Category: News

EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION CALLS UPON EU PRESIDENCY AND ALL COUNTRIES
MEMBERS TO BLOCK AZERBAIJANI-SPONSORED UN RESOLUTION
BRUSSELS, November 25 (Noyan Tapan). The European Armenian
Federation for Justice and Democracy calls upon the European Union
Presidency and all countries members of the European Union to block
the Azerbaijani-sponsored UN resolution in the name of peace and
stability in this sensitive region.
Azerbaijan introduced a resolution asking the United Nations General
Assembly to condemn the so-called Armenian colony created in the
territories under Armenian control.
“The UN resolution submitted by Azerbaijan and Turkey, coupled with
another current initiative being taken up at the Council of Europe,
are both deadly blows to the negociation process initiated by the
Minsk Group” declared Hilda Tchoboian, Chairperson of the European
Armenian Federation.
Over the past several years, Azerbaijan has rejected a number of
proposals put forward by the OSCE Minsk group including the “Common
State” option in 1998. Former President Heider Aliyev walked away
from commitments made in Paris and the Key West summits during talks
with Armenian President Robert Kocharian.
The European Armenian Federation notes that since assuming power,
the current Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliev, has continuously
discredited the OSCE process, threatening to resolve the Karabagh
issue militarily.
The European Armenian Federation remains concerned that the
disintegration of the Minsk peace process will exclude Europe of any
active role in the South Caucasus, at a time when the European Union
has just included this region in its new neighborhood policy. It
affirms that the end of the process could introduce a new period of
instability in the region.
The European Armenian Federation notes that France joined the
Presidency of the Minsk Group in 1997 to establish peace, but also
with the intention of representing Europe, which did not have great
influence in the region until that time. “It balanced the Russian
and American interests in the region,” explained Tchoboian.

HRANT MARGARIAN: “WE NEED ORGANIZATION FOR THE STRENGTHENING OF OUR MIGHT”
BEIRUT, November 25 (Noyan Tapan). The congress of the attendant
organizations and unions of the ARF Dashnaktsutiun Party (Hamazgayin,
the Armenian General Physical Training Society, the Union of
Armenian Relief) was opened at the “La Ruayal” hotel on November
18. Representatives of these organizations from the countries of the
five continents participated in the congress. The forum organized by
the ARF Bureau lasted two days.
Touching upon the problems of the Armenian Diaspora in the whole
world, representative of the ARF Bureau Hrant Margarian said:
“Today the purpose of our organization is to make the Independent
Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people an influential force in
the region and even in the world. The force, which is able to provide
existence and security of Armenia and the Armenian people. The force,
which is able to guarantee the prosperity of Armenia and the Armenian
people. We should use all our national potential for the realization
of this purpose. And our organization should contribute to it.”
Speaking about the work carried out in connection with the problems of
Hay Dat and Western Armenia “consigned to oblivion”, H. Margarian said:
“Isn’t it high time to fasten our eyes to Yerkir – Western Armenia,
as the Armenian youth did in the late 19th century.”
“The existence of our independent statehood is the realization of our
centuries-old dream. We are the ideological movement responsible for
today and tomorrow of the Armenian statehood. We should constantly
care of Independent Armenia in our agenda,” said the representative
of the ARF Bureau.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Titillating Turkey Trivia
Brox International Press – Features & Discoveries of the World
11-24-2004
The American turkey was accidentally named after the country. After
the Spanish first found the bird in America more than 400 years ago
and brought it back to Europe, the English mistakenly thought it was
an African bird they had named for the country it was shipped through;
Turkey. The name stuck even after they realized the birds weren’t
the same.
The highest point in Turkey is Mount Ararat which is 5,166 meters
tall. The remains of Noah’s Ark are thought to be buried on this
mountain.
Turkey produces 65% of the world’s hazelnuts.
The national drink of Turkey is called ‘çay’ and is a type of tea
drunk black without milk.
Popular sports in Turkey include oil wrestling and camel
wrestling. Camel wrestling consists of two camels pushing against
each other until one is knocked over or runs away. Weightlifting and
wrestling are the sports that Turkey usually wins at the Olympics.
Turkish Bath Houses have operated for hundreds of years. They are a
cross between swimming pools, health clubs and communal baths, and
often have very plain exteriors with beautiful, ornately designed
interiors.
Nearly 99% of people are Muslims, and any Turkish city skyline will
include the many brightly colored domes of many mosques, which can
have diameters up to 30 m.
Turkey still has many unresolved issue with neighboring Christian
Armenia, including well-documented massacres and deportations that
Armenians refer to as the First Genocide of the 20th century.
Ingenious population of Kurdish minority is not recognize by Turkey
as a distinct nation group, even though they comprise about 30 percent
of the south-eastern provincial population.
The ancient city of Troy was made famous in Homer’s The Odyssey
and The Iliad, written between 1500 and 1200 B.C. Though initially
believed to be mere legend, a German explorer discovered what some
think to be the ruins of Troy on the west coast of Turkey in 1871.
–Boundary_(ID_xx12IgLWey/t3/EWDoptfA)–

Thanksgiving Events Support The Less Fortunate
Nonprofit Groups, Concerned Citizens Serve Turkey Dinners
NBC 4
POSTED: 10:55 AM PST November 25, 2004
UPDATED: 2:16 PM PST November 25, 2004
LOS ANGELES — It’s Thanksgiving, and groups around the Southland
are making sure that the less fortunate have some holiday cheer.
In Long Beach, the “Long Beach 5K/10K Turkey Trot & Chicken Chucking
Championship” is holding a walk to benefit the nonprofit Community
Action Team, followed by participants hurling rubber chickens to
raise money for local food bank charities.
Thanks for taking our survey and Happy Thanksgiving!Favorite
Thanksgiving Dish?What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?Turkey with
cranberry sauce. Stuffing and more stuffing. Mashed potatoes. Green
beans with those fried onions on top. Leftovers.
Pasadena’s Union Station Foundation is holding its annual Thanksgiving
Dinner-in-the-Park, billed as the “biggest potluck in the nation. ”
Volunteers are expected to serve more than 5,000 meals to the poor,
homeless and elderly. The Los Angeles Police Department, West Valley
Pals and Woodland Hills Optimist Club are hosting a free Thanksgiving
dinner at the Guadalupe Community Center.
In Valley Village, more than 500 men, women and children will enjoy a
traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Needy residents of
the East Valley will receive vouchers provided by Temple Beth Hillel
and distributed by numerous outreach organizations, including Jewish
War Veterans, the East Valley Multi-Purpose Center, Loaves and Fishes
and The Salvation Army, among others.
In Hollywood, Food on Foot will feed and distribute backpacks to the
homeless and poor. For every two 64-pound bags of trash collected from
the streets of Hollywood, Food on Foot will reward individuals with a
$5 food gift certificate from a fast-food restaurant or grocery store.
In Orange County, the 27th annual Dana Point Turkey Trot will feature
5K, 10K and children’s races; the Orange County Rescue Mission will
serve Thanksgiving dinner in Santa Ana; and Rep. Loretta Sanchez,
D-Garden Grove, Hon. Bishop Jaime Soto and others will join in serving
Thanksgiving dinner to the needy during the 19th annual Casa Garcia
Thanksgiving dinner that owner Frank Garcia serves in the parking
lot of his eatery in Anaheim.
And in Glendale, Armenia Fund Inc. is holding its annual Thanksgiving
telethon, “Make It Happen,” to raise funds to complete the remaining
56 miles of the North-South “Backbone” Highway in Karabakh, Armenia.
Proceeds will also benefit continued assistance in the areas of
health care, education and infrastructure development in the Republic
of Armenia. The 12-hour event will be televised live from Glendale
throughout the United States, South America, the Middle East, Canada
and Armenia.
Copyright 2004 by _NBC4. tv_ (mailto:webstaff@nbc4. tv) .

ARF MEMBER ARGUES IN FAVOR BOYCOTTING PACE SESSION
ArmenPress
Nov 25 2004
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: A senior member of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation/Dashnaktsutyun party, questioned today the
wisdom of placing a report on Nagorno Karabagh conflict on the agenda
of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe session, saying
that organization does not have a voting mechanism that would allow
it to enter the conflict regulation process as an unbiased body,
“as each of the conflicting sides would be looking to enlist the
support of delegates from 15-20 countries.”
Levon Mkrtchian of the ARF claimed that that simplified approach to
the conflict regulation places the entire responsibility of its future
fate on a European organization. Mkrtchian praised the wisdom of both
nations for “being reasonable to end the bloody war and replace it
with a ten-year long truce.”
Mkrtchian argued that the Armenian delegation should boycott the PACE
that is expected to discuss the report next year. “There is the OSCE
Minsk group who has been tackling the issue for years and I do not
see any reason behind taking the conflict to PACE,” Mkrtchian said,
adding, however, that these were his own personal viewpoints.
He went on to say that the report prepared by a former PACE rapporteur,
Terry Davis and taken up by his successor David Atkinson, has revealed
that both men do not master the problem on a professional level.

ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS REFRAIN FROM FLYING TO AZERBAIJAN
ArmenPress
Nov 25 2004
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: Two members of the Armenian
parliament refused to fly to the capital of the rival Azerbaijan to
participate in a NATO-sponsored seminar. The chairman of an Armenian
parliament committee on defense and national security issues, Mher
Shahgeldian, one of the two, told reporters today that Azerbaijani
parliament leadership ignored a letter by the chairman of Armenian
parliament who requested a tight safety measures for the two Armenian
parliamentarians.
Shahgeldian said the letter had been sent because of a serious incident
that occurred when three Armenian top officers had been in Baku earlier
this year also attending a NATO seminar and a recent extradition of
a Bulgarian journalist of Armenian origin.
“The Armenian delegation was prepared to fly to Baku, a hotel was
reserved and tickets booked,” he said, adding that the decision to
refrain from flying to Baku was made by the parliament forces.

WORLD VISION RENOVATES FOUR HEALTH POSTS IN LORI PROVINCE
ArmenPress
Nov 25 2004
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: On Wednesday, November 24, World
Vision Armenia celebrated the opening of the renovated health posts
in four rural communities in Lori Marz. The ceremony took place at
12:00 PM at the health post in Norashen village and was followed by
a visit to Sarchapet, Artsni and Saratovka communities where World
Vision and Support to Communities (STC) has completed the renovation
of the local health posts.
Renovation of the health posts was done in the framework of the Support
to Mobile Medical Teams program, a five year project funded by US
Agency for International Development and World Vision and targeting
57 rural communities in Gegharkunik, Lori Tavush and Syunik marzes.
The program aims to provide medical services to the population
of remote communities (serving 32,000 people), increase access of
vulnerable children and their families to a healthy and balanced diet,
conduct health education and promotion among population, establish
revolving drug funds, conduct primary health care trainings and work
closely with policlinics, hospitals and health posts to increase
levels of care. World Vision Armenia works closely with its local
partners including STC and the Scientific Association of Medical
Students of Armenia.
Since May 2004 over 12,600 people in 25 villages of Lori and
Gegharkunik regions have benefited from this program. Four Mobile
Medical Teams regularly visited remote communities, providing qualified
health care services to the residents.
As a part of the program activities focused on strengthening
community-based health structures in villages, World Vision Armenia
together with STC started the renovation of the health posts in 11
villages of Gegharkunik and 5 villages of Lori from which renovation
of four Lori health posts has been completed.
Next year the program will start to deliver primary health care to
vulnerable children and families in Syunik and Tavush regions.
“By the end of the program, villages will have benefited from
five years of MMT visits, and will also have primary health care
structures and community knowledge strengthened in a sustainable
manner.” says Julian Srodecki, WV Armenia Operations Director.

ARMENIAN-SOUTH KOREAN TIES DISCUSSED
ArmenPress
Nov 25 2004
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS: Deputy foreign affairs minister Tatul
Margarian received today the Moscow-seated South Korean ambassador to
Armenia, Chon Te Ikin, who is in Yerevan on the occasion of the opening
of the South Korea’s consulate and an Armenian-Korean business forum.
The foreign ministry said the two men discussed a wide scope of issues
and looked into ways for boosting bilateral trade. Margarian was
quoted as saying that Armenia is interested in developing diverse ties
with South Korea. He added that the consulate will promote further
development of contacts between the two countries.
The ambassador said Armenia will have a good chance to present itself
at a next year seminar in South Korea that will be dedicated to the
South Caucasus.

Syrian Arab News Agency, Syria
Nov 25 2004
Mofti-Islamic Unity
Mofti of the Syrian city of Aleppo meets Clergy
Beirut, Nov. 2 5 (SANA)-
Mofti of the Syrian city of Aleppo , Sheikh Ahmad Hassoun has
expressed the Syrian Clergymen care for the unity among the Islamic
countries.
Following two meetings held yesterday in Beirut by the gathering of
the Moslem and Armenian Catholicos /Aram I/, scholars, Sheikh Hassoun
stressed the cohesion between Syria and Lebanon , calling the Arab
countries to unify ranks and become as one body.
He saw that the relation between Syria and Lebanon is a relation of
one destiny and joint history, stressing that relation between the
Syrian people and the Armenian people is historical and deeply
–rooted.
A.N.Idelbi
–Boundary_(ID_/B4wjiPBxLGVWeT2EWQjJQ)–

Institute for War and Peace Reporting
Nov 25 2004
ARMENIANS GET MOBILE PHONE CHOICE
ArmenTel loses mobile phone monopoly as government ushers in
Karabakh-related company.
By Naira Melkumyan in Yerevan
Following years of wrangling with the Greek company that owns 90 per
cent of Armenia’s telecommunications monopoly ArmenTel, the government
has finally moved to allow competition.
However, although the arrival of newcomer on Armenia’s poorly developed
telecoms market may herald improved services, some are questioning
the selection process.
The tender was won by K-Telecom, a firm affiliated to Karabakh-Telecom
which is the sole telecoms operator in Nagorny Karabakh, the
Armenian-held territory still claimed by Azerbaijan.
The Armenian government, which owns a residual 10 per cent of ArmenTel
shares, last week signed a truce with the majority owner OTE, ending
four months of often-difficult negotiations over its licence.
The agreement means ArmenTel’s licence will be changed so that it
loses exclusive rights to provide GSM, satellite, and mobile radio
communications services, as well as internet access. But it will retain
sole rights to internet telephony and the use of fibreoptic cables.
The decision follows growing dissatisfaction over the performance of
the telecoms network.
OTE has been in control of ArmenTel since 1998, having paid 142
million US dollars for a 90 per cent stake and what amounted to a
15-year monopoly over communications.
This year, the government tried to change the company’s license with
a view to removing its monopoly, arguing that ArmenTel was not meeting
its investment obligations – an accusation the firm has rejected. The
latest deal means the firm has lost its monopoly in most areas.
However, the way the government moved swiftly to select a competitor
has proved controversial.
Parliamentary deputy Victor Dallakyan says that in an “unprecedented”
move, the government set up a commission to award the GSM licence,
which took just one day to pick K-Telecom in a rushed tender process.
Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan told journalists that the commission
had the power to change the tender rules in exceptional cases.
Many observers disagree. Dallakyan believes the commission violated
various rules, such as the need to advertise the tender in the press,
and to seek and review bids.
Other companies were said to be in the running, but the communications
ministry insists that K-Telecom was the only one that actually applied.
Even members of the ruling coalition are confused by the process.
“We are not against K-Telecom being chosen as a second operator,
but the government should explain. so that we know whether there was
another choice,” Levon Lazarian, head of the pro-government party
Dashnaktsutyun’s faction, told IWPR.
Government representatives say that the decision to go for K-Telecom
was more political than commercial.
“This government decision was strategic and political, not a choice
in favour of the best operator,” justice minister David Arutyunyan
told journalists. “By giving K-Telecom the license, we are helping the
people of Karabakh overcome their isolation. Maintaining the existing
quality of communications is extremely necessary for security reasons.”
Arutyunyan implied that K-Telecom’s parent firm in Karabakh would
benefit from the deal, and get round the Azerbaijani government’s
objections to the unrecognised Karabakh state being allowed to have
GSM communications with the outside world.
Some politicians think the government should have gone further and
deprived ArmenTel of its license altogether.
According to National Democrat bloc leader Arshak Sadoyan, the
government should have implemented a January 1999 ruling by Armenia’s
constitutional court that ArmenTel should lose its monopoly within
five years.
Ovsep Khurshudyan, an economic expert at the Centre for National
and Strategic Studies, believes that one reason why this did not
happen is that OTE has been pursuing a case against Armenia at the
International Court of Arbitration in London, in a dispute in which
each side accuses the other of breaching the ArmenTel contract.
If OTE win, the Armenian government would have had to pay 300 million
dollars in damages. But the latest agreement with ArmenTel appears
to end claims by either side.
“It is clear that the steps that were taken to deprive ArmenTel of
its monopoly were populist in nature, while the real negotiating
process was taking place behind the scenes,” said Khurshudyan.
ArmenTel has largely abstained from commenting on the deal, but a
spokesman told IWPR that the company was not against competition,
as it has its own client base.
Naira Melkumyan is an independent journalist in Yerevan.