Jailed Armenian opposition official goes on hunger strike

Jailed Armenian opposition official goes on hunger strike

Noyan Tapan news agency
26 Apr 04

YEREVAN

Aramazd Zakaryan, member of the political board of the Anrapetutyun
[Republic] Party, who is being held in Nubarashen prison, went on an
open-ended hunger strike on 24 April.

Zakaryan believes that his arrest and accusations levelled at him are
political persecution, the party’s press service told Noyan Tapan news
agency.

ARKA News Agency – 04/26/2004

ARKA News Agency
April 26 2004

RA President takes part in charity concert of famous singer Charles
Aznavur in Paris

150 culture figures of russia will take part in Russian Culture Days
in Armenia

Monument-Khachkar Memorial to 1915 Armenian Genocide victims placed
in Akhaltskha City (Georgia)

President Bush fails to honor pledge to recognize Armenian Genocide
for the fourth time

Armenian-Russian culture links have great perspectives – Robert
Kocharian

The Caucasus Media Institute organizes three-day practice courses
online journalism

The RA President Robert Kocharian goes to Paris with an official
visit

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RA PRESIDENT TAKES PART IN CHARITY CONCERT OF FAMOUS SINGER CHARLES
AZNAVUR IN PARIS

YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. RA President Robert Kocharian and first
lade Bella Kocharian took part in charity concert of famous singer
Charles Aznavur in Paris. All assets from the concert will be
transferred to the fund Aznavur to Armenia. Kocharian also met with
UNESCO Secretary General Kuetiro Matsuro.
On April 25, the President Kocharian left for working visit in Paris.
Kocharian will meet with the President of France Jack Shirak.
On April 27 delegation headed with Kocharian will leave for Warsaw
for participation in the work of European economic forum.
The President of Armenia will also take part in working sitting
Caucasus and will participate in opening of plenary sitting. L.D.
–0–

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150 CULTURE FIGURES OF RUSSIA WILL TAKE PART IN RUSSIAN CULTURE DAYS
IN ARMENIA

YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. 150 culture figures of Russia will take
part in Russian Culture Days in Armenia, RA Minister of Culture and
Youth Affairs Tamara Poghosian stated at the press conference in
Yerevan. According to her, Russian Culture Days are the event in
cultural life of Armenia and the level of Armenian-Russian culture
cooperation obliges to conduct the program of activities at the
highest level. She said that activities on this program will take
place not only in Yerevan, but in Vanadzor, Gyumri and Spitak.
The Head of Russian Delegation Vladimir Kozlov in his turn said that
present program envisages not less than 15 large activities,
including Russian Movie Day, concerts of Vivaldi orchestra, Russian
song, Semen Altov, Alexander Buinov and others. L.D. –0–

*********************************************************************

MONUMENT-KHACHKAR MEMORIAL TO 1915 ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS PLACED
IN AKHALTSKHA CITY (GEORGIA)

YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. Monument-Khachkar Memorial to 1915
Armenian Genocide victims was placed in Akhaltskha City (Georgia).
Khachkar was placed at the highest hill of the city, by Surb Nshan
Church.
The same day, on April 24, Tbilisian Church Surb Echmiadzin finished
a liturgy, which was followed with procession to Pantheon of famous
figures of Tbilisi.
>From the beginning of the 19th century till 1920, the Ottoman Empire,
legal successor of which is today’s turkey, regularly tormented and
persecuted Armenians. The top of barbarity was in 1915 when over a
million of Armenians was massacred in different regions of West
Armenia, part of the Empire.
The fact of the Armenian Genocide has been recognised by many
countries, including Uruguay (the first state that recognised the
genocide in 1965), Russia, France, Argentina, Greece, Lower Chamber
of Italy, 31 states of the U.S. L.D. -0–

