Estonia paves way to closer links with Armenia

Eesti Paevaleht web site, Tallinn
8 Nov 04

Even though Armenia is strictly following Moscow in its foreign policy,
President Arnold Ruutel’s team does not think this is a reason for
avoiding a relationship. In a brief interview with Eesti Paevaleht,
Ruutel said that his official visit to Armenia from 13 to 16 November
was “part of the European policy on near neighbours”. He said that
the pro-Russian moods in Armenia had come as a result of the country’s
complicated economic and political situation.

Ruutel emphasized that the subject of Transcaucasus was important
to him. Alongside an invitation for a visit from Armenian President
Robert Kocharyan, he is yet to take up an invitation for a visit from
Mikheil Saakashvili, the Georgian head of state.

Tiit Matsulevits, member of the Foreign Affairs Commission in the
Riigikogu [Estonian parliament] and former ambassador, said in comment
that the presidential visit was “new, surprising, interesting and
groundbreaking against the background of Estonian foreign-policy
priorities so far”. When asked whether visits to Armenia would be
expedient, Matsulevits replied by recommending that one should think,
among other things, about the shortage of resources when it came to
Estonian foreign-policy relations. Ruutel’s visits have recently been
to exotic places; the most recent one was to Japan.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs source said unofficially that there were
problems with Armenia because Russia was the only Armenian ally in the
region and for this reason Yerevan was always oriented on Moscow. For
this reason, Armenia has been aiming to join the declarations initiated
by Russia in the OSCE and elsewhere, and these can often be hostile
to Estonia.

Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland also took up a clearly supportive
position on involvement with Armenia. “This is a country where there
are forces that would like more attention from EU countries,” Ojuland
noted. “I cannot say that we are not interested in Armenia’s future.”

The president will meet the Armenian head of state, the parliament
speaker and the prime minister. He will also be accompanied by a
business delegation. “There have been long-term cultural relations
between Estonia and Armenia,” the president added. [Passage omitted]

US diplomat urges Armenia to resume private TV programme

Source: Aravot, Yerevan
8 Nov 04

“We are concerned that the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty newscast [of
RFE/RL’s Armenian Service broadcast on Kentron TV] has been taken off
the air of Armenian TV channel,” US deputy representative to the OSCE,
Paul W. Jones, has said at the headquarters of the OSCE in Vienna.

“We have learned that the decision to take the newscast off the air
became possible as a result of the political pressure on the manager
of the TV company. We hope that the programme ‘Liberty’ will soon
be resumed as a sign of Armenia’s recognition and respect for freedom
of speech in line with the OSCE principles.”

Azeri paper slates leader for pro-Russian stance

Azadliq, Baku
3 Nov 04

An Azerbaijani opposition newspaper has criticized Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev for joining Moscow’s campaign to support
Ukrainian leader Leonid Kuchma’s candidate in the presidential
elections. Azadliq said that Baku was standing by Moscow in the fight
between the West and Russia for influence in the region. While the
USA and Europe are promoting democracy, Ilham Aliyev is with Russia
which supports dictatorship, the newspaper said. The following is
the text of Ali Rza’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azadliq on 3
November headlined “Narrowing siege” and subheaded “Another defeat
of authoritarianism” and also subheaded “Why is Ilham Aliyev beside
the losers”; subheadings are as published:

The first ballot of the presidential election in Ukraine is now in
the past. Two main candidates in the polls, [Prime Minister Viktor]
Yanukovych and [Viktor] Yushchenko, have passed into the second ballot
by a narrow margin. Which of them wins will be known in a run-off on
21 November. However, based on the stream of events it is rather easy
to predict that the winner will be Yushchenko.

Invincible democracy

Dictatorship losing in Ukraine, too

Ukraine’s incumbent leader [Leonid] Kuchma showed certain initiatives
to extend the lifespan of his regime well before the election. Among
those was also an attempt to create a legal opportunity for Kuchma
to stand for president for a third time. But none of these attempts
worked. In the end Kuchma identified his political successor and
lobbied for his election as president. This is incumbent Prime
Minister Yanukovych.

Kiev’s all administrative and financial resources had been mobilized in
favour of Yanukovych. Moscow too was providing every kind of explicit
and clandestine support for him. He had been even receiving financial
and moral support from other neighbours defending authoritarianism
like the leadership of Azerbaijan. All the help provided to Yanukovych
was calculated to see the Kuchma regime extend its lifespan during
the first ballot of the polls.

But the plan misfired. Yanukovych failed to defeat his contender,
the candidate of democratic forces, Yushchenko. Ukrainian democracy
was not defeated. On the contrary, the OSCE’s international observation
mission recorded falsifications in favour of the government’s candidate
at the voting, something that challenges Yanukovych’s qualification
for the second ballot with Yushchenko.

Clash of values

Who does Azerbaijan side with in this fight?

The Ukrainian elections can also be considered to be competition
between the USA and Europe on the one side and Russia on the other
for gaining influence in the region. Russia acted as a protector of
authoritarianism, while the USA and Europe acted as that of democracy.

Several days before the election, Moscow mounted an event in Kiev to
show support for Yanukovych under the pretext of celebrating the 60th
anniversary of the victory over fascism, while American and European
centres declared that they would reconsider relations with Kiev should
falsifications occur.

By the way, it was not out of sight that the “anniversary to support
Yanukovych”, which Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev also attended,
failed. Undoubtedly, it was predicted that at least Central Asian
dictators would also take part in the event, which was held under
the auspices of Russian President Putin, and Yanukovych would be
shown CIS-wide support. For the sake of this show, Russian sources
even spread misinformation that Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev
would also take part. But time seems to be working seriously against
“international authoritarianism”. That is why even the Central Asian
dictators, who do not have any close relations with the USA and Europe,
were not encouraged to gather in Kiev under Putin’s auspices. Only
Belarusian leader “Batka” [Belarusian for “father”] Luka [Belarusian
President Alyaksandr Lukashenka] and the young leader of the Aliyev
clan moved to stand by Putin.

Shoulder-to-shoulder with dictators

How does Ilham Aliyev deal a blow to our national interests?

It is necessary to focus on this point especially because the fact that
Ilham Aliyev, either lacking skills or ability to curb his feelings,
explicitly shows his enmity towards democracy deals a serious blow
to Azerbaijan’s geopolitical standing.

Azerbaijan is now seen beside not the USA or Europe, but Russia. The
USA and Europe defend democracy, while Ilham Aliyev is standing next
to Russia, which supports dictatorship. It means that Azerbaijan sees
itself in the anti-USA-Europe flank. This, in turn, implies that
Azerbaijan does not want democratic processes to develop and those
representing democratic camp to come to power in the neighbouring
countries.

This position was felt during the rose revolution in Georgia. It
is going to be quite a substantial issue if the positions of the
USA, Europe and countries surrounding it towards Azerbaijan assume
a negative nature. And, more deplorable is that Armenia, which is
keeping our lands under occupation, will have an opportunity to make
use of this to strengthen its positions. It means that Azerbaijan’s
state interests will be threatened.

Imagine that the USA and Europe are imposing sanctions on Belarus,
while Aliyev is standing next to Belarus leader Lukashenka in the
Yanukovych support campaign. What will Aliyev do if Yushchenko
wins in Ukraine? Will he pursue chilly relations with that country
abiding by his own principles or will he present himself as a friend
of the Yushchenko administration being insincere, as was the case
with Georgia?

TRIAL OF AZERI SERVICEMAN, WHO KILLED ARMENIAN OFFICER, TO START IN BUDAPEST

08.11.2004 18:13

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ November 23 in Budapest trial of Azeri officer Ramil
Safarov, who has committed a brutal murder of Armenian officer Gurgen
Margarian, will start in Budapest, representative of the interests of
the successor of G. Margarian lawyer Nazeli Vardanian reported. At
the same time N. Vardanian noted that she has not received official
notification about it yet. It should be reminded that February 19
this year R. Safarov hacked sleeping G. Margarian, along with whom
he took English courses organized by the NATO in the Hungarian capital.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Andrew Souvall/Pallone
November 8, 2004

Jennifer Cannata/Pallone (202) 225-4671
Christopher Close/Knollenberg (202) 225-5802

PALLONE, KNOLLENBERG URGE STATE DEPARTMENT TO RENOUNCE CONTROVERSIAL
AZERI U.N. RESOLUTION

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Joe
Knollenberg (R-MI), cochairmen of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues, today called on the United States to renounce and to secure the
retraction of an Azeri United Nations resolution that urges the removal of
Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh.

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, the lawmakers expressed
concern that the resolution would undermine peace talks in the region.

“Azerbaijan’s proposal represents a hostile declaration against the entire
peace process, aimed only at fostering increased divisiveness,” Pallone and
Knollenberg wrote in their letter to Secretary Powell. “Its consideration
can only set back the cause of peace.

“Efforts to reinforce stability and reduce the risk of conflict are in the
best interests of the U.S. and the South Caucasus region,” the lawmakers
continued. “We urge that the United States forcefully renounce this
proposal, secure its retraction, and impress upon the Azerbaijani government
that it should drop such counter-productive tactics in favor of a serious
and lasting commitment to the OSCE Minsk Group process.”

Last month, when the resolution came up for a vote in the U.N.
General Committee, the U.S. abstained, refusing to take a stand against this
harmful resolution. In the letter, Pallone and Knollenberg urged opposition
to the resolution when it comes before the U.N. General Assembly.

“We value the vital role the United States plays as an honest broker in the
Nagorno Karabakh peace process,” Pallone and Knollenberg wrote. “In this
capacity, given our commitment to keep the parties talking and moving
forward, it is necessary for the United States to act forcefully against
destabilizing steps that will unravel the peace process.”

Text of the letter to Secretary Powell follows.

November 7, 2004

The Honorable Colin Powell
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20520-0001

Dear Mr. Secretary:

We are writing to share with you our alarm over the prospect that
Azerbaijan’s continued efforts at the United Nations to manipulate the
Nagorno Karabakh conflict will, if unchecked, undermine our clearly
articulated national interest in the stability of the Caucasus.

We refer, of course, to Azerbaijan’s recent introduction of an ill-advised
resolution on the “situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.”
This intentionally disruptive resolution threatens the principles and
procedures of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
as well as the Minsk group mediation effort, co-chaired by the United
States, France and Russia, to resolve the Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijan’s
proposal represents a hostile declaration against the entire peace process,
aimed only at fostering increased divisiveness. Its consideration can only
set back the cause of peace.

We are deeply concerned that the OSCE Minsk process cannot survive
Azerbaijan’s destabilizing tactics. Continued tampering with this process
will inevitably produce a chain reaction resulting in its demise. We cannot
afford to allow Azerbaijan to continue to disrupt the work of the OSCE,
which, as you know, has been recognized by the UN itself as the lead arbiter
in this conflict.

We value the vital role the United States plays as an honest broker in the
Nagorno Karabakh peace process. In this capacity, given our commitment to
keep the parties talking and moving forward, it is necessary for the United
States to act forcefully against destabilizing steps that will unravel the
peace process. Our interests are best served by the continuation of
dialogue on the outstanding issues related to Nagorno Karabakh within the
OSCE framework, not by the fragmentation of this orderly process.

Efforts to reinforce stability and reduce the risk of conflict are in the
best interests of the U.S. and the South Caucasus region. To this end, we
urge that the United States forcefully renounce this proposal, secure its
retraction, and impress upon the Azerbaijani government that it should drop
such counter-productive tactics in favor of a serious and lasting commitment
to the OSCE Minsk Group process.

Thank you for your consideration of our views. We stand ready, of course,
to assist you in addressing this matter in the interest of the American
people.

Sincerely,
Joe Knollenberg Frank Pallone, Jr.
Member of Congress Member of Congress

-30-

Jennifer Karch Cannata
Press Secretary
Office of U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.
420 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4671 office
(202) 225-9665 fax

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kevorkian Asks for Commutation or Pardon
Monday November 8, 2004 7:16 PM

By AMY F. BAILEY

Associated Press Writer

LANSING, Mich. (AP) – An attorney for Jack Kevorkian asked the state
parole board Monday to recommend that the assisted suicide advocate
be released from prison for health reasons.

Attorney Mayer Morganroth said Kevorkian has health problems including
high blood pressure, a hernia and arthritis, and the board should urge
Gov. Jennifer Granholm to either pardon him or commute his sentence.

Kevorkian’s blood pressure “has been extremely volatile in nature
and has risen to the danger level for a heart attack at times,”
Morganroth wrote in the request.

Kevorkian, 76, has been in prison 5 years and his health has worsened,
Morganroth said.

The request comes a week after U.S. Supreme Court justices decided
against hearing Kevorkian’s appeal of his second-degree murder
conviction for the 1998 poisoning of Thomas Youk.

Youk suffered from Lou Gehrig’s disease and his death, which
Kevorkian called a mercy killing, was videotaped and shown on national
television.

Morganroth said Kevorkian would not assist in any more suicides if
he is released.

Russ Marlan, a spokesman for the state Department of Corrections,
said the department had not yet received Kevorkian’s request. But
he said medical commutations are normally granted only for inmates
expected to live a year or less.

“We have plenty of prisoners that have cataracts and arthritis,
but that doesn’t mean they should be granted a commutation,” Marlan
said. “They’re only granted for offenders that have little chance of
surviving very much longer.”

The request for pardon or commutation is Kevorkian’s second. The
state parole board voted against his first request a year ago.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

California Courier Online, November 11, 2004

1 – Commentary
Enhanced Armenian Activism Will Pay
Good Dividends in Future Elections

By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
**************************************************************************
2 – APN Hosts Tribute
To US-Armenian
Military Veterans
3 – Entries Sought for Sixth Annual
Armenian Film Festival at CSUF
4 – AESA and ARPA Sponsor Lecture
On Armenia’s CRD on Nov. 16
5 – George & Flora Dunaians Host
APS Benefit Tennis Tournament
6 – Turkish Groups Agree Not to Appeal
Armenian Genocide Plaque Decision
7 – Armenian Film Foundation to Host Book
Signing for Genocide Survivor’s Memoirs

1 – Commentary
Enhanced Armenian Activism Will Pay
Good Dividends in Future Elections

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

The re-election of Pres. Bush is not expected to result in any substantial
changes in U.S.- Armenia relations during the next four years. Pres. Bush
will most probably have his hands full for some time to come dealing with
other more pressing issues that would command his full attention.
Nevertheless, should unexpected complications arise with the Bush
Administration regarding Armenian issues, Armenian-Americans can try to
resolve them by: 1) Working with their Democratic and Republican friends in
the House and the Senate; and 2) Using the connections that some
Armenian-Americans have developed with Bush Administration officials as a
result of their support for Pres. Bush in the presidential election.
Since most Turkish-Americans, just like most Armenian-Americans, backed the
candidacy of Sen. Kerry, the Bush Administration is not expected to favor
either one of these communities simply because of their votes on November
2nd.
It is noteworthy, however, that one of the most respectable journalists in
Turkey, Mehmet Ali Birand, wrote an opinion column on Pres. Bush’s
re-election in the Nov. 4, 2004 issue of the Turkish Daily News with the
following headline: “Osama bin Laden is very happy with the results.” He
went on to say, “Ankara is [also] happy with the results.” Birand does not
explain the reasons why both Osama and Ankara are happy with Bush’s
re-election and what the two have in common!
I would also like to mention the following incredible statement made by
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul: “We are Turks. If necessary, we burn
a whole quilt for a flea!” According to the Nov. 4, 2004 issue of the
Turkish newspaper Zaman on-line, Gul made that statement in a letter he
sent to the European Union, complaining about parts of the report issued by
the EU on Turkey’s application for membership. Foreign Minister Gul’s
undiplomatic and threatening statement should be reason enough to
disqualify Turkey from the European Union! It does not look like this
“modern” and “European” Turkish official is much different from his Ottoman
predecessors!
Armenians, on the other hand, were much more gracious and diplomatic. As a
routine protocol as well as a positive gesture, the President of Armenia,
Robert Kocharian, sent a letter to Pres. Bush last week congratulating him
on his re-election. Similar congratulatory letters were sent by various
Armenian-American organizations, including the Armenian Assembly of America
and the Armenian National Committee of America.
One major positive by-product of the presidential campaign was the fact
that, for the first time, the Armenian-American community was very
extensively involved in practically all aspects of the election. In
addition to issuing political endorsements of candidates by
Armenian-American political organizations, Armenian individuals contributed
heavily to the campaigns of both Pres. Bush and Sen. Kerry. In addition,
hundreds of Armenian-Americans were involved in day-to-day campaign
activities, everything from manning phone banks, going door to door in
various states, sending supportive postcards to Armenians in swing states,
organizing campaign events, etc. This is a far cry from previous
presidential elections when most Armenian-Americans would just sit back,
waiting to see if the winning candidate would keep the promises he made to
them during the campaign.
Armenian-Americans were not just voters in the 2004 elections. More than a
dozen Armenian-Americans were candidates for various political offices. I
am happy to report that most of them were successful in getting elected or
re-elected:
Congressional races: The two Armenian-American members of the House of
Representative, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY), were
re-elected;
State Senate races: State Assemblyman Joe Simitian (D-CA) won, joining
Chuck Poochigian and Jackie Speier in the California State Senate; while
candidates Harry Haytayan (R-NH) and Danny Tarkanian (R-NV) lost;
State Assembly races: Greg Aghazarian (R-CA), Brad Avakian (D-OR), John
Garfield (R-MI), John Fresolo (D-MA), John Geragosian (D-CT), Rachel
Kaprielian (D-MA), Peter Koutoujian (D-MA), and Jim Miceli (D-MA) were
elected or re-elected; while Rita Topalian (R-CA), Aida Aloian (R-PA), and
Jasper Bedrosian (R-RI) lost their bids;
Mayoral races: Scott Avedisian (Warwick, RI) and Kirk Cartozian (Downey,
CA) were successfully re-elected.
In order to accomplish the political objectives of the Armenian-American
community, Armenians must be actively involved in political campaigns and
help elect Armenians as well as supportive non-Armenians. Even though for
many Armenian-Americans their preferred presidential candidate did not win,
they nevertheless made good progress and gained significant capital in
terms of heightened political participation and experience, which they
would hopefully be able to convert to future victories.
**************************************************************************
2 – APN Hosts Tribute
To US-Armenian
Military Veterans
BURBANK, Calif. – The Armenian Professionals Network of the Western Diocese
of the Armenian Church of North America (APN-WD), under the auspices of
Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, will host a reception, paying
tribute to the dedication of Armenian American men and women who have
served in the Armed Forces of the United States.
The event will take place on Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m., in the Hampar Primate’s
Reception Room, Arshag and Eleanor Dickranian Diocesan Headquarters, 3325
North Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank.
Participating in the program will be; Lieutenant Colonel George
Ampagoomian, master of ceremonies; and special guests, Major General (Ret.)
Ron Markarian, Nishan Derderian, Mike Hartunian, Darwin Avedisian. Richard
N. Demirjian, author of “The Faces of Courage: Armenian World War II,
Korea, and Vietnam Heroes,” will sign copies of his book.
For reservations, contributions, or further information, contact Arthur
Zabounian at (818) 974-9454.
3 – Entries Sought for Sixth Annual
Armenian Film Festival at CSUF
FRESNO – The organizers of the 6th Annual Armenian Film Festival be held
April 1, 2005 in Fresno are calling for entries of films made by Armenian
directors/writers, or films with an Armenian theme.
The festival is being sponsored by the Armenian Students Organization
Armenian Studies Program California State University, Fresno. The festival
is being partially funded by the Diversity Awareness Program of the
University Student Union, CSU Fresno
Requirements are: Films up to 1 hour in length; films may be in any
language, English preferred; films may be on any topic, Armenian theme
preferred; Film must be in video/DVD format- if in video it should be in
NTSC format.
Entries should be accompanied by a CV of the director/writer and a synopsis
of the film. The Festival Committee will meet to view and judge which
entries will be accepted for the Film Festival. Entrants will be contacted
by email with the decisions.
Deadline for entries to be received is February 1.
The video/DVD should be sent to:Armenian Film Festival, c/o Armenian
Studies Program, 5245 N Backer Ave. PB4 Fresno, CA 93740-8001; Telephone
559-278-2669, or Email: [email protected]
**************************************************************************
4 – AESA and ARPA Sponsor Lecture
On Armenia’s CRD on Nov. 16
SHERMAN OAKS, CA – The Armenian Engineers & Scientists of America (AESA)
and the ARPA Institute will present a Lecture/Seminar on “The Cosmic Ray
Division (CRD) of Armenia” on November 16, at 7:30 p.m., at the Merdinian
Auditorium, 13330 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks.
Admission is free
The Cosmic Ray Division (CRD) of the Alikhanian Physics Institute in
Armenia is one of the world’s premier centers, conducting research in high
energy astrophysics and space weather forecasting. At research stations
high on Mt. Aragats and offices in Yerevan, a staff of 100 scientists,
technicians, support personnel and students conduct leading research on
forecasting energetic events on the sun which can damage manmade satellites
in space, disrupt communications and power stations on earth, and endanger
space and air craft personnel. The CRD and its scientists have earned
enormous respect among their colleagues in the international scientific
community, putting Armenia among the top five countries of the world in
cosmic ray research. Recent additions to the list of their scientific
collaborators include the U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Agency, the European Space Agency, and the international Committee on Space
Research. CRD has a longstanding partnership with Stanford University of
California and with Nagoya University in Japan. Recently the Space Weather
division of UCLA has also shown interest in collaborating with the CRD. A
year ago CRD won the prestigious UN World Summit Award in the e-science
category. The CRD has been featured in the international magazine Science,
because of its excellence. An illustrated presentation, with pictures on
the space weather effects, will be made and research at CRD will be
explained in simple terms. Pictures of the stations, the scientists, and
the World Summit Award ceremony in Geneva are part of this presentation.
The presenter is Ms. Anahid Yeremian. She has a B.S. degree in Physics from
Drexel University. She is a particle Accelerator Physicist at the Stanford
Linear Accelerator Center since 1990. She designs the injector section of
very large particle accelerators (the one at Stanford is 2 miles long) in
the U.S., Japan and Europe. She leads a group of scientists, engineers,
and technicians to construct and assemble the accelerators she designs and
finally to commission them to perform to her specifications. Prior to
coming to Stanford, she designed the electron accelerator at the Boeing
Aerospace Company for the Free Electron Laser project as part of a star
wars program.
Yerimian’s hobbies include mountain climbing. She became acquainted with
the Cosmic Ray stations and the physicists on Mt. Aragats when she climbed
to the mountain peak in 1999. Since then, she actively pursues
opportunities for improvement of science in Armenia by working with the
scientists and governments of Armenia and the United States. This summer,
she spent seven days backpacking in the Geghama mountains and staying with
the Nomads in the mountains of Armenia. Her presentation will include some
spectacular pictures of the peaks in the Geghama mountain range and its
people.
For information, call Dr. Hagop Panossian at (818)586-9660 or e-mail at
[email protected]
**************************************************************************
5 – George & Flora Dunaians Host
APS Benefit Tennis Tournament
PASADENA – The Armenian Professional Society held its annual Tennis and
Backgammon tournaments on Oct. 24, at the spacious home of Flora and
George Dunaians. This year marked the 25th anniversary of this event, with
plenty of sunshine, friendly competition and good food.
The winners were awarded with trophies. First place winners in the
Advanced Division were Manvel Tabakian and Harout Ajdaharian. In second
place were Varuzhan Tombakian and Ruben Zakarian. In the Intermediate
Group, first place winners were Misak Oktanian and Harout Ishkhanian and
second place winners were Raffi Ishkhanian and Varouj Azizian.
The competition in the backgammon tournament was challenging. After hours
of elimination play, and a very close match, the finalists were announced.
Trophies went to John Sahakian for first place and to George Dunaians for
second place.
The festivities were planned by Ronnie Nazeley, APS 2nd Vice President, the
chair of this year’s event. Throughout the entire day, a continental
breakfast and refreshments were provided and a lunch buffet was served.
The Dunaians not only were gracious in providing their home for this
tournament but also donated $3,000 toward the scholarship fund. APS
President, Betty Jamgotchian thanked the Dunaians for their generous and
continuous support of the APS for the past 25 years. The funds are used
to award scholarships to graduate students of Armenian descent and to award
grants to various colleges and universities in Armenia. The annual
scholarship awards will be presented the APS banquet on November 14, at the
Ritz Carlton Huntington Hotel in Pasadena.
For further information, contact [email protected] or visit
**************************************************************************
6 – Turkish Groups Agree Not to Appeal
Armenian Genocide Plaque Decision
SAN FRANCISCO – Two Turkish-American organizations, and the Turkish Consul
General, have withdrawn their lawsuit against the Council of Armenian
American Organizations of Northern California rather than face the claim of
the Council’s attorneys for fees.
The lawsuit attacked the plaque commemorating the Armenian Genocide which
the Council had placed near the 103-foot cross on San Francisco’s Mt.
Davidson. The Council purchased the Cross and adjacent land in 1997 from
the City of San Francisco, which sold it to settle a challenge to its
ownership on church-state grounds.
In their lawsuit, the Turks claimed that the plaque violates the terms of
the deed under which the Council acquired the Cross and land from the City.
The Council’s attorneys denied any violation and also urged that the Turks
lacked legal standing to challenge the plaque. The lawsuit, they said, was
an impermissible attempt to suppress the Council’s free speech rights.
The court agreed and dismissed the case. This entitled the lawyers, who
were representing the Council without charge, to recover their attorneys’
fees from the Turks. Faced with a claim for $100,000 in fees, the Turks
agreed to abandon their appeal of the court’s ruling, and submitted to an
injunction against any repetition of it. They also agreed to indemnify the
Council if any such lawsuit is brought by any of their members. In return,
the Council’s lawyers, at its request, dropped their claim for fees.
Speaking for the Council, a coalition of 35 Armenian American organizations
in Northern California, its Chairman, Dr. Krikor Soghikian, stated that the
Turkish challenge to the memorial plaque is part of a broad campaign to
oppose any public acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide, which is
officially denied by the Turkish government. The 1915 event is considered
by historians as the first genocide of the 20th century, and the most
significant human rights crisis of World War I. The leaders of the Ottoman
empire systematically carried out the extermination of 1.5 million
Armenians, more than half of the Armenian population living in its historic
homeland. The overwhelming majority of Armenians living in San Francisco
and the United States are descendants of Armenian Genocide survivors.
Armenian Americans wished to purchase the Mt. Davidson Cross to avoid the
destruction of a San Francisco landmark. As the first nation to have
accepted Christianity in 301 AD, they believed that the Cross site would be
an ideal gathering place to remember their forefathers. Turkish groups
actively opposed the purchase, conducting a protest campaign urging city
officials, neighborhood and political groups, to vote against the enabling
proposition, but 68% of San Francisco voters cast their ballots in favor of
the proposition.
The plaque was unveiled in 1988 by Mayor Willie Brown, in the presence of
several Genocide survivors.
The Council was represented in the lawsuit by David Balabanian, Geoffrey
Holtz, and Matthew Gray of Bingham McCutchen, an 850-lawyer firm with
offices in 12 cities.
**************************************************************************
7 – Armenian Film Foundation to Host Book
Signing for Genocide Survivor’s Memoirs
LOS ANGELES – The Armenian Film Foundation will host a reception and book
signing on Nov. 15 for A Hair’s Breadth from Death, the memoirs of
Hampartzoum Chitjian, which has been published in English and in Armenian.
Scholar Hilmar Kaiser, a German historian who has authored two publications
on the Armenian Genocide, will travel to Los Angeles to give his remarks on
the book. “Chitjian’s memoirs are a unique contribution to the field of
genocide studies, immigration studies, and the social-economic history of
the Ottoman Empire and Armenia,” says Kaiser. “His encounters with other
shattered Armenian survivors offer a panorama of Armenian survival
strategies and the appalling conditions and choices these few had to make.
Students of immigration to the United States will find the account of the
author’s journey to the U.S. most interesting.”
Publisher Ara Sarafian of Taderon Press in London, who will travel to Los
Angeles to speak at the book signing, notes, “Chitjian’s life story is
remarkable for the amount of detail that is included, and that is why these
memoirs are one of the most important first-person accounts of the Genocide
and survival.”
J. Michael Hagopian, founder and chairman of the Armenian Film Foundation
will present a short film on Chitjian, who appears in the AFF’s “Witnesses”
trilogy of documentary films, and will offer some personal reflections.
Chitjian was J. Michael Hagopian’s caretaker after the Genocide when some
Armenians were allowed to stay in Kharpert.
Chitjian’s daughter, Sara, will speak about helping her father with his
memoirs, which Seda Maronyan transcribed in Armenian over the course of
several years. Sara translated the memoirs to English, finishing the work
after her father passed away last year at the age of 102.
The book signing is at 7 p.m. at the United Armenian Congregational Church
hall, 3480 Cahuenga Boulevard West. Copies of the book will be available in
English and in Armenian at a cost of $35 each.
Admission is free and light refreshments will be served. For further
information, contact 805-495-0717.
**************************************************************************
The California Courier On-Line is a service provided by the California
Courier. Subscriptions or changes of address should not be transmitted
through this service. Information in that regard should be telephoned
to (818) 409-0949; faxed to: (818) 409-9207, or e-mailed to:
[email protected]. Letters to the editor concerning issues
addressed in the Courier may be e-mailed, provided it is signed by
the author. Phone and/or E-mail address is also required to verify
authorship.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NKR Foreign Minister’s Visit To USA

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
08 Nov 04

On October 18-28 NKR foreign minister Ashot Ghulian visited the
USA. During the press conference at the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs
on November 2 he gave a detailed account of his visit. MEETINGS
IN THE US The minister left for the USA at the invitation of the
University of Michigan to take part in the conference on the topic
“Armenia/the South Caucasus: Foreign Policy Challenges”. Ashot Ghulian
presented a report on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict and
state building in NKR. The foreign minister said the Azerbaijani
side tried to obstruct the visit of the representatives of Armenia
and Karabakh to the USA, however, the representatives for organizing
the conference disapproved of these attempts. Touching upon political
conferences, Ashot Ghulian pointed out his meetings with Stephen Mann
and the director of Catering International Foundation who organize
political seminars together with the RF Center for Strategic and
International Studies at the Russian town Snegiri in which the
Armenian, Azerbaijani and Karabakh parties take part. The foreign
minister mentioned that although the seminars aim to establish direct
cooperation, it is especially difficult for the Azerbaijani party
to depart from the official position of their governments. Pursuing
with the political topic, the foreign minister emphasized that
that certain circles in the USA have paid special attention to the
building of state in NKR. It was particularly mentioned that the
experience of state building in an extraordinary situation. According
to the minister, a number of experts pointed out the high level
of development of democracy and society in NKR which proves loyal
to the European values and pursues the way of democratic reforms
without any pressure. NEW BAKU AUTHORITIES PREVENT ANY RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE SOCIETIES OF AZERBAIJAN AND KARABAKH. Commenting on the
statements of the Azerbaijani foreign minister saying that it is
Armenia’s turn to make efforts in the negotiation process, Ashot
Ghulian said, Baku keeps to its strategy and presents everything
in the light of its interests. The minister mentioned that during
the political consultation he felt that compromises are expected
not only from Armenia. In this reference the minister emphasized
that in the last two years the new Azerbaijani government encouraged
the propagandist war and did their best to prevent any relationships
between the societies of the conflict parties. The minister explained
the undertaking of the Azerbaijani government to include the question
of the situation in the territories occupied by Nagorni Karabakh
in the agenda of the UN General Assembly in the context of Baku’s
policy. Ashot Ghulian did not say anything about the results of
the discussion. However, he mentioned that owing to the permanent
representation of Armenia in the UN many countries abstained from
voting. “We are willing to discuss all the complicated issues,
including the problem of territories, but the policy of Azerbaijan
proves that it is not interested in the settlement of the conflict,”
said Ashot Ghulian. As to the liberated territories, according to
the minister, Azerbaijan knows very well that Armenia has nothing to
do with them. Commenting on the statements of the Azerbaijani side
that Baku will negotiate with Stepanakert if Armenia withdraws its
troops from Karabakh and renounce the 1989 decision on unification,
Ashot Ghulian said when this or that decision is concerned, Azerbaijan
issues ultimatums which are absolutely unacceptable for the parties
of the talks. THE IDEA OF REFERENDUM AND INDEPENDENCE IS MORE AND
MORE ACCEPTABLE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. In reference to the
ideas underlying his reports in international seminars Ashot Ghulian
stated – independence. “Armenian diplomacy relies upon the results
of the 1991 referendum,” said the foreign minister of NKR. The idea
of referendum and independence is becoming more and more acceptable
and real for the international community, especially after the
experience of East Timor and Eritrea. THERE IS NO ARRANGEMENT ON
MILITARY EXERCISES FOR THE ARMIES OF UNRECOGNIZED COUNTRIES. The
foreign minister of NKR stated that the information that at the
end of the current year joint military exercises of the armies of
unrecognized countries will be held is not true. “The Karabakh Army
has no other function but the defence of borders and security of the
population of Nagorni Karabakh, especially outside the border of the
republic.” THE TELETHON IS ORGANIZED BETTER. During his visit to the
United States the NKR foreign minister met with the representatives if
Armenian organizations which are going to take part in the telethon
on November 25. The minister mentioned that this year the telethon
is better organized. He informed that NKR prime minister Anoushavan
Danielian had a considerable contribution to the work of organizing
the telethon during his visit to the United States. NKR president
Arkady Ghukassian will leave for the USA to take part in the telethon.

NAIRA HAYRUMIAN.

08-11-2004

THE SUFFERED MAN DEMANDING FOR COMPENSATION

A1+
08-11-2004

The criminal case instituted over the explosion in office block of
Samtckhe-Javakhq District a year ago is still under examination. The
guard of the block who became invalid because of the explosion demands
for compensation.

According to A-INFO Agency, Department of Inner Affairs continues
examining the case over the explosion in the representative office
of Georgian President in Samtckhe-Javakhq on September 5, 2003.

Kakha Kvartckhelia was President Representative in the District during
those days. Media labeled the explosion as a pre-election notice to
the supporters of Shevardnadze.

It is not known how long the case examination will continue but Temur
Ivanidze who suffered of explosion demands for compensation provided
by law.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Nov 8 2004

AMBASSADOR OF AZERBAIJAN PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO PRESIDENT OF FRANCE
[November 08, 2004, 21:22:17]

On November 3, Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of
Azerbaijan to France Tarik Aliyev presented credentials to President
of the French Republic Jacques Chirac, press-center of the Azerbaijan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

After the ceremony, President Jacques Chirac received Ambassador
Aliyev. Reportedly, the meeting was focused on development of
France-Azerbaijan relationship and Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over
Nagorno-Karabakh. Both President and Ambassador expressed desire to
expand cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

French President Jacques Chirac asked the Ambassador to pass on his
greetings to President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev.