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06/30/2004
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1. EU's Talvitie Strives for Mutual Trust in Resolving Karabagh Conflict 2. Karabagh Foreign Ministry Brushes off Azeri Assertions 3. Turkey 'Sincere' in Seeking Rapprochement with Armenia, According to FM 4. Saddam Handed over to Iraqis 5. Navasartian Ball 1. EU's Talvitie Strives for Mutual Trust in Resolving Karabagh Conflict STEPANAKERT (Armenpress/ArmInfo)--Speaking from the capital of Mountainous Karabagh Republic on Wednesday, European Union (EU) special representative for the South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie said that in order to reach a peaceful settlement, the sides to the Karabagh conflict must establish an atmosphere of mutual trust. "I have no illusions regarding a speedy regulation of the conflict, but the peace talks continue within the framework of OSCE Minsk group, and there is a hope that some possibilities for regulation will appear," Talvitie told a press conference, summing-up the results of his two-day visit to MKR. He said that the EU is pushing for a peaceful regulation and is ready to support a political arrangement, considering the outcome will affect the stability of the region. European structures, he stressed, have taken a new interest in the South Caucasus, and want to extend equal opportunities for their [each country's] development. Asked whether the EU plans to implement economic development programs in MKR, Talvitie said interest lies in developing the entire region, and the implementation of programs is directly dependent on the progress in regulating the conflict. Talvitie noted MKR's progress in various sectors, saying "[progress] meets the interests of the European Union and conflicting sides, because it speaks about stability in the region." In an earlier meeting with Talvitie, Karabagh president Arkady Ghoukassian stressed that MKR has proposed to Azerbaijan, on more than one occasion, the need to implement joint measures, but that Baku has rejected the offers. Ghoukassian said that the democratization of Karabagh's public and political sectors is irreversible in nature. "Mountainous Karabagh aspires to become an integral part of the European family." Talvitie also met with speaker of MKR parliament Oleg Yessayan, prime minister Anushavan Danielian, foreign minister Ashot Ghulian, defense minister Seiran Ohanian, National Security council secretary Karen Baburian and refugees residing in Shushi and Lachin. Talvitie and his delegation were to also meet with MKR Security Council secretary Karen Baburian 2. Karabagh Foreign Ministry Brushes off Azeri Assertions STEPANAKERT (Armenpress)--A statement released on Wednesday by Karabagh's Foreign Affairs Ministry, stressed that the upcoming August 8 elections is another step in building a civil society in Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR). "We proceed from the fact that only legally elected representatives of authority are empowered with necessary power and bear responsibility for the fate of people of Mountainous Karabagh," read the statement. Azerbaijan has undertaken international efforts to stop the elections saying they run counter to international law as well as Azerbaijan's legislation. "Mountainous Karabagh has been living independently for 16 years and has nothing to do with Azerbaijan's laws; citing them, therefore, is absolutely groundless," the statement says, describing Azerbaijan's assertions as "cut off from current realities." The statement scoffs at another assertion by the Azeri foreign ministry that the elections are invalid because the Azeri population of Mountainous Karabagh cannot participate. "If we follow this kind of logic then all national elections in Azerbaijan are invalid, as almost half a million of ethnic Armenians had to flee it as a result of ethnic cleansing," the statement says. 3. Turkey 'Sincere' in Seeking Rapprochement with Armenia, According to FM YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian was upbeat on Wednesday, after his talks with Turkish leaders in Istanbul this week, saying that he found a "sincere desire" to improve the historically strained relations with Armenia. But he indicated that the long-awaited opening of the Turkish-Armenian border is still not up for discussion. Oskanian met with Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and had an impromptu 10-minute encounter with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of a NATO summit which finished its work on Tuesday. He described his brief conversation with Erdogan as "quite interesting." "It confirmed my impression...that the Turkish government really has a sincere desire to achieve progress in relations with Armenia," Oskanian told a news conference in Yerevan. Erdogan's Islamist-leaning cabinet, Oskanian continued, is more willing to soften Turkish policy on Armenia than its more pro-Western predecessors were. "There is really a difference. This government does have a desire [to normalize ties], it's just that conditions are not yet ripe," he said, referring to the possibility of Turkey lifting its economic embargo imposed on Armenia in 1993. Ankara signaled throughout last year its intention to stop linking bilateral ties to the resolution of the Mountainous Karabagh conflict and reopen the border only to reaffirm its traditional policy under Azerbaijani pressure earlier this year. President Robert Kocharian decided to steer clear of the NATO summit in Istanbul, indicating his administration's frustration with Turkish intransigence. The Erdogan government now appears anxious to find a solution acceptable to both Armenia and Azerbaijan. Political observers view Monday's separate trilateral meeting between Oskanian, Gul, and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov as part of that effort. Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Erdogan welcomed such talks. "We hope that this process will continue and pick up speed and that we will reach a solution here as well based on the concept of win-win," he said. "We saw the sides had a positive approach," the Turkish premier added. "Hope, however, is not sufficient. What is sufficient is to get results. At the moment we are in the phase of wishes. We see that they are determined to achieve results. We are saying that one should continue on this path." Oskanian confirmed that both Karabagh and the border issue were high on the agenda of the trilateral meeting. But he made it clear Turkey can not become a full-fledged mediator in the Karabagh peace talks because of its staunchly pro-Azerbaijani line. "Turkey understands very well that it can not act as a mediator because its policy is one-sided and tilted towards Azerbaijan," he said. In a related development, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev launched renewed verbal attacks against the Armenian side, in his address to the NATO summit on Tuesday. "Azerbaijan will not compromise on its territorial integrity and sovereignty," he said, describing the Armenian-populated territory as a "constant threat to security and stability in the South Caucasus." 4. Saddam Handed over to Iraqis BAGHDAD (Reuters)--Saddam Hussein appeared before an Iraqi judge as Iraq's newly sovereign government took the first step towards bringing him to justice--and a possible death penalty--for 35 years of killing and torture. "Today at 10:15 a.m. the Republic of Iraq assumed legal custody of Saddam Hussein," said a terse statement from interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's office on Wednesday. The deposed dictator and 11 of his lieutenants were turned over to face Iraqi justice nearly 15 months after US-led forces overthrew him. They will stay under US military guard. "Saddam said 'Good morning' and asked if he could ask some questions," said Salem Chalabi, the US-trained lawyer leading the work of a tribunal set up to try the former president. "He was told he should wait until tomorrow," Chalabi told Reuters after attending the formalities in which Saddam and 11 of his former lieutenants were turned over to Iraqi justice. Chalabi, who has received death threats since he began work on the tribunal, said the 67-year-old Saddam looked in good health and had sat in a chair during the closed proceedings. Saddam's former aides appeared nervous or hostile and one of them, Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as Chemical Ali for his role in using chemical weapons, was shaking. Saddam, accused by Iraqis of ordering the killing and torture of thousands of people during 35 years of Baathist rule, had been held as a prisoner of war since US forces found him hiding in a hole near his hometown of Tikrit on December 13. He will now be subject to Iraqi criminal law, rather than a POW protected by the Geneva Conventions. His trial is likely to be several months away. Iraq's national security adviser said it would be broadcast live on television. Iraq's president was quoted as saying the death penalty, suspended during the US-led occupation, would be reinstated and the national security adviser said it could apply to Saddam. The fallen leader will be charged with crimes against humanity for a 1988 gas massacre of Kurds, the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, according to Chalabi. "Tomorrow's proceedings will mark the start of his trial," said an official in Allawi's office. French lawyer Emmanuel Ludot, one of a 20-strong team appointed by Saddam's wife to represent him, said the former president would refuse to acknowledge any court or any judge. "It will be a court of vengeance, a settling of scores," Ludot told France Info radio, saying any judge sitting in the court would be under pressure to find Saddam guilty. Among others to be handed over were Former Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz and three of Saddam's half-brothers. Those former officials and others among the 55 most wanted Iraqis on a US list are seen as witnesses who could help prove a chain of command linking Saddam to crimes against humanity. Government offices were shut on Wednesday for a new national holiday declared to mark Monday's transfer of sovereignty to the interim government from US-British occupation authorities. 5. Navasartian Ball The 29th Navasartian Ball took place on June 26 at the elegant Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, where over 600 gathered to celebrate and congratulate Honorary Presidents of the 29th games Charles and Julie Ghailian. Master of Ceremonies Shant Haytaian invited guests to stand in a moment of silence for longtime Homenetmen member Haig Hovsepian who recently passed away. Honored guests included, US Congressman Frank Pallone, US Federal Judge Dickran Tevrizian, ARF Western Region Central Committee representative Hovig Saliba, Homenetmen Central Executive Council members Karnig Megerdichian, Meher Tavitian and Manuel Marselian, representative of Armenian Consul General Haroutiun Kojayan, Los Angeles City Commissioner Peklar Pilavjian, 2004 "Exemplary Homenetmen Members" Kapriel and Asdghig Panosian, and Navasartian Games past presidents Andy and Aleen Andonian, George and Alice Adamian, Albert Shahinian, Ashkhen Pilavjian, Jirair and Serpoog Sarkissian and Sarkis and Suzan Kitsinian. In a symbolic act, 2003 Honorary Presidents Sarkis and Suzan Kitsinian transferred the responsibilities and duties of the Navasartian Presidency to Charles and Julie Ghailian. Homenetmen Central Executive chairman Karnig Megerdichian, after addressing the ball, presented the organization's medal of merit to Jirair Sarkissian and Koko Balian. 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.

ArmenPress
June 29 2004
COMMISSION SELECTS TWO BIDS FOR PRIVATIZATION OF ZANGEZOUR SMELTER
YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS: An inter-agency commission, set up
to handle the privatization of Zangezour smelter, has examined today
privatization bids, received from potential buyers, Armenian trade
and economic development ministry said, adding that two of proposed
bids met all requirements set by the government. The ministry said it
will consider both and has demanded additional information from both
companies to submitted within ten days. Both selected companies say
they are ready to pay $25 million in advance before starting takeover
talks.
Plans for privatization of the plant were announced by the
government last March and were officially presented to over 40
potential buyers at a special conference held in London late March.
The government expects to net at least $450 million in cash and
investment commitments from the sale of Armenia’s largest copper and
molybdenum mines. A prospective buyer will be expected to pay $100
million for the Kajaran plant’s shares and pledge to invest more than
$350 million in modernizing its obsolete technological lines.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ArmenPress
June 29 2004
ARMENIAN CUSTOMS OFFICER PREVENT SMUGGLING OF 201,000 FAKE EXCISE
STAMPS
YEREVAN, JUNE 29, ARMENPRESS: In close cooperation with their
Georgian counterparts Armenian customs officials prevented an attempt
of smuggling around 201,000 fake excise stamps into the country.
Gevorg Safarian, head of a customs service department, said today
that the stamps were discovered on June 15 in a Turkish Mercedes bus
bound for Armenia at a border checkpoint on border with Georgia. The
stamps for strong alcoholic drinks were printed in Turkey.
The driver of the bus, a Turkish citizen Sayid Aygun, said a
friend in Turkish city of Trabzon asked him to hand over the stamps,
hidden in two boxes, to a Yerevan resident Arsen, saying that the
boxes contained shirt labels. The driver was given the telephone
number of Arsen to get in touch. Aygun claimed he learned what the
boxes had only when his bus was checked by Armenian customs officers.
Safarian said prosecutors have arrested Arsen and are making
investigation into the case. He said the damages that the government
could sustain if the faked stamps were not revealed could amount to
more than 1000 million Drams.

The Evening Standard (London)
June 28, 2004
A flightless turkey
by KATE CHISHOLM
Birds Without Wings
by Louis de Bernieres
(Secker, £17.99)
IT IS 10 years since Captain Corelli’s Mandolin crept its way into
the nation’s imagination.
Louis de Bernieres’s tale of love in a time of war on the Greek
island of Cephallonia has sold more than 2.5 million copies and in
2001 spawned the cheesy film starring Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz.
Now here comes another Mediterranean blockbuster, Birds Without
Wings. The setting this time is the small town of Eskibahce, on the
south-west coast of Turkey, at the end of the 19th century.
The Ottoman Empire, with Istanbul its exotic capital poised on the
Bosphorus between Europe and Asia Minor, is degenerating and the
great powers of Britain, France, Germany and Russia are lining up
like vultures to pick over the remains.
De Bernieres tells the story of the “heirs of Alexander and
Constantine, and Socrates” who are sent off to fight at Gallipoli,
and also of Mustafa Kemal, aka Ataturk, who in 1923 became first
president of the newly created state of Turkey.
Once again a rural idyll is punctured by the catastrophe of war. Once
again we find ourselves in the company of ingenious characters, such
as Rustem Bey, the “aga” or headman, a typical Turk with his red fez
and pomaded moustache; his oud-playing mistress, Leyla; Iskander the
potter and his son Karatavuk, who reports back from Gallipoli; the
heart-stopping Philothei and her childhood sweetheart Ibrahim.
Telltale signs that this is a De Bernieres novel are dotted
throughout: Mustafa Kemal is one of “Destiny’s men”; Philothei’s
beauty is so entrancing that those who succumb to it “receive a
lesson in fate”; in the midst of war it is possible to find something
to prove that “out of all the vileness, a small light still shines”.
In Captain Corelli such bouts of cod philosophy were offset by the
sharpness of observation; in Birds Without Wings there is not enough
fleshy reality to soak up the syrup.
We are introduced to so many characters in the first 100 pages or so
that it is difficult to remember who they all are or to care about
what happens to them.
In one dramatic chapter we hear about a Muslim family in which the
father orders one of his sons to kill his sister for consorting with
an ” infidel”.
It is an affecting scene, but we never hear of them again. The girl
and her plight are merely used as symbols to show the tyrannical hold
that honour has over such communities.
DE BERNIERES was inspired to write the story of Eskibahce after
visiting the town on which it is based, not far from Fethiye. It was
once a thriving community of Greeks and Turks, Christians and
Muslims, Armenians and Jews, living harmoniously together.
But the Armenians were massacred and after the First World War the
Greeks were sent back to their homeland.
The rest died in an earthquake-and only the ghostly outline of the
town survived.
In Birds Without Wings, De Bernieres is trying, he says, to write his
own version of War and Peace; to show how the people of Eskibahce
were affected by “shifts in history” over which they had no control.
It is an intriguing point of view: Gallipoli from the Turkish angle.
And there is nobility in his purpose.
But when Karatavuk (ie De Bernieres) finds himself in the trenches at
Gallipoli, writes, “My heart sinks at the thought of describing my
eight years of chaos and destruction in two separate wars”, you sort
of know what he means. How can such horror be described? But it also
provokes the response: why, then, should I go on reading?
Press on I did, to discover the fate of Ibrahim, bewitched by beauty
in the guise of Philothei; of Nilufer, the imam’s beloved horse; and
of Eskibahce, whose story is part of the forgotten tragedy of the
Greek and Turkish communities forcibly repatriated in the carve-up of
the old Ottoman Empire after 1918.
But it was a struggle. So much clotted history; so many characters to
care about, most of them classed among “the little people – bred to
docility and hierarchy”.
De Bernieres has said that he writes his books with “a built-in
mechanism for eliminating readers with poor concentration. I only
want determined readers”. I just wonder how many that will be this
time.
END
GRAPHIC: LOUIS DE BERNI RES: WE ARE INTRODUCED TO SO MANY CHARACTERS
IN THE FIRST 100 PAGES OR SO THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO REMEMBER WHO
THEY ALL ARE OR TO CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH(LONDON)
June 29, 2004, Tuesday
Adams advances
By Malcolm Pein
MICHAEL Adams will play Vladimir Akopian of Armenia in the
quarter-finals of the Fide Knockout Championships in Tripoli. Adams
drew easily with white against the 16-year-old American Hikaru
Nakamura, who did not try too hard to reverse his defeat in the first
game, and Adams went through 1.5-0.5.
Akopian eliminated Michal Krasenkow, who sacrificed a pawn unsoundly
for no apparent reason and lost a long endgame. Akopian was the
losing Fide finalist in 1999 after beating Adams in the semi-finals,
and since then the pair had played only two short draws until Adams
won nicely in Moscow earlier this month.
All the players leading 1-0 from the first game went through. Top
seed Veselin Topalov won 2-0 against Zdenko Kozul, and Rustam
Kazimdzhanov ended Hungarian interest in the competition by winning
2-0 over Zoltan Almasi.
Four matches went to play-offs. Former Soviet champion and WCC
candidate Alexander Belyavsky took Alexander Grischuk to the blitz
games, but lost with black and could not extract sufficient advantage
with white. The match between Liever Dieter Nisipeanu and Andrei
Kharlov went to blitz after the Rapid Chess ended a win apiece, but
after two more draws they needed the Armageddon game. Nisipeanu had
white plus six minutes to his opponent’s five, but needed to win and
could not quite manage it.
The match between Pavel Smirnov and Teimour Radjabov was another epic
encounter that saw the Russian save an utterly lost position in the
first blitz game, only to lose the match by walking into Radjabov’s
favourite line of the Sicilian, which he honed at Linares this year.
After 22 moves of theory, Smirnov made a couple of errors and had to
resign in an anti-climactic end to a fine contest.
The world number one Garry Kasparov, interviewed on the ChessBase
website, has declared his predictions for the semi-finals to be
Veselin Topalov v Alexander Grischuk, and Michael Adams v either
Alexey Dreev or Teimour Radjabov. Thus far his predictions have been
spot-on. Kasparov has to play the winner of the Tripoli tournament
for the Fide title.
BLACK’s attempts to complicate in a “must win” game appear to be
yielding results, but a crushing tactical blow 33.Qxf6+!! ends the
game.
R. Kasimdzhanov – Z. Almasi
FIDE KO Tripoli (4.2)
Sicilian Paulsen
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 a6 5 Bd3 g6 6 c4 Bg7 7 Ne2 Nc6 8
Nbc3 Nge7 9 0-0 0-0 10 Bg5 h6 11 Be3 d5 12 cxd5 exd5 13 Bc5 Re8 14
Qb3 d4 15 Nd5 Nxd5 16 exd5 Ne5 17 Bxd4 b5 18 Rad1 Bb7 19 Be4 Qd6 20
Ng3 Rad8 21 Bc3 h5 22 Rfe1 h4 23 Nf1 Nc4 24 Bxg7 Kxg7 25 Nd2 Nxd2 26
Qc3+ Qf6 27 Qxd2 Rxe4 28 Rxe4 Rxd5 29 Rd4 Rg5 30 Rf4 Rxg2+ 31 Kf1 Qg5
32 Qd4+ f6 33 Qxf6+!! Qxf6 34 Rd7+ Kh6 35 Rxf6 1-0

ITAR-TASS News Agency
TASS
June 29, 2004 Tuesday 7:38 AM Eastern Time
RCC approves introduction of digital broadcasting format in CIS
CHOLPON
ATA (Kyrgyzstan), June 29 – The Council of communications
administration heads of the Regional Commonwealth in the field of
Communications (RCC) has approved the introduction of digital
broadcasting format in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
“The recognition of the stance of CIS countries on the development of
digital radio broadcasting is an important step on the way to
promoting various broadcasting technologies in the territory of the
Commonwealth member states,” Russian Minister of Communications and
Information Technologies Leonid Reiman said at a meeting of the
Council of RCC communications administration heads held at the city
of Cholpon-Ata (Kyrgyzstan) on Tuesday, Prime Tass reports.
According to Deputy Communications Minister Andrei Beskorovainy,
technical fundamentals for the introduction of digital broadcasting
in the entire CIS territory have been approved.
Thus the list of the countries that are transferring to digital radio
broadcasting will include Central Asian states, Azerbaijan and
Armenia.
“We shall begin to introduce the digital radio broadcasting format on
equal terms with European countries,” Beskorovainy pointed out.
Director of the radio communication bureau of the International
Telecommunications Union (ITU) Valery Timofeyev said the plan of
frequency distribution adopted at the Tuesday meeting of RCC council
is an important stage of digitalisation of CIS television and radio
broadcasting.
According to Timofeyev, Russia has introduced three zones of digital
radio broadcasting – in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod.
The system’s putting into operation will make it possible in the
future to provide not only radio broadcasting services, but also
access to the Internet, data transmission and telephony.

ANSA Notiziario Generale in Italiano
June 29, 2004
ARMENIA-AZERBAIGIAN: SOLDATO AZERO UCCISO ALLA FRONTIERA
(ANSA-AFP) – BAKU, 29 GIU – Il ministero della Difesa azero
ha annunciato che un suo soldato e’ stato ucciso dalle forze
armene alla frontiera tra i due Paesi.
Elnur Quliev, 18 anni – ha dichiarato un portavoce del
ministero della Difesa – e’ stato ucciso ieri mattina in uno
scontro a fuoco con militari armeni nella regione di Agdam, nel
sud dell’Azerbaigian.

Vi e’ tensione tra le forze armene e azere dalla fine del
conflitto che le ha opposte negli anni ’90 per il Nagorni
Karabakh, ‘enclave armena in territorio azero, attualmente
sotto controllo armeno. Le parti osservano sostanzialmente un
cessate il fuoco, ma nelle ultime settimane vi sono state
isolate sparatorie. Sia l’Armenia sia l’Azerbaigian hanno
denunciato l’uccisione di un proprio militare.

PRESS RELEASE June 29, 2004
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:
ARKA BALLET UNVEILS “JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY” IN PREP FOR ARMENIA PERFORMANCE
IN AUGUST
The voyage of ARKA ballet’s “Journey of Discovery” set sail on June 12, as
well wishers joined Ambassador Arman Kirakossian at the American Dance
Institute (ADI) in Rockville, MD, to see work that will be presented at the
National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Yerevan, Armenia, on August 6 and 7.
The benefit, which featured a program of dance by ARKA Ballet, an exhibit of
paintings by Roudolf Kharatian, and a reception, helped raise money for ARKA
Ballet’s Armenia tour, which will contribute to strengthening cultural
understanding and linkages between Armenia and America.
The evening kicked off with a cocktail reception featuring fine wines from
Armenia, provided courtesy of Ararat Import-Export Co. of Charlotte, NC.
The Pomegranate wine, which was especially popular among guests, spotlights
one of Kharatian’s paintings, ‘Temptation’, on its label. Following the
reception, guests were invited into ADI’s brand-new black box theatre where
master of ceremonies Todd Felts welcomed them and presented the evening’s
invited speakers and special guests.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Kirakossian greeted Ambassador Mikeladze
of Georgia and the cultural attaché of the Embassy of Russia Irina Popova,
noting that it was interesting that “Roudolf Kharatian trained in Russia,
danced in Armenia, Georgia and throughout the Soviet Union and world, and is
now teaching and creating in Washington, DC.” The ambassador went on to say
that “this event is very important because it is building a bridge between
the United States and Armenia, between the cultures, between the art worlds
of both countries.”
The next speaker, Michael Bjerknes, Executive Director of the American Dance
Institute, welcomed the audience to this inaugural performance in the new
space. He thanked ARKA Ballet and Roudolf Kharatian, “one of the few people
whose class I enjoyed taking, enjoy watching, and enjoy learning from.”
The evening’s final speaker was Claudia Rousseau, art historian and critic.
Ms. Rousseau stressed the worthiness of this effort to “build bridges
through art between our countries.” She reminded the audience that “the
history of a nation and its worth are not defined by war or conquest, but by
its artistic achievement.” Speaking of the difficult times in which we are
living, Ms. Rousseau stressed that “art does matter, now more than ever.
This is the time to come forward and support our artists. This is the time
to help make peace happen – in our hearts, in our minds, in our world.”
The program of dance presented by ARKA Ballet showcased the many talented
dancers and their ease in both the classics and more contemporary works.
The performance gave the audience a preview of the repertoire the company
will take to Armenia. At the conclusion of the program, ARKA Ballet’s
artistic director Roudolf Kharatian thanked guests for their support and
expressed his gratitude and appreciation to his wonderful dancers. He then
invited audience members to meet the dancers as the reception continued.
ARKA Ballet travels to Armenia on July 28, becoming the first professional
American ballet company invited to perform in Armenia. The troupe of 14
will perform works by American choreographers Balanchine and McIntyre, a
classical jewel by St. Leon, as well as recent works by Kharatian. Says
Kharatian: “I know that what we are doing now is very important for
tomorrow.”

–Boundary_(ID_Yu+g60TCROCy/7B58l3BHQ)
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From: Assembly
Subject: AAA: Board of Directors Chairman Meets With Kocharian, Ghoukasian
MIME-version: 1.0
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Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
June 29, 2004
CONTACT: Christine Kojoian
E-mail: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIRMAN MEETS WITH PRESIDENTS KOCHARIAN,
GHOUKASIAN IN ARMENIA
Official 10-Day Visit Includes Stops to Karabakh and Georgia
Washington, DC – Armenian Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony
Barsamian concluded a series of high-level meetings in Armenia Saturday,
assessing first-hand the impact of U.S. policies and actions in the region
and exchanging perspectives on a wide range of regional and bilateral
issues. During the course of a 10-day, three-country visit, Barsamian and
Country Director for Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh Arpi Vartanian conferred
with several government leaders, including Presidents Robert Kocharian and
Arkady Ghoukasian and Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania.
Beginning in Armenia on June 18, Barsamian and Vartanian met with Prime
Minister Andranik Margarian, Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and Trade
Minister Karen Chshmaritian. Talks centered on economic development
initiatives – with emphasis on the Millennium Challenge Account, a new U.S.
financial assistance program which Armenia is eligible to apply for. The
Assembly delegation also raised issues pertaining to Armenia’s economic
growth during talks with President Robert Kocharian on June 25.
“Regional integration and economic development will be a vital component to
the growth and sustainability of the Armenian economy,” said Barsamian, who
was on his first visit to Armenia since assuming chairmanship of Board. “We
appreciate the willingness of government leaders to work with us in
promoting sustainable development programs and initiatives.”
While in Yerevan, Barsamian and Vartanian also met with NKR President Arkady
Ghoukasian – addressing ways in which to keep that country’s development
moving forward – before traveling to Karabakh for meetings with Prime
Minister Anoushavan Danielian and Foreign Minister Ashot Ghulian.
The Assembly delegation also visited Georgia for meetings with Prime
Minister Zurab Zhvania, as well as Armenian community leaders, including
Armenian Ambassador Georgi Khosroev, Georgian Parliamentarian Van
Baybourtian and Archbishop Vazgen Mirzakhanian, Primate of Georgia.
Barsamian, in those meetings, encouraged Georgia to build transportation
infrastructures between the Capital city of Tiblisi and Javak, a region in
southern Georgia populated largely by Armenians.
Barsamian and Vartanian also met with several U.S. officials including
Ambassador to Georgia Richard Miles and outgoing Ambassador to Armenia John
Ordway, who spoke about his tenure in Armenia and hopes for the country’s
future.

Prior to returning to the U.S., Barsamian also met with His Holiness Karekin
II and visited historical sites in and around Armenia including the
Gandzasar Monastery, the Amenaprkich Church in Shushi and the Pantheon in
Tiblisi where famous Armenians such as writer Hovhannes Toumanian and
composer Magar Yegmalian are buried.
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2004-062
Photographs available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following link:
Caption: Armenia President Robert Kocharian, far right, with Assembly Board
of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian and Country Director Arpi Vartanian
in Yerevan.
Caption: Nagorno Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukasian flanked by Assembly
Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian and Country Director Arpi
Vartanian.
Caption: L to R: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian,
Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and Country Director Arpi Vartanian.
Caption: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian, seated,
listens as a HALO Trust official explains the importance of clearing deadly
landmines that threaten people and livestock in Nagorno Karabakh.
Caption: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian and Country
Director Arpi Vartanian with Father Hovhanes at the Gandzasar Monastery in
Nagorno Karabakh.
Caption: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian with NKR
Prime Minister Anushavan Danielian.
Caption: Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian with His
Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians.
–Boundary_(ID_Yu+g60TCROCy/7B58l3BHQ)–

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
PRESS RELEASE
June 29, 2004
CONTACT: David Zenian
E-mail: [email protected]
ASSEMBLY CALLS FOR ACTION TO STOP GENOCIDE IN SUDAN
WASHINGTON, DC – The Armenian Assembly this week joined a nation-wide
petition signing campaign calling on Secretary of State Colin Powell to act
now to end genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.
In an action-alert e-mailed to thousands of Armenians around the United
States, the Assembly said:
“Just as with the Armenian Genocide, ten years ago, the international
community stood by as the Rwandan Genocide claimed 800,000 lives. Today, as
world leaders remember that human catastrophe with empty expressions of
‘Never Again,’ the people of Sudan face a similar fate. Add your name to
the petition calling on Colin Powell to immediately recognize the genocide
occurring in the Darfur region of Sudan and move aggressively to bring it to
an end –an action that could save more than 1,000,000 lives.”
Persistent eye-witness reports indicate that in Darfur, the Sudanese
government is destroying African Muslim communities who have challenged the
authoritarian rule of the government. Government forces and Arab militias
known as the Janjaweed have burned and pillaged thousands of villages,
poisoned water systems, and subjected the population to large-scale rape and
other atrocities.
In the e-mails, the Assembly said with 30,000 people already killed, Darfur
now faces the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Even if relief arrives
now, 350,000 people may still die. If relief does not arrive, the toll will
surely be many times higher.
“At present, Secretary of State Colin Powell is deciding whether the U.S.
should officially recognize the atrocities in Sudan as constituting
genocide. The 1948 Genocide Convention requires the 130 countries that are
parties to it, including the U.S., to prevent and punish these crimes
against humanity.

“Please help us generate 10,000 signatures before the end of this month to
send a strong message about the urgent action needed to save lives in
Darfur,” the Assembly appeal for action said.
To join the thousands who have already voiced their concern over events in
Darfur, visit the following Web site for details and action:
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

NR#2004-062