Le Monde, France
14 février 2005

Anticommunisme, nationalisme, goût de l’ordre : les raisons de leur
engagement PATRICK DEVEDJIAN

FRANCE GÉNÉRATION Quarante ans après, les anciens d’Occident
revisitent leur passé

Ministre délégué à l’industrie.

« Je ne me suis jamais caché de mon passé. J’étais d’origine
arménienne et c’était aussi une façon, pour moi, de me sentir
français.

J’étais anticommuniste et, finalement, je n’ai pas changé. Je me suis
engagé pour la cause de l’Algérie française. J’ai quitté Occident en
1966, après avoir découvert Raymond Aron. Ce mouvement n’avait rien à
voir avec l’extrême droite de Jean-Marie Le Pen. C’était une autre
époque, on ne peut pas comparer… »

–Boundary_(ID_aKi0TWyvbEm/0FC24oSrMw)–

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

BAFTA Winners

Indiewire.com
February 14, 2005

The Orange British Academy Film Awards were presented last night in London.
The complete list of winners if available below.

Film
The Aviator – Michael Mann / Sandy Climan / Graham King / Charles Evans Jr

The Alexander Korda Award For The Outstanding British Film Of The Year
My Summer Of Love – Tanya Seghatchian / Christopher Collins / Pawel
Pawlikowski

The Carl Foreman Award For Special Achievement By A British
Director/Producer Or Writer In Their First Feature Film
Amma Asante – Director/Writer (For A Way Of Life)

The David Lean Award For Achievement In Direction
Vera Drake – Mike Leigh

Original Screenplay
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind – Charlie Kaufman

Adapted Screenplay
Sideways – Alexander Payne / Jim Taylor

Film Not In The English Language
Diarios De Motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries) – Michael Nozik / Edgard
Tenembaum / Karen Tenkhoff / Walter Salles

Actor In A Leading Role
Jamie Foxx – Ray

Actress In A Leading Role
Imelda Staunton – Vera Drake

Actor In A Supporting Role
Clive Owen – Closer

Actress In A Supporting Role
Cate Blanchett – The Aviator

The Anthony Asquith Award For Achievement In Film Music
The Motorcycle Diaries (Diarios De Motocicleta) – Gustavo Santaolalla

Cinematography
Collateral – Dion Beebe / Paul Cameron

Editing
Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind – Valdís Óskarsdóttir

Production Design
The Aviator – Dante Ferretti

Costume Design
Vera Drake – Jacqueline Durran

Sound
Ray

Achievement In Special Visual Effects
The Day After Tomorrow

Make Up & Hair
The Aviator – Morag Ross / Kathryn Blondell

Short Animation Film
Birthday Boy – Andrew Gregory / Sejong Park

Short Film
The Banker – Kelly Broad / Hattie Dalton

The Orange Film of the Year(voted for by members of the general public)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

–Boundary_(ID_6pYnW2l9Yl/iprcvvYxW0Q)–

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
02/15/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) The Aftermath of Hariri’s Death
2) Kocharian, ARF Lebanon React to Hariri’s Assassination
3) Armenian Youth Determined to Gain Genocide Recognition
4) ARF Leader Stresses Turkey Has Nothing to Offer through Mere ‘Dialogue’
5) Mediator Sees No Organized Settlement Policy in Karabagh

1) The Aftermath of Hariri’s Death

–US Recalls Ambassador from Syria

BEIRUT (MSNBC)–The United States recalled its ambassador to Syria on
Tuesday,
expressing “profound outrage” amid growing suspicion that Damascus was
involved
in a massive bombing in Lebanon a day earlier that killed Lebanon’s former
Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Condemnation and expressions of grief echoed throughout the Arab world and
beyond, while in southern Lebanon an angry mob attacked Syrian workers.
The bombing and its aftermath raised fears that Lebanon might revert to the
political violence of the 1970s and ’80s, and the US Embassy in Beirut warned
Americans in the Lebanese capital to exercise extreme caution.
French Foreign Ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous said the UN Security Council
was working on a declaration demanding that the Lebanese government bring to
justice those responsible for the assassination and could adopt it later
Tuesday.
“For us, it is very important that the text can effectively express today and
without waiting the unanimity of the international community in condemning
this
criminal and odious act,” Ladsous said.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, told The Associated
Press on Tuesday he saw no immediate need to change EU relations with Syria,
but supported an international investigation into the bombing. EU
relations, he
added, could change depending “on how the responsibilities on the
assassination
of Mr. Hariri are resolved.”
Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh suggested that, based on the crater in
the
middle of the road and preliminary reports, the attack may have been carried
out by a suicide bomber who rammed Hariri’s motorcade with a vehicle laden
with
explosives.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, announcing the move to withdraw
American ambassador to Damascus Margaret Scobey, said it reflected the Bush
administration’s “profound outrage” over Hariri’s assassination.
Boucher did not accuse Syria of being involved in the bombing Monday in
Beirut. “I have been careful to say we do not know who committed the murder at
this time,” he said.
But he said the deadly attack illustrated that Syria’s strong military and
political presence in Lebanon was a problem and had not provided security in
the neighboring country.
Earlier, Scobey delivered a stern message to Syrian officials, a senior State
Department official told NBC News, saying the Syrians needed to take action to
fight terrorism in Lebanon, stop interfering in Lebanon’s internal politics,
and abide by a UN resolution that calls for Syrian troops to withdraw from
Lebanon.
Boucher refused to describe Syria’s reaction to Scobey’s diplomatic messages
in Damascus. Syria has not yet taken any reciprocal action, such as
withdrawing
its own ambassador to Washington.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the United States has “made it
clear to Syria that we expect Syria to act in accordance with the United
Nations Security Council resolution calling for the withdrawal of all foreign
forces and the disbanding of militias.”
McClellan said, “We also made it clear to Syria that we want them to use
their
influence to prevent the kind of terrorist attack that took place yesterday
from happening.”
Although most suspicion has fallen on Syria or its supporters in Lebanon, it
was clear the possibilities also might include rogue Syrian intelligence
operatives, or even factions among the country’s myriad religious groups.
Claims of responsibility by Islamic militants also raised the possibility that
Hariri had been targeted because of his close ties to Saudi Arabia–a top
enemy
of al-Qaida and other groups.
But Justice Minister Adnan Addoum played down that possibility, and Hariri’s
political allies openly accused Syria and its Lebanese allies of being to
blame.
In Hariri’s hometown of Sidon on southern Lebanon’s Mediterranean coast,
dozens of demonstrators attacked Syrian workers Tuesday, slightly wounding
five
before police intervened. Hundreds of others marched in the streets. Black
banners and pictures of the slain leader covered the streets as the country
began three days of official mourning.
On Monday night, a mob attacked the offices of the Lebanese chapter of
Syria’s
ruling Baath Party in Beirut with stones and set fire to shacks used to
exchange money and sell cigarettes in front of it.
Police said the toll from the bombing was 14 dead and about 120 injured. A
claim of responsibility by a previously unknown Islamic militant
group–Support
and Jihad in Syria and Lebanon–was not considered credible, with Addoum
warning it could be an attempt “to mislead the investigation.”
At Hariri’s Beirut residence Tuesday, long lines of mourners offered
condolences to the family. Dignitaries also arrived to pay their respects,
including Syrian Vice President Abdul-Halim Khaddam, a longtime friend;
Spanish
Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos; and Hariri’s political ally, Cardinal
Nasrallah Sfeir, head of the Maronite Catholic Church.

2) Kocharian, ARF Lebanon React to Hariri’s Assassination

(Combined Sources)–President Robert Kocharian conveyed his condolences to his
Lebanese counterpart Emil Lahoud, expressing sorrow for the assassination of
Lebanon’s former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri.
Praising Hariri as a leading political figure who made considerable
contributions to strengthening Lebanon’s statehood and Armenian-Lebanese
relations, Kocharian said Hariri’s death is a difficult challenge not only for
Lebanon, but also for the entire region.
In his message to Hariri’s widow Nazik Hariri, Kocharian said, “Rafik Hariri
not only made an invaluable contribution to strengthening of peace and
stability in Lebanon and in the whole region, but also exerted considerable
efforts to strengthen the relations between Armenia and Lebanon. I remember my
meetings with Rafik Hariri with special warmth. On behalf of the Armenian
people and myself, I express deep condolence to you and all his relatives.”
The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Central Committee of Lebanon also
issued a statement on Monday denouncing the assassination and extending its
condolences to the families of Hariri and other victims.
The statement condemns the blast, calling it “an attempt to infringe on the
Homeland’s security, peace, civil serenity, and national accord.”
“This crime was committed against the Lebanese Homeland and points to the
dangerous stage Lebanon has come to,” the statement continued.
Urging all to maintain internal unity and underscoring national
responsibility
in the dangerous and sensitive situation that Lebanon and the region are
facing, the statement concludes, “The absence of Rafik Hariri, a symbol of the
national accord and prominent political leader, will felt greatly in Lebanon
and the Arab world.”

3) Armenian Youth Determined to Gain Genocide Recognition

YEREVAN (Armenpress)–The youth divisions of Armenia’s political parties,
student councils, and a number of non-government organizations (NGOs) released
a joint statement on Tuesday condemning the Turkish media for deliberately
distorting historical facts about the Armenian genocide.
The deputy head of the Armenian NGO youth division, Abraham Bakhchagulian,
said youth must work for the recognition of the Armenian genocide, and are
ready to organize various events to attain that goal.
He said it is inadmissible to talk about the Armenian genocide in a
dismissive
manner, as the Turkish mass media and political elite do, in order to hinder
the process of the international recognition of the Armenian genocide.
“We condemn the activity of the organizations and people who aim to cast
doubt
on the Armenian genocide and impede the process of condemning this crime
against humanity. Armenian youth are determined and united in its position to
promote the recognition of the Armenian genocide,” the statement reads.

4) ARF Leader Stresses Turkey Has Nothing to Offer through Mere ‘Dialogue’

YEREVAN (RFE/RL)–Levon Mkrtchian, who heads the Armenian Revolutionary
Federation’s (ARF) faction in parliament, described an offer to the ARF to
engage in “dialogue” with Turkey, as “unserious,” and questioned the motives
behind yesterday’s invitation.
He also questioned the credentials of Turkish businessman Kaan Soyak, who
made
the offer at a news conference in Yerevan yesterday. Soyak co-chairs the
Turkish-Armenian Business Council (TABC).
“Dashnaktsutyun [ARF] has received no formal offers to that effect,”
Mkrtchian
said. “I don’t know who that person represents, what goals he is pursuing here
and how substantiated his proposals are.”
“Offers of a dialogue addressed to Dashnaktsutyun [ARF] must be much more
serious. They must specify the subjects or topics of such a dialogue.
Dashnaktsutyun [ARF] ascertained those topics long ago,” Mkrtchian added.
Mkrtchian argued that Turkish-Armenian rapprochement and reconciliation is
hardly possible because Turkey’s ruling establishment remains unwilling to
come
to terms with its Ottoman past. “Modern-day Turkey, given its position on the
genocide issue and policy on the Republic of Armenia, has nothing to offer
Dashnaktsutyun [the ARF] in a dialogue,” he said.

5) Mediator Sees No Organized Settlement Policy in Karabagh

By Jean-Christophe Peuch

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) last week
completed an unprecedented fact-finding mission to regions around Mountainous
Karabagh to verify Azeri claims that Armenian authorities are sending settlers
to the area. The mission, which was supervised by the three co-chairs of the
OSCE Minsk Group, was the first of its kind since the suspension of the
1988-94
Karabagh war. In an exclusive interview with RFE/RL, France’s Minsk Group
co-chairman, Bernard Fassier, discussed the mission’s preliminary findings.

PRAGUE–For more than a week, experts from the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) conducted an unprecedented tour of the Kelbajar,
Lachin, Qubadli, Fuzuli, Cebrayil, Zangilan, and Agdam districts around
Mountainous Karabagh.
The eight-member mission was placed under the supervision of the Minsk Group
of nations that has been mediating the Karabagh conflict for the past 13 years
on behalf of the OSCE. That Group has been co-chaired by France, Russia, and
the United States, beginning in 1996.
France’s co-chair, Bernard Fassier, who toured the territories with the OSCE
experts, said that the mission, which had long been demanded by Azerbaijan,
was
made possible only after arduous talks between Baku and Yerevan. Azerbaijan
claims the Armenian and Karabagh authorities have already sent some 23,000
settlers to the areas and demands that an end be put to what it says is a
deliberate policy of colonization.
“The determinant factor that made this mission possible–despite Armenia’s
earlier objections–was a compromise reached recently by the two countries
under the aegis of the Minsk Group co-chairs. The main provision of the
compromise was that Azerbaijan would suspend its action at the United Nations
in return for–among other things–Armenia’s consent to that mission, the
technicalities of which were agreed to by both parties,” Fassier said.
In early 1993, ethnic Armenian forces were in full control of Mountainous
Karabagh and had already secured the strategic southern corridor of Lachin
that
links the exclave to Armenia.
In March 1993, ethnic Armenian forces launched a two-pronged offensive that
drove Azerbaijan’s army farther east.
Kelbajar fell on April 3, 1993. Agdam, Fuzuli, Cebrayil, and other cities and
towns followed soon thereafter.
Azerbaijan claims the Armenian and Karabagh authorities have already sent
some
23,000 settlers to the areas and demands that an end be put to what it says is
a deliberate policy of colonization.
But French Ambassador Fassier said that, with one noticeable exception,
Armenian migration into the occupied territories seems to be largely
spontaneous and improvised.
“Contrary to what many people thought, there doesn’t seem to be a deliberate,
large-scale plan to settle those areas. One exception, however, is the Lachin
district. In Lachin, one can say that the [Armenian] settlement is being
encouraged and sponsored. But with regard to the six remaining districts, its
seems that up to 80 to 90 percent of settlers have gone there either on their
own or with the support of local nongovernmental organizations or the
[Armenian] diaspora. Except for Lachin, there is no large-scale involvement
from [the capital of Mountainous Karabagh Republic] Stepanakert, even less so
from Yerevan,” Fassier said.
The French diplomat said the largest group of settlers is made up of Armenian
refugees who fled Azerbaijan before the Karabagh war broke out in 1988 and in
the early months of the conflict. The second-largest group is composed of
victims of the December 1988 earthquake that leveled the Armenian city of
Spitak and partially destroyed Leninakan, Stepanavan, and Kirovakan.
“Finally, there is a third and much smaller group that consists of people who
have fled Armenia for economic reasons, or who live in mountainous areas of
Armenia and come on a seasonal basis to these more temperate areas for
cattle-breeding purposes. During the winter season, these families come down
from their mountains to graze their few cows or sheep in these more temperate
zones,” Fassier said.
Fassier noted that most Armenian settlers are apparently receiving no
assistance whatsoever from Yerevan or Stepanakert. He said the precarious
Armenian settlements, generally made up of a few families, remain isolated
from
each other because there are neither roads nor any means of communication.
With the exception of Lachin, no organized effort has been made to restore
infrastructure destroyed during the war. Also, Fassier said, no reconstruction
program has been initiated and many settlers continue to live in appalling
conditions more than 10 years into the cease-fire.
“In many areas there is no electricity and poverty predominates. I wouldn’t
say people live. Rather, they are surviving in half-destroyed walls topped
by a
tin roof. To survive, these families rely on small gardens or plots of land
that offer only limited agricultural possibilities. Sometimes, they also rely
on what a few fruit orchards that have been in a state of neglect for the past
10 years are still able to produce. In the most extreme situations there is no
electricity and just a hole in the ground, a fountain or a well to draw water
from. In areas where conditions are slightly better, accumulators allow for
just enough electricity to supply a single bulb. In other areas there are
small
generators. Sometimes electricity is either imported from Karabagh or supplied
by an Armenian military base nearby,” Fassier said.
Due to its key strategic importance as a land bridge between Karabagh and
Armenia, Yerevan insists that the notion of returning the Lachin corridor to
Azerbaijan is a nonnegotiable issue.
In Lachin, Fassier said, migrants live in much better conditions then in
other
occupied lands. The reconstruction rate is nearing 50 percent. Schools have
been built with government support, water and electricity supplies
progressively restored, and local administrations set up.
The OSCE experts are due to present their final report to the Minsk Group
co-chairs. The latter will then add their own recommendations and political
conclusions before passing on the report to the other Minsk Group members and
the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna–tentatively scheduled for the second
half
of March.

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–Boundary_(ID_n487VAWzt2L++rPl2HTrIA)–

The law on national and ethnic minorities and regional languages

Polish News Bulletin
Feb 16, 2005

Dated 6 January 2005

Journal of Laws No 17, item 141 – Chapter 1 General provisions

Art.1. This law sets down affairs connected with preserving and developing
the cultural identity of national and ethnic minorities and preserving and
developing regional languages as well as the method of realizing the principle of
equal treatment of persons irrespective of ethnic origin and sets down the
tasks and authority of public administration organs and territorial local
government organs in this scope.

Art.2.1. National minorities pursuant to this law shall be a group of Polish
citizens satisfying the following conditions:

1) is less numerous than the remaining part of the population of Poland;

2) essentially differs from other citizens by language, culture or tradition;

3) strives to preserve its language, culture or tradition;

4) is conscious of its own historical national community and is directed at
its implementing and protection;

5) its ancestors resided in the present territory of Poland for at least 100
years;

6) identifies with the nation organized in its own country.

2. The following shall be recognized national minorities:

b) Byelorussian;

c) Czech,

d) Lithuanian;

e) German;

f) Armenian;

g) Russian;

h) Slovakian;

i) Ukrainian;

j) Jewish.

3. Ethnic minorities pursuant to this law shall be a group of Polish citizens
which satisfies jointly the following conditions:

1) is less numerous than the remaining part of the population of Poland;

2) essentially differs from other citizens by language, culture or tradition;

3) strives to preserve its language, culture or tradition;

4) is conscious of its own historical national community and is directed at
its implementing and protection;

5) its ancestors resided in the present territory of Poland for at least 100
years;

6) does not identify with the nation organized in its own country.

4. The following shall be recognized as ethnic minorities:

1) Karaite;

2) Lemko;

3) Roma;

4) Tatar.

Art. 3. Whenever this law reefers to:

1) minorities ? this shall mean national and ethnic minorities referred to in
art. 2;

2) minority language ? this shall mean the own language of national and
ethnic minorities referred to in art. 2.

Art.4.1. Any person belonging to minorities holds the right to free decision
on treatment of the person as a person belonging or not belonging to
minorities and such a choice or enjoying rights connected with such choice shall not
cause any unfavorable effects.

2. No one shall be obligated other than pursuant to the law to disclose
information on own affiliation to minorities or to disclose their origin, minority
language or religion.

3. No one shall be obligated to prove their own affiliation to the given
minority.

4. Persons belonging to minorities may enjoy rights and freedoms arising from
principles contained in this law individually as well as jointly with other
members of their minority.

Art.5.1. The use of measures for the purpose of assimilating persons
belonging to minorities shall be banned, where the measures are used against their
will.

2. The use of measures for the purpose of changing the national or ethnic
proportions in areas populated by minorities shall be banned.

Art. 6.1. Discrimination arising from affiliation with minorities shall be
banned.

2. Public administration organs shall undertake the proper steps to:

1) support the full and authentic equality in the sphere of economic, social,
political and cultural life between persons belonging to minorities and
persons belonging to the majority;

2) protect persons who are the subject of discrimination, hostility or
violence being the result of their affiliation with minorities;

3) strengthen intercultural dialog. – Chapter 2The use of minority languages

Art. 7.1. Persons belonging to minorities hold the right to use and spell
their names and surnames pursuant to the principles of spelling of the minority
language in particular in the civilian register and identity documents.

2. Names and surnames of persons belonging to minorities spelled in an
alphabet other than Latin shall be transliterated.

3. The minister proper for public administration in agreement with the
minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall set down, by
ordinance, the method of transliterating referred to in sec. 2 taking into
account the principles of spelling of the minority language.

Art. 8. Persons belonging to minorities shall in particular hold the right
to:

1) the free use of minority languages in private and public;

2) disseminate and exchange information in the minority language;

3) place information of a private nature in minority languages;

4) learn minority languages or in minority languages.

Art. 9.1. Minority languages may be used as auxiliary languages apart from
the official language before gmina organs.

2. Auxiliary languages may be used only in gminas in which the number of
gmina citizens belonging to minorities the language of which is to be used as
auxiliary is not lower than 20% of the total population of the gmina and which are
entered to the Official Gmina Register in which the auxiliary language is
used, hereinafter referred to as the “Official Register”.

3. The possibility of using auxiliary languages shall mean that persons
belonging to minorities, save for sec. 5, hold the right to:

1) apply to gmina organs in auxiliary languages in writing or orally;

2) receive, on express application, replies also in the auxiliary language in
writing or orally.

4. Submitting applications in auxiliary languages is admissible. Submitting
applications in auxiliary languages shall not constitute a defect causing
non-examination of the application.

5. Appeal proceedings shall be conducted only in the official language.

6. No one shall avoid performance of legal orders or decisions issued in the
official language where circumstances require their immediate enforcement in
order to achieve their aim.

7. Doubts shall be resolved pursuant to documents prepared in the official
language.

Art. 10.1. Entries to the Official Register shall be made by the keeper of
the Official Register, the minister proper or religion and national and ethnic
minorities pursuant to gmina council applications.

2. Applications referred to in sec. 1 shall include in particular the
official data on the gmina population including the number of citizens belonging to
minorities whose language is to be used as an auxiliary language and a gmina
council resolution on expressing consent for introducing the auxiliary language
with an indication of the minority language which is to be the auxiliary
language.

3. Prior to entry to the Official Register the minister proper for religion
and national and ethnic minorities shall verify applications referred to in
sec. 1. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities may
refuse entry to the Official Register where applications do not satisfy
requirements referred to in sec. 2.

4. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall
refuse entry to the Official Register where the number of gmina citizens
belonging to minorities whose language is to be used as an auxiliary language is
lower than 20% of the total number of gmina citizens.

5. Refusals to enter to the Official Register may be appealed by the gmina
council to the administrative court.

6. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities on
gmina application shall delete the gmina from the Official Register.

7. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall
determine, in agreement with the minister proper for public administration, by
ordinance, the method of keeping the Official Register and the specimen
application referred to in sec. 1 taking into account in particular data enabling
the univocal identification of the gmina (name of voivodship, poviat, gmina)
and information referred to in sec. 2

Art. 11.1. Supplements may be granted to employees of gmina offices, gmina
auxiliary units and gmina budget units and plants for knowledge of the auxiliary
language in force in the gmina area in gminas entered to the Official
Register. The principles of granting supplements and their level are set down by
provisions on the principles of remunerating local government employees.

2. Knowledge of auxiliary languages shall be confirmed by diploma or
certificate.

3. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities in
agreement with the minister proper for education shall set down, by ordinance,
the list of diplomas and certificates referred to in sec. 2 taking into account
all minority languages.

Art. 12.1. Additional traditional names in minority languages may be used
beside:

1) official names of localities and physiographic objects,

2) street names

– in Polish pursuant to separate provisions.

2. Additional names referred to in sec. 1 may be used only in the areas of
gminas entered to the Register of gminas kept by the minister proper for
religion and national and ethnic minorities in the area of which names in minority
languages are used, hereinafter referred to as the “Register of gminas”. Entries
to the Register of gminas shall be made by the minister proper for religion
and national and ethnic minorities on application of gmina councils in the area
of which the names are to be used, save for sec. 7 and art. 13 sec. 1 ? 7.

3. Additional names referred to in sec. 1 shall not have reference to names
from the period of 1933 ? 1945 granted by German Third Reich authorities or the
USSR.

4. Additional names referred to in sec. 1 may be introduced in the whole
gmina area or in particular localities.

5. Additional names referred to in sec. 1 shall be placed after the name in
Polish and shall not be used independently.

6. Determining additional names in the minority language shall be made
pursuant to the rules of spelling of the language.

7. Additional names of localities or physiographic names in minority
languages may be determined on gmina council application where:

1) the number of gmina citizens belonging to minorities is lower than 20% of
the total number of the gmina population or, in case of inhabited localities,
more than half the citizens of the locality taking part in consultations
conducted pursuant to art. 5a sec. 2 of the law of 8 March 1990 on gmina local
government (Journal of Laws of 2001 No 142, item 1591, as amended are for
determining an additional name of the locality in the minority language;

2) the gmina council resolution obtained a positive opinion of the Committee
for names of Localities and Physiographic Objects established pursuant to the
law of 29 August 2003 on official names of localities and physiographic
objects (Journal of Laws No 166,item 1612).

8. Provisions of the law referred to in sec. 7 point 1 shall apply to
determining additional names in minority languages.

Art. 13.1. Gmina councils shall present applications referred to in art. 12
sec. 7 on application of gmina citizens belonging to minorities or on own
initiative. In case of applications on names of inhabited localities the gmina
council shall prior conduct consultations with citizens of the locality on the
case pursuant to at. 5a sec. 2 of the law on gmina local government.

2. Gmina councils shall present applications referred to in art. 12 sec. 7 to
the minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities through
voivods.

3. Applications referred to in art. 12 sec. 7 should include:

1) the council resolution on determining additional names of localities or
physiographic objects;

2) the proper spelling of the official name of the locality of physiographic
object in Polish;

3) in case of physiographic objects ? an opinion of voivodship boards in the
area of which the objects are situated;

4) the proposed spelling of the additional name in the minority language;

5) a review of results of consultations referred to in sec.1 and in art. 12
sec. 7 point 1;

6) information on the financial costs of introducing the proposed changes.

