Author: Tambiyan Samvel

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
August 27, 2004 Friday 12:06 PM Eastern Time
Danish foreign minister celebrates birthday in Yerevan
By Tigran Liloyan
YEREVAN
Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeler celebrated his birthday in
Yerevan Friday where he arrived during his Caucasian tour.
This tour is caused by growing interest of the European Union to the
countries of this region, the Danish minister said at a meeting with
his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanyan. Praising highly the
potential of economic development of the South Caucasus the minister
came out in favour of forming normal relations in the region. He
cited the settlement of relations between Denmark and Germany as an
example of positive experience.
At the meeting with the Danish minister Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan called energy a promising trend of economic
cooperation with Denmark. He stressed the importance of using
Denmark’s experience for creating alternative sources of electricity
that Armenia is badly in need of.
According to the premier, the appointment of the EU special envoy on
the South Caucasus testifies to the EU growing interest in the
region. In his view, the implementation of the initiative Enlarging
Europe: new neighbours will give a fresh impetus to the peaceful
settlement of the Karabakh conflict and other conflicts.

Novinite, Bulgaria
Aug 26 2004
Bulgaria’s Nazaryan Advances to Semi-Finals

Bulgaria’s Armen Nazaryan won yet another wrestling battle in the
Olympics, making it to the semi-finals. Photo by
armennazaryan.tripod.com

Sports: 26 August 2004, Thursday.
Bulgarian wrestler Armen Nazaryan advanced to the semi-finals in the
Olympic Games in Athens.
Nazaryan, 22, overpowered Japan’s Macoto Sasamoto (5:3) in Pool C of
men’s Greco-Roman 60kg pool elimination.
The Armenia-born athlete, who is married to a Bulgarian, is two times
World and Olympic champion.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
 
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2004
CONTACT: David Zenian
E-mail: [email protected]
ARMENIAN CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS CALL FOR U.S. RESPONSE TO AZERBAIJAN’S AGGRESSION
Washington, DC — The Armenian Assembly of America commended Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chairs Reps. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank
Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) for taking a firm stand on repeated and blatant threats
by Azerbaijan against Armenia and raising this “serious issue” with
Secretary of State Collin Powell.
In a joint letter to Powell Friday, with copies sent to National Security
Advisor Condoleezza Rice and Special Coordinator for Eurasia Conflicts
Ambassador Steven Mann, Representatives Knollenberg and Pallone said U.S.
silence in the face of recent remarks by a ranking Azerbaijani official
calling for the occupation of Armenia and “removal of the entire Armenian
population from the Caucasus” should not be “dismissed as mere rhetoric.”
“We applaud Representatives Knollenberg and Pallone for their forthright
stand on this highly dangerous and potentially explosive Azerbaijani policy.
Both Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh have on more than one occasion extended an
olive branch only to be met with Azerbaijan’s war-mongering policies,”
Assembly Board of Trustees Chairman Hirair Hovnanian said.
“We share Representative Knollenberg’s and Pallone’s view that Azerbaijan’s
threats against Armenia should be compellingly addressed by the
Administration at the highest levels,” Hovnanian said.
To buttress the Co-Chairs’ concerns, the Armenian Assembly issued and
circulated a detailed and well documented fact sheet to all 435 U.S. House
of Representatives and 100 Senate members spelling out recent remarks by top
Azerbaijani officials hurling “threats, hate-mongering, complaints,
accusations and abuse at the Armenians of Karabakh, Armenia and Armenians
around the world.”
Among the most blatant and belligerent were remarks by Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev, Defense Minister Gen. Safar Abiyev, Defense Ministry Spokesman
Col. Ramiz Melkov, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the Council of Europe Agshin
Mekhtiyev, President Aliyev’s National Security Advisor Vafa Gulizade and
others.
In their letter to Secretary Powell, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues said failure to “forcefully and publicly confront
the Azerbaijani government over these destabilizing threats would, in our
view, send extremely dangerous signals” to the government in Baku.
The letter went on to reiterate that Azerbaijan’s threats against Armenia’s
survival will only “reinforce our commitment to maintaining parity in U.S.
military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan.”
Addressing Secretary Powell, Representatives Knollenberg and Pallone said:
“As Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, we would like
to raise with you a serious issue that, if not compellingly addressed by the
Administration, has the potential to undermine U.S. interests and American
values in the strategically important Caucasus region.
We refer to the remarks by officials in the government of President Ilham
Aliyev calling into question the very existence of Armenia. For example, as
reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Azerbaijani Defense
Ministry spokesman called for Azerbaijan’s takeover of the entire territory
of Armenia and removal of the entire Armenian population from the Caucasus.
He went so far as to say, “Within the next 25 years there will exist no
state of Armenia in the South Caucasus.” Given Azerbaijan’s history of
aggression against Armenians, these remarks cannot be dismissed as mere
rhetoric.
Azerbaijan’s threats against Armenia’s survival reinforce our commitment to
maintaining parity in U.S. military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan. This
arrangement means even more today than when it was first put in place,
particularly in light of Baku’s increasingly aggressive posture toward
Armenia. Any tilt in military spending toward Azerbaijan could, in our
view, destabilize the region by emboldening the new Azerbaijani leadership
to continue their threats to impose a military solution of the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.
The United States plays a crucial role in the negotiations over Nagorno
Karabakh, to help the people of this region to find a lasting and equitable
peace. These threats by Azerbaijan undermine these efforts and seriously
complicate our diplomacy in the region. A failure on our part to forcefully
and publicly confront the Azerbaijani government over these destabilizing
threats would, in our view, send extremely dangerous signals to Azerbaijan.
It is our hope that the United States takes action to condemn these remarks,
to ensure that all parties involved in this conflict make a genuine
commitment towards peace and stability.”
Following is the text of the Assembly Fact Sheet which was sent to all
members of the Senate and Congress:
“In the years since the outbreak of the Karabakh conflict in the 1980s, the
Azerbaijani government and entities sponsored by it have hurled a litany of
threats, hate-mongering, complaints, accusations and abuse at the Armenians
of Karabakh, Armenia and Armenians around the world. Such rhetoric continued
unabated despite the establishment of a cease-fire in Karabakh in May 1994
and the ongoing peace process, and has intensified in recent years.
Egregious examples of this rhetoric follow:
* President Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly told his nation that Azerbaijan
could launch a new war in Karabakh: “At any moment we must be able to
liberate our territories by military means. To achieve this we have
everything.” Aliyev predicts that Azerbaijan will soon become an
economically strong state, while its military “superiority” will increase
further. “Under these circumstances we cannot react positively to those
calling us to compromise.” (Source: Zerkalo 7/23/04) Azerbaijan has been
increasing its military spending to more than $217 million (Source: IISS
Military Balance) and buying more tanks, artillery and aircraft (Source: UN
Directory of Conventional Arms). Aliyev warned that unless Armenians
capitulate “we will all smash the heads of the Armenians.” (Source: Turan
via BBC Monitoring 10/27/00)
* Azerbaijani Defense Minister Gen. Safar Abiyev says that occasional
violations of the 1994 cease-fire are “natural” since Azerbaijan is still
“at war.” (Source: Sarg via BBC Monitoring 8/14/03) Abiyev makes claims on
Armenia’s territory: “Armenia must always remember that what Azerbaijan
accepted yesterday will not be accepted today and tomorrow. Azerbaijan will
not want to have a separated state – meaning Nakhichevan, cut from the
mainland Azerbaijan. This issue will be raised tomorrow.” (Source: Ekho
5/16/03). Asked if the Azeri army is ready “to go to Yerevan,” Abiyev
answers: “We can go even farther.” (Source: ANS via BBC Monitoring 3/22/02)
Abiyev claims that “The Armenian state was created on the occupied Azeri
lands with the area of 29,000 square kilometers.” (Source: ANS.az 12/7/01)
* The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Ramiz Melikov: “In the
next 25-30 years there will be no Armenian state in the South Caucasus. This
nation has been a nuisance for its neighbors and has no right to live in
this region. Present-day Armenia was built on historical Azerbaijani lands.
I believe that in 25 to 30 years these territories will once again come
under Azerbaijan’s jurisdiction.” (Source: Zerkalo 8/4/04) Following the
brutal murder of an Armenian student of NATO English language courses in
Hungary last February, Melikov qualified the confessed murderer Ramil
Safarov as a “talented and disciplined officer.” Melikov added that, “as an
Azeri, I understand and support Safarov’s actions.” Melikov did not exclude
similar attacks on Armenians in the future. (Source: Regnum 2/25/04)
* Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to the Council of Europe Agshin Mekhtiyev warned
of more attacks on individual Armenians, adding that he “would not advise
Armenians to sleep easy in their beds.” (Source: Zerkalo 2/24/04) Parliament
member and former Heydar Aliyev bodyguard Siyavush Novruzov told Terry
Davis, envoy of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, that
“similar incidents” could occur in PACE as well, unless the Karabakh
conflict is settled in Baku’s favor. (Source: Ekho 2/27/04) Azerbaijan’s
Human Rights Ombudsman Elmira Suleimanova said that Safarov should serve as
“an example for Azerbaijani youth.” (Source: Zerkalo 2/28/04)
* The Azerbaijani Ministry of National Security (MNS) has publicly and,
according to media reports, clandestinely sponsored rhetoric and activities
directed against Karabakh peace efforts. In 2004, this successor to the
Soviet-era KGB held a public competition for the “best” films and books
targeting Armenians, with Minister Namik Abbasov giving financial awards of
up to $2,000 to the winners. (Source: Azertag.com 3/26/04) Azeri officials
have condemned Track II peace-building contacts with Armenians, and groups
linked to MNS have attacked Azeri peace activists. (Sources: ANS via BBC
Monitoring 11/3/01, 4/16/02; 525ci Gazet 5/11/02; Zerkalo via BBC Monitoring
4/30/03; IWPR Caucasus Report 5/1/03)
* Heydar Aliyev’s National Security Advisor Vafa Gulizade demanded that
“Armenians should be driven out of Azerbaijan forever.” Unless Azerbaijan
fights and drives all Armenians out, Gulizade believes that “Armenians would
[eventually] buy up real estate in Baku… They will try to take Azerbaijan
into their hands in this way.” (Source: Azadlyq via BBC Monitoring 10/10/01)
“The entire Armenian population of Nagornyy Karabakh should be moved from
there…This problem will not be resolved as long as Armenians are in
Nagornyy Karabakh.” (Source: Yeni Azerbaycan via BBC Monitoring 11/14/01)
“If they want autonomy on our land, let us have autonomy in Zangazur and
Goyca [southern and eastern Armenia] which will enable Azerbaijan to reach
Turkey by land.” (Source: ANS via BBC Monitoring 4/6/02)
* The Azerbaijani Parliament member from ruling Yeni Azerbaycan Party Asia
Manafova:
“Our people must repay the debt it owes to [the late President] Heydar
Aliyev and free Karabakh from Armenian occupiers. To achieve this goal we
are ready to follow the example of Chechen patriots and undertake acts of
suicide bombing.” Manafova called on other Parliament members to also become
suicide bombers. (Source: Regnum.ru 12/15/03) The pro-government Azerbaijan
News Service (ANS) has been the most active Azeri TV channel opposing any
contacts with Armenians and arguing for war, suggesting, among other things,
to recruit suicide bombers from among thousands of orphaned and homeless
children in Azerbaijan. (Source: ANS via BBC Monitoring 10/13/02).
As one of the leading mediators in the Karabakh peace process and Co-Chair
of the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as a nation with deep bilateral ties with
both Armenia and Azerbaijan, the United States needs to be much more active
in securing an end to such irresponsible and bellicose high-level
Azerbaijani statements. Clearly these officials envision another military
offensive against NKR and Armenia, ethnic cleansing and in the case of Col.
Melikov, Armenia’s demise and genocide against its population. Silence in
the face of such threats only emboldens the would-be aggressors.
The Armenian Assembly is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2004-077

FOUR ARMENIAN STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN 16TH INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIAD
ON INFORMATICS
YEREVAN, August 24 (Noyan Tapan). The 16th International Olympiad on
Informatics (IOI) will be held in Athens on September 11-18. Four
Armenian students will also participate in the Olympiad.
Representatives of 80 countries, including Russia, Italy, France,
Germany, Austria and the United States will participate in the
Olympiad this year, as in the previous years.
The Olympiad, which is held every year, is, in essence, the
competition of programming. It was first held in Bulgaria in
1989. This year the “Altec” world-famed company and the “Intel”
corporation are the sponsors of the Olympiad. It is expected that the
2005 international Olympiad will be held in Poland.

Sify, India
Aug 22 2004
Khatri to kickstart Indian campaign in wrestling

Sunday, 22 August , 2004, 16:11

Athens: Mukesh Khatri, who fought against all odds for his debut
Olympic berth, will kickstart India’s campaign in wrestling in the
55kg Greco-Roman category bout here on Tuesday, after the weigh-in on
Monday.
He would be hoping for a favourable draw to make a mark in the
category, which has in fray top grapplers, including World Champion
Dariusz Jablonski of Poland, Marian Sandu of Romania, Uran Kalilov of
Kyrgyzstan and Hakan Nyblom of Denmark.
Khatri, who had prepared for this arduous campaign in June-July in
Colorado Springs in the United States with top coaches and former
Olympic champions, is a confident youngster with his polished
technique and positive attitude.
“I have followed a stringent routine with former Olympic champions
and top wrestling coaches in the US and am very positive towards my
performance in the Olymics,” the 22-year-old Khatri told PTI.
Khatri is desperate to justify his training which he pursued defying
the Wrestling Federation of India’s schedule. He had also insisted
that his personal coach Ramphal Thakran accompany him to Athens,
instead of chief coach Gian Singh and succeeded in doing so.
“I have trained with this coach (Thakran) since my childhood and his
presence will inspire me during the main event,” said Khatri, the
lone Indian entry in Greco-Roman, which does not allow the matmen to
grapple with their opponents by holding them below the waist.
“I am now anxiously waiting for my bout which is in the lowest weight
category and Asians are doing well in it,” he said. In the freestyle,
India will have representation in all but one category after a gap of
over a decade.
The freestyle team arrived here after warming up in Sophia, Bulgaria
and is geared up for the formidable task ahead of them. Indian hopes
will rest mainly on Sushil Kumar (60 kg), who finished fourth in the
World championships in New York last year. He would have to fight out
of his skin to climb the podium in the 60-kg division, which is
expected to be dominated by fighters from the erstwhile Soviet Union
and Iran.
According to India’s chief coach Jagmander Singh, the young grappler
has worked hard on correcting his weaknesses and has a better
footwork and grip now.
But, he needs to make an extra effort if has to come home with a
medal from a weight category which has strong contenders in World
champion Arif Adbullayev of Azerbaijan, Leonid Spiridonov of
Kazakhstan, champion at the first qualifier, Shirayr Hovhannisyan of
Armenia, the second qualifier winner, Li Quan of China and
Bararmagnai of Mongolia. A favourable draw could enhance his chances.
One other freestyle hopeful Yogeshwar Dutt has the credentials to do
well, having beaten Koreas Kim Hyo Sub, the World Military Wrestling
Champion, to clinch the gold in the 55kg class final of Asian
freestyle qualifying event in Sophia, Bulgaria.
Indian standards, by and far, have improved over the last few years
after a perceptible decline in the 1990s and it has resulted in the
matmen making their presence felt at the Asian and world level. But,
Olympics is certainly a different kettle of fish.

IN AKHALKALAKI GREEK DOCTORS RENDER MEDICAL SERVICE NOT ONLY TO LOCAL
GREEKS, BUT ARMENIANS
AKHALKALAKI, August 20 (Noyan Tapan). Doctors of the Greek polyclinic
of Tbilisi left for Tbilisi with the support of the Greek government
and the Greek International Organization (CAE), as well as the
“Hypocrat” company of Tbilisi.
They were invited by the Greek Union of Javakhk, which was recently
establised. According to the “A-Info” Agency, during the visit of the
Greek doctors not only local Greeks, but the Armenian population of
Akhalkalaki underwent medical examination. Besides medical examination
Greek doctors gave patients free medicaments.

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Service de base francais
17 août 2004
28e festival de La Btie à Genève Une invitation à la découverte tous
azimuts
Genève (ats) Dans un peu plus d’une semaine et jusqu’au 11 septembre,
Genève vivra au rythme du festival de La Btie. La manifestation ne
dérogera pas à la tradition. Elle se voudra avant tout un lieu de
découverte d’artistes, un moment d’innovation, d’exploration de voies
nouvelles.
Une cinquantaine de projets, dont 13 créations, figure au programme,
ont annoncé mardi les organisateurs du festival. Ces derniers,
conscients de la difficulté d’opérer des choix dans une offre aussi
large, ont recommandé aux spectateurs de se laisser guider par leur
curiosité, d’accepter les surprises.
Bashung à la cathédrale
Les moins téméraires se contenteront de la poignée d’artistes
confirmés invitée à se produire à Genève. Alain Bashung interprétera,
avec sa femme Chloé Mons, le poème biblique “Le Cantique des
Cantiques”. Un spectacle qu’il avait créé à l’occasion de son mariage
et qu’il jouera à la cathédrale Saint-Pierre.
Le festival a également réussi à faire venir Christoph Marthaler.
L’ancien directeur du Schauspielhaus de Zurich, présent pour la
première fois sur les bords du Rhône, arrive avec dans ses bagages
“O.T. eine Ersatzpassion”, sa dernière production jouée dans la ville
alémanique.
Charme de La Btie, le public pourra assister à des spectacles dans
des lieux insolites. Le duo de musiciens finlandais Pan Sonic se
produira sous les arches du Pont Butin, un construction vertigineuse
qui enjambe le Rhône. L’aéroport de Genève servira quant à lui de
cadre à une performance de Massimo Furlan.
Du noir, rien que du noir
Les amateurs de sensations nouvelles pourront assister au concert du
groupe allemand Bohren & Der Club of Gore. Cette formation de Cologne
fuit la lumière. L’obscurité est son royaume. Dans la salle de
l’Alhambra, seuls les instruments bénéficieront d’un éclairage
minimaliste, le reste sera plongé dans le noir.
Des artistes seront aussi là pour déranger. Dans ce registre,
l’écrivain d’origine argentine Rodrigo Garcia devrait tenir un rôle
central. Les deux spectacles qu’il présente à La Btie, deux
critiques sans concession de la société contemporaine, promettent de
faire du bruit avec leurs “moments de vrai liberté”.
Un ukrainien pas comme les autres
Le spectacle sera aussi dans la rue, avec une perfomance de l’artiste
ukrainien Alexander Petlura qui se balladera à travers Genève habillé
de vêtements russes historiques. La place des Volontaires, elle, se
drapera d’une ambiance arménienne, avec des sons retransmis en direct
d’Erevan, 24 heures sur 24.
NOTE: festival de la Btie, du 26 août au 11 septembre. Billetterie
en ligne sur le site ou numéro de tél 022 738 19 19.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

La Croix
17 août 2004
PORTRAIT. Julien Lauprêtre, un demi-siècle au service des autres. ·
la tête du Secours populaire français (SPF) depuis bientôt cinquante
ans, Julien Lauprêtre fut à l’origine de la Journée des oubliés des
vacances , créée en 1979. Cette année, celle-ci est placée sous le
signe du Débarquement. 5 000 enfants sont attendus, demain, en
Normandie.
par LAMOUREUX Marine
Cinquante ans après, c’est le même enthousiasme, la même verve
militante. Entré en 1954 au Secours populaire français comme
assistant, secrétaire général dès l’année suivante, Julien Lauprêtre
est depuis lors l’me d’une des plus importantes associations
caritatives du pays. Toujours réélu à sa tête, cet homme simple, à
l’allure bonhomme, a su développer l’organisation, qui rassemble
aujourd’hui 72 000 bénévoles, plus de 800 000 donateurs, et qui
fêtera l’année prochaine son 60e anniversaire.
Pour autant, à 78 ans, le militant n’en tire aucune gloire, si ce
n’est de rendre la société un peu plus humaine . Fils de cheminot,
apprenti miroitier au début de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, Julien
Lauprêtre a rejoint la Résistance dès l’ge de 16 ans, avant d’être
arrêté puis emprisonné en 1943. C’est là, dit-il, qu’il a puisé un
profond désir de s’engager sur le terrain social, au lendemain du
conflit. Son père, qui fut syndicaliste et élu au conseil municipal
de Paris, n’y est pas étranger.
Mais la rencontre, en prison, avec les membres de l’affiche rouge ,
dont le poète et résistant arménien Missak Manoukian, aura été
décisive pour le jeune Julien. Manoukian m’a dit : moi je vais être
fusillé, mais toi, tu vas t’en sortir, il faut que tu sois utile, que
tu rendes la société moins injuste. Bien des années plus tard, le
président bénévole du Secours populaire a le sentiment d’avoir
apporté sa pierre. Aide alimentaire, dons de vêtements, accès aux
soins mais aussi à la culture : chaque jour, plusieurs milliers de
personnes défavorisées s’en remettent à son association, qui tient
tout particulièrement à la Journée des oubliés des vacances .
· l’heure actuelle, un enfant sur trois ne part pas en vacances, car
en cas de difficultés, c’est toujours sur le budget des loisirs que
l’on rogne , rappelle Julien Lauprêtre, pour qui même une seule
journée, à la mer ou à la montagne, peut apporter beaucoup. L’enfant
a des choses à raconter lorsqu’il retourne à l’école, il n’est pas
sec devant la traditionnelle rédaction de rentrée , souligne-t-il.
Demain, à n’en pas douter, le voyage de 5 000 enfants défavorisés sur
les plages de Normandie aura une consonance particulière pour
l’ancien résistant. Qui, bien loin d’être las, après cinquante ans,
n’espère qu’une chose : pouvoir continuer encore longtemps à militer.

rticle_id=c512c58caf10a4ad57ffeead1b61891d
Armeni ans Must Raise Their Voices For Truth and Justice in Sudan
Armenian Weekly (Watertown, Mass.), Commentary,
Jason Sohigian, Aug 15, 2004
Although the U.S. State Department and even the United Nations have
hesitated to call the continuing atrocities in the Darfur region of western
Sudan a genocide, the US Congress unanimously passed a resolution last month
declaring that the events unfolding there are genocide, and urged the Bush
administration to do the same.
The wavering of the UN may be because the Genocide Convention of 1948
obligates the international community to take the complicated step of
“preventing and punishing” acts that it has declared as genocide; also, the
body recognizes the dangers of trivializing the act by applying the term to
situations that may not fully meet the criteria.
Yet, already at least 30,000 civilians have been killed and up to one
million displaced since groups from the Darfur region took up arms over what
they regard as unjust treatment by the government in their struggle with
Arab countrymen over land and resources. The government- armed militia,
called Janjaweed, began attacking Darfur villages in retaliation.
However, regardless of the terminology, with killings of this magnitude it
is imperative that the UN and the US work with the international community
to stop it immediately by using economic and arms embargoes against those
that supply the Janjaweed, deploying troops from other African states, and
applying sanctions and other means to pressure those responsible.
The Armenian community has a special responsibility to speak out on this
issue. Past instances of genocide, including the brutal murders of 1.5
million Armenians, were not prevented–even when the massacres taking place
were well known to the outside world–because the international community
failed to act.
As Gary Bass, author of Stay the Hand of Vengeance: The Politics of War
Crimes Tribunals, noted in an interview with the Armenian Weekly, “There is
more of a sense for communities in the US who are sensitive to the issue of
genocide–such as Rwandans, Jews, or Armenians living here–about the
reality of genocide and of what it means to be abandoned when you are dying
in the hundreds of thousands and no one cares.”
Similarly, in The Banality of Denial: Israel and the Armenian Genocide, Yair
Auron has written about the importance of the Israeli viewpoint concerning
acts of genocide, because of the Jewish experience in the Holocaust.
As a result of the work of the International Association of Genocide
Scholars and others, the term genocide and the weight of its meaning have
become known to a wide segment of the public, and important issues
concerning genocide are now being discussed in the media and by the
international community.
The U.N. is to be commended for its appointment last month of Juan Mendez to
the new position of Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide. Mendez is
an Argentine human rights lawyer and one-time political prisoner under the
military regime that ruled his country in the 1970s.
Whether or not Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Bush administration
have the inclination or ability to follow the lead of the US Congress on
Sudan, Secretary-General Kofi Annan must work with Mendez and others without
delay to prevent genocide–before it is too late once again.
Related Stories:
Recognition of Armenian Genocide Increasing Despite White House Opposition
Armenian-Americans Say U.S. Trade Decision Will Hurt Homeland

Cleveland Plain Dealer , OH
Aug 13 2004
FBI to alert storage locker owners to potential dangers
John Caniglia
Plain Dealer Reporter
The FBI today will issue warnings nationwide to owners of storage
lockers, asking them to be aware of people paying in cash or who have
chemical burns on their hands.
In Cuyahoga County, FBI agents will talk with the owners of 98
storage centers, telling them to look out for people who insist on
paying in cash or want to store agricultural equipment, such as
sprayers.

FBI agent Robert Hawk said agents also want to stress that the units’
owners should report people who have flight manuals, pesticides and
fertilizers.
He said owners should be suspicious of people who carry large amounts
of ammunition. Hawk said the information came from the agency’s
headquarters in Washington. He did not say what specifically led to
the warning.
The warning is the latest in a longstanding series of alerts, as
federal authorities broaden their search for terrorists intent on
pummeling America. The difference is the detail that the FBI has
released about the people involved.
Past extremists, including Timothy McVeigh and former Cleveland
educator Mourad Topalian, have used the units to store explosives.
Last week, agents arrested a man in Chicago after he rented a storage
facility and placed about 500 pounds of fertilizer inside. The
Chicago Tribune reported that he was accused of wanting to destroy a
federal courthouse, using ammonium nitrate, which McVeigh used to
kill 168 people in Oklahoma City in 1995.
In 1996, the manager of a Bedford storage locker, upset that he had
not been paid in months, called police.
Officers opened the locker and found two automatic weapons and cases
loaded with dynamite.
They discovered that a woman had rented the locker in 1980 for her
husband, Topalian, a national spokesman for Armenian-Americans and a
vice president of Cuyahoga Community College.
Prosecutors linked some of the explosives to the 1980 bombing of the
Turkish Mission to the United Nations in New York.