Father of California-based owner Krikorian dies at 89

Thoroughbred Times
Sept 2 2004

Former trainer George Krikorian Sr., father of Southern
California-based owner George Krikorian, died at age 89 on August 29 in
Vista, California, after a battle with cancer. Krikorian retired as
a trainer in the late 1980s after training on the New England circuit
at such tracks as Lincoln Downs, Narragansett Park, Rockingham Park,
and Suffolk Downs, Daily Racing Form reports.

His son gained prominence by campaigning multiple Grade 1-winning
millionaire Starrer and Grade 3 winner Makeup Artist.

A memorial service was scheduled for Thursday near Oceanside,
California. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations
be made to the St. John Garabed Armenian Church, 4473 30th Street,
San Diego, California 92116.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Leaders Of Azerbaijan, Armenia To Hold Karabakh Talks

Agence France Presse
Sept 2 2004

NAKHCHEVAN, Azerbaijan, Sept 2 (AFP) – Azerbaijan’s President Ilham
Aliyev said Thursday he would hold talks later this month with his
Armenian counterpart Robert Kocharian on the future of the disputed
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Aliyev said the meeting with Kocharian would take place on the
sidelines of a summit of former Soviet states which opens in
Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, on September 15.

Under international law, Nagorno-Karabakh is part of Azerbaijan but
since a war in the early 1990s the mountainous territory has been
under de facto Armenian control.

More than a decade of sporadic peace talks has failed to settle the
row and Azerbaijan has threatened to go to war again to drive out
Armenian forces.

“We have not yet been able to reach an agreement, but the negotiations
are continuing, they are dealing with specific issues, and I want
to hope that they will produce results,” Aliyev told reporters on a
visit to the province of Nakhchevan in western Azerbaijan.

Professional dancers take new career tracks teaching in Soldotna
By JENNY NEYMAN, Peninsula Clarion

Peninsulaclarion.com, AK
Sept 2 2004

The kids at Vergine’s Dance Studio in Soldotna this year may not fully
grasp the intricacies of ballet, what it’s like to audition for a
dance company or how much work it takes to be a professional dancer,
but they’re learning from people who do.

Two new instructors at the studio, Andrea Mariano and Aram Manukyan,
are bringing their professional dance experience to share with
students.

“We don’t want to babysit, we want to train, that’s why we have
professionals here,” said Vergine Hedberg, owner of the studio. “I
value their knowledge and talent and want to pass it on to the
community.”

Mariano grew up in Colorado and graduated from Oklahoma City University
with a bachelor’s of performing arts degree in dance.

“My mom put me in classes when I was 2 or 3 and I just stuck with it,”
she said.

Manukyan works with Hillary Schneider as Aaron Hawbold watches in a
rehearsal Tuesday afternoon. Photo by Jenny Neyman

Her first trip to Alaska was with a U.S. tour of “Spirit of the
Dance,” which performed in Anchorage. She’s been a dance instructor
in Colorado and, before coming to Soldotna, she was performing in
a Las Vegas show on Saipan Island in the N. Mariana Islands. Alaska
is quite a change from the tropical conditions she’s been living in,
but one which she’s enjoyed so far.

“I love it. It’s so beautiful,” she said. “… I grew up in a small
town, but I think this is a little smaller. But I love it so far.”

Mariano said she’s excited to meet the community and get it involved
in supporting dance and the arts. She’s teaching jazz and tap at the
studio and hopes to teach an Irish tap class at some point. Mariano
also is involved in the studio’s production of “The Nutcracker,”
which will be performed Dec. 11 and 12. She will perform the role of
grandmother ‹ although she’s only 25.

Teaching kids has been a nice change of pace from performing
professionally for Mariano.

“They’re just so carefree, so open,” she said. “They’re willing to
work hard. … It’s refreshing to see kids supporting each other in
auditions. It’s not cutthroat (like it is in professional dance).”

Manukyan, 32, brings more than 20 years of professional experience
to his job of teaching ballet and character dance. He’s also
choreographing this year’s “Nutcracker.”

Born and raised in Armenia, Manukyan studied at the Armenian National
Choreography Academy. He performed in the Armenian National Ballet
Company for two years, then went to Ukraine to perform ballet for
six years. He studied dance instruction at the Russian Academy of
Theatre and Arts GITIS in Moscow.

Manukyan has traveled across the world performing classical dance,
just about everywhere but Africa, England and Australia. In 1997, he
moved to the United States to perform with the ballet in Annapolis,
M.D. He’s also performed in ballets in Cincinnati, Ohio and Tennessee,
including a stint as ballet master. For the last two years he’s been
with the ballet company in Sarasota, Fla. He is settling in Soldotna
with his wife and three children after teaching an intensive dance
class this summer at Vergine’s.

“When I told people I was going to Alaska everybody said, ‘You’re
going to Anchorage?’ I told them, ‘No, Alaska is bigger than just
Anchorage.'”

His kids haven’t seen snow in years and the prospect of moving
somewhere so out-of-the-way seemed daunting at first.

“My wife was cautious about moving here,” he said. “(But) the warmth
of the welcome of these people here was amazing. We’re pretty happy
here. … It takes a pretty much open person to feel good in a small
community.”

Being a professional instructor may seem a little lack-luster compared
to the accolades and glamour of being a professional dancer, but
Manukyan said teaching has its own rewards.

“If you see you can help them accomplish something, that’s what
teaching is all about,” he said.

Working with young dancers has its merits, too.

“Professionally, I’m just amazed with the students here. Myself,
being in this profession for 23 years, I was amazed by the kids’
dedication, their performing abilities. … I can just get things
out of them that I can’t get out of professionals.”

But Manukyan cautioned that dance is not for anyone who isn’t willing
to put time, energy and dedication into it ‹ and that goes for parents,
as well.

“If you want your kids to be involved in something and be good at it,
you have to focus them,” he said.

Ideally, Manukyan said he would like to get fathers and more boys
involved in dance so he can offer partners dance classes. The United
States seems to be unique in fostering the stigma that dance is for
girls and sports are for boys, Manukyan said. In other countries,
just as many boys take dance as girls. Manukyan said dance offers the
same physical exercise and competition as sports, but also offers an
education in art.

“It’s a wonderful education, even if you don’t become a dancer,”
he said. “… It’s so combined, so complete a kind of education.”

Armenian President expresses sympathy to Russia

RosBusinessConsulting Database
September 2, 2004 Thursday 4:24 am, EST

Armenian President Robert Kocharian has condemned the recent hostage
taking in North Ossetia. As the press department of the Armenian
President’s office reported, Kocharian sent a telegram to Russian
President Vladimir Putin saying that Armenia was disturbed by news
about the school siege in Ossetia. Terrorists challenge the whole
world by taking children hostages, he emphasized. Armenian people
express their sympathy to Russians, he added. He also expressed his
support of Russia’s efforts to fight this evil.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Low employment and a violent past haunts region

Bath Chronicle, UK
September 1, 2004

Nagorno Karabakh was the site of intense fighting between Armenia and
Azerbaijan in the early 1990s. Ten years ago, a ceasefire was signed
by both countries.

But the situation there is far from resolved – there has still been
no agreement over who owns the Eastern European region.

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are now committed to ending the feud,
which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people since the
Armenians declared their independence from Azerbaijani rule.

The international community has become increasingly interested in this
part of the former Soviet Union, as mineral-rich Azerbaijan and other
countries in the area have exploited vast reserves of oil around the
Caspian Sea.

About one million people were displaced by the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, and their resettlement, as well as the future status of
the territory, are among the major issues to be resolved by leaders.

Shushi itself is 20 minutes from the capital of Nagorno Karabakh,
Stepanakert.

The smaller city still lies in ruins, and its 2,000-strong population
has next to no employment opportunities.

