Author: Topchian Jane

UN to discuss situation in occupied Azeri territories
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
14 Sep 05
Despite Armenian protests, the situation on the occupied territories
of Azerbaijan has been included on the agenda of the 60th session of
the UN General Assembly.
The Azerbaijani ambassador to the UN, Yasar Aliyev, has said that by
taking a firm position again, the General Assembly supported
Azerbaijan’s just steps and decided to continue discussing this
important issue.
At the same time, this is an important political factor in the issue
of liberating the occupied territories, end quote.

UN PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS
A1+
| 17:51:15 | 13-09-2005 | Official |
Human Rights Defender Larissa Alaverdyan met with members of the UN
mission that arrived in Armenia for discussing the National Action
Plan for Human Rights. International expert of human rights Bill Barker
and regional advisor of the UN Development Program Sergey Sirotkin.
The guests showed interest in the legal situation in Armenia,
constitutional amendments and freedom of speech and press. The
interlocutors also touched upon the place and role of the institute
of ombudsman in the elaboration of the National Action Plan on Human
Rights, potential participation of various state organizations and
choice of key structures in charge for elaboration and implementation
of the Plan. It was emphasized that Armenia is the first country in
the South Caucasian region (including Russia) to start the discussions
over the National Plan.
Bill Barker also noted that the political will of the authorities is
essential for the elaboration and realization of the National Plan
on Human Rights as a priority line of the domestic policy.

NOVEMBER OF 2005 WILL BE A REVOLUTIONARY MONTH FOR ARMENIA: OPPOSITIONIST
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 13. ARMINFO. The ruling coalition suffered defeat
when discussion draft constitutional reforms in the second reading,
Secretary of the opposition bloc Justice Victor Dallakyan said at
the parliament Tuesday.
Being aware of its defeat, the ruling coalition state that if the draft
fails to pass the referendum, it would not mean the public distrust
in the ruling regime. In reality. The failure of the draft at the
referendum will be the political death of the ruling regime and a
display of the people’s distrust in it. In this case, the ruling
regime must resign as it is in developed democratic states.
Dallakyan called on the population to vote against the draft.
In his turn, another Represetnative of the bloc, Leader of the national
Democratic Bloc Arshak Sadoyan stated that November of 2005 will
become a revolutionary month as the referendum for constitutional
reforms will result in a revolution in Armenia.

REPRESENTATIVES OF SELF-PROCLAIMED REPUBLICS SET TO GATHER IN MOSCOW
RIA Novosti
September 12, 2005
MOSCOW, September 12 (RIA Novosti) – A conference dedicated to the
problems of self-proclaimed republics in the former Soviet Union will
be held in Moscow September 14-15, a spokesman for the CIS Institute,
a Moscow based think tank on the Commonwealth of Independent States,
said Monday.
Delegations from self-proclaimed republics, Russian parliamentarians,
academics, and prominent political scientists will attend the
conference, “A Parallel CIS: Abkhazia, Transdnestr, South Ossetia
and Nagorny Karabakh as realities of post-Soviet space,” which is
co-organized by the CIS Institute.
Igor Smirnov, the president of the breakaway republic of Transdnestr
in Moldova, Stanislav Lakoba, the secretary of the Security Council
of Abzkhazia, a self-proclaimed republic in western Georgia, and
Konstantin Pukhayev, the minister of culture of South Ossetia, a
self-proclaimed republic in northern Georgia, will all attend the
event, as will Kamo Atayan, the minister of education of Nagorny
Karabakh, a territory disputed by Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The participants will hold a round table September 15 “On freedom
of religion in the conflict zones,” which is organized by the human
rights committee of the InterParliamentary Assembly of Orthodoxy.
The spokesman added that parliamentarians from Russia, Syria,
Palestine, Estonia, and Armenia, and church officials from conflict
zone countries around the world would contribute to the discussion.

ARMENIANS PROTEST OUTSIDE AZERI EMBASSY IN US
AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 8 2005
The Armenian Youth Federation representatives protested outside the
Azerbaijani embassy in the United States on Friday.
The protesters chanted slogans against the Azeri government’s warnings
on settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict through military action
and its refusing to provide consent for the self-administration of
Armenian residents of Upper Garabagh. The picketers, who protested on
the initiative of the Armenian leadership, stated their support for the
‘idea of Upper Garabagh independence’. They also claimed that the Azeri
embassy in Washington is allegedly influencing the US government on
non-recognition of Upper Garabagh. The Federation activists also stated
that they plan to protest in other American states and Canada. The
Azerbaijan embassy in US has termed the protest action as an indication
of ‘Armenia’s falling into predicament and its hopelessness’.

