Azeri speaker, Norwegian minister discuss Karabakh settlement

Trend news agency
13 Oct 04

Baku, 13 October: Azerbaijani Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov received the
Norwegian foreign minister and chairman of the Council of Europe
Committee of Ministers, Jan Petersen, on 13 October. Alasgarov said
that the visit is of great importance to Azerbaijan and the talks
will give impetus to the development of Azerbaijan’s relations with
Norway and the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers.

He said that Azerbaijan has fulfilled most of its commitments to the
Council of Europe and will soon resolve the issues of alternative
military service, ethnic minorities and others.

Talking about the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, Alasgarov said that
the settlement of the problem has been delayed due to international
organizations and leading countries’ wrong approach to the problem. It
is amazing that visiting experts from the Council of Europe and other
international bodies show interest not in the flagrant violation of
the rights of 1m refugees, but in the fate of three or five people
convicted for the crimes they have committed, Alasgarov said.

He went on to say that Azerbaijan will not cede even an inch of
its land and that the country’s policy is aimed at restoring its
territorial integrity within international legal norms. I hope that
the international organizations and leading countries will understand
our position and defend us, he said.

In turn, Petersen said that his visit will contribute to the
development of bilateral relations. He went on to say that Statoil and
other Norwegian companies want to make investments in Azerbaijan and
expressed the hope that Azerbaijan will create conditions for that. As
for the Karabakh conflict, Petersen said that he can empathize with
Azerbaijan over the conflict which has not been resolved so far. We
hope that [the country] will find a fair solution to it in the near
future, he said. Petersen stressed that the basis for this is the
fact that the conflicting sides have sat at the negotiating table.

Azeri speaker bans MPs from criticizing foreign countries

Bilik Dunyasi news agency
13 Oct 04

Baku, 13 October: Commenting on the problem of settling the Nagornyy
Karabakh conflict at a session of the Milli Maclis, the speaker of
the Azerbaijani parliament, Murtuz Alasgarov, banned the deputies
from criticizing foreign countries.

He said that at their meetings with him, foreign ambassadors to
Azerbaijan express their dissatisfaction with the remarks about their
countries made in parliament.

He pointed out that some members of the Milli Maclis criticize Russia,
the USA and other countries.

“I infer that some of you sympathize with Russia, some with the USA
and others sympathize either with France or with no country at all. Who
asked for your opinion about this or that country?” the speaker asked.

Alasgarov also told the deputies to express their judgments only
through the press.

“You can express your opinion in the press about individual people,
or for example, about the elections in the USA. We have no right to
hold such discussions in parliament,” Murtuz Alasgarov said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Karabakh MP dismisses Baku’s “nervous” reaction to ombudsman bill

Mediamax news agency
13 Oct 04

Yerevan, 13 October: Azerbaijan’s “extraordinarily nervous reaction”
to a bill on the ombudsman, which the Nagornyy Karabakh parliament is
going to adopt, “is explained by the fact that any step by Karabakh
towards democratization of society is conducive to enhancing its
authority in the foreign policy arena”, the chairman of the standing
commission for foreign relations in the NKR National Assembly, Vagram
Atanesyan, has said in an interview with our agency.

“The extraordinarily nervous reaction to the ombudsman bill is
explained by the fact that any step by Nagornyy Karabakh towards
democratization of society is conducive to enhancing its authority in
the foreign policy arena and continued tolerant perception of the de
facto existence of the Nagornyy Karabakh Republic by international
structures, including European ones,” the Karabakh parliamentarian
said.

Production Report
“In a Nutshell: A Portrait of Elizabeth Tashjian”

Indiewire.com
October 13, 2004
by Jason Guerrasio

While making a documentary about strange roadside museums, Don Bernier came
across Elizabeth Tashjian’s 18-room Victorian home in Old Lyme, Connecticut.
>>From the outside it looked like the other homes in the neighborhood, but
once inside Bernier realized it was anything but normal. “It was filled with
paintings of nuts. Nut masks. Elizabeth would basically educate you on nuts
and where they were from,” he says.

Elizabeth Tashjian is better known in up-state Connecticut as “The Nut
Lady.” For years she’s given guided tours of her home, which is filled with
a wide array of nut artwork. Intrigued by Tashjian’s obsessive hobby,
Bernier ditched the roadside museum doc and began one on her. But before he
could start she collapsed in her home and was in a coma for close to two
months. She awoke to learn that the government had taken over her home and
destroyed most of her art (the work that survived is currently at
Connecticut College). “When she came out of the coma, essentially she was
pissed,” says Bernier. “So the state threw a lot of physiatrists and
therapists to declare she was mentally incapable [to live on her own] and
now she’s been moved to a nursing home. Everything got taken away from her.”
Bernier’s documentary follows Tashjian, who’s still wacky about nuts, as she
tries to pick up the pieces of her Nut Lady legacy.

Shooting on and off since 2001, Bernier is currently finishing post with
hopes to have a final cut by the end of the year. Budgeted at under $200,000
and shot on DV, he has recently received a Jerome Foundation grant to finish
it. Though he will submit it into festivals, Bernier believes the ideal
outlet for the doc is television.

[ For more information, please visit: ]

European qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup

Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting Corporation, Libya
Oct 13 2004

As the campaign to reach the 2006 FIFA World Cup continues, Wednesday
represents the next opportunity for 42 European teams to either
continue their solid starts to qualifying or revive their hopes.

The pick of the ties is arguably the heavyweight contest between
Denmark and Turkey in Group 2.

It also seems hard to separate Group 3 rivals Portugal and Russia
ahead of their encounter in Lisbon.

The Netherlands, meanwhile, will want to assert their authority in
Group 1 when Finland visit the Amsterdam ArenA.

In Group 5, Italy could do with a pick-me-up as well, having succumbed
to Slovenia four days ago. The Azzurri welcome to Parma a Belarus
team still unbeaten after their 4-0 win against Moldova. Spain also
travel with the cushion of a recent victory, having overcome Belgium
at the weekend. They go to undefeated Lithuania in Group 7.

France might have been held twice at home in Group 4, but they will
none the less expect maximum plunder from their trip to Cyprus. Group
6 leaders England are on the road in Azerbaijan, a team still to win
in this tournament. Things are even worse for Armenia, who have no
points from three matches and entertain a Czech Republic side boosted
by their Group 1 victory against Romania.

Voice of America, DC
Oct 13 2004

Economic Growth in Former Soviet Union Bypasses Millions of Children
Lisa McAdams
Moscow

A report released in Moscow by the United Nation’s Children’s Fund
says economic growth in Russia and the former Soviet Republics has
not improved the lives of children.
The UNICEF report finds that millions of children in Eastern Europe
and Central Asia still live in poverty, despite economic progress in
every country of the so-called transition nations, which are moving
from centralized to market economies.

UNICEF officials say the report shows that economic growth alone is
not enough to improve the lives of children.

Anna Chernyahovskaya, a spokesperson for UNICEF’s office in Moscow
says children bypassed by economic growth are affected in numerous
ways.

“Poverty means violence and desperation,” said Ms. Chernyahovskaya.
“It means children don’t have access to school. For example, there
are families that don’t have enough money to buy school supplies, to
get textbooks and uniforms, and it also means they don’t have access
to school because there are basically no schools around in the area,
if we talk about the remote areas of Russia for example. And also,
poverty could mean and it means actually poor nutrition and poor
health.”

Ms. Chernyahovskaya says that across the region, poverty has also led
to a significant increase in drug and alcohol abuse, which in turn,
has fueled a significant rise in the death rate among the young. For
example, in some countries, she says, up to one-third of all deaths
of 15 to 29-year-old males have been associated with alcohol
consumption. She says countless others are dying from AIDS.

Although the report finds that child poverty has fallen slightly
since 2000, Ms. Chernyahovskaya says the numbers are still
“appalling.” Also appalling, she says, is the lack of money spent on
children by transition nation governments.

“For example, in some countries in the Caucasus and Central Asia and
in Southeastern Europe, including Albania, Armenia and Tajikistan,
public expenditure on health care and education is about four percent
GDP, or less, and this is very low by regional standards,” she added.

Ms. Chernyahovskaya says UNICEF is calling on governments across the
Commonwealth of Independent States to do more to ensure that the
benefits of economic growth are more widely distributed, both
geographically and among all groups.

She says that means governments should not, for example, allow the
decentralization of public services to result in lower service levels
in more economically challenged areas. She says government officials
should also be focusing on one key question: how to make economic
growth benefit children?

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Oct 13 2004

PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES DELEGATION LED
BY CHAIRMAN OF COE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS, FOREIGN MINISTER OF NORWAY
IAN PETERSON
[October 13, 2004, 17:33:02]

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on 13 October at
the President Palace has received the delegation led by Chairman of
the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Mr. Ian Peterson.

Greeting the guest, Head of the Azerbaijan State spoke of the
democratic reforms successfully being conducted in the country, noting
that the policy of integration to the European structures established
by the national leader of Azerbaijan people Heydar Aliyev is one of
the priorities of our state policy and Azerbaijan adheres this course.

Noting with great pleasure the developing dynamic, mutually beneficial
relations between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe, President Ilham
Aliyev said that the country from the first day of its membership
takes active part in the work of the Council of Europe and its
Parliamentary Assembly.

Touching upon the obligations Azerbaijan took before the Organization,
head of Azerbaijan State said the Republic fully implements these
obligations. We do not do it merely that we have taken them, and
this is confirmation of the policy being pursued in the direction
of democratization of the society in Azerbaijan, President Aliyev
stressed.

Speaking of the aggression of Armenia to the country and the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, President Ilham
Aliyev disclosed position of the Azerbaijani side in settlement of
the problem, which bases on international law and principles.

Touching upon the discussion of this conflict in the Council of
Europe, including in the Parliamentary Assembly, President Ilham
Aliyev said that the country always adheres large discussion of the
problem, because position of Azerbaijan is fair. When Azerbaijan
initiated on appointment of the Council of Europe rapporteur on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, Armenia always opposed
it. And this shows that Armenia is not interested in bringing the
truth to the notice of lager world communities.

Head of the Azerbaijani State said cooperation of Azerbaijan with the
Council of Europe and PACE is also realized in other fields on mutual
understanding, which is important for both Azerbaijan and the Council
of Europe. Azerbaijan takes active part in the process of integration
to Europe, from this point of view, “we attach great importance to
cooperation with both the Council of Europe and the European Union”,
the President underlined.

Expressing gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for kind words, Ian
Peterson said he had a number of useful meetings during his visit
to Azerbaijan. The guest emphasized that his visit was important
from the standpoint of Azerbaijan-Norway and Azerbaijan-Council of
Europe cooperation.

Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
Ian Peterson expressed satisfaction with the successful development
of the relations between Azerbaijan and Norway, adding, that this,
in turn, shows itself in cooperation in economic field. Giving high
assessment to the activity of Norway’s Statoil Company in Azerbaijan,
the Minister expressed confidence that bilateral economic cooperation
between the two countries would also envelope the non-oil spheres.

Dwelling on the Azerbaijan-Council of Europe relations, Mr. Ian
Peterson stated that Azerbaijan regards the obligations as a part
of democratic development. He highly appreciated such approach by
Azerbaijan to the obligations. Development of this cooperation is
mutually beneficial, Mr. Peterson underlined.

Head of the foreign relations department of President Administration
Novruz Mammadov, head of the Azerbaijan parliamentary delegation at
PACE Samad Seyidov, ambassador of Norway to Azerbaijan Steiner Gil,
Azerbaijan’s permanent representative at the Council of Europe,
ambassador Agshin Mehdiyev took part at the reception.

Armenian youth groups protest plan to send troops to Iraq

Agence France Presse
Oct 13 2004

YEREVAN, Oct (AFP) – Armenian youth organizations Wednesday protested
against President Robert Kocharian’s decision to send non-combatant
troops to Iraq to work with the Polish military contingent there.

“We are worried that Armenia’s authorities are preparing to send an
Armenian peace-keeping contingent to Iraq,” 30 organizations wrote
in a joint letter to Kocharian.

The organizations include student associations and youth groups
linked to several political parties, including those that support
the government, and have thousands of members.

The organizations warned that the ethnic Armenian diaspora in Iraq,
numbering around 20,000 people, could be targeted by Iraqi insurgents.

The non-combatant troops, which include doctors, mine-clearing experts
and drivers, are to be sent to Iraq and integrated into the Polish
military contingent there as part of an agreement signed last month
between Yerevan and Warsaw.

The organizations also sent their letter to the Armenian parliament,
whose approval is required for the accord to come into effect. They
said they were prepared to resort to other means of protest if their
message was not heeded.

Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian insisted the 50 troops’
mission in Iraq was a humanitarian one and would not include combat.

Immigration officials in Yerevan said around 100 Armenian families
in Iraq have sought temporary asylum in Armenia following last
August’s wave of bomb attacks on churches in Baghdad and Mosul,
in northern Iraq.

League of Women Voters talk to residents who made a difference Oct. 21

Lexington Winchester Star, MA
Oct 13 2004

If you were riveted by Tracy Kidder’s story of the young Paul Farmer
and his work with sick and impoverished Haitians, you will not want
to miss hearing people in the Winchester community describe their
experiences in lands devastated by natural disaster, disease, poverty,
and political conflict.

The League of Women Voters invites everyone to hear these residents’
compelling stories on Thursday, Oct. 21, at the Winchester Public
Library. This event, at 7 p.m., is free and open to the public.

In the wake of a severe earthquake and the fall of communism in the
late 1980s, Gail O’Reilly discovered an Armenia whose people were
demoralized. With their way of life taken away from them involuntarily,
Armenians didn’t yet understand the rules of democracy and felt
fortunate to have electricity and running water even two hours a
day. After observing Armenians trying to sell their crafts in a park
without tourists there to buy them, O’Reilly decided to help the
artisans sell their products more globally and, at the same time,
find ways to preserve Armenian art and culture.

Michael Bedford, a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1970s and the Asia
Regional Manager for Oxfam in the 1990s, became the second-ever Peace
Corps Director in Bangladesh in 2000. His work teaching Bangladeshis
about the United States and its democratic principles became even
more important in this Moslem country following the Sept. 11 tragedy
and the U.S. war on Afghanistan and Iraq.

Ten years ago, Tom Hirschfeld was invited to join a volunteer project
in Nicaragua to build a village school and on subsequent trips to
use his medical expertise to develop programs for sustained community
development. Hirschfeld also has traveled to Nepal, Bosnian refugee
camps, and Tibet, primarily with Bridges to Community, an NGO that
brings volunteers to parts of the world that are in need of their help.

In 1985, Marion Austin began her work in Haiti, where she directed a
massive feeding program as a missionary to the Haitian people. As she
became involved in new missions in different villages, she was named
President of the organization Bless the Children of Haiti. Austin
has continued her work through the NGO Hope for the Children of Haiti.

The Winchester League welcomes the entire community to “The Journeys
of Winchester Residents Making a Difference,” Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. at
the Library. There are mountains beyond mountains.

-Written by Dotty Burstein

Christians urge crackdown on spitting Jews
By Inigo Gilmore, LONDON DAILY TELEGRAPH

Washington Times, DC
Oct 14 2004

JERUSALEM – Christian leaders in Jerusalem have attacked what they say
is the increasingly common phenomenon of spitting by ultra-Orthodox
Jews on members of their faith.

The statement followed a brawl between an Orthodox Jewish student
and an Armenian archbishop. The two men clashed in Jerusalem’s Old
City after a Yeshiva (religious school) student spat at a cross being
carried by the clergyman during a procession near the Holy Sepulcher,
the revered site of Jesus’ Crucifixion.

Archbishop Nourhan Manougian then slapped the Yeshiva student and in
the ensuing scuffle, his 17th century ceremonial medallion was broken.

Both were questioned by police and the Yeshiva student is facing
charges. He has been banned from approaching the Old City for 75 days.

The Armenians have branded the police action inadequate and say this
sort of thing has been going on for years. In an interview with an
Israeli newspaper Monday, Archbishop Manougian demanded that Israeli
leaders speak out about the abuse.

“When there is an attack against Jews anywhere in the world, the
Israeli government is incensed, so why, when our religion and pride
are hurt, don’t they take harsher measures?” he asked, adding that
officials “are not interested when we are humiliated on a daily basis.”

His strongly worded critique has encouraged other Christian leaders
to speak out, including a senior Greek Orthodox clergyman who has
revealed how he was approached by an elderly man wearing a skullcap
who spat in his face.

The clergyman preferred not to lodge a complaint with the police and
told an acquaintance that he was used to Jews spitting at him.

Daniel Rossing, a former adviser to Israel’s Religious Affairs
Ministry on Christian affairs and the director of a Jerusalem center
for Christian-Jewish dialogue, said there has been an increase in
the number of such incidents, particularly in parts of the Old City,
“as part of a general atmosphere of lack of tolerance in the country.”