremony of handing
credentials to Lebanese President Emil Lahood.

Ter-Ghevondyan expressed gratitude to Lebanese authorities for their
special attitude toward Armenia and Armenian people.

President Lahood, in turn, highly estimated centuries-long
Armenian-Lebanese ties. He stressed that warm relations between two
nations will become a strong ground for developing partnership at
all levels.

AZERBAIJAN’S MINISTRY OF CULTURE ADDRESSES “EUROVISION” CONTEST ORGANIZERS WITH LETTER OF PROTEST

Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 14 2006

Tbilisi, March 14 (Prime-News) – Statement of Ministry of Culture and
Tourism of Azerbaijan reads that the Ministry is worried with the
fact that the singer from Armenia – Andre notes his place of birth
as Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh at contest’s official site.

As a result, the letter was sent to contest organizers, where this fact
is recognized as “disrespect of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity”
and “provocation, which can be interpreted as support of Armenia’s
aggressive politics”.

Such facts can have a negative influence on the process of conflict
resolution, the statement reads.

‘Eurovision’ representatives have told that information about Andre
soon will be changed.

Svante Stockselius, European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) Executive
Supervisor of ‘Eurovision’, stated that the contest isn’t a political
event, and information on the official site has no hidden political
motives.

Singer Andre will represent Armenia at the contest, which will be
held in Athens on May 18-20. Armenia is the only country from South
Caucasus, which will participate in the prestigious song contest
organized by EBU.

Trend News agency informs that the Eurovision management corrected
the mistake on their website and have taken off all the materials on
the birthplace of Armenian singer Andre, who has mentioned it as the
Nagorno-Karabakh republic after the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of
Azerbaijan has addressed the contest organizers demanding to correct
the mistakes on their website, Abulfaz Garayev, Azerbaijani Minister
of Culture and Tourism, stated.