Life After Communism: The Facts

In the ‘transition’ from communism, the suffering of the people of Eastern
Europe and the former Soviet Union has been great, while the hoped-for
freedom from exploitation and autocracy remains elusive.

The NI maps some of the costs of market-driven shock therapy.

Post-communist meltdown in Russia

– Throughout the entire Yeltsin transition period, flight of capital away
from Russia totalled between $1 and $2 billion US every month.1

– Each year from 1989 to 2001 there was a fall of approximately 8% in Russia
‘s productive assets.1

– Although Russia is largely an urban society, 3 out of every 4 people grow
some of their own food in order to be able to survive.2

– Male life expectancy went from 64.2 years in 1989 to 59.8 in 1999. The
drop in female life expectancy was less severe from 74.5 to 72.8 years.3

Transition costs – shock therapy

– The increase from 1990 to 1999 in the percentage of people living on less
than $1 a day was greater in the former communist countries (3.7%) than
anywhere else in the world.4

– The number of people living in ‘poverty’ in the former Soviet Republics
rose from 14 million in 1989 to 147 million even prior to the crash of the
rouble in 1998.2

Economic success
Poland was the only ‘transition’ country moving from a command to a market
economy to have a greater Gross Domestic Product in 1999 than it did in
1989.1 GDP growth between 1990 and 2001 was negative or close to negative in
every country of in the region with Russia (-3.7), Georgia (-5.6), Ukraine
(-7.9), Moldova (-8.4) and Tajikistan (-8.5) faring the worst.4

Equality
Slovakia tops the Gini index as the most equal country in the world. Russia
and Armenia are amongst the most unequal.4

Privatization
Between 1993 and 1995, 20,000 out of 27,000 Russian state enterprises were
privatized. The Government sold them for about 10% per cent of their true
value.1

The state rolls back in
Despite its transition to a market economy the bureaucracy in Russia has
grown dramatically. The Soviet bureaucracy under Brezhnev (Soviet
centralism) made up about 12 million people. It ballooned to 18 million
under Gorbachev (restructure). Under Yeltsin (transition) the number of
state functionaries in Russia alone exceeded that for the whole Soviet Union
in Gorbachev’s time.1

Soviet resurrections
Of the 20 current presidents of Eastern European nations (excluding the
former Yugoslavia) and countries which used to be part of the Soviet Union
11 are former party insiders (called nomenklatura).

The Ego of them all
Turkmenistan ‘President for Life’ Saparmurat Niyazov has erected a golden
statue of himself that rotates 24 hours a day so that it always faces the
sun and has renamed the months and days of the week to honour himself, his
mother and his favourite national heroes.

All monetary values are expressed in US dollars.
1 Boris Kagarlitsky, Russia Under Yeltsin and Putin, Pluto, London 2002.
2 Stephen Cohen, Failed Crusade, Norton, New York, 2001.
3 Martin McCauley, Bandits, Gangsters and the Mafia, Longman, London, 2001.
4 2003 World Development Indicators, World Bank, Washington.
5 World Guide, 2003/2004, Montevideo 2003.

—

New Internationalist
April 2004

Armenian Lives

A photo essay on poverty and transition by Onnik Krikorian

Throughout the former Soviet Union, the transition to a market economy has
incurred a heavy price. In Armenia, according to official statistics, 50 per
cent of the people live below the national poverty line and 23.7 per cent of
the population lives on less than $1 a day. The National Statistics Service
reports that 70 per cent of Armenians live on a staple diet of macaroni,
bread and potatoes. Armenia has the most unequal distribution of wealth in
all of the former Soviet Union. The new World Bank-initiated Poverty
Reduction Strategy (2003) has identified endemic corruption and a shadow
economy that accounts for up to 60 per cent of all business dealings in the
Republic.

Pic 1: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) identifies urban
poverty as a growing concern in Armenia. In Yerevan, this family lives in a
dilapidated hostel. One week after this photograph was taken, the child
sitting on her mother’s lap died.

Pic 2: Armenian refugees from the conflict with Azerbaijan lead a precarious
existence. According to the Armenian Government, there are 245,106 refugees
registered in the Republic and over 70,000 who have been displaced from the
Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Pic 3: A man living in dilapidated housing in the Armenian capital, Yerevan,
removes copper wire from old appliances to sell. He will earn 300 dram
(about 50 cents) for every kilo of copper he retrieves.

Pic 4: A pensioner catches fish in a lake near the southern town of Sisian.
With pensions standing at approximately 5,000 dram a month (less than $10),
he will sell the fish for around 20 cents each to businesses that will then
sell them for considerably more in Yerevan.

Pic 5: After having their three children taken and placed in a children’s
home, this couple work sweeping the streets for 15,000 dram a month
(approximately $30) in order to provide for a family home they and their
children can return to.

Pic 6: Life for some, however, is not bad. Corruption, as elsewhere in the
former Soviet Union, is endemic in Armenia and especially in the police
force. Although salaries for police officers stand at around $20 a month,
bribes from passing motorists are commonplace and are passed up in a chain
that leads straight to the top.

Pic 7: Twelve years after Armenia declared independence from the former
Soviet Union, internal social tensions escalated during the presidential
elections held in 2003 as a result of poor living standards. The Council of
Europe considered that the elections fell far short of international
standards. More than 40,000 Armenians took to the streets in support of the
main opposition candidate to protest the announcement of a second term for
the incumbent, Robert Kocharian.

—

Pravda.RU:World

Armenia and USA sign military agreement

18:30 2004-04-26

Armenia and the USA have signed a military agreement on rendering mutual
services, Mikhail Arutyunyan, the Head of the Command Staff and the Senior
Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia said at today’s briefing. There has been
created a legal basis, which will allow both countries to render logistic
support to each other during joint actions and military exercises on the
terms of mutual compensation, he noted. “The rights and duties stipulated in
the agreement are mutual and will allow military forces of the two states to
establish allied relations during joint actions and exercises,” Arutyunyan
mentioned.

In his turn, U.S. General Charles Wald, the Deputy Commander of U.S. Forces
in Europe, declared that this agreement was important for military forces of
the USA as Armenia and that cooperation between the two states was
developing in a stable way.

© RBC

ITAR-TASS, Russia
April 26 2004

Decision to send Armenian army transport company to Iraq

YEREVAN, April 26 (Itar-Tass) – The Military Command of Armenia has
decided to send an army transport company to Iraq, where it is to
take part in the country’s rehabilitation, Chief of the General Staff
of the Armenian Armed Forces and First Deputy Defence Minister
Colonel-General Mikhail Aratyunyan stated here on Monday.

`This decision is yet to be considered by the Armenian parliament and
endorsed by the president,’ the general noted. Ready to be sent to
Iraq is a company of sappers and three army physicians, he added.

`We cannot overlook the fact that there is an Armenian community in
Iraq, we must think of our future and must contribute to the
restoration of Iraq,’ the Chief of Staff believes.

In conformity with the Armenian-American agreement on reciprocal
purchases and deliveries, which was concluded on Monday, the
Americans will provide the Armenian army trucks in Iraq with fuel on
account of mutual settlements, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Forces in
Europe Charles Word has explained in Yerevan.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ITAR-TASS, Russia
April 26 2004

Armenia, US armed forces sign agreement on purchases and supplies

YEREVAN, April 26 (Itar-Tass) – Armenia’s Armed Forces and the U.S.
European Command signed an agreement on purchases and supplies on
Monday.

First Deputy Defence Minister Colonel-General Mikhail Arutyunyan,
chief of Armenia’s General Staff, said on Monday the agreement will
make it possible to provide logistical support to each other during
different exercises with the following compensation on a mutual
basis.

All obligations `are of mutual nature and allow the armies of the two
countries to establish ally relationship,’ the Armenian general said.

General Charles F. Wald, deputy commander of the U.S. European
Command, said the agreement is very important both for the U.S. and
Armenia. The agreement envisions fuelling up of American military
planes at Armenia’s airfields. Armenian aircraft will be fuelled up
at U.S. military bases in Europe.

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
April 26 2004

PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES UK SPECIAL
REPRESENTATIVE ON SOUTH CAUCASUS BRIAN FALL
[April 26, 2004, 21:39:44]

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev received at
the Presidential Palace Mr. Brian Fall, the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland special representative on the South
Caucasus, April 26.

President Ilham Aliyev highly appreciated Mr. Brian Fall’s activity
and noted that his visit to the region would contribute to expanding
cooperation between the two countries. Speaking of rapidly developing
political and economic relations between Azerbaijan and the United
Kingdom, the Head of State mentioned active involvement of British
companies and investors in the large-scale energy projects being
implemented in Azerbaijan. In this connection, he expressed special
satisfaction with activities of British Petroleum in realization of
oil and gas projects of not only regional but also global
significance.

Touching upon regional problems, President Ilham Aliyev pointed to
unsolved Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resulted in
occupation of 20% of Azerbaijan’s territories and existence of over
one million refugees, and expressed hope for international
organizations to intensify their efforts for its urgent solution. He
also stressed the necessity of the UK representative’s active
contribution in peace process.

Mr. Brian Fall especially emphasized that British companies invest in
not only oil and gas sector but are also actively involved in
development of other spheres of Azerbaijan’s economy. He noted as
well that during this second visit to Azerbaijan he had become a
witness of great progress and positive changes occurred in the
country.

The guest siad that Azerbaijan, which had created favorable
conditions for not only British but also a number of respectable
investors from other countries, has bright and prosperous future.

Expressing concern over the long-lasting Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh problem, the UK special representative on the South
Caucasus Mr. Brian Fall described the refugees and IDPs as those
suffered most from the conflict, and highly appreciated President
Ilham Aliyev’s efforts for both its peaceful settlement and
improvement of the people’s living conditions.

A comprehensive exchange of views on a number of other issues of
mutual interest was also held during the meeting.

Mr. Brian Fall expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the
sincere conversation.

Present at the meeting were Chief of the Presidential
Administration’s International Relations Department Mr. Novruz
Mammadov and Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Azerbaijan Mr.
Laurie Bristow.

Rolling Stone
April 26 2004

System Honor Armenian Souls

Benefit seeks to raise awareness of genocide

Before System of a Down wrapped up their Souls 2004 benefit with the
song “P.L.U.C.K. (Politically Lying, Unholy, Cowardly Killers),”
frontman Serj Tankanian yelled from the stage, “I want to thank you
guys for making this one of the best fucking shows!”
The sold-out concert, held Saturday night at Los Angeles’ Greek
Theater, raised awareness of the World War I-era mass murders of
Armenians by Turkey’s Ottoman Empire, which Turkey and several other
nations, including the U.S., refuse to recognize as genocide.

System began with a five-song barrage that began with “Aerials” and
ended with “Chop Suey.” During a high-octane version of “War?,”
Tankian chanted “Bush is gonna let us all mother fuckers die” to
thunderous applause.

Guitarist Daron Malakian then addressed the crowd: “We ain’t fucking
around. We’re not gonna gyp you like all those fucking bands on MTV.”
Malakian surprised his bandmates by singing an Armenian love song and
concluding “P.L.U.C.K.” with a solo guitar version of the Armenian
national anthem that moved bassist Shavo Odadjian to tears.

It was one of two times on this night the bassist admitted to letting
his emotions go. “My grandpa walked backstage and when he was hugging
me he was crying,” he said backstage after the show. “And it made me
start bawling. He witnessed it. He had to eat grass for weeks. He
doesn’t know his age, we don’t know his birthday and we don’t know
our family trees. To be able to make our families and all these
people we don’t know feel this way is so important to us.”

If there was one downside for fans, it was that the band, which is in
the midst of writing a new album, due by the end of the year, didn’t
play any of the new songs. Odadjian said it wasn’t for lack of
material. “We have a lot of songs, but we’re not going to play them
and perform them until they’re really ready.”

System of a Down set list:

Aerials
Suite-Pee
Suggestions
Psycho
Chop Suey
Kitt
Soil
Forest
War?
Mind
Mr. Jack
Sugar
Chick ‘N’ Stu
Innervision
ATWA
Prison Song
Needles
Deer Dance
Toxicity
Science
Roulette
Unnamed Armenian Ballad
P.L.U.C.K.

STEVE BALTIN
(April 26, 2004)

Associated Press
April 26 2004

Clinton’s Memoirs to Be Released in June

HILLEL ITALIE
Associated Press

NEW YORK – The suspense is over, almost. Former President Clinton’s
memoirs will be published in late June, and promotion will begin a
few weeks earlier with a speech at BookExpo America, the industry’s
annual convention.

“It is the fullest and most nuanced account of a presidency ever
written, and one of the most revealing and remarkable memoirs I have
ever had the honor of publishing,” Sonny Mehta, president and
editor-in-chief of Alfred A. Knopf, said in a statement Monday.

“He talks with candor about his successes, as well as his setbacks,
looking at both his career in public service and his life.”

The book, for which Clinton received a reported $10 million to $12
million, will be called “My Life.” Knopf is planning a first printing
of 1.5 million, a realistic number given the success of “Living
History,” the memoirs of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Nearly 1.7 million copies of the hardcover of “Living History” are in
print and a 525,000 first printing was announced for the paperback,
which just came out.

If the former president should fail to sell more books than the first
lady, he won’t be alone. Memoirs by Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan
both proved less popular than those written by their wives.

No precise date has been set for the book, which Clinton is still
completing. Details on the book’s length, cover and promotional tour
are also being worked out. One event has been scheduled: Clinton will
speak at BookExpo America, which takes place in Chicago from June
3-6. Then-first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke at BookExpo in
1995.

Like Bob Woodward’s “Plan of Attack” and Richard Clarke’s “Against
All Enemies,” Clinton’s book will likely make its way into the
presidential campaign, especially if the former president defends his
record on fighting terrorism.

The book was edited by Robert Gottlieb, who has worked with such
Pulitzer Prize winners as Robert Caro, Toni Morrison and Katharine
Graham.

But it will be an admittedly hurried production, with Knopf having
just two months to convert the manuscript into a finished book, a
process that often takes several months.

If Bill Clinton turns out a first-rate memoir, especially about his
presidential years, he will be a true path breaker. The only highly
regarded presidential memoir is by Ulysses Grant, who devoted the
vast majority of the book to his triumphant Civil War military
leadership and wrote virtually nothing about his often disastrous
presidency.

Most presidential works have the dull, self-serving tone of a
prepared speech. They suffer from the impersonal hand of a ghost
writer or from the impersonal tastes of the president. The memoirs of
Herbert Hoover, for example, include balance sheets on food
assistance to Armenia and Lithuania and estimated totals of dried
fruit exports.

Timing and luck have kept some of the more eloquent leaders from
telling their stories. Four early, literary presidents – Thomas
Jefferson, James Madison and John and John Quincy Adams – never
published full-length memoirs largely because it was considered in
poor taste to dwell on one’s accomplishments.

Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy were assassinated; Franklin
Roosevelt also died in office and Woodrow Wilson finished his
presidency in such poor health he never got past the preface of an
intended book.

Governors Office of Emergency Services and Partners Announce Disaster
Preparedness Conference

SACRAMENTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–04/26/2004–Disaster experts from
California and around the world, including Taiwan, Japan, Turkey and
Armenia, will offer their insights and expertise at the upcoming
fourth annual Disaster Resistant California conference, being held May
3-5 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento.

The conference, hosted by the Governor’s Office of Emergency
Services, in partnership with the Collaborative for Disaster
Mitigation at SJSU, brings together local, state, national and
international experts in disaster preparedness, response, recovery and
mitigation. The theme — Realistic Strategies — underscores the
conference’s aim to highlight best practices that can be easily
adopted.

More than 500 attendees from government, the private sector,
nonprofit organizations, and academia will share their knowledge on
how communities and businesses strengthen their resistance to natural
and human-caused disasters. The conference will feature more than 70
presentations, including talks on:

— The latest alert and warning system technology

— The strength of well-trained disaster volunteers

— The media experience during crisis

— Best mitigation practices in California adopted overseas

— Emergency survival for businesses

— The psychological aspects of surviving disaster

— Lessons learned from Southern California Fires

Also featured are more than 30 exhibitors, technology
demonstrations, DRC Community awards and professional development
courses. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about
and comment on the draft State Hazard Mitigation Plan and hear from
cities about their progress on local mitigation plans, due in
November.

For a complete schedule and registration, visit
Media representatives: please register by contacting
the media contacts.

OES coordinates state-level emergency preparedness, response,
recovery and mitigation for a wide range of natural and human-caused
emergencies and disasters. As part of its responsibilities, OES
coordinates the California Mutual Aid System. Through this “neighbor
helping neighbor” system, resources from throughout the state can be
called on to support local governments, and work with other state and
federal agencies.

The Collaborative for Disaster Mitigation at San Jose State
University is a collaborative effort among local governments, the
private sector and academia. Its main focus is to limit loss of life,
injury and property damage from natural disasters, and to accelerate
economic recovery through implementation of mitigation measures.

CONTACT:Media Contacts/Reservations: OES Sheryl Tankersley,
916-845-8458 or San Leandro Dan Lunsford, 510-577-3332 or CARD Ana
Marie Jones, 510-451-3140

SOURCE: Collaborative for Disaster Mitigation

04/26/2004 14:06 EASTERN

Armenian Assembly of America
122 C Street, NW, Suite 350
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-3434
Fax: 202-363-4904
Email: [email protected]
Web:

PRESS RELEASE
April 26, 2004
Contact: David Zenian
E-Mail [email protected]

PRESIDENT BUSH AVOIDS THE WORD “GENOCIDE” TO MOLLIFY TURKEY

WASHINGTON -The Armenian Assembly of America Monday expressed surprise and
disappointment in President Bush’s statement of commemoration on the
occasion of the 89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide which used
language to clearly define the events but once again stopped short of using
the word genocide.

In his statement this year, the President said, in part:

“On this day, we pause in remembrance of one of the most horrible tragedies
of the 20th century, the annihilation of as many as 1.5 million Armenians
through forced exile and murder at the end of the Ottoman Empire.”

While the choice of words in President Bush’s statement were in effect a
textbook definition of the crime which many nations have acknowledged and
recognized as the first genocide of the 20th century, the statement this
year again fell short of his 2000 election campaign pledge when he said:

“The 20th century was marred by unimaginable brutality, mass murder and
genocide. History records that the Armenians were the first people in the
last century to have endured these cruelties. Armenians were subjected to a
genocidal campaign that defies comprehension… If elected President, I
would ensure that our nation properly recognizes the tragic suffering of the
Armenian people.”

But for the 4th Armenian Genocide commemorative statement since his
election, President Bush again failed to fulfill his election promise.

“It is deeply disappointing that our President chose to avoid historical
truth and the politically inevitable – U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian
Genocide. With our northern neighbor last week joining the growing list of
nations that reject Turkish threats of retribution, the U.S. may well be the
last western nation to do what is right,” Assembly Board of Trustees
Chairman Hirair Hovnanian said.

The Canadian House of Commons last weeks joined France, Italy, the Vatican,
a number of other European countries and the European Parliament in
acknowledging this crime against humanity as genocide.

Also last week, the New York Times reversed decades of ambiguity by
declaring in favor of using the term “genocide” to describe the cataclysm of
1915. The Boston Globe adopted a similar policy change last year.

“The process of genocide affirmation is clear. When any reputable or
resolute government, journal or international body examines the facts, sets
aside politics and rejects Turkish intimidation, the Armenian Genocide is
reaffirmed,” Assembly Board of Directors Chairman Anthony Barsamian said.

Unlike President Bush, Democratic Presidential candidate Senator John Kerry
(D-MA) last week reiterated his often stated recognition of the Genocide and
called on “governments and people everywhere to formally recognize this
tragedy. Only by learning from this dark period of history and working to
prevent further genocides can we truly honor the memories of those Armenians
who suffered unjustly.”

The Armenian Assembly of America is the largest Washington-based nationwide
organization promoting public understanding and awareness of Armenian
issues. It is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt membership organization.

NR # 2004-046

Following is the text of President Bush’s statement:

“On this day, we pause in remembrance of one of the most horrible
tragedies of the 20th century, the annihilation of as many as 1.5
million Armenians through forced exile and murder at the end of the
Ottoman Empire. This terrible event remains a source of pain for
people in Armenia and Turkey and for all those who believe in
freedom, tolerance, and the dignity of every human life. I join with
my fellow Americans and the Armenian community in the United States
and around the world in mourning this loss of life.

The United States is proud of the strong ties we share with Armenia.
>From the end of World War I and again since the reemergence of an
independent Armenian state in 1991, our country has sought a
partnership with Armenia that promotes democracy, security
cooperation, and free markets. Today, our Nation remains committed to
a peace settlement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and is grateful
for Armenia’s continuing cooperation in the war on terror. By
advancing understanding and goodwill, free nations can help build a
brighter future for the world. Our country seeks to help Armenia
expand its strategic relations with the United States and our
European allies.

Generations of Armenian Americans have also strengthened our
communities and enriched our Nation’s character. By preserving their
heritage, faith, and traditions, Armenian Americans enhance the
diversity that makes America great.

I commend individuals in Armenia and Turkey who have worked to
support peace and reconciliation, including through the
Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission, and call on Armenia and
Turkey to restore their economic, political, and cultural ties. I
also send warm wishes and expressions of solidarity to the Armenian
people on this solemn day of remembrance.”

GEORGE W. BUSH