Going back to war-torn armenia
by Amy Wilson

Bath Chronicle, UK
September 1, 2004

Abath woman is about to make her second voyage to help poverty-
stricken people in Eastern Europe. Briony Krikorian, 22, from Lansdown
Mansions, Bath, spent the last year doing voluntary work in Armenia –
just east of Turkey – for the Armenian Volunteer Corps (AVC).

She is returning this month to work once more for the organisation.

And she will spend a month in Armenia before going to Nagorno Karabakh,
a war-torn region nearby, to teach English, crafts and computer skills.

Miss Krikorian returned to Bath this summer for a friend’s wedding,
but says she is looking forward to getting back out to Armenia.

Last year she spent the majority of her time at a family centre
catering for around 50 families, providing a hot meal and tutoring
every day.

This time she will work as a volunteer in a city called Shushi, which
lies in ruins following battles between Armenia and Azerbaijan over
ownership of the land between 1991 and 1994.

She will spend her time establishing a community centre and identifying
projects that would benefit from future funding.

Miss Krikorian, who went to Kingswood School before doing a degree
in politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford, says she is looking
forward to the new challenge.

“My degree was a good background, especially because the political
situation is quite tense over there.

“I really enjoy the work we do, and I think that going to Nagorno
Karabakh will be very interesting, and challenging as well.” Miss
Krikorian is intending to either do a masters degree or go into paid
international work when she returns from the country next August.

The AVC was established by American-Armenians desperate to help the
country by making sure it regained self-sufficiency.

It places volunteers with new ideas, initiative and crucial English
skills in positions of responsibility in schools, charities and
local businesses.

“Armenia’s acceptance of new ideas is a slow process, and requires
personal relations of trust and understanding, rather than an enforced
programme of westernisation, and AVC really understands that,” Miss
Krikorian said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
09/02/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1. Giant German Banks Accused in Los Angeles Lawsuit
2. Independence Celebrations in Mountainous Karabagh Republic
3. Lebanon ARF Supports Extending Lahoud Term
4. Cyprus FM Calls on Turkey to Recognize Cyprus
5. Saakashvili Determined to Integrate S. Ossetia

1. Giant German Banks Accused in Los Angeles Lawsuit

LOS ANGELESA class action lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in a Los Angeles
Federal
Court against two German Banks, giant Deutsche Bank and Allianz acquired
Dresdner Bank. Armenian Genocide survivors and their heirs, the Plaintiffs,
charge both banks, the Defendants, of several acts of wrongdoing and demand
recovery of assets. Dresdner Bank was acquired by Allianz in 2001.
Deutsche Bank was Adolf Hitler’s lead banker. Documents released by bank
historian Manfred Pohl, who made them public in February 1999, revealed for
the
first time how Deutsche Bank financed much of the construction of the
Auschwitz
concentration camp. The documents provide evidence of the secret SS-controlled
accounts used to transfer funds stolen from Jews who had been deported or sent
to death camps during World War II. The Armenian Genocide occurred during
World
War I, in 1915when reigning Turks of the Ottoman Empire mass-murdered over 2.1
million Armenians in present day Turkey.
Five families filed as Lead Plaintiffs, and since the case is a class action
lawsuit, it was filed on behalf of Armenians who: 1) made deposits with the
Banks, 2) who were killed in the Armenian Genocide and 3) whose heirs were not
repaid deposits on their accounts.
In addition to the demand of asset recovery, Plaintiffs are seeking
compensation for unpaid wages and other damages stemming from the use of
Plaintiffs’ ancestors and other Armenians as slave and forced laborers during
the time of the Genocide.
Plaintiffs have information supporting wrongdoings by Deutsche Bank and
Dresdner Bank of engaging in the following acts during the Armenian Genocide
and World War I:
a. Knowingly trading with Young Turks in goods made by slave labor
b. Acting as the secret banks of Young Turks, aiding and abating in looting,
and functioning as conduit for looted assets – laundering for profit from
goods
from Armenians
c. Directly owning/controlling the Berlin-Baghdad Railway that used slave
labor
d. Taking 100,000 Armenians by rail to the death camps and charging them for
this trip to death
Attorney for the Plaintiffs, Vartkes Yeghiayan of Los Angeles says,
“Europeans
nick named the Ottomans and reigning Turks as the “Sick Man of Europe” during
World War I. Turks lacked governmental organization; therefore, Deutsche Bank
and Dresdner Bank stepped in to help them organize, aid and abate in
lootingprofiting from the innocent. They haven’t cleared their names in
history
by settling with Jewish Holocaust survivors. The Armenian Diaspora will not
waiver either.”
In June 2004, Armenian survivors and heirs settled with US giant insurer, New
York Life Insurance Company for $20 million dollars, recovering funds for
unpaid life insurance policies.
Demirjian, et al. v. Deutsche Bank and Dresdner Bank, (Case No. CV04-7248), a
class action law suit in Federal Court was filed on August 31, 2004, seeking
payment for recovery of account deposits, as well as punitive damages for
unpaid wages and other reparations. The attorney representing Plaintiffs is
Los
Angeles attorney: Vartkes Yeghiayan of Yeghiayan and Associates. In June 2004,
Yeghiayan recovered unpaid life insurance benefits for over 2,000 Armenian
policyholders and their heirs in settling Marootian et al. v. New York Life
Insurance Company. He is an expert in Armenian asset recovery and Genocide
losses.

2. Independence Celebrations in Mountainous Karabagh Republic

STEPANAKERT (Combined Sources)The Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR), on
Thursday, celebrated the 13th anniversary of its independence with a series of
festive events in the capital of Stepanakert and around the regions of the
republic.
Celebrations began in the morning with MKR Defense Army servicemen marching
along the streets of Stepanakert.
At noon, MKR President Arkady Ghukasian, Armenia’s defense minister Serge
Sargsian, MKR National Assembly president Oleg Yessayan, and other government
and public officials, joined guests from Armenia and Russia, to honor Arthur
Mkrtchianthe president of MKR’s first National Assembly who was murdered in
April 1992, only three months after assuming his post. The dignitaries placed
flowers at the former president’s grave and observed a moment of silence.
In his address, Serge Sargsian said, “The time will come when the longing of
generationswho began struggling for these noble ideals long before weready to
risk their lives for their nations.” Sargsian added that the time will soon
arrive to celebrate MKR’s unification with Armenia.
In its congratulatory message to the MKR, the Supreme Body of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation pf Armenia stated that declaring independence in one
of the occupied territories of our homeland was not only the right historical
decision, but, as the past 13 years have proven, has made it possible to
organize for self-defense, and advance economically and politically. “MKR
today
is a stably developing sovereign state and attracts the unfading attention of
the political world. We are confident that development of state institutions
and democratic values will finally make the international community comprehend
the right of our MKR compatriots to live independently in the homeland of
their
forefathers.”
MKR declared independence from Azerbaijan on September 2, 1991. The
declaration of independence was confirmed by a nationwide referendum on
December 10, 1991.

3. Lebanon ARF Supports Extending Lahoud Term

BEIRUT (Aztag Daily)The Central Committee of ARF Lebanon extended support for
the decision of the country’s council of ministers to extend President Emile
Lahoud’s term for an additional three years, and stressed that the council’s
decision was made in light of local and regional realities and based on
overcoming challenges and decisions, while expressing the will of the
people of
Lebanon.
The ARF CC also emphasized the importance of preserving national principles,
to which President Lahoud adheresespecially during these times when local,
regional, and international developments and forces require that the people of
Lebanon remain unified and prudent.

4. Cyprus FM Calls on Turkey to Recognize Cyprus

(EUBusiness.com)Turkey would find it very difficult to secure European Union
(EU) accession without having any formal ties with fellow member Cyprus,
Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou warned on Wednesday.
“Everyone in Europe says it would be extremely difficult for Turkey to
proceed
with its [EU] application without having any ties whatsoever [with Nicosia]
and
also maintain a hostile stance against Cyprus,” said Iacovou.
He was responding to comments made by his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul,
who said Tuesday Ankara is considering steps to include Cyprus in a customs
union between Turkey and the European Union, but that such a move would not
amount to a recognition of the Greek Cypriot government.
“There is work under way on this issue, but this would never mean a political
recognition,” Gul told the NTV news channel.
Iacovou argued there were not just legal obligations but sound practical
reasons for Turkey to create diplomatic ties with the Cypriot government.
“How can we take a position on issues raised when we don’t have an embassy in
Ankara to be informed first hand as every other country does,” queried the
minister after meeting Dutch European Affairs Minister Atzo Nicolai here.
“An EU-member country can’t be denied the same possibilities afforded the
rest,” he added.
Iacovou said the Dutch EU presidency was “concerned” about Turkey’s approach
towards Cyprus, such as not accepting Cyprus-flagged ships at its ports,
opening of air corridors and the customs union.
Turkey entered into a customs union with the pan-European bloc in 1995.
The divided island of Cyprus, represented by its internationally recognized
Greek Cypriot side, joined the EU on May 1. So far, however, it has been
excluded from participation in the overall EU customs union with Turkey
because
it has no formal diplomatic ties with Ankara.
Brussels has put pressure on Ankara to resolve the issue.
A last-ditch effort to reunify Cyprus’ Greek and Turkish communities
before EU
accession failed in April when Greek Cypriots rejected a UN peace plan that
Turkish Cypriots endorsed.
Cyprus has been split since 1974 when Turkey occupied the north in
response to
a Greek Cypriot coup in Nicosia aimed at uniting the island with Greece.
EU officials have said the customs union problem will not have a bearing on
Turkey’s prospects of opening membership talks.
The Greek Cypriots, however, will have a say in the decision, to be taken in
December, in their capacity as a member of the 25-nation bloc.

5. Saakashvili Determined to Integrate S. Ossetia

TBILISI (Civil Georgia/Reuters)At a news briefing in the southern Georgian
resort town of Likani, President Mikhail Saakashvili assured that Georgia will
continue its “peaceful efforts to reintegrate South Ossetia and will not allow
the conflict to be frozen.”
“No shots are fired in the conflict zone and the Georgian villages there are
very well protected. This once again proves that our decision to pull back
troops was right,” Saakashvili said.
The Georgian side pulled out non-peacekeeping troops from the South Ossetian
conflict zone on August 20 and replaced its 500 internal troops, which were
the
part of the joint Russian-Georgian-Ossetian peacekeeping forces, with the
elite
troops of the Defense Ministry.
South Ossetia’s separatist leadership dismissed the Georgian pullback as a
“theatrical gesture by the government and the Georgian president which are
trying to maintain a democratic face.”
Georgia Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said on August 31 that he is ready to
hold talks with separatist leader Eduard Kokoev, but added, “this kind of
meeting should be accurately prepared.” “Only the status of the region will be
put on the agenda of the talks,” Zhvania stated.

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ARKA News Agency
Sept 2 2004

RA Government approves program of activities at World Universal
Exposition in Japan in 2005

Armenia and Poland to join their efforts in fight against criminality

RA President Robert Kocharyan condemns taking hostages in Beslan

Banking rate in Armenia remains unchanged – 16% annually

A. Ghukasyan: long lasting peace is necessary for the constructive
life in NKR

*********************************************************************

RA GOVERNMENT APPROVES PROGRAM OF ACTIVITIES AT WORLD UNIVERSAL
EXPOSITION IN JAPAN IN 2005

YEREVAN, September 2. /ARKA/. RA Government approved program of
activities at World Universal Exposition in Japan in 2005, RA
Government press office told ARKA.
2005 World Exposition to open on March 25 and will last 185 days.
L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

ARMENIA AND POLAND TO JOIN THEIR EFFORTS IN FIGHT AGAINST CRIMINALITY

YEREVAN, September 2. /ARKA/. The RA Government approved the signing
of intergovernmental agreement with Poland on cooperation in fight
against criminality, according to the Press Service and Public
Relations Department of RA Government. L.V.–0–

*********************************************************************

RA PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARYAN CONDEMNS TAKING HOSTAGES IN BESLAN

YEREVAN, September, 2. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharyan condemns
taking hostages in Beslan, the city of Osetia. According to RA
President’s Press Service Department, this was stated in the telegram
of Kocharyan sent to RF President V. Putin on Wednesday. “The news of
taking pupils, their parents and teachers as hostages in Beslan was
received with bitter denunciation in Armenia. By taking children as
hostages, the terrorists challenge the whole civilized world. During
these hours the Armenian people share the pain of Russians”, as
stated in the telegram. We severely condemn any terrorism and express
our support to Russian people and Government of RF in their struggle
against this evil”, Kocharyan stated. A.H. -0–

*********************************************************************

BANKING RATE IN ARMENIA REMAINS UNCHANGED – 16% ANNUALLY

YEREVAN, September 2. /ARKA/. Since September 1 the banking rate in
Armenia remains unchanged at 16% annually. As it is mentioned in the
press release provided by the Press Service of the Central Bank of
Armenia to ARKA, this rate was determined by the decree of the
Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia. T.M. -0–

*********************************************************************

A. GHUKASYAN: LONG LASTING PEACE IS NECESSARY FOR THE CONSTRUCTIVE
LIFE IN NKR

YEREVAN, September, 2. /ARKA/. Long lasting peace is necessary for
the constructive life in Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), as it was
stated in the message of NKR President Arkadi Ghukasyan on the
occasion of the Day of NKR. According to NKR President’s Press
Service Department, the message states: “Taking an opportunity, I
again confirm the adherence of the NKR authorities to peace
settlement of the conflict with Azerbaijan. I think that if the
Azerbaijani authorities have a good will to settle the conflict on
mutually acceptable terms, then the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group
could have positive results”. “The authorities of the country will
continue paying attention to the issues of strengthening the NKR
Defense Army. The command post military exercises of our army,
equipped by the most modern armament, held in August 2004,
demonstrated to the enemy of Artsakh high military efficiency of our
army and its ability to solve the most difficult tasks to ensure the
safety of NKR and its people”, as stated in the message.
According to Ghukasyan, “13 years ago the people of Artsakh made a
historic choice to have free and independent NKR. The rightfulness of
the choice is proved by the time marked by incredible efforts of the
Artsakh people to defend the young republic from external aggression,
to overcome hard consequences of the destroying war, and to improve
the economy of NKR, its social and cultural areas. The success of the
Artsakh people in building democratic state hasn’t remained unnoticed
on the part of progressive powers abroad. The fact that NKR is not
recognized is not a cause for the majority of them to have a biased
attitude to NKR. It’s pleasant that the number of our friends abroad
as well as that of our sincere well-wishers grows day by day”.
A.H.-0–

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
September 2, 2004
CONTACT: David Zenian
E-mail: [email protected]

CONGRESSMAN PORTER WILL JOIN ARMENIAN CAUCUS:
ASSEMBLY ACTIVISTS VISIT SEVERAL DISTRICT OFFICES

Washington – The Armenian Assembly Thursday welcomed the decision by
first-term Congressman Jon C. Porter (R-NV) to join the Congressional
Caucus on Armenian Issues, thus boosting the Caucus membership to 137.

“We commend Congressman Porter for his support. We welcome his decision
to join the Caucus which continues to be the strongest bridge between
the United States, Armenia and the Armenian-American community,”
Assembly Executive Director Ross Vartian said.

Rep. Porter announced his decision at a meeting in his Henderson
district office, during a meeting with the Assembly’s Western Office
Director Lena Kaimian along with Assembly members Lenna Hovanessian
and Seta Der Garabedian-Barnes.

“I would be honored to join the Caucus and work with my fellow members
and the Armenian American community both here in my constituency
and elsewhere in support of your core issues,” Rep. Porter told
his visitors.

Rep. Porter is a member of the Education & the Workforce and
the Transportation & Infrastructure Committees. He signed the
2004 congressional letter to President George W. Bush urging him
to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide in his April 24th
commemorative address.

During the lengthy and candid meeting, Rep. Porter and his guests
reviewed several questions on such issues of importance to the
Armenian-American community as the U.S.-Armenia trade bill, military
parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan, U.S. foreign aid in general,
the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and other matters.

“I have never been to Armenia and I think it is important to see
first hand the situation on the ground. I definitely want to go and
see things for myself,” he told his visitors.

Rep. Porter’s decision to join the Armenian Caucus came during a
week when Assembly activists and staff stepped up their year-round
contacts with legislators across the country, visiting the district
offices of their elected officials in Congress and the Senate to
thank legislators for their support and discuss issues of concern to
the Armenian-American community.

The week-long meetings were spearheaded by the Assembly’s
Washington-based Grassroots Director Nancy Yerian Hiteshue who
traveled to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut, and Western
Office Director Lena Kaimian who visited Nevada.

Among the key issues discussed at all meetings were military aid
parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2005
Foreign Operations bill and legislation granting permanent normal
trade relations (PNTR) to Armenia.

“These district meetings are a great opportunity for our members and
friends to directly and personally get involved in the democratic
process. This was one of the key themes at the Assembly’s National
Conference last year and remains a year-round endeavor,” Hiteshue said.

The series of meetings began with a visit Tuesday to the district
office of Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), who represents Patterson,
Passaic and Bloomfield, during which Hiteshue was joined by Jane
Giragossian Hastings for an in-depth discussion of military parity
between Armenia and Azerbaijan, trade and other issues with the New
Jersey Congressman’s Chief of Staff.

Pascrell, who is a member of the Armenian Caucus and serves on the
Transportation and Infrastructure and Homeland Security Committees,
has a solid record of support for Armenian issues.

On Wednesday, Hiteshue joined Assembly member Sonia Hagopian, George
Yakoubian of the Knights of Vartan and Antoine Bazarashian from
the Tekeyan Cultural Association at meetings in Philadelphia with
the District Directors of Rep. Joseph Hoeffel (D-PA) and Sen. Arlen
Specter (R-PA), and the District Director of Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA)
in Upper Darby.

Hoffel and Welden are also members of the Armenian Caucus and strong
supporters of Armenian issues.

Traveling to Wethersfield, Connecticut on Thursday, Hiteshue and
Assembly activists Mr. and Mrs. Paul DerBogossian met the District
Director of Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT). Later the same day, Hiteshue
had a meeting with the District Director of Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
in New Haven.

Sen. Dodd and Rep. DeLauro have voted in support of several issues
of interest to the Armenian-American community.

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#2004-079

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Prison terms for anti-Armenian protesters “too harsh”: Azeri president

Agence France Presse — English
September 2, 2004 Thursday

NAKHCHEVAN, Azerbaijan Sept 2 — Prison sentences handed down by a
court in Azerbaijan to a group of hardline anti-Armenian protesters
are too harsh, Azeri leader Ilham Aliyev said Thursday.

“As president I cannot interfere in the decision of the court but as
a citizen I believe that the punishment is not appropriate to their
crime,” Aliyev told reporters.

“It is a very harsh punishment and I, as a citizen, cannot support it,”
he said on a visit to the province of Nakhchevan in western Azerbaijan.

Aliyev added that he hoped the prison sentences would be overturned
on appeal.

Earlier this week, six protesters were sentenced to between three
and five years in jail for trying to storm a NATO conference in
Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku.

The protesters had been demonstrating about the presence at the NATO
meeting of two officers from Armenia’s armed forces.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a war in the early 1990s over the
disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict displaced a
million civilians and left some 35,000 people dead.

The protesters’ case has become a cause celebre in Azerbaijan,
where the war, which ended with the Azeri side forfeiting control
over Nagorno-Karabakh, still rankles with many people.

There is growing public support for a renewal of hostilities to drive
Armenian forces out of Nagorno-Karabakh.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress