Zaman Online, Turkey
Nov 30 2004
US Pressures Turkey with ‘Armenian Genocide Bill’
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has criticized the US for using
the “Armenian Genocide” Bill to pressure Turkey into withholding its
condemnation of the US operation in Felluce (Fallujah). Gul said the
US is implying that if Turkey refers to the events in Fallujah as
genocide, they will approve the Armenian bill. “This would be
blackmail,” said Gul and such things are not even the issue.
At a reception for Gul’s Hungarian counterpart, Ferenc Somogyi, in
Ankara yesterday, Gul discussed reports that the US is using the
‘Armenian Genocide’ Bill against Turkey to suppress its criticism of
the Fallujah operation. Gul said: “Of course, everything should be
evaluated in context. Using excessive force there [in Fallujah] and
disregarding civilians are a separate issue. Turkey’s attitude
concerning the developments is very clear and the reaction of the
public is also clear. Turkey is not the only one to react; the entire
world has reacted. There are even demonstrations in Morocco for the
first time. These are the requirements of open society, but saying
‘if you call it genocide, we will do this’ becomes extortion. Such
things are unacceptable, and genocide is a completely separate issue,
the legal definition is different.” The Minister also sent a message
to the opposition regarding its reaction to the issue. He said when
the operation in Fallujah first fell apart, there was no reaction
from the opposition party or the politicians; however, they are the
first to react and criticize now particularly about him.
Dealing with Turkey’s expectations on December 17 European Union (EU)
summit, The Foreign Minister has been busy setting Turkey’s
expectations for the European Union Summit on December 17th and says
there is no alternative but for the EU to open full membership
negotiations with Turkey, adding that everyone knows it. He also
clarified that there was no reason for a negative attitude about the
decision to be made at the December 17th EU Summit. Furthermore, Gul
said that if Turkey satisfies the full membership obligations and its
responsibilities, it will become a full member of the EU at the
proper time.
In response to a question about the appointment of the anti-Turkey
French Finance and Economy Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, to lead the
Union of Public Movement (UMP) currently in office, Gul emphasized
that French President Jacques Chirac has the power in foreign policy
issues. The Turkish Foreign Minister urged EU leaders to honor its
pact and mentioned that Turkey already has special status within the
EU and more.

World’s First Public Health Treaty To Take Effect: Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control Set to Become International Law Despite
Years of Intense Lobbying by Tobacco Giants
Corporate Accountability International (formerly Infact) Applauds
Countries That Stood Up to Tobacco Industry; Urges US to Reverse
Direction and Ratify

Quickly
BOSTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ — The Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control (FCTC), the world’s first public health and corporate
accountability treaty, has been ratified by 40 countries and is now
set to take effect. According to its implementing provisions, the
treaty becomes binding international law after the 40th country
ratifies. The landmark was reached when Peru ratified the treaty
today.
“This is a tremendous victory for corporate accountability and public
health that will undoubtedly save millions of lives,” says Kathryn
Mulvey, Executive Director of the US-based Corporate Accountability
International. “This treaty demonstrates that working together, the
nations of the world and their NGO allies can limit the influence of
giant corporations. Attempts by Philip Morris/Altria and the rest of
the tobacco industry to prevent an effective treaty from entering into
force have proved futile.”
In May 2004, the US government signed the FCTC, a move that was met
with skepticism. Throughout the FCTC negotiating process, the US
government consistently took positions to weaken the treaty at the
expense of people’s lives in the US and around the world. To date the
US has not ratified the FCTC, not surprising treaty advocates who
point out that the US has signed but not ratified the following
treaties: the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention on
Biological Diversity, the Kyoto Protocol, the International Criminal
Court, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women.
“At this historic moment, Corporate Accountability International is
calling on the US government to reverse direction and ratify the
global tobacco treaty,” says Mulvey. Senator Richard Lugar (IN) is
Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, the only Congressional
committee with the responsibility to review treaties.
The FCTC bans tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and
protects public health policy from tobacco industry interference. It
also sets precedents for international regulation of other industries
that threaten health, the environment and human rights.
Corporate Accountability International and other members of the
Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) continue
to urge governments to keep the tobacco industry out of the ongoing
FCTC ratification process and the treaty’s subsequent implementation,
to ensure participation of NGOs, and to provide full funding of the
FCTC. Earlier this month, the Consumer Information Network, a NATT
member in Kenya, helped expose British America Tobacco’s (BAT)
sponsorship of a beach holiday for members of Parliament. BAT lobbied
the parliamentarians to oppose the Tobacco Control Bill currently
under consideration in Kenya, which has ratified the FCTC.
“This is a historic moment in the movement challenging irresponsible
and dangerous corporate actions around the world. Now that this global
treaty has become international law, it is no longer business as usual
for Big Tobacco. With millions of lives at stake, we urge countries
that have not yet ratified to do so without delay, particularly those
that took the lead during treaty negotiations,” says Akinbode
Oluwafemi of Environmental Rights Action, Nigeria.
Since FCTC negotiations began, global tobacco corporations have
attempted to water down and delay the treaty from the beginning of the
process. According to Philip Morris/Altria’s internal documents, the
tobacco giant received advice from the notorious public relations firm
Mongoven, Biscoe and Duchin that “a comprehensive strategy to
influence the … UN/WHO policies would be enhanced significantly by
establishing an NGO … ” Documents show Philip Morris/Altria
profiled regions to determine those countries that would support the
Convention, and also be susceptible to industry influence. Philip
Morris/Altria also opposed central provisions of the treaty, including
the ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
The 40 countries that ratified the FCTC are: Armenia, Australia,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Cook Islands, Fiji,
France, Ghana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,
Madagascar, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar,
Nauru, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Peru, Qatar, San
Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka,
Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay. More ratifications are
expected to follow in the next few weeks.
Corporate Accountability International, formerly Infact, is a
membership organization that protects people by waging and winning
campaigns challenging irresponsible and dangerous corporate actions
around the world. Through bold campaigns and a commitment to win,
Corporate Accountability International and its members have scored
major victories that protect people and save lives. For over 25
years, we’ve forced corporations-like Nestli, General Electric and
Philip Morris/Altria-to stop abusive actions. For more information
visit
Contacts:
Adrian Zupp/Corporate Accountability International
617-695-2525
David Lerner/Riptide Communications
212-260-5000
SOURCE Corporate Accountability International
CO: Corporate Accountability International
ST: Massachusetts
SU:
Web site:
11/30/2004 12:51 EST

Opinion Editorials, VA
Nov 30 2004
World War IV – the Best Label
James Allan White
As Americans, we love labels for anything except those that relate to
us personally. We love what marketers call `tag lines.’ Whether these
descriptions relate to an event or a person we seem to appreciate a
simple descriptive moniker. Our media also loves labels. It appears
the newspapers and television commentators compete with each other to
garner the best moniker. In some cases, these descriptions are
tremendously accurate, some are legendary and, in other cases, some
are ludicrous. Our media tries but, in many cases, cannot honestly
define an occurrence or person because they are prejudiced by their
world-view or whatever hidden agenda they may have.
Just recently, many news organizations are calling Yasser Arafat a
`freedom-fighter’ or `liberator.’ It is more accurate to label Arafat
the `Founding Father of Terrorism’ or perhaps `Islamic Fascist’ or my
personal favorite `Cowardly Killer and Swindler of Innocents’ – but I
digress.
The media, the pundits, the late-night comedians, your work
colleagues and your neighbors all begin applying these titles. We
obtain these labels from reading and listening to our punctilious
media.
These titles or designations then become the common description of
historical events or people. Some are very accurate such as `The
Holocaust,’ `Armenian Genocide’ or the `Great Communicator.’ These
labels are simple, descriptive and accurate. At the same time,
history has proven that others are wholly inaccurate such as `The
Cultural Revolution’ or `The Decade of Greed’ or `Islamic Freedom
Fighter.’
I was pondering labels as they apply to our current state of affairs
in the `War on Terror.’ It led me to assess the labels on major wars
of the past 100 years. So let us analyze some of the labels of this
past century. `World War I’ – simple and to the point and incorrectly
known as `The War to End All Wars.’ The war many of us seem to
forget: a war against blatant expansionism that included many
countries as allies and our own as a participant. By the way, just in
case you did forget, we were on the winning side.
Next, `World War II’ – yep, again simple and descriptive – I believe the
`World War’ moniker was attached as a mantle of hope that no more
wars could occur. Again, we fought against fascist totalitarianism
that included other countries as well. Obviously, the forces of
freedom were again victorious. The defeated became successful
democracies.
Thirdly, the `Cold War,’ which lasted from World War II until the
last decade. Bernard Baruch, a presidential advisor, first coined the
term during a debate in 1947. During that time, the Cold War was not
resulting in military battles (aka `hot’ wars). That was very
accurate two years after World War II. However, since that time many
other military battles and confrontations against the same forces
ensued making the term `Cold War,’ in effect, obsolete.
The Cold War was not only about nuclear proliferation, espionage and
arms competition. That war, really against the same forces of
socialism, communism and fascism should also include the `Korean
Conflict,’ the `Vietnam War,’ the `Cuban Missile Crisis,’ the `War in
Grenada’ the list can go on. Therefore, it was another war against
communist totalitarianism that included many countries (and our own
as the other primary superpower). However, this war needs a more
accurate label.
If we remain consistent with history, the best choice is simple and
obvious. The Cold War and related `crises, conflicts and battles’
should be tagged `World War III’ – another war against similar forces
as II and I. Sounds ominous, sounds horrific, I do not remember
rationing tin during the `Decade of Greed.’ However, the label fits.
By the way, I may have forgotten to mention that we, the forces of
freedom, won that one also and the defeated are taking bold steps to
become successful democracies.
If my association between socialism, fascism and communism upsets
your label sensibilities then you probably cannot get past the common
`Left’ and `Right’ labels. No difference exists in the freedom of the
individual between the three. They are all equally evil. We should
probably have only one label that encompasses all three. Some people
like to enforce detail on the differences because they are `closet
socialists’ like many in the media and academia.
Now a `terrorist’ enemy has attacked us within our own borders. The
enemy targets were our own World Trade Center (three times) and
Pentagon (once). Over three thousand Americans have lost their lives.
However, Michael Moore (of fakeumentary fame) doesn’t think terrorism
is a threat, Madonna (that intellectual giant) thinks it is
everywhere and not something to take seriously and John Kerry
(Anti-Vietnam poster boy and presidential loser) thinks it is
equivalent to prostitution and illegal drugs. Let us not forget the
hosts of shortsighted peaceniks that think since we overtook the
Taliban in Afghanistan we have effectively retaliated against the
enemy.
I do not mean to steal the most popular word in the Kerry mansion or
to denigrate those beloved Red Sox but if anyone believes that it is
a bit `idiotic.’
We are currently in a war against Islamic Fascism. Islamic Fascism is
another totalitarian philosophy. We in America and any country, group
or faction that does not adhere to strict Islamist fascist
totalitarianism is the obvious enemy of this evil. Arafat (aka Nobel
Peace Prize winner – what a label) was one of the key progenitors of
this philosophy. Islamic Fascists clearly know we are their enemy.
We are their enemy not because our culture is materialistic or
capitalistic, not because we were originally Christians and not
because we support Israel. It is because we are the beacon of the
free. We represent social and economic freedom and, yes, its excesses
and prosperity. Our country represents the protection of freedom for
the individual. Islamic fascism is against freedom, anti-civil
liberties, and anti-women, pro-slavery and downright racist.
Consequently, this type of fascist totalitarianism is anathema to
everything America stands for – remember World Wars I, II and III?
Please do not forget the outcomes of these world wars. The defeated
became mostly free and democratic nations. Some became great friends,
some just good but all are governments of whom we now have
constructive relationships and dialogues. Most are trading partners.
Most have improved living conditions of their citizenry.
Let us be clear about our enemy here: It is NOT Muslims. Our enemies
are Islamist Fascists. Their objective is totalitarian. Islamist
Fascists are the biggest killers of Muslims. This is not a West
versus East thing (forget those Cold War labels), a Muslim versus
Christian thing (stop with the anti-theist drabble), an Arab versus
non-Arab thing (can we for once discount racism?) or a rich versus
poor/oppressed thing (when will the class envy ever stop?). It is
simply a war pitting the forces of freedom and democracy against the
forces of Islamic fascist totalitarianism.
I do not understand why some cannot recognize this obvious enemy.
Perhaps incorrect labels of people and wars such as Arafat loving
`peace’ and Islamic terrorists as `freedom fighters’ influence them.
These wars are only battles in the larger war – the war against another
fascist totalitarian enemy that includes many countries.
So the common sense label for this war: World War IV.
It is my hope that if you view this war as a `World War,’ a label as
accurate as any, it will provide clarity. Look at the bigger picture
here. We have seen how Islamic Fascism can affect others and us and
it is very clear that our enemy plans to continue their aggressive
war against us. We have also seen how we have affected others in
previous world wars and how freedom and democracy is the only
successful avenue.
America is the only country that can win this World War. As with
previous World Wars, one can also expect the defeated countries to
embrace freedom and democracy as in Afghanistan and starting in Iraq.
One can assume that these countries will become friends and trading
partners, which will benefit their citizenry and ours. I believe
history is clear on this.
However, World War IV is not only unfolding in Israel, Afghanistan
and Iraq. This war may involve Iran, Syria and other Middle Eastern
and African countries. It may have to occur in our own backyard.
Although the geographic targets are not always obvious, the
demographic targets most definitely are. We need to continue
appealing to our government officials to keep up the fight to wipe
out Islamic Fascism and work hard to implement freedom and democracy
in its wake no matter how long it takes.
I want to be able to watch the History Channel thirty years from now
and see how we, as Americans, again pressed on to make the world a
better place from the evil of fascists and socialist totalitarianism.
The military will be correctly labeled `heroes’, the defeated
countries will enter a `New Era of Happiness and Prosperity’, and
peace will be the norm.
What would be your reply to an interview on that History Channel
thirty years from now? If the interviewer reminded you of your 2004
behavior toward this war – what would your label be?

Number of AIDS cases in Armenia reaches 16-year high – agency
Arminfo
30 Nov 04
YEREVAN
Since Armenia registered its first AIDS victim 16 years ago, the
highest number of AIDS cases, 45, was registered this year.
We should note that about a week ago the number of AIDS patients stood
at 42 people. According to the HIV/AIDS prevention centre, the number
of women who have contracted the disease has sharply increased to 13
cases this year. Seven women and one child have died. The first AIDS
fatality was registered in 2001. Most women were not engaged in
prostitution and were not drug addicts but contracted the “curse of
the mankind” thanks to their husbands who, in turn, picked up the
infection in CIS countries, namely, in Russia and Ukraine.
In the course of the last 13 days, the number of people who contracted
the AIDS infection has considerably increased. While 50 cases were
registered as of 17 November, the number has already risen to
60. According to official statistics, there are 304 HIV-positive
cases, including 288 citizens of the republic, while only two weeks
ago the number was 296.
The highest rate of the disease is observed in Yerevan – 143 cases or
49.7 per cent of Armenia’s total. However, specialists from the
HIV/AIDS prevention centre say the official statistics do not reflect
the real situation in the republic because real figures are 10 times
higher. Specialists believe that there are more than 3,000
HIV-positive cases in Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Iran-Armenia gas pipeline construction launched
Mediamax news agency
30 Nov 04
YEREVAN
The construction of the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline started today in the
village of Agarak in Armenia’s Syunik Region [southern Armenia].
Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan attended the ceremony to
start the construction as well. The first 40 km of the gas pipeline
will be built on a 30m-dollar credit allocated by Iran.
[Passage omitted: background of project]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IRNA, Iran
Nov 30 2004
Iran-Armenia gas pipeline project launched
Moscow, Nov 30, IRNA — An Iranian company started construction work
on a 41-km gas pipeline at Armenian border town of Megri on Tuesday
to carry Iranian gas to the republic.
Armenian Prime Minister Andranika Markaryan, Energy Minister Armen
Movsisian and other ministers, officials of Oil Ministry, Head of the
Presidential office Artashes Tumanian, Iranian Energy Minister
Habibollah Bitaraf and Ambassador to Yerevan Alireza Haqiqian were
present at the inaugural ceremony.
Iran and Armenia on May 13 signed an agreement to construct a 41-km
gas pipeline between the Armenian cities of Megri and Kajaran.
The 41-km pipeline is expected to cost 210-220 million dollars.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Markaryan said that November 30
will be recorded in the history of Iran-Armenia ties.
He said that implementation of this project would have an important
effect on the whole economy of Armenia.
Bitaraf, also speaking on the occasion, said that launching of the
project was a token of the two countries’ determination to bolster
bilateral cooperation.
The Iranian ambassador to Yerevan termed the construction of new
pipeline as a strategic measures which would lead to development of
the country and reinvigoration of the region.
The first gas consignment is to be transferred to Armenia in January
2007.

Russian security boss negative about NATO’s possible role in Karabakh
settlement
Mediamax news agency
30 Nov 04
YEREVAN
The secretary of the Russian Security Council, Igor Ivanov, today
expressed his satisfaction with readiness of Armenia and Azerbaijan to
continue a high-level dialogue to settle the Karabakh conflict.
He said “there is hardly a need for introducing changes which could
make it difficult to expand this dialogue”.
At journalists’ request, Ivanov in Yerevan was commenting on the
recent statement of official Baku on the desirability of NATO’s
involvement in the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict. Regional conflicts were not been discussed at a meeting of
the committee of the secretaries of the security councils of the
Collective Security Treaty Organization, which was held in Yerevan
today, because “this is not in our organization’s competence”, Ivanov
said.
“The Russian Federation thinks that the parties to the conflict should
find a solution to the Karabakh problem with active international
assistance. Russia will continue to provide such assistance within the
framework of existing mechanisms,” Ivanov said.
The secretary of the National Security Council under the president of
Armenia and defence minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, noted that the OSCE
Minsk Group was dealing with the resolution of the conflict and none
of the parties can make a unilateral decision to expand or change the
mediation format.

Azerbaijan detains 288 wagons carrying fuel to Armenia via Georgia – agency
Turan news agency
30 Nov 04
BAKU
Azerbaijan’s customs officials are currently holding nearly 450
railway cars, bound for Armenia, on the Azerbaijani-Georgian border.
The [Azerbaijani] State Customs Committee says that 288 of the railway
cars were carrying fuel from Turkmenistan to Armenia. The customs
committee, which has been inspecting buyers of the transit cargo since
4 November this year, has found out that some of the cargo from
Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan arrives in Armenia via
Georgia. Because of the Armenian occupation, Azerbaijan is not
allowing goods to enter Armenia via its territory in line with
transportation agreements signed with the CIS countries.

Buffalo News, NY
Nov 30 2004
Doctoral candidate is 16
UB student has two degrees and is a teaching assistant
By PETER SIMON
News Staff Reporter
11/30/2004

Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News
While other 16-year-olds are in high school, Rafael Davtian is
working on his doctorate in political science at the University at
Buffalo.

Rafael Davtian is a young man in a hurry.
A big hurry.
At age 16 – when students are normally still in high school – Rafael
is studying for his doctorate at the University at Buffalo. He has,
in effect, skipped eight grades of school.
Rafael doesn’t have his driver’s license yet, but he already has
earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Even though he won’t be old enough to vote for another two years, he
is a teaching assistant in UB’s political science department, helping
instruct students years older than he is.
“I like to learn and was motivated to advance,” said Rafael, a native
of Armenia who came to this country with his parents at age 8. “The
two main components were constant hard work and determination to keep
going.”
Academic acceleration hasn’t hurt the quality of his work one bit.
Rafael has never – not once, at any grade level – earned a grade
lower than A. He was valedictorian of Utah State University’s College
of Humanities with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
And in less than a semester, Rafael has earned a sterling reputation
at UB.
“He’s extremely mature and extremely bright,” said Franco Mattei,
director of graduate studies in political science. “He’s just at the
top of the class.”
Rafael hopes to teach at the college level, work for the State
Department or an international agency or get involved in electoral
politics.
His academic accomplishments are even more remarkable because he
arrived in the United States at age 8, knowing just a few words of
English.
In search of better opportunities and a Western lifestyle, his family
moved from Armenia to West Germany when Rafael was 3 and then to Salt
Lake City five years later.
Rafael’s progress was meteoric. For example:
– He skipped grades 4 and 5 and went directly from sixth grade to
ninth grade.
– He tackled the last three years of high school in two years and
still managed to accumulate 40 college credits.
– He earned an associate’s degree from Salt Lake Community College at
age 13, finished his undergraduate requirements in three semesters
instead of four and earned his master’s degree in one year rather
than two.
– Even though he studies from six to eight hours a day, Rafael finds
time to play tennis, soccer and chess and to read books for pleasure.
Most accelerated students skip just a year or two of school, and
Rafael’s academic career is highly unusual but not unique, said
Nicholas Colangelo, director of the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted
Education at the University of Iowa.
Colangelo, an advocate of acceleration for gifted students, said even
dramatic advancement can work with the support and planning of
parents and schools.
“The bottom line is, kids develop at different rates, and some very
much so,” he said. “The question you have to ask is: What would it
have been like for this young man if he stayed with his age group?”
Well-spoken, personable and impeccably polite, Rafael said he doesn’t
think about age and feels perfectly comfortable with his classmates.
“For me, it has become more or less normal,” he said. “I simply
accept the fact that here I am. It could be no other way.”
Armin Davtian, a manufacturing engineer while in Armenia, said he
advocated for Rafael’s acceleration based on his progress in the
early grades and his love of learning.
“I saw how quickly he grasped almost everything,” Davtian said. “He
was really fast, capable and brilliant.”
Neighbors, teachers and guidance counselors questioned that strategy
and raised concerns about the social and emotional pressures Rafael
would face. Some argued that we was being robbed of his childhood.
But the determination and confidence of both son and father never
wavered.
“I faced lots of blame and condemnation, but I knew I was doing the
right thing,” said Armin Davtian. “He proved he could overcome. He
produced excellent results. Whenever I was asked the question:
“Why?,’ the answer would be: “Why not?’ ”
Rafael agrees. “I was able to adapt well,” he said. “I get along with
everyone. I think it was stranger for the people around me than it
was for me, actually.”
Rafael’s academic success has been a family effort.
Armin and his wife, Gayene, moved with Rafael from Salt Lake City to
Logan, Utah, so their only child could attend Utah State, and then to
Amherst for Rafael’s doctoral program.
At Utah State, Armin Davtian enrolled in and graduated from the same
master’s program as his son.
“He was 14, I was 41, and we were sitting together and taking classes
together,” Davtian said.
UB provided Rafael not only a paid assistantship, but also a
Presidential Fellowship, the highest academic recognition accorded by
the College of Arts and Sciences.
“He’s one of the most outstanding students we’ve had in recent
years,” said Frank C. Zagare, chairman of UB’s political science
department and one of Rafael’s professors. “He more than competes
with older students in the class.”
Rafael loves UB, and college officials said his adjustment backs up
the confidence they showed in him.
“We made the right decision,” UB’s Mattei said. “I’m glad we did,
because otherwise it would have been our loss.”

G2: Health: The Mind Instructor: The tabloids have feted his ‘miracle’
cures for paralysis and spinal injuries but the medical establishment
has dismissed Hratch Ogali as a quack. Tanya Gold sits in on a surgery
and asks whether healing really works
The Guardian – United Kingdom
Nov 30, 2004
TANYA GOLD

Last week I received an email from Euan MacDonald, a 30-year-old
former City worker who has motor neurone disease. The email was about
Hratch Ogali – the “Mind Instructor” – a healer feted by the tabloids
for his “miracle” cures for spinal injuries and paralysis but
ostracised by the medical establishment. MacDonald has been his
patient for a year. “As this is a progressive condition, results are
difficult to measure,” MacDonald wrote. “Who knows if I would be
better, worse or the same had I not gone to see Hratch? What I can say
with certainty is that with Hratch’s help I am living without fear.”
In Ogali’s gleaming yellow studio in Marylebone, just off Harley
Street, Alessia is sitting on a bed, wearing a faded Juicy Couture
tracksuit. The room is crowded with equipment for physical and
motivational therapy: a multi-gym, a climbing frame and a miniature
jungle of plants. Diagrams of the skeletal system and the muscular
system frown down. Ogali is massaging Alessia’s legs, looking, he
says, “for active nerves. There is always an active nerve somewhere.”
He taps her foot with a metal rod and squints. “They start
responding.” He carries her to a vibrating power plate. “You’re
getting heavier,” he smiles.
“No,” Alessia replies.
“Get up and walk,” he shouts. But Alessia can’t; she was paralysed
when the private jet in which she was flying crashed.
“I moved to London because of Hratch,” Alessia says. “My family would
fly any doctor in the world to Rome to see me. Doctors came from all
over Italy, from Cuba and from Germany. My father is a brain
surgeon. So after the accident I knew. I didn’t need to be told. If
you break your spinal cord you don’t walk.” Hratch grunts, without
looking up, “You will walk again.”
Ogali used to be a jeweller. Then, he says, “life presented me with a
different task”. He was born in Syria to Armenian parents but he grew
up in Jordan. He came to London in 1962 and met his wife, Tracey, who
persuaded him to become a healer. “My experiences were unique in
life,” he says. “Unusual. I can’t identify the first person I healed
because people always came to me; always talked about a difficulty of
some kind and I always had the advice. Wherever I went this was the
case.”
He places a walking frame by the bed and tells Alessia to stand. “Go –
go – go!” he commands. “Come on! On your toes. Push! Push! Hold
tight. Hold tight.” She stands. After four weeks of daily treatment,
Ogali says, “Alessia is improving. It will all get repaired and these
feet will start feeling and we will get you up and walking. How’s
that? Is that a good plan?”
I watch Ogali “mind instruct” a man with Parkinson’s disease. “Back to
normal; back to normal,” he says as the man struggles to his
feet. “Let it be active; let it be alive. Don’t let yourself
disappear. Think; think.” Ogali pauses his incantation, strokes his
moustache and stares violently at his patient. “Breathe into your
brain through your nose and let it go down your spinal cord. Tell
yourself, “I want my life back – not tomorrow, not after lunch, but
now!” Fight! Fight! Fight! Don’t feel sorry for yourself and don’t
make yourself weak.” Eventually the patient stands, touching Ogali’s
little finger and they breathe, simultaneously, with triumph. The
patient’s wife turns to me. “He has a positive attitude and a will
now,” she says. “Before he met Hratch, he couldn’t care less.”
The next patient is Florence. She came to England from Nigeria in 1964
to work as a social worker and was diagnosed with the virus GBS in
2000. “It began wi th weak fingers at half past eight in the morning,”
she tells me, struggling to enunciate; the virus gifted her with a
speech impediment. “By midnight I had lost all feeling.”
Ogali’s flirtatious incarnation has emerged. He skips out of the
consulting room, hugs Florence and demands, “You must get well because
I haven’t had any proper Nigerian food in this country and you must
make it for me.” She purses her lips, moodily, at him. “Don’t behave
like an old woman,” he chides and wheels her over to the adapted
exercise bike. “Faster! Faster!’ he commands. Florence sweats, gasps,
and mentions a hip problem. “This stuff with hips; don’t make it up,”
he spits. “You don’t need a hip replacement. You haven’t done any
exercise for four years; that is all that is wrong with your hip. Next
week you will stand.”
I ask Florence if Ogali’s therapies are helpful. “My legs are
stronger,” she says. “I’m now able to stand. I’m happier and more
enthusiastic.” What, I ask her, is this mysterious ‘mind control’?
“‘Mind control’ is just focusing on what I’m doing. In my sessions
with Hratch (which cost pounds 100 an hour), I just say to myself,
‘I’m going to do it. I’m going to do it.’ I imagine I am running a
marathon and I am heading for the finishing line. I’m going to stand
up. I’m going to walk.” I watch her eyes. She believes it.
After the last patient has been kissed goodbye, I ask Ogali how he
learnt ‘mind instruction’. “First I investigated psychics, mediums,
and the telepathic world,” he says, rolling a cigarette and watching
his small son bicycle across the consulting room. “Then I taught
myself conventional medicine. I opened myself up so I can understand
it all. My questions always took me directly to where I could get the
answers from. When I see my patients, I move through my mind so I
understand exactly what they feel. I enter their energy and I bring
myself into such focus that I feel their ailment myself. I use their
instinctive memory, of walking and of health. I resolve the
difficulties from the depth of the unconscious mind.”
Ogali is writing a series of books on disease and remedy. His literary
agency, he tells me, used to represent Sigmund Freud. Ogali insists
that his methods can be taught and, if his principles are eventually
accepted by the medical establishment and the government, a small army
of mind instructors will march out from his mews.
For now, this is unlikely. Ogali’s campaign for recognition by the NHS
has failed; his letters to the Department of Health are unanswered. In
neurological circles, he is dismissed as a quack who prescribes
nothing more powerful than counterfeit hope.
Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at the Peninsular
Medical School in Exeter explains the medical establishment’s mistrust
of “alternative” healers and “miracle” cures. “It is impossible to
make judgments with anecdotal evidence,” he tells me. “Anecdotes are
meaningless. It is only through proper research that our knowledge
advances. Hratch Ogali should provide proper evidence with clinical
trials. If he is potent then everyone should benefit from him. I am
not saying he is a crook – it is possible he has a power – but if he
wants recognition he shouldn’t go through the media. He should go
through science.”
Then why, I ask Ernst, do Ogali’s patients’ testify to recovery? My
desk is covered with letters from them, exalting his
methods. “Motivational healing like Ogali’s raises patient
expectation,” Ernst says. “Their belief in the possibility of recovery
is increased by the healer’s intervention and this belief can move
mountains. But it is wrong,” he adds, “to make patients believe that
there is a supernatural power that can heal.” He then explains the
placebo effect. “When there is residual function,” he says, “and if
you are told incessantly that you will be better then you will be
better. But it is unreliable and it is not unique to Ogali.”
Ernst tells me the story of the Spiritual Healer experiment, which
took place in Exeter five years ago. “We teamed five spiritual healers
with five actors pretending to be spiritual healers,” he says. “After
they had learnt to be spiritual healers the actors had the same effect
on the patients as the healers.” He clears his throat. “If anything,
they were a little better.”
But Ogali’s belief in his ability to heal is absolute; his patients
are his evidence. “If you focus,” he says, “you learn that you possess
all sorts of powers that are natural. Psychic power is
natural. Telepathic power is natural. We all possess this strength
but the will and the concentration and the determination to overcome
must be absolute.” He blows cigarette smoke to the roof of his
consulting room. “It is within us.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress