AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Oct 28, 2004

NATO SECRETARY GENERAL TO VISIT BAKU
[October 28, 2004, 19:19:40]

Secretary General of NATO Mr. Yaap de Hoop Scheffer is expected to
pay a familiarizing visit to Azerbaijan on 4 November, AzerTAj said.

Mr. Y.H. Scheffer will negotiate with political and defense leadership
of the Republic, discuss participation of the Republic in the PfP
program of the Alliance, realization of individual partnership plan,
and development of cooperation in the frame of international coalition
on combat against terrorism.

In the frame of visit, also will be focused issues of preparation
of the seminar of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly on situation in
the South Caucasus due late November in Baku, settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Oct 28, 2004

PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVED DELEGATION LED BY SPECIAL
ENVOY OF THE EU TO THE SOUTH CAUCASUS, AMBASSADOR HEIKI TALVITIE
[October 28, 2004, 21:00:22]

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received delegation led by Special
Envoy of the EU to the South Caucasus, Ambassador Heiki Talvitie, 28
October.

Warmly greeting the guests and expressing pleasure with meeting Mr.
Talvitie, Head of Azerbaijan State underlined that the relations
between Azerbaijan and the European Union constantly develop and
strengthen, and the Country especially takes active part in the “New
Neighborhood Policy” of European Union. All these processes are
important for both European Union and Azerbaijan, he stressed.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict,
President Ilham Aliyev said that the visit would set good conditions
for discussion of the conflict and other regional questions. Head of
Azerbaijan State noted that though ceasefire regime has been reached
many years ago, the negotiations have remained unsuccessful.

Head of State underlined that occupation by Armenia 20 percent of our
territories, existence of over one million refugees cause tension in
the region, seriously impede ensuring peace and stability. President
Ilham Aliyev noted that this conflict should be settled only in the
frame of international legal principles – in the frame territorial
integrity of the country and inviolability of borders. Head of State
expressed hope the conflict would soon find its peaceful solution.

Mr. Talvitie expressed gratitude for reception, updating the Head of
Azerbaijan State on his visits to Yerevan and Tbilisi, as well as on
his meetings he held in Baku. He marked development of links between
European Union and Azerbaijan, as well as active participation of
Azerbaijan in the “New Neighborhood Policy”.

Underlining that recently the report on the country will be ready, the
guest expressed confidence for its constructive preparation.

Speaking of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, Mr.
Talvitie stated that the conflict would soon find its fair solution.
Settlement of the conflict could serve normalization of situation in
the region.

Also were focused other questions of mutual interest.

Head of the foreign relations department of President Administration
Novruz Mammadov, ambassador of France Roland Blatman attended the
reception.

–Boundary_(ID_erA/wn9Cr3I+7dZNsJvVQg)–
From: Baghdasarian

FUTURE OF ARMENIA’S PAST

“Discovery” Program Supports Archeology in Armenia

Azg/am
29 Oct 04

“It’s high time to pay attention to and support the Armenian
Archeology,” Lory Khachaturian writes in Armenian Mirror
Spectator”. But preservation of archeological values demands serious
material and intellectual efforts.

For decades the Armenian archeologists have been hardly studying
the archeological values belonging to various periods and being
confident that the items found through excavations will enrich our
knowledge about the historical, political, economic and public life
of our country, opening new prospects for enlarging the geography
of excavations.

“Discovery” project that is an independent, non-profit organization
is aimed to contribute to the acknowledgement of Armenia’s cultural
heritage, supporting the organization and implementation of excavation
works.

The newly established organization has attracted the attention of both
Armenian and foreign scientists. They have unfolded active initiatives
to achieve the aims of the organization. Theses aims are as follows:

1. To support financially and by other means the archeological and
historical studies.

2. To deepen the relations and cooperation between the Armenian and
foreign scientists.

3. To help students study the contemporary methods and theories of
archeology at US universities.

4. To get financial sources for making excavation and preserving the
valuable monuments.

5. To enlarge the society’s awareness of the sphere.

The program will also pay attention to editing archeological
materials. Till now the results of the excavations were highlighted
only in Armenian and Russian. This factor makes these studies available
for the speakers of these two languages only, while they are important
contribution to the worldâ~@~Ys civilization. Thus, the publication
of these materials in English and in other foreign languages should
not be postponed.

To get more information about the project visit web
site.

By Hakob Tsulikian

–Boundary_(ID_LSnHpYZ13Pf0PsXee6NaBg)–

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Oct 28, 2004

RECEPTION IN MILLI MAJLIS
[October 28, 2004, 18:00:25]

On 28 October, Chairman of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Republic
(Azerbaijan Parliament) Murtuz Alaskarov has received ambassador of
Turkey Ahmad Unal Chevigez on termination of his diplomatic mission
in Azerbaijan, correspondent of AzerTAj reported.

Greeting the guest, Mr. Alaskarov spoke of the role of the heads of
state in development of the relations between the fraternal countries,
of contributions of the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. He
noted that President Ilham Aliyev confidently continues the political
line of Heydar Aliyev to further strengthen these relations.

Noting especial role of the Ambassador in development of the political,
economic and cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey, Speaker
of Azerbaijan Parliament dwelt on inter-parliamentary links, on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, on the fair position
of Turkey in this question, also appreciated that Turkey does not
open the borders with Armenia.

Mr. Alaskarov wished success in further activity of Ambassador,
expressed confidence that the people of Azerbaijan would not forget
him.

Ambassador Ahmad Unal Chevigez said he feels in fraternal Azerbaijan
as in Turkey, expressing his deep gratitude to the President of
Azerbaijan, government and people of Azerbaijan, for care and
attention he was shown during his mission. “On assignment of my
state I will go to other country and I will not forget Azerbaijan,
I will take this country in my heart, and try to solve its problems”,
the Turkish Ambassador stressed.

At the meeting, also were exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.

Russia nearly the last in CIS in GDP growth, A.Illarionov said.

Gateway 2 Russia, Russia
Oct 28, 2004

Russia is ranked one of the last amid CIS in the GDP growth, Andrei
Ilarionov, an aide to the RF President Vladimir Putin, said at the
investment conference today.

Calculated for 4 years and with 9 months of 2004 taken into account,
the cumulative growth of the GDP stood at 26.2%, though the indicator
was up 53% in Armenia. Russia’s GDP grows 6% annually, on average.

These are not bad indicators, however Russia is the 9th amid 10
countries of CIS with data provided, the aide said.

Civil Georgia, Georgia
Oct 28, 2004

Georgian Ambassador’s Letter to the UN Security Council over Abkhazia

New York, 26 October 2004

Dear Mr. President,

I have the honour to write to you and, through you, to draw attention
of the Security Council to the recent developments in the conflict
resolution process in Abkhazia, Georgia.

In doing so, I should like to express my sincere gratitude to the
Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan and his Special Representative Ms.
Heidi Tagliavini for their tireless efforts to bring about a
comprehensive political settlement of the protracted conflict in my
country.

The latest events in Abkhazia barely leave us grounds for optimism, and
I think that this situation is objectively reflected in the report of
the Secretary-General. Indeed, the UN-led peace process in the region
has reached its critical juncture.

Ardzinba’s ethnocratic regime has always sought to thwart the peace
process. His no-compromise policy is bringing our peaceful efforts to
naught and could ultimately damage the peace talks beyond repair. In
this context holding of the illegitimate and self-styled presidential
elections by the Abkhaz separatists on October 3, is yet another
attempt to imbue legality to the demographic changes resulting from the
conflict. It is being done in flagrant disregard of the position of the
international community manifested in the Security Council numerous
resolutions and Presidential Statements to affirm illegitimacy of the
elections when 300 000 Georgian population are forcibly driven out of
the region. By the same virtue, the elections fail to sustain even
scant semblance of democracy putting aside its violation of
international law in the environment where violence and human rights
violations constitute routine of life.

Against this background, the Ministry of the Russian Federation, which
praised the elections in a statement of October 4, 2004, as “calm and
democratic”, appeared to be the only dissenter in the international
community. With tension in the region at its height fuelled by the
presence of the terrorist groups known as Confederation of Mountain
Peoples, best known by their notorious commander Shamil Basayev, the
situation is anything but calm (clarification: Shamil Basayev served as
a Deputy Defense Minister of the separatist regime in 1990’s.).

Moreover, the presence of foreign terrorist groups of the Confederation
highlights the acute problem of the illegal influx of arms and armed
groups through the unilaterally open Abkhazia section of the
Russian-Georgian border. Especially in the aftermath of the tragedy in
Beslan, the Russia’s border policy comes at odds with the real needs
and interest of combating terrorism and ensuring security. Otherwise
one can not explain of closure of the only legally operating checkpoint
in Zemo Larsi, while two other illegal checkpoints with the
secessionist regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia
remain opened. At the end these measures affect not potential
terrorists but ordinary, law-abiding people from Georgia, Russia and
Armenia, whose interests are mainly harmed by the unpredictability of
the border crossing regime. Numerous protests of Georgia on this
matter remain unheeded.

The escalation of the situation in the region was preceded by
unprecedented in breadth involvement and interference of certain
political circles in Russia in Abkhazia, Georgia; President Putin
himself in display of Russia’s support publicly met one of the
“candidates for President of Abkhazia”. Russian political and
pop-artists have been mobilized to support the Kremlin favorite.

The “electoral campaign” unfolded in milieu of reopening of a railway
link between Moscow and Sokhumi after 12 years remaining dysfunctional.
The event protested by Georgia as infringement upon its sovereignty and
violation of international law attested to the level of damage caused
to the UN-led peace process by the broken commitments – President
Putin’s formula that implementation of economic projects in the region
must be synchronized with the return of refugees and IDP’s is either
completely ignored or cynically countered with the contention that they
have already returned in Gali district. Those, who attempt to
capitalize on spontaneous returnees, enduring almost everyday violence
and intimidation, are deliberately mistaking organized return in safety
and dignity for its antithesis.

Mr. President, notwithstanding this complex development, the Government
of Georgia is committed to resume negotiations for the settlement of
the conflict in Abkhazia, Georgia, with any leader who will succeed Mr.
Ardzinba. However, the progress in this matter would require from the
Abkhaz side to master the requisite political will for the constructive
engagement in the negotiations, in particular on so called Boden
document on “Basic Principles for the Distribution of Competences
between Tbilisi and Sokhumi” as well as allow for establishment of the
Human Rights Office branch in Gali, address the problem of teaching of
Georgian children in their native language and consent on deployment of
the UNOMIG civilian police component in Gali district, which as pointed
out in the Secretary-General’s report is implemented only on Georgian
side where it receives “good cooperation”.

The same extends to the Russian side, which has to overcome its own
bias in favor of the secessionists and take into account the interests
of the peace process as a whole, in particular interest of thousands of
refugees and IDP’s, instead of vehemently protecting and advancing of
the interests of Abkhazs at any cost and at every international fora.

In this respect, the attitudes instilled through the Russian media are
both dangerous and alarming – overwhelming majority of them depict
Abkhazia as a region of the Russian Federation inhabited by Russian
citizens and Russia as duty-bound to protect them by all means against
the Georgian “aggressors” including use of military force and
mercenaries, interference in the “election process” for installing
local political leaders loyal to Moscow, etc. For many in Russia these
actions are appropriate modus operandi in carrying out the role of the
mediator in the conflicts.

Mr. President, in finalizing, I should like to go back to the point
with which I started this letter – the substantial progress in the UN
led peace process is contingent upon willingness of all its
participants to honor their commitments and to engage into constructive
negotiations with the genuine aim of resolving conflict. In the absence
of this, the Security Council resolutions are bound to become mere
exhortations of good intentions by a supreme organ of the UN,
implementation of which depends on the political whim of the Abkhaz
side (why not if the Abkhaz side is almost convinced that intransigence
will always go unabated).

Mr. President, all would agree that present status-quo in the process
of the conflict resolution in Abkhazia, Georgia, is untenable and
therefore resolute steps are required to overcome the present
stalemate. Otherwise, and I can not but ring an alarm here, the more
this “frozen” conflict remains unresolved, the more difficult it
becomes to find a compromise for long-lasting peace.

The Security Council has both authority and, I hope, willingness to
take lead in reinvigorating the UN led peace process. Therefore, we
wholeheartedly invite the Security Council to foster its involvement in
the conflict-resolution process in Abkhazia, Georgia. One of the steps
that the Security Council could make at this stage, we think, would be
field visit to Georgia – particularly to Sokhumi -to learn firsthand
the reality on the ground and try to come out of stalemate in the
conflict-resolution process.

I should be grateful if you would have the text of the present letter
circulated as a document of the Security Council.

Sincerely,

Revaz Adamia
Ambassador, Permanent Representative

ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736 E-mail: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: George Shirinian

DATE: October 28, 2004
Tel: 416-250-9807

Babayan Foundation Support for Zoryan Institute Surpasses $40,000

Toronto, Canada – For the fifth year in a row, the Levon Perouz
Babayan Foundation continues to make a significant contribution in
support of the Zoryan Institute. Over the course of the five years,
the Babayan Foundation has provided over $40,000 to assist Zoryan in
fulfilling its mission, with an emphasis on its innovative Genocide
and Human Rights University Program.

Mr. Haig Selian, the President of the Babayan Foundation, said,
“The Zoryan Institute goes beyond meeting our basic criteria of
being a non-political Armenian cultural and educational organization
in Ontario. The fundamental nature of their work, dealing with our
modern history, especially the Genocide, its impact on our identity,
and our experience in the Diaspora, are all conducted at the highest
academic level. We see that they engage world renowned scholars,
specialized in their respective fields, to conduct their University
Program. We are very happy to see a program such as this bring a
unique perspective to the teaching of modern Armenian history to
senior and talented students from around the world. This is what
propels our board to support to continue its mission. In short,
there is not another organization like it.”

The Levon Perouz Babayan Foundation was established in Toronto by
Mrs. Perouz Babayan, in 1971. The Foundation’s mission is to provide
financial support to Armenian religious, language, cultural and
charitable organizations within the Province of Ontario.

Levon Babayan was born in Bursa, Turkey and arrived in Canada in the
mid-1890s. He established himself in the rug business in Toronto and
married Perouz Benlian, who came to Canada from England. She was born
in Kayseri, Turkey. The business was very successful and the Babayan
name was held in great esteem in Canadian high society, which was
remarkable at a time when immigrants were not readily embraced by
the establishment.

The Babayans could be described as the patriarch and matriarch of the
early Armenian community in Toronto. They were always helpful towards
those less fortunate than themselves by providing employment in their
business. When the Genocide took place, they were instrumental in
arranging the passage and admission into Canada of some 120 Armenian
orphans, the Georgetown Boys, who were so named after the location
of the orphanage in Ontario. Mr. Babayan kept close touch with the
orphans and visited their foster homes periodically, to make sure
that the youngsters were well cared for. Mrs. Babayan was active in
organizing, with the help of the Canadian Red Cross, fund raising
in the streets of downtown Toronto to aid Armenian refugees in the
various camps in Egypt, Greece, and other countries in the Middle East.

The Babayans prospered over the years and when Mrs. Babayan passed
on in 1975, she bequeathed substantial assets to the Foundation. The
Foundation is administered by a Board of Trustees: Haig Selian,
Ani Eudemishlian, Gregory Kasparian, Mgrditch Meras, and Ara Selyan.

The Foundation began supporting Zoryan with general operating funds
in 2000. However, in 2002, an additional sum was added specifically
for the Genocide and Human Rights University Program, totaling to
date $42,000.

Gregory Kasparian, Trustee, whose father was also associated with the
Georgetown Boys, explained the motivation of the Trustees to begin
their support of Zoryan. “We were regularly witnessing cases of denial
of the Armenian Genocide and saw the need for an organization that
could inform the public about what happened during the Genocide and
why it happened. We saw in Zoryan an organization that is dedicated,
scholarly, well researched, dispassionate, and sound, which gave it
the expertise and credibility to confront denial.”

Mr. Barry Papazian, Legal Advisor to the Zoryan Institute, expressed
his deep gratitude to the Trustees of the Babayan Foundation. “Apart
from the financial boost, it gives tremendous encouragement and
motivation to the directors, scholars, volunteers, and staff at Zoryan
when a venerable organization like the Babayan Foundation provides
such staunch support.”

The Zoryan Institute is the first diasporan center devoted to the
research and documentation of contemporary issues related to the
history, politics, society, and culture of Armenia, the Diaspora and
the Armenian Genocide, with offices in Cambridge, MA and Toronto,
Canada.

Little Red top talent
By BEN JACOBS

The Ithaca Journal
28 Oct. 2004

Journal Staff

IRINA PERESS/Journal Staff

Ithaca High seventh-grader Lucy Mehrabyan, shown here in a match
earlier this year, won the Section IV singles state qualifier last
weekend. Saturday, she begins the state tournament in Manlius.

ITHACA — Ithaca High girls’ tennis coach Amy Rogers knew she had
something special when seventh-grader Lucy Mehrabyan joined the team
this year. Everybody else in Section IV found out just how special
very quickly.

“From the first few matches, everybody in our class was talking about
her,” Rogers said. “Her reputation preceded her and she was the one
person that really stood out.”

Now, Mehrabyan has a chance to showcase her talents for the rest of
the state. The 12-year-old from Armenia earned the top seed from
Section IV in the state tennis tournament by defeating Binghamton
junior Carly Smith 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-1 in the final of the Section IV
Qualifier at the Binghamton Tennis Center on Saturday.

“I didn’t think I would get this far,” Mehrabyan said Tuesday during a
practice for the state tournament with Rogers at Reis Tennis Center. “I
just wanted to play my best, not to win so many things.”

On her way to qualifying for states, Mehrabyan avenged her only two
losses of the season. She lost to Binghamton’s Maria Kent during the
regular season, but defeated Kent in the second round of the qualifier.
Mehrabyan lost to Smith in the sectional semifinals nine days before
beating her in the qualifier.

The state tournament begins at 9 a.m. Saturday with the first two
rounds at the Eastside Racquet Club in Manlius. The third and fourth
rounds are on Sunday, with the semifinals and finals on Monday.

“I think there are very good players in states. I think if I fight
to every point like I have done, I think I can win a couple rounds,”
Mehrabyan said. “I hope to get by a couple rounds, that’s all. I hope
I will win, but I don’t think I will.”

Don’t let Mehrabyan’s modesty trick you into thinking she’s not
capable of rising to meet this challenge.

“I think she’s really ready to have a higher level of competition,”
Rogers said. “She’s been the leader in the region throughout the
entire season, and now she’s ready for a greater challenge.”

All season, Mehrabyan demonstrated that she not only has special
talent for her age, but also that she’s mature beyond her years.

“It’s just an incredible experience for the whole team to have the
leader be so young and to be so far ahead of the rest of the team,”
Rogers said. “She’s 12 years old and she’s the youngest (member of
the Little Red), but she’s not only this amazing athlete and this
amazing tennis player, but she’s also incredibly mature as well.

“She’s really a true leader in every respect.”

Mehrabyan demonstrated that leadership in dealing with her biggest
obstacle this season. She hurt her wrist in the first match of the
year, and it eventually became a sprain that has forced her to change
her game.

“It took away my power and I worry that when I hit a normal shot,
I’ll hurt it again,” Mehrabyan said. “I hit a little differently now
and it affects my game a lot, I think.”

In order to make it through the season without damaging her wrist,
Mehrabyan had to sit out two matches. She picked matches that she
felt the team could win without her presence.

Mehrabyan wasn’t able to practice before the sectional tournament
because of her wrist, but Rogers said she began to look more like
herself at the state qualifier, where she again had to deal with
some adversity.

“She played in a very difficult environment. We were in Binghamton
and the fans were all against her and her opponent was visibly angry
and yet Lucy was just completely composed,” Rogers said. “It’s hard
to believe she’s really 12 when you watch her play.”

Mehrabyan began playing tennis at age 5 on red clay courts in Armenia
because her father, Surik, wanted to make sure his young daughter got
some exercise. She didn’t even like the game at first, but that changed
two-and-a-half years ago when her family moved to Newport News, Va.

“There, I played year-round almost every day,” Mehrabyan said. “I
played around people who played just like me, but they were much
older and I got better from that.”

Her family moved again last August when Surik got a job at Cornell
University, and Lucy had to adjust to moving away from a tennis hotbed.

“I got a little angry because there was only my family to practice
with (at first), but this year there were many opportunities,” she
said. “I like it better here (now). I guess as time passed, I got
used to where I live and I started liking this place better.”

With her great success in seventh grade, you might be wondering how
good Mehrabyan will be when she’s a senior on the Ithaca tennis team.
She hopes you never find out.

“I hope to become a professional tennis player at age 16. I hope it
will turn out that way,” Mehrabyan said. “I wanted to turn pro when I
came to America two-and-a-half years ago. I got inspired by my coach in
Newport News, Virginia and I wanted to become a pro from that day on.”

Rogers would not be at all surprised if it happens.

“It’s amazing that she’s 12 years old and she’s playing at this level.
I think when we all watch her, we forget her age just because she
not only plays at such a high level, but she also is so composed,”
Rogers said.

“She just has this incredible temperament for the game. She already
has the mental toughness, and that piece is harder to teach than any
other part of tennis.”

ARF TO HOLD GENERAL MEETING OCTOBER 29

ArmenPress
28 Oct. 2004

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 29, ARMENPRESS: The Armenian Revolutionary Federation,
one of the three members of the ruling coalition, will convene its
general meeting on October 29. A senior member of the party Vahan
Hovhanesian, who is also deputy parliament speaker, said the convention
will discuss an array of domestic and foreign policy issues.

He said journalists will not be allowed to attend it, as “the
convention usually goes with heated debates which we would not like
others to see.” He said a statement will be made upon the convention’s
conclusions.

ARMENIAN TRADE AND INDUSTRY CHAMBER TO OPEN A BRANCH IN CHINA

ArmenPress
28 Oct. 2004

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Trade and Industry Chamber
(TIC) has reached an agreement with the respective structure in
China to open a representation in Shanghai, the chairman of TIC told
Armenpress, mentioning that the representation will do marketing for
Armenian products in China.

In his words, a free economic zone is being established in Shanghai
and infrastructures are developed. The industry and trade chambers
of the two countries have also reached an agreement to establish
infrastructures which will promote Chinese export to Armenia.

On the sidelines of Chinese TIC delegation’s visit to Armenian,
possibilities for establishing joint ventures will be discussed, M.
Sarkisian said. China also intends to use Armenia for distributing
its goods throughout CIS.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress