Armenian speaker urges more powers to parliament, rejects opposition charges

Arminfo,
23 Apr 04

YEREVAN

The fact that during the 12 April opposition rally police deployed its
units in the building of the National Assembly and also surrounded it
by barbed wire showed that someone aimed at making “the opposition
direct its anger” at the speaker of parliament. This was announced by
Armenian Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan at a news conference today.

He said that the subtext of the action was political and was a result
of his statement at a recent press conference denouncing the arrests
on political grounds in the republic. “Despite that I will stick to my
earlier remarks,” he said.

He said that power wielding posts should be political. The speaker
told the news conference several times that the Armenian parliament
and its chairman have limited powers. They have no levers to control
the law-enforcement agencies. There is no political control over the
latter. Therefore, he said the National Assembly should be given more
powers.

Commenting on accusations made by the opposition that he had turned
the parliament building into barracks by allowing the deployment of
the police units who dispersed the opposition rally on 12 April ,
Bagdasaryan gave an emotionally charged reply: “The speaker has no
control over police units which ensure the security of the National
Assembly.”

[Passage omitted: reiterates the point]

Turkey should own up to responsibility for Armenian genocide

Daily Stanford

By Seepan Parseghian
Guest Columnist
Friday, April 23, 2004

By SEEPAN PARSEGHIAN
Adolf Hitler said it all those years ago. The National Socialist Party
was planning one of the most horrific events of the 20th century, and
Hitler only looked back once. That moment came when one of Hitler’s
generals asked if he was afraid they would be punished for what they
were about to execute. He casually shrugged off the concern, asking in
return: `Who today remembers the annihilation of the Armenians?’ The
Jewish Holocaust ensued.

On Monday, Holocaust survivor Gloria Lyon spoke on campus as part of
Holocaust Memorial Day. Listening to Lyon share her painful experiences,
I realized that she was not only a symbol of enduring strength and
survival, but was also a product of a grossly overlooked historical
event: the Armenian genocide of 1915.

Eighty-nine years ago, the Young Turk party that was ruling the Ottoman
Empire orchestrated the first genocide of the 20th century. The Allied
powers were preoccupied with the supposed `war to end all wars.’ The
Young Turk party had ousted the last royal sovereign of the Ottoman
Empire, Sultan Abdul Hamid II, from leadership and had risen to power on
a democratic platform. After their victory, the Young Turks decided to
adopt nationalistic ideals, presenting the idea of pan-Turkism to the
Turkish citizenry.

The Armenians, already segregated from the Turkish population in millets
(religious communities), were an obstacle to the formation of a
pan-Turkish nation. They became the victims of severe oppression and
bigotry, according to American officials who were present in Turkey at
the time. Without a democracy protecting them, the Armenians were left
defenseless under the dictatorial swords of leaders who wanted to rid
the empire of them. Behind the smokescreen of World War I, the Young
Turk leaders Talaat, Enver and Cemal Pasha saw an opportunity to do so,
and so carried out the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians under the
cloak of deportation.

There to witness the Armenian genocide unfolding were U.S. Ambassador to
the Ottoman Empire Henry Morgenthau and U.S. Consul in Harput, Turkey,
Leslie Davis. Both Morgenthau, a graduate of Columbia Law School, and
Leslie Davis, a famous American humanitarian, observed firsthand the
systematic murder of the Armenian race in 1915.

In his memoirs that were later published as `Ambassador Morgenthau’s
Story,’ Morgenthau noted, `When the Turkish authorities gave the orders
for these deportations, they were merely giving the death warrant to a
whole race; they understood this well, and, in their conversations with
me, they made no particular attempt to conceal the fact.’ In `The
Slaughterhouse Province,’ Davis reported the disappearance of the
prominent figures of the Armenian community in Harput on June 23, 1915.
After prodding Turkish soldiers with inquiries of the whereabouts of
these Armenian leaders, Davis was told that they had been rounded up and
taken to a desolate location to be `done away with.’ Left without
leadership and manpower, the Armenian elders, women and children of
Harput were deported three days later to the Syrian Desert, where they
were tortured. Davis’ description of these tortures is too graphic to be
included in this op-ed.

The Turkish government denies that the Armenian genocide ever occurred.
Not only does it deny the historical facts surrounding this systematic
massacre, but it has also taken extensive steps to manipulate those
facts into historical fallacies. Discrediting the personal memoirs of
educated American foreign servicemen like Morgenthau and Davis has been
a financially and politically strenuous task for the Turkish government
to accomplish. It has provided millions of dollars to American scholars
like Princeton Prof. Bernard Lewis, University of Louisville Prof.
Justin McCarthy and UCLA Prof. Heath Lowry, who discredit scholarship of
the Armenian genocide.

Further, Turkey has extensively lobbied in Washington to suppress
American recognition of the genocide. As The Washington Post reported in
Oct. 2000, for example, when House Resolution 596 – a bill seeking
American recognition of the Armenian genocide – was on the Congressional
floor, the Turkish government immediately threatened to pull out of a
$4.5 billion deal in which it would purchase 145 advanced Bell-Textron
attack helicopters from the United States. House Res. 596 failed.

Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert told The Washington Post that the
resolution `would have enjoyed support among the majority of the house.’
The U.S. government has yet to officially recognize the Armenian
genocide. The gunsmoke of World War I hid the genocide of the Armenians
from the world, and today a thick cloud of political and social
malpractice by the Turkish regime has reached the same effect.

The government of Turkey must take responsibility for its 1915 crimes
against humanity, not only for humanity’s sake, but for its own future
as well. As Turkish historian Taner Akcam, now at the University of
Minnesota, states, `If and when the government of Turkey acknowledges
its past wrongs and recognizes the Armenian genocide, it well then be
able to ensure a democratic future.’

Had the Turkish regime done so in 1915 and paid the according price in
reparations and compensation, Hitler would have taken the annihilation
of the Armenians into account, and would have been forced to at least
reconsider carrying out his Final Solution. Lyon could possibly have
spoken not of Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen on Monday, but of the
prosperity of the European Jews during the World War II era.

Tomorrow, on the 89th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, it is time
for Turkey to recognize the wrongs of carrying out the Armenian
genocide, in order to restore the progression of its own societal
development. This will convincingly allow Turkey to encourage the
advancement of human culture and morality.

Seepan Parseghian is a freshman. You can send him your questions and
comments to [email protected].

23/02/2004- ANKARA ET LE GENOCIDE ARMENIEN
Analyse/opinion par Yves TERNON, historien.
Le Figaro – 20/04/2004

Au sommet de Copenhague, en 2002, l’Union européenne a pris rendez-vous en
décembre 2004 pour l’ouverture de négociations sur la candidature de la
Turquie. Le délai est court et il est occupé par une offensive médiatique du
gouvernement turc qui laisse à entendre que la Turquie, ayant rempli les
conditions requises, est prête à entrer dans l’Europe. En fait, le débat est
ouvert et chacun, opposant ou partisan à cette entrée, de présenter ses
arguments.

A Copenhague, la Turquie a été invitée à remplir les critères définis en
1993, en particulier à respecter les droits de l’homme et les minorités et à
relever son économie. La condition posée est le respect de tous les
critères, non seulement dans la lettre mais aussi dans l’esprit. Plusieurs
membres de l’Union semblent se satisfaire de quelques avancées. La
suppression de la peine de mort, des concessions faites sur le papier à la
minorité kurde mais non appliquée sur le terrain et surtout le règlement de
la question de Chypre seraient des preuves suffisantes de la bonne volonté
de la Turquie.

Dans toutes ces analyses, on escamote un point fondamental, qui figure
pourtant dans la résolution en quinze points adoptée le 18 juin 1987 par le
Parlement européen. Celle-ci subordonnait l’admission de la Turquie dans la
Communauté européenne à plusieurs conditions précises, dont la
reconnaissance du génocide arménien. Dix-sept ans après, cette résolution
n’a pas été appliquée. L’obligation faite à la Turquie est restée sans
effet. Elle garde cependant tout son sens. Le 26 février 2004, le rapport du
député suédois Per Gahrton, adopté par le Parlement européen, réitère sa
position «telle qu’énoncée dans sa résolution du 18 juin 1987». Il demande
donc au gouvernement turc de reconnaître le génocide arménien. Ce ne sont là
cependant que des recommandations et le Parlement européen ne dispose
d’aucun pouvoir de décision sur les négociations d’adhésion d’un État à
l’Union. Les députés n’interviennent qu’au terme du processus pour ratifier
l’adhésion ou y apporter leur veto, mais il est alors bien tard. La décision
d’ouvrir les négociations dépend des chefs d’État et de gouvernement
européens, dont certains s’expriment déjà ouvertement en faveur de la
candidature turque.

Après l’entrée, le 1er mai, des dix nouveaux membres, le dossier turc
deviendra la plus important de l’agenda européen. Il apparaît donc
nécessaire, aujourd’hui, à l’occasion de la dernière commémoration du 24
avril 1915 avant le rendez-vous de décembre, de lancer un ultime appel à la
conscience de l’Europe et de lui rappeler la signification du mot
«génocide». La destruction planifiée des deux tiers des Arméniens de
l’Empire ottoman en 1915 et 1916, un meurtre de masse planifié par le comité
central du parti union et progrès, ne fut pas un événement mineur.

Les faits sont là. En 1915 et 1916, les Arméniens de l’Empire ottoman ont
été victimes d’un génocide. Sous le prétexte fallacieux d’une trahison et
d’un complot, le Comité union et progrès a décapité l’élite arménienne de
Constantinople, le 24 avril 1915, puis effacé toute présence arménienne dans
les provinces d’Anatolie orientale, par le massacre sur place des hommes et
la déportation des femmes, des enfants et des vieillards. Cette déportation
n’était qu’un des moyens de la destruction: les convois ont été décimés, les
déportés tués ou enlevés. Dans un second temps, de juillet 1915 à décembre
1916, le reste de l’Empire ottoman a été vidé de sa population arménienne, à
l’exception des Arméniens demeurant à Smyrne et à Constantinople. La plupart
des déportés ont été mis à mort au terme d’un long exode de camp en camp
jusqu’aux déserts de Mésopotamie. Pendant vingt mois, les Arméniens n’ont
plus eu le droit de vivre dans l’Empire ottoman. Les témoins ont, par
centaines, rapporté les faits. Des procès ont établi la responsabilité du
gouvernement et des milices de l’Organisation spéciale.

Depuis, les travaux des historiens ont établi, au-delà d’un doute
raisonnable, les preuves du génocide et, en particulier, de l’intention
criminelle des dirigeants turcs de l’époque. La question arménienne est
restée, même après sa solution finale, une priorité pour la Turquie. Toute
référence à l’Arménie disparaît du traité de paix signé à Lausanne en 1923
et il fallut la création d’un droit pénal international entre 1945 et 1948
pour que la Turquie soit invitée à rendre des comptes sur ce génocide
qu’elle avait effacé de l’histoire imaginaire qu’elle s’était aménagée dans
les années 1930.

Les nations sont confrontées à un phénomène singulier, caractéristique du
crime de génocide: le négationnisme. En Turquie, c’est un négationnisme
d’État. Voici un État qui prétend être une démocratie et qui administre,
avec arrogance, la preuve du contraire en refusant de qualifier de génocide
un épisode de son passé proche. Voici un gouvernement qui retourne
impudemment l’évidence en accusant les victimes de ce génocide d’avoir
perpétré un génocide contre les Turcs…

Je ne suis qu’un historien qui, depuis plus de trente ans, examine le crime
de génocide, dans sa complexité, dans ses différences et ses similitudes
selon les cas observés. Je suis cependant en mesure de mettre en garde les
États contre une complaisance envers le négationnisme. Masquer un génocide,
refuser la qualification de cette infraction du droit international, rejeter
l’évidence, c’est participer à sa continuation.

Les États de l’UE feraient bien de se souvenir de cette exigence éthique
avant qu’il ne soit trop tard, car la Turquie ne reconnaîtra pas le génocide
arménien si elle devient, sans que cette condition soit satisfaite, membre
de l’Union. Une phrase, une petite phrase, clairement formulée – «La Turquie
reconnaît le génocide de 1915-1916 et demande pardon au peuple arménien» –
et ce pays, malade de son passé, rentre dans le concert des démocraties.
Est-ce trop exiger que de demander à l’histoire de donner au politique des
leçons d’éthique?

* Historien. Il est notammant l’auteur d’Empire ottoman: le déclin, la
chute, l’effacement, Éditions du Félin, 2002.

Ottoman rule: Islamic state

Muhammed Salahetdinov,
from the materials of Badr Publishing House
Kavkaz-Center 2004-04-27 00:21:56

By mid-13th century the dynasty of Abbasid Caliphs ceases to exist. At
the same time the process of collapse is being observed in the Seljuk
state, which the Abbasid Caliphate used to be a part of. Osman, son of
Ertogrul, takes over for his father and becomes a ruler in one of the
provinces located between the cities of Bursa and Ankara. Osman sees
how separated the Islamic world is and how it is being torn to

pieces by the enemies attacking from all sides, and by internecine
wars inside, and wishes to fix this unattractive situation. He takes
actions aimed at the formation of a state system that will be supposed
to unite the Muslim world in the future, which will be based on
Islamic principles commanded by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

In 1299 he invites prominent Islamic scholars and says to them, `I
have enough power and might for Jihad, and I am charging you with the
task to mobilize all your knowledge to form the social system of
Muslim community based on Islamic principles’.

