Author: Torgomian Varazdat

4 Attempts Fail To Kill Couple

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI, The Tampa Tribune
Published: January 9, 2008

TAMPA – Someone really wanted to kill Grigori and Galina Komissarchuk.
The couple, in their 60s, have homes in Sarasota and Brooklyn, N.Y., and were
attacked at least four times at their homes and other places, according to
federal court records. One time the attacker used a hammer. Both of them
suffered skull fractures and other injuries.
Federal authorities have arrested and charged a man they identify as Edmon
Vardanyan, 23, with traveling in interstate commerce with the intent to kill,
injure or harass, according to a federal complaint. He was booked Tuesday at
Orient Road Jail, his address listed as 4202 Bismarck Palm Drive, Tampa.
Vardanyan told investigators he was hired to kill the pair because they
refused to pay a debt, the complaint states. He told investigators he was paid
between $800 and $1,000 and had been offered $10,000 each to kill the couple.
The first encounter happened Sept. 24, 2006, when a man showed up at the
Komissarchuks’ Brooklyn home with an envelope marked "TLC," the complaint
states.
The deliveryman asked to come inside for water, but Grigori Komissarchuk
refused. The man "positioned himself as if preparing to strike" Komissarchuk,
who summoned his neighbor. The delivery man then quickly walked away, the
complaint states.
Komissarchuk later identified the deliveryman as Vardanyan.
The next day, Grigori Komissarchuk was beaten unconcious while returning to
his car in the parking lot of a Home Depot in Brooklyn, the complaint states.
Komissarchuk required surgery for internal injuries, according to the
complaint, had facial fractures and was in the hospital for two weeks.
On Dec. 6, 2006, the Komissarchuks were in their Sarasota home when, as they
returned from a family dinner, an assailant with a hammer ducked under the
closing garage door.
He attacked Galina Komissarchuk, and as her husband attempted to shield her,
the attacker beat them both, the complaint states.
Grigori Komissarchuk then cornered the man in the Jacuzzi room, and the
attacker hit him on the head with the hammer before running away, the complaint
states.
Grigori Komissarchuk suffered a skull fracture, cuts on his head and arm
bruises, the complaint states. Galina Komissarchuk suffered two cuts on her
head and bruises on her arms and face.
Galina Komissarchuk later identified the assailant as Vardanyan.
In Brooklyn on April 30, 2007, a man hit Galina Komissarchuk on the head,
fracturing her skull. Grigori Komissarchuk and a neighbor chased the attacker
down the street before losing him, the complaint states.
New York police later arrested Vardanyan, who was in a van with a Sarasota
County license plate. He was released, the complaint states.
Vardanyan was arrested again, the complaint states. In interviews with
investigators, he said he followed the couple to their Sarasota home and
watched them. He said he was in their neighborhood at the time of the attack.
He said he had a hammer in his van, but denied being involved in the attack,
the complaint states.
Vardanyan also told investigators he was with another individual April 30 and
watched Galina Komissarchuk return home. He said he approached her and
pushed her to the ground, but denied hitting her in the head, the complaint
states.
He told investigators he wasn’t paid for that attack because "he didn’t do
the job correctly," the complaint states.
Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or
[email protected].

278 OSCE/ODIHR OBSERVERS TO FOLLOW ARMENIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.01.2008 13:04 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian met
Wednesday with head of the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission, Ambassador
Geert Hinrich Ahrens, the RA MFA press office reported.

The Minister stressed the importance of the observation mission and
said the forthcoming presidential election will confirm the fact of
establishment of democracy in the republic.

For his part, Ambassador Ahrens said the observers will provide
transparency of their work. 28 long term and 250 short term OSCE/ODIHR
observers will arrive in Armenia.

In conclusion of the meeting Mr Oskanian wished the mission every
success and confirmed the MFA’s readiness to contribute to its
activities.