SEVAN THREATENING THE TREES
A1+
| 18:39:58 | 07-09-2005 | Social |
Today the session of the RA Forests Repair and Development Fund
Trustee Council took place which was presided over by the President
of the Council, RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan.
It was stated in the session that the non-governmental organization
“Green Earth” was allotted 5 million ARMD to realize the planting
of trees near the RA roads. A reference has also been made to the
problems arisen as a result of the raising of the Sevan level. The
Prime Minister mentioned that the Minister of Ecology has already
been asked to represent the schedule of the cleanings works of the
areas occupied as a result of the level raise.
The Prime Minister has underlined that the lake level raise program
will be realized all the same and there is no need to worry.

ARMENIA VS. THE NETHERLANDS 0:1 REPORT
Jadran Sport, Serbia and Montenegro
Sept 4 2005
– Dutch sign in all three points with minor use of their power –
by Arnoldus Holland
With the performance the Dutch presented us with this Saturday against
Armenia it’s hard likely to believe that their team is being made out
of the best European players. Luckily Manchester United’s striker Ruud
van Nistelrooy was on the right place on the right time to ship the
ball behind the Armenian goalkeeper thirty minutes before the finish
to ensure The Netherlands all three points.
Throughout the game the Dutch had more ball possession, but the bumpy
pitch didn’t really allow them to create any serious chances, neither
did they look too interested in making them. So the beginning was
mostly full of shots from distance that weren’t even close to end up
in the back of the Artmenian net.
Something finally changed when the chief Marco van Basten sent PSV
Eindhoven’s striker Jan Vennegoor up front after one hour play. The
strong player headed the ball with his first ball contact towards
Ruud van Nistelrooij. The player of Manchester United turned away
from his marker and kicked the ball diagonally into the corner of
the goal for 0:1.
After the goal was scored The Netherlands didn’t really need to do
anything more as Armenia didn’t really get past the center of the
pitch, and even when they did by accident Khalid Boulahrouz solved
things easily.
After eight wins and one draw, Germany2006 is a step closer for the
Dutch team, who of course are still in the lead in this qualification
group. Things only got better for them, when they heard that the Czechs
lost their game against Rumania with 0-2. With three matches to go for
the Dutch, they are three points in front of Romania and four points
in front of Czech Rep. Romania still have a minor chance to end up
second in the group, but this is very unlikely because they already
played two more matches comparing to The Netherlands and Czech Rep.

AsianHandicap.com, UK
Sept 3 2005
Armenia v Holland
Match League Date
Armenia v Holland WC 2006 QL Europe 3.9.2005
Home Handicap Away Pick
1,850 2 1/4:0 2,000 AWAY
The massive handicap (2.25 goals to the home team) should be overcome
by the Dutch as they try to stay top of WC Europe Group 1.
Van Basten’s team are on an upswing and the mentality is improving –
maybe this time the Dutch can actually win something? The manager said
“The coming matches will be crucial and if we win three of the last
four we are almost certain of qualification,”, so he’s not taking
the points for granted.
The Dutch have scored 20 goals and just conceeded 3 in their 8
qualifying matches so far.
The Armenians have conceeded 20 goals and just scored 5 in 9
games. 4 of these goals were in home matches. Their coach is Dutch
( Henk Wisman), so the styles of play should cause many surprises on
the pitch.
The Dutch need 3 points and are capable of a 3 or 4-0 win. Makaay is
injured and Robben doubtful, but many of the Dutch squad are finding
good form at the moment. I expect RVN to score, as he did against
Armenia previously and is scoring for Man Utd.

Armenia’s position on Karabakh has not changed – president
Mediamax news agency
2 Sep 05
Yerevan, 2 September: “I have never given anyone cause to think that
our position regarding the settlement of the Karabakh conflict has
changed,” Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said in Stepanakert
today.
The Armenian president, who has arrived in Stepanakert to take part
in celebrations to mark the 14th anniversary of the establishment
of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic [NKR], told journalists today that
“we keep to our previous position and the last 14 years have shown the
viability of the NKR which can have its own independent statehood”,
Mediamax reports.
The Armenian president stressed that the NKR can serve as an example
to other post-Soviet countries in a number of fields.
“Nagornyy Karabakh cannot be a subject of bargaining and the whole
Armenian people agrees with this,” Robert Kocharyan pointed out.
Commenting on the recent meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani
leaders in Kazan, Robert Kocharyan noted that the meeting made a
generally positive impression. “The negotiating process has positive
tendencies,” he said.
The Armenian leader noted that Nagornyy Karabakh was involved,
although indirectly, in the settlement process. In this connection,
Robert Kocharyan said that he has been holding serious discussions
with the NKR president [Arkadiy Gukasyan] before and after his meetings
on the settlement of the conflict.
NKR President Arkadiy Gukasyan refused to comment on the settlement
process, saying that it is confidential, Mediamax reports.
I think that it is too early to open the brackets, but I think that
everything is normal and Nagornyy Karabakh has no reasons to worry,”
the NKR leader said.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
09/02/2005
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1. Anger and Unrest Mount 2. Gul Calls on European States to Not Exploit Its 'Honest' Behavior 3. Cyprus Threatens to Block Turkey's EU Entry Talks 4. Vazgen Sargsian Military Scool Gets New Building 5. SKEPTIK SINIKIAN: WHO LET VICTORIA'S SECRET OUT OF THE MAILBAG? 6. William Saroyan The Man 7. Turkey Under EU Pressure Over Cyprus 8. Congressman Ed Royce ANCA's 'Human Rights Champion' 9. Cyprus Member of Parliament Bedros Kalaydjian Dies 10. Parliament Approves Constitutional Reform Draft in Second Reading 11. Armenian President Congratulates Karabagh Independence 12. Genocide Script among Finalists for Elly Award 13. Zareh at Harvest Gallery 14. Hamazkayin Seeks Actors, Actresses for October 2 Performance at Alex Theatre OUR NEXT POSTING: Due to the Labor Day holiday, our next issue will be posted on Tuesday, September 6. 1. Anger and Unrest Mount (Combined Sources)--As the horrors wrought by Hurricane Katrina continue to mount--the devastation, the evacuation, the looting, the deaths and destruction--the sheer scale of it begins to defy imagination Three days after Katrina struck the the US Gulf Coast, more than 2.3 million people in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama ,and Florida still have no electricity. Officials have so far refused to give a casualty count, but say it could be in thousands. At least 80,000 people are trapped in New Orleans alone as flood waters surged into the low lying city from breached embankments. To rescue the huge number of displaced people is the biggest challenge for authorities. Katrina's effect on oil supplies and gas prices has spread nationwide forcing the government to tap its Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Anger is rising against the authorities who did not assess the strength of the hurricane. Thousands who did not leave the city could not afford it, but worse than the devastation is the lawlessness. Heavily armed gangs are roaming the streets looting whatever is in sight. Martial law has been imposed and troops deployed in rescue operations have been recalled to maintain law and order. The military is increasing the National Guard force in the area to 30,000; 3,000 regular Army soldiers may be sent to help end lawlessness in New Orleans. Health experts warned that the human violence that emerged after Katrina, as survivors sought food and water, will worsen the psychological debris left by the natural disaster itself. After surveying the damage, President Bush said it will take years for the area to recover. He also warned that there would be zero tolerance of people breaking the law during the emergency, "whether it be looting, or price-gouging at the gasoline pump or taking advantage of charitable giving, or insurance fraud." Addressing the possible death toll, US Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana said that there are no numbers, "it could be in the hundreds, or the thousands. I think it's going to be shocking" Congress has planned a special session Thursday night to approve emergency aid. 2. Gul Calls on European States to Not Exploit Its 'Honest' Behavior Turkey defies European Union by refusing to accept Cypriot boats and planes ANKARA (Reuters)--Turkey defied on Thursday mounting European Union pressure to open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and planes, saying they would remain closed despite the imminent start of Ankara's EU entry talks. Turkey, which is due to start EU entry talks on October 3, does not accept the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government and instead backs breakaway Turkish Cypriots. But Ankara's stance, including its refusal to admit Cypriot ships and planes, now threatens to harm its EU bid by providing ammunition to countries such as France and Austria that are skeptical about Turkish membership of the bloc. "Ports and airports are in the services sector, this [opening] is expected only of full EU members," Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told reporters at Ankara airport before flying to Britain to attend a meeting of EU foreign ministers. "This is different from what is expected of those negotiating [membership]... Let nobody play politics with Turkey." Turkey recently signed a key protocol extending its customs union with the EU to new member states including Cyprus. But Ankara argues that the customs union covers only goods, not services such as shipping. Turkey also infuriated Cyprus, France and some other EU member states by issuing a declaration explicitly stating that the extension of the customs union did not signal political recognition of the Greek Cypriot administration. The EU is now expected to issue a counter-declaration and Cyprus has threatened to block the start of Turkey's EU talks if the document is not tough enough. Turkey says it has done all that is needed to start its accession talks and accuses some EU member states of exploiting the long-running Cyprus problem to block the negotiations. "Turkey behaves honestly and expects honest behavior [from others]... If Turkey's honest behavior is exploited on various issues then we can never accept this," Gul said. The Cyprus issue is expected to dominate the two-day meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Welsh town of Newport. Even if its talks begin on schedule next month, Turkey is not expected to join the EU before 2015 at the earliest. 3. Cyprus Threatens to Block Turkey's EU Entry Talks NICOSIA (Xinhua) Cyprus threatened on Wednesday to block Turkey's accession talks to the European Union if it is not satisfied with an EU response to Turkey's refusal to recognize Nicosia. Cypriot government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides made the remarks after Turkey said it will only establish ties with the island after a comprehensive settlement is found and a new partnership state is formed. Cyprus, which became an EU member state on May 1, 2004, together with nine other countries, wants an EU reply which underlines that the Turkish non-recognition stance has no legal significance. Otherwise, Cyprus said it will block the negotiating mandate. " If there is no debate and agreement on the negotiating framework, the negotiations will not start," the spokesman said. Turkey will open entry talks with the 25-member bloc on Oct. 3, but if the negotiating mandate is not unanimously adopted, the talks will not open. EU foreign ministers will meet on Thursday in Newport, Wales, to discuss the issue, and a declaration is expected soon. Turkey signed a protocol in July, extending its customs union to 10 new EU members, including Cyprus, which cleared a last hurdle on its way to opening entry talks with the EU. However, Turkey claimed at the same time that its signature to the protocol doesn't mean recognition of the Cypriot government. Cyprus was divided into the Greek Cypriot south and the Turkish Cypriot north in 1974, when Turkey sent troops invade Northern Cpyrus. The internationally-recognized south entered the EU representing the whole island although it rejected a UN reunification plan in April 2004. The north is only recognized only by Turkey. 4. Vazgen Sargsian Military Scool Gets New Building YEREVAN (Yerkir)President Robert Kocharian on Thursday attended the opening of a new building at Yerevan's Vazgen Sargsian Military Institute. The President, along with the Defense Minister, Deputy Defense Minister, and Commanders of the Institute, toured the new building that will house the Institute's infantry department. More than 1,000 cadets currently study in the Institute's Infantry and Artillery departments; 300 new cadets have enrolled for the coming year. 5. SKEPTIK SINIKIAN: WHO LET VICTORIA'S SECRET OUT OF THE MAILBAG? I guess I touched a nerve with my last few columns. For the last month and a half my virtual mail bag has been bursting at the seams with messages ranging form irate criticisms to uh... well... not so irate criticism. OK. Fine. I'm prone to exaggeration sometimes. I did receive a few complimentary letters. One of them was from Uzbekistan and the other one was from New JerseyAmerica's very own Uzbekistan. I was also excited to get a few from the mother shipArmenia. Not as excited as I was to get the note from Uzbekistan, but still, it's good to know that my rants are being read all the way in Yerevan. But with things extremely morose in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation along the Gulf of Mexico, I made a promise to myself not to harp on any annoying issues in the Armenian news or criticize trends in our community. In fact, if anything, the scope of the disaster and suffering in New Orleans made me reflect on how precious life can be. After all, without the gift of life, how would we ever be able to cruise at breakneck speeds in our parent's German luxury sedan on Glenoaks Boulevard in Glendale while attempting to "pick up" some "kooroh" (noun, Armenian street slang for "chick;" also see akhchee)? Oops. Almost slipped there. I have to keep my promise. I'll lay off of the diaspora hooligans and their ilk. Instead, I'm going to tear open the ol' mail bag and dig up some of the more entertaining messages and share them with you. So without further delay, let's get to the Skeptik e-mails. Let's start with the responses to my piece on my grandmother and her amazingly frugal, hard working, survivor generation. Note: These first few aren't questions but are all responses to my column that ran in Asbarez on August 5 ("A Recycled Rant from an Angry Armenian Bourgeois"). Comment: I like your last article in Asbarez. It reminded me of my mother's "ikrah." Wonderful thing Ikrah lover Armen unknown location Comment: Refering to your last column on the recycled rant, I must say that I can't agree with you more. My entire image of "The Armenians" has been shattered ever since I moved to Los Angeles 6 years ago. I believe the basic problem is a chronic lack of education amongst our population. It's not only the youth and their ignorant parents that are to blame, but the so-called religious/social/political leadership groups in our community. They have done a lousy job of providing opportunity for the youth to cultivate the more productive aspects of themselves and to learn how they can selflessly and effectively give towards building a better future for the Armenian nation. Serge Los Angeles Comment: I am from Uzbekistan (I am not sure that you have heard about this country, but I can assure you that Armenians are living here as well). Every time I look through ASBAREZ ONLINE I read your articles. They are really cute and I appreciate you for such a precise description of Armenians' conduct and mentality. Although I have been tracing your writings in this newspaper for about a year, it is the August 5, 2005 edition that made me write to you. You are writing about aimlessly wandering young guys spending their parents' money. I can make you sure that here in Tashkent, we have the same stuff with young Armenians. Our organizations are separated and constantly criticizing each other but commitment to the Armenian Cause is seen as listening to Armenian music like gangster sort of songs and the heavily courting of blond girls. I have the same concerns about the future of our community when the elder pass away. OK, I just wanted to share with you my comments. Hope they were interesting for you. In brief about myself, I am 25, married, have a degree in Law but am working as freelance translator (English). I was born and live in Uzbekistan Artur Tashkent, Uzbekistan It's too bad our friend is married. I was going to start an online singles auction for a date with my new friend, Artur. First of all, I love the fact that there's an Armenian in Uzbekistan who "traces" my columns. Secondly, I can't seem to get the image of the comedic character of Borat out my head every time I read Artur's letter. Finally, isn't it strange that Tashkent, Uzbekistan sounds just like Glendale, California (cue creepy Uzbeki music). I love Ikrah lover Armen's letter. It reminds us that brevity is a beautiful thing. I have to agree with Armen that "ikrah" is indeed wonderful. It's one of those dishes that if served it in those fancy Italian restaurants with the crappy bread basket they bring outeveryone would jump on the bandwagon. You'd see blogs on the internet about which restaurants on Melrose had the best "eggplant dip," followed by a section in Whole Foods for homemade Ikra from Vermont. But we are Armenian and that means with out luck; Turks would end up somehow stealing/getting credit like they did with yoghurt, lokhum, and baklava. As for the community organizations contributing to the declining state of our youth, all I want to say is that we can either sit here talking and continue the problem, or we can roll up our sleeves and try to make differences in our communities, each in our own way. But as Mark Geragos's most famous one-gloved client/pop star Neverland Ranch resident once said "If you wanna make the world a better place~ETake a look at yourself, and then make a change" Q: I'm sure Dole, Gregorian, and Hovanissian know that taking antiques out of the country is illegal. I think they were more concerned about the length of time Turkyilmaz was kept in jail without any action. How come you single out Dole in your criticism but not the other two? Raffi from New Jersey A: I guess I jumped on Senator Dole because he is such a good friend of the Armenian community and should not be so easily swayed by the folks around him. He shouldn't jump head first into an issue before studying all the details. He's a former US Senator and Majority Leader. He knows better to study all sides of an issue before making a rash decision. I admit that Armenia's such an easy target to pick on. Its government may not be perfect but that doesn't mean this Turkyilmaz guy is innocent. But neither are the guys who sell him these books or who aid him in taking these treasures out of the country. I think the biggest crime that took place is that the people who have been providing these rare books to him were not arrested as well. Q: Have you heard anything about a Victoria's Secret opening up in Yerevan? Koko from Philadelphia A: I did a little bit of research on the internet and sure enough, there's a store called "Victoria's Secret" opening up in Yerevan, Armenia. Here's the link to the picture for those who are greater (do I dare to use a pun) skeptics than I am: Lord only knows where the "T" is in the sign. Someone should double check Turkyilmaz's luggage. Someone suggested that the "T" is actually stuck in customs at Zvartnots International Airport. But what frightens me more than the missing letter T is the whole idea of having a Victoria's Secret in Yerevan, Armenia. How do you even begin to explain to an older Armenian woman what a g-string is or a cleavage-enhancing bra? How would the bra sizes even work? Would it be by the traditional Armenian alphabetAyp, Pen, Keem, Tah? Would a double "D" cup bra be called Tah Tah in Armenia? Would this be considered sacrilegious since 2005 is the 1600th anniversary of St. Mesrop Mashdots inventing the Armenian alphabet? What impression will this store leave on tourists who will walk by, look at the lace underwearbra ensembles in the window and then look straight up at the apartment complexes to find clotheslines festooned with the oversized trootseegs and vardeegs of gold-toothed Armenian grandmothers waving in the wind to dry like ceremonial flags for some sort of May Day parade? Is there also going to be a Frederick's of Little Armenia, Hollywood opening up next? Depending on the success of this store, will Victoria's Secret launch a whole new line of muumuus and have mannequins in its windows wearing slippers and nylons rolled down to the knees? Inquiring minds need to know! I guess we'll all just have to wait and see. Skeptik Sinikian is a part time Professor at the Yereven Polytechnic Institute for Advanced Lingerie Design. He will be teaching a course on the physics of under wire support and gravity. If you wish to enroll or audit his course, email him at [email protected] or visit his blog at 6. William Saroyan The Man Photographer Harry Koundakjian remembers William Saroyan on the anniversary of the writer's birthday William Saroyan was born in Fresno on August 31, 1908 and left us in 1981. He was an internationally renowned Armenian-American writer, playwright, and humanitarian. His fame and his most enduring achievements as a writer date back to the 1930's. His talent was first projected onto the world through the medium of an Armenian-English newspaper, Hairenik of Boston. With the publication of his first book, The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze, written at the age of 26, he became an overnight literary sensation. In 1939, the play "Time of Your Life" was given the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. But Saroyan declined the prize, saying that art should not be awarded with prizes, especially by the rich who had no understanding of such things. He did, however, accept the Drama Critic's Circle Award in that same year. His novels, "My Name Is Aram" and "The Human Comedy," were books-of-the-month in the 1940s. "The Human Comedy," was turned into a movie in 1940, and the Academy Award for best picture and original story for the play. During his lifetime, Saroyan published over sixty books that have been translated into more than two dozen languages, selling millions. In the last book published during his lifetime, Saroyan wrote: "My work is writing, but my real work is being." He spoke to and for Armenians, and gave international recognition to his people at a time when they were met with prejudice and outright hatred. By international standards, he is very likely the most famous literary figure produced by his ancient people. In May 1981, William Stonehill Saroyan died of prostate cancer at the age of 72. "Everybody has got to die," he said, "but I have always believed an exception would be made in my case; now what?" He loved America but he did not forget Armenia. One year after he died, half of Saroyan's cremated remains were permanently placed in the Pantheon of Greats in Yerevan, Armenia, while the other half remained in Fresno, California. In 1991, William Saroyan was the first and only individual to be jointly honored by the USA, as part of its Literary Arts Series, and the USSR Postal Services on their Commemorative Postal Stamps. Harry Koundakjian is the Associated Press's chief photographer in charge of all 13 Arab countries in the Middle East, North and East Africa, Turkey, and Iran. Koundakjian has been everywhere imaginable and covered everyone from royalty to revolutionary. He has had entrée into public and private events, has recorded death and destruction, and captured life at it highest and lowest moments. His photographs tell innumerable stories. 7. Turkey Under EU Pressure Over Cyprus By Daniel Dombey in Newport and Vincent Boland in Ankara European Union foreign ministers pressed Turkey on Thursday to move towards full diplomatic and commercial relations with Cyprus and remove a stumbling block to Turkey's EU membership talks. At a meeting in Newport, Wales, the ministers worked on an EU declaration that would increase pressure on Turkey to establish normal relations with Cyprus but not put in question the planned start of the talks with Ankara on October 3. Britain, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, hopes the declaration will defuse the issue of Cyprus, which has overshadowed Turkey's prospects in recent weeks. But the UK still faces a race against the clock to win unanimous agreement among the EU's 25 governments on the goals and principles of the membership negotiations themselves. "We have not yet had the detailed discussion on the negotiating mandate," said an EU official. "But if the negotiations start, the EU will have real leverage in making sure that Turkey implements its commitments." France, and Cyprus itself, had previously argued that it was "inconceivable" to begin negotiations while Turkey did not diplomatically recognise Cyprus, the divided island it invaded in 1974. Cyprus has also complained vociferously that Turkey still bans its ships from docking at Turkish ports, despite Ankara's customs union with the EU. Nevertheless, both Paris and Nicosia have taken more conciliatory positions in recent behind-the-scenes talks. The UK hopes it has found a satisfactory compromise with a call for the EU to review Turkey's implementation of the customs union next year, and a statement emphasising the need to normalise Turkish-Cypriot relations. However, Abdullah Gul, Turkey's foreign minister, adopted a hard line on Thursday, saying the opening of Turkish ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus was not covered by the customs union agreement between Ankara and Brussels as Turkey was not a full member of the EU. "Expectations from full members and expectations from candidate countries are quite different," he said. "Everybody knows what the customs union means." At the Newport meeting, the foreign ministers also sought to build support for the EU position to censure Iran at the United Nations Security Council unless Tehran stopped all suspect nuclear activities. 8. Congressman Ed Royce ANCA's 'Human Rights Champion' Organization will honor Orange County Representative for his long history of championing rights of all victims of genocide LOS ANGELESUnited States Congressman Ed Royce (R-40) has been selected to receive the Armenian National Committee - Western Region's coveted Human Rights Champion award for his principal role in human rights issues, including his forthright stance on the Armenian Genocide. The announcement came on Thursday that Royce, who serves on the House International Relations Committee as well as the Financial Services Committee, would be receiving the honor at the organization's Annual Banquet that will be held on September 18. The Banquet is the ANCA-WR's gala event, and will be held at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles this year. Royce, who is a member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, has been a strong supporter of issues of concern to the Armenian American community throughout his seven terms in Congress. Most recently, Congressman Royce cosponsored the Armenian Genocide resolution with Rep. George Radanovich (R-19). During his tenure in Congress, the Congressman hosted the ANCA Armenian Genocide Observance on Capitol Hill, an annually event that draws hundreds of Armenian Americans from across the country. He has persistently written the President of the United States urging him to use the term "genocide" in his annual April 24 addresses, and to help in end Turkey's blockade of Armenia. Congressman Royce was honored by the ANC-Orange County Chapter in 2004. "Congressman Royce is a strong human rights defender," says ANCA-WR Chairman Steven Dadaian. "He not only supports a just resolution for the Armenian Genocide, but also understands that without the re-affirmation of the facts of this tragedy, atrocities will continue to occur around the world." Royce has a strong history of public service. In 1982, he was elected to the California State Senate where he began his fight for victims' rights and has continued this fight in the Halls of Congress since his election in 1992. As a member of the International Relations Committee, the Congressman Chairs the Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation, and is the Vice-Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations; he is also a member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. During his tenure as the Chairman of the Africa Subcommittee (1998-2004), Royce held some 70 hearings examining a wide range of issues of importance to Africa and the US, and shepherded several legislative initiatives and numerous resolutions affecting relations between the US and Africa. Hearings in 2004 included confronting war crimes in Africa, reflecting on the Rwandan genocide, the current genocide in Darfur, and peace prospects in Sudan, the Ivory Coast, and the Congo. Rep. Royce has led several Congressional delegations to numerous African countries, including his most recent trip to observe the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. The ANCA-WR Annual Banquet regularly draws over 700 individuals, including a long list of dignitaries, such as prominent Members of Congress and state legislators, as well as a vast number of Armenian American community leaders and political activists. The annual event is the largest of its kind and helps raise funds to operate the nation's largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots and political advocacy organization. More honorees are to be announced in the coming weeks before the annual banquet. For more information on this year's ANCA-WR Annual Banquet, or to reserve a table, call the ANCA-WR office at (818) 500­1918. 9. Cyprus Member of Parliament Bedros Kalaydjian Dies NICOSIA (Financial Mirror)--Bedros Kalaydjian, the Representative of the Armenian minority in the Cyprus parliament, died Thursday after a long illness. Kalaydjian, who turned 71 a week ago, served in the House of Representatives for two terms. He was first elected in the by-election of October 22, 1995 and at the parliamentary elections of May 26, 1996 and May 27, 2001. Through his parliamentary duties, he often rallied support for Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh and, like his predecessors, also raised the issue of Turkey's denial of the 1915 Genocide of Armenians. At home, Kalaydjian's main priorities were educational reform and improvement of the Nareg elementary schools in Nicosia, Larnaca and Limassol. He played a decisive role in the ratification and adoption by Cyprus in 2002 of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, one of the first European countries to do so. The Charter anticipated the continuation of the Melkonian Educational Institute school in Nicosia, which the AGBU Central Board in New York decided to close citing financial reasons. Kalaydjian fervently opposed the decision to close the school and sell off the land, but was unable to persuade the organization's leadership of the importance of maintaining the only Armenian secondary school in the European Union, with its unique boarding facility attracting students from around the world. He assisted in securing a preservation order and declaring most of the school grounds a 'national historic site.' He was a founding member of the Cyprus - Armenia Friendship Association and convinced the Cyprus government to sponsor dance, orchestral and art groups from Armenia to visit the island. Kalaydjian supported government decisions to maintain Armenian monuments, including the 19th century historic cemetery near Paphos Gate that was recently destroyed, but was expected to be restored. However, he did not live to see his dream project materialize, the establishment of a 'monument of gratitude' that is expected to be built on the Larnaca seafront to mark the arrival of Armenian refugees and survivors of the massacres in Turkey and the subsequent welcome offered by the people of Cyprus. 10. Parliament Approves Constitutional Reform Draft in Second Reading YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Armenia's parliament on Thursday approved by a 98 to 0 vote, and one abstention, a package of proposed constitutional amendments, in their second reading. Armenian President Robert Kocharian's spokesman said that, unlike the acting Constitution that gives the president sweeping powers, the amendments reserve that role for parliament. "The parliament will have the leading role--given that political forces are able to organize themselves and consolidate, but if they fail to do so, the president of the country should be able to ensure the country remain immune from crisis," he said. The third and final reading of the proposed constitutional amendments is expected in late September, after which the reform package will be put to a national referendum, within 40 days. 11. Armenian President Congratulates Karabagh Independence President Kocharian congratulated leaders and people of Mountainous Karabagh Republic on the 14th anniversary of declaring independence. In his message, President Kocharian stressed the "historical and irreversible choice" made in declaring independence, and pointed to Karabagh's army, government institutions, and economic progress, as confirmation of their commitment to developing the country. The President's message also stressed Armenia's commitment to establishing peace in Karabagh. "We shall do everything possible to approximate the fair, peaceful, and just solution to the conflict." Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR) declared its independence on September 2, 1991 in compliance with international and domestic law, through the adoption of the "Declaration of the Republic of Nagorno Karabagh" by the local legislative councils of Mountainous Karabagh and the bordering Armenian-populated Shahumian district. But Karabagh declared independence not from the Soviet Union, but from Soviet Azerbaijanan act that fully complied with the existing 1990 Soviet law "On the Procedures for a Union Republic to Leave the USSR," that said the secession of a Soviet republic from the body of the USSR allowed an autonomous district in the same republic's territory to also trigger its own process of independence. Thus, Mountainous Karabagh has never been a part of the independent Azerbaijan Republic. 12. Genocide Script among Finalists for Elly Award SACRAMENTO Aram Kouyoumdjian's "The Delicate Lines" was named among the nominees for Best Original Script as the Sacramento Area Regional Theater Alliance recently announced the nominations of its annual Elly Awards. "Protest," a shorter solo performance work by Kouyoumdjian, won a Best Actor nomination for J.D. Rudometkin. "The Delicate Lines" follows the story of an Armenian woman in the aftermath of the Genocide as she struggles with her poet brother's descent into madness and with her conflicted love for his best friend. Its companion piece, "Protest," is a partly-autobiographical work constructed around a demonstration against Turkish denials of the Genocide. "It is immensely satisfying to see plays about the Genocide win such recognition within the theater community," Kouyoumdjian said. "The Delicate Lines" received its world premiere this April at California Stage in Sacramento, where it played to capacity crowds before moving to similar sold-out performances in San Francisco and Los Angeles. "Protest" is currently under consideration for production by the Finborough Theatre in London this fall. The nomination is Kouyoumdjian's second consecutive citation in the playwriting category. He won the Best Original Script award last year for "The Farewells." He has an additional Elly for directing ("Three Hotels"). Rudometkin is a repeat nominee as well, having previously been short-listed as Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Caryl Churchill's "Far Away," also directed by Kouyoumdjian. Kouyoumdjian, an associate member of the Dramatists Guild, is currently collaborating on the script of "Little Armenia," which has been commissioned by the Fountain Theatre and is slated for production early next year. 13. Zareh at Harvest Gallery Harvest Gallery will be exhibiting paintings and drawings by Zareh, an artist who has displayed his art in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. He has also staged live, public exhibits including "The Red Trees of the Armenian Genocide" (2001) and most recently a traveling series titled "Marry the Priest" (2002). His art has been featured in numerous mainstream and ethnic publications including the Los Angeles Times, La Opinion, Panorama (Russian), Armenian Observer, Armenian Reporter International, Asbarez Daily and the Beirut Times. Born in 1956, in Syria, Zareh moved to civil war-torn Lebanon, where he grew up. His art represents endless transformation and evolution. "Reality is not absolute, it is relative. Art is an expression relative to environment and period," says Zareh. Immigrating to the United States in 1983, he attended classes at both UCLA and the Barnsdall Art Center. Artist Opening Reception: Friday, September 9, 7:00PM to 10:00PM Exhibition runs September 9 through September 27 Harvest Gallery: 938 North Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00AM to 7:00PM. For general information about the exhibit, call Harvest Gallery at 818.546.1000 or visit <;; visit <;www.artistzareh .com for details and images of the Artist's work. 14. Hamazkayin Seeks Actors, Actresses for October 2 Performance at Alex Theatre Four Armenian-speaking actors and actresses in their 20s or early 30s are being sought for a theatrical performance in front of a massive audience at the Alex Theatre on October 2. More than 1,200 people are expected at the event, organized by the Hamazkayin Cultural Society, in commemoration of the Armenian alphabet's 1600th anniversary. The 10-minute performance piece, developed specifically for the event, will be a movement-driven dramatization of a choral poem by Siamanto. It will be collaboratively staged by Elly Award-winning director Aram Kouyoumdjian and original music composer Sebu Simonian of the band Aviatic. All members of the ensemble will have a substantial line load. The auditions, which will consist of cold readings from the script, will be held on Tuesday, September 6, at 8:00 pm, at 407 E. Colorado Street in Glendale (near Jackson; entrance to the building is from the rear). Aside from the age and language requirements mentioned above, auditioners must be physically fit, have strong voices, and be able to make rehearsals during the last two weeks in September. For further information, please call (213) 280-9859 or e-mail [email protected]. 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) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. 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