Category: News

Azeri pressure group pickets British embassy over BBC reports on Karabakh
ANS TV, Baku
18 May 04
The Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) has staged a picket outside
the British embassy in Azerbaijan to protest at the activities of
BBC employees, Azerbaijani TV station ANS reported on 18 May.
The pickets were protesting at the visit by a BBC journalist, without
the consent of the Azerbaijani authorities, to the self-declared
Nagornyy Karabakh Republic, which remains de jure Azerbaijani
territory. ANS reported that they were also protesting at the “abuse
of power” by another BBC employee and “promotion of the so-called
Armenian genocide”.
The deputy head of the KLO, Barat Imani, was received by the British
consul, ANS reported. He passed to her a letter for the British
ambassador.

Burbank Leader
LATimes.com
May 19 2004
YWCA honors women of heart
Mary Lou Howard, Burbank’s first woman mayor, will be feted at
luncheon for life of public service.
By Lauren Masters, The Leader
Burbank’s first woman mayor will be honored for her work helping
women expand their role in local government at this year’s YWCA Legacy
Award luncheon.
Mary Lou Howard, who served as mayor from 1982 to ’83 and again in
1985 and ’86 and now serves on the Burbank Civil Service Board, will
join four Glendale women to be honored for their work as community
leaders at the organization’s seventh annual luncheon Thursday.
“It is a way for us to recognize women in the community who are
making a difference and creating a legacy for other women through
the work they are doing today,” said Mary Boger, chairwoman of the
YWCA Awards Luncheon.
The YWCA committee chose this year’s honorees from 12 women nominated
by local civic organizations for their work, leadership and ability
to be a role model for other women.
Howard, nominated by Chris S. Carson, president of the League of Women
Voters of Glendale/Burbank, was the first female on Burbank’s City
Council and paved the way for other women to enter local government.
“She has a very forward- thinking approach to governance,” Boger
said. “She encouraged her council to have an open stance, initiated
town council meetings and imple- mented long-range planning.”
During her two terms, Howard encouraged the city manager to include
more women on the city’s management teams.
“The time was right and I felt I should go for it,” Howard said of
her first City Council bid. “In those days, women were on the library
board but never elected to office. I’m so honored by this award and
to be among these other women.”
The other award recipients include Wanda Bistagne, a longtime volunteer
in the Glendale community; Frieda Jordan, founder of the Armenian
Bone Marrow Donor registry in Glendale and Armenia; Louise Lewis,
a volunteer at Glendale Memorial Hospital who has logged in more than
30,000 hours; and Jean Maluccio, executive director of the Crescenta
Valley Chamber of Commerce. Erika Solomon is this year’s Jane O’Connor
award recipient for her work teaching mentally challenged students
to ride horses.
“It’s the role of the YWCA to empower women,” said Susan Hunt,
president of the YWCA board of directors. “These women have left
a legacy on the lives of others. They have compassion and high
expectations.”
Event proceeds will benefit the YWCA’s Domestic Violence programs
and ENCOREplus, a program that provides breast- and cervical-cancer
screenings to low-income women.
The cost to attend is $75, and reservations can be made by calling
Debbie Hinckley at 244-9183.

Slovene president receives credentials of Armenian ambassador
STA news agency, Ljubljana
18 May 04
Ljubljana, 18 May: President Janez Drnovsek was handed Tuesday [18 May]
the credentials of the non-resident Armenian Ambassador to Slovenia
Vahram Kazhoyan. During their meeting, the officials expressed an
interest in furthering relations between Slovenia and Armenia.
According to Drnovsek’s office, the president stressed that Slovenia’s
presidency of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) in 2005 should prove to be an excellent opportunity
for strengthening relations.
Drnovsek also highlighted that both countries are relatively young
and have had to build their relations from the ground up, which means
that there is still a lot of room for expansion.
The Armenian ambassador congratulated Drnovsek on the recent entry
of Slovenia into the European Union, an important development for
Armenia as well, which could benefit from the experience Slovenia
has gained in the accession process.

Armenian and U.S. officials discuss economic cooperation
AP Worldstream
May 18, 2004
Armenian and U.S. officials met Tuesday to discuss this ex-Soviet
republic’s proposals to receive funding from a U.S. foreign aid
program.
Armenian officials said they have been working on project proposals
for the Millennium Challenge program for the past three months that
focus on reducing poverty. Millennium Challenge is a program launched
by U.S. President George W. Bush as part of an effort to increase
spending on foreign aid.
Carlos Pascual, the U.S. State Department coordinator for assistance
to Europe and Eurasia, said the U.S. funds _ if approved _ would be
directed at developing a free economy, productive investments and
the fight against corruption.
“The US expects sustainable progress in the development of political
and democratic systems in the countries participating in the program,”
Pascual said. It was not clear when a decision would be made about
Armenia’s proposals, but a Millennium Challenge team is expected in
Armenia soon, officials said.
The United States has already allotted US$94 million to Armenia this
year, Pascual said. The bulk of the money is focused on economic
development and job creation, he said.
Pascual’s meetings in Armenia were part of the 8th session of the
Armenian-American Economic Working Group. Participating from the
Armenian side was Vardan Khachatrian, the finance and economic
minister.

EU asked to intervene in crisis in Caucuses
18.05.2004 – 14:12 CET | By Andrew Beatty
EU Observer
May 18, 2004.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – Amid threats of war, the president of
Azerbaijan today called on the EU to step up its involvement in
solving a 16-year old ethnic and border dispute with Armenia.
During a visit to Brussels, Ilham Aliyev asked the Commission
President, Romano Prodi, to help resolve the crisis in the southwestern
region of Nagorno-Karabakh that has seen the two countries at
loggerheads for more than a decade.
The territorial dispute has remained unsolved since the majority
Armenian population tried to secede after the break up of the Soviet
Union.
The ensuing war was thought to have cost 30,000 lives.
Although there has been relative peace since a ceasefire accord was
signed in 1994, it has been an uneasy truce and recently tensions
have appeared to be on the rise.
Before his visit to Brussels on Tuesday, Mr Aliyev was reported to
have remarked that another war with their Caucasian neighbours was
a possibility if ongoing talks fail.
In Brussels however he was more conciliatory – just.
“Azerbaijan intends to continue its policy to peaceful resolution
of the conflict, but at the same time this resolution must be on the
recognised principles of international law, the territorial integrity
and sovereignty of Azerbaijan”, he said.
At the table
Talks are currently being shepherded along by the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Minsk group lead by the Russian
Federation, the United States and France.
And with six other EU countries participating in the process, there
is reluctance on the part of the EU to be seen to be undermining
its members.
“We are worried that the peace process is stopped”, Mr Prodi said
today, before adding, “Clearly we do not want to interfere with the
Minsk Group but we are urging and pushing that the Minsk Group has
some result”.
But the Azeri government now wants a bigger role for the EU, something
which has the potential of stepping on the toes of the European
members of the Minsk Group.
President Ilayev said, “Of course the Minsk group will also actively
continue its activity in finding a resolution, but at the same time
Azerbaijan is very strongly interested that other important European
organizations; first of all the European Union, would take a more
active stand”.
And as Brussels recently decided to include Armenia, Georgia and
Azerbaijan in the ‘European Neighbourhood Policy’ – which aims to
deepen ties with countries bordering the Union – the Commission may
seem to be cautiously edging towards playing a greater role.
But the Commission’s attempts to deepen ties have brought critics.
Mr Aliyev came to power in last October’s elections, replacing his
father, amid allegations of widespread election fraud and the EU has
been accused of turning a blind eye to the poor human rights situation
in the country, because it is seeking to tap into the countries vast
oil reserves.

Armenian dissidents go on hunger strike in Baku
Interfax
May 18 2004
Baku. (Interfax-Azerbaijan) – Two Armenian dissidents have gone
on a hunger strike in Baku to protest international organizations’
disregard for their request for political refuge in “a third country,”
the Azerbaijani National Security Ministry told Interfax on Monday.
They said they would continue their protest until the United Nations’
Baku office fulfills their request.
On April 8, Artur Apresian and Roman Terian, both born in Baku,
illegally arrived in Baku through Turkey. They argued that they had
done this to demonstrate their disagreement with the policy pursued
by the Armenian leadership, headed by President Robert Kocharian.
So far, not a single international organization accredited in Baku
has given a definitive response to the Armenians’ request for being
moved to “third countries.”

Azerbaijan calls on EU to solve Karabakh dispute
By Sebastian Alison
Reuters AlertNet, UK
May 18 2004
BRUSSELS, May 18 (Reuters) – Azerbaijan called on the European Union
to help solve a long-running row with Armenia over the disputed region
of Nagorno-Karabakh on Tuesday, apparently catching the EU’s executive
Commission off its guard.
The Commission this month added Azerbaijan, with Caucasus neighbours
Armenia and Georgia, to its New Neighbourhood programme, which seeks
closer ties with countries around the bloc following its expansion
eastwards on May 1.
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev lost no time in challenging Commission
President Romano Prodi to translate this into action by asking the
EU to take a leading role in the conflict.
Nagorno-Karabakh is a territory wholly inside Azerbaijan, populated
by Christian ethnic Armenians, which broke away from Baku’s rule as
the Soviet Union collapsed. The Azeris, their country controlling
large oil resources, want it back.
Prodi told journalists after meeting Aliyev that the EU had expressed
“our disposal to help if requested”. He insisted he could not give
details as no request had been made.
Not so, shot back Aliyev. “We already asked, and during today’s
meeting once again,” he said.
A ceasefire, ending a six-year conflict that killed about 35,000
people, has held for a decade. However, the Minsk Group of 11
countries, led by France, the United States and Russia under the
mandate of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe,
has so far failed to settle the problem.
Aliyev, who succeeded his father as president last year, backed the
Minsk Group but said he wanted more.
“Azerbaijan is very strongly interested that other important European
organisations, first of all the European Union, take a more active
stand,” he said.
“If Azerbaijan and Armenia are now in the New Neighbourhood policy, the
occupation by one country of the territory of another must be stopped,”
he added, demanding the immediate withdrawal of Armenian troops.
His remarks suggest the EU may face problems by rolling out the new
policy, which could mean “importing” several conflicts — notably
in Moldova, another New Neighbour, where a stalled war pitting
Romanian-speaking Moldovans against ethnic Russians has also rumbled
on for a decade.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Khachaturian Centenary Concert In New York
Soundgenerator.com, UK
May 18 2004
“Homage to Aram Khachaturian”, part of the International Aram
Khachaturian Festival in celebration of the Centennial Year of the
birth of Khachaturian concert will take place on Sunday, May 23rd
2004 at 2:15 pm at Alice Tully Hall.
The concert at New York’s Lincoln Centre is being presented by pianist
Lucy Ishkanian and is only one of a series of events that have taken
place in Yerevan, Moscow, New York and Los Angeles over the past
season. The concert will benefit the Armenian Scholarship Fund at
The Juilliard School.
The program will include the Sonata Monologue for Violin Solo, which
is the New York premiere and will be performed by Stefan Milenkovich;
the Concerto Rhapsody for cello performed by Ani Aznavoorian;
four songs performed by tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan; the Poeme for
piano performed by Lucy Ishkanian; and the Trio for violin, clarinet
and piano performed by Sami Merdinian, Dimitar Moskovsky, and Evan
Solomon. The program will conclude with the New York premiere of
the Suite for Two Pianos from the “Gayaneh Ballet” performed by Lucy
Ishkanian and Jerome Rose.
The Festival, organized and presented by Armen Tertatevosian,
President, Master Classes International, in collaboration with pianist
Lucy Ishkanian, has been officially endorsed by Armenia’s ‘State
Jubilee Committee of the Khachaturian 100th Anniversary’, as well as
by President Robert Kocharian and the First Lady of the Republic of
Armenia, and has been included in UNESCO’s list of Jubilee events.
The International Aram Khachaturian Festival Centenary events began
with a spectacular presentation of the masterpiece ballet, “Spartacus”,
performed by the Yuri Grigorovich Ballet Company on September 19th
and 20th, 2003, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
Future events will continue in February 2005, with the Gala
International World Premiere of a sensational new production of the
“Gayaneh” Ballet by Yuri Grigorovich and his company with new costumes,
scenery, choreography, and libretto, set to the musical score of the
ballet by Aram Khachaturian. This event will take place in Los Angeles,
followed by a US and world tour.
The opening of the ballet in New York is scheduled for March 2005
where the International Aram Khachaturian Festival will present
“Spartacus” and the “Gayaneh” Ballet.
Tickets, which range from $25.00 to $75.00, can be purchased at the
Alice Tully Hall Box Office or at

PRESS RELEASE
May 18, 2004
American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 4th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Telephone: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576
Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]
US LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AREA SPECIALIST DR. LEVON AVDOYAN SPEAKS AT AUA
Yerevan – On Tuesday, May 11, 2004, Dr. Levon Avdoyan, an Armenian and
Georgian Area Specialist of the United States Library of Congress’ African
and Middle Eastern Division, visited AUA and discussed the Near East Section
of the Library of Congress and the Armenian portal within their website.
Avdoyan described the Library’s rich depository of materials in over 40
languages about the area known as the Near East, including the countries and
peoples of the Caucasus and Central Asia. The Armenian portal has a
comprehensive collection of materials published in the Republic and the
Diaspora, including manuscripts, books, serials, newspapers, electronic
media, motion pictures, music, etc. and encompasses subjects related to
Armenian life and culture. Avdoyan noted that while there is much material
on the Armenian Genocide, the portal does not use the term Genocide. He
expressed hope that with Armenian-American lobbyist efforts that will soon
change.
AUA Papazian Library staff and other library representatives participated in
the lively exchange. This includes representatives from Armenia’s National
Library, Gladzor University Library, National Assembly Library, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Library, Yerevan City Central Library, National Academy of
Sciences Fundamental Library, US Embassy’s Information Resource Center, and
students from the Yerevan State University’s Library Department.
Satenik Avagian, the AUA Papazian Library Director, thanked Dr. Avdoyan for
his informative presentation. The AUA Papazian Library is a major
participant in the region’s development of Library Sciences, providing
innovative services and utilizing technological advances in the field. It
is currently the only fully automated library in the region and has an open
access policy for most of its collection, serving students and scholars from
other institutions and the community at large. AUA also developed the Alice
Ohanasian Digital Library of Classical Armenian Literature, which makes
original works from the 5th – 18th centuries available online.
—————————————-
The American University of Armenia is registered as a non-profit educational
organization in both Armenia and the United States and is affiliated with
the Regents of the University of California. Receiving major support from
the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading to the Masters Degree in eight
graduate programs. For more information about AUA, visit
Picture: Dr. Levon Avdoyan with AUA Papazian Library Director, Satenik
Avagian

Armenia wants to continue negotiations with Azerbaijan
Interfax
May 18 2004
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia thinks it necessary to continue
Nagorno-Karabakh settlement negotiations with Azerbaijan, its Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanian told a press conference in Yerevan on Monday.
“We believe in the efficiency of negotiations, including meetings
between the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents. We think it is still
possible to find common approaches to the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement,”
the minister said.
“It is not yet clear for Armenia whether Azerbaijani is ready to
provide for the succession of the negotiations and confirm the
commitments approved by the late president Heydar Aliyev,” Oskanian
said.
The Azerbaijani initiative on opening transport routes in exchange
for the return of Azerbaijani lands currently under Karabakh control
is unacceptable for Armenia, the minister said.