Russia’s clout in decline in Ukraine and Georgia’s Abkhazia – Azeri pundit
Azadliq, Baku
19 Nov 04

headlined “‘Developments in Abkhazia suit Azerbaijan'” and subheaded
“In the view of expert Sahbaz Samioglu, the Sukhumi events demonstrate
that the USA is gaining strength in the South Caucasus”
The political situation in Abkhazia has become tense. The presidential
election held in the autonomous republic faced the Ardzinba government
with the threat of removal. Sergey Bagapsh was announced the winner by
the central electoral commission but the court did not recognize his
victory. Still, his supporters have in effect come to power. We asked
expert Sahbaz Samioglu from the National Relations Institute about the
possible implications of the developments in Abkhazia on the region,
and especially on Azerbaijan.
The current situation in Abkhazia is drastically different from that
three months ago, Samioglu said. What is more, the political situation
is about to change in most of the countries under Russia’s influence,
he said. A new political landscape is being formed in Abkhazia and
similar processes are under way in Ukraine, Samioglu said.
“The first round of the [presidential] election in Ukraine has shown
that the political situation in regions controlled by Russia is
gradually changing. The political landscape in Abkhazia is completely
different as well. The attack of his supporters on the government’s
building in the wake of Bagapsh’s victory is a case in
point. Tbilisi’s statement also demonstrated that Russia has lost its
control over Abkhazia. The statement said that the developments in
Abkhazia should be regarded not as a rebellion against the government
but a display of the people’s will,” Samioglu said.
The West has played a big part in weakening Russia’s positions in both
Ukraine and Georgia, the expert said. The current situation will
create conditions for restoring Georgia’s sovereignty over Abkhazia
and this will suit Azerbaijan as well, he said. A similar course of
events cannot be ruled out for Nagornyy Karabakh, Samioglu said.
The developments show that the USA is nearing the borders of Russia,
the expert said. He regards this as the coming of the super power to
the South Caucasus.

Turkish minister reaffirms support for Azerbaijan in Karabakh conflict
Trend news agency
18 Nov 04

BAKU
Turkey has always supported a fair solution to the Nagornyy Karabakh
problem on the basis of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, and this
policy will not change, Trend has quoted Turkish Minister of State
Kursat Tuzmen as telling Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Murtuz
Alasgarov today.
He informed the speaker of the business forum devoted to the
development of bilateral economic ties between Turkey and Azerbaijan
and expressed his satisfaction with the negotiations and discussions
that were held. Tuzmen added that the objective for the near future
was to bring the volume of trade between Turkey and Azerbaijan to 1bn
and then to 3bn dollars.
Alasgarov said Azerbaijan was interested in expanding economic
relations with fraternal Turkey. This, he said, will serve the
development of both countries, their integration into Europe and
strengthening of their positions in the region.

La Croix, France
19 novembre 2004
Sur le référendum, il est trop tard pour avoir des regrets .
La porte-parole du Parti socialiste et députée de Paris, Annick
Lepetit, était l’invitée de l’émission Face aux chrétiens animée par
Jacques Paugam. Elle répondait aux questions d’Aymeric Pourbaix
(Radio-Notre-Dame), Rémy Nelson (RCF) et Marine Lamoureux (La Croix).
par LAMOUREUX Marine,PAUGAM Jacques,POURBAIX Aymeric,NELSON Rémy
Le référendum interne du PS sur la Constitution européenne aura lieu
le 1er décembre. Au vu des fortes oppositions au traité,
regrettez-vous d’avoir engagé une telle consultation ?
Annick Lepetit : Il est un peu tard pour avoir des regrets. Je crois
en outre qu’à partir du moment où les oppositions internes se
faisaient entendre, il fallait qu’il y ait un débat. On ne peut pas
se dire préoccupé par l’abstention, par le manque d’intérêt des
citoyens pour l’Europe, et blmer la tenue d’un tel débat, même s’il
peut donner lieu à quelques excès.
– Si le non l’emporte, le premier secrétaire François Hollande
devra-t-il démissionner ?
– Nous en discuterons, de manière collective. Mais il est évident que
si le non l’emportait, ce serait totalement contraire à la ligne
politique sur laquelle François Hollande a été élu. La direction mise
en place autour de lui ne pourrait plus diriger. Cependant, il ne
veut pas faire du résultat un enjeu personnel, car s’il mettait sa
démission en jeu, le débat ne porterait plus sur l’Europe mais sur
lui.
– Et si le oui l’emporte, Laurent Fabius pourra-t-il rester numéro
deux ?
– Cela me paraît difficile pour lui, comme pour d’autres d’ailleurs,
qui militent pour le non et assument des responsabilités au sein du
parti. Là encore, nous examinerons collectivement s’ils peuvent
continuer à exercer ces fonctions. Cela dit, la tenue d’un congrès
exceptionnel ne me paraît pas indispensable.
– Autre motif de division : l’adhésion de la Turquie à l’Union.
Quelle est aujourd’hui la position du PS ?
– Elle est simple : nous n’avons pas à tourner le dos à la Turquie.
Mais nous n’avons pas, non plus, à prendre de décision tout de suite,
car nous ne savons pas quel sera l’état de l’Europe dans dix ou
quinze ans. La vraie question, à mon avis, c’est la question
financière. L’UE, compte tenu de son budget, pourrait-elle supporter
le poids d’un pays aussi peuplé ? Aujourd’hui, non. Mais je n’oppose
pas un refus systématique.
– Les dés ne sont-ils pas pipés, à partir du moment où vous posez une
condition préalable, la reconnaissance du génocide arménien, que les
Turcs refusent ?
– Je ne suis pas d’accord avec vous. Il peut y avoir une évolution :
l’Europe est attractive, une majorité des Turcs tiennent à y entrer
et pour cela, je pense qu’ils sont prêts à aller plus loin qu’ils ne
l’ont fait jusqu’à présent.
– Le ministre de l’intérieur souhaite créer un diplôme d’Etat pour la
formation des imams. Qu’en pensez-vous ?
– Si j’en crois ses propos, cela se ferait à travers la création de
fondations. Le principe est intéressant, pour rétablir une relation
pacifiée entre l’Etat et les religions. Cela dit, il faut regarder de
près qui va les gérer. Quant au financement, notamment en provenance
de l’étranger, les fondations permettraient qu’il soit transparent.
En revanche, contrairement à Nicolas Sarkozy, je trouve qu’il serait
dangereux de remettre en cause la loi de 1905 sur la séparation de
l’Eglise et de l’Etat, qui nous a permis de vivre en bonne
intelligence jusqu’ici.

Le Monde
19 novembre 2004
Plus de 250 députés ont symboliquement voté contre l’ouverture de
négociations avec la Turquie pour son entrée dans l’UE, sans
reconnaissance du génocide arménien.;
Dépêche
Plus de 250 députés UMP, UDF et PS ont symboliquement voté, mercredi
17 novembre à Paris, à l’appel d’organisations arméniennes, contre
l’ouverture de négociations avec la Turquie pour son entrée dans
l’Union européenne, le 17 décembre, tant que « le génocide arménien
[de 1915] n’aura pas été reconnu par Ankara ».

Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society
Greater Washington, DC Chapter
4906 Flint Dr. Bethesda, MD 20816
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
November 19, 2004
Contact: Lorig Armenian
E-mail: [email protected];
[email protected]
Arshile Gorky Expert Discusses Influence of Armenian Culture, Genocide
on Artist’s Work
Washington, D.C.– Renowned art historian and specialist on Arshile
Gorky, Dr. Melvin Lader, presented his insights at a public lecture at
the Armenian Embassy sponsored by the Greater Washington DC Chapter of
the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society and under the
auspices of the Ambassador and Mrs. Arman Kirakossian. A
standing-room-only crowd of over 150 people gathered on November 5th
to hear Dr. Lader’s talk and slide presentation, titled “Arshile
Gorky: the Case of an Unlikely Modernist.”
Dr. Lader, a professor of art history at George Washington University,
is a respected authority on the works of abstract expressionist
pioneer Arshile Gorky, having lectured and published extensively on
the life and works of the artist. He most recently curated (with
Janice C. Lee) an exhibition of Gorky’s drawings at the Whitney Museum
of American Art in New York and the Menil Collection in Houston in
2004.
Drawing upon his research of Gorky’s work, the artist’s writings as
well as side-by-side visual comparisons, Dr Lader highlighted various
influences in Gorky’s life that were eventually reflected in the
artist’s work. These included memories of Gorky’s childhood in Khorkom
(a village near Lake Van in Armenia), color and imagery from Armenian
Christian art, Gorky’s haunting sufferings and loss of family during
the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, and his feelings of exile after
coming to America. He also cited the influence of other artists such
as Cezanne and surrealist Joan Miro.
In referring to Gorky’s famous Portrait of the Artist and His Mother,
Dr. Lader states, “Alone in New York, the memory of his mother, her
tragic death, and the Genocide weighed heavily on his mind. And he
undoubtedly conceived of the painting as a tribute to his mother and
her role in his life. As such, it was the first major work he created
descending from his Armenian memories which would become a central
theme in most of his mature art.”
The formal presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period
and reception in the Embassy, during which Dr. Lader responded to
specific inquiries from the audience. In his opening remarks,
Amb. Kirakossian stated, “I want to thank Hamazkayin for organizing
this event. Obviously we have good cooperation with this society of
dedicated people who are doing all their best to preserve Armenian
culture.” He went on to acknowledge Dr. Lader’s contributions to the
study of this pioneer in American art.
“Dr. Lader’s engaging talk brought to light the profound impact of
Gorky’s Armenian experience on his art, and by extension its impact on
expressionism in general,” stated Maggie Simonian, Chairwoman of the
Hamazkayin Washington Chapter. “We are pleased to have been able to
bring Dr. Lader’s insights and research to the community and thank the
Armenian Embassy for their gracious hospitality and collaboration in
this event.”
Founded in 1928, the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural
Society is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of the
history and the cultural heritage of the Armenian nation. Hamazkayin
has chapters throughout the United States, Canada, South America,
Europe, the Middle East and Australia, as well as the Republic of
Armenia.

The Moscow Times
Friday, November 19, 2004. Page 8.
The Politically Correct and Incorrect
By Michele A. Berdy
Àìåðèêàøêè: Russian slang for Americans
Talking about ethnic groups and nationalities is a constant challenge: Just
when you think you’ve mastered the current, politically correct term, the
folks go and change it and you have to start all over again. And once you
master the terms in one language, you discover yourself at a loss in
another.
For example, Russian makes the nice and clear distinction between citizens
of Russia (Ðîññèÿ), who are ðîññèÿíå, and ethnic Russians, who are ðóññêèå.
English ignores the “o” in Ðîññèÿ and calls both categories “Russians.” If
you need to make sure everyone knows you are talking about people of any
nationality who live in Russia, you have to spell it out in English: Ñðåäè
ðîññèÿí åñòü àðìÿíå, ãðóçèíû, òàòàðû è ïðåäñòàèòåëè ìíîãèõ äðóãèõ
íàöèîíàëüíîñòåé. (There are Armenians, Georgians, Tatars and people of many
other nationalities among the citizens of Russia.) You can also say
ðóññêîÿçû÷íûå — Russian-speakers — although this means just that: people
who speak Russian. I once translated a speaker struggling to be utterly
politically correct and describe the citizens of the Russian Federation who
were united by culture: ðîññèéñêèå, ðóññêîÿçû÷íûå … ëþäè ðóññêîé êóëüòóðû
(Russian citizens, Russian-speaking people, people who identify with Russian
culture).
Great country that this is, there are some people who think that Russian
culture is the best in the world. Some of these folks are patriots; others
are just plain old øîèíèñòû (chauvinists). The latter folks are likely to
use crude and insulting names to describe non-Russians. While you should
never even think about using these words, it’s useful to know them, if only
to recognize a chauvinist when you see — or hear — one.
The slang word for Ukrainians (óêðàèíöû) is õîõîë (a man) or õîõëóøêà (a
woman). It is also the word Russians use to describe a tuft of hair: In
times of old, Ukrainians shaved their hair, leaving only the topknot
(õîõîë). This can be said fondly, but don’t risk it. íàøåé ãðóïïå áûëà
îäíà õîõëóøêà — áåëîêóðàÿ, ïûøíàÿ, åñ¸ëàÿ. (We had a Ukrainian woman in
our group who was fair, buxom and cheery.) The slang word in Ukraine (and
other former Soviet republics) for Russians is ìîñêàëè. This was originally
the word for people from the state of Muscovy. While it can be used
jokingly, it generally has an edge to it. For example, one headline reads:
Ïîíàåõàëè ìîñêàëè: ýêñïàíñèÿ ðîññèéñêèõ òîï-ìåíåäæåðî íà Óêðàèíó. (The
Invading Russians Are Turning Up the Heat: the expansion of Russian top
managers in Ukraine.)
The $64,000 question is: How do you know this headline appeared in a Russian
newspaper? The answer: Because of the preposition íà. Since 1991, Ukrainians
have requested that English-speakers say “in Ukraine” rather than “in the
Ukraine,” and Russians say Óêðàèíå rather than íà Óêðàèíå, since it is a
country, not a territory (as implied by “the” and íà). Russians complain
this is hard to do — ðåæåò ñëóõ, it grates on the ear (literally “cuts”).
Ukrainians to Russians: Get over it.
If you hear a Russian referring to õà÷èê or ÷óðêà, move away: These are very
crude and derogatory slang words for an Armenian (or anyone from the
Caucasus) and a Central Asian. Move away very quickly if someone refers to
people from the Caucasus as ÷¸ðíûå (blacks). This word can also be used in
reference to people of color; in either case, it is extremely insulting.
This can confuse English-speakers, for whom “black” is an acceptable term.
On the other hand, the Russian word íåãð, while sounding like a very
derogatory word in English, is, on the contrary, a neutral and acceptable
Russian term that simply means Negro.
What do Russians call us Americans? They used to call Americans øòàòíèêè
(something like Stateniks), but this is now dated. They sometimes call us
àìåðèêîñû (a kind of sound play on àìåðèêàíöû and àáðèêîñû — apricots) or
more frequently àìåðèêàøêè, a slightly condescending diminutive.
Russians to àìåðèêàøêè: Get over it.
Michele A. Berdy is a Moscow-based translator and interpreter.

PRESS RELEASE
Catholicosate of Cilicia
Communication and Information Department
Contact: V. Rev. Fr. Krikor Chiftjian, Communications Officer
Tel: (04) 410001, 410003
Fax: (04) 419724
E- mail: [email protected]
Web:
PO Box 70 317
Antelias-Lebanon
HIS HOLINESS ARAM I CONGRATULATES AP PHOTOGRAPHER HARRY KOUNDAKJIAN
Antelias, Lebanon – On the occasion of an exhibition organized in honor of
50 years of service of AP photographer Harry Koudakjian to the photographing
industry, His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of Cilicia, congratulated the
artist, saying, “You are an artist par excellence. Through your shots you
have been able to catch the defining moments of people and discern beyond
mere facts and scenes the real message. You have perceived your job as
photographer as a vocation and fulfilled it with faith, commitment and
vision. You deserve the high appreciation and full support of all those who
have known you as a humble man and a dedicated artist”.
Harry’s professional career in photo journalism began in Beirut in 1952,
when he joined the French-language newspaper L’Orient and its Arabic sister
paper Al Jarida as the first photo-reporter in Lebanon. At the same time he
worked for other Beirut newspapers and magazines and freelanced for Life,
Paris Match, the Illustrated London News, and the London Daily Mail.
But photography for Harry really began when he was six-years old and took
apart a kodak bellows camera and never put it back together again has it,
waiting to be reassembled. When he was eight, his mother, an accomplished
photographer in her own right, gave him a Brownie camera.
In 1962 he began working for the Associated Press (AP) as a stringer, and
went on to establish the AP photo desk in Beirut. In 1969 he became the AP’s
Chief Middle East photographer responsible for all the Arab countries in the
Middle East, North and East Africa, Turkey, and Iran. Harry has had no end
of adventure with his camera(s), seeking the news makers as they happen, no
matter what the danger or conflict.
Having grown up in Aleppo, Syria, and Beirut, Lebanon, Harry speaks English,
French, Arabic, Turkish, and his first language, Armenian. Harry the
photographer has often stepped forward in crisis situations to offer his
skills as translator and interpreter.
Being Armenian and neutral in Middle East has served him well in his
profession. His repertoire of stories covers accounts of invitations from
royalty, run-ins with governments, and even the perils of simply using a
camera in the Middle East.
In 1979 Harry and his family were transferred by the AP to New York City
where today, as an American citizen, Harry is the AP’s International Photo
Editor.
##
The Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia is one of the two Catholicosates of
the Armenian Orthodox Church. For detailed information about the history and
the mission of the Cilician Catholicosate, you may refer to the web page of
the Catholicosate, The Cilician Catholicosate, the
administrative center of the church is located in Antelias, Lebanon.

PRESS RELEASE
Shahumyan-Getashen Patriotic Benevelont Association
Address: Yerevan, Armenia, Koriun Street 19/a
Contact: Eduard Balayan
Tel: (374-1) 560154
E-mail: [email protected]
18 November, 2004
Shahumyan-Getashen refugees appeal to UN
Letters have been sent on behalf of the deported Armenians of the Shahumyan
and Getashen regions, immediately bordering Nagorno Karabakh, to the UN
Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan and President of the UN’s 59th General
Assembly, Mr. Jean Ping. The letters reaffirm the rights of those who were
forcibly removed from their homes in these and other regions and lost all
their possessions, to defend themselves in the appropriate international
organizations.
The Shahumyan-Getashen Benevolent Organization reserves for itself the right
to speak on behalf of the tens of thousands of Armenian refugees from
Azerbaijan, who are today deprived of the right to return to their homes and
to their property.

ARMENIANOW.COM
Administration Address: 26 Parpetsi St., No 9
Phone: +(374 1) 532422
Email: [email protected]
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Headlines:
NEWS
Plenty to Talk About: Rhetoric continues to rise over appeal for General Assembly debate on Karabakh
The Margaryan Trial: Case of murdered Armenian officer to begin in Hungary
Guarding Against `Grip’: Armenia gets first vaccination for flu season
Football hopes: Armenia sweetens disappointing season
Calling Out Corruption: Youth union aims to reveal wrongdoing in education system
FEATURES
`Til Death Do Us Part’: Golden couple renew vows and recall 50 years together
NOT Outside Eye: An Armenian in America has a foot fight in returning to her heart
Seeing Green After 10 Years: UMCOR celebrates a decade in Armenia with a gift of trees
Outdated: Authorities use Socialist-era law to violate democratic rights
ARTS
Artistic Felons?: Armenian couple charged with crimes in Russia for exhibit on religion
Armenia Underfoot: New guidebook shows where to get high in Hyestan
For complete articles, please, see
NEWS
Plenty to Talk About: Rhetoric continues to rise over appeal for
General Assembly debate on Karabakh
By Aris Ghazinyan
The fact that the issue `On the situation on Azerbaijan’s occupied
territories’ was put on the agenda of the UN General Assembly session
still remains in the center of the attention of all structures
interested in the soonest settlement of the Karabakh problem. The
possible shift of the mediatory initiative from the sphere of the OSCE
Minsk Group to the plane of the UN, in official Yerevan’s opinion,
cannot promote a peaceful and just resolution of the conflict.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Vardan Oskanian has stated that the
inclusion of the Baku-initiated `question about territories’ into the
discussions in the UN format got the approval of only those entities
of international law that are practically against peaceful means of
settling the dispute.
At the end of last week Moscow was drawn into the debate when, during
a meeting of the heads of foreign ministries of the Collective
Security Treaty Organization, Oskanian leveled scathing criticism at
some members for their support of Azerbaijan. Taking the Azeri
viewpoint on the matter `is not consistent with all the details of the
conflict in Nagorno Karabakh as well as other approaches of the OSCE
Minsk Group – a structure that has the most comprehensive information
about the settlement process at its disposal,’ the minister
said. Oskanian further said that the positions of some states –
Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan – were `unclear’.
***************************************************************************
The Margaryan Trial: Case of murdered Armenian officer to begin in Hungary
By Zhanna Alexanyan
Court hearings are expected to begin November 23 in Budapest in the
trial of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani Army officer charged in the
murder of Armenian Army officer Gurgen Margaryan February 19. The two
were in Hungary to attend a NATO-sponsored English training program.
Safarov attack Margaryan, 26, in his sleep. A second Armenian officer,
Hayk Mkuchyan escaped Safarov’s attack when alert by his Lithuanian
roommate.
Attorney Nazeli Vardanyan has been appointed by the Ministry of
Defense to represent Makuchyan and the family of Margaryan.
The trial will be conducted in Hungarian language, interpreted for the
Armenian and Russian sides. It was to have begun in June, however
Safarov filed an appeal to have the trial moved to Azerbaijan and to
have Safarov released from custody. The motions were denied.
It was only a week ago that Vardanyan learned that the trial was about
to begin. She says she has not had proper time to prepare, especially
as all documents are in Hungarian, and must be translated.
***************************************************************************
Guarding Against `Grip’: Armenia gets first vaccination for flu season
By Marianna Grigoryan
Garlic, vodka, raspberry and black currant tea…
Specialists say we should forget these Armenian methods and choose a
more civilized and trustful means of flu prevention.
This year, for the first time, flu vaccinations such as those offered
in many countries are being administered in Armenia. Medical groups
and organizations are sending out notices, letters and announcements,
encouraging the population to guard itself against `grip’.
***************************************************************************
Football hopes: Armenia sweetens disappointing season
By Suren Musayelyan
Armenia put a smile on their fans’ faces on Wednesday by ending a
series of four straight defeats and showing their best football of
this otherwise unremarkable 0-4-1 season.
Karen Dokhoyan’s second-half equalizer snatched a point from group
leaders Romania and raised hopes for a better continuation of his
team’s current qualifying campaign after the winter break.
Armenia coach Bernard Casoni did not hide his satisfaction with the
1-1 draw and the livelier football shown by his rejuvenated side.
***************************************************************************
Calling Out Corruption: Youth union aims to reveal wrongdoing in education system
By Gayane Lazarian
University student councils, political party youth unions,
organizations for young people and numerous Students attended a
roundtable discussion Tuesday (November 16) to discuss corruption in
Armenia’s field of higher education.
`Our goal is to make the causes of this vicious phenomenon known, to
call the public’s attention to this problem,’ said Karen Antashyan, a
member of the `Nikol Aghbalian’ student union of the Armenian
Revolutionary Federation (ARF), the hosts of the discussion. `We think
that these joint discussions will result in a proper solution to the
problem. Students must overcome the fear inside them, and the managers
of higher schools eventually must realize that corruption phenomena
are displayed because of their inconsistency. Youth organizations and
mass media also have something to do here.’
Part of the meeting’s purpose was to publicize results of a survey
conducted by the union in which 1,100 students from 11 state-run
institutes of higher learning were polled on issues relating to
corruption and education.
FEATURES
***************************************************************************
`Til Death Do Us Part’: Golden couple renew vows and recall 50 years together
By Marianna Grigoryan
Her white wedding gown is greeted with kindness and smiles, and with
her white hair gathered up under her veil, the bride, 73-year-old
Margarit Dallakyan paves her way ahead.
Fifty years ago she was a bride for the first time. Last Saturday she
repeated the event. And, both times, Hovanes Chulyan was the lucky
groom. It was in fact the couples `golden’ anniversary, and to
celebrate they duplicated the day they were joined, November 6, 1954.
The `newly’ weds celebrated with music of the zurna and dohl, with
dancing and singing. The wedding party attended in cars decorated in
festive colors; quite a change from the `rainy, sober day’ Margo
recalls from 50 years ago.
`Then, I was taken away in a wagon,’ she recalls. `There was no
wedding gown, nor any proper conditions or gifts, but this latest one
was the most gorgeous.’
In 50 years, Margo and Hovanes have carved out a life, raised a family
and have become grandparents. But on their first wedding, they didn’t
even know each other. Hovanes had repatriated from Aleppo, and had
made up his mind to get married, and the best choice turned out to be
Margo from Ijevan.
***************************************************************************
NOT Outside Eye: An Armenian in America has a foot fight in returning
to her heart
By Julia Hakobyan
Visiting the United States was a great challenge for me, but leaving
it turned out to be even more so.
After a month-long fellowship at Duke University in North Carolina, it
was time to go home. I was ready. But only large doses of tolerance
can prepare a person for international travel these days.
If you still doubt whether the US government takes enough measures to
protect the airspace and airports from the terrorist acts I can assure
you it does. Like all travelers, I was treated like a terror suspect.
Dogs sniffed handbags, unattended luggage was confiscated, cameras saw
me, even though I didn’t see the cameras.
***************************************************************************
Seeing Green After 10 Years: UMCOR celebrates a decade in Armenia with
a gift of trees
ArmeniaNow news brief
Yerevan’s decreasing `green zone’ got a boost today (November 19) with
the completion of a project that planted 1,000 trees in Motherhood
Park of the Malatsia Sebastia Community.
The trees were a gift from the United Methodist Committee on Relief
(UMCOR) and a ceremonial planting was held to mark the 10th
anniversary of UMCOR’s activity in Armenia.
UMCOR, an agency of the United Methodist Church, has been around since
1940, when it was formed to help alleviate trauma among survivors of
World War II. It now has a presence in about 90 countries. Its
offices were set up in Armenia in 1994 where it initially provided
healthcare aid. Over the past decade it has evolved to address
developmental needs, including offering loans for farmers.
Friday’s tree planting was in cooperation with the Armenian Tree
Project, which has planted some 580,000 trees at sites from Goris to
Gyumri, in an effort to fight Armenia’s serious deforestation problem.
`UMCOR believes that improving the environment is something that will
have a lasting effect on the families that live in Armenia and we are
honored to support such an important initiative in commemoration of
our 10 years of service to Armenia,’ said Warren Harrity, head of
UMCOR’s Armenia Mission.
***************************************************************************
Outdated: Authorities use Socialist-era law to violate democratic rights
By Vahan Ishkhanyan
In the political calm of autumn that has replaced the contentious and violent outbreak of unrest last spring, a look back at how authorities reacted to oppositional party demonstrations shows a pattern of
oppression that lawyers and human rights specialists say must be abolished if Armenia is ever to become a legitimate independent republic.
Arrests, detainments, harassments carried out from April till June were a repeat of actions taken against citizens in 2003 when Armenia’s presidential elections turned into an international embarrassment for
the manner in which law enforcement and judicial bodies disregarded human rights, applied the law according to political expediency and disregarded the republic’s commitment to align itself with international
standards of civil behavior.
During the winter of 2003 and the spring of this year, more than 600 citizens were arrested and fined by courts for taking part in political rallies or for independently making public statements against ruling
parties. Most charges, an investigation of the cases has found, proved to be validated by application of a legal code adopted when Armenia was a Soviet Republic.
The infamous `Administrative Offense’ code was widely enforced to quell and discourage anti-government outcry. By it, a person can be jailed for 15 days, virtually without cause and according to the whim
of law enforcement.
ARTS
Artistic Felons?: Armenian couple charged with crimes in Russia for exhibit on religion
By Vahan Ishkhanyan
ArmeniaNow reporter
If painters Narine Zolyan and Harutyun Zulumyan were in Moscow now,
the wife and husband would likely be sitting in a court dock as
defenders.
The artists are facing criminal charges for an exhibition they put on
last year in Russia.
The exhibition, entitled `Beware, Religion!’ featured the work of 40
painters from several countries, whose installations commented on
religion.
The show was supposed to run for 20 days at the Andrey Sakharov
Center, but on the third day, a mob of religious zealots attacked the
exhibition, spraying paint onto some of the pieces and spraying onto
the walls: `You are cursed! You hate orthodoxy!’ Police had to come to
the center to disburse the angry mob.
Among the works attacked was Zolyan’s video in which she constantly
writes in black over a saying of a Zen Buddhist monk’s words: `I am
the only one in the sky and under the sky who deserves honor.’ Then
she washes the words away and with the clean fabric forms
handrails. Over the remnants of Zolyan’s exhibit, vandals wrote
`sacrilege’. (Click here to see images
)

A court in Moscow acquitted the vandals of charges and then initiated
a case against organizers of the exhibition, charging them with
creating ethnic and religious discord.
A trial began on November with three of the organizers in court, while
Zolyan and Zulumyan are in Yerevan, hoping to avoid prosecution.
Armenia Underfoot: New guidebook shows where to get high in Hyestan
ArmeniaNow newsbrief
Visitors to Armenia now have a guide for discovering the republic from
the side of a mountain, up the face of a rock wall or from naturally
adorned paths in 26 locations that accommodate expert climbers or
those who simply want a pleasant hike.
`Adventure Armenia’ is a 116-page guide sized to fit in a backpack,
that offers meticulous research, trail maps, color photographs of each
destination, tips and safety precautions for discovering Armenia in a
way that is far from the cafe and museum scene.
Co-written by ecological preservation advocate Jeffrey Tufenkian (a
native of Oregon) and Carine Bachmann, who grew up in the shadow of
the Swiss Alps, the guide is the result of three years of hiking and
climbing by the authors.
At a reception Wednesday at Artbridge Cafe in Yerevan, Tufenkian said
one purpose of the book is to re-introduce Armenia as a premier hiking
and climbing destination, a distinction it held during Soviet times.
ABOUT US
ArmeniaNow.com is published by New Times Journalism Training Center, a Non-Governmental Organization in Yerevan, Armenia.
The weekly website exists as a newsroom laboratory in which journalists and editors in Armenia are taught the application of methodology and theory of Western journalism.
Our goal is to produce real change in the approach of local journalists by immersing them in long-term training that makes clear how Western-style reporting works and what benefits it can bring when applied
to subjects in Armenia.
ArmeniaNow hopes to influence the style of journalism practiced by other publications both directly through making our material available to them free of charge, and indirectly, by taking some of their
reporters and editors on short-term attachments.
The training center grew from research and experience that shows that media in Armenia lacks objectivity, as it is almost entirely financed by special interest sources – primarily, political factions.
Consequently, journalists bound to the very practical need of survival, are encouraged to produce reports that satisfy the agenda of party politics.
The result is an atmosphere of distrust by readers, perpetuated by journalists and editors who, having inherited a legacy of State propaganda or opposition fanaticism, have never had a chance to practice
another method.
And, while various agencies exist to teach theory, ArmeniaNow is the first publication in Armenia to offer hands-on application.
We offer a journalistic approach unique to its environment with the hope that as other institutions of the new republic emerge – business, education, law, etc. – journalism, led by the example of ArmeniaNow,
eventually will follow the trend toward a democracy-based society.
ArmeniaNow journalists receive a stipend for their training and production of stories. Funding is made possible by private donations. For more information write to [email protected].
ArmeniaNow.com

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
18 Nov 04
MOTIONS OF AZERBAIJAN DEPUTIES ACCEPTED UNANIMOUSLY
[November 18, 2004, 23:01:01]
As correspondent of AzerTAj informs, on November 17, the next sitting
of Political Committee of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe has taken place in the residence of the Council of Europe in
Paris. Discussed was questions: “Carrying out of `a round table» in
connection with political conditions in the Chechen Republic’,
`Discussion of the report on the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh
conflict’, ` Situation in Macedonia’ and others.
During discussion of the question concerning the report on the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict, the Russian deputy
Michael Margelov presiding at the sitting has brought to the
attention of members of Committee, that the report as a whole would
not be discussed, will be simply given answers to the questions
connected to the report and made amendments in separate items of the
draft resolution. Then, he gave floor to the reporter from group of
democrats David Atkinson.
The deputy from England has noted that in spite of the fact that the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict was repeatedly
discussed in many international organizations, but promotions in this
area is not achieved, he informed about the meetings carried out by
him with deputies of Azerbaijan and Armenia in the PACE, that has
familiarized with their offers, has emphasized importance of making
serious steps shortly in the peace settlement of the conflict. He has
noted, that the Acting Chairman of PACE Terry Davis before election
on this post has prepared the detailed report and that after
appointment of him as a reporter, he has made serious amendments to
the report.
Deputy of Milli Majlis Asim Mollazade, having reminded about
realization of ethnic cleaning by Armenia in Azerbaijan territories
occupied by it, that there did not remain any Azerbaijani, has
addressed David Atkinson with such question: `Why in the report has
found the reflection of idea on involvement to negotiations of the
Armenian community, the Azerbaijan community is not mentioned?’
The reporter has accepted the remark of the Azerbaijan deputy and
promised before January session, on which the report will be
discussed, bring in this question to the report.
Then, discussions around of amendments to separate positions of the
draft resolution have taken place.
The deputy from Armenia Tigran Torosyan has made protest against the
motion` The territory of Nagorny Karabakh is controlled by separatist
forces’, found reflection in the report, and has told, that it sounds
as insult in address of the Armenians of Nagorny Karabakh.
Asim Mollazade, sharply having objected against the remark of the
Armenian deputy, has told that, on the contrary, the motion sounds
softly, it would be more exact to use here expression “radical
separatists’, he has especially emphasized, that Azerbaijanis from
our occupied territories have been driven from the native lands of
their fathers and grandfathers by separatist forces.
The deputy from France Daniel Gule has noted, that more than one
million Azerbaijan refugees and IDPs violently ousted by the Armenian
armed forces, live in heavy conditions, that their rights were
violated and having specified that in the report the question
connected with the right of these people is not displayed, has
brought the motion to bring to the report in the question on
protection of their rights and return to the native lands.
Asim Mollazade has reminded that in due time the parliament of
Armenia has accepted the decision about annexation of Nagorny
Karabakh to this country, having noted, that this decision completely
contradicts norms of international law and that Armenia till today
does not recognize territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, that military
forces of the next state serve on our occupied territories.
The head of delegation of Milli Majlis in PACE Samad Seyidov has
recognized expedient to use in the report instead of expression
“occupied territories” ` occupied territories of Azerbaijan’.
All motions of the Azerbaijan deputies connected to amendments of 15
items of the draft resolution, it is possible to tell, have been
accepted unanimously.
Thus, the next sitting of Political Committee rounded its work. At
the sitting, there was head of permanent mission of Azerbaijan at
Council of Europe Agshin Mehdiyev.