Azer News
Aug 5 2004

BTC construction halt in Georgia politically motivated

Construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in Georgia’s
Borzhomi gorge did not resume on Monday, as initially planned.
Georgia’s Environmental Protection Ministry said following a meeting
of the Azeri-Georgian

inter-government commission that the operations will resume only
after a permission is granted by the country’s Security Council.
Azerbaijani first deputy prime minister Abid Sharifov, SOCAR
president Natig Aliyev, BP Azerbaijan president David Woodward, and
BTC Co General Director Michael Townshend are currently in Tbilisi to
hold talks on the matter.

Georgian environment experts say that a special approach in laying
pipes should be used on the 17-km-long section of the pipeline going
through the Borzhomi gorge, as this is necessary to preserve flora,
fauna and mineral springs in the area. Construction operations were
suspended for two weeks by the Georgian Environmental Protection
Ministry on July 22 to carry out a test due to environmental safety
violations, after minister Tamara Lebanidze raised the issue. A week
later, the Georgian Ministry received additional documents from
investors related to ensuring safety procedures, Lebanidze said. “The
documents we have received are under scrutiny and will be made public
later”, she said. The terms of the permit for construction
operations, which envisioned tightening security in the Borzhomi
gorge, were not observed and the operations were subsequently halted,
Lebanidze said. Earlier BTC Co General Director Michael Townshend
said that BP, the project operator, is taking all necessary steps to
ensure compliance with safety policy procedures both during
construction operations and in view of its future operation. “We are
ready to provide all kinds of assistance to the Georgian government
in monitoring safety procedures”, Townshend said. The overall length
of the pipeline going through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey is 1,743
km. Construction of the pipeline with annual capacity of 50 million
tons is scheduled to complete late this year.

USA pledges to secure BTC
Elizabeth Jones, the Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and
Eurasia, who recently visited Tbilisi, assured Georgian President
Mikhail Saakashvili that construction of the Georgian section of the
BTC pipeline will continue and that the current route will not be
altered. Jones told journalists following the meeting that the halt
in BTC construction operations in Georgia was in focus during her
meetings with the country’s government officials. Jones regarded the
BTC as a very important project and said its construction should not
be suspended. She noted that Georgian officials maintained that
security procedures were not observed in the Borzhomi region, a
resort area, during the operations. The US official assured the
Georgian side that security procedures will be observed.

Armenian residents demand compensations
Armenian residents of the Tabaskuri village in Georgia’s Zalga region
have demanded compensations due to the laying of the BTC pipeline
through this territory. During a public action on July 27, they
announced that if the compensations are not paid, they will resort to
a protest action of a larger scale. A BP expert said on condition of
anonymity that the pipeline stretches through Tabaskuri village and
that compensations were paid to owners of affected land before the
construction operations commenced. Ethnic Armenians claim that the
construction of the BTC pipeline may allegedly lead to landslides in
the future. But even a one meter-deep trench will not cause any
landslides.

Saakashvili seeks US pressure on Russia
The BTC construction in the Borzhomi gorge was suspended on an
instruction of the Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, says the
Political Innovations and Technology Center director Mubariz
Ahmadoglu. He said that by suspending the operations Saakashvili is
trying to get the USA to step up pressure on Russia over the South
Osetia conflict. The Georgian leader is not capable of resolving the
problem on his own and is therefore seeking assistance from the USA
and other countries, Ahmadoglu said. Although the international
community supports Tbilisi by recognizing Georgia’s sovereignty, the
Georgian leader is not satisfied with this. Saakashvili would like to
see the USA put pressure on Russia to achieve a resolution of the
problem in Georgia’s favor. Ahmadoglu said that since the USA is not
willing to oppose Russia over the South Osetia problem, Saakashvili
issued an instruction to halt the construction operations. He went on
to say that although the construction was suspended for two weeks
under the pretext of environmental concerns, no environmental tests
have been carried out yet. The Azerbaijani first deputy prime
minister Abid Sharifov, SOCAR president Natig Aliyev and BP
Azerbaijan president David Woodward have recently left for Tbilisi.
At about the same time, the Georgian President left for Ajaria, and
then to Paris and therefore avoided a meeting with Azerbaijani
government officials. On August 4 he is scheduled to leave for the
USA. Saakashvili’s unexpected visit to the USA is related to the halt
in the BTC construction, Ahmadoglu added.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 5 2004

ANDREAS GROSS: `CE HAS SPECIAL ATTITUDE FOR AZERBAIJAN’
[August 05, 2004, 11:55:17]

Meeting of PACE representatives in Milli Majlis

Arrived on August 3 with a visit to our country, co-Rapporteur of the
Monitoring Committee of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe Andreas Gross and Andreas Herkel next day have met
representatives of the political parties represented in Milli Majlis
of Azerbaijan Republic.

Assistant to the executive secretary of `Yeni Azerbaijan’ Party,
deputy Mubariz Gurbanly, highly having estimated the relations
between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe, has noted, that such
visits have great value from the point of view of development of
democracy in our country and expansions of our links.

Andreas Gross has stated that the purpose of present visit consists
in carrying out of exchange of opinions around of execution of the
obligations taken by Azerbaijan before the Council of Europe, process
of democratization proceeding in the country, the steps undertaken in
the direction of protection of the rights and freedom of the person,
the role of parliament in this business and other questions.

Then, leaders of other political parties – chairman of Social Welfare
Party Khanhuseyn Kazimli, the vice-president of Popular Front Party
Gulamhuseyn Alibeyli, the vice-president of Civil Solidarity Party
Fazail Ibrahimli have in detail informed on the reforms spent in our
country, existing problems. Deputies also have expressed the concern
on weak role of ÑÅ in settlement of the Nagorny Karabakh conflict.
They have reminded, that at the introduction into the Council of
Europe Azerbaijan and Armenia have taken obligations on peace
settlement of the conflict. However, the Armenia ignores resolutions
on settlement of the conflict, and also that fact, that ÑÅ does not
apply, using its powers, sanctions concerning the aggressor that is
ambiguously perceived by the public of Azerbaijan.

Andreas Gross has noted that the Council of Europe show special
attitude to Azerbaijan. This confirms and the documents adopted by
the Organization connected with Nagorny Karabakh. But the conflict
should be settled on the basis of the arrangement of the sides.

Another co-rapporteur Andreas Herkel has stated: `The structure
represented by us is ready to make the offers connected to settlement
of the conflict. We are ready and to render the help in this cause
and we hope, that due to our joint activity we shall manage to
achieve the decision of the problem’.

Then, at the meeting, the parties had exchange of views on other
questions representing mutual interest.

***

On August 4, co-rapporteurs of the Monitoring Committee have held
also a meeting with members of delegation of Milli Majlis of
Azerbaijan at PACE.

Having welcomed visitors, the chief negotiator of parliament of
Azerbaijan, chairman of standing committee of Milli Majlis on the
international relations and inter-parliamentary links Samad Seyidov
has congratulated again the newly appointed co-rapporteur Andreas
Herkel and has wished him successes in activity.

S. Seyidov has emphasized: `Azerbaijan is resolute in the aspiration
to carry out obligations taken before the Council of Europe. First of
all, performance of the given obligations is of great importance for
development of democratic values in our country, maximal protection
of the rights and freedom of the person. We are sure, that due to
joint activity, other questions also will find their solution. In
particular, we can undertake essential steps in the field of the
prompt peace settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh
conflict being a serious problem for Azerbaijan, region and, as a
whole, for all Europe.

Andreas Gross has noted: `The Council of Europe also is interested in
the decision of these questions. In most cases controversial problems
find the decision as a result of joint cooperation and activity. We
hope, as our joint, constructive activity will bear the fruits’.

Mr. Andreas Herkel has stated that he is ready to use the best
efforts for the decision of existing problems and would adequately
work in the new post.

Then, at the meeting, the parties had exchange of opinions on the
work spent in connection with obligations, taken by Azerbaijan before
ÑÅ, on existing problems, preparation for municipal elections and
other questions representing mutual interest.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Aug 5 2004

NATO FIELD EXERCISES DUE IN BAKU IN SEPTEMBER
[August 05, 2004, 11:55:59]

On August 4, Minister of Defense of the Azerbaijan Republic,
colonel-general Safar Abiyev has met the assistant to the commander
of the Northeast Alliance staff of the NATO general – major Henry
Hans Mammon.

As was informed to AzerTAj from the press-service of the Ministry of
Defense, having welcomed the visitor, the minister has told:
`Azerbaijan closely cooperates with the NATO within the framework of
the Program `Partnership For Peace’. During visit to Brussels in May
of this year the President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev
has presented the Secretary General of the NATO the `Operating plan
of Individual Partnership’. In September, the field exercises
“Cooperative Society Best Effort-04” will be carried out in Baku.
Similar actions even more pull together Azerbaijan with the NATO.

Having thanked colonel-general S. Abiyev for reception, general –
major G.G. Mammon informed, that he has arrived in Baku in connection
with the `Seminar of military terminology for staff officers’. Then,
he has informed Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan on the measures
which have been carried out by the NATO in various regions of Europe.

Colonel-general S. Abiyev has exchanged with the visitor opinions on
present military-political situation in the region of Southern
Caucasus, the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, its consequences,
participation of our country in large economic projects, about
development of our Armed Forces, participation of peace-making
divisions in hot points, system of military education, bases of
conscription, etc.

In conclusion, colonel-general S. Abiyev has thanked general – major
G.G. Mammon for the seminar carried out in Baku within the framework
of the PfP Program of the NATO and has wished him successes in
military service.

Akron Beacon Journal , OH
Aug 5 2004

Gymnast earns five gold medals

Falls resident Flohr, 13, leads USA team to title

Bianca Flohr, a 13-year-old gymnast from Cuyahoga Falls, won five
gold medals and was part of a USA team that won the team championship
for the entire event as well at the recent International Children’s
Games competition in Cleveland.

Flohr participated in the 12-15 age bracket in the event, which was
held at John Carroll University.

Besides the team award, she captured the all-around (score of 37.9),
vault (9.55), uneven bars (9.875) and balance beam (9.575), as well
as floor exercise (9.8).

Coach Terry Gray, owner of the Flytz Gymnastics Club in Cuyahoga
Falls and also the coach, said the USA team was made up of four girls
from around the country, including Flohr.

Armenia took the silver medal in the team competition, and Mexico won
the bronze. Gray said there were at least five country teams entered,
and more than 40 gymnasts competed.

Gray, who is the USA National team coach for juniors (ages 15 and
under), said Flohr holds the No. 6 ranking in the nation in her age
group.

He said Flohr, who has been home schooled, plans to attend Woodridge
Middle School this fall.

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

Students of St Sahag-St Mesrob Saturday School Returned from Armenia

On July 29, 2004, graduating students of Toronto’s St. Sahag
St. Mesrob School arrived from Armenia in a very high spirit and with
great enthusiasm. On Sunday, August 1, the group attended the Divine
Liturgy at the Holy Trinity Armenian Church and received Holy
Communion.

Prior to his sermon, Rev. Fr. Zareh Zargarian, Pastor of the church,
invited the students to come forward to the presbytery (tas) and to
present their impressions of Armenia. One by one the students related
their memorable experiences and impressions of the
Motherland. Fr. Zargarian then spoke about the importance of
safekeeping and maintaining the Armenian cultural and national
heritage, as well as of constantly being aware of our sense of
belonging.

Following the Divine Liturgy, a reception was held in the Church’s
Magaros Artinan Hall in honor of Mrs. Sona Zeitlian from Los Angelos,
on the occasion of the publication of her most recent book titled “The
Input of Armenians in Egypt’s Early Middle Ages and Contemporary
History”. The book-launching was organized by the “Gamar” Cultural
Association of Holy Trinity Church. The book was presented by the well
known scholar from Montreal Miss Armine Keoshkerian, who offered a
comprehensive overview of this interesting dissertation. The author
then related pertinent information about the subject and what had
motivated her to write the book. The reception was concluded by
Rev. Fr. Zareh Zargarian’s praise for the book and by his blessings.

Camp Sevan Participants visited St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral

On Tuesday, August 03, 2004 participants to the Sevan Summer Camp of
the Tekeyan Cultural Association visited St Gregory the Illuminator
Armenian Cathedral to ask for His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian’s
blessings and prayers.

Around 70 children aged between 4-13 gathered at St Gregory the
Illuminator Church and prayed that Almighty God grant the Motherland,
Armenia, family members and beloved ones good health and a prosperous
life. His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian, Primate, and Rev Fr
Vazgen Boyajyan greeted the teachers of for the camp and the
participating students.

Mrs. Ardemis Boyadjian is the principal and her assistants are Dzeron
Ohanian, Marie Mouradian, Mariana Tarkonian, Stephanie Boyadjian and
Patrick Kamel.

In his words of praise, Bishop Galstanian expressed his joy and
appreciated the organizers of the Sevan Summer Camp. His Eminence
encouraged the participants to be loyal to Armenian traditions and
values.

First Annual Armenian Youth Pilgrimage to St Catharine’s

The oldest and the first Armenian Apostolic Church in Canada,
St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church of
St. Catharine’s, Ontario, will be hosting the first Annual Armenian
Youth Pilgrimage.

His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanian will join the pilgrims from
Montreal, Laval, Toronto and Ottawa at this historic event that will
take place starting Saturday, August 14th. in the evening and continue
on Sunday, August 15th. with the 74th. Annual “Blessing of the
Grapes” Holy Badarak and traditional Picnic.

His Holiness Karekin II Extends Sympathies to Pope John Paul II

His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All
Armenians, has sent a letter of sympathy and support to Pope John Paul
II, related to the terrorist events directed against Catholic churches
in Iraq on August 1, 2004.

The letter of His Holiness states in part, “We are saddened that some
extreme elements are attempting to endanger the centuries of
friendship and peaceful co-existence among the Christian and Muslim
peoples of the East, and offer our prayers to the Almighty that the
love of our Lord Jesus Christ will enter into the hearts of men,
reconcile them one to another, and that violence and war will be
eliminated from the region and all of humanity.”

The Catholicos of All Armenians has sent a similar letter to the
Patriarch of the Armenian Catholics, His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX.

Statement from Mother See on Church Bombings in Iraq

The Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin learned with sorrow from the
Armenian Diocese of Iraq of the terrorist events of August 1, the
result of which caused loss of life and many to be injured. Five
churches were damaged, among them being an Armenian Catholic church.
The Armenian Apostolic churches and Diocesan headquarters of Iraq were
not attacked or damaged.

The Armenian Apostolic Holy Church expresses her sympathies to the
families of the victims and all Iraqi people, and wishes complete
recovery to the wounded and injured. We pray that the centuries of
friendship and peaceful co-existence among Christian and Muslim
peoples in the East will not be endangered by similar condemnable
violence; for peace to be re-established in the region; and that the
Iraqi people continue with the creation of their safe and progressing
lives.

Montreal Children’s Hospital

The Armenian Holy Apostolic Church Canadian Diocese team gave a
helping hand to its community on the occasion of the 89th
commemorative anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. After a “Toy
Drive” that took place in the spring, the team came for a visit at The
Children’s on April 22, 2004, to distribute the toys the young
patients.

The Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada;
Prayers Needed For Maritsa Rina Laleyan-Yemenidjian

Maritsa Rina Laleyan-Yemenidjian, age 52, of Montreal, Canada, is
presently in deep coma at Sacre Coeur Hospital in Montreal. The
Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada asks the faithful to pray for
the full recovery and well being of Maritsa Rina Laleyan-Yemenidjian.

Anyone wishing to send prayer notes and caring thoughts may do so by
writing to the attention of Deacon Hagop Arslanian at [email protected]
and they will be forwarded to the Yemenidjian Family.

The power of prayer will bring miracles to this family and they need
our support via this prayer request.

Armenian-proposed frontline meetings no security threat – Azeri expert

Ekho, Baku
30 Jul 04

Text of R. Orucov’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper Ekho on 30 July
headlined “Personal contacts on the frontline” and subheaded “The
Armenian military offers its Azerbaijani counterparts to meet under
the aegis of the OSCE”

In conformity with the mandate of the personal representative of the
OSCE chairman-in-office, the OSCE conducted routine monitoring of the
contact line between the Armenian and Azerbaijani armed forces this
week in the vicinity of the villages of Berkaber in Armenia’s Tavush
Region and Mizamlu in Azerbaijan’s Qazax District.

According to the Regnum news agency, visual contact was established
during the monitoring mission between the OSCE representatives and
representatives of the Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs of
Armenia and Azerbaijan who accompanied them. The news is that the
“Armenian side again suggested changing from radio contacts to
meetings in person under the aegis of the OSCE. [OSCE
chairman-in-office’s personal] Envoy Andrzej Kasprzyk welcomed this
suggestion and expressed his hope that in the foreseeable future, the
OSCE will apply for permission to hold such a meeting.”

The greatest interest is caused by the question of why personal
meetings between the two hostile sides are needed. What does it mean
that precisely the Armenian side came up with this initiative? Could
this practice really serve the purpose of maintaining the cease-fire?
The fact that the third monitoring mission has been carried out in
this sector of the border is caused by the aggravation of the
situation here, Regnum was told at the Armenian Defence Ministry.

Yesterday it emerged that the Defence Ministry of the Republic of
Azerbaijan was unaware of this offer. The head of the Defence
Ministry’s press service, Ramiz Malikov, said in a conversation with
Ekho that he knew nothing about this and that “we should not ask for
things like this”.

Independent military expert Uzeyir Cafarov gave a positive assessment
to the prospect for contacts between the military in the frontline
area. “Any contact between the opposite sides which serves the purpose
of saving the lives of the military personnel should be
welcomed. Human lives should be saved. Agreeing to contacts with
Armenian officers out of any other considerations is inadmissible.”

The belligerents have been more or less observing the cease-fire for
10 years now, the expert noted. “But we have witnessed almost daily
shooting from the Armenian side along the frontline of late. This is
why personal contacts between the sides would not be bad for the
general atmosphere,” Cafarov said. He also said that a monitoring
mission by the OSCE representatives is one thing, and when officers
discuss the important issues in which they are interested without
mediators is another thing. “I think that the latter will be more
useful,” he added.

Cafarov reminded us that this system was practised in previous
years. “That is to say, during the OSCE monitoring missions, not only
did the sides see each other, they also communicated. Naturally, they
were standing, not sitting at a table. Officers discussed different
issues and expressed their displeasure or wishes.” The sides were
trying to use such contacts to the maximum benefit of their troops.

The expert noted that such meetings would pose no security
threats. “The point is that both our and Armenian side are very well
aware who is on the opposite side in every particular section of the
frontline – they possess almost 100-per-cent accurate information
about the commanders and types and numbers of weapons on the opposite
side.”

Assa-Irada
Aug 5 2004

PACE Rapporteurs Start Meetings In Baku

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE)
rapporteurs on Azerbaijan Andreas Gross (Switzerland) and Andreas
Herkel (Estonia) arrived in Baku on Tuesday night.

The goal of the visit is to clear up issues related to compliance
with the resolution passed by the PACE in its January session and
prepare a report on the results of the Baku visit.

On Wednesday, the PACE rapporteurs met with human rights activists
and leaders of political parties represented in the Milli Majlis
(parliament).

The commitments that Azerbaijan made to the Council of Europe (CE)
upon admission were discussed in a meeting with human rights
activists. However, the parties didn’t exchange views on the issue on
political prisoners but discussed court processes underway in the
country.

Later in a meeting with leaders of political parties represented in
the Milli Majlis (parliament), opposition MPs underlined that the
European Community was not willing to speak about the rights of
Azerbaijani refugees. They stressed that the political and economic
relations in Azerbaijan won’t be in compliance with CE requirements
until the Upper Karabakh conflict is settled.

Gross said that he has never come to Azerbaijan to give advice and
noted that they would exchange views on existing problems during the
visit. Touching upon the Upper Karabakh conflict, the PACE rapporteur
said that they try to eliminate the consequences of the conflict. `We
hoped that Azerbaijan and Armenia will reach common agreement on the
settlement of the conflict after they are admitted to the CE.
Unfortunately, we didn’t witness it,’ he underlined.

Gross said that it was wrong to explain Azerbaijan’s existing
problems with the consequences of the conflict.
The opposition MPs also underscored that the occupied lands of
Azerbaijan are being used for growing and trafficking narcotics.

On Thursday they are expected to meet with leaders of political
parties and members of the Human Rights Organizations Monitoring
Group.

UEFA to investigate Karabakh soccer championship following Azeri protest

Ekho, Baku
5 Aug 04

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) intends to clarify
the situation with the football championship in the so-called Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic which started on 1 August. This was said in a letter
sent by Giovanni Infantino, the director of the UEFA legal committee,
to the secretary-general of the Armenian football association, Armen
Minasyan. The copy of the letter was sent to Fuad Asadov, the
secretary-general of the Association of Football Federations of
Azerbaijan [AFFA].

“We draw your attention (addressing Armen Minasyan – author’s note) to
a fax message from AFFA which informed us about an illegal football
championship being held in the territory of the unrecognized Nagornyy
Karabakh Republic in which an Armenian club from the town of Goris is
also taking part. Prior to carrying out an investigation, we would
like you to familiarize yourself with a copy of the aforesaid fax
message from AFFA and give an official explanation of the issue on
behalf of the Armenian football association,” [the letter said].

Ekho has already reported that the first open football championship
started in Nagornyy Karabakh on 1 August.

[Passage omitted: reported details of the championship in Karabakh]

Azerbaijan produced an immediate response to the mentioned sporting
event. Both AFFA and the Ministry of Sports, Youth and Tourism
expressed their extreme indignation at the case. AFFA notified UEFA
and FIFA about the case while the Sports Ministry informed the Foreign
Ministry.

“In my letter to UEFA and FIFA, I said that in line with our charter,
football championships in the territory of our country can be held
only under the banner of AFFA and with its consent. The championship
held by separatists in Nagornyy Karabakh is illegal. What is more, a
team from another state, namely the team of the Armenian town of
Goris, is taking part in the championship. I asked them to look into
the situation and apply the necessary sanctions against the Armenian
football association,” Asadov said.

To begin with, UEFA officials want to learn what is at the bottom of
it, he said. When the situation is investigated, they will demand that
the championship be prohibited, Asadov said.

[Passage omitted: FIFA promised to announce its decision regarding the
championship on 6 August]

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected])

PRESS RELEASE

January 12, 2004
Contact: Ardashes Kassakhian 818.500.1918

REPRESENTATIVE SUSAN DAVIS JOINS CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON ARMENIAN
ISSUES SAN DIEGO, CA – Representative Susan Davis (D-CA 53rd) today
became the newest member of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian
Issues reported the Armenian National Committee of America Western
Region (ANCA WR). Representative Davis’s entrance into the Caucus
brings its membership to 132.

On July 23, 2004, representatives of the ANC of San Diego (ANC SD) and
the ANCA-Western Region, met with the Congresswoman’s staff to discuss
her joining the Caucus on Armenian Issues. ANCA-WR Executive Director
Ardashes Kassakhian, ANC SD Chair Garo Artinian and ANC SD board
member Robert Deranian met with Caridad Sanchez, Senior Community
Relations Representative for Rep. Davis.

The ANC delegation thanked Ms. Sanchez for the Congresswoman’s
support of Armenian-American issues. After a brief update of the
ANC’s local activities and an update of local San Diego initiatives,
Kassakhian presented the Congresswoman with an letter formally asking
Rep. Davis to join the over 34 Members of Congress from California
that are already a part of the Caucus.

“We welcome Representative Davis joining the Armenian Issues Caucus
and look forward to working with the Congresswoman on a number of
issues of special concern to his Armenian American constituents,”
stated Garo Artinian, Chairperson of the Armenian National Committee
of San Diego.

“I look forward to working with the Armenian American community here
in San Diego, the Armenian National Committee, my colleagues on the
Armenian Issues Caucus and others to help bring attention to the
Armenian Genocide,” stated Rep. Susan Davis. “By working together,
as one voice, we will help bring attention to such crimes against
humanity and stop the cycle of Genocide in our time.” `I look forward
to working with the Armenian American community here in San Diego, the
Armenian National Committee, my colleagues on the Armenian Issues
Caucus and others to help bring attention to the Armenian Genocide and
its denial,’ stated Rep. Susan Davis. `By working together, as one
voice, we will help bring attention to such crimes against humanity
and stop the cycle of Genocide in our time,’ added Rep. Davis.

Earlier this year, Rep. Susan Davis co-signed a letter to President
George W. Bush, along with 169 other members of Congress, urging the
President to honor his campaign pledge from four years ago to properly
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide as a genocide. Rep. Davis has
co-signed a similar letter to the President for the past three years.

The Founded in 1995, the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues is a
bipartisan forum for the discussion of policies to foster increased
cooperation between the United States and Armenian governments and to
strengthen the enduring bonds between the American and Armenian
peoples. It was founded by Congressmen Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and John
Porter (R-IL) in 1995.

Rep. Davis was elected to the House of Representatives in November of
2000 and has served two terms. In Congress, Rep. Davis serves on the
House Armed Services Committee, the Education and the Workforce
Committee, and the Veterans Affairs Committee. She focuses on the
issues of defense, education, environment, health care, and veterans
affairs. Prior to her election to Congress, Rep. Davis served on the
San Diego City School Board and served three terms in the California
State Assembly.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and
most influential Armenian American grassroots political
organization. Working in coordination with a network of offices,
chapters, and supporters throughout the United States and affiliated
organizations around the world, the ANCA actively advances the
concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad range of
issues.

Reality Macedonia, Macedonia
Aug 5 2004

Is Iraq Another Yugoslavia?

By Sasha Uzunov

Churches belonging to the Christian Assyrians, one of Iraq’s
indigenous peoples, have become the latest target of terrorism in the
strife-torn country. This conjures up disturbing parallels with the
decade long religious and ethnic conflict in the Balkans.

Iraq reminds me of the former Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, both
communist federations consisting of various competing ethnic groups.
Both of these nations lasted about 70 years before fragmenting
violently into a multitude of new nation states in the early 1990s.

Iraq is a hodge podge consisting of an ethnic Arab majority, many of
whom are Shiite or Sunni Muslim. A very small number are Arab
Christians. Add to this mixture, millions of Sunni Muslim Kurds and
Turkmans in the north of the country. Kurds are non-Arabs, whilst the
Turkmans are closely related to the Turks. Not forgetting the
Assyrian Christians, who were the original inhabitants of Iraq before
being swamped by an Islamic Arab invasion in 637 AD, more than 1300
years ago. There are also tiny numbers of ethnic Christian Armenians,
and two little known sects, the Sabia, who worship water, and the
Yazidi, mistakenly referred to as “devil worshipers.”

The irony is that Iraq is one of the cradles of Western and
Judeo-Christian civilisation. Anyone who has studied ancient history
at high school can recall the Sumerians, the Assyrians and the
Babylonians, and the mighty Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Iraq has Yugoslavia written all over it. Can such a country survive
intact? Can the west, in particular the United States-lead coalition
of the willing, hold it all together?

The Kurds in the north have been fighting for their own homeland for
decades. Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein brutally suppressed
them by gassing and bombing them. He also brutally suppressed the
Shiite Arab majority, located in the south, which have religious ties
to neighbouring non-Arab state, Iran, the descendant of Ancient
Persia.

Saddam, as a way of dividing the rival groups, appointed an Arab
Christian, the bespectacled Tariq Aziz, as his Foreign Minister.
Aziz, being a Christian had no hope of building an anti-Saddam
conspiracy.

Northern neighbour Turkey is not comfortable with an independent
Kurdistan arising from northern Iraq, as there are millions of Kurds
within Turkish borders. Turkey has fought a 20-year Kurdish
insurgency and is concerned about the plight of its Turkman kin.

Christian Assyrians also live in Syria and Iran. The father of famous
American tennis player, Andre Agassi, is an Assyrian from Iran. These
people are a small and persecuted minority in their own homelands. So
it comes as no great surprise that a large ethnic Assyrian diaspora
exists. In the next couple of months or years, don’t be surprised if
more of them try to flee to the west.

Another of those persecuted indigenous peoples we hardly hear about
is the Christian Egyptian Copts, who have suffered at the hands of
Islamic fundamentalist terrorism. The former Egyptian Foreign
Minister and UN Secretary General, Boutros Boutros Ghali, is a Copt.
Like the Assyrians, many Copts have made the west home.

Then there are the Berbers of Algeria. These people are the original
nomads of North Africa, who were converted to Islam by invading Arab
armies eons ago. A deadly rivalry still exists been Arabs and
Berbers.

In Sudan, black African Christians in the Darfur region are being
attacked by the Islamic Arabic controlled government and militias.

Can there ever be a peaceful solution to the Middle-East and North
Africa?

Sasha Uzunov is a freelance journalist who has covered the Balkans
region for almost a decade.