CONSTRUCTION WORKS HAS GROWN UP TO 8 BILLION
ArmRadio.am
15.08.2006 14:53
The Prime Minister of NKR Anoushavan Danielian while having his
speech devoted to the Day of Constructors announced that the range of
construction works in 2006 has grown up to 8 billion, comparatively
to 2002, when it was 1.8 billion. He also mentioned that for the next
year it is planned to increase the range of construction works up to
12 billion drams.
Amongst big projects Anoushavan Danielian has mentioned the
construction of the “North-South” highway, which is being carried out
by the means of the Hayastan All- Armenia Fund and the change of the
direction of the river Trheh.
The cost of the last project is almost 3 billion drams and it will
make possible the melioration of 2000 hectare land. He also mentioned
that during the last 4-5 years approximately 40 buildings for schools
have been constructed.
The NKR Prime Minister told that during the last several years in NKR
is almost 4000 working places in the field of construction have been
opened, and it is planned to open 400-500 more working places in the
future, Mediamax reported.

FORTY DAYS OF MUSA DAGH STRUGGLE TO BE CELEBRATED IN FRESNO
By Nyrie Karkazian The California Courier
ArmRadio.am
15.08.2006 15:09
The heroic struggle and victory of the Forty Days of Musa Dagh will
be celebrated Labor Day weekend, marking the 91st year of remembrance
for the people from the small Armenian villages, once located in the
Cilician region, now in Turkey.
During the years of the Armenian genocide, the people of Musa Dagh
were being forced by the Turks to change their ways and religion. The
townspeople courageously refused to fall into the hands of the Turks
and climbed atop their mountain called Musa Ler.
They fought the Turkish soldiers off for 40 long days and were
miraculously saved by a French ship passing by on the Mediterranean
Sea,The California Courier reported.
For the past 30 years, the Musa Dagh Commemoration Committee in Fresno
has put together a weekend memorial. The tradition began with just
a few families trying to keep their heritage alive and now attracts
around 800-1000 people a year.
This year’s festivities will begin with a family picnic on September
2, at the Fresno Police Association’s Training Grounds from 7 pm to
midnight. The cooking of the Herissa, a lamb and whole wheat stew,
will begin and traditional Davoul, Zourna music brought in especially
from Ainjar will be performed, followed by a DJ and dancing. Chicken
and beef kebab dinners will also be sold.
Father Vahan Gostanian, Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Armenian
Apostolic Church, Fresno, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy Sunday
morning at 10:30 am. Guest speaker Rev. Mgrdich Melkonian, Senior
Pastor of the First Armenian Presbyterian Church, Fresno, will also
be giving a sermon.
Following the service will be the blessing and serving of the Herissa
accompanied by a Kef-time with Davoul, Zourna music until 3 pm.
“We invite everybody to come celebrate this victory of the Forty Days
of Musa Dagh,” George Karkazian said, “to remember the great battle of
Mousa Ler and the heroes who fell fighting for our religious freedom.”

LAS VEGAS ARMENIANS PLAN TO ERECT GENOCIDE MEMORIAL
The California Courier
ArmRadio.am
15.08.2006 15:18
The Armenian Community of Las Vegas has formed the Armenian Genocide
Memorial Committee which is tasked with the erection of an Armenian
Genocide Memorial in Las Vegas.
After several meetings with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and
Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, the city has committed to dedicate land
for the Memorial in Centennial Plaza in downtown Las Vegas.
Mayor Goodman announced the city’s commitment and the location of
the site during the annual April 24 commemoration, which was also
attended by all three Nevada congressmen, Rep. Jon Porter, Rep.
Shelley Berkley, and Rep. Jim Gibbons, as well as a representative
from Sen. John Ensign’s office.
The site selected for the new Armenian Genocide Memorial is a busy
area in the business and legal district near the famous Fremont Street
Experience. It will be seen by thousands of people daily.
The budget for the historical monument has been set a $150,000.
The Committee is accepting designs for the new Memorial. Interest
applicants should contact Abe Kassamanian at (702) 260-0899 for further
information. Tax-deductible donations are also being accepted. Checks
should be made payable to “Las Vegas Genocide Memorial Fund, Bank
West of Nevada, 2890 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson, NV 89014.

TURKEY’S ARMENIAN CHURCH, PRESS IN DISPUTE OVER “GENOCIDE” STATEMENT
Hurriyet website, Istanbul
8 Aug 06
Text of report by Asli Sozbilir, entitled “Embargo on notices in
community’s press”, published by Turkish daily Hurriyet website on
8 August
The Armenian Patriarchate has imposed an embargo on church notices on
the Armenian community newspapers Agos and Jamanak, which had harshly
criticized Turkey’s Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II for stating that he
did not agree with the “recognize the genocide” announcement made by
the Catholicos for All Armenians Karekin II.
The negative stance adopted by both newspapers against the Patriarch
prompted the Spiritual Council into action. The Council got together
with the leaders of the community’s foundations and raised the issue
of not giving either newspaper church announcements.
The first test of this call by the Patriarch to boycott announcements
was made last week. The notice for the Surp Garabet Church, which is
the traditional place of celebration for Vartavar Yortusu, appeared
only in the Marmara newspaper and not the two newspapers in question.
When the Armenian community objected to the publication of notices
getting drawn into the argument between the Patriarch and the press,
30 foundation leaders held a meeting last week and published a joint
statement in order to reduce tensions between the Patriarchate and
the two newspapers.
While the statement went to great lengths to emphasize freedom of the
press it also noted that they did not support the method of banning
church notices.
Following this statement, Patriarchate officials got together with
the foundation leaders and stated they were ending the boycott. The
statement issued by the Patriarchate said that Mesrob II had no
involvement in the incident, and refuted allegations of an embargo.

TWO DEAD IN CAR ACCIDENT
ArmRadio.am
15.08.2006 11:54
On the 12th of August at 14:42 on the 5th kilometer of the highway
Dilijan-Vanadzor, a “Maz” brand, 36 OU 347 state- numbered car with
trailer filled with natural gas Propane has turned over. This brought
to an explosion and fire on the road. The following nearby cars
“Vaz 2106” brand 110SO 61 state-numbered, “Vaz 2107” brand 68 OU
108 state-numbered and Peugeot brand 505 LL 05 state-numbered cars
were inflamed with fire and their passengers got thermal injuries of
different degrees.
Samvel Hovsepian, born in 1953, Gohar Assatrian, born in 1955,
Sona Hovssepian, born in 1986, Ara Ochinian, born in 1968, Aramaiss
Mejloumian, born in 1962, Minass Ghazarian, born in 1973 and Peotor
Martirossian, born in 1951 were transferred to the Reanimation
Department of the Republician Burn Center.
On the 13th of August at 02:00 Samvel Hovssepian died because of burn
injuries in the Republician Burn Center. At 17:00 Ara Ochinian also
died because of burn injuries.The other injured status remains severe.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

906 KINDER-GARTENS ARE FUNCTIONING IN ARMENIA
Armenpress
Aug 15 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS: At present 906 kinder-gartens are
functioning in Armenia, 186 are seasonal. The number of children
attending the kinder-gartens reaches 66,000 which, according to the
leading specialist of pre-school education department at the Armenian
Education and Science Ministry Melsida Sargsian comprises only 20
percent of the number of children of pre-school age.
Kinder-gartens started acting in Armenia from 1920.
The majority of the kinder-gartens are functioning in Yerevan, then
in the province of Gegharkunik and Ararat. Around 448 communities
in Armenia do not have infant schools. Sargsian said that as of
today the most important issue is the existence of multifunctional
kinder-gartens as now in all the kinder-gartens the “stone regime”
of soviet times is dominating.
“We must be able to establish a system according to which the parents
will bring and take their children when they want, the child must
sleep in the kinder-garten as much as he/she wants, sit and run as
he/she wants,” she said.
Sargsian also said that in Ararat province and Yerevan there are
such kinder-gartens which are functioning according to the program
developed by the Armenian Education and Science Ministry and UNICEF.
The program also includes “Parents’ Education” program within the
framework of which specialists of the ministry are conducting seminars
with the parents.

40.3 MILLION PEOPLE WITH HIV LIVE IN THE WORLD
Armenpress
Aug 15 2006
YEREVAN, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS: The G8 countries together with the
World Health Organization developed a project of HIV/AIDS preventive
works, care and treatment.
According to the WHO, the financial provisions for fighting against
AIDS have increased during the recent years reaching 8.3 billion
USD. The major part of the funds has been provided by the USA
government, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Fighting Global Foundation
and World Bank.
According to the new report published by the joint efforts of WHO and
UN, every year 1,800 children with HIV are born in the world, another
570,000 die of AIDS. The majority of them were infected through their
mothers. According to the WHO, the 70 percent of the people with HIV
in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia have been infected through
drug injections, but only 24 percent of them is receiving treatment.
This year 51 new cases of HIV have been registered in Armenia, 49 of
them among the citizens of Armenia.
Starting from 1988 (when first HIV case was registered in Armenia) and
until July 31 of the running year 433 cases of HIV were registered in
Armenia. Around 412 of the people with HIV are citizens of Armenia. The
majority of them are 20-39 years old, 316 of them are men, 8 children.
As to December 2005, 40.3 million people with HIV are living in the
world, including 2.3 million children and 17.5 million women.

AZERBAIJANI PRISONS ARE REAL PARADISE
E. Babayan.
Azat Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
11 Aug 2006
Perhaps this opinion is dominant in the neighboring republic, otherwise
Arzu Abdullayeva, the chair of the Azerbaijani committee of Helsinki
Civil Association would not announce in the press conference with the
Azerbaijani media, ” I had not seen worse conditions anywhere else
than in the prison of the town of Shushi.” The Azerbaijani defender
of human rights arrived in Karabakh for a two-day visit, and she had
a chance to meet with NKR President Arkady Ghukassian, the local NGOs
and even visit Shushi. The visit naturally sparked a strong reaction
among the Azerbaijani society. After returning to Baku Ms. Abdullayeva
gave a press conference and told about her impressions from
Karabakh. Unfortunately, some facts described by the Azerbaijani human
rights defender are not real. We asked Albert Voskanian, the chair
of the Civil Action Center Karabakh to comment on Arzu Abdullayeva’s
statement that in the prison of Shushi she became convinced that the
worst conditions are found in the prison of Shushi. She said, “The
first floor, where they keep 300 inmates, reminds a stable. I asked
to take us to the second floor. When our guides got instructions from
“above”, we quickly passed by the cells on the upper floor.
Although it has been slightly repaired, some writings on the walls
made by the Azerbaijani POWs are still visible…” Albert Voskanian
said, “The Civic Action Center NGO that I lead regularly conducts
monitoring of NKR penitentiaries and reports to international,
regional and local organizations. The prison of Shushi was built in
1869. Its initial appearance was preserved in the Soviet times and
was similarly passed over to independent Nagorno Karabakh. This
penitentiary with 5 degrees of security is foreseen for 350
people. We have been conducting monitoring of the prison for many
years, and over this period the number of inmates was between 60 and
80. During the visit of Abdullayeva there were 78 prisoners, and 300
inmates mentioned by the Azerbaijani defender of human rights is not
true. As for the “stable”, during the visits of foreign, including
Azerbaijani defenders of human tights to the prison they reported
normal conditions, including hygiene, food, medical service. Every
year the cells are partly repaired. Of course, the conditions are
far from the European standards, but these are being improved, and
our organization has a considerable contribution. It gives advice to
the leadership of the prison and provides aid, including computers,
newspapers, medicine, etc.” Arzu Abdullayeva said the Azerbaijani
POWs are kept in Kelbadjar, in a place called Tunnel. She said it
is a gold mine, where the Azerbaijani POWs allegedly work. In this
connection Albert Voskanian said, “For already 13 years I have been
dealing with this problem (in 1993-1997 Albert Voskanian was deputy
chair of the NKR State Commission on POWs, Hostages and the Missing)
and I state that all the Azerbaijani POWs returned home within two
years after the cease-fire signed in May 1994. In cooperation with
our Azerbaijani counterparts we exchanged or returned to Azerbaijan
several hundreds of POWs, and tens of bodies.” As for the words of Arzu
Abdullayeva that “the soldiers of the Sumgait regiment were buried
near Aghdara”, Albert Voskanian said “necessary efforts are made
to find the places of mass burial, and it is not expedient to make
suggestions, and even specify names of people relying on rumors. It
may deal a new psychological blow to the relatives of the missing,
which would not be useful for the search.”

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/14/2006
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1. ANCA Urges Administration to Oppose Deployment of Turkish Forces to Lebanon-Israel Border 2. Baku Will Not Allow Two Armenian Governments, Says Aliyev 3. Senate Democratic Leader "Extremely Concerned" Over Hoagland's Reluctance To Acknowledge Genocide 4. Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline Faces Corrosion Threat 5. ANCA Telethon Donations Hit $3 Million 1. ANCA Urges Administration to Oppose Deployment of Turkish Forces to Lebanon-Israel Border WASHINGTON--In the interest of preventing further regional unrest--and mindful of Turkey's violent legacy in the Middle East--the Armenian National Committee of America this week expressed the Armenian American community's opposition to the prospect of Turkish armed forces being deployed between Lebanon and Israel as part of a future peacekeeping operation. In an August 9 letter to President George W. Bush, ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian called upon the Administration to oppose any proposal to include Turkish troops in such a deployment, noting that, "Turkey's presence on Lebanese soil will only make the current situation even worse." He added that, "as Armenian Americans--the sons and daughters of a people who endured genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish government--we are especially mindful of raising the legacy of Turkey's brutal Ottoman rule over the Middle East and unnecessarily introducing a nation with history of destabilizing behavior into an already complex and highly sensitive region." Stressing that, "Turkey's record of persecution and genocide has left deep scars in the collective memory of the Lebanese people," Hachikian explained that, "it would be immensely insensitive on the part of the United States to promote Turkish participation in an international peacekeeping force that will need every ounce of credibility and goodwill that it can muster in order to succeed in such a highly delicate and challenging mission." The opposition of the Greek American community on this matter was communicated to the President last week in a letter from the American Hellenic Institute. The complete text of the ANCA's letter to President Bush is provided below. Dear Mr. President: We are writing to share with you the Armenian American community's opposition to any deployment by Turkey of its armed forces to serve as part of peacekeeping force between Lebanon and Israel. We learned of this possibility from news reports of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's recent discussions in the region. The presence of Turkish troops would undermine United States' interests in a lasting and durable peace. As Armenian Americans--the sons and daughters of a people who endured genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turkish government--we are especially mindful of raising the legacy of Turkey's brutal Ottoman rule over the Middle East and unnecessarily introducing a nation with history of destabilizing behavior into an already complex and highly sensitive region. Turkey's record of persecution and genocide has left deep scars in the collective memory of the Lebanese people. The famous Martyrs' Monument in Central Beirut is a vivid reminder of the record of mass brutality that Turkey has left behind in this tortured land. It would be immensely insensitive on the part of the United States to promote Turkish participation in an international peacekeeping force that will need every ounce of credibility and goodwill that it can muster in order to succeed in such a highly delicate and challenging mission. Turkey's presence on Lebanese soil will only make the current situation even worse. As Armenian Americans, we are, as you know, profoundly troubled that, more than eight decades after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Turkey continues to deny this atrocity. The Turkish government has compounded their ongoing attempts to escape responsibility for this crime, effectively seeking to complete the evil campaign launched in 1915, by, even today, blockading and seeking to isolate Armenia. In addition, Turkey maintains its military occupation of Cyprus, more than thirty years after its illegal 1974 invasion. Within its own borders, Turkey is regularly cited as among the worst abusers of human rights. In only the past few days, the Turkish military has, against the advice of US officials, threatened to launch cross border attacks into Iraq, a move that has the potential of severely destabilizing US-led coalition efforts to bring peace to this troubled nation. As you know, Turkey has, in recent years, proven itself an unreliable US ally on a number of occasions. First and foremost among these was its refusal, in March of 2003, to allow Coalition forces to open a northern front in the Iraq War. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has said that the strength of the current Iraqi insurgency is due, in large part, to Turkey's rejection of our request for cooperation in this crucial aspect of the war. Mr. President, we respectfully call upon you to consider our reservations, and those already expressed to you by our friends in the Greek American community, on this matter of profound importance to our nation's interests in the Middle East. Sincerely yours, Kenneth V. Hachikian Chairman 2. Baku Will Not Allow Two Armenian Governments, Says Aliyev BAKU (Noyan Tapan)--Azeri President Ilham Aliyev announced Monday that Baku will not allow a second Armenian government to exist within it territory. "We are well aware that minorities exist in several countries. We also know of those minorities living under self rule. However, those minorities cannot secede from a government like 'separatists' and create a new government," referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Aliyev told a group of Azeri diplomats during a meeting. A senior aide to President Ilham Aliyev has warned that Azerbaijan could turn to the United Nations if France, Russia and the United States continue to "ignore" its internationally recognized sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh. In televised remarks cited by the BBC on Friday, Novruz Mammadov, head of the foreign relations department of the Azeri presidential administration, again indicated Baku's unhappiness with a peaceful settlement favored by the three co-chairs of the Minsk Group. "Unfortunately, we have never heard anything about Azerbaijan's territorial integrity from them," Mammadov was quoted as telling an Azeri TV channel. "Azerbaijan's territorial integrity should have been the mediators' main principle... but they are forgetting about that. Just like the whole world, the mediators are thinking only about their own countries' interests." Another top Azeri official, Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov, claimed for his part that the mediators are increasingly indifferent to the plight of hundreds of thousands of Azeris that were displaced during the 1991-1994 war for Karabakh. He complained that they no longer visit rundown refugee camps where a large part of them continue to reside. "This posture by the co-chairs must be regarded as pressure on the leadership of Azerbaijan," Hasanov said, according to the Interfax news agency. The Minsk Group's existing peace plan calls for a gradual resolution of the conflict that would enable Karabakh's predominantly Armenian population to determine the disputed territory's status in a referendum. The vote would almost certainly formalize Karabakh's secession from Azerbaijan. Armenia has said that the peace plan is largely acceptable to it. Azerbaijan's attitude to the proposed deal is less clear, with Aliyev having repeatedly ruled out any solution that would not put Karabakh back under Azeri control. "Azerbaijan will never--neither today, nor tomorrow and under no circumstances--agree to Nagorno-Karabakh's secession from Azerbaijan," Aliyev told his cabinet on July 31. While saying that Baku does not object to the referendum option, Mammadov accused the mediators of being biased against the Azeris. "They are thinking about the 100,000 ethnic Armenians of Karabakh, but what about the 50,000 Azeris of Karabakh?" he said. 3. Senate Democratic Leader "Extremely Concerned" Over Hoagland's Reluctance To Acknowledge Genocide WASHINGTON--Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), in a letter to the Armenian National Committee of Nevada, reported that he is "extremely concerned" by the reluctance of Richard Hoagland, the Administration's nominee to serve as the next ambassador to Armenia, to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. Senator Reid's public stand follows the August 2nd announcement by Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) that he will vote against the Hoagland nomination because of the nominee's refusal to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide as a "genocide." Sen. Coleman serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "The opposition of Senator Norm Coleman and concerns raised by Harry Reid--the Senate's Democratic Leader--reflect the growing bipartisan opposition to the approval of a US envoy to Yerevan who refuses to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We continue to work in communities around the nation to explain to Senators the damage to US-Armenia relations--and, more broadly, to America's standing on genocide prevention efforts worldwide--that will be done by approving a nominee that has actually denied the genocidal intent of the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide." Responding to grassroots concerns raised by Nevada's growing and increasingly active Armenian American community, Senator Reid noted that this refusal is "particularly troubling in light of the State Department's dismissal of the last Ambassador to Armenia, John M. Evans following comments he made during a February 2005 tour of Armenian-American communities in which he recognized the Armenian Genocide. As you may know, the State Department has offered no explanation for Evans' dismissal." As reported by the Associated Press, Senator Coleman has explained, "As someone of the Jewish faith, I bring a heightened sensitivity to the reality of genocide and mass murder, and the importance of recognizing it for what it is. I was brought up believing you never forget the Holocaust, never forget what happened. And I could not imagine how our ambassador to Israel could have any effectiveness if he couldn't recognize the Holocaust." On August 1, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee delayed consideration of Ambassador Hoagland's nomination, following a request by the Committee's Ranking Democrat Joseph Biden (D-Del.) and Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.). Also voicing support for the delay were Senators George Allen (R-Va.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). The Committee is set to consider the matter during its regular business meeting on September 7. To date, more than half of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, including Senators George Allen, Joseph Biden, Barbara Boxer, Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Norm Coleman, Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), Russell Feingold (D-Wisc.), John Kerry and Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.) have contacted Secretary Rice or questioned Ambassador-designate Hoagland directly regarding the Armenian Genocide. Senators Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Jack Reed (D-RI), along with over sixty members of the US House have also expressed serious concerns to the State Department on this matter. 4. Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline Faces Corrosion Threat By Stephen Foley in New York The INDEPENDENT Environmental groups have warned that corrosion inside a controversial new oil pipeline controlled by the British company BP could trigger a massive oil spill into some of the most environmentally-sensitive areas of the former Soviet Union. As BP battles with a crisis in Alaska, where it had to shut down the biggest oil field in the US, campaigners say that safety flaws discovered there extend also to a 1,000-mile pipeline from the Caspian Sea to Turkey. And the company stands accused of a management culture where whistleblowers are ignored or, worse, hounded out. BP is accused of ignoring warnings about the effectiveness of a coating it uses to slow corrosion. Critics say the coating will fail, and corrosion will quickly cause the pipeline to break open, spilling oil into the wilds of Azerbaijan and Georgia. The criticisms come as politicians in Washington plan to bring senior BP executives before Congressional hearings to face questions on a string of safety lapses. Corroded pipelines in Alaska caused a 200,000 gallon oilspill--the region's worst ever on land--and BP is shutting down the entire oilfield to conduct repairs. The field represents eight per cent of all oil produced in the US, and its closure sent oil prices soaring this week. The debacle comes barely a year after 15 people died in an explosion at a BP refinery in Texas, for which the company faces a legal bill of more than $1 billion. It is nicknamed "Big Problems" in the US. Platform, an oil industry monitoring group, says it is only a matter of time before the pipeline through the Caucasus--from Baku in Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan--also triggers a disaster. The pipeline cuts through national parkland and mineral springs in Georgia, and triggered environmental protests when it was still at the planning stage. Mika Minio Paluello, of Platform, said: "The public in Alaska is much more important to BP than the public in the Caucasus, so if the standards are not even met in the US then there is not much reason to believe that they will be met there." Platform says BP ignored warnings from one of its engineering consultants about the coating used to prevent corrosion. Test results show it is already cracking at some points, although BP says this is not serious. The project has been dogged by criticism, and earlier this year The Independent revealed a string of blunders. Builders cut off villages' water supplies, flooded farmland and allowed oil leaks; there were insufficient checks for pipes buckling in earthquake zones; welding work failed inspections; and those who complained were sacked or made to leave. But in May, oil began flowing through the pipeline and it will carry a million barrels a day from the newly-developed oilfields off the Azeri coast. The industry is desperate for new sources as existing fields mature and as demand for oil rises. BP dismissed the idea that it cuts corners and compromises safety. A spokes-man said: "The pipeline was constructed, and will be operated and maintained, to a high standard. It is protected against both internal and external corrosion." The danger of corrosion in Alaska was brought to the attention of the BP board two years ago by a former consultant, who had become a conduit for concerns from internal whistleblowers. BP is conducting a review of safety and ethics procedures--including protections for whistleblowers--throughout its US operations. The company is facing a criminal investigation in Alaska, as well as tough fines from regulators. Nick Hildyard, of another environmental monitoring group, The Corner House, said: "A management culture that treats credible concerns over safety as something to be resisted serves neither the public nor shareholders. Alaska shows only too clearly the long-term costs." 5. ANCA Telethon Donations Hit $3 Million WASHINGTON--Donations to the first ever ANCA Telethon topped the three million dollar mark, with over 7,500 individual donations coming in from across the country to expand the level of Armenian American participation in the civic life of the United States, reported the ANCA Endowment Fund, Inc. "We are deeply gratified by this broad-based, grassroots investment in our energetic pursuit of the Armenian Cause," said ANCA Endowment Fund President Ken Hachikian. "The success of the Telethon--both financially and as a means of recruiting thousands of new activists--represents both a reflection of our community's enduring faith in the Armenian Cause and an important milestone in the growth of our power, respect, and influence in the nation's capital. It is a clear expression of our community's confidence in the success of the ANCA's grassroots efforts." The ANCA Telethon, a six-hour May 21 broadcast, was seen in hundreds of thousands of homes across the United States. The program featured hosts from across the country, remarks by US elected officials and Armenian American community leaders, performances by leading Armenian entertainers, and a variety of documentaries featuring different aspects of the Armenian Cause. Donations to the Telethon--during the broadcast and in the weeks that followed came from all elements of the Armenian American community. The success of the Telethon is unprecedented for an Armenian American community grassroots organization. The program kicked off the ANCA Capital Campaign, designed to raise $5 million in support of ANCA educational programs and the newly purchased ANCA headquarters in the nation's capital. The ANCA has been expanding its operations in Washington to meet the increasing portfolio of work needed to pursue vital issues of concern to the Armenian American community. This year the ANCA moved into its new headquarters building that was purchased in February, and has been expanding its broad based community outreach programs including the ANCA Capital Gateway Program. Funds raised will primarily become part of a permanent capital fund for the organization. Since the success of the Telethon, the ANCA has embarked on a number of national, regional and local initiatives, recently completing its 21st annual Leo Sarkisian Internship program in Washington, DC, as well as various regional and local internship programs. Chapters and activists nationwide are gearing for the November Congressional elections, with the ANCA "Hye Voter Turnout" program expanding to educate Congressional candidates across the country about Armenian American concerns. In September, the ANCA will be hosting a national conference, geared to bring together activists from across the US to share their experiences and learn how to strengthen the ANCA grassroots network. Titled "Grassroots Makes the Difference," the conference, will be held September 14 to 17 at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in Washington. For more information, or to register, visit: On-line donations are still being accepted for the ANCA Telethon at 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) 2006 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.

California Courier Online, August 17, 2006
1 – Commentary
Will the Bombing of Lebanon
Bury the Azeri-Israeli Lovefest?
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
2 – Forty Days of Musa Dagh Struggle
To be Celebrated Sept. 2 in Fresno
3 – Hope For The City Sends Three Large
Containers of Medical Aid to Armenia
4 – California Assembly OK’s Bill to
Recover Assets of Genocide Victims
5- TCA Dickranian School Trustees Appoint
Vasken Boulghourjian New Vice-Principal
6 – ARPA International Film Festival
Will Honor Dr. J. Michael Hagopian
7 – Armenian Women
To be Honored at
Sept. 7 Luncheon
8 – Las Vegas Armenians Plan
To Erect Genocide Memorial
**************************************** **********************************
1 – Commentary
Will the Bombing of Lebanon
Bury the Azeri-Israeli Lovefest?
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
As a follow up to my last month’s column on Azerbaijan’s efforts to
exploit Israel’s clout in Washington, D.C., I would like to present
further revelations on this topic by Ilya Bourtman, a former
researcher at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies in Ramat
Gan, Israel. His article, titled, “Israel and Azerbaijan’s Furtive
Embrace,” is published in the Summer 2006 edition of the Middle East
Quarterly.
Stating that “few could have foreseen how Israel’s relationship with
Azerbaijan would blossom,” Bourtman expresses his amazement that “a
country 93 percent Muslim would cooperate closely with Israeli
intelligence, and even provide Israeli officials a defensive platform
in such a volatile region’s Israel and Azerbaijan have quietly become
strategic partners sharing intelligence, developing trade relations,
and together building regional alliances [with Turkey].” The writer
strains credulity by drawing parallels between the Arab-Israeli
conflict and that of Azerbaijan with Armenia.
This is how Bourtman explains why Azerbaijan needed the Jewish
lobby’s help in Washington: “In 1991, Azerbaijan was economically
fragile, politically unstable, and militarily weak. Desperate for
outside assistance, Baku turned to Israel to provide leverage against
a much stronger Iran and a militarily superior Armenia. Israel
promised to improve Azerbaijan’s weak economy by developing trade
ties. It purchased Azerbaijani oil and gas and sent medical,
technological, and agricultural experts. Most importantly for
Azerbaijan, Israel’s foreign ministry vowed to lend its lobby’s
weight in Washington to improve Azeri-American relations, providing a
counterweight to the influential Armenian lobby. According to
Azerbaijan’s first president, Abulfas Elchibey, “Israel could help
Azerbaijan in [the] Karabakh problem by convincing the Americans to
stop the Armenians. Azerbaijani diplomats recognized the need to
diversify their contacts in Washington, especially after the U.S.
Congress imposed sanctions on Azerbaijan at the behest of the
Armenian lobby following the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijani
military officials also believed that Israeli firms could better
equip the ragtag Azerbaijani army, which needed new weapons following
its defeat in Nagorno-Karabakh. On several occasions, Heydar Aliyev,
Azerbaijan’s president between 1993 and 2003, personally requested
military assistance from Israeli prime ministers.”
In describing the benefits of the Israeli lobby to Azerbaijan,
Bourtman writes: “in the mid 1990’s, struggling to piece together the
weak and dysfunctional Azerbaijani state, President Aliyev moved
towards Jerusalem, thereby winning the allegiance of the pro-Israel
lobby in Washington.” He then quotes Hassan Hassanov, Azerbaijan’s
foreign minister, who stated in 1997: “We don’t conceal that we rely
on the Israeli lobby in the U.S.” Bourtman explains: “This paid
dividends when, in 2002, President Bush waived Section 907 of the
Freedom Support Act. In a rare and understated public admission, an
official at the Azerbaijani embassy in Washington acknowledged that,
“Jewish organizations made a certain contribution in the Section 907
waiving process.”
Beyond lobbying assistance, Bourtman reveals the extent of
Azerbaijan’s reliance on Israeli weaponry: “Following its loss in
Nagorno-Karabakh, Baku reached out to Israel for help in rebuilding
its military. Israeli defense firms obliged, selling Azerbaijan
advanced aviation, antitank, artillery, and anti-infantry weapon
systems. The arms trade has continued. In 2004, the Azerbaijani and
Israeli press both reported that an undisclosed Israeli weapons
system was being sent to Turkey where it would be assembled and then
delivered to Azerbaijan. While Israeli, Turkish, and Azerbaijani
officials denied the report, Israeli policy prohibits confirmation of
such deals, an Azerbaijani military official defended the purchase,
saying “our country’s interest in Israeli weapons is natural as this
country possesses up-to-date types of weapons, military hardware, and
special equipment. Weapons sales and shared-threat perception have
smoothed intelligence and security cooperation. Israeli firms built
and guard the fence around Baku’s international airport, monitor and
help protect Azerbaijan’s energy infrastructure, and even provide
security for Azerbaijan’s president on his foreign visits. Israeli
intelligence operatives help collect human intelligence about
extremist Islamist organizations in the region and monitor the troop
deployments of Azerbaijan’s neighbors especially Iran. In a
Washington Institute for Near East Policy analysis, analysts Soner
Cagaptay and Alexander Murinson alluded to reports that Israeli
intelligence maintains listening posts along the Azerbaijani border
with Iran.”
Bourtman further observes that Turkey “has benefited the most from
the development of Azerbaijani-Israeli cooperation.” In August 1997,
when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Baku, he and
Pres. Heydar Aliyev “discussed various issues ranging from new oil
deals, to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, to trilateral cooperation between
Israel, Turkey, and Azerbaijan,” Bourtman writes.
Despite rosy reports by Azeri officials and American-Jewish
organizations about the freedoms enjoyed by Jews in Azerbaijan,
Bourtman refers to an article in the Feb. 15, 2006 issue of Haa’retz
newspaper which ominously reported that Israeli officials “worry
about the recent spike in violence by radical Islamists against
Jewish communities in Azerbaijan.”
The month-long massive Israeli bombings of Lebanon could make
Azerbaijan’s leaders more cautious in their courtship of Israel and
strain the ties between the two countries. As a sign of increasing
tensions, already there have been several public demonstrations
against these bombings in recent days in front of the Israeli Embassy
in Baku which the authorities brutally dispersed.
Even before this latest negative turn of events, Bourtman reported
that Azerbaijan had decided “to curtail expansion of cooperation with
Israel,” not wanting to be seen by fellow Muslims as being too close
to the Tel Aviv government. Interestingly, he writes that Azerbaijani
authorities also feel that “they have exhausted the use of pro-Israel
groups in Washington.”
It looks like the Azeris used the Israeli lobby when it served their
interests, and now that close association with Israel has become a
liability, they have decided to ditch the Jewish lobby
unceremoniously!
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2 – Forty Days of Musa Dagh Struggle
To be Celebrated Sept. 2 in Fresno
By Nyrie Karkazian
FRESNO -The heroic struggle and victory of the Forty Days of Musa
Dagh will be celebrated Labor Day weekend, marking the 91st year of
remembrance for the people from the small Armenian villages, once
located in the Cilician region, now in Turkey.
During the years of the Armenian genocide, the people of Musa Dagh
were being forced by the Turks to change their ways and religion. The
townspeople courageously refused to fall into the hands of the Turks
and climbed atop their mountain called Musa Ler.
They fought the Turkish soldiers off for 40 long days and were
miraculously saved by a French ship passing by on the Mediterranean
Sea.
For the past 30 years, the Musa Dagh Commemoration Committee in
Fresno has put together a weekend memorial. The tradition began with
just a few families trying to keep their heritage alive and now
attracts around 800-1000 people a year.
This year’s festivities will begin with a family picnic on September
2, at the Fresno Police Association’s Training Grounds from 7 pm to
midnight. The cooking of the Herissa, a lamb and whole wheat stew,
will begin and traditional Davoul, Zourna music brought in especially
from Ainjar will be performed, followed by a DJ and dancing. Chicken
and beef kebab dinners will also be sold.
Father Vahan Gostanian, Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Armenian
Apostolic Church, Fresno, will celebrate the Divine Liturgy Sunday
morning at 10:30 am. Guest speaker Rev. Mgrdich Melkonian, Senior
Pastor of the First Armenian Presbyterian Church, Fresno, will also
be giving a sermon.
Following the service will be the blessing and serving of the Herissa
accompanied by a Kef-time with Davoul, Zourna music until 3 pm.
“We invite everybody to come celebrate this victory of the Forty Days
of Musa Dagh,” George Karkazian said, “to remember the great battle
of Mousa Ler and the heroes who fell fighting for our religious
freedom.”
For more information and donations, contact call George Karkazian at
(559)297-0201, or Kevork Oflazian at (559) 435-3078.
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3 – Hope For The City Sends Three Large
Containers of Medical Aid to Armenia
MINNEAPOLIS, MN/YEREVAN – Hope For The City, working in close
collaboration with the United Armenian Fund and the Cafesjian Family
Foundation, delivered three, 40-foot containers of medical equipment
and supplies valued at $468,000 to the “Arabkir” United Children’s
Charity Foundation in Yerevan. The shipment arrived on Aug. 2.
Transportation expenses were covered by the United Armenian Fund.
The shipment of medical equipment and supplies, including examination
tables, wheelchairs and rehabilitation equipment, will be distributed
to children hospitals in both Yerevan and the regions of Armenia,
where the need for such items is very acute. The founders of Hope For
The City first met with Dr. Ara Babloyan, Executive Director of
“Arabkir” United Children’s Charity Foundation in April of 2005. Dr.
Babloyan did a needs assessment and compiled a list of much needed
medical items. Hope For The City then quickly collected and shipped
much of the needed medical equipment and supplies, thus fulfilling a
vital need of Armenia’s major children’s hospitals.
“Considering the dire need of our hospitals, this aid will certainly
play a big role in the improvement of provided services in the health
care sector; the received rehabilitation equipment is of vital
importance as well,” stated Dr. Babloyan. “We are very grateful to
Hope For The City for this generous donation. We thank the United
Armenian Fund and The Cafesjian Family Foundation for their support.”
Dennis and Megan Doyle, founders of Hope For the City and Board
Members of the Cafesjian Family Foundation, first visited Armenia in
April of 2005. Since this initial visit, Hope For The City has
shipped over one million dollars of aid from the United States to
Armenia. Hope For The City, working closely with the Cafesjian Family
Foundation, provides supplies and other medical-technical assistance
to selected organizations in Armenia.
Hope for the City is a privately funded, 501(c) 3 relief organization
that was established by Dennis and Megan Doyle in 2000 to fight
poverty, hunger and disease by utilizing corporate surplus. The
US/Minnesota-based, non-profit organization collects overstock
products from top retailers, medical companies, and food distributors
nationwide and donates the items to people in need locally, across
the country and around the world. Since its inception, Hope for the
City has donated approximately $300 million in wholesale value of
goods.
The United Armenian Fund is a collective effort of the Armenian
Assembly of America, the Armenian General Benevolent Union, the
Armenian Relief Society, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of
America, the Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, and
the Lincy Foundation. Since its inception in 1989, the United
Armenian Fund has sent over $444 million USD of humanitarian
assistance to Armenia on board 139 airlifts and 1,341 sea containers.
The Cafesjian Family Foundation, Inc., was established in 1996 by
Gerard L. Cafesjian. The US based, non-profit organization supports a
variety of Armenian causes in Armenia, Nagorno-Karabagh and the
United States. A primary focus of the Cafesjian Family Foundation is
the security of independent Armenia and the further development of a
free, democratic society through economic development and the
strengthening of the US/Armenia relationship.
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4 – California Assembly OK’s Bill to
Recover Assets of Genocide Victims
SACRAMENTO – One of the bill approved last week by the California
Assembly was AB 1524 by Sen. Jackie Speier (D-San Mateo), which
allows heirs of victims of the Armenian Genocide who live in
California to file legal claims against banks in an effort to recover
assets looted by the Turkish government in the early 1900s.
“Over 900,000 Armenian-Americans reside in California,” said
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg, D-Los Angeles. “Many of their families
were killed in the Armenian Genocide from 1915 to 1923 and their
assets were abruptly seized by the Turks and placed in German banks.
No effort has been made by these banks to return their assets to
their rightful owners.”
The bill, which has already passed the Senate, went through the
Assembly on a 65-2 vote.
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5 – TCA Dickranian School Trustees Appoint
Vasken Boulghourjian New Vice-Principal
LOS ANGELES – The Board of Trustees of the TCA Arshag Dickranian
School established the office of Vice Principal in the school’s
governing system and announced the appointment of Vasken
Boulghoujrian to the position last week.
Boulghourjian is a 1980 graduate from La Verne College with a BS
degree in mathematics. After working as a tax consultant for two
decades, he changed his vocation to academics and education by
accepting a teaching job at the Armenian Sisters Academy in Glendale,
Calif., where he taught for three years.
The new Vice-Principal started working at TCA Arshag Dickranian
School in the fall of 2003, teaching math for two years, then
becoming the superintendent of students in charge of discipline. He
has conducted his duties with diligence and honesty, being well liked
by the students and faculty as well.
“As Vice Principal, Mr. Boulghourjian will not only assist the
principal on a daily basis, but will be a great asset in positioning
Arshag Dickranian School for the future” said chairman George
Mandossian when making the announcement on behalf of the Board of
Trustees.
Boulghourjian and wife Tamar have a four-year old daughter Natalie,
and one-year old son Aram
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6 – ARPA International Film Festival
Will Honor Dr. J. Michael Hagopian
LOS ANGELES – The 2006 Arpa International Film Festival will hold its
9th annual film festival on October 26 at the Egyptian Theater in
Hollywood, Calif. Screenings will run all day and throughout the
evening.
The Arpa Awards Banquet will be held on Oct. 27. This year, Arpa
honors 92 year-old documentary filmmaker Dr. J. Michael Hagopian with
the Armin T. Wegner Award for lifetime achievement in film.
The Arpa International Film Festival presents Armenian cinema and
international films which explore diaspora, war, exile, genocide,
multi-culturalism and dual-identity. AFFMA founder Sylvia Minassian
says, “Arpa celebrates artistic vision and cultural diversity in
cinema while illuminating the Armenian experience. We’re so pleased
that people in both the US and abroad are becoming aware of the
opportunities Arpa gives filmmakers to share our unique history
through film.”
While Armenians live all over the globe, the largest population of
Armenians outside of Armenia is in Southern California. “Los Angeles
is a city of unlimited cultural power and Armenians contribute to
that richness immensely,” Minassian says. With that in mind, Arpa
honors those filmmakers who address the common circumstances of
diasporan people, redefining what Los Angeles stands for as a global
city, through the presentation of Armenian and international cinema.
Festival director, Alex Kalognomos, says of this year’s Armin T.
Wegner recipient: “Dr. Hagopian is internationally revered as a major
influence in the world of documentary filmmaking. For over 50 years,
he’s been presenting meticulously researched and cross-referenced
films about the Armenian Genocide and presenting them to the world in
the face of Turkey’s continued denial. He founded the Armenian Film
Foundation and has interviewed over 400 Genocide survivors. In his
90s, he’s still going strong. He’s a great artist, a great
humanitarian, and an inspiring man.”
This year, Arpa presents 25 feature, documentary, short and animated
films from Armenia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Lebanon,
Netherlands, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United
States. The festival includes works by J. Michael Hagopian, Gary
Null, Apo Torosyan, Eddie Deleon, Peter Musurlian, Arbi Ohanian,
Vartan Latyre, John Putch, Armand Ghazarian, Shant Hamassian,
Dorothee Forma, Hovik Thomasian, and Manja Wilkinson.
For a complete schedule of films, visit
For sponsorships and ad book opportunities or to reserve tickets for
the Arpa Gala and Awards Banquet honoring Dr. J. Michael Hagopian,
call (323) 663-1882 or e-mail to: [email protected]
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7 – Armenian Women
To be Honored at
Sept. 7 Luncheon
GLENDALE – Three of 20 women in business to be honored at a Sept. 7
luncheon in Burbank are Armenian-Americans from the Burbank and
Glendale areas, announced California Senator Jack Scott,
Assemblymember Carol Liu and Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer
last week.
The Women in Business Awards will be presented to Annie Hovanessian
of Vulcan Materials of Burbank (Women in Law); Sylvia Tchakmakjian of
Sylvia’s Costumes, Glendale/Hollywood, (Most Inspirational); and
Nazeli Charchian, MD, from the Charchian Medical Corp., of Glendale
(Women in Science).
The WIB honorees are chosen based on nominations from the communities
of from California’s 21st Senate district, 43rd and 44th Assembly
district.
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8 – Las Vegas Armenians Plan
To Erect Genocide Memorial
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – The Armenian Community of Las Vegas has formed
the Armenian Genocide Memorial Committee which is tasked with the
erection of an Armenian Genocide Memorial in Las Vegas.
After several meetings with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and
Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian, the city has committed to dedicate land
for the Memorial in Centennial Plaza in downtown Las Vegas.
Mayor Goodman announced the city’s commitment and the location of the
site during the annual April 24 commemoration, which was also
attended by all three Nevada congressmen, Rep. Jon Porter, Rep.
Shelley Berkley, and Rep. Jim Gibbons, as well as a representative
from Sen. John Ensign’s office.
The site selected for the new Armenian Genocide Memorial is a busy
area in the business and legal district near the famous Fremont
Street Experience. It will be seen by thousands of people daily.
The budget for the historical monument has been set a $150,000.
The Committee is accepting designs for the new Memorial. Interest
applicants should contact Abe Kassamanian at (702) 260-0899 for
further information. Tax-deductible donations are also being
accepted. Checks should be made payable to “Las Vegas Genocide
Memorial Fund, Bank West of Nevada, 2890 N. Green Valley Parkway,
Henderson, NV 89014.
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