VIKTOR YAKUBYAN: “KARABAKH CART” – AN OBSTACLE IN THE IRANIAN HIGHWAY
Regnum, Russia
March 14 2006
Right after the presidential talks in Rambouillet, it became clear
that no miracle happened in the Karabakh process, things in Armenia
were about to fall back into place, but the place turned out to be
displaced. In Azerbaijan it also got harder to fall back into. You may
call Rambouillet as you are pleased to – fiasco, failure, unexpected
off-the-way or logical half-way, but the fact is that the two societies
have suddenly realized that they have come to a new stage they need
to comprehend.
Dangerous cart
2006 was preceded by resounding statements by western non-governmental
and then official organizations about early Karabakh agreement. The
talks in France have seen no success, but the time is not over yet. One
can be sure that the western “optimists” will not give up that easily
and will bend over backwards to get this heavy cart – the Karabakh
process – off the ground. But they also know that there is one very
important peculiarity about it – once they get the cart moving they
will hardly be able to stop it, even more, predict where it will move.
Theoretically, in Rambouillet one should have expected a face-off
of Armenian constructivism, “sure” that inapplicable, and Azeri
radicalism, affected, that’s why inapplicable.
But for all the schemes and theses proposed, the zero result was
obvious and quite correctly forecast by both Armenian and Azeri
analysts. Then what were the mediators so optimistic about? There can
be only one answer. Namely… Their optimism was for show, but, more
importantly, for purpose. Their purpose was obviously not to cheer up
the presidents, to put them off their guard and to slip the cherished
agreement for their signing. Not at all. It was to create acoustics
that would make “a zero” in Rambouillet sound dully dissonant with the
whole logic, mood, and, if you please, “the new reassuring freshness”
in of the sore negotiating process. They got their purpose… And
what did the co-chair states (Russia, France, the US) get net? They
got a new reality – something some, if not all, of them sought.
Back to the cart… Quite recently the mediators realized that to
get the cart off the ground they will have to remove the ground and
as urgently as possible – for they heard something very unpleasant
from Russia: about universality of the Kosovo precedent, and had to
loosen the hard grip of the Karabakh conflict sides before this might
happen and cover the only trump of one of the conflicting sides –
the principle of territorial integrity. This principle would simply
die then, giving place to a so-far lower quoted card – the right of
nations to self-determination – and Azerbaijan would have nothing left
but to stop the Karabakh talks and to engage in preventive activities
in its other regions. In fact, the task of the West (mostly of the
EU) now is either, until the Kosovo status is finalized, to draw an
absolutely new line for the Karabakh process to move it outside the
conflict of the above principles, or to freeze the Kosovo process
until there is clarity in Transdnestr, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and
Karabakh. (By the way, the sudden death of Milosevic has brought this
scenario into focus).
Following the same logic, one can’t help noting that it was exactly the
Armenian side – expectedly less cooperative – who came to Rambouillet
under the “mask” of readiness for compromise. Such tactics would
allow it to blame Baku for the outcome – to say that Azerbaijan has
once again refused to meet half-way. On the whole, the Rambouillet
talks could develop in two ways: either Ilham Aliyev rejects the
proposals of the mediators and the concessions of the Armenian side
and continues his militarist populism (a behavior the international
community would hardly take as serious) or he agrees to a real dialogue
on all key points, leaving no chances for status-quo.
The former scenario would allow Kocharyan to complain of Baku’s
destructive position and to make off. The latter scenario would see
him signing (orally securing) some framework agreement or employing
his arsenal of diplomatic tricks to get things right.
Judging from the post-Rambouillet developments, Armenia’s purely
tactical constructivism must have come across some illogical maneuver
by Azerbaijan. For example, Aliyev might show some real commitment
to go from words to actions and, for the beginning, to satisfy
the mediator’s proposals on how to overcome the status quo. It was
all but just a wish to make some nice surprise. Simply Aliyev had
obligations to the West, who was silent when he was breaking the back
of his opposition.
Preceding Rambouillet was a rigorous campaign for several key ideas:
the deployment of an international peacekeeping contingent in the
Karabakh conflict zone, the opening of transport routes, the return
of refugees and – a new referendum as a way to determine Nagorno
Karabakh’s status. Even if Aliyev agreed to the referendum after all
his previous aggressive and radical rhetoric on TV, Kocharyan would
rush headfirst to specify details – when, how and on what legal bases
the referendum will be held. Or Kocharyan might raise one more hard
question – whom the sides want to see in the peacekeeping contingent.
And so, Baku’s constructivism might crush against Yerevan’s
super-constructivism – quite a risky game: relieving for the sides
and tricking for the mediators.
“Post-Rambouillet” – chronology
Back from the talks the Armenian side got down to measures to prevent
possible pressure by the US. The US State Secretary’s pre-Rambouillet
phone talks with each president were in vain. Something went wrong…
In a special interview on Rambouillet Kocharyan said that “the sides
failed to agree on one important principle.” What principle he is
talking about – the status or the composition of the peacekeeping
force – we can only guess. What we can be sure of is that the Armenian
president did not mean “Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.”
“In any case, Yerevan has decided not to make further ado and to
show its claws – just in case – while Baku has cooled down a bit,
preferring to wait and see what will happen next. In fact, after
Rambouillet there is no more sense in war bravado – they should either
start the war or not even mention it.”
As regards the reaction of Karabakh President Arkady Gukasyan and
the following response of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan – this
polemic is just to show how elastic the Armenian diplomatic arsenal
is. No coincidence that Gukasyan’s interview was broadcast by RFE/RL –
it was for export. Gukasyan advises Armenia to withdraw from the talks
(which are almost inexistence after Rambouillet) and insists that
Karabakh should be involved therein – which is secretly and openly
good for Yerevan.
Armenian Ex Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanyan says that “Gukasyan
might have coordinated his statement with Kocharyan and after the
failure of the Rambouillet talks this may be a joint threat to
Azerbaijan and the world community – a threat to withdraw from the
negotiating process.” But, in fact, Gukasyan said what the whole
Armenian nation wanted to hear – while Kocharyan’s reaction has
raised Armenia’s responsibility to both Karabakh and the OSCE MG
co-chairs. In their turn, the Armenian Defense Ministry’s regular
reports of state border firing have had a colossal mobilizing effect.
As you may see, the Armenian side has taken a whole series of tactical
steps to transform the public and negotiating moods.
It would be naïve to think that the US – the key lobbyist of
peacekeeping in Karabakh, would be moved by the moves of Yerevan
and Stepanakert. Having almost fully brainwashed Azerbaijan,
Washington was ready for predictable steps by Armenia and sent right
away its leading functionaries to Yerevan. For now – Matthew Bryza
(Assistant Undersecretary of State for Europe and Eurasia) and soon –
his boss Daniel Fried and OSCE MG US Co-Chair Steven Mann with their
situational recognizance. In quite a short time the US Department of
State appeared with a row of slating reports that qualified Armenia
as a corrupt country whose authorities do not fight drugs trafficking
and violate human rights.
Meanwhile, in a Mar 9 meeting in OSCE Yerevan Office the OSCE
ambassadors passed an urge to the Armenian authorities not to waste
time and to start actively preparing for the parliamentary and
presidential elections in 2007 and 2008. “The coming elections will
be decisive for Armenia,” that’s what they said. In such a situation,
the mediators are meeting in Washington, while the next FM meeting
is scheduled for Mar 20 in Istanbul! Why not Baku then? In his turn,
OSCE MG US CO-Chair Steven Mann says to AzerTag that if the sides fail
to agree in 2006 it will be a tragedy. If the sides miss the chance
there will be a tragedy, Mann said, not specifying though what kind
of tragedy there will be.
Conclusion
The Americans are systematically preparing the South Caucasus for
possible excesses in Iran. No doubt they are – judging from their
military activity in the region. The Karabakh conflict the way it
is now is an impassable jam. The region has in fact been turned
into a very inconvenient ground – in both military-tactical and
communicational terms. One can say when the US will launch its massive
pressure on Iran if one looks at its tactics in the Karabakh peace
process. If Washington is forcing the sides to solve the problem in
2006, it will probably close the circle around Iran no later than
2007-2008. Washington needs to take the Karabakh cart off the Iranian
highway. Bush simply can’t linger with Iran any longer – he is facing
presidential election in 2008. Already today over half of Americans
want Bush to resign, blaming him for starting war in Iraq and allowing
phone tapping, which is also a part of the “Big Near East” adventure.
Viktor Yakubyan – expert for South Caucasus problems
–Boundary_(ID_+aSZ8jMvirY0CVArdEvNeg)–

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03/13/2006
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://WWW.ASBAREZ. COM 1) Armenians in Georgia Rally against Attack on Armenian Youths 2) Pallone And Radanovich Rally Colleagues in Support of Pro-Armenian Provisions in Foreign Aid Bill 3) ANCA Endowment Fund Purchases New Washington, DC Headquarters 4) ANC Endorses Leland Yee for State Senate 5) Levon Aronian Wins Linares Chess Tournament 6) Pallone Extremely Disappointed over Reports of Evans' Withdrawal 1) Armenians in Georgia Rally against Attack on Armenian Youths YEREVAN (Yerkir/Armenpress)Thousands of Armenians attended a rally Saturday in the Georgian town of Akhalkalak to protest an attack in the southern Georigan town of Tsalka, in which 23 year old Gevorg Gevorgyan was stabbed to death and two other Armenian men wounded. Organized by the Javakhk Council of Armenian Public Organizations, the rally denounced the crime, saying that it is a result of Georgia's policy toward ethnic minorities. Speakers discussed the security of the local Armenian population and urged the public to remain cautious and restrained in the face of Georgian provocation. At the end of the rally, an appeal was presented to the Georgian authorities which demanded that they guarantee the security of the local Armenian population and stop aggravating ethnic tensions by repatriating non-Armenians to Armenian regions of Georgia. They also appealed for a democratic solution to Javakhk's problems and to allow Armenian to be used as an official language in Javakhk. The Human Rights Defender of Georgia, Sozar Subari, held a press conference Saturday addressing the incident that took place on the evening of March 9. Representatives from the Human Rights Defender's Office arrived in the southern town of Tsalka to investigate the incident in which about 15 ethnic Georgians attacked three Armenian men as they were getting into their car. After studying the preliminary report, Subari denied widespread allegations that this crime was ethnically motivated. "Our representatives traveled there and probed into the case. We can say that this dispute has nothing to do with ethnic confrontation," Subari said. He called on the people to let government officials finish the investigation of Tsalka events without any pressure or hindrance. According to official data, five suspects have been detained by Georgian police and the search for others continues. Karen Elchyan, President of the Armenian Center of Cooperation of Georgia (ACCG) said that victims believe the attack was motivated by ethnic hatred. Representatives from the office of the Ombudsman and leaders of the ACCG visited Karen Baloyan, one of the victims, in a Tbilisi hospital where he was taken after the attack. When asked about the incident, Baloyan said that neither he nor any of his friends were previously acquainted with their attackers. Clashes between Armenians and Georgians have occurred occasionally in recent years in the predominantly Armenian populated Tsalka. 2) Pallone And Radanovich Rally Colleagues in Support of Pro-Armenian Provisions in Foreign Aid Bill WASHINGTON, DC--Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and George Radanovich (R-CA) called on their US House colleagues Saturday to join them in cosigning a letter calling on the leadership of the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee to support pro-Armenian provisions in the fiscal year 2007 foreign aid bill, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). This bipartisan expression of support, addressed to the panel's Chairman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY), strengthens the hand of pro-Armenian members of the Subcommittee, most notably Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, Steve Rothman (D-NJ), Mark Kirk (R-IL), and John Sweeney (R-NY). Representative Sweeney, who joined the panel last year, is one of only two Members of Congress of Armenian heritage. The letter notes that members of Congress are "deeply troubled" that the Administration's request for military aid for Azerbaijan is considerably higher than the request for Armenia. By signing the letter, legislators will add their voice to the effort to ensure that the agreement struck in 2001 between the White House and Congress to keep aid levels to these two countries equal is fully respected. In addition, the letter calls for a hard earmark of at least $75 million for Armenia, a one-year $5 million allocation for Karabagh, and the preservation of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. "We want to thank Congressmen Radanovich and Pallone in urging the Foreign Operations Subcommittee to support provisions in the fiscal year 2007 foreign aid bill of special importance to Armenian Americans," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We also value the advocacy for pro-Armenian issues from within this panel by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, the leadership of Chairman Jim Kolbe and Ranking Democrat Nita Lowey, and the support of Representatives Steve Rothman, John Sweeney, Mark Kirk, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Carolyn Kilpatrick, Chaka Fattah, and our other friends." 3) ANCA Endowment Fund Purchases New Washington, DC Headquarters WASHINGTON, DC--The ANCA Endowment Fund announced Friday the purchase of a new national headquarters, cementing the grassroots organization's presence in the nation's capital and creating a platform for the continued growth of the political power and influence of the Armenian American community. "At its heart, this purchase speaks to our respect for our roots--our enduring historic roots as a people, our grassroots communities around the country, and the deep roots that we have planted here in the nation's capital," said ANCA Endowment Fund President Ken Hachikian. "Roots represent our identity--and our strength. Grassroots advocacy is in our very soul. Our roots have been the wellspring that has nourished us from our fledgling days, through decades of struggle, and to our status today as a world-class organization, recognized internationally as the principled, forceful, and effective voice of the Armenian American community." The four-story building, formerly owned by AOL founder Steve Case, is located near prestigious Embassy Row, blocks from the White House and the nation's leading think tanks, including the Carnegie Foundation and the Brookings Institution. The newly renovated structure features the latest in computer, communications, and networking technology. "Now is the time to build on our successes," added Hachikian. "We look confidently to the future--forging new paths and embracing new technologies--to generate the political power, influence and respect that the Armenian American community deserves--and that the Armenian homeland needs." With a proven track record of results and a rock-solid base of support to build on, the leadership of the ANCA Endowment is currently in the planning stages of a campaign to cover the full cost of this state-of-the-art building, expand a variety of advocacy programs, and enlarge the organization's life sustaining endowment fund. These efforts will cement the long-term stability and continuing success of Armenian American advocacy, substantially reinforce the Armenian presence in Washington DC, and create an even more powerful voice for Armenian Americans--in short, provide a sound footing for the future and a permanent home for the Armenian Cause in the United States. 4) ANC Endorses Leland Yee for State Senate SAN FRANCISCO--The Armenian National Committee - Political Action Committee (ANC-PAC) urged all Armenian Americans to support Leland Yee for State Senate and those living in District 8 to vote for him in the June Democratic Party Primary. Senate District 8 includes San Francisco and San Mateo County. "Assemblymember Yee has been a long-time friend and advocate for the Armenian American community," said ANC-PAC Chairman Leonard Manoukian. "Whether it is authoring legislation to add the Armenian genocide into the school curriculum or casting a critical vote to establish a California trade office in Yerevan, Leland Yee has always fought to protect and preserve our culture and interests." "It is an honor to be endorsed by the Armenian National Committee," said Yee. "I take great pride in representing such a strong and active Armenian American community, and with the support of the ANC, I look forward to continuing my public service in the State Senate." In addition to Yee's advocacy in the State Legislature, he supported the sale of Mt. Davidson Cross to the Armenian community and stood firm as the Turkish lobby tried to disrupt the process. He hosted a reception in San Francisco for the President of Mountainous Karabagh Republic, Arkady Ghoukasian, and his delegation. Yee has always been a vocal proponent of the recognition of the Armenian genocide, regularly attending rallies and community memorial events to show his support. Sevag Sarkissian, Yee's Senior Field Representative and native San Franciscan, has also been continuously involved in Armenian community life. Leland Yee is seeking the 8th District State Senate seat, which will be vacated by Senator Jackie Speier as she seeks the position of Lieutenant Governor. The hotly-contested Democratic Primary will be held on Tuesday, June 6. The ANC-PAC (a non-partisan organization) seeks to elevate the level of political participation of Armenian American voters. Working in coordination with a network of supporters throughout the State of California, the ANC-PAC actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of issues. 5) Levon Aronian Wins Linares Chess Tournament (Combined Sources)--Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian won the 23rd Linares Super Grandmaster chess tournament in Spain on Saturday, after Hungary's Peter Leko faltered and lost the last two games. The final standings in Linares were: Aronian 8 1/2 points in 14 games; Veselin Topalov and Teimur Radjabov 8 points; Leko 7 1/2 points; Peter Svidler and Vassily Ivanchuk 6 1/2 points; Etienne Bacrot 6 points; Francisco Vallejo Pons 5 points. Aronian will now travel to Monaco to participate in the 5th Amber Rapid and Blindfold Chess Tournament at the Fairmont Monte Carlo Hotel from March 18-30. The 23-year-old Aronian, winner of the world cup, is ranked fifth in the world. 6) Pallone Extremely Disappointed over Reports of Evans' Withdrawal WASHINGTON, DC--Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Co-Chairman of the Armenian Issues Caucus, expressed his extreme disappointment to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice over reports that the US Ambassador to Armenia, John Marshall Evans, is being forced from office based on truthful and forthright statements last year about the Armenian genocide. In a March 10 letter, Pallone shared with the Secretary that he is "outraged that the State Department is recalling Ambassador Evans as retaliation for statements he made in recognition of the Armenian genocide." He added that, "it is simply wrong for the State Department to punish Ambassador Evans for statements he made that are factually correct. Accordingly, I am asking you for an explanation as to why Ambassador Evans was removed from his post. This is the wrong message to send to the world. I look forward to a timely response from your office." Speaking last year to an Armenian American gathering at the University of California at Berkeley, Ambassador Evans said, "I will today call it the Armenian genocide... I informed myself in depth about it. I think we, the US government, owe you, our fellow citizens, a more frank and honest way of discussing this problem. Today, as someone who has studied it... there's no doubt in my mind [as to] what happened . . . I think it is unbecoming of us, as Americans, to play word games here. I believe in calling things by their name." Referring to the Armenian genocide as "the first genocide of the 20th century," he said: "I pledge to you, we are going to do a better job at addressing this issue." Evans also disclosed that he had consulted with a legal advisor at the State Department who had confirmed that the events of 1915 were "genocide by definition." Within days after his remarks and the conclusion of a speaking tour of Armenian American communities, Ambassador Evans was apparently forced to issue a statement clarifying that his references to the Armenian genocide were his personal views and did not represent a change in US policy. He subsequently issued a correction to this statement, replacing a reference to the Genocide with the word "tragedy." Later last year, the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), in recognition of his honesty and commitment to principle, decided to honor Ambassador Evans with the "Christian A. Herter Award," recognizing creative thinking and intellectual courage within the Foreign Service. Sadly, as Washington Post staff writer Glenn Kessler revealed on June 9, AFSA withdrew its award following pressure from "very serious people from the State Department." ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian, in a letter sent to Secretary Rice earlier this week, wrote that, "the prospect that a US envoy's posting--and possibly his career--has been cut short due to his honest and accurate description of a genocide is profoundly offensive to American values and US standing abroad--particularly in light of President Bush's call for moral clarity in the conduct of our international affairs." The ANCA letter also urged Secretary Rice to respond in a timely manner to the series of written questions on this matter submitted on February 16 by Congressman Adam Schiff during her testimony before the House International Relations Committee. Among these questions was a specific request that the Secretary assure the Committee that the Department of State has not taken--and will not take--any punitive action against Ambassador Evans for speaking out about the Armenian genocide. 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.

Armenian National Committee of America
888 17th St., NW Suite 904
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: (202) 775-1918
Fax: (202) 775-5648
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet:
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2006
Contact: Elizabeth S. Chouldjian
Tel: (202) 775-1918
ANCA SHARES GENOCIDE PREVENTION ADVOCACY EXPERIENCE WITH
CHRISTIAN ACTIVISTS WORKING TO END THE DARFUR GENOCIDE
— Executive Director Speaks to Annual Gathering
of Christian Leaders Working for Peace and
Justice in Africa and the Middle East
WASHINGTON, DC – As part of the Armenian National Committee of
America’s (ANCA) ongoing outreach to the broader genocide-
prevention community, Executive Director Aram Hamparian shared the
Armenian American advocacy experiences with participants in
Ecumenical Advocacy Days, an annual gathering of over a thousand
Christian activists from around the nation concerned about U.S.
foreign policy in Africa and the Middle East.
In his March 11th presentation on the Darfur Genocide, Hamparian
began by noting the profound gratitude of Armenians for the role
that Christian churches played in raising protests during the
Armenian Genocide, providing relief to its survivors, and in
establishing orphanages for the countless thousands of children
left parentless by this crime. Stressing the special
responsibility that Armenians bear as victims of the 20th Century’s
first genocide, Hamparian discussed the efforts by the Armenian
American community to bear witness to the horrific human costs of
genocide, to press for action to end the genocide in Darfur, and,
more broadly, to help generate the political will to ensure that
this crime is never again visited upon any other peoples – anywhere
in the world. He then spent the remainder of his presentation
outlining the policy-based and practical political steps needed to
build an effective anti-genocide constituency at both the
grassroots and national levels.
Also speaking as part of this panel discussion were Elnour Adam
from the Darfur Rehabilitation Project and John Heffernan, the
Genocide Prevention Initiative Director of the U.S. Holocaust
Memorial Museum’s Committee on Conscience. The panel discussion
was moderated by Marie Clarke Brill, Africa Action’s Director for
Public Education and Mobilization.
Among the organizations sponsoring the program were the World
Council of Churches, the National Council of Churches, American
Friends Service Committee, Children’s Defense Fund, Episcopal
Church USA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian
Church (USA), United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist
Church. Featured speakers at the program included E.J. Dionne,
Jr., a columnist for the Washington Post; Rev. Dr. Suzan Johnson
Cook, Senior Pastor at the Believers Christian Fellowship and
President of the 10,000 member Hampton (Virginia) University
Ministries’ Conference, and; Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, who is
widely regarded as a leading voice in the ecumenical movement. He
formerly served as the Executive Secretary of the World Council of
Churches’ Faith and Order Commission.
#####

California Courier Online, March 16, 2006
1 – Commentary
Widespread Outrage Over News of
U.S. Ambassador Evans’ Recall
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
2 – SOAD Cancels April 23 Benefit Concert
3 – Sassounian Presents Lincy Projects
To Knights of Vartan Sevan Lodge
4- APN-WD Hosts
Aslamazian Art
Exhibit at Diocese
5 – Ararat Nursing Facility Receives
Fourth 2006 Quality First Award
6 – Dr. James Reid to Speak at CSUF, March 22
7 – Khachatryan’s Film to Show at
Washington National Art Gallery
8 – UAF’s 137th Airlift
Delivers $3.6 Million
Of Aid to Armenia
9 – Historian Nina Garsoian
To be Honored at UCLA
************************************************* ************************
1 – Commentary
Widespread Outrage Over News of
U.S. Ambassador Evans’ Recall
By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier
I reported last week that the State Department had decided to recall Amb.
John Evans from Armenia for having acknowledged the Armenian Genocide last
year. This callous decision has outraged Armenians worldwide and angered
many members of Congress.
By sheer coincidence, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew
Bryza was in Armenia the day after my column was posted on the Internet.
During a press conference in Yerevan, journalists repeatedly asked Bryza
and Evans to comment on the recall decision. The two diplomats made a
delicate dance around the subject, neither denying nor confirming the news.
Since some of their comments were distorted because of mistranslation or
inaccurate reporting, here is the transcript of what they actually said in
English:
When a journalist asked Bryza in Armenian if Amb. Evans was being
“recalled,” the Embassy staff mistranslated the question to: “Is it true
that Amb. Evans is retiring?” Mr. Bryza answered: “~Eregarding Amb. Evans,
he can certainly comment on his own plans to retire, which I hope are
nonexistent, because he is a fantastic ambassador. He, like all of us,
serves at the pleasure of the President of the United States. I used to
work for the President’s staff; and one thing I learned is that I will not
speak about any decision of the President — it is up to the President to
make his decisions. I advise him, but he makes the decisions, including
[those] on personnel~E.”
Amb. Evans then added: “~E I want to echo what Mr. Bryza said. We all serve
at the pleasure of the President. I hope nobody expects any ambassador to
stay forever~Ethe fact of the matter is that I do not know when I will be
leaving Armenia and I have not submitted my retirement papers. And I’ll add
one other thing and that is: as long as I am the ambassador here, until the
day I step on the plane, I will be in charge of this mission.” Bryza then
added: “Which we hope will be as late as possible.”
The news of the Ambassador’s recall was prominently featured on Armenian TV
stations that night and subsequently reported by wire services and
newspapers in Armenia, Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.
During State Dept.’s daily news briefings on March 8, 10 and 13, a
spokesman was repeatedly asked to confirm the recall of Amb. Evans.
Reporters were given evasive answers with a promise “to look into it.”
Finally, in the afternoon of the March 13, the State Dept. issued the
following written response to the journalists’ insistent questions, giving
the same evasive answer: “Question: What is the status of U.S. Ambassador
to Armenia Evans? Was he recalled for statements acknowledging the Armenian
‘genocide’? Answer: U.S. Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the
President. Amb. Evans and his capable team have the full confidence of the
administration.”
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) issued a press release on
March 8, announcing that its chairman had written a toughly worded letter
to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking her to address reports that
Amb. Evans is being forced from office for acknowledging the Armenian
Genocide. “The prospect that a U.S. envoy’s posting – and possibly his
career – has been cut short due to his honest and accurate description of a
genocide is profoundly offensive to American values,” wrote ANCA’s Chairman
Ken Hachikian. “It would also represent a new low in our government’s
shameful complicity in the Turkish government’s campaign of denial ~E by
muzzling and punishing an American diplomat for his speech and his
acknowledgement of a genocide,” Hachikian wrote.
Cong. Grace Napolitano (Dem. of Calif.) submitted a pointed question to
Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried on March 8, while he was testifying
before the House International Relations Committee, on whether any
restrictions are placed on State Dept. officials concerning their use of
the term “genocide” when referring to the Armenian Genocide. She also asked
for confirmation on whether Amb. Evans was being recalled because of his
remarks on the Armenian Genocide. Dan Fried was asked to respond in
writing.
Cong. Frank Pallone (Dem. of New Jersey), the Co-Chairman of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, wrote to Secretary Rice on March
11, expressing his extreme disappointment over reports of the recall of
Amb. Evans. He told her that he is “outraged that the State Dept. is
recalling Amb. Evans as retaliation for statements he made in recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.” He added: “It is simply wrong for the State
Dept. to punish Amb. Evans for statements he made that are factually
correct.”
Secretary Rice has yet to respond to the written questions submitted on
Feb. 16 by Cong. Adam Schiff (Dem. of Calif.) during her testimony before
the House International Relations Committee. She was asked to assure the
Committee that the State Dept. “has not taken – and will not take – any
punitive action against Amb. Evans for speaking out about the Armenian
Genocide.”
Readers worldwide have reacted with anger to the news of Amb. Evans’ recall
and indicated their willingness to participate in protest actions in front
of U.S. Embassies in various countries as well as the State Dept. in
Washington, D.C. Please continue writing to Secretary Rice by e-mailing her
at: Click on “contact us” and then click on “send a message
to the Secretary of State.”
****************************************** ********************************
2 – SOAD Cancels April 23 Benefit Concert
LOS ANGELES (Rolling Stone) – System Of A Down cancelled their fourth
annual Souls Concerts, an event aimed at raising awareness about Armenian
Genocide, slated for April 23 in Los Angeles’ Greek Theater.
Just three days after announcing their annual Souls benefit concert to help
raise awareness and pay tribute to the Armenian Genocide, System of a Down
have cancelled the event. A message on the band’s official web site reads
as follows:
“The recognition of the Armenian Genocide has always been a first and
foremost priority in the minds of SYSTEM OF A DOWN, so it’s unfortunate for
us to announce that Souls 2006 has been cancelled. Despite the
cancellation, SYSTEM will always continue to fight for this truly important
cause, and encourages all of our friends and fans to help educate the world
about a forgotten genocide and the importance of recognizing this atrocity.
We thank you always for your undying support.~E”
The band did not cite a reason for the cancellation.
Meanwhile, the rockers will hit the road this summer as main stage
headliners for this year’s Ozzfest.
************************************************** ************************
3 – Sassounian Presents Lincy Projects
To Knights of Vartan Sevan Lodge
VAN NUYS, CA — Harut Sassounian, the Vice Chairman of The Lincy
Foundation, presented to the Sevan Lodge of the Knights of Vartan the
projects of The Lincy Foundation in Armenia on Feb. 21.
The program was held after a pre-meeting dinner at the Saint Peter Armenian
Apostolic Church Hall. In attendance were members of the Sevan Lodge, its
associated Daughters of Vartan chapter and the general public. Also present
were Daughters of Vartan Grand Matron Asien Surmeian and members of her
Grand Council.
Sassounian first presented a short DVD detailing the various projects of
The Lincy
Foundation in Armenia and the completed infrastructure projects such as
streets, highways, bridges, tunnels, residential and cultural buildings.
The audience was pleasantly surprised to learn of the vast expanse of these
projects and that over $150 million have been donated to, and invested in,
these projects in Armenia by philanthropist Kirk Kerkorian’s Lincy
Foundation.
The question and answer period after the formal presentation gave members
of the audience more detailed information about the specific projects they
were interested in. Sassounian also expanded the question and answer period
to cover recent Armenian
events which have been reported in his newspaper, The California Courier.
This lecture is part of Sevan Lodge’s ongoing program of presenting various
representatives of Armenian organizations, both in the U.S. and Armenia, to
discuss the background, functions and operations of their particular group.
In previous months, presentations have been made by leaders of the Armenian
Assembly, Junior Achievement of Armenia and others. This lecture series
aims to provide more authoritative, detailed and factual information about
the activities of various organizations which are involved in Armenian
issues.
********************************* ******************************************
4 – APN-WD Hosts
Aslamazian Art
Exhibit at Diocese
BURBANK, CA – The Armenian Professionals Network of the Western Diocese of
the Armenian Church of North America (APN) ,together with the Armenian
Student Association of Woodbury University, and under the auspices of
Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, will host an evening for artist Karine
Aslamazyan on March 30, at 7:30 p.m., at the Diocesan complex’s Armen &
Gloria Hampar Primate’s Reception Room. A light reception will follow the
presentation.
The exhibit will stay open until April 2.
Aslamazyan was born in 1956 in Yerevan. She has received her education at
the Yerevan State Academy of Creative Art
Painting & Design. Her works, exhibited at the Hall of the Union of Artists
of Armenia, has earned her the respect of acclaimed art critics of Armenia.
Currently, Aslamazyan creates and lives in Yerevan.
This event is sponsored by Mr. & Mrs. Antranik Zoroyan.
********’******************************** *********************************
5 – Ararat Nursing Facility Receives
Fourth 2006 Quality First Award
LOS ANGELES – The Ararat Nursing Facility received a Quality First Award
for 2006 from the California Association of Homes and Services for the
Aging (CAHSA), marking the fourth time the Award has been received by the
Ararat home. It is the 15th national and state awards received during the
past 12 years.
The Ararat Nursing Facility’s program will be highlighted during the CAHSA
annual meeting in Palm Springs this month, and featured on the CAHSA
website.
“We are honored to be the recipients of such a prestigious award,” said
Ararat Home Chairman of the Board John Yaldezian. “We strive to serve the
Armenian community and give the best possible care to our patients.”
The award recognized CAHSA member communities that demonstrate a Qualify
First commitment to exceptional care, services, systems and practices. More
specifically, Ararat was honored for its Resident Center Care Model Program
acknowledging the Nursing Facility’s Leading Edge Care & Services, Human
Resources Development, Consumer-Friendly Information and Consumer
participation.
The Ararat Home and Nursing Facility has been serving the Armenian
community in Southern California since 1949. It currently has four
facilities in Mission Hills, Eagle Rock, and Montrose that can accommodate
more than 400 residents and patients.
************************************************* ******************
6 – Dr. James Reid to Speak at CSUF, March 22
FRESNO – Dr. James Reid, Kazan Visiting Professor in Armenian Studies at
Fresno State for the Spring 2006 semester, will be giving the second of his
three part lectures series on “The Inner Dimension of the Armenian
Genocide,” on March 22. The title of the second lecture is “The ‘Death
World’ and Its Influence on Victim Survivors.”
The lecture will begin at 7:30 PM in the Peters Auditorium of the
University Business Center at Fresno State and is free and open to the
public.
Lecture II will examine how the “Death World” created by war and
perpetrators influenced the mentality of Armenian and Pontic Greek victims
and survivors. The “Death World” [from German Totenwelt] was the
individual’s and the community’s resignation to the belief that life would
end soon and that all living was dominated by a killing and death
environment. The psychological repercussions of accepting the dominance of
the “Death World” were immense. The realization of the “Death World” as a
power in one’s life represented the first and most powerful symptom of post
traumatic stress disorder in the individual. This lecture will cite
survivor memoirs with comparisons to other World War I writings.
Dr. Reid holds a B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley and a
Ph.D. from UCLA and is the author of several books, including Crisis of the
Ottoman Empire: Prelude to Collapse, 1839-1878; Studies in Safavid Mind
Society and Culture and Tribalism and Society in Islamic Iran, 1500-1629.
Dr. Reid is a Tsakopoulos Hellenic Fellow, from 2001-2003 he was the
director of the Vryonis Center, and from 1991-2001 he was a senior research
fellow at the Center. He has written extensively on the Ottoman Empire and
modern Greece.
For more information on the lecture, contact the Armenian Studies Program
at (559) 278-2669.
**************************************** ***********************************
7 – Khachatryan’s Film to Show at
Washington National Art Gallery
WASHINGTON, DC – After wide recognition at premieres in Rotterdam, Tehran,
and Göteborg, “Return of the Poet”, a film by Harutyun Khachatryan, will be
presented at the Washington National Art Gallery during Filmfest DC, on
April 30.
Khachatryan’s “Return of the Poet” captured the attention of Washington
National Art Gallery program director Margaret Parsons during a screening
at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Past Filmfest DC Audience Award winners include remarkable and recognized
directors such as Chen Kaige of China, Costa-Gavras of France and Italian
actor and director Jacques Perrin.
Worldwide attention for Khachatryan’s “Return of the Poet” has been
expressed in the vast number of festival invitations. The film has been
invited to festivals in cities all over the world including Jerusalem,
Melbourne, Sidney, Vrotzlav and Washington. Screenings and lectures by
Khachatryan are planned in three cities of Belgium, as well as, Pusan,
South Korea, Buenos-Aires, Marseille, Khars, Latvia and Moscow
******************************************* *******************************
8- UAF’s 137th Airlift
Delivers $3.6 Million
Of Aid to Armenia
GLENDALE – The United Armenian Fund’s 137th airlift arrived in Yerevan on
March 11, delivering $3.6 million of humanitarian assistance.
The UAF itself collected $2.9 million of medicines and medical supplies for
this flight, most of which were donated by AmeriCares ($2,100,000);
Operation Blessing/Armenia Fund U.S.A. ($570,000); Brothers Brother
Foundation ($266,000) and Catholic Medical Mission Board ($39,000).
Other organizations which contributed goods for this airlift were:
Armenian General Benevolent Union ($213,000); Michael Der Boghosian from
Boston Medical Center ($166,000); Dr. Stephen Kashian ($65,000); Nork
Marash Medical Center ($42,000) and Armenian Missionary Association of
America ($28,000).
Also contributing to this airlift were: Howard Karagheusian Commemorative
Corp ($19,000): Armenian Relief Society ($15,000) and Armenian American
Health Association of Greater Washington ($9,000).
Since its inception in 1989, the UAF has sent $428 million of humanitarian
assistance to Armenia on board 137 airlifts and 1,285 sea containers.
The UAF is the collective effort of the Armenian Assembly of America, the
Armenian General Benevolent Union, the Armenian Missionary Association of
America, 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.
For more information, contact the UAF office at 1101 North Pacific Avenue,
Suite 301, Glendale, CA 91202 or call (818) 241-8900.
**************************************** ***********************************
*
9 – Historian Nina Garsoian
To be Honored at UCLA
LOS ANGELES – The Friends of the UCLA Armenian Language and Culture Studies
will bestow the Narekatsi Medal for lifetime achievement in Armenian
studies on Professor Nina G. Garsoïan of Columbia University at its Fourth
Annual Banquet, March 25 at the UCLA Faculty Center, beginning at 6 p.m.
Professor Garsoïan’s name is indelibly associated with Columbia University
where she taught Armenian history from 1965 and was appointed Kevork
Avedissian Professor of Armenian Studies at that same university from 1979
until 1993, the year of her retirement.
Since 1993, she has been spending six months of the year in Paris – her
birthplace, where she is Associée at the Centre d’Histoire et de
Civilisation de Byzance at the Collège de France, Paris. In Paris, she has
also served at editor/”Directeur” of the prestigious Armenological journal
Revue des études arméniennes since 1988 along with Jean-Pierre Mahé and
Charles de Lamberterie.
During her tenure at Columbia, Nina G. Garsoïan produced a generation of
scholars who went on to carve names for themselves, among them Dickran
Kouymjian, Professor of Armenian Studies at CSU Fresno, Ronald Suny,
Professor of Political Science at Chicago, James R. Russell, Professor of
Armenian Studies at Harvard, Levon Avdoyan, Director of the Caucasian
Section at the Library of Congress. Garsoïan has been awarded many honors
including the Anania Shirakats’i prize from Armenia.
Garsoïan, daughter of Georges and Srpouhi Garsoïan, was born in Paris in
1923. The family moved to the United States in 1933. She received her
B.A. degree in 1943 from Bryn Mawr, and then went to Columbia for her M.A.
and Ph.D. degrees. She earned the latter in 1958. Her teaching career
began in 1956 at Smith College, Mass., where she taught history and rose to
the rank of Professor of History. In 1965, she was appointed Associate
Professor of Armenian Studies and Byzantine History in the Departments of
Middle Eastern Languages and History at Columbia University and in 1969 she
was promoted to full professorial rank. From 1973-77 she served as
Chairman of the Department of Middle Eastern Languages. After a two-year
stint as Dean of the Graduate School at Princeton, Garsoïan returned to
Columbia in 1979 as Kevork Avedisian Professor of Armenian Studies until
her retirement in 1993.
The honoree will be introduced by noted historian, Professor Richard
Hovannisian, holder of the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern
Armenian History at UCLA. The MC will be Professor R. Hrair Dekmejian,
Director of the Institute of Armenian Studies at the University of Southern
California.
During the evening, an artistic program will be offered by the Elixir Piano
Trio and the Lark Conservatory Hand Chimes Group conducted by Ashot
Kartalyan.
For further information on the banquet, call: (310) 704-4353 or (818)
468-4542.
********************************** ****************************************
The California Courier On-Line is a service provided by the California
Courier. Subscriptions or changes of address should not be transmitted
through this service. Information in that regard should be telephoned to
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************************************** ************************************
–Boundary_( ID_gUo5bn3eI2x0JWbE8/lDMA)–

US Dept of State
13 March 2006
State Department Briefing, March 13
QUESTION: Is the Ambassador of Armenia being — having his career
shortened because he spoke out against genocide in Armenia?
MR. CASEY: Barry, I know we promised you an answer on that one
on Friday. Still don’t have it and I’ll get something for
you this afternoon.
QUESTION: You mean his future hasn’t been decided yet?
MR. CASEY: Not that I’m aware of.
QUESTION: I think it has.
MR. CASEY: I believe you think it does.
QUESTION: No, I do believe it does and so do — and I have reason to
believe it does and I know there are at least two members
of Congress who believe it does. No, I just think the State
Department is having difficulty finding words to announce
his premature retirement.
MR. CASEY: No. We owe you an answer on that.
QUESTION: Thank you.
MR. CASEY: I’ll get it for you.

EUROVISION 2006 TO AMEND REPORT ON ARMENIAN SINGER FOLLOWING AZERI PROTEST
ANS TV, Baku
13 Mar 06
[Presenter over video of the official website of Eurovision 2006]
The information posted on the official website of the Eurovision
Song Contest about singer Andre will be changed, one of the official
organizers of the event, Svante Stockselius, has told ANS. Andre will
represent Armenia during the 18-20 May Eurovision 2006 Song Contest
in Greece.
A decision has been taken to change the incorrect and politically
motivated text on the website about the Armenian singer, Stockselius
said.
The report about Andre posted on the official website of Eurovision was
a pure propaganda. It named as his birthplace the Nagornyy Karabakh
Republic, without mentioning that it is a self-declared entity, and
former Stepanakert, that is Xankandi, the town which the separatists
proclaimed their capital.
[MPA news agency reported at 0822 on 13 March that the Azerbaijani
Ministry of Culture and Tourism had protested at the text on the
website]

LEADERS URGED TO MEET LOCAL MP OVER UNREST IN GEORGIA’S ETHNIC ARMENIAN REGION
Imedi TV, Tbilisi
13 Mar 06
[Presenter] Certain forces wish to destabilize the situation in the
country by stirring up disorder in Akhalkalaki, Chair of Parliament
Nino Burjanadze told a meeting of the bureau today.
Majority member Beso Jugheli asked the speaker whether she had met
Hamlet Movsesyan, the MP for Akhalkalaki, who Jugheli said, wants to
brief the president on the events in Akhalkalaki.
[Burjanadze] A very unpleasant incident has taken place in Akhalkalaki
[protest by local Armenians on 11 March which ended in the ransacking
of a local university and court].
I should stress however that the serious incident that preceded the
attempts to create disorder [a clash between ethnic Armenians and
Georgians in Tsalka District in which an Armenian was killed and
several others wounded] is a very sensitive subject indeed. All the
questions must be answered and the guilty punished.
It is obvious that there are serious forces trying to destabilize
this region and the country. There are serious forces trying to set
Georgians and non-Georgians against each other.
[Jugheli, to Burjanadze] Have you spoken to Hamlet Movsesyan, the MP
for Akhalkalaki?
[Burjanadze] No, I have not spoken to him yet but I certainly will.
[Jugheli] Kalbatono Nino, I want to state, very gently, that no-one
pays any attention to what local constituency MPs say. Hamlet Movsesyan
is a clear example of this. Khatuna, hold on a second please. I do
not know whether he had a fever or something else but I know that
Hamlet Movsesyan has requested a meeting with the president.

ALLEGED MERCENARY DENIES CLAIMS BY KENYAN LEGISLATOR
NTV, Nairobi
13 Mar 06
[Presenter] One of the alleged Armenian soldiers for hire made a
scathing attack on Langata MP Raila Odinga this morning during a
press conference he held at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Ata Rusaksian [phonetic] who flew into the country from Dubai termed
the mercenaries allegations by Raila as false and demanded repayment
of an alleged debt amounting to 1.5m US dollars which he claims he
advanced to the Langata legislator.
[Reporter] Ata Sagaian [phonetic] says he is a businessman and has
never been soldier for hire as alleged by Langata MP Raila Odinga.
Ata who claimed to have vast business ventures in Dubai says he
arrived in the country this morning to counter Raila’s allegations.
But he also has allegations to level against the Langata legislator.
[Ata] Today what happening with me he [is] trying to close [the]
door to Kenya for me [so that] I don’t come [and] I don’t ask [for]
my own money. He try to make us state enemy, he [is] try[ing] to make
us enemy of Kenya.
[Reporter] He says his brother Ata Magaian [phonetic] also alleged
to be a mercenary is a businessman in Dubai and that they have never
been or engaged themselves in mercenary activities.
In a signed statement faxed to newsrooms Ata says the only other time
he and his brother have been in Kenya was last year when they came
to seek business investments in the hotel industry. It was then that
Ata claims they came face to face with Langata MP. [Passage omitted:
Ata speaking; words unclear]
[Reporter] Ata claims Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka approached them
to finance the ODM referendum campaigns at a sum of 3bn shillings. The
businessman also claims that Raila owes him 1.5m US dollars he advanced
to him as a loan and he has never paid it back.
The mercenaries theory emerged two days after a raid at the Standard
Group offices where Raila claims that in the midst of the hooded
police officers were foreign mercenaries.

AZERI PRESIDENT, US MEDIATOR DISCUSS KARABAKH CONFLICT
Azartac news agency, Baku
13 Mar 06
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received the US co-chair of the
OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, at the Presidential Palace on 13 March.
At the meeting they exchanged views on the current situation in the
negotiations to resolve the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan.

ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY TO HOLD SYMPOSIUM ON TURKISH-ARMENIAN TIES
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
13 Mar 06
Istanbul, 13 March: Istanbul University Rector Prof Mesut Parlak
held an informative meeting about the symposium on “New Approaches
to Turkish-Armenian Relations” which will be held at the university
on 15-17 March.
Stating that this symposium would be the most comprehensive one with
70 participants from Turkey and some other countries, Parlak underlined
that it would reveal the truths regarding Turkish-Armenian relations.
Parlak said that 1915 incidents [during which the Ottomans allegedly
engaged in genocide against Armenians] had several dimensions –
military, social and psychological – stating that the matter would
be discussed from a scientific point of view.
“I believe that the symposium will help a new period be started in
Turkish-Armenian relations,” he underlined.
Parlak noted that the university invited Armenian historians to the
symposium, but they said that they would not attend.