Category: News

TRUTH AND REALITY OF KARABAKH WAR
AZG/AM
28 May 04
Azerbaijan Made Additional Weapons Purchases in Ukraine and Turkey,
and Hired Some 2,500 Mercenaries in Afghanistan
In April 2003 British NGO Safer World, funded by British and other
European government agencies and foundations, published a study
entitled “The Caucasus: Armed and Divided – small arms and light
weapons proliferation and humanitarian consequences.”
The study includes individual sections on Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
both authored by Gagik Avagian of the Yerevan-based Cooperation and
Development NGO and Azerbaijan by Arif Yunusov of the Baku-based
Institute for Peace and Democracy, as well as an overview by Maxim
Pyadushkin of the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Strategies
and Technologies.
The study focuses on proliferation of former Soviet Army’s weapons
in the Caucasus, and in the process debunks the widely held belief of
“Russian support for Armenia” during the NK war. Some of Pyadushkin’s
key arguments include: During the division of Soviet military
property in 1992, overseen by the Russian government, Armenia was
at a disadvantage because fewer Soviet forces were based in Armenia
than in either Georgia or [especially] Azerbaijan. According to
Yunusov, by late 1991, Soviet army units in Azerbaijan, excluding the
airborne division, held 309 tanks, 599 other armor, and 387 pieces of
artillery; in all 15% more than in Armenia. Soviet air forces based
in Azerbaijan had 124 combat aircraft, 50 transportation aircraft and
24 combat helicopters; [there were virtually none in Armenia]. Baku
had a garrison of 11,500 soldiers at Salyan barracks and a Higher
Military School. Together with 6000 sailors at the naval base at
Nargin, there were 62,000 Soviet military personnel in Azerbaijan,
which included 12,000 ethnic Azeris. Armenia inherited two out of
three army divisions stationed on its territory (most of the third
division remains under Russian control to date) and no Air Force
units; Azeris inherited nearly all of the equipment of the four
army and one airborne division, parts of the four Air Force units,
as well as a portion of the Caspian fleet.
Armenia received about 500 wagons (one wagon equals 38m3)
of ammunition, with Azeris receiving 11,000 wagons, more than 20
times as much. According to Yunusov, Azerbaijan inherited 7,000-wagon
strategic ammunition depot at Giliazi/Sumgait (which was fully acquired
by the field commander Suret Husseinov who bribed the local Russian
commander), two district depots at Agdam and Nasosny with 1,100 each
(Aghdam depot, inc. 728 wagons with artillery shells, 245 wagons with
missiles and 131 vagons with small arms ammo, was inherited by Azeris
for free) and four divisional depots at Guzdek, Ganja, Lenkoran and
Nakhichevan with 150-200 wagons.
Azerbaijan received one and a half times more small arms (machine guns,
grenade launchers, etc.; according to Yunusov at least 90,000 in all)
than Armenia and Georgia together. According to Avagian, the Armenian
side experienced shortages in weapons and ammunition throughout the
war, with some military operations conducted just to capture arms
from the Azeris.
Azerbaijan received considerably more than its share of heavy arms
under CFE limitations set at 220 tanks, 220 other armor and 280
artillery; while Armenia, at least initially, received considerably
less. According to Col. Ayaz Mamedov, late Azeri Gen. Baba Nazarli in
mid-June 1992 [at the time of the Azeri offensive in NK] bribed the
commander of the 23rd division (Ganja) Gen. Yuri Pakhomov to acquire
the division’s entire arsenal together with tank crews. According to
the Azeri Defense Ministry, by August 1992 Azerbaijan received 307
tanks, 449 other armor, 130 mortars, 33 MLRS “Grad”, 2,000 machine
guns, 57,000 submachine guns and 17,000 pistols. According to Russian
commanders, in total Azerbaijan inherited 325 tanks, 789 units of other
armor, and 458 pieces of artillery. According to Yunusov, in spite
of the huge arsenal it inherited, Azerbaijan made additional weapons
purchases in Ukraine and Turkey, and hired some 2,500 mercenaries
in Afghanistan (while most of them went on to fight in Chechnya and
Yugoslavia, at least 400 stayed in Azerbaijan after the war leading
to increase in the Islamic Jihadi activity in Azerbaijan).
Russia and individual Russian commanders are believed to have sold
additional weapons to Armenia, NKR and Azerbaijan during and after the
war, although no concrete figures are available. According to Avagian,
Nagorno Karabakh made direct purchases from Russian military units
stationed throughout the FSU and some Armenian officers claim that
NKR army’s weapons holdings are kept secret even from Yerevan.
By mid-92, 40,000 people had been mobilized into the Azeri army,
more than half of them deployed in Karabakh. Additionally there
were 4,000 in OMON and 7,000 in mostly XCP volunteer detachments. In
September-October 1992, Elchibey amnestied 701 criminals (including
murderers and rapists), willing to fight in NK. According to then
Interior Minister Hamidov (quoted in Zerkalo, 28 June, 2002), 60
of them were killed in action, 120 were wounded and over a dozen
decorated with government awards. However, a large number of those
released deserted leading to increase in crime rate. In mid-93, Aliyev
disbanded 33 pro-Elchibey battalions, numbering up to 7,000 people.
Prepared by Tatoul Hakobian

$25,000 reward offered for Freeway killer
By Jason Kandel, Staff Writer
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
May 27, 2003
Thursday, May 27, 2004 – NORTH HOLLYWOOD – Officials today posted a
$25,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest
and conviction of the killer of Garen Ketikyan, 20, who was shot in
March as he and a friend were driving on the Hollywood (170) Freeway.
The family of Ketikyan, who had been working full-time at a supermarket
while studying business at Valley College before he was killed March 8,
hopes the money will encourage witnesses to come forward.
“We want to find the people who did it,” said the victim’s older
brother, Harut Ketikyan, 24, a Los Angeles County probation
officer. “The best thing for (the suspects) is to turn themselves
in. They killed the wrong person. He was a good kid. The pain is
still there.”
Someone in a white Ford Mustang fired a gun at him as he and a friend
just after midnight March 8 as he drove his 1998 Mercury Marquis
north on the freeway near Sherman Way. His passenger, whose name was
not released for his safety, was uninjured.
The suspect, who police believe was in the passenger seat of the
Mustang, is described as a bald Armenian man, 20 to 25, with a muscular
build. The Mustang had low-profile chrome rims, and Xenon headlights
that give off a blue tint.
Police were investigating whether an earlier confrontation might have
triggered the death. About 15 minutes before he was killed, Ketikyan
and his passenger were stopped at a traffic signal at Coldwater
Canyon Avenue and Victory Boulevard, and beeped their horn at two
motorcyclists who didn’t move when the light turned green.
The men got off the bikes, removed their helmets and began walking
toward the Mercury in a threatening manner, but then the confrontation
ended without incident and everyone drove away.
About 15 minutes later, Ketikyan was on the freeway when a white
Mustang, with chrome wheels and a new-car registration pulled alongside
and someone inside fired 10 to 15 rounds, Coffey said. Ketikyan was
struck in the head and died at the scene.
The passenger later told detectives he believed the men in the Mustang
were the motorcyclists who had accosted them earlier.
Ketikyan moved with his family from Armenia in 1991. He worked at Jon’s
Market in West Hollywood while studying business at Valley College.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Coffey at the
LAPD’s North Hollywood station, (818) 623-4075. On weekends and during
nonbusiness, contact the 24-hour toll-free number at the Detective
Information Desk, at (877) LAWFULL, (877) 529-3855.
—
Jason Kandel, (818) 713-3664 [email protected]

LRAPER Church Bulletin
Armenian Patriarchate
TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
Contact: Deacon V. Seropyan
T: +90 (212) 517-0970
F: +90 (212) 516-4833
E-mail: [email protected]
or [email protected]
Boyacikoy Armenian Church To Be Inaugurated On 26 June
His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All
Turkey, visited the Armenian Church of the Three Holy Youths in
Boyacikoy, on May 22nd, Saturday morning, accompanied by His Grace
Bishop Aram Ateshian, the Grand Sacristan of the Patriarchal See,
and the Revd. Fr. John Whooley, currently in Istanbul continuing
his doctoral research on Armenian church history. The Patriarch was
welcomed by the Boyacikoy Parish Council, headed by the Chairman,
Mr. Nazaret Ozsahakyan.
The Boyacikoy Armenian Church was founded in 1836 during the tenure of
Patriarch Stepanos Aghavni II. The building of the Church of the Three
Young Men was constructed by Misak Amira and consecrated by Patriarch
Hagopos III in 1840. Suffering extensive damage from the 17 August 1999
earthquake, the Boyacikoy Armenian Church was closed to worship. The
Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul and the community members responded
to calls from the Parish Council to provide financial aid for the
repair and renovation of the historic church. Due to the slow flow
of funds, the renovation took over four years to complete. Patriarch
Mesrob examined the completed work during his visit and expressed
his satisfaction to the Parish Council members.
Tea was served by the members of the Sayat Nova Choir of the Boyacikoy
Church and all present gathered around a table of love. The Patriarch
informed the Parish Council that the Patriarchate has decided to
re-consecrate the renovated church building to the glory of God on
June 26th. The first Divine Liturgy in Boyacikoy, since the year 1999,
will be celebrated on Sunday, June 27th.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
May 28 2004
SPEECH OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV
[May 27, 2004, 23:17:20]
Dear ladies and gentlemen!
Dear friends!
I intimately congratulate you on the occasion of the national holiday
of Azerbaijan – Day of Republic. I wish all the Azerbaijani people
peace, tranquility and welfare.
In May 1918, was founded the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. Creation
of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was extremely important and
significant event in our history. For the first time in the Islamic
world the democratic Republic was created, Azerbaijan people found
its independence. Our country became a member of the world community.
It was extremely significant event. Our people very highly estimate
activity of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and contributions of
its founders.
But the Democratic Republic has existed not for long, after about two
years the young Republic has fallen. Only in 1991, after collapse of
Soviet Union, Azerbaijan regained state independence. It was very
difficult years for our country. In comparison with other former
Soviet republics Azerbaijan appeared in heavier conditions.
Aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, occupation of our lands,
negative processes in the country have led to occurrence in our
country of the extremely difficult position. Besides, as a result of
unsatisfactory activity of the incompetent, unable management, the
country experienced crisis – economic, political and military crisis.
The chaos, anarchy dominated. As a whole, Azerbaijan as the
independent state could be erased from the ground.
In such conditions, the national leader of our people Heydar Aliyev
on demand of the insisting people has come back to power. All
negative tendencies has been put an end, political stability was
established, the social order restored, the illegal armed formations
disarmed, in the country the law and order was established. To carry
out all this, certainly, first of all was necessary the will of
Heydar Aliyev, courage and support of Azerbaijan people. Azerbaijan
people have believed in the leader, and with the support of people in
Azerbaijan, great creative work was launched.
For maintenance of development at each country, first of all, there
should be stability, supremacy of law, discipline. In Azerbaijan, all
these factors have been established, and our country has reached the
way of development. The country has received prompt economic
development. The major factor describing economy – volume of GDP for
last 7 years has increased for 90 percent. The large-scale program of
privatization has been carried out and this goes on.
Our country has made important steps for delivery of the oil
resources to the world markets. 10 years ago in this palace
“Gulistan» the “Contract of the Century” has been signed, and Heydar
Aliyev’s oil strategy started. After the “Contract of the Century”,
to Azerbaijan were put large foreign investments that has allowed
achieving all-around development of our country. Today, Azerbaijan in
comparison with neighboring countries, former Soviet republics is in
the lead on volume of foreign investments per capita.
After these projects, were realized other projects of Azerbaijan
representing great value for our country and entire region. There
started construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline
representing great value for entire all world. For anybody it is not
the secret, that the initiator and the architect of construction of
BTC oil pipeline is the national leader of our people Heydar Aliyev.
Not casually, members of the BTC Company named this pipeline after
Heydar Aliyev.
Azerbaijan managed to overcome international isolation. Once our
country was in the condition of isolation from the world, regional
processes. Azerbaijan managed to establish bilateral relations with
various countries and become valuable member of the international
community. Position of our country have become stronger, Azerbaijan
became a member of the various regional and international
organizations, takes active part in them.
The important steps have been undertaken in the field of army
construction. Until 1993, situation in the army was extremely
difficult. Azerbaijan had no army, there were separate formations
carried out independent activity. Today, the Azerbaijan army meets
highest standards, and it has turned to professional army and is
capable to solve any problem. Steps are undertaken in the field of
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict.
Ceasefire that has allowed us to develop our country in quiet
conditions has been achieved.
In a word, the work done in Azerbaijan for these 11 years, the policy
pursued for the country find positive acknowledgement. Azerbaijan
people gives its voices for this policy, approves it. This policy
lives and today, it is necessary to carry out this policy in
Azerbaijan long years in the name of the happy future of our
country”.
Then, President of Azerbaijan gave full analysis of socio-political
life in the Country after the Presidential elections, dwelt on the
international raise of Azerbaijan’s policy, on his visits to foreign
countries, cooperation with the international an regional
organizations, including the Council of Europe, European Union, NATO
and others.
President Ilham Aliyev also touched upon the urgent social problems,
in particular, poverty reduction, opening of new working places,
condition of the refugees and IDPs, cultural-educational aspects of
social life in the Republic.
***
Foreign ambassadors accredited in Azerbaijan, heads of religious
communities congratulated President of Azerbaijan on the occasion of
the day of Republic.
Ambassador of Georgia Zurab Gumberidze made congratulatory address to
the Head of Azerbaijan State.
President Ilham Aliyev met public representatives, MPs, men of
intelligentsia – writers, artists as well as sportsmen, and was taken
his photo in memory.
Chairman of Milli Majlis Murtuz Alaskarov, Prime Minister Artur
Rasizade, head of President Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev attended
the official reception.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

HM greets Armenian, Ethiopian presidents
Times of Oman, Oman
May 28 2004
MUSCAT – His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said has sent a cable of
greetings to Robert Kocharian, president of Armenia, on his country’s
National Day.
In the cable, His Majesty wished the president good health and
happiness and the Armenian people further progress and prosperity.
His Majesty the Sultan has also sent a cable of greetings to Girma
Wolde Giorgis, president of Ethiopia, on his country’s National Day.
In the cable, His Majesty wished the president good health and
happiness and the Ethiopian people further progress and prosperity.
ONA

Entrepreneur shines as jewelry maker
By Jennifer Berry
Valley Sun, CA
May 28 2004
Photo by Jennifer Berry IN HIS STUDIO – Harout Kioudjian works on a
piece of silver jewelry. He says “there’s always something to learn”
about his craft.
Whether it’s a shiny platinum bracelet for Michael Jackson, a
jewel-encrusted belly chain for Britney Spears, or a gold pendant in
the shape of a musical note for Madonna, jewelry designed and produced
by Harout Kioudjian shows up around the world.
It’s been worn by celebrities, featured in magazines and on television,
and sold in upscale jewelry stores such as Henry Duarte in Beverly
Hills.
The master silversmith’s global career began humbly, polishing jewelry
at the age of 7 in a small shop in Lebanon.
“I did a couple months of polishing. I loved it, but I was doing better
than a professional jeweler. He got jealous. He tried to get me fired
because I was doing a better job than he,” said the father of two,
who recently moved to La Cañada Flintridge from Pasadena.
Even though Kioudjian, who owns H.K. Quantum, enjoyed working
with metals and jewels, he didn’t realize at first that it was his
calling. Educated for seven years in a Catholic school in Lebanon,
he tried his hand at religion by attending an Armenian monastery for
one year.
“I felt like a prisoner,” he joked.
He was reintroduced to the jewelry business when, after his family
immigrated to the Los Angeles area, the South High School student
began helping out in his uncle’s Torrance jewelry store after school.
A member of the Armenian National Committee of America Western
Region/La Crescenta Chapter board of directors, Kioudjian, whose
grandparents escaped the Armenian genocide, said jewelry making runs
in the family.
His mother’s uncle taught his uncle, Nazareth Kioudjian. Following the
tradition, the La Cañada businessman learned valuable skills in the
back of his uncle’s shop, from polishing, repairing and cleaning gold
and silver pieces to sizing rings, setting stones and designing pieces.
“I felt good making things [and] creating designs,” he said. “The
creativity of it, it’s endless. There’s always something to learn. It
doesn’t end.”
>>From his uncle’s shop, the jeweler worked on the production lines
and design teams of several jewelry companies, including a stint
subcontracting for Cartier designer Phillip Chariol.
“After a short while I realized it was time to move on,” he said. He
opened Monte Christo Trade Corp. in 1992, in which he made his own
designs, casting and producing marquis chains and tennis bracelets.
Eight years later, he left Monte Christo to try his hand at selling
motor oil and clothes.
“I wanted to change my career,” he said. “Whatever I tried, it wasn’t
my thing. It didn’t work out.”
Now he crafts his masterpieces in a nondescript factory in North
Hollywood, branding his own designs with the logo H.K. Quantum.
“In this jungle, it’s kind of difficult to get somewhere until the
brand is popular,” he said.
Helping spread the word of the H.K. Quantum brand is musician Daniel
“Danny Boy” O’Connor. A member of the former musical group House of
Pain, O’Connor said he began commissioning Kioudjian to design and
produce one-of-a-kind jewelry for him because the jeweler’s good
reputation preceded him.
“At the end of the day, I could afford any jewelry I want,” said
O’Connor, who considers himself a silver connoisseur. “He’s a
perfectionist.”
The next project O’Connor has planned for Kioudjian is to re-create
a gold ring with a skull design, given to him by Mickey Rourke.
The New York native also recently pointed fellow musician Mike “Mr.
Kaves” McLeer to the manufacturing plant on Lankershim Boulevard.
After sharing a traditional Armenian meal together, the silversmith
finished a silver Armenian cross, which McLeer will wear while his
group, Lordz of Brooklyn, tours on the Vans Warped Tour.
“I’m an artist, so I recognize his craftsmanship,” McLeer said. “The
art in his jewelry, you can see it. He gets his hands dirty. In an
age of mass production, this is old-world craftsmanship.”
While Kioudjian’s designs are available to jewelry companies and to
individuals wanting custom jewelry, his wares will be on display at
the Fourth of July festival at Crescenta Valley High School.
The La Cañada man, whose son attends Chamalian Armenian School and
daughter attends Rosemont Middle School, is a member of the Crescenta
Valley Town Council Community Outreach Committee. He has donated
to the group a silver identification bracelet of his own design and
two rings-one an exact replica of a size 13 1/2 silver ring worn by
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on the Aug. 18, 2003, cover of “Newsweek”
magazine and a smaller reproduction of the ring, which has an intricate
eagle design.
The master silversmith said he runs his business by treating his
customers as friends.
“To me, a person is more important than a business,” he said.

Mayor Joe the Turk
By RYAN HEINZ, Eagle Staff Writer
Macomb Eagle, IL
May 28 2004
Here at the Macomb Eagle, we get no shortage from week to week of
proclamations from the mayor’s office. At any given time, our fax
machine could be clogged with notifications that this is in fact
“Administrative Professionals Day,” “Humming Bird Appreciation Week” or
“Wear a Hawaiian Shirt to Work Month.” Now don’t get us wrong, we could
hardly get by without our administrative professional, we think humming
birds are neat and we would love to wear a Hawaiian-style uniform
for a month, but some of these proclamations can get a little unusual.
Then there was last week in which we received notification that it was
Salvation Army Week. That didn’t seem too out of the ordinary, but a
release from the Salvation Army titled “The Saga of ‘Joe the Turk'”
did get our attention. Essentially, the release was a mini-biography on
one of the Salvation Army’s most colorful, real-life characters, Joe
the Turk – a mustachioed man with a penchant for “flaming red, baggy
zouave trousers,” fezzes and Jesus. Throughout the one-page report
on Joe it chronicled his life, including his rise up in the ranks of
the Salvation Army and his many run-ins with the law for disturbing
the peace. And then there was Joe’s stint in our very own Macomb.
The release read: “After rescuing a local Salvation Army officer from
a lynch mob in Green Bay, Wis., Joe the Turk made his way to Macomb,
Ill. in September 1892 where he succeeded in driving out the mayor
of the town, said to be a desperado from Texas who had taken over
the town, and himself became the acting mayor. He then appointed the
Salvation Army Corps officer as chief of police and for six weeks
Macomb was the only town in the world run by the Salvation Army.”
It sounded like a “Spaghetti Western” or at the very least a good
premise for a silent film (just imagine Charlie Chaplin as Joe the Turk
running around Macomb in a shoddy black and white film with a tinkering
piano as the accompanying soundtrack). But while the plot would appear
to be a bit outlandish, was there actually a little bit of truth to it?
“Zero,” said noted local historian John Hallwas. “We must understand
that folklore – that is things that never really took place – are
still common today. But they were even more common a century ago.”
And then there is Maj. Florence Moffitt’s take on the story of Joe
the Turk’s encounter with Macomb. As director of the Salvation Army’s
Midwest Regional Museum in Des Plaines, she agreed that there were
some holes in the story. Still, she believed the bulk of it to be true.
“The story is true that (Joe the Turk) was the mayor of Macomb,”
Moffitt said. “It’s disputed how long. Some people say three weeks,
some people say six weeks, but he did used to carry a sign around
with him that said ‘Ex-mayor of Macomb, Ill.'”
Since there is little evidence in the way of what actually did happen
when Joe the Turk was in Macomb, the only thing to do is give both
sides the whole saga and let the reader decide for themselves. Here
today we’ll give the Salvation Army’s angle with the second scenario
in the next issue of the Macomb Eagle.
Joe the Turk takes down a desperado mayor
Much of the great Joe the Turk epic was collected in March 3 and
24 (1934) issues of The War Cry – an official publication of the
Salvation Army. In an article by Adjutant William G. Harris, Joe
the Turk’s Macomb saga is thoroughly explored, as are several other
classic stories about this eccentric man’s life. In fact, he was such
a unique individual that Harris almost immediately pointed out in his
article that, “Joe has the color of the East, the showmanship of the
West, the passion of the Latins, the fervency of the colored folk,
the determination of the Scot, the pertinacity of the Norseman and
the enthusiasm of the Irish.”
Or as Moffitt put it, Joe was simply “a very colorful personality.”
“He made up his own uniforms; he didn’t always follow the regulations
as far as the military uniform is concerned,” she said. “I mean,
he used to wear pantaloons, bright-colored stuff and he wore a fez
on his head. Well, now that’s not exactly Salvation Army attire.”
Joe the Turk was born Nishan Der Garabedian in Tallas, Turkey in
1860. However, he was actually not Turkish, but instead Armenian. He
later went by the name Joseph Garabed, although he was widely known
simply as Joe the Turk.
Joe was a spiritual boy growing up, but he was not always a Salvation
Army devotee. Instead, he went on to become a noteworthy shoemaker,
practicing his trade out of Turkey’s capital of Constantinople.
Unfortunately, his great success as a shoemaker was short-lived thanks
to the Russo-Turkish War, during which time he lost everything. Joe
then went on to Russia for a brief time to start all over again,
but soon decided to move to America after receiving word from his
brother that there was a great deal of opportunity there.
It was on his trip to America that Joe first encountered the Salvation
Army during a stopoff in Liverpool, England. Despite not knowing any
English, Harris wrote that Joe was greatly awed by their meetings. But
upon joining his brother’s side in Worcester, Mass., he delved deeply
into drink and smoke during his 13-month stay. He would later again
feel the calling of the Salvation Army when he relocated to San
Francisco. From there he became a full-fledged member, eventually
gave up his bad habits (including his indulgence in some occasional
fisticuffs) and gave his heart over to God. Moffitt said at this
point in his life, Joe learned to channel his rugged, thuggish ways
into becoming “a very aggressive evangelist.”
“He used to have a stamp that he carried that said ‘Jesus Saves,’ and
when he was put in jail he used to stamp the walls, ‘Jesus Saves,’
‘Jesus Saves,'” she added. “When he went into peoples’ houses, he
even stamped it on the bed linens and stuff like that. That didn’t
always go over well.”
Prior to making his way to Macomb, Joe was often arrested and sometimes
jailed for disturbing the peace. This had less to do with him throwing
his hefty six-foot, 250-pound frame around than it did for him playing
music instruments in the streets as he preached the word of God.
According to Harris’ article, Joe received no warm welcoming when
showing up in Macomb. As a result, the Salvationist asked to see the
mayor, who is not favorably described by Harris.
“The mayor proved to be a desperado who years before in the days of
local option, when the town had declared itself dry, invaded it with
a band of his Texas henchmen. The invaders were all heavily armed,
easily captured control of the place and soon had the town under their
thumb,” he wrote. “The mayor opened a big saloon and ran it himself
and managed to retain power by the simple expedient of not allowing
elections and resisting by brute force every attempt to oust him.”
Enter Joe the Turk, who apparently was able to successfully overthrow
the corrupt mayor. Harris’ article stated that Joe ordered a band of
“local Salvationist forces” to the local jail one night “to cheer
up their commanding officers (who had been jailed earlier) with song
and testimony.” The crowd was then met with by the mayor who was so
furious that he assaulted the sergeant-major and then attempted to
shoot him with a firearm, although the gun did not go off.
Joe, upon hearing this, quickly moved to confront the mayor and soon
made every effort to oust him from his post. This included going to
the three local papers and writing a daily column “denouncing the
conditions of the day.” Eventually, the people of Macomb came together
for “a great parade and rally” that was so intimidating to the mayor
that he and his thugs “cleared out of town.”
Joe then declared himself mayor and appointed as police chief one of
the Salvation Army officers, which essentially meant the Salvation
Army was in charge of the town. This went on for a matter of about
five to six weeks before Joe endorsed an editor of one of the town
papers as a suitable replacement. Of the replacement, Harris wrote,
“(Joe’s) suggestion was received with great cheering, the motion
being carried unanimously.”
;DO=display&ID=1085697092_24419

International Journalist’s Network
May 28 2004
Building Multimedia News
Jun 01, 2004 – Jun 03, 2004
Workshop
In Yerevan, Armenia. Organized by the Caucasus Media Institute
(CMI) for Armenian journalists. Participants will learn
how to tell news stories on the Internet by combining text,
photographs and animation. Participants also will learn how to
use computer technologies to improve their online reporting. Other
sessions will focus on basic news reporting and story-telling
techniques. The participants receive certificates upon completion
of the course. Applications (in Armenian) are available at
Interested
participants should also include a letter of support from
their editor-in-chief. All the materials should be sent to Seda
Muradyan, CMI program officer at media@[email protected]. For
more information, call (00374-1) 540631, (00374-1) 540632, or visit

UN Millennium Development Goals to be implemented in Armenia
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
26 May 04
[Presenter] According to the UN experts’ assessments, the successes
achieved in Armenia by the implementation of the UN Millennium
Development Goals are impressive. The regional representative of the
UN Millennium Development Goals, Yeji Osiatynski noted that apart from
the successes which have been achieved, there are a lot of works to
be done in education, health care and other spheres. Osiatynski said
that if we are speaking about the reduction of poverty it is necessary
to increase the level of higher education. When people are educated it
is easier for them to find a job, and more jobs means less poor people.
[Correspondent] Armenia has joined the UN new programme four years
ago, which is called the Millennium Development Goals, with 190 other
countries. The programme encompasses the following eight areas of
human challenge.
These are: To reduce poverty and starvation, to achieve primary
education, gender equality, to reduce child mortality, maternal
health, to struggle against HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases,
to ensure environmental protection and to create a global partnership
for development.
Among these eight goals, the first, poverty reduction is the most
important for Armenia. The regional representative of the UN Millennium
Development Goals, Yeji Osiatynski noted that the time has come when
the economic growth registered in Armenia will be directed to the
reduction of poverty.
[Yeji Osiatynski, captioned in his office, in English with Armenian
voice over] It is not important that poverty will be reduced in 2005,
2010 or 2015. It is a necessary political and social aim and we
are moving forward in this direction. The democratic system, a free
economy and creative and talented people will help you in this work.
[Correspondent] The Polish official who visited Armenia for the first
time, who was finance minister in his home country, considers that
the time is right to clear the county of corruption and to reduce the
number of poor people in the country. Osiatynski thinks that the young
hold great potential for the newly developing countries and also for
Armenia. The future of the country is in their hands. Armenian Prime
Minister Andranik Markaryan also agreed with Osiatynski’s opinion.
[Yeji Osiatynski] Today during the meeting with the prime minister I
understood that there is a readiness and intention to implement the
Millennium Development Goals for the sake of the country and their
people. With all your efforts you must build a democratic state,
have a free economy and you will succeed.
[Correspondent] The representatives of the government and political
organizations discussed the UN Millennium Development Goals.
Artak Aleksanyan, “Aylur”.

Armenian president and ecology minister discuss Lake Sevan, environment
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
26 May 04
[Presenter] President Robert Kocharyan held a working meeting today
with Ecology Minister Vardan Ayvazyan where they discussed protection
of Lake Sevan, forests and other environmental issues. The ecology
minister assured the head of state that the efforts directed to the
restoration of the green areas all over the republic will be felt
this year.
[Correspondent] During the discussion of the environmental issues with
the president, Ecology Minister Vardan Ayvazyan outlined the issue
of Lake Sevan. Already in 1998, President Robert Kocharyan urged to
stop the use of Lake Sevan’s water for energetic aims. As a result of
some years’ works, the water level in Lake Sevan has risen by 98cm,
which means that now the lake contains 1.18bn cu.m. more water. The
minister announced that now they are concerned about the rising water
level in Sevan. The Ecology Ministry is implementing the programmes
on protection of the ecosystem of Lake Sevan and development of the
surrounding environment, with the assistance of the international
organizations.
[Armenian Ecology Minister, Vardan Ayvazyan, captioned] We discussed
the issues connected with the protection of the ecological system of
Lake Sevan, and especially the Ecology Ministry, which is implementing
an 8m-dollar programme in the area of Lake Sevan. We are trying
to implement various programmes in the villages too, starting with
protection and restoration of the green areas and development and
implementation of small businesses.
[Correspondent over video of Lake Sevan] The president focused
attention on the issues of building a National Park around Lake
Sevan. The forests’ issues are also always in the president’s centre
of attention. The minister assured him that cultivation of 360,000
hectare of forests in Gegargunik and Tavush Regions will yield a
positive result.
The president also stressed the importance of adopting a law on
ecology, which according to the ecology minister it is already
ready. The government will submit it to parliament for discussion soon.
Lilit Setrakyan, “Aylur”.