TURKISH PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO UNITED STATES CAN NOT SETTLE KURD WORKER PARTY PROBLEM – TURKISH EXPERT

TREND Information
Jan 10 2008
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, 9 January / Trend corr. R.Hafizoglu / The official
visit of Abdulla Gul, the Turkish President, to the United States
is very significant for the Ankara and is a new stage in the
intergovernmental relations," Arif Keskin, a Turkish political
scientist, said on his telephonic interview to Trend. Mr.Gul has
been on an official visit to the United States, since 6 Jan. Mr.Gul
discussed the development of the bilateral relations with the American
President J.W.Bush, on 8 January.

"Turkey is an ally of America. However, a political stagnation has
been observed between the both countries recently. I am confidence
that the Turkish President’s visit will strengthen the bilateral
relations. The reliability is one of the key factors in expansion of
the bilateral relations," Keskin said.

According to Keslin, the interests of the United States and Turkey
do not coincide on the issues like Iraq, Middle East and Karabakh
policy. "The United States knows that Turkey has a huge power in the
region. The political changes are expected to take place in the region,
in the near future".

The expert believes that Mr.Gul’s visit to the United States cannot
settle the problems like the Kurd Worker Party terrorist functioning,
the so-called Armenian genocide and Karabakh issue. "Even Turkey
manages partially to influence the United States, on the policy
concerning the issues of the so-called Armenian genocide. Turkey cannot
completely change the American policy in the region," Keskin said.

As the best result, Turkey may weak the popularization of Armenian
lobby directed against Turkey and Azerbaijan in the United States.

"By the so-called Armenian genocide claim, the United States wants
to open the Turkish-Armenian border. In respond, Turkey demanded the
liberation of the Azerbaijani occupied territories," the political
scientist said.

According to the political scientist, the United States policy on
the Karabakh problem, Armenia and Azerbaijan, differ from the policy
towards Turkey.

DOES CIGNA DESERVE ALL THE BLAME?
David Whelan

Forbes, NY
Jan 8 2008

Right before Christmas, Nataline Sarkisyan, a 17-year-old in Los
Angeles, died after a hard-fought bout with leukemia that ended with
a failed attempt at a liver transplant. The tragedy took on symbolic
importance after Sarkisyan’s parents and brother blamed her health
insurer, Cigna, for her death.

The death triggered a lawsuit promised by a celebrity lawyer and
a political protest by the California nurses union, and became a
campaign issue for John Edwards, tapping into Americans’ anger about
a health system they find complex, expensive and callous. But as the
furor grows, a big question remains unanswered: Does Cigna (nyse:
CI – news – people ) deserve all the blame?

It’s an important question to resolve. The Sarkisyan case raises
broad issues about the transplant system, the rights of patients and
the actions of insurers and doctors in life-and-death cases. Does
a person need insurance to pay for a transplant to get one? Why did
doctors wait for clearance from an insurer to do the operation? And
most important: Was a liver even available?

The California teenager started suffering from leukemia, a deadly
cancer of the blood, when she was 14. At first, the cancer went into
remission. Then this year, the leukemia relapsed. Before Thanksgiving,
Sarkisyan’s brother Bedros donated bone marrow for a transplant that
was successful at putting her disease back into remission.

But then it took a turn for the worse. Sarkisyan’s liver failed
from a blood-clotting complication. She was put on life support. Her
doctors–an oncologist at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and four
members of the organ-transplant department at the University of
California-Los Angeles–tried to get her a transplant.

On Dec. 10, Sarkisyan and her doctors made the first request for Cigna
to pay for the liver transplant. Her family said that a liver had
become available that day. A day later, a Cigna-employed physician,
Stephen Crawford, wrote back and said that the health-insurance policy
would not pay for it. In the letter, Crawford says that Sarkisyan
was too sick for the surgery to work.

Sarkisyan’s four UCLA doctors immediately wrote back to Cigna,
appealing the decision. They argued Sarkisyan would have a 65% chance
of surviving for six months after the liver transplant, based on
studies of similar patients. The doctors reckoned Sarkisyan had an 85%
chance of avoiding a recurrence of cancer because of the successful
bone marrow transplant.