*********************************************************************

PRESIDENT BUSH FAILS TO HONOR PLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
FOR THE FOURTH TIME

YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. President Bush, ignoring calls from over
190 U.S. legislators, failed, once again, to honor his campaign
pledge to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as “genocide,”
reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). In a
statement issued today, on April 24th, the annual day of remembrance
for the Armenian Genocide, the President again resorted to the use of
evasive and euphemistic terminology to obscure the reality of
Turkey’s Genocide against the Armenian people between 1915-1923. This
year’s statement praised the Turkish Armenian Reconciliation
Commission (TARC,) the failed State Department funded initiative
devised to derail progress toward international recognition of the
Armenian Genocide. The effort was universally rejected by Armenians
in the U.S., Armenia and around the world. “We do appreciate that
President Bush has, once again, taken the time to mark April 24th as
a day of remembrance. Armenian Americans, however, remain deeply
troubled that for the fourth year in a row, despite his repeated
calls for ‘moral clarity’ in the conduct of our international
affairs, he has allowed pressure by a foreign government to reduce
the President of the United States to using evasive and euphemistic
terminology to avoid properly identifying the Armenian Genocide – an
important chapter in America’s emergence as an international
humanitarian power – as what is was: a genocide,” said ANCA Executive
Director Aram Hamparian. “The President’s failure to honor his
campaign promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide is compounded by
the fact that, in this statement, he commends the thoroughly
discredited Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission, a transparent
partnership between the U.S. State Department and the Turkish
government to block the growing international recognition of and
justice for Turkey’s crime against the Armenian nation.” “It is also
plainly disingenuous for the President to ‘call on both Armenia and
Turkey to restore their economic, political, and cultural ties,’ when
it is the Turkish government that has illegally imposed a decade-long
blockade of Armenia, and it has been Armenia that has called for the
normalization of bilateral relations without preconditions. This
formulation suggests either a lack of understanding of the region or
a deliberate effort to artificially play down Turkey’s belligerent
posture while simultaneously devaluing Armenia’s very meaningful
contributions to regional stability.” The Bush Administration is
formally on record in opposition to Congressional legislation
recognizing the Armenian Genocide. For the position of the Democratic
Presidential hopeful John Kerry regarding Armenian Genocide
ecognition, please visit. L.D. -0 –

*********************************************************************

ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN CULTURE LINKS HAVE GREAT PERSPECTIVES – ROBERT
KOCHARIAN

YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. Armenian-Russian culture links have great
perspectives, RA President Robert Kocharian’s statement considering
Russian Culture Day in Armenia says. `Armenian-Russian culture links
have many-years’ history and cooperation development based on this
heritage is the wealth that we must keep for future generations’, the
statement said.
On April 26-30 Russian Culture Days will be held in Yerevan, during
which the multifaceted Russian art will be presented to the Armenian
public. These days will be in the frames of culture cooperation
between RA and RF Culture Ministries in 2003-2005.
A big gala concert will open the Russian days in Demirchyan Sport and
Concert Hall. Russian Song ensemble with Nadezhda Babkina, musical
bands Vivaldi Orchestra and Phonographjaz-Band’, satirists Semen
Altov and Efim Shifrin will perform on the concert. A Russian play
will be presented in Stanislavky Russian Dramatic Theater.
The Russian Cinema Week will be presented by such films as Slav
Woman’s Marsh, Sunstroke, Break Point, Carmen, Ark. The Union of
Painters of Armenia hall will host the exhibition presenting the
works by Chairman of Union of Painters of Russia Valentin Sidorov. As
planned the Russian art will also be presented in Spitak, Gyumri and
Vanadzor. L.D. -0 –

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THE CAUCASUS MEDIA INSTITUTE ORGANIZES THREE-DAY PRACTICE COURSES
ONLINE JOURNALISM

YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA. The Caucasus Media Institute organizes
online journalism three-day vocational training courses to be held
from 1 June to June 3. As the CMI told ARKA, the courses will have
the following thematic: principles of the published information, how
to write information: issues of structure and ethics, how to make the
information more readable and interesting, efficient use of the text
in print, images and animation. Best sample technique will allow
demonstrating how to make the material, more readable and
interesting. The issue of selection of the materials for Internet
publication, productive use of images will be touched upon.
The participants will be involved in-group workshops. The courses
will be lead by representative of Dublin University,
journalist-adviser Harry Quinn. The potential participants should
submit applications.
CMI was organized in April 2002 with the purpose of development of
the mass media on the Southern Caucasus, rising of the journalists’
vocational level: introduction of the journalism international
standards in the South Caucasus, enhancing of the journalists vision,
as well as teaching them the current events analyses methods. T.M.
-0–

*********************************************************************

THE RA PRESIDENT ROBERT KOCHARIAN GOES TO PARIS WITH AN OFFICIAL
VISIT

YEREVAN, April 26. /ARKA/. The RA President Robert Kocharian went to
Paris with an official visit. According to the RA President’s Press
Service Department, Kocharian to meet the president of France Jacques
Chirac. Besides, President Kocharian and his wife will Mrs. Bella
Kocharian will be present on the concert of a world famous singer
Charles Aznavour at the Palais des Congres in Paris. President
Kocharian will also meet with the Director of the Bouigue company,
Olivier Bouigue.
According to the press release, On April 27, President Robert
Kocharian, accompanied by the Armenian Ministers of Foreign Affairs,
and Trade and Economic Development will leave for Warsaw to
participate in the European economic forum.
The President will participate in the Caucasus working session and
attend the opening plenary session. Robert Kocharian is also expected
to meet with the Executive President of the World Economic Forum
Claus Schwab. While in Warsaw, President Kocharian will have
bilateral meetings with President Alexander Kwasniewski of Poland and
Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia.A.H. –0–

Russia as Armenia’s #1 strategic partner…

ARKA News Agency – Interview
April 26 2004

RUSSIA AS ARMENIA’S NUMBER ONE STRATEGIC PARTNER ABLE TO SECURE
DYNAMIC DEVELOPMENT OF ARMENIAN ECONOMY

Exclusive interview of the Chairman of Union of Manufacturers &
Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia Arsen Ghazaryan to ARKA News
Agency.

ARKA – Mr. Ghazaryan, what is the current state of the Armenian-
Russian economic relations?

A. Ghazaryan – I should say that after the collapse of the Soviet
Union Russia remained a key partner to Armenia. We import raw
materials and energetic carriers from Russia.. On the other hand, the
Russian market is the largest and the most available for the Armenian
goods. During the recent 3-4 years the volume of bilateral
trade-economic relations has considerably grown as compared with the
previous period. This was achieved due to the fact that the Armenian
companies adjust the quality of their products to the international
standards, which Russia, naturally, adheres. Besides, our companies
gain experience of being involved in the Russian market. In case of
existing of normal transport communication between our countries, the
bilateral turnover of goods would have surpassed today’s indicator
three-, four-fold as a minimum. For instance, at present, there are
many imported construction materials from Ukraine in Armenia, if the
railway would have functioned normally, such goods could have been
purchased from Russia as well. Bilateral economic co-operation
received new dynamics after the mutual visits of the President of RF
and RA Vladimir Putin and Robert Kocharian in 2001. So called ethnic
capital was moved to the first view; Russian businessmen with
Armenian background became more active. Today they make rather
considerable investments in their motherland, particularly, in
construction sector, banking system and other spheres. As one of the
best examples of the kind I can name the International Business
Centre, which, in fact, rescued one of our leading banks,
particularly Ardshinbank, as well as several industrial plants such
as Syrius, Arax, Basalt, Almast. As far as I know, IBC, headed by
Karen Safaryan, a famous Moscow businessman, is going to make new
investments in Armenia, which I can only welcome. The activities of
Ara Abrahamyan, Chairman of Union the Armenians of Russia, must be
highly appreciated, who except social initiatives, unfolds
considerable business activities. We count on the fact that our
compatriots having effective business in Russia, will join the
Property for Debts joint program and will attract new Armenian
businessmen in the program. Recently the Russian side displays
interests in the Armenian plants, which were a part of a single
powerful military-industrial complex. We are preparing a detailed
database on these companies and are going to present it to our
Russian partners by the late February. It is of utmost importance to
receive new offers for them, especially if they have preserved their
productive and sci- tech potential, professional specialists that can
and wish to work. I should especially mention the steps taken by RAO
UES. A number of leading energetic objects of Armenia were
transferred under the management or became the property of this
powerful company. New and very good possibilities for exporting
energy to the third countries are opening for the Russian power
engineers. At the same time, the issue of import of the fuel for the
Armenian NPP, which guarantees its normal functioning, was solved.
The Russian capital enlivens ALSO the Armenian construction sector.
For instance, due to it was possible to begin the construction of
Northern Avenue in Yerevan, construction of which was planned already
in 1930 by the great Armenian architect Alexander Tamanyan. The
Russian investors, being confident in perspectives of Armenia’s
economic development, decided to make investments in the real estate
sector as well. By the way, it isn’t accidental that the prices of
apartments on the Northern Avenue increased very quickly reaching
almost the prices of Moscow (today 1 sq. meter of the elite
apartments under construction cost $1000, while the ready ones cost
$1600 and more. Lately, promising results were recorded in the
engineering tools and mechanical engineering sectors. I would like to
mention Mshak CJSC, headed by Levon Poghosyan, who recently became
Deputy Director of Stankoimport Russian company on scientific issues.
At present joint projects on Armenian companies participation in
technical renovation of Russian Tool engineering and machinery
engineering industry are being developed. ABM Soft company attracted
Russian capital for purchasing the control packet of shares of
Yerevan’s Armstanok plant and it is going to implement Digital
Program Installments projects, which are expected to be exported to
Russia. We can bring many such examples. It’s worth mentioning that
they witness an important constructive step forward. Russia doesn’t
treat Armenia as a `junior brother’, who needs assistance
permanently. Armenia is the equal partner for Russia. Armenian market
becomes more attractive for the Russian investors, as a convenient
transit point and a gateway to Iran, countries of the Middle East and
the Persian Gulf too. All these activities contribute to the
formation of joint economic space. That’s why it’s a good example for
the other CIS member countries, as the level of the economic
integration within the framework of CIS, notwithstanding numerous
declarations on that occasion, is still is not satisfactory.

ARKA – Thus, considerable growth of the Russian investments in
Armenia is evident now. But is there any opposite process?

A. Ghazaryan – Yes, there is. Today the volume of the investments
made by the Armenians in Russia is increasing as well. This is
connected with the traditional labour migration. The matter is, that
if we objectively evaluate the given phenomenon, it should be
considered as the least evil, as, in fact, it is an investment too, a
technical, financial, intellectual , etc. On the other hand, our
compatriots leaving for Russia to work, aren’t separated from their
families and don’t lose the sense of obligations to their country.
The new migration regime, regulating the communication between our
countries, helps to be confident about receiving Russian citizenship
or the permanent residence right. They can peacefully work. That is
why it is very important that the Armenian businessmen began
establishing joint companies in Russia. Kasnodar and Stavropol,
Rostov and other regions of the Southern Russia can be examples. The
number of our compatriots living compactly here is traditionally
enormous. The businessmen living here are our `agents’ in Russain
market in the best meaning of the word. I wouldn’t like to be
trivial, but the successful advancement of the Armenian brandy can be
explained not only by the investments and professionalism, but also
by the skilful management of French company `Piernod Ricard’, which
is today’s Yerevan Brandy Company, but also by Russian market. At
present, both YBC and Great Valley, Yerevan Wine-Vodka Factory Ararat
and many other companies are effectively working there. The problem
is not the realisation but the production in the necessary volume:
more and more offers are being received. The same thing concerns the
production of Armenian canned fruits and concentrates, over 50 % of
which is exported to RF.
Thus, Russia is our strategic partner # 1, which can secure logical
continuation and dynamic development for the Armenian economy.
Armenian businessmen working there never face communicative and
psychological problems there.

ARKA – Then what’s the matter?

A. Ghazaryan – The matter is, that we have to define the spheres in
which the realisation of the joint projects is the most optimal and
prospective, where Armenia is a very convenient transi corridor and a
market for Russia. The researches should be madin this very
direction. The UIEA, as NGO, in which many leading Armenian
businessmen are included, also the entrepreneurs working with the
Russian partners, try to do their best to strenghten these relations.
Naturally, we will continue the cooperation with our Russian
partners. First of all with the Russian Union of Industrialists and
Entrepreneurs, led by A. I. Wolsky. We regularly hold joint forums,
`round tables’, conferences. We are meeting each year. Th e regular
dialogue took place in end February in Moscow, within the framework
of the meeting of Yuri Lugzkov and Yervand Zakharyan, Mayors of
Moscow and Yerevan. Anopther our big partner is the International
Congress of the Industriallsits’ and Entrepeniours’ Unions, led by W.
K. Glukhikh. This congress unites the businesmen from the 22
countries of the former Soviet Union and Western Europe. The
cooperation with such authority organizations help operatively
exchange valuable information and find partners for our businessmen.

ARKA – But the transportation problems still make the work more
difficult, don’t they?

A. Ghazaryan – Unfortunately, they really do. The lack of land
borders with Russia makes the matter more difficult. But, it doesn’t
hinder to organize exporting goods and row materials. Armenia isn’t
in transport blockade, as it was in the early 1990-es. But today the
expenditures for the transportations are extremely high, which
increases the first cost of the goods. It is a paradoxes, but today
to sent a container to Moscow will be more expensive that to send it
to Rotterdam or Marseille. As it is cheaper to send it by the sea
directly, than to do it by the railroad or by tracking.

ARKA – What can you say about the legal field?

A. Ghazaryan – There are no problems here. The agreement- legal base,
regulating the bilateral economic relations, has been elaborated,
discussed and signed long ago.
We merely shouldn’t forget that in CIS Armenia and Russia are
different countries. And today, our managing objects increase the
advalorem tax not here but, when exporting them to Russia, in Russia.
The import is built according to the same principle. At the same
time, Armenia can have preferences when importing some row materials,
based on the deals signed within the framework of CIS. I think, if
Armenia joins the Custom’s Union, it will make export to Russia
easier. Many things will be specified also after the RF’s statement
in the World Trade Organization. Armenia joined the WTO in the
September of 2003, and in this respect, the normative base was rather
improved. Wee have become quite experienced here.

ARKA – Does it seem that this experience could be useful for Russia?

A. Ghazaryan – In current job Russia, of course, follows the
experience of the governments wich are friendly to it, also including
Armenia. Really, we have something to tell and explain.

ARKA – What do the Russian-Armenian economic links think about
three-sided co-operation between Armenia, Russia and Iran?

A. Ghazaryan – Great importance is given to this co-operation like
before. Iranian businessmen are very interested in establishing
contacts with Russian colleagues, and here they don’t frequently see
any trusty `lighthouses’ among the Armenian entrepreneurs for gaining
that aim. The Russians are also interested in Iranian market. From
our side we assure the business circle of Russia and Iran that
Armenia is able to serve as a real transit corridor. For example, for
solving lots of problems it is convenient the rout of
Meghri-Yerevan-Poti-Novorosisk, because such kind of cargo
transportation for West Russian is not usually cheaper than ferry
announcements on Caspian Sea between Iranian port Enzeli and Russian
Astrakhan. –0–

BAKU: Azeri defence minister, British diplomat discuss ties, NK

Azeri defence minister, British diplomat discuss ties, Karabakh

Turan news agency
26 Apr 04

BAKU

Azerbaijani Defence Minister Safar Abiyev and Sir Brian Fall,
Britain’s special representative in the South Caucasus, today
discussed the military and political situation in the South Caucasus,
the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, Azerbaijani-NATO relations, as well
as military reforms.

The visitor said that the United Kingdom favoured the development of
military cooperation with Azerbaijan. Speaking about the Karabakh
conflict, Fall expressed the hope that the OSCE and other
international organizations would step up their efforts to settle the
conflict. At the same time, he pointed out the need to maintain the
cease-fire in the conflict zone.

US General Vows to secure Armenia participation in BAKU NATO exercs

US general vows to secure Armenia’s participation in NATO exercises in Baku

Mediamax news agency
26 Apr 04

YEREVAN

“Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has assured me that Armenian
servicemen can take part in the Cooperative Best Effort-2004
exercises,” the deputy commander of the US European Command, Gen
Charles Wald, said in Yerevan today.

Gen Wald said that he had personally discussed this problem with the
Azerbaijani president. “Ilham Aliyev has personally assured me that
Armenian servicemen will have no problems participating in the
Cooperative Best Effort-2004 exercises,” the US general said.

In addition, Charles Wald said that “US ambassador to NATO Nicholas
Burns is dealing with issues concerning Armenia’s participation in the
exercises on the territory of Azerbaijan”.

The head of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Gen-Col
Mikael Arutyunyan, today confirmed Armenia’s readiness to take part in
the Cooperative Best Effort-2004 exercises on the territory of
Azerbaijan.

Last January, the Azerbaijani authorities did not allow Armenian
officers to arrive in Baku to take part in the planning conference of
the Cooperative Best Effort-2004 exercises due to be held in the
autumn of 2004 on the territory of Azerbaijan within the framework of
NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme.

Armenian government amends bill on procedures for holdings demos

Armenian government amends bill on procedures for holdings demos

Mediamax news agency
26 Apr 04

YEREVAN

Armenian Minister of Justice David Arutyunyan today presented
amendments and changes to the bill “On procedures for holding
meetings, rallies, marches and demonstrations” adopted by the
parliament in the first reading.

David Arutyunyan said that the government had taken into account most
of the proposals received from international organizations. In
particular, the minister said, about 90 per cent of the notes made by
the OSCE office in Yerevan were taken into consideration while
preparing the bill for the second reading.

It is expected that the voting for the bill “On procedures for holding
meetings, rallies, marches and demonstrations” in the second reading
will take place in the Armenian National Assembly on 27 April.

On 22 April, the special representative of the secretary-general of
the Council of Europe, Natalya Vutova, said that the bill “On
procedures for holding meetings, rallies, marches and demonstrations”
adopted by the Armenian National Assembly in the first reading did not
correspond to Article 11 of the European convention on freedom of
assembly. Vutova said this referring to the preliminary conclusion by
the Council of Europe Venice Commission.

Armenian army chief, US general sign rear support accord

Armenian army chief, US general sign rear support accord

Mediamax news agency
26 Apr 04

YEREVAN

The Armenian Armed Forces and the US European Command have signed the
Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) envisaging
cooperation in the sphere of rear provision.

The head of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Gen-Col
Mikael Arutyunyan, and the deputy commander of the US European
Command, Gen Charles Wald, said this at a briefing in Yerevan today.

According to Mikael Arutyunyan, under the agreement, the sides are to
render rear support to each other while carrying out different actions
and exercises with the further compensation on mutual basis.

According to Charles Wald, the signing of this agreement will help
“cement our military cooperation with Armenia”.

[Passage omitted: details of ACSA programme]

Armenian opposition holds consultations with ruling coalition

Armenian opposition holds consultations with ruling coalition

Interfax news agency, Moscow
26 Apr 04

YEREVAN

A dialogue between the Armenian opposition and the coalition of three
pro-government parties began in the Armenian parliament on Monday [26
April].

The meeting was held at the initiative of parliament Speaker Artur
Bagdasaryan, Interfax was told.

Among the parties taking part in the consultations are the opposition
Justice faction and the heads of the parliamentary factions of three
pro-government parties (the Republican Party of Armenia, Orinats
Yerkir [Law-Governed Country Party] and Dashnaktsutyun).

Viktor Dallakyan, a representative of the Justice faction, told
reporters before the meeting: “The opposition has provided the
coalition with a package of demands which include halting political
persecution and violence against opposition activists, releasing all
opposition activists who are currently in prison, suspending the
criminal case against the opposition Justice bloc, ensuring the
security of peaceful rally participants, and providing live air time
on Armenian Public TV to opposition leaders.”

The opposition is also demanding that “all those who were involved in
the rigging of the presidential and parliamentary elections held in
Armenia in 2003 and those involved in the dispersion of the rally held
in front of the Armenian parliament on 13 April [2004]” be punished,
Dallakyan said. In addition, they are demanding that the parliament
adopt the opposition’s initiative to hold a referendum on confidence
in the republic’s authorities, he said.

Dallakyan believes that if these demands are fulfilled, the tension
will be defused in Armenia. The opposition will not object if its
demands are fulfilled step by step, he stressed.

[Passage omitted: reported details]

GUSD Board of education first Armenian-American prez. seeks dialogue

Glendale News Press
LATimes.com
April 26 2004

GREG KRIKORIAN
‘With great pride’

GUSD Board of Education’s first Armenian-American president seeks to
open dialogue with parents, get artificial turf installed at high
schools

By Gary Moskowitz, News-Press

NORTHEAST GLENDALE – Greg Krikorian recently became president of
Glendale’s Board of Education, making him the first Armenian-American
president of the school board.

Krikorian was elected to the board in 2001. He was the board’s clerk
in 2002-03 and, prior to Tuesday’s board meeting, was the vice
president. Krikorian moved into the position based on the board’s
policy of rotating its officers each year.

He replaced Pam Ellis, who is now a board member alongside Chuck
Sambar. Lina Harper is now the board’s clerk, and Mary Boger is the
vice president.

Krikorian, 41, was born and raised in Hartford, Conn. He lives in
Glendale with his wife, Christine, and their five children, Armen,
Gyaneh, Haig, Seran and Shant. Their four school-age children attend
Toll Middle and Balboa Elementary schools.

Krikorian is a co-founder of Cal-Conn Enterprises Inc., a
Glendale-based publishing and marketing firm.

The News-Press recently interviewed Krikorian about taking on the
role of president of the school board.

NEWS-PRESS: How does it feel to become president, and what can the
community expect from your leadership?

GREG KRIKORIAN: I am extremely humbled to be here and serve this
community. I initially wanted to join the board because I felt there
was a need to have a parent who was also a businessperson on the
board. My business background helps add long-term vision to
supporting our schools. People can expect from me a leader that will
pool resources and knowledge of our colleagues to come up with a
vision and set policy for our kids. We are planning not just for
2005, but also for 2010. I realize that what we do as a board is a
team approach, and that team includes parents, staff, teachers, the
community and students.

NP: Why is it significant that you are the first Armenian-American
president of the board?

GK: I think having me on the board, and especially as president,
provides a mentor for all 10,000 or so of our Armenian kids. It’s a
social responsibility. [Former mayor] Larry Zarian opened up the door
for all cultures. I think that I represent the entire community, not
just Armenians, and hopefully I can help open the door for other
communities as well. The challenges that all minorities go through
and the need to work harder and assimilate and become better
citizens, I take this on with great pride.

NP: What are some specific goals you have for the school district in
the next year?

GK: One thing I’d like to do is invite students and their parents to
lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance at board meetings, which would
bring parents to district headquarters more often. Technology is
something we need to hunker down on. We are in a financial crisis
with state budget cuts, and we need to be prudent with how we
purchase. We have started piggybacking with other districts on
technology spending, but we are still all over the place with it and
need to step back a little. I also want to see artificial turf
installed at Moyse Field and at CV High. I think it’s time, and if we
can partner with local businesses to purchase the fields, the initial
cost would balance out our long-term field maintenance costs in seven
years.

I want to raise the bar a little on nutrition and fitness. We could
continue to offer healthier foods for our kids and we could
strengthen our physical education programs by partnering with local
groups like AYSO and Little League to give our kids more chances for
extra activities.

NP: Because of the state budget deficit, the district is reducing its
spending by about $7 million for the 2004-05 school year. Why does
the board continue to spend money on outside consultants for
evaluating things like technology spending?

GK: When you hire consultants, it helps you fine-tune your spending
and slim down. There are people in our workforce being paid up to
$100,000 in some cases who should have the expertise to not need
consulting but, in some cases, you really need it to reduce spending
in the long term.

NP: This board voted to approve spending as much as $3.1 million in
reserve funds each year for the next three years. If you are planning
ahead for the future of the district, what is the plan to replenish
those reserves?

GK: We are required to save a certain amount of money, but reserves
are there for times like these. If we didn’t use reserves right now,
we would have to lay people off. That’s why we are also consolidating
and filling vacant positions. We’ve committed to spending reserves
for the next three years, and at that point, we would start building
our reserves back.

NP: Do you have other goals for the next year that people should be
aware of?

GK: I would like to start giving a “State of the Schools” address
every fall to inform the community about the status of our schools.
I’d also like to host a vendor fair, where local businesses could get
involved in the bidding process for purchasing, plumbing, roofing and
providing supplies for our schools. I plan to be more visible in the
community by creating a “Board Member in Your Neighborhood” monthly
event, where I could meet with people at schools or over coffee in
the mornings.

US general hails Armenia’s plans to sign partnership accord with NAT

US general hails Armenia’s plans to sign partnership accord with NATO

Mediamax news agency
26 Apr 04

YEREVAN

“The United States hails Armenia’s intention to sign the Individual
Partnership Action Plan with NATO,” the deputy commander of the US
European Command, Gen Charles Wald, said in Yerevan today.

Gen Wald said that the signing of the Individual Partnership Action
Plan with NATO “will contribute to the expansion of Armenia’s
cooperation with the alliance members both on a multilateral and
bilateral basis”.

The US general said today that “the United States is not going to
build military bases on the territory of any of the South Caucasus
countries”. According to him, the United States is successfully
cooperating with all the Caucasus countries and Russia in the struggle
against international terrorism. However, this does not mean that the
USA is considering the issue of its military presence in the region.

Charles Wald expressed gratitude to the Armenian authorities for their
readiness to send military specialists to Iraq to take part in the
post-conflict reconstruction of this country.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress