Category: News

Azeri minister urges UN to have final say on Karabakh
ANS TV, Baku
24 Nov 04
[Presenter] Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov gave an
interview to ANS after his speech at the UN General Assembly. He said
that the UN General Assembly should now have a final say.
[Correspondent over video of the UN session] The minister thinks
that the first step has already been taken. We now have to wait for
another resolution which the UN is going to adopt on the situation
on the occupied Azerbaijani territories. This will take some time.
[Mammadyarov by phone] The UN has a special procedure of adopting
resolutions. This is a process. It will take some time. Therefore,
we think that first we should continue the talks and then we will
express our opinion after reviewing their results.
[Correspondent] Mammadyarov also commented on the statement made by
his Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanyan on the UN discussions.
[Passage omitted: reported details of Armenia’s position]
[Mammadyarov] This issue was not comprehensively discussed when I met
the Armenian foreign minister in Berlin. Azerbaijan thinks that we
need to continue the talks within the framework of the Prague meetings
[on the Karabakh settlement]. We intend to continue the Prague talks
as soon as possible.
[Correspondent] Elmar Mammadyarov said that only Armenia and
Azerbaijan participated in the talks in line with the OSCE Minsk
Group’s regulations. The Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of
Nagornyy Karabakh enjoy the status of parties interested in this
process. If we negotiate with the so-called regime, then Armenia will
be regarded not as the opposite side, but as a side interested in the
settlement process. In these circumstances, Armenia must walk out of
the talks, end quote.
Mammadyarov said that he will clarify this position of the Baku
government at his meeting with the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs today.
Ayaz Mirzayev, ANS.

Tajik, Russian top brass pledge closer military ties
Khovar news agency, Dushanbe
24 Nov 04
A meeting was held between Defence Minister Col-Gen Sherali
Khayrulloyev and a Russian military delegation at the Tajik Defence
Ministry on 23 November. The delegation led by the commander-in-chief
of the Russian air force, Army General Vladimir Mikhaylov, is visiting
Tajikistan.
The meeting discussed Russian-Tajik military and military-technical
cooperation both between the two countries and within the framework of
the CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization includes Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan] and other
regional organizations.
The discussions focused particularly on cooperation within the
framework of the CIS joint air defence system, the involvement of
Russian military aircraft in the joint command and staff exercise
Rubezh-2005, to take place in Tajikistan in April 2005, and other
issues of mutual interest.
During the businesslike and constructive conversation, the sides
confirmed their willingness for fruitful cooperation in the interests
of strengthening regional cooperation in the spirit of strategic
partnership, the head of the Tajik Defence Ministry press centre,
Zarobiddin Sirojov, told the Khovar national news agency.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NATIONAL PRESS CLUB QUALIFIED MONDAY EXPLOSION OF NIKOL PASHINYAN’S CAR AS
ACT AGAINST PRESS FREEDOM
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 23. ARMINFO. National Press Club qualifies the Monday
explosion of the car of Aykakan Zhamanak chief editor Nikol Pashinyan as a
terrorist act against press freedom in Armenia.
NPC says that if earlier such acts were aimed against journalists’ cameras
now applied is an explosive. The lives of journalists are in danger. NPC demands
that the government punish the organizers of the crime. “It’s time to come to
one’s senses and to restore legality in Armenia otherwise the wheel of
violation may turn in some unpredictable direction.”
To remind, Pashinyan’s car exploded Monday evening and his staff are
suspecting Armenian businessman Gagik Tsarukyan who has recently been a target of
their pens.

Opposition chides Armenian leadership for foreign policy failures
Arminfo
23 Nov 04
Yerevan, 23 November: The current Armenian leadership has brought
the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict to deadlock and
has endangered the possibility of a pro-Armenian solution to this
problem, representatives of the Armenian opposition said at the
Armenian National Assembly today.
The vice-president of the National Unity Party, Aleksan Karapetyan,
said that the draft resolution of the rapporteur of the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe [PACE] on Nagornyy Karabakh, David
Atkinson, which runs counter to the interests of the Armenian side,
is a result of the “good-for-nothing” foreign policy of the country’s
incumbent authorities.
Aleksan Karapetyan, a member of the Armenian delegation at the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly, said that having familiarized himself with the
agenda of the Rose-Roth seminar to be held in Baku on 25-27 November,
it became clear that Armenia is not ready to take part in this
seminar. He said that as a consequence of the short-sighted foreign
policy of the country’s incumbent authorities, Nagornyy Karabakh has
turned out of a member of the negotiating process into its object.
For his part, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party and former
presidential adviser for foreign issues, Aram Sarkisyan, also accused
the country’s leadership of allowing Azerbaijan to include the issue of
“the occupied territories” in the agenda of the UN General Assembly.
He said that the best thing the Armenian side can count on during
the discussion of this issue at the UN General Assembly is the
establishment of a monitoring group to study “the situation on the
occupied territories”.
The MP stated that [Armenian President] Robert Kocharyan must report
“foreign policy failures” to the people and parliament. Aram Sarkisyan
said that the opposition will organize a round table at the house of
journalists on 26 November on the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
conflict. During the discussions, the opposition will present a plan
of measures to get out of the current critical situation. At the
same time, he expressed the hope that under the current authorities,
it will be difficult to get the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh
conflict out of the deadlock.

ARMENIAN PRESIDENT, ITALIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS COOPERATION
Arminfo
23 Nov 04
Yerevan, 23 November: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today
received Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Margherita Boniver and the
delegation accompanying her in the visit.
The Armenian president expressed satisfaction with the current level
of Armenian-Italian relations, the presidential press service has
told Arminfo news agency.
The sides discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to bilateral
and international ties, including cooperation of the countries in
international organizations.
The source reports that the sides exchanged views on reforms under
way in the UN bodies, particularly on the expansion of the UN Security
Council.
In turn, Margherita Boniver noted Italy’s interest in the South
Caucasus countries. The Italian deputy minister considered as important
Kocharyan’s upcoming official visit to Italy in January 2005. She said
that this visit would boost cooperation between the two countries. At
the meeting, the sides also discussed the current situation in the
resolution of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict.

Armenian foreign minister downbeat on Europe’s Karabakh report
Arminfo
23 Nov 04
Yerevan, 23 November: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said
in Yerevan today that he regarded the draft project drawn up by the
rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
[PACE] on Nagornyy Karabakh, David Atkinson, as an “ordinary report”.
The Armenian foreign minister said that in the view of the Armenian
side, the draft report contains wording that does not exactly reflect
the essence of the conflict.
“However, it is necessary to understand that it is a normal political
process when Armenian and Azerbaijani representatives are trying to
make the report meet their interests in full”, Oskanyan said. At the
same time, he noted that the Armenian delegation at PACE managed to
get certain provisions of David Atkinson’s document amended.
“The struggle is continuing at this and other fronts”, Armenian
foreign minister said.
Oskanyan noted that the discussion of the issue at PACE does not at all
mean that the settlement of the conflict is gradually being transferred
to the Council of Europe. He recalled that the Karabakh conflict was
also recently discussed by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Oskanyan
said that “we take all resolutions and reports calmly as they do not
attempt to predetermine political status for Nagornyy Karabakh that
would be unacceptable to us”.

ROW OVER ELECTORAL REFORM SPLITTING ARMENIAN COALITION
Emil Danielyan
Eurasianet
11/23/04
An increasingly bitter dispute over election rules for future
parliamentary elections could cause a split within Armenia’s governing
coalition.
The Republican Party (HHK) of Prime Minister Andranik Markarian is at
loggerheads with its two subordinate coalition partners, the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF) and the Orinats Yerkir (Country of
Law) party. The dispute centers on the composition of parliament,
or, more specifically, how MPs are elected.
According to the existing law, 75 of the 131 members of the National Assembly
are elected under the proportional system, with voters choosing a list of
candidates fielded by a party or bloc. The remaining 56 seats are distributed in
single-mandate constituencies under the first-past-the-post, or “majoritarian”
system prevalent in the United States and Britain.
The vast majority of the Armenian lawmakers elected under the majoritarian
system are wealthy government-connected individuals. In the overwhelming number
of instances, these individuals wield immense economic influence within their
respective constituencies, and are widely believed to have secured victory at
the polls through bribery and manipulation. Many of them are affiliated with,
or backed by the HHK — a key reason why Markarianâ~@~Ys party has the largest
parliament faction and controls most local governments. The HHK is certainly
Kocharianâ~@~Ys most influential supporter.
The junior coalition members would prefer to do away with first-past-the-post
constituencies, and base future elections entirely on the proportional
system. At the very least, they want to reduce the number of majoritarian seats
in
the legislature. The ARF, also known as Dashnaktsutiun, has warned that it
could quit the coalition if the HHK continues to oppose a move to increase the
number of parliamentary seats determined under the proportional system.
“Dashnaktsutiun reserves the right to reconsider its participation in the
coalition government in the event of a breach of the goals spelled out in the
[June 2003] memorandum on its [the coalitionâ~@~Ys] creation,” warned Armen
Rustamian, one of its leaders. He said expansion of the proportional system was
one of
the key terms of the coalitionâ~@~Ys power-sharing accord.
The coalition cabinet has been beset by internal wrangling ever since its
creation following the May 2003 parliamentary elections, which were marked by
widespread accusations of fraud. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive
]. The ARF has regularly expressed its dissatisfaction with the slow pace of
economic improvement, persisting government corruption and what its leaders
characterize as the “power of money” in the impoverished country. The
influential
nationalist party, which has branches in Armeniaâ~@~Ys worldwide Diaspora,
toughened its rhetoric in early November after the HHK torpedoed its efforts at
electoral reform.
The two sides have tried unsuccessfully in recent weeks to bridge their
differences. Tigran Torosian, a deputy parliament speaker and an HHK leader,
said
on November 23 that the Republicans will make a final attempt to strike a
compromise deal later this week. Their failure to reach agreement would set the
stage for Kocharianâ~@~Ys personal intervention in the row, which has already
proven
debilitating for the governing coalition. Keeping all of his major allies
happy will be a difficult task, observers in Yerevan say.
Despite the recent rise in heated rhetoric, HHK leaders have been quick to
shrug off the threat of an ARF departure. “Let nobody think that we become very
concerned and nervous every time they talk about leaving [the coalition],”
Markarian said in a recent newspaper interview.
Of all the other Armenian parties only Orinats Yerkir, which is led by
parliament speaker Artur Baghdasarian, did reasonably well in individual races
in
the 2003 parliament elections. Yet it too wants a greater share for the
party-list seats. Proponents of the proportional system say that it would spur
the
development of political parties. Increased political competition, in turn,
would
make it more difficult for one party to get away with voting irregularities.
In a bid to prevail in the dispute, the rival camps have turned to other
political groups for support. The Republicans are strongly backed on the issue
by
the Peopleâ~@~Ys Deputy group of non-partisan lawmakers. Orinats Yerkir and the
ARF, meanwhile, have enlisted the support of the United Labor Party (MAK), a
small pro-Kocharian group also represented in the current legislature.
MAK leader Gurgen Arsenian claimed on November 18 that “new realignments”
could occur both inside the parliament and the government. He said opponents of
the majoritarian system are prepared to take “drastic steps,” which he declined
to specify. “Time will tell whether or not there will be a change in the
coalition format,” Arsenian told reporters. “I donâ~@~Yt rule that out.”
The existing balance of forces in parliament favors the HHK, the most
powerful government faction. Together with the Peopleâ~@~Ys Deputy group, they
hold about
60 parliament seats compared to less than 40 seats controlled by their
pro-presidential opponents. However, the junior coalition members could end up
winning the electoral rules debate if they gain the support of the 23 lawmakers
representing Armeniaâ~@~Ys two main opposition groups, the Artarutiun (Justice)
alliance the National Unity Party (AMK).
Whether the opposition parties are willing to join forces with the junior
coalition members on the electoral rules issue is uncertain at this point.
Artarutiun and the AMK are both known to be strong advocates of proportional
representation, but they have boycotted parliament sessions since February 2004.
The
boycott is linked to the pro-presidential parliament majorityâ~@~Ys refusal to
consider a “referendum of confidence” in Kocharian. [For background see the
Eurasia Insight archive].
The opposition refuses to recognize the legitimacy of Kocharianâ~@~Ys victory in
the 2003 presidential vote. For more than a year after the election, the
opposition pursued a popular protest strategy against Kocharian. That effort,
however, failed to attract a sufficient following that could exert pressure on
the
president to either change political course, or step down. [For background see
the Eurasia Insight archive].
Since abandoning the protest strategy, opposition leaders have kept a low
profile, waiting for an opportunity to capitalize on the renewed government
infighting. They may now believe such an opportunity is at hand and try to stoke
the intra-governmental tensions by openly backing the electoral reform
championed by the ARF. All of which makes the fast resolution of the coalition
dispute
even more urgent for Kocharian.
Editorâ~@~Ys Note: Emil Danielyan is a Yerevan-based journalist and political
analyst.
–Boundary_(ID_mfgWO/sJCL6o5V4fBWfeQg)–

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
11/23/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Meeting with President Arkady Ghoukasian 2) Public Official and Former "Azadamard" Editor Mousegh Mikaelian Passes Away 3) Azeri Officer Admits Killing Armenian With Ax 4) Armenia Criticizes Atkinson Report on Karabagh 1) Meeting with President Arkady Ghoukasian Among the many issues discussed between an Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) delegation and Mountainous Karabagh Republic President Arkady Ghoukasian on Monday, were the upcoming Armenia Fund telethon, national dues for Karabagh's advancement, as well as steps to resettle the population of Karabagh. Joining President Ghoukasian were the Representative of MKR in the United States Vardan Barseghian, and Karabagh Archbishop Barkev Mardirossian. A lengthy political discussion included means to counter Azerbaijan's latest anti-Armenian policy, and the Karabagh peace process. The ARF Western Region delegation was composed of co-chair Avedik Ismirlian and Hovig Saliba, along with Vahe Bozoian, Hrair Der Krikorian, and Anahid Stepanian. 2) Public Official and Former "Azadamard" Editor Mousegh Mikaelian Passes Away YEREVAN (ARF Bureau Press Office)--The distinguished career of Mousegh Mikaelian came to an end on Monday, November 23, when the accomplished official passed away in the capital city of Yerevan. Born in the Talin region of Zovasar in 1948, Mikaelian graduated from the "Sasnashen" school and shortly after gained entry into Yerevan State University's Philology Department. Having served as a staff member of several publications, including "Karoun," "Avantgard," and "Sovetagan Hayastan," Mikaelian moved on to establish the weeklies "Ourpat," and "Azadamard," and the monthlies "Varoujan," "Midk," "Zankag," and "Asbarez." During his prolific career, Mikaelian also authored four books. He joined the Armenian Revolutionary federation in 1989, and served as the editor-in-chief of the party's official publications "Azadamard" (1991-94), and "Yerkir" (1998-99). In 1999, he was elected to Armenia's parliament and served as a member until 2003, when he was appointed as the country's Deputy Minister of Education and Sciences. 3) Azeri Officer Admits Killing Armenian With Ax (Reuters)--An Azeri officer who killed his fellow Armenian officer Gurgen Margarian with an ax at a Budapest military academy pleaded guilty in court on Tuesday, saying he took revenge for Armenian attacks on Azeris, Hungarian news agency MTI reported. "It was not my plan to be so cruel, savage," 27-year-old Ramil Safarov told the court. When asked why he almost severed the head of the victim, he said, "because they did the same to 8,000 people of ours." In February, Safarov entered the Armenian's room, stabbed him several times with a knife, and struck him repeatedly with an axe, almost severing his head. Both were participating in a NATO Partnership for Peace English language course. Safarov was charged with committing premeditated murder with extreme cruelty, and faces possible life imprisonment if found guilty, a Budapest Capital Court press official told Reuters. 4) Armenia Criticizes Atkinson Report on Karabagh YEREVAN (Armenpress)--National Assembly Vice-speaker Tigran Torosian criticized Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) rapporteur on Mountainous Karabagh David Atkinson, for failing to consult with the OSCE Minsk Group, tasked to find a resolution to the conflict, and establish ongoing contacts with Armenian and Azeri delegations before presenting his report during PACE's November 17 session in Paris. According to Torosian, who heads Armenia's delegation to PACE, Atkinson's recent report on Mountainous Karabagh had not changed greatly from its September 14 report. He also said that while the draft resolution is improved, it does not contain all proposals put forth by the Armenian delegation. Concerned that Azerbaijan is increasingly being perceived in Europe as the victim of the conflict, he said Armenian authorities must revise their practical approach in order to counter Azerbaijan's aggressive policy in international organizations--especially in light of Turkey's increased backstage efforts to find a resolution. The PACE report does call on both Armenian and Azeri officials to meet in Strasbourg to decide on Karabagh's future status. It also calls on the conflicting sides to withdraw their troops and refrain from military activates. Torosian stressed the necessity for Armenia to intensify efforts in the international arena, and refrain from a policy of mutual accusations and "behind-the-scene" talks in parliament. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

California Courier Online, November 25, 2004
1 – Commentary
Azerbaijan Gives New Reasons Why
Karabagh Can’t Be Under Azeri Rule
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
**************************************************************************
2 – Western Diocese Holds Sanahin Institute
2004 at Sierra Nevada Church Camp
3 – Ron Mortanian’s Class Makes
Monster Sandwich to Go
4 – Boxer Names Tom Bohigian
California State Director
5 – Renowned Musicians Will
Perform During Telethon ’04
6 – Online Forum Will Deal with 1915
Genocide, Intervention, Human Rights
7 – Commentary
Neither Courts nor Officials Care
That We Were Defrauded in Armenia
*************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
Azerbaijan Gives New Reasons Why
Karabagh Can’t Be Under Azeri Rule
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
Karabagh Armenians keep telling the world that Azeris abused them so much
and for so long that they can never go back to living under the yoke of
Azerbaijan again. Armenians provide documented evidence of the trampling of
their most basic rights by Azeri officials during the Soviet years. Most of
these arguments, regrettably, fall on the deaf ears of insensitive world
leaders who care more about Caspian oil than Armenian blood.
A scandalous incident at the Baku airport last week came to demonstrate
what Karabagh Armenians have been saying all along. A prominent Bulgarian
journalist, Edward Papazian, who is the sports editor of “24 Hours,” the
largest daily newspaper in Bulgaria, had flown to Azerbaijan along with
Bulgaria’s soccer team to cover a friendly match between the two countries.
Upon arrival at the Baku airport, the Bulgarian soccer players and their
entourage quickly made it through passport control and were allowed in the
country except for one passenger — Papazian. His sole guilt was that he
had an Armenian last name. Even though the government of Azerbaijan was
notified in advance of the list of the travelers accompanying the soccer
team, as soon as Azeri border guards saw Papazian’s last name in his
Bulgarian passport, they began yelling “Armenian, Armenian!” They
immediately took him in for questioning. They asked him how long he had
been a citizen of Bulgaria. Papazian told them that he was born in
Bulgaria, as were his parents and even grandparents. He told them that he
had traveled around the world, both in civilized and uncivilized countries,
and never had this kind of trouble. The border guards were angered by
Papazian’s implied reference to their country as being uncivilized. They
told him that all Armenians were barred from entering Azerbaijan,
ostensibly because their security could not be guaranteed! One of the
airport officials told Papazian that he was being harassed because of
Karabagh. Despite his vehement protests, the journalist was forcibly put
back on the same plane that he had just arrived in and unceremoniously
deported from the country.
In the meantime, Bulgarian officials, through their Ambassador in Baku, had
made every effort to secure Papazian’s entry into Azerbaijan. The
journalist’s deportation was not only discriminatory, but also offensive to
the government of Bulgaria. This incident had a chilling effect on
relations between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry
subsequently delivered a diplomatic note of protest to the Embassy of
Azerbaijan in Sofia.
The Bulgarian press widely covered this scandalous event. “24 Hours” quoted
Papazian as saying: “I thought we lived in the 21st century rather than the
Middle Ages. I am proud of my heritage and my family and I am not going to
change my name just because of Azerbaijan.”
Rather than apologizing for their shameful and racist behavior, Azeri
officials tried to cover up this incident by insisting that it never took
place and no person named Papazian had tried to enter Azerbaijan.
This appalling episode leads us to the following conclusions:
— Azerbaijan has declared an all-out war not only against Karabagh, but
also against all Armenians, regardless of their country of origin;
— Azeris resort to all possible means to demonstrate their hatred of
Armenians, including lying and covering up not only historic events but
also incidents that occurred just a few days earlier;
— By barring all Armenians from entering Azerbaijan, the Azeri authorities
are basically confirming that Karabagh Armenians are no longer considered
to be citizens of Azerbaijan, (which is exactly what the Karabagh Armenians
want);
— If the anti-Armenian hostility and hysteria in Azerbaijan is such that
even a third generation Bulgarian of Armenian ancestry cannot go to Baku to
cover a soccer match, how could more than 150,000 Karabagh Armenians risk
their lives believing that they can live in peace under Azeri rule?
A whole new generation of Armenians have been born and raised in Karabagh
since its separation from Azerbaijan. These youngsters have only known life
under a free and independent Karabagh! Putting them back under Azeri rule
would be as unnatural and unacceptable as returning the 13 U.S. colonies to
the British, Louisiana to the French, and Alaska to the Russians!
The Azeri officials, by their hateful action, proved once again that
Armenians couldn’t even visit Azerbaijan, let alone live there. Karabagh
Armenians are perfectly happy not to be associated with such a country!
**************************************************************************
2 – Western Diocese Holds Sanahin Institute
2004 at Sierra Nevada Church Camp
BURBANK, CA – The Second Sanahin Institute of the Western Diocese was held
Sept. 23-26 at the Armenian Church Camp in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The Institute is a project of the Christian Educational Council (CEC) of
the Western Diocese. Its mission is to train participants to know about
their own faith through the study of Scriptures, the Sacraments, the
liturgies, the spiritual tradition and the history of the Armenian Church.
There is also training in the principles of faith development and teaching
methodology.
Topics covered this year were: Old Testament: Genesis, taught by Fr. Perry
Kavoukjian of the St. Paul Newman Center of Fresno; Scripture: Development
of the Armenian Canon of the Bible, Fr. Arshen Aivazian, St. Paul Armenian
Church, Fresno; Introduction to Sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation, Fr.
Sarkis Petoyan, St. John, San Francisco; New Testament: Gospel of Mark,
taught by Michael Danks Fergusen, San Joaquin Memorial High School; and
Methods of Religious Education, Yn. Sirarpi Aivazian, Fresno.
The Sanahin Institute Committee is headed by Sarkis Hardy. Yn. Sirarpi
Aivazian is the project coordinator, and Maral Cingoz is the project
administrator. Zaroohi Der Mugrdechian is the Committee Secretary and the
chairperson of the Christian Educational Council.
The Committee thanks the St. John Garabed Ladies, Society, San Diego; St.
James Ladies Society, Los Angeles; St. Paul Ladies Society, Fresno; Sts.
Sahag-Mesrob Ladies Society, Reedley, and St. Andrew Ladies Society,
Cupertino for their assistance. Their contributions assisted the CEC in
completing another successful year for this project.
For more information about the Institute and plans for 2005, contact the
Western Diocese – Armenian Church Office or Maral Cingoz, project
coordinator at (510) 847-4362.
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3 – Ron Mortanian’s Class Makes
Monster Sandwich to Go
FRESNO – Ron Mortanian’s class made it big recently. A Subway sandwich,
that is. In fact, so big, it is due to be listed in the Guinness Book of
World Records as the largest Subway sandwich in the United States – over
200 feet, according to organizers’ records.
“I always like bigger, better and the first,” says Mortanian, whose Reach
for the Stars program, which benefits special needs students, organized the
event at Fresno’s Tehipite Middle School on Oct. 16. Mortanian is a Special
Education Teacher. His Language Arts Program “Reach for the Stars” enables
his students with writing skills.
The event brought out employees and owners from 18 Subway franchises to
build the monster sandwich.The sandwich was sold in $5 sections with chips
and soda. Part of the proceeds went to the Reach for the Stars program, the
rest was distributed between departments at Tehipite for teachers’ use.
More than a dozen sandwich artists worked 25 minutes to create the sub,
which included 204 feet of bread, 108 pounds of turkey, 120 pounds of roast
beef, 72 pounds of hand and 72 pounds of lettuce and stretched on a table
almost the full length of the grass field behind the school.
Moving away from the typical was important for organizers, who were tired
of seeing t he standard fund-raising fare.
“It’s book sales and candy sales, says Martin Viramontes, a Subway
franchise owner and event organizers.”We wanted to do something unique, so
we thought, “Why not do this?'”
They brought in several local organizations for the event, including the
Fresno County Sheriff’s Department – that flew in their helicopter – and
the Fresno Fire Department, which had a fire engine on display.
There was also music, dancing and more than 30 prizes given away. In all,
more than 50 local organizations and businesses took part.
Also participating in a big way was actor Max Gail, famous for playing
Detective Stan “Wojo” Wojciehowicz on the Barney Miller television show.
Hands gloved in latex, a knife in one hand, and a loaf of bread in another,
he asks: “Are we making this to go?”
***************************************************************************
*********************
4 – Boxer Names Tom Bohigian
California State Director
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) last week announced that
she has selected Tom Bohigian as her State Director. Bohigian has been on
Boxer’s staff for more than 11 years, serving as Acting State Director for
the past 10 months.
Boxer, who was reelected to a third term on November 2nd, said, “I am
delighted that Tom Bohigian will stay on as my State Director. He is a
great asset to our staff and to the 35 million Californians we all serve.”
As State Director, Bohigian is responsible for supervising Boxer’s
California operations and her six state offices, which are located in
Sacramento, San Francisco, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San
Diego. He will continue to be based in the senator’s Fresno office and
travel widely throughout the state.
Bohigian has worked for Senator Boxer since 1993, the year she entered the
U.S. Senate. He has previously held the positions of Field Representative,
Northern California Director, and Deputy State Director. Before joining
Boxer’s staff, he served as a Fresno city councilmember (1989-1993) and as
a field representative for Assemblymember Bruce Bronzan (1982-1989).
A lifelong resident of Fresno, Bohigian attended local public schools and
holds a degree in Journalism from California State University, Fresno.
**************************************************************************
5 – Renowned Musicians Will
Perform During Telethon ’04
GLENDALE – Several internationally-recognized Armenian entertainers from
the folk, jazz, pop, rock and comedy worlds will perform during the
Thanksgiving Day Telethon “Make it Happen,” organized by the Armenia Fund
on Nov. 25, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Armen Chakmakian, a keyboardist for the GRAMMY® award winning band
Shadowfax, will lead Telethon 2004’s live, seven-member house band with
world renowned oudist and composer John Bilezikjian. Zulal, the acclaimed
New York City-based a cappella folk trio of Teni Apelian, Yeraz Markarian
and Anais Alexandra Tekerian, will perform numerous sets throughout the
12-hour international broadcast.
The all-star entertainment line-up also includes live performances by Aram
Asatryan, Shushan Petrosyan, the Garni Folk Ensemble, Gor Mkhitarian, duduk
ensemble Winds of Passion and Nune Yesayan, as well as two monologues by
comedian Vahe Berberian.
The broadcast will feature interviews with celebrities, AFI supporters and
political leaders from Armenia, Karabakh and the Diaspora as well as
construction footage from Armenia and Karabagh and stories of lives
impacted by AFI initiated infrastructure development projects.
Telethon 2004, live from Glendale, Calif., will air throughout the United
States, Europe, South America, the Middle East, the CIS and Armenia.
Telethon 2004’s goal is to raise funds to complete the remaining 52 miles
of the North-South “Backbone” Highway in Karabagh. Upon completion, the $25
million, 105-mile highway will link 150 towns and villages and provide
crucial economic, trade and development opportunities. Telethon 2004 will
also provide continued assistance in the areas of health care, education
and infrastructure development in the Republic of Armenia.
Detailed domestic and international viewing/broadcast information is
available at or by calling 800.888.8897. Telethon 2004
will also be available in full-motion web-cast on
Internet users will be able to view and make secure contributions online.
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6 – Online Forum Will Deal with 1915
Genocide, Intervention, Human Rights
OAKLAND, Calif. – On December 1-3, Facing History and Ourselves will host a
global online conversation for educators, scholars, and university and
graduate students focusing on the difficult choices individuals, groups,
and nations have confronted – and continue to struggle with – in the face
of genocide.
The forum will build upon the issues explored in Facing History and
Ourselves’ newest resource book, Crimes Against Humanity and Civilization:
The Genocide of the Armenians, as well as examine the work of contemporary
human rights activists and scholars who challenge indifference and believe
that prevention of genocide is possible.
Facing History and Ourselves staff will facilitate this three-day online
forum with the participation of leading human rights and Armenian Genocide
scholars, including Chair of Modern Armenian History at UCLA Richard
Hovannisian. Smith College Professor and human rights activist Eric Reeves,
a frequent writer and commentator on the genocide in Sudan will also join
us along with Helen Fein, the executive director of the Institute for the
Study of Genocide and the International Association of Genocide Scholars.
The online forum is free of charge, Interested individuals can RSVP online.
For more information, go to
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*
7 – Commentary
Neither Courts nor Officials Care
That We Were Defrauded in Armenia
By K. George Najarian and
Carolann S. Najarian, M.D.
We would like to relate a sad, but true account of what we have experienced
within Armenia’s legal system over this past year.
Let us first introduce ourselves: our humanitarian efforts in Armenia and
Artsakh have spanned nearly 16 years. Our projects began after the
earthquake and during the Artsakh liberation war and continue through
today, with more than 50 trips to Armenia, the delivery of millions of
dollars of medical supplies to both regions; the establishment of the
Primary Care Center in Gyumri (1994) and the Arpen Center for Expectant
Mothers in Artsakh (1995); hospital renovations; and many other efforts,
including the rebuilding of Tsitsernavank, the 4th c. basilica in Kashatagh
(Lachine corridor), assistance to villagers, invalids, veterans, orphans,
and schools. Our work has been carried out through the Armenian Health
Alliance, Inc. and its supporters as well as through our own private funds.
In response to the Armenian government’s pleas to the Diaspora to invest in
Armenia, George undertook a project with a young man whom he met after the
earthquake and with whom he subsequently became a friend. (We even brought
him to Boston to have surgical correction of his infertility for which we
paid; he now has two children, thanks to us!)
In 1996, after a year of prodding George to finance a business venture,
they opened a photo shop as partners – he did the work and George paid for
everything. He also introduced George to various people with other business
propositions. One introduction led to our purchase of two parcels of land
in the Ethnographic Center at Tzorakugh with spectacular views of Ararat.
Throughout this time this ‘friend’ presented himself to us as an honest
person, thankful for the assistance we had given to him and wanting to help
George in whatever way he could.
This ‘friend’ was George’s representative, not partner, in the development
of these two parcels of land. Thus, he had Power of Attorney to represent
George in his absence. However, he used this Power of Attorney to
fraudulently privatize in his name these lands and our two newly
constructed buildings, in effect expropriating our substantial investment.
When we understood what he had done, with the hope of
avoiding a legal battle, we tried to negotiate with him for the return of
the properties. This failed, despite offers of significant sums of money.
Without any other recourse open to us and based on the advice of legal
experts in Armenia, we filed a criminal case against him, first with the
Yerevan City Prosecutor’s Office (September, 2003) and later with the
Prosecutor General of Armenia’s office (March, 2004).
We had assumed the facts in the case were obvious — “open and shut”–
given the evidence of scores of witnesses, bank documents, receipts, etc.
We had not anticipated that our ‘friend’ would enlist the help of
well-connected persons in the government who could influence the case
through bribes and whatever other means available to them, including
intimidating witnesses and threatening lives. In December, 2003, after a
long but superficial investigation, the Yerevan City Prosecutor’s Office
dismissed the case and referred us to civil court. (We suspected the
prosecutor had been bribed but could not prove it.) On appeal, the case was
reopened at the Prosecutor General level. This time prosecutors agreed we
were the victims of fraud. They also found that the ‘friend’ was guilty of
tax evasion. Attempts were again made to hijack the case through dismissal
at this point but failed. While the Yerevan City Prosecutor who previously
dismissed the case admitted during a meeting at the General Prosecutor’s
Office, in George’s presence, that he made a mistake by dismissing the
case, the current prosecutors said that the evidence was too powerful to
dismiss, and sent the case to the next phase within the criminal process —
that of acquiring evidence for the trial.
Two investigators were assigned the task of preparing the evidence for
trial: witnesses were repeatedly called and subjected to hours of
interrogation; George returned to Armenia again to testify – this time for
more than 40 hours; and, documents were requested and provided by us for a
third time. Again, the investigation dragged on for months and despite
mountains of evidence supporting our claims, and little on the other side
supporting his claim of ownership, the two investigators doing the work
dismissed the case! Their decision, a shabby, crude, and even absurd
document completely ignored or marginalized important
evidence supporting our claims and falsified facts –openly. We were again
referred to civil court. We had information that these investigators were
following orders from persons within the government who stand to benefit
from expropriating these properties from us.
Prominent legal minds in Armenia, including experts within the government,
have advised us that this is a criminal case of fraud punishable under
Armenian law. Similar cases, with less evidence, have been fully prosecuted
by the Prosecutor General’s Office. The attempt to move us into civil court
is an attempt to kill the case completely. Under Armenian law, we have no
civil case because there is no partnership agreement between the parties –
we were not partners with this ‘friend.’
It pains us to tell you we did not find an objective, fair justice system
in Armenia, but instead we have seen the inside of a system wrought with
deceit and corruption that crushes even their own when they try to resist.
During this past year, in addition to our direct appeals, others, including
a high ranking member of the Armenian government, have appealed repeatedly
for a fair and objective hearing of our case to persons within the judicial
system and to President Kocharian himself.
The US Embassy is fully aware of the circumstances of our case as are a
number of US congressmen who have written to the Armenian ambassador in
Washington expressing concern over the conduct of our case – judicial
processes must be open and fair otherwise investors will be leery of
undertaking investment risk in Armenia.
It is impossible to recount all that we have been through this past year.
It has been an emotional roller coaster as we faced the fact that persons
within this government would participate in this humiliating and base fraud
against us. It appears due process of law and the protection of rights and
investments are still fragile concepts for the government of Armenia. As we
understand other Diasporans have encountered similar problems and have been
treated in this same manner. We hope with our case being made public there
will be a willingness to discuss these critical issues, and the Armenian
government will take the necessary steps to clean up corruption: the
judiciary should not exist to guarantee people in power wealth. It is no
way to build a country!
Writing about our ordeal is a very painful step taken reluctantly after one
year of struggling to get a fair hearing of our case. Although we are still
in the appeal process, we understand that our property – including the
place where we anticipated living out our retirement years – has been taken
from us. What you are not seeing, though, are the tears we have shed over
knowing that we may never be able to return to Armenia, to live and
continue our work, and knowing not only has our property been expropriated,
but we as people who have loved and worked for the good of Armenia and its
people have been so dishonestly treated.
The pain goes very deep.
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AMERICAN LEGISLATORS ONCE AGAIN STOOD UP FOR ARMENIANS
PanArmenian News
Nov 23 2004
The US Congress has decided not to curtail the aid provided to
Armenia
The House of Representatives has accepted the proposal of
Subcommittee on External Appropriations to provide Armenia military
assistance in sum, which is four times as much as the one
administration insisted on. The legislators considered the initiative
of the White House to provide Azerbaijan in 2005 8 million dollars
and Armenia with 2 million with a view of strengthening the military
forces baseless. The Congressmen have agreed to the arguments
provided by the Armenian Assembly of America and Armenian National
Committee and have decided to equalize the military assistance
provided to the two warring countries. Yerevan and Baku will get 8
million and 750 thousand dollars each.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian lobbyists also succeeded in the case
of “regular economic aid.” It has been decided to provide Armenia “at
least 75 million dollars” which exceeds the sum suggested by the
administration by 13 millions. The first years of independence the
USA provided Armenia 90 million. It had been possible to keep the
scale of the aid at this level only due to the Congressmen. The White
House tried to curtail the moneyed assistance to Yerevan all the
time. In spite of the efforts made by the Armenian lobbyists and
their partners the administration succeeded in cutting down the aid
provided to Armenia to 75 millions in 2001. But G. Bush even this
considered a lot. Last year the executive power suggested cutting
down the aid provided to Armenia to 50 million, but the Congressmen
could fight for the previous amount.
This time the administration suggested providing Armenia 62 million,
Azerbaijan – 38 million and Georgia – 72 million.
This initiative has been already blocked while being under the
consideration of Subcommittee on External Appropriations. The members
of the Subcommittee decided that Armenia would be provided “at least
65 million dollars” as it was written in the passed budget project.
On the next stage the Armenian lobbyists succeeded in returning to 75
millions. It is extremely important that the Congressmen decided to
continue the direct provision of financial aid to Nagorno Karabakh.
In spite of the will of American administration, Stepanakert will
receive funds from the USA for realization of humanitarian projects
in this time too. It is a question of 3 million dollars, but the
important point is not about the amount but about the fact of the
direct aid. Azerbaijan is indignant with this decision and it is
going to be discussed during the Parliamentarian sittings. They also
may adopt a resolution condemning the activities of the American
Congressmen. In Baku they suppose that the provision of the direct
aid to Karabakh is an indirect recognition of the autonomy of
unrecognized republic.
Now there is almost no doubt that the project is to have a power of
law. The consideration in Senate is coming soon. If no moot points
arise between these two houses, the case will appear on G. Bush’s
desk and he will be obliged to sign the document containing figures
which he didn’t approve.