Cigna hired an oncologist and transplant surgeon to review the appeal
but never reversed its clinical decision.

Soon the California Nurses Association, a powerful union lobby,
got involved. It joined Sarkisyan family and friends in protesting
Cigna’s decision. On the Dec. 19, the nurses announced a march on
Cigna’s Glendale, Calif., offices.

The family also hired a lawyer, Mark Geragos. Geragos is known
for representing singer Michael Jackson and convicted murderer
Scott Peterson. The Sarkisyan family knew Geragos as a fellow
Armenian-American who had helped raise money for an Armenian bone
marrow bank.

On Thursday, Dec. 20, 150 nurses picketed Cigna. Many more called the
company. Later that day, Cigna contacted Geragos and UCLA to say it
was making a one-time exception to the process and would cover the
treatment. Though the company still believed it was experimental,
it would pay out of its own pocket (not that of Nataline Sarkisyan’s
mother’s employer) for the procedure.

But Cigna’s reversal came too late. That same day, Nataline Sarkisyan
was taken off life support and died.

A day after their daughter died, the Sarkisyans held a press conference
with Mark Geragos to announce a lawsuit against Cigna.

Geragos said that he believed that criminal prosecutors should
press murder charges against the company for killing Nataline. "The
implied-malice murder theory has been expanded greatly in California,"
he says. (So far, no such charges have been pursued.)

That weekend, vigils were held by the nurses and family. At some
point, John Edwards began referring to Sarkisyan’s death in his
speeches. Internet bloggers also blamed Cigna for the young woman’s
death. Cigna’s move to pay for the transplant at the 11th hour was
interpreted to be a cynical too-little, too-late maneuver.

Yet nobody involved with Sarkisyan’s medical care has ever spoken out
about the case. The doctors are forbidden from discussing it unless
the family signs a privacy waiver. Lawyer Geragos says the family will
only sign the privacy waiver once a lawsuit is filed in a few weeks.

The mysterious part of the narrative is whether a liver was truly
ready to be transplanted. If there was a liver, why was it held up?

It’s not enough for the insurer to deny coverage. The doctors and the
hospital–especially a nonprofit institution like UCLA–must decline
to work for free.

"There have been occasions where UCLA has performed a transplant
without compensation," says Roxanne Moster, a spokeswoman for the
hospital. She says, cryptically: "The physicians at UCLA Medical
Center base decisions on the medical condition of the patient." She
also mentions that money is an issue with transplant patients because
even if UCLA pays for the procedure, there is a lifetime of expensive
aftercare.

A spokesman for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where Sarkisyan’s
oncologist works, declined to comment.

That leaves a few possible interpretations: 1. There was never a
liver. 2. There was one but the doctors were reluctant to transplant
it without Cigna’s payment. 3. The doctors would have eventually
done the transplant without payment, but in the meantime, the patient
died. 4. The family did not want the transplant to go forward unless
Cigna paid for it.

Cigna’s medical director Jeffrey Kang, a physician who used to be
a high-ranking official with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, says there is no way that Cigna can stop doctors from
performing a liver transplant. A national organization called the
United Network for Organ Sharing manages the waiting lists. One of
UNOS’ principles is that patients should get transplants regardless
of their financial means. "Some people have said we denied a liver,"
Kang says. "But the reality is we only denied paying for it."

Geragos is somewhat cagey about the details of when a liver became
available. "The family was on the ground there. We will put forth what
they were told," he says. "I don’t want to tip our hand to Cigna as
to what we have, smoking-gun-wise." Did Cigna stop the transplant?

Geragos says he’s sure of it.

What about the theory that UCLA should have, or would have, gone
forward with the transplant if a liver had in fact been available?

"Let them say it," Geragos says. "We will cram it down their corporate
throat."

The West takes notice as Russia and Iran get closer

12:10 | 28/ 12/ 2007

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Pyotr Goncharov) – The West
appears amazed to see Russian-Iranian strategic partnership surviving
and even strengthening.

This partnership is quite logical, but the West turned its attention to
it only with supplies of Russian long range surface-to-air S-300
missiles. Due to start in January, these supplies were agreed upon a
long time ago. Judging by the response of the media, the West is
panicky to see Russia stick to the promise.

The Guardian warns that modernized Russian air defense missile systems
can hit U.S. and Israeli war aircraft, and S-300 are even better than
Patriots at intercepting cruise missiles and IBM. But then, why would
Iran need such weapons? Will they come on friendly visits or what?

The New York Times regards the upcoming deal as another arbitrary
Russian step and reproaches President Bush for his tolerance as Russia
starts fuel exports to the Bushehr nuclear plant. The newspaper could
have regarded the fuel and missile supplies as an asymmetrical response
to the American ABM in Europe. The same logic could also apply to the
Kosovo issue.

Besides, the United States is also capable of arbitrary moves. In 2002,
it banged the door on the ABM Treaty without giving any thought to
Russia’s reaction. Now, it is spreading its anti-missile defense to
Europe despite the problems it would cause for Russia and, for that
matter, to Europe if Russia hit back.

But then, why is Moscow to believe Washington that the European ABM
system is targeted at Iran and not Russia? Is the U.S. any better than
Iran, which is trying to convince the world that it will have no
nuclear weapons because they go against Muslim precepts?

With a recent shift of policy toward Iran, Russia is now determined to
comply with its pledges on the Iranian nuclear program, though within
limits set by the IAEA.

Whatever crisis may befall Iran, Russia stands to lose-for instance, if
the UN Security Council toughens its sanctions and the United States
and the European Union wind down partnership with Iran. The world went
through a similar situation when Russia did much to stop the isolation
of Iran.

No better to Russia would be a limited U.S. missile strike on Iran,
which would overthrow its president. Things would be downright
disastrous if America unleashed a total war. Russia would not gain,
either, with a secret U.S.-Iranian agreement-which appears the least
probable option of all. Russia would also lose if Iran obtained nuclear
arms. That would be a danger no smaller than the American ABM in
Europe.

There is only one wise thing Russia can do: join efforts with its
partners to settle the Iranian problem without radical measures. This
is what Moscow is trying to do now-suffice it to say that fuel supplies
to Bushehr have been coordinated with the White House.

Now, is it possible at all to settle the Iranian problem without acting
tough? Is Moscow ready to do so? And is Iran gambling on its contacts
with Russia? There are no clear answers to those burning questions, and
it is hard to say whether S-300s have any bearing on them. Be that as
it may, Russia will certainly bring its missiles to Iran.

The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s and do not
necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.

ZHARANGUTIUN WISHES ARMENIAN PEOPLE WILL AND RESOLUTION TO JOINTLY
MAKE HOMELAND PROSPEROUS

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 26, NOYAN TAPAN. "The deputies and members of
Zharangutiun having received the vote of confidence of society, being
guided by their firm civil belief, in 2008 will continue doing their
best for the sake of protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens
of the Republic of Armenia, establishment of civil society and
democracy being the basis of nation’s essence." This was mentioned in
the message of the Zharangutiun (Heritage) party and the parliamentary
faction of the same name on the occasion of New Year and Christmas.

Zharangutiun wishes all strata of society, the whole Armenian people
peaceful, well-off and honorable life, profusion, security, will and
resolution to jointly make the homeland prosperous. "Let love and
joyfulness, belief and unity be in our families and our hearts in the
New Year," the message read.

Panorama.am

17:18 27/12/2007

TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL SUMS UP PASSING YEAR

Transparency International has called the passing year
`A year of innovations’ in terms of environmental
protection.

Sona Aivazyan, director of Transparency
International-Armenian regional development center,
said this year `the Armenian government has made a
revelation unveiling that our country is rich in
natural resources.’ Proceeding from that, Aivazyan
said the government has considered the mining industry
as a priority.

The head of the organization is sure that the changes
in the budget system that excluded additional funding
of nature protection will have a negative impact on
nature protection.

Speaking about Teghut mines, Sona Aivazyan said it may
be the first step of eating up the underground of
Armenia.

Source: Panorama.am

SECOND GENERATION BLUFFING: PEOPLE ARE MERELY REMINDED
James Hakobyan

Lragir, Armenia
Dec 24 2007

It is difficult to say that in any country the construction of a
church, which is not an aspirant to the wonders of the world or the
book of records, would aspire to be the hottest news on TV. It is
also difficult to say whether the reason why it happens in Armenia
is because our country "was the first to adopt Christianity as
an official religion", therefore the TV channels controlled by
the government but formally private and public start their news
programs with the story of a church built in one of the communities
of Yerevan. Or maybe Christianity has nothing to do with it? Instead
politics has to do with it because the presidential candidate of the
country, the prime minister of the country Serge Sargsyan took part
in the ceremony of laying the foundation of the church. But did the
participation of the prime minister make the foundation of the church
that important? Finally, did the broadcast media of the Christian
country televise the church or the prime minister? The hero of the
film would say love culture in yourselves, not yourselves in culture.

So, love church in yourselves, not the prime minister in the church.

Perhaps this refers to everyone who deals with the propaganda of
Serge Sargsyan. Intentionally or unintentionally, they are doing their
best to have people get bored with Serge Sargsyan and turn over the
ballot as soon as they read his name on it on February 19, thinking
they are switching the channel. On the other hand, the motivation
of this tactics is clear. The point is that it is difficult to use
another way of propaganda in a country where the difference between
words and actions of the government is striking.

It is difficult to carry out another type of a campaign when before May
12 people’s brains are crammed with the second generation reform, and
afterwards celebrating an allegedly absolute victory, nothing is done
over six months to make the launch of the second generation reforms
at least noticeable. The second generation reform suggests a second
generation parliament and government, meanwhile, the Republican Party
led by Serge Sargsyan is likely to carry out reforms through people
who need a reform. In other words, those who need to be reformed are
carrying out reforms.

Logically, it would not ensure a visible result for people, because
there was no breakthrough in this direction, which would make the
intention of the government to be reformed credible. Meanwhile,
the new Constitution gave such a possibility to the Republican Party
because it has granted more powers to the government and the National
Assembly, and the president is not a key post in tactical issues of
public administration any more, let alone that Serge Sargsyan has
never complained that Robert Kocharyan prevents him from carrying
out the second generation reforms or from launching them. There were
some appointments to government, which inspired hope in people that
there was a tendency of real reforms. However, these appointments
were followed by statements which crushed all hope and expectations,
proving that the new appointments were but the continuation of the old,
and mere formality.

When the result of governance is seen, the governor need not appear on
TV every day, there is no need to remind people about him every day
and every second because results are more tangible and appreciable
for people. And if there is no result but the governor is shown all
the time, it means people are reminded every day and all the time
who rules the government and whose rule is the cause why no essential
changes take place.

REP. SCHIFF BLASTS MISCHARACTERZATION OF MEETING WITH TURKISH DELEGATION AS REPORTED IN TODAY’S ZAMAN

US Fed News
December 20, 2007 Thursday 12:24 AM EST

Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) today strongly condemned an article
in the Turkish newspaper Today’s Zaman that mischaracterized a meeting
that he had in early December with a group of young Turkish political
leaders. The article, entitled "US Democrat Schiff ‘Surprised’
by Turkish Side of Armenian Story," included a manufactured quote
from Congressman Schiff that implied that Schiff was rethinking his
position on the Armenian Genocide.

In a letter to the editor of Today’s Zaman, Schiff reiterated his
unwavering support for genocide recognition, saying that:

"I told the delegation that the historical record was unequivocal –
that 1.5 million Armenians perished at the hands of the Ottoman Empire
between 1915-1923 and that this tragedy constituted the first genocide
of the Twentieth Century. I said that I believed that the decades
of denial of the genocide was, in the words of Nobel laureate Elie
Wiesel, a "double killing" and that millions of Armenians worldwide
were still suffering, even after more than 90 years had passed."

He also criticized the Turkish daily for its poor journalism and
noted that the episode is emblematic of Ankara’s campaign of denial:

"While I certainly did not expect the Turkish delegates to accept my
views, I did not expect them to completely mischaracterize mine and
for your paper to misquote me – never bothering to contact my office
to find out what in fact I said. While I am troubled by the misquote
and deliberate nature of the misrepresentation, I realize that this
is another small episode in a decades-long campaign of denial and
self-delusion that has poisoned generations of your countrymen and
has been a persistent irritant in relations between our two countries."

The full text of the letter is below:

To the Editor:

The article in today’s edition of your newspaper, "US Democrat
Schiff ‘Surprised’ by Turkish Side of Armenian Story," grossly
mischaracterizes the meeting that I had earlier this month with a
Turkish delegation.

The meeting, which was arranged by the American Council of Young
Political Leaders (ACYPL), was intended to promote a frank and open
dialogue between a younger generation of Turkish politicians and
opinion-makers and the Congress. In setting up the meeting, the ACYPL
wanted to afford the Turkish members of the delegation the chance to
discuss my position on the importance of American recognition of the
Armenian Genocide that would afford both sides the opportunity better
understand why so many Members of Congress believe that this is the
right thing to do for America and for Turkey. Having followed Turkish
press coverage of this issue for several years, I looked forward to
the opportunity to have a dialogue that was candid and unfiltered with
a group of new leaders, perhaps less wedded to the dogmas of their
party elders. This is consistent with my open-door policy of meeting
with those who share as well as those who disagree with my views.

I told the delegation that the historical record was unequivocal –
that 1.5 million Armenians perished at the hands of the Ottoman Empire
between 1915-1923 and that this tragedy constituted the first genocide
of the Twentieth Century. I said that I believed that the decades
of denial of the genocide was, in the words of Nobel laureate Elie
Wiesel, a "double killing" and that millions of Armenians worldwide
were still suffering, even after more than 90 years had passed.

I also emphasized that modern Turkey’s denial of the genocide
was hurting Turkey and jeopardizing the country’s accession to the
European Union. I was especially emphatic in raising the issue of
Article 301 of the Turkish penal code, which makes it a crime to insult
"Turkishness," a thinly-veiled reference to the genocide.

Having met the courageous journalist Hrant Dink, I told them I
thought it was a travesty to prosecute his son for publishing his
murdered father’s words. Why would a modern nation go to such lengths
to criminalize the discussion of an historical event if it was not
the truth?

I also listened to the delegation members, who were eager to share
their views with me and had told me that they considered obtaining
this meeting the highlight of their time in Washington, D.C. and
our meeting, which lasted the better part of an hour, was lively
and interesting.

While I certainly did not expect the Turkish delegates to accept my
views, I did not expect them to completely mischaracterize mine and
for your paper to misquote me – never bothering to contact my office
to find out what in fact I said. While I am troubled by the misquote
and deliberate nature of the misrepresentation, I realize that this
is another small episode in a decades-long campaign of denial and
self-delusion that has poisoned generations of your countrymen and
has been a persistent irritant in relations between our two countries.

In 2003, I had the pleasure of a brief stop in Turkey on my way back
from a visit to our troops in Iraq. The Turkish people, well aware
of my views, were nonetheless warm and hospitable, and keenly aware
of the importance of their alliance with the United States. That
alliance can and must survive the truth. Our relationship will be
better for it and, more importantly, Turkey will be as well.

MAGNITUDE 5.2 EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY

armradio.am
20.12.2007 16:48

At 13:48 local time today a magnitude 5.2 earthquake was registered
on the territory of Turkey, 61 km to the southeast of Ankara.

Armenpress was told from the Armenian National Survey for Seismic
Protection that the strength reached 7 at the epicenter.