DECREES OF NKR PRESIDENT

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
29 Dec 04

On December 24 NKR president Arkady Ghukassian signed the decree `On
the Amendment to the October 9, 2002 Decree of the President of the
Republic of Nagorni Karabakh `On the Structure of the Government of
the Republic of Nagorni Karabakh’. On the same day Ararat Ashot
Danielian was relieved of the post of head of administration of the
NKR president and appointed vice prime minister of the Republic of
Nagorni Karabakh. Armen Michael Zalinian was relieved of the post of
adviser on state and legal questions to the president and
appointedhead of the NKR president administration. The president of
NKR signed a decree on relieving Armen Temur Sarghissian of the post
of minister of education, culture and sport for the reason of passing
to other work. Ashot Vladimir Ghulian was relieved from the post of
minister of foreign affairs and appointed NKR minister of education,
culture and sport. By the decree of the NKR president Arman Vardan
Melikian was appointed NKR minister of foreign affairs. By the NKR
president’s decree signed on December 24 Benik Hovhannes Bakhshiyanwas
released from the post of minister of agriculture. Vahram Boris
Baghdassarian was appointed NKR minister of agriculture.

AA.
29-12-2004

LOUISE SIMON-MANOUGIAN’S VISIT TO STEPANAKERT

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
29 Dec 04

On December 24 American Armenian benefactor Louise Simon-Manougian
arrived in Stepanakert. The aim of her visit is to see what works have
been done on the means donated to Artsakh by her. Accompanied by
President Arkady Ghukassian, Prime Minister Anoushavan Danielian and
other officials Louise Simon-Manougian and her daughter Christine
visited several building sites, as well as the chess school, the
11-storey block of flats provided to the families of killed
azatamartiks, the old people’s home, several shops and other
publicplaces in the city. Louise Simon-Manougian was interested in
everything: conditions of life, the amount of shop customers,
technical problems of the new building of the school N 7, problems of
comfort and design. `The keen attention of Louise Simon-Manougian
towards Karabakh is natural,’ mentioned Arkady Ghukassian in the
end. `The fact that Louise Simon Manougian is here today is also
symbolic for both her and us.’ In reference to the new programs of the
benefactor, Arkady Ghukassian said, `You know that this year Louise
Simon-Manougian sponsors the building of a school. During the telethon
she donated 2 million dollars. Asthe programs financed by her have not
been completed yet, it is still early to speak about new programs.’

SUSANNA BALAYAN.
29-12-2004

PRESS RELEASE
December 29, 2004
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:

Address to the Armenian American Community by Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to the United States of America,
Dr. Arman Kirakossian

Dear compatriots,

Please accept my cordial greetings on the festivities of New Year and the
Armenian Christmas! I am convinced that the year 2005 will bring new
achievements for the Armenian people in Armenia, Artsakh, as well as in the
Diaspora.

It is a tradition to assess the past year’s events, results, and
achievements in retrospect. While 2004 was an election year in the United
States, and therefore characterized by the predominance of domestic
politics, the U.S.-Armenian bilateral relations continued to make progress
in a natural fashion. U.S.-Armenian dialog and cooperation in the political
and security areas were further strengthened. The U.S. Government played an
important and positive role in the process of peaceful settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict, in its capacity as Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk
Group. The military cooperation between Armenia and the United States
acquired new quality, as the Armenian Armed Forces and Kansas National Guard
signed a State Partnership Program, and two high ranking Armenian military
officers, Chief of General Staff Col. General Mikayel Harutyunian and Deputy
Defense Minister Lt. General Artur Aghabekyan came to the U.S. on an
official visit. The Congress increased military assistance to Armenia to
8.75 million dollars, reiterating the principle of parity in U.S. military
assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Especially satisfying are the results in U.S.-Armenian economic and
commercial relations. Only in the first ten months of 2004, Armenian exports
to the U.S. grew by 36%; the United States is one of Armenia’s main trade
partners. The U.S. Congress allocated 75 million dollars and 3 million
dollars towards U.S. assistance programs in Armenia and Karabakh,
respectively. In November, the Congress passed a measure granting permanent
normal trade relations to Armenia. Armenian economy’s solid macroeconomic
performance and prospects for growth were acknowledged this year, when the
U.S. Government selected Armenia as eligible for a new mechanism for foreign
assistance it had recently initiated, the Millennium Challenge Account
programs for 2004 and 2005. U.S.-Armenian cooperation in science,
technology, education, and culture continued unabated. Of particular
importance is the comprehensive and descriptive report on the present state
and future of Science and Technology sector in Armenia, prepared and
published by a prominent U.S. scientific institution, the National Academies
of Science.

