Police ask for public’s help finding Armenian national
By Jason Kandel, Staff Writer
Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Dec 17 2004
Slaying suspect still at large
NORTH HOLLYWOOD — Police sought the public’s help Thursday in
finding an Armenian national suspected in the Oct. 9 slaying of a
former professional boxer in a dispute over a credit-card scheme.
Hovik “John” Mankyan, 42, is suspected in the shooting death of Arsen
Aivazian, 30, of North Hollywood.
Mankyan, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for an armed assault
in 1991, is suspected of shooting Aivazian at Valley Plaza Park after
a dispute involving an organized-crime operation, police said.
Aivazian — a former welterweight boxer — punched Mankyan, who
pulled a gun and shot Aivazian three times in the chest, officials
said. He then fled with a man, identified as Alfred Gazaryan, 49,
in a light-color Toyota Camry.
Aivazian was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
“We’ve used every resource we can think of, and have not been able to
track him down,” said Detective Mike Coffey of the Los Angeles Police
Department’s North Hollywood Division. “We’d like to see closure in
this case.”
Mankyan is described as 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, with black hair and
brown eyes, and a tattoo on his upper left arm. He has ties to North
Hollywood and Glendale.
Gazaryan, who is wanted for questioning, is described as 5-foot-10
and 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
Mankyan and Gazaryan, who was convicted in 1995 of corporal punishment
on a child, met in state prison, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to call North Hollywood homicide
detectives at (818) 623-4075. Or, after hours, call the watch commander
at (818) 623-4016.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Interfax, Russia
Dec 17 2004
Armenia sells Zangezur combine for $132 mln
Yerevan. (Interfax) – Armenia has sold the Zangezur Copper-
Molybdenum Combine to four companies for $132 million.
The sales contract was signed December 14 in Yerevan, Trade and
Economic Development Minister Karen Chshmaritian said at a news
conference.
He said 60% of ZMMK shares went to Germany’s Cronimet Mining, 15% to
Yerevan’s Pure Iron, 12.5% to Armenian Molybdenum Production (AMP)
and 12.5% to Zangezur Mining.
The new ZMMK shareholders will create a unified management company,
the minister said.
The first $45 million will be paid by January 1, and the remainder by
the end of 2005. The deal will be financed by a consortium of Germany
banks that includes Deutsche Bank, Chshmaritian said.
According to a preliminary agreement, $250 million to $350 million
will be invested in ZMMK by 2012. The final figure will become clear
after a feasibility study is prepared in 2005 for the company’s
modernization.
The investment is expected to boost ore production by 50% to 100%.
The project is expected to pay for itself in 6-7 years.
Armenia will stop exporting molybdenum concentrate as of January 1,
as it will all be processed inside the country, the minister said.
Given the current high world prices for molybdenum, even high
shipping costs are not expected to cause problems. The company
exports to Europe through Iran and Georgia.
Zangezur decreased production by 2.1% year-on-year to $24.8 billion
dram in the first half of 2004.
ZMMK mined 8.1 million tonnes of ore in 2003, and produced 6,300
tonnes of molybdenum and 11,000 tonnes of copper in copper
concentrate. The Kadzharan copper and molybdenum mine, which ZMMK
works, has the largest reserves of any in the former Soviet Union.

di-ve News, Malta
Dec 17 2004
Turkey’s EU membership prospects being weighed – Malta says yes
but…
by Ronald Mizzi, di-ve news ([email protected])
PM Gonzi attends EU summit
BRUSSELS/MALTA, (di-ve news)–December 16, 2004 — 2100CET–PM
Lawrence Gonzi is attending a European Council summit in Brussels
that above all will discuss whether negotiations with Turkey over EU
membership should start or not. Prior to the summit Gonzi declared
Malta’s favouring position of starting negotiations with Turkey for
EU accession, saying that Turkey is a country with Mediterranean
regional interests. He however stated that Malta would be calling for
certain conditions that strengthen religious tolerance and human
rights in the country together with strict regulations regarding the
movement of people. And despite that MEPs have already adopted a
resolution saying that Turkey has made impressive progress in
respecting the political criteria, enough for negotiations on EU
membership to start, opinions remain divided.
The European Parliament has in fact acknowledged that problems
continue to exist, such as regarding minority rights, religious
freedoms, trade union rights, women’s rights, the role of the army,
Cyprus and the relations with Armenia. Therefore it stressed that, in
the first phase of negotiations, priority should be given to the full
application of the political criteria. In case of serious breaches of
the political criteria, negotiations must be suspended.
MEPs also underlined that starting negotiations will not
automatically result in Turkey’s accession and that appropriate ways
will have to be found “to ensure that Turkey remains fully anchored
in European structures”, should negotiations not be successfully
concluded.
MEPs were satisfied that Turkey had fulfilled a number of
recommendations and requirements included in earlier EP resolutions,
such as the abolition of the death penalty, the extension of
important fundamental rights and freedoms, reduction of the role of
the National Security Council and the lifting of the state of
emergency in the south-east. But they said that Turkey still had to
adopt further reforms and put these, as well as current reforms, into
practice. Thus it would have to lift all remaining restrictions on
broadcasting and education in minority languages; put an end to the
discrimination of religious minorities; completely eradicate torture;
draft a new constitution; lower the threshold of ten percent in
parliamentary elections; disband the village guard system in the
south-east; apply ILO standards for trade union rights; limit the
role of the army further; continue the process of reconciliation with
Armenia and recognise the Republic of Cyprus. MEPs also mentioned the
eradication of violence against women, freedom of expression and
press freedom as issues they would monitor closely.
The Parliament also referred to earlier conclusions of EU government
leaders that “the Union’s capacity to absorb new members, while
maintaining the momentum of European integration, constitutes an
important criterion for accession, from the point of view both of the
Union and of candidates for accession”. And it noted that Turkey
could only become a member after the EU’s long-term budget planning
for the period from 2014 onwards has been decided upon.
While France favours Turkey’s EU accession, Germany and Austria fear
that its potential as the second-largest EU member state means that
it can block decisions. On the other hand, Commission President Jose
Manuel Durao Barroso supports the starting of negotiations with
Turkey but urged the Muslim country to start recognising Cyprus.
The summit, the last under the Dutch Presidency, will also discuss
when it would be appropriate to start negotiations with Croatia and
the level of negotiations reached with both Bulgaria and Romania.

Darchinyan eyes title belt
Wodonga Border Mail, Australia
Dec 17 2004
BOXING: Vic Darchinyan intends to “destroy” International Boxing
Federation flyweight champion Irene Pacheco in their world title bout
today on a potentially huge day for Australian boxing.
Darchinyan enters the ring at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
in Hollywood, Florida, this afternoon, just a few hours before Shannan
Taylor fights Thailands Sakda Sorpakdi for the less prestigious World
Boxing Foundation super middleweight title.
Darchinyan, 28, who re-located to Australia after representing Armenia
at the 2000 Olympics,|has won all 21 of his professional bouts,
16 by|KO.
Colombian Pacheco, 33, has an immaculate professional record of 30
victories, 23 by KO.

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-638-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:
 
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2004
CONTACT: Alex Karapetian
Email: [email protected]
AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WITH A DIFFERENCE: A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN WASHINGTON AND YEREVAN
Washington, DC – Since its founding in 1977, the Armenian Assembly’s
Summer Internship Program has provided an opportunity to over 800
talented college-aged students to gain valuable experience in the
nation’s capital.
Following the success of the Washington program, the Assembly launched
a similar program in Armenia in 1999 to give students an opportunity
to work in Armenian government agencies, meet with Armenian and Nagorno
Karabakh officials and tour historical sites throughout the region.
This past summer, Christine Heath of West Bloomfield, Michigan and
Alex Vartan of Fresno, California gained a better understanding of the
inner workings of Washington, while California-native Eliz Agopian,
a Columbia University graduate in Public Health, gained hands-on
experience in Yerevan.
“Prior to coming to Armenia, I felt removed from Armenia and my
Armenian culture. I had heard many stories that made me fearful that
I might be disappointed from my visit. Instead, Armenians amazed me
with their hospitality, cheerfulness and intelligence. I realized that
Armenia faces some substantial challenges, but also shows incredible
potential,” she said upon her return from her internship at the
Armenian Ministry of Health in Yerevan.
Heath is currently a junior at the University of Michigan studying
English and Communications. This past summer, she was placed as an
Assembly intern at United Press International (UPI) headquarters in
Washington, where her news reports were published on several occasions.
“I was given the chance to write and publish news stories for
an internationally recognized news wire service,” Heath said. “In
addition to this great work experience, I was given the chance to fully
explore my cultural background by spending three months living with
Armenian-American students who taught me so much about my heritage.”
Heath’s internship experience has not only expanded her knowledge of
Armenian history and culture, but has helped her reach her goal for
a career in media.
“I plan to continue my education in media studies and hope to someday
find my way back to Washington, DC,” she added.
Like Heath, Stanford University graduate and 2004 intern Alex Vartan
gained valuable work experience while interning at the Senate Banking
Committee.
“The internship program gave me an unparalleled view into the workings
of our government, and I was especially impressed that the Assembly was
able to place me in an internship that so closely matched my interests,
having a BS and MS in Management Science and Engineering,” Vartan said.
Not only did he gain valuable work experience, he, like all prior
interns, met with dozens of Congressional members, policy-makers and
academicians. “The wide variety of speakers and other outside events
rounded out a summer which exceeded my expectations in every way.”
The Assembly is accepting applications for the 2005 Terjenian-Thomas
Assembly Internship Program in Washington, DC and the continuing
program in Yerevan. The internship programs provide college students
of Armenian descent an opportunity to work in the nation’s capital
and Yerevan while taking part in a full schedule of educational,
cultural and social activities.
Students who are accepted to the program will be placed in internships
– typically in congressional offices, government agencies, think-thanks
and media outlets – based on their educational backgrounds and
work experiences. Interns also have the opportunity to meet with
Members of Congress, policy makers and noted academicians through the
popular Capitol Ideas and Lecture Series. Partial and full housing
scholarships are available to qualified applicants on a competitive
basis.
To learn more about both programs, download application
forms or apply online, go to the Assembly Web site at
The deadline for
completed application for the Washington program is January 15, 2005,
and Feb. 15, 2005 for the Yerevan program. For additional information
or assistance with the application process, please contact Alex
Karapetian, Intern Program Manager, at 202-393-3434 ext. 245 or via
e-mail [email protected].
The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based
nationwide organization promoting public understanding and awareness of
Armenian issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.
NR#2004-110A
Photographs are available on the Assembly’s Web site at the following
links:
Caption: L to R: Assembly 2004 summer intern Alex Vartan with Intern
Program Manager Alex Karapetian in Washington, DC.
Caption: 2004 Intern Alum Christine Heath, far right, during a meeting
with Senator Carl Levin (D-MI). Also pictured is Assembly interns
Kristen Stamboulian, far left, and Laurie Sagherian.
Caption: L to R: Armenian Assembly 2004 Yerevan interns Eliz Agopian,
Marina Nazarbekian and Alexandra Kazarian.
–Boundary_(ID_ZiWCS8g56DsBY8vfHQhe1Q)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Azeri leader says certain forces interested in spoiling ties with Georgia
Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
17 Dec 04
[Presenter] Several hours ago Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived
together with his family at precinct electoral commission No 6 of [Baku’s] Sabayil
district constituency No 29 and cast his vote.
[Passage omitted: reported details]
[Correspondent over video of Ilham Aliyev] The president also touched on the
current situation in the Nagornyy Karabakh peace process. Mr Aliyev said that
a new framework in the dialogue, i.e. the Prague process, was in the best
interests of Azerbaijan.
[Aliyev speaking to journalists] What is the Prague process? To put it
simply, it means a stage-by-stage solution. As you know, Azerbaijan’s position on t
his issue is definite and resolute. I am very glad that the forces engaged in
this issue are moving closer to this position. The stage-by-stage solution is a
way out of this problem. Therefore, the future negotiations should be held
only in this framework. I think if the talks are held constructively and if
Armenia does not abandon the position that has been agreed, as was the case in the
past, then we can reach some agreement.
[Correspondent] The head of state touched on the decision to ban trucks from
crossing the Azerbaijani-Georgian border. He said that representatives of the
two countries’ relevant bodies are continuing their investigation in Tbilisi.
However, Aliyev stressed again that the Baku government will not open the
border until it gets full guarantees that the cargo will not be transported to
Armenia.
[Aliyev] This will not be possible. We have put an end to this. We cannot
allow this at any cost. If a normal working system is created there, all borders
will open, of course. If this does not happen, then the border will remain
closed. We understand that this damages us and Georgia to some extent. But we
have no other way out.
[Correspondent] As for the recent problems of our compatriots in Georgia, the
president described these developments as a provocation aimed at damaging
relations between the two countries.
[Aliyev] It is also a fact that Azerbaijanis living in Georgia are Georgian
citizens. Of course, they should respect Georgian laws. They should not
tolerate infringements of the law or provocation. There are some forces wishing to
deal a blow to relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan. We know who these
forces are. Unfortunately, there are such forces inside Azerbaijan. But these
forces are mainly outside Azerbaijan. We cannot allow the strategic alliance
between Georgia and Azerbaijan to be damaged.
[Correspondent] The president also commented on discussions about Turkey’s
membership of the EU. Turkey should be a full member of the EU, the head of
state said. He added that double standards should not be applied in this issue and
no conditions should be set to the Ankara government.
Etibar Mammadov and Mirtofiq Miralioglu, “Son Xabar”.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany
Dec 17 2004
Setting the last stele
Holocaust Memorial in Berlin finished after years of debate
By Michael Jeismann
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
The last steles of the central Holocaust Memorial in Berlin were
erected on Wednesday. There was a small celebration, and the group
parted in the knowledge that something had been accomplished after
years of debate.
Although it was a slow journey from the initial steps in the 1980s,
the context in which this symbol of remembrance stands appears to
have changed equally rapidly, almost secretly. Maybe architect Peter
Eisenman would have been well-advised not to set the last stele into
the ground at all – in the same way that the master builders of the
Middle Ages used to incorporate a little fault into their perfect
buildings, in order not to be accused of arrogance against God.
Meanings will soak in yet between the steles that we can at best
guess today. And a small irregularity could have shown how little
even the best architect is a master of remembrance.
Doubtless the most important change is the one which turned the
German memorial into a European one. Unlike back in the 1980s,
Eisenman’s field of pillars will no longer be able to be understood
sufficiently as a place of German remembrance. The memorial has been
made international. It hardly points implicitly at all to German
omissions and memory gaps – after all, the remembrance of the murder
of the Jews did not begin with this memorial.
Rather, the completed memorial unexpectedly refers of all things to a
historical gap and is directly connected, not only chronologically,
to the European integration process. The historical gap did not open
up in German or another European national history, but rather is
yawning in the community of states which is the European Union.
There is no doubt that up to a short time ago, the EU managed very
well without a history, and sometimes one might almost have thought
that the absence of history was a prerequisite for the functioning of
the community. If that was once the case, however, it is no longer
so. The European free trade zone has become a political community
where it is not only a question of the states’ budget balances.
Although historians like Jacques Le Goff or Wolfgang Reinhard have
carved out equally vividly and productively the common
characteristics of a European history, they too would not assume that
the structural common ground could be politically stylized in
symbolic acts and used for the widespread consolidation of
identities. What determines what the most recent European memory is?
After the fall of the Wall, the European unification process at the
political level and through national educational theories promoted
the remembrance of the genocide of the Jews, which functions like a
medium. It is unquestionably a means of the “assimilation of all
Europeans” of which Nietzsche spoke. A common European memory of the
extermination of the Jews received binding institutionalization at
the Stockholm Holocaust Forum four years ago. This was only feasible
because the persecuted and murdered Jews were understood in their
totality as belonging to the third category, something which could
not be defined in purely national terms.
Thus, since the 1980s, the policy of remembrance in Europe made the
Jews European. National governments thereby gained a common,
supranational point of reference for at least a theoretical added
value. It appears strange that the Holocaust memory is now to be
similarly cross-national and have a tendency to create unity, as
anti-Semitism did in certain epochs.
At least, in the past 20 years, a positive exclusion of the Jews took
place through which they were utilized as a means of Europeanization
which, unlike all other imaginable historical points of reference,
did not cause old national differences to resurface.
Every effort to cash in symbolically on a European history of
dispossession would in all likelihood lead to the greatest
calamities, for the dispossessed have not let themselves be stylized
as a third category up to now. Nor can they be denationalized, even
from a great distance – for the simple reason that their nationality
was, after all, the reason for their dispossession.
One only has to listen to what Armenians and Turkish people say and
demand with regard to the Holocaust for it to become clear how
differently, indeed, conversely, one can refer to the Europeanized
memory of the extermination of the Jews. The final stele is the first
stone in a fledgling European history.

Erdogan: Turkey’s Accession Into The E.U. Will Result In Compromise
Of Civilizations
Anadolu Agency
Dec 17 2004
BRUSSELS (AA) – In a meeting with Turkish columnists in Brussels,
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that Turkey’s
accession into the European Union will result in compromise of
civilizations. ”Our European friends are aware of the role Turkey
can play in harmonizing relations between civilizations. There are
now many European circles that look at Turkish membership as crucial
and absolutely necessary,” told Erdogan.
In response to a question on Turkey-Armenia relations, Erdogan
replied that if and when a positive approach is witnessed from the
Armenian side, Turkey would be ready to open its border gate with
Armenia. ”Whatever took place in history must remain in history. We
must build our new world on peace. We are positive towards Armenia.
We want national borders be respected. We have made Turkish air space
available to Armenian commercial planes. There is no reason as to why
we should not open the border gate as well. However, we want to see
the same positive attitude from the Armenian side as well. An
important part of Azerbaijan is still under Armenian military
occupation. This fact should not be ignored and forgotten,” said
Erdogan.
Erdogan said Turkey is prepared for a temporary ban on the free
movement of Turks in EU countries. ”Yet a permanent ban on the free
movement of Turkish nationals would be against the EU laws and
regulations.”
In reference to the issue of Cyprus, Erdogan remarked that
Turkey is ready to discuss Cyprus during its entry talks with the EU.
He noted that it would mean failure of all efforts if EU leaders
put a text which they would not say ”yes” on the table. ”I hope
they won’t,” he added.
Turkey expects the formal announcement on the conclusion of the
EU summit tomorrow (Friday) at 13.00 hours. ”It would be wrong to
declare the summit’s decision as victory. We must not be spoiled by
our success. Furthermore, a possible negative summit decision should
not be viewed as a big disaster. Whatever the decision at the summit,
Turkey can continue to develop on its own feet,” expressed Erdogan.

Chirac under fire over stance on Turkey’s bid
By John Thornhill in Paris
FT
December 16 2004 20:16
Jacques Chirac, France’s president, was fiercely criticised by his
own supporters on Thursday after he reiterated his strong support
for Turkey’s entry to the European Union.
Several politicians also warned that the domestic row over Turkey
could jeopardise the chances of France approving the EU’s constitution
in next year’s referendum. Each EU member state must approve the
constitution before it can come into force.
On Wednesday night, Mr Chirac gave a rare television interview
explaining why he supported Turkey’s bid. He said it was vital to pull
Turkey towards democracy, stability and prosperity in Europe. The EU
should encourage Turkey to join the 25-member organisation so long
as it fulfilled the necessary conditions and promised a referendum
on Turkey’s membership when it is on the verge of joining, probably
in 10 to 20 years’ time.
The French president also rejected the idea of offering Turkey a
“privileged partnership” with the EU, suggesting it would be demeaning
for such an important country.
Members of Mr Chirac’s UMP party, who have supported the idea of just
such a “privileged partnership”, yesterday reacted with dismay to
the president’s stance. Some observers suggested his position could
also cloud any plans he still had of seeking a third presidential
term in 2007.
Alain Madelin, a former government minister and UMP deputy, said he
deplored the president’s failure to take account of “any democratic
debate, or any vote”. He said it was incredible for the president
to take such a momentous decision on his own personal initiative and
only allow voters to have a say in a refe rendum in many years’ time.
Nicolas Sarkozy, UMP party president and potential rival for the
French presidency in 2007, said Mr Chirac created an “incontestable
difficulty” given that 72 per cent of party members were opposed
to Turkey’s entry. Mr Sarkozy, speaking in Israel just before Mr
Chirac’s interview, said Turkey’s accession would dilute the EU’s
effectiveness. “The more numerous we are, the less integrated we
become. Mr The less integrated we are, the weaker we become.”
But Mr Chirac did receive some support on Thursday from an unlikely
quarter: the leadership of the opposition socialists. “Jacques Chirac
has had the merit of being clear, that’s to say that he has come
round to the position of the European Commission and the position
of the Socialist party as well,” said Ségolène Royal, a prominent
Socialist leader.
But even the Socialist party has its divisions on the Turkey
issue. Robert Badinter, a Socialist senator, denounced Mr Chirac’s
“capitulation” to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkish prime minister, over
Cyprus and the recognition of the Armenian genocide. “Everything
that displeased Mr Erdogan has been withdrawn at the start of the
negotiation. That is called a capitulation before even embarking on
a negotiation,” he told French TV.
–Boundary_(ID_ydx5JxmCjdDrtPjT7FSU5w)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Barroso Expresses Belief That A Decision Will Be Made To Start Full
Membership Negotiations With Turkey
Anadolu Agency
Dec 17 2004
BRUSSELS (AA) – European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on
Thursday expressed belief that EU heads of state and government would
make a decision to start full membership negotiations with Turkey.
Barroso told a press conference prior to EU summit that a
historic decision would be made for Turkey, and noted that Turkey was
a very different country with its geographical position, position as
bridge, economic power, and potential. Barroso said Turkey’s
accession would be good for the EU.
Barroso said a balanced attitude was pursued against Turkey,
noting that they were aware of the problems, but at the same time the
steps Turkey made were also taken into consideration. He said, ”time
came to start negotiations” and stressed that the target would be
full membership in negotiations.
Mentioning the concerns in several member countries and public
opinions about Turkey’s accession to the EU, Barroso called on Turkey
to take more steps toward Europe.
Barroso said Greek Cypriots would also be at the table,
”however,” he noted Turkey did not recognize the Greek Cypriot
administration.
Replying to a question about Cyprus issue, Barroso said no new
political conditions would be imposed on Turkey, noting that Turkey
needed to ”win the hearts” of the EU public opinion. He said this
can not take place through complicated negotiations, but through good
will gestures.
Barroso said Turkey would be in a position to recognize all the
member countries when it becomes the EU full member.
Replying to a question about permanent derogations proposed for
Turkey, Barroso said he thought this problem would be solved in the
summit and that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
sensitively focused on this issue.
Barroso said the European Commission brought this proposal about
free movement of Turkish workers, yet that any discrimination or
special status was not in question. He said there was much concern
about this issue in some member countries, noting that permanent
derogations were implemented on some member countries.
Barroso said European Commission said the issue of derogations
against Turkey should not be comprehensive.
Focusing on the concerns of the EU public opinion often, Barroso
said Turkey would be in a position to struggle much to convince the
public.
Replying to a question about so-called genocide on Armenians,
Barroso said bringing new political conditions in front of Turkey at
the last minute was out of question.