ARMENIA TO ONLY BENEFIT FROM RUSSIA’S HIGH LEVEL COOPERATION WITH
US, NATO AND EU: ARMENIA’S DM

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24. ARMINFO. Armenia’s Defence Minister Serzh Sargsyan met
today with NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative to the Caucasus
and Central Asia Robert Simmons.

Sargsyan said that cooperation with NATO is important part of Armenia’s
security. Simmons introduced Sargsyan to NATO Communication Office to the
South Caucasus Romualds Razuks. He thanked Sargsyan for Armenia’s active
involvement in NATO programs. Sargsyan says that Armenia gives high
importance to its relations with NATO and will go on to deepen them and to
get more actively involved in NATO projects. “Were it not for our unsettled
conflict we would show even deeper involvement,” Sargsyan said.

Simmons said that the Karabakh conflict curbs the development of the South
Caucasus. NATO is not directly involved in the Karabakh peace process but
attentively follows it. Simmons believes that the conflicting parties will
reach mutually acceptable agreement on the issue.

He said that NATO does not rival with any neighboring country in the region.
Sargsyan said that Armenia will only benefit from Russia’s high level
cooperation with the US, NATO and EU.

AZERBAIJAN MUST NOW START TALKS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF BOTH
COMMUNITIES OF NK: PACE RAPPORTEUR ON NAGORNY KARABAKH

LONDON, FEBRUARY 24. ARMINFO. Azerbaijan must now start talks with
representatives of both communities of NK, PACE rapporteur on Nagorny
Karabakh David Atkinson says in response to ARMINFO’s question that
Azerbaijan has not up today expressed a desire to negotiate with the
leadership of Nagorny Karabakh.

He does not think that in any case it is a fundamental part of the
resolution.

Concerning Turkey’s blockade of Armenia Atkinson urges that country to
end its blockade as a confidence building measure.

He calls nonsense the accusations of some politicians in Armenia who
consider that his decision was dictated by political order of the
state he represents and that the accepted resolution smells of Caspian
oil.

Atkinson evades the question what he thinks about the Armenians’
approach to the Karabakh conflict settlement – Cooperation then
settlement. He just says that his motto is to urge that Resolution
1416 be implemented.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

USA AND EU SUPPORT ARMENIA’s ASPIRATION FOR FURTHER INTEGRATION IN
EUROATLANTIC COMMUNITY

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24. ARMINFO. The European Union and the USA continue
to cooperate closely towards supporting the aspirations of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia for further integration in the Euroatlantic
community, says a note made by the US State Department on the occasion
of the US President George Bush’s visit to Europe.

As the source informs, the EU “New Neighborhood Policy” program and
the NATO “Partnership for Peace” program move ahead the values common
for both the US and Europe and are directed to the formation of closer
relations between the Southern Caucasian countries. Besides, the USA
and Europe realize challenges of security and stability in the
Southern Caucasus and Black See within the framework of non-settled
conflicts in Eurasia. “We advocate the territorial integrity of
Moldova, Georgia and Azerbaijan and cooperate in assisting
international efforts for peaceful settlement of the TransDnestrian,
Southern Osetian and Karabakh conflicts”, the reference says. -r-

Putin: Out of the Fire, Into the Fire

Stratfor
February 24, 2005

By Victor Gubareff and Marla Dial

U.S. President George W. Bush wrapped up a fairly uneventful
diplomatic tour of Europe on Feb. 24 with a joint press conference
with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bratislava. For days, we have
been brushing past discussions of Bush’s meetings with other European
leaders, focusing keenly on what could come out of the Slovakia
sessions — a tete a tete between important world leaders who find
themselves on opposite sides of a widening geopolitical divide.

The public discourse, of course, revealed no sign of tensions. Both
spoke affably and utterly predictably about the friendship between
their nations, as well as specific points of agreement — such as the
need to cooperate on fighting illicit trade in man-portable air
defense systems and shared views on nuclear nonproliferation.

Beneath these diplomatic niceties, however, lies a very real
predicament — particularly for Putin, who is finding himself
increasingly beset by difficulties at home.

It is no secret, particularly to the Russians, that the United States
has been making firm and steady inroads into Moscow’s traditional
sphere of influence, with pro-Western governments now installed in
states such as Georgia and Ukraine. And if that were not enough to
light a few nationalist fires, Russian news media on Feb. 24 carried
two important stories — one noting rising unemployment, the other
chronicling a dependence on consumer imports that experts said is
hampering Russia’s own economic development. Foreign influence
encroaches.

On an even more personal level, Putin in recent months reportedly has
been blasted by former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov as a
controlling leader who now tolerates no dissent within his inner
circle, and — significantly — he was the target of a Feb. 23 protest
by active and retired military officers who demanded steps to stem the
collapse of the Russian military and NATO encroachment within the
region.

Against that backdrop, Putin met with Bush, who he knew could be
counted on to broach the subjects of Russia’s nuclear arsenal and
approach to democracy — both wild cards that, if not carefully
handled, could make him even more vilified as a U.S. lapdog than he
already is at home. On some levels, a strong rebuff of Bush would have
been in Putin’s best interests — but the prospect of being viewed as
a hostile state by Washington, which already is eyeing a number of
potential challenges in the Eurasian landmass, was a risky proposition
as well.

Russian sources close to the matter have told us that when Bush, in
private talks, suggested a joint monitoring program for Russia’s
active nuclear weapons, Putin essentially responded that to agree
would result in him being burned at the stake in Red Square. Bush then
asked for an agreement in principle — or, in other words, he gave
Putin the choice of being burned whilst doused in gasoline or being
slow-cooked, using only tender green saplings for kindling. In either
case, an agreement would be viewed by the Russians as a way of ceding
sovereign powers to Washington. Ultimately, Putin took the only out he
could — asking for more time to give Bush an answer (during which, we
suspect, he will cast about for flame retardants).

Discussions of democracy have been more publicly exchanged: Bush
earlier this week restated his foreign policy goals, which take a
critical view of freedoms in Russia; Putin responded separately that
Russia would achieve democracy on its own terms. During their joint
press conference, Putin (who we believe favors democracy along
Ataturkian lines — a long-term transition over which he solely will
preside) tried to gloss over the differences, speaking primarily of
“fundamental principles” rather than tactical steps.

“There are great differences between Russia and the U.S.” in practice,
he said. “If we talk about where we have more or where we have less
democracy, is not the right thing to do, but if we talk about how the
fundamental principles of democracy are implemented in this or that
historical soil, in this or that country — is an option, is
possible.”

Though Putin did appear to make a subtle overture to the Russian
people — emphasizing that democracy “should not be accompanied by the
collapse of the state and the impoverishment of the people” (a
reference to rampant corruption to which he has been accused of
turning a blind eye) — he ultimately jettisoned a very public
opportunity to portray himself as a strong leader who can appeal to
Russians concerned about their national security and cultural
identity. Putin, increasingly pressured to choose between U.S. or
Russian interests, has deferred the verdict to an unspecified later
date.

In other words, he remains tied to the stake, and the torch-throwers
are lining up.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:

PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon

Armenian version:

HIS HOLINESS ARAM I EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE

OF LEBANON’S INTERNAL UNITY, INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY

His Holiness Aram I has been in Geneva for almost a week, chairing the
meetings of the Central and Executive Committees of the World Council of
Churches. Meanwhile, the Catholicos has been closely following the latest
developments occurring in Lebanon.

When addressing the meeting, His Holiness asked the participants to observe
a moment of silence in memory of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri, condemned the heinous crime and emphasized the imperative of
preserving Lebanon’s internal unity.

Aram I spoke during a press conference held later about the current
situation of Lebanon and strongly condemned the assassination of the former
Prime Minister, considering it an act targeting the whole country.

His Holiness considered the assassination “an attempt to disrupt Lebanon’s
internal unity, create political and confessional sensitivities, weaken
Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty and tarnish its dignity.” He
emphasized that now more than ever the Lebanese people need to strengthen
their internal unity and dignity.

“All the communities of Lebanon and their leaders should stick to the basic
values, principles and ideals that form Lebanon’s unique identity and
strengthen its independence and sovereignty,” His Holiness said.

The Catholicos emphasized that in light of the created situation the
Lebanese should rely on dialogue, mutual understanding and respect for each
other. He assured that dialogue is the only means of strengthening Lebanon’s
internal unity.

His Holiness Aram I stressed that the Lebanese should protect their country’
s interests and preserve a good relationship based on mutual trust with
their neighbor Syria, as a guarantee to the country’s independence and
sovereignty.

Speaking about Lebanon’s Armenian community His Holiness said: “As a
constituent member of the Lebanese society, the Armenian community also has
been deeply shaken by the assassination and is concerned about the current
situation. The Armenian community of Lebanon emphasizes the importance of
the full application of the Taef Accord and calls on all parties to
determine the road to Lebanon’s restoration through constructive dialogue.
The Armenians of Lebanon with their community and political leaders are
ready to actively and fully participate in all the efforts that lead to the
strengthening of the country’s internal unity, independence and
sovereignty.”

##

The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

Glendale News Press
24 Feb2005

Published February 24, 2005
Council member makes rare appeal
Manoukian isn’t happy with variances for 8-story building at 300 N. Central
Ave.
By Josh Kleinbaum, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE CITY HALL — Councilman Rafi Manoukian appealed city approvals of
an eight-story condominium, taking a swing at the council’s shift toward
high-rise development in parts of downtown Glendale.
City officials could not remember a council member ever appealing a city
planning decision.
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Manoukian paid a city-required $500 fee Tuesday to appeal 10 variances city
zoning administrator Edith Fuentes granted for a proposed eight-story
building at 300 N. Central Ave. Fuentes granted the variances after the City
Council, acting as the city’s Redevelopment Agency, approved the project’s
design in January. Manoukian cast the lone dissenting vote on the design.
Because the project did not meet city codes, it then had to go to the zoning
administrator for approval.
The proposed eight-story, 114-foot building would have 72 condominium units.
The city’s zoning code allows for 27 units on three stories with a maximum
of 36 feet.
Manoukian hopes his appeal will draw attention to what he describes as “the
problem of rampant development in downtown Glendale.”
“We should ask for reasonable development that will enhance the downtown
area, as opposed to compounding the problem of traffic,” Manoukian said.
In her ruling, Fuentes said the project meets four requirements for a
variance: The code provides unnecessary hardship to the applicant; there are
exceptional circumstances on the property that do not apply to other
properties in the neighborhood; and the variances would not be detrimental
to public welfare or contrary to the objectives of the zoning code.
Fuentes said the Redevelopment Agency’s decision did not affect her ruling.
“I tried to stay away from even listening or hearing [the agency’s]
discussion,” Fuentes said. “I thought that everything was in accord with the
city’s general plan, and [the applicant] made the four findings.”
Manoukian’s appeal will be considered by the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals
within the next two months, Planning Director Elaine Wilkerson said. The
board’s decision can then be appealed to the City Council by either side. If
that happens, Manoukian may have to recuse himself from the discussion
depending on whether the wording of his appeal shows bias against the
project, City Atty. Scott Howard said.
The current City Council has encouraged downtown development, approving the
project on Central Avenue and a high-rise condominium project on the corner
of Brand Boulevard and Wilson Avenue.
Both projects required variances because Glendale’s zoning code does not
allow high-rise residential buildings in the downtown area. The city is
expected to rezone the entire downtown area by the end of the year to allow
such projects.
“Mr. Manoukian has been the only one who has been saying no to that over and
over again,” Mayor Bob Yousefian said. “But it takes more than one person to
set city policy.”
The city will study the impacts of high-rise residential buildings during
the rezoning process. Manoukian said the city should not approve high-rise
buildings until those studies are done.
“Traffic and development are the most important issues for the next 20 years
in the city of Glendale,” Manoukian said. “If we don’t prepare ahead of time
for what developments happen in the downtown, we will regret it in the
future.”
Yousefian appealed a variance in 1999 before he was on the council, while
serving on the Board of Zoning Appeals, then known as the Board of Zoning
Adjustments. He was elected to the council in 2001.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE

Armenian National Committee
San Francisco – Bay Area
51 Commonwealth Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94118
Tel: (415) 387-3433
Fax: (415) 751-0617
[email protected]

Contact: Roxanne Makasdjian (415) 641-0525

US AMBASSADOR VISITS THE BAY AREA ARMENIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY
“I will today call it the Armenian Genocide”
()

Saturday, Feb. 19, 2005, UC Berkeley – U.S. Ambassador John Evans, on a
tour of Armenian-American communities throughout the United States,
spoke plainly about the importance of Armenian Genocide recognition.

“I will today call it the Armenian Genocide,” said Evans, who has
studied Russian History at Yale and Columbia universities and Ottoman
History at the Kennan Institute.

During a public gathering hosted by UC Berkeley’s Armenian Studies
Program Executive Director, Prof. Stephan Astourian, Ambassaador Evans
told community members he had studied the Genocide, having read Prof.
Richard Hovannissian’s work on the Armenian Genocide, the compilation of
US newspaper accounts of the Genocide, a book about the Germany’s
involvement in the Genocide, and the recent Nobel Prize winning book “A
Problem from Hell”, about the US response to 20th century genocides.

“I informed myself in depth about it,” said Evans, “I think we, the US
government, owe you, our fellow citizens a more frank and honest way of
discussing this problem. Today, as someone who’s studied it… There’s
no doubt in my mind what happened.”

Evans said he had also consulted with a State Department lawyer who
confirmed that the events of 1915 were “genocide by definition.”

Various past and present US administrations and officials have avoided
using the word “genocide” for the Armenian case, using various
descriptive phrases and euphemisms, instead. Noting that “No American
official has ever denied it,” Evans nevertheless said, “I think it is
unbecoming of us as Americans to play word games here. I believe in
calling things by their name,” but he pointed out that the official
policy of the US has not changed.” In the case of Turkey, there are old
NATO ties, particularly in the military sphere.”

Evans also emphasized that he believed that the International Convention
on Genocide, an agreement approved by the United Nations in 1948
condemning and indicating punishment for the crime genocide, applies
only to events occurring after 1948. “We do not dispute the facts, but
these treaties are meant to apply to future events,” said Evans.

“The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the 20th century,” said
Evans, remarking that since it was the first occurrence, the world
wasn’t equipped to respond appropriately. “We made many mistakes after
WWI. They sowed the seeds of WWII.” He said he’s proud that Colin
Powell courageously called the recent massacres in Darfur, Sudan genocide.

“I pledge to you, we are going to do a better job at addressing this
issue,” said Evans.

Regarding the U.S. relationship with Turkey, Evans said, “We’re having a
very hard time with Turkey,” and “What we all want to see is evolution
in Turkish society. Let’s hope we’ll all see the day when there will be
a change of heart in those areas where there needs to be.”

The Ambassador’s comments about the Armenian Genocide were greeted with
sustained applause from the audience. “We welcome the Ambassador’s
honest approach to Armenian history, “said Roxanne Makasdjian, of the
Bay Area ANC.
“Although we believe that there are many international laws and
agreements, including the Genocide Convention, which are clearly
applicable to the Armenian Genocide, we are impressed and gratified by
Ambassador Evans’ straight-forward discussion of the historical facts.”

At the Berkeley event and at a lunch meeting at KZV Armenian School with
representatives of various Bay Area Armenian-American organizations,
Ambassador Evans also discussed the Karabagh conflict and US aid to
Armenia, presenting a 14-minute DVD about the many initiatives being
carried out by the United States Agency for International Development in
Armenia.

In response to questions about U.S. policy towards independence for
Karabagh, Evans compared the prevailing government view in the 20th
century against secessionist movements to the 19th century societal
taboo against divorce. He said that the U.S. does not favor
non-secessionist policy over secessionism, saying, “It’s ultimately the
presidents who will make the political move forward.” He said currently
there might be a slight cause for optimism in the Karabagh settlement
process because neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan is nearing an election,
at time “fraught with risk.” Evans indicated that although the U.S.
follows a policy of territorial integrity of nations, that “Everybody
realizes that Karabagh can’t be given back to Azerbaijan. That would be
a disastrous step,” Evans said. “If Yerevan and Baku work out a
settlement, I hope that everyone will pull together to support them. If
they reach a settlement, we cannot undermine it.”

Ambassador Evans said there was no need for a retraction of a statement
made recently by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones
during a video conference on U.S. – Russia relations. Jones said, “It is
in Russia’s interest for these areas, for Transnistria, Abkhazia, South
Ossetia, Nagorno-Karabakh, for these areas to be stable, for corruption
to end there, for the criminal secessionists who rule there to be
removed.” Evans said Jones was not referring to Karabagh with the term
“criminal secessionists,” and therefore no public apology was necessary,
beyond the explanation she gave in private discussions with the Armenian
government. He said, “too much was made of the comment, that it had
been exaggerated too much in Armenia, that Armenians may be doing damage
to their national interest by perpetuating the issue. “I think you
should drop it and get on with life,” said Evans.

Commenting on a recent statement by an Azerbaijani official who said
that there would be no Armenia left in 25 years, Evans said, “This was
an outrageous, bellicose statement, and it brought all the bad memories
of Armenians back.” He said the U.S officials often work behind the
scenes to address such problems. “One of our main goals is to provide
for greater stability in the region,” said Evans, “The South Caucasus
does not need another war.”

Evans praised Armenia’s democratic and economic progress, saying,
“Armenia is headed in the right direction in several vectors. Sometimes
progress is not as swift as we’d like, but the basic direction is
right.” Referring to the Millenium Challenge Account, a U.S. government
program which rewards more aid to governments that are taking steps “to
rule justly, invest in the people, and provide the right conditions for
free markets and private enterprise,” Evans said Armenia rated “above
the mean.” Evans said that among all the former Soviet States, only
Armenia and Georgia were deemed eligible for funding, and that he
expects the government of Armenia to put forward a funding proposal for
the program soon.

Although the problem of corruption is still significant, Evans said
Armenia “regularly comes out ahead of its neighbors.” He noted that
this year Armenia will have recovered back to its economic level of
1991, and that 80% of the economy was accounted for by the private
sector. And although poverty is a huge problem, there has been a recent
drop from 52% to the 43% or lower by some estimates, with the level of
extreme poverty dropping from 11% to 7%.

The ambassador said that one of the Embassy’s big initiatives is to help
develop the economy in a “much more broad-based and sustainable” way.

Evans said Armenia has a good constitution but that “implementation is
the important thing.” He praised President Kocharian for his tough
meetings with the tax and customs service administrators, in an effort
to more fairly implement tax collection.

Evans also thanked Armenia for its recent deployment of 50 non-combat
soldiers to Iraq, saying he recognized the fears for the safety of the
historic Armenian community there.

Joining Ambassador Evans on his visit were his wife, Donna Evans, USAID
Mission Director in Armenia, Robin Phillips, and Aaron Sherinian, U.S.
Embassy Political Officer.

###

Picture Caption:
U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Evans and Prof. Stephan Astourian, UCB
Armenian Studies Program Executive Director

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Feb 24 2005

World Bank to allocate $11m to Azerbaijan

The World Bank is expected to allocate a $11 million loan to
Azerbaijan shortly. The funds will be earmarked for improving the
social plight of Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs and relevant
micro-projects.

The WB project manager Helen Hamilton has visited Baku several times
to work on developing the new project. It will be forwarded to the WB
board of directors for approval shortly.
During Hamilton’s visits, she discussed and agreed with the Azeri
side on starting the implementation of the new project.

The World Bank disbursed $20 million as a main loan and a $10 million
additional loan later under another project, “Rehabilitation of freed
territories”, implemented in Azerbaijan from July 1998 until December
31, 2004. The goal of this project, executed by the Agency for
Restoration and Rehabilitation of Areas, was to assist in settling
and improving the living conditions of those displaced as a result of
the Upper Garabagh conflict.

La Croix , France
24 février 2005

Les saints du jour. Saint Vartan (Ier siècle). Saint Modeste.

Saint Vartan (Ier siècle). Envoyé par son cousin, l’empereur romain,
à Sanadrouk, roi d’Arménie, pour régler des affaires importantes.

Il se convertit lors de sa rencontre avec saint Jude et est assassiné
par les fils de Sanadrouk pour s’être fait chrétien.

On fête aussi saint Modeste (fin IXe siècle), évêque de Trêves
(Rhénanie).

Glendale News Press
23 February 2005

Father, teen son’s pleas postponed
Torgom and Gayk Gzoyan of Glendale are accused of having attempted to kill a
man on Saturday.
By Jackson Bell, News-Press and Leader
GLENDALE — A Glendale teenager, who faces attempted-murder charges for
allegedly shooting a North Hollywood man in the face and neck Saturday, will
be tried as an adult, authorities said.
The arraignment for Glendale 17-year-old Gayk Gzoyan and his father, Torgom
Gzoyan, 55, was postponed Wednesday. The father and son are accused of
trying to kill 27-year-old Aram Aslanian Saturday afternoon near the corner
of Glendale Avenue and Maple Street. They are scheduled to reappear March 4
in Burbank Superior Court, authorities said.
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Aslanian was still alive in a local hospital Wednesday but “gravely”
wounded, said Glendale Police Sgt. Ian Grimes, who oversees the department’s
robbery/homicide division.
If Aslanian dies, the father and son will face murder charges, he said.
Police pushed to have Gayk Gzoyan charged as an adult for several reasons,
Grimes said.
“This is a serious crimes, and there were a combination of factors, like the
circumstances of the crime and his maturity,” Grimes said. “He’s going to be
18 in May.”
The Gzoyans were driving their car when they spotted Aslanian outside
Express Auto Repair about 4 p.m. Saturday on Maple Street, Sgt. Tom Lorenz
said.
Torgom Gzoyan got out of the car, confronted him, and a “heated” argument
ensued, Lorenz said. The tension culminated when Gayk Gzoyan exited the car
and shot Aslanian twice, Lorenz said.
There was an ongoing dispute between Aslanian and the Gzoyan family, he
added.
Police responded to the scene, and witnesses said they saw a man with a gun
in his hand escaping on foot.
Detectives tracked them to a Pomona truck stop off the Corona (71) Freeway
early Sunday morning. Police spoke with the father and son and convinced
them to return to Glendale, Lorenz said.
“The dad is a truck driver, and that is the depot for the truck that he
drives,” Grimes said. “I believe he went out there to establish an alibi.”
Detectives presented the case to the district attorney’s office Wednesday
morning, and charges were filed, police said.
Gayk Gzoyan remains in custody on $2 million bail, and his father is being
held on $1 million bail, Grimes said.