Category: News

THE ARMENIAN GENERAL BENEVOLENT UNION
and
THE ZORYAN INSTITUTE
present an evening with
DR. GEORGE BOURNOUTIAN
(Iona College and Columbia University)
&
MR. VARDAN BARSEGHYAN
(Permanent Representative of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic
in the United States)
discussing
“The Armeno-Azeri Academic Conflict over Karabakh”
and
“The Current Situation Regarding the Independence of
Nagorno-Karabakh and International Law”
Friday, October 29, 2004, 8:00 p.m.
AGBU Community Centre
930 Progress Avenue, Scarborough
Admission: nominal
Refreshments

GEORGIAN PRESIDENT COMMENTS ON ABKHAZ ELECTION OUTCOME
Imedi TV, Tbilisi
18 Oct 04
(Presenter) I cannot say whether a rose revolution has taken place in
Abkhazia, although it is a fact that our enemies are worried because
their hopes were dashed, says President Saakashvili. (Passage omitted)
(Saakashvili, speaking to journalists) I do not want to draw any
comparisons (between Georgia and) Abkhazia. (Abkhaz presidential
candidate Sergey) Bagapsh himself says that this was a new rose
revolution. However, one thing is clear that our worst enemies have
had their plans thwarted. I am happy about that.
I cannot say that I am very optimistic about these other people
though. One thing is clear. No-one should stick their nose into
Abkhazia. I do not advise anyone to meddle with people in Abkhazia,
certainly not the local people and especially not the vulnerable
Georgian residents of Gali District.
We are watching the situation very closely. We want peace, not war.
We now have adequate resources in place to ensure that the public are
protected and we certainly do not intend to back down. No-one will be
allowed to expel anyone, neither Georgian locals nor those of any
other ethnicity, just as they have not been able to in other regions.
Abkhaz who have left Abkhazia should return, as should others such as
Estonians, Ukrainians, Greeks, Armenians and of course Georgians
should return. That’s the way it is.
Our enemies are very nervous. I am not worried about them being
nervous.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
01/02/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) European Armenian Federation Starts First Convention 2) Yeshiva Student Apologizes to Archbishop for Spitting 3) Georgia, Azerbaijan Link Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline 4) Armenian Team Solid at 36th Chess Olympiad 5) LETTERS 1) European Armenian Federation Starts First Convention BRUSSELS (Combined Sources)--The two-day Convention of European Armenians officially commenced on October 18 at the European Parliament, Brussels. Located in the very heart of the European district, the Parliament is the main institution of the Union. Organized by the European Armenian Federation, the first ever convention is designed as a forum for all organizations and political, economic, cultural, and religious groups to share ideas and concerns on topics of importance to the Armenian communities across Europe including Armenian culture and identity in Europe, EU-Armenia relations, and the stakes involved in European Union enlargement. European citizens of Armenian descent currently number more than two million, stemming from three large waves of immigration that resulted from the genocide perpetrated by Ottoman Turkey (1915), war in the middle-east (1975), and the fall of the USSR (1991). Though well integrated in the economic, social, and cultural life of their new countries, they have kept their identity and interest in Armenian issues. As the 21st century dawns, Armenia and the Armenians are confronted with new expectations, new hopes, but also with new dangers. With this in mind, the conference will address the challenges Armenia faces in a changing international environment, its strategies for success, as well as the European diaspora's role in assisting Armenia in this regard. Speakers include: Alexis Govciyan, President of "Europe de la Mémoire" (Europe of Remembrance); Jules Mardirossian, Chairman of the Armenian Studies Documentation, and Information Center in France; Marie Anne Isler-Béguin, Chairwoman of the EU-South Caucasus Delegation; Vahan Zanoyan, International expert on energetic issues, and CEO of Petroleum Finance Corporation; Mourad Papazian, Chairman of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, Western Europe, among others. "With this first European Convention, we are not aiming to establish any superstructure that would replace the various organizations dealing with Armenian issues in Europe. Rather, we aim to create a framework for free expression that will enable the shared positions and opinions of the European communities to emerge," said Hilda Tchoboian, chairwoman of the European Armenian Federation. Within the prestigious setting of the European parliament, the European Armenians will be able, for the first time, to share their hopes and concerns with the Union's political decision-makers. 2) Yeshiva Student Apologizes to Archbishop for Spitting JERUSALEM (Haaretz)--A yeshiva student who spat at the Armenian archbishop in Israel and at a 17th-century cross during last week's procession marking the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem's Old City has met with heads of the Armenian community and apologized for his actions, police said Sunday. The student, Natan Zvi Rosenthal, explained that he was raised to see Christianity as idol worship, which is forbidden by the Torah. Rosenthal's rabbis from the Har Hamor Yeshiva in Jerusalem--who, along with his father, were present at the meeting--said they regretted the incident, and that they educate their students to be courteous to others. The rabbis said Rosenthal was the first of their students to be involved in such an incident. Har Hamor is considered an elite yeshiva, one highly esteemed among the nationalist ultra-Orthodox population. The Armenian archbishop, Nourhan Manougian, said he and his coreligionists accept the apology and that their religion commands them to forgive Rosenthal. The police spokesman said the apology will not affect its decision on whether Rosenthal should be indicted for spitting at the procession. The meeting took place last Thursday at the police station in the Old City, but police did not publicize it until Sunday, when the police commander in charge of holy sites, Chief Superintendent Shlomo Ra'anan, reported it to the Knesset Interior and Environment Committee. The committee was holding an emergency meeting to discuss the harassment of Christian clergymen in Jerusalem, which had been reported in Haaretz. Participants in the meeting, including Christian clergymen and representatives from ministries and the Jerusalem Municipality, confirmed that the problem was widespread and that incidents of harassment were not generally reported to the police. Ra'anan said police have received only three complaints in the last few years on the issue, saying "no one expects us to have a police officer protecting every priest." But the harassment continues. A few days ago, Stars of David were spray-painted on the entrance to the Monastery of the Cross, not far from the Knesset. The Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral, located near the Jerusalem police headquarters in the Russian Compound, has suffered similar vandalism. In addition, officials at a church located near several yeshivas complained that yeshiva students were watching them through binoculars and making offensive gestures when they passed by. Churches located near Jewish areas in Mount Zion, the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and in Mea She'arim complained that neighbors had thrown garbage into their yards. Interior and Environment Committee chairman MK Yuri Stern (National Union) said these incidents are unacceptable and stem from ignorance and stupidity. Stern, who heads the Knesset lobby for advancement of relations with Christian communities, said the content and the tone of the way in which Christianity is mentioned in schools must be changed. The committee decided to turn to Education Minister Limor Livnat to establish a forum for Jewish and Christian clergymen, and called on police to intensify their watch on Christian sites. 3) Georgia, Azerbaijan Link Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline BEUK KASIK, Azerbaijan (Reuters)--Azeri and Georgian presidents linked parts of a 1 million barrels per day Baku-Ceyhan pipeline (BTC) on Saturday despite a new postponement in construction of its Georgian section. The $3.6 billion BP-led pipeline will deliver oil from the BP-operated Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli oil fields in the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. The pipeline, which crosses Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, is almost ready and due to be finished in March, with the first tanker expected to load in the second half of 2005. The current delay in the construction of the Georgian part will not affect the first loading date, BTC Chief Executive Michael Townshend said. "The full completion of the section is postponed by several months, to maybe March 2005, because of a number of delays in Georgia," Townshend told Reuters. "Such moments are natural for the fulfillment of a project of an international scale, but it will in no way affect our plans to load the first tanker with Azeri oil in the second half of 2005. On the whole, the construction of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline will be completed in the first half of 2005." In July, construction of the Georgian part of the pipeline was halted for two weeks for environmental review by the Georgian government. Once considered a stillborn project, the US-backed pipeline is designed to help producers of the oil-rich Caspian Sea reach international markets without going through Russia. The BTC will pump around 200,000 bpd in 2005, 600,000 bpd in 2006 and hit design capacity of 1 million bpd in 2008-9. Besides BP, Baku-Ceyhan participants include Norway's Statoil , Azeri state oil company SOCAR, US Unocal and Japan's Itochu . BP-Azerbaijan President David Woodward told Reuters that the pipeline would work for at least 20 years and would become profitable in 2013-2014. Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli extractable reserves are estimated at 5.4 billion barrels of oil. The bloc can be worked on until 2024. SOCAR President Natik Iliyev told the ceremony that total Caspian Sea reserves amounted to 20 billion barrels of oil and 640 trillion cubic feet of gas, making the region the world's 10th biggest by energy reserves. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, who became president of the impoverished state last year after a 'velvet' revolution, said the pipeline had become another link in the Georgian-Azeri relations. "This project will not solve all Georgia's problems, of course, but it will allow it to be successfully integrated into the world community," Saakashvili said. But a citizen of Georgia's Khaletdin-mualim village, located on the border with Azerbaijan, where the pipeline was linked, said his hopes for the project had been dashed. "We did not get any money from the pipeline crossing our village," said the man, who declined to be named. "Like before, we have serious problems with electricity, gas and we lost all hope that our life will become better." But an inhabitant of an Azeri village of Beuk Kasik, Elmetdin Memedov, said he was happy to get compensation for the pipeline crossing his plot of land. 4) Armenian Team Solid at 36th Chess Olympiad CALVIA--After four rounds of competition at the 36th Chess Olympiad, Armenia's national chess team (ranked 4th) tied with Bosnia Herzegovina (2-2) in round four, and beat its Estonian, Mongolian, and Uzbek rivals in the first three rounds, to hold 6th place. Ukraine was leading after the third round of competitions that will continue until October 31 in Majorca, Spain. Unlike the men, the Armenian women have not been performing successfully; only one victory was garnered, by Elena Danelyan, after the third round, placing the Armenian women's team at 28th. 5) LETTERS Dear Editor: Some Republican Armenians are trying to convince us that the economic policies of the Bush administration were beneficial to Armenian Americans. I would like to argue that the Bush administration was perfect for rich Americans, including rich Armenian Americans, and it was damaging for the rest of us. During 2000, the Federal Government was experiencing a significant budget surplus of $236 billion. After Bush entered the White house, in 2001, the surplus went down to $127 billion. During 2002, the surplus was transformed into a deficit of $158 billion. During 2003, the deficit almost doubled to $375 billion; finally in 2004, the deficit ballooned to $440 billion. How can we explain this drastic, rapid, and unprecedented shift from significant amount of surplus to a huge deficit? First, President Bush emphasizes that the 2001 recession caused the deficit. But President Bush himself says that the duration of the 2001 recession was shortMarch to December of 2001and was mild; therefore, it could not have had a major impact. It could have some effect during 2001 and 2002, but not during the next two years. Second, the war in Afghanistan and especially in Iraq caused the military expenditure to increase. In 2004 it reached almost $470 billion. Our military expenditure is almost equal to the military expenditure of the rest of the world combined. Third, and the most important cause of the increase of the deficit is the sharp reduction of government tax revenuesmainly from corporations and the wealthy, caused by two reductions in taxesfirst, during 2001, and then during 2003. President Bush argues that 111 million Americans received a tax cut. That is true; however, the vast majority of the benefit went to the people with an annual income of more than $300,000or the richest 5%. Most families received a tax reduction of less than $800, while the richest 1% with an income of more than $1,000,000 received on average a tax cut of $80,000 each. According to the Congressional Budget Office, which is supervised by the Republican Congress, $270 billion of the $440 billion budget deficit of 2004 was caused by the reduction in tax revenues. President Bush does not mention this aspect of the tax cut. The reduction of income taxes during 2003 was significant, because for the first time in our history, our government reduced taxes during a war. During previous wars taxes were increased, with the logic that when soldiers die on the battlefields, the rest of the population, at home, should at least bear a part of the burden of the war and pay higher taxes. While our soldiers were dying during 2003, at home the rich families were enjoying a significant reduction of taxes. The Bush administration justifies the tax cut, saying it would stimulate the economy and create jobs. Until now, however, the tax reduction for the rich is not creating the expected results; we are, instead, experiencing huge budget deficits. President Bush emphasizes that the economy created 1.9 million jobs during the past year. This is true; he does not mention, however, that since he came to the office in January 2001 until now, the economy lost more than 600,000 jobs. There are fewer employed people today than in the beginning of 2001even though there are more people living in the country. No other president has had a similar record for the past 70 years. It is true that during the past four years, the productivity of labor has increased; this has not, however, generated higher wages; corporate profits have increased as a result. Historically, when labor productivity has increased, workers shared the benefit of that increased productivity, and wages went up. But currentlybecause of weak labor unions, employers do not feel pressure to share the benefits of an increase in labor productivity with their employees. It is true that since 2002 the economy and the average income, which includes wages, profits, interest and rent, have grown. During this period, however, wages and salaries adjusted for inflation hardly increased, which implies that the rising average income is not the result of higher wages. It was rather the result of rising profitsspecifically profits of large corporations, which went up significantly. Meanwhile, according to Census Bureau, the poverty rate increased during 2001, 2002, and 2003. In 2003, it reached 12.5% of population. Also during 2003, the number of people without health insurance increased from 43.6 million to 45 million. Thus, the benefits of the growing economy, rising income, and increasing productivity were going mainly to the rich and primarily to major shareholders of large corporations. One indication of this is that during the 2003 Christmas season, expensive stores did very well, while sales at low end retail chains were weak. Following a conservative ideology, President Bush is trying to reduce government revenues in order to justify reduction in social programs such as social security and Medicare. When the government is experiencing a budget surplus, it is difficult to justify cuts in social programs, education, and health care. However, when there is a budget deficit, the government can rationalize cuts in social programs, education, and social security, saying it could they could not afford them. While the Bush administration started with a significant budget surplus, they quickly turned the surplus into a deficit, and then tried to argue that the government could not afford to provide funding for education, health care, Social Security, and Medicare. Public college tuitions were raised, and health care benefits and social programs were cut; there is even suggestion of privatizing Social Security. Meanwhile, the huge budget deficits created by the Bush administration are causing our national debt to increase rapidlyand while the rich enjoy tax cuts today, causing the deficit to increase further, our children and we will end up paying this debt. Clearly the richest 5 percent of the population are benefiting from Bush's economic policies while the rest of us are suffering. Most Armenians Americans are part of that 95 percent of the population and not the richest 5 percent. Therefore, most Armenian Americans are also suffering from President Bush's economic policies. Ara Khanjian 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.

Appeal
APPEAL TO ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES
Canada Averted Terrorism
Azg/am
19 Oct 04
Armen Qyurkchian, representative of Canada, wrote a letter to the
foreign minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian on behalf of the central
administrationof the World Armenian Organization. He drew minister’s
attention to the fact that the authorities of Canada displayed wisdom
and foresight and didn’tgive in to the USA’s pressure to support in
the Iraqi war thus averting the danger of terrorism. The author of the
letter notes with pain that in case Armenia sends a group in Iraq,
security not only of the Diaspora but also of Armenia will be put
under danger.
Armen Qyurkchian expresses hope that Armenian authorities will break
their promises to America and will put nation’s interests first.
By Nana Petrosian

“CILICIA” TO WINTER IN VENICE
Azg/am
19 Oct 04
On October 14, “Cilicia” arrived in Venice and moored by the Island of
St. Lazarus, one of the centers of Armenian culture. The first part
of the program envisaged by Ayas club members is already carried
out. The members of the crew are already getting ready for winter.
>From Poti to Venice the ship had 22 stations. They passed across 7
seas and visited 11 countries in 93 days. All the Armenians followed
the voyage of “Cilicia” with great interest. RA President Robert
Kocharian sent a message to the members of the crew reading: “It is
over three weeks that we attentively follow your courageous voyage on
the copy of the 13-th century Cilicia ship. You carried with pride the
flag of our motherland on “Cilicia” after 800 years. Today is a day of
joy. You reachedthe harbor of Venice. I congratulate you with
finishing the first part of your long voyage. I wish you health and
successful return.”
The sailors also think that their main goal is attained and, giving
excellent mark to their activities, they state that all the possible
was done on higher level. They only regret that they couldn’t take
time for visiting Egypt. But it is already an undeniable fact that the
members of Ayas club are already sailors, men of sea.
“Cilicia” participated in the international parade of sailing ships,
carrying the Armenian flag among the fags of other countries.
Afterwards, the ship will stay moored in the former military harbor of
Venice during the whole winter. The Armenian sailors will be back to
Armenia by the end of October.
By Tamar Minasian

40 CITIZENS OF ARMENIA IN DESPERATE SITUATION IN SOUTH OSSETIA
Georgy Khosroev: “We Spare No Efforts to Save People from Hard Situation”
Azg/am
19 Oct 04
It is almost a week that 40 citizens of Armenia are in desperate
situation in South Ossetia. As Upper Lars Russian-Georgian border
crossing is blocked, our compatriots have to go to Lower Zamarag
Russian-Ossetian checkpoint to pass from Russia to Armenia. But,
passing through unknown South Ossetia, they became hostages in Ergneti
settlement, by the Georgian-Southern Ossetian border.
Georgy Khosroev, RA ambassador to Georgia, said in a telephone talk
that the embassy spares no efforts to save the people from the hard
situation. “We attentively follow the fate of our citizens. Those
people are in hard situation. In order to help them the employees of
the embassy fetched food, medicines and water to Ergneti,” Khosroev
said.
RA embassy continues the negotiations with the Georgian authorities to
help 40 RA citizens pass the Georgian-South Ossetian border. Artur
Sargsian, RA Counsel to Georgia, left for Ergneti to help the
Armenians and to study the situation there. He said in the interview
to Azg Daily that there are children, old people and a pregnant woman
in the cars stuck by the border.
When Russia blocked Upper Lars border crossing and advised the
Armenian citizens to travel through Lower Zamarag-Tskhinvali-Ergneti
road, Tbilisi announced officially that Russia-Georgia road through
South Ossetia is illegal and the only legal border point is Upper
Lars. Earlier, as a result of the Armenian-Georgian negotiations, the
official Tbilisi allowed the cars and the citizens struck in Ergneti
to continue their way, on the other hand, the Georgian officials gave
a friendly piece of advice to the Armenians to find other ways and not
to use that road again.
Ambassador Khosroev reminded that earlier, as a result of
negotiations, they managed to lead away three groups of Armenians, 58,
36 and 31 people correspondingly, from Ergneti to Bagratashen
checkpoint of the Armenian-Georgian border. It’s worth reminding that
Ergneti is the area where shooting between Georgian and South Ossetian
armed forces is being heard frequently.
Mikheil Kareli, representative of Georgia’s President in Shida Qarteli
region, said in the interview to Rustavi-2 TV channel that there are
three legal border checkpoints for reaching Russia from Georgia,
i.e. Upper Lars, Tbilisi airport and Poti harbor. Correspondingly, all
the foreigners, either Armenians or Azeris should use only the
abovementioned border points, Kareli said. Kareli added that by
keeping open the Roki tunnel for the Armenian citizens and
transportation of the Armenian goods to Russia may embroil Georgia
with Armenia.
It’s worth mentioning that only the Armenians that leave for working
in the republics of the North Caucasus are using the land road from
Russia to Armenia and in the opposite direction, as well as the people
who can’t afford airplanes tickets for returning to Armenia.
RA ambassador to Georgia said that on October 15, early in the morning
the employees of the embassy would leave for Ergneti to take food,
water, medicines and warm covers for RA citizens stuck there. “It may
be possible to lead these people out of the hard situation. The
diocese of the Armenian church in Georgia, as well as Apaven NGO are
also concerned with the fate of the Armenian citizens and they try to
render help to them,” Khosroev said.
By Tatoul Hakobian

Analysis: Energy Geopolitics In The Caspian

RFERL
18 Oct 04

By Houchang Hassan-Yari
Intense competition for unimpeded access to the world’s natural
resources is continuing and is likely to increase, according to the 21
April edition of “Jane’s Foreign Report.” The current unprecedented
surge in fuel prices illustrates the growing need for a greater supply
and consequently demonstrates the volatile nature of the energy
market.
The Caspian Sea could meet some of that demand, because it has
sizeable proven and possible oil and gas reserves (“proven reserves”
are defined as oil and natural-gas deposits that are considered 90
percent probable, and “possible reserves” are defined as deposits that
are considered 50 percent probable). The littoral states of the
Caspian Sea — Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan
— collectively have an estimated 10 billion-32 billion barrels of
proven and another 233 billion barrels of possible oil reserves. In
comparison, Saudi Arabia has 261 trillion barrels of oil, while the
United States, China, and India’s proven oil reserves are respectively
22.677 trillion, 18.25 trillion, and 5.371 trillion barrels. The
proven natural-gas reserve of the five Caspian countries is an
estimated 170.4 trillion cubic feet (4.83 trillion cubic meters) while
their possible reserve is 293 trillion cubic feet (8.30 trillion cubic
meters).
Like the Persian Gulf, Nigeria, Venezuela, and other regions rich in
energy resources, the Caspian Sea is becoming a battleground for
states and business entities with competing interests. Eni, BP,
ChevronTexaco, Caltex, LUKoil, and Royal Dutch Shell are the main
companies actively developing Caspian Basin oil and gas as they
continue building pipelines to transport those hydrocarbons to
international markets. The United States, China, Russia, Iran, several
European countries, and to a lesser extent Japan are interested in
exploring and investing in Caspian resources as a supplement to
Persian Gulf supplies.The Persian Gulf countries normally maintain
almost all of the world’s excess oil production capacity.
The situation in the Persian Gulf has increased pressure on Caspian
countries and oil companies to contribute to global oil supplies. The
Persian Gulf contains 715 billion barrels of proven oil reserves,
representing over half (57 percent) of the world’s oil reserves, and
2,462 trillion cubic feet (69.72 trillion cubic meters) of natural gas
reserves (45 percent of the world total), according to the Energy
Information Administration’s “International Energy Outlook 2003.” At
the end of 2003, Persian Gulf countries maintained about 22.9 million
barrels per day of oil production capacity, or 32 percent of the world
total. Perhaps even more significantly, the Persian Gulf countries
normally maintain almost all of the world’s excess oil production
capacity. As of early September, excess world oil production capacity
was only about 0.5-1 million barrels per day, all of which was located
in Saudi Arabia.
Since the demise of the Soviet Union and emergence of independent
states in Central Asia and the Caucasus, a major issue in the Caspian
Basin has been the division of the energy resources that lie beneath
the sea. Other sources of regional tension include the complex
unsettled legal status of the sea; the existence of unresolved
conflicts in Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia; terrorism; and
increasing Islamic militancy. The landlocked position of Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan causes further tension, as all three
countries depend on their neighbors’ good will in order to export
their oil and natural gas to international markets.
In terms of reserves, production, and access to international markets,
Russia and Iran are in better positions than their neighbors. The CIA
“World Factbook 2004” put Russia’s proven oil reserves at 51.22
billion barrels, its proven natural-gas reserves at 47.86 trillion
cubic meters (1 January 2002), and its natural-gas exports at 205.4
billion cubic meters (2001 estimates). It puts Iran’s proven oil
reserves at 94.39 billion barrels (1 January 2002), its proven
natural-gas reserves at 24.8 trillion cubic meters (1 January 2002),
and its natural-gas exports at 110 million cubic meters (2001
estimate).
Regardless of how much oil is produced, there will still be enough
customers. For example, China’s rapid economic growth means the
country’s energy needs are increasing. China already uses a great deal
of foreign energy, and in a decade or so it is expected to be totally
dependent on the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea area for its energy
needs. Russia and Kazakhstan are both already eyeing the expanding
Chinese market. The United States, Europe, India, Japan, South Korea,
and many other countries will also be seeking alternative supplies of
oil. Guaranteed access to energy resources is becoming an important
component of foreign policy for these states and is gaining even more
prominence in light of the continuing insurgency in Iraq, as well as
the expanding U.S. presence in the Caspian region at the expense of
Iran, Russia, China, and India.
Caspian Sea Basin energy assets have the potential to significantly
reduce consumers’ reliance on Middle Eastern oil. Yet this raises the
prospect of crises and conflicts that directly involve China, Iran,
Russia, and the United States. The actual production of oil and gas is
not the only potential source of competition between international
actors; for the last decade there have been disputes over the best
routes for pipelines that would transport oil and gas to markets. Iran
promotes itself as the most economical route from Central Asia, while
the United States promotes the export of Caspian oil via Georgia and
Turkey.
(Houchang Hassan-Yari is the head of the Department of Political and
Economic Science at the Royal Military College of Canada.)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Nicholas D. Kristof: Our least efforts save thousands of lives
By Nicholas D. Kristof
The New York Times
Tuesday, October 19, 2004
ALONG THE CHAD-SUDAN BORDER In June I wrote several columns about
Magboula Muhammad Khattar, a young Sudanese woman whose parents and
husband had been murdered in Darfur and who had escaped by night to
the Chad border.
She was living under a tree there. One of her sons was then so sick,
probably from contaminated water – 20,000 people were living out in
the open without a single toilet – that he seemed likely to die. On
returning this month, I searched again for Khattar.
Now each time I write about the genocide in Darfur, I hear from
readers who say something like: “It’s terrible to hear the stories,
but face reality – Africans are always slaughtering each other.” Or:
“It’s none of our business, and anyway we don’t have extra troops to
send.” Or: “There’s nothing we can do.” If that were true, then
Khattar would now be dead.
So would the woman I met huddled under the very next tree, Zahra Abdel
Karim, whose husband and two young sons had been slaughtered by the
Janjaweed militia. She had been gang-raped along with her two sisters,
who were then killed.
Zahra was slashed with a sword and left to hobble away, naked and
bleeding – but determined to survive so she could stagger across the
desert to Chad and save her remaining child.
Yet I had a wonderful reunion here with Khattar and Zahra, who are now
fast friends. They and the other 200,000 Darfur refugees in Chad are
living in camps, with tents for shelter, purified water, medical care
and food distributions.
Even within Darfur itself, the UN World Food Program managed to get
food to 1.3 million people last month out of the 2 million who need
it. “It’s much better here now,” Khattar told me, flashing a beautiful
smile as her son – now recovered – played with other children a few
feet away.
I also tracked down two lovely orphans, Nijah and Nibraz Ahmed, 1 and
4 years old, whom I had met in June after their parents were both
killed by the Janjaweed. Their grandmother sneaked back into Darfur
two weeks ago to try to find their older brother, so their widowed
aunt is caring for them. Her situation has improved enough that she
fed me a home-cooked breakfast on the ground outside her tent.
The improvement for the refugees in Chad underscores how easy it is to
save lives in a situation like this. Just a dollop of international
attention led Sudan to rein in the Janjaweed to some degree, and to
provide more humanitarian access. An international aid effort,
overseen by the United Nations, is saving countless lives by spending
as much in a year as Americans spend in Iraq in a few days.
I wish President George W. Bush had done more to help Darfur. But he
has done more than just about any other leader, and his legacy will be
hundreds of thousands of lives saved in Darfur – but also tens of
thousands of deaths that could have been averted if he had acted
earlier.
Dr. David Nabarro of the World Health Organization estimates that
within Darfur itself, 70,000 people have perished of hunger and
illness since March 1. Add the deaths from violence, the deaths of
refugees in Chad and the deaths before March 1, and my guess is that
the Darfur genocide has claimed more than 100,000 lives so far – and
the total is still rising by 5,000 to 10,000 deaths per month.
If a halfhearted effort can save hundreds of thousands of lives –
without dispatching troops, without a visit to the region by Bush,
without providing all the money that is needed – then imagine what we
could accomplish if we took serious action.
Sudan’s leaders are not Taliban-style fanatics. They are pragmatists
who engaged in genocide because they thought it was the simplest way
to end unrest among tribal peoples in Darfur. If we raise the costs of
ethnic cleansing with a no-fly zone, an arms embargo, travel
restrictions on senior officials and other targeted sanctions, then I
think they can be persuaded to negotiate seriously toward peace.
The history of genocide in the last century is one in which
well-meaning Americans were distressed as Turks slaughtered Armenians,
Nazis rounded up Jews and Gypsies, and Serbs wiped out Bosnians – but
because there were no good or easy options, they did nothing. Note to
Bush: This time, we can still redeem ourselves – but time is running
out, at the rate of 200 lives a day.

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
October 18, 2004
Contact: Armen Carapetian
(818) 500-1918
ANC Praises Republican Senator John Ensign of Nevada
Senator Serves As Vice Chairman of Republican Steering Committee
Las Vegas, NV – The State of Nevada’s largest Armenian American public
affairs organization issued a statement today praising Senator John
Ensign (R-NV). The Senator was commended for his outstanding tenure
in the U.S. Senate and his advocacy on behalf of the growing Armenian
American community in Nevada.
`John Ensign is our community’s best friend,’ commented ANCof Nevada
Chairman Hriyr Dadaian. `The Senator’s leadership on human rights
issues is deeply appreciated by Armenian Americans in Nevada. Since
he was elected to the U.S. Senate in November of 2000, Senator Ensign
has been a true supporter of the issues so important to Armenian
American voters here in Nevada, like recognition of the Armenian
Genocide and building stronger economic ties between the United States
and Armenia,’ Dadaian added.
In June of 2003 Senator Ensign drafted and introduced S.Res.164, a
Genocide Resolution that marks the 15th anniversary of the U.S.
implementation of the Genocide Convention. The bill reaffirms the
commitment of the American people to this landmark treaty and
specifically cites the importance of applying the lessons of past
genocides, like the Armenian Genocide, in order to make the world safe
from future genocides. Support for the Genocide Resolution has been
widespread outside of Congress as well, with a diverse coalition of
over 100 ethnic, religious, civil and human rights organizations
calling for its passage, including American Values, National
Organization of Women, Sons of Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox Rabbis,
and the National Council of La Raza.
Since his election to the U.S. Senate on November 7th of 2003, Senator
Ensign has passionately served the people of Nevada. Before being
elected to the Senate, Ensign was a veterinarian, small business owner
and distinguished member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Armenian National Committee of Nevada is part of the ANCA, the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization.
Working coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and
supporters throughout the United States and affiliated organizations
around the world, the ANCA actively advances the concerns of the
Armenian American community on a broad range of issues.
#####

A1 Plus | 16:47:33 | 18-10-2004 | Social |
NATIONAL LIBRARY FATE IS OBSCURE
Yerevan vice-mayor Kamo Areyan said Monday that National Library no longer
belongs to the municipality. It was handed over to the government.
Yet in 1998, Credit-Yerevan Bank built an additional third floor in the
library house and moved the library to that floor. The bank was given the
first two floors for that.
In 2003 the government got its eye on library premises and declared them
its territory.
It means the building’s fate is in the hands of the government-affiliated
state property department.
Afterward, Credit-Yerevan Bank went bankrupt and his premises were
occupied by Unibank.
The library personnel fear they will be evicted from the building. They
sent a protest letter to the PM.