ARMENIA AND AZERBAIJAN SHOULD USE FULLY THE POTENTIAL WHICH COUNCIL OF EUROPE
IS OFFERING IN THE PROCESS OF THE NAGORNO- KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT
Oksana Musaelyan, ArmInfo, 11 October, 2006
Exclusive interview of the Special Representative of the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe in Armenia Ms. Bojana Urumova
to ArmInfo.
2007 and 2008 are the years of parliamentary and presidential elections
in Armenia. How does the Council of Europe intend to assist Armenia
in building capacity for free, fair and democratic elections? Will
the Organisation send an Observation Mission?
The Council of Europe’s advisory body on electoral legislation, the
Venice Commission, has been cooperating with the Armenian partners
on the amendments to the Electoral Code. Proper implementation of
this law will be one of the necessary conditions for free and fair
elections. Apart from the work on revising the Electoral Code, the
Council of Europe has planned activities designed to strengthen the
capacity of the electoral administration and to help the media to
ensure free, independent and unbiased coverage of the pre-election
campaign and the elections themselves. As to the observation mission,
the CoE has already participated in the observation of several
elections in Armenia, and we expect that it will do so again for the
forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.
The visit of co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Group, George Colombier
and Mikko Elo, has just finished. How is the implementation of
commitments and obligations towards the Council of Europe by the
Armenian authorities assessed?
Why is the expert assessment of the rapporteurs important?
The main goal of the PACE co-rapporteurs was to assess the follow-up of
the constitutional reform. To this end, they met with the authorities,
opposition, media and civil society representatives, as well as foreign
ambassadors, in order to create a complete and objective picture of
the situation in Armenia.
The next step for them is to draw up a full report, which will be
presented to the PACE winter session in January next year. Reports
prepared by PACE have two functions. First, they provide an assessment
of fulfilment of the obligations to the Council of Europe, which a
State assumes voluntarily when it joins the Organisation. Second,
they provide a view from Europe, which can serve as a guide for
further democratic development of the country.
The resolution of the Nagorny-Karabagh conflict by peaceful means is
the main accent in the commitments and obligations of Armenia. J-L
Laurens, Director General of Political Affairs, made a statement in
Yerevan that the Council of Europe must play its role to exclude a
military solution of the conflict.
Which measures does the Organisation plan to undertake for
neutralisation of the war propaganda in Azerbaijan?
When joining the Council of Europe, 5 years ago, Armenia and Azerbaijan
made a firm commitment to resolve the conflicts exclusively by
peaceful means.
This was a major condition for the positive decision on their
application for membership and I would add that this is a condition
for any member state of the Council of Europe. This involves rejecting
resolutely any forms of threats of use of force and settling any
outstanding international border disputes according to the principles
of international law, and abiding by the existing international
treaties. Membership of the Council of Europe of Armenia and Azerbaijan
was designed to help to establish the climate of trust needed for a
solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Council of Europe has
repeatedly declared its availability to work with the authorities of
Armenia and Azerbaijan to achieve this goal, bearing in mind that the
OSCE Minsk Group has always been considered as the optimum framework
for negotiating a peaceful settlement to this conflict. The Council
of Europe can contribute to the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process by
offering a forum for dialogue and reconciliation, which is the only
way for neutralisation of hate speech. This has been the founding
principle of the Organisation and it is at the heart of the PACE
Resolution 1416 and Recommendation 1690. Armenia and Azerbaijan should
use fully the potential which CoE is offering. The CoE has already
facilitated meetings between civil society activists and political
scientists from both countries.
The Kyiv initiative, which is a regional project of cultural
cooperation, also has the potential to be beneficial for social
reconciliation.
During the PACE spring session a resolution was adopted in which the
Assembly called the CoE member-states to provide financial assistance
in addition to the efforts of the Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian
authorities targeted at the solution of the refugees` problems. What
is done for this measure?
It is up to the States to act upon this resolution, and it is good
that journalists are keeping this subject on the agenda.
On 31 August the representatives of the Kiev Initiative held a meeting.
Which activities are planned within the framework of the program?
The Kyiv initiative has the potential to contribute to building mutual
understanding and democratic stability in the South Caucasus and
beyond. It is a programme of multilateral cooperation in the management
of culture and cultural heritage, involving five States (Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine) as well as international
organisations and NGOs. There are many interesting projects in this
initiative: regional wine routes, cooperation in the audiovisual field
(cinema policy), etc. A Pilot project already underway in Armenia is
the urban rehabilitation project, which covers the towns of Ashtarak,
Goris and Gyumri.

ARAM G.SARGSIAN POINTS TO NECESSITY TO MAKE SYSTEM CHANGES IN ARMENIA
Noyan Tapan
Nov 01 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. “System changes should be made
in Armenia, as current Armenia is not able to become a regional
factor.” Declaring this at the November 1 press conference, Aram
G.Sargsian, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Armenia, at the
same time mentioned that in order to make these changes we should
ged rid of the current authorities, as the country does not need
cosmetic changes. In connection with the forthcoming parliamentary
elections of 2007 A.Sargsian said that a third force should be formed
in consideration of the circumstance that there are already two main
political forces, the Republican Party of Armenia and the Bargavach
Hayastan (Prosperous Armenia). In the opinion of DPA leader, the
opposition can pretend to formation of the third force. Touching upon
passing the prevailing majority of enterprises of Armenian energy
sphere to Russia, A.Sargsian declared that the authorities had no
right to alienate these enterprises. “They should even if have
turned them into joint ventures.” Not excluding the possibility
of returning the entities passed to Russia, he at the same time
said that this will be impossible in case of further growth of the
national debt. “The entities, at the expense of which the country could
develop have been given to others today, no matter to whom exactly,”
A.Sargsian declared. He said that the personal interests of the current
authorities are the basis of these bargains. Characterizing the conduct
of the Armenian President during his last visit to Moscow as conduct
“of not partner, but person accountable to Russia,” A.Sargsian at
the same time did not agree to the opinion that RF is not interested
in Armenia’s development. “Russia does not need weak partners,”
DPA leader declared. He pointed to the necessity to preserve good
relations with Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

149 BREAKS OF ABOUT 6 MLN DRAMS FIXED AT SOCIAL SERVICE TERRITORIAL AGENCIES OF ARMENIA IN 2006
Noyan Tapan
Nov 01 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. 149 files involving breaches
were found out as a result of controls implemented this year at
14 territorial agencies of the Social Service of Armenia. Vahan
Baghdasarian, the Chief of the Control and Social Monitoring Department
of the RA Ministry of Labour and Social Issues stated about it at
the November 1 press conference. He mentioned that the majority of
fixed breaches, 83 ones, are provided by false references presented
by local self-government bodies, in the consequence of what the size
of damage to the state budget made 721 thousand drams. V.Baghdasarian
mentioned that 26 breaches of non-addressed appointment and payment of
family benefit and one-off financial aid of 2 mln 919 thousand drams
(about 6.7 thousand U.S. dollars) were also fixed. In V.Baghdasarian’s
words, as of September 1, the money subject to exacting back made 5
mln 889 thousand 500 drams. V.Baghdasarian mentioned that as a result
of controls held at 10 territorial centers of the RA Social Insurance
State Fund, breaches were found in documents of 81 pensioners. In his
words, about 2.3 mln drams more and about 200 thousand drams incomplete
payments were fixed. V.Baghdasarian mentioned as an example that as
a result of the control of assurance of necessary documents being
a basis for appointing and recalculating the pension at the Talin
territorial center on social insurance, false references were found
out in files of 6 pensioners which were given by the Talin territorial
representation of the RA National Archives.
From: Baghdasarian

RA CITIZENS ARRESTED WITH ACCUSATION OF VIOLATING GEORGIAN BORDER RELEASED
Noyan Tapan
Nov 01 2006
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. All RA citizens arrested with
the accusation of violating Russian-Georgian border were released
thanks to the efforts of RA Foreign Ministry. NT correspondent was
informed about it by Vladimir Karapetian, Acting Spokesperson of RA
Foreign Ministry. He did not clarify the details. To recap, several
dozens of RA citizens were arrested two months ago in Georgia with
the accusation of violating Russian-Georgian border, for which a
fine of about 2 thousand dollars is established by Georgian Criminal
Code’s Article 334, part 2 and imprisonment of 3-5 years is determined
for its recurrence. In the given case, RA citizens entered Abkhazia
and South Ossetia from Russia. The “circumstantial evidence” was the
seal on entrance and departure in their passports, which was evidence
of visits to the above mentioned territories and became a basis for
Georgian law enforcement bodies to arrest RA citizens.

MILAN STATE COUNCIL CALLS FOR MAKING RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE PRECONDITION OF TURKEY’S MEMBERSHIP TO EU
Noyan Tapan
Nov 01 2006
MILAN, NOVEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN. On October 26, Italian Regional
Council of Milan approved the proposal on recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. This was informed by RA FM official web-site,
which reminds that the Council of the city of Milan had recognized
the Armenian Genocide as early as in 1997. The document calls on
the Italian government, Prime Minister, all political forces, public
and especially youth to make recognition of the Armenian Genocide by
Turkey as a precondition for the latter’s joining EU.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
31-10-2006
Armen Liloyan Appointed Consul General in Los Angeles
Armen Liloyan has been appointed by Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
to serve as Consul General in Los Angeles.
Armen Liloyan was born in Yerevan in 1971. He graduated from the
Faculty of Oriental Studies of Yerevan State University, and received
his Master’s degree from the London Diplomatic Academy.
The newly-appointed Consul General joined the Ministry in 1995. He
worked in the European Department. From 1998 to 2002, he served
at the Armenian Embassy in Great Britain. Since 2002, he had been
head of the European Union Division of the European Department and
was instrumental in the process of developing Armenia’s Action Plan
within the European Neighborhood Policy.

MOSCOW PRESSES FOR CFE TREATY RATIFICATION IN RUN-UP TO NATO AND OSCE SUMMITS
by Vladimir Socor
Eurasia Daily Monitor — The Jamestown Foundation
Tuesday, October 31, 2006 — Volume 3, Issue 201
On his October 25-26 official visit to Moscow, NATO Secretary-General
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer successfully resisted demands by Russian
officials for prompt ratification of the adapted Treaty on Conventional
Forces in Europe (CFE) by NATO countries. Russia hopes to induce
some governments in the alliance to proceed with ratification of the
1999-adapted treaty despite Moscow’s ongoing breaches of certain treaty
provisions and of the 1999 Istanbul Commitments, which together with
the CFE Treaty form a package approved at that year’s OSCE summit.
By calling for ratification during de Hoop Scheffer’s visit,
Moscow is signaling that it plans to raise this issue at the OSCE’s
upcoming year-end ministerial conference in Brussels on December
3-4, hoping to break the linkage between ratification of the CFE
Treaty and fulfillment of Russia’s Istanbul Commitments regarding
the South Caucasus and Moldova. The Kremlin apparently even hopes
to talk the alliance into loosening that linkage in the communique
of NATO’s upcoming summit in Riga at the end of November. Russia is
eager for ratification of the adapted treaty in order to extend its
applicability to the territories of the three Baltic states, which
are not covered by the existing treaty’s ceilings on force deployments.
Moscow’s main argument — as presented during de Hoop Scheffer’s visit
— claims that Russia has fulfilled all of its 1999 obligations by
signing the agreements with Georgia to close the Batumi and Akhalkalaki
bases and withdraw the Russian troops stationed there by the end
of 2008. During de Hoop Scheffer’s visit, President Vladimir Putin
signed into law on October 26 the Russian parliament’s ratification
of the March 31 agreement with Georgia on closure and withdrawal from
those two Russian bases (Itar-Tass, October 26).
However, de Hoop Scheffer raised the issue of Russia’s noncompliance
with its 1999 commitment to withdraw its forces from Moldova. Russian
media purported to quote him as urging Moscow to withdraw just the
arsenals from Moldova in order to clear the way for ratification of
the CFE Treaty (Interfax, October 26, 27). Such Russian media reports
would seem to be misquoting de Hoop Scheffer. In fact, NATO’s official
collective position calls for withdrawal of Russian troops, as well
as the arsenals, from Moldova. This position, with emphasis on troop
withdrawal, is enshrined in NATO’s communique at its latest summit
in Istanbul in 2004 and subsequent communiques, as well as documents
endorsed by NATO countries collectively at the OSCE.
During the NATO leader’s visit, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs
hinted that Moscow might initiate procedures for abandoning the
existing CFE Treaty, which was signed in 1990 and is currently in
force. Notably dropping the standard reference to the treaty as a
“cornerstone of security in Europe,” Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr
Grushko described that treaty as “out of touch with reality” and
warranting either revision or an exit from it (Russian MFA press
release, October 25).
For their part, a group of Duma leaders meeting with de Hoop Scheffer
warned that they might delay the ratification of the Status-of-Forces
Agreement — the legal basis for a host of NATO-Russia common
activities, intended to be held on Russian territory — if NATO
countries delay ratification of the adapted CFE Treaty. Such insolvent
warnings are political in nature, targeting a few governments in
NATO that might for reasons of their own accommodate Russia in
Europe’s East.
Russia takes the position that it has completed the fulfillment of
the 1999 agreements regarding the South Caucasus and Moldova and that
those agreements did not constitute obligations in the first place.
Thus, Moscow describes its agreement with Georgia on troop withdrawal
until 2008 as a purely bilateral matter, the resolution of which
should precipitate the ratification of the CFE Treaty by NATO
countries. Irrespective of such phrasing and despite the delay
during all these years, the agreement with Georgia does constitute
long-awaited progress toward fulfillment of one aspect of the 1999
Istanbul Commitments.
However, Russia remains in breach of the original and adapted treaty
and the Istanbul Commitments on the following counts:
*Retention of the Gudauta base in Georgia, which was to have been
closed down in 2001 under the Istanbul Commitments;
*Troops unlawfully stationed in Moldova despite those same Commitments;
*Treaty-banned weaponry (“unaccounted-for treaty-limited equipment”)
handed over by the Russian military to their local allies in
Transnistria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Karabakh (including
Armenian-held territory in Azerbaijan beyond Karabakh); and
*Stationing Russian troops including so-called peacekeepers in
conflict areas without the “host-country consent,” such consent being
fundamental to both the existing and the adapted CFE Treaty.
Thus, there is no case for NATO countries to take any steps toward
ratifying the adapted CFE Treaty at the NATO summit or the OSCE’s
year-end conference, in view of Russia’s ongoing breaches on multiple
counts.
(See EDM, May 17, 22, June 12)
–Vladimir Socor
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian Assembly of America
1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
MEDIA ADVISORY
October 31, 2006
CONTACT: Karoon Panosyan
E-mail: [email protected]
RE: Journey for Humanity Activists to End March in Washington, DC
Washington, DC – A group of Armenian-American activists who are walking
3,000 miles cross-country to raise awareness of the Armenian Genocide
and other crimes against humanity, will conclude their march this week
in Washington, DC.
The Journey for Humanity walk began four months ago in Los Angeles, CA
with the support of the Armenian Assembly of America. Since then, the
marchers have crossed a dozen states and held rallies in several major
cities to promote the mission of the Journey, honor the victims and
survivors of all genocidal acts and advance the cause of genocide
prevention.
In Washington, the Armenian Student Network of George Washington
University and others will host a discussion on genocide in today’s
world featuring the Journey for Humanity team and Sam Bell and Mark
Hanis of the Genocide Intervention Network. The event will be held on
Sunday, November 5 at 3:00 pm at the Marvin Center, Continental Ballroom
at George Washington University. Representatives the Save Darfur
coalition, the American Islamic Congress, Citizens for Global Solutions
and the Genocide Intervention Network will also be on hand. All are
welcome. For more information, please contact Karinne’ Hovnanian at
[email protected].
To learn more about Journey for Humanity, visit their Web site at
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
###
NR#2006-095

Armenia Fund, Inc.
111 North Jackson St. Ste. 205
Glendale, CA 91206
Tel: 818-243-6222
Fax: 818-243-7222
Url:
PRESS RELEASE
Contact ~ Sarkis Kotanjian
[email protected]
Andre Set to Perform Live During Armenia Fund’s Telethon 2006
Los Angeles, CA – Armenia Fund is proud to announce that one of the most
popular Armenian singers, Andre, will be performing at its 9th Annual
International Telethon to be aired worldwide on Thanksgiving Day, November
23, 8:00AM-8:00PM PST.
In May of this year Andre won 8th place in Greece for representing Armenia
at Eurovision song contest competing against contenders from 23 other
nations. Armenia was competing at the Eurovision song content for the first
time in 2006.
As part of the Rebirth of Artsakh project, proceeds from the live 12 hour
program will benefit the regional development of Hadrut, Nagorno Karabakh.
The funds will go towards building new drinking water pipelines as well as
reconstructing healthcare facilities and schools that fell victim to the
devastating war. In an effort to eradicate poverty in this war ravaged
border region, Armenia Fund will also implement a comprehensive agricultural
development project to impact 1,000 farmers in 8 Hadrut villages. A similar
regional development program is currently underway in the northern Martakert
region using the funds raised during last year’s Telethon 2005.
A graduate of Armenian State Music Theater, Andre was born in Stepanakert,
Nagorno Karabakh. His music career started early, when, as a member of a
music band “Children of Artsakh” he performed for the NKR Defense Army
soldiers. After winning the “Road to Renaissance” music competition he
formed his own pop-jazz band “Karabakh” touring regions of Armenia and
Nagorno Karabakh. A winner of many international music contests as a solo
artist, Andre has performed in the United States, Russia, China, Europe,
Lebanon, Iran, United Arab Emirates and countries of the former Soviet
Union.
A winner in the Best Singer category of Armenian National Music Awards,
Andre has been topping the charts for several years in a row.
Stay tuned for more Telethon 2006 entertainment news.
Armenia Fund, Inc., is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation
established in 1994 to facilitate large-scale humanitarian and
infrastructure development assistance to Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Since
1991, Armenia Fund has rendered more than $160 million in development aid to
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia Fund, Inc. is the U.S. Western Region
affiliate of “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund. Tax ID# 95-4485698
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Brown, Poochigian still lashing out
Despite an uneven race, the rivals for attorney general trade barbs
in L.A. news conferences.
By Eric Bailey, Times Staff Writer
November 1, 2006
SACRAMENTO — One is the son of a Fresno County farmer, the other
the progeny of a dynastic political family.
Dissimilarities etch the lives and policy positions of Republican
state Sen. Chuck Poochigian and his Democratic opponent in the campaign
for state attorney general, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, the mercurial
former California governor and frequent presidential aspirant.
The pair has waged this election season’s most clamorous battle.
They’ve accused each other of flip-flops befitting a big-time
wrestling match. Crime-fighting chops and character questions have
become central themes in the contest to command the 1,100 attorneys
in the state’s Department of Justice.
In the homestretch, the 68-year-old Brown has ridden his status as
a venerable political celebrity to a healthy lead – 15 points among
likely voters in the most recent public polls.
But in Poochigian the GOP has a campaigner who vows to stay on the
attack until election day, Tuesday, despite dwindling funds for
advertising and a reputation as a nice guy reluctant to throw mud.
“I remain convinced I’m going to win,” the Fresno Republican says.
Brown has spent his two mayoral terms attempting to recast his image
as a crime fighter more interested in fixing public infrastructure
than tilting at political windmills. Now he vows to be a “practical”
and “common sense” attorney general.
“I love the law,” he said. “And I think the law is being undermined.
We need to strengthen our Western legal tradition, emphasize the
norms that give our society identity, structure.”
On Tuesday, Brown and Poochigian brought their campaigns to Los
Angeles for dueling news conferences almost within earshot of one
another.
Brown appeared with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Police Chief
William J. Bratton, adding the two high-profile leaders to his list of
endorsements His experience as a former governor and Oakland mayor,
Villaraigosa said, makes Brown “somebody who knows the needs of city
police departments.”
Minutes later, Poochigian held an impromptu news conference on a
nearby street corner, repeating his criticism of Brown’s credentials
for attorney general amid a sharp rise in Oakland’s murder rate.
Poochigian highlighted his own endorsements from the California Peace
Officers Assn. and the California State Sheriff’s Assn., among others
For months, Poochigian has hit Brown with accusations new and three
decades old. He portrays Brown as a flaky extremist, a man long
opposed to the death penalty who has watched over a stratospheric
murder spike this year in Oakland.
In turn, Brown has characterized Poochigian as a hard-right fanatic
who opposed a ban on high-powered sniper rifles and fought the
state’s successful 2004 ballot measure to publicly fund stem cell
research, frequently sides against environmental interests and
opposes abortion rights.
But around the Capitol, Poochigian is better known for collegiality
than ideology. Friends say he’s as consistent as his favorite
breakfast cereal: oatmeal
His grandparents fled the Armenian genocide and the family eventually
settled amid the grape fields of Fresno County. Poochigian, 57, grew
up in Lone Star, a speck of a farm community along the railroad
tracks southeast of Fresno.
After attending Cal State Fresno and law school, Poochigian became
a business lawyer He broke into politics in 1978, volunteering for
George Deukmejian’s successful attorney general campaign, then became
a gubernatorial aide to the conservative Deukmejian and later to Gov.
Pete Wilson.
In private life, Poochigian has survived a few rough patches.
Around the time he first ventured into politics, he lost more than
$100,000 in a failed business deal in Gusher Oil Co., a firm that
drilled mostly in Texas. He and his partners were sued for nonpayment
of a loan. It was “a bad investment,” he says today, that cost him more
than his share to settle debts owed by a few investors who walked away.
Among his partners in Gusher Oil was attorney Richard Wyrick.
Poochigian rented his first office from the older man. When a Wyrick
agricultural partnership was sued in 1983 in a dispute over $150,000
in rent on a farm, Poochigian represented him, settling the lawsuit.
Wyrick later ran afoul of the law and is serving a six-year sentence
in Soledad state prison for pilfering clients’ trust funds.
“I haven’t talked to or seen that guy in 20 years,” Poochigian said.
“I didn’t even know he was in prison.”
After years as a respected gubernatorial staffer, Poochigian ran for
the Assembly in 1994 and won easily. He moved to the Senate in 1998,
earning plaudits as a straight shooter who rarely strayed from the
conservative cause.
During his tenure, he has backed tougher penalties for sexual
predators, gun-toting felons and identity thieves. He also has
opposed legislative efforts to roll back the state’s three-strikes
law.
Throughout his career, Poochigian got rock-bottom scores from
environmental groups but was tops with the California Chamber of
Commerce and the state Farm Bureau. Answering attacks from Brown over
his opposition to the stem cell ballot measure, Poochigian says it
was on fiscal grounds.
Helping crime victims and upholding the death penalty are his top
priorities.
A recent morning found Poochigian on the steps of the Capitol,
surrounded by leaders of the victims rights movement. Harriet
Salarno, president of Crime Victims United, applauded Poochigian’s
“unwavering record of support” and railed against Brown, who as
governor signed a bill expanding the rights of prisoners but opposed
a bill of rights for crime victims.
“Victims of crime have been a primary inspiration driving my
candidacy,” Poochigian said. “My opponent has consistently fallen on
the wrong side of the fence.”
Brown was born into California political royalty. Pat Brown, his
father, was attorney general and governor during the 1950s and ’60s,
and his sister, Kathleen, served as state treasurer and ran for
governor.
After a stint in seminary school, Brown attended Yale Law School. He
won statewide office at 32, becoming secretary of state. He was
governor at 36 and launched the first of three presidential runs
before he was 40.
As governor, Brown jousted with the medfly put death penalty
antagonist Rose Bird on the state Supreme Court and saw his veto of a
capital punishment bill overridden by the Legislature. But he
presided at a time when criminal recidivism was a fraction of its
current level.
His quirky style attracted as much attention as his policies. Brown
renounced the governor’s mansion for a floor mattress in a rented
apartment, dated singer Linda Ronstadt and acquired the nickname Gov.
Moonbeam.
After a last failed presidential bid in 1992, Brown had his own Bay
Area talk radio program. Executions by lethal injection, he
proclaimed to his listeners, put the state at risk of seeming akin to
Hitler’s Germany. He called corporate America “an out-of-control
Frankenstein.”
During two terms at Oakland City Hall, Brown again has proved his
consistent inconsistency. He embraced capitalism and served as head
cheerleader for an urban housing boom in downtown Oakland. He pushed
for more cops and lobbied for curfews on parolees and probationers.
Felonies in the city of 412,000 fell from an annual average of about
40,000 in previous decades to about 28,000 on Brown’s watch.
Poochigian supporters say that’s spin. After an initial dip, crime
has jumped during Brown’s second term, peaking this year. So far in
2006, Oakland has been hit by 124 homicides, more than double the
mayor’s first year in office.
Foes in Oakland say Brown’s redevelopment agenda priced poor people
out of housing. Meanwhile, the city’s deficit-stricken school
district succumbed to a state takeover despite Brown’s intervention.
And his relationship with some black leaders was icy from the start.
He was embraced by the real estate sector, which gave him roughly 20%
of the more than $6 million he has raised for the attorney general
race. Topping Brown’s donor list are developers who won city approval
for big construction projects, sometimes weeks after giving to his
campaign.
Brown insists he feels no obligation to his donors. As for the poor,
Brown said, 2,400 affordable housing units were built or planned on
his watch, a 30% increase over the 1990s. The rise in crime this
year, he notes, mirrors a trend in neighboring Richmond and even San
Francisco, across the bay.
The proof of his potency as a crime fighter, Brown said, is that
“police in my city endorse me, and police in his city don’t endorse
him. In fact, they endorse me”
But to Poochigian and his supporters, Brown is a “fictional crime
fighter” and a flip-flopper.
“At the core, Jerry Brown has no fixed principals,” charged Ken
Khachigian, Poochigian’s campaign strategist.
In the 1992 presidential race, Brown was criticized for having served
as a $20,000-a-year board director for the firm of Milan Panic, a
wealthy biomedical executive and longtime contributor. Panic’s firm
had agreed to pay a $400,000 government penalty for falsely promoting
an AIDS drug. Brown also acknowledged that he telephoned Rep. Henry
A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) in a bid to help resolve Panic’s dispute
with the government over the drug.
Brown downplays the episode and calls Panic “an outstanding
individual and friend of mine.”
Poochigian’s campaign team also cites Brown’s three-decade
relationship with Jacques Barzaghi, a tattooed former French soldier
and the Democrat’s political factotum since statehouse days.
After a female co-worker accused Barzaghi of sexual harassment, the
Oakland city manager suspended him for three weeks without pay. Brown
questioned the credibility of Barzaghi’s accuser, a mother of three.
It was three more years before Brown fired his trusted advisor after
Barzaghi’s 30-year-old wife told police he had tried to push her down
the stairs during a domestic dispute.
“I handled that fine,” Brown said. “Would I do anything different?
Nothing that comes to mind.”
[email protected]
Times staff writer Duke Helfand contributed to this report.
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