Russia, Kyrgyzstan set to conduct antiterrorism exercise
RIA Novosti
Russia
13:38 | 21/ 09/ 2006
BISHKEK, September 21 (RIA Novosti) – Russia and Kyrgyzstan will hold
a joint antiterrorism exercise in the Central Asian republic in early
October, the Kyrgyz Defense Ministry said Thursday.
Kyrgyz police said in August that radical Islamic groups banned in
many countries across the globe, including Hizb-ut-Tahrir (Party of
Liberation), have stepped up their activities in the country.
Russia and Kyrgyzstan are both members of the Collective Security
Treaty Organization (CSTO), a post-Soviet security grouping, which
also includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan and the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional security body in Central
Asia that includes China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
The ministry said the exercise will begin October 2 and end October
5 with the firing of live ammunition at the Osh training grounds,
in the south of the country.
The main aim of the exercise is to plan and practice the coordination
of combat units in a joint antiterrorism operation, and to improve the
combat skills of military personnel during operations in mountainous
areas, it said.
The defense ministers of the two countries, foreign military attaches
and media are scheduled to attend the final phase of the exercise.
Russia maintains the Kant airbase, located about 20 miles west of the
Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. The base was established in October 2003 to
enable Russian combat aircraft to provide close air support for the
ground units of CSTO member states.
So far, Russia has provided military equipment worth 15 million rubles
($554,006) to the Central Asian nation as part of their military
cooperation agreements.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Monsters and Critics.com, UK
The Almanac: Today is Thursday, Sept. 21
On This Date in History:
In 1792, the Legislative Assembly of revolutionary
France voted to abolish the monarchy and establish the
First Republic, stripping King Louis XVI of most of
his power.
In 1893, the first successful U.S.-made,
gasoline-operated motorcar appeared on the streets of
Springfield, Mass. It was designed and built by
Charles and Frank Duryea.
In 1921, following the sex scandal caused by the
arrest of comedian Fatty Arbuckle, Universal announced
it would require its actors to sign a ‘morality
clause’ in their contracts.
In 1938, an estimated 600 people were killed by a
hurricane that battered the coast of New England.
In 1985, Western intelligence estimates said the
Iran-Iraq war in five years had cost nearly 1 million
lives.
In 1991, Armenia became the 12th Soviet republic to
declare independence.
In 1993, Russian President Boris Yeltsin suspended the
parliament and announced parliamentary elections would
be in December.
In 1996, U.S. President Bill Clinton signed into law
the Defense of Marriage Act, which allows states to
disregard same sex marriages that might be official in
other places.
And in 1996, John F. Kennedy, Jr., son of the late
U.S. president and described by tabloids as the
world`s most eligible bachelor, wed Carolyn Bessette.
In 1998, U.S. President Bill Clinton`s videotaped
grand jury testimony, during which he admitted to an
inappropriate relationship with former White House
intern Monica Lewinsky, was shown on television. It
ran more than four hours.
Also in 1998, Hurricane Georges began its deadly
rampage through the Caribbean, killing more than 600
people.
In 1999, at least 2,300 people were killed when an
earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck
Taiwan.
In 2001, a telecast by top movie stars and musicians
raised more than $500 million for survivors of the
victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
In 2002, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
reportedly told the Bush administration Israel would
strike back if attacked by Iraq.
In 2003, the spacecraft Galileo approached the fringes
of Jupiter`s atmosphere and then was directed to
destroy itself in a high-speed plunge.
In 2004, two U.S. hostages were reported executed by
suspected Iraqi insurgents within a day of each other.
Jack Hensley and Eugene Armstrong, contractors working
for a United Arab Emirates firm, were kidnapped from
their Baghdad home.
In 2005, Texas coastal residents were ordered to
evacuate, creating a mass exodus from the Houston and
Galveston area as Hurricane Rita became the third-most
intense hurricane on record in the Atlantic Basin. Top
sustained winds were near 165 mph over the Gulf of
Mexico.

As Elif Safak trial begins, Erdogan warns police
Hurriyet, Turkey
September 21, 2006
As internationally-known Turkish author Elif Safak goes to court today
to face charges brought against her that she “insulted Turkishness”
in one of her most recent novels, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
has reportedly given orders to the Istanbul police headquarters that
street demonstrations in support of convicting Safak by nationalist
citizens are not to be tolerated.
The case against Safak was brought about by well-known nationalist
lawyer Kemal Kerincsiz, who heads up a conservative group of lawyers
based in Istanbul.
Kerincsiz, who gained notoriety for his attempts to stop the Armenian
conferences held earlier this year in Istanbul, has based his case
against Safak on the 301st article of the Turkish Penal Code, which
calls for prison terms for people convicted by the court of insulting
“Turkishness, the Turkish Republic, or the Turkish Parliament.”
In preparation for the Safak hearing, lawyer Kerincsiz has reportedly
sent an announcement entitled “National Duty” to supporters and members
of his legal group, telling them to come and demonstrate in front of
the Beyoglu courthouse where the trial is to take place.
In the group’s web site, a passage reading “Elif Safak is the
newly crowned princess of the neo-liberals, the ethnic minorities,
the separationists, the EU and US supporters, and the so-called
intellectuals” has been up all week.
Prime Minister Erdogan told Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah
yesterday “I do not want to see the Kerincsiz supporters on the
street.” Previous trials of famous authors such as Orhan Pamuk and
Perihan Magden have put Turkey in an uncomfortable international
spotlight, just as the Elif Safak trial, before it has even begun,
has managed to do. Whether or not the Turkish Parliament in Ankara
is going to move to alter the 301st article of the penal code is a
question many are now asking throughout Turkey and abroad.

Uzbekistan ratifies 31 EurAsEC accords
UzReport.com, Uzbekistan
21.09.2006 14:59:33
Uzbekistan has ratified 31 out of 74 Eurasian Economic Community
(EurAsEC) agreements, EurAsEC Secretary General Grigory Rapota told
Interfax in Astana on Thursday.
“Uzbekistan has signed 31 EurAsEC accords, and there are still 43
documents to be ratified,” he said.
The resolution of the EurAsEC Interstate Council dated 25 January
“affirmed Uzbekistan’s full-scale political membership in the
community,” Rapota said.
“It may de facto become a fully-fledged member of the organization by
the end of the year, if all EurAsEC agreements are ratified,” he said.
EurAsEC was established on 10 October 2000, and comprises Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan. Uzbekistan entered
the organization on 25 January 2006. Moldova, Ukraine and Armenia
hold observer status at the organization.

Number of U.S. Politicians Stand Against Hoagland’s Nomination
PanARMENIAN.Net
21.09.2006 14:35 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA)
thinks that Senator Robert Menendez’s position will be endorsed by
the other Senate members, ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter. In his words, not only the Senate
but also other U.S. politicians stand against Hoagland’s nomination
for U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.
“Although it’s the President who takes the decision, he cannot appoint
a new Ambassador without the Senate’s approval. If the Senators
determine to freeze the process of appointment several questions will
arouse. The first and the most important question is whether President
Bush intends to recognize the Armenian Genocide and to what extent the
candidate is appropriate for the post. Richard Hoagland himself should
voice his position on the Armenian Genocide and finally, the President
Administration should comment on the concern of the Turkish government
and its role in the Genocide recognition issue and appointment of
Ambassador to Armenia,” the ANCA Executive Director underscored.

Trend
Today 21.09.2006
Venice Commission to discuss law “On freedom of assembly” in Azerbaijan on 13-14 October
Source: Trend
Author: A.Ismaylova
21.09.2006
68th Plenary Session of the Venice Commission will be held on October
13-14, Trend reports with reference to the statement of the Venice
Commission.
The next session of the Venice Commission is expected to discuss the
issue of upgrading the law “On freedom of assembly in Azerbaijan”. Such
decision was made on September 19 in Baku at the conference held with
the participation of the representatives of Azerbaijan government,
experts of OSCE and Venice Commission, and discussions were held
on the implementation mechanism of the law “On freedom of assembly
in Azerbaijan”.
In addition, during the conference it was decided to create a working
group consisting of the representatives of the Azerbaijani government,
experts of OSCE Baku and Venice Commission, which will begin its
activities after the next session of the Venice Commission. The
working group will prepare its proposals regarding improvement of
the same legislation in Azerbaijan.
The previous 67th session of the Venice Commission was held on June
9-10, 2006. During the session, a joint statement of the Venice
Commission and OSCE regarding the electoral legislation in Armenia,
Georgia and Macedonia was heard.
69th session of the Venice Commission will be held on December 15-16.

Santa Cruz Sentinel, CA
September 20, 2006
Family recipes mined for Armenian cookbook
By Terri Morgan
Sentinel correspondent
Hungry for some more Russian-style dishes but don’t
have time, energy or inclination to drive up to San
Francisco and your favorite Russian restaurant? The
Ladies Society of St. Andrew Armenian Church of
Cupertino has just what you need. “New Armenian
Kitchen” is loaded with recipes that capture the
flavor of Armenia, Russia and other countries that
made up the former Soviet Union.
The idea for the cookbook was cooked up back in 1999
by an Aptos woman. Veronica Sarkissian, a longtime
member of the church, was one of many volunteers who
helped put together fundraising dinners at St. Andrew.
Tired of regularly cooking – and cleaning up – for a
crowd, she started looking around for a longer-lasting
and less labor-intensive fundraising project. She put
together a cookbook committee, and, with the help of
10 other volunteers, convinced members of their
congregation to contribute their favorite family
recipes for the cookbook.
“Some recipes are more Russian, while some are more
Armenian,” Sarkissian said. “The cookbook includes a
compilation of recipes from about 100 people,
including several family recipes passed down” through
the generations.
“Those familiar with Armenian cooking know that
Armenians have adopted food recipes from neighboring
countries and cultures and from wherever they have
emigrated – primarily the Middle East,” Sarkissian
wrote in the cookbook’s preface. “These recipes
represent many regional influences.”
The cookbook was also designed for modern households,
she noted. Some of the recipes include shortcuts, like
using canned tomato sauce, Crisco shortening, or soup
from cans or mixes.
The cookbook includes a wide range of recipes, from
appetizers through desserts, including cucumber and
other salads, borsch and other soups, chicken Kiev and
other main courses, and beer bread and other baked
goods. It also includes a wealth of information about
Armenia, which is located between Turkey, Azerbaijan,
Georgia and Iran. The pages are peppered with Armenian
proverbs, and a mealtime prayer is printed – in both
Armenian and English – opposite the table of contents.
Contact Terri Morgan at
[email protected].
If You Buy
WHAT: ‘New Armenian Kitchen.’
WHERE: St. Andrew Ladies Society, 11370 S. Stelling
Road, Cupertino, CA 95014, or on Amazon.com.
price: The new edition of the cookbook retails for
$16.95. However, the online bookstore still has some
older editions available for less.
Armenian recipes
Recipes from “The New Armenian Kitchen.”
BABA GHANNOUJ
Recipe from Apri Haleblian
1 lg. eggplant
1 lemon, squeezed
2 cloves garlic
3 Tbsps. tahine
Salt, to taste
1 Tbsp. olive oil
Cut holes into the eggplant, broil it until done (it
shrivels), prick with a fork, it should be soft
inside. Peel the eggplant, remove the pulp. Add lemon
juice, garlic (mashed), tahine and salt and blend
well. Put in a bowl. Add olive oil on top, decorate
with parsley leaves. Chill and serve as an appetizer.
Tastes good with pocket bread.
CHICKPEA PILAF
>>From Veronica Sarkissian
1 cup rice (long grain)
½ cup vermicelli, broken up
¼ cup butter
2 cups chicken broth
1-15 oz. can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
Brown vermicelli in butter. Add rice, warmed broth and
chickpeas. Cover and cook on medium-low heat for about
20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed, stirring
occasionally. Fluff with fork and serve.
POTATO CANDY
>>From Lucille M. Kuririan
1 sm. potato, peeled
1 pkg. powdered sugar
1 pkg. coconut
½ tsp. vanilla
2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
Boil a very small potato until it is tender. Mash well
and add powdered sugar until it is thick enough to
spread in an 8-by-8-inch pan. Add coconut and vanilla.
Pat down. Cover with melted chocolate. Cool and cut
into squares.
–Boundary_(ID_npMbbsSdlPUAJhdtsfmd9w)–

Jordan News Agency (Petra), Jordan
20/09/2006 16:24:18
King Congratulates President of Armenia
/0013/
For papers use only
Amman, Sept. 20 (Petra)– His Majesty King Abdullah II on Wednesday
sent a cable to President Robert S.
Kocharian of the Republic of Armenia congratulating him in his name
and on behalf of the Jordanian people and government on the occasion
of his country’s Independence Day.
The King wished the president continued good health and happiness
and the people of Armenia further progress and prosperity.
//Petra// Ashkar
20/09/2006 16:24:18

Andrzej Kasprzyk Continues Talks on Fires in Karabakh
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.09.2006 19:06 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Personal representative of the OSCE CiO Andrzej
Kasprzyk will arrive in Baku October 3.
After participation the talks of the OSCE MG Co-chairs Kasprzyk
returned to Vienna to continue talks on the fires in NKR and the
territories adjacent to it. The Ambassador said he holds meetings in
the appropriate OSCE structures and then will depart for Azerbaijan.
The negotiations with the conflicting parts will be launched soon,
afterwards the date of arrival of the expert group will be determined,
reported Trend news agency.

French President Congratulated Armenian People on 15th Anniversary of Independence
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.09.2006 18:12 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ French President Jacques Chirac sent a congratulatory
address to the RA President and Armenian people on occasion of the
15th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. The message says in part,
“I congratulate you and the Armenian people with this national holiday
and wish happiness, prosperity and success. It’s especially pleasant
for me that the 15th anniversary of independence coincided with the
Year of Armenia in France. I am very glad that the event initiated
by us has become a reality within less than 2 years. The events that
will be held in various regions of France will confirm the fraternal
ties between our states. Soon I will have the pleasure to see you in
Yerevan,” reported the press unit of the French Embassy in Yerevan.