ALBERT BAZEYAN “OPPOSITION WILL BECOME MORE ACTIVE SOONER OR LATER”

Azg
2 Nov 04

The opposition needs time and money for arranging its activities. Time
is needed for the people to rebel, while money is required to cover
everyday needs of the people. Albert Bazeyan, chairman of
Hanrapetutiun (Republic) party’s political board, expressed this
opinion during the press conference held at National Press Club.

They aren’t concerned about the time, but they have difficulties
ingetting financial sources, as, according to Bazeyan, all the
administrative, financial, propaganda and power means are grasped by
the current authorities. The same situation was in April, but the
opposition made an attempt of a power shift, taking into account the
demands of the society. According to Bazeyan, even if no power shift
is possible in the Republic of Armenia through the constitution, it
doesn’t mean that it is impossible at all.

The opposition accepts only that way and it will never yield the
provocations of armed struggle. As for the pre-election and
parliamentary Justice union, it will function till the end of this
parliament’s term. Besides, Justice union has promises to fulfill,
Albert Bazeyan says.

Bazeyan informed that Hanrapetutiun party is ready to join any logical
initiative taken by National Unity or Justice union. Sooner or later
the opposition will awake the people and make a power shift though
constitutional means, to secure legitimate power, Bazeyan says. He
sees no danger in the existence of artificially created opposition.

As for the announcement made by Armen Sargsian, saying that Robert
Kocharian and Vazgen Sargsian were friends, Albert Bazeyan said that
the latter has subjective views. And if there is a possibility to be
released that is the choice and right of Armen Sargsian.

By Nana Petrosian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

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11/01/2004
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1) French Armenians Challenge Turkey’s EU Bid
2) ARF Armenia Convention Elects Body
3) Vatican Hesitant on Turkey’s EU Bid
4) Puzant Granian Passes Away
5) TV Blacked Out in Abkhaz Crisis
6) Abkhazia Says Georgia Poised for Armed Invasion

1) French Armenians Challenge Turkey’s EU Bid

MARSEILLE (AFP)–France’s Armenian community said on Friday it would appeal to
President Jacques Chirac to prevent negotiations on Turkish membership to the
European Union until Turkey acknowledged responsibility for the genocide of
Armenians.
The group’s attorney Philippe Krikorian said it would lodge an appeal before
the nation’s highest administrative tribunal, the Council of State, requesting
that Chirac oppose the start of such talks.
The subject of the Armenian genocide has sparked Turkish and Armenian
sensitivities for nine decades, with Turkey consistently refusing to
acknowledge that genocide had occurred in 1915-1917 when up to 1.5 million
Armenians died.
Turkey says that between 250,000 and 500,000 Armenians and thousands of Turks
were killed in civil strife during World War One, when the Armenians rose up
against their Ottoman rulers.
The French parliament passed legislation in 2001 stating that genocide had
occurred, thereby causing hard feelings in relations with Turkey.
Organizations, which represent some 450,000 French citizens of Armenian
origin, wished to protest against Chirac’s “willingness not to subordinate the
opening of negotiations to the prior admission of the Armenian genocide,” said
Krikorian.
Last month the European Commission recommended a start to membership
negotiations with Turkey, which has been lobbying for many years to join the
European Union.
Jean-Pierre Berberian, spokesman of a Marseille-based Armenian group, noted
that an EU summit would make the final decision in December on whether to
start
negotiations.
Fifty days ahead of that date, it was time to “denounce the violation by the
French government of the terms of the resolution passed on June 18, 1987 by
the
European Parliament and of French legislation of January 2001 recognizing the
genocide of 1915,” said Berberian, spokesman of the Euro-Armenia group, and a
Marseille city councilor.
Chirac has indicated his support for a start to talks, but many in his ruling
party, in the opposition, and among the French public are against Turkey’s EU
membership.
“Not only is Jacques Chirac acting in violation of the law, he is doing so
against the will of a majority of French who are opposed to Turkey’s
membership,” said Berberian.
The text of the 2001 legislation passed by parliament here said France
“publicly recognizes the Armenian genocide of 1915,” but did not explicitly
identify Turkey as responsible for the deed.

2) ARF Armenia Convention Elects Body

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) of Armenia
elected its Supreme Body (SB) at its 8th Convention held October 29-31 in
Jermuk, Armenia.
The new body includes Armen Rustamian, Mikael Manukian, Levon Mkrtchian,
Hrach
Tedevosian, Spartak Seyranian, Hamlet Abrahamian, Bagrat Sargsian, Ashot
Papazian, and Vlad Kochunts. Rustamian will serve as SB representative.

3) Vatican Hesitant on Turkey’s EU Bid

VATICAN (CWNews.com)–The Vatican has not yet offered any official
statement on
the prospect of Turkey’s entry into the European Union, but believes that the
union should cover Europe “from the Atlantic to the Urals,” according to
Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo.
In a lengthy interview with the Italian daily La Stampa, the Vatican’s
Secretary for Relations with States did observe that if Turkey enters the
European Union, the government of that predominantly Muslim country will be
obliged to fulfill the same political criteria as all other member-states,
including the guarantee of religious freedom. And that guarantee, the
archbishop added, should be “not only ensured in the constitution,
legislation,
and administration, but also protected concretely and effectively in the
social
realm.”
Archbishop Lajolo stressed that “the Holy See is not afraid of enlarging
Europe.” He pointed out that in the past the Vatican has supported the
application of Eastern European countries for EU membership. In determining
which states should enter the Union, he said, “The decisive point is that the
new Europe should have a deep internal cohesion.”
The archbishop said that European leaders should “pay more attention” to
other
countries that have already indicated a desire to join the Union, such as
Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia. These countries, he
observed, are clearly aligned with Europe’s cultural tradition.

4) Puzant Granian Passes Away

Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, along with the Western Prelacy
Religious and Executive Councils extended their sorrow at the loss of the
intellectual, writer, literary critic, and national servant Puzant Granian who
passed away on the morning of Saturday, October 30.
Granian, who was born in Cilicia in 1912, lived in Alexandria, Egypt before
moving to Los Angeles. His dedication to his nation and people spans his
service to the Armenian community of Egypt to his commitment to the Western
Prelacy.
Puzant Granian, who assumed the chairmanship of the first Western Prelacy
Executive Council, continued his selfless service for decades, not only to the
Western Prelacy, but also affiliate groups, and partook in many General
Assemblies of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. He leaves behind a rich
literary legacy.
A national funeral will take place on Tuesday, November 9, 11AM, at the Rose
Hills Cemetery’s Memorial Chapel in Whittier.

5) TV Blacked Out in Abkhaz Crisis

(BBC)–The government in Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia has taken the
sole television station off the air amid a mounting political crisis.
Its prime minister said he was blacking out broadcasts while the authorities
restored order at the station, where the opposition has mounted pickets.
The opposition is outraged by Abkhaz President Vladislav Ardzinba’s decision
to call a repeat election.
It insists that its candidate, Sergei Bagapsh, won the poll on October 2.
But his main rival, Raul Khajimba, disputed the ruling, and the election was
later declared invalid by the supreme court and a new vote ordered.
Bagapsh’s election team has refused to accept that decision, and he has been
preparing for his inauguration.
For months, Khajimba, a former prime minister, was groomed by Moscow to
become
the future president of Abkhazia.
Electoral officials alleged pressure from Bagapsh supporters.
But official results showed he had lost.
He asked for the recount but the result was still the same and Bagapsh
remained the winner.
The army has been put on high alert as officials in Abkhazia allege
Georgia is
massing troops at the border and is preparing to invade.
But locals say there are no troops there.
In the beginning of the 1990s, Abkhazia fought a vicious war with Georgia and
has since struggled to recover.
It was once Georgia’s most prosperous Black Sea province, a place known as
the
Riviera of the Soviet Union.
The international community does not recognize its independence.
For years, Russia has been Abkhazia’s only lifeline and a major influence on
local life and politics.
Analysts say that electing a man Moscow did not support could result in
serious civil unrest for the troubled province.

6) Abkhazia Says Georgia Poised for Armed Invasion

SUKHUMI (Interfax)–The defense minister of the Georgian breakaway region of
Abkhazia, Vyacheslav Eshba, on Saturday cited “accurate information” that
“Georgian armed forces are being concentrated” near the Abkhaz border and said
they were getting ready to invade Abkhazia.
Eshba told Interfax he had alerted the Abkhaz armed forces.
“The Abkhaz Defense Ministry is seriously concerned about the military and
political situation that has been taking shape around Abkhazia over the past
few days,” he said.
“The Georgian leadership is not abandoning its plans for revenge and is
trying
to take advantage of the internal disunity in Abkhazia, entertaining a plan
for
the solution of the so-called ‘Abkhaz question,'” Eshba said.
“We possess accurate information that Georgian armed forces are being
concentrated in western regions of Georgia that border Abkhazia. Their purpose
is to invade our republic and destroy Abkhaz statehood,” he said.
“The Abkhaz Defense Ministry asserts that all attempts to use the complicated
political situation in Abkhazia in Georgia’s interests will be cut short. The
Abkhaz forces have been alerted on my orders,” the minister said.
“I am sure that the Abkhaz people will be united in this situation. The armed
forces of the republic, together with the people, will give an appropriate
rebuff to the aggressor,” he said.
“I am sure that, at this moment of a real threat, all disputes will be pushed
far into the background, as has always been the case in our history,” Eshba
said.
“This statement and the measures that are being taken by the Abkhaz Defense
Ministry have nothing to do with the internal political situation in
Abkhazia,”
the minister said. “The Abkhaz armed forces have never interfered in any
internal political processes in Abkhazia nor will they do so,” he said.
Meanwhile, Georgian Minister for Separatist Conflicts Giorgi Khaindrava
denied
any plans for a military invasion of Abkhazia.
He dismissed Eshba’s words as “completely absurd.”
“We have not recognized, nor will we recognize, as legitimate any
elections in
Abkhazia that are carried through by the separatist authorities, but it has
been important for us to find out the opinion of the Abkhaz people on their
current leaders, and so the Georgian leadership has not been interfering in
current events in Abkhazia,” Khaindrava told reporters.
He reiterated that Georgia was determined to seek negotiated settlements to
its conflicts with Abkhazia and another breakaway province, South Ossetia.

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California Courier Online, November 4, 2004

1 – Commentary
Heinz Family’s Incredible Link
To the Armenian Genocide

By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
**************************************************************************
2 – Kuredjian Scholarships Are Inspiration
For Armenian Students in Law Enforcement
3 – Numismatic Journal
To be Converted into
Series II in 2005
4 – GUSD Starts
Armenian Language
Show on Channel 15
5 – Armenian Cooking Celebrated at
Two Farmers’ Market, Nov. 13-14
6 – Glendale Seminar Will Discuss Armenian
Demographics and Impact on Business
7 – Unique Presentation
Of Armenian Poetry
In L.A. in November
************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
Heinz Family’s Incredible Link
To the Armenian Genocide

At the time of writing this column, it was not known whether Teresa Heinz
Kerry would be the next First Lady or not. Nevertheless, the Los Angeles
Times revealed last week an incredible connection between the Heinz family
and the Armenian Genocide.

In a lengthy front-page article on October 27, the Los Angeles Times
disclosed that Howard Heinz, the grandfather of Sen. John Heinz (the former
husband of Teresa Heinz Kerry), went to Armenia in 1919 to deliver
desperately needed humanitarian supplies to the thousands of survivors of
the Armenian Genocide. Howard was one of the four children of Henry John
Heinz, the founder of the famous ketchup and pickle empire.

Times’ staff writer Ralph Vartabedian, through painstaking archival
research, traced for the first time the Heinz’ family tree, spanning over
four generations. Here is the reference in his article to the amazing link
between the Heinz family and the Armenian Genocide:

“Heinzes pioneered the industrialization of the U.S. food supply, pushed
government reforms to improve food safety and advocated for military
intervention to stop the Armenian genocide.” Howard Heinz, who was deeply
involved in public service, “was sent to the Middle East by the Wilson
administration after World War I to head famine-relief efforts. On the day
[his father] H. J. Heinz died [in 1919], Howard was delivering 30,000 tons
of food to the region, where he witnessed the unfolding genocide that took
the lives of 1.5 million Armenians. Howard tried to get [Pres. Woodrow]
Wilson to send troops to halt the slaughter in harsh, remote areas of
eastern Turkey and Armenia. In a dispatch to the president, he wrote, ‘I do
not believe America, when she knows the truth, will be satisfied to have
all our ideals of humanity thrown to one side while these people are
murdered.’ His pleas were ignored,” Vartabedian wrote.

This is a very significant revelation that was not known to most Armenians,
and possibly even to the descendants of the Heinz family. It would be
important to obtain copies of the first-hand reports Howard Heinz
dispatched from Armenia and Turkey, as the genocide was still unfolding.

Interestingly, should Sen. Kerry become president, an incredible family
connection would be established for the first time between the White House
and the Armenian Genocide. Kerry’s three stepsons — Teresa’s sons from her
former husband – H.J. Heinz IV born in 1966, Andre born in 1969, and
Christopher born in 1973 — are the great-grandsons of an eyewitness to the
Armenian Genocide!

Livingston: Another Lobbyist Milking Turkey

Robert Livingston, the former Republican chairman of the powerful House
Appropriations Committee and a paid lobbyist for Turkey since 2000, made
some interesting statements last week. He told the Turkish media that Sen.
Kerry, if elected president, would probably keep his promises on
recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Livingston was in effect telling the
Turks that he would have to charge them much more for his lobbying efforts,
as it would be more difficult under the Kerry administration to block the
Genocide resolution.

In a lengthy article published on Sept. 29, 2004, reporter Kate Ackley
disclosed in “Influnce.biz” that The Livingston Group’s lucrative client,
Turkey, paid the firm $1.4 million just for the first half of this year.
The Turkish fees constituted 25% of the firm’s annual revenues.

The report revealed some of The Livingston Group’s far-reaching and
influential network of contacts in the White House (Karl Rove, Senior
Advisor to Pres. Bush; James Marrs, an aide to Vice President Dick Cheney;
Matt Bryza, the National Security Council’s director of European and
Eurasian affairs; and Daniel Keniry, a member of Pres. Bush’s legislative
affairs team); in the Congress (House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill, and
his aide Christopher Walker; House Majority Leader Tom Delay, R-Texas, and
his senior national security policy advisor Brett Shogren; Cong. Robert
Wexler, D-Fla; Cong. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky, and his aide Jeff Miles; Cong.
Richard Baker, R-La; Mark Murray, minority staff assistant for the House
Appropriations Committee; Vincent Morelli, majority staff director for the
House International Relations
Subcommittee on Europe; Johnnie Kaberlie and Ali Amirhooshmand, policy
aides to House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; and Rachael Leman, deputy
policy director on the House Rules Committee); in the Defense Dept. (Deputy
Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz; and Lisa Heald, the country director
for Turkey in the office of the Secretary of Defense); and in the State
Dept. (Douglas Hengel, an aide in the office of Southeastern European
Affairs).

The article disclosed that Livingston and his group spent a lot of time and
effort to counter Cong. Schiff’s amendment on forbidding Turkey to use U.S.
foreign aid money to lobby the Congress against the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. According to the article, on March 18, Livingston,
“exchanged e-mails on Turkish-Armenian issues with James Marrs of Vice
President Dick Cheney’s office.” In July, Livingston and his team of
lobbyists held a series of meetings with White House officials and House
leaders to counter the Schiff amendment.

If Kerry were to be elected president, The Livingston Group would need to
work much harder and charge the Turks millions of more dollars for their
lobbying efforts.
**************************************************************************
2 – Kuredjian Scholarships Are Inspiration
For Armenian Students in Law Enforcement
By Susan Abram
Los Angeles Daily News
GLENDALE — Five students received scholarships last week in memory of
slain sheriff’s Deputy Hagop “Jake” Kuredjian, whose name will live on as
more Armenian youth pursue careers in law enforcement.
Sheriff Lee Baca, Glendale Police Chief Randy Adams and several others also
were honored by the Armenian National Peace Officers Association during the
group’s first-ever scholarship ceremony.
The association formed last year with the intention of encouraging more
Armenian youths to consider careers in law enforcement.
Kuredjian “lived a life of pride, a life of wisdom,” Baca said. “His name
will always be at the forefront of what it is to be Armenian-American.”
Some of the money used for the scholarships was raised by 14-year-old
Austin Losorelli, a Stevenson Ranch resident who collected donations in
memory of Kuredjian. Losorelli set up a table and a sign at the corner of
Stevenson Ranch Parkway a day after Kuredjian was killed in 2001.
“My dad is an LAPD officer. I just felt bad for (Kuredjian’s) family,”
Losorelli said.
With help from his brother Ian, he raised $8,000, and the association also
honored him on Sunday with a plaque presented by Kuredjian’s brother, Garo,
who told the boy, “This is long overdue.”
The slain deputy, a 17-year veteran of the Los Angeles Country Sheriff’s
Department, was helping serve a search warrant Aug. 31, 2001, in Stevenson
Ranch when a man opened fire from an upstairs window, hitting the deputy
once in the head.
Last month, the deputy’s memory was honored with a dedication ceremony at a
new park, named Jake Kuredjian Park, next to Pico Canyon Elementary School
in Santa Clarita.
Steve Shenian, a California Highway Patrol officer and the co-founder of
the Armenian National Peace Officers Association, said the group has about
90 members in seven states.
The association’s goal is to encourage young Armenian-Americans to consider
law enforcement as a professional career. Glendale’s Armenian community,
the largest outside of Armenia, has been slowly embracing the profession,
officials said, but more work needs to be done.
“We need to get in and break barriers,” Shenian said. “We need to go into
local schools and visit groups. When the children see an Armenian officer
in uniform, it’s powerful.”
The Glendale Police Department has tried with limited success to attract
more Armenian youths to its ranks.
“Law enforcement is extremely important to the Armenian community,” said
Glendale Mayor Bob Yousefian. “I’m not one to say our community doesn’t
have issues. We need help to deal with these issues.”
Seventeen Glendale Police Department officers are Armenian-American — only
two more than there were in 1995.
“A lot of Armenians think law enforcement is not an honorable career,
because from where they came from, law enforcement had a bad image, and
they are afraid,” said 20-year-old Diana Arzrounian, a California State
University, Northridge, student and winner of one of the Kuredjian
scholarships. “We need more programs, such as this one, to talk about …
what law enforcement really is. It’s not just about arresting people.”
Ross Simonian, Sabina Simonian, Sara Vardapetyan, and Mourad Kabanjian also
received $500 each in memorial scholarships.
**************************************************************************
3 – Numismatic Journal
To be Converted into
Series II in 2005
PICO RIVERA, Calif. – Founded in 1971, the Armenian Numismatic Society
inaugurated a forum dedicated strictly to publishing Armenian numismatics
in 1975, with the first issue of “Armenian Numismatic Journal.” Thirty
volumes of the “Journal” have now been printed, a volume a year, and mailed
to Society members in the United States and many foreign countries.
Cumulatively, the 30 volumes includes about 300 essays, in some 2200 pages
and 110 plates. The scholarly articles cover a multitude of subjects on
newly discovered Armenian coins and hoards, medals, bank notes, book and
auction reviews, plus bibliography and abstracts on Armenian numismatic
literature.
“The Armenian Numismatic Journal” will start its Series II, Vol. 1 (31) in
2005, in the same format, 81/2×11 inch and four issues per volume.
A limited supply of back issues and a few complete sets of the “Journal”
are available for those who would like to purchase them for their
libraries.
Collectors who are interested in joining the Society, or purchasing its
publications, may request a list, from the secretary at the Armenian
Numismatic Society, 8511 Beverly Park Place, Pico Rivera, CA 90660, or
e-mail at [email protected].
**************************************************************************
4 – GUSD Starts
Armenian Language
Show on Channel 15
GLENDALE – In an effort to reach families of students whose primary
language is Armenian, the Glendale Unified School District is now showing a
program in Armenian on Charter Cable Channel 15. The 30-minute program is
an overview of English Language Learners instruction in the Glendale
schools.
The program airs Mondays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sundays at 1
p.m.
Panelists who discuss various aspects of the ELL program are: Armine
Aghanjani, teacher at Hoover High; Lala Sahakian, teacher specialist at
Marshall Elementary; Armineh Khanbabian, teacher specialist at Jefferson
Elementary; Zepure Hacopian, teacher specialist at R.D. White and Lincoln
Elementary; and Keghanoush Bairamian, second grade teacher at Mann
Elementary.
Of the approximately 29,000 students in the Glendale Unified School
District, about one-third are of Armenian descent. The District is
producing this show in Armenian to help educate parents and families who
are limited or non-English speakers.
**************************************************************************
5 – Armenian Cooking Celebrated at
Two Farmers’ Market, Nov. 13-14
GLENDALE – Two weeks before Thanksgiving, the Burbank Farmer’s Market and
the Encino Farmer’s Market have joined together to celebrate Armenian
cooking. Veteran author, Barbara Ghazarian will appear at the markets to
share ancient culinary secrets and sign copies of her new cookbook, “Simply
Armenian.”
The events will take place Nov. 13 at the Burbank Farmer’s Market from 8
a.m. to 12 noon. For information, call (626) 308-0457. The next day, the
Encino Farmer’s Market will host the event from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. For
info, call (818) 708-6611,
“You will learn the magic of creating a feast out of a basket of
vegetables and a handful of cracked wheat bulgur,” Ghazarian promises.
“Simply Armenian” is not a vegetarian cookbook, but over a half of the 150
dishes are meat-free and 55 recipes meet vegan standards.
“Traditionally, Armenians farmed the soil or tended orchards, so vegetables
and fruits made up the bulk of what was available to eat,” Ghazarian
explains. “On top of that, the Armenian church calendar calls for over 180
fasting days a year and in the old days people used to follow it pretty
closely, but now the “no animal products” or vegan dishes are year-round.”
Ghazarian sorted through the traditional favorites of her Armenian
grandmother’s and Middle Eastern-born mother-in-law’s kitchen and
handpicked a collection of dishes that ensured those who were keeping
meat-free or low meat diets would eat like sultans, too. Cheese is a
staple; eggplant is a favorite; chickpeas, other legumes, and lentils are
plentiful; and nuts and fruits are used in everything.
“The Armenian method of pickling fresh vegetables is quick, easy, and
reliably delicious,” says Ghazarian, who suggests first-timers pickle
carrots, red cabbage, turnips, and cauliflower while gourmets may want to
try eggplant.
But pickling is just the beginning of the satisfying vegetarian dishes
included in this cookbook.
For those following low meat diets, “Simply Armenian” is a celebration of
abundance. Home cooks looking for new, satisfying vegetarian fare for
everyday eating or special occasions will cheer the boon they discover at
the Burbank and Encino Farmer’s Markets the second weekend of November.
Author Barbara Ghazarian is an experienced cook and a natural teacher with
a gift for storytelling. This is her first cookbook and second book
(“Descendants of Noah: Stories of Armenian Apostolic Faith and Heritage,”
Mayreni 2002) Barbara lectures from coast to coast on Armenian-related
topics to both Armenian and American audiences. She authored a long-running
weekly culinary column for a Los Angeles newspaper and has years of
experience teaching culinary writing to adults in greater Boston.
“Simply Armenian,” published by Mayreni Publishing (), can
be purchased in leading online bookstores, at Abril, Berj, and Sardarabad
Armenian bookstores in Glendale, and at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena.
**************************************************************************
6 – Glendale Seminar Will Discuss Armenian
Demographics and Impact on Business
GLENDALE – A high-powered strategic marketing seminar will be held Nov. 10
in Glendale to discuss the community’s demographics and how it relates to
business and advertising, as well as community activism.
The panelists are Glendale Mayor Bob Yousefian, Glendale Unified School
District President Greg Krikorian, and Ara Najarian, Board Trustee of the
Glendale Community College.
The event is being co-sponsored by the Krikorian Marketing Group, Business
Life & Senior Living magazines, and the Armenian American Chamber of
Commerce.
Topics which will be discussed include workforce demographics, outreach
initiatives, growth patterns, graduations rates, and student successes.
The program will also discuss US Census figures and the Armenian
Demographics in Glendale and L.A. County. The presentation will be made by
Jerry Wong, Information Services Specialist, L.A. Region of the US Census.
A review of various marketing initiatives impacting Armenian business and
community will be conducted by KMG Marketing.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be represented by Lisa Kalustian, the
Chief Deputy Director of the L.A. Office. Also attending will be Alberto G.
Alvarado, Director of the US Small Business Administration, Los Angeles
District Office.
The seminar will begin at 6 p.m., with networking opportunity, and the
forum will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Nestle Building, 800 N.
Brand Blvd. Admission is free, but due to limited space, RSVP is requested
by calling (818) 240-7987, or e-mail, [email protected]
The City of Glendale with its 194,973 residents ranks third in the country.
with 54.4% foreign born residents. Glendale trailed only Hialeah, Fla and
Miami, Fla with the highest number of foreign-born. Recent estimates
indicate an Armenian population in Glendale of near 100,000. A survey of
active accounts by the Glendale Water and Power with “YAN” and “IAN” in the
last 3 digits of the Name Field in their billing systems shows 21,325
residential and 1561 commercial billing units. The fields represent the
party responsible for the payment of the utility services, which may be a
tenant owner, property management services or other person(s) not living at
that address.
This forum is designed to educate the community of Glendale, the County and
help build better understanding to further embrace and build communications
with our diverse population. This is the first of several that will be
scheduled during the course of the coming 2005-year.
Major corporate sponsors are: Glendale Adventist Medical Center, The Gas
Company, Sempra Energy, SBC, Print-On-All and Paradise Pastry.
**************************************************************************
7 – Unique Presentation
Of Armenian Poetry
In L.A. in November
LOS ANGELES – In association with the UCLA Department of Near Eastern
Languages and Cultures and the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs
Department, Arena Productions presents the world premiere of “They Were
Poets,” a theatrical production of Armenian poetry spanning throughout the
centuries, all translated into English.
The programs will be held Saturdays, Nov. 6, 13, 20 at 8 p.m. at Barnsdall
Gallery Theater in Hollywood.
The presentations are compiled, edited and directed by Anahid Aramouni
Keshishian, Lecturer of Armenian Language and Literature at UCLA.
“Join us for an evening of verse dipped into an eclectic array of music
and imagery, all fused with the human body and voice,” the organizers
suggest.
The Barnsdall Theatre is located at 4800 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood. For
reservations, call: 818- 240-7080, or e-mail: [email protected]
**************************************************************************
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54 countries at Short Film Event
Monday, November 01, 2004 – 2004 IranMania.com

LONDON, Nov 1 (IranMania) -The Ninth International Festival of Short Films
due to be held on November 17-22 will host 54 countries, secretariat of the
festival said in a press release.
Armenia, Egypt, Kuwait and Burkina Faso will take part in the festival in
addition to 50 countries which had taken part in the international short
film festival.
Meanwhile, a producer of animation films Vahid Nassirian said that public
screening of short films concurrently with features films in the cinema
should become a convention.
He said that public screening of short films does not generate income for
the producer, but it boosts the spirit of the filmmaker.
Nassirian noted that in other countries, screen short films are usually
screened before a feature film and hoped that the Iranian cinemas would
follow suit.
He said that the producers of short films have established themselves in the
cinema sector.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS COUNCIL IN KARABAKH

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

Last week Stepanakert Press Club held a seminar on self-regulation of
the mass media in the context of freedom of expressing opinions. The
seminar was organized by the international organization `Article 19′
inthe framework of the project `Maintenance of Democracy in South
Caucasus through Freedomof Speech’ with financial assistance of the
Institute of Open Society and other foundations. During the seminar in
which participated the heads of the leading mass media and journalist
organizations of the republic, as well as correspondents of foreign
mass media, questions on the self-regulation of press, ethic of
journalists, freedom of speech – state secrets, author’s rights â=80`
plagiarism were discussed. At the suggestion of the chairman of
Stepanakert Press Club Gegham Baghdassarian the participants of the
seminar adopted a decision on the establishment of the Press Council
which will most probably include the heads of the leading mass media
of the republic and journalists’ organizations. The council will deal
with the problems connected with the work of the mass media. In
particular, they will consider disputable situations, organize joint
informative actions, pursue the maintenance of the ethic of
journalists. The necessity of self-regulation of press and unification
of journalists, according to the participants of the seminar, was
caused by the famous political confrontation several years ago when
the most `heated battles’ took placebetween the state newspaper `Azat
Artsakh’ and the oppositionist `10th State’. As it was mentioned
during the seminar, because of the underdevelopment of the political
sector political debates take place between the newspapers and
journalists representing political forces and not the leaders of the
political forces. As a result the blame entirely falls on
them. Journalists said this should not be so. A newspaper should only
reflect the moods existing in the society and political debates should
not turn into abuse and offence. As a result of the seminar an
undertaking group was formed which will work on preparing the ethic
code of journalists and constitute the council of press in the
upcoming three weeks.

AA.
29-10-2004

STATE AID TO FARMERS

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

The passing year was unfavourable for agriculture in the republic,
first of all because of lasting natural disasters – frost, hails,
heavy rains, and later pests. The crops sown in autumn and spring
suffered most of all. More than 1700 hectares of winter wheat was
fully or partly damaged (in this and the following data the region of
Kashatagh is not included), 257 hectares were hail-hit, 534 hectares
were frozen, 532 hectares were damaged by pests and 373 hectares
burnt. If add to this the damage caused by natural disasters to spring
crops, fruit orchards and other perennial crops, the picture will
become complete. On the whole, 6000 hectares of farming land under
winter and spring crops were damaged and the material damage totaled
5.5 billion drams. This worries the NKR government. In this situation
the private farmer needs the direct practical assistance of the
government. NKR minister of agriculture Benik Bakhshiyan informed our
correspondent that only in the past two weeks NKR president Arkady
Ghukassian held several consultations with the responsible bodies and
tasked them with taking necessary measures to overcome the situation
in the shortest possible time. To aid the villages which suffered most
700 hectares of high quality seed wheat will be provided to farmers in
the form of interest-free loan for a two-year term (totaling 130
million drams) at the condition that during 2 years the same amount of
wheat must be returned instead of the borrowed seed wheat. The NKR
minister of agriculture said the distribution of wheat has already
started and is directly controlled by the heads of the regional
administrations. At the same time he asked the farmers to keep the
right order of agricultural works, crop circulation, in order to avoid
losses and maintain a basis for reproduction of arable crops and have
an effective yield.

AA.
29-10-2004

RUSSIAN MEDIATOR SAYS UN DEBATE ON KARABAKH TO HURT PEACE PROCESS

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
1 Nov 04

(Presenter) Baku’s raising of the Nagornyy Karabakh problem with the
UN is seriously disturbing the OSCE Minsk Group. The Russian
co-chairman of the Minsk Group, Yuriy Merzlyakov, openly announced
today that this initiative would deal a serious blow to the peace
process.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, in turn, has said that
there is nothing extraordinary in the fact that the United Nations,
which has adopted four resolutions on Nagornyy Karabakh, will
reconsider the issue.

(Correspondent over video footage of New York, the UN building) There
was no need for Baku to include the issue of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict on the agenda of the UN General Assembly. This is the opinion
of the Russian co-chairman of the Minsk Group, Yuriy Merzlyakov. The
Russian diplomat has told “Son Xabar” that the opposition to the issue
by France, a country also co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group, which was
voiced during discussions at the UN, reflected not only the view of
Paris but also the positions of Washington and Moscow.

(Merzlyakov, captioned, shown talking to microphone) This is an
untimely step. At a time when everyone is looking forward to the
restoration of the peace process, there is no need for such an
initiative. On the other hand, the UN is not the organization to
discuss the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict because the OSCE is dealing
with this problem. Therefore, the representative of France made the
statement after consultations with representatives of the USA and
Russia.

(Correspondent) Saying that the tabling of the issue at the UN will
fail to facilitate a solution to the Karabakh conflict and that it
will actually exacerbate it even more, Merzlyakov noted that the
co-chairmen did not support Azerbaijan’s suggestion and abstained from
voting on it at all. Merzlyakov explained the move by the fact that
the co-chairmen wanted to prevent a split in the UN. He added that
from a legal standpoint, this initiative of Azerbaijan was
ineffective, too.

(Merzlyakov) Resolutions of the UN General Assembly are not the same
as resolutions of the UN Security Council. Resolutions of the General
Assembly are of a consultative nature.

(Correspondent) The spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry,
Matin Mirza, does not agree with the Russian diplomat. He says that by
having adopted four resolutions on the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, the
UN actually intervened in the process of settlement. Therefore, there
is nothing out of the ordinary in bringing the issue to its attention
again.

Matin Mirza added that the fact that 43 out of 143 countries that took
part in the discussion supported Azerbaijan’s suggestion and 99
abstained from voting suggests that these countries are beginning to
develop an objective opinion about the conflict.

Qalib Sukurov, “Son Xabar”.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan
Nov. 1, 2004

SOUTH CAUCASUS PARLIAMENT SPEAKERS TO MEET IN VERSAILLES
[November 01, 2004, 17:27:41]

A meeting of Heads of the South Caucasus parliaments initiated by
Chairman of the French Senate Christian Poncelet will be held in
Versailles, France on 4 November to discuss current situation in the
region, national heritage, prospects of tourism development and other
issues, press service of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan
told AzerTAj.

Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov accompanied by deputies of the Milli Majlis
Nizami Jafarov and Musa Gouliyev will participate in the meeting.

The Head of the Azerbaijan’s parliament will deliver a report on
maintenance of peace and stability in the region, and finding solution
to the Nagorno-Karabakh problem and express the country’s position with
respect to the issue in hand. The Speaker is also expected to meet with
representatives of the Paris public to enlighten them on the issues of
their interest.

The visit ends on 6 November.

The correct answer to the questions

Editorial

Yerkir/arm
October 29, 2004

Periodically, the question of objective analysis of this or that issue
is brought up in our society. Each of the parties participating in the
discussion tends to present its approach and analysis as
objective. However, in reality no analysis can be objective
irrespective of whether we mean conscious or subconscious objectivity.

Analysis cannot be an end in itself. Any conscious analysis is
influenced by a certain ideology. Moreover, strange as it might seem,
ideologization of the analysis up to a certain level benefits the
quality of the analysis performed.

Consciously ideologized analysis allows for a vision of the future and
prognosis that can be realized not through calculation of objective
circumstances and facts but through the consideration of subjective
human factors incorporated in the prognosis such as will, desire,
confidence.

In this way analysis becomes not merely mathematical calculation but
planning and even set-up of the future. The prognosis becomes prophecy
with the probability level of its realization being dependent on the
will and confidence of the person making the prognosis.

Such analysis also becomes a means to impose one’s own ideological
will upon others, to explain one’s own vision of the future and
proximate this vision to the reality. The future depends not only on
objective circumstances and arbitraries of fate.

The future is shaped and realized through human perception, visions,
ideals and will. From many possible futures, the one that succeeds in
creating a stronger and more emotionally influential vision will
prevail. Out of two possible scenarios, the one in which its author
subjectively incorporated more confidence, more will and a greater
desire will be realized.

This is why the seemingly objective political analyses and prognoses
of the future are a tool for making one’s desirable vision of the
future dominant and imposing it upon others. It is interesting that
political analysis is more ideologized in countries that have a
stronger and better defined political line.

For instance in Russia especially in the 1990’s, policy analysts used
to present their analysis under the disguise of neutral and objective
scientific observations. They did this not so much with the purpose of
concealing their true interests but because they really suffered from
the objectivity syndrome and did not feel comfortable with being
ideologized.

As opposed to this, political analysis and ideology are extremely
interconnected in USA. And this interconnection is not
secret. Analysis andprognosis made by American sources are very often
not so much scientifically grounded prognoses as visions of future
based on specific ideological views.

The complexity of political and geopolitical problems facing the
country cannot be presented as a set of issues requiring merely
technical, expert solutions that can be developed by a group of
professionals.

The thing is that not all the problems have only one correct
solution. The` correct’ solution can be largely based on ideological,
value-derived, political and other choices and not objective `facts’.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Kevorkian Loses Supreme Court Appeal

Monday November 1, 2004 3:31 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) – Assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian lost a
Supreme Court appeal on Monday in his bid to win freedom after five
years in prison.

Justices, without comment, turned back an appeal in which Kevorkian
claimed he had an ineffective attorney when he was convicted of
second-degree murder in the 1998 poisoning of Thomas Youk. Youk had
Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Kevorkian called it a mercy killing. The
death was videotaped and shown on national television.

The Supreme Court had also turned back an appeal from Kevorkian two
years ago that claimed his prosecution was unconstitutional.

Kevorkian has said he assisted in at least 130 deaths, but has
promised in affidavits that he will not aid in more suicides if he is
released. He could be eligible for parole in 2007.

The case is Kevorkian v. Warren, 04-380.