4. The requirement for obtaining opinion shall be assumed to be satisfied in
case of non-issue of the opinion referred to in sec,. 3 point 3 within 30 days
from the date of applying for the opinion.

5. Voivods shall deliver applications referred to in art. 12 sec. 7 to the
minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities not later than
within 30 days from the date of receipt and enclosing their opinion. The
minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall deliver the
application for opinion to the Commission for Names of Localities and
Physiographical Objects. The Commission for Names of Localities and Physiographical
Objects shell present its opinion to the minister proper for religion and national
and ethnic minorities through the minister proper for public administration
immediately after examination of the application.

6. Additional names of localities or physiographical objects shall be
regarded as determined where they are entered to the Register of gminas.

7. Entries referred to in sec. 6 shall be made by the minister proper for
religion and national and ethnic minorities after obtaining a positive opinion of
the Commission for Names of Localities and Physiographical Objects.

8. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall
refuse entry of additional names of localities of physiographical objects in
minority languages to the register of gminas or shall delete names from the
register where they refers to names from the period of 1933 ? 1945 granted by
authorities of the German Third Reich or the USSR.

9. Complaints to the administrative court may be filed by gmina councils
against refusal to make entries referred to in sec. 6 and against deletion
referred to in sec. 8.

10. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities in
agreement with the minister proper for public administration shall set down, by
ordinance, specimen gmina council applications:

1) on entry to the register of gminas,

2) on establishing additional names of localities of physiographical objects
in minority languages

– taking into account the detailed scope of information included in the
Register of gminas.

11. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities in
agreement with the minister proper for public administration shall set down, by
ordinance, the method of keeping the register of gminas and the detailed scope
of information included in the Register taking into account indications of
voivodships and poviats in the area of which the gmina is situated, the gmina
name, the official name of the locality or physiographic object and the
additional name in the minority language.

12. The minister proper for transport in agreement with the minister proper
for religion and national and ethnic minorities and the minister proper for
public administration shall set down, by ordinance, the details concerning
placing additional names in minority languages on signs and boards in minority langua
ges taking into account in particular the size and font style of names in
Polish and in minority languages.

Art. 14. The population of gminas belonging to minorities referred to in art.
9 sec. 2, art. 10 sec. 4 and art. 12 sec. 7 point 1 shall be understood to be
the number officially determined by the result of the last general census.

Art. 15.1. Costs connected with introducing and using auxiliary languages in
the area of the gmina and costs connected with introducing additional names
referred to in art. 12 sec. 1 in minority languages shall be borne, save for
sec. 2, by the gmina budget.

2. Costs connected with exchanging information signs arising from determining
additional names of localities or physiographical objects in minority
languages shall be borne by the state budget.

Art. 16. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities
shall order translations of this law into minority languages. – Chapter
3Education and culture

Art. 17. Realization of rights of persons belonging minorities to study
minority languages or in minority languages as well as rights of the persons to
study the history and culture of minorities shall occur on principles and by the
procedure set down by the law of 7 September 1991 on the education system
(Journal of Laws of 2004 No 256, item 2572, as amended).

Art. 18.1. Public authority organs shall undertake the proper measures for
the purpose of supporting activities for protecting, preserving and developing
the cultural identity of minorities.

2. Measures referred to in sec. 1 may be in particular target subsidies or
subsidies for entities for:

1) activities of cultural institutions, artistic movements and creativity of
minorities and artistic events of essential significance for the minority
culture;

2) investment serving preservation of the cultural identity of minorities;

3) publishing books, magazines, periodicals and folders in minority languages
or in Polish in printed form and in other technologies of recording pictures
and sounds;

4) support for television programs and radio programs realized by the
minorities;

5) protection of sites connected with minority culture;

6) community center activities;

7) managing libraries and documentation on cultural and artistic life of
minorities;

8) education of children and youth realized in different forms;

9) promoting knowledge on minorities;

10) other programs realizing aims referred to in sec. 1 and supporting
citizen integration of minorities.

3. Subsidies referred to in sec. 2 shall be granted from the part of the
state budget at the disposal of the minister proper for religion and national and
ethnic minorities may be granted in omitting open competition of offers. The
minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall annually
announce the principles of proceedings in cases on granting subsidies referred
to in sec. 2. Provisions of art. 14 ? 18 of the law of 24 April 2003 on pro
bono activities and volunteers (Journal of Laws No 96, item 873, as amended)
shall apply accordingly.

4. Measures referred to in sec. 1 may also include funds delivered from the
territorial local government budget to organizations or institutions realizing
tasks serving the protection, preservation and development of the cultural
identity of minorities.

5. Subsidies for entities referred to in sec. 2 may be granted to minority
organizations or cultural institutions of essential importance for minority
culture. Provisions of art. 73 sec. 4 of the law of 26 November 1998 on public
finances (Journal of Laws of 2003 No 15, item 148 , as amended) shall apply
accordingly. – Chapter 4Regional languages

Art. 19.1. Regional languages pursuant to this law, pursuant to the European
Regional or Minority Language Charter shall be assumed to be languages which:

1) are traditionally used in the territory of the given country by its
citizens who constitute a group numbering less then the remaining population of the
country;

2) differ from the official language of the country; this does not include
dialects of the official national language nor languages of immigrants.

2. Regional languages pursuant to this law is Kashubian. Provisions of art. 7
? 15 shall apply accordingly, save for that the number of gmina inhabitants
referred to in art. 14 is understood to be the number of persons using regional
languages officially determined as the result of the last general census.

Art. 20.1. Realization of rights of persons using the language referred to in
art. 19 to study the language or in the language shall occur on principles
and by the procedure set down by the law referred to in art. 17.

2. Public authority organs shall undertake the proper measures for the
purpose of supporting activities aiming at preserving and development of the
language referred to in art. 19. Provisions of art. 18 sec. 2 and 3 and sec. 5 shall
apply accordingly.

3. Measures referred to in sec. 2 may also include funds from the territorial
local government units for organizations or institutions realizing tasks for
preserving and developing the language referred to in art. 19. – Chapter 5
Organs for national and ethnic minority affairs

Art. 21.1. The public administration organ in affairs covered by this law
shall be the minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities.

2. The minister proper for religion and national and ethnic minorities shall
in particular:

1) favor realization of rights and needs of minorities by undertaking actions
in favor of minorities and initiating programs concerning:

a) preserving and developing the minority identity, culture and language
ensuring the full citizen integration of persons belonging to minorities,

b) realizing the principle of equal treatment of persons regardless of ethnic
origin;

2) cooperate with the proper organs in the scope of counteracting violations
of minority rights;

3) shall prepare analyses and evaluations of the legal and social situation
of minorities including the scope of realizing the principle referred to in
point 1b);

4) disseminates knowledge on the subject of minorities and their culture as
well as initiates research on the situation of minorities including in the
scope of discrimination referred to in art. 6 sec. 1 its manifestations and the
method and strategy of its counteracting;

5) undertakes actions for preserving and developing languages referred to in
art. 129.

Art. 22.1. The voivod tasks shall include:

1) coordinating actions in the voivodship area of public administration
organs realizing tasks in favor of minorities;

2) undertaking actions for respecting minority rights and counteracting
violation of the rights and discrimination of persons belonging to minorities;

3) undertaking actions for solving minority problems;

4) undertaking actions for respecting rights of persons using languages
referred to in art. 19.

2. For the purpose of realizing tasks referred to in sec. 1 voivods shall
cooperate with territorial local government organs and social organizations in
particular with minority organizations and shall give opinion on programs in
favor of minorities as well as preserving and development of languages referred
to in art. 19, realized in the area of the given voivodship.

3. Voivods may establish plenipotentiaries for national and ethnic minority
affairs pursuant to art,. 35 of the law of 5 June 1998 on public administration
in voivodships (Journal of Laws of 2001 No 80, item 872, as amended) for an
indefinite period of time. if ……………………………..

Law Supplement Editor Marcin Wawrzynczak;

Editor-in-Chief Ewa Szczesna;

President, CEO Andrzej Mietkowski;

Sales Assistant Ludmila Obojska;

Accounting Inga Kosciakiewicz;

Office Manager Monika Krupa; end

British shop that aims to put young designers on top
Deirdre McQuillan, Fashion Editor, in London

Irish Times
Feb 16, 2005

LONDON FASHION WEEK: Yesterday morning, in the august surroundings
of the Royal Academy in Mayfair, three new young generation British
designers sponsored by Top Shop got the chance to present catwalk
shows and their professional mettle to press and buyers.

The three, Gardem Demerdjian, a Lebanese Armenian from Beirut,
Ebru Ercon, a British-born designer of Turkish descent, and Swash,
two graduates of Central St Martin’s, produced widely differing
collections for winter 2005. Each had its strengths and surprises,
but Gardem was outstanding.

His clothes, hand-dyed in earthy colours, harked back to the l8th
century, but in a modern way. Highwayman coats flared over ballerina
layers of thin and delicate tulles, nets, silks and chiffons.

Imagine Marie Antoinette in a firmly fitted black jacket, raggy skirts
and long, loose hair. Chocolate leather jodhpurs and a tight, toreador
jacket was another typical combination and accessories like crystal
studded headphones, silver jewelled belts and mitts added witty,
decorative touches.

Swash was more tricksy and playful, using marine rope to loop elements
of a skirt together or to lace up a grey wool jacket.

Leg o’mutton trousers are not the most flattering clothing items and
the Long John Silver look appeared self consciously laboured. Outsize
bucket pockets, cropped academic gowns and a pink cable-knit coat
with gold lame trousers did little to excite the imagination either.

Ebru Ercom used robust materials like army blankets, rough hemp and
denim to fashion some artful combinations that often worked in a
folksy way like a black, empire-line pleated dress with a cutaway
white blanket bolero and white beads.

Top Shop is currently the single biggest patron of young British
designers, with an annual spend of around GBP1 million on practical,
behind-the-scenes support.

“Everybody who is successful in the industry should give something
back,” their marketing manager, Jo Farrelly, told The Irish Times
yesterday. “We would rather spend money on nurturing young talent
than on advertising.”

Valuable endorsement for Top Shop’s own design label “Unique” came
this week from the uber chic boutique, Corso Como in Italy, which is
to Milan what Colette is to Paris. It ordered the complete collection
from the British high-street chain.

Fashion retailing may be changing fast at the moment, but British
designers continue to raid the past. Jessica Ogden’s jaunty collection
of Madras cotton checks and ginghams evoked the 50s and featured
kimono tops, denim dungarees and big patchwork skirts with a certain
Gallic twist. Handiwork like embroidery and quilting mark her style,
and swing jackets added to the jaunty air of the whole collection
notable for fuller sleeves, fuller skirts and child-like smock tops.

Betty Jackson had a reflective moment, too, with a collection, as
polished as ever, that harked back to the 70s and hippy chic with
sequined dresses, embroidered Afghan coats and cowboy boots.

But whether it was a neat cigar leather belted coat over narrow
trousers or a flared check jacket over a full skirt, her sense of
colour and proportion was as sharp and as chic as ever.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Yakis : We Request Support Of Belgian MPs To Turkey’s EU Bid

Anadolu Agency
Feb 16 2005

BRUSSELS, (Anadolu Agency) – “We have asked Belgian parliamentarians
to convince deputies of other EU member states regarding Turkey`s
EU membership bid,” said Yasar Yakis, chairman of the Turkish
Parliamentary Commission for Adjustment to the EU.

Yakis and accompanying delegation are currently in Belgium for a
working visit. Yakis told reporters, “we have met senators, deputies
and members of the European Parliament. We have expressed our concerns
about progress report which was published about Turkey by European
Commission on October 6th.”

Meanwhile, Sukru Elekdag, a member of the commission and a Republican
People`s Party (CHP) deputy, told reporters that leaving entry
talks open-ended would cause indefiniteness. He added, “we will have
difficulty in explaining the policies of the government to people.
This condition will affect Turkey`s foreign policy as well.”

Noting, “we are very uneasy about the possibility of permanent ban on
free movement of Turkish labor force,” Elekdag said, “it is against
the philosophy of the Union.”

Upon a question, Elekdag and Yakis said that they wanted historians
to come together to research so-called Armenian genocide but Armenians
did not want to open their archives to researchers and discuss them.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS RELEASE

FEBRUARY 11, 2005

UCLA Armenian Graduate Students Association
Graduate Students Association
c/o Armenian Graduate Students Association
Kerckhoff Hall Room 316
308 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90024

Contact: Gevork Nazaryan
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

THIRD ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENT COLLOQUIUM IN ARMENIAN STUDIES AT UCLA

The UCLA Armenian Graduate Students Association invites the public
to the third annual, international Graduate Student Colloquium in
Armenian Studies at UCLA on Friday, February 25, 2005. this day-long
academic event will begin at 9:15 AM and be held in the famous Royce
Hall, room 314.

This year the organizing committee has set out to continue the fine
tradition that began in 2003 with the launching of the first-ever
international colloquium in Armenian Studies developed specifically
for graduate students by graduate students. UCLA, a premier institution
for the growing field of Armenology and a leader in interdisciplinary
studies, is hosting this event to further foster the development of
Armenian Studies, facilitate interaction between graduate students and
faculty from various institutions, provide a medium for the exchange
of ideas, and contribute to the professional and academic advancement
of graduate students.

Studies from multiple fields will be presented, including history,
political science, law, linguistics, literature, architecture, and
art history. Topics to be presented are grouped within the following
sessions: Comparative Studies in Ancient and medieval Armenian Culture,
Modern Armenian History, Issues in Contemporary Armenian Politics, and
Modern Armenian Literature. . Presenters are graduate students coming
from universities and countries all around the world, including UCLA,
Cal State Northridge, Florida International University, University
of Chicago, University of Miami, Villanova University, University
of Michigan, Ca’ Foscari U. (Italy), Central European University
(Hungary), University of London (UK), and multiple institutes within
the Republic of Armenia. Also, these presenters will have post-event
publicity appearances on the television shows Student Reflections and
Grakan Eter, both of which will air on the Horizon channel on Saturday,
February 26th, 2005.

This year, the organizing committee was led by Talar Chahinian,
a graduate student in Comparative Literature. She was joined by a
number of graduate student veterans from the 2003 and 2004 GSCiAS,
as well as faculty advisor, Dr. Peter Cowe. Graduate students from
across many disciplines were responsible for the individual aspects of
developing the event. This ranged from financing to program scheduling,
facilities and refreshments to travel and accommodations, as well as
both academic and media public relations.

Armenian Studies at UCLA began in 1960. The discipline was augmented
in 1962 with the appointment of Dr. Richard G. Hovannisian, current
holder of the Armenian Educational Foundation Chair in Modern
Armenian History. In 1965, language and literature was established
on a permanent footing with the arrival of Dr. Avedis K. Sanjian,
who guided the expansion of this area over the next three decades.
The Narekatsi Chair, founded in 1969 through the efforts of National
Association for Armenian Studies and Research, has the distinction
of being the oldest endowed chair at UCLA. The first chair-holder
was Dr. Sanjian and in July 2000 Dr. S. Peter Cowe was appointed
as successor. Since 1997 regular instruction in East Armenian has
complemented teaching in West Armenian: currently Dr. Anahid Keshishian
is lecturer in the former and Dr. Hagop Kouloujian in the latter.
In 1998, Armenian Studies was officially recognized as an undergraduate
minor and currently proposals are underway to institute the major.

The Graduate Student Colloquium in Armenian Studies is yet another step
in the development of the rich tradition of Armenian Studies at UCLA.
Organized by graduate students, for graduate students, it provides
an opportunity for students to actively and significantly contribute
to the academic environment on campus.

The colloquium is made possible, in part, by the financial
contributions of a number of departments, programs, and centers at
UCLA including the departments of Near Eastern languages and Cultures,
Slavic Languages and Literatures and Art History, the Indo-European
Inter-departmental program, the Center of European and Eurasian
Studies, as well as Graduate Division of the UCLA administration.
The Society for Armenian Studies has also pledged its financial support
for the colloquium. Last, but by no means least, the committee also
received financial support from the campus fund, the Campus Programs
Committee.

The event is free of charge and open to the public.

Boston Globe, MA
Feb 16 2005

Developers abroad
Sluggish commercial property market in Boston sends local builders
overseas for major projects

By Susan Diesenhouse, Globe Correspondent | February 16, 2005

As the Greater Boston commercial property market slogs along, some
local developers are doing what New England investors have done for
centuries: seeking fortunes abroad. They’re focusing on countries
with strong growth prospects, welcoming governments, and the promise
of enormous returns.

ADVERTISEMENT

Paul Korian, managing member of AK Development LLC, and his team of US
and Latin American investors acquired, gutted, and renovated a hotel
in downtown Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, and hope to reap a return
of about 20 percent on the $42 million they spent on the project.

“In Boston, under normal circumstances, we couldn’t even buy a prized
property in a prime location for under market value,” Korian said.

Last June with construction completed, Marriott planted its flag on
the 229-suite hotel, which was purchased from the government of this
former Soviet republic in 1998.

Despite the uncertainties of an emerging economy, the Armenia Marriott
Hotel offers classic property advantages.

“It’s a real estate play; a hard asset,” said Korian.

Some of his partners have invested elsewhere in the Caucasus region
bordered by Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, where in 2003 they
also opened the Tbilisi Marriott Hotel.

In Yerevan, “There’s a lot of risk, but in 10 years we expect a lot
of reward,” he said of the property, whose value has risen 30 percent
since June.

In the last half of 2004, the occupancy rate averaged 50 percent for
double rooms priced from $110 to $180 a night. In the next 10 years,
with Marriott’s global marketing systems, occupancy should rise to
about 70 percent, Korian said.

Meanwhile, there are two other income streams. Above the hotel —
which has four restaurants, 14 meeting rooms, and a banquet hall —
23,000 square feet of offices are leasing for about $21 per square
foot, with 22 percent available. Behind it is another money maker,
a four-acre lot on which they plan to construct a 35-unit time-share
to rent for about $9,000 a week.

“We have the advantage of being early investors in an emerging market,”
Korian said.

But his risk/reward ratio pales in comparison to that faced by John
B. Hynes III, chief executive of Gale International and its joint
venture partner, Seoul-based POSCO E&C. They’re developing a South
Korean metropolis called New Songdo City. Within 20 years, they expect
to invest $25 billion to build 100 million square feet on 1,000 acres
near Incheon International Airport.

In May, after more than three years of preparation, construction is
scheduled to start on the $925 million first phase of the project:
2,300 residential units in eight buildings, the first 300,000 square
feet of a 1.2 million square foot convention center, and a 1,000-room
hotel.

Never a traveler, Hynes didn’t seek out such a far-flung project.

“But once I looked at the dynamics of the deal, I was hooked,” he
said. “Partly, it’s ego; the size of it. Then, it’s about managing
mixed use.”

The project will include housing, retail, offices, hotels, a hospital,
aquarium, museum, garages, utilities, roads, and parks.

“Where else could I possibly experience the thrill of designing and
building a new city from scratch?” he asked.

The South Korean government has invested $10 billion to build the
airport and bridges and improve the land and public transit. It also
will allow Gale to intensively develop the property, building about 12
million square feet per 100 acres compared to about 2 million square
feet they could build on 100 acres in suburban Boston.

With its fast-growing economy, South Korea also holds the promise of
an ample upside.

At $1 million an acre, said Hynes, “We feel our land price is 25
percent of what fair market value will be when the project matures.”
He added: “If we execute properly, we may realize the profit margin
that hooked us in the first place.”

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Feb 16 2005

World Bank Supports Internally Displaced Persons in Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON- The World Bank today approved a US$11.5 million
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Economic Development Support
Project.

This project aims to improve living conditions, enhance economic
opportunities and prospects for social integration for IDPs.

Azerbaijan’s armed conflict with Armenia over the Upper Garabagh
region, which lasted from 1992 to 1994, left over 30,000 dead and
over 1 million people displaced. About 575, 000, or 15 percent of the
country’s population, became “internally displaced persons.” Many
IDPs live in conditions where infrastructure, housing and service
needs are substantial. Large numbers dwell in excessively poor
housing conditions in school dormitories and former hotels, or occupy
public buildings. Others live in informal settlements that often lack
the most basic services, such as water, electricity, schools and
health facilities. Economic opportunities are limited and
unemployment is high.

“The project will extend the Government’s efforts to improve the
living conditions of IDPs who, as communities, will identify what
investments are most needed,” said Ellen Hamilton, head of the World
Bank team designing the project.

The IDP Economic Development Support Project will consist of two main
components: micro-projects and micro-credits. The first component
will finance the preparation and implementation of up to
approximately 200 small-scale projects (average cost about US$50,000)
to rehabilitate, repair or reconstruct basic small infrastructure,
social infrastructure and temporary shelter facilities. Under the
second component, which is completely funded from the counterpart
funding resources, financing to Partner Lending Institutions will be
provided for the extension of micro-credits to IDPs.

By the time the project is completed, IDP communities will have
benefited from new improved basic small infrastructure (water supply
and sewage networks, electricity distribution networks, access roads
and drainage systems), social infrastructure (schools and community
centers), and temporary shelter facilities. IDPs will also have
benefited from access to micro-credit for income-generating
activities.

The IDP EDS Project has a maturity of 35 years, including a ten-year
grace period.

Azerbaijan joined the World Bank in 1992. Since then, commitments to
the country total approximately US$622 million for 25 operations.

Press Release via Baku Today

RIA Novosti, Russia
Feb 16 2005

IRAN AND RUSSIA DEVELOP NEW ECONOMIC PLANS

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti political commentator Dmitry Kosyrev)

A delegation of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry led by a
former prime minister, Yevgeny Primakov, is touring the Middle and
Near East, with Iran the key point on the program. The reason is
simple: Iran is the regional leader in terms of the volume and
quality of economic relations with Russia.

Iranian-Russian trade has hit the $2-billion mark, with Russian
exports accounting for 90%. Given that one aim of Russia’s economic
development policy is to free the country from its dependence of raw
material exports, trade with Iran provides an appropriate export
structure: Iran buys Russian planes, cars, and high technologies in
the energy sector, including in nuclear power. New projects are being
drafted, such as the construction of a railroad in Iran, gas
pipelines to Armenia and India, and the Tabas coal power station, as
well as the modernization of other power stations in Isfahan and
Ahwaz. Mr. Primakov’s objective is to identify priorities in the
voluminous plans outlined by the two sides.

Russians engaged in cooperation projects with Iran regard the country
as the regional leader in terms of literacy (81.4%), economic growth
and quality of life. Russia’s political culture believes it
inappropriate to impose forms of governance and life-style norms on
other countries and societies, even when this society is a unique
Shiite theocracy. Indeed, it compares favorably with many Islamic
monarchies in the Near East.

The political results of Iranian-Russian cooperation are obvious,
even if we choose not to mention that Iran has never given support to
Islamic extremists in Chechnya and the North Caucasus, and blocked
every anti-Russian resolution when it recently held the rotating
chair of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). In point
of fact, Iran is still playing a key role in Russia’s gradual advance
to observer status and closer cooperation with the OIC, a role which
is no less important than that of the present OIC chairman, Malaysia.

In other words, Moscow will benefit from a strong and prosperous
Iran, without nuclear weapons but with a powerful economy. The form
of governance it chooses, secular or theocratic Shiite, is
unimportant. The Iranians can cope with their domestic affairs on
their own, as their near unanimity in overthrowing the shah and
installing in 1979 the present, unique regime shows. Naturally, no
monarchies or regimes last forever and Russia has no special reason
for supporting this particular regime in Iran. The only thing Russia
wants is to have its long-term investments in Iran’s development well
protected.

However, Russian interests in Iran should also be protected from
competition. In a sense, Mr. Primakov’s delegation, like any trade
delegation, is part of efforts to get an edge on Russia’s rivals, the
main one being the European Union. It accounts for nearly a quarter
of Iran’s trade (about 15 billion euros), with Germany and Italy
taking the lead. Iran’s trade with Japan, China, and South Korea
should not be ignored either ($6 billion, $5 billion and $4 billion,
respectively).

Russia’s hopes to catch up with these rivals on the Iranian market
are probably unrealistic. Besides, in its special relations with
Iran, Russia can hardly claim a greater role than India, which given
its improving relations with neighboring Pakistan is identifying
increasing economic opportunities in Iran. Indeed, a key
Russian-Iranian project to develop a transport corridor from the
Indian Ocean to Europe via the Caspian Sea is connected with India.
The route will be even more important than the Suez Canal, because
goods to Europe will be delivered cheaper and faster by the
North-South corridor through Indian and Iranian ports and Russia’s
Volga river port of Olya.

Therefore, Moscow can and must take a skeptical view on the zigzags
and vacillation in the attempts made by Iran and the United States to
find a common language. Tehran was a reliable ally for the US and
other countries in their operations against the Taliban and other
terrorists in Afghanistan, but their further rapprochement was
interrupted by the war in Iraq. This war has led to consequences
unexpected even by Iran itself.

The efforts of America and the other occupying powers in neighboring
Iraq have made the establishment of a theocratic state there ruled by
Shiites, who are friendly to Iran’s Shiites despite their
differences, entirely possible. It is worth noting that, as distinct
from the ancient Persian empire, Iraq’s existence as a single state
is a relatively recent experiment. Even its capital, Baghdad, was
built in the middle of the eighth century on the ruins of Ktesifon,
the historic capital of Persia, by Iranians who had overthrown Arab
rule as part of an Islamic caliphate. They installed the Abbasid
dynasty and made Baghdad their capital.

Although this is a lesson from the distant past, it is still
instructive today.