And that was the time when the process of creation of new society
started, which was supposed to continue the relay race of the Islamic
rule of Ummah (Muslim nation worldwide) based on the Koran, Sunnah and
Ijtihad (decisionsmade by Muslim elders in the spirit of the Koran and
Sunnah).

The process of expansion of the state was under way, when methods of
Javaat, enlightenment, diplomacy and armed confrontation are used. The
life of citizens and the structures of the state system are built by
the eternal laws of the Most High on the new vast expanses of the
state. As a result, new state entity gets a status of a Caliphate
founded on the institution of Shura (Council). In this state the
authority of Sheikh al-Islam becomes indisputable for the rulers as
well for the subjects. Starting from the period of rule of Selim I,
who subdued the entire East Anatolia, Armenia, Kurdistan, Northern
Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and Hijaz, Ottoman rulers stick to the
principle that regional and provincial rulers must demand that the
subjects obey the orders of the Caliph, who in turn coordinates his
orders with the Sheikh al-Islam, who determines whether the orders
agree to the Islamic canons. The Shura (Council) known as Divan
Humayuni, consisting of ministers, influential people, and prominent
Islamic scholars was the legislative body representing justice. One of
the graphic confirmations is this episode from the Ottoman
history. Caliph Muhammad Fatih (Mehmet the Conqueror, Sultan Mehmet
II) oppressed one of his fellow believers, who in turn appealed to a
Judge with a complaint. The Judge appointed the day and subpoenaed
both claimant and the Caliph to court, where the Caliph had to obey
the Court. So, Islamic Shariah draws no distinctions among people: the
rulers and the subjects are all equal before the justice.

It must be mentioned that in the dynamic and multinational state all
nationalities: whether Turks or some other Muslims, Christians or Jews
wereOttomans first of all. They were a part of one flexible entity,
which was beyond such things as ethnic background, religion or
nationality. Flemish diplomat and scholar Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq
described his visit to the camp of Sultan Suleiman in 1555: `The
Sultan’s headquarters was filled with his assistants including higher
officials. None of those present showed any superiority, but everyone
was trying to show their virtues and bravery; none was bragging about
his birth, for here honour is in accordance with the post and the
nature of duties thereof. Thus there is no fight for seniority;
everybody knows where he belongs and the functions he is supposed to
perform. Sultan himself is the one to assign duties and posts, and to
evaluate the merits and the levels of claims that his subordinates
might have, without looking at the wealth or importance».

`Each person has the opportunity to be promoted. Top posts are often
held by children of shepherds. And they are proud of their birth
instead of being ashamed. Our method is different from theirs; we have
everything depending on the birth and all higher posts are distributed
solely in this connection’.It is a know fact that Hayreddin Pasha
At-Tunisi was an ordinary servant, but he became Governor of Tunisia
and was granted the seal of the Caliph of Istanbul for his
efforts. Egyptian Province sent an inquiry to the capital (Istanbul)
requesting to send an economist to organize a program for the
region’s economic development. Armenian Christian Nubar Pasha
was the one to be sent.

The Ottoman Empire was the only superpower that recognized all three
monotheistic religions. Thanks to the first Sultans, the Turks revived
and reunited the Islamic world on its Asian territories, and then
thanks to the Ottoman Dynasty they brought the European lands of the
Eastern Christian world backto life. While uniting the East and the
West, the Ottomans filled the vacuum that was formed after the
collapse of the Caliphate in Asia and Byzantine Empire in Europe, in
order to be developed within the same space in the form of a new
Muslim civilization. The superpower stayed in this form all the way
until the end of the 19th century, when it reached its decline due to
various reasons. The last Islamic sovereign was Abdul-Hamid II. Muslim
scholars say it was the time of the decline of the last Caliphate.

So what were the reasons why that process had started? Such a huge and
mighty state as the Caliphate was lacking in maneuverability and
mobility when technical revolution started in Europe. And as a result,
we can now see that the European states, which are smaller in size and
have a lot less population, are ahead of the Ottoman state in the
level of technical advancement. This is the reason why the process of
Westernization (Europeanization) started, when one civilization
started replacing the other. This process was initiated by the
educational reforms. Pro-Western moods got stronger during the rule of
Abdul-Hamid, when many young people were going to the European
countries tostudy and returning with the new foreign approaches on
building the country. At that time foreign influence in the Ottoman
state was quite active everywhere. This is when the middle class was
being formed, which in turn started bringing new ideological idea of
Pan-Turkism.

Western historian Arnold J. Toynbee wrote that the loss of flexibility
caused the decline of the Ottoman system, which was most fatal in the
history of the Ottoman society. Ottomans were unable to challenge the
call of the West by rapidly changing their social institutions on
time. After resorting to self-defense, the Ottomans had to look for
salvation by using other methods. For two and a half centuries they
had to be undergoing Westernization.

The so-called Committee of Union and Progress was founded in the very
beginning of the 20th century. Lord Albert Kinross, British historian
and writer says that the members of the Committee enjoyed secret
support from organized groups of Free Masons, Jews and Donme (Jews
converted to Islam), and were more determined in their actions than
members of the Paris organization were, which the Committee merged
with in 1907. The Committee was also supported by some of the
officers, which Sultan never expected. In 1909 Sultan Abdul-Hamid I
was forced to resign and his brother Rishad was appointed instead of
him, but at the same time he was stripped of all of his
authorities. The Committee of Unionand Progress starts fully running
the country. The godly slogan of the Ottoman Caliphate `There is no
deity but God and Muhammad is His Messenger!» was replaced with the
slogan of the French Revolution: `Freedom, Equality and
Brotherhood’. And now the policies of Pan-Turkism started becoming
official in Turkey.

In practice it would mean imposing the Turkish language on other
non-Turkish Muslims. Nationalist tendencies among the Turks are now
getting stronger. Such phenomena in Europe, like searching for
national and ethnic roots, are gradually being manifested in the
political and cultural advancement of Pan-Turkism.

The end to the Islamic rule and to the Islamic influence in the state
is coming to an end. The final touch in the drama in the collapse of
the Ottoman Caliphate was the creation of the Turkish Republic in
1924, when the religious government was totally replaced by secular
one.
From: Baghdasarian

Tajik president, Eurasian Community chief discuss integration

Tajik Radio first programme, Dushanbe
26 Apr 04

The 21st session of the commission of permanent representatives of the
Eurasian Economic Community EAEC member states will be held in
Dushanbe today.

The fourth session of the EAEC integration committee’s commission on
tax, tariff and non-tariff regulation was held in Dushanbe today prior
to this session.

At this moment, the EAEC secretary-general, Grigoriy Rapota, is being
received by President Emomali Rahmonov. The integration of the EAEC
member states is high on the agenda of the meeting.

We recall that the EAEC includes Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan,
Belarus and Russia. Armenia, Ukraine and Moldova have observer status.

Russia absents in UN vote on human rights in Turkmenistan

Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Moscow
23 Apr 04

Russia has absented in the UN Human Rights Commission’s recent vote on
Turkmenistan, which is said to violate human rights of ethnic
minorities, including Russians, a Russian newspaper has reported. The
participation in the development of Turkmen energy sector “looks much
more attractive to Moscow than the protection of human rights of its
own citizens”, the newspaper suggested. The following is the text of
Viktoriya Panfilova’s report entitled: “The UN is no authority to
Turkmenbasy. Moscow conspires with Asgabat by refusing to support a
resolution on protection of national minorities in Turkmenistan” and
published by Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta website on 23
April; subheadings inserted editorially:

The other day in Geneva, the UN Human Rights Commission adopted a
harsh resolution condemning the violation of human rights in
Turkmenistan, with 25 countries voting for the resolution, 11 against
it, and 17 abstaining from voting. The document states inadmissible
facts of “discrimination in the sphere of education and employment of
ethnic Russians, Uzbeks, and other national minorities,” “arbitrary
arrests, incarceration, and curtailed freedom to obtain information
and self-expression.”

Symptomatically, the abstaining countries included Russia, whose
citizens living in Turkmenistan are considered people of second
quality and know first-hand what discrimination is. It seems that a
hypothetical opportunity to take part in the development of Turkmen
energy resources looks much more attractive to Moscow than the
protection of human rights of its own citizens.

The official position of Moscow was voiced by Russian Deputy Foreign
Minister Yuriy Fedotov, who declared: “Basically, we proceed from the
fact that so-called ‘country-specific resolutions’, particularly those
made by the UN Human Rights Commission, can hardly improve the real
situation.”

Russia’s ‘absolute indifference’

It is unclear how much attention Moscow paid to the fact that in
appreciation of the support he received from Russia, Turkmenbasy
Turkmen President Saparmyrat Nyyazow signed an edict on construction
of yet another fountain in place of the recently demolished Russian
Theatre of Drama in Asgabat. It seems that the Russian-speaking people
have become accustomed to absolute indifference displayed by the
historical homeland to their problems and do not count on help from
bureaucrats from Smolensk Square Russian Foreign Ministry seat or the
Kremlin.

The Russian indifferent position unties Nyyazow’s hands, and as a
result the discrimination of ethnic minorities in Turkmenistan is
worsening. Specifically, the specialists who graduated from higher
education institutions after 1993 outside Turkmenistan are to be
dismissed by 22 May of this year. Representatives of national
minorities are not allowed to hold positions in financial and military
structures, the judicial system, or the police and other security
services. In addition, teachers and doctors have been dismissed as
well. In an overwhelming majority of cases, those are Russians,
Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Armenians, and children from mixed marriages. Even if
one of the parents is Turkmen, more lenient treatment should not be
expected.

Human rights situation worsens

It stands to reason that President Nyyazow has not reacted in any way
to yet another portion of criticism on the part of the international
community. Turkmenbasy respects no resolutions, especially that they
are adopted on a permanent basis. Last November, for example, a
document condemning the violation of human rights in Turkmenistan was
adopted by the UN General Assembly. “Unfortunately, the Turkmen
government has not resolved the problems raised by the UN Human Rights
Commission. On top of it, the human rights situation in Turkmenistan
noticeably deteriorated in 2003 and early months of 2004,” Aaron
Rhodes, the International Helsinki Federation executive director, has
declared.

Sympathizing country

Notably, Ukraine proved one of the 11 countries sympathizing with
Turkmenbasy. Similar to Moscow, Kiev hopes to sign a gas contract for
25 years. It is unclear, however, whether Turkmenistan has enough gas
for everyone who wants it.

Recently, Russia itself was classified into the same group as
Turkmenistan and Belarus, drawing criticism from the UN Human Rights
Commission. Last week in Geneva, an EU resolution on Chechnya was
discussed. The EU’s main complaint is that the crimes being committed
in Chechnya have not been properly investigated. So, Moscow has no
time now for some compatriots living in the “spiritually close”
Turkmenistan.

Samantha Power, Rwandan Genocide Survivors Address NCC Event

>From “Carol Fouke” <[email protected]>
Date Mon, 26 Apr 2004 18:24:27 -0400

For Immediate Release

Samantha Power, Rwandan Genocide Survivors Address NCC”s April 23
Commemoration

By James N. Birkitt, Jr., for the NCC

April 23, 2004, LOS ANGELES – A commemoration of the 10th anniversary
of the Rwandan Genocide, held here today and sponsored by the National
Council of Churches USA, recalled the horror of the genocide and
offered a word of counsel and hope – genocide can be prevented.

Keynote speaker was Samantha Power, recipient of the 2003 Pulitzer
Prize for her book “‘A Problem from Hell’: America and the Age of
Genocide,” which focuses on the failure of America, other Western
governments and the United Nations to respond effectively to genocide.

Power called on United States to redefine its “Evital interests” to
include genocide. Currently, long-standing American policy permits
military intervention only when America’s security or economic
well-being is threatened.

Another positive step, she said, “would be for the U.S. to replace its
“all or nothing” diplomatic approach with a continuum of responses and
options that may stop genocide before it occurs. The failure of the
U.S. government to act is always an implicit signal to other
governments as well as a green light to the perpetrators of genocide.”

Power noted that such actions would be necessary to prevent a
repetition of this horror in Sudan. She pointed out that even the
slightest condemnation by the U.S. Government of policies of the
government in Khartoum results in the easing up of hostilities.

An eclectic gathering of religious leaders, educators, public policy
experts, students and activists attended the event, titled
“Remembering Rwanda: Ten Years After The Genocide.” Held at the
Fowler Museum in Los Angeles, the April 23 event featured
presentations by genocide experts, testimonies by survivors, and the
premiere showing of a documentary film on the Rwandan Genocide.

The 1994 Rwandan Genocide, the result of escalating violence between
Hutu and Tutsi peoples, began in April 1994 and led to the murder of
more than 800,000 Hutu and moderate Tutsi, and the rape of 250,000
Hutu women, during 100 days of terror.

Power’s research on the world’s failure to intervene in Rwanda notes
that the response of the United States and other Western countries is
shaped by decisions made prior to the start of genocide, rather than
in response to it. She also noted that a series of missteps and mixed
signals by the United States and the United Nations emboldened the
perpetrators of the Rwandan Genocide.

In her remarks, Power highlighted ways future genocides might be
prevented. In addition to calling on the U.S. government to expand
its definition of “vital interests” to include prevention and
intervention in genocide, Power called on journalists to focus world
attention on genocide, encouraged faith communities to raise their
voices, and suggested governments note “the early warning signals that
are always part of the cycle of genocide, including smaller massacres
that serve as trial balloons to test international response and the
demonizing of specific groups by the government or the media.”

Power also called on governments to find new ways to conduct
diplomacy. “Diplomats are so conditioned to be diplomats that they
consistently offer conventional responses in the face of
unconventional horrors. Governments must replace the pantomime of
response with robust, effective responses.”

The NCC event included the premiere of “God Sleeps In Rwanda,” a
documentary by filmmakers Kimberlee Acquaro and Stacy Sherman. The
film highlights ways genocide decimated Rwandan families, destabilized
the culture, and contributed to the dramatic increase of HIV and AIDS
among Rwandan women and children.

During his remarks, Rev. Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the National
Council of Churches, noted, “It is important that we remember what we
failed to do, and that includes churches and church people. We must
ask forgiveness for our silence. Those of us in faith communities must
honor God’s call to love and care for the least of our brothers and
sisters.”

Dr. Richard Hrair Dekmejian, an expert on the Armenian Genocide and
professor of political science at the University of Southern
California, noted that despite the current international focus on
terrorism, “Terrorists have killed relatively few people when compared
with genocide.”

Dekmejian, noting the NCC program was being held on the eve of the
89th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, called for a three-point
commitment by faith communities and people of conscience to “bring the
perpetrators of genocide to justice, work for compensation for its
victims, and influence governments to prevent and intervene in future
genocides.”

Gerry Caplan, founder of the international coalition Remembering
Rwanda, suggested four groups who must be remembered one decade after
the Rwandan Genocide: “those who died; the victims who survived; the
perpetrators, most of whom were never brought to justice; and the
international community, or more accurately, international bystanders,
who actively chose not to get involved.”

Caplan laid broad blame for the failure to intervene in the Rwandan
Genocide on parties including churches within Rwanda, the governments
of the United States and Europe and the United Nations.

Also participating in the program was Rabbi Allen I. Freehling,
Executive Director of the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission.
Rabbi Freehling closed the program with words from the Hebrew prophets
exhorting all people to love their fellow human beings.

Two Rwandan Genocide survivors vividly described the destruction of
entire villages and towns, the use of rape as a tool of genocide, the
mass psychosis of genocide, and the lasting impact on survivors. In a
powerful and moving moment, one survivor said, “I recently looked
through my photo albums of my friends and family from Rwanda – and
realized that everyone in those photos is dead. Except for me. I am
called to bear witness.”

The “Remembering Rwanda: Ten Years After The Genocide” commemorative
event was held as part of the World Council of Churches’ Decade To
Overcome Violence.

Reflecting after the event, Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, the NCC’s
Associate General Secretary for International Affairs and Peace,
commented that “What was quite compelling was Samantha Power’s
assessment that the lessons of Rwanda could be applied today to
prevent another tragedy in Sudan. If we have learned anything as an
international community from our various commemorations of the Rwandan
Genocide, it is that we must apply these lessons to situations that
come before us. Otherwise, we will be resigned to saying yet another
time, ‘Never again!'”

-end-

NCC Media Liaison: Carol Fouke, 212-870-2252; [email protected];
James N. Birkitt, Jr., Director of Communication of
the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, Los
Angeles, filed this report.

26 April 2004

Report on CIS-7 Poverty Reduction Initiative Released
Initiative aims for economic growth in seven countries

Four international financial institutions (IFIs) released April 26 an
overview of economic trends and developments in the seven low-income
countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) that are the focus
of the CIS-7 poverty reduction and economic growth initiative — Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

“The primary objective of the CIS-7 Initiative was to revitalize the
partnership between the countries and the international community, as well
as among the countries themselves, to achieve faster economic growth and
poverty reduction,” said an International Monetary Fund (IMF) press release.
A ministerial meeting in April 2002 in Washington formally endorsed the
initiative.

The IFIs agreed “to assess the continued relevance of the Initiative” in the
seven countries “compared with alternative cooperation mechanisms.”

In addition to the IMF, other institutions involved in the CIS-7 Initiative
are the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD), and the Asian Development Bank (AsDB).

The full report is available at:

Following is the IMF press release on the report:

International Monetary Fund
Washington, D.C.
April 26, 2004

IMF, WORLD BANK, EBRD AND ASDB RELEASE REPORT
ON CIS-7 INITIATIVE

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Asian Development Bank (AsDB)
are releasing a joint review of recent trends and developments in the seven
low-income countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The
report
() focuses on growth and
poverty, debt and fiscal sustainability, governance and the business
climate, and regional cooperation. It also describes donor activities in
support of reforms in these areas. This report pulls together the results of
three years of work under the CIS-7 Initiative, as outlined below.

In early 2001, the staffs of the IMF and World Bank, in consultation with
the AsDB and EBRD, issued a report on the external debt and fiscal
sustainability situations in CIS countries eligible for concessional funding
from the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA). The
report examined the causes and consequences of the large external debt
incurred by Armenia, Georgia, the Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova and Tajikistan
since 1991 and concluded that they faced a difficult fiscal and external
outlook in the coming decade. While massive external shocks and inadequate
policy responses, combined with an overestimation of debt carrying capacity
by lenders (including IFIs), had contributed to this situation, corruption
and poor governance, lack of policy ownership, and weak implementation
capacity had exacerbated the problem. The report urged a strengthening of
adjustment and reform efforts, coupled with increased concessional
assistance and debt relief. The report attracted considerable interest from
the international community and led to calls for a broader examination of
the transition challenges facing these countries.

A second report in 2002 on poverty reduction, growth, and debt
sustainability in the low-income CIS countries featured a widening of the
analysis and added two IDA-eligible countries — Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
This report was considered at a conference in London in February 2002, which
recommended the launch of a special time-bound initiative for the seven
countries.

The primary objective of the CIS-7 Initiative was to revitalize the
partnership between the countries and the international community, as well
as among the countries themselves, to achieve faster economic growth and
poverty reduction. Specific efforts were aimed at raising awareness about
the countries’ plight; improving donor coordination; increasing knowledge
services and delivery; building capacity; and promoting regional
cooperation. A ministerial meeting in April 2002 in Washington. formally
endorsed the Initiative.

A large body of analytical work was commissioned in 2002 focusing on the
transition experience and challenges facing the CIS-7 and the role of the
international community. This work, which was discussed at a second
conference held in Lucerne in February 2003, included wider participation of
countries and institutions, including international and CIS-7 non-government
organizations and academics. Since then a number of topical seminars in the
region have sought to foster capacity-building in key areas, including
participatory approaches to poverty reduction strategies; public expenditure
management; reforms in the energy sector; and in health, education and labor
markets; financial sector supervision; public debt management; and regional
public goods. Participants at the conference noted the increasingly
divergent performance of the CIS-7 countries, the growing importance of
other fora dealing with the agenda, and the difficulties in addressing
entrenched country and regional issues in the CIS-7 format. They agreed that
it would be useful to review the situation in 2004 to assess the continued
relevance of the Initiative compared to alternative cooperation mechanisms.
The four IFIs have recently completed such a review in consultation with the
CIS-7 governments, which is summarized in the report being issued.

Since the launch of the Initiative, donor awareness and coordination for the
benefit of the countries have become demonstrably stronger. Donors have
responded in some cases with debt rescheduling and more concessional
assistance, and supported a growing range of activities in knowledge
creation, cross-country dissemination, and capacity building. With
cooperation increasingly being focused at the sub-regional level and the
growing divergence in policies and performance across the CIS-7, several of
the countries would like to move beyond the Initiative. The IFIs will
continue to work with these countries to define new modalities of
cooperation on specific issues, involving sub-regional vehicles as
appropriate. Sub-regional efforts show signs of promise in Central Asia,
while Moldova is being drawn into the EU’s Wider Europe Initiative. Clearly,
the South Caucasus would benefit considerably from improved economic
relations among the three countries, and the international community is
expected to focus much more on fostering such relations.

There is considerable potential for enhancing the development prospects of
the CIS-7 through the Poverty Reduction Strategy process. For the countries
themselves, better progress is needed to define priorities and link them
closely with their budgets, while donors are expected to insist that their
assistance be framed within the context of country poverty reduction
strategies. Levels of assistance should be consistent with commitments made
with respect to attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in these
countries.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: )

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

California Courier Online, April 29, 2004

1 – Commentary
Kerry Says Genocide; Bush Doesn’t;
A Clear Choice for Armenians

By Harut Sassounian
California Courier Publisher
**************************************************************************
2 – Haigazian Women’s Auxiliary to Host
May 20 Luncheon with Diva Baraydarian
3 – Glendale High School Armenian Clubs
Raise $10,000 for Ghapan Students
4 – Chamlian School Students Register
Success at L.A. County Science Fair
5 – Colorado Armenians Wrap Up
Armenian Ski Weekend in Vail
6 – Karen Kondazian’s Performances
Extend ‘Callas’ Play thru July 25
7 – Babaian’s ‘After Freedom’
Opens in Theaters, May 14
************************************************************************
1 – Commentary
Kerry Says Genocide; Bush Doesn’t;
A Clear Choice for Armenians

By Harut Sassounian
Publisher, The California Courier

For the fourth year in a row, Pres. Bush has broken his promise to the
Armenian American community. Last Saturday, he issued yet another annual
April 24 statement that does not refer to the Armenian Genocide as
“genocide.”
During the 2000 presidential campaign, then candidate George Bush, in a
written statement, referred to the “genocidal campaign” perpetrated against
the Armenians and pledged to properly characterize it when elected
President.
Since the election, however, Pres. Bush’s handlers have not permitted him
to say “Armenian Genocide” in his annual April 24 statements. Instead, he
has used every other conceivable word in the English language except
genocide to describe what happened to the Armenians from 1915 to 1923.
Sadly, this charade keeps going on, year after year. Here is this year’s
selection of Pres. Bush’s evasive and euphemistic words: “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 finally, “this loss of life.”
To add insult to injury, Pres. Bush’s April 24 statement, most
inappropriately, includes praise for the discredited Turkish Armenian
Reconciliation Commission (TARC). The President’s “wise” advisers,
incredibly, may not have heard that TARC officially, and mercifully,
terminated its existence two weeks ago. This is the second year in a row
that Pres. Bush has plugged TARC. By doing so, he has left no doubt in
anyone’s mind that this is an American-funded and supported initiative.
Nothing is more damning for TARC than the fact that the Bush Administration
is its mastermind.
By not saying genocide, Pres. Bush also ignored the letters signed by 169
bi-partisan members of the House of Representatives and 22 U.S. Senators
(including Sen. John Kerry) urging him to use the term “Armenian Genocide”
in his annual commemorative statement.
To make matters worse, the Bush Administration continues to oppose a
pending congressional resolution that marks the 15th anniversary of the
U.S. implementation of the Genocide Convention, for the simple reason that
it includes a passing reference to the Armenian Genocide, along with the
Holocaust as well as the Cambodian and Rwandan genocides. Senate Resolution
164 currently has 38 Senators as cosponsors. A counterpart measure in the
House (Resolution 193) was unanimously adopted by the Judiciary Committee
last May and currently has 110 cosponsors. However, the Speaker of the
House, Dennis Hastert, at the instruction of Pres. Bush’s handlers, has
refused to allow a vote on this resolution by the full House. Speaker
Hastert has also broken the promise he made in 2000 to reschedule a vote on
the Armenian Genocide resolution that he pulled out of the House floor at
Pres. Clinton’s request moments before its assured passage. I hope the
voters would not ignore Speaker Hastert’s antagonistic stance on this issue
when he asks for their support in this year’s elections.
One may wonder why the President of the United States insists on issuing
these flawed April 24 statements year after year, thereby antagonizing the
Armenian-American community. Pres. Bush’s shrewd handlers probably hope
that by issuing these sugarcoated statements, they would be able to fool a
few politically unsophisticated Armenians and gain their support.
The Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry, on the other hand, had no
problem using the term “Armenian Genocide” in his April 24 statement. He
described the Genocide as “a systematic policy of ethnic extermination” by
the Ottoman Empire that “killed or deported over 1.5 million Armenian men,
women and children.”
In his statement, Sen. Kerry thanked “Armenian Americans for their
persistence in the struggle to gain international recognition of this
atrocity. By keeping the memory of this tragedy alive, Armenian Americans
remind us all of our collective responsibility to insure that such horrors
are not repeated. I am proud of my work with the Armenian American
community to gain broader recognition of the Armenian Genocide, including
fighting alongside Senator Robert Dole in 1990 for designation of April 24
as a national day of remembrance for this tragedy…. I join Armenian
Americans and Armenians worldwide in mourning the victims of the Armenian
Genocide and I call on governments and people everywhere to formally
recognize this tragedy. Only by learning from this dark period of history
and working to prevent future genocides can we truly honor the memories of
those Armenians who suffered so unjustly.”
Most Armenians are naturally skeptical about such campaign statements given
the fact that they have been misled before by Pres. Bush (senior), Pres.
Clinton, and the current President Bush. As candidates, they all promised
to recognize the Armenian Genocide, and after the election, they did the
exact opposite by actively lobbing against its recognition!
What makes Sen. Kerry hopefully different from these three presidents is
that before becoming a presidential candidate, he had an extensive track
record of supporting the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and
cosponsoring resolutions in the Senate on this subject. His 20-year long
history of supporting various Armenian causes gives us the confidence that
once elected, he will continue being supportive. Of course, it is up to the
Armenian American community to cultivate the necessary contacts within Sen.
Kerry’s inner circle in order to be able to counter all those who try to
undermine his favorable position on this issue.
The choice is therefore clear between Bush and Kerry. Those who want four
more years of broken promises on the Armenian Genocide can keep on backing
Pres. Bush. However, those who want the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide should support the candidacy of John Kerry.
A final word to those Turks who are ghoulishly rejoicing that once again
Pres. Bush has refrained from using the term “Armenian Genocide.” Only a
totally shameless people would jump for joy when the President of the
United States is accusing their nation of committing “the most horrible
tragedies of the 20th century, the annihilation of as many as 1.5 million
Armenians through forced exile and murder….” If the President of the United
States had accused my ancestors of such dastardly crimes, I would have been
in no mood to celebrate. Instead, I would have been terribly embarrassed
and ashamed!
British Envoy Lays a Wreath at Genocide Monument

Last week, we reported in this column the announcement of the British
Ambassador to Armenia, Thorda Abbott-Watt, that she would be absent from
Yerevan on April 24, while Armenians are commemorating the 89th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide. She said in an e-mail that she would return to
Armenia on April 26. We attributed her absence to her possible intent to
avoid joining the diplomatic corps in Armenia on April 24 in laying a
wreath in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide at the Genocide
Memorial Monument in Yerevan.
At the last minute, however, Amb. Abbott-Watt changed her plans. She
returned to Yerevan earlier than scheduled and managed to place a wreath at
the Armenian Genocide Monument on April 24.
Regardless of what prompted her to return to Armenia earlier than planned,
we are pleased that she had an opportunity to place a wreath at the
Genocide Monument with the following inscription: “We Will Remember Them –
British Embassy.” In an e-mail she sent on April 26, she explained her
actions as follows: “Successive British Ambassadors have accepted the
Armenian Government’s annual invitation to lay a wreath at the memorial in
Yerevan on 24 April. Whatever our differences on terminology, we have all
felt a deep sympathy with the Armenian people on this sad day, and chosen
to be there in person if we are in the country.” Even though she still
refers to the Genocide Monument as just “the memorial,” we view her
presence there on April 24 as an implied acknowledgment of the Armenian
Genocide.
We also noted among others the presence of U.S. Ambassador John Ordway at
the Genocide Monument in Yerevan. He kindly paid his respects on April 24
to the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, even though his
government, just like Britain’s, refuses to acknowledge the Armenian
Genocide!
The kind gestures of these two Ambassadors re-confirm our initial position
that our quarrel is not with these diplomats who are doing their job to the
best of their abilities. Their presence at the Genocide Monument reflects
their personal sympathy for the plight of the Armenians despite the
denialist positions of their own governments.

**************************************************************************
2 – Haigazian Women’s Auxiliary to Host
May 20 Luncheon with Diva Baraydarian
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles opera lovers are excited about the May and June
performances of lyric soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian at the Dorothy Chandler
Pavilion in Los Angeles.
The Haigazian University Women’s Auxiliary will give fans an opportunity to
meet the diva close up at their May 20 luncheon at the Pasadena estate of
Dr. and Mrs. John Kassabian.
Four years ago, a young 26-year-old Bayrakdarian won first place in Placido
Domingo’s Operalia 2000 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, taking home $50,000 in the
world opera competition. She has held crowds spellbound ever since. In
addition to her onstage performances, she can be heard on the original
motion picture soundtrack of “Ararat” and the original soundtrack of “The
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.”
Bayrakdarian will appear in Los Angeles as Susanna in a production of
Mozar’s “Le Nozze de Figaro.” Four prime Founders Circle tickets to a
Bayrakdarian performance in Los Angeles will be raffled at the luncheon.
For additional information, contact Thelma Kevorkian, (323) 663-1951, or
Hilda Murachanian, (626) 510-9111.
**************************************************************************
3 – Glendale High School Armenian Clubs
Raise $10,000 for Ghapan Students
GLENDALE – The Armenian Clubs from Glendale Unified School District High
Schools, under the guidance of Greg Krikorian, Vice President of the
Glendale Board of Education, raised over $10,000 to benefit schools in
Ghapan, Armenia on March 12.
“Hye Hopes: One Child at a Time” was an evening of song, dance and culture,
but most importantly, an opportunity for Armenian students in Glendale to
help fellow Armenian students living in Armenia. With over 1000 in
attendance, organizers were overwhelmed with the support from the schools,
families of the students and the community in general.
“We were shocked at the turn-out from every facet of the community,”
Krikorian said. “An effort like this, not only binds our community
together, but greatly benefits the children and schools of Ghapan.”
“A few months ago I had the pleasure of visiting Ghapan, Armenia along with
a delegation from the City of Glendale. That’s where I had the opportunity
to visit the schools of Ghapan and see first hand the need for us to reach
out and help. Since Glendale is the Sister City to Ghapan, it was natural
for us to help.”
“Glendale students came up with theme of ‘Hye Hopes’ and for us to generate
over $10,000 for the schools of Ghapan is a home run for the students,”
Krikorian added.
The Ghapan/Glendale Sister City Committee participated in the program with
a message from Glendale Mayor Frank Quintero, followed by a special message
from the students given by Lara Talvardian, CVHS Armenian Club President.
The evening also boasted 14 guest teachers from Armenia, visiting through
Junior Achievement of Armenia, including History teacher Gayane Alaverdyan,
of Ghapan.
Joseph Krikorian & his band entertained the audience, while the Zvartnotz
Dance group performed two breath-taking routines featuring one of its
members, Linet Amirkhanyan, President of Hoover High’s Armenian Club. The
evening closed with DJ Alfred Mazarian along with other special guests.
“We worked very hard to get the word out to our fellow students and
families. To see my classmates dancing and supporting this worthwhile event
was gratifying to me” said Narbeh Sahaghian, President of Glendale High
School’s Armenian Club.
“This was a great opportunity for us to help the children, teachers and
schools of Ghapan, who really need our help!” stated Gagik Galfayan,
President of Clark Magnet High School.
“We wanted to help the children of Ghapan while working side by side with
the students of our own high schools and students from Glendale Community
College. It was a step in the right direction for our youth,” stated
Argishd Parseklian, GCC ASA member.
**************************************************************************
4 – Chamlian School Students Register
Success at L.A. County Science Fair
GLENDALE – Several students from Chamlian Armenian School walked away with
First, Second, and Third place prizes at the Los Angeles County Science
Fair, April 15.
Vahakn Papazian,. Talar Alexanian, Arman Hamamah, and Sako Bornazian were
awarded First place in Behavioral/Social Sciences, Chemistry, Microbiology,
and Environmental Management respectively.
Garen Gevorkian and Armen Perian received Second prizes in Earth/Space
Science and Biochemistry. Finally, Ari Injeyan was awarded the third place
in Engineering Research.
Alida Atinial, Pateel Krikorian, and Armen Artinian received Honorable
Mentions.
Special Project Awards were given to Sako Bornazian (Office of Naval
Research), Garen Gevorkian (Society of Petroleum Engineers), and Arman
Hamamah (Swift Instruments, Inc.) for their projects.
“This is truly amazing,” said Principal Vazken Madenlian.
“We are extremely proud of our students. We are positive that our students
will continue doing well in May when they represent the School’s colors in
the State Science Fair,” said Science Chairperson Lida Gevorkian.
**************************************************************************
5 – Colorado Armenians Wrap Up
Armenian Ski Weekend in Vail
DENVER, CO – The SunSki 2004 Armenian Ski Weekend wrapped up the season
with its 2nd annual ski event held on March 24-28. Over 100 participants
from around the U.S. and Canada gathered in Vail, Colorado, rated #1 ski
resort in the country by the Ski Magazine. The participants stayed at the
newly renovated Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa.
The SunSki committee, led by Alex Khadiwala, coordinated a weekend
beginning with a Meet & Greet party at Bogarts, one of Vail’s hot spot
bistro clubs. On Thursday evening, SunSki held a private dance party with
Philadelphia D.J. Jake Terkanian at the Marriott Hotel. Friday night
included another memorable party at Vail’s premiere club Sanctuary,
complete with a SunSki VIP room where participants could escape the dance
floor for conversation and drinks. On Saturday night SunSki hosted the
Barahantes with a Middle Eastern gourmet meal and music by D.J. Jake. The
weekend ended with an elaborate breakfast buffet on Sunday, and lots of
long “Armenian Goodbyes”.
In between, the participants enjoyed world class skiing with a variety of
conditions.
“Spring skiing in a fleece or a t-shirt is a great way to go”, says Jamie
Markarian of New York. The group enjoyed a number of impromptu Après ski
parties hosted by Denver’s own Dr. Garo Chalian. The daily excursions of
snowmobiling and tubing were also a big hit
“Vail has it all! The skiing at Vail can’t be beat”, says Lori Akian of
California, “I look forward to what SunSki 2005 has prepared for the next
year!”
For more information visit
**************************************************************************
6 – Karen Kondazian’s Performances
Extend ‘Callas’ Play thru July 25
WEST LOS ANGELES – The Fountain Theatre’s critically acclaimed production
of Terrence McNally’s Master Class, which opened in Nov. 2003, and recently
concluded a thrice extended, five-month engagement, re-opens at the Odyssey
Theatre, West Los Angeles on April 30, at 8 p.m. (through July 25).
Starring Karen Kondazian as legendary opera star, Maria Callas, the play is
directed by Simon Levy.
Kondazian is considered the foremost interpreter of Tennessee Williams
leading ladies in Los Angeles theatre. William himself pronounced her
portrayal of Serafina in The Rose Tattoo as “staggeringly beautiful” and
for that performance she won the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award. Other
awards include the Back Stage West Garland award, Ovation Award nomination,
and the L.A. Weekly award. A lifetime member of the Actors Studio,
Kondazian has studied with Lee Strasberg and Jose Quintero, and has
authored a book titled The Actor’s Encyclopedia of Casting Directors.
The performance schedule is Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday
at 2 p.m. For reservations call 323-663-1525.
**************************************************************************
7 – Babaian’s ‘After Freedom’
Opens in Theaters May 14
LOS ANGELES – The film “After Freedom” by Armenian-American filmmaker Vahe
Babaian will open in theaters on May 14. The film, which has been well
received by film critics, will open at the Glendale Cinemas in Glendale,
and at the Laemmle’s Music Hall in Beverly Hills.
La times critic Kevin Thomas stated that the films is “…a taut,
well-wrought drama…engrossing…” Filmmaker Atom Egoyan said the film is
“…sensitive and always entertaining…”
“After Freedom” was an official selection at the Avignon Film Festival,
Winner of Audience Award at the Method Fest Film Festival, and a
Participant at the Montreal World Film Festival.
**************************************************************************
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Azeri leader, British diplomat discuss Karabakh

Azad Azarbaycan TV, Baku
26 Apr 04

[Presenter] Britain’s special representative in the South Caucasus Sir
Brian Fall and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev have discussed the
Karabakh conflict. Ilham Aliyev called on the international community
to be more active in settling the conflict.

[Correspondent, over video of meeting] The international community and
international organizations should do their best to make sure that the
Karabakh conflict is settled as soon as possible and refugees and
displaced persons go back to their homes, President Aliyev said at a
meeting with Sir Brian Fall, Britain’s special representative in the
South Caucasus.

The head of state expressed the hope that the British diplomat would
make his contribution to the development of relations and the
resolution of problems in the region. He said that despite
difficulties, Baku was doing its best to tackle social problems of
refugees and displaced persons. President Aliyev said that the
involvement of British companies in the region’s major energy projects
and the expansion of their activities in Azerbaijan were positive
factors.

Sir Brian Fall, for his part, shared the president’s views, adding
that London appreciates Azerbaijan’s steps in the settlement of the
Karabakh problem. The visitor expressed the hope that the
international community would step up its efforts to settle the
conflict and render humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced
persons.

Mahsati Sarif, for Son Xabar.