THE KARABAKH LIBERATION ORGANIZATION PROTESTS THE VISIT OF ARMENIAN OFFICERS
CENTRAL ASIA – CAUCASUS ANALYST
Wednesday / June 30, 2004
By Fariz Ismailzade
This week police and demonstrators once again clashed in the streets of
Baku. The cause of these clashes was the arrival of two Armenian
officers in Baku to participate in a NATO conference. Several dozens of
members of the Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) stormed the
“Europe” hotel, where the conference was taking place and attempted to
psychically remove the Armenian officers from there.
This week police and demonstrators once again clashed in the streets of
Baku. The cause of these clashes was the arrival of two Armenian
officers in Baku to participate in a NATO conference. Several dozens of
members of the Karabakh Liberation Organization (KLO) stormed the
“Europe” hotel, where the conference was taking place and attempted to
psychically remove the Armenian officers from there.
“These officers represent the occupational army. Their hands are soaked
in blood. They have raped our women and killed our children. There is no
place for them in Baku,” exclaimed Akif Nagi, the chairman of the KLO.
Other demonstrators carried banners and posters and demanded that the
Armenian officers immediately leave the country. Several of them even
succeeded at entering the conference hall way and breaking windows
before being forcefully removed by security. Police subsequently
intervened and arrested several protestors, including Akif Nagi.
The Karabakh Liberation Organization unites mainly the families of the
war victims and displaced people from Karabakh. In the past, it has
protested against the planned arrival of Armenian military servicemen to
Baku to participate in NATO events, but this was the first case when the
Armenian officers actually did come. In previous times, the visits were
cancelled. The KLO belongs to the opposition in domestic politics and in
the last presidential elections in October 2003, it supported the
candidacy of Musavat Party chairman Isa Gambar.
The majority of local residents in Baku also voiced their criticism at
the arrival of the Armenian officers. Many respondents believed that the
representatives of the enemy’s army should not be allowed in Baku. “What
will Armenians think? They will think that it was OK to occupy our land
and now to come to the capital city of Azerbaijan, sit here, eat here
and laugh at us! What a shame!” said an old man to a local media outlet,
which widely covered the event. Even deputies in the Parliament debated
the issue and expressed their anger at the situation.
Meanwhile, the official Azerbaijani government took a constructive
approach to this issue and decided to allow the Armenian officers to
participate in the conference. “The relations between Azerbaijan and
NATO should not become the hostage of our relations with Armenia,” said
deputy foreign minister Araz Azimov. He also added that reacting
emotionally to these kinds of situations was the not best thing to do.
“We need to be more pragmatic than this.”
Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and NATO has been indeed
increasing since Azerbaijan joined the Partnership for Peace Program of
NATO in 1994. Lately, Azerbaijan has sent peacekeeping troops to the
Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan and the recently signed an Individual
Partnership Program between Baku and NATO will further increase the
cooperation. That is why it was important for the Azerbaijani Government
to host this NATO conference at the highest level.
The visiting Armenian officers were tightly protected by security forces
during their stay. During the debates in the Azerbaijani Parliament it
was revealed that they did not even receive a visa from the Azerbaijani
embassy in Georgia, as was announced earlier.
The majority of analysts in Azerbaijan believe that the KLO protest was
not a sporadic event but rather the logical consequence of the
deadlocked negotiations in the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process for the
past 10 years. The Azerbaijani society has been getting increasingly
frustrated with the stalemate and thus becoming more supportive of a
military solution to the conflict. Many people do not believe that the
international negotiations will produce any results and that the
occupied lands will be returned. Thus, the internal hostility towards
Armenia increases year by year. Several months ago, another indicator of
this growing hostility took place in Budapest, where an Azerbaijani
officer presumably (the court case is ongoing) murdered his Armenian
colleague. These are simply symptoms of Azerbaijani society’s increasing
impatience towards the Karabakh problem.
Meanwhile, dozens of Parliamentarians in Baku signed a petition calling
for the release of the arrested members of KLO, and the ANS TV has
voiced concerns at the brutality of the police forces while dispersing
the crowd. Even the Azerbaijani Human Rights Ombudsman Elmira
Suleymanova asked for the release of the arrested demonstrators.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Interfax
Jul 2 2004 3:47PM
Putin invites CIS presidents to visit Moscow
MOSCOW. July 2 (Interfax) – The presidents of the CIS countries will visit
Moscow on July 2-3 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Kazakhstan,
Ukraine, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, and Belarus will come to Moscow to
discuss the upcoming CIS summit, scheduled to take place in Astana in
September, the Russian presidential press service told Interfax on Friday.
Various issues of mutual interest, including joint celebrations of the 60th
anniversary of the victory in WW II, will also be considered, the press
service told Interfax on Friday.

RIA Novosti
2004-07-02 19:27 * RUSSIA * CIS * MEETING *
NO BILATERAL TALKS AT CIS SUMMIT
MOSCOW, July 2 (RIA Novosti) – There will be no bilateral talks in the
framework of an informal Moscow summit of CIS leaders, the Russian Foreign
Ministry said Friday.
On Vladimir Putin’s invitation, the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Uzbekistan, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia
and Belarus will be in Moscow on July 2-3.
“Moscow will host an informal meeting of the CIS states’ leaders, at which
all the participants will be able in an informal atmosphere to talk about
topics that interest them,” Russian first deputy Foreign Minister Valery
Loshchinin told RIA Novosti.
In his words, at the meeting, the heads of state will discuss the issues of
“building the Commonwealth, realizing these or those CIS decisions.”
The Russian president’s press service told RIA Novosti that the CIS heads of
state will in an informal atmosphere discuss the issues of preparation for
the September summit in Astana, as well as the celebration of the 60th
anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945.
The deputy minister did not rule out that the meeting might touch upon the
settlement of the Georgo-Ossetian conflict. “This topic may be touched upon
for the peacemaking negotiation process to be continued,” said the Russian
diplomat.
“We proceed from the fact that sudden attacks that are heard from Tbilisi in
regard to the activity of the Mixed Control Commission on settlement of the
Georgo-Ossetian conflict [Russia, Georgia, North and South Ossetias] will
move to the background,” he said.
“The commission is the only negotiation mechanism where we should discuss
the existing problems,” Loshchinin stressed.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ASBAREZ ONLINE
TOP STORIES
07/02/2004
TO ACCESS PREVIOUS ASBAREZ ONLINE EDITIONS PLEASE VISIT OUR
WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1. Ferrahian Banquet Marks Four Decades of Achievement 2. Celebrating Parajanov's 80th 3. Georgia Tightens Control over Ajaria 4. The Straw That Broke the Camel's Back 5. Lost in Translation or Just Simply Lost? 6. Sammy's at It Again 7. False Alarm and A Shudder 8. The Power in Our Youth: Pilibos Class of '05 9. Investing in Our Future 10. Greens Union Launches Efforts in Armenia 11. 'Far From Home,' But As Close As the Stereo 12. What Vartan Gregorian, Peter jennings, Yo-Yo Ma, Sir Michael Atiyah Have in Common? 13. Next Time Your'e Thinking about A Belt of Dog Collar... 14. Week in Review 15. LETTERS 16. ED 1. Ferrahian Banquet Marks Four Decades of Achievement BEVERLY HILLS Over 500 community members gathered at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on June 18, for the 40th anniversary banquet of Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary & Ferrahian High School, and raised upwards of $400,000. The school's finance committee organizes the banquet each year to raise funds for tuition scholarships. In celebration of Ferrahian's 40th anniversary milestone, the finance committee along with the administration organized several events honoring those who served the school throughout the years. Friday's banquet marked the culmination of celebrations; graduates from each decade were honored along with administrators and board members who not only provided years of service, but were integral in the school's development and continued success. His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian presided over the evening's ceremonies. Dignitaries including the Consul General of the Republic of Armenia Gagik Giragossian, ARF Central Committee Chairman Hovig Saliba, representatives from the offices of Sheriff Lee Baca, the Department of Homeland Security, Congressman Brad Sherman, State Assemblywoman Carol Liu, Board of Regents and Holy Martyrs Board of Trustees, as well as Homenetmen, Armenian Relief Society and the Armenian Education Foundation Central Executive representatives. In honor of the school's 40th anniversary, Dick Cheney and the Secretary of the US Department of Education Rod Paige forwarded congratulatory letters. Cheney noted, "The faculty and staff of the Holy Martyrs Armenian Elementary and Ferrahian High School can be proud of the important role they play in the lives of the Armenian community in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, and their efforts to provide our nation's children with the education and inspiration they need to pursue their dreams and lead responsible and productive lives." Special commendation certificates were received from Los Angeles Mayor Jim Hahn, Councilman Jack Weiss, and Los Angeles County Supervisors Michael Antonovich, Zev Yaroslavsky, Don Knabe, Gloria Molina, and Yvonne B. Burke. The formal program began with a greeting from the school's finance committee, delivered by 1993 graduate Ara Bedrosian, who spoke of the school's accomplishments and its central role in instilling cultural values and educating a new generation of Armenian American leaders. "When we hear the name Ferrahian, we think of academic excellence," said Bedrosian. "We think of cultural pride, tradition, progress and enlightenment. Ferrahian is the oldest Armenian daily school in the United States and today its alumni are lawyers, judges, physicians, engineers, builders of nations, and the pride of their communities." The evening's master-of-ceremonies Charly Ghailian, an ardent supporter of the school and a parent of several Ferrahian graduates, invited finance committee chairman Arto Atmadjian, who spoke about Mateos Ferrahian and the hard work and dedication of the school's first principal Gabriel Injejikian. He outlined the accomplishments of the school and spoke about the bright future ahead. Aida Baghdoian, who has served as the school's accountant/treasurer for nearly 20 years, was the recipient of the finance committee's traditional recognition award to an administration or faculty member. Alumni from each decade were also honored for academic and professional accomplishments. Honorees included Carnig Sarkissian from the 1960s, Judge Greg Keossian from the 1970s, Dr. Joe Ouzounian from the 1980s, Apik Minassian, Esq. from the 1990s, and Stephanie Sarkissian from the 2000s. As Holy Martyrs Ferrahian School's Distinguished Graduate of the Year, Dr. Garo Kassabian was honored for his success as a prominent plastic surgeon in the greater Los Angeles area, and for his support of the school, and various community organizations. The committee also honored Hacob Shirvanian and Kevork Atmadjian who served the school as Board Members and were active in its development. Holy Martyrs Ferrahian Principal John Kossakian and Chairman of the Board of Regents Yeznig Kazanjian extended commendations to teachers and administrators for their service and support to the community's oldest Armenian day school. They stressed the importance of Ferrahian's mission of enhancing cultural wealth and administering a quality education. A special video presentation outlined the vision of Mateos Ferrahian, the work of Gabriel Injejikian, and the fairy-tale like story of the foundation of a school which has become a cultural icon for Armenians around the world. His Eminence Archbishop Mardirossian closed the official program with a moving address recognizing the passing of one of Ferrahian's most cherished faculty members Eugenie Bedrossian, and encouraging all to extend both spiritual and financial support for its future endeavors. 2. Celebrating Parajanov's 80th YEREVAN (Armenpress)Relatives and close friends of legendary filmmaker Sergey Parajanov, arrived in Yerevan from Ukraine, Russia, Iran, and Georgia to join a series of celebrations that began on Thursday to mark the artist's 80th birthday. The events are part of the Golden Apricot International Film Festival that opened in Yerevan on June 30. Director of the Parajanov Museum in Yerevan, Zaven Sarkisian, said the guests will tour Parajanov's favorite sites in Armenia. They will also have an opportunity to watch a new documentary about the filmmaker's life and career, "I Died in Childhood..." The film, directed by Parjanov's nephew Georgy Parajanov, was recently featured at the 26th Annual Moscow International Film Festival, as well as in the 2004 Cannes hors compétition. It displays exclusive photos from Parajanov's life: on movie sets, at home, in jail. The narration is a monologue, compiled from letters, notes, and only episode of his unfinished screenplay for "Confession." 3. Georgia Tightens Control over Ajaria TBILISI (Eurasianet)Tbilisi has begun to tighten its control over the strategic territory of Ajaria, with the passage of a draft bill on Ajarian autonomy that would allow Georgia's president to disband the Supreme Council, the Ajarian parliament, as well as the Ajarian prime minister's cabinet. The prime minister would be appointed by the Georgian president and approved by the Supreme Council. The Georgian parliament would also be able to overwrite legislation passed by the Ajarian legislature. During the parliamentary debate, Republican Party deputy Ivliane Khaindrava denounced the bill for imposing "direct [presidential] rule . . . has nothing in common with [Ajaria's] autonomous status," Civil Georgia reported. The bill was passed in its first reading on June 25. In March, Ajaria's president Aslan Abashidze declared a state of emergency and Ajarian defense forces appeared poised to clash with the Georgian military. Abashidze unilaterally ruled Georgia's western region of Ajaria for more than a decade. But Saakashvili imposed an economic blockade that forced the Ajarian leadership to back down, and recognize Tbilisi's authority. When Abashidze went into exile on May 6, and Ajaria came under direct presidential rule, regional residents became concerned that Tbilisi may take advantage of the transition period to curtail many of Ajaria's "autonomous" privileges. 4. The Straw That Broke the Camel's Back By Skeptik Sininkian What would Americans think of a world leader who, years from now, during a visit to Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan, placed a wreath on the grave of Ossama Bin Laden? I doubt that there would be a single person who would be able to justify the act, no matter how revered Bin Laden would be amongst his own die-hard, fanatical followers. Well, I know how I would feelbecause last week, President Bush traveled to Turkey and in an amazing display of spinelessness, placed a wreath of flowers on the tomb of Mustafa Kemal, aka Ataturkthe father of modern Turkey. What's going to follow isn't Republican bashing because I think Senator Bob Dole (retired Republican from Kansas) was one of the most intelligent, articulate, and pro-Armenian leaders we have ever had. And had I been writing a column back when President Clinton and Hillary visited Turkey, I would have had some choice words for those two bumpkins as well. I'll give all the conservatives out there who read my column (all three of you) a few seconds to breathe into a paper bag a few times, and then we'll move on. Now, I was never amongst the die-hard supporters of Gov. George W. Bush when he was running for President. And after the whole Florida fiasco, I realized that this is one cat on which we needed to keep a very close eye. After all, the whole outcome of the 2000 election seemed a little too convenienteven if he had won by 5 or 500 votes. It just seemed strange. I also, never thought that Bush was a terribly bright person. He was a mediocre student who had his family give him everything on a silver platter. Now, even if you ARE a Bush supporter and can argue against these points until the cows come home, you can't argue with the last point: President Bush is one of the most unintelligent Presidents we have ever allegedly elected. How else do you explain him going to Istanbul (was Constantinople once) and kowtowing to the Turkeya nation that refused to give Americans access to the northern front in Iraq and attempted to extort BILLIONS of dollars from the US in exchange for assistance they should have given to us at no cost. It makes me sick to my stomach to see an American President give so much attention to a thug nation like Turkey. Turkey has contributed nothing to American security in the last fifteen years. Our airbases that are located in Turkey are more beneficial to them than to us. And what good were those airbases during the Iraq war? Yet Bush still praised Turkey and promised to push for its acceptance into the European Union (EU). Of course Bush expects Turkey to be accepted into the EU with him clearing the way; because that's exactly how he has received everything he has been ever given in lifefrom education to employment, from major league baseball teams to his job in the White House. The same way Bush's father pressured folks at Yale University to accept his mental midget son "Dubya" into one of the most prestigious academic institutions of the world, Baby Bush expects to pressure Europe's elite to welcome a human rights abuser and economically irresponsible nation like Turkey, into one of the most elite nation clubs in the world. Someone please tell me, what was Bush thinking? I know he doesn't read newspapers for some ridiculous reason, but has no one in the State Department informed him that Turkey didn't lift a finger to help during his pre-planned invasion of Iraq? Well, after reading briefings from White House officials, the answer is apparently "no." I read part of press gaggle by a Senior Administration Official aboard Air Force One en route to Ankara, Turkey, and there were more than a few parts of the gaggle that made me want to gag. My favorite quote is the following: What a gem of a quote. Picking this statement apart is easier than arm wrestling a five-year-old. Turkey never worked out any "Europeanized" vision of itself especially one where they drew a separation of mosque and state. If anyone questions this, let them simply visit eastern Turkey, where as recently as October 2000, a 300 year-old Assyrian Orthodox Church was converted into a Mosque ("300 years old Church was converted to Mosque with one Petition," Kurdish Observer October 25, 2000.) But if remaining "true to its own national traditions" means that Turkey has continued to oppress its minorities with draconian laws and regular massacres, than maybe this official has a point. I just don't get it. If Turkey is such a model nation and such a great example of a secular democracy, then why are people always trying to sell Turkey to the rest of the world? Wouldn't we see it for ourselves? When I read statements like the aforementioned, I feel like I'm listening to a used car salesman give me his best pitch for a lemonjust hoping that the new paint job will distract me from the fact the heap of junk is missing tires and an engine. Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Kurds, and all other minorities oppressed by the Turkish authorities, past or present, need to speak out against this outrage. How much longer will American tax payers need to foot the bill of millions of dollars of aid to Turkey and watch as they meddle with American interests. We need to take a page out of the history of Jewish American activism and ensure that Bush pays a political price for his misguided actions. In May 5, 1985, after the late President Ronald Reagan visited a German military cemetery at Bitburgwhere 49 of Adolf Hitler's dreaded Waffen SS troops were buriedas a gesture of reconciliation, Jewish Americans jammed the White House phone lines with calls of protest. After his political faux pas, Reagan felt such heat from Jewish Americans that he pushed for the adoption of the UN Convention on the Punishment and Prevention of Genocide in Congressonly a mere 37 years after it was adopted by everyone else in the world. Was West Germany any less of an ally during the Cold War than Turkey is in the Middle East Conflict? Exactly. So why is it that we, Americans, must take Bush's faux pas sitting down? I don't know about you, but I, for one, plan on voting this November and it's not going to be for a Bush sequel or my name isn't Skeptik. SKEPTIK SINIKIAN DOES NOT CONDONE A-BUSH ANTICS THAT MAKE AMERICANS LOOK LIKE SUCKERS. HE ALSO REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMENTS OF ANY APOLOGISTS FOR BUSH'S IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR, SO DON'T BOTHER EMAILING HIM AT [email protected]. 5. Lost in Translation or Just Simply Lost? By Skeptik Sininkian Remember growing up watching those nature specials about the life of the lion or the zebra where the narrator had a deep baritone voice? The ones where, after a lingering shot of a bunch of lions in a huddle, the narrator would finally chime in and say something like, "Simba, the dominant male, will demonstrate his place amongst the pride by eating from the wildabeast carcass first." I miss those programs. Now that was reality television worth watching. Now imagine a similar program about Armenians, especially Armenians living in Glendale, California. Because, between you and me, Armenians in Glendale deserve their own documentaryif for no other reason, so that other Armenians visiting Glendale from other parts of the United States (i.e. Boston, New York, Detroit, and Burbank) will understand the nature of this enigma wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in a puzzle. I don't know why, but the more I think I understand my community, something happens that completely confuses me to no end. Last week, my confusion was compounded by the fact that a friend of mine from the east coast flew out for a visit. It was his first time in California and for the brief time he was out here, I began to wonder about things that I had simply grown accustomed to. For instance, why do elderly Armenians choose to wear nothing but black while crossing streets with no designated crosswalks in the middle of the night? If you've ever driven in Glendale after the sun sets, then chances are you know what I'm talking about. The worst part is that after you come to a screeching halt, inches from making some poor dadig a hood ornament, they begin yelling at you, as if it's your fault for not wearing US Marine issued night vision equipment while driving at the designated speed limit on residential streets. This mystery becomes more complex when you see how most of my young adult compatriots drive. I'm not saying that Armenians are bad drivers. But a 16 year old kid with highlighted hair, driving a 70,000 dollar German luxury car, or a tricked-out (that means modified for anyone reading this who only understands English) Japanese sports car? Yes, he is a bad, bad, bad driver who must sadly suffer from dyslexia and misunderstands the "25 MPH" sign clearly posted for public view. I shudder to think that they're actually out there looking for the dadigs in black. "It's like driving in a video game," commented my pale friend as his white knuckled hand clenched the upper handle of my car door. "Don't these people follow traffic laws?" "What? People drive worse in Italy and France!" I retorted in defense of my precious Jewel City of Glendale. I responded without even turning to look at my petrified friend because I was avoiding a middle-aged Armenian mother driving a massive ten ton luxury SUV, who was pulling out of the Glendale Galleria without signaling and giving everyone dirty looks for thinking they could have the right of way. I slammed on the brakes to avoid another dadig who jumped out of nowhere, crossing the crosswalk illegally. Apparently red is the color of progress in the former Soviet Union and means "March Forward!" What was I thinking? Driving in Glendale aside, let me present another mystery to you. My Amerigahye (born in America) friend doesn't speak Armenian very well. OK, let me rephrase that. The Korean dry cleaner down the street from me knows more Armenian than he does. But it never bothered me. I've never questioned his Armenianness. But when I took him to a social gathering with mostly Armenians, I couldn't help but overhear comments to him like, "How come you don't speak Armenian if both your parents are Armenian?" Or, "Don't you think you should learn Armenian if you want to raise an Armenian family?" It was interesting to hear these comments coming from people who couldn't even name the villages in historic Armenia that their grandparents came from, and whose idea of being an active Armenian means not missing out on any Armenian social mixer on any given weekend. My friend on the other hand, has no access to such mixers in the city where he lives, yet is always the first to forward an article pertaining to Armenia or the Armenians whenever it is published. He forwards email action alerts to me from the Armenian National Committee with such ferocity that I've contemplated reporting him as sending spam. But poor soul, he can't speak Armenian. What difference does it make? None to me, as long as he's informed and active. I'd rather have ten friends like him than a gaggle of Armenian speaking misanthropes talking about cars and money, in the tongue of Krikor Naregatsi (Gregory of Nareg). By the way, the same folks who complain about my friend's inability to speak Armenian, also complain about the Armenian Orthodox Church service being "out of style" because it's delivered in KraparClassical Armenian. So my activist friend has to learn Armenian to gain acceptance by the socialites of LA, but everyone else doesn't have to learn "krapar" for eternal salvation. Maybe if I think about it harder it might make sense. (Sigh). Here's another thing. My "whitewashed" friend can dance most traditional Armenian dances and to the appropriate accompanying music. When I say he can dance, I mean it. He can shoorch bar and Tamzara like there's no tomorrow. You should have seen the excited look on his face when I told him we were going to an "Armenian" dancefollowed by the look of utter disappointment when we finally got there. He stood there in silence, staring at the sea of Armenians flailing their arms in random patterns by themselves on the dance floorto music with Arabic and Persian techno beats. I wish I had taken a before and after photo. He looked like a kid who was promised a hamburger for lunch, expecting to have McDonald's, but was then given a kufte sandwich in pita bread with Tahini sauce. By the way, this was my mother's version of the home made "Big Mac" when I was growing up. True story. There are many other things that I look at now and can't understand. Like, why is it a deadly sin for an Armenian child to contemplate moving out of the house before the age of thirty, or going to college somewhere further than an hour drive from Glendale/home? Or as my friend put it, "Why do Armenian parents dress like rejects from the "Sopranos" when going out in public?" He commented on this when we saw a coupleman wearing a baby blue velvet jogging suit, and wife in leopard print tube top and black tightspicking their child up from school. By the way, my friend is from New Jersey, so I don't question his ability to recognize mafia look-alikes. These are things that we take for granted because we live with it every day. And perhaps, I've been a little harsh on my compatriots yet again. But when seen through the eyes of an outsider, it does beg questioning. I know there's something out there that really bothers you. Maybe you've complained about it to a few friends, but never publicly, because you're afraid of seeming elitist or prejudiced. Here's your chance. Email me and tell me what your pet peeves are, and I'll bring them for discussion in this column. Until next time, keep on truckin' but watch the road for random dadigs. Baritone voice: "THE ONE THEY CALL SKEPTIK IS A SOLITARY CREATURE. HE IS UNABLE TO ASSERT HIS DOMINANCE BECAUSE HE ASSOCIATES WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN OSTRACIZED FROM THE PRIDE. HIS HABITS ARE A MYSTERY TO SCIENTISTS BUT RESEARCHERS ARE TRYING TO SHED NEW LIGHT ON HIS BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS BY EMAILING [email protected]" 6. Sammy's at It Again By Garen Yegparian No, it's not Sosa; so don't expect discussion on broken baseball records any time soon. Today it's Samuel P. Huntington of "clash of civilizations" fame. (Too bad it's not "Huffington," 'cause "Sammy Huffs Again" would have made a perfect title). You might recall that about a decade ago, this chairman of the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies and cofounder of Foreign Policy magazine, made quite a splash with his article heralding future planetary clashes along lines of civilizational cleavages, Islamic, Western, etc. As I recall, that piece appeared in Foreign Affairs. I was pleased then that someone seemed to have a clue amidst the prevailing triumphalism; you remember, "We won the cold war! but we're really not gonna brag about it, see, 'cause that'd be tacky." However, Huntington seems to have gone off the deep end with his article The Hispanic Challenge, (Foreign Policy, March/April 2004, pp 30-45) a shorter version of his upcoming book Who Are We. In this article, he advocates, to my eye, a throwback to pre-WWII American society. His central thesis: immigration patterns, particularly Hispanic, (his term) and specifically Mexican, are different today from those of any other period in US history. The numbers, continuity, contiguity of the source country, and former ownership by Mexico of much of the Southwestern US, all create unprecedented conditions. These attenuate the assimilative forces that have in the past sucked immigrants into the vortex of the English language and Protestant-based (later generically Christian), melting pot. He says, in polite, scholarly terms, of course "This is America, speak English."n Our compatriots growing up in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s all speak of that cursed phrase and associated attitudes that so contributed to the loss of Armenian language usage in our communities. Huntington fears the creation of a culturally (especially, but not exclusively, linguistically) bifurcated English and Spanish-based country. He cites that this has already happened to varying degrees in Miami, Los Angeles, Hartford, and New York. In all this, he betrays a blithe disregard for the capitalism-induced decay of "white culture,"* that he says modern white nationalists fear, is being replaced by "black or brown cultures that are intellectually and morally inferior." * Huntington would have us ignore the human costs of the enforced assimilation of past waves of immigrants, not to mention the benefits accruing to the US elite. Cheap immigrant labor made many filthy rich. Meanwhile the racist promise of white America caused these immigrants (largely European) to shed their national identity to perceive themselves as white, thus entitled to privilege over black America. Now that this unsustainible paradigm is gone, millions of peopleimmigrants and their descendantsare very identity-confused. I firmly believe this is one of the underlying causes of societal disarray in the US today. The earliest land-thieves arrived, disenfranchised the indigenous peoples, set up a system, and expected everybody arriving later to play by their rules. Now that the tables are being turned and the globalizing forces unleashed by American elite are coming home to roost, you can hear the whining clear out to Mars. Tough luck! What Huntington describes, if true, and if implemented in Armenian communities, is beyond the wildest wet dream of even the most chauvinistic Armenian dwelling in the US. This is one reason why it probably behooves us to form alliances with Latino institutions and leadership so that when a bilingual state comes to be, we're not left out in the cold. It stands to reason that if a non-English language achieves equal status, then others will have to be treated in like fashion. The same argument applies to cultural manifestationsfrom work ethics to holidays. On the downside, we should be ready in case a white backlash strikes, as Huntington predicts/advocates. Once again, it would pay to be allied with our far more numerous Latino neighbors. Food for thought. * From boxed sidebar on page 41 of article 7. False Alarm and A Shudder By Garen Yegparian Admit it. You were happy when the New York Life Insurance Company agreed to compensate the heirs of Genocide victimseven if you weren't getting any cash. You were thinking, "Hah, great, one instance where the veracity of the is being reaffirmed in an American court." But then you noticed something. A word was missing, just as in the last sentence above. That all important, yet fearsome (to some), G word. Yup, NYLIC had managed to avoid using the term as part of the settlement. Things didn't look so good any more. Now we have a new dust-up. Based on the documents I've seen, and they are incomplete, it's safe to say our "queasy factor" should be rising. While I'm wading where no sane mortal would wander, **the back-and-forth of legal documents, this seems to reek of mutual recriminations of money grubbing and unfounded accusations. This Monday, on June 28, Judge Christina Snyder will hear arguments on whether sufficient notice was given to those who might be due money from MTLIC policies. This dispute centers around the use of the term "Genocide" in publicity, how much outside US publicity is "reasonable," and what standing non-US citizens have to gain in all this. It seems to me that NYLIC was only too willing a hundred years ago to get money from our ancestors OVERSEAS. Consequently, it's entirely fair to expect they be required to make appropriate efforts today to reach deprived heirs overseas, even if those efforts would, under similar circumstances, be deemed extraordinary, therefore unnecessary, in a US-based case. A go-slow approach is wisest. We've waited a century; an extra several months to get funds to heirs and community institutions will hardly make a difference. Yet the attorneys on the "Armenian" side of the case seem to be in a rush to wrap this up. These men have pretty good credentials as far as service to the Armenian community goes, so questioning their motives is not something to be taken lightly. On the NYLIC (the 'bad guys') side, Walter Karabian, another contributing member of our community, has provided services. Makes you wonder... If your guts are doing the same thing as mine, call the lawyers for the Armenian side and tell them what you think. Maybe a flood of calls to their offices will slow them down enough for all of us to get a handle on just what's at stake here for our COMMUNITY, beyond the obvious remuneration due to individual Armenians. Here are the office and fax numbers. Call them. Mark J. Geragos, Shelley A. Kaufman, Mark M. Kassabian (213) 625-3900 (213) 625-1600 Brian S. Kabateck (213) 217-5000 (213) 625-5010 William Shernoff, Evangeline Fisher Harris (909) 621-4935 (909) 625-6915 Vartkes Yeghiayan (818) 242-7400 (818) 242-0114 On a completely separate note, I'm compelled to point out how pathetic we are. You're thinking, "What's he gonna gripe about this time?" And maybe you're right. But the only thing more sickening than the Reaganomania that swept over us, is the continuing response to Skeptik Sinikian's and my pieces on the deceased president. No, the problem is not that some wrote in to praise him, or others to bury him. The problem is that so many wrote letters to the editor ABOUT THAT TOPIC. Am I the only one who noticed that Asbarez printed more letters about this one matter than it did about everything else in the past six months? This says to me that the readers of Asbarez (excluding the obligatory Turkish and other governmental snoops)the overwhelming majority of whom are Armenian, care more about host country issues than Armenian issues. Imagine where those who don't read Asbarez or another Armenian paper stand. Is it any wonder we have so many problems and such decay in our communities, their structures, and organizations? Perhaps it's natural to be immersed in our daily, mundane concerns. But isn't the point of Armenian survival in the Diaspora is that we must make a conscious, sometimes superhuman, effort to overcome those distractions, provided courtesy of Turkey/Genocide/dispersion, and focus on our goals? 8. The Power in Our Youth Pilibos Class of '05 As I sat at my desk, pondering the simulation results for a particle accelerator injector design, our secretary put an envelop on my desk, "Are these Armenian characters?" pointing to the first line of the return address. "Yes," I said, "That's the Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School. I was there two weeks ago to talk about cosmic ray science and the cosmic ray stations in Armenia." The Cosmic Ray Division (CRD) is the group of scientists in Armenia who conduct world-class research on top of Mt. Aragats and we, the Diaspora, have been supporting them and proudly following their progress. I am always delighted when young people take the time to write to me after my visits to their schools. It shows that they were interested, it shows that they are polite, it shows that they know how to network. So I eagerly opened the envelop and read the letter. In its short 6 lines it had already brought me to tears of joy and pride by the time I got the "Sincerely." It showed all the things I said above, but it also showed that these students have compassion and are willing and able to take on responsibility. I want to share this letter with you, so you too can be proud of our next generation. "Dear Representative of CRD friends, It was truly an honor and a pleasure to have you as a guest speaker at our school. We learned much about your helpful projects, which rekindled an even stronger love and respect for our homeland. To lend our humble support, enclosed please find $180.00 which we, the students have collected. We wish you success in your future endeavors and hope to meet you again, this time on the steppes of Aragatz. Sincerely, Eleventh Grade Students of Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School" I wondered, "how many lunches did they have to skip, or which pleasure they gave up to save these funds to help their fellow Armenians in Armenia?" I was so overwhelmed with pride for them, that I began to miss them immediately. I called the school to thank them, but they were already gone for the summer, and the accumulated tears in my eyes flooded down my cheeks. Class of 2005 at Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, if you are reading this article, know that I am extremely proud of you, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart! Anahid Yeremian June 25, 2004 Cosmic Ray Division - Armenia Stanford, California 650-926-4444 [email protected] 9. Investing in Our Future 2004 Intern Class Draws Participants From Kansas State University, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, Stanford and Glendale College GLENDALEThe Armenian National Committee of America Western Region (ANCA-WR) recently announced the selection of four candidates to participate in the prestigious ANCA Leo Sarkisian Summer Internship Program in Washington, DC. Based out of ANCA Headquarters, the eight week program will give its participants a first hand understanding of the American political system. Out of a pool of over one hundred applicants, four highly motivated university students who displayed a clear commitment to the advancement of Armenian-American issues were chosen from the Western United States. They will join five other participants from the Eastern Region and Canada. "The program is the only one of its kind in the country," commented ANCA-WR Executive Director Ardashes Kassakhian. "While at the ANCA National Headquarter, which is only a few blocks from the White House, the interns will gain a fresh and multi-dimensional perspective on the Armenian Cause and its political and legislative future in the United States." The 2004 ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship participants from the Western US are: Garen Kirakosiana University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) junior studying Political Science; Seepan Parseghiana Stanford University sophomore studying Political Science; Ani Garibyana UCLA senior studying History; and Shant Taslakiana University of California, Santa Barbara senior studying Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations. The ANCA Leo Sarkisian Internship Program is the cornerstone of the expanded ANCA Capital Gateway program, designed to provide university students and recent graduates with opportunities to intern or find career positions on Capitol Hill or at other US government agencies in Washington, DC. In response to the growing number of applicants to the Leo Sarkisian Internship and the Capital Gateway program, ANCA-WR had launched a new Western-Region internship program. The internship will provide participants with an opportunity to experience political workings at the state and local level. It also includes a lecture series that will feature elected officials, media professionals and community leaders. "We are very excited about the new Western Region internship program," said Argam DerHartunian, Internship Coordinator for the Western Region and Leo Sarkisian Internship Program Alum. "It is our goal to equip a new generation of political organizers and activists with the tools they need bring about change." The talented youth from across the Western Region who will participate in the program are: Nari M. Chopuriana UCLA junior studying Political Science; Nare Avagyana University of California, Berkeley sophomore studying Political Science and Social Welfare; Gennadi Gevorgyana graduate student at Kansas State University studying Journalism; Elina Mnatsakanyana UCLA sophomore studying Political Science; and Babken DerGrigoriana Glendale Community College sophomore studying Political Science. For more information on these and other Armenian National Committee of America programs log on to or call the ANCA-WR at (818) 500-1918. 10. Greens Union Launches Efforts in Armenia The Greens Union of Armenia is urging Armenian organizations to join the effort in preserving a natural preserve in Yerevan called the "Orchards of Dalma." The culturally important area covers over 530 hectares and contains 3000-year old water canals and underground tunnels and several rare plant species. 60 hectares of the orchard were developed during the Soviet period. According to government documents uncovered by Greens, the Yerevan mayor's office is inclined to develop portions of the remaining area. In 2000, former mayor Bazeyan submitted a letter to the state government outlining "a scheme of functional zoning." In it, the mayor proposed the construction of housing complexes, a golf course and a highway. The proposed development would cover over 120 hectares of land. In another letter drafted during the same year, the mayor's office requested that the ministry of nature protection allocate 10 hectares of the land for its use. Half of the area, the document noted, will be covered by a factory, which, when complete, will produce watch parts for the Swiss company "Frank Muller Armenia." If built, the factory would release harmful toxins that would have an irreversible effect to the local environment. This year, on March 27, 2004, the prime minister signed Resolution No. 1941-A, titled "About Changing Land Use and Borders of Lands in the Preserve of Yerevan's Orchards of Dalma," which officially lifted any development restrictions on the region. The resolution effectively bars public debate over proposed projects. Currently, the US Embassy of Armenia is constructing a site on a region of the orchard that is known to contain rich archeological diggings. The construction began after the US Embassy signed a private agreement with the Armenian government. The March 27 resolution also impacts over 1800 growers, who depend on the soil for their livelihood. The Greens Union of Armenia urges all Armenian organizationsparticularly those that are active within the United Statesto voice their concern about the destruction of the "Orchards of Dalma," by contacting Armenian government officials. Representative of the Greens Union of Armenia in the United States, Dr. Anne Shirinian, can be contacted through phone/fax at (732) 462-9089 or email at [email protected]. 11. 'Far From Home,' But As Close As the Stereo VANCOUVERAncient Armenian folks songs Mariam Matossian's grandmother sang to her as she was growing up are now on the air on Canadian Broadcasting radio stations from British Columbia on the West Coast to Nova Scotia in the East. National CBC programs including Bill Richardson's Round Up, Jurgen Gothe's Disc Drive, and the program Roots and Wings are featuring songs from Matossian's debut CD called Far From Home. "I remember when Jurgen Gothe's producer phoned me, and I could hear my music playing in the background while he spoke to me," says Matossian. "When he told me how much he loves this music, and they'll play it next week, I just cried. To think that the songs my grandmother sang are being heard all across the country, in small towns in BC, this is above and beyond any of my expectations!" Far From Home combines the sweet, yet haunting vocals of Vancouver-area high school teacher and counselor Matossian with the sounds of the traditional sounds of the duduk, oud and rhythm of the dumbec. Funded by a grant from the Canada Council, Matossian takes her audience on a journey through time and into the ancient homeland of her people. "We've received e-mails from folks as far away as Nova Scotia and remote parts of British Columbia," says Matossian. "It's amazing that people want to know more about me and the album and our culture. After they purchase the album, they write again to say how the songs moved them to tears, how a song in another language is able to touch someone who does not understand the words. The mysterious power of music just fascinates and moves me." Recently, Matossian was invited by radio station 690 AM to perform live on a Vancouver-area broadcast of the program North by Northwest, Host Sheryl MacKay interviewed the singer about not only her album, but also the Armenian culture and genocide. Matossian's music is also reaching far beyond Canada. She has received orders for her album via the web site from as far away as the Netherlands, France, Japan and, of course, the US. "I want the recording to give a global audience, Armenians and non-Armenians alike, the chance to experience the beauty of our music," says Matossian. "With this album, I was able to fulfill my goal of creating something that would honor my family, my culture and God." 12. What Vartan Gregorian, Peter jennings, Yo-Yo Ma, Sir Michael Atiyah Have in Common? By May Habib Along with Vartan Gregorian, famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, journalist Peter Jennings, and mathematician Sir Michael Atiyah, received honorary degrees from the American University of Beirut last Saturday. When Gregorian arrived in Beirut from Tehran 54 years ago, he had $50 in his pocket, couldn't speak Arabic or English, and did not know a single person in the country. The head of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and an acclaimed philanthropist and educator, returned to Beirut for his honorary doctorate. Gregorian's first English teacher in Beirut Antoine Kehyaian, was present at the ceremony to see his former pupil. "As a student I used to tell Antoine, 'Don't worry, one day I will get a degree from AUB,'" said Gregorian, who has received honorary degrees from 15 universities. "I had to spend 50 years in the wilderness in order to earn this." When he left Beirut, Gregorianwho also delivered the commencement address Saturdaywent to Stanford University in California, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1958 and his doctorate in history in 1964. After teaching at various universities in the US, he became founding dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania and eventually became the provost. After leaving the University of Pennsylvania, Gregorian headed the New York Public Library, raising an unprecedented $400 million for its revival. Never content to remain too long in any position, he left the New York Public Library in 1989 to become president of Brown University. He then left Brown for the philanthropic Carnegie Corporation in 1997. Gregorian advised students at the ceremony to "get really rich" so they can donate money to AUB in the future. "There are not many AUBs in the world, especially this part of the world," he said. "You owe it to AUB and the Lebanese to keep this beacon of learning and light shining." Sir Michael Atiyah, whose work in string theory has been awarded numerous medals, also commended AUB for creating cultural links that "straddle space and time." Atiyah, the son of a Lebanese father and a Scottish mother, grew up in Sudan and attended Victoria College in Cairo. He was knighted in 1983 and was awarded the rank of commander in the Order of the Cedars by the Lebanese government in 1993. Atiyah helped AUB develop its Center for Advanced Mathematical Studies and is the chairman of the center's International Advisory Committee. Jennings, who came to Lebanon in 1972 as the ABC News bureau chief in Beirut, said that AUBfounded by US missionariesis "one of the greatest things the US has done in the Middle East." Waterbury joked that he would try to keep secret that the hugely successful Jennings did not finish high school and does not have a university degree. "We forgive you Peter for your early dismissal of our product," Waterbury said. Yo-Yo Ma, a concert cellist since the age of 9 and a 14-time Grammy winner, closed the ceremony with a piece from Bach. "I know I was not invited here for my speaking skills," he joked, holding up his cello. 13. Next Time Your'e Thinking about A Belt of Dog Collar... By Jason Fell The online business Peter K Designs will feature designer belts and dog collars that are hand-stitched in Armenia's northeast village of Noyemberyan. The unusual partnership was conceived after Peter and his wife Stephanie returned from a two-year Peace Corps stint in Armenia. It happened like this. While working with the villagershusband and wife Peter and Stephanie Kwasniewski noticed that a number of women and girls were exceptionally skilled in the art of petit needlepoint and embroidery, which is similar to cross-stitching only the stitches are much smaller. The women would try to sell 6-by-11-inch embroidery designswhich took about 150 hours to maketo foreign merchants who occasionally traveled through the village looking for craft items. If the women were lucky, they'd get $4 for each item. Sometimes the merchants would just take the work, promising to pay later but would never return. "There's a lot of anger and frustration there," Stephanie said, "especially with the men. Many of the jobs available now, culturally, the men are not allowed to do. Men can't run a shop or work in a restaurant. Many sit around the village all day or play backgammon. A number of men have moved out of the country, mainly to Russia or the United States, in hopes of finding work. The women are left trying to provide for their families." Peter and Stephanie were impressed not only by the craftsmanship of Noyemberyan women but also their strong work ethic. Even before they returned to the US, Peter and Stephanie began selling the embroidered rectangles to friends back home, who framed them as works of art. The couple soon discovered, however, that the market for these was limited. So they decided to develop a new business strategy. So they decided to put the embroidery put on belts. Having maintained relationships with the villagers, Peter employs 85 women; he hopes to someday employ 200 to 300. The belts and dog collars will be available exclusively online. They come in a variety of motifs, including cities of the world, golfing and sailing and can be monogrammed with up to three initials. According to Peter, the industry standard for embroidered belts is 17 stitches per inch, but his are 24 stitches per inch, or 576 stitches per square inch. "These belts are finer than other belts available now," according to Peter "The detail is fabulous." Although the Web site peterkdesigns.com is up and running, the belts and collars have not yet been finished. Peter hopes to be able to start filling orders within a couple weeks. He expects to sell each belt for $165 and each dog collar for $60. 14. Week in Review Turkey 'Sincere' in Seeking Rapprochement with Armenia YEREVAN (RFE/RL)Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian was upbeat on Wednesday, after his talks with Turkish leaders in Istanbul this week, saying that he found a "sincere desire" to improve the historically strained relations with Armenia. But he indicated that the long-awaited opening of the Turkish-Armenian border is still not up for discussion. Oskanian met with Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and had an impromptu 10-minute encounter with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of a NATO summit which finished its work on Tuesday. He described his brief conversation with Erdogan as "quite interesting." "It confirmed my impression...that the Turkish government really has a sincere desire to achieve progress in relations with Armenia," Oskanian told a news conference in Yerevan. Erdogan's Islamist-leaning cabinet, Oskanian continued, is more willing to soften Turkish policy on Armenia than its more pro-Western predecessors were. "There is really a difference. This government does have a desire [to normalize ties], it's just that conditions are not yet ripe," he said, referring to the possibility of Turkey lifting its economic embargo imposed on Armenia in 1993. Chirac Slams Bush for Interfering in Turkey's EU Bid ISTANBUL (Combined Sources)French President Jacques Chirac bluntly criticized George W. Bush on Monday for supporting Turkey's bid to join the European Union, saying the US President had "gone too far". On Sunday, Bush publicly endorsed Turkey's bid, telling Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara: "I will remind the people of this good country that you ought to be given a date by the EU for your eventual acceptance into the EU." Chirac told a news conference on the sidelines on the NATO summit here: "Not only did he go too far, he ventured into territory which is not his concern." The French president, who is among the EU leaders most firmly opposed to Turkish membership of the EU, added, "It would be like me telling the United States how to run its affairs with Mexico." In response to Chirac's comments, Bush on Tuesday told an Istanbul university audience that the European Union is "not the exclusive club of a single religion." "America believes that as a European power, Turkey belongs in the European Union," Bush said. Karabagh Foreign Ministry Brushes off Azeri Assertions STEPANAKERT (Armenpress)A statement released on Wednesday by Karabagh's Foreign Affairs Ministry, stressed that the upcoming August 8 elections is another step in building a civil society in Mountainous Karabagh Republic (MKR). "We proceed from the fact that only legally elected representatives of authority are empowered with necessary power and bear responsibility for the fate of people of Mountainous Karabagh," read the statement. Azerbaijan has undertaken international efforts to stop the elections saying they run counter to international law as well as Azerbaijan's legislation. "Mountainous Karabagh has been living independently for 16 years and has nothing to do with Azerbaijan's laws; citing them, therefore, is absolutely groundless," the statement says, describing Azerbaijan's assertions as "cut off from current realities." The statement scoffs at another assertion by the Azeri foreign ministry that the elections are invalid because the Azeri population of Mountainous Karabagh cannot participate. "If we follow this kind of logic then all national elections in Azerbaijan are invalid, as almost half a million of ethnic Armenians had to flee it as a result of ethnic cleansing," the statement says. Armenian Patriarch Meets with Bush ISTANBUL (Haybad/Zaman)During his trip to Istanbul for the NATO Summit, George W. Bush took time out on Sunday to meet with various religious leaders, including Turkey's Armenian Patriarch, Mesrob Mutafyan. Patriarch Mutafyan had an opportunity to speak to Bush about the situation of Turkey's non-Muslim population, and stressed that for minorities to exist in Turkeyor for any ethnic or national minority to exist anywherethree institutions must be guaranteed: First, places of worship to preserve religious heritage and to nourish the spiritual life of the community; second, schools to teach language and culture; and third, foundations to fund religious and educational activities and the necessary personnel to keep them active. The minorities in Turkey, he stressed, are attempting to maintain those institutions for the future and well-being of their communities. Mutafyan also handed a letter to Bush, in which the spiritual head criticized the US war effort in Iraq and noted, "the United States of America and her President, have the ability to preserve the values they struggle for without resorting to violence in all its terrible diversity. It is sufficient to maintain their trust in God, in their sense of vocation and ultimate potential for good. Whenever we embrace violence we are already diminished and the high moral and religious ideals to which we aspire are betrayed." Safarov Trial for Gourgen Margaryan Murder Set for Fall BUDAPEST (Combined Sources)Criminal proceedings against Ramil Safarov for the brutal killing of Gourgen Margaryan is set to begin in Budapest sometime this fall. Senior Lieutenant Ramil Safarov, an Azeri officer is accused of hacking Margaryan to death, and of attempting to murder a second Armenian officer Hayk Makuchyan. All three soldiers were attending a NATO Partnership for Peace training program in Budapest. Margaryan, 26, was murdered with an ax as he slept in the early hours of February 19. Safarov is charged with premeditated murder which carries a 10 to 15 years or life imprisonment. The court has yet to decide whether the trial will be public. If he is convicted, Sarafov could be transferred to his homeland to serve his sentence. Rights Court Condemns Turkey for Expulsion of Kurds STRASBOURG (AFP)The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday condemned Turkey for expelling about 15 Kurdish villagers from their homes under a 1994 state of emergency and for preventing them from recovering their property. The decision is the first with a bearing on the inability of hundreds of Kurds to return home to their villages in southeastern Turkey until July 2003. Ankara "had the essential duty and responsibility of guaranteeing the conditionsand providing the meansto allow the plaintiffs to return home of their free will, in security and with dignity...or to voluntarily make a new home elsewhere in the country," the court ruled. 15. LETTERS First, thank you for publishing my views on your on-line addition. I am compelled to write you once again, however. After reading "What Planet am I On?," I was again shocked at the biased nature of your publication. While you may print letters that "oppose" your columnists views, where is the balance in your "reporting?" While the above-mentioned piece is undoubtedly a "column" of sorts, it is not listed as such. No author or credits are given, either. Are we to assume that this piece is the opinion of the paper? If so, this is tragic. Allow me to explain why. The "column" makes reference to the fact that President Reagan made life "more difficult for people," that he "set the stage for . . . to cause great harm in the future;" and that President Reagan's "bequest to us is largely negative." These are all nice catch phrases and accusations, but where is the poof? Where are the writer's facts? From 1982 to 1989, government revenue doubled, from roughly $550 billion to $1.5 trillion. Why? Because tax ratesincluding the top marginal ratewere lowered for all Americans. This empowered us to spend, to save, to invest, and yes, to CREATE JOBS. These jobshint, new tax payersbrought in more money to our federal coffers. Ad hoc economists often argue that these tax cuts increased our debt. Yes it did. But the debt was, and still remains, such a small percentage of our Gross Domestic Product, it is inconsequential. That deficit spending also allowed us to rebuild our armed forces, re-build a strong national defense, and ultimately defeat the Soviet Union without firing a single shot. Lest we forget, Armenia was once a soviet satellite, and would probably still be one had it not been for President Reagan's aggressive defense spending that forced the USSR into bankruptcy. Let's also look at the standard of living. Please refer to the Bureau of the Census that will show that the black middle class grew exponentially during the 1980's; home ownership went up; inflation disappeared; the standard of living increased; and more people started small businessesthe backbone of our economy! It's one thing to throw around catchy left-wing propagandait's another to back it up. In this case, the writer can't, because there is nothing to substantiate his or her outrageous claims. Aram Z. Washington, DC 16. Ed: What Planet am I On?," was written by Garen Yegparian. The name was inadvertently left out of the web posting, though included in our print edition. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of Asbarez. We welcome differing opinions and arguments from readers. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2004 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.

Armenian leader, Russian interior minister note importance of cooperation
Mediamax news agency
2 Jul 04

YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan received in Yerevan today Russian
Minister of Internal Affairs Rashid Nurgaliyev who had taken part in a
session of the joint collegium of the Armenian Police and the Russian
Interior Ministry.
Kocharyan said that he attached great importance to cooperation
between the Armenian and Russian law-enforcement bodies, the
president’s press service told Mediamax news agency today. He said he
was certain that joint efforts will make the fight against crime more
effective.
Nurgaliyev told Kocharyan that the session paid special attention to
ensuring the economic security of both countries and to the struggle
against organized crime and drug dealing.

Armenian opposition not to collect signatures to remove president
Arminfo
2 Jul 04

YEREVAN
Today’s session of the political council of the opposition Justice
bloc decided not to organize a campaign to collect signatures for
demanding the resignation of Armenian President Robert Kocharyan and
for holding extraordinary presidential elections, the secretary of the
Justice parliamentary faction, Viktor Dallakyan, has told Arminfo news
agency.
The session agreed that the overwhelming majority of the Armenian
population wants Kocharyan’s resignation and hence, there is no point
in wasting efforts and resources to confirm this once
again. “Collecting signatures does not make sense also because
according to the existing laws, the signatures will not be legally
binding.” Dallakyan said.
The Justice bloc will soon conduct a press conference, which will
“draw conclusions on the results of the persecution of opposition
leaders and activists in spring”, he said. “More than 1,000 people
were subjected to administrative persecution between March and June,
and two of them – Edgar Arakelyan and Lavrentiy Kirakosyan – are still
under arrest. The lawyers of the convicts will be present at the press
conference, and a general assessment will be made on political
repression,” he said.

Armenian president appoints new national security chief
Noyan Tapan news agency
2 Jul 04
YEREVAN
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan signed a decree “On the National
Security Service [NSS] of the Republic of Armenia” on 30 June.
On the basis of the law “On ensuring the security of people under
special state protection”, Kocharyan endorsed the structure and
statute of the NSS.
On the same day, Kocharyan signed another decree appointing Grigoriy
Sarkisyan head of the NSS, the president’s press service has told
Noyan Tapan news agency.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Russian, Armenian police prevent smuggling of prostitutes to Middle East
RIA news agency, Moscow
2 Jul 04
YEREVAN
The Russian Interior Ministry and the Armenian police have carried out
a joint operation to smash a criminal gang which recruited young girls
in Armenia and smuggled them via Moscow to the UAE for prostitution.
Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev announced this to
journalists on Friday [2 July] after a meeting of the joint board of
the two ministries in the Armenian capital.
Nurgaliyev said the joint operation was carried out on 24 June
2004. “Our Armenian colleagues arrived in Moscow very quickly and we
carried out this operation very quickly,” Nurgaliyev said.
The Russian interior minister said the criminals brought the girls to
Moscow, provided them with documentation, after which they were sent
to the UAE for the purposes of prostitution.
“We freed six girls who were about to be sent abroad,” Nurgaliyev
said. He said this was a lucrative business. Members of the gang
received 2,000 dollars apiece for each girl.
“Altogether we have prevented about 100 girls being smuggled abroad,”
the minister said.
He also said two arrests had been made. The names of the arrested
persons have not been released. One of the detainees was responsible
for smuggling the girls through Moscow’s Domodedovo airport to foreign
destinations. The other hired the girls and found temporary
accommodation for them in flats.

Armenian, Russian police to step up fight against economic crimes
Mediamax news agency
2 Jul 04
YEREVAN
The growth in the commodity turnover between Armenia and Russia
increases the likelihood of economic crimes being committed on the
territory of the two countries, Mediamax news agency reports that the
chief of the Armenian Police, Ayk Arutyunyan, said this in Yerevan
today, speaking at a briefing on the results of a session of the
united collegium of the Russian Interior Ministry and the Armenian
Police.
Arutyunyan said that in order to increase the effectiveness of the
joint struggle against economic crimes, it is necessary to intensify
cooperation between the two countries’ law-enforcement bodies.
Ayk Arutyunyan said that according to the results of the united
collegium, relevant departments of the Armenian Police and the Russian
Interior Ministry were instructed to take joint operational-preventive
measures to counteract the criminalization of the Russian and Armenian
economies.
Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev stressed that the Yerevan
session could be described as special since specific measures in the
sphere of preventing economic crimes were adopted here.

Armenian paper notes importance of continuing cooperation with NATO
Hayots Ashkharh, Yerevan
30 Jun 04

Text of Artak Grigoryan’s report by Armenian newspaper Hayots Ashkharh
on 30 June headlined “NATO and Armenia”
The NATO summit which has come to an end in Istanbul has shown that
serious disagreements are continuing within this powerful military and
political bloc. Because of those disagreements a further split is
taking place in mutual interests in several main directions. They are:
a) Ways of settling the Iraq issue although the USA has moved its
“knight”: on the eve of the summit it handed over power in Iraq to the
Iraqis themselves, but failed to get France and Germany’s agreement to
use NATO forces in that country in this or other way;
b) In turn, the host country of the summit, Turkey, also did
everything possible to demonstrate its indispensability for the
Western community. But in this sense, the “performance was not
successful” either, as Bush was met in Istanbul by thousands of
demonstrators who showed a growth in anti-American moods in Turkey;
c) Also, they did not manage to restore severed cooperation between
Turkey and France, which is why Jacques Chirac did not reply to the
Turkish president’s hint about the recognition of the Armenian
genocide.
So the NATO summit showed that although the US leadership is doing
everything possible today to correct its mistakes in the Iraq war, it
has no more opportunity to return to “good old” times, because the
choice of new targets leads to a split in the interests of NATO member
countries. It is not by chance that the USA has adopted a strategy of
“employing” each of them in separate directions. The USA is trying to
take responsibility for the southern sector in order to preserve
control over the Arab world which is rich in mineral resources, is
directing the European Union to the South Caucasus and is trying to
direct Turkey to the European Union.
There is a question: will the USA manage to keep control over the
interests of its own partners who are gradually splitting up. Judging
by this, not all of them are going to oppose the USA. Simply each of
them is trying to solve its problems within the framework of
NATO. This working style is turning NATO into a specific “roof” under
which a fight for control over its separate “storeys” is taking place.
The understanding of this situation prompts us to assess in a
different way the problem of Armenia’s further cooperation with NATO,
i.e the task to see our own interests as much protected as
possible. So although Armenia continues to be a member of the CIS
Collective Security Treaty, next autumn it is going to draw up its own
programme of cooperation with NATO. Such cooperation is very necessary
to enable our country to participate in the processes taking place
within the framework of NATO today, that is, not to find ourselves
“sidelined”.
The reason is evident: although Turkey’s positions within NATO seem
strong and steadfast, this country is no longer indispensable. Turkey
has turned into a very heavy instrument which gradually rusts and
requires big expenses for taking care of it. But when the time comes
for using that complex instrument, Turkey starts putting its own
interests forward as in the case of Iraq.
In such conditions, remaining a member of the CIS Collective Security
Treaty and at the same time, strengthening our cooperation with NATO
is not a “double game”, but a conscious need “to find room” in the
world and regional security systems.
First of all, a small country like Armenia does not need to be in
opposition to any pole of power. Second, to soften as much as possible
a likely threat from the clash of their interests in the
region. Third, not to allow Turkey and Azerbaijan to use NATO for
weakening Armenia’s positions in the region. And finally, to
understand that the more often statements are made about Turkey’s
indispensability for NATO, the more evident is their role of a
junction.
We are sure that remaining a member of the CIS Collective Security
Treaty and at the same time, deepening its mutual cooperation with
NATO, Armenia will get several equally interesting opportunities for
strengthening its positions in the region and specific options for
their implementation.