WFU Old Gold & Black, NC
March 24 2006
Keep your judgemental religion out of politics
By Michael Berkowitz
Guest Columnist
March 23, 2006
I looked at the Old Gold & Black and saw on the front cover the
headline `Dialogue addresses the importance of religion in politics,
Democratic party’ (Feb. 23). I looked inside, and I spied `Religion
and politics must lead to common good’ (Feb. 23). My response was `oy
vey.’
Religion is a wonderful thing for some people; it gives them hope,
comfort, and conviction which they may have lacked otherwise.
However, because religions are judgmental in nature, and because the
topic of religion is often inflammatory, these viewpoints must not be
allowed to justify political arguments.
Sure, religion has been a key motivator for some tremendously good
works. Bernice King reminded us all of that power when she spoke here
recently, but the price one pays for using religious rhetoric is a
steep one. For many of the irreligious (which, by the way, is not a
synonym for immoral) people in America, this type of talk immediately
discredits an argument.
As for those it does reach, well, religion has, on more than one
occasion been usurped by the hateful and used to justify intolerance
and inequality.
I don’t need to list the millions of abuses of religion ranging from
Sept. 11 to the Crusades, the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide, the
Inquisition or the historic oppression of women under the pretense
(real and imagined) of religious justification, but I did. `Wait!’
The religious person cries, `Those are clear abuses of religion; my
God is a
loving God.’ True, the Bible says nothing of systematic murder as a
way to salvation. Jesus was a pacifist, ironically (see the above
listing). Unfortunately, by allowing for a religious dialogue, we
invite this manipulation.
This brings me to the crux of my argument – that religion muddles an
already unclear perception of reality, and often distracts from real
issues. Political speak never made much sense anyway, and has always
been a way of concealing real issues, but what are `Christian values’
anyway?
The title of the forum about the Democratic Party reveals that the
Republican Party has become the `more Christian’ party. Some have
even argued that President George W. Bush won his most recent
election on the back of the religious.
To this, I say, `Huh?’ I may not be a member of the `Jesus is my
Homeboy’ Facebook group, but isn’t Jesus the man who was essentially
a communist, advocating more than anything else raising the poor to
power? Isn’t this the same Republican Party which opposes welfare at
every turn and supports an economic plan where the rich get richer?
The lesson is merely that the term `Christian’ is very broad, and
could be used to support myriad views.
If religion could be taken out of politics, then gay marriage would
not be as big an issue as the war in Iraq, the inequalities of our
educational system or the near-crisis state of American health care.
Instead, we are forced to deal with the Pat Robertsons of the world,
speaking about the `message of God.’
Because of religion, lifestyles become `unnatural,’ and just like
that, rational discussion is put back in the closet. Gay couples in
several states can’t adopt a child when psychological studies have
shown them to be at least as competent parents as straight couples,
that Creationism lingers in public schools and that some schools only
teach abstinence and spread lies about AIDS proves that religion’s
impact is often a negative one. I am more than willing to discuss
these things, and would love for someone to prove to me with
something more than quotes from the scriptures that gays, Arabs, Jews
or women are any less deserving of rights than the rest of Americans.
If you are think I am exaggerating the hazards of this concept, check
out the Web site family.org’
It is the epitome of the hazards presented when we allow a
religiopolitcal dialogue. James Dobson’s organization spews hatred
from a political platform while hiding behind a supposed concern for
the family.
Very little in life gets me truly outraged, but the deception of good
people, the demand for sycophantery, and the elimination of
opposition by the use of divine right is an atrocity. The obfuscation
of reality by religious argument must come to an end. I have never
met an inferior people, nor do I think I ever will. Only by escaping
religious bickering, by calling for an open dialogue, and by
eliminating prejudice from our political sphere, can we reach the
promised land, whatever that means. I just wish I knew.
Michael Berkowitz is a freshman from Old Tappan, N.J.

On Line opinion, Australia
March 24 2006
The Palestinian Christian – persecuted, betrayed
By Abe Ata – posted Friday, 24 March 2006
The Palestinian Christian is an endangered species.
When the modern state of Israel was established there were about
400,000 of us. Two years ago the number was down to 80,000. Now it’s
down to 60,000. At that rate, in a few years there will be none of us
left. When this happens non-Christian groups will move into our
churches and claim them forever.
Palestinian Christians within Israel fare little better. On the face
of it, their number has grown by 20,000 since 1991. But this is
misleading, for the census classification `Christian’ includes some
20,000 recent non-Arab migrants from the former Soviet Union.
So why are Palestinian Christians abandoning their homeland?
We have lost hope, that’s why. We are treated as non-people. Few
outside the Middle East even know we exist, and those who do,
conveniently forget.
I refer, of course, to the American Religious Right. They see modern
Israel as a harbinger of the Second Coming, at which time Christians
will go to paradise, and all others (presumably including Jews) to
hell. To this end they lend military and moral support to Israel.
Even by the double-dealing standards of international diplomacy this
is a breathtakingly cynical bargain. It is hard to know who is using
whom more: the Christian Right for offering secular power in the
expectation that the Jewish state will be destroyed by a greater
spiritual one; or the Israeli Right for accepting their offer. What
we do know is that both sides are abusing the Palestinians.
Apparently we don’t enter into anyone’s calculations.
The views of the Israeli Right are well known: they want us gone.
Less well known are the views of the American Religious Right.
Strangely, they find the liberation of Iraqis from a vile dictator
just, but do not find it unjust for us to be under military
occupation for 38 long years.
Said Senator James Inhofe (Rep.,Oklahoma): `God Appeared to Abraham
and said: `I am giving you this land’, the West Bank. This is not a
political battle at all. It is a contest over whether or not the word
of God is true.’
Inhofe must have got it wrong. Promises are being made to earthly
Jerusalem that God did not make. The Holy Land was promised to
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants, as stated in the Bible.
These are the Palestinian Muslims, Christians and Jews, who have been
living in the land for thousands of years. The Bible never mentioned
that God promised it solely to Jews. Anyone can be a Jew, but not
anyone can be a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their
descendants. James Inhofe and followers are unable to tell the
difference between Jew, Israelite and Israel.
House Majority Leader Dick Armey (Rep.,Texas) was even more
forthright: `I’m content to have Israel grab the entire West Bank … I
happen to believe that the Palestinians should leave.’
There is a phrase for this. Ethnic cleansing.
Silencing us, from seeking your support and enlightening you about
our suffering, goes counter to what Jesus has mandated us to do. We
all know that Muslims and Jews get ceaseless support (political,
spiritual and financial) from Saudi Arabia and America respectively,
while Palestinian Christians get nothing from Australian and other
Western `Christian’ governments. (The Pope has been an exception.)
Prior to the 1967 war, the Christian youth at the Lutheran, Baptist,
Methodist and other churches in Bethlehem used to pray and rejoice
and have a good chat with hundreds of American Christian pilgrims. In
particular Texas and California were two places from where many came
to visit the Holy Land. Today only fading memories prevail. Bethlehem
has been vacated by Christian families. The remaining Christians are
paying the price by experiencing curfews which last for weeks. They
remain sandwiched between Muslims and Jews without drawing the
slightest concern from the many so-called Western Christians.
So why do American Christians stand by while their leaders advocate
the expulsion of fellow Christians? Could it be that they do not know
that the Holy Land has been a home to Christians since, well … since
Christ?
Do not think I am asking for special treatment for Christians. Ethnic
cleansing is evil whoever does it and to whomever it is done.
Palestinian Christians – Anglican, Maronite Catholics, Orthodox,
Lutherans, Armenians, Baptists, Copts and Assyrians – have been
rubbing shoulders with each other and with other religions – Muslims,
Jews, Druze and (most recently) Baha’is – for centuries. And we want
to do so for centuries more. But we can’t if we are driven out by
despair.
We are equally frightened by those who commit suicide bombings. None
of us Christians have condoned it or even contemplated the idea. Our
commitment to Jesus’ teachings will never shake our resolve in this
matter.
American journalist Anders Strindberg makes a clearer conclusion. He
says Palestinians are equated with Islamists, Islamists with
terrorists. And presumably because all organised Christian activity
among Palestinians is non-political and non-violent, the community
hardly ever hits western headlines. Suicide bombers sell more copy
than people who congregate for Bible study.
What we seek is support: material, moral, political and spiritual. As
Palestinians we grieve for what we have lost, and few people have
lost more than us (the Ashkenazi Jews are one). But grief can be
assuaged by the fellowship of friends.
Abe W Ata was a temporary delegate to the UN in 1970 and has lived
and worked in the Middle East, America and Australia. Dr Ata is a
Senior Fellow Institute for the Advancement of Research, and lectures
in Psychology at the Australian Catholic University (Melbourne). Dr
Ata is a 9th generation Christian Palestinian academic born in
Bethlehem.
.asp?article=4298

Kenya Times, Kenya
March 24 2006
Raila’s evidence on Armenians
He says they’re former members of Elite Czech Army, drug dealers
By Benson Amollo, Edwin Mutai
LANGATA MP Raila Odinga yesterday tabled in Parliament what he termed
new evidence showing that the two alleged Armenians were former
members of the Elite Czech Army turned arms and drug traffickers.
But the MP’s email letter was rejected by the Speaker Francis ole
Kaparo who stated that it was not authentic since it bore no
signature.
Raila contested the matter stating that even the internet was now
accepted in international trade and thus the email should be
admitted.He latter produced a ruling by Justice Slades of the
Commonwealth and handed over to Kaparo admitting that emails,
newspapers should be admitted as authentic documents as evidence.
Raila latter told the Kenya Times that Kaparo will be making a
substantive ruling in next week over the document after perusing it.
However, Raila was challenged by Assistant Minister Bonny Khalwale
(Ikolomani Narc) to table passports copies of the two Armenians
nationalities which he handed over to the police as their is no way
he could have got them since no airport retains copies.
The Government wildly applauded the minister but Kaparo cut short
their celebrations when he wondered how they could applaud the
presence of two suspicious characters.
`Doesn’t the Government know this people?’ asked Kaparo as he
dismissed Raila’s document as non-authentic.
The matter came to the floor of the House as Raila was contributing
to the debate on the President’s speech when he supported Immigration
Minister Gedion Konchella’s first remarks that the two foreigners
were not Armenians but Czech nationals.
The email sent by a clergy Mr Mehmet Ozturk claiming to know the two
– Artur Margaryan and Atur Sargasyan – states that the two are not
related to the Armenian President.
`The names they are using are not original names. It’s sad that I
can’t remember their real names. What I know is that both of them
were members of the Elite Czech Army and they were fired because of
selling government arms illegally,’ read part of the email.
`Thereafter, they moved to Turkey and were involved in a lot of drugs
and arms trafficking where the man claiming to be Margaryan was
caught and jailed. Since then, they disappeared completely only to
emerge in Kenya as heavy businessmen. What I know is they are
criminals who will even kill for money. They are not Armenians as
they claim. May be they are using fake passports, be careful
Kenyans,’ it continued.
And Raila clearly stated that he owes security minister John Michuki
nothing as he is a law abiding citizen. He said he can not fear
threats of his arrest for alleged issuance of statement to the police
over the duo noting that its no crime to report suspected criminals
to the police.

Today, Azerbaijan
March 24 2006
Tahir Karimov: No talks on Nagorno Karabakh conflict in Washington

25 March 2006 [00:21] – Today.Az

No talks are planned on the regulation of the Nagorno Karabakh
problem in US March 2006, Tahir Karimov, the adviser to the
Azerbaijani Embassy in US on political issues, stated.
As Trend reports, Karimov was commenting possibility of negotiations
or consultations of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the visit of
Vardan Oskanian, the Armenian Foreign Minister, to USA.
“As far as I know the Armenian Foreign Minister arrives in Washington
March 28 to discuss issues related to the program “Challenges of
Millennium”. No contacts with Azerbaijan are envisaged,” he stressed.
Media spread information about the meeting of Azerbaijani and
Armenian FMs in Washington late March.

URL:

Merrimack River Current, MA
March 24 2006
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian
X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 — ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
>From many views, a unique vision
By J. C. Lockwood/ [email protected]
Friday, March 24, 2006 – Updated: 03:02 PM EST
They say every picture tells a story and it probably does, but that
story – any story – can be told in any number of ways. This is the
guiding principal behind “Stories as One,” a intriguing multi-media
piece being presented next week at the Firehouse Center.

The production began with a series of paintings of the human form
by Gordon Przybyla. The stories at the heart of the paintings were
interpreted by jazz pianist Vardan Ovsepian, then grew further,
incorporating several other voices – cello, violins and bass – and
becoming the Vardan Ovsepian Chamber Ensemble. And then the dancers,
and then the Celtic harp and flute.

“It just got bigger and bigger,” says Ovsepian, the Armenian-born
pianist who has been teaching at The Musical Suite since graduating
from Berklee College of Music in 2000. “It’s still growing. And it’s
still not finished composition.”

The final piece of the puzzle in the project, is the audience.

The project, which will be staged one night only, attempts to
weave together the spontaneity and the instinct of jazz improvisation
with the traditions of European art music. The idea is that the
observer is immersed in an atmosphere of illumination, form, color
and movement synchronized to Ovsepian’s original score. The different
interpretations combine into one uber story, which is what the
audience takes away with it.

Przybyla, a graduate of the Pratt Institute, is a filmmaker,
photographer and a painter who deliberately keeps his biography
sketchy. Ovsepian has released three CDs on the Fresh Sound – New
Talent label. In September 2001, the label launched the artist with a
solo piano CD Abandoned Wheel, which included all original
compositions inspired by music of Philip Glass and Brad Mehldau. A
year later, Vardan was invited to bring his quartet for a recording
of his second CD, Sketch Book, with a special guest Mick Goodrick. In
2004, the Barcelona-based label Fresh Sound released Akunc featuring
his quartet and a cellist Agnieszka Dziubak.
This is not first time their work has been linked. The pianist used
one of Przybyla’s sketches in the liner notes for “Sketchbook,”
Ovsepian’s last release. And Ovsepian also composed a short
six-minute piece for the soundtrack to “Dance,” Przybyla film.

The idea for “Stories As One” came to Ovsepian when he was at one
of Przybyla’s exhibits last year. Initially, the idea was to have
some Przybyla works on stage during one of Ovsepian’s concerts, but
the painting visceral impact of the pianist. “They just blew me
away.” he says. ”

There will be nine paintings shown, projected onto 6-by 9-foot
screen. They will be the visual element to seven stories inspired by
the paintings. The music will not be set pieces. There will be a lot
of improvisational work involved. After a certain amount of time, the
images will begin to “melt away” on the screen, giving the pianist 45
seconds to finish his thoughts.

“I know the music will be wonderful,” says Przybyla. “The
question is the mechanics of it all.” Ovsepian agrees. “A lot of it
is more ‘what key is it in’ that what the meaning it.

“Stories As One” marks the premiere performance of the Vardan
Ovsepian Chamber Ensemble (VOCE) is a newly formed group comprised of
violins, cello, flute, double bass, percussion and piano.Musicians
include violinists Nancy Assad, Megumi Sasaki, and Michele Walther,
cellist, Fabrizio Mazzetta and bassist, Joshua Davis.The choreography
and dance performance will be by Julie Pike Edmond and Andrea M.
Blesso.

Interested?

“Stories as One,” a multimedia show featuring jazz, painting and
dance, takes place at 8 p.m. March 31 at the Firehouse Center in
Newburyport. Tickets are $15, $12 for students and seniors and $10
for member of the Society for the Development of the Arts and
Humanities. For more information, call 978-462-7336 or log onto
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 24 2006
One killed, another wounded in Armenian truce violations

Baku, March 23, AssA-Irada
An Azerbaijani army soldier was killed on Wednesday afternoon in
another ceasefire violation by Armenia.
The Armenian armed forces in the occupied Cherabert village of the
western Terter District fired on Azerbaijani positions located on the
opposite, killing 20-year-old Azeri military man Safar Mokhurov, said
the acting Defense Ministry spokesman Ilgar Verdiyev.
In another ceasefire breach, an Azeri civilian Anar Huseynov, 23, was
severely wounded after Armenians opened fire in the central Aghdam
District. He was hit while working on arable land in the area during
the incident.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 24 2006
Armenian minister cites two options for further Garabagh talks
Baku, March 23, AssA-Irada
Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian says there are two
alternatives for the continuation of talks on settling the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.
`One of them is the next visit of the [mediating] OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs to the region, while the other one – holding the next
meeting of the two foreign ministers.’
Oskanian said the steps to be taken for the peaceful settlement of
the dispute have not been elaborated since the private meeting of the
OSCE mediators held in Istanbul on March 20.
`Armenia has done considerable work to solve the problem peacefully.
Now, we are waiting for the Azerbaijani side to take relevant steps,’
he underlined.
The Armenian official added that the hopes for finding a solution in
2006 that were cited earlier have somewhat decreased.
The discussions held by Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Robert Kocharian
in the French town of Rambouillet in February turned out fruitless,
as the parties failed to iron out issues of principle.*

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 24 2006
Gov’t slams Russian culture worker for grave destruction claim
Baku, March 23, AssA-Irada
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism has condemned a
Russian culture worker’s recent statement concerning the alleged
destruction of ancient graves in Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan.
Mikhail Piotrovski of Armenian descent, who heads the Hermitage, one
of the largest museums in the world and is a correspondent member of
the Russian Academy of Sciences, went as far as describing the
alleged destruction of Armenian tombstone crosses in Julfa,
Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, as a crime.
In a statement, the Ministry said the utterances by Piotrovski and
distortion of historic facts showed that he is poorly informed on the
matter. In 1960s, after an appeal by the Catalicos [clerical leader]
to then Soviet leadership, the tombstones in Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh
and Julfa cemeteries were transferred to Armenia. Moreover, other
ancient tombstones dating back to the period of Caucasus Albania were
stolen from Azerbaijan’s Districts of Gazakh, Tovuz, Gadabay, Gubadli
and Lachin and also moved to Armenia. The views of Armenian
historians, who politicized the issue and distorted the facts were
reflected in the mentioned statements by the Russian cultural figure,
the Ministry indicated.
The statement said further that Armenian barbarians, ignoring the
demands of UNESCO and other international organizations, continue to
pursue their policy of aggression. It warned that Piotrovski’s views
do not reflect the attitude of influential and unbiased Russian
historians and scholars.
Piotrovski’s statement and his inclination to mix science with
politics comes as no surprise due to his origin. His mother is of
Armenian descent, while his father is an academician of the Armenian
Academy of Sciences, archaeologist and Orientalist.*

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
March 24, 2006 Friday
OUTPOST AT THE FOOT OF MOUNT ARARAT;
Armenia is the only CIS country whose border is manned by Russian
border guards
by Oleg Falichev
AN INTERVIEW WITH LIEUTENANT GENERAL SERGEI BONDAREV, COMMANDER OF
THE DIRECTORATE OF BORDER GUARDS OF THE FEDERAL SECURITY SERVICE IN
ARMENIA; An interview with Lieutenant General Sergei Bondarev,
Commander of the Directorate of Border Guards of the Federal Security
Service in Armenia.
Russian border guards’ departure from the Tajik-Afghani border left
Armenia the only CIS country whose border is manned by servicemen
with the Russian tricolor badges on uniforms. The four detachments of
Russian border guards in Armenia have accumulated unique experience
in specialist selection, training and in service side by side with
the Armenians. What is Russia doing on somebody else’s border? How
does its presence there align with the state and national interests?
Here is an interview with Lieutenant General Sergei Bondarev,
Commander of the Directorate of Border Guards of the Federal Security
Service in Armenia.
Question: On what legal grounds do Russian servicemen man the
Armenian border? How are the Russian units here staffed? How do they
function?
Sergei Bondarev: Russia and Armenia signed a treaty on the status of
Russian Border Guards in Armenia and the terms of their functioning
here in 1992, soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union. As a
strategic partner of the Russian Federation, Armenia delegated the
powers of protection of its borders with Turkey and Iran to Russian
border guards.
Certain nuances were taken care of right away. For example, we agreed
that units of the Russian Border Guards would also include citizens
of Armenia. The units were staffed fifty-fifty until recently, but we
are reducing the Russian contingent now. These days, contract
servicemen from Russia account for only 40% of the complement.
The treaty also resolved the matters of maintenance and funding.
Russia and Armenia split sponsorship fifty-fifty.
Along with everything else, Armenia is a member of the CIS Collective
Security Treaty. We perform security maintenance functions here
within the framework of this document too. Yet, saying that only we
protect the border here would be wrong. Citizens of Armenia outnumber
Russians more than two to one already. As a matter of fact, even the
question of joint border protection under Russian aegis is on the
agenda now.
Should we depart, others will come in no time at all. That forces of
the West would dearly like to come here is clear. It and the fact
that a great deal of technical and other assistance is being showered
on the Armenian national army. American assistance is particularly
generous. The Americans do not spare money to buy special equipment
including all sorts of monitors and meters for crossing points on the
Georgian-Armenian and Armenian-Iranian border.
Question: What is the length of the border our and Armenian
servicemen man together? What is the situation there? What forces and
means do you deploy?
Sergei Bondarev: We protect 375 kilometers of the state border here,
including 330 kilometers of the border with Turkey and 45 with the
Islamic Republic of Iran. Russian and Armenian servicemen together
man the air traffic control center in Evartnots airport, Yerevan.
Generally speaking, the situation on the border is tranquil. Our
border guards detained 187 trespassers in the period since January 1,
2005. Ninety per cent of them were detained in Evartnots.
As for other parts of the border, we detain 10 to 12 trespassers
there every year. They are mostly bound for Armenia, men eager to
return to its territory without papers. There are lots of them
nowadays. Armenians by origin, they seek shelter in Armenia for some
reason or other.
As for the forces and means, we have and we deploy four detachments
of border guards here. Two detachments (the Gyumri and Armavir) are
the oldest in the Border Service. They already celebrated their 80th
anniversary. The Artashat and Megri detachments are 50 years old.
There are 59 outposts on the borders. Numerical strength of the group
is 4,500 men.
In the meantime, we are helping with establishment of the Armenian
Border Troops. The Armenian’s have two detachments of border guards
at this point, one on the Georgian border and the other on the
Iranian. Armenian youth study at military institutes of Border
Service in Moscow (up to a dozen enroll every year).
Question: Are there plans to use Russian servicemen on the
Armenian-Georgian border that attaches additional importance in the
light of Georgia’s hostility?
Sergei Bondarev: This question has never been brought up for
consideration. The Armenian leadership is doing what it can to
fortify this part of the border as it is. Fourteen outposts were
built there, and I can tell you that it cost the Armenian budget a
lot. Border protection there is tight. In short, I do not think that
the matter will be raised in the foreseeable future.
Question: You say our border guards are helping with establishment of
the Armenian Border Troops. Well, they are bound to become a
self-sufficient structure sooner or later. What then?
Sergei Bondarev: According to the treaty, parts of the state border
will be turned over for protection to the Armenian Border Troops as
they are developed. The situation on the Armenian state borders being
what it is, the matter may be safely shelved for the time being. I
dare say that our help and assistance will remain handy for a long
time yet. That is why we speed up the training of Armenians for
contract service on the border even though the institute of contract
service in the Armenian national army is but in the early stages of
development.
Armenia faces a lot of problems with its borders yet. Say, the
Azerbaijani-Armenian border requires a great deal by way of finances
and personnel. This particular border is more than 900 kilometers
long. Units are deployed there, units that have to be maintained,
staffed, and provided for. We are protecting the borders with Turkey
and Iran, and that’s a great deal of assistance to the Armenians.
Question: Are there attempts to gather sensitive information,
including data on how the Russian contingent is functioning, from
across the border?
Sergei Bondarev: As for intelligence services, we all know that they
did not go out of business with the end of the Cold War. We
established close contacts with Turkish and Iranian border guards for
the purpose of border regime observation. All the same, vicious
clashes between units of the Turkish national army and Kurd gunmen
that take place near the border worry us greatly.
Several attempts to smuggle drugs were thwarted at the crossing point
on the Armenian-Iranian border. Mules are probably testing this
particular channel nowadays. Should they decide we are weak, traffic
there will swell. We hope it will never happen. By the way, we are
expecting the head of our Drug Enforcement Committee here in late
March. All these matters will be discussed then.
Generally speaking, the Armenian-Iranian border is difficult to
protect with all its mountains, gorges, and chasms. There is only one
crossing point and one bridge operating along 45 kilometers of the
border. We always bear this in mind. In fact, borders are manned in
so tight a manner practically nowhere else, not even in Russia
itself. Outposts here are responsible for between 1.5 and 3
kilometers of border. All of them are outfitted with elaborate alarm
systems. If we leave, I cannot vouch for efficiency of all of that
without Russian servicemen. Neither can I vouch for where drugs will
end up. Probably in Russia.
Question: What can you say about smuggling as such. It is becoming a
problem everywhere.
Sergei Bondarev: As for smuggling, we encounter it on the
Armenian-Iranian border. Not a great deal of it, not on a scope that
would make us particularly worried. Cattle smuggling is a problem
here. We even ran a special operation in the responsibility zone of
the Gyumri Detachment last year and prevented the driving of cattle
across the border.
>From our folders:
Sergei Pavlovich Bondarev was born in the family of an officer of
Border Guards in the Chita region in 1958. He finished the
Dzerzhinsky Supreme Command School of Border Guards of the KGB
(1979), Frunze Academy (1989), Academy of the General Staff of the
Russian Armed Forces (2002) with distinction. Bondarev began his
career in the Border Guards as outpost second-in-command and
eventually became second-in-command of the Caucasus Regional
Directorate of the Federal Security Service and commander of the
territorial department in Makhachkala. Bondarev became chief-of-staff
of the Group of Border Guards in Armenia in August 2002, and its
commander on July 15, 2003. Bondarev was awarded the Order Of Merit.
He is married with two children.
Source: Voyenno-Promyshlenny Kurier, No 11, March 22 – 28, 2006, p. 7
Translated by A. Ignatkin
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agency WPS
What the Papers Say Part B (Russia)
March 24, 2006 Friday
WEAPONS ARE AN IRREFUTABLE ARGUMENT
by Ara Tatevosjan, Alexander Reutov
Russia and Armenia: cheap arms as compensation for expensive gas;
Russia and Armenia are supposed to sign a new gas payment arrangement
on April 1, but complete clarity of the issue has not been reached
yet. Moscow and Yerevan are frantically seeking a mutually acceptable
solution to the problem.
Russia and Armenia are supposed to sign a new gas payment arrangement
on April 1, but complete clarity of the issue has not been reached
yet. Moscow and Yerevan are frantically seeking a mutually acceptable
solution to the problem.
When Gazprom spokesman Alexander Medvedev said in late 2005 that the
price of gas for Armenia would be raised to $110 per thousand cubic
meters in 2006, official Moscow made it plain that its mind was made
up. Medvedev emphasized that political alliances have nothing to do
with gas delivery prices. Moscow only promised to consider
compensation options that would make the new price more bearable for
Armenian consumers.
Russia said for example that it could buy a sizeable chunk of
Armrosgazprom from Yerevan. What money Yerevan would have been paid
was more than adequate for maintaining low gas prices for domestic
users in Armenia. Another option proposed by Moscow was for Armenia
to give Russia the fifth bloc of the Razdan Thermal Power Plant and
all of Armenia’s gas transportation system. Russian specialists
valued these facilities at $140 million.
It was Iran, Russia’s “bitter partner,” that disrupted these plans.
It is Tehran that finances construction of the fifth bloc at Razdan
and Iran-Armenia gas pipeline. When the news of the Russian proposals
reached it, Iran vehemently objected and threatened to withdraw from
the projects altogether. Yerevan gave in with ill grace.
President Robert Kocharjan of Armenia visited Moscow in January, but
not even his talks directly with President Vladimir Putin resulted in
any considerable progress in the gas matter. The government of
Armenia was walking on thin ice and knew it. Defense Minister Serzh
Sarkisjan denied the idea of demanding payment from Moscow for its
military base in Armenia.
“I don’t know what the price of gas will be after April 1,” Kocharjan
said. He added that negotiations over “compensation mechanisms” were
under way. Absorbing the shock of new prices for Armenia, these
mechanisms “may function for two or three years only.”
The citizens of Armenia were informed of the solution finally found
on Wednesday night.
According to our sources, the idea was conceived and developed into
the mechanism of salvation in Moscow. Along with the gas, Yerevan
will receive a bonus that will be no less valuable than the main
product as such. The matter concerns Russian arms export to Armenia
at a discount. Some of the future contracts will even stipulate
permanent loans to the Armenians. This year, Armenia expects to get
1.7 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia. Since the new tariffs
are to come into effect on April 1, they will only apply to three
fourths of the volume. It means that Armenia’s actual losses will
amount to about $83 million. Armenia’s entire defense budget is $155
million. Judging by official reports, 15% of the budget or more than
$23 million are channelled into weapons acquisition. Actually,
countries usually spend nearly twice as much on new weapons as they
officially reveal. It means that the Russian bonus will enable
Yerevan to save up to $50 million on weapons. The generosity of the
Russian military-industrial complex knows no limits.
Source: Kommersant, March 24, 2006, p. 9
Translated by A. Ignatkin