ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/16/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1. US House Adopts Schiff Amendment on Armenian Genocide 2. Congressional Republican Leadership Attacks Schiff Amendment 3. Hastert, DeLay Blunt Statement on Schiff Amendment 4. $17,000 Raised in San Francisco for Karabagh Resettlement Program 5. 84th ARS Convention Underway 6. AYF Badanegan: bringing the kids together 7. AYF Volunteers Set for Work in Armenia, Little Armenia 1. US House Adopts Schiff Amendment on Armenian Genocide "None of the funds made available in this Act may be used by the Government of Turkey to engage in contravention of section 1913 of title 18, United States Code, relating to lobbying with appropriated moneys, with respect to HRes 193, Reaffirming support of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and anticipating the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987 (the Proxmire Act) on November 4, 2003." Amendment to Foreign Operations Bill prohibiting Turkey from using US foreign aid to lobby against Genocide Resolution --Rep. Knollenberg's Leadership key to maintaining military aid parity for Armenia and Azerbaijan WASHINGTON, DCIn a powerful rebuke to the Turkish government's campaign of genocide denial, the House of Representatives this evening adopted the Schiff Amendment, prohibiting the Turkish government from using US foreign assistance in its multi-million dollar campaign to defeat legislation (HRes 193) recognizing the Armenian Genocide, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The amendment, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), was passed by a voice vote and added to the fiscal year 2005 foreign aid bill (HRes 4818). The foreign aid bill was later passed by a vote of 365 to 41. In his remarks on the House floor introducing the measure, Rep. Schiff told his colleagues that, "today I offer a simple amendment that will honor the one and a half million Armenians who perished in the Armenian Genocide of the 1915 and 1923. I consider this a sacred obligation to ensure that the men, women, and children who perished in the Armenian Genocide are not lost to history and that this Congress not fund shameful efforts to deny that the Genocide occurred." Commenting after the vote, Rep. Schiff said, "We are another step closer to silencing those who would deny the murder of 1.5 million Armenians," adding that, "This amendment stands true to the memory of the victims." "The passage of this amendment is a major victory," said Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. "It clearly sends a message that the United States House of Representatives will not tolerate Turkey's lobbying against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide." In his remarks during consideration of the measure, the New Jersey legislator stressed that "it is time for this body to stop defending and funding a government that continues to deny its own history, and refuses to break with the pattern of intolerance established by past Turkish governments which dealt with minority issues by committing genocide against Armenians, massacring and driving Greeks from its shores, restricting the rights of Christians to worship, and denying the existence of its Kurdish citizens." "We want, first and foremost, to thank Congressman Schiff for his tireless leadership in advancing this amendment, to recognize the strong support of Armenian Caucus Co-Chairmen Frank Pallone and Joe Knollenberg, and to note the pivotal role that Chairman Kolbe played in helping this measure reach the House floorwhere, as we all saw this evening, it enjoyed overwhelming bi-partisan support," said ANCA Chairman Ken Hachikian. The Genocide Resolution, HRes 193, reaffirms US support for the Genocide Convention and cites the importance of remembering past crimes against humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides, in an effort to stop future atrocities. It faces intense opposition from the Turkish government, which has enlisted the backing of the White House in its efforts to block this measure from being scheduled for a vote of the full House. The Genocide Resolution was introduced, in the House, in April, 2003, by Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Joe Knollenberg (R-MI). Its Senate companion measure was introduced, in June, 2003, by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Jon Corzine (D-NJ). HRes 193 was adopted unanimously by the House Judiciary Committee last May. Support for the measure has been widespread off of Capitol Hill as well, with a diverse coalition of over 100 ethnic, religious, civil and human rights organizations calling for its passage, including American Values, National Organization of Women, Sons of Italy, NAACP, Union of Orthodox Rabbis, and the National Council of La Raza. Rep. Knollenberg Leads Effort on Foreign Aid Issues: Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Joe Knollenberg, who serves as a senior member of the House panel dealing with foreign aid issues, rallied the support of his colleagues behind key pro-Armenian provisions in the Foreign Operations bill. Foremost among these was the successful effort to maintain parity in US military aid to Armenia and Azerbaijan. This February, the Administration's budget proposed breaking the parity agreement, struck in 2001 between the White House and the Congress, by allocating $8 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for Azerbaijan and only $2 million for Armenia. The foreign aid bill, adopted today by the US House, sets FMF levels for both nations at $5 million. "We value the leadership and hard work by Congressman Knollenberg in maintaining the principle of military aid parity in the face of White House and Pentagon pressure to break an agreement that has, for the past three years, contributed meaningfully to regional stability in the Caucasus," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. The House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, which is chaired by Arizona Republican Jim Kolbe, supported a hard earmark of $65 million in US assistance to Armenia, and $5 million for Mountainous Karabagh. The Bush Administration's proposal had requested $62 million for Armenia and had not set any specific funding level for Mountainous Karabagh. The Subcommittee's decision, made against the backdrop of decreasing aid levels to the former Soviet republics, would effectively reduce US assistance to Armenia by $10 million from FY 2004 levels. 2. Congressional Republican Leadership Attacks Schiff Amendment WASHINGTON, DCIn a front-page statement posted today on the web-page of the Speaker of the US House, Congressional Republican leaders, who have for the past eighteen months blocked the progress of legislation recognizing the Armenian genocide, attacked the adoption, yesterday, of the Schiff Amendment by the full US House, reported the Armenian National Committee (ANCA). The amendment restricts the Turkish government from using US foreign aid dollars to finance its campaign to defeat the Genocide Resolution, HRes 193. The statement issued by House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-TX) and Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) states that, "we are strongly opposed to the Schiff Amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, and we will insist that conferees drop that provision in conference. . . Turkey has been a reliable ally of the United States for decades, and the deep foundation upon which our mutual economic and security relationship rests should not be disrupted by this amendment." Armenian Americans have the opportunity to express their disappointment to the authors of this statement by visiting the ANCA website: "Speaker Hastert and his colleagues in the House leadershiphaving spent the past year and a half trying to kill the Genocide Resolutionare now trying to subvert the clear will of an overwhelming bi-partisan majority in support of this human rights measure," said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. "We find it deeply offensive that these officials would allow a foreign nation particularly one that so blatantly disdains the democratic values of the American peopleto impose its dictates on our Congress." Yesterday evening, the US House voted to approve the amendment, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). The measure was passed by a voice vote and added to the fiscal year 2005 foreign aid bill, HRes 4818. The Genocide Resolution, HRes 193, reaffirms US support for the Genocide Convention and cites the importance of remembering past crimes against humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, Holocaust, Cambodian and Rwandan genocides, in an effort to stop future atrocities. It faces intense opposition from the Turkish government, which has enlisted the backing of the White House in its efforts to press Congressional leaders to block this measure from being scheduled for a vote of the full House. 3. Hastert, DeLay Blunt Statement on Schiff Amendment (WASHINGTON DCSpeaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and House Majority Whip Roy Blunt released the following statement regarding House adoption of the Schiff Amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. "We are strongly opposed to the Schiff Amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, and we will insist that conferees drop that provision in conference. We have contacted the Bush Administration, and they have indicated their strong opposition to the amendment. We have also conveyed our opposition to Chairman Kolbe and he has assured us that he will insist on it being dropped in the conference committee." "Turkey has been a reliable ally of the United States for decades, and the deep foundation upon which our mutual economic and security relationship rests should not be disrupted by this amendment." "On its face, the amendment is meaningless. Current US law already prohibits foreign governments from using American foreign aid to lobby. But we understand the political motivation behind the amendment, and for that reason, we will insist that it be dropped." "Our relationship with Turkey is too important to us to allow it to be in any way damaged by a poorly crafted and ultimately meaningless amendment." "Furthermore, we have no intention of scheduling H Res 193, as reported out of the Judiciary Committee in April, during the remainder of this Congress." 4. $17,000 Raised in San Francisco for Karabagh Resettlement Program SAN FRANCISCO$17,000 was recently raised for the Karabagh resettlement program through a series of fundraising events, organized by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) San Francisco Kristapor Chapter. Fundraisers were held at the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Sako Shirikian and Mr. and Mrs. Hriar Moroyan and were followed by a July 9 event at the San Francisco Armenian Center. After welcoming the audience gathered at the Armenian Center, ARF Kristapor Chapter representative Hriar Sarkisian spoke about the purpose of the fundraising drive and how it will assist the work of the newly formed "Mountainous Karabagh Republic Resettlement Assembly." "The government of the Mountainous Karabagh invites Armenians to settle and raise their children within the borders of their motherland," he noted. "Between 1992-2001, the Karabagh government was able to build 4061 homes and 193 buildings, which house 5112 families today. In addition, the country's numerous schools cater to 3474 students. The Resettlement Assembly asks all social, political, and philanthropic organizations to contribute to these efforts." The Armenians of San Francisco, Sarkisian stated, have throughout the years supported Armenia, Karabagh and the Diaspora both morally and financially and recently lent assistance to the Armenian communities in Iraq, Javakhk, and Shahumian. 5. 84th ARS Convention Underway Delegates from 23 chapters joined invited guests on July 15, for the opening of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS), Western Region's 84th convention that will be taking place at the Glendale, California Hilton until July 18. Among those addressing the more than 200 gathered were Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Consul General of Republic of Armenia in Los Angeles Gagik Kirakossian, and ARF Central Committee member Vahe Bozoian. Honored guests included Glendale City Councilmember Rafi Manoukian, police chief Randy Adams, Armenia Fund representative Maria Mehrabian, Armond Agakhani representing State Assemblymembers Dario Frommer and Fabian Núñez, and representatives of sister organizations. 6. AYF Badanegan: bringing the kids together By Sanan Haroun In the aftermath of the genocide, Karekin Njdeha fedayee and field worker for the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF)brought a group of youth together with the purpose of instilling future generations with the Armenian spirit. The idea, which Njdeh successfully implemented in Boston over seventy years ago, has since spread throughout the United States. Today, the group that was created through his initiativethe Armenian Youth Federation (AYF)serves youth under the age of 16 through its Badanegan organization. The AYF Glendale Badanegan chapterestablished in 1981is just one of the many chapters that provides young Armenians an environment, in which they can gather, learn about Hai Tahd, and volunteer for their communities. Members of Badanegan participate in all sorts of activities that make the Armenian spirit an important part of their lives. Such activities include singing traditional songs, assisting political campaigns through phone banking, and participating in discussions about Armenian issues during weekly meetings. The AYF Glendale Badanegan is divided into two portions: the Shant chapter, which accepts youth between the ages of 7-13, and the Simon Zavarian chapter, which is composed of 14-16 year-olds. Both chapters meet on Friday nights: Shant from 6:30-8:15pm and Simon Zavarian from 7:30-9:00pm at the Glendale Armenian Center/Ararat Elderly Day Care Center, 721 S. Glendale Ave. During a typical one-and-a-half hour-long meeting, members read news from Armenia, learn new Armenian words and participate in quiz bowls and other fun games. Additionally, guest speakers are invited to attend meetings and discuss career opportunities. Speakers in the past have presented information about a variety of professions, including plumbing, psychology, law, and dentistry. Each badanee, as members of Badanegan are called, also has an opportunity to speak to the chapter about their personal hobbies. Badanees have spoken about playing instruments like the violin and guitar, roller-blading, water polo, and drawing. Furthermore, meetings sometimes include casual debates amongst the badanees over issues that affect Armenians in the Diaspora. One such topic is the importance of Armenian language to the Armenian identity. Divided into two groups, members eagerly wait for their chance to express their thoughts and opinions. In addition to the meetings, AYF Glendale Badanegan members plan and participate in social and athletic activities. Sleep-overs, movie nights, pool parties, trips to amusement parks, hikes through waterfalls, visits to the beach, bowling and ice skating are just a few examples of the activities that badanees enjoy. These excursions provide endless memories and create strong friendships that last a lifetime. Some of the badanees' more elaborate projects include trips to AYF Camp Big Pines and Malibu Beach, where members camped out on the sand and woke up by the ocean. The Glendale Badanegan also has a long tradition of presenting plays about heroic Armenian figures and Armenian issues in the Diaspora. Some of the plays presented include "Njdeh," "Menk Hayers," "Yert Arants Tartsi," "Siamanto," and "Black and White." In both 1991 and 2001, song tours were organized in Glenddale to mark Armenian Independence Day. Badanees also distribute Christmas cards during each December. The Glendale chapter is continually busy in planning events that are both fun and educational. The idea of bringing together a few Armenian kids in 1933 has developed into a large organization dedicated to involving youth in the Armenian Cause. Today, the growing Glendale Shant and Zavarian chapters have over 70 members. The AYF Badanegan provides leadership training and education for future generations. Countless young Armenians attribute their involvement in social and political causes to their experiences as AYF badanees. The badanees who enjoy their social and educational experiences become life-long community activists. Sanan is an executive member of the Glendale AYF Badanegan Zavarian Chapter 7. AYF Volunteers Set for Work in Armenia, Little Armenia AYF Youth Corps Ready to Get to Work in Artsakh YEREVANThe participants of this summer's AYF Youth Corps program arrived in Armenia on Thursday, to spend most of their summer in Stepanakert, the capitol city of Mountainous Karabagh Republic (Artsakh), working to rebuild the ARS Soseh kindergarten and the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Center there. Though 2004 marks the 10th anniversary of the AYF Youth Corps program, it is also the third year the program targets the reconstruction of the kindergarten and Parpeligic center. This year's program participants from throughout CaliforniaGlendale, the South Bay, and the West San Fernando Valley, will have the opportunity to meet with government officials, local ARF representatives, and AYF members, and will spend weekends sightseeing in Armenia and Artsakh. The AYF Youth Corps program, founded after the 1994 Karabagh cease-fire, has sent over 100 Armenian youth to Artsakh and Armenia to assist in rebuilding efforts of various Armenian structures such as schools, centers, churches, and youth camps damaged during the war. Back to the Streets of Little Armenia in September LOS ANGELESThe planning and organization of the Second Annual Little Armenia Clean Up has begun, and efforts to beautify the portion of Hollywood named after Armenia will take place on September 25. The clean up is co-sponsored by Council Member Eric Garcetti and the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF). After the 8:30 AM opening on clean up day, which will include remarks by Council Member Garcetti, volunteers will hit the streets and sidewalks of Hollywood work to remove litter and unwanted weeds. The clean up effort, a project of the AYF Little Armenia Beautification Program, will include replacing the "Welcome to Little Armenia" banners on various major intersections of Little Armenia, with new ones. "It is an honor to the Armenian American community to have an area of the City Los Angeles named after our homeland," said Vicken Sosikian, Chairman of the AYF Western Region. "Since October of 2000 we have enjoyed this honor; we therefore not only need to give back to Little Armenia and its residents, but also to the city of Los Angeles." Turnout for the 2003 Little Armenia Clean Up was tremendous; mostly AYF youth, and some older volunteers scoured city streets and placed the welcome banners that now mark Little Armenia. The AYFa volunteer youth organization, seeks the support of the Armenian community to make this outreach event a success. Interested volunteers for the clean up, or those who want to contribute to the effort in anyway, should email the AYF at: [email protected]. 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.

UEFA.com
July 15 2004
Dinamo go back to the future
Forty-eight hours after the 2004/05 edition of the UEFA Cup opened,
the first qualifying round continues tonight with the remaining 24
first-leg ties.
Previous winner
After Hungary’s Budapest Honvéd FC won 1-0 at MIKA FC in Armenia on
Tuesday, another 27 countries – spanning the breadth of Europe from
Iceland to Azerbaijan – are represented in tonight’s matches.
However, there is only one previous winner of a European trophy, FC
Dinamo Tblisi, involved.
Bottom rung
The Georgians played under the Soviet flag when they captured the
UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1981, beating FC Carl Zeiss Jena 2-1 in the
final in Dusseldorf. Now, more than two decades on, they are starting
out on the bottom rung when they visit the Belarussian club FC BATE
Borisov.
Serious business
While players from the continent’s higher-profile leagues are still
working their way back to full fitness, for the clubs in action
tonight the serious business has begun already. Arguably the best
quote in the build-up to these matches came from Saulius Širmelis,
coach of Lithuanian side FK Ventspils.
Warning
His team face B68 Toftir in the Faroe Islands and Širmelis warned: “I
hope none of my players are expecting the game to be easy. I remember
how Rudi Völler and Germany came to the Faroe Islands smiling and how
pale they were at the end of the match.”
Heat is on
Elsewhere, Romanian club CF Otelul Galati’s preparations for the
visit of KS Dinamo Tirana were not helped by a brief players’ strike.
The Otelul squad refused to train for several days before receiving a
promise that they would be paid money the club owed them. Meanwhile,
it seems no amount of training can have fully prepared F.Y.R.
Macedonia’s FK Sloga Jugomagnat for the expected 40C heat they will
face when they play Omonia AC in Cyprus. Of all the venues tonight,
nowhere is likely to be as hot as this.

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Vote for the stars of Yahoo!’s next ad campaign!

iBerkshires.com, MA
July 15 2004
BArT principal hopes to `change lives’
By Linda Carman –

Michelle Close, the principal of the Berkshire Arts and Technology
Charter School. (Photo By Linda Carman)
NORTH ADAMS – The principal of the Berkshire Arts and Technology
Charter School had a teacher and mentor who opened a new world for
her, and now she wants to do the same for this generation of
students.
Michelle Close, who worked from Providence, R.I., until Friday, said
her 7th and 8th grade teacher in Brookline, Margo Strom, developed a
curriculum titled `Facing History and Ourselves,’ a study of the
Holocaust which Close found galvanizing.
`It changed my world. It asked critical questions, such as who’s
responsible, and are there such things as innocent bystanders,’ she
said. The curriculum began with Holocaust studies, and has expanded
to cover the Armenian genocide, the Sudan and other venues for its
exploration of peace and personal moral responsibility.
Close worked for Strom after college, motivated by enthusiasm for the
curriculum, and the non-profit organization Strom founded.
`It made me wide awake in the world, and once I was wide awake in the
world there was no going back,’ she said at the BArT offices on Main
Street in North Adams Tuesday.
Close said she is confident that the charter school, to be located at
One Commercial Place in Adams, will open in September as scheduled,
and is pleased with Gov. Mitt Romney’s recent veto of a moratorium on
new charter schools in the state. An override vote by the legislature
on the moratorium is possible.
`I’m thinking positively,’ Close said. `We’ve been having talks with
[legislators]. We’re moving ahead as if the school is going to open.
All the plans are in place. I’m believing in the school and hoping
the state is too.’
Close grew up with a teacher near at hand; her mother was an early
childhood educator. She identifies her epiphany – her realization
that she wanted to pursue education as a career – to a bus trip in
Israel, where she lived on a kibbutz after traveling widely in
Europe.
`I really, truly believe my education changed my life, and I hope to
do the same for others,’ she said.
Close joined BArt June 1. She and her husband, who will teach in
Pittsfield, and their two children, ages 2 1/2 and 5, have moved to
Williamstown, where the children will attend Williamstown Elementary
School.
During her 15 years of teaching, Close has taught at a broad spectrum
of schools – alternative, standards-based and project-based. In
Providence, she taught humanities, mentored student teachers from
Brown University, trained teachers in arts literacy, among other
topics, and developed curricula for several organizations.
Most recently, she said, `I did a unit on witch hunts throughout
history – the Salem witch trials, the Japanese internments during
World War II, and the anti-immigrant measures post 9/11.’
The students’ final project includes an exploration of `whose
responsibility is it to end witch hunts? Who instigates them?’ she
said. `Everyday activities become a scaffold for students to show
they understand. Everyday learning is connected to the final
outcome.’
The educational name for this approach is understanding by design or
backwards learning, starting with the idea of what the student should
be learning.
This approach can be taken in practically any educational setting,
but Close said the exciting part of this charter school is `teaming,’
a sort of educational huddle of teachers planning for each individual
student.
This, she said, results in `project-based learning that is rigorous,
challenging and cross-curricular.’
Here, she said, this approach will focus on community, tying together
statistical analyses, biographies, and environmental effects in an
endeavor that `still covers all the standards in Massachusetts.
Skills and content connect.’
Close said she was drawn to this BArT charter school because students
are teamed with teachers who know them more intimately.
`It’s difficult for students to fall through the cracks,’ she said.
To graduate from BArT, students will take a senior seminar, pass a
college course, complete an internship, all in addition to state
graduation requirements, she said, adding that the Commonwealth
Corporation, a quasi-public organization, is helping guide BArT.
Close was drawn to BArT by the prospect of synergy between arts and
technology.
`That was a big pull,’ she said. She most recently worked in a
technology-based school.
Close received her bachelor’s degree from the University of
Massachusetts and her master’s degree in education from Tufts
University, with additional course work at the University of
California at Berkeley and Brown University.
`I’m excited about the challenge here,’ she said. `So many people
have done so much work before me. I feel blessed.’

Albany Business Review, NY
July 15 2004
Priest fined on IRS charge for Troy church embezzlement
The former pastor who embezzled from a Troy church was fined $20,000
and sentenced to six months home detention after pleading guilty to a
federal income tax charge.

The Rev. Megerdich Megerdichian, 48, now of Cranston, R.I.,
previously repaid the Troy Holy Cross Armenian Apostolic Church the
thousands of dollars in church funds he converted to his own use
between 1995 and 1997. He left the church in 1998.
Megerdichian paid the federal Internal Revenue Service $10,293 in
back taxes and penalties. He also was sentenced to three years
probation after entering a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge
Lawrence Kahn in Albany. Steven Tyrrell, assistant U.S. attorney,
prosecuted the case.

UEFA.com
July 15 2004
Dinamo leave it late for victory
FC Dinamo Tbilisi produced a stunning comeback to keep their hopes
alive while Sergiy Zakarlyuka was the hero for Ukraine’s FC
Illychivets Mariupil in tonight’s UEFA Cup first qualifying round
first-leg action.
Romero the hero
A late winner from Cesar Romero gave Dinamo Tbilisi victory at FC
BATE Borisov. The Georgian side, without newly-signed international
Giorgi Nemsadze, had looked down and out after conceding two goals in
the opening 19 minutes. The first was sensationally struck straight
from a goal kick by Yury Zhaunou, whose long punt beat shocked fellow
goalkeeper Irakli Zoidze.
Romero pops up
Four minutes later, Aleh Strakhanovich made it 2-0. However, Dinamo,
who won the 1980/81 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, refused to lie down and a
Mikheil Kakaladze goal just before half-time proved crucial. Eleven
minutes after the break, Boris Gancharov ensured parity before
Brazilian midfield player Romero popped up in the 89th minute to give
his side a 3-2 victory and stun the home crowd.
Second-half strikes
Zakarlyuka was the key as Illychivets made the most of home advantage
against FC Banants. The international midfield player, signed from FC
Shakhtar Donetsk, found the net twice in the second half to ensure a
2-0 win that should see his side able to finish the job in Armenia.
Two penalties
FC Tiraspol of Moldova were also away winners this evening,
triumphing 2-1 in Armenia against FC Shirak. Nicolae Josan started
the ball rolling in the sixth minute before Ruslan Barburos added a
second from the penalty spot five minutes before the interval.
However, Shirak gave their fans something to cheer in the 70th minute
when Tigran Davtyan scored from another spot-kick.
Goals galore
Meanwhile, FK Dukla Banská Bystrica had to wait before taking control
of their tie against Azerbaijani visitors FK Karabakh with a 3-0
victory. After a goalless first half, Róbert Semeník, Martín Svintek
and Viktor Pešcvský all found the net in quick succession to put the
Slovakian side in pole position to make it through. Also among the
goals were Albanian contenders FK Partizani, who won 4-2 at home
against Birkirkara FC of Malta.
Tight games
There were 1-0 victories for Lithuanian side FK Ekranas and Georgian
hopefuls FC Tbilisi at home against F91 Dudelange and FK Shamkir
respectively, with the return legs still to come in Luxembourg and
Azerbaijan. FC Nistru Otaci of Moldova drew 1-1 at home against FC
Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus while Finland’s FK Haka held on for a
2-1 win against their visitors from Luxembourg, FC Etzella
Ettelbrück, despite playing the entire second half with ten men.
Second legs
Finally, Estonian outfit FC Levadia Tallinn could only manage a 0-0
draw at home against their Irish visitors Bohemian FC. The second leg
of that tie is on 27 July, with all the rest coming two days later.

Associated Press
July 15 2004
Tech company picks South Georgia over exporting 250 jobs
SAVANNAH, Ga.
A metro Atlanta consulting and software development company announced
plans to locate 250 jobs in south Georgia after deciding against
sending those jobs overseas.
Alpharetta-base Aelera Corp. chose Savannah for a new software
application development center and Fitzgerald for a business process
outsourcing center over sites in India, China and Armenia.
Aelera CEO Dustin Crane said Thursday that lower salary demands in
south Georgia, because of a lower cost of living, will save the
company about 20 percent compared with the Atlanta area. That’s the
same savings Aelera expected from shipping the jobs abroad.
“We have literally traveled the world looking for the same
opportunities that are right here at home,” Crane said.
Chief Operating Officer Chuck Stallworth said the jobs would be about
evenly divided between Savannah and Fitzgerald. Aelera will open its
Savannah center Aug. 1, while the Fitzgerald operation will open in
about six months, he said.

Medical News Today, UK
July 15 2004
Prevalence of Anemia Among Displaced and Nondisplaced Mothers and
Children — Azerbaijan, 2001
In the early 1990s, the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the
Azeri region of Nagorno-Karabakh resulted in approximately 600,000
internally displaced persons* and 200,000 refugees† in Azerbaijan
(1). After years of displacement and despite sustained humanitarian
assistance, these internally displaced persons and refugees (IDP/Rs)
are still coping with unfavorable living conditions and limited
employment opportunities (2). Results of a 1996 CDC survey in
Azerbaijan revealed high rates of malnutrition and anemia among both
the IDP/R and resident populations (3) and prompted further study of
the nutritional status of these populations. This report summarizes
results of a 2001 survey of IDP/R and non-IDP/R mothers and children
with anemia in Azerbaijan. Findings indicated that more than one
third of mothers and children were anemic, with no significant
difference in the overall prevalence between IDP/R and non-IDP/R
populations; however, among the IDP/R population, anemia was
associated with various socioeconomic factors such as education,
socioeconomic status (SES)§, and area of residence. Future studies
should focus on identifying causes for the high rates of anemia in
Azerbaijan and developing effective interventions such as iron
supplementation and behavior modification.
Data for this report are from the Azerbaijan Reproductive Health
Survey, 2001 (AZRHS01), the first nationally representative
reproductive health survey in Azerbaijan, which was conducted with
technical assistance from CDC at the invitation of the U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID) (4). AZRHS01 was a face-to-face
household survey of a probability sample of 8,246 women aged 15–44
years; a total of 7,668 (93.0%) women responded. To examine
differences between IDP/R and non-IDP/R women and children, the
survey oversampled those regions heavily populated by IDP/Rs.
The survey also included a nutritional assessment module consisting
of anthropometric (i.e., height and weight) and hemoglobin (Hb)
measurements. This module was administered only to mothers with at
least one child aged 3–59 months and to those mothers’ children aged
12–59 months. A total of 2,206 mothers and 2,274 children were
eligible to participate in this anemia substudy. Before fingerstick
blood samples were taken, mothers were asked to provide written
consent for collection of blood from themselves and their children.
Trained personnel measured Hb levels on the HemoCue® (HemoCue, Inc.,
Lake Forest, California) hemoglobin test system. Mothers were
informed immediately of their results and those of their children.
Blood samples were collected from 1,913 (90.2%) mothers and 2,047
(89.7%) children. After respondents with missing Hb results or
outlying levels (i.e., <6 g/dL or >17 g/dL) were excluded, the final
sample consisted of 1,906 mothers (356 IDP/Rs and 1,550 non-IDP/Rs)
and 2,017 children (373 IDP/Rs and 1,644 non-IDP/Rs).
Anemia was defined according to the 1998 CDC criteria (5) as an Hb
level of <12.0 g/dL for nonpregnant mothers, adjusting for weeks of gestation for pregnant mothers¶. Among children, levels for anemia were age-specific (<11.0 g/dL for children aged 12--23 months and <11.1 g/dL for children aged 24--59 months). Survey results were weighted to adjust for the sampling design. Because <2% of the survey participants were refugees, data for refugees and IDPs were combined as one group (IDP/Rs). Data were analyzed by using SAS and SUDAAN. Two-sided t-tests were used to determine the difference in anemia prevalence between IDP/Rs and non-IDP/Rs and among subgroups within those populations. Associations between sociodemographic variables and anemia prevalence were determined by using chi-square tests, which were calculated separately for the IDP/R and the non-IDP/R groups. All differences are statistically significant (p<0.05) unless otherwise noted. The IDP/R and non-IDP/R mothers and children had similar sociodemographic characteristics, with the exception of housing arrangements (Table 1). At the time of the survey, approximately half (48.5%) of the IDP/R mothers were living in temporary housing (e.g., public buildings, shelters, railroad wagons, and tents); 2% of non-IDP/R mothers were living in temporary housing. Among the IDP/R mothers, 44.2% had reported receiving humanitarian assistance (e.g., food supplies, household goods, clothing, and shelter) during the previous year. Both IDP/R and non-IDP/R mothers had a high prevalence of anemia (39.0% and 40.1%, respectively) (Table 2). Anemia prevalence also was high among children, in both the IDP/R and non-IDP/R groups (35.5% and 33.2%, respectively). The prevalence of anemia did not differ significantly by IDP/R status among mothers or among children. Anemia prevalence was significantly higher among IDP/R mothers with less than secondary education (64.2%), compared with non-IDP/R mothers (37.5%) with a similar level of education. Among IDP/R mothers, anemia decreased with higher education (64.2% for less than secondary, 37.5% for completed secondary, and 27.3% for technicum** or university education). Among IDP/R mothers, anemia prevalence also was associated with other socioeconomic factors, including living in rural versus urban areas (48.9% versus 31.9%); low versus medium-high SES (48.3% versus 27.4%); and receiving humanitarian aid (48.2% versus 31.2%). For both IDP/R and non-IDP/R children, the prevalence of anemia decreased with age and was significantly higher for those whose mothers also were anemic (Table 2). Within the IDP/R group, children living in households with low SES had higher levels of anemia than those living in medium-high socioeconomic households (41.0% versus 27.6%). Children who were stunted†† were more likely to be anemic than children who were not stunted (48.8% versus 32.8%). Reported by: S Rahimova, PhD, Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Azerbaijan. GS Perry, DrPH, Div of Nutrition and Physical Activity; F Serbanescu, MD, PW Stupp, PhD, TM Durant, PhD, C Crouse, MSc, Div of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; LI Bhatti, MBBS, EIS Officer, CDC. Editorial Note: The findings in this report indicate a high prevalence of anemia among both mothers and children in Azerbaijan, with no overall differences in prevalence between IDP/R and non-IDP/R populations. Similar high levels of anemia have been reported among women in neighboring central Asian countries (6). Iron deficiency is the leading cause of anemia in most developing countries and disproportionately affects groups with the highest iron demands (7,8). The pattern of higher levels of anemia among younger children and women of reproductive age in Azerbaijan, along with no evidence of high prevalence of hookworms, malaria, or other micronutrient deficiencies (e.g., vitamin A) suggests that iron deficiency is the most probable cause. However, additional assessments and research are necessary to determine the causes of the high rates of anemia in Azerbaijan more conclusively. At least two factors might have contributed to the similarity in anemia prevalence between IDP/Rs and non-IDP/Rs. IDPs outnumbered refugees by approximately 10 to 1; unlike refugees, IDPs are part of the host population, sharing the same background characteristics, food preferences, lifestyles, and risk factors for anemia as the established population. In addition, nutritional deficiencies among the IDP/R population at the beginning of displacement might have attenuated because of the humanitarian aid provided for several years by USAID and other international agencies. Higher rates of anemia were found among IDP/R mothers receiving humanitarian aid, likely because aid was provided to those groups who were still not self-sufficient and at higher risk for anemia. The higher prevalence of anemia among other subgroups of IDP/R women and children (e.g., those in rural areas or with low SES) indicates the existence of more vulnerable groups within the general population. Special attention should be focused on improving the nutritional status of these groups through targeted interventions such as iron supplementation (7). In addition, iron fortification of staple foods like flour is a key public health intervention strategy that would benefit all mothers and children in Azerbaijan (7). Comparing the data from the present study with the 1996 study, by using the earlier 1989 CDC criteria for defining anemia (9), indicates no significant change in overall anemia prevalence either among children (43.5% in 1996 versus 35.6% in 2001) or nonpregnant mothers (36.1% in 1996 versus 40.2% in 2001) (3,4). The lack of improvement indicates a need to enhance health intervention programs in Azerbaijan by including nutritional counseling, micronutrient supplementation, and fortification of staple foods. Because anemia is more prevalent in younger children, interventions are particularly needed among children aged <24 months, including promotion of 1) exclusive breastfeeding, 2) commercial or in-home fortification of complementary foods, and 3) dietary practices that produce improvement of iron bioavailability. The findings in this study are subject to at least four limitations. First, the CDC Hb levels used to define anemia are based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of the U.S. population. These levels are higher than World Health Organization (WHO) cutoff levels, which are used primarily for developing countries and might produce overestimates of anemia prevalence. Second, higher inherent variability in capillary blood-sampling techniques used for screening anemia might introduce errors in Hb estimates. Third, enough information on food history and dietary risk factors was not collected to assess whether iron deficiency was caused by low iron intake or other factors. Finally, information on other factors (e.g., inflammation or infection) that might affect Hb levels was not available. WHO considers anemia prevalence of >40% in a population as severe and
warranting immediate public health action (7); certain subgroups of
mothers and children in Azerbaijan had anemia prevalence of >40%.
With prevalence at these levels, WHO recommends the following daily
iron supplementation regimen: for children aged 6–23 months, 2 mg/kg
body weight per day; for children aged 24–59 months, 2 mg/kg body
weight up to 30 mg per day for 3 months; for nonpregnant women of
child-bearing age, 60 mg/day of iron and 400 µg of folic acid for 3
months; and for pregnant women, 60 mg/day of iron and 400 µg of folic
acid daily throughout pregnancy.
National efforts to prevent iron deficiency should involve community,
government, the private sector (e.g., food industry), and
nongovernmental organizations to develop long-term strategies that
incorporate behavior modification, food fortification, and
integration of iron deficiency–control into ongoing public health
programs. Surveillance systems should be implemented to monitor
development of these strategies and track the success of
interventions.
Acknowledgments
This report is based on contributions from U.S. Agency for
International Development Azerbaijan; Adventist Development and
Relief Agency Azerbaijan; Azerbaijan Republic Ministry of Health.
United Nations Population Fund; United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees.
References
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The state of the
world’s refugees: fifty years of humanitarian action. New York, New
York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Norwegian Refugee Council/Global IDP Project. Profile of internal
displacement, Azerbaijan: global IDP database, 2002. Available at

CDC. Health and nutrition survey of internally displaced and resident
population of Azerbaijan. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, CDC, 1996.
CDC. Reproductive health survey Azerbaijan, 2001: final report.
Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC,
2001.
CDC. Recommendations to prevent and control iron deficiency in the
United States. MMWR 1998;47(No. RR-3).
U.S. Agency for International Development, CDC. Reproductive,
maternal and child health in eastern Europe and Eurasia: a
comparative report. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Agency for International
Development, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, 2003.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations University,
World Health Organization. Iron deficiency anaemia assessment,
prevention and control: a guide for programme managers. Geneva,
Switzerland: World Health Organization, 2001. Available at
Yip R. Iron deficiency: contemporary scientific issues and
international programmatic approaches. J Nutr 1994;124(suppl
8):1479S–90S.
CDC. CDC criteria for anemia in children and childbearing-aged women.
MMWR 1989;38:400–4.
* Persons who have fled their homes because of armed conflict or fear
of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, social
group membership, or political opinion, and who have not crossed an
internationally recognized national border.
† Persons who have fled their countries because of armed conflict or
fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality,
social group membership, or political opinion.
§ Initially represented by a score based on household amenities and
goods (e.g., telephone, indoor toilet, central heat, television,
refrigerator, video recorder, automobile, cellular phone, uncrowded
living conditions, and recreational home/villa). Scores ranged from
zero (i.e., no amenities and goods) to 10 (i.e., all amenities and
goods). Respondents with scores of <3 were classified as having low SES, and those with scores of >4 as having middle-high SES.
¶ For women 1–12 weeks pregnant, an Hb level of <11.0 g/dL was used. For women 13--40 weeks pregnant, Hb levels were 10.6, 10.5, 10.5, 10.7, 11.0, 11.4, and 11.9 g/dL for 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 40 weeks, respectively. ** Technical vocational school. †† Children with height-for-age Z-scores <2 standard deviations below the CDC/World Health Organization reference.

Sierra Sun, CA
July 15 2004
McIver dies at 95
Azad “Victoria” McIver, possibly one of Truckee’s most local locals,
passed away Tuesday, July 13 at the age of 95.
Born Azad Josepian in Harpoot, Armenia, in 1908, McIver survived the
Armenian genocide and left her homeland at age 6. In 1922 she came to
Truckee at age 14 with her older sister, Roxie, to meet up with their
brother, Richard, who came to town in 1916.
McIver attended grammar school at the old school house on Church
Street. She worked as a waitress at the Pastime in downtown Truckee
for nine years. McIver’s brother owned the Pastime, Manstyle Barbers
and the Donner Hotel, in addition to many acres of land in Truckee at
the time.
While working at the Pastime, McIver met her late husband, Jim
McIver, a local blacksmith who delivered mail to Tahoe City. They
were married Aug. 10, 1944 in Reno.
In 1949, McIver’s brother donated land and resources to help build
Tahoe Forest Hospital. As the beneficiary of her since-deceased
brother’s estate, McIver donated land for the hospital’s expansion in
1997.
McIver was preceded in death by her sister, Roxie, brother, Richard,
husband, Jim, and many other Truckee locals whom she called friends
and family. McIver is survived by many friends and family in Truckee
and surrounding areas.
Services for McIver were held Thursday, July 15. See Sierra Sun’s
July 21 midweek edition for more on the life of Azad “Victoria”
McIver.

CanadianChristianity.com, Canada
July 15 2004
Scott remembered as advocate for the powerless
By Solange de Santis
Anglican Journal
ARCHBISHOP Edward (Ted) Scott’s life and work as an advocate for the
powerless were celebrated July 13 at memorial services at Anglican
cathedrals across Canada, with Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop
Desmond Tutu remarking in Toronto that the former primate of the
Anglican Church of Canada “was committed and courageous but gentle.”
Archbishop Tutu challenged the Canadian church — “a church for which
he lived and for which he died” — to be a memorial to Archbishop
Scott. “Instead of bickering about human sexuality — to be concerned
about poverty, about AIDS, about wars that are frequently totally
unnecessary and immoral, about spending huge sums on defense — what
a memorial to Ted,” he said. Archbishop Scott was killed at the age
of 85 on June 21 in an automobile accident. About 900 people packed
Toronto’s St. James Cathedral on a humid morning for a sung
eucharist, with an overflow crowd of about 600 outside. Invited
guests included Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson, federal Minister
of External Affairs Bill Graham, former prime minister Joe Clark and
representatives of religious denominations from around the world.
About 30 active and retired Canadian Anglican bishops attended, as
did Archbishop Scott’s successor as primate, Archbishop Michael
Peers, who read the prayers of the people. The current primate,
Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, presided. Members of the Scott family
and the archbishop’s close friend, Sonja Bird, also attended.
Archbishop Tutu, in his sermon, recalled that Archbishop Scott “was
highly controversial” as he “espoused unpopular causes.” He “stood up
for aboriginal people” and supported gays and lesbians and the
ordination of women, said the retired South African archbishop, who
won the Peace Prize for his fight against apartheid.
Archbishop Scott, who served as primate from 1971 to 1986, also was a
well-known foe of apartheid. In 1985, he was appointed by
then-Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney to the Eminent Persons
Group, a committee of prominent members of the British Commonwealth
charged with helping to bring about a peaceful end to apartheid.
“It is such an incredible privilege to say on behalf of our people
how deeply thankful we are for Ted’s support and your support,” said
Archbishop Tutu. “There is a hall in a parish church in Soweto named
after Ted Scott.” A letter from Nelson Mandela that was read aloud
paid tribute to “his intimate and incisive role (in ending
apartheid), one that helped change the course of history.”
After the service, Mr. Clark recalled in an interview with the
Anglican Journal that he was foreign minister when Archbishop Scott
served on the Eminent Persons Group. “He was very forthright. He
would let me know when we needed to move Canadian government foreign
policy,” said Mr. Clark, who read the first lesson at the service.
The two became friends and often had dinner together, recalled Mr.
Clark.
In his sermon, Archbishop Tutu recalled Archbishop Scott’s dislike of
ecclesiastical formality. “He said, ‘Just call me Ted.’ Some of us
lesser mortals need the high-faluting titles such as ‘Your Grace,’
but he let who he was do the talking and how eloquent he turned out
to be,” said Archbishop Tutu.
Archbishop Scott’s eight years as moderator of the central committee
of the World Council of Churches were also recalled. “He was a world
leader of the ecumenical movement at a time when the World Council of
Churches was castigated for grants to liberation movements,”
Archbishop Tutu said. That role was reflected in a letter read at the
service from Catholicos Aram I, international leader of the Armenian
Orthodox Church and current moderator of the WCC central committee,
who called Archbishop Scott “a gifted minister.” About 60 current and
former members of the Canadian church’s national staff also attended
the memorial. Just four days before he died, Archbishop Scott had led
a eucharist at the national office in Toronto, marking a move to new
quarters. In his sermon, he recalled the days when he worked in the
building, a time when the hiring of non-Anglicans at the national
office was questioned and women were not allowed to be priests; he
challenged the church to continue to be a place of inclusion. Two of
the readings at the cathedral service were also those used at the
office service. Three other cathedrals in Canada held services on
July 13. In Halifax, a memorial service at All Saints Cathedral was
led by Bishop Susan Moxley, suffragan (assistant) bishop of Nova
Scotia and Prince Edward Island. In Regina, diocese of Qu’Appelle, a
service was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral. In Vancouver, diocese of
New Westminster, a service of celebration took place at Christ Church
Cathedral “to commemorate the day of his memorial service in
Toronto,” according to an announcement from the cathedral. St. Paul’s
Cathedral in London, Ont., diocese of Huron, held a memorial service
on June 28.

Soccer 365
July 16 2004
Dinamo light up UEFA Cup
Forty-eight clubs entertained dreams of UEFA Cup glory on Thursday
evening as the lesser-known and, in one case, the once-mighty drew
daggers and engaged in battle in the first round of qualifying.
For the teams involved, the prize is a place alongside the likes of
Parma, Lazio, Newcastle United and AEK Athens in the first round
proper, with the prospect of a lucrative tie or the thrill of a
giant-killing.
One of the competing teams – Dinamo Tbilisi – already know what it
takes to triumph in European competition, having hoisted aloft the
European Cup-Winners’ Cup trophy in 1981 when they competed under the
Soviet Union flag. And they made a winning start to their UEFA Cup
campaign with a 3-2 victory at Belorussian outfit BATE Borisov.
There was more good news for another Georgian outfit, with FC Tbilisi
sneaking a 1-0 home win against Shamkir Azerbaijan thanks to Giorgi
Chelidze, whose 39th-minute goal settled the first leg.
The Armenians of Shirak Giumri could be heading for an early exit
after conceding a 2-1 lead after the home leg of their tie against FC
Tiraspol of Moldova.
Slovakian side FK Dukla Banska Bystrica look to be bound for the next
round after crushing Azerbaijan outfit FK Karabakh Agdam 3-0.
Meanwhile, Irish Eircom league side Bohemians gave themselves a good
chance of progressing with a goalless draw at Levadia Tallinn in
Estonia.
They crushed Dinamo Tirana 4-0 in Constanta, with all their goals
coming in the first half from Cristian Negru, Stefan Nanu, Victoras
Iacob and Iulian Apostol.
Two superb early goals by Peter McCann capped an excellent first half
display by Portadown at Shamrock Park against Zalgiris Vilnius.
However, strikes after the interval from substitutes Andzej
Maksimovic and Arturas Stesko left the Lithuanians with two crucial
away goals and a 2-2 draw.