Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Sept 26 2004

Attracting ethnic candidates to ranks

Fire Department redefining itself for community

By Naush Boghossian
Staff Writer

GLENDALE — Patrick Hambarchian and Sevak Karapetyan’s parents were
not exactly thrilled when their boys made the decision to become
firefighters.

It’s a dangerous job, their parents said. It’s not a prestigious
career. It doesn’t pay enough.

So the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce stepped in to pay the
$2,500 to put them through the one-year program at the Glendale
Arroyo Seco Fire Academy.

“With this scholarship, we can help Armenian parents and kids
understand that there is no stigma to be attached to careers in fire
or police,” said Armen Janian of the Armenian chamber.

“We want Armenians to know it’s a very rewarding career financially,
and, more important than that, it’s rewarding because they are
helping the community.”

Once Hambarchian and Karapetyan graduate from the academy, they will
be state certified firefighters. In order to become Glendale
firefighters, they would need to attend another fire academy.

The Glendale Fire Department, which has no Armenian firefighters,
finds itself coming up against Armenian families’ perceptions of what
constitutes an “acceptable” career, Capt. Carlos Guerrero said.

“We’re having difficulty recruiting Armenians and Koreans and
reaching them as far as having them consider the fire department as a
professional career,” Guerrero said. “These two young gentlemen are
the trailblazers. We’re hoping they’re successful in their endeavor
and will be role models to other Armenian kids.”

Karapetyan said his parents initially struggled with perceptions of
firemen they carried over from Armenia, where the profession does not
inspire respect.

“When I told them I was thinking about it, they weren’t too happy
about it,” said Karapetyan, 20. “After I told them about it more and
made them see the difference between fire departments here and in
Armenia, they’ve become more flexible. Since they see how I’ll be
helping the community out, they’re for it.”

His father said the announcement took him by surprise, but he said he
was proud his son will set an example for other Armenians.

“This is dangerous work, and you want your child to be in a safe
place, but the important thing is this is something he really loves,”
Norik Karapetyan said. “The boys have to become an example, and they
must do well, because by seeing them, young Armenians will choose
that path.”

Ultimately, nothing — neither the lack of money nor their parents’
disapproval — was going to stand in the way of them pursuing their
dreams, both boys said.

“It’s what I want to be,” Hambarchian said. “It doesn’t matter to me
who does or doesn’t approve of it. I couldn’t see myself doing
anything else.

“I don’t want to come home and say I made a lot of money. That
doesn’t matter to me. Knowing I helped someone out that day, I’d be a
lot more happy with myself.”

Both are aware that if they do land jobs as firefighters, they could
set an example for other Armenians interested in the field.

“If the kids see that people from their background and culture are
heroes, they might feel it’s more acceptable to get into it,”
Hambarchian said. “Just to see someone of your culture working in a
field, it could inspire them.”

Armenian president meets Tajik leader en route to China

Tajik Radio first programme, Dushanbe
26 Sep 04

Tajik President Emomali Rahmonov received his Armenian counterpart,
Robert Kocharyan, who made a stopover in Dushanbe en route to China
today. Our correspondent Subhiddin Shamsiddin reports:

[Shamsiddin] A wide range of issues relating to economic, trade,
scientific and cultural cooperation between the two states were
discussed at the meeting.

Emomali Rahmonov said a firm legal basis of cooperation had been laid
in the past few years for boosting bilateral ties between the two
states. The first meeting of the intergovernmental commission on
economic cooperation and a meeting of businessmen, which were held
after my visit to Yerevan, have been a significant step towards the
development of friendly relations between Tajikistan and Armenia
[Rahmonov said].

The president’s spokesman, Abdufattoh Sharipov, said the following:

[Sharipov] The two presidents called for the practical implementation
of the agreements signed, in the first instance the agreement on
friendship and cooperation between Tajikistan and Armenia. They
stressed the need for raising trade and economic cooperation to a
qualitatively new level to meet the demand and desire of the two
nations; boosting import and export, encouraging cooperation between
scientific and cultural circles and stepping up friendly relations
between the two states as a whole.

[Passage omitted: repeat of facts]

[Shamsiddin] Emomali Rahmonov and Robert Kocharyan also exchanged
views on a wide range of regional and international issues, including
threats to the modern world and prospects for cooperation within the
CIS.

The meeting was held in an atmosphere of mutual understanding.

Armenian ambassador to Turkmenistan outlines difficulties facing country

Neytralnyy Turkmenistan (electronic version), Asgabat
22 Sep 04

On 21 September Armenia marked the most remarkable date in its history
– the 13th anniversary of the country’s independence. On the occasion
of the major national holiday Turkmendowlethabatlary [Turkmen state
news agency] interviewed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
to Turkmenistan Aram Grigoryan.

[Passage omitted: Grigoryan remarks on recent history of Armenia.]

[Grigoryan] The dissolution of the union [USSR], the interruption of
long-standing partnership ties, compounded by ongoing conflicts in the
country – all these factors had a bad impact on the young republic. A
number of unresolved problems face Armenia today, such as the Karabakh
issue [a disputed area between Azerbaijan and Armenia], the ongoing
economic and transport blockade, lack of jobs and many others. Apart
from all this, huge complications have emerged following the recent
terrorist acts in Russia, which resulted in the closure of roads
leading to Russia via Georgia. This was the only route linking Armenia
with its strategic partner, Russia.

[Passage omitted: Grigoryan pays tribute to the Ruhnama]

Concerning Armenian-Turkmen relations, it is worth of noting that for
Armenia, with its long-standing ties with Turkmenistan, there is no
way forward other than to develop a strong economic, political,
scientific, technical and cultural partnership with Turkmenistan.
Currently there are road and direct air routes operating between
Armenia and Turkmenistan. Over 50 agreements and accords have been
signed between our states to boost mutually advantageous cooperation.

[Passage omitted: remarks on Turkmen hospitality]

Azeri leader, US mediator discuss Karabakh settlement in New York

Azarbaycan, Baku
26 Sep 04

Text of unattributed report by Azerbaijani newspaper Azarbaycan on 26
September headlined “Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has received
the US co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann”

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received the US co-chairman of the
OSCE Minsk Group, Steven Mann, in New York on 24 September.

The sides focused on the peaceful settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy Karabakh conflict. President Aliyev
spoke about the importance of the speedy peaceful settlement of the
problem and stressed a need for increasing the OSCE Minsk Group’s
activity in this sphere.

Xinhua, China
Sept 26 2004

Armenian president arrives in Beijing

BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhuanet) — Armenian President Robert
Sedrakovich Kocharyan arrived here Sunday evening, starting his
five-day state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Presidenet
Hu Jintao.

It’s the first state visit to China by Kocharyan as president.

Kocharyan will hold talks and meet with Chinese top leaders
during his stay in China’s capital. Besides Beijing, he will also
visit China’s financial hub Shanghai. Enditem

Adventurous cooks will enjoy ‘Simply Armenian’

By SILAS SPAETH
For The Salinas Californian

“Simply Armenian: Naturally Healthy Ethnic Cooking Made Easy” (Mayreni
Publishing. $17.95) by Barbara Ghazarian.

* Local connection: Pacific Grove resident Barbara Ghazarian is
passionate about Armenian cuisine. In her cookbook, she shares “the
wisdom of generations of grandmothers” along with all the practical
information needed to produce some truly outstanding Armenian food. *
Content: The 150 recipes featured in the cookbook range from
appetizers, soups and salads to main courses and delicious desserts.

Get out your food processor and try one of the nine delicious spreads
listed in the opening pages of the book. Using ingredients such as
chickpeas, eggplant, walnuts, yogurt and kalamata olives, you can whip
up some muhammarah (spicy hot walnut spread) or a carrot-potato dip
with marinated artichoke hearts.

The extensive salad section offers recipes for bulgur salad with
chickpeas and greens, Armenian potato salad, a cucumber-tomato, feta
salad and beet and walnut salad.

Because lamb is a “preferred meat” in Middle Eastern cuisine, it will
come as no surprise to discover 18 ways to prepare the meat including
lamb stuffed grape leaves (sarma), eggplant and ground lamb, baked
stuffed meat pie (sini kufteh), and lamb with quince slices.

Those not counting calories will find instructions for making such
mouth watering sweets as almond cookies, apricot squares, paklava and
fresh candied-pumpkin slices dipped in chocolate.

If you have developed a taste for the quince, an exotic, yellowish
fruit primarily grown in the United States here in California, you’ll
be happy to discover recipes for quince preserves, coffee cake,
cookies and jelly.

* Author quote: “I have taken the intimidation factor out of Armenian
fare, but not the taste, smells and exotic look of the food. Nor have
I made it fancy. For centuries, Armenians have been eating like
sultans on what others considered scraps and pantry basics. Now you
can, too.”
* Audience: If you enjoy sampling ethnic cuisine and are a venturesome
cook, this is a cookbook you’ll want to own. If you prefer lamb to
beef, enjoy lots of vegetables (especially eggplant) and would rather
munch on stuffed grape leaves than a Ritz cracker with cream cheese
smeared on it, this is a book you want to seriously consider
purchasing. If green onion and pine nut pizza sounds odd yet
appetizing — you’ve come to the right cookbook!

SILAS SPAETH of Monterey writes about Central Coast Authors on an
occasional basis for the Arts & Books page of The
Californian. Comments for Spaeth may be sent to The Salinas
Californian, c/o Central Coast Authors, P.O. Box 81091, Salinas 93912;
or e-mailed to [email protected].

Originally published Saturday, September 25, 2004

Britain Proposes Debt Relief to Nations

By ED JOHNSON
.c The Associated Press

BRIGHTON, England (AP) – Britain will provide more debt relief for the
world’s poorest countries and challenge other rich countries to do the
same, Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government said Sunday.

Treasury chief Gordon Brown said many developing countries were
crippled by servicing their debt and could not invest in their
infrastructure.

“We will pay our share of the multilateral debt repayments of
reforming low-income countries,” Brown said in a statement, released
by the Department of International Development.

“We will make payments in their stead to the World Bank and African
Development Bank for the portion that relates to Britain’s share of
this debt. We do this alone today but I urge other countries to follow
so that over indebted countries are relieved of the burden of
servicing all unpayable multilateral debt.”

Brown was scheduled to reveal further details in a speech later Sunday
to a “Vote for Trade Justice” event at a church in Brighton, the
coastal town where the governing Labour Party is holding its annual
conference.

Britain holds about 10 percent of the total debt owed to the World
Bank and other development banks, or about 7 percent of all the debt
of the world’s poorest nations.

Britain’s Development Secretary Hilary Benn said poor countries needed
“significant additional resources” to “lift people out of poverty,
get children into primary schools and improve basic health.”

“Debt relief is an efficient way of transferring these resources to
countries that can use them most effectively,” he said in the
statement. “We call on other governments, especially our G-8
partners, to join us so that no country is held back by the burden of
unsustainable debt.”

To be eligible for the debt relief, countries must be able to show the
savings will be used to meet the goals of the 2000 Millennium
Summit. Those goals include halving the number of people living in
dire poverty from 2000 levels; ensuring that all children have an
elementary school education; ensuring that all families have clean
water; and halting the AIDS epidemic – all by 2015.

The list of countries will include those that have been through the
Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative: Benin, Bolivia, Burkina
Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guyana, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique,
Nicaragua, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, as well as a number of
other countries such as Vietnam and Armenia, where the World Bank has
assessed the countries are capable of absorbing direct budget support,
the statement said.

Britain also called for debt payments owed to the International
Monetary Fund to be funded through the more efficient use of IMF gold
reserves.

09/26/04 13:52 EDT

FOR FIRST TIME ARMENIA ISSUES BONDS WITH MATURITY OF 7 YEARS

YEREVAN, September 23 (Noyan Tapan). On September 23, Armenia for the
first time implemented successfully the distribution of government
bonds with maturity of 7 years. According to Arshaluys Margarian, Head
of the State Credit Management Department of the RA Ministry of
Finance and Economy, demand for these bonds exceeded almost 3 times
the volumes of the bonds issued, and the average yield made 9.2%,
which is lower than was expected by the government. Unlike bonds of
medium term maturity, which have been issued until now, these bonds do
not envisage partial payments before the deadline. On September 11
2004, new legal acts that regulate the government bonds market came
into force, according to which the RA Government, in addition to the
bonds of up to 5 years maturity that have been issued so far, will
also issue cupon bonds of 6-30 years maturity without partial
payments. Besides, short term maturity bonds, as well as medium term
maturity bonds with and without partial payments will continue to be
issued. The Department Head stated that it is planned to issue long
term bonds in November and December too. According to A. Margarian,
the issuing of long term bonds means the the RA Government step by
step consolidates its authority. THe new bonds will enable to lower
the domestic government debt and to extend its maturity term. As of
September 22, of the bonds worth 45.7 bln drams (about $89 mln) in
circulation, 13.0 bln or 29% are short term ones, and 32.7 bln or 71%
are of medium term maturity. As of September 22, the average term of
maturity of the domestic government debt made 556 days, and the
averaage yield – 9.9%. The RA government started issuing government
bonds in 1995 in order to finance the state budget deficit. Only short
term bonds (up to 1 year) were issued before 2000, after which cupon
bonds with partial payments and of medium term maturity (1-5 years)
have also been issued. The first medium term maturity bond was issued
on March 7 2000, it had a 15-month duration and 28% yield. A.
Margaraian expressed hope that other financial organiations will enter
the government bonds market in 3-4 years and the “monopoly”of the
banks will disappear. According to her, it will also be possible in 2
years to take steps in the direction of replacing the external
government debt with the domestic one.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RA DEFENCE MINISTRY AND UN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DECLARE START OF MINE
CLEARING OF ARMENIA PROJECT

YEREVAN, September 25 (Noyan Tapan). On September 24, with the support
of the European Union the RA Defence Ministry and the UN Development
Program (UNDP) declared the start of the Mine Clearing of Armenia
Project. The RA Defence Minister Serge Sargsian and the permanent
coordinator of the UN in Armenia and permanent representative of the
UNDP Lis Grande took part in the official ceremony. According to the
specialists’ estimate, in Armenia there are 6,000-8,000 land-mines on
about 840 square km, mainly in border areas. The impact of this mining
is extremely serious: every year part of the civilian population,
including children, suffer from the mines, and the agricultural work
in many border villages is made impossible because of the mines.

According to Yerevan Office of the UNDP, the budget of this 3-year
project is more than 1.5 mln euros. One of the main purposes of the
project is strengthening the coordination and implementation
capacities of the mine clearing programs conducted by the government.

In addition, the republican study on the assessment of the impact of
the mines will be conducted and a new data base will be created. The
other components of the project are the mine clearing of Syunik marz,
the campaign to increase public awareness, a targeted help to the
victins and those injured by the mines, as well as the professional
training of the medical staff and mine clearing personnel. ” This
project is valuable from several aspects: thanks to the mine clearing
of arable lands it will enable to reduce poverty in a number of
regions of the country, it will strengthen the government’s capacities
in this sphere, and finally it will increase public awareness in the
settlements adjacent to the mined areas. It is also of importance to
the UNDP that the RA Defence Ministry directly allocated finance to
this project. In this way the RA Government shows its obvious
willingness to carry out humanitarian mine clearing,” Lis Grande
said. The Aemenian Humanitarian Centre on Mine Clearing, which will
officially represent Armenia in the process of the project
implementaation, was established in March 2002 with the support of the
US State Department and the US Defence Ministry. According to the
survey conducted among those suffered from mines in 2002, at present
343 poeople who have suffered from mines live in Armenia, and mine
explosions have been registered in all 11 marzes o Armenia. Due to the
security problems existing presently in Transcaucasia, Armenia has not
yet signed the 2 main international conventions on land mines.

The Daily Telegraph, UK
Sept 27 2004

Turkish parliament adopts new penal code to help EU entry talks

By Amberin Zaman in Istanbul
(Filed: 27/09/2004)

Turkey’s parliament last night bowed to European Union demands and
passed a liberalising penal code which should open the way to talks
with Ankara on EU membership.

MPs were recalled from their summer recess after the government of
Recep Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister, agreed to drop a plan to
criminalise adultery.

The decision ended a week of crisis with Brussels over Turkey’s
efforts to become the EU’s first predominantly Muslim member.

EU officials said the amended code would help Ankara secure a
positive review of its democratisation process in a crucial report by
the European Commission to be published on Oct 6. EU ministers will
make a final decision in December on holding membership talks. In a
televised address to the nation, Mr Erdogan expressed confidence that
“membership negotiations will start in December”.

The new penal code bars Muslim clerics from engaging in politics and
stiffens penalties for the perpetrators of so-called “honour
killings” of women deemed to have stained their families’ reputation.
Turkey’s increasingly influential women’s groups played a significant
role in pushing for the reforms.

“The change is revolutionary,” said Hulya Gulbahar, who campaigned
for a new law that criminalises the rape of spouses.

Another law scraps reduced sentences for rapists who marry their
victim, and for mothers who murder their babies born out of wedlock.
But EU officials have expressed alarm over a law that effectively
bans free debate of controversial issues such as the 1974 invasion of
Cyprus and the mass slaughter of Turkish Armenians by Ottoman forces
during the First World War.

The passage of the new code followed a week during which Turkey’s
membership application was damaged by Mr Erdogan’s stated desire to
outlaw adultery. EU leaders warned him against the proposal, saying
it suggested that he was seeking to lead Turkey towards Islamic rule.
Mr Erdogan then withdrew the proposal.

The European Right wing is opposed to the inclusion of Turkey. In
Austria, Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel backed the start of accession
talks but suggested that Turkey should be considered for “reduced
membership”.

With its wobbly economy, Turkey is not expected to join the EU for at
least 15 years.

But for many of its 70 million population, tired of decades of
corrupt and authoritarian rule, continued scrutiny by Europe is seen
to be as important to cementing democracy and secular rule as actual
EU membership would be.