BECAUSE OF THE MEMORIAL DAY
A1+
| 13:48:46 | 12-09-2005 | Social |
Today the residents of the Buzand street, armed with petrol bottles,
waited for the officers of the court who were to evict them from
their houses.
Till noon not a single court officer came to the Buzand street. The
residents tried to guess the reason for their absence, and came to
the conclusion that it is because of the Memorial Day.
The situation was tenser in the Buzand 15. There are 6 families here
who do not want to leave their houses. The police are on duty here
for 24 hours a day. At night there are at least 4 policemen sitting
in cars.
By the way, according to the residents, the policemen are very warm
towards them. “But if there is an order from above, they will easily
beat us with their sticks”, said Nuneh Vardouni.
The head of the non-governmental organization “Liberty and Democracy”
lives with her 15-year-old daughter at Buzand 15. Nuneh has decided to
fight for her rights till the end, and even if she loses the battle,
she will use it too for her protection. She has decided not to take the
miserable sum offered for her house and to wait for better days. “I
do not lose hope that I will see those days, where I will be paid
more money with which I can buy a house”, she says.

KARABAKH CONFLICT TO BE DISCUSSED IN PARIS
Pan Armenian News
12.09.2005 02:52
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The special PACE ad hoc sub-committee on the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict will hold its second sitting in Paris today.
Representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan, members of the OSCE Minsk
Group and an EU representative will discuss the latest situation
in the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict. It is already
known that the discussion will not be open to the press. According
to the revised draft program, the works will start at 9.30 a.m. with
the opening speech of Lord Russell-Johnston, Chairman of the Ad-hoc
Committee. First the historical background of the conflict will be
represented by the Executive Director of the London Information
Network on Conflicts and State-Building (LINKS). Within the
framework of the discussions Armenia will be represented by Varuzhan
Nersissian, Head of Department on OSCE, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
and Azerbaijan will be represented by Araz Azimov, Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. Besides the OSCE Minsk Group
Co-Chairs, Mr. Goran Lenmarker, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special
Representative on Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict and Mr. Heikki Talvitie,
EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus will participate in
the discussion. According to the agenda, the work of the Committee
will last a day, Trend news agency reported.

KARABAKH MUST JOIN ARMENIA
A1+
| 15:43:31 | 12-09-2005 | Social |
“What do you think the Nagorno Karabakh status should be? ” This was
the poll question of the internet site “A1+” lat week. 287 people
participated in it.
Half of them – 50.5% think that Karabakh must form part of the Republic
of Armenia, 30t% think that it must be an independent republic,
and 5.9% think that it must form a state with Azerbaijan. 4.2%
were undecided.
This week the poll question is about the upcoming elections of local
governing bodies. We expect you to take active participation in
the poll.

ARMENIAN REPRESENTATIVES TO OBSERVE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION IN NORWAY
Pan Armenian News
12.09.2005 03:29
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ September 12 representatives of Kyrgyzstan,
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Moldova
will observe the parliamentary election in Norway in 6 polling
stations. 26 observers from the CIS member-state will divide into
14 groups to observe the election in Oslo, Bergen, Drammen and some
other towns. Besides, they are expected to visit the parliament,
the town council and the headquarters of one of the leading Norwegian
parties. The idea of participation of international observers in the
parliamentary election in Norway belongs to the Norwegian Helsinki
Committee and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs,
IA Regnum reports.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BOJKO IS BACK
A1+
| 15:47:20 | 12-09-2005 | Official |
Today the newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Armenia handed his
credentials to the RA President Robert Kocharyan. He congratulated the
diplomat on being appointed Ambassador to Armenia again after 4 year.
Speaking about the Armenian-Ukrainian relations, Robert Kocharyan
underlined with delight that the efforts made in order to enhance
economic connections are proving fruitful. He also mentioned that there
is still much to be done in the fields of political and humanitarian
cooperation.

SPEAKERS OF HUNGARIAN, BRAZILIAN, RUSSIAN AND SLOVAKIAN PARLIAMENTS TO VISIT ARMENIA TILL END OF 2005
12.09.2005 02:42
Pan Armenian News
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Assembly is celebrated
its 15-th anniversary this November. On this occasion a solemn
sitting of the parliament will be convoked. As RA NA Chairman
Artur Baghdassaryan told journalists, representatives of some
interparliamentary delegations will be invited to take part in the
sitting. At the same time the Chairman informed that Speakers of
Hungarian, Brazilian, Russian and Slovakian parliaments will visit
Armenia till the end of the current year. Artur Baghdassaryan also
noted that late this year two sittings of the CIS Interparliamentary
Assembly will be held. In November the republic of Armenia will assume
presidency over the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization, reported by IA Regnum.

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HUNGRY FOR JUSTICE: CONVICTED SOLDIER SAYS HE HAS `NO OTHER WAY’ BUT HUNGER
STRIKE
By Zhanna Alexanyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
In a basement cell with a barred and screened window where heavy air
smothers breathing, 19-year old prisoner Razmik Sargsyan is in his
28th day of a hunger strike to protest the sentence for a crime he now
says he had no part in.
In April of last year, following five days of interrogation during
which the teenager says he was tortured, Sargsyan, a conscript in the
Armenian army confessed to the murder of two fellow soldiers in
Karabakh in December of 2003. Two other soldiers were also convicted
based on Sargsyan’s confession. Razmik Sargsyan Each was sentenced to
15 years.

Attorneys and family members of all the convicted soldiers have
maintained that Sargsyan and the others were scapegoats in a double
murder that, they say, leads to unit commander Ivan
Grigoryan. Grigoryan was not called to testify in the case, due, in
part, to his status as a Karabakh war hero. (Also read previous
ArmeniaNow reports: With Prejudice?, Army on Trial and Death Over
Dishonor?.)
The case is one of several examples of unsatisfactory conditions
within the Armenian Army, where soldiers are routinely beaten (the
murder victims are believed to have been tortured, then murdered),
often with the approval or out right command of superior officers.
It is also a case that has drawn attention from human rights agencies
and Non Governmental Organizations who say that Sargsyan is just
another victim of bottom-to-top corruption that prevails in the
military.
Sargsyan’s case is under appeal, but a prison doctor has determined
that his health is too bad for him to attend the hearings.
According to his attorney, Zaruhi Postanjyan, Sargsyan cannot walk,
and suffers severe kidney problems that, the attorney says, are the
result of numerous beatings. The apparent kidney damage makes a hunger
strike particularly dangerous for the boy. And in fact his conditioned
dramatically deteriorated within two weeks of the strike.
Members of an NGO observation group making a public supervision in
prisons, consider his health condition as hard. The group was denied a
request to view Sargsyan’s medical records by head of the Nubarashen
prison, Ara Sargsyan.
Although press secretary of the Ministry of Justice Ara Saghatelyan
insists they would get the information in case a proper request was
presented the lawyers insist the two written mediations in that regard
have been rejected.
On the fifth day of his strike, Sargsyan announced it to the Court of
Appeals. Judge Mher Arghmanyan replied: `Only guilty people do things
like hunger strikes . . .’ On a visit to the Nubarashen prison,
ArmeniaNow’s reporter found the boy pale, gaunt and barely capable of
speaking. He is demanding that those who he says tortured him be
charged with their crimes, and that the Military Prosecutor be
dismissed from the case, and a civilian prosecutor from the Prosecutor
General’s Office be assigned.
`I have been innocently sentenced for 15 years, and evidence has been
extorted by beatings,’ he told ArmeniaNow `How can I go out of the
hunger strike? I have no other way.’
`Razmik Sargsyan made this ultimate step for he does not know what
steps to take to prove his innocence and to bring the real criminals
to responsibility,’ Postanjyan says. `Besides the fact the real
criminals are free they have involved also innocent people into the
case.’
Neither Musa Serobyan nor Araik Zalyan, the other soldiers, confessed
to the same charges raised against Sargsyan.
Postanjayan says the Military Prosecutor’s Office made its case solely
on Sargsyan’s allegedly-extorted testimony. She describes her client
as a sensitive boy, liable to yield to pressure.
`They purposefully chose Razmik, for he is more vulnerable, writes
poems and loves music, so he would not stand the beatings. And indeed
he did not. The investigator had hanged him up and threatened to rape
him with a stick… Razmik has testified to all these in the court of
the first instance,’ says the lawyer.
During the year and a half of their imprisonment all the three
prisoners have declared hunger strikes at different times. The longest
was Zalyan’s, lasting 90 days.
Due to his already poor health, Sargsyan’s hold out appears more
dramatic.
Following a recent visit to the prison, Torgom Sargsyan said his son
could not walk and `his face was totally swollen, his hands were
shaking, he could hardly move his lips. He has had acute kidney
attacks again; he urinates blood.
`They took my child to the army for two years, and it turned into 15
. . .’
Read next week’s ArmeniaNow for an update on the appeals court
hearings.

HYESANTA UPDATE: SEASONAL PROJECT TURNS INTO YEAR-ROUND ACTIVITY
By Suren Musayelyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Editor’s Note: In keeping with our commitment to show readers how
their contributions to our charitable foundation is being managed, we
present the following report. ArmeniaNow – and especially the
recipients of your generosity – thank its readers and looks forward to
future campaigns.
As it prepares for its next charity campaign to be launched in late
autumn, ArmeniaNow’s Hye Santa project is pleased to inform its
patrons that, in the past eight months, 15 families have received
assistance ranging from medicines to blankets and mattresses, to
livestock, computers and TV-sets, and worth a total of $12,365 (not
including the value of rehabilitative care for Karabakh war survivor
Mary Mezhlumyan.)
Many also received continuous assistance from ArmeniaNow office staff
and benefactors who responded generously and wholeheartedly from
abroad and, most importantly, from within Armenia.
HyeSanta Charitable Foundation Director Armine Petrosyan says the
charity has goals that are not limited to satisfying people’s
essential needs only (such as food, clothes, fuel).
`It is important that the charity’s activities be aimed at creating an
atmosphere of confidence and rehabilitation for the families, showing
a proper attitude towards them and establishing continuous friendship
with them,’ says Petrosyan.
When ArmeniaNow announced its second HyeSanta campaign last December,
the first to contribute was Donna Evans, wife of the United States
Ambassador to Armenia.
Among the most recent, in what has become a year-round program, was
assistance from Armenia’s First Lady, Bella Kocharyan.
Thanks to Ms. Kocharyan’s involvement, Mary Mezhlumyan of Kapan, a
victim of bombing during the Karabakh war, and a subject of the first
HyeSanta campaign (see Smiling Through Tragedy), is now getting a new
leg and arms.
The Medical and Technical Commission of the RA Ministry of Labor and
Social Affairs is providing Mary with prosthetic appliances free of
charge.
An artificial foot was prepared for Mary under Doctor Mkrtich
Ginosyan’s supervision, and artificial arms will be prepared for her
in October. Further, there are also plans to present to the National
Assembly a proposal by photojournalist German Avagyan through
cooperation with Red Cross Armenia Chairman Mkhitar Mnatsakanyan to
regard war-crippled children (there are about 50 of them living in
Armenia and Karabakh today) as war disabled and give them pensions
accordingly.
Petrosyan also regards as important HyeSanta’s cooperation with the
Armenian Apostolic Church, in particular with the St. Hovhannes Church
priest Ter Daniel (see ArmeniaNow’s HyeSanta update of June 10, 2005).
Four children of the Papazyans, subjects of last winter’s HyeSanta
project, were baptized in summer.
`I need to consult Ter Daniel,’ with these words widow Knarik
Gasparyan, 39, who has three children in her care and no job (see A
Poet’s Life?), often goes to St. Hovhannes Church with her children
before making important decisions.
Petrosyan says one of HyeSanta’s strongest allies has been the Armenia
Interchurch Charitable Round Table Foundation of the World Council of
Churches.
Responding to ArmeniaNow’s story depicting a gruesome picture in the
border village of Barekamavan and with a view to create new interests
for the local youths, at HyeSanta’s request the Foundation provided
two computers each to Barekamavan and neighboring Berkaber.
Petrosyan says the results exceeded expectations. In particular in
Berkaber, due to computer instructor Vladimir Ghazinyan’s effective
work, pupils are now using the Word, Excel and Photoshop programs.
Vladimir intends to learn other computer programs to teach them to the
pupils. For that purpose, HyeSanta bought five copies of the AutoCAD
manual from the Department of Industrial Engineering of the American
University of Armenia and for his impressive work Vladimir received a
present from the manual’s author Sargis Zeytunyan – a CD with a demo
version of the program.

The Tufenkian Foundation helped HyeSanta purchase sheep for some
families

`Vladimir’s dedicated work within just four months shows that properly
made investments can produce amazing results that even exceed
expectations,’ says Petrosyan. `Besides, the reassuring example of
Berkaber has become a reliable guarantee of further cooperation
between HyeSanta and Round Table.’
Petrosyan says many of HyeSanta’s initiatives would have been
impossible without the active assistance and support of other
institutional structures.
In particular, the Tufenkian Foundation and its director Margarit
Hovhannisyan, was instrumental in providing transportation to deliver
a considerable part of the aid to the regions. The foundation also
provided expertise through veterinarian Zorik Pambukhchyan who advised
HyeSanta in the matter of purchasing cattle for villagers.
`We assisted ArmeniaNow and HyeSanta with great pleasure,’
Hovhannisyan said. `One thing that could be done better in some cases
is the selection of help for families. In my opinion, some of the
families featured in ArmeniaNow stories needed other kind of help, not
so much material or financial, as psychological, help that perhaps
could be provided through social workers. But I am sure it will come
with experience.’
Consultations for HyeSanta were also provided by the NGO Center for
Civil Society Development.
The experience of NGOs’ work in Armenia often became a guideline for
HyeSanta. Director Margarit Piliposyan’s professional advice also
contributed to making proper decisions.
One of the best results of the project, according to its director, was
achieved through continuous cooperation with Diaspora Armenians. A
woman in New York became acquainted with the Haroyans from Echmiadzin
(see Edik and Yura) and long ago grew into friendly
relations. Petrosyan thinks the consistent attention of Diaspora
Armenians is especially valuable.
French-Armenian Anahit Sargsyan, visiting the Gasparyans made a
wonderful practical proposal: she ordered hand-made toys from Knarik
for the kids at her kindergarten. This opportunity of dignified
earning will grow by the New Year into gifts from Armenia to
French-Armenian children.
HyeSanta is also developing a similar project with Egyptian-Armenian
Hrair Djeghalian, who responded readily to the charity action at the
request of the `Prkutyun’ (`Salvation’) charitable union for disabled
children. Hrair’s financial contribution made it possible to perform
an eye surgery on a child, for which the NGO tried to find financing.
`This way, HyeSanta has become a bridge between its Diaspora readers
and Armenian NGOs,’ says Petrosyan.
Armenia Interchurch Charitable Round Table Foundation of the World
Council of Churches donated to HyeSanta computers for two villages

British-Armenian Rouben Galichian, Chairman of Aid Armenia & Executive
Trustee of Friends of Armenia, has also volunteered help.
`We have a willingness to help HyeSanta. Our attitude in all projects
is as follows: we help people with means to earn their living
themselves. Instead of giving a fish we give them a fishing-rod,’ says
Galichian, adding that they are willing to help communities rather
than separate individuals.
However, Petrosyan considers the most important achievement to be the
cooperation of readers and TV viewers in Armenia itself.
The responses of both ArmeniaNow readers and Shoghakat TV viewers are
appreciable especially by their practical nature.
Pensioner Karine continues to visit the families of the Gasparyans,
the Yervandyans and Avetis Khachatryan (Bradyaga), phone and maintains
a constant link with them. Enthused by the experience of cooperation
with HyeSanta, she is now trying to rally her associates around the
charity idea and set up a field for her own activities.
`My friends, who were brilliant professionals in the past and after
retiring had no possibility to apply their professional abilities, now
understand that one can be useful to people through combined
efforts. While working with HyeSanta I learned a lot of things, and I
will use all this in the work of our new organization,’ she said.
The consistent attention of businessman Mesrop Saroyan, who sponsors
the Galajyan family (see Stones For Potatoes), is exemplary. Apart
from material assistance, he has given a job to Hamlet at his
enterprise, and helped him improve his ruined home.
The interest of students is also inspiring: at a meeting with students
held upon the initiative of AUA lecturer Karine Muradyan, after
watching the HyeSanta film, a conversation was held around the
effectiveness of the Foundation’s work. The suggestions made by the
young people were interesting in keeping with the time.
Besides the 12 families featuring in ArmeniaNow’s stories, another
three families received assistance.
HyeSanta has helped three young people to become students this year by
paying for their fees and facilitating needs connected with their
studies. It also helped organize three baptism parties with the
assistance of the Church in the person of priest Ter Daniel.
Now Petrosyan says a documentary is being prepared to cover the
activities of HyeSanta in 2005. Soon it will be shown on Shoghakat, a
TV company that has stood by the project since last December when it
showed televised clips about the needy families featured in
ArmeniaNow’s special Christmas issue and is also assisting in the
preparation of this documentary.
An English-language version of the HyeSanta TV program has been
prepared together with Shoghakat. The process of delivering aid was
filmed. A summary report about HyeSanta 2005’s work is presently being
prepared jointly with Shoghakat. (ArmeniaNow’s 2005 HyeSanta project
is now being planned. Meanwhile, contributions are welcomed. Click
here.)

90 YEARS AFTER MUSA DAGH: `I REMEMBER EVERYTHING . . .’
By Ruzanna Tantushyan

Ninety years ago, when she was seven, Varsenik Lagisyan heard voices
that would follow her till today:
`Haàààlàh, Haààlàh. We have come to take the
priest’s daughter.’

Turkish regulars mounted on their horses shouted the words for
villagers of Youghonoluk, in the region of Musa Dagh (Musa Ler, in
Armenian) to hear. It is where Versenik lived with her family in
1915. And these were the words that marked the resettlement of
Armenians from their homes.
Musa Dagh – made famous in Franz Werfel’s `90 Days at Musa Dagh’ – was
those few Armenian populated villages, subject to exodus, where people
didn’t obey the Turkish government decree of July 26, 1915. According
to this order Armenians were given one week to leave their homes and
move to the deserts of Syria.
Varsenik clearly remembers how the men and women, old and young,
gathered and decided to fight the Turks. They thought `We will either
kill, or be killed’. And they decided to climb up Musa Dagh. The
mountain was rocky and hard to climb, but its thick forest made a good
place for Armenians to hide and to defend themselves for 40 days,
until help arrived.
Life on the mountain was difficult. Because of the rush and obstacles
on the road, not much could be brought to the mountain. The villagers
would just leave their doors open and climb the mountain without
hardly taking anything with them. It was 40 days of hardship, but the
alternative was death.
There were times when they had nothing to eat, except berries they
could find in the forest. Fortunately it was fig and cornel (a type of
berry) season.
`Mothers had nothing to fååd their children with. Nor could they
light a fire, since the light would bring the Turks to our shelter and
that will be the end of all our attempts to survive,’ Versenik
recalls.
Varsenik recollects her memories of the time spent on the
mountain. She would help her mother and other women on the mountains
to bake bread, do the washing, while the men were busy preventing the
attempts of the Turks to climb the mountain.
Varsenik’s brightest memory of her childhood is the trip from Musa
Dagh to Port Said, Egypt. After defending for 40 days Armenian white
linen sheets, with messages signaling that Christians were in danger,
were seen by French battle-ships and the Armenians were taken to Port
Said. This is where Varsenik and her family together with other Musa
Dagh villagers found their home for four years.

`The priest said that those who have small children can not come on
board. They will cry and the Turks will find us’ Varsenik remembers
the priest’s words.
She can remember very well the sight which they saw when their ship
put ashore.
`Îlive, mandarin and fig trees with their branches bent under the
rich crop. All the children would run to gather the fruits. They
would run from tree to tree, they would greedily gather the fruits
with laughter and joy. I remember. I remember everything.’
Varsenik also remembers that on their way to Egypt a woman gave birth
to a child, symbolizing a new beginning in the history of Musa Dagh
villagers. But Varsenik’s family mourned. Their happiness of salvation
was saddened by her uncle’s death. He was wounded on the mountain and
died on board the ship. All in all, Varsenik says she was lucky to
have all her immediate family members alive and together.
Varsenik had a big family. She was the eldest of the 8 children. Her
father was a shop keeper and had a lot of goats. Her mother was a
housekeeper.
The family lived in Egypt for four years, during which time Varsenik –
no more than 11 at the time – married a boy from her village, and
would later have five children.
After living in the country that gave them bread to eat and a roof to
have above their head they left for Russian- Armenia that was under
Russian rule at that time. They left for their motherland.
They settled in AlaVerdi, but again found themselves short of money
and food. Varsenik would knit socks and handkerchiefs to earn their
leaving.
If her 40 days on Musa Dagh bring black thoughts, it seems that a lot
of good memories connect Varsenik with her temporary shelter in
Egypt. First the brightest memories of fruits, trees, laughter and
happiness of her relatives, friends and the second, her marriage.
Varesenik’s children have their own children. And now Varsenik’s
family is as big as it was in the times in Musa Dagh, before memories
of Turks on horses, making threats and shaping a horrible history
. . .

Friends in Deed: British charity makes life better for struggling
single women in Armenia By Suren Musayelyan ArmeniaNow reporter
Margarita Baghdasaryan, 52, is a single mother who lives with her
18-year-old son Hakob in a 12-square-meter room in a hostel in the
Kanaker district of Yerevan.
Those bare details alone frame a life of hardship that is not easily
managed in a society so family-oriented and reliant on male
leadership. And it is a life made even worse by a general lack of
organized care for those of Margarita’s situation.
But it is a life lately improved by the help of a London-based
charity, Friends of Armenia.
Presently, Friends of Armenia are completing a $90,000 renovation of
the hostel that houses some 90 families (about 180 residents). Most
have situations similar to Margarita; single women whose husbands left
for work in Russia and never returned, and some who were killed in the
war in Karabakh.
Most residents, too, are former employees (or wives of employees) of
the Lamp Factory, the company to which the four-storied building
belonged. (In Soviet times, factories provided hostels for employees
who did not have permanent residences.) Many are refugees from
Azerbaijan.
The factory went out of business shortly after the collapse of the
Soviet Union and the hostel was transferred to the local government as
a housing for those who had fled Azerbaijan when conflict started in
the late 1980s.
For more than a decade the hostel suffered the effects of daily wear
and tear, without the means for making it better.
About two years ago, the situation was brought to the attention of
Friends of Armenia, a non-profit organization started by London
Diaspora in 2000.
At first, the charity ministered to the psychological needs of the
women.
`We first thought of sending a psychologist there to talk to them and
their children so that they can feel themselves worthy citizens again
and not people left alone without jobs and without hope,’ says Rouben
Galichian chairman of Aid Armenia and Executive Trustee of Friends of
Armenia, who spends some of his time in Armenia.
A team of three psychologists worked with about 50 single women living
in a nearby building. Most of them had become prostitutes. Galichian
says most of these women have proper jobs now – some are employed as
street-sweepers, others as laundry workers, waitresses, etc.
`Within just two years of work with them our psychologists managed to
convince them that they were worthy citizens of their country who had
found themselves in difficult conditions, which, though, never meant
that they were not worthy people,’ says Galichian.
But at 16 Banavani Street, Friends of Armenia went further, as they
decided to improve the living conditions in the hostel.
`When we went in first, we saw that the toilets there were a poor
sight, with ruined walls and big holes in the floor. There was no
water there. We repaired the toilets on almost all floors. I say
almost, since some rooms and toilets had been privatized and it is not
our policy to repair individual property,’ says Galichian. `We got a
written letter from the prefecture assuring us that the parts we
repair will not be privatized and will be for general use for the
local residents.’
The first repairs were completed in January, others were finished
recently. They are all clean and improved and according to Galichian,
the women take a good care of them.
`It has changed so much in our lives. We haven’t seen such a thing
before even from the authorities,’ says pensioner Margarita, adding
that even hammering a nail is a problem for the hostel residents as
most of them are lonely women, some with small children, and some are
disabled.
Three months ago Friends of Armenia also decided to repair and clean
the corridors and the staircases on all floors.
Works were launched, but the roof caught fire in an accident in July,
and repairs were suspended.
`But we will continue the work and will try to get the prefecture to
repair the roof before the start of rains,’ says Vahan Patvakanyan, a
physicist by training, who is one of the ten representatives of
Friends of Armenia here.
Patvakanyan is in charge of the hostel reconstruction project.
`It is difficult for these women, most of whom live without husbands,
with small children under their care, to do the repairs
themselves. The majority of them do not have jobs, those who receive
pensions can hardly make both ends meet with the money they get from
the state,’ he says.
Susanna Muradyan, 53, a former employee of the Lamp Plant, has lived
in the hostel alone since 1989. `The situation here was terrible. This
project means a lot for us, as it has saved us from anti-sanitary
conditions,’ she says.
Marina Minasyan, 43, is glad Friends of Armenia has reached out for
them with this project. She only complains of her life in a small room
that she shares with another single woman.
`I appreciate the work of the psychologist who comes here
regularly. Talking to her is a great relief for me and gives me hope
that one day I will have a better life,’ says Marina.
Galichian says that psychological assistance is no less important
thing for most of these women who live in poor conditions. `We
continue to provide our psychological assistance to these lonely
women. Whenever they have a difficult situation in their lives or with
their children they call our psychologists and I am glad they feel the
use for themselves and their children,’ he says. In the summer of
2000 a group of British Armenian professionals visited Armenia for the
first time. They were very impressed with the capability and the high
level of education of the local people, as well as their eagerness to
learn and their drive to achieve something real, while living under
difficult conditions, despite the almost total neglect of the
authorities.
The group returned to London and founded the charity organization the
same year.
So far Friends of Armenia have realized projects worth a total of
$400,000 in Armenia, in various fields – from orphanages and old
people’s homes, to schools, kindergartens, hospitals, hostels and
whole villages.

FUTURE CHOICES: THINK-TANK EXERCISE GIVES ARMENIANS A CHANCE TO STEER
THE SHIP OF STATE
By Arpi Harutyunyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
On September 3, about 500 Yerevan residents stood before four doors
inside the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Entertainment Complex, faced
with choices that would symbolize their republic’s future. The doors
were marked `Russia’, `Europe’, `Armenia’ and `No Future’ – the door
of pessimism.
The exercise was part of the Armenia 2020 project, and its intention
was to illustrate four scenarios created by the think-tank,
represented in a booklet it published last year on projected paths for
Armenia to follow in the coming 15 years: `Survival to Prosperity’,
`From Russia with Love’, `Armenia and the European Union: Coming Home’
and `Armenia – 30 years with Correspondence.’

Founded in 2001, the Armenia 2020 project works to develop models of
development for Armenia and helps transform them into concrete
scenarios. (Such programs have had good rsults in Russia, Portugal
and Belgium.)
The project is funded by business persons of Armenian descent from
Armenia, Russia, the USA and Europe. To date 2020 has spent about $2
million developing patterns that might be instructional for future
policy.
`Our sponsors are those people with no profit expectations who do
investments to find ways to make their homeland well off,’ says
Artashes Kazakhetyan, Director of the Armenia 2020 project. `The
program has not received financial support from any government,
international body or organization. This means that we are fully
independent. And the superior aim of the project is to find the most
acceptable models of possible ways for the development of Armenia by
means of public discussions and voting.’
In Yerevan last weekend, nearly half – 210 – of participants in the
2020 exercise cast their votes in favor of the scenario that called
for `Survival to Prosperity’.
The content of the scenario is the following: `growth of productivity
by means of developing strategic plans of development and their
implementation increasing the GDP per capita income by 2020 to
$11,200. To achieve this, correct policies in macro and micro
economic, political, legal and social spheres should be adopted.’
The development scenario is comprised of three stages: during the
first stage (2004-2008) the priorities are productivity growth,
activation of regional trade, as well as measures targeted at the
attraction of foreign investments largely facilitated by the fight
against corruption, decrease of the red tape and integration of
e-governance system. The final stage (2013-2020) is the period of
globalization. The trade borders extend to Europe and the USA.
Participants at the exercise were of various ages, and generational
differences were reflected by which door they chose. The younger ones
primarily picked scenarios that drew Armenia into more global
relations, while the older participants leaned toward the `From Russia
with Love’ model.
`I think, the path Armenians have passed shows that our past has been
closely tied up with Russia and we have only gained from that. Why not
to continue strengthening our friendly, state, economic ties with that
country,’ asks pedagogue Marietta Sahakyan, 55.
Contrary to the representative of the previous generation, Hayk
Galstyan, an economist of 25, thinks there should be no economic
dependence on Russia.
`Although the age of colonization is over, it is obvious that great
powers continue the colonial policies by means of putting smaller
countries into economic dependence. I want to say that Armenia will
appear in the same condition, if it becomes a Russian satellite
again,’ the young professional said.
Besides Yerevan, scenario discussions were organized also in other
towns of Armenia – Gyumri, Vanadzor, Ijevan, Yeghegnadzor. In the
coming days the Syunik marz will also be engaged.
`Up to this moment preference has been given to the `Survival to
Prosperity’ scenario, which is to mainly emphasize the intrinsic
potential of Armenia and try to understand what should be done to
develop in more clear and organized way,’ says Kazakhetyan. `From the
results we have received we can derive clearly that people strongly
wish Armenia develops as an independent, powerful state and are ready
to actively participate in the process of constructing the country.’
>From September 19th to 20th the Armenia 2020 project will summarize
its 3 year activities in Yerevan. More than 300 public, political and
cultural activists, and businessmen who wish to have their say in the
creation of the prosperous future of Armenia will participate in the
two-day summit.
`Armenia 2020 will publicize the results of all the discussions during
the summit. Our future steps will be identified. And, most
importantly, we will be able to send clear messages to our authorities
on which way of development for the country the present day society of
Armenia chooses,’ says Kazakhetyan.

PRAISE IN PARIS: `MELS’ AND DURYAN FIND SUCCESS IN REPEAT PERFORMANCE
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Yerevan native playwright Narek Duryan’s play `Thank You, God’ is
enjoying a repeat performance in Paris, at the De Jazet Theater.
The actor takes on many personalities

The play was so successful during a month-long run in June, that the
board of directors of the 700-seat theater in Bastille Square invited
Duryan back, where he is again the featured attraction this month.
`Stepping into this theater is a big success, for this theater is
among the ten most important and authoritative theaters in Paris,’
says actor and director Duryan, son of the popular conductor Ohan
Duryan. `If we take into account that 480 performances are played in
Paris every day, 30 percent of which have a life of only a day, than
one can imagine how difficult it is to attract attention.’
The character created and embodied by Duryan carries elements of self-
biography, of a man named Mels who has passed through a socialist
regime and is enjoying a European democracy trying to realize what
freedom is.
The hero’s name is comprised from the quartet of socialist stalwarts –
Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin.
Fed up with the ways of the Soviet Union, Mels crosses the state
border and finds home in the capital of democratic France. His bright
hopes fade, but he seems to succeed in everything (although his
marriage to a French woman turns out to not be a happy one).
`In this performance I study the question of personal freedom and what
is freedom,’ the play’s creator says. `It is a relative
phenomenon. When was I more free, when I could not travel, for I was
in a prison called Soviet country, but traveled around the world in my
mind, or now, when I can go wherever I want, but I don’t have money?
This is also a kind of imprisonment, a jail.’
Gradually developing the plot Mels tells about the way he has passed;
he was born in Armenia, had his military service in Siberia, opening
Siberia to the audience in a humorous manner: `It’s strange but I
remember with nostalgia our Soviet routine life, we had bread and
cheese, we were happy, it was a prison but we rebelled and were drawn
to Siberia. Which one is better? In dictatorship you cannot speak for
everyone listens to what you say, and in democracy speak as much as
you wish, no one listens to you.’
During `independence’, Mels ends up selling his valued possessions in
Yerevan’s vernisage bazaar; he puts his father’s military coat for
sale, medals he has won at the expense of his blood: `Everything is
shown by means of humor and anecdotes, but it hurts, for he sells a
whole history,’ says Duryan.
The author purposefully presents his hero in three societies – in
dictatorship, in wild capitalism and democracy. And the alterations of
the human type according to the type of the society become obvious
when Mels says to himself in total freedom: `I saw dictatorship and
freedom and now I understand a simple thing: freedom is measured by
the largeness of one’s cage’.

The French press have taken notice of Duryan

The French press and the cultural programs at the TF1 TV Company have
covered the Armenian’s performance. Elle a Paris writes: `With a great
portion of sense of humor and deep observation Narek Duryan opened the
closed curtains of the Soviets before us.’ And the Paris Capitale says
the performance `created a big revolution in the De Jazet Theater for
French audience’.
The artist, who has lived in Paris for the past 25 years, says he
wonders when Armenia itself will open up the borders of its own
freedom and cage together with Mels.
Audiences in Paris have been about 20 percent Diaspora. (Duryan hopes
to bring the performance to Armenia, but doesn’t know when.) The
Armenian audience is acquainted with Duryan’s art through several
performances – the musical `Don Quixote’ by Servantes-Bulgakov,
`Operation Nemesis’ historical-documentary performance staged together
with `Bohem’ theatrical group in the Theater of Young Audience.
The `Bohem’ that has a rich experience of 15 years is the only
professional, stable, constantly theatrical group acting abroad, who
has never interrupted its activities and has traveled to European
countries, the USA, Canada, Egypt and oriental countries for many
times.
`Although it is 25 years already that I live in Paris, I always
considered myself a man from Yerevan, I haven’t changed even my
language; for me the acknowledgement of the audience here (Yerevan) is
very important and I think I will get it soon,’ says Duryan.
PARODY WITH PURPOSE: `UPRISING’ IS UNUSUAL TREATMENT OF SACRED SUBJECT
By Gayane Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Parodist Vartan Petrosyan’s latest performance is filled with irony
and routinely evokes laughter.

It is, of course, what a dramatic parody should do. The subject of his
latest drama `Uprising’, is, however, far from typical laughing
matter. The play, that has been running for several weeks in Yerevan’s
Stanlislavky Russian Theater is about the Armenian Genocide.
Weaving past tragedy with modern reality and often presenting
divergent ideas on opposite sides of the same stage, Petrosyan’s
two-act drama more often brings laughter than the tears that are
synonymous with the Armenians’ saddest hour.
At one moment Petrosyan portrays the typically fat-bellied and
apathetic Armenian men or thick-necked oligarchs, then, in a stage
that is changing, shifts to the divine Komitas and his sacred music
that becomes a background for scenes of massacre.
`I have chosen the title `Uprising’, despite the fact that usually our
works relating to the topic of genocide carry titles of mourning and
tears and it couldn’t be another way: but it is high time we seriously
evaluate what is the genocide to us. Sorrow unites, clarifies, and we
should have an uprising with that very power,’ explains Petrosyan.
The performance begins with Petrosyan’s French friends Nathalie
Lefevre and Lionel Emery asking in hesitation: `What is the Armenian
Question?’
`Well, now try to explain to a carefree European the Armenian
Question…’ says the actor and presents the tragedy of the last
century as synthesized in cinema, theater, stage dance, and songs by
Komitas.
On one side of the dark stage sings Komitas who has witnessed the
massacre, and on the other, accompanied by the stages of the massacres
and their joyous melodies, the Europeans carelessly dance. Their
melodies get stronger, deafening the gentle melodies by Komitas –
symbolizing the indifference of the world and the sounds of a
suppressed nation calling for help of the world given away to
dis-interest.
Through his play, the actor bitterly mocks and satirizes the huge
portion of the Armenian society who enjoys Turkish and Arabic moughams
(a type of Muslim music): `those very songs the Turks danced under
while slaughtering and skinning Armenian babies’.
`Vartan speaks about things that all of us see, but do not confess to
ourselves; he seems to be disturbing our wounds and at the same time
soothing them,’ says theater critic Amalia Hovhannisyan.
`I am shocked with the funny scene of the quarrel between a Jew and a
Diaspora Armenian on who has been the first and the most slaughtered,’
says spectator Mkhitar Kirakosyan, 52. `While laughing, you cry deep
in your heart when you think that Jews were at least smothered by
means of gas, their children wouldn’t see it, and Armenians were
killed in front of their children and the children who survived would
return to those scenes throughout their lives.’

The many faceted actor appears at times as an ignorant fool, who
repeats time after time: `Well, that genocide has not happened to us,
it has happened to our grandfathers’; at another time he appears as an
oligarch, a Jew, and even a Turkish pasha.
`This performance is not a history handbook, this is a cry to make our
people wake up from the numbness of indifference, and remember about
the Genocide not only on April 24,’ says Petrosyan. ` . . . to start
to turn the pages of history, to bring up generations with national
spirit, always remembering the past and continue learning from it.’
Besides the 15 Armenian actors in `Uprising’ there are also three
French actors, who represent Europe and who share the sorrow of the
Genocide as people and stand side by side to Armenians.
`Art is a powerful tool to make the world recognize its mistakes,’
says actress Lefevre. `Even without understanding the language I feel
the spirit of the performance. You should be stronger without
forgetting your past, for you know better than anyone the price of
life and freedom.’
Perormances of `Uprising’ are expected to continue through October.

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FUTILE FIGHT: ANGRY PROPERTY OWNERS USE BARRICADES AS LAST DEFENSE
AGAINST `ELITE HOMES FOR ELITE GUYS’
By Vahan Ishkhanyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
In the late 1920s, Harutyun Muradyan built a house at 23 Buzand Street
in Yerevan. He lived there with his family just a few years before
going off to fight the `Great Patriotic War’, in which Muradyan died.
Now, when the reshaping of Armenia’s capital is at the expense of
family histories, Muradyan’s house itself has become a
battleground. It, and others standing in the way of Main Avenue, have
become flashpoints of fighting between those who see no difference
between progress and persecution, and those for whom the sacrifice of
common citizens is an acceptable tradeoff for the enriching of
oligarchs.

Eduard Muradyan’s grandfather built the home the grandson was evicted
from

Last Thursday, Muradyan’s 45 year old grandson, Eduard, watched
helplessly as authorities led by `red beret’ special police forces
evicted 11 members of his family. Eduard Muradyan’s mother, 65-year
old Anzheta, climbed to the roof of the building and threatened to
throw herself off, before being forced down by police.
The Muradyans say police loaded the family goods into a car and took
them away. `We don’t know where they took our things, they even took
the schoolbag of our child who was to go to school,’ Eduard Muradyan
says.
Then bulldozers leveled the two flats, as they have other residences
on Buzand, Amiryan, Khobatsi, Pushkin and Tumanyan streets in the
center of the capital where `elite’ buildings will stand in the place
of humble homes.
While making way for development, the machinery employed by men of
means is also kicking up dust that will not quickly clear at the
epicenter of the latest sociological debate in this country `in
transition’.
For the Muradyans, it is a clear case of the rich getting richer at
the expense of the poor, who have even less power than money.
Those who agree with the current plans expect a day when a glistening
new city center will outshine the cloud that presently hangs over
Yerevan’s lesson in the personal price paid for urban renewal. There
are plenty opponents, however, who say that the proposed development
collides with current Yerevan architecture, rather than compliment it.
In any case, for now, residents feel that they have been taken
advantage of and that the (constitutional) legal loophole of `state
needs’ has become a noose in which their rights as citizens have been
strangled.
Some simply do not want to leave their homes, at any cost. Many,
meanwhile, are not opposed to development, but are opposed to the
relatively low prices developers are offering for the property. (When
homeowners were being bought out in preparation for North Avenue, many
were satisfied with the prices they were offered. In the path of Main
Avenue, however, none have agreed that offers have been fair.)
Within the past few months, dozens of homeowners have been forced to
sign contracts and sell out their homes at prices three times below
market value.
It is widely believed, and in some cases officially documented, that
the money behind the development comes from the familiar names of
Armenian and Russian oligarchs – most of whom are either Members of
Parliament, or have strong ties with Yerevan’s power regime. (Click to
see ArmeniaNow’s previous report `Need’ or Greed?.)
In many cases, developers have taken their claims to court, demanding
that their offer be accepted. In every case, neither the lower court
nor court of appeals has ruled in favor of the homeowners. (Though in
one case, the appeals court sent the case back to the lower court,
where it is now being heard.)
In the case of the Muradyans, Griar Ltd. (development company) offered
$33,700 for the family’s two apartments, totaling about 95 square
meters – or, $355 per square meter. To outsiders familiar with the
standard of living in Armenia, the amount might seem like a
windfall. The reality, though, is that in the city center a square
meter of property may sell for as much as three times what the
residents were offered. (According to Torgon Hovhannesyan, head of
A.S. Real Estate Agency, prices for a square meter of property in the
center start $1,000.)
Their house now in ruins, the Muradyans nonetheless refuse to leave
Buzand Street. They dine in the street, at night some of the adults
continue to sit at the ruins, and the children and other adults sleep
in the houses of neighbors and relatives. When it rains they hide
under a roof that has been collapsed to the ground.
There are still bruises on Anzheta’s arms, from her encounter with
police taking her off the roof, while a bulldozer’s blade was already
digging into her home.
`I have dedicated my whole life to this country, I worked for 46 years
only to be reduced to a homeless person today,’ says Anzheta, age
65. `At least the neighbors understand what it means to be a homeless
person and help us.’
(Anzheta turned to the court with a claim that her house was measured
to be 6 square meters less than its actual size, the case is at the
court now. However, this circumstance did not play a role so that
they should not be evicted.)
Observing the current controversy, Yerevan State University
sociologist Lyudmilla Harutyunyan told ArmeniaNow that residents of
Buzand and other threatened areas had, in vain, pinned their hopes on
a leader emerging who would enforce their version of justice. But when
the blocks of Harut Muradyan’s house fell, nine other families
totaling 55 people awaiting their fate put up barricades in the
street.

Anzheta Muradyan continues to protest, amid the rubble of her home

One of the barricades passed by the ruined house of the Muradyans
where they were sitting: `Shouldn’t we sit here, should a car come and
go over us?’ says Eduard. `What shall we do, we have no other means of
struggle.’ When builders approach, Anzheta climbs the roof of the
demolished house to prevent the rest from being torn down. `Armenians
defended their land with a sword, and we want to defend our house and
land,’ says Sedrak Baghdasaryan, who expects eviction any day.
Two days later, meeting no resistance, police removed the barricade
with bulldozers, however the residents raised a barricade again on
September 5. Political figures, students, residents of nearby
Koghbatsi Street, who are awaiting the same fate, and those who had
already been evicted had come to help them.
`I have come to help my neighbors,’ says former Buzand resident Gohar
Gharibyan, who was evicted from her apartment on June 23 following a
court ruling. She did not sign any contract, however the Bailiff’s
Office gave her $14,000 for the 44 square meters of her apartment,
which is just enough to buy a one-room apartment in a city
outskirt. Now her four-member family rents an apartment outside the
center, paying $70 a month. `We didn’t take that money for two months
and in August the money was transferred to the Bailiff’s Office. They
told us if we didn’t take it, the money would be lost altogether,’
Gohar says.
The Gharibyans and several other evicted residents have applied to the
European Court of Human Rights.
The following day the police again destroyed the barricade and
continue to patrol the area.
Avetik Yeranosyan has lived at 15 Buzand Street for 40 years, from
where he and the families of his children – 12 persons – are to be
evicted. The territory is being developed by `Vizkon’ Ltd., a company
directed by Armenia’s former Minister of Ecology.
`They wanted to demolish my house during the Soviet times, I didn’t
allow it,’ Yeranosyan says. `They retreated. The Soviets collapsed,
all my money in the bank was lost, and now they are taking the house
that was left to me from my hands.
`They say they are building elite homes for elite guys, who do you
think are you to live here? And I say: To hell with the elite
guys. For centuries our nation has been a betrayer. Had we been
united, we would not have lost our lands and would not be building
elite homes for elite guys today.’
Government Ombudswoman Larisa Alverdyan argues that the tenet of law
concerning `state needs’ is being wrongly applied. She has sent
letters to the President and the Chairman of the Court of
Cassation. In connection with the latest eviction the court had ruled
that the owners and `other persons’ be evicted. Those `other persons’
are Eduard’s wife’s sister, a refugee from Azerbaijan, Emma
Aghajanyan, and her two underage children. In this regard, the
Ombudswoman spread an open letter wherein she says: `Emma Aghajanyan
was not made part of the judicial process, her name is not mentioned
in the court rule altogether and nothing is said about her, but the
bailiff evicted her as `other persons’ by seizing her by the arm.’
It is said in the letter that similar verdicts are not unique, and
that the Court of Cassation is negligent because it allows verdicts to
be unchanged although according to the law verdicts should be
suspended in relation to the rights and obligations of people who were
not made participants of the case.
Zhora Khachatryan, legal advisor to the Ombudswoman, says that legal
measures have been exhausted and the barricades have become the only
form of defense for the residents: `All the rulings of the court were
evidently unfair, the complaints are not investigated, no solution is
given. For formal reasons all objections are rejected. Today, the
residents are faced with a fact that court rulings must be
enforced. The Ombudswoman is now powerless, no matter how many
evaluations we give, the interested side says `I have a verdict in my
hand’. People have no other way, they take the way of resistance.’
PARTY POOPERS: POWERFUL POLITICIANS SPLIT FROM HANRAPETUTYUN AND SARGSYAN
By Marianna Grigoryan
ArmeniaNow reporter
On Tuesday (September 6) seven of the 15 members of the political
council of Hanrapetutyun political party, headed by a founder and
former mayor of Yerevan Albert Bazeyan and former Minister of Defense
Vagharshak Harutyunyan, announced their departure from the radical
opposition party.

The departure of Bazeyan (left) and Harutyunyan leave the party’s
future in question

The influential council members do not intend to leave politics, but
quitting the party will likely weaken party head (and former
presidential candidate) Aram Sargsyan’s leadership chances as the
opposition considers its chances in the 2007 elections.
Party member Gegham Haurtyunyan called Bazeyan’s and his supporters’
resignation a `heavy stab.’
`Our step is not a betrayal neither is it a stab,’ Bazeyan countered
to ArmeniaNow.
During a press conference at the National Press Club Bazeyan and
Vagharshak Harutyunyan explained their resignation to journalists
saying they have not agreed with the strategies of the party for the
past year, including the party’s call for political revolution.
Neither have they been satisfied with the unrealistic evaluations the
leaders of the party have given in the press.
`There was an impression as if the order for special presidential
elections is already signed and soon (press secretary) Suren
Surenyants will present it to (US President) Bush,’ says Albert
Bazeyan, referring to the widespread impression that party leader
Sargsyan leans toward the West.
Vagharshak Harutyunyan claims that the resignations were the beginning
of mass departure and the possible dissolving of the party. He says
that as many as 75 percent of members have left Hanrapetutyan.
The party has approximately 6000 members and if Vagharshak
Harutyunyan’s estimations are accurate, the party, in effect, no
longer exists. According to amendments to RA Law `On Parties’ of
December 8th, 2004 `…a party must have not less than 2000 members.’
Sargsyan says Harutyunyan’s figures are not realistic. `Several
members whose names were among those reported to have resigned have
learned about it only from TV,’ Sargsyan says.
But he added that he does not condemn those people who have followed
Bazeyan, because he has considerable political power.
In a statement published by Bazeyan, he accused the party of trying to
find a `scapegoat for its own misfortunes’ and of `creating an
atmosphere of mistrust inside the opposition’.
Media in Yerevan have commented that the split severely weakens
Armenia’s already-ineffective opposition. And some have speculated
that the reasons for the split include the fact that Bazeyan and
Vagharshak Harutyunyan have a pro- Russian orientation, while Sargsyan
is pro-US oriented.

Bazeyan says they have never declared that they see Armenia’s future
only with Russia, and that his partners who remained in Hanrapetutyun
consider themselves pro-American.
`I do not want to give personal evaluations. We (referring to
Sargsyan) have passed a joint way, we are close to each other, there
is something sacred in our relations (meaning the relationship with
assassinated Prime Minister Vazgen Sarsgyan, brother of Aram
Sargsyan),’ he says. `Recently we tried to solve everything, but the
others did not agree to compromise.’
Bazeyan says his supporters have left the party after being accused of
hindering its activities.
`Hereafter Aram Sargsyan is free to create a new pro-American format
and realize revolutions in color,’ Bazeyan said sharply. `And we are
for balanced relations with all countries.’
Bazeyan and Vagharshak Harutyunyan say they plan to form a new party
that will closely cooperate with the major forces of the opposition.
Meanwhile Aram Sargsyan says this page of Hanrapetutyun is turned.
`Of course this is the heaviest attack we have ever had,’ says
Sargsyan, who helped found the party in 2001 `But everyone knows I
have seen many hardships and tragedies and I have been able to
overcome.’

TALKING TURKEY: RHETORIC ESCALATES AS EU DISCUSSIONS APPROACH
By Aris Ghazinyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
A conference entitled `December 2004 – October 2005. Has Turkey
Changed?’ will be held at the European Parliament, in Strasbourg
September 22, initiated by the Armenian National Committee of America
(Hay Dat of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation).
The organizer of the forum is the European Parliament faction of
`Christian- Democratic Union’ (PPE) with the assistance of European
Parliament Deputy Speaker Ingo Friedrich. The holding of such a forum
is one of the measures undertaken by the Armenian Diaspora and
official Yerevan aimed against Turkey’s possible membership in the
European Union. (The 25 EU member states are to take up debate on
Turkey’s membership, starting October 3.)

Last week, Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian
defined the fact of Turkey’s possible membership in the EU as one of
the challenges to Armenian statehood, pointing out that Yerevan
intends to hinder the process. The forum slated for September 22 is
one of such manifestations of `national activity.’
`The diverse composition of the participants and speakers testifies to
the serious nature of this conference,’ Hay Dat Committee officials
said in a press release.
Besides Friedrich, conference organizers have invited Vice-Chairman of
the EU- Turkey parliamentary delegation Jacques Tubon, member of the
delegation Panagiotis Beglitis, Secretary General of the International
Federation of Human Rights Phillip Galfayan, Chairman of the Hay Day
Committee in Europe Hilda Chobanian and others. Invited are Austrian
Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, former foreign ministers of France
Michel Barnier and Huber Verdine, ex-chairman of the European
Commission Romano Prodi, leader of the European Parliament’s faction
`United Left’ Francis Wurtz, rapporteur on Turkey Keimiel Jorling,
Turkish publisher, representative of the Association on Human Rights
in Turkey Ragyp Zarkolu and others.
The forum at the European Parliament is only one link in a chain of
events prepared by official Yerevan and the Armenian Diaspora to
counteract Turkey’s possible admission to the EU. Among other actions,
the Commission of the Federation of Armenian Organizations of the
Netherlands has requested of the permanent commission on European
affairs Van Heteren that issues on the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide by official Ankara and lifting blockades on the borders with
Armenia be included in the negotiating processes commencing October
3. Additionally, a consultative meeting of Armenians of Europe will
take place in Strasbourg on September 23.
Before the closing stage of the discussions around Turkey’s membership
in the EU, the states of the Old World are also finally clearing up
their own positions on this issue. Approaches of European entities are
not yet clear, though the European Union itself has softened
requirements put forward to Ankara. In particular, the recognition of
Cyprus by Turkey is no longer a precondition as it was during last
year’s debates.
`Most of the states originally opposing Turkey’s membership in the EU
do not look like changing their standpoints,’ says political analyst
Viktor Solakhyan. `France is in the forefront of these countries as
this state has repeatedly declared about the perniciousness of such a
scenario for European civilization. This issue is widely discussed
also in the aspect of the pre- election struggle in Germany:
opposition Christian Democrats are against Turkey’s full membership in
the European Union. The latest opinion polls conducted by ZDF TV
channel show that 62 percent of Germans oppose Turkey’s accession to
the EU.’
The Vatican has weighed in on the issue. Pope Benedict XVI has spoken
against the developments. Still as Cardinal Ratzinger he declared
about the inadmissibility of Turkey’s membership in the in EU. `Turkey
has always been a different continent and always contrasted with
Europe,’ the Pontiff said.
`The approaches of official Ankara were voiced by Turkish Prime
Minister Racep Erdogan in early September,’ the political analyst
says. `Commenting on the fact of the political resistance to the
membership of his country in the EU he stated that `the final refusal
is not an end of the world for Turkey.’ He also said that if two or
three members of the EU still do not wish to see Ankara in the
European Union and do not reconsider their positions, then Turkey had
better give up its intention. Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul also made such a statement.’
At the same time, Solakhyan noted that in practice Turkey is making
rather serious preparations for membership. In particular, authorities
in Ankara are now showing a constrained position concerning an
opportunity of holding a scientific conference on the Armenian
question by the Turkish University of Bogazci. Originally planned for
May of this year this action has been scuttled through the efforts of
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek. Today he already admits the thought of
holding the conference, while the country’s prime minister even stated
about the possibility of his presence at it.
`I will not call on domestic specialists to either participate in this
forum or boycott it,’ Oskanian said on August 30. `Let the Armenian
scholars decide this question for themselves, which in any case cannot
affect Yerevan’s efforts directed against Turkey’s admission to the
EU.’
The speech of the Patriarch of Armenians of Turkey, Archbishop Mesrob
Mutafian, who was in Cologne in the middle of August to attend the
forum of the World Youth Day, said:
`The fact that some external circles are engaged in issues of the
national minorities of Turkey disturbs us very much. We are citizens
of Turkey and if we have some problems, we solve them together with
the authorities of our country. The Armenians of Turkey have the same
problem as the Turkish population of Germany. So, let us not lay it on
thick.’
`As a citizen of Turkey he can be and has the right to deviate from
Armenia’s state policy, Solakhyan says. `However, when Armenia’s
second-ranked state official allows such a thing, it is already a
serious problem. The statement by Armenian Parliament Speaker Artur
Baghdasaryan in Washington DC makes one doubt the presence of a
government position coordinated at all levels of power in Armenia.’
On September 1, the day after the state policy of Yerevan towards
Turkey’s membership in the EU was voiced by the country’s foreign
minister, Armenia’s top legislator backed Turkey’s aspirations to
enter the EU speaking at the Center for National and International
Studies.
`What is so bad in having a neighbor that is a member of the EU?’ the
speaker said in Washington. `If Turkey manages to fulfill the EU
requirements and enter this organization, other countries of the
region may follow suit.’

CORPORATION AND COOPERATION: MARRIOTT TEAMS WITH ORRAN FOR SAKE OF
STREET KIDS
By Gayane Lazarian
ArmeniaNow reporter
With national songs and dances in front of the Armenia Marriot Hotel
Wednesday the hotel and Orran Non Governmental Organization, announced
their partnership in intensifying the struggle to help Yerevan’s
street children. Hotel waiters wore T-shirts with the Orran symbol and
crafts made by Orran children were on sell in the hotel lobby.

The Orran children performed in front of the Marriott Wednesday

Orran founder Armine Hovannisyan says that the cooperation between
Orran and Marriott will be a unique attempt at stepping up the fight
against destitution and begging on Yerevan’s streets. Every Wednesday,
at 5 p.m. during the month of September, the children of Orran will
perform traditional Armenian songs and dances at the entrance of the
hotel.
`The guests of the hotel will be provided with various occasions to
make donations. We want them to pay attention not to our organization,
but to the future of the children,’ Hovannisyan said. `Nothing is
compulsory, those willing will be told about the activities of Orran
and the situation of these children, and also they will be offered the
opportunity to buy something from the display. The goal is not so much
to raise money as to make people feel for these children.’
At the launching performance, passersby approached the Orran children,
hugging and kissing them.
Adrine Gzoghyan, 38, embraced with excitement her three children –
Artur, 11, Armen, 10, and Rita, 9. All three sing in Orran’s choir. `I
have five children. But for Orran’s help, I don’t know what my
family’s situation would be now,’ she says.
During the five years of its activities the charitable organization
has taken more than 100 children off the streets, providing them with
food, clothing, psychological and medical services, tutoring, and an
avenue for success. Some 140 elderly people are also helped through a
special program that provides them with hot food on a daily basis.
`This is not merely a duty but also a privilege for our hotel,’ said
Armenia Marriott Hotel general manager Katrin Hentszel. `The problem
of children and elderly begging on the street – and the more basic
problem of poverty – is something that needs to be solved. We are
happy to be working with the professional staff and truly delightful
beneficiaries of Orran to come one step closer to the solution.’
Orran co-founder (and independent Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign
Afffairs) Raffi Hovannisyan points out that Orran’s children represent
the generation that made a hard transition, finding themselves in the
streets.
`They have the right to be happy. It is our primary task to do away
with begging. I am confident that these children will be the last
needy ones,’ he said.
CONSTANT COMPLAINT: AFTER MORE THAN TWO YEARS, NAJARIANS CASE APPEARS
NO CLOSER TO SETTLEMENT
By Mariam Badalyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
Last week Armenian law enforcement authorities for the third time
suspended investigation of embezzlement charges filed by American
Armenian philanthropists George and Carolann Najarian.
The suspension followed a court decision of August 16, which rejected
the Najarians’ petition to charge Grigor Igityan, a former Yerevan
associate of the Boston couple, for embezzlement of their property in
Armenia.

Igityan says he’s done nothing wrong

For more than two years, the Najarians have been engaged in a lawsuit
against Igityan. The lawsuit stems from events in which, they allege,
Igityan embezzled as much as $500,000 while purchasing property on
behalf of the Najarians.
Igityan allegedly misappropriated property – two buildings and land in
Dzoragiugh Quarter in Central Yerevan and a photo shop on Abovian
street. According to an independent evaluation firm, the total value
of the two Dzoraghiugh buildings today is about $3 million.
(The Najarians have said that their case is significant not only for
themselves, but because it establishes precedent for treatment of
other Diaspora investors.)
Twice, investigation into the criminal complaint was suspended, due to
`absence of criminal evidence’. But on April 16 the highest court of
Armenia assessed a fraud case and recognized George Najarian as the
aggrieved party and demanded that the Prosecutor General’s Office
reopen its investigation — which it did, on May 18.
The April court decision was hailed by the Najarians as evidence that
Armenia’s legal system can be trusted. Soon after that, however, the
Najarians, were disillusioned upon learning that the investigation had
been stopped again, on August 30.
`Now, it seems to be an endless process that might last for years and
years,’ says Najarian attorney Hrayr Ghukasyan. `Under Armenian law
criminal inquiry can last an indefinite period. Thus, we understood
that the Prosecutor’s office had adopted a different tactic – by means
of dragging out the investigation to take it away from public
sight. The end of this tactic was obvious – another suspension.’
In an interview with ArmeniaNow this week, Igityan denied having
intention of submitting the property to the Najarians or having it
promised to someone else.
`I have built the buildings for myself and on money from my own
pocket, which I earned as a translator,’ Igityan says. `Why should I
give it to someone else? I may sell it one day, if someone offers a
good price, but not necessarily to the Najarians.’
Igityan says he has documentation and expert assessment proving that
all the money he received from George Najarian was passed to the
people it was intended for.
`I have documents to prove what I say, whereas the Najarians use
testimonies of witnesses,’ Igityan says. `See which has the most
weight, paper or someone’s word?’
Among his documents is also a paper showing that, as a representative
of George Najarian, Igityan sold the building to himself, as a private
entity.
Grigor Nazarian, a US-based architect, whom George Najarian invited to
manage the construction process says he was unaware of Igityan’s
intentions to sell the property to himself.
Eduard, head of construction firm E. Korkotyan and Friends, who was
interviewed by prosecutors, says he thought his firm was working for
George Najarian, from whom they got their salaries. Igityan, Korkotyan
says, introduced himself as George Najarian’s representative.
Not wishing to wait for the prosecutors to indict Igityan, Najarian
attorneys filed a complaint in the court asking it to recognize
Igityan as the perpetrator of the fraud (recognized by the high court
in the April ruling).
The lower court decision on that complaint came out on August
16. Essentially, the court accepted explanations on the Prosecutor
General’s behalf, which said it required more time for a better
examination of the facts and additional interrogations. The court also
ruled (against a Najarian petition) that the Prosecutor General’s
Office was not required to allow Najarian attorneys to be present
during its interrogation of potential witnesses.
`Our complaint that the court name the accused was unprecedented, but
so was the Prosecutor General’s Office’ last decision which ignores
the court decision,’ Ghukasyan says. `I hope the court takes this into
account.’
If the court rules for the Prosecutor General’s Office to re-open the
investigation but does not recognize Igityan as the accused, the
lawyers fear it may result in an unending investigation process, since
under Armenian laws the investigation may last as long as the
investigators may deem it necessary.
`We simply want that this case be heard in the court open to the
public, and not be decided behind closed doors of the Prosecutor
General’s Office,’ adds Najarian attorney Ashot Poghosyan.
Meanwhile, the Najarians have vowed to take their complaint to
international court if necessary.
`It is very sad for us to inflict any harm on a country and people we
love and have been so caring,’ Carolann Najarian told ArmeniaNow. `But
we see no other way to show people who say it is they who make the
laws, that there are ways to hold them responsible for their
misdeeds.’

TALKING SCIENCE: CONFERENCE IN HONOR OF RUSSIAN BIOLOGIST DRAWS
INTERNATIONAL INTEREST
By Suren Deheryan
ArmeniaNow reporter
A five-day international conference on modern problems of genetics
began at the Business Center of the American University of Armenia
yesterday (September 8). About 80 scientists from several countries
are taking part.
The conference entitled `Modern Problems of Genetics, Radiobiology,
Radioecology and Evolution’ bears the name of Russian biologist
Nikolay Timofeeff-Ressovsky, who made a great scientific contribution
to the field of radio genetics from the 1940s and created great
prospects for the further development of biophysics.

Scientists (and interpreters) discuss new information at the
conference

Since 1983 it will be the fourth conference in Armenia dedicated to
the prominent scientist (such conferences also took place in 1989 and
2000). The organizer of the conference is the Pan-Armenian Biophysical
Association and its goal is to rally again the followers of the
distinguished scientist and share scientific advances in the field of
genetics.
During his 60-year career the scientist developed an integral doctrine
about microevolution – the origin of new biological species, which
became one of the bases of the modern synthetic theory of evolution
Timofeeff-Ressovsky is one of the founders of radiobiology and
molecular biology. He investigated the influence of nuclear radiation
on plants and living organisms. He wrote a book `Brief Theory of
Evolution’ together with his colleagues. It is the first work to fully
define the concept of evolution of living nature, thus revealing the
`black box’ of Charles Darwin’s theory, making Darwinism a science.
Timofeeff-Ressovsky conferences in the world so far have been held in
the countries where the scientist made his scientific contributions
during the years of his activities. Among such countries are Russia,
Ukraine, Germany, Tajikistan and Belarus.
Timofeeff-Ressovsky’s contacts with Armenia’s scientists began in the
1960s. Several Armenian scientists passed through his school and as a
result under Timofeeff’s immediate supervision a radio biophysics
laboratory was established at the Yerevan Physics Institute.
`Timofeeff-Ressovsky was such a powerful scientist that he managed to
make very profound contributions in four or five biological
directions,’ says the conference’s organizer and Pan-Armenian
Biophysical Association Chairman Tsovak Avakian.
`That’s why ecologists consider Timofeeff to be their scientist, radio
biophysics specialists consider him to be theirs, and specialists in
genetics theirs.’
According to Avakian, the current conference is unprecedented, since
this time reports will concern several spheres. There will be around
50 reports – on genetics, radiobiology, radioecology delivered by
scientists from Germany, Russia, the United States, Canada, Japan,
Sweden, France and elsewhere.
`We are still studying the rich scientific works left by Timofeeff,
which after each reading reveal a new thing,’ says Avakian. `We keep
all his lectures, as there is always something to learn in them.’
According to Avakian, the Yerevan conference first of all should boost
contacts between young scientists and prominent scientists who have
come from other countries, as a result of which it is hoped that
mutually beneficial cooperation will be set up.
Academician of the Agricultural Academy of Russia, conference
participant Rudolf Aleksakhin, who is also a follower of Timofeeff,
agrees with this thought.
`At such conferences we raise actual fundamental issues of basics of
biology. And the participation of Armenian scientists is very
important. Armenians had very prominent scientists and I think that
the young generation will also give very talented scientists. Such a
conference is a wonderful step on the part of the organizers,’ says
Aleksakhin.
And scientist Zen Drake from the National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences, North Carolina, USA, expressed the following thought:
`Armenia has a long and excellent scientific history, particularly in
physics, and I think many of us from North America were attracted
because of the history of Armenia, and we wanted to see an
interesting, new country. So, we were happy to join the conference on
a topic like.’
Among the participants there were also scientists who despite having
made great achievements in the scientific field, discovered Armenia
for the first time.
`I had never heard of Armenia, says Carmel Mothersill, Research Chair
in Radiobiology of McMaster University of Ontario, Canada. `I had an
invitation and after that I found out where the country was and what
was the country’s language, to have an interpreter.’
Generally, Yerevan is now in an active scientific ten-day period, as
on September 12, when this conference is due to end, another
pan-Armenian symposium of physics will commence. About 50 local and
foreign physicists will take part in that symposium.

The Sunday Times
September 11, 2005
Booker novelists denounce Turkey for charging author
Tom Pattinson and Alice Jones
TURKEY has been condemned by Kazuo Ishiguro, the novelist, and fellow
Man Booker prize nominees over a threat to imprison one of its leading
writers for highlighting his country’s role in the 1915 Armenian
genocide.
Orhan Pamuk, 53, who has written several award-winning books, was
charged last week with `denigrating national identity’ with comments
in a Swiss newspaper. If found guilty at his trial, set for December
16, he could be jailed for up to three years.
Publicity surrounding the case has thrown the spotlight on Turkey’s
human rights record as it prepares to begin negotiations next month on
joining the European Union.
Ishiguro, who won the Booker prize in 1989 for The Remains of the Day
and is on this year’s shortlist for Never Let Me Go, said: `I’m
astonished and horrified to discover such a situation can arise in
Turkey today – and to a writer who has done so much to enhance his
country’s reputation. I hope the Turkish government does all in its
power to bring this misguided prosecution to an end.’
John Banville, nominated this year for The Sea, said Pamuk was right
to remind compatriots of past crimes committed in their name. `It will
be a disgrace if Pamuk is jailed, and Turkey should realise the damage
that will be done to its reputation if it goes ahead with this
injustice,’ he said.
Sebastian Barry, shortlisted for A Long Long Way, agreed. `A grown-up
country like Turkey can afford to open the book fully on every aspect
of its interesting and challenging history,’ he said.
John Sutherland, chairman of the Man Booker judges, said: `It seems
wholly inappropriate that statements of political opinion should be
regarded like that. You can deny it (Pamuk’s comment) but you should
not deny their freedom.’
The charges against Pamuk followed remarks made in February to a
Zurich newspaper. `Thirty thousand Kurds and a million Armenians were
killed in these lands and no one dares to speak out on this but me,’
he said.
Turkey is extremely sensitive over its role in what is known as the
Armenian genocide. Between 600,000 and 1.2m Armenians are thought to
have been killed between 1915 and 1917 during a forced evacuation. The
Turks say the figure is much lower and was the result of ethnic
conflict, the first world war, disease and famine.
Pamuk’s case has been an embarrassment for the Turkish government,
which is fighting opposition, especially in France and Germany, to its
attempts to join the EU.
Abdullah Gul, the foreign minister, said of the charges: `There is no
decision yet. I would like to announce to the world that there is
freedom of expression in Turkey. People voice their opinions
comfortably as long as they do not promote violence.’
Additional reporting: Gareth Jenkins, Istanbul
,,2089-1774293,00.html

Yerevan late show in London
Sunday, 11 September 20
Tal Grig Yerevan needed a Emil Mesropyan goal three
seconds from time to keep them on track for
qualification from the four-team UEFA Futsal Cup
preliminary round mini-tournament.
Amazing finish
The Armenian champions’ successful spot-kick ensured a
last-gasp 5-4 victory against Dinamo Tirana of Albania
in London today. Yerevan had led 2-1 at half-time
after two goals from Arman Sahakyan but Tirana staged
a determined second-half display. Ani Mullaj looked to
have earned them a draw with 39 seconds remaining
before that dramatic winner.
Second victory
It means Yerevan top the table with six points, having
already beaten Roubaix Futsal of France on the opening
day, and they will feel confident of taking one of the
two places on offer in the first qualifying round.
They now play mini-tournament hosts London White Bear
FC on Tuesday night, who will fancy their chances of
progress after a first-ever victory for an English
side in UEFA Futsal competition.
Bounced back
London had begun with a slender 2-1 defeat by Tirana
but bounced back today to see off Roubaix with a
convincing 6-0 victory, featuring three goals in each
half and two for Alexandr Topalo, to delight home fans
at the Crystal Palace national sports centre. The
heavy defeat ends Roubaix’s realistic hopes of a
top-two finish but they will aim to finish on a high
when they take on Tirana in Tuesday’s first game.
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