PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
April 28, 2004
Contact: Armen Carapetian 818.500.1918
ANC Events and Initiatives – From California, Nevada, Arizona, Montana,
Idaho and other States – Draw Record Numbers of Armenian Americans Voters
Who Call For U.S. Recognition of the Armenian Genocide
ANC Communicates Genocide Recognition with CNN, The Los Angeles Times and
Major Media Outlets
California: Thousands of Armenian Americans attended a solemn ceremony in
the shadow of the Armenian Genocide Monument and were joined by Members of
Congress, State Legislators, the Co-Chairman of the Kerry Presidential
Campaign, and local public officials.
Nevada: Hundreds of Armenian Americans attended a commemoration ceremony
with keynote speaker U.S. Senator John Ensign, author of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution in the Senate.
Arizona: Over 250 Armenian Americans in Phoenix joined together at Wesley
Bolin Plaza, home of an Armenian Genocide Monument, to mark the 89th
anniversary of the first genocide of the 20th century.
Montana: The State of Montana became the 32nd U.S. state to recognize the
Armenian Genocide. This initiative was spearheaded by the ANC of Montana.
Idaho: The State of Idaho became the 33rd U.S. state to recognize the
Armenian Genocide as Republican Governor Dirk Kempthorne, issued a
proclamation citing April 24th `Idaho Day of Remembrance of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915-1923.’ This initiative was spearheaded by the ANC of
Idaho.
ANC-Professional Network: In cooperation with the ARF Shant Student
Association and the Armenian Youth Federation, ANC-PN organized a `Rally
Against Genocide Denial.’ The event was attended by over 1,000 youth and
included a presentation by popular radio host David Barsamian.
MAJOR EVENT: The rock band System of a Down dedicated its April 24th
performance to the remembrance of the Armenian Genocide and raised funds for
the ANCA in DC. Tickets for the concert were sold out in seven minutes.
INTERNET INITIATIVE: Over 10,000 Armenian-Americans from the Western United
States sent messages to their Members of Congress through the ANCA website
Action Alert system –
ANCA GENOCIDE PREVENTION POSTCARD CAMPAIGN: In a massive grassroots drive,
over ten thousand ANC supporters signed postcards urging Congressional
leaders to schedule a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolutions pending in
the House (H.Res. 193) and Senate (S.Res.164).
Central California/Fresno ANC Chapter: Local leaders joined together to
raise the Armenian Flag above City Hall to honor the martyrs of 1915.
San Francisco/Bay Area ANC Chapter: Secured Armenian Genocide resolutions
from four cities and counties, showed an Armenian Genocide film at the S.F.
Public Library and helped lead a Genocide commemoration event featuring the
Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly, Leland Yee.
City of Los Angeles: Seven Members of the Los Angeles City Council joined
ANC leaders at a solemn ceremony held to mark the Armenian Genocide. A
resolution was unanimously passed by the City Council to honor the martyrs
of 1915 and register opposition to efforts to deny this crime against
humanity.
Burbank ANC Chapter: Worked with local civic and political leaders to have
the Burbank City Council pass a proclamation commemorating the Armenian
Genocide.
East San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles ANC Chapters: Hosted a forum
featuring Aram Sarafian, a Major in the U.S. Army and an ANC activist.
Sarafian focused his remarks on the need for Armenian Americans to engage
the American political process in the effort to secure full U.S. recognition
of the Armenian Genocide.
La Crescenta ANC Chapter: Organized an educational event on Armenian history
and the Armenian Genocide at the Historical Society of Crescenta Valley Town
Council with Professor Levon Marashlian of Glendale Community College.
Pasadena ANC Chapter: Over four hundred Armenian Americans joined the Mayor
of Pasadena and Congressman Adam Schiff in commemorating the Armenian
Genocide at an event held at the Pasadena Armenian Center.
San Diego ANC Chapter: Will be hosting an academic conference on Genocide
Denial on May 8, 2004 at U.C. San Diego.
San Fernando Valley and Glendale ANC Chapters: In cooperation with the
American Red Cross, each ANC chapter hosted a successful blood drive. The
blood of the Armenian American community will be used to save lives.
San Gabriel Valley/Montebello ANC: Hosted a vigil in the shadow of the
Genocide Monument. The event included the participation of Congresswomen
Hilda Solis and Grace Napolitano.
South Bay/Torrance ANC Chapter: Worked with Rolling Hills Estates Councilman
Frank Zerunyan to have the City Council pass a resolution commemorating the
Armenian Genocide.
National: ANCA-WR pushed a record number of Members of Congress to urge
President Bush to use the term `genocide’ in his April 24th message. Over
190 House and Senate members joined the effort.
California: With the full support of the Central California/Fresno ANC
chapter – California State Senator Chuck Poochigian urged and secured an
`Armenian Genocide’ statement from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Local Los Angeles Events: ANCA-WR Staff spoke at a record number of events
to educate the public about the Armenian Genocide – talks were delivered at
Cal State LA, Cal Poly Pomona, Bank of America Culture Day, Pasadena School
District, Calabasas High School, Homenentmen Scouts, All-Armenian Student
Association Candle Light Vigil at University of California, Riverside,
Glendale High School Armenian Genocide Remembrance Assembly, Chamlian
Armenian School in La Crescenta, California, Los Angeles County Department
of Social Services Welfare Office Staff on `Trauma of the Armenian
Genocide,’ Camp Shining Light participants, and at many other venues.
City Proclamations: The ANC worked with local city leaders in California to
pass Armenian Genocide Resolutions in Irvine, Oakland, Downey, Rolling Hills
Estates, among many other municipalities.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.
####

Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region
104 North Belmont Street, Suite 200
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818.500.1918 Fax: 818.246.7353
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
April 28, 2004
Contact: Armen Carapetian 818.500.1918
Co-Chairman of Kerry Presidential Campaign Praises ANC for Genocide
Recognition Efforts
Los Angeles, CA – Antonio Villaraigosa, the national co-chairman of the John
Kerry Presidential Campaign, read Senator Kerry’s April 24th statement
before thousands of Armenian-Americans at an event sponsored by the Armenian
National Committee of America – Western Region (ANCA-WR). The gathering
occurred in the shadow of the Armenian Genocide Monument in Montebello,
California on April 24, 2004.
`The City of Los Angeles will never forget the Armenian Genocide and I,
along with the Armenian National Committee, will do whatever I can to honor
the memory of the 1.5 million martyrs,’ said Councilmember Antonio
Villaraigosa. `In the ten years that I have served in public office, the
Armenian National Committee has consistently been the leading advocate of
issues relating to the Armenian-American community, and I have always valued
the close relationship we share.’
`We want to thank Senator Kerry for his April 24th Armenian Genocide
Statement and Councilman Villaraigosa for sharing this message with our
community,’ stated ANCA-WR Chairman Raffi Hamparian. `Councilman
Villaraigosa understands our long struggle for justice,’ he added.
Villaraigosa participated in an ANCA-WR sponsored Armenian Genocide program
held at Los Angeles City Hall on April 23, 2004. The Councilman spoke to
Armenian-American leaders at that solemn commemoration and then joined his
colleague and event sponsor Councilman Eric Garcetti in passing a resolution
affirming the historical facts of the Armenian Genocide. The resolution
emphasized the need to challenge those who deny crimes against humanity like
the Armenian Genocide.
Villaraigosa is the former Speaker of the California State Assembly and now
serves as a member of the Los Angeles City Council.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) is the largest and most
influential Armenian American grassroots political organization. Working in
coordination with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout
the United States and affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCA
actively advances the concerns of the Armenian American community on a broad
range of issues.
####

UEFA.com, Europe
April 29 2004
Hakobyan tames Turkmenistan
Armenia 1-0 Turkmenistan
Ara Hakobyan underlined his prolific reputation with a 67th-minute
goal to give Armenia victory in their first ever meeting with
Turkmenistan.
Hakobyan goal
Armenia dominated throughout in Yerevan against their fellow former
Soviet republic. Hakobyan, who scored an astonishing 45 goals for FC
Banants in last year’s Armenian Premier League leaving him in the
current top five in the ESM Golden Shoe rankings, hit the post twice
before finally scoring.
Coach happy
Home coach Mikhaj Stoichita and his counterpart Rahim Kurbamamedov
both took the chance to give young players a run-out with one eye on
their forthcoming FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns. Stoichita,
whose side meet the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Romania,
Finland. F.Y.R. Macedonia and Andorra in Group 1, said: “I am
satisfied with our display. We were looking the stronger team
throughout the match and could have scored many times. I was able to
see some young players in action.”
Armenia credited
Kurbamamedov, whose team have opened their World Cup campaign with
wins against Sri Lanka and Indonesia in a group also containing Saudi
Arabia, said: “Of course I do not like the result, but the Armenians
deserved this win.”

Workday Minnesota, MN
April 29 2004
St. Paul passes ‘INS separation’ ordinance
By Barb Kucera, Workday Minnesota editor – April 28, 2004
ST. PAUL – Saying that St. Paul values all people, the City Council
Wednesday night unanimously approved an ordinance that keeps
responsibility for enforcing immigration law with federal
authorities.
The proposal limits situations in which police and other city workers
can be required to enforce federal immigration laws. A similar
measure was passed last year in Minneapolis and has been approved in
several communities around the country.
`It’s a historic moment for St. Paul,’ Council Member Jay Benanav
said after the 7-0 vote. `This ordinance really recognizes the
diversity and the richness that all immigrant groups have brought to
St. Paul and continue to bring to St. Paul.’
Council Member Pat Harris, author of the ordinance, noted his
Irish-Armenian-German heritage and the fact that his ancestors were
victims of the genocide in Armenia in the early 20th century.
`I’m very proud to do something like this today,’ he said.

St. Paul City Council members and staff listen to testimony on the
immigration ordinance.
Before the vote, several people testified in support of the
ordinance, often referred to as a `city/INS separation ordinance.’
They said the measure was needed, especially in light of intimidation
of immigrants since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the
passage of the Patriot Act, which gives federal authorities vast
powers to arrest and detain people.
Representatives of immigrant Latino, Asian and African communities
said many people are afraid to deal with public workers, especially
police, for fear their legal status will be questioned.
Ilean Her, executive director of the Council on Asian-Pacific
Minnesotans, cited the case of a young Filipino woman, brought to the
Twin Cities as a `mail-order bride.’ Although she became a victim of
domestic violence, `her fear kept her from seeking help,’ Her said.
Through the ordinance, `the city of St. Paul will say there are
certain rights we will protect . . . a right to safety and medical
help when you need it,’ she said.
Hassan Muhammed, vice president of the Minnesota chapter of the
Moslem-American Society and president of the Somali Families and
Youth Association of Minnesota, said many East Africans have a
well-founded fear of law enforcement. In their home countries, `the
police is the military, is the immigration officer,’ he said.
`We can remove that fear through this ordinance,’ he said.
A number of unions supported the proposal, saying it allows police,
firefighters, public health nurses, housing inspectors, librarians
and other city employees to do their jobs and provide city services
without being forced to unnecessarily investigate a resident’s
immigration status.
Shar Knutson, president of the St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly,
AFL-CIO; and Amy Bodnar, a representative of the Service Employees
International Union, both testified in favor of the ordinance.
`Over 30 citizen groups have signed onto this,’ Bodnar noted.
None of the speakers at the public hearing opposed the measure. After
the vote, the ordinance was laid over for final passage at the City
Council meeting on Wednesday, May 5.

Minneapolis Star Tribune , MN
April 29 2004
Strong backing for St. Paul immigration ordinance

Illegal immigrants deserve to feel safe in their communities without
fear that police will report them to the federal government,
according to a unified message sent to the St. Paul City Council on
Wednesday.
Backers of a proposed ordinance that would free St. Paul police from
having to concern themselves with immigration status packed City
Council chambers at a public hearing. Among the speakers were
representatives of unions, religious organizations and a lawyers’
group, and immigrant and civil rights activists.
“The war on terrorism is becoming a war on immigration,” said Howard
Goldman, who represented the Jewish Community Action.
Ilean Her, executive director of the state Council on Asian Pacific
Minnesotans, told of a young Filipino woman who came to the United
States as what she described as a “mail-order bride.”
She was beaten by her husband, who took her passport and forced her
into prostitution, Her told the council. Police were alerted when the
woman sought help at a domestic violence shelter, Her said.
“She did not know she could go to the police,” Her said. “She did not
know they could protect her. … There should not have been this fear
that her immigration status would stop the police from treating her
humanely.”
Council Member Pat Harris, who sponsored the ordinance, got choked up
as he recalled the previous generations of his family who immigrated
from Armenia, Ireland and Germany.
“I’m very proud to do something like this today,” he said, his voice
shaking as he urged the council to support the measure.
The council is scheduled to vote on May 5. Most of the seven council
members have voiced their support, as has Mayor Randy Kelly.
Jackie Crosby
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Times of Central Asia , Kyrgyzstan
April 29 2004
Unido Proposal for Attracting Fdi

BISHKEK (TCA). On April 28, an investment round table organized by
UNIDO in cooperation with the UNDP and the government of Kyrgyzstan,
with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Djoomart Otorbayev
and Minister for Economic Development, Industry and Trade Amangeldy
Muraliyev, various Ambassadors and representatives of the private
business sector, took place in Bishkek.
The Comprehensive Investment Promotion Program undertaken by UNIDO
aims to develop a new strategy capable of attracting much needed
Foreign Direct Investment to Kyrgyzstan. Although the statistics on
foreign investment attraction in 2003 show a remarkable increase, the
figure is still far below the required level and Kyrgyzstan needs to
develop a proper strategy with a suitable business approach.
According to statistics for 2002, global Foreign Direct Investment
amounted to US $651 billion and of this only $4 billion was directed
to Central Asia, or only 0.6 % of the world total. In 2002, $2.5
billion in FDI went to Kazakhstan, about 64% of the total amount
directed at Central Asia, 26% went to Azerbaijan and the remainder
was split between Armenia, Georgia and Turkmenistan, while Tajikistan
and Kyrgyzstan received very little.
It is clear that the main attraction for FDI in Central Asia is oil
and gas and other natural resources, and a country with low natural
resources like Kyrgyzstan will find it difficult to compete.
According to Mr. Daly, UNIDO expert for Kyrgyzstan, attraction of
foreign investment is becoming more competitive every day and a
business approach capable of developing a suitable results-oriented
marketing policy is needed.
There is a need to review the institutional system, streamlining the
process of investment approval and promotion. At present there are
about 15 different institutions in the country that have some
responsibility for the attraction of foreign investment, and only a
single body responsible for the overall investment policy of the
country can provide the necessary coordination. Although some
institutions may continue to contribute to the overall process, a
single Investment Promotion Agency with an independent board
consisting of public officials, private sector and multilateral
representatives is much needed, and would be able to combine the
expertise of the private and the public sectors.
Of course this will require a review of the functions of various
ministries but overall it will bring considerable benefit to the
country and to the development of a direct dialogue with potential
foreign investors. The proposed agency should be properly staffed,
and have the budget to pay salaries that are competitive with the
private market, and should be funded by several donors in addition to
the Kyrgyz government since it is expected that the initial budget
for a preliminary period of three years will not be less than $1.5
million.
Given the various priority areas, such as reform of the tax system,
reform of bureaucratic procedures and the legal system, if the
proposed project is approved Kyrgyzstan can expect an improved
investment climate, with an effective deregulation of the economy and
of course more foreign investment.

Vietnam News Agency
April 29 2004
European Economic Summit opens

Warsaw, April 29 (VNA) – Almost 700 representatives from 45 countries
gathered in the Polish capital on Wednesday at the start of a
three-day European economic summit devoted to the economic impact of
the European Union’s May 1 enlargement.
Organised by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum, the summit, which
starts just three days from the historic expansion, was expected to
gather 20 presidents and prime ministers, along with 600 other
ministers, central bankers, representatives from the EU and other
international organisations, and 50 companies.
Delegates started out by holding working sessions on making Europe
more business-friendly, the private sector’s role in developing
eastern Europe’s transport infrastructure, reform of the EU’s Common
Agricultural Policy and the ins and outs of the euro currency.
The European Economic Summit has been held every year in Salzburg,
Austria, since 1996.
This year, as an exception, the meeting is being held in Poland, the
biggest of the 10 countries set to join the EU on May 1, along with
Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania,
Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia.
The summit is also expected to give the opportunity for bilateral
meetings, including only the second meeting between Azeri President
Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Robert Kocharian.-Enditem

Washington Post, DC
April 29 2004
Held Over by Request
An Impromptu Assist Turns Into a Six-Week Booking
By Jonathan Padget
Washington Post Staff Writer
Music is integral to the new play “Rosemary and I” at Alexandria’s
MetroStage. The tale of a singer, Rosemary, and her intense,
mysterious relationship with her female accompanist is staged with
live musicians — New York pianist John Hodian and his wife, vocalist
Bet Williams — who add a haunting soundscape, composed by Hodian, to
the intricate drama.

Critical reaction to the play has been mixed, though Hodian and
Williams have garnered positive notice for their musical
contribution. They have also taken advantage of their MetroStage
engagement to give concerts as Epiphany Project, their identity for a
genre-blurring musical collaboration that combines everything from
avant-garde folk and Americana to classical art song and art-pop.
When Hodian started work on the play last year, though, he had no
idea that he and Williams would relocate to Alexandria for six weeks
of rehearsals and performances, with their 4-month-old son and a
nanny in tow. It was a much simpler proposition at first.
A fan of playwright Leslie Ayvazian since seeing an earlier work of
hers, “Nine Armenians,” Hodian asked her to write the libretto for an
Armenian-themed opera he envisions. The artists share Armenian
heritage, and Ayvazian responded enthusiastically to Hodian’s
request, with one condition: She would collaborate on the opera if
Hodian would first write music for her “Rosemary and I.”
Fair enough, Hodian thought. By the time a staged reading was held
last summer during a new-play festival at the Kennedy Center, he had
recorded the piano-vocal score with the help of Williams, and
traveled to Washington for the reading. He was expecting merely to
cue music from a CD. But a planned technical rehearsal fell through,
and suddenly the cast was in a room with only a piano for last-minute
preparations before taking the stage.
So much for simplicity.
Though Hodian had written the score, he hadn’t memorized it. But he
was undaunted. He sat down at the piano and did a little improvising.
Ayvazian was reading the part of the elderly Rosemary’s adult
daughter Julia (which she also plays now at MetroStage), and she had
enlisted a longtime friend, Oscar-winner Olympia Dukakis, to read the
part of Rosemary in preparation for directing the full MetroStage
production.
“As soon as I played the first cue,” Hodian recalls, “Olympia goes,
‘Wow, that was great. I wish we were doing that instead of what’s on
the CD.’ ” Her enthusiasm grew with every musical interlude until she
proclaimed that Hodian must perform for the reading, which at that
point was about 30 minutes from starting. Center staff nixed the idea
at first, Hodian says, “but then she kind of does her Olympia thing,
and suddenly there’s a nine-foot Steinway onstage — and it’s tuned.”
While the shift to live music for the current run of “Rosemary and I”
was unexpected, Hodian and Williams have no complaints about the
upheaval of their New York routine. It’s a “nice family project,”
says Hodian of the opportunity to work with Williams on both theater
and concert performance.
“What makes it so interesting,” says Judith Roberts, the actress who
plays Rosemary, “is that here is a woman who’s much later in her
life, and you hear this young voice . . . coming at you in a way from
the past, which reinforces the idea of searching for memories. It’s
very evocative, and [Williams] has a wonderful voice — very
powerful.”
Roberts was in the audience for Hodian and Williams’s Epiphany
Project concert Sunday night, featuring songs from their self-titled
2001 album on their independent label, Epiphany Records. Another
concert is scheduled for this Sunday.
“For each song, we just do the things we love,” says Williams,
describing their unbounded approach to musicmaking. A follow-up album
is in the works.
Though many independent musicians relish not being easily
categorized, says Hodian, he wouldn’t mind Epiphany Project having a
clearer market niche.
“We’d love to be categorized,” he says. “I wish we could say, ‘Hey,
it’s this,” and we could go play all the blues festivals, or play
classical music venues only, or whatever. But it really is a bunch of
different things. We do whatever we feel like musically.”
Epiphany Project bookings have been easier to come by in Europe,
where Hodian and Williams have found audiences and club owners
especially receptive to their eclectic style. Still, Epiphany Project
enjoys a devoted fan base in the United States, drawn from occasional
exposure on public radio and crossover from Williams’s work as a folk
solo artist.
“The people who like it,” Williams says, “like it a lot.”
“We have enough fans to keep buying the records,” adds Hodian, “and
to enable us to make another one, and who’ll keep coming to shows.
That’ll continue to make it worth us coming out for.”
Epiphany Project, at MetroStage, 1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria.
Sunday at 7 p.m. $20.
Rosemary and I continues through May 9. $32-$38. Call 703-548-9044 or
visit
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
April 29 2004
US co-chair calls on Baku to compromise

The Azerbaijani public was disappointed by the results of the
meetings of Steven Mann, the newly-appointed US co-chair of the OSCE
Minsk Group, who paid a visit to Baku on April 22-23, with President
Ilham Aliyev and the foreign and defense ministers.The public can’t
understand why
Mann called on Baku to compromise with Yerevan. What should
Azerbaijan compromise amidst Armenia’s intention to annex Upper
Garabagh? Such feelings and the demands for President Robert
Kocharian’s resignation in Armenia on the eve of a meeting between
Aliyev and Kocharian – scheduled to be held on Wednesday are unlikely
to facilitate positive results.
Defense Minister rejects Mann’s proposal
In a meeting with Azerbaijani Defense Minister Safar Abiyev, Mann
said it is necessary that Azerbaijan make concessions with regard to
the peaceful settlement of the Upper Garabagh conflict. “If the
conflict settlement takes many years, Azerbaijan and Armenia will
face new problems. The parties therefore should start a dialogue and
stand by it”, Mann said. Abiyev, in turn, said a double standard
approach on the issue is unacceptable, that Armenia is an aggressor
and must be held accountable. Referring to Yugoslavia and Iraq, two
countries that faced military action, Abiyev said that military
action has not been launched against Armenia even though there is
proper legal framework for this. Mann mentioned that Armenia and
Azerbaijan have made a commitment to settle the Upper Garabagh
conflict peacefully and the US supports mutually-acceptable
concessions by both parties to the conf lict. Abiyev replied that
Azerbaijan will make no concessions, the Defense Ministry reported on
Tuesday.
Presidential meeting
During a Thursday meeting between the President and the US diplomat,
Aliyev said that Mann is well-known in Azerbaijan as he had
participated in a number of large-scale projects in Azerbaijan and
wished him success in his new position. Touching upon the conflict
over Upper Garabagh, Aliyev stressed that Upper Garabagh and seven
Azerbaijani districts had been under the Armenian occupation for many
years and that Azerbaijan demanded that Armenian aggression be
stopped and its territorial integrity restored. He added that the
OSCE Minsk Group should step up its efforts to resolve the conflict.
US for fair settlement of Garabagh conflict?
Mann, in his turn, said he was pleased to have the opportunity to
visit Baku and meet with the Azerbaijani leader and mentioned the
opening ceremony of the East-West corridor foundation, which gave an
incentive to a number of energy projects. With regard to the Upper
Garabagh conflict, Mann said the U.S. government had put new tasks
before him and that he was keen to accomplish them. He mentioned that
this was his first visit to the region in his new capacity. The US
diplomat stated that the goal of his government was to work with the
parties in the conflict on a fair settlement and that it would
support an agreement reached by the two sides.
Briefing
At a media briefing, Mann confirmed that he has discussed in Yerevan
and Baku the possibility of a meeting between the Armenian and
Azerbaijani Presidents. He dodged the question about possible
compromises to be made by both sides and said the negotiations “have
not reached this stage yet”. He also confirmed that besides his
position as OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, he will remain the special
envoy on Caspian energy issues. Before arriving in Baku, Mann visited
Yerevan to discuss with the Armenian President, Ministers of Foreign
Affairs and Defense prospects for the conflict settlement. In his
meetings Mann said, “the peaceful settlement of the Upper Garabagh
conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group is based on US
national interests”. Mann stated that he intends to visit Upper
Garabagh but did not specify the date for his visit. At the same time
he said he had a “planned” meeting in Garabagh with the so-called
“Garabagh Foreign Minister” Ashot Gulian. The US diplomat visited
Armenia for the first time in 1978 as a representative of the US
embassy in the USSR. In 1992, he opened the first US diplomatic
representation in Armenia and held the position of the first US
charge d’affairs in Yerevan. In May 2001, Mann was appointed the US
President’s special envoy on Caspian energy issues.
Can Mann break the deadlock?
It appears that Mann’s new mandate as an OSCE MG co-chair is not
limited to Upper Garabagh. He also holds the position of US
President’s special envoy on Eurasia conflicts. It is not by mere
chance that he traveled from Yerevan to Baku through Tbilisi. Mann’s
mission targets settlement of conflicts in the entire South Caucasus
region which impede speedy US political and military deployment in
the region, notably, the Garabagh conflict and the Abkhaz conflict in
Georgia. Also, the US diplomat is probably also responsible for
keeping the situation in Ajaria under control. Therefore, unlike his
predecessors whose mission was limited to the OSCE MG, Mann has vast
credentials enabling him to swiftly respond to the situation. This
means that he is authorized to act according to his mandate just like
Strobe Talbott, who nearly convinced the Presidents of Azerbaijan and
Armenia to sign a peace accord, without consulting other OSCE MG
co-chairs. Therefore, Mann will not be required to coordinate his
visits to the region with the French or the Russian MG co-chairs.
Nonetheless, Mann should keep in mind the failure of Talbott’s
“shuttle mission” on the conflict settlement. Before leaving Yerevan,
Talbott, after discussing the terms for the upcoming peace accord,
reportedly joined the Armenian government officials in a toast for a
successful completion of the talks. It turned out it was too early to
celebrate. The American diplomacy failed to outwit Russian secret
service agents, who acted fast, without waiting for the conflict to
be settled. Before Talbott left Yerevan, a terrorist act was
committed in the Armenian parliament building, killing prime minister
Vazgen Sarkissian, speaker Karen Demirchian and several cabinet
ministers. After the incident, it was nearly impossible to expect
Kocharian to sign a peace accord, even if it was most suitable for
Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Pasadena Star-News, CA
April 29 2004
Racial tensions shadow school’s achievements
Marshall principal fighting accusations of insensitivity
By Gretchen Hoffman , Staff Writer
PASADENA — A year ago, Marshall Fundamental High School was one of
three schools in the nation to receive the College Board’s
Inspiration Award in recognition of its work in helping economically
disadvantaged students go to college. It is the Pasadena Unified
School District’s highest-scoring high school on state standardized
tests, and parents overwhelmingly choose Marshall when applying
through the district’s open-enrollment process.
But tensions have been building at the school, which serves sixth
through 12th-graders. Last month, a fight between African- American
and Armenian students spilled over, resulting in a lockdown and
several students being cited by PUSD police. Some parents say they
are afraid for students’ safety.
An Armenian administrator has been fired, and his lawyer is
threatening a lawsuit, saying Principal Steven Miller is the person
who should be removed.
And a group of community members is circulating a petition calling
for Miller’s removal, claiming that he is a bigot who is
systematically purging the school of African-Americans.
Some Armenian parents were upset when middle school dean Kevork
Halladjian was notified that he will not return to his position next
year. They say that he was the only school administrator who listened
to parents concerned about rumors of further violence before the
March 5 fights.
Miller has been criticized for his handling of the fights, with
detractors saying he is ill- equipped to handle racial tensions
because he is culturally insensitive at best.
However, many parents, students and school officials have repeatedly
denied that the fights were racially motivated but were merely fights
between individuals.
Halladjian’s lawyer, Dale Gronemeier, said he is laying the
groundwork for a lawsuit if Halladjian is not reinstated.
Gronemeier is married to Marshall’s high school dean, Temetra
Gronemeier, who had a lawsuit pending against the school district
alleging she was discriminated against because of her age. She was
seeking the principal position, which was instead given to Miller.
The lawsuit was rejected by a judge last week.
The lawyer said that in a deposition taken for that lawsuit, Miller
admitted asking district officials to remove Temetra Gronemeier from
her administrative position at Marshall, a request that was denied.
She and Halladjian are a symbol of African Americans and Armenian
Americans working together cooperatively at a time when Marshall is
undergoing a racial crisis, Dale Gronemeier said.
In an April 15 letter to Superintendent Percy Clark, Dale Gronemeier
warned of disastrous consequences for Miller and said he plays
hardball and is prepared for a public battle.
“There has been a systematic attempt by Miller to purge the African
Americans from the security force at Marshall,’ Gronemeier claimed
Wednesday. “Because Halladjian would not go along with illegal
practices, Miller wanted to fire him.
“At a minimum, Miller is racially insensitive and the alternative is
that he’s bigoted,’ Gronemeier added.
Miller said the allegation that Halladjian was given a pink slip
because he refused to fire a security guard does not make sense,
since district officials do all hiring and firing at the high school.
The opposition comes from people who would have targeted whoever took
the principalship two years ago, he said.
Teachers describe Miller as calm, fair, personable and a good
listener. He commands respect but becomes even more soft-spoken than
usual when talking about the allegations of bigotry.
“From the very first week that I arrived here, there were threats,
there were warnings,’ Miller said. “I’ve dealt with slander,
intimidation. I’ve been subjected to these twisted perversions of
lies. When I’m called a racist, I get emotional, because it’s
slander.
“On three different occasions, publicly I’ve been told that I’m going
to be driven out of Pasadena. It’s getting to a point where I’m
starting to worry about (my) safety. What’s going on here is an
agenda that has nothing to do with these kids.
“What I found was that every time Marshall demonstrates success, then
the intimidation, the aggression escalates,’ Miller said. “Right now
… the focus is on me but it’s really about destroying the school.’
District officials said Miller’s supporters far outnumber his
detractors.
“Steve has the unqualified support of the superintendent and his
staff,’ PUSD spokesman Erik Nasarenko said. ” Steve is an exemplary
school leader who we are fortunate to have in this district.’
Miller said he is committed to leading the school despite the threats
and lies but that he will leave if the conflict begins to affect
student achievement.
“I think it becomes too much when I start to see students being
negatively impacted, and I think (my detractors) know that about me,’
Miller said. “They know that’s ammunition.’
Altadena resident John Wright is one of the people who have been
handing out petitions calling for Miller’s removal. Miller lacks the
sensitivity to deal with a multi-ethnic student body and has
alienated members of the community with his biased attitude, the
petition states.
“He thinks that African Americans should have an appointment with him
as opposed to having an open-door policy with Caucasians,’ Wright
said, adding that he has not met personally with Miller. Wright has
no children or grandchildren at the school.
“I’m just a concerned citizen and feel there’s got to be someone who
will stand up and be a voice for the African-American community,’
Wright said. “I’m not boxing it in as an African- American principal,
but what we need is a person over there who has the children’s
welfare at heart and who has the sensitivity to deal with a
multi-ethnic campus.’
Roy Sunada, who has been teaching at Marshall for 12 years, said
Miller has had a calming effect at the school since he took over in
the midst of chaos caused by scheduling problems.
“I believe it’s turning into a personal attack,’ Sunada said. “He’s
absolutely not racist or a bigot. To say that really trivializes the
seriousness of racism. His detractors have no sense of shame and no
sense of decency.’
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress