Author: Vanyan Gary

Iraq’s mosaic of ethnic groups
August 23, 2005
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s majority Shias and the Kurds, over the objections
of the Sunni Arabs, flexed their newfound muscle to present a draft
constitution to parliament on Monday.
The following are short profiles of the main groups in Iraq’s mosaic
of ethnic groups:
Shias
The Shias, who faced decades of repression dating back to the Ottoman
period, make up around 60 percent of Iraq’s population and are
concentrated in the south of the country and the capital.
Their religious leaders, especially spiritual chief Grand Ayatollah
Ali Al Sistani, have encouraged Shias to seize the initiative on the
political front.
The Shias have been the target of devastating attacks by Sunni
insurgents determined to bring down the new order:
At least 83 people, including top cleric Mohammed Baker Hakim, were
killed in Najaf in August 2003, and more than 170 died in March 2,
2003, attacks in Karbala and Baghdad during the Ashura religious
holiday.
Last December 19, 66 people were killed in further bomb attacks in
Najaf and Karbala, the homes of the two holiest sites of Shia Islam.
In modern Iraqi history the Shias during the 1950s made up the
rank-and-file of the Baath and communist parties, before being
sidelined after the rise to power of Saddam Hussein’s Sunni clan from
Tikrit in the 1970s.
Some Shia religious events such as the public display of grief for
Ashura were banned and a bloody repression targeted Shia leaders,
including Ayatollah Mohammed Baker Sadr, who was executed in 1980.
Brutal force was used to put down a Shia uprising in the aftermath of
Iraq’s ouster from Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War.
Sunnis
The Sunnis, although the majority sect in the Arab world, account for
only 20 to 25 percent of the Iraqi population.
Under Saddam’s regime they occupied the top posts in the army and
police as well as the ruling Baath party. But since the invasion they
have been overshadowed by the Shias and Kurds, and they mostly
boycotted elections in January.
Most of the bloodiest attacks and bombings since the United States
declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq on May 1, 2003,
have taken place in Sunni areas.
Kurds
In a milestone on the road to autonomy, the non-Arab Kurds of
northern Iraq took part in two simultaneous elections in January: for
a transitional National Assembly in Baghdad and for their own
111-member parliament.
They are estimated to number some 4 million to 5 million in Iraq, or
between 15 and 20 percent of the population.
In the early 1970s the Iraqi authorities forcibly displaced the Kurds
as part of an “Arabization” policy of strategic areas such as the
oil-rich center of Kirkuk, launching two decades of repression.
After a Kurdish uprising in the aftermath of the 1991 war over
Kuwait, hundreds of thousands of Kurdish civilians were driven across
the mountains into Turkey and Iran.
Under a Western security umbrella the Kurds returned and held the
first elections in their history, resulting in the Kurdistan
Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) sharing
power.
But fighting erupted between the two factions in 1994 leaving some
3,000 dead and paralyzing fledgling Kurdish institutions.
They buried the hatchet on the eve of the US-led invasion to
overthrow Saddam, fighting alongside American troops in the north of
the country. The peshmergas (guerrillas) entered Kirkuk in April
2003.
The Kurds insist on an historical claim to Kirkuk and a federated
Iraq.
Turcomans
The Turcoman minority, who originated in Central Asia and moved to
Mesopotamia in the eleventh century, represent between 1 and 2
percent of the population, with most of them living in northern Iraq.
After the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1918 the British occupiers of
Iraq launched a campaign to assimilate the Turcomans with the Arab
and Kurdish communities.
They were the victims of several massacres between 1924 and 1959,
straddling independence in 1932.
Like the Kurds the Turcomans were driven out of Kirkuk during the
1970s to be replaced by Arabs. The two ethnic groups have clashed
since Saddam’s fall and are now in dispute over who was in the
majority before the expulsions.
Ankara has pledged to protect the interests of the Turcomans and,
fearful of unrest among its own sizable Kurdish minority, opposes too
high a level of autonomy for the Kurds of Iraq.
Christians
The Christian community stood at 1.4 million people according to a
1987 census but has since shrunk to 700,000 – out of a total
population of 25 million – during a turbulent period of war and years
of crippling sanctions.
They have been heavily targeted in the unrest that has swept
post-Saddam Iraq.
At the start of August 2004 four attacks against Christian targets in
Baghdad and two others in Mosul left 10 people dead and 50 injured,
sending tens of thousands of Iraqi Christians into exile.
Liquor stores, owned by Christians, have been blown up by Islamic
militants. And Christian families, many considered wealthy by Iraqi
standards, have been targeted by kidnappers for huge ransoms.
The Chaldeans, whose 600,000 people represent most Christians in
Iraq, are an oriental rite Catholic community. Iraq also has Assyrian
Christians, Catholic and Orthodox Syriacs, and Catholic and Orthodox
Armenians.

Georgian, Armenian presidents discuss political, economic issues
Rustavi-2 TV, Tbilisi
22 Aug 05
There are no political problems between Georgia and Armenia. This was
the main message that came out of a meeting between the two
presidents.
Mikheil Saakashvili and Robert Kocharyan held talks at the Armenian
president’s [Lake] Sevan residence. A news briefing was held at the
same place.
The presidents stressed the friendly atmosphere of the
meeting. Saakashvili and Kocharyan called on other countries of the
region to engage in closer cooperation.
They said they had discussed the situation in Samtskhe-Javakheti
[Georgian province with large ethnic Armenian population] and economic
issues. At the briefing they also spoke about Armenian tourists in
Ajaria. The number of Armenian holidaymakers on Georgia’s Black Sea
coast has risen dramatically this year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azerbaijan News Service
Aug 19 2005
AZERI AMBASSADOR APPEALS US CONGRESSMEN
2005-08-19 14:36
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the United States Hafiz Pashaev called US
congressmen not be keen on pro-Armenian counterparts counterfeit. Co
chairs of the US Congress Group on Armenian issues, Frank Pallone and
Jo Nollenberg, representatives New Jersey and Michigan states, called
other congressmen to support their proposal to appeal to President
George W. Bush on sending more aid to Daghlig Karabagh. According
to AZERTAC Agency in respond Azeri Ambassador to the United States
Hafiz Pashaev sent letter to all US Congress members and exposed the
real face of Frank Pallone and Jo Nollenberg. The Ambassador said that
the appeal byFrank Pallone and Jo Nollenberg doesn’t attract properly
the climate of the Region and international community’s position on
Daghlig Garabagh status. Daghlig Garabagh is an integral part of
Azerbaijan. So, Washington should take any political and economic
steps connected with Daghlig Garabagh within legal, political and
economic intereats of Azerbaijan. Hafiz Pashaev revealed the world
known facts for US Congressmen. As a result of Armenian aggression
not only Daghlig Garabagh, but also 7 other regions of Azerbaijan are
under occupation. As the result, 1 million people became IDPs. Azeri
Ambassador also outlined Armenia’s neglect of UN Security Council
Declarations on unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from
occupied territories, and calls of NATO and OSCE. He remembered that
though Russia played the mediator role to achieve cease-fire in 1994,
merely Russia’s military help to Armenia and illegal transformation
of weapons costing over 1 billion USD, contributed to aggressive
policy of Armenia. Hafis Pashaev called US Congressmen to respect the
United States official policy on recognizing territorial integrity
of Azerbaijan. He said that in the terms of ongoing negotiations
between Azerbaijan and Armenia on solving Daghlig Garabagh Problem
any support to Frank Pallone and Jo Nollenberg’s proposals would
undermine the Minsk Procecc. Mirana Ismail, ANS

Today.Az, Azerbaijan
Aug 20 2005
Ambassador of Azerbaijan in USA Hafiz Pashayev sent letter to members
of the USA Congress
20 August 2005 [09:57] – Today.Az
The extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Azerbaijan in USA
Hafiz Pashayev sent a letter to the members of the USA Congress.
APA was informed about it from the embassy of our country in
Washington.
The ambassador exposed the congressmen Frank Pallone and Joe
Nollenberg for their actions. We should note that the co-chairmen of
the working group on Armenian questions in the USA Congress Frank
Pallone from the New-Jersey state and Joe Nollenberg from the
Michigan state appealed to the president George Bush and asked him to
increase the aid to Nagorno Karabakh and also asked the all members
of the Congress to support it.
H.Pashayev informed in his letter that the appeal made by Pallone and
Nollenberg does not reflect correctly the situation in the region and
position of the international community on the status of Nagorno
Karabakh. Nagorno Karabakh, never being independent or included in
Armenia, is recognized as the part of Azerbaijan by UNO and other
international organizations. That is why USA must take any political
or economic step in connection with Nagorno Karabakh in the frame of
the legal, political and economic interest of Azerbaijan.
The ambassador explained the members of the congress the facts known
to the whole world: “Not only Nagorno Karabakh, but also other seven
regions of Azerbaijan was occupied and 1 million people became
refugees and internally displaced in the result of aggression of
Armenia. After conducting ethnical cleaning in the occupied lands
they were engaged in forming a “democratic image” on Armenians of
Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia and began holding elections one after
another. Those elections were not recognized by any international
organization or state. The United States itself valued those
elections to be illegal and as an obstacle to the Minsk process”.
H.Pashayev stressed that Armenia does not pay attention to the
decrees of the UNO Security Council, NATO and OSCE on non-conditional
withdrawing of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied lands. It
was also reminded that though Russia mediated in achievement of the
ceasefire regime in 1994, just the Russia’s military aid to Armenia
and Russia’s sending illegal weapons costing 1 million USA dollars to
Armenia helped the invader policy of Armenians.
The ambassador called on the congressmen to treat with respect the
official policy of USA recognizing the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. He noted that any support to the initiative of Pallone
and Nollenberg shown in the stage of peaceful talks between
Azerbaijan and Armenia will damage the Minsk process.
H.Pashayev also stressed that Azerbaijan already suffered damage from
the initiative of the pro-Armenian members of the Congress:
“Azerbaijan was the only country deprived of the USA aid in the
result of the 907 amendment to the “Support to Liberty Act. The USA
government stopped the unfair amendment after 11 September events and
thus, demonstrated that what the interests of America consist of”.
The ambassador called on the members of the Congress not to forget
these facts when expressing attitude to the initiative of Pallone and
Nollenberg.
URL:

Azeri police thwart protest outside opposition party office
Trend news agency
18 Aug 05
Baku, 18 August, Trend correspondent S. Ilhamqizi: Another attempt
to stage a protest outside the headquarters of the People’s Front of
Azerbaijan Party (PFAP – reformers) was made on 18 August. A group
of residents of Ucar District [central Azerbaijan] intended to stage
an unauthorized action, but policemen thwarted it.
The Ucar residents protested against actions of the chairman of
the youth organization Yeni Fikir [New Thought], Ruslan Basirli
[accused of cooperation with Armenian special services to overthrow
the government], condemned the PFAP leadership for cooperation with
Armenians and demanded that the PFAP’s political activity be stopped.
Members of the PFAP, however, again did not leave the headquarters
at the instruction of the party chairman. That is why, no incident
occurred between party members and participants in the action.

MEMBERS OF DISTRICT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONS DEFINED
YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, NOYAN TAPAN. Headed by Article 36.1 of the RA
Electoral Code and taking as a basis proposals of bodies forming
district electoral commissions, by RA President Robert Kocharian’s
August 16 decree, members of all the 41 district electoral commissions
were defined. Each commission consists of 9 members. According to
the information submitted to Noyan Tapan by the RA President’s Press
Office, the decree will come into force starting with August 18, 2005.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Union Leader, NH
Aug 15 2005
Collage celebrates Queen City
By JOHN CLAYTON
Union Leader Staff
[parts omitted]
I also love it when I get good news about old friends and in this
case, the friend in question is the lovely and talented Cecile
Keshishian.
Folks around town may remember her best for her work as president of
the Catholic Medical Center Associates and the New Hampshire Medical
Society Auxiliary, but her list of international involvements – many
of them linked to her Armenian heritage – is testament to a woman
who, more than just an energetic volunteer, is a force of nature when
it comes to an important cause.
That’s why Cecile recently received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor,
which “is awarded to distinguished American citizens who exemplify
the ideal of living a life dedicated to the American way while
preserving treasured values of their heritage . . . and also achieve
a level of distinguished service to humanity.”
Since the awards were first presented in 1986, the list of recipients
represents a stunning cross-section of America, ranging from
Presidents (like Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton) to
soldiers (like Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf) to actors (like Anthony
Quinn, Claudette Colbert and Kirk Douglas) and others who transcend
categories, like Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, Lee Iacocca, Johnny
Bench, Jack Valenti, Gay Talese, Chita Rivera and Supreme Court
Justice Stephen Breyer.
It’s an amazingly diverse group, and speaking as one who has been
enthralled by the dinner table conversation at the Keshishian
household, I guarantee you that Cecile could hold her own on any
topic with any of the other previous honorees.
Although Cecile and her husband, Dr. Kevork Keshishian, now make
their home in Los Angeles, their legacy of service still lives on
here In The City. She was much deserving of this tremendous honor,
and I’m honored to call her my friend.

Azeri opposition leader says authorities to attack his family
MPA news agency
11 Aug 05
BAKU
“The consent for a referendum in Nagornyy Karabakh in exchange for the
return of several districts will lay the legal foundation for the loss
of Nagornyy Karabakh,” MPA has quoted the leader of the Musavat Party,
Isa Qambar, as telling a meeting of the Bizim Azarbaycan [Our
Azerbaijan] bloc today.
Qambar said the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is a nationwide problem,
therefore, neither the authorities nor any other political
organization can use its solution in their own interests. The
authorities must provide complete information about the negotiating
process to the public.
The meeting also discussed support for the Azadliq bloc’s protest
scheduled for 27 August, the need for a dialogue between the
authorities and the opposition, preparations for the [November
parliamentary] election and attacks on the PFAP [opposition People’s
Front of Azerbaijan Party].
Qambar said the authorities were preparing provocation against
Musavat, its leader and his family. The plan, he said, will also
affect the politician’s son, Ilkin Qambar, who will be blackmailed
with the participation of young women.
The party leader stressed that by such a campaign the authorities are
trying to divert the public’s attention from the forthcoming
election. However, he added that democracy would get the upper hand in
Azerbaijan since there is no alternative to it and no forces can stop
democratic processes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CULTURAL DAYS OF GERMAN SAXONIA-ANHALT TERRITORY TO BE ORGANIZED IN
ARMENIA
YEREVAN, AUGUST 11, ARMENPRESS: Cultural Days of the German
Saxonia-Anhalt Territory will be organized in Armenia September 3-7
within the frameworks of which the Minister of Culture of the
Territory Yan Heinrich Olberz will arrive in Armenia with an official
delegation, the Armenian Culture and Youth Affairs Ministry press
service said.
The events will kick off in Yerevan Chamber Music House with the
concert of the German trio. Within the frameworks of the Cultural Days
German romance evenings and a week of German movies will be organized
in Yerevan Moscva cinema. Besides, Magdenburg puppet show will give
performance in puppet show after H. Tumanian.
The members of the German delegation will meet with the Armenian
Culture and Youth Affairs Minister Hovik Hoveyan and members of the
Armenian company of Armenian-German cultural ties. At the end of the
events the sides are expected to sign an agreement on cooperation in
cultural, scientific and education sphere.

VIVA CELL TO SECURE MOBILE SERVICES IN GEGHARKUNIK
YEREVAN, AUGUST 10, ARMENPRESS: Viva Cell company, hence, will provide
mobile services in the Armenian province of Gegharkunik which,
according to its governor Stepan Barseghian, has a problem connected
with mobile communication. He said ArmenTel’s services are reachable
only in Gavar, Sevan and Martuni towns while in Vardenis and Chambarak
there is no mobile communication at all.
The Executive Director of Viva Cell company Ralf Yirikian said by the
end of August they will secure mobile communication for the whole
province, thus, promoting its development. He said Sevan is one of the
main tourism centers in Armenia and the existence of high-quality
mobile communication is very necessary there.
The executive director said the company aims at securing mobile
communication in all the Armenian territory. In near future they are
going to secure mobile services in Vanadzor, Gyumri, Spitak and Aparan
towns, later in the southern parts of Armenia – Vayots Dzor and
Syunik. The company is already securing mobile communication in Ararat
and Armavir provinces.