PRESS RELEASE
ARMENIAN RESEARCH CENTER, U. Michigan
Dennis R. Papazian, Ph.D.
Professor of History
Director, Armenian Research Center
The University of Michigan-Dearborn
4901 Evergreen Road
Dearborn, MI 48128-1491
O 1-313-593-5181
O Fax 1-313-593-5219
Home: 201-505-1591
Home Fax 201-746-0217

Center for Armenian Studies, Research and Publication

Associate professor or assistant professor in Armenian or Armenian
diaspora history with a strong competence in Middle Eastern history,
preferably in the history of the Arabs. The candidate must have a Ph.D.
by September 1, 2004, or strong evidence of probable award of degree
shortly thereafter. The successful candidate should demonstrate
potential for, and experience in, teaching, research and administration
as well as an ability to bring multicultural perspectives to the
instructional program. Knowledge of Armenian is necessary, and a working
knowledge of Arabic and Turkish highly desirable. Appointment effective
January 1, 2005 or September 1, 2005. Salary competitive.

The successful candidate should also have administrative experience or
potential and be prepared to assume the Directorship of the Armenian
Research Center when the current incumbent retires. Fund raising
experience is a plus. The successful candidate should provide visionary
leadership in advancing undergraduate education, developing
internationally recognized research and scholarship, develop
collaboration within and among the several academic units of the campus,
provide an advocacy for role of the Center, build productive
relationships with community institutions and residents, lead external
funding efforts, and enhance international programs and linkages.

Candidates must have the academic qualifications and achievements
consistent with an appointment to a tenured or tenure track position in
the College.

Letter of application should be accompanied by a curriculum vitae,
writing sample, an official transcript, and three to five letters of
recommendation. Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2004
and continue until the position is filled. Contact Professor Sidney
Bolkosky, Chair, Search Committee, Department of Social Sciences, the
University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, MI 48128-1491.

The University of Michigan is dedicated to the goal of building a
culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty, committed to teaching and
working in a multicultural environment, and it strongly encourages
applications from minorities and women. The University of
Michigan-Dearborn is an equal opportunity employer.

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

The Armenian Research Center is supported by an endowment of $2
million, raised by the current director from the Armenian-American
community, particularly the Knights of Vartan and the Edward Mardigian
family.

It is an integral part of the University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-D),
located in Dearborn, Michigan, a southwest suburb of Detroit. The
director is directly supported by the University and the income from
the endowment, some 5% a year, can be used for programs. Heretofore,
a portion of that money has been used for the invaluable research
assistant, Gerald E. Ottenbreit Jr., who will remain with the
Center. The rest of the funds have been used to acquire research
materials, including books, journals, microfilm, and microfiche, which
has made the collection preeminent in America. A list of its holdings
can be had by contacting Gerald Ottenbreit whose e-mail address is
above.

Funds are also used to support publications, a periodic
Scholar-in-Residence, public lectures by invited scholars, academic
research trips, receptions for the public, fundraising expenses, a
newsletter, and other educational activities including periodically
supporting Armenian language classes as needed.

The Center has a community advisory committee, and would benefit from
an academic advisory committee drawn from the campus and from other
educational institutions.

As noted above, the University is seeking a significant scholar at the
assistant- or associate-professor level. Excellent knowledge of
Armenian is a must, and other languages–such as Arabic, Turkish, and
Russian and French–are highly desirable.

The Dearborn campus of the University of Michigan has approximately
12,000 students. It is primarily a commuter campus located on the
fringe of the Detroit metropolitan area. Dearborn has an Arabic
population of some 30,000 persons, hence a person with the knowledge
of Arabic would be highly desirable. The person chosen should also be
able to teach Ottoman and Turkish history, if at all possible.

UM-D is a integral part of the three campus University of Michigan
system. While the history department only offers an undergraduate
degree, tenured professors at UM-D are members of the Horace
H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, the umbrella graduate school of
the University of Michigan, and members of the Rackham faculty are
eligible to serve on dissertation committees on any of the three
campuses.

The nominal teaching load is three courses per semester, but the
present Director is one-half time administrator and one-half time
teacher-scholar. The teaching load is negotiable.

The Center is currently moving into new quarters which are more than
three-times the size of its present quarters, thus providing ample
facilities for its program.

The Campus recently has established a Center for Arab-American
studies, concentrating on understanding and doing research on the Arab
community in America.

This position offers a rare opportunity to a scholar interested in
teaching, research, and publication as well as engaging in educational
activities within and outside the Armenian-American community.

The chosen candidate may begin as early as January 2005 or as late as
September 2005. The current Director, Prof. Dennis R. Papazian, will
serve until September 1, 2005, at which time the selected candidate
serving as Associate Director would become the Director.

For further information, please contact Dennis Papazian at telephone
201-505-1591, fax 201-746-0217, or by e-mail, [email protected]

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
08/27/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP://

1) Russia Halts Georgia Talks Over Embassy Protest
2) Pan-Armenian Educational Conference Ends in Yerevan
3) Second Annual Armenian Teachers’ Conference Comes to a Successful End
4) Deep Purple Heart Haze

1) Russia Halts Georgia Talks Over Embassy Protest

MOSCOW (Reuters)–Russia said on Friday it had pulled out of talks with
neighboring Georgia over disputes in separatist Georgian regions that have
stirred tension between the two states. The Russian Foreign Minstry cited loud
and abusive protests outside its Tbilisi embassy in stopping the talks, held
against a backdrop of bloodshed this month in the South Ossetia region.
Georgia
accuses Moscow of backing separatists in South Ossetia, which seeks union with
Russia, and in the Black Sea region of Abkhazia.
US-educated president Mikhail Saakashvili aims to end the two rebellions and
restore unity to Georgia, ruled from Moscow through seven decades of Soviet
power.
“While such scenes outside the Russian embassy in Tbilisi continue, it
will be
impossible to hold any contacts or talks with Georgia, either on military
issues or a ‘big’ agreement,” a Russian Foreign Ministry statement said.
It said hundreds of people were expected to take part in protests on Friday.
“There is no doubt that the disturbance is going on with the knowledge and
evident permission of the authorities,” it said, adding that the complicity of
the Georgian government was a breach of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic
relations.
It also said the embassy had stopped issuing visas to Georgians who want to
visit Russia, where tens of thousands of Georgians despairing of employment at
home work or do business.
Georgia is a sensitive issue for Russia, bordering as it does on the restive
south Russian region of Chechnya.
Saakashvili’s fiery rhetoric, including a warning to Russian holiday-makers
that they risk being shot at if they vacation at Abkhazian coastal resorts,
has
raised the stakes in the row, which came to a head this month with violence in
South Ossetia.
Russia has peacekeepers in both regions and, like Georgia, says it wants to
resolve the disputes peacefully.

2) Pan-Armenian Educational Conference Ends in Yerevan

YEREVAN (Yerkir)–The first-ever Pan-Armenian educational conference came to a
successful end in the city of Tsaghgadzor, with the participation of nearly
100
representatives from various countries. After a blessing by the Catholicos of
all Armenians Karekin II, the conference was underway with welcome messages
sent by President Robert Kocharian, as well as His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos
of Cilicia.
During the 3-day conference, the participants, which included principals and
teachers from diaspora schools, examined the current state of Armenian
schools,
focusing on the problems it faces and possible solutions.
With the goal of helping diaspora teachers, it was announced that re-training
courses will be offered in the upcoming year in the Spuirk educatonal center,
under the auspices of Echmiadzin.

3) Second Annual Armenian Teachers’ Conference Comes to a Successful End

ENCINO–The Board of Regents of Armenian Prelacy Schools’ second annual five
day seminar for Armenian teachers was an exceptional success with 96
participants.
The seminar, held at Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Armenian School, was attended by
the entire Armenian teaching staff of all the Armenian Prelacy schools and
kindergartens.
Also invited was relevant staff of other Armenian schools, Armenian Relief
Society Saturday Schools, and Davitian Mariamian Educational Foundation.
Experts presented on Armenian upbringing, educational methodology and
psychology, pedagogy, and Armenian language, literature, and history.
The entire program was funded once again by the Armenian Educational
Foundation at the request of the Board of Regents.

