Glendale News Press
LATImes.com
July 10 2004
FROM THE MARGINS
Rebel, not without a cause

PATRICK AZADIAN
This is the first of two parts.
In April, I finally saw “On the Waterfront,” featuring Marlon Brando,
on the silver screen. I was thankful to the Alex Film Society for
this unique opportunity. In my excitement, I joined the society, and
as if “On the Waterfront” was not enough of a reward, I was gifted a
DVD of another Brando movie, “Sayonara,” for becoming a member.
In “Sayonara,” Brando stars as Maj. Lloyd Gruver; it is a tale of an
American stationed in Kobe, Japan, during the Korean War. At the
time, the military regulations forbade marriages between American
troops and Japanese women. Gruver initially supported the military’s
regulations but eventually falls in love with a local showgirl, named
Hana-ogi. By the end of the movie, Gruver is in direct conflict with
the military’s regulations as he proposes to his Japanese darling.
–
August of 1953 was a particularly warm summer month in Glendale. The
U.S., North Korea and China had just agreed to end the Korean War.
The American troops were gradually making their way home to scenes
far less jubilant than the ones their compatriots encountered after
World War II.
Maj. Lloyd Gruver and his bride, Hana-ogi, arrived at the Glendale
Greyhound station at 400 Cerritos Ave. Gruver’s buddy, George, was
awaiting them at curbside. George had a healthy dose of envy for
Gruver’s ability to serve his country. George had flat feet; the
military examiners had rejected him. But he was determined to pay his
dues by helping the Gruvers settle into their new home in Glendale.
George spotted Gruver carrying two pieces of large luggage. He darted
away from his 1952 white Oldsmobile Super 88 and greeted Gruver in a
manner reserved for Russian party officials from the Caucasus. The
two men embraced for a few seconds before George smacked Gruver’s
cheeks with his trademark kisses. Years of service overseas, and
Gruver still had not gotten used to the idea of being kissed by a
male friend.
“Welcome home, Gruvers.”
“Thank you for picking us up, George.”
“My pleasure; that’s the least I could do. Sorry about the weather;
it is unusually hot.”
“Not too bad. Oh, George, this is my wife, Hana-ogi.”
“Nice to meet you. You are even more beautiful than Gruver had
described.”
“Thank you, you are kind.”
“Let me take those,” George pleads as he bends forward and extends
his arms to take charge of the luggage.
“That’s OK, George. I got it.”
“Let me have them, if you don’t want me to knock you around, right
here in front of your wife!”
“OK, big guy. Take ’em away.”
George lifts the luggage as if they were filled with feathers, and
swiftly places them in the trunk of his Olds coupe. He runs over to
the passenger side and opens the door. He pushes the seat backing
forward to make way for Gruver to sit in the back.
“No, no, I sit in back. Gruver sit in front,” Hana-ogi exclaims.
“What! That big lug in the front? Impossible!”
“George, the chances of Hana accepting to sit in the front are as
good as North Koreans surrendering to the South, sporting a smile.”
“OK, Hana-ogi. Go ahead.”
–
George shifts his Olds into drive and proceeds to make a U-turn
heading north to Kenwood Drive.
“Nice wheels, George.”
“Thanks, finally I got something to show for after working at
Eagleson’s for so long.”
“You still work there? Do the guys still give you a hard time for
your last name?”
“Yeah, every once in a while they try to get under my skin. It’s
worse when I make the salesman of the month.”
“Well, next time they call you a ‘starving Armenian’ or a ‘Fresno
Indian,’ let me know. I will need some physical exercise after this
war.”
“Naah, it’s not a big deal.”
“You can always shorten your name. All the actors in Hollywood are
doin’ it. ‘Kalebdjian’ can become ‘Caleb’ with a ‘C.’ ‘George Caleb.’
”
“First of all, if you still haven’t noticed, we are going to live in
Glendale, not Hollywood. Second, I am not so sure how my parents
would feel about that. They didn’t flee persecution to voluntarily
give up their family name.”
“I am just pulling your leg. I am just hoping you can make us some
Turkish coffee once we get home.”
“Turkish?! Haven’t I told you it’s Armenian, and not Turkish?!”
“I know, I know, take it easy. I am just having fun with you.”
“I actually had to special order some just for you from Syracuse, New
York.”
“Can’t wait!”
–
Marlon Brando’s life may best be defined by a line from “The Wild
One,” in which Brando, playing a motorcycle gang leader, is asked
what he’s rebelling against. “Whattaya got?” was his reply.
His most famous act of rebellion was his refusal in 1973 to accept an
Oscar. He sent a woman named Sacheen Littlefeather to read a
statement against Hollywood’s mistreatment of Native Americans. She
was booed.
“I am myself,” he once declared, “and if I have to hit my head
against a brick wall to remain true to myself, I will do it.”
– PATRICK AZADIAN lives and works in Glendale. He is an identity and
branding consultant for the retail industry. Reach him at
[email protected].

uefa.com, Switzerland
July 10 2004
Karamyan twins set for Rapid
Twin brothers Artavazd and Arman Karamyan are to become the first
Armenians to play in the Romanian First Division after signing for
AFC Rapid Bucuresti in a 120,000 move from FC Arsenal Kyiv.
Identical careers
The pair, both Armenian internationals are 24 and have signed
two-and-a-half year contracts. Artavazd, a midfield player and Arman,
a striker, have always been at the same clubs – beginning at FC MIKA,
moving to FC Pyunik then Greek side Panahaiki GC and Ukrainian club
Arsenal. However, they never settled in Kiev and have been playing at
Pyunik in Yerevan since February.
‘Fast and efficient’
They were recommended to Rapid by former Armenia coach Mihai
Stoichita and Rapid technical director Dan Apolzan spotted them in an
international tournament in Cyprus in February. Rapid president Dinu
Gheorghe said: “We hope to have done a very good deal, because both
players are very fast and efficient.” Ironically, both could face
Romania with Armenia in November when the nations meet in FIFA World
Cup qualifying.

New Kerala, India
July 10 2004
Situation in Kashmir similar to Nagorno Karabak:Musharraf
Islamabad |

The situation prevailing in the Kashmir Valley is almost similar to
what is prevailing in the Armenian conclave of Nagorno Karabak,
claimed Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Friday.
Reports reaching here from the Azerbaijan capital of Baku quoted
Musharraf as saying that Pakistan’s “lingering” dispute with India
over Kashmir was similar to the conflict between the Armenian
Government and its neighbouring enclave of Nagorno Karabakh and the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The News further quoted him as saying that all of these issues needed
to be addressed and resolved in just manner, and countries perceived
as aggressors needed to be aware of ground realities.
“If we are able to put this into practice, the world will be able to
root out extremism, militarism and terrorism. If the status quo
remains, that will not lead to the resolution of these problems,”
Musharraf was quoted as saying.
He also claimed that “Islamic terrorism” was holding the Muslim world
hostage, and that the West must also change its attitude to the
Islamic world.
“It is unfortunate that terrorism does harm to Muslim countries…
The tactics they use, terrorism, car bombs, executions and other
dirty methods, damage our great religion. Today they are holding our
societies hostage. They must understand that they cannot solve the
problems of the Islamic world this way…I call on them to return to
the true path,” he said. (ANI)

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
July 10 2004
EU TO PROMOTE SETTLEMENT OF NAGORNY KARABAKH CONFLICT
[July 10, 2004, 11:13:49]
On July 8, special representative of the European Union on Southern
Caucasus Heike Talvitie held a news conference in the embassy of the
French Republic in Baku.
As correspondent of AzerTAj informs the ambassador of France in
Azerbaijan Roland Blatman, in his opening remarks has presented
participants of the special representative of the European Union.
Mr. Heiki Talvitie has told journalists: `My activity as the
representative of the European Union (EU) in Nagorny Karabakh, in
zone of the conflict is the most important question for the parties.
Co-chairmen of the Minsk Group are engaged in settlement of the
problem. My task consists in rendering assistance to the parties and
co-chairmen. I shall render the parties of the conflict the feasible
assistance depending on what ways of settlement of the Nagorny
Karabakh problem they prefer. Now, between the parties there are new
moments. Though the last years were ineffectual, nevertheless,
co-chairmen of the Minsk Group have done significant work. I want to
repeat particularly: `All will depend on trust of the sides. For us,
it is very important to create trust between the sides, and the EU is
ready to arrange in this direction. Certainly, if after settlement
certain move will be achieved we can carry out rehabilitation. The EU
will operate more actively. The general idea of my visit consists in
it. I shall go to Nagorny Karabakh not as the tourist, and for
realization of the mission.
Finally, Mr. Heike Talvitie has answered questions of media
representatives.

Armenian “Journey Through Dance” at New York’s Lincoln Center
Date: 7/6/2004
AGBU
Contact: AGBU Press Office
Phone: 212.319.6383
Fax: 212.319.6507
Email: [email protected]
New York-Over a thousand people attended AGBU Antranig Dance
Ensemble’s latest dance performance, “Journey Through Dance”, at New
York’s Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on Saturday, June 5th, 2004.
The presentation was particularly special for Antranig’s dancers and
staff as it commemorated the troupe’s 35th Anniversary. After many
decades of entertaining, Armenian and non-Armenian Antranig devotees
continue to enjoy the display of colorful folk costumes and
traditional choreography.
The opening number, “Hayastan”, overflowed with bright and flowing
colors, and incorporated a burst of energetic sword dueling among the
male dancers. The variety of dance presented in the program was
especially striking. Ethnographic dances from historic Armenian
regions have always been a staple of the Antranig repertoire, but this
year they included a rare dance from the “Hamshen” area.
Over sixty youth from the Hye Bar Dance Group of the Armenian Church
of the Holy Martyrs, under the direction of Rita Kizakian, and the
Hamazkayin Society of New Jersey also performed two pieces, “Lorgeh”
and “Azgagragan”.
The evening concluded with an enthusiastic finale of “Der
Voghormya/Avarayr” by the Antranig dancers, which brought to life the
meaning of the ancient devotional prayer special to Armenians around
the world.
Although many helped to make “Journey Through Dance” possible, it was
the creativitiy and choreography of Yerevan-native Gagik Karapetian,
and Artistic Director Joyce Tamesian-Shenloogian that were seminal in
realizing the production.
Established in 1970, AGBU Antranig Dance Ensemble consists of young
Armenian men and women who are devoted to celebrating dance as part of
the Armenian heritage.
As a result of the overwhelming response from the Lincoln Center
audience, plans are underway for encore presentations of “Journey
Through Dance” in New York as early as Fall 2004 with a possible tour
to other cities. For more information on Antranig, please visit
or call Vicky Sarkisian at 845.658.8712.

Armenianow.com
July 9, 2004
Social Insecurity: Identity cards meet devilish resistance from religious
extremists
By Marianna Grigoryan ArmeniaNow reporter
When controversy stirred a year ago over issuing Social Security Cards in
Armenia, officials predicted that by the time the cards came into use, their
value would be understood.
Ten days ago, the first cards appeared. But so did more noise on the part of
those who see the cards as anything from an annoying invasion of privacy to
the apocalyptic “Mark of the Beast”.
“No to Numeration”
The term for implementing the card system has been extended until January 1,
2005, but it appears that for a small but vocal minority, resistance is
endless.
“These cards are against freedom of conscience, faith and human rights,”
says Armen Avetisyan, leader of Armenian Aryan Unanimity and a member of the
Council Against People’s Numeration. “It’s been more than three months that
with threats of being fired, everywhere people are being forced to be
numerated, meaning to get those cards. These cards are a violation of human
rights.”
Avetisyan was among a group that gathered last week near the Institute of
Manuscripts for “fighting against satanic power”, advising others with
placards that read “Don’t Sell Our Souls”, “Your Holiness, Don’t Leave Your
Flock”, “No to People’s Numeration”, “How Many Heads of Servants Does Satan
Have in Armenia?”
The group carried a special coffin in which it placed mockups of Social
Security Cards, calling for the burial of the “evil” idea.
The intention was to carry the coffin to Republic Square. Police, however,
confiscated the coffin.
“As it was planned, on July 1 the coffin had to be brought to Republic
Square and people who were cheated and forced to get cards were to put
them into the coffin,” says Avetisyan. “However, the action failed
since before the protesters started acting police confiscated the
coffin and the portrait of the social security card framed and tied
with a black ribbon. If they don’t return our coffin in the nearest
time we shall sue the police.”
Council Against People’s Numeration member Khachik Stamboltsyan says the
group has more than 100,000 written complaints about the cards and more than
a million followers who are fighting against “satanic cards”.
“We collect those cards from people and are going to return them to the
ministry,” says Stamboltsyan. “Meanwhile, we will do anything to interfere
with the implementation of that system.”
Religious extremists think the cards are Satanic
Ministry of Social Welfare experts dismiss the controversy as a
misunderstanding, assuring that Social Security cards are not obligatory,
but may be necessary for future interaction in government-related record
keeping.
“If a person receives salary or pension, it’s clear that he’ll need a social
card and if he does not depend on such things he can refuse it,” says
Haykuhi Gevorgyan, a public relations officer at the Ministry of Social
Welfare.
Gevorgyan says at present around 1.6 million citizens have registered to get
social security cards and 1 million of them have already received them.
“The process continues, people call, ask questions and get registered to
receive a card,” says Gevorgyan. “Everything goes its natural way.”
However, those who are opposed to the cards assure unanimously that the
system is “a satanic brand”, “soul genocide” and is the best option to
eliminate the nation physically and spiritually.
According to one widespread opinion among dissenters, people are numerated
so that they lose their individuality.
“With the Lord’s help we’ve been fighting against cards for three years and
we will continue fighting until we achieve what we want, since it’s even
terrifying to imagine what information is put in those cards,” says
Stamboltsyan. “That information is kept for 400 years and serves against our
nation and religion. We cannot allow such a thing to happen.”
Stamboltsyan says his group has applied to many souces and also to the
Catholicos to protect Christians from that disaster. However His Holiness
Garegin II says he sees no threat in the cards and has received his on July
3.
“By that step the Catholicos sold Christ for 30 silver coins,” says
Stamboltsyan. “But with God’s power we will eliminate that system; there are
many clerics who follow us.”

Armenianow.com
July 9, 2004
Patterns of the Past?: Are there political prisoners in today’s Armenia?
By Vahan Ishkhanyan ArmeniaNow reporter
Recent arrests of political oppositionists in Armenia have prompted
activists and human rights advocates to draw parallels between the latest
government crackdown and communist-era oppression.
Beginning in February, and officially ending two weeks ago, oppositional
parties held rallies in Yerevan, calling for the resignation of President
Robert Kocharyan, on grounds that he had “stolen” last year’s election and
that his presidency is “illegitimate”.
Suren Surenyants
During the period, some 240 oppositional sympathizers were arrested on
various charges and placed under “administrative arrests”. But 14 party
members, including leaders, were charged with more serious crimes, including
advocating overthrowing the government. Though most have since been released
(often after signing statements of remorse), one regional party head,
Lavrenti Kirakosyan, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for drug
possession, under what appears to be trumped-up charges based on planted
evidence.
While law enforcement authorities call the bulk of charges civil
disobedience, veteran civil rights advocates say the arrests are a throwback
to days when anti-Sovietism could land a person in prison for up to 10
years.
“No countries, neither Northern Korea nor China admit the fact that they
have political prisoners,” says human right activist Vardan Harutyunyan, who
was a political prisoner during Soviet times. “In all those countries
political prisoners are tried in accordance with the criminal code. The
democratic world and non-governmental organizations judge whether a convict
is political or not.”
The Soviet Criminal Code contained legislation with political subtexts that
made it convenient for charging dissidents as criminals. The notorious
Paragraph 65 on anti-Soviet propaganda and agitation was used to imprison 95
Armenians between the 1960s and independence, in 1991.
When Armenia became independent, Paragraph 65 was changed and instead of
accusations of anti-Soviet activities the law enforced against “calls for
forced overturn or change of state and public order of Armenia”. In 1995
today’s deputies of the National Assembly and members of Dashnak party Vahan
Hovhannisyan and Armen Rustamyan were sentenced under the revised paragraph
and served three years of longer sentences before being released when Levon
Ter Petrossyan resigned in 1998.
In the Civil Code adopted last year, Paragraph 65 turned into Paragraph 301
and the punishment provided for by the paragraph was mitigated. Now,
conviction on charges of anti-government activity range from fines, to
three-year sentences.
In April, three oppositional representatives were arrested for making calls
to change and overturn state order. They were kept in prison for two months
and then set free.
Vardan Harutyunyan
Head of the Informational Department of the Republic party, political
secretary Suren Surenyants was the first arrested. He was accused of
inflammatory speech during a February 28 rally in the Shengavit Community of
Yerevan on the day commemorating the pogroms of Sumgait, Azerbaijan.
For saying “We must do everything so that the earth would burn under this
regime’s feet”, he was convicted of instigating an overthrow of power. And
for saying “With their acts of violence Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan
don’t differ from Azeri hooligans” he was found guilty of insulting state
authorities.
One of the party leaders, Vagharshak Harutyunyan held no speeches, however,
he was also accused of making calls to seize state power by force.
A member of the President’s Administration for Protection of Human Rights,
Zhora Khachatryan, says the charges against Surenyants were subjective,
while he found no basis at all for Harutyunyan’s arrest.
“It is a question of judging Suren’s speech. Was it an insult or not?” says
jurist Zhora Khachatryan. “He made such expressions, which can be
interpreted in every way. My opinion is that his speech contains insults and
calls for overturning the power. People must be decent in conversation.”
Khachatryan believes it is necessary to preserve Paragraph 301, however, he
believes that speculations and the fact that all speeches are regarded as
calls for overturn of power should be condemned.
Vardan Harutyunyan also believes that calls for a change of power by force
should be condemned, however, he says none of the arrested made such calls,
including Surenyants.
“During oppositional rallies nobody said that power must be overturned by
force. There is nothing like that in Surenyants’ speech as well,”
Harutyunyan says. “There were only calls to change the power but it is a
constitutional right and it is not a crime.”
Surenyants says he would never have been released, had he not signed a
document of repentance.
“My health was bad. I had heart seizures and my eye pressure was
increasing,” he says. “(Presidential Ombudsman) Larisa Alaverdyan’s action
also played an important role. However, those two factor would mean nothing
if the repentance clause (of the Paragraph) was not applied to me.”
He says he signed document of repentance only for getting out of prison and
in reality he doesn’t repent of what he had done and he will continue the
political struggle.
“When a country is independent, then one should not be in prison under the
rule of the bad regime but one should change that bad regime,” he explained
in his statement.
In the case of Kirakosyan (a leader of the National Democratic Union), human
rights activists are saying that he is in fact a political prisoner, because
his arrest was politically motivated.
Jurist Khachatryan, who was present at Kirakosyan’s trial, says there are
numerous illegalities in the case, including a lack of cause for the search
that turned up 59 grams of marijuana in Kirakosyan’s home.
He doesn’t think, however, that Kirakosyan is a political prisoner.
According to Khachatryan, Kirakosyan became a victim of defects in the
judicial system.
“If a criminal case enters the court, then verdict of ‘guilty’ should
necessarily be rendered,” Kirakosyan says. “The court avoids rendering
verdicts of ‘not guilty’ as in that case defects of the work conducted by
(state) bodies in charge of preliminary investigations will become apparent.
Zhora Khachatryan
“Even in this case the court doesn’t carry out the order of authorities,
rather, it functions in accordance with the established order. If the
Prosecutor’s Office presented a case then a verdict of ‘guilty’ must be
necessarily rendered. For now we still have no just courts.”
Vardan Harutyunyan sees reflections of past regimes in cases such as
Kirakosyan’s.
“I can bring numerous examples from the Soviet Union times when dissidents
were accused of rape, hooliganism and drug use. The paragraph means
nothing,” he says. “The real reasons must be detected. And the real reason
of trying Lavrenty is political.”
In 1980, together with his four associates Vardan Harutyunyan created Union
of Armenian Youth, whose goal was the independence of Armenia. Members of
that organization were spreading prohibited literature. One year later they
were arrested and convicted. Only Harutyunyan was accused and sentenced
under Paragraph 65 – anti-Soviet agitation. The other three were sentenced
not only under Paragraph 65, but also under other paragraphs of the criminal
code.
“I was in the army when they detained me. If I were in Yerevan they would
fabricate additional cases for me,” he says.
The head of the organization, the late Marzpet Harutyunyan, was, like
Kirakosyan, accused of dealing drugs.
Vardan Harutyunyan, now 43, recalls the sentencing:
“It was determined that Marzpet doesn’t use drugs, but deals them,”
Harutyunuan remembers the judge saying. “You think about your health but for
poisoning young men you spread drugs.”
To which, according to Harutyunyan, Marzpet answered: “Judge, if I had
wished to poison young men then I would have spread Marxism.”
Another member of the group Samvel Yeghiazaryan was accused of acts of
hooliganism, which he says he never committed.
“One day the head of the district came and said ‘come with me we have things
to do’,” recalls 46-year-old Yeghiazaryan. “Together with him we went to the
police station. A policeman told me that I had committed acts of
hooliganism, that I had been cursing women passing by in the street next to
‘Aquarium’ restaurant. I thought it was a mistake, misunderstanding. I swore
I had never done something like that. I said can you bring witnesses and
they said it is not accepted that women give testimonies.”
One of the groups’ members, Ishkhan Lazarian was killed in prison in 1985
while serving his sentence for resisting arrest and for violations of
Paragraph 65. A fifth member was set free after signing a document of
remorse during the trial.
Vardan Harutyunyan, who spent eight years in prison, says spending time in
prison was a part of their struggle.
“Of course, there is a great difference between today’s Armenia and Soviet
Armenia. Those days any kind of public or political activities was
prohibited,” says Vardan Harutyunyan. “Simply today people with Soviet
mentality came to power. Their methods are the same but their possibilities
are limited as the world has changed. They cannot fully bring to life their
ideas, however, in some measure they do that – they forbid mass meetings and
execute arrests. “

Armenianow.com
July 9, 2004
Public Relations Job: Americans train, hire locals to fill gap in
construction force
By Julia Hakobyan ArmeniaNow reporter
When the United States started discussion of constructing a new embassy in
Yerevan in 2001, the work initially caused a controversy among society and
mass media for two reasons. First: the new embassy will be the largest U.S.
Embassy (in total real estate) worldwide. Secondly: Turks (plus Bulgarians
and Filipinos) were among the laborers, but, in some specialities, Armenians
were not.
400 Armenians are included in the embassy construction workforce
A backlash of bad press criticized the Yanks for importing labor into a
country where so many natives can’t find work.
The Americans said they had good cause to hire outsiders. Simply, the
available Armenian labor force was not trained in the skills required for
the jobs.
“At the beginning of the construction the embassy advertised vacancies for
local construction workers but for some categories no one came,” said
Kimberly G. Hargan, Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Embassy.
“The reason why JA Jones, the US Construction Company, took workers from
third countries was that Armenians were not familiar with western
construction techniques and were not acquainted with some specialties, such
as American standards of electrical works, plumbing and others.”
In a bit of goodwill (and good public relations), the Americans decided to
make jobs available to the locals by training them for such skilled labor.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the
United States Embassy designed a program for training of local laborers and
invited experts from the United States and JA Jones Company to conduct
training of the Armenians.
The training for different construction trades lasts three to four weeks,
including a week of practical work. The schedule allows participants to be
placed in jobs as quickly as possible.
Now, more than 600 employees are building the embassy, 400 of whom are
Armenians.
“We think that once the new embassy is finished, people who were involved in
construction and were trained according to western standards would be highly
marketable,” Hargan said.
“We expect that with the continuing growth and improvement of the economy
more western companies are interested in coming here and constructing
hotels, office buildings . . . And Armenian constructors can apply their
knowledge to the western construction sector in their native country.”
But there’s still plenty of work for the embassy laborers. The project is
scheduled to be completed next March.
As for the need of the new embassy, Hargan said it was caused from the
tremendous expansion of US relations with Armenia in recent years. He said
dozens of sites were evaluated to find one that would best meet the needs of
the U.S. and Armenian governments.
The current embassy on Bagramyan Avenue does not meet US safety requirements
and is small for hosting staff. The new embassy compound is being built to
the highest engineering standards to resist blast and earthquake.
The new embassy will contain a five-story Chancery Building, USAID Building,
two-story Marine Security Guard Quarters, Warehouse, Main and Service
Compound Access Control Structures. It is located on the edge of Yerevanyan
Lake, a few kilometers outside the city center on the road to Zvartnots
International Airport.
The total space covers 90,469 square meters (22 American acres). It is the
biggest lot on which a US embassy has been built and its office space will
be among the largest for US embassies worldwide. The United States bought
the property from the Government of Armenia for about $5 million.
The new embassy will not block citizen access to the lake, which remains the
property of the Republic of Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA FOREIGN MINISTER COMMENTS ON NATO SUMMIT, OSCE MEDIATION AND ARMY
BASES
Golos Armenii, Yerevan
8 Jul 04
Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan has said that Armenia is guided “by a
principle of complementarity” in its foreign policy and its
cooperation with NATO is not in conflict with its membership of the
CIS Collective Security Treaty. In a wide-ranging interview with an
Armenian newspaper carried by De-Facto news agency on 8 July, he
commented on the recent Istanbul-hosted NATO summit and hailed NATO
for its statement describing the South Caucasus as “a zone of its
special attention”. The following is the text of report by Armenian
newspaper Golos Armenii on 8 July entitled “The co-chairmen will come
to learn approaches of the parties” as published by De-Facto agency;
subheadings have been inserted editorially:
(De Facto correspondent) You headed the Armenian delegation at the
Istanbul NATO summit. What did Yerevan expect from the summit? To what
extent was this expectation justified? In this sense, what was of most
significance to you? Did you discuss any important issues?
(Vardan Oskanyan) Usually no documents or programmes are discussed at
the summits of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC). The
documents submitted for approval from the country leaders are
discussed beforehand and are agreed at monthly meetings of the EAPC.
The agenda was also known beforehand; therefore nothing special was
expected from the EAPC session. The same can be said about NATO, that
is, we did not expect anything unusual. NATO’s statement that the
South Caucasus is a zone of its special attention was the most
significant one as far as were concerned. It may be said that there is
a certain displacement in NATO’s priorities as regards our region. But
we were aware of this six months ago when the problem was discussed
within the EAPC framework.
In the course of the summit Armenia was not going to raise any special
problems. At the same time we officially announced that we were going
to deepen cooperation with NATO.
CIS versus NATO ties
(Correspondent) In view of Armenia’s membership of the CIS Collective
Security Treaty (CST), how expedient is its cooperation with NATO?
What does NATO mean to Armenia?
(Oskanyan) I see no contradiction here. We are not alone in this
matter. Other member states of the CST, Russia, Kazakhstan and
Kyrgyzstan, are also actively developing their cooperation with
NATO. In particular, Russia is actively implementing this by means of
the NATO-Russia council.
As is known, in its foreign policy Armenia is guided by a principle of
complementarity. Stemming from this, we aspire to establish relations
at the necessary level with all the main centres that are interested
in our region and have a certain effect on the processes taking place
in the South Caucasus. For this reason we are aspiring to be involved
in all the processes, programmes and projects in the region.
Russian bases and Georgian scenario
(Correspondent) Some experts think that after the withdrawal of
Russian bases from Georgia, the problem of the expediency of the
Russian military presence in Armenia will arise. Do you see this
happening?
(Oskanyan) In terms of politics the matter of the Russian military
deployment in Armenia is not directly linked with the preservation or
withdrawal of similar bases from the territory of Georgia. We have a
long-term agreement with Russia, I see no reason for annulling it in
the near future.
(Correspondent) Do you notice new tendencies in the process of the
Karabakh settlement in connection with the stepped up efforts of the
European structures in this process?
(Oskanyan) The OSCE Minsk Group is still dealing with the Karabakh
issue settlement. The Minsk Group cochairmen have recently initiated
meetings of the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The
cochairmen are expected to pay a regular visit to the region in
July. They will discuss the current approaches of the parties to the
settlement.
On the other hand, Armenia has a positive attitude towards the
initiatives of the European Union (EU) and Council of Europe (CE),
expressed during regular visits of the EU special envoy for the South
Caucasus, Heike Talvitie, and the CE rapporteur on Nagornyy Karabakh,
Terry Devis, who has recently been elected as secretary-general of the
CE.
We think that active efforts and initiatives of such authoritative
European structures may supplement but not substitute the efforts of
the Minsk Group cochairmen on the conflict settlement.
OSCE Minsk Group
(Correspondent) As a rule Azerbaijan blames the OSCE Minsk Group
cochairmen from Russia, the USA, France for failing to settle the
Karabakh conflict. How qualified are this kind of charges?
(Oskanyan) Really the Azeri party sometimes accuses the OSCE Minsk
Group and says that the conflict is not settled because of the
cochairmen’s inaction. The Azeris can only see and estimate only what
is advantageous to them this very minute. Whereas over the past few
years the mediators put forward several proposals. The last two were
accepted by Armenia and Nagornyy Karabakh but rejected by
Azerbaijan. At high-level meetings the cochairmen are now discussing
outlines of and prospects for a settlement on the basis of which it
will be possible to work out new suggestions which would become the
basis of the settlement negotiations.
US envoy
(Correspondent) The US ambassador to Armenia, John Ordway, expressed
the hope that the conflict will be settled within the next couple of
years. Some experts think that it would take next 20 to 25 years to
reach a settlement. Which of these two views is more realistic?
(Oskanyan) The Armenian-Azeri negotiations conducted at the initiative
of the OSCE Minsk Group cochairmen are aimed at working out an
agreement as soon as possible and bringing the positions of the two
parties on the Karabakh conflict settlement closer. Certainly we would
have preferred the US ambassador’s optimistic approach to come
true. It will enable all the regional countries to engage in
comprehensive cooperation.
(Correspondent) The mediators often reiterate that the settlement
fully depends on the political will and desire of the sides. Do you
think that Russia, the USA and France will accept any option of the
conflict settlement on which the parties agree?
(Oskanyan) I have already mentioned that the cochairmen make efforts
to organize meetings between the parties to the conflict, in the
course of which it would be possible to find general approaches and
outlines of a settlement. I think that in this context any suggestion
acceptable for the conflict parties, will be acceptable for the
mediators as well.
(Correspondent) The Azerbaijani leaders have started to add the phrase
“Nagornyy Karabakh” to the “Armenian-Azeri conflict” term which they
use. We did not notice this at first. How can you explain that?
(Oskanyan) We have said many times that the conflict is between
Azerbaijan and Nagornyy Karabakh. I think that the Azeri wording aims
at presenting the conflict in an advantageous light for Azerbaijan. I
would like to remind you that international organizations, in
particular the OSCE Minsk Group, use the expression “Nagornyy Karabakh
conflict”.

ARMENIA WILL HAVE SECOND OPERATOR OF MOBILE COMMUNICATION: DAVID HARUTYUNYAN
YEREVAN, JULY 10. ARMINFO. Armenia will have a second operator of
mobile communication, RA Minister of Justice David Harutyunyan said,
responding to “hot line” questions in the “Golos Armenii” newspaper.
According to him, no doubt has ever existed about a new operator
entering Armenia’s telecommunication market, nor will it be challenged
during the RA Government’s negotiations with the OTE company. “As to
whether I am satisfied with the current state of affairs, I am not,”
the Minister said. Without commenting on the arbitration proceedings
in London, Harutyunyan pointed out that “they are going on and can be
dismissed only if the Government’s negotiations with `ArmenTel”
produce positive results.” Speaking of the interests of the Armenian
Government and people, Minister Harutyunyan stated: “The Government is
acting in the consumers’ interests and is sure that the legal
litigation at the Court of Arbitration is not the most productive
method: we are always ready for negotiations,” he said.
The RA Government has suspended the enforcement of its resolution on
amendments to License #60 of September 28, 2004, which include an
amendment depriving “ArmenTel” of its monopoly of mobile communication
and Internet access. This step was considered necessary for
stimulating the negotiations. The disagreements between the RA
Government and the “ArmenTel” company are not only in the mobile
communication sphere, but also the installation of telephone
communication in rural areas, confidentiality of negotiations,
Internet, etc..