Dear compatriots,

On behalf of the diplomatic missions of the Republic of Armenia in the
United States, I thank all of our Armenian-American compatriots who have in
many ways helped to address issues relating to Armenia and to promote
Armenia’s economic growth. I want to assure you how greatly Homeland Armenia
appreciates your assistance and your efforts, whether in lobbying on
Armenian issues in U.S. Congress and state legislatures, helping Armenian
diplomatic missions, investing in Armenia, or simply visiting Armenia as
tourists.

On behalf of the Embassy staff and my family, I wish you a merry Christmas,
and happiness and peace in New Year 2005!

PRESS RELEASE
December 29, 2004
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:

International Business Forum “Bridge 2005” to Be Held in Tsaghkadzor,
Armenia

An international business forum “Bridge 2005” will be held in the Armenian
resort town of Tsaghkadzor on February 25-28, 2005, under the auspices of
the Armenian Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Central Bank of Armenia, and the Union of Manufacturers and
Businessmen of Armenia.

The organizers of the business forum, Center of International Integration
Support “MASTER,” hopes to bring together representatives of both government
agencies and private sector from Europe, Asia, and the Americas for
unofficial intergovernmental, intersectoral contacts in the excellent
conditions of the beautiful nature of the high mountain resort Tsaghkadzor.
Special attention will be devoted to the following themes: exports and
imports; ecological products and production technologies; promotion of small
and medium business development. The participants are expected to take part
in both plenary sessions and bilateral business meetings.

For inquiries about the business forum and registration, please contact the
Center of International Integration Support “MASTER,” located at Abovyan
Street, 7, Yerevan, 375010, Armenia; tel./fax +374-1-569197; tel.
+374-9-488111 (24 hours), or visit the website of the business forum:

Application forms are also available from the Embassy of the Republic of
Armenia, upon request.

Let’s Cook – Armenian Cookbook Review

SARAH SOGHOMONIAN
STAFF WRITER
Hye Sharzhoom
California State University, Fresno,
Armenian Studies Program
December 2004

Hungry? Craving delicious, authentic, traditional Armenian food? Well,
don’t run to the closest Armenian deli, be adventurous, make your
favorite Armenian foods from scratch. Simply Armenian: Naturally
Healthy Ethnic Cooing Made Easy , a new cookbook by Barbara Ghazarian,
is here to guide you through the steps to making delicious Armenian
delicacies.

Simply Armenian contains every recipe you can think of and is divided
into sections and subcategorizes for your convenience.

The first section is titled “Appetizers and Spreads” and has specific
areas focusing on those two subjects. Under “Appetizers” you will find
recipes for Armenian staples, such as, Rice-Stuffed Grape Leaves
(Yalanchi) and Pickle Fresh Vegetables (Tourshi) along with less
traditional, but still Middle Eastern influenced items, such as, Feta
Cheese-Topped Eggplant Rounds and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds and Pine
Nuts. Under “Spreads” one finds recipes for Hummus, Zesty White Bean
Dip, and Black Olive and Yogurt Cheese Spread, to name a few.

After indulging in hors d’oeuvres, one is ready for the first
course. Under the section titled “First Courses” one finds
subcategorizes dedicated to Grains and Vegetables, Salads, Soups and
Stews, and Stuffed Pastries (Boreks). “Grains and Vegetables” offers
recipes from Bulgur and Rice Pilaf to egg plant dishes to a spinach
casserole recipe. There are salad recipes titled Parsley Salad
(Tabouli), Cracked Wheat-Tomato Salad (Eetch), and Four-Bean
Salad. Recipes for Lentil and Swiss Chard Soup, Tomato and Bulgur
Soup, and Lamb and Rhubarb Stew are found in the Soups and Stews
sub-category. Craving Cheese Borek or Spinach Borek? You can find
these and other Borek recipes in the stuffed Pastries (Boreks)
subcategory.

Ready for the main course? What will it be? Lamb, Pork, Fowl,or Fish?
You will find recipe featuring these foods under “Main Courses.” The
sub-category, Lamb, features recipes for Shish Kebab, Armenian Tartare
(Kheyma), and Lamb-Stuffed Grape Leaves (Sarma) and many others that
are sure to fill your tummy.

There is a section of the cookbook titled “Armenian Basics.” It is
divided into the following topics: Flatbreads, Loaf Breads, Pizzas,
Tea Breads, Eggs Sauces, Dairy Basics and Drinks. So, if you want to
make your own Armenian Cracker Bread, Lahmejun. Choreg, Madzoon or
Tahn, Simply Armenian is where to turn.

Everyone loves dessert! Recipes for Cakes and Pastries; Cookies;
Fruits, Spreads and Candy; and Quince lie in the Sweets category. Who
needs the bakery? Make your own Paklava!

Simply Armenian: Naturally Healthy Ethnic Cooking Made Easy is by
Barbara Ghazarian of Hartford, Connecticut. She loves to cook and
hopes to have created an easy way for cooking ethnic
cuisine. Ghazarian states, “The journey into a foreign cuisine is not
necessarily an easy one. Armenian cooking can be intimidating for the
novice.”

After looking over Simply Ar-menian, I can tell you the recipes are
laid out in away that seems to be easy to follow and that is important
no matter how experienced a chief you are.

So, be adventurous; take Armenian Cuisine head on. It will be fun,
filling and will make Grandma proud! Happy eating!

Consider this …
CINDY BASIL HOWARD

West Hartford News
Thursday, December 16, 2004

In my normal capacity as a columnist, I do not review books for my
readers. However, I am making an exception with regard to the
following piece of literary work, written by a former West Hartford
resident.

It is my belief that a community must recognize and highlight the
positive contributions of its own and although I do not know the
author personally, I feel it is important to spotlight a work that is
so first-rate.

“Simply Armenian, Naturally Healthy Ethnic Cooking Made Easy” is a new
book authored by Barbara Mooradian-Ghazarian, a graduate of Conard
High School, class of 1974. She has compiled a beautiful soft cover,
easy to read and easy to follow book of Mediterranean
specialties. After sorting through her own family’s beloved recipes,
she chose to give the American reader some of her favorites that would
translate to their own kitchen table in an easily accomplished manner.

In my own capacity as a woman who prides herself on her own specialty
cuisine in her kitchen (thanks to the likes of Grandma Susie, Mom
Betty and special Aunties), I can tell you that this is an exceptional
project. As I flipped through the pages when I first received a copy
of the book, it was as if I were flipping through my own family’s
personal recipe collection. This work was wonderfully enjoyable for me
to read.

Although Mooradian-Ghazarian does not live in West Hartford now, she
does have family members who still live in town. Presently, she splits
her time between Monterey, Calif. and Newport, R.I. She is a product
of West Hartford Public Schools, followed by Wellesley College (class
of 1978). There may, in fact, be some of her Conard classmates who
experienced AP Biology class side by side with Mooradian- Ghazarian
who may be interested in reading her work. This, I might add, is her
third book. She has also authored a long-running weekly culinary
column for a Los Angeles newspaper and has years of experience
teaching culinary writing to adults in the Boston area.

She describes her recipes with simple, whole foods that appeal to the
non-vegetarian and the vegetarian alike, as more than half the recipes
are meat-free.

When I was a young girl, my family enjoyed the luxury of eating both
American food as well as Mediterranean food since I am of the Lebanese
heritage. For those who may not be familiar with Middle Eastern food,
it is an extraordinarily healthy cuisine. Of course, when we were
youngsters and eating foods such as humus, stuffed grape leaves,
yogurt (which we called labine) and pita b read (we called hibuz), we
never understood how wildly this cuisine would “catch on” among other
Americans. I vividly remember my Dad one day telling the family that
we really should market our own yogurt and tabouli and the rest of us
thought it was a ridiculous idea. “If only” as they say!

In the author’s own words: “Armenian Food is easy to make,
inexpensive, abundant, and good for you. And now, with the focus on
olive oil-based diets, eating Armenian fits right into a low-carb
regimen.”

When I called the author in California to tell her that I was writing
about her cookbook, she relayed to me that the cuisine was extremely
popular in that area of the country and that if readers here were
interested in securing a copy of her book for the holidays, they could
through Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com.

Mooradian-Ghazarian shares her passion for food with her readers in
her book as well as what she has learned about the history of her own
family; something many of us should be lucky enough to do.

Published by Mayreni Publishing (Mayreni means mother-tongue in
Armenian, I read), the specialties of the author’s ancestors’ table
are shared with readers in a way that honors her family. Additionally,
in this day and age of people striving for a healthier way of life, I
would certainly recommend owning this culinary treasure.

Additional ordering information: Enfield Books, P.O. Box 699, Enfield,
N.H. 03748; 603-632-7377; or [email protected].

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Dec 29 2004

PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AWARDED A GROUP OF TOP OFFICERS
AND LAW-ENFORCERS
[December 29, 2004, 21:04:05]

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-In-Chief
of the Armed Forces on December 29 has awarded a group of high rank
officers and staff members of law-enforcement bodies with the Order
of the `Flag Of Azerbaijan’.

Greeting the participants, President Ilham Aliyev congratulated them
on the Day of Solidarity of World Azerbaijanis and New Year.

Reminding attention and care of the nationwide leader of Azerbaijan
Heydar Aliyev to the Army and army building, Head of State said the
Armed Forces of Azerbaijan are strengthening day by day and it has a
strong material-technical base.

The goal of State is to make stronger the Armed Forces and this
process depends on development of economy, in the whole, he
underlined. Strong economy will promote success of talks in the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict. And, as a Supreme
Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, this question is constantly
in my focus and is supported by people’.

Head of State called on the officers to serve strengthening of
socio-political, military potential of the Republic.

Hellenic News of America
Dec 29 2004

Op-Ed
The Next Four Years

By Gene Rossides

The next four years will be difficult regarding foreign policy issues
of special concern to Greek Americans for several reasons

First, and foremost, is the fact that President George W. Bush has
retained in his administration the key figures in foreign policy who
have demonstrated a pro-Turkish and anti-Greek and Cyprus bias to the
detriment of U.S. relations with Greece and Cyprus.

Who are the persons in the Bush administration responsible for the
U.S. double standard on the rule of law to Turkey and the U.S.
appeasement of Turkey at the expense of U.S. relations with Greece
and Cyprus?

Leading the pack in the first Bush administration was Deputy
Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz. President Bushʼs decision
to retain Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld means that Mr. Wolfowitz
stays on as Deputy Secretary.

As is well known, Mr. Wolfowitz was the key architect of the war on
Iraq, misleading the American people on the issue of whether the
Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMD),
and thereby also weakening the U.S. worldwide effort on the war on
international terrorism aimed at the U.S. He also led the effort to
equate Palestinian violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with
international terrorism aimed at the U.S.

What is not well-known are the misleading statements and outright
lies and falsehoods by Mr. Wolfowitz regarding Turkey. A joint letter
from Armenian, Kurdish and Greek American organizations to President
Bush dated September 4, 2002 detailed Mr. Wolfowitzʼs `false and
misleading statements with serious errors of fact and omission of
Orwellian proportions’ regarding Turkey and (1) Cyprus; (2) human
rights; (3) reliability as an ally; (4) self-reliance; (5) Ataturk;
(6) democracy; (7) the Persian Gulf War of 1991; (8) Turkey and the
Jews; (9) NATO; and (10) its Kurdish minority.

The signatories to that letter were James F. Dimitriou, Supreme
President of AHEPA; Ted Spyropoulos, President, Hellenic American
National Committee; Aram Hamparian, Executive Director, Armenian
National Committee; Kani Xulam, Director, American Kurdish
Information Network; Theodora S. Hancock, Co-Founder, Hellenic
American Womenʼs Council; and me for the American Hellenic
Institute.

Mr. Douglas Feith, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, also
remains at his important position in the Defense Department. Mr.
Feith, a former registered foreign agent for Turkey from 1989 to
1994, served as the principal for International Advisors, Inc. (IAI),
the registered foreign agent for Turkey. Mr. Feith received $60,000
annually and his law firm received over $100,000 in fees. Mr. Feith
has been described by General Tommy Franks as the `dumbest’ man he
ever dealt with.

Mr. Richard Perle, who resigned as Chairman of the Defense Policy
Board for a conflict of interest with his company seeking war related
investments, initiated IAI and negotiated an $800,000 contract for
IAI with Turkey for 1989 and $600,000 for 1990 to 1994. Mr. Perle was
a paid consultant for IAI for Turkey during this period.

When Richard Perle was the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
International Security from 1981-1987 during the Reagan
Administration, he led the successful effort to give massive grant
military aid to Turkey. Mr. Feith was on his staff at the time.
Weapons supplied by the U.S. were used by the Turkish army against
the Kurds from at least 1984 and are being used to the present time.
Over 30,000 innocent Kurds were killed by the Turkish military. The
use of U.S. supplied weapons against the Kurds, which was well-known,
made the U.S. an accessory to the Turkish militaryʼs crimes
against the Kurds. Messrs. Wolfowitz, Perle and Feith bear
responsibility for the policy of arms to Turkey. The killings of
innocent Kurds lie at their doorstep.

In a comprehensive joint report `Arming Repression: U.S. Arms Sales
to Turkey During the Clinton Administration’ (October 1999), the
World Policy Institute and the Federation of American Scientists
documented the U.S. arms trade with Turkey and its harmful effects on
U.S. interests.

Mr. Perle is still active on Turkeyʼs behalf as a fellow at the
American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and appears regularly on TV and
radio interview programs to discuss U.S. foreign polciy.

Messrs. Wolfowitz, Perle and Feith are commonly referred to as
neo-conservatives who advocate an expansive use of force in U.S.
foreign policy including preemptive war. I prefer a different and, I
believe, a more accurate description. Neoconservative implies a new
conservative. None of these three individuals are `conservatives’ in
the classic definition of a political conservative who believes in
fiscal responsibility, limited government, individual liberties,
preservation of what has been proven useful and the use of force as a
last resort.

The definition I prefer as more accurate is `warmonger’ which
Websterʼs dictionary defines as `one who favors or tries to
incite war.’ All three are warmongers and in the case of Messrs.
Perle and Feith they are also war profiteers.

Ms. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State Designate, has been in the
center of all the foreign policy decisions of President Bush. During
the first Bush administration she was the foreign policy person
closest to the President. She will have a far greater influence on
foreign policy than Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.

Ms. Rice, as National Security Advisor, was involved in the betrayal
of Greece in the administrationʼs unilateral decision to
recognize the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as the
Republic of Macedonia. The U.S. policy had been that we would use the
name FYROM until Greece and FYROM by negotiations determined a
solution to the name issue. The U.S. broke its pledge. It appears
that a staff member of the NSC proposed the change in policy which
Ms. Rice approved as did the State and Defense Departments.

Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Marc Grossman, is and
has been the main architect of U.S. policy on Greece, Cyprus and
Turkey these past years. His policies towards Greece, Cyprus and
Turkey demonstrate a sharp pro-Turkish and anti-Greece and Cyprus
bias to the detriment of U.S. interests.

I have written extensively and in detail regarding Mr.
Grossmanʼs harmful actions on (1) U.S. relations with Cyprus
over the years and more recently regarding the undemocratic,
unworkable and financially not viable Annan Plan and his attacks on
the Greek Cypriots and President Tassos Papadopoulos for their
opposition to the Annan Plan; (2) his failure to uphold the rule of
law regarding the Aegean Sea boundary and (3) his failure to take
meaningful action to reopen the Halki Patriarchal School of Theology
illegally closed by Turkey in 1971.

Mr. Grossman is a career foreign service officer and there have been
reports that he may retire in 2005. Letʼs hope so.

In a future article I will discuss actions that the Greek American
community can take in the interests of the U.S. to deal with this
situation.

Gene Rossides
President, American Hellenic
Institute and former Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Dec 29 2004

Azerbaijan: ‘If Armenians not Withdraw, We will Try Other Ways’

The possibility of opening the Armenian border has become a big issue
in Azerbaijan in the wake of the European Union’s (EU) decision to
begin negotiations with Turkey on October 3, 2005.

Public opinion in Azerbaijan, where 20 percent of the country is
occupied by Armenians, is against Turkey giving any concessions on
the issue. A spokesman for the Azerbaijani Assembly Murtiz Alesgerov
said, “As long as Armenians do not withdraw from Azerbaijani
territories, the Turkey-Armenian borders should not be opened.” He
added that if international negotiations can’t resolve the issue of
Nagorno Karabagh, they were resolved to regain their territory
through military means.

A group of Turkish journalists went to Azerbaijan at the invitation
of Azerbaijani Deputy Melahat Hasanova. The Turkish journalists, who
met with President Murtiz Alesgerov, focused on developments
regarding the possibility of Turkey opening the Armenian border.
Mentioning that Armenians demanded Turkey to recognize the so-called
genocide and wanted territory, Alesgerov said: “Armenians are
Armenians and the enemy is the enemy; there can’t be anything else.”

The Assembly spokesman supported Turkey’s EU membership and
determined that Turkey’s position would open the door for
Azerbaijan’s accession to the EU. He also disclosed that their only
concerns abut the process was the opening of the Turkey-Armenia
border. Mentioning that Turkey had a policy about the occupied
territories, Alesgerov continued:

“If Armenians do not withdraw the occupied territories, Turkey will
not open the borders towards that country. This issue shapes Turkey’s
main policy. Turkey will be loyal to this issue.”

About 20 per cent of Azerbaijani territories are under the Armenian
occupation and the EU makes little pressure on Armenia to withdraw
the occupying forces while the Brussels try to force Turkey to open
its Armenia borders. There is a strong Armenian diaspora in the EU
states, and the local politicians do not want to lose the Armenian
votes in elections.

ArmenPress
Dec 28 2004

ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR IN UKRAINE PREDICTS GOOD RELATIONS WITH KIEV

KIEV, DECEMBER 28, ARMENPRESS: Armenian ambassador to Ukraine,
Armen Khachatrian, predicted good relations between his country and
the new leadership of Ukraine after Sunday re-run of presidential
elections in which the opposition candidate Viktor Yuschenko defeated
the acting prime minister Viktor Yanukovich. He said his prediction
was based on the fact that Armenia is too striving towards closer
relations with Europe.
“This (good relations with Ukraine) is real, as Ukraine is
likewise interested in Armenia,” he said, citing growing trade
between the two countries. The ambassador acknowledged that the Union
of Ukrainian Armenians called on its members to vote for Yanukovich.
He also said that Armenia has to work a lot to bring political
relations with Ukraine on a new level in view of its defense of
Azerbaijan’s position with regard to Karabagh conflict regulation.
“Ukrainians are very friendly towards the Armenian community and we
have to use its potential,’ he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress