Category: News

Iraq peacekeeping to secure Armenia’s role in war on terror – premier
Hayastani Hanrapetutyun, Yerevan
25 Dec 04
Text of Gayane Gasparyan’s report by Armenian newspaper Hayastani
Hanrapetutyun on 25 December “‘It is impossible to fight global
terrorism with the help of a word,’ Andranik Markaryan says”
The state budget of 2005 was adopted with a vote of 104 in favour and
seven against at an extraordinary session of the National Assembly
yesterday. Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan agreed to answer
journalists’ questions.
[Ayastani Anrapetutyun correspondent] Which of the National Assembly
proposals on the draft budget was accepted?
[Andranik Markaryan] The main proposals were related to the repairing
or construction of houses of culture, municipal centres, repairing of
drinking and irrigation water canals and repairing of roads. We
accepted some of the proposals.
[Passage omitted: Other details]
[Correspondent] The agreement on sending a military contingent to Iraq
was ratified. Was that a result of explanatory work with MPs or only a
political decision?
[Markaryan] I think both. Political work was carried out to show why
the Armenian authorities are doing that. This was also an image
problem for our country, as well as our role in the world family. It
is impossible to fight terrorism only with the help of words. If we
compare Armenia with other countries of the region, Armenia’s
participation is more symbolic and has political purposes. Our
participation is just a humanitarian mission, we shall not take part
in the hostilities. I think that the MPs were far from populism and
adopted this decision on behalf of our state to fulfill our
international obligations and preserve Armenia’s relations with other
countries, which will yield its positive results.
[Correspondent] How will the fact that our two neighbouring countries
have sent their troops to Iraq to take part in the hostilities and
Armenia has sent only a peacekeeping force be assessed?
[Markaryan] Every country decides itself how it will participate in
this or that process. Armenia thinks it is necessary to take part in
it this way, taking into account that we have a diaspora and certain
duties before our compatriots. For this reason, we should take part in
such processes to minimize the danger.
[Correspondent] Do you think that this will protect Iraq’s Armenian
community from attacks?
[Markaryan] I cannot say it will. This could be described as the
weakening of attacks. Irrespective of whether we participate or not in
processes, Armenians have been attacked in countries where there is a
war on. They blew up an Armenian church in Iraq when we did not even
speak about our participation, many Armenians died before we joined
the memorandum.
[Correspondent] Will this decision justify itself in terms of our
country’s political interests?
[Markaryan] We shall send a military contingent for one year. If we
notice a certain threat to our country over this period, we shall have
an opportunity to return to our decision once again.
[Passage omitted: Other details]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

The Courier-Journal
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Just the facts
A GUIDE TO THE COMMUNITY
GOOD-LUCK traditions for the new year
Hope runs high on New Year’s Day that if people follow certain
customs, they will enjoy good fortune and prosperity in the coming
year. Here is a sampling of good-luck customs of various countries.
Armenia. Women cook a special bread that is kneaded with luck and good
wishes pressed into the dough.
Bolivia. Families make little wood or straw dolls to hang outside
their homes to bring good luck.
England. In some areas, silver coins and coal are placed outside the
door of the house before midnight, After midnight, the coins and coal
are brought inside to guarantee warmth and prosperity throughout the
year.
Italy. A sprig of mistletoe is hung over the front door, and at
midnight old pots and dishes are tossed out of windows.
Sources: ,
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Chessbase News, Germany
Dec 26 2004
China wins Petrosian Memorial
25.12.2004 They entered the nominally weakest team (average rating
2590), but China managed to beat Russia (2688), France (2627) and
Armenia (2626) in this double round robin Internet tournament. The
Chinese did not concede a single match, with the weakest player Wang
winning the final game to clinch it for his side. Results and games.
Tigran Petrosian Memorial Internet Tournament
The six round tournament took place from December 18-23, with the
players of each team remaining in their home bases and playing the
games on the Internet. Fischer time control was used: 1 hour 30
minutes plus 15 minutes added at move 40; 30 second increments are
added after every move). The overall prize fund was $55,000 with the
following breakdown: 1st place $20,000, 2nd place $15,000, 3rd place
$12,000, 4th place $8,000. The games will not be counted toward
players’ official ratings.
The Chinese team (picture left) finished first in the strong field,
as the Tigran Petrosian Internet Memorial came to a nail-biting
conclusion on Thursday. Helping the Chinese stave off the powerful
Russian team, the young GM Wang proved to be the hero, bringing home
the necessary full point to keep Russia at bay 2-2, securing first
place for the lowest ranked team in the tournament. China was indeed
a deserved winner, never conceding a match, while winning when they
had to. GM Svidler blew away GM Bu on board one, but two rapid draws
on the middle boards left hope open and Wang converted. In another
moderate surprise, France beat out Russia on tie-breaks for second
place as they beat Armenia 2.5-1.5. GM Bauer was the hero here
grinding down GM Sargissian to earn the final point. Earlier, GM
Fressinet beat GM Lputian, while GM Minasian notched his first
victory of the match, coming out on top in a tactical slugfest
against GM Nataf. GMs Aronian and Lautier shared the point on board
one.
Armenia (average rating: 2626) France (average rating: 2627)
GM Aronian 2675 GM Lautier 2682
GM Lputian 2634 GM Fressinet 2640
GM Sargissian 2611 GM Bauer 2622
GM Art. Minasian 2581 GM Nataf 2565

