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10/04/2004
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1) Senator Jackie Speier One of Many Guests to be Honored at October Annual
Banquet
2) Catholicos Aram I Honored by Swedish Church
3) Kocharian, Mironov Talk of Increasing Cooperation
4) EC May Take up Destruction of Armenian Cultural Monuments
5) Dynamite Threatens Ancient City of Ani

1) Senator Jackie Speier One of Many Guests to be Honored at October Annual
Banquet

–ANCA-WR Meets with State’s Highest Ranking Armenian Democratic Public
Official

GLENDALE–California State Senator Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco, San Mateo)
visited the offices of the Armenian National Committee of America-Western
Region (ANCA-WR) on September 28 to discuss issues of concern to
Armenian-Americans in California with community leaders.
Members of the ANCA-WR Board of Directors and the Armenian Relief Society
(ARS) greeted the Senator and were briefed on the issues that the Senator has
been working on in the State Capitol.
Senator Speier will be among the many public officials in attendance at this
year’s Annual Banquet which will be held at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington Hotel
in Pasadena, California on October 24.
ANCA-WR Chairman Raffi Hamparian welcomed Senator Speier to the ANCA-WR
headquarters and thanked her for steadfast support of legislation and issues
that affect Armenian-Americans in the state. The Senator is the state’s
highest
ranking Democratic elected official of Armenian descent and the only
Armenian-American woman currently serving in the State Legislature.
ANCA-WR Board Member Steven Dadaian briefed the Senator on economic
developments in the Republic of Armenia and highlighted the necessity for the
State of California to remain committed to its promise of establishing the
California Regional Trade Office in Armenia.
Angela Savoian, Chairwoman of the ARS Western United States, also briefed the
Senator on the history of the ARS and described the essential social services
that the organization continues to provide to immigrants. During the meeting,
Senator Speier reiterated the importance of her Armenian ancestry in shaping
her commitment to being a public servant and fighting for justice.
Senator Speier’s career-long commitment to public service was nearly cut
short
in 1978 when she traveled as legal counsel to California Congressman Leo J.
Ryan to Jonestown, Guyana as part of a US fact-finding mission that was to
investigate rumors that people, including many Bay Area families, were being
held hostage by cult leader Rev. Jim Jones. On November 18, 1978, at the
end of
a two-day investigation, gunmen from the Peoples Temple cult ambushed, shot,
and killed Congressman Ryan and four others in his traveling group. Speier,
then 28 years old, was struck by five bullets and was “left for dead” on a
jungle airstrip for 22 hours. The day she was shot, 911 cult members committed
mass suicide or were murdered at the Peoples Temple compound. Senator Speier
has stated that “the Jonestown tragedy is a daily reminder that no one is
guaranteed tomorrow . . . this has absolutely molded my philosophy and my zest
for work and for life.” To this day, she carries two bullets in her body from
the incident.
Two years after the Jonestown shootings, Speier became the youngest member
ever to serve on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors when she won her
first election by defeating a 20-year incumbent. Senator Speier served in the
State Assembly from 1986 to 1996 before being elected to the State Senate,
where she is completing her second term.
Senator Speier has announced her intent to run for Lieutenant Governor of the
State of California. If elected, Senator Jackie Speier would become only the
second Armenian-American to serve in statewide office since Governor George
Deukmejian (1983-1991).
“Senator Speier’s dedication to public service and to the people of
California
is truly admirable and an excellent example for other young aspiring
Armenian-Americans to follow,” commented Ardashes Kassakhian, ANCA-WR
Executive
Director. “We’re looking forward to having her attend our Annual Banquet on
October 24th and joining us in honoring other Armenian-American public
officials who have paved the way for future leaders,” added Kassakhian,
referring to the ANCA-WR Annual Banquet which will honor Congresswoman Anna
Eshoo (D-CA) with the ANCA-WR Legacy Award and State Senator Chuck Poochigian
(R-Fresno) with the Person of the Year Award.
Individuals or organizations interested in attending the ANCA-WR Annual
Banquet may call the ANCA-WR Offices at (818) 500-1918 to reserve their table
or individual tickets.

2) Catholicos Aram I Honored by Swedish Church

ANTELIAS–During an evening reception on Saturday, October 2, held in honor of
His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, Sweden’s Primate,
Archbishop Karl Hammer of Uppsala, bestowed His Holiness with the highest
honor
of the Swedish Church. “Only three individuals have received this honor–you
are now the fourth,” noted Archbishop Hammer. “We decided to extend this medal
as a token of appreciation for your leading role in advancing interfaith
cooperation during these fateful times.”
After thanking the Archbishop and the Swedish Church, the Catholicos spoke
about the Armenian people and highlighted their will to overcome the various
difficulties that resulted from the genocide of 1915, and the church’s role in
assisting the survivors. His Holiness then moved on to address the
international efforts in promoting cooperation amongst churches, and commend
the role played by the Swedish Church within the ecumenical movement.
A guest of the Lutheran Church of Sweden, His Holiness, who arrived in Sweden
on the morning of Thursday, October 5, met with a host of international
organization representatives, participated in the Swedish ecumenical meetings,
lectured at universities in Uppsala and Helsinki, and delivered a Sunday
sermon
at the Cathedral of Uppsala.

3) Kocharian, Mironov Talk of Increasing Cooperation

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–President Robert Kocharian pledged to continue
relations with Russia as political allies and strategic partners when meeting
with Russian Federation Council Chairman Sergey Mironov on Saturday, before
the
Russian delegation wrapped up its official visit to Yerevan.
Sources in the Russian delegation told Itar-Tass that the visit began a new
phase in Russian-Armenian relations.
Mironov remarked that the talks had a candid atmosphere, as the two discussed
a range of issues related to Russian-Armenian relations. “We are ready for
cooperation not only on a bilateral basis, not only within the CIS, but
also in
other international organizations,” Mironov said, adding that Russia and
Armenia still have potential to cooperate that is not yet fully realized.
Cargo transit via Georgia to Armenia was also discussed, as the
Russian-Georgian border is closed, impacting the Armenian economy negatively.
“We discussed possible solutions to the problem, bearing in mind our
partnership with Armenia,” Mironov said.
A joint declaration was signed by Mironov and Armenian Parliament Speaker
Artur Bagdasarian, which provides legislative steps in the anti-terrorist
fight.
“Not only Russia, but also all countries of this unique land need
stability in
the Caucasus and Transcaucasia,” Mironov told servicemen of a Russian regiment
stationed in Yerevan. “You are one of the outposts of security on Russian
southern boundaries,” he said.

4) EC May Take up Destruction of Armenian Cultural Monuments

YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–The issue of preserving Armenian monuments in
Azerbaijan is currently on the European Commission’s (EC) agenda, following
calls–by the Armenian delegation to the EC–for an inquiry on their
destruction.
The Armenian Foreign Ministry’s Interim Head of Council of Europe Division
Ara
Margarian, noted that the destruction of cross stones in the Jugha cemetery in
Nakhichevan has specifically garnered attention, and that an EC fact-finding
mission may be dispatched there.
“The destruction of Jugha’s cross stones is a premeditated act of vandalism,
so as to erase all remnants of Armenian culture in the area–and is proven by
the footage and photos shot from the Iranian side,” said Margarian.
He revealed that while Armenia has consistently welcomed monitoring groups,
Azerbaijan has resisted. But because of its recent aspiration to integrate
into
Europe, Azerbaijan has agreed to allow monitors in the country to review the
current state of Armenia’s historical monuments.
According to the European Convention for The Protection of Architectural
Heritage, all member countries inherit the responsibility to preserve cultural
and historical monuments found on the territory of member states.
According to the same convention, if a country is found guilty of destroying
cultural, historical monuments, they must be punished accordingly.

5) Dynamite Threatens Ancient City of Ani

ISTANBUL (Armenpress)–The Turkish newspaper Zaman reported that
detonations at
Armenian stone quarries across the border damaged some of the ruins located in
the 6000-year-old city of Ani on the Turkish-Armenian border.
Sabit Osman Avci, President of the Protection of Historical Heritage
Foundation and a former Speaker of the Turkish Parliament (TBMM), conducted
studies in the region and said that up until two years ago, there was only one
stone quarry in the region; presently, the number is eight. He warned that the
dynamite being detonated at these quarries is damaging the ancient city of
Ani.
The ancient ruins of Ani are among the 100 historical works in the world that
are in need of protection. The ancient city was a great center of trade and is
mentioned in records of the Silk Road from the Middle Ages.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

“ARMENIA DECIDED TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST IRAQ? WHY?”

Azg/am
5 Oct 04

Arab Newspaper Gives Some Advices

“Urgent news coming from Armenia don’t predict a good outcome and it
becomes certain that this honest state, which has unsolved territorial
problems with neighboring Azerbaijan, has decided to campaign against
its seventh neighbor. Why?”, the Azzaman, an Arab newspaper published
in London, writes in its September 12 article titled “Advices for
Armenia”.

“Armenia decided to send a squad of 50 soldiers to become victims of
kidnappers – We are not ready to protect Armenian soldiers and advise
that they bring bodyguards with them to stay as long as they will be
in this land burnt under the feet of our friends and enemies”, Azzaman
writes.

This article would not be of much importance if not the fact that it
expresses the position of the Iraqi society about the Armenian group
of deminers, drivers and doctors to be sent to Iraq. The author of the
article uses suchwords as “squad” and “campaign against Iraq”.

A retired Iraqi official was reporting lately. He was certainly aware
of Armenia’s decision to send 50 unarmed people. “‘Armenia Sends
Troops, Joins American Coalition’, this was the headline of all Iraq
newspapers today”, he said.

Iraqi Armenians (a considerable part of whom are survivors of the
Armenian Genocide) pointed at different occasions that Armenian
presence may endanger the future of Iraqi Armenians as (no matter that
the group will join Americans only for humanitarian purposes) Armenia
is still joining the Americans, Iraq’s occupants and murderers of
Arabs.

Armenian authorities promised the US (probably under pressure) to
contribute to the war on terror. Therefore it will be wrong to break
the promise because the US may, the least, condemn Armenia of dropping
out of the anti-terror fight. President Bush warned after 9/11 saying:
“You are either with us or against us”.

Armenian media’s critical coverage of the group sending obviously
makes the authorities frustrated. So, the defense minister Serge
Sargisian stated during his televised appearance: “Why fall behind
Georgia and Azerbaijan?” But why did Armenia fall behind the two
neighbors in the case of Afghanistan? Why didn’t we send deminers,
doctors and drivers to Afghanistan? The fact that the Afghan
mojahedins fought against the Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh could
bevalid grounds for joining the anti-Afghani campaign.

Is Armenia sincere in claiming that it joins the US anti-terror war?
If yes (that is, if Saddam Hussein was somehow connected with Al Qaeda
and Iraq was a threat for the world community) then why did only 30
states out of 191 UN support America?

Vartan Oskanian, foreign minister, notes that Armenia is ready to
contribute to Iraq in the humanitarian sphere. Again a question comes
up: isn’t it possible that Armenia support Iraq without joining the US
coalition? Why doTurkey, US’s close ally, and Jordan succeed in this?

There may also be other questions addressed to the Armenian
government. For instance, why did Yerevan refer to the UN’s
legislation in case of Yugoslavia’ s bombing and didn’t in case of
Iraq?

The Azzaman goes on with advices: “Armenia’s calculations are obsolete
as there is no time to sign treaties now, when America faces
elections. Neither the 50 soldiers will save Bush, nor will they
influence social researches in favour of Kerry”.

“Armenia has dropped its mask. If it tends to be part of the
multinational forces then we are ready to provide a place in `red’s
knick-knack market’ adding a ration card, certificate of death and a
videotape of being kidnapped”, newspaper writes.

By Tatoul Hakobian

MICKAEL, WOUNDED IN BESLAN, TO UNDERGO MEDICAL TREATMENT IN GERMANY

Azg/am
5 Oct 04

The leading news agencies of the world still speak about unprecedented
brutal terrorist act in Beslan, Northern Ossetia. More than 300
innocent people were killed in Beslan.

There were 33 Armenians among Beslan hostages. Nine of them, including
children, were killed.

At present, many of the former hostages undergo medical treatment in
various cities of Russia. Mickael Mkrtchian, pupil at Beslan school
N1, and Tamar Galstian, his grandmother, undergo medical treatment in
Moscow, at Children’s Hospital after Morozov.

The four members of the Mkrtchian’s family were among the participants
of September 1-th ceremony. Unfortunately, the mother and the small
sister of Mickael were killed as a result of the terrorist act.

When Mickael was transferred to the Moscow hospital, he was in quite
hard state, but after the operation, according to the physicians, the
health of the boy improved. We were informed that by the suggestion of
German physicians, Michael will undergo medical treatment in
Germany. From the very first day,when Michael and his grandmother were
moved to Moscow, they were in the center of the attention of the
representatives of Union of the Armenians in Russia. Several times a
week, the members of the union visit the Mkrtchians. According to Ara
Abrahamian, Chairman of the World Armenian Congress, they have already
accumulated half a million rubles for the fond of the Victims of
Beslan Terrorist Act.

By Hamlet Khushian

NATIONAL MINORITIES ENJOYING FULL RIGHTS IN ARMENIA

Azg/am
5 Oct 04

Representatives of Jewish, Assyrian, Georgian, Byelorussian and German
communities of Armenia gathered yesterday at the Yerevan State
Pedagogical University after Abovian. They presented their national
songs and dances.

“This is a very important undertaking. It teaches our youth to be
tolerant and respectful to those of other cultures and religions
around them”, Rima Varzhapetian, co-chairman of the Nations’ Council
of Armenia and head of the Jewish community said.

Varzhapetian stated that the conditions of the national minorities,
2.8 per cent of Armenia’s overall population, are well and that there
is noviolation of their rights in the country. “Our relations with the
government are very warm. They are actively supporting us”, she
said. Rima Varzhapetian added that being citizens of the Republic of
Armenia they and their children have to study Armenian history and
language though trying to preserve their national culture by means of
such gatherings.

By Tamar Minasian

National interest should be priority

Politics
Yerkir/am
October 01, 2004

Two years ago when there was a proposal to adopt a law criminalizing
the fact of the Armenian Genocide, a group of politicians and media
outlets reacted hysterically. The authors and the supporters of the
proposal were even accused of violating the rights of the Armenian
citizens.

Even now, after new “initiatives” of reconciliation between Turkey and
Armenia have been brought to arena, the same political force and media
advocate the thesis that today’s Turkey is different, it is trying to
join Europe, and that Turks are ready to reform their government and
society to meet the European standards.

This thesis – actually directed at countries that are to decide
whether or not to accept Turkey in the European Union – has ironically
found agreater “understanding” in Armenia than in Europe. Some in
Armenia seem to be even more interested in Turkey’s joining the EU
than Europeans themselves and even some Turkish political circles.

Those people are trying hard to persuade us that after Turkey has
joined the EU, the Turkish-Armenian border will be opened
automatically becoming a border between Armenia and the EU. By the
way, Turkey is the only country opposing the opening of the border it
has shut itself.

Ironically, Turks are the only ones ruining this myth by trying to
introduce a law that would criminalize admitting the Armenian
Genocide.

This is how those who deem their national interest as priority are
preparing to join Europe. It would be great if some of us too could
base their positions on our national interests. Then, maybe many would
base their words and deeds not on virtual reality and foreign grants
but on knowledge of the reality.

Azerbaijani Delegate Appeals PACE Dismiss Armenia Form Membership

ANS
05/10/2004

Member of Azerbaijani staff at Parliamentary Assembly of Council of
Europe MP Rafael Huseynov made appeal to Committee of Ministers to
dismiss Armenia from membership.

In his appeal Mr. Huseynov states that every organization must protect
its reputation, not to give way statements contradicting its
principles and not allow those standing on its lines that ignore
standards and regulations.

For instance in the spring session of PACE Armenian President Robert
Kocharian delivered speech and answered questions. His speech
contradicted democracy and human rights. There are many concrete facts
on pressure on free media in Armenia. PACE also prepared documents on
the issue and held discussion. But Robert Kocharian denied all these
and accused PACE of interfering its internal affairs. On June of 2004
President of Armenia said he was proud of occupation of Shusha city of
Azerbaijan and his direct participation in massacre of Azerbaijanis in
Khojaly city. Besides the statement points to Armenia’s drug
trafficking in occupied lands of Azerbaijan, conducting nuclear
researches and contamination of nuclear wastes in occupied lands may
create second Chernobl in the region. Council of Europe adopted
documents several times on suspending Metsamor atomic station. Rafael
Huseynov’s appeal has been distributed among participants of the PACE
and will be brought to discussion at Committee of Ministers.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri Speaker is Not Against of Armenian MPs Visit

BakuToday
05/10/2004

Azerbaijani Parliament speaker Murtuz Alasgarov told journalists on
Friday that he does not object to the Armenian parliament members’
participation in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly “Rose Roth” seminar
to be held in Baku on November 26-28.

AssA-Irada — He said that since the Armenian MPs are not military men
but civilians, he does not object to their participation. “Let them
visit, we will hold talks and learn their position,” Alasgarov said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said earlier that the issue of
Armenian MPs’ participation in the mentioned seminar in Baku depends
on the Azerbaijani parliament.

ALCATEL, ARMENTEL SIGN 2 MILLION EUROS CONTRACT

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 1, ARMENPRESS: ALCATEL, the French giant
manufacturer of telecommunication equipment, signed September 28 in
Paris with Armenia’s fixed and mobile telephone operator ArmenTel a 2
million euros contract, envisaging modernization and expansion of
ArmenTel’s regional network.

Under the contract Alcatel will deliver modern digital switching
exchanges to be installed in Stepanavan and Gyumri. New technology
will speed up the process of creating a modern telecommunication
infrastructure system for around 235,000 people living in Armenia’s
northern regions. The project will also help ArmenTel to radically
increase the quality of its services. The project is expected to be
over in 2005 August.

“Building of a modern telecommunication infrastructure in Armenia
is of crucial importance for our company. We rely upon the high
quality and reliability of Alcatel equipment. We shall have to work
hard in order to provide high quality services to our clients and be
able to compete with other operators,” Vasileios Fetsis, the chief
executive manager of ArmenTel said.

Gerard Der Agobian, a regional vice-president of Alcatel said the
new contract opens a new era of cooperation with ArmenTel. “We are
happy to make our contribution to the development of Armenia’s
telecommunications market. We want a long-term cooperation with
Armenia,” he said.

ArmenTel shareholders are Greece’s Hellenic Telecommunications
Organizations SA (OTE) with 90% and Armenia’s government with 10%.

10 ARMENIAN COMPANIES SUCCESSFULLY EXHIBITED THEIR PRODUCTS AT MOSCOW
INTERNATIONAL FAIR OF TEXTILE INDUSTRY

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: Some ten companies in textile industry
and sewing successfully exhibited their products at Sept 21-24 Textile
Industry Fair – 2004 in Moscow, Armenian agriculture ministry business consultant in
textile and clothes manufacturing in Small and Middle Sized Enterprises Armine
Tadevosian told Armenpress, mentioning that in a pavilion of 104 square
meters Armenian products were exhibited under the sign “Made in Armenia.”
In Tadevosian’s words, all these companies have reached initial agreements
on partnership. Many companies from Russian, China, Middle East, Korea,
Belarus, Ukraine, Poland and others got interested in Armenian products.
It should be mentioned that Armenian agriculture ministry Small and
Medium-Sized Enterprises is a program run by Development Alternatives Inc advisory
agency funded by US AID. The program has covered 60 percent of expenses for
participation of Armenian companies in the fair.

AFTEREFFECTS OF OPEN BORDER WITH TURKEY DISCUSSED

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS: A roundtable discussion convened by the
Political Dialogue and Development Center together with the US embassy in
Yerevan on September 29 to explore consequences of a possible opening of the land
border between Armenia and Turkey brought together local politicians and
economists, whose opinions differed significantly.
A parliament member Tatul Manaserian argued in favor of using the full
potential of Armenia’s relations with Georgia and Iran and only then try to
extend the expected experience to its relations with Turkey.
Seyran Avagian, a presidential adviser, put the blame for the sealed
border on Turkey, saying open borders would benefit both nations, as “Armenian
businessmen are familiar with Turkey’s market and Turkish consumers have
discovered the quality of Armenian goods.”
A senior transport and communication ministry official Vahagn Badalian
voiced concern over Turkish-Georgian plans to build a railway connecting Turkish
Kars with Akhalkalaki saying it would further aggravate the blockade imposed
on Armenia.
According to Ashot Yeghiazarian, a senior member of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation, fears that the Armenian market would be flooded with cheap
Turkish goods in the event of an open border must be thrown off. He added that
open borders would first of all benefit underdeveloped eastern regions of
Turkey, while Armenia would get a transit route across Turkey to Middle East
markets.
Gagik Melikian from the ruling Republican Party said open borders would
result in more exports and consequently more budget revenues.
According to official figures, Turkish-Armenian trade is estimated
annually between $40 – $60 million and is mainly carried out through neighboring
Georgia.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress