Los Angeles Times
October 31, 2004 Sunday
Home Edition
VOTING;
Stars, Sex and Gimmickry;
Vampire slayers, strippers, lowriders want to lure you into the booth
by Ben Wasserstein, Ben Wasserstein is a writer in New York.
Last week, Ashton Kutcher took a break from canoodling with Demi Moore
to appear with Sen. John Edwards in Iowa and Minnesota. Each time the
“Dude, Where’s My Car?” dude charged President Bush with punking the
citizenry, receptive crowds reportedly shouted back, “True dat!”
Meanwhile, Bad Boy rapper Sean “P. Diddy” Combs’ understated “Vote or
Die!” slogan echoes through the battleground states he’s been touring.
“If you talking about flexing your power, and you ain’t flexing in the
swing states, then you ain’t flexing your power,” he told Associated
Press.
Reluctant voters have nowhere to hide these days, as Bruce
Springsteen’s “Vote for Change” tour prods them, the country musicians
of “Your Country, Your Vote” spur them and less-heralded acts use every
manner of crackpot stunt to wheedle relentlessly.
This summer’s “Just Vote” tour, for example, was powered not by
baby-boom rockers but vegetable oil, as Bay Area bands Aphrodesia and
Rock Me Pony chased down unregistered slackers in a van fueled by used
corn and soybean grease. The Armenian National Committee of America’s
pro-John Kerry tour seeks to wring votes from people with names ending
in “ian.” In the swing state of New Mexico — which George W. Bush lost
in 2000 by only 366 votes — caravans of “lowriders” will accompany
coveted Latino voters to the polls. And in Florida, transvestites have
launched a “Drag Out the Vote” campaign.
Many organizations are exporting people and ideas from solidly red or
blue states into those of a less-certain shade. For example, the
Downtown for Democracy political action committee, or D4D, is sending
hip, young New Yorkers by van to Ohio, disseminating “free designer
T-shirts, free drinks, political art and music.” New York magazine
summarized the pros and cons of D4D’s approach: “Advantages: Free
designer T-shirts, free drinks. Disadvantages: Political art and
music.”
Democrats and Republicans kicked more traditional get-out-the-vote
efforts into overdrive after the too-close vote of 2000. But if the
election is decided by a narrow margin, the media’s post-victory
spotlights are not likely to fall on the church, club and union
stalwarts who nag door-to-door or by phone bank.
Credit will more likely go to fans of the much-missed TV show “Buffy
the Vampire Slayer” who rallied voters and raised money for Kerry at a
multi-venue event they called “High Stakes” — the stake being Buffy’s
bloodsucker-killing weapon of choice.
Donald P. Green, director of Yale’s Institution for Social and Policy
Studies and coauthor with Alan S. Gerber of “Get Out the Vote: How to
Increase Voter Turnout,” says that face-to-face interactions are the
key to pumping up poll attendance. “I don’t know that making a
spectacle of it gets people to participate,” he said.
Such thinking has not deflated vote wranglers’ enthusiasm for sex and
celebrity tactics. Leonardo Di Caprio, who plays billionaire Howard
Hughes in an upcoming film, joins Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas in
trying to guilt voters to the polls as part of MTV’s “Rock the Vote.”
Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in “The Passion of the Christ,” is doing
the same for the evangelical “Redeem the Vote” effort. Singer Sheryl
Crow is fronting for the feminist “Get Our Her Vote.” And P. Diddy and
Ted Nugent are getting out votes for, well, the Burger King Corp. —
Slogan: “Have it your way Nov. 2.”
The “Baring Witness” campaign encourages men and women to spell out
pro-voting messages with their naked bodies. Strip clubs nationwide
have asked patrons to avert their eyes long enough to register. And the
group Votergasm encourages people to withhold sex from nonvoters for a
week after the election.
When vote encouragement becomes so frenzied, illegal tactics inevitably
come to light. And it is inevitable that fingers point to Michael
Moore. In a tour of Michigan colleges, the filmmaker offered gifts of
clean underwear and ramen noodles in exchange for promises to vote.
Because it is illegal to pay people to vote in a federal election, the
Michigan GOP urged authorities to take Moore down. A local prosecutor
demurred, suggesting her time would be better spent “prosecuting those
who are delivering cocaine to our young people rather than underwear.”
Not that a crack-for-votes campaign is out of the question. An Ohio
sheriff has reported that an NAACP National Voter Fund worker admitted
that she paid a 22-year-old in crack cocaine for the 130 completed
voter forms he supplied. Those forms came to the sheriff’s attention
because many sported false addresses and the names of Mary Poppins,
Brett Favre, Jeffrey Dahmer, Dick Tracy and other people who do not
reside in Toledo.
So there it is. By hook or by crook, more voters than usual will
probably turn up this year. Harder to gauge: How many were lured by
lowriders, how many by lite rockers, how many by lap dancers and, in
places like Toledo, how many actually exist.

ARKA News Agency
Nov. 1, 2004
EU approaches Karabakh issue constructively and positively – EU Special
Representative to South Caucasus
France and Netherlands oppose inclusion of issue around occupied
Azerbaijani territories in agenda of the 59 session of UN General
Assembly
The Ukraine celebrates the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the
country from fascist aggressors
RA Trade-industrial Chamber becomes a full member of European Trade
Chamber
***********************************************************************
EU APPROACHES KARABAKH ISSUE CONSTRUCTIVELY AND POSITIVELY – EU SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE TO SOUTH CAUCASUS
YEREVAN, November 1. /ARKA/. EU approaches Karabakh issue
constructively and positively, EU Special Representative to South
Caucasus Heikki Talvitie stated according to Azeri 525th Newspaper.
According to him, due to objective reasons EU avoids making strict
statements on this issue. He also said that EU does not directly
participate in negotiating process, but assists settlement of the
conflict. `The process includes parties of the conflict and OSCE MG
co-chairmen’, he added and said that EU will support the agreement that
will be achieved between the parties and help restoration process after
the achievement of peaceful agreement. L.D. –0–
***********************************************************************
FRANCE AND NETHERLANDS OPPOSE INCLUSION OF ISSUE AROUND OCCUPIED
AZERBAIJANI TERRITORIES IN AGENDA OF THE 59 SESSION OF UN GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
YEREVAN, November 01. /ARKA/. France and the Netherlands on behalf of
the OSCE Minsk Group opposed the inclusion of the issue around occupied
Azerbaijani lands in the agenda of the 59th session of the UN General
Assembly. As Armenian Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department
told ARKA, this was stated by Press Secretary of the Armenian Foreign
Ministry Hamlet Gasparyan. In his words, only 43% of 191 UN member
states voted in favor the Azerbaijani initiative, while other
abstained. In Gasparyan’s opinion, the voting showed that this
initiative of Azerbaijan is not being supported by the world community,
moreover that the majority of those who supported the initiative are
part of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) currently chaired by
Turkey. `This means that Azerbaijan is attempting to give different
character to the conflict, mobilizing the Islamic forces and abusing
the atmosphere of solidarity prevailing in the OIC’, he stressed adding
that this will unequivocally lead to the negative consequences related
to the settlement of the conflict.
Simultaneously in Gasparyan’s words, the Azerbaijani initiative was not
supported by 40% of the OIC member states, none of the EU member state,
none of the UN Security permanent member, while only Pakistan supported
in favor of the inclusion of the issue in the agenda. Also besides the
OSCE Minks Group member states only Turkey supported this initiative.
`The Armenian Foreign Ministry states that Azerbaijan is attempting to
distract the world community from the principle issue of the Ngorno
Karabakh status’, Gasparyan stated, adding that Armenia permanently
repeats and today confirms its position that separate issues, to which
Azerbaijan wishes to attract the attention of the world community,
eradicated from the discussion of Nagorno Karabakh status it should
discuss directly with Nagorno Karabakh. T.M. -0–
***********************************************************************
THE UKRAINE CELEBRATES THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIBERATION OF THE
COUNTRY FROM FASCIST AGGRESSORS
YEREVAN, November 1. /ARKA/. The Ukraine celebrates the 60th
anniversary of the liberation of the country from fascist aggressors.
According to the press release provided by the Ukrainian Embassy in
Armenia, the battle for the liberation of the Ukraine is one of the
most leading pages of the world history. According to the press
release, the heroic liberation from fascist slavery became fatal for
most people and today we give tribute to the memory of those perished
in the war, those who didn’t return home from the war or those who died
early from old wounds. `We salute those who defended our Motherland and
went through the whole horror of the war. Unfortunately, the number of
such people keeps reducing and it’s our duty to protect our veterans
and take care of them’, as stated in the Ukrainian Embassy, `our duty
is to transmit to the next generations profound respect to the feat of
soldiers of the World War II, to the heroes of the war’.
3,5 million of people perished in the war against fascists is the price
of liberation of the Ukraine. `Without the fighting concord of soldiers
of many nationalities we wouldn’t have the Great Victory, and without
sincere friendship of peoples there can be no peace and stability in
the Ukraine, or in any other country, or in the world at all’, as the
President of the Ukraine Leonid Kuchma stated in his speech during the
celebrities devoted to the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the
country from fascist aggressors. Almost 4 thsd. people were conferred
the rank of the Hero of the Soviet Union for the liberation of the
Ukraine. Among such people are 668 Ukrainians, 2598 Russians, 69
Belarus, 62 Georgians, 35 Armenians, 33 Uzbeks, and 30 Kazakhs. All in
all, representatives of 43 nationalities were awarded golden medals and
conferred the rank of the Hero of the Soviet Union. A.H. – 0–
***********************************************************************
RA TRADE-INDUSTRIAL CHAMBER BECOMES A FULL MEMBER OF EUROPEAN TRADE
CHAMBER
YEREVAN, November 1. /ARKA/. RA Trade-Industrial Chamber (TIC) became a
full member of European Trade Chamber (ETC). According to RA (TIC)
Press-Service Department, the decision on it was made at the ETC
congress in Vienna on Saturday, October 30. According to the source,
cooperation of EU countries with TIC gives Armenia the chance to
promote Armenian goods to the European market through trade-industrial
chambers.
Also, the TIC of Georgia became the full members of ETC, and TIC of
Azerbaijan got the status of an associate member.
European Trade Chamber is an officially registered organization of
trade chambers of European states. As of today, ETC includes TICs of
all countries of EU, and only three of the CIS, including Russia and
Belarus. A.H.–0 –

“AZERBAIJAN IS NOT INTERESTED IN KARABAKH ISSUE SETTLEMENT”
Azg
2 Nov 04
Stepanakert Responded to Baku’s Initiative
Masis Mayilian, deputy foreign minister of Nagorno Karabakh Republic,
said in an interview to Azg Daily that by the initiative of including
“Azerbaijan’s conquered territories’ present status” in the UN agenda
the Azeri side proved once more Baku’s unavailability to discuss with
Stepanakert the whole package of issues regarding Karabakh conflict.
The UN General Assembly’s General Commission ordered to include
theissue of “Azerbaijan’s conquered territories’ present status” in
theagenda of the 59th sitting. Azerbaijan attempts to shift
international community’s attention from the key issue of the Karabakh
conflict – the issue of Nagorno Karabakh status. Official Yerevan
stated that all the territories administratively belonging to the
Republic of Azerbaijan are not being inhabited (see Azg Daily’s Oct.
30 issue).
“This step of Baku does not support the creation of the necessary good
atmosphere but is a propaganda maneuver. Otherwise, Azerbaijan would
respond to Stepanakert’s offer of beginning whole-format talks which
are the most efficient means”, Mayilian said.
He also noted that by posing the issue of territories Azerbaijan tries
to divert the attention of interested institutions from its own policy
of inhabiting 15 per cent of Karabakh’s and the whole territory of
Shahumian in 1992.
“Baku’s destructive policy makes it impossible to solve the problems
of the refugees and resettlers and may render all the efforts of
international mediators to nil”, Mayilian said.
Artur Mosian, president of the Commission of Defense, Security and Law
Enforcement of the National Assembly of Nagorno Karabakh, informed Azg
Daily that Karabakh has no conquered territory. “Karabakh has only
liberated territories which are zones of safety. I think that Armenia
has neither conquered nor liberated territories in Karabakh. Let the
Azeri’s calm down”, Mosian said.
Yet, he noted that “such a formula cannot be pleasant”. Mosian thinks
that Stepanakert is not involved in the negotiation processes today,
therefore Karabakh is not obliged to comment on the talk
discussions. “We are not involved in any talk process. If they don’t
ask what we think it’s their problem”, he said.
Vahram Atanesian, president of the National Assembly Commission on
Foreign Affairs, thinks that picking out separate aspects from the
Karabakh issue and highlighting them on the UN agenda will not
contribute to any of the 3 conflicting sides as “the talks within the
OSCE Minsk group frameworks seemto mark progress”.
He does not agree with the idea that Karabakh is left out from the
negotiations. “Minsk group is visiting Karabakh and discusses issues
with high-ranking officials of the Republic, that’s why I think
Stepanakert clearly expresses it’ s position and that is I think a
negotiation stance”, Atanesian said.
He agrees with Armenian Foreign Ministry’s opinion that no state
policy is carried out for inhabiting the territories. “I don’t exclude
the possibility that there may be several Armenian families who found
refuge in these territories (controlled by Armenian forces) as they
have no other place to live and the Karabakh authorities cannot
provide them with the necessaries”, Atanesian said.
Recently OSCE Minsk group co-chair Yuri Merzliakov said in an
interview to the Regnum new agency that Nagorno Karabakh’s
participation in the talks is compulsory. Baku’s Ekho newspaper cites
the words of Bruce Jackson,president of the US Committee to Expand
NATO: “I don’t understand why Nagorno Karabakh does not take part in
the settlement talks”.
Ali Hasanov, of President Aliyev’s think tank, said to Ekho that
Karabakh is not a side in the conflict but Armenia is carrying that
role out. Only in case Armenia steps aside admitting that the conflict
is Azerbaijan’s inner problem between Baku and Stepanakert and
withdraws its forces and ceases contributing to the separatists,
repeals Armenian parliament’s decision of 1989,only then it will be
possible to begin talks between Baku and Stepanakert.
By Tatoul Hakobian

IDEA OF HAVING ARMENIAN NAVY COMES TRUE
Azg
2 Nov 04
On May 28, 2005, “Cilicia” will resume its voyage from Venice and
passing by Rome, Carthago and Dublin will reach Amsterdam, finishing
the envisaged trip. The leadership of “Ayas” Marine Research Club
said this recently. “By successfully finishing the first stage of the
navigation, passing Ayasâ=80`Venice route, we proved that “Cilicia”
had right for living,” Karen Balayan, captain, said.
The captain represented the voyage that lasted from July 14 till
October 16, talked of joyful and dangerous moments of the days they
spend out in the sea. “Particularly, the specialists respected our
initiative. An impression was created that the Armenians were good
sailors. Let’s not change it”,he said.
Dwelling on the marine achievements of Cilicia Armenia, Zory Balayan
said: “Today we also use marine routes, so, even without having sea
coast, we should have a navy. The lake Sevan is a good place for
training. A sailor who was trained there will easily sail in the
ocean.” For instance the sailors pin hopes on 19 years old Moushegh
Barseghian, who joining the Armenian army, spent the four months with
the sailors in the sea. Zory Balayan assured that the 17 sailors that
participated in the voyage, members of “Ayas” club, could helpin
establishing the Armenian navy. Samvel Karapetian, captain-adviser,
lives in Georgia and he spends 6-7 months a year in the sea. He thinks
that in orderto become a good sailor, one should be near the sea, with
the sea from very young age. As the future sailors should have the
opportunity of sailing in the sea in small boats before they become
crew members of a big ship.
By Tamar Minasian

ALBERT BAZEYAN “OPPOSITION WILL BECOME MORE ACTIVE SOONER OR LATER”
Azg
2 Nov 04
The opposition needs time and money for arranging its activities. Time
is needed for the people to rebel, while money is required to cover
everyday needs of the people. Albert Bazeyan, chairman of
Hanrapetutiun (Republic) party’s political board, expressed this
opinion during the press conference held at National Press Club.
They aren’t concerned about the time, but they have difficulties
ingetting financial sources, as, according to Bazeyan, all the
administrative, financial, propaganda and power means are grasped by
the current authorities. The same situation was in April, but the
opposition made an attempt of a power shift, taking into account the
demands of the society. According to Bazeyan, even if no power shift
is possible in the Republic of Armenia through the constitution, it
doesn’t mean that it is impossible at all.
The opposition accepts only that way and it will never yield the
provocations of armed struggle. As for the pre-election and
parliamentary Justice union, it will function till the end of this
parliament’s term. Besides, Justice union has promises to fulfill,
Albert Bazeyan says.
Bazeyan informed that Hanrapetutiun party is ready to join any logical
initiative taken by National Unity or Justice union. Sooner or later
the opposition will awake the people and make a power shift though
constitutional means, to secure legitimate power, Bazeyan says. He
sees no danger in the existence of artificially created opposition.
As for the announcement made by Armen Sargsian, saying that Robert
Kocharian and Vazgen Sargsian were friends, Albert Bazeyan said that
the latter has subjective views. And if there is a possibility to be
released that is the choice and right of Armen Sargsian.
By Nana Petrosian
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
11/01/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) French Armenians Challenge Turkey's EU Bid 2) ARF Armenia Convention Elects Body 3) Vatican Hesitant on Turkey's EU Bid 4) Puzant Granian Passes Away 5) TV Blacked Out in Abkhaz Crisis 6) Abkhazia Says Georgia Poised for Armed Invasion 1) French Armenians Challenge Turkey's EU Bid MARSEILLE (AFP)--France's Armenian community said on Friday it would appeal to President Jacques Chirac to prevent negotiations on Turkish membership to the European Union until Turkey acknowledged responsibility for the genocide of Armenians. The group's attorney Philippe Krikorian said it would lodge an appeal before the nation's highest administrative tribunal, the Council of State, requesting that Chirac oppose the start of such talks. The subject of the Armenian genocide has sparked Turkish and Armenian sensitivities for nine decades, with Turkey consistently refusing to acknowledge that genocide had occurred in 1915-1917 when up to 1.5 million Armenians died. Turkey says that between 250,000 and 500,000 Armenians and thousands of Turks were killed in civil strife during World War One, when the Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers. The French parliament passed legislation in 2001 stating that genocide had occurred, thereby causing hard feelings in relations with Turkey. Organizations, which represent some 450,000 French citizens of Armenian origin, wished to protest against Chirac's "willingness not to subordinate the opening of negotiations to the prior admission of the Armenian genocide," said Krikorian. Last month the European Commission recommended a start to membership negotiations with Turkey, which has been lobbying for many years to join the European Union. Jean-Pierre Berberian, spokesman of a Marseille-based Armenian group, noted that an EU summit would make the final decision in December on whether to start negotiations. Fifty days ahead of that date, it was time to "denounce the violation by the French government of the terms of the resolution passed on June 18, 1987 by the European Parliament and of French legislation of January 2001 recognizing the genocide of 1915," said Berberian, spokesman of the Euro-Armenia group, and a Marseille city councilor. Chirac has indicated his support for a start to talks, but many in his ruling party, in the opposition, and among the French public are against Turkey's EU membership. "Not only is Jacques Chirac acting in violation of the law, he is doing so against the will of a majority of French who are opposed to Turkey's membership," said Berberian. The text of the 2001 legislation passed by parliament here said France "publicly recognizes the Armenian genocide of 1915," but did not explicitly identify Turkey as responsible for the deed. 2) ARF Armenia Convention Elects Body YEREVAN (Yerkir)--The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) of Armenia elected its Supreme Body (SB) at its 8th Convention held October 29-31 in Jermuk, Armenia. The new body includes Armen Rustamian, Mikael Manukian, Levon Mkrtchian, Hrach Tedevosian, Spartak Seyranian, Hamlet Abrahamian, Bagrat Sargsian, Ashot Papazian, and Vlad Kochunts. Rustamian will serve as SB representative. 3) Vatican Hesitant on Turkey's EU Bid VATICAN (CWNews.com)--The Vatican has not yet offered any official statement on the prospect of Turkey's entry into the European Union, but believes that the union should cover Europe "from the Atlantic to the Urals," according to Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo. In a lengthy interview with the Italian daily La Stampa, the Vatican's Secretary for Relations with States did observe that if Turkey enters the European Union, the government of that predominantly Muslim country will be obliged to fulfill the same political criteria as all other member-states, including the guarantee of religious freedom. And that guarantee, the archbishop added, should be "not only ensured in the constitution, legislation, and administration, but also protected concretely and effectively in the social realm." Archbishop Lajolo stressed that "the Holy See is not afraid of enlarging Europe." He pointed out that in the past the Vatican has supported the application of Eastern European countries for EU membership. In determining which states should enter the Union, he said, "The decisive point is that the new Europe should have a deep internal cohesion." The archbishop said that European leaders should "pay more attention" to other countries that have already indicated a desire to join the Union, such as Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Armenia. These countries, he observed, are clearly aligned with Europe's cultural tradition. 4) Puzant Granian Passes Away Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, along with the Western Prelacy Religious and Executive Councils extended their sorrow at the loss of the intellectual, writer, literary critic, and national servant Puzant Granian who passed away on the morning of Saturday, October 30. Granian, who was born in Cilicia in 1912, lived in Alexandria, Egypt before moving to Los Angeles. His dedication to his nation and people spans his service to the Armenian community of Egypt to his commitment to the Western Prelacy. Puzant Granian, who assumed the chairmanship of the first Western Prelacy Executive Council, continued his selfless service for decades, not only to the Western Prelacy, but also affiliate groups, and partook in many General Assemblies of the Armenian Catholicosate of Cilicia. He leaves behind a rich literary legacy. A national funeral will take place on Tuesday, November 9, 11AM, at the Rose Hills Cemetery's Memorial Chapel in Whittier. 5) TV Blacked Out in Abkhaz Crisis (BBC)--The government in Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia has taken the sole television station off the air amid a mounting political crisis. Its prime minister said he was blacking out broadcasts while the authorities restored order at the station, where the opposition has mounted pickets. The opposition is outraged by Abkhaz President Vladislav Ardzinba's decision to call a repeat election. It insists that its candidate, Sergei Bagapsh, won the poll on October 2. But his main rival, Raul Khajimba, disputed the ruling, and the election was later declared invalid by the supreme court and a new vote ordered. Bagapsh's election team has refused to accept that decision, and he has been preparing for his inauguration. For months, Khajimba, a former prime minister, was groomed by Moscow to become the future president of Abkhazia. Electoral officials alleged pressure from Bagapsh supporters. But official results showed he had lost. He asked for the recount but the result was still the same and Bagapsh remained the winner. The army has been put on high alert as officials in Abkhazia allege Georgia is massing troops at the border and is preparing to invade. But locals say there are no troops there. In the beginning of the 1990s, Abkhazia fought a vicious war with Georgia and has since struggled to recover. It was once Georgia's most prosperous Black Sea province, a place known as the Riviera of the Soviet Union. The international community does not recognize its independence. For years, Russia has been Abkhazia's only lifeline and a major influence on local life and politics. Analysts say that electing a man Moscow did not support could result in serious civil unrest for the troubled province. 6) Abkhazia Says Georgia Poised for Armed Invasion SUKHUMI (Interfax)--The defense minister of the Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia, Vyacheslav Eshba, on Saturday cited "accurate information" that "Georgian armed forces are being concentrated" near the Abkhaz border and said they were getting ready to invade Abkhazia. Eshba told Interfax he had alerted the Abkhaz armed forces. "The Abkhaz Defense Ministry is seriously concerned about the military and political situation that has been taking shape around Abkhazia over the past few days," he said. "The Georgian leadership is not abandoning its plans for revenge and is trying to take advantage of the internal disunity in Abkhazia, entertaining a plan for the solution of the so-called 'Abkhaz question,'" Eshba said. "We possess accurate information that Georgian armed forces are being concentrated in western regions of Georgia that border Abkhazia. Their purpose is to invade our republic and destroy Abkhaz statehood," he said. "The Abkhaz Defense Ministry asserts that all attempts to use the complicated political situation in Abkhazia in Georgia's interests will be cut short. The Abkhaz forces have been alerted on my orders," the minister said. "I am sure that the Abkhaz people will be united in this situation. The armed forces of the republic, together with the people, will give an appropriate rebuff to the aggressor," he said. "I am sure that, at this moment of a real threat, all disputes will be pushed far into the background, as has always been the case in our history," Eshba said. "This statement and the measures that are being taken by the Abkhaz Defense Ministry have nothing to do with the internal political situation in Abkhazia," the minister said. "The Abkhaz armed forces have never interfered in any internal political processes in Abkhazia nor will they do so," he said. Meanwhile, Georgian Minister for Separatist Conflicts Giorgi Khaindrava denied any plans for a military invasion of Abkhazia. He dismissed Eshba's words as "completely absurd." "We have not recognized, nor will we recognize, as legitimate any elections in Abkhazia that are carried through by the separatist authorities, but it has been important for us to find out the opinion of the Abkhaz people on their current leaders, and so the Georgian leadership has not been interfering in current events in Abkhazia," Khaindrava told reporters. He reiterated that Georgia was determined to seek negotiated settlements to its conflicts with Abkhazia and another breakaway province, South Ossetia. 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.

California Courier Online, November 4, 2004
1 – Commentary
Heinz Family’s Incredible Link
To the Armenian Genocide
By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
**************************************************************************
2 – Kuredjian Scholarships Are Inspiration
For Armenian Students in Law Enforcement
3 – Numismatic Journal
To be Converted into
Series II in 2005
4 – GUSD Starts
Armenian Language
Show on Channel 15
5 – Armenian Cooking Celebrated at
Two Farmers’ Market, Nov. 13-14
6 – Glendale Seminar Will Discuss Armenian
Demographics and Impact on Business
7 – Unique Presentation
Of Armenian Poetry
In L.A. in November
************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
Heinz Family’s Incredible Link
To the Armenian Genocide
At the time of writing this column, it was not known whether Teresa Heinz
Kerry would be the next First Lady or not. Nevertheless, the Los Angeles
Times revealed last week an incredible connection between the Heinz family
and the Armenian Genocide.
In a lengthy front-page article on October 27, the Los Angeles Times
disclosed that Howard Heinz, the grandfather of Sen. John Heinz (the former
husband of Teresa Heinz Kerry), went to Armenia in 1919 to deliver
desperately needed humanitarian supplies to the thousands of survivors of
the Armenian Genocide. Howard was one of the four children of Henry John
Heinz, the founder of the famous ketchup and pickle empire.
Times’ staff writer Ralph Vartabedian, through painstaking archival
research, traced for the first time the Heinz’ family tree, spanning over
four generations. Here is the reference in his article to the amazing link
between the Heinz family and the Armenian Genocide:
“Heinzes pioneered the industrialization of the U.S. food supply, pushed
government reforms to improve food safety and advocated for military
intervention to stop the Armenian genocide.” Howard Heinz, who was deeply
involved in public service, “was sent to the Middle East by the Wilson
administration after World War I to head famine-relief efforts. On the day
[his father] H. J. Heinz died [in 1919], Howard was delivering 30,000 tons
of food to the region, where he witnessed the unfolding genocide that took
the lives of 1.5 million Armenians. Howard tried to get [Pres. Woodrow]
Wilson to send troops to halt the slaughter in harsh, remote areas of
eastern Turkey and Armenia. In a dispatch to the president, he wrote, ‘I do
not believe America, when she knows the truth, will be satisfied to have
all our ideals of humanity thrown to one side while these people are
murdered.’ His pleas were ignored,” Vartabedian wrote.
This is a very significant revelation that was not known to most Armenians,
and possibly even to the descendants of the Heinz family. It would be
important to obtain copies of the first-hand reports Howard Heinz
dispatched from Armenia and Turkey, as the genocide was still unfolding.
Interestingly, should Sen. Kerry become president, an incredible family
connection would be established for the first time between the White House
and the Armenian Genocide. Kerry’s three stepsons — Teresa’s sons from her
former husband – H.J. Heinz IV born in 1966, Andre born in 1969, and
Christopher born in 1973 — are the great-grandsons of an eyewitness to the
Armenian Genocide!
Livingston: Another Lobbyist Milking Turkey
Robert Livingston, the former Republican chairman of the powerful House
Appropriations Committee and a paid lobbyist for Turkey since 2000, made
some interesting statements last week. He told the Turkish media that Sen.
Kerry, if elected president, would probably keep his promises on
recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Livingston was in effect telling the
Turks that he would have to charge them much more for his lobbying efforts,
as it would be more difficult under the Kerry administration to block the
Genocide resolution.
In a lengthy article published on Sept. 29, 2004, reporter Kate Ackley
disclosed in “Influnce.biz” that The Livingston Group’s lucrative client,
Turkey, paid the firm $1.4 million just for the first half of this year.
The Turkish fees constituted 25% of the firm’s annual revenues.
The report revealed some of The Livingston Group’s far-reaching and
influential network of contacts in the White House (Karl Rove, Senior
Advisor to Pres. Bush; James Marrs, an aide to Vice President Dick Cheney;
Matt Bryza, the National Security Council’s director of European and
Eurasian affairs; and Daniel Keniry, a member of Pres. Bush’s legislative
affairs team); in the Congress (House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill, and
his aide Christopher Walker; House Majority Leader Tom Delay, R-Texas, and
his senior national security policy advisor Brett Shogren; Cong. Robert
Wexler, D-Fla; Cong. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky, and his aide Jeff Miles; Cong.
Richard Baker, R-La; Mark Murray, minority staff assistant for the House
Appropriations Committee; Vincent Morelli, majority staff director for the
House International Relations
Subcommittee on Europe; Johnnie Kaberlie and Ali Amirhooshmand, policy
aides to House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; and Rachael Leman, deputy
policy director on the House Rules Committee); in the Defense Dept. (Deputy
Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz; and Lisa Heald, the country director
for Turkey in the office of the Secretary of Defense); and in the State
Dept. (Douglas Hengel, an aide in the office of Southeastern European
Affairs).
The article disclosed that Livingston and his group spent a lot of time and
effort to counter Cong. Schiff’s amendment on forbidding Turkey to use U.S.
foreign aid money to lobby the Congress against the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. According to the article, on March 18, Livingston,
“exchanged e-mails on Turkish-Armenian issues with James Marrs of Vice
President Dick Cheney’s office.” In July, Livingston and his team of
lobbyists held a series of meetings with White House officials and House
leaders to counter the Schiff amendment.
If Kerry were to be elected president, The Livingston Group would need to
work much harder and charge the Turks millions of more dollars for their
lobbying efforts.
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2 – Kuredjian Scholarships Are Inspiration
For Armenian Students in Law Enforcement
By Susan Abram
Los Angeles Daily News
GLENDALE — Five students received scholarships last week in memory of
slain sheriff’s Deputy Hagop “Jake” Kuredjian, whose name will live on as
more Armenian youth pursue careers in law enforcement.
Sheriff Lee Baca, Glendale Police Chief Randy Adams and several others also
were honored by the Armenian National Peace Officers Association during the
group’s first-ever scholarship ceremony.
The association formed last year with the intention of encouraging more
Armenian youths to consider careers in law enforcement.
Kuredjian “lived a life of pride, a life of wisdom,” Baca said. “His name
will always be at the forefront of what it is to be Armenian-American.”
Some of the money used for the scholarships was raised by 14-year-old
Austin Losorelli, a Stevenson Ranch resident who collected donations in
memory of Kuredjian. Losorelli set up a table and a sign at the corner of
Stevenson Ranch Parkway a day after Kuredjian was killed in 2001.
“My dad is an LAPD officer. I just felt bad for (Kuredjian’s) family,”
Losorelli said.
With help from his brother Ian, he raised $8,000, and the association also
honored him on Sunday with a plaque presented by Kuredjian’s brother, Garo,
who told the boy, “This is long overdue.”
The slain deputy, a 17-year veteran of the Los Angeles Country Sheriff’s
Department, was helping serve a search warrant Aug. 31, 2001, in Stevenson
Ranch when a man opened fire from an upstairs window, hitting the deputy
once in the head.
Last month, the deputy’s memory was honored with a dedication ceremony at a
new park, named Jake Kuredjian Park, next to Pico Canyon Elementary School
in Santa Clarita.
Steve Shenian, a California Highway Patrol officer and the co-founder of
the Armenian National Peace Officers Association, said the group has about
90 members in seven states.
The association’s goal is to encourage young Armenian-Americans to consider
law enforcement as a professional career. Glendale’s Armenian community,
the largest outside of Armenia, has been slowly embracing the profession,
officials said, but more work needs to be done.
“We need to get in and break barriers,” Shenian said. “We need to go into
local schools and visit groups. When the children see an Armenian officer
in uniform, it’s powerful.”
The Glendale Police Department has tried with limited success to attract
more Armenian youths to its ranks.
“Law enforcement is extremely important to the Armenian community,” said
Glendale Mayor Bob Yousefian. “I’m not one to say our community doesn’t
have issues. We need help to deal with these issues.”
Seventeen Glendale Police Department officers are Armenian-American — only
two more than there were in 1995.
“A lot of Armenians think law enforcement is not an honorable career,
because from where they came from, law enforcement had a bad image, and
they are afraid,” said 20-year-old Diana Arzrounian, a California State
University, Northridge, student and winner of one of the Kuredjian
scholarships. “We need more programs, such as this one, to talk about …
what law enforcement really is. It’s not just about arresting people.”
Ross Simonian, Sabina Simonian, Sara Vardapetyan, and Mourad Kabanjian also
received $500 each in memorial scholarships.
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3 – Numismatic Journal
To be Converted into
Series II in 2005
PICO RIVERA, Calif. – Founded in 1971, the Armenian Numismatic Society
inaugurated a forum dedicated strictly to publishing Armenian numismatics
in 1975, with the first issue of “Armenian Numismatic Journal.” Thirty
volumes of the “Journal” have now been printed, a volume a year, and mailed
to Society members in the United States and many foreign countries.
Cumulatively, the 30 volumes includes about 300 essays, in some 2200 pages
and 110 plates. The scholarly articles cover a multitude of subjects on
newly discovered Armenian coins and hoards, medals, bank notes, book and
auction reviews, plus bibliography and abstracts on Armenian numismatic
literature.
“The Armenian Numismatic Journal” will start its Series II, Vol. 1 (31) in
2005, in the same format, 81/2×11 inch and four issues per volume.
A limited supply of back issues and a few complete sets of the “Journal”
are available for those who would like to purchase them for their
libraries.
Collectors who are interested in joining the Society, or purchasing its
publications, may request a list, from the secretary at the Armenian
Numismatic Society, 8511 Beverly Park Place, Pico Rivera, CA 90660, or
e-mail at [email protected].
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4 – GUSD Starts
Armenian Language
Show on Channel 15
GLENDALE – In an effort to reach families of students whose primary
language is Armenian, the Glendale Unified School District is now showing a
program in Armenian on Charter Cable Channel 15. The 30-minute program is
an overview of English Language Learners instruction in the Glendale
schools.
The program airs Mondays and Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturday and Sundays at 1
p.m.
Panelists who discuss various aspects of the ELL program are: Armine
Aghanjani, teacher at Hoover High; Lala Sahakian, teacher specialist at
Marshall Elementary; Armineh Khanbabian, teacher specialist at Jefferson
Elementary; Zepure Hacopian, teacher specialist at R.D. White and Lincoln
Elementary; and Keghanoush Bairamian, second grade teacher at Mann
Elementary.
Of the approximately 29,000 students in the Glendale Unified School
District, about one-third are of Armenian descent. The District is
producing this show in Armenian to help educate parents and families who
are limited or non-English speakers.
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5 – Armenian Cooking Celebrated at
Two Farmers’ Market, Nov. 13-14
GLENDALE – Two weeks before Thanksgiving, the Burbank Farmer’s Market and
the Encino Farmer’s Market have joined together to celebrate Armenian
cooking. Veteran author, Barbara Ghazarian will appear at the markets to
share ancient culinary secrets and sign copies of her new cookbook, “Simply
Armenian.”
The events will take place Nov. 13 at the Burbank Farmer’s Market from 8
a.m. to 12 noon. For information, call (626) 308-0457. The next day, the
Encino Farmer’s Market will host the event from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. For
info, call (818) 708-6611,
“You will learn the magic of creating a feast out of a basket of
vegetables and a handful of cracked wheat bulgur,” Ghazarian promises.
“Simply Armenian” is not a vegetarian cookbook, but over a half of the 150
dishes are meat-free and 55 recipes meet vegan standards.
“Traditionally, Armenians farmed the soil or tended orchards, so vegetables
and fruits made up the bulk of what was available to eat,” Ghazarian
explains. “On top of that, the Armenian church calendar calls for over 180
fasting days a year and in the old days people used to follow it pretty
closely, but now the “no animal products” or vegan dishes are year-round.”
Ghazarian sorted through the traditional favorites of her Armenian
grandmother’s and Middle Eastern-born mother-in-law’s kitchen and
handpicked a collection of dishes that ensured those who were keeping
meat-free or low meat diets would eat like sultans, too. Cheese is a
staple; eggplant is a favorite; chickpeas, other legumes, and lentils are
plentiful; and nuts and fruits are used in everything.
“The Armenian method of pickling fresh vegetables is quick, easy, and
reliably delicious,” says Ghazarian, who suggests first-timers pickle
carrots, red cabbage, turnips, and cauliflower while gourmets may want to
try eggplant.
But pickling is just the beginning of the satisfying vegetarian dishes
included in this cookbook.
For those following low meat diets, “Simply Armenian” is a celebration of
abundance. Home cooks looking for new, satisfying vegetarian fare for
everyday eating or special occasions will cheer the boon they discover at
the Burbank and Encino Farmer’s Markets the second weekend of November.
Author Barbara Ghazarian is an experienced cook and a natural teacher with
a gift for storytelling. This is her first cookbook and second book
(“Descendants of Noah: Stories of Armenian Apostolic Faith and Heritage,”
Mayreni 2002) Barbara lectures from coast to coast on Armenian-related
topics to both Armenian and American audiences. She authored a long-running
weekly culinary column for a Los Angeles newspaper and has years of
experience teaching culinary writing to adults in greater Boston.
“Simply Armenian,” published by Mayreni Publishing (), can
be purchased in leading online bookstores, at Abril, Berj, and Sardarabad
Armenian bookstores in Glendale, and at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena.
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6 – Glendale Seminar Will Discuss Armenian
Demographics and Impact on Business
GLENDALE – A high-powered strategic marketing seminar will be held Nov. 10
in Glendale to discuss the community’s demographics and how it relates to
business and advertising, as well as community activism.
The panelists are Glendale Mayor Bob Yousefian, Glendale Unified School
District President Greg Krikorian, and Ara Najarian, Board Trustee of the
Glendale Community College.
The event is being co-sponsored by the Krikorian Marketing Group, Business
Life & Senior Living magazines, and the Armenian American Chamber of
Commerce.
Topics which will be discussed include workforce demographics, outreach
initiatives, growth patterns, graduations rates, and student successes.
The program will also discuss US Census figures and the Armenian
Demographics in Glendale and L.A. County. The presentation will be made by
Jerry Wong, Information Services Specialist, L.A. Region of the US Census.
A review of various marketing initiatives impacting Armenian business and
community will be conducted by KMG Marketing.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will be represented by Lisa Kalustian, the
Chief Deputy Director of the L.A. Office. Also attending will be Alberto G.
Alvarado, Director of the US Small Business Administration, Los Angeles
District Office.
The seminar will begin at 6 p.m., with networking opportunity, and the
forum will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Nestle Building, 800 N.
Brand Blvd. Admission is free, but due to limited space, RSVP is requested
by calling (818) 240-7987, or e-mail, [email protected]
The City of Glendale with its 194,973 residents ranks third in the country.
with 54.4% foreign born residents. Glendale trailed only Hialeah, Fla and
Miami, Fla with the highest number of foreign-born. Recent estimates
indicate an Armenian population in Glendale of near 100,000. A survey of
active accounts by the Glendale Water and Power with “YAN” and “IAN” in the
last 3 digits of the Name Field in their billing systems shows 21,325
residential and 1561 commercial billing units. The fields represent the
party responsible for the payment of the utility services, which may be a
tenant owner, property management services or other person(s) not living at
that address.
This forum is designed to educate the community of Glendale, the County and
help build better understanding to further embrace and build communications
with our diverse population. This is the first of several that will be
scheduled during the course of the coming 2005-year.
Major corporate sponsors are: Glendale Adventist Medical Center, The Gas
Company, Sempra Energy, SBC, Print-On-All and Paradise Pastry.
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7 – Unique Presentation
Of Armenian Poetry
In L.A. in November
LOS ANGELES – In association with the UCLA Department of Near Eastern
Languages and Cultures and the City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs
Department, Arena Productions presents the world premiere of “They Were
Poets,” a theatrical production of Armenian poetry spanning throughout the
centuries, all translated into English.
The programs will be held Saturdays, Nov. 6, 13, 20 at 8 p.m. at Barnsdall
Gallery Theater in Hollywood.
The presentations are compiled, edited and directed by Anahid Aramouni
Keshishian, Lecturer of Armenian Language and Literature at UCLA.
“Join us for an evening of verse dipped into an eclectic array of music
and imagery, all fused with the human body and voice,” the organizers
suggest.
The Barnsdall Theatre is located at 4800 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood. For
reservations, call: 818- 240-7080, or e-mail: [email protected]
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54 countries at Short Film Event
Monday, November 01, 2004 – 2004 IranMania.com
LONDON, Nov 1 (IranMania) -The Ninth International Festival of Short Films
due to be held on November 17-22 will host 54 countries, secretariat of the
festival said in a press release.
Armenia, Egypt, Kuwait and Burkina Faso will take part in the festival in
addition to 50 countries which had taken part in the international short
film festival.
Meanwhile, a producer of animation films Vahid Nassirian said that public
screening of short films concurrently with features films in the cinema
should become a convention.
He said that public screening of short films does not generate income for
the producer, but it boosts the spirit of the filmmaker.
Nassirian noted that in other countries, screen short films are usually
screened before a feature film and hoped that the Iranian cinemas would
follow suit.
He said that the producers of short films have established themselves in the
cinema sector.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PRESS COUNCIL IN KARABAKH
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
29 Oct 04
Last week Stepanakert Press Club held a seminar on self-regulation of
the mass media in the context of freedom of expressing opinions. The
seminar was organized by the international organization `Article 19′
inthe framework of the project `Maintenance of Democracy in South
Caucasus through Freedomof Speech’ with financial assistance of the
Institute of Open Society and other foundations. During the seminar in
which participated the heads of the leading mass media and journalist
organizations of the republic, as well as correspondents of foreign
mass media, questions on the self-regulation of press, ethic of
journalists, freedom of speech – state secrets, author’s rights â=80`
plagiarism were discussed. At the suggestion of the chairman of
Stepanakert Press Club Gegham Baghdassarian the participants of the
seminar adopted a decision on the establishment of the Press Council
which will most probably include the heads of the leading mass media
of the republic and journalists’ organizations. The council will deal
with the problems connected with the work of the mass media. In
particular, they will consider disputable situations, organize joint
informative actions, pursue the maintenance of the ethic of
journalists. The necessity of self-regulation of press and unification
of journalists, according to the participants of the seminar, was
caused by the famous political confrontation several years ago when
the most `heated battles’ took placebetween the state newspaper `Azat
Artsakh’ and the oppositionist `10th State’. As it was mentioned
during the seminar, because of the underdevelopment of the political
sector political debates take place between the newspapers and
journalists representing political forces and not the leaders of the
political forces. As a result the blame entirely falls on
them. Journalists said this should not be so. A newspaper should only
reflect the moods existing in the society and political debates should
not turn into abuse and offence. As a result of the seminar an
undertaking group was formed which will work on preparing the ethic
code of journalists and constitute the council of press in the
upcoming three weeks.
AA.
29-10-2004

STATE AID TO FARMERS
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
29 Oct 04
The passing year was unfavourable for agriculture in the republic,
first of all because of lasting natural disasters – frost, hails,
heavy rains, and later pests. The crops sown in autumn and spring
suffered most of all. More than 1700 hectares of winter wheat was
fully or partly damaged (in this and the following data the region of
Kashatagh is not included), 257 hectares were hail-hit, 534 hectares
were frozen, 532 hectares were damaged by pests and 373 hectares
burnt. If add to this the damage caused by natural disasters to spring
crops, fruit orchards and other perennial crops, the picture will
become complete. On the whole, 6000 hectares of farming land under
winter and spring crops were damaged and the material damage totaled
5.5 billion drams. This worries the NKR government. In this situation
the private farmer needs the direct practical assistance of the
government. NKR minister of agriculture Benik Bakhshiyan informed our
correspondent that only in the past two weeks NKR president Arkady
Ghukassian held several consultations with the responsible bodies and
tasked them with taking necessary measures to overcome the situation
in the shortest possible time. To aid the villages which suffered most
700 hectares of high quality seed wheat will be provided to farmers in
the form of interest-free loan for a two-year term (totaling 130
million drams) at the condition that during 2 years the same amount of
wheat must be returned instead of the borrowed seed wheat. The NKR
minister of agriculture said the distribution of wheat has already
started and is directly controlled by the heads of the regional
administrations. At the same time he asked the farmers to keep the
right order of agricultural works, crop circulation, in order to avoid
losses and maintain a basis for reproduction of arable crops and have
an effective yield.
AA.
29-10-2004