UGAB France
11, square Alboni, 75016 France
Tél. : 01 45 24 72 75
Fax : 01 40 50 88 09
Email : [email protected]
Miami – Focus rassemble plus de 550 jeunes professionnels arméniens
South Beach
Du 14 au 17 juillet 2005, plus de 550 jeunes professionnels arméniens,
venus du monde entier, se sont retrouvés à South Beach en Floride pour
un long week-end exceptionnel.
Après New York en 2001 et Montréal en 2003, c’est la Floride qui a
accueilli, cette année, les participants de Focus.
Le programme très international a réuni de jeunes Arméniens
originaires d’Angleterre, de Belgique, du Canada, de France, de Grèce,
d’Israël, d’Italie, du Liban, de Suisse, en plus d’une vingtaine
d’Etats américains.
Né à l’initiative d’une poignée de jeunes New Yorkais menés par Ani
Setrakian-Manoukian et conçu, à l’origine, comme une réunion des
anciens participants aux programmes de jeunes de l`UGAB, Focus est une
expérience inédite, qui a pris une ampleur inespérée.
Il donne ainsi l’occasion aujourd’hui à des anciens des programmes de
l’UGAB, tels que Camp Nubar ou le New York Summer Internship Program
(Programme de Stages d’Eté de l’UGAB à New York) de se retrouver et de
rendre ainsi hommage à l’UGAB qui leur a permis de vivre des
expériences inoubliables.
Mais Focus permet également aux jeunes professionnels arméniens
d’échanger leurs expériences professionnelles et d’élargir leur cercle
de connaissances.
Les activités du week-end ont été très variées. Le coup d’envoi a été
donné par la Soirée Perspectives du jeudi au cours de laquelle cinq
speakers se sont succédé au micro pour relater leurs success stories
puisque tel était le thème de la soirée. Parmi eux figurait Debbie
Ohanian de Miami qui, après avoir réussi dans divers domaines, est
devenue célèbre aux Etats-Unis grce à sa ligne de vêtements pour
femmes enceintes qui a figuré dans un épisode de Sex and the city. Ces
interventions ont été suivies d’un cocktail.
Le vendredi soir a été marqué par une soirée en boîte en plein c=9Cur
de Miami. Lieu branché entièrement réservé pour les membres de Focus.
Mais le programme n’oublie pas l’aspect caritatif de l’UGAB puisqu’une
vente aux enchères a été organisée le samedi après-midi. Ont été
vendus à cette occasion des objets d’art produits par les enfants des
Children’s Centers de l’UGAB en Arménie. L’événement marquant du
week-end fut le gala organisé au Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Enfin, un
brunch clôturait le dimanche cette grande rencontre.
« Cette année, c’est le programme des bourses d’études de l’UGAB qui a
été mis à l’honneur », explique Ani Setrakian-Manoukian, présidente de
Focus. « Avant le début des activités du week-end, poursuit-elle,
notre comité d’organisation a lancé une opération de collecte de fonds
auprès des participants, qui s’est révélée très fructueuse. En
définitive, c’est 30 000 dollars qui ont été rassemblés au profit du
programme des bourses de l’UGAB ».
Et de conclure : « Focus vise à stimuler la générosité chez les jeunes
participants et leur permet de comprendre l’esprit même de l’UGAB.
Une manière de préparer la relève de demain ».
Enfin, « Focus est un événement unique en son genre car il permet de
réunir à la fois les Américains mais également les Européens, qui
étaient une trentaine à Miami cette année, ce qu’aucun autre programme
pour les jeunes ne parvient à accomplir à une telle échelle. Focus est
d’autant plus exemplaire que sa qualité exceptionnelle redonne envie à
de jeunes Arméniens qui s’étaient détournés de la communauté, car ils
ne se retrouvaient plus en elle, de renouer avec leurs origines, et
leur donne encore plus envie de s’impliquer dans leurs communautés
locales », comme l’a noté Vanessa Ketchedjian, qui a participé aux
trois Focus.
* Bourses de l’UGAB : depuis plus de 70 ans, l’UGAB fournit des
bourses et des prêts à des jeunes étudiants qui excellent dans leurs
filières d’études. Plus de 300 000 dollars sont distribués tous les
ans en bourses et prêts à des étudiants dans 25 pays.
Ancelle a hébergé la 22ème colonie de vacances de l’UGAB-France
C’est la fin de la colonie. Emu, les larmes aux yeux, Raphaël retrouve
son grand-père qui est venu le récupérer à la fin d’un séjour de 3
semaines. Pour lui, comme pour les 110 colons de 7 à 14 ans, le
moment tant redouté des adieux a sonné.
Cette année a marqué le 22ème anniversaire de la colonie de
l’UGAB-France qui s’est déroulée du 4 au 25 juillet 2005 sur le
magnifique site d’Ancelle, petit village à 1 350 m d’altitude, situé à
18 km de Gap dans les Hautes-Alpes.
D’une dimension très internationale, la colonie accueillait des jeunes
venus de France, d’Autriche, d’Allemagne, de Suisse, de Bulgarie, de
Russie, des Etats-Unis et des Emirats arabes unis.
Voici comment se déroule une journée de la colonie, riche en
activités. Point de démarrage : les ateliers de chant, de danse, de
thétre et d’art plastique. Sonne ensuite l’heure du déjeuner. Pas
question de faire dans la simplicité. Des plats arméniens et non des
plus simples sont au menu. Pour la directrice de la colonie, Madame
Herminé Duzian, les enfants doivent manger avec appétit et nos plats
doivent leur plaire.
Des activités de plein air suivent le repas. Beaucoup de sport –
tennis, football, volley, équitation, rafting, baignade, etc. – et des
randonnées. Les soirées, quant à elles, sont animées par des jeux et
des débats culturels pour les plus gés.
Comme chaque année, pour les plus petits, la sortie pédagogique à la
ferme a été organisée.
Pour Thomas, l’un des 20 jeunes animateurs de la colonie, lui-même un
ancien de la colonie et également un ancien élève de l’Ecole du Samedi
de l’UGAB, comme la grande majorité des animateurs, « La Journée
Portes ouvertes est l’un des grands moments de la colonie. C’est le
jour où les parents des colons se rendent sur place pour assister à
une journée de spectacles de plein air préparés avec grand
enthousiasme tout au long des deux premières semaines du séjour ». Et
de poursuivre : « Les parents sont ravis de voir leurs enfants
épanouis. L’événement met la colonie en effervescence». La grande
nouveauté de cette année fut la présentation de la très humoristique
pièce Katch Nazar (Nazar le brave). Pas question d’exclure un seul
colon de la représentation. L’occasion pour tous de monter sur les
planches.
Voilà un bilan qui nous réjouit. Il n’est pas étonnant dans ces
conditions de voir 8 enfants sur 10 revenir chaque année. Pour eux, il
ne faut pas rater le grand rendez-vous estival.
L’UGAB-France tient tout particulièrement à remercier le Père Andranik
Maldjian de l’Eglise arménienne de Valence qui a passé plusieurs jours
sur les lieux pour mieux sensibiliser les enfants à l’histoire, à la
foi et aux traditions arméniennes. A l’occasion de son séjour, une
sortie a été organisée à Notre-Dame de La Salette (à 35 km d’Ancelle),
deuxième lieu de pèlerinage marial en France après Lourdes. Un moment
de prière a eu lieu dans la basilique réunissant les colons, ainsi que
des pèlerins et des touristes qui se trouvaient là-bas.
Nos remerciements s’adressent aussi à la directrice de la colonie,
Herminé Duzian, aux deux responsables Viviane et Armand Muratyan, et à
Virgine Arslanian, assistante sanitaire.

Août 2005 : Séjour de jeunes pionniers en Arménie et au Karabagh
Une dizaine d’adolescents de 15 à 18 ans ont participé, du 4 au 25
août dernier, au voyage initiatique organisé par l’UGAB-France en
Arménie et au Karabagh.
Le programme fut bien chargé. De nombreuses visites de monuments et de
sites historiques et culturels ont été organisées. Ils ont ainsi pu se
rendre au Madenataran, à Dzidzernagapert, Etchmiadzin, Khor Virab,
Garni, Geghard, Noravank, Gandzasar, pour ne donner que quelques
exemples.
Mais bien au-delà de l’intérêt historique et culturel de telles
virées, le voyage visait à les sensibiliser aux différents projets
sociaux de l’UGAB en Arménie et au Karabagh.
A ce titre, nos pionniers ont rejoint le personnel des Tables de
l’UGAB* d’Arapkir à Erevan pour participer au service du repas de midi
qu’ils ont servi aux personnes gées.
Suivait un séjour d’une semaine aux côtés des habitants du village de
Norachen*, situé dans la région de Hadrut au sud-est du Karabagh.
Au cours de cette période, les jeunes ont prêté main forte à
l’opération de drainage des eaux autour de la maternelle du village.
Les après-midi étaient consacrés aux activités manuelles et sportives
et animations ludiques qui ont été expressément organisées par eux au
profit des 35 enfants du village. Appréciant grandement l’attention
dont ils ont fait l’objet, les petits se sont pris au jeu et ont
savouré chaque instant tout en faisant preuve d’un grand intérêt et
d’un grand enthousiasme au contact de leurs hôtes.
« Une expérience très enrichissante dans les deux sens », selon
Herminé Duzian, organisatrice du voyage. « Nous avons pu constater à
quel point cet échange avec les pionniers a été important pour les
enfants du village. Ils l’ont perçu comme une ouverture sur le monde
et ont fait preuve d’une grande volonté de communication »,
souligne-t-elle. Et de poursuivre : « Et de la même manière, nos
jeunes ont réalisé qu’ils pouvaient apporter beaucoup aux autres avec
peu de chose. Et ceci les a touchés au plus profond d’eux-mêmes ».
Certes, une expérience à renouveler !
* Situées à Erevan, Hrazdan, Etchmiadzin et Sevan, les Tables de
l’UGAB servent des repas quotidiens à plus de 1 200 personnes
(retraités, orphelins, etc.) vivant en dessous du seuil de pauvreté en
Arménie.
* Le projet de reconstruction et de repeuplement du village de
Norachen a été lancé par l’UGAB-France en l’an 2000. Aujourd’hui, le
village abrite une maternelle et un dispensaire, et à l’heure
actuelle, une nouvelle école s’y édifie grce aux donateurs de l’UGAB.
News Internationales
New York
Le Conseil central de l’UGAB décide d’accorder 100 000 dollars aux
victimes du cyclone Katrina
Au lendemain de la catastrophe naturelle qui a dévasté la
Nouvelle-Orléans et qui a infligé d’importantes pertes humaines et
matérielles aux trois Etats de Louisiane, Mississipi et Alabama, le
Conseil central de l’UGAB, fidèle à la tradition de l’Union de venir
en aide aux victimes des catastrophes naturelles et de guerre, a
décidé de faire un don de 100 000 dollars au profit des victimes du
cyclone Katrina. Cette somme sera confiée à la Croix-Rouge, l’une des
grandes organisations actives sur le terrain.
Rencontre à New York entre Léna Balsan, maire de Valence, et Berge
Setrakian, président mondial de l’UGAB
Le maire de Valence, Madame Léna Balsan, a rencontré, le 18 août 2005
à New York, le président mondial de l’UGAB, Monsieur Berge Setrakian.
Au cours de leur entretien, qui s’est déroulé au siège de l’UGAB à New
York, ils ont abordé des questions d’intérêt mutuel en rapport avec
les Arméniens de France et de la vallée du Rhône en particulier.
Madame Balsan s’est impliquée directement avec son conseil municipal,
dans la création du Centre du Patrimoine Arménien qui a ouvert ses
portes le 11 juin dernier.
Ce centre, qui constitue une première en Europe, est situé au c=9Cur
de Valence. Il donne accès à une information complète sur l’histoire
des Arméniens de France, leur exode et leur intégration dans la
société française.
Montréal
L’UGAB-Montréal reçoit Madame Annie Koulaksezian-Romy, conseillère
municipale de la ville de Valence
Lors d’une réception organisée au Centre culturel Alex Manoogian le 28
juillet 2005, la section de l’UGAB-Montréal a reçu la responsable du
projet de création du Centre du Patrimoine Arménien. Madame
Koulaksezian-Romy a présenté le centre devant un public comptant de
nombreux membres de la communauté arménienne ainsi que la conseillère
municipale de la ville de Montréal, Madame Hasmig Belleli.

Congressional Record: October 6, 2005 (Extensions)
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access
IN HONOR AND RECOGNITION OF KEVORK “GEORGE” ARSLANIAN
HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Thursday, October 6, 2005
Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of
Mr. Kevork “George” Arslanian, loving family man, father,
grandfather, great-grandfather and dear friend to many, as his friends
and loved ones gather in honor and celebration of his 100th birthday.
Mr. Arslanian’s life reflects a brilliant spectrum of survival,
courage, tenacity, triumph, devotion to family and service to others.
As a young child, Mr. Arslanian and his two brothers became orphans.
During WWI, 40 members of the Arslanian family, including their father
and mother, were killed in the horrific Armenian massacre by the
Turkish military. The Armenian genocide resulted in the deaths of 1.5
million Armenians. A Turkish neighbor hid the three boys in her home,
saving their lives. Soon after, they were sent to a Red Cross orphanage
in Syria, where they barely survived among 60,000 other orphans.
Throughout their years of struggle, Mr. Arslanian and his brothers
remained focused on the promise of a new life in America. They left the
Syrian orphanage and journeyed to Cuba, from where they had heard that
entry into the U.S. would be easier. They soon discovered this was not
the truth. The children spent 5 years in Cuba, surviving with nothing
more than their own determination, courage and the promise of reaching
the shores of America. In 1927, the boys, who had by now become young
men, made the escape out of Cuba as stowaways on a ship that delivered
them to a life of freedom, hope and possibility in America.
The Arslanian brothers settled with relatives in Cleveland. Mr.
Arslanian attended Miller Barber College in Cleveland, where he
initially honed the art of his trade without pay. He then earned twenty
dollars a week for 25 cent hair cuts. He soon became a licensed
barber–the 11th in the State of Ohio, and in 1932, opened up his own
shop in Garfield Heights. Six days a week for seventy-five years, Mr.
Arslanian worked in the shop with his brother, and continued giving
hair cuts until just a couple of years ago. Together, Mr. Arslanian and
his beloved, late wife, Virginia, raised three sons. George and
Virginia Arslanian were married for 67 years. Mr. Arslanian, one
hundred years young, continues to be the foundation, center and light
of his family–a family that includes his three sons, seven
grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren.
His life-long devotion to his family and to his shop extends
throughout the community, and is evidenced within his strong faith and
his dedication to preserving the history, faith and culture of Armenia.
Mr. Arslanian continues to be deeply involved with the Armenian
Orthodox Church, and led the effort to establish St. Gregory of Narek
Armenian Church. His unwavering support for immigrant families and for
the preservation of Armenian culture is reflected in his long-time
involvement with the Armenian General Benevolent Union and the Tekeyan
Cultural Society.
Mr. Speaker and Colleagues, please join me in honor and recognition
of Mr. Kevork “George” Arslanian, whose brave heart, warm smile and
fascinating life continues to educate and inspire those who know and
love him well, especially his family and friends. Mr. Arslanian’s life,
outlined by hard work, integrity and family, personifies the phrase
`American citizen.’
The remarkable story of the young Arslanian brothers, their
courageous journey and creation of new lives in America, is the story
of the American immigrant, retold in a thousand languages, connecting
all of humanity by the will to survive and the promise of freedom and
peace. The incredible journey of citizens such as Kevork “George”
Arslanian is the strength and foundation of our country. In honor of
Mr. Arslanian’s 100th birthday, we offer him an abundance of peace,
health and happiness, and offer our gratitude to him for enriching our
community and our nation. His great love for his family, community and
for his beloved Armenia, transcends time and distance, serving as a
bridge of goodwill, forever connecting America to Armenia.

Congressional Record: October 7, 2005 (Extensions)
>From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

AZERBAIJAN
HON. TED POE
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 7, 2005
Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, Azerbaijan is an important strategic ally for
the United States. The Country is located in a region that can produce
and transport energy products to the West. As well as provide military
and intelligence capabilities to the United States.
Azerbaijan is an emerging major non-OPEC oil producer and transit
country (i.e, Baku-Ceyhan pipeline), which will supply 1.6 million
barrels a day after being operational December 2005. This will
stabilize the other energy producing countries (oil and gas) in the
region and their ability to get their product to the marketplace
without the dependency of Russia or Iran.
Azerbaijan is a front line positioned state for military and
intelligence access to Iran. This will act as a stabilizing effect for
the region and fight off the aggressive position of Iran. It will also
work against terrorist activities spread by fundamental terrorist who
have the support of Iran.
Azerbaijan is the first Muslim state to provide troops to the U.S.
backed coalitions in Iraq., Afghanistan and Kosovo. To date, they are
the only Shiite Muslim state to provide troops.
Azerbaijan is in the vanguard of the emerging democracies from the
former Soviet Union. Azerbaijan has parliamentary elections scheduled
November 6, 2005, and is moving forward with international support to
assure free and fair elections. Azerbaijan has allowed opposition
parties the right to organize, protest, and access public television.
Azerbaijan maintains excellent relations with the State of Israel,
both, diplomatically and economically including providing crude oil.
Azerbaijan is a strong strategic partner with the United States and
is cooperating in United States activities regarding Caspian regional
security overseeing Iran (e.g., Caspian Guards program, radar system,
fly-over rights and re-fueling capacity).
Azerbaijan is a strategic asset given its presence as a strong United
States-Israel ally next to Iran. Azerbaijan welcomes trade with Israel
and stronger ties between the two countries.
Iran has threatened Azerbaijan due to cooperation with Israel and the
United States Iran continues to inform Azerbaijan that their strong
relations with the United States and Israel will not be beneficial, as
Iran is their neighbor.
The Iran military enters Azerbaijan airspace weekly and Iran has made
claims on Azerbaijan’s offshore oil and gas exploration.
Iran has attempted to spread Madrassas schools in Azerbaijan and
Azerbaijan has resisted.
Iran pressures Azerbaijan to abolish visas between the two countries,
which would lead to less control and more Iranians infiltration into
Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is resisting this effort.
Occupied Azerbaijan (NK Region) is on the Iranian border, where
alleged terrorist camps, narcotic trafficking and weapons trading goes
on. Since Armenia has occupied this region of Azerbaijan, almost 16
percent of the total country, this activity has existed with the
support of Iran. Azerbaijan is defenseless in trying to stop this
activity, as long as Armenia occupies this region.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
375010 Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]:
PRESS RELEASE
10-10-2005
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. VARTAN OSKANIAN
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
AT THE 33rd UNESCO GENERAL CONFERENCE
PARIS, OCTOBER 7, 2005
Mr. President,
Congratulations on your election, and we look forward to working with you as
we have with President Omolewa. Congratulations also to the Director-General
with whom we look forward to working for a long time to come.
At a time when the world is faced with new types of violence and must
therefore seek new ways to find peace, UNESCO is faced with the hardest
challenge of all: to create the defenses of peace in the minds of men. For
60 years, this organization has promoted education, science and culture
because we know that it has been through education, science and culture that
ALL our civilizations have been nurtured and have flourished. Education,
science and culture cultivate peace and are its fruits.
Each of us recognizes this in our own lands, in our own countries.
In Armenia, Education gave us our first university eight centuries ago.
Today, our education enrollment and literacy rate is among the best in the
world.
Ten centuries ago, Science provided us the tools with which to study
medicinal herbs under our feet, and the stars over our head.
But it is our culture that has saved us, defined us, formed our character.
My people have lived in Diaspora for far longer than we have had a state,
and we have contributed to and learned from cultures across the globe.
In Singapore, we have a church which is 200 years old. The one in Dakka is
even older. In Macao, the cemetery markers are memorials to Armenian
merchants from the 1600s. In Bangkok, the cemeteries are newer, but only
slightly. The local governments all protect and maintain these cultural
monuments consciously and generously, because they understand that these
monuments of a culture long gone are theirs as much as ours.
There is a similar cultural heritage in Europe and the Middle East. From the
tombs of Armenian medieval kings here in Paris to ancient communities in
Poland and Ukraine, the traces of a continuous Armenian presence in Europe
are guarded.
No better example exists than the Armenian Island of St. Lazaro, in Venice,
claimed equally by Armenians and Italians as part of their cultural
patrimony.
In Jerusalem, the old Armenian Quarter is an integral part of the Biblical
city’s past and future.
Throughout the various Arab countries of the Middle East, it is only the age
and quantity of Armenian structures that differ. The care and attention
which Armenians and their possessions receive is pervasive.
In our immediate neighborhood, Iran is home to cultural and religious
monuments built by Armenians over a millennium. The government of Iran
itself takes responsibility for their upkeep, and facilitates their
preservation by others.
Against this background then, we can only wish that our other neighbours
were equally tolerant and enlightened.
In Turkey, there are thousands of cultural monuments built and utilized by
Armenians through the centuries. Those structures today are not just symbols
of a lost way of life, but of lost opportunities. Those monuments which
represent the overlapping histories and memories of Armenians and Turks do
provide us the opportunity around which a cultural dialog can start and
regional cooperation can flourish.
Instead, those monuments which serve as striking evidence of centuries of
Armenian presence on those lands are being transformed or demolished. With
them go the memory and identity of a people.
But we are hopeful that there are changes in these attitudes and approaches,
and that Turkey is on the road to acknowledging its pluralistic past and
embracing its diversity today.
A few months ago, Turkish authorities began to actively encourage and
facilitate the expert renovation of a medieval jewel – the Armenian
monastery of Akhtamar. What is happening on this small island, not far from
our border, can be repeated again and again. Together, we can work to
rebuild the sole remaining monument in the legendary city of Ani, just on
the other side of the border, within easy view from Armenia. The medieval
city of a thousand and one churches is a cultural marvel that can pull
together and bind our two peoples.
Unfortunately Mr. Chairman, with our other neighbor, Azerbaijan, the effort
to do away with Armenians, which began even before Sovietization, continues
unabated. Now that there are no Armenians left in Azerbaijan, it is
religious and cultural monuments which remain under attack.
This assault on our memory, history, holy places and artistic creations
began long before the people of Nagorno Karabakh stood to demand
self-determination in order to assure their own security. It began long
before the government of Azerbaijan chose war as the response to the
rightful, peaceful aspirations of the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
Mr. Chairman,
Even in 1922, stone cross Armenian tombstone carvings, older than Europe’s
oldest churches, began to disappear in Nakhichevan. There was no war in the
years between 1998 and 2002 when 4000 of these giant sculptures were knocked
over, piled onto railroad cars and carted away under the Azerbaijani
government’s watchful eyes. There was no war in 1975 when a 7th century
Armenian church was completely demolished in the center of Nakhichevan, for
no reason other than to wipe out the memory of the Armenians who constituted
a majority there just decades earlier.
Mr. Chairman,
Cultural destruction can and is a potent weapon in campaigns of political
oppression and tyranny. In an era when new kinds of violence with new names
are exploited in political and ideological warfare, damaging or destroying
cultural or religious memory intentionally, consistently, repeatedly must be
labeled what it is – cultural terrorism – and it must be condemned with the
same resolve and determination as violence aimed against people.
Mr. Chairman,
Armenia already profits hugely from UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” program,
thanks to which our depository of ancient, unique manuscripts is being
digitized. In the Remember the Future program, we are honoured that some of
our ancient monuments are included in the World Heritage List. We are set to
ratify the Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage, and
are pleased that the traditional melodies of the Armenian reed duduk may be
included in the Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
What we want to work on next, Mr. Chairman, is the elaboration of a UNESCO
legal instrument which will hold accountable those involved in the
Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage.
Armenia attaches great importance to all of UNESCO’s initiatives in the
region. We believe in UNESCO’s dream of creating and educating societies to
believe in peace and to benefit from its dividends.
Thank you.

FROM THE MARGINS
A defenseless fish fueled my Cuban dream
BY PATRICK AZADIAN
(Published: October 8, 2005, Glendale News-Press)
A few Saturdays ago I ended up starting out the day later than usual.
It was already mid-afternoon when I realized I was hungry. I had a
tri-faceted dilemma: eat out, go over to mom’s, or do my usual
single-guy-who-can’t cook routine. The latter involved a can of tuna
originating from the Persian Gulf.
The steel-packed tuna is not only exceptionally tasty, but it also
awakens some secondhand nostalgia in me. The fish is from a region
where my dad was born.
But, despite its great taste and our common roots, on that particular
Saturday my thoughts wandered off to all the possible environmental
trauma the tuna may have faced before finding its way into the can.
No one knows when my dad’s compatriot was canned. The region is rich
in oil, and every time I look down on an opened can, I wonder how much
of the petro-hazards are intertwined with my tuna. I don’t know of any
Middle Eastern environmentalists, so I can assume the tuna is
defenseless against all the pollution dumped into the Gulf.
In addition, the region has been in a constant state of war in the
last few decades. First, it was a certain Saddam Hussein, who decided
to inflict a seemingly meaningless war on his eastern neighbors, taking
advantage of Iran’s unofficial status as the region’s outlaw. While the
world stood silent with a wicked smile, he brought death and
destruction to the innocent civilians of the region. In the process, he
successfully tested all his latest war toys and chemical ammunition. I
wondered if my tuna had consumed any of the hazardous elements or the
bomb residues during this war.
Once the Iraqi leader was armed to his teeth, and his army was battle
tested against Persian teenagers, he shifted his attention to invading
his Arab brethren in Kuwait. We all know the outcome of that
over-ambitious offensive. The dramatic images of the burning oil fields
in the aftermath of the occupation were fresh in my mind. The burned
deposits in the air must have gone somewhere; I wouldn’t be surprised
if some found their way into my beloved tuna.
The recent military conflict in the region must also be leaving its
unique scars on the Gulf environment. Combine that with the presence of
an Iranian nuclear power plant stationed at the southern port city of
Bushehr, and it is not hard to see why I opted out of the tuna and
headed down to one of my favorite food establishments on Brand
Boulevard.
Porto’s Bakery satisfies all five of my requirements for patronizing
an establishment. It’s family owned, it’s local, the food tastes great
and, as far as I know, it’s free of war chemicals and radiation.
Moreover, the place has a certain ambience. When I speak of ambience, I
am not referring to a Moroccan-style lounge with a mélange of
Arab-Berber-Ottoman music and floor seating suited for consuming
koos-koos. The ambience at this Cuban-American establishment is subdued
and subtle.
The sounds of salsa play in the background, yet they are not
overwhelming. There seems to be a hidden message. “This is an authentic
Cuban Bakery. But we don’t need to shove it in your face with loud
sounds, overwhelming decorations or colorful posters. Our food speaks
for itself.”
So what does an Armenian-American order at a Cuban-American café? A
feta sandwich and a green salad. I grabbed my “#22” before making my
way to a table. Waiting anxiously for my food, I wondered if this was a
piece of Havana without all the self-imposed economic and ideological
limitations.
I decided to soak up as much “Cuban-ness” as possible.
A trio of older men was sitting all the way across the café. They
were
engaged in an animated conversation. The leader of the group was
sitting in the middle. His white linen suit, pink shirt and white tie
combined perfectly to give the table a tropical feel.
I was curious. Was the man in the middle reminiscing about the old
days in Havana? Was the old man still homesick? Or was he recalling his
memories of the cigar factory he began work in as a teenager before
working his way up to become a “lector” (a “reader” of literature often
employed at a cigar factory to entertain the cigar rollers)?
At some point, my food had arrived and I had consumed it without
knowing. It was time to leave the “island.”
I picked up my tray and walked toward the trash can near the trio. I
heard a familiar tongue:” As suryatseeneuh beedee chi dzuken Lipananuh
hankeest mnah.” My dream had been shattered; the “islanders” turned out
to be fake. They were Lebanese-Armenian and their deduction was gloomy:
“These Syrians are never going to let Lebanon live in peace.”
I snapped out of “mi sueño cubano” (“my Cuban dream”). I was in
America. The unleashed spirit of entrepreneurship and the co-existence
of the peoples from all over the world was all the proof I needed.
* PATRICK AZADIAN works and lives in Glendale. He may be reached at
padaniaearthlink.net.

PRESS RELEASE
Council of Europe Press Division
Ref: 523b05
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
[email protected]
internet:
Constitutional reform in Armenia : Declaration by the Chair of the
Council of Europe Committee of Ministers
Strasbourg, 10.10.2005 – Diogo Freitas do Amaral, Minister for Foreign
Affairs of Portugal and Chairman of the Council of Europe Committee of
Ministers, made the following statement:
“After several months of intense debate, Armenia’s National Assembly has
just adopted a number of constitutional amendments, in line with the
country’s commitment undertaken when joining the Council of Europe. The
referendum to be held on 27 November on this reform will be vital for
Armenia. By turning out to vote during the referendum, the people of
Armenia will indeed be deciding on changes of fundamental importance for
their future. The expertise of the constitutional amendments by the
Council of Europe’s Venice Commission has shown that the reform will
allow the alignment of the Constitution with European standards by
enhancing the independence of the judiciary, providing a more balanced
distribution of power between the executive and the legislative
branches, as well as promoting local democracy and freedom of the media.
I appeal to the sense of responsibility and concern for the common good
of Armenia’s political parties, beyond their differences, in order to
support this reform, which is essential to the country’s future as a
democracy. By participating in the referendum and showing their
attachment to the values of freedom and democracy, the people of Armenia
will show their desire to see Armenia fully assume its part in the
European construction.”
Réforme constitutionnelle en Arménie : Déclaration de la
Présidence du Comité des Ministres du Conseil de l’Europe
Strasbourg, 10.10.2005 – Diogo Freitas do Amaral, Ministre des Affaires
étrangères du Portugal et Président du Comité des Ministres du
Conseil de l’Europe, a fait la déclaration suivante :
” Après plusieurs mois d’un débat intense, l’Assemblée Nationale
d’Arménie vient d’adopter un certain nombre d’amendements à la
Constitution, comme ce pays en avait pris l’engagement en adhérant au
Conseil de l’Europe. Le référendum qui doit avoir lieu le 27
novembre prochain sur cette réforme sera capital pour l’Arménie. En
participant au référendum, le peuple arménien décidera en effet
d’un certain nombre de changements fondamentaux pour son avenir.
L’expertise des amendements constitutionnels par la Commission de Venise
du Conseil de l’Europe a montré que la réforme doit permettre
d’aligner la Constitution sur les standards européens en renforçant
l’indépendance de la justice, en assurant un meilleur équilibre des
pouvoirs entre l’exécutif et le législatif, ainsi qu’en encourageant
la démocratie locale et en promouvant la liberté des médias.
Je fais appel au sens des responsabilités et au souci du bien commun
des partis politiques arméniens, par delà les clivages, pour
soutenir cette réforme essentielle pour l’avenir démocratique de
l’Arménie. Par leur participation active au référendum et en
marquant leur adhésion aux valeurs de liberté et de démocratie,
les citoyens arméniens manifesteront leur volonté de voir
l’Arménie prendre toute sa place dans la construction européenne. ”
A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to
promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops
common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46
member states.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V.Rev.Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
Armenian version:
THE CATHOLICOSATE OF CILICIA PARTICIPATES IN THE PREPARATORY SESSIONS FOR
THE 9TH
ASSEMBLY OF WCC
In preparation for the 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC)
to be held in the Brazilian city of Porto Alegre in February 2006, the WCC
Middle East Pre-Assembly held sessions in the St. Cross Church of the Greek
Orthodox Patriarchate in Damascus on September 27-October 1. The theme of
the meetings was “God, in Your Grace transform the world.”
Representatives from different religious communities, church youth
organizations, religious and secular individuals participated in the
sessions. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkisian (Primate of the Diocese of Tehran) and
Dr. Jan Salmanian from Lebanon participated in the meetings on behalf of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia.
The Head of the Greek Orthodox Church, Patriarch Iknadios Hazim, delivered
the opening remarks of the sessions, which started after his prayers.
The participants raised a number of issues to be discussed by the 9th
Assembly of WCC:
· The current situation of Christians in the churches of the Middle East in
general and in Palestine and Iraq in particular.
· The emigration of Christians from the churches of the Middle East.
·The importance of Christian-Muslim dialogue and the necessity of
strengthening it.
University students representing different churches also attended the
sessions. Hrair Djamboulian participated on behalf of the Armenian Church
University Students’ Association (ACUSA).
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the Ecumenical
activities of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

“TURKISH” BIRD FLU DOESN’T THREATEN US
Panorama
13:24 10/10/05
The chief epidemiologist of Armenia Ara Asoyan said, “We don’t have to
worry about the spread bird flu in Turkey, as Armenia doesn’t import
Turkish bird meet”.
Let us notice, that according to the recent news there was a mass bird
flu epidemic in one of the bird farms of Balikiser region in Turkey. As
a result there was a death of about 2000 turkeys. /Panorama.am/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NDU WILL HAVE OBSERVERS IN ALL THE AREAS
A1+
| 17:00:43 | 10-10-2005 | Politics |
The National Democratic Union Information Service informs that on
October 8 the party Council had a session in which representatives
of all the regional structures of the party participated.
The NDU leader Vazgen Manoukyan represented to those present the
political situation in the country, as well as the discussions about
the draft Constitution held up to now.
As a result of the discussions the party has decided to boycott the
Constitutional referendum.
The Council has also discussed several issues about the boycott.
Particularly, they have decided to have observers in all the 1865
electoral areas of the Republic.

SOLHEIM ELEMENTARY STUDENTS DIVE INTO ARMENIAN CULTURE
By SARAKINCAID
Bismarck Tribune, ND
Oct 10 2005
Barf. It’s enough to make a fifth- or sixth-grader bubble with
laughter.
Especially when it’s the name of laundry detergent from Armenia
claiming to be snowy white and make clothes sparkling clean.
Solheim Elementary School reading specialist Pam Rettig introduced
eight students to Armenia through products, labels and photos. Soon,
the students will meet Armenian students from Gyumri, Armenia,
through the Internet.
It’s part of the Armenian Connectivity Program, sponsored by Project
Harmony and the U.S. Department of State. It is meant to enhance
cultural awareness by using computer technology. Students post their
photos and type information about themselves and answer questions on
a topic to get conversation flowing.
“It’s fun to get to know people from other countries and what they
think about stuff,” sixth-grader Rachel Eckroth said.
Eckroth and seven other students met in Rettig’s classroom after
school for the first time last Monday. They meet after school twice
a month. They ate Armenian-style chicken wings and had a quick social
studies lesson with photos from Rettig’s summer trip to Armenia.
The students’ goal is to be more aware of other cultures.
“The world is getting smaller and they really need ownership,” Rettig
said. “They are part of the global community.”
In addition to learning about Armenia through the Internet forum,
Rettig is sharing textiles and other items from her travels around
the world. For example, the students drew names for two hand-woven
Guatemalan blankets and Rettig will bring in items from her Fulbright
teacher exchange in Japan.
The students want to learn about everyday life in Armenia.
Sixth-grader Nick Goulet wants to learn about their culture and daily
life, and fifth-grader Faith Ward wants to know what they eat.
They also learn about Armenia through Rettig’s photos. A one-room
house without electricity or running water. Inside a building to
make lavash, a flat, baked bread. People playing backgammon. Candles
burning in church.
An earthquake hit the area about 15 years ago, but some areas look
as if it were yesterday, Rettig said. Not many people want to build
multi-story buildings and connect electricity or water. Many people
also are poor and cannot afford such things, she said. An expensive
rug costs U.S. $100, she said.
Armenian women spend their days rolling out balls of dough, which
are stored in a recessed area of the floor, then cooked in a hot oven.
Many people do not have refrigeration, Rettig said. People will store
leftover food from earlier meals in the day in a cupboard for later,
she said. At her going away meal with her host family, a piece of
freshly broken bread fell on the dirt floor, then was picked up and
placed back in the basket to eat.
“They have different ideas about sanitation because there is no
refrigeration,”Rettig said.
Men play backgammon in their free time. Traditionally, women do not
play it, Rettig said. She was taught while she was there, and the
woman she stayed with knew how to play, which was unusual, she said.
In church it is candles and prayers instead of hourlong sermons
stereotypical of church in the United States. Rettig explained people
buy candles, go inside the church, say a prayer and then leave. The
reason for the quick service is historical. Certain people were
gathered up in churches and burned during the genocide in Armenia,
Rettig said.
The social studies lessons will expand with each meeting, as Rettig
adds more pictures each meeting to the bulletin board outside her
classroom.
The students applied to participate in Project Harmony. Participation
was limited by the program sponsors. They answered questions, as
well as their parents, and were chosen from 40 students. It’s the
second year Rettig participated in Project Harmony. A second group
of students will participate in the spring.
The Web site the students use to share information with Armenian
students is slower to pop up on the screen than most people with fast
Internet connections would expect. Regardless of the speed of the
Internet connection, it connects at the same, slower speed because the
technology in Armenia cannot download pages as quickly as technology
in America, Rettig said.
The Project Harmony forum has students type a paragraph about
themselves, describe themselves in three words and answer several
questions about stereotypes.
Rettig’s class opened the Armenian Connectivity Program to new
schools in Armenia. Previously, the program was open to middle and
high school students only. The program allowed it because Rettig did
a similar Internet forum with a school in Africa, she said. One other
U.S. elementary school, in Illinois, participates in the Armenian
Connectivity Program.