Newly-elected SB speaks of its priorities
Editorial
Yerkir/arm
November 05, 2004    
Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) Armenia Supreme Body (SB)
representative Armen Rustamian, and SB member and National Assembly’s
ARF faction leader Levon Mkrtchian held a news conference on Wednesday,
following the ARF Armenia organization’s 8th Supreme Convention,
held last weekend.
Rustamian noted that the convention was unique since it was the first
time the ARF was a part of the government.
The convention pointed out that a large part of priorities included in
the ruling coalition’s memorandum has not been fulfilled, Rustamian
said, adding that coalition, however, was successful in easing the
political tension following the elections, and strengthening the
stability in the country.
Rustamian also said the convention was not satisfied with the pace
of anti-corruption measures of the government.
Rustamian underscored that “making the national course irreversible”
will be the pivotal goal for the newly-elected Supreme Body. “We have
continuously stated that since 1998 the course of the country has been
changed, but we need serious steps to make that course irreversible,”
he said.
“To reach that goal we have decided to continue our presence in the
coalition government.” He, however, added that his party “reserves
the right to review its presence in the coalition government if the
objectives and the conditions of the coalition, set in the memorandum,
are violated.”
As regards the Karabakh conflict, the convention has underscored
the imperative of Karabakh’s full participation in the peace talks.
In respect of the Javakhk issue, the convention has stated that the
Javakhk Armenians are in dire socio-economic state which results in
growing exodus, Rustamian mentioned. The Armenian government should
work with the Georgian government to change the situation.
The convention has also considered the Armenian-Turkish relations,
concluding that Turkey is not ready for joining the European
Union. Turkey should firs admit to the Armenian Genocide, and maintain
neutrality in the Karabakh confrontation.
Touching upon the issue of sending Armenian troops to Iraq, Rustamian
said the convention has stated that Armenian government should be
guided by the UN resolutions, but meanwhile practice caution in order
to prevent Armenian communities of the Middle East from becoming
targets of international terrorism.
Concluding the news conference, Rustamian said the convention also
has discussed the relations between the government and the opposition,
as well as issues related to the reforms of the constitution and the
Electoral Code.
Regarding the latter, Rustamian pointed out that the ARF may consider
its further presence in the coalition in case the EC is not changed
to increase the portion of National Assembly members elected under
party lists.
–Boundary_(ID_NTh0vhLDPCOasWzZJIvzpQ)–

The larger the role of government, the greater the divide among us
By Walter Williams
SunHerald.com, MS
Nov 10 2004
Recent elections pointed to deepening divisions among American people,
but has anyone given serious thought to just why? I have part of the
answer, which starts off with a simple example.
Different Americans have different and intensive preferences for
cars, food, clothing and entertainment. For example, some Americans
love opera and hate rock and roll. Others have opposite preferences,
loving rock and roll and hating opera. When’s the last time you heard
of rock-and-roll lovers in conflict with opera lovers? It seldom,
if ever, happens. Why? Those who love operas get what they want,
and those who love rock and roll get what they want, and both can
live in peace with one another.
Suppose that instead of freedom in the music market, decisions on
what kind of music people could listen to were made in the political
arena. It would be either opera or rock and roll. Rock and rollers
would be lined up against opera lovers. Why? It’s simple. If the
opera lovers win, rock and rollers would lose, and the reverse would
happen if rock and rollers won. Conflict would emerge solely because
the decision was made in the political arena.
The prime feature of political decision-making is that it’s a zero-sum
game. One person or group’s gain is of necessity another person or
group’s loss. As such, political allocation of resources is conflict
enhancing while market allocation is conflict reducing. The greater
the number of decisions made in the political arena, the greater is
the potential for conflict.
There are other implications of political decision-making. Throughout
most of our history, we’ve lived in relative harmony. That’s
remarkable because just about every religion, racial and ethnic
group in the world is represented in our country. These are the very
racial/ethnic/religious groups that have for centuries been trying to
slaughter one another in their home countries, among them: Turks and
Armenians, Protestant and Catholic, Muslim and Jew, Croats and Serbs.
While we haven’t been a perfect nation, there have been no cases
of the mass genocide and religious wars that have plagued the globe
elsewhere. The closest we’ve come was the American Indian/European
conflict, which pales by comparison.
The reason we’ve been able to live in relative harmony is that for
most of our history government was small. There wasn’t much pie to
distribute politically.
When it’s the political arena that determines who gets what goodies,
the most effective coalitions are those with a proven record of
being the most divisive – those based on race, ethnicity, religion
and region. As a matter of fact, our most costly conflict involved
a coalition based upon region – namely the War of 1861.
Many of the issues that divide us, aside from the Iraq war, are
those best described as a zero-sum game, where one group’s gain
is of necessity another’s loss. Examples are: racial preferences,
Social Security, tax policy, trade restrictions, welfare and a host
of other government policies that benefit one American at the expense
of another American.
You might be tempted to think that the brutal domestic conflict seen
in other countries at other times can’t happen here.
That’s nonsense.
Americans are not super-humans; we possess the same frailties of other
people in other places. If there were a severe economic calamity,
I can imagine a political hustler exploiting those frailties here,
just as Adolf Hitler did in Germany, blaming it on the Jews, the
blacks, the East Coast, Catholics or free trade.
The best thing the president and Congress can do to heal our country
is to reduce the impact of government on our lives. Doing so will not
only produce a less divided country and greater economic efficiency
but bear greater faith and allegiance to the vision of America held
by our founders – a country of limited government.
Dr. Walter E. Williams is professor of economics at George Mason
University in Fairfax, Va. You may write to him at Creators Syndicate,
5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045.

IN THIS ISSUE:
*** NGOs 2004 CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
***SUPPORTING THE ELDERLY
*** GARNI AESTHETIC EDUCATION SCHOOL REOPENED
*** STEPANAVAN YOUNG LEADER RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL AWARD
*** VISITING MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN
*** SIXTH ASSEMBLY OF ARMENIAN ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS
*** NGO AGAINST PESTICIDES
*** NGOs 2004 CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
On October 15-17, the Academy for Educational Development, with financial
support of USAID and in collaboration with World Learning and the AAA NGO
Training and Resource Center, organized the NGOs 2004 Conference and
Exhibition. Almost 280 NGOs from all regions of Armenia participated in this
event, introducing their programs and discussing new ways of networking with
stakeholders. Representatives of state structures, international and donor
organizations and experts also participated in the event, which highlighted
various sectors of NGO activities. NGO representatives shared their
experience and knowledge and discussed common issues. Among the topics
addressed during 14 working sessions/roundtables of the conference were NGO
Collaboration with State and Local Governments, NGO Collaboration with
International Donor Organizations and Diaspora, NGO Collaboration with the
Business Community and Mass Media, Developing Regional and Community-Based
NGOs, NGO Code of Conduct, NGO Legislation, NGOs and Poverty Reduction, NGOs
and Fighting Against Corruption. During the conference, NGOC specialists A.
Lazarian, N. Harutiunyan and A. Kurdova spoke respectively on the Armenian
Picture of NGO-Business Cooperation: Analysis and Suggestions; Strategic
Approach to Fundraising; NGO Legislation and Taxation.
Contact: Academy for International Development
10 Aygedzor St.
Tel.: (374-1) 26-69-36; 26-69-87
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
***SUPPORTING THE ELDERLY
On the occasion of the International Day of the Elderly, the AAA NGO Center
organized a visit on October 7 for representatives of Armenian Mass Media to
Martuni town to become acquainted with NGO activities carried out in support
of the elderly. The Martuni Women’s Community Council NGO meets the urgent
social needs of the lonely elderly by providing various social services, and
developing self-assistance mechanisms of cooperation in the community.
Providing food and hygiene products, primary healthcare services to those
who have no opportunity to go out of their homes, other care, household
services, legal consultancies, preparing legal documents, creating a day
center for social and psychological support of the elderly – this is the
list of services provided to the elderly in this community. As stated by one
project beneficiary, “We – sick and isolated people – now feel that we are
being cared for and that we are part of the community.” The project is
implemented with financial assistance received from the AAA NGO Training and
Resource Center through USAID.
Contact: Anahit Gasparyan
Martuni Women’s Community Council NGO
Martuni, 8 Proshian St.
Tel.: (374-62) 4-43-00; 4-36-04
E-mail: [email protected]
*** GARNI AESTHETIC EDUCATION SCHOOL REOPENED
Through the efforts of the Gifted Children Charitable NGO, the Aesthetic
Education School of the Garni village of Kotayk region was reopened after
previously suspending its activities because of scarcity of resources.
Within the framework of the NGO’s Way to the Arts project, implemented with
the assistance of the Jinishian Memorial Foundation, community members
mobilized efforts to restore the school building. These activities
contributed not only to developing mutual trust within the community, but
also to forming social partnership between the NGO, local self-governing
body and commercial companies. To provide smooth functioning of the school,
the Gifted Children NGO provided necessary literature, consultancy and
methodic materials. For comprehensive aesthetic education and leisure time
of the Garni village children, the NGO plans to restore and renovate the
first floor and yard of the school, contributing to implementation of
educational and cognitive projects, as well as holding exhibitions,
meetings, performances and other events.
Contact: Victoria Keshishyan
Gifted Children Charitable NGO
7 Tigranyan St.
Tel.: (374-1) 22-25-93; 56-54-59
E-mail: [email protected]
*** STEPANAVAN YOUNG LEADER RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL AWARD
The goal of the YouthActionNet international program is to develop the
leadership skills of young people, and promote and contribute to their
active participation in community processes leading to positive change.
Annually, the program recognizes 20 outstanding young leaders, aged 20-28,
with awards. This year, for the first time, a representative from Caucasus
and Armenia was among the winners – Lilit Stepanyan of the Stepanavan Youth
Center NGO. For the award giving ceremony, winners from various continents
were invited to Argentina, where a seven day seminar was organized aimed at
development of their skills. “If we are afraid of and avoid difficulties,
instead of facing and overcoming them, there will be no progress and
development”, says Lilit Simonyan.
Contact: Lilit Simonyan
Stepanavan Youth Center NGO
Stepanavan, 13 Meghapart St.
Tel.: (374-56) 3-22-91; 2-21-16
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
*** VISITING MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN
On October 14, the Armenian Assembly of America’s trustees, within the
framework of their visit to Armenia, visited the Prkutiun Center of Disabled
Children NGO, beneficiaries of which are mentally retarded children. In the
NGO’s day center, according to their capabilities, the mentally retarded
children learn reading and writing, as well as receive food and individual
and group assistance of a psychologist and defectologist. Through a grant,
received from the AAA NGOC, integration groups function within the center
allowing the mentally retarded children to learn painting, needlework,
rice-grain decoration and computer skills together with healthy children. On
October 14, the mentally retarded children sang, danced, recited for guests
and presented their handicrafts. At the end of the program, AAA trustees
provided some financial assistance to the NGO. Prkutyun will use it for
renovation activities and obtaining food and presents for the beneficiaries.
Contact: Arpenik Abrahamyan
Prkutiun Center of Disabled Children NGO
33 Chekhov St.
Tel.: (374-1) 42-78-50; 42-65-84; (374-9) 38-34-81
E-mail: [email protected]
*** SIXTH ASSEMBLY OF ARMENIAN ASSOCIATION OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS
On October 22-23, the sixth assembly of the Armenian Association of Family
Physicians NGO was held with participation of Association members,
representatives of interested state structures, NGOs, international
organizations and pharmaceutical companies. During the assembly, issues
related to the introduction of family medicine were discussed. The assembly
had scientific and practical direction: number of issues on disease
management within the primary healthcare system were discussed. The
Association’s activities for the past five years and its future plans were
discussed. The problem of an imperfect relevant legislative framework was
particularly emphasized; it was especially noted that despite the fact that
there are 250 physicians with certificates of family physicians, not
everyone works as a family physician in Armenia. As stated by the NGO
Chairman S. Hovhannissyan, with the assistance of the Association members,
the relevant legislative framework is being gradually developed, which will
contribute to the widespread and optimum introduction of family medicine in
Armenia.”
Samvel Hovhannissyan
Armenian Association of Family Physicians NGO
49/4 Komitas St.
Tel.: (374-1) 23-48-51
E-mail: [email protected]
*** NGO AGAINST PESTICIDES
On October 11, 2004, on the initiative of the Armenian Women for Health and
Healthy Environment NGO, a theatrical performance was held in the Verin Dvin
village school of Ararat marz. The performance, the message of which was
using foods free of pesticides, was part of the NGO’s For A Toxic-Free
Future In Armenia project. Its goal is to reduce the risk of exposure of
pesticides on human health and environment in Ararat marz. Dissemination of
factsheets, information sheets, posters, newspaper articles and organizing
TV programs and performances are aimed at raising the awareness of the
population of ten villages on pesticides and their harmful impact on health.
To promote cooperation with local and regional authorities, healthcare
institutions and NGOs, seminars, lectures and other meetings on the topic
Preventing Exposure of Pesticides are organized. The project is implemented
with financial assistance received from AAA NGO Center through USAID.
Contact: Elena Manvelyan
Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment NGO
24 Saryan St., #65
Tel.: (374-1) 62-66-20
E-mail: [email protected]
__________________________________________________________________________
Armenian NGO News in Brief is a publication of the NGO Training and Resource
Center (NGOC) issued in the Armenian, English and Russian languages for
electronic dissemination inside and outside Armenia. Primary funding for the
NGOC, which is a project of the Armenian Assembly of America, is provided by
the United States Agency for International Development (USAID.) Individual
NGOs are welcome to submit information for publication to the NGOC. The NGO
Center is not responsible for the clarity of information provided by
individual NGOs.
Dear Readers,
The not-for-profit, non-governmental sector of Armenia is rich with diverse
civic initiatives and activities. This electronic publication, though far
from covering all activities of the sector at any given period of time, is
intended to contribute to raising awareness, both inside and outside
Armenia, of the activities of Armenian not-for-profit, non-governmental
organizations.
Your comments and feedback about this electronic publication are greatly
appreciated.
Thank you.
NGOC staff.
Contact Information:
In Armenia:
Armenian Assembly of America
NGO Training and Resource Center
39 Yeznik Koghbatsi St.,
Yerevan 375010
Tel.: (374-1) 54-40-12; 54-40-13; 53-92-04
Fax: (374-1) 54-40-15
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
In the United States:
Armenian Assembly of America
NGO Training and Resource Center
122 C Street NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001 USA
Tel: (202) 393-3434
Fax: (202) 638-4904
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

OPPOSITION OFFICIAL CHIDES ARMENIAN HEAD FOR LACK OF PROGRESS IN KARABAKH
TALKS
Noyan Tapan news agency
9 Nov 04
Yerevan, 9 November: “I think (Armenian President Robert) Kocharyan’s
complexes are to blame for the transformation of the Karabakh conflict
into a territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Kocharyan
believes that his successor in the post of president of the NKR
(Nagornyy Karabakh Republic) is unable to conduct negotiations since
he is not as clever as he is,” Aram Sarkisyan, member of the political
council of the Anrapetutyun (Republic) Party and former prime minister,
has said.
He thinks that Robert Kocharyan, who has transferred the Karabakh
conflict into a territorial dispute, has driven this issue of big
politics into a deadlock.
“The public and political parties consider it necessary for Nagornyy
Karabakh to return to the negotiations process. Other points of
views are out of the question since the problem is precisely about
Karabakh’s self-determination,” Aram Sarkisyan said.
He thinks that the major task of the peaceful settlement of the
conflict should be not to make any of the sides feel themselves losers
since the realization of defeat, at least, indicates an approaching
wave of dissatisfaction. In this context, the former prime minister
thinks that the Armenian side should put the accent on the right
of the people of Nagornyy Karabakh to self-determination. The
Karabakh people should themselves decide whether they want to be
part of Armenia, remain independent or enjoy any other status, Aram
Sarkisyan said. “After all, it is up to them to decide. It is clear
that a settlement should be legally based on the right of the nation to
self-determination, rather than, as the Council of Europe says, filing
a suit with a court which will decide who is right and who is wrong.”
In the meantime, Aram Sarkisyan noted that neither the Armenian nor the
Azerbaijani public were ready for mutual compromises. He said that it
was necessary to prepare the public and in this context, for a start it
is necessary to continue contacts at the level of public organizations.
He is confident that delaying the problem harms both sides. “The time
of behind-the-scene talks has passed, the talks should not be an end
in itself but should produce a concrete solution to the problem. But
the authorities in Armenia and Azerbaijan have neither enough resources
nor the political will for that,” Aram Sarkisyan said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

THAT’S ALL
A1 Plus | 20:10:53 | 09-11-2004 | Politics |
After four hours in session, The Prosecutor General’s Office handed
down its unprecedented decision to dismiss isolated case on the
October 27 terrorist act masterminds because of lack of evidence.

AMENDMENTS TO SMOKING RESTRICTION BILL DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT
A1 Plus | 14:44:23 | 09-11-2004 | Politics |
A bill on amendments to smoking restriction laws was discussed Tuesday
at a regular parliamentary session. It is the second time the bill
has been put on the National Assembly’s floor.
When the bill was submitted for lawmakers’ consideration the first
time, it was failed to get a majority of votes.
After making some changes in the bill, the authors presented it again.
The authors say the bill is softer than Convention on Struggle against
Smoking. The bill will be voted soon.

Azeri NGOs call for release of would-be Karabakh guerrillas
Assa-Irada, Baku
9 Nov 04
8 November: Non-governmental organizations continue supporting 21
young men who are facing trial on charges of attempting to form an
illegal armed group. The national NGO forum today appealed to the
Grave Crimes Court in connection with this issue.
It is understandable that the defendants have chosen arms and a
guerilla war as the only way to liberate their homes and the graves
of their ancestors from the Armenian occupation, the appeal reads. It
will be impossible to prevent any attempts to liberate the occupied
territories militarily, unless Armenia ends its aggression and the
Nagornyy Karabakh problem is resolved fairly, the appeal reads. This
should be of a serious concern for the OSCE Minsk Group and its
co-chairs who have pledged to help eliminate the ramifications of
the occupation and who have achieved no result in this so far, the
appeal reads.
The national NGO forum said the above mentioned reasons had urged the
young people to violate Azerbaijan’s laws. It asked the Grave Crimes
Court to take these reasons into consideration.

NATO leader visits South Caucasus
ISN, Switzerland
Oct 9 2004
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer visited the three South
Caucasus countries in early November to signal the alliance’s
commitment to the region and to encourage leaders to take advantage
of Individual Partnership Plans (IPAPs).
By Vladimir Socor for The Jamestown Foundation (09/11/04)
On 3-5 November, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
visited, for the first time in this capacity, the three South
Caucasus countries. He conferred with the head of state, the defense
minister, the military leadership, and other top officials in each of
the three capitals. The visit’s goal was twofold: to signal that
NATO’s Partnership program is rapidly moving its focus towards this
region, as decided at the alliance’s summit in Istanbul in June; and
to encourage the three countries to take advantage of Individual
Partnership Plans (IPAPs). Ambassador Robert Simmons, newly appointed
as the NATO Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the South
Caucasus and Central Asia, accompanied de Hoop Scheffer on the visit.
NATO views IPAPs as the instrument that allows willing partners to
develop individualized relationships with NATO, focusing on military
reform, establishment of effective state institutions, and certain
basic democratization goals. IPAPs are two-year programs, with their
implementation assessed at periodic review conferences. IPAP can
potentially serve as an avenue towards membership for countries that
aspire to that status; the alliance’s motto in this regard being that
it would go as far as the country chooses to go, subject to IPAP
performance.
Georgia’s NATO hopes
Georgia became the first South Caucasus country to have its IPAP
approved by NATO. Originally submitted ahead of the Istanbul summit
for promulgation there, the document was ultimately accepted by the
North Atlantic Council in Brussels on 29 October. In the joint news
conference with de Hoop Scheffer in Tbilisi, President Mikhail
Saakashvili reaffirmed Georgia’s goal to join NATO as a full member
before the end of Saakashvili’s second and final presidential term –
a goal he had first announced during his recent visit to the Baltic
states. Without dampening Saakashvili’s optimism, de Hoop Scheffer
tempered it with realism by remarking that a long winding road leads
towards full membership. He stated openly for the first time that
Georgian membership was possible, and noted “an enormous drive on the
part of the Georgian government and people to fulfill that ambition”.
Remarks by both sides during the visit indicated that NATO’s liaison
officer for the South Caucasus would be stationed at the Defense
Ministry in Tbilisi. The NATO leader chose a cautious, non-specific
wording to remind Russia of its obligations to fulfill the 1999
Istanbul Commitments regarding Georgia. He expressed his “hope” in a
bilateral Russian-Georgian “solution” to the problem of Russian
troops and bases, rather than calling for an internationally assisted
withdrawal of those forces from Georgia. Georgia is already behaving
as a de facto ally, with platoon-size units serving under NATO
command in Kosovo and Afghanistan, and company-size units with the
US-led coalition in Iraq, where Georgia is now augmenting its
contingent to 300 troops and has offered to increase it further to
850. Georgia is balancing its security consumer’s role with that of a
security provider in both the NATO and the ad hoc coalition context.
In Azerbaijan
In Azerbaijan, final preparations for NATO approval of that country’s
IPAP topped the agenda of de Hoop Scheffer’s visit. Deputy Foreign
Minister Araz Azimov, who handles Azerbaijan-NATO relations, noted
that procedural issues had held up IPAP’s promulgation since the
Istanbul summit. The document also includes a concept for developing
Azerbaijani rapid-deployment units for service with NATO’s Response
Force. As could be expected, de Hoop Scheffer faced persistent public
questioning in Baku about NATO’s position on the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict and a possible NATO role in conflict-settlement. His answers
indirectly confirmed NATO’s reluctance to take a position or play a
role. He advised Azerbaijan that it was perhaps time to “turn a page”
in its approach to Karabakh conflict-settlement. For his part, Azimov
held out the possibility of NATO contributing peacekeeping troops to
an international contingent, if one were deployed in the conflict
zone under an international organization’s mandate. The familiar
small group of Karabakh Liberation Organization militants staged a
vociferous picket during de Hoop Scheffer’s visit, protesting
preventively against Armenian participation in an upcoming NATO
Parliamentary Assembly seminar in Baku. The police rounded up a few
of the protestors only after they had finished their demonstration.
Milli Majlis Chairman Murtuz Aleskerov declared that Armenians could
be allowed to participate in this seminar because they are civilian,
rather than military. In September, Azerbaijan’s leaders, including
Aleskerov, had ruled out the participation of a few Armenian military
officers in NATO’s Cooperative Best Effort 2004 large-scale staff
exercise in Baku, thereby leaving NATO no choice but to cancel this
annual event. Azerbaijan’s NATO aspirations suffered an unnecessary
setback as a result of political advisers overruling the foreign
policy professionals on this matter and giving in to a handful of
militants. Inclusiveness is a bedrock principle of NATO’s Partnership
programs. Further setbacks may ensue if political advisers insist
that Azerbaijan, rather than NATO, should determine what kind of
personnel may or may not participate in NATO exercises in Azerbaijan.
In Armenia
In Armenia, de Hoop Scheffer underscored the significance of that
country’s recent decision to draft an IPAP with NATO and to appoint
an envoy to the alliance. Implicitly acknowledging the national
tradition of close links with Russia, he noted in an address to
Yerevan University faculty and students that Armenia may develop its
NATO partnership without damaging its relations with Russia, and that
any residual mistrust towards NATO was a Soviet propaganda legacy.
Armenia could prove that a country can maintain close relations with
Russia while becoming an active NATO Partner, he concluded. One
pro-NATO politician, Hovhanes Hovhanissian of the Liberal Progressive
Party, commented that good relations with Russia need not mean being
“Russia’s vassal”, local media reported. At every stop during the
visit, de Hoop Scheffer made the point that NATO does not compete
with any country or organization (that is, Russia and the CIS
Collective Security Treaty Organization, of which Armenia is a
member) in the region. He underscored that NATO has no intentions,
plans, or interest in establishing military bases in the South
Caucasus, nor would this meet the interests of the region’s
countries.
–Boundary_(ID_g+hc6ziAuWMrT89+dHrn2g)–

Azeri officer dies after Armenia breaches ceasefire
Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
Oct 9 2004
Lieutenant Bahaddin Abdiyev, an officer in the Azerbaijan Army,
died after the units of the Armenian Armed Forces breached ceasefire
close to Aghdam District (Central Garabagh) on Sunday. Abdiyev, 24,
was drafted from Tovuz District.
The Defense Ministry has confirmed the fact.*

Armenia Fund USA
152 Madison Ave, #803
New York, New York 10016
Contact: Lisa Markarian
Tel: 212-689-5307
Fax: 212-689-5317
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:
Armenia Fund USA Hosts President of Nagorno Karabakh Arkady Goukassian
and Executive Director of Hayastan All-Armenia Fund Naira Melkoumian
for a Lecture at ALMA in the Greater Boston Community
Moving rapidly toward completion of the North-South Highway, Armenia
Fund is halfway home. Its goal of building the 105 miles of highway
interconnecting 150 towns and villages in mountainous Karabakh has to
date raised $12 million towards the $25 million project. With ongoing
vital support from Armenians in the Diaspora and past proven success
from having built 49 miles so far, Armenia Fund continues to forge
ahead. The Fund is gearing up for the final leg, generating support and
overseeing construction of the remaining 56 miles with the much
anticipated Thanksgiving Day Telethon.
To raise awareness and inspire community involvement in the Armenia Fund
Telethon, the President of Nagorno-Karabakh, Arkady Goukassian,
accompanied in part by Naira Melkoumian, Executive Director of Hayastan
All-Armenia Fund, will be in the United States and are scheduled for
several pre-telethon events. Their initial destination is to the
greater Boston area – a special engagement will be held at the Armenian
Library Museum of America on November 13-th at 4:30 pm. The program
will include an entertaining video presentation by Armenia Fund USA and
guest speaker, President Goukassian will lecture on Geopolitical
Challenges and the Need for an Improved Infrastructure in Armenia and
Karabakh. All are welcome to be involved in this noteworthy event.
Armenia Fund’s annual Telethon for 2004 is stepping up its ambitions in
a grand way to raise the final $12.5 million needed for the completion
of the highway, deemed as the backbone of Karabakh. The 12-hour, live
broadcast airing throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, South
America, the CIS, and Middle East will feature live entertainment by
various Armenian performers, interviews with numerous celebrities and
political leaders, development and construction footage from Armenia and
Karabakh, and stories of individuals impacted by Armenia Fund projects.
A phone bank with 50 operators and volunteers will be helping to handle
the generous outpouring from Armenians world-wide. Broadcast schedules
and information for your area is available by calling our office. Or,
you can log onto our website – <; for a real time web-cast of the telethon on Thanksgiving Day and for more information. Focused on infrastructure and high standards of accountability, Armenia Fund USA is a unique organization dedicated to supporting large-scale initiatives in both Armenia and Karabakh, helping the developing nations sustain themselves for the future. Armenia Fund is non-partisan and works closely with the governments of Armenia and Karabakh not only building roads, but also schools, medical facilities, utilities and humanitarian programs, all along upholding stringent project oversight measures with bidding, management and quality control processes. Founded in 1992, Armenia Fund USA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) representing the support of Armenian diasporans in the Eastern United States and was the first of Hayastan All Armenia Fund's 18 international hubs to aid the homeland. As the largest contributor toward strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia and Karabakh, Armenia Fund has helped build 138 miles of roads, 81 miles of waterways, 36 schools, 3 electric transmission networks, 210 residential buildings and 14 healthcare institutions. After completing the Goris-Stepanakert Highway, linking Armenia to Karabakh, Armenia Fund set its sights on developing the North-South Highway. In the process of all its projects, Armenia Fund has ensured sustainability by investing beyond construction, sponsoring the necessary equipment and training, as well. This not only eases the hardships for the people of Armenia and Karabakh for the current time, but more importantly ensures stability for the long term. Armenia Fund USA's mission of accountability goes beyond Armenia and is built upon a pledge of responsibility to benefactors and recipients alike. All contributions are 100% tax deductible. To learn more about Armenia Fund USA, go to <; , or write/call for a free marketing packet at Armenia Fund USA, 152 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 (212) 689-5307.