The Record (Bergen County, NJ)
September 28, 2005 Wednesday
All Editions
Andrew Antranig Shahinian; fostered Armenian culture;
Helped preserve folk music, art
By PETER J. SAMPSON, STAFF WRITER, North Jersey Media Group
Andrew Antranig Shahinian of Oradell, a prominent member of the
Armenian-American community whose passion for native music and art
was celebrated, died Saturday after a long illness. He was 87.
Mr. Shahinian was born in Yerevan, Armenia, on June 2, 1918. Fleeing
ethnic genocide at the end of World War I, the family immigrated to
Syracuse, N.Y., in 1920 and relocated to New York City a decade
later.
An accomplished violinist, the young Mr. Shahinian turned down a
scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music and pursued a career in
graphic arts.
Enlisting in the U.S. Army during World War II, he became a pilot and
flight instructor, flying B-29 bombers. At the end of the war, he
resumed his career as a photoengraver.
Over the years, Mr. Shahinian and his partners acquired more than a
dozen firms, making the Master Eagle Family of Companies into one of
the largest graphic arts businesses in the country. He retired in the
late 1980s.
Mr. Shahinian was active in numerous Armenian-American organizations,
serving in leadership positions in the Armenian General Benevolent
Union, the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church of
America and the Armenian Library and Museum of American, and on
various ad hoc committees dedicated to the advancement of Armenian
culture and the preservation and development of the fledging Armenian
nation.
He led humanitarian fund-raising and relief efforts to assist
Armenian refugees displaced by massacres and ethnic cleansing in the
Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan.
At home, Mr. Shahinian was known as “the rock,” because as the
patriarch of large extended family, he could always be counted on
when someone needed help, said his son, Armen Shahinian.
As a first-generation Armenian, he took pride in and was dedicated to
preserving the heritage and culture of an ancient people who at
various times in their history have come close to annihilation, said
Armen Shahinian.
He supported Armenian artists and writers at every opportunity and
possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of Armenian songs, taught by his
parents, that served his efforts to preserve folk music.
Mr. Shahinian is survived by his wife, Alice; five children, Steven
Shahinian of Midway, Ky.; Armen Shahinian of Franklin Lakes; Virginia
Devitre Shahinian of Cohasset, Mass.; Paul Shahinian of Wyckoff; and
Linda Pedrazzini of Switzerland; 13 grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren.
A wake will be held at St. Leon’s Armenian Church in Fair Lawn on
Thursday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral services will be held
there Friday at 10 a.m. Arrangements are by William G. Basralian
Funeral Home, Oradell.
Donations are being directed to the Armenian General Benevolent
Union, 55 E. 59th St., New York, N.Y. 10022, for the AGBU Karabakh
Centennial Repopulation Project to aid displaced Armenian refugees.

Ekspress, Baku, in Azeri
27 Sep 05 p 10
RUSSIA OPPOSED TO US RADARS IN AZERBAIJAN – EXPERT
by Hasan Agacan’s headlined “The Caucasus is covered by radars”
One of the “two radar stations in Azerbaijan”, which US ambassador
Reno Harnish spoke about in an interview with AFP and which our
newspaper reported last Friday [23 September], is very sophisticated.
The other is a normal one.
In the post-Soviet area, one AN/FPS-117 radar station has been
installed near the Latvian city of Daugavpils. That radar station
allows NATO to monitor the northern Baltic region, as well as
Ukraine, Belarus and the central regions of Russia.
Military expert Murad Verdiyev says that AN/FPS-117 radar stations
make it possible to detect air targets from quite a long distance,
calculate their distance, azimuth and altitude by means of active
radiolocation.
[Passage omitted: more details about the capabilities of the radar
station ]
The radar stations, which will be installed in [Azerbaijan’s
northern] Xizi and [southern] Astara districts, will make it possible
to monitor Georgia, Armenia, the North Caucasus, northern Iran, the
Caspian basin, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and the western regions of
Uzbekistan.
[Passage omitted: more details about the capabilities of the radar
station ]
US servicemen make up 65% of the main and technical staff of the
radar station in Astara District. The US plans to install radar
stations in Azerbaijan go back to 2001. In 2001, Qatar’s Al-Jazeera
TV station quoted the Jerusalem-based Palestinian information centre
as saying that “the USA is deploying radar stations in regions of
Azerbaijan bordering on Iran. To this end, Baku has even allocated
plots of land to the Americans”.
[Passage omitted: Hezbollah was angry with the Azerbaijani government
for hosting US radar stations]
The radar station in Xizi District has not been put into operation
yet. After the station begins to operate, the implementation of the
Caspian security programme drafted by the headquarters of the US
military command in Europe will get under way.
[Passage omitted: details of the programme]
As for the radar station, which is due to be put into operation in
Xizi District in the next few days, it is a TRML-3D. The station
produced by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company is
capable of detecting aeroplanes and helicopters flying at a low
height at a distance of up to 200 kilometres, as well as radio
information and mobile phone conversations.
Marat Aliyev, an expert from the Eurasian Geostrategic Studies
Centre, says that the installation of radar stations in Azerbaijan is
a clear indication of plans to deploy NATO bases to Azerbaijan.
“NATO, namely the USA, have always installed radar systems in former
Soviet countries prior to deploying military bases there. After the
installation of these systems, military hardware, mobile units, air
defence systems and special purpose troops are brought to those
countries,” Aliyev said.
Aliyev says the Pentagon has planned to set up a regional air
surveillance and coordination centre in the South Caucasus region.
“The radar stations the USA is installing in Azerbaijan are more
powerful than the Qabala radar station. Russia understands this and
is very likely to take countermeasures,” he added.
According to a report we received yesterday, the Russian Defence
Ministry is really planning to do so. It is planning to install a
59N6-E Protivnik-GE radar station in one of Dagestan’s southern
districts.

Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in Turkish
28 Sep 05
TURKISH OPPOSITION LEADER DESCRIBES EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION AS
“TRAP”
London, 28 September: [Opposition] Republican People’s Party [CHP]
leader Deniz Baykal has described the European Parliament’s demand
for the recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide as a trap.
Maintaining his contacts in Britain as the guest of the Labour
Party’s annual congress, Baykal regretted the European Parliament’s
resolution. However, he said that it has not surprised him.
Asserting that Turkey will be confronted with similar traps in the
form of demands in the future, Baykal noted: “Many conditions have
been put to Turkey. However, no condition exists to guarantee
Turkey’s accession to the EU as a member. Unfortunately, the EU
creates problems in its assessment of Turkey’s accession to the
organization.”
Stressing that Turkey has found itself in a difficult situation
because of the policy it maintained and because of its relations
[with the EU], Baykal criticized the government by saying that the
party warned it in the past. He noted: “However, they believed that
things would be put right on the way. That was a serious mistake.”
Baykal will have dinner with the representatives of many Turkish
associations and civilian organizations in London this evening.

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
28 Sep 05
US OFFICIAL MEETS RELIGIOUS REPRESENTATIVES IN TURKEY
Istanbul, 28 September: Karen Hughes, undersecretary in charge of
public diplomacy at the US Department of State, has met religious
representatives in Istanbul today.
Hughes met the Istanbul Director of Religious Affairs Mustafa
Cagrici, Vatican’s Representative in Turkey George Marovich, Turkish
Armenians Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan, Turkish Rabbi Ishak Haleva,
Turkish Asyrian Orthodox Deputy Patriarch Yusuf Cetin and Fener Greek
Patriarchate Spokesman Peder Dositheos at the Topkapi Palace.
Hughes told reporters before holding a meeting with the religious
representatives that it was US President George Bush’s wish for her
to meet with religious representatives. “This is because the
religious leaders can offer a hand to thousands and can contribute to
a multi-religious atmosphere,” said Hughes.
Huges stated that, although she has been in Turkey for a little
while, she has been impressed by Turkish warmth and hospitality. “We
are identical in many ways. Our peoples give high priority to
democracy, family life and religion,” stressed Hughes.
Huges noted that the American people appreciate the aid sent to the
US after the devastating Hurricane Katrina.
Istanbul Director of Religious Affairs Mustafa Cagrici has commented
that Turkey and the US are identical societies which value democracy
and family life.
Turkish Armenians Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan has indicated that the
clash of civilizations between the West and East is a matter of
concern for his church. “We have to discuss ways to prevent clashes.
For this reason, I find it highly essential to continue meetings of
religious leaders,” told Mutafyan.
Vatican’s Turkey Representative George Marovich has noted that Turkey
is like a garden of different flowers. “In the 1800s, the Ottoman
Sultan ordered the construction of a mosque, synagogue and church
next to each other. Such a practice did not exist in Europe then.
Such a tolerance comes from the Holy Qu’ran.”
Karen Hughes commented after the meeting that Turkey and its society
will be a source of inspiration for the rest of the world with regard
to tolerance.

NATO’s position on Armenian-Azeri conflict remains unchanged
Arminfo, Yerevan, in Russian
27 Sep 05
YEREVAN
NATO’s position on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict remains unchanged,
the special representative of the NATO secretary-general in the South
Caucasus and Central Asia, Robert Simmons, has told our correspondent.
He said that NATO does not support any of the conflicting sides and
does not aim to mediate the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. “We consider that the issue of settling the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict falls under the jurisdiction of international
organizations and a solution to the issue can be achieved only in the
process of negotiations,” Simmons pointed out.
Speaking about the problems of the simultaneous joint participation
of Armenian and Azerbaijani servicemen in the Partnership for Peace
programme, the special representative pointed out that NATO’s
position also remains unchanged here. “Indeed, the simultaneous
participation of representatives from Armenia and Azerbaijan in NATO
exercises has created some problems. However, there are many other
exercises within the framework of the Partnership for Peace
programme, where the participation of the two countries’
representatives has not caused any problems,” Simmons pointed out,
adding that at the same time, NATO strongly supports the principle
that all Partnership for Peace exercises and programmes should be
accessible to all of its member countries which desire to take part
in them.
“We will continue defending this principle in all future exercises
conducted within the framework of the programme,” the NATO special
representative said in conclusion.

Haykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan, in Armenian
27 Sep 05 p 3
Public forum urges Georgia to grant autonomy to Armenian minority
by Arman Karapetyan headlined “The situation is getting worse in Javakhk”
The forum of public and political organizations of Javakhk, which was
recently held in Akhalkalaki, has suggested that the Georgian
authorities grant autonomy to Javakhk and adopted a statement in this
regard. The statement calls on the Georgian authorities to examine
the issue of setting up a state federal entity and grant autonomy to
Armenian-populated Javakhk. In an interview with the Georgian
newspaper Rezonansi last week, the chairman of the Virk organization,
David Rstakyan, said that during the forum some people may have
raised the problem of Javakhk’s autonomy, and in fact, this happened.
Rstakyan added that in Javakhk people understand that in Georgia the
word “autonomy” is associated with “separatism” as is the case with
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. At the same time, he said that as a rule,
multi-ethnic states are based on the principle of federalism.
The Armenian deputy of the Georgian parliament, Van Bayburd, said in
an interview with the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta that
people closely connected with Armenian extremist forces demanded that
the issue of autonomy be included in the document of the forum.
Bayburd added that in this case, we are dealing with the artificial
exacerbation of the situation. On the whole, the socioeconomic
situation in Javakhk is not worse than in other regions of Georgia,
and the Georgian president’s decision to buy agricultural produce for
the Georgian army from Javakhk will ease the current social and
economic situation.
In any case, Russian TV and press paid quite a lot of attention to
the forum. Javakhk continues to be a risk zone for the Georgian
authorities and will remain such until 2008 when the last Russian
soldier leaves the region. In the future, the Georgian authorities
are going to invest 100m dollars in Javakhk, i.e. one third of the
money that Georgia will receive under the Millennium Challenge
Account. Moreover, according to the Russian press, serious
investments are also expected in the sphere of creating jobs. We hope
that the Georgian and Armenian authorities will be clever enough not
to allow the situation in Javakhk to destabilize.
P. S. There are rumours that the public and political organizations
of Javakhk were angered by the fact that Georgian authorities are
trying to take control of them with the help of Javakhk’s Armenian
criminal authorities.

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
28 Sep 05
ARMENIAN LEADER, VISITING INTERPOL CHIEF PRAISE TIES
Yerevan, 28 September: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received
Interpol Secretary-General Ronald Noble in Yerevan today.
The presidential press service has told Mediamax that the Interpol
secretary-general highly values the professionalism of the Armenian
police, adding that they are taking an active part in the work of
Interpol.
Kocharyan noted the importance of the fight against crime in
conditions of globalization and new threats and challenges. The main
task of the Armenian police is upgrading equipment and organizing
training for highly-professional officers.
Ronald Noble noted that in Armenia, Interpol introduced a new system
of passport checks, which will considerably help the work of the
police.

Mediamax news agency, Yerevan, in Russian
27 Sep 05
Armenian president denies talks on reinforcing Russian base
YEREVAN
The Russian military base deployed in Armenia “is one of the
components ensuring security of our country”, Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan said in Yerevan today.
Robert Kocharyan said this in reply to the question from a Finnish
journalists at a joint briefing with Finnish President Tarja Halonen.
Sometimes we come across articles in the media that the Russian
military base was “dictated” to Armenia in its time, the Armenian
president said.
“This is absolutely incorrect approach, the base was deployed in
Armenia on the basis of a bilateral agreement and met our interests,”
Robert Kocharyan said.
The Armenian president noted that “we live in the difficult region
and the Russian base is one of the components ensuring our security”.
Armenia is not holding talks with Moscow on reinforcing the Russian
military base, Kocharyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Agence France Presse — English
September 28, 2005 Wednesday 4:20 PM GMT
Turkey hints may shun EU talks, Britain urges compromise
ANKARA
Turkey hinted Wednesday that it may shun the start of EU membership
talks next week as political tensions rose over the country’s place
in Europe, leading Britain to warn of a “huge betrayal” if the door
was slammed shut on Ankara.
Raising the risk of a political showdown, the European Parliament
issued a stern warning to Ankara to recognize Cyprus and acknowledge
that the Ottomans committed “genocide” against Armenians during World
War I, two highly sensitive issues that have already strained ties.
The parliament did, however, endorse the start of talks set for
Monday.
The EU’s British presidency, meanwhile, battled to resolve a deadlock
over the negotiating framework — the guiding procedures and
principles of the talks — with Austria insisting on a reference to
an eventual “partnership” instead of full membership for Turkey.
“It is natural that we shall make the necessary evaluations following
the clarification of the negotiating framework and take our final
step accordingly,” Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Namik Tan told
reporters.
“It is out of the question that we accept any formula or suggestion
other than full membership,” he said.
EU ambassadors were scheduled to meet later Wednesday and throughout
Thursday to try to end the dispute before the talks, which were given
a green light by the EU at a December 17 summit, get under way in
Luxembourg.
Noting the atmosphere of uncertainty and possible last-minute
wrangling, a senior Turkish diplomat said that it was not even clear
when Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul would fly to Luxembourg.
“The airplane will be waiting at the airport and when everything is
resolved, we will go,” he told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Other than the Austrian obstacle, he explained, some EU countries are
pushing for tougher terms that go beyond the principles outlined in
the EU’s December 17 decisions concerning Turkey, but declined to
elaborate.
Turkish newspapers reported that one draft provision that
particularly irked Ankara was a demand that Turkey abstain from
obstructing the membership of EU countries in other international
organizations.
The provision is widely interpreted as an attempt to block a Turkish
veto to an eventual bid by Cyprus to join NATO.
Turkey’s refusal to recognize Cyprus is a major obstacle to its EU
hopes, with the EU demanding that Ankara endorse the
internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government of the
long-divided island during the accession process.
Throwing Britain’s weight behind Turkey, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw
warned that “it would now be a huge betrayal of the hopes and
expectations of the Turkish people and of Prime Minister (Recep
Tayyip) Erdogan’s program of reform if, at this crucial time, we
turned our back on Turkey.”
“Anchor Turkey in the West and we gain a beacon of democracy and
modernity, a country with a Muslim majority, which will be a shining
example across the whole of its neighboring region,” he told the
Labour Party’s annual conference in Brighton.
Turkey has been trying to join the EU for decades but its place in
Europe has come increasingly into question, particularly since French
and Dutch voters rejected a planned EU constitution, partly over
concerns about the membership of this sizeable and relatively poor
Muslim country.
Underscoring increasingly hostile public opinion in parts of Europe,
the heated debate Wednesday at the European Parliament also saw
deputies harshly criticize Turkey’s record on human rights and
religious freedoms.
Ankara urged EU countries to reflect on a “strategic vision.”
“Our membership carries great importance with respect to the
contribution (it would make) to the future of Europe as well as the
Middle East and the Caucasus and particularly to the building of an
alliance between civilizations,” Tan said.

Agence France Presse — English
September 28, 2005 Wednesday 3:42 PM GMT
EU lawmakers back Turkey talks, but demand ‘genocide’ recognition
STRASBOURG
The European Parliament issued Wednesday a stern warning to Turkey to
recognise Cyprus and a “genocide” of Armenians, days ahead of the
start of start of EU entry talks with the huge Muslim country.
While giving cautious backing to the opening of European Union
membership talks with Ankara next Monday, the EU lawmakers’ demands
underscore nagging reservations in the EU about the country one day
joining the European club.
EU leaders gave Turkey a green light in December to start talks. But
strains flared after the country issued a declaration in July
reaffirming its refusal to recognize the government of Cyprus.
Turkey has also come under pressure to recognize a “genocide” against
Armenians under the Ottoman Empire during World War I, a highly
sensitive issue for Ankara.
A text adopted by MEPs said the EU legislative assembly “calls on
Turkey to recognise the Armenian genocide” and that it “considers
this recognition to be a prerequisite for accession to the European
Union”.
Armenians say that up to 1.5 million of their people were slaughtered
in mass killings under the Ottoman Empire, but Ankara denies that the
Ottomans committed genocide against Armenian subjects.
Turkey’s refusal to recognise EU member Cyprus has so far proved the
main stumbling block to the opening of talks, which could last for 10
to 15 years even if all goes well.
In the adopted text, MEPs stressed “that the rapid normalisation of
relations between Turkey and all EU member states, including Turkey’s
recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, is a necessary component of
the accession process”.
Turkey has steadfastly refused to endorse the internationally
recognised Greek-Cypriot government since its troops occupied the
island in 1974 in response to a Greek-engineered coup.
The EU parliament’s motion, which will not delay the scheduled
opening of the entry talks, received the backing of 356 members of
parliament while 181 voted against and 125 abstained.
In a debate, the head of the European People’s Party, the biggest in
the parliament, Hans-Gert Pottering, voiced reservations about
opening negotiations amid concerns over Turkey’s record on human
rights and respect for minorities.
“We know that torture is still ongoing and if that does not stop,
then we should be prepared to break off or suspend negotiations,” he
said. “We cannot turn a blind eye to these abuses and infringements
on human rights.”
Greens party leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit said that the debate over
Turkey had been tainted by racism towards Muslims.
“Not everyone who is against Turkey is a racist, but the people who
are against Turkey are sometimes riding or can surf on a wave of
racism”, he warned.
Speaking to the MEPs ahead of the vote, British Europe Minister
Douglas Alexander, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency,
tried to allay fears about the costs of absorbing the relatively poor
country.
“The negotiations with Turkey will be the most rigorous yet,
reflecting lessons learnt from the previous wave of enlargement. They
are also expected to take many years to conclude,” he said.
Amid ongoing unease among some member states about starting the
talks, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw warned that it would be a
disaster if the EU were suddenly to slam the door on Turkey’s bid to
join the bloc
“It would now be a huge betrayal of the hopes and expectations of the
Turkish people…. if, at this crucial time, we turned our back on
Turkey,” he told the Labour Party’s annual conference in Brighton,
southeast England.