Author: Nahapetian Zhanna

Agency WPS
TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES MARKET (Russia)
March 19, 2004, Friday
Zvezda, a Russian-American-Armenian joint venture, is going to build
cellular networks all over Transcaucasia.
Zvezda has recently applied for a GSM-license for Armenia. It also
plans to obtain GSM licenses for two other Transcaucasian countries –
Georgia and Azerbaijan – and unite all networks under a single brand
Kavkazskaya Zvezda (Caucasian Star)
Russia’s Defense Ministry is among LanRusinvest’s major clients, and
until recently, the company used military communication channels in
exchange for the services provided to the Defense Ministry. Now
LanRusinvest leases telecommunication channels not only from Defense
Ministry and Voyentelecom, but also from civil operators Rostelecom
and TransTeleCom, according to V.Zatynaiko, Director General of
LanRusinvest.
Waiting for the GSM license for Armenia, Zvezda began building an
IP-network there. It also plans to launch IP-telephony business in
Georgia and Azerbaijan. “That will allow us provide communication
services with Transcaucasian countries at low rates. Besides, people
living in these countries will have low rates for calls to Russia
through our network, says Zatynako. Zvezda plans to invest about 60
million euros into IP-telephony and GSM projects in Armenia.
According to General Director of Zvezda E.Akobyan, the company has
applied to Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania with a proposition
to build a unified mobile communications system, which would cover
Georgia and Armenia. Zvezda plans to invest the same amount of money
in Georgia as in Armenia and operate under the single brand name
Kavkazskaya Zvesda in three countries – Armenia, Georgia, and
Azerbaijan. Although the license for Armenia has not been granted
yet, and licenses for Georgia and Azerbaijan have not been even
applied for, Mr Akobyan already gives figures for GSM tariffs in
Svezda network. According to him, incoming and outgoing calls will
cost $0.15/min at $10 /month subscription charge.
Participants of the project do not disclose information about
shareholders’ stakes in Zvezda authorized capital stock. It is known
however, that there are several legal entities and natural persons
among Armenian participants of the project, and also representatives
of Armenian diaspora from the USA and Canada. Alcatel is named as the
most likely provider of GSM equipment for Zvezda networks.
There is only one GSM operator in Armenia so far – local
telecommunication giant ArmenTel, which was recently deprived of its
cellular service monopoly by the Armenian government. This move
enraged Greek operator OTE who had bought 90% shares of ArmenTel six
years ago. ATE filed a lawsuit in London arbitration court against
the decision of the Armenian government who had promised that
ArmenTel’s monopoly would continue for 15 years after the
privatization.
ORIGINAL-LANGUAGE: RUSSIAN

PRESS RELEASE
Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
138 East 39th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-689-7810
Fax: 212-689-7168
e-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: Iris Papazian
CROSSROADS E-NEWSLETTER: March 18, 2004
ARCHBISHOP OSHAGAN ATTENDS
PREVIEW AND DINNER AT
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan attended a special preview and
dinner on Monday, March 15, representing His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of
the Great House of Cilicia, ushering in the official opening of the exhibit
Byzantium: Power and Faith (1261-1557). Included in the extensive exhibition
are three pieces from the museum of the Cilician See in Antelias, Lebanon.
Overall there are 10 or 11 Armenian pieces of art included in the 350 pieces
from thirty nations. Most of the pieces in the exhibit are rarely seen and
some have never been shown outside of the churches and monasteries that have
preserved them for the past seven centuries.
Representatives of countries who contributed works of art to the
exhibit, as well as sponsors and special guests including His All Holiness
Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch, attended the black tie dinner.
The magnificent 656-page book that accompanies the exhibit is a bargain
at $75 for the hardcover edition. The back cover of the jacket is a
Reliquary Triptych of the Skevra Monastery, Armenian Cilicia, 1293. It is on
loan from the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The exhibit will open to the public Tuesday, March 23 and continue
through July 4, 2004. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located at Fifth
Avenue and 81st Street, New York City.
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING
WILL CONVENE IN MID-WEST
As part of a program to bolster communications with parishes, the
Executive Council has been scheduling some of its monthly meetings in areas
outside of New York. The next such meeting is scheduled for next weekend,
March 26 and 27 at All Saints’ Armenian Apostolic Church, Glenview,
Illinois. The Prelate and Executive and Religious Councils will meet
individually with pastors, boards of trustees, and delegates to the National
Representative Assembly of each area parish. The representatives of all the
parishes will have lunch with the Councils and also participate in a joint
meeting following lunch. The parishes participating are: All Saints Church,
Glenview, Illinois; St. Sarkis Church, Dearborn, Michigan; St. Gregory
Church, Granite City, Illinois; St. Paul Church, Waukegan, Illinois; and St.
Hagop Church, Racine, Wisconsin.
FOURTH LENTEN LECTURE EXPLORES
THE FAMILY AS A SMALL CHURCH
The fourth Lenten Lecture, delivered by Rev. Fr. Khatchadour Boghossian,
pastor of Sts. Vartanantz Church, Ridgefield, New Jersey, took place last
night. Rev. Fr. Boghossian spoke about the Family as a Small Church.
Rev. Fr. Khatchadour began his lecture by going back to creation and
viewing the relationship between God and human beings. He described various
families in the Bible beginning with Adam and Eve, describing their problems
and showing that sin has always existed in families. Coming to the New
Testament he described the Holy Family, and presented the admonitions of the
Apostles, especially Paul, concerning the family. He also offered the advice
given by Armenian Church Fathers (Nerses Shnorhali, Hovhaness Yerzingatzi,
and Krikor Narekatzi) concerning the Christian education of children and the
responsibility of parents.
A question and answer period followed the lecture. Everyone enjoyed a
time of fellowship while sharing a Lenten meal prepared by the Prelacy
Ladies Guild and the Ladies Guild of St. Illuminators Cathedral. Discussions
on various topics of interest to the Church continued in small groups
following dinner. The Lenten Lectures are sponsored by the Armenian
Religious Education Council and the Prelacy Ladies Guild.
FIFTH LENTEN LECTURE WILL FEATURE
PROFESSOR VIGEN GUROIAN
Professor Vigen Guroian will be the featured speaker on March 24 at the
fifth Lenten lecture. Professor Guroian is a professor of theology and
ethics at Loyola College, in Baltimore, Maryland. He is the author of many
books and articles, many of which have appeared in Outreach, the publication
of the Prelacy.
The year 2004 has been proclaimed the Year of the Family by His Holiness
Catholicos Aram I, and the Lenten lectures have all focused on an aspect of
the family. Professor Guroian will speak about The Christian Family under
Fire.
The lectures take place at St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, 221 E. 27th
Street, New York City. Lenten service begins at 7:30 p.m., in the Sanctuary,
followed by the lecture and fellowship in Pashalian Hall. All are welcome.
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I WILL TAKE PART IN COMMEMORATION OF
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE IN RWANDA
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has been
invited to participate in the 10th anniversary commemoration of the genocide
in Rwanda, in April.
Dr. Charles Murigande, Foreign Minister of Rwanda, invited His Holiness
noting: You stood by the people of Rwanda as they struggled to deal with the
terrible consequences of genocide. It therefore gives me pleasure, on behalf
of the people and government of Rwanda, to invite you to the ceremonies
marking the 10th anniversary of the 1994 genocide. Join us to reflect on how
to prevent and banish genocide forever through active universal solidarity.
A high-ranking delegation will accompany His Holiness including Dr. Sam
Kobia, the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches; Dr. Andre
Karamagali, the director of the Department on Africa Affairs; Bishop
Dandala, General Secretary of All Africa Council of Churches, Ms. Teny
Pirri-Simonian, Director of Church Relations Department of the WCC; and Rev.
Krikor Chiftjian, Director of Information and Communications for the
Cilician Catholicate.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GENOCIDE
WILL CONVENE IN ANTELIAS, LEBANON
An International Conference-Genocide, Impunity and Justice-will take
place in Antelias, Lebanon, April 22-23, 2004. Initiated by His Holiness
Aram I, the conference will focus on the question of impunity, which will be
analyzed from juridical, religious and political perspectives. The Armenian
Genocide, the first genocide of the 20th Century (1915) and the Rwandan
Genocide, the last genocide of the 20th Century (1994) will be presented as
two different cases of impunity. An international body of scholars,
politicians, and academicians will take part in the conference.
The question of impunity has become a critical issue on the agenda of
the world community. The conference will provide a framework for people
coming from different religions and backgrounds to discuss this question in
a spirit of creative dialogue.
PRELACY BIBLE STUDIES GROUP WILL DISCUSS
“THE PASSION OF CHRIST” THIS MONDAY
The Prelacy’s Bible Study group will discuss the Mel Gibson movie, “The
Passion of the Christ”, this Monday evening, March 22, 7:15 p.m. to 8:45
p.m. The discussion will be led by Deacon Shant Kazanjian, Director of the
Armenian Religious Education Council, at the Prelacy offices, 138 E. 39th
Street, New York City.
In preparation to see the movie and the subsequent discussion, Deacon
Shant suggested reading at least two accounts of the passion of Christ, the
Gospel of John and one of the other Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke),
or better yet all four Gospels.
If you have seen the movie and would like to join the group for this
discussion, contact Deacon Shant at 212-689-7810.
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT:
SUNDAY OF THE JUDGE
We have now come to the fifth Sunday of Lent, which is the Sunday of the
Judge (Datavori Kiraki). The reading on this day is from the Gospel of St.
Luke, chapter 18, verses 1-8, which tells the parable of the judge. The
judge in this parable is seen as hard-hearted without principles, fear of
God. or regard for people. A widow of the same town has been ill-treated and
she has come to the judge for justice. Although her cause is just, he does
not pay attention to her case. However she persists in coming with the same
appeal until at last the judge decides to see that she gets justice. He does
this not because he cares for justice, but in order to get rid of the widow.
The moral teaching of this parable is that in life one must persevere
and pursue righteousness relentlessly with confidence that perseverance will
be rewarded. In particular the parable teaches perseverance in prayer.
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Polish, Armenian Speakers discuss relations
PAP news agency, Warsaw,
16 Mar 04
WARSAW
Sejm [lower house of parliament] Speaker Marek Borowski and the head
of the Armenian National Assembly, Artur Bagdasaryan, met [on] Tuesday
[16 March] to discuss bilateral relations, international affairs and
Armenia’s policy towards the Polish minority.
Borowski said after the meeting that Bagdasaryan was interested in
European legislature, Poland’s political system and the functioning
and powers of the Sejm. The Armenian side expressed readiness to
develop closer interparliamentary contacts between the two countries
and interest in Polish experience in European integration.
On Wednesday the guest will be received by President Aleksander
Kwasniewski, Prime Minister Leszek Miller, Foreign Minister Wlodzmierz
Cimoszewicz and presidia of the Sejm’s foreign affairs and European
commissions.

A1 Plus | 17:09:16 | 16-03-2004 | Social |
ENVIRONMENT IS UNDER THREAT
Activists of thirty four Armenian organizations engaged in environment,
education and public health issues and united in an alliance on February 28
held Tuesday a news conference in Yerevan.
Deforestation was pointed out as the Armenian environmentalists’ biggest
worry.
“It is our top concern. We have already embarked on very serious work and
want all the programs to be put into reality”, said Tapan Eco Club chairman
Hrant Sargssyan.
—

Trend news agency, Baku, in Russian
9 Mar 04
Liberation of lands top priority for army – Azeri defence chief

BAKU
“The priority task for the Azerbaijani armed forces today is the
liberation of our lands occupied by the Armenian invaders,”
Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev said today during a meeting
with a delegation of a US air force college.
“There is no alternative to that. It would be good to resolve this
conflict peacefully, on the basis of international law and the
principle of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. If this does not
happen, we will liberate our lands from the enemy using our
potential,” Trend quoted Safar Abiyev as saying during the meeting.
The minister informed the US military of the structure of the
Azerbaijani armed forces, their material and technical logistics and
educational institutions.

Chechenpress web site, Tbilisi, in Russian
9 Mar 04
Armenia foothold for Russian air raids on Chechnya – web site
7 March: Against the backdrop of sluggish talks on the pull-out of
Russian military bases from Georgia, the Kremlin is constantly
reinforcing its military-technical presence in Armenia. This trend
has existed since the time of Gorbachev and Yeltsin and is gaining
momentum under Putin.
Nowadays, the Kremlin’s strongest military-technical grouping in the
South Caucasus is concentrated in Armenia.
The 426th air force unit and the 520th air force commandant’s office
have comfortably settled in Yerevan (Erebuni). It is the same air
force structure that regularly raids Chechnya and easily returns to
the base, remaining out of the sight of international observers. It
is time for observers to pay close attention to this, for raids on
Chechnya from a neighbouring country run counter to all international
accords.
Apart from this, the 127th motorized infantry division, the 124th and
128th motorized infantry regiments, the 992nd artillery regiment, the
116th tank battalion, a separate logistics battalion, the 628th
communications battalion and the 772nd reconnaissance battalion are
deployed in Gyumri (Leninakan).
Even a person who is ignorant of military issues realizes that this
is a powerful force capable of dictating its conditions to the whole
of the South Caucasus.
The aforesaid reconnaissance battalion, which has a wide range of
responsibilities – from collecting information all over the South
Caucasus to planning and carrying out various kinds of provocation,
including inciting interethnic strife – particularly has to be taken
into account. The leader of the Georgian People’s Front Party, Prof
Nodar Natadze, has said unequivocally in this connection that almost
all the Russian military bases are stuffed with special forces for
carrying out sabotage and terrorist attacks. Judging by the recent
events in the South Caucasus, the special forces are quite busy. The
Armenia-based 772nd reconnaissance battalion is just the visible part
of sabotage activities conducted by the military bases and
representative offices of Russian colonizers in the South Caucasus.
If on top of it we put the enormous military-technical “assistance”
under Yeltsin, it will be clear that today Armenia is the major
imperial outpost of the Kremlin in the South Caucasus. In addition,
Armenia has been and remains the foothold for the Russian colonizers’
air strikes on Chechnya.
Paradoxical as it may sound, having evicted all the ethnic Russians
from Armenia, the Armenian authorities have granted the Russian
military pilots the right to shell Chechnya and easily return to
their bases in Armenia.
In this ugly alliance of Armenia and Russia, there is one important
point: by betraying the interests of the Caucasus, the Yerevan
government betrays the interests of Armenia, for it backs the
interests of the enemies of the Caucasus – the Russian colonizers. By
reinforcing the Russian military presence at home, Armenia is risking
to become an outcast in the Caucasus.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
03/11/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Uruguay Parliament Recognizes Armenian Genocide 2) Tuncboyaciyan's Armenian Navy Band Performs in Yerevan 3) Iraq Interim Constitution Guarantees Armenian Instruction 4) Rwanda Invites Aram I to Commemorate 10th Anniversary of its Genocide 5) MKR Parliament Turns Down State Property Privatization Program 6) Sako, Joseph Krikorian to Perform at Hye Hopes Event for Ghapan 7) Assemblymember Carol Liu and ANC Pasadena Chapter Announce Human Rights Teacher Training Workshop for Pasadena Public Schools 1) Uruguay Parliament Recognizes Armenian Genocide YEREVAN (Yerkir)--The lower chamber of Uruguay's parliament approved a bill on March 10, which indirectly recognizes the Armenian Genocide. The bill calls for April 24 to be "the commemoration day of Armenians martyred in 1915," and obligates the state owned media to "cover those events" on that day. There is no reference to "genocide" in the wording of the bill, though parliament speeches in favor of the bill did not avoid calling the genocide, a "genocide." The resolution will become a law with the president's signature. In 2000, Uruguay's Senate unanimously passed a resolution marking "April 24 a national day of remembrance for the Armenian Genocide." In 1965, the Armenian National Committee of Uruguay advanced the passage of an Armenian Genocide resolution in Uruguay's parliament--to mark the first time a country officially recognized the genocide of Armenians. At the time, the author of that resolution Senator Dr. Alberto Sid, said that the bill aimed to register Uruguay's official position on the Armenian Genocide as a crime against humanity. Interestingly, the world's first April 24 demonstration also took place in Uruguay, in 1964. 2) Tuncboyaciyan's Armenian Navy Band Performs in Yerevan YEREVAN (Combined Sources)--The Armenian Navy Band, founded by the percussionist and vocalist Arto Tuncboyaciyan, is in Armenia to perform at the March 13 opening of Avant-garde Folk Music Club, and to present their latest CD, The Voice of Our Life. The Armenian Navy Band's compositions are all original and written by Tuncboyaciyan, who insists the pieces "have the sound of my life." This music is founded on Armenian and Anatolian musical traditions and infused with jazz and contemporary culture. Arto's compositions embrace sounds from generations past as well as present; he calls it "avant-garde folk." As such, the Armenian Navy Band represents the synthesis of Arto's musical journey and life experiences. "When people accept me as who I am, I feel like the World is my country," says Tuncboyaciyan. Born to an Armenian family, Arto's life began in Turkey, where at a very early age he became a well-known studio musician. He was the youngest in his family which lived near Istanbul, and was exposed to diverse cultures from an early age. Growing up as a member of Turkey's beleaguered Armenian community meant that Arto and others like him were unable to explore their own cultural heritage. Although Arto's father was a shoemaker, his brother, Onno, became a bass player and composer, and Arto soon followed in his footsteps. He immigrated to the United States in 1981, and has since performed and recorded with an array of outstanding jazz and world music artists, including popular Greek artists such as Eleftheria Arvanitaki, as well as the Spanish guitarist Gerardo Nuñez, and Joe Zawinul, Al Di Meola, Oregon, Joe Lovano, Wayne Shorter, Don Cherry, Arthur Blythe, Omar Faruk Tekbliek, Naná Vasconcelos and many others. The sudden loss of Arto's brother Onno in a plane accident in 1996 gave birth to two albums created by Arto with Ara Dinkjian, recorded in Greece. Arto has also recorded with Dinkjian as a member of Night Ark. The Armenian Navy Band is composed of twelve of Armenia's finest contemporary musicians, ranging in age from 20 to 45. The instruments include the traditionalduduk, zurna, kemanche, kanunand the contemporarytrombone, alto sax, tenor, soprano sax, trumpet, bass, drums, keyboard, and piano. Together with the unique vocals and percussion and sazabo of Arto, the band's sound is a sort of aural journey from the past to the future. Arto himself says: "The project was born in 1998 after the meeting in Yerevan with young Armenian musicians coming from different music experiences (ethnic and contemporary Armenian music)." The band's first European tour in February/March 2000 was successfully received in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Spain. Their next tour, later that year, included Sardinia, France, Brussels, and Holland, ending with a stop in Istanbul for the recording of the album "New Apricot" under the Turkish label "Imaj Muzik," followed by another brief tour in March 2001 and an extended European Summer/Fall tour through to November 2001. 3) Iraq Interim Constitution Guarantees Armenian Instruction ARTICLE 9 OF THE RECENTLY SIGNED IRAQI INTERIM CONSTITUTION, RECOGNIZING ARABIC AND KURDISH AS THE TWO OFFICIAL LANGUAGES OF IRAQ, NEVERTHELESS GUARANTEES THE RIGHT TO IRAQI CITIZENS OF ETHNIC ORIGINS, INCLUDING ARMENIANS, TO TEACH CHILDREN THEIR ANCESTRAL LANGUAGES IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS. THE FULL TEXT OF ARTICLE 9: Article 9 Official Languages The Arabic language and the Kurdish language are the two official languages of Iraq. The right of Iraqis to educate their children in their mother tongue, such as Turcoman, Syriac, or Armenian, in government educational institutions in accordance with educational guidelines, or in any other language in private educational institutions, shall be guaranteed. The scope of the term "official language" and the means of applying the provisions of this Article shall be defined by law and shall include: 1. Publication of the official gazette, in the two languages; 2. Speech and expression in official settings, such as the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers, courts, and official conferences, in either of the two languages; 3. Recognition and publication of official documents and correspondence in the two languages; 4. Opening schools that teach in the two languages, in accordance with educational guidelines; 5. Use of both languages in any other settings enjoined by the principle of equality (such as bank notes, passports, and stamps); 6. Use of both languages in the federal institutions and agencies in the Kurdistan region. 4) Rwanda Invites Aram I to Commemorate 10th Anniversary of its Genocide ANTELIAS--The government of Rwanda has invited His Holiness Catholicos Aram I to participate in the 10th anniversary commemoration of the Rwandan genocide. The event, which will take place in the capital city Kigali, will be held April18-2. In a letter inviting Catholicos Aram I, foreign minister of Rwanda Dr. Charles Murigande writes, "You stood by the people of Rwanda as they struggled to deal with the terrible consequences of genocide. Join us to reflect on how to prevent and banish genocide for ever through active universal solidarity." Catholicos Aram I will address an international conference on "Genocides in the 20th century and lessons to humanity," as well as an ecumenical worship to be held at the Kigali stadium, and will meet the president of Rwanda and church leaders. According to the Catholicosate of the Holy See of Cilicia, His Holiness will present the issue of genocide, referring to the Armenian Genocide as the first Genocide of the 20th century, and the Rwandan genocide as the last. A high ranking delegation will accompany the Armenian Catholicos, including the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Dr. Sam Kobia, the director of the Department on Africa affairs Dr. Andre Karamagali, the General Secretary of All Africa Council of Churches Bishop Dandala, WCC Church Relations Director Teny Pirri-Simoniana, and the Director of the Catholicosate's Information and communication Department Rev. Krikor Chiftjian. His Holiness will also travel to Nairobi, Kenya to present a public lecture on "The challenges facing the ecumenical movement and Africa," and to meet with the president and church leaders, visit the headquarters of all Africa Council of Churches, and present an ecumenical workshop. 5) MKR Parliament Turns Down State Property Privatization Program YEREVAN (Yerkir)--The parliament of Mountainous Karabagh Republic rejected a proposed national privatization program, despite the backing of parliament's majority Democratic Liberal Party. It was stricken down when parliament's Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) faction member Artur Mosiyan demanded a detailed report be submitted on the implementation of the current privatization program during the past years, including data on the number of new jobs created as a result of the program, as well as information on reprimands of officials not fulfilling their obligations. Another ARF faction member Levon Hayriyan, said that Stepanakert residents--unlike all others from former Soviet countries--have not received any benefits from the privatization. Since the proposed program was rejected, the law already in place adopted a few years ago, will continue to be in force. 6) Sako, Joseph Krikorian to Perform at Hye Hopes Event for Ghapan GLENDALEGlendale public high schools' Armenian students have organized an evening of music and dance to support Glendale's sister city of Ghapan in Armenia. The event, "Hye Hopes," will take place on Friday evening, March 12, at the Glendale Civic Auditorium, and will feature entertainment by popular artists Sako, Joseph Krikorian, and DJ Alfred Nazarian. Appetizers and refreshments will be served. Becoming aware of the dire needs of the schools in Ghapan, and because Glendale and Ghapan recently became sister cities, the Glendale students decided to host a fundraising event to provide much needed funds to fellow Armenians. When members of an official Glendale city delegation returned from Ghapan in October 2003, the students heard first hand accounts about the difficulties of Ghapan students, and the debilitated state of their learning environments. Following the event, the students will work with the Glendale Ghapan Sister City Association (GGSCA), a "Hye Hopes" sponsor, to determine a specific school improvement project to fund. The Glendale Ghapan Sister City Association, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, was created to foster a mutually beneficial sister city relationship between Glendale and Ghapan. GGSCA works closely with the city of Glendale to collect equipment and resources that would benefit the city of Ghapan and to create opportunities that would benefit the city of Glendale. The organization also raises money from private contributors in order to fund improvement projects in Ghapan's k-12 schools, post-graduate schools, parks, hospitals, community centers, and other public infrastructure. "Hye Hopes" will be held from 7 pm to 11 pm at 1401 North Verdugo Road in Glendale. Tickets ($10) may be purchased at Paradise Pastry, Pizza Man, and at the door. For further information about "Hye Hopes," visit <; For further information about the Glendale Ghapan Sister City Association, email [email protected]. 7) Assemblymember Carol Liu and ANC Pasadena Chapter Announce Human Rights Teacher Training Workshop for Pasadena Public Schools Pasadena--The first Teacher Training Workshop on the State's approved Human Rights and Genocide Curriculum will be held Friday, March 12, at the Pasadena Tournament of Roses House. Sponsored by Assemblymember Carol Liu (D-La Cañada Flintridge), and the Pasadena Armenian National Committee (ANC), the workshop will provide history teachers with lesson plans and materials concerning human and civil rights violations. Teachers will also receive training on how to incorporate these lessons into the classroom curricula. "In this era of increasing violence and intolerance, young people need to understand what atrocities arise from hate and prejudice," Liu said. Participants will be invited to join an informal seminar to discuss and analyze the California State Department of Education's model curriculum for teaching about human rights and genocide, including the Armenian Genocide. State law requires schools to provide a learning framework that includes material concerning civil rights, human rights violations, genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust. "Despite the severe budget cuts our schools are facing, this project is evidence that we can provide our students with quality education through a collaborative effort between the community and Pasadena Unified School District", said Shahan Stepanian, Chairman of the Pasadena Chapter of the ANC. "We appreciate Assemblymember Liu's leadership and support in this joint effort." The workshop will cover topics including the histories of the Native Americans, European Jews, Cambodians, Rwandan Tutsis, and Bosnian Muslims. In addition, participants will hear about the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the Great Famine of the Ukraine, the Rape of Nanking, and the Chinese agricultural disaster that occurred under Mao Tse-Tung's "Cultural Revolution." Keynote speaker Dr. Richard Hovannisian, Armenian Education Foundation Chairholder in Modern Armenian History at UCLA, will provide the historical context of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Other participants include Facing History and Ourselves, a non-profit organization that works with teachers and students to understand the past and recognize the need for participation and responsible decision making. Samuel Kadorian, a Genocide survivor born in 1907, will share his experience and thoughts. In addition, the workshop will include the Exhibit of Armenian Genocide Survivor Portraits and their Stories by The Genocide Project. Portraits will be placed throughout the room for participants to view. "I would also like to recognize The Southern California Gas Company, and Southern Bell Communications, who has graciously agreed to serve as the main corporate sponsor for the workshop," said Assemblymember Liu. The workshop begins at 8:30 am and will run until 3:30 pm. People interested in learning more about the Teacher Training Workshop or in supporting the event should contact Diana Mangioglu at Assemblymember Liu's District Office--(626)577-9944. 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.

Sydney Morning Herald
March 12 2004
Georgia poaches foreign minister
President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia has chosen France’s
ambassador in Tbilisi to be his foreign minister, saying he had
cleared the appointment with the French President, Jacques Chirac.
Mr Saakashvili said Salome Zurabishvili, a descendant of a
19th-century Georgian writer, Niko Nikoladze, was a diplomat of
international standing whose family had migrated to France early in
the 20th century.
He told a news conference on Thursday that he believed the
appointment was “unprecedented in the history of diplomacy”.
Diplomats are normally expected to remain loyal to their own country
and not take up jobs in foreign governments.
He said he would grant Ms Zurabishvili, 51, Georgian citizenship in
addition to her French passport, a dual status the constitution
allowed in special circumstances.
Ms Zurabishvili has worked in the US, the European Union and NATO and
headed the international department of France’s national security
general secretariat until taking up her post in Georgia.
After the fall of communism many people whose families had migrated
to Western Europe and the US returned to their eastern European
roots. An American lawyer, for instance, served for a short time as
foreign minister in Armenia in the 1990s.
Mr Saakashvili, 36, is a US-trained lawyer who led a bloodless coup
in November that brought down the veteran leader Eduard Shevardnadze,
a former Soviet foreign minister.
Mr Saakashvili won a landslide election victory in January and
promised to integrate the republic into NATO, the EU and the European
mainstream.
Almost everybody who went to the polls voted for him, after he had
led what he called the Rose Revolution – the peaceful removal of Mr
Shevardnadze from the presidency after 12 years.
The young new president can answer questions in rapid-fire English,
Russian and French as well as Georgian.

RIA Novosti, Russia
March 12 2004
ARMENIA CAN HELP GEORGIA’S RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA
YEREVAN, March 12, 2004 (RIA Novosti) – Georgia is trying to improve
its relations with Russia today, and Armenia can promote this process
because it has close and friendly relations with Russia, Georgian
President Mikhail Saakashvili said in an interview with the Second
Channel of the Armenian television and the Azg newspaper before his
departure for Armenia.
“We have long-standing ties and a common historical background with
Armenia. Besides, Armenia is the most acknowledged country of the
region. Armenia has maintained friendship with the West and Russia
for many years. All this should serve the interests of the entire
region,” the Georgian president said.
At the same time, Mr. Saakashvili stressed that Georgia was ready to
take an active part in the establishment of effective relations
between Armenia and Turkey.
In his opinion, Turkey is well aware that relations with Armenia
should be developed for the sake of peace in the region.
“I think not only Armenia can promote relations between Georgia and
Russia, but Georgia as well can assist Armenian-Turkish ties,” said
Mr. Saakashvili.
The Georgian president will visit Armenia on March 12-13.