4) Deep Purple Heart Haze

BY SKEPTIK SINIKIAN

It’s official. As of this week, I am more interested in the results of the
Olympic Men’s badminton finals than I am in this year’s campaigns for
President. Unfortunately, the Olympics are going to draw to a close in a few
days but the Election isn’t until November. This means we have to endure
another two months of boring analysis and pointless verbal attacks none of
which include the word “shuttlecock.” In case you’ve been engrossed in NBC’s
mediocre coverage of the Olympics (Watching NBC, you would think that no other
country besides the United States had any athletes in the Olympics), then
you’ve missed out on Campaign 2004, the Road to the White House, better known
as Purple Heart-gate. Did Kerry really sustain wounds in battle in Vietnam or
did he inflict them upon himself? Did he or didn’t he have wounds that bled?
Are the other swift boat commanders telling the truth or are they part of the
Bush campaign machine? My answer to all these questions is a big, fat,
resounding “who cares?”
Some will say that Kerry brought this upon himself by peddling his wartime
resume like a recent college graduate at a job fair. Personally, I never
saw it
that way. I think others highlighted his service in Vietnam and he played
up to
it, but it was never his intention to run as a candidate whose sole claim to
fame was being wounded three times. The way I see it is like this. If a person
falls out of the top story of a ten story building and survives, then it’s a
miracle. If it happens again, then he’s lucky. And if it happens a third time?
Then the guy has a bad habit. So Kerry had a bad habit of getting injured in
Vietnam. The man was a magnet for shrapnel or maybe he was clumsy and kept
tripping over things. Others suggest that Kerry used certain loopholes in the
system to earn himself an early ticket home after only four months in
Vietnamthus proving that he is a liar and unfit to lead. But the important
question here is how capable he is to lead in comparison to the current
Commander in Chief. This seems like an appropriate time to remind Kerry’s
critics and anyone out there whose only source of news is Fox or CNN, that
comparing Kerry’s military record to Bush’s makes absolutely no sense. Kerry
actually went to Vietnam while Bush used his family influence to earn a sweet
post on the Air National Guard. Kerry suffered either minor or serious
injuries
which were either self inflicted or initiated in combat with hostile forces.
Bush’s most serious injury during his inconspicuous and forgettable service
during Vietnam was suffering hangovers from partying too hard.
All I have learned from these last two weeks is that the Purple Heart is a
military medal which recognizes the sacrifices of combat when a soldier or
officer has sustained a wound “from an outside force or agent.” Just having
sat
through this absolutely boring and insignificant debate about Kerry’s war
record I think entitles the entire country to a Purple Heart. And looking at
how President Bush is leading in the polls, I’ve also learned that the general
public (or at least those who respond to polls) is comprised of people with
the
collective IQ of a house plant. (My apologies if I insulted any house plants).
By the way, last week I went on a tirade lambasting the Armenian Assembly of
America (AAA) and its Executive Director for selling the community short in a
recent “Ha’aretz” article. In the article, Nathan Guttman expressed his
inaccurate view that the Armenian vote is insignificant in US elections. His
assumptions were reinforced by a quote by AAA Exec. Director Ross Vartian, but
last week, I screwed up. In copy editing my piece, I missed a tiny quotation
mark, which apparently made Vartian’s quote look worse than it was. Here’s the
excerpt from the article again with the proper quotation marks around
Vartian’s
statement. (I know I already printed this but people should read this
statement
over and over and wonder why this organization still receives donations from
anyone).
“So far, no Armenian group has voiced support for Bush. But the Armenian
community’s electoral power is not significant. There an currently an estimate
1-1.5 million Americans of Armenian descent, but most are second, third, or
fourth-generation immigrants and therefore, not all of them vote based on the
candidates’ views on faraway Armenia. ‘There are those who base their decision
on the Armenian issue, those who vote only based on their political views, and
those who vote based on different reasons altogether,’ explained Ross Vartian,
the executive director of the Armenian Assembly of America.”
Now Vartian’s quote may sound accurate and may seem as though it could have
been harmless but when coupled with his statements to the Armenian press (see
my column last week), it causes one to question whether the Assembly folks
truly believe in the cause for which they are allegedly fighting.
That’s it for this week folks. Keep writing me angry emails and don’t be
afraid to say what’s on your mind.

Skeptik Sinikian received a paper cut while fulfilling his duties as an
Asbarez guest columnist. He bled for his people and wants a Purple Heart. He
can be reached at [email protected] or at
<;

All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier
and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and
subscription requests.
(c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved.

ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for
academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through
mass media outlets.

ONE OF FOUNDERS OF FIRST ARMENIAN REPUBLIC ARAM MANUKIAN IS 125

YEREVAN, August 27 (Noyan Tapan). An exhibition dedicated to the
activities of Aram Manukian, one of the founders of the First Armenian
Republic, was opened at the National Library of Armenia on August
27. Candidate of historical sciences Armen Karapetian mentioned during
the arrangement dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the well-known
political figure that to speak about Aram Manukian means to speak
about the 30-year history of the Armenian liberation movement. According
to him, Aram Manukian is one the figures, whose biography has national
importance. “Being born in Kapan, this man could raise over his own
fate, participate in the liberation movement of the Western Armenians
and become one of the central figures of the national liberation
struggle,” said Armen Karapetian. David Sargsian, Director of the
National Library, mentioned that “the contribution of political figure
Aram Manukian, a member of Dashnaktsutyun, to the matter of the
self-defense of Van, as well to the establishment of the first
Armenian Republic is great.”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 27 2004

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN WAR GAME OVER IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, August 27 (RIA Novosti’s Gamlet Matevosian) – On Friday a
joint Armenian-Russian tactical exercise was over on the Marshal
Bagramian Training Range in Armenia.

On the Armenian side, a motorized rifle regiment reinforced by a tank
battalion, two reconnaissance parties, engineer company, artillery
battery, two Su-25 fighters and four Mi-24 helicopters participated
in the exercise. On the Russian side, it was a motorized rifle
regiment of the 102nd Russian military base in Armenia (city of
Gyumri) reinforced by artillery, RIA Novosti quotes Colonel Seran
Shakhsuvarian, press secretary of the Armenian Defence Ministry, as
saying.

In all, about 2,000 servicemen took part.

The goal of the four-day exercise was to act our cooperation in
defence.

The 102nd Russian military base, stationed in Gyumri in 1995, is
doing combat duty within the CIS united air defence. The base is
subordinated to the Russian Transcaucasian body of troops of the
North Caucasian military district. Its strength is about 5,000. The
102nd base has an S-300 antiaircraft missile system and MiG-29
fighters.

PRESS OFFICE
Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese
Contact; Deacon Hagop Arslanian, Assistant to the Primate
615 Stuart Avenue, Outremont Quebec H2V 3H2
Tel; 514-276-9479, Fax; 514-276-9960
Email; [email protected]
Website;
August 27, 2004

* * *

BISHOP BAGRAT GALSTANIAN ATTENDED A RECEPTION IN HONOR OF STEPHANOS II
GHATTAS PATRIARCH OF COPTIC CATHOLIC CHURCH

On Sunday, August 22, 2004 the Primate and the pastors of the Armenian Church
of Canada attended a reception at the Coptic Catholic community center in
Chomedey, Laval, in honor of the Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church of Egypt
Cardinal Stephanos Ghattas II.

Accompanying the Primate was Mr. Viken Darakjian. On this occasion, His
Eminence Bishop Galstanian discussed the bilateral relations between the two
churches at a national level. He then highlighted the importance of ecumenical
relations. A well-organized Coptic Catholic Church exists in Laval. The pastor is
Archpriest Emile Bakhouam, who has known Serpazan from his inception as Primate
of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese.

During the reception Cardinal Stephanos II Ghattas presented the order of
Saint Gregory the Great to Mr. Mamdouh Stephanos, member of Notre Dame D’Egypt
community in Canada. Attending the reception were also Senators, Members of
Parliament, Members of National Assembly as well as spiritual representatives.

* * *

THE FEAST OF ASSUMPTION OF THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD IN OTTAWA

On Sunday, August 22, 2004 the Saint Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church of
Ottawa celebrated the Feast of Assumption of Saint Mary Holy Mother of God.

Very Rev. Fr. Ararat Kaltakjian, Vicar General of Canada, celebrated the
Divine Liturgy. The feast of Assumption of the Holy Mother-of-God (Verapokhoumn
Sourp Asdvadzadzni) is one of the five major holidays (Daghavar) of the
Armenian Apostolic Church.

In his sermon Fr. Kaltakjian highlighted the sanctity of motherhood as
exemplified by St. Mary, and talked about the Armenian tradition of blessing of
grapes at this time, symbolizing fruition of God-given blessings.

Immediately following the Divine Liturgy (Badarak) the “Blessing of the
Grapes” ceremony was performed. Afterwards, a reception was held in the church
hall.

* * *

AN UNPRECEDENTED EVENING TO HONOUR THE 2004 ARMENIAN GRADUATES FROM HIGH
SCHOOLS

It is with deep spiritual joy that we announce to the faithful of the
Armenian Church Canadian Diocese that the Armenian College Ministry Department in
conjunction with a group of young Armenians called “Armenians for Higher
Education” have been working hard over the summer, planning an unprecedented event for
all High School graduates in the greater Montreal area to publicly show how
proud the Armenian community is of the accomplishments of the Class of 2004.

The event will take place on Sunday, September 19th at 6:00 pm in the
Bolsahay Cultural Center. There will be a separate cocktail for the graduates and
another one for the accompanying family members. Each graduate will receive a
certificate of merit from the Primate, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian.

For more information please visit the website at or contact
the Diocesan office at 514-276-9479.

* * *

THE PRIMATE TO PRESIDE OVER IMPORTANT MEETINGS IN KINGSTON, ONTARIO

This Friday, His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian will preside over the
Central Council meeting of the Diocesan Sunday School in Hamilton, Ontario.
Regarding the opening of the Sunday school the executive body will examine this
year’s spiritual, educational and cultural program of Diocesan Sunday schools in
all parishes.

On Saturday, the Ladies Guild Central Council as well as representatives of
local committees will be meeting with His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian for
consecutive consultations, in an attempt to revitalize the Women’s Guild
activities in the mission of the Armenian Church Canadian Diocese.

Saturday afternoon the Primate will be presiding over the Children’s Fund for
Armenia’s joint committees annual meeting in Kingston. During the meetings
discussion will focus on the growth of CFFA projects, it’s administrative
development as well as finding means for increased financial support to this
humanitarian project.

* * *

NEW APPOINTMENT IN THE MOTHER SEE

By the Pontifical Order of His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, Very Rev. Fr. Anushavan Vardapet Jamkotchian, a
member of the Brotherhood of Holy Etchmiadzin, has been assigned as parish priest
of Saint Gregory the Illuminator Mother Cathedral of Yerevan.

Father Anushavan, having recently completed his education in the Rheinische
Friedrich-Wilhelms University (Bonn, Germany), has returned to the Mother See
to continue his service to the Armenian Church. Father Anushavan is a doctoral
candidate in the field of religious rights.

* * *

HIS HOLINESS KAREKIN II CONSECRATED A NEW CHURCH IN UKRAINE

On the afternoon of August 23, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and
Catholicos of All Armenians, departed for Kharkov, Ukraine, for a Pontifical
Visit to the Armenian Diocese of Ukraine.

During the trip, His Holiness consecrated the newly built Church of the Holy
Resurrection in Kharkov, on Tuesday, August 24. The foundations of the church
had been blessed in July 2000. The consecration date coincides with the 350th
anniversary of the founding of the city of Kharkov. The Church of the Holy
Resurrection will be the first Armenian Church in all of eastern Ukraine.

Accompanying His Holiness during the visit were His Eminence Archbishop
Nerses Bozabalian from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and Rev. Fr. Tiran
Petrosian as Staff-bearer to His Holiness.

* * *

WORKING SESSION IN THE MOTHER SEE OF HOLY ETCHMIADZIN

On July 21-23 a working session on the theme “Green Theology” was held at the
Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. This year’s session was organized by the
World Council of Churches’ Inter-church Round-Table Foundation of Armenia. The
concept of these sessions was initiated by Bishop Bagrat Galstanian when he was
Dean of the Vazgenian Theological Seminary in Sevan, Armenia.

The participants to this conference, the students of Etchmiadzin’s Kevorkian
Seminary, Sevan’s Vazkenian Seminary and of Yerevan State University’s School
of Theology, listened to a series of lectures by Oxford University professor,
Dr. Dimitry Orgonomou on the Orthodox theology regarding environmental and
ecological issues. The subjects covered included “Creation in the Old Testament”,
“Creation in the New Testament”, “Orthodoxy and ecology, rites and imagery”,
and “Theology and ecology, Patrology”. The working session of July 23 was
participated by representatives of Armenian and international organizations
dedicated to environmental preservation. Addresses were also delivered by the
Secretary General of Armenia’s Bible Society Mr. Hratch Sarkissian, Prof. Garine
Tanielian and Prof. Orgonomou.

Secretariat of the Diocese

21st century mogul

Lion’s shareholder Kirk Kerkorian driven by the deal

Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) 80^th Anniversary Supplement

Variety
April 19-25, 2004
Pgs. 5, 58, 62, 66

By Jack Egan

At 86, Kirk Kerkorian is six years older than MGM, which he owns for the
third time since first venturing into the Lion’s den back in 1969. In
the interim he’s sold MGM twice – to broadcast pioneer Ted Turner and to
Italian financier Giancarlo Parretti – only to buy it back later at
bargain prices, making a pretty penny along the way. A strategic
speculator of the first order, Kerkorian has had the knack of almost
always buying low and selling high, whether it’s airlines, studios or
casinos.

`Kirk Kerkorian’s not a builder like Lew Wasserman was with MCA – he’s
an investor, and a very good one,’ observes Tom Pollock, who worked
under Wasserman as head of Universal, and now has his own production
company. `If you had bought MGM stock every time Kirk bought, and sold
every time Kirk sold, you’d have done very well.’

Indeed, when it comes to the movie business, the view is that
Kerkorian’s done far better on the business side than the movie side.
Under his ownership, the Lion has been a revolving door for production
chiefs – James Aubrey, Frank Yablans, David Begelman and Frank Mancuso,
to name just a few. And overall they turned out far more misses than
hits. MGM’s only consistent success has been with the inexhaustibly
lucrative James Bond franchise, which MGM inherited when Kerkorian
bought United Artists in 1981 and merged the two companies to create
MGM/UA.

Indeed, Kerkorian’s own rise from a Fresno community of Armenian
emigrants to self-made billionaire, which makes Horatio Alger seem like
an underachiever, is a better plotline than many of the movies the
studio has released while he’s owned it. Along the way he’s been a
successful pugilist and an intrepid World War II flyboy.

Beyond Hollywood

Ultimately he’s been a master of maneuver, parlaying a single aircraft
purchased for $60,000 in 1947 into what is today a $6 billion empire.
(Forbes Magazine’s 2004 tally of the world’s billionaires ranked
Kerkorian 65^th with his entertainment, casino and other investment
stakes estimated at around $6 billion. He was 33^rd on Forbes’ most
recent list of the 400 richest Americans, making him the most moneyed of
today’s Hollywood moguls.)

Kerkorian’s kingdom these days goes well beyond Hollywood. Through his
Tracinda holding company, named after daughters Tracy and Linda, he owns
55% of MGM Mirage, the world’s biggest and most successful hotel-casino
operation. The empire stretches as far as Stuttgart, Germany, worldwide
headquarters for Daimler-Chrysler, of which Kerkorian owns a sizable
chunk. (Chrysler’s biggest shareholder when it combined with Daimler in
1998, he reportedly made billions of dollars on the transaction, but is
suing Daimler for $1 billion for allegedly defrauding shareholders by
misrepresenting the terms of the original deal. A verdict in the
recently concluded trial isn’t expected until the fall.)

Despite or perhaps because of Kerkorian’s reputation as a master
dealmaker, it’s taken a while for Kerkorian to gain respect in
Hollywood. Initially he was dismissed by many in Tinseltown as a gambler
who treated MGM like a lucky slot machine. Or he was viewed as a
short-term operator, slicing and dicing MGM, selling off Dorothy’s ruby
slippers along with the rest of the once-storied studio’s fabled assets.

Meanwhile, his penchant for privacy has caused him to be characterized
as reclusive and mysterious, a Wizard of Odd. Those who’ve known him for
a long time scoff at such a caricature, viewing him as a wiz of finance.

`Kirk is not a Hollywood person, he’s a money person,’ DreamWorks
partner David Geffen says. `He’s a businessman, he’s not nostalgic and
sentimental. And he’s not reclusive. He’s just very low profile, that’s
a big difference – he’s just not interested in attention of any kind.’

Far from reclusive

`He’s not reclusive, he’s not Howard Hughes,’ agrees MGM chief executive
Alex Yemenidjian, a close friend and a longtime business associate, for
whom Kerkorian has been a mentor. `He’s just private, and quite shy.’

Far from being invisible, he is often seen around Los Angeles, having a
drink at the Polo Lounge or dinner at Dan Tana’s. He’s even been seen
standing for a movie at the local cineplex.

`In all the years, he’s never asked me to have a screening for him, not
once,’ says Yemenidjian. `He prefers to go see movies in the theater,
even ones from MGM, just like an ordinary person.’

In Las Vegas he’s also been seen waiting in line for a show or restaurant.

Though he’s 86, age hasn’t withered Kerkorian’s physical fitness nor his
legendary acuity; he’s said to do the numbers for a deal in his head.

`He’s the youngest man of his age I’ve ever known’ says a marveling
Geffen. `He never stops.’

Kerkorian supposedly jogs daily and is an avid singles and doubles
tennis player, hosting a weekend round robin for a group of close
friends at his Beverly Hills mansion.

`His tennis game is better than it was nine months ago,’ says
Yemenidjian, a regular at the get togethers.

On the business side, Yemenidjian says he talks with Kerkorian on the
telephone twice a day or even more, `but only about the big picture.’
Which means wheeling and dealing. Kerkorian leaves day-to-day operations
of his enterprises almost entirely to his managers.

Unlike many donors, Kerkorian hides his light under a bushel, refusing
to receive any acknowledgement. `He feels if you receive something in
return, it’s not really charity,’ adds Yemenidjian.

Armenia has been the biggest beneficiary of Kerkorian’s munificence.
According to James Aljian, chairman of Kerkorian’s Lincy Foundation
(also named for his two daughters), gifts and loans to Armenia over the
past two years total $150 million.

The money has gone to rebuild the country’s roads; put up 3,500 housing
units in an area that had been devastated by a major earthquake in 1988;
and restore an opera house, museums and many other civic buildings in
Yerevan, Armenia’s capital. Offers to name various landmarks after
Kerkorian, from the biggest boulevard in Yerevan to the country’s main
airport, were turned down. One school that recently renamed itself
Kerkorian College was quietly asked to rescind the honor.

Selfless munificence

And despite the historic enmity between Armenia and Turkey, Kerkorian
gave $1 million to Turkey after its devastating earthquake in 2002.

Many charities, over a wide range of interests, in this country have
benefited from his generosity. Prominent is the Motion Picture and
Television Fund (MPTF), which runs a home and hospital for Hollywood’s
elderly in L.A.’s San Fernando Valley.

Kerkorian was a major donor in two of the fund’s largest campaigns, for
the Wasserman campus and the Fran and Ray Stark Villa. `What’s so
interesting is that he never asks for anything in terms of recognition,’
says Ken Scherer, executive director for the MPTF.

Kerkor Kerkorian (his given name) was born in Fresno in 1917, and grew
up amid a small colony of Armenian immigrants who had left their
homeland and moved to the San Joaquin Valley around the turn of the
century.

His parents were raisin farmers. When times got tough, the family moved
to Los Angeles in the 1920s. Kerkorian dropped out of what he called `a
semi-reform school’ at 13. With the onset of the Depression, he got a
job in Sequoia National Park working for the federal Conservation Corps.

A first lucky break came when he was taken under the wing of legendary
aviator Florence `Pancho’ Barnes, Hollywood’s first woman stunt pilot.
He showed up without a dime at her San Fernando Valley ranch, and she
put him up free at what she called her Happy Bottom clubhouse for
down-on-their-luck pilot friends.

In return for working her alfalfa fields, Kerkorian received free flying
lessons, which he would put to good use. A successful stint as a
welterweight boxer followed; he won 30 of 33 bouts and earned the
nickname `Rifle Right’ for his precise punch, a prescient predictor of
his later success in bearing down on targets as an investor.

The aviator

During World War II, he enlisted in the British Royal Air Force,
attaining captain rank ferrying planes from Canada to England over the
dangerous North Atlantic.

After the war ended, he sold scrap airplanes in South America, earning
enough to buy a transport plane for $60,000. He used that to launch a
pioneering charter service between L.A. and Vegas. The fledgling
enterprise eventually grew into Trans Intl. Airlines. Kerkorian sold
that for $104 million to Transamerica Corp. in 1969. That sum proved to
be a more than sufficient grub stake to strategically target Hollywood
and Las Vegas as a serious investor.

In 1969, Kerkorian began accumulating shares of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (he
attained a controlling stake five years later). That same year he
splashily opened the International Hotel in Las Vegas, the most massive
hostelry to be launched up to that point in the burgeoning gambling
capital. Kerkorian eventually sold it to Hilton.

Over the next three decades he accumulated an ever-expanding portfolio
of properties., buying and selling virtually every big-name hotel in town.

Under the MGM Grand umbrella (the gambling company had years before been
cleverly rebranded with the movie studio’s universally known name),
Kerkorian constantly reshuffled his Vegas holdings, at one time owning
virtually every well-known hotel in town.

The culminating coup came in 2000 when Kerkorian bought entrepreneur
Steve Wynn’s Mirage Resorts for $6.4 billion. Overnight that transformed
his already sizable MGM Grand company into what is today the world’s
biggest and most highly regarded gambling company, MGM Mirage.

Exit strategy

For Kerkorian, the third time around with MGM has not yet been the charm
he might have hoped. He’s estimated to have invested some $3 billion and
not yet hit the jackpot.

The guessing around town and on Wall Street is that he’s been trying to
find a way out. `He’s looking for an exit strategy, which is what all
the recent maneuvering has been about,’ says Hal Vogel, an expert on
entertainment companies, head of Vogel Capital and a longtime Kerkorian
watcher. `That may take some time, because for various reasons nobody
today can do a deal that size, but Kerkorian is nothing if not patient,
and since he’s taking a big slug of capital out, he can afford to wait a
bit.’

Kerkorian is working to refinance his MGM stake, much as shareholders
would refinance their house. That’s what the latest MGM dividend ploy is
all about. Yet to be officially announced, the plan is to pay a $6 to $9
cash dividend per share to MGM stockholders. Since he owns over 70% of
the company, that would net Kerkorian somewhere between $1 billion and
$1.5 billion. And under current tax laws, that’s tax free. The company,
one of the few anywhere that can say it’s debt free, would borrow to
finance the pay-out at current low interest rates.

Over the last few years MGM has been holding talks with a number of
other entertainment companies, such as Time Warner, about either being
acquired or merging. And last year, in a surprise move, Kerkorian
entered the bidding war for Vivendi Universal with a $10.5 billion offer
that along with others wound up being topped by GE. `The Vivendi bid was
also a form of exit strategy,’ notes Vogel, `since it would have allowed
him to profitably reshuffle the MGM assets, but only at the right price.’

So will there even be an MGM five years from now? `I’m not an
odds-maker, but I hope so,’ says Yemenidjian, who says he’d rather look
for acquisitions than find a way to merge. But then he hedges his
statement. `Ultimately I’ll have to do what’s best for my shareholders.’

And in one word, that’s Kerkorian.

PHOTO CAPTION (Pg. 5) – The Last Tycoon: Kirk Kerkorian arrives at the
J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Wilmington, Delaware to testify in
his lawsuit against Daimler Chrysler in December. As Kerkorian goes, so
does MGM.

MaryAlice Kaloostian
District Director
Senator Charles S. Poochigian
4974 E. Clinton Way, Suite 100
Fresno, CA 93727
Phone: 559 253-7122
Fax: 559 253-7127

<;

August 27, 2004

Poochigian Bill to Ensure Armenian Genocide Life Insurance Settlements
Reach Victims’ Families Passes Legislature Unanimously

SACRAMENTO – A measure to exempt Armenian Genocide life insurance
settlements from state taxation and other calculations related to
income, Senate Bill 1689 by Senator Chuck Poochigian (R-Fresno), has
passed the State Assembly and Senate unanimously.

If signed into law, recipients of Armenian Genocide life insurance
settlement payments would not have their state income tax, financial
aid or unemployment benefits negatively impacted by their receipt of
such settlements. The bill’s language mirrors exemptions similarly
afforded recipients of legal settlements related to the Holocaust.

“Survivors and heirs of victims of the Armenian Genocide have waited
many decades to resolve their claims. Correcting a past wrong should
not have the unintended consequence of financially harming the victims
and their heirs now,” said Senator Poochigian. “The fact that this
measure passed by a unanimous vote is an expression of support that
members of the Armenian community have in the California Legislature.”

The Armenian Genocide was marked by unspeakable crimes against
humanity. 1.5 million Armenians were subjected to forced marches into
the desert, torture, mayhem and murder. Thousands of innocent children
were orphaned. Those who escaped left behind all their worldly
possessions and emigrated to other nations.

Prior to 1915, the New York Life Insurance Company wrote over 2,000
insurance policies to Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Many of these
policies were written for individuals who became victims of the
Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Claims were
denied for, among other reasons, the inability of heirs to provide
death certificates for the victims of the atrocities. Heirs on the
policies later sued for the value of the policies. In 2004, New York
Life proposed settlement with claimants of $20 million. A significant
portion of the settlement will go to settle claims with heirs on the
policies.

Senate Bill 1689 is modeled after state law that exempted Swiss bank
claim settlements and restitution payments made to victims of the
Holocaust. Senate Bill 1689 reflects Senator Poochigian’s ongoing
effort to affirm the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide, promote
the cause of justice for victims, and guard against recurrence of such
acts. In 2000, Senator Poochigian authored Senate Bill 1915 which
enabled victims and heirs of victims of the Armenian Genocide to
access the California court system to compel insurance companies to
pay insurance claims owed to victims of the Genocide. That bill
received the unanimous approval of the Legislature and provided the
opportunity to pursue contractual claims pertaining to the recent
settlement.

Governor Schwarzenegger has until September 30 to sign or veto Senate
Bill 1689.

####

MEDIA CONTACT: MaryAlice Kaloostian (559) 253-7122

Senator Poochigian’s website can be found by visiting:
;
Permission to reprint granted with attribution.

ArmenPress
Aug 27 2004

ARMENIAN PM RECEIVED DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER

YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenian prime minister Andranik
Margarian received today foreign minister of Denmark Per Stig
Moellere. According to government press services, at the beginning of
the meeting the prime minister congratulated the foreign minister on
his birthday and wished him personal and business success. Referring
to the issues of mutual interest, particularly the current pace of
Armenian-Danish relations, the sides mentioned the necessity to give
a new impetus to political cooperation as well as economic ties.
According to Andranik Margarian, mutual high rank exchange visits can
considerably contribute to that.
During the visit the prime minister Andranik Margarian and foreign
minister Per Stig Moellere referred to relations between Armenia and
European Union (EU). Saying that Denmark is going to become a
security council member at EU, Mr. Moellere asked the prime minister
to present his views on the pace of integration of Armenia into
European structures as well as regional developments. The Armenian
prime minister noted that the assignment of special representative of
EU in South Caucasus indicates rise of interest of EU towards the
region. Similar high interest is also marked by the decision of EU
June summit to include South Caucasus in Broader Europe: New
Neighborhood Project. Underscoring the necessity of reaching long
lasting peace, stability and security in the region, Andranik
Margarian presented the dispositions of Armenia on the current state
and prospects of relations with the neighboring countries. Speaking
on cooperation with EU on Karabakh conflict resolution, the prime
minister once against assured the stance of the Armenian government
that the conflict should be solved only by peaceful ways which is
also backed by EU in support for OSCE Minsk Group efforts. According
to him, the Broader Europe: New Neighborhood Project will be a new
stimulus for peaceful resolution of Nagorno Karabakh and other
regional conflicts. Prime minister Andranik Margarian mentioned that
cooperation with EU will contribute to relations with Denmark,
including in the economic sphere which he said will be mutually
beneficial for both sides.
In terms of economic cooperation, the prime minister considered
prospective the energy field. He attached importance to sharing of
Danish experience on alternative sources of energy.
At the end of the meeting, prime minister Andranik Margarian and
foreign minister Per Stig Moellere conveyed the readiness of their
governments to continue and develop cooperation between the two
countries.

ArmenPress
Aug 27 2004

PRIME MINISTER HAILED OPENING OF ALL ARMENIAN EDUCATION SUMMIT

YEREVAN, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS: Armenian prime minister Andranik
Margarian has addressed a greeting message to the participants of All
Armenian Education Summit which says in particular,
“Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, respectable participants of All
Armenian Education Summit, guests, on behalf of Armenian government
and personally on my behalf I welcome the opening of this summit.
I am exceptionally happy that steps have been taken recently to
organize All Armenian cultural, scientific-educational, business and
other forums which aim to unite our potential and to contribute to
prosperity of our country and strengthening of Armenia-Diaspora ties.
In this regard I attach great importance to this summit and voice my
belief that educational reforms in our country will be thoroughly
analyzed and valued, interested discussions will be held on
preservation of Armenian identity, giving a stimulus to educational
cultural life in Diaspora and so on.
I wish a fruitful work to the summit.”

ArmenPress
Aug 27 2004

AZERI KARABAKH LIBERATION ORGANIZATION THREATENS TO STAGE MORE
RALLIES

BAKU, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS: The so called Karabakh Liberation
Organization (KLO) of Azerbaijan told a press conference, that unless
Azerbaijani authorities set free their “patriot” comrades who took
part in the actions of protest against participation of Armenians in
NATO military exercises in Baku, they will stage new rallies across
Azerbaijan.
According to Azeri Uch Nokta, KLO members released statements in
Azeri press saying that if their demands are not fulfilled they will
again stage new actions against participation of Armenians in the
upcoming NATO military exercises in Baku slated in September.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress