Aliyev displeased that UN Armenia resolutions not being implemented
Interfax
Oct 14 2004
Baku. (Interfax-Azerbaijan) – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
has expressed displeasure over the fact that four UN resolutions
concerning Armenia are not being implemented.
“Four resolutions have been issued, but none of them are being
implemented. No sanctions or measures have been imposed on Armenia.
This is definitely unacceptable,” Aliyev told the press upon his
return from Romania on Tuesday evening.
“The main problem is about implementing important UN and OSCE
decisions. A mechanism should be set up for this. Unfortunately,
there is no such mechanism,” Aliyev said.
UN Security Council resolutions require that Armenian troops be
withdrawn from the occupied Azerbaijani land.
At the same time, Aliyev praised the fact that many world leaders
have recognized Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani lands as unlawful
and called for resolving the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh via the
restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
The president said Romanian leader Ion Iliescu shared this position
at a meeting with him.
Azerbaijan lost control over Nagorno-Karabakh in a bloody conflict with
Armenia in the 1990s. The UN Security Council has issued resolutions
condemning the occupation of Azerbaijani territory by Armenia and
demanded the withdrawal of Armenian troops. Co-chairmen of the OSCE
Minsk Group representing the United States, Russia, and France are
mediating in the efforts to settle the conflict peacefully.

The Detroit News
Oakland
Southfield
Input invited in planning sessions
The city invites the public to listen as officials discuss the future
of Southfield during the second of three strategic planning sessions
that will be held from 5-10 p.m. today at St. John’s Armenian Church,
22001 Northwestern. Council members met Tuesday with a Florida-based
municipal consultant and plan to address Southfield’s financial future,
redeveloping commercial areas and more. The final session will be
held at the same time and location Thursday. For information, call
(248) 796-5000.

Pawtucket Times
Sports
Pro Tennis
Charleston Gazette, The 10/12/2004
ATP-WTA Tour Kremlin Cup Mondays results At Olympic Stadium Moscow Singles
Men First round Sargis Sargsian, Armenia, def. Teimuraz Gabashvili, Russia,
6-2, 6-1. Igor Kunitsyn, Russia, def. Tomas Berdych (6), Czech Republic,
6-3, 6-4. Joachim Johansson (2), Sweden, def. Jan Hernych, Czech Republic,
6-4, 6-2. Marat Safin (1), Russia, def. Max Mirnyi, Belarus, 6-7 (8), 7-6
(2), 7-6 (1). Greg Rusedski, Britain, def. Ivo Karlovic, Croatia, 7-6 (14),
6-2. Women First round Vera Douchevina, Russia, def. Magdalena Maleeva,
Bulgaria, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. Francesca Schiavone, Italy, def. Silvia Farina
Elia, Italy, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-5.
Doubles Men First Round Igor Andreev and Nikolay Davydenko, Russia, def.
Vladimir Voltchkov, Belarus, and Teimuraz Gabashvili, Russia, 6-3, 6-2.
Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski, Poland, def. Tomas Berdych, Czech
Republic, and Mikhail Youzhny, Russia, 6- 1, 6-4. Women First Round
Anastasia Myskina and Vera Zvonareva (4), Russia, def. Daniela Hantuchova,
Slovakia, and Patty Schnyder, Switzerland, 7-5, 6-3. Anastassia Rodionova
and Dinara Safina, Russia, def. Tatiana Perebiynis, Ukraine, and Magui
Serna, Spain, 6- 3, 6-4. Elena Bovina and Nadia Petrova, Russia, def.
Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Likhovtseva (2), Russia, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
©The Pawtucket Times 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina N. Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
October 13, 2004
____________________
FAR THANKS CONGRESSMAN FRANK PALLONE, JR. FOR SUPPORT OF ARMENIA
During an October 12, 2004 meeting with Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.,
Democrat of New Jersey, in Long Branch, NJ, Garnik Nanagoulian, FAR
Executive Director, thanked the Congressman on behalf of the Board
of Directors for his continued support of Armenia in Congress and
briefed him on FAR’s active projects in Armenia and Karabagh.
Congressman Pallone and Mr. Nanagoulian discussed the current
humanitarian situation in Armenia. They agreed that although the
economy is improving, it has yet to create jobs, a critical means to
poverty reduction. They also noted that families living in poverty,
still a significant proportion of the people, will require assistance
until long-term tools take effect and improve their situation.
“FAR, as the preeminent Diasporan relief and development organization
operating in Armenia, will continue to address the needs of these
people,” said Mr. Nanagoulian, sharing his plans with Congressman
Pallone to expand FAR’s operations to reach out to more people in
need, as well as assist in creating jobs. He expressed the desire
to continue working with the U.S. government to help build a viable
free market economy in Armenia.
Mr. Nanagoulian briefed Congressman Pallone on the progress of
two humanitarian aid contracts awarded to FAR by the U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID), a $15-million for Karabagh
and a $1.55 million for Armenia. These contracts reaffirm USAID’s
recognition and support of FAR’s ability to work effectively and
efficiently in executing a wide range of programs throughout Armenia,
including coordinating regional and national projects.
Congressman Pallone praised FAR on its achievements over the past
15 years and promised to continue working to secure more assistance
for Armenia. Congressman Pallone, who has traveled to the region
several times, is Co-Chairman of the Armenian Issues Caucus and has
worked to mobilize support, under the foreign aid legislation, for
humanitarian and development assistance for Armenia and Karabagh,
as well as bilateral and multilateral lending institutions assisting
economic development.
Mr. Nanagoulian invited Congressman Pallone to visit FAR’s projects
on his next visit to Armenia to witness FAR’s accomplishments thanks
to generous Diasporan donors and the U.S. government grants.
FAR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New York,
with offices in Yerevan, Gyumri, and Stepanakert. For 15 years, FAR
has implemented various relief, development, social, educational,
and cultural projects valued at more than $250 million.
For more information or to send donations, contact the Fund for
Armenian Relief at 630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016; telephone
(212) 889-5150, fax (212) 889-4849; , [email protected].
— 10/13/04
E-mail photo available upon request.
CAPTION: On behalf of the FAR Board of Directors, Garnik A.
Nanagoulian, FAR Executive Director (right), thanked Congressman
Frank Pallone, Jr., Democrat of New Jersey (left), for his support of
Armenia. He also briefed the Congressman on FAR’s projects in Armenia
and Karabagh during the Long Branch, NJ meeting.

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
10/13/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) ANCA Presents Armenian American Issues in Ethnic Roundtable with Ambassador Holbrooke 2) Armenian Archbishop Assaulted by Yeshiva Student 3) Armenian Caucus Protests Azeri Threats against Armenia 4) Iraqi Kurds Ready to Fight for Kirkuk 1) ANCA Presents Armenian American Issues in Ethnic Roundtable with Ambassador Holbrooke Leading advisor to Kerry-Edwards campaign welcomes dialogue with ethnic leadership WASHINGTON, DCANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian participated this past week, along with fifty of America's ethnic community leaders, in a policy roundtable featuring Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, a senior advisor to the Kerry-Edwards campaign and a leading candidate for Secretary of State in the event of a Democratic victory this November. The private policy discussion was held on Thursday, October 7 in Cleveland, Ohio. Topics ranged from a general review of ethnic priorities to specific issues of concern to individual communities. A consistent theme raised by each of the groups was that the Bush Administration has failed to meaningfully engage America's ethnic leadership or to seek out their special insights during the formulation and implementation of US foreign policy. Speaking to concerns raised by the ANCA delegation, Amb. Holbrooke stressed that Senator Kerry's "friendship for Armenia goes back a long way. It's well established. He understands the issues. He's taken a very strong stance on Nagorno-Karabagh, on aid, on recognition of the Genocide, ending the blockades of Armenia. There is a very clear cut difference between the two candidates." More broadly, the Ambassador noted that ethnic Americans "should make a determination as to which candidate cares more about the issues of Central Europe, including Macedonia, Armenia, and the other issues that we discussed today. Without exception, the Democrats are going to do more. All of you in this room know that... It's just not a close contest here." He added, "You can't represent the United States overseas if you don't listen to the people of the United States...John Kerry and anybody he appoints to senior jobsdon't know who he will appointbut he will listen to you all." "We welcomed this opportunity to represent the concerns of the Armenian American community in this roundtable meeting of the leaders of our nation's ethnic communities," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. "Speaking to this group, Ambassador Holbrookea veteran foreign policy expert who has served at the highest levels of the State Departmenthighlighted Senator Kerry's strong support for Armenian issuesincluding the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. We were, of course, gratified by these remarks, as well as by his clearly articulated expectation that a Kerry-Edwards Administration would pro-actively seek the unique input and special insights of ethnic Americans on the often complex foreign policy issues facing our nation." Richard Holbrooke served as US Ambassador to the United Nations in the Clinton Administration. He was also an Assistant Secretary of State and a special envoy to Bosnia and Kosovo. In this latter capacity he helped negotiate the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. He was introduced at the roundtable by his wife, Kati Marton, who serves as the Chairwoman of the International Women's Health Coalition. In addition to the Armenian American delegation, which included ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian and two leaders of the Ohio Armenian community, were leaders from organizations representing Albanian Americans, Arab Americans, Byelorussian Americans, Croatian Americans, Czech Americans, Greek Americans, Hungarian Americans, Irish Americans, Italian Americans, Lithuanian Americans, Muslim Americans, Polish Americans, Portuguese Americans, Romanian Americans, Serbian Americans, Slovak Americans, Slovene Americans, Ukrainian Americans, and Vietnamese Americans. 2) Armenian Archbishop Assaulted by Yeshiva Student JERUSALEM (Combined Sources)An altercation that started when a yeshiva student spat at the cross being carried by Armenian Archbishop in Israel Nourhan Manougian during a procession near the Holy Sepulcher on Sunday, has exposed growing tensions between traditional Christian denominations and religious Jews in Jerusalem's Old City. The student, Zvi Rosenthal, not only spat at the cross but also at Manougian himself; Manougian reacted by slapping the yeshiva student. The incident developed into a brawl during which Manougian's ceremonial medallion, which has been used by Armenian archbishops since the 17th century, broke. Both Archbishop Manougian and the yeshiva student were detained for questioning. Police are now considering whether to initiate criminal proceedings against the Armenian archbishop and to charge him with assault. Meanwhile, the incident has sparked much anger among the clergy of the small Armenian community in Jerusalem. Religious Jews, among them yeshiva students, customarily spit on the ground as a sign of disgust on seeing the cross. The Armenians, who live adjacent to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, suffer from this phenomenon more than any of the other Christian sects in the Old City. Manougian says he and his colleagues have already learned to live with it. "I no longer get worked up by people who turn around and spit when I pass them by in the street; but to approach in the middle of a religious procession and to spit on the cross in front of all the priests of the sect is humiliation that we are not prepared to accept," he notes. A policeman is customarily posted to guard the Armenians' religious processions, but doesn't generally do anything to prevent the spitting. The Armenians took the matter up with Interior Minister Avraham Poraz some seven months ago, but nothing has been done about until now. "The Israeli government is anti-Christian," Manougian charges. "It cries out in the face of any harm done to Jews all over the world, but is simply not interested at all when we are humiliated on an almost daily basis." "Incidents like these aim at ridding Jerusalem of its Christian and Muslim populations in order to emphasize the city's Jewish character," emphasized Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia Aram I. Lawmaker Rabbi Michael Melchior (Labor Party) says the phenomenon should be tackled through educational means. "I would expect prominent figures among the religious and ultra-Orthodox sectors, such as the chief rabbis, to denounce this phenomenon," he says. Yassir Arafat, leader of the Palestinian National Authority, condemned the Israeli attack on Archbishop Manougian. Arafat held a telephone conversation with the Archbishop inquiring about his health following the unwarranted assault. 3) Armenian Caucus Protests Azeri Threats against Armenia WASHINGTON, DCSeventy members of the US House of Representatives joined last week with the Co-Chairmen of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), in calling on President George Bush to press Azerbaijan to back away from increasingly violent rhetoric aimed at Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh, reported the Armenian National Committee Of America (ANCA). "We share the concerns raised by this bipartisan group of US legislators regarding the growing danger to Armeniaand to American interestsposed by the increasingly angry threats coming from Azerbaijan's senior leadership," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "Armenian Americans appreciate the leadership of Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Joe Knollenberg and Frank Pallone on this issue, and look forward to learning of the Administrations response to Azerbaijan's irresponsible and dangerous behavior." In the letter, dated October 8th, Members of Congress specifically asked President Bush to publicly condemn Azerbaijan's war rhetoric and other increasingly bellicose remarks against the Republic of Armenia and Mountainous Karabagh. The letter, states, in part: "Efforts to reinforce stability and reduce the risk of conflict are in the best interests of the United States and the region. The Nagorno Karabagh peace process will achieve nothing if Azerbaijan is allowed to risk war and predict ethnic cleansing with impunity. To this end, we urge that you condemn these remarks and call upon the government of Azerbaijan to desist in making any further threats against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh." Joining Reps. Knollenberg and Pallone were: Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Howard Berman (D-CA), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), John Conyers (D-MI), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Tom Feeney (R-FL), Bob Filner (D-CA), Mark Foley (R-FL), Barney Frank (D-MA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Michael Honda (D-CA), Steve Israel (D-NY), Jesse Jackson (D-IL), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Gerald Kleczka (D-WI), James Langevin (D-RI), Sander Levin (D-MI), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Karen McCarthy (D-MO), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), James McGovern (D-MA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Martin Meehan (D-MA), Candice Miller (R-MI), James Moran (D-VA), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Devin Nunes (R-CA), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Jon Porter (R-NV), David Price (D-NC), George Radanovich (R-CA), Mike Rogers (R-MI), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), H. James Saxton (R-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), E. Clay Shaw (R-FL), Christopher Shays (R-CT), Brad Sherman (D-CA), John Shimkus (R-IL), Mark Souder (R-IN), John Sweeney (R-NY), Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-OH), Fred Upton (R-MI), Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Visclosky (D-IN), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Joe Wilson (R-SC), and Albert Wynn (D-MD). The ANCA, in a September 28th note to Congressional offices in support of this letter, wrote: "If history is any guide, silence on our part will only embolden the leadership in Baku to escalate their rhetoric even further. Left unchecked, we run the risk that the Azerbaijani government will translate their angry remarks into aggressive actions that will create a humanitarian disaster and destabilize a region of great strategic importance to the United States." On September 28th, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) spoke on the House floor about the dangers posed by increasingly inflammatory Azerbaijani statements by President Ilham Aliyev and his Cabinet Members, calling for a military takeover of neighboring Armenia and the decimation of its population in the coming decades. In his remarks, Rep. Pallone cited statements "made by officials in the government of President Aliyev calling into question the very existence of Armenia. For example, as reported by Radio Free Europe, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry spokesman called for Azerbaijan's takeover of the entire territory of Armenia and removal of the entire Armenian population from the Caucasus. He went so far as to say, and I quote, 'Within the next 25 years there will exist no state of Armenia in the South Caucasus.' Given Azerbaijan's history of aggression against Armenians, these remarks can't be dismissed as mere rhetoric." The text of the Congressional letter is provided below: Dear Mr. President, We are writing to strongly urge you to condemn the ongoing Azerbaijani war rhetoric and other increasingly bellicose remarks made against the Republic of Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. These statements undermine US interests in the region. As you know, a cease-fire in the conflict over Nagorno Karabagh was established in 1994 and sensitive peace negotiations to achieve a final agreement are ongoing. However, the government of Azerbaijan continues to make dangerous claims and threaten war against Armenia. This war rhetoric has continued unabated and has intensified in recent months. In July, as reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry spokesman called for Azerbaijan's takeover of Armenia and removing its entire population. He said, "In the next 25-30 years there will be no Armenian state in the South Caucasus. This nation has been a nuisance for its neighbors and has no right to live in this region. Present-day Armenia was built on historical Azerbaijani lands. I believe that in 25 to 30 years these territories will once again come under Azerbaijan's jurisdiction." Mr. President, this reprehensible call for ethnic cleansing and even genocide warrants the strongest possible reply from our country. The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has repeatedly declared that Azerbaijan could launch a new war in Karabagh. Just two months ago, he stated, "At any moment we must be able to liberate our territories by military means. To achieve this we have everything." Aliyev has directly linked Azerbaijan's economic progress to its military "superiority." "Under these circumstances we cannot react positively to those calling us to compromise," Aliyev stated. Last year, as reported by BBC Monitoring, Azerbaijani Defense Minister General Safar Abiyev said that occasional violations of the cease-fire were "natural" since Azerbaijan is still "at war." Statements like this not only undermine the peace process, but can also serve to actually encourage attacks against Armenia. Just this month, NATO canceled its Cooperative Best Effort (CBE) 2004 exercises in Baku, Azerbaijan after the government of Azerbaijan barred Armenia from participating. US General James Jones, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, expressed regret over Azerbaijan's refusal to honor its host obligations to accept delegates from all interested partners. As part of its commitment to international security in the Caucasus, Armenia welcomed both Azerbaijan and Turkey to participate in the NATO CBE 2003 exercises in Yerevan, Armenia. Efforts to reinforce stability and reduce the risk of conflict are in the best interests of the United States and the region. The Nagorno Karabagh peace process will achieve nothing if Azerbaijan is allowed to risk war and predict ethnic cleansing with impunity. To this end, we urge that you condemn these remarks and call upon the government of Azerbaijan to desist from making any further threats against Armenia and Nagorno Karabagh. 4) Iraqi Kurds Ready to Fight for Kirkuk ANKARA (AFP)Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani said that the oil-rich city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq had a Kurdish "identity" and vowed to fight any force attempting to oppress its people, whether Kurds or other ethnic groups. Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), was speaking after talks in Ankara with Turkish leaders, who are worried that the Iraqi Kurds are plotting to take control of the city, which also has a large population of Turkmens, a community with Turkish roots. "If anyone, if any regime or system wants to continue the Arabization or oppression of the people of Kirkuk, we will defend their rights and we are ready to fight for them," Barzani told AFP through an interpreter. He said the Iraqi Kurds would defend not only the Kurdish people of Kirkuk but "any other group or minority" in the city. The Iraqi Kurds say Kirkuk was overwhelmingly Kurdish in the 1950s before Baghdad started a deliberate campaign of "Arabization," during which thousands of Arabs were encouraged to settle in the city. Many also demand that Kirkuk be made the capital of an independent Kurdish state. The Iraqi Kurdish leadership, however, says that city should be incorporated in an enlarged autonomous Kurdish region but reject the idea of independence, knowing it would be unacceptable to Turkey and other neighbors. Ankara has repeatedly warned the Iraqi Kurds against attempts to upset the demography of the region. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul reiterated the warning in their meetings with Barzani on Monday, Turkish diplomats said. In an apparent bid to placate Ankara, Barzani promised that Iraqi Kurds would work for peaceful co-existence between the ethnic groups of Kirkuk. "Our position is that the identity of Kirkuk is part of Kurdistan. But it is an Iraqi city," he said. "The promotion of co-existence and fraternity (in Kirkuk) has to be a priority for everybody. We are working in that direction." Ankara fears that Kurdish control of the area's oil resources could further strengthen the Iraqi Kurds whom it suspects of plotting to break away from Baghdad. Such a prospect, Ankara worries, could fan separatist sentiment among its own restive Kurds in southeast Turkey. "Kirkuk is a city where all ethnic elements can settle. It is not a place where a certain party can claim control," Erdogan told the Aksam daily in an interview published on Tuesday. "We are in favor of Iraq's territorial integrity. We are against any ethnic group establishing control over another," he said. The question of the Kurds' return to Kirkuk has fueled tensions in the city. The interim government in Baghdad has so far roundly rejected calls for the expulsion of the Arab settlers. Barzani said his talks in Ankara confirmed that Turkey and the Iraqi Kurds continued to differ on some issues on the future of Iraq even though they shared the same vision on many others. "But in general I can say very happily that it was a very positive atmosphere...We both agreed that there should be continuous contacts and consultations between us," he said. 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.

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]
PRESS RELEASE +++ PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: October 13, 2004
Contact: Armen Carapetian
(818) 500-1918
ANCA-WR MOBILIZES GRASSROOTS IN ARIZONA
ANCA-WR Staff Meets With ANC Activists in Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ – The Armenian National Committee of America – Western
Region (ANCA-WR) continued to reach out to Armenian communities across
the Western United States by traveling to Phoenix, Arizona on the
weekend of 25-26.
ANCA-WR Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian and Government Relations
Director Armen Carapetian met with ANC activists from the Arizona
Armenian community and briefed community members on the importance of
the upcoming November elections. Their visit to the Grand Canyon State
was highlighted by an ANC workshop they held with community leaders
and activists and their participation in various community events,
including a dance at the local church hall and a community picnic which
was attended by over one hundred Armenian Americans living in Arizona.
“The Armenian American community in Arizona is growing and prospering,”
commented Kassakhian after his two-day trip. “The increasing political
awareness of Armenian Americans in Arizona impressed us. Clearly,
the ANC of Arizona is going to play an important role in a state with
eight Members of the House and two very important U.S. Senators,”
Kassakhian added. ANCA-WR staff spent the weekend in Arizona and
collected signatures from community members for a petition addressed
to Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) who serves as the Chairman of
the influential Congressional Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
Appropriations. The petitions urged Congressman Kolbe to maintain
language in the Fiscal Year 2005 Foreign Operations Appropriations
Bill authored by Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA) which prohibits
Turkey from using any U.S. foreign aid money to lobby against official
U.S. acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide.
Over 100 signatures in support of the Kolbe petition were collected
at a community picnic which was organized and hosted by the Arizona
chapter of the Armenian Relief Society. At the gathering, ANCA-WR
Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian gave the community a summary
of the priorities that the ANCA continues to work on in Washington, DC
and in the Western Region, including passage of a genocide resolution
and of a bill to provide normal trade relations between the United
States and Armenia.
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.
Editor’s Note: Photos available upon request
#####
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIAN REGIONAL PAPER OFFICE RANSACKED OVER CRITICAL REPORTING
Public Television of Armenia
13 Oct 04
Yerevan, 13 October: Three rascals smashed the editorial office of
the Kapan-published regional newspaper Syunyats Yerkir (The country
of Syunik) in Armenia.
The editorial office of the newspaper told Arminfo news agency that
this morning the three members of the Kapan-based public organization,
(?”Syunik Eagles), led by the chairman of the organization,
Khachik Asryan, burst into the editorial office of the newspaper and
roughhoused it. The editor-in-chief of the newspaper was beaten with a
truncheon. He received blows mainly to his face and head. A spokesman
for the newspaper said that the bandits thought it was not enough just
to ransack the editorial office. They also threatened the newspaper’s
staff and took away the editor’s mobile phone. Before they left they
threatened the editor and told him that unless he leaves Kapan within
an hour, they will come back and burn down the editorial office and
his vehicle.
The spokesman for the newspaper said that the law-enforcement bodies
were immediately informed about the incident and a doctor was called
in to examine the marks of beating. A criminal case was launched into
the incident. They are being charged with hooliganism.
The spokesman explained the act of hooliganism by the publication
of recent articles about the government’s decision to close down
two schools in the district. After one publication, the editor of
the newspaper and press secretary of the region’s governor, Suren
Khachatryan, was dismissed from his post and the editorial office of
the newspaper was evicted from its two-room office in the building
of the district administration.
To recap, the aforementioned articles strongly criticized the decision
to close down the schools. It is also reported that the schools will
be replaced with new, private and fee-paying schools.

Ara Abrahamian’s Interview to Azg
Azg/am
14 Oct 04
– Mr. Abrahamian what can you say about the days of the Union of
Armenian’s of Russia and World Armenian Congress?
– The visits paid by the Union of Armenians of Russia and the World
Armenian Congress have become a tradition already. It is envisaged
that we will achieve our goals to bring great number of physicians,
scientists and businessmen that will be directly involved in
conferences, in delivering lectures and in participating in various
cultural and business arrangements. We will continue our line of
providing the Armenian schools with computers. We will bring over
a thousand PCs that will be distributed among the schools of our
republic according to our program.
This year, the International Economic Forum will become the most
important event of the UAR and WAC days. The forum is organized by
World Armenian Congress and pan-Russian Company on Foreign Economic
Cooperation. Implementing our programs, we have held a meeting of the
genocide experts to elaborate pan-Armenian position in this issue. We
created a group of the most authoritative experts in this issue, so
that they work at the given issue and represent the position they
have elaborated to NGOs and political parties, as well as to the
authorities of the Republic of Armenia.
Continuing to implement our programs, we try to establish serious
economic bases for the activities of the World Armenian Congress to
strengthen the economic relations between Armenia and Diaspora. To
achieve this aim, we invite various trustworthy businessmen of the
Armenian communities in the Diaspora and Armenian businessmen to
international business structures. On my initiative, Foreign Economic
Company is being created in Russia. Its aim is to establish trustworthy
relations between the Russian business and the leading business
structures of the world. We have already created Russian-Argentinean
and Russian-South Korean Companies for Economic Cooperation. In future
we will establish Russian-French, Russian-Italian and Russian-Brazilian
economic cooperation companies. We believe that with the time we
will manage to involve the leading countries of the world in our
business structure and establish more effective relations to implement
joint economic programs. We are supposed to establish a branch of
the given organization within the framework of CIS. I said about
this in my recent speech held in Tbilisi Economic Forum. We think
that the Armenian businessmen can also participate in that large
international business structure and use both the informational and
financial-economic opportunities of the given organization.
Besides, we want to represent two very important structures in
the forum that will contribute to economic development of our
historical motherland. The first will be the Investments’ Fund that
will finance a number of projects in Armenia, the second will be the
Center for Strategic Researches that will define the priorities for
the development of the Republic of Armenia and implement the vitally
important projects for the progress of our country. High ranked state
officials, RF ministers, authoritative businessmen of Russia and a
number of other countries will participate in the forum. We hope that
the forum will become an important event and will create beneficial
conditions for the further development of Armenia’s economy and
strengthening of the Armenian state.
– How is the World Armenian Congress developing? How close are the
Congress’ ties with national communities participating at WAC Assembly?
– We often encounter problems in organizing the work of such a
big establishment as the WAC, to tell the truth. The reason is
that different communities in different countries of the world have
different political, economic and other possibilities and each of them
demands personal approach and work. And consequently more organizing
capability is needed. Though we have dozens of staff workers within the
WAC, we still fell short. That’s why we think that a more wide-range
work may be done if a confident economic basis is created.
We keep in touch with the most developed communities of the world. We
note with pity that the European communities divided the European
Forum instead of uniting it. The Armenian Congress of Europe rose on
the Forumâ^À^Ùs ruins. This organization engaged in systematizing
European communities held its congress in Brussels lately. Our
representative of WAC was sent to Brussels to learn about their plans
and to strengthen our ties.
If we keep on dividing our organizations and establishments, we shall
not handle many things. We are certainly glad to know that the Europe’s
Armenians have their own office in Brussels and that they cooperate
with the European Parliament and European institutions. The forum is
doing the same. But all those establishments are weak if stand-alone.
We cooperate with the AGBU and America’s Armenian Congress. I think
the WAC will mark a breakthrough only when we have economic power
and when the membership in the WAC will be useful, necessary and
honorable for every community.
We try ourselves to create mechanisms that will make our projects
functional. Every Armenian community worldwide understands the need
to rally round one organization.
– What kind of relations do you have with the Republic of Armenia?
– Unfortunately our relations are not officially fixed up. I
personally have ties with the Foreign and Defense Ministries and
also the administration of the president. I meet President Kocharian
from time to time when he receives participants of our undertakings
in Yerevan. But there are no official relations as I said. And this
greatly hinders the activities of uniting the Armenians within the
framework of pan-Armenian Diaspora organizations. It’s obvious that the
Armenian state can play a great role in this issue. It should strive
for uniting all the Armenian communities and organizations. Though,
the political figures and statesmen have sometimes grounded or totally
ungrounded fears if some of the organizations becomes very strong and
influential, which means that the state should take it into account or
cooperate with it as an equal partner and not as a structure that can
dictate its own conditions to. It is not accidental that these fears
let neither Levon Ter-Petrosian nor the current authorities to create
a really functioning organization with officially fixed relations and
bilateral commitments from the held pan-Armenian forums and congresses.
Most likely, both the state and the NGOs should pass a definite path to
realize that officially fixed cooperation is greatly needed at present.
– Mr. Abrahamian, what kind of international relations can be observed
in Russia at present, particularly, after the recent events in
Beslan? We are concerned with the fact that RF President touched upon
Karabakh, as well as the other hotbeds of conflicts in the post-Soviet
territory in his speech. What is taking place in Russia generally,
and how can the current developments influence the Armenians in Russia?
– Certainly, the situation in Russia is really tense, as it is in any
multinational country. Moreover, if in the verge of that state there
exists armed and consistent conflict between the central authorities
and the rebels, especially if the conflict has religious and national
character, it is sure to have impact on the situation in common. On
one hand, the demonstrations of nationalistic and fascist elements
become more frequent. On the other hand, the fact that some of the
ethno-religious groups do not feel sufficiently protected may cause
tension. The mutual mistrust and suspicion is growing. This all exists.
I know that in Armenia RF President’s words about Karabakh,
Transdnestria and other conflicts said in connection with the events
in Beslan. But it seems to me that some of the Armenian political
figures misunderstood the context of the president’s words. It is
obvious that the president meant that the Soviet Union collapsed
through the national map. He meant only this, when saying that if
the authorities don’t take relevant measures to stop the extremist
demonstrations of religious and ethnic character, these conflicts
can spread in Tatarstan, Bashkiria and other regions of Russia and
exploit the Russian state that can have the same fate as the Soviet
Union had. Thus, I think that there was no negative shade in his
speech about Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia.
I think that though there is still tendency for the growth of the
tension between the nations, both the authorities and the mass media
try to be very cautious about this issue and to avert the danger of
a new fire. It is not accidental that RF President said that the
people who treat these serious issues with no responsibility may
involuntarily support the terrorists, while the authorit ies will
treat them in a relevant way. As for us, the Armenians, we condemned
the terrorism and morally and financially helped the victims of that
monstrous crime. Since the first day of its establishment, the Union
of the Armenians of Russia is engaged not only in organizing the
lives of the Armenians of Russia, in protecting of their interests
and in conducting cultural activities, but it established relations
with other ethnic and religious organizations, especially during the
recent years. Our Union tries to unite all the efforts of all the
national and religious organizations for creating a structure that
could be the partner of the Russian authorities. As very frequently
there occur problems sometimes with the Azerbaijanis, sometimes with
the Armenians, sometimes with the Chechens or with other nations. And
it is very important for the authorities to know that there is a
structure that protects these national groups on the behalf of the
publicity. These groups can be attacked, can become innocent victims
of the law enforcement bodies.
Already two years ago, we decided to organize Round Table with the
participation of national and religious organizations, and to make
some official structure for cooperating with the authorities, as the
national policy in Russia remains as if “hung in the air”.
That is why, after the House of Nations, the Ministry of National
Affairs were liquidated in Russia, and the existing problems not only
didn’t disappear but also doubled, we think that there should be a body
that will be able to submit the actual issues to the authorities of the
country and to concentrate the attention on their solution. Certainly,
it will be better to have such a structure at the President’s Office,
so that the representatives of various nations and religious groups
can be sure that their interest are represented on the highest level
and they have the opportunity to put the issues forward and punish
the law enforcement bodies, the local heads and solve the problems.
Unfortunately, the government’s reform, the presidential and
parliamentary elections didn’t let us complete our work. Recently,
after the events in Beslan, we again began the works of the round
table. I was elected the chairman of the board of establishers of
the round table and the Public House of Nationalities, taking into
account the authority we have in Moscow among the publicity, within
the administrative circles, at the Federative Assembly and at the
President’s Apparatus.
On September 30, we held round table on the role of the national and
religious organizations in the struggle against terrorism, national and
religious extremism. Over 100 national and religious organizations, as
well as authoritative structures and representatives of law enforcement
bodies participated in the round table. Taking into account the results
of the round table, it was decided to affirm the plenipotentiaries
of the board of establishers, its chairman (i.e. my) and to instruct
them about organization of an establishing congress in the first three
months of 2005, that is meant to organize the House of Public Nations.
We think that the House of Nations can become a part of the Public
House created at the initiative of RF President. He talked of this
structure in his speech after the events in Beslan. The Public House
is meant to control the activities of the executive power, the special
services and the law enforcement bodies. It is very important that the
House of Public Nations becomes a component part of the Public House,
that would control the national policy conducted by the authorities,
the relations between the nations and would become the partner
of the authorities in the solution of these important issues. We
very well realize that living in a multinational state, one should
build the happiness of one national group, just like one can’t build
the happiness of one social group or class. We, representatives of
different ethnic and religious groups, should work unanimously within
the framework of the House of Nations. In constructive cooperation
with the authorities we will spare no efforts to fight the monstrous
challenge of the 21-st century, i.e. the international terrorism,
as well as ethnic and religious intolerance.
– Mr. Abrahamian, we congratulate you with being awarded the Higher
Medal of the South Korea. Tell us, please, what achievements did you
receive this medal for and do you have any other foreign medals?
– Since 1999, I am the Co-Chairman of Russian-South Korean Business
Organization. I have established close ties with the political
and business circles of that country. Certainly, my activities
greatly contributed to strengthening business and economic relations
between our countries. In 2001-2004, thanks to my efforts, the goods
turnover between South Korea and Russia grew tenfold and amounted to
$5 billion. For this service the president of South Korea awarded me
with the medal in Kremlin during his recent visit to Moscow. This is
the second foreign medal that I get this year. Several months ago,
the authorities of Argentina awarded me with one of the higher medals
of their country. I don’t exclude that the number of foreign medals
can grow together with the establishment of the Foreign Economic
Organization that is meant to connect the Russian business structures
with other developed countries.
– On behalf of our newspaper, we wish you success in your work directed
not only to prosperity of Armenia but also to establishing effective
International Foreign Economic Organization.

Football: Andorrans celebrate historic first victory
The Independent – United Kingdom
Oct 14, 2004
Alex Prince
A CLASSY strike from the midfielder Marc Bernaus gave Andorra their
first victory in a competitive match with a surprise 1-0 win at home
against Macedonia in a Group One World Cup qualifier yesterday.
Bernaus, who plays for the Spanish Second Division side Elche, cracked
home a superb volley from the edge of the area on the hour to delight
the 200 fans gathered at the Estadi Comunal.
“For Andorra to win a special set of circumstances have to occur,”
said their coach, David Rodrigo. “First, we have to play to 100 per
cent of our ability; second our rivals have to be overconfident;
and third we need a bit of luck – all three of those things happened
today and we should enjoy it while we can.”
Although they have previously beaten Belarus and Albania in friendly
matches, Andorra, who only became members of Fifa in 1996, lost all
their 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004 qualifying games.
The team from the tiny Pyrenean principality began this campaign in
similar fashion, losing their opener 3-0 in Finland and crashing to
a 5-1 defeat at home to Romania last time out.
But Rodrigo’s side, who conceded three goals in the first 16 minutes of
their defeat to Romania, made a far more convincing start by hounding
Macedonia in midfield and giving them little time on the ball in the
first half.
The visitors, who claimed a comprehensive 3-0 win over Armenia in
their opening match and a surprise 2-2 draw also at home against the
Netherlands on Saturday, enjoyed just two half-chances in the opening
45 minutes.
Striker Aco Stojkov was robbed of the ball by Andorra’s Koldo as
he tried to finish off an early attack and the goalkeeper produced
another sharp save to stop defender Txema heading into his own net
in added time.
But it was Andorra who broke the deadlock 15 minutes after the break
when Bernaus volleyed past goalkeeper Jane Nikoloski after chesting
down a long throw-in on the edge of the area.
The home side endured a nervous final quarter as Macedonia piled
forward in search of the equaliser but they produced a fine defensive
display to hold out for a memorable victory leaving the visitors with
just four points from four matches.
“This was a shameful result for us and has effectively ended our hopes
of qualifying,” said Macedonia coach Dragan Kanatlarovski. “I never
thought we would lose and it was certainly the worst performance I’ve
seen from the team since I took charge.”
In Group Eight, Bulgaria recovered from an early setback to hammer
Malta 4-1 in yesterday’s World Cup qualifier in Sofia. Malta’s Michael
Mifsud punished a defensive blunder when he volleyed in a cross from
Stefan Giglio in the 12th minute.
Bulgaria trailed for most of the half, but Dimitar Berbatov levelled
two minutes before the break, heading the ball in after being set up
by Martin Petrov.
Hristo Yanev made it 2-1 to Bulgaria with a free-kick from 25 yards
shortly after the break and then created a second for Berbatov in
the 56th minute. Chavdar Yankov scored from close range three minutes
from time after Bulgaria had squandered several opportunities.
The victory put unbeaten Bulgaria top of Group Eight with seven points,
the same as Croatia who they drew 2-2 with on Saturday.
The Czech Republic kept cool to see off a combative Armenian side
3-0, adding to last weekend’s victory over Romania to bring their
qualifying campaign firmly back on track in Group One.
Striker Jan Koller scored two in Yerevan – his first headed in from
a free-kick after three minutes. Tomas Rosicky also scored with a
crashing drive from outside the penalty area.
Armenia have lost all three of their games and remain firmly bottom
of the group.

Armenian president, Russian Constitutional Court chairman discuss cooperation
A1+ web site
13 Oct 04
13 October: Armenian President Robert Kocharyan today received
representatives of the Russian Constitutional Court, led by Chairman
of the Constitutional Court Valeriy Zorkin.
Attaching great significance to the mutual contacts, Kocharyan welcomed
cooperation in the field of exchanging experience and evaluated it
as being beneficial and important.
The major topic discussed at the meeting was constitutional
justice and the activities of the Constitutional Courts of the two
countries. Zorkin familiarized the president with the activity of
the Russian Constitutional Court.
Drawing attention to the recent constitutional reforms in Armenia,
Kocharyan said that they were mainly designed for setting up civil
society and strengthening public and political stability in the
country, including the establishment of balance between different
branches of power.