Russia (average rating: 2688) China (average rating: 2590)
GM Svidler 2735 GM Bu 2615
GM Dreev 2698 GM Ni 2611
GM Khalifman 2669 GM Zhang 2596
GM Zvjaginsev 2650 GM Wang 2536

Xinhua, China
Dec 26 2004
Christians cancel celebrations in Iraq

Christians in Iraq did not celebrate Christmas this year as they did
last year, as they cancelled the midnight mass early Saturday, main
feature of the celebrations, due to curfew.
“Christmas is not only a tree and decoration, but it is an occasion
through which we emphasize the importance of restoring security in
Iraq and staying unified in spite of different religions and ethnic
groups,” said one of Christian.
Christians and churches were attacked many times amidst chaos and
instability that prevailed in the war-torn country since the US-led
war on Iraq in March 2003, while extremists claim that they are
fighting against US troops and whoever is cooperating with them, and
also accuse the United States of launching a Crusade on Muslims.
The armed attacks led to the exodus of thousands of Christmas to
Syria and Jordan.
Religious minorities in Iraq, especially Christians, account for3
percent of the population of 25 million, most of them Shiites and
Sunnis.
Freedom of religion is stipulated in the interim constitution adopted
last March and applied until a permanent one next year.
The constitution of 1970, adopted by former regime, guarantees
freedom of religion and prohibits any religious discrimination.
In 1972, the administration of Baath, the ruling party at that time,
declared officially that other nationalities are Assyrian, Chaldean
and Syrian.
Iraq has Syrian Catholics and Orthodox and Armenian Catholics and
Orthodox, and recently, after the British mandate, protestants, and
Catholics of the Latin Church.
Christians hold only one portfolio in the interim government of Iyad
Allawi. Poverty and consecutive wars let many Christians leave Iraq.
When Sanctions were imposed on Iraq in 1990 due to Iraq’s invasion of
Kuwait, many Christians, who were living in perfect harmony with
Muslims, left the country to join their relatives in the West. Most
of Christians in Iraq are in Baghdad and northern cities.
Although Christians represent only 3 percent of the Iraqi population,
some of them are elite of cultured and professional experts who are
very much respected by the people.
According to opinion of some of Islamist trends, Islam is attached to
Arabism and this had driven Christians out of the Arab nationality,
which created an identity crisis to them.
The danger in this overlapping between political and religious
concepts is that it would always have a religious explanation for
every political difference, which is a time bomb in an eastern
society of multiple religions and sects.

Armenian premier hails 2004 as not “bad” in year-end interview
Iravunk, Yerevan
24 Dec 04
Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan has said the year 2004 was not a
“bad” year for Armenia. In an interview with the Armenian newspaper
Iravunk, the prime minister spoke about Armenia’s economic and
political achievements over the past year and fielded questions on a
wide range of subjects. Markaryan urged the opposition to have a
“united” stance on the domestic and foreign policy issues. He
dismissed attempts to present the opposition boycott of parliament as
a “political crisis” and said that it was not “a tragedy”. The
following is an excerpt from Jasmen Vilyan’s report by the Armenian
newspaper Iravunk on 24 December headlined “‘President-prime minister
working relations are not conditioned by personal problems”;
subheadings have been inserted editorially;
An interview with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan summing
up the political and economic results of the year 2004.
Iravnuk correspondent Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, Mr
prime minister.
Markaryan Thank you, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and to
all the readers of your newspaper.
Passage omitted: background info
Correspondent Can you tell us about the achievements and flaws in
Armenia’s domestic and foreign policies in the past year?
Markaryan Now that the year 2004 is coming to an end, we can say that
it was not a bad year for our people and state. We have peace and
stability in the country as well as good economic indices, we have
fulfilled the state budget and so on. We are proud of certain
achievements on the basis of which we will continue to develop the
country in the next few years.
Karabakh
Undoubtedly, the main problem for us is finding a solution to the
Karabakh issue which will be to Armenia’s benefit. I think that in
2005 more active steps will be taken to solve this problem. We should
have a united stance on the domestic and foreign policy issues. We
should step up our efforts in international organizations. We should
use our diaspora to lobby more forcefully for a peaceful and fair
settlement of the problem.
Among the achievements of 2004, I would like to mention the launch of
the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction, which is of a great
economic and state security importance; the involvement of Armenia in
the “Extended Europe: New Neighbours” programme of the European Union;
the involvement of our country in the “Millennium challenges”
programme of the American government.
Opposition
Correspondent What can you tell us about the opposition boycott of
parliament and the fact that from time to time it makes blackmailing
statements about leaving the coalition and the fact that the coalition
parties are not friendly with each other?
Markaryan There are three different parties in the coalition. They
took responsibility for fulfilling the government programmes
jointly. They vowed to act in line with the memorandum they had
signed. This does not mean, however, that each of them cannot have its
own agenda, position and suggestions when it comes to solving any kind
of problems. They have also the right to discuss issues with their
partners and to defend their position. Such discussions within the
coalition are absolutely natural, I would even say necessary. But the
point is that such discussions and disputes are often being put into
the public domain which is a rather populist approach. Having
different views is a domestic problem for the coalition, but the
parties are trying not to turn them into disagreements. The partners
should present society with a single position adopted as a result of
discussions. Anyway, until today we managed to have a united approach
as a result of compromises to the most important issues. I do not
think that the opposition political forces do not have such
problems. Moreover, they have made contradictory statements on
ideological and geo-political and strategic issues. To be honest, I
would like the parties with the communist and liberal ideology to have
similar views on all the problems.
Passage omitted: Markaryan said there is no need for commenting on
blackmail statements.
As to the boycott or to be more correct a partial boycott of the
parliament’s work, I have said many times that the opposition
participation in the work of the parliament would make it more
fruitful and would give it more value. Naturally I cannot approve of
the opposition’s stance, but I do not see its absence from the
parliament as a tragedy, although some people are trying to present it
as political crisis. Life shows that the parliamentary majority
together with the government have worked very effectively in the
sessions.
Passage omitted: praises government majority in the National Assembly
for adopting “very important” laws
No revolution in Armenia in 2005
Correspondent Some predict that the year 2005 will be a year of
revolution. Do you agree with this?
Markaryan Are there such predictions for the coming year?
Correspondent Yes, there are.
Markaryan I do not know who makes such predictions and how serious
they are. But I see no objective reasons for them in Armenia, and I
would advise people not to speculate, not to forget our geographical
location, our problems, to show more respect to the state, which has
pledged to ensure a stable and gradual development and not a
revolution.
Passage omitted: dismisses reports about dissolution of parliament as
rumours, denies rumours of problems in relations with the president
and talks about people’s savings
Vows to cooperate with forces of same ideology
Correspondent On the whole, do you think it is possible to go into the
next parliamentary elections as a coalition?
Markaryan We will do that if on the eve of the elections we decide
that it makes more sense to cooperate with the coalition or make a
bloc with a political force which shares our ideology. But if we think
that it is more expedient to do it alone, then this is what we shall
do.
Correspondent What can you say about the majority-proportional
problem?
Markaryan I have already said that the RPA wants parties to have more
say in the public and political life, but the reality is rather
different. We reached an agreement on the 30-70 per cent ratio, and I
think that the coalition will not have serious problems with choosing
the final option.
Economy
Correspondent Let us also talk about the economic sphere. What do you
think of the year in terms of the economic achievements? Where did you
fail?
Markaryan We have solved almost all the problems we had in different
spheres which were mentioned at the beginning of the year. It can be
said there are no problems with the implementation of the budget. We
have every reason to expect a much higher economic growth than the one
planned. Once the ministries release their reports in the future,
society will be able to see for itself what we have achieved.
Correspondent Are you expecting any personnel changes at the beginning
of next year?
Markaryan If and when it happens, you would be informed. I think it is
pointless to make statements on this topic at this stage.

Sunday Herald, UK
Dec 26 2004
Scotland aims to corner peace summit market
`Perfect venue’ for warring factions to meet
By Alan Crawford, Special Correspondent

Move over Camp David, step aside Oslo and make way for the St Andrews
Summit and the Oban Accords. Scotland is poised to take advantage of
a unique opportunity to become a world centre for peace talks.
One year on from negotiations held at Craigellachie, in Speyside,
between South Caucasus regional rivals Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia, experts say that Scotland can position itself to host
further summits between battle-scarred territories.
Angus Robertson, SNP MP for Moray and the man who helped instigate
the Caucasus talks, has already been approached about a number of
potential peace and reconciliation initiatives following the
Craigellachie summit.
`These initiatives could have a Scottish dimension, either in hosting
discussions or brokering meetings,’ Robertson said. `The
possibilities are on-going and could involve the Scottish academic
community and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the future.’
Robertson, who is chairman of the all-party South Caucasus group at
Westminster, argues that Scotland should emulate Norway and sell
itself as an independent arbitrator on international conflict.
`This is flavour of the month with the UN,’ he said. `The only thing
that’s stopping us from being this force for good is ourselves,
because there’s a demand for it from the regions and people involved
in these frozen conflicts.’
The Craigellachie talks took place last December between
representatives of the republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia,
who are still at odds over the disputed enclave of Nagorno Karabakh.
The delegates were kept away from the media and treated to a
programme of events including a dinner reception at the Glenfiddich
distillery in Dufftown. The talks are widely regarded as having been
a success.
But Robertson said such events were not so much about achieving a
`result’ as about improving relations and confidence-building.
He added: `We have much to offer as a neutral meeting ground with
excellent facilities, hospitality and a history and culture that is
well-known throughout the world. It’s something we should be doing a
lot more of.
`There’s a growing market for it. There are scores of unresolved
conflicts around the world, most of which are frozen and have been
since the end of the cold war, but which are desperately in need of
resolution – and external assistance can help bring progress.’
Stephen Nash, a director of the London Information Network on
Conflicts and State-building (Links), which works toward conflict
resolution mainly in the countries of the former Soviet Union, agreed
that Scotland was `ideal’ for such work.
Nash, a former British ambassador to Georgia, Albania and Latvia,
said the Craigellachie talks had been useful in furthering discussion
of a regional assembly made up of the parliaments of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia .
`The talks at Craigellachie were a valuable contribution to that,’ he
said. `I feel it’s good not to be in a big capital city – you perhaps
feel more able to focus if you’re in a place that’s somewhat removed
from the centre of the world stage. That’s a positive quality.
`Scotland could contribute [to conflict resolution] in the way that
Norway contributes to various peace processes.’
Norway, a country of 4.5 million people, has carved out a niche as a
centre for peace and reconciliation which has seen it involved in the
Middle East peace process, as well as conflict resolution in Sri
Lanka, Guatemala, Colombia, Haiti, Sudan, Aceh, the Philippines and
elsewhere.
It first came to international prominence in 1993 with the signing of
the Oslo Accords, a series of agreements between Israel and the PLO.
In a recent speech, the Norwegian state secretary Vidar Helgesen
described his country’s role as sometimes the official facilitator of
talks, and at other times supporting countries or organisations in
their peace efforts.
Listing the country’s assets, he said Norway had a long tradition of
humanitarian action and co-operating closely with NGOs, which had led
to good networks and hands-on knowledge of various regions. It had
political consensus and `flexible resources’, both human and
financial, to support peace talks and provide development assistance.
He added: `An important asset is the fact that Norway is a small
country with no colonial past and few vested interests. We are not in
a position to pressure any parties into agreement.’
But Dr Stephen Neff, an expert on international law in armed
conflicts at Edinburgh University, sounded a cautious note over
attempts to copy Norway’s example, although he said he found the
prospect `most interesting’.
Neff questioned whether peace talks would take place under the aegis
of the UK government, the Scottish Executive or whether a private
organisation such as Links would lead the discussions.
He said: `The one example of a private body doing this kind of thing
is the Jimmy Carter Centre [which has the motto `waging peace,
fighting disease, bringing hope’], and I’m not sure what success that
group has actually had. And if it’s a private group, presumably
they’re not going to have the large pool of money that the Norwegians
have.
`Nevertheless, it’s not necessary that the centre would have a lock,
stock and barrel resolution [approach]. A mere positive contribution
towards settlements is perhaps a more realistic goal, and I don’t see
why that couldn’t be the case in Scotland.
`This is a most interesting idea. It’s a little uncertain how much
demand there would be – it’s very hard to say if Colombian guerrillas
are going to beat a path to Scotland’s door – but I’m intrigued by
the idea.’

ITAR-TASS, Russia
Dec 26 2004
Armenia to send 46 military experts to Iraq
26.12.2004, 03.29

YEREVAN, December 26 (Itar-Tass) – Armenian Defence Minister Serge
Sarkisyan said on Saturday that Armenia would send 46 military
experts to Iraq to operate as part of the Polish contingent. The
group includes the commander, a communications officer, a platoon
commander, three doctors, ten sappers and thirty drivers.
The minister said that the U.S. command and the Polish division would
arrange logistics support, medical services, housing and utilities
for the Armenian experts.
The Armenian Defence Ministry received approval from parliament to
send the experts to Iraq for a year.
Sarkisyan understands that the arrival of the Armenian contingent in
Iraq could put the Iraqi Armenians there under threat. However, he is
convinced that `more dangers will emerge’ if the republic refuses to
take part in the post-war stabilization in Iraq.
`Armenia will have humanitarian rather than military presence in Iraq
because the Armenian and Arab peoples are bonded with centuries-old
friendship,’ the Armenian defence minister emphasized.

Washington Times, DC
Dec 26 2004
Forum: Turkey belongs in Europe
By opening negotiations on membership with Turkey, the European Union
(EU) has shown itself dynamic, purposeful and self-confident. This
step underlines the EU’s ambition to cement freedom, stability and
prosperity in Europe. At the same time, we send a message around the
world: the European Union is sustained by shared values, principles
and interests, not by exclusion on religious or cultural grounds.
The decision to start negotiating, made by Europe’s leaders in
Brussels Dec. 17, has done away with a great deal of psychological
and political uncertainty about whether Turkey can be considered part
of Europe. Nevertheless, tough negotiations lie ahead on the long and
winding road to full Turkish membership. The reforms undertaken in
Turkey in the past two years have been truly impressive. The EU wants
to ensure reform will continue. Turkish authorities should do more,
for example, to protect religious minorities’ rights.

The prospect of EU membership is already transforming Turkey, and
the country’s accession will likewise profoundly affect the EU. In 10
to 15 years, an EU of approximately 500 million people will absorb a
country with some 80 million inhabitants. Turkey will have the same
rights as other member states, but its size will give it a large say
in EU decisions. The years ahead must be seized to boost economic
growth in Turkey and to upgrade the EU’s institutional, social and
economic frameworks. If Turkey and the EU succeed, we can cushion the
impact of Turkey’s membership. Fears that millions will migrate from
Turkey’s rural areas to other parts of the EU, or that Turkey will
siphon off the EU’s resources, will prove unfounded.
It is hard to overstate the strategic importance of Europe’s
decision on Turkey. It demonstrates that Western nations have no
insuperable prejudice against Islam. It will confirm Turkey’s role as
a nation whose Muslim heritage is fully compatible with democracy.
This decision also underlines the vital role of the European Union in
shaping and transforming politics and economies of nations along its
expanding border. If this decision increases Europe’s geopolitical
impact as a stabilizing force beyond its own borders – and I believe
it will – this also will benefit the trans-Atlantic relationship.
Through Turkish membership, the European Union will border on
Syria, Iraq, Armenia and the Caucasus. Europe and the broader Middle
East will grow geographically closer. This proximity will present
risks, but also opportunities.
On the one hand, the EU will find itself closer to a volatile
part of the world, in which regional conflicts, terrorism and
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction form a dangerous mix. On
the other hand, we will have a historic opportunity to build
political, economic and cultural bridges. Turkey’s accession will
augment the EU’s authority in the global dialogue between
civilizations, because the EU will be seen to practice at home what
it preaches abroad. A Europe that shows leadership and confidently
promotes democracy and the rule of law in the Islamic world is a
valuable partner for the United States.
Turkey’s accession will also strengthen the EU’s political and
military capacity to fight terrorism and promote international peace
and stability. The U.S. is right to ask Europe to shoulder more of
the global security burden. With the help of Turkey’s strong
military, the European Union will be better able to do so. Turkey’s
important role in NATO’s operation in Afghanistan illustrates its
potential.
EU member states and their citizens have embarked on a voyage of
integration, and the final destination is still unknown. But our
course is clear. We are guided by the firm conviction that people
with different languages, cultures and religious beliefs can form a
community, provided they subscribe to the same fundamental rules.
That is why Turkey belongs in Europe.

BERNARD BOT
Foreign Affairs Minister
Kingdom of The Netherlands
(The Netherlands currently holds the European Union Presidency
and chaired recent negotiations between the EU and Turkey over the
decision on accession negotiations.)

Providence Journal , RI
Dec 26 2004
Bill Reynolds: Another year gone, although not without leaving
impressions

The Pats won another Super Bowl, and the Sox won their first World
Series title in 86 years. But sometimes you remember the little
things the most.
Here are four:
One night in May I was one of several former basketball players who
went back to Worcester Academy to honor our old coach, Dee Rowe, then
75 and recuperating from serious cancer surgery.
It was a night full of memory, and later I kept thinking of how some
lessons always stay with us, while so many others disappear through
the mists of time.
I had been 18 the year I spent at Worcester Academy, and it hadn’t
been a particularly easy time for me. I was homesick, lovesick, and
viewed the world through the myopia of someone who thought he was
going to be 18 forever. Suffice it to say I often clashed with Rowe,
an intense coach who talked about things like sacrifice and
commitment, dedication and tradition, words that often seemed to
float by my head like missed shots.
But for the past 40 years he’s made me feel like the most special
person in the world, even though I only played one year for him and
wasn’t the easiest kid in the world to coach back then. And I have
come to know he’s done that for so many who once played for him, and
how that is his special gift.
It’s not the easiest time to be a coach, not in an age where
entitlement and instant gratification always are on the roster. What
used to be called coaching is now to often thought of as criticism.
But I have come to know that I still carry Rowe’s voice around in my
head, know how much influence he had on all of us, even if I didn’t
always realize it at the time. It’s now 40 years later, and I can’t
remember one thing any teacher taught me at Worcester Academy, but I
remember lessons he taught me, even when I didn’t think I was
listening.
For good coaches matter.
Trust me.
It was an early morning in June and I was at the Veterans Memorial
Auditorium with a 26 year old named Sam Hajinyan.
He had first come to this country 13 years earlier, leaving his
native Armenia and all that was familiar, to be here in this new
country with its new dreams. What were the odds that day that five
years later he would be an All-State basketball player, his life
changed by a game he knew nothing about?
All he knew that first day at Park View Junior High School was that
other kids were laughing at him.
Nor did he like this new country. He had no friends. No real life he
cared about here. He was 13 years old, and he felt lost and alone, a
stranger in a strange land.
Then he found basketball.
It gave him something to do. It gave him something to care about. It
gave him friends. It gave him an identity. In short, it did all the
the things we like to think sports do. No small thing in a family
trying to survive in a new country. More important, basketball became
his language, his way of communicating, his passport to acceptance.
“I never would have made it without basketball,” he said.
Sports can have no better epitath.
For he has made it, has come so far from the scared, lonely kid who
first went to a junior high where kids laughed at him.
He went to junior college for two years, works two jobs, is planning
to open a restaurant with his brother, and on that bright and
beautiful morning in June he was one of of 600 people sworn in as
United States citizens. The ceremony was a testimony to the enduring
promise of America, this country that allows for people to dream of a
better life, something that’s often so easy for the rest of us to
take for granted.
“This is bigger than anything I can do,” Hajinyan said. “This is a
lovely day. This makes me complete.”
In truth, the Red Sox winning the pennant in 1967 was bigger for me
than their winning the World Series this past October. I was more of
a fan then. And that season had come out of nowhere, where this year
didn’t surprise me in the same way. Going into the the season I had
thought this Red Sox team had the best pitching I had seen in my
lifetime, and since I always had believed their longtime frustration
title had more to do with lack of pitching and managerial blunders
than curses, when they finally won it simply seemed it was about
time. Call me jaded.
Then a funny thing happened.
In the weeks that followed there were innumerable stories about what
it meant to the fans, all those reports of people going to cemetaries
and leaving mementos on the graves of departed family members.
Innumerable stories of how cathartic it was to so many people, an
emotional journey that transcended baseball. People of all ages, all
walks of life, all united by a baseball team that gave a region an
incredible moment.
So in the weeks since I’ve come to be reminded of the power of sports
to bring people together, give them a shared experience, no small
thing in a fractious society that too often seems disconnected by age
and income, race and political beliefs. Have come to be reminded
that, at their best, sports are always more important than what
happens on the field. That, at their best, sports always are
transformative, take us out of ourselves.
Reason enough to keep watching them.
The letter came in November from a woman whose son played on the
South Kingstown High School football team. It said how there were
only six seniors on the team and one of them was hurt. It said how
the team was 1-8, but that every Monday the seniors would come to
practice and start preparing for the next game, continuing to pour
their hearts into what had become a dismal season, and she wanted to
know why.
It was a legitimate question.
Why did these kids still care when so many kids these days have no
stomach for any kind of failure, no patience for anything less than
success? Why did they keep keeping on?
I discovered there were two main reasons: a bunch of kids who liked
each other, and had come to realize it’s a privilege just to be able
to play. And a coach who convinced them they all were going to do
whatever they could to do the best they could, regardless of what the
scoreboard said.
“There are no guarantees that you’re going to be successful,” said
Bruce Tardiff, the longtime South Kingstown coach. “It’s a lot like
life. No guarantees. The only guarantee is, can you look yourself in
the mirror and like what you see? These kids can.”
Can you learn any better lesson playing high school football?
I don’t think so.
Even if it came on the wrong end of the scoreboard.

North County Times, CA
Dec 26 2004
News briefs from around the state
By: Associated Press
GLENDALE — The American Armenian International College has donated
12,500 hard-to-find Armenian books to the library here in hopes the
city’s Armenian population will read them.
The donation places the library among those with the largest
Armenian-language collections in the country, according to library
experts. The books include hardcover volumes with titles and mandalas
imprinted in gold fleck and pocket-sized paperbacks by the
“Shakespeare of Armenia,” author Hovhannes Tumanian.
The trustees wanted to find a home for the books close to a
significant Armenian population, and Glendale seemed the logical fit,
said Jack Jandegian, vice chairman of the college’s board of
trustees. The college is based in La Verne.

More than one-third of Los Angeles County’s nearly 153,000 Armenians
live in Glendale, which has the second-largest population of people
of Armenian descent of any city in the country, behind Los Angeles.
The volumes include stories about King Argishti I, who lived in the
8th century B.C.; books about generals, colonels and soldiers who
fought in the Red Army during the Russian Revolution and anthologies
of Armenian poetry.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress