ARMENIAN ACADEMIC MUSIC IN 21-ST CENTURY
Azg/am
28 July 2004
The Armenian classical composers have left rich inheritance. Today
this tradition is still alive. The contemporary Armenian composers are
working, creating new pieces. Suren Zakarian, composer, pianist,
laureate of international contests, professor at Yerevan State
Conservatoire, touches upon the issuesof the modern musical
developments, the fate of the musical pieces and the new composers in
the interview to Azg Daily.
– Years ago you were of the opinion that the Armenian composers are
creating bright music that the art-loving audience has no opportunity
to listen to. What ‘s the situation now?
– The social-economic situation wasn’t globally changed, sothe
situation is almost unchanged in our sphere. Everything depends on
financing. The issue of giving royalties for hiring concert halls and
for musicians has occurred. The contemporary music is paid less
attention. This tendency is observed through the world. Here is no
commercial benefit for the organizers of the concerts, the sponsors
and the musicians. There are musicians that would like to include
contemporary music in their repertoire, but they don’t want their
audience to fail understanding the music. Most of all they perform
well-known classical pieces that secure their musical success.
– During the years of hardship Loris Tchgnavorian awoke the people’s
love for music. What can you say about this?
– Today, the audience is brought up as a consumer. The art-loving
society accepts the musical format in which it was brought up. When
listening to a musical piece one should “perform”, i.e. feel together
with the musicians. Each person should find the reflection of his soul
when listening to music. He can understand, feel and estimate all only
through his own inner world. This concerns the art, as a whole. I can
remember that in Moscow during the premiere of Tarkovsky’s “Stalker”
most of the viewers left the cinema hall. Thehigher is the art piece
in its depth, value, sophistication, uniqueness the narrower is the
circle of the people who estimate and accept that piece. This is a
rule anda very natural one. I don’t want to say that all the things
that aren’t accepted in the art are talented, interesting, certainly,
not. The matter is that if there are interesting, valuable pieces they
shouldn’t be placed on the same level with the bad ones.
– There are professional musicians, aren’t there?
– Each professional musician has his own musical taste, orientation
and weak sides. The opinions can’t coincide and this is natural, too.
– Do the times influence the composers?
– From the political viewpoint, no. The musical language is important
for the composer and that is developing constantly. A period comes
when certain styles, musical languages fade. For professionals working
in that language means to be engaged in styling. Today you can’t write
in the language of Chopin and have your own face.
– What do you think, what can contribute to the creative work of the
contemporary artist?
– The artist writes, as he can’t help writing, as he can’t help
expressing his thoughts, feelings. The ordering practice isn’t applied
in Armenia, though it is widely accepted in the world. In the case of
an order you feel secure both from the performing and financial
viewpoints. In Armenia only Aram Gharabekian has ordered music for the
chamber orchestra for 3-4 times to different composers, including
me. This is important in our situation when the composer is given such
an opportunity. Otherwise you have to wait for a lucky chance to
perform your piece. A piece that has been performed only once means
nothing, as it depends on many factors. The performance can be a bad
one, besides, each musician can perform the music in his own
way. Publishers, foundations, sponsors contribute to the development
of culture abroad. The same can be applied in our country, as
well. Videos of contemporary music can be frequently shown on
TV. Artist Henrik Elibekian makes his studio a salon time after time
and organizes musical evenings there.
– Aram Khachaturian is a world-known composer. Why our best composers
aren’t known in the world?
– Khachaturian’s music is accessible and his musical language is
animportant factor. I must say that Alexander Haroutiunian’s music is
also wellknown in the world. The pieces of our other contemporary
composers are paid attention too. But this is not enough.
– Maybe it is because the artists are passive?
– The premier of two my pieces took place in New York. But that
wasnâ=80=99t my initiative and I wasn’t present at the
concerts. Another piece of mine “Monograph” for cello and orchestra
was performed in France at the initiative of the French musicians.
By Aida Arshakian

WHAT IS GOING ON IN CALCUTTA?
Azg/am
28 July 2004
In July 2001 journalist David Zenian signed a very interesting article
in the AGBU Magazine, under the title “The Armenians of India; An
Historical Legacy ” where among the names of the Armenians of Calcutta
mentions J.C. Galstaun saying that he is one of the prominent
Armenians in Calcutta, often called the doyen of the Armenian
community there. He describes that he is a “wealthy merchant left his
legacy by erecting beautiful buildings such as his residence and a
museum and establishing Galstaun Park”.
Another member of the renowned Galstaun Family is Max Galstaun, who is
now the Director of a student home called “The Residency” (established
more than 15 years ago and situated in Kalyani, a suburb of Calcutta),
where 150 needy students are hosted. Max Galstaun, who is Uncle Max to
his children, took over ownership after the death of his father who
founded the Residency.
Other members of the Galstaun family have started large Schools in
Patna, Bihar. Most have emigrated to the United Kingdom, the USA and
Australia.
It is interesting to read about the Armenian legacy in many parts of
the world. If you go to Singapore you will see the Armenian Street
with the Armenian Church (being the oldest Christian worship building
in the tiny State). Isfahan of Iran is famous for its Armenian Quarter
with its many churches.
But there are sometimes disturbing news and scandals related to
Armenian communities. During March and April of the year 2004 we
received a series of e-mail signed by Max Galstaun. Most of them had
some sad information about the Armenians of Calcutta and the fate of
the Armenian College there with stories of violations and abuses (see
letters below).
In mid July 2004 these letters caught the attention of Vartan Ozinian,
who supervises a panel called Grtasser. He sent to the readers of
Azad-Hye.com the following alarming letter, in which he sees a link
between the closing of different Armenian educational institutions
around the world. Here is what he says:
Dear Editor of Azad-Hye, and people dealing with the Armenian Human
resources Development Fundamentals.
Azad-Hye, of Wed. Mar 17, 2004 – 4:20 am, (actually means letter of16
March, due to time differences) published two subsequent messages of
Mr. Max Galstaun in relation with children from Armenia enrolled in
the Calcutta Armenian College (we presume the good old
“Philanthropists College of Armenians” founded 1820 in Calcutta-India)
In its mails Mr. Galstaun, living in Calcutta, was describing an
alarming situation related to the children and the school. He had
written: “We need investigative journalists to contact us, so that we
can deliver documents concerning this racket”. â=80¦ “The Catholicos
has received written complaints andknow what is going on. Then why
silence”?
Grtasser-panel of Pro Educatio has tried to get in touch with
Mr. Galstaun. We have not been successful yet. In substance, before
rushing an international investigative journalist, we need more
information.
Could you please relaunch our request? For we consider that the long
date endemic crisis in the Armenian School sector became an acute
epidemic threatening the All Armenian Commonwealth, in the most
radical way.
We copied this mail for people who are especially dealing now with the
Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI) crisis.
At present we are not suggesting to the volunteer protectors of the
MEI to handle also the problems of the Armenian Philanthropists
College in Calcutta. For we believe in tackling “one thing at a time”
process, concentrating all forces for the defense of the MEI is the
priority, indeed.
Nevertheless we just would like MEI volunteers to know that some
people are systematically working to annihilate the very basis of the
Armenian Human Resources Development in many places, such as Cyprus
and India. Those annihilators think probably that nobody will be aware
of their “razzia” or nobody will react.
Ladies and gentlemen, please wake up and act / react. It is time. It
is not too late. We warn you: pay far more attention to what persons /
personalities / groups are doing, than paying consideration to the
heights of their rank in the institutions or in the society. That’s
how, we think, you couldcontribute to the “health” of your All
Armenian Commonwealth.
The friendless and miserable Calcutta Armenians would love to have
some dear friends like Dr. Chatterji (see below for the story of
Dr. Chatterji with the Armenians). Today, they are abandoned on the
dust heap of history. Their properties have been squandered and
disposed in all manners of shady deals.The School, Armenian College,
which Mr. Guzelian writes is now closed to the Calcutta Armenians and
their children. The Catholicos of Etchmiadzin, who is the
Administrator of the School, turns a blind eye to all the cries of the
children who are being tortured and abused. The girls are told too
shut up or they would be whores in Armenia. These are the despicable
words of the “Manager” Mrs. Sonia John, appointed by the Catholicos
of Etchmiadzin. Girls in the Schoolbathe in the open, without
curtains. The poor Armenian Priest who objected to all this, the
Revd. Gulgulian, could not keep shut anymore and spoke out against the
tyrant Mrs. John on Palm Sunday. Mrs. John did not send the pupils to
Church, instead she sent 12 Policemen and guards to the Church. The
Revd. Gulgulian took extreme offence to the policemen and asked them
to leave. They refusedto listen to him and refused to leave the
Church! During the Sermon the Rev. Priest condemned the tyrant and
exhorted the faithful to drive her out of the Church. Poor man! She
phoned the Catholicos at Etchmiadzin and the Rev. Gulgulian was
ordered back to Armenia. On Easter Sunday, the much chastened man,
seeing the power of the despot with the help of the Catholicos of
Etchmiadzin expressed his sadness for the poor Armenians he would be
leaving behind to the mercy of the tyrant, Mrs. Sonia John. Where are
the friends of the tiny Armenian community of Calcutta?
Revd. Gulgulian is back in Armenia, the Church has no services this
Sunday, as the care of the souls of the Armenians is not the priority
of the Catholicos of Etchmiadzin.
Young Girls Abused in Calcutta, India
13 April 2004
The regime of Mrs. Sonia John has brought in about 25 girls from
Armenia. Got them “adopted” by the Church? The Revd. Priest one day
saw the girls bathing as they did not even have curtains. He was
shocked and asked Mrs. Sonia John why the girls had to bathe in this
naked fashion ? She replied “What are you going to do, buy them
curtains?” This is the depravity the girls must put up with as they
are “orphans” from Armenia.
When the poor things ask for certain things they are told: “Shut up
and stop asking for things. If I did not bring you to Calcutta you
would be PROSTITUTES IN ARMENIA!”
Maybe when you read this, whoever you are, your heart will ache for
these poor girls and you will feel compelled to do something. Like
writing to the Catholicos of Etchmiadzin who has been appointed the
administrator by the Court in Calcutta. Please write to him about your
disgust.
Armenian Human Rights: Same Old Story Here in Calcutta
7 April 2004
There seems to be something in the Armenian character that does not
tolerate dissent. Here in Calcutta the meetings of the Armenian
Community are held by the ruling regime with the help of the corrupt
police and criminals. Votersare intimidated. Opposition is not allowed
into the meeting and is driven away by the criminals. Just about 15
people vote for a Trust property worth more than 500 million
rupees. They are the ones allowed to vote by the criminals.
Fred Babakhanian a young refugee from Iran, who stayed in Calcutta for
more than 20 years, who voiced his opposition to the regime of
criminals, was put away on a false charge of being without a visa. He
has spent over 3 years in jail even though he applied for refugee
status. The regime did not like him, they paid the police to fix this
poor young man. Spare a prayer for him. Just 100 US dollars will get
him out of jail.
Armenian Trusts in Calcutta
3 April 2004
There exist a number of trusts in Calcutta, India, intended to benefit
Armenians in Julfa, Iran (St. Mary’s Church Committee) and even
Rostov-on-Don (Nakhichevan) St. Catherine’s Monastery and many other
beneficiaries. The Apcar family Trust is a very large one being
fraudulently dealt with to benefit scamsters and rogues. The Trustees
are all into scams. The properties ownedby these Trusts can generate
millions of dollars for the beneficiaries, but since none show
interest in the matters the Trustees are into huge frauds with these
properties. If there are persons interested in these trusts, they
could getin touch with me through email and then the benefits could be
realized.
Trafficking in Armenian Children
16 March 2004
Dozens of children have been brought to Calcutta, India to study in
the once famous Armenian College. These children lead a very secretive
life. No local Armenian is allowed to speak to them. People who have
worked in the Armenian children are constantly relaying information
that these children are unhappy. The children are being abused and
treated very cruelly. I have seen with myown eyes the behavior of the
Managers of the School: They get almost violent, if the children are
even approached or if some local Armenian even speaks to them. The
children are beaten black and blue and tortured in various ways. Some
of them are orphans from Armenia and have no other place to return
to. They have to accept the torture. Many want to return to Armenia
and have cried in front of witnesses. If they are caught crying, they
are beaten again. How long must our children suffer? Do we all have
hearts of stone? Do we not care? We local Armenians need support to
get rid of this tyrant.
The Administrator appointed by the Supreme Patriarch is a totally
corrupt person. Notices have been published in the local newspapers
pointing out that she is a fraud. Yet, the Supreme Patriarch in
Yerevan sits blissfully unaware of what is going on in the Armenian
College, Calcutta. Funds donated to the Armenian College have been
used to build a “gorgeous” “beautiful” Armenian Embassy in New Delhi?
Why this route of donating to the School and then to the Embassy? Is
there money laundering going on here? The Administrator of the College
states that “all Armenian women are whores!” The Catholicos has
received written complaints and knows what is going on? THEN WHY THE
SILENCE?

Moscow Times
July 28 2004
Great Game Over
By Ian Bremmer and Nikolas Gvosdev

The new great game is over — it ended in a draw. Russia failed in
its attempt to monopolize the Caspian region’s energy transportation
links; the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, in
particular, ensures that not all Caspian oil will cross Russian
territory on its way west. On the other hand, exclusive transport of
Central Asia’s gas reserves remains in the control of Gazprom, and,
as in Soviet times, will continue to pass through Russian-controlled
routes.
Moscow cannot prevent limited U.S. inroads into Central Asia, but
given the traditional dependence of Central Asian governments on
Moscow, Russia will remain a heavyweight regional player for the
foreseeable future.
There is nothing further to be gained by either side from
geopolitical gamesmanship, but there is much to be won through
partnership.
Given the United States’ current range of security commitments around
the world, it is more vital than ever that Washington diversify its
energy supplies. Russia too has much to gain from a cooperative
relationship with the West in the exploration, exploitation and
transport of Caspian-area energy reserves.
The foolish zero-sum notion that there are a certain number of
barrels of oil in the region to be fought over by the regional powers
is dangerously shortsighted, particularly at a time when the world’s
hunger for energy is growing so quickly and ever more pipelines and
export routes are needed to get supplies to market. The United
States, EU, China, Russia and other Caspian states should view the
Caspian area as a single integrated energy marketplace. Together they
should begin a comprehensive Eurasian energy dialogue that will bring
together the major outside investors — especially the United States
and EU — with the region’s key actors, especially Russia, Azerbaijan
and Kazakhstan.
One element of this dialogue should be economic — helping to direct
investment where it can bring the most effective return. Joint
projects that combine the skills, resources and assets of Western,
Asian and Russian firms can bring online energy deposits that would
otherwise remain in the ground.
Another part of the dialogue should center on those challenges to
regional security that threaten new investment. Chechen insurgents
would very much like to produce a wider war across an area of
southern Russia vitally important to the transport of Caspian energy
products. The threat of violent Islamic extremism has led to
crackdowns by the authoritarian Central Asian regimes.
Governments must also battle the influence of organized crime if they
are to attract investment in energy projects. Porous borders,
smuggling and the drug trade, in particular, threaten the social and
political stability necessary to establish a long-term international
energy investment project.
Yet opportunities for real U.S.-Russian security cooperation in
Central Asia are not being exploited. In Kyrgyzstan, both the United
States and Russia maintain military bases and both ostensibly serve
the same purpose — to prevent the spillover of Islamist terrorism
into Central Asia. Yet U.S. and Russian forces have no mechanism for
joint action, not even the ability to communicate by cellphone.
Creating a joint U.S.-Russian base under the aegis of a NATO-Russia
partnership, a proposal Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev has publicly
endorsed, could lay the basis for practical cooperation that could
then be extended, both to the countries in which Russia enjoys the
dominant foreign influence (such as Armenia) and those seeking
greater integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions (such as Georgia,
Uzbekistan or even Azerbaijan).
Russian and Western intelligence-gathering capacities complement one
another. Russia continues to have the most effective network of
contacts in Eurasia.
First steps have already been taken in coordinating intelligence
collection, marrying Russia’s considerable human intelligence
capabilities with American technological capacity. Russia and Western
governments should create a new security organization, grounded in
the NATO-Russia Council, which would develop joint institutions for
joint security challenges.
The United States and Russia have already produced some positive-sum
security interactions, in helping to resolve Georgian President
Mikheil Saakashvili’s standoff with Aslan Abashidze, for example.
Fears have risen in Russia and in Armenia recently that the added
revenue produced in Azerbaijan by increased hydrocarbon production
and transport could finance a new round of violence over the disputed
region of Nagorny Karabakh. Joint operations in Bosnia and Kosovo —
in which Russian and NATO forces collaborated in peacekeeping for the
first time — provide a precedent for extending such cooperation to
potential trouble spots where instability threatens both Russian and
Western interests.
There are few areas where a Russian-Western partnership can realize
more mutually beneficial economic, political, and security goals than
in Central Asia.
Successful partnerships there will encourage useful Russian-Western
partnerships elsewhere, as in the construction of new Siberian
pipelines to the Pacific.
Missing the opportunities such a partnership might provide will
threaten the stability of a region vitally important to both the war
on terrorism and the development of future sources of energy.
Ian Bremmer is president of the Eurasia Group and a senior fellow at
the World Policy Institute. Nikolas Gvosdev is executive editor of
The National Interest. They contributed this comment to The Moscow
Times.

ARTIFICIAL RISE OF DRAM EXCHANGE RATE IS HARDLY POSSIBLE: CB CHAIRMAN
YEREVAN, July 27, (Noyan Tapan). The drastic increase of the exchange
rate of the Armenian dram against the foreign currencies (includung
U.S. dollar) is conditioned by objective reasons, particularly the
augmantation of private transfers, Tigran Sargsian, Chairman of the
Central Bank of Armenia stated at the “Regional Bridge 2004”
international business-meeting held on July 24. He noted that during
this year the volume of private transfers has increased greatly
compared with the previous year – by 43%. Cash worth about $100m
enters Armenia through tourists and private transfers from abroad each
year. According to T. Sargsian, buying and selling deals worth $35-60m
are carried out in the Armenian market weekly. At least $5m needs to
be injected to affect artificially the exchange rate in such a market,
which is a great risk and that’s why “No reasonable peson would do
it”. T. Sargsian believes that the short-time appreciation of the dram
could not have an impact on the prices of goods. The changes of the
exchange rates affect the prices during a long period and the price
chnges is connected with the average exchange rate of the
year. Armenia has conducted a policy of floating exchange rate,
i.e. the state does not interfere the currency rates. Growth of prices
is paid most attention to. It made up 4.5% during the 6 months of the
current yearwith the target set at 3% growth for the year. According
to the CB Chairman, interference of the state aimed at stabilizing the
exchange rate will lead to the increase of quantity of the Armenian
dram that will stimulate infliation. The liquidity of the dram has
gone up and the domains if its use have increased recently. That’s why
the CB declined the interest rate of re-financing to 5%, the lowest
level existed so far.

$400-500M DOLLARS INVESTED IN ARMENIA EACH YEAR
TSAGHKADZOR, July 27, (Noyan Tapan). Several international companies
have placed bids for the Copper-molibdenum enterprise of Zangezour
that is to be privatized this year Tigran Davtian, Deputy Minister of
Trade and Economic Development of Armenia stated at the “Regional
Bridge 2004” international business conference. He noted that the
package of the shares of the enterprise are estimated about $130m and
the investment package – about $0.5bln. According to T. Davtian,
approximately 2,500 companies work in Armenia through foreign capital.
Each year foreign investments in Armenia make $200-250m. Domestic
investments are about of the same amount. The attractiveness of the
country for foreigners is due stable economic growth and liberal
economic policy conducted by the govermnent. The foreign debt of
Armenia reaches over $1b or about 38% of the GDP which is an afordable
level for countries with developing economy. T. Davtian indicated that
the budget deficit of Armenia formed about 2% of the annual GDP during
the last years. And now it was possible to provide even state budget
proficit based on internal funds only.

ARMENIA SURPRISED THAILAND MPs AS A COUNTRY WITH A GREAT POTENTIAL IN
THE SPHERE OF HIGH TECHNOLOGIES
YEREVAN, JULY 27, NOYAN TAPAN. From 21 to 27 of July the
Thailand-Armenia deputy group of friendship of the Thailand Parliament
visited Armenia. Deputy groups of frienship have been functioning in
Parliaments of Armenia and Thailand since 2001, however, this was the
first visit to Yerevan by Thailand MPs. The parliamentary delegation
of Armenia is likely to visit Thailand in December 2004 or January
2005. Before that time agreements to be signed in the spheres of
tourism and culture must be prepared. This information was announced
by the heads of groups of friendship functioning in both countries –
Koryun Arakelian, a member of the “National Unity” faction of the NA
of RA and Said Kulharoen, a senator from Thailand at a joint press
conference on July 27. According to S. Kulcharoen, the aim of the
parliamentary friendship groups is to contribute to the establishment
of links between the parliaments, as well as the development of
relations between the counties. The Thailand-Armenia parliamentary
group of friendship is composed of 36 members, including present and
former senators and deputies. It is one of the 35 groups of friendship
functioning in the Parliament of Thailand. Kulcharoen said that
Armenia impressed them not only as an ancient country with a unique
culture and people, but also as a country with a great potential in
the sphere of new technologies. The latter factor may become a good
incentive for the development of further cooperation between the two
countries. On behalf of the delegation he expressed gratitude to the
Armenian side for excellent organization of the reception. As Koryun
Arakelyan noted, they had made every effort to introduce the Thailand
partners to the state of Armenian economy, people’s life, culture,
historic and cultural sights of Armenia. Meetings with representatives
of the executive power were also organized. The delegation visited a
number of industrial enterprises, including a joint Armenian-Thailand
diamond cutting and jewelry enterprise. According to him, a similar
enterprise also functions in Thailand.

RA AMBASSADOR TO BALTIC COUNTRIES HAILS CURRENT COOPERATION LEVEL OF
ARMENIA WITH THOSE COUNTRIES
YEREVAN, July 27, (Noyan Tapan). “Three Baltic countries are
interested in the integration of the South Caucasus in the European
and Euro-Atlantic structures too. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are
ready to support the three countries of the South Caucasus in these
problems”, Ashot Hovakimian, Armenian Ambassador to Poland and Baltic
countries, told NT. According to him, the Baltic countries try to find
their place in the European Union and NATO by conducting active policy
in the Caucasian countries to let the latter make use of their
experience of cooperating with the European structures. Ashot
Hovakimian reminded that the Baltic countries put forward the 3+3
cooperation formula in 2003 i.e. three Baltic and three Caucasian
countries. “Though our regions are different, there are some
similarities. They share the same Soviet heritage and are regarded to
be the experts of our region. It must not be percieved in a wrong way
i.e. to say that they are willing to take patronage. No, they are
ready to give us what they have already passed”, the Ambassador
emphasized. Ambassador Hovakimian gave a positive assessment to the
current level of the cooperation between Armenia and the Baltic
countries. According to him, the visits of the President of Armenia
paid to all Baltic countries in 2003, as well as the mutual visits of
the foreign ministers of Armenia and of those countries witness about
the active political ties. Ashot Hovakimian gave special importance to
the visit of the former president of Lithuania to Armenia and said
that the visits of the presidents of Latvia and Estonia to Armenia are
also expected.

PARTNERSHIP OF VIRONA AND NOYEMBERIAN SISTER CITIES AIMS AT DRAWING
CLOSER THE TWO PEOPLES
YEREVAN, July 27 (Noyan Tapan). The park of Noyemberian city of
Tavoush marz has been reconstructed through the $20,000 transferred by
the Greece city Virona, the sister city of Noyemberian. The official
opening ceremony of the park will take place on July 28, Hrach
Tadevosian, member of the ARF Supreme Body of Armenia stated at the
press conference held July 26. The delegation led by Nikos Khardalias,
Mayor of Virona, arrived in Armenia to take part in the opening
ceremony. Maro Adamabulu, Vice Mayor, members of the Elder’s Council,
members of ARF Central Committee of Greece, members of “Aram Manukian”
Committee of Virona, as well as the chairwoman of the Armenian Releif
Society branch were included in the delegation. Nikos Khardalias
stated that according to the agreement reached with Vanoush
Amiraghian, Mayor of Noyemberian last year in Virona, the sister city
will assist the development of the infrastructures of Noyemberian. In
return, the Greek will have a chance to get acquainted with the
Armenian culture. He believes that further programs of partnership
will become more clear during this visit. Nikos Khardalias indicated
that during the three years after the fraterization of the cities,
Virona has sent 20 computers, a large quantity of medicine, modern
technics necessary for the medical analyses, toys etc to
Noyemberian. “If Virona assists the development of Noyemberian today,
Noyemberian may have a chance to help Virona tomorrow”, Khardalias
indicated emphasizing that the partnership of the sister cities is not
of “commercial” nature. It aims at drawing closer the two cities and
the peoples instead. The mayor of Virona also stated that the
fraternization between another four Greek cities and Armenian ones is
underway. Sisian will become siter of Neazmir, Ijevan – of Nikia,
Alaverdi- of Rendis. It is not clear yet what city will become a
sister city for Kalamaria city. According to Nikos Khardialias, about
1000 Armenian families live in Virona with 135,000 population. Most of
the Armenian families have expressed willing to contribute to the
prosperity of their homeland. The Armenian community takes active
participation in all the events of Virona.

The Washington Times
July 27, 2004 Tuesday
EMBASSY ROW
By James Morrison, THE WASHINGTON TIMES
WORLD; EMBASSY ROW
Restoring trust
The foreign minister of Azerbaijan told Washington officials that he
is “cautiously optimistic” of an eventual peaceful settlement in the
conflict with neighboring Armenia that, he said, has caused thousands
of deaths and displaced nearly 1 million Azerbaijani citizens.
Elmar Mammadyarov said the optimism comes from his belief in
negotiations, but the caution is rooted in the deep distrust between
the mostly Muslim Azerbaijanis and the mostly Christian Armenians.
“The most important thing is to restore trust,” he told editors and
reporters at The Washington Times last week. “The hatred inside the
two communities is very high.”
The two countries agreed to a cease-fire in 1994, but as much as 20
percent of territory claimed by Azerbaijan remains under Armenian
control. The conflict centered on an ethnic Armenian enclave called
Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan.
“We need to continue negotiations to bring our position and the
Armenian position closer to each other,” Mr. Mammadyarov said.
Negotiations are being organized through U.S., French and Russian
diplomats of the so-called Minsk Group of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe.
In a meeting with Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, he also
discussed progress on the construction of a $3 billion oil pipeline
that will pump 1 million barrels of oil a day from the Caspian
seaport of Baku in Azerbaijan to the Turkish port of Ceyhan on the
Mediterranean, our correspondent Talar Beylerian reports.
“Most of the oil and gas fields are off shore in the Caspian Sea and
we are cooperating with the United States … and with some other
European partners with regards to the created security of the
offshore wells,” Mr. Mammadyarov said.
The pipeline is scheduled to begin operating in January.
Azerbaijan also is strengthening ties with the West, Mr. Mammadyarov
said.
On July 6, NATO welcomed the decision by Azerbaijan to develop an
Individual Partnership Action Plan. The initiative will help foster a
partnership between Azerbaijan and NATO and serve as a platform to
discuss all relevant issues related to defense and political reform.
“It is bringing us closer to the Euro-Atlantic structure,” he said.
Mr. Mammadyarov said the European Union’s inclusion of Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Georgia in the European Neighborhood Policy in June was
also an important step for the three nations of the southern
Caucasus.
The conflict-ridden nations remain far from membership in the
European Union, but the neighborhood policy involves a significant
degree of economic integration and a deepening of political
cooperation.
Azerbaijan was one of three Muslim states to join the U.S.-led
“coalition of the willing.” The country employs 151 military
personnel in Iraq and maintains contingents in both Afghanistan and
Kosovo.

United Press International
July 27, 2004 Tuesday 18:28 PM Eastern Time
Israel reconsiders barrier’s route
By JOSHUA BRILLIANT
JERUSALEM, July 27 (UPI)
The crossing point between Jerusalem and Abu Dis seemed very busy. A
Palestinian woman approached it holding her little boy’s hand, a man
using a cane went over slowly, while in the other direction a
Palestinian waiter carried a tray with small cups of coffee and
another man carried pipes on his shoulder.
It would be a normal crossing point at the end of a short East
Jerusalem street except that it ended with a gray concrete wall
forcing people to climb over it.
A green Border Police jeep was parked at the intersection, a few feet
away. Armed policemen milled around, one of them holding a fat gray
canister — a stun grenade. No one seemed to stop and check the
Palestinians who came across and boarded taxis.
Retired Col. Shaul Arieli, who devised an alternative separation
line, said the guards usually know the people.
Down the road a 9-meter-high (30-foot-high) gray wall cuts across the
old Jerusalem-Jericho road. Its sheer height prevents people from
jumping over it. And that area, indeed, looks like a dead end would,
the road to it covered with dust and garbage.
The wall is part of the barrier Israel is building in and around the
West Bank, which the government says will prevent militants from
crossing. The defense establishment opted for a wall inside Jerusalem
because it takes up much less space than the system of triple fences
and patrol roads that Israel has been building elsewhere in the West
Bank.
Eventually the wall will cover 3 percent of the barrier and most of
it will be in Jerusalem, Ariel said.
Graffiti already covers part of it, and it seems as though all sides
have had their say there.
“All the respect to the Border Police,” someone scribbled in Hebrew.
“From the Warsaw Ghetto to the Abu Dis Ghetto,” someone wrote in
English, alluding to the Palestinians who find themselves fenced in.
A visiting Scotsman painted his blue flag with a white X adding,
“Scotland supports Palestine.” The lower part of two of the wall’s
slabs was painted white, and Arieli said the Defense Ministry was
testing a type of paint that would make it easy to erase graffiti.
Meanwhile in Tel Aviv, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz approved proposed
amendments to the barrier’s route.
The barrier, which Palestinians charge is a land grab, has drawn much
criticism from international and Israeli human rights groups. In a
non-binding advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice at
The Hague on July 9 ruled the barrier illegal and said that it should
be torn down and compensation given to Palestinians for any damage
caused by its construction.
Last Wednesday, a non-binding resolution passed by the U.N. General
Assembly after a 150-6 vote with 10 abstentions demanded that Israel
destroy the barrier in accordance with the ICJ’s ruling.
Last month, Israel’s High Court of Justice ordered the government to
reconsider the a portion of the route and take into account not only
Israel’s security needs but also the effect the barrier would have on
the lives — and livelihood — of the Palestinians living there.
Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim told United Press International the
newly approve route “accords more weight” to Palestinian access to
work and agricultural fields and the way of life. In some places, the
barrier will now run closer to the pre-1967 war lines.
Now the Justice Ministry will consider the plan to assess whether it
fits the criteria the judges have set and whether the state stands a
good chance of defending its actions should the Palestinians appeal
again.
No decision was taken with regard to 10 sections, including the
village of Azun Atmeh, at the western edge of the West Bank, near
several settlements. Mofaz would like to hold on to Beit Iksa, north
of Jerusalem, but other officials recommended not to.
Nor has there been a decision on the area surrounding Jerusalem
itself and the southern West Bank, the Defense Ministry said.
Israeli officials maintained parts of the barrier already built led
to a dramatic drop in the number of suicide bombing attacks,
casualties and even car thefts.
However, Israeli doves are advocating more changes in the barrier’s
route.
Arieli, who helped draw the Geneva Initiative’s maps, Tuesday took
reporters to a roof at Nebi Samuel, north of Jerusalem.
That vantage point overlooks the entire area between Jerusalem and
Ramallah, the Arab villages there, the settlement towns Israel has
built, the highway linking Israel’s coastal plain to Jerusalem, and
Camp Ofer where Palestinian detainees are held.
Ariel showed the barrier’s route could be redrawn to surround the
Jewish settlements, link them to Jerusalem on an existing four lane
highway that would be part of a 250-meter-wide (1/2-mile) corridor
and thus leave the Palestinian villages and fields outside Israeli
control.
Jerusalem, too, should be divided so that Israel would control only
the Jewish neighborhoods, he said.
If that were done, Israel would keep only 7,120 acres of East
Jerusalem’s area compared with almost 15,000 acres under the
government’s original plan.
Instead of having to rule over 230,000 Palestinians, it would have no
Palestinians. Its area would encompass the homes of 195,000 Israelis
who have built their several East Jerusalem neighborhoods.
The Geneva Initiative proposes a land swap in which Israel would keep
some West Bank areas in exchange for an equal amount of land near the
Gaza Strip.
The alternative of pulling all the 400,000 Jews out of the West Bank
and East Jerusalem is “almost impossible to do,” Arieli said. Nor
would it be possible to keep all the occupied territories and leave
the settlers everywhere, he added.
According to the Geneva Initiative the Old City of Jerusalem would be
divided so that the Christian, Muslim and half the Armenian Quarter
would come under Palestinian sovereignty, the Jewish Quarter and the
other half of the Armenian Quarter where Jews live would come under
Israeli sovereignty.
The Temple Mount would be Palestinian, the Western Wall Israeli and
there would be no physical boundary lines within the walled area.
A force of Israelis, Palestinians and international troops would be
headquartered near the Jaffa Gate, at a building which has served
successive police forces of the powers that ruled in Jerusalem